AP file photo NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz flew kites at the International Kite Festival organised at the Sabarmati Riverfront on Monday.The two leaders attended the International Kite Festival, with visuals showing them interacting with participants and joining the colourful celebrations that drew kite enthusiasts from India and abroad.Held ahead of Makar Sankranti, the three-day International Kite Festival will conclude on January 14 and features 135 international kite flyers from 50 countries, along with 65 participants from across India and 871 local flyers from Gujarat.Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad ahead of the festival’s inauguration.Merz arrived in India on Sunday for a two-day official visit from January 12 to 13, his first since assuming office, and was welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Sabarmati Ashram. The two leaders are scheduled to hold bilateral talks from 11.15 am at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, where they will review progress in the India–Germany Strategic Partnership, which recently marked its 25th anniversary.The discussions will focus on strengthening cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, as well as advancing collaboration in defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties. PM Modi and Merz will also exchange views on regional and global issues and engage with business and industry leaders from both countries.The visit is expected to build on ongoing high-level political engagement and reaffirm a shared commitment to a forward-looking partnership. On January 13, Chancellor Merz will visit Bosch and the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) before departing for Germany.PM Modi and Merz last held talks on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, where they agreed to further expand the bilateral strategic partnership. The visit also comes ahead of the India–EU Summit scheduled for January 27.German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann recently underscored cooperation in defence and security, saying that “the strategic partnership between the nations has grown over the years.”About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSuspected Pakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC, IB Near Samba, Rajouri & Poonch Districts In J&K‘Attack On My Life’: Suvendu Adhikari Targets Mamata Banerjee, Levels Serious AllegationUkrainian Envoy Hails PM Modi As Global Leader, Praises Ukraine Peace EffortsChirag Paswan Hits Out At Tejashwi Yadav Over ‘People Lost In Democracy’ commentIndia’s Reform Express Accelerates Growth and Investment, Says PM ModiAmit Shah Confident BJP Will Form Government In Kerala In 2026, Vote Share ClimbingOwaisi Blames Congress, Hits Out at UAPA After SC Denies Bail To Umar Khalid‘Some Historians, Politicians Tried To Whitewash History Of Invaders’: PM Modi Hits Out In Somnath‘Hijab-Clad PM’ Row: Owaisi’s ‘Tubelight’ Jab At Himanta Sarma Over ‘Only Hindu PM’ RemarksRSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Calls For Hindu Unity, Says India Will Lead World In 20–30 Years123PhotostoriesSunny Deol’s critically acclaimed run from ‘Chup’, ‘Gadar 2’, to ‘Poster Boys’10 steamed and nutritious breakfast dishes of IndiaBaby girl names inspired by Lord Saraswati6 natural ways to keep your home fresh and fragrantPriyanka Chopra Jonas to Selena Gomez: Golden Globes 2026 red carpet’s most unapologetic fashion moments8 modern baby boy names taken from old Sanskrit words, with a fresh twistSobhita Dhulipala’s most graceful saree looks – PicsHow to make Instant Rava Appe for breakfastCute parenting moments of Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali KhanInside Nupur Sanon and Stebin Ben’s stylish Christian wedding123Hot PicksISRO PSLV-C62 missionUS Supreme CourtGold rate todayBengaluru newsCigarette price hikePublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingStephen Curry BrotherLebron JamesMatthew and Brady Tkachuks Combined Net WorthVanessa BryantBengaluru Girl RapeConnor McDavidNFL PlayoffsGeorge Valera Net WorthNandani SharmaPierce Johnson
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz flew kites at the International Kite Festival organised at the Sabarmati Riverfront on Monday.The two leaders attended the International Kite Festival, with visuals showing them interacting with participants and joining the colourful celebrations that drew kite enthusiasts from India and abroad.Held ahead of Makar Sankranti, the three-day International Kite Festival will conclude on January 14 and features 135 international kite flyers from 50 countries, along with 65 participants from across India and 871 local flyers from Gujarat.Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad ahead of the festival’s inauguration.Merz arrived in India on Sunday for a two-day official visit from January 12 to 13, his first since assuming office, and was welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Sabarmati Ashram. The two leaders are scheduled to hold bilateral talks from 11.15 am at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, where they will review progress in the India–Germany Strategic Partnership, which recently marked its 25th anniversary.The discussions will focus on strengthening cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, as well as advancing collaboration in defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties. PM Modi and Merz will also exchange views on regional and global issues and engage with business and industry leaders from both countries.The visit is expected to build on ongoing high-level political engagement and reaffirm a shared commitment to a forward-looking partnership. On January 13, Chancellor Merz will visit Bosch and the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) before departing for Germany.PM Modi and Merz last held talks on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, where they agreed to further expand the bilateral strategic partnership. The visit also comes ahead of the India–EU Summit scheduled for January 27.German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann recently underscored cooperation in defence and security, saying that “the strategic partnership between the nations has grown over the years.”
![Zoji La [Ladakh] SRINAGAR: Zoji La tunnel, an upcoming strategic corridor that will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is nearing a defining moment, with engineers inching towards a “breakthrough” final blast expected around May 30.Work is progressing at about four meters per day from both ends — Sonamarg (Baltal) in Kashmir and Minamarg in Ladakh — using controlled drilling and blasting. Only 300 meters of the 13.155km tunnel is left to excavate, Harpal Singh, chief operating officer (COO) of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), told TOI. The Hyderabad-based company is executing the project.“The final blast will bring the excavation phase to a close, completing the tunnel’s core structure,” Singh said, adding the blast will signal the physical connection between Kashmir and Ladakh.According to Singh, this historic milestone will be achieved by reducing tunnel excavation to zero within 30 to 35 days. “Breakthrough will ensure speedy construction of the remaining works, including concrete lining, permanent tunnel drainage, installation of surveillance equipment, control buildings, underground transformers and (traffic) smoke control systems,” Singh explained.The tunnel is still another two-and-a-half years from completion. Before it is opened to the public, the breakthrough will allow construction teams and machines to move seamlessly between two ends, streamlining work. “The teams and equipment can move through the tunnel without any hassle,” Singh said, adding this will help sustain construction through winters when heavy snowfall in Sonamarg halts surface movement.The tunnel will reduce distance between the two ends (Sonamarg and Minamarg) from 49km to 43km and increase vehicle speeds from 30kmph to 70kmph, officials said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSamrat Chaudhary Becomes Bihar CM: A Political Journey Marked by Setbacks and ReinventionIran Expresses Confidence In India’s BRICS Presidency Amid West Asia ConflictPM Modi, Donald Trump Hold 40-Min Phone Call, Discuss Strait Of Hormuz, West Asia SituationPak Enters Noida? Stunning Twist To Wage War As Workers Riot In NCR; Yogi Minister Drops BombshellFuel Price Freeze Amid Hormuz Crisis Is Costing Oil Companies Thousands of Crores DailyChina Defends Renaming Places In Arunachal After India Slams Beijing’s ‘Mischievous Attempt’Bihar DY CM Puzzle for JDU, Nishant Kumar Reluctance Complicates NDA MathNitish Kumar Resigns After 20 Years as Bihar CM; BJP Names Samrat Choudhary as SuccessorWomen’s Reservation Bill Explained: How 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan Promises To Change Indian PoliticsExplained: Supreme Court Backs Right to Vote but Denies Relief to Bengal’s Deleted Voters123PhotostoriesWhy this new rice variety is called ‘Designer Rice’ and how it will impact your protein intake10 free things to do in Noida that are actually worth your timeHow to make Chef Sanjeev Kapoor-style Langarwali Dal6 essential real estate investment strategies for first-time buyers9 unique food etiquette rules from around the worldTop 5 IT hubs in India driving real estate demandArgue without breaking up: 5 simple rules every couple needs to know‘Bhooth Bangla’, ‘Dacoit’ To ‘The Drama’: What to watch in theatres this Week5 things you can bake beyond bread in an OTGIsrael–Lebanon tensions flare again: Inside Hezbollah’s arsenal and Lebanon’s military hand against Israel123Hot PicksIran warStock market holidayPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingDelhi-Dehradun ExpresswayStock market holidayBank holiday todayKaty PerryAnna Kepner murderDon TzuPraful HingeIPL Points TableKavya MaranNFL news roundup](https://vknewstoday.in/wp-content/uploads/1776198165_photo.jpg "Zoji La [Ladakh] SRINAGAR: Zoji La tunnel, an upcoming strategic corridor that will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is nearing a defining moment, with engineers inching towards a “breakthrough” final blast expected around May 30.Work is progressing at about four meters per day from both ends — Sonamarg (Baltal) in Kashmir and Minamarg in Ladakh — using controlled drilling and blasting. Only 300 meters of the 13.155km tunnel is left to excavate, Harpal Singh, chief operating officer (COO) of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), told TOI. The Hyderabad-based company is executing the project.“The final blast will bring the excavation phase to a close, completing the tunnel’s core structure,” Singh said, adding the blast will signal the physical connection between Kashmir and Ladakh.According to Singh, this historic milestone will be achieved by reducing tunnel excavation to zero within 30 to 35 days. “Breakthrough will ensure speedy construction of the remaining works, including concrete lining, permanent tunnel drainage, installation of surveillance equipment, control buildings, underground transformers and (traffic) smoke control systems,” Singh explained.The tunnel is still another two-and-a-half years from completion. Before it is opened to the public, the breakthrough will allow construction teams and machines to move seamlessly between two ends, streamlining work. “The teams and equipment can move through the tunnel without any hassle,” Singh said, adding this will help sustain construction through winters when heavy snowfall in Sonamarg halts surface movement.The tunnel will reduce distance between the two ends (Sonamarg and Minamarg) from 49km to 43km and increase vehicle speeds from 30kmph to 70kmph, officials said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSamrat Chaudhary Becomes Bihar CM: A Political Journey Marked by Setbacks and ReinventionIran Expresses Confidence In India’s BRICS Presidency Amid West Asia ConflictPM Modi, Donald Trump Hold 40-Min Phone Call, Discuss Strait Of Hormuz, West Asia SituationPak Enters Noida? Stunning Twist To Wage War As Workers Riot In NCR; Yogi Minister Drops BombshellFuel Price Freeze Amid Hormuz Crisis Is Costing Oil Companies Thousands of Crores DailyChina Defends Renaming Places In Arunachal After India Slams Beijing’s ‘Mischievous Attempt’Bihar DY CM Puzzle for JDU, Nishant Kumar Reluctance Complicates NDA MathNitish Kumar Resigns After 20 Years as Bihar CM; BJP Names Samrat Choudhary as SuccessorWomen’s Reservation Bill Explained: How 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan Promises To Change Indian PoliticsExplained: Supreme Court Backs Right to Vote but Denies Relief to Bengal’s Deleted Voters123PhotostoriesWhy this new rice variety is called ‘Designer Rice’ and how it will impact your protein intake10 free things to do in Noida that are actually worth your timeHow to make Chef Sanjeev Kapoor-style Langarwali Dal6 essential real estate investment strategies for first-time buyers9 unique food etiquette rules from around the worldTop 5 IT hubs in India driving real estate demandArgue without breaking up: 5 simple rules every couple needs to know‘Bhooth Bangla’, ‘Dacoit’ To ‘The Drama’: What to watch in theatres this Week5 things you can bake beyond bread in an OTGIsrael–Lebanon tensions flare again: Inside Hezbollah’s arsenal and Lebanon’s military hand against Israel123Hot PicksIran warStock market holidayPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingDelhi-Dehradun ExpresswayStock market holidayBank holiday todayKaty PerryAnna Kepner murderDon TzuPraful HingeIPL Points TableKavya MaranNFL news roundup")
