Category: WORLD

Moscow, Dec 14 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree extending Moscow’s retaliatory measures in response to a Western price cap on Russia’s oil until June 30, 2025, according to a document published.

The original decree, issued on December 27, 2022, banned the export of Russian oil and petroleum products under contracts that included the price ceiling set by the Group of Seven (G7) countries, the EU, and Australia, reports Xinhua news agency.

It has been extended multiple times, and the latest extension was to remain in force until December 31, 2024.

In December 2022, the EU placed a price cap of $60 per barrel on Russian seaborne crude oil, a move adopted by the G7. From February 5, 2023, similar price restrictions were applied to petroleum products from Russia.

Meanwhile, despite the sanctions, the revenue of Russia’s large and medium-sized oil and gas enterprises increased by 34.2 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2024, reaching 38.3 trillion rubles (about $413 billion), local media reported on Wednesday.

According to a study conducted by the auditing and consulting network FinExpertiza, non-resource companies also saw growth, with revenues rising by 19.5 per cent to 98.7 trillion rubles (about 1 trillion U.S. dollars).

The oil and gas sector’s share of total corporate revenue in Russia increased to 28 per cent, up from 26 per cent a year earlier. Overall, corporate turnover grew by 23.3 per cent.

FinExpertiza experts attribute the significant growth in oil and gas revenue to a weak ruble and rising global oil prices.

The non-oil and gas sector, which accounted for 72 per cent of total revenue, also grew more modestly at 19.5 per cent in the first half.

Although slower than oil and gas, the non-resource segment showed strong recovery after sanctions, particularly in the manufacturing sector, with industries such as metal products, electronics, and automotive manufacturing driving growth.

–IANS

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Nairobi, Dec 14 (IANS) The Kenyan government will provide a safe corridor for the migration of skilled labour force to travel and settle abroad, generating revenue for the exchequer through remittances, senior officials said ahead of International Migrants Day, which is observed annually on December 18.

Julius Bitok, the principal secretary for immigration and citizen services, acknowledged the pivotal role of migrant workers in socioeconomic development, skills transfer, and cultural vitality, whose legal protection is critical, reports Xinhua news agency.

Bitok said the government is committed to a migration agenda that promotes the welfare of local citizens and those of neighbouring countries to achieve growth and stability.

“Migration is critical to our nation’s development agenda because it promotes talent, cultural diversity, skills and technology exchange. We will ensure there is safe and orderly migration,” Bitok said.

Ahead of this year’s International Migrants Day, Kenya and the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) held a two-km walk in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, to raise awareness of migrants’ rights and the benefits of regular migration pathways.

Bitok said Kenya has domesticated global instruments to provide a safe haven for migrants from the region escaping from climate emergencies, conflicts or economic uncertainties.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Roseline Njogu said the day serves as a wakeup call to harness the talent, ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of migrants to fuel economic growth and social renewal in Kenya.

According to Njogu, Kenya is committed to providing legal status to migrants from neighbouring countries and overseas, besides ensuring they have access to basic services like education, health, shelter and gainful employment.

IOM Kenya Chief of Mission Sharon Dimanche noted that multilateral institutions have partnered with national governments to facilitate legal migration to bridge the skills gap and foster innovation, peace and cohesion.

The 2024 International Migrants Day will be observed under the theme of “Honoring the contributions of migrants and respecting their rights,” which underscores their positive contribution to host countries’ welfare.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 13 (IANS) India and Italy continue to work towards enhancing collaboration in maritime and land infrastructure in the framework of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) besides also concluding an agreement on cooperation in the maritime and port sector.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, Italian Ambassador to India Antonio Bartoli hoped that the work on the “game-changer” IMEEC project would continue despite the current geopolitical crisis in the eastern Mediterranean region.

“It’s a privilege to represent a vision for the future, that at the same time is deeply rooted in the past. Rome and India already traded millennia, centuries ago. Black pepper was one thing that the King of Visigoths asked Rome for as a ransom, because it was a precious and valuable good that we imported from India. So, this route has always been there. We are revitalising that perspective. This will go across the Middle East, which is a tormented area now as we have seen what is happening in Syria,” said Bartoli.

Terming the corridor as a “vision for the future”, the seasoned diplomat believes that the perspective of common and shared prosperity can be a factor of stabilisation and peace, also for the region embroiled in conflict currently.

“Italy is, has been, and will be the natural terminal of this corridor, especially with some ports like Trieste, which represent the gateway to the whole Europe, especially Central and Eastern Europe. We are also working on a ports collaboration agreement with India that could also be game-changers in future,” he added.

It was on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi in September 2023 that the leaders of India, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UAE and US announced an MOU committing to work together to develop a new India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) that will comprise of two separate corridors, the east corridor connecting India to the Gulf and northern corridor connecting Gulf to Europe.

“The corridor will provide reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship to rail transit networks to supplement existing maritime routes. It intends to increase efficiency, reduce costs, secure regional supply chains, increase trade accessibility, enhance economic cooperation, generate jobs and lower greenhouse gas emission, resulting in a transformative integration of Asia, Europe and the Middle East (West Asia),” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had stated then.

Involving multiple stakeholders, once completed, the IMEC corridor will eventually connect Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

“We are two peninsulas in the respective dimensions – you are a giant, but we are two peninsulas projecting in the respective sea, and so we are export countries, we are interested in connectivity, we are interested in stability, and so the Indo-Pacific is also a basin where you are and Mediterranean is the basin that we are. But, the two basins are connected in the area that is Indo-Mediterranean and this area represents 70 per cent of the trade of goods and services, 60 per cent of foreign direct investments, and so it’s not by chance that we are engaged together,” states the Italian Ambassador.

“And, when I say IMEC, it is not only about railways and ships but also the internet because there is also a digital corridor. Our Telecom Sparkle, an Italian company, is completing the pause of a cable that will unite Mumbai, connect Mumbai to Geneva in Italy, and then Mumbai to Singapore. So, it’s a high-speed data highway, that will be another factor of connectivity. The reasons, as you see, are ancient, rooted in the past, and projected into the future,” he adds.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto are scheduled to visit India early next year as both countries continue to unlock the unparalleled potential of strategic partnership driven by a shared vision outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni who have held five meetings over the last two years.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, Italian Ambassador to India Antonio Bartoli revealed that the Italy-India Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 unveiled by the both leaders during their discussions held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro last month, has infused further momentum and depth in the bilateral agenda.

“Defence and space are top on the agenda of the Joint Strategic Action Plan. It means that we are assuring an ever-increasing presence in the Indo-Pacific region,” Bartoli told IANS while confirming the visits of Italian Deputy PM and Defence Minister, early next year.

Both countries have been working extensively on the possibilities of joint development, including fostering the interaction of the Indian start-ups with the Italian defence companies, since the visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Rome last year during which he held detailed discussions with Crosetto on a range of defence cooperation issues, including training, sharing of information, maritime exercises and maritime security.

In October, India welcomed Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and frigate ITS Alpino on their first Indo-Pacific deployment – a visit that Rome underlined was a testimony to the importance Italy attaches to the Indo-Pacific and the will to work closer with India.

“The idea of ‘Make in India’ applies also to the defence sector, so our defence industries are eager and ready to move some productions here and develop co-design and co-production projects with the industry of India. The next step is to identify this area and proceed,” the Italian Ambassador told IANS.

The Joint Strategic Action Plan mentions interactions between respective Armed Forces in the framework of Italy’s growing interest in the Indo-Pacific region, aimed at increasing interoperability and cooperation, including negotiations of any useful arrangement supporting such interactions.

It also lists exploring avenues of enhanced partnerships and dialogue among public and private stakeholders, focusing on technology collaboration, co-production and co-development of defence platforms and equipment besides negotiating a Defence Industrial Roadmap, between the two Ministries of Defence and promote a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and the Italian Industries Federation for Aerospace, Defence and Security (AIAD).

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 13 (IANS) Italian Ambassador to India, Antonio Bartoli believes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an “extraordinary political leader” who has an “extraordinary capacity” to connect with people.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, the seasoned diplomat also stated that strong leadership is one element that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has in common with PM Modi.

“Prime Minister Modi is an extraordinary political leader. One can have his own opinion, agree or disagree, but he has an extraordinary capacity to connect with people. I mean, it suffices to see his X account… He has the ability to build, that is fundamental for leaders, to give a sense of direction to people, and to provide a narrative, which doesn’t mean an artificial narrative but a narrative in the sense that we have to strive for these objectives, and here is where we are going to – for example, the 2047 objective,” believes Bartoli.

Hailing India’s growth story over the last decade, the Italian Ambassador mentioned that India is making “a lot of headway” in several sectors, which is evident with its enormous economic growth.

“You are a very young country and because the median age is 28, you will remain a young country. You have a good level of education that, of course, you have to increase, but all the fundamentals are on your side, and for this reason, and for the reason that you are a huge democracy, and we share the same value in Italy and Europe in general, we want to partner more and more with India,” said Bartoli.

Calling it as an “unprecedented season” in strong and multifaceted India-Italy bilateral relationship, the Ambassador spotlighted how the political leadership in both countries continues to consolidate the strategic partnership and bolster cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean regions.

While Prime Minister Modi continues to be the world’s most popular leader and amongst the most powerful people on the planet, Meloni was this week ranked as the most powerful person in Europe.

“One of her strong points is coherence and determination. Her government, the Italian government, is one of the most stable in Europe. I would say in the world, because in the era of liquid politics, where leaders change with a certain rapidity, she has very solid bases, and the coalition has been there for 30 years more or less in the same parties,” says Bartoli.

“She has a strong leadership, and this is an element that she has in common with PM Modi. That’s why there is this personal chemistry, which is very important in nowadays’ politics, to also feed and develop relationships between states, and our bilateral relationship that is continuing with an unprecedented intensity,” he told IANS.

The two leaders have now held five meetings in the last two years, most recently in Rio de Janeiro last month on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil where they outlined a series of targeted, time-sensitive initiatives, along with a joint strategic action plan to advance the deepening partnership.

“Notwithstanding the different political background, the common idea is that of pursuing the national interest and not remaining hostage to preconceived destinies or ideologies. This is the way Italy is pushing forward its own agenda in the European Union, and this is the way India is playing as a global actor,” said the Italian Ambassador.

India, he pointed out, is on top of agenda in discussions in Italy among companies, academia and think tanks.

“There is respect, admiration, and the capacity to put ourselves in each others’ shoes, and to develop joint projects together. So, the hashtag ‘Melodi’ is not just a slogan, it is a common vision that is witnessed by the growing intensity in relations,” Bartoli stated.

–IANS

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Seoul, Dec 13 (IANS) Prosecutors on Friday arrested Lt. Gen. Lee Jin-woo, the chief of South Korea’s Capital Defence Command, as part of their ongoing investigation into his alleged involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law.

“The commander was arrested this evening under a warrant,” the prosecution said.

Lee, who had previously been placed under a travel ban, is accused of ordering the deployment of martial law troops to the National Assembly building after Yoon declared martial law on December 3, reports Yonhap news agency.

Several military commanders are currently under investigation in connection with the military’s role in enforcing martial law, which was soon lifted by the parliament.

Prosecutors plan to seek a separate warrant to formally detain Lee within 48 hours.

Prosecutors also sought an arrest warrant for Defence Counterintelligence Command chief Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung over his role in the imposition of martial law.

Yeo is also suspected of sending troops to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission at the orders of then-Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun.

The arrest warrant was sought on charges of insurrection and abuse of power.

Prosecutors revealed that Yeo had allegedly ordered military officials to prioritise the arrest of three prominent politicians — the leaders of both the ruling and main opposition parties, as well as National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, according to legal sources.

Additionally, several other figures, including politicians, judges and a progressive reporter, were reportedly listed as targets.

Later on Friday, Yeo announced that he would waive a court hearing to review the arrest warrant.

“Participating in the hearing to determine the necessity of my arrest would not be appropriate in light of my duties to the public and my subordinates. Therefore, I have decided to forgo it,” Yeo said in a statement.

–IANS

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Mogadishu, Dec 13 (IANS) The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has welcomed an agreement signed between Ethiopia and Somalia to end their bitter dispute over Addis Ababa’s plans to build a port in Somaliland, a region of Somalia.

Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of ATMIS Mohamed El-Amine Souef described the deal, inked in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, as an exemplary act of leadership that is crucial in advancing regional peace, security and stability, reports Xinhua news agency

“ATMIS remains fully committed to supporting Somalia’s state-building and security transition, in line with the aspirations of the Somali people and the African Union’s vision for a stable and prosperous Africa,” Souef said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, Thursday evening.

He urged the two parties to implement the agreed measures and further consolidate mutual trust and cooperation.

Earlier, African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat also welcomed a recent agreement signed between the leaders of Ethiopia and Somalia over a dispute concerning Somaliland, a region of Somalia.

“The chairperson welcomes the communique signed by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on December 11 in Ankara, under the auspices of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” the AU said in a statement issued on Thursday.

The AU chief praised “this important act of high responsibility on the part of the leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia,” urging them to implement the agreed-upon measures without delay.

Tensions had been escalating between Ethiopia and Somalia after Ethiopia and Somaliland reportedly signed an agreement earlier this year allowing Ethiopia access to the Red Sea in exchange for its recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, an agreement condemned by Somalia.

In a joint statement issued in Ankara, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reaffirmed their respect for and commitment to one another’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity and agreed to work together to finalise arrangements that will allow Ethiopia to enjoy access to and from the sea.

–IANS

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Harare, Dec 13 (IANS) Zimbabwe has made significant strides in developing its digital infrastructure by prioritising investment in information and communications technologies (ICT), Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services Tatenda Mavetera has said.

The prioritisation of digital infrastructure has pushed the country’s mobile penetration rate to more than 96 per cent, the minister told an event Thursday marking the Zimbabwe Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Innovation Week, reports Xinhua news agency.

“The digital economy is no longer a buzzword. It is a reality that has transformed the way we live, work, and also interact. Artificial intelligence, in particular, has emerged as a game changer with the potential to drive innovation, improve efficiency, and unlock new opportunities,” Mavetera said at the event, held at the University of Zimbabwe in the capital of Harare.

Digital infrastructure is essential to any nation aspiring to compete on the global stage, she said, calling for a robust digital infrastructure that can support the demand for emerging technologies.

“By building a resilient digital infrastructure, we provide a fertile ground for creativity and entrepreneurship,” Mavetera said. “This is where our youth can realise their potential, where startups can flourish, and where established businesses can also harness technology to improve their operations.”

She said that as a result of improved digital infrastructure, Zimbabwe introduced e-learning platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing schools to continue operating remotely.

Other initiatives that are gaining traction due to improved digital infrastructure include ride-hailing services, mobile money services, and telehealth, Mavetera said.

“Now in Zimbabwe, we have already started instituting telehealth, which is also a step in the right direction, showing that we need to leverage technology for us to enhance our government services,” she said.

In addition, Zimbabwe is making strides in the adoption of smart agriculture to provide real-time weather updates for farmers to enhance their productivity and profitability, Mavetera said.

The government has also introduced e-government portals, e-procurement programs, and an electronic case management system under the Ministry of Justice to make government operations more efficient, she said.

Mavetera said the digital divide, however, remains a concern, with many rural communities lacking access to reliable internet and digital services. “Our data storage and computing capabilities also require upgrading to support the demand for efficient internet and other emerging technologies,” she said.

The minister called for partnerships between government, industry, and academia to drive AI, innovation, and digital transformation in the country.

–IANS

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Riga, Dec 13 (IANS) Swedish lawmakers approved the country’s long-term participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s multinational brigade in Latvia, according to information from the Latvian Defense Ministry.

Sweden plans to deploy a mechanised infantry battalion of up to 600 personnel to join the multinational unit in Latvia. The Swedish troops are scheduled to arrive at the beginning of 2025, marking Sweden’s first deployment to another allied country since its accession to NATO in March 2024.

Upon joining the alliance, Sweden declared its intention to contribute a combat battalion to the NATO multinational brigade in Latvia.

Currently, the NATO brigade in Latvia comprises forces from 13 member states: Albania, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Canada, Latvia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.

Meanwhile, in another development, European members of NATO on Thursday began discussing a plan to gradually increase defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030, reports Xinhua, quoting Financial Times.

Preliminary talks took place at last week’s foreign ministers’ meeting, during which members envisaged “a short-term pledge to hit 2.5 per cent and, by 2030, a target of 3 per cent.”

The report said the decision could be made at the next NATO summit, which will take place in June 2025 in The Hague.

The current target, agreed on in 2014, is 2 per cent of GDP. The report added that increasing it to 3 per cent would “put intense pressure on already strained national budgets. “

Seven European NATO members, including Italy and Spain, have not reached the 2 per cent target in 2024. Germany reached the target for the first time this year.

The increase in defence spending comes as US President-elect Donald Trump, who has been demanding Europe pay more for its own security, is to take office in January.

–IANS

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Seoul, Dec 13 (IANS) Nationwide rallies took place Friday, a day before South Korea’s National Assembly votes on a second motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over a botched martial law attempt.

Civic groups organised the candlelight vigil in front of the National Assembly in western Seoul, while smaller groups gathered in other parts of the country to continue their demonstrations calling for Yoon’s removal from office, reports Yonhap news agency.

“Oust him,” read one picket sign, while another called to “Disperse the People Power Party,” referring to the ruling party.

The rallies featured a cultural festival-like atmosphere, with booths offering warm beverages to help attendees endure the cold.

A second motion to impeach South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law declaration has been reported to the National Assembly on Friday, with the nation reeling from Yoon’s December 3 invocation of martial law that triggered unprecedented political turmoil.

Yoon has remained defiant, saying on Thursday that declaring martial law was “within the realm of executive authority, which is not subject to judicial review” and he would fight “until the last moment.”

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and other opposition parties had originally planned to begin voting on the motion as of 5 p.m. on Saturday, but the office of National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik brought forward the timing to 4 p.m.

DP leader Lee Jae-myung urged ruling party lawmakers to vote in favour of the motion, stressing that impeachment is the “fastest and surest way to end this chaos.”

If the motion is passed, the Constitutional Court will decide whether to reinstate or remove Yoon from office. If upheld by the court, Yoon would be the second president in South Korea’s history to be removed from office through impeachment after former President Park Geun-hye in 2017.

The country remains deeply unsettled following Yoon’s declaration of martial law on December 3, which was swiftly overturned by the National Assembly.

–IANS

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