An editorial in Chinese media called PM Narendra Modi’s move for currency ban ‘very bold’ BEIJING: Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation move as “very bold”, China’s official media today said it was a “gamble” that would create a precedent irrespective of whether it succeeds or fails and China will draw lessons from its impact on corruption. “Modi’s move is very bold.... 

Real estate developer Donald Trump prepares to go on stage. Washington: US president-elect Donald Trump hired as a senior advisor a Republican national security veteran who first worked in the White House situation room under Richard Nixon. As deputy national security advisor, 65-year-old Fox News commentator Kathleen Troia “KT” McFarland, will return once again to the executive mansion as number two to former general Mike Flynn. “She... 

Nikki Haley became the first woman and first minority chosen by Donald Trump for his Cabinet. COLUMBIA: Government Nikki Haley has developed a national reputation as a racial conciliator who led the charge to bring down the Confederate flag at the Statehouse and guided South Carolina through one of its darkest moments, the massacre at a black church. Now the 44-year-old American-born daughter of Indian immigrants is about to take her role as the state’s... 

The US and Japan are the biggest members of the massive trade deal BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: A Pacific-wide trade deal would be “meaningless” without the United States, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday, as Donald Trump vowed to abandon the agreement on his first day in office. The future of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has been thrown into serious doubt after the US president-elect repeated a pledge to... 

The State Department on Monday issued an alert to US citizens about a heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, particularly during the holiday season. “US citizens should exercise caution at holiday festivals, events, and outdoor markets,” it said in a statement, adding that there was credible information that Islamic State, al Qaeda and their affiliates continued to plan attacks in Europe. The department noted extremists... 

DAMASCUS, SYRIA: US President Barack Obama said he is “not optimistic” about Syria’s future, as the UN warned time is running out to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo which has been pounded by air strikes for nearly a week. More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began Government forces launched a ferocious assault last Tuesday to recapture eastern Aleppo, killing 115 civilians so far. In fresh... 

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said Xi Jinping had “fully affirmed our work” in a meeting LIMA, PERU: Hong Kong’s leader says Chinese President Xi Jinping has affirmed his handling of a political dispute in the Chinese-ruled territory in which two independent legislators were barred from taking their seats. Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said Xi had “fully affirmed our work” in a meeting on the sidelines of the Asia... 

Chandigarh: India and Israel could work more towards ‘Make in India and Make with India’ together which can bring “magic to the world”, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said on Sunday. Reuven Rivlin with PM Modi. The President further said he fell in love with the word ‘jugaad’ when he visited India, saying “jugaad is the way we invent and the way we work”. Rivlin was addressing the gathering in Chandigarh... 

Over the past decade China has displaced the US as the main trading partner in Latin America. LIMA, PERU: An expected US economic retreat from Latin America under Donald Trump is causing the region’s leaders to look halfway around the world, to China, for help weathering the possible financial headwinds. They’ll have the perfect opportunity to make their appeal this week when Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a Pacific Rim summit as... 

Istanbul: Turkey is to scrap the office of the prime minister in a historic switch under a government-backed proposal for a new presidential system, a cabinet minister said on Thursday. File photo of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Forestry and Water Affairs Minister Veysel Eroglu said there would be one and possibly two vice presidents under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the new format, which is expected to be submitted to a referendum next year. “There...