Month: March 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Konkan Railway for completing 100 per cent electrification and termed the achievement a new benchmark of sustainable development.

Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister said, “Congratulations to the entire Konkan Railway Team for the remarkable success of ‘Mission 100 per cent Electrification’ and setting new benchmarks of sustainable development.”

According to Konkan Railway, Indian Railways is on a mission mode to electrify its entire Broad Gauge network to provide environment friendly, green and clean mode of transport to its people under the ‘Mission 100 per cent Electrification – moving towards net Zero Carbon Emission’ plan.

The foundation stone for the electrification of the entire 741 km route work was laid in November 2015. The total cost of the project is Rs 1,287 crore. The CRS inspection of the entire Konkan Railway route has been successfully conducted in six phases starting from March 2020. CRS inspection of the last section between Ratnagiri and Thivim was carried out on March 24, 2022 and authorisation was obtained on March 28.

The train operations with electric traction will be implemented on the newly electrified KR route in a phased manner. (ANI)

India has logged 1,233 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry informed on Wednesday.

With this, the active infections have dropped below 15,000. The active caseload of COVID in India now stands at 14,704, contributing to 0.03 per cent of cumulative positive cases.

In the last 24 hours, as per the Ministry, 1,876 recoveries were also reported. With total recoveries since the beginning of the COVID pandemic at 4,24,87,410, the recovery rate of India presently stands at 98.75 per cent.

According to the Ministry’s press release, the daily positivity rate stands at 0.20 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate has been reported to be 0.25 per cent.

As many as 31 COVID deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours.

With 6,24,022 COVID tests conducted in the last 24 hours, the total tests conducted in India, so far, are over 78.85 crore.

Meanwhile, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 183.79 Crore (1,83,79,06,022) today.

Under the recently started COVID vaccine drive for children of age group 12-14, more than 1.50 crore (1,50,55,291) vaccine doses have been administered so far, of which 12,74,719 beneficiaries were vaccinated in the last 24 hours.

With 1,34,837 beneficiaries vaccinated in the last 24 hours, so far, over 2.28 Crore (2,28,71,399) precaution doses of the COVID vaccine have also been administered for the identified categories. (ANI)

Fuel prices continue to rise with petrol and diesel rates rising by another 80 paise per litre each on Wednesday, netting an increase of about Rs 5.60 a litre in eight revisions in nine days so far.

In the national capital, petrol now costs Rs 101.01 per litre, while diesel is selling at Rs 92.27 per litre. In Mumbai, the petrol and diesel prices have gone up by 84 paise and 85 paise per litre respectively, thus costing Rs 115.88 and Rs 100.10 per litre.

In Chennai, the price of petrol is Rs 106.69 (increased by 75 paise) a litre and diesel is Rs 96.76 (increased by 76 paise) per litre. In Kolkata, the price of petrol is Rs 110.52 a litre (increased by 84 paise) and diesel is Rs 95.42 per litre (increased by 80 paise).

There had been a pause in the revision of fuel prices since November 4 last year, which was broken on March 22, following the crude oil going upwards in the wake of the Russian military operations in Ukraine.

Prices are set to be raised further given the sharp jump in crude oil prices in the international markets. It will have a cascading impact on the prices of other items and lead to inflationary pressure and hurt growth. It will have a cascading effect on the prices of other items.

Meanwhile, Congress has decided to launch a nationwide programme ‘Mehngai Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ against price rises under which it will organise rallies and marches across the country from March 31 to April 7.

Notably, on November 3 last year the Centre had cut excise duty by Rs 5 per litre on petrol and Rs 10 per litre on diesel to bring down the retail prices across the country.

Following this, several state governments had reduced Value-Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel to provide relief to people. (ANI)

Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi said that India condemns the terrorist attacks in Israel and expressed his condolences on the loss of innocent lives in the terror attack in Israel.

Taking to Twitter over the attack, he twitted, “We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks in Israel. Our condolences to the families of the victims.”

Earlier yesterday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Gantz, on Tuesday and expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the terror attack.

He said terrorism is a threat to the whole world and does not have any place in the civilized world.

“Had a telephonic conversation with the Defence Minister of Israel, Mr Benjamin Gantz. Shared my condolences on the loss of innocent lives due to terror attacks in Israel. Terrorism is a global menace which has no place in today’s civilised world,” he said in a tweet.

“Both the countries look forward to further strengthening the bilateral relations as India-Israel complete 30 years of full diplomatic relations. Defence cooperation is the founding pillar of our strategic partnership. Military and industry cooperation has been on an upward swing,” he added.

The call was initiated from Tel Aviv.

Two people were killed and six were injured in a shooting attack by ISIS operatives on Sunday in the Israeli city of Hadera, some 31 miles north of Tel Aviv, Israeli officials said.

Meanwhile, on late Tuesday, a Palestinian gunman opened fire at passersby and vehicles outside the Israeli city Tel Aviv, killing five people in the third shooting or knife attack in a week, prompting the police to raise its alert level nationwide to “the highest possible.”

The shooter was shot dead by police during the incident that took place in the city of Bnei Brak, a crowded suburb of Tel Aviv, said the police and the Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical service. (ANI)

The five-member fact-finding committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), formed after the Birbhum violence in West Bengal, will submit its report to party chief JP Nadda on Wednesday.

Following the Birbhum violence, the BJP chief JP Nadda had formed a five-member fact-finding committee comprising four former IPS officers and West Bengal state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar. Bharati Ghosh, Satya Pal Singh, KC Ramamurthy and Brijlal are the four former IPS officers who are part of the committee.

Speaking to ANI, Majumdar said, “The fact-finding committee went to the village in Birbhum where the incident took place. We had to face problems to reach the village due to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The committee had four former IPS officers and they made a comprehensive report. We will hand over the report to party president JP Nadda today. We will also hand over a copy of this confidential report to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.”

As many as eight people were killed in the Rampurhat area of West Bengal’s Birbhum on Tuesday after a mob allegedly set houses on fire following the killing of TMC leader Bhadu Sheikh. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the probe of the Birbhum violence case following the Calcutta High Court order.

Asked about TMC’s allegation against the BJP of giving political colour to the Birbhum incident, Majumdar said, “This is the difference we have with TMC. This is not a political matter but a matter of law and order. There have been incidents of blasts, rapes and other crimes across West Bengal.

On TMC MLA Narendra Nath Chakraborty allegedly threatening the BJP supporters ahead of the Asansol Lok Sabha bypoll, Majumdar said, “Free and fair elections are next to impossible in West Bengal. The video of Narendra Nath Chakraborty validates the fact. Under the rule of Mamata Banerjee, free and fair election is impossible. We demanded Election Commission to keep this person (Chakraborty) away from the election procedure.”

A video has gone viral where Chakraborty is asking the TMC workers to intimidate the BJP supporters so that they do not come out of their houses on the day of the polling. (ANI)

After the first day of a delegation-level meeting between Russia-Ukraine in Istanbul, the Russian delegation announced steps for a “drastic reduction in military activity in the Kyiv and Chernihiv directions” and the possibility of meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

This comes as part of two steps that the Russian delegation announced to de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine reported CNN citing news agency RIA-Novosti.

The head of the Russian delegation, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, called the negotiations “constructive”.

Moreover, Russia is beginning to withdraw some forces, including Russian Battalion Tactical Groups (BTGs) leaving the surrounding areas around the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that enough progress was made during the talks in Istanbul to allow Putin and Zelensky to meet. “We have documents prepared now which allow the presidents to meet on a bilateral basis,” he said.

“The Russian delegation is constructive and aware. This doesn’t mean that negotiations are easy. They are very difficult. But the Russian side is paying attention to the Russian proposals, to the Ukrainian proposals,” he added.

Amid the heavy bombardments and shelling ongoing in Ukraine, the latest round of peace talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations kicked off at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul on Tuesday.

In a phone call on Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed to hold the next round of negotiations in Istanbul. Erdogan reiterated that Turkey would continue to contribute in every possible way during this process. Notably, Ukrainian and Russian delegations have held three rounds of in-person negotiations so far.

On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian provocations. In response to Russia’s operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow. (ANI)

Three months after Reporters Without Borders (RSF) had revealed in a survey last December the Taliban takeover’s impact on Afghanistan’s media has been dramatic, the situation has only exacerbated.

A survey by RSF and the Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA) had shown a radical change in the Afghan media landscape since the Taliban took power.

A total of 231 media outlets were reported closed and more than 6,400 journalists had lost their jobs since 15 August. Women journalists have been hit hardest, with four out of five no longer working. More than four out of every ten media outlets have disappeared and 60 per cent of journalists and media employees are no longer able to work.

Following recent incidents of censorship in Afghanistan, the United States on Tuesday expressed concern over the latest series of restrictions imposed on Afghan media by the Taliban and urged the group to cease infringements, including the education and human rights of the Afghan people.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that the US is committed to supporting the right of freedom of expression the world over, especially for journalists and human rights defenders, to operate freely without fear of violence against them.

On Sunday, the Taliban banned British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Voice of America (VOA) broadcast services in Afghanistan. The ban is the latest in a series of restrictions the Islamist group has imposed on Afghan media to stifle freedom of expression since taking control of the country last August.

“The United States is committed to supporting the right of freedom of expression the world over, especially for journalists and human rights defenders, to operate freely without fear of violence against them,” added Price.

The US statement further said the international community are paying close attention to the Taliban’s actions inside Afghanistan, and “it is with alarm and deep concern we learned of the Taliban’s decision to stifle the Afghan people’s access to independent, objective, international media sources.” (ANI)

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Mariano Grossi is in Ukraine to ensure the safety and security of the country’s nuclear facilities and help avert the risk of an accident that could endanger people and environment.

“The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, is in Ukraine for talks with senior government officials on the IAEA’s planned delivery of urgent technical assistance to ensure the safety and security of the country’s nuclear facilities and help avert the risk of an accident that could endanger people and the environment,” an IAEA statement said on Tuesday.

IAEA noted that the aim of Grossi’s visit is to initiate prompt safety and security support to Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, adding that it will include sending IAEA experts to prioritized facilities and shipment of vital safety and security supplies including monitoring and emergency equipment.

“The military conflict is putting Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and other facilities with radioactive material in unprecedented danger. We must take urgent action to make sure that they can continue to operate safely and securely and reduce the risk of a nuclear accident that could have severe health and environmental impact …in Ukraine and beyond,” Grossi said.

IAEA said it has drawn up concrete and detailed plans for safety and security assistance to Ukraine’s nuclear sites, which include 15 nuclear power reactors at four plants as well as the Chornobyl NPP, where radioactive waste management facilities are located following the 1986 accident. The IAEA’s technical assistance will also facilitate conditions for the IAEA to continue carrying out its safeguards activities in Ukraine in line with its non-proliferation mandate.

“Ukraine has requested our assistance for safety and security. We will now start delivering it. Ukraine has one of Europe’s largest nuclear power programmes. The IAEA’s presence, where needed to ensure safety and security, is of paramount importance. We are ready to provide the necessary support now,” it said.

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Grossi has expressed his grave concern about the deteriorating safety and security situation for Ukraine’s nuclear facilities.

He has stressed the IAEA’s commitment and readiness to help ensure that the seven indispensable pillars for ensuring safety and security are adhered to.

“In recent weeks, several of them – including the physical integrity of facilities, the ability of operational staff to work without undue pressure, and the access to off-site power – have been seriously compromised,” the statement said.

“There have already been several close calls. We can’t afford to lose any more time. This conflict is already causing unimaginable human suffering and destruction. The IAEA’s expertise and capabilities are needed to prevent it from also leading to a nuclear accident,” Grossi said according to the statement.

The Director General is expected to hold a press conference upon his return to Vienna later this week.

Grossi also tweeted about his mission in Ukraine.

“Just crossed the border into #Ukraine to start @IAEAorg’s mission to ensure the safety and security of the country’s nuclear facilities. We must act now to help prevent the danger of a nuclear accident,” he said. (ANI)

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that the BIMSTEC member states must collectively combat terrorism and violent extremism as he emphasized India’s commitment to intensify, expand areas of cooperation, especially connectivity, energy and maritime.

“Participated at the 18th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in Colombo today. Thank FM Prof. GL Peiris for his hospitality. Emphasized our commitment to intensify and expand areas of cooperation, especially connectivity, energy and maritime cooperation,” EAM Jaishankar tweeted.
Speaking at the 18th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in Colombo, Jaishankar said that much of what grouping can achieve in our national development efforts is, of course, predicated on a peaceful, secure and stable environment.

“We cannot ignore the challenges that terrorism and violent extremism, as also transnational crime and narco-trafficking or indeed new challenges such as cyber-attacks, pose to all of us,” EAM said in a statement.

“All of these affect our economic development efforts. We need to put in place the remaining elements of the legal architecture that will enable our law enforcement agencies to collaborate more closely and more effectively,” he added.

The Bay of Bengal achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 targets and ensuring a “good order at sea” in keeping with international maritime law, particularly UNCLOS is a priority.

He also said that a practical way to proceed is to have discussions using existing dialogue mechanisms, even while we put in place a plan of action in the maritime domain which is consistent with our national priorities.

Asserting that the international system is going through a very challenging phase, perhaps one of the most difficult in recent memory. “The challenges of COVID-19 pandemic have not yet fully abated. But recent developments in Ukraine have added to international disquiet,” he said in the statement.

Addressing the gathering including fellow Foreign Ministers, he emphasised the acceleration of the efforts to boost intra BIMSTEC trade and economic ties.

He said: “tomorrow our leaders will adopt the BIMSTEC Charter. This is a land mark achievement in our effort to develop the institutional architecture for BIMSTEC. But we must not rest on this achievement and instead move on to ‘next steps’ that can be taken to further strengthen BIMSTEC. I am confident that we will identify priority institution building tasks & areas of cooperation, and task our senior officials to work with the Secretary General for their realization.”

EAM noted that on Wednesday, the group leaders will also adopt a BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity which provides a framework that can help the grouping better align thier national transportation and connectivity networks.

“It must be fully backed by energetic business collaboration. We must also accelerate efforts on ongoing initiatives such as the establishment of a coastal shipping eco system, of port facilities, of ferry services in the Bay of Bengal, as also power grid interconnectivity and a regional motor vehicles agreement,” he said.

Welcoming Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand as the incoming BIMSTEC Chair.

“India looks forward to working with you Sir and your country, during the course of your Chairmanship to take the BIMSTEC agenda forward,” he said further.

In concluding the speech, EAM Jaishankar said that India will bring to bear all relevant policies and approaches – one, as Neighbourhood First, give it the utmost priority; two, in consonance with our SAGAR outlook, realize its full maritime potential; and three, as a first responder, be it on HADR situations, COVID-19 or economic recovery, be there at critical times for all of us. (ANI)

In a major capability boost for the indigenous LCA Tejas combat aircraft, the Indian Air Force is equipping them with American Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits which would help them target enemy positions with pinpoint accuracy.

The Indian Air Force had recently signed a contract for the JDAM kits which help air to ground bombs to attack their targets with precision at distances of over 80 kms, government sources told ANI here.

The first fleet to be equipped with these JDAMs would be that of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas which is going to be one of the mainstays of the force in the future, the sources said.

The capability would give a further edge to the homegrown aircraft over the adversary aircraft as they would be able to destroy targets from standoff distances, they said.

The Indian Air Force had recently equipped the Tejas with the French-origin Hammer air to ground stand-off missile along with the indigenous Astra indigenous air to air missiles.

Indian armed forces have extensively utilised the delegated financial powers granted to them in different phases by the government to equip themselves with the necessary weaponry to handle any conflict or aggression by enemies on both sides.

The Indian Air Force is strongly supporting the indigenous LCA Tejas fighter aircraft programme by adding more and more capabilities to the aircraft.

The IAF has already operationalised two of its squadrons in the initial operational clearance and final operational clearance versions while a contract has been signed for the 83 Mark1As set to be delivered a couple of years from now.

The IAF has also its eyes set on the LCA Mark 2 and the AMCA being developed by the DRDO for it. (ANI)