India bangladesh defence cooperation

The European Union (EU) and India agreed on Monday to set up a trade and technology council to step up cooperation between them, the two sides said in a joint statement as the EU chief met government officials in New Delhi. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is on a two-day visit to India's capital, part of Western efforts to encourage New Delhi to reduce ties to Russia, its main weapons supplier, following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. India has refrained from explicitly condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while calling for an immediate end to violence. Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation". The United States is the only other country that has a technical agreement with the EU similar to the one signed Monday with India. "Both sides agreed that rapid changes in the geopolitical environment highlight the need for joint in-depth strategic engagement," the EU-India statement said. Close "The Trade and Technology … [Read more...] about EU, India to set up council to broaden ties amid Ukraine war

Synopsis The surprising thing is that India isn’t even a prominent exporter on the world stage. The fact that it could have such a major impact underscores the bleak prospect for global wheat supplies. War has crippled Ukraine’s exports, and now droughts, floods and heat waves threaten crops in most major producers. India’s move to restrict wheat exports is set to reverberate through global agricultural markets, exposing just how tight global supplies are after the war in Ukraine and threatening to drive up food prices even more. The government said in a notification dated May 13 it will suspend overseas sales to manage its food security. This drew criticism from the agriculture ministers of the Group of Seven nations, who said that such measures make the world’s crisis worse. The surprising thing is that India isn’t even a prominent exporter on the world stage. The fact that it could have such a major impact underscores the bleak prospect for global wheat supplies. … [Read more...] about World’s food problems piling up as India restricts wheat exports

China’s vice-president has told South Korea ’s new leader that Beijing hopes for more strategic communication and high-level exchanges, a message delivered after he attended Yoon Suk-yeol’s inauguration in Seoul on Tuesday. Wang Qishan said South Korea and China “are important cooperation partners as well as close neighbours” with common interests, and should strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional affairs, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. “The two sides should ... work together to safeguard multilateralism and the free-trade system, and promote regional and global development and prosperity,” Wang told Yoon after delivering a congratulatory message as special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge , our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our … [Read more...] about China urges cooperation as South Korea’s new president takes office

This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on May 9, 2022 - May 15, 2022. - A + A Sri Lanka’s economic crisis had been brewing for some time before the recent social unrest erupted. The writing was on the wall, but it was either misunderstood or underrated. Either way, the impact has been devastating and may take years to undo. Moreover, the situation has worsened from being an economic crisis to a humanitarian one. The anatomy of an economic meltdown and social disaster consists of these: food, fuel and medicine shortages, currency collapse and long power cuts, while poverty ramps up and inflation spirals at a record rate. The price of rice has increased by 93%, chicken and lentils by 55% and gas by 50%. This tragedy is a good lesson for Malaysia. Some of the structural symptoms experienced by Sri Lanka are uncannily like those in this country. So, unless they are addressed, Malaysia may take a similar path. These are the major … [Read more...] about My Say: Lessons from Sri Lanka on managing food security

US President Joe Biden meeting with Asean leaders at the US-Asean special summit in Washington DC on May 13, 2022. PHOTO: AFP WASHINGTON – The United States and Asean ended their summit in Washington on Friday (May 13) with an agreement to work on upgrading their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in November, following similar agreements Asean made with Australia and China late last year. The elevated partnership will be “meaningful, substantive and mutually beneficial”, they said in a joint statement at the end of two days of meetings in Washington to mark 45 years of ties. “We are not only celebrating 45 years of partnership and friendship between Asean and the United States; we are launching a new era of US and Asean relations,” US President Joe Biden said at the summit’s afternoon session on Friday. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the summit and the upgrading of ties are a signal that the US values its partnership with Asean and would like to … [Read more...] about US, Asean to upgrade ties; Singapore PM says this shows US values its partnership with Asean

Ursula von der Leyen European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday said Russia’s war in Ukraine was a stark reminder that the dependency on Russian fossil fuels is not sustainable, and she pitched for a deeper cooperation between India and the EU to expand the use of clean energy. On the first day of her two-day visit to India, von der Leyen went to the TERI Gram campus in Haryana and addressed an event at the headquarters of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). In her address at the ISA, she talked about the need for sustainable ways of doing business using clean energy and also emphasised the need for switching to “home-grown clean energies” in the wake of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The European Commission President said the energy policy has become the security policy as well. “For us, Europeans, it is a stark reminder that our dependency on Russian fossil fuels is not sustainable. Because how can you do business with someone, who … [Read more...] about Ukraine war stark reminder that our dependency on Russian fossil fuels not sustainable: EU chief

Workers make Kerupuk deep-fried crackers, which doubled in price due to higher oil prices, aa factory in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photographer: Dimas Ardian/Bloomberg The world's supply of cooking oil -- already squeezed by war -- is getting smaller. Two months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine upended global agricultural trade, Indonesia is set to ban exports of cooking oil in the wake of a local shortage and soaring prices, adding to a raft of crop protectionism around the world. The country accounts for more than a third of global vegetable-oil exports, with China and India, the two most populous countries, among its top buyers. Indonesia’s supply of edible oil to the world is “impossible to replace,” said Carlos Mera, head of agricultural commodity markets research at Rabobank. “It’s definitely a big blow.” Indonesia is the biggest producer of palm oil, the world’s most consumed edible oil. The southeast Asian nation’s announcement of the ban on Friday sent U.S. … [Read more...] about Cooking-oil chaos exacerbates a looming world hunger crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron, at the centre, meets the newly-elected president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the left, at Al Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. ABU DHABI: The UAE's new president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, held talks Sunday with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron as world leaders streamed in to the oil-rich Gulf state to pay tribute to his late predecessor. Macron, on his first foreign trip since his second term started last week, expressed his condolences to the leader dubbed "MBZ" following the death of his half-brother Sheikh Khalifa on Friday after a long illness. Macron, the first Western leader to pay his respects, will be followed by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Israel's president and the king of Spain, among a long list of dignitaries. The United Arab Emirates has begun wielding increased influence in the Middle East … [Read more...] about New UAE president meets Macron as world leaders stream in

Commission on Elections logo superimposed on the picture of its headquarters in Manila. INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec), which is sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), is eyeing to proclaim winners in the 2022 senatorial elections by Tuesday, May 17. Comelec acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said that as of Saturday, May 14, the NBOC has canvassed 149 out of 173 certificates of canvass (COC). “We are on track with our timeline. ‘Yan talaga ang projection namin (That’s our projection)… Tuesday is still early next week,” Laudiangco said in a press briefing. “That’s our optimistic projection. Still within our timelines na (which is) early next week,” he added. Laudiangco said that the winning senatorial candidates will be proclaimed ahead of the partylist groups. “In order to maintain minimum public health standards, we have to separate yung proclamations ng senators at partylists (In order to maintain minimum … [Read more...] about Comelec eyes to proclaim winning senators by Tuesday

Malaysia: * Durian prices expected to increase by 100% this year * Goldman Sachs agrees to settle US$79.5mil 1MDB suit with shareholders * Covid-19 Watch: 3,029 new cases brings total to 4,473,500 * Covid-19: More than 28% of five to 11-year-olds fully vaccinated as at May 13 * PM: Asean stands firm on international issues in meeting with US President Biden * Bullying: Health Ministry looks at enhancing whistleblowing system * Successful four-day working visit to US, says PM * Philippines raises minimum daily wage in Manila capital region * Malaysia touts trade access as US Indo-Pacific plan only a 'good beginning' - trade chief * Kuantan furniture shop also a victim as scammers use similar name to cheat buyers * GE15: More public debates between candidates should be organised, says Bersih * Country's financial performance must be looked into before any plan to take over Sapura, says Tok Pa Singapore's Veronica Shanti Pereira in action before winning the … [Read more...] about Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Saturday (May 14, 2022)