2+2 dialogue
India and the UK held their first 2+2 dialogue.
- It is a format of meeting on the foreign and defense aspects by India and its allies on strategic and security issues.
- It involves discussion either at the level of senior officials or ministers.
- It enables the partners to better understand and appreciate each other’s strategic concerns and sensitivities while building a strategic relationship.
- India has already established 2+2 dialogues with the US, Australia, Japan, and Russia.
Tilapia parvovirus
India’s first tilapia parvovirus (affects farm-bred tilapia, a freshwater fish species) was reported in Tamil Nadu.
- Mozambique tilapia was introduced to Indian freshwater bodies in the 1950s.
- Capable of surviving in low-oxygen levels in water, the fish has turned invasive across the country.
- Tilapia parvovirus (TiPV) – A single-stranded DNA virus. Currently no vaccine is available against TiPV.
- Past occurences of TiPV – China (2019) and Thailand (2021).
Berlin Process
Leaders from the European Union and the Western Balkans met at Tirana, Albania to discuss the path to membership in the bloc for 6 Balkan countries.
- Berlin Process – A platform for high-level cooperation between the leaders of the 6 Western Balkan countries (WB6)
- WB6 – Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia
- Balkan Countries – Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Greece, Turkey and WB6
Ferry service between India – Srilanka
India-Sri Lanka ferry service restarted after 40 years recently.
- Route – Between Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu) and Kankesanthurai, Jaffna (Sri Lanka)
- Aim – To bolster bilateral ties, boosting tourism, and increasing people-to-people relations.
- The high-speed craft (HSC), Cheriyapani has been designated for the ferry service.