Cabinet apprised of MoU between India, Belgium

India on Thursday welcomed the New Zealand Parliament’s passage of legislation giving effect to the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed in New Delhi on April 27. The agreement will provide duty-free access for 100 per cent of Indian exports to New Zealand upon entry into force and create opportunities in services, investment and professional, student and youth mobility.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed gratitude to leaders from across the world for their wishes on the occasion of his 76th birthday. 

“Warmest birthday wishes to Prime Minister @narendramodi. Wishing you many happy returns of the day. May your dedicated service to the people of India always be accompanied by good health and high spirits,” Rahman said.

International experts and human rights advocates at a conference held on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) backed India’s decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, arguing that the issue needs to be examined in the context of security, human rights and the water rights of communities dependent on the Indus River system.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on Thursday joined the lighting of the ‘Aashirvaad ka Diya’ at the iconic Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu in the presence of Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years of public service.