Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNATIONAL DESK: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Executive Vice President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez on Friday and underlined the importance of business collaboration for mutual benefit. Taking to Twitter. Jaishankar said, “A good meeting with Executive Vice President @delcyrodriguezv of Venezuela during her visit for the 9th India-LAC Conclave. Exchanged perspectives on the global situation and noted our cooperation in multilateral domain. Spoke about our respective approaches to development challenges. Underlined the importance of business collaboration for mutual benefit.” Earlier, Rodríguez arrived in India on Wednesday to participate in the ninth Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) India-LAC Conclave. In…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Days after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif showed his willingness to talk to India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said that India wanted neighbourly ties with Pakistan but there should be an atmosphere free from terror and violence for such a relationship. During a weekly briefing of MEA, Bagchi said, “We have seen reports regarding the comments by the Pakistan PM on this issue. India’s clear and consistent position is well known that we desire normal relations with all our neighbouring countries including Pakistan. For this environment free of terror and hostility…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Aiming at fewer fruit seeds but high value ones that can generate more revenue, more than 1.3 million fruit trees were planted across Bhutan, reported The Bhutan Live. The second phase of the million fruit tree plantation project was completed on Monday. The project was a joint initiative by DeSuung National Service and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock which aims to improve the livelihood of the rural communities, said the report by Bhutan Live. The focus was on planting 13 high-value fruit crops such as almonds, pecan nuts, walnut, kiwis, avocados, dragon fruit, Miyazaki mango, dekopon citrus, Macadamia…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India on Thursday handed over the 14th consignment of humanitarian aid comprising essential medicines to crisis-hit Ukraine. The aid was handed over by Indian Ambassador to Ukraine Harsh Jain. The consignment was handed over to Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Health, Ihor Kuzin and commenting on this, Ukrainian Minister thanked the Government of India for the assistance. Ambassador Harsh Jain handed over the 14th consignment of humanitarian aid comprising essential medicines to H.E. Mr. Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health, who thanked the government of India for the assistance @MEAIndia @MFA_Ukraine @MoH_Ukraine,” tweeted Embassy of India in Kyiv, Ukraine.…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Chief Justice of Pakistan, Umar Ata Bandial, emphasized on Thursday that the armed forces will not be permitted to take any actions that violate the Constitution as a six-judge bench heard a set of petitions challenging the trials of civilians in military courts, ARY News reported. This statement came during a session of a six-judge panel, led by the Chief Justice himself and including Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Ayesha Malik. Today, the six-judge bench heard a set of petitions where the CJP said that the…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Journeying across the mountainous terrains, ancient valleys, and the spiritual landscapes of India and beyond, the remarkable Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of the Sikh religion (1469-1539), spent 24 years traversing thousands of miles by foot. He ventured not only across the vast stretches of his homeland but also across distant shores, weaving the fabric of co-existent humanity. Embarking on four extensive journeys known as Udasis, Guru Nanak Dev Ji traversed through landscapes both physically and spiritually demanding. The third Udasi, between 1515 to 1517, saw him navigating mountains to reach Sumer Parbat. Each step of his journey…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The claim of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) that Pakistan’s financial sector remains resilient amid challenges does not reflect the actual plight of its banking sector. The Financial Stability Review – 2022 is not telling the truth. Distress in Pakistan’s banking sector often comes upfront amidst the severe economic crisis. Recently, the IMF said that delays in structural reforms – such as ‘resolving’ the four undercapitalized banks – can hamper stability in the country’s financial sector. It suggested SBP accelerate the recapitalization process using its existing powers. According to the IMF, the SBP has also committed to…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India has emerged as the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. As of May 31, 2023, over 99,000 startups have been recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) spanning over 670 districts across the country. The Indian startup ecosystem has witnessed exponential growth in the past few years, especially since 2015. In the past eight years, an average of four startups were registered every hour in India. Notably, nearly 47 per cent of the total startups in India are in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Giving wings to women’s aspirations, more than…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Stating that multiple challenges confront the G20 grouping, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India adopted an unconventional approach to its Presidency, making it much more connected with people. A major highlight of the second day of the Think20 (T20) Summit in Mysuru on Tuesday was a virtual address by Jaishankar, followed by a high-level interaction with him. Speaking on India’s G20 Presidency, Jaishankar said that there have been “some achievements, some work in progress, and some hope in progress”. The T20 is an official Engagement Group of the G20 and serves as an “ideas bank” for…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Jammu and Kashmir administration recently established a state-of-the-art Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) Centre and gymnasium at the Government Medical College, Baramulla in North Kashmir. This is the first such centre in North Kashmir. The centre caters to the specific needs of post-trauma, post-stroke, orthopaedic, and congenital orthopaedic patients with a focus on their rehabilitation and recovery. The centre is fitted with advanced equipment and offers specialised care to facilitate the healing process and enhance the quality of life for patients. Around 10 machines worth crores of rupees had been purchased by the hospital authorities to empower…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: A group of progressive Bangladeshi NGOs in association with some Indian representatives and local district administration officials organised a candlelight vigil to mark the eighth anniversary of the landmark event of the exchange of enclaves between India and Bangladesh. Uddipan and North Bengal Museum were among the NGOs present along with district officials from Rangpur and Kurigram at the event that was held on Monday and saw people from all walks of life gathering in the 111 enclaves which are now in Bangladesh. The Land Boundary Agreement of 2015 resolved a long pending issue of enclaves in adverse…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The two-day G20 policy workshop on the Green and Sustainable Growth Agenda for the Global Economy, held in New Delhi, marked a pivotal moment in environmental progress. It was organised by NITI Aayog, in collaboration with IDRC and GDN, the workshop brought together over 40 global experts from diverse fields. It served as a side event of the G20 and delved into crucial themes of green growth, energy, climate, technology, and policy, among others. The gathering generated valuable recommendations for green and sustainable growth, emphasizing a resolute commitment to a greener future. Concurrently, the 4th and last ECSWG…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Following further dire economic news, China launched a number of initiatives to increase domestic demand on Monday, CNN said. However, the country has made no significant announcements regarding fresh spending or tax cuts. According to information provided by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday, the official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which gauges activity in the manufacturing sector mostly at larger businesses and state-owned organisations, registered 49.3 in July. That result was slightly up compared with 49 in June but the industry has now contracted each month since April. A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion, while anything…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Think20 (T20) Summit began in Mysuru on Monday with a plenary panel that brought together members of the T20 India Core Group and its International Advisory Board. The T20 is an official engagement group of the G20 and serves as an “ideas bank” for the G20 by bringing together think tanks and high-level experts to deliberate on relevant policy issues. Observer Research Foundation (ORF) is serving as the T20 Secretariat during India’s Presidency of the G20.Samir Saran, Chair, T20 India Secretariat and President, ORF opened the proceedings by drawing attention to the highlights of the T20’s interventions…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Joining China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project four years ago was a “hasty and disastrous” decision. This statement is from the Minister of Defense of Italy. An interview with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto was published on Sunday, in which he said China’s involvement in the project was a “disastrous decision.” He also explained the reason for this and said that this decision did not increase the country’s exports. Guido Crosetto told the Corriere della Sera newspaper, “The decision to join the New Silk Road was a hasty and disastrous step.” Although China’s exports to Italy increased…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Athangmora Lhakhang, a revered sanctuary, lies in the pristine landscapes of Athang Gewog, nestled within the breathtaking beauty of Bhutan’s mountains, Bhutan Live reported. The sacred monastery carries with it a rich tapestry of legends, miracles, and historical significance, woven into the fabric of the nation’s cultural heritage. The roots of Athangmora Lhakhang are traced back to the revered Terton Pema Lingpa, a legendary figure in Bhutanese history known for his profound spiritual discoveries. The monastery shares a close association with Gangtey Goenpa, a renowned Buddhist monastery in the region. According to ancient tales, Guru Rinpoche, the Padmasambhava,…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Jammu and Kashmir is set to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2023. The Jammu and Kashmir administration can proudly claim that it has achieved extraordinary success in its effort to build better roads in the Union Territory. Within the last four years, there has been a revolutionary change in the construction of roads, bridges in Jammu and Kashmir. Roads under construction in villages for years, which were abandoned after earth cutting or were tried to be made passable by laying mud and barge, but in these four years, standard blacktopping…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The cooperation between India and Japan continues to deepen over time as the two nations share historical linkages with exchanges between the two countries being traced to the 6th century when Buddhism was introduced in Japan. As both nations deal with the challenges provided by an aggressive China in the Asian region, India’s political ties to Japan have grown significantly over the past few decades. The commitment of India and Japan to a free and open Indo-Pacific, boosting economic cooperation, and encouraging people-to-people interactions is highlighted by their most recent strategic discussion. Their reinforced partnership, which marks a…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: A new dawn of development is now set in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. The abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which had conferred ‘special status’ on Jammu & Kashmir, has led to “unprecedented development, progress, security and stability to the region. People now believe that things have changed for good in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370. Jammu and Kashmir has received a significant boost in industrial development after 2019 with the submission of 5,973 proposals from both domestic and international industrial houses, amounting to a total investment…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The defence minister of Italy has referred to his country’s choice to join a major Chinese infrastructure project Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as “wicked.” The present Italian Government is considering whether to keep participating in the scheme, CNN reported. Italy’s defence minister Guido Crosetto, in an interview with Corriere della Sera newspaper on Sunday, claimed that the BRI project, which Italy signed up for under its former government, has not done anything to boost the nation’s exports. Beijing’s international infrastructure investment programme, known as the BRI, a term established by China’s Xi Jinping in 2013, was created…

INTERNATIONAL DESK:Investment NSW, in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Consul General of India (CGI) in Sydney, Business NSW and the Australia India Business Council (AIBC) recently organised a multi-city roadshow to present the opportunities for exporters resulting from the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA). During the roadshow conducted across Sydney CBD, Parramatta, New Castle and Wollongong, industry stakeholders, government representatives and NSW businesses informed exporters how to navigate and maximise the benefits of Australia’s free trade agreement with India. The speakers at the Parramatta edition of the roadshow included Lord Mayor of Parramatta,…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed his gratitude to the US government for returning over 100 rare and ancient artefacts to India. “A few days ago, social media was abuzz with the news that America had returned over 100 rare and ancient artefacts to India. These artefacts are anywhere between 250 and 2500 years old. These rare and precious items belong to different regions of the country,” PM Modi said during the 103rd episode of his monthly radio broadcast – ‘Mann Ki Baat’ – on Sunday. “I would like to thank the US Government for returning these…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Indian High Commission in Singapore on Sunday said the launch of 7 satellites by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) marks another milestone in the Space partnership between the two countries. “India-Singapore space partnership marks another milestone with the launch of 7 Singaporean satellites by Indian space agency ISRO today,” the Indian High Commission in Singapore tweeted on Sunday. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday launched PSLV-C56 carrying seven satellites, including the primary satellite DS-SAR and six co-passenger satellites, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. The launch vehicle lifted off from Sriharikota at…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: US and Australia on Saturday agreed to further cooperate with India, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and Korea to ensure the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific at the 33rd Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN). Officials from the two countries on Saturday met in Brisbane. The US delegation was led by Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J Austin, and Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. The Australian delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Penny Wong. During the meeting, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing interoperability with the militaries of the Pacific through…