Italy's new government allowed a French <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/charity-ship-seeks-port-for-356-rescued-migrants-in-the-mediterranean-244622">charity ship</a> to head to the island of Lampedusa on Saturday and bring ashore some 82 migrants, reversing the uncompromising, closed-door policy of the previous administration.

The Ocean Viking, run by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spain-sends-warship-to-pick-up-migrants-off-italys-coast-244491">French charities SOS</a> Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), said on Twitter it had received the green light to sail to Lampedusa, six days after it carried out its first rescue off the coast of Libya.

"The Italian authorities have just offered Ocean Viking a place of safety," MSF said. Local officials confirmed the news.

Italy's government formally took office on Tuesday, promising a new approach to migration following the hardline clampdown on rescue ships introduced by the former interior minister, Matteo Salvini, who heads the far-right League.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Thursday that "several EU countries" had agreed to take in the Africans aboard the Ocean Viking, but did not give further details and did not immediately let Ocean Viking enter Italian waters.

"We needed a bit of time, but Ocean Viking has finally been assigned a safe port. Small signs of discontinuity," said Matteo Orfini, a senior member of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) which has replaced the League within the ruling coalition.

Salvini's tough line on immigration fuelled the popularity of his League party, which pulled out of its coalition with the 5-Star Movement last month in a vain attempt to trigger new elections.

During his 14 months at the interior ministry, he introduced new security decrees barring rescue ships from entering Italian waters, saying Italy had borne too much responsibility for handling African migration to Europe.

Ships that defied the decrees risked being impounded and were threatened with fines of up to a million euros ($1.1 million).

Italy's new government allowed a French charity ship to head to the island of Lampedusa on Saturday and bring ashore some 82 migrants, reversing the uncompromising, closed-door policy of the previous administration.

Italy's new government allowed a French charity ship to head to the island of Lampedusa on Saturday and bring ashore some 82 migrants, reversing the uncompromising, closed-door policy of the previous administration. The Ocean Viking, run by French charities SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), said on Twitter it had received the green light to sail to Lampedusa, six days after it carried out its first rescue off the coast of Libya. "The Italian authorities have just offered Ocean Viking a place of safety," MSF said. Local officials confirmed the news. Italy's government formally took office on Tuesday, promising a new approach to migration following the hardline clampdown on rescue ships introduced by the former interior minister, Matteo Salvini, who heads the far-right League. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Thursday that "several EU countries" had agreed to take in the Africans aboard the Ocean Viking, but did not give further details and did not immediately let Ocean Viking enter Italian waters. "We needed a bit of time, but Ocean Viking has finally been assigned a safe port. Small signs of discontinuity," said Matteo Orfini, a senior member of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) which has replaced the League within the ruling coalition. Salvini's tough line on immigration fuelled the popularity of his League party, which pulled out of its coalition with the 5-Star Movement last month in a vain attempt to trigger new elections. During his 14 months at the interior ministry, he introduced new security decrees barring rescue ships from entering Italian waters, saying Italy had borne too much responsibility for handling African migration to Europe. Ships that defied the decrees risked being impounded and were threatened with fines of up to a million euros ($1.1 million).

In break with past, Rome lets charity ship head to Italian port

China has clinched a multi-billion-dollar deal to build a port at a strategic town along the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Myanmar, its third project in India's neighbourhood after Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

China and Myanmar signed an agreement on Thursday to build the deep sea port project in Kyaukpyu town after negotiations dragged for years due to financing and other issues, state-run Global Times reported on Friday.

China is also developing deepwater strategic Gwadar port in Pakistan in the Arabian Sea which faces the Mumbai coast.

It has also acquired Sri Lanka's Hambantota port on debt swap in the Indian Ocean.

China has persistently denied the String of Pearls theory of building strategic network of ports to encircle India.

The Chinese consortium led by State-owned conglomerate Citic Group signed the framework agreement with the Kyaukpyu Special Economic Zone Management Committee on the development of the Kyaukpyu, deep-sea port, at a ceremony in the Myanmar capital of Nay Pyi Taw, the report said.

Under the framework agreement, China will fund 70 per cent of the investment for the project and Myanmar will pitch in the remaining 30 per cent.

The initial phase of the project will include two berths with a total investment of USD 1.3 billion, according to the agreement.

A joint venture will be set up to construct and operate the port.

The signing of the framework agreement marks a significant step for the port project, which has been stalled since 2015, and for the continued implementation of the China-proposed Belt and Road initiative (BRI), which has come under increased scrutiny because of the cases such as the Kyaukpyu port project, the report said.

The Chinese consortium first won the bid to construct the port in December 2015 with an estimated investment of USD 7 billion but further development was halted due to a disagreement between the two sides over details of the project's funding.

This is the biggest project China had secured after Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi took charge of the government replacing the prolonged rule of a pro-China military junta.

Prolonged negotiations fuelled criticism of the BRI as it could add to Myanmar debts and even threaten other countries' sovereignty.

The Kyaukpyu project is estimated to bring 100,000 jobs to the local community and will contribute as much as USD 15 billion in tax revenue to Myanmar.

Once completed, the port will have an annual gross output of USD 3.2 billion, the report said.

China has clinched a multi-billion-dollar deal to build a port at a strategic town along the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Myanmar, its third project in India's neighbourhood after Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

China has clinched a multi-billion-dollar deal to build a port at a strategic town along the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Myanmar, its third project in India's neighbourhood after Sri Lanka and Pakistan. China and Myanmar signed an agreement on Thursday to build the deep sea port project in Kyaukpyu town after negotiations dragged for years due to financing and other issues, state-run Global Times reported on Friday. China is also developing deepwater strategic Gwadar port in Pakistan in the Arabian Sea which faces the Mumbai coast. It has also acquired Sri Lanka's Hambantota port on debt swap in the Indian Ocean. China has persistently denied the String of Pearls theory of building strategic network of ports to encircle India. The Chinese consortium led by State-owned conglomerate Citic Group signed the framework agreement with the Kyaukpyu Special Economic Zone Management Committee on the development of the Kyaukpyu, deep-sea port, at a ceremony in the Myanmar capital of Nay Pyi Taw, the report said. Under the framework agreement, China will fund 70 per cent of the investment for the project and Myanmar will pitch in the remaining 30 per cent. The initial phase of the project will include two berths with a total investment of USD 1.3 billion, according to the agreement. A joint venture will be set up to construct and operate the port. The signing of the framework agreement marks a significant step for the port project, which has been stalled since 2015, and for the continued implementation of the China-proposed Belt and Road initiative (BRI), which has come under increased scrutiny because of the cases such as the Kyaukpyu port project, the report said. The Chinese consortium first won the bid to construct the port in December 2015 with an estimated investment of USD 7 billion but further development was halted due to a disagreement between the two sides over details of the project's funding. This is the biggest project China had secured after Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi took charge of the government replacing the prolonged rule of a pro-China military junta. Prolonged negotiations fuelled criticism of the BRI as it could add to Myanmar debts and even threaten other countries' sovereignty. The Kyaukpyu project is estimated to bring 100,000 jobs to the local community and will contribute as much as USD 15 billion in tax revenue to Myanmar. Once completed, the port will have an annual gross output of USD 3.2 billion, the report said.

Eye on India's backyard? China to build third port in India's neighbourhood at Myanmar

The United States said Tuesday it would exempt Iran's Indian-backed port of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chabahar-port-developed-by-india-to-be-inaugurated-in-iran-today-25724">Chabahar from new sanctions</a> on Tehran, recognizing the value of the project to Afghanistan.

Iran late last year inaugurated the port on the Indian Ocean which provides a key supply route to landlocked Afghanistan and allows India to bypass its historic enemy Pakistan.

The United States will <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-sanctions-on-iran-threaten-vital-afghanistan-trade-project-138341">exempt from sanctions</a> the development of Chabahar along with an attached railway project and Iranian petroleum shipments into Afghanistan, the State Department said.

President Donald Trump's "South Asia strategy underscores our ongoing support of Afghanistan's economic growth and development as well as our close partnership with India," a State Department spokesperson said.

"This exception relates to reconstruction assistance and economic development for Afghanistan. These activities are vital for the ongoing support of Afghanistan's growth and humanitarian relief," the spokesperson said.

The United States, which has been building closer relations with New Delhi since the late 1990s, earlier exempted India from sanctions that took effect on Monday.

The Trump administration has vowed to exert maximum pressure on Iran to end its support for regional proxies, exiting a denuclearization agreement that brought sanctions relief.

Trump's decision has been opposed by European powers as well as other nations including India, which has largely warm relations with Iran and accuses Pakistan of fomenting attacks on its soil.

India has poured US $2 billion into Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led overthrow of the extremist Taliban regime, which was also opposed by Iran.

India has seen Chabahar as a key way both to send supplies to Afghanistan and to step up trade with Central Asia as well as Africa.

Iran has plans to link the port by railway to Zahedan on the Pakistani border up to Mashhad in the northeast.

The United States said Tuesday it would exempt Iran's Indian-backed port of Chabahar from new sanctions on Tehran, recognizing the value of the project to Afghanistan.

The United States said Tuesday it would exempt Iran's Indian-backed port of Chabahar from new sanctions on Tehran, recognizing the value of the project to Afghanistan. Iran late last year inaugurated the port on the Indian Ocean which provides a key supply route to landlocked Afghanistan and allows India to bypass its historic enemy Pakistan. The United States will exempt from sanctions the development of Chabahar along with an attached railway project and Iranian petroleum shipments into Afghanistan, the State Department said. President Donald Trump's "South Asia strategy underscores our ongoing support of Afghanistan's economic growth and development as well as our close partnership with India," a State Department spokesperson said. "This exception relates to reconstruction assistance and economic development for Afghanistan. These activities are vital for the ongoing support of Afghanistan's growth and humanitarian relief," the spokesperson said. The United States, which has been building closer relations with New Delhi since the late 1990s, earlier exempted India from sanctions that took effect on Monday. The Trump administration has vowed to exert maximum pressure on Iran to end its support for regional proxies, exiting a denuclearization agreement that brought sanctions relief. Trump's decision has been opposed by European powers as well as other nations including India, which has largely warm relations with Iran and accuses Pakistan of fomenting attacks on its soil. India has poured US $2 billion into Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led overthrow of the extremist Taliban regime, which was also opposed by Iran. India has seen Chabahar as a key way both to send supplies to Afghanistan and to step up trade with Central Asia as well as Africa. Iran has plans to link the port by railway to Zahedan on the Pakistani border up to Mashhad in the northeast.

US exempts Indian-backed Chabahar port in Iran from sanctions

Apprehensive of increasing influence of China in South Asia, India raises serious objection to the Chinese-funded &#39;Port City Project&#39; in Sri Lanka. A&nbsp;brainchild of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, the&nbsp;Port City was meant to be a planned offshore city in Colombo.&nbsp;The Sri Lankan newspaper&nbsp;Daily Mirror&nbsp;today reported on the suspension of the project. Rajitha Senaratne, the&nbsp;cabinet spokesman and health minister,&nbsp;has reportedly said that&nbsp;the project&nbsp;will be suspended and re-written due to pressure from India. Though the Chinese government is yet to respond to the new development, clearly, the project in Sri Lanka has turned out to be the latest contest ground for the two economic superpowers India and Pakistan, as both countries try to extend their geo-political influence over Asia.&nbsp; 
 
According to the health minister, the Indian government had forewarned the Sri Lanka government about the &quot;negatives&quot; in the event Sri Lanka went ahead. Reportedly,&nbsp;India said that once completed, the project will not come under the jurisdiction of Sri Lanka and will leave a &quot;big question mark on Sri Lanka&rsquo;s sovereignty.&rdquo; It seems that India expressed concern to the Sri Lankan government that&nbsp;the project management could prohibit the use of Sri Lanka&#39;s air space and block the country&#39;s aircraft from landing on its properties. 
 
If we accept Rajapaksha&#39;s version of events then the primary objection of India to the project appears to be the possibility of China extending its control over Sri Lankan national space. India understandably objects to Chinese penetration so close to its neck of the wood.&nbsp; 
 
Thus a new contract will be signed, devoid of all clauses which were unfavourable to Sri Lanka, with the megapolis and western development ministry and urban development authority (UDA), including new conditions replacing the ones in the original agreement, Rajapaksa told the cabinet.&nbsp; 
 
The new agreement will be signed by the China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC), a part of the China Communications and Constructions Company Ltd. 
 
One of the contentious issues in the original agreement was that 20 hectares of land was to be granted as a freehold to the CHEC Port City (Pvt) Ltd, and the rest on a 99-year lease. However, the new government has decided to give it only under the 99-year lease, scrapping the freehold provision of the past agreement.&nbsp; 
 
Moreover, the agreement now includes healthcare, exhibition and convention centres and the new Colombo International Financial Centre. There will be no restrictions on the development of the North and West ports of the Colombo Harbour. Also, the CIFC building will be set up in the land area reclaimed first, the project company has agreed. They just await a study to confirm that building on the reclaimed land is technically feasible, and that the terms are mutually acceptable.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
(WION)

One of the issues in the old agreement was that 20 hectares of land was to be granted as a freehold, is scrapped in the new agreement

Apprehensive of increasing influence of China in South Asia, India raises serious objection to the Chinese-funded 'Port City Project' in Sri Lanka. A brainchild of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Port City was meant to be a planned offshore city in Colombo. The Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror today reported on the suspension of the project. Rajitha Senaratne, the cabinet spokesman and health minister, has reportedly said that the project will be suspended and re-written due to pressure from India. Though the Chinese government is yet to respond to the new development, clearly, the project in Sri Lanka has turned out to be the latest contest ground for the two economic superpowers India and Pakistan, as both countries try to extend their geo-political influence over Asia. According to the health minister, the Indian government had forewarned the Sri Lanka government about the "negatives" in the event Sri Lanka went ahead. Reportedly, India said that once completed, the project will not come under the jurisdiction of Sri Lanka and will leave a "big question mark on Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.” It seems that India expressed concern to the Sri Lankan government that the project management could prohibit the use of Sri Lanka's air space and block the country's aircraft from landing on its properties. If we accept Rajapaksha's version of events then the primary objection of India to the project appears to be the possibility of China extending its control over Sri Lankan national space. India understandably objects to Chinese penetration so close to its neck of the wood. Thus a new contract will be signed, devoid of all clauses which were unfavourable to Sri Lanka, with the megapolis and western development ministry and urban development authority (UDA), including new conditions replacing the ones in the original agreement, Rajapaksa told the cabinet. The new agreement will be signed by the China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC), a part of the China Communications and Constructions Company Ltd. One of the contentious issues in the original agreement was that 20 hectares of land was to be granted as a freehold to the CHEC Port City (Pvt) Ltd, and the rest on a 99-year lease. However, the new government has decided to give it only under the 99-year lease, scrapping the freehold provision of the past agreement. Moreover, the agreement now includes healthcare, exhibition and convention centres and the new Colombo International Financial Centre. There will be no restrictions on the development of the North and West ports of the Colombo Harbour. Also, the CIFC building will be set up in the land area reclaimed first, the project company has agreed. They just await a study to confirm that building on the reclaimed land is technically feasible, and that the terms are mutually acceptable. (WION)

Sri Lanka: Undue pressure from India over 'Port City Project'

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