The economic cooperation and trade agreement signed between India and Australia will enable the two countries to fully leverage the existing opportunities, besides facilitating the exchange of students, professionals and tourists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today.

The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAus ECTA) was signed by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his Australian counterpart Dan Tehan in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in a virtual ceremony.

PM Modi said signing of the pact in such a short span of time reflects the depth of the mutual confidence between the countries.

He also underlined the huge potential that exists in the two economies to fulfil each other’s needs, adding that this agreement will enable the countries to fully leverage these opportunities.

“This is a watershed moment for our bilateral relations…On the basis of this agreement, together, we will be able to increase the resilience of supply chains, and also contribute to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region,” PM Modi noted.

This agreement, he said, will also facilitate the exchange of students, professionals, and tourists between the two nations.

Terming the signing of the pact as another milestone in the growing relationship between India and Australia, Prime Minister Morrison said the agreement further develops on the promise of the relationship.

Apart from increased trade and economic cooperation, he said, the agreement will further deepen the “warm and close ties” between the people of the two countries by expanding work, study and travel opportunities.

The Australian Prime Minister said the agreement would create enormous trade diversification opportunities for domestic producers and service providers bound for India, valued at up to USD 14.8 billion each year.

“This agreement opens a big door into the world’s fastest growing major economy for Australian farmers, manufacturers, producers and so many more,” he said, adding by unlocking the huge market of around 1.4 billion consumers in India, “we are strengthening the economy and growing jobs right here at home”.

Further, he said the agreement is great news for lobster fishers in Tasmania, wine producers in South Australia, macadamia farmers in Queensland, critical minerals miners in Western Australia, lamb farmers from New South Wales, wool producers from Victoria and metallic ore producers from the Northern Territory.

The Man Utd captain was booed while on international duty and while he has been widely backed by his peers he needs to up his performances.

Ralf Rangnick has been pretty straight when it comes to answering journalists’ questions in press conferences during his four months at Manchester United. 

But there was one question on Friday lunchtime, at the club’s Carrington training base, that the German manager did not have an explanation for. 

He, along with many others, could not understand why Harry Maguire was booed while playing for England over the international break. 

Russia and Ukraine have failed to find a breakthrough on a ceasefire and other humanitarian issues at the first high-level talks in Turkey  since Moscow’s military operation . Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba met on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum in the Turkish resort city of Antalya .Mr Kuleba has  accused his Russian counterpart of bringing “traditional narratives” about Ukraine to the table.  However Kuleba   said that he would be ready to meet with Lavrov  again in this format if there are prospects  of a substantial discussion for seeking solutions.Lavrov said Russia also wants to continue negotiations with Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin would not refuse a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss “specific” issues.

Ukraine War: European Union members have announced new sanctions and assured Ukraine of more military support in the coming days.

Kyiv: Vladimir Putin has put out conditions on ending Russia’s offensive as his forces shelled Ukraine’s Kharkiv, killing at least 11. Ukraine, meanwhile, has demanded retreat of all Russian forces during talks between Kyiv and Moscow at Belarus border.

World soccer’s global governing body suspended Russia and its teams from all competitions on Monday, ejecting the country from qualifying for the 2022 World Cup only weeks before it was to play for one of Europe’s final places in this year’s tournament in Qatar.

The suspension, which was announced Monday evening in coordination with European soccer’s governing body, also barred Russian club teams from international competitions. The decision came a day after FIFA was heavily criticized for not going far enough in punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, and amid mounting demands from national federations for stronger action.

The initial pressure for an outright ban of Russia came from soccer officials in Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, whose national team faced the prospect of games against Russia in a World Cup playoff in March. Other countries and officials, including the federations representing France, England and the United States, quickly said they would not play Russia under any circumstances.

PM Modi In Punjab: PM Modi will inaugurate the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway; four laning of Amritsar – Una section; Mukerian – Talwara New Broad Gauge railway line; PGI Satellite Centre at Ferozepur and two new medical colleges at Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur,

New Delhi: 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ferozepur in Punjab today to lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than ₹ 42,750 crore.

These projects include the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway; four laning of Amritsar – Una section; Mukerian – Talwara New Broad Gauge railway line; PGI Satellite Centre at Ferozepur and two new medical colleges at Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur, according to Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The consistent endeavour of the Prime Minister to improve connectivity all across the country has led to multiple national highway development initiatives being taken up in the state of Punjab. It has resulted in more than doubling the total length of National Highways in the state from about 1700 kilometres in 2014 to more than 4100 kilometres in 2021, said the PMO.

In continuation of such efforts, the foundation stone of two major road corridors will be laid in Punjab. This will also be a step towards fulfilling the Prime Minister’s vision to enhance accessibility to major religious centres, it added.

As per the PMO, the 669-kilometre long Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway will be developed at a total cost of about ₹ 39,500 crore. It will halve travel time from Delhi to Amritsar and Delhi to Katra.

The Greenfield Expressway will connect key Sikh religious sites at Sultanpur Lodhi, Goindwal Sahib, Khadoor Sahib, Tarn Taran and the holy Hindu shrine of Vaishno Devi in Katra. The expressway will also connect key economic centres like Ambala Chandigarh, Mohali, Sangrur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Kathua and Samba in the three states/UTs of Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

The four-laning of the Amritsar – Una section will be done at the cost of around 1700 crore. The 77-kilometre long section is part of the larger Amritsar to Bhota corridor spanning across the longitudinal expanse of Northern Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, connecting four major national highways, namely Amritsar-Bhatinda-Jamnagar Economic Corridor, Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, North-South Corridor and Kangra-Hamirpur-Bilaspur-Shimla Corridor, stated the PMO.

It will help in improving the connectivity of religious sites at Ghoman, Shri Hargobindpur and Pulpukta Town (home to the famous Gurudwara Pulpukta Sahib), added the PMO.

The midfielder has been out of action since collapsing at Euro 2020, but he insists he is back to full fitness

Christian Eriksen has made it clear that it is his intention to return to playing football and wants to represent Denmark at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Eriksen has been sidelined since suffering a cardiac arrest during a match at Euro 2020 and subsequently having to be fitted with a defibrillator.

Now a free agent, the midfielder says he is back to full fitness and wants to prove to his national team boss that he still has what it takes to line up for his country.

Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain player, Lionel Messi has tested positive for COVID-19, as per the statement by PSG.

Lionel Messi has tested positive for Covid-19 and has entered self-isolation, his club Paris Saint-Germain announced on Sunday. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was one of four PSG players to test positive for the virus ahead of a French Cup match against Vannes. The Argentinian star has endured a difficult start to life in the French capital since an emotional exit from Barcelona last summer. Messi has scored only one goal in 11 league appearances for PSG, although he has netted five times in the Champions League.

He will miss Monday’s cup tie and will likely also be sidelined for PSG’s first Ligue 1 match since the winter break, at Lyon next Sunday.

The other players to test positive were full-back Juan Bernat, back-up goalkeeper Sergio Rico and teenage midfielder

“They are currently respecting isolation and are subject to the appropriate health protocols,” PSG said.

The number of Covid cases in France has topped 200,000 a day this week.

The Reds threw away a 2-0 lead to the Blues at Stamford Bridge to leave Pep Guardiola’s side 10 points out in front of their main title rivals

James Milner grimaced like a man who knew what he had done, and what might follow.

Maybe he did.

There were three minutes until half-time at Stamford Bridge and Liverpool were in the ascendency, 2-0 up and looking set to blast their way back into the Premier League title race.

The former Real Madrid star is edging closer to finally making his first appearance for his new club.

Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino has said that Sergio Ramos is nearing his long-awaited debut for the club.

Ramos moved to Paris from Real Madrid this summer, making him one of several high-profile stars to join up with PSG this year.

However, due to injury issues, Ramos has yet to play for the club, but Pochettino says that the Spanish star’s debut should be coming in the near future.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has signed a new contract with Liverpool, the club announced.

The defender’s new deal will run through 2025, keeping him at his boyhood club for the foreseeable future.

Alexander-Arnold has made a total of 179 appearances for Liverpool so far after emerging from the club’s academy system.

The full-back will remain with his boyhood club on a deal that runs through 2025

Sevilla are looking for a deal worth around €80 million (£68m/$95m) if an agreement is to be reached that allows Chelsea target Jules Kounde to leave Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Goal has learned.

Goal was able to confirm on Tuesday that Premier League heavyweights from Stamford Bridge have entered into talks for a France international defender.

Kounde is open to the idea of taking on a new challenge in England, but a transfer will only be sanctioned if the terms are right for his current club.

The Liga outfit are reluctant to part with the France international defender for any less than his full market value

It is that time of year again, as far as Liverpool fans are concerned.

Transfer season. Where hope springs eternal and imaginations run wild.

And where fear, frustration and downright anger – in some cases – have increasingly become stock emotions.

The Reds have so far added only Ibrahima Konate to their squad, but at least two more arrivals are needed at Anfield before the window closes

Manchester United have confirmed an agreement with Real Madrid for the signing of Raphael Varane.

The 28-year-old centre-back will become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s second major signing of the summer after the arrival of Jadon Sancho earlier in the month. 

The two clubs agreed a fee, understood to be £34million ($47m) plus add ons, on Monday and the deal is now subject to medical before Varane signs what will be a four-year contract at Old Trafford.

The two clubs have announced the 28-year-old defender will be moving to the Premier League, with final terms now being ironed out