Diplomacy Archives - Page 113 of 120

31 Jan

Biden says “no” to sending fighter jets to Ukraine

Washington, Jan 31 (IANS) US President Joe Biden has said that he won't approve sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. "No," Biden said on Monday in response to a question about the possibility of such a decision, Xinhua News Agency reported. As he spoke, Biden arrived back at the White House from a trip to Baltimore, Maryland. Biden also said he was planning to visit Poland but didn't yet know when. The president's remarks came as debate picked up steam over whether to arm Ukraine, which has been in conflict with Russia for nearly a year, with Western-made fighter jets.…

31 Jan

Japan’s PM under fire over son’s ‘paid’ sightseeing trips while on duty overseas

Tokyo, Jan 31 (IANS) Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida came under continued fire on Tuesday from the opposition camp over allegations his son used taxpayers' money for sightseeing trips oversees while on official duty. Kishida's son, Shotaro, 32, who serves as his secretary, was alleged by the Shukan Shincho magazine to have visited tourist hot-spots in Paris, London and Ottawa at the taxpayers' expense and used a government-owned vehicle, while the prime minister was carrying out official duties overseas in January, Xinhua News Agency reported. The allegations have dealt a further blow to the already slumping approval rating for Kishida's…

30 Jan

With an eye on China, senior US official arrives in Nepal

Kathmandu, Jan 30 (IANS) With an eye on China as it has expanded its clout across South Asia, the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland arrived in Kathmandu where she will meet members of Nepal's new government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Nuland is the senior-most foreign dignitary to visit Nepal following the appointment of Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, as Prime Minister on December 25 last year. During her seven-day travel itinerary, Nuland will be touring Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Qatar between January 28 and February 3, according to the US State Department.…

28 Jan

US, India to hold diplomatic consultations: State Dept

New York, Jan 28 (IANS) The US diplomat in charge of political affairs is visiting India for consultations with the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi, according to the State Department. During her visit, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland will lead the US delegation to the annual foreign office consultations "which cover the full range of bilateral, regional, and global issues", the Department said on Friday. She is also scheduled to meet young tech leaders, it added. Her visit to India will be a part of a week-long swing through Asia that starts on Saturday and take…

27 Jan

NATO dialogue with Sweden, Finland ‘meaningless’: Turkey

Ankara, Jan 27 (IANS) It is "meaningless" to hold a trilateral meeting with Sweden and Finland to discuss their NATO accession process after recent protests in Stockholm, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said. "In this environment, a trilateral meeting is meaningless. It has been postponed because the current environment will overshadow this," Cavusoglu explained at a joint press conference with visiting Serbia's First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported. "Sweden has to decide. Does it want to join NATO or not? One of the aims of these incidents is to prevent Sweden…

27 Jan

Sudan and Ethiopia have agreed to resolve their differences through joint mechanisms, dialogue.

Khartoum, Jan 27 (IANS) Sudan and Ethiopia have agreed to settle their border disputes as well as the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) through joint mechanisms and direct dialogue. Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed made the remarks during a meeting at the Republican Palace in Khartoum on Thursday, Xinhua news agency quoted an official statement as saying. Al-Burhan stressed the need to enhance cooperation between Sudan and Ethiopia on bilateral, regional and international issues, the statement said. Ahmed, for his part, said that "the GERD will not…

27 Jan

Iraq PM’s visit to France ‘aimed at enhancing partnership’

Baghdad, Jan 27 (IANS) The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani's visit to France was aimed at enhancing the bilateral partnership, securing French support for Iraq's reconstruction and restoring non-stop flights between the two countries. "The visit comes in the context of strengthening partnership, enhancing cooperation in the field of combating terrorism," and seeking to attract greater participation of French enterprises in the reconstruction of Iraq, Xinhua news agency quoted Ministry spokesman Ahmed al-Sahaf as saying. Iraq also attempts to restore the direct flight between Baghdad and Paris and to have the ban on the country's airlines lifted,…

25 Jan

India and France sign key deal to muscle the navy’s submarine fleet

New Delhi, Jan 25: India's effort to modernise its submarine force is set to take a giant leap with the fitment of the home-grown Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, developed by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), in INS Kalvari. Equipped with AIP technology, the Kalvari will be able to stay underwater for a long time, significantly adding to its lethality. Once it is modernised, the Kalvari, a variant of the French Scorpeen sub, will no longer have to frequently surface for refuelling-a time when the platforms can be picked and attacked. The development also showcases India-France strategic partnership, as…

25 Jan

The envoy stressed the importance of India-SL unity.

Colombo, Jan 25 (IANS) Gopal Baglay, the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, has emphasised the importance of New Delhi and Colombo's togetherness on the journey that lies ahead. Baglay made the remarks while addressing a gathering, an evening of music to mark the Republic Day of India with the participation of President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Chief Guest. "The cooperation and working together would be very important for Sri Lanka and India on the journey that lies ahead for them to celebrate the centenary of independence in 2047 for India and 2048 for Sri Lanka," the President's Media Division (PMD)…

25 Jan

India, Pakistan are ‘too close’ to nuclear conflagration: Pompeo.

New York, Jan 25 (IANS) India and Pakistan came "too close" to a nuclear conflagration during the 2019 confrontation with both sides believing the other was preparing to deploy nuclear weapons, according to former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He recounted in his book, "Never Give an Inch", his frantic night-time diplomatic efforts to get the neighbours to stand down after getting a call from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar warning him that he believed Pakistan was readying nuclear weapons for a strike and India was considering its own escalation. "I do not think the world properly knows just how…