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Russia and China need to work to further reduce their dependence on the dollar and switch to national currencies for trade in order to alleviate the risks of US sanctions, says Russia’s top diplomat. In an interview with Chinese media, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow and Beijing “need to move away from the use of Western-controlled international payment systems. Vyacheslav Volodin said earlier this month that Moscow was gradually reducing the share of the US dollar in its economy and foreign exchange reserves. Furthermore, Lavrov said that the Joe Biden administration is sticking to the same sanctions policy as his predecessor, Donald Trump.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh has reacted to a statement of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC), saying what the West Asia presently needs is dialogue, and not accusations made by Saudi Arabia in the council’s name. [Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani], which the country’s foreign minister [Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani] carried to Tehran, stressing the necessity of regional dialogue. At the end of the 147th session of the PGCC Ministerial Council in the Saudi capital Riyadh on March 17, the Secretary General of the regional bloc, Nayef al-Hajraf, said the group stands with Saudi Arabia in all measures it takes to preserve its security. The PGCC statement also backed the UAE’s claims to the three Iranian islands of the Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Bu Musa in the Persian Gulf.

‘Comte de Paris’, which occupies more than 80% of the planted area, is the most important pineapple cultivar in mainland China. Although the pineapple industry takes an important role in the tropical agriculture economy in China, there were few researches carried out on pineapple before 2005. To promote the development of the pineapple industry and increase its competitive ability, The Ministry of Agriculture of China started a research program on pineapple in 2006. It includes genetic improvement, studies into high yield and good quality fruit production techniques, integrated management of pests and diseases, postharvest handling, utilization of by-products and marketing strategy.

Protesters have held a pre-dawn demonstration in Myanmar’s second largest city a day after eight demonstrators were killed in a crackdown by the military junta. Myanmar has been convulsed by mass rallies and strikes since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi last month, and arrested her and several other political leaders over election fraud allegations. More than 2,600 people have been arrested and 250 killed, according to the local monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which warns fatalities could even be higher. Scores of people, including teachers, marched through the streets of Mandalay, some carrying placards, calling for the United Nations to intervene and resolve the crisis.