The US is putting every ounce of its energy to eliminate the long visa wait time in India, including sending a cadre of consular officers to India and opening up its other overseas embassies in as far away as Germany and Thailand for Indian visa applicants, a senior US visa officer has said. We’re putting every ounce of our energy toward eliminating these (visa) wait times in India, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services, Julie Stufft told PTI in an interview. Normalisation of visa operations around the world right now is a top priority, she said.
Developed countries should walk the talk on transforming food systems by helping smallholder farmers in developing countries with cheaper access to irrigation, fertilisers and markets, said RK Singh, India’s Minister for New and Renewable Energy, in a session on “Interplay of Food, Energy and Water” at the 53rd World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. India is providing millions of solar water pumps to farmers, and will soon produce enough green ammonia to stop imports of ammonia-based fertilisers, which form a big chunk of its import bills, the Minister said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he discussed defence issues with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during the meeting in the format of a video conference. Zelensky said on Telegram on Tuesday that he talked about the situation on the frontline in Ukraine and the necessity of increasing defence support for Kiev during the conversation.