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Prez to visit Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh

President
President Ram Nath Kovind

New Delhi (NVI): President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh from February 28 to March 2, Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a release today.

The President will address the first convocation of the Central University of Jharkhand in Ranchi on February 28, the first day of his visit.

On February 29, the President will visit Vikas Bharti, Bishunpur in Gumla, Jharkhand.

On March 2, i.e., the last day of his visit, President Kovind will deliver the convocation address at the Guru Ghasidas University in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.

Don’t lower guard against coronavirus: Union Joint Secretary to J&K

Jammy (NVI): Union Joint Secretary MK Bhandari, who has been designated as the Nodal Officer for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to deal with the preventive measures against coronavirus, today cautioned the UT Health Department not to lower their guard against COVID-19.

The Joint Secretary was speaking at a meeting here to review the preparation of J&K to deal with the virus and take stock of necessary supplies.

Bhandari commended the health department for continuous monitoring and dealing with the situation effectively. He stated that India as a whole successfully tackled this problem by resorting to the Standard Operating Procedures against such eventualities.

He also advised training of staff to handle this problem adding that these programs should be carried out in consultation with Union Ministry of Health. Hands-on training should be provided to the health professionals so that everybody is prepared about their role and responsibility as per the established norms as it will help us prevent the disease in the first hand, he said.

During the meeting, Financial Commissioner, H&ME stressed on redistribution of resources like PPE kits, N-95 Masks, triple-layer masks and other paraphernalia among the health institutions. He maintained that such practices would help us tiding over this instant problem successfully.

He also asked the department to coordinate with the concerned Foreign Registration Office so that people coming from affected countries are tested, quarantined and treated effectively.

The meeting was informed that some 20 samples were taken and sent for analysis to AIIMS/NCDC and report in each case came negative. The necessary isolation wards, ventilators, ICUs have already been established in each of the medical college and associated hospitals including the district hospitals, the meeting was apprised.

It was further said that J&K has enough paraphernalia to tackle this problem and is fully prepared to face any situation without letting it get out of control.

Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo hosted the meeting on behalf of J&K government.

Principal GMC, Jammu, Dr. Sunanda Raina, Director Health & Family Welfare, Arun Sharma, Director Health Services, Jammu, Renu Sharma, Director New Medical Colleges, Yashpal Sharma, Director ISM, J&K, Mohan Singh and Joint Director Planning Madan Lal were also present in the meeting along with epidemiologists.

Principal GMC Srinagar, Parvaiz Ahmad Shah, Director Health Services Kashmir, Samir Mattoo and Principals of new medical colleges attended the meeting through Video Conferencing.

MP woman to scale Mount Kosciuszko, highest peak in Australia

New Delhi (NVI): Megha Parmar, first female mountaineer from Madhya Pradesh, will try to conquer ‘Mount Kosciuszko’, the highest mountain in mainland Australia, next month.

“Representing the adventure tourism of Madhya Pradesh, Megha Parmar along with Shobhit Sharma will climb this 2,228-meter high peak,” the state tourism board said in a statement today as the young mountaineer leaves to scale the peak. Her expedition will begin on March 2.

On the occasion, Managing Director, MP Tourism Board, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai said, “The daughters of Madhya Pradesh will give a message about the adventure tourism potential of the state and the country at the world level. Due to which the tourism of the state will get expanded”.

Megha has successfully conquered Mount Everest in the past. She has also scaled Europe’s highest peak Mount Elbrus and Africa’s highest peak Mount Kilimanjaro.

PM to lay foundation for Rs 15K cr Bundelkhand Expressway

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Bundelkhand Expressway in Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh on February 29, 2020. The expressway is estimated to cost Rs 15,000 crore.

UP Government will be constructing the 296-km long Expressway which will pass through the districts of Chitrakoot, Banda, Hamirpur and Jalaun.

This expressway will link the Bundelkhand area to the national capital Delhi through Agra-Lucknow expressway and Yamuna expressway as well as play a vital role in the development of Bundelkhand region.

India has huge defence equipment requirements spanning from land systems, ships and submarines to fighter aircraft, helicopters, weapons and sensors and in order to fulfil these requirements, the government had announced setting up of Defence Industrial Corridor in Uttar Pradesh during the Investors Summit in February 2018 in Lucknow.

The Central government has set up the corridor with identification of six nodes initially. These are Lucknow, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Aligarh, Kanpur, Agra out of which two nodes are being created in Bundelkhand region at- Jhansi and Chitrakoot. In fact, the biggest cluster would be created at Jhansi.

PM Modi will also launch 10,000 Farmers Producer Organisations (FPO) all over the country in Chitrakoot.

FPOs will help in collectivization of small, marginal and landless farmers, who  face tremendous challenges during agriculture production phase such as for access to technology, quality seed, fertilizers and pesticides including requisite finances.

Members of the FPO will manage their activities together in the organization to get better access to technology, input, finance and market for faster enhancement of their income.

HAL to help fulfil Rs 35k cr defence exports target: Rajnath

New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today expressed confidence that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), through its various platforms, will contribute significantly in achieving the Rs 35,000 crore defence exports target by 2024.

He said that in the last five years, India has made significant progress towards manufacturing military equipment indigenously under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The Defence Minister was speaking after inaugurating the new Light Combat Helicopter Production Hangar at Helicopter Division in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Complex at Bengaluru, Karnataka today.

Stressing that the defence industry plays a major role in the economic development of the country, Rajnath lauded the significant contribution of organisations like HAL.

HAL, a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) has helped India leapfrog six places to become the fifth-largest economy in the world, the Defence Ministry said in a statement today.

Comments on Delhi violence by USCIRF, others ‘inaccurate’: MEA

External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar (File)

New Delhi (NVI): India today said that comments made by US commission on religious freedom, USCIRF and by “few individuals” on the violence in northeast Delhi were “factually inaccurate” and urged them not to come up with such “irresponsible statements” at a sensitive time.

MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, while addressing media during a weekly briefing here said that the government had clarified on the issue yesterday as well.

He said that the law enforcement agencies are trying to restore normalcy. “They are trying to restore confidence. You are also aware that the senior representative of the government, they are engaged in this process. Prime Minister himself, he has publicly appealed for peace and brotherhood,” Kumar said.

While referring to some of the statements on Delhi situation by individuals agencies, individuals, he urged not to make any irresponsible comments at such a sensitive time.

Earlier in the day, in response to a media query regarding comments made on recent incidents of violence in Delhi, Raveesh said, “We have seen comments made by USCIRF, sections of the media and a few individuals regarding recent incidents of violence in Delhi. These are factually inaccurate and misleading, and appear to be aimed at politicising the issue.”

USCIRF had said yesterday that the Indian government should provide protection to people regardless of their faith amid reports of attacks on Muslims.

“We urge the Indian government to make serious efforts to protect Muslims and others targeted by mob violence,” USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins said in a statement.

Delhi violence: Death toll climbs to 35

New Delhi (NVI): The death toll in the northeast Delhi violence has risen to 35 today, reports said, even as over 200 people have been injured in the clashes that took place in the area on Monday and Tuesday.

Reports in the media said that an alleged clash between pro and anti-Citizenship Act (CAA) is behind the massacre that has shaken the national capital.

Yesterday, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval reviewed the situation as he visited some violence-hit parts in northeast Delhi and interacted with locals as well as officials. NSA Doval assured the people that normalcy would return soon and also briefed Home Minister Amit Shah on the overall situation.

The violence has claimed the life of a Delhi Police head constable and an Intelligence Bureau Official.

The cop, who was killed on Monday, was identified as 42-year-old Ratan Lal from Sikar in Rajasthan.

The IB official has been identified as 26-year-old Ankit Sharma and he was brutally thrashed by a mob while he was returning home from work. His body was later recovered from a drain in northeast Delhi’s riot-hit Chand Bagh area where he lived.

Meanwhile, in response to a media query regarding comments made on recent incidents of violence in Delhi, MEA official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar today said:

“We have seen comments made by USCIRF, sections of the media and a few individuals regarding recent incidents of violence in Delhi. These are factually inaccurate and misleading, and appear to be aimed at politicising the issue.

“Our law enforcement agencies are working on the ground to prevent violence and ensure restoration of confidence and normalcy. Senior representatives of the Government have been involved in that process. Prime Minister has publically appealed for peace and brotherhood. We would urge that irresponsible comments are not made at this sensitive time.”

USCIRF had said yesterday that the Indian government should provide protection to people regardless of their faith amid reports of attacks on Muslims.

“We urge the Indian government to make serious efforts to protect Muslims and others targeted by mob violence,” USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced compensation for those affected in the violence. “Delhi government will give Rs 10 lakh to families of those killed in violence, Rs 5 lakh to those seriously injured,” he said at a press conference.

Offshore Patrol Vessel VAJRA launched in Chennai

Chennai (NVI): To enable the Indian Coast Guard to ensure foolproof security along the 7500 km vast coastline, the sixth Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Vajra’ was launched in Chennai today.

The security vessel was launched in the presence of Union Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and senior government officials here, the Ministry of Shipping said in a statement.

During the launch ceremony, Chief Guest on the occasion Mansukh Mandaviya said that the vessel built by Larsen and Toubro under the Centre’s ‘Make in India’ campaign would be utilised for day and night patrolling.

Mandaviya said that the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV-6) will strengthen the efforts Indian Coast Guard for securing over 7500 km vast coastline, an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of over 20 lakh sq km and more than one lakh merchant ships transiting per year through Indian waters for global trade.

He recalled the maritime history of India and stated that National Maritime Heritage Complex will be developed at Lothal, Gujarat for securing and showcasing rich maritime heritage of India.

“India has always been strong player in Maritime Technology since Indus Valley Civilisation except for few centuries and showed the confidence that India is regaining its maritime capabilities with dedicated approach in terms of ship buildings and protecting waters of India,” he said.

“OPV-6 is truly state of the art platform which will enhance the capabilities of Indian Coast Guard in terms of operation, surveillance, search and rescue,” he added.

He also appreciated that within the span of 43 years, Indian Coast Guard has increased its fleet strength and said that now it is one of the largest coast guards in the world.

“The ship would be utilised for day and night patrol, surveillance along with anti-terrorist, anti-smuggling operations in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as well as Coastal Security,” he said.

“The OPV will have two Navigation Radars with ultra-modern technology, sophisticated navigational and latest communication systems,” he added.

Director General K Natarajan, PTM, TM, Director General Indian Coast Guard, Inspector General S Paramesh, PTM, TM, Commander Coast Guard Region (East) and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

Coronavirus: 723 Indians evacuated from Wuhan till now

New Delhi (NVI): An Indian Air Force plane today brought back another batch of 76 Indians stuck in coronavirus-hit Wuhan, the third special flight sent to the neighbouring country for the evacuation of citizens.

With this, India has so far evacuated 723 Indians and 43 foreign nationals from Wuhan.

IAF’s C-17 Globemaster III plane that landed in Delhi today also had 36 nationals from 7 countries – Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives, China, South Africa, USA and Madagascar.

The plane had departed from Air Force Station, Palam yesterday carrying 15 tonnes of medical supplies to Wuhan, as a goodwill gesture by the Indian Government.

Wuhan, which falls in Hubei Province in China, emerged as the epicentre of the epidemic outbreak that has claimed 2,744 lives so far.

Earlier, two AI flights, one on January 31 and the other on February 1, 2020 were organised to evacuate the Indian citizens.

The first flight on January 31 carried 324 Indians, most of them students, who were taken to Indo-Tibetan Border Police Chhawla camp in Delhi and an army facility at Manesar in Haryana for medical observation.

The second flight on February 1 brought 323 Indian citizens and 7 Maldives citizens from Wuhan and were taken to two quarantine facilities.

Coronavirus: Europe, Middle East most affected outside China

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus is spreading more quickly in Europe, the Middle East, and other parts of the world than in China where the virus first emerged in the central city of Wuhan at the end of last year, reports said.

The number of new coronavirus infections inside China was for the first time overtaken by fresh cases elsewhere on Wednesday, with Italy, Iran and South Korea emerging as new hotspots for COVID-19.

The rise in Italy, the main focus of infection in Europe, represents a 25% surge in 24 hours. The outbreak has killed 12 people in the country so far.

Schools, universities and cinemas have been closed and several public events cancelled.

Eleven towns at the centre of the outbreak – home to a total of 55,000 people – have been quarantined.

Also, South Korea – the biggest cluster of infections outside China – reported a total of more than 1,200 infections and 12 deaths so far, according to media reports.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has banned foreigners from visiting the country’s most holy sites – Mecca and Medina.

The ministry of foreign affairs said the suspensions were temporary – but did not say when they would end.

The number of new deaths stood at 29, the lowest daily rate since January 28. A total of 2,744 people have died till now as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

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