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‘Hunar Haat’ to be held in Delhi from Feb 13

New Delhi (NVI): The 20th “Hunar Haat” will be held here from February 13 to 23, during which more than 250 master artisans, craftsmen and culinary experts will participate.

The Hunar Haat, an initiative of the Minority Affairs Ministry, showcases handmade indigenous products of master artisans and craftsmen are made available to the people.

This ‘Hunar Haat’ will be organised at the India Gate Lawns, Rajpath with the theme of “Kaushal Ko Kaam”.

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and the Union Minister for Urban Development Hardeep Singh Puri will inaugurate the festival.

These artisans will include more than 50 per cent women. They will bring with them indigenous exquisite handmade products.

Hundreds of people associate with these artisans in production of these handmade products.

On February 9, Naqvi had said that “Hunar Haat” has proved to be a “Mega Mission” of “Empowerment of Indigenous Legacy” of artisans.

“The Ministry of Minority Affairs is strengthening Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s “dream project” to provide opportunity and market to the country’s rich heritage of arts and crafts,” he added.

“The Ministry of Minority Affairs is doing a historic task of preserving and promoting the magnificent heritage of the skilled people of every corner of the country and providing them national and international market,” he said.

He also said that “Hunar Haat” has become a “Mega Mission” of indigenous craft, cuisine and culture and economic empowerment of master artisans, craftsmen.

“The success of ‘Hunar Haat’ can be gauged from the fact that about 3 lakh master artisans, craftsmen and culinary experts have been provided employment and employment opportunities through this in the last about 3 years,” he said.

“These beneficiaries include a large number of women artisans,” he added.

Naqvi said that the Modi government is not only providing employment opportunities to master artisans and craftsmen, it is also preserving and promoting India’s indigenous traditional legacy of master artisans and craftsmen which was on the verge of extinction.

“Prime Minister, Narendra Modi-led government has sanctioned 100 “Hunar Hubs” in different parts of the country. Training is being provided to master artisans, craftsmen and traditional culinary experts according to modern needs in these “Hunar Hubs” and they are also being provided national-international markets,” he informed.

“So far, “Hunar Haat” have been organized at various places in the country such as Delhi, Mumbai, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Puducherry and Indore,” he added.

“The next ‘Hunar Haat’ will be organized at Ranchi from February 29 to March 8 and in Chandigarh from March 13 to 22,” he informed.

He further informed that in the coming days, “Hunar Haat” will be organized in Gurugram, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Dehradun, Patna, Bhopal, Nagpur, Raipur, Puducherry, Amritsar, Jammu, Shimla, Goa, Kochi, Guwahati, Bhubneshwar, Ajmer and other places.

Trump to visit India on Feb 24

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. (File)

New Delhi (NVI): US President Donald Trump will embark on his first official visit to India from February 24, providing an opportunity to the two countries to further strengthen the strategic bilateral partnership .

Trump, to be accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, will attend official engagements in New Delhi and Ahmedabad and interact with a wide cross-section of Indian society during his two-day trip.

Trump has been invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit India.

The global strategic partnership between India and the U.S. is based on trust, shared values, mutual respect and understanding, and marked by warmth and friendship between the peoples of the two countries, according to a statement issued by External Affairs Ministry.

The relationship has further evolved under the leadership of Modi and Donald Trump, with significant progress in all areas including trade, defence, counter-terrorism, energy, coordination on regional and global issues as well as people-to-people ties, it said.

World’s largest platform for air quality launched at 10th World Urban Forum

Representational image

Abu Dhabi (NVI): The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), together with UN-Habitat and IQAir, today launched the world’s largest air quality data platform at the Tenth World Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi.

The real-time air pollution data from over 4,000 contributors, including citizens, communities, governments and the private sector to work towards healthier, more sustainable cities.

Globally, 7 million people die each year because of air pollution.

This partnership is currently reaching over 15 million users and covering more than 7,000 cities globally. Aim is to sustain and grow the world’s foremost air quality databank.

The data, shared on a single, UN-coordinated platform, will empower governments to take action to make investment decisions that promote a cleaner, greener environment.

Air pollutants not only affect our health, they also affect ecosystems and food production; air pollution is also linked to climate change. Despite this, most people don’t have access to real-time air quality data.

Joyce Msuya, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, said, “We are excited to be launching this partnership with UN-Habitat and IQAir to bring information and most importantly, encourage action by citizens, governments and the private sector.”

The UNEP platform builds upon IQAir’s technology to aggregate, validate and calibrate air quality data that until now was either restricted to individually-run websites or apps, or not shared publicly.

UN-Habitat helps cities to develop plans that can reduce air pollution, including public transport and waste management interventions.

Even within a single country or city, access to air quality information can vary among different communities. While Europe, Asia and North America have thousands of monitoring stations providing real-time air quality information.

Poor air quality is a problem that affects urban populations particularly so the ability to measure and take action to improve the health of those living in our towns and cities is critical.

The platform addresses the global air quality information gap by bringing together data collected by governments, NGOs, companies and local community groups and individuals. Anyone can apply to contribute tp real-time air quality data. To ensure data accuracy, IQAir brings global air quality map in creating and operating its experience.

IQAir CEO Frank Hammes said, “We recognize that some of the world’s most vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected by poor air quality.”

By improving access to real-time air quality data, this unique collaboration between UN entities, the private sector and local governments is expected to change how transport, waste management and other services are managed in cities so that air pollution from these activities is noticeably reduced, if not eliminated.

Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan takes over as Eastern Fleet Commander

New Delhi (NVI): Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, NM took over as the Eastern Fleet Commander of Indian Navy.

The command of the Eastern Fleet was handed over to Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, by Rear Admiral Suraj Berry, AVSM, NM, VSM during an impressive ceremony at Visakhapatnam on yesterday.

The Eastern Fleet comprising of frontline warships of the Indian Navy are deployed across the indo-pacific region to safeguard the nation’s maritime interest.

Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan is an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, Naval War College, Mumbai and the National Defence College in New Delhi, an official statement said.

The Admiral, who is a gunnery and missile systems specialist, has vast experience at sea and ashore.

He has commanded missile vessels Vibhuti and Nashak, the guided-missile corvette Kuthar and has also been the commissioning commanding officer the indigenously constructed state-of-the-art stealth frigate Sahyadri.

Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan has also held vital appointments dealing with personnel policy and naval plans at the integrated headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Navy).

Prior to assuming command of the eastern fleet, he was serving as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at New Delhi.

Under the command of Rear Admiral Suraj Berry, the Eastern Fleet has maintained a very high level of combat readiness and operational tempo over the past one year.

Rear Admiral Suraj Berry would be taking over as Chief of Staff of the tri-services Andaman and Nicobar Command shortly.

Coronavirus: Two senior Chinese officials ‘removed’ as death toll hits 1,000

New Delhi (NVI): China has reported 108 new coronavirus deaths, the highest daily toll since the outbreak began in Wuhan late last year, as two senior officials in the hard-hit province of Hubei were removed from their jobs.

The total number of deaths on the mainland reached 1,016, the National Health Commission said. Some 2,478 new cases of infection were confirmed, bringing the total to 42,638.

Two senior health officials in the province – Zhang Jin who was party secretary of the health commission for Hubei and Ling Yingzi who was director of the Hubei Provincial Health Commission – were removed from their posts, state media reported, a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited health facilities in Beijing.

The two Hubei party officials will be replaced by a national figure – the deputy director of China’s National Health Commission, Wang Hesheng.

Meanwhile, 65 more people have tested positive on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship moored off Japan – meaning 135 out of 3,700 passengers have caught the virus.

Mercury dips due to heavy snowfall in hilly areas of North India

New Delhi (NVI): Heavy snowfall in the hilly states of North India has led to drop in minimum temperature in central, northern and some eastern parts of the country.

Karnal in Haryana was the coldest city in the plains where the minimum temperature was recorded at 4.0 degrees celsius, according to Skymet weather.

In Haryana’s Hisar and Narnaul, the minimum temperature was recorded at 4.2 degrees celsius.

Apart from this, Fursatganj in Uttar Pradesh, Rohtak in Haryana, Ludhiana in Punjab and Ambala in Haryana has recorded minimum temperature at 4.6, 4.8, 4.9 and 5.0 degree celsius respectively.

Patiala in Punjab and Umaria in Madhya Pradesh both recorded temperature at 5.4 degrees celsius.

Apart from this, Amritsar in Punjab recorded minimum temperature at 5.6 degree celsius.

The weatherman has forecast that cold and dry northwesterly winds will prevail, due to which there will be a similar decrease in day and night temperatures in many areas of the country.

Meanwhile, in Delhi and NCR region, the minimum temperature dropped to 5.9 degrees from 6.0 degrees celsius recorded yesterday.

The maximum temperature today is expected to be around 23.0 degrees celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD said that some isolated parts of Jharkhand and Odisha will also witness cold wave conditions during nect 24 hours.

The weatherman has forecast that in northwest India

there will be a fall in temperature by 2 to 3 degrees celsius during next three days, in West India the temprature is expected to rise by 2 to 4 degrees for next three to four days.

“No significant change is expected in minimum temperature over east India during next two days,” it added.

“The shallow to moderate fog is also expected over northwest, central, east and northeast India during next 24 hours,” it added.

The overall air quality in the national capital today is in “very poor” category.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 327 which falls in the “very poor” category.

2nd BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise begins tomorrow

New Delhi (NVI): India is set to host the
second BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise-2020 at Bhubaneshwar in Odisha tomorrow.
The three-day ‘BIMSTEC DMEx-2020’ will be inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Bhubaneswar while Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai will launch field training exercise on February 12 at Ramachandi Beach in Puri.
In this regard, NDRF and Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) today provided details like types of event, methodology of exercise, team participation and venue as well as moves and injects of main exercise to the media.
NDRF Director General
Satya Narayan Pradhan said five countries — Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Nepal — are participating in this exercise.
Bhutan and Thailand, which are also members of BIMSTEC, are not participating in the exercise, he added.
The exercise consists of inaugural session and Table Top Exercise (TTx) on collapsed structure.
On February 12, the Field Training Exercise (FTx) will be held on aquatic disaster response with focus on cultural heritage sites at Ramachandi beach in Puri followed by proceedings of Disaster Management Exercise and Policy Meeting of NDMA and NDMOs among the teams of participating Nations on February 13.
The objective of this exercise is to test the existing emergency procedures for notification, preparedness and emergency response, during a major earthquake and Flood scenarios.
This exercise shall also provide an opportunity to enhance the co-ordination & co-operation involving multi-agency operations in an earthquake, flooding & storm surge.
The exercise shall also test multi-stakeholders coordination in a disaster scenario involving international, national, state, district and local agencies.
 A exercise village has been set up at Ramchandi, Puri where, simulation on aquatic disaster response with special attention to the damage to heritage site will take place as part of the exercise.
This will provide real-time scenarios so that in times of disaster, a proper plan for response & coordination among member nation can be executed in multi-agencies scenarios.

Low cost air-quality monitors distributed by US Embassy

Representational image
New Delhi (NVI): US Embassy has distributed 58 low cost air-quality monitors and 14 weather stations in India with a goal to improve India’s air quality.
These monitors were distributed to the Society for Indoor Environment, a Delhi-based NGO.
These units will be set up in educational institutions in select 2nd and 3rd tier cities, as well as rural areas, across north India.
Air quality monitoring sites are generally located in large cities, and smaller communities often lack awareness of the scale of air pollution and remedial and preventive measures they can take to protect themselves from adverse environmental and health effects.
The air quality and weather data acquired from these devices will be used to analyze the trends of pollutants outside the major urban centers and build environmental awareness and capacity within smaller communities.
Sameer Sheth, the Environment, Science, and Technology Unit Chief at the US Embassy said, “We are very excited with the implementation of the low cost monitor initiative in India.  We are thrilled to partner with the Society for Indoor Environment and with host institutions to help spread awareness on air quality and build capacity to monitor it in local areas.”
To build capacity within these small communities, staff from each host institution will be trained in installing and handling the equipment, as well as collection and compilation and analysis of all generated data.
At quarterly intervals, this data will be presented and discussed with local residents, helping spread awareness about the role of air quality monitoring, the importance of keeping the air clean, and the prevention of illnesses associated with air pollution.

In describing the working relationship, Arun Sharma, president of the Society for Indoor Environment said, “This project could only be implemented because of support from the U.S. Embassy in Delhi.”

Indian pharmaceutical industry is expected to grow USD 130 billion by 2030: Invest India

New Delhi (NVI): The Indian pharmaceutical industry is expected to touch USD 130 billion by 2030 from the current USD 38 billion, according to Invest India .

The major industry growth drivers need to work on accelerating the goal of universal healthcare across India and the world by providing access to high-quality affordable drugs.

The government can be a key enabler to achieve this, through strategic interventions such as increasing expenditure on healthcare from about 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent by 2025 and to 5 per cent of GDP by 2030.

India is a prominent and rapidly growing presence in global pharmaceuticals. It is the largest provider of generic medicines globally, occupying a 20% share in global supply by volume, and also supplies 50% of global demand for vaccines.

India ranks 3rd worldwide for production by volume and 13th by value, thereby accounting for around 10% of world’s production by volume and 1.5% by value.

India is the source of 60,000 generic brands across 60 therapeutic categories and manufactures more than 500 different Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).

The Department of Pharmaceuticals aims to make the country a hub for end-to-end drug discovery under its ‘Pharma Vision 2020’.

Centre asks states to implement MV Act

New Delhi (NVI): The government has issued an advisory to all state and Union Territory (UT) administrations to implement the system of vehicle registration as per rules notified under the Central Motor Vehicle Act 1988.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MORTH) in its advisory has stated it has come to the notice that in some States, vehicles are not being registered in spite of vehicles having Valid Type Approval (Road Worthiness, Certificate from authorized testing agencies) and that each model of the vehicle is subjected to physical inspection by the State Transport Department before their registration in the States.

According to an official statement, VAHAN system provides a mechanism for the inventory of vehicles being uploaded by the vehicle manufacturers against valid type approval certificates.

“Unless and until there are reasons for disputing the specifications of vehicles supplied, the pre-inspection of a model of vehicle, already type approved should not be resorted to as it leads to unnecessary delay and harassment,” it said.

“Transport departments of States and UTs are requested to implement the system of registration of vehicles based on production of type approval certificate and Form 22,” it added.

All authorized testing agencies carry out testing of prototype of the model and provide the type approval certificate.

Form 22 is a quality certificate for compliance with pollution standards, safety standards of components and road worthiness.

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