Focus

Nicosia/New Delhi, June 9 (IANS) In yet another sign of India's growing outreach to the countries in the Mediterranean region, especially those in the neighbourhood of Turkey, Prime Minister Narendra Modi could make a brief stopover in Cyprus en route to Canada for participation in the G7 Summit, sources indicated on Monday.

The Summit of the Group of Seven (G7) countries is scheduled to be held in Alberta from June 15-17 and Cyprus is being strongly considered as a refuelling stopover, cited top officials. PM Modi could also hold bilateral discussions with the top leadership of the country during his short stay, they revealed.

The region remains engulfed in conflict as Greece and Cyprus have repeatedly called out Ankara's "provocative actions" and accused Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of making expansionist moves which have incensed many more countries in the continent and beyond. Turkey has been slammed for expanding its oil and gas exploration plans in Greece's territorial waters and carrying out drilling activities in Cyprus's maritime economic zones.

India-Cyprus relations have strengthened over the past 10 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has stated that both countries share rich legacies of ancient civilizations which have influenced each other through millennia. India has also maintained its principled position on the Cyprus Issue, reiterating several times its commitment for a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation based on UN Resolutions as a solution.

"In modern times, our relationship goes back to the pre-independence era, when our founding fathers supported the freedom struggle of Cyprus. And, Cyprus too has always reciprocated with its warmth and friendship. India has always stood by Cyprus on all crucial issues. In 1974, India took a firm stand in support of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus . India has contributed personnel to the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Three force commanders from India served in this capacity, and it is heartening for me to know that all of them are fondly remembered in Cyprus," PM Modi said during the State Visit of the President of Cyprus to India in April 2017.

Nicosia, which shares with New Deli the common objective of bringing about an early reform of the United Nations, has been backing India's claim for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council.

In December 2022, during his visit to Nicosia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the Mediterranean will see more of India in the future and the relationship with Cyprus will be an anchor in India's endeavours.

After signing three significant bilateral agreements in Nicosia, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence and military cooperation, Jaishankar had listed seven key areas in which Cyprus and India should work forward.

It included finance, shipping, tourism, knowledge economy, mobility flows, third-country projects and Mediterranean collaboration.

"The Mediterranean is a region of growing interest to us... If you look at our other relationships in the last few years with countries of both north and south Mediterranean, there has been very visible intensification of ties," Jaishankar said while addressing a business community event in Limassol, the second largest city in Cyprus, on December 30, 2022.

"This region will see more of India in the future and when that happens, the relationship with Cyprus will be an anchor in our endeavours," he mentioned.

The EAM had also remarked that, given how comfortable India and Cyprus are with each other, both countries can also plan on working together in third countries.

"It could possibly be in Africa or other parts of the world where we both have some historical presence, some networking or comfort levels," he said at the event which was also attended by Cyprus Minister of Foreign Affairs and the country's Deputy Shipping Minister.

--IANS

int/as

Tehran, June 9 (IANS) Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that Iran has prepared a set of measures in response to the potential adoption of an anti-Tehran resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) Board of Governors.

Baghaei made the remarks at a weekly press conference in Tehran while elaborating on Iran's likely reactions to the possible adoption of the resolution by the United Nations nuclear watchdog during its ongoing meeting in Vienna later in the day.

"No doubt, the response to confrontation will not be further cooperation. The Islamic Republic of Iran has prepared a set of steps and measures, and the other sides are aware of our capacities and capabilities in this area," Baghaei said.

Baghaei emphasized that from the outset, Iran's approach has been based on engagement and cooperation with the IAEA in accordance with the country's obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement."

He said Iran had implemented important measures in line with promoting cooperation with the IAEA, but the agency, "under the pressure and political influence" of France, Britain and Germany, as well as the United States, decided to compile a "comprehensive" report about Tehran's nuclear activities, "which was later abused by the Europeans for proposing the draft resolution to pursue their desired plans."

Baghaei reiterated that Iran's nuclear program was completely peaceful, Xinhua news agency reported. "Even if we consider the IAEA's recent report, it does not mention any non-compliance or deviation from the peaceful path," although it was clearly compiled with political objectives and aiming to make up excuses about Tehran's nuclear programme, Baghaei said.

If adopted, the resolution will prepare the ground for the European powers to trigger the snapback mechanism, a clause in a 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers that would allow the other parties to reimpose all international sanctions if Iran fails to comply with the agreement.

Baghaei shrugged off the Europeans' threat to trigger the snapback mechanism, saying that given the entirely "peaceful nature" of Iran's nuclear program, there was no pretext or legal basis for the country's nuclear issue to remain on the agenda of the UN Security Council.

He added that the three European countries and the United States would be responsible for the consequences of their confrontational measures.

In its report, the IAEA claimed that Tehran had failed to provide credible explanations for the uranium traces found at three undeclared locations and accused the country of providing "less than satisfactory" cooperation.

Speaking in an interview with state-run IRIB TV on Sunday night, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, said the IAEA should certainly not expect Iran to continue its "broad and friendly" cooperation in case of adopting the anti-Tehran resolution at its board meeting, warning of the country's retaliatory measures in response.

--IANS

int/as

New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) The World Bank's revised figures reinforce that poverty in India has reduced not just statistically, but through tangible improvements in household living standards and incomes, according to a government factsheet released on Saturday.

India’s poverty decline is a story of technical refinement meeting policy results. In the face of a raised poverty benchmark, India showed that more honest data, not diluted standards, can reveal real progress.

As the global community recalibrates poverty goals, India’s example sets a precedent: evidence-based governance, sustained reforms, and methodological integrity can together deliver transformational outcomes, the factsheet read.

The World Bank has announced a major revision to global poverty estimates, raising the International Poverty Line (IPL) from $2.15 per day (2017 PPP) to $3.00 per day (2021 PPP).

While the change led to a global increase in the count of extreme poverty by 125 million, India emerged as a statistical outlier in a positive direction.

Using more refined data and updated survey methods, India not only withstood the raised threshold but also demonstrated a massive reduction in poverty.

The new poverty line would have increased the count of global extreme poverty by 226 million people. But thanks to India’s data revision, the net global increase was only 125 million — as India’s revised data reduced the count by 125 million on its own, the data showed.

India’s latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) adopted the Modified Mixed Recall Period (MMRP) method, replacing the outdated Uniform Reference Period (URP).

This shift used shorter recall periods for frequently purchased items and captured more realistic estimates of actual consumption.

As a result, consumption recorded in national surveys rose, leading to a drop in poverty estimates.

In 2011–12, applying MMRP reduced India’s poverty rate from 22.9 per cent to 16.22 per cent, even under the older $2.15 poverty line.

In 2022–23, poverty under the new $3.00 line stood at 5.25 per cent, while under the older $2.15 line, it dropped further to 2.35 per cent.

In 2023–24, the average Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) was Rs 4,122 in rural areas and Rs 6,996 in urban areas, excluding the value of items received free through social welfare programmes.

When these are included, the figures rise to Rs 4,247 and Rs 7,078, respectively. This is significant increase from the rural MPCE of Rs 1,430 and urban MPCE of Rs 2,630 in 2011-12.

The urban-rural consumption gap has narrowed from 84 per cent in 2011–12 to 70 per cent in 2023–24, indicating a reduction in consumption disparities between urban and rural households.

All 18 major states reported an increase in average MPCE for both rural and urban areas. Odisha experienced the highest rural increase (about 14 per cent), while Punjab saw the highest urban increase (about 13 per cent).

“The Gini coefficient, a measure of consumption inequality, decreased from 0.266 to 0.237 in rural areas and from 0.314 to 0.284 in urban areas between 2022–23 and 2023–24, suggesting a reduction in consumption inequality across most major states,” according to the factsheet.

--IANS

na/pgh

Ludhiana, June 7 (IANS) BJP national General Secretary Tarun Chugh on Saturday demanded that the Election Commission of India immediately ban election campaigning by AAP leaders who are facing criminal charges in Punjab’s bypoll.

Taking strong exception to the campaigning being conducted by Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, the BJP demanded that they be prohibited from entering the Ludhiana (East) Assembly constituency. Chugh said Kejriwal has been plotting a backdoor entry into the Rajya Sabha from Punjab, and his “dubious political games are a grave insult to the people of Punjab”.

Demanding intervention by the ECI, Chugh reiterated that AAP leaders facing serious criminal allegations should be barred from campaigning in the constituency. Chugh also campaigned across various wards of the constituency, appealing to voters to strengthen Prime Minister Modi's vision for Punjab, particularly for the welfare of farmers.

He further urged the Ludhiana administration not to succumb to the pressure exerted by individuals like Kejriwal, who are under trial for corruption-related charges in Delhi.

The BJP has fielded Jiwan Gupta for the four-cornered by-election on June 19. The state’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in February announced Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate for the seat that fell vacant following the demise of sitting party MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi. The 58-year-old legislator died after sustaining a gunshot wound to his head at his house in January.

For the by-election, the main Opposition Congress has fielded former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, who is being accused in a multi-crore foodgrain transportation and labour cartage tender scam.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has nominated Parupkar Singh Ghuman for the bypoll.

In the 2022 Assembly election, the AAP won the Ludhiana West seat with 34.36 per cent vote share. Gogi had secured 40,443 votes as compared to his nearest rival from the Congress, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, who got 32,931 votes with 28.06 per cent vote share.

--IANS

vg/uk

Patna, June 7 (IANS) Amid growing speculation about his return to Bihar politics, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan on Saturday dropped hints of contesting the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, saying the final decision rests with the party’s Parliamentary Board.

Chirag Paswan, who arrived in Patna to a warm reception by party workers, stated that contesting Bihar Assembly elections would be a strategic move aimed at strengthening his party’s position and boosting the strike rate of the NDA.

“Discussions are ongoing about whether or not I will contest the Assembly elections. The final decision will be taken by the Parliamentary Board,” Chirag Paswan said without providing a direct answer but clearly signalling openness to the idea.

Chirag Paswan had previously expressed his desire to return to active Bihar politics, and senior party leaders — including Jamui MP and his brother-in-law Arun Bharti — have endorsed him as the "hope of Bihar’s people" and the potential CM face of the party.

However, Chirag Paswan has firmly denied any ambition to replace Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, emphasising that his priority is to strengthen the NDA.

“Some people within the alliance are trying to spread confusion by suggesting I have my eyes on the CM's chair. I want to clarify -- if I contest, it will be to energise the party workers and increase our alliance’s strike rate, not for personal ambition,” he said.

Paswan also drew parallels with the BJP, pointing out that senior leaders and even Union Ministers often contest state elections to rally support on the ground.

Speaking on the rising crime in Bihar, the Union Minister acknowledged the public concern and assured that he has conveyed his apprehensions to the state administration.

“Yes, there have been worrying incidents in Bihar. I am not in the state government and don’t have MLAs, but I’m part of the broader policy-making ecosystem. I’ve shared my concerns with the government. I would be visiting Muzaffarpur to meet the family affected by the recent gruesome incident of rape.”

Meanwhile, Chirag Paswan also lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has been vocal against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He dismissed Gandhi’s repeated allegations of EVM tampering and match-fixing in elections.

“When the Congress loses, they blame EVMs. Rahul Gandhi should introspect why, despite ruling for nearly 55 years, the public continues to reject the Congress,” Paswan said.

He also criticised the Opposition’s attacks on Prime Minister Modi, saying: “The opposition has no concrete issues to raise. Simply speaking against the Prime Minister without substance does no good.”

Chirag Paswan reiterated his unwavering support for Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, saying the goal is to form a stronger government than before under his leadership.

“This is not about individuals; it’s about the alliance. I fully support CM Nitish Kumar. The NDA will return to power with a stronger mandate,” he said.

--IANS

ajk/pgh

New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) achieved a breakthrough of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) at the Tughlakabad Railway Colony Underground Metro Station site, an official said on Saturday.

This milestone was achieved as part of work on the Golden Line (Tughlakabad–Aerocity corridor) under Phase-IV of the Delhi Metro network.

The breakthrough was achieved in the presence of Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh who lauded the engineering precision.

He said that such breakthroughs reaffirm the Central government’s commitment to modern, sustainable urban infrastructure that enhances ease of living, reduces road congestion, and contributes to environmental sustainability.

“Ever since our government came to power in Delhi, we have worked to restore the public’s trust — and this is now clearly visible in the progress of long-delayed metro phases,” he said.

“What was once stalled is now moving at full speed. Today’s breakthrough is not just a technical achievement, but a symbol of renewed momentum. In many ways, this event serves both as an inspection and a celebration,” said Singh.

“Going forward, we will further accelerate metro expansion and ensure that Delhi’s citizens receive the quality infrastructure and services they truly deserve,” said the Minister.

Vikas Kumar, Managing Director, DMRC, along with other senior officials and engineers were also present on the occasion.

The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) completed the excavation of a 0.792-kilometre-long tunnel, breaking through at the Tughlakabad Railway Colony station using a 96-metre-long tunnel boring machine.

This is one of the two parallel circular tunnels being constructed for the up and down movement of metro trains. The second parallel tunnel is expected to see a breakthrough by July 2025.

The tunnel has been built at an average depth of 18 metres, with an inner diameter of 5.8 metres, and comprises approximately 566 precast concrete rings produced at a fully mechanised casting yard in Mundka.

As of now, under Phase-IV, about 40.109 kilometres of underground lines are being constructed, with the Aerocity–Tughlakabad corridor alone contributing 19.343 km of underground sections, said a statement.

--IANS

rch/pgh

Nice (France), June 7 (IANS) Welcoming African Union as a new member of the New Delhi-headquartered Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday said that resilience must be anchored in the very foundations of development.

As the Co-Chair of the CDRI, Mishra, in his address to member countries and organisations at the Seventh International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) on the sidelines of the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice announced the African Union Commission is the newest member of the coalition.

He appreciated how 54 members have so far joined the CDRI and are bound by a common belief that resilience must be “embedded in the very foundations of development”.

Earlier this week, the African Union Commission hosted the regional consultation on the Africa common position for disaster risk reduction in Geneva in Switzerland.

Organised on the sidelines of the Global Platform 2025 for disaster risk reduction, the event brought together high-level delegations from African Union member states, regional economic communities and key development partners in a collaborative effort to refine and strengthen Africa’s stance ahead of the Global Platform for disaster risk reduction high-level segment.

The CDRI is a global coalition dedicated to enhancing the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks. With 46 member countries and eight partner organisations, it includes national governments, international organisations, and businesses collaborating to share knowledge, conduct research, and invest in disaster-resilient infrastructure.

Members benefit from access to global expertise, funding, technical support, research opportunities, innovative solutions, and international best practices.

Speaking on the occasion, CDRI Director General Amit Prothi said: “Coastal resilience is vital for protecting lives and economies. ICDRI 2025 unites global voices to inform action for vulnerable coastal communities and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Through our IRIS programme, we are supporting 24 projects across 25 SIDS, driving sustainable and inclusive infrastructure development."

He said at the ICDRI, the 54-member global coalition has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing climate and disaster resilient infrastructure across Africa.

Other announcements include the awarding of research grants for 53 projects spanning 21 countries, as well as a call to action for accelerating infrastructure resilience in small island nations, emphasising the urgent need for global collaboration and investment.

With approximately 37 per cent of the global population residing within 100 km of the coast, contributing around $1.5 trillion to the annual global GDP, and 90 per cent of global goods transported by sea, strengthening coastal resilience is now a global priority.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)

--IANS

vg/pgh

New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) Sustainability is at the heart of our maritime policy, and we are committed to achieving net zero emissions at major ports by 2047, said Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday.

During an interaction with students of the Blue MBA Executive Programme at Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Sonowal outlined India’s strategy to transform its maritime infrastructure through flagship initiatives like the Sagarmala Programme and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

“These efforts aim to build modern, multimodal logistics systems while prioritising clean energy, digital shipping and green port development,” the Minister added.

He described India as a ‘compelling story of inclusive, innovative, and sustainable growth,’ and said that the country’s vision is to become the global epicentre for green shipping and clean trade corridors.

“The discussion also covered India’s ambitious goals for maritime decarbonisation, including the use of green hydrogen and cutting-edge digital solutions,” the Union Minister stated.

Highlighting the growing cooperation between India and Denmark in green maritime technologies, Sonowal praised Denmark for its global leadership in energy efficiency and digital shipping.

He said India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is modernising its maritime sector through policy reform, infrastructure investment, and international collaboration.

“India’s vast coastline and heavy reliance on sea trade -- over 90 per cent of its volume -- make the maritime sector a central pillar of its economic strategy,” the minister noted.

He also shared the government’s plans to scale up maritime education and workforce, aiming to increase India’s maritime professionals from 7.86 million to nearly 40 million by 2047.

He highlighted a sharp rise in women seafarers, from just 1,699 in 2014 to over 7,000 in 2024, as a sign of the country’s focus on diversity and inclusion.

His visit was marked by a detailed conversation with maritime professionals and faculty members, focusing on India’s commitment to sustainable development and economic growth.

The event underlined India’s deepening ties with Denmark and its increasing engagement with global academic and professional institutions in the maritime field.

--IANS

pk/pgh

New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) David Lammy, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, conveying the UK's strong interest in further enhancing cooperation across key sectors and also expressing support for India's fight against cross border terrorism while strongly condemning the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

"Pleased to meet UK Foreign Secretary Mr. David Lammy. Appreciate his substantive contribution to the remarkable progress in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, further strengthened by the recently concluded FTA. Value UK's support for India's fight against cross-border terrorism," PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.

During the meeting, PM Modi expressed satisfaction at the successful conclusion of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement and Double Contribution Convention and appreciated the constructive engagement by both sides that led to this milestone.

PM Modi also welcomed the growing momentum in bilateral ties and expressed satisfaction at the deepening of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He welcomed the continued collaboration under the Technology Security Initiative and noted its potential to shape trusted and secure innovation ecosystems.

"FS David Lammy conveyed UK's strong interest in further enhancing cooperation across key sectors including trade and investment, defence and security, technology, innovation, and clean energy. He expressed confidence that the FTA will unlock new economic opportunities for both countries," read a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues.

"UK Foreign Secretary strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and expressed support for India's fight against cross border terrorism. PM Modi underscored the need for a decisive international action against terrorism and those who support it," the statement added.

The Prime Minister also conveyed his warm greetings to the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and reiterated the invitation for his visit to India at the earliest mutual convenience.

"Thank you Prime Minister Narendra Modi for your warm welcome to India. Building on the Free Trade Agreement between our great countries, we will continue working together to deepen our partnership, celebrate our unique living bridge, and deliver growth and security," Lammy posted on X.

--IANS

int/as