Indian bananas, baby corn get Canadian access
Indian bananas and baby corn have got market access in Canada, making it possible to further enhance the country’s export earnings from farm products that reached the highest level ever by crossing $50 billion in 2021-22. The decision on market access for Indian bananas and bay corn was taken this week after successful negotiations between the National Plant Protection Organisations of both the countries. “Export of fresh baby corn from India to Canada may begin later this month after update of plant protection import and domestic movement requirements for corn and the automated import reference system (AIRS) whereas export of bananas can begin with immediate effect,” said an official in the agriculture ministry. The move comes at a time when India has already made significant progress in export of farm products.
ED quizzes J&K ex-CM Omar Abdullah
The Enforcement Directorate summoned National Conference vice-president and former CM Omar Abdullah to its Delhi headquarters and questioned him for several hours in a 12-year-old property purchase case linked to the J&K Bank scam. After emerging from the ED office, Omar clarified that the agency hadn’t accused him of any wrongdoing. “There’s an ongoing investigation in some 12 to 13 year-old case. . . I was asked questions, which I answered. I told them that if they need me again, I will help them out.” National Conference, however, didn’t hold back in criticising the Centre for making “a habit of misusing (central) investigative agencies”. The party said Omar responded to the summons “in spite of this being the holy month of Ramzan, and Delhi not being his primary place of residence”. ED officials said the case in which Omar was questioned pertains to a £17.2 million property purchase in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex in 2010 to set up a zonal office of J&K Bank for “less than 20 staff”.
