Foreign Affairs Archives - Page 2 of 97

22 Jul

Russian FM Lavrov, US Secretary of State Rubio to meet in Manila on Thursday

Manila, July 22 (IANS) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Wednesday that he will be meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 23, on the sidelines of the ongoing multilateral Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) events in the Philippines. "The meeting has already been agreed upon," Lavrov was quoted as saying by the Russian media following his participation in ASEAN meetings on Wednesday. Lavrov mentioned that he met with Rubio briefly at a reception on Tuesday, where it was confirmed that the meeting would take place on the morning of July 23. "Russia, Lavrov explained, still…

22 Jul

EAM Jaishankar, New Zealand counterpart discuss Indo-Pacific security and maritime cooperation

Manila, July 22 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held a meeting with his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters in Manila on Wednesday, discussing Indo-Pacific security situation and maritime cooperation. "A useful conversation with FM Winston Peters of New Zealand ASEAN Manila. Shared perspectives on the Indo-Pacific security situation and discussed enhancing our maritime cooperation," EAM Jaishankar wrote in a post on X following the meeting. Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar met Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, with talks focussed on bilateral ties. "Had a good meeting with DPM and FM Sihasak Phuangketkeow of…

21 Jul

Philippines rejects China’s claim over Shoal clash as ‘false and misleading’

Manila, July 21 (IANS) The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday dismissed the China Coast Guard's (CCG) allegation that Philippine boats had deliberately rammed one of its patrol vessels near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, describing the claims as "false and misleading".The response came after CCG alleged that two rubber boats from the grounded Philippine ship LT-57 on Monday morning rapidly approached the CCG patrol boat in a "dangerous manner" and rammed it. "The key issue remains: Why was a China Coast Guard RHIB operating within close proximity of BRP Sierra Madre? Its presence…

20 Jul

Iran war puts Hormuz, Suez trade at risk

Washington, July 20 (IANS) The Trump administration said that oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had recovered to about two-thirds of its pre-war level, even as a former NATO commander warned that Iran could widen the conflict by threatening the Suez Canal. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright rejected suggestions that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had effectively stopped amid renewed US strikes and Iranian attacks. “The seven-day trailing average right now is just under seven million barrels a day flowing through the waterway and just under seven million barrels a day additional flow through the bypass pipelines,” Wright…

20 Jul

US student visa rule may disrupt degrees

Washington, July 20 (IANS) A new four-year limit on F-1 and J-1 visas could push international students out of the United States midway through their degrees or research, an Indian diaspora policy group has warned. The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) urged elected officials and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to halt the immediate implementation of the Department of Homeland Security rule. According to FIIDS, the measure was finalised on July 16-17 and is set to take effect in mid-September. The organisation said the rule ends the decades-old “duration of status” policy and imposes a maximum…

18 Jul

China’s growing investment in African ports raises sovereignty risks: Report

New Delhi, July 15 (IANS) China’s growing investments in African ports undermine the sovereignty of African nations and are being repurposed for military and intelligence uses, a new report has said. As China invested $50 billion in African port infrastructure since 2013, the report from the US-based ADF (Africa Defense Forum) said these investments are part of the Belt and Road Initiative, which include port enhancements and improvements to railways and industrial zones. China is financing, constructing, equity stakes in or operating nearly 78 trade ports across 32 African countries, it added. While such investments have boosted trade with China,…

04 Jul

Trump marks US Declaration’s 250th anniversary

Washington, July 4 (IANS) President Donald Trump proclaimed July 4, 2026, as the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the US Declaration of Independence, calling it a celebration of America's founding ideals and urging citizens to observe the milestone with ceremonies honouring the nation's history, heritage and achievements. In a presidential proclamation issued on the eve of Independence Day, Trump described the Declaration of Independence as a timeless charter of freedom and said the country's founding principles continue to guide the United States after two-and-a-half centuries. "Today, as one American People, we celebrate and carry forward the spirit our Founders…

03 Jul

Trump says US must win AI race

Washington, July 3 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said the United States must remain ahead of China in the race to dominate artificial intelligence, describing AI as a technology with greater long-term significance than the internet. Speaking in an interview with CNBC, Trump said maintaining American leadership in AI was a strategic priority and warned against allowing China to overtake the United States. "AI is bigger than the internet," Trump said. "I've never seen anything. The internet was a big deal. I think this is much bigger than the internet." Trump said the country leading AI development would gain a…

19 Jun

After three-month wait, LNG tanker ‘Disha’ crosses Strait of Hormuz, docks in Gujarat

New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) The LNG tanker 'Disha' has successfully arrived at Dahej Port in Gujarat after crossing the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, delivering a cargo of 62,370 metric tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) following a wait of more than three months. The vessel, which had been stationed in the Gulf region amid heightened geopolitical tensions, completed its voyage and arrived at the Dahej terminal on Friday at around 7:32 a.m., according to information based on vessel tracking data. The LNG cargo was loaded at Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG terminal. The tanker is carrying 62,370 metric tonnes…

19 Jun

Over 100 workers fall sick at Bangladesh garment factory, rights group raises safety concerns

Paris, June 19 (IANS) A leading international human rights organisation strongly condemned the incident in which more than one hundred workers reportedly fell ill after consuming water supplied by a garment factory in Bangladesh’s Gazipur district, warning that such an incident reflects serious failures in workplace health and safety measures. The remarks came after over 100 workers at the Dressman Limited garment factory in the Chandra area of Kaliakoir upazila in Gazipur fell ill on Thursday after drinking water supplied at the factory. The affected workers were rushed to Kaliakoir Upazila Health Complex and other nearby hospitals and clinics for…