Breaking News Live Updates: PM Modi conferred Ghana's national honour
Breaking News Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Wednesday conferred with 'The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana', the country's national honour, for his "distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership". Breaking News Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Wednesday conferred with 'The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana', the country's national honour, for his "distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership".Modi received the award from the Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama."Honoured to be conferred with 'The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana'," the prime minister said in an X post.In his acceptance speech, Modi said the award was a matter of great pride and honour for him."I humbly accept the award on behalf of the 140 crore Indians," he said, dedicating it to the aspirations and bright future of the youth of the two countries, their rich cultural traditions and diversity, and the historical ties between Ghana and India."This honour is also a responsibility; to keep working towards stronger India-Ghana friendship. India will always stand with the people of Ghana and continue to contribute as a trusted friend and development partner," he said in an X post. Show more Four people died, 38 were missing and 23 survived after a ferry carrying 65 people sank near the Indonesian island of Bali, news channel MetroTV reported, citing Indonesia's Search and Rescue agency.The boat KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya sank almost half an hour after leaving East Java's Ketapang port late on Wednesday, the agency said on Thursday in a separate statement. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Thursday it was more important now than ever for the government to play an active role in executing a bold fiscal policy, at a news conference marking 30 days in office.
Seven people remained missing Wednesday in California, a day after a fireworks warehouse explosion injured two victims and sparked a giant fire, authorities said.The explosion occurred Tuesday evening after a fire broke out in a warehouse located in the town of Esparto, in the northern part of the state."Seven individuals remain unaccounted for," California's state firefighting agency said in a statement. "First responders and investigators are working diligently with the property owner to determine the whereabouts of those individuals."The two injured people have been located and are now out of danger, according to authorities.However, firefighters have still not been able to access the warehouse because the fireworks held inside can still explode. China's first domestically built aircraft carrier sailed into Hong Kong on Thursday, just days after the city marked 28 years under Chinese rule. Commissioned in 2019, the more than 300-metre (1,000-foot) Shandong is China's second carrier and key to the country's regional ambitions under President Xi Jinping, who oversaw a massive naval buildup that has rattled Asian neighbours.Beijing earlier announced the Shandong and its escort vessels -- which include the destroyer Zhanjiang and frigate Yuncheng -- will visit the Chinese finance hub for five days and host "tours and cultural exchange activities". The flotilla was spotted early on Thursday morning sailing off the southern coast of Hong Kong island. US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mignon Houston on Wednesday (local time) said that India is an "essential partner" for Washington in the Indo-Pacific region, as talks continue for a bilateral trade agreement between the two nations.Speaking to ANI, Houston underlined the United States' aim of establishing a "fair and reciprocal" trade relationship with its partners, in line with the Trump administration's "America First" agenda."We want trade that is fair and reciprocal. Working closely, India is an essential partner in the Indo-Pacific and the Quad. We expect that all our partners understand why this is so important to the 'America First' agenda, that we look for trade policies that have a fairness, reciprocal, balanced way to ensure that all parties benefit," Houston told ANI.She defended the Trump administration's decision to impose tariffs, saying unfair trade practices had harmed American farmers and industries. Siemens AG has received a notice from the U.S. government saying that export restrictions on chip design software for China have been lifted, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday.
Rescuers on Thursday were searching for 43 people missing in rough seas overnight after a ferry carrying 65 people sank near Indonesia's resort island of Bali.The KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya sank almost half an hour after leaving East Java's Ketapang port late Wednesday, the National Search and Rescue Agency said in a statement. It was bound for Bali's Gilimanuk port, a 50-kilometer (30-mile) trip.The ferry carried 53 passengers, 12 crew members and 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks, it said.Two bodies have been recovered and 20 were rescued, many of them unconscious after drifting in choppy waters for hours, said Banyuwangi police chief Rama Samtama Putra.Nine boats, including two tug boats and two inflatable boats have been searching for the missing people since Wednesday night, battling waves up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) high in the overnight darkness. India and Ghana have elevated their ties to the level of comprehensive partnership, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirming that New Delhi is a co-traveller in the African nation's development journey.Modi made the remarks on Wednesday after holding wide-ranging talks with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama.In his media statement, Prime Minister Modi said both sides have set a target of doubling the two-way trade in the next five years and that India is not just a partner but a co-traveller in Ghana's development journey.The delegation-level meeting between the two leaders took place hours after Modi arrived in this capital city of the West African country on the first leg of his five-nation tour.In a special gesture, the prime minister was received at the airport by President Mahama. It is the first prime ministerial visit from India to Ghana in three decades. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Wednesday conferred with 'The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana', the country's national honour, for his "distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership".Modi received the award from the Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama."Honoured to be conferred with 'The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana'," the prime minister said in an X post.In his acceptance speech, Modi said the award was a matter of great pride and honour for him."I humbly accept the award on behalf of the 140 crore Indians," he said, dedicating it to the aspirations and bright future of the youth of the two countries, their rich cultural traditions and diversity, and the historical ties between Ghana and India."This honour is also a responsibility; to keep working towards stronger India-Ghana friendship. India will always stand with the people of Ghana and continue to contribute as a trusted friend and development partner," he said in an X post.
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