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Showing posts from March, 2021

UNGA adopts India-sponsored resolution, declares 2023 as International Year of Millets

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  The International Year of Millets aims at raising awareness as well as directing policy attention to the health and nutritional benefits of millets. The 193 member United Nations General Assembly- UNGA has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. The India-sponsored resolution has been adopted by consensus and is supported by over 70 nations. TS Tirumurti, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador shared the news via Twitter and added that it is a big step to promote ecological and nutritional benefits of millets globally as a key component of the food basket and effective policy change. He also expressed gratitude to all the co-sponsors of the resolution, especially Nepal, Bangladesh, Kenya, Senegal, Russia and Nigeria, and all the other member states of the UN. The unanimously adopted resolution which was initiated by India was co-sponsored by over 70 countries. India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations also distributed ‘murukku’, millet snack, to all t

US Government includes Myanmar ministries, army conglomerates to trade blacklist

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  In the trade blacklist, the US has included Myanmar Home Affairs Ministry, Defence Ministry, and two conglomerates MEC and MEHL.  The Commerce Department of the United States has decided to include the Myanmar Home Affairs Ministry, Defence Ministry, and the conglomerates' companies MEHL- Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company and MEC- Myanmar Economic Cooperation into its trade blacklist. The Bureau of Industry and Security of US has also added to the Entity list four entities- two Burmese security services and military entities and two commercial entities that are operated and owned by one of those entities. The decision has been taken in the light of pro-democracy protests in Myanmar as they continue to intensify despite the crackdown by Junta. The military also fired upon the pro-democracy protestors, killing 38 people. The protests in Myanmar have been taking place because of the recent military coup which overthrew the democratically elected government. Why the ministries

Climate change priority for both India and Sweden: PM Modi at virtual summit with Swedish counterpart

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  PM Modi invited Sweden to further ties in technology, innovation, start-ups, investment, and research.  PM Modi held a virtual summit with the Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Lofven on March 5, 2021. Both the leaders exchanged views on the global and regional issues and also discussed bilateral relations between the two nations. According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, this was the 5th interaction between the two leaders since 2015. Prime Minister Modi had visited Stockholm for the First India Nordic Summit in April 2018. While the Prime Minister of Sweden had visited India for the special Make in India week in February 2016. The Ministry further mentioned that in September 2015, the leaders of India and Sweden had met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. In April 2020, they had a telephonic conversation to discuss the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. PM Modi expresses solidarity with Sweden over violent attack Prime Minister Modi during th

Indian Navy Ships to visit Bangladesh as part of ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’

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  The naval ships will be visiting as part of the ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ celebration which commemorates 50 years of Bangladesh's liberation war against Pakistan in 1971. The Indian Naval Ships are scheduled to make their first-ever visit to the historic port town of Mongla in Bangladesh from March 8 to March 10, 2021. The naval ships will be visiting as part of the ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ celebration which commemorates 50 years of Bangladesh's liberation war against Pakistan in 1971. As per the official release, the Indian naval ships Kulish, an indigenously built guided missile corvette, and Sumedha, an indigenously build offshore Patrol vessel has been scheduled to make a port call at Mongla from March 8 to 10 for commemorating the ongoing celebration and reaffirming the historic India- Bangladesh friendship. First-ever visit of Indian Navy Ships to Mongla: The official release informed that this will be the first time that any Indian Naval Ship will be visiting the port of Mong