Anjuman-I-Islam's IHM Library

1.India is looking to renegotiate its free trade agreement with South Korea to address the widening trade deficit and make the pact more contemporary, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. All options are on the table... we may even consider rewriting it into a completely new FTA because it should be more contemporary. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/india-looks-to-renegotiate-trade-pact-with-korea/articleshow/130406422.cms 2.Japan on Tuesday unveiled its biggest overhaul of defense export rules in decades, scrapping restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening the way for exports of warships, missiles and other weapons.The move aimed at strengthening Japan’s defense industrial base marks another step away from pacifist restraints that have shaped its postwar security policy. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/20/asia/japan-defense-export-arms-sales-intl-hnk 3.The maximum retail price (MRP) on the common man’s alcohol -- whiskey, rum, g...

 1.National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visited Saudi Arabia over the weekend to review the regional situation against the backdrop of the West Asia conflict and to shore up India’s energy security. Doval’s visit to Saudi Arabia on Sunday came close on the heels of external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s trip to the United Arab Emirates and petroleum minister Hardeep Puri’s trip to Qatar. These visits are part of New Delhi’s outreach to key energy suppliers amid disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nsa-ajit-doval-visits-saudi-arabia-in-outreach-to-key-energy-suppliers-101776648354503.html 2.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday (April 19) called on South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who is on a State visit to India, and expressed confidence that his upcoming talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will further strengthen bilateral ties. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Honoured to call on President @Jae...

 1.French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone and discussed the situation in West Asia, with both leaders stressing maritime security. PM Modi shared details of the conversation on X, saying, “We discussed the situation in West Asia and agreed on the need to urgently restore safety and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Modi said in a post on X. He added, “We will continue our close cooperation to advance peace and stability in the region and beyond,” underlining growing coordination between India and France. https://www.moneycontrol.com/world/modi-macron-call-for-urgent-restoration-of-navigation-safety-in-strait-of-hormuz-article-13891168.html 2.United Nations, India termed the targeting of commercial shipping during the West Asia conflict as deplorable, strongly urging that unimpeded freedom of navigation and global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz be restored at the earliest. "An aspect of particular concern for Ind...

 1.The government will convene a special three-day session of Parliament beginning Thursday, a sitting expected to be stormy as it moves to introduce three major bills that could reshape India’s electoral architecture and representation system.Signalling a significant reset in how political representation is structured, the government will take up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/special-parliament-session-delimitation-bill-womens-reservation-in-focus-bjp-india-bloc-2896804-2026-04-16 2.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke to his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar and discussed various aspects of the West Asia crisis amid a US naval blockade of Iran's ports. The external affairs minister also held a phone conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and exchanged views on the situation arising...

 1.United Nations, The legacy of B R Ambedkar and his ardent advocacy for cultivating constitutional morality was honoured at a special event hosted by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN to commemorate his 135th birth anniversary. In his welcome remarks at the event held Tuesday, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni emphasized that Ambedkar's call for cultivating constitutional morality is especially relevant in these troubled times, characterised by political fragmentation and constant conflicts. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/b-r-ambedkar-s-legacy-honoured-at-un-hq-special-event-101776221846281.html 2.US President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday and both “stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure”.This is the second time the two have spoken over the phone since the West Asia conflict began on February 28. Their last conversation was on March 24, ...

 1.External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Sunday (April 12, 2026), and discussed the West Asia crisis and its economic impact. Mr. Jaishankar was on a two-day visit to the Gulf nation, which began on Saturday (April 11, 2026). “Conveyed warm greetings of Prime Minister @narendramodi and our gratitude for ensuring well-being of the Indian community during the West Asia conflict,” the External Affairs Minister said on social media after the meeting in Abu Dhabi. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/eam-jaishankar-meets-uae-president-in-abu-dhabi/article70854807.ece 2.India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri discussed furthering energy cooperation with the U.S. in nuclear power and new areas such as coal gasification and LPG exports in his meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Mr. Misri's discussion with Mr. Wright focused on "advancing energy security, deepening bilateral energy trade, and...