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J&K: Terror attack averted, 5 Jaish operatives held

The arrested Jaish operatives.

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Police today said it has arrested five persons associated with Jaish-e- Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit and recovered ammunition which suggested plot to carry out IED attack.

DIG Jammu and Kashmir Police (Central) V K Birdi told reporters here that the investigation by the police showed that these five persons worked for JeM to carry out grenade attacks to “enforce shutdown in Srinagar.”

“Recently, some grenade attacks were reported in Srinagar, particularly on January 8 at Habbak crossing which resulted injuries to few civilians. An FIR number 02/2020 under sections 307, IPC and 3/4 Explosives Act was registered at Police Station Nigeen,” he said.

Central Kashmir DIG VK Birdi addressing a press conference on Thursday.

“During investigation Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh, a driver from Hazratbal, Umar Hameed Sheikh,  vendor from Hazratbal were arrested. Both these admitted their role in grenade attack as well as provide leads for similar attack at Sir Syed Gate of Kashmir University on November 26,” Birdi added.

He said other three associates were arrested during raids and searches were conducted by the police at various spots in the area. “Imtiyaz Ahmad Chikla, Naseer Ahmed Mir, both from Hazrtabal and Sahil Farooq Gojri from Souyra admitted their roles in November grenade attack at Sir Syed gate of Kashmir University,” Birdi said.

He said police recovered huge incriminating material including gelatine sticks, explosives, detonators, arms , explosive body vests , batteries and nitric acids during the investigation.“ They were active cadre of JeM.”

Birdi said the main motive of the arrested persons was “to enforce shutdown and cause IED type blasts in the city.”

“Shops in the market had opened and they wanted to shut them. Recovery also suggested that they were also planning some IED attack.  Further investigations are underway to unearth the module and its conspiracy,” he said.

India, Bangladesh meeting held on joint study for free trade pact

New Delhi (NVI) With a view to boost two-way commerce, India and Bangladesh today held discussions on a joint study for the proposed free trade agreement and harmonisation of standards.

The Commerce Secretary level meeting between India and Bangladesh was held in New Delhi on January 15-16.

“Both sides held extensive discussions on a variety of issues of mutual interest, like Border Haats, joint study for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), India-Bangladesh CEOs’ Forum, sharing of trade data, regional connectivity initiatives, harmonization of standards, upgradation of border trading infrastructure and facilitation of business visas,” the Commerce Ministry said in a statement.

The meeting was preceded by the 12th meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade, at the level of Additional Secretaries of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India and Ministry of Commerce, Bangladesh on January 13-14 in New Delhi.

The CEPA is a free trade agreement under which two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate imports duties on maximum number of goods traded between them. They also liberalise norms to promote trade in services sector and boost investments.

Johns Hopkins Univ to host workshop on Delhi air pollution

Pradeep Multani, Vice President, PHD Chamber, along with Hugh Sullivian, Director International Programs, Johns Hopkins University

New Delhi (NVI): In a noble initiative, Johns Hopkins University will host a workshop in Jaipur, where faculties from different areas will brainstorm over the problem of air pollution in Delhi.

The University’s ‘Alliance for a Healthier World’, a signature initiative will be hosting the workshop in the pink city in collaboration with International Institute for Health Management Research.

This comes even as the Delhi-NCR region continues to breathe poor quality air due to smog and various factors adding to the pollution. The air pollution in Delhi or even any part of the world has been a major health concern as it affects small children and elderly people most.

Benjamin Link, Executive Manager at Johns Hopkins Alliance for a Healthier World talked about the plan at an interactive session held in New Delhi, which was attended by leading universities including JNU, IIFT and Shriram Institute for Industrial Research.

Also speaking on the occasion, Hugh Sullivan, Director International Programs, Johns Hopkins University said that the said University has also set up a foundation in India, in association with a private company, to facilitate research work in public health care sphere.

He also said that the university sees an increased engagement with India and Indian institutions in future to find solutions on health care issues.

“Cross-disciplinary initiatives and collaborations are the need of the hour as resources needed for such research useful for the humanity are so vast,” Sullivan said while inviting the Indian research and academic bodies and business entities to team up with the University for collaborations.

The Alliance for a Healthier World is a Johns Hopkins University signature initiative that integrates university-wide expertise and diverse perspectives to unlock groundbreaking knowledge in addressing unresolved global health challenges.

Farm sector growth may reach 3.1% in current fiscal: NITI Aayog

New Delhi (NVI): India’s farm sector growth for the current fiscal is expected to remain higher at 3.1 per cent compared to 2.9 per cent of the last year, a NITI Aayog official said here today.

While addressing a gathering after the inaugurating of the second national conference on food value chain partnerships at ASSOCHAM, NITI Aayog Member Ramesh Chand, said that the private sector has to play a big role in the Indian agriculture sector.

“I feel today we need more competition in agriculture, more investment and the face of agriculture from traditional to modern and movement of agriculture from present stage to higher evolution will not happen without active involvement of private sector,” he said.

“Unless we increase corporate sectors investment and involve them from seed and continuing it up to sale, it would be difficult to cause a breakthrough in growth of agriculture and doubling farmers income,” he added.

He also informed that NITI Aayog was trying to convince the central government to make up its mind in terms of Model Land Lease Act prepared.

Commenting on the APMC Act and Agriculture Produce Contract Farming Act, he said that “I think we need to persuade the states, we are already trying to do it that those two acts are adopted by the states.”

Stating that there is a big knowledge gap in the area of food value chain, he said that without bringing agriculture into picture and value chain kind of things, it will be very difficult to create more jobs in future.

“Agriculture is coming back into the development agenda. Food value chain is one very-very important element for economic development of emerging economies,” he added.

India slams China for helping Pak forward its Kashmir agenda at UNSC

New Delhi (NVI): India today slammed China for helping Pakistan in trying to raise the Kashmir issue at UNSC and asked Beijing to refrain from such actions in future.

This is yet another instance of Pakistan facing global embarrassment for trying to misuse the UNSC platform to forward its Kashmir agenda.

“The overwhelming majority of the United States Security Council were of the view that UNSC was not the right forum for such issues and this should be discussed bilaterally between India and Pakistan,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Ravish Kumar said today.

The informal closed-door meeting, therefore, concluded without any outcome, he added.

“In our view highlighted that Pakistan’s desperate measures to peddle baseless allegations and presenting an alarming scenario lacked any credibility,” Kumar said.

He said that if there is any matter between India and Pakistan, it should be discussed bilaterally. “Pakistan can avoid this global embarrassment time and again by putting their energy in something constructive,” he said.

On China’s engagement on the issue, Kumar said that China should seriously reflect on this global consensus, draw the proper lessons and refrain from taking such action in future.

Govt launches fuel conservation campaign ‘Saksham’

MM Kutty launched the fuel conservation campaign 'Saksham'. (Source: PIB)

New Delhi (NVI): The government today launched ‘Saksham’, an annual one-month long fuel conservation mega campaign, for creating awareness among the people for adopting tips to save fuel.

The government’s flagship campaign by Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) was launched by MM Kutty, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. While addressing a gathering here, Kutty emphasized the importance of petroleum products for our country and the dire need for actions leading towards fuel conservation. He stressed upon the importance of programs like ‘Saksham’ wherein general public is involved in various activities.

The secretary gave prizes to the winners of National Level Competition.

“Prosperity and higher living standards are driving energy demand in India. By mid-2020s India will be the world’s largest growth market accounting for 25% of global energy demand growth. Today 83% of India’s crude oil requirement is met through import. The earnest efforts for petroleum conservation can help us to reduce the huge import burden. Every drop of oil saved will contribute to saving of foreign exchange,” he said.

We also require to address the issues of climate change. Through this campaign, we intend to deliver a strong message that sustainable future demands conservation of natural resources, Kutty added.

On the occasion, the secretary also flagged-off the publicity vans of PCRA which shall visit different states covering the rural side as well, spreading messages about fuel conservation awareness through interactive audio, video creatives and print displays.

The secretary flagged-off the publicity vans of PCRA.

During the campaign, various activities will be carried out like cyclothons, workshops for drivers of commercial vehicles, seminars for housewives, cooks on adopting simple fuel-saving measures, nationwide campaign through radio, TV, digital cinemas, outdoor media, etc.

The secretary also gave away prizes to the winners of essay and quiz competitions for the National Level Competition-2019 which has seen phenomenal record participation of more than 1.48 crore school students from all education boards across the country.

Oil companies and their state-level coordinators were also awarded for their contribution in the field of fuel conservation.

New self-propelled Howitzer gun unveiled

New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today unveiled new K9 Vajra-T self-propelled 155 mm Howitzer guns and said these future-ready combat vehicles meet requirements of 21st century warfare.

Under the K9 Vajra contract given to Larson and Toubro (L&T), 100 such systems have to be delivered in 42 months, which is the largest contract awarded by the Ministry of Defence to a private company.

K Vajra-T guns weigh 50 tonnes and can fire 47 kg bombs at 43 km distant targets. It also has the ability to turn around at zero radius.

The Armoured System Complex (ASC) at Hazira is a state-of-the-art complex to manufacture and integrate advanced armoured platforms.

“These future-ready combat vehicles meet the requirements of 21st century warfare, including deep fire support with its longer firing range,” the Defence Minister said.

Singh also said, “I have been told that more than 75 per cent of K9 Vajra has been manufactured in India. Over 5,000 people have got direct employment and more than 12,500 indirect employment through this complex. It is a matter of great pride,” he said. He congratulated L&T for delivering 51 of the 100 orders it received for K9 Vajra ahead of schedule and called for active participation of the private sector in defence manufacturing.

He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to make India an arms manufacturing hub and net defence exporter.

“Our Government is open to new ideas and is determined to use the energy, entrepreneurship spirit and enterprise of the private industry in the defence sector,” he said.

The Defence Minister also listed out various far reaching reforms introduced by the government under ‘Make in India’ initiative to achieve $26 billion defence industry by 2025 and provide employment to 2-3 million people. “We wish to create an ecosystem that provides a platform to both public sector and private sector to work together and contribute to nation building through their strengths and experiences,” he added.

Some of the reforms highlighted by the Defence Minister include setting up of Defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, simplification of industry licensing process, increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap, steps to promote defence exports, streamlining of Defence offset policy,  establishing Defence Investor Cell, providing government-owned trial and testing facility to the private sector and schemes for start-ups and small & medium enterprises to promote innovation.

L&T Group Chairman AM Naik and officials of L&T were also present on the occasion.

Rajnath Singh was also shown the different manoeuvres of the K9 Vajra-T. He was driven around the Hazira complex, by the L&T officials, in the vehicle on which the gun was mounted.

We’ve to deal with terror the way US did after 9/11: CDS

New Delhi (NVI): Asserting that the war on terror is not going to end, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat today advocated a hardline approach to tackle the menace and cited the approach adopted by the US after 9/11.

He also said that those sponsoring terror should be isolated and taken to task.

“We’ve to bring an end to terrorism and that can only happen the way Americans started after 9/11 terror attack,” the former Army Chief said, apparently referring to the US-led military campaign in Afghanistan to target the Al-Qaida terror outfit which carried out the strikes in New York in 2001.

Gen Rawat, while speaking on the third day of the Raisina Dialogue 2020 here, underlined that there is a need to go on a spree on the global war on terror.

“To do that you have to isolate the terrorists and anybody who is sponsoring terrorism has to be taken to task,” he added.

In this context, he lauded the provision of blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the countries aiding terrorism.

On radicalisation of youth in Kashmir, the Chief of Defence Staff said it can be countered. “You need to know sources, school, colleges, religious places. In Kashmir, we saw radicalisation happening. Now children are being radicalised. There is a need to work for long and choose various ways to counter it.”

IAF rescues 71 stranded trekkers in Ladakh

New Delhi (NVI): The Indian Air Force (IAF) has rescued 71 trekkers who were stranded due to sudden flooding in Niraq in Ladakh’s Zanskar valley.

The 71 trekkers were among over 100 trekkers who were camping in remote villages in Niraq on the Chader trek route but got stuck at various camps  due to sudden flooding in the river, the IAF said here today.

The IAF launched operations at a short notice and successfully rescued 71 trekkers who were moved to Leh.

The IAF statement said efforts to rescue the remaining people, who include 9 French and Chinese nationals, at Padum are continuing in spite of prevailing adverse weather conditions.

Chaddar Trek is a winter trek in Ladakh, popular amongst adventurists on the frozen Zanskar river, a tributary of Indus River in Ladakh.

The trek is undertaken for a period of four to five days with halts at various places.

Train derailed near Cuttack, 40 injured

New Delhi (NVI): Around 40 people were injured after five coaches of Mumbai-Bhubaneswar Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express derailed after hitting a stationary goods train between Salagaon and Nergundi railway station at Cuttack today.

According to reports, the passengers with major injuries have been sent to Cuttack Medical College.

Officials said there was heavy fog at the site but it was not clear what led to the accident.

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