Washington:

US President Joe Biden is set to host the fourth in-person Quad leaders summit in Delaware on September 21 and is looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as other leaders, the White House said on Thursday (local time).

The summit will focus on bolstering strategic convergence among our countries, advancing a shared vision of free and open Indo-Pacific region.

“President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will host the fourth in-person Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday, September 21. The President looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

“This will be President Biden’s first time hosting foreign leaders in Wilmington as president–a reflection of his deep personal relationships with each of the Quad Leaders, and the importance of the Quad to all of our countries,” the statement added.

It is pertinent to note that in recent years, Quad Foreign Ministers have met eight times, and Quad governments continue to meet and coordinate at all levels.

“The Biden-Harris Administration has made elevating and institutionalizing the Quad a top priority, from the first-ever Quad Leaders Summit at the White House in 2021 to annual summits since then,” Jean-Pierre said.

Quad is a diplomatic partnership between four countries–Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.

“The Quad Leaders Summit will focus on bolstering the strategic convergence among our countries, advancing our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and delivering concrete benefits for partners in the Indo-Pacific in key areas,” the statement read.

“These include health security, natural disaster response, maritime security, high-quality infrastructure, critical and emerging technology, climate and clean energy, and cybersecurity,” it added.

The next Quad Summit will be hosted by India.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

As the nation celebrates the Digvijay Diwas, honouring the legacy of Swami Vivekanand and commemorating his historic speech in Chicago, here is a throwback on how his historic address, 131 years ago, inspired Narendra Modi to embark on a journey of self-discovery to the Himalayas.

It was on September 11, 1893, that Swami Vivekanand delivered his timeless speech at the Parliament of World’s Religions in Chicago.

His words not only introduced the world to India’s rich spiritual heritage but also inspired countless individuals in future generations, one of whom was a 17-year-old young boy – Narendra Modi.

Modi Archive, a popular X handle narrating the life journey of the Prime Minister via its archives shared an old photo of Narendra Modi on Wednesday and informed about what impact Swami Vivekanand’s speech had on his young, impressionable mind.

Narendra Modi was so inspired by Swami Vivekanand’s teachings at such a young age that he left his abode in Vadnagar for the Himalayas, on a journey of self-discovery.

The popular X handle also shared a photo of Narendra Modi, from a wedding ceremony in his village, just a day before leaving for the Himalayas.

131 years ago, on September 11th, 1893, #SwamiVivekananda delivered his timeless speech at the Parliament of World’s Religions in Chicago. His words not only introduced the world to India’s rich spiritual heritage but also inspired countless individuals in future generations, one… pic.twitter.com/3XNvOpviwP

— Modi Archive (@modiarchive) September 11, 2024

It also informs that the young Narendra Modi got to know and understand Swami Vivekanand’s works from Dr Vasantbhai Parikh, a local native of his village.

It was 131 years ago that Swami Vivekanand delivered his memorable speech at the Parliament of World’s Religions in Chicago and left the world stunned with knowledge of ancient Hindu scriptures and a visionary outlook.

To date, the speech is remembered by every Indian as path-breaking and also a landmark moment in the history of inter-faith dialogue as it introduced Indian spirituality and the Vedas to the Western world.

PM Modi has time and again spoken about the impact of Swami Vivekanand’s teachings on his life and has often reflected in his years of public service.

This year, after concluding the whirlwind tour of the country for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi spent two days meditating on the rocks at Swami Vivekanand memorial in Kanyakumari.

The memorial was named after Swami Vivekananda as he sat there to meditate after his India tour. It was here in Kanyakumari that Swami Vivekanand is understood to have got the vision of modern India.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Junior doctors holding their stethoscope raise slogans as they sit on a dharna after the police stopped their march towards Swasthya Bhawan in protest over RG Kar Hospital rape and murder incident, in Kolkata, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Kolkata rape and murder case: Doctors continue protests, reject Bengal government call for talks

Responding to the claims by government officials, the protesting doctors said, “We want to keep all channels for negotiations and talks open. But the way they wrote the email and the language they used was an insult to us. The way the email came to us, it was not an official email; it was a mail from the Health Secretary, we are not in any position to officially respond to it. If there is any positive response from the government to our five demands, we are ready to consider their appeal to hold talks.”

Six Indians released from Russian Army

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Top U.S. diplomat Donald Lu to visit India, Bangladesh

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SEBI chief’s husband received ₹4.78 crore from Mahindra group: Congress

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Congress reposes faith in sitting MLAs from Muslim-dominated Nuh; BJP replaces two candidates from 2019 Assembly poll

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We will fight unitedly on all 288 seats: NCP-Ajit Pawar faction

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Israel releases video of a Gaza tunnel where it says Hamas killed six hostages

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Bulldozers raze illegal structures in Surat after stones thrown at Ganesh pandal

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Israeli defense chief says a temporary truce with Hamas is possible

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Rural access to electricity had differential benefits: Study

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Haryana CM Nayab Saini files nomination from Ladwa

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Washington:

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, speaking at the National Press Club in Washington DC, said that our party was politically forced to take up the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Nyay Yatra because all the instruments that normally work in a democracy were not working.

He said that the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Nyay Yatra were the only ways to connect with Indians.

“We were forced politically to take out the Yatra because all the instruments that normally work in a democracy, they just were not working….The media was not working, the courts were not working…nothing was working so we said, okay, let’s go direct. We went and it worked…It worked beautifully. This was at the political level and my work level but as an individual, at the private level, I always wanted to do it. I always wanted to do it since I was young. I always had this idea that I must, at some point in my life, walk across my country and see what it’s about…” Mr Gandhi said on Tuesday (local time).

He said that politics in India changed in 2014, PM Narendra Modi’s first term as the Prime Minister.

“I think politics in India changed in 2014. We entered a phase of politics we never saw before. Aggressive, attacking the foundations of our democratic structures. It’s been a tough fight. And personally, it changed me,” he said.

“I wouldn’t have ever imagined before 2014 that I would have laughed at the idea of walking from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. But, that was the only way left for the opposition in our country. Media was suppressed, institutions were controlled, agencies were attacking the opposition, and governments were overthrown. We found that literally the only way to go to the people of India. That certainly changed me,” the Congress leader further said.

Explaining his Yatras, Rahul Gandhi said, “One march was on foot, and the other was by car. One went from South India all the way to Kashmir- that was by foot… [which was] 4,000km. Other one was from Manipur which, as you know, is burning to Maharashtra.”

LIVE: Interaction With Media | Headliners Newsmaker | National Press Club | Washington DC, USA https://t.co/RfTpIr2Znk

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 10, 2024

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Six Indians who were discharged from the Russian Army
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

At least six Indians enlisted with the Russian Army have been released from their camps on Russia-Ukraine border, months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue “personally” with President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow in July.

Mohammad Sufiyan (24), a resident of Narayanpet in Telangana, who was released from a Russian camp, told The Hindu on phone from Moscow that he and five others were waiting to return to India after the completion of paperwork at the Indian Embassy.

Vikramjit Sahney, Rajya Sabha member, however, said 15 Indian youths, including four from Punjab, were being repatriated from Russia after being released from the Army.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha on August 9 that 91 Indians were recruited in the Russian Army in the past nine months, eight of them were killed and 69 Indians awaited release.

‘In red zone’

“We were in the red zone, two km away from the battlefield on Ukraine border. Our job was to ferry the dead bodies. There was constant bombing and firing. The bunkers they provided us to hide was so small that it was difficult to breathe,” said Mr. Sufiyan, who was allegedly tricked into joining the Russian Army after being offered the job of a security helper.

Sameer Ahmad (25), a resident of Kalaburgi in Karnataka who was also released said it would take few days for them to reach India. “It took us 36 hours to reach our base camp from the border. Our contracts were cancelled and now we have reached Moscow on our own,” said Mr. Ahmad. He said their issue was first raised by AIMIM member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi who pursued the issue with Mr. Jaishankar in January. 

The other four who were discharged are Abdul Nayeem (28), Syed Ilyas Hussain (24) from Kalaburgi in Karnataka, Azad Yousuf Kumar (32) from Jammu and Kashmir and Kamal Singh (40) from Punjab.

The Hindu reported first on February 20 that Indians who travelled to Russia on tourist visas were offered jobs as security helpers but were forced to fight alongside the Russian military on the Ukraine border.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary during the 54th GST Council Meeting, at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, in New Delhi on Monday, September 9, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI

GoM set up to review 18% GST on health, life covers

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Protesting doctors in Bengal disappointed after Supreme Court directive to resume work

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Bangladesh to seek extradition of Sheikh Hasina from India

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Congress releases third list of 19 candidates for J&K polls

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About 97,000 PF members, pensioners to benefit by pension on higher wages

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At BRICS summit in Russia, Doval may meet Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi, discuss Line of Actual Control

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Hindi should be generally accepted as the language of work with consensus: Shah’

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People in politics should not retire, says Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge

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Tharoor seeks urgent SC hearing on defamation case for remarks against PM Modi

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Day after Rajnath’s remarks on 2016 talks, Mirwaiz says Hurriyat always supported dialogue on Kashmir

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Heavy rain pounds Malkangiri, Koraput districts of Odisha

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Supreme Court dismisses plea to halt Indian firms’ supply of arms to Israel during Gaza conflict

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Italy’s Jannik Sinner holds the U.S. Open trophy after winning his men’s final match against USA’s Taylor Fritz in New York on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

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Centre dissolves panel on statistics, surveys amid delayed Census

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“Reclaim the Night”: Thousands hit streets in West Bengal to mark one month of RG Kar rape and murder

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Amit Shah on a two-day tour to Maharashtra

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Italy’s Jannik Sinner holds the U.S. Open trophy after winning his men’s final match against USA’s Taylor Fritz in New York on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

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“Reclaim the Night”: Thousands hit streets in West Bengal to mark one month of RG Kar rape and murder

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Amit Shah on a two-day tour to Maharashtra

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met with Akie Abe, the wife of Japan’s late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and fondly recalled his close friendship with Shinzo Abe.

PM Modi also expressed his appreciation for Akie Abe’s ongoing engagement with India.

Sharing a post on X, he wrote, “Pleased to meet Mrs. Abe this afternoon. Recalled my close personal friendship with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan.”

“Abe San’s belief in the potential of India-Japan relations will remain a source of enduring strength for us. Deeply appreciate Mrs. Abe’s continuing association with India,” the post on X further read.

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also held a meeting with Akie Abe. He recalled memories of Shinzo Abe and his commitment to “friendship” between India and Japan.

He also said that the strategic vision of the former Japanese Prime Minister will serve as a guiding light for the ties between India and Japan.

In a post on X, Mr Jaishankar stated, “The meeting with Mrs. Akie Abe this morning brought back so many memories of PM Shinzo Abe and his commitment to India-Japan friendship. As our ties steadily progress, the strategic vision of PM Abe will always serve as a guiding spirit.”

Shinzo Abe was assassinated in Nara on July 8, 2022, during an election campaign address on the street. He was taken to the hospital, where Abe was pronounced dead.

Abe (67), the former Liberal Democratic Party leader and Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, held office from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020, before resigning due to health reasons. PM Modi had condoled the demise of Abe and attended the state funeral of the late Japanese PM at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on September 27, 2022.

In 2007, Shinzo Abe, during his visit to India, delivered the famous “The Confluence of Two Seas” speech in the Indian parliament, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He also participated in Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest in 2014. He was conferred with India’s highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan, in 2021.

Notably, India and Japan share a ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’. Friendship between the two nations has a long history rooted in spiritual affinity and strong cultural and civilisational ties, according to MEA.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Delhi on Thursday after concluding his three-day visit to Singapore and Brunei.

PM Modi shared a video of his Singapore visit on X and stated, “My visit to Singapore has been a very fruitful one. It will certainly add vigour to bilateral ties and benefit the people of our nations. I thank the government and people of Singapore for their warmth.”

Earlier today, PM Modi and Singapore PM Lawrence Wong met at the Parliament House in Singapore.

The two leaders, along with their delegations, held the bilateral meeting. At their talks, both leaders reviewed the progress of India-Singapore bilateral relations. Following this, the two sides exchanged four MoUs in the areas of digital technology, semiconductors, skill development, and healthcare.

Prime Minister Modi invited PM Lawrence Wong to visit India, which he accepted. PM Modi also visited the semiconductor facility of AEM Holdings Ltd.

Singapore’s PM Lawrence Wong accompanied PM Modi during his visit to the semiconductor facility. PM Modi invited Singapore’s semiconductor companies to participate in the SEMICON INDIA exhibition set to be held in Greater Noida from September 11-13.

“It was wonderful to interact with interns from Odisha’s World Skill Center who are visiting Singapore and interns from Singapore who have been to India as a part of the CII-Enterprise Singapore India Ready Talent Programme. I also met a team of Indian engineers working at AEM Holdings. Such cooperation is indeed special and celebrates human talent as well as innovation,” PM Modi stated after visiting the facility.

The Prime Minister also called on Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam earlier today and held talks that focused on key sectors including skill development, sustainability, technology, innovation, and connectivity. The talks between the two leaders focused on the full range of bilateral ties between India and Singapore.

PM Modi and PM Wong acknowledged India and Singapore’s shared history, long tradition of friendship based on trust and mutual respect, and extensive cooperation across a wide range of areas. They reviewed and expressed satisfaction over the progress in the bilateral relationship, in the areas of political, economic, security, technology, education, people-to-people and cultural links.

It is interesting to note that India and Singapore will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year. Against this backdrop, both Prime Ministers agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a higher level of a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’, to deepen and broaden bilateral cooperation.

Before his visit to Singapore, PM Modi was on an official visit to Brunei. PM Modi held “wide-ranging” talks with Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan. During their talks, both leaders discussed ways to further cement bilateral ties.

In a post on X, PM Modi stated, “Delighted to meet His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. Our talks were wide-ranging and included ways to further cement bilateral ties between our nations. We are going to further expand trade ties, commercial linkages and people-to-people exchanges.”

PM Modi inaugurated the new Chancery of the High Commission of India, in Brunei’s capital city Bandar Seri Begawan.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)