#modi red carpet premiere

[havithreatendub4]

#2024 #Red Sea International Film Festival #rsiff #premiere #screening #Modi Three Days On The Wing Of Madness

#December 12, 2024 #Culture Square #Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

[mariacallous]

Elon Musk will be pleased that his surprise jaunt to China on Sunday garnered many glowing headlines. The trip was undoubtedly equally a surprise to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, who had been scheduled to offer Musk the red carpet on a long-arranged visit.

The billionaire blew off India at the last minute, citing “very heavy Tesla obligations.” Indeed, Tesla has had a tumultuous couple of weeks, with federal regulator slap-downs, halved profits, and price-cut rollouts. Yet, in a very public snub that Modi won’t quickly forget, the company CEO made time for Chinese premier Li Qiang. And well Musk might. Tesla needs China more than China needs Tesla. After the US, China is Tesla’s second biggest market. And ominously, in the first quarter of the year, Tesla’s sales in China slipped by 4 percent in a domestic EV market that has expanded by more than 15 percent. That’s enough of a hit for any CEO to jump in a Gulfstream and fly across the Pacific for an impromptu meeting with a Chinese premier. Globally, Tesla has lost nearly a third of its value since January, and earlier this month, Tesla’s worldwide vehicle deliveries in the first quarter fell for the first time in almost four years. As they are wont to do, Tesla investors continue to complain over repeated delays to the company’s rollout of cars with genuine driverless capabilities.

One of Tesla’s stop-gap technologies—a now heavily-discounted $8,000 add-on—is marketed as Full Self-Driving, or FSD. But, like the similarly confusingly named Autopilot feature, it still requires driver attention, and may yet still prove to be risky. Among the deals said to have been unveiled at Sunday’s meeting with Li Qiang was a partnership granting Tesla access to a mapping license for data collection on China’s public roads by web search company Baidu. This was a “watershed moment,” Wedbush Securities senior analyst Dan Ives said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. However, Tesla has been using Baidu for in-car mapping and navigation in China since 2020. The revised deal, in which Baidu will now also provide Tesla with its lane-level navigation system, clears one more regulatory hurdle for Tesla’s FSD in China. It does not enable Tesla to introduce driverless cars in China or anywhere else, as some media outlets have reported. Press reports have also claimed that Musk has secured permission to transfer data collected by Tesla cars in China out of China. This is improbable, noted JL Warren Capital CEO and head of research Junheng Li, who wrote on X: “[Baidu] owns all data, and shares filtered data with Tesla. Just imagine if [Tesla] has access to real-time road data such as who went to which country’s embassy at what time for how long.” That, she stressed, would be “super national security!” According to Reuters, Musk is still seeking final approval for the FSD software rollout in China, and Tesla still needs permission to transfer data overseas. Li added that a rollout of even a “supervised,” data-lite version of FSD in China is “extremely unlikely.” She pointed to challenges for Tesla to support local operation of the software. Tesla still “has no [direct] access to map data in China as a foreign entity,” she wrote. Instead, Tesla is likely using the deal extension with Baidu as an FSD workaround, with the data collected in China very much staying in China. Despite this, Tesla shares have jumped following news of the expanded Baidu collaboration. Furthermore, Li said there’s “no strategic value” for Beijing to favor FSD when there are several more advanced Chinese alternatives. (We’ve tested them.)

“Chinese EVs are simply evolving at a far faster pace than Tesla,” agrees Shanghai-based automotive journalist and WIRED contributor Mark Andrews, who tested the driver assistance tech available on the roads in China. The US-listed trio of Xpeng, Nio, and Li Auto offer better-than-Tesla “driving assistance features” that rely heavily on lidar sensors, a technology that Musk previously dismissed, but which Tesla is now said to be testing. Although dated in shape and lacking in the latest tech, a Tesla car is nevertheless more expensive in China than most of its rivals. Tesla recently slashed prices in China to arrest falling sales. Musk’s flying visit to China smacked of “desperation,” says Mark Rainford, owner of the Inside China Auto channel. “[Tesla] sales are down in China—the competition has weathered the price cuts so far and [the Tesla competitors have] a seemingly endless conveyor belt of talented and beautiful products.” Rainford further warns that the “golden period for Tesla in China” is “at great risk of collapsing.” Tesla opened its first gigafactory in Shanghai five years ago, and it is now the firm’s largest—but the automaker has been playing tech catchup in China for some time. In addition to Xpeng, Nio, and Li, there are other Chinese car companies competing with Tesla on autonomous driving, as Musk will see if he visits the Beijing Motor Show, which runs through this week.

Beijing is now arguably the world’s preeminent automotive expo, but Tesla is not exhibiting—a sign that it has little new to offer famously tech-hungry Chinese autobuyers. Pointedly, the Cybertruck is not road-legal in China, although that hasn’t stopped Tesla from displaying the rust-prone electric pickup in some of its Chinese showrooms. Likewise, Tesla has just announced plans for a European Cybertruck tour. But, just like in China, the EV pickup cannot be sold in the EU, either—and according to Tesla's lead on vehicle engineering, it likely never will be.

Speaking on tighter pedestrian safety regulations in the EU compared to the US, Tesla’s vice president of vehicle engineering, Lars Moravy, told Top Gear that “European regulations call for a 3.2-mm external radius on external projections. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to make a 3.2-mm radius on a 1.4-mm sheet of stainless steel.”

The “Cybertruck Odyssey” tour—as Tesla’s European X account calls it—may titillate Tesla fans, but it could prove to be about as useful as shooting a Roadster into space.

[fullspectrum-cbd-oil]

‘Namaste Trump’: Modi Holds Huge Rally for President’s Visit

Donald Trump was cheered by more than 100,000 Indians at the opening of the world’s biggest cricket stadium on Monday, promising “an incredible trade deal” and “the most feared military equipment on the planet” at his biggest rally abroad.

Indians wore cardboard Trump masks and “Namaste Trump” hats to welcome the U.S. president at the huge new Motera stadium in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s own political homeland, the western city of Ahmedabad.

Modi, a nationalist who won re-election last year and has shifted his country firmly to the right with policies that his critics decry as authoritarian and ethnically divisive, touts his relationship with Trump as proof of his own global standing.

U.S. officials have described Trump’s visit as a way to counter China’s rise as a superpower.

“You have done a great honour to our country. We will remember you forever, from this day onwards India will always hold a special place in our hearts,” Trump said to thunderous applause.

India is one of the few big countries in world where Trump’s personal approval rating is above 50%. It has built up ties with the United States in recent years as Washington’s relationship has become strained with India’s foe Pakistan.

“As we continue to build our defence cooperation, the United States looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet,” Trump said.

Trump said the two countries will sign deals to on Tuesday sell military helicopter deals worth $3 billion and that the United States must become the premier defence partner of India, which relied on Russian equipment since the Cold War. Reuters reported earlier that India has cleared the purchase of 24 helicopters from Lockheed Martin <LMT.N> worth $2.6 billion.

Modi embraced Trump as he stepped off Air Force One, along with his wife, Melania. Trump will visit the Taj Mahal in Agra and hold official meetings in Delhi during his trip.

Folk dancers carrying colourful umbrellas danced alongside the red carpet as drummers, trumpeters and other musicians performed on the airport grounds to welcome Trump and the U.S. delegation. Teeming crowds lined the route along his cavalcade, many clicking pictures on their phones.

The two sides did not manage to hammer out a trade deal ahead of the visit, with differences remaining over agriculture, medical devices, digital trade and proposed new tariffs. Trump said he was going to discuss economic ties with Modi, describing him as a tough negotiator.

“We will be making very, very major, among the biggest ever made, trade deals. We are in the early stages of discussion for an incredible trade agreement to reduce barriers of investment between the United States and India,” he said.

“And I am optimistic that working together, the prime minister and I can reach a fantastic deal that’s good and even great for both of our countries — except that he is a very tough negotiator.”

The two sides have been arguing over U.S. demands for access to India’s poultry and dairy markets, Indian price controls on medical devices such as stents, and stringent local data storage rules that U.S. technology firms say will raise the cost of doing business.

Modi’s government has sought restoration of trade concessions Trump withdrew in 2019 and greater access to U.S. markets for Indian pharmaceutical and farm products.

PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS

Modi, who has built a personal rapport with Trump, is pulling out the stops for Trump’s visit even though prospects for even a limited trade deal are seen as slim.

“There is so much that we share, shared values and ideals…shared opportunities and challenges, shared hopes and aspirations,” said Modi at the rally.

Trump, who faces his own re-election campaign this year, has frequently praised Modi for his crowd-pulling power.

Last year, Trump held a “Howdy Modi” rally with Modi in Houston, drawing 50,000 people, mainly Indian Americans. At the time, Trump likened Modi to Elvis Presley as a draw for crowds.

Trump’s entourage includes daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner as well as members of his cabinet, including Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Teeming crowds lined the route of his cavalcade, holding phones to click photos.

The duo together garlanded an image of Indian independence hero Mahatma Gandhi after stopping briefly to visit his former home, Sabarmati Ashram.

From Ahmedabad, Trump and his entourage headed to Agra for a sunset visit to the Taj Mahal.

(Additional reporting by Neha Dasgupta, Euan Rocha;Writing by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Giles Elgood and Peter Graff)

from IJR https://ift.tt/2VdyXWl via IFTTT

[seduniablog]

Be A Star & Steal the Show at Madame Tussauds, Hong Kong

Located at Victoria Peak, the Hong Kong branch of the world-famous Madame Tussauds is the first Madame Tussauds museum in Asia. Get up close and personal with famous icons in film, television, music, sports, politics and history. Featuring over 100 fantastic lifelike wax figures and 12 interactive zones, Madame Tussauds offers a world of unique, interactive experiences and fantastic memories that last a lifetime! See you there!

Compile and rewrite by Ilona

 Meet Asian VIPs at the Hong Kong Glamour zone

Join the hottest celebrity party in town at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong! This area of the museum gets you upclose with some of today’s famous celebrities! The only place where world-famous A-Listers meet Asian VIPs! Get ready to fall in love with Andy Lau in a dashing tux! So incredibly lifelike, that you can even listen to his heartbeat!

Walk down the red carpet with Miss Universe, Pia Wurtzbach who made history again as the first Filipino to be featured at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. Whether you adore Oscar-winning actresses like Nicole Kidman, or Asian film and music legends, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong offers something for everybody! So, what are you waiting for? The red carpet has been rolled out and waiting for you!

 Pose like a fashion model at the Fashion Zone

No city embodies dazzling celebrities, hot fashion, fast-moving trends like Hong Kong! The glitzy catwalk of Madame Tussauds Hong Kong’s Fashion Zone features a star-studded style journey with the likes of mega-stars while incorporating amazing augmented reality experiences! Strike a pose with the outrageously beautiful Hollywood siren, Angelina Jolie!

Do you love cover star Angelababy? Stop and get your best Insta-worthy shot with her on a magazine cover to remember! Famous for his signature roles in the “Edward Scissorhands” and “Pirate of the Carribean”, Johnny Depp looks stylish in our Fashion Zone. You won’t be able to resist meeting him!

 Rub shoulders with today’s political giants at the Historical and National Heroes zone

Have you ever dreamt of meeting the Queen of England? Now’s your chance! Get acquainted with Britain’s royal family. Step up and take a bow to meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in all their resplendent finery! Take this opportunity to capture a photo worth remembering with the longest-reigning monarch in the world!

Prefer rubbing shoulders with today’s political giants? Get ready to interview American Presidents Barack Obama, Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping. But wait! Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are here too!

Spot the famous blonde bombshell at the World Premiere zone

Perfect for film buffs and movie aficionados, the World Premiere provides a stage for you to be part of a Hollywood film! Famous Stars from the nostalgic Hollywood era, and the Asian film industry!

Enjoy your Breakfast at Tiffany’s moment with the legendary Audrey Hepburn, decked out in her classic “little black dress”. Make your mark next to the most famous blonde bombshell in history, Marilyn Monroe, in her flowing white gown.

 Learn Kung Fu from the legendary Wing Chun master at Kung Fu Zone

Inspired by a traditional Zen monastery, the Kung Fu Zone is Hong Kong’s first permanent tribute to martial arts and local Kung Fu films! Bruce Lee, one of the greatest martial arts masters of all time, is immortalized with his signature flying kick through a dojo wall! Donnie Yen appears as Ip Man, the legendary Wing Chun master to Bruce Lee.

Michelle Yeoh clutches Chinese sabres as she readies for battles like the fierce and fearless Yu Shu Lien from the award-winning film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The world-famous and beloved Hong Kong hero Jackie Chan strikes an iconic pose in a traditional Duangua suit, inviting guests to take their best shot with our professional cameraman!

Dance like a Korean Pop-star at K-Wave Zone

The Korean Wave has taken the world by storm! Madame Tussauds Hong Kong’s pays tribute to that, by introducing the K-Wave Zone, which provides a unique opportunity for fans to explore the vibrant city of Seoul with their favourite Korean celebrities! Meet model-turned-actor Lee Jong-suk as he lights up the distinctive backdrop of Myeongdong Street with his mod neon pink suit!! Ready to hit the club? Step onto their ultra-fun LED stage and learn how to move like a Korean pop star with their unique LED Dancing Game!

Be impressed by the famous Football celebrities at The Champions Zone

Experience the ultimate adrenaline rush as you hear the roar of the crowd in The Champions Zone! The perfect chance to meet some of the world’s biggest sports stars up close, get ready to shoot hoops with a famous basketball shooter. Everyone loves football! Learn how to score the perfect goal with the admirable David Beckham and the ever-awesome Cristiano Ronaldo.  

Capture your Insta-gold moments at The Selfie Gallery zone

The Hong Kong Madame Tussauds has the first-ever Selfie Gallery where you can be the star of the show! The Selfie Gallery is the perfect place to stop and strike a pose while enjoying one of our iconic coffees and Hokkaido ice creams. Step inside and unwind in the cafe with a delightful menu, it is the perfect spot to relax after enjoying panoramic views of Hong Kong on the Peak.

Get ready to snap fun and flirty photos with your friends! Serving piping hot lattes and aromatic coffees, we can even put your favourite picture on top of one of our frothy cappuccinos. Our glamorous silver-themed Selfie Gallery is designed for some fabulous Insta-moments featuring 3D facades illuminated in sweet candy colours.

Go wild over the Avant-garde art of Yayoi Kusama at the Art Gallery zone

The Avant-Garde Japanese contemporary artist, Yayoi Kusama will make you go wild over one of her insanely popular infinity room concepts! Decorated in iconic yellow polka dots and gourd motifs, this art installation invites you to embark on a visual journey you won’t forget!  

Parallel mirrors, along with dramatic lighting effects, instantly create a sense of infinite space and dissolve the border between space and oneself, inviting visitors to get lost in a visual journey of “self-obliteration.” 

Sing along with your favourite icons at the Music Icons Zone

Madame Tussauds Hong Kong offers the hottest backstage pass to music icons you know and adore! Meet platinum-selling girl power icon, Ariana Grande and show off your moonwalking skills with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

If you love musical legends, find your inspiration from the King of Rock n’Roll, Elvis Presley. Sing along to your favourite Beatles songs and take a selfie with them. All the bestselling artists in the history of music are definitely in the house! 

Embrace your “inner child” at the Animated World Zone

Perfect for fun-loving kids and the young-at-heart, the Animated World Zone features your favourite superheroes, animations, characters and more! Feel what it’s like to have super-powers with Marvel’s flagship hero. Iron Man! Stand in the grip of the most massive wax figure ever made in Madame Tussauds Hong Kong’s iconic history. The Incredible Hulk!  

Discover the secrets of Wax creations

Learn about the incredible craft and skill that goes behind the making of Madame Tussauds Hong Kong’s fantastic wax creations! Our fascinating interactive experience enables you to see first-hand the studio secrets behind the art of wax figure making, from the very beginning of sculpting and moulding to the final stage of colouring. Meet our very own founder and innovative visionary, Madame Marie Tussaud as she reveals the art she pioneered from Strasbourg to the Royal Court in Versailles!

Complete the interactive, star-studded journey at the Madame Tussauds Hong Kong souvenir shop! Select unique, specially made souvenirs from your fantastic experience and share exquisite gifts with your friends and family.

How to get to the Madame Tussauds Hong Kong

The museum located inside Peak Tower, at Victoria Peak. Take the MTR and take Island Line or Tsuen Wan Line to Central Station. Walk to Peak Tram Lower Terminus on Garden Road for the tram up to the Peak. Another way is to take Bus 15C or Bus 15 to the top of Victoria Peak. Alternatively, you can take a bus or a taxi to get to The Peak.

Insider tips:

Children under 12 are allowed into the museum only if accompanied by an adult.

No food is allowed in the museum.

Professional photographers are provided to take photos for visitors with their favourite wax icons.

Open from 10 am to 10 pm, Monday to Sunday and public holiday

Special Matta Promotion ~ BUY ONE FREE ONE at MYR188 for 2 entry tickets to Madame Tussauds Museum, Hong Kong. (Normal price MYR155 per pax). Look no further, grab it now from Sedunia Travel!

[optimisticprincepainter]

There’s a lot of chatter in the Canadian press about how their rockstar Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is undertaking his first official visit to India, is getting snubbed by the Indian establishment.  As has become the norm now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi usually breaks protocol to go to the airport to receive important heads of government. He did it last month for his good friend Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu. He famously did it when Barack Obama came to India as chief guest for Republic Day in 2015. No such welcome was given to Trudeau who is accompanied by his wife Sophie and their three children. The receiving minister was MoS Agriculture Gajendra Singh, not even External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj or her two deputies Gen VK Singh or MJ Akbar. Not the kind of reception befitting a rockstar. PM Modi and Sushma did not even tweet any welcome message for the Canadian premier. One reason why Trudeau has been cold shouldered is the apparent support he and his government have been giving to pro-Khalistan voices in Canada. Two of four Sikh ministers in Trudeau’s cabinet Harjit Sajjan and Amarjit Sohi have both supported radical Khalistani elements in Canada.  Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had openly called this out by writing an angry letter to Trudeau soon after assuming office last year. The Canadian side has even reportedly refused an audience to Amarinder when Trudeau visits the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday. Even on Sunday when Trudeau visited the Taj Mahal, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was conspicuously missing. Contrast this with the way Adityanath rolled out the red carpet for Netanyahu last month. So far the highlight of Trudeau’s trip has been his youngest son Hadrien whose cutesy videos have gone viral on the internet. Part of the reason why the Trudeaus are getting such a lukewarm response has to do with the way his trip has been scheduled. Usually most important visits begin with the ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan followed by the official bilateral meetings at Hyderabad House. Agra, Ahmedabad and Mumbai are usually reserved for the second half of any official visit. In Trudeau’s case, the opposite seems to be happening. His visit began from Mumbai on Saturday, Agra on Sunday, Ahmedabad on Monday, Mumbai on Tuesday, Amritsar on Wednesday and finally Delhi on Thursday and Friday. Surely the visit could have been planned better.  The News 18 : 19th. Feb,18

WHY MODI GOVT. HAS NOT GIVEN PROPER WELCOME TO THE CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN DURING HIS VISIT TO INDIA LIKE OTHERS ? There’s a lot of chatter in the Canadian press about how their rockstar Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is undertaking his first official visit to India, is getting snubbed by the Indian establishment. 

[sarkarimirror]

PM NARENDRA MODI ,JAITLEY ATTEND VIRAT -ANUSHKA'S RECEPTION AT DELHI

New Delhi, Dec 22  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley were among the high-profile guests at the wedding reception of star cricketer Virat Kohli and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma here on Thursday. One of the most talked about couple in India, Virat and Anushka, who got married in Tuscany, Italy, on December 11 in a close family affair after a courtship of over four years, appeared hand-in-hand at the Taj Diplomatic for a photo-op with the media. According to a guest at the reception, Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Rajeev Shukla and cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Gautam Gambhir will present along with their wives. For the special occasion, Virat, who helped his wife onto the stage amid loud cheers, was wearing a black bandhgala with a shawl draped on one shoulder to complement his looks. Anushka was all smiles as she looked every bit of the newly married bride donning a red sari. With a neatly-tied bun adorned by a ‘gajra’, the ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ star completed her looks with heavy jewellery and vermilion. “Thank you for coming,” Virat told the paparazzi while Anushka did ‘namaste’ before leaving for the reception party, which was graced by around 500 guests, especially from Virat’s side considering that Delhi is his hometown. Ace designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, who has designed Virat and Anushka’s costumes for all their wedding rituals, was also present at the reception. Interestingly, a special stage was designed for the couple, both aged 29, with candles burning inside crystal fixtures. The reception was mainly attended by the family members and close relatives and friends of the couple amid high security. Police had blocking approach roads to the venue, especially for Modi and Jaitley’s arrival. Virat and Anushka had personally gone to invite Modi for the event on Wednesday. The reception in Delhi will be followed by another reception in Mumbai, where various cricketers and members of the film fraternity are expected to grace the red carpet. After celebrating the New Year together, Virat will soon fly to South Africa for the upcoming series, while Anushka will begin shooting for Anand L. Rai’s yet-to-be-titled film with Shah Rukh Khan. Read the full article

[starfriday]

Television industry’s biggest stars descended on the red carpet for premier of Sab TV’s new comedy show Partners- Trouble Ho Gayi Trouble.

It was an evening filled with glitz and glamour at the premiere of SAB Tv’s new show Partners - Trouble Ho Gayi Double. Some of the biggest names in television made their presence felt at the event. From the writer and producer Paritosh Painter to the entire star cast including India’s most entertainer comedian Johnny Lever, Kiku Sharda, Vipul Roy, Kishwer Merchant, Shweta Gulati, Ashwini Kalsekar, Jayesh Thakkar and director Amit Damle were present at the premier of the show. Also present at the event were, Shreyas Talpade, director duo Abbas Mustan, filmmaker Indra Kumar and Javed Jaffery, Aamir Ali, Meet Brothers, Deepak Tijori, Manish Goswani, Indraneil Sengupta and wife Barkha, Rajesh Khera, Ninad Kamat, Hakim Alim with wife Shano, Romit Raj and Asit Kumar Modi who came in to give their best wishes to the show and also congratulated Neeraj Vyas Sr.EVP & Head Of SAB on such an entertaining and spectacular show. While Johnny has been part of reality shows on TV, this would be his first attempt in the fictional world. And what’s interesting is that the actor will be seen playing a double role in the show. The media and trade personnel’s could not stop gushing about the show. This is the first time a show was telecast live. The first episode received a great applause from the crowd. The entertaining comedy show is finally out and it promises to deliver as expected and more! The show premiered on Sab TV on 28th November and will be telecast-ed from Monday to Friday at 9:30 pm.

[havithreatendub4]

Compilation video

#2024 #Red Sea International Film Festival #rsiff #premiere #screening #Modi Three Days On The Wing Of Madness #after party #v.i.p.s

#December 12, 2024 #Culture Square #Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

(Some Getty videos have no sound & some are in slow motion. I don't know why they did that.)☹️

[newstfionline]

Indian Premier, in Israel Visit, Seeks to Break Barriers in Trade and History

By Isabel Kershner and Ellen Barry, NY Times, July 4, 2017

JERUSALEM--Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long argued that, far from being diplomatically isolated because of its policies toward the Palestinians, Israel is constantly being courted by countries seeking help in technology, intelligence and counterterrorism.

That narrative was reinforced on Tuesday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India arrived in Israel for a three-day visit, the first by an Indian premier in the 25 years since the two countries established full diplomatic relations.

“We’ve been waiting for you a long time. We’ve been waiting nearly 70 years, in fact,” since the state of Israel was established, Mr. Netanyahu said in his welcoming remarks at the airport.

Israel and India already share extensive defense ties, and India recently agreed to buy about $2 billion worth of Israeli missiles and air defense systems, the largest order in Israel’s history, experts said. The two countries are now looking to expand trade and cooperation in areas like agriculture and water management.

India has long embraced the Palestinian cause and kept its distance from Israel to protect its interests in the Arab world. But Mr. Modi seems as eager as Mr. Netanyahu to delink Israel from the Palestinian question and, notably, will not be combining his trip with a courtesy visit to the Palestinian Authority.

Hundreds of guests were invited to greet Mr. Modi at a red-carpet ceremony at the airport. Mr. Netanyahu has described him as “my friend” and both have hailed the visit as “historic.”

Israel, a sliver of a country, has a population of 8.5 million, while India is a vast land with 1.3 billion people. Despite the apparent mismatch, both have many joint interests.

“We have the same enemy: radical Islam,” said Efraim Inbar of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv. “Like us, they live in a difficult neighborhood,” he added, alluding to Pakistan and China.

Professor Inbar said that Indian weapons procurements from Israel amounted to more than $1 billion a year, and that the countries made “good partners” in other areas of security and innovation.

“The sky is the limit in this relationship,” he said, with India now an economic power and the strength of the Arab world declining. “We are just scratching the surface.”

For India, the visit is the culmination of a gradual policy pivot.

P.R. Kumaraswamy, a professor of international affairs at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and the author of “India’s Israel Policy,” compared it to a clandestine love affair that has, at last, been brought out into the open.

“You have a relationship, but you are not ready to admit it in public,” Professor Kumaraswamy said. “If I’m going to have an affair with a woman, I’m not going to make her part of all my decision-making. But if you marry a person, it’s the whole package: where you want to live, how you see your life 20 years from today.”

India’s position traces to the last days of the British Raj, when its nationalist leaders saw common cause with the post-colonial Arab world. With independence came a far more practical consideration: The governing Indian National Congress party was desperate to secure the loyalty of India’s large Muslim minority, which was also being wooed by the Muslim League.

New Delhi did not recognize the Jewish state until 1950, two years after its establishment. The militaries of the two countries steadily built ties starting in the 1980s, as India sought suppliers outside the Soviet bloc, but the two governments did not establish full diplomatic relations until 1992, under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.

“When the Cold War ended, India had to say, ‘I know there is a new world,’ and the most effective way of doing this is establishing relations with Israel,” Professor Kumaraswamy said. “By changing the relations, he said, ‘I am breaking from the past.’”

For Mr. Modi, this visit serves a similar purpose. Unlike its nemesis, the socialist Congress Party, his Hindu nationalist party has always argued for better relations with Israel. Professor Kumaraswamy said Mr. Modi hoped his visit would allow India to gain access to both civilian and military technology.

Mr. Modi’s first stop, after the airport, was an Israeli farm that exports cut flowers to more than 60 countries. He then visited Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial.

At a large event on Wednesday for the Indian community in Israel, Mr. Modi was expected to meet Moshe Holtzberg, an Israeli boy who, as a toddler, was spirited out of the Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish center in Mumbai by his Indian nanny during a deadly terrorist attack in 2008. Moshe’s parents, who operated the center, were killed along with four other hostages. Moshe and his nanny came to live in Israel.

Kabir Taneja, an associate fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi think tank, said the meeting was likely to be significant because the siege on the Chabad center “cemented a certain narrative between India and Israel on counterterrorism.”

[intelligentindia-blog]

Israel to roll out red carpet for PM Narendra Modi

Israel is going all out to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country, the first ever by an Indian premier, a memorable one with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in a rare gesture planning to accompany “his friend” to major events. Netanyahu would be present at the Ben-Gurion airport along with the protocol team on July 4 to welcome Modi where national anthems of both the countries would be played during a ceremony.

[titoslondon-blog]

New Post has been published on Titos London

#Blog New Post has been published on http://www.titoslondon.in/priyanka-chopra-shimmers-in-blue-at-baywatch-world-premiere-in-miami/

Priyanka Chopra shimmers in blue at Baywatch world premiere in Miami

Priyanka Chopra arrives at the US Premiere of “Baywatch” at Lummus Park on May 13, 2017 in Miami Beach. (Source: AP)

As Priyanka Chopra is busy promoting her upcoming Hollywood movie Baywatch, she has also very well managed to cement India’s position on the fashion map with her impeccable sartorial choices. While people are yet to get over her Ralph Lauren trench coat gown at the Met Gala this year, it is her sultry look at the world premiere of Baywatch at Miami that is now turning heads.

Looking absolutely gorgeous in a dark blue, full-sleeved shimmery gown from Halston Heritage clothing collection. As she walked on the red carpet with her usual charm and goofy smile, she looked every bit stunning and confident as she rocked the plunging neckline of the thigh-slit gown. Styled by celebrity stylist Cristina Ehrlich, Chopra decided to go for a basic pony-tail, with her poker straight hair neatly parted mid-way.

ALSO READ | Priyanka Chopra turns cover girl for six international magazine covers, and we are going crazy

She kept her look simple, sans-make-up and jewellery, except for a celestial ring on her right hand from Nirav Modi Jewels. She completed her look with a simple pair of strappy heels and a belt cinching her stunning dress in the middle.

ALSO READ | Priyanka Chopra is a sheer delight in black and gold at Jimmy Kimmel Live

Putting the thigh-high slit of her dress to just the right use, Baywatch’s ‘Victoria Leeds’ was seen doing the iconic, leg-sticking out pose, while shutterbugs tried to get the most they can, of the Indian beauty.

We think the ‘desi girl’ looks phenomenal! What do you think? Let us know in the comments’ section below.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley were among the high-profile guests at the wedding reception of star cricketer Virat Kohli and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma  on Thursday. One of the most talked about couple in India, Virat and Anushka, who got married in Tuscany, Italy, on December 11 in a close family affair after a courtship of over four years, appeared hand-in-hand at the Taj Diplomatic for a photo-op with the media. According to a guest at the reception, Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Rajeev Shukla and cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Gautam Gambhir will present along with their wives. For the special occasion, Virat, who helped his wife onto the stage amid loud cheers, was wearing a black bandhgala with a shawl draped on one shoulder to complement his looks.  Anushka was all smiles as she looked every bit of the newly married bride donning a red sari. With a neatly-tied bun adorned by a ‘gajra’, the ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ star completed her looks with heavy jewellery and vermilion. “Thank you for coming,��� Virat told the paparazzi while Anushka did ‘namaste’ before leaving for the reception party, which was graced by around 500 guests, especially from Virat’s side considering that Delhi is his hometown. Ace designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, who has designed Virat and Anushka’s costumes for all their wedding rituals, was also present at the reception. Interestingly, a special stage was designed for the couple, both aged 29, with candles burning inside crystal fixtures. The reception was mainly attended by the family members and close relatives and friends of the couple amid high security. Police had blocking approach roads to the venue, especially for Modi and Jaitley’s arrival. Virat and Anushka had personally gone to invite Modi for the event on Wednesday. The reception in Delhi will be followed by another reception in Mumbai, where various cricketers and members of the film fraternity are expected to grace the red carpet. After celebrating the New Year together, Virat will soon fly to South Africa for the upcoming series, while Anushka will begin shooting for Anand L. Rai’s yet-to-be-titled film with Shah Rukh Khan. IANS : 22nd. Dec,17

PM MODI AND FINANCE MINISTER ARUN JAITLEY ATTENDED WEDDING RECEPTION OF VIRAT AND ANUSHKA IN DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley were among the high-profile guests at the wedding reception of star cricketer Virat Kohli and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma  on Thursday.

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Compilation video

#2024 #Red Sea International Film Festival #rsiff #premiere #screening #Modi Three Days On The Wing Of Madness

#December 12, 2024 #Culture Square #Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

(Some Getty videos have no sound & some are in slow motion. I don't know why they did that.)☹️

[havithreatendub4]

#2024 #Red Sea International Film Festival #rsiff #premiere #screening #Modi Three Days On The Wing Of Madness

#December 12, 2024 #Culture Square #Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

🎥 Johnny takes the microphone 🎤

Group 📸 with Red Sea Management & In2_film production staff

[havithreatendub4]

Compilation video

#2024 #Red Sea International Film Festival #rsiff #premiere #screening #Modi Three Days On The Wing Of Madness

#December 12, 2024 #Culture Square #Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

(Some Getty videos have no sound & some are in slow motion. I don't know why they did that.)☹️

[havithreatendub4]

Compilation video

#2024 #Red Sea International Film Festival #rsiff #premiere #screening #Modi Three Days On The Wing Of Madness

#December 12, 2024 #Culture Square #Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

(Some Getty videos have no sound & some are in slow motion. I don't know why they did that.)☹️