logo
Breaking News Live Updates: "Excellent discussions": All-Party delegation wraps up Saudi visit with focus on terrorism and strategic ties

Breaking News Live Updates: "Excellent discussions": All-Party delegation wraps up Saudi visit with focus on terrorism and strategic ties

Time of Indiaa day ago

30 May 2025 | 07:14:39 AM IST
Breaking News Live Updates: The all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda in Saudi Arabia informed that they held discussions with Saudi officials, policy think tanks, the media, and members of the Indian diaspora over two days in Riyadh. Breaking News Live Updates: The all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda in Saudi Arabia informed that they held discussions with Saudi officials, policy think tanks, the media, and members of the Indian diaspora over two days in Riyadh."We have had excellent discussions in Saudi Arabia. This is the third country that our delegation visited, and we had two full days of discussions with senior government officials, with think tanks who play the role of shaping policy in Saudi Arabia, with the media, and the Indian diaspora," Panda told ANI on Thursday (local time).Panda said discussions were open and direct, especially on terrorism, where both countries share a zero-tolerance stance.He added, "We have had free and frank discussions about the terrorism challenge we have been facing. Saudi Arabia has a policy of zero-tolerance towards terrorism, like us. PM Narendra Modi was here when the terrorist attack happened and the joint statement given by the two governments made it very clear that there is no tolerance for any kind of terrorism." Show more US Under Secretary of Defence Elbridge Colby pots on 'X': "It was great to meet today with India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Deputy NSA Pavan Kapoor. The US-India alliance is on fundamentally strong ground based on shared interests and mutual respect. We here at DOD are striving hard to elevate defense cooperation as part of this critical partnership." A US federal appeals court has temporarily reinstated President Donald Trump's broad 'Liberation Day' tariffs, just one day after a lower trade court ruled he had unlawfully invoked emergency powers to impose them. While the ruling restores the White House's leverage for now, legal experts say a longer battle looms. Trump's administration is expected to pursue alternative authorities if the appeal fails. Businesses and foreign governments remain cautious as tariff-related uncertainty continues to impact trade and global markets.
Read full story here
An unpredictable trade war and daunting environmental targets are on the agenda for global airline bosses at an annual summit in India, as the industry's outlook is clouded by concerns that geopolitical uncertainty will dampen travel demand and raise costs.More people are flying than ever before after a full post-pandemic passenger market recovery, but airlines globally are facing rising cost pressures, extended plane delivery delays, lingering supply chain bottlenecks and falling airfares.On top of this, President Donald Trump's evolving trade war has upended the global aerospace industry's decades-old tariff-free status and added a new layer of volatility and risk.While carriers in Europe and Asia report strong demand for flying, the U.S. airline sector has been hit by a recent slump in travel demand, with carriers struggling to forecast passenger behaviour and operational costs. India's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Anil Chauhan is in Singapore for the 22nd Shangri La Dialogue, one of the biggest defence fora being held here from Friday to Sunday.During the crucial dialogue, Gen Chauhan will speak on the 'Future Wars and Warfare' on Saturday. He will then participate in the simultaneous special sessions and speak on the topic 'Defence Innovation Solutions for Future Challenges'.Gen Chauhan is also scheduled to hold bilaterals with senior defence officials and military leaders from Australia, the EU, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, the UK, and the US, officials said. U.S. federal authorities are investigating an effort to impersonate White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.The report said Wiles had told associates that some of her cellphone contacts had been hacked, allowing the impersonator to access private phone numbers.The incident affected her personal phone, not her government phone, the report said.The Journal reported that in recent weeks, senators, governors, top U.S. business executives and other figures received messages and calls from a person who claimed to be Wiles, citing the people familiar with the messages. The all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda in Saudi Arabia informed that they held discussions with Saudi officials, policy think tanks, the media, and members of the Indian diaspora over two days in Riyadh."We have had excellent discussions in Saudi Arabia. This is the third country that our delegation visited, and we had two full days of discussions with senior government officials, with think tanks who play the role of shaping policy in Saudi Arabia, with the media, and the Indian diaspora," Panda told ANI on Thursday (local time).Panda said discussions were open and direct, especially on terrorism, where both countries share a zero-tolerance stance.He added, "We have had free and frank discussions about the terrorism challenge we have been facing. Saudi Arabia has a policy of zero-tolerance towards terrorism, like us. PM Narendra Modi was here when the terrorist attack happened and the joint statement given by the two governments made it very clear that there is no tolerance for any kind of terrorism."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Macron touts 'positive new' Asia-Europe alliance amid US-China rivalry
Macron touts 'positive new' Asia-Europe alliance amid US-China rivalry

Business Standard

time8 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

Macron touts 'positive new' Asia-Europe alliance amid US-China rivalry

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on European and Asian nations to work together to build a "positive new alliance" to avoid being dragged into the growing rivalry between the US and China. Addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Macron singled out the China-US rivalry as the biggest risk confronting the world. France's longstanding goal for Europe's strategic autonomy is also relevant for Asian countries, which share many of the same interests and can combine forces with like-minded European partners as they seek a third way, Macron said in the speech on Friday. The time for non-alignment has undoubtedly passed, but the time for coalitions of action has come and requires that countries capable of acting together give themselves every means to do so, Macron said in his keynote address. Let's build a positive new alliance between Europe and Asia, based on our common norms, on our common principles. Our shared responsibility is to ensure with others that our countries are not collateral victims of the imbalances linked to the choices made by the superpowers, the leader of Europe's second-largest economy added. We have a challenge of revisionist countries that want to impose under the name of spheres of influence in reality, spheres of coercion; countries that want to control areas from the fringe of Europe to the archipelagos in the South China Sea, at the exclusion of regional partners, oblivious to international law, Macron said. Macron pointed out that France is an Indo-Pacific nation as seven of its offshore territories sit in the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific, with a million French citizens living in this region. Macron said that the unpredictability of Trump's tariff approach that ended a rule-based order for our trade constitutes a common threat to Europe and Asia, affecting these nations' ability to finance their defence, requiring their greater cohesion. France is a friend and an ally of the United States, and is a friendand we do cooperate if sometimes we disagree and competewith China, he said. We don't want to be instructed on a daily basis what is allowed, what is not allowed, and how our life will change because of the decision of a single person. The dialogue also included US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and defence and security leaders from around the world. Hegseth, meanwhile, asked Asian countries to increase their defence spending to match levels that Washington expects of European allies. It is hard to believe I can say this but Asian allies and partners should look to countries in Europe as a new-found example. NATO members are pledging to spend 5 per cent of their GDP on defence, even Germany, he said. Hegseth had communicated to European allies this expectation at the Munich Security Conference in February. How can it make sense for countries in Europe to do that while key allies and partners in Asia spend far less in the face of a far more formidable threat from Communist China, not to mention North Korea? he asked. The global forum is being skipped by China by not sending its Defence Minister. Defence experts and diplomatic sources said the absence of a Chinese Ministerial representation at the Singapore Dialogue is being felt as China had last year and on several other occasions traded strong words with the US delegates. Hegseth underlined, Ultimately, a strong, resolute, and capable network of allies and partners is our key strategic advantage. China envies what we have together. President Donald Trump has been calling on US allies to bear a greater responsibility for their conventional defences, telling the nations in the South China region not to expect the US to bear the financial burden alone for regional stability and security. For a generation, the US ignored the Indo-Pacific, but under the Trump administration, we are here to stay, Hegseth said.

Delhi govt to present 100-day report card to Delhiites today
Delhi govt to present 100-day report card to Delhiites today

Hans India

time12 minutes ago

  • Hans India

Delhi govt to present 100-day report card to Delhiites today

The Delhi government will present a detailed account of its achievements under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a public event at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday, marking the completion of its first 100 days in power. The event is expected to serve both as a celebration of progress and a platform to engage with citizens, inviting feedback and suggestions for future governance. The BJP government, which took office in February, marked the 100-day milestone on Friday by unveiling a 22-page workbook titled 'Kaam Karne Wali Sarkar -- 100 Din Seva Ke' at the Delhi Secretariat. Cabinet ministers Ashish Sood, Kapil Mishra, and Ravinder Indraj Singh were present during the launch of the document, which outlines key initiatives rolled out since the administration came to power. For the BJP, which returned to power in Delhi after a gap of over 27 years, the workbook serves not only as a summary of completed tasks but also as a statement of intent. The workbook details a wide range of efforts in sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and welfare. It includes a Rs 1 lakh crore budget allocation for the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, a Rs 5,100 crore provision for a Rs 2,500 monthly assistance scheme aimed at supporting underprivileged women, and the introduction of the Vay Vandana Yojana, which provides free healthcare for senior citizens. The government also emphasised its commitment to transparency by tabling the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports in the Assembly. Chief Minister Gupta described the completion of 100 days as a moment of "decisive" and "impactful" governance. She emphasised that the administration had worked tirelessly every day in service of Delhi's two crore residents. She noted that the workbook is a documentation not only of promises made but also of promises fulfilled. Taking to X on Saturday, CM Gupta said, "When you gave me the opportunity to serve Delhi, it was not just a responsibility but a resolve to have politics centred on public service, and policies that are for public welfare." "In these 100 days, we have worked effectively towards realising every promise. Our priority was clear -- a development that can be seen as well as felt. Cleanliness, security, women empowerment and e-governance -- on every front, our endeavour has been to make Delhi a strong, safe and inclusive capital," she added. Gupta credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for guiding the government's actions. "This has been possible only due to the inspiration, guidance and vision of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas' of respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The trust of the people of Delhi is my biggest strength. The foundation of change has been laid, the pace of development will not stop now," she said. Reaffirming her government's commitment to sustained progress, she added, "Delhi will now continue to move forward with the resolve of good governance and service."

15% of Army's time during Operation Sindoor went into countering fake narratives: CDS General Anil Chauhan
15% of Army's time during Operation Sindoor went into countering fake narratives: CDS General Anil Chauhan

Time of India

time15 minutes ago

  • Time of India

15% of Army's time during Operation Sindoor went into countering fake narratives: CDS General Anil Chauhan

NEW DELHI: Noting the high influx of fake news during , Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan said that 15% of armed forces' time went into countering those narratives, ANI reported on Saturday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Combating fake news was a constant effort. Our communication strategy was deliberate; we chose to be measured, not reactive, because misinformation can quickly distort public perception during high-stakes operations," General Chauhan said speaking on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue. According to CDS, India's strategy for managing narratives should prioritize verified facts and credible evidence, even if it results in a more measured or delayed public response. "India has always built its narratives on solid ground, even if we've sometimes been slow to present them. For instance, in the first three days, two women officers were our primary spokespeople because the actual military leadership were directly engaged in fast-moving operations. It was only after the 10th that the DGMOs came forward to brief the media," he said. "As someone directly involved in these operations, I can say that cyber did play a role in the conflict, but its impact was limited. While both sides did experience attacks, including some denial-of-service efforts, our military systems are air-gapped, meaning they're not connected to the internet and are therefore largely secure. Attacks on public-facing platforms like school websites may have occurred, but they did not affect operational systems," he added. During a press briefing during the operation, foreign secretary Vikram Misri had criticised Pakistan for spreading disinformation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'The claims that they have made about attacking various military installations are completely false. The claim about the air station in Sirsa being destroyed completely false. The claim about the air station in Surat—completely false.... These are lies about critical infrastructure, power systems and cyberstructures. I urge all who watch this not to be misled by the tissue of lies being peddled by Pakistan,' he had said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store