Month: January 2022

The World Health Organisation (WHO), on its website, has shown Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan and China, Trinamool Congress MP Dr Santanu Sen said in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take up steps to correct the mistake.

Sharing the pictures of the wrong map of India on the WHO dashboard, Sen tweeted, “WHO COVID http://19.int site shows map of India with a separate colour for Jammu & Kashmir & inside that there is another small portion of a separate colour. If they are clicked, Covid datas of Pakistan & China are coming.”

Dr Sen also questioned the central government for not noticing the “absolutely horrible” lapse.

“Why ministry of home affairs, external affairs and the ministry of health did not notice it and take any initiative to correct this step,” the MP wrote in his letter to the prime minister.

Sen also said that Arunachal Pradesh was “demarcated separately” from the map of India.

“I tried to locate the map once again and again I noticed Arunachal Pradesh was also demarcated separately,” Sen added in his letter.

The Rajya Sabha MP has urged the government to raise the issue with the WHO.

“People of India have the right to know why such a serious mistake has been overlooked on a website of such an organisation of international report like WHO,” he wrote.

“I request immediate steps should be taken to correct this mistake and tell the country how such a serious issue was overlooked for so long,” he added in the note.

Last year the government informed the Parliament that the issue of the wrong depiction of India’s map was “raised strongly with WHO including at the highest level,” following which the global health body put out a disclaimer on their portal.

“The designations employed and the presentation of these materials do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WHO concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted and dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement,” the disclaimer said.

The government, however, had informed the Parliament that “India’s position on the right depiction of its boundaries has been unambiguously reiterated.” (ANI)

At least five people have been killed and several injured after an electric bus lost control and mowed down several bystanders near the Tat Mill crossroad in Kanpur on Sunday, informed local police.

Three cars and many bikes have been destroyed by the bus in the accident. The driver of the bus is absconding, we are looking for him, said Pramod Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, East Kanpur.

“Injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital and the probe in the matter has been initiated,” DCP added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to Twitter to express condolences to the families of the deceased in the road accident.

“Received unfortunate news of a road accident in Kanpur. My deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured in the accident,” Priyanka tweeted in Hindi. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that Rajya Sabha MP, Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa’s passion for Punjab’s progress is always visible.

Earlier today, PM Modi held a meeting with Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) head Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa who is also BJP’s ally.
Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, “Had a wonderful meeting with Rajya Sabha MP, Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa Ji. It is always a delight to hear his insightful views on key subjects. His passion for Punjab’s progress is always visible.”

This meeting came ahead of the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections which will go to the polls on February 20. The votes will be counted on March 10. (ANI)

Five-time former Punjab Chief Minister and senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Parkash Singh Badal will become the oldest candidate to contest any type of election in the country as he filed his nomination papers for the upcoming assembly polls in the state on Monday.

At the age of 94, Badal will contest the Punjab Assembly polls from his home turf Lambi.
Breaking the age bar, before the SAD patron, former Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan had contested the Assembly election as the oldest candidate in 2016 at the age of 92 years.

Badal, who still makes political appearances, was the youngest sarpanch when he got elected from Badal village of Punjab in 1947.

He also became the youngest Chief Minister in 1970 at the age of 43 years. Later, he became the oldest Chief Minister in 2012.

Badal has held the Chief Ministerial position in Punjab five times from 1970-71, 1977-80, 1997-2002, 2007-12 and 2012-17.

He was the president of SAD from 1995 to 2008 and has also been a member of Lok Sabha once.

Meanwhile, Punjab will go to the polls on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Congress won an absolute majority in the state by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government after 10 years.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had emerged as the second-largest party winning 20 seats in 117-member Punjab Legislative Assembly. The SAD could manage to win only 15 seats while the BJP secured three seats. (ANI)

More than 1,000 people across Saudi Arabia came to Juman Park in King Abdullah Economic City to participate in the country’s first yoga festival arranged by the Saudi Yoga Committee on Saturday, reported Arab News.

The event included people aged 10 to 60 who participated in a variety of activities, yoga techniques, and the art of mindfulness.
According to the newspaper, it all started with yoga on the lawn and participants at the festival got the opportunity to practise yoga, view various performances, observe yoga studio demos and learn about the services they offered.

During the one-day event, there were almost eight hours of lessons and lectures by Saudi and worldwide yoga experts.

Furthermore, many people chose to sit and rest in the shade, where mats, cushions, and rugs were available, and the day was filled with great energy and acceptance.

Nouf bint Muhammad Al-Maroui, the chairperson of the Saudi Yoga Committee, said she was amazed by the number of visitors and the enthusiastic, positive reaction, reported the newspaper.

In her address to visitors, she said that Saudi Arabia was witnessing a remarkable development in all sectors and also in the quality of life due to great support from the government.

“The festival was a great success and I am happy that not only Saudis welcomed but also embraced our thoughts on yoga, which was the sole purpose of the event,” she told Arab News.

She emphasized the positive aspects of yoga in life and said, “We want to promote yoga to families and encourage it in the country. We want Saudis to start their day with yoga, which does not take more than 20 minutes a day, which anyone can easily spare.”

People who participated in the event also had a positive response.

“What a great festival!” 38-year-old Sara Al-Madani commented.

She added, “So well laid out and organized, with excellent instructors! I praise everyone, including all who attended this great day. I look forward to next year!”, reported the newspaper. (ANI)

Punjab Chief Minister and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi filed his nomination from Bhadaur Assembly constituency in Barnala district on Monday ahead of Punjab Assembly polls.

The Congress party on Sunday released its third list of eight candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab which revealed that sitting Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi will contest from two seats.
The party has fielded the Chief Minister from the Bhadaur constituency.

Notably, Congress had earlier announced that Channi will be contesting from Chamkaur Sahib seat from where he is the sitting MLA and which he has been representing since 2007.

Notably, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Sidhu had urged Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the state to announce the Chief Ministerial face for the polls, following which Gandhi had said that the decision in this regard would be taken by the party workers.

Punjab will go to the polls on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)

Afghan diplomats in the US have been informed that their embassy in Washington will be closed down and will also be stripped of their diplomatic immunity.

As per the sources familiar with the matter told Al Arabiya that the Afghan consulate missions in Los Angeles and New York would also be shut down, reported Pajhwok Afghan News.
It added the Afghan diplomats in the US had been informed via a memo at the beginning of the week that they would also be stripped of their immunity.

Al Arabiya also quoted a State Department official as saying there had been no change in the status of the Afghan mission or its personnel.

However, an unnamed diplomat told Al Arabiya, “They said there would be a shutdown of the embassy and the consulate missions,” reported Pajhwok Afghan News.

Washington’s move comes less than six months after the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.

The Taliban have not been recognized by much of the international community, including the United States.

Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani saw his government collapse on August 15 after he fled the country and the Afghan security forces failed to prevent the Taliban from taking over.

But the diplomats at the Afghan Embassy in the US refused to acknowledge the Taliban and rebuffed all of the group’s attempts of opening lines of communication, Deputy Chief of Mission Abdul Hadi Nejrabi told Al Arabiya English in an interview last month. (ANI)

President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday said that ‘Made in India’ COVID-19 vaccines are playing an important role in making the world free from the pandemic.

“COVID-19 vaccines being made in India are playing an important role in making the whole world free from the pandemic and saving the lives of crores of people,” President Kovind in his address to the joint sitting of the Parliament at Central Hall on the first day of Budget session.
Lauding the efforts of the state governments, central government, administrations, healthcare workers, frontline workers to curb COVID-19, the President said that everyone worked as a team.

“India’s capability in the fight against COVID-19 was evident in the vaccination programme. In less than a year, we made a record of administering over 150 crore doses of vaccine. Today, we are one of the leading nations of the world in terms of administering the maximum number of doses,” the President said.

President Kovind said that over 90 per cent of adult citizens in the country have received the first dose of the vaccine, while more than 70 per cent have received both doses.

Notably, India’s nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive was started on January 16, 2021, and the vaccination coverage has exceeded 166.03 crores to date.

With the Budget Session of Parliament commencing on Monday, the government is all set to lay Economic Survey 2021-22 along with Statistical Appendix in both Houses.

Economic Survey 2021-22 and the Statistical Appendix will be laid on the table of the Lok Sabha at around 12.45 pm by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while it will be tabled in Upper House a few minutes after the House assembles at 2.30 pm. (ANI)

President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday appreciated the vision of the government for the success of the country’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform in the context of Digital India and the growing spread of the digital economy.

On the first day of the Budget Session of Parliament, the President addressed the joint sitting and said, “I would also appreciate the vision of the government for the success of the country’s UPI platform in the context of Digital India and the growing spread of the digital economy. In December 2021, more than eight lakh crore rupees have been transacted through UPI in the country.”
The President of India also said that the government has given training to thousands of women self-help group members to include them as ‘Banking Sakhi’.

“Government has given training to thousands of women self help group members to include them as ‘Banking Sakhi’. These women are working towards connecting banking services to the rural areas,” said President Kovind.

In a move to enhance the internet connectivity in the country, President informed that the government is working on developing 5G that is fifth-generation wireless technology.

“India is one of the nations that has the cheapest internet and mobile phones. We are also working on developing 5G. Our PLI Scheme on semi-conductor will further boost our startups ecosystem,” said President.

The President added, “The government has relaxed various norms in the patents and Trademarks sector and therefore we have already witnessed 6,000 applications for patents and 20,000 applications for Trademarks in the FY 2021-22.”

Economic Survey 2021-22 and the Statistical Appendix will be laid on the table of the Lok Sabha at around 12.45 pm by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while it will be tabled in Upper House a few minutes after the House assembles at 2.30 pm.

The Budget Session of the parliament commenced on January 31 with President Ram Nath Kovind’s address. The first part of the Union budget session of Parliament will be held from January 31 to February 11 and the second part of the budget session will take place from March 14 to April 8. (ANI)

With the Budget Session of Parliament commencing on Monday, the government is all set to lay Economic Survey 2021-22 along with Statistical Appendix in both Houses.

Economic Survey 2021-22 and the Statistical Appendix will be laid on the table of the Lok Sabha at around 12.45 pm by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
While it will be tabled in Upper House a few minutes after the House assembles at 2.30 pm.

Sitharaman will lay a copy of the Economic Survey, 2021-22 along with Statistical Appendix both in English and Hindi, mentioned the list of business of Rajya Sabha.

Earlier, Secretary General will lay on the table, a copy (in English and Hindi) of the President’s Address to both the Houses of Parliament assembled together.

Besides, obituary references to the passing away of sitting member Dr Mahendra Prasad; ex-members Jayanta Roy, Debendra Nath Barman, M Moses, Ganeshwar Kusum; and legendary Kathak dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj will be made by Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu.

Secretary-General will also lay on the table, a statement (in English and Hindi) showing the Bills passed by the Houses of Parliament during the Two Hundred and Fifty-fifth Session of the Rajya Sabha and assented to by the President.

The Eighth Session of Seventeenth Lok Sabha commenced on Monday. Subject to exigencies of Government Business, the Session is likely to conclude on April 8, 2022.

The President will address both Houses of Parliament assembled together at 11 am on Monday. Following which Rajya Sabha will assemble at 2.30 am, unlike its 11 am timing, due to COVID-19 precautionary measures. (ANI)