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Archives for September 2018

Afghanistan seeks agriculture tie-ups with India

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Afghanistan on Saturday invited Indian businesses to invest in its agriculture sector, promising to roll out great opportunities in the fields of manufacturing, processing, packaging and marketing of farm products.

Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister for Agriculture Naseer Ahmed Durrani said that the country’s farm production and exports were growing and urged Indian businesses to explore investment opportunities available there.

He was speaking during the conclusion of a four-day long exhibition and conference “Passage to Prosperity: India-Afghanistan International Trade & Investment Show”, organised by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the governments of India and Afghanistan, here.

Durrani informed that agriculture, farming and livestock forms the backbone of Afghanistan’s economy contributing 25 per cent to its GDP and involving around 80 per cent of the population.

“Rebuilding trade relationships and expanding export markets for Afghan products are critical for Afghanistan’s job creation, capital flows and overall stability, and we are looking for potential investors in these areas,” said Durrani.

He said that Afghanistan’s agriculture exports were growing and expected to increase by nearly one-third or 30 per cent this year, to touch $260 million, up from $200 million last year.

“We export dry fruits, fresh fruits and nuts to India, which is now increasing with the opening of the air corridors between Kabul-New Delhi, Kabul-Mumbai. Traditionally, the top destinations for Afghanistan exports are Pakistan and India, followed by China, Iran and Turkey,” added Durrani.

The Minister said Afghan products like apples, grapes, apricots, pomegranates and raisins were very popular in India and continue to be a staple of Indian hospitality and diet.

With increased capacity of Afghan producers and exporters to deliver the freshest of produce to the markets, these quality products are once again finding their way onto supermarket shelves, he pointed out.

The current bilateral trade between India-Afghanistan is $900 million and expected to touch $2 billion by 2020, he said.

At the four-day show in Mumbai, more than 50 top agriculture exporters and another 150 businessmen from Afghanistan participated to showcase their finest high-value agro-products and explore business ventures with 1,200 Indian and global 100 counterparts.

At the first event held in New Delhi last year, Indian and Afghan businessmen signed contracts totaling over $27 million for raw and processed agriculture products, besides agreements worth $214 million.

(IANS)

Cricket Australia open for more warm-up games ahead of India Tests

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Cricket Australia (CA) has responded positively to India head coach Ravi Shastri’s request for more warm-up games in the run-up to the four-match Test series between the two nations later this year.

Following the recent 1-4 series loss to England, Shastri had demanded more warm-up games against Australia ahead of first Test in Adelaide from December 6.

India only had one practice match ahead of their recent Test series against England, which was preceded by the limited over series, comprising three One-day Internationals and as many T20 Internationals.

Responding to Shastri’s requests of having more warm-up fixtures ahead of the red ball matches, CA has made it clear that they are open to more tour matches.

“We are happy to discuss options with the BCCI, but we have not received any formal notification to increase the number of tour matches prior to their series commencing in Australia,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson was quoted as saying.

India are slated to tour Australia for three T20 internationals, four Test matches and three ODIs from November 21 to January 18.

(IANS)

Modi appeals for contribution towards cleaning Ganga

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described river Ganga as our “culture, heritage and identity” and urged people to contribute towards cleaning it.

“I want to thank the people of Bijnore for working towards cleaning the Ganga,” Modi said while interacting with the people of the Uttar Pradesh district during the launch of the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’ (cleanliness is true service) as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, through the NaMo app.

“And banks of river Ganga becoming open defecation free shall be an important stage towards maintaining the purity of the river,” Modi said.

“Devotion towards the Ganga and Gangotri should not only be shown but steps should be taken and for that. We also need to ensure that mentality to harm Ganga should also be removed from the mindsets of people,” Modi said.

Appealing to the people residing near the banks of the river, Modi asked: “Will you all participate in the cleanliness mission to Ganga clean? I know that like people of Bijnor many others would join the cleanliness movement.

Modi also said that his government was taking a lot of steps to clean Ganga and soon its results would be visible to everyone.

Modi also interacted with the railway personnel in Haryana’s Rewari and said that the Indian Railways has done commendable work in furthering cleanliness.

“In every train coach, it is written that Indian Railways is public property. It is written to give a sense to people to adopt it as their own and keep it clean.”

Hailing the railway personnel for keeping the coaches and stations clean, Modi said: “Today the kind of cleanliness seen in Indian Railways is due to the hard work of the railway personnels.”

(IANS)

Assam Police in UP over Hizbul militant’s arrest

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A team of Assam Police reached Uttar Pradesh on Saturday after a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist from the northeastern state was arrested in Kanpur earlier this week.

Qamar-uz-Zaman from Hojai district, was arrested by the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the UP Police on Thursday. He has been missing since 2017.

“We have sent a team to Kanpur. They will coordinate with the ATS who are interrogating Zaman. We will try to get more information about the network in Assam,” a senior police officer said here.

Meanwhile, another person was arrested in Hojai on Thursday for maintaining close links with Zaman and the banned terror outfit.

(IANS)

No arrests yet in Haryana board topper gang-rape

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 Over three days after a 19-year-old board examination topper was gang-raped in Haryana’s Mahendragarh district, the police has failed to make any arrests, officials said on Saturday.

The state police has set up a special investigation team (SIT), to be headed by Nuh Superintendent of Police (SP) Nazneen Bhasin, to probe the incident.

Though the victim initially told the police that she was allegedly gang-raped by three men, her father claimed that she had seen eight to 10 men around her when she regained consciousness following the gang-rape on Wednesday near Kanina village, around 350 km from here.

The three accused continued to evade arrest on Saturday, more than 72 hours after the incident.

The victim, who has identified her attackers, and her parents had said earlier that the police were not taking action in the matter and were dealing with it casually.

The accused, who belong to the same village as the victim, allegedly kidnapped the victim from Kanina bus stand while she was on her way for coaching classes.

She said that they gave her water to drink which was laced with sedative. They then took turns raping her in a room adjoining agricultural fields till she fell unconscious.

They later dumped her at a bus stop near the village.

The victim, a second year student in a college, topped the board examination and was felicitated by the President.

The Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), A.S. Chawla, told the media here on Friday that all efforts were being made to arrest the accused.

(IANS)

Contribution of women in Swachh Bharat Mission immense: Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the contribution of India’s ‘Nari Shakti’ (women power) in the Swachh Bharat Mission was immense.

“The contribution of India’s Nari Shakti (women power) in the Swachh Bharat (clean India) Mission is immense,” Modi said while launching the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’.

“Youngsters are ambassadors of social change. The way they have furthered the message of cleanliness is commendable. The youth are at the forefront of a positive change in India,” Modi said while interacting with the students of Assam via his NaMo App.

Modi also said that till October 2, which is Gandhi Jayanti, “let us rededicate ourselves towards fulfilling Bapu’s dream of a Clean India”.

Highlighting the success of the clean India mision, Modi said: “The Swachata coverage is now above 90 per cent which used to be 40 per cent four years ago. This happened in just four years.

“The credit for the success of Swachhata Abhiyan goes to the people of this nation and not the government alone,” he said, adding that over nine crore toilets have been built in last four years and over 4.5 lakh villages have been declared as open defecation free.

“Did anyone thought four years ago that over 20 states and union territories would become ODF? This is the power of the people of India.”

Modi also stressed that by only building toilets India won’t become clean.

“Cleanliness is a habbit in which one has to indulge himself everyday and change in behaviour is also required,” he said.

I found TV an effective way to spread cleanliness message: Amitabh Bachchan

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Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan on Saturday while interacting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that he found TV to be an “effective way to spread the message of cleanliness”.

“Four years ago, you (Modi) introduced the nation to the Swachh Bharat Mission. I too decided to get involved as a citizen of India. I have been associated with various cleanliness campaigns including the campaign to clean the Versova beach in Mumbai,” Bachchan said to Modi during the launch of the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’ via his NaMo App.

“Whatever garbage people threw in the sea, the sea gave it back to people and it was visible on the beach. When I went to participate in the cleanliness drive, I found that we have to dig the sand to bring out the garbage. People there then demanded for a machine to bring out the garbage from the sand and a tractor to dump the waste away from the beach, which I provided to them.

“I found television to be an effective way to spread the message of cleanliness,” the Bollywood superstar said.

Bachchan also said that “he realised that what people should do is focus on ensuring their immediate surroundings are clean”.

“We were involved with a ‘Cleanathon’ with a television news channel. Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis and I went to hospitals with the message of Swachhata (cleaniness),” Bachchan said.

The Prime Minister was also joined by industry titan Ratan Tata in the interaction streamed live on theapp.

Interacting with the Prime Minister, Tata said: “Its a great honour and privilege to help launch a movement which should be the dream of every citizen of India.

“To be a strong India, the foundation has to be strong and that foundation is the health of our people.”

He also said that the Tata Trusts are actively supporting the Swachh Bharat Mission and it has spent over Rs 100 crore in the last four years to support the Clean India mission.

“Our support will continue in the years to come especially in bringing more technology in ensuring a clean India. And I congratulate you for a courageous move in the form of Swachh Bharat Mission. We are no longer taking the health of our people for granted. We are devoting manpower for a strong India and focussing on healthcare,” he said.

Tata also emphasised that health of our people cannot be there without sanitation and cleanliness.

“We can reduce and eliminate several diseases if we support the Swachh Bharat Movement.”

Modi then said that he firmly believe that the private sector has a big role to play in creating a Clean India.

“Together, we shall all achieve the Swachh Bharat of Bapu’s dreams,” Modi said.

(IANS)

Engineers’ role in nation building is extremely vital: Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid his tribute to Bharat Ratna M. Visvesvaraya on his birth anniversary and greeted the nation on the occasion of Engineers Day saying that their role in nation building was extremely vital.

“On Engineers Day, I congratulate our hardworking engineers and appreciate their dexterity as well as dedication. Their role in nation building is extremely vital.

“I also pay tributes to the noted engineer, M. Visvesvaraya, on his birth anniversary,” Modi said in a tweet attaching the video of his recent monthly radio broadcast “Mann Ki Baat”.

In his radio broadcast message on August 26, Modi had said that there were several engineers in the country who made “the unimaginable possible” and “presented such marvels of engineering before the world”.

“In this lineage of great engineers, we were blessed with a diamond whose work is still a source of wonder for all. He was Bharat Ratna M. Visvesvaraya. Lakhs of farmers and common people continue to benefit from the Krishna Raj Sagar Dam built by him.

“In his memory, September 15 is observed as Engineers Day. Following his footsteps, our engineers have created their own identity in the world,” the Prime Minister had said.

(IANS)

Srikanth, Sindhu retain spots in top-10 of BWF rankings

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Ace shuttlers Kidambi Srikanth and P.V. Sindhu are the only Indians in the top-10 of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) singles rankings, released on Thursday.

Srikanth, who suffered a shocking defeat in the recently-concluded Asian Games 2018, maintained his eighth spot in the men’s singles rankings with 63,835 points.

Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen topped the chart with 83,754 points, while China’s Shi Yuqi and Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei sit at the second and third place, respectively.

In women’s singles, Asian Games silver medallist Sindhu also maintained her third spot carrying 85,414 points.

Taiwan’s Tai Tzu Ying, who had defeated Sindhu in the Asian Games finals, holds the top spot with 98,317 points and is followed by Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi (87,743 points).

Another Indian Saina Nehwal, who had made to the quarters of the Asiad, is placed 10th with 58,014 points.

Meanwhile, no other Indian pair were listed in the top 10 of the mixed doubles, women’s doubles or men’s doubles charts.

(IANS)

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