Category: Politics

Japan troops will most likely participate with the United States Marines and Australian forces in northern Australia from next year. On this, the defense ministers from the three countries have confessed that they expressed concerns about the Chinese military’s growing threat.

On Sunday, a joint statement reiterated “serious concerns” about establishing actions in South China seas and the East. It also includes “dangerous conduct” by the Chinese military against the Phillippines and the region’s other vessels.

To conduct talks, Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles hosted his Japanese and US counterparts, Gen Nakatani and Lloyd Austin, in Darwin city. On the given occasion, they announced trilateral amphibious training between Japan, Australia, and the US Marine rotational force. This will start in northern Australia in 2025 and begin with a multinational training activity named Exercise Taliman Sabre.

As per Marles, Australia’s Defence Minister, the  deployment of troops for Darwin training is a “fantastic opportunity for our defense.” Marles also states this opportunity as “the best relationships possible with like-minded countries, with our friends and with our allies” when asked if the agreement would anger Beijing. For the first time next year, Canberra will join Exercise Orient Shield in Japan, a field training exercise between US and Japanese forces.

Following a historic electoral victory, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam will become Mauritius’ new Prime Minister. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his compliments on social media, expressing his enthusiasm for working with Ramgoolam to further their “unique partnership.” In a post on X (previously Twitter), PM Modi wrote, “Had a warm conversation with my friend Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, congratulating him on his historic electoral victory. I wished him great success in leading Mauritius and extended an invitation to visit India. (I) look forward to working closely together to strengthen our special and unique partnership.”

Mauritius held general elections on Sunday, with polling booths open from 7 a.m. (03:00 GMT) until 6 p.m. (14:00 GMT). It was the country’s 12th election since winning independence from the UK in 1968. On Monday, current Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth admitted defeat, recognising a significant loss for his political alliance. “The people have picked another team. Jugnauth expressed his best wishes for the country.

Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, the son of Mauritius’ first Prime Minister, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, served as Prime Minister from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2014.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, represented India at the G20 Culture Ministers’ Summit in Brazil and the World Travel Mart in London. These events align with PM Modi’s aim of encouraging sustainable development through culture.

Shekhawat emphasised India’s rich cultural history and tremendous tourism potential, presenting it as a strategic driver of economic progress. He emphasised how India’s cultural richness and geographic diversity can make it a top tourist destination and a key contributor to the national economy.

During the summit, Shekhawat held bilateral talks with leaders from Brazil, Germany, France, and South Africa, seeking joint opportunities to boost tourism between these countries and India.

The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the High Commission of India in the UK, also sponsored the ‘Chalo India’ cultural event on the historic Cutty Sark in London. The event highlighted Indian culture and hospitality while also promoting the Ministry’s new ‘Chalo India’ project. Shekhawat asked the Indian diaspora in the UK to serve as cultural ambassadors, inviting friends to see “New India.” He announced that 100,000 e-tourist visas would be offered to foreign travellers through the ‘Chalo India’ initiative till March 31, 2025.

Denis Manturov, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, and S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, will co-chair the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation (IGC-TEC) meeting in New Delhi on November 12, with the goal of strengthening economic ties between the two countries. Before the major event, Manturov will attend the India-Russia Business Forum in Mumbai on Monday, which aims to strengthen ties between Indian and Russian business executives.

The IGC-TEC, which was created in 1992, remains an important platform for overseeing bilateral cooperation, regularly reviewing developments in trade and economic relations. The expected subjects of discussion include improving the payment method for bilateral commerce, raising trade settlements in national currencies, and investigating collaborative projects such as Vande Bharat trains with Russia’s Transmashholding.

The Business Forum, co-hosted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Business Council for Cooperation with India, will focus on industrial cooperation, transportation, finance, and digital technologies.

Both countries aspire to achieve a $100 billion trade objective by 2030. Despite reaching $30 billion by 2025, India remains concerned about its relatively low export volume.

South Africa and Britain have agreed to strengthen economic and defence ties, according to their foreign ministers after talks on Tuesday. Britain is one of South Africa’s top five export destinations, including precious metals, cars, and agricultural products, making it the country’s largest trading partner on the African continent.

According to South African Revenue Service figures, bilateral trade between the two countries was worth approximately $7.62 billion last year.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, along with South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, declared, “We’ve committed to a UK-South Africa growth plan that will foster economic development and expand our trade and investment connections.” Although specifics were not revealed, Lammy’s office did highlight a component of the strategy focused on increasing agricultural jobs in rural South Africa to promote exports to Britain.

Lamola stated that the trade and investment partnership has stalled owing to COVID-19 and other challenges, indicating the necessity for a “reset.”

In defence, the two countries agreed to strengthen their collaboration on counter-terrorism measures and addressed common goals, such as advancing a just energy transition. Lammy, on his first official tour to Africa, has previously promised to enhance commercial and security ties with Nigeria.

The Japanese and Polish governments plan to increase nuclear energy cooperation with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday, according to Poland’s Ministry of Industry. This deal intends to improve Poland’s energy transition by integrating Japanese nuclear technology into its infrastructure.

According to a statement released by the Polish industry ministry on social media platform X, the MoU will involve the exchange of crucial information and technological support between the two countries. Japanese companies, including Hitachi and IHI, are anticipated to contribute advanced technologies to Poland’s first nuclear power plant project, a crucial step towards reducing the country’s dependency on coal.

According to a report on the agreement, highlighting Japan’s involvement in assisting Poland’s transition to low-carbon energy sources. Westinghouse Electric will lead the initiative to build Poland’s first nuclear reactor on the Baltic Sea coast, with an estimated $40 billion investment. This project, scheduled for completion in 2040, demonstrates Poland’s commitment to diversifying its energy sources.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently confirmed Poland’s plans to seek financial partners for a second nuclear reactor, demonstrating the country’s continuous commitment to sustainable energy and carbon reduction.

On Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra to discuss measures to strengthen the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. During the meeting, Jaishankar extended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings and expressed gratitude for Albanese’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. From November 3-7, Jaishankar will be in Australia on an official visit, to foster cooperation on a variety of issues.

“I am delighted to meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today in Canberra. I conveyed a warm welcome from PM Narendra Modi and appreciate his guidance in building our strategic cooperation,” Jaishankar wrote on X.

In addition to meeting PM Albanese, Jaishankar spoke with Peter Dutton, the leader of Australia’s Liberal Party, about global issues and recognised Dutton’s support for India-Australia relations. He also met with New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, to discuss potential partnerships in education, agriculture, technology, and people-to-people relations. The two also exchanged perspectives on Indo-Pacific issues and global challenges.

Jaishankar strengthened diplomatic connections by meeting with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Canberra.

Donald Trump delivered an electrifying speech to his fans at the Palm Beach Convention Centre in Florida, declaring a “magnificent victory.” Fans rejoiced as pickup vehicles honked and bikers blared Trump-themed hip-hop music. Fatima Henges, a 30-year-old supporter, voiced her satisfaction, adding, “I’m super happy about the results so far.”

In his speech, Trump congratulated Americans for what he called “the extraordinary honour” of electing him as the 47th President. Addressing the thrilled audience, he declared, “This is a magnificent victory for the American people” and claimed to have won the popular vote—an accomplishment he had previously failed in 2016 and 2020. Trump promised to “fight for the American people and their future every single day,” describing the period as “the golden age of America.”

Key victories in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina have drastically limited Kamala Harris’ path to victory. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on his announced victory. Roselba Morales, a Mexican-American voter, applauded Trump’s goal for peace and security, waving a Trump flag and adding, “I’m grateful; thank you, Jesus!”

Trump claimed confidence in carrying out his mission to “restore America to greatness.”

UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, spoke on the phone on Saturday, emphasising their countries’ close link and exploring new ways to further bilateral relations and regional collaboration. During their discussion, the two leaders emphasised the necessity of collaboration in addressing critical regional concerns and strengthening the UAE-Qatar strategic cooperation.

In light of recent developments, both presidents exchanged views on a variety of crucial regional and international issues, with a focus on the emerging situation in the Middle East. They agreed that there was an urgent need for coordinated efforts to prevent further escalation in the region, as well as to actively strive to avert any new crises that could jeopardise stability.

Their conversation also included a promise to promote a clear, peaceful path for conflict resolution, with an emphasis on a fair, comprehensive, and long-term peace framework. They restated their support for the two-state solution, recognising it as critical to promoting long-term stability and security in the area. The dialogue emphasised their common vision of a Middle East that is peaceful and safe for everyone, driven by diplomacy and collaboration.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recently saw the signing of eight major agreements during the Crown Prince’s official two-day visit. These memorandums of understanding (MoUs) include civil service training, social development, artificial intelligence (AI), and other topics, indicating a growing relationship between the UAE and Singapore.

During a ceremonial welcome on October 29, Prime Minister Wong and Sheikh Khaled reaffirmed their countries’ close friendship and common interests. In a Facebook post, PM Wong mentioned that their discussions covered a wide range of themes, including geopolitics, clean energy, tourism, and cultural activities. Both leaders emphasised the importance of more collaboration through the Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum, particularly in public administration, climate action, and sustainable energy initiatives.

The MoUs include agreements for Singapore’s Ministry of Social and Family Development, Public Service Division, Civil Service College, and other significant organisations to share information with their UAE counterparts. Significant agreements were also reached on AI talent development, civilian nuclear cooperation, and arbitration.

On his first visit to Singapore, Sheikh Khaled plans to tour critical sites such as the Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre and GlobalFoundries facilities.