BIMSTEC priority for India: Minister
Kathmandu, Aug 29 : A day ahead of the start of 4th BIMSTEC Summit, India's Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh on Wednesday said that the sub-regional group of seven nations was a priority for India as it fulfilled the country's "Neighbourhood First" and "Act East" foreign policy goals.
Speaking at the 16th ministerial meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) chaired by Nepal's Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, the Minister said that with the completion of 21 years, BIMSTEC was at a critical juncture.
He reiterated India's sincere and abiding commitment to work with all BIMSTEC member- states for a safe, strong and prosperous Bay of Bengal region.
Earlier, a Foreign Secretary-level meeting discussed a wide range of issues like regional connectivity, customs cooperation, counterterrorism, regional security, agriculture cooperation, poverty alleviation and traditional medicine.
It also discussed establishment of a permanent Secretariat of BIMSTEC in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
During the meeting, the Foreign Secretaries of member-states agreed on setting up of a dedicated development fund for executing projects and conducting research in the region.
They decided to set up a technical team to finalise the modalities of the BIMSTEC Development Fund and decide its size and objectives, said Nepal's Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Bharat Raj Poudyal.
They also agreed on the drafting of a dedicated charter for the body by studying templates of charters of other regional bodies.
Nepal is the current Chair of the body of seven countries surrounding the Bay of Bengal which was formed in June 1997 and will be hosting the summit on August 30 and 31.
They also recommended trimming the numbers of areas of cooperation undertaken by the regional body and identifying focused agendas of cooperation.
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Melania Trump joins her husband in backing a meme coin
Washington (AP): Melania Trump is out with her own cryptocurrency token, days after her husband and US President-elect Donald Trump launched a meme coin of his own.
The incoming first lady launched the meme coin with posts on her social media accounts on Sunday while her husband's rally was underway in Washington.
Trump's coin soared in value after it was announced late Friday, potentially boosting his net worth as he prepares to take office.
Some crypto enthusiasts hailed the Trump meme coin's release, saying it's symbolic of the incoming president's support for an industry that felt unfairly targeted by the Joe Biden administration.
Trump has promised to usher in crypto-friendly regulations and picked crypto cheerleaders for key government positions.
Critics said the Trump meme coin could be a dangerous way for special interests and foreign governments to try and buy influence with the president.
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