
EAM Jaishankar in Singapore, calls on President Shanmugaratnam, holds talks with DPM and FM
They reviewed progress of the outcomes of the Prime Minister's visit and the Second round of India Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR), which included areas of investments, industrial parks, semiconductors, infrastructure, skill development and connectivity.
They also exchanged views on ASEAN, Indo-Pacific and global developments.
EAM also met Teo Chee Hean, former Senior Minister & Coordinating Minister for National Security and Chairman-designate of Temasek Holdings. Their discussion focused on transformation underway in India and opportunities for Temasek to expand its investments in India, a statement said.
The visit is part of continued high-level exchanges between two countries and reflects the importance India attaches to its relations with Singapore.
EAM Jaishankar said in posts on X:
'Singapore is at the heart of our Act East Policy. Always insightful to exchange views there.
'Great to meet FM @VivianBala this morning in Singapore.'
The Singaporean FM said in a post on X:
'As the world inexorably transitions into multipolarity, India will play an increasingly important role as one of these major poles of opportunity.
'Looking forward to seeing @DrSJaishankar in New Delhi for the 3rd India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable.'
On his meeting with the Deputy PM, EAM posted:
'Good to catch-up with DPM @GANKIMYONG this evening in Singapore.
'Glad to note the steady progress in various bilateral initiatives. Looking forward to the 3rd India Singapore Ministerial Roundtable.'
UNI RN
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


United News of India
3 hours ago
- United News of India
DRC – Rwanda backed M23 militia sign ceasefire agreement in Doha after months of wanton violence
Kinsasha/Kigali, July 19 (UNI) The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel militia have signed a new ceasefire agreement, bringing a halt to the massive violence that has ravaged the DRC's mineral-rich eastern region for months. The declaration, which includes a commitment to a permanent ceasefire, was signed today in Doha following three months of negotiations hosted by Qatar, reports France24. The agreement comes shortly after a separate peace deal was reached between the Congolese and Rwandan governments in Washington last month. Although the M23 had previously rejected that accord, claiming it failed to address key grievances, the latest deal aligns with the Washington agreement and sets a roadmap for further peace efforts. Eastern DRC has long been gripped by insecurity fuelled by ethnic tensions and the presence of numerous armed groups. Rich in valuable minerals such as coltan and cobalt, the region has been at the heart of repeated conflicts. The latest surge in violence, triggered by an M23 offensive in January and February this year, led to the deaths of thousands and the displacement of hundreds of thousands more. The rebel group took control of large areas, including parts of Goma and Bukavu, escalating an already strong humanitarian crisis. The Doha accord includes mutual pledges to refrain from hate speech, propaganda, and any fresh territorial advances. It also outlines steps for the restoration of state authority in rebel-held zones and the launch of direct negotiations aimed at a broader peace agreement. Implementation of the ceasefire terms is set for completion by July 29, with negotiations for the comprehensive agreement to begin by August 8. Congolese presidential envoy Sumbu Sita Mambu and M23's permanent secretary Benjamin Mbonimpa signed the deal in the presence of international observers. US special envoy Massad Boulos, who attended the ceremony, described the restoration of Congolese state control in the east as 'one of the most important clauses' of the agreement. The African Union welcomed the development as a 'major milestone' towards regional stability. Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya reiterated that Kinshasa's 'red lines' remain firm, including the full withdrawal of M23 from occupied territories. Despite the cautious optimism, previous ceasefires in the region have often collapsed, and questions persist around enforcement, timelines, and broader economic agreements involving the region's vast mineral wealth. UNI XC ANV RN


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
CII Conclave Lays Stress On ‘Future Of Work' With Focus On AI
1 2 3 4 Nagpur: The Industry-Academia Conclave 2.0, organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Vidarbha Zone, brought together leaders from industry, academia, and research to deliberate on the 'Future of Work', with a sharp focus on AI, Automation, and Emerging Skill Demands. The event began with a welcome address by Shree Jamdar, chairman, followed by a thematic overview by Manoj Bramhe, convener, CII Vidarbha Zone. Keynote speaker Karan Chugh, director (supply chain), Amazon, shared insights on Amazon's use of AI and generative AI in logistics optimisation, forecasting, inventory, and predictive maintenance. He also spoke about Rufus, Amazon's AI shopping assistant, which personalises product discovery and comparisons. Rishi Bal, head, BharatGen, highlighted India's AI journey, emphasising sovereign AI with cultural relevance and accessibility. He cited BharatGPT as a cornerstone in speech tech and voice AI, fostering innovation and job creation. Chief guest Milind Padalkar encouraged students to adapt to digital disruption and technologies like AI, 5G, and nanotech. A panel on 'Future of Work' moderated by Rahul Karangale featured insights from Ramana Telidevara, Lohit Matani, Ketan Paithankar, Manoj Chandak, Nitin Rakesh, and Sheetal Kale. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You Won't Believe the Price of These Dubai Apartments Binghatti Developers FZE Get Offer Undo Amitabh Sinha, vice-chairman, concluded with a vote of thanks, urging youth to innovate and shape the future workforce. Nagpur: The Industry-Academia Conclave 2.0, organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Vidarbha Zone, brought together leaders from industry, academia, and research to deliberate on the Future of Work, with a sharp focus on AI, Automation, and Emerging Skill Demands. The event began with a welcome address by Shree Jamdar, chairman, followed by a thematic overview by Manoj Bramhe, convener, CII Vidarbha Zone. Keynote speaker Karan Chugh, director (supply chain), Amazon, shared insights on Amazon's use of AI and generative AI in logistics optimisation, forecasting, inventory, and predictive maintenance. He also spoke about Rufus, Amazon's AI shopping assistant, which personalises product discovery and comparisons. Rishi Bal, head, BharatGen, highlighted India's AI journey, emphasising sovereign AI with cultural relevance and accessibility. He cited BharatGPT as a cornerstone in speech tech and voice AI, fostering innovation and job creation. Chief guest Milind Padalkar encouraged students to adapt to digital disruption and technologies like AI, 5G, and nanotech. A panel on 'Future of Work' moderated by Rahul Karangale featured insights from Ramana Telidevara, Lohit Matani, Ketan Paithankar, Manoj Chandak, Nitin Rakesh, and Sheetal Kale. Amitabh Sinha, vice-chairman, concluded with a vote of thanks, urging youth to innovate and shape the future workforce.


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Amethi to deliver 7k AK-203 rifles to Army in 2-3 weeks
Ayodhya: Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture company which manufactures AK-203 assault rifles in Amethi, is set to deliver the next batch of Kalashnikov AK-203 rifles to the Indian Army in the next 2-3 weeks. The company, mandated under a Rs 5,200 crore contract to supply 6,01,427 rifles to the armed forces by Oct 2032, plans to finish deliveries by Dec 2030, Maj Gen S K Sharma, CEO and MD of IRRPL, told reporters during an interaction at the factory. "Around 48,000 rifles have been delivered so far. Another 7,000 will be handed over in the next 2-3 weeks and 15,000 additional by Dec this year," Maj Gen Sharma said. IRRPL is adhering to the timeline and aims to achieve 100% indigenization by the end of this year. The AK-203 is a modern version of the Kalashnikov series, he said. The Army is replacing the decades-old INSAS rifles with the AK-203, a Russian-origin assault rifle. India signed a contract worth Rs 5,000 crore with Russia in July 2021 to produce over 6,00,000 AK-203 rifles domestically, with technology transfer from Russia. According to a statement issued by IRRPL, the gun is ideal for counter-terrorism operations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy the Dip: Top 5 Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential Seeking Alpha Read More Undo Not only does it offer better accuracy, but its improved ergonomics and adaptability make it ideal for counter-terrorism operations and high-altitude warfare. Licensed production of the rifles officially began in Jan 2023. Given the dual threats along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and ongoing cross-border activities from Pakistan, rapid changes were made. The AK-203, a modernised version of the Kalashnikov series, will become the primary assault rifle for soldiers deployed along the northern and western borders, including the Line of Control and the Line of Actual Control. The rifle, also named 'Sher' in India, replaces the INSAS in service. Initially, 70,000 rifles were imported to meet urgent requirements before full-scale production began at IRRPL under Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. The joint venture, set up under an intergovernmental agreement and described as the "younger brother of BrahMos" by Maj Gen Sharma, has 50.5% Indian shareholding and 49.5% Russian stake. It operates from an 8.5-acre facility in Amethi and is not a part of the erstwhile ordnance factories structure. The workflow is overseen by a board of directors comprising four representatives each from India and Russia, besides senior defence officials. Currently, the factory employs over 260 personnel, including permanent Russian experts, and aims to scale up staffing to 537, of which 90% will be locals. IRRPL has achieved 50% indigenisation and aims to deliver the first fully indigenous AK-203 by Dec 2025, after which production will ramp up to 1.5 lakh rifles annually. The company has received 100% Transfer of Technology (ToT) from Russia, with all testing now indigenised. Earlier, parts had to be sent to Russia for validation, the CEO said. Each rifle undergoes 120 processes – "every rifle goes through 120 hands", Maj Gen Sharma said – and comprises around 50 components and 180 sub-parts. It has a life of 15,000 rounds. "Every material now has an alternate source in India," he added.