FOUR months after Donald Trump took over the presidency, America finds itself more deeply enmeshed in the conflicts that his predecessors in office had left unresolved. Trump on the campaign trail had railed against America's foreign military involvements and military alliances like NATO. He had promised that if elected, he would ensure that America will no longer play the role of a self appointed “global cop”. In his short inaugural speech, his main emphasis was putting “America first” and improving the nation's economy and crumbling infrastructure.

THE election of Emmanuel Macron as president of France has received a rapturous welcome across much of the mainstream media as well as in the boardrooms and financial markets of international capital.

THE international focus is mainly on Syria following the American cruise missile attack on the country. The western media is full of stories about the alleged atrocities being committed by the Syrian government. The world's attention has been successfully deflected from the crimes being committed in Iraq by the United States in neighbouring Iraq as it struggles to subdue the Daesh (Islamic State) in Mosul.  The Iraqi military backed by the full power of the American air force and allied militias, is still struggling to completely liberate Iraq's second biggest city.

Cuban parliamentary delegation headed by the senior parliamentary leader and politician, Yolanda Ferrer Gomez, president of the International Relation Commission of the National Assembly and consisting of Lazaro Barredo Medina, member of the International Relation Commission of the National Assembly, Surina Acosta Brooks, member of the International Relation Commission of the National Assembly, in charge of youth and children and the rights for women and Dr Jesus Rafael Mora Gonzalez, official of the International Relation Commission of the National Assembly had visited India in March.

THE Indo-Canadian Workers Association held a public meeting to pay tributes to Shaheed e Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, the heroes of Indian freedom struggle. The meeting was held at Bear Creek Park in Surrey, Canada on April 2. It was presided over by Surinder Dhesi, president of ICWA and attended by well known personalities and activists including ex MP Jinny Sims. A large number of people from all walks of life participated.