PM to meet Sharif, have summit with Obama in US

September 25, 2013
New Delhi, Sep 25: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday said he will be meeting his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), setting at rest all speculations about the meeting. Before that he meets President Barack Obama on Sep 27 in Washington. Indo_Pak

In his departure statement before embarking on a five-day visit to the US, Prime Minister Singh said his summit meeting with President Obama would be an opportunity to review bilateral cooperation and chart a course for future cooperation.

The much-anticipated Manmohan-Sharif meeting is expected to be over breakfast on Sep 29 on the sidelines of the UNGA. The Pakistan prime minister is already in New York. The Indian leader will also have an important meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to share views and iron out issues between the two neighbours.

"During my visit to New York, I also look forward to bilateral meetings with the leaders of some of our neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan," the prime minister said in his statement.

This is the first confirmation of the meeting between the two prime ministers. India has maintained there are certain "harsh realities" on the ground. Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh has said that "we continue to face acts of terrorism by groups operating from Pakistan and territories under the control of Pakistan. There are also many persons engaging in hostile propaganda against India, who continue to roam freely in Pakistan."

Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the Pakistan prime minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, has in an interview to an Indian TV channel said last week that he has "low expectations on the outcome" of the meeting between the two prime ministers.

Manmohan Singh, who will hold his third summit meeting with Obama, said India-US ties "which is one of our most important relationships, has transformed into a global strategic partnership". The meeting is expected to focus on implementation of the landmark India-US civil nuclear deal, on enhancing defence cooperation and Afghanistan.

President Obama has described India-US relations as one of the "defining partnerships of the 21st century". Vice President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State John Kerry visited India earlier this year to set the stage for Manmohan Singh's working visit.

The prime minister said India and the US have "registered impressive progress in our cooperation across the full spectrum of the relationship".

India views the US as "a long-term partner in our development efforts, and in fostering a global environment that is conducive to our growth".

"For India, the US remains a key source of technology, investment, innovation and resources, and one of the most important destinations for our goods and services. We have productive and deepening partnerships in trade and investment, defence, counter-terrorism, intelligence, internal security, cyber security, civil nuclear energy, environment, health, higher education, space, science and technology and culture. People-to-people contacts are a strong feature of our engagement. We have also launched development partnership in third countries," said the departure statement.

In his address to the UNGA on Sep 28, the prime minister said he would "emphasize the importance of maintaining poverty eradication and inclusive development at the core of the post-2015 development agenda".

"The Sustainable Development Goals that are expected to be drawn up as part of the follow-up to the Rio+20 Conference should ensure a holistic approach to sustainable development objectives, ensuring a balanced treatment of its economic, social and environmental dimensions as well as universal applicability".

The prime minister said he would also convey India's "strong conviction that global challenges are best addressed through multilateral approaches, with the United Nations at its centre".

India would also press for early reform of institutions of global political and economic governance, particularly the United Nations Security Council, he said.

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Agencies
February 6,2020

New Delhi, Feb 6: Unemployment rate in the country as per a new survey was 6.1 per cent in 2017-18, the government informed Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Labour Santosh Gangwar said the government is conducting a new Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) with new parameters and bigger sample size, and its results cannot be compared with previous surveys in this regard.

"As per the new Periodic Labour Force Survey being conducted by the government, the labour force participation is 36.9 per cent and the rate of unemployment for 2017-18 is 6.1 per cent," he said.

Replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour, the minister said the report of this survey is very different than the surveys conducted in previous years.

This survey is not comparable to previous surveys, he said, adding it was an attempt to provide authentic data with the new survey conducted through the Ministry of Statistics.

"We are focusing on infrastructure development and ease of doing business and India's position in the world has improved. India has improved its position to 63rd rank now in 2019 against 196 in previous years," he said.

"Our government is very conscious of creating employment opportunities and is running such programme which generates employment.

"The way our government is functioning, employment opportunities are being created and the youths are getting jobs also," the minister said.

Gangwar said the government has stopped the previous survey as the sample size was low and an attempt is being made to improve the data by adding various parameters and provide more authentic data.

The minister said it will take time for collection of data as households have to be visited on the ground for authentic data collection in rural areas also.

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News Network
March 26,2020

New Delhi, Mar 26: Ujjwala beneficiaries will get free gas cylinders (LPG cylinders) in the next three months, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Thursday. Addressing a press briefing amid coronavirus pandemic, the finance minister said the announcement is set to benefit 8.3 crore BPL families. 

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News Network
February 24,2020

Ahmedabad, Feb 24: US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania on Monday tried their hands at spinning the 'charkha' (spinning wheel) at the Sabarmati Ashram here.

Accompanied by PM Narendra Modi, the US president and his wife went around the Ashram, before resuming the roadshow from the airport to the Motera stadium. "To my great friend Prime Minister Naredra Modi, thank you for this wonderful visit," Trump wrote in the Ashram visitors' book.

The US President was briefed about Gandhiji and the importance of charkha as a symbol of self reliance. Trump reached Ahmedabad at 11.37 am for the first leg of his India visit.

US President Donald Trump arrived in Ahmedabad on Monday for the first leg of his India trip. The Air Force One plane carrying Trump and his wife Melania landed at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel international airport here at 11.37 am, officials said. It was scheduled to land at 11.40 am.

Trump, who is also accompanied by daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top brass of his administration, will get a taste of India's cultural melange during his high- optics Gujarat itinerary, after the bonhomie between the two leaders at the 'Howdy, Modi!' event in Houston last year.

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