South Africa Urges For Restraint Amid Escalating Conflict In Middle East

Several nations expressed interest in taking part in the ‘Utkarsh Odisha: Make in Odisha Conclave 2025’, a major business summit designed to attract both domestic and global investors.

"Ambassadors, high commissioners, consul-generals, trade commissioners, and senior diplomats attended the event, and many of them are enthusiastic about participating in the conclave," said CM Majhi after meeting with representatives from 34 countries.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the state anticipates investment proposals in key sectors like semiconductors, information technology (IT), green energy, petrochemicals, electronics, and food processing. These discussions are part of Odisha's broader effort to position itself as a leading investment hub in India.

Before leaving for New Delhi, Majhi had stated that his administration expects to attract Rs 5 lakh crore in investments at the 2025 conclave, which could be a game-changer for the state’s economic trajectory. According to the CM, the success of this event will pave the way for Odisha to become a "prosperous state" by 2036 and achieve the status of a "developed state" by 2047.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisioned Odisha as a key gateway to India's development. With a double-engine government now in place, we are working hard to realize this vision,” Majhi said, emphasizing the alignment between state and central government initiatives.

In his interactions with global delegates, Majhi highlighted Odisha’s dynamic industrial sector and emerging investment opportunities. He underscored the state’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment with supportive policies that encourage partnerships and investment. The government’s goal is to secure over Rs 5 lakh crore in investments through the upcoming conclave.

The Chief Minister also held one-on-one meetings with industry bodies and trade associations to discuss Odisha’s potential in various sectors, the state’s ease of doing business, and the incentives available to investors.

Accompanying the CM were state industries minister Sampad Chandra Swain, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, and other senior officials, who helped extend invitations to global stakeholders for the Utkarsh Odisha: Make in Odisha Conclave 2025. The CM personally invited key international players to explore investment opportunities in the state.

The 2025 conclave is expected to draw business leaders from a wide range of sectors, all of whom are being encouraged to see Odisha as a prime destination for industrial growth and innovation.

Read More Odisha News

The Classical Languages serve as a custodian of Bharat’s profound and ancient cultural heritage, embodying the essence of each community’s historical and cultural milestone.

The Union Cabinet approved the recognition of five more languages as "classical", Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, adding Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali have been included in the prestigious category.

"PM Modi has always focused on Indian languages…Today, five languages – Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali have been approved as classical languages," Vaishnaw said.

These languages join six others that have already been recognised as classical: Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.

The Indian government decided to create a new category of languages as “Classical Languages” on October 12, 2004, declaring Tamil as a Classical Language and setting the following as criteria for the status of Classical Language: High Antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a thousand years. Secondly, a body of ancient literature/ texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers. Third, the literary tradition must be original and not borrowed from another speech community.

A Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC) was constituted by the Ministry of Culture under the Sahitya Akademi in November 2004 to examine the proposed languages for the status of Classical Language. The criteria were revised in November 2005 as following: First, the high antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1,500-2,000 years. Second, a body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers. Third, the literary tradition is original and not borrowed from another speech community. Fourth, the classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots. Sanskrit was declared a Classical Language then.

--IANS
 

The response from Iran is also troubling, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"South Africa calls on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and avoid any acts that would escalate tensions in a particularly fragile region, as vulnerable groups suffer the most in conflict," DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said.

Phiri stressed that the South African government shared concerns expressed by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said he was "alarmed by the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation." Phiri also expressed shock over the news that the UN secretary-general had been declared persona non grata by Israel.

The South African government has maintained its position of advocating for peace and dialogue to resolve conflicts. "South Africa calls on the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to address the spiraling conflict," Phiri said, Xinhua news agency reported.

The recent escalation has seen Israel launch attacks on Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of numerous civilians while the Hezbollah group in Lebanon and Iran have retaliated by firing missiles at Israel.

The South African government also reiterated that Israel's "continued occupation" of Palestine has deprived Palestinians of their right to self-determination and hindered the restoration of peace. South Africa has been vocal about what it has referred to as the "genocide" of Palestinians since last year when it brought the issue of violence to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. 

--IANS