Georgia

Georgia to launch special residence permit for techies, including Indians

Georgia to offer special 3-year residence permits to IT workers, including Indians, with $25,000 income and 2 years' experience

EAM Jaishankar, Georgian FM discuss trade, investment, tourism, education

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue 2025 in New Delhi to discuss strengthening bilateral ties in trade, investment, tourism, and education.After the meeting, Jaishankar shared details of their discussions, highlighting areas of cooperation between the two countries."Nice to meet FM Maka Botchorishvili on the sidelines of #Raisina2025. Explored opportunities for advancing our political, trade, investment, tourism and education cooperation," Jaishankar said.In response, Botchorishvili expressed her appreciation for the meeting and India's hospitality."Great honour & privilege to meet Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar during my first visit to India. Enjoyed a productive discussion focused on our cooperation with significant potential to expand bilateral ties across various fields, including economics, education, tourism and many others," she wrote.The Georgian Foreign Minister added, "I'm ...

Expanding India-Georgia ties important for us: Georgian foreign minister

Bochorishvili also stressed the need for a structured political dialogue to explore untapped potential in trade, logistics, and education

Georgia bill may help Trump, others recover costs of election meddling case

Georgia's Senate passed a bill that could allow President Donald Trump and more than a dozen people to seek compensation for legal bills stemming from an attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The bill passed unanimously by state legislators Thursday would enable compensation from counties for attorneys' fees and other legal costs in criminal cases in which a district attorney has been disqualified if the case gets dismissed, or compensation for the cost of arguing the district attorney should be disqualified. Trump and 18 co-defendants were indicted in Fulton County in August 2023. The accusations included asking Georgia's Republican secretary of state to find enough votes for Trump to win the battleground state, harassing an election worker and attempting to persuade Georgia lawmakers to ignore the will of voters and appoint a new slate of electoral college electors. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was disqualified from the election interference case

Ex-US President Carter's six-day state funeral begins in Georgia's Americus

Mourners lined the main street in Plains, where Carter was born and lived most of his life

Jimmy Carter funeral services to be held across Georgia, Washington DC

Funeral services honouring former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at age 100, will be held in Georgia and Washington, DC, beginning Saturday, January 4, and concluding Thursday, January 9. Here's a list of events, as provided by the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region. All times are Eastern Standard. SATURDAY, JANUARY 4 The state funeral begins with the arrival of the Carter family at Phoebe Sumter Medical Centre in Americus, Georgia, at 10:15 a.m. Current and former Secret Service agents will carry Carter's remains to the hearse and walk alongside the hearse as the motorcade departs from the medical centre. The motorcade then travels through Carter's hometown of Plains, Georgia, for a brief pause in front of his family's farm at 10:50 a.m. During the pause, the National Park Service will ring the historic farm bell 39 times. The motorcade to Atlanta resumes at 10:55 a.m. It will stop at Georgia's State Capitol for a moment of silence at 3 p.m. Carter's remains will t

Kavelashvili sworn in as Georgia's president, complicating EU path

Former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili was formally inaugurated as president of Georgia on Sunday, cementing the ruling party's grip in what the opposition calls a blow to the country's EU aspirations and a victory for former imperial ruler Russia. Outgoing pro-Western Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said Sunday morning that she would vacate her residence at the Orbeliani Palace in Tbilisi, but insisted she was still the legitimate office holder. I will come out of here, come out to you and be with you. ... This presidential residence was a symbol as long as there was a president here who was legitimate. I bring legitimacy with me, Zourabichvili told a crowd of supporters outside the palace. She called Kavelashvili's inauguration a parody." Kavelashvili, 53, who was the only candidate on the ballot, easily won the vote earlier in December given the Georgian Dream party's control of a 300-seat electoral college that replaced direct presidential elections in 2017. It is ma

One person dead, several others injured after fire at Tyson Foods plant

One person is dead and several others are injured after an overnight fire at a Tyson Foods plant in southwest Georgia, the company said on Friday. Tyson said it was working with local authorities to determine the cause of the fire. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents 1,600 workers at the plant, said Friday that a boiler had exploded at the plant. We extend our deepest condolences to their family and friends during this difficult time. Right now we are still gathering the facts, but ensuring the safety of our team members is our top priority, and we are conducting a full investigation into the cause of the fire, Tyson said in a statement. The plant in Camilla, with a population of about 5,000 people, is the largest employer in Mitchell County. Tyson bought it in 2018 as part of its USD 2.16 billion purchase of Keystone Foods. Agriculture is the backbone of our economy down here and Tyson is a major part of that, said Camilla Mayor Kelvin Owens said. O

Georgia court disqualifies district Attorney Willis from Trump 2020 case

The Georgia Court of Appeals' 2-1 decision Thursday is a major setback for state prosecutors in one of the two remaining criminal cases pending against Trump

12 Indians found dead at Georgia's mountain resort: Indian mission

Twelve Indian nationals were found dead at a restaurant in Georgia's mountain resort of Gudauri, according to the Indian mission here. Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement that no signs of injuries or signs of violence were detected in an initial inspection. All victims died from carbon monoxide poisoning, local media reported, citing police. The Indian mission in Tbilisi said that all 12 victims were Indian nationals. However, Georgia's internal affairs ministry statement said 11 were foreigners while one victim was its citizen. It added that the bodies of all victims, employees in the same Indian restaurant, were found in bedrooms on the second floor of the facility. "Mission has just learned about the death of 12 Indian nationals in Gudauri, Georgia. Deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Mission is in touch with the local authorities to get details of the Indian nationals who lost their lives. All possible assistance will be given," the Indian missi

Georgia opposition party leader arrested as protests over EU row continue

Georgian police on Wednesday raided the offices of an opposition party and arrested its leader in an apparent attempt to squelch a wave of mass protests triggered by the governing party's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union. During the past six nights, riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, who threw fireworks at police officers and built barricades on the Georgian capital's central boulevard. More than 300 protesters have been detained since Thursday and over 100 people have been treated for injuries. On Wednesday, the Coalition for Change opposition party said that police raided its offices and detained its leader, Nika Gvaramia. It shared a video showing several officers dragging Gvaramia into a car. Georgian media reported that police also raided the offices of several other opposition groups and non-government organizations. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the Georgian Dream party said the raids targeted those

Donald Trump picks donor Kelly Loeffler for small business administration

The SBA is the federal agency responsible for helping "Americans start, grow, and build resilient businesses" according to its website

Georgian protesters clash with police after PM suspends talks on joining EU

Police and protesters brutally clashed in Georgia after the country's ruling party suspended negotiations to join the European Union until 2028. Police used water cannons, pepper spray and tear gas late Thursday to disperse protesters who took to the streets following the announcement by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Georgian Dream claimed victory in last month's parliamentary election that the opposition in the South Caucasus nation dismissed as fraudulent and that has been condemned by European officials. The election on October 26 was widely seen as a referendum on the country's aspirations to join the European Union and the ruling party had indicated to voters that it would continue to seek membership of the bloc. The interior ministry said it detained 43 people during the protests. President Salome Zourabichvili said the government declared war on its own people and confronted riot police at the protest, asking them whether they served ..

Georgia suspends talks on joining EU for 4 yrs; accuses it of 'blackmail'

Georgia is suspending talks on its bid to join the European Union for four years, its prime minister said Thursday, in view of what he described as blackmail and manipulation from some of the bloc's politicians. The statement by Irakli Kobakhize came hours after he was reappointed to the job by members of the governing Georgian Dream party after its disputed victory in last month's parliamentary election that has sparked protests and led to an opposition boycott of parliament. The October 26 election was widely seen as a referendum on the country's aspirations to join the European Union. The opposition said the vote was rigged under the influence of Russia seeking to keep Georgia in its orbit, and declared a boycott of parliament. European election observers said the balloting took place in a divisive atmosphere marked by instances of bribery, double voting and physical violence. The EU has previously announced that the talks on Georgia's accession to the bloc had been de-facto hal

Thousands rally in Georgia to protest Oct 26 elections, claim it was rigged

Thousands of opposition supporters rallied outside Georgia's parliament for the second straight Monday to denounce the Oct 26 election as illegitimate after the ruling party was declared the winner amid allegations of vote-rigging helped by Russia. The protesters, who waved Georgian and European Union flags, demanded a new parliamentary election under international supervision and an investigation of the alleged ballot irregularities. Opposition leaders vowed to boycott sessions of parliament and hold regular protests until their demands are met. The protest took place under the watch of riot police, reflecting the simmering political tensions in the South Caucasus country of 3.7 million that lies between Russia and Turkey. The Central Election Commission said the ruling Georgian Dream party won about 54% of the vote. Its leaders have rejected the opposition claims of vote fraud. President Salome Zourabichvili, who has rejected the official results, says Georgia has fallen victim

Orban visits Georgia to support ruling party amid election protests

Georgia's ruling party, which has faced massive opposition protests demanding the annulment of its declared victory in the weekend parliamentary election amid allegations of vote rigging helped by Russia, is getting a boost with the visit from Hungary's prime minister. Victor Orban, the first foreign leader to congratulate Georgian Dream, arrived on Monday in Georgia on a trip that highlighted his rifts within the European Union. The EU said he doesn't have any mandate from the bloc for the visit. Tens of thousands of Georgians rallied outside parliament on Monday night, demanding a new election under international supervision and a probe into the alleged vote rigging. The protest underlined tensions in the country which lies between Russia and Turkey and where the governing Georgian Dream party has become increasingly authoritarian and tilted toward Moscow. President Salome Zourabichvili, who has rejected the official results, told The Associated Press that Georgia has fallen vict

US, EU call for probe after reports of Georgia election violations

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States joined calls from observers for a full probe

JD Vance laments Georgia shooting, calls for improved security measures

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance said Thursday that he lamented that school shootings are a fact of life" and argued the U.S. needs to harden security to prevent more carnage like the shooting this week that left four dead in Georgia. If these psychos are going to go after our kids we've got to be prepared for it, Vance said at a rally in Phoenix. We don't have to like the reality that we live in, but it is the reality we live in. We've got to deal with it. The Ohio senator was asked by a journalist what can be done to stop school shootings. He said further restricting access to guns, as many Democrats advocate, won't end them, noting they happen in states with both lax and strict gun laws. He touted efforts in Congress to give schools more money for security. I don't like that this is a fact of life, Vance said. But if you are a psycho and you want to make headlines, you realize that our schools are soft targets. And we have got to bolster security at our schools. We'v

Biden renews call for assault weapons ban after Georgia shooting incident

US President also called for proper check of background checks and an end to immunity for gun manufacturers

Suspect in Georgia high school shooting denies making online threats

The teen charged with opening fire at a Georgia high school denied threatening to carry out a school shooting when police interviewed him last year about a menacing post on the social media site Discord, according to a sheriff's report obtained Thursday. Conflicting evidence on the post's origin left investigators unable to arrest anyone, the report said. The 14-year-old suspect has been charged as an adult in the shooting Wednesday at Apalachee High School outside Atlanta that killed four people and wounded nine. He is accused of using an assault-style rifle to kill two students and two teachers in the hallway outside his algebra classroom. The same teenager was interviewed in May 2023 by a sheriff's investigator from neighbouring Jackson County who received a tip from the FBI that the boy, then 13, had possibly threatened to shoot up a middle school tomorrow. The threat was made on Discord, a social media platform popular with video gamers, according to the Jackson County sheriff'