Ousmane Sonko, the new prime minister of Senegal, who is well-known for rallying youth support, succeeded his ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye in securing the presidency. The appointment was made just hours after Faye was sworn in as president of the country in West Africa after winning the election on March 25 by a wide margin. Despite being barred from the most recent election due to a defamation conviction, Sonko, a critic of former president Macky Sall, supported Faye to succeed him. Former tax inspectors Sonko and Faye support Senegal's independence from French colonial ties and are agai
China, Russia, and North Korea are increasingly launching cyberattacks, so Japan, the United States, and the Philippines are teaming up to create a collective cyber defence network. At their trilateral summit in Washington on April 11, Presidents Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are expected to reach an agreement on this cooperation. This initiative aims to protect critical infrastructure and government facilities. There are currently cybersecurity negotiations between the United States and Japan, as well as ongoing discussions with the Philippines. The United States and
Indonesia purchases two submarines from the state-owned French Naval Group to be constructed domestically. This comes after recent defence contracts with French businesses, which included the 2022 purchase of 42 Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft. The 18 torpedoes and missile-capable diesel-electric Scorpenes will be constructed at the PT PAL shipyard in Indonesia. Technology transfer is part of the agreement, and Indonesians will handle management and maintenance, producing a large number of skilled jobs. The CEO of the military group, Pierre Eric Pommellet, applauds the collaboration an
On Monday, India delivered two Dornier-228 aircraft to Guyana as part of a Line of Credit Agreement, marking a new phase in their partnership. The Indian Air Force team facilitated the delivery, initiated by diplomatic efforts led by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and High Commissioner Dr KJ Srinivasa. This demonstrates India's commitment to enhancing Guyana's defence capabilities, with President Ali's visit to HAL in 2023 being a starting point. Guyana's government, represented by Dr Ashni K Singh, expressed gratitude for India's support and emphasised the importance of advanced t
According to Japanese media outlets, the United States government is arranging a significant summit set to take place in July. The summit is likely to occur on the sidelines of a NATO gathering in Washington and will feature President Joe Biden alongside his counterparts from Japan and South Korea. As per a report, the anticipated discussions during this summit are expected to encompass a wide array of pressing issues, ranging from fortifying deterrence measures against China to addressing North Korea's persistent nuclear threat. Additionally, concerns regarding North Korea's increasingly
On Monday, President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) appointed Judith Suminwa Tuluka as the country's first female prime minister, marking a historic moment in Congolese politics. President Tshisekedi made a promise during his campaign, and the announcement represents a significant advancement in gender equality under the country's leadership. Former planning minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka steps into her new role at a crucial time for the nation, particularly in the conflict-ridden eastern region. Rich in minerals and resources, this region has been plagued b
India has continued its steadfast support of the bilateral development partnership by providing the second tranche of five billion Indian rupees (INR) or Ngultrum (Nu) to Bhutan for the GyalSung Project. India’s Ambassador Sudhakar Dalela presented the amount to Bhutan's Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Lyonpo DN Dhungyel, on March 26, 2024. The King of Bhutan has endorsed the GyalSung Project, which aims to empower Bhutanese youth through thorough skill development and encourage active participation in the country's development. This second instalment brings India's to
Indian EAM S. Jaishankar met with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad bin Haji Hasan in Kuala Lumpur as part of his tour across Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The discussions aimed to bolster collaboration across political, economic, defence, and people-to-people connections between the two nations. They also delved into regional and international concerns of mutual interest. Jaishankar expressed satisfaction with the talks, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of Malaysia-India relations and the importance of enhancing cooperation in various sectors such as politics, economics, d
On Tuesday, Brazil and France initiated a joint investment programme aimed at safeguarding the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and Guyana, committing 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) from public and private sources over four years. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the initiative during his visit to Brazil, where he met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Belem. In a joint statement, both leaders pledged to collaborate in protecting tropical forests, aiming to halt Amazon deforestation by 2030 to mitigate global warming. This commitment precedes Brazil's hosting o
On Tuesday, the Indian Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar, a specialised Pollution Control Vessel stationed in Manila Bay, Philippines, participated in a bilateral maritime cooperation initiative. The vessel is equipped with advanced marine pollution control gear and a Chetak Helicopter. This deployment will be from March 25 to April 12 and will address marine pollution concerns and enhance cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). This step marks the third consecutive mission to ASEAN countries. Earlier, it visited Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia in 2023.