|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ground-breaking talks with FARC
rebels in October
Members of Latin America’s largest guerrilla group declared that they would ask
for an immediate ceasefire when they meet Colombian government negotiators for
peace talks in October. The left-wing rebels said they were prepared to disarm
and would seek a truce when the peace talks opened in Oslo, Norway. The
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, however, rejected calls by the rebels
for a ceasefire once peace talks begin. “We will not give anything until we get
the final agreement,” Santos said. He stressed that his government would not
“lower its guard in terms of security”, and reiterated that he did not want to
“repeat the mistakes of the past” - an apparent reference to the failed peace
talks in 2002, which reportedly gave time to the organisation to regroup.
Government military operations against the rebels are continuing. The
discussions, which will begin on October 8, will have Chile, Cuba, Venezuela and
Norway aiding the negotiations.
Hollande promises economic recovery
in two years
“I have to set the course and the pace” to combat “high joblessness, falling
competitiveness and serious deficits”, insisted French President Francois
Hollande during a televised interview. He outlined a series of budget measures,
including cuts, aimed at achieving economic recovery within two years. Accused
by critics of procrastination since his election in May, the Socialist president
maintained, “My mission is a recovery plan and the time frame is two years”.
Polls have shown that the public is losing confidence in the government. During
the interview, Hollande outlined a series of measures, including spending cuts
and extra taxes totalling €30 billion (?24 billion). He also said that a planned
75 percent upper tax rate to be imposed on annual income above €1 million
(?800,000; $1.28 million) could be dropped after two years.
Hong Kong chooses new legislature
amid anti-China sentiment
Hong Kong voters have chosen a new legislature, with pro-democracy candidates
expected to benefit from weeks of anti-China protests. The poll came after the
government scrapped plans for mandatory Chinese patriotism lessons in schools.
For the first time, 40 of the 70 seats on the governing legislative council were
directly elected. The results of the poll could keep on track plans for
universal suffrage, which could come as early as 2017. But for the promised
reform to be implemented; it needs the support of the legislative council.
According to reports, voter turnout among the 3.5 million electorate was more
than 50 percent, higher than during the previous legislative election in 2008.
Under the current laws, 30 of the 70 seats in the assembly are being chosen by
small group of electors selected along economic and professional lines. The
election campaign was dominated by issues such as employment, corruption and the
growing number of visitors from mainland China.
Somalia to get a new President
In a historic step that is certain to end decades of war, newly-elected MPs of
Somalia’s Parliament will convene at a police academy in Mogadishu on September
10 to choose the next president. The new parliament, which was selected last
month, will hold a ballot to choose the president from about two dozen
candidates. Among the contenders are incumbent President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh
Ahmed and Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali. It is the first time in many
years that the vote has taken place on Somali soil, a sign that security is
improving in the war-ravaged country. Current Islamist President Sheikh Sharif
Ahmed, in power since 2009, is regarded as a favourite. The scheduled vote is
the latest in a series of political transitions in the nation. In recent weeks,
it has adopted a provisional constitution, held an inaugural meeting of its new
parliament and appointed that body’s speaker. Many Somalis have welcomed the
poll, despite fears that it may be flawed.
UN Resolution on Syria ‘without
teeth’ – Hillary
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton dismissed a Russian proposal for a new UN
Security Council resolution on Syria as pointless, and “without teeth”. Russia
says it wants Security Council approval for a peace plan agreed in June in
Geneva that called for a ceasefire and political transition. But Clinton said a
resolution without consequences would be ignored by Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad. Activist groups in Syria say more than 160 people died in the latest
fighting. Government air attacks are said to have killed many in the northern
city of Aleppo, where a water supply pipe was also hit. Meanwhile, state
Television has shown government troops overrunning rebel-held areas in the south
of the capital Damascus.
US and Russia to work towards
improved trade ties
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the US administration wanted to
normalise trade relations with Russia. She said the government was working
closely with the US Congress to get the necessary legislation passed. Although
Russia is now a member of the World Trade Organisation, there is still a piece
of legislation that prevents US companies from trading normally with Russia -
the 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment which, although suspended, remains in place.
Mrs Clinton was speaking ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC)
summit in Vladivostok. Russian President Vladimir Putin urged a fight against
protectionism to turn the global economy around, while his Chinese counterpart,
President Hu Jintao, promised his country would try to help the world’s economy
by increasing the demand in China for imported goods.
|
|
|
|
Ambassador of Japan and Haryana Chief
Minister exchange views on state affairs
Ambassador of Japan Akitaka Saiki called on the Chief Minister of Haryana
Bhupinder Singh Hooda on August 7 to exchange views on the state of affairs
between Japan and Haryana. The Ambassador, referring to the amicable
relationship which the Japanese business community traditionally enjoyed with
Haryana, thanked the strong support and reassuring message from the state
extended to Maruti Suzuki in response to the recent incident of violence in its
Manesar plant. The Ambassador expressed the hope that Haryana will continue to
send out a strong message to restore investor confidence particularly of
Japanese companies situated in the state. The Chief Minister gave a reassurance
that the state will strive to meet the expectation of the Japanese community to
ensure its well-being and security.
Ambassador of Israel and Bihar Chief
Minister discuss agriculture cooperation
Ambassador of Israel, Alon Ushpiz, conducted his maiden visit to Patna, in an
aim to promote ties between Israel and Bihar. The Ambassador was accompanied by
the Embassy’s Agriculture Counsellor, Uri Rubinstein, and the Political
Secretary, Shimon Mercer Wood. During the visit, Ushpiz held an hour-long
meeting with the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, and discussed plans for
the establishment of two Indo-Israel Agricultural Centres of Excellence in the
state, focussing on fruit and vegetable cultivation. The Chief Minister and the
Ambassador also discussed possibilities for cooperation in the fields of water
treatment, aquaculture, dairy and grain storage. Solar energy was also
identified as a potential field for cooperation. Ambassador Ushpiz invited Chief
Minister Kumar to conduct a visit to Israel in the near future. After his
meeting, Ambassador Ushpiz stated: “There is no doubt that the potential for
cooperation between Israel and Bihar is rich, and that what we can achieve
together in agriculture and water is indeed promising. I hope that in the next
couple of months we will be able to marry Israeli technologies and know-how in
the fields of fruits and vegetables, dairy, crop storage and water, with the
proven capabilities of the farming sector of Bihar.”
India and Pakistan ink visa deal
Pakistan and India have agreed on visa terms aimed at easing travel between the
two countries. The move is part of efforts to improve ties between Islamabad and
New Delhi, which were badly it in 2008 when gunmen attacked Mumbai. The deal
came after talks in Islamabad between the Indian and Pakistani foreign
ministers. With this deal, it would be easier for businesspeople as well as
those with relatives across the border to travel freely. A visa on arrival
scheme has been introduced for senior citizens as well as a new group visa aimed
specifically at religious pilgrims, tourists and students. However, the meeting
saw little progress on other core issues like Kashmir or India’s demand that key
conspirators behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks be brought to justice.
India-Palestine strengthen bilateral
ties
President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas arrived on a state visit to India on
September 10. This was his fourth visit to India and second state visit. He was
accompanied by a delegation comprising senior ministers, including Dr Saeb MS
Erakat, PLO Executive Committee Member, and Nabil GO Aburudainah, President’s
advisor. The visit included inter-alia meeting with President, delegation level
talks with PM, calls by Vice President and External Affairs Minister. During the
present visit, both sides signed MoUs for cooperation in ICT, vocational
training and constructing schools in Palestine. The visit also provided an
opportunity for reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations, the Middle
East Peace Process, regional and international issues of common concern and in
particular the political turmoil in West Asia.
|
|
|
|
Air India gets first Dreamliner after
four year delay
Air India received the advanced Boeing 787 Dreamliner on September 8, ending an
over four-year wait of the struggling national carrier to add this
next-generation airplane in its fleet. Air India, which ordered 27 Dreamliners
six years ago, would get two more of these planes in the next few weeks. A total
of eight of them would arrive by March next year, including five by December,
while the national carrier would get six more in the 2012-13 fiscal. The
aircraft, regarded as core to the carrier’s turnaround plan, would ultimately
become the mainstay of Air India’s global operations. For Air India, the plane
has been configured to have 256 seats - 18 full-flat business class seats and
238 in economy. It features a host of sophisticated technologies, including
mood-lighting inside the cabin and large LCD display screens for in-flight
entertainment.
Hershey to acquire Godrej stake in JV
US-based chocolate maker Hershey Co will buy the stake of Godrej Industries Ltd
in their joint venture (JV) Godrej Hershey Ltd (GHL). The transaction is
expected to close by the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2012-13. After
the transaction, the company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Hershey.
The value of the transaction wasn’t announced. The Godrej Hershey JV was formed
in 2007 and had `240 crore business in India as of financial year 2012 in the
confectionery and beverage categories.
Infosys to buy Lodestone Holding
Infosys has agreed to buy Zurich-based Lodestone Holding AG in a deal valued at
330 million Swiss francs. The acquisition may take Infosys a step closer to its
goal of becoming a software-and-services giant providing clients with higher
value services and consulting. The company has recently completed implementing
Infosys 3.0; a strategy that it expects will take it towards this goal. The
software giant, which symbolises India’s rise as an outsourcing powerhouse, has
struggled this year. It has missed sales targets, lost market share, put off an
annual pay rise and seen its stock battered. India’s No 2 software services
provider expects to conclude the all-cash deal by October.
OVL to acquire Hess Corporation’s
stake in ACG fields in Azerbaijan
ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) will buy US energy firm Hess’ stake in Azerbaijan’s giant
Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) oil field for an undisclosed amount. OVL, the
overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), has reached an
agreement to buy 2.72 percent stake held by Hess in the largest oil field in the
Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian basin. ACG is also one of the largest producing
oil fields in the world. The average production from the field is around
7,00,000 barrels of oil a day. The potential recovery from the field is
estimated at over five billion barrels. This acquisition marks OVL’s entry into
oil-rich Azerbaijan.
|
|
|
|
Go to Content |
|
|
|
|
|
|