US elevates India’s trade status to NATO-level ally, move to boost access to defence tech

Published: Hindustan Times
31 Jul 2018

The United States on Monday elevated India’s status as a trading partner to equal that it has accorded largely to its Nato allies, mostly for the purposes of speeding up the sale of high-tech defence and non-defence products that are otherwise subjected to strict controls and licensing.

“We have granted to India Strategic Trade Authorization status STA-1 that’s (a) very important status under our export control regime and acknowledges US-India security and economic relationship,” said US secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum. Click here to read...

U.S.' Pompeo warns against IMF bailout for Pakistan that aids China

Published: Reuters
31 Jul 2018

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned on Monday that any potential International Monetary Fund bailout for Pakistan’s new government should not provide funds to pay off Chinese lenders. In an interview with CNBC television, Pompeo said the United States looked forward to engagement with the government of Pakistan’s expected new prime minister, Imran Khan, but said there was “no rationale” for a bailout that pays off Chinese loans to Pakistan. Click here to read...

Defence Acquisition Council meeting held to ensure timely delivery of equipment to Armed Forces

Published: India Today
31 Jul 2018

Continuing on its efforts to boost indigenous defence industry and to reduce timelines so as to ensure timely delivery of equipment to the Armed Forces, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) discussed and approved implementation guidelines for the Strategic Partnership Model Strategic Partnership Model.

It aims to revitalise defence industrial ecosystem and progressively build indigenous capabilities in the private sector to design develop and manufacture complex weapon systems for the future needs of the Armed Forces. Click here to read...

India, Nepal to jointly promote Ramayana, Buddhist tourism circuits

Published: The Times of India
31 Jul 2018

India and Nepal will jointly promote the Ramayana and Buddhist tourist circuits, tourism minister K J Alphons told Lok Sabha on Monday. Alphons was responding to questions on the efforts made by the Indian and Nepalese governments to promote the Ramayana and Buddhist circuits among tourists. He said both governments have entered into an agreement and have, in the second meeting of the joint working group held in Kathmandu on July 6 this year, decided to set up the Indo Nepal Tourism Forum (INTF) with representation from government and private sector from both sides. Click here to read...

Nepal PM Oli pledges early implementation of transport, transit agreement with China

Published: The Times of India
30 Jul 2018

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has pledged to implement at the earliest the landmark transport and transit agreement signed with China, a move aimed at reducing landlocked country's total dependence on India. The prime minister said this during his meeting with Chinese deputy minister of external affairs Wang Yajun in Kathmandu yesterday. Oli said the agreement on transport and transit signed between Nepal and China in during his first stint as the premier in 2016 would be taken to a conclusion soon. Click here to read...