PM Modi France visit Day 2 LIVE: PM Modi, French President Macron jointly inaugurate India’s new consulate in Marseille

India and France have signed a declaration of their intent to establish a partnership on advanced and small modular nuclear reactors, the Indian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday (February 12, 2025) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country.

- Reuters

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (February 12, 2025) visited the historic Mazargues Cemetery in Marseille city in France along with French President Emmanuel Macron and paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who made sacrifices fighting in the Great War.

At a solemn ceremony held at the site, PM Modi laid a wreath composed of tricolour-themed flowers.

A large number of Indian soldiers are commemorated in this war cemetery that is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).

The First World War, also called the Great War, took place during 1914-18 while the Second World War happened during 1939-45.

According to the website of the CWGC, “There are now 1,487, 1914-18 and 267, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. 205 of the Indian casualties, who were cremated, are commemorated on a memorial at the rear of the cemetery.” The Mazargues Indian Memorial was unveiled by Field Marshal Sir William Birdwood in July 1925.

“In addition, eight members of the Egyptian Labour Corps, who were buried in Le Canet New Communal Cemetery at the time, but whose graves were later lost, are commemorated on a stone tablet on the left-hand wall of the war cemetery,” it said.

The cemetery covers an area of 9,021 sq m, as per the CWGC website.

- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France has been marked by an exceptional display of camaraderie and respect from President Emmanuel Macron, showcasing the strength of their bilateral relationship.

From shared moments at the AI Action Summit to travelling together in a joint motorcade and even on the same plane to Marseille, the two leaders have highlighted their close personal and diplomatic ties.

Demonstrating their close ties, they hosted the India-France CEOs Forum together, reflecting their shared vision for economic collaboration.

PM Modi, upon his arrival in the French city of Marseille, highlighted the significance of the Indian Consulate in the city, which will play a key role in strengthening “people-to-people” ties between India and France.

- ANI

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States (U.S.), All India Congress Committee (AICC) president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge questioned why Mr. Modi did not object to the U.S. deportation of Indians in a cargo flight. He also added that Mr. Modi’s visit would not help India much. 

“Mr. Modi was not invited, indeed. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar went there and managed to get an invitation to Mr. Modi. Mr. Modi himself said that U.S. President Donald Trump was his old friend. He also added that their friendship would continue to help India. If he had been on such good terms with the U.S. President, Mr. Modi should have told the President not to send illegal Indian immigrants on cargo flights. He should have told Mr. Trump to send the Indians in a passenger flight or wait for an Indian passenger flight to carry them back home,” Mr. Kharge said during his brief interaction with media persons at his residence in Kalaburagi on Wednesday (February 12, 2025). 

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PM Modi’s visit to U.S. will not help India much, says Kharge

AICC President Kharge questions PM Modi's US visit, criticizes lack of action on Indian deportations, and dismisses potential benefits.

A man has called the Mumbai Police control room and claimed terrorists may attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aircraft during his visit abroad, an official said on Wednesday (February 12, 2025).

The call was received on Tuesday (February 11, 2025) following which the police also informed other agencies and started an investigation into the matter, he said.

The caller claimed that “terrorists” may attack PM Modi’s aircraft during his visit abroad, the official said.

U.S. President Donald Trump administration is prioritising relations with India and recognises that the country has the potential to transform the Indo-Pacific region and is an “important partner” when it comes to competing effectively with China, a former White House official has said.

These remarks were made by Lisa Curtis ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House for a bilateral meeting with President Trump on Thursday (February 13, 2025). She has served in Mr. Trump’s first administration as the senior director for South and Central Asia in the National Security Council between 2017 and 2021.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met Google CEO Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris where they discussed the “incredible opportunities” AI will bring to India.

The Indian-origin Alphabet Inc. CEO also discussed how Google and India can work together on the country’s “digital transformation”.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will try on a U.S. visit to pick up where he left off four years ago in wooing Donald Trump, as he offered quick tariff concessions in hopes of avoiding the second-term president’s wrath.

For nearly three decades, U.S. presidents from both parties have prioritised building ties with India, seeing a natural partner against a rising China. But President Trump has also raged against India over trade, in the past calling the world’s fifth-largest economy the “biggest tariff abuser.”

PM Modi will reach Wednesday (February 12) in Washington after an artificial intelligence summit in Paris and will see President Trump on Thursday, making him the fourth world leader to visit him at the White House since his return, following the prime ministers of Israel and Japan and king of Jordan. 

- AFP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Marseille in southern France and paid homage to the memory of freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, who attempted a “courageous escape” at the port city.

He said, “I want to thank the people of Marseille and the French activists of that time who demanded that he not be handed over to British custody. The bravery of Veer Savarkar continues to inspire generations!”

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited French companies to look at the immense opportunities offered by the India growth story and said it was the “right time” to invest in the country.

In his address at the 14th India-France CEOs Forum in Paris, where he was joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, PM Modi noted the expanding bilateral business and economic collaboration and the impetus it has provided to the strategic partnership between the two countries.