Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNATIONAL DESK: A meeting between the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India was held on Tuesday to launch the new US-India Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) under the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership. “RETAP was announced during the June 22, 2023 meeting in Washington DC, between His Excellency Joseph R Biden, President of the United States of America and Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prime Minister Modi, when the two leaders announced the expansion of collaboration on new and emerging technologies to accelerate the clean energy transition. This launch marks…

INTERNATIONBAL DESK: Sugar prices in Pakistan have increased to Rs 185 per kg, with the country’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) asking relevant agencies to check for the hoarding and smuggling of sugar, Dawn reported. The rising wholesale rates have been providing an opportunity for various online mart and retail shop operators to make a windfall on the already piled-up stocks. Market traders claimed it appeared that sugar continued to be smuggled to Afghanistan through informal channels followed by unabated hoarding and speculation, Dawn reported, adding that the price rise was surprising as sugar stocks in the country stood at 2.27…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: United Kingdom Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will be in China on Wednesday for a bilateral visit during which he will raise Beijing’s human rights obligations, including in relation to communities in Xinjiang and Tibet. UK government said in a statement that Cleverly will hold bilateral meetings with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Vice President Han Zheng and will discuss issues such as climate change. This is the first visit of a UK Foreign Secretary to China in over over five years The statement said that the climate change issue cannot be tackled without China – as the world’s…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The rising air pollution in Pakistan may lead to a shortening of life expectancy in Pakistan in the country’s most polluted regions like Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Peshawar, The News International reported citing a report. The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) has stated that air pollution may reduce life expectancy by at least seven years. Notably, particulate pollution is the second greatest threat to human health in Pakistan (behind cardiovascular diseases). This is reducing 3.9 years of life expectancy on average in Pakistan, according to the AQLI —…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Tiptala transit at Olangchung Gola in the Taplejung district of Nepal which was closed during the Covid times is still not open after four years of normalcy, Nepal’s state news agency RSS reported. The closure of the border point with China has resulted in the halt of trade between the local people and neighbouring China as well as limited their mobility. The border crossing was closed to stop the spread of COVID-19 following the request of the Government of China shortly after Chinese workers returned home from road construction on the Nepal side, it has been said.…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: As Russia comes under renewed pressure to revive the Black Sea grain deal with Ukraine, the US and EU are also talking to India to see if it can use its influence with Moscow to ensure resumption of Ukrainian grain exports. While the deal was brokered by the UN and Turkiye last year to attenuate the effects of the war on global food security, India also had played a role in reaching the agreement, as foreign minister S Jaishankar said earlier this year. While EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell was reported to have approached all G20 foreign…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invoked “mutual trust” and “democratic values” to pitch for investments in India, as he cited disruptions in the supply chain during Covid-19 to hit out at China. Without naming China, the PM said the pandemic had caused irreversible changes. “A profitable marketcan be sustained when there is a balance in the interests of producers and consumers. This also applies to nations. Treating other countries only as a market will never work. It will harm even the producing countries sooner or later. Making everyone equal partners in progress is the way forward,”he said…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India is fully geared to host the G20 Summit, which is to be hosted in the national capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in the latest edition of his monthly radio broadcast — ‘Mann Ki Baat’. He added that the summit next month, which is being hosted under India’s presidency of the G20, will give the world an insight into the country’s potential and rising global heft. With world leaders and delegates from over 40 countries expected to attend the event, Prime Minister Modi said the event in India will witness the biggest participation in the history of…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In the heartlands of Arunachal Pradesh, a trailblazing entrepreneur is reshaping the landscape of sustainable living while preserving the rich tapestry of indigenous art and craftsmanship. Meet Ninna Lego, the visionary force behind House of Macnok (HoM), a dynamic startup that celebrates local culture, heritage, and skills through an array of exquisite jewelry, home decor, accessories, and wellness products. Lego’s journey is one of passion, business acumen, and unwavering commitment to the welfare of her community. Hailing from the serene town of Mariyang nestled in the Upper Siang district, Lego brings to her enterprise a unique blend of…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma today said digital connectivity is a rapidly emerging dimension of India-Bangladesh partnership going beyond trade, transport and energy connectivity. He made the remark when jointly laid the foundation stone of the Knowledge Park at Chattogram being built with Indian government’s concessional Line of Credit, said a press release issued by Indian High Commission here. The envoy hoped that it would propel economic and technological partnership between the two countries to newer heights. Highlighting the project’s importance in India-Bangladesh cooperation in ICT sector, Verma also mentioned that the recently launched India-Bangladesh Startup…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid today said that the government wants to build a transmission line between Bangladesh and Nepal. “We want to install transmission line from Bangladesh to Nepal, so that we can export electricity to Nepal in winter. Apart from this, import of hydropower from Nepal is almost final,” he told Pankaj Gupta, South Asia Regional Director (Infrastructure) of the World Bank (WB) at his ministry office. The WB regional director paid a courtesy call on Nasrul Hamid and discussed various issues related to mutual interests. Informing about the ongoing and…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: A Chinese national who was caught distributing illegal Chinese-branded cigarettes in Colombo was imposed a fine of Rs.1 million by the Fort Magistrate yesterday. Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage imposed this fine when Kollupitiya Police produced the foreigner arrested for distributing a stock of Chinese branded cigarettes, which the sale and consumption is entirely prohibited in Sri Lanka. Two officials attached to the Kollupitiya Police on information arrested the Chinese national and found 6,400 sticks of cigarettes, which was valued at Rs.760,000. Kollupitiya Police Inspector S. Vishva, Sub Inspector W. Perera and Constable Chanaka (83997) made the discovery. The…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Assam’s capital, which has hosted many big events in the recent past, will be the venue of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Intergovernmental Group’s meeting. The FAO Intergovernmental Group (IGG) on Tea represents a forum for intergovernmental consultation and exchange on trends in production, consumption, trade and prices of tea, including a regular appraisal of the global market situation and short-term outlook. FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. The meeting will be held from November 22 to 24. Assam, known the world over…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, has said the Global Development Initiative (GDI), a twin sister of BRI, is aimed at supporting the timely achievement of all 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by revitalizing global development partnership and promoting stronger, greener and healthier global development. “We hope that Bangladesh would make good use of China’s aid, preferential loans, and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund to actively carry out policy dialogue, experience sharing, capacity building and practical cooperation,” the envoy told UNB during his first interview since his arrival here late last year.…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In a significant development, Rajouri Chikri Wood Craft from Rajouri district and Mushqbudji Rice of Anantnag district of have received the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag. The process for GI Tagging of nine products was started by NABARD in consultation with Department of Handicrafts & Handloom and Department of Agriculture in December 2020, during the difficult times of COVID. The GI tags have now finally been granted to these two products after a long legal process. In total, four products have been granted GI tag with NABARD support. Chikri is a pale, honey colored, fine grained soft wood found…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Chinese President Xi Jinping during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressed that improving China-India relations serves the common interests of the two countries and people, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Friday. The Chinese President met PM Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa on Wednesday. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the two leaders had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on current China-India relations and other questions of shared interest. “President Xi stressed that improving China-India relations serves the common interests of the two countries and…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated leaders and people of Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE over the decision on their full membership of BRICS and said India has always supported the expansion of the organisation. In a statement in the presence of other leaders from BRICS countries, PM Modi said India has always believed that adding new members will strengthen BRICS as an organisation. “India has always supported the expansion of BRICS. India has always believed that adding new members will strengthen BRICS as an organisation,” he said. PM Modi said India has “historic…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The long-term growth and prosperity for all economies is rooted in a functional multilateral system, French Minister delegate Olivier Becht said on Thursday at G20 Trade and Investment Ministers’ Meeting in Jaipur. France’s Minister delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness, and French Nationals Abroad also laid emphasis on ensuring a level playing field and the organization’s continued relevance to make multilateral trade more resilient. Addressing the first session of the meeting, Olivier Becht said, “I am very happy to have this in-person Ministerial meeting with all of you here in the beautiful city of Jaipur. I want to…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The 15th BRICS Summit joint statement expressed support for India’s G20 presidency. “We look forward to the successful hosting of the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi under the Indian G20 Presidency. We note the opportunities to build sustained momentum for change by India, Brazil and South Africa presiding over the G20 from 2023 to 2025,” the statement added. It also stated that the BRICS nations are committed to a balanced approach by continuing to amplify and further integrate the voice of the global South in the G20 agenda under the Indian Presidency in 2023 and the Brazilian…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Ziro Festival, Northeast India’s most iconic and anticipated contemporary festival, is proud to announce the electrifying lineup for its 10th-anniversary edition. Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, it promises to be an unforgettable celebration of music and arts, community and sustainability. From September 28th to October 1st, 2023, festival-goers will experience a kaleidoscope of sounds, rhythms, and performances across three captivating stages: Danyi (Sun) Stage, Pwlo (Moon) Stage, and the all-new Takvr (Star) Stage dedicated to electronic music. Apart from these, the Popi Sarmiñ Creative Space will also host a variety of community engagement initiatives.…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The BRICS joint statement on Thursday, called for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms and affirmed support for the aspirations of emerging and developing countries like India, Brazil and South Africa. The statement emphasised the need for reforms in the UNSC to make it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council’s memberships “We support a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council’s memberships…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was spotted having a brief exchange of words with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders’ press conference on Thursday. Before the conference started in earnest, PM Modi and Xi were pictured having a brief conversation before taking their designated seats. Notably, in November 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chanced upon Xi at the G20 dinner hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali, Indonesia. Both the leaders exchanged pleasantries at the G20 dinner. Notably, this was the first handshake since the…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The indigenous Astra air-to-air missile was successfully tested from the home-grown Tejas fighter for the first time on Wednesday, even as the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari reviewed the entire light combat aircraft programme ahead of deliveries of its upgraded version from next year onwards. The Astra-1, which has a beyond visual range of 100-km, was test-fired from the Tejas jet at an altitude of around 20,000-feet off the coast of Goa. “All the objectives of the test were met and it was a perfect text book launch,” a DRDO official said, adding, “The state-of-the-art…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: PM Narendra Modi backed the proposal for BRICS membership expansion by consensus and, in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressed hope the member-states will support India’s proposal to make the African Union (AU) a permanent member of G20 at the summit next month in Delhi, and also its efforts to address Global South concerns. Addressing the open BRICS plenary session, Modi made 5 suggestions to further intensify intra-BRICS cooperation including the creation of a BRICS space exploration consortium. He was speaking hours before India’s moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, successfully landed on the moon. While seeking timelines for…