
PM Modi Wraps Up Croatia Visit After Key Talks With Top Leaders
Mr. Modi, who became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Croatia, held in-depth discussions with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and President Zoran Milanovic. The talks focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
He was welcomed personally by PM Plenković upon his arrival in Zagreb. During the visit, the leaders committed to intensifying the pace of bilateral ties, particularly emphasizing long-term plans for defence collaboration.
Accompanying Mr. Modi were key Indian officials, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
India and Croatia signed four memoranda of cooperation in fields such as agriculture, cultural exchange, and scientific research. A significant MoU was also signed between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the University of Zagreb to promote Indology studies.
Mr. Modi's Croatian stop followed his participation in the G7 Summit in Canada, where he called for global accountability against terrorism, directly criticizing Pakistan for fostering cross-border terror. He also urged G7 nations not to overlook the terror threats emanating from South Asia.
Before Canada, PM Modi visited Cyprus, where he held comprehensive talks with President Nikos Christodoulides. In a symbolic gesture, both leaders viewed Turkish-controlled mountains near Nicosia — a pointed signal toward Turkiye, which had recently voiced support for Pakistan during the conflict with India.
Meanwhile, this international trip marked Modi's first foreign engagement following Operation Sindoor, during which India launched precision strikes on terrorist facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
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India Today
12 minutes ago
- India Today
India-US trade deal stalemate continues, talks to resume in August: Sources
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Indian Express
12 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy slams EU sanctions, says ‘actively exploring' legal options
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'Recently, Nayara Energy has come under international scrutiny, facing political pressures and the imposition of sanctions by the European Union which have no legal basis. We categorically state that this unilateral move by the European Union is founded on baseless assertions, representing an undue extension of authority that ignores both international law and the sovereignty of India. It is to be noted that while many European countries continue to import Russian energy through various sources, they take a high moral ground by chastising and sanctioning an Indian asset for processing Russian crude largely used by its domestic population of 1.4 billion Indians and businesses,' the refiner said in a statement on Monday. Rosneft had slammed the EU's action on Sunday, terming it 'unjustified and illegal'. The sanctions would mean that Nayara Energy would not be able to export petroleum fuels and products to Europe, and potentially hit any of its dealings with European companies. 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Nayara accounts for around 8 per cent of India's total refining capacity and 7 per cent of the country's fuel retail network. It has over 55,000 direct and indirect employees across India. 'A major tax payer in India, Nayara Energy since August 2017 has contributed over Rs 2.5 lakh crore in cumulative direct and indirect taxes to help build India's growth story. As a responsible corporate entity, we uphold the highest standards of compliance with all applicable laws and regulatory frameworks. Transparency, legal accountability, and constructive stakeholder engagement are cornerstones of our operations,' the refiner said, adding that it has invested over Rs 14,000 crore in various projects over the past eight years and will continue to invest over Rs 70,000 crore over the coming years in segments like petrochemicals, ethanol production, and fuel marketing. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More


The Hindu
12 minutes ago
- The Hindu
History in photographs at Bengaluru's Indian Institute of World Culture
India's fight for freedom triggered a ripple effect among other nations buckling under colonial oppression; and among these was the African nation of Congo. Patrice Lumumba was a Congolese politician who lead his country to independence and had close ties to Indian leaders of the time. A photo exhibition titled The Undying Flame of Patrice Lumumba, is currently on display in Bengaluru. Organised by the Intercivilizational Dialogue Project and the Indian Institute of World Culture (IIWC) the show not only shines a spotlight on African freedom struggles, but also celebrates Patrice's birth centenary. Curated by Archishman Raju and Nandita Chaturvedi, and organised by Arakali Venkatesh at IIWC, the show is a history lesson in pictures. According to Nandita, the purpose of this show is two-fold: to explore India's connection to the world and understand the exchange of ideas between different civilizations. 'At one point in time, Patrice Lumumba was known everywhere in the world and when he was assassinated in 1961, there were protests in all the major Indian cities. We felt it was important to bring this period in history back in to public awareness.' During that times lost to recent history, the Indian government was involved in the crisis in the Congo and Nehru wrote many letters to the UN Secretary General. Large scale protests were also organised by Aruna Asaf Ali in Delhi. 'Following the assassination of Patrice, Nehru sent the Indian Army to help with the situation there. This was also part of the peace movement to let people all over the world know about the struggles against colonialism going on in different nations,' she says, adding that the Indian freedom movement became a case study for almost all of Africa that was under colonialism in 1947. Ghana was one of the first sub Saharan African country to gain independence, largely through the efforts of Kwame Nkrumah, who employed methods of civil disobedience in their own struggle. Though there are many examples of African leaders taking a page or two out of India's fight for freedom, the exhibition focuses on Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah, Oliver Tambo of South Africa and Amilcar Cabral of Guinea Bissau, as well as WEB Du Bois, the father of the Pan African Movement. Though leaders of the African movement studied India's approach, in many areas it took on a different character due to varying conditions. For instance, the Belgians did not train native Congolese in administration, while we had a 100-year-long struggle, which gave us time to prepare unlike many African nations which were left in chaos, says Nandita. 'The exhibition is also dedicated to ES Reddy, an Indian diplomat, who used to be leader of the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid from 1963 to 1965. Though he lived most of his life in the United States, he was deeply involved in the anti-apartheid struggle and may be better known in South Africa than in India today,' she adds. As a student, Reddy participated in the Quit India movement, and while in the United States for higher studies, he met activist Paul Robeson, who got him involved in the African movement. Reddy also developed a close friendship with Oliver Tambo, one of the central figures in the South African movement. 'In a way, Reddy is a bridge between the two nations and the show is dedicated to him too as it was his birth centenary last year,' she adds. The different rooms of the IIWC not only highlights the series of events that stand out during the freedom struggle of these nations, but also documents the alliances and mutual support between world leaders. Needless to say, the 65 photographs on display are mostly in black and white, interspersed with quotes from nation heads and a copy African National Congress Freedom Charter. According to Nandita, a lot of the images on display have been made available by the United Nations and many of the photographers who believed their work served a broader purpose. These images can be accessed at and 'We are living in a time when the world is shifting and political relationships are being remade — both between the West and other nations as well as between nations that were once known as Third World. We feel useful relationships can lift people out of poverty and promote peace,' says Nandita talking about the purpose of behind such events by the Intercivilizational Dialogue Project. The Undying Flame of Patrice Lumumba is on display at the Indian Institute of World Culture till July 25 (will possibly be extended / relocated). Entry free.