Cape Town, May 29 (IANS) An all-party delegation led by NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule…

Panama City, May 28 (IANS) Jose Raul Mulino Quintero, the President of Panama and a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), has expressed “support for India’s fight against terrorism,” Congress MP Sashi Tharoor said after a delegation of members of Parliament met him. At their “constructive and productive” meeting in the Presidential Palace, Mulino “expressed his understanding and support for India’s fight against terrorism,” Tharoor, who heads the delegation, said in a post on X on Wednesday (local time).Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez, who hosted a lunch for the delegation, was at the meeting with the President along with several senior officials.Martinez-Acha “extended full support understanding of Panama on terrorism for India,” Taranjit Singh Sandhu, a former ambassador to the US who is accompanying the delegation, said in an X post.They were joined by Vice-Minister Carlos Hoyos, as well as two members of Panama’s National Assembly, which was “a tribute to the regard in which India is held here,” Tharoor said.During the meeting, Tharoor passed around pictures of Pakistani officials at the funeral of Hafiz Abdur Rauf, a senior leader of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and a designated a terrorist by the United Nations Sanctions Committee.”There is no greater proof of official complicity” of Pakistan with terrorism, he told them.Pakistan military’s top brass, including Lt Gen Fayyaz Hussain Shah and Maj Gen Rao Imran, and Punjab Police Inspector General Usman Anwar were among those who attended the funerals of Rauf and other terrorists killed in the Operation Sindoor hits on terrorism centres.The parliamentary delegation was visiting this influential Central American country that is an elected member of the UN Security Council to make clear India’s policy of zero-tolerance for terrorism in the aftermath of the religiously motivated massacre of 26 people at Pahalgam by Pakistan-linked terrorists.India launched Operation Sindoor to hit the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan and the areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.Islamabad launched attacks on targets in India, including temples, gurdwaras, and a convent, escalating the conflict.Reflecting a broad national consensus on the issue, the delegation included parliamentarians from across party lines Shambhavi of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Sarfaraz Ahmad of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Milind Murli Deora of the Shiv Sena, and BJP leaders Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, and Tejasvi Surya, along with GM Harish Balayogi of the Telugu Desam Party.The delegation, which has visited New York and Guyana, is to visit Colombia and Brazil and head to Washington in the quest to rally support for India against terrorism.–IANSarul/sd/

Mexico City, May 29 (IANS) Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed confidence the United States will reopen its border to Mexican cattle exports “very soon,” following bilateral agreements to curb the spread of screwworm.After detecting the presence of the pest, the United States Department of Agriculture announced on May 12, it was suspending cattle imports from Mexico for 15 days; however, the ban remains in place up to now, reports Xinhua news agency.”We hope it will be very soon,” the President said at her daily morning press conference at the National Palace on Wednesday, referring to resuming cattle exports.According to Sheinbaum, a team from the US Department of Agriculture is set to travel to Mexico to “verify the work plan that the technical committees have already reviewed,” including the installation of a sterile fly production plant in the southern state of Chiapas to “eradicate the screwworm plague.””There is already a technical agreement; they will come to verify it. This plant will be installed, and we hope that very soon, based on this, the border will open,” Sheinbaum said, stressing, “The important thing is that there are already agreements.”The President confirmed the United States would provide 21 million US dollars to set up the sterile fly production plant in Chiapas.”Essentially, that is the resource that is required,” Sheinbaum said, ruling out any additional funding from her government.Mexico’s National Agricultural Council (CNA) on Wednesday welcomed the willingness of both sides to move forward with an agreement and said it was confident Mexican cattle exports to the United States would soon resume.”The CNA celebrates the technical and political will of both governments to advance an agreement based on science, collaboration and mutual trust, and is optimistic that the reopening of border crossings for Mexican livestock will be made official in the coming days,” the employers’ association said in a statement.”This decision will restore, mitigate the impact on producers, and provide certainty to the livestock value chain within the framework” of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on free trade, the group said.–IANSint/sd/

Abuja, May 29 (IANS) The Nigerian government has said that it will continue to borrow within manageable limits and per the country’s debt sustainability framework while refuting allegations of overborrowing from concerned citizens.In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, the Federal Ministry of Finance said the most populous African country has adopted a structured, forward-looking approach that facilitates comprehensive financial planning and avoids the inefficiencies of ad-hoc or reactive borrowing practices.The statement responded to reactions from citizens questioning a recent request from President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly for the approval of the 2024-2026 external borrowing rolling plan, also known as the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, under both the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the Debt Management Office Act 2003.Tinubu has requested the National Assembly’s approval to secure external loans of 21.5 million US dollars and 15 billion yuan, along with a grant of 65 million euros, as part of the Nigerian government’s proposed external borrowing plan.The proposed borrowing will be sourced mainly from the country’s development partners, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, French Development Agency, European Investment Bank, JICA, the Export-Import Bank of China, and the Islamic Development Bank, reports Xinhua news agency.”This strategic method enhances the country’s ability to implement effective fiscal policies and mobilise development resources,” the official statement said. “The plan outlines the external borrowing framework for both the federal and sub-national governments over three years, accompanied by five detailed appendices on the projects, terms and conditions, implementation period, and others.”The borrowing plan does not equate to actual borrowing for the period or an automatic increase in the nation’s debt burden, said the statement, noting that the actual borrowing for each year is contained in the annual national budget. In 2025, the external borrowing component is 1.23 billion dollars.According to the statement, the nature of the rolling plan means that borrowings are split over the period of the projects, with a large proportion of projects in the 2024-2026 rolling plan having multi-year drawdowns of between five and seven years, which are project-tied loans.It added that these projects cut across critical sectors of the economy, including power grids and transmission lines, irrigation for improving food security, fibre optics networks across the country, fighter jets for security, and rail and road infrastructure.–IANSint/sd/

Brussels, May 29 (IANS) The European Union (EU) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have formally launched negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a potential breakthrough towards the EU’s first comprehensive trade deal in the Gulf region, said the European Commission.This initiative also aims to expand further the EU’s global trade network, which currently comprises 44 agreements with 76 countries, said the Commission on Wednesday.According to a press release of the Commission, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi met in Dubai to reaffirm their shared vision for the agreement and agree on a roadmap, with substantive work expected to begin as early as June.The first meetings of negotiating teams will focus on reducing tariffs on goods and facilitating services, digital trade and investment flows reports Xinhua news agency.Talks will also explore ways to boost trade in strategic sectors, such as renewable energy, green hydrogen and critical raw materials.Sefcovic emphasized that a bilateral FTA would unlock “tremendous business opportunities” for both European and Emirati enterprises, while also bolstering the EU’s regional engagement with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the launch of the talks as a “significant milestone,” noting that the agreement would deepen EU-Gulf ties, create new opportunities for European businesses, and strengthen cooperation in key areas such as renewable energy and digital technologies.To address the uncertainty of US trade policy, the EU is strengthening cooperation with other economies to promote trade diversification and reduce its reliance on the United States.Last Friday, US President Donald Trump announced that he is “recommending a straight 50 per cent Tariff on the EU, starting on June 1, 2025.” But after a phone call with von der Leyen on Sunday, he agreed to postpone the planned tariff increase until July 9. On Tuesday, Trump welcomed the EU’s decision to proceed with negotiations, calling it a positive step, but he again warned that he would enforce trade measures if a deal is not reached.–IANSint/sd/

Washington, May 29 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said that there should be a cap of around 15 per cent on foreign students at Harvard University while continuing to pressure it to submit its list of foreign students.”Harvard has to show us their lists,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday. “They have foreign students. About 31 per cent of their students are foreign-based. Almost 31 per cent. We want to know where those students come from. Are they troublemakers?”Trump claimed that many of those students were troublemakers “caused by the radical left lunatics in this country.””I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15 per cent, not 31 per cent, we have people want to go to Harvard and other schools they can’t get in because we have foreign students there,” he said.After Trump returned to the White House, he has targeted many US universities, warning that those that do not adjust their policies will face funding cuts, reports Xinhua news agency.The Trump administration’s main demands include eradicating antisemitism on campus and abolishing diversity initiatives that favour minority groups.With billions of dollars in funding frozen, its tax-exempt status in jeopardy and multiple investigations underway, Harvard is facing an unprecedented crisis.On May 22, the Department of Homeland Security announced the revocation of Harvard’s eligibility for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program — one of the latest moves by the Trump administration aimed at pressuring the university.Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, and a federal judge in Massachusetts has temporarily blocked the ban, and a court hearing on the issue was scheduled for May 29. Previously, Harvard filed a lawsuit against the administration over federal funding cuts.According to data from Harvard, as of fall 2023, international students made up more than 27 per cent of the total student population. Currently, Harvard enrols nearly 6,800 international students and scholars from over 140 countries and regions, most of whom are pursuing graduate programs.–IANSint/sd/

Seoul, May 29 (IANS) North Korea has completed the renovation of a railway station that links the country to Russia across the Tumen River, state media reported on Thursday, in the latest sign of the two countries’ closer alignment.A ceremony marking the completion of the Tumen River Station’s renovation was held at the site the previous day, attended by the railway minister, other officials and workers, reports Yonhap, quoting Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).”As the Tumen River Station was constructed in accordance with its mission to serve as a border gateway station, it is now capable of guaranteeing passenger convenience at a high level and contributing to railway modernization,” the KCNA noted.Situated just below the Tumen River on North Korea’s northeastern border with Russia, the station is connected to Russia’s Khasan Station by a bridge.The North’s 512-kilometer-long Tumen River serves as its boundary with both China and Russia.An official at South Korea’s unification ministry said a roof appears to have been installed over the station’s platform and waiting room during the renovation to improve convenience for passengers.The renovation might have involved upgrading customs services for imports and exports, the official said, noting that human and material exchanges between the two countries may increase via the station.Trains have been carrying people between Tumen River Station and Khasan Station three times a week since passenger rail services were resumed late last year.North Korea is believed to have renovated the border station amid growing exchanges and cooperation with Russia, following its deployment of troops late last year to support Moscow against Ukraine.Late last month, the two countries launched the construction of a road bridge linking them across the Tumen River amid deepening bilateral cooperation. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.–IANSint/sd/

Washington, May 29 (IANS) Elon Musk has announced his departure from his role as a senior advisor to US President Donald Trump, ending his tenure as a Special Government Employee with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The billionaire entrepreneur, who also heads Tesla and SpaceX, had been tasked with leading efforts to streamline the federal bureaucracy and reduce wasteful government spending.Taking to X on Wednesday (US time), Musk expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve.”As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” Musk wrote.”The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” he said.Musk’s announcement came just a day after he publicly criticised the cornerstone of Trump’s legislative agenda.In an interview with CBS, the Tesla CEO expressed disappointment with what Trump calls his “big beautiful bill,” which combines sweeping tax cuts with toughened immigration enforcement.Describing the legislation as a “massive spending bill,” Musk said it runs counter to the goals of his department.”It increases the federal deficit and undermines the work of DOGE,” he said.Taking a dig at the bill’s branding, Musk remarked, “I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful. But I don’t know if it could be both.”Trump responded to Musk’s criticism on Wednesday during a brief exchange with reporters in the Oval Office.While defending the legislation, Trump acknowledged the challenges involved in negotiating the bill.”I’m not happy about certain aspects of it, but I’m thrilled by other aspects of it,” he said, suggesting that the bill might still see revisions. “We’re going to see what happens. It’s got a way to go,” he said.–IANSint/sd/

Washington, May 29 (IANS) In a significant legal setback to US President Donald Trump, a…

Panama City, May 29 (IANS) Panama President Jose Raul Mulino Quintero on Thursday (Indian time)…