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India is concerned about the vacuum that will be created after withdrawal of the US and NATO troops from war-torn Afghanistan, Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat said on Thursday.

He said that the main concern should not create "space for other disruptors" and therefore, see violence continue in Afghanistan.

India wants to see peace and tranquility returning to the region, he added.

"We would be very happy to provide whatever support we can in the development of Afghanistan and making sure peace returns to that nation. People have got tired and are looking at peace," General Rawat said speaking in a virtual discussion at the ongoing Raisina Dialogue 2021.

Asked whether it was Iran and Pakistan that could exploit the situation, the Chief of Defence Staff said there are many nations that would like to step into Afghanistan.

"Many people are looking at the opportunity to exploit the vacuum that is being created. Afghanistan is a nation which is rich in resources," he said.

Noting there are nations "that tend to exploit resources for their own benefit without the benefit going to the community of that nation", he said: "The international community must step in to ensure Afghanistan is for the Afghans."

President Joe Biden announced in Washington on Wednesday that he will withdraw remaining US troops from the "forever war" in Afghanistan. His plan is to pull out all US forces -- numbering 2,500 now -- by this September 11, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

The UN, together with Turkey, and Qatar, announced on Tuesday that a high-level conference aimed at ending decades of conflict in Afghanistan will go ahead beginning on April 24. There would be representatives from both the Afghan government and the Taliban.

India is concerned about the vacuum that will be created after withdrawal of the US and NATO troops from war-torn Afghanistan, Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat said on Thursday.

India is concerned about the vacuum that will be created after withdrawal of the US and NATO troops from war-torn Afghanistan, Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat said on Thursday. He said that the main concern should not create "space for other disruptors" and therefore, see violence continue in Afghanistan. India wants to see peace and tranquility returning to the region, he added. "We would be very happy to provide whatever support we can in the development of Afghanistan and making sure peace returns to that nation. People have got tired and are looking at peace," General Rawat said speaking in a virtual discussion at the ongoing Raisina Dialogue 2021. Asked whether it was Iran and Pakistan that could exploit the situation, the Chief of Defence Staff said there are many nations that would like to step into Afghanistan. "Many people are looking at the opportunity to exploit the vacuum that is being created. Afghanistan is a nation which is rich in resources," he said. Noting there are nations "that tend to exploit resources for their own benefit without the benefit going to the community of that nation", he said: "The international community must step in to ensure Afghanistan is for the Afghans." President Joe Biden announced in Washington on Wednesday that he will withdraw remaining US troops from the "forever war" in Afghanistan. His plan is to pull out all US forces -- numbering 2,500 now -- by this September 11, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The UN, together with Turkey, and Qatar, announced on Tuesday that a high-level conference aimed at ending decades of conflict in Afghanistan will go ahead beginning on April 24. There would be representatives from both the Afghan government and the Taliban.

India concerned over US troops' forthcoming exit from Afghanistan

With climate change becoming a key issue for the world, India has been making several attempts to fight it with path-breaking moves.&nbsp;

Aiming towards making the industrial sector energy efficient, India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency launched the Perform, Achieve, and Trade scheme on July 4, 2012.&nbsp;

Industries achieving the set targets are given incentives in the form of energy-saving certificates and the ones that fail to achieve the targets are penalised calculated on what remains to be achieved. &nbsp;

Addressing audiences at TERI's annual flagship event World Sustainable Development Summit in February 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about safeguarding the health of our planet by thinking out of the box and investing in the youth of our country. &nbsp;

He also emphasised attaining Climate Justice as a measure towards the sustainable climate. Prime Minister Modi also spoke about India's progress towards attaining the goals set for 2030 at the Paris agreement in 2015.&nbsp;

The Prime Minister also mentioned that India’s annual renewable energy capacity has been exceeding that of coal-based thermal power since 2017.&nbsp;

In addition to this, Prime Minister also said that India to have 220 Giga Watts of renewable energy capacity by 2020. Currently, our renewable energy capacity is 136 Giga Watts.&nbsp;

In March 2019, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change launched the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) making India the first country to launch a national plan on sustainable cooling.&nbsp;

The responsibility of successfully tackling climate change does not entirely rely upon the government alone. Laxman Singh, a climate crusader from Rajasthan, has been building water conservation and natural resource management systems in the rural, drought-prone districts of the state since 1977.

With climate change becoming a key issue for the world, India has been making several attempts to fight it with path-breaking moves. Aiming towards making the industrial sector energy efficient, India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency launched the Perform, Achieve, and Trade scheme on July 4, 2012.

With climate change becoming a key issue for the world, India has been making several attempts to fight it with path-breaking moves. Aiming towards making the industrial sector energy efficient, India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency launched the Perform, Achieve, and Trade scheme on July 4, 2012. Industries achieving the set targets are given incentives in the form of energy-saving certificates and the ones that fail to achieve the targets are penalised calculated on what remains to be achieved. Addressing audiences at TERI's annual flagship event World Sustainable Development Summit in February 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about safeguarding the health of our planet by thinking out of the box and investing in the youth of our country. He also emphasised attaining Climate Justice as a measure towards the sustainable climate. Prime Minister Modi also spoke about India's progress towards attaining the goals set for 2030 at the Paris agreement in 2015. The Prime Minister also mentioned that India’s annual renewable energy capacity has been exceeding that of coal-based thermal power since 2017. In addition to this, Prime Minister also said that India to have 220 Giga Watts of renewable energy capacity by 2020. Currently, our renewable energy capacity is 136 Giga Watts. In March 2019, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change launched the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) making India the first country to launch a national plan on sustainable cooling. The responsibility of successfully tackling climate change does not entirely rely upon the government alone. Laxman Singh, a climate crusader from Rajasthan, has been building water conservation and natural resource management systems in the rural, drought-prone districts of the state since 1977.

'India addressing climate change issue efficiently' 

Delhi Chief Minister&nbsp;Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced a weekend curfew owing to the surging covid cases in the last few days in India's capital.

All spas, auditoriums and malls have been asked to stay shut from Friday evening till further orders.

"I had a meeting with L-G (&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor). We have decided to impose a weekend curfew in Delhi. This is because people generally go out for work on weekdays and entertainment on weekends. So to break the chain, we are imposing a weekend curfew, exempting essential services," Kejriwal said.

However, keeping in mind that essential services do not get affected by the decision, the state government has given exemption in certain categories.

What's allowed:

Essential services to operate with curfew passes.

Interstate transport to continue.

Wedding guests in the permissible limit can apply for passes for movement.&nbsp;

No pass required for movement for medical purposes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Movie shows are allowed to operate at 30% of seating capacity.

Traveller movement allowed but need to show passes.

Only one weekly market will be allowed each day per zone.

Home delivery of food is allowed.

What's not allowed:

Markets, malls, gyms, spas, auditoriums, and swimming pools to remain shut &nbsp;

Work from home in all private offices.

No dine-in restaurants, only take-aways.&nbsp;

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced a weekend curfew owing to the surging covid cases in the last few days in India's capital. All spas, auditoriums and malls have been asked to stay shut from Friday evening till further orders.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced a weekend curfew owing to the surging covid cases in the last few days in India's capital. All spas, auditoriums and malls have been asked to stay shut from Friday evening till further orders. "I had a meeting with L-G ( Lieutenant Governor). We have decided to impose a weekend curfew in Delhi. This is because people generally go out for work on weekdays and entertainment on weekends. So to break the chain, we are imposing a weekend curfew, exempting essential services," Kejriwal said. However, keeping in mind that essential services do not get affected by the decision, the state government has given exemption in certain categories. What's allowed: Essential services to operate with curfew passes. Interstate transport to continue. Wedding guests in the permissible limit can apply for passes for movement. No pass required for movement for medical purposes. Movie shows are allowed to operate at 30% of seating capacity. Traveller movement allowed but need to show passes. Only one weekly market will be allowed each day per zone. Home delivery of food is allowed. What's not allowed: Markets, malls, gyms, spas, auditoriums, and swimming pools to remain shut Work from home in all private offices. No dine-in restaurants, only take-aways.

COVID-19: Delhi CM announces weekend curfew: Timings, what's open, what's closed and guidelines

Facebook has signed a deal to buy renewable energy in India from a local firm's wind power project, the social media giant's first such deal in the South Asian nation, the companies said on Thursday.

The 32-megawatt wind power project, located in southern Karnataka state, is part of a larger portfolio of wind and solar projects that Facebook and Mumbai-based CleanMax are working together on for supplying renewable power into India's electrical grid, they said in a joint statement.

CleanMax will own and operate the projects, while Facebook will buy the power off the grid using environmental attribute certificates, or carbon credits, the companies said.

Facebook's head of renewable energy, Urvi Parekh, told Reuters the company typically doesn't own the power plants but instead signs "long-term" electricity purchasing agreements with the renewable power company.

"That enables the project to seek out the financing that it would need," she said.

India is Facebook's biggest market by users.

In Singapore, Facebook has announced similar partnerships with energy providers Sunseap Group, Terrenus Energy and Sembcorp Industries on projects that can produce 160 MW of solar power, Parekh said.

The electricity generated from these plants will power the&nbsp;tech&nbsp;giant's first Asian data centre https://reut.rs/3uPvtrv that is set to start operations next year, she added.

Data centres driving&nbsp;tech&nbsp;companies like Facebook use up as much as 1% of the world's total energy, the International Energy Agency said last year.

Tech&nbsp;companies like Amazon, Alphabet Inc, and Microsoft have pledged to operate carbon-free and achieve net-zero emissions, as demand for data and digital services is expected to see a sustained rise.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced separately on Thursday that the company's global operations are now supported wholly by renewable energy and that it has reached net-zero emissions.

Facebook has signed a deal to buy renewable energy in India from a local firm's wind power project, the social media giant's first such deal in the South Asian nation, the companies said on Thursday.

Facebook has signed a deal to buy renewable energy in India from a local firm's wind power project, the social media giant's first such deal in the South Asian nation, the companies said on Thursday. The 32-megawatt wind power project, located in southern Karnataka state, is part of a larger portfolio of wind and solar projects that Facebook and Mumbai-based CleanMax are working together on for supplying renewable power into India's electrical grid, they said in a joint statement. CleanMax will own and operate the projects, while Facebook will buy the power off the grid using environmental attribute certificates, or carbon credits, the companies said. Facebook's head of renewable energy, Urvi Parekh, told Reuters the company typically doesn't own the power plants but instead signs "long-term" electricity purchasing agreements with the renewable power company. "That enables the project to seek out the financing that it would need," she said. India is Facebook's biggest market by users. In Singapore, Facebook has announced similar partnerships with energy providers Sunseap Group, Terrenus Energy and Sembcorp Industries on projects that can produce 160 MW of solar power, Parekh said. The electricity generated from these plants will power the tech giant's first Asian data centre https://reut.rs/3uPvtrv that is set to start operations next year, she added. Data centres driving tech companies like Facebook use up as much as 1% of the world's total energy, the International Energy Agency said last year. Tech companies like Amazon, Alphabet Inc, and Microsoft have pledged to operate carbon-free and achieve net-zero emissions, as demand for data and digital services is expected to see a sustained rise. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced separately on Thursday that the company's global operations are now supported wholly by renewable energy and that it has reached net-zero emissions.

Facebook signs first deal to buy renewable energy in India

Indian politicians who tested positive for Covid-19

The new COVID-19 wave in India, in which the number of cases is skyrocketing, is hitting children hard. As per the data from the Union Health Ministry of India 79,688 children have been infected in the five worst hit states since March.

India: Second wave of COVID-19 is affecting more children

Addressing the media a day after Tamil Nadu saw its highest number of daily Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began, Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan reassured the public about the copious availability of drugs to treat Covid-19 and other ailments in the state. On Wednesday, Tamil Nadu witnessed 7,819 cases, which took the active cases to 54,315.&nbsp;

Urging the public to not panic over the rising cases, the Health Secretary said that the state has been witnessing a low death rate of 1.35%. He reassured the public about the state’s robust healthcare system and the availability of beds right from Public health centres to secondary care hospitals among others.&nbsp;

“In cities like Chennai and Coimbatore more and more people are choosing to get admitted in hospitals, hence there is a difficulty in getting beds. Now we have put in a system for screening patients who can be allocated beds based on the requirement. There are about 50,000 active cases now and the occupancy of beds n Tamil Nadu is around 10 per cent, whereas t is 20 per cent in Chennai city” said Radhakrishnan.&nbsp;

He also added that the State government has requested the Centre to grant permission to inoculate athletes, differently-abled and shopkeepers, those who are aged below 45.&nbsp;

Making a mention of the availability of drugs to treat Covid-19 and other ailments, he said that Tamil Nadu had stocks worth Rs.120 cr that would easily last 3 months. Separate teams have been formed to ensure the availability and uninterrupted supply of power, oxygen etc. at hospitals, along with the provision of diesel generators.&nbsp;

Addressing the media a day after Tamil Nadu saw its highest number of daily Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began, Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan reassured the public about the copious availability of drugs to treat Covid-19 and other ailments in the state.

Addressing the media a day after Tamil Nadu saw its highest number of daily Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began, Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan reassured the public about the copious availability of drugs to treat Covid-19 and other ailments in the state. On Wednesday, Tamil Nadu witnessed 7,819 cases, which took the active cases to 54,315. Urging the public to not panic over the rising cases, the Health Secretary said that the state has been witnessing a low death rate of 1.35%. He reassured the public about the state’s robust healthcare system and the availability of beds right from Public health centres to secondary care hospitals among others. “In cities like Chennai and Coimbatore more and more people are choosing to get admitted in hospitals, hence there is a difficulty in getting beds. Now we have put in a system for screening patients who can be allocated beds based on the requirement. There are about 50,000 active cases now and the occupancy of beds n Tamil Nadu is around 10 per cent, whereas t is 20 per cent in Chennai city” said Radhakrishnan. He also added that the State government has requested the Centre to grant permission to inoculate athletes, differently-abled and shopkeepers, those who are aged below 45. Making a mention of the availability of drugs to treat Covid-19 and other ailments, he said that Tamil Nadu had stocks worth Rs.120 cr that would easily last 3 months. Separate teams have been formed to ensure the availability and uninterrupted supply of power, oxygen etc. at hospitals, along with the provision of diesel generators.

Tamil Nadu has Covid-19, other medication stock for 3 months, don’t panic: Health Secretary

The bilateral trade in education services between India and the US could record exponential growth if Washington removes barriers like visa and entry restrictions on the free flow of students, according to a top American business advocacy group.

The 2020 Open Doors report on International Educational Exchange highlights that during the 2019-20 academic year, India remained the second largest source of international students in the US, despite a four per cent decline to 193,124 students, making up 18 per cent of the total higher education international student community in the US, the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) said in a report.

The Open Doors report was recently released by the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education (IIE).

Removing trade barriers on the free flow of students and educational services can strengthen the competitiveness of the US economy by way of value addition and job creation, it said.

In the report US-India Higher Education Partnership: A Win-Win Opportunity USISPF visualises tremendous opportunities for the two countries in the higher education segment from both trade and investment perspectives, which are crucial for the economic growth of both economies.

There are mutual gains for both partners, as the US wants to improve its bilateral trade balance with India to save jobs through increased exports, and India's young STEM talent assesses the US as one of the best destinations for world-class higher education and professional training opportunities, it said.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

If visa barriers are addressed, the bilateral trade in education services could record exponential growth, the USISPF said.

According to the 2019 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, India is the second-highest country of origin for foreign students in the US and has been, consecutively, for ten years.

In 2018-19, before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 200,000 Indian students came to the US to pursue undergraduate, graduate, non-degree, and optional practical training (OPT) programmes, a 2.9 per cent increase from 2017-18,.

The OPT programme allows international students to work in the US after completion of their courses.

The pre-pandemic trend was also evident in the bilateral trade statistics, which capture spending on educational travel between the two countries. From 2015 to 2019, the amount spent by Indian students on educational travel to the US rose by 45 per cent, to nearly USD7.7 billion, the USISPF said.

Significantly, these trade data only include cross-border expenditures and do not reflect the additional economic activity generated by students through local spending on fees, housing, and living expenses, it said.

The USISPF has recommended the US to make comprehensive immigration reforms that allow robust student mobility by reviewing and streamlining the student visa process, especially for countries that send the most students to the United States.

It also urges the US to enable a framework for OPT, expand training opportunities for capable international students following graduation, create a coherent national framework for international education that aligns with the US diplomatic, economic and immigration goals and increase immigration numbers to the levels during the Obama administration.

The bilateral trade in education services between India and the US could record exponential growth if Washington removes barriers like visa and entry restrictions on the free flow of students, according to a top American business advocacy group.

The bilateral trade in education services between India and the US could record exponential growth if Washington removes barriers like visa and entry restrictions on the free flow of students, according to a top American business advocacy group. The 2020 Open Doors report on International Educational Exchange highlights that during the 2019-20 academic year, India remained the second largest source of international students in the US, despite a four per cent decline to 193,124 students, making up 18 per cent of the total higher education international student community in the US, the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) said in a report. The Open Doors report was recently released by the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education (IIE). Removing trade barriers on the free flow of students and educational services can strengthen the competitiveness of the US economy by way of value addition and job creation, it said. In the report US-India Higher Education Partnership: A Win-Win Opportunity USISPF visualises tremendous opportunities for the two countries in the higher education segment from both trade and investment perspectives, which are crucial for the economic growth of both economies. There are mutual gains for both partners, as the US wants to improve its bilateral trade balance with India to save jobs through increased exports, and India's young STEM talent assesses the US as one of the best destinations for world-class higher education and professional training opportunities, it said. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. If visa barriers are addressed, the bilateral trade in education services could record exponential growth, the USISPF said. According to the 2019 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, India is the second-highest country of origin for foreign students in the US and has been, consecutively, for ten years. In 2018-19, before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 200,000 Indian students came to the US to pursue undergraduate, graduate, non-degree, and optional practical training (OPT) programmes, a 2.9 per cent increase from 2017-18,. The OPT programme allows international students to work in the US after completion of their courses. The pre-pandemic trend was also evident in the bilateral trade statistics, which capture spending on educational travel between the two countries. From 2015 to 2019, the amount spent by Indian students on educational travel to the US rose by 45 per cent, to nearly USD7.7 billion, the USISPF said. Significantly, these trade data only include cross-border expenditures and do not reflect the additional economic activity generated by students through local spending on fees, housing, and living expenses, it said. The USISPF has recommended the US to make comprehensive immigration reforms that allow robust student mobility by reviewing and streamlining the student visa process, especially for countries that send the most students to the United States. It also urges the US to enable a framework for OPT, expand training opportunities for capable international students following graduation, create a coherent national framework for international education that aligns with the US diplomatic, economic and immigration goals and increase immigration numbers to the levels during the Obama administration.

US must address visa barriers to grow trade in education services with India: Business group

Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh administered more than 10 million COVID-19 vaccinations during the four-day ''Tika Utsav'', the health ministry said on Thursday.

The vaccination festival from April 11-14 saw intense vaccination activity with 29,33,418 doses being given on April 11, and another 40,04,521 jabs administered the next day, the ministry said.

The corresponding figure for 13th and 14th April stands at 26,46,528 and 33,13,848.

The total vaccination figures during the ''Tika Utsav'' saw a jump of 1,28,98,314 vaccine doses being administered to people of eligible groups across the country, the ministry said.

Three states administered more than 1 crore vaccinations cumulatively. These are Maharashtra (1,11,19,018), Rajasthan (1,02,15,471) and Uttar Pradesh (1,00,17,650), it said

India has been scaling multiple peaks in its effort to vaccinate vulnerable sections of its population against the COVID-19 virus.

The ‘Tika Utsav’ saw many Workplace Vaccination Centres (CVCs) operational across private and public workplaces, the ministry said.

On an average 45,000 CVCs used to be functional on any given day. On Day-1, Day-2, Day-3 and Day-4 of the four day ''Tika Utsav'', 63,800, 71,000, 67,893 and 69,974 CVCs were active, respectively.

On the first day of the vaccination festival, which was a Sunday, more than 27 lakh vaccine doses were administered till 8 pm that day.

Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh administered more than 10 million COVID-19 vaccinations during the four-day ''Tika Utsav'', the health ministry said on Thursday.

Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh administered more than 10 million COVID-19 vaccinations during the four-day ''Tika Utsav'', the health ministry said on Thursday. The vaccination festival from April 11-14 saw intense vaccination activity with 29,33,418 doses being given on April 11, and another 40,04,521 jabs administered the next day, the ministry said. The corresponding figure for 13th and 14th April stands at 26,46,528 and 33,13,848. The total vaccination figures during the ''Tika Utsav'' saw a jump of 1,28,98,314 vaccine doses being administered to people of eligible groups across the country, the ministry said. Three states administered more than 1 crore vaccinations cumulatively. These are Maharashtra (1,11,19,018), Rajasthan (1,02,15,471) and Uttar Pradesh (1,00,17,650), it said India has been scaling multiple peaks in its effort to vaccinate vulnerable sections of its population against the COVID-19 virus. The ‘Tika Utsav’ saw many Workplace Vaccination Centres (CVCs) operational across private and public workplaces, the ministry said. On an average 45,000 CVCs used to be functional on any given day. On Day-1, Day-2, Day-3 and Day-4 of the four day ''Tika Utsav'', 63,800, 71,000, 67,893 and 69,974 CVCs were active, respectively. On the first day of the vaccination festival, which was a Sunday, more than 27 lakh vaccine doses were administered till 8 pm that day.

India vaccine drive: Three states administered more than 10 million shots

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a CBI probe into the role of Kerala police officers in framing ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan in the 1994 ISRO espionage case. 
 
A bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar accepted the report of a panel headed by former top court judge D.K. Jain, and asked the CBI to carry out further investigation. The top court said the matter is very serious and it requires a CBI probe. 
 
The bench asked the acting CBI Director to take charge of the case and treat the report by the Justice Jain panel as a preliminary inquiry report to conduct further investigations into the matter. 
 
The bench also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Krishna Murari also asked the CBI to file a status report on its investigations in three months. The top court has ordered that the panel's report should be kept confidential in a sealed cover. 
 
The 79-year-old Narayanan waged a legal battle against the Kerala police officers who accused him of being a Pakistan`s spy in 1994. Besides appointing the panel, the top court had directed the Kerala government to pay Rs 50 lakh compensation to Narayanan for causing him immense humiliation. 
 
In 2018, a bench of the then Chief Justice Dipak Misra decided to appoint a committee under Jain and asked the Centre and the Kerala government to name one person each to the committee. While the Centre appointed a top official -- D.K. Prasad, the Pinarayi Vijayan government appointed former Additional Chief Secretary V.S. Senthil. 
 
The ISRO spy case surfaced in 1994 when Narayanan was arrested on charges of espionage along with another senior official of ISRO, two Maldivian women and a businessman. 
 
The CBI had held that the then top police officials in Kerala were responsible for Narayanan`s illegal arrest. The panel examined the circumstances leading to Narayanan`s arrest. It was alleged that confidential documents on India`s space program were allegedly transferred to foreign countries. 
 
Narayanan had maintained that Kerala police fabricated the case and the technology he was accused to have stolen and sold in the 1994 case did not even exist at that time.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a CBI probe into the role of Kerala police officers in framing ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan in the 1994 ISRO espionage case.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a CBI probe into the role of Kerala police officers in framing ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan in the 1994 ISRO espionage case. A bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar accepted the report of a panel headed by former top court judge D.K. Jain, and asked the CBI to carry out further investigation. The top court said the matter is very serious and it requires a CBI probe. The bench asked the acting CBI Director to take charge of the case and treat the report by the Justice Jain panel as a preliminary inquiry report to conduct further investigations into the matter. The bench also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Krishna Murari also asked the CBI to file a status report on its investigations in three months. The top court has ordered that the panel's report should be kept confidential in a sealed cover. The 79-year-old Narayanan waged a legal battle against the Kerala police officers who accused him of being a Pakistan`s spy in 1994. Besides appointing the panel, the top court had directed the Kerala government to pay Rs 50 lakh compensation to Narayanan for causing him immense humiliation. In 2018, a bench of the then Chief Justice Dipak Misra decided to appoint a committee under Jain and asked the Centre and the Kerala government to name one person each to the committee. While the Centre appointed a top official -- D.K. Prasad, the Pinarayi Vijayan government appointed former Additional Chief Secretary V.S. Senthil. The ISRO spy case surfaced in 1994 when Narayanan was arrested on charges of espionage along with another senior official of ISRO, two Maldivian women and a businessman. The CBI had held that the then top police officials in Kerala were responsible for Narayanan`s illegal arrest. The panel examined the circumstances leading to Narayanan`s arrest. It was alleged that confidential documents on India`s space program were allegedly transferred to foreign countries. Narayanan had maintained that Kerala police fabricated the case and the technology he was accused to have stolen and sold in the 1994 case did not even exist at that time.

ISRO spy case: Supreme Court orders CBI probe into framing of Nambi Narayanan

India`s new coronavirus infections reached a record of 184,372 in the last 24 hours, health ministry data showed on Wednesday, as most of the south Asian nation battles a second surge in cases. 
 
The nationwide tally of infections is 13.9 million, with the data showing deaths rose by 1,027, for a toll of 172,085.

More than a thousand cases have been reported in Haridwar district in the last two days, according to government data.

From reporting less than 10,000 cases per day earlier this year,&nbsp;India&nbsp;has been the world's worst-hit country since April 2 by new daily cases, with the government blaming https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-surge-idUSKBN2BV129 a widespread failure to heed curbs on movement and social interaction.

India's richest state Maharashtra, the epicentre of the national second wave and which accounts for about a quarter of the country's cases, is due to impose stringent restrictions from Wednesday to try to contain the spread.

Elsewhere, overstretched private hospitals are turning patients away, placing an increasing burden on government facilities.

In the western state of Gujarat, local media showed a long queue of ambulances waiting outside Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, with some patients being treated there while they waited.

A hospital source, who declined to be named as he is not authorised to speak publicly, said this was because a lot of private hospitals were short of oxygen and were sending their patients to the public hospital.

India`s new coronavirus infections reached a record of 184,372 in the last 24 hours, health ministry data showed on Wednesday, as most of the south Asian nation battles a second surge in cases.

India`s new coronavirus infections reached a record of 184,372 in the last 24 hours, health ministry data showed on Wednesday, as most of the south Asian nation battles a second surge in cases. The nationwide tally of infections is 13.9 million, with the data showing deaths rose by 1,027, for a toll of 172,085. More than a thousand cases have been reported in Haridwar district in the last two days, according to government data. From reporting less than 10,000 cases per day earlier this year, India has been the world's worst-hit country since April 2 by new daily cases, with the government blaming https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-surge-idUSKBN2BV129 a widespread failure to heed curbs on movement and social interaction. India's richest state Maharashtra, the epicentre of the national second wave and which accounts for about a quarter of the country's cases, is due to impose stringent restrictions from Wednesday to try to contain the spread. Elsewhere, overstretched private hospitals are turning patients away, placing an increasing burden on government facilities. In the western state of Gujarat, local media showed a long queue of ambulances waiting outside Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, with some patients being treated there while they waited. A hospital source, who declined to be named as he is not authorised to speak publicly, said this was because a lot of private hospitals were short of oxygen and were sending their patients to the public hospital.

India's daily coronavirus infections hit new record of 184,372

Russia has called India a "welcomed partner" in its efforts when it comes to the Afghan peace process.

"India is the closest friend and (most) trusted partner. Big meeting of minds on the majority of global and regional issues... India is a welcomed partner in our efforts to secure solutions for security and stability and predictability in and around Afghanistan,"&nbsp;Russian envoy to Delhi, Nikolay Kudashev, said.

This has come after India was not invited for troika plus talks on Afghanistan, which were hosted by Moscow. Russia, the US, China and Pakistan were the main countries at the Troika plus talks that took place last month on March 18.

In response to WION's question of&nbsp;whether India will be invited for future troika talks on Afghanistan, Kudashev said, "India was never denied an opportunity to be in troika but otherwise there is still a larger and&nbsp;more comprehensive format where India is the most welcome part. Thus, the problem should not be seen from the point of view of denial, but rather from the point of view of the multiplicity of choice."&nbsp;

Russia has been holding Moscow format talks on Afghanistan. India has been invited for this format of talks that involved Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and Iran.

This year, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be visiting India for the annual India-Russia bilateral summit.

Ahead of the visit that will take place towards the end of 2021, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in Delhi in April. During Lavrov's visit, in which the Russian special envoy on Afghan Zamir Kabulov was also present, a considerable discussion took place on Afghanistan.

Russia has called India a "welcomed partner" in its efforts when it comes to the Afghan peace process. "India is the closest friend and (most) trusted partner. Big meeting of minds on the majority of global and regional issues.

Russia has called India a "welcomed partner" in its efforts when it comes to the Afghan peace process. "India is the closest friend and (most) trusted partner. Big meeting of minds on the majority of global and regional issues... India is a welcomed partner in our efforts to secure solutions for security and stability and predictability in and around Afghanistan," Russian envoy to Delhi, Nikolay Kudashev, said. This has come after India was not invited for troika plus talks on Afghanistan, which were hosted by Moscow. Russia, the US, China and Pakistan were the main countries at the Troika plus talks that took place last month on March 18. In response to WION's question of whether India will be invited for future troika talks on Afghanistan, Kudashev said, "India was never denied an opportunity to be in troika but otherwise there is still a larger and more comprehensive format where India is the most welcome part. Thus, the problem should not be seen from the point of view of denial, but rather from the point of view of the multiplicity of choice." Russia has been holding Moscow format talks on Afghanistan. India has been invited for this format of talks that involved Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and Iran. This year, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be visiting India for the annual India-Russia bilateral summit. Ahead of the visit that will take place towards the end of 2021, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in Delhi in April. During Lavrov's visit, in which the Russian special envoy on Afghan Zamir Kabulov was also present, a considerable discussion took place on Afghanistan.

'India is a welcomed partner', says Russian envoy on Moscow led engagement on Afghan peace process

It is a scientifically established fact that human activity over the past century is a major contributing factor to climate change. To build a sustainable planet, it is important to reduce the long-lasting impact of industrial activity on earth. In recent years, the concept of the circular economy gained ground.

So what is circularity? Nature thrives in it. In simple terms, it is what happens when a leaf falls. It goes back into the earth and becomes the fodder for more trees to grow. Nature has cracked the code on circular economy long ago. It is time for people to follow their lead.

A circular economy seeks to eliminate waste and use our planet's resources responsibly, mainly through reuse, sharing, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing and recycling.

The idea is to reduce the use of the earth's precious resources and cut the creation of waste which also leads to pollution and carbon emissions. The loop model of using resources involves waste material becoming inputs for other industrial processes.

With its upcoming International Centre for Sustainability Education (ICSE), Mobius Foundation is spearheading efforts to create awareness about a sustainable planet.

ICSE would be of its kind Centre for Sustainability Education which will be established as an outcome of the International Conference on sustainability education, organised in Sept 2019 and 2020.

The mission of ICSE is sharing innovative ideas and understanding on sustainability education within the overall objective of strengthening the role of education in changing attitudes and behaviour towards positive action for a better quality of life and environment', ultimately leading to the achievement of SDGs and creating a sustainable future for all.

The objective of the centre is to share good practices in sustainability education in the school system and provide a regional platform for the exchange of experiences and good practices amongst educators, practitioners and policymakers. It is also to serve as a resource hub and unique intellectual space for educators and students at all levels.

Mobius Foundation aims to design, develop and conduct ‘Training of Trainers (ToT) on Circular Economy’ with a focus on circular economy practises for educational institutes, circularity in the plastic sector, with the spillover on associated sectors like textile, automobile and biomedical waste.

ICSE will educate teachers and trainers in school, colleges and institutes to instil a sense of responsibility for the environment, developing environment-conscious next generation and contribute to SDGs 2030 through training and capacity building. Training of trainers will be conducted across India, with support from Mobius Foundation.

Trainers will learn the subject of circular economy and provide cases of managing materials for sustainability. The course will provide training on the tools for analysing circular models, promote the development of ideas to become more involved in the transition to a circular economy.

The training will enhance the skills and enable the ecosystem for research and development, eco-design, resource conservation and resource efficiency, recycling for resource recovery.

It will build awareness of reducing pressure on the environment. 
 
The training will build capacity for trainees to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. It will enable businesses, manufacturing units and industry clusters to turn circular.

It will contribute to the national resource efficiency policy, climate change policy and the Swachh Bharat mission and the Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission of the government of India.

It is a scientifically established fact that human activity over the past century is a major contributing factor to climate change. To build a sustainable planet, it is important to reduce the long-lasting impact of industrial activity on earth.

It is a scientifically established fact that human activity over the past century is a major contributing factor to climate change. To build a sustainable planet, it is important to reduce the long-lasting impact of industrial activity on earth. In recent years, the concept of the circular economy gained ground. So what is circularity? Nature thrives in it. In simple terms, it is what happens when a leaf falls. It goes back into the earth and becomes the fodder for more trees to grow. Nature has cracked the code on circular economy long ago. It is time for people to follow their lead. A circular economy seeks to eliminate waste and use our planet's resources responsibly, mainly through reuse, sharing, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing and recycling. The idea is to reduce the use of the earth's precious resources and cut the creation of waste which also leads to pollution and carbon emissions. The loop model of using resources involves waste material becoming inputs for other industrial processes. With its upcoming International Centre for Sustainability Education (ICSE), Mobius Foundation is spearheading efforts to create awareness about a sustainable planet. ICSE would be of its kind Centre for Sustainability Education which will be established as an outcome of the International Conference on sustainability education, organised in Sept 2019 and 2020. The mission of ICSE is sharing innovative ideas and understanding on sustainability education within the overall objective of strengthening the role of education in changing attitudes and behaviour towards positive action for a better quality of life and environment', ultimately leading to the achievement of SDGs and creating a sustainable future for all. The objective of the centre is to share good practices in sustainability education in the school system and provide a regional platform for the exchange of experiences and good practices amongst educators, practitioners and policymakers. It is also to serve as a resource hub and unique intellectual space for educators and students at all levels. Mobius Foundation aims to design, develop and conduct ‘Training of Trainers (ToT) on Circular Economy’ with a focus on circular economy practises for educational institutes, circularity in the plastic sector, with the spillover on associated sectors like textile, automobile and biomedical waste. ICSE will educate teachers and trainers in school, colleges and institutes to instil a sense of responsibility for the environment, developing environment-conscious next generation and contribute to SDGs 2030 through training and capacity building. Training of trainers will be conducted across India, with support from Mobius Foundation. Trainers will learn the subject of circular economy and provide cases of managing materials for sustainability. The course will provide training on the tools for analysing circular models, promote the development of ideas to become more involved in the transition to a circular economy. The training will enhance the skills and enable the ecosystem for research and development, eco-design, resource conservation and resource efficiency, recycling for resource recovery. It will build awareness of reducing pressure on the environment. The training will build capacity for trainees to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. It will enable businesses, manufacturing units and industry clusters to turn circular. It will contribute to the national resource efficiency policy, climate change policy and the Swachh Bharat mission and the Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission of the government of India.

Tackling climate change: New centre in India will impart training on circular economy

Over 800 Indian Sikhs, whose journey to Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan to attend the Baisakhi festival was affected due to the road blockades imposed by the supporters of a radical Islamist party, finally reached their destination in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The Indian pilgrims had reached Lahore via the Wagah border on Monday to attend the festival.&nbsp;

But their journey was affected by the road blockade by supporters of Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) demanding the expulsion of the French envoy over the publication of blasphemous caricatures in France.&nbsp;

On Tuesday afternoon, the visiting Indian Sikhs left for Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassanabdal in 25 buses, which were escorted by the police and the Rangers.&nbsp;

"Owing to the TLP protest that blocked roads, the Sikh yatrees reached Hassanabdal at 4 am on Wednesday after over 14 hours of journey which otherwise is covered in three hours," an official of the Punjab government said. &nbsp;

They attended the main event on Wednesday in which several local Sikhs also participated.&nbsp;

The Indian Sikhs are scheduled to visit other holy places in the Punjab province of Pakistan during their 10-day stay in the country. &nbsp;

The TLP, which bagged 2.5 million votes in the 2018 general elections, blocked the roads across the country following the arrest of Saad Rizvi, son of Khadim Hussain Rizvi who died a few months ago.&nbsp;

Over 800 Indian Sikhs, whose journey to Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan to attend the Baisakhi festival was affected due to the road blockades imposed by the supporters of a radical Islamist party, finally reached their destination in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

Over 800 Indian Sikhs, whose journey to Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan to attend the Baisakhi festival was affected due to the road blockades imposed by the supporters of a radical Islamist party, finally reached their destination in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. The Indian pilgrims had reached Lahore via the Wagah border on Monday to attend the festival. But their journey was affected by the road blockade by supporters of Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) demanding the expulsion of the French envoy over the publication of blasphemous caricatures in France. On Tuesday afternoon, the visiting Indian Sikhs left for Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassanabdal in 25 buses, which were escorted by the police and the Rangers. "Owing to the TLP protest that blocked roads, the Sikh yatrees reached Hassanabdal at 4 am on Wednesday after over 14 hours of journey which otherwise is covered in three hours," an official of the Punjab government said. They attended the main event on Wednesday in which several local Sikhs also participated. The Indian Sikhs are scheduled to visit other holy places in the Punjab province of Pakistan during their 10-day stay in the country. The TLP, which bagged 2.5 million votes in the 2018 general elections, blocked the roads across the country following the arrest of Saad Rizvi, son of Khadim Hussain Rizvi who died a few months ago.

Over 800 Indian Sikh pilgrims affected by protests in Pak reach Panja Sahib  

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday announced restrictions starting 8 p.m. on April 14, till April 30, to break the chain of the coronavirus which has gripped the state. 
 
However, Mumbai suburban trains and city buses will continue to run, but commutes will be permitted for those in the designated `essential services, he said. 
 
Maharashtra has been the country's worst-hit state due to the coronavirus, accounting for about a quarter of India's 13.5 million cases.&nbsp;

These things will not be allowed during the COVID-19 curfew in Maharashtra:

Citizens are not allowed to move in public places without valid reasons mentioned by the government.

All the establishments, public places, activities and services shall remain closed.&nbsp;

Only people from the essential services category will be allowed to unrestricted movements.

The decision regarding drivers, attendants to work in the 'exception category' will be taken by local authorities.

Essential categories that will be allowed&nbsp;

Shops: Grocery, vegetable shops, fruit vendors, dairies, bakeries and confectionaries can be open between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Medical services:&nbsp;Hospitals, diagnostic centres, vaccination clinics and any manufacturing and distribution related to medical products.&nbsp;

Veterinary services, animal care shelters and pet food shops. Cold storage and warehousing services.&nbsp;

Transport:&nbsp;Public transport including aeroplanes, trains, taxis, autos and buses. Banks, stock exchanges, depositories and clearing corporations. Agriculture and other related activities.&nbsp;

E-commerce:&nbsp;Only for the supply of essential goods and services. Accredited media. Petrol pumps. Data centres and IT services supporting critical infrastructure.&nbsp;

Water, electric and gas supply. Postal services.&nbsp;

Manufacturing units producing raw material for an essential service.

Government, banking, insurance and pharmaceutical firm offices.&nbsp;

Only home delivery of food from restaurants and roadside eateries.

House-helps would be allowed to travel and work

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday announced restrictions starting 8 p.m. on April 14, till April 30, to break the chain of the coronavirus which has gripped the state.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday announced restrictions starting 8 p.m. on April 14, till April 30, to break the chain of the coronavirus which has gripped the state. However, Mumbai suburban trains and city buses will continue to run, but commutes will be permitted for those in the designated `essential services, he said. Maharashtra has been the country's worst-hit state due to the coronavirus, accounting for about a quarter of India's 13.5 million cases. These things will not be allowed during the COVID-19 curfew in Maharashtra: Citizens are not allowed to move in public places without valid reasons mentioned by the government. All the establishments, public places, activities and services shall remain closed. Only people from the essential services category will be allowed to unrestricted movements. The decision regarding drivers, attendants to work in the 'exception category' will be taken by local authorities. Essential categories that will be allowed Shops: Grocery, vegetable shops, fruit vendors, dairies, bakeries and confectionaries can be open between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Medical services: Hospitals, diagnostic centres, vaccination clinics and any manufacturing and distribution related to medical products. Veterinary services, animal care shelters and pet food shops. Cold storage and warehousing services. Transport: Public transport including aeroplanes, trains, taxis, autos and buses. Banks, stock exchanges, depositories and clearing corporations. Agriculture and other related activities. E-commerce: Only for the supply of essential goods and services. Accredited media. Petrol pumps. Data centres and IT services supporting critical infrastructure. Water, electric and gas supply. Postal services. Manufacturing units producing raw material for an essential service. Government, banking, insurance and pharmaceutical firm offices. Only home delivery of food from restaurants and roadside eateries. House-helps would be allowed to travel and work

Maharashtra 15-day strict Covid restrictions: What’s allowed, what’s not

Kids at more risk in India's second COVID-19 wave

India's richest state Maharashtra will impose stringent curbs on industry and e-commerce for 15 days to slow rising coronavirus infections, its chief minister said on Tuesday, a move that is set to cripple manufacturing and other businesses in the region.

Maharashtra,&nbsp;home to India's financial capital&nbsp;Mumbai, has been the country's worst-hit state due to the coronavirus, accounting for about a quarter of India's 13.5 million cases. On Tuesday, Maharashtra reported 60,212 new COVID-19 infections.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, state chief minister Uddhav Thackeray ordered most establishments and public places will be closed in the state except those which are deemed essential, including grocery shops, hospitals, banks and stock exchanges.

"All factories/industries" barring some export-oriented units and those making items needed for essential services "must stop their operations", a government notification said.

The curbs, which start Wednesday, could hit auto companies like Tata Motors Ltd , Bajaj Auto Ltd , and Mahindra &amp; Mahindra Ltd which operate factories in the state.

E-commerce deliveries will be allowed but only for essential products, the government said, a decision that will affect deliveries and online ordering on companies like Amazon.com Inc and Walmart's Flipkart.

"Livelihoods are important, but life is more important. We need to increase existing restrictions," Thackeray said.

The restrictions will jolt businesses in Maharashtra but also risk having a broader impact on the Indian economy. The state accounts for nearly 15 per cent&nbsp;of India's gross domestic product, making it crucial for the country's economic recovery after months of slowdown.

Maharashtra had already shut down restaurants, bars, gyms, theatres and non-essential stores last week, a move some industry groups had warned will cause economic losses of billions of dollars.

The more stringent restrictions announced on Tuesday said no one should "move in public places without valid reasons" and all public places and non-essential services will remain closed.

Shooting of films and advertisements will also be closed in the state which is home to India's Bollywood film industry.

India's richest state Maharashtra will impose stringent curbs on industry and e-commerce for 15 days to slow rising coronavirus infections, its chief minister said on Tuesday, a move that is set to cripple manufacturing and other businesses in the region.

India's richest state Maharashtra will impose stringent curbs on industry and e-commerce for 15 days to slow rising coronavirus infections, its chief minister said on Tuesday, a move that is set to cripple manufacturing and other businesses in the region. Maharashtra, home to India's financial capital Mumbai, has been the country's worst-hit state due to the coronavirus, accounting for about a quarter of India's 13.5 million cases. On Tuesday, Maharashtra reported 60,212 new COVID-19 infections. On Tuesday, state chief minister Uddhav Thackeray ordered most establishments and public places will be closed in the state except those which are deemed essential, including grocery shops, hospitals, banks and stock exchanges. "All factories/industries" barring some export-oriented units and those making items needed for essential services "must stop their operations", a government notification said. The curbs, which start Wednesday, could hit auto companies like Tata Motors Ltd , Bajaj Auto Ltd , and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd which operate factories in the state. E-commerce deliveries will be allowed but only for essential products, the government said, a decision that will affect deliveries and online ordering on companies like Amazon.com Inc and Walmart's Flipkart. "Livelihoods are important, but life is more important. We need to increase existing restrictions," Thackeray said. The restrictions will jolt businesses in Maharashtra but also risk having a broader impact on the Indian economy. The state accounts for nearly 15 per cent of India's gross domestic product, making it crucial for the country's economic recovery after months of slowdown. Maharashtra had already shut down restaurants, bars, gyms, theatres and non-essential stores last week, a move some industry groups had warned will cause economic losses of billions of dollars. The more stringent restrictions announced on Tuesday said no one should "move in public places without valid reasons" and all public places and non-essential services will remain closed. Shooting of films and advertisements will also be closed in the state which is home to India's Bollywood film industry.

Maharashtra shuts most manufacturing, restricts e-commerce to fight COVID-19

How Indian cities, states fighting coronavirus as concerns mount

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 130th birth anniversary."I bow to Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on AmbedkarJayanti. His struggle to bring the marginalised sections of the society into the mainstream will continue to be an example for every generation," Prime Minister Modi tweeted in Hindi.

Born on April 14, 1891, Babasaheb Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who campaigned against social discrimination towards the untouchables (Dalits) and supported the rights of women and workers.

He died on December 6, 1956, and is also known for being the architect of the Indian constitution.In 1990, Ambedkar was conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India`s highest civilian award.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 130th birth anniversary."I bow to Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on AmbedkarJayanti.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 130th birth anniversary."I bow to Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on AmbedkarJayanti. His struggle to bring the marginalised sections of the society into the mainstream will continue to be an example for every generation," Prime Minister Modi tweeted in Hindi. Born on April 14, 1891, Babasaheb Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who campaigned against social discrimination towards the untouchables (Dalits) and supported the rights of women and workers. He died on December 6, 1956, and is also known for being the architect of the Indian constitution.In 1990, Ambedkar was conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India`s highest civilian award.

PM Modi pays tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 130th birth anniversary

France and India are expected to work together on a joint initiative on phasing out single-use plastics as part of their engagement in dealing with climate change. This was one of the key outcomes of the meet between visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and India's Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.&nbsp;

Speaking at an event in Delhi, in the presence of an Indian minister, the French Foreign minister said, "France and India could also work together to fight single-use plastics. Our countries have taken very strong decisions on this issue...We should invite other countries to join this momentum and why not work on a moratorium on single-use plastics."&nbsp;

India will be phasing out single-use plastics by 2022, and France, for its part, has started to ban a series of single-use plastic products. In the past, India and France have taken the joint initiative, most notable being the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in 2015, which aims to harness the energy of the sun as part of the use of clean energy.&nbsp;

Other than the initiative on 'Single Use Plastic', both sides decided to work on Green Hydrogen or Hydrogen used via 'clean process'. France will also be sending an 'expert' for the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure or CDRI.&nbsp;

French FM lauding CRDI said, "France and India are also cooperating together under the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, which was launched by the Prime Minister of India in 2019."&nbsp;

Adding, "From our point of view, this coalition has a very important role to play in the Indo-Pacific region to adapt infrastructures to the consequences of climate change. Here, too, France will make a concrete contribution by seconding an expert to this organisation in Delhi."&nbsp;

CRDI aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure against climate and disaster risks. 22 countries and 7 organisations have joined the group, as of March 2021.&nbsp;

France and India are expected to work together on a joint initiative on phasing out single-use plastics as part of their engagement in dealing with climate change.

France and India are expected to work together on a joint initiative on phasing out single-use plastics as part of their engagement in dealing with climate change. This was one of the key outcomes of the meet between visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and India's Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. Speaking at an event in Delhi, in the presence of an Indian minister, the French Foreign minister said, "France and India could also work together to fight single-use plastics. Our countries have taken very strong decisions on this issue...We should invite other countries to join this momentum and why not work on a moratorium on single-use plastics." India will be phasing out single-use plastics by 2022, and France, for its part, has started to ban a series of single-use plastic products. In the past, India and France have taken the joint initiative, most notable being the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in 2015, which aims to harness the energy of the sun as part of the use of clean energy. Other than the initiative on 'Single Use Plastic', both sides decided to work on Green Hydrogen or Hydrogen used via 'clean process'. France will also be sending an 'expert' for the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure or CDRI. French FM lauding CRDI said, "France and India are also cooperating together under the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, which was launched by the Prime Minister of India in 2019." Adding, "From our point of view, this coalition has a very important role to play in the Indo-Pacific region to adapt infrastructures to the consequences of climate change. Here, too, France will make a concrete contribution by seconding an expert to this organisation in Delhi." CRDI aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure against climate and disaster risks. 22 countries and 7 organisations have joined the group, as of March 2021.

India, France to work jointly on phasing out single-use plastics 

Slovenia's Foreign Minister Anže Logar has batted for strong ties with India while calling for European Union to increase engagement with countries in the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking exclusively to our Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Logar said, "India is a very interesting and welcome partner for cooperation...see many common positions that we can take together". On the Indo-Pacific vision, the foreign minister said, "We think the EU has to be very actively engaged in discussion with Indo-Pacific countries."&nbsp;

His comments are important since Slovenia will be presiding over the Council of the European Union from July for six months. The Indian PM is expected to travel to Portugal next month for the India EU summit. The summit happens under the Portuguese presidency. Asked about India EU Free Trade agreement, FM Logar pointed out that, his country "would like to bring this issue back high on the agenda of the European Union".&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India-Slovenia ties?&nbsp;

Anže Logar: For Slovenia, India is a very interesting and welcome partner for cooperation. India is the 3rd most important market in this region if we count it as bilateral trade. And I see many common positions, that we can take together, especially, with the new developments of digitalisation, artificial intelligence. Looking forward to enhanced cooperation.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: Next month Indian PM is expected to travel to Portugal for the India EU summit. What will be the key focus. Also, on India EU FTA, while Indian political leadership is keen on it, but it looks some reluctance from European bureaucrats.&nbsp;

Anže Logar: In a way, India is becoming more and more important and even your foreign policy is growing its importance and interest in this global currents of political engagement and economical engagement. In that sense, European Union and India are sharing their values, values built on rule of law and coming from the same democratic hemisphere of the world. In that sense, one should only complement enhanced cooperation and I see initiatives from the Portuguese presidency, very good in a way to improve our bilateral exchange, be it from the economic point of view, be it from a political point of view. Due to the Slovenian geo strategical position, we have port koper, we can be a very good gate for Indian enterprises, in order to access the European hinterland. In that terms, Slovenia is very interested in enhancing cooperation at the EU level.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: And about the India EU FTA.&nbsp;

Anže Logar: We would like to bring this issue back high on the agenda of the European Union. We saw free trade agreement between several countries in the Indo-Pacific region, in which India did not participate in the initiative. It is very important we proceed towards this initiative between India and the European Union. I see this, as one of the main topics on the agenda.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: Slovenia has great tourism potential, especially for Indian tourists.&nbsp;

Anže Logar: Slovenia can offer, on a very small piece of land everything, what to expect, perfect landscapes. This voice of beauty of Slovenia spread around quickly. In that sense, I would suggest, like better, on the highest possible engagement between our tourist agencies as well as to enhance our cooperation. Direct air flight would definitely enhance the availability of the Slovenian tourist market to Indian tourists. &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: What kind of cooperation India and Slovenia have against Covid pandemic?&nbsp;

Anže Logar: We can exchange information as the EU countries exchange it on a daily basis. And if there are some good consequences on countering pandemic, there are best practices in every country around the globe, if we can exchange this, we can tackle the crisis. This is a good way on how to proceed on a mix of measures that can lower volume of the spread of the crisis. Now, we are heading to the 2nd phase, which is the vaccination period, in that sense, it is a global problem. Until we globally vaccinate the population, we will still have problems with covid. So, we have to cooperate in that sense. India, has vast production capacities for vaccines, and the EU is trying to build up the capacities in producing our own, so we have vast space for cooperation. We are all on the same boat, so we have to go in same direction.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: Slovenia will be presiding over the Council of the European Union from July for six months. Key focus areas.&nbsp;

Anže Logar: We hope, we will be the first presidency in a row that will hold meetings in person. In-person rather than via audio and video because it gives pristine relation with interlocutors and it is much easier to agree on certain important details in person than via virtual connections. We hope we will be able to perform it in a full-fledged presidency. If we consider one globally important issue, it is to improve and enhance cooperation with our ally, the US. The last summit was 2017 and since then no discussion at the highest level. FTA between EU and US was stopped, and we have to kick that. The same is with India, we want to synchronise our views on bilateral exchange. Slovenia as a country of central Europe, we want to focus on countries of central Europe and western Balkans. There will be two main issues, one is resilient Europe on the health sector and we want to give strategic debate on managing the health crisis and aim to have good crisis management and second is cybersecurity. Data is next oil and EU needs to be prepared on safeguarding the digital life of European Union.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: Chinese rise, how do you see that...&nbsp;

Anže Logar: China is a seasoned power, it is rising as well, India is rising as well. Big markets are increasing influence in the world and we need to take this into consideration. If look into the Slovenian side, we have imbalanced bilateral ties with China. We import much more than export, and from my perspective, in not so distant future, we want to balance this. Between the partners, we should have more or less the same exchanges. Slovenia can offer high edge technologies, we are taking an active part in seeing the possibility to enhance our bilateral ties. If we look at the EU perspective, the last days of the German presidency, the end of 2020, we had an institutional agreement on investment with China.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: How do you see the Indo-Pacific vision?&nbsp;

Anže Logar: Lot of focus on Indo-Pacific, as well your FM Jaishankar in his book the Indian way, stressed on rediscovering Indo-Pacific and the importance of it. We know the first visit of the US Secretary of state was to Indo-Pacific. This is proof of the importance of the region. As the incoming presidency, we think the EU has to be very actively engaged in discussion with Indo-Pacific countries. &nbsp;

Slovenia's Foreign Minister Anže Logar has batted for strong ties with India while calling for European Union to increase engagement with countries in the Indo-Pacific.

Slovenia's Foreign Minister Anže Logar has batted for strong ties with India while calling for European Union to increase engagement with countries in the Indo-Pacific. Speaking exclusively to our Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Logar said, "India is a very interesting and welcome partner for cooperation...see many common positions that we can take together". On the Indo-Pacific vision, the foreign minister said, "We think the EU has to be very actively engaged in discussion with Indo-Pacific countries." His comments are important since Slovenia will be presiding over the Council of the European Union from July for six months. The Indian PM is expected to travel to Portugal next month for the India EU summit. The summit happens under the Portuguese presidency. Asked about India EU Free Trade agreement, FM Logar pointed out that, his country "would like to bring this issue back high on the agenda of the European Union". Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India-Slovenia ties? Anže Logar: For Slovenia, India is a very interesting and welcome partner for cooperation. India is the 3rd most important market in this region if we count it as bilateral trade. And I see many common positions, that we can take together, especially, with the new developments of digitalisation, artificial intelligence. Looking forward to enhanced cooperation. Sidhant Sibal: Next month Indian PM is expected to travel to Portugal for the India EU summit. What will be the key focus. Also, on India EU FTA, while Indian political leadership is keen on it, but it looks some reluctance from European bureaucrats. Anže Logar: In a way, India is becoming more and more important and even your foreign policy is growing its importance and interest in this global currents of political engagement and economical engagement. In that sense, European Union and India are sharing their values, values built on rule of law and coming from the same democratic hemisphere of the world. In that sense, one should only complement enhanced cooperation and I see initiatives from the Portuguese presidency, very good in a way to improve our bilateral exchange, be it from the economic point of view, be it from a political point of view. Due to the Slovenian geo strategical position, we have port koper, we can be a very good gate for Indian enterprises, in order to access the European hinterland. In that terms, Slovenia is very interested in enhancing cooperation at the EU level. Sidhant Sibal: And about the India EU FTA. Anže Logar: We would like to bring this issue back high on the agenda of the European Union. We saw free trade agreement between several countries in the Indo-Pacific region, in which India did not participate in the initiative. It is very important we proceed towards this initiative between India and the European Union. I see this, as one of the main topics on the agenda. Sidhant Sibal: Slovenia has great tourism potential, especially for Indian tourists. Anže Logar: Slovenia can offer, on a very small piece of land everything, what to expect, perfect landscapes. This voice of beauty of Slovenia spread around quickly. In that sense, I would suggest, like better, on the highest possible engagement between our tourist agencies as well as to enhance our cooperation. Direct air flight would definitely enhance the availability of the Slovenian tourist market to Indian tourists. Sidhant Sibal: What kind of cooperation India and Slovenia have against Covid pandemic? Anže Logar: We can exchange information as the EU countries exchange it on a daily basis. And if there are some good consequences on countering pandemic, there are best practices in every country around the globe, if we can exchange this, we can tackle the crisis. This is a good way on how to proceed on a mix of measures that can lower volume of the spread of the crisis. Now, we are heading to the 2nd phase, which is the vaccination period, in that sense, it is a global problem. Until we globally vaccinate the population, we will still have problems with covid. So, we have to cooperate in that sense. India, has vast production capacities for vaccines, and the EU is trying to build up the capacities in producing our own, so we have vast space for cooperation. We are all on the same boat, so we have to go in same direction. Sidhant Sibal: Slovenia will be presiding over the Council of the European Union from July for six months. Key focus areas. Anže Logar: We hope, we will be the first presidency in a row that will hold meetings in person. In-person rather than via audio and video because it gives pristine relation with interlocutors and it is much easier to agree on certain important details in person than via virtual connections. We hope we will be able to perform it in a full-fledged presidency. If we consider one globally important issue, it is to improve and enhance cooperation with our ally, the US. The last summit was 2017 and since then no discussion at the highest level. FTA between EU and US was stopped, and we have to kick that. The same is with India, we want to synchronise our views on bilateral exchange. Slovenia as a country of central Europe, we want to focus on countries of central Europe and western Balkans. There will be two main issues, one is resilient Europe on the health sector and we want to give strategic debate on managing the health crisis and aim to have good crisis management and second is cybersecurity. Data is next oil and EU needs to be prepared on safeguarding the digital life of European Union. Sidhant Sibal: Chinese rise, how do you see that... Anže Logar: China is a seasoned power, it is rising as well, India is rising as well. Big markets are increasing influence in the world and we need to take this into consideration. If look into the Slovenian side, we have imbalanced bilateral ties with China. We import much more than export, and from my perspective, in not so distant future, we want to balance this. Between the partners, we should have more or less the same exchanges. Slovenia can offer high edge technologies, we are taking an active part in seeing the possibility to enhance our bilateral ties. If we look at the EU perspective, the last days of the German presidency, the end of 2020, we had an institutional agreement on investment with China. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see the Indo-Pacific vision? Anže Logar: Lot of focus on Indo-Pacific, as well your FM Jaishankar in his book the Indian way, stressed on rediscovering Indo-Pacific and the importance of it. We know the first visit of the US Secretary of state was to Indo-Pacific. This is proof of the importance of the region. As the incoming presidency, we think the EU has to be very actively engaged in discussion with Indo-Pacific countries.

Slovenia FM bats for stronger ties with India, engagement on Indo-Pacific 

Kashmir is changing and it is important to map this change. In the last 14 days, Kashmir has hosted two fashion shows.

Local models walking down the ramp local designers showcasing their talent. Dancers and artists fearlessly owning the stage.

At least 500 guests attended the second fashion show. Among them- were some big names from Bollywood.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-jammu-and-kashmir-caught-in-conflicting-narratives-377382/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

For Kashmiri artists, it was their stairway to Mumbai. India's maximum city, the home of the Hindi cinema. The burst of opportunity and multi-culturalism did not go down too well with some elements in the valley.

So the second fashion show was accompanied by protests. It was preceded by a terror attack.&nbsp;

Whenever a positive story comes out of Kashmir, a negative one imminently follows.

Because of some elements, it is important to highlight a grim picture of Kashmir.

On the day of the second fashion show, a territorial army soldier was shot in the valley.&nbsp;

His name was Mohammed Saleem Akhoon. He was on leave. He had gone home to visit his family. To meet his six-year-old son, his nine-year-old daughter. To spend time with his wife.

Terrorists attacked Akhoon at his home. They killed him and he was not the first soldier to be killed on leave.

In 2020, Shakir Manzoor was killed on his way home. Manzoor too was a territorial army soldier.

In June 2019, Manzoor Ahmad Baig was shot, again, at his home.

He too was a soldier on leave.

Those watching us from India will be familiar with the name-- lieutenant Umar Fayaz.&nbsp;He was just 22 and was abducted from a relative's home and killed. The young lieutenant Fayaz was also on leave. As was a soldier called Aurangzeb who too was killed the same year.

For quashing the dreams of the youth.For harassing youngsters for daring to dream Bollywood.For killing local men in uniform to deter the youth from donning it. But this strategy isn't working anymore.

Constructed fear has a limited shelf life. In Kashmir, it has expired.

The people of Kashmir have decided to take control of their lives. To dream big. Kashmir today is a story of hope.

Where fashion shows are not called off because a bunch of followers of some conservative cleric chose to protest.

Today, theatres are flourishing in Kashmir. The valley is being celebrated on social media like never before.&nbsp;

Yes, there are still challenges, there's no denying that. But there is also a clear wave of change. And this change is immune to politics and threats.

Kashmir is changing and it is important to map this change. In the last 14 days, Kashmir has hosted two fashion shows. Local models walking down the ramp local designers showcasing their talent.

Kashmir is changing and it is important to map this change. In the last 14 days, Kashmir has hosted two fashion shows. Local models walking down the ramp local designers showcasing their talent. Dancers and artists fearlessly owning the stage. At least 500 guests attended the second fashion show. Among them- were some big names from Bollywood. For Kashmiri artists, it was their stairway to Mumbai. India's maximum city, the home of the Hindi cinema. The burst of opportunity and multi-culturalism did not go down too well with some elements in the valley. So the second fashion show was accompanied by protests. It was preceded by a terror attack. Whenever a positive story comes out of Kashmir, a negative one imminently follows. Because of some elements, it is important to highlight a grim picture of Kashmir. On the day of the second fashion show, a territorial army soldier was shot in the valley. His name was Mohammed Saleem Akhoon. He was on leave. He had gone home to visit his family. To meet his six-year-old son, his nine-year-old daughter. To spend time with his wife. Terrorists attacked Akhoon at his home. They killed him and he was not the first soldier to be killed on leave. In 2020, Shakir Manzoor was killed on his way home. Manzoor too was a territorial army soldier. In June 2019, Manzoor Ahmad Baig was shot, again, at his home. He too was a soldier on leave. Those watching us from India will be familiar with the name-- lieutenant Umar Fayaz. He was just 22 and was abducted from a relative's home and killed. The young lieutenant Fayaz was also on leave. As was a soldier called Aurangzeb who too was killed the same year. For quashing the dreams of the youth.For harassing youngsters for daring to dream Bollywood.For killing local men in uniform to deter the youth from donning it. But this strategy isn't working anymore. Constructed fear has a limited shelf life. In Kashmir, it has expired. The people of Kashmir have decided to take control of their lives. To dream big. Kashmir today is a story of hope. Where fashion shows are not called off because a bunch of followers of some conservative cleric chose to protest. Today, theatres are flourishing in Kashmir. The valley is being celebrated on social media like never before. Yes, there are still challenges, there's no denying that. But there is also a clear wave of change. And this change is immune to politics and threats.

Less terrorism, more progress: Fashion shows organised in Kashmir to 'break stereotypes'

The United States annual intelligence report has said that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "more likely" to respond with force to Pakistani provocation.&nbsp;

The annual threat assessment of the US intelligence community report 2021 said, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocations."

In the past, in the backdrop of terror attacks like Pulwama in February of 2019, India responded by "Balakot airstrikes" deep inside Pakistani territory. Indian Air force planes struck terror camps in the vicinity of Balakot town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In 2016, after the Uri attacks, Indian forces conducted surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Highlighting that "tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan remain a concern for the world", the US intel report released by the Director of National Intelligence pointed out, "although a general war between India and Pakistan is unlikely, crises between the two are likely to become more intense, risking an escalatory cycle."

India has repeatedly asked Pakistan to take action against terror groups under its territories. It has raised the issue at many multilateral forums such as United Nations.

The report also mentioned the ongoing situation between India and China, pointing out, "China-India border tensions remain high, despite some force pullbacks this year."

The year 2020 was the worst in decades for India-China ties due to aggressive action by Chinese forces that killed 20 Indian soldiers in Galwan, at thLline of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

The report said, "China’s occupation since May 2020 of contested border areas is the most serious escalation in decades and led to the first lethal border clash between the two countries since 1975." February saw de-escalation at Pangong lake with both sides pulling back forces and equipment but no movement is seen by Chinese forces at areas like Hot Springs, Depsang, and Gogra.&nbsp;

The report warned, "Interstate conflicts will also flare, ranging from border sparrings, such as that between China and India, to potentially more sustained violent confrontations."

The United States annual intelligence report has said that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "more likely" to respond with force to Pakistani provocation.

The United States annual intelligence report has said that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "more likely" to respond with force to Pakistani provocation. The annual threat assessment of the US intelligence community report 2021 said, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocations." In the past, in the backdrop of terror attacks like Pulwama in February of 2019, India responded by "Balakot airstrikes" deep inside Pakistani territory. Indian Air force planes struck terror camps in the vicinity of Balakot town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In 2016, after the Uri attacks, Indian forces conducted surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Highlighting that "tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan remain a concern for the world", the US intel report released by the Director of National Intelligence pointed out, "although a general war between India and Pakistan is unlikely, crises between the two are likely to become more intense, risking an escalatory cycle." India has repeatedly asked Pakistan to take action against terror groups under its territories. It has raised the issue at many multilateral forums such as United Nations. The report also mentioned the ongoing situation between India and China, pointing out, "China-India border tensions remain high, despite some force pullbacks this year." The year 2020 was the worst in decades for India-China ties due to aggressive action by Chinese forces that killed 20 Indian soldiers in Galwan, at thLline of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. The report said, "China’s occupation since May 2020 of contested border areas is the most serious escalation in decades and led to the first lethal border clash between the two countries since 1975." February saw de-escalation at Pangong lake with both sides pulling back forces and equipment but no movement is seen by Chinese forces at areas like Hot Springs, Depsang, and Gogra. The report warned, "Interstate conflicts will also flare, ranging from border sparrings, such as that between China and India, to potentially more sustained violent confrontations."

Under PM Modi, India 'more likely' to respond with force to Pakistani provocation: US intelligence report

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today announced more strict restrictions in the Indian &nbsp;state and imposed Section 144 starting from 8 pm tomorrow for a period of 15 days.&nbsp;

The restrictions will come into effect from 8 pm on April 14, till April 30, to break the chain of the coronavirus which has gripped the state.

However, Mumbai suburban trains and city buses will continue to run, but commutes will be permitted for those in the designated essential services, he said.

"From tomorrow 8 pm, Section 144 will be imposed across Maharashtra. From 7 a.m.-8 p.m., only essential services shall remain open. This is imperative to break the chain of the virus. Saving lives is our topmost priority," Thackeray said in an address to the state late this evening.

He refrained from terming the new curbs as a lockdown.

There is a shortage of medical oxygen and beds and the demand for Remdesivir has increased in Maharashtra, he said, adding the Centre should help supply oxygen for coronavirus patients in the state by using Air Force planes.

"The war against coronavirus has begun once again," he said. There is a severe strain on Maharashtra's health infrastructure due to the spike in COVID-19 cases, he added.

The state government will provide three kg wheat and two kg rice free for the next one month to every poor and needy person while the coronavirus-induced restrictions are in place, Thackeray said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today announced more strict restrictions in the Indian state and imposed Section 144 starting from 8 pm tomorrow for a period of 15 days.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today announced more strict restrictions in the Indian state and imposed Section 144 starting from 8 pm tomorrow for a period of 15 days. The restrictions will come into effect from 8 pm on April 14, till April 30, to break the chain of the coronavirus which has gripped the state. However, Mumbai suburban trains and city buses will continue to run, but commutes will be permitted for those in the designated essential services, he said. "From tomorrow 8 pm, Section 144 will be imposed across Maharashtra. From 7 a.m.-8 p.m., only essential services shall remain open. This is imperative to break the chain of the virus. Saving lives is our topmost priority," Thackeray said in an address to the state late this evening. He refrained from terming the new curbs as a lockdown. There is a shortage of medical oxygen and beds and the demand for Remdesivir has increased in Maharashtra, he said, adding the Centre should help supply oxygen for coronavirus patients in the state by using Air Force planes. "The war against coronavirus has begun once again," he said. There is a severe strain on Maharashtra's health infrastructure due to the spike in COVID-19 cases, he added. The state government will provide three kg wheat and two kg rice free for the next one month to every poor and needy person while the coronavirus-induced restrictions are in place, Thackeray said. (With inputs from agencies)

India's Maharashtra clamps Section 144 for 15 days amid Covid surge

After the ban imposed on her by the Election Commission (EC) ended on Tuesday evening, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenged the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that she is a street fighter and fights from the battleground.

Speaking at a public rally in Barasat after her 24-hour campaigning ban ended, Banerjee said: "They have crores of money and have come to elections. You have money, you have mediators, you have hotels, you have all agencies of India. But even then do you know why you will lose? Because I am a street fighter, I fight from the battleground. I do not fight by giving instructions from above."

She also questioned why the BJP was rigorously trying to stop her with the help of all central institutions and agencies.

"From Delhi to entire India, BJP is taking all institutions to ensure I am stopped, Bengal is being humiliated and captured. I say clearly, we will not allow Bengal to become Gujarat; Bengal can't become Gujarat. There is no benefit in stopping me. If I am attacked, I can attack in reply as well," she added.

"During the last 24 hours, I could not campaign for elections and cannot campaign for 72 hours before the fifth phase. This means for four days, on one side, BJP will campaign, and I won't be able to do the same for Trinamool Congress (TMC). I leave the thinking to the public."

Challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said that he is claiming that she has not done anything for the Matua community.

"I accept the challenge. If I have not done anything, I will resign from politics and if you are spewing lies without doing anything then you will do situps by holding your ears," she mentioned.

"Mamata Banerjee has talked about everyone. Mamata Banerjee is not BJP. Even if my party worker dies, I feel as much sad if a person from another party dies. I do not do politics with lies," she further said.

Earlier in the day, Mamata, who arrived at the Mayo road venue in the morning and began her sit-in next to a Mahatma Gandhi statue in Kolkata, turned to paints and canvases and produced at least two paintings while sitting on her wheelchair as she protested

The Election Commission had on Monday banned Mamata from campaigning in the ongoing state elections for 24 hours and said she had made "highly insinuating and provocative remarks laden with the serious potential of the breakdown of law and order and thereby affecting the election process".

The fifth phase of the eight-phased assembly elections will take place on Saturday.

After the ban imposed on her by the Election Commission (EC) ended on Tuesday evening, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenged the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that she is a street fighter and fights from the battleground.

After the ban imposed on her by the Election Commission (EC) ended on Tuesday evening, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenged the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that she is a street fighter and fights from the battleground. Speaking at a public rally in Barasat after her 24-hour campaigning ban ended, Banerjee said: "They have crores of money and have come to elections. You have money, you have mediators, you have hotels, you have all agencies of India. But even then do you know why you will lose? Because I am a street fighter, I fight from the battleground. I do not fight by giving instructions from above." She also questioned why the BJP was rigorously trying to stop her with the help of all central institutions and agencies. "From Delhi to entire India, BJP is taking all institutions to ensure I am stopped, Bengal is being humiliated and captured. I say clearly, we will not allow Bengal to become Gujarat; Bengal can't become Gujarat. There is no benefit in stopping me. If I am attacked, I can attack in reply as well," she added. "During the last 24 hours, I could not campaign for elections and cannot campaign for 72 hours before the fifth phase. This means for four days, on one side, BJP will campaign, and I won't be able to do the same for Trinamool Congress (TMC). I leave the thinking to the public." Challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said that he is claiming that she has not done anything for the Matua community. "I accept the challenge. If I have not done anything, I will resign from politics and if you are spewing lies without doing anything then you will do situps by holding your ears," she mentioned. "Mamata Banerjee has talked about everyone. Mamata Banerjee is not BJP. Even if my party worker dies, I feel as much sad if a person from another party dies. I do not do politics with lies," she further said. Earlier in the day, Mamata, who arrived at the Mayo road venue in the morning and began her sit-in next to a Mahatma Gandhi statue in Kolkata, turned to paints and canvases and produced at least two paintings while sitting on her wheelchair as she protested The Election Commission had on Monday banned Mamata from campaigning in the ongoing state elections for 24 hours and said she had made "highly insinuating and provocative remarks laden with the serious potential of the breakdown of law and order and thereby affecting the election process". The fifth phase of the eight-phased assembly elections will take place on Saturday.

India polls: 'I am a street fighter, I fight from battleground', Mamata to BJP after EC ban

India has supplied COVID-19 vaccines to over 80 countries despite "many constraints" and will continue to share its expertise, experience and resources with the entire humanity in the fight against the pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Speaking at the inaugural session of Raisina Dialogue 2021, he said India has tried to protect its citizens from the pandemic while trying to support the pandemic response efforts of others.

"During this pandemic, in our humble way, within our limited resources, we in India have tried to walk the talk. We have tried to protect our own 1.3 billion citizens from the pandemic At the same time, we have also tried to support pandemic response efforts of others," he said.

"We understand fully, that mankind will not defeat the pandemic unless all of us, everywhere, regardless of the colour of our passports, come out of it. That is why, this year, despite many constraints, we have supplied vaccines to over 80 countries," he added.

Prime Minister Modi said the world today is underprepared to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. "This edition of Raisina Dialogue is taking place at a watershed moment in human history. A global pandemic has been ravaging the world for over a year. The last such global pandemic was a century ago," he said.

"Although, humanity has faced many infectious diseases since then. The world today is underprepared to handle the COVID pandemic. Our scientist, researchers and industry have answered some questions. Many solutions have emerged and many more are yet to come," he added.

India has supplied COVID-19 vaccines to over 80 countries despite "many constraints" and will continue to share its expertise, experience and resources with the entire humanity in the fight against the pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.

India has supplied COVID-19 vaccines to over 80 countries despite "many constraints" and will continue to share its expertise, experience and resources with the entire humanity in the fight against the pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday. Speaking at the inaugural session of Raisina Dialogue 2021, he said India has tried to protect its citizens from the pandemic while trying to support the pandemic response efforts of others. "During this pandemic, in our humble way, within our limited resources, we in India have tried to walk the talk. We have tried to protect our own 1.3 billion citizens from the pandemic At the same time, we have also tried to support pandemic response efforts of others," he said. "We understand fully, that mankind will not defeat the pandemic unless all of us, everywhere, regardless of the colour of our passports, come out of it. That is why, this year, despite many constraints, we have supplied vaccines to over 80 countries," he added. Prime Minister Modi said the world today is underprepared to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. "This edition of Raisina Dialogue is taking place at a watershed moment in human history. A global pandemic has been ravaging the world for over a year. The last such global pandemic was a century ago," he said. "Although, humanity has faced many infectious diseases since then. The world today is underprepared to handle the COVID pandemic. Our scientist, researchers and industry have answered some questions. Many solutions have emerged and many more are yet to come," he added.

India supplied COVID-19 vaccines to over 80 countries despite 'many constraints': PM Modi at Raisina Dialogue

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