Strategic Affairs Archives - Page 4 of 303

18 Aug

ASEAN digital pact offers India model for deeper Southeast Asia ties: Report

New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Digital Economy Framework Agreement provides India a blueprint for deeper digital engagement with Southeast Asia, a new report has said. The blueprint gave ASEAN "managed interoperability" with common commercial outcomes and compatible systems across countries, alleviating the need for similar domestic laws. the report from The Jakarta Post said. ASEAN’s new Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) creates a region‑wide architecture for digital trade and services, but incorporating it into ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) would be counterproductive, the report said. "Incorporating the DEFA into the AITIGA would…

18 Aug

Defence Secretary visits IT lab established by India’s support in Armenian Military Academy

Yerevan, Aug 18 (IANS) Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Tuesday visited the Military Academy of Armenia and reviewed the IT Lab established with New Delhi's support, the Ministry of Defence stated. During his visit to the military academy, Singh was also briefed on weapon systems supplied by India. He underlined the expanding cooperation in capacity building and training and reiterated India’s commitment to supporting Armenia in areas of mutual interest. India and Armenia on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in research, development, innovation and shared production in the defence industry, the ministry noted. “Defence Secretary…

14 Aug

15 months of zero border releases: Trump administration

Washington, Aug 14 (IANS) The Trump administration on Thursday reported a 15th consecutive month without releases of undocumented migrants at the US border, citing tighter enforcement and historically low crossings. The Department of Homeland Security and US Customs and Border Protection said Border Patrol agents apprehended 9,295 people along the southwest border in July. That was 6 per cent fewer than in June. Nationwide, Border Patrol apprehensions fell 1 per cent from the previous month to 11,298, the agencies said. “Again this month, the results are clear: President Trump’s border security agenda is restoring order and putting the safety of…

14 Aug

‘India-Vietnam ties anchored in trust, mutual respect, goodwill’: Indian Envoy

Hanoi, Aug 14 (IANS) Highlighting the enduring partnership between India and Vietnam, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Tshering W. Sherpa described the two countries as “progressive and forward-looking partners” that have built a strong relationship by turning challenges into opportunities, learning from each other and building on their shared strengths. He said that the strong foundation of goodwill, mutual respect and trust, with people at the centre of the relationship, would remain vital to taking the traditional partnership to greater heights. “India and Vietnam, two progressive forward-looking partners, have transformed challenges into opportunities, learnt from each other and nurtured complementarities. The…

14 Aug

NATO fighter jets shoot down drone that entered Latvian airspace

Riga, Aug 14 (IANS) Fighter jets from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Baltic Air Policing mission shot down a "foreign drone" that entered Latvian airspace on Friday, a report said. The Latvian armed forces said the drone entered Latvia's airspace due to "Russian electromagnetic warfare" and that it was detected over the Baltic nation's Balvi, Euro News reported. They said that additional air defence units have been deployed at the country's eastern borders and will continue to keep watch on its airspace. "As long as Russia's aggression in Ukraine continues, a recurrence of cases where foreign drones enter or…

14 Aug

‘China’s overcapacity, cheap exports taking world economy to brink of crisis’

New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) China’s relentless policy of driving exports and widening its trade surplus, by any means, has hit the manufacturing sector of advanced economies such as the United States and those in Europe, as well as developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, according to an article China has completely ignored the global consensus that its overcapacity is harming other countries. However, now this problem is approaching a breaking point. And if that breaking point comes, the consequence could be a global economic crisis at a time when governments are particularly ill-equipped to manage the fallout,…

12 Aug

BRICS economies are major engines of global growth: FM Sitharaman

Jaipur, Aug 12 (IANS) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Wednesday that while BRICS economies represent major growth engines of the global economy, they also face common structural constraints in mobilising private capital at scale. The challenge is not merely the availability of capital, but the creation of confidence, stability, predictability, and credible long-term frameworks which are essential to unlock sustained private participation across member countries, the Finance Minister said in her keynote address at the seminar on "The Role of the New Development Bank in Mobilising Private Capital in Member Countries". She highlighted the critical role that the multilateral…

12 Aug

Hanoi: Visiting NCC delegation briefed on robust India-Vietnam defence ties

Hanoi, Aug 12 (IANS) A 15-member delegation from the National Cadet Corps (NCC), currently on a tour of Vietnam as part of the Annual Youth Exchange Programme, visited the Indian Embassy in Hanoi on Wednesday and interacted with Ambassador Tshering W Sherpa. The Ambassador briefed the visiting delegation on the forward looking multifaceted India–Vietnam relationship, including the strong and growing defence cooperation between both countries. According to the Indian Embassy, the delegation will visit defence, historical, cultural, and educational facilities in Hanoi and Nha Trang, thereby contributing to enhancing understanding and friendship between the youth of the two…

12 Aug

Houthis launch fresh ballistic missile attack on Yemen’s Red Sea port city

Sanaa, Aug 12 (IANS) Yemen's Houthi group launched a fresh ballistic missile attack on the Red Sea port city of Mocha on Wednesday, stepping up its attacks on areas controlled by the internationally recognised government, pro-government media reported. The pro-government Aljoumhouriya TV cited a port official as saying that two missile strikes hit the maritime pier, causing further damage to port facilities. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The latest attack came after two Houthi missile and drone attacks in Mocha since Sunday, leaving eight people, including four government soldiers, dead and dozens of others wounded, according…

10 Aug

US memo highlights praise for PM Modi’s diplomacy

Washington, Aug 10 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew praise among Indian social media users for his diplomatic outreach, defence agreements and personal equation with President Donald Trump during his February 2025 visit to Washington, according to recently released State Department documents. The internal US Embassy assessment said supporters viewed PM Modi’s engagement with Trump, Elon Musk and Indian Americans as a strategic effort to advance India’s interests on the global stage. The February 18, 2025, analysis was released by the State Department in July under the Freedom of Information Act. The document is marked “unclassified”, rather than declassified, and…