All India Radio News Summary: 19 SEPTEMBER 2017
- India has sought investigations into the North Korea’s proliferation linkages
India has sought investigations into the North Korea’s proliferation linkages. The External Affairs Minister said that North Korea’s proliferation linkages must be explored and those involved must be held accountable.
“We have very clearly mentioned that we not only deplored DPR case recent actions but also stated that its proliferation linkages must be explored and those involved be held accountable.”
Minister held tri-lateral meeting with her US and Japanese counterparts on the side-line of the on-going UN General Assembly session and deplored North Korea’s recent actions.
- The GST Committee on Exports deliberated on the issues faced by the industry
The Revenue Secretary – headed panel met export promotion associations in New Delhi to deliberate on the issues faced by the industry under the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- The representatives from eight export promotion associations discussed the difficulties faced by exporters.
- This will be its first meeting ever since the constitution of the panel on the 12th of September by the GST council.
- The panel is mandated to recommend to the GST Council a suitable strategy for helping the export sector in the post-GST set-up.
- Britain has called for a new security treaty with the European Union (EU)
Britain has called for a new security treaty with the European Union (EU) after Brexit to try and prevent terror attacks, days after a bomb exploded in a London Underground train.
- The government said, it wanted to maintain existing partnerships with a bespoke pact that would open the door to enhanced cooperation as terror threats evolve against British and EU citizens.
- It further said, the new treaty is “vital” for public safety throughout Europe and that Britain and the EU maintain and even enhance close collaboration after the UK leaves the bloc in March 2019.
- India says reforms at United Nations should keep pace with changed times.
India has said, reforms in the United Nations should include expansion of the world body’s permanent and non-permanent members to keep pace with the changing times.
India has been consistently maintained the same line on the issue.
- During the discussion, President of US also called for reforms in the body. He said, he had always seen great potential of the organisation but bureaucracy was stopping it from realising its potential.
- US President supports UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ reform agenda for the body, and was pleased to join nearly 130 countries to support a big, bold reform to eliminate inefficiency.
- Myanmar State Counsellor condemns human rights violations in Rakhine State; Says her government is making every effort to restore peace and stability in the region.
Myanmar’s de facto leader (Aung San Suu Kyi) has condemned all human rights violations in the country saying that the government is committed to a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
- In her first address to the nation on the violence in the Rakhine state, the State Counsellor said in Nay Pyi Taw that Myanmar did not fear international scrutiny and is making every effort to restore peace and stability.
- She said, anyone responsible for abuses in Rakhine would face the law and action will be taken against all people regardless of the religion race or political position who go against the laws of the land and who violate Human Right as accepted by our International community
- She appealed to the global community to help her nation unite across religious and ethnic lines.
- However, she did not address the allegations against the military, saying only that there had been no armed clashes or clearance operations since 5th of September.
- She said, she wanted to speak to both Muslims who fled and those who stayed to find out what was at the root of the crisis.
- She also said, Myanmar is prepared to start a refugee verification process for those who have been forced to flee by army operations and wish to return to the country.
The current spate of violence began through Rakhine state in August, when there was an armed attack on police posts, blamed on Rohingya militants. That led to a massive security crackdown by the military, which UN has decried as ethnic cleansing. More than 4 lakh Rohingya Muslims, facing persecution allegedly at the hands of the military, have crossed into Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has criticized the Myanmarese leader for failing to condemn the army’s alleged abuses and address accusations of ethnic cleansing.
- It also criticised Myanmar Government for blocking a UN fact-finding mission to probe alleged army atrocities in Rakhine.
- Amnesty said if Myanmar has nothing to hide, it should allow UN investigators into the country, including Rakhine state.
- Agriculture Minister has said that the food production will be robust in 2017-18
Agriculture Minister has said that the food production will be robust in 2017-18. Inaugurating the National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign in New Delhi,
- He said, the country has achieved self-sufficiency in pulses and his Ministry is committed to increase oil seeds production by increasing oil palm cultivation.
- The Minister said, by March next year, all farm lands will get electricity supply.
- He said, there is need to interfere in the Mandis all over the country so that farmers are not compelled to sell their crops at below market rates.
- The Minister said, soil Health Card has helped in increasing the productivity of farm produce and reduced the cost of production.
During the two days conference, discussion will be held on the strategies and roadmap with state governments for the upcoming Rabi season.
- Home Minister reviewed the measures being taken to check the growing trend of cybercrime in the financial sector
Home Minister reviewed the measures being taken to check the growing trend of cybercrime in the financial sector at a meeting in New Delhi with all concerned agencies and representatives of some States.
- The Ministry said, the strategies adopted to check financial cyber-crimes were discussed in detail during the meeting.
- The Home Minister was apprised of the current trends of financial cyber-crimes and the steps being taken to address the challenge.
- He emphasized on coordination of all concerned agencies and directed them to undertake required measures in a time bound manner.
- It was also decided to set up an inter-ministerial committee to identify action points and monitor the implementation.
- Separate self-contained protocol for severely and acutely malnourished(SAM) children
Women and Child Development Minister has said a separate self-contained protocol for severely and acutely malnourished, SAM, children will be issued shortly.
- Minister said, new guidelines on supplementary nutrition will be issued by her Ministry in the next few day
- Highlighting the importance of child protection along with nutrition, the Minister said there is a need to give minimum 1000 calories to pregnant mothers and 600 calories to children.
- She said, government wants to improve the quality of supplementary nutrition and make the delivery system effective with change in policy.
- She said Beti Bachao Beti Padhao has brought a phenomenal change in that mindset.
- She also said that every place should have a cell to deal with sexual harassment cases.
- Stressing on the immediate need for a child welfare committee in every district, the Minister said, district magistrates should ensure that every child is in system to make adoption process transparent and easy.
- Heavy rain lashes Kerala; Road and Rail traffic disrupted in many areas;
In Kerala, heavy rainfall that was continuing for the past few days has weakened today. However, the after effects of the heavy rainfall are continuing.
- Huge destruction of agriculture and property have been reported from almost all districts in the state.
- There has been slight respite in rain today in the worst affected Idukki, Palalkkad, Alapuzha and Kasargode districts of Kerala.
- The initial estimate says that in Palakkad there are widespread damage of crops worth 3 crore ruppes and almost 600 hectares of rice cultivation is destroyed.
- Efforts are on-going in re-establishing the damaged road connectivity and electricity in the tribal hamlets of Attapady region.
- Relief camps are opened in the area.
- In Alapuzha all the agriculture land continue to be submerged and the damage is still not estimated.
- There is high alert in high range areas of Idukki as strong wind is blowing in the areas, alarming further landslides.
- Hurricane Maria turns into a severe storm, causing flooding and widespread damage in Dominica island in the Caribbeans
Hurricane Maria, the second major storm to hit the Caribbean this month, crept toward the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico today after it ripped through Dominica, causing widespread devastation.
Fierce winds and rain lashed mountainous Dominica for hours as Maria caused flooding and tore roofs from homes as an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm.
- Prime Minister said his focus now is in rescuing the trapped and securing medical assistance for the injured. He called on the international community for help.
- Authorities in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico warned that people in wooden or flimsy homes should find safe shelter before the storm’s expected arrival there on Wednesday.
- The nearby island of Martinique has declared a maximum-level alert while another French island, Guadeloupe, ordered evacuations.
- The storm is moving roughly along the same track as Irma, the hurricane that devastated the region this month.
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- US President, in his maiden speech at UN General Assembly, talks tough on North Korea
US president has vowed to confront North Korea and destroy it completely if forced by what he called rogue regimes.
- In his debut speech to the UN General Assembly today, President warned of growing threats from North Korea and Iran.
- Referring to North Korean leader (Kim Jong-Un), the US President said, he is on a suicide mission.
- He said, the entire world is threatened by the nuclear threat posed by North Korea, adding that if the US is forced to defend itself or its allies, it will have no choice but to totally destroy it.
- He said, if the righteous many do not confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph.
- He also called the N.-backed Iran nuclear deal “an embarrassment” to the United States.
Addressing more than 150 international delegations at the annual U.N. General Assembly, the US President laid out his vision of a world order based on strong sovereign nations rather than multilateral alliances.
- He emphasized his America first agenda, saying that his government’s first duty is to its people.
- He said, US can no longer be taken advantage of or enter into a one-sided agreement where it gets nothing in return.
- He called on fellow leaders to embrace “national sovereignty” and to do more to ensure the prosperity and security of their own countries.
- He said, the success of the United Nations depends upon the independent strength of its members to overcome the perils of the present and to achieve the promise of the future.
- US resumes fast processing of suspended H-1B work visas in all categories.
The US has resumed fast processing of H-1B work visas in all categories subject to Congress-mandated limit.
- This comes five months after it was suspended temporarily to handle the huge rush of applications for the work visas popular among Indian IT professionals.
- The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.
- The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year.
- The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) resumed premium processing for all H-1B visa petitions subject to the Fiscal Year 2018 cap, set at 65,000.
- Premium processing has also been resumed for the annual 20,000 additional petitions that are set aside to hire workers with a US higher educational degree.
