External Affairs Ministry

PM Modi to attend AI Action Summit in France on Feb 10-11: French Prez

During a press briefing about the summit, the French Presidency announced that 90 countries, including India, had been invited to participate for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit

MoS Margherita to visit Philippines, Palau, Micronesia from Jan 14-21

According to the MEA, this visit is expected to strengthen India's partnership with the Philippines, Palau, and FSM, aligning with India's Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision

EAM stresses on importance of diaspora as India builds 'global workforce'

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday stressed on the importance of the diaspora as India strives to build a "global workforce". Addressing the Indian diaspora at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention here, Jaishankar said that in times of difficulty abroad, they can be confident that the Narendra Modi government "has got your back". "We are proud of the achievements of our Indian diaspora," he said. "In a globalised era, the diaspora has become more important with each passing year, whether it is technology, best practices or resources, be it tourism, trade or investment, the two-way flow is invaluable as we strive to build a global workforce," Jaishankar said. The minister said the role of the diaspora is immense as they act as the bridge between India and the countries where they live. He said the people-centric changes that the Modi government is promoting are also benefitting the diaspora. "This could enhance the ease of doing business, promote ease of living a

EAM Jaishankar meets Mauritius delegation on PBD sidelines

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he jointly met the PBD delegation from Mauritius and appreciated their sentiments in celebration of their roots

It will be a great Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: EAM after reaching Bhubaneshwar

Jaishankar was seen arriving at the bedecked airport with his wife Kyoko Jaishankar, and appreciated the arrangements

Jaishankar holds talks with US NSA Sullivan, reviews ties in last 4 years

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday held talks with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, broadly reviewing the trajectory of India-US global strategic partnership in the last four years under the Biden administration. Sullivan is on a visit to India two weeks ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration as the 47th president of the US. In a post on X, Jaishankar complimented Sullivan for his "personal contribution" to forging a "closer and stronger" India-US partnership. One of the most significant measures initiated to expand the bilateral ties was the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology or iCET. The iCET was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden in May 2022 with an aim to forge greater collaboration between India and the US in areas of critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotech, and defence innovation. "Delighted to meet US NSA @JakeSullivan46 in New Delhi today morning," Jaishankar

'Foreign policy positioned Bharat as Vishwabandhu,' EAM looks back at 2024

Jaishankar hoped that the new year be a steadfast commitment to 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', or the world is one family

Iran offers help in case of Kerala nurse Nimsha Priya on death row in Yemen

Priya's mother is currently in Yemen, negotiating with Mahdi's family to stop the death penalty by offering 'blood money', a compensation allowed under Yemeni law

What is blood money, key to saving Kerala nurse from death row in Yemen?

The Quran encourages forgiveness and compensation to the victim's family as preferable alternatives to retribution. This system is called 'diyya,' which loosely refers to 'blood money.'

Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya on death sentence in Yemen: All we know

Nimisha Priya's death sentence was approved by the Yemeni President on December 30 and her execution is scheduled to take place within a month

GCC region 2024: India deepens ties with first PM visit to Kuwait in 40 yrs

India has deepened its diplomatic and economic ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council region this year with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting three of the six GCC countries including Kuwait where no Indian PM had been after Indira Gandhi. As 2024 unfolded, a renewed focus on strategic partnerships in the region took centre stage, with Abu Dhabi serving as the pivotal gateway to this robust alliance. From high-profile visits to pivotal agreements, the story of India and the GCC, an influential grouping comprising the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, is a dynamic one. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, became Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first GCC destination in 2024. The India-UAE bonhomie has been an ongoing story in recent years, and some layers were added this year. PM Modi's Abu Dhabi visit may have hogged the limelight due to the much-talked-about inauguration of BAPS Hindu Mandir; it also gathered momentum on substantive bilateral ..

EAM Jaishankar to pay 3-day visit to Qatar to review overall bilateral ties

The visit also aims to review various aspects of bilateral relations between India and Qatar with discussion on key areas

EAM meets Trump's NSA pick Waltz; discusses bilateral ties, global issues

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has met Congressman Michael Waltz, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for National Security Advisor, during which they had a wide-ranging conversation on the bilateral partnership between India and the US as well as current global issues. Jaishankar is currently on an official visit to the US from Dec 24-29. This was the first highest-level in-person meeting between the Indian government and the incoming Trump administration. Delighted to meet Waltz this evening, Jaishankar posted on X on Friday. Enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation on our bilateral partnership as well as current global issues. Look forward to working with him, he said. Waltz, 50, would replace Jake Sullivan as the National Security Advisor on January 20, when Trump would be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Waltz is no stranger to India-US relationship. A three-term Congressman from the sixth Congressional District of Florida, Waltz is Republican Co-Cha

EAM Jaishankar meets US NSA Jake Sullivan, discusses bilateral ties

As per a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs, S Jaishankar is visiting the United States of America from December 24 to December 29

UP man's body returns home 6 months after death in Russia-Ukraine war

Kanhaiya Yadav, a resident of Bankata village here, left for Russia in January to work as a cook. Almost a year later, he returned home in a casket. Soon after arriving there, Yadav, 41, was enlisted in the Russian army and sent to the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine war where he was injured. Days after fighting for his life in a hospital, Yadav died on June 17, according to his family. His mortal remains were finally brought home on Monday. Yadav left for St. Peter's Square, Russia on January 16 after securing a work visa through an agent. He underwent training as a cook and was subsequently enlisted in the Russian army, said his wife Geeta. "On May 9, Yadav informed us that he was injured in the fighting. He was in touch with us till May 25, but there was no communication after that," she said. On December 6, the Indian embassy in Moscow informed the family that Yadav died on June 17 while undergoing treatment at a hospital, she added. Yadav's body was brought back on ...

Chag Sameach: EAM Jaishankar sends Hanukkah greetings to Israeli FM Sa'ar

The first day of Hanukkah and Christmas have only coincided a handful of times since 1900, according to the Jewish Federations of North America

Indian Army Chief, personnel condole death of 5 soldiers in Poonch accident

Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi and members of the Indian Army on Wednesday expressed grief over the death of five soldiers in a road accident in Poonch district.The deceased have been identified as Subedar Dayanand Tirakannavar, Lance Havildar Anoop, Naik Ghadge Shubham Samadhan, Sepoy Nikure Digamber and Sep Mahesh Marigond.Taking to social media X, ADG PI posted, "General Upendra Dwivedi and all ranks of the Indian Army express profound grief on the loss of Subedar Dayanand Tirakannavar, Lance Havildar Anoop, Naik Ghadge Shubham Samadhan, Sepoy Nikure Digamber, and Sep Mahesh Marigond in a tragic and unfortunate road accident while on operational duty in Poonch, J & K.""The Indian Army extends its deepest condolences and stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief," the post added.Indian Army extends its deepest condolences and stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief," the post read.Earlier today, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar

STF of Assam Police arrest 2 more members of Ansarullah Bangla Team

On December 21, the STF had arrested eight members of ABT, an affiliate of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) terrorist organisation

India-China military standoff ends in Ladakh after 2024 border deal

It was a breakthrough year in India-China ties after a near freeze in their ties for over four years the longest since the 1962 war with an agreement to end the eastern Ladakh military standoff. After amassing of a large number of troops by China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh in April-May 2020, as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a recent statement in Lok Sabha, resulting in the Galwan valley clash in June 2020, there had been a breakdown in the relations between the two Asian giants. The post-1962 war chill lasted till the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit to Beijing in 1988. This time, the two countries held periodic talks between the top commanders and through the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC), resulting in disengagement in stages from four points -- the Galwan Valley, the Pangong Lake, Hot Springs, and Gogra -- in eastern Ladakh by creating buffer zones. Finally, on October 21, India and China firmed

Defence ministry inks Rs 7,628 cr contract with L & T to procure Vajra guns

The defence ministry on Friday sealed a contract with Larsen & Toubro Ltd for procurement of K9 Vajra artillery guns for the Indian Army at a total cost of Rs 7,628 crore that is expected to significantly bolster the force's strike capability. The gun, equipped with cutting-edge technology, is capable of delivering long-range lethal fires with high accuracy. It is learnt that the ministry is procuring around 100 Vajra guns largely for deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "The defence ministry signed a contract with Larsen & Toubro Ltd for procurement of 155 mm/52 calibre K9 VAJRA-T Self-Propelled Tracked Artillery Guns for the Indian Army under Buy (Indian) category at a total cost of Rs 7,628.70 crore," an official readout said. The procurement of K9 Vajra-T will catalyse the artillery modernisation and enhance overall operational readiness of the Indian Army, it said. "This versatile artillery gun, with its cross-country mobility, will play a pivotal role in ...