Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, has denied reports about his impending $600 million wedding to his fiancée Lauren Sanchez next Saturday in Aspen, Colorado. The billionaire was forced to issue a denial after The New York Post reported that the couple, who have been together since 2019, were set to host a lavish wedding with a winter wonderland theme.
Here are some facts about Lauren Sanchez:
Lauren Sanchez was born on December 19, 1969, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to a second-generation Mexican-American family.
She began her career as a broadcast journalist, working as an entertainment reporter and news anchor. She worked for Fox Sports Net, where she earned an Emmy nomination as anchor for Going Deep and later became an entertainment reporter for Best Damn Sports Show Period. In 1999, she returned to KCOP-TV to anchor UPN News 13, and her team won an Emmy Award.
She gained significant recognition for her role as the co-host of Good Day LA, a morning show she worked on from 2011 to 2017. Ms Sanchez also made appearances in several films, including The Longest Yard, Flight Club, and Ted 2.
In 2016, Lauren Sanchez launched her own company, Black Ops Aviation, which made history as the first female-owned aerial film and production company of its kind. Her passion for aviation was inspired by her childhood dream of becoming a flight attendant, a dream she was initially denied due to her weight. She later earned her helicopter pilot’s license. As a skilled helicopter pilot, Ms Sanchez consulted on major film projects, including the 2017 Christopher Nolan film Dunkirk.
Lauren Sanchez was previously married to Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell, with whom she shares two children, Ella and Evan. She also has a 23-year-old son, Nikko, from her relationship with former NFL player Tony Gonzalez.
Ms Sanchez began dating Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2018, and the couple went public with their relationship in July 2019, shortly after Mr Bezos finalised his divorce from his first wife, MacKenzie Scott.
She serves as the vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, an organisation founded by her partner Jeff Bezos, which focuses on combating climate change and preserving the environment.
In September 2024, she authored a bilingual children’s book, The Fly Who Flew to Space.
Israeli forces have martyred at least 32 more Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours.
A strike on a school housing displaced people in Gaza City martyred at least eight people, including three children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, according to Euronews. The Civil Defence had earlier said four children were among those martyred.
A strike on a home in the central city of Deir al-Balah late on Saturday martyred at least eight people, including three women and two children, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies. Another six people were killed in separate strikes on Sunday, according to local hospitals.
The overall death toll from Israel’s onslaught since last year has risen to 45,259 with 107,627 others injured.
A couple was tied to a pole and thrashed by a crowd in Bihar
Patna:
A man and a woman were seen tied to a pole and thrashed by a crowd in a viral video. The police have confirmed the incident as from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district.
The two were in a relationship, the police said, adding the locals had objected to them being together.
In the video, the woman was heard screaming, her hands tied to the pole with a rope. The man is tied to the pole with his back against her.
Reports said the woman is from Samastipur district, and the man from Muzaffarpur.
The police said they started investigating soon after the video went viral.
“… It appears that the man is a resident of Sakra area of Muzaffarpur. The police station concerned has been directed to investigate the incident,” Muzaffarpur Superintendent of Police (Rural) Vidya Sagar told reporters.
“I came to know about the incident after some people sent the video on WhatsApp,” he said.
Welcomes Telugu film industry to shift its operations to neighbouring State, which is home to ‘many scenic locations for film shootings’
Published Date – 22 December 2024, 08:48 PM
File Photos
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s outburst on the Telugu film fraternity in connection with the Sandhya theatre incident might turn detrimental to Telangana, with Andhra Pradesh quick to welcome the Telugu film industry to shift its operations to the neighbouring State.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president Palla Srinivasa Rao was among the first to do so, stating that the Telugu film industry would be welcomed if it was willing to relocate from Hyderabad to Andhra Pradesh.
In the past, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan had also wanted the Telugu film industry to shift its base to Andhra. There are many scenic locations and ideal spots for film shootings in Andhra Pradesh, Srinivasa Rao said.
This invitation was extended by the TDP president amidst the ongoing controversy over Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2movie benefit show screening at Sandhya theatre and the death of a woman in a stampede. On Sunday, a few students from Osmania University staged protest at the actor’s house in Jubilee Hills and damaged flower pots and other items.
Meanwhile, the entire episode is now taking a political twist, with leaders from different parties finding fault with the Congress government for its selective action in the case.
BJP MP from Andhra Pradesh D Purandeswari said it was wrong to specifically target Allu Arjun and blame him for the incident. The Sandhya theatre incident was not instigated, but was an unfortunate incident, she said.
According to reports, Purandeswari also said while other accused persons in the case were not arrested, Allu Arjun, who was A11 in the case, was arrested. “This is incorrect,” she said.
TDP spokesperson Jyothsna Tirunagiri also came down heavily on the Revanth Reddy government for its selective action. Tagging the Telangana Chief Minister in a post on X, she said “Your action in the Allu Arjun issue is good, but who should be responsible for students’ death in Telangana government hostels? Who is responsible for death of farmers’ whose crop loans were not waived and Sircilla weavers’ suicides?”
నిన్నటి నుండి ఒక ప్రశ్న అడగాలని ఉంది @revanth_anumula గారు? అల్లు అర్జున్ విషయంలో మీ ప్రభుత్వ చొరవ భేష్ కానీ తెలంగాణలోని ప్రభుత్వ హాస్టల్స్ లో పుడ్ పాయిజన్ వల్ల చనిపోయిన పిల్లల చావులకి బాధ్యులు ఎవరు?రుణమాఫీ అవ్వక చనిపోయిన రైతుల ప్రాణాలకు బాధ్యులు ఎవరు?హైడ్రా బయం తో ప్రాణాలు…
“There is enough time to discuss the Allu Arjun issue in the Assembly, but there is no time to discuss farmers’ issues, students’ issues, weavers’ issues, SSA workers issues. This is called selective justice and probably diversion tactics Mr CM!” Jyothsna added.
In the 200m butterfly event, Shivani Karra clinched the top spot with a time of 2:44.07, narrowly defeating Mokshitha (2:44.09) and Hanvika Reddy (2:54.10) who finished second and third, respectively. In the 200m breaststroke, Shivani again emerged victorious, clocking 2:30.17. P Niyathi (3:01.16) and Harshitha (4:12.04) secured second and third positions.
Published Date – 22 December 2024, 07:14 PM
Hyderabad: Shivani Karra of Gachibowli Swimming Pool clinched the girls’ 200m butterfly and breaststroke titles in the CM Cup Hyderabad District Swimming Competition (Boys & Girls) at LB Stadium, Hyderabad, on Sunday.
In the 200m butterfly, Shivani topped the charts with a timing of 02:44.07, finishing ahead of Mokshitha of Viswa Manya Club (02:44.09) and Hanvika Reddy of LB Stadium (02:54.10), who secured second and third positions, respectively. In the 200m breaststroke event, Shivani secured top spot with a timing of 02:30.17, as LB Stadium’s P Niyathi (03:01.16) and Harshitha (04:12.04) finished second and third, respectively.
Barely three months after giving birth to her son, Avash, Sareh Javanmardi was named Iran’s flag bearer for the 2022 Asian Para Games opening ceremony in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.
After five days of intense and action-packed shooting at the prestigious sports event, the celebrated Iranian shooter stood on the podium with her three-month-old son to claim the silver medal.
Javanmardi secured second place behind compatriot Faezeh Ahmadi in the P2 – Women’s 10m Air Pistol SH1 event but captured millions of hearts by appearing with her newborn son on the podium.
Draped in attire featuring the Iranian flag, Javanmardi stood proudly on the podium with her baby boy cradled in her arms. In a touching moment that melted hearts, she placed her silver medal around his tiny neck and declared, “My main medal is my three-month-old baby.”
Speaking with heartfelt emotion at the ceremony, she said, “I’m so happy my child is here with me. This is my first competition since his birth and the first medal I get to share with him.”
Javanmardi further shared her aspirations for her son, saying, “I hope that in the future, he can follow in his mother’s footsteps and become a beloved hero for his people.”
It was a rare and inspiring moment of a successful female athlete proudly embracing motherhood alongside her sporting achievements. Her accomplishment was widely celebrated, especially given the limited time she had to prepare for the sports event due to her pregnancy.
Javanmardi not only celebrated her sporting triumph but also exemplified the incredible strength and love of a mother, inspiring millions with her dual roles as an athlete and nurturer.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei later commended Javanmardi for her “symbolic” act of showing up on the podium with her little child in her arms.
Sareh Javanmardi and her son Avash at 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China
Javanmardi’s road to Hangzhou
Initially, Javanmardi had planned to sit out the 2022 Asian Para Games—held in 2023 in Hangzhou—due to the physical and emotional toll of pregnancy and postpartum recovery.
The seasoned shooter had even considered withdrawing from the road to the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, prioritizing her health and family, as advised by her doctors.
“After announcing my withdrawal from Hangzhou in (2023), I had decided to say goodbye to my Paris qualifiers. I also didn’t expect any invitations. With my pregnancy and after giving birth, Hangzhou seemed like an unknown space. It took me a month to come to the conclusion (to resume competing),” she was quoted as saying after the 2022 Asian Para Games.
But destiny had other plans for her. Inspired by her infant son, Avash, Javanmardi made an audacious decision to defy the odds and return to competitive international shooting.
“If Avash wasn’t by my side, I wouldn’t have participated in the Games at all. The only reason I’m here is because of my child,” she said, crediting her son as the driving force behind her presence in Hangzhou.
Her husband also played a crucial role in her remarkable comeback to competitive shooting. In a display of unwavering support, he set up a 10m shooting range at home, allowing Javanmardi to maintain her training regimen during the later stages of her pregnancy.
“During my seventh and eighth months, I focused on dry exercises at home,” she stated.
Sareh Javanmardi her husband and her son at 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China
With the support of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Iran, Javanmardi took to the stage at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games, this time with her family standing proudly by her side.
The Games, held under the inspiring slogan “Hearts Meet, Dreams Shine,” showcased the spirit of inclusivity and the pinnacle of athletic prowess, uniting Asia’s finest para-athletes.
Representing Iran with pride, the Iranian delegation was aptly named the “Children of Iran” and marched under the slogan “Faith, Iran, Honor.”
Comprising 210 athletes across 16 disciplines—128 men and 82 women—the Iranian contingent embodied a spirit of determination. Leading this remarkable contingent, Javanmardi held the honor of being the flag bearer.
Javanmardi was the flag bearer of Iranian contingent at the opening ceremony of 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.
Two years later, the Iranian sharpshooter delivered another remarkable performance at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, cementing her legacy as one of the finest in competitive sports.
Competing in the P2 10m air pistol SH1 event, the 39-year-old dazzled on the global stage, clinching the gold medal with an outstanding score of 236.8 points.
The Tokyo 2020 gold medalist ascended to the top of the podium once more, leaving her mark on a competition that will forever remember her brilliance.
Following her golden moment in Paris, Javanmardi announced her retirement from professional shooting, bowing out at the peak of her career.
Speaking after the 50m pistol competition, she reflected on her decision.
“Today, I am saying goodbye to the championship world, a choice I made long ago,” she told reporters, marking the end of an extraordinary chapter in Paralympic history.
Javanmardi at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris
Javanmardi, Iran’s undisputed “Pistol Queen,” capped off a glittering career in style, etching her name in history as the most decorated Iranian Paralympian.
“I thank God I could return with my hands full one last time, making my people, family, wife, and child proud. It’s the perfect time to stop, at the peak,” she said after her golden triumph.
In Paris, he delivered yet another shooting gold medal—her fifth Paralympic title—capping an extraordinary journey that saw her dominate three consecutive Paralympic Games.
Javanmardi seized double gold in Rio 2016 and followed it up with a title in Tokyo 2020, before finishing with her crowning glory in Paris 2024.
Lauded by the Asian Shooting Confederation as “Iran’s Pistol Queen,” Javanmardi’s legacy as the greatest shooter in Iranian sports history remains unchallenged, a testament to her unrivaled dominance and unyielding spirit.
Javanmardi’s professional career
Born on December 8, 1984, in Shiraz, the Iranian female shooter defied the odds from the start.
Born with one leg shorter than the other, she embraced sports early on, but her path to greatness began most unexpectedly. Until 18, she was simply a gym enthusiast, unaware of the Paralympic world or her own potential.
Her journey took a pivotal turn in 2002, thanks to a welfare worker who introduced her to Paralympic sports, known in Iran as “veterans and disabled sports.”
That year, she explored chess, fitness, tennis, and sitting volleyball, but it wasn’t until 2006 that she found her true calling in shooting. Just two years later, she claimed her first international medal—a silver—at the 2008 Spanish Shooting Championship.
Javanmardi with her son in a meeting with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in Tehran.
Javanmardi made her Paralympic debut at London 2012, capturing bronze in P2 (Women’s 10m Air Pistol SH1). Her breakthrough moment came in 2014 when she was crowned Female Athlete of the Year by the Asian Paralympic Committee after clinching two golds at the Incheon Asian Para Games.
By 2015, Javanmardi was rewriting the record books, setting world records in P2 and P4 while dominating the World Cup circuit.
She entered the Rio 2016 Paralympics as one of the sport’s biggest names—and she delivered a performance for the ages.
In Rio, Javanmardi became a trailblazer, winning double gold in P2 and P4 with record-breaking scores. Her victories marked a historic moment: the first-ever Paralympic golds by an Iranian woman.
She shattered barriers and records alike, scoring 193.4 points in the 10m air pistol event, cementing her place in history as a pioneer for Iranian women in sports.
Her triumphs in Rio not only added two golds to Iran’s tally but also set a standard of excellence that continues to inspire athletes across the nation.
Javanmardi’s unparalleled dominance in shooting reached new heights at the 15th Paralympic Games, where she clinched gold in the 50m mixed pistol event.
Already a champion from Rio 2016, she arrived in Tokyo 2020 as the defending titleholder in the 10m air pistol SH1—and left with her legacy cemented.
In Tokyo, Javanmardi delivered a masterclass, not just retaining her crown but also smashing the world record to claim her third consecutive Paralympic gold.
Her dazzling 239.2-point performance in the final round left Turkish and Hungarian competitors trailing, adding yet another golden chapter to her storied career.
Her triumph secured Iran’s seventh gold of the Games and solidified her status as the most decorated athlete in the nation’s Paralympic history.
As a testament to her monumental achievements, Javanmardi carried Iran’s flag at the Tokyo 2020 closing ceremony, a fitting honor for a legend who continually elevated Iranian sports on the global stage.
Sareh Javanmardi carried flag for Iran in the 2020 Paralympic Games closing ceremony.
Beyond the Paralympics, Javanmardi’s brilliance has shone at the World Championships. She claimed one gold in Croatia, two in the UAE, and another two in South Korea during her illustrious career.
Her relentless pursuit of excellence also earned her election to the World Shooting Para Sports Athletes’ Council in 2024, a role she will hold through the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
She stands as a beacon of resilience and triumph, not just as an athlete but as an inspiration for generations to come.
Auctioned medal
In November 2017, Sareh Javanmardi took an extraordinary step, auctioning off one of her hard-earned gold medals from the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The proceeds went to victims of a devastating earthquake in the Iranian province of Kermanshah straddling the Iran-Iraq border, which claimed over 600 lives.
“I consider it my duty to take a small step to help my beloved fellow compatriots who have suffered as a result of the quake,” she said, exemplifying the heart and spirit of a true champion.
Milestones
Javanmardi made history in 2016 by becoming the first female athlete from the Islamic Republic of Iran to win Paralympic gold in shooting Para sport.
Her triumph in the SH1 10m air pistol event at the Rio Paralympic Games marked a groundbreaking achievement for Iranian women in sports.
She also etched her name in history as the second Iranian woman ever to claim a Paralympic gold medal in any sport, further solidifying her status as a pioneer for Iranian athletes on the global stage.
Three-time Paralympian Sareh Javanmardi has been named one of the newly elected members of the World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS) Athletes’ Council, where she will serve until the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
Manchester United crashed to a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth, while Chelsea missed the chance to go top of the Premier League after a 0-0 draw at Everton on Sunday. United boss Ruben Amorim, who once again left Marcus Rashford out of his squad, is set for a miserable Christmas following the worst result of his brief reign. Languishing in 13th place, United have suffered four defeats in nine matches in all competitions since Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon in November to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.
United’s second successive loss after their League Cup exit at Tottenham on Thursday underlined Amorim’s belief that their road back to the top will be long and arduous.
United, who have conceded first in their last six games, were booed off at half-time, while the final whistle was greeted by more jeers from the few fans who stayed until the bitter end.
While it is far too early to pass judge on Amorim, the Portuguese coach cannot afford many more results like this if he is to keep the players and fans on his side.
Amorim’s decision to play without Rashford for the third consecutive game will face fresh scrutiny after United’s wretched performance.
Amorim surprisingly omitted the 27-year-old England forward from the squad for United’s win at Manchester City last weekend, prompting Rashford to hint he was willing to leave the club for a “new challenge”.
Rashford was at Old Trafford wearing a United tracksuit amid his extended exile as Amorim made six changes from the line-up beaten 4-3 by Tottenham in the League Cup quarter-finals.
Again, United were exposed at set-pieces in the 29th minute when Bournemouth’s teenage defender Dean Huijsen punished poor marking at a free-kick to glance a header past Andre Onana.
There was even worse to come for Amorim in the second half as Justin Kluivert doubled fifth-placed Bournemouth’s advantage with a 61st minute penalty following Noussair Mazraoui’s foul on the forward.
Antoine Semenyo compounded United’s misery two minutes later with a cool finish from Dango Ouattara’s pass.
With leaders Liverpool playing at Tottenham in Sunday’s late game, second-placed Chelsea would have gone top, for at least a few hours, if they had won at Everton.
But Enzo Maresca‘s side had to settle for a goalless stalemate that ended their five-match winning run in the league.
Chelsea sit one point behind Liverpool who have two games in hand on the Blues, starting with their trip to Tottenham.
It was an encouraging start to a new era for Everton — four points clear of the relegation zone — under new owners the Friedkin Group, whose purchase brought an end to Farhad Moshiri’s tumultuous tenure.
Everton’s new executive chairman Marc Watts was in attendance at Goodison Park to see Chelsea come closest to winning when Nicolas Jackson’s first-half header hit the post.
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira enjoyed a dream debut as his side won 3-0 at relegation rivals Leicester.
Replacing the sacked Gary O’Neil, former Porto boss Pereira left his role at Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab to fulfil his dream of managing in England.
Goncalo Guedes started the Pereira era with a flourish as he met Nelson Semedo’s cross with an agile finish in the 19th minute.
As if that welcome gift from his fellow Portuguese wasn’t enough, Pereira received another present from a compatriot in the 36th minute when Rodrigo Gomes slid in to notch his first goal for Wolves.
Matheus Cunha’s 44th minute strike from Guedes’ pass ensured third-bottom Wolves would move within two points of fourth-bottom Leicester.
Bottom-of-the-table Southampton held on for a 0-0 draw at Fulham as new manager Ivan Juric watched from the stands.
Juric, axed by Roma in November after just 12 games, was not in charge on Sunday as he awaited a work permit to replace Russell Martin.
Southampton are eight points adrift of safety with only one win from 17 league games.
The German government pledged Sunday to fully investigate whether there were security lapses before the Christmas market car-ramming attack that killed five people and injured over 200.
Political pressure has built on the question of potential missed warnings about Saudi suspect Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old psychiatrist who had made online deaths threats and previously had trouble with the law.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and the heads of Germany’s domestic and foreign intelligence services are due to answer questions at parliamentary committee hearings on December 30, a senior lawmaker told AFP.
Faeser vowed Sunday that “no stone will be left unturned” in shedding light on what information had been available to security services ahead of last Friday’s bloody attack in the eastern city of Magdeburg.
She stressed that the attacker did “not fit any previous pattern” because “he acted like an Islamist terrorist although ideologically he was clearly an enemy of Islam”.
Abdulmohsen has in the past called himself a “Saudi atheist” who helped women flee Gulf countries and charged Germany was doing too little to help them.
In online posts, he also strongly criticised Germany for allowing in too many Muslim refugees and backed far-right conspiracy theories about the “Islamisation” of Europe.
In one post, he wrote: “Is there a path to justice in Germany without blowing up a German embassy or randomly slaughtering German citizens?… If anyone knows it, please let me know.”
News magazine Der Spiegel, citing security sources, said the Saudi secret service had warned Germany’s spy agency BND a year ago about a tweet in which Abdulmohsen threatened Germany would pay a “price” for how it treated Saudi refugees.
Die Welt daily reported, also citing security sources, that German state and federal police had carried out a “risk assessment” on Abdulmohsen last year but concluded that he posed “no specific danger”.
“Blood and screams”
The city of Magdeburg has been in deep mourning over the mass carnage on Friday evening, when an SUV smashed through a crowd at its Christmas market, killing four women and a nine-year-old child and injuring 205 people.
Surgeons at overwhelmed hospitals have worked around the clock, and one health worker told local media of “blood on the floor everywhere, people screaming, lots of painkillers being administered”.
Scholz on Saturday condemned the “terrible, insane” attack and made a call for national unity, at a time Germany is headed for early elections on February 23.
But as German media dug into Abdulmohsen’s past, and investigators gave away little, criticism rained down from opposition parties.
Conservative CDU lawmaker Alexander Throm charged that “many citizens feel… that the Scholz government has completely failed in terms of internal security”.
He demanded greater police powers to monitor and analyse data from social media platforms, telecommunications and surveillance cameras with facial recognition technology.
The far-right AfD called for a special session of parliament, and the head of the far-left BSW party, Sahra Wagenknecht, demanded that Faeser explain “why so many tips and warnings were ignored beforehand”.
Mass-circulation daily Bild asked: “Why did our police and intelligence services do nothing, even though they had the Saudi on their radar?… And why were the tips from Saudi Arabia apparently ignored?”
It charged that “German authorities usually only find out about attack plans in time when foreign services warn them” and called for sweeping reforms after the election for a complete “turnaround in internal security”.
Senior MP Dirk Wiese of Scholz’s Social Democrats said the December 30 hearings will summon the heads of the BND, the domestic intelligence service BfV and the Office for Migration and Refugees.
“Ultra-right conspiracy ideologies”
Media meanwhile reported more details on Abdulmohsen, who had worked at a clinic that treats offenders with substance addiction problems, but had been on sick leave since late October.
Der Spiegel reported that in 2013 a court fined him for “disturbing the public peace by threatening to commit crimes” after he had darkly referenced the deadly attack on the Boston marathon.
The chairwoman of the group Central Council of Ex-Muslims, Mina Ahadi, said Abdulmohsen “is no stranger to us, because he has been terrorising us for years”.
She labelled him “a psychopath who adheres to ultra-right conspiracy ideologies” and said he “doesn’t just hate Muslims, but everyone who doesn’t share his hatred.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
MEA secretary said that intensification of visits from Kuwaiti side may be anticipated.
New Delhi:
India and Kuwait signed four Memorandum of Understandings in the areas of defence, sports and cultural cooperation during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Gulf nation, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday.
MEA Secretary CPV and OIA, Arun Kumar Chatterjee during a special briefing today, said the MoUs are expected to deepen the multifaceted bilateral relationship as well as open avenues for newer areas of cooperation.
“Following the delegation level talks today, four bilateral documents were signed during the visit. The first one is a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation, the second one is a Cultural Exchange program for the years 2025-2029, the third is an executive program on cooperation in the field of sports for the period 2025- 2028. We also had Kuwait joining as a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA),” he said.
“We are pretty confident that this historic visit of the Prime Minister will open up a new chapter in the relationship between India and Kuwait. Both the sides have been able to identify several important areas of cooperation and the governments will be working towards fulfillment of the plans that have been made during this visit,” Mr Chatterjee added.
The MoU on Defence cooperation will institutionalize bilateral cooperation in the area of defence. Key areas of cooperation include training, exchange of personnel and experts, joint exercises, cooperation in defence industry, supply of defence equipment, and collaboration in research and development, among others, a statement by MEA said.
“The MoU between India and Kuwait in the field of Defence cooperation will institutionalise the bilateral cooperation in the areas of defence. The key areas of cooperation would include training, exchange of personnel and experts, joint exercises, cooperation in defence industry, supply of defence equipment and collaboration in research and development,” Mr Chatterjee said.
Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) between India and Kuwait for the years 2025-2029 will facilitate greater cultural exchanges in art, music, dance, literature and theatre, cooperation in preservation of cultural heritage, research and development in the area of culture and organizing of festivals, an MEA statement said.
“The cultural exchange program will facilitate greater cultural exchanges in art, music, dance, literature and theater. Cooperation in preservation of cultural heritage, research and development in the areas of culture and organization of festivals,” he said.
Executive Programme (EP) for Cooperation in the Field of Sports for the years 2025-2028 will strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of sports between India and Kuwait by promoting exchange of visits of sports leaders for experience sharing, participation in programs and projects in the field of sports, exchange of expertise in sports medicine, sports management, sports media, sports science, among others, the statement said.
“The executive program for cooperation in the field of sports will strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of sports between India and Kuwait by promoting exchange of visits of sports leaders for experience sharing, participation in programs and projects in the field of sports, exchange of expertise in sports medicine, sports management, sports media, sports science among some of the areas that we have identified,” Mr Chatterjee said.
Kuwait became a member of the ISA. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) collectively covers the deployment of solar energy and addresses key common challenges to the scaling up of use of solar energy to help member countries develop low-carbon growth trajectories, the MEA statement said.
“Kuwait becoming a member of the International Solar Alliance collectively covers the deployment of solar energy and addresses key common challenges to the scaling up of use of solar energy to help member states develop low carbon growth trajectories,” Mr Chatterjee said.
The MEA Secy said that Kuwaiti side acknowledged the important contribution made by Indians there in their economy. Both sides agreed that working groups in the sectors of health and education will identify new sectors of cooperation.
“Regarding the health and education sector, both the sides acknowledged the important contribution that Indians are making in the Kuwaiti economy today and the Kuwaiti side also acknowledged the major contribution that the Indian diaspora is making for the development of the Kuwaiti economy on the issues like health and education. We have separate working groups that have been set up. Both the leaders agreed that these working groups will be meeting frequently and regularly to identify new areas of cooperation. On manpower front also we have a joint working group that exclusively looks at manpower-related issues of Indians in Kuwait and that working group usually looks at and addresses the major issues that are there in this sector but in the general context the leaders discussed about the contribution of the of the Indian community here,” Mr Chatterjee said.
He said that intensification of visits from Kuwaiti side may be anticipated as new areas of cooperation have been identified.
“The elevation of a relationship to a strategic partnership means you have taken your bilateral relationship to the next level. Which means you will have greater intensity of cooperation in several areas, plus we have identified new areas. We will see intensification of exchanges and visits in the coming days to materialize whatever has been planned by the leaders of both the countries,” he said.
Mr Chatterjee added that health is an important sector that has been identified for cooperation.
“Health and pharmaceuticals is one important area which both the sides have identified for cooperation and that could include investments by the Kuwaiti side in India or expansion of the trade basket to increase pharmaceutical exports also from India. Pharmaceutical would continue to be one of the important sectors of cooperation between our two countries,’ he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his two-day official visit to Kuwait, and emplaned for New Delhi on Sunday.
Visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Emir of the State of Kuwait, PM Modi held multiple engagements and held discussions to further deepen the India-Kuwait ties.
In a special gesture, the PM of Kuwait came to see off PM Modi at the airport as he left for India.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The Amir and PM Modi recalled strong historical ties between India and Kuwait. (File)
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his meeting with Kuwaiti counterpart, Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, held discussions regarding deepening of economic cooperation between the two nations, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday.
MEA Secretary, CPV and OIA, Arun Kumar Chatterjee in a press briefing, elaborated on the details of Prime Minister’s visit to Kuwait, the first by an Indian PM to the Gulf nation in 43 years.
“Narendra Modi arrived in Kuwait on the morning of December 21, that is yesterday. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait in 43 years. At the airport, the Prime Minister was received by at the airport, PM Modi was received by Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah, the first Deputy PM, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Interior of Kuwait and also the Minister of Foreign Minister and other senior officials. Upon his arrival at the hotel, he was warmly welcomed by the Indian diaspora in Kuwait and their numbers are around 200,” Mr Chatterjee said.
Mr Chatterjee said that PM Modi was awarded ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’ by Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah on Sunday.
“Today morning, Prime Minister was given a ceremonial welcome at the Bayan Palace and a Guard of honor accorded to him. He called on the Amir of Kuwait thereafter, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah. This was the first meeting between the two leaders,” he said.
The Amir and PM Modi recalled strong historical ties between India and Kuwait during their bilateral meeting. PM Modi also congratulated the Amir for smoothly conducting the GCC Summit earlier this month.
“They recalled the strong historical and friendly ties between India and Kuwait and reaffirmed their full commitment to further expanding and deepening the bilateral cooperation. In this context, they agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. Prime Minister thanked His Highness, the Amir for ensuring the well-being of over 1 million strong Indian Community in Kuwait. His Highness the Amir also expressed appreciation for the contribution of the large and vibrant Indian Community in Kuwait’s development. Prime minister also congratulated His Highness the Amir for successful holding of the GCC Summit earlier this month,” he said.
PM Modi said he accepted the Kuwaiti Highest Award on the behalf of all Indians.
“His Highness the Amir conferred the Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer on the Prime Minister of India. This is the highest Award of the state of Kuwait. The Honorable Prime Minister thanked the Amir for this gesture and conveyed that he was accepting this award on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians. Prime Minister today met His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince of the state of Kuwait. Prime Minister had earlier met the Crown Prince on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly session in September this year. The leaders acknowledged that the bilateral relations were progressing well and welcomed their elevation to a strategic partnership. The Prime Minister also expressed confidence that the India-GCC relations will be further strengthened under the presidency of Kuwait,” he said.
PM Modi held delegation-level talks with Kuwaiti PM, during which the two discussed ways to strengthen India-Kuwait’s strategic partnership.
“Prime Minister Modi held delegation-level talks with His Highness Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister of the state of Kuwait. The two leaders discussed a road map to strengthen the strategic partnership in areas including political, trade, investments, energy, defense, security, health, education technology, cultural, and people-to people ties. They emphasized on deepening the economic cooperation between the two countries. They welcomed the recent signing of the joint commission for cooperation under which new joint working groups in areas of trade, investment, education, technology, agriculture, security and culture have been set up in addition to the existing joint working groups on health manpower and hydrocarbons. The Prime Minister also attended a banquet lunch hosted in his honor by His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait,” he said.
Mr Chatterjee said that PM Modi was the Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup. He also went to a labout camp and met 1,500 Indian nationals who worked there, which showed the importance India attached to its workers abroad.
“Yesterday in the evening the Prime Minister of India was the guest of honor at the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup which is being hosted by Kuwait. He joined His Highness the Amir the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of Kuwait in this opening ceremony.
“Earlier after arrival the one of the first engagements of the Prime Minister was a visit to a labor camp in Mina Abdullah area of Kuwait which has a Workforce of around 1,500 Indian nationals. The Prime Minister interacted with a cross-section of Indian workers from different states of India and inquired about their well-being. The visit to the labor camp displays the importance attached by the Prime Minister personally and the government of India to the welfare of Indian workers abroad. Thereafter yesterday evening the Prime Minister also addressed a gathering of the Indian Community at a special event titled Hala Modi at the Sheikh Sad Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex in Kuwait City. Around 4,500 Indian Nationals representing a cross-section of the Indian Community in Kuwait attended the event. The Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by the community once again and with full enthusiasm they all participated in the event yesterday,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi also lauded the role of Indian diaspora in Kuwait have enriched the relations between two copies.
“Addressing the Gathering the Prime Minister noted that the India Kuwait relationship is profoundly enriched by the Indian Community, which plays a pivotal role in fostering ties between the two Nations,” he said.
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