”India’s focus on green growth and green jobs”, says PM Modi

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September 23, 2022

Drawing attention to the net zero emissions target for the year 2070, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that India’s focus is on green growth and green jobs.

“India has set a target of net zero till the year 2070. Now the focus of the country is on growth, on green jobs. And to achieve all these goals, the role of the environment ministry of every state is enormous,” Modi said at the inauguration of the National Conference of Environment Ministers in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat via video conferencing.

Stressing on the need to maintain equilibrium with nature, the prime minister said the role of the environment ministries of the states in achieving these goals is of vital importance.

“I urge all environment ministers to promote a circular economy as much as possible in the states,” Prime Minister Modi said.

These steps will significantly strengthen the solid waste management campaign and will free us from the clutches of single-use plastic, the prime minister said according to an official statement.

Throwing light on the groundwater issues, Modi said the states with abundant water are also facing water shortages nowadays.

The Prime Minister remarked that the challenges and measures like chemical-free natural farming, Amrit Sarovar and water security, are not limited to the individual departments and the environment department will also have to consider these as an equally pressing challenge.

“It is critical to work with a participative and integrated approach by the environment ministries. When the vision of the environment ministries changes, I am sure, nature will also be benefitted,” he said.

Stressing that this work is not just limited to Information Department or the Education Department, the Prime Minister said that public awareness is another important aspect of protecting the environment.

“As you all are well aware that in the National Education Policy that has been implemented in the country, a lot of emphasis has been laid on experienced-based learning”, Modi added.

The Prime Minister remarked that this campaign should be led by the Ministry of Environment. This will create awareness about biodiversity among the children and will also plant the seeds of protecting the environment.

“Children who live in our coastal areas should also be taught how to protect the marine ecosystem. We have to make our children, and future generations sensitive toward the environment”, the Prime Minister added.

The universities and laboratories of our states should give top priority to innovations related to environmental protection, following the mantra of Jai Anusandhan.

The Prime Minister also underlined the adoption of technology in protecting the environment. “Study and research on the conditions of forests in the forests are equally important”, Modi added.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister welcomed one and all to Ekta Nagar and the National Conference of Environment Ministers.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the conference is being held when India is setting new goals for the next 25 years.

Talking about the significance, the Prime Minister said that the holistic development of Ekta Nagar is a prime example of an environmental pilgrimage when it comes to forests, water conservation, tourism and our tribal brothers and sisters.

Giving examples of the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and LiFE movement, the Prime Minister remarked that India is not just taking huge strides in the field of renewable energy, but also guiding other nations of the world.

The Prime Minister said, “Today’s new India is moving ahead with new thinking, new approach.”

The Prime Minister further went on to add that India is a rapidly developing economy, and it is continuously strengthening its ecology as well.

“Our forest cover has increased and wetlands are also expanding rapidly”, he added. The Prime Minister remarked that today the world is joining India because of its track record of fulfilling its commitments.

“Gir lions, tigers, elephants, one-horned rhinos and leopards have increased in numbers over the years. New excitement has returned from the homecoming of Cheetah in Madhya Pradesh a few days ago”, the Prime Minister added.

Digvijaya Singh says, Not interested in becoming congress president

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PTI

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September 23, 2022

Even as the race for the Congress president’s post is hotting up, its veteran leader and Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh on Friday said he is not interested in becoming the party chief.

The Congress on Thursday set the ball rolling for electing its chief by issuing a notification. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday made it clear he will fight for the party’s president post. A contest for the top party post appeared imminent after a gap of over two decades as party leader Shashi Tharoor looks set for an electoral face-off.

Names of former Union minister Manish Tewari, former Madhya Pradesh chief ministers Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, Mukul Wasnik and Prithviraj Chavan, were also doing the rounds as possible contenders, but many of them have ruled out running for the top post.

Talking to reporters here, Singh said, “I have already said and I am reiterating that I am not interested in becoming the party’s national president.” He arrived here on his way to Jhoteshwar in Narsinghpur district to pay tributes to late Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, who passed away recently, at his samadhi.

When asked who will replace Gehlot as the chief minister of Rajasthan in case he becomes the party president, Singh refused to comment saying, “I am not a public representative from Rajasthan.” Replying to a question about Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat visiting a mosque and a madrassa in Delhi, the veteran Congress leader said it was the result of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which has merely completed two weeks.

“I express my gratitude towards RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for getting influenced by the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Singh said, adding that this kind of feeling must percolate to the lower rungs of the Sangh.

Singh said they (RSS cadres) should stop creating differences and feeling of animosity among communities on religious lines.

Answering a query, he said that people’s response to the Bharat Jodo Yatra is far beyond the party’s expectations.

On BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad terming the exercise as ‘Gandhi Parivar Bachao Yatra’, Singh said, “His (Prasad’s) definition of ‘parivar’ (family) is limited to the Sangh Parivar, while Congress’s definition of ‘parivar’ is entire world, that is ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’, and we believe in Bharatiya sanatani parampara.”

Afghan women faces severe problems regarding health facilities: reports

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ANI

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September 23, 2022

Several residents in Kabul voiced concerns over the shortage of female doctors in the country due to rising problems for women regarding challenges in health facilities, Global Women’s Health Index Institute (GWHI) said in a report.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, women in the country have been deprived of fundamental rights.

According to the report, women cannot visit health clinics or have a doctor examine them without a male companion and several provinces lack essential healthcare services, according to local media.

“Many patients come from Paktia and Helmand. They say there is no female doctor,” said a doctor at the Najmulsama Shafajo hospital. The residents of Kabul have raised concerns about the shortage of female staff at hospitals which has posed severe threats to the health of Afghan women, local media reported.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said that it has created dozens of facilities for women across the country, local media reported.

Taliban has imposed draconian restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly and movement for women and girls.

As a result of this, women and girls in Afghanistan are facing a human rights crisis, deprived of the fundamental rights to non-discrimination, education, work, public participation and health.

Afghan women are staring at a bleak future due to a number of restrictions imposed by the Taliban governing aspects of their lives within 10 months of Afghanistan’s takeover.

According to HRW, women and girls are blocked from accessing health care as well. Reports suggest that women and girls facing violence have no escape route.

Allowing girls into schools and other educational institutes has been one of the main demands of the international community.

The majority of countries have refused to formally recognize the Taliban amid worries over their treatment of girls and women and other human rights issues.

Women are no longer allowed to travel unless accompanied by men related to them and are being curtailed from wearing make-up as well as their reproductive rights.

‘Game of Thrones’ star Jerome Flynn will be seen in ‘Yellowstone’ prequel series

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ANI

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September 23, 2022

‘Game of Thrones’ star Jerome Flynn has been cast in Taylor Sheridan’s upcoming ‘Yellowstone’ prequel series ‘1923,’ which will air on Paramount Plus. According to Variety, in ‘1923,’ a new generation of the Dutton family is introduced, and the early 20th century is explored, with the mountain west and the Duttons that live there being affected by pandemics, a record-breaking drought, the end of Prohibition, and the Great Depression.

Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford take the lead in the series. Flynn portrays Banner Creighton, a hard-headed Scottish brogue who serves as the head of the neighbourhood sheepmen.

In addition to his major roles in the British dramas ‘Ripper Street’ and ‘Soldier Solider,’ in which he played Bennet Drake and Paddy Garvey, respectively, Flynn is most recognised for his role as Bronn in ‘Game of Thrones.’

Additionally, he has appeared in the television shows ‘Between the Line,’ ‘Black Mirror,’ and ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.’ The Curtis Brown Group, Gersh, and Anonymous Content are Flynn’s agents.

In addition to Ford and Mirren, Flynn joins other cast members who had already been revealed, such as Brandon Sklenar, Darren Mann, Michelle Randolph, James Badge Dale, Marley Shelton, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, and Julia Schlaepfer.

In December, ‘1923’ will have its Paramount+ debut. Under Montana, production is currently in progress, as per the reports of Variety.

Women’s T20 WC qualifier: Zimbabwe take on Ireland, Bangladesh face Thailand in semifinals

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ANI

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September 23, 2022

The crucial Qualifier semi-finals on Friday will determine the final two berths in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2023 as Zimbabwe take on Ireland, and Bangladesh face Thailand.

The first semi-final will be played between Zimbabwe and Ireland at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi from 15:00 (local time) while the second will be played at the same ground at 19:00 (local time) on Friday.

Zimbabwe got off to a strong start in the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier, defeating Thailand and Papua New Guinea (8 wickets each) (6 wickets). They were less impressive in their third T20I of the group stage, after already having secured a spot in the semi-finals.

However, UAE won their sole encounter of the competition with a boundary off the penultimate ball. Ireland opened the qualifier with what now appears to be a fair 14-run defeat to Bangladesh, who went on to win the group stage easily.

Ireland’s campaign was revived by a resounding 9-wicket thrashing of the USA. Still, it needed a stirring 19-run victory over Scotland in the final group game to determine which of those sides would advance.

Zimbabwean to keep an eye on – Kelis Ndlovu Six wickets later in the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier, the 16-year-old prodigy has taken the second-most in the competition thus far.

The left-arm spinner has collected wickets while limiting the opposition to only 4.5 runs per over in each game. She was at her best with 3/18 in the opener against Papua New Guinea.

This rising talent is also Zimbabwe’s opening batsman and is averaging 39.5 runs in the qualifying matches after scoring 46 against Thailand and 25* against PNG. Irish to keep an eye on – Gaby Lewis As demonstrated by a scorching 66 off 37 balls while opening against Scotland in the T20I that determined which team would play off in the semi-final, the ICC 100% Cricket sensation can turn it on when it matters the most.

When Lewis was bowled on the first ball against Bangladesh, the squad fell 14 runs short without her regular contribution, highlighting the importance of the 21-year-old to the team. Ireland had to chase down Bangladesh’s score of 91 runs, and they did so for the loss of one wicket.

The second semifinal will see Bangladesh and Thailand eyeing a place in the T20 World Cup. From the moment they played their first T20I against Ireland, Bangladesh, an unbeaten team, stood out in their Qualifier group.

Bangladesh put up an intimidating total of 143/4 against the eventual semifinalist team before taking early wickets to keep Ireland at a distance throughout the second innings.

When they dismissed Scotland for 77 and finished the chase with six wickets and seven overs remaining after hammering 158/1 against the USA to set up a 55-run rout, they appeared even more menacing.

After their opponents were held to only 92/5 from their 20 overs by Thailand’s disciplined bowling, the UAE was destroyed by Thailand by seven wickets to start the qualifier.

Thailand lost by six wickets to Zimbabwe in their second T20I of the group stage after scoring 86/6 from their allotted 20 overs. When a semi-final position was up for grabs against Papua New Guinea, Thailand responded by protecting their score of 93/8 with some astute bowling to win by 12 runs, with Nattaya Boochatham leading the way with 4/8 off four overs.

Thai player to watch out for – Nattaya Boochatham The off-spinner who opens the bowling for Thailand is the Qualifier group stage’s top wicket-taker with seven, and she has demonstrated her ability to both strike early and stem the flow of runs.

Boochatham nearly guaranteed Thailand’s spot in the semifinals with 4/8 off four overs in the last group game as they held Papua New Guinea to a meagre total of 93 with just the victor keeping their hopes of qualifying alive.

With 2/7, which featured a critical wicket in the opening over of the innings, the 35-year-old veteran also contributed to the victory against the UAE, but she detracted from it against Zimbabwe with 1/31.

Bangladeshi player to watch out for – Nigar Sultana With 157 runs from three matches, the Bangladesh captain had a 44-run cushion over the next best scorer to take first place in the group stage of the qualifiers.

The dependable Sultana, who bats first-drop, has contributed runs in every game, scoring 67 against Ireland, 34 against Scotland, and then 56* against the USA.

Thailand’s hopes of travelling to South Africa rest on Sultana, the No. 23 batter in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I Rankings.

Ashwini Vaishnaw said, new telecom bill provide a clear roadmap for industry restructuring and promote innovation

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PTI

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September 23, 2022

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Railway Minister, — Image: Twitter/ Screengrab

Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said that the new telecom bill will provide a clear roadmap for industry restructuring and promote innovation.

While speaking at a Public Affairs Forum of India event, the minister said in the next one-and-a-half years to two years, the government should be able to completely revamp the entire digital regulatory framework which aims to balance the societal objectives, duties and rights of individuals, technology agnostic framework etc.

“Industry does go through various phases. Sometimes because of business environments, technology changes and various other factors. There is a need for restructuring. How do you put that in the bill so that the industry gets a very clear roadmap? ‘If restructuring has to happen then these are the things that have to be taken care of. These are the things which are my rights, so that kind of clear framework has been put in this bill,” Vaishnaw said.

Portuguese PM Antonio Costa calls for representation of India at UN Security Council.

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ANI

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September 23, 2022

portugese pm — Image: Twitter / @antoniocostapm

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Thursday called for UNSC reform that should include representation of India, Brazil and Africa continent at the UN Security Council.

Addressing the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Costa advocated for a Security Council that incorporates a comprehensive view of security and gives fair representation to small countries.

“We need a representative, agile and functional security council that is able to respond to the challenges of the 21st century without being paralyzed and whose actions are scrutinised by the other members of the United Nations,” he said.

“A security council that incorporates a comprehensive view of security. A security council where the African Continent, Brazil and India have seats. And where small countries are fairly represented,” he added.

During his address, the Portuguese PM said many children and adults globally have never known peace. “In Europe, we are confronted with an unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, in a flagrant violation of international laws, primarily the charter of the United Nations.”

“We therefore cannot fail to condemn the Russian aggression and here to reinforce Portugal’s support sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Russia must cease hostilities and allow the creation of a sustained ceasefire and peace-oriented dialogue,” he said.

Costa welcomed the efforts of the United Nations, particularly the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, to resolve this conflict and mitigate its damaging effects such as the food crisis.

Portuguese PM’s call for UNSC reform came the same day as the Group of Four (G4) foreign minister met and expressed concern at the continued lack of meaningful progress in the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council (SC) reform.

They also renewed their determination to work towards commencing text-based negotiations without further delay in the IGN.

On September 22, the Foreign Ministers of the G4 countries, Carlos Alberto Franco Franca, Foreign Minister of Brazil, Annalena Baerbock, Federal Foreign Minister of Germany, S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister, and Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, met in the margins of the opening of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, to exchange views on reform of the UN Security Council.

In a joint press statement after the meeting, the G4 Ministers assessed that conflicts around the globe as well as increasingly complex and interconnected global challenges have brought to the forefront the urgency of reforming the United Nations and updating its main decision-making bodies.

They agreed that the inability of the Security Council to effectively address these challenges vividly demonstrates the urgent need for UN Security Council reform in order to better reflect contemporary geopolitical realities, and to enhance its effectiveness and the legitimacy and implementation of its decisions.

The Ministers expressed disappointment at concerted attempts to stall this process, and renewed their commitment to addressing the issue in a decisive manner and with increased urgency in the 77th Session of the UNGA.

The Ministers agreed on the need for enhanced role and presence of developing countries and of major contributors to the United Nations to enhance the capacity of the Council to respond effectively to the complex and evolving challenges the world faces today on questions of international peace and security.

Director James Cameron reveals the reason of screenplay for ‘Avatar 2’ being late

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ANI

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September 23, 2022

Director, James Cameron, Avatar 2 | Image: ANI

Director James Cameron revealed that it took at least 13 years to come up with the screenplay for ‘Avatar 2’.

According to Variety, Cameron shared that before “Avatar: The Way of Water” there was a full ‘Avatar 2’ screenplay that was written and then thrown into the trash.

It turns out that at least an entire year of the 13-year gap between 2009’s “Avatar” and 2022’s “The Way of Water” was spent on a screenplay that will never see the light of day.

The director said, “When I sat down with my writers to start ‘Avatar 2,’ I said we cannot do the next one until we understand why the first one did so well.” “We must crack the code of what the hell happened.” Cameron and his team came with the solution. He shared, “All films work on different levels. The first is surface, which is character, problem and resolution. The second is thematic. What is the movie trying to say? But ‘Avatar’ also works on a third level, the subconscious. I wrote an entire script for the sequel, read it and realized that it did not get to level three. Boom. Start over. That took a year.” During an appearance on “The Marianne Williamson Podcast” last year, Cameron elaborated more on this third level that he believes allowed “Avatar” to become the highest-grossing movie of all time at the worldwide box office.

Last year, during a ‘The Marianne Williamson Podcast’ show, Cameron revealed that more on this third level that he believes allowed “Avatar” to become the highest-grossing movie of all time at the worldwide box office, as per Variety.

He said, “There was a tertiary level as well…it was a dreamlike sense of a yearning to be there, to be in that space, to be in a place that is safe and where you wanted to be.” “Whether that was flying, that sense of freedom and exhilaration, or whether it’s being in the forest where you can smell the earth. It was a sensory thing that communicated on such a deep level. That was the spirituality of the first film.”

He also fired his “Avatar” sequel writers as they were trying to create new stories as opposed to figuring out what made the first movie a record-breaker. Cameron added, “When I sat down to write the sequels, I knew there were going to be three at the time and eventually it turned into four, I put together a group of writers and said, ‘I don’t want to hear anybody’s new ideas or anyone’s pitches until we have spent some time figuring out what worked on the first film, what connected, and why it worked.” “They kept wanting to talk about the new stories. I said, ‘We aren’t doing that yet.’ Eventually, I had to threaten to fire them all because they were doing what writers do, which is to try and create new stories. I said, ‘We need to understand what the connection was and protect it, protect that ember and that flame.'”

Session court allow ED to transfer Satyendar Jain money laundry case to transfer to another judge

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PTI

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September 23, 2022

Satyendra Jain, Delhi, AAP, Money Laundry Case, — Image: Facebook / Satyendar Jain

A principal district and sessions court here on Friday allowed an Enforcement Directorate (ED) application seeking transfer of the money laundering case against Delhi minister Satyendar Jain to another judge.

Raising certain contentions in the case being heard by Special Judge Geetanjali Goel, the agency sought transfer of the matter to any other judge.

The case will now be heard by Special Judge Vikas Dhull, Principal District and Sessions Judge Vinay Kumar Gupta said.

A detailed order in the matter is awaited.

Jain’s bail plea is posted for hearing at 2 pm on Friday before Special Judge Dhull.

Earlier on September 19, the Principal District and Sessions Judge stayed the trial court’s proceedings before Special Judge Goel and posted the matter on September 30.

The court also issued notice to Jain and other co-accused in the case on the ED’s application seeking transfer of the case to another judge.

Challenging the court’s order, Jain moved the Supreme Court, which on Wednesday, directed the principal district and sessions court to decide the agency’s application for transfer expeditiously by September 22.

On Thursday, the court reserved its order on the ED’s application following lengthy arguments from both sides.

The ED had arrested Jain and two others in the money laundering case based on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR lodged against the AAP leader in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Jain is accused of having laundered money through four companies linked to him.

MP Shrikant Shinde seen sitting on the CM chair; NCP hits out, says “abuse of power”

By

Brena Soni

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September 23, 2022

Shrikant Shinde,Eknath Shinde,Photo,Chief Minister,Maharashtra — Shrikant Shinde, Eknath Shinde, Photo,Chief Minister, Maharashtra | Image: Twitter/@ravikantvarpe

A viral photo of MP Shrikant Shinde was circulating on social media in which he was seen sitting on the Chief Minister’s chair and meeting people in the office.

The opposition has slammed the Member of Parliament for such a violation and for disrespecting the Chief Ministerial chair.

Nationalist Congress Party, state spokesperson RavikantVarpe tweeted on saying, “Best wishes to Shrikant Shinde for becoming Super CM. In the absence of the Chief Minister, his son is in charge of the post of Chief Minister. The strangulation of democracy is going on. What kind of Rajdharma is this?”

When we spoke to RavikantVarpe he said, “He is misusing his powers in the wrong way. He should be answerable for his actions to the people of Maharashtra.”

“This is a disrespectful act on the part of Shrikant Shinde, and people who are in power are always loyal to their family members and want them to grow in politics,” said AAP spokesperson, Dhananjay Shinde.

NCP’snational spokesperson Clyde Crasto said, “Only the elected Chief Minister has to be seated on the CM chair, misuse by his family members is disrespectful.”