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FirstUp: King Charles to deliver ‘Speech from the Throne' in Canada and other headlines today

FirstUp: King Charles to deliver ‘Speech from the Throne' in Canada and other headlines today

First Post26-05-2025

King Charles is set to address the opening of Canada's new parliamentary session today, marking the first time a British monarch has delivered the speech since 1977. The address takes place as US President Donald Trump continues to suggest that Canada could become the 51st American state. Meanwhile, Nicusor Dan will formally assume office as Romania's new president during a joint session of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate at the Palace of Parliament read more
Canada is still a part of the British Commonwealth, with King Charles serving as the official head of state. Reuters/File Photo
King Charles will deliver the 'Speech from the Throne' today to open the new session of Parliament in Canada. This will be the first time a British monarch has given the speech since 1977.
What else is planned for today?
Nicusor Dan will formally take over as Romania's new president during a joint session of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate at the Palace of Parliament.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reach Gujarat, where he will attend several events in Dahod, Bhuj, Vadodara and Gandhinagar.
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India will begin talks for a free trade agreement with Chile, a country rich in minerals, today in New Delhi.
Let's take a look at the events:
King Charles to deliver 'Speech from the Throne'
King Charles is set to give a speech today to open the new session of Parliament in Canada, as US President Donald Trump continues to make repeated remarks suggesting the country could become the 51st American state.
This visit would mark the first time since 1977 that a British monarch would deliver the so-called 'Speech from the Throne.'
This will be the first time a British monarch has given the speech since 1977. Reuters/File Photo
Although Canada's government is led by Prime Minister Carney, the country is still a part of the British Commonwealth, with King Charles serving as the official head of state.
Ties between the royal family and the Canadian government run deep. Carney's brother, Sean, is the chief operating officer at Kensington Palace, the official residence of Charles's son and heir, Prince William.
It is rare for a monarch to deliver this speech in Canada. Queen Elizabeth, Charles's mother, did so only twice during her 70-year reign, first in 1957 and again in 1977 during her Silver Jubilee, when she opened the third session of the 30th Parliament.
Inauguration ceremony of Romania's new president
Nicusor Dan will officially take office as Romania's new president today, during a joint session of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate at the Palace of Parliament.
Final results from the presidential vote showed Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, winning 53.6% against hard-right contender George Simion, who was seen as the frontrunner in the run-off after gaining momentum in the first round with nationalist messaging.
After taking the oath, Dan will go to the Cotroceni Palace, where he will be welcomed by outgoing president Ilie Bolojan.
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Nicusor Dan will officially take office as Romania's new president today. Reuters/File Photo
A formal handover will be held outside, followed by a private meeting between the two leaders inside the palace.
Sunday's vote came after months of uncertainty, triggered by the annulment of the previous election, an event that had plunged the country into its worst political crisis in decades.
PM Modi likely to visit Gujarat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reach Gujarat on May 26 in his first visit since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor on May 7.
After arriving at Vadodara airport around 10 am on Monday, he is scheduled to take part in events across Dahod, Bhuj, Vadodara and Gandhinagar, officials said.
In Dahod, the Prime Minister will visit a railway locomotive manufacturing unit and launch India's first 9,000 horsepower engine made at the facility. The unit has been built with an investment of Rs 20,000 crore, according to a Gujarat government release.
He will also visit the Mata Ashapura Temple at Mata No Madh in Lakhpat taluka. Reuters/File Photo
From there, he will head to the Kutch district to speak at a public meeting near Bhuj, on Mirzapar Road.
He will also visit the Mata Ashapura Temple at Mata No Madh in Lakhpat taluka, the statement said.
India, Chile to begin free trade talks
India will begin talks today for a free trade agreement with Chile, a country rich in minerals, in New Delhi.
The two sides reaffirmed their aim to strengthen bilateral ties and are looking forward to productive discussions during the first round of talks from May 26 to 30, the commerce ministry said in a statement on Friday.
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While trade in goods between the two countries stood at around $2.7 billion in 2023-24, both expect this to rise sharply, driven by Chile's reserves of copper, lithium and other key minerals required for India's industrial and green energy goals.
With inputs from agencies

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John Hancock: America's unsung founding father and revolutionary mark
John Hancock: America's unsung founding father and revolutionary mark

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John Hancock: America's unsung founding father and revolutionary mark

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All-party Parliamentary delegation wraps up US trip, highlights India's anti-terror resolve
All-party Parliamentary delegation wraps up US trip, highlights India's anti-terror resolve

First Post

timean hour ago

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All-party Parliamentary delegation wraps up US trip, highlights India's anti-terror resolve

The delegation, which was led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, was on the final stage of a multi-nation journey to inform key interlocutors on Operation Sindoor read more A multi-party delegation of India, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, during an interaction with members of the Indian community, in USA. PTI The all-party Parliamentary delegation concluded its tour to the United States by meeting with US Vice President JD Vance and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, among other political and diplomatic figures, to emphasise India's strong determination to tackle terrorism coming from Pakistan. The delegation, which was led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, was on the final stage of a multi-nation journey to inform key interlocutors on Operation Sindoor, which India launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist assault that killed 26 people. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The delegation was one of seven multi-party delegations entrusted by India with visiting 33 worldwide capitals to raise awareness of Pakistan's links to terrorism. The delegation arrived in the US capital on June 3 and over the course of three days held a wide array of meetings on Capitol Hill as well as in Washington, briefing the American government officials as well as lawmakers about India's stance on cross-border terrorism. The Indian team met Vice President Vance, Landau, House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) leadership, India Caucus leadership and Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders and also held meetings and interactions with a host of US Congressmen, think tanks, policy experts, media as well as members of the Indian-American community. Tharoor described the meeting with Vance at the White House for about 25 minutes on Thursday as 'an excellent meeting,' and said the vice president was 'warm and welcoming and receptive.' 'Vance expressed complete understanding, first of all, outrage of what happened in Pahalgam and support and respect for India's restrained response in Operation Sindoor,' Tharoor told PTI after that meeting. After the delegation met Landau on Friday, a statement by State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that the Deputy Secretary of State 'reaffirmed the United States' strong support of India in the fight against terrorism and the strategic partnership between the two countries.' 'We discussed the US-India strategic relationship, including expanding trade and commercial ties to foster growth and prosperity for both countries,' Landau said. The Indian Embassy said in a statement that during the meeting with Landau, the delegation briefed him on the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, discussed India's subsequent Operation Sindoor, and put forth India's firm resolve to counter cross-border terrorism in all its forms. On the last day of the delegation's scheduled meetings, the delegation oaid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue opposite the Indian Embassy here. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'It is striking how many world capitals are adorned with statues or busts of the Mahatma, the 20th century's greatest apostle of peace, nonviolence, and human freedom,' Tharoor posted on X afterwards. The team, which had arrived from India in New York on May 24, had travelled to Guyana, Panama, Colombia and Brazil before arriving in Washington for the last leg of the tour. The other members of the delegation were Sarfaraz Ahmad (JMM), Ganti Harish Madhur Balayogi (TDP), Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Tejasvi Surya (BJP) and India's former Ambassador to the US Taranjit Sandhu. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. The on-ground hostilities from Indian and Pakistan sides that lasted for four days ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD diplomatic figures, to emphasise India's strong determination to tackle terrorism coming from Pakistan. The delegation, which was led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, was on the final stage of a multi-nation journey to inform key interlocutors on Operation Sindoor, which India launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist assault that killed 26 people. The delegation was one of seven multi-party delegations entrusted by India with visiting 33 worldwide capitals to raise awareness of Pakistan's links to terrorism. The delegation arrived in the US capital on June 3 and over the course of three days held a wide array of meetings on Capitol Hill as well as in Washington, briefing the American government officials as well as lawmakers about India's stance on cross-border terrorism. The Indian team met Vice President Vance, Landau, House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) leadership, India Caucus leadership and Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders and also held meetings and interactions with a host of US Congressmen, think tanks, policy experts, media as well as members of the Indian-American community. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tharoor described the meeting with Vance at the White House for about 25 minutes on Thursday as 'an excellent meeting,' and said the vice president was 'warm and welcoming and receptive.' 'Vance expressed complete understanding, first of all, outrage of what happened in Pahalgam and support and respect for India's restrained response in Operation Sindoor,' Tharoor told PTI after that meeting. After the delegation met Landau on Friday, a statement by State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that the Deputy Secretary of State 'reaffirmed the United States' strong support of India in the fight against terrorism and the strategic partnership between the two countries.' 'We discussed the US-India strategic relationship, including expanding trade and commercial ties to foster growth and prosperity for both countries,' Landau said. The Indian Embassy said in a statement that during the meeting with Landau, the delegation briefed him on the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, discussed India's subsequent Operation Sindoor, and put forth India's firm resolve to counter cross-border terrorism in all its forms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On the last day of the delegation's scheduled meetings, the delegation oaid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue opposite the Indian Embassy here. 'It is striking how many world capitals are adorned with statues or busts of the Mahatma, the 20th century's greatest apostle of peace, nonviolence, and human freedom,' Tharoor posted on X afterwards. The team, which had arrived from India in New York on May 24, had travelled to Guyana, Panama, Colombia and Brazil before arriving in Washington for the last leg of the tour. The other members of the delegation were Sarfaraz Ahmad (JMM), Ganti Harish Madhur Balayogi (TDP), Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Tejasvi Surya (BJP) and India's former Ambassador to the US Taranjit Sandhu. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. The on-ground hostilities from Indian and Pakistan sides that lasted for four days ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

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