India calls for freedom of navigation in South China Sea

India calls for freedom of navigation in South China Sea

Amid simmering tension over China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea, India has called for international laws and norms to be followed and for freedom of navigation in international waters and the right of overflight. Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. (retd) V.K. Singh, addressing the Fifth East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting […]

Indian firms invest $15 bn in US, employ over 90,000

Indian firms invest $15 bn in US, employ over 90,000

Washington India-based companies have invested over $15 billion across the US, creating an estimated 91,000 jobs, according to a report released by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Grant Thornton (GT). New Jersey, California, Texas, Illinois and New York are home to the most Americans directly employed by Indian companies, according to the report, […]

India to host BRICS next year, have trade fair, soccer tourneys

India to host BRICS next year, have trade fair, soccer tourneys

Ufa (Russia)India will chair next year’s BRICS summit that will see the hosting of the first BRICS trade fair, a film festival and an under-17 football tournament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed 10 steps to boost cooperation among the bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The “DusKadam”, or 10 steps for boosting […]

US jobless claims rise by 12,000

US jobless claims rise by 12,000

New claims for unemployment benefits in the United States increased by 12,000 last week to 267,000. This was revealed by the Labor Department on Thursday. Economists had expected an increase after claims dipped the previous week to 255,000, the lowest figure since 1973. The rolling four-week average of initial jobless claims, seen as a more […]

Kalam’s birthday observed as World Students’ Day: Assam governor

Kalam’s birthday observed as World Students’ Day: Assam governor

P.B. Acharya, governor of Assam and Nagaland, on Tuesday paid tributes to former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, reminding people that the 79th birthday of the silver-haired “people’s president” was observed as World Students’ Day. “Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s 79th birthday was recognised as World Students’ Day by the United Nations,” Acharya said in a statement. […]

Jewellers keep fingers crossed on gold prices

Jewellers keep fingers crossed on gold prices

Jewellers are keeping their fingers crossed about gold prices on Monday while pointing to two possibilities – a further fall or maintenance of status quo. “The prices are expected to fall further on Monday,” Madras Jewellers and Diamond Merchants Association president Jayantilal Challani told IANS here. On the other hand, N. Anantha Padmanabhan, managing director […]

UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO DECIDE ON A MH17 TRIBUNAL

UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO DECIDE ON A MH17 TRIBUNAL

I will travel to New York next week to seek the establishment of an international criminal tribunal by the UN Security Council (UNSC) to hold to account those responsible for the downing of Flight MH17.   One year ago the UNSC unanimously demanded accountability for the downing of MH17, which claimed 298 lives, including 39 […]