Page 12 - Ministry Of External Affairs

Germany wants better ties with India on defence, skilled labour: Ambassador

Germany's incoming government has outlined plans to deepen its partnership with India, particularly in the areas of defence and skilled labour migration, German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann has said. Ackermann highlighted that the coalition treaty agreed upon by the two parties forming the next German government explicitly references India multiple times. "The most significant point is that this government wants to enhance cooperation with India and strengthen bilateral ties," Ackermann told PTI on Friday, adding that the incoming government specifically highlights defence and skilled labour migration as key areas of focus. The new German government is yet to be officially sworn in, pending the election of a chancellor and the appointment of ministers in parliament over the coming two weeks. However, Ackermann expressed optimism about the trajectory of Indo-German relations under the new administration. "We can expect the new German government to be very active and very

India extends aid to diaspora in quake-hit Myanmar under Operation Brahma

As part of ongoing outreach efforts following the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, India, under Operation Brahma, extended its support to the Indian diaspora in Myanmar's Yangon region, delivering essentials.According to the Embassy of India in Myanmar, Ambassador of India to Myanmar Abhay Thakur handed over 15 tonnes of rice, cooking oil and food stuff to a community relief group there.Meanwhile, the Consulate General of India in Mandalay provided a genset, water purifier and cooking oil for the Ambika temple kitchen serving 4000 pax daily."Giving a helping hand to our diaspora. This week, Ambassador Abhay Thakur handed over 15 T rice, cooking oil & foodstuff to the community Relief Group in Yangon, and the Consulate General of India in Mandalay gave a genset, water purifier & cooking oil for Ambika temple kitchen serving 4000 pax daily," the Embassy of India in Myanmar stated on X.India has been actively engaged in the relief efforts following the ...

EAM hails India-US counter-terror ties after Tahawwur Rana extradition

Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Rubio confirmed the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India, where he will face charges for his role in planning the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks

Slovakia 'fully' backs India's bid to become new permanent member of UNSC

President Murmu acknowledged Slovakia's "unwavering support" in evacuating Indian students from Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, strengthening the bond between the two nations

Russia invites PM Modi to attend Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9

Russia has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the May 9 celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Germany in World War II, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has said. Moscow is expecting the Indian Prime Minister at the May 9 parade. The invitation has already been sent, and the visit is being worked out, Russian news agency Tass quoted Rudenko as saying. "It's being worked out, it should be this year. He has an invitation," Rudenko said on Tuesday. Russia has invited leaders of several friendly nations to attend this year's Victory Day parade. In January 1945, the Soviet Army launched an offensive against Germany. The commanders-in-chief on May 9 signed the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Germany which ended the war. Prime Minister Modi visited Russia in July 2024, his first trip to the country in nearly five years. He had visited the far eastern city of Vladivostok in 2019 to attend an economic conclave. During the last visit, Modi invited Rus

India aims to negotiate US trade deal by fall: Jaishankar on Trump tariffs

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar noted that as every country is tariffed, each is fashioning its own strategy to deal with the US

President Murmu arrives in Lisbon for 4-day Portugal, Slovakia visit

President Murmu will visit Slovakia from April 9-10, the first by an Indian President in 29 years, at the invitation of Slovak President Peter Pellegrini

Sri Lankan President confers Mitra Vibhushana, highest honour, on PM Modi

PM Modi arrived in Colombo on Apr 4 for his first visit to Sri Lanka since 2019, on a three-day State visit at the invitation of President Dissanayake

India sends 442 tonnes of food aid to quake-hit Myanmar on INS Gharial

In a gesture of solidarity, India delivered 442 tonnes of food aid to Myanmar on Friday, as part of its ongoing humanitarian response following the devastating earthquake that struck the country last month.The consignment, comprising rice, cooking oil, noodles and biscuits, was transported aboard the Indian Navy's landing ship tank INS Gharial and handed over at Thilawa Port by Ambassador Abhay Thakur to Yangon Chief Minister U Soe Thein and his team.The official page for the Indian Embassy in Myanmar posted on X (formerly Twitter): "Meeting needs of affected people. A large 442 T consignment of food aid (rice, cooking oil, noodles & biscuits) carried by the Indian Navy landing ship tank INS Gharial arrived today at Thilawa Port & was handed over by Ambassador Abhay Thakur to CM Yangon U Soe Thein & team."The aid is part of Operation Brahma -- India's comprehensive relief mission launched after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake on March 28, which left thousands dead and ..

India, Sri Lanka sign defence pact after PM Modi, Prez Dissanayaka talks

For the first time, India and Sri Lanka on Saturday inked an ambitious defence cooperation pact following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The two sides also signed a pact to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub. Another agreement was inked to facilitate New Delhi's multi-sectoral grant assistance to Sri Lanka's eastern region. PM Modi and President Dissanayake also virtually inaugurated the Sampur solar power project. Several agreements were also firmed up between the two sides following the talks between the two leaders. The talks were held a day after Modi arrived in the Sri Lankan capital after concluding his trip to Bangkok where he attended a summit of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). Ahead of the talks, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the historic Independence Square in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital, in perhaps the first such honour given to a forei

PM Modi receives ceremonial welcome as he begins 3-day visit to Sri Lanka

PM Modi's arrival in Colombo came after his visit to Thailand, where he held a bilateral meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and attended the Bimstec Summit

PM Modi, Bangladesh's Yunus discuss minority safety and Hasina extradition

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus had their first high-level meeting since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year

PM Modi offers linking UPI with payment systems of BIMSTEC nations

Seeking to impart fresh impetus to the BIMSTEC grouping, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday proposed linking India's UPI with the payment systems of the member nations, a move that could boost trade, business and tourism within the region. Addressing the sixth BIMSTEC Summit here, the Prime Minister also proposed to set up a BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce, organise annual business summits and explore promoting trade in local currencies within the region. At the outset, the Prime Minister offered his condolences for the loss of lives and property in Myanmar and Thailand in the devastating earthquake on March 28. Modi also proposed establishing a BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Disaster Management in India to collaborate on disaster preparedness, relief and rehabilitation. The BIMSTEC Summit, hosted by Thailand, is attended by leaders from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. The BIMSTEC Summit adopted the Bangkok Vision 2030 to realise the shared commitment to

PM Modi offers help to Myanmar Senior General as nation recovers from quake

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday told Myanmar's Senior General Min Aung Hlaing that India was doing everything possible to assist the nation in recovering from the aftermath of a massive earthquake that killed several thousands. Modi met Senior General Min, the head of Myanmar's military government, on the sidelines of the Summit meeting of the leaders of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral and Technical Cooperation (BIMSTEC) grouping. "Met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. Once again expressed condolences on the loss of lives and damage to property in the wake of the recent earthquake. India is doing whatever is possible to assist our sisters and brothers of Myanmar in this critical time," Modi wrote on X. This was the Prime Minister's first interaction with Senior General Min, who came to power in a military coup in February 2021. "We also discussed bilateral relations between India and Myanmar, ...

Quad joins forces to streamline aid delivery for Myanmar quake victims

The Quad countries of India, Australia, Japan and the US have committed humanitarian assistance of over USD 20 million for the Myanmar earthquake response and are delivering relief supplies and deploying emergency medical teams for those affected by the tragedy. In a joint statement from the governments of the United States, Australia, India, and Japan, the Quad countries extended their deepest sympathies and condolences to the people of Myanmar and Thailand following the earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28. The significant loss of life, injuries, and widespread destruction of infrastructure worsen an already-dire humanitarian situation in Myanmar, the joint statement issued on Thursday by the State Department said. We, the Quad partners, have so far committed humanitarian assistance estimated at a combined value of over USD 20 million. Through our funding and bilateral efforts, we are delivering relief supplies, deploying emergency medical teams and supporting ...

Indian rescue team's valour shines amid devastation after Myanmar quake

Indian personnel are tirelessly conducting relief and rescue operations in quake-struck Mandalay, braving the stench of death to recover bodies from the rubble. Amid the devastation, a story of faith and resilience emergedone that will be etched in the memory of those who witnessed it. It was the sacred hour of Alvida Namaz of Ramzan when the catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar last Friday, the death toll of which has risen to more than 3,000. Near Street 86A in the former royal capital of Mandalay, a devout Muslim woman and young child, among others, were deep in prayer, unaware of the disaster unfolding around them. "We men were performing Alvida Jumme ki Namaz at the mosque while women and children were praying in their respective homes in the society," Aadam Hussein, 65, told PTI. "Within moments, the ground convulsed violently, reducing a residential complex with around 50 people, mostly women and children, to ruins and leaving destruction in its wake," he ...

India, Nepal ink 10 MoUs worth NRs 625 million for development projects

India and Nepal have signed 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for high-impact community development projects in the Himalayan nation to be funded by Indian assistance amounting to NRs 625 million, according to an official release. The agreements were signed on Tuesday for development in the education, health, and culture sectors, the Indian embassy here said in a press release. "These High Impact Community Development Projects #HICDP are being built with (the) Government of India's financial assistance at a total cost of NRs 625.00 million in Education, Health and Culture Sectors under Nepal-India Development Cooperation'," the embassy said in a post on X. It added that implementing these projects will "help provide better educational, healthcare and cultural facilities to the people of Nepal." The projects undertaken include the construction of three schools, one monastery, one e-library at a school, and two health post buildings. With this, India has taken up over 573 HICDP

Over 100K members of Awami League fled to India: Information advisor

Bangladesh interim government's Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam on Tuesday claimed that more than one lakh members of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League have fled to India, according to media reports. Alam made the remark during an Eid gathering in Dhaka attended by families of individuals allegedly disappeared or killed during Hasina's tenure, Bangladeshi news portal bdnews24.com said. Human rights group Mayer Dak organised the event in the city's Tejgaon area, said a press release. Criticising Hasina, Mahfuj said she used enforced disappearances and killings as a means of avenging her parents' assassination, state-run news agency BSS reported. The highest number of enforced disappearances occurred in 2013 and 2014 when people were fighting for their voting rights. The main objective behind these actions was to destroy the electoral system, he said. The adviser said that the government has already formed a commission to investigate into enforced disappearances. B

Highlights: India sends relief materials to quake-hit Myanmar under 'Operation Brahma'

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6-day international workshop on land governance concludes in Delhi

The critical role of technology in improving property rights and reducing land disputes was in focus at a six-day international workshop on land governance organised by the panchayati raj ministry that concluded here on Saturday. The workshop was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and saw the participation of senior officials from 22 countries across Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. At the workshop, the participants engaged in detailed discussions and hands-on sessions focused on land governance, with delegates suggesting similar workshops in their own countries under the aegis of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. The workshop explored innovative solutions for modernising land administration and served as a global platform for knowledge exchange, the panchayati raj ministry said in a statement. India showcased its technological advancements in drone-based land surveys, digital