Rubio to embark on two-day Israel visit on March 2

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Washington, Feb 27 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel from March 2-3, the State Department said on Friday shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his historic visit to the country.

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel from March 2-3, 2026,” Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the State Department, said, outlining the purpose of the trip.

He added: “The US Secretary of State will discuss a range of regional priorities, including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza.”

The announcement came soon after Prime Minister Modi concluded his Tel Aviv visit, which drew wide attention in India, Israel, and the United States of America.

While the US State Department statement did not link the two developments, the timing underscores active diplomatic engagement in the West Asian region.

The Trump administration considers India a major player in the region, given its strong relationship with all the stakeholders.

Rubio’s discussions are expected to centre on Iran’s regional role, the fragile situation in Lebanon, and diplomatic efforts related to Gaza.

The reference to President Donald Trump’s “20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza” indicates Washington is continuing to pursue a defined framework aimed at stabilising the enclave.

The US has long been Israel’s closest ally and remains deeply involved in West Asian diplomacy.

Gaza has witnessed repeated rounds of conflict over the past decade, prompting sustained engagement by Washington and other international actors.

India, Israel, and the US have joined hands with the UAE to form a new grouping I2U2 for ambitious collaboration and among these members aimed at peace in the region.

–IANS

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Minorities are with NDA and Nitish Kumar: Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary

Patna, Oct 1 (IANS) Bihar’s Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary asserted on Wednesday that the state’s minority community has shown growing support for the NDA and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, crediting the CM’s long-standing focus on minority welfare.

Speaking to reporters in Patna, Choudhary said, “For the last 20 years, Nitish Kumar has worked extensively for the welfare of the minority community. They admire and appreciate his efforts, and there is a strong inclination towards NDA.”

The minister pointed out that the JD(U) minority cell held a meeting at the party’s office in Patna on Wednesday, where leaders chalk out campaign strategies.

“We will now go to the people across Bihar, making them aware of the welfare works Nitish Kumar has carried out for minorities. If there are any doubts in their minds, we will clarify them,” Choudhary added.

Highlighting Nitish Kumar’s schemes, he claimed that no other state government in the country has delivered so many welfare measures for minorities.

“The work done here under Nitish Kumar’s leadership is exemplary. Awareness is growing among the community, and no one will be able to mislead them anymore,” the JD(U) leader said.

Choudhary listed several initiatives launched under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, including fencing of graveyards to ensure security and prevent encroachment, salary hikes for Madarsa teachers, establishment of residential schools and hostels for minority community students, and improvements in health and education systems in minority-dominated areas.

The JD(U) leader’s remarks came ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, which are seen as crucial for the party.

Analysts believe that the NDA is making a concerted push to win over minority voters, who have traditionally leaned towards opposition parties.

In Bihar, minorities are the crucial vote bank, especially in the Seemanchal region.

According to the caste based survey conducted by the Nitish Kumar government during the Grand Alliance government, the minority communities’ population in Bihar is around 18 per cent, with the majority of them being Muslims.

–IANS

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Chhattisgarh: Three-year-old ‘sexually assaulted’ by minor neighbour in Raipur

Raipur, April 14 (IANS) In another gruesome and deeply disturbing incident, a three-year-old girl child was allegedly “sexually assaulted” by his thirteen your old neighbour under the civil lines police station area of Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

An official said that the child was later found in critical condition and immediately taken to a hospital by her family members to a hospital.

“The child is three years old, but stable and under treatment. A medical report will confirm if the sexual assault was committed. The girl child was a neighbour of the accused, and their family belonged to the same community, and they were familiar with each other. The child is in hospital and under treatment,” Ajay Kumar, City Superintendent of Police, Civil Lines, Raipur, told IANS.

“The accused – a thirteen-year-old teen is in police custody,” the officer said.

According to reports, the girl child and the boy used to play with each other as their families are neighbours. She was sleeping with her mother on Monday, and the boy called her to play.

Later, she was discovered crying, and her clothes were stained.

Reports indicate that the assault happened while the girl stepped out of her house, and the accused was caught by locals and handed over to the police. The incident has sparked outrage.

Recently, during the auspicious occasion of Navratri, a six-year-old was also sexually assaulted and murdered allegedly by her own uncle (father’s sibling) while the victim went to join ‘Kanya Bhoj’ – a ceremonial feast with other children.

The accused not only sexually assaulted her but also allegedly electrocuted the child to murder her.

Later, he dumped her lifeless body in a neighbour’s car to shift the suspicion on the neighbour. The incident triggered a state-wide protest against the law and order situation in the state.

Also, the parents of the victim were not ready to accept the police’s story that the victim’s uncle had committed the crime.

According to the NCRB data, incidents of sexual violence against minors remain alarmingly frequent in Chhattisgarh, with many cases involving perpetrators who are relatives or acquaintances.

–IANS

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Maha govt to build high-speed freight corridor between Vadhavan Port and Samruddhi Marg

Nagpur, Dec 10 (IANS) Maharashtra Minister Dadaji Bhuse informed the Assembly on Wednesday that the state cabinet has approved the construction of a 104.9-km high-speed freight corridor to directly connect the upcoming Vadhavan Port with the Samruddhi Mahamarg (Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg).

The cabinet has also given its approval for the design and land acquisition for the high-speed freight corridor.

The Minister, in a reply to a question of Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Mahesh Sawant and others, said the loan will be raised from HUDCO for the land acquisition.

He added that the planning will be made for project expenses after examining the viability, following the receipt of the detailed project report.

Minister Bhuse said the 104.9 km high-speed freight corridor will connect Vadhavan Port in Palghar district to the Samruddhi Expressway at Bharvir in Nashik district.

Vadhavan, being developed as a major transhipment hub under the Centre’s Sagarmala initiative, is expected to emerge as one of the country’s leading ports. The project will be executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and is slated for completion within three years.

The Minister further stated that the expressway will pass through Dahanu, Vikramgad, Jawhar, and Mokhada talukas of Palghar district, and Trimbakeshwar and Igatpuri talukas of Nashik district.

The corridor will significantly reduce the travel distance between the port and the expressway from about 183 km to 105 km. This will cut the travel time for freight from the current 4-5 hours to just 1-1.5 hours.

“It is a crucial strategic link to support the expected high volume of international cargo from the Vadhavan Port, a major transhipment hub being developed under the Centre’s Sagarmala initiative,” said the Minister.

He noted that the high-speed link will enable faster and more cost-efficient movement of goods, benefiting industrial and agricultural sectors in Vidarbha, Marathwada, and North Maharashtra by providing a direct gateway to the Western coast.

–IANS

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