Month: May 2022

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-Top News USA

China enters Taiwan defence zone with 30 jets

In recent years, Beijing has begun sending large sorties into Taiwan’s defence zone to signal dissatisfaction, and to keep Taipei’s ageing fighter fleet regularly stressed…reports Asian Lite News

China has made the second-largest incursion into Taiwan’s air defence zone this year with Taipei reporting 30 jets entering the area, including more than 20 fighters.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said late Monday it had scrambled its own aircraft and deployed air defence missile systems to monitor the latest Chinese activity.

In recent years, Beijing has begun sending large sorties into Taiwan’s defence zone to signal dissatisfaction, and to keep Taipei’s ageing fighter fleet regularly stressed.

Self-ruled democratic Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which views the island as its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.

The United States last week accused Beijing of raising tensions over the island, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken specifically mentioning aircraft incursions as an example of “increasingly provocative rhetoric and activity”.

Blinken’s remarks came after President Joe Biden appeared to break decades of US policy when in response to a question on a visit to Japan he said Washington would defend Taiwan militarily if it is attacked by China.

But the White House has since insisted its policy of “strategic ambiguity” over whether or not it would intervene has not changed.

Monday’s incursion was the largest since January 23, when 39 planes entered the air defence identification zone, or ADIZ.

The ADIZ is not the same as Taiwan’s territorial airspace but includes a far greater area that overlaps with part of China’s own air defence identification zone and even includes some of the mainland.

A flight map provided by the Taiwanese defence ministry showed the planes entering the southwestern corner of the ADIZ before looping back out again.

Constant alert

Last year, Taiwan recorded 969 incursions by Chinese warplanes into its ADIZ, according to an AFP database — more than double the roughly 380 carried out in 2020.

The most number of aircraft China has sent in a single day was 56 on October 4, 2021.

That month saw a record 196 incursions, mostly around China’s annual national day celebrations.

So far in 2022 Taiwan has reported 465 incursions, a near 50 percent increase on the same period last year.

The sheer number of sorties has put the air force under immense pressure, and it has suffered a string of fatal accidents in recent years.

On Tuesday local media reported that a pilot had died after crashing a trainer jet in southern Kaohsiung.

It is not the first deadly crash this year — in January one of Taiwan’s most advanced fighter jets, an F-16V, plunged into the sea.

Last March, Taiwan grounded all military aircraft after a pilot was killed and another went missing when their fighters collided mid-air in the third fatal crash in less than six months.

ALSO READ: Biden’s Putin fixation strains ties in Asia

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-Top News London News

RIFT IN EU OVER RUSSIAN OIL EMBARGO

As it stands, any embargo requires unanimity from the 27 EU member states. Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted, the EU has imposed five rounds of sanctions on Russia targeting government officials, transportation and banks … reports Nathan Morley, Guo Mingfang…reports Asian Lite News

The European Union (EU) leaders have agreed to block more than two-thirds of Russian oil imports in a set of watered-down measures that will keep Moscow’s pipelines flowing. The partial ban, announced at an extraordinary summit in Brussels on Monday, replaces an original proposal to sanction all Russian oil imports. However, resistance from Hungary’s Prime Minister Victor Orban – whose country relies largely on Russian-provided energy resources – forced the compromise.

Now, immediate sanctions – to be legally endorsed on Wednesday – will only impact Russian oil being carried into the EU by tanker, which amounts to two-thirds of the total imports from Russia.

“There is obviously a frustration with what Orban is doing because it shows a sense of disunity inside the European Union,” Alexander Stubb, Finland’s former prime minister and foreign minister, told Xinhua.

As it stands, any embargo requires unanimity from the 27 EU member states. Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted, the EU has imposed five rounds of sanctions on Russia targeting government officials, transportation and banks.

Now, the real question, according to some European analysts, is how much economic pain Europeans are willing to take in their support of Ukraine and in their desire to see Russia punished.

“There are differences. And those differences are, if you like, natural,” Paul Taylor, senior fellow at Friends of Europe, a not-for-profit think-tank for European Union policy, told Xinhua.

Taylor questioned what would happen when oil is imported more cheaply by pipeline to a number of central European countries, while the other countries have to import oil from the open market at higher prices.

“Does that create inequalities within the EU market?” he asked.

The oil import compromise followed weeks of squabbling which highlighted a series of issues straining European unity.

As the cost-of-living crisis worsens – sending energy and food prices soaring – some European countries, such as Cyprus, are feeling the economic cost of the conflict.

Earlier this month, a parliamentary committee in Nicosia called on the government to seek exemptions from some of its sanctions against Moscow, citing their damaging impact on the economy.

Furthermore, strains are already showing in the tourism sector which previously attracted thousands of guests from Russia. At the same time, realtors are angry at banning property sales to Russian buyers.

“Countries are having to make painful adjustments,” said Taylor. “Germany thought it could go on eternally using cheap Russian energy to make manufactured products that were sold competitively. Germany is going to adapt and adjust.”

To make matters worse, the eurozone’s economic growth slowed in the first quarter, as inflation hit a record high in April, with energy prices up 38 percent on an annual basis.

Beyond sanctions, clear differences are emerging on other issues too. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insists on an urgent start of the procedure towards full EU membership for his country, a call which has received a mixed response from Europe.

Berlin and Paris are especially cautious, with the latter expressing concern that Ukraine needs time to rebuild the economy, stamp-out corruption, and implement far-reaching legal reforms.

And although there is little enthusiasm for further European enlargement in France, the Netherlands and Austria, Taylor argued there could eventually be support for giving Ukraine “candidate status,” essentially a symbolic gesture.

“That doesn’t mean you join the EU. It doesn’t mean you are anywhere close to joining the EU. It is basically a way of the rest of the EU recognizing that if you meet the conditions, you will one day be a member.”

Meanwhile, as the Russian-Ukraine conflict continues to rage, the issue of EU leaders talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin yields new dilemmas. French President Emmanuel Macron’s call on European countries to maintain dialogue with the Russian president has faced some criticism.

“I always think it is better to talk than not to talk, at the same time it is very difficult to know what we can actually talk about,” said Stubb.

And then there is the question of arms deliveries to Ukraine, as countries like Estonia ship vast quantities of armaments, whilst others take a more reserved approach. “How far do you go up the sale of lethality,” asked Taylor. “The argument against that is you don’t want to start World War Three.”

And amid all this, the question of how the Ukraine conflict will end continues to cause heated debate. Whilst some EU states seek a ceasefire, others support a Ukrainian fightback and Kiev’s military effort.

Stubb said he has problems finding the landing zone on this issue. “That’s why I’m predicting a prolonged and protracted conflict.”

ALSO READ-US discusses risk of Red Sea oil spill with Saudi

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UAE News

UAE condemns storming of Al Aqsa Mosque courtyard

Last week, tens of thousands of Jewish nationalists, some chanting slogans, marched through Jerusalem’s Old City, sparking clashes between Israelis and Palestinians…reports Asian Lite News

The UAE has strongly condemned the storming of Al Aqsa Mosque courtyard by extremist settlers under the protection of Israeli forces.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) reiterated its firm position on the need to provide full protection for Al Aqsa Mosque and halt serious and provocative violations taking place there.

Furthermore, the Ministry underscored the need to respect the custodial role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan over the holy sites and endowments in accordance with international law and the historical situation at hand, and not to compromise the authority of the Jerusalem Endowment Administration and Al Aqsa Mosque.

The Ministry called upon Israeli authorities to take responsibility for reducing escalation and ending all attacks and practices that lead to the continuation of tensions, while underscoring the need to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further instability.

Moreover, the Ministry stressed the need to support all regional and international efforts to advance the Middle East Peace Process and end illegal practices that threaten the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Last week, tens of thousands of Jewish nationalists, some chanting slogans, marched through Jerusalem’s Old City, sparking clashes between Israelis and Palestinians.

Israel’s state-owned Kan TV news estimated that nearly 50,000 people, mostly nationalist Israeli youths, attended the contentious annual “flag march” to mark the “Jerusalem Day”, when Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967.

The march started in the western part of the city and continued through the narrow Palestinian streets of the Old City’s Damascus Gate until reaching the Western Wall, just below the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, a holy flashpoint site for both Muslims and Jews, Xinhua news agency reported.

Video footage on social media showed scores of young Israelis were waving Israel’s national flags, some of them chanting “Death to Arabs,” “We’ll burn down your village” and “Shuafat is on fire,” referring to the name of the Palestinian neighbourhood from which 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir was kidnapped and burnt alive by far-right Israelis in 2014. Many also violently banged doors of Palestinian shops and homes.

Clashes broke out during the marches, with footage and photos showing Israelis spraying pepper gas and beating Palestinians, while the Palestinians throwing bottles of water and chairs at the other side.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said in a statement that at least 62 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets, beatings and pepper gas.

ALSO READ-Yemen’s Presidential Council to restructure pro-govt army

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-Top News UAE News

Yemen’s Presidential Council to restructure pro-govt army

All Yemen’s intelligence units will be also included in the restructuring and evaluation operation approved by the PLC…reports Asian Lite News

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) has declared a new plan for unifying the pro-government Yemeni army and security forces in the war-ravaged Arab country.

According to a statement released by the state-run Saba news agency, a high-ranking military committee was formed by the PLC on Monday to begin restructuring the pro-government army and security forces in a step aimed at maintaining peace and security in Yemen, Xinhua news agency reported.

Rashad Al-Alimi, PLC President, approved the formation of “the joint military committee entrusted with realising security and stability, as well as restructuring the armed and security forces.”

The 59-member committee, led by Haitham Qassem Taher, would also strive to avert internal conflicts among Yemeni pro-government forces in Aden and elsewhere, according to the statement.

The newly-approved committee will “adopt policies prohibiting the emergence of armed conflicts throughout Yemen, taking necessary steps to realise the integration of armed forces under unified leadership in accordance with the rule of law, and ending all armed conflicts,” the statement said.

All Yemen’s intelligence units will be also included in the restructuring and evaluation operation approved by the PLC.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014, when Houthis overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa.

Reopening of Taiz

Representatives from the Yemeni government and the Houthi militia concluded an initial round of discussions without reaching an agreement on opening roads around the besieged province of Taiz, said UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg.

However, Grundberg described the results of the talks as “promising”, noting that a proposal for the phased re-opening of roads around Taiz, “including an implementation mechanism and guarantees for the safety of civilian travellers”, was drawn up based on the three-day discussions, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Yemeni-Yemeni talks on opening the blocked roads of Taiz and elsewhere began on May 25 in Jordan’s capital Amman, and are part of the UN-brokered truce that came into effect on April 2.

“I now call on the parties to conclude their internal deliberations urgently and deliver positive results to the Yemeni people,” said Grundberg.

“Lifting restrictions on the freedom of movement of people and goods will not only have a positive impact on alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people and reviving the economy but will also help cultivate confidence in the political process,” said the UN envoy.

The Yemeni government forces, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, have been locked in clashes with the Iran-allied Houthi military in the north, east, and west of Taiz since April 2015.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014, when Houthis overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa.

ALSO READ-Dubai royal is first woman to pilot AW609 tiltrotor

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-Top News Dubai

Dubai royal is first woman to pilot AW609 tiltrotor

The AW609 is one of the most significant technological innovations in the civil aviation landscape, melding the helicopter’s operational versatility and airplane’s performance advantages…reports Asian Lite News

Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Women in Aviation Association, has become the first woman to pilot the AW609 tiltrotor, setting a new and important milestone for female pilots in civil aviation.

Sheikha Mozah piloted the revolutionary aircraft during her visit to the US helicopter headquarters of Leonardo, a global high-tech player in Aerospace, Defence and Security, located in Philadelphia.

Commenting on the opportunity to personally test the AW609, the world’s first tiltrotor set to receive civil certification, Sheikha Mozah said, “I’m thrilled to be the first female pilot to test this revolutionary aircraft. It was not only a personal milestone but an opportunity to shatter another glass ceiling for women. I always push myself beyond my limits to prove that if I can do it, it is also within the reach of anyone else who is determined enough to try.”

“Piloting the AW609 has been something I’ve truly wanted to experience since I first saw the early prototype images. It is the natural evolution of my piloting experience, merging both fixed and rotary-winged piloting skills. Aircrafts like the AW609 tiltrotor make me feel really excited about the future of aviation, a future now open to more women who chose this industry,” she added.

William Hunt, Managing Director, Leonardo Helicopters in the US, said, “Leonardo was honored to host Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum and provide her this one-of-a-kind experience on the world’s first tiltrotor set to achieve civil certification. Demonstrating the AW609’s combined fixed and rotary-winded piloting capabilities was a true milestone for the team in Philadelphia.”

The AW609 is one of the most significant technological innovations in the civil aviation landscape, melding the helicopter’s operational versatility (taking off and landing vertically) and the airplane’s performance advantages (pressurised cabin, speed, altitude and endurance abilities).

The aircraft is set to open new and exciting possibilities for passenger transport and public service. The AW609 tiltrotor’s ability to take off and land vertically and hover like a helicopter offers passengers the comfort of a turboprop airplane.

The aircraft is able to operate different kind of missions, including VIP transport, emergency medical service, search and rescue, and government applications. The AW609 can fly at a speed of more than 500 km/h with a range of almost 1,400 km, which increases to 2,000 km with auxiliary tanks.

ALSO READ-UAE, Israel sign free trade deal

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-Top News Saudi Arabia USA

US discusses risk of Red Sea oil spill with Saudi

Blinken in the call with the FM also highlighted the importance of international support for Ukraine amid Russia’ invasion and discussed the emerging food security crisis resulting from the war in Ukraine…reports Asian Lite News

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday (local time), in a call, thanked the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud for ceasefire efforts in Yemen and discussed efforts to avert the economic, environmental, and humanitarian threats posed by the Safer oil tanker in the Red Sea region.

State Department noted that the Safer oil tanker is a “rapidly decaying and unstable supertanker that contains four times the amount of oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez”.

Notably, on March 24, 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of oil. Large scale spill in an ecologically sensitive location resulted in one of the largest environmental disasters in US history.

On the dangers posed by the Safer oil tanker, the statement read, “It could leak, spill, or explode at any time, severely disrupting shipping routes in the Gulf region and other industries across the Red Sea region, unleashing an environmental disaster, and worsening the humanitarian crisis in Yemen,” the statement had read.

As per the release, by October, high winds and volatile currents will make the UN operation more dangerous and increase the risk of the ship breaking apart. In the event of a spill, the cleanup alone is expected to cost USD 20 billion.

Blinken in the call with the FM also highlighted the importance of international support for Ukraine amid Russia’ invasion and discussed the emerging food security crisis resulting from the war in Ukraine.

“The Secretary underscored the importance of international support for Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity and emphasized the need for a global response to the food security crisis resulting from President Putin’s brutal war,” a statement by the State Department read.

Secretary Blinken and the Saudi Foreign Minister also discussed the challenge posed by Iran’s nuclear program and its “destabilizing behaviour in the region, and opportunities for greater cooperation on regional issues”. (ANI)

ALSO READ-UAE, Turkey review developing defence cooperation

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-Top News UAE News

UAE, Turkey review developing defence cooperation

The two sides discussed the prospects of further advancing their friendship relations and various aspects of cooperation between the two nations…reports Asian Lite News

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar discussed bilateral ties between both countries.

During the meeting that took place at Qasr Al Shati Palace, the Turkish Minister conveyed to Sheikh Mohamed the greetings of President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and his wishes of continued health and happiness to Sheikh Mohamed and further progress and prosperity to the UAE. Sheikh Mohamed reciprocated the greetings to President Erdogan, wishing Turkey and its people sustainable progress.

The Turkish minister also offered his condolences over the passing of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and congratulated His Highness on his election as President of UAE.

The two sides discussed the prospects of further advancing their friendship relations and various aspects of cooperation between the two nations.

The Turkish minister also met with Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs.

The meeting took place in the presence of General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, Mattar Salem Ali Al Dhaheri, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, and several senior military officers and officials at the ministry.

During the meeting, Al Bowardi stressed the importance of the historical relations between the two friendly countries, which date back many decades, especially since the beginning of joint cooperation in 1984. The meeting discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries, especially in the military and defence fields, and contribute to maintaining peace and security in the region.

The two sides reviewed the development of cooperation in military training and defence industries fields, as well as exchanged expertise to serve the interests of their countries.

After the meeting, the Turkish minister and his delegation toured a number of Emirati companies specialised in manufacturing military hardware and equipment, and were briefed on the latest technologies in this field.

ALSO READ-Erdogan discusses advancing cooperation with UAE foreign minister

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-Top News Arab News UAE News

UAE, Israel sign free trade deal

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is aimed to push the value of non-oil bilateral trade beyond $10 billion within five years, reports Asian Lite Newdesk

The UAE on Tuesday signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Israel.

Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, tweeted on Tuesday that the agreement will push the value of non-oil bilateral trade beyond $10 billion within five years.

“Today we signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Israel that builds on the strong foundations laid by the Abraham Accords. It will push the value of our non-oil bilateral trade beyond $10 billion within five years,” he tweeted.

“With the UAE-Israel CEPA signed, sealed and delivered, we have written a new chapter in the history of the Middle East. Our agreement will accelerate growth, create jobs and lead to a new era of peace, stability, and prosperity across the region,” he added.

Dr Al Zeyoudi earlier said, “When we signed the Abraham Accords in September 2020 in Washington DC, we also opened a new chapter in regional trade, investment and exchange. This Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement will enable us to build on these gains under a shared goal to create modern, progressive and technologically advanced nations that unlock benefits for business and entrepreneurship.

“It comes at an important time. As the world emerges from the shadow of global pandemic and faces new challenges, multilateral approaches are needed to rebuild supply chains, reinvigorate economies and restore trust in the global system. We are confident that this deal will not only boost trade but increase investment, boost tourism, accelerate digital advances and promote collaboration in priority sectors such as energy, education, healthcare, food security, entrepreneurship, cybersecurity and advanced technology.”

The UAE-Israel CEPA will substantially reduce or remove tariffs on a wide range of goods, enhance market access for services, promote investment flows, create jobs, promote new skills, enhance climate action and deepen cooperation on strategic projects. It will also create mechanisms for SME expansion.

After concluding a historic first bilateral trade agreement with India last month, the UAE is moving quickly to strengthen ties with Africa, Asia and South America.

Emirate’s healthcare model showcased

A delegation of Abu Dhabi healthcare led by Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, has explored collaboration opportunities during its participation at the 20th edition of the Biomed Israel Conference and Exhibition held recently in Tel Aviv.

The delegation met with a number of Israeli officials, companies, scientists, investors and entrepreneurs. The meetings sought to examine means of enhancing cooperation between both countries in healthcare research and innovation, emergency resilience, digital health application, life sciences manufacturing and development and regulatory alignment.

The discussions aligned with Abu Dhabi’s ongoing efforts to cement its regional and global positioning as a life sciences and health-tech hub.

The delegation included representatives from the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, Abu Dhabi Investment Office: G42 healthcare and the National Health Insurance Company – Daman.

Al Hamed and his accompanying delegation met with Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, and discussed means of bolstering cooperation in research and innovation; health education, alignment of health regulation, training exchange programmes and other initiatives. They shed light on the promising potential of the healthcare systems in both countries, as well as the efforts made to promote the health of communities locally and globally.

ALSO READ-UAE, Egypt, Jordan launch industrial partnership

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India News

Women bag first 3 ranks in Civil Services Exams

A total of 685 candidates, including 177 women, were recommended by the Commission for appointment to Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Central Services…reports Asian Lite News

Women have secured the top three ranks in the 2021 Civil Services Examinations conducted by the Union Public Services Commission (UPSC). The results were declared on Monday. Among the top 25 successful candidates, ten are women.

Elated at getting All India Rank 1 in the examination, Shruti Sharma (26) said she wants to work towards improving education, and work towards the empowerment of women during her career as a civil servant.

Having completed her schooling from Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Delhi, Sharma studied History at St. Stephen’s College. She then took admission in Jawaharlal Nehru University to study masters in Modern History, but was unable to complete her course. It was then that she decided to take a crack at the civil services examination and joined Jamia Millia Islamia’s Residential Coaching Academy. She is also currently pursuing MA Sociology from Delhi School of Economics.

This is Sharma’s second attempt at the examination. At her first attempt, Hindi was selected as the mode of examination, instead of English which was her preferred option, due to a technical error. Due to this, she missed out on getting a call for the interview by one mark. Her family belongs to Bijnore in Uttar Pradesh. Her father is a retired professor and mother is a school teacher.

Speaking about her strategy for the examination, she said that she used to make her own notes after reading the newspaper, instead of relying on coaching material. She said she practised writing a lot by attempting many test series. Her advice to those attempting the examination is to not count the number of hours they put in, but to look at the quality of the hours.

She said the journey towards joining the IAS is a very long one and only those who genuinely have interest in the field should embark on it. Only if there is interest will the effort follow.

Ankita Agarwal (25) who secured the second rank said she was inspired to appear for the coveted examinations by her professors at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, where she pursued Bachelors in Economics (Hons). This was her third attempt. In her first, she had qualified for the Indian Revenue Services (IRS) and is presently undergoing training.

Agarwal comes from a business family in Kolkata. She is the first in her family to clear the civil services examinations.

“It was at St Stephen’s that our professors made us realise that we are born into privilege. There are not many people as fortunate as us. So, after working for a consultancy for a year, I decided to appear for the civil services examinations,” Agarwal said. It was a mix of coaching and self-study for her. She chose political science and international relations as her optional subject.

Third-rank holder Gamini Singla (23) from Sunam in Punjab’s Sangrur said this was her second attempt at civil services. In the first attempt in 2019, she could not even clear the preliminary.

She said she owes her success to her father Alok Singla and teacher Vinod Sharma. Both her parents are doctors and posted as medical officers in Himachal Pradesh.

“My father used to get newspapers for me and highlight the important topics. He used to discuss current affairs to help me prepare for the exams,” Singla said. A B.Tech from Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh, Ms. Singla said she was offered a job as a financial analyst by J.P. Morgan, but chose to appear for the exams instead. “I wanted to give back to society and help people,” said Ms. Singla adding her first choice is the IAS. She chose sociology as an optional subject in the written exams.

Around 5 lakh candidates appeared for the preliminary examination held in October 2021, out of whom 9214 qualified for the written (main) examination and 1824 candidates appeared for the personality test. Nearly 10 lakh candidates had registered.

A total of 685 candidates, including 177 women, were recommended by the Commission for appointment to Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Central Services — Group A and Group B.

ALSO READ: India govt procures 184.58 lakh metric tonnes wheat, 810.05 LMT paddy

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India News

India govt procures 184.58 lakh metric tonnes wheat, 810.05 LMT paddy

While the highest quantity wheat at 96.16 LMT was procured from Punjab, the number of farmers benefitted – 7,97,795 – too was highest from the state….reports Asian Lite News

A total of 184.58 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat and 810.05 LMT of paddy has been procured till Sunday in the current season, the government said on Monday even as wheat procurement from Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh saw a massive dip compared to last season.

The wheat procurement under the central pool is progressing in Rabi Marketing Season 2022-23 in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The wheat procured till Sunday benefited about 17.50 lakh farmers with minimum support price (MSP) value of Rs 37,192.07 crore, data from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution showed.

Paddy procurement under the central pool is progressing smoothly in Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2021-22, in various procuring states/UTs. Up to Sunday, a total of 810.05 LMT of Paddy (including Kharif Crop 754.69 LMT and Rabi Crop 55.37 LMT) has been procured, benefiting 117.05 lakh farmers with MSP value of Rs 1,58,770.64 crore.

While the highest quantity wheat at 96.16 LMT was procured from Punjab, the number of farmers benefitted – 7,97,795 – too was highest from the state. In case of paddy, at 187.28 LMT, it was again Punjab that showed highest procurement while Chhattisgarh topped the list of beneficiary farmers at 21,05,972.

Although wheat procurement will continue for some more time, the current quantity procured in Punjab is way below the 132.22 LMT procured last year (RMS 2021-22). Untimely spells of heat waves in March and April across northwest Indian plains had led to shriveling of the wheat grain and in turn. led to crop loss. Almost simultaneously, the Russia-Ukraine war had led to global demand for wheat and farmers directed their wheat for exports, in turn, affecting the procurement for the central pool.

However, more than the Punjab procurement, it is the farmers from Madhya Pradesh who made hay resulting in a dip in procurement for the central pool in that state. Madhya Pradesh’s procurement is way too less this year – at 44.45 LMT – as compared to 128.16 LMT last year. Haryana’s procurement at 40.97 LMT too was more than 50 per cent less compared to 84.93 LMT of last season, Food Corporation of India (FCI) record showed.

ALSO READ: India, Pak resume backchannel contacts