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8:34 AM

Jaishankar, Blinken discuss potential of India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his US counterpart Antony Blinken held discussions on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and its potential to generate high-standard infrastructure investments, the US State Department said in a statement.

The two leaders held discussions on a full range of issues, including key outcomes of India's G20 presidency.

7:58 AM

New Delhi examining Afghan embassy's purported communication on closing ops

The Afghan embassy in India has purportedly come out with a communication on closing down its operations and New Delhi is examining its authenticity, sources said on Thursday.

The embassy has been headed by Ambassador Farid Mamundzay and it is learnt that he is currently in London. Mamundzay was appointed by the previous Ashraf Ghani government and he has been operating as the Afghan envoy even after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

7:57 AM

Probe into killing of Hardeep Nijjar 'active & ongoing': Canadian police

The killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar remains an "active and ongoing investigation", the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have said.

Nijjar, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was killed in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. The killing of Nijjar, 45, is being investigated by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) of RCMP.

7:56 AM

Dhankhar signs Women's Quota Bill; to be placed before Murmu for assent

Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday signed the women's reservation bill as passed by Parliament before it is presented to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent.

 

The Constitution amendment bill was passed by the Lok Sabha with near unanimity and the Rajya Sabha with unanimity during a special session of Parliament earlier this month. The bill, which seeks to give 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, will take some time before being implemented as the next census and the subsequent delimitation (redrawing Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies) exercise will ascertain the seats being earmarked for women candidates.