New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit New Zealand next week on his first official bilateral visit to the country. This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years, making it a historic occasion.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon officially announced the visit. He said the visit would mark a new chapter in India-New Zealand relations and strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Modi will arrive in New Zealand on July 10. He will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during the visit.

The leaders are expected to discuss several important issues. These include the Free Trade Agreement, trade, investment, agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, education, technology, defence cooperation, and collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.

Both countries are also expected to announce new agreements and partnerships during the visit. These measures are aimed at expanding economic and strategic ties.

India and New Zealand finalised their Free Trade Agreement in April this year. Under the agreement, India has agreed to gradually remove tariffs on nearly 95 percent of New Zealand’s export products.

The agreement is expected to increase trade and investment between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi’s visit is likely to give fresh momentum to the implementation of the trade deal.

Prime Minister Modi is also expected to meet members of the Indian community in New Zealand. The Indian diaspora plays an important role in strengthening cultural and economic ties between the two nations.

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After completing his New Zealand visit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to travel to other Indo-Pacific countries as part of his overseas tour. The visit is seen as part of India’s efforts to strengthen its diplomatic and economic presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Mangalore: The Karnataka Government has officially assigned district in-charge responsibilities to 13 Cabinet ministers. The order was issued as part of an important administrative step to strengthen governance and speed up development at the district level.

The decision was taken under the leadership of Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar. The government said the move will help improve coordination between the state administration and district authorities.

Minister U. T. Khader has been given charge of four coastal and Malnad districts – Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, and Kodagu. These districts play an important role in the state’s economy, tourism, and infrastructure development.

Minister K. J. George has been assigned responsibility for Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, and Davanagere districts. These districts are known for their agricultural, industrial, and tourism significance.

The government has also distributed the responsibility of other districts among the remaining ministers. Officials said the new arrangement is expected to improve monitoring of development projects and ensure faster implementation of government schemes across Karnataka.

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The official order has come into effect immediately. The government believes that assigning dedicated district in-charge ministers will help address local issues more effectively and promote balanced development throughout the state.

New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on the safety of Indian seafarers during his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the G7 Summit in France.

Tharoor said Prime Minister Modi clearly raised India’s concerns about the safety of civilian sailors working on commercial ships in conflict zones. He stated that innocent seafarers should not become victims of war.

According to Tharoor, the Prime Minister conveyed the message in both public and private discussions with President Trump. He said civilian sailors are not soldiers and should never be treated as military targets.

Tharoor also highlighted the presence of thousands of Indian sailors on ships operating across international waters. He stressed that their safety remains a major concern for India.

The Congress party had earlier criticised Prime Minister Modi for allegedly not speaking strongly enough about the deaths of three Indian seafarers killed in a US strike in the Gulf of Oman. Party leaders questioned why the issue was not raised more forcefully during the meeting with President Trump.

Following Tharoor’s comments, the BJP launched a fresh attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari claimed that Tharoor’s remarks had exposed differences within the Congress party.

Bhandari said Congress leaders were acknowledging Prime Minister Modi’s diplomatic efforts even while the party leadership continued to criticise him.

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Prime Minister Modi and President Trump met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France. During the meeting, Modi emphasised the importance of secure maritime routes and the protection of Indian seafarers working in the Gulf region.

The Prime Minister noted that lakhs of Indians are employed as seafarers around the world and said their safety must remain a top priority.

President Trump described Modi as a tough negotiator and said the two leaders discussed trade and regional security issues during their talks.