
Paris: EAM Jaishankar discusses global rebalancing with strategic community
In a post on X, he said, 'A pleasure interacting with the strategic community in Paris today. Discussed global rebalancing underway, the growing importance of data, technology & energy, and the promise of a strong India - Europe partnership.'
https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1933941892351185120
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar also visited National Library of France and saw the classical India manuscripts and texts in their collection.
In a post on X, he said, 'Pleased to visit National Library of France, Paris. Saw classical India manuscripts and texts in their collection. Was a reminder of the depth of Indology in France. Also discussed with President, BNF Gilles Pecout opportunities for greater collaboration on heritage conservation.'
https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1933939615058252118
Earlier on Friday, Jaishankar held talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Nol Barrot at Raisina Mediterranean 2025.
Jaishankar highlighted India's deepening strategic engagement with Europe, particularly France.
In a post on X, he said, 'A good conversation along with FM Jean-Nol Barrot of France at Raisina Mediterranean 2025. Highlighted India's deepening strategic engagement with Europe particularly France, guided by deeper convergences and shared interests. And its positive outcomes for global connectivity, technology regimes and the Global South.'
https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1933627298189566122
Jaishankar visited France from June 11-14. The visit, coming within four months of visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France, reaffirmed the robust and long-standing strategic partnership between India and France.
During the visit, EAM called on President of France, Emmanuel Macron. He conveyed warm greetings of Prime Minister Modi to the French President and appreciated France's strong support to India in the fight against terrorism.
The two sides committed to fully implement the Horizon 2047 Roadmap and Defense Industrial Roadmap that were agreed between the two leaders. The discussions reflected the deep trust, comfort, and shared ambition that characterize the India-France bilateral ties. (ANI)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Print
40 minutes ago
- The Print
Marcos Jr to be 5th Philippines president to visit India. Delhi-Manila diplomatic ties date back to 1949
For the Philippines, India has been an important defence partner. In 2022, they made a deal worth $374.96 million to purchase the BrahMos missile system. The second batch of the BrahMos system was delivered to the Philippines in April 2025. The two countries have also endeavoured to deepen the naval relationship between each other, through maritime exercises in the South China Sea, which are to begin on 3 August. 'Both countries have developed a strong partnership across a wide spectrum of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and digital technologies,' MEA S. Jaishankar said in a statement Thursday. He added that the two countries have closely engaged at regional level through India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN. New Delhi: Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr will arrive in India Monday for a state visit from 4 August to 8 August, with New Delhi seeking to expand its strategic footprint in South East Asia. This will be Marcos's first visit to India after taking office in 2022, and he will be accompanied by senior dignitaries and business representatives. India has increasingly become a key partner for the Philippines, as the situation in the South China Sea remains tense. Manila has, over the last couple of years, faced a number of incidents with China over disputed territories in the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands. An arbitral tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague decided in 2016 that China's claims based on the 'nine-dash line' had no legal basis under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and that certain maritime areas fall within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Beijing rejected the directive. Last year, during a visit to the Philippines, Jaishankar announced India's backing for Manila's sovereignty, urging all parties to adhere to the UNCLOS in 'letter and spirit'. India's position irritated Beijing at the time, asserting that third parties have no right to interfere in the dispute. New Delhi-Manila ties in the past India and the Philippines have shared both strategic and cultural ties. Sanskrit has had a linguistic influence on the Filipino language, and artifacts discovered in the Philippines, show that India and the Philippines share a long history of cultural association. The August visit will follow the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines. In November of 1949, soon after both countries gained independence, various treaties and agreements were signed and since then there have been several bilateral State Visits between both nations. In 1952, a Treaty of Friendship was signed, asserting the mutual aspiration to strengthen friendly relations and perpetuating 'peace and everlasting amity' between the two nations. India's Look East policy, launched in 1991, with the objective to develop stronger ties with the ASEAN countries, along with the 2014 Act East policy led to India taking a more enterprising role in developing a strong association with countries in the Southeast of Asia, including the Philippines. The MEA reaffirmed in his announcement that India's relations with the Philippines are an 'integral part of Vision MAHASAGAR and [India's] vision of the Indo-Pacific.' To date, there have been four Presidential Visits from the Philippines to India, the first being a stop-over visit from President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1976, followed by an official three-day visit from President Fidel Ramos in 1997, during which he discussed trade and security with then Indian Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda. Next, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came to India in 2007 and visited Mumbai, New Delhi, and Agra. In January 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte visited to attend the ASEAN-India Summit and India's Republic Day celebration as a chief guest along with other leaders of ASEAN, resulting in various talks regarding trade, investment, and defence cooperation between the two countries. From India, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi became the first Indian Head of State to visit the Philippines in 1981, where she met with ASEAN leaders. President R. Venkataraman visited in 1991, followed by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 2006 on a three-day visit aimed at strengthening ties through MoUs on trade, investment, and agriculture. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Manila twice in his two terms, and President Ram Nath Kovind visited the Philippines to mark the 70th anniversary of Indo-Filipino relations. Modi and Marcos will hold bilateral talks on 5 August, which will be followed by a visit to Bengaluru before the President returns to the Philippines on 8 August. Mannat Randhawa is an intern with ThePrint. (Edited by Vidhi Bhutra)


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'Rahul Gandhi is anti-India': Himanta Biswa Sarma's fresh jibe at Congress MP; accuses him of supporting only Bangladeshi, Pakistani Muslims
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (ANI images) NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi , calling him 'anti-national' and accusing him of supporting only Muslims from Bangladesh and Pakistan, as reported by news agency PTI. Speaking to reporters during a election campaign meeting in the Bodoland Territorial Region, Sarma also claimed that the Congress party does "not respect icons of Assam", such as the Kamakhya temple and spiritual reformer Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva. "Rahul Gandhi is an anti-India person. He is only with Bangladeshi and Pakistani Muslims. He is not with Indian Hindus, not even with Indian Muslims. Rahul Gandhi is an anti-national personality," Sarma alleged. He did not provide any specific reasons for labelling Rahul Gandhi, the current Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, as anti-national. Just days before, Rahul Gandhi had criticized CM Sarma during his visit to Guwahati. Speaking at a party event in Chaygaon, Gandhi accused the Assam chief minister of acting like a 'king' and predicted that he would eventually end up in jail due to corruption charges. 'He thinks he is a 'raja', but he will not be in power for long. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Premium 1 BHK at Mahindra Citadel – Coming Soon! Mahindra Citadel Enquire Now Undo He will end up in jail — not because Congress wants it, but because the people of Assam will send him there for corruption.' In response, Sarma dismissed the allegations with a strong reply with words and a hand gesture "Thenga" during a late-night press briefing. He stated that unlike Gandhi, he is a true son of Assam, raised by its soil and people. He accused the Congress of being stuck in outdated thinking and added, 'The joke is on him.'


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on African Union, Khmer Kingdom and more (Week 121)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on International Relations to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the African Union (AU), consider the following statements: 1. The AU's secretariat, the African Union Commission, is based in Nairobi. 2. The official languages of the Union and all its institutions are only Arabic and French. 3. It was officially established in 2002 as the successor of the Organisation of African Unity. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — The African Union (AU) is an intergovernmental organisation of the 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. — It was officially established in 2002 as the successor of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). Hence, statement 3 is correct. — The African Union Commission, the organization's secretariat, is headquartered in Addis Ababa. The organisation has a combined GDP of $3 trillion and 1.4 billion people. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. — However, its primary goal was to assist in the liberation of the continent's colonial countries. To accomplish this, the OAU mobilised diplomatic support and gave logistical assistance to liberation movements throughout Africa. — The official languages of the Union and its institutions will be Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Kiswahili, and any other African language. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. (Other Source: With reference to the World Economic Outlook, consider the following statements: 1. It provides a comprehensive picture of the global economy as well as details of individual countries. 2. It is published by the World Bank once every two years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released the latest update of its World Economic Outlook (WEO). The IMF has 191 member countries, and its overall goal is to strive for their 'sustainable growth and prosperity'. It does so by fostering international trade, economic growth, and policies that encourage countries to cooperate, especially when it comes to monetary policy. The IMF releases the WEO twice every year, in April and October, apart from updating it twice — in January and July. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — The WEO is the IMF's benchmark publication as it provides a comprehensive picture of the global economy as well as details of individual countries. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — The broader message is captured by the title of the update — 'Global Economy: Tenuous Resilience amid Persistent Uncertainty'. There are two main takeaways for the state of the global economy. — First, the global economy has proven to be resilient, albeit tenuous, and second, the outlook is plagued by persistent uncertainty. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Consider the following statements: 1. Until July 20, this country was the 58th largest economy in the world. A day later, it rose three spots to the 55th rank, overtaking Ukraine, Qatar, and Hungary in the process as it added more than $50 billion, or roughly 30 per cent of its GDP, in 2024. 2. This is not the first time this country has seen such a huge increase in its GDP due to the base year revision. More than a decade ago, change in the base year from 1990 to 2010 had helped propel this nation to the position of Africa's largest economy thanks to an even-larger 89 per cent increase in the GDP to $510 billion in 2014. The above mentioned statements refer to: (a) Sudan (b) Nigeria (c) Tanzania (d) South Africa Explanation — On July 21, Nigeria's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) published the results of its GDP rebasing exercise, which saw the base year of the indicator being updated to 2019 from 2010, among other changes. Nigeria's GDP in 2024 is now estimated at $243 billion in nominal terms, up from $187 billion forecast by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). — Nigeria's base-year revision exercise included other more meaningful changes in the manner in which the African nation calculates the GDP. This included increasing the scope of its methodology to include previously undercounted sectors such as digital services, pension fund operations, and e-commerce activities, among others. — This is not the first time Nigeria has seen such a huge increase in its GDP due to the base year revision. More than a decade ago, change in the base year from 1990 to 2010 had helped propel Nigeria to the position of Africa's largest economy thanks to an even-larger 89 per cent increase in the GDP to $510 billion in 2014. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. With reference to the places in news and the region associated, consider the following statements: 1. Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – Iran 2. Sochi – Russia 3. Oaxaca region – Brazil How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — More than 120 firefighters were trying to extinguish a blaze at an oil depot in the Russian city of Sochi that was sparked by a Ukrainian drone attack, regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said. — In the Krasnodar region on the Black Sea where Sochi is located, a fuel tank with a capacity of 2,000 cubic metres (70,000 cubic feet) was on fire, Russia's RIA news agency reported, citing emergency officials. — The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that its team at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) heard explosions and saw smoke coming from a nearby location. — A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Which of the following organisations is known as the world's 'Atoms for Peace and Development'? (a) International Energy Agency (b) International Renewable Energy Agency (c) World Energy Council (d) International Atomic Energy Agency Explanation — The International Atomic Energy Agency is the world's central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field. — It promotes the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear science and technology, therefore contributing to world peace and security and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. — The IAEA, often known as the 'Atoms for Peace and Development' organisation within the United Nations family, is the international centre for nuclear cooperation. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. (Source: The Khmer Kingdom, which reached its political peak in the 12th and 13th centuries, encompassed which of these countries or portions of present-day countries? 1. Cambodia 2. Thailand 3. Laos 4. Vietnam 5. Myanmar Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1, 2, 3, 4 only (b) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only (c) 1, 2 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Explanation — One of the conflicts drawing global attention in 2025 is the dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbours — Thailand and Cambodia. At its core lies a border. Stretching across 508 miles, this boundary was drawn when France occupied Cambodia in the late eighteenth century. — Cambodia is situated in mainland Southeast Asia, with Thailand to the west and Vietnam to the east. It shares its northeastern border with Laos. The ethnic majority of Cambodia, the Khmers, reached their political peak in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, when the Khmer kingdom of Angkor encompassed portions of what are now Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Since the thirteenth century, however, this stronghold steadily weakened. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Recently, Chin State was in the news due to a faceoff between two anti-military forces. Which country is this referring to? (a) Cambodia (b) Philippines (c) Thailand (d) Myanmar Explanation — Around 4,000 new refugees from Myanmar have entered Mizoram over the past few days following a renewed outbreak of fighting in the neighbouring country's Chin State. — The Chin State in Myanmar has been witnessing a faceoff between two anti-military junta forces – the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) and the Chinland Defence Force (CDF) Hualnogram – since July 2. As a result, thousands of residents have streamed into Mizoram's Champhai district. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. The 'Two-State Solution,' often seen in news, refers to: (a) Division of the Korean Peninsula into North Korea and South Korea as two sovereign nations. (b) Creation of two independent states for Israelis and Palestinians living side-by-side in peace and security. (c) Separation of Sudan and South Sudan into two independent republics following a UN-mediated referendum. (d) Division of Cyprus into Greek and Turkish parts under a UN-brokered peace deal. Explanation — The Two-State Solution refers specifically to the proposal that Israel and Palestine should exist as two independent, sovereign states, coexisting peacefully within mutually agreed and secure borders. — This solution is supported by the United Nations and most of the international community, including India, as reaffirmed at the UN high-level conference in July 2025. — India stated that it's time to move from paper solutions to practical implementation through diplomatic dialogue. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 119) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 121) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 121) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 121) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 121) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 120) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than five years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'LIVE with Manas'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More