India news: Indian delegation leaves for Khamenei's funeral

Here is a roundup of some of the top headlines that have India talking on Friday, July 3:

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Takaichi, Modi agree to upgrade 15-year-old CEPA pact

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi agreed to upgrade Japan's Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEPA) with India.

Takaichi, whose three-day trip to India ended Friday, said that officials from both countries should get together to take the next steps in reviewing the CEPA.

Both India's Narendra Modi and Takaichi agreed to modernise the CEPA, which came into force in 2011 but has come under scrutiny over its limited benefits for Indian exporters.

"The existing CEPA between the two countries is somewhat dated, especially in the context of new trade arrangements that are now being struck across the world. We have in fact made the proposal to our Japanese colleagues in recent times that maybe it is time to look at the upgrade and review its provisions," Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri told a press briefing.

The two leaders also signed their first-ever defence co-development project.

"Today, we have signed an agreement on the first co-development project between India and Japan in the defence sector. This project for a naval radio antenna will open a new chapter in our defence technology partnership," Modi said as reported by The New Indian Express.

The pact relates to the Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) project, a next-generation naval communications system designed to provide secure and reliable communications for warships.

India sends delegation to Tehran for Khamenei's burial ceremony

The governor of the state of Bihar, Syed Ata ​Hasnain, and Deputy Foreign Minister Pabitra ⁠Margherita left for Iran, where they will be officially representing India at the state funeral of Iran's former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali ​Khamenei.

Other Indian dignitaries, including former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Congress Party leader Salman Khurshid, paid tribute to Khamenei ahead of the formal state funeral in Tehran.

Mufti shared a video in a post on X and said, "An honour for me to be here in Tehran to express my deepest condolences & solidarity on the martyrdom of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei."

In a statement on Thursday, the Indian Foreign Ministry said that Pabitra Margherita and Syed Ata Hasnain would visit the Islamic Republic of Iran on July 3 to attend the Khamenei.

"The high-level representation in the ceremony underscores the importance of civilisational ties, including people-to-people connection, between the two countries, providing a robust foundation to political and economic engagements," the ministry statement said.

In addition to the delegation, Iran has invited several other dignitaries, including leaders from the opposition Congress Party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and leaders from Indian-administered Kashmir.

Iran had also invited Modi, but he won't be taking part as he is scheduled to leave for a three-nation tour of Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand on Monday.

Good morning! This is Midhat from the New Delhi Bureau, bringing you the latest developments from and about India.

Several prominent political figures from India are heading to Iran to attend the state funeral of its slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali ​Khamenei. The Indian delegation has departed for the official burial ceremony in Tehran.

Meanwhile, Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is in the capital on the last day of her three-day visit to India.

On Thursday, she and her Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, signed several agreements to boost cooperation between India and Japan. The agreements involved heavy investments in artificial intelligence, defense and the energy sector. The pair have also agreed to upgrade their economic partnership.

Following Takaichi's visit, the Indian leader will turn his attention to his upcoming trip to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand next week.

Stay tuned as we bring you all this and more.