Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNATIONAL DESK: American President Joe Biden has reiterated US support for India’s permanent membership in the reformed United Nations Security Council. The US also reaffirmed its support for India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and committed to continue engagement with like-minded partners to advance this goal. Biden welcomed India’s candidature as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 2028-2029 considering India’s significant contribution to the UN system, commitment to multilateralism and active engagement in the intergovernmental negotiation process on Security Council reforms. In the joint statement released by India and the US, the two nations reaffirmed their…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: White House National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications, John Kirby said that it is up to India to make its own choices regarding cutting down Russian oil imports. “India has to make its own choices about (Russian) oil purchases and we hope that we can continue to see that they purchase Russian oil at or below the price cap, as they have been,” said Kirby. In December last year, the United States and its allies went after Russia’s all-important oil revenues after a European ban and price cap on Russian oil. Europe, along with the United…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Baba Kalyani, Chairman and MD of Bharat Forge Limited and founding president of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers has hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden for emphasising on co-production of critical systems and platforms “identifying avenues for joint research and development in advanced technologies.” Kalyani termed the PM Modi’s US visit, a reflection of “strengthening engagement between two great and large democracies.” He said, “Historic state visit being accorded to PM Modi by US President Joe Biden is reflective of strengthening engagement between two great and large democracies, to scale up the Indian…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Tibetan Association in Washington (TAW) conducted a second round of public relations building with the United States’ local representatives in the Seattle area by bringing together eight delegation members from the Seattle Tibetan Community, including three members of the Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group (V-TAG), virtually to meet with Kelly Marquardt, District Director for Representative Susan Delben in the First District on Thursday, 22 June 2023. It was led by Passang Bhuti, TAW’s Advocacy Coordinator and a V-TAG member, followed by Jamyang Dojee, Tenzin Chokey, Lobsang Tsering, Chime Ohdon, Chime Dolkar, Tenzin Sherab Gongpa, and Ryan Daly. Passang…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The global market for Kashmir Willow bats experienced a surge in demand following their exceptional display in the hands of international cricket players from Oman and the United Arab Emirates during the T20 World Cups. Building on this momentum, an impressive roster of around 17 players representing six cricketing nations has eagerly sought out Kashmiri Willow bats for their participation in the highly anticipated ODI World Cup 2023, set to grace the cricketing stage in India this October. From the sprawling industrial area stretching from Sangam to Awantipora, the rhythmic symphony of hammers resonated through the air, as…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In a first, Relief Organisation (Migrant) Jammu and Kashmir are providing Electors Photo Identification Cards (EPICs) to the Kashmiri migrant voters at Jammu who filled their voter forms during the Special Summary Revision held in the month of September 2022. Continuing with the Campaign, EPICs were distributed among the Kashmiri migrant voters today at the migrant Camp Jagti where a large number of migrant voters availed this facility and collected their EPICs, a press statement read. The Relief Organisation, in collaboration with the office of Chief Electoral, J&K, in a first-of-its-kind initiative, is facilitating the distribution of “EPICs”…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India and the United States have agreed to end six trade disputes at the World Trade Organisation and New Delhi will also lift retaliatory customs duties on 28 American products. This is likely to shore up trade between the nations and also help Indian exporters get key tax advantages. The decisions come amid Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State Visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The US, in 2018, had imposed 25 per cent and 10 per cent import taxes on certain steel and aluminium products, respectively, on…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The world’s leading aircraft engine maker GE Aerospace on Thursday signed a highly anticipated memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Washington to produce fighter jet engines in the country for the Indian Air Force during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US, in a pivotal moment for a sector that is on the cusp of a major transformation. GE Aerospace’s F414 engines will be co-produced in India to power HAL’s Tejas light combat aircraft Mk2, the US firm announced in Washington calling the development “a major milestone and a key element”…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: There is a lot of buzz about India at the Paris Air Show, the 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. This comes after IndiGo’s monumental order for 500 Airbus narrowbody jets, billed as the largest order ever placed with Airbus. In February, Air India also placed orders for 470 aircraft from both Airbus and Boeing. In an exclusive with ANI, Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India to France and Monaco said, “There is a lot…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Essayist and Statistician professor Nassim Nicholas Taleb on Tuesday in New York and held bilateral talks. Taleb, a distinguished professor of Risk Engineering at New York University’s School of Engineering, presented his own book titled “Skin in the Game” as a gift to PM Modi. Taleb holds a PhD from the University of Paris and an MBA from the Wharton School. He is the author of The Incerto, a 5-volume essay on uncertainty (Antifragile, The Black Swan, Fooled by Randomness, The Bed of Procrustes, and skin in the Game), and Dynamic Hedging (1997),…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: FIA (Federation of Indian Associations) fly a 250 feet long banner over the Hudson River, in New York to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his historic visit to the United States. PM Modi, who arrived in New York on Tuesday, is all set to participate in the Yoga Day celebrations on June 21. Indian diaspora gave a rousing welcome to PM Modi upon his arrival in New York on Tuesday for the first leg of his inaugural state visit to the US. PM Modi, who is on a four-day visit to the US, received a rousing welcome…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India is set to cross Rs 1,20,000 crore in mobile phone exports in the current fiscal year driven by tech giant Apple on the back of friendly government policies and production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, the country’s top electronics industry body told news agency IANS. India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) said that mobile phone exports have already registered a massive 128 per cent growth in the months of April-May this year. Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, ICEA, told IANS, “Mobile phone exports growth in 2023-24 have bucked the trend of falling exports with a growth of 128 per cent in…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In Early 2008, tech giant Samsung had scattered its operations all over China. But 15 years later the South Korean company has relocated most of its manufacturing units out of China to other South Asian countries like Vietnam. In the last few years American smartphone giant Apple, which so far had claimed to have a symbiotic relation with China, has started making similar moves to diversify its operations. Both Samsung and Apple are reshaping their businesses to catch up with the rapidly shifting global supply chain and harsh ‘Covid’ policy in China is acting as a major catalyst…

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: Excitement to hear Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s addressing a joint session of the US Congress is brewing not only among the Indians but can also be seen among US Congressmen as welcome messages for PM Modi’s historic State visit continue to pour in. Indian Embassy in the US has shared the videos of the two Congressmen- Scott Perry and Nick LaLota on its official Twitter handle. Congressman Scott Perry, who is the US representative for Pennsylvania’s 10th congressional district, said that he is looking forward to hearing PM Modi’s address to the US Congress. “I look forward to…

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…