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Global South Goes North
Global South, a term coined in the 1960s but was confined to diplomatic circles, is now back in vogue. In the run-up to the G20 summit in Delhi in September 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India would be the “voice of the Global South”. A month earlier, the BRICS summit held in Johannesburg…
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Russia recognises two rebel regions of Ukraine as independent countries
Ratcheting up the tensions over Ukraine by several notches, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday night signed a decree recognising two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine – Donetsk and Lugansk – as sovereign nations. Putin signed the document after an hour-long, detailed televised address to the nation in which he explained the rationale for the…
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Russia, US wage mind games over Ukraine
War clouds hovered over Ukraine on Sunday with both Russia and the US deepening their mind games over a possible invasion of Kyiv by Moscow. While Russia extended its military drill in Belarus involving a large number of troops, which was originally scheduled to end on Sunday, the US said Putin’s playbook for invasion of…
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When Japan’s Princess Mako gave up royal status to marry a common man
In a decision that has evoked mixed reaction, Japan’s Princess Mako has chosen to give up her royal status so that she can marry the man she fell in love with. Pained by the harsh reactions and opposition to her choice, Mako went in on a simple ceremony on Tuesday October 26, 2021 followed by…
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US troops to stay put in Afghanistan
American troops are unlikely to withdraw from Afghanistan by May 1 as envisaged in the “peace deal” signed by the Trump administration and Taliban leaders last year. Days after US President Joe Biden said it would be “tough” to meet the May 1 deadline, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made a surprise visit to…
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Mysterious blast rips through Beirut, ripples felt across the sea
Over 100 people were killed and another 4,000 seriously injured as a gigantic, nuclear-like explosion rocked Lebanon capital Beirut on Tuesday evening. The blast happened at 6 pm local time at the port area in Central Beirut. It as so powerful it sent up a huge mushroom-shaped shock wave flipping vehicles and blowing out windows…
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Indian Defence Minister Visits Ladakh
Even as the border tension stand-off between India and China is yet to abate, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Stakna forward areas in Leh, the capital of Ladakh on Friday. During his interaction with soldiers at the Lukung post near Pangong Lake, Singh said, “Not an inch of our land can be taken…
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Nepal does a China, and Hou!
Days after China blocked access to Indian newspapers and television channels to deny its citizens of credible news from across the border, China’s vassal Nepal decided to please its master but it did not have the courage to do it openly. So, instead of announcing a government ban on Indian media, the Nepal government nudged…
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India cuts Pakistan by half
Days after two Indian diplomats faced harassment in Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday summoned the Charge d’ Affaires of Pakistan to convey New Delhi’s decision to “reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50%”. This effectively means India will expel half the Pak diplomats. According…
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‘Historical injustice as India’s role in WW-II remains unacknowledged’
Excerpts from India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar’s opening remarks at the RIC trilateral foreign ministers’ video conference on June 23, 2020 Friends, We welcome this special RIC meeting of Foreign Ministers to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the conclusion of the Second World War, as well as the foundation of the United Nations. The victory…
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Citizenship law: Are Indian Muslims tilting at windmills?
India is going through a peculiar situation. Days after President Ramnath Kovind signed off on the amended law that offers citizenship to the persecuted minorities of three neighbouring countries – Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan – Muslims across the country are demanding the law should not be implemented. Reason? Foreign Muslims illegally entering India are not…
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Here’s the world’s youngest PM
When Finnish transport minister Sanna Mirella Marin takes over as Prime Minister of the Nordic country later this week, she will be the world’s youngest Prime Minister at 34 – younger than Ukrain’s 35 years young premier Oleksiy Honcharuk and New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern who is 39. Marin was elected to the top post by…
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Is Sweden the world’s best country for women?
MONICA BOSE RAGHAVAN There are not many countries in the world where more than half the ministers and over 40% of the Members of Parliament are women. Sweden scores on both fronts. But, then, Sweden is not like any other nation. It proudly calls itself the world’s first ‘feminist government’ where gender equality tops everything…
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The Stockholm Ministerial Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament and the Non-Proliferation Treaty
Ministerial declaration, Stockholm, 11 June 2019 We, the participating states – Argentina, Canada, Finland, Ethiopia, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland – to the Stockholm Ministerial Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), met today to discuss how nuclear disarmament can be advanced….
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Sweden to host ministerial meeting on nuclear disarmament
In a fresh initiative to ratchet up international opinion towards a nuclear weapons-free world, Sweden plans to host an international ministerial meeting in Stockholm on June 11 on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The purpose of the meeting, to be hosted by Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström, is to discuss how governments can work…
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Iran: What’s Trump’s game plan?
Clouds of war are hovering over West Asia with the US and Iran hardening their stance. While tensions between the two countries have risen sharply ever since Donald Trump became the US President, the latest impasse was triggered by Iran’s threat that it would stop respecting an international deal it signed in 2015 agreeing to…
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Why Italy and India swapped year for hosting G20 summit
Italy was supposed to host the G20 summit only in 2022 but it would now host the group of 20 meeting a year earlier, in 2021. Likewise, India was to be the host of the world leaders’ annual meet in 2021. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India would do it a year later,…
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Why Pakistan doesn’t bother India
Donald Trump’s New Year gamble seems to be paying off. A day after the US President accused Pakistan of “lies and deceit” and “fooling America” in its commitment to fighting terrorism, events unfolded on Tuesday exactly as the net assessment forecast. A baffled Pakistan first tried to shrug off Trump’s devastating tweet as a non-issue,…
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‘Presidential’ Donald Trump meets Mexican President
In perhaps the first show of his diplomatic side, Trump called the Mexican President as a “friend” and termed the meeting a “great honour”
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Schools in Pakistan unsafe, India tells its diplomats in Islamabad
Citing unnamed sources, Indian media has reported that New Delhi has told its diplomats in Islamabad that their wards can no longer study in Pakistan schools. While Indian diplomats posted in Pakistan can’t have their children living with them, spouses will be allowed to stay, say the reports. While Indian diplomats posted in Pakistan can’t…
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the Joint Session of US Congress
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Distinguished Members of the U.S. Congress Ladies and Gentlemen. I am deeply honoured by the invitation to address this Joint Meeting of the U.S. Congress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker for opening the doors of this magnificent Capitol. This temple of democracy has encouraged and empowered other democracies the world over….
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The Trump Card
By EMILY SCHAUER BROWN Till a few weeks ago, nobody would have taken Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump seriously. His background in business and flare for drama that has led him from industry to industry, including a stint in Hollywood as the creator of the The Apprentice, meant that voters and potential competition alike didn’t…
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Pakistan denies visa to Indian actor Anupam Kher
Indian actor Anupam Kher has said he’s been denied visa to attend the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF), which begins February 5. Kher, who was among the 18 Indians invited to participate, was to deliver a speech at the festival. Kher took to Twitter to express his disappointment. “I feel bad for all those people who were…
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Diplomatic News Turns Five!
Dear readers, Diplomatic News – India (www.diplomaticnews.in) was launched on January 1, 2011 to capture the diplomatic, geo-political, strategic developments around the world that have a direct bearing on India. As Diplomatic News turns five, we are in the process of creating a panel of writers from various countries. If you are interested, let us…
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India is in Afghanistan to contribute, not compete: Modi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the Parliament of Afghanistan Eight centuries ago, a famous son of Balkh Province, one of the greatest poets in human history, Jalaluddin Rumi, wrote, “Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that gives flowers, not thunder”. This is the wisdom of this magnificent land and a…
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Pakistan’s dangerous game in India
The recent terrorist attacks in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), India’s northern states bordering Pakistan, have once again exposed military-ruled Pakistan’s nasty game in the region. At Gurdaspur in Punjab, three terrorists killed seven people – three unarmed civilians and four policemen, including a superintendent of police – and attacked a police station, before…
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What Arun Jaitley’s US visit has achieved
By EMILY SCHAUER Indian finance minister Arun Jaitley recently made a trip to the US in an effort to maintain ties with the US and drum up foreign investments. Seeking to increase the flow of American investment to India, Jaitley highlighted several improvements in India that boost investment appeal. Specifically, he cited improvements in…
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India reclaims its most relaxing export
By EMILY SCHAUER Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has successfully lobbied the United Nations to adopt an International Day of Yoga, which will debut on June 21, 2015, tying the now-international physical, mental and spiritual practice back to its Indian origins. Yoga is a practice heartily embraced throughout the Western world as people – Americans…
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A War Between Two Worlds
By George Friedman The murders of cartoonists who made fun of Islam and of Jews shopping for their Sabbath meals by Islamists in Paris last week have galvanized the world. A galvanized world is always dangerous. Galvanized people can do careless things. It is in the extreme and emotion-laden moments that distance and coolness are…
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India foils suspected terror bid by Pakistan
Four suspected terrorists from Pakistan, who were supposedly sailing in a fishing boat in the direction of Gujarat in India, blew themselves up when intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on January 1, 2015 in the Arabian Sea, India’s defence ministry said in a statement on Friday. The ICG had warned the occupants of…
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India, Pakistan exchange list of nuclear installations
On the first day of the New Year, India and Pakistan exchanged the list of their nuclear installations under a bilateral treaty that bars the two countries from attacking each other’s atomic facilities. This is an annual practice in vogue since 1991 when the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations was signed…
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Abe wins re-election in Japan’s snap polls
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe got a shot in the arm with his ruling coalition winning a new two-thirds majority in the elections held on Sunday. The win, in which Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) retained its majority in the House of Representatives, is seen as a referendum on his economic policy, known as Abenomics….
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Climate deal clinched at Lima
After two weeks of intense talks during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Lima, Peru, delegates from 194 countries came to an agreement on how to tackle climate change. The deal – the “Lima call for climate action” – includes a framework for setting national pledges, which will be submitted to…
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Russia to retain its position as India’s top defence supplier
During his sixth visit to India on 11 December 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin received an assurance from India that Russia would remain a top defence supplier for India. “Even as India’s options have increased today, Russia will remain our most important defence partner,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a statement after his…
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The ticking nuclear bomb
The threat of use, or misuse, of nuclear weapons is real and the consequences of such an event will be catastrophic, the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons warned. The two-day conference, which ended on December 9, 2014 in the Austrian capital, sought to draw global attention to the impact of nuclear…
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Senate report puts CIA in the dock
The interrogation methods used by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on detainees were ineffective, much harsher than previously revealed and often produced wrong information, according to the executive summary of a report de-classified by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released on Tuesday. Only the 528-page summary has been de-classified. The full report of…
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Will India ever overtake China?
Yes, says Goldman Sachs. And as early as 2016, by which time India’s economy is estimated to grow faster than China’s. According to the American investment bank, India’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016 will grow at the rate of 6.8 per cent, while China’s will be 6.7 per cent. If it indeed happens, it…
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Chuck Hagel bears the burden of America’s disillusionment with Obama
OPINION By EMILY SCHAUER Last week it was announced that Chuck Hagel submitted his resignation to President Obama. In the ensuing days, there was more speculation than fact rolling around the wires as America decided how it felt about this news. Since his announcement, there has been significant talk over why—and especially why now—Hagel is…
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“Forward Together We Go”
Text of speech delivered by US Trade Representative Michael Froman at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, New Delhi, on November 24, 2014. “I’ve been coming here for the past 15 years, as a tourist, as a business person and as a government official, but this is my first trip to…
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Rajapaksa seeks third term as Sri Lankan president
Seeking a third term, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday announced presidential elections ahead of schedule. The decision to hold presidential polls, expected in January next year, comes two years before the expiry of 69-year-old Rajapaksa’s current six-year term. “I am declaring a secret today. I have signed the proclamation calling for the election,…
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G20 leaders commit to reviving global economy
Ebola and climate change were among the non-economic topics mentioned in a joint statement by the Group of Twenty (G20) after their two-day summit in Brisbane, Australia that ended on Sunday, Nov. 16. On the economic front, the leaders of the G20 committed to reviving the subdued global economy with a $2 trillion, or 2.1 …
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India, US reach deal to break WTO impasse
In a major victory for India, the US on Thursday agreed to support the former’s demand to be allowed to continue with its food stockpiling scheme. In return, India will lift its veto on a global agreement on streamlining customs rules, known as the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), being negotiated by the members of the…
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Indian PM Narendra Modi to Visit Myanmar, Australia and Fiji
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have an unusually-long 10-day foreign trip starting November 11, 2014. “Starting 11th November I would be travelling to Myanmar, Australia and Fiji to participate in various summits and bilateral meetings,” Modi said in a statement. The Indian PM is to attend two key multilateral summits – ASEAN & East…
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Sweden Recognises Palestine. Will Others Follow?
One of the first foreign policy announcements made by Stefan Lofven upon taking over as Prime Minister of Sweden early this month was that Sweden would be the first country in European Union (EU) to recognise Palestine. On Thursday, Sweden officially recognised the state of Palestine, a move welcomed by Palestinians but roundly derided by…
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Singapore is the best country in the world to do business: World Bank
Singapore is the most business-friendly economy in the world, according to the latest annual study by the World Bank, “Doing Business 2015: Going Beyond Efficiency”. This is the ninth consecutive year the Southeast Asian country has been ranked the best country to do business. The top 10 countries in terms of business business-friendly regulatory environments…
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India to supply naval vessels to Vietnam
In a subtle message to China, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that India would supply naval vessels to Vietnam. This would be India’s first significant military transfer to Hanoi. The development is notable as it comes at a time when Vietnam is tied in a territorial dispute with China on the south…
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Dilma’s Dilemma
Having won the tightly-contested the Presidential election, albeit by a narrow margin, Dilma Rousseff has her task cut out. In her second term as Brazilian president, Dilma has the tough job of perking up the country’s stagnant economy in her four-year term. Acknowledging the challenge ahead, Dilma said she should take measures to combat inflation…
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US disrupting world order: Putin
Squarely blaming the US for disrupting the world order by seeking to impose its will on other nations, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday warned that new wars will break out if Washington doesn’t learn to respect the interests of other countries. Putin was speaking on “The World Order: New Rules or a Game without…
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India re-elected to UNHRC
In a notable victory, India has been re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the term 2015-17, receiving the highest number of votes – 162 – in the Asia-Pacific group. India is already a member of the 47-nation UNHRC and its term is due to end on 31 December, 2014. Along with…
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Geopolitics of the Syrian Civil War
By Reva Bhalla International diplomats will gather on January 22 in the Swiss town of Montreux to hammer out a settlement designed to end Syria’s three-year civil war. The conference, however, will be far removed from the reality on the Syrian battleground. Only days before the conference was scheduled to begin, a controversy threatened to…
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Manmohan Singh’s speech at the 68th UN General Assembly
September 28, 2013 Your Excellency, President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me first of all congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election to the presidency of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly. We wish you every success and we assure you of our fullest co-operation. Mr. President, At…
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Manmohan-Obama joint statement
September 27, 2013 Washington DC The Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh and the President of the United States of America Barack Obama met this morning followed by a working luncheon at the White House. Marking their third bilateral summit, the two leaders reflected proudly on the transformation of United States-India relations during the…
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US eases sanctions on Syria
Seeking to enable relief and reconstruction activities in opposition-controlled areas of Syria, the US has eased economic sanctions on the country, the US Department of State said in a statement to the media. According to the media note, which was reviewed by Diplomatic News, Secretary of State John F. Kerry signed a limited waiver of…
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Will Israel flare up Syria conflict?
Keeping in line with its policy on such incidents, Israel has chosen to “neither confirm nor deny” its role in the bombing of the neighbouring Syrian capital. According to media reports, Israel did a ‘pre-emptive’ strike on Syrian army facilities in the capital city of Damascus on Sunday. Israeli sources reportedly said that Iranian weapons…
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Chinese troops withdraw from Indian territory
In a major relief to peaceniks, the three-week face-off between India and China has ended. By Sunday evening, the Chinese troops have started withdrawing from their newly erected tents on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which India claimed was 19 kms inside Indian territory. The move comes as a result of a flurry of…
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China refuses to budge, Indo-Sino tension may escalate
With the standoff between India and China over Chinese troops’ alleged incursion into Indian territory entering the third week, two bilateral visits are at stake. Indian foreign minister Salman Khurshid’s proposed China visit on May 9 and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s trip to India – his first foreign sojourn after taking over – later this…
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Why did NTU reject journalism professor’s tenure appeal?
Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has rejected the application for tenure renewal by journalism professor Cherian George, reports Strait Times. This is the second time the university has denied the tenure appeal of the professor. NTU’s decision to let go of Prof George, who is popular among students and has won several awards for excellence…
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Sarabjit Singh is dead, India furious at ‘inhuman’ Pakistan
The love-hate relations between India and Pakistan suffered another blow with the death of Indian citizen Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan. Singh was badly beaten up last week in a Pakistani jail allegedly by fellow inmates. Singh suffered a serious head injury and slipped into coma soon after. He was in a Pakistani hospital for four…
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‘US grads a disillusioned lot’
As many as 40 per cent of US college graduates are either unemployed or unemployable as they need further training before they can get their first job, according to an online survey done on Tuesday. The poll was conducted by global management consulting firm Accenture. It surveyed 1,050 workers who finished college in the past…
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Multiple explosions shake Iraq
More than 20 people have lost their lives in the latest spate of bomb attacks in Iraq on Monday. About five bombs went off in the majority Shia Muslim areas, bringing the national death toll over the past week to 200. There has been a steady spike in sectarian violence following clashes at a Sunni…
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Blast Rocks Prague
A powerful explosion ripped through an office building in Prague, the Czech capital, at 9.56 am local time. Initial reports quote Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda as saying it’s a gas explosion and not a terrorist attack. About 40 people have been reportedly injured and some people could be trapped under the rubble. The building is on…
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India’s exports rebound
Is Indian economy slowly coming out of the woods? The country’s February exports figures seem to indicate so. The latest exports data, released today, showed that India exported goods worth $26.26 billion in February, a slight improvement over January’s $25.5 billion. When compared to the figures in February last year, the latest exports figures show…
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Inadequate Budget for India’s defence forces
Amid a slowing economy and dismal foreign investor confidence in the country, India has sought to present a subdued annual Budget for the next financial year (April 2013 to March 2014). In the Budget released on 28 February, Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram proposed to tax the super rich, and increase allocation to pro-poor schemes such…
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Diplomatic News Turns Two!
Dear readers, www.diplomaticnews.in was launched on this day two years ago to capture the developments in global politics and diplomacy. As Diplomatic News turns two, please join me in celebrating this occasion. Sincerely, Editor Birthday greetings may be sent to editor@diplomaticnews.in
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Delhi gang rape protests shadow Putin’s India visit
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India comes at a most inopportune time. New Delhi is witnessing an unprecedented massive protest campaign – mostly led by the city’s University students – against the increasing incidence of rapes in the capital city. The latest trigger is the gang rape of a 23-year-old para medical student in…
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Japan’s LDP sweeps to power
After about three years in opposition, Japan’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won the national parliamentary elections on Sunday, paving the way for former Prime Minister 58-year-old Shinzo Abe’s return to power. LDP and allies won 325 seats in the 480-seat lower house. Abe, who is widely described as “hawkish” and “nationalist”, was Japan’s PM…
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Egyptian Military Forces Morsi To Compromise
Three weeks after issuing it, Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi today revoked the controversial decree that gave him sweeping emergency powers. This is expected to defuse the violent protests and growing political tension gripping the country. The decision came after exhaustive talks among representatives of Muslim Brotherhood, the political movement to which Morsi belongs. Although invited,…
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Is China smiling as India-Male relations sour?
The row between the Maldives and an Indian company, GMR Group, over the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in the tiny island nation, threatens to mar the otherwise friendly relations between the two countries. In the latest development, a higher court in Singapore ruled on 6 December 2012 that Maldives can do what it wants with…
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Will West Asia be a better place with Palestine’s new UN status?
From the looks of it, Palestine has the world on its side. On Friday, it won 139 votes in its favour against 9 votes against it, thus winning a thumping majority for new status at the United Nations (UN) as a non-member UN observer. However, Palestine’s new upgraded status has not helped mitigate the conflict….
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Taliban attacks Shia processions in Pakistan, 36 killed
In one of the bloodiest terror attacks, 36 people have been killed in Pakistan on Wednesday night as Taliban terrorists including suicide bombers targeted security forces and Shia processions in Rawalpindi and Karachi during the Islamic month of Muharram. In Rawalpindi, the bomber blew himself up when security personnel prevented him from joining the procession…
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Israel, Hamas agree on ceasefire
After eight bloody days that saw 900 missiles being launched into Israel by Hamas militants, 1,500 bombings by Israel in the Gaza strip and the killing of 154 Palestinians and five Israelis, Israel and Palestine group Hamas have agreed on a ceasefire on Wednesday, which alone saw at least 13 people die in Gaza. The…
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Ajmal Kasab hanged to death
India today executed Mohammed Ajmal Mohammed Amir Kasab, the lone survivor of the 10-member Lashkar-e-Tayyiba terrorist squad that killed more than 160 people of various nationalities in Mumbai on 26 November 2008. The other nine terrorists were killed during the encounter with India’s security forces. Kasab, a Pakistani national, was hanged to death at 7:30…
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Discovery of Nehru
By Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairperson, National League for Democracy, Myanmar (Excerpts from Suu Kyi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Lecture in New Delhi on November 14, 2012) There can be few occasions in life more fulfilling than those on which debts of kindness and friendship can be repaid. These past few months have furnished me with…
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Obama Irks Indian Politicians
US President Barack Obama’s comment that India should open up more sectors to foreign investment has Indian political leaders up in arms. In an interview to the Press Trust of India, Obama had said that India’s prohibitive investment climate was a matter of concern for the American business community. “They (American businessmen) tell us it…
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Ethiopia & India: 2,000 years and beyond
Historical linkages between India and Ethiopia data back at least 2,000 years of recorded history, according to India’s ministry of external affairs (MEA). The oldest African country is looking up to India in more ways than one. In January-end, Ethiopia opened its first honorary consulate in Chennai. Ethiopian ambassador Gennet Zewide announced Manikam Ramaswami, CMD…
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The Politics Of Buddhism
It was a spiritual event keenly watched for any political undertones. However, the 4-day Global Buddhist Congregation concluded in New Delhi on 30 November without turning political – despite the presence of Dalai Lama, who China accuses of masterminding “anti-China activities”. Delegates at the congregation unanimously passed a resolution to form a new world Buddhist…
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Europe’s Crisis: Beyond Finance
BY GEORGE FRIEDMAN Everyone is wondering about the next disaster to befall Europe. Italy is one focus; Spain is also a possibility. But these crises are already under way. Instead, the next crisis will be political, not in the sense of what conventional politician is going to become prime minister, but in the deeper sense…
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INDIA’S INSURANCE AGAINST TRADE WARS
By A.M. Godbole The notion of mutually assured destruction (MAD) helps prevent a direct full-blown military confrontation amongst nuclear weapons states. This has been an important pillar of the global security architecture in the post-second world war era. With India’s reportedly steady progress in its strategic nuclear submarine project—generally considered the most potent arm of…
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Denmark Smiles
After 10 years of central-right rule, Denmark has swiftly swung to the left. In the process, it has got a new face. Literally, a good looking face. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, leader of the Danish Social Democrats, is slated to take over as the next Prime Minister of Denmark. In the recently-concluded elections, she defeated the incumbent…
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ROMANCING ROMANIA
By Monika Skupa The land of Dracula, football craze and the Roma nomads… more than this, foreigners don’t know much about Romania. Located at the confluence point where Central, Eastern and Southern Europe meet, this European country offers a handful of breathtaking places to the travellers who are keen not only to see wonderful places,…
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Whither Syria?
With the fall of the 42-year autocratic regime under Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, all eyes are now on Syria, where pro-reform activists have been fighting for the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad for the past five months. So far, the protesters have succeeded in making the government withdraw a 48-year Emergency Law but their other…
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Libya After Gaddafi
The six-month-old liberation struggle in Libya entered a crucial phase with the rebels taking control of capital Tripoli. This more or less portends the end of the Gaddafi regime, which has been ruling the country for the past 42 years. However, at the time of writing this, there is no word about the whereabouts of…
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Somalia’s Struggle For Survival
By Sachu Jacob The current famine in Somalia was a disaster waiting to happen. Human suffering has been part of the history of Somalia; years of fighting between various war lords, violence and lack of governance have let this small country in the Horn of Africa sink to anarchy. Peace has been in steady decline…
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Can Cameron Bring London Riots Under Control?
British Prime Minister David Cameron is facing his first political test. Since Saturday, London has been witnessing the worst kind of riots and looting. The rioting initially started off in Tottenham on Saturday. The trigger was the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man, Mark Duggan, by armed police officers. Troubled started brewing in Tottenham, which…
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America’s Debt Woes
Close on the heels of the US debt ceiling deal, credit agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) downgraded the US government’s credit rating from AAA to AA-plus. This is the first time in history that US gets a credit lower than the coveted AAA. Now the US is in the same league as countries such as…
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Ranjan Mathai Is India’s New Foreign Secretary
Ranjan Mathai is India’s new foreign secretary. The appointment is for two years, which can be renewed if the government so wishes. He succeeds Nirupama Rao, who has been posted as India’s ambassador to the United States. Fifty-nine-year-old Mathai hails from Kerala, a tiny state in the southern part of India, which has produced many…
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Hina’s Maiden India Visit
The new Pakistani foreign minister’s maiden visit to India began with a lot of hope. “I bring the good wishes of the people of Pakistan and the government of Pakistan,” said Hina Rubani Khar immediately upon landing in New Delhi on Tuesday, Interestingly, Khar chose to meet separatist leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference,…
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Moroccan Plane Crashes, Kills 78
Agence Maghreb Arabe Press, the state news agency of Morocco, has reported that a military airplane belonging to Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces has crashed, killing at least 78 people — 60 soldiers and nine crew members; the rest are civilians. The plane was reportedly about to land at western Sahara, a disputed territory. A statement…
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Pakistan Gets A Face-lift
Pakistan’s new foreign minister is only 34 years old. But that’s the least surprising factor of the new minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, who has been promoted from junior minister to the cabinet. In a deeply-conservative Pakistan, it’s the first time a woman has been appointed as a foreign minister. The appointment of the youthful, good-looking…
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Angry Mumbai
By Sachu Jacob Mumbai is India’s commercial and entertainment hub. It is also one of the most densely populated cities in the world. So any terrorist attack on it could have maximum collateral damage. Terrorists knew it all along, and perhaps that’s why they have struck the city as often as they could. Mumbai has…
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Hillary Reaches India
Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Secretary of State, arrived in New Delhi on 18 July to attend the second round of Indo-US strategic dialogue. Clinton is accompanied by a large delegation including top US counter-terrorism officials such as Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper and Deputy Secretary, Homeland Security Jane Holl Lute. Clinton will have…
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Aishwarya postpones award ceremony
For the second time, Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan requested the French government to postpone the ceremony of the second-highest French civilian award. On 13 July, Rai was to receive the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) from Jerome Bonnafont, the Ambassador of France to…
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Terror Revisits Mumbai
In a suspected terror attack, Mumbai, the financial capital of India, was rattled during the evening rush as three bombs ripped through crowded places within minutes of each other, killing dozens and injuring many more. Indo-Pak relations are likely to be the first casualty. Initial reports suggest that at least 20 people have lost their…
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China and the End of the Deng Dynasty
By Matthew Gertken and Jennifer Richmond Beijing has become noticeably more anxious than usual in recent months, launching one of the more high-profile security campaigns to suppress political dissent since the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. Journalists, bloggers, artists, Christians and others have been arrested or have disappeared in a crackdown prompted…
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Japan Earthquake: Don’t Be Afraid
By Rev. Prof. Renta Nishihara When the great earthquake took place on 11 March, I was at the university. My bookshelves were falling, lights were swaying wildly. Turning on a TV, I saw a great tsunami about to swallow up some people. The city’s public transport at Tokyo was paralyzed, so we opened up the…
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What’s wrong with RBI
Does India want to trade with Iran or not? It seems Indian companies do, but the government doesn’t. Or that is the signal the Indian government is giving out through its thoughtless, preposterous actions. On 27 December 2010, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through a notice circulated to all Indian banks ruled that all…
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Medvedev’s Charm Offensive
To say that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s two-day trip to India (21-22 December 2010) was highly successful would be an understatement.
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BBC’s Kashmir Lessons
BBC lists Kashmir as an independent country, undoes it, quietly Is Kashmir part of India, part of Pakistan, or is it a separate country? The answer might vary depending on who you ask. As far as India is concerned, Kashmir is an integral part of India just like any other Indian state. For the past…
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William Smith
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