After the collapse of Black Sea deal, Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised free grain to six African nations. In the next few months, Russia will be able to provide Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea with 25,000-50,000 tonnes of grain free of charge, Putin told the African leaders present at the second Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg on July 27. Speaking at the plenary session of the summit, the Russian president claimed that his country would be able to replace Ukrainian grain exports blocked by Moscow’s decision to abandon th
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Singapore’s Indian-origin former minister, formally launched his presidential campaign on July 26. The 66-year-old had stepped down from active politics in June after 22 years. Officially launching his campaign for office, Tharman in a press conference said that he has stepped into this race, as he strongly felt the need to evolve Singapore’s culture. He has vowed to evolve the country’s culture as a “shining spot” in the world and be “a president for a new era.” The politician outlined the supposed challenges faced by Singapore both globally and do
Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the red carpet to global semiconductor industry executives in an effort to establish India as a ‘trusted partner’ for their supply chains at the SemiconIndia 2023 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on July 28. The Prime Minister also announced that technology firms will be given 50 percent financial assistance for setting up semiconductor manufacturing facilities in India. The country has also introduced multiple tax reforms for new manufacturing industry, he said, adding that it is establishing an entire ecosystem for the semiconductor industry to grow. Th
Saudi Arabia on July 18 agreed to buy Turkish drones in the biggest defence contract in Turkey's history. Turkey President Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended the signing ceremony between Turkish defence firm Baykar and the Saudi defence ministry. Saudi Arabia will acquire the drones to enhance the readiness of the kingdom’s armed forces and strengthen its defense and manufacturing capabilities. In a tweet, Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar informed about signing a contract with the Saudi Arabian defence ministry for the Bayraktar Akinci (unmanned combat aerial ve
US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen on July 16 said that her country sees India as an “indispensable partner” with regard to its policy of “friend-shoring.” Addressing the media ahead of her participation in the G20 summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Yellen said that derisking and friend-shoring are important priorities for the United States that the country is promoting in India. Friend-shoring is a policy of encouraging companies to shift manufacturing away from authoritarian states and towards allies. The term is shorthand for the practice of relocating supply chains to co
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed the decision of the United States to return 105 artefacts to India, following his official state visit to Washington DC last month. On July 17, the Manhattan district attorney’s office handed over the antiques to Indian ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, at an event in New York. The antiquities are made of terracotta, stone, metal and wood, and span the time period from 2nd-3rd century CE to the 19th century. The artefacts belong to diverse parts of the country, with 47 from eastern India, 27 from the south, 22 from central India, six f
External Affairs Minister of India S. Jaishankar on July 12 held a series of meetings with his counterparts from several countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and Vietnam, and discussed bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual concern during his week-long visit to Indonesia and Thailand. The union minister began his engagements in Jakarta with a meeting with the Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Dr Kao Kim Hourn. The leaders discussed the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership. Jaishankar suggested India-ASEAN dialogues
French President Emmanuel Macron has bestowed the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an award ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris on July 14. It is the highest French honour in military or civilian orders. During PM Modi’s two-day visit to France, India and France reached an agreement to use India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in France. Making the announcement in Paris, PM Modi said that in the coming days, UPI usage will begin from Eiffel Tower. India will open a new consulate in Marseille, PM Modi announced on July 13 while addressing the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to France to attend the French National Day (Bastille Day) parade as the guest of honour. This year’s parade on July 14 will also see the participation of a 269-member Indian tri-service contingent, and the Indian Air Force aircraft performing in a fly past. PM Modi will also engage in discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron, focusing on defence, space, trade and investment. On July 15, he is scheduled to travel to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for an official visit. In France, PM Modi will hold a meeting with French Prime M
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak honoured Rajindar Singh Dhatt, a 101-year-old Sikh World War II veteran, with a Points of Light award for his service and work in bringing together British Indian war veterans. The Points of Light award recognises outstanding people whose service is making a difference in their communities and whose stories can inspire others towards innovative solutions to social challenges in their own communities and beyond. Dhatt was one of the last surviving Sikh soldiers who fought in World War II. At a UK-India Week reception at 10 Downing Street, he