EAM Jaishankar’s Singapore visit boosts strategic ties, investment & Indo-Pacific dialogue

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, July 13 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar arrived in Singapore on Sunday, marking a significant step in India’s diplomatic outreach and strategic engagement with Southeast Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The visit, part of a broader tour that includes China, underscores India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and advancing regional cooperation.

During his stay, EAM Jaishankar met with Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

The discussions centered on reviewing the progress made since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit and the outcomes of the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable.

Key areas of collaboration included investments, industrial parks, semiconductor development, infrastructure, skill enhancement, and connectivity.

Both sides also exchanged views on regional dynamics, particularly ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific, as well as broader global developments.

A notable engagement was EAM Jaishankar’s meeting with Teo Chee Hean, former Senior Minister and Chairman-designate of Temasek Holdings.

Their dialogue focused on India’s ongoing economic transformation and the potential for Temasek to deepen its investment footprint in the country.

Temasek, a global investment firm headquartered in Singapore, has shown growing interest in India’s expanding markets, particularly in sectors like renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and healthcare.

EAM Jaishankar emphasised that Singapore remains central to India’s ‘Act East Policy’, serving as a gateway for deeper integration with ASEAN and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

His visit reflects the continuity of high-level exchanges and the strategic importance India places on its relationship with Singapore, which has evolved into a robust partnership spanning trade, technology, education, and defence.

The EAM also highlighted India’s efforts to position itself as a reliable partner in global supply chains, especially in critical sectors like semiconductors and green energy.

Singapore’s role as a financial and technological hub makes it a key collaborator in these ambitions.

Following his engagements in Singapore, EAM Jaishankar is scheduled to travel to Tianjin, China, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

His participation in the SCO conclave is expected to include bilateral talks aimed at stabilising India-China relations and advancing multilateral cooperation within the Eurasian Framework.

–IANS

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Sensex, Nifty fall more than 1 pc as global risks weigh on market sentiment

Mumbai, Dec 13 (IANS) Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty fell more than 1 per cent on Friday. At around 10.51 a.m., the Sensex fell 1,017.03 points or 1.25 per cent to 80,272.93, while the Nifty fell 306.80 points or 1.25 per cent to 24,241.90.

The market trend remained negative. On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), 340 stocks were trading in green, while 2,047 stocks were in red.

The market remained in turmoil due to heavy selling by Foreign Institutional Investors, the rising US bond yields and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. On the other hand, the decision to be taken by the Federal Reserve on interest rates on December 18 has increased concern in the market.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth Rs 3,560.01 crore in the Indian market on December 12, while domestic institutional investors bought shares worth Rs 2,646.65 crore on the same day.

According to market experts, “In the near term, the market has a headwind and a tailwind. The headwind is the resumption of selling by the FIIs who sold stocks for Rs 3,560 crore yesterday. Given the high valuations in India FIIs are likely to sell more at every market rise.”

“Selling has been profitable for FIIs since the dollar has been appreciating after the US election. The tailwind which can support the market is the declining inflation,” they added.

In the Sensex pack, Tata Steel, JSW Steel, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv, SBI, M&M and Bajaj Finance were the top losers.

In the broader market, Nifty Bank was down 839.65 points or 1.58 per cent at 52,376.80, Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 58,082.85 after dropping 938.85 points or 1.59 per cent. Nifty Smallcap 100 index was at 19,074.70 after dropping 391.85 points or 2.01 per cent.

On the sectoral front, heavy selling was seen in Nifty PSU Bank, metal, realty, auto, IT, pharma and FMCG sectors.

–IANS

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NDA leaders slam Tejashwi Yadav for calling Nitish Kumar a ‘junk car’

Patna, March 1 (IANS) NDA leaders including Bihar’s Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha hit back at Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav for terming Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as a “20-year-old junk car.”

Reacting to Tejashwi’s tweet that “a 15-year-old car cannot run, so why would a 20-year-old government work?”, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said: “The Lalu family is constantly abusing Nitish Kumar. But don’t panic – Nitish Kumar will continue working for another 15 years. There’s no need to worry.”

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha questioned Tejashwi’s own political legacy, stating: “Before commenting on Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi should first ask his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, to step down as RJD’s national president.”

He accused the RJD of being power-hungry, saying: “They have abandoned all morality in their desperation for power.”

Sinha emphasised the need for a crime-free and corruption-free Bihar, asserting that, “We must focus on good governance and take Bihar forward under Nitish Kumar’s leadership.”

Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan also criticised Tejashwi Yadav for his personal attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, urging him to focus on facts and governance instead of personal remarks.

“Tejashwi Yadav, as the Leader of the Opposition, should maintain decorum and avoid personal attacks. Calling Nitish Kumar a “20-year-old junk car” is inappropriate and disrespectful. Comparisons between Nitish Kumar’s tenure and Lalu-Rabri’s rule should be based on data, not personal comments,” Paswan said.

“Under Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, Bihar faced a breakdown in law and order, a surge in crime and a lack of employment opportunities,” he said.

Paswan emphasised that Tejashwi should engage in issue-based politics and debate governance records rather than resorting to personal jabs.

“Let the data speak for itself,” he asserted, implying that Nitish Kumar’s two decades in power have seen improvements compared to the RJD era.

–IANS

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Requested Bengal Guv to ensure safety of people in Murshidabad: NCW Chief (Lead)

Kolkata, April 20 (IANS) The National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson, Vijaya K Rahatkar, said on Sunday that she requested the West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose to ensure the safety of women and children in the Murshidabad district, which was hit by violence last week over the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

“I have updated the Governor about the condition of the women and children. The situation is alarming in Murshidabad. I have appealed to the Governor to ensure the safety and security of children there,” Rahatkar said after a meeting with the Governor at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on Sunday evening.

An NCW delegation led by Rahatkar had been visiting the troubled pockets in the Murshidabad district for the last two days. The delegation members also visited a relief camp in Murshidabad-adjacent Malda district, where the people displaced due to the communal violence at Murshidabad are currently housed.

Earlier in the day, while speaking to the media persons, Rahatkar claimed that the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel came as saviours for the women of Murshidabad district after personnel of the central armed police personnel were deployed on the night of April 12.

Rahatkar also clarified that this credit to BSF was given by the women in the affected pockets in Murshidabad district, with whom an NCW delegation interacted during the last couple of days.

Rahatkar also said that the NCW delegation will give a detailed report to the Union government based on their findings.

On Saturday, while the NCW delegation members visited the different troubled pockets in Murshidabad, the demand for the women in the areas was for permanent BSF camps in the area.

The NCW delegation members also assured them of taking up the matter with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

–IANS

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