LS Speaker holds talks with Portuguese delegation on Op Sindoor
Brasilia [Brazil], June 3 (ANI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and the Indian delegation on Tuesday arrived in Lisbon, where he held talks with Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, President of the Assembleia da Republica of Portugal on strengthening bilateral ties between both countries.
Birla also met with the Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment of Tuvalu, Maina Talia who strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
'Had a productive meeting with H.E. Mr. Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, President of the Assembleia da Republica of Portugal, in Lisbon today. Highlighted the imperative of strengthening our bilateral ties in light of evolving global challenges. We also identified significant potential for collaboration in critical sectors such as renewable energy, digital technology, and defence manufacturing. Shared insights on how India is leveraging technology, including AI, for transparent, efficient, and people-centric legislative processes. Extended an invitation to Portuguese legislators and officials to benefit from Lok Sabha Secretariat programmes for capacity building. Firmly reiterated India's 'Zero Tolerance' stance on terrorism and called upon all nations to unite in this crucial fight,' Birla stated in a post on X.
https://x.com/ombirlakota/status/1929654677508944001
Birla said that time has now come for the global community to act against institutions who support such acts of terror.
'Met Dr. Maina Talia, Hon'ble Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change & Environment of Tuvalu in Lisbon today. Discussed our excellent bilateral relations, including India's ongoing development partnership projects in Tuvalu. Tuvalu expressed strong condemnation of terrorist attacks in Jammu & Kashmir. Time has come for the global community to act decisively against all individuals and organisations, both state and non-state, that support and promote such acts of terror,' Birla said.
https://x.com/ombirlakota/status/1929549031836942492
Birla arrived in Lisbon on Monday where he said he looked forward to strengthening India-Portugal ties.
'Arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, en route to Brasilia. Our nations share a deep commitment to values of democracy and the rule of law, benefiting our citizens and promoting a better world. Looking forward to meeting H.E. Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, President of the Assembleia da Republica, and strengthening India-Portugal parliamentary ties,' he said.
https://x.com/ombirlakota/status/1929500064726106330
Birla met Tuvalu's Minister of Home, Climate, Culture and other departments, Maina Talia. Many important topics were discussed in detail between the two countries in the bilateral talks. Tuvalu strongly condemned Pahalgam terror attack, says India's action is justified. Tuvalu was among the first countries to condemn Pahalgam terror attack, and Birla gave detailed information about India's Operation Sindoor, an official statement said.
Birla reiterated PM Modi's strong message, that trade and relations with terrorist supporting countries will end. He added that the world community needs to stand together on one platform against terrorism.
Increasing mutual diplomatic and strategic cooperation was discussed in the bilateral talks. Both countries are also considering setting up an Indian Embassy in Tuvalu, the statement added.
Birla also talked about expanding cooperation under FIPIC (Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation) with Tuvalu. Offers education, training and digital support to Tuvalu youth through parliamentary body PRIDE.
He said that Tuvalu has become a special partner country for India since the launch of FIPIC. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
New normal amid a new cold war
The effect of Donald Trump's return to the White House is being felt in capitals all over the world. At the recently-concluded Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the spectre of a new cold war rose once again to dominate discussions. In his ASEAN chairman's statement, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim categorically asserted the return of a cold war to systemic interstate relations. The reference does not augur well for the ASEAN, which has been trying to build resilience within while maintaining a degree of balance between the US and China. The second important aspect of this year's dialogue has been the tough stand India has placed on its recent military stand-off with Pakistan following the devastating terror attack at Pahalgam. The subsequent Indian political and military action against Pakistan has highlighted what the political leadership is calling the 'new normal', signalling that tolerance has its limits. Both these indicated a changed environment at the Shangri-La Dialogue, especially as they implied certain defining shifts. First, the very definition of the term 'cold war' and how this period will be different from the earlier cold war. Second, the Trump administration's impact on the wider Indo-Pacific and what it expects from the region vis-á-vis the US-China rivalry. Third, the choices for ASEAN states, particularly in light of the extending US-China rivalry. And finally, how this affects the role India plays within multilateral forums and how India's definition of the new normal affects the region. First, the reference to a new cold war is not new. Even during the first Trump term, a National Security Strategy paper released by the administration in November 2017 clearly reiterated that the foremost threats to American interests and leadership in the global order were from China and Russia, articulating the tensions at systemic levels.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
We were there to explain India's 'new normal': Jay Panda on global outreach campaign
BJP MP Jay Panda, who headed the global outreach delegations on Operation Sindoor which visited Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Algeria, talked about the message they sent across and how it was received by the countries. When asked about what was your message to strategic partners like Saudi Arabia and how was your message received by other Islamic countries through this visit since Pakistan continues to play the Muslim card? Jay Panda said, "Our message was very clear. Our message is that we've gone through this same cycle of terrorism for 78 years. Pakistan sending cross-border terrorists and the whole cycle, the whole rigmarole, provoking attacks and nuclear blackmail. And so we were there to explain the new normal, new India's new normal, which is that we will retaliate and we will specifically target terrorist bases."
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Economics, EdTech, and the illusion of learning
In the late 1970s, when I was hesitantly moving to be a so- called 'research student', I had all kinds of doubts and apprehensions, as the decision on the ' trade-off ' was too difficult, given the state of job opportunities those days. India today is a different India, where income opportunities are aplenty, though the so-called 'jobs' may be fewer. Seeing my hesitation and doubts, my research supervisor advised me,'… do try to get a good Ph.D. in Economics, and try to fool others'. More recently, as I sit on several interview boards, the Economics guys, who come before me, prove it the other way! It so happened that, last week, I had such an occasion, when I found a post-graduate from a premier institution (of great legacy), who has not even heard of the classical and neoclassical theories in Economics! But, surprisingly, he claimed to be adept in a few data processing software such as SAS and MATLAB, as well as open-source options like R and Python! The NEP 2020 aims to reform the education system by promoting holistic learning, critical thinking, and a focus on experiential learning. A theory, in a general sense, is a well-supported explanation of why or how things happen, based on observations and evidence, often developed through ongoing inquiry. While theory arises from enquiries on existing or perceived phenomena, how can one manage even without the framework within which the past generation approached the sciences? The simple answer often pointed out is that such deep learning is not of practical use. Education as information refilling The idea that educational institutions in India are primarily 'information refilling stations' is a common critique, suggesting they focus on rote memorization and standardized testing rather than fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The 'information refilling model' in education refers to the process of regularly updating and enriching students' knowledge and skills, often through diverse learning experiences and engaging with new information. It's a shift away from static, rote learning towards a dynamic, active learning environment where students are constantly acquiring and applying new knowledge. While traditional curricula may emphasize knowledge acquisition, many institutions are also actively working to promote a more holistic approach to learning, encouraging creativity, innovation, and research; but they are a rare species! Today, all-India recruitments, such as civil services and scientist recruitment, are running on these lines. While the 'information refilling' model may reflect some aspects of the Indian education system, it is an oversimplification. Many institutions are working towards a more holistic and innovative approach, but challenges remain in addressing the pressure of standardized testing and fostering critical thinking skills. The statement, 'people who have money can afford the educational refilling stations' highlights a disparity in access to education based on financial resources. Educational refilling stations, which could refer to supplementary educational services like tutoring, enrichment programs, or private schools, are often more costly than basic public education. What is the motive for such refilling? Of course, the spot price and futures price are displayed by the so-called 'edushops' through their advertisements. And surprisingly, people invest in advanced courses in Economics, Management, and hybrids like Public Policy, without understanding their basic economics! 'Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink', goes the saying. To state that 'information illiteracy is the lack of knowledge as to how information can be used in productive activities' is a good starting point, but it's not quite complete. Information illiteracy is more than just lack of knowledge; it encompasses the inability to effectively find, evaluate, and use information to achieve personal, educational, or professional goals. If so, why should one spend his/her hard-earned money on education? It is high time legacy institutions in Economics and Management come forward, address the reality, and come out with innovative solutions. (Views are personal. The author, Senior Fellow & Director, Institute of Small Enterprises and Development, is a senior economist. (email: director@
