Month: April 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Global AYUSH Investment and Innovation Summit at Gandhinagar on Wednesday in the presence of WHO DG Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and stated that India is going to introduce a special AYUSH visa category for foreign nationals who want to come to the country to take advantage of traditional medicine.

To address the growing demand of foreign nationals in traditional medicine, PM Modi said, “Soon, India is going to introduce a special AYUSH visa category for foreign nationals who want to come to India to take advantage of AYUSH therapy.”

In his address, PM Modi said that the possibilities of investment and innovation in the field of AYUSH are limitless. “We are already witnessing an unprecedented boom in the production of AYUSH medicines, supplements and cosmetics,” added the Prime Minister.

“We are going to make a special AYUSH hallmark. This hallmark will be applied to the highest quality Ayush products made in India,” added PM Modi.

The PM said that it is very important that the farmers involved in growing medicinal plants should get the facility to easily connect with the market. For this, the government is also working on modernisation and expansion of the AYUSH e-marketplace, he informed.

“So far, this year, 14 startups have joined the unicorn club. I am confident that unicorns will soon emerge from among the AYUSH ecosystem” said PM.

Speaking about Ayush’s contribution during the COVID pandemic, PM said, “It’s the first time an investment summit is being held for the AYUSH sector. I thought of this at the time COVID19 outbreak. During this time ‘AYUSH Kada’ and other similar products have helped people boost their immunity.”

Besides the WHO DG, Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and Union AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal were present at the ceremony.

Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that he feels “privileged to come to the land of Mahatma Gandhi”.

Emphasising the areas of development, Tedros said, “Long term strategic investments and government commitment needed to support innovation, innovators. The government needs to develop traditional medicine in a sustainable way, bringing traditional medicine to market must make sure communities that gave this knowledge also benefits out of it”, added Dr Tedros.

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said that it is a matter of pride for him to participate in the AYUSH Investment and Innovation Summit. “According to WHO, 80 per cent of people in the world use traditional medicine. The knowledge of this medicine should not only be respected but should also be protected and promoted,” added Mauritius PM.

Speaking on the occasion, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel lauded PM Modi’s efforts in Yoga and traditional medicine. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts have made a place in the world for Yoga and for now traditional medicine. People across the world are now moving towards traditional medicine. It’s time to now move toward preventive medicine.” (ANI)

Amid rising COVID-19 cases in the city, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is likely to re-impose the fine for not wearing face masks in public places, as per sources.

The DDMA on Wednesday held a meeting over the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
Sources said that it has been decided to make wearing masks mandatory and also reinforce the Rs 500 penalty for defying the norm.

Nearly three weeks ago, when Delhi witnessed a dip in the daily infections, the DDMA had issued an order removing the fine for not wearing masks. However, it had advised people to continue using them in crowded places.

Schools will continue to remain open, sources said, adding that standard operating procedures would be issued after consultation with experts.

The officials of the DDMA have also called for ramping up testing, sources said.

Over the past few days, the daily COVID-19 infection has been on the rise. According to yesterday’s bulletin, Delhi recorded 632 fresh cases. For the third consecutive day, the national capital reported over 500 daily infections.

The positivity rate however dropped to 4.42 per cent from 7.72 per cent on Monday. (ANI)

An explosion occurred on a bus in Turkey’s northwestern province of Bursa, one person was killed and several injured, media reported on Wednesday.

The explosion hit a bus carrying prison guards at around 07:30 local time (04:30 GMT), according to the Hurriyet newspaper.
The cause is yet to be established.

According to the prison staff’s first statement, a version of a terrorist attack is being considered.

An investigation is underway. (ANI/Sputnik)

As the Chinese city of Shanghai continues to reel under the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, “anti-epidemic supplies” including 100 tonnes of dried yak meat and 3,000 tonnes of drinking water were transported there from Tibet.

Shanghai on Tuesday reported 2,494 cases and 16,407 local asymptomatic infections, Xinhua reported.
The supplies that were transported on April 10, were given under the direction of the “TAR Party Committee and Government”. A total of 5,000 tonnes of drinking water were transferred to China’s Jilin province, Tibet Rights Collective reported.

Chinese state media claimed that these supplies are being sent “to show its support for the eastern metropolis and the northeastern province battling a COVID-19 resurgence”. Tibet was “donating” the supplies, claimed the CGTN news outlet.

Such a donation in the name of an intensely Buddhist religious people who would refrain from such a large-scale killing of animals was meant to be a deliberate affront to them, according to Tibetan Review.

During the previous surge in COVID-19 cases, donations of Tibetan herbal medicine were sent to affected areas in China during the first wave of the pandemic.

This report comes as China is continuing its repression of the Tibetan culture and identity. Rights experts say the Chinese administration has been introducing more draconian laws and restrictions to accomplish the task. (ANI)

Amid a rise in COVID-19 cases across the country, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday wrote to the governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Mizoram over the increasing positivity rate and cases and urged States, Union Territories to continue monitoring the spread of infection.

The ministry, in its official release, stated, “India has witnessed a sustained and significant decline in the number of COVID-19 cases over the past 2 months, with the country reporting about 1000 daily new cases for the past few weeks. The weekly positivity rate has remained below 1 per cent.”

“Recently, there are a few States which are reporting a higher contribution to India’s cases and higher positivity. This Ministry has advised all the States/UTs to follow a risk assessment-based approach on the opening of economic and social activities without losing the gains made so far in the fight against the pandemic,” it read.

The States and Union Territories are Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Mizoram.

The States/UTs were advised by the ministry to continue monitoring the spread of infection and undertake the required steps for prompt and effective management of COVID-19. “The five-fold strategy. i.e. Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour with particular emphasis on wearing of masks in crowded areas should be followed,” the ministry said.

The ministry advised States/UTs to monitor clusters of new COVID-19 cases and undertake required containment efforts for curing the spread of infection. Further, the health ministry conveyed to States/UTs that adequate testing as per guidelines is required and further undertake required steps in areas reporting high case positivity rate.

Monitoring of Influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) cases in all health facilities on a regular basis for detecting early warning signals of the spread of infection should be focused upon by States and UTs, Bhushan said.

Genomic sequencing for prescribed samples of international passengers, collection of samples from sentinel sites (identified health facilities as well as sewage samples), and local clusters of cases also needs to be ensured, Bhushan informed.

The ministry advised ensuring COVID-19 vaccination of eligible populations including the primary vaccination as well administration of precaution doses.

The Health Ministry said that it is essential for States/UTs to maintain a strict watch and take pre-emptive action if required in areas of concern to control any emerging spread of infection. “Testing and Surveillance still remain important to track the virus, its spread and evolution,” Bhushan said.

The ministry pointed out that laxity at any level may nullify the gains in pandemic management so far. “Regular monitoring and prompt follow up action in emerging areas of concern is crucial. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will continue to provide requisite support to the States in this ongoing and collective effort,” the letter read.

India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases is at 4,30,45,527 on Tuesday, while the active cases increased to 11,860, according to the Union Health Ministry. (ANI)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said India’s economic recovery from the impact of COVID-19 has been “distinct and pronounced” and the country will continue to be one of the fastest-growing economies in this decade.

“In spite of the severe lockdown during the first quarter of 2020-2021, the recovery has been distinct and the recovery has been pronounced. And today, therefore, we are able to get back where we were earlier— one of the fastest-growing economies in the world,” Sitharaman said in her speech at the Washington-based think tank Atlantic Council.

“As we look at India — given the pandemic and recovery from it and also where we stand today — we see the decade before us ending in 2030 as a very robust decade, where India would definitely be one of the fastest continuingly growing economies,” she added.

The minister also referred to the reforms done by the government including those before and in the situation created by COVID-19.

“GST (Goods and Services Tax) was done before the pandemic, equally, measures for digitizing the Indian economy had been undertaken prior to the pandemic,” she said.

The minister also referred to the government leveraging the JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile) for its welfare initiatives. (ANI)

Delhi Police said on Tuesday that the situation in Jahangirpuri was peaceful and talks are being held with the peace committee.

“The situation is peaceful. Talks were held with Aman Committee. The investigation is taking place in a fair manner,” Delhi Special Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Dependra Pathak said.

Asked if the police were probing the possibility of the Popular Front of India (PFI) being involved in the violence in Jahangirpuri, he said details of the investigation into the incident cannot be revealed.

“Can’t reveal the matter of investigation (on PFI involvement). The investigation is in its initial phase,” he added.

Police have arrested 21 persons in connection with the case.

National Security Act (NSA) has been imposed against five accused in the clashes between two groups that took place in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri on Saturday during the Hanuman Jayanti procession, government officials said. (ANI)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and India will support Sri Lanka in the economic crisis that has gripped the country, Sri Lankan Finance Ministry said on Tuesday.

On Monday, Sri Lankan Finance Minister Ali Sabry met with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Washington.

“The IMF has commended on the steps already taken by the Finance Minister to mitigate the financial situation in Sri Lanka. IMF has assured their fullest support to Sri Lanka and a positive response has also been received to expedite the process to strengthen the support extended towards Sri Lanka,” the ministry said in a statement.

Sabry has requested a Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) from the IMF, with the organization promising to consider the request even though it does not meet the standard circumstances for issuing an RFI, according to the ministry.

India has also appealed to the IMF on behalf of Sri Lanka, according to the statement. Sitharaman further affirmed to Sabry that India will support the Sri Lankan request to speed up an Extended Fund Facility from IMF.

“Sitharaman has assured Minister Ali Sabry on India’s fullest support to Sri Lanka to move forward and has emphasized on India’s commitment to strengthen the development of the economy in Sri Lanka and building stronger bonds between the two Nations as they move forward together,” the statement noted.

Sri Lanka is now facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948. The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a clampdown on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. It left the country unable to buy enough fuel, with people facing an acute scarcity of food and basic necessities, heating fuel, and gas. (ANI/Sputnik)

Last month, Hindu girl Pooja Kumari was killed by a man at her home in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Pooja Kumari was shot in Sukkur after she put up resistance to the attackers.

Condemning this incident, Pakistan Today said this is not the first time such an incident has happened as there have been several and repeated incidents of killings, abductions and forced conversions of Hindu women in Pakistan, especially in Sindh.

Although the killer was arrested, the Pakistan newspaper asked the question raised by critics that when this would end and what the authorities have done to stop it?

Pakistan political analysts say that the PPP or other parties will not go against the hardline religious figures and personalities over the fear of losing votes.

“PPP has failed to protect minorities. The provincial administration should be pressurised into providing security to non-Muslim communities,” said Dr. Jaipal Chhabria, a member of the National Commission of Minorities.

Hindu Member of National Assembly (MNA) of Lal Malhi, said, “PPP’s Sindh government even do not allow the poor Hindus to protest, as police stop protesting mourners carrying dead body of Pooja.”

Pakistan analysts say there is mass indifference among the people of Pakistan because religion is involved. According to the expert, many in the country actually wholeheartedly support these conversions.

“The time is ripe for the government of Sindh concerned to contemplate a long-lasting solution of this burning issue to safeguard the rights of minority girls and women,” maintains analyst Shaikh Abdul Rasheed.

“This will help them enjoy a carefree life beyond forced conversions and marriages with people of other religions. All of this is encouraged and supported by religious fanatics.” (ANI)