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 "Local residents stand in front of a residential building which was damaged in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol | Photo: Reuters")
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Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth accompanied by his spouse Kobita Jugnauth and a high-level delegation will arrive in India for an eight-day visit starting Sunday. The Mauritius Premier is arriving in India on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his visit, Jugnauth will participate in the Ground-Breaking Ceremony of the WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar next Tuesday as well as in the Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit in Gandhinagar on Wednesday, along with PM Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
Pak grants two months extension to India for transportation of wheat, medicines to Afghanistan
Pakistan on Sunday extended for two months the period for India to transport 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat and life-saving medicines as humanitarian assistance to war-torn Afghanistan via Attari-Wagah border crossing.
Foreign Office said that the time period granted for transportation of the humanitarian assistance expired on March 21 and the Government of India recently requested for extension in time period to complete the transportation process.
"As a manifestation of our sincere efforts towards addressing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, it has been decided to grant two months' extension to facilitate completion of the transportation," FO said.
It added that all the modalities already decided shall remain the same as earlier communicated to the Indian side and the High Commission of India in Islamabad has been informed of the decision.
Pakistan in November 2021 had approved the transportation of 50,000 MTs of wheat and life-saving medicines as humanitarian assistance from India to Afghanistan via Wagah border on exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes.
India had committed 50,000 MT of wheat for Afghanistan because of food shortages in the war-torn country. Pakistan had agreed to facilitate both Afghanistan and India through safe and duty-free transportation of the commodity.
India has signed an MoU with the World Food Programme (WFP) on the distribution of wheat to Afghanistan.
Nadda links violence during religious processions to 'desperation' caused by BJP's poll win
BJP president J P Nadda on Sunday claimed that recent communal violence during yatras taken out on Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti are a "conspiracy" to cause disintegration in the society, and accused the Congress of acting in the "most irresponsible" manner.
Addressing party men at the state executive committee meeting here, Nadda linked the violence to the recent results of five state assembly polls, in which the BJP put up an impressive performance.
"The historic mandate given to the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur has jolted some people. Hence in desperation they have associated themselves with the conspiracies of those who work to disintegrate the society. Due to this, there have been attacks on processions during Hanuman Jayanti and Ram Navami," he said.
Attacking the Congress, the main opposition to the ruling BJP in Karnataka, he said the previous Siddaramaiah government had freed members of PFI, a Muslim organisation which many BJP leaders have accused of stoking extremism and violence.
"Our government will take action against the culprits," Nadda said.
Hong Kong bans AI flights till April 24 after 3 passengers found Covid-infected
Hong Kong has banned Air India services till April 24 after three passengers on one of its flights tested positive for Covid-19 post arrival on Saturday, a senior government official has said.|
Passengers from India can arrive in Hong Kong only if they have a Covid-19 negative certificate from a test done 48 hours prior to the journey, according to rules issued by the Hong Kong government, said the official on Sunday.
Moreover, all international passengers are required to take a post-flight Covid-19 test at the airport premises in Hong Kong.
"The three passengers on Air India's AI316 Delhi-Kolkata-Hong Kong flight on April 16 tested positive for Covid-19 post arrival," the official said.
Air India flights from New Delhi and Kolkata have been banned till April 24 by the Hong Kong government, the official added.
Air India did not respond to the PTI's request for a statement on this matter.
Regular international flights resumed in India on March 27 after a two years' hiatus induced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
After crying foreign plot, Imran targets judiciary for not probing 'letter'
After crying foul over "foreign conspiracy", Imran Khan is now targeting the judiciary for not investigating the alleged letter.
Imran's blame game continues. The former PM addressing a mammoth historic rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah Ground, adjacent to the mausoleum of the Quaid-e-Azam, reiterated that his government was removed through a foreign-instigated regime change 'conspiracy' and demanded immediate free and fair elections to let the people decide (who they want as their prime minister), reported Business Recorder.
Khan demanded the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the letter under the supervision of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to ascertain the facts.
He said, "It will remain in my heart for the whole life that the courts were opened at midnight to oust me".
"Shouldn't the Supreme Court have investigated this letter, because it was a conspiracy against an elected prime minister of more than 200 million people?"
Khan said, "I was imprisoned for an independent judiciary in the Musharraf era. Respected judges, when the horse-trading was taking place in the parliament and politicians were changing their loyalties for money, why didn't you take action against them? Had they not betrayed the people of their respected constituencies and the constitution of the country? Does our law allow them to be a part of any international conspiracy," Khan asked.
Matter of great pride for every Indian: PM on WHO centre for traditional medicine
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it is a matter of great pride for every Indian that the foundation stone of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine will be laid on April 19, and asserted that the centre will add strength to the efforts of using traditional forms of medicine to further global wellness.
In a series of tweets, the prime minister said that starting Monday, he will be on a visit to Gujarat during which he will join programmes in Gandhinagar, Banaskantha, Jamnagar and Dahod.
These programmes will cover different sectors and will boost 'ease of living' for people, Modi said.
"Upon reaching Gujarat tomorrow, I will visit the Vidya Samiksha Kendra. This modern centre leverages data and technology in order to improve learning outcomes. I will also interact with those who are working in the education sector," Modi said.
The programme in Banaskantha will take place on April 19 at the impressive Banas Dairy complex, he said, adding that a new dairy complex and potato processing plant will also be inaugurated.
As oppn blame CPI(M) for Palakkad killings, Kerala CM assures action against culprits
As the political slugfest continued over the killings of an RSS and PFI leader in a span of 24 hours in Palakkad district, with the opposition parties blaming the ruling CPI(M) for failing to prevent such incidents, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said his government has instructed the police to initiate strong legal action against those involved in the murders.
Terming the killings as 'condemnable' and against human conscience, Vijayan, in a Facebook post, said his government will be taking an uncompromising stance against those involved and strict legal action would be taken against them.
The CM urged the people to keep away from forces which are trying to divide the state through communalism and narrow-mindedness and not to succumb to provocations and rumors spread by such entities.
While Vijayan assured of action against those involved in the crime, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly V D Satheesan charged the state government and its Home department with having 'miserably failed' to restrain the communal forces in the southern state from killing each other.
The LoP, speaking to reporters in Kochi, also attributed lack of police action against such communal forces to Vijayan's communal appeasement policies.
Satheesan alleged that these violent conflicts were deliberate attempts by communal forces to polarise the political and social climate in the state.
Laying the blame for such violence at the doors of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), a political offshoot of the Popular Front of India (PFI), and the RSS, he said both these outfits were not only mutually hostile, but were also feeding off each other.
Jahangirpuri violence: 2 juveniles among 22 held, police meet peace committees to cool tensions
Twenty people, including the "main conspirators", were arrested over the violence in northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri, where an uneasy calm prevailed on Sunday as companies of anti-riot police patrolled the streets and people largely stayed indoors.
Two juveniles have also been apprehended in connection with the clashes, police said, adding that the case has been transferred to the Crime Branch for further investigation.
To cool tensions, the Delhi Police held a meeting with members of Aman (peace) Committees, and asked them to counter any rumours and appeal to people in their areas to maintain peace.
Adarsh Nagar BJP Councillor Garima Gupta blamed illegal Bangladeshi immigrants for the violence and tried to raise the issue during the meeting. But, she said, the police officer in the meeting told her she was digressing from the issue.
Eight police personnel and a local were injured in stone-pelting and arson after clashes broke out between two communities in Jahangirpuri during a Hanuman Jayanti procession on Saturday evening. Some vehicles were also torched.
Security has been beefed up in and around C and D blocks, barricades have been put up and police personnel deployed at every 200 metres, the police said.
Mauritian PM arrives in Mumbai as part of eight-day India visit
Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth arrived in Mumbai on Sunday as part of his week-long visit to India.
He arrived at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 1.20 am, a statement from the Maharashtra government's publicity department said.
Jugnauth was received at the airport by senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), as well as those from the state protocol department and police.
He is scheduled to travel to Gujarat on April 19. His engagements include inauguration of Global Centre for Traditional Medicine at Jamnagar, while at Gandhinagar he will attend the Global Ayush investment and innovation summit on April 20.
He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi that day.
On Saturday, the MEA had announced that Jugnauth will pay an eight-day visit to India beginning Sunday to further strengthen the vibrant ties between the two countries. He will be accompanied by his spouse Kobita Jugnauth and a high-level delegation during his visit from April 17 to 24, it had said.
FM leaves for US to attend World Bank, IMF meetings
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be leaving for the US later on Sunday to attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF as well as G20 finance ministers and central bank governors (FMCBG).
During the official visit to the US, Sitharaman will take part in bilateral meetings with several countries, including Indonesia, South Korea, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
She will also hold one-on-one meetings with CEOs from the semiconductor, energy and other sectors of priority for the Government of India, the finance ministry said in a statement.
India is expected to record the highest growth rate among large economies of the world. As per the Economic Survey, India may log 8-8.5 per cent GDP growth in the current fiscal ending March.
In a high-level meeting, it said, the finance minister will also meet David Malpass, President, World Bank.
Sitharaman will also participate in a high-level panel discussion on 'Money at a Crossroad' hosted by the Managing Director, IMF.
Communal flare-up during Hanuman Jayanti; Mob targets police in K'taka's Huballi
Incidents of communal flare-up during Hanuman Jayanti processions were reported from Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand while a mob went on a rampage, attacking police personnel, a hospital and a temple in the old town of Hubballi in Karnataka over a social media post on Sunday.
In the national capital, 20 people were arrested and two juveniles apprehended, while security was stepped up following clashes between two communities on Sunday when a Hanuman Jayanti procession was passing through Jahangirpuri. Eight cops and a civilian were injured in the violence.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been clamped in Hubballi city in Karnataka after the violence that left 12 police personnel injured.
According to Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Labhu Ram, a police complaint had been lodged on an objectionable social media post after which a person was arrested.
Not satisfied with the action, some people gathered around the police station but were persuaded to disperse. Around midnight, a large number of people once again started gathering around the police station and indulged in heavy stone-pelting
BJP expels 4 Delhi councillors for corruption following sting operation
The BJP has expelled its four municipal councillors in Delhi over charges of corruption following a sting operation conducted by a news channel.
Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta expelled the councillors -- Amarlata Sangwan (Timarpur ward), Saroj Singh (Trilokpuri), Atul Kumar Gupta (Kondli) and Radha Devi (Mongolpuri) -- from the party on April 15.
Saroj Singh's husband Sher Singh and Radha Devi's husband Raju Rana have also been expelled from the party as they featured in the sting operation, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said.
The sting operation showed the leaders demanding money for various municipal works in their wards.
According to the party, the leaders faced "clear" charges of corruption.
"As per constitution of the BJP, your primary membership is scrapped with immediate effect and you are expelled from the party," read the expulsion orders issued by the Delhi BJP president.
The BJP maintains zero tolerance policy towards corruption, stated the order.
Last year, the BJP had suspended three of its councillors facing corruption charges.
Pradhan attacks WB govt on NEP, asks if opposition is for 'political considerations'
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday attacked the West Bengal government for its opposition to the New Education Policy unveiled in 2020, wondering whether the opposition stemmed from "political considerations."
Pradhan who also wondered if the state was against clauses that could raise employability of students, tried to defend the NEP which has been attacked by many non-Hindi speaking state governments by claiming that it gave equal importance to local languages.
After the NEP was unveiled two years back, former state education minister Partha Chatterjee had said that it is the agenda of the RSS to give importance to subjects related to Vedic philosophy and ancient Indian tradition. There has also been opposition to its language formula which is seen as tilting towards Hindi and Sanskrit.
Pradhan said, "It (NEP) was done in a spirit of consultative mechanism in a scientific manner. Does West Bengal oppose that very spirit? Are they opposed to a committee helmed by a scientist like K Kasturirangan for reasons other than academics?"
The Union minister, who was talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event at a city hotel, said that most of the state governments were not opposed to the NEP irrespective of their political leanings.
"Local language is given utmost importance in the NEP. Does this government look at things in a different way? Doesn't the Bengal government wish to raise employability of its people? NEP 2020 stands for knowledge-based employability," Pradhan, a BJP leader, said.
Telangana sees 11 new Covid-19 cases, nil deaths
Telangana on Sunday recorded 11 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of cases to 7,91,630 so far, a bulletin said.
No deaths due to the virus were reported today and the total fatalities stand at 4,111 till date, it said.
Hyderabad recorded the highest number, nine cases.
A total of 29 people recovered from the infection, taking the cumulative number of recoveries to 7,87,313 so far.
The active cases stood at 222, the bulletin said.
A total of 9,546 samples were tested today and the total number examined was 3,44,52,755 till date.
The case fatality rate was 0.51 per cent and the recovery rate 99.45 per cent, it added.
CM Mann meets farmer leaders, urges crop diversification, need to save water
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday held a meeting with representatives of farmer unions, urging them to opt for crop diversification and direct seeding of rice to save water.
He said the state government will take up with the Centre the issue of giving remunerative price of alternative crops.
Mann held the meeting with members of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the grouping which had led the stir against the Centre's farm laws.
He sought inputs from representatives of 23 farmer organisations present in the meeting over the issue of providing staggered power supply to the agriculture sector.
The CM said the proposed staggered power supply will help in avoiding the peak load during the paddy sowing season, according to an official release.
He suggested equitable power supply through Punjab State Power Corporation Limited as per region-wise demand, dividing the state into four zones.
Mann directed officials to visit villages to encourage farmers to adopt the direct seeding of rice (DSR) technique to save water and electricity.
BJP leader criticises Punjab CM over meeting with UP MP Dhesi
BJP leader and former Army chief J J Singh on Sunday lashed out at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over his meeting with UK MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and said the AAP should clarify if it endorses the "pro-separatist and anti-India" views of the British lawmaker.
Dhesi, a Labour Party MP, met Mann along with AAP Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha last week and reportedly raised several issues, including blacklisting of several Sikhs.
"It is very unfortunate that AAP government in Punjab...is going the extra mile to welcome Labour Party MP Dhesi whose views are pro-separatist and anti-India. AAP owes an clarification to the country whether it supports his views on Kashmir and other matters which are against our country," Singh said.
The BJP leader further said Mann should disclose what transpired in the meeting with Dhesi and what commitments the AAP government in Punjab has given to him.
Dhesi had criticised the Indian government's revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
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First Published: Apr 17 2022 | 7:04 AM IST
