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First Post
17 minutes ago
- Business
- First Post
What is the first 'Made-in-India' locomotive for export that PM Modi flagged off in Bihar?
PM Narendra Modi flagged off the first-ever 'Made-in-India' locomotive built for export to Africa's Guinea on Friday. As many as 150 state-of-the-art locomotives, valued at nearly Rs 3,000 crore, will be produced at the Marhowra Diesel Locomotive Plant in Bihar's Saran district and will be shipped over the next three years read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off a state-of-the-art diesel locomotive built in Bihar, set to be exported to the Republic of Guinea in West Africa, marking a major step forward for India's global manufacturing and export goals. The locomotives were produced at the Marhowra Diesel Locomotive Plant, located in Bihar's Saran district, and are being touted as a key achievement under the country's 'Make in India — Make for the World' initiative. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD PM Modi, who is on his fourth visit to Bihar ahead of the state elections, took the opportunity to launch the locomotive. He also laid the foundation for several development projects worth Rs 9,145 crore during his stop in Siwan. 'I returned from abroad only yesterday. During this visit, I spoke to the leaders of the world's prosperous countries. All the leaders are very impressed with India's rapid progress. They see India becoming the world's third-largest economic superpower. Bihar is going to play a crucial role in this…,' he said. Features of India's first-ever export locomotive According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the locomotive flagged off on Friday is the first export unit built at the Marhowra Diesel Locomotive Plant in Bihar's Saran district. #WATCH | Siwan, Bihar | Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant, for export to the Republic of Guinea, under the 'Make in India' initiative. This is the first export locomotive manufactured in this factory. They are… — ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2025 Speaking to ANI, Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity (EDIP) at the Railway Board, explained that while the plant earlier manufactured locomotives solely for Indian Railways, an increase in capacity has now opened the doors to international exports. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We have received a big order from the Republic of Guinea, which requires standard-gauge locomotives. 150 locomotives will be sent to the Republic of Guinea over the next three years for their iron ore mine,' he said. Sandeep, Managing Director of Wabtec India, noted that the locomotives are a key part of Guinea's Simandou Project, considered one of the largest iron ore mining projects in the world. The project was awarded back in 2015, with Wabtec holding a 75 per cent equity stake and Indian Railways owning 25 per cent. Since production began, the plant has delivered 726 locomotives to Indian Railways, and now, 150 units valued at nearly Rs 3,000 crore will be shipped to Guinea. The release said the locomotives are equipped with high-horsepower engines, an advanced AC propulsion system, microprocessor-based control systems, ergonomic cab designs, and incorporate technologies like regenerative braking. #WATCH | Bihar: PM Narendra Modi will flag off the first locomotive later today, which will be exported to the Republic of Guinea from the Locomotive Factory in Saran's Marhowrah. The locomotive factory in Marhowrah, Saran, is India's first Public-Private Partnership Project… — ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A senior Railways official, quoted by The Indian Express, called the moment a major milestone for the country: 'This moment marks a historic milestone. For the first time, a manufacturing unit based in Bihar is exporting heavy locomotive engines to the global market, firmly placing India on the map as a global railway manufacturing hub.' The official added that the success reflects India's push towards self-reliance and global competitiveness. This achievement echoes the vision of Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, translating policy into tangible, global impact. With the slogan 'Make in Bihar – Make for the World', Saran is transforming from a small town to a symbol of India's manufacturing capability.' PM Modi's Bihar visit PM Modi kicked off his latest visit to Bihar from Siwan on Friday, where he inaugurated the Vaishali-Deoria railway line project, a major development worth over Rs 400 crore. He also flagged off a new Vande Bharat Express service, connecting Patliputra and Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This visit adds to a series of stops the Prime Minister has made in poll-bound Bihar this year. Earlier, he travelled to Bhagalpur, Madhubani, and Vikramganj (Rohtas) as part of his outreach across different regions of the state. A senior BJP leader told The Indian Express that more such visits are expected in the coming months. 'In election year, the PM has been travelling to every Bihar region, telling people about the central government's mega projects for the state. We are expecting more Bihar visits by the PM in the coming months.' With input from agencies
The Star
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Star
Seah Kian Peng to be nominated again as Speaker of Singapore Parliament; Indranee Rajah will remain Leader of the House
SINGAPORE: Seah Kian Peng will be nominated for re-election as Speaker of Parliament when the House reopens on Sept 5, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said on Friday (June 20). He is the current Speaker and has served in the role since 2023. Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah has been designated by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as Leader of the House, the PMO added in its statement. Senior Minister of State for Defence and Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad will remain Deputy Leader. In a letter to the Clerk of Parliament – the most senior official in the secretariat supporting the House – PM Wong said the Government will propose Seah's election and that he has designated Indranee and Zaqy for their roles. In a Facebook post on the same day, PM Wong added that Seah has since 2023 brought 'a steady hand and thoughtful leadership to the House'. PM Wong said: 'He has presided over our debates with fairness and ensured that proceedings are conducted with dignity and decorum. I am confident he will continue to discharge his responsibilities with distinction.' In a Facebook post after the announcement, Seah thanked the Prime Minister for his confidence, support and nomination. He added that he is grateful for the support of MPs past and present, and thanked his two deputies and colleagues from the Parliament Secretariat. Seah is assisted by two Deputy Speakers, Christopher de Souza and Jessica Tan. Deputy Speakers, who take over when the Speaker is absent, are also elected when a new Parliament sits. He said: 'If elected, I will as always endeavour to do my best and discharge my duties and responsibilities to the best of my ability.' Zaqy, who is also an MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, told The Straits Times that he is thankful for PM Wong's trust in him. He added that with a renewed slate of MPs, including many first-time parliamentarians from both the PAP and the opposition, a broader range of perspectives and voices in the House can be expected. He said: 'We probably have about 20-30 per cent new MPs in Parliament this round, and I hope that this diversity will bring fresh energy and ideas to our national conversations.' Singapore elected 97 MPs at the polls, and two Non-Constituency MPs were later appointed from the Workers' Party. Of these, 29 are rookies. Zaqy added that many MPs were elected campaigning on various concerns and issues such as cost of living, jobs and economic uncertainty amid global tensions. 'Alongside these bread-and-butter issues, we'll also need to tackle longer-term challenges such as climate change, social mobility and ageing. Looking forward to a robust and constructive parliamentary term ahead,' he said. There are no term limits for both the Speaker and the Leader of the House. The Speaker is in charge of the administration of Parliament and its secretariat, and presides over its conduct. He or she decides who has the right to speak and puts the question for the House to debate and vote on. The Speaker also acts as the representative of the House in its relations with other Parliaments and welcomes visiting dignitaries. He or she represents Parliament at national events and during official visits abroad. The Leader of the House is responsible for arranging government business and the legislative programme of Parliament, and proposes appropriate actions to be taken on procedural matters arising in Parliament. He or she also moves procedural motions, such as to extend the times of sittings beyond the usual. For example, during her term as Leader, Indranee has addressed and issued notes on MPs' behaviour, and wrapped up or extended debates on key issues like the Budget and the 14th Parliament's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Seah, who is an MP for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, has served as Speaker since 2023. He was nominated and elected following the resignation of the previous Speaker, Tan Chuan-Jin, after an affair he had with fellow MP Cheng Li Hui was made public. Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and National Development and an MP for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, has been Leader of the House since 2020. She took over from Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu. The opening of a new Parliament following a general election traditionally begins with the election of the Speaker. In 2025, this will happen on Sept 5, following the polls held on May 3. The MPs will then be sworn in, and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam is scheduled to deliver an address to the 15th Parliament. The President's Address will set out the agenda and plans of the Government for its five-year term. - The Straits Times/ANN
AsiaOne
6 hours ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
PM Wong to nominate Seah Kian Peng as Speaker of Parliament, Indranee Rajah as Leader of House, Singapore News
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong intends to nominate Seah Kian Peng as Speaker of the Parliament and Indranee Rajah as Leader of the House when Parliament convenes in September. This was announced through a statement by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Friday (June 20). The 15th Parliament is set to meet for the first time on Sept 5, following the last session in April 15 when the 14th Parliament was dissolved ahead of the General Election. Seah has served as the Speaker since 2023, and has "presided over our debates with fairness and ensured that proceedings are conducted with dignity and decorum," said PM Wong in a Facebook post on Friday (June 20). "I am confident he will continue to discharge his responsibilities with distinction." In a Facebook post on Friday, Seah thanked PM Wong for his "confidence, support and nomination" and expressed his gratitude to the Members of the House, past and present, for their support. "I also have my two Deputy Speakers and colleagues at Parliament Secretariat to thank for their solid support to me since I assumed this appointment in August 2023," he wrote. "If elected, I will as always endeavour to do my best and discharge my duties and responsibilities to the best of my ability." Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for National Development, has served as Leader since 2020 and will remain so. Senior Minister of State for Defence and Sustainability and the Environment, Zaqy Mohamad, will also be nominated to continue his role as the Deputy Leader. The 15th Parliament will have 99 MPs consisting of 97 elected MPs — 87 from the People's Action Party (PAP) and 10 from the Worker's Party (WP) — and two Non-Constituency MPs, Andre Low and Eileen Chong, both from WP. [[nid:718519]]
Daily Tribune
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
HM King appoints official to Prime Minister office
TDT | Manama His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has issued Decree (34) of 2025, appointing an Assistant Undersecretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, based on a proposal by the Prime Minister and following the approval of the Cabinet. According to the decree, His Excellency Shaikh Abdullah bin Munther bin Majid Al Khalifa shall be appointed as the Assistant Undersecretary for the Development of the Government Performance at the Prime Minister's Office, succeeding Zeyad Adel Darwish. The Prime Minister shall implement this decree, which shall take effect from the date of its issuance and shall be published in the Official Gazette.
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Seah Kian Peng to be nominated Speaker of Parliament; Indranee Rajah will remain Leader of the House
Mr Seah Kian Peng has served in the role since 2023, and Ms Indranee Rajah has been Leader of the House since 2020. PHOTO: MDDI Seah Kian Peng to be nominated Speaker of Parliament; Indranee Rajah will remain Leader of the House SINGAPORE – Mr Seah Kian Peng will be nominated for reelection as Speaker of Parliament when the House reopens on Sept 5, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said on June 20. Mr Seah is the current Speaker and has served in the role since 2023. Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah has been nominated by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as Leader of The House, the PMO added in its statement. Senior Minister of State for Defence and Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad will remain Deputy Leader. Both the Speaker and the Leader of the House are nominated by the prime minister, but the Speaker is subsequently elected by the House when it meets. Both roles do not have term limits. The Speaker is in charge of the administration of Parliament and its secretariat, and presides over its conduct. He or she also decides who has the right to speak and puts the question for the House to debate and vote on. The Speaker also acts as the representative of the House in its relations with other parliaments and welcomes visiting dignitaries. He or she also represents Parliament at national events and during official visits abroad. The Leader of the House is responsible for arranging Government business and the legislative programme of Parliament, and also proposes appropriate actions to be taken on any procedural matters arising in Parliament. He or she also moves procedural motions, such as to extend the times of sittings beyond the usual. For example, during her term as Leader, Ms Indranee has addressed and issued notes on MPs' behaviour, and wrapped up or extended debates on key issues such as the Budget and the 14th Parliament's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Seah, who is MP for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC , has served as Speaker since 2023. He was nominated and elected following the resignation of the previous Speaker Mr Tan Chuan-Jin after an affair he had with fellow MP Cheng Li Hui was made public. Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and National Development and MP for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, has been Leader of the House since 2020. She took over from Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu. The opening of a new Parliament following a general election traditionally begins with the election of the Speaker. This will happen on Sept 5 this year, following the polls on May 3. The MPs will then be sworn in, and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam is scheduled to deliver an address to the 15th Parliament. The President's Address will set out the agenda and plans of the Government for its five-year term. Ng Wei Kai is a journalist at The Straits Times, where he covers politics. He writes Unpacked, a weekly newsletter on Singapore politics and policy. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
