Once in a while people feel bored by the excess of communication or feel disgusted by the bombardment of news. In modern world of technological advancement its a common phenomena that happens with everyone. This daily excess dose of your communication is going to stop at one point of interest now with this "honey bee." This will extract fruitful news for you out of the best possible options and with its presentation will be able to sting your curiosity of knowing as well :-
During PM Narendra Modi's UK visit, he held a series of bilateral meetings with leaders from Commonwealth nations, on the sidelines of CHOGM(The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) in London. Here are the highlights of the PM UK's visit.
On the sidelines of the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London PM, met a number of leaders from Commonwealth nations and had a series of bilateral meetings, including discussions with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina and Seychelles President Danny Faure.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described some of his meetings as the "neighbourhood first" approach. Modi, who is on a three-day visit to the United Kingdom (UK), also met Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. These meetings were part of India's diplomatic reach-out across Commonwealth nations. However, among neighbours, things remained cold between New Delhi and Islamabad; the MEA clarified that Modi did not meet his Pakistani counterpart Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at CHOGM.
Flash point between New Delhi and Islamabad emerged over Prime Minister Modi's revelations regarding the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army in 2016 during his 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sab ke Saath' programme in London. Pakistan rejected Prime Minister Modi's remarks on the surgical strikes across the Line of Control in 2016 as "false and baseless", adding that "repeating a lie doesn't turn it into truth". Pakistan continues to deny that the strikes ever took place, while the Indian establishment stands firm on the military action taken in the aftermath of the Uri terrorist attack. Modi announced the doubling of India's contribution to the Commonwealth fund for technical cooperation. Further, the prime minister, during his interventions at the executive session of the CHOGM in London, highlighted the need for capacity building of small states and small island nations that are part of the Commonwealth. "The overall objective of the Prime Minister's participation at this CHOGM in 2018 signals our stepped up engagement with the Commonwealth. It conveys India's desire to see the Commonwealth increase its focus on developing the country's priorities," the MEA said.
Here are the top developments around Prime Minister Narendra Modi's UK visit and bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London:
1) PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Sheikh Hasina, Seychelles President Danny Faure: Modi on Thursday held a series of bilateral meetings, including discussions with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Seychelles President Danny Faure, on the sidelines of the multilateral CHOGM in London. "Neighbourhood first! Connecting with a neighbour and a close friend, PM Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina had a productive exchange of views on various issues of bilateral interest on the sidelines of CHOGM 2018," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
In his meeting with Seychelles President Faure, Prime Minister Modi discussed cooperation in areas of trade and investment and other bilateral issues, Kumar said. The bilateral talks between Faure and Modi assume significance after Seychelles ordered an inquiry into the leak of a highly classified agreement signed with India to develop infrastructure on Assumption Island, which lies southwest of the mainland of Mahe. The Opposition in Seychelles has decided not to ratify the pact because of Assumption's relative proximity to Aldabra atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to the world's largest population of giant tortoises.
Cementing India's close friendship with Mauritius, Modi met his Mauritius counterpart Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and talked about cooperation in trade and investment, maritime cooperation, and people-to-people ties.
The "pull-aside meetings" with world leaders included an interaction with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Gambian President Adama Barrow, Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela. Modi also interacted with Kiribati President Taneti Maamau, Antigua & Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, and Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Keith C Rowley.
Some of the other world leaders who were expected to have one-on-one deliberations with Modi during the summit included South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Michael Holness.
Read our previous copy on developments around Bharat Ki Baat and highlights of PM Modi's UK visit here: Modi in London: Khalistani elements tear Indian flag; Pak hits out at PM
2) Modi-Hasina meeting focused on development cooperation: According to Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, in his meeting with Prime Minister Hasina, Modi "had a productive exchange of views on various issues of bilateral interest". During a media briefing, Kumar said, "A lot of time was spent on governmental cooperation during the meeting with the Bangladesh Prime Minister."
3) Modi-Turnbull meeting focuses on 'strength in similar values of democracy, pluralism': Following Modi's meeting with his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull, External Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, "Strength in similar values of democracy, pluralism and Commonwealth traditions!" Kumar said the two leaders discussed issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. India and Australia, which is also home to a large Indian diaspora, are discussing a free trade agreement and are important defence partners. The two countries, along with the US and Japan, are also part of the recently revived quadrilateral grouping that seeks to work for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
4) Modi announces doubling of India's contribution to Commonwealth fund for technical cooperation: Prime Minister Modi announced the doubling of India's contribution to the Commonwealth fund for technical cooperation and stressed the need to focus on providing developmental assistance to small island states, the External Affairs Ministry said. During his interventions at the executive session of the CHOGM in London, Modi highlighted the need for capacity building of small states and small island developing states that are part of the Commonwealth.
The Prime Minister also said that India would also take part in small projects for assisting Commonwealth countries through its permanent mission in New York. "We are also doubling our contribution to the Commonwealth offices of small states in New York and Geneva which would help them enhance their capacity in dealing with multilateral issues," Ruchi Ghanashyam, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said.
5) India to train 60 young cricketers from Commonwealth nations: The prime minister also announced that with the help of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), India would organise cricket training for 30 young boys and 30 young girls under the age of 16. "The cross-cutting issues within the Commonwealth are around youth and gender. In that context, cricket being a unique game much played within the Commonwealth, with the help of BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) we offered 30 boys and 30 girls the chance to come to India, train in our world class facilities and help lay the network for the future generation of the Commonwealth," the MEA said.
6) India bats for small island nations' development at Commonwealth summit: The thrust of the prime minister's interventions at the CHOGM was on providing tailor-made assistance to small states and small island developing states, said Rudrendra Tandon, Joint Secretary, MEA. "The overall objective of the Prime Minister's participation at this CHOGM in 2018 signals our stepped up engagement with the Commonwealth. It conveys India's desire to see the Commonwealth increase its focus on developing country priorities," the MEA said.
7) Pak rejects PM Modi's remarks on surgical strikes as 'false and baseless': Pakistan rejected Prime Minister Modi's remarks on the Indian Army's surgical strikes across the Line of Control in 2016 as "false and baseless", saying that "repeating a lie doesn't turn it into the truth". Speaking at the 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' programme in London, Modi had said that India waited to inform Pakistan about the operation before disclosing it to the media and the people. "I said before India gets to know, we should call Pakistan and tell them. We were calling them since 11 am but they were scared to come on phone; at 12, we spoke to them and then told the Indian media," said Modi.
WASHINGTON: The reforms carried out by India has been bearing fruits and benefiting people, making a strong case for more steps, a top IMF official has said.
The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), despite a bumpy road, is going to help secure the solidity of foundation of public finances, David Lipton, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s First Deputy Managing Director, told PTI.
The recent steps taken to deal with the accumulated problems in banks are important ones, Lipton said, as he identified digital ID technology and other structural reforms important moves towards inclusive growth and making India an economic powerhouse.
"There's certainly more to be done but India is certainly seeing benefits from what it has done," he said on the sidelines of the Spring meeting of the IMF and the World Bank.
"India's reforms have been bearing fruits and we see that in growth performance. (India's) growth last year was 6.7 per cent. We're now projecting 7.4 this fiscal year and 7.8 the following (year). That's a very healthy acceleration and it really means for a country that is huge, adds up to an awful lot of economic activity.
"India's goal is to have sustained growth and to have a growth that boosts the living standards very broadly across the population. The reforms that have been carried out so far have had benefits and make a very good case for carrying forward with further reforms," Lipton said.
A country of India's size has to be very careful to keep public finances under control because any interruption of economic activity that comes from fiscal difficulties would be a setback, he said.
Strengthening the foundation of fiscal finances with the GST is one reform that stands out, Lipton said.
Asked if these reforms have been inclusive enough, Lipton said the eco-system being built around digital ID technology offers a big help in this regard.
The problem of inclusion in India is particularly a difficult one given the size of the country and the remoteness of much of the population as well as the complexity of some very overburdened urban areas, he said.
"There's been progress, but I think that this is a challenge that has not been not solved yet and may not be solved for a while. But what makes sense is to carry on.
"I hope that in India's case, new technologies, some of which are already being applied can help overcome remoteness and can promote inclusivity, whether it's retina ID numbers system and the architecture of finance and commerce that's going to be built around that or some of the new fintech innovations that allow people to do commerce or banking, whether it's savings and earning on their savings or borrowing may be useful for the creation and building businesses through new technologies," Lipton said.
The Indian government is effectively looking at how technologies can lead to better efficiency and less waste and corruption in government interactions with the people, whether it's in spending and benefits or the collection of taxes, the senior IMF official said.
"So, I think in a big country, technology can be a way to leapfrog the more old-fashioned ways in building connectivity that leads to inclusion in the country," he said.
Asked about the Aadhaar Card technology, Lipton said it is relatively new and seems to have many advantages.
"It surely has huge promises and could help overcome remoteness and promote inclusion," he said.
There certainly are possible drawbacks, he noted.
"From the beginning it's been clear that issues of privacy and data security are going to arise when you use a technology like this. And it'll be the societies' job to figure out the do's and don'ts of that," he said.
"I hope it (India's progress) will show in poverty reduction statistics and eventually in a measurement of metrics of inclusion.
"I've said there's more to be done. There are further reforms both in terms of consolidating the budget situation to ensure that there's never an incident of doubt about fiscal finances in terms of making the banking system more competitive and dealing with the legacy problems of NPAs (non- performing assets)," he said.
The important job is not just to recapitalise, but to change the governance and change the competitiveness so that banks serve as a positive force, allocating credit well and being a driving force in the economy, he said.
Asked about IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde's remarks that she does not expect any major economic reforms in an election year, Lipton said: "It's always a difficult to make policy during election years.
"We certainly hope that there can continue to be a progress, but it's really the judgement of the politicians, the government about what can be done when".
"If policies are managed well and reforms are supportive of inclusive growth, India's economy could become a powerhouse economy. It is already, I think the 10th largest, but with the population and the growth rate there's more potential.
"The challenges of getting from here to there are very substantial. India needs a process of growth and development. And development means both economic and social development and more inclusion. We do think the gender gap in involving women, in the economy in a way that their full potential can contribute to India's economic growth is very important objective," Lipton added.
Early Thursday morning, India launched its heaviest rocket yet. The GSLV Mk-III launch went off without a hitch, which is considered to be the beginning of the country's ambitious plans for sending humans to space.
India's Heaviest Rocket Launch
Early Thursday morning, India launched its heaviest rocket yet. The GSLV Mk-III launch went off without a hitch, which is considered to be the beginning of the country's ambitious plans for sending humans to space.
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