ottawa convention

Iran accuses the US of dropping anti-tank landmines near a missile facility, causing casualties. Images show BLU-91/B mines, part of the US-made 'Gator' system, geolocated near a Shiraz missile base. While the US is the only known possessor, independent confirmation is lacking.

Lithuanian lawmakers voted on Thursday to quit a treaty banning anti-personnel mines, as the Baltic NATO member seeks to reinforce its security in the face of Russian aggression in Ukraine. The treaty bans signatories from acquiring, producing, stockpiling or using anti-personnel mines, which are designed to be buried or hidden on the ground.

The US and Btitain have urged New Delhi not to insist Canada reduce its diplomatic presence in India. They have also expressed concern after Ottawa pulled out 41 diplomats amid a dispute over the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar."Resolving differences requires communication and diplomats on the ground," both nations said. Canada withdrew its diplomats from India after New Delhi last month asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence following Trudeau's allegations over Nijjar's killing.

India has recommended that Canada strengthen measures to prevent attacks on places of worship and address hate speech. The recommendations were made during the UN Human Rights Council Review meeting, where diplomats from India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka shared their insights. India suggested that Canada strengthen its domestic framework to prevent the misuse of freedom of expression and disallow activities of groups promoting extremism. Bangladesh called for intensified efforts against racism, hate speech, hate crimes, and discrimination against migrants and Muslim minorities.

The Five Eyes countries, including the US and UK, have supported Canada in its diplomatic dispute with India. India recently expelled 41 Canadian diplomats, prompting both the US and UK to accuse India of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The countries urged India to reconsider its decision and cooperate with Canada's investigation into the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada withdrew its diplomats from India after allegations of India's involvement in Nijjar's killing.

UNITED NATIONS: Nobuyasu Abe, a Japanese diplomat with wide experience in the United Nations, has been appointed head of the UN Department on Disarmament Affairs.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that Canada does not want to have a "fight" with India but wants to work constructively with them on a serious matter. Trudeau alleged that India violated the Vienna Convention by shifting over 40 Canadian diplomats and threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity. The strained ties between the two countries began when Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of a Khalistani separatist. India rejected these allegations as absurd and motivated.

During the 2+2 ministerial meeting between India and the US, differences emerged over India's diplomatic rift with Canada regarding the Khalistan issue. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged India to cooperate with Canada's probe into the killing of a Khalistan separatist. However, India maintained that Canada had not addressed its concerns over pro-Khalistan elements posing a threat to its sovereignty. The 2+2 meeting concluded without any press statements.

The United States has expressed concern over the departure of Canadian diplomats from India and called on New Delhi to uphold its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India after the Indian government threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity. The US State Department spokesperson urged India to not insist on reducing Canada's diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation.

Canada has pulled out 41 diplomats from India, accusing the Indian government of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. India, however, rejected Canada's argument and stated that the state of the bilateral relationship warranted parity in mutual diplomatic presence. With the withdrawal of these diplomats, Canada now has only 21 left in India, matching India's diplomatic presence in Canada. The Indian government has maintained that its top priority is to ensure parity as Canadian diplomats were engaged in "anti-India activities.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said that Canada has always taken "serious action" against terrorism and it will continue to do so as he asserted that it is "wrong" to believe his government is soft on Khalistan supporters and terrorists in the country. His remarks came days after India summoned the Canadian envoy in New Delhi on Monday and issued a demarche over the increasing activities by pro-Khalistani elements in Canada.

India has called on Canada to respect the Vienna Convention following an incident in which Khalistani elements disrupted a consular camp organized by the Indian High Commission in Canada. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, stated that inaccurate social media reports had also circulated regarding the incident. Bagchi emphasized the need for nations to adhere to the Vienna Convention to ensure diplomats can fulfil their duties.

The sculpture, known as 'Parrot Lady', was handed over by Harper to Modi on Wednesday in accordance with 1970 Unesco convention.

Almost a year after Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper handed over the 900-year-old sandstone sculpture "Parrot Lady" - to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bhopal unit of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) initiated proceedings to bring it back to Khajuraho temple from where it disappeared mysteriously.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed the need for de-escalation in the India-Canada diplomatic row and the importance of upholding the rule of law. They agreed to maintain contact and stressed the significance of respecting the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a phone call to discuss the India-Canada diplomatic row and the rule of law. They emphasized the importance of de-escalation and respect for the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The call comes after Trudeau's statement linking Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, an allegation strongly rejected by India.