Month: January 2017

Asian Nations Try to Save TPP Trade Deal

Australia and New Zealand said on Tuesday they hope to salvage the Trans-Pacific Partnership by encouraging China and other Asian nations to join the trade pact after U.S. President Donald Trump kept his promise to pull out of the accord. The TPP, which the United States had signed but not ratified, was a pillar of former U.S. President Barack Obama’s policy to pivot to Asia.

Tensions between US and China could stretch Australia as Trump dumps TPP

Australia is refocusing on a post-TPP multilateral trade bloc with a Chinese rather than US centrepiece, which could mean potentially painful decisions if tensions over disputed islands in the South China Sea escalate into a confrontation. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull suggested China could replace the United States in the Trans Pacific Partnership trade bloc, hours after the White House vowed to confront Beijing over disputed islands in the South China Sea.

Politicians woo farming lobby ahead of Brexit trigger

There has been a sudden burst of interest from top Scottish politicians in this year’s NFU Scotland’s AGM, annual dinner and conference in Glasgow in a fortnight’s time. If a six-way battle for inclusion in the organisation’s own top team wasn’t enough excitement to fuel the two-day event, the ongoing battle for hearts and minds over the Brexit issue has also galvanised big hitters from the Scottish Parliament to take the opportunity to address what is likely to be the farming industry’s most talked-about bash of the year.

Rwanda: Kagame Assures Diplomats Peaceful Presidential Elections

President Kagame has told members of the diplomatic corps that presidential elections slated for August 4, 2017 will be conducted in a fair, transparent and peaceful way as others had been held before in the country. “We are looking forward to a constructive and meaningful election later this year marking an important period of consolidation for our country.

Rio Tinto raises $US2.5 billion from sale of NSW coal assets to Yancoal Australia

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CEO of Dubai airport offers to help Trump, US improve hubs

Dubai International Airport would welcome a call from the Trump administration on ways to improve American airports, the CEO of the Mideast hub said on Tuesday as it retained the title of the world’s busiest for international travel. Paul Griffiths said the Dubai airport, the home of long-haul carrier Emirates and often lauded by U.S. President Donald Trump during his campaign, saw 83.6 million passengers in 2016.

Planes on the tarmac at Heathrow Airport amid dense fog

The Met Office said overnight fog may cause fresh disruption to air travel, after thousands of would-be fliers across southern England faced cancellations and delays on Monday. The new “severe” warning covers all of England, except for the North East, and south-east Wales and will remain in place until 11am on Tuesday.

Italian junior in tears after controversial DQ6 hours ago

An Italian junior was in floods of tears after she was disqualified at the Australian Open for swiping away a loose ball which hit a ball boy, a report said on Tuesday. Maria Vittoria Viviani insisted she had done nothing wrong in the incident, which appeared to be accidental and for which she immediately apologised.

China, Philippines to roll out $3.7B in cooperation projects30 min ago

State media cite a senior Chinese official as saying China and the Philippines have agreed on $3.7 billion worth of projects to boost cooperation. The official Xinhua News Agency cited Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng as saying after a Monday meeting with a Cabinet delegation from the Philippines that the projects are aimed at “improving people’s living standards.”

.com | Sinn Fein hands reins to new generation

Michelle O’Neill is Sinn Fein’s Stormont Leader in the Long Room at Parliament Buildings, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. London – Sinn Fein signalled a shift to a new, post-conflict generation in Northern Ireland on Monday when the Irish republican party named a 40-year-old woman to replace a former IRA commander as its leader in Belfast.

For you, always: CRPF jawans brave bone-chilling weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 24: At a time when entire North India is battling severe cold conditions, the soldiers on borders, specifically in Jammu and Kashmir and other cold regions are braving bone-chilling temperatures and high velocity winds to ensure the security of the nation. Amid the cold wave and deep sheath of snow, CRPF jawans in Kashmir perform round the clock duty in the valley to maintain the law and order in the region.

After Tamil Nadu allows Jallikattu, Karnataka and Maharashtra appeal…

New Delhi, Jan 24: After a bill to Jallikattu was legalised in Tamil Nadu by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, and the Centre too lifted the ban on the bull-taming sport in the state, a similar progress seems to be preparing to get notice in states, Karnataka and Maharashtra. As per the reports, the Karnataka and Maharashtra governments are now pressurising the Centre to lift the ban on buffalo races in the two states.

Rupee recovers 12 paise in early trade6 hours ago

Mumbai, Jan 24 The rupee gained 12 paise to 68.08 against the dollar in early trade today at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on increased selling of the US currency by exporters and banks amidst higher opening in the domestic equity market. Forex dealers said that besides selling of the American greenback by exporters and banks, weakness in the dollar against other currencies overseas supported the rupee.

Pentagon chief vows ‘unshakeable commitment’ to NATO:spokesman28 min ago

New US Secretary of Defence James Mattis reassured his British counterpart that Washington has an “unshakeable commitment” to NATO, despite President Donald Trump previously casting the military alliance as obsolete. During a phone call with Michael Fallon on his first full day in office, Mattis “emphasized the United States’ unshakeable commitment to NATO,” Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said in a statement.

GJF wants 5% import tax;PAN card limit to Rs 5 lakh for Budget12 min ago

Mumbai, Jan 24 The dometic gems and jewellery industry, which went through a lot of turmoil in 2016, has urged the government to increase the mandatory PAN card limit to Rs 5 lakh and above and reduce the import duty on gold to atleast 5 per cent in the Union Budget 2017-18. All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation , the apex body for domestic gems and jewellery industry, has recomended the Finance Minister to increase the mandatory PAN card limit to Rs 5 lakh and above.

Australia opens door to China in push to save TPP22 min ago

Australia said today it hoped to recast the Trans-Pacific Partnership without the US and opened the door for China to sign up after President Donald Trump ditched the trade pact. The deal included a dozen Asia-Pacific nations that together account for 40 per cent of the global economy, but President Donald Trump said yesterday he had “terminated” it in line with election pledges to can the “job killer” pact.

Malaysia’s AirAsia denies involvement in Rolls-Royce bribery case

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 24 – Malaysia’s budget airlines AirAsia has denied its involvement in the bribery case involving British aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce, a media report said on Tuesday. British media earlier reported that the Serious Fraud Office has named AirAsia as among the foreign parties allegedly involved in bribery cases with the aircraft engine maker, Xinhua news agency reported.

Germany to finance strategic infrastructure project in India

Berlin, Jan 24 – The German Cabinet is set to finance long term strategic projects in India particularly in the railway, infrastructure and smart cities sectors, a top official said here. According to an official statement issued by the Indian embassy in Berlin, the remarks were made by Matthias Machnig, State Secretary of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy in a meeting here on Monday with a visiting Indian CEO delegation led by the Confederation of Indian Industry .

The Monday news briefing: An at-a-glance survey of some top stories

The Chair of President Donald Trump’s Strategic and Policy forum Steve Schwarzman answers questions at a news conference after meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a Liberal cabinet retreat in Calgary, Alta., Monday, Jan. 23, 2017.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol TRUMP ADVISER SAYS CANADA COULD BENEFIT FROM NAFTA RENEGOTIATION: An adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump says Canada will be in a good position should there be a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Stephen Schwarzman, who leads the President’s Strategic and Policy Forum, is in Calgary to take part in meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his federal cabinet.

Escalating food prices worry head teachers as S1 selection begins today

Ms Rose Iziziga, Kitante HS head teacher, yesterday asked stakeholders to be considerate if any school turns to them for support in the middle of the term Head teachers check in the boxes for their schools during Senior Five selection in Kampala last year . PHOTO BY RACHEL MABALA A kilo of maize flour which was at Shs1,800 last year is now 2,500, beans have gone up from Shs2,000 to Shs2,500 while a kilo of sugar has increased by almost Shs1,000.

China, Philippines to roll out $3.7B in cooperation projects

State media cite a senior Chinese official as saying China and the Philippines have agreed on $3.7 billion worth of projects to boost cooperation. The official Xinhua News Agency cited Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng as saying after a Monday meeting with a Cabinet delegation from the Philippines that the projects are aimed at “improving people’s living standards.”

Venezuela’s Opposition Revives Push to End Maduro’s Rule

Opposition supporters hold packages of corn flour in front of riot police during a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government in San Cristobal, Jan. 23, 2017. Offering prized bags of flour to police and hurling empty medicine boxes on the floor, Venezuelan opposition protesters launched a new push on Monday to force President Nicolas Maduro from power and end 18 years of socialist rule.

California Chrome the favorite for $12M Pegasus World Cup

The two-time Horse of the Year has been set as the 6-5 top choice to win Saturday’s inaugural running of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park. If California Chrome prevails over the mile-and-an-eighth distance in the world’s richest race, his last before being retired to stud, he would become the first horse to pass $20 million in career earnings.

Canada Stocks-TSX falls on U.S. protectionism risk, lower oil prices

TORONTO, Jan 23 Canada’s main stock index fell on Monday, pressured by lower oil prices and risk of a more protectionist United States under its new president, Donald Trump. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index reached a more than two-year high earlier this month, helped by an agreement in November by major oil producers to cut output and by prospects of U.S. economic stimulus.

Government didn’t plan well for Afcon

Perhaps that explains why the national broadcaster UBC failed to show the tournament where Uganda took part after so many years of screening Afcon editions where our national team did not participate. After tomorrow, Uganda’s business at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon draws to a close.

Museveni wants law on sugarcane by-products

President Museveni has directed the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Ms Amelia Kyambadde to bring to Parliament, within six months, a law that will allow for the blending of fuel with Ethanol to cut fuel costs Launched. President Museveni, flanked by Ms Meena Jayant Madhvani – widow of the late Jayant Madhvani, and Trade minister Amelia Kyambadde, prepares to commission the new Ethanol plant in Jinja yesterday.

U.S. State Dept OKs possible $418 mln military aircraft sale to Kenya

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $418 million sale to Kenya of aircraft with weapons and related support, a Pentagon agency said on Monday. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement the approval was for the possible sale of up to 12 Air Tractor AT-802L planes and two AT-504 trainer aircraft, a weapons package, technical support and program management.

30 people in city arrested as police enforce tobacco law

Thirty people were last Saturday arrested in Kampala in the anti-tobacco operation conducted by the Uganda National Health Consumers Organisation [UNHCO] under the Ministry of Health and the police Thirty people were last Saturday arrested in Kampala in the anti-tobacco operation conducted by the Uganda National Health Consumers Organisation [UNHCO] under the Ministry of Health and the police. This was in pursuit of the implementation of the Tobacco Control Act that was passed by Parliament in July 2015 and assented to by President Museveni.

1,000 S. Sudan herders enter Uganda

About 1,000 Toposa pastoralists from South Sudan have crossed to Kaabong District in search of water and pasture for their animals. The pastoralists entered into Uganda last Friday with 10,000 livestock, including camels, donkeys, sheep and goats.