Diplomacy

India today signed an Memorandum of Understanding with Bangladesh for content exchange programme between All India Radio and Bangladesh Betar.

Pakistan’s efforts to raise Jammu and Kashmir at the UN Security Council through China crumbled once again on Wednesday as most members of the top world body said it was not the place to discuss the issue, sources told NDTV on Thursday.

Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and and the Finnish Defence Ministry”s Permanent Secretary, Jukka Juusti signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on co-operation in the field of production, procurement, research and development of defence-related equipment and industrial cooperation on the sidelines of Raisina Dialogue 2020.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Vladimir Norov on Monday said India will host the annual meeting of council of heads of government of the SCO later this year.

After making his first ministerial visit to Africa over three years ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interest in deepening India’s trade relationship and security cooperation with the continent has swelled. Though their trade relationship dates centuries, Indo-African trade stood at just $1 billion 25 years ago. With present bilateral trade valued at over $60 billion, the Modi government hopes to improve the figure to $150 billion by 2023.

According to a person familiar with the planning of the tour, the visit could take place as early as the second half of February. However, the timing will depend on the duration of the US Senate trial, expected to start this week, to determine if Trump should be removed from office in impeachment proceedings, the person added.

In an official statement, Pradhan said, “We are keen to explore the new northern sea route to source crude oil and LNG through Russia’s Arctic. The route has the potential to cut the cost and time for transporting LNG from Russia to India. A sea line between Far-East Russia and the East coast of India will also facilitate sourcing of coking coal from the region.”

This marks his first visit abroad after he was appointed Prime Minister by his younger brother President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

“With profound sorrow, the Government and People of India have received the sad news of the demise of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, Sultan of the Sultanate of Oman.,” a statement from MEA noted. The Minister of Minority Affairs is also carrying a message from PM Modi to His Majesty Sultan Sayyed Haitham bin Tariq bin Taimur Al-Said, Sultan of Sultanate of Oman.

The policy will discourage organisations from running programmes that can hamper Nepal’s relations with the neighbouring countries, it said.