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India, Seven Others to Get US Waivers on Iran Oil Import
In fast moving developments before US imposes tougher sanctions against Iran on November 5, India has become one of the eight countries to get a waiver by the Donald Trump administration. Secretary of state Michael Pompeo has announced on Friday that eight governments that have taken “important moves” towards reducing Iranian oil imports to zero are going to receive temporary waivers.
According to Financial Times, India has agreed to cut imports and escrow payments from Iran. India told the US that it was willing to restrict monthly oil purchase from Iran from 22.6 million tonnes (452,000 barrels per day) to 1.25 million tonnes or 15 million tonnes in a year.
India, which imports crude oil to meet 80% of its energy demand, is heavily dependent on Iran. In FY18, Iran was the third largest supplier of crude oil to India, followed by Saudi Arabi and Iraq. While the country is getting a waiver, the government was also mulling trading in rupee with Iran had the sanctions continued.
Read More: US Agrees For Waiver to India Continue Importing Iran Oil
Meanwhile, Indian oil companies have placed additional crude oil order of four million barrels from Saudi Arabia to reduce impact of fall in Iranian oil supplies. Before the US sanctions come into force, Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), placed order to purchase 1.25 million tonnes of oil from Iran in November.
The United States has said that it will temporarily allow eight importers to keep buying Iranian oil beyond November 5.
On Twitter, in a message designed to emphasize his “maximum pressure” policy toward Iran, Trump included a photograph of himself modeled on a entertainment industry poster with the headline: “Sanctions are coming November 5.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2018
China, India, South Korea, Turkey, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Japan have been top importers of Iran’s oil, while Taiwan occasionally buys cargoes of Iranian crude but is not a major buyer.
Read More: India Increases Iranian Oil Imports In June By 48 Percent
Mike Pompeo did not name the eight countries, which he referred to as “jurisdictions,” a term that might include importers such as Taiwan which the US does not regard as a country.
After withdrawing from multilateral Iran-Nuclear deal, also known as JCPOA, in May this year, US President Donald Trump is trying to cripple Iran’s oil-dependent economy and force Tehran to quash not only its nuclear ambitions and its ballistic missile program but its support for militant proxies in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.
Reacting to US announcement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said that the US is seeking to wage an extensive “psychological war” by imposing a fresh round of sanctions. However, he stressed that the Iranhas no concerns over such US bids.
While talking to official broadcaster IRIB on Friday, Qassemi said,”There is no room for any concern. We should wait and see that the US will not be able to carry out any measure against the great and brave Iranian nation.”
The US will impose a second round of sanctions against Iran on Sunday after withdrawing from 2015 multilateral deal. The first round of the bans was re-imposed in August.
Qassemi said that earlier US carried out numerous measures and spent huge sums to exert pressure on international banks, companies, commercial enterprises and institutions dissuading from working with Iran. However, all such efforts failed to bear fruit, he added.
Meanwhile foreign and finance ministers of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and European Union, in a joint statement, have condemned US fresh sanctions on against Iran, vowing to protect European firms engaged in business with Tehran.
Their statement described the 2015 agreement as “crucial for the security of Europe, the region and the entire world”, adding that it is Europe’s “aim to protect European economic operators engaged in legitimate business with Iran.”
The statement also vowed to preserve and maintain “effective financial channels with Iran, and the continuation of Iran’s export of oil and gas.”
In a major boost to Iran’s position, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has reportedly said that his country will help Iran counter fresh US sanctions, saying Moscow will continue trading Tehran’s crude in defiance of US diktats.
While talking to London based financial Times, he said, “We believe we should look for mechanisms that would allow us to continue developing cooperation with our partners, with Iran.”
The US has decided to impose a second round of sanctions against Iran on Sunday, months after it scrapped the 2015 multilateral deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries. The first round of the US sanctions, which had been lifted after the deal came into effect on January 2016, was re-imposed in August this year.
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National Daughters Day 2023: History, significance, theme and wishes
The purpose of National Daughter’s Day is to serve as a reminder that girls should be given equal chances, including access to education, practical life skills, and sports participation, among others.
In India, Daughter’s Day is observed on the final Sunday in September, which falls on September 24, 2023. India is the only big nation with a higher mortality rate for females than boys, according to UNICEF.
At birth, there are 900 females for every 1000 boys in the nation. In the world, boys are 7% more likely than girls to die before the age of five. In India, though, the figures are dismal, with 11% more girls dying before turning five.
Given these troubling numbers, it is crucial to invest in the wellbeing of girls in order to empower them. The purpose of National Daughter’s Day is to serve as a reminder that girls should be given equal chances, including access to education, practical life skills, and sports participation, among others.
The first National Daughters Day was observed in India in 2007, which is where the holiday’s origins can be found. Daughters have frequently been overlooked in a society where males have long been regarded with awe. The noble goal of this day is to inspire parents to show their admiration for their daughters.
In certain cultures, having daughters has been seen as more of a burden than a blessing. With the goal of reversing this perception, National Daughter’s Day exhorts parents to acknowledge the extraordinary gift that their daughters are.
The significance of National Daughters Day can be found in our ever-changing society. It’s a day set aside to gleefully acknowledge the daughters in our lives. Falling on a Sunday presents a chance for parents and daughters to spend quality time together, cherish one another, and have intimate life-related dialogues. It’s a day for giving, caring, and fostering the cherished relationship between mothers and daughters.
Wishes
- Daughters are special and highly valued, which demonstrates that they were sent from heaven above
- Daughters are special; once we have them, we can never live without them. Happy Daughters’ Day!
- Daughters are the pride of their parents’ hearts; from birth, they are beautiful
- My darling daughter, my baby you will always be, no matter where you are. You are a little part of me, whether near or far. Happy Daughters’ Day!
- Daughters will soon be married and grown, then they may start a family of their own
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Canadian PM Trudeau wants to work constructively with India, says Canada shared credible allegations with New Delhi weeks ago
India has repeatedly denied claims of receiving any intel regarding the allegations from Canada before Justin Trudeau’s announcement on Monday revealing them.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday asserted that Canada shared credible allegations that the Indian government may have been involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar weeks ago, according to reports.
The Canadian Prime MInister added that his country wants to work constructively with India and hope that New Delhi engages with them so that they can get to the bottom of this very serious matter. Meanwhile, India has repeatedly denied claims of receiving any intel regarding the allegations from Canada before Justin Trudeau’s announcement on Monday revealing them.
On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that there was a potential link between an Indian government agent and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force, who was gunned down in Surrey in June. Justin Trudeau made the allegations in the Canadian Parliament.
India has debunked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement deeming the allegations of the Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada as both absurd and motivated. Issuing a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that they have seen and rejected the statement made by the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament. It added that they also rejected the statement made by their Foreign Minister.
After the allegations by PM Trudeau, the Canadian government expelled a top Indian diplomat. In a tit for tat move, New Delhi also expelled a Canadian diplomat. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also claimed that the Indian High Commission and consulates are facing security threats in Canada and therefore cannot process visa applications temporarily.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was among India’s most-wanted terrorists, carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head. He was fatally gunned down by two unidentified assailants outside a gurdwara in Surrey, a province of British Columbia in Canada, on June 18, according to reports.
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India-Canada row: No special exemption to India, says US NSA Jake Sullivan
Jake Sullivan asserted that this is something that they will keep working on, noting that there was no special exemption to India in the case.
The United States on Thursday affirmed that it is in constant communication with India and Canada amid increasing diplomatic tensions between both the countries. The diplomatic standoff broke out after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted that his country’s security agencies were investigating a link between the Indian government and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Speaking on the matter, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that the US will be in contact with India at the highest level. He added that it is a matter of concern for them and they are taking it seriously. He asserted that this is something that they will keep working on, noting that there was no special exemption to India in the case.
He underlined that there is not some special exemption for actions like this. He added that regardless of the country, they will stand up and defend their basic principles. In addition, he affirmed that the US will also consult closely with allies like Canada as they pursue their law enforcement and diplomatic process.
Jake Sullivan further dismissed reports that the US’s desire to strengthen ties with India would constrain its ability to voice concerns about the allegations. He asserted that the Joe Biden administration took Canada’s allegations seriously and it was in constant contact with Ottawa.
He also noted that the US have deep concerns about the allegations and that they would like to see this investigation carried forward and the perpetrators held to account. Meanwhile, New Delhi outrightly rejected Canada’s allegation as absurd and motivated. In a tit for tat move to Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian official over the case, New Delhi expelled a senior Canadian diplomat.
On Thursday, India asked Canada to take action against terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil. Furthermore, India also suspended visa services for Canadians, as the diplomatic standoff over Nijjar’s killing pushed their ties to an all-time low.
