Jaishankar, French counterpart meet on sidelines of UNGA meet, discuss Indo-Pacific issues, Afghanistan crisis

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.

The high-level meeting took place during Wagle's first official visit to India since assuming office as Nepal's Finance Minister. India's Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs also attended the discussions.

India’s Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra has laid out a strong defence of the country’s energy policy hours after the US Congress passed legislation opening the door to steep new tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil.

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.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on Thursday launched Phase-II of international UPI for Bhutanese citizens visiting India, completing two-way UPI-based digital payment connectivity between the two countries.