Author: Arif ArifArman

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: 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…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with his Nepalese counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Saturday and reviewed various aspects of the India-Nepal cooperation to strengthen the deep bonds of friendship between the two countries. The telephone conversation between PM Modi and Prachanda continues the tradition of high level exchanges between the two countries. “The two leaders reviewed various aspects of the India-Nepal bilateral cooperation and followed-up on discussions held during Prime Minister Prachanda’s recent visit to India from 31 May to 3 June 2023, so as to advance the bilateral partnership and to further strengthen the deep bonds…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India has started manufacturing 38 active pharmaceutical ingredients, or APIs, in the last one and a half years on which it was import-dependent, under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the sector, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said here Saturday. Mandaviya said that the 2017 border standoff with China at Doklam triggered India to rethink its self-reliant strategy regarding active pharma components as it was dependent on just one country for the import of 95 per cent of APIs for the formulation industry. The health minister was speaking at the inaugural event of the Healthcare Summit organised at…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India’s ambitious third moon mission, Chandrayaan-3 has successfully entered the lunar orbit on Saturday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) informed through its Twitter. The required maneuver was done from an ISRO facility stationed in Bengaluru, the city-headquartered space agency said. “Chandrayaan-3 has been successfully inserted into the lunar orbit. A retro-burning at the Perilune was commanded from the Mission Operations Complex (MOX), ISTRAC ( ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network ), Bengaluru,” the agency said in a tweet. Perilune is the spacecraft’s closest point to the moon. The next operation after entering lunar orbit is the reduction…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: K V Kamath, chairman of the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID), expressed his confidence in India’s potential to achieve the $5-trillion economy target within 18 months. “Between 2003 and 2008, we doubled our growth, which was the fastest growth till now. There were various reasons we slowed down, but we caught up again. Now, we are confidently talking of taking our $3.5 or $4 trillion (economy), somewhere in between, to $5 trillion in the next 18 months or so,” Kamath said at the annual Maharashtra Green Infrastructure Conclave 2023. He added, “These numbers are also…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: It took the Supreme Court four long years to find time for taking up plethora of writ petitions challenging the validity of the government’s drastic action in Jammu and Kashmir- revocation of Article 370, downgrading and splitting Jammu and Kashmir state into two Union Territories. Even so, there is no definite sign yet of when and how the Union government intends to sort out its crucial political aftermath and restore the democratic power structure. Restoration of the UT’s erstwhile state level status is a popular demand almost across the board. Political vacuum caused by the Centre’s action on…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Pakistan government had to impose additional taxes of 215 billion Pakistani Rupees (PKR) and slash expenditures by 85 billion PKR in order to strike an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), The News International reported on Saturday. Although Pakistan was able to secure the IMF deal just in time, the conditions imposed by the body are turning out to be tedious to implement. The announcement was made by Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar at the National Assembly. While briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenues, Dar said that when the government had presented…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Rallies and demonstrations were held in different parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Thursday to protest against the “unjust taxes in electricity bills, unavailability of subsidized wheat flour, increase in the luxuries of the ruling elite” and other issues of public concern. The biggest show was, however, held in Rawalakot, the divisional headquarters of Poonch which is also known as Pearl Valley due to its scenic beauty, under the aegis of local traders’ body and other civil society organisations. It was a rally of thousands of people from all walks of life amid a symbolic three…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India, under its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, has always come forward to help debt-ridden Sri Lanka, and in the latest instance, Indian High Commissioner handed over a cheque of 450 million for the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SL-UDI) Project. Taking to Twitter, High Commission of India in Colombo, Sri Lanka said, “High Commissioner handed over a cheque of INR 450 million to State Minister Hon. @kanakadh, in the gracious presence of Hon. @SagalaRatnayaka today for SLUDI project, which is being implemented through grant assistance by Govt of #India.” The SL-UDI project holds immense promise in bolstering Sri Lanka’s…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Indian embassy in Kathmandu and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration of Nepal on Friday signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to undertake the developmental projects, which will be built under the grant assistance of India. Among the four projects, three will be in the education sector and one project in Water Supply and Sanitation, at a total estimated cost of NRs. 170 million, a release from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu read. “These four projects, namely:- construction of School Building of Shree Galainath Secondary School, Shailashikhar Municipality; School Building of Shree Himalaya Secondary School,…