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News

India, Canada launch security pact talks, target trade deal completion in 2026

- by cmedia

The negotiation amid the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ​his Canadian ​counterpart Mark Carney met on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in France.

The leaders said bilateral ties had gained momentum since Carney's visit to India in March and pledged to deepen cooperation in trade, energy, security, technology and education.

A key outcome of the meeting was the decision to begin negotiations on a General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA), a framework that would facilitate the sharing and protection of sensitive government information and support closer defence and security cooperation.

​"In less than a year, it is our fourth meeting, indicating our commitment to strong India-Canada ties. We reviewed the full range of relations between our nations, notably the ground covered since we last met​," Modi said on X.

The two leaders also reviewed progress in negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a proposed trade pact that has been under discussion for several years.

"Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress in negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and reaffirmed their shared objective of concluding the negotiations in 2026," a joint statement said.

Modi and Carney discussed cooperation in energy and critical supply chains, including commercial arrangements involving liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and metallurgical coal.

The leaders highlighted the importance of resilient supply chains in supporting global energy and food security and noted growing complementarities between the Indian and Canadian economies.

They also welcomed increased high-level engagement between the two countries, including a recent visit to Canada by Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and a planned Canadian trade mission to India later this year led by International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu.

The meeting underscored broader efforts to expand institutional cooperation. The two sides cited recent discussions on science and technology and consular affairs and announced plans for future dialogues on defence, finance and migration.

Modi expressed support for Canada's bid to become a Dialogue Partner of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), while the two leaders announced the establishment of Raisina Americas, a new platform aimed at strengthening policy dialogue and cooperation across the Americas.

The leaders also discussed collaboration under the Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy, which focuses on skills development, innovation partnerships and educational exchanges.

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Health / News

G7 urges coordinated global response to Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda

- by cmedia

In a joint statement issued on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, the leaders said containing the outbreak was a top priority and pledged to work with partner countries to prevent further spread of the virus within the affected region and beyond.

The statement was also backed by Egypt, India, Kenya and South Korea.

The outbreak is centred in a conflict-affected area of eastern Congo, complicating containment efforts, medical treatment and the delivery of humanitarian assistance, the leaders said.

Moreover they noted that existing vaccines, diagnostic tools and treatments are not fully effective against the rare Ebola strain involved in the outbreak.

"Containing and ending the outbreak will depend on effective contact tracing, infection prevention and control, quarantine and isolation practices, laboratory testing, cross-border preparedness, border surveillance and community engagement," the leaders said.

The G7 pledged support for the development and deployment of vaccines, diagnostics and treatments tailored to the outbreak, while calling on other countries and private-sector partners to contribute resources and expertise.

The leaders highlighted ongoing international funding commitments, including more than $370 million already deployed by the United States for health and humanitarian assistance in the region, alongside a pledge of up to an additional $500 million specifically for Ebola response efforts.

They also cited nearly €493 million in European Union support for emergency aid, vaccines, treatment and health security measures in the Great Lakes region and Uganda.

The statement comes amid concerns that increased international travel amid the FIFA World Cup 2026 could heighten the risk of cross-border transmission.

Leaders said they would strengthen coordination on travel-related public health measures, including quarantine and isolation protocols, while adhering to international health standards.

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