Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Paris-headquartered defence conglomerate, Thales Group, said that India presents a significant market opportunity across various business segments at the Paris Air Show, world’s largest air show, which alternates with Farnborough in Britain, is at Le Bourget for the first time in four years after the 2021 edition fell victim to the pandemic. Pascale Sourisse, Senior Executive Vice President, International Development at Thales said that India presents a significant market opportunity across various business segments, including civil aviation, digital identity, security, and satellites. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Sourisse said, “500 Aircraft order from Indigo Airlines is a…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk on Tuesday said that he is planning to visit India next year adding that he is confident that the electric carmaker will be in India and will do so “as soon as humanly possible.” His comments to reporters were made outside the Lotte New York Palace, following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived on a historic four-day State visit to the US on Tuesday. Meanwhile, PM Modi tweeted after his meeting with Musk, “Great meeting you today @elonmusk! We had multifaceted conversations on issues ranging from energy to spirituality.” Musk…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Union Minister of Tourism, G Kishan Reddy, had an interactive session with the members of Dempo Explorers Yuva Tourism Club on the sidelines of the 4th G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting in Goa on Tuesday, said a press release by Ministry of Tourism on Tuesday. The session focused on the objectives of the Yuva Tourism clubs and the Union Minister sought valuable inputs from the participants on the role of the government and stakeholders in promoting tourism, added the press release. The Minister congratulated all the club members for their dedication and commitment to promoting tourism in India.…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: This week, Americans will once again be treated to the scenes of bonhomie that have come to mark visits by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US: cheering crowds of Indian-Americans, warm photo-ops with leaders of both parties, and a triumphant speech to a joint session of Congress. No doubt Modi will declare that India and the US have grown closer than ever. A few joint programs will be announced. And most casual observers will conclude that all is well with what has been breathlessly described as the most important relationship of the 21st century. All is…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India stands on the side of peace in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported. In an interview with WSJ ahead of his departure for a historic State visit to the US, PM Modi said that when it comes to the Ukraine conflict, “Some people say that we are neutral. But we are not neutral. We are on the side of peace.” Asked about cricitism in the US of his government for not taking a more forceful stance against Russia in the conflict with Ukraine, PM Modi told the…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will during his visit to New York on Tuesday meet a galaxy of leaders from various walks of life, including Tesla co-founder Elon Musk, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, and American investor Ray Dalio among others. PM Modi is set to meet around 24 people in New York which includes Nobel laureates, economists, artists, scientists, scholars, entrepreneurs, academicians, health sector experts, and more, officials said. The PM will also meet Grammy award-winning Indian-American singer Falu (Falguni Shah), World Bank Senior Vice President Paul Romer, Essayist Nicholas Nassim Taleb, Author Jeff Smith, former US Trade Representative…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to China has been hailed by anxious observers and regional players as one that is crucial for stabilising the rivalry and minimising the direct fallout on regional security architecture. However, the depth and structure of the deep mutual mistrust and suspicions exacerbated by Beijing’s increasing bellicosity in the air and at sea in challenging the US’s military assets will not be mitigated by the goodwill of the visit alone. The visit will provide a huge moral and strategic win for Beijing and further weakens Washington’s standing, being looked at as weak…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India achieved remarkable milestones showcasing its immense potential in various fields, Guido Maniscalco, a Tampa City Council member said on Monday and added that those achievements are a testament to the hard work, resilience and spirit of its people. Taking to Twitter, the Indian Embassy in the US shared Maniscalco’s video message and thanked him for that. In a video message, Maniscalco said, “Prime Minister Modi, your presence here is a testament to the enduring friendship and collaboration between our two great nations. On behalf of the residents of Tampa and Hills…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: China has said the expansion of BRICS is a political consensus reached by all five members of the grouping. “China is committed to advancing the BRICS expansion and stands ready to bring more like-minded partners into the big family of BRICS,” said Spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry Mao Ning on Tuesday commenting on Bangladesh’s approach to join BRICS. Mao said an important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries, BRICS is committed to upholding multilateralism, vigorously advancing the reform of the global governance system and increasing the representation and say of emerging markets and developing countries.…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked the authorities concerned to emphasize more on availing funding from the foreign sources alongside the local funding to ensure project financing. She also noted that if the trend on timely implementation of foreign-aided projects increases, then disbursement of foreign loans would increase which would also put an impact on the foreign currency reserves. The Prime Minister gave the directive while chairing a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) held today at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his visit to the United States said that for “normal bilateral ties” with China “peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential,” the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported. “We have a core belief in respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, observing the rule of law and peaceful resolution of differences and disputes. At the same time, India is fully prepared and committed to protect its sovereignty and dignity,” PM Modi said in his interview to the US publication. The WSJ noted that India and the US share relationships with China that have…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi gears up for his forthcoming visit to the United States on June 22nd, the global community is keenly observing the potential for a strengthened strategic partnership between these two democratic powerhouses. Amidst a myriad of discussion points, Digital Defence emerges as a critical area of focus. In a world where cyber threats are evolving at an unprecedented pace, the necessity for robust Digital Defence mechanisms is more pressing than ever. India and the United States, with their advanced technological capabilities and shared democratic values, are uniquely positioned to collaborate in fortifying the security…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Naeemur Rehman, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief announced on Monday that his party would protest the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government’s alleged use of force to win the Karachi mayoral election on June 23 (Friday) in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Islamabad, reported Dawn. He said, “It will be a massive protest and we will question the ECP about the polls it held in Karachi (….) the ECP will have to declare the election invalid and rectify all its mistakes,” as per a report published in a Pakistan-daily. Dawn is an English-language Pakistan-based newspaper. After…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Pakistan Railways Employees (PREM) Union (CBA) protested at the diesel engine shed in Lahore against the delay in the current month’s salary payment. They added, “Only a few days are left until Eidul-Adha,’ The Express Tribune reported. So far, Pakistan Railways did not give salaries to its employees due to the severe financial crisis. It has caused a lot of trouble among the employees. Prem Union Lahore President Fiaz Ahmed Shahzad, Secretary Khizar Hayat Baig, Senior Vice President Muhammad Jameel Malik, and organizer Haji Aziz Madi have appealed to the Railways Minister Saad Rafique and CEO Arshad Salam…

INERNATIONAL DESK: Summits happen between equals. Only summits succeed or fail. Antony Blinken is only US Secretary of State. Nothing much was expected out of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. That the meeting came about at all is news. Such is the antagonism between the two countries that till the last minute neither side confirmed the meeting would happen. The US State Department made it official with just an hour to go. The meeting itself lasted 35 minutes, enough time for the shutterbugs to record the handshake and both leaders to articulate diplomatic inanities. Xi was…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Twenty-nine out of 30 students of the Oil India Ltd (OIL) Super 30 Itanagar’s 2022-’23 batch have qualified for the advanced Joint Entrance Exam (JEE). The results came out on Sunday. The qualified candidates are Koj Tami Gyambo, Terbin Bagra, Tarh Haniya, Chukhu Nyia Loma, Jarnu Bujuk, Neelam Doin, Jomson Ejing, Nending Pengo, Bujum Nalo, Karduk Gao, Gyati Pange, Gemi Riba, Lukge Jilen, Rubu Nomo, Kaling Tayeng, Karbi Yuro, Lire Nirin, Horli Amo, Zenith Singkom, Lishi Teshi, Biri Yachu, Chera Tanang, Gumli Romin, Sonam Lhamu, Bullo Anku, Miyam Perme, Neha Chungkrang, Tabom Pali, and Kuyung Lego. The OIL’s…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Four police personnel and two soldiers of the security forces were injured in different attacks of unidentified armed men in Bara tehsil of the Khyber district on Sunday, local and official sources said. The gunmen attacked the police post in Sarki Kamar area in Bar Qambarkhel Saturday night. As a result, four police identified as Shahfiullah, Naseem Khan, Khial Zar and Zarman Gul sustained injuries. The police repulsed the attack while the armed men managed to escape after the firing. The injured were shifted to a hospital in Peshawar. Soon after the incident, the police personnel reached the…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The G20 exhibition on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) commenced on Saturday at Savitri Bai Phule Pune University with a grand inauguration by the union minister of state, Annapurna Devi. The event witnessed widespread participation from almost all states and union territories, with esteemed international and national organizations such as CBSE, NCERT, Microsoft, Google, World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF, and numerous renowned NGOs. During the first day of the exhibition, Tripura garnered immense praise for its innovative approach in promoting ‘NIPUN.’ The bamboo-based Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) and the handmade TLMs crafted by the teachers emerged as the…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated in the country on June 29. The National Moon Sighting Committee announced the decision at a meeting held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital after the moon of the holy month Zilhaj was sighted in the sky of Bangladesh territory this evening. Religious affairs ministry secretary MD A Hamid Zamadder presided over the meeting. The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th day of Zilhaj. (BSS)

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said Bangladesh is keen to join BRICS, an economic bloc of five countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, if the platform invites Bangladesh. “We will surely join if they invite us. BRICS leaders are thinking of taking eight emerging economies, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh and Indonesia,” he told reporters at the foreign ministry this afternoon. The foreign minister said Bangladesh has already become a member of the BRICS New Development Bank. “We want more money from different sources. If they (BRICS) invite us .. I…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Pakistan’s textile sector has faced a decline in textile exports for an eighth consecutive month on a year-on-year basis, demonstrating persistent challenges for the industry, Pakistan-based The Express Tribune reported. Textile exports witnessed a month-on-month rise of 7 per cent in textile exports in May 2023, which reached USD 1.32 billion. However, there was a significant year-on-year decline of 20 per cent in comparison to the same period last year, according to The Express Tribune report. The trend of declining textile exports on a year-on-year basis has continued for the past eight months, The Express Tribune reported citing…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In a major development in the Greece boat tragedy case, wherein 78 people lost their lives, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), on Sunday, claimed to have arrested the main human trafficker from Sheikhupura, Punjab, Geo News reported. Earlier, on June 14, dozens of migrants and refugees on board the trawler that sank off Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula, killed at least 78 people. As many as 750 men, women and children – also from Syria, Egypt, and the Palestinian territories – were on board the vessel, trying to reach relatives in Europe. The sinking was one of the worst disasters…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Former additional director of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Sajjad Bajwa has revealed that some ‘black sheep’ are there in the agency that is backing the agent mafia in Pakistan, ARY News reported on Sunday. In a statement, FIA’s ex-additional director revealed, “Some black sheep in FIA are backing the agent mafia. There are thousands of agents in Pakistan and the authorities will have to devise a strategy to catch them.” While commenting on the human traffickers in Gujrat and Gujranwala divisions, Bajwa said that some FIA officers pressurised the victim’s family to compromise and step back from…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Pakistan is trying to obtain USD 3-4 billion from friendly countries in case its deal with the International Monetary Fund does not get through, The News International reported. The IMF programme is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2023. Both sides, the IMF and Pakistan, had gone public despite showing their commitment to remain engaged for the completion of the 9th Review under the $6.5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme, The News International said. In case the ninth review does not happen, the Q block (Ministry of Finance) is considering all available options to secure bridge financing…