Hyderabad, May 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) A student from Telangana, pursuing his masters from a university in the US, has been reported missing in Chicago for a week, as per his family.

The Consulate General of India in Chicago said, in a post on X, that it was deeply concerned to learn that Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi has been incommunicado since May 2.

It said it was in touch with the police and Indian diaspora to locate/reestablish contact with Chintakindi.

Chintakindi had gone to the US in December 2023 and was pursuing a master's degree from Concordia University in Wisconsin City.

Chicago police have also issued a statement about the student, urging residents to provide any information about him.

Chintakindi hails from Warangal district and his family is worried about his whereabouts.

It has requested the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian embassy in the US to help trace him.

According to his family members, he was in regular touch with them. His father Sadanandam said he last spoke to him through a WhatsApp call on May 2, and Chintakindi told him that he was busy with some work.

Later, Sadanandam tried to reach him but he remained offline.

After waiting for two days, Chintakindi’s family members contacted his roommates. They informed him that he left the room on April 30 saying he was going to meet someone from Texas who had come to meet him. He told them that he would return in two days but did not return.

At the family’s request, his roommates lodged a complaint with Chicago police.

Sadanandam approached Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, who wrote a letter to the Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, seeking assistance to trace the missing student.

Last month, a student from Hyderabad, who had been missing since March 7, was found dead in the US city of Cleveland. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, pursuing his master's degree in Information Technology at Cleveland University, Ohio, had not been in touch with the family since March 7 and his family here had received a ransom call.

Source: IANS

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Washington, April 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a grim first for Indians studying in US colleges and universities, a first-year student took his own life in March while playing, it is understood, a macabre online game of dares called the "Blue Whale Challenge", which has also been called the "suicide game".

The 20-year-old, who will remain unnamed here in deference to his family's wishes, was a first-year student of the University of Massachusetts. He was found dead on March 8.

Gregg Miliote, a spokesperson for the Bristol County District Attorney said the case is being investigated as "apparent suicide".

This death was widely reported as a murder in which the student was misidentified as enrolled in Boston University and was said to have been robbed and that the body was found in a car in a jungle.

The Boston Globe newspaper subsequently identified the student by name.

But while this agency will not name him in respect of his family's wishes, the cause of death by suicide while playing this dangerous game which is known to prey on teens and young adults around the world, needs to be reported as a cautionary incident for Indian students and teens in India and abroad and parents.

The "Blue Whale Challenge" is an online game in which participants are given a dare to perform and these dares become increasingly more difficult over 50 steps.

This student from India's fatal challenge was holding his breath for two minutes, according to official sources.

This may be the first instance of a Blue Whale challenge fatality for India.

The Indian government had wanted to ban this game years ago but settled for a more detailed advisory instead.

"Blue whale game (The suicide game) is abetment to suicide," said the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in the advisory issued in 2017, a year after the emergence of the game.

"It is understood through various internet reports that it is shared among secretive groups on social media networks. The creators seek out their players/victims who are in depression and send them an invitation to join. The basis of the challenge is that an anonymous 'group administrator', otherwise known as 'the curator', hands out 50 tasks to selected 'players' that must be completed, documented and posted during a 50-day period. Players of the challenge can't stop playing once they've started; they are blackmailed and cyber bullied into completing the 'game' instead."

Asked specifically about the student's death in this game, Miliote said, "Have no info about this. Case is being investigated as an apparent suicide. Awaiting medical examiner's final conclusions before case is closed out. This was on March 22. There has been no response to requests for an update. He did not respond to a text and a voice call message on Friday."

Many Blue Whale Challenge deaths were reported in Russia in 2015-2017.

According to reports the game is played on social media platforms. It involves an administrator and a participant. The administrator assigns one task a day for a 50-day period. The tasks are innocuous enough in the beginning, but they are progressively harder with self-harm coming in the final stages.

Source: IANS

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Kozhikode (Kerala), April 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Fatima, mother of Abdul Rahim, who is on death row in Saudi Arabia, cannot hide her happiness as a staggering Rs 30 crore, of blood money to save him from execution, has been raised through crowdfunding.

Abdul Rahim requires another Rs 4 crore as a court in Saudi Arabia ruled in October last year that if he pays Rs 34 crore as blood money to the family of the victim, then he will be free. The last date for the payment of the blood money is April 18.

His house here is buzzing with activity after Fatima last month issued a passionate plea seeking help from all to save her son.

First, the local mosques came to her support and soon when the media took it up, an action committee to save the life of Abdul Rahim was formed and an app seeking contributions from all kind-hearted souls from across the globe was created.

"On March 19, we were able to raise only Rs 1 crore and on Friday, we touched Rs 30.11 crore. At the moment, we have decided to stop as it was decided to do an audit. We will resume it again later in the day and given the fantastic response that we saw, we are confident we will be able to achieve the target and Abdul Rahim and his mother will be able to meet soon," a representative of the group behind this crowdfunding venture said.

An auto driver here, Abdul Rahim was drawn to the Gulf to make more money. He reached Saudi Arabia in 2006 and got a job as a personal driver-cum-care taker of a 15-year-old physically challenged boy, who also had a medical ailment where he breathed through an external device connected to his body.

The boy, according to Abdul Rahim, misbehaved with him while he was driving and as he was trying to quieten him, his hand accidentally touched the external medical device and it fell down and the boy died.

A court in Saudi Arabia sentenced him for murder and the appeal court upheld this verdict in 2022, a decision later confirmed by the country’s Supreme Court.

Then following numerous discussions with the Saudi family, they settled for blood money and the last date for it is April 18.

An elated Fatima thanked each and every one who came to her support.

"I just cannot describe what I am feeling now as something which we felt might not be achieved is about to be achieved. All I can say is I am thankful to each and everyone," said Fatima, who is eagerly hoping that she can see her son soon.

Source: IANS

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Chandigarh, April (SocialNews.XYZ) With eight lakh Sikhs calling Canada their home, April is observed as Sikh Heritage Month to celebrate the rich history and contributions of the community there.

As per the Canadian encyclopedia, Sikhism is a major world religion that arose from the teachings of Guru Nanak. There are about 27 million Sikhs worldwide, making Sikhism the fifth-largest religion.

“Throughout the month, we’ll feature prominent Sikh Canadians and events related to the Sikh community that had a strong impact on Canadian history,” said Historica Canada, a non-profit Canadian organisation dedicated to enhancing awareness of Canadian history.

According to City of Surrey’s official account on X, "It is an opportunity to remember, celebrate, and educate about the vital role Sikhs have played, and continue to play, in our communities."

This year’s Vaisakhi Parade is on April 20.

The official page of Veterans Affairs Canada says: “Today, we remember Buckam Singh -- one of the first Sikhs in Canada to enlist in our military.”

Son of Badan and Chandi Kaur Singh and husband of Pritam Kaur of Jalandhar, Buckam Singh was in Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment). His enlistment was on April 23, 1915.

Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, said: “Brampton is proud to be home to so many people of Sikh heritage making a tremendous contribution to the success of our city, Ontario and Canada.”

Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society President and CEO Satbir Singh Cheema said that the month of April “is an acknowledgement that gives us the opportunity to celebrate the contributions and efforts of the Sikh community in the past and in the present to make Canada a more inclusive place.”

PICS is a registered non-profit society that has been serving the local community in British Columbia since 1987, providing a broad spectrum of programmes and services that assist new immigrants, seniors, women and youth.

Source: IANS

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United Nations, March 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Kamal Kishore, the head of India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), has been appointed UN Assistant Secretary-General with the disaster risk reduction portfolio.

“Kishore brings to the position nearly three decades of experience in disaster risk reduction, climate action and sustainable development at the global, regional, national and local levels, having worked in government, the United Nations and civil society organisations,” Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday while making the announcement.

In addition to his rank as an Assistant Secretary-General, Kishore will also be the Secreary-General's Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction heading the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

He succeeds Mami Mizutori of Japan.

Dujarric said, “As part of India’s Group of 20 (G20) presidency, he led the G20 Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction and contributed to the development of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, launched by the Prime Minister of India (Narendra Modi) at the Climate Action Summit in 2019.”

Kishore, who as the head of NDMA has the rank of secretary to the government, joined the organisation in 2015.

The Geneva-headquartered UNDRR describes its mission as providing “leadership and support to accelerate global efforts in disaster risk reduction to achieve inclusive sustainable development and the goal of the Sendai Framework with the vision of a world where disaster risks no longer threaten the well-being of people and the future of the planet”.

UNDRR says it has a “ nimble work team of around 120 staff members” and five regional offices around the world.

Kishore is an architect by profession, obtaining his bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology at Roorkee.

He also has a masters in urban planning, land and housing development from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok.

He joins another Indian, Atul Khare, the under-secretary-general for operational support, at the senior management group, the upper echelon of the UN hierarchy, where Pramilla Patten, who is of Indian origin from Mauritius also serves as the special representative on sexual violence in conflict.

Of Kishore's three decades of experience in disaster management and risk reduction, 13 of them were with the UN in New Delhi, Geneva and New York.

As the UN Development Programme’s regional advisor for South and South-West Asia, he provided support to “more than 10 countries on a range of public policy and institutional development issues, while also advising them on the use of appropriate risk reduction tools and methodologies”, according to the NDMA.

He has also helped recovery efforts after major disasters in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, his NDMA profile said.

In India during the Uttarkashi earthquake in 1991 and the Latur earthquake in 1993, he worked with the Action Research Unit for Development (TARU) on post-disaster reconstruction and resettlement.

Before joining the UNDP, Kishore was the director of Information and Research, and the manager of the Extreme Climate Events Programme covering Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam at the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre head-quartered in Bangkok.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) The 22-member crew on the Singapore-flagged container ship, which collided with a bridge in the US Baltimore city early on Tuesday, causing it to collapse, were all Indians and all are safe, as per the shipping company.

"Owners and managers of the Singapore-flagged container ship 'DALI' (IMO 9697428) report that the vessel collided with one of the pillars of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Baltimore whilst under pilotage with two pilots onboard, at approximately 01.30 local time on 26th March," the Synergy Marine Group said in a statement.

"All crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries. There has also been no pollution," it said, listing the crew as "All Indian, 22 in total".

The ship was bound from Baltimore to Colombo.

Whilst the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined, the ‘DALI’ has now mobilised its Qualified Individual Incident response service, it said, adding that the US Coast Guard and local officials have been notified, and the owners and managers are fully cooperating with Federal and State government agencies under an approved plan.

US officials said that the ship crew had reported power issues before the collision and Maryland Governor Wes Moore said they had saved lives by their timely warning, media reports said

Some vehicles and people fell into the water following the collision and a search is on for at least six missing people, as per media reports.

Source: IANS

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Singapore, March 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday met top leaders of Singapore and valued their support for the strategic partnership as he conveyed personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to them.

On a three-day visit to Singapore to cement close ties between both nations, he also met leading corporate figures, who spoke of India's growth story, based on investment experiences.

Dr Jaishankar praised Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's "positive sentiments" on the India-Singapore relationship, which he said, "have always been a source of strength for our ties".

"Honoured to call on Prime Minister @leehsienloong at The Istana. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Valued his perspectives on the current state of the world," the EAM wrote on X.

He also called on Singapore's Indian-origin Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan with whom he "exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific and West Asia".

"Reviewed the progress of our bilateral cooperation. Spoke about preparations for the next ISMR (India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable) meeting. Discussed marking 60 years of our diplomatic ties," Dr Jaishankar said.

Envisioned by Prime Minister Modi, the first ISMR between the two nations, seeking to "deepen existing cooperation and identifying opportunities for collaboration in new and emerging areas", was held in 2022. Following the inaugural meeting, PM Modi conveyed his appreciation and hoped that initiatives like ISMR would help further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Dr Jaishankar also met Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, where perspectives on advancing bilateral ties, especially on new-age technologies, were shared, in addition to views on the evolving global economic situation.

He wrapped up his visit to the Southeast Asian nation after meeting Home Affairs & Law Minister, K Shanmugam, and said that he values the Indian-origin minister's "consistent support for our strategic partnership".

The EAM last visited Singapore in October 2023 to deepen the Strategic Partnership between the two countries, where he met President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Foreign Minister Balakrishnan. After concluding the Singapore visit, EAM Jaishankar will be travelling to Malaysia and The Philippines to engage with them on regional issues of mutual concern.

Source: IANS

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Colombo, March 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) To meet the sharp rise in the cost of construction in Sri Lanka due to the ongoing financial crisis, India would provide up to 50 per cent additional funds to grant projects in the island nation.

High Commissioner of India, Santosh Jha, and Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development and Housing W.S. Sathyananda on Thursday signed and exchanged diplomatic letters to formalise the Indian government's decision to provide an additional grant of SLR (Sri Lankan Rupee) 150 million for the construction of Houses and Infrastructure Facilities in Sobitha Thero Village in Anuradhapura, one of the nine grant projects of India.

"With this, India's total commitment to the project currently stands at SLR 450 million," the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.

With the formalisation of the additional grant amount, 90 houses shall be constructed in the village with the Indian grant.

The project is currently underway and the proposed houses are at various stages of construction.

The project is being executed in collaboration with Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero Commemoration Foundation, the High Commission stated.

The High Commission noted that responding to the drastic changes in the economic landscape of Sri Lanka, the Indian government decided to infuse additional funds into the 9 ongoing grant projects in order to expeditiously complete them, while also minimising the impact of the sharp rise in the cost of construction materials on the original scope of projects.

"The extent of additional funds is up to 50 per cent of the original commitment by India in each of the nine projects," the High Commission said.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, March 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) A student from Hyderabad has gone missing in the US while his family here has received a ransom call.

Mohammed Abdul Arfath, 25, who was pursuing a master's degree in Information Technology at Cleveland University, Ohio, has not been in touch with the family since March 7.

His parents residing in Malkajgiri district near Hyderabad have received a call demanding a ransom of $12,000. The unidentified caller informed them their son had been kidnapped and threatened to sell his kidney.

Arfath went to the US in May 2023. His family claims he has not spoken to them since March 7.

His father, Mohammed Saleem, last week, received a phone call from an unknown person claiming that his son had been kidnapped by a gang selling drugs in Cleveland. The caller demanded the ransom but did not mention the mode of payment.

Saleem informed his relatives in the US, who filed a missing complaint with the Cleveland police, which issued a watch order. According to the order, Arfath was wearing a white T-shirt, a red jacket, and blue jeans.

The family also wrote to the Indian Consulate in Chicago on March 18 to help trace Abdul. Saleem has also appealed to External Affairs S. Jaishankar for help in locating his son.

Source: IANS

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Washington, March 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) Their American dream ended in a pool of their own blood, at their own hand, and at their homes. But the world will never know what drove these Indian-origin families in the US to this extreme step because the police have either closed their investigation or will, as has been the trend.

Anand Sujith Henry, 37, his wife Alice Priyanka Benziger, 38, and their 4-year-old twin children Noah and Neithan were found dead at their home in San Mateo, California on February 13.

The police called it a case of murder-suicide in which Henry killed his wife, their children, and himself.

"We do not yet have an answer towards the motive to share," said Jeanine Luna, Community Relations Officer, San Mateo Police Department, on Monday, almost a month after the discovery of the bodies.

Henry and Benziger came to the US from Kerala for higher studies and stayed on. They were both IT professionals. Henry worked for Google and then Meta before founding his own AI company and she worked for Zillow. Both died of gunshots and the children had either been smothered or poisoned because there were no signs of trauma on their bodies.

A month ago, another Indian-descent family was found dead at their home in Dover, Massachusetts. The police said Rakesh Kamal, 57, had shot his wife Teena Kamal, 54, and their daughter Arianna Kamal, 18, before turning the gun on himself.

The motive appeared to be financial troubles.

Kamal was under a mountain of debt and had been served an eviction notice from their multi-million dollar home.

He had been living it up without the means to support his expensive taste for luxury cars and bespoke suits.

But there are no leads to the motives or reasons for the two Indian-descent families that were found dead at their home in Dublin, Ohio in February 2023.

Rajan Rajaram, 54, had shot himself after killing his wife Santhalatha Rajan, 51, and their son Anish Rajan Rajaram, 19.

Rajaram worked as an engineer for Technosoft Corporation, based in Cincinnati. “This case has been closed and ruled a murder-suicide. The Dublin Police Department does not have any information on a motive per that investigation,” said Rebecca Myers, Public Information Officer for the city of Dublin, Ohio.

Why did Rajaram, who had lived in that house since 1998, take this extreme step?

Another family’s end is headed for a similar blind alley.

Tej Pratap Singh, 43 had killed his wife Sonal Parihar, 42, and their son, 10 and daughter, six.

Singh, a software engineer from Kanpur, and the family came to the US in 2009 and neighbours have recalled them as a nice and happy family.

The bodies were found at their home in Plainsboro, New Jersey.

The police have suggested it was a case of murder-suicide. But why did Singh take this extreme step?

The police "informed me that they are in the process of closing out that investigation. No criminal charges are being filed due to the fact of all parties being deceased", said Brynn Krause, Public Information Officer of Middlesex County prosecutor’s office, which has jurisdiction over the Plainsboro Township Police Department.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian Consulate in New York said on Monday that initial investigations into the death of an Indian student, reportedly found dead in a forest in the US state of Massachusetts last week, have ruled out foul play.

Abhijeeth Paruchuru, from Andhra Pradesh, was a student of Boston University, and his body was found inside an abandoned car by the police, according to local media reports.

Stating that it is "deeply saddened" to learn about Paruchuru's "unfortunate demise", the Consulate wrote on X: "Mr. Puruchuru’s parents, based in Connecticut, are in direct touch with detectives. Initial investigations rule out foul play".

It said it rendered assistance in the documentation and transportation of Puruchuru’s mortal remains to India.

"We remain in touch with local authorities and Indian-American community in the matter," the Consulate posted.

Beginning this year, a series of mysterious deaths have put the focus on the security and safety of Indian students across the US, with the latest incident taking the toll to nine.

The Ministry of External Affairs said earlier this month that its consulates in the US have reached out to Indian students and assured them of all possible assistance in case of any trouble.

"Through our consulates in the US, we have done outreach with our students there, guided them. We have also told them to immediately get in touch with either the embassy or the consulates in case of any trouble or situation so that we can take care of them in a better way," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said.

Asserting that there is no excuse for violence based on race or gender, the White House said in February that the US is working very hard to thwart and disrupt attacks on Indians as well as Indian-origin students. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said that the welfare of Indian students abroad is one of the foremost priorities of the government.

Source: IANS

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United Nations, March 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Calling India "a proud champion of pluralism," India's Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj opposed the establishment of the post of "special envoy" on a special religion at the United Nations today.

This comes as the UN General Assembly adopted the Resolution on “Measures to Combat Islamophobia” which, inter alia, calls for the appointment of a UN Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia.

Explaining India's position during the adoption of the resolution, Ambassador Kamboj said that while the issue of Islamophobia is undoubtedly significant, one must acknowledge that other religions are also facing discrimination.

"Crucial to acknowledge that phobias extend beyond Abrahamic religions...anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, anti-Sikh elements...increasing attacks on Gurudwaras, monasteries, temples.." the Indian envoy to the UN said.

"The destruction of Bamiyan Buddha, violation of Gurudwara premises, massacre of Sikh pilgrims, attacks on temples, glorification of breaking idols in temple contribute to rise of contemporary form of religio-phobia against non-abrahamic religions."

Ambassador Kamboj added that it is crucial to recognise that Hinduism, with over 1.2 billion followers, Buddhism more than 535 million, and Sikhism, with over 30 million followers worldwide, are all subject to religion-based phobia.

"It is time we acknowledge the prevalence of religious phobia rather than just single out one," she added.

Further, the envoy said: "Allocating resources solely to combat Islamophobia, while neglecting similar challenges faced by other kinds might inadvertently perpetuate a sense of exclusion and inequality."

The resolution was reportedly facilitated by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The country's chief diplomat at the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram, had said that Muslims around the world face discrimination, and "bold and decisive actions are needed to counter and combat Islamophobia."

Source: IANS

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Port Louis, March 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday exhorted Mauritian youth to stay connected with India to nourish their proud past and invest in their bright future as the country embarks on its 'Amrit Kaal' journey to become a developed nation by 2047.

Addressing students and distinguished guests at the University of Mauritius, President Murmu, who is on a three-day visit to the nation from March 11-13, expressed optimism that the youth in both countries will continue to deepen the special partnership.

"I am confident that these bonds of friendship between our youth will keep our relationship moving upwards, as India embarks on its 'Amrit Kaal' journey to become a developed nation by 2047," President Murmu said as the island nation marked its National day on Tuesday.

"I urge my Mauritian friends to take advantage of their special proximity to India and tap into the vast economic opportunities it offers," she added.

Stating that education has been a key instrument in shaping the special relationship between our two countries, she spoke of India's "forward-looking" new National Education Policy, which she said, "will tap into India's demographic dividend to become a powerhouse of innovation".

The President highlighted that in less than a decade, India has set up nearly 400 new Universities, 5,300 new colleges, 75 new Institutes of National Importance, 14 new AIIMS, seven new IITs and seven new IIMs, with half of the new Universities and a majority of the new colleges located in rural areas.

"In this exciting journey into the future, India looks forward to partnering its special friends, like Mauritius," she said, adding that the government in India has made it a priority to educate and empower youth to lead the country into the "knowledge economy" of tomorrow.

Each year, 400 Mauritians are trained in India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and about 60 Mauritian students receive scholarships to pursue higher education in India.

"It is a matter of pride for us that many among them occupy high positions in the Mauritian bureaucracy and public life today... Hundreds of Mauritian youth have also been reconnecting with their Indian roots by visiting India under the Know India Programme and several other exchange programmes," President Murmu said.

The President further told the gathering that since 2020, more than 500 Mauritian students have also benefited from India's e-VidyaBharatiand and e-ArogyaBharati distance learning programmes.

"Considering that robust people-to-people linkages have been the very foundation of the special friendship between India and Mauritius, I truly believe the future of our bilateral relationship lies in the hands of our youth. I am optimistic that the youth of Mauritius and India will continue to deepen this special partnership," she said.

President Murmu said, "Addressing you all at the University of Mauritius today, I am reminded that education has been a key instrument in shaping this special relationship between our two countries, as well as the destiny of Mauritius. In 1901, Mahatma Gandhi, inspired Indian indentured workers to educate themselves, resulting in their political and social empowerment, that led to the transformation of Mauritius.

"The subsequent visionary leadership of Mauritian leaders like Sir Seewoosagar Ramgoolam and Sir Anirudh Jagannath has been built on this rich foundation, to create a vibrant, pluralistic and prosperous Mauritius, that inspires Africa and the world.

"India sees Mauritius as a close maritime neighbor, a cherished partner in the Indian Ocean Region and a key player in our Africa outreach.

"This was clear as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth recently inaugurated an airstrip, a jetty, and six other developmental projects in the neighbouring nation."

Taking India's developmental efforts in the country a step further, President Murmu will jointly inaugurate 14 India-assisted projects with the Mauritian PM.

"Our aspiration is that Mauritius continues to progress as a leading economy and as a voice for peace, stability, and prosperity in the strategically important Indian Ocean Region," President Murmu said.

President Murmu also thanked the Chancellor of the University of Mauritius for awarding her the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Civil Law and hoped that it will "inspire all young people, particularly young women, to discover their unique passion and pursue their dreams".

Source: IANS

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London, March 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) As part of the UK government's plan to bring down unsustainable levels of legal migration and tackle visa abuse, overseas care workers coming to the country will now be restricted from bringing dependants, starting from Monday itself.

The implementation of the move means a total of 300,000 people eligible to come to the UK last year, will not be able to do so now, a Home Office statement said on Monday.

In addition, care providers in England acting as sponsors for migrants will also be required to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) -- the industry regulator for Health and Social Care -- to crack down on worker exploitation and abuse within the sector.

As 120,000 dependants accompanied 100,000 workers on this visa route last year, British Home Secretary James Cleverly said: "...we cannot justify inaction in the face of clear abuse, manipulation of our immigration system and unsustainable migration numbers".

"Our plan is robust but fair – protecting British workers while ensuring the very best international talent can work and study here, to add value to our society and grow the economy," he said.

According to the Home Office, there is "clear evidence" that care workers have been offered visas under false pretences. This includes travelling thousands of miles for jobs that simply don’t exist or exploiting them by paying far below the minimum wage required for their work while undercutting British workers.

These changes came into effect with the government set to lay rules in Parliament on March 14 to prevent the "undercutting of British workers".

Further, Cleverly will also commission a review of the graduate route for international students to prevent abuse and protect the integrity and quality of higher education in the country.

"He will ask the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to ensure that demand for the graduate route, through which a total of 175,872 visas have been granted since it was established, is fit for purpose and focused on attracting the best and brightest to the UK," the Home Office said.

The move comes after an analysis by the MAC showed that the number of foreign postgraduate students attending institutions with the lowest UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) entry requirements has increased by over 250 per cent between 2018 and 2022.

The Home Office also announced that starting April 4, the minimum salary required for those arriving on the Skilled Worker visa will rise from GBP 26,200 to GBP 38,700 -- a 48 per cent increase. Further, the minimum income requirement for family visas will also go up, starting at GBP 29,000 from April 11, and by early 2025, this will be increased to GBP 38,700.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) President Droupadi Murmu on Monday held discussions on avenues to advance the long-standing and close relations between India and Mauritius as she met her counterpart Prithvirajsing Roopun.

President Murmu, who arrived on her first state visit to the island nation from March 11-13 to attend the National Day celebrations as a Chief Guest, was warmly received by President Roopun at the State House.

"President Droupadi Murmu was warmly received by President Prithvirajsing Roopun of Mauritius, at the State House ahead of their bilateral talks," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, wrote on 'X'.

"The two leaders held discussions on avenues to advance the long-standing and close relations between India and Mauritius, built on the solid foundation of kinship, culture and strong people-to-people linkages," Jaiswal added.

As a special gift, an Indian RuPay card which was launched in Mauritius last month, was presented by President Murmu to her counterpart, Roopun.

She also visited the Ayurvedic Garden which was set up at the Presidential State House last year in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush.

"Traditional medicine is an important area of partnership between the two countries," Jaiswal wrote on 'X'.

Upon her arrival, President Murmu was received by Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and his Cabinet members at the airport with full state honour.

During her three-day stay in the country from March 11-13, President Murmu and PM Jugnauth will jointly inaugurate 14 India-assisted projects in a further fillip to bilateral partnership.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) President Droupadi Murmu was welcomed by Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and his Cabinet members as she landed in the island nation on Monday to participate in the National Day celebrations as Chief Guest.

During her three-day stay in the country from March 11-13, President Murmu and PM Jugnauth will jointly inaugurate 14 India-assisted projects in a further fillip to bilateral partnership.

"President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Mauritius on her first state visit to the country, to participate in the Mauritian National Day celebrations as Chief Guest," a post on the 'X' handle of Rashtrapati Bhavan read.

"In a special gesture, Prime Minister @KumarJugnauth, along with members of his cabinet and senior Mauritian dignitaries, received President Murmu upon arrival with full state honours."

President Murmu will also hold bilateral meetings with her Mauritius counterpart Prithvirajsing Roopun and PM Jugnauth.

In addition, she will meet the Speaker of the Mauritius National Assembly, the Chief Justice of the Mauritian Supreme Court, and other important Mauritian leaders. According to an MEA release, the President will also witness the exchange of the key bilateral agreements that seek to strengthen the robust bilateral institutional collaboration and capacity-building cooperation between the two countries.

President Murmu's visit comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Jugnauth jointly inaugurated a new airstrip and a jetty along with six other community development projects in Agalega Island.

India has close, long-standing relations with Mauritius owing to historic, demographic, and cultural reasons.

In addition, people of Indian origin comprise nearly 70 per cent of the island's population of 1.2 million.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, March 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) A young woman from Hyderabad, who had been living with her family in Australia, has been found murdered, according to reports.

The body of Chaitanya Madhagani alias Swetha was found in a bin on the side of a deserted road in Buckley, west of Geelong in Victoria on Saturday.

Swetha was living with husband and their three-year-old son in Melbourne.

Local police suspect that the two parties involved are known to one another, and the offender may have fled overseas. Police established a second crime scene at a residential address on Mirka Way, Point Cook in southwestern Melbourne.

They suspect that the woman was murdered at home and her body was dumped in a bin some 82 km away.

Swetha's husband, Ashok Raj Varikuppala, reportedly flew back to India recently with the couple's son.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) India said on Friday that its consulates in the US have reached out to its nationals studying there and assured them of all possible cooperation and assistance in case of any trouble following the recent deaths of Indian students in the US.

The latest incident in a string of deaths of Indian students beginning this year came after Amarnath Ghosh, a dancer from Kolkata who was pursuing his PhD, was shot dead in the US state of Missouri last month.

"Through our consulates in the US, we have done outreach with our students there, guided them. We have also told them to immediately get in touch with either the embassy or the consulates in case of any trouble or situation so that we can take care of them in a better way," Minister of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said in a weekly media briefing on Friday.

Responding to a question on Ghosh, Jaiswal said that the police in Chicago have been investigating the case and the Indian consulate is in regular touch with the authorities there.

"Once the investigation is completed, we will know more about the case and what caused the death. Our consulates are extending all possible cooperation on this case to the authorities there," Jaiswal said.

The Office of the Consulate General of India in Chicago said on March 2 that it is extending all possible help to relatives of Ghosh, who, according to his friend, was taking an evening stroll when he "was shot multiple times by an unknown person".

The consulate informed that it has strongly taken up the case with the St Louis police in Missouri.

The incident was brought to notice by popular TV actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee who in a post on 'X' sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's help in the early repatriation of Ghosh's body.

More than five Indian and Indian-origin students have died in the US since the start of this year, highlighting the state of security and safety in the country.

Asserting that there is no excuse for violence based on race or gender, the White House said in February that the US is working very hard to thwart and disrupt attacks on Indians as well as Indian-origin students.

"There's no excuse for violence, certainly based on race or gender or religion or any other factor. That's just unacceptable here in the US," John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, said in a briefing.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said that the welfare of Indian students abroad is one of the foremost priorities of the government.

Indian students constitute more than 25 per cent of the over one million foreign students studying in the US, according to a November 2023 Open Doors report.

The number of Indians who travelled to the US for higher education increased by 35 per cent and resulted in an all-time high of 2,68,923 students in the academic year 2022-23, the report said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) On the invitation of the government of Mauritius, President Droupadi Murmu will undertake a state visit to the island nation from March 11-13 to attend the National Day celebrations as a chief guest.

During the visit, President Murmu and Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth will jointly inaugurate 14 India-assisted projects, showcasing the growing expanse and multifaceted nature of India's vibrant development partnership with Mauritius that constitutes a key pillar of the bilateral relationship.

"As the sixth Indian President to grace the Mauritian National Day as the Chief Guest since 2000, President Droupadi Murmu's state visit underscores the longstanding and enduring ties between India and Mauritius," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said in an announcement on Friday.

The visit also reaffirms the continued commitment of both countries to further strengthening the bilateral relationship across all sectors and deepening close people-to-people ties, an MEA statement added.

In the March 12 National Day celebrations, a contingent of the Indian Navy will also participate in the celebrations along with two ships of the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron -- INS Tir and CGS Sarathi.

President Murmu will also hold bilateral meetings with her Mauritius counterpart Prithvirajsing Roopun and PM Jugnauth.

In addition, she will meet the Speaker of the Mauritius National Assembly, the Chief Justice of the Mauritian Supreme Court, and other important Mauritian leaders.

According to an MEA release, the President will also witness the exchange of the key bilateral agreements that seek to strengthen the robust bilateral institutional collaboration and capacity-building cooperation between the two countries.

She will pay homage to Mauritian leaders at the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden and also visit historical and cultural sites.

This includes visits to the Aapravasi Ghat, where Indian indentured labourers first arrived in Mauritius, the Intercontinental Slavery Museum, and the sacred Ganga Talao.

Additionally, she will address Mauritian youth at the University of Mauritius and socio-cultural organisations, members of the Indian diaspora, and the Indian community at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute.

Source: IANS

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Tokyo, March 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Exuding confidence that India will have a stable government for 15 years, even longer, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Friday that long-term political stability is essential for good governance.

His remarks at the Nikkei Forum on India-Japan Special Strategic Partnership in Tokyo came as India heads for crucial general elections with nearly 960 million voters gearing up to exercise their right to vote in the coming months.

"Hundred per cent we will have 15 years of stable government; we may have even longer," Jaishankar said in response to a question at the forum.

The minister underlined the importance of a reformist, visionary leadership backed by a strong political mandate, which in a democracy means having a majority in Parliament, and results in "long-term stability".

"You can have a majority but you do not have a vision, or you have a vision, but you do not have the political support. So you need both. Now what has happened in our cases, certainly for the last 10 years, we have had it and we hope to continue that," S. Jaishankar said as he praised his government that has been able "to take good decisions -- tough decisions but needed decisions".

Further reinforcing the importance of political stability for economic growth and investments, the top diplomat said: "Business world today values political stability. For them, political stability means policy stability. Anybody who is coming, you know, somebody who is taking a big bet on India wants to know what will India be in the next 10 years."

"Fortunately, that has been good for us for the last decade, and I am very confident for the next one," the minister added.

When asked about India's position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the minister took a sly dig at world powers, saying they "cherry-pick one issue, one situation, one principle and they highlight it because it suits them".

"...even today, parts of India are occupied by another country. But we did not see the world respond saying, oh, there is a great principle involved. And therefore, let us all go with India. So yes, today we are being told that there are principles involved. I wish I had seen that principle in play for the last 80 years. I have seen those principles cherry-pick..." S. Jaishankar remarked.

Before taking on questions at the forum, the minister reiterated that India and Japan today are convergent on the big picture and the key concerns with an improvement in their "inclination and ability" to respond in a more coordinated manner.

He added that the bilateral partnership has identified more avenues for increased cooperation and will draw strength from their larger activities together, especially in the Quad.

Calling all Quad nations -- India, Australia, Japan, and the US -- strong maritime powers, the diplomat said that the grouping is meeting "more rapidly and more issues are getting added on".

EAM Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to Japan from March 6-8 to impart further momentum to bilateral exchanges and set the agenda for future cooperation.

On Thursday, he addressed the 16th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue with his Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa and participated in the first Raisina Roundtable, a key step towards enhancing track two exchanges between India and Japan.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Women serve as heads of state and government in only 31 countries with less than one in four serving as cabinet ministers, and just 26.5 per cent of them as MPs in a 21st-century world that speaks of gender equality.

Despite the not-so-impressive numbers, based on a 2023 UN study, women across the world have been emerging as a formidable force in political fora that has long been overpowered by men.

While in India, Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani, and many of their colleagues in the PM Narendra Modi government put in assiduous work to make governance more responsive to women’s interests and needs, their fellow Indian women beyond borders are not far behind.

In the US, Vice President Kamala Devi Harris -- born to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother -- is President Joe Biden's running mate in this year's crucial election and could well script history by becoming America's first woman President, as well as the first of Indian descent.

Till two days back, two-time former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley -- born Nimrata Nikki Randhawa to Punjabi Sikh parents -- was the last woman standing against Republican frontrunner Donald Trump in the 2024 race to the White House. She was also the US Ambassador to the UN under then-President Trump.

Chennai-born Pramila Jayapal is among the five Indian-American lawmakers in the US Congress and represents the 7th Congressional District of Washington. Last year, her sister Susheela Jayapal, launched her congressional bid from the state of Oregon.

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, the first Hindu American elected to New York State Office, won the Diwali school holiday in just one legislative session, winning the hearts of the South Asian community in the state.

Last year, Andhra Pradesh-born Aruna Miller scripted history by becoming the first Indian-American politician to be sworn in as the Lieutenant Governor in the state of Maryland.

In Australia, Labour MP Zaneta Mascarenhas became the first person of Goan origin to be elected to the country's lower house of representatives in 2022 from Swan.

In Australia's closest neighbour to the east, Priyanca Radhakrishnan became the first person of Indian roots to be named minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities in New Zealand.

Her great-grandfather, Dr C.R. Krishna Pillai, had reportedly been a left-wing leader with the Communist Party and played a key role in Kerala politics.

In January 2021, Radhakrishnan, who is a Labour MP right now, was conferred a Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award for public service.

Indo-Canadian Anita Anand, promoted as the President of the Treasury Board in a last year Cabinet reshuffle, was the former Defence Minister of Canada and also served as the Minister of Public Services and Procurement in the past.

Born in 1967 in Nova Scotia to a Punjabi mother and a Tamil father, both physicians, Anita -- having worked as a scholar, lawyer and researcher -- was first elected as the MP for Oakville in 2019.

Reacting to Justin Trudeau's allegations of an Indian hand in the murder of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Anita said it was a "very difficult time" to hear the Prime Minister make the remarks, especially for families who come from India.

"I am thinking about my parents, for example, and I think that sentiment is shared by South Asians and families who come from India, regardless of religion," Anita said, adding that it is "time to let the legal process continue as it must."

Born to Sikh parents from India, Jyoti Gondek was sworn in as the 37th mayor of Calgary, a city in Canada's Alberta province, becoming the first woman to be elected to the role in 2021.

In the island nation of Singapore, Indranee Rajah -- born to a Tamil father and a Chinese Singaporean mother, entered politics in 2001 and was appointed a minister in the Prime Minister's office in 2018. She has been serving as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance since 2018 in the city-state.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) A 100-member youth delegation from five Central Asian countries is on a visit to India from March 5 to 13 to witness the country's growth, savour its rich cultural heritage and get insights into the space programme.

This is the second such youth delegation visit from the Central Asian countries to India as part of the initiatives emanating from the first India-Central Asia Summit held virtually in January 2022.

"Youth leaders from different walks of life, achievers and influencers from Central Asia will have the opportunity to see for themselves India's growth, its technological, industrial and research capabilities; get insights into India's space program, as well as, to enjoy India's rich cultural heritage," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Thursday.

The programme includes visits to premier research institutions, eminent educational institutions located in Delhi and Ahmedabad such as IIT and IIM, historical sites in Delhi, interaction with 'MY BHARAT' volunteers, calls on Indian dignitaries, and a visit to the Taj Mahal.

Historically, India and Central Asia have enjoyed a continuous exchange of people, culture and ideas.

The initiative aims to expand the imagination of India among the youth of the Central Asian countries and help them get a better appreciation of Indian society, growth, infrastructure, poverty reduction and the changes India has undergone in recent years.

The impression carried back by the young Central Asian delegates from this visit will help them achieve a better understanding of contemporary India.

It will also create a basis for sustained people-to-people interaction between India and the Central Asian countries, the statement noted.

The first such delegation was hosted by India in November 2022.

Source: IANS

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Washington, March 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian-American Republican presidential aspirant Nikki Haley is set to quit the race for the White House, clearing the decks for her former boss and GOP frontrunner Donald Trump, according to media reports.

The former two-time South Carolina Governor is expected to make the announcement on Wednesday at Charleston in her home state, sources in know of her plans told CNN.

The 52-year-old on Tuesday scored a surprising victory over Trump in the Republican primary in Vermont state, which came just after her Washington DC win, putting her in the history books as the first woman ever to achieve the milestone.

Her move follows a series of losses in GOP nominating contests on Super Tuesday where her rival Trump maintained a formidable lead.

Trump and US President Joe Biden are leading in "Super Tuesday" wins in their respective party's primaries for the 2024 presidential election.

Having been defeated in South Carolina, her home state, questions were being raised about Haley's presence in the race, and more importantly, how long would she get donors to pump money into her campaign.

Despite her debacle at the primary, Haley made clear in her speech that she was not giving up.

"I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run. I’m a woman of my word," she said. "I'm not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden," she added, sharpening her attacks on Biden and Trump by calling them "grumpy old men".

Source: IANS

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Seoul, March 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke of shared cultural heritage and longstanding people-to-people relations as he met Hong Tae-yong, Mayor of Gimhae City in South Korea on Wednesday.

Jaishankar also presented a replica of Ayodhya's Ram Mandir to Tae-yong whom he met after addressing the opening session of the 10th India-South Korea Joint Commission meeting on Wednesday.

"Delighted to meet Mayor Hong Tae-yong today. The Gimhae-Ayodhya connect is a testament to our shared cultural heritage and longstanding people-to-people relations. Discussed greater cultural and educational cooperation with Gimhae City," the Minister posted on X on Wednesday.

In March 2001, Ayodhya and Gimhae signed an International "Sister City" bond to encourage cultural and mutual development and established the Queen Huh Memorial Park in Ayodhya.

Legend has it that Queen Huh Hwang-ok, known as Suriratna in India, was the princess of Ayodhya before she went to South Korea and married King Kim Suro of the Karak Clan in 48 A.D.

According to the Uttar Pradesh tourism website, it is believed that she reached Korea on a boat, and was the first queen of King Suro of Geumgwan Gaya.

Around 60 lakh people of the Karak clan consider Ayodhya as their maternal home and hundreds of South Koreans visit the memorial every year to pay respects to the legendary Queen, the website said.

In his address to the Indian community in South Korea in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi narrated the legend of Princess Suriratna and said that Indians "have a blood relation with Koreans".

For the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya in January this year, an invitation was also extended to Kim Chil-su from South Korea, a member of the Queen Heo dynasty.

Highlighting the importance of Ayodhya to both countries, South Korean Ambassador to India, Chang Jae-Bok, said last year: "The legend about an Indian princess marrying a Korean king 2,000 years ago has an Ayodhya connection, as one of our history books has a mention of a princess from Ayuta. It is generally assumed that Ayuta was Ayodhya or Ayodhya was Ayuta."

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Recognising India's leadership role on the global stage, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Tuesday that his country is determined to build a "broader, deeper, mutually beneficial relationship" with the South Asian nation.

Beginning his visit to New Delhi and Ahmedabad on March 10, Peters will also be highlighting the shared interest of the two nations in helping the development of the Pacific Islands region.

“India is a country with which New Zealand can, should, and will be doing more. New Zealand recognises the global and regional leadership role that India plays, and we are determined to build a broader, deeper, mutually beneficial relationship,” Peters said in a statement released on Tuesday.

The minister's three-nation tour will also see him visiting Singapore, and Indonesia to reinvigorate New Zealand’s relations with South and South East Asia.

The centrepiece engagement of the trip will be his extended meetings with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Singapore's Vivian Balakrishnan respectively.

“It will be a privilege to spend further time with three such experienced and accomplished Foreign Ministers whose views on the issues facing the world and the Indo-Pacific in particular carry considerable weight," Peters said.

"If New Zealand wishes to maximise our influence and impact in the region, we need to lift our game with all three of India, Indonesia, and Singapore,” he added.

Calling Gujarat "an engine of Indian economic growth" with significant connections to New Zealand’s Indian diaspora, a government release said that Peters will also meet state Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel.

"In Delhi, he will be highlighting the shared interest that New Zealand and India have in helping the development of the Pacific Islands region," the release said, adding that his India visit will conclude on March 13.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) In yet another proof of its emergence as an emphatic voice of the Global South, India joined hands with "valued friend" Mauritius once again to strengthen its maritime security and foster socio-economic development.

Along with six other community development projects, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Indian-origin Mauritius counterpart Pravind Jugnauth inaugurated a new airstrip and a jetty in Agalega Island on Thursday -- a move seen as an attempt to ensure security, prosperity, and stability in the Indian Ocean Region.

The development was seen as a reaffirmation of the Modi government's focus on 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' as a hallmark of India's foreign policy. It goes without saying that PM Modi has been successful in setting the economic agenda aimed at shaping global growth at various international forums.

With the oceanic nation being a key partner of India's 'Neighbourhood First Policy' and a special partner under Vision SAGAR, the last 10 years have registered an "unprecedented momentum" in the relations between the two countries.

India has extended a credit line of $1,000 million along with USD 400 million worth of assistance to the people of Mauritius which underlines the fact that addressing the humanitarian issues is of paramount importance for PM Modi.

In addition, New Delhi has contributed profusely to the development of metro rail lines, community development projects, social housing, ENT Hospital, Civil Service College, and sports complexes infrastructures in Mauritius.

In what highlights India's greater role in the development of various nations under the visionary leadership of PM Modi, the government has initiated around 600 projects on infrastructure, energy, healthcare, etc, in 78 countries, especially from the Global South.

It is these partnerships in the Global South -- from security and health to EEZ -- that spotlights India's role as a "vishwaguru", or global teacher, in leading developmental work across third-world countries.

With the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war putting the third-world nations under a severe strain, Papua New Guinea PM James Marape, in his address at the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation in May 2023, urged PM Modi to offer a voice in the face of the Global North.

Marape reportedly suggested that the Pacific Island countries would rally behind his voice at global forums even as he praised the Indian PM as the leader of the Global South.

India's efforts for these countries were made amply clear during PM Modi's address at the opening session of the 2023 Voice of Global South summit where the leader called for creating a new world order to ensure the welfare of citizens in developing countries.

Emphasising that the next phase of global growth will come from countries in the South, PM Modi stressed self-reliance and proposed a four-point global agenda of 'Respond, Recognise, Respect and Reform' at the session.

In a bid to remove inequalities, support growth and opportunities, and spread progress and prosperity, the PM -- successfully positioning India as a powerhouse of the 21st century -- urged the developing countries to work towards redesigning political and financial governance globally.

Apart from Mauritius, the shining examples of developmental contributions made by India, based on the partner country's priorities, include the recent launch of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

In a groundbreaking move last year, India and the United Nations launched the 'India-UN Capacity Building Initiative', which aims to share the South Asian nation's development experiences, best practices, and expertise with partner countries in the Global South.

In December last year, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed the Parliament that India has extended lines of credit 'worth $32.02 billion' for infra projects in Asian and African countries.

Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, said that these funds have supported more than 600 projects in sectors ranging from infrastructure, power, connectivity and health.

Providing a breakup of the line of credit amount, Muraleedharan said about $17.06 billion has gone to countries in Asia, $12.15 billion to those in Africa, and $2.81 billion to countries elsewhere.

Further, grant assistance projects with countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan have also been set up as part of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

The parliament was also told that the government is also offering capacity-building assistance to its partners in the Global South under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC).

"Around 160 countries benefit from these scholarships every year. More than 14,000 training slots are available annually for civilian and defence courses," V. Muraleedharan had said.

Via ITEC, India has helped countries like Afghanistan, Lithuania, Maldives, Nepal, etc, and scholarships were also announced for Pacific Island Countries in May last year.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Office of the Consulate General of India in Chicago said on Saturday that it is extending all possible help to relatives and deceased of Amarnath Ghosh, the Kuchipudi dancer from Kolkata, who was shot dead in the US state of Missouri.

In a post on X, the Consulate said that it has strongly taken up the case with the St Louis police.

"Consulate is extending all help to relatives of deceased Amarnath Ghosh. Taken up the case strongly with St Louis police and the University for investigation of the reprehensible gun attack," the post read.

On Friday, the Consulate had offered condolences to Ghosh's family and friends and posted: "We are following up forensic, investigation with police & providing support".

The incident was brought to notice by popular TV actress and 'Bigg Boss' regular Devoleena Bhattacharjee who in a post on X sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's help, seeking early repatriation of her friend's body.

She wrote in the post that Ghosh was the child in the family whose mother died three years back and father passed away during his childhood.

Calling him an "excellent dancer" who was pursuing PhD, Devoleena said that Ghosh was taking an evening walk when he "was shot multiple times by an unknown person" on Tuesday.

A series of attacks beginning this year has put the focus back on the security and safety of Indian students across the US, which has seen at least five of them dying in mysterious circumstances in the last couple of months.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) As they keenly wait for the grand electoral spectacle to unfold in their country of origin, most Indian-Americans say they are certain that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will storm back to power under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Community leaders say that elaborate planning and strategising by the party leaders and supporters in the US are already underway to target a record 400 plus seats in the biggest democratic exercise of 2024.

Parveen Chopra, founder of New York-based spirituality website, ALotusInTheMud.com, told IANS that people in the US see PM Modi as a "strong, transformational leader" under whom India's position in world affairs has immensely improved.

"My sense is that Indians in America are certain that BJP will come back to power under PM Modi. Those critical of him have also resigned to the fact that there is no stopping him, as the INDIA bloc is already fracturing and is not up to the fight in the upcoming general election," said Chopra.

A 2022 Indian-American Attitudes Survey by Carnegie Endowment mentioned BJP as the most popular political party among Indian Americans with a third of respondents favouring the ruling party and just 12 per cent identifying with the Congress.

Further, it said that nearly half of all Indian Americans approve of PM Modi's performance as prime minister with the support greatest among the Republicans and the Hindus.

A key element of India's foreign policy after 2014 has been its significant outreach to the diaspora, notably in the US where the 4.4 million-strong community has become the second-largest immigrant group.

During his successive visits to the US from 2104 to 2023, the Prime Minister has actively engaged with the community, acknowledging their steady rise in America's economic, political, and social spheres and their significance in India's growth story.

Gobind Munjal, National President of the Association of Indians in America (AIA), told IANS that India has achieved a lot under PM Modi and that the US-India relationship has reached new heights, especially after the leader's June 2023 visit.

"Under Narendra Modi's regime, the global respect for India and Indians living abroad has gone up substantially. For NRIs, the Indian identity has become more respectful and non-residents have started feeling proud to be Indians," Munjal said in an email interview.

Founded in August 1967, the AIA claims to be the oldest association of Asian Indians in America and says that it represents the "hopes and aspirations of those immigrants who are united by their common bond of Indian Heritage and American Commitment”.

The reasons for PM Modi's popularity are not too far to seek according to the community and can be seen in the progress that India has made in the last years across the spectrum.

"PM Modi's proactive approach to diplomacy and economic reforms has bolstered India's image as a dynamic and forward-thinking nation, poised for sustainable growth and development," Alok Kumar, Chairman of Bihar Foundation, USA, told IANS.

Lauding the country's foreign policy, Kumar said that India has exhibited robust diplomatic prowess which is "exemplified by its handling of crises such as the Qatar situation and its commendable performance in evacuating citizens from war zones, surpassing even the efforts of developed nations".

Citing the success of the Chandrayaan Mission and India's G20 presidency, both Kumar and Munjal added that India has achieved a lot under the present regime.

"The Indian economy is expected to become the third largest in the world in the next three years with a GDP of USD 5 trillion from the current USD 3.7 trillion. Indian Stock market is booming and if Narendra Modi gets elected again as Prime minister, which he will, India can aspire to become a USD 7 Trillion economy in the next 10 years," Munjal said.

He hoped that PM Modi would continue to lead "Bharat" to the same old glory, which it once enjoyed when it was called the "Sone Ki Chiriya" (golden bird).

Meanwhile, the NRI community hopes that after the 2024 elections, some of its concerns will be addressed by the party that ascends to power.

Chopra told IANS that as an Indian-American and as a community journalist, many NRIs have reached out to him with concerns regarding online voting and their properties in India.

As of now, an Indian national living abroad has to be physically present on the day of the election at the polling station in his constituency along with his passport and there is no provision for voting via post or online, or voting through Indian Missions abroad.

He also said that NRIs having properties in India want protection against those who illegally occupy their house and want quick adjudication of such disputes.

(Meenakshi Iyer can be reached at meenakshi.i@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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Tokyo, March 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian Ambassador to Japan Sibi George met Hiroshi Hase, governor of the quake-hit Ishikawa, on Friday and thanked him for all the assistance extended to Indians there.

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the northernmost peninsula of Noto in Ishikawa this year, killing hundreds of people and rendering many homeless.

"Ambassador @AmbSibiGeorge visited #Ishikawa Prefecture & met Hon’ble Governor, Mr. Hiroshi Hase. Expressed his condolences for loss of lives due to Noto Peninsula earthquake," the Indian Embassy in Japan said in a post on X.

"Thanked for assistance extended to Indians in #Ishikawa and reiterated India’s solidarity to Ishikawa and Japan," the post read.

As per a Japan Times report, the death toll in the quake has risen to 240 with 75,000 homes being damaged in the disaster.

Hours after the earthquake, the Indian embassy in Japan set up an emergency control room and issued helpline numbers for its citizens.

In a letter to his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed India's solidarity with Japan and its people and said that he is "deeply anguished and concerned" over the earthquake.

"I am deeply anguished and concerned to learn about the major earthquake that struck Japan on January 1," PM Modi wrote.

"I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives. We stand in solidarity with Japan and its people affected by the disaster," he added.

Japan's ambassador to India Hiroshi Suzuki has expressed his gratitude and said India's support is much valued during this difficult time.

"Dear friends in India, I am deeply grateful for so many sincere condolences, prayers, and warm encouragement regarding the Noto (Neng Deng ) Earthquake in Japan," Ambassador Suzuki said on X.

Ambassador George's meeting comes in the backdrop of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to Japan from March 6-8 for the 16th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that the eighth Indian Navy veteran who was sentenced to death in Qatar along with seven others on espionage charges will return home after fulfilling 'certain requirements'.

India scored a diplomatic victory with seven of its former navy personnel, who were working for Doha-based Dahra Global and were taken into custody in August 2022, returning home earlier this month.

They were identified as Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Rajesh.

While Commander Purnendu Tiwari has been released from prison along with others, he is yet to land in India with sources indicating his arrival by next week.

"As you know, all eight Indian nationals who were involved in the Dahra Global case have been released. Seven of them have returned to India," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal said while addressing a weekly media briefing on Thursday.

"The eighth Indian national has certain requirements to fulfill, he will return as and when those are completed," he added.

The spokesperson did not elaborate on the requirements that Commander Tiwari needed to fulfill to ensure his return to India. Earlier, Commander Tiwari's cousin, Dr. Meetu Bhargava, had expressed her joy upon hearing the news of his release, which she said would not have been possible without Prime Minister Narendra Modi's help.

The MEA spokesperson also confirmed that the first group of civilian crew replacing Indian troops has reached Maldives.

"The first team of technical personnel to operate the advanced light helicopter at Gan has reached Maldives. It will replace the existing personnel that were until now operating it," Jaiswal said in response to a question.

"That is where it is as far as the core group meeting is concerned. We will have more details later," he added.

In a statement released on Monday, the Maldives' Ministry of Defence said: "The civilian crew who will operate the helicopter in place of the Indian troops currently stationed in Seenu Gan (Addu city) has arrived in Maldives this evening."

As of now, there are close to 80 Indian military personnel in the island nation to operate two Indian helicopters and an aircraft.

The Maldivian defence ministry also stated that the helicopter stationed at Kadhdhoo Airport would be returned to India for maintenance, adding that a replacement helicopter would arrive aboard an Indian warship.

Maldives' pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu promised to remove Indian troops from the island nation after winning the country's presidential election in November 2023.

Earlier this month, he said the first group of Indian military personnel will be sent back before March 10, while the remaining will be withdrawn by May 10.

Source: IANS

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New York, Feb 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian-origin Sridhar Ramaswamy has been named as the Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of US-based data cloud company Snowflake.

Ramaswamy, who previously held the position of Senior Vice President of AI at Snowflake, replaces Frank Slootman who has decided to retire but will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board.

“In the last 12 years, Frank and the entire team have established Snowflake as the leading cloud data platform that is providing enterprises with the secure, scalable and cost effective data foundation and cutting-edge AI building blocks they need to build for the future,” said Ramaswamy.

“I am honored to have been chosen to lead the company into this next chapter of growth. We have an enormous opportunity ahead to help all customers leverage AI to deliver massive business value. My focus will be on accelerating our ability to bring innovation to our customers and partners," Ramaswamy added.

Since joining Snowflake in May 2023 in connection with the company’s acquisition of Neeva, the world’s first private AI-powered search engine, Ramaswamy has been spearheading Snowflake’s AI strategy.

He led the launch of Snowflake Cortex, Snowflake’s new fully managed service that makes AI simple and secure for all users to quickly drive business value.

Slootman said that there is no better person than Ramaswamy to lead Snowflake into the next phase of growth and deliver on the opportunity ahead in AI and machine learning.

"He is a visionary technologist with a proven track record of running and scaling successful businesses. I have the utmost confidence in Sridhar and look forward to working with him as he assumes this new role,” Slootman said.

Prior to joining Snowflake, Ramaswamy co-founded Neeva in 2019.

Previously, Ramaswamy led all of Google’s Advertising products, which included search, display and video advertising, analytics, shopping, payments, and travel.

During his 15 years at Google he was an integral part of the growth of AdWords and Google’s advertising business from $1.5 billion to over $100 billion.

Ramaswamy also held research positions at Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies, and Bell Communications Research (Bellcore).

He was a Venture Partner at Greylock Partners from October 2018 until recently, and he sits on the board of trustees at Brown University.

Source: IANS

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Dubai, Feb 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Thousands of devotees took part in a grand procession of the Hindu community members at the newly-inaugurated BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi which is set to open its doors to the general public from March 1.

Dressed in traditional Indian attire, singing and dancing to devotional songs, more than 1,100 people participated in the "Palkhi Yatra", which usually precedes or follows the opening of a new temple, Khaleej Times newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Idols from the seven main shrines of the temple were placed on decorated palanquins and taken around the temple during the Sunday's procession, held as part of the 'Festival of Harmony' -- an event that marked the majestic temple's opening on February 14.

This was followed by an address to the community by Brahmviharidas Swami, the project head of the BAPS Hindu Mandir.

"I've never seen so much devotional joy and colour as we danced around the Mandir. We thank the BAPS Mandir for opening their hearts to all of us and making everyone feel welcome. We truly feel it is our Mandir. And all that is thanks to the guru, Mahant Swami Maharaj," Lina Barot, a community member, told Khaleej Times.

The temple authorities announced on Tuesday that the Mandir will open its door to the public from March 1 from 9 am to 8 pm and it will remain closed to visitors every Monday.

The temple was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the Gulf nation and was attended by over 5,000 invitees.

Built at a cost of approximately Rs 700 crore, the temple is spread over a 27-acre plot in Abu Mureikhah, near Al Rahba, and is constructed using more than 1.8 million cubic meters of sandstone sourced from Rajasthan.

Source: IANS

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Washington, Feb 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Niraj Antani, a Republican running for US Congress, is aggressively projecting his Hindu faith. Bhavini Patel, a Democrat running for Congress, is battling allegations of courting Hindu nationalist donors. And Indian-descent donors are pressing the Biden-Harris campaign for a "Hindu page" in its 2024 campaign manifesto.

The "Hindu Vote" appears to have become a factor in US politics.

There is no rock solid count of Hindus in the US because the US Census does not record religious affiliation in its surveys. But there are several estimates.

Pew Research Center said 0.7 per cent of Americans were Hindu in 2015 and that their number is projected to grow to 4.8 million by 2050. Harvard Divinity School estimated their number to be 2.5 million in 2018. And some Hindu Americans put the number generously at 5 million, which, they concede, includes Sikhs and Jains.

As crucial as their number is US politics, so is their ability to write big donation checks.

Niraj Antani, an Ohio state lawmaker who is running in the Republican primary for a congressional seat, has frequently described himself as Hindu and posted this message on X, to mark the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya: “As the 1st Hindu American State Senator in Ohio history, today it was my privilege to do Darshan to Lord Ram at @BAPS Cincinnati Mandir to mark the opening of his Mandir in Ayodhya. As we celebrate this occasion, let us stand for religious freedom around the world. Jai Shri Ram!"

His pinned post on X is an endorsement from the Hindu American PAC.

Bhavini Patel, a Democrat who is seeking to unseat the incumbent Democrat in a congressional race in Pennsylvania, is being attacked by her opponent for courting Hindu nationalist donors, as also for her unstinting support for Israel.

A fundraising call she hosted with Mihi Meghani, a co-founder of the Hindu American Foundation was being cited as proof of her courting Hindu groups. Meghani is also the chair of the Hindu American PACs whose endorsement is a pinned post on Antani’s X feed.

The Patel campaign has denied these allegations.

The back and forth only demonstrates the growing presence of a Hindu vote in US politics.

"There was always a Hindu vote, which was not recognised publicly," said Ramesh Kapur, a longtime Democratic donor and strategist.

"But it is being recognised now, and has come to the fore in the context of the 2024 elections."

A bunch of donors are also pressing the Biden-Harris re-election campaign to include a “Hindu Page” in its manifesto, whenever it is announced.

The same group had tried but failed to convince the Biden campaign to feature the same page in its manifesto that ran on the campaign’s website as "Joe’s Vision". It had sections dedicated to Muslims, Jews, African American, and so on. The campaign did issue Biden’s agenda for Indian Americans but this group of Hindu donors were insistent on a "Hindu Page" in "Joe’s Vision" specially because of the observances in the section for Muslims.

"Joe Biden has been disappointed by the measures that the government of India has taken with the implementation and aftermath of the National Register of Citizens in Assam and the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act into law," it had said, referring laws that sought to fast-track citizenship request from non-Muslims fleeing neighbouring countries and keeping a national registry of citizens.

Both laws remain un-enforced.

These donors are pressing for the page with an offer to provide President Biden the cushion of Hindu American votes to offset the possible boycott of Arab and Muslim votes over the administration’s support of Israel offensive against the Hamas in Gaza, specially in the key swing states that tend to determine most presidential races.

A phrase being used frequently in this context is "plug the gap".

Wisconsin, one of the swing states, will be critical. Biden won this state by 20,000 in 2020. It has an estimated 38,400 Hindu Americans and they may be able cushion the blow from the boycott by the state’s 68,000 Muslims to an extent. These numbers come from a document prepared by these donors to make their case.

Hindu Americans are more confident of their ability to help Biden better in Georgia, a state he won by roughly 12,000. The state is home to 172,000 Hindu Americans, who can more than compensate for its 123,000 Muslims.

In Pennsylvania, which Biden won by 44,000, Hindu Americans number 129,700 to 149,500 Muslim Americans. Hindu Americans are not able to fill the gap completely but, they are arguing, they can help the campaign fill the gap.

But all this presumes Hindu Americans will turn up and vote and not, as mostly before, staying home.

These Hindu Americans feel particularly confident of their clout on account of two key political developments.

One, they believe, they helped Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, win the Governorship of Virginia, and, two, convinced Gavin Newsom, the California Governor with widely acknowledged White House aspirations, to veto a legislation passed by the California legislatures to add "caste" to the list of prohibited discriminatory practices.

Hindu Americans are mostly of Indian descent but a sizable number of them are also from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Caribbean, Afghanistan and American converts such as former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s family.

Indian Americans have been a growing political force in the US, but many among them have begun to differentiate themselves as Hindu Americans, a trend that has been helped along by the rise of the BJP in India, specially the immense popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Multiple groups have cropped up with names wrapped around the word “Hindu” -- Republican Hindu Coalition, American Hindu Coalition, Hindus 4 America, Hindu American PAC (Political Action Committee).

Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal, the three Indian American members of the House of Representatives are all Hindu, but they have rarely, if ever, flouted their faith to further their politics. And they have now been members of US Congress since 2017, serving three terms. Shri Thanedar, who joined them in the House in 2023 has been demonstrably bolder. He heads the Hindu Caucus in the House.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a testimony to the robust and decades-old development partnership between India and Mauritius, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Pravind Jugnauth will jointly inaugurate several community projects in Agalega Island on Thursday.

The two leaders will jointly inaugurate a new arstrip and St James Jetty along with six other community development projects on the Island at 1 p.m,, via video conferencing.

"The projects will fulfill the demand for better connectivity between mainland Mauritius and Agalega, strengthen maritime security, and foster socio-economic development," a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said on Tuesday.

The inauguration of these projects is significant as it follows the recent launch of UPI and RuPay Card services in Mauritius by the two leaders on February 12.

PM Jugnauth informed that the Rupay card will be designated as a domestic card in Mauritius, and the launch will greatly facilitate the citizens of both countries.

Addressing the occasion, PM Modi stressed that "India’s policy is ‘Neighborhood First’. Our maritime vision is SAGAR i.e. Security and growth for all in the region. India does not see its development separately from its neighbours".

Last year, PM Modi "reiterated India's commitment to furthering the voice of the Global South" in a bilateral meeting with PM Jugnauth in New Delhi, and the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to take forward the "truly special partnership" between the two countries.

India has close, long-standing relations with Mauritius owing to historic, demographic, and cultural reasons. In addition, people of Indian origin comprise nearly 70 per cent of the island’s population of 1.2 million.

Source: IANS

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strengthen maritime security appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, Feb 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Slamming the police for 'mismanagement', families of the victims of Nottingham murders, which included an Indian-origin student, said they will continue to raise 'serious concerns' about the case and 'will not be silenced'.

British-Indian Grace O’Malley-Kumar, fellow student Barnaby Webber, both aged 19, and 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates were stabbed to death by Valdo Calocane near the University of Nottingham on June 13, 2023.

In a joint statement, the families also accused the Nottinghamshire Police of 'gagging' the media in an attempt to stop details of case failings being made public, the Shropshire Star newspaper reported on Monday.

Calocane, 32, was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order last month after prosecutors accepted his plea of guilty to manslaughter based on diminished responsibility with psychiatrists saying that he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.

The victims' families -- who had hoped for a murder trial -- reacted with shock and anger to the verdict, which said that Calocane would not face a murder trial due to 'mental illness'.

Further, they criticised the police after it emerged during a misconduct hearing that they shared details about the murder victims on a WhatsApp group.

“We will not be silenced. This behaviour must be addressed and urgent changes made as this must not happen again to other innocent families,” the families said in the statement released on Monday.

They said their 'lengthy and detailed statement' was sent to highlight their concerns and ongoing mismanagement by the Nottingham Police.

They also mentioned in the statement that the police force held an off-the-record press briefing last week, where they told the journalists that they could not report the information discussed.

As of now, the families are awaiting a response from the Home Secretary and have also written to Opposition leader Keir Starmer, seeking a meeting with him and his shadow ministers.

Calling for a public inquiry into the case, the families have also met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who promised them that "we will get the answers".

Meanwhile, Attorney General Victoria Prentis KC MP said the sentence of manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder was 'unduly lenient' and will be referred to the Court of Appeal.

Source: IANS

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