Top Headlines: PM Modi receives Malaysia counterpart Anwar Ibrahim in ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan
August 20, 2024
- PM Modi receives Malaysia counterpart Anwar Ibrahim in ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan
- Nepal FM Arzu Rana Deuba meets PM Modi, invites him for state visit
- EAM Jaishankar calls on Crown Prince of Kuwait, discusses bilateral ties
- PM Modi to visit Ukraine on Aug 23; Poland on Aug 21-22; MEA reiterates India’s full support to peace efforts
- CRPF officer killed in J&K’s Udhampur, search operation continues
What Else
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to begin strategically crucial US visit on Aug 21
- Sitharaman asks public sector banks to work on deposit mobilisation
- Murthy warns of growing population challenge, says India overlooked it since Emergency
- Jailed Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan applies to be Oxford chancellor
- Escalating cases of abductions in Balochistan: Families demand justice amid security crackdowns
- Philippines, China trade blame after vessels collide in South China Sea
- Beijing, Hanoi pledge to deepen ties on Vietnam leader To Lam’s first trip abroad
- China makes $41 Billion Nuclear push with record Approvals
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PM Modi receives Malaysia counterpart Anwar Ibrahim in ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan
- PM Modi received his Malaysia counterpart Anwar Ibrahim in a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi on Tue.
- Ministry of External Affairs, spox, shared pictures of the two leaders posing with each other, as they met today, as a part of the Malaysian PM’s State visit to India.
- Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim arrived in the national capital on Mon on a state visit, his first visit to India as the Malaysian premier.
- PM Ibrahim is also scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu on Aug 20.
- External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar would also call on PM Ibrahim during his visit.
- India and Malaysia have strong historical and socio-cultural linkages. (here)
- Strengthening India-Malaysia Relations: Focus on Maritime Security and Palm Oil Cooperation: The meeting is also an opportunity to further solidify India-Malaysia ties by focusing on trade, investment, and technology partnerships.
- PM Modi will host a luncheon in honor of his Malaysian counterpart, highlighting the importance India places on strengthening relations with Malaysia. (here)
Nepal FM Arzu Rana Deuba meets PM Modi, invites him for state visit
- Nepal Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba held a courtesy meeting with PM Modi on Mon and discussed the multifaceted diversity of India-Nepal ties.
- She also handed over an invitation from Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli for PM Modi to visit Nepal.
- The meeting aimed to elevate the historical ties between the two countries to new heights.
- PM Modi highlighted the close civilizational ties and progressive partnership between India and Nepal.
- PM Modi said he was pleased to welcome Nepal FM.
- Earlier in the day, India and Nepal discussed the progress in cooperation between the two countries in the fields of power generation and sports, the MEA stated.
- Nepal FM Arzu Deuba is on an official visit to India from August 18-22 at the invitation of EAM S Jaishankar.
- The FMs held bilateral talks on Mon, covering the full range of the bilateral partnership
- They reviewed the progress made in various bilateral initiatives and developmental projects and also discussed opportunities for further collaboration in the existing and new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.
- The two also noted the progress made in partnership in the field of power sector cooperation, where Nepal can now export electricity close to 1000 MW, creating an additional source of revenue for Nepal and clean energy for India (here)
EAM Jaishankar calls on Crown Prince of Kuwait, discusses bilateral ties
- The External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sun called on Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince of Kuwait, and took his guidance and insights on taking India-Kuwait ties to a higher level.
- EAM said that India and Kuwait share centuries-old bonds of goodwill and friendship and the contemporary partnership between both the countries is expanding steadily.
- Conveyed the greetings of the President and PM.
- India and Kuwait share centuries-old bonds of goodwill and friendship.
- Earlier in the day, Jaishankar arrived in Kuwait where he was warmly welcomed by Kuwaiti FM Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya. (here)
PM Modi to visit Ukraine on Aug 23; Poland on Aug 21-22; MEA reiterates India’s full support to peace efforts
- PM Modi will be visiting Ukraine on Aug 23rd at the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Mon.
- This will be the first by an Indian PM to the war-hit country since the two nations established diplomatic ties around 30 years ago.
- Reiterating India’s stance on the conflict that began on Feb 24, 2022, the MEA said that only dialogue and diplomacy can lead to a lasting resolution of the conflict.
- The MEA emphasized that India has “substantive and independent ties” with Russia and Ukraine and these partnerships with the two nations “stand on their own.”
- Notably, PM Modi also visited Russia last month, which was his first official trip to a nation after assuming office for the third term.
- MEA Secretary said India is ready to provide all possible support and contribution for finding a peaceful solution to the conflict.
- Being asked about India’s humanitarian support to Ukraine since the start of the conflict, the MEA informed that 16 packages and 135 tons of material have been delivered so far. (here)
- Ukraine formally announces the visit of PM Modi to Kyiv; Says, ‘number of documents between Ukraine and India will be signed’
- Just ahead of PM’s visit to Ukraine, Russian Navy chief in India: The Russian Navy chief is now In India to explore new avenues to further strengthen maritime cooperation between Moscow and New Delhi.
- Admiral AA Moiseyev, on an official visit to India from Aug 19 to 22, held wide-ranging discussions with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi on Monday.
- India has been trying to strike a fine strategic balance between its long-standing partnership with Russia and the US-led Western bloc, which has repeatedly voiced its concern about the close ties between New Delhi and Moscow.
- India, of course, remains worried about the tightening strategic clinch between China and Russia. (here)
- PM Modi to visit Poland on Aug 21-22; hold meetings with Polish counterpart Tusk, President Duda: PM Modi will be making official visits to Poland and Ukraine from Aug 21-23, the MEA said on Mon
- The visit will be the first visit by an Indian PM to Poland in 45 years, which comes as New Delhi and Warsaw mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2024.
- The MEA further recalled the age-old ties between the two highlighting how Poland assisted India in evacuating its students from Ukraine after conflict broke out in 2022.
- It also spoke about the episode from the 1940s when over 6000 Polish women and children were given refuge in princely states: Jamnagar and Kolhapur.
- The MEA Secretary informed that PM Modi, during his visit will hold meetings with the Polish counterpart, President, and will also interact with the Indian community.
- He will also be accorded a ceremonial welcome at Warsaw. ” (here)
CRPF officer killed in J&K’s Udhampur, search operation continues
- One CRPF officer has been killed in an encounter in the remote Dudu area of Basantgarh in Udhampur of Jammu region.
- Security forces had input about the presence of 3-4 terrorists in the area, after which they were carrying out a joint cordon and search operation.
- The terrorists fired on the forces when they were in close vicinity, which resulted in injury to one CRPF officer, who was taken to hospital, where he succumbed to injuries.
- The officer has been identified as Kuldeep Singh of the 187th Battalion of Central Forces.
- He was directly hit by a bullet and was declared dead by the doctors.
- According to sources, the terrorists managed to escape from the spot, but security forces have now cordoned off the entire area.
- Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a steep rise in terror attacks in the last few months.
- With the J&K Police confirming that around 70-80 foreign terrorists are active in J&K, most of them are believed to be in the higher reaches of the North J&K region. (here)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to begin strategically crucial US visit on Aug 21
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to embark on a 5-day visit to the US starting Aug 21 as New Delhi and Washington D.C. enter the final stages of approving a critical deal for MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
- The visit points to the growing defense partnership between the two countries amid New Delhi’s strategic interest in improving its military capabilities.
- During his visit, Singh is expected to hold high-level meetings, including a key discussion with his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin.
- The United States has reportedly completed its internal formalities for the agreement.
- Last month, India’s DAC approved amendments related to the indigenous equipment and other critical aspects of the UAV deal.
- The move continues to reflect New Delhi’s push for greater self-reliance in defense manufacturing while deepening its ties with global defense partners.
- Singh’s visit will also involve meetings with representatives from the defense industry, which are expected to pave the way for future collaborations and investments (here)
Sitharaman asks public sector banks to work on deposit mobilisation
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a meeting on Mon to review the performance of Public Sector Banks on their financial parameters, deposit mobilization, digital payments, and cyber security framework, in addition to access to credit under financial inclusion and other emerging issues.
- During the meeting, it was noted that during 2023-24, the PSBs performed well across all financial parameters as evidenced by improved asset quality with Net NPAs declining to 0.76%, sound capital adequacy of the banks at 15.55%, Net Interest Margin of the banks at 3.22%, and highest ever net aggregate profit of Rs. 1.45 lakh crore with the dividend of Rs 27,830 crore to the shareholders.
- During deliberations on the deposit mobilization, the Minister stated that while the credit growth has picked up, the mobilization of deposits could further be improved to fund the credit growth sustainably and asked banks to make concerted efforts to garner deposits by conducting special drives. (here)
Murthy warns of growing population challenge, says India overlooked it since Emergency
- Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy expressed concern over India’s growing population, calling it a significant challenge for the nation.
- He said that since the Emergency, the issue of population control has been largely overlooked.
- Speaking at the convocation ceremony of MNNIT in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, where he was the chief guest, Murthy stressed the urgent need for attention to population management to ensure the country’s sustainable future.
- “India faces significant challenges related to population, per capita land availability, and healthcare facilities,” he said. (here)
[Neighborhood]
Jailed Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan applies to be Oxford chancellor
- Jailed former Pakistani PM Imran Khan has applied to become the next chancellor of Britain’s prestigious University of Oxford, his party says.
- The Oxford alumnus “formally submitted” the request via Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, the London-based spox for Khan’s PTI, the party said on the social media platform X.
- “Despite being unlawfully incarcerated for over a year, Khan remains committed to his principles and the causes he champions,” the PTI post said on Sun.
- Speaking to the AFP, Bukhari said: “Imran Khan had given instructions that he would like to submit his application and now the application scrutiny will take place.”
- The announcement comes after Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, announced in Feb that he would be stepping down as Oxford’s chancellor. (here)
- [Intresting development is going in the neighborhood, seems like fate yet to come]
Escalating cases of abductions in Balochistan: Families demand justice amid security crackdowns
- Amid the ongoing unrest in Balochistan, a young man has reportedly gone missing after being detained by Pakistani forces in the Awaran district.
- The Balochistan Post reported that Khan Muhammad, son of Wahid Baksh, was allegedly arrested by Pakistani security forces on Aug 15 in the Jhao Koharho area.
- Since then, his family has not received any information about his whereabouts.
- The report further stated that his family has appealed to several human rights organizations, as well as political and social activists, for assistance in his release.
- Earlier, Riaz Ahmed Baloch, a singer, was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani security forces in Quetta.
- Baloch, a resident of Jinnah Town, Killi Shabo, is believed to have been targeted due to his singing. (here)
Philippines, China trade blame after vessels collide in South China Sea
- The Philippines and China accused each other on Aug 19 of ramming vessels and performing dangerous maneuvers in the SCS, the latest flare-up after the two nations had agreed to try to ease tensions and manage disagreements at sea.
- The China Coast Guard stated that a Philippine vessel that had ignored its repeated warnings “deliberately collided” with a Chinese vessel in an “unprofessional and dangerous” manner in the disputed waterway early on Aug 19.
- Manila disputed Beijing’s account and accused it of “imposing its version of facts”.
- Claims and counterclaims were continued.
- At a regular news briefing, Beijing told reporters that China would continue to take lawful “resolute and forceful measures” to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
- The United States condemned China’s actions: US diplomate in Manila, said that the US “stands with the Philippines in condemning the China Coast Guard’s dangerous maneuvers” which endangered lives and caused damage to coast guard vessels. (here)
- [monthly firecrackers]
Beijing, Hanoi pledge to deepen ties on Vietnam leader To Lam’s first trip abroad
- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his new Vietnamese counterpart To Lam on Aug 19 pledged to deepen bilateral relations, a sign that economic and political ties will remain strong as Hanoi continues to seek balanced relations with major powers.
- In Beijing, both leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents, in areas such as party school exchanges, finance, connectivity, and media, during Lam’s 1st overseas trip after being elected Vietnam’s top leader on Aug 3.
- Trong served three terms as the Communist Party of Vietnam’s general secretary until he died of illness at the age of 80 on July 19.
- Hanoi said both leaders agreed to boost defense and security ties as well as railway and highway links between the two countries, Reuters reported.
- While Vietnam has traditionally been suspicious of its larger neighbor, its “bamboo diplomacy” of being firm but flexible in its dealings with major powers from China to the US, Russia, and India, is set to continue, said analysts. (here)
China makes $41 Billion Nuclear push with record Approvals
- China approved 11 nuclear reactors across 5 sites on Aug 19, a record amount of permits as the govt leans even more heavily on atomic energy to support its push to cut emission
- The State Council greenlighted the new reactors in sites spread across Jiangsu, Shandong, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Guangxi, state-run China Energy News reported.
- The total investment for all 11 units will be at least $41 billion with construction taking about five years, according to financial publication Jiemian.
- China has more nuclear reactors under construction than any other nation in the world and approved 10 new reactors in each of the last two years.
- The country is expected to surpass France and the US to be the world’s leading atomic power generator by 2030, according to BloombergNEF.
- CGN Power, the listed unit of state-owned China General Nuclear Power, said in a HK stock exchange filing that it received approvals for six reactors across 3 sites.
- The country has 56 operational reactors, with a combined capacity of around 5% of total electricity demand.
- Beijing is likely to approve around 10 new reactors annually for the next three to five years, Citic Securities said in a note. (here)