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Cabinet approves MoU with Japan for cooperation in technical textiles

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New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet today approved for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India’s Textiles Committee, and Nissenken Quality Evaluation Centre, Japan to improve quality and testing of Indian textiles and clothing for the Japanese market.

Speaking after cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, the MoU would enable Nissenken Quality Evaluation Centre, Japan in assigning Textile Committee as their cooperative Testing and Inspection service providers in the Republic of India for Textiles & Apparel products.

The products include technical textiles and any other products mutually agreed upon at a later date for both domestic and overseas clients or buyers, he added.

The MoU will also facilitate Indian exporters to meet the requirements of Japanese importers as per their technical regulations. It will also boost Indian textiles and apparel exports including technical textiles to Japan.

However, the technical textiles are meant for non-aesthetic purposes, where function is the primary criterion.

-RJV

UN Security Council to meet on post COVID-19 global security threats

New Delhi (NVI): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold a high-level summit during the annual meeting of world leaders at the General Assembly later this month to discuss security threats in the world after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

The announcement of the meet was made by Niger’s UN Ambassador Abdou Abarry, who took over the rotating council presidency on Tuesday, and told the virtual press conference that the meeting of the UN’s most powerful body will take place online on September 24.

The meeting on ‘post-COVID-19 global governance in relation to the maintenance of international peace and security’ will address traditional security threats such as conflicts but also crime and pandemics as well as adjustments to the current international system.

Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou, who will chair the meeting, is sending invitation to the leaders of the 14 other countries on the Security Council.

A key issue to be addressed post the coronavirus pandemic is – Are we going to be able to structure a more resilient, a more just, a more fair world with less destruction of the environment among others, and that can enable and facilitate humanity to live in harmony, and with nature?”

In recent years, the Security Council has held a meeting on a theme chosen by its rotating president for September during the General Assembly high-level meeting which usually brings thousands of people to UN headquarters in New York.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the high-level meeting will be almost entirely online.

Last year, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov presided over a ministerial meeting of the council on the contribution of three regional organisations that Moscow belongs to in countering terrorist threats.

-CHK

Tamil Nadu: Inter-district bus transport, train services to resume from Sept 7

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami today announced that inter-district bus transport and passenger train services will resume operation from September 7

The Chief Minister said the bus transport is allowed only within districts as of now, there were representations from the public to the government seeking facilitation of services to go from one district to another.

“Considering public welfare, following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), from September 7, inter-district government and private bus transport will be allowed across Tamil Nadu,” Palaniswami said in a statement.

Likewise, from the same day, passenger train services within Tamil Nadu would be permitted. Inter-state train services are already operational in permitted routes, he said.

Palaniswami further stated, despite the state government extended relaxations, the public would have to follow the safety precautions, including wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining social distancing norms, to prevent the virus spread.

“I urge the public to extend full cooperation to the government’s efforts,” the chief minister added.

This development comes after Tamil Nadu reported 5,928 new COVID-19 cases taking the tally to 4,33,969. However, the state recorded 96 deaths in 24 hours, taking total toll to 7,418.

-RJV

PM pays tribute to Sree Narayana Guru

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to social reformer Sree Narayana Guru on his 164th birth anniversary.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, “I bow to the venerable Sree Narayana Guru on his Jayanti. His life and works epitomised the perfect blend of spirituality and social reform. He emphasised on education and empowerment of women. He was a farsighted visionary whose ideals give strength to many across India.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid homage to Sree Narayana Guru and said, “Tributes to venerable Swami Sree Narayana Guru ji on his Jayanti. As a social reformer, spiritual leader and strong advocate of equality & brotherhood.

“He played an instrumental role in setting up the foundations for social reform in Kerala against discrimination and injustice,” he tweeted.

In another tweet, Shah said, “Swami Sree Narayana Guru ji’s relentless effort and contribution towards the empowerment & education of the downtrodden can never be forgotten. His philosophy, teachings and thoughts will continue to enrich the lives of millions across the length & breadth of the country.”

Sree Narayana Guru was born in 1864 in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram. He was a social reformer and spiritual leader who led a reform movement against casteism and promoted new values of spiritual freedom and social equality.

-RJV

India’s case fatality rate at 1.76%, one of the lowest globally

New Delhi (NVI): India continues to report one of the lowest COVID Case Fatality Rates (CFR) when compared to several other countries. While the global CFR stands at 3.3 per cent as on date, the comparative figure for India is 1.76 per cent, according to Health Ministry data.

Furthermore, the deaths per million population in India is one of the lowest in the world. While the global average is 110 deaths/million population, India is reporting 48 deaths/million population. The comparative figure for Brazil and the UK is 12 and 13 times higher, respectively.

As part of the COVID management and response policy, there has been a sharp focus of the Central Government on not only containing the COVID related fatality, but to reduce deaths and to save lives by providing quality clinical care to the critical and severe patients of COVID.

Collaborative efforts of the Union and State and UT governments have resulted in strengthening of the health facilities across the country.

Currently, 1,578 dedicated COVID hospitals are providing quality medical care. The Central Government has also issued the Standard of Care guidelines incorporated in the Clinical Treatment Protocol.

A unique initiative to build the capacities of the ICU doctors in clinical management of critical patients towards reducing the fatality, e-ICU has been started by AIIMS, New Delhi. Twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, tele/video -consultation sessions are held by knowledge and domain experts for the doctors manning ICUs in the State hospitals. These sessions started from 8th July 2020.

Till date, 17 tele-sessions have been held, and 204 institutions have participated in them.

-CHK

Huge enthusiasm in UAE to invest in India: UAE envoy to India

New Delhi (NVI): There is vast untapped potential and huge appetite in UAE to invest in India which remains unexplored, United Arab Emirates envoy to India, Ahmed Albanna said today.

In his keynote address at ASSOCHAM’s webinar “Rediscovering India – UAE Economic Relations in the COVID era”, the UAE envoy highlighted key points to focus towards enhancing India-UAE economic cooperation.

He said that UAE – India strategic partnership has been manifest during the regular close and multi-level interactions between the leadership and officials on both sides. “India is a strong and key partner with whom we wish to further bolster our strategic partnership,” he was quoted as saying in an ASSOCHAM release.

Albanna further said that cooperation in food security, agriculture products, health and pharmaceutical products, services and technologies, IT, education technologies, energy, defence manufacturing, aerospace and tourism sectors form the pillars of the economic relations between the two countries.

“We need to focus on facilitation of movement of cargo, investment, people and decision makers,” he added.

The UAE envoy further stressed that ASSOCHAM must play an active role in expanding Indian business presence in UAE, Gulf and MENA region. “Mobilising Indian participation for the EXPO 21 will be a definitive step in this direction,” he said.

He also assured full support of the commercial office of UAE Embassy for facilitating market entry for business interests on both sides.

Dr Arpita Mukherjee, noted economist from Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, moderated the webinar which included eminent speakers like Former Indian Ambassador to UAE Navdeep Suri; Vipul, Joint Secretary (Gulf), Ministry of External Affairs, and Deepak Sood, Secretary-General, ASSOCHAM.

The exclusive panel of speakers shared insights and updates on current economic situation in both countries and how both countries can tap emerging business opportunities.

Prof. Arpita Mukherjee emphasised that there are lot of synergies between the two countries to cooperate but currently both economies are going through a significant slowdown. “Once the pandemic is over, we expect lot of Investment from UAE in Indian Industrial park and SEZ’s,” she said.

Opening the webinar, Deepak Sood, said that India and UAE share a common vision of development and welfare of people at the core of their policies and Growing India-UAE economic and commercial relations contribute to the stability and strength of a rapidly diversifying and deepening bilateral relationship between the two countries.

He also said that growing engagements between India and the UAE has to be seen within the broader contexts of UAE’s policy of engaging with Asia to improve economic prospects and India’s search for foreign investments to expedite economic growth and address the threat of extremism and terrorism.

“Good strategic partnership at all levels will yield benefits not only for India and UAE but also for peace and development in the region,” he added.

Ambassador Navdeep Suri, in his special remarks, recommended Indian companies to participate in Dubai Expo 2021 and take advantage and showcase their capacities and strengths in a place that promises to be the meeting ground for the world.

The UAE envoy to India also informed the audience that embassy of UAE has different platforms for attracting investments into UAE whether it is at a federal level, ministerial level or on the local level.

“The Embassy is ready to provide facilitation and other required services. UAE Embassy in India is one of the few Embassies which has a Commercial Attaché. We are now trying to setup a platform like UAE investment lounge which will attract investors to get all the information and services under one umbrella,” he added.

Albanna said that the share of oil in UAE GDP is reducing and have come in the range of 25-30%. “Due to the falling prices of oil, we are affected in terms of economy, however, we are a healthy economy. UAE is paying attention to different sectors such as Services, Tourism, Manufacturing and trying to widen and finding out other strengths,” he said.

-ARK

Climate action on food systems can cut back 20% of global emissions by 2050

New Delhi (NVI): The improved climate action on sustainable food systems can deliver 20 per cent of global emissions reductions needed by 2050, said a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), WWF.

According to the report, actions on diets, food loss and waste to national climate plans could reduce global greenhouse emissions by an extra 12.5 Gt CO2e annually the equivalent of taking 2.7 billion cars off the road.

The report found that countries are missing significant opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and identifies 16 ways policymakers could take more action, from farm to fork.

UNEP called on countries to shift to healthier and more sustainable diets with a higher proportion of plant-based than animal-based foods to avoid emissions. Addressing land-use change and conversion of natural habitats could also reduce emissions by 4.6 Gt CO 2 e per year, it added.

Other areas of focus include reducing food losses and wastage, which account for 8 eor cent of all GHG emissions, and improving production methods and reducing methane emissions from livestock.

“Currently, diets and food losses and wastage are largely ignored, but by adding them to national climate plans, policy makers can improve their contributions to mitigation and adaptation of food systems by up to 25 per cent,” the UNEP said in a statement.

Indeed, food systems, which include all components and activities related to the production, processing, distribution, preparation and consumption of food, account for up to 37 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, it added.

Under the 2015 Paris Accord, countries should revise or resubmit their NSCs every five years.

This year, therefore policy makers have the opportunity to adopt solutions for food systems and set more ambitious targets and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thereby improve biodiversity, food security and public health.

Marco Lambertini, Director General WWF-International said, “Ambitious, time-bound and measurable commitments to food systems transformation are needed if we are to achieve a 1.5oC future. Failing to do so is ignoring one of the main drivers of today’s climate crisis.”

According to Lambertini, without action on how to produce and consume food, the world cannot achieve climate or bio-diversity goals, which are the foundation to achieve food security, prevent the emergence of diseases and ultimately deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“That’s why we urge governments to include climate and nature positive food systems approaches in revised and more ambitious NDCs submitted this year,” he added.

Inger Anderson Executive Director of UNEP during a virtual launch of a report on enhanced food systems co-authored by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International said, “The pandemic has exposed the fragility of our food supply systems, from complex value chains to impacts on our ecosystems.”

Anderson called for re-orienting consumption by halving food waste and catalysing a shift towards more plant-rich diets as a powerful climate mitigation tool to take advantage of.

In 2021, in the context of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of Parties (COP 15), world leaders can agree to a new deal for nature and people, to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, report added.

-RJV

PM to deliver keynote address at 3rd USISPF leadership summit tmrw

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the special keynote address at the third USISPF annual leadership summit tomorrow through video conference.

The PM will deliver the address at 9 PM, PMO said in a statement. The Theme of the five-day summit that began on the 31st of August is “US-India Navigating New Challenges”.

The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is a non-profit organization that works for the partnership between India and the US.

This year’s theme covers various subjects such as India’s potential in becoming a global manufacturing hub, opportunities in India’s gas market, ease of doing business to attract FDI in India, common opportunities & challenges in tech space, Indo-Pacific economic issues, innovation in public health and others, the Prime Minister’s office said.

Union Ministers and senior government officials are also participating in the virtual summit, PMO said.

-ARK

Rajnath Singh leaves for Moscow to attend three-day SCO meet

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today left for Moscow, Russia, on a three-day visit to attend a crucial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The Defence Ministers of all eight SCO member nations are expected to deliberate on regional security challenges like terrorism and extremism and ways to deal with them “collectively” in Moscow on Friday, according to officials.

Besides attending the SCO defence ministers’ meeting, Singh will hold talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu and several other top military officials with an aim to expedite the implementation of several defence procurement programmes and further boosting bilateral defence cooperation.

Singh took to twitter in this regard and wrote, “Heading to Moscow. During this visit, I shall be attending the combined meeting of Defence Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) & CIS members in commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of victory in the World War II.”

“India and Russia are privileged Strategic Partners. Looking forward to further this partnership during my visit,” Rajnath Singh added.

In addition to this, during the talks, both sides are expected to officially finalise a long-pending proposal to produce AK 203 rifles in India.

Singh is also likely to request the Russian side to ensure timely delivery of the S-400 missile defence systems to India.

The delivery of the first batch of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems to India is scheduled by the end of 2021.

The SCO defence ministers’ meeting is taking place at a time when two of its member countries, India and China, are locked in a bitter border standoff in eastern Ladakh.

Chinese Defence Minister Gen Wei Fenghe is expected to attend the SCO meeting.

-CHK

Goa CM tests Covid positive

Pramod Sawant

New Delhi (NVI): Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today informed that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Sawant said that he was asymptomatic and would remain under home isolation at the same time continuing to work.

Taking to Twitter, Sawant wrote, “I wish to inform all that I have been detected Covid-19 positive. I am asymptomatic and hence have opted for home isolation. I shall continue to discharge my duties working from home. Those who have come in my close contact are advised to take the necessary precautions,” he added.

This comes a day after, Sawant held a virtual meeting with officers in charge of COVID-19 care centers in Goa and reviewed the functioning of the centres.

He is the latest in a line of leaders in the state to have contracted the deadly virus, the most prominent being Shripad Naik.

Others who have tested positive include Narendra Sawaikar, BJP MLAs Nilkanth Halarnkar and Clafasio Dias, former deputy chief minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar and former chief minister Churchill Alemao and others.

Meanwhile, Goa recorded its highest single-day spike on Tuesday, with 588 people testing positive for the virus, taking the state’s COVID-19 count to 18,006, while two deaths took the toll to 194.

-RJV

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