Japan and Vietnam have agreed to sign up for cooperation amid worries about China’s growing military influence. They signed the deal that enables the export of Japanese-made defense equipment and technology to Hanoi. Nobuo Kishi, Japan’s Defence Minister said that the deal elevates the two countries' defense partnership “to a new level” and both the nations plan to deepen defense ties through multinational joint exercises and other means. Vietnam became the 11th nation that has signed defense equipment and technology transfer deals with Japan. The defense minister’s meeting wi
On Monday, Bhupendra Patel will take oath as the new Chief Minister of Gujarat. Followed by the resignation of Vijay Rupani from the top post in the state, Patel holds a strong influence in the Patidar community in Gujarat which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has banked upon to win the upcoming elections. He will be the 17th Chief Minister of Gujarat, fondly addressed as ‘Dada’ by his supporters, Bhupendrabhai Rajnikantbhai Patel. He is the fourth CM in the BJP-led state government in the country this year to opt for this move. Earlier, Trivendra Singh Rawat and Tirath Singh Rawat Ut
The BRICS group has agreed on anti-terrorism measures, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the virtual summit he chaired on Thursday. Presidents Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Cyril Ramaphosa, and Jair Bolsanaro attended the summit hosted by India. Mr. Modi said during India's leadership of the Brics grouping, all of the group's partners have cooperated fully. "Today we are an influential voice for the emerging economies of the world. This platform has also been useful for focusing attention on the priorities of developing nations as well," he said. Its members have established powerful inst
A second round of high-level consultations between Ankara and Cairo took place in the Turkish capital on Sept. 7-8. The focus of the meeting was on bilateral and regional issues, including developments in Libya, Syria and Palestine. In a joint statement to initiate the process of mutual benefits, they noted, “The two sides agreed to continue these consultations confirming their desire to make progress in areas under discussion and the need for further steps to facilitate normalization of their relations.” Egyptian officials invited Turkish representatives to Cairo early in May to di
According to new research, 22 million acres of land in Indonesia earmarked for palm oil cultivation may become stranded assets if investments and regulations shift in support of the Paris Climate Agreement. Climate risk analysis firm Orbitas warns the threat to Indonesian palm oil producers and investors who pursue unsustainable production will be severe if world governments and financial markets address deforestation's role in climate change. The production of palm oil in Indonesia accounts for 72 percent of global production. Palm oil plantations in Indonesia have repeatedly come under f
India concluded its presidency of the United Nations Security Council for August. With the significant strides made under Indian stewardship August was busiest and probably most productive for the Security Council. The permanent representative of India to the United Nations Mr. T.S. Trimurti said that India managed to achieve almost all of what they had set out along with successfully handling the expected and unexpected challenges that came their way. During India’s presidency they had ‘14 outcome documents’, out of them five were UNSC resolutions. The country held three major signa
On Wednesday, after the military coup that ousted President Alpha Conde, west Africa’s main political and economic bloc suspended Guinea’s membership. Mamady Doumbouya, Guinea’s coup leader, pledged to install an unfinished, transitional government. The details about how and when for the same were not mentioned. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders from the 15 members demanded a return to the constitutional order and immediate release of the president during the virtual meeting. Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Alpha Barry said that they agreed to send a high-l
On Tuesday, the Taliban announced their government with an Un-Blacklisted veteran of the hardline movement in the top role. It came weeks after they swept to power and toppled the US-backed president. In the transition of the Taliban from militant force to governing power of Afghanistan, two people were shot dead in the western city of Herat amid security officials grappling with a growing number of protests against its rule. A spokesman said at a press conference that a senior minister, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund was appointed as an acting prime minister. All the top positions were
On Sunday, South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma was placed on medical parole due to his ill health. He was jailed for defying a Constitutional Court order to give evidence on an inquiry investigating high-level corruption during his nine years in office. He was imprisoned in early July after he handed himself in on July7. The government’s correctional services department announced on Sunday that the medical parole placement for the former president meant that he will complete the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections, whereby he must comply with a speci
Japan’s minister Taro Kono, in charge of fighting COVID-19 is the top choice of voters for Japan’s prime minister. He might also pick up the backing of a popular ruling party heavyweight in the race for party leader. After the shocking announcement by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to step down from his post, a ruling Liberal Democratic Celebration (LDP) management race was set for September 29. Many candidates will be contemplating runs along with two ladies. The winner will turn out to be the prime minister after the LDP’s majority in parliament. Kono is a lengthy favored candida