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PM announces trust for Ram temple

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced the formation of a trust to oversee the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, as ordered by the Supreme Court.

While announcing the trust’s formation in Lok Sabha today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Union Cabinet has prepared a detailed plan for the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya.

“My government has decided to set up a trust called Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra, which will take decisions independently on the construction of a Ram temple and related issues,” he said.

“Let us all support construction of grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya,” he added.

On November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court in a unanimous verdict decreed the entire 2.77 acre disputed land in favour of deity ‘Ram Lalla’ and also directed the Centre to allot a 5-acre plot to Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque in Ayodhya.

 

Two militants, CRPF man killed in Srinagar encounter

Representational Image

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Two militants and a CRPF jawan were killed during an encounter at Lawaypora area of Srinagar today, official sources said.

Three bike-borne militants fired on a CRPF patrol party on the outskirts of Srinagar, said force spokesperson Pankaj Singh. “In the gunfight, one CRPF man identified as constable Rajiv Ranjan and two militants were also gunned down,” he said.

The third militant who was injured in the gunfight was taken into custody, Singh said.

Additional troops were rushed to spot soon after the gunfight, he added.

India to host East Asia Summit in Chennai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): India will host the fourth edition of East Asia Summit conference from tomorrow in Chennai with a focus on maritime security cooperation and tackling challenges in the maritime domain.

As announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 14th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Bangkok in November 2019, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in partnership with the governments of Australia and Indonesia, will organise the fourth EAS Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation in Chennai from February 6-7, 2020.

The Conference is expected to serve as a platform for free and open dialogue among all the EAS partners on various issues of maritime security cooperation and to come up with useful suggestions on tackling in a cooperative manner.

As a nation deeply committed to strengthening the EAS as an ASEAN-led organization, India continues to contribute positively to the EAS goals including maritime security cooperation.

This Conference is the fourth in a series of EAS Maritime Security Conferences organized by the Government of India; the first Conference was organized in New Delhi in November 2015, the second in Goa in November 2016 and the third in Bhubaneswar in June 2018.

Senior officials and experts from the EAS participating countries will deliberate upon various aspects of maritime security cooperation under five thematic sessions; namely Holistic Maritime Security, Maritime Safety, Transition to a Regional Blue Economy, India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative and the Way Forward.

More than 100 participants are expected to attend the Conference including about 50 delegates nominated by the EAS participating countries.

The Conference is expected to serve as a platform for free and open dialogue among all the EAS partners on various issues of maritime security cooperation and to come up with useful suggestions on tackling in a cooperative manner, the challenges in the maritime domain.

More than 70% young adults do not get enough sleep

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): More than 73 per cent young adults including teenagers and people in their 20s don’t get enough sleep, according to a recent study.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says that teenage youth must take at least 8-10 hours of sleep a day. But nowadays most of the youth are getting 4 to 6 hours of sleep, which is affecting their health, the academy observes.

After reaching high school, most teenagers start waking up late into the night. In most cases, the main reason for waking up late is the use of gadgets, among which smartphones, tablets, laptops and video games are most common.

Why does one feel like sleeping for a long time?

Are you also someone who feels like sleeping till late in the morning? According to scientists, this sleeping pattern is normal as soon as it reaches teenage. This is the reason that most of the youth from 14 years to 28 years have a lot of difficulty in getting up in the morning and they are often forced to wake up (at home).

According to Dr Kasey Nichols, “The sleeping pattern in teenage (adolescent) is different from that of adults. When a boy or girl enters adolescence (usually 12–14 years of age) there are many changes in their body. Many hormonal changes occurring in puberty force the body to wake up late at night and sleep till late in the morning.” (Although parents feel bad about this habit of children).

What to do to sleep early at night?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) spokesperson Dr Cora Brauner, “Children learn most habits by watching their parents. A lot of young parents spend most of their time on smart gadgets and the internet in cities today (hence, their children adopt these habits while watching them since childhood). If you want to sleep well, then the most important thing is to make a rule in your house that night after 10 pm, no member will use any gadget, whether it be watching TV, mobile, chatting on social media or video games. Before stopping the children, the parents will have to improve their habits, then only the children will understand their point.”

Some tips for sound sleep

  • Set a time for your sleep and try to sleep at the same time every day.
  • Eat light dinner and do not eat fast foods (so that you do not feel heavy).
  • Wash your hands, feet and mouth with cold water before going to bed. This will help you to sleep fast.
  • Never think about your next day as you go to bed at night. The best way to do this is to get into the habit of listening to light music or reading a book before bedtime.

Temperature rises in Delhi

New Delhi (NVI): Minimum temperature in Delhi today rose to 6.7 degrees celsius from 5.3 degrees celsius recorded yesterday.

The maximum temperature today is expected to be around 22.0 degrees celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The weatherman has forecast the clear skies with possibility of haze for the day.

Meanwhile, the overall air quality in the national capital today remained in the “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  324 which falls in the  “very poor” category.

The worst affected areas are Dhirpur, Delhi University, Chandni Chowk, Pusa, Lodhi Road, Mathura Road, IGI Terminal 3 and the neighbouring Noida.

Directive issued for expediting identification of Pak refugees

Jammu (NVI) : The Deputy Commissioners and Tehsildars of Jammu were today directed to organise special camps and expedite the process of identification of West Pakistan Refugees and Displaced Persons.

Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Verma asked DCs to monitor the verification process and check the genuineness of families through scrutiny of the documents.

The directives were issued by Verma during a meeting here to discuss issues related to West Pakistani Refugees (WPR) and Displaced Persons (DP) cases of 1947, 1965 and 1971.

The Deputy Commissioners apprised the Divisional Commissioner about the number of files of WPR and DPs received and approved in their respective districts.

The meeting was informed that DCs and Tehsildars are in process of verification of family members.

Broader tax base would allow tweaking of tax rates: CBDT

New Delhi (NVI): With a broader tax base, there is a chance of tweaking tax rates as there was a large portion of unorganised sector which can be encouraged to become part of tax framework now, CBDT Chairman PC Mody said today.

The CBDT Chairman’s views come just three days after the government revised the income tax slabs in its Union Budget.

“As the tax base gets broader, there is a chance of tweaking the tax rates as there is a large portion of unorganized sector which is outside the tax framework and they should be encouraged to become part of tax framework,” he said here while speaking at an ‘Interactive Session on Union Budget 2020-21’, organized by FICCI.

“Once that happens, the accuracy of filing returns would also improve and if that increases the tax base then there would be a case in future to further lower the taxes,” he said.

The CBDT Chairman added that the Government’s primary onus is to move towards a simple, lean and straightforward tax structure and one that is easy to comply with.

He said the government wants to trust the taxpayers and is making an effort to move the tax administration in that direction.

“The government is making all efforts to put in place a system that offers best and seamless services to the taxpayers,” said Mody.

There is much greater unanimity in the government now towards building synergies between the taxpayer and tax administration, he said, adding, “With ease of compliance at the core of the entire approach we would want to make pre-filled return forms available to the taxpayers.”

On ‘Vishwas se Vivad’ scheme, he said, “An in-depth review of the issues related to litigation have been undertaken in order to minimise disputes. We have moved towards a faceless assessment system and hope to move towards a system of faceless appeals as well.”

Under the scheme announced in the Union Budget-2020, taxpayers whose tax demands are locked in dispute in multiple forums can pay due taxes by March 31, 2020, and get complete waiver of interest and penalty.

US eyeing opportunities to expand defence coop with India: Envoy

Lucknow (NVI): Ahead of the DefExpo-2020 beginning here tomorrow, the US today said it looks forward to pursuing opportunities to expand cooperation with India which would be establishing defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

US Ambassador Kenneth Juster, who will lead the American delegation at the defence exhibition, spoke about the collaborations already established between companies of the two countries.

“For example, Tata has partnered with Lockheed Martin to build all C-130 tails and F-16 wings here.  And Boeing is collaborating with HAL [Hindustan Aeronautics Limited] to produce all AH-64 Apache fuselages in Hyderabad,” he said.

The envoy said the potential for industry partnership between the US and India on state-of-the-art defence equipment is enormous.

He suggested that India should now move towards systems – not just weapons – that are “effective, agile, and resilient”.

“We believe that India must ultimately move toward systems that are interoperable with the equipment and networks of its security partners,” he said while interacting with journalists here.

“While defence technology and an opportunity to view the latest high-tech gadgetry is what attracts visitors to DEFEXPO, perhaps the greatest value is the occasion it provides for our companies to foster closer industry-to-industry ties in what is a key pillar of the US-India relationship,” he said.

Juster said the US firms participating in the exhibition produce battle-proven, high-technology equipment and networks. “For example, these companies have supplied modern land and sea-based fighter aircraft; ballistic missile defense systems; the most advanced, networked avionics equipment; and secure communications equipment for the United States and our partners. They are poised to offer the same to India,” he said.

The ambassador also highlighted that US firms at the DefExpo-2020 are partnering with companies across India, including in Uttar Pradesh’s Defence Corridor, to produce defense equipment not just for our countries’ militaries, but for those of partner nations.

Juster said that US defence cooperation with India will continue to grow stronger. “Defense trade among our companies is creating skilled jobs right here in India,” he added.

The five-day DefExpo, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow in the presence of Union Defence Minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh, will conclude on February 9. The theme of DEFEXPO this year is the “Digital Transformation of Defense.”

J&K: Ex-PDP legislator, trade leader released from detention

Shakeel Qalandar and Aijaz Mir

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir administration today released a former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator and a trade leader from preventive detention.

According to officials, former PDP leader from south Kashmir Aijaz Mir and former president of the Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir, Shakeel Qalandar were released today.

With the release of the two leaders, the number of people now under detention at the MLA hostel is 15. The hostel has been temporarily converted into a subsidiary jail.

A total of 35 leaders were kept under detention since August last year, after the abrogation of Article 370. They also include three former chief ministers– Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, who continue to be under house arrest.

On Sunday, four politicians were also released from preventive custody from MLA hostel.

Footfall of Indian tourists in Azerbaijan jumps by 66.8 %

New Delhi (NVI): Azerbaijan saw exceptional increase in tourism in the year 2019 and the number of Indian visitors too climbed by 66.8 per cent.

Azerbaijan is situated at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia having nine of the world’s 11 climate zones.

With a clear ambition to double current in-bound tourism by 2023, the increase in visitors is due to an intensive global marketing campaign as well as an increased appetite among Indian travellers to seek out lesser-known destinations.

This achievement comes just over a year after Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) unveiled the “Take Another Look” campaign in India in 2018, according to its CEO.

“We have had an extremely successful year since we launched “Take Another Look” in India. Our global marketing and communications campaign, paired with extensive in-market engagement and investment in tourism infrastructure has driven visitor numbers from India and beyond – reaffirming that Azerbaijan has truly arrived as a preferred destination in this region,” said Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of Azerbaijan Tourism Board.

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