Amphibious anti-terror drills launched in southern Russia
Russian marines from the Caspian Flotilla have commenced amphibious assault exercises in the Dagestan republic, in the North Caucasus, RIA Novosti reported on Monday. “Some 600 personnel, the Ataman Platov landing boat, four Serna-class landing craft and more than 50 pieces of military and special equipment from the marine units are taking part in the exercises,” a Defense Ministry press service said in a statement. “The marines from the amphibious assault company completed a forced march and carried out an amphibious assault to engage a simulated enemy.”
Saudi Arabia beefs up security citing terrorist threats
Saudi Arabia is strengthening security around oil facilities and shopping centers after receiving information about possible attacks. Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Mansour al-Turki said on Monday that such measures are necessary to protect the facilities from acts of terrorism. Saudi Arabia is a head of a coalition, which is carrying out airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen and taking part in the US-led coalition against the Islamic State. Security concerns urged the US diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia to stop providing consular services for a week in March.
Greek Golden Dawn trial opens, top defendants snub court
The trial over Greece’s far right Golden Dawn party leaders has started in the absence of the main defendants. A total of 69 people are charged with operating as a criminal gang and carrying out a string of attacks against their opponents and migrants. The politicians deny all the charges. Golden Dawn founder Nikos Michaloliakos and 12 MPs on trial have failed to show up, AFP reported. They were represented by their lawyers, who gave no explanation for their clients’ absence. The trial was adjourned until May 7. Hundreds of anti-fascism protesters as well as party supporters have rallied outside the court.
Steve Elliot
Steve Elliot
New shipwreck: at least 20 migrants reported dead
The International Organization for Migration says it received a distress call from the Mediterranean, where according to the caller three boats with up to 300 migrants are sinking in international waters. At least 20 have been reported drowned. In a separate incident on Monday, a boat with immigrants crossing from Turkey went aground near the island of Rhodes in Greece with 3 dead, 90 rescued and 30 of them taken to hospital. Last week witnessed four such incidents in the Mediterranean Sea – the deadliest one happened in the early hours of Sunday when a boat from Libya with some 900 migrants on board sank near the Italian island of Lampedusa – hundreds are feared dead.
US decries reported ISIS mass killings of Christians
The White House has condemned the reported execution of 30 Ethiopian Christians in Libya, following avideo released by Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIS/ISIL) militants claiming the killings. Washington decried the murders and called for stability in Libya in a statement released on Sunday. The document also said that the USA would fight back against terrorists. Apart from the scenes of execution, the IS video also includes footage of militants destroying churches, graves and icons as well as a demand on Christians to convert to Islam or to pay tax prescribed by the Koran.
9 dead in Somalia UN car bomb attack
At least nine people died in an attack on a UN vehicle blown up in Somalia’s Puntland region. The vehicle was carrying workers to the UN compound in Garowe. Among the victims are two Kenyan citizens and seven Somalian guards, a police officer Mohamed Abdi told Reuters from the scene.
Israeli plane makes emergency landing with broken wheel
El Al flight LY2521to Prague with 181 passengers and crew on board had to turn around and make an emergency landing in Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, from whence it departed. The pilot decided to turn the plane around above Turkey after detecting a ruptured right wheel, El Al Airlines informs. Tire shreds were also found on the runaway, the Israel Airports Authority announced. The plane has safely landed, with no injuries reported.
Case against Argentina President Cristina Kirchner dropped
In Argentina, Javier De Luca, the federal prosecutor before the court of appeals, has dropped accusations that Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her foreign minister had conspired to cover up Iran’s involvement in a 1994 Jewish center bombing in Buenos Aires. De Luca told the higher court judges in a 27-page document that there was not enough evidence to warrant a probe. The case had been brought by another prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, who died of a gunshot wound to the head hours before he was to present his findings before Congress. The case was rejected by a federal judge in February and then thrown out on appeal by the federal appeals court. The bombing case, as well as Nisman’s death, remains unsolved.
South Korean PM offers to resign over graft charges
South Korea’s Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo, who has denied an allegation that he took illegal funds from a businessman who committed suicide, has offered to resign. Yonhap news agency said that Prime Minister Wan-koo has denied he received 30 million Won in campaign funds from businessman Sung Wan-jong. Sung was found earlier this month hanging by his necktie from a tree while under investigation for fraud and bribery.
Apr 21
A court in Egypt has sentenced former President Mohammad Mursi to 20 years in prison over the killing of protesters while he was still in power. It is the first ruling he has faced since his ousting and is one of several upcoming trials he faces. Mursi was deposed by the army in July 2013 following mass street protests against his rule.
Morsi was deposed by his then military chief and Minister of Defence Abdel Fattah el-Sisi after mass protests against his rule in the summer of 2013. With the coup, the former president’s supporters launched a series of protests and sit-ins across the country culminating in a crackdown by security forces that left hundreds dead.
In the deadliest incident, at least 817 protesters were killed in Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya Square when security forces opened fire on a sit-in. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the killings likely amounted to “crimes against humanity”.
Thousands have also been imprisoned, with many supporters of Morsi facing mass trials facing charges of involvement in violence.
At least 1,212 people have been sentenced to death since the start of 2014, including the head of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Badie.
Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism announced further negotiations to India-Peru FTA
缳pan style=’font:7.0pt “Times New Roman”‘> Trade negotiations with Peru will begin in the third quarter of this year, while Kher would visit the southamerican country in May.
Mumbai, 21st April, 2015: Peru’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Magali Silva, announced that the Peruvian and Indian Government are coordinating the next visit of Rajeev Kher, Secretary in Department of Commerce, who might arrive in Lima during next May.
“Secretary Kher would visit our country by early May to continue encouraging the opening of negotiations for a FTA between both countries and [therefore] begin with the face-to-face works, which are part of the Joint Feasibility Study,” she specified.
Magali Silva stated that the JFS — to be drafted by representatives of India and Peru —࠷ould be completed in the next six months, and it is the previous step to formal negotiations. Once this study is finished, India-Peru FTA negotiations would be officially launched.࠼o:p>
It should be noted the feasibility of a bilateral trade agreement will be analyzed by a group of officials, who conduct the Joint Feasibility Study. It is composed of representatives of the Trade Ministries of Peru and India. This group will start an online meeting in the next days.
A potential market
According to Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, during 2014 bilateral trade between India and Peru surpassed US$1.158 billion. Of the amount, US$321 million represented exports, and US$837 million imports.
Regarding the non-traditional exports, the products standing out were: Calcium phosphates, acrylic fibers, grapes and boric acid, among others. Regarding traditional products exported: raw gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead and fish meal stand out.
India-Peru FTA will allow the arrival of Indian firms to Peru and the establishment of joint ventures in different sectors, both for the local market and to boost Peru’s exports of services.
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