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‘Look forward to working together…': PM Modi congratulates Lee Jae-myung on being elected South Korean president

‘Look forward to working together…': PM Modi congratulates Lee Jae-myung on being elected South Korean president

Mint04-06-2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Lee Jae-myung on his election as South Korean president, expressing eagerness to strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership.
He said on X, 'Congratulations to Mr Lee Jae-myung on being elected as the President of the Republic of Korea (ROK). Look forward to working together to further expand and strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership.'
Congratulations to Mr Lee Jae-myung on being elected as the President of the Republic of Korea (ROK). Look forward to working together to further expand and strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership.
Liberal opposition candidate Lee Jae-myung was elected president early Wednesday, a victory that would cap months of political turmoil triggered by the stunning but brief imposition of martial law by the now-ousted conservative leader Yoon Suk Yeol.
(This is a developing story)
Key Takeaways The election of Lee Jae-myung marks a pivotal change in South Korean politics.
PM Modi's congratulatory message signals the importance of India-South Korea relations.
The strengthening of the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership could lead to enhanced diplomatic and economic ties.
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Philippines President Marcos in India for 5-day visit: Why this visit is significant
Philippines President Marcos in India for 5-day visit: Why this visit is significant

First Post

time8 minutes ago

  • First Post

Philippines President Marcos in India for 5-day visit: Why this visit is significant

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will make his first state visit to India from today (August 4), marking 75 years of diplomatic ties. The visit includes talks with Prime Minister Modi, defence and trade discussions, and a Bengaluru business engagement read more Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), at the House of Representatives, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, July 28, 2025. File Image/Reuters Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is on his first official visit to India from Monday to Friday (August 4-8, 2025) aimed at advancing cooperation between New Delhi and Manila. The visit comes as the two nations commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations. This high-level state visit is expected to encompass a broad agenda – from defence and maritime security to trade, investment, and cultural exchange – and marks the first trip by a Filipino head of state to India since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's visit in 2007. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What's on the Marcos agenda in India Marcos, invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos, along with an entourage including senior Cabinet ministers, top bureaucrats, key dignitaries and business leaders. During his stay in New Delhi, Marcos will meet with Modi on August 5 for in-depth bilateral talks. In addition to Modi, he is slated to call on President Droupadi Murmu and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, with discussions expected to cover areas ranging from regional security concerns to bolstering economic ties. According to the Philippine Communications Office (PCO), the official engagements won't be limited to Delhi. 'After official meetings and events in New Delhi, the President and his delegation will travel to Bangalore. He will meet with the business sectors in both cities,' the PCO stated. This Bengaluru leg will be a focal point for economic engagement, as Marcos interacts with leading Indian companies and potential investors. Marcos will also hold a community outreach session with members of the Filipino diaspora in New Delhi. The visit, spanning five days, signals Manila's intent to strengthen strategic ties with one of Asia's largest economies, while also providing New Delhi with a valuable opportunity to deepen its 'Act East' Policy. The trip follows a long hiatus in top-level exchanges. The last time an Indian president visited the Philippines was Ram Nath Kovind in 2019, whereas Marcos's journey will revive head-of-state diplomacy after nearly two decades. India-Philippines defence a priority Defence cooperation has emerged as one of the strongest anchors of India-Philippines relations, and it is set to be a highlight of this state visit. In January 2022, Manila signed a $374.9 million agreement for the purchase of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, making the Philippines the first foreign buyer of India's flagship missile platform. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The first delivery of the BrahMos took place on April 19, 2024, an event that signalled growing strategic convergence between the two countries. India has been steadily expanding its defence outreach to Southeast Asia, and with the Philippines, the collaboration spans military training, ship visits and maritime security dialogues. Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels frequently make port calls to the Philippines – notable visits include INS Satpura in June 2022, INS Ranvijay and INS Kora in August 2021, and several earlier deployments. These have often been accompanied by joint exercises, including the first-ever Navy-to-Navy Passage Exercise in the West Philippine Sea in 2021. Cooperation has gone beyond drills and deployments. The two sides signed an MoU on Enhanced Maritime Cooperation in 2023, alongside a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for exchanging white-shipping information, allowing real-time sharing of data on commercial ships to bolster maritime security. High-level defence engagements have also been frequent. A Philippine Coast Guard delegation led by CG Admiral Artemio M Abu visited India in August 2023, and the Philippine Army's commanding general, Lt Gen Roy Mabagos Galido, travelled to India for the 13th Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs' Conference in September 2023. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A 2006 Defence Cooperation MoU led to the creation of the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC), which has convened four times, most recently in March 2023 in New Delhi. A separate MoU on Defence Industry and Logistics Cooperation signed in 2017 resulted in a Joint Defence Industry and Logistics Committee (JDILC), which has met thrice, including in March 2022. The armed forces of both countries also participate in specialised training exchanges. Philippine officers have attended India's prestigious National Defence College (NDC), while Indian officers have been part of the Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) course in Manila. Engagements extend to staff college programs and delegation visits, including multiple visits by Indian military education institutions such as the Army War College, Mhow. During the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in 2024, Marcos articulated Manila's vision, stating that his country 'will pursue more robust collaboration with friends such as India.' This declaration, alongside India's consistent stance on freedom of navigation and territorial integrity in the South China Sea, positions the defence track as an area ripe for new agreements or expanded commitments during the visit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What trade between India-Philippines looks like While defence cooperation grabs headlines, trade and investment form the backbone of the India-Philippines relationship – and Marcos's visit is expected to bring this into sharper focus. Bilateral trade has grown steadily, hitting $3.53 billion in 2023-24, a year-on-year increase of 8.6 per cent. India has maintained a healthy trade surplus, exporting $2.09 billion worth of goods to the Philippines while importing $1.43 billion. Major Indian exports include: Engineering goods and automotive parts Pharmaceutical products (India supplies around 20 per cent of total pharma exports to ASEAN) Steel, petroleum products, and chemicals Electronics, plastics, rice, and bovine meat Key imports from the Philippines to India feature: Electrical machinery and semiconductors Copper, lead, and precious stones Plastics and ores Food industry residues and animal fodder According to trade data, Indian pharmaceutical products accounted for 15.96 per cent of Philippine pharmaceutical imports in 2023, putting a spotlight on India's strong role in Manila's healthcare sector. Investment flows complement trade. Indian companies have invested an estimated $5 billion in the Philippines, largely in sectors like IT and BPO services, pharmaceuticals, textiles, agriculture and FMCG. Conversely, Philippine investments in India are smaller but strategically placed, with firms like Ayala's AC Energy Corporation and Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Company (AG&P) active in renewable energy, construction, and infrastructure. Efforts to further streamline commerce have been ongoing. In April 2022, the two countries signed an Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters (ratified in June 2023). Additionally, talks on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) were revived in December 2023, with negotiations continuing to frame the Terms of Reference for the Trade Negotiations Committee. To encourage tourism and business exchanges, the Philippines recently introduced visa-free travel for Indian nationals, while direct flights between the two countries are expected to resume by late 2025 – a move that could significantly boost connectivity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why a strong India-Philippines bond matters The visit holds significance beyond bilateral ties. India and the Philippines are both part of a wider Indo-Pacific strategic framework, sharing concerns about maritime security and trade routes. The Ministry of External Affairs has framed the visit as part of India's broader outreach to Southeast Asia, noting, 'India's relations with the Philippines are an integral pillar of our 'Act East' Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR and our vision of the Indo-Pacific. The forthcoming State Visit of President Marcos coincides with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic relations. The visit is an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest.' India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN also feeds into the relationship, and Marcos's engagements in India are expected to highlight Manila's role as a key Southeast Asian partner for New Delhi. The Philippines, facing ongoing challenges in the South China Sea, views partnerships with like-minded countries as critical. India, which has consistently upheld the principle of freedom of navigation and opposed unilateral changes to the status quo in maritime disputes, provides Manila with a supportive partner in this domain. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies

Crisis of credibility will hurt both ECI and democracy
Crisis of credibility will hurt both ECI and democracy

Hans India

time38 minutes ago

  • Hans India

Crisis of credibility will hurt both ECI and democracy

The recent attacks by the Congress on the Election Commission of India (ECI) reflect a deepening crisis of confidence in the institutions that underpin India's democracy. Against the backdrop of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, these allegations have brought the Commission into the political spotlight once again—raising troubling questions about its autonomy and credibility. On Saturday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Commission of having become a 'puppet' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that the poll panel no longer functions as an autonomous constitutional body but as an instrument of the ruling regime. His statement came as reports emerged that nearly 65 lakh voters in Bihar could be excluded from the rolls during the ongoing revision. The next day, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram sharpened the attack. In a post on X, he alleged that the Commission was engaged in a 'deliberate and dangerous' exercise to alter the 'electoral character and patterns' of states. He contrasted the large-scale deletions in Bihar with reports of 6.5 lakh 'additions' to the electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu—an act he described as 'alarming and patently illegal'. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government dismisses these charges, as it typically does with other criticisms from the Opposition. Yet, beyond the usual exchange of barbs between the ruling party and the Congress lies a larger and more worrying narrative: the growing perception that India's democratic institutions, including the ECI, are being eroded from within. The Election Commission has historically enjoyed a reputation as being one of the country's most trusted public bodies, credited with conducting free and fair elections in the world's largest democracy. But, its standing has been steadily declining in recent years. Critics argue that its responses to contentious issues—ranging from alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct to controversial decisions on electoral roll revisions—often appear either delayed or tilted in favour of the ruling party. Whether or not such allegations are fully justified, the perception of bias itself is corrosive in a democracy that depends on the impartiality of its institutions. The fact is that this perception of institutional capture is not limited to the ECI. Over the last decade, various organs of the state—be it investigative agencies, the legislature, and even sections of the judiciary—have faced accusations of being influenced or pressured by the executive. The Modi government's critics frequently argue that its centralised style of governance leaves little room for institutional autonomy. The government, for its part, insists that these institutions are functioning within their mandates and that such criticisms are politically motivated. Some of the rhetoric from Congress leaders borders on hyperbole. Branding the ECI outright as a 'puppet' or suggesting a grand conspiracy to alter the electoral character of states might be politically effective but risks undermining public faith in the very institutions they seek to defend. In democracies, reckless statements can deepen voter cynicism. Yet, exaggeration does not nullify the kernel of truth underlying these charges. The ECI's conduct has done little to dispel doubts about its impartiality. An institution that was once celebrated for standing up to political power now seems hesitant even to assert its independence convincingly. It is incumbent upon not just the political class but also the ECI to undo the damage done in the last few years.

INDIA bloc leaders to meet on August 7 amid demands to discuss Bihar's SIR
INDIA bloc leaders to meet on August 7 amid demands to discuss Bihar's SIR

Business Standard

time38 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

INDIA bloc leaders to meet on August 7 amid demands to discuss Bihar's SIR

The INDIA bloc leaders are set to meet on August 7 in the national capital amid their demands to hold a Parliamentary discussion on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, Congress MP KC Venugopal said. "There will be a get-together on August 7 in Delhi. INDIA alliance leaders will be there," Venugopal told ANI. Slamming the Election Commission (EC) for "systematically targeting the democratic values", Venugopal stated that his party will reveal the "serious malpractices" of the poll body in Bengaluru on August 5. He further alleged that the names of many voters have been "excluded" from the draft electoral rolls for Bihar recently released by the EC. "We are protesting against SIR inside and outside Parliament. The Election Commission is systematically targeting the democratic values of this country. We expected neutrality from the Election Commission, but they are not doing so. The names of many voters have been excluded from the list in Bihar. How can a fair democracy run like this? We are going to reveal the serious malpractices of the Election Commission in Bengaluru on August 5," the Congress MP said. The INDIA bloc members will be meeting over dinner at Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's residence on August 7, sources said on Sunday. The voter list revision in Bihar has sparked a political row across the country, with the opposition alliance alleging that the revision process could lead to the deletion of a large number of voters. Several INDIA bloc MPs have moved adjournment motion notices and Rule 267 notices in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, respectively, demanding a detailed debate on the SIR drive. The ongoing monsoon session of Parliament has witnessed constant adjournments amid opposition protests. According to data from the revision exercise in Bihar, around 35 lakh electors have either migrated permanently or could not be traced at their registered addresses. The figures have raised serious concerns about the integrity of the voter list as the Election Commission prepares for a nationwide revision of electoral rolls. It is also worth noting that a large number of untraceable electors have been found during the SIR in Bihar. As per government data from 2017, an estimated 2.04 crore Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas are believed to be living illegally in India, adding another layer of complexity to concerns over voter list accuracy. As of January 1, 2024, India had 96.88 crore registered voters for the General Elections, making the outcome of the nationwide revision exercise highly significant. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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