Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNSTIONAL DESK: A new frog species found in Arunachal Pradesh has been named after Chanakya of Maurya Empire. Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and St. Anthony’s College, Shillong have discovered three new species of Cascade frogs from Arunachal Pradesh. One has been named after Tawang, the other one has been named Sessa Orchid Sanctuary and the third one after Chanakya of Maurya Empire. The findings were published in the recent edition of the research journal, Records of the Zoological Survey of India. Scientifically all three new species belong to the True Frog family Ranidae, and these cascade-dwelling…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India’s Presidency has been regarded by experts across the world as an exceptional and unprecedented opportunity with immense scope and potential. With the motto of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, India has embarked on the year-long journey of the G20 presidency. Indeed, there is an immense opportunity for steering international coordination towards economic stability and prosperity, which is in general an overarching goal of the G20 organisation. However, there is something more quintessential to India’s Presidency which has led experts and officials to attach a lot of expectations to it. Beginning as an organisation addressing macroeconomic issues and financial risks, the…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India’s Chief Coordinator for G20 Presidency Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Saturday said G20 partners agreed that robust digital infrastructure plays a major role in achieving multiple national goals. “The G20 agreed that robust digital infrastructure plays a major role in achieving multiple national goals. Investing in digital infrastructure can bring in significant savings & productivity gains for the government in the long term,” Harsh Shringla said while speaking at the Knowledge & Experience Exchange Programmes For Emerging Economies Of The Global South held in Hyderabad on Friday. In his inaugural address, Shringla highlighted India’s financial inclusion success story…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India’s sole nomination for recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site this year, ‘Maidams’ or the burial mounds of Ahom royalty in Assam’s Charaideo district, have met the technical requirements, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The nomination will be next evaluated by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, he said. “With great pride, happy to share a landmark achievement in our endeavour to get World Heritage Site status for Charaideo Maidams. The maidams have met all technical requirements of the UNESCO Secretariat,” Sarma said on Twitter on Friday. He also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Uplona Rashtriya Rifles under the aegis of Haiderbaeg sector Kilo (k) Force organized an Agniveer recruitment registration drive for the youth of Kashmir. This time there is a change in the recruitment process for Agniveers, candidates will undergo an online entrance examination (CEE) at designated centers, followed by physical fitness tests and then medical tests before the selection. All unmarried eligible male and female candidates born between October 1, 2002, to April 1, 2006, with requisite educational qualifications can apply to become Agniveer. The new recruitment process will substantially help the youth. Aefore the online entrance examination, there…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Revocation of Article 370, a temporary provision in the Constitution of India, three years ago changed the minds and hearts of Jammu and Kashmir residents and transformed their lives. The August 5, 2019 decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the regime to end the so-called special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate it into two Union Territories bringing the Himalayan region closer to Delhi and settling all the issues once and for all. Changes that took place in J&K after 2019 opened up the Union Territory to the world. Nearly 1.8 crore tourists visiting J&K in…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Pakistani rupee suffered a big blow against the U.S. dollar as the greenback was traded at a historic low of 285.09 rupees in the interbank market on Thursday, according to the State Bank of Pakistan. It marks a 6.66-percent drop from Wednesday’s closing price of 266.11 rupees. Talking to Xinhua, Khurram Schehzad, chief executive officer of Alpha Beta Core, a Pakistani financial advisory and investment strategy firm, said that the core reason for this dramatic fall is the lack of confidence in the market. Uncertainty arose as Pakistan’s International Monetary Fund program is still pending, he said, adding…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Ukraine has ordered some residents to leave Kupiansk, as Russia seeks to re-take the city it left last year. Kharkiv’s regional authorities said families with children and people “with limited mobility” must leave due to “constant” shelling by Russian forces. Russia seized the north-eastern city early in the full-scale invasion, with Ukraine recapturing it last September. Meanwhile, Russian mercenaries say they have “practically encircled” the key city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. The comments were made by Yevgeniy Prigozhin, who heads the paramilitary Wagner group. In its latest news bulletin, Ukraine’s military said Russian troops continued their offensive…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: A business-to-business (B2B) match-making event will be held in the last week of May to expand business between Bangladesh and Japan. Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JBCCI), UNIDO ITPO Tokyo and Haison International Limited will jointly organise the event in Japan, said a press release here today. The weeklong event is likely to take place from May 22-26 in Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka, the release added. Speaking at a meeting organised by JBCCI in Dhaka on Thursday, UNIDO ITPO Industrial Development Officer Ikue Toshinaga called upon businesses to participate in the event and find new ways of…

INTERNATIONAL DESK:King Charles III will travel to France and Germany on his first state visits abroad, the German presidency said on Friday. “The fact that King Charles chose Germany and France as his first destinations before his coronation is also an important European gesture,” German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s office said in a statement, announcing that the British royal would be in Germany March 29-31. (AFP)

INTERNATIONAL DESK:The High Commissioner also laid a floral wreath at the Mausoleum to pay homage to Bangabandhu, an Indian high commission press release said here. In his written remarks at the Mausoleum, Verma highlighted the historic importance of the month of March in the history of Bangladesh and underlined Bangabandhu’s vision for the development of Bangladesh and Delhi-Dhaka partnership. Verma also took a guided tour of the museum, which showcases Bangabandhu’s life and legacy, and the supreme sacrifices that he made for the independence and progress of Bangladesh. Bangabandhu’s fight for democracy, inclusivity and social justice continues to inspire people…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has assured of the international organisation’s continuous humanitarian support to deal with the needs of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh. “This crisis is not forgotten. The EU remains one of the largest humanitarian donors, with €287 million since 2017,” he said after his meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam in New Delhi on Friday. They discussed today’s global crises – climate change and vulnerabilities of the LDCs as well as the Rohingya refugees hosted by Bangladesh. “Great to meet Josep…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The second of four G20 meetings in the Northeast was held in Mizoram on March 2, 2023, in the presence of 48 overseas business delegates, 17 diplomats from 17 countries, 85 entrepreneurs from Mizoram and 16 participants from other parts of the country. The main leg of the program was held in the Mizoram University, where the inaugural session started with opening remarks from Pradeep Bagla, Co-Chairman, CII North East Council followed by speeches from Som Parkash, Minister of State for Commerce & Industries, Government of India, Dr R K Ranjan Singh, Minister of State, External Affairs, Rupa…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Quad leaders, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Australian Foreign minister Penny Wong were delighted to participate in the group’s Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and terming it, “very good” and “excellent meeting.” Blinken on Friday said that the Quad recognizes that the Indo-Pacific region will shape the trajectory of the world in the 21st century and are committed to safeguarding its peace, stability, and growing prosperity. “Very good,”says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on being asked about the QUAD meeting in Delhi today. Blinken also took part in the panel discussion with EAM Dr S Jaishankar, Japanese…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: The country’s export earnings of goods during the July-February period of the current fiscal year (FY23) maintained its healthy trend witnessing a growth of 9.56 per cent compared to the same period of the last fiscal year (FY22). According to the latest statistics of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the country’s export earnings reached $37,077.68 million during this eight-month period against $33,843.45 million fetched during the same period of the last fiscal year. However, the eight-month export target is 0.45 per cent lower than the strategic export target of $37,244 million. The EPB statistics also showed that the…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today said despite the recent hike in the price of electricity in the country, the tariff of power still remains less than in many countries. “The increase in electricity price has exceeded cent per cent in the United Kingdom. It (price) has exceeded 20 to 100 per cent in European Union countries. It is 21 per cent in Germany and 95 per cent in Belgium. In this context, the increase in electricity prices in our country is comparatively less. The tariff has increased twice by…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: The government today made two proposals, seeking assistance from foreign countries and international agencies, to relocate more Rohingyas to Bhashan Char from Cox’s Bazar camps for the better wellbeing of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. The proposals were placed to bear the expenses of their relocation and construction of more infrastructures in Bhashan Char to prepare its remaining two-third areas livable for the displaced Rohingyas. Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah placed the proposals at a meeting with the foreign diplomats and representatives of different agencies stationed in Dhaka held at the Prime Minister’s Office. The…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Noting that there were divergences on issues concerning the Ukraine conflict in the G20 document, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that the chair summary outlined the concerns of the Global South and “it is just on two paragraphs that were not able to get everybody on the same page.” “The bulk of the issues which concern especially the Global South, the developing countries. There was a considerable meeting of minds. And a considerable meeting of mindshas been captured by the outcome document. If we had a perfect meeting of minds of all issues and captured…

INTERNATIONAL DESK:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged the Foreign Ministers of G20 nations and participating countries to “focus on issues that unites us, not divides us”, as the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting kicked off in the national capital, amid the shadow of the Ukraine crisis. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar welcomed each delegate at the venue, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, among a host of others. Welcoming the delegates at the meeting, PM Modi in a video message said, “We must all acknowledge that multilateralism…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Foreign Ministers of G20 countries on Thursday condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as they noted the growing threat from the misuse of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. The Outcome Document at the end of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting held in Delhi also pitched for a more inclusive and reinvigorated multilateralism and reform. The Foreign Ministers said that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed. Cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan has been a major concern for India. G20 Foreign Ministers called for…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: As United States Secretary of State Antony J Blinken is set to arrive in India on Wednesday, State Department Spokesperson Zed Tarar on Wednesday said that the motive of G20 is to bring all big economies together at one table and discuss how the countries can grow. “The main motive of G20 is to bring all big economies together at one table and discuss how the countries can grow and deliberate on various other issues of the world,” he said while talking to ANI. Talking about Indo-Pacific, Tarar said, “We have to keep our relationship strong with Indo-Pacific.…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived here on Wednesday to take part in the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting under India’s G20 presidency will be held on March 2. During his visit, Blinken will have bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He will also participated in the Raisina Dialogue. “Welcome to India, FM Sameh Shoukry of Egypt @MfaEgypt, FM @ABZayed of UAE @MoFAICUAE and @SecBlinken of USA @StateDept. Looking forward to deliberations at the #G20FMM. @SecBlinken & FM Shoukry will also participate in #Raisina2023,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting that begins in New Delhi tomorrow is one of the largest gatherings of foreign ministers hosted by any G20 presidency, with over 40 delegations expected to participate, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said today. The G20 meet will begin with a gala dinner being held tonight. It is the second ministerial being held under India’s presidency, with the Finance Ministers’ Meeting being held in Bengaluru last week. The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is being held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. The G20 members are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia,…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Great news for students in Bhutan who seek to get world-class education without bearing the exorbitant cost of going and studying abroad. India is all set to open its door to foreign universities. An important step was taken by the University Grants Commission (a statutory body set up by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India in accordance with the UGC Act 1956 and is charged with coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education in India) in January to further liberalise the entry of foreign educational institutions (FEIs) into India, when the…