The Indian Panorama

Tag: Japanese PM Fumio Kishida

  • G7 countries call for world without nuclear weapons

    G7 countries call for world without nuclear weapons

    • G7 favors stiffening sanctions against Russia

    HIROSHIMA (TIP): Leaders of the Group of Seven rich nations called on Friday, May 19, for a “world without nuclear weapons”, urging Russia, Iran, China and North Korea to cease nuclear escalation and embrace non-proliferation, a statement released by the White House showed.

    Russia’s nuclear rhetoric and stated intent to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus “are dangerous and unacceptable,” and Russia should return to full implementation of New START treaty, the leaders said in the statement. The leaders also agreed on Friday to stiffen sanctions against Russia, while a draft communique to be issued after their talks in the Japanese city of Hiroshima stressed the need to reduce reliance on trade with China.

    G7 leaders said they had ensured that Ukraine had the budget support it needs for this year and early 2024. “Today we are taking new steps to ensure that Russia’s illegal aggression against the sovereign state of Ukraine fails,” they said in a statement. A French government plane took Zelenskyy to the Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia and will later take him to the G7 summit in Hiroshima, a source familiar with the matter said.

    Ukraine wants its allies to be bolder in imposing sanctions on Russia, including by targeting banks that provide financial services to serving soldiers, a senior adviser said.

    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his government wanted pragmatic measures to prevent the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia. G7 members are prepared to build “constructive and stable relations” with China while acting in their national interests, according to a draft version of their communique.

  • PM Modi’s mother Heeraben passes away; cremated in Gandhinagar

    PM Modi’s mother Heeraben passes away; cremated in Gandhinagar

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The mortal remains of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Heeraben, who passed away here early on Friday, December 30, were consigned to flames in Gandhinagar.

    Heeraba passed away at UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad in the wee hours on Friday, December 30. She was 99 and was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, December 28.

    The hospital said in a statement that she breathed her last at 3.30 am during treatment at the institute. The PM’s last meeting with his mother before she was hospitalized was on the eve of the Gujarat polls on December 4 when he went to seek her blessings in Gandhinagar. Paying tributes to his mother, the PM tweeted, “A splendid century long life has come to an end. In my mother, I saw the trinity—of a hermit, an ascetic and a life devoted to ideals.”

    Heeraba is survived by five sons—PM Modi and brothers Soma Bhai, Amrutbhai, Prahladbhai and Pankajbhai, and daughter Vasantiben. The PM and his brothers lit the pyre at their mother’s last rites in Gandhinagar. Earlier, the PM reached Ahmedabad from Delhi and went straight to the house of brother Pankaj Modi at Raysan village on Gandhinagar outskirts where the mortal remains of Heeraba were kept. After carrying the mortal remains for some distance, the PM boarded the mortuary van to accompany his mother on her last journey to the cremation ground.

    President Droupadi Murmu led the tributes to Heeraba, hailing her simple and compassionate life.

    Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu also paid tributes.

    “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Heeraba’s 100 years of struggle are a symbol of Indian ideals. Shri Modi imbibed the spirit of ‘#Matradevobhav’ (Mother is God) and the values of Heeraba in his life. I pray for the peace of the holy soul (sic),” the President said. A prayer meeting in the memory of Heeraba would be held later at Vadnagar, the family’s native place. Born in Mehsana, she led an active life and often made headlines. She was seen standing in a queue to withdraw cash from an ATM after PM Modi declared demonetization in 2016. She also made news when she accepted the Covid vaccine and was a regular voter. —

    Condolences poured in from leaders across the world.

    My deepest condolences. May her soul rest in peace. — Fumio Kishida, Japanese PM

    May she rest in peace and may you find solace in her memory and the rich heritage she bequeathed to you and many others. — Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel PM

    There is no greater loss than losing one’s mother. My condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. — Shehbaz Sharif, Pak PM. We have seen how instrumental her role was in every aspect of your life as a mother, motivator and mentor. — Sheikh Hasina, B’desh PM.