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India, US officials discuss co-development, production of defence equipment

India, US sign MoU on intellectual property cooperation
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): India and the United States defence officials yesterday held a virtual meeting, to discuss defence cooperation, including co-production and co-development of defence equipment.

The 10th Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) Group Meeting was co-chaired by Raj Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, and Ellen Lord, US Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment.

Kumar and Lord co-chaired the meeting, during which the groups reported about ongoing activities and collaborative opportunities.

“As evidence of their commitment to demonstrating the success of DTTI, the co-chairs signed a statement of intent (SOI) that declared to strengthen our dialogue on defence technology cooperation by pursuing detailed planning and making measurable progress on several specific DTTI project,” the Ministry of Defence said in a release.

The aim of the DTTI Group is to bring sustained leadership focus to the bilateral defense trade relationship and create opportunities for co-production and co-development of defense equipment.

The ministry further said, four joint working groups focused on land, naval, air, and aircraft carrier technologies have been established under DTTI to promote mutually agreed projects within their domains. The groups reported to the co-chairs on ongoing activities and collaborative opportunities including a number of near-term projects targeted for completion on priority.

During the virtual meeting, the co-chairs also noted that since the last DTTI Group meeting in October last year, a DTTI Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the identification and development of cooperative projects under DTTI has been completed.

The SOP will serve as the framework for DTTI and allow both sides to reach and document a mutual understanding on how to define and achieve success.

A publicly releasable extract of key elements of the SOP was also published in July as the DTTI Initial Guidance for Industry, and distributed through Indian and US industry associations, the release said.

“Further efforts to encourage US and Indian industry to cooperatively develop next-generation technologies under the DTTI Group were highlighted by the 1st DTTI Industry Collaboration Forum (DICF), which took place virtually on September 10,” it added.

The DICF was convened by Sanjay Jaju, Joint Secretary (Defence Industries Production), Michael Vaccaro, Director, International Armaments Cooperation, and Amy Murray, Director, Small Business Programs.

“This forum offers an opportunity for Indian and US industry to be directly involved in DTTI and facilitates dialogue between government and industry on issues that impact industrial collaboration,” the release said, adding that, the results of the discussion were briefed to the DTTI Group co-chairs.

-RJV

Modi congratulates Japan’s new PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated newly-elected Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, “Heartiest congratulations to Excellency Yoshihide Suga on the appointment as Prime Minister of Japan. I look forward to jointly taking our Special Strategic and Global Partnership to new heights.”

Yoshihide Suga was formally elected on Wednesday, as Japan’s new Prime Minister in a parliamentary vote. He will replace Shinzo Abe, who resigned earlier in the day because of ill health. Suga had been chosen as leader of the ruling party on September, assuring his succession.

Suga, who was chief Cabinet secretary and long seen as Abe’s right-hand man, is to launch his own Cabinet later Wednesday.

He has stressed his background as a self-made politician in promising to serve the interests of ordinary people and rural communities.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases near 3 billion globally; death toll tops 9.34 lakh

New Delhi (NVI): Nearly 29.5 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 9,34,542 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Nearly 20 million people have recovered from the disease.

In the US, the number of coronavirus infections have crossed 6.6 million while the death toll has surpassed 1,95,000 in the country.

Meanwhile, India has now reported more than five million cases of the coronavirus, the second country after the US to report so many cases.

Brail’s coronavirus cases have exceeded 4.3 million while the number of fatalities have climbed past 1,33,000.

Australia’s Victoria state looks to be on course to relax a strict lockdown in the city of Melbourne by the end of the month after the average number of cases over the last two weeks dropped below 50, which is within the target range for the state to ease restrictions from September 28.

Greek authorities have tightened restrictions to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the greater Athens area, saying the pandemic was showing “worrying signs of resilience”.

Japan has committed 17.2 billion yen ($165 million) in funds for the WHO’s global COVID-19 vaccine programme, known as COVAX.

-CHK

Serum Institute gets DCGI nod to resume Oxford COVID-19 vaccine trial in India

Expert panel recommends Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for restricted emergency use
Representational/File image

New Delhi (NVI): The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) gave permission to Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) to resume its phase two and three clinical trials for the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

This development comes after the pharmaceutical company submitted the recommendations of the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), UK and DSMB India and requested permission to restart enrolment in the subject clinical trial.

In a letter to SII, DCGI VG Somani, said that the institute’s reply has been carefully examined as also the recommendations of the DSMB in India and in UK.

“You (SII) may recommence the clinical trial dated August 2, 2020, as recommended by the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), India as per already approved protocol and the provisions laid down under New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 subject to the conditions mentioned which are to be scrupulously followed such as extra care during screening, additional information in the informed consent and close monitoring for similar events during the study follow-up,” the letter read.

The DCGI has also asked institute to submit the details of the medication used as per protocol for the management of the adverse events.

In addition to this, Pune-based firm submitted a summary of safety follow up of seven days post first vaccination, stating that no serious adverse events were experienced by any of the subjects till the date of the reporting, and the reported adverse events were stated to be mild, resolved on their own and did not have any sequale.

AstraZeneca, had earlier paused the ongoing trial of COVID-19 vaccine as a volunteer had developed an unexplained illness.

Reportedly, the vaccine trial was put on hold in the US, Brazil and the United Kingdom but the trials have now resumed in the UK.

On September 11, the DCGI directed Serum Institute to suspend any new recruitment in the phase 2 and 3 clinical trial of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate till further order.

Earlier in August, the Serum Institute of India, which has partnered with AstraZeneca for manufacturing the vaccine candidate for COVID-19, was granted permission by India’s top drugs regulator to conduct a phase 2 and 3 clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccine at various clinical trial sites in India to determine its safety and immune response.

-RJV

India’s COVID tally crosses 5 million, death toll at 82,066

corona
(File/Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): India coronavirus tally has crossed the five million mark and stands at 50,20,360, with a single-day spike of 90,123 new cases in last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry said.

The country’s death toll has reached 82,066 with 1,290 fatalities reported during this period.

Notably, the number of active cases stands at 9,95,933, while 39,42,361 patients have been cured and discharged from the hospitals across the country.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 10,97,856, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 5,83,925 cases, and Tamil Nadu with 5,14,208 cases.

The other worst affected states in the country are Karnataka (4,75,265), Uttar Pradesh (3,24,036) and Delhi (2,25,796).

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of death toll at 30,409 followed by 8,502 deaths in Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the national capital surpassed to 4,806, while 1,91,203 patients have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

According to the Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR), 5,94,29,115 samples tested up to 15th September for COVID-19. Of these, 11,16,842 samples tested yesterday.

Meanwhile, the government yesterday said that the number of recoveries in India was amongst the highest in the world and the country learnt from the experience of nations that suffered high mortalities to avoid a huge peak in terms of deaths.

-RJV

 

‘Winter is coming’, but Indian troops ready for long haul in Ladakh: Rajnath in LS

New Delhi (NVI): In response to Chinese actions at LAC and Beijing’s concerns over the well being of Indian troops in Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today delivered a strong message, saying that the Indian troops have been provided with all equipment, weapons and ammunition to survive icy heights and tough terrain in the upcoming winters.

While making a statement in the Lok Sabha today, the Defence Minister said that the Indian troops deployed at LAC in Ladakh are being provided with suitable clothing and equipment to deal with any weather condition, since they have survived such weather for years in Kargil and Siachin.

“The determination of our troops is praiseworthy.  They are capable of serving at forbidding altitudes with scarce oxygen and in extremely cold temperatures, something that they have effortlessly done over the last many years on Siachen, and Kargil,” Rajnath told the parliament.

The Defence Minister’s statement on the preparedness of Indian troops at LAC, with the approaching winter, come days after an editorial by Chinese State-run Global Times claimed that Indian soldiers will face the threat of freezing temperatures and uncontrollable epidemic (Covid-19).

The Chinese State media had further claimed that Indian troops’ logistics are incomparable to that of the PLA.

“In high-altitude areas, India does not have the ability to make a large number of troops over the winter, which means many Indian soldiers will face the threat of freezing temperature and the uncontrollable epidemic. Indian troops’ logistics are incomparable to that of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA),” The Global Times said in the editorial published on September 10.

While responding to China’s ‘concerns’ Rajnath said, “I can assure you that the morale and motivation of our Armed Forces is very high. The reassuring visit by our PM has ensured that our commanders and soldiers understand that the entire nation stands behind them in support of the just cause of defending our territorial integrity. They are accordingly being provisioned with suitable clothing, habitat and the required defence wherewithal.”

“I will not hesitate to share with this august House that we are facing a challenge in Ladakh and I urge the House to pass a resolution in support of our Armed Forces who have been defending our motherland at great heights and most inclement weather conditions in Ladakh for our safety and security,” he added.

“This is a time when this august House has to come together and reiterate confidence and faith in the valour of the brave armed forces and support them in the mission that they have undertaken to protect the territorial integrity of our motherland,” Rajnath said while concluding his statement on Ladakh in the parliament.

Amid an escalating border row with China, more than 50,000 Indian troops are likely to remain stationed through winter months to deal with any provocation by China’s PLA. With no end in sight to the tense stand-off in Ladakh, Indian troops have also ramped up efforts to boost border infrastructure to deal with any situation.

Infiltration bid foiled in J&K’s Bandipora; US-made rifle, ammo recovered

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): An infiltration bid was foiled by the Indian Army in Gurez sector of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district and a large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered during the operation, including a US-made assault rifle.

Defence sources that an operation was launched after the suspicious movement was noticed at Budaab sector in Gurez on September 14. They said that the group was challenged by alert troops last evening.

“Contact was established and the suspected militants were fired upon by security forces. Aggressive and timely action by forces foiled an infiltration bid as militants went back leaving behind arms and ammunition,” they said.

During the joint search operation, warlike stores were recovered including 1 US made assault rifle with 4 magazines and 135 rounds, 3 pistols with 5 magazines and 120 rounds. 1 GPS, Cortex (4m), 4 rucksacks, defence sources said, adding that a search operation is in progress in the area.

-ARK

1,329 fresh Covid cases, 19 deaths take J&K’s tally to 56,654

Over 3,200 cops COVID positive in J&K and 15 succumbed to virus
File photo

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 1,329 fresh Covid-19 cases, while 19 people lost their lives due to the deadly virus in the Union Territory, taking the overall tally to 56,654.

The Covid-19 death toll in the UT has climbed to 914.

Of the total 56,654 cases, 37,688 are from Kashmir and 18,966 from Jammu division. Officials said that among 1,329 new cases, 558 belong to Kashmir division while 741 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 37,688 including 28,678 recoveries and 740 deaths.

On the other hand, the total number of positive cases in Jammu division has reached to 18,966 including 8,384 recoveries and 174 deaths.

The UT health officials said that total number of active cases in J&K is 18,678 including 8,270 from Kashmir division and 10,408 from Jammu division.

With 681 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in the UT has reached 37,062 which is 65.41 percent of the total cases which was over 78 per cent few day before.

Interestingly, first time since Covid-19 outbreak, active cases have reached over 18,500 in J&K and active cases in Jammu division are more than recovered cases.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 148 from Srinagar, 1277 from Budgam, 20 from Baramulla, 70 from Pulwama, 57 from Anantnag, 43 from Kupwara, 38 from Bandipora, 15 from Kulgam, 59 from Ganderbal and 11 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 837 from Jammu division include 254 from Jammu, 51 from Udhampur, 105 from Rajouri, 62 from Kathua, 31 from Samba, 38 from Poonch, 26 from Ramban, 114 from Doda, 15 from Reasi and 45 from Kishtwar,” as per the daily Covid bulletin.

Meanwhile, 19 persons who were tested positive for Covid-19 have died which include 5 from Kashmir division and 14 from Jammu division. As per media bulletin, patients who have died include 3 from Srinagar and one each from Baramulla and Kupwara in Kashmir division while 14 from Jammu division include seven from Jammu district, two each from Udhampur, Ramban and Doda and one from Kathua.

As per the daily bulletin, 5,27,802 persons in J&K are under observation while 34,530 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 18,678 persons are in isolation.

Apart from that, 4,13,382 persons have completed surveillance period and 60,298 persons are under home surveillance. So far, results of 12,70,310 samples are available.

Out of 12,70,310 total samples, 12,13,656 have tested negative while 56,654 have tested positive. Among positive cases, 18,678 are active and 37,688 persons have recovered.

-ARK

Army Major, 2 soldiers injured in Pak firing along LoC in J&K’s Rajouri

Ceasefire
Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): An Indian Army officer and two soldiers were injured in a fresh ceasefire violation (CFV) by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Malla sub-sector in Sunderbani area of Rajouri district in J&K this evening, officials said.

Official sources told NVI that Pakistani army resorted to intense shelling with small arms and mortar shells in which an Army officer of the rank of Major and two soldiers were injured.

“Pakistani army carried out target fire on many army posts in Sunderbani area in which one army major, one subedar accompanying him and one jawan received injuries,” they said.

The injured personnel are under treatment with one of them is having serious injuries, they said. Seven to eight forward posts of Indian army came under heavy fire from Pakistani side as firing lasted for over two hours from 04:40 PM onwards today, they added.

-ARK

ITEC celebrates its 56th anniversary

New Delhi (NVI): The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), a flagship programme of the Indian government to provide development assistance to developing countries across the globe, is celebrating 56 years of knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Many young professionals have benefitted from various ITEC programs over the years and these training programs provide an opportunity to share best practices that benefit both the countries.

On the occasion, ITEC has wished all its partners across the global south and 2,00,000 + strong alumni family on Twitter. September 15 is celebrated as ITEC Day every year.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also tweeted: “@ITECnetwork turns 56! Leads the way on our growing development partnerships. Value this pillar of our foreign policy.”

The Indian embassies in countries like Turkey, Sudan, Oman, Bangladesh and Hungary shared video messages by ITEC alumni and press coverages on events to celebrate the program’s 56 years.

Instituted in 1964, ITEC provides more than 10 thousand training slots every year to more than 160 partner countries for training courses in various areas like Accounts, Audit, Management, SME, Rural Development, Parliamentary Affairs etc.

 -ARK

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