Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has cautioned against online challenges that involve eating extra spicy food, pointing to a risk of "serious adverse health effects." The warning came after a number of people participating in such contests on social media required medical treatment. The agency said that, in the past, the consumption of excessively spicy food — such as hot chili sauces or chili extract — has been reported to cause "mucous membrane irritation, nausea, vomiting and high blood pressure." Children are particularly sensitive to hot chili products, the BfR added. Dangerous viral challenge The "Hot Chip Challenge" or "One Chip Challenge" has been particularly popular on TikTok and involves eating a single tortilla chip made from two of the hottest chilis in the world. In Germany, the challenge has resulted in the hospitalization of at least one student, according to news portal Tagesschau. A 14-year old student in the US state of Massachusetts died hours after taking part in the challenge. It is unclear whether his death was caused by the spicy chip. The company behind the chips used in the challenge has meanwhile pulled the product from shelves. Warning labels recommended The hot taste of chili-based foods is caused by a chemical compound called capsaicin, which deters animals from eating peppers in nature. The average adult can stomach no more than 5 milligrams of capsaicin per kilogram of body weight, the BfR said. It has advised that warning labels be placed on food products containing more than 100mg per kilo. If not consumed in excessive amounts, studies suggest that capsaicin may have positive health benefits. It is also used in medical products for external use which can ease neuropathic pain.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Wednesday asked the G20 countries to “rise above differences” and address the global challenges confronting the world and also act as G20 member responsive for global well-being in the spirit of one family, informed the Ministry of Science and Technology. In his inaugural address at the G20 Science Ministers meeting here, Jitendra Singh said, India recognises the significance of global collaboration and knowledge sharing in addressing the complex challenges of our times and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been repeatedly reiterating this from time to time at every international forum. The Minister called upon to leverage the collective wisdom, expertise, and resources to foster a culture of innovation, promote sustainable development, and ensure a prosperous future for all. The Minister urged the G20 nations to move ahead with a profound agenda to excel in inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth. Referring to the fact that a number of Member States are represented at the highest level in their national science hierarchy, Jitendra Singh said, this group has potential to address major global challenges, as we did recently while combating Covid pandemic. He emphasized that during India’s G20 Presidency, we stand committed to advancing global research and innovation for a better tomorrow, as per an official release. Singh said, in recent times, Scientists and Researchers have been at the forefront of cutting-edge discoveries and advancements across multiple disciplines like space exploration to artificial intelligence, from biotechnology to nanotechnology and have pushed the boundaries of scientific understanding and have fostered innovation that benefits humanity as a whole. He said, as the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and depleting natural resources, it becomes imperative to harness renewable energy sources efficiently. He emphasized that G20 members should remain committed to our Net Zero goals and continue to work on sustainable development and renewable energy and expressed satisfaction that the world has witnessed substantial growth in solar and wind power installations in recent years. Our scientists have been working tirelessly to discover and create materials that can revolutionise the energy sector, making it cleaner, more affordable, and accessible for all, the Minister added. Singh underscored that G20 nations must harness the power of technology and innovation to drive the transition towards cleaner energy sources and promote eco-innovations, such as smart grids, energy-efficient buildings, and sustainable transportation systems, as these initiatives not only mitigate environmental impact but also foster economic growth and create new avenues for job creation, the release said. The Union Minister also pointed out that G20 community has advanced space technologies to predict and monitor various natural hazards, like cyclone, tsunami, landslides, forest fire, space technologies also help a lot in communication. He underlined the need to share products of these technologies to countries, outside G20 also, so that they can better prepare themselves against such calamities. India’s Science Minister told the delegates that developing quantum technologies, exploring quantum communication, cryptography, and quantum algorithms are our next level of G20 research agenda. We aim to scale up scientific and industrial R&D, for accelerating Quantum Technology-led economic growth and leverage several economies into a leading nation supporting sustainable development, he added. Singh said, Scientists have made significant contributions to genetic research and biotechnology and researchers focused on studying the genetic basis of diseases, developing personalized medicine approaches, and advancing genetic engineering techniques. He said, these efforts hold immense potential for improving healthcare outcomes and addressing genetic disorders. The Minister also pointed out that as immunity is directly linked to our health and food, several systems encourage us to develop immunity through food we eat instead of medication. He highlighted that FinTech ecosystems of the world have grown in a tremendous way. Few economies have adopted virtual currencies, whereas few others are using virtual transactions to a large extent. He said, as the world is witnessing rapid digital transformation, cyber-security has become a critical focus and called upon the scientific community to develop algorithms which are difficult for hackers to break. We need to strengthen our cyber-security infrastructure, developing advanced systems to protect critical digital assets and data, he added. Singh said, during these testing times, the world also witnessed rise of several technologies-based startups and these companies excelled in developing AI-based solutions for various sectors, including healthcare, finance, agriculture, and education. He added that the integration of AI and data analytics has helped improve decision-making processes, enhance productivity, and drive innovation in diverse industries, as per the release. Jitendra Singh drew the attention of G20 delegates towards the immense potential of our oceans and seas, in terms of mineral resources, energy solutions and marine food and asserted that all are committed to promoting sustainable practices in fisheries, marine research, coastal tourism, and renewable energy generation. He said, by harnessing the potential of the Blue Economy, we can ensure the well-being of our oceans while driving economic development in a sustainable and responsible manner. We are also concerned about increased plastics and microplastics in our oceans, another important area to focus as it enters into our food chain as several marine organisms consume them. Jitendra Singh expressed concern that while some of the G20 members are facing water scarcity and challenge of water quality, some others are moving in that direction. He said, Precision irrigation, Innovative clean water technologies, such as water purification systems, desalination techniques, and wastewater treatment technologies are to be further augmented and implemented. The Minister added that as we move towards a more sustainable future, it is crucial to explore innovative approaches that minimise waste generation and maximise resource efficiency. We recognize the importance of adopting circular economy principles in the bio sector, which focuses on reducing waste, recycling valuable materials, and promoting a sustainable and regenerative approach to economic growth. He said, we also recognize the role of research and innovation in the adoption of Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) as accelerators that can advance the progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and commit to support actions in promoting the same. In his concluding remarks at G20 Research Ministers Meeting, the union minister expressed satisfaction that during the RIIG meetings, member states discussed various topics including, challenges related to energy materials & devices, solar energy utilisation and photovoltaic technology and materials and processes for green energy; and policy issues like role of research, development & innovation in creating new resource-efficient, sustainable and more circular bio-based technologies, products and services; understanding the blue economy science & services; blue economy sectors and opportunities; observation data and information services; marine ecosystems & pollution; blue economy management and perspectives; coastal and marine spatial planning; marine living resources and biodiversity; deep sea ocean technology; and blue economy policy perspectives, the ministry’s official release state. Singh thanked G20 delegates for their constructive and fruitful deliberations, which marked the end of series of RIIG meetings and conferences which India hosted during last 5-6 months, starting from Kolkata to Ranchi to Dibrugarh to Dharamshala to Diu and now to Mumbai under India’s G20 main theme of Vasudhaiva-Kutumbakam or One-Earth One-Family One-Future. We identified Research and Innovation for an Equitable Society, as the main theme of RIIG-2023, he informed. The Minister thanked the members for their active participation and supporting India’s RIIG agenda with valuable inputs and comments on our priority areas. India is fully committed to contribute in attaining the UN SDG-2023 by way of Research and Innovation through International collaboration and partnerships. India hosted a total of 5 meetings and conferences across India under priority topics of i) Materials for sustainable energy; ii) Circular bio-economy; iii) Eco-innovations for energy transition; and iv) Scientific challenges and opportunities towards achieving sustainable blue-economy, which signifies the importance of Research and Innovation for inclusive societal development and growth, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology. 

The President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Md. Jashim Uddin, stated, "In the upcoming budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24, our main challenge is the inflation. He remarked this during a program called "Kemon Budget Chai 2023-24" on aired by a bangladeshi private television channel. Mr. Uddin said, "In the past 40 years, we have not seen such a bad time. This because of the Russia-Ukraine war. Not only in Bangladesh but also the whole world is going through this difficult situation. We have experienced a 20% decline in sales to consumers in America and Europe." He stated, "In coming days, We have to face many challenges. We are growing from low-income to high-income. Our dream is to achieve a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030 and become a middle-income country by 2031 and developed country by 2031.  This year's budget is very important to eastablish these dreams. We need to keep these goals in mind while formulating the budget." The FBCCI President further said, "Our agricultural sector is doing well. Here in Bangladesh, Food security is very important. We have many products that need to be imported, including agricultural products and essential commodities.  Advanced tax and VAT adjustments need to be made on these imports. We want to ensure the well-being of the mass people and to handle the inflation into right direction." During the programme, the honorable Minister of Planning Muhammad Abdul Mannan, Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Professor Mustafizur Rahman, and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Executive President Mohammad Hatem were responded to various questions from different professions and individuals.

Around 1,500 boys and girls, including 100 from the home state are expected to take part in the All India U-19 Junior Ranking badminton championship that starts at the DTRP Indoor Stadium in the city from Wednesday. Assam Badminton Association (ABA) secretary Omar Rashid informed that the competition will be held in singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories. Haryana boys Manraj Singh and Gagan are the top seeds for the boys’ singles event, while local boy Tonmoy Bikash Boruah is the No.12 seed. Among the girls, Haryana’s Unnati Hooda and Anmol Kharb are the top-seeded players in singles. Karnataka’s Nicholas Nathan Raj and Tushar Suveer are the No.1 seeds in boys’ doubles, while the Tamil Nadu pair of Shreya Balaji and Srinidhi N top the seeds in the girls’ doubles category. In mixed doubles, the Tamil Nadu pair of Arulmurugan R and Srinidhi N is the top-seeded pair. The competition is crucial for the participating players as probables for the national camp for the forthcoming Asian Junior Badminton Championship will be selected from the tournament. The Asian Junior Badminton Championship is scheduled to be held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from July 7-16. According to the Badminton Association of India (BAI), the top-8 players from both boys’ and girls’ singles events will be invited for the selection trials to be conducted in the national capital from June 4-7. The top-4 pairs from each of the pair events, namely boys’ doubles, girls’ doubles and mixed doubles in the competition will also get a chance to take part in the selection trials in New Delhi. The competition will start with the qualifying round matches across all categories for the first four days (May 10 – 13), before the main draw contests begin on May 14. The quarter-finals and semi-finals are scheduled for May 16 while the finals of all categories will be played on May 17. The matches will begin at 9 am each day while the timings for the final will be decided once the tournament progresses. Over the years, most age-group competitions have been marred by controversies, the more prominent being the menace of age fudging. Armed with fake documents and thick skin, there have been numerous cases of players competing in younger age groups to get ahead by unfair means and do injustice to deserving candidates. In 2022, multiple cases of age fraud emerged during the All India Sub-Junior Under-13 ranking tournaments in Hyderabad, and later in Mohali, leading to many aggrieved parents protesting against the participation of over-aged players, and demanding a probe into the suspected players’ claims. Source: eastmojo.com

During some of the first football games after the deadly earthquake, supporters of major clubs have called for the government's resignation. Supporters of the Turkish football club Besiktas called on the Turkish government to resign in the wake of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people there and in Syria.  "Government resign!" rang out around the stadium during the Istanbul club's Sunday evening match with Antalyaspor. Before kickoff, the club paid tribute to victims of the quakes and supporters threw thousands of toys and scarves onto the pitch in a gesture of support for the children affected by the disaster. But the protest chants showed lingering anger about the Turkish government's response to the natural disaster.  Supporters of the Turkish football club Besiktas called on the Turkish government to resign in the wake of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 44,000 people in the country. "Government resign!" rang out around the stadium during Sunday evening's match with Antalyaspor. Before kickoff, the club paid tribute to victims of the quakes and supporters threw thousands of soft toys onto the pitch in a gesture of support for the children affected by the disaster. But the protest chants showed lingering anger  over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government's response to the quake. In response to the chanting at the game, Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the MHP party that is aligned with Erdogan, canceled his Besiktas membership. Supporters of another big Istanbul-based club, Fenerbahce, shouted similar slogans on Saturday night during a game against Konyaspor. "Twenty years of lies and cheating, resign," Fenerbahce fans chanted during the match and "Government resign!" Erdogan refuted criticism of quake response Earlier this month, Erdogan acknowledged "shortcomings" in his country's response to the disaster. But he also lashed out at "provocateurs" who criticized rescue efforts, adding: "Of course, there are shortcomings. The conditions are clear to see. It's not possible to be ready for a disaster like this." Opponents accused Erdogan of not having prepared the country sufficiently for such an earthquake and of having neglected building supervision. Investigations have been launched against more than 600 people in relation to buildings that collapsed. On Saturday, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said 184 of the 612 suspects had been jailed pending trial. Those in custody include construction contractors and building owners or managers. Parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled to take place on May 14.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader urged BNP to participate in the next national elections and said, Let's fight together for the next national elections. On Saturday, January 7, Obaidul Quader said these things in a response to journalists at Tungipara in Gopalganj. The bridge minister also said that Awami League is fully prepared to face any challenge ahead of the next election. Obaidul Quader said, "The upcoming national elections will be free, impartial and acceptable." The bridge minister said, "Ahead of the country's national parliament election, there may be many challenges of this election. Awami League is ready to face these challenges." Calling on BNP, Awami League General Secretary said, 'I hope BNP will not create any new crisis. Prepare for the upcoming elections."

Three weeks after losing Brazil's election by the narrowest margin seen in decades, outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro had filed a long-shot appeal claiming votes should be thrown out due to faulty voting machines. The head of Brazil's electoral court on Wednesday rejected an attempt by outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro to overturn the result of October's presidential election. Alexandre de Moraes fined the parties in Bolsonaro's coalition 22.9 million reais ($4.27 million) for "bad faith" litigation. "The complete bad faith of the plaintiff's bizarre and illicit request ... was proven, both by the refusal to add to the initial petition and the total absence of any evidence of irregularities and the existence of a totally fraudulent narrative of the facts," de Moraes wrote in his decision. He added that Bolsonaro's challenge the election results appeared to be a ploy to encourage more anti-democratic protests in the country. The challenge came three weeks after left-wing political heavyweight Lula da Silva won the election over Bolsonaro by less than two percentage points — the narrowest margin seen since Brazil's return to democracy in 1985. What was the basis of Bolsonaro's election challenge? The outgoing president filed a 33-page formal appeal with the country's election authority, blaming the lost election on software bugs and demanding that votes cast on the majority of the nation's electronic machines be annulled. The complaint characterized the bug as "irreparable non-compliance due to malfunction" and called into question the authenticity of the results. The Liberal Party claimed that 280,000 of voting machines lacked individual identification numbers in internal logs. The complaint did not specify what this meant for the results. However, lectoral experts told the Associated Press that the alleged software bugs would not have affected the reliability of the voting machines since they are other ways to identify each unit. The electoral court also said in its ruling on Wednesday that "when one of these mechanisms stops working, others replace it, without affecting its traceability." Bolsonaro has not explicitly conceded the election, which has fueled protests by his supporters across Brazil in the weeks following the vote.  Lula set for inauguration Brazil's election authority has already formally acknowledged da Silva as the victor. Many of the president's political allies have also accepted the election results. "De Moraes' message to the political establishment is: the game is over," said Mauricio Santoro, a political science professor at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, told AP. "Questioning the result of the elections is not fair play, and people and institutions who do that will be punished harshly."

  Rtv news Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said Bangladesh has constructed the Padma Bridge with own financing as her government had taken this challenge to brighten image of the country.    "We've done it by the grace of Allah. InshaAllah, we will inaugurate the Padma Bridge on June 25," she said while speaking at a meeting of Awami League (AL) Advisory Council. The meeting was held at her official residence Ganabhaban.    Sheikh Hasina said it hurts her heart when any slander is hurled against the country and that is why she had taken the challenge to build the much-cherished Padma Bridge with own funds when World Bank went away from financing the project for alleged corruption.   Mentioning that honesty has a different type of power, she said, "I've taken this challenge with that power of honest… And I have got the whole hearted support of the country's people. For this reason, I have been able to construct the Padma Bridge."  The Prime Minister said that a Canadian court declared all the allegations regarding this project false and baseless.    In this connection, she mentioned that Dr Muahmmad Yunus, just for a post of Managing Director of Grameen Bank, carried out the conspiracy.    “He (Yunus) illegally stayed in the post of Managing Director of Grameen Bank at the age of 71. He lodged a case regarding the matter and lost,” she added.    She further said that World Bank cancelled the funding to the project on his (Dr Yunus) request, and later the Awami League government constructed the Bridge with the country’s own resources that has brightened the image of the country.    Sheikh Hasina expressed satisfaction as her party, the ruling Awami League, has been able to fulfill its election pledges to the people.    Awami League never forgets its election pledge after forming the government, said the party chief.    She added, “Every time, while preparing the budget, we evaluate how much progress we have made to implement the election pledges.”    While preparing the budget, she said, the Awami League government considers how to implement the unfinished election pledges.    She said that her government is pulling the country ahead using the modern technology through development from the grassroots level.    Recalling the horrible days the people faced after the killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975 , the premier said the power was not in the hands of the mass people.    “The power was in the hands of the military dictators who had captured the state power illegally wearing uniform and as a result the development of the country was hampered while they thrived with their own development,” she added.    She said that during the military regime some 19/20 military coups were staged while there were session jams in the educational institutions amid jingles of arms.    The Prime Minister said her government has done the development of the country up to the rural level with 90 percent own sources.    She said, by self-financing the construction of Padma Bridge, Bangladesh has proved it is no longer dependent on foreign funding. “Bangladesh has changed a lot,” she added.    Sheikh Hasina said after assuming office, the Awami League government has been able to bring discipline in every sphere of life which was destroyed by the military regimes.    “We don’t believe in the trickle down development, we always believes in the socioeconomic development from the grassroots level,” she added.    She mentioned that her government has been able to reduce the poverty level below 20 per cent from 40 percent and hoped that in the upcoming census report the rate will decline further.    “Coronavirus has slowed down our economic growth. The growth has reduced to 3.5 percent from 8 cent due to the pandemic. That was only for three months. Later we regained our momentum and now we have almost 7 percent growth,” she said.    She also mentioned that Bangladesh has attained the status of a developing country.    The Prime Minister said the government is taking preparations to face the challenges that may arise because of the country’s graduation to a developing nation by 2026. “This will not be a tough job for us. Our export is increasing and the remittance inflow is increasing too,” she said.    She added that the government has formulated Delta Plan 2100 for sustainable development of the country overcoming the climate change effects.    Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on strengthening the party to better serve the people and to this end she sought advice from the AL Advisory Council. She said the next council of Awami League will be held within December this year.    The premier revealed that the government is thinking of providing Covid-19 vaccine to under-12 population with approval from the WHO. “We have taken every step to protect people’s lives,” she said.  Source: BSS AH

Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has returned to its violent ways in Pakistan, posing a major challenge to the Imran Khan government after the Taliban takeover as horrors of the Peshawar Army school attack still haunts Islamabad, a report said.   The TTP has returned to violent ways since 2014 and since the summer of last year, engaged with the authorities frequently and more menacingly as the number of attacks by the group has surged in recent months in Pakistan, said International Forum For Right And Security (IFFRAS).   After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, its victory made the TTP (Pakistani Taliban) galvanise and it stepped up attacks in Pakistan. The group has claimed to have carried out 32 attacks in August 2021 alone — the highest monthly figure this year. An attack on September 5 last year killed three Pakistani paramilitary forces, said IFFRAS.   Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been advocating ‘reconciliation’ with the TTP despite the constant attacks by the group in Pakistan.   Pakistan has been seeking the Taliban’s help against the TTP after Islamabad felicitated the Taliban to grab power in Afghanistan.   However, Islamabad appears to have seriously miscalculated its strategies, either deliberate or real – both are possible since the Taliban and the TTP enjoy considerable support from the society and even admirers among those holding key positions in the new regime in Kabul. Islamabad now realises that Kabul will do nothing to evict the TTP, their ideological brothers who had fought alongside them and helped in their victory, said IFFRAS.   The Imran government has been attempting to negotiate a truce with the TTP either through the Taliban or other ways as Islamabad is still feared of the Peshawar Army School attack by the TTP on December 16 in 2014 which had resulted in the deaths of 130 students.   Last month, Pakistanis remembered the attack with anger and mourning, and not just by parents and relatives of the dead children, members of civil society warned the Pakistan government against striking a “peace deal” with the TTP.   The TTP had created havoc in Pakistan with its several attacks between 2007-2014. The TTP members had fled to Afghanistan after Islamabad launched widescale operations against the group following the Peshawar attack. But the Taliban emergence to power have inspired the TTP and they have scaled up attacks in Pakistan targetting their forces and posing a major challenge to Islamabad despite their calls for negotiations, said IFFRAS.   Source: ANI

The new Omicron variant of Covid-19 could threaten India’s sustained economic recovery from the pandemic, even as the country is better prepared now to address the challenges, according to Union Minister of State of Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel.   In an email interview with ThePrint, the minister also talked about the mutual commitment of India and the United Arab Emirates to finalise a free trade agreement and expressed confidence that India will touch $46-47 billion in agricultural exports and $400 billion in merchandise exports.    “India’s economic recovery is expected to gain further strength in the remaining quarters of the financial year on the back of upbeat market sentiments, rapid vaccination coverage, strong external demand and continuous policy support by Government and RBI. However, the new Omicron variant poses a challenge to the sustained recovery,” Patel, the Apna Dal (S) president and Mirzapur MP, said.   She added that the economy, however, is better prepared this time with “lessons learnt from the second wave”.   According to official data released last November, India’s GDP growth slowed to 8.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2021-22 but the economy has surpassed the pre-Covid level. The GDP growth in April-June quarter this fiscal was 20.1 per cent. The Indian economy had contracted by 24.4 per cent in April-June 2020.   Asked what has driven the economic recovery, Patel said: “India’s pandemic recovery was driven by a revival in services, full-recovery in manufacturing and sustained growth in agriculture sectors.”   She added that the recovery indicates that the investment cycle has kickstarted and that “surging vaccination coverage and efficient economic management” have activated the macro and micro drivers of growth.   India, UAE trade pact to open ‘critical gateways’ As India and the UAE are close to finalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) — a broad-based free trade agreement — Patel remarked that “economic and commercial engagement with the UAE continues to be exceptional”.   India resumed talks with the UAE for a free trade agreement in July 2021 after they were stalled in 2008. Last month, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said negotiations between the two countries are at “advanced” stages. If inked, it would be the first CEPA to be signed by India in over a decade. India is also currently negotiating economic agreements with countries like Australia, the UK, Israel, Canada and the European Union (EU).   Speaking on the headway made by India and the UAE in trade talks, Patel said, “There is a strong commitment from both sides at the highest levels to further enhance the trade and economic relationship and CEPA is a testimony to this mutual commitment.”   She added that the agreement could aid in job creation and raise living standards in both countries, as well as contribute to the development of multi-sectoral economic value chains in India and provide opportunities, especially in emerging areas like big data, robotics, artificial intelligence etc. “The CEPA will enable both countries to form critical gateways for exports to large markets in the wider region. For example, our exports to the UAE could be substantially transformed for exports to the Middle East and North Africa markets,” said Patel.   According to data from the Union commerce ministry, total trade between India and the UAE stood at $59.1 billion in 2019-2020 but dipped to $43 billion during the pandemic in 2020-21. That said, the UAE remains India’s third-largest trading partner after the US and China.   India likely to achieve $46-47 billion in agri exports The minister said that India is poised to achieve a record high in agricultural exports this fiscal year, which is likely to be about $20 billion short of the $60 billion target envisaged under the National Agriculture Export Policy 2018. According to Patel, agri exports are likely to touch $46-47 billion by this fiscal, given that they have so far amounted to $41.25 billion. “India has been recognised as a reliable supplier of food products during this tough period. Even though our exporters are facing issues like shortage of containers, high freight rates and other logistical challenges,” she said. India will likely achieve the $60 billion target in agri exports in 2022-23, she added. Record high in merchandise exports India is set to touch a record high of $400 billion in merchandise exports in 2021-22, having already achieved $300 billion in the first nine months, government data showed Monday. Patel is confident India will reach the estimated goal, saying, “With tight monitoring by the country, trade missions, commodity groups and export promotion councils, and supported by export promotion measures, India will achieve $400 billion exports this year.” Asked what target has been set for 2022-23, the minister added: “Though no goal has been set as of now it is expected that sustained efforts for trade enhancement will provide India a stronger foundational base in the coming financial year also”.  Source: The Print