27/10/2025

MONDAY | OCT 27, 2025

FOLLOW

ON TWITTER Malaysian Paper

8

@thesundaily

India, China resume direct flights

BOGOTA: FARC dissidents warned the United States on Saturday that they would fight back against any “violations of Colombian sovereignty”, after President Donald Trump threatened to launch ground operations to target drug traffickers. “We are used to fighting and combating whoever we must. We have always been staunch opponents of the American empire,” said the Central General Staff (EMC) of FARC. “We will not allow military interventions and violations of Colombian sovereignty.” Alongside a larger military buildup, the US has led at least 10 airstrikes on boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing at least 43 people it claims, without evidence, were involved in drug trafficking. Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine producer, and the EMC rebels control production in regions that include Catatumbo on the Venezuelan border. The group is led by Ivan Mordisco, who is considered to be the country’s most wanted criminal, earning comparisons by President Gustavo Petro to drug lord Pablo Escobar. Trump has called Petro himself a “drug-trafficking leader” and has imposed financial sanctions on him. He has also urged the leftist leader to “close” Colombia’s coca fields “or the United States will close them up for him, and it won’t be done nicely”. Petro said any ground aggression would be “an invasion and a breach of national sovereignty”. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who also faces US sanctions and similar threats from Trump, has accused the White House of “fabricating a new eternal war” with the boat strikes. – AFP Colombian dissidents vow to ‘fight US invasion threat’

deficit with Beijing, relying heavily on Chinese raw materials for industrial and export growth. The thaw between New Delhi and Beijing followed meetings between their leaders in Russia last year and in China in August. India’s imports from China surged to more than US$11 billion (RM46.5 billion) last month, up more than 16% compared with September 2024, according to New Delhi’s Commerce Ministry. Exports from India to China were US$1.47 billion, modest by comparison, but up about 34% year on-year. Direct flights between the two countries were suspended in 2020, halting about 500 monthly services. Relations then plummeted after the 2020 border skirmish, when at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed. New Delhi responded by tightening restrictions on Chinese investments and banning hundreds of apps, including TikTok. India then deepened ties with the US-led Quad alliance – also including Japan and Australia – aimed at countering China’s influence in the Asia-Pacific. – AFP

“The direct air link will reduce logistics and transit time,” said Rajeev Singh, head of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, telling AFP it would benefit businesses. Kolkata has centuries-old ties with China dating back to British rule, when Chinese migrants arrived as traders. Indo-Chinese fusion food remains a beloved staple of the city’s culinary identity. “It’s great news for people like us, who have relatives in China. Air connectivity will boost trade, tourism and business travel,” said Chen Khoi Kui, a civil society leader in Kolkata’s Chinatown district of Tangra. India runs a significant trade

o Neighbours cautiously rebuild relations

KOLKATA: China resumed direct flights yesterday after a five-year suspension, a move important both for trade and a symbolic step as the Asian giants cautiously rebuild relations. The neighbours, the world’s two most populous nations, remain strategic rivals competing for regional influence, but ties have eased gradually since a deadly Himalayan border clash in 2020. India’s government said the resumption of flights would boost “people-to-people contact” and aid the “gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges”. India and DUBLIN: Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly on Saturday won the race to be Ireland’s new president, comfortably beating her centrist opponent in a contest marred by record numbers of spoilt ballots. Connolly, 68, secured more than 63% of the votes, well ahead of Heather Humphreys of the Fine Gael party on 29.5%, according to the official count. But the seemingly comprehensive victory was marred by the number of spoilt votes and criticism over the lack of right-wing candidates, amid frustration over issues that included immigration and crime. Nearly 13% of the 1.65 million ballots cast were “invalid”, a record in modern Irish elections. “It will be an absolute privilege to serve you,” Connolly said in her acceptance speech. The lawyer is an

Warming relations with Beijing come as India’s ties with key trade partner Washington struggle, following President Donald Trump’s punishing tariffs. Trump’s aides have accused India of fuelling Russia’s war in Ukraine by buying oil from Moscow. India’s largest commercial carrier, IndiGo, was set to operate the first daily flight to mainland China, departing Kolkata at 10pm yesterday for Guangzhou. There are already regular flights between India and Hong Kong, while services to Shanghai and Guangzhou will begin next month. outspoken critic of the United States and European Union. “For those who didn’t vote for me and those who spoilt their votes, let me tell you, I will be an inclusive president to listen to all of you.” She vowed to be “a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality”. Connolly’s election could herald an era of increased friction between Ireland’s largely ceremonial presidency and government. Prime Minister Micheal Martin – who heads Fianna Fail, the larger party in Ireland’s power-sharing coalition with Fine Gael – had earlier congratulated her for an “impactful campaign”. BUENOS AIRES: Argentines voted yesterday in legislative elections that will test support for President Javier Milei’s free-market reforms and deep austerity measures and determine whether he has the backing to continue his economic overhaul. The president’s party, La Libertad Avanza, aims to significantly boost its small minority in Congress to increase investor confidence in Milei’s vision and maintain the support of US President Donald Trump, who recently provided Argentina with a hefty financial bailout but has threatened to pull away if Milei does not do well. “Don’t give up because we’re halfway there,” Milei told supporters at a closing campaign event in the port city of Rosario on Thursday. “We’re on a good path.” Half of Argentina’s lower Chamber of Deputies, or 127 seats, as well as a third of the Senate, or 24 seats, are up for election in the midterm vote. The Peronist opposition

Connolly wins Ireland presidential election

“I look forward to working with the new president ... as Ireland continues to play a significant role on the global stage,” he said. – AFP Argentine elections to test support for reforms Connolly shaking hands with Martin after being declared the winner. – AFPPIC

and could allow him, through alliances with other parties, to block efforts by opposition lawmakers to overturn his vetoes against laws Milei has said threaten Argentina’s fiscal balance. Milei has said he expects a Cabinet shake-up after the election that could include members of the centrist PRO party, a frequent ally of the government in Congress. Foreign Affairs Minister Gerardo Werthein resigned last week. The election will be closely watched by the White House. Trump’s potential US$40 billion (RM169 billion) bailout of Argentina includes a signed US$20 billion currency swap and a possible US$20 billion facility. Following the results, many analysts predict a devaluation of the peso, which they say has been overvalued to contain inflation. If Milei’s party underperforms, that may result in a sharper foreign exchange policy adjustment. – Reuters

movement holds the largest minority in both houses, while Milei’s relatively new party has only 37 deputies and six senators. The White House and foreign investors have been impressed by the government’s ability to significantly reduce monthly inflation – from 12.8% before Milei’s inauguration to 2.1% last month – achieve a fiscal surplus, and enact sweeping deregulation measures. But Milei’s popularity has fallen in recent months due to public frustration with his cuts to public spending and a corruption scandal tied to his sister, who also serves as his chief of staff. “Milei’s adjustment has been done with treachery and cruelty,” said Axel Kicillof, the governor of Buenos Aires province, during a closing campaign event for the Peronist opposition coalition on Thursday. Political experts say more than 35% of the vote would be a positive outcome for Milei’s government

Milei making a speech during the campaign trail in Rosario. – AFPPIC