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Arab News
4 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
India's Modi visits Ghana en route to BRICS summit
ACCRA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ghana on Wednesday, the first Indian leader to visit the cocoa-rich country in three decades as the Asian nation competes with China and Russia for economic influence in Africa. A military guard, as well as traditional Ghanaian drummers and dancers performing in colorful kente outfits, welcomed Modi at the airport as he arrived to hold bilateral trade and cooperation talks with Ghana's President John Mahama, who has been in power since January. Modi is also due to address the Ghanaian parliament in the capital, Accra, and meet members of the Indian community in the largest gold-producing country in Africa. Accra is the first stop in a tour that will take the Indian premier to Caribbean and South American countries. India, the world's most populous country, has close ties with Russia but is often in rivalry with China — two powers vying for more influence in Africa. Last month, the Indian leader attended the G7 summit in Canada, acting as a 'bridge' between various players on the international scene, his foreign minister told AFP. In a statement before his departure, Modi said Ghana was 'a valued partner in the Global South,' praising its role in regional blocs including the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States. Mahama, wearing a striped hat with Ghana's national colors of red, yellow and green, greeted the prime minister at the airport Wednesday and walked him down a red carpet laid out in front of his plane. Modi will remain in Accra until midday on Thursday, before flying to Trinidad and Tobago, then on to Argentina and Brazil. He will attend a summit of the BRICS group of emerging economies in Rio de Janeiro on July 6 and 7. Before returning to India, he will also stop in Namibia, a southern Africa country which in March elected its first woman president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. India is one of Ghana's main trading partners and is the leading destination for Ghanaian exports, primarily due to Indian gold imports. According to the Indian foreign ministry, bilateral trade between the two countries reached $3.1 billion in 2024-2025. Ghana's main exports to India include gold, cocoa, cashew nuts and timber, while India exports pharmaceuticals, agricultural machinery, transport vehicles, electrical equipment, plastics, iron and steel and alcoholic beverages. The last time an Indian prime minister visited Ghana was in 1995. India says there are around 15,000 Indians living in Ghana, some of whom have been in the country since its independence nearly 70 years ago.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
PM Modi to address Parliaments of Ghana, Namibia, Trinidad & Tobago during 5-nation visit : MEA
New Delhi: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 5-nation visit, senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs informed that the Prime Minister will address the parliaments of Ghana, Namibia and Trinidad & Tobago. In a special briefing on Monday, Dammu Ravi, Secretary (ER) said that in Ghana, the visit is taking place after 30 years. The visit will see delegation-level talks during which the bilateral relations will be reviewed, and also discuss various ways to strengthen and deepen bilateral relations. "The next day, Prime Minister will be addressing the parliament and he also will be interacting with the Indian community there, which is about 15,000 in number", Secretary Ravi said in his remarks. Speaking about PM Modi's visit to Namibia, Secretary Ravi said, "Prime Minister will visit Namibia on 9th July, and this visit is also important. It's coming after 27 years." He added, "There will be delegation-level talks, one-on-one discussions, and he will also address the Parliament. The substance of the relationship is, again, as you know, that India and Namibia have had a very strong relationship for a very long time. Neena Malhotra, Secretary (South) briefed on PM Modi's visit to Trinidad and Tobago. In her remarks she said that PM Modi would be visiting Trinidad and Tobago at the invitation of Prime Minister Kamala Prasad Bisessar. "This marks the first visit by Prime Minister Modi to T&T (Trinidad and Tobago) as Prime Minister, and is the first Bilateral Visit by an Indian Prime Minister to T&T since 1999." She added, "The visit comes at an opportune time, as this year, in 2025, the country is commemorating 180 years of the arrival of Indian immigrants to Trinidad and Tobago. This shared history forms the bedrock of our close and enduring people-to-people ties." Dr Malhotra said, "In a special gesture, PM Modi will also address the joint session of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. The visit is expected to strengthen the bilateral partnership across key areas and reaffirm our enduring ties with the Caribbean." She called the PM's address to the Parliament of being "symbolic of our strong parliamentary traditions as well as democratic values." Sharing a novel fact, Dr Malhotra noted in her remarks, "The chair in the parliament, the speaker's chair in the parliament has been gifted by India, which is again a symbolic reminder of the strong democratic and parliamentary traditions between our two countries." PM Modi will embark on a five-nation visit from July 2, during which he will attend the BRICS Summit in Brazil and hold meetings with leaders of Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina and Namibia to strengthen bilateral ties.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Indian Embassy to open 11 new visa centres across Oman
Muscat: The Embassy of India in Muscat is set to transition its consular, passport, and visa services to a new service provider, SGIVS Global Services LLC, starting 1st July 2025. In the initial phase, all services will be delivered from the Embassy premises located on Jami'at Al-Dowal Al-Arabiya Street in the Diplomatic Area of Al Khuwair. As part of the new service framework, SGIVS Global Services will establish 11 dedicated application centres across Oman, aimed at enhancing accessibility for the Indian community and other applicants. These centres, scheduled to be fully operational by 15th August 2025, will be located in Muscat, Salalah, Sohar, Ibri, Sur, Nizwa, Duqm, Ibra, Khasab, Buraimi, and Barka. In a public advisory, the Embassy stated: 'From 1st July 2025, Consular Passport and Visa Services will be provided through a new service provider, SGIVS Global LLC. During the transition phase, services will be provided at the Embassy initially and 11 new dedicated centres across Oman will open by 15th August, 2025. Applicants are advised to plan accordingly and follow official updates.' The Embassy also cautioned that minor service disruptions may occur during the transition and thanked the public for their patience and cooperation.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Air India bombing should be etched in Canadian history: ambassador
AHAKISTA, Ireland — Since the day that Air India Flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland 40 years ago, it has not been fully recognized as a Canadian tragedy, Ambassador Bob Rae said in an interview here. Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, was tasked with reviewing the Air India terrorism case 20 years ago after two suspects were acquitted of all charges in twin bombings on June 23, 1985. Less than an hour before a B.C.-made suitcase bomb detonated on Flight 182, killing all 329 aboard, two Japanese baggage handlers died when a Vancouver suitcase tagged for another Air India plane exploded at Tokyo's Narita Airport. As Rae began meeting families of the Air India victims, he was deeply impacted by their suffering. 'That was one of the main things that I said in my report, that I feel very strongly, is that from the very beginning of the event, it was seen as somebody else's problem,' Rae said Sunday, after visiting the memorial in this quiet village on the west coast of Ireland. 'It really was seen as sort of an event affecting the Indian community, ignoring the fact that the vast majority of the people on the flight were Canadians.' Rae said that 'there had been a real failure to recognize the level of extremism' that led to the unprecedented act of terrorism. 'It was Canadians who built the bomb, Canadians who planned it,' he said. 'There was a huge degree of denial in the community that this was true. Many other theories were floated.' His report in November 2005 called for a public inquiry into the intelligence failures and investigative problems both before and after the bombings. After Conservative Stephen Harper was elected prime minister months later, he appointed retired Supreme Court of Canada Justice John Major to head a broader judicial inquiry instead. Rae said his Air India work led to the construction of public memorials in Canada, as well as the declaration of June 23 as a day of remembrance of victims of terrorism. While both measures increased recognition of Canada's worst mass murder, 'the narrative of what took place is still not embedded in the country,' Rae said. 'We still have a lot of work to do to make sure it's taught in schools and people understand this was the worst civil aviation disaster, proportionately every bit as important as 9/11.' Working on his report 'had a big impact on me,' Rae said. 'It really affected me emotionally, because families had a tremendous sense people weren't listening, they didn't understand the story, and didn't realize what it was.' He was surprised to learn that no Canadian prime minister had ever met with the victims' families, prompting him to arrange a 2005 dinner with then prime minister Paul Martin. 'He stayed for six or seven hours, talking and relating and connecting to the families. It was very powerful,' Rae said. At his urging, Martin flew to Ireland for the 20th anniversary, attending the memorial service here — the first and last time a Canadian prime minister has visited. Harper, then opposition leader, and NDP leader Jack Layton also attended in 2005, as did Rae. Rae said he wanted to come back this year after hearing from Air India family members who have become close friends. 'Why did I come? Because my own experience with talking to people about what happened and learning about it, and then writing about it … has changed me. It's changed the way I look at things, and it's also changed my relationship with these families,' Rae said. 'And this year, I decided I wanted to come to Ireland again because this is where the community is gathering.' He's also seen the remarkable bond here between the Air India families and the Irish from the town of Bantry, down the Sheep Head's peninsula to the village of Ahakista, where the memorial stands. Rae attended an awards ceremony at a Bantry high school Saturday where Babu Turlapati, of Toronto, presented scholarships to two graduating students. Turlapati and his wife, Padmini, lost sons Sanjay, 14, and Deepak, 11, in the Air India bombing. They have tried to give back to the community here with the scholarships they've presented for 25 years. Turlapati said despite the devastating loss of their boys, giving back to the community has helped ease the pain. 'This is the silver lining in our tragedy — the only silver lining that has happened was the plane fell in Irish waters, which has brought our spirits back to life again in one way because of the support we get, the help we receive from the Irish community.' kbolan@ Bluesky: @ Canada's worst terrorist attack: Air India families still feel anguish and frustration 40 years later 40 years on, families of Air India disaster find peace and comfort in small Irish town
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Air India bombing should be etched in Canadian history: ambassador
AHAKISTA, Ireland — Since the day that Air India Flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland 40 years ago, it has not been fully recognized as a Canadian tragedy, Ambassador Bob Rae said in an interview here. Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, was tasked with reviewing the Air India terrorism case 20 years ago after two suspects were acquitted of all charges in twin bombings on June 23, 1985. Less than an hour before a B.C.-made suitcase bomb detonated on Flight 182, killing all 329 aboard, two Japanese baggage handlers died when a Vancouver suitcase tagged for another Air India plane exploded at Tokyo's Narita Airport. As Rae began meeting families of the Air India victims, he was deeply impacted by their suffering. 'That was one of the main things that I said in my report, that I feel very strongly, is that from the very beginning of the event, it was seen as somebody else's problem,' Rae said Sunday, after visiting the memorial in this quiet village on the west coast of Ireland. 'It really was seen as sort of an event affecting the Indian community, ignoring the fact that the vast majority of the people on the flight were Canadians.' Rae said that 'there had been a real failure to recognize the level of extremism' that led to the unprecedented act of terrorism. 'It was Canadians who built the bomb, Canadians who planned it,' he said. 'There was a huge degree of denial in the community that this was true. Many other theories were floated.' His report in November 2005 called for a public inquiry into the intelligence failures and investigative problems both before and after the bombings. After Conservative Stephen Harper was elected prime minister months later, he appointed retired Supreme Court of Canada Justice John Major to head a broader judicial inquiry instead. Rae said his Air India work led to the construction of public memorials in Canada, as well as the declaration of June 23 as a day of remembrance of victims of terrorism. While both measures increased recognition of Canada's worst mass murder, 'the narrative of what took place is still not embedded in the country,' Rae said. 'We still have a lot of work to do to make sure it's taught in schools and people understand this was the worst civil aviation disaster, proportionately every bit as important as 9/11.' Working on his report 'had a big impact on me,' Rae said. 'It really affected me emotionally, because families had a tremendous sense people weren't listening, they didn't understand the story, and didn't realize what it was.' He was surprised to learn that no Canadian prime minister had ever met with the victims' families, prompting him to arrange a 2005 dinner with then prime minister Paul Martin. 'He stayed for six or seven hours, talking and relating and connecting to the families. It was very powerful,' Rae said. At his urging, Martin flew to Ireland for the 20th anniversary, attending the memorial service here — the first and last time a Canadian prime minister has visited. Harper, then opposition leader, and NDP leader Jack Layton also attended in 2005, as did Rae. Rae said he wanted to come back this year after hearing from Air India family members who have become close friends. 'Why did I come? Because my own experience with talking to people about what happened and learning about it, and then writing about it … has changed me. It's changed the way I look at things, and it's also changed my relationship with these families,' Rae said. 'And this year, I decided I wanted to come to Ireland again because this is where the community is gathering.' He's also seen the remarkable bond here between the Air India families and the Irish from the town of Bantry, down the Sheep Head's peninsula to the village of Ahakista, where the memorial stands. Rae attended an awards ceremony at a Bantry high school Saturday where Babu Turlapati, of Toronto, presented scholarships to two graduating students. Turlapati and his wife, Padmini, lost sons Sanjay, 14, and Deepak, 11, in the Air India bombing. They have tried to give back to the community here with the scholarships they've presented for 25 years. Turlapati said despite the devastating loss of their boys, giving back to the community has helped ease the pain. 'This is the silver lining in our tragedy — the only silver lining that has happened was the plane fell in Irish waters, which has brought our spirits back to life again in one way because of the support we get, the help we receive from the Irish community.' kbolan@ Bluesky: @ Canada's worst terrorist attack: Air India families still feel anguish and frustration 40 years later 40 years on, families of Air India disaster find peace and comfort in small Irish town
