India at UN SC: Need updated instrument to deal with 21st Century challenges
Making a pitch for rebooting the stalled UN Security Council reform process, India has said that to regain its “lost legitimacy” the council should change to reflect new world realities. “The security council which takes decisions on behalf of ‘We the People’ represents an increasingly small minority of the world’s population,” India’s permanent representative Syed […]
India, UAE ink strategic partnership accord, 13 other pacts
Aimed at giving impetus to their ties, India and the UAE signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement and over a dozen pacts in key areas like defence, security, trade and energy amidst assertion by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that cooperation stands poised for a “major take off”. Read More
Arun Jaitley takes up H1B visa issue with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has “strongly raised” the H-1B visa issue with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, highlighting the important role played by highly skilled Indian professionals in America, officials said. During the meeting — the first cabinet-level interaction between the two countries under the Trump administration — Ross is believed to have said that […]
Had ‘Major Influence’ On Counter-Terror Discussions At G20 Summit: India
India said that it had “a major influence” on counter-terrorism discussions at the G20 Summit in Hamburg with Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising the key issue with European leaders. “India had a major influence on counter terrorism discussions at the G20 and also played a significant role in talks on trade and investment, migration and […]
Doklam standoff ends as India, China step back
After weeks of diplomatic negotiations, India and China agreed to disengage from the standoff on the Doklam plateau, disputed between China and Bhutan, with a formula that saw China promise to make “necessary adjustments” to their troop deployments, after Indian troops withdrew back to their posts in Sikkim on Monday. According to a statement issued […]
Kenneth I. Juster named U.S ambassador to India
Kenneth I. Juster, until recently deputy director of the National Economic Council at the White House, has been nominated as the next U.S ambassador to India. The appointment will take effect once the U.S Senate confirms him. The post is vacant since January 20. Mr. Juster has been a strong supporter of India-U.S ties and […]
India, Japan Agree To Further Intensify Strategic Ties
India and Japan inked 15 agreements to further broad-base their strategic partnership and agreed to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region where China is increasing its assertiveness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe held wide-ranging talks on key bilateral, regional and international issues and discussed ways to deepen ties in trade, […]
India opens two border crossing points with Myanmar, Bangladesh
India has opened two immigration check posts along the borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh, official notifications said. In a gazette notification, the home ministry said the central government has designated Zorinpui land check post in Lawngtlai district of Mizoram as an authorised immigration check post for entry into or exit from India with valid travel […]
India outraged at move to release Hafiz Saeed
India is outraged at the imminent release of Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed from house arrest, calling it an attempt by Pakistan to mainstream proscribed terrorists and a reflection of its continuing support to non-state actors. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Saeed’s release once again confirmed the lack of seriousness on the […]
Vijay Keshav Gokhale to be next foreign secretary
Seasoned diplomat Vijay Keshav Gokhale, considered an expert on China, was named the next foreign secretary succeeding S Jaishankar, who completes his extended tenure later this month. Gokhale, a 1981-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), had played a key role in India-China negotiations last year to resolve the 73-day standoff between Indian Army and […]