Jaishankar embarks on 3-day visit to US
New Delhi (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday embarked on a three-day visit to the US to attend a Washington-led ministerial meeting on critical minerals supply chain.
Jaishankar's visit assumes significance as it is being seen as an opportunity to address the sharp downturn in the relations between the two strategic partners.
It is expected that the minister will hold bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials of the Trump administration.
"External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit the United States from February 2 to 5 to participate in the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio," the external affairs ministry said in a statement.
ALSO READ: UP: Boy tricked into giving away jewellery worth Rs 85 lakh in exchange for momo, case lodged
It said the ministerial will focus on supply chain resilience, clean energy transitions, and strategic cooperation in critical minerals.
"During the visit, the external affairs minister will also hold meetings with senior members of the US administration," it said.
India-US ties have been reeling under severe stress after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to a whopping 50 per cent, including a 25 per cent additional duties, for India's purchase of Russian crude oil.
Apart from the tariff issue, the relations witnessed a downturn on a number of other issues that included Trump's claim of ending the India-Pakistan conflict in May last year and Washington's new immigration policy.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
One crore jobs and employment opportunities to be created by 2030: Bihar Guv tells state legislature
Patna (PTI): Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday asserted that the Nitish Kumar government was committed to creating one crore jobs and employment opportunities in the state in the next five years.
Addressing both Houses of the state legislature on the inaugural day of the month-long budget session, the governor also said that maintaining the rule of law and communal harmony were the top priorities of the government, which strove towards achieving “development with justice”.
"The government has so far provided jobs and employment opportunities (rozgar) to 50 lakh youths. By 2030, one crore youths will get jobs and employment opportunities," said the governor.
Notably, the promise of “one crore rozgar” was first made by the ruling NDA in its manifesto for the 2025 assembly polls, which the BJP-led coalition went on to win with a thumping majority.
The governor also said, “maintaining rule of law and communal harmony are also a top priority of the state government. To strengthen law and order machinery, the number of police personnel has been raised to 1.21 lakh, while the number of police stations has reached 10,380. Bihar also has the highest percentage of female police personnel”.
He added that in keeping with its motto of “nyay ke saath vikas” (development with justice), the government has been working towards empowerment of women, and the state was now home to 1.40 crore female volunteers enrolled with "Jeevika" self-help groups.
Referring to the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana, rolled out just ahead of the assembly polls, the governor said, “Rs 10,000 each was given to women for starting up their own businesses. Those who are able to make good use of the money will get up to Rs two lakh each."
Khan also spoke of an “increase in farmers’ income in Bihar over the years, and the government’s push for health and education by setting up schools, colleges and hospitals across the state.
