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Indian Withdraws From World Cadet Chess C’ship In Egypt

By LokMarg 13th October 2023

Amid Israel’s war on Hamas, which followed rocket attacks and a ground assault by the terror group, leaving over 1,300 dead and more than 3,300 injured, the All India Chess Federation (AICF) on Friday withdrew the Indian team from the World Cadet Chess Championship, 2023, which will be held at Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt from October 14 to October 23.

Egypt stands barely 613 km apart from Israel, which is currently carrying out air strikes on suspected Hamas targets in Gaza.

“Considering the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip, between Israel and Hamas, and the age of participants, after due deliberations, it was decided to withdraw the participation of the Indian team in the World Cadet Chess Championship-2023,” read a press release issued by the AICF.

The decision came after due deliberations on the safety of security of the Indian chess masters at the event. Egypt shares a maritime border with both Gaza as well as Israel.

“The All India Chess Federation took this decision considering all the aspects of safety and security of young players as Egypt shares the border with Gaza as well as Israel. Sharm el Sheikh, the host city for the championship is less than 400 KM from the Israel border and the conflict can significantly impact commercial airlines in the Middle East on short notice,” the release stated.

“The Federation took this hard decision based on force majeure and unforeseen scenarios as we give paramount importance to the safety of our players even though our players put in almost one-year training to participate in this important event,” the AICF added in its release.

On October 7, Hamas terrorists launched ‘surprise’ rocket attacks, combined with a ground assault on civilians in Israel.

Israel responded to the attacks with a counter-offensive, which has so far claimed scores of lives on the other side.

At least 1,537 Palestinians have been killed and 6,612 others injured in the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza, CNN reported citing the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.

At least 36 people have died and more than 650 have been injured in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah. (ANI)

Egypt’s Prez Abdel To Run For Third Term In Dec Polls

By LokMarg 3rd October 2023

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has announced that he would run for a third term in the next election in December, according to Al Jazeera.

El-Sisi is largely predicted to win the election at a time when the Middle Eastern country is dealing with an economic crisis, record inflation, and a dramatic depreciation of the local currency.

“I have decided to nominate myself to complete the dream during a new presidential term,” el-Sisi said, making the announcement during a televised speech on Monday evening, according to Al Jazeera.

“I call on all Egyptians to participate in this democratic scene to choose with their patriotic conscience who is worthy,” he said.

An estimated 65 million Egyptians are reported to be eligible to vote in the election, which will be held over three days from December 10 to 12. Egyptians living abroad will be able to cast their ballots on December 1-3.

A few politicians have already declared their candidatures for the presidency, but none of them offer a real threat to el-Sisi, who has been in power since 2014.

Ahmed al-Tantawi’s campaign, who is the most well-known possible challenger to el-Sisi and a former member of parliament, has stated that voters were prevented from endorsing him, according to Al Jazeera. To run for office, prospective candidates require 25,000 public signatures or the backing of 20 lawmakers in a parliament that is overwhelmingly pro-Sisi.

El-Sisi, a former army chief who has been president since 2014, had been widely expected to run again and secure a third term after constitutional amendments four years ago that would allow him to stay in office until 2030.

In recent weeks supporters have mounted a campaign using billboards and public messages urging El-Sisi to stand reported Arab News.

El-Sisi came to power after leading the ousting of Muhammad Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013. He was announced winner of presidential elections in 2014 and 2018 with 97 percent of the vote. (ANI)

IAF Asks Dassault To Integrate Indian Weapons On Rafale Fighter Jets

By LokMarg 23rd July 2023

In a step that could be a big success for ‘Make in India’ in defence and also open the global market for desi weapons, the Indian Air Force has asked French firm, Dassault Aviation, to integrate indigenous weapons like ‘Astra air’ to air missile on the Rafale combat aircraft.

The Rafale is used by many countries including India, France, Egypt, Qatar and many others along with Greece, Croatia, UAE and Indonesia, have placed orders for these planes.
“The IAF has asked the original equipment manufacturer Dassault Aviation to integrate Indian-made weapons like the Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (SAAW) and the Astra air-to-air missile with the Rafale which has been in service with the IAF since 2020,” defence officials told ANI.

Along with these DRDO-developed missiles and bombs, the IAF also has plans of integrating multiple indigenously designed weapons by private sector firms including long-range glide bombs with the aircraft in the near future, they said.

Industry sources said that in view of the capability and the pricing of the Indian weapon systems, there could be a big market for them once they are integrated into the Rafale.

The Indian weapon systems are already integrated into the Su-30 MKI combat aircraft along with the indigenous LCA Tejas.

India operates 36 Rafale fighter jets and has already expressed intent to buy 26 Rafale marine aircraft which are to be used by its Navy.

The Indian Air Force top brass have been pushing for indigenous solutions for their war-fighting requirements to be self-reliant, especially in times of conflict.

A lot of weapon systems acquired by the force during the ongoing standoff with China have also been put on the indigenisation path.

The Astra air-to-air missiles are capable of striking targets up to the 100 Km range but very soon this will be extended to 160 KMs in the Astra Mark 2 while the further upgraded version would be one with a strike range of 300 Kms.

The SAAW can also hit targets at 100 Km plus range and its advanced versions are also being developed.

“The private sector companies have also developed missiles and bombs which can hit targets from long ranges and can be equipped on the Rafale,” the officials said. (ANI)

Decision Is Yet To Arrive: Kwatra On Egypt’s BRICS M’ship Request

By LokMarg 25th June 2023

After Egypt has requested to join the BRICS economic group, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that member countries are examining requests and simutaneouly deliberating on the criteria of expansion of the BRICS membership.

“Currently, the member countries of the BRICS are examining all these requests on one hand, but on the other hand, they are also currently discussing between them as to what should be the criteria of expansion of the BRICS membership, what should be the process and procedure relating to that. That is yet to arrive,” Kwatra said while answering the question on Egypt’s request for BRICS membership.
“BRICS takes all its decisions by consensus. So from our side, we are a very active participant along with other BRICS countries in that process. Right now, that is the current status. But we are looking actively at all the applications, naturally, including a very friendly and strategic partner like Egypt in the expanded structure of the BRICS,” Kwatra said in a special briefing on Prime Minister’s visit to Egypt.

This statement came after Egypt submitted its application to join BRICS, Russian Ambassador to Cairo Georgy Borisenko confirmed, TASS News Agency reported.

On Wednesday, 14 June, Egypt began the process of potential accession to the BRICS – the country has filed an application to join the five countries. This was reported by TASS, citing the message of the Russian Ambassador to Cairo, Georgy Borisenko.

“Egypt has submitted its application to join the BRICS group because one of the endeavors that BRICS is currently pursuing is to shift trade to alternative currencies, be it national currencies or a new common currency. Egypt is very much interested in that,” the envoy said in an interview with TASS.

According to him, Egypt is eager to boost trade and economic cooperation with Russia. “New payment mechanisms are being created for trade transactions,” the ambassador added.

The foreign ministers of BRICS member states (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) held a meeting in Cape Town on June 2.

The meeting was also attended by top diplomats from the 12 countries of the Global South that wish to join the group, namely Argentina, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. (ANI)

Modi Holds Roundtable With His Counterpart Mostafa in Egypt

By LokMarg 24th June 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roundtable meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly in Cairo on Saturday.

The Prime Minister, who arrived in Egypt on Saturday (local time), is scheduled to address the Indian community.
Indian Ambassador to Egypt Ajit Gupte on Friday said for the first time, a roundtable meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Egyptian Prime Minister is taking place.

On Sunday, Prime Minister will spend nearly half an hour at the Al-Hakim Mosque– a historic and prominent mosque in Cairo named after Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985-1021), the 16th Fatimid caliph. The mosque of al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah is an important cultural site for the Dawoodi Bohra community in Cairo.

During his first Egypt tour, the PM will also visit the Heliopolis War Grave cemetery to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice fighting for Egypt during the First World War.

The visit is of significance as Egypt has traditionally been one of India’s most important trading partners in the African continent. India-Egypt Bilateral Trade Agreement has been in operation since March 1978 and is based on the Most Favored Nation clause, according to the Egyptian Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

India was Egypt’s fifth largest trading partner in the period April 2022-Dec 2022. It was the 11th-largest importer of Egyptian goods and the 5th-largest exporter to Egypt during the same time.

The two countries share a close political understanding based on a long history of contact and cooperation in bilateral, regional and global issues.

India and Egypt share close political understanding based on a long history of contact and cooperation in bilateral, regional and global issues. The joint announcement of the establishment of diplomatic relations at the Ambassadorial level was made on August 18, 1947.

Since the 1980s, there have been four Prime Ministerial visits from India to Egypt.

Rajiv Gandhi visited the country in 1985, PV Narasimha Rao in 1995, IK Gujral in 1997, and Manmohan Singh in 2009. From the Egyptian side, President Hosni Mubarak visited India in 1982, in 1983 (NAM Summit), and again in 2008.

High-level exchanges with Egypt continued after the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and then President Mohamed Morsi visited India in March 2013. External Affairs Minister (EAM) visited Cairo in March 2012 and the Egyptian Foreign Minister visited India in December 2013.

On April 14, 2022, Egyptian Cabinet announced the inclusion of India in the list of accredited countries which can supply wheat to Egypt, thus ending a long pending Non-Tariff Barrier.

India cleared a shipment of 61,500 metric tons of wheat to Egypt on May 17, 2022. (ANI)

Modi Lands In Cairo For First State Visit To Egypt

By LokMarg 24th June 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Egypt’s capital Cairo for the first state visit on the second leg of his two-nation tour.

PM Modi arrived in Cairo for after wrapping up a “successful visit to the US.”
The visit is at the invitation of Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt, which he extended to PM Modi in January when he attended the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi as chief guest.

This is PM Modi’s first visit to Egypt as Prime Minister and the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister after 26 years.

Upon arriving in Cairo, PM Modi was greeted with a ceremonial welcome and guard of honour and in a special honour was received by his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly at the airport.

PM Modi will also inspect a guard of honour on his arrival.

During his two-day June 24 to 25 State visit, he will hold a roundtable meeting with the Egyptian PM and also meet President El-Sisi.

Later on, PM Modi will interact with the Indian community.

PM Modi is scheduled to meet the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, today and will also interact with Egyptian thought leaders.

On Sunday, PM Modi will visit Al-Hakim Mosque. The Prime Minister will spend nearly half an hour at the Al-Hakim Mosque– a historic and prominent mosque in Cairo named after Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985-1021), the 16th Fatimid caliph.

During his Egypt tour, PM Modi will also visit the Heliopolis War Grave cemetery to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice fighting for Egypt during the First World War.

Furthermore, India and Egypt share a close political understanding based on a long history of contact and cooperation in bilateral, regional and global issues.

Meanwhile, in the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended various events and met top Indian and American CEOs including Tesla CEO Elon Musk. He received a ceremonial welcome and guard of honour at the White House upon his arrival.

He was hosted by US President Joe Biden as well as First Lady Jill Biden for a state dinner at the White House, as well as a State Luncheon by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and US Vice President Kamala Harris. (ANI)