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Tag: India

  • Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko Arrives In India For 2+2 Ministerial Meeting |

    Japanese Foreign Minister, Kamikawa Yoko arrived in India on Monday, to participate in the India-Japan 2+2 ministerial meeting. Confirming her arrival, the Ministry of External Affairs said that substantive discussions covering various spheres of the “India-Japan multifaceted partnership” lie ahead.

    “Welcome to India! FM @Kamikawa_Yoko of Japan arrives in New Delhi for the Third India-Japan 2+2 Foreign & Defence Ministers’ meeting to be held tomorrow. Substantive discussions covering various spheres of India-Japan multifaceted partnership lie ahead,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated.

    Earlier this week, the Ministry of External Affairs informed that the third round of India-Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting will be held on August 20. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent the Indian side and hold meetings with Japanese Defence Minister Minorou Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa.

    “The third round of the India-Japan 2+ 2 Foreign-Defence ministers meeting will be held on the 20th of August, 2024, in Delhi,” Randhir Jaiswal said at the weekly press briefing on Friday.” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and EAM S Jaishankar will be attending from the Indian side,” he added.

    The first and second rounds of the India-Japan 2+2 ministerial meetings were held in 2019 in New Delhi and in 2022 in Tokyo. MEA further emphasised that India-Japan relations are at a very high level and the 2+2 meet will give a major boost to all aspects of the relationship.

    “2+2 dialogue with Japan is very important for us and this is the third one that is happening. India-Japan relation is at a very high level. Getting the foreign ministers and defence ministers of both countries on the same platform will give a major boost to all aspects of our relationship,” Jaiswal further said.

  • Seven Months After Lakshadweep Row, Maldives’ Full Throttle Praise For India | world news

    It was in January this year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep urging Indians to explore islands of the country. This led to a social media war of words between Indian netizens and Maldivian politicians that escalated into diplomatic tensions. Maldivian President Dr Mohammad Muizzu has been known for his pro-China stance but recently has been trying to take a measured approach while dealing with New Delhi and Beijing.

    Shortly after taking office, Muizzu had demanded that India repatriate its military personnel from his country. Following negotiations, India agreed to withdraw its personnel by the mutually set deadline of May 10, replacing them with civilian staff. This move further strained relations between the two nations.

    Bilateral ties had recently shown signs of improvement following External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s three-day visit, which aimed to ease months of tension since the pro-China Muizzu assumed office last November. During his visit earlier this month, Jaishankar met with the top leadership of the archipelagic nation, including President Muizzu. Prior to this, Muizzu had visited New Delhi for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new government in June.

    The Maldivian Foreign Minister, Moosa Zameer, recently remarked that India has emerged as the world’s largest and most diverse democracy, setting an example that inspires many nations, including the Maldives. Reflecting on the long-standing partnership between Maldives and India, which, he said, is “rooted in its people and strengthened through our active bilateral cooperation,” Zameer reiterated the firm commitment of President Dr Mohammad Muizzu’s government “to strengthen and deepen” the robust relationship between our two countries “for the mutual benefit of our people.” Zameer was speaking as a chief guest at a function on the 78th Independence Day of India in Male.

    Calling it an “honor” to serve as the chief guest at the event, Zameer conveyed warm greetings and best wishes on behalf of President Muizzu, the Government, and the people of the Maldives to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Modi, and the friendly people of India.

    “(I) Congratulated India for their remarkable journey, one of profound significance and inspiration. India has emerged as the world’s largest and most diverse democracy that leads by example inspiring many countries, including the Maldives,” Zameer posted on X after the event. “I reflected on the long-standing partnership between Maldives and India — a partnership rooted in its people and strengthened through our active bilateral cooperation,” he said.

    He reiterated the firm commitment of President Dr Muizzu’s Government to strengthen and deepen the robust relationship between our two countries for the mutual benefit of our people. Zameer, in his longish post, said he also thanked External Affairs Minister Jaishankar for his unwavering support “to enhancing our bilateral ties.” He thanked India’s ambassador to the Maldives Munu Mahawar for hosting the event.

    Mahawar, replying to his post, thanked Zameer for gracing “this celebration of our lasting friendship” and said: “We are confident that under the leadership of PM @narendramodi and President @MMuizzu, our relationship will scale new heights and the bonds of friendship. will become even stronger.” Earlier, the Indian mission said in a post on symphony of Indian and Maldivian vocal and dance performances, including a medley of Indian and Maldivian songs and special dance performances by artists from India and Maldives.

  • Olympic Rankings Explained: How Pakistan Is Ahead of India Despite Winning Only 1 Medal Compared To India’s 6? , Other

    Paris Olympics 2024: Aman Sehrawat has secured India’s sixth medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024, bringing home a bronze. With this addition, India currently holds the 66th position in the medal standings. As it stands, India has earned one silver and five bronze medals. The sole silver was clinched by Neeraj Chopra in the men’s javelin throw final on August 8, with a throw of 89.45 meters. Chopra, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics, was outperformed by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who set a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters. This gold medal marked Pakistan’s entry into the medal tally, propelling them to 56th position, surpassing India in the rankings.

    Why Is Pakistan Ranked Above India In Olympics 2024?

    Nadeem’s remarkable performance brought Pakistan to the 53rd spot on the medal tally, having secured gold. Meanwhile, India, with its five bronze and one silver, is now ranked 64th. The Indian contingent had several opportunities to win gold but fell short.

    Historically, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ranks countries based on the number of gold medals they have won. If countries are tied for gold medals, rankings are determined by the number of silver medals, with bronze medals serving as the last tiebreaker. For instance, China is currently leading with 78 medals due to their 32 golds, despite the US having more total medals (108), including 31 golds. The US is second because they have fewer gold medals compared to China.

    If countries are tied for gold, silver, and bronze medals, they share the same rank. This is evident with France and Great Britain, who are currently tied in fourth place, each with 14 gold, 20 silver, and 22 bronze medals.

    India’s Olympic history includes seven medals from the Tokyo Olympics, with one gold, marking the country’s best performance to date. Overall, India has accumulated 38 Olympic medals since Norman Pritchard won two silvers in the 1900 Paris Games. Pakistan’s tally stands at 11, with four golds, three silvers, and four bronzes.

    Among India’s notable athletes, Manu Bhaker won the first medal for the country at Paris 2024, becoming the first Indian woman to secure a shooting medal at the Olympics. Bhaker also clinched a mixed team 10m air pistol bronze with Sarabjot Singh, making her the first Indian to win two medals in a single edition of the Games.

    How the Olympic Ranking System Works?

    The Olympic ranking system prioritizes countries based on the number of gold medals won. If nations are tied in gold medals, the ranking is then determined by the number of silver medals, followed by bronze if needed. In cases where countries have identical counts of gold, silver, and bronze medals, they share the same rank.

  • Indian Men’s Hockey Team Receives Heroic Welcome After Winning Medal At Paris Olympics 2024- WATCH | Other

    Paris Olympics 2024: The Indian men’s hockey team received a warm and enthusiastic reception upon their return from the Paris Olympics 2024 on August 10, Saturday. The team, under the leadership of captain Harmanpreet Singh, clinched the bronze medal after a decisive victory over Spain in the play-off match. This achievement marks the team’s second consecutive Olympic medal, a historic accomplishment not seen since 1972.

    Upon their arrival in Delhi on Saturday morning, the hockey team was met with a grand welcome. Harmanpreet Singh, leading the team, was greeted with garlands and tri-colour stoles, and the atmosphere was vibrant with the sounds of dhol playing in the background. Fans and media turned out in large numbers to celebrate the team’s success. Prominent players such as Sukhjeet and Mandeep Singh were seen dancing to the rhythmic beats of the dhol, adding to the festive spirit as they exited the airport.



    Notably, some members of the squad were absent from the arrival ceremony. PR Sreejesh, one of the key players, was still in Paris. He was selected as a joint-flagbearer for the closing ceremony of the Olympics and will return to India after the event concludes.

    In addition to the warm reception at the airport, Hockey India shared a special moment from the team’s journey back. Air India honored the bronze medal winners with a unique tribute. During the flight from Paris, the pilot made an announcement about the hockey team being on board, which was met with a hearty round of applause from passengers and a celebratory acknowledgment from the cabin crew.

    A special gesture from @airindia for the boys as they headed back to India from Paris. #ReturningHome #HockeyIndia pic.twitter.com/StTlB7fc9B — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 10, 2024

    The players will continue their celebratory journey with a meet-and-greet session at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium on Saturday, where they will interact with fans and media personnel. The successful campaign in Paris has added a record-extending 13th Olympic medal to India’s tally, further cementing the country’s reputation in the sport.

  • Thousands Of Bangladeshis Gather Along West Bengal Border, BSF Averts Infiltration Bid |

    COOCH BEHAR: The BSF averted an infiltration bid when thousands of residents from Bangladesh gathered along the Indo-Bangladesh border at Cooch Behar raising slogans and tried to enter the Indian side on Friday morning. Ikramul Haque, a local from Pathantuli in Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar, West Bengal said, “Around 9-9.30 am, a few people from Bangladesh gathered at the border and tried to infiltrate into India. Many of them are still there. The crowd has thinned out a little now, though. Their arrival in India all of a sudden is not possible. There is a protocol for it. There is a large presence of the BSF.”

    The Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted a committee that is to be headed by the ADG, Border Security Force, Eastern Command to monitor the current Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) situation. In a letter dated August 9, Under Secretary to the Govt of India Smitha Viju said, “It has been decided to constitute a Committee consisting of the following members for the above-mentioned subject a. ADG, BSF, Eastern Command as the Chairman, b. IG, BSF Frontier HQ South Bengal, c. IG, BSF Frontier HQ Tripura, d. Member (Planning and Development), LPAI and e. Secretary, LPAI.”

    The office memorandum further stated that the the above committee will maintain communication channels with their counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Indian citizens and people belonging to minority communities in Bangladesh. The Additional Director General of BSF, Eastern Command, is the chairman of the five-member Committee.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah also made the announcement through a post on X and informed that the committee has been constituted to monitor the current situation on the India-Bangladesh border. “In the wake of the ongoing situation in Bangladesh, the Modi government has constituted a committee to monitor the current situation on the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB). The committee will maintain communication channels with their counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals, Hindus, and other minority communities living there. The committee will be headed by the ADG, Border Security Force, Eastern Command,” Shah posted on X.

  • United Nations Praises Modi Government Over Poverty Alleviation Steps Using ‘Smartphones’; Watch |

    NEW YORK: Stressing the use of digitisation for rapid development, the President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, lavished praise on India for its work in this direction, which has lifted 800 million out of poverty in the last 5-6 years. He highlighted how people in rural areas of India, are able to make payments and pay bills just on the touch of a smartphone.

    “Providing the basis to rapid development, such as through digitalisation. Take, for example, the case of India…India has been able to lift 800 million people out of poverty over the last 5-6 years simply by the use of smartphones,” Francis said during his lecture at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN on the topic of ‘Accelerating progress towards Zero Hunger for the current and future generations.’

    UNGA President Dennis Francis praises India’s digital transformation under PM Modi with the success of the Jan Dhan, Aadhar, and Mobile (JAM) initiative, which has enabled rural farmers to conduct transactions on smartphones. pic.twitter.com/X7Es3o91mr
    — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 1, 2024

    Francis emphasised the high internet penetration in India as a major factor why India has been able to benefit but not many other countries of the Global South. “Rural farmers in India who never had a relationship with the banking system, are now able to transact all their businesses on their smartphone. They pay their bills, they receive payments for orders. 800 million people lifted out of poverty. Because there is a high level of internet penetration in India, almost everyone has a cellphone,” he said.

    “That is not the case in many parts of the Global South. So, there has to be equity demands, there has to be some effort, initiative to address this inequality as an initial step in negotiating the global framework for digitalisation,” the UNGA President added. Notably, digitisation has been one of the main focuses of the Narendra Modi government in the last 10 years. A rapid rise has been witnessed in digital payment transactions in the country in the last decade and UPI has emerged as a major contributor to it.

    PM Modi has promoted the use of digitisation through the JAM initiative — Jan Dhan, Aadhar, and Mobile. Under this, people have been encouraged to open their bank accounts and every account has been linked with Aadhar. This has helped in connecting people across the country, even in the rural areas with various government schemes and the social benefit payments reaching directly into the ban account of people.

  • Well Done, Buddy Says Hardik Pandya On Suryakumar Yadav’s Captaincy As Head Coach Gambhir Delivers Amazing Speech | cricket news

    Newly appointed India head coach Gautam Gambhir has kicked off his tenure with a commanding 3-0 T20I series victory over Sri Lanka. In his post-series address, Gambhir praised the team’s performance and particularly praised Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership. The comments were highlighted in a video released by the BCCI on social media.

    Gambhir began his speech by extending congratulations to the team and captain Suryakumar Yadav. He emphasized the significance of their triumph, noting that their relentless effort and determination were key to their success. “Congratulations on a great series win. Special congratulations to Surya for his outstanding captaincy and his impressive performances with the bat,” Gambhir said. He acknowledged the team’s ability to fight hard for every delivery and run, which he believed was crucial to their series victory.

    The new head coach reflected on the game’s challenges and urged his players to continue improving their skills, especially in adapting to varied pitch conditions. He stressed the importance of assessing match situations quickly and understanding what constitutes a competitive score. “There’s a lot of learning from this series. We need to keep getting better, especially in handling different types of wickets,” Gambhir advised. He also set a clear expectation for the players to maintain high fitness levels in preparation for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.

    Gambhir concluded his speech with a call to action regarding fitness. He informed the players who would not participate in the 50-over format to use their break wisely and ensure they return in top condition. “Make sure that when you come back for the Bangladesh series, your fitness levels are at their peak. You don’t want to return thinking you can just turn up and perform without proper preparation,” Gambhir cautioned.

    Following Gambhir’s remarks, all-rounder Hardik Pandya took the floor to share his thoughts. Pandya echoed Gambhir’s praise for Suryakumar Yadav, highlighting his crucial role in both batting and captaincy. “First of all, well done! I think in batting first, we were challenged, and conditions were difficult, but I think after losing those early wickets Shubman (Gill) and Riyan (Parag) the way they batted and created the partnership was brilliant. When you speak about situational awareness, I think that point of time, what you both did was very, very important. And that gave us a platform to at least reach a decent total which our bowlers made sure bowl at the right areas. Especially, I always emphasize on the fact that the lower order has to come and chip in and I think Washi (Washington Sundar) and those 8 runs by Bishi (Ravi Bishnoi) were very important.”

    Head Coach Gautam Gambhir Hardik Pandya addresses the dressing room as the action now shifts to the ODIs in Colombo #TeamIndia | #SLvIND | @GautamGambhir | @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/PFrTEVzdvd — BCCI (@BCCI) July 31, 2024

    “As Gauti bhai mentioned, Surya, well done on making sure that the way you rotated the bowlers, making sure, showing faith in the bowlers, which you gave in the last couple of overs. That was brilliant. And as a bowling group, obviously it was fantastic everyone chipped in, eventually it kind of takes us forward. done to all the guys who are playing ODIs, kill it!,” he said.

    India will now shift focus to the 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, though Suryakumar Yadav will not be part of this next leg of fixtures. The team’s preparation and performance in the ODI series will be crucial as they aim to build on their T20I success.

  • Big Blow For Sri Lanka Ahead Of T20 Series Against India As Their Highest Wicket-Taker Vs India Ruled Out Due To Injury- Details Here | cricket news

    In a major setback for Sri Lanka ahead of their three-match T20I series against India, star pacer Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out due to an injury. Although the news has been circulating in Sri Lankan media, an official statement from the Sri Lanka Cricket Board is still awaited.

    Sri Lanka recently announced their squad for the T20I series, naming Charith Asalanka as captain following Wanindu Hasaranga’s resignation from the role due to a disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup. The squad also includes senior batsman Dinesh Chandimal, who was dropped for the T20 World Cup, while Dasun Shanaka has retained his spot. Notably, veteran Angelo Mathews has been excluded from the squad.

    India’s tour will feature three T20Is and as many ODIs. The Indian squad, announced with several surprises, will be led by Suryakumar Yadav instead of Hardik Pandya, who was vice-captain during the T20 World Cup. Pandya’s fitness issues were reportedly a key factor in his exclusion from the leadership role. The T20I squad sees the return of Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Axar Patel, alongside Pandya and Suryakumar. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma, who impressed in Zimbabwe, have been left out.

    The T20I series kicks off on July 27, with additional matches scheduled for July 28 and 30. The ODI series is set to begin on August 2.

    India’s T20 And ODI Squad For Srilanka Tour

    ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.

    T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi. , Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj.

  • Love-Stricken By Pakistan, Turkey Imposes Secret Ban On Defense Export To India: Reports | world news

    India and Turkey’s relations have never been in sync for the last decade and it appears that Ankara’s close ties with Pakistan are set to prove the final nail in the coffin of its relations with New Delhi. Turkey has imposed this discreet ban in favor of Pakistan, according to reports. A Turkish government official disclosed this information during a closed-door session in the Turkish Parliament.

    According to the minutes of the Foreign Affairs Committee debate on July 10, 2024, Mustafa Murat Seker, deputy chairman of the Presidency of the Defense Industry (SSB), Turkey’s leading arms procurement agency, inadvertently revealed the government’s secret policy regarding India. Virtually, India has been blacklisted by Turkey when it comes to defense export.

    Turkish–Indian relations have deteriorated significantly over the past decade under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration, primarily due to policy decisions, particularly Ankara’s unwavering support for Pakistan in its conflicts with India.

    According to NordicMonitor, President Erdogan’s clandestine paramilitary group SADAT, led by his former chief military aide Adnan Tanriverdi, has been implicated in anti-India activities. The group recruited Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, a Kashmiri-born individual who served time in a US federal prison, to gather resources against India.

    Fai’s US-based organization, the Kashmiri American Council (KAC), which received funding from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), collaborated with SADAT’s front organization, the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World (Islam Dünyasi Sivil Toplum Kuruluslari Birligi, IDSB ).

    However, Turkey’s ban is not going to affect India. India has already revoked a $2-billion naval deal with a Turkish defense company and canceled defense exports to Ankara. With New Delhi focusing on Make In India in defence, the manufacturing of indigenous arms and ammunition has touched a record high in recent years. The value of defense production in FY 2022-23 was Rs 1,08,684 crore. In the last five years (since 2019-20), the value of defense production has been increasing steadily, and grown by over 60%.

    India’s defense exports have also surged recently. It may be recalled that defense exports touched a record-high of Rs 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, reflecting a growth of 32.5% over the last fiscal when the figure was Rs 15,920 crore.

  • Bangladesh Quota Protest: PM Hasina Imposes Nationwide Curfew; 245 Indians Cross Over Border To Meghalaya | Top Developments  |

    Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a nationwide curfew on Friday following the deadly clashes over the allocation of government jobs. The troops have been stationed in large numbers to restore law and order across the country. As per reports, at least 105 people have been killed so far and over 1,500 have been injured in the protests that took a bloody turn this week. By 8 p.m. on Friday, a total of 245 Indians, among them 125 students, had returned to India. 


    Protesters are calling for the abolition of a quota system that allocates up to 30% of government jobs to relatives of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence against Pakistan. 



    A senior official from the home department reported that 363 individuals entered Meghalaya via the Dawki Integrated Check Post, including 204 Indians, 158 Nepalese, and one person from Bhutan. The total number of people taking refuge in the state increased to over 670. 


    Police and security officials used live ammunition and tear gas on protesters in Dhaka on Friday, while also imposing a ban on all gatherings in the capital. 


    The demonstrators believe the system is unfair and mostly helps supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party, which led the independence movement. They want it changed to a system based on merit. 



    The protests, which started weeks ago, escalated significantly this week, presenting the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since she secured her fourth consecutive term in January’s elections. These polls were boycotted by major opposition groups. 


    According to an Associated Press’ reporter, border guard officials were firing at a crowd of over 1000 protestors as they gathered outside the national television broadcaster’s office and set the building on fire.


    The Indian High Commission in Dhaka is working with local Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety of students wishing to travel to India. The mission, along with the BSF and the Bureau of Immigration, is also assisting Indian students returning from Bangladesh. “The High Commission of India in Dhaka is coordinating with local authorities in Bangladesh to provide adequate security to students who are keen on travelling to India,” sources told ANI.


    To assist the return of Indian citizens and students from Bangladesh, the Indian government has designated three border crossings: Benapole-Petrapole, Gede-Darshana, and Akhaura-Agartala – to remain open for travel.


    “We have approximately 8,500 students and about 15,000 Indian nationals residing in the country,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, while assuring Indian citizens’ safety.