28.11.22

India – Malaysia joint military Exercise Harimau Shakti -2022 commenced at Pulai, Kluang, Malaysia on 28^thNovember and will culminate on 12th December 22. Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI is an annual training event between the Indian and Malaysian Army which is being conducted since 2012.

Joint field training exercises, joint combat discussions and joint demonstrations will culminate with a two-day validation exercise, where special emphasis will be on enhancing tactical skills and enhancing inter-operability between the forces and to promote Army to Army relations.

Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI will enhance the level of DEFENCE co-operation between Indian Army and the Malaysian Army, which in turn will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations.

In a major hurdle to Africas rhino conservation efforts, COP19 has recently accepted the proposal to downgrade the status of southern white rhinos from Appendix I to Appendix II. The southern white rhino is one of the two subspecies of white rhinos, with the other being the northern white rhino. It is one of the largest and heaviest animals in the world.

A proposal by Namibia and Botswana to transfer the southern white rhinos from Appendix I to Appendix II allows the trade of live animals for conservation purposes and hunting trophies only.

Animals in Appendix II may not necessarily be on the brink of extinction but the trade of such species is regulated to protect their existence.

This amendment is restricted to the downgrading of live animals only for in situ conservation purposes.