USA
Newly-appointed Indian envoy likely to present credentials to Donald Trump on January 11
10 Jan 2019
India’s newly-appointed Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who arrived here Wednesday, is likely to present his credentials to the US President Donald Trump on January 11, officials said. Such a quick credentials ceremony for a foreign diplomat is rare in the American capital, given that in the past envoys of other countries, including those from India, have waited for weeks to formally present their diplomatic credentials to the US president.
Diplomatic credentials is a letter that formally appoints a diplomat as the ambassador to another country. The letter is addressed from one head of state to another. It is presented by the ambassador to the receiving head of state in a formal ceremony. The ceremony further marks the beginning of the official period of ambassadorship.
It is a common practice for ambassadors to initially present temporary credentials to the Department of State once they arrive in host countries before eventually presenting it to the head of state. Shringla replaced Navtej Singh Sarna, who retired on December 31. He was earlier posted in Dhaka as the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh. Click here to read.....
US team to visit India, lobby for roll-back of import duties on mobiles, ICT products
9 Jan 2019
A team of US officials will be in India later this month to discuss the import duties levied or raised by the Centre last year on smartphones, base stations, smart watches, printer ink cartridges and other internet and communication technology (ICT) products and lobby for their removal. “The US officials are scheduled to meet Indian officials from the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY). The US has already argued at the World Trade Organization that the duties imposed by India on mobile phones and other ICT products go against its multilateral commitments,” a government official told BusinessLine. The meeting is scheduled on January 24.
India levied customs duty on mobile phones and some other ICT items at 10 per cent for the first time in July 2017 and later increased it to 15 per cent that year. Despite protests from a number of WTO members, including the US, the EU and Japan, customs duties on mobiles were further increased to 20 per cent in last year’s Budget. Click here to read.....
Trump, Indian PM Modi discuss trade, Afghanistan: White House
8 Jan 2019
U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed reducing the U.S. trade deficit with India and increasing their cooperation in Afghanistan in a telephone call on Monday, the White House said. “The leaders agreed to strengthen the U.S.-India strategic partnership in 2019 and exchanged perspectives on how to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with India, expand security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, and increase cooperation in Afghanistan,” the White House said in a statement.
The United States has slapped tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from India, part of Trump’s drive to reduce the U.S. trade deficit and boost American manufacturing jobs. India has threatened to retaliate but said it would not take action until the end of this month.
In Afghanistan, Trump is planning to withdraw more than 5,000 of the 14,000 U.S. troops there, a U.S. official said last month. With a reduced military presence in Afghanistan, the United States would almost certainly have to curtail its missions, which include training and advising Afghan forces and waging an air campaign against the Taliban and other militant groups. Click here to read.....
India, US hold talks to expand cooperation on defence, foreign policy issues
11 Jan 2019
India and the US on Friday discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation on defence and foreign policy issues and exchanged views on regional developments as stakeholders for a free, open, inclusive and peaceful Indo-Pacific. The inaugural round of the India-US 2+2 inter-sessional meeting was held here with the Indian delegation led jointly by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs and Shambhu S Kumaran, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence, while the US side was headed jointly by Ambassador Alice Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Randall Schriver, Assistant Secretary of Defense.
The inter-sessional meeting was set up to follow up on the decisions taken during the India-US Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue, the first round of which was held in New Delhi in September 2018, and to make continued progress on bilateral cooperation on cross-cutting defence and foreign policy issues of interest to both sides, the MEA said in a statement. Click here to read.....
US-Pakistan need to be honest about differences: Senator
9 Jan 2019
“To be honest about differences, that’s important, to be honest,” said Bob Casey, a senior member of the US Senate while describing how he thinks relations between the United States and Pakistan can improve. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, pointed out that historically the United States and Pakistan “have been very good friends” but “that relationship has cooled, somewhat in the last few years”.
Senator Shaheen, who as a member of the Senate Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs plays a key role in shaping US policies towards Pakistan, acknowledged the need to rebuild the once-close relationship and urged the Pakistani-American community to play its role by getting involved in the American political process. “I think it is important for us to figure out how to right the relationship, so that we can continue to be very strong allies,” she said. Click here to read.....
U.S. destroyer sails in disputed South China Sea amid trade talks
7 Jan 2019
A U.S. guided-missile destroyer sailed near disputed islands in the South China Sea in what China called a “provocation” as U.S. officials joined talks in Beijing during a truce in a bitter trade war. The USS McCampbell carried out a “freedom of navigation” operation, sailing within 12 nautical miles of the Paracel Island chain, “to challenge excessive maritime claims”, Pacific Fleet spokeswoman Rachel McMarr said in an emailed statement. The operation was not about any one country or to make a political statement, McMarr said.
The statement came as trade talks between China and the United States were under way in Beijing, the first round of face-to-face discussions since both sides agreed to a 90-day truce in a trade war that has roiled international markets.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the conduct of the U.S. ship had violated China’s and international law, and China had lodged “stern representations”. “We urge the United States to immediately cease this kind of provocation,” he said, adding that China had sent military ships and aircraft to identify and warn off the ship. China’s defense ministry added that the ship had “gravely infringed upon China’s sovereignty”. Click here to read.....
Risch now chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
9 Jan 2019
Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho has been elected chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Risch says he's glad to have the confidence of his colleagues to lead the committee. Risch fills the seat being vacated by the retirement of Sen. Bob Corker, a Republican from Tennessee.
The Idaho Statesman reports Risch is the third Idaho senator to serve as chairman of the committee. He is preceded by William Borah, who led the committee from 1925 to 1933, and Frank Church, from 1979 to 1980.
The committee has jurisdiction over legislation concerning the conduct of U.S. Foreign policy, including treaties and declarations of war. Members are also responsible for overseeing the U.S. State Department and reviewing executive branch nominations for positions including secretary of state and U.S. ambassadorships. Click here to read.....
The US is set to lose its crown as the world's most powerful economy, and is unlikely to ever get it back
10 Jan 2019
The United States of America could lose its position as the world's biggest economy as soon as next year, and once that happens, will likely never regain the top spot as developing Asian economies power ahead. According to research released this week by Standard Chartered Bank, China will most likely become the world's biggest economy by some point in 2020, when measured by a combination of purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates and nominal GDP. Using PPP alone, China is already considered the world's largest economy, but on a nominal basis, the US remains in the lead for the time being.
Not only will China likely overtake the US in 2020, but by 2030 it will be joined by India, Standard Chartered said in its report, with annual GDP growth set to accelerate from around 6% now to almost 8% in the coming decade. "India will likely be the main mover, with its trend growth accelerating to 7.8% by the 2020s partly due to ongoing reforms, including the introduction of a national goods and services tax (GST) and the Indian Bankruptcy Code (IBC)," Standard Chartered said. Click here to read.....
RUSSIA
PM Modi, President Putin discuss bilateral cooperation
7 Jan 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephonic conversation on Monday and discussed the bilateral cooperation in the key areas including defence and counter-terrorism. Both the leaders appreciated the major milestones achieved in the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries in the past year.
Recalling successful wide-ranging discussions, in Sochi in May and during President Putin's visit to New Delhi in October for the Annual Summit, they agreed to maintain the momentum in the bilateral relations. President Putin reiterated the invitation to the annual Eastern Economic Forum in September this year. PM Modi and President Putin agreed that India-Russia cooperation plays an important role in the global multilateral order.
Both countries will continue their close consultations in the United Nations, the BRICS, the SCO and other multilateral organizations. Click here to read.....
Indian firm signs $110 mn contract for production of Russian ATGM for Army
9 Jan 2018
India's state-owned Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has signed a contract worth $110 million with the Indian Army for the production and supply of Konkurs Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) and Launchers. The contract was signed on Tuesday by V Gurudatta Prasad, Director of production at BDL in New Delhi. "The missiles and launchers will be manufactured under continued technical collaboration with Russia at the Bhanur unit of BDL in Telangana State," a statement issued by BDL said.
BDL has been producing Konkurs ATGMs under Russian license at the Bhanur facility. The missiles have been upgraded with a tandem warhead. The order for the missiles is considered as a stopgap measure to quickly address the capability gap of around 68,000 anti-tank guided missiles of various types. This gap is around 60% short of authorised capacity. However, a defence source told Sputnik that the second-generation Konkurs lacks night fighting capabilities. Click here to read.....
Russia says Japan distorting November accord
11 Jan 2019
Russia on Wednesday protested that Japan is distorting the essence of an agreement between the two countries’ leaders in November to accelerate their territorial talks. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov summoned Japanese Ambassador Toyohisa Kozuki to lodge the protest. Morgulov said that Moscow is paying close attention to recent remarks by the Japanese leadership about the talks, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Those Japanese remarks are grossly distorting the essence of the agreement and misleading the two countries’ general public, Morgulov said.
The protest came after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a New Year’s press conference on Friday that it is necessary to gain understanding from Russian residents on the northern territories for a possible change of ownership of the islands, currently controlled by Russia. The Japanese remarks mentioned by Morgulov also include those suggesting that this year could see a turning point in the Tokyo-Moscow negotiations to resolve the territorial row and conclude a long-delayed World War II peace treaty. Click here to read.....
Moscow cancels Haniyeh’s trip to protest reconciliation paralysis
11 Jan 2019
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Mikhail Bogdanov, the deputy foreign minister, and senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk have discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip during a phone conversation. Moscow expressed “deep concern” after a long-running dispute between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority over power-sharing worsened this week when the PA pulled its personnel from Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt. They were replaced by Hamas employees. Consequently, the planned trip to Moscow next week by the leader of Hamas was canceled.
The January 15 meeting between Ismail Haniyeh and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was called off due to Lavrov's busy schedule, Abu Marzouk tweeted. No new date was announced.The Russian Foreign Ministry did not make an official announcement on the meeting’s cancellation. Click here to read.....
Israel believes Russia WILL INTERVENE IN ITS ELECTIONS
10 Jan 2019
Despite Russia’s denial of any involvement in the upcoming Israeli elections, with a senior Moscow official saying that people should not read the Israeli media, intelligence sources in Tel Aviv announced there were several indications for such intervention, adding that Israel’s cyber army fended off several attacks.
Director of the Shin Bet domestic security service Nadav Argaman discussed the issue, saying security forces were concerned about foreign interference that could affect the Knesset elections' outcome. Speaking at a Friends of Tel Aviv University conference, Argaman said that a foreign country intended to launch cyber attacks in order to influence Israel's general elections.
The issue is considered an internal matter, however, several journalists attending the conference reported the news, which prompted the military censorship to issue an order banning the publication of Argaman’s statement. The military gag was later lifted when reporters threatened of filing a lawsuit, though the naming of the country in question is still prohibited. Click here to read.....
LDPR lawmaker submits bill to Russian parliament to ban Kuril Islands’ transfer to Japan
10 Jan 2019
Deputy of Russia’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) Sergei Ivanov submitted a bill to the national parliament on Japan’s territorial claims to Russia, which bans the transfer of the Kuril Islands, according to information posted in the State Duma’s electronic database on Thursday. "The Kuril Islands belong to the Russian Federation following the results of World War Two and pursuant to the Cairo Declaration of December 1, 1943, the Potsdam Declaration of July 26, 1945 and the peace treaty with Japan signed in San Francisco on September 8, 1951. The legal acts containing the provisions on giving up the territory of the Kuril Islands are not subject to their ratification, publishing, enforcement and application," the bill says.
The bill’s author indicates in the accompanying documents that the initiative was submitted to the Russian parliament after the Japanese legislature adopted amendments to the law on special measures to speed up the solution of the problem of the northern territories, which stipulates that the four islands belong to Japan and sets the task of taking utmost efforts to return them.
"In the Instrument of Surrender of September 2, 1945, Japan unconditionally recognized the Potsdam Declaration and the Cairo Declaration mentioned in it. In compliance with article 2 of the San Francisco Treaty of Peace of 1951, Japan gives up all the rights, legal grounds and claims to the Kuril Islands and the part of the Sakhalin Island and the adjacent islands, the sovereignty over which Japan acquired under the Portsmouth Treaty of September 5, 1905. Pursuant to the above-mentioned, the legal acts in the Russian Federation on repudiating the Kuril Islands are not subject to publishing and have no legal force," the LDPR deputy says. Click here to read.....
AFRICA
Pro-Bashir rally as Sudan says 800 protesters arrested: VOA
7 January 2019
More than 800 protesters have been arrested in anti-government demonstrations held across Sudan since last month, a minister said Monday, as hundreds gathered at a rally backing President Omar al-Bashir.
Deadly protests have rocked Sudan since December 19, when unrest first broke out over a government decision to raise the price of bread. Authorities say at least 19 people including two security personnel have been killed in clashes during the demonstrations, but rights group Amnesty International has put the death toll at 37. Click here to read.....
Nigeria military raids newspaper, seizes computers and arrests journalists: The New York Times
9 January 2019
The Nigerian military stormed the headquarters and three satellite offices of one of the nation’s largest newspapers on Sunday, detaining at least two journalists and seizing computers, phones and other equipment.
The military released a statement calling its actions an “invitation” to talk to staff about a lead article on Sunday in the newspaper, Daily Trust, about a planned military operation in the town of Baga, that it said had divulged classified information, “thus undermining national security.” Click here to read.....
UNHCR Launches $430M plan for CAR refugees: VOA
7 January 2019
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, has launched a $430 million campaign to help displaced people and refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR). Over a million CAR residents have been internally displaced or made refugees by years of inter-communal fighting. More than a quarter million of them are living in neighboring Cameroon.
Rosine Ngaxi Alzina, 24, sings a lullaby for her two-week-old baby to sleep. She sings that God, who helped them escape safely last month from the Central Africa Republic to Cameroon, will provide for them. Click here to read.....
Madagascar court declares Rajoelina as election winner: Aljazeera
8 January 2019
Madagascar's High Constitutional Court has declared former leader Andry Rajoelina as the winner of the country's bitterly contested presidential election.
Rejecting all complaints filed over the results, the court on Tuesday said Rajoelina won with more than 55 percent of the vote in the Indian Ocean island nation's runoff election last month. Rajoelina's main challenger, former President Marc Ravalomanana, received more than 44 percent, the court said. Click here to read.....
Refugees at high risk of kidnapping in Horn of Africa, research reveals: The Guardian
9 January 2019
More than 15 percent of refugees travelling north through the Horn of Africa were kidnapped during their journey last year, according to what is believed to be one of the most comprehensive surveys of migration journeys.
Researchers from the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC), who conducted 11,150 interviews across 20 countries and seven migration routes, warned that kidnappings may be increasing and identified people travelling through the Horn of Africa to north Africa and Europe as the most vulnerable. Click here to read.....
Declared runner-up challenges Congo election results
12 January 2019
The man declared the runner-up in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidential elections, Martin Fayulu, said on Saturday that he had filed a court challenge demanding a manual recount of the results.
Mr. Fayulu has accused the declared winner, the opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi, and President Joseph Kabila — whose party was adjudged to have won legislative and provincial elections held the same day — of making a back-room deal to divide power between them. “You can’t manufacture results behind closed doors,” he said, telling reporters that the material for his court challenge included election results forms posted outside polling stations. Click here to read.....
DR Congo election: SADC proposes unity government: BBC News
13 January 2019
The southern African regional body SADC has called for a unity government in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following the disputed presidential election. All political leaders should agree a negotiated settlement, it said.
Opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi was declared winner but another opponent of the current administration, Martin Fayulu, insists he won. He alleges Mr Tshisekedi made a deal with outgoing President Joseph Kabila. Mr Kabila has been in office for 18 years and the result, if confirmed, would create the first orderly transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. Click here to read.....
Burkina Faso extends state of emergency as attacks by militants surge: africanews
13 January 2019
Burkina Faso’s parliament voted on Friday to extend a state of emergency by six months in several northern provinces where attacks by Islamist militants have surged in recent months, including one on Thursday that killed 12 people.
The Government said the latest attack was carried out by three dozen jihadists on the town of Gasseliki in Soum province near the Malian border. Two Gasseliki residents told Reuters that the men opened fire and set fire to shops in town.Burkina Faso imposed the state of emergency on Dec. 31 after militants killed 10 gendarmes in a single attack.
Security has deteriorated in Burkina as jihadists – including many based in Mali – seek to increase their influence across the poorly policed scrublands of the Sahel region just south of the Sahara Desert. Click here to read.....
