MoS Margherita meets US Secretary of State in Malaysia
"Delighted to meet US Secretary of State @secrubio on the sidelines of the 15th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia," the Minister posted on X after the interaction.
Earlier in the day, Margherita met the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Cambodia, Prak Sokhonn, discussing wide-ranging bilateral relations, including heritage conservation and development partnership.
MoS Margherita expressed gratitude to Cambodia for its support in India's fight against terrorism.
'Delighted to have a meeting with Prak Sokhonn, Dy. PM and Foreign Minister of Cambodia on the sidelines of ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Malaysia. Discussed our multifaceted bilateral relations ranging from heritage conservation to development partnership. Also discussed my recent visit to Cambodia during which I had a number of productive engagements. Thanked Cambodia for its support in India's fight against terrorism,' Margherita said in a post on X.
On Thursday, Margherita held a meeting with the Secretary General of ASEAN, Kao Kim Hourn, on the margins of the ASEAN-India FMM in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.
The MoS appreciated Hourn's personal commitment as the head of the ASEAN Secretariat in facilitating the implementation of decisions of leaders towards strengthening India-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Margherita held separate meetings with Bui Thanh Son, Foreign Minister of Vietnam, and Sugiono, Foreign Minister of Indonesia, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with India in Kuala Lumpur.
Furthermore, the MoS met the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Theresa P. Lazaro, on the sidelines of ASEAN-India FMM. The leaders acknowledged the long-standing friendship and 75 years of diplomatic relationship between India and the Philippines, and discussed ways to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation. Margherita thanked the Philippines for its solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism.
Earlier on Thursday, Margherita co-chaired the ASEAN-India FMM in Kuala Lumpur, during which the adoption of the new 2026-2030 ASEAN-India Plan of Action (POA) was also announced.
MoS Margherita, as India's country coordinator, co-chaired the meeting with Theresa P. Lazaro, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.
"Adopted a new ASEAN-India Plan of Action for the year 2026-2030 with an aim to further expanding our cooperation and strengthening comprehensive strategic partnership. As we celebrate ASEAN-India Year of Tourism this year, we discussed ways and means for enhancing people-to-people relations further," Margherita said in a post on X.
The MoS arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday night to participate in the ASEAN-India FMM at the invitation of the current ASEAN Chair, Malaysia.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
29 minutes ago
- First Post
Operation Sindoor: India targeted terror networks, says govt; denies foreign pressure behind ceasefire
Operation Sindoor was launched in response to a 'barbaric' attack by 'Pakistansponsored terrorists', and the action focussed on dismantling terror infrastructure and neutralising terrorists likely to be sent across to India, the government said on Thursday. read more The central government on Thursday said that Operation Sindoor was launched in response to a 'barbaric' cross-border attack by terrorists backed by Pakistan, with a focused aim to destroy terror infrastructure and eliminate terrorists poised to infiltrate into India. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the operation was 'focussed, measured and non-escalatory'. Responding to a question on whether Operation Sindoor was initiated due to international pressure, the minister clarified that the action was prompted by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, and not due to any external compulsion. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman also asked about the impact of 'sudden announcement of ceasefire in Operation Sindoor' on the morale of the Indian forces which were 'achieving significant success', but suddenly 'declaring ceasefire was against their morale and the sentiments of the people of the country'. Union minister Singh said Operation Sindoor was launched to respond to a 'barbaric cross-border terror attack by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. It focussed on dismantling terrorist infrastructure and neutralising terrorists likely to be sent across to India'. Pakistan, however, attempted targeting Indian civilian areas, in addition to some military facilities, he said. 'These provocations and escalatory actions by Pakistan were met with a strong and decisive response from the Indian armed forces, inflicting significant damage on the Pakistani military. Subsequently, on 10 May, 2025, the Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan approached his Indian counterpart to request for cessation of firing and military activities, which was agreed to later that day,' the MoS said. Under Operation Sindoor, India had decimated nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7 in pre-dawn precision strikes. It was carried out to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror strike. In a separate query, the MEA was also asked whether the ministry had taken efforts to 'alienate' Pakistan on world forum. As part of the UN Security Council's routine annual process, the Chairs and Vice- Chairs of its subsidiary bodies and committees are selected from amongst its permanent and elected non-permanent members. In addition to Russia and France, Pakistan has been selected as one of the Vice-Chairs of the UN Counter Terrorism Committee for 2025, Singh said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It may be noted that India was the Chair of the UN Counter Terrorism Committee in 2022. Similarly, India was also the Chair of the same committee during its 2011-12 term, the MoS added. 'The Government of India has been sensitising all concerned interlocutors on the menace of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Due to India's persistent efforts, the global community has a greater understanding of India's concerns on cross-border terrorism,' he said. India's efforts over the years have led to listing of several Pakistan-based terrorists and terrorist entities under the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee and the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) 'grey listing of Pakistan', the minister said. The UNSC press statement in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack also 'strongly condemned' the terror attack and acknowledged the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers, sponsors and financiers of the attack accountable, he said. Several world leaders have recognised and supported India's actions to combat terrorism following the Pahalgam attack. Most recently, the US has designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a separate query, the MEA was asked whether the government has 'formally raised concerns' with the US regarding continued military aid and arms supplies to Pakistan, which could be 'misused against India'; and whether India has taken 'diplomatic steps' to counter 'growing China–Pakistan military cooperation, particularly in PoK'. Singh in his written response said the government of India 'closely monitors' all military and security-related developments in its neighbourhood and regularly takes up 'our concerns in this regard in interactions with our partners at appropriate levels'. 'India has consistently conveyed its concerns in this regard to the United States, with a view to ensuring that these developments do not compromise India's security or regional stability,' he said. It has been India's consistent and principled position that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh 'are, have been, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India'. The government closely monitors all developments that have a bearing on India's national interest and takes timely and necessary steps to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests, the MoS said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Counter-terrorism remains a vital pillar of the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership. India and the United States maintain a robust institutional framework for cooperation, including a dedicated Counter-Terrorism Dialogue mechanism that meets regularly. 'Both sides collaborate closely on terrorist designations at domestic and international forums, and extend mutual legal assistance, including on extradition matters,' he added. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Age of consent for sex cannot be less than 18 years, Centre tells SC
NEW DELHI: Union government has told Supreme Court that the age of consent for sex cannot be lowered from 18 years, as it is meant to protect minors from sexual abuse, often by relatives, but conceded that judicial discretion can be exercised on a case-by-case basis in instances of adolescent romantic and physical relationships. "The statutory age of consent fixed at 18 years must be strictly and uniformly enforced. Any departure from this standard, even in the name of reform or adolescent autonomy, would amount to rolling back decades of progress in child protection law, and undermine the deterrent character of laws like Pocso Act , 2012, and BNS," it said. Centre said the constitutional framework unequivocally supported the legal presumption that a person below 18 years of age was incapable of giving valid and informed consent to sexual activity. "Loosening age-based protections could open avenues for abuse (rape) under the guise of consensual (sexual) activity," it said. In a comprehensive written submission settled by additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, the Centre detailed how the age of consent increased from 10 years in Indian Penal Code, 1860; to 12 years under the Age of Consent Act, 1891; 14 years in an amendment to IPC in 1925 and Sharda Act (Child Marriage Restraint law) of 1929; to 16 years in a 1940 amendment to IPC and 18 years in 1978 through amendment to Child Marriage Restraint Act which has remained in force till date. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo "The age of consent under Indian law, fixed at 18 years, represents a carefully considered legislative choice aimed at creating a non-negotiable protective framework for children. This flows from the inherent protection provided to children envisaged under the Constitution of India," govt said. It added that the judiciary, on a case-by-case basis, could exercise discretion, including the close-in-age exception for those nearing 18 years and engaged in adolescence romance. "The legislative framework governing child sexual offences, particularly under Pocso Act, 2012, is premised not only on the vulnerability of the child due to age, but also on the recognition that a majority of such offences are committed by persons within the child's immediate environment of trust, including family members, neighbours, caregivers and teachers. Such perpetrators have a strong influence on the authority and agency of the minors," Centre said. It said data collated by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and NGOs like Save the Children and HAQ Centre for Child Rights, indicated that over 50% of sexual offences against children were perpetrated by persons known to the child or those who were trusted by the minors. Lowering the age of consent from 18 years, under the guise of adolescent romance, would be legally unsound and provide a defence to the abusers, who exploit the minor's emotional dependence or silence, govt said. "A child's inability to report or resist is exacerbated when the perpetrator is a parent or close family member. In such cases, presenting 'consent' as a defence only victimises the child, shifts the blame onto them, and undermines the very object of Pocso Act to protect children from exploitation regardless of whether they were 'willing," it said. Govt said the existing age of consent (18 years) must not be tinkered with by the court as it was specified in several legislations to "protect the bodily integrity of children and uphold the constitutional and statutory safeguards accorded to them".
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
Number of detainees on rise in Gurgaon, but no plan to expand holding centres, says DC
1 2 Gurgaon: The number of detainees at special holding centres is increasing, deputy commissioner Ajay Kumar said on Thursday, without disclosing the exact count of people held at such facilities on suspicion of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Kumar confirmed that four such centres are operational now, with no immediate plans to expand the number as the administration hasn't received requests to set up new facilities. These centres are tasked with holding detainees until their identities are verified and arrangements for deportation are finalised. "Adequate provisions for food and water have been made at detention centres, with administrative officials appointed to oversee the facilities and ensure the detainees' basic needs are met," Kumar said. Asked about the verification process and specific documents required from detainees to prove their citizenship, Kumar said, "I'm not aware of it, so I will not comment." He refrained from divulging further details about the arrangements at these centres, maintaining a cautious. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon In addition to basic amenities, the administration is coordinating with central agencies to arrange transportation for deportation of illegal migrants. The initiative follows a May 2, 2025 directive from the Union home ministry, which mandates identification and deportation of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas residing illegally in India. The Gurgaon police, a July 17 letter, requested the administration to set up special holding centres, aligning with the standard operating procedure outlined by the union home minister.
