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In veiled reference to China, Rajnath advocates self-restraint at ASEAN meet

Aero India-21

New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said that the ASEAN members need to address threats to rules based order, maritime security, cyber related crimes and terrorism, while taking an indirect dig at China for its aggressive military behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region.

While addressing a virtual gathering of the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus), that was joined by his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe, Rajnath said that exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoiding actions that may further complicate situation will go a long way in bringing sustained regional peace.

Rajnath and Wei Fenghe were virtually face-to-face today after their earlier meeting in Moscow this year to resolve the border dispute between the two countries.

Despite several rounds of diplomatic and military level talks between India and China, the two sides have not arrived at a concrete outcome yet to resolve the situation. Around 50,000 troops of the Indian Army are currently deployed along the LAC, as a mirror deployment against the as many Chinese troops.

In his address, Rajnath said that terrorism remains a major scourge for the region and world, while not directly mentioning Pakistan.

He reiterated that the structures that support and sustain terrorism continue to exist, including in India’s neighbourhood. He called for stronger commitment and need to strengthen the international mechanism to fight terrorism, jointly and vigorously, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

During his, Rajnath also underlined the key role of ASEAN-centric forum in promoting dialogue and engagement towards a pluralistic, cooperative security order in Asia. He highlighted the collective achievements of ADMM Plus in the past decade in advancing multilateral cooperation through strategic dialogue and practical security engagements.

He complimented the achievements of the seven Expert Working Groups in sharing best practices in key domains including Maritime Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Counter-terrorism and Peace Keeping Operations.

ADMM Plus is an annual meeting of Defence Ministers of 10 ASEAN Countries and eight partner countries. This year marks the 10th year of inception of ADMM Plus forum.

-ARK

J&K DDC Polls: Voting for 5th phase ends with over 51% polling

Jammu (NVI): Over 51 per cent people voted across 37 seats in the fifth phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections that passed off peacefully across Jammu and Kashmir, State Election Commissioner (SEC) KK Sharma said today.

SEC Sharma, while interacting with the media here, said that a large number of people came out to cast their votes during this phase. He said that polling was peaceful and people participated enthusiastically despite severe cold conditions in Kashmir division and some hilly areas of Jammu division.

“Polling has been peaceful in the poll going 37 constituencies of DDC including 17 in Kashmir division and 20 in Jammu division that witnessed 51.20 per cent of polling,” he said.


Sharma also informed that polling was held in 2,104 polling stations including 1,190 from Kashmir division and 914 from Jammu division.

He said that the Jammu division recorded an average voter turnout of 66.67 per cent with Poonch District recording the highest percentage of 71.62 per cent followed by Doda district with 70.95 per cent and 70.83 per cent voting recorded in Rajouri district. The lowest turnout in Jammu division was in Jammu district which recorded 60.24 per cent. Besides, Kashmir Division recorded 33.57 per cent average voter turnout with Bandipora district recording the highest polling at 56.40 per cent followed by Kupwara District at 52.35 per cent and Budgam with around 45.65 per cent polling.

Giving district-wise details, the SEC informed that in Kashmir Division, the polling percentage recorded in Ganderbal was 37.47 per cent, Baramulla 44.31 per cent, Anantnag 21.89 per cent, Kulgam 26.94 per cent, Pulwama 8.12 per cent and 5.52 per cent polling was registered in Shopian.

Similarly, in Jammu division, poll percentage of 64.71 per cent was recorded in Samba, 69.47 per cent in Udhampur, 68.27 per cent in Kishtwar, 67.11 per cent in Ramban, 69.15 per cent in Reasi and 62.36 per cent in Kathua.

The counting of votes for Sarpanch and Panch constituencies which went to poll in the 5th phase is being conducted immediately after the close of poll and results shall be declared soon, he added.

-ARK/CHK

Farmers threaten to intensify protests

farmer protest
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): Notwithstanding the assurances by the Central Government, the farmers protesting over recently passed farm bills today threatened to intensify the stir if their demands are not met.

The farmer leaders have been demanding a total repeal of the farm laws. They have also rejected the government offer of amendments in the new farm laws and a “written assurance” on continuing the MSP system, saying there was nothing new in it.

Several farmer leaders and unions have vowed to intensify their agitation by blocking key highways linking Delhi and a nationwide protest on December 14.

One such farmer leader, Boota Singh, today once again reiterated farmers’ demands of repealing the farm laws and warned of further intensifying the protest, including blocking the railway tracks.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar today held a press conference and said the government is ready to discuss provisions on which farmers have issues.

“Farm laws are legal and the Government has right to make laws related to trade. Both APMC and MSP will not be affected,” he said.

He further said that the Centre is ready for talks with farmers to end impasse over farm laws, while urging farmer leaders to go through the proposal.

-ARK

SpaceX prototype rocket destroyed in explosive test launch

New Delhi (NVI): SpaceX’s Starship rocket prototype exploded in flames as it made a vertical landing, minutes after what seemed to be an uneventful test launch from the company’s testing site on the coast of Texas.

The self-guided rocket blew up as it touched down on a landing pad following a controlled descent. The test flight had been intended to reach an altitude of 41,000 feet (12,500 metres), propelled by three of SpaceX’s newly developed Raptor engines for the first time.

The Starship rocket destroyed was the prototype for a heavy-lift launch vehicle that Elon Musk’s private space company hopes will carry people – and cargo – on future missions to the Moon and Mars.

Musk said in a tweet immediately following the accident that the rocket’s “fuel header tank pressure was low” during descent, which caused “touchdown velocity to be high.”

The billionaire founder of Tesla added that SpaceX had obtained all the data it needed from the test. “Mars, here we come!!” he tweeted.

The test launch took off and ascended in a seemingly straight line, before one and then another of its engines stopped. After four minutes and 45 seconds of flight, its third engine extinguished and the rocket began its descent in its expected position.

The engines were restarted just seconds before landing in an effort to slow the ship, but it crashed hard into the Earth.

The latest flight was livestreamed on the @SpaceX Twitter account and aimed to check the metal body of SN8 (Starship number 8) and its three engines for their aerodynamism, including during the ship’s return to Earth – which takes place vertically, in the same vein as SpaceX’s pioneering Falcon 9 rocket.

-CHK

JP Nadda’s convoy attacked in Bengal

BJP chief Nadda tests Covid positive

New Delhi (NVI): BJP president JP Nadda’s convoy was today attacked near Kolkata this afternoon allegedly by TMC supporters. Some BJP leaders were injured in the attack and vehicles were damaged, the party has alleged.

Nadda’s convoy was pelted with stones and bricks while he was on his way to Diamond Harbour today.

Following the attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has ordered a probe into the incident and asked for a report on what he called “sponsored violence”.

However, Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has called it a drama and refuted the allegations by BJP.

Notably, the assembly election in West Bengal is months away but clashes between BJP and TMC cadres have been on the rise recently.

-ARK

Haj 2021: Last date for submitting applications extended to Jan 10

New Delhi (NVI): The last date for submission of application forms for Haj 2021 has been extended to January 10, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said.

The embarkation point-wise estimated cost per pilgrim has also been reduced, as per a statement issued by the Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi’s office.

Naqvi also said that the Haj is scheduled for June-July 2021, and the entire process is being followed as per the guidelines issued by the governments of Saudi Arabia and India in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 40,000 applications have been received so far for Haj 2021. These include more than 500 applications under the category of women (desirous of travelling) without ‘Mehram’ (male companion), the statement said.

For the Haj 2020, more than 2,100 women had applied under without ‘Mehram’ category. These women will go for Haj 2021 as their applications remain valid, it said.

Besides, new forms are also being accepted from women who want to perform Haj 2021 without ‘Mehram’, it said.

All women willing to travel under this category will be exempted from the lottery system, the statement said.

People have been applying online, offline and through the Haj mobile application, it said.

Naqvi said after discussions and feedback received from Saudi Arabia, the embarkation points-wise estimated cost per Haj pilgrim has been reduced.

“The estimated cost per pilgrim after reduction is approximately Rs 3,30,000 for Ahmedabad and Mumbai embarkation points, Rs 3,50,000 for Bengaluru, Lucknow, Delhi and Hyderabad, Rs 3,60,000 for Cochin and Srinagar, Rs 3,70,000 for Kolkata and Rs 4 lakh for Guwahati embarkation point,” he said.

Naqvi said the national-international protocol guidelines in view of the pandemic situation will be implemented and followed “strictly” during the Haj 2021.

Arrangements for the annual pilgrimage have been made under special circumstances in accordance with special norms, rules, eligibility criteria, age restrictions, health and fitness requirements and other relevant conditions of the Saudi Arabia government amid the pandemic, the minister said.

“There may be changes in the age criteria for performing Haj due to the pandemic. Each pilgrim will have to undergo COVID-19 test 72 hours before the journey as per the prevailing international air travel protocol,” he said.

Pilgrims will have to submit their test certificates issued by an approved laboratory with a negative result before travelling to Saudi Arabia, he added.

Naqvi further said considering the pandemic situation and feedback received from Air India and other agencies, the embarkation points for Haj 2021 have been reduced to 10.

Earlier, there were 21 Haj embarkation points across the country.

For Haj 2021, the 10 embarkation points are: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Cochin, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Srinagar.

-CHK

More than half of Americans are willing to receive covid vaccine, poll finds

New Delhi (NVI): More than half of Americans have said they are willing to receive a first-generation Covid-19 vaccine as soon as it becomes available to the public, according to a new poll.

An Axios-Ipsos poll found 53 per cent of Americans would likely receive the coronavirus vaccine based on current information surrounding its development and efficacy.

This was a slight increase from the 51 per cent of Americans who said they would take the vaccine before Thanksgiving and 38 per cent in early October, Ispos reports.

Additionally, 67 per cent of respondents said they would take the vaccine if it showed it was 90 per cent effective at protecting one against Covid-19 – an efficacy both Pfizer and Moderna have said their vaccines demonstrate against the novel virus, based on data from their late-stage human trials.

Then 65 per cent of Americans said they would take the vaccine if it was on the market for a few months.

Poll respondents were also asked if their support of the vaccine would increase if President Barack Obama, President George W Bush, and President Bill Clinton all received the jab on TV to show it’s safe. About 60 per cent of respondents said they would take the vaccine if this happened, which was “an improvement over baseline but not as convincing as the safety arguments,” Ipsos said.

The former presidents announced last week that they would be willing to receive the coronavirus vaccine on TV in order to improve confidence among the public.

President-elect Joe Biden and Dr Anthony Fauci, among others, have also said they would receive the jab on television in an effort to show the public how much the treatment is trusted.

In an effort to further improve public confidence, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioned an independent panel of experts to review vaccine data prior to giving companies emergency authorisation for their jabs.

Vaccine distribution could start as early as this weekend if Pfizer receives emergency authorisation this week.

-CHK

Hry schools to reopen for senior classes

Maharashtra
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The Haryana government today informed that in-person classes for senior school children in government and private schools across the state will resume from December 14.

The Directorate School Education Haryana issuing an order said, “It has been decided that students of classes 10 and 12 will be allowed to attend their government or private schools from December 14 for three hours daily —between 10 am to 1 pm.”

However, schools up to classes 8 will remain closed till further orders.

The students will also have to produce RT-PCR test report or medical certificates not older than 72 hours to attend in-person classes. Also, before reopening of the schools, all the campuses will be completely sanitized, the order added.

Recently, a large number of students tested COVID-19 positive in many districts of Haryana. After which the state government closed all the schools from November 20 to 30.

It was reviewed again and then was decided to keep the schools closed till December 10. The decision to reopen the schools again was taken on Wednesday in a high level meeting chaired by Education Minister Kanwar Pal.

So far, 2,48,079 coronavirus cases have been registered in Haryana, while the death toll stood at 2,650, after over 26 people succumbed to COVID-19 in the state.

-RJV

Australia to invest Aus$4 mn for joint research with India on Covid-19

A look at Bharat Biotech and SII's efforts to develop Covid vaccines approved by DCGI
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): To advance Covid-19 screening and study the future health effects of the virus, a team of Australian and Indian researchers will work together under a nearly $4 million investment by the Morrison Government, the country’s science and industry ministry said today.

The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) has funded six new projects, including one to develop COVID-19 diagnostic technologies and another study of the longer-term effects on the hearts and lungs of patients who have recovered, the ministry said in a statement.

Other projects under the collaboration will develop risk management systems to protect farmers from disasters associated with climate change and demonstrate how food-drying technology using renewable energy can reduce pollution in the food-processing sector.

Australia’s Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said that work in these important areas will continue after significant delays by the Covid-19 pandemic this year.

“This latest funding will enable Australian and Indian researchers to contribute to the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including in crucial screening and diagnostic testing,” she said.

“As a result of our shared commitment to finding answers through science and technology, India and Australia has tackled a number of shared challenges since the AISRF was established in 2006, with important progress made in areas including agriculture, energy and health.

“The Australian Government remains committed to our strong, strategic relationship with India, which provides numerous economic benefits for both countries,” Karen added.

Under the investment, the Australian recipients are the University of South Australia, the University of Southern Queensland, the University of Technology Sydney, the Metro North Hospital and Health Service in Brisbane, the University of Adelaide, and the University of Western Australia.

In June 2020, the Australian Government had announced that it would commit a further $15 million to extend the AISRF for another four years to 2024, bringing Australia’s total funding for AISRF grants to nearly $100 million over 18 years. This funding will begin to roll out from the next grant round in 2021.

The AISRF is Australia’s largest fund dedicated to bilateral science collaboration. It helps build links between Australia and India’s top universities, research institutions and the end users of scientific innovation.

-ARK

DRDO-designed Protective Carbine successfully completes user trials

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Defence today said that DRDO-designed 5.56×30 mm Protective Carbine has successfully undergone the final phase of user trials on December 7, meeting all the parameters.

The gun has paved the way for induction into the services and its services may soon be taken by the ministry.

According to the Defence Ministry official statement, “This was the last leg of trials in a series of user trials which have been carried out in extreme temperature conditions in summer and high altitudes in winter.”

It added that Joint Venture Protective Carbine (JVPC) has successfully met stringent performance criteria of reliability and accuracy in addition to quality trials conducted by DGQA.

JVPC is a Gas Operated Semi Bull-pup automatic weapon having more than 700 rpm rate of fire, while the effective range of the carbine is more than 100 m and weighs about 3.0 kg.

It has key features like high reliability, low recoil, retractable butt, ergonomic design, single hand firing capability etc. These features make it a very potent weapon for Counter Insurgency or Counter Terrorism operations by security agencies, the ministry noted.

Meanwhile, the carbine has been designed as per Indian Army’s GSQR, by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), a Pune based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

On the other hand, the weapon is manufactured at Small Arms Factory, Kanpur while the ammunition is manufactured at Ammunition Factory, Kirkee Pune. It has already passed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) trials and procurement action is initiated by the CAPFs and various State Police organisations.

Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had unveiled the 5.56 x 30 mm JVPC during DefExpo- 2020 at Lucknow.

DRDO Chairman Satheesh Reddy also congratulated the defence organisation team, user team and all public and private agencies involved in manufacturing for successful reaching this milestone, the ministry added.

 

-RJV

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