Archive For The “General” Category
New Delhi, Oct 29: Noting the formation of a new resistance front against the Taliban by some politicians and military leaders of the previous Afghan regime, Russia has called for abandonment of any plans of armed struggle which could further destablise the situation in the region.
Atta Mohammad Noor, an ethnic Tajik and a former governor of Balkh province, had announced the creation of a coalition named the 'Supreme Council of National Resistance of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan' on his Facebook page, last Friday.
Its key initiators also included Abdul Rashid Dostum and Younus Qanooni, both former Vice-Presidents of the country.
While Dostum is a warlord who leads the Turkic-speaking ethnic Uzbeks in the country which form about 10 per cent of the Afghan population, Qanooni is an ethnic Tajik who was once a top aide to Ahmad Shah Massoud - the much-revered Tajik commander who is known as the 'Lion of Panjshir' for his heroics against the Soviets and the Taliban.
Vowing to free Afghanistan from the "oppressive situation", the group of "prominent, compassionate parties and public figures" - all of whom had fled the country after the return of Taliban in Kabul - had outlined its agenda in two parts.
The first is to resolve the issues through political means, including the resumption of negotiations.
"Our preference is to achieve lasting peace through politics," said the statement calling for establishment of an elected system with the equitable participation of all ethnic groups.
The second talks about "inevitably resorting to military activities" if the "other side and their supporters" do not accept the political solution.
"The Supreme Council is committed to appointing a fact-finding mission to investigate the causes of the sudden collapse of the Islamic Republic, identify those involved in this shameful deal, and introduce them as national traitors to the great nation of Afghanistan," the statement added.
Russia calls for restraint
It is the second part of the resistance front's agenda which has got Moscow worried.
"We call on all the ethnopolitical forces of Afghanistan to abandon militant rhetoric and make every possible effort to complete the process of national reconciliation," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.
Stepping up diplimatic activism instead of military confrontations, Russia has through various regional and international forums intensified diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.
After the failure of the US-led Doha peace negotiations, the Kremlin believes that there is no alternative to the Moscow format of consultations on Afghanistan in terms of its scope and productivity.
While making his remarks at the second meeting of the foreign ministers of the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan hosted by Tehran on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow plans to use all the international and regional instruments at its disposal - including the resources of the UN, SCO, CSTO and other multilateral structures - to support the creation of a truly inclusive Afghan government.
"The principle of holding conferences for the sake of conferences, familiar to Westerners, is, I hope, already in the past.
The time has come for concrete deeds in this direction. I am convinced that the United Nations should play a coordinating role," said Lavrov.
--IANS
indianarrative/.
Source: IANS
Atta Mohammad Noor, an ethnic Tajik and a former governor of Balkh province, had announced the creation of a coalition named the 'Supreme Council of National Resistance of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan' on his Facebook page, last Friday.
Its key initiators also included Abdul Rashid Dostum and Younus Qanooni, both former Vice-Presidents of the country.
While Dostum is a warlord who leads the Turkic-speaking ethnic Uzbeks in the country which form about 10 per cent of the Afghan population, Qanooni is an ethnic Tajik who was once a top aide to Ahmad Shah Massoud - the much-revered Tajik commander who is known as the 'Lion of Panjshir' for his heroics against the Soviets and the Taliban.
Vowing to free Afghanistan from the "oppressive situation", the group of "prominent, compassionate parties and public figures" - all of whom had fled the country after the return of Taliban in Kabul - had outlined its agenda in two parts.
The first is to resolve the issues through political means, including the resumption of negotiations.
"Our preference is to achieve lasting peace through politics," said the statement calling for establishment of an elected system with the equitable participation of all ethnic groups.
The second talks about "inevitably resorting to military activities" if the "other side and their supporters" do not accept the political solution.
"The Supreme Council is committed to appointing a fact-finding mission to investigate the causes of the sudden collapse of the Islamic Republic, identify those involved in this shameful deal, and introduce them as national traitors to the great nation of Afghanistan," the statement added.
Russia calls for restraint
It is the second part of the resistance front's agenda which has got Moscow worried.
"We call on all the ethnopolitical forces of Afghanistan to abandon militant rhetoric and make every possible effort to complete the process of national reconciliation," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.
Stepping up diplimatic activism instead of military confrontations, Russia has through various regional and international forums intensified diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.
After the failure of the US-led Doha peace negotiations, the Kremlin believes that there is no alternative to the Moscow format of consultations on Afghanistan in terms of its scope and productivity.
While making his remarks at the second meeting of the foreign ministers of the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan hosted by Tehran on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow plans to use all the international and regional instruments at its disposal - including the resources of the UN, SCO, CSTO and other multilateral structures - to support the creation of a truly inclusive Afghan government.
"The principle of holding conferences for the sake of conferences, familiar to Westerners, is, I hope, already in the past.
The time has come for concrete deeds in this direction. I am convinced that the United Nations should play a coordinating role," said Lavrov.
--IANS
indianarrative/.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Climate change isn't just transforming our physical environment, it's permanently shifting the landscape of energy, farming, technology and business.
It's eroding ancient ways of life, shaking up global finance and driving a historic new wave of mass migration.
In "Race For Tomorrow - Survival, Innovation and Profit on the Front Lines of the Climate Crisis" (HarperCollins), an extraordinary journey across 26 countries, Simon Mundy meets the people embroiled in a race that is already reshaping the modern world.
For instance:
* Why is a maverick scientist building a home for engineered mammoths in northeast Siberia?
* How is China's green energy push driving a hazardous mining rush in Congo?
* Could an Israeli fake meat startup make a fortune while helping to save Amazon?
* How is Greenland's melting sea ice putting its people at the centre of a global power struggle?
* Who are the entrepreneurs chasing breakthroughs in fusion power, electric cars, and technology to suck carbon from the atmosphere?
As the impact of climate change cascades through the planet and the global economy, who is battling to survive the worst impacts -- and who is chasing the most lucrative rewards?
With intimate insights into the people living in the most severe throes of climate change, the book is filled with richly reported human stories from every inhabited continent -- an account of disaster, of promise, of frantic adaptation and relentless innovation, of hope, of survival, and of the forces that will define our future.
Mundy spent weeks in each location while researching the book, from sleeping on the floor of herders' huts in Mongolia and travelling with members of the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau tribe in the Amazon, to talking to top level CEOs, national leaders and innovators about the decisions they are facing.
These are closely told and compelling human stories on a global scale, with chapters covering Siberia, Greenland, Nepal, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Maldives, Solomon Islands, Italy, Germany, Cayman Islands, Philippines, India, Ethiopia, Chile, Mongolia, Brazil, the US, Israel, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China and Congo and provide much food for thought ahead of COP26 -- the UN Climate Change Conference beginning in Glasgow on Sunday.
Simon Mundy began his reporting career in Johannesburg, where he covered Southern Africa for the Financial Times.
After a stint writing in the London financial sector he spent seven years in Asia, as FT bureau head in Seoul and then Mumbai.
He was born in the UK.
--IANS
vm/dpb.
Source: IANS
It's eroding ancient ways of life, shaking up global finance and driving a historic new wave of mass migration.
In "Race For Tomorrow - Survival, Innovation and Profit on the Front Lines of the Climate Crisis" (HarperCollins), an extraordinary journey across 26 countries, Simon Mundy meets the people embroiled in a race that is already reshaping the modern world.
For instance:
* Why is a maverick scientist building a home for engineered mammoths in northeast Siberia?
* How is China's green energy push driving a hazardous mining rush in Congo?
* Could an Israeli fake meat startup make a fortune while helping to save Amazon?
* How is Greenland's melting sea ice putting its people at the centre of a global power struggle?
* Who are the entrepreneurs chasing breakthroughs in fusion power, electric cars, and technology to suck carbon from the atmosphere?
As the impact of climate change cascades through the planet and the global economy, who is battling to survive the worst impacts -- and who is chasing the most lucrative rewards?
With intimate insights into the people living in the most severe throes of climate change, the book is filled with richly reported human stories from every inhabited continent -- an account of disaster, of promise, of frantic adaptation and relentless innovation, of hope, of survival, and of the forces that will define our future.
Mundy spent weeks in each location while researching the book, from sleeping on the floor of herders' huts in Mongolia and travelling with members of the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau tribe in the Amazon, to talking to top level CEOs, national leaders and innovators about the decisions they are facing.
These are closely told and compelling human stories on a global scale, with chapters covering Siberia, Greenland, Nepal, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Maldives, Solomon Islands, Italy, Germany, Cayman Islands, Philippines, India, Ethiopia, Chile, Mongolia, Brazil, the US, Israel, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China and Congo and provide much food for thought ahead of COP26 -- the UN Climate Change Conference beginning in Glasgow on Sunday.
Simon Mundy began his reporting career in Johannesburg, where he covered Southern Africa for the Financial Times.
After a stint writing in the London financial sector he spent seven years in Asia, as FT bureau head in Seoul and then Mumbai.
He was born in the UK.
--IANS
vm/dpb.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, October 29: General Shavendra Silva, the Sri Lankan Chief of Defence Staff is in Moscow on a eight-day-long visit.
He also paid his respects to fallen Russian soldiers at the war heroes memorial--the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
He met with Russian Army Commander-in-Chief Army General Oleg Salyukov to discuss matters related to enhancement of tri-service training for Sri Lankan personnel, holding of more joint exercises and exchange of knowledge on mechanical and engineering technologies.
The Sri Lankan army chief also discussed regional security issues with his Russian counterpart.
The two nations have increased cooperation in defence and military spheres over the past few years.
General Salyukov had visited Colombo in 2020.
Just last week, the Russian Navy had sent a warship and two submarines, part of its Pacific Fleet, to the Colombo Port.
These included vessels--Corvette Gremyashchiy and submarines B- 603 and B-274, which had arrived for replenishments.
A Sri Lankan defence delegation had visited Moscow in September to participate in military forums and had held talks with the Russian defence ministry.
The delegation also discussed participation in international military exercises and promoting ties between Russian and Sri Lankan defence education establishments.
Reportedly, Sri Lanka plans to buy Su-30 fighter jets and armoured personnel carriers from Russia.
General Silva will also visit the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School, the Military Artillery Academy, Military Medical Academy and several other places of military and tourist importance.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
He also paid his respects to fallen Russian soldiers at the war heroes memorial--the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
He met with Russian Army Commander-in-Chief Army General Oleg Salyukov to discuss matters related to enhancement of tri-service training for Sri Lankan personnel, holding of more joint exercises and exchange of knowledge on mechanical and engineering technologies.
The Sri Lankan army chief also discussed regional security issues with his Russian counterpart.
The two nations have increased cooperation in defence and military spheres over the past few years.
General Salyukov had visited Colombo in 2020.
Just last week, the Russian Navy had sent a warship and two submarines, part of its Pacific Fleet, to the Colombo Port.
These included vessels--Corvette Gremyashchiy and submarines B- 603 and B-274, which had arrived for replenishments.
A Sri Lankan defence delegation had visited Moscow in September to participate in military forums and had held talks with the Russian defence ministry.
The delegation also discussed participation in international military exercises and promoting ties between Russian and Sri Lankan defence education establishments.
Reportedly, Sri Lanka plans to buy Su-30 fighter jets and armoured personnel carriers from Russia.
General Silva will also visit the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School, the Military Artillery Academy, Military Medical Academy and several other places of military and tourist importance.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
Bhopal, Oct 29 : A 45-year-old farmer allegedly committed suicide on Friday as he could not purchase fertiliser for his crop in Madhya Pradesh, which is hit by DAP paucity.
The farmer consumed poision in Ashok Nagar district after failing to procure Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertiliser for his crop.
Yadav's family told the police that he has been waiting to procure fertiliser for the last several days and fed up with unending wait, he (Yadav) consumed poison in the morning, a police official said.
Madhya Pradesh is facing an accute crisis of DAP fertiliser with all the 3,400 cooperative societies across the state running out of stock.
In fact, farmers in several districts in the state have launched protest and blocked roads in Bhind, Morena, Ashok Nagar, Satna, among others.
Farmers in several districts have been standing in long queues outside cooperative societies waiting to procure fertilisers.
The opposition Congress has attacked the Shivraj Singh Chauhan government alleging that the Chief Minister was busy in election campaign for the upcoming Assembly polls, while the farmers in the state need fertiliser.
Responding to the Congress' allegation, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Thursday said that the crisis of fertiliser would soon be over.
"DAP is brought from outside the country and the crisis occurred due to delay in its procurement.
Farmers will be provided the fertiliser soon," Singh had said.
--IANS
pd/svn/rs.
Source: IANS
The farmer consumed poision in Ashok Nagar district after failing to procure Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertiliser for his crop.
Yadav's family told the police that he has been waiting to procure fertiliser for the last several days and fed up with unending wait, he (Yadav) consumed poison in the morning, a police official said.
Madhya Pradesh is facing an accute crisis of DAP fertiliser with all the 3,400 cooperative societies across the state running out of stock.
In fact, farmers in several districts in the state have launched protest and blocked roads in Bhind, Morena, Ashok Nagar, Satna, among others.
Farmers in several districts have been standing in long queues outside cooperative societies waiting to procure fertilisers.
The opposition Congress has attacked the Shivraj Singh Chauhan government alleging that the Chief Minister was busy in election campaign for the upcoming Assembly polls, while the farmers in the state need fertiliser.
Responding to the Congress' allegation, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Thursday said that the crisis of fertiliser would soon be over.
"DAP is brought from outside the country and the crisis occurred due to delay in its procurement.
Farmers will be provided the fertiliser soon," Singh had said.
--IANS
pd/svn/rs.
Source: IANS
Lucknow, Oct 29 : In an effort to bring a smile on the faces of small vendors and help them revive their business, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has launched the 'Vikas Deepotsav' fair on Diwali.
The Chief Minister, who inaugurated the event here on Thursday night, called it an attempt to bring "smiles to the faces of people from the lower strata of society who suffered the most during the pandemic crisis".
He said his government was a pro-commoner government and felicitated street vendors, cleanliness staff and Covid warriors on the occasion.
"The aim of organising the Diwali fest is to bring business to these people.
More than 1,500 street vendors and other small traders/artisans have been roped in for the fest in order to bring smiles on their faces this Diwali.
A similar fest is being organised at around 217 places in Uttar Pradesh, including 200 Nagar Palikas."
He further pointed out that "no previous government has felicitated street vendors and traders on such a grand platform because they were insensitive towards them".
"In our regime, around 8 lakh street vendors have been felicitated with Rs 10,000 loan under the PM Swanidhi Yojna, around 45 lakh families have been provided accommodations, 2.61 crore people given toilets, 1.41 crore people got free electricity connections while 1.51 lakh families were given free gas connections under the Ujjwala scheme," Adityanath added.
He said that on November 3, over 9 lakh earthen lamps would be lit in Ayodhya to mark 'Deepotsav'.
The Chief Minister said while other countries were still grappling with Covid and lockdowns, the situation was under control in Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, the inaugural function was marked by a grand laser show and Gomti 'aarti'.
The venue has around 1,500 stalls and a food court where people can relish Avadhi cuisines.
--IANS
amita/ksk/.
Source: IANS
The Chief Minister, who inaugurated the event here on Thursday night, called it an attempt to bring "smiles to the faces of people from the lower strata of society who suffered the most during the pandemic crisis".
He said his government was a pro-commoner government and felicitated street vendors, cleanliness staff and Covid warriors on the occasion.
"The aim of organising the Diwali fest is to bring business to these people.
More than 1,500 street vendors and other small traders/artisans have been roped in for the fest in order to bring smiles on their faces this Diwali.
A similar fest is being organised at around 217 places in Uttar Pradesh, including 200 Nagar Palikas."
He further pointed out that "no previous government has felicitated street vendors and traders on such a grand platform because they were insensitive towards them".
"In our regime, around 8 lakh street vendors have been felicitated with Rs 10,000 loan under the PM Swanidhi Yojna, around 45 lakh families have been provided accommodations, 2.61 crore people given toilets, 1.41 crore people got free electricity connections while 1.51 lakh families were given free gas connections under the Ujjwala scheme," Adityanath added.
He said that on November 3, over 9 lakh earthen lamps would be lit in Ayodhya to mark 'Deepotsav'.
The Chief Minister said while other countries were still grappling with Covid and lockdowns, the situation was under control in Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, the inaugural function was marked by a grand laser show and Gomti 'aarti'.
The venue has around 1,500 stalls and a food court where people can relish Avadhi cuisines.
--IANS
amita/ksk/.
Source: IANS
Raipur, Oct 29 : India's tribal culture came to life as the second edition of the National Tribal Dance Festival was inaugurated at the Science College Ground, Raipur, by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in presence of the Chief Guest Hemant Soren, Jharkhand Chief Minister; Tamradhwaj Sahu, Chhattisgarh Tourism Minister; Amarjeet Bhagat, Chhattisgarh Culture Minister and other dignitaries.
An initiative of the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board under the tourism development plans of the state government, the inaugural day witnessed participation of tribal dance groups from various states and Union Territories of India and international participation from Nigeria, Palestine, Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland), Uzbekistan and Mali portraying and celebrating their respective tribal folk culture.
The festival began with a procession of all tribal groups in traditional outfits through the venue.
Tribal dance forms from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Assam, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Jammu (and) Kashmir showcased the vibrant and diverse culture of India.
Competing for a reward of Rs five, three and two lakh, the participating tribal groups exhibited the best of the culture through dance performances on wedding ceremonies, traditional festivals, and rituals, social dances like harvest dance, among others.
The dance forms in the wedding ceremony category featured Gour Sing from Chhattisgarh, Karma from Madhya Pradesh, Dhimsa from Andhra Pradesh, Gojari from Jammu (and) Kashmir, Kadsa from Jharkhand, Guryaballu from Andhra Pradesh, among others.
The dance forms in the category of traditional festivals and rituals featured Karma from Chhattisgarh, Gussadi Dhimsa from Telangana, Urav from Jharkhand, Sidi Goma from Gujarat.
International participation featured dance groups from the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland), Nigeria, Mali, Palestine and Uzbekistan who introduced the audiences to their respective cultures through their high-energy dance forms.
The Tribal conclave, an important component of the festival is a confluence of experts, scholars and practitioners to explore new ideas that can create opportunities for the tribal communities of Chhattisgarh.
The first day of the conclave delved into topics from responsible tourism to tribal art and craft, and the market to popularizing local cuisine and wellness.
In the panel discussion 'Responsible Tourism in the Post-Covid World', Yashwant Kumar, Managing Director, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board; Jeet Singh Arya, Founder of travel start-up 'Unexplored Bastar'; Sunny and Deeptie Raj, owners of the eco-resort Bhoramdeo Jungle Retreat and Anjuna Dhir, Executive Director, The Responsible Tourism Society of India, moderated by Yasmin Kidwai, Festival Curator and Event Director highlighted on the need to create valuable experiences for domestic tourists and the importance of making tourism sustainable by involving local communities.
Tribal art and crafts and the market talked about the need for revival and preservation of traditional crafts.
Panelists Ayush Shrivastav and Gaurav Kushwaha, Founders of Lokabazar.in Bastar's first handicraft e-commerce start-up; Rashmi Dhanwani, Founder of Art X Company; Chaitsi Ahuja, Founder of Brown Living and Asif Khan, Founder of Nature Escape, discussed how digital platforms can be combined with traditional crafts to create opportunities for artisans to explore new markets.
Food is an important way of retaining a cultural identity.
In the panel 'Popularizing Local Cuisine' Manish Mehrotra, the Celebrity Chef of the renowned restaurant Indian Accent; Anoothi Vishal, Culinary Historian, Author, and Curator; Prateek Sadhu, Executive Chef and Co-owner of Mumbai-based restaurant Masque and Raziya Shaikh, Director of Bastar Foods talked about the ways in which local cuisine can be highlighted to enhance the tourist experience.
This engaging discussion delved into the avenues that can be created to popularize the cuisine of Chhattisgarh and encourage food entrepreneurs.
--IANS
sukant/khz.
Source: IANS
An initiative of the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board under the tourism development plans of the state government, the inaugural day witnessed participation of tribal dance groups from various states and Union Territories of India and international participation from Nigeria, Palestine, Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland), Uzbekistan and Mali portraying and celebrating their respective tribal folk culture.
The festival began with a procession of all tribal groups in traditional outfits through the venue.
Tribal dance forms from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Assam, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Jammu (and) Kashmir showcased the vibrant and diverse culture of India.
Competing for a reward of Rs five, three and two lakh, the participating tribal groups exhibited the best of the culture through dance performances on wedding ceremonies, traditional festivals, and rituals, social dances like harvest dance, among others.
The dance forms in the wedding ceremony category featured Gour Sing from Chhattisgarh, Karma from Madhya Pradesh, Dhimsa from Andhra Pradesh, Gojari from Jammu (and) Kashmir, Kadsa from Jharkhand, Guryaballu from Andhra Pradesh, among others.
The dance forms in the category of traditional festivals and rituals featured Karma from Chhattisgarh, Gussadi Dhimsa from Telangana, Urav from Jharkhand, Sidi Goma from Gujarat.
International participation featured dance groups from the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland), Nigeria, Mali, Palestine and Uzbekistan who introduced the audiences to their respective cultures through their high-energy dance forms.
The Tribal conclave, an important component of the festival is a confluence of experts, scholars and practitioners to explore new ideas that can create opportunities for the tribal communities of Chhattisgarh.
The first day of the conclave delved into topics from responsible tourism to tribal art and craft, and the market to popularizing local cuisine and wellness.
In the panel discussion 'Responsible Tourism in the Post-Covid World', Yashwant Kumar, Managing Director, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board; Jeet Singh Arya, Founder of travel start-up 'Unexplored Bastar'; Sunny and Deeptie Raj, owners of the eco-resort Bhoramdeo Jungle Retreat and Anjuna Dhir, Executive Director, The Responsible Tourism Society of India, moderated by Yasmin Kidwai, Festival Curator and Event Director highlighted on the need to create valuable experiences for domestic tourists and the importance of making tourism sustainable by involving local communities.
Tribal art and crafts and the market talked about the need for revival and preservation of traditional crafts.
Panelists Ayush Shrivastav and Gaurav Kushwaha, Founders of Lokabazar.in Bastar's first handicraft e-commerce start-up; Rashmi Dhanwani, Founder of Art X Company; Chaitsi Ahuja, Founder of Brown Living and Asif Khan, Founder of Nature Escape, discussed how digital platforms can be combined with traditional crafts to create opportunities for artisans to explore new markets.
Food is an important way of retaining a cultural identity.
In the panel 'Popularizing Local Cuisine' Manish Mehrotra, the Celebrity Chef of the renowned restaurant Indian Accent; Anoothi Vishal, Culinary Historian, Author, and Curator; Prateek Sadhu, Executive Chef and Co-owner of Mumbai-based restaurant Masque and Raziya Shaikh, Director of Bastar Foods talked about the ways in which local cuisine can be highlighted to enhance the tourist experience.
This engaging discussion delved into the avenues that can be created to popularize the cuisine of Chhattisgarh and encourage food entrepreneurs.
--IANS
sukant/khz.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 28 : Delhi reported 42 fresh cases of Covid on Thursday, pushing the overall tally to 14,39,751, according to the latest bulletin issued by the health department.
However, no Covid fatalities have been recorded in the city in the last six days.
The city's death toll stands at 25,091.
The national capital has recorded four deaths due to the infection in October, so far. The death rate stands at 1.74 per cent.
The Covid infection rate in the national capital has slightly increased to 0.07 per cent.
Currently, there are 345 active cases here.
However, with 45 patients recovering in the last 24 hours, the total number of recoveries now stand at 14,14,315, the health bulletin said.
A total of 115 Covid patients are being treated in home isolation at present.
With a 98.23 per cent Covid recovery rate, the active Covid cases rate in Delhi stands at 0.024 per cent.
Meanwhile, a total of 63,174 new tests -- 47,895 RT-PCR tests and 15,279 Rapid Antigen tests -- were conducted in the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 2,92,52,619.
At present, the total number of containment zones in the city is 90.
Out of 61,097 vaccines administered in the last 24 hours, 22,257 were first doses and 38,840 second doses.
The total number of cumulative beneficiaries vaccinated so far stands at 2,02,62,413, according to the health bulletin.
--IANS
avr/sks/bg.
Source: IANS
However, no Covid fatalities have been recorded in the city in the last six days.
The city's death toll stands at 25,091.
The national capital has recorded four deaths due to the infection in October, so far. The death rate stands at 1.74 per cent.
The Covid infection rate in the national capital has slightly increased to 0.07 per cent.
Currently, there are 345 active cases here.
However, with 45 patients recovering in the last 24 hours, the total number of recoveries now stand at 14,14,315, the health bulletin said.
A total of 115 Covid patients are being treated in home isolation at present.
With a 98.23 per cent Covid recovery rate, the active Covid cases rate in Delhi stands at 0.024 per cent.
Meanwhile, a total of 63,174 new tests -- 47,895 RT-PCR tests and 15,279 Rapid Antigen tests -- were conducted in the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 2,92,52,619.
At present, the total number of containment zones in the city is 90.
Out of 61,097 vaccines administered in the last 24 hours, 22,257 were first doses and 38,840 second doses.
The total number of cumulative beneficiaries vaccinated so far stands at 2,02,62,413, according to the health bulletin.
--IANS
avr/sks/bg.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 28: In a major shift in its stance on the situation in Afghanistan, China now wants the United Nations to coordinate the transition in Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to Kabul.
At the second meeting of the foreign ministers of the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan hosted by Tehran on Wednesday, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi not only stressed on Taliban making "a clean break with terrorist forces" but also batted for "expanding multilateral coordination" in the country.
Foreign ministers of the six countries bordering Afghanistan, including China, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan participated in the conference along with Russia which began with a video message from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
"We need to increase mutual reinforcement and build synergy between the various mechanisms on Afghanistan, and support the United Nations as a key coordinator in such fields as maintaining stability, preventing chaos, and providing emergency assistance," said Wang Yi who is currently on a tour of Europe.
Analysts see China's willingness to work with the international community for a safe and stable Afghanistan as a significant shift in its approach to the new regime in Kabul as Beijing fears that the country is becoming a safe haven for terrorism once again.
It was not too long ago that China had opposed the global organisation when it had expressed serious concerns about Afghanistan's future going forward.
A few days after the Taliban had taken control of Kabul on August 15, China had refused to back a UN Security Council resolution put forward by the United States, United Kingdom and France, outlining clear expectations from the new regime regarding the future of Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, a day after he had met a delegation of the interim government of the Afghan Taliban in Doha, the Chinese Foreign Minister insisted on forging "a united front against terrorism" through multilateral platforms such as the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
"We need to positively consider holding bilateral and multilateral counter-terrorism dialogues and cooperation with Afghanistan at an appropriate time," he said.
Wang Yi also told the gathering that he had a "deep-going exchange of views" with the senior Taliban members in Doha on Tuesday where he expressed the "shared concerns" of Afghanistan's neighbours.
He said that the Taliban is eager to have dialogue and cooperation with the outside, and is serious about it.
The Taliban delegation which met Wang Yi in Qatar was led by Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan Taliban's interim government.
According to China, the Taliban said that it is having some practical difficulties in developing the economy, improving people's livelihood and governing the country, and they hope to get external assistance and support.
"The Taliban stated that they take seriously the calls of the international community, especially Afghanistan's neighbours, and that they will take further positive steps in domestic and foreign policies," said the Chinese Foreign Minister.
China's changing viewpoint on Afghanistan was highly visible in the Joint Ministerial Statement released after the foreign ministers' meeting in Tehran.
It emphasised that international and regional organisations "in particular the United Nations agencies and relevant members of the UN Security Council" should abide by their responsibility for political settlement of Afghanistan issues, rendering support to Afghans to develop the socio-economic infrastructure and providing economic and humanitarian assistance.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
At the second meeting of the foreign ministers of the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan hosted by Tehran on Wednesday, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi not only stressed on Taliban making "a clean break with terrorist forces" but also batted for "expanding multilateral coordination" in the country.
Foreign ministers of the six countries bordering Afghanistan, including China, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan participated in the conference along with Russia which began with a video message from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
"We need to increase mutual reinforcement and build synergy between the various mechanisms on Afghanistan, and support the United Nations as a key coordinator in such fields as maintaining stability, preventing chaos, and providing emergency assistance," said Wang Yi who is currently on a tour of Europe.
Analysts see China's willingness to work with the international community for a safe and stable Afghanistan as a significant shift in its approach to the new regime in Kabul as Beijing fears that the country is becoming a safe haven for terrorism once again.
It was not too long ago that China had opposed the global organisation when it had expressed serious concerns about Afghanistan's future going forward.
A few days after the Taliban had taken control of Kabul on August 15, China had refused to back a UN Security Council resolution put forward by the United States, United Kingdom and France, outlining clear expectations from the new regime regarding the future of Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, a day after he had met a delegation of the interim government of the Afghan Taliban in Doha, the Chinese Foreign Minister insisted on forging "a united front against terrorism" through multilateral platforms such as the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
"We need to positively consider holding bilateral and multilateral counter-terrorism dialogues and cooperation with Afghanistan at an appropriate time," he said.
Wang Yi also told the gathering that he had a "deep-going exchange of views" with the senior Taliban members in Doha on Tuesday where he expressed the "shared concerns" of Afghanistan's neighbours.
He said that the Taliban is eager to have dialogue and cooperation with the outside, and is serious about it.
The Taliban delegation which met Wang Yi in Qatar was led by Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan Taliban's interim government.
According to China, the Taliban said that it is having some practical difficulties in developing the economy, improving people's livelihood and governing the country, and they hope to get external assistance and support.
"The Taliban stated that they take seriously the calls of the international community, especially Afghanistan's neighbours, and that they will take further positive steps in domestic and foreign policies," said the Chinese Foreign Minister.
China's changing viewpoint on Afghanistan was highly visible in the Joint Ministerial Statement released after the foreign ministers' meeting in Tehran.
It emphasised that international and regional organisations "in particular the United Nations agencies and relevant members of the UN Security Council" should abide by their responsibility for political settlement of Afghanistan issues, rendering support to Afghans to develop the socio-economic infrastructure and providing economic and humanitarian assistance.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 28: In a major shift in its stance on the situation in Afghanistan, China now wants the United Nations to coordinate the transition in Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to Kabul.
At the second meeting of the foreign ministers of the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan hosted by Tehran on Wednesday, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi not only stressed on Taliban making "a clean break with terrorist forces" but also batted for "expanding multilateral coordination" in the country.
Foreign ministers of the six countries bordering Afghanistan, including China, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan participated in the conference along with Russia which began with a video message from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
"We need to increase mutual reinforcement and build synergy between the various mechanisms on Afghanistan, and support the United Nations as a key coordinator in such fields as maintaining stability, preventing chaos, and providing emergency assistance," said Wang Yi who is currently on a tour of Europe.
Analysts see China's willingness to work with the international community for a safe and stable Afghanistan as a significant shift in its approach to the new regime in Kabul as Beijing fears that the country is becoming a safe haven for terrorism once again.
It was not too long ago that China had opposed the global organisation when it had expressed serious concerns about Afghanistan's future going forward.
A few days after the Taliban had taken control of Kabul on August 15, China had refused to back a UN Security Council resolution put forward by the United States, United Kingdom and France, outlining clear expectations from the new regime regarding the future of Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, a day after he had met a delegation of the interim government of the Afghan Taliban in Doha, the Chinese Foreign Minister insisted on forging "a united front against terrorism" through multilateral platforms such as the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
"We need to positively consider holding bilateral and multilateral counter-terrorism dialogues and cooperation with Afghanistan at an appropriate time," he said.
Wang Yi also told the gathering that he had a "deep-going exchange of views" with the senior Taliban members in Doha on Tuesday where he expressed the "shared concerns" of Afghanistan's neighbours.
He said that the Taliban is eager to have dialogue and cooperation with the outside, and is serious about it.
The Taliban delegation which met Wang Yi in Qatar was led by Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan Taliban's interim government.
According to China, the Taliban said that it is having some practical difficulties in developing the economy, improving people's livelihood and governing the country, and they hope to get external assistance and support.
"The Taliban stated that they take seriously the calls of the international community, especially Afghanistan's neighbours, and that they will take further positive steps in domestic and foreign policies," said the Chinese Foreign Minister.
China's changing viewpoint on Afghanistan was highly visible in the Joint Ministerial Statement released after the foreign ministers' meeting in Tehran.
It emphasised that international and regional organisations "in particular the United Nations agencies and relevant members of the UN Security Council" should abide by their responsibility for political settlement of Afghanistan issues, rendering support to Afghans to develop the socio-economic infrastructure and providing economic and humanitarian assistance.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
At the second meeting of the foreign ministers of the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan hosted by Tehran on Wednesday, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi not only stressed on Taliban making "a clean break with terrorist forces" but also batted for "expanding multilateral coordination" in the country.
Foreign ministers of the six countries bordering Afghanistan, including China, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan participated in the conference along with Russia which began with a video message from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
"We need to increase mutual reinforcement and build synergy between the various mechanisms on Afghanistan, and support the United Nations as a key coordinator in such fields as maintaining stability, preventing chaos, and providing emergency assistance," said Wang Yi who is currently on a tour of Europe.
Analysts see China's willingness to work with the international community for a safe and stable Afghanistan as a significant shift in its approach to the new regime in Kabul as Beijing fears that the country is becoming a safe haven for terrorism once again.
It was not too long ago that China had opposed the global organisation when it had expressed serious concerns about Afghanistan's future going forward.
A few days after the Taliban had taken control of Kabul on August 15, China had refused to back a UN Security Council resolution put forward by the United States, United Kingdom and France, outlining clear expectations from the new regime regarding the future of Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, a day after he had met a delegation of the interim government of the Afghan Taliban in Doha, the Chinese Foreign Minister insisted on forging "a united front against terrorism" through multilateral platforms such as the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
"We need to positively consider holding bilateral and multilateral counter-terrorism dialogues and cooperation with Afghanistan at an appropriate time," he said.
Wang Yi also told the gathering that he had a "deep-going exchange of views" with the senior Taliban members in Doha on Tuesday where he expressed the "shared concerns" of Afghanistan's neighbours.
He said that the Taliban is eager to have dialogue and cooperation with the outside, and is serious about it.
The Taliban delegation which met Wang Yi in Qatar was led by Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan Taliban's interim government.
According to China, the Taliban said that it is having some practical difficulties in developing the economy, improving people's livelihood and governing the country, and they hope to get external assistance and support.
"The Taliban stated that they take seriously the calls of the international community, especially Afghanistan's neighbours, and that they will take further positive steps in domestic and foreign policies," said the Chinese Foreign Minister.
China's changing viewpoint on Afghanistan was highly visible in the Joint Ministerial Statement released after the foreign ministers' meeting in Tehran.
It emphasised that international and regional organisations "in particular the United Nations agencies and relevant members of the UN Security Council" should abide by their responsibility for political settlement of Afghanistan issues, rendering support to Afghans to develop the socio-economic infrastructure and providing economic and humanitarian assistance.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
--indianarrative.
Source: IANS
Lucknow, Oct 28 : Amid the rising Covid-19 cases in other states and neighbouring countries, the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday instructed the surveillance committees to switch on to 'alert mode' to contain the spread of infection in the state.
The surveillance committees constituted by the Yogi Adityanath government played a significant role in controlling the spread of the resurgent virus through timely identification, isolation of Covid patients and distribution of medicine kits, pulse oximeters and thermometers in the state.
The committees have been instructed to intensify door-to-door screening, tracing of patients showing influenza-like illness (ILI) as per the WHO-recommended 'trace-test-treat' strategy.
The committees have also been ordered to check the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, cholera, diarrhoea and malaria in the state.
"As coronavirus remains under effective control in Uttar Pradesh, in view of rising cases in other places, we must strengthen our contact tracing operation.
The surveillance committees must intensify screening to enable early detection if any followed by early treatment," the chief minister said at a meeting in Lucknow on Thursday.
The government spokesperson said that over 73,000 surveillance committees will pay door-to-door visits and will conduct thorough screening and tracing of every individual.
The surveillance exercise will be carried out rigorously in view of the festive season which may result in increased transmission of diseases.
Apart from making all necessary arrangements in the hospitals for the treatment of ailing people, the government has also ordered to ensure continuous monitoring of the health of every patient to remove any chance of increased transmission of the virus or any water-borne, vector-borne disease.
The authorities have been asked to continue the extensive cleanliness, sanitization and fogging drives to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases.
A month-long state-wide communicable disease control drive is also being conducted to keep a check on seasonal vagaries.
The campaign has been rolled out in all 75 districts to educate the public about measures to prevent communicable diseases.
The ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, ANMs and village heads have been entrusted with the responsibility of apprising the rural populace about various water-borne diseases.
--IANS
amita/sks/bg.
Source: IANS
The surveillance committees constituted by the Yogi Adityanath government played a significant role in controlling the spread of the resurgent virus through timely identification, isolation of Covid patients and distribution of medicine kits, pulse oximeters and thermometers in the state.
The committees have been instructed to intensify door-to-door screening, tracing of patients showing influenza-like illness (ILI) as per the WHO-recommended 'trace-test-treat' strategy.
The committees have also been ordered to check the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, cholera, diarrhoea and malaria in the state.
"As coronavirus remains under effective control in Uttar Pradesh, in view of rising cases in other places, we must strengthen our contact tracing operation.
The surveillance committees must intensify screening to enable early detection if any followed by early treatment," the chief minister said at a meeting in Lucknow on Thursday.
The government spokesperson said that over 73,000 surveillance committees will pay door-to-door visits and will conduct thorough screening and tracing of every individual.
The surveillance exercise will be carried out rigorously in view of the festive season which may result in increased transmission of diseases.
Apart from making all necessary arrangements in the hospitals for the treatment of ailing people, the government has also ordered to ensure continuous monitoring of the health of every patient to remove any chance of increased transmission of the virus or any water-borne, vector-borne disease.
The authorities have been asked to continue the extensive cleanliness, sanitization and fogging drives to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases.
A month-long state-wide communicable disease control drive is also being conducted to keep a check on seasonal vagaries.
The campaign has been rolled out in all 75 districts to educate the public about measures to prevent communicable diseases.
The ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, ANMs and village heads have been entrusted with the responsibility of apprising the rural populace about various water-borne diseases.
--IANS
amita/sks/bg.
Source: IANS