Month: March 2022

India has logged 1,938 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health informed on Thursday.

With this, the active cases in the country have witnessed a dip; at 0.05 per cent, total active COVID infections in India stand at 22,427.

Yesterday, the active COVID cases were 23,087.

Presently, with 5,918 cases, Kerala has the highest number of active COVID infections, followed by Maharashtra (5,089), and Karnataka (1,844).

In the last 24 hours, as many as 2,531 recoveries from the virus and 67 COVID deaths were also reported by the Ministry in a press release.

The death toll has now climbed to 5,16,672, while the total recoveries have mounted to 4,24,75,588.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.29 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was at 0.35 per cent, the health ministry said.

A total of 6,61,954 COVID-19 tests were conducted in India in the last 24 hours. India has so far conducted over 78.49 crore cumulative tests.

The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive have exceeded 182.23 crore (1,82,23,30,356). 31,81,809 COVID vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years began on March 16, 2022.

So far, 72,17,166 COVID vaccine doses have been administered for the group, of which 18,84,945 beneficiaries were vaccinated in the last 24 hours.

In the drive for the ‘precaution doses’ to the healthcare workers, frontline workers and 60 plus individuals with comorbidities which commenced on January 10 this year, as many as 2,21,21,816 beneficiaries have been vaccinated. (ANI)

Nepalese Prime Minister is all set to embark on a three-day official visit to India from April 1, according to local media.

Nepal PM will be in India during April 1-3.

The Kathmandu Post citing sources said that Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has already received and accepted the invitation extended by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to visit the neighbouring country.

This comes after Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi concluded his three-day Nepal visit.

Last week, Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa visited New Delhi and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He had thanked PM Modi for the support extended by India for the Sri Lankan economy.

India has stepped up and pledged a whopping USD 2.415 billion to the island nation to help overcome dire financial constraints caused by external debt payments and a lack of US dollars in the country for business.

In January this year, Jaishankar held a virtual meeting with the Finance Minister of Sri Lanka Basil Rajapaksa and conveyed that India has always stood with Sri Lanka, and will continue to support Sri Lanka in all possible ways for overcoming the economic and other challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. (ANI)

India on Wednesday rejected the “uncalled reference” to Jammu and Kashmir by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his speech at the opening ceremony of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and said matters related to the union territory “are entirely the internal affairs of India”.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said other countries including China have no locus standi to

comment.
“We reject the uncalled reference to India by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his speech at the Opening Ceremony. Matters related to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir are entirely the internal affairs of India. Other countries including China have no locus standi to comment. They should note that India refrains from public judgement of their internal issues,” Bagchi said.

His response came in response to media queries on reference to Jammu and Kashmir made by Chinese Foreign Minister in his speech at OIC meet in Pakistan.

Addressing the OIC meeting on Tuesday, Wang Yi had said China stands ready to work with Islamic countries to promote multipolarity in the world.

“On Kashmir, we have heard again today the calls of many of our Islamic friends. And China shares the same hope,” he had said.

The 48th Council of the Foreign Ministers (CFMs) of the OIC concluded in Islamabad today. (ANI)

The fifth consignment of 2,000 metric tonnes of wheat has been dispatched for Afghanistan on Wednesday out of the 50,000 MT of wheat, which is to be sent to Afghanistan as Humanitarian aid.

Rahul Nangare, Customs Commissioner at the Attari Border said, “This is the 5th assignment of 2000 metric tonne (MT) of wheat, which is being sent to Afghanistan via Attari-Wagah border.”

“This was an initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs, under a total of 50000 MT of wheat will be sent to Afghanistan as humanitarian aid,” he added.

A driver from Afghanistan said, “There is a huge shortage of food in Afghanistan. I would like to thank the Indian government for its help. This will further strengthen the relationship between both the countries.”

The first consignment of humanitarian aid of 2,500 tonnes of wheat from India reached Afghanistan’s Jalalabad through Pakistan on February 26.

Meanwhile, the second convoy of India’s humanitarian assistance carrying 2,000 MTs of wheat left Attari, Amritsar on March 3 for Jalalabad, Afghanistan, the MEA had said.

Moreover, India sent the third consignment of 2,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan in 40 trucks via the Attari-Wagah border on March 8.

The fourth consignment of 2,000 metric tonnes of wheat is being dispatched for Afghanistan via the Attari-Wagah border on March 15.

Earlier, India had announced that it will send 50,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat to Afghanistan overland through Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had flagged off the first such consignment from Amritsar. (ANI)

Srinagar Police busted a grenade-throwing module and have arrested four Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, and seized four hand grenades from them on Wednesday.

The Srinagar police in an official statement said, “During a Naka checking at Bemina Chowk, one over ground worker (OGW) named Zubair Sheikh was intercepted and on his search, one hand grenade was recovered from his possession.”

“The accused was arrested on the spot and a case under relevant Sections of Indian Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act (UAPA) was registered at Bemina police station and an investigation was taken up,” the statement added.

The statement further added that the accused was put to sustained examination and during questioning, he revealed that he had received this grenade from another OGW namely Shamim Ahmed Chilloo.

“Chiloo confessed that he had received a consignment of four hand grenades and handed over one grenade each to Amir Rehman, Shahid Ahmed Mir, and Zubair Sheikh (1st arrestee). Later raids were conducted on various locations and above three OGWs were also arrested and on their instances, three more hand grenades were also recovered,” the statement added.

During the course of the investigation, it came out that the arrested accused were working on the directions of the terrorist group LeT.

The first arrested accused was on his way to throw the recovered hand grenade on Wednesday evening and hence the plans were thwarted by timely preventive action of the police. (ANI)

Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, in a drastic measure, the Polish foreign ministry announced the expulsion of 45 Russian diplomats over charges of espionage.

“The Internal Security Agency has compiled a list of 45 identified persons working in Poland under so-called diplomatic cover. These are the individuals who work under a diplomatic status, but actually, conduct intelligence activities against Poland. This list, which has been sent to the foreign ministry, includes employees of Russian intelligence organizations, as well as people who cooperate with them,” Stanislav Zharin, spokesman for the Polish secret services’ coordinating minister, said earlier today, Sputnik reported.

The order for expulsion was received soon after by the Russian embassy in Warsaw.

“I received a note about the expulsion of 45 of our employees due to activities that are not in accordance with the Vienna Convention,” Russian Ambassador to Warsaw Sergey Andreyev told reporters, adding that, “I am staying. I have not been declared persona non grata.”

Earlier today, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had said that Russia will retaliate against the Polish actions.

The development comes amidst an increased intensity of violence in Ukraine, with climbing civilian casualties. The coastal city of Mariupol the southeast is witnessing some of the most brutal fightings, with heavy bombardment.

Meanwhile, Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s richest oligarch told the Wall Street Journal that his Azovstal and Ilyich metal plants that together employ about 40,000 people, would not operate if Mariupol gets occupied by the Russian forces, reported The Kyiv Independent. (ANI)

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that India will continue to partner with the League of Arab States in combating terrorism and promoting plurality.

This statement comes in the backdrop of increasing terrorism in different Gulf countries. Syria is one of the countries where the terrorism incident has increased in the past few years.

Shringla was speaking at the United Nations Security Council meeting on the Cooperation between the UN and regional organisations (League of Arab States) on Wednesday.

While addressing the UNSC meeting, Shringla stated, “For, over millennia, the Arab world has been a cradle of human civilization. Given its strategic location, developments in the Arab world have influenced our shared history and they continue to have a profound impact globally. The challenges confronted by the region today and how we address them will have a critical bearing on international peace and security.”

Shringla stated the historical relation that India and the Arab region share. He said, “Trade between India and Arab region through the Indian Ocean had flourished for several centuries even before the advent of modern commerce. The Indian rupee was legal tender in parts of the Arab world not very long ago.”

“Today, countries from the Arab world are host to more than 9 million Indians and India’s wide-ranging partnership with these countries encompasses every aspect of human endeavour- from agriculture, trade, commerce and education to clean energy, counter-terrorism and new technologies,” he added.

Shringla mentioned the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that India and the League of Arab States signed two decades ago for institutionalizing a regular dialogue process to forge a partnership for the future. He also said that this led to the creation of the India-League of Arab States Forum, during which progressive cooperation in several fields like energy, environmental protection, investment, food security, science and technology and human resource development was agreed upon.

Shringla said that several initiatives were taken to deepen the engagement with the League of Arab States and these initiatives have also been conceptualized including the Energy Symposium, Media Symposium and the first edition of the Arab India Energy Forum which was successfully convened a few months ago.

“The League of Arab States has contributed positively to security and stability in the region. Its Member States are significant troop and police contributors to UN peacekeeping forces. The Arab States are among the largest donors of humanitarian assistance to countries facing armed conflict in the region. The League has played an important role in the areas of mediation, conflict prevention and resolution in the region,” Shringla said.

He further stated, “Today’s meeting provides us with a valuable opportunity to take a closer look at the cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States. We underline that the League of Arab States can further contribute to our joint endeavour for peace, for the sake of the people of the region, in general, and women and minorities, in particular. We take note of the positive trajectory of the cooperation, including through the UN Liaison Office in Cairo and the practice of annual briefings by the Secretary-General to this Council.”

Shringla submitted four suggestions and said, “First, there must be greater policy synergy between the two organizations. Regular and frequent consultations with the League of the Arab States and its members on peace initiatives in the region would contribute towards achieving common solutions and meaningful outcomes. Second, efforts must be made to achieve comprehensive coordination at the field level, especially through regular coordination between UN’s Special Envoys and Special Representatives and the League of Arab States.”

He further added, “Third, engagement with the League and its members in post-conflict peacebuilding through reconstruction and economic development is equally important; and Fourth, ensuring the stability of the countries concerned and the region, and the welfare of the people, especially women and minorities, should be at the forefront of all such efforts.”

Shringla stated that the cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States is of critical importance when it comes to the Middle East peace process. He further stated that both the organisations need to take the concerted effort to support the reactivation of the Middle East peace process in line with the two-State solution, based on the internationally agreed framework and previous agreements between the parties.

Shringla said that India welcomed the agreements for the normalisation of relations between countries in the region, which will contribute to greater peace and stability in the region.

“Let me conclude by expressing India’s steadfast support for a closer, meaningful and sustained cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States for the benefit of the region. India will continue to partner with the Arab countries in their efforts to achieve regional peace, stability and prosperity and will continue to work with the League of Arab States in combating terrorism and in promoting tolerance and pluralism,” Shringla said. (ANI)

On the eve of World Tuberculosis Day, President Ram Nath Kovind said that India has renewed its commitments and intentions to end TB by 2025.

In his message, President Kovind said, “I am happy to note that World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on March 24, to commemorate the anniversary of Dr Robert Koch’s discovery of the Tuberculosis (TB) bacteria in 1882.”

The President also informed that the theme of World Tuberculosis Day this year is “It’s Time”.

“Consistent with the spirit of this theme, India has renewed its commitments and intentions to end TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global targets. This is an ambitious timeline and, given our motivation to eliminate the disease, it is achievable,” President Kovind said.

The President of India further urged all stakeholders to come together to achieve a TB-free India and “re-dedicate ourselves towards achieving this goal”. (ANI)

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that he will not “resign under any circumstances” ahead of a no-confidence motion to be held on Friday.

While conversing with journalists here, the prime minister said that despite the Opposition laying out all of their cards, the no-confidence motion against him would not be successful, reported Geo News.

“I will not resign under any circumstance. I will play till the last ball and I will surprise them a day before as they are still under pressure,” said Khan, without revealing further details.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has summoned the session for the no-confidence motion on March 25 — and in line with the NA rules, the voting has to take place after three and within seven days, reported Geo News.

“My trump card is that I have not laid any of my cards yet,” said Khan confidently, as he vowed to foil the no-trust motion.

“No one should be under the false impression that I will sit at home. I will not resign, and why should I? Should I resign due to the pressure from thieves?” he stressed.

He also reiterated that he had good relations with the military to date, reported Geo News.

Khan said that it was wrong to consistently attack and criticise the army as a powerful military was crucial for Pakistan. “Had the army not been here, the country would have split into three parts.”

“The army should not be criticised for politicking,” he said.

Khan also warned the Opposition that he would not silent if he steps down from office — a threat he has repeated time and again.

“I will not compromise on my principles even if my government is ousted. I cannot betray the people and God.”

He also claimed that his party — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI’s) popularity has witnessed an increase.

“People are with me, as many as 60-65 per cent respectable people are standing by my side.” (ANI)