Yusara Askari, Author at The Singapore Post

J&K: Dwivedi meets deputations of industrial unit holders

23Dec

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

J&K: Dwivedi meets deputations of industrial unit holders

In the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, several deputations of industrial unit holders called on Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, to apprise him of various issues confronting them at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.A deputation of Steel Rolling unit holders led by Mir Waseem requested Commissioner Secretary to expedite the power supply to electric furnace and demanded that electricity be provided to continue the running of units as other sources of fuel are not available in sufficient quantity.The delegation informed Commissioner Secretary that provision of electricity to steel industry will help to reduce carbon footprint.Another deputation of industrial unit holders of Summerbugh Lasjan, led by Shahid Thakur, apprised Commissioner Secret...

J&K: Principal Secretary Rohit Kansal reviews power situation in Kupwara, Baramulla

23Dec

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

J&K: Principal Secretary Rohit Kansal reviews power situation in Kupwara, Baramulla

In a review meeting chaired by Rohit Kansal Principal Secretary to the Jammu and Kashmir government (Power Development Department), it was decided that the augmentation of the capacity of grid station at Delina Baramulla will be completed by December end.With this augmentation, the capacity of Delina Grid Station would double from existing 160 MVA to 320 MVA. This, in turn, will significantly enhance the power supply position to Baramulla and Kupwara districts and bring relief to the people of the twin districts.Later in the day, Principal Secretary Kansal visited the Delina Grid Station and took stock of 160 MV augmentation project. He complimented the engineers and staff for their efforts, and exhorted them to complete the work by December 31, 2020.In another significant decision, it was...

Strong capital inflows to further strengthen Indian rupee in the week ahead: Analysts

21Dec

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Strong capital inflows to further strengthen Indian rupee in the week ahead: Analysts

Persistent foreign fund inflows on the back of bullish global cues will strengthen the rupee during the upcoming week, according to analysts.Besides, lesser intervention from the Reserve Bank of India is expected after it was called out by the US Treasury Department to curtail its market activities."RBI intervention is keeping the rupee stable, as it feels prudent to insulate rupee from the strong capital inflows. US Fed putting India on watch list is expected to reduce pace of intervention going forward. Expect rupee to trade between 73.20 to 73.60 with appreciative rupee bias," said Sajal Gupta, Head, Forex and Rates, Edelweiss Securities.Lately, healthy FIIs inflows have powered a rally in equities and gave an appreciation push to the rupee. The FIIs were net buyers last week, investing...

India set to authorise first set of Covid-19 vaccines, to vaccinate around 300 million

21Dec

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

India set to authorise first set of Covid-19 vaccines, to vaccinate around 300 million

Indian Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has announced that India is about to authorise the first set of Covid-19 vaccines and that there is a need for an expeditious vaccination drive to cover all the target populations estimated to be around 300 million (30 crore).He made the announcement while chairing the 22nd meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on Covid-19 through a video-conference as India crossed the one crore infection mark.He was virtually joined by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep S. Puri, Minister of State Health & Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Member (Health) NITI Aayog Vinod K. Paul, Advisers to the Prime Minister Amarjeet Sinha and Bhaskar Khulbe.Reiterating...

Pakistan International Airlines in deep trouble

21Dec

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Pakistan International Airlines in deep trouble

For a nation in deep economic distress, a losing national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) the net loss of Rs. 19.26 billion, increased by 54.08 percent in 2020 compared with the last year, is a serious drag. But a big damper in its fledgling credibility with fliers and the aviation world has emerged in the shape of licences of over 50 of its 800-plus pilots being cancelled. These licences were fraudulently procured and issued. All this comes in the wake of other setbacks like many global airlines refusing to fly to Pakistan, or allowing the PIA to fly in for reasons of security and the scare of the spread Covid-19 virus. This is but one of the many pointers to the economic situation that is having its political fall-out, what with rising prices of power, gas an...

J&K DDC polls: 51% voter turnout; counting of votes on December 22

20Dec

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J&K DDC polls: 51% voter turnout; counting of votes on December 22

In the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the District Development Council (DDC) elections concluded on Saturday with an overall voter turnout of approximately 51 per cent.Now, the counting of votes will be taken up on December 22. This was the first time that the union territory exercised its democratic right after the abrogation of Article 370.“In the eighth and final phase of polling on Saturday, nearly 51 per cent turnout was recorded across 28 constituencies spread over 18 districts of the union territory,” State Election Commissioner (SEC) K.K Sharma said.Addressing a press conference, Sharma said the polling was peaceful and largely incident-free, barring a few minor incidents. "We had a successful last phase of the polls which recorded a turnout of 50.98 per cent for the

India denies Pak’s claims about attacks by Indian troops on UN vehicle

20Dec

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India denies Pak’s claims about attacks by Indian troops on UN vehicle

Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday rejected Pakistan’s allegations that Indian troops deliberately targeted a vehicle of the United Nations along the Line of Control saying a detailed investigation found the claims to be factually "incorrect and false".MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said Pakistan should responsibly investigate its "lapses" instead of repeating "baseless and fabricated" allegations against India to cover up its own "failure" in ensuring the safety and security of UN personnel in territory under its control.On Friday, Pakistan had alleged that Indian troops targeted a vehicle of United Nations Military Observers (UNMO) in the Chirikot sector along the Line of Control (LoC).Srivastava said that India has conveyed its findings and views on "these misrepres

18Dec

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Possible Coup in Pakistan?

Pakistan Army has literally taken over the Imran Khan government in what can be called a 'creeping coup'. It has been setting the political agenda for the country for a long time. Last year, the army had decided to become `part` of the Imran Khan government by facilitating the posting of own candidates on key positions. The Army chief, General Javed Bajwa took upon himself to guide the economic policy, though not with any success. He then got another of his protégé, Major General Asim Bajwa, appointed to the inner coterie of the Prime Minister. In the latest move to capture even more power, the army has leaned on the Imran Khan government to pass a Bill giving over-riding powers of authority to the Generals over the $60 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor project. The CPEC Auth

India farmers’ interests ‘my top-most priority’: PM Modi

17Dec

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India farmers’ interests ‘my top-most priority’: PM Modi

As the farmers’ protests against the three new farm laws by the Indian government enters Day 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his government's commitment towards the farmers and said that protecting their interests was its topmost priority."The present agricultural laws had been the demand of farmers since a long time. Even those who are in the opposition today were supporting these bills earlier when they were in power, but could never take a decision on them and pacified the farmers with false assurances. I once again repeatedly convey to my farmer brothers that for each and every one of the farmers' doubts, my government will stand with you. The interests of farmers has been the top-most priority of my government right from day one,” PM Modi said at a virtual ceremony of proj

Know why Bangladeshi intellectual hate Pakistan to the core?

17Dec

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Know why Bangladeshi intellectual hate Pakistan to the core?

As Bangladesh remembered those who were brutally killed and tortured by Pakistani forces in 1971, several human rights foundations and activists of the country came forward in protest demanding an apology from Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and severe punishment for those involved in the 1971 genocide. On December 14, Bangladesh observed the Martyred Intellectuals Day to mark the day of brutality when Pakistani forces, with the help of their local collaborators named Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams, killed hundreds of intellectuals in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh in 1971. Rallies, protests and human chains were organized all across the country in the memory of the intellectuals who were tortured and killed by Pakistani forces. Muktijuddho Manch (Liberation War Fo...