'Will pursue them to the end of Earth': PM Modi on Pahalgam terrorists
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday issued a stern warning to the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack, saying India will "pursue them to the end of the Earth," Business Standard reported.
Addressing a public meeting in Bihar's Madhubani, PM Modi said, "Today, on the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world - India will identify, trace, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism."
"Terrorism will not go unpunished. Every effort will be made to make sure that justice is done. The entire nation is one in this resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us. I thank the people of various countries and their leaders who have stood with us," he added, according to Business Standard.
PM Modi's remarks came after terrorists killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. The Prime Minister emphasised that the attack had not just been on unarmed tourists, but on the "faith of the country".
NICCI President KC holds talks with Indian Power Minister Khattar
Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) President Sunil KC held a meeting with visiting Indian Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday.
During the meeting, KC appraised him of energy cooperation possibilities between the private sectors of two neighboring countries.
He also appraised the Indian Minister of immense possibilities of energy cooperation between the private sectors of both the countries as the Power Trade Agreement has already been signed by two governments.
“NICCI will help facilitate the investment in energy from Indian private sector to take maximum benefit from recently signed Power Trade Agreement,” KC said in a statement issued by the NICCI, adding that the Business-to-Business (B2B) collaboration is key to expand the horizon of the trade and investment between the two South Asian neighbors.
“The recent Nepal-India power deal followed by Tuesday’s signing of memorandum of understanding on cross border transmission line has opened new avenues for both the countries to join hands in economic development.
Nepal and India signed a crucial memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cross border transmission line on Tuesday in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation Deepak Khadka and visiting Indian Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Khattar.
The MoU, signed as per the agreement made by the 12th meeting of the Nepal-India Secretary Level Joint Directive Committee held in New Delhi two months ago, will help establish a joint company for the construction of 400 KV Inaruwa-New Poorniya and Dodhara-Bareli Transmission Line, according to the statement.
The Indian Minister arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday at the invitation of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Khadka.
Immediately after arriving at Kathmandu, the visiting India Minister Khattar along with Minister Khadka jointly inspected the Arun III Hydropower Project in Sankhuwasabha also.
The visiting Minister Khattar said that Nepal is a country with immense hydropower potential and that prosperity can be achieved through the energy sector. Stressing that the Arun III Hydropower Project should be completed on time as it would benefit both the countries, he said that the Indian government is ready to invest more in Nepal's hydropower sector.
Earlier, the Governments of India and Nepal had signed a long-term Power Trade Agreement on January 4, 2024. The 25-year long deal aims to export 10,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to India in the next ten years.
NICCI has been facilitating trade and economic ties between Nepal and India. “NICCI will be happy to welcome more private sector power players in Nepal,” KC added.
On the occasion, KC presented visiting Minister Khattar, the token of love on behalf of NIICI, and the ‘Business Climate Survey for Indian Companies in Nepal’ done by NICCI to promote Indian investment in Nepal.
CPN (MC) Chair Dahal urges government to address genuine demands of teachers
CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged the government to address the genuine demands of teachers.
He also asked parliamentarians of his party to participate actively to pass the bills including the Civil Service from the Parliament.
In the Parliamentary Party meeting of the party held on Thursday, Dahal urged the government to resolve the problems, saying that he has also been holding discussions with teachers, doctors and microfinance victims, according to Dahal's private secretariat.
He stressed that all lawmakers should be active to pass the important bills including Federal Civil Service and School Education.
On a different note, mentioning that the CPN (Maoist Center) is getting people's trust through Tarai-Madhes Awareness Campaign, Chair Dahal added that the campaign has also made party organization stronger.
During the meeting, various issues including present political development, government's style of working, party's role and people's expectation were discussed.
DOGE shuttering Millennium Challenge Corp aid agency, staff told
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is ending the work of a US aid agency launched by Republican former President George W. Bush to reduce poverty and promote economic growth around the world, according to a recording of a staff meeting and an email to staff seen by Reuters.
The move to shut down the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) comes as part of an unprecedented push by President Donald Trump and his billionaire adviser Musk to shrink the federal government, saying US taxpayer money is misspent.
MCC staff were told in a meeting on Wednesday that all of the agency’s programs will be closed and staff numbers would be minimized, according to a recording of the meeting.
“Foreign aid is not a priority for the administration and so MCC’s work needs to wind down,” Kyeh Kim, a senior MCC official, told staff, Reuters reported.
Trump’s administration has already dismantled Washington’s main aid agency, USAID, which administered about $40 billion in aid annually.
The MCC, which was created by the US Congress with support from Republicans and Democrats in 2004, has an annual budget of about $900 million. It partners with developing countries on projects like improving electricity supply for businesses and improving roads for farmers to get their goods to market, according to its website, according to Reuters.



