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
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to his counterparts among the Group of 20 (G20) members, calling for the African Union to be given full membership of the grouping at its September summit in New Delhi. If accepted, the move will effectively make the group of 20 largest economies G21, sources said on June 17. PM Modi’s proposal was made in line with a request from the Union, which is made up of 55 countries of the African continent, aimed at enhancing Africa’s voice “on the international stage and in shaping the future of our shared world.” The G20 was founded in 1999 aft
US President Joe Biden hailed a new era in the US-India relationship, after rolling out the White House red carpet for Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on June 22, pushing deals on defense and commerce. The partnership between the world's two big democracies is “stronger, closer and more dynamic than at any time in history,” Biden told reporters at a joint press conference with Modi, and the economic relationship is “booming,” with trade more than doubling over the past decade. Prime Minister Modi also called the current times as “a new chapter” to the countries’ “s
Opposition lawmakers have lifted the majority of seats in Kuwait’s parliament, in its third election held in the last three years. The snap election on June 6 took place amid an ongoing political crisis that led to repeated dissolution of parliament due to a dispute between the government and lawmakers, affecting financial reforms. According to the results announced on June 7, opposition politicians won 29 of the legislature’s 50 seats, with 37 lawmakers retaining their seats. In the election, 207 candidates competed for the 50 seats in five constituencies. The remaining 15 seats in
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s official visits to South Africa and Namibia, from 1 June to 6 June, 2023, have further cemented India’s strong bonds with these countries, said a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on June 7. During the foreign minister’s visit to Cape Town, South Africa, from 1-3 June, Jaishankar participated in the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting and the Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on June 1 and 2, respectively. At the meetings, the minister presented India’s perspectives on global and regional developments, global e
Republican, former US Vice President Mike Pence will challenge his one-time boss, Donald Trump for the party’s 2024 White House nomination. He joins his other Republican peers, Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in the race to the White House. Pence’s campaign filed a declaration of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on June 5 and the 63-year-old launched his campaign on June 7 in the early nominating state of Iowa. A devoted social conservative and Christian, the former governor of In
Suriname on June 5 conferred its highest civilian honour to President of India, Droupadi Murmu to honour the deep-rooted bilateral ties between the two nations. She is the first Indian to receive The Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star. President Murmu received the award from the President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi. She arrived in Suriname on June 4, 2023, on a three-day State visit – her first since assuming office in July last year. The President of India said that the honour holds tremendous significance not only for her, but the people of India. She de
Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a re-election on May 28, extending his rule into a third decade. With more than 99 percent of ballot boxes opened, unofficial results from competing news agencies showed Erdogan with 52 percent of the vote, compared with 48 percent for his opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The head of Turkey’s electoral board confirmed the victory, saying that even after accounting for outstanding votes, the term belongs to Erdogan. The leader thanked the nation for entrusting him with the presidency for five more years. “The only winner today is Turkey,” he s