Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India is seeking consensus among G20 nations against fugitive economic offenders to ensure their faster extradition and recovery of assets, both domestically as well as abroad. This was stated here today by Union Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Jitendra Singh, in an interview with public broadcaster Doordarshan News before leaving for Kolkata for the G20 Ministerial meet and the final meeting of G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) to be held tomorrow. The third and final meeting of the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) under India’s Presidency is being held from August 9-11, 2023 in Kolkata. Over…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In a significant step towards achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of self-reliance in edible oil production, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced the commencement of a massive oil-palm plantation initiative. This effort is poised to revolutionize the state’s agro-economy while empowering farmers to augment their earnings. The inauguration of the cultivation program took place in the Tinsukia district. Highlighting the significance of this endeavor, Chief Minister Sarma conveyed the state’s commitment to bringing approximately 3.75 lakh hectares of land under oil palm cultivation. To ensure the success of this initiative, the Assam government has entered…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India is a beautiful amalgam of different cultures and religions and thus along with ASEAN, will play a key role in becoming an anchor of world peace, prominent Sufi spiritual leader Haji Syed Salman Chishty said at the ASEAN 2023 event in Jakarta. Chishty, who is also the Chairman of Chishty Foundation, was addressing the opening session of the ASEAN Inter-Religious and Inter-Culture Summit 2023 in Jakarta and said that ‘One World, One Family, One Future’ resonates at the ASEAN summit with the true spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. He made the remarks on August 7 and the same…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: German Air Force chief Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz called on the Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari in Delhi and the two discussed the ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two Air Forces. Moreover, they also discussed issues of mutual interest during the meeting. The Indian Air Force took to its official Twitter handle and said, “Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, Chief of the German Air Force called on the CAS Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari in New Delhi today.” “Issues of mutual interest & means to further enhance cooperation between the two Air Forces…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: A total of five people, including two policemen, were injured in a hand grenade attack on Quetta’s Joint Road on Wednesday, according to Dawn. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Captain (retired) Zohaib Mohsin said that initially, an exchange of fire took place between policemen and unknown miscreants. Later on, the miscreants hurled a hand grenade and fled from the scene. SSP Mohsin arrived at the site of the incident and sought a briefing from the station house officer of the relevant police station. According to Quetta Civil Hospital, Spokesperson Dr Waseem Baig said that the injured included…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: On 5 August 2019, by abrogating Article 370 and 35A and bifurcating Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, the Modi government let the world know “impossible is nothing” was not just a catchy tagline. However, deep down, the ruling establishment knew the task was only half done. There were many miles to go. The government had taken adequate measures to overcome any challenge – regional, national and international, particularly with relation to the two hostile neighbours. The legal and constitutional integration of J&K had become total. The biggest challenge now was the integration of people in Kashmir…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Amid the spat between China and the Philippines over the latter’s warship being allegedly targeted by water canons, Beijing urged the Philippines to immediately tow away the grounded warship from Ren’ai Reef, the Global Times reported on Tuesday. The Global Times is a daily tabloid published in China. Quoting a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Global Times reported that claiming the Ren’ai Reef as a part of China’s Nansha Islands, Beijing called for restoring the original status of the reef. The Philippines, according to the report, repeatedly made promises to tow away the warship illegally “grounded”…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The risks attached to the International Monetary Fund’s billion Standby Arrangement (SBA) program to Pakistan will increase as the tenure of caretaker can be extended after the approval of the digital census, The News International reported. After the Council Common Interests (CCI) meeting “unanimously” approved the digital census 2023 on Saturday, the election is expected to delay which means that caretaker tenure will also extend. In the existing circumstances, the tenure of the caretaker regime might have to be extended up to six months at least to complete the process of political transition. Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Let Trade Run Free. Tie your currency to the US dollar. Align your foreign policy with America’s. The US and its Western partners wrote these economic rules, a cornerstone of the world order prevailing since World War II. Now developing countries, often called the Global South, are quietly revising them. The Global South sees a chance to chart its own future. Nirupama Menon Rao, a former Indian foreign secretary, points to her country’s spreading of digital payments to developing nations. “India’s outreach to countries in the Global South has been ­successful,” the onetime ambassador to the US told…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: China’s economy has fallen into deflation after consumer prices fell year on year last month for the first time in more than two years, official data shows, as slowing domestic spending weighs on the country’s post-Covid economic recovery. The consumer price index, the main gauge of inflation, fell 0.3% in July, the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS) said, having flatlined in June. A survey of analysts had anticipated a 0.4% year-on-year decline. July’s data was China’s first negative inflation reading since early 2021, when prices were weaker as the Covid-19 pandemic hit demand, and pork prices…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The third round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Cameroon was held in Yaounde, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The talks held on Monday was co-chaired by AS (C&WA), from Indian side , Sevala Naik Mude, and Secretary General of Ministry of External Relations from Cameroon, Oumarou Chinmoun, the MEA said in an official release. Both parties discussed ways to further deepen the ties between India and Cameroon during the meeting, which covered political, economic and commercial, investment, defence and security, development partnership, capacity building, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people links. According to the official release,…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday said that Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has undergone another successful orbit reduction. This means the spacecraft has moved one step closer to the moon. The organisation took to X (formerly Twitter) account and said, “Even closer to the moon’s surface. Chandrayaan-3’s orbit is reduced to 174 km x 1437 km following a manuevre performed today.” The next operation of Chandrayaan-3 is scheduled for August 14, 2023, between 11:30 and 12:30 hrs. On Monday, ISRO chairman S Somanath had expressed confidence in the progress of the forthcoming lunar mission, Chandrayaan 3, providing reassurance…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha presided over a significant meeting, orchestrating a comprehensive review of the preparations for the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations across the mesmerizing expanse of Jammu Kashmir. The meeting, a convergence of esteemed administrative and police officials, was a testament to the collective dedication to ensuring a splendid tribute to the nation’s 76th year of sovereignty. Gracing the event were key figures in the administrative landscape, including Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, and Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, who together exemplified the essence of administrative prowess and unity. The presence…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to Foreign Affairs Minister of the Czech Republic Jan Lipavsky on Tuesday and discussed bilateral ties and important global issues. The minister took to his official Twitter handle and said, “Pleased to speak to FM @JanLipavsky of Czech Republic. A good conversation on our bilateral ties, on important global issues and on our multilateral cooperation.” Jaishankar further said that he is looking forward to seeing Czech’s counterpart at the 78th United Nations General Assembly. “Look forward to seeing him at #UNGA78,” the tweet added. The 78th session of the UN General Assembly…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Through the first five months of this year, US imports from China were down 24 per cent from the same period one year ago, according to the Census Bureau, Washington Post reported, adding that US companies are accelerating efforts to reduce their dependence on Chinese suppliers. Companies such as search HP, Stanley Black & Decker and search Lego are among those that have been repositioning their supply lines for American consumers, either to avoid the risk of being pinched between rival superpowers or as part of a longer-term strategy to produce goods closer to customers. US tariffs on…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: All of 16, an Indian American girl, Tanishka Dhariwal, raised more than USD 10,000 to PM CARES Fund towards helping those affected by the horrific train accident in Odisha earlier this year. On Friday, Tanishka presented the funds to the Consul General of India in New York, Randhir Jaiswal, which came from her friends of diverse backgrounds, underscoring the unity and global community spirit nurtured among these young individuals. “I was able to start a GoFundMe page. I reached out to schools, districts, friends and family and raised over USD 10,000. Hopefully, this money will be able to…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: An exhibition titled ‘Mapping Tibet’ commenced at the Tibet Museum in the north Indian hill town of Dharamshala on Monday. Norzin Dolma, Minister of the Department of Information and International Relations of the Tibetan government in exile, inaugurated the exhibition. 42 maps have been displayed showcasing the historic boundaries of Tibet since the 17th century and its political relationships with the neighbouring countries. The exhibition will continue till October 5. The special guest at the event, Tsering Wangyal Shawa, said, “These maps tell a story about how Tibet was mapped by different agencies over time and so that…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Two-Day International Film Festival culminated on Monday at the Auditorium of Mata Vaishno Devi Spiritual Growth Centre, Katra, Jammu. On the concluding day of the Film Festival an Award Ceremony was held in presence of special guests who are National and International Film personalities. Prominent among them were actors Preeti Sapru, Yashpal Sharma, Suman Talwar and Vijay Varma besides Film-maker Mohmad Rasheed from Maldives. Many awards were distributed in a number of categories but the highlight of the event was that the team who made a film on the Tribals of Jammu and Kashmir – Bakerwals, once…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Border talks between India and China have not been “halted” and both the countries “have made progress on key tension points in the last three years”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday. In an interaction with mediapersons here today, the foreign minister said that there has been progress on key tension points between the two countries in the last three years. He further informed that another meeting on the border talks will be held soon. “India-China border talks not halted, meeting will be held soon,” Jaishankar said. India and China have time and again faced border…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Indian-origin Vaibhav Taneja became the new Tesla Chief Financial Officer after Zachary Kirkhorn stepped down from his position. Taking to his LinkedIn account, Kirkhorn informed that after being part of the company for 13 years, he has left the position. He also thanked Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk for his leadership and optimism. “This morning Tesla announced that I’ve stepped down from my role as Chief Financial Officer, succeeded by our Chief Accounting Officer, Vaibhav Taneja. Being a part of this company is a special experience and I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done together since I joined…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the e-portal ‘Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh,’ a repository of textiles & crafts, developed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology to give a big push to the marketing of the country’s handloom products. Addressing the National Handloom Day Celebration at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi’s Pragati Maidan, the Prime Minister recalled that he had emphasized the need to enlist and compile the diverse clothing of India and expressed delight that it has come to fruition today with the launch of ‘Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh’. The Prime Minister highlighted the contribution of…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: After August 5, 2019, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led dispensation ended the 70-year-long status quo by merging Jammu and Kashmir completely into the Union of India, J&K’s agriculture sector is witnessing an unprecedented development. The government after August 5, 2019, has worked hard to clear the impediments that prevented the farmers from making ends meet. From quality seeds to on-spot help, the UT administration ensured to make agriculture a sustainable and remunerative economic activity for farmers at affordable prices. Their efforts yielded results as the quality of the crops has improved and farmers are getting a good price…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: As many as 44 IT hardware manufacturers including global PC makers have registered for manufacturing laptops, tablets and personal computers in India, an official source said on Saturday. The official, without naming any company, said that IT hardware production in the country is expected to repeat the success that has been achieved in mobile phone manufacturing under the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme. Leading laptop companies have registered for PLI and some of them are ready to start manufacturing in India any time. Global server companies have said that they want to make India an export hub for…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Saturday said India remains an active, willing partner to find a lasting, comprehensive solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. NSA Doval on Saturday arrived in Jeddah to participate in a summit of national security advisers and other officials being hosted by Saudi Arabia to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The NSA during the meeting said India has regularly engaged both Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict at the highest levels. He said the country supports the global order based on principles enshrined in UN Charter and international law. “Respect…