Author: TheStateLine

New Delhi, Dec 13 (IANS) India and Italy continue to work towards enhancing collaboration in maritime and land infrastructure in the framework of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) besides also concluding an agreement on cooperation in the maritime and port sector.Speaking exclusively to IANS, Italian Ambassador to India Antonio Bartoli hoped that the work on the "game-changer" IMEEC project would continue despite the current geopolitical crisis in the eastern Mediterranean region."It's a privilege to represent a vision for the future, that at the same time is deeply rooted in the past. Rome and India already traded millennia, centuries ago. Black pepper was one thing that the King of Visigoths asked Rome for as a ransom, because it was a precious and valuable good th...

New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto are scheduled to visit India early next year as both countries continue to unlock the unparalleled potential of strategic partnership driven by a shared vision outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni who have held five meetings over the last two years.In an exclusive interview with IANS, Italian Ambassador to India Antonio Bartoli revealed that the Italy-India Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 unveiled by the both leaders during their discussions held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro last month, has infused further momentum and depth in the bilateral agenda."Defence and space are top on the agenda of the Joint Strategic Action ...

New Delhi, Dec 13 (IANS) Italian Ambassador to India, Antonio Bartoli believes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an "extraordinary political leader" who has an "extraordinary capacity" to connect with people.In an exclusive interview with IANS, the seasoned diplomat also stated that strong leadership is one element that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has in common with PM Modi."Prime Minister Modi is an extraordinary political leader. One can have his own opinion, agree or disagree, but he has an extraordinary capacity to connect with people. I mean, it suffices to see his X account... He has the ability to build, that is fundamental for leaders, to give a sense of direction to people, and to provide a narrative, which doesn't mean an artificial narrative but a narrative in the s...

Seoul, Dec 13 (IANS) Prosecutors on Friday arrested Lt. Gen. Lee Jin-woo, the chief of South Korea's Capital Defence Command, as part of their ongoing investigation into his alleged involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law."The commander was arrested this evening under a warrant," the prosecution said.Lee, who had previously been placed under a travel ban, is accused of ordering the deployment of martial law troops to the National Assembly building after Yoon declared martial law on December 3, reports Yonhap news agency.Several military commanders are currently under investigation in connection with the military's role in enforcing martial law, which was soon lifted by the parliament.Prosecutors plan to seek a separate warrant to formally detain Lee withi...

Mogadishu, Dec 13 (IANS) The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has welcomed an agreement signed between Ethiopia and Somalia to end their bitter dispute over Addis Ababa's plans to build a port in Somaliland, a region of Somalia. Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of ATMIS Mohamed El-Amine Souef described the deal, inked in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, as an exemplary act of leadership that is crucial in advancing regional peace, security and stability, reports Xinhua news agency"ATMIS remains fully committed to supporting Somalia's state-building and security transition, in line with the aspirations of the Somali people and the African Union's vision for a stable and prosperous Africa," Souef said in a stateme...