Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid met his counterpart S. Jaishankar on Friday for the first India-Maldives Joint Commission to be held in four years. In an exclusive interview, he said bilateral ties on development projects are going apace, but also that the Maldives is staying the course on Chinese projects, despite misgivings over past loans.Your government has been in office for a year now. How is India-Maldives development progressing?Unfortunately since 2015, we have not had a joint commission meeting, for obvious reasons, because we did not have the best of relations. I think it is essential that we continue the formal process. Since President [Ibrahim Mohamed] Solih took office a year ago, we have had a whirlwind relationship; the leaders have met so many times, in Male, Delhi and New York. The desire they both have is to get things done, to consolidate the relationship.In particular, India has announced $1.4 billion in budgetary support in addition to a $8,000-million … [Read more...] about Security ties with India a priority, but China a generous donor on infra: Maldives Foreign Minister
Qatari foreign minister
Bangladesh foreign minister cancels India visit over CAB
NEW DELHI: In what is undoubtedly a diplomatic setback, Bangladesh foreign minister MK Abdul Momen cancelled his visit to New Delhi a day after Parliament passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Although both governments tried hard to gloss over the reason for the cancellation, sources in New Delhi and Dhaka say there is some disquiet in Bangladesh over not only the implications of the legislation but also the manner in which senior Indian ministers referred to that country. Bangladesh' official reason was that Momen had to be in town to attend the Martyrs Day ceremonies, because his minister of state Shahriar Alam was in Madrid and the foreign secretary Shahidul Hoque was travelling to The Hague. However, none of these are last-minute visits. MEA had issued an advisory about Momen's visit on Wednesday - he was expected to land here on Thursday evening, attend the main session of the Indian Ocean Dialogue and have a bilateral meeting with his counterpart S Jaishankar. MEA spokesperson … [Read more...] about Bangladesh foreign minister cancels India visit over CAB
Govt examining foreign fund flows in infra at strategic locations
NEW DELHI: The government has initiated review of foreign fund flows in sensitive like telecom and physical infrastructure at strategic locations of the country, according to sources.A comprehensive review has been undertaken to assess the control over various infrastructures at strategic locations and border areas of the country, the sources said.Given the fact that majority of the industries are now under automatic route for foreign direct investment (FDI) rather than the approval route, the sources said, it is required to have an idea on the foreign presence in these areas including the northeastern region.Keeping in view the strategic importance, the sources said, the government decided against closure of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. The state-owned telecom company has a strong network at border areas.Many departments and agencies, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), have been involved in the exercise.The RBI is also examining the need for greater scrutiny of the FDI coming … [Read more...] about Govt examining foreign fund flows in infra at strategic locations
Pakistan Appoints Foreign Office Spokesperson as Its Envoy to Germany
Islamabad: In a major diplomatic reshuffle, Pakistan has appointed 20 ambassadors and consul generals in its various missions abroad that also included Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal who was named as the country's new envoy to Germany. According to a notification issued by the Foreign Office dated December 13, Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved appointments of 17 ambassadors and three consul general, Dawn reported. Faisal, who was also serving as Director General for South Asia and SAARC, will be replacing Pakistan's Ambassador to Germany Johar Salim, who has been posted to Italy. It is not immediately known who will replace Faisal as Foreign Office spokesperson. Rahim Hayat Qureshi, currently serving as ambassador to South Korea, will now be Pakistan's ambassador to Iran and Shafqat Ali Khan, the ambassador to Poland, has been transferred to Russia. Maryam Madiha Aftab has been made ambassador to Bulgaria, while Zahid Hussain, currently posted as a minister in … [Read more...] about Pakistan Appoints Foreign Office Spokesperson as Its Envoy to Germany
Thailand plans to promote “home lodge” places for foreign visitors next year
Video PlayerClose BANGKOK, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Thailand plans to promote the so-called "home lodge" places for foreign visitors to stay and feel the community-based ways of life of the locals. Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed on Saturday his agency plans to promote some 1,500 "home lodge" places in all regions of the country next year. An estimated 10,000 foreign visitors, particularly including free, independent travelers, are expected on yearly basis to check in at those "home lodge" places where they can view and learn the locals' ways of life, art and culture and buy their indigenously-manufactured goods, Phipat said. Authorities will see to it that all the "home lodge" places will be convenient, clean and safe for visitors and environmentally friendly, he said. The "home lodge" places are supposedly located in the neighborhood of communities of the so-called secondary tourist towns as opposed to urban or business areas nationwide, according to the … [Read more...] about Thailand plans to promote “home lodge” places for foreign visitors next year
