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For the first time in the post-Cold war era, Delhi elites too are not going overboard with excitement over an impending prime ministerial visit to the US and are able to maintain equanimity and poise.
At the same time, US-Indian business ties are set to blossom. On Thursday, the Indian government tabled legislation in parliament under the misleading title "Civil Nuclear Liability Bill", the sole purpose of which is to provide access for the US nuclear industry to the Indian market, which promises to offer over $100 billion in business in the coming five to 10 years.
Washington's quick backtracking from the Obama-Hu statement underscores that any enterprise to mount ill-fated Sino-American ventures in the Indo-Gangetic plains can seriously harm the American business agenda, which is the US's top priority.
read more @ asia times
2. India hails deep-rooted ties with Kuwait
NEW DELHI: Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur praised yesterday the great efforts of Kuwait in supporting human development and mankind progress in friendly nations.
The Indian official made the remarks during her meeting here with Kuwait's Ambassador to New Delhi, Sami Al-Sulaiman. She underlined the deep-rooted ties linking Kuwait and India and the two countries' keenness on enhancement of bilateral relations in the service of mutual interests.
Sulaiman said that his meeting with Kaur was part of routine talks with Indian government officials to review the march of the good relations between the two countries.
He said the distinguished relations linking Kuwait and India were based on solid ground towards the launch of giant joint projects that would pour into the interest of the peoples of both countries. Sulaiman pointed out the admiration by the Indian minister vis-a-vis Kuwait's generous contributions in the support human development in friendly nations.
read more @ kuwait times
3. here come the clowns...US lawmakers threaten sanctions on China over currency
WASHINGTON – US lawmakers criticized US President Barack Obama's administration Thursday for not pressuring China enough over its rigid currency as they set the stage for slapping import duties on Chinese goods.
As Obama returned home without any pledge from China to make its yuan flexible, Republican and Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to the Commerce Department calling for an investigation into "China’s currency manipulation."
It is "a potential first step in a process that could lead to significant, US-imposed tariffs on imports from China," said Democratic Senator Charles Schumer, who jointly wrote the letter with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
The Obama administration, like the Bush administration before it, has refused to brand China a currency manipulator under a law requiring it to determine whether any foreign economy manipulates its currency against the US dollar.
4. top Chinese advisor starts visit to Philippines
MANILA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Jia Qinglin, China's top political advisor, arrived in Manila on Thursday to begin a two-day official visit to the Southeast Asian country.
Jia, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, delivered a written speech upon his arrival at the airport of the Philippine capital.
In the speech, Jia hailed the traditional friendship between China and the Philippines, highlighting the enhanced political mutual trust, fruitful cooperation in various fields and close contact between the two peoples.
"The sound development of bilateral ties brought about tangible interests for the two peoples and is conducive to regional peace, stability and development," he said.
Jia was to exchange views with Philippine leaders on issues of common concern during his stay.
more @ chinaview5. Thai PM: Thai-Cambodian relationship now stable
BANGKOK, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Thai-Cambodian relationship is currently stable and is not expected to deteriorate, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Friday. ..."The Thai-Cambodian relationship is now stable," Thai News Agency quoted Abhisit as saying.
Also, both sides are ready to discuss as there will be a meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), said Abhisit.
The JBC meeting will be co-chaired by Thai Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, he said.
6. Obama names envoys to RP, Singapore
WASHINGTON – (UPDATE) US President Barack Obama on Thursday named two ambassadors to Southeast Asia, tapping a close political ally as envoy to Singapore and nominating a career diplomat to the Philippines.
For the Philippines, Obama named Harry K. Thomas, Jr., a career foreign service officer who served as ambassador to Bangladesh from 2003 to 2005. He has also been posted in India, Nigeria, Peru and Zimbabwe.
Obama also named David Adelman, a state senator in Georgia and a force behind the president's record-breaking fund-raising in last year's election, to be ambassador to Singapore.
Adelman chaired the Democratic candidate's campaign in Georgia, a Republican-leaning southern state which Obama turned competitive but fell short by five points.
A lawyer, Adelman represented presidential contender Al Gore in his legal battles against eventual winner George W. Bush in the 2000 race.
Adelman has also been active in initiatives to prevent domestic violence and spearheaded a Georgia law prohibiting state contracts to companies seen as benefiting from the bloodshed in Sudan's parched Darfur region.
The nominations, which require confirmation by the US Senate, came after high-level US visits to the two US-friendly nations.
Obama visited Singapore last week as part of a four-nation Asia tour, while Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stopped in the Philippines.
US ambassadors generally step down when a president leaves office. Obama is still filling positions more than a year after his election, with nominees subject to increasingly tough scrutiny.
Despite his vows for a cleaner government, Obama has tapped major fund-raisers as his ambassadors to close US allies including Australia, Britain, France and Japan.
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