On Wednesday, Britain announced the withdrawal of its judges from Hong Kong’s top court to avoid legitimising oppression in the former British colony. The British judges are sitting on the court since Since 1997 when Hong Kong was returned to China. In the midst of China's ruling Communist Party's efforts to assert its control and silence independent voices, the British government's decision highlights the Asian financial hub's growing isolation. While England had judges on the Court of Final Appeal as part of efforts to protect the judicial system in the city, the British government
On Wednesday, Union minister Piyush Goyal met US Deputy national security advisor for international economics Daleep Singh to deepen India-US economic and strategic relations. Daleep Singh is on a two-day visit to India ahead of the 2+2 Dialogue between the two nations which is scheduled in Washington on April 11. Singh is likely to meet many other government officials and promote inclusive economic growth and prosperity. The focus will also be on free and open Indo-Pacific. He will consult his counterparts regarding Russia's invasion and mitigate its impact on the global economy. Mr
Saudi Arabia and its allies announced a unilateral cease-fire in the war in Yemen starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday. The coalition fighting in Yemen said the move was meant to create a productive environment for Yemeni political talks about the war taking place in Riyadh. Also, the gesture is intended to create a "positive environment" for peacemaking during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, it said. Yemen's rebel Houthis are boycotting the Yemeni talks in Saudi Arabia, so the announcement raised immediate doubts. Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said on late Tuesday that it will take all steps
On Monday, US President Joe Biden proposed $1.8 billion for the Indo-Pacific strategy and another $400 million to counter the malign Chinese behaviour. Joe Biden said, “In the Indo-Pacific, America is strengthening its role and expanding its cooperation with longtime allies and partners, including new diplomatic, defence and security, critical and emerging technology and supply chain, and climate and global health initiatives, while supporting stronger ties between our European and Indo Pacific allies”. According to the White House, the budget promotes integrated deterrence in the I
In an official statement, Egypt’s foreign minister confirmed to take part in groundbreaking talks in Israel alongside his counterparts from the US and three Arab states. In 1979, Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel, after decades of enmity and conflict. In 1994, Jordan followed suit. The UAE and Morocco foreign ministers are visiting Israel for the first time. The meet was announced as a "historic summit" by Israel on Friday. For the event, Egypt, UAE, Morocco and Bahrain’s Foreign Ministers’ have travelled to Israel to express their commitment t
On Monday, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa expressed his gratitude to India for extending financial assistance of $1 billion of credit to deal with its economic crisis. On Monday, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to hold bilateral talks with Sri Lanka’s top leadership. He is also scheduled to attend the seven-nation Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit. On a three-day visit, S Jaishankar will examine the possibilities of enhancing bilateral ties with one of India's key mariti
S Jaishankar, the Minister for External Affairs, met with Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in Addu City on Sunday to discuss the special relationship between the two countries. He also conveyed personal greetings and good wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Solih. He tweeted, “An honour to be received by President @ibusolih of Maldives. Conveyed the personal greeting and good wishes of PM @narendramodi. Discussed the special partnership between our two countries that has produced so many substantive outcomes during his tenure”. Jaishankar said he was honoure
On Sunday, The EU envoy visited Iran with an aim to bridge gaps in the talks on the nuclear deal. In Tehran, the EU coordinator met Iran’s Foreign Minister and its chief negotiator for a talk to restore the 2015 nuclear deal. EU diplomat Enrique Mora tweeted ahead of the trip, “Working on closing the remaining gaps in the #ViennaTalk. We must conclude this negotiation. Much is at stake”. Mr Mora looks after the indirect talks between Iran and the US, visited Tehran on late Saturday and met Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdoolahian on Sunday. No further details regarding the mee
On Tuesday evening, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a telephonic conversation with the Indian Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi to discuss that the “UK and India should intensify efforts to promote peace and de-escalation in the region”. Meanwhile Mr Modi “reiterated India’s appeal for cessation of hostilities and the return to dialogue and diplomacy” but did not make any reference to Russia. The official statement said, “PM emphasized India’s belief in respect for international law and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states, as the basis of the con
On Monday, Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennet and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Nahyan hold talks with Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in Eygpt. Keeping the Ukraine war in mind, the leaders are likely to discuss the repercussions of the Russian invasion. These meetings were initiated as Israel seeks to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, which were held without prior announcements. Earlier, Egypt and UAE shared a strong relationship with Russia. However, both nations now had joined a UN General Assembly vote to end the Russian invasion. Officials from Israel and Eyp