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India Aims To Promote Safe Healthy Food

Union Health & Family Welfare, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Harsh Vardhan addresses at the launch of the National Clinical Registry for COVID-19, Vaccine Web Portal, Mobile Stroke Unit and ICMR-NIN Documents, at ICMR headquarters, in New Delhi on Sep 28, 2020. (Photo: IANS/PIB)
Union Health & Family Welfare, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Harsh Vardhan (Photo: IANS/PIB)

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said that due to the unprecedented challenges faced by the world on account of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a renewed focus on food, nutrition, health, immunity and sustainability…reports India Daily News.

Presided over an event organised by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to celebrate World Food Day, he said: The “FSSAI’s Eat Right India movement targets to promote safe and healthy food for everyone in an environmentally sustainable way. It is a part of its mandate to provide safe and wholesome food for all citizens. This will improve the food safety ecosystems and lift the hygiene and health of our citizens.”

Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey also joined, via video conferencing, the event, whose theme this year’s event is “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together”.

Ashwini Kumar Choubey. (File Photo: Photo)

A key focus this year is elimination of trans fats from the food supply chain. A food toxin present in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVOs) (e.g. vanaspati, shortening, margarine, etc.), baked and fried foods, trans fat is a major contributor to the rise in non-communicable diseases in India.

Harsh Vardhan said: “Trans fat is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Eliminating CVD risk factor is especially relevant during Covid-19 as people with CVD are predisposed to have serious conditions having an impact on mortality.”

He reminded everyone of the government’s effort to make India trans fat free by 2022, a year ahead of WHO’s target, in synergy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a New India on 75 years of the country’s independence.

Reiterating the game changing potential of ‘Eat Right India’ and ‘Fit India Movement’, the Minister said: “These two movements along with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission and other efforts of the Environment Ministry will improve the health of Indians and heal the environment.”

Expressing his amazement at the marvels of the internet where curious citizens can look up things on the whole gamut of information available, he asked officials of FSSAI to promote awareness and consumer education leveraging technology so that informed citizens can make responsible choices.

Harsh Vardhan also launched the Eat Right Creativity Challenge for schools which is a poster and photography competition and aims to promote healthy dietary habits.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. (Photo: Facebook/@fssai)

He also launched the ‘Eat Smart City’ (challenge) by FSSAI in partnership with Smart City Mission and The Food Foundation, UK which will create an environment of right food practices and habits in India’s smart cities and can set an example for other cities to follow.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, FSSAI CEO Arun Singhal, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and FSSAI were present at the event.

State Food Safety Commissioners, Regional Directors and officers of FSSAI, professionals of scientific panel of oils and fats, officials of international public health organisations, the WHO, the World Bank, members of NePRoFaN – Network of Professionals of Food and Nutrition, prominent food business corporates, industry associations, implementation partners, development partners for Food Fortification were also invited to attend the event through video conference.

Also Read-Study: Lockdown Improved Air Quality

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-Top News USA

18 Days to go: Biden tops Trump by 7points

Joe Biden.

According to the poll, three per cent of the voters said they would prefer someone else as their candidate for President and another 3 per cent do not plan to vote…Reports Asian Lite News

  • Joe Biden.

A new poll has revealed that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden was currently leading US President Donald Trump by seven points nationwide, with just 18 days remaining for the November 3 election.

According to the new national Hill-HarrisX poll released on Thursday, 47 per cent of registered voters have said that they would cast their ballots for Biden if the election was held today, a 2-point spike from an October 3-6 survey, while 40 per cent said they would vote for Trump.

Three per cent of the voters said they would prefer someone else as their candidate for President and another 3 per cent do not plan to vote.

Seven per cent of the surveyed remains unsure.

The former Vice President was also leading Trump among independents, at 40 per cent versus 32 per cent.

Also read:Trump, Biden hold showdown in separate town halls

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-Top News COVID-19 World News

40% World’s population lack access to handwashing facilities: UNICEF

Although handwashing with soap is vital in the fight against infectious diseases, including the novel coronavirus, 40 per cent of the world’s population, or 3 billion people, do not have access to it, according to new Unicef estimates.

The estimates issued on Thursday revealed that the number is much higher in the least developed countries, where nearly three-quarters do not have handwashing facilities at home, reports Xinhua news agency.

Kelly Ann Naylor, associate director of water, sanitation and hygiene at Unicef, said that it was “unacceptable” that the most vulnerable communities are unable to use the simplest of methods to protect themselves and their loved ones.

“The pandemic has highlighted the critical role of hand hygiene in disease prevention. It has also stressed a pre-existing problem for many: handwashing with soap remains out of reach for millions of children where they’re born, live and learn.

“We must take immediate action to make handwashing with soap accessible to everyone, everywhere — now and in the future,” she said.

The situation is also alarming at schools: 43 per cent globally (70 percent in the least developed countries) lack a handwashing facility with water and soap, affecting hundreds of millions of children, according to the estimates.

Against this backdrop, Unicef, along with the World Health Organization, launched the “Hand Hygiene for All” initiative to support the development of national roadmaps to accelerate and sustain progress toward making hand hygiene a mainstay in public health interventions.

The initiative brings together international, national, and local partners, to ensure affordable products and services are available and sustainable, especially in vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.

The estimates coincided with the Global Handwashing Day marked annually on October 15, which serves as a platform to raise awareness on the importance of handwashing with soap.

The global campaign is dedicated to raising awareness of handwashing with soap as a key factor in disease prevention.

Also read:463 mn children unable access remote learning: UNICEF

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-Top News Arab News

Oman Health Minister urges to avoid protocol violations

Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Saidi, Minister of Health, Sultanate of Oman.

Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Saidi, Oman’s Minister of Health has reiterated his plea to all members of the public to stick to the decisions of the Supreme Committee and precautionary measures it has set for the management of the pandemic.

The Minister who is also a Member of the Supreme Committee tasked with tackling developments resulting from coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, expressed his deep appreciation for the continuous support of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik to the health sector and departments dealing with the pandemic.

Speaking at the 17th press conference held by the Supreme Committee at the Ministry of Education, the minister said that all segments should refrain from gatherings and to report any violations. “Failure to report a crime is a crime in itself,” said the minister, who described crime reporting as a national duty.

Dr. Ahmed also pointed out that doctors and other health undergo tremendous stress as they watch young people dying from the disease. He explained that COVID-19 mortality rate in the Sultanate is still within the mark of 1% from total infection cases, “but any such death represents a disaster and great pain that could be limited if we follow proper preventive measures.”

Last week, COVID-19 death rate at Intensive Care Units (ICUs) reached 83% (Mortality rate in cases admitted to ICUs ranges from 75%-85%), said the minister, noting that the percentage of death among men is higher than women and that the disease damages a lot of organs in the body.

He added that all should understand that this virus spreads fast, with imminent risk looming from a third wave of infection, which already began in many countries, not only in our region. “The more we cooperate and rally efforts as a government, citizens and residents, the more we could cut down the number of infection cases and ease pressure on health establishments,” said Dr. Ahmed.

Also Read: EU commends Oman’s decision to exchange tax data

Also Read: Oman Restarts Diplomatic Mission In Syria

                     

                    

                    

                   

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-Top News COVID-19 UAE News

UAE FM takes Covid 19 vaccine

Al-Nahyan tweeted an image of himself receiving the trial vaccine with a caption saying “corona vaccination is our way to return to normal life.”…Reports Asian Lite News

The United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has taken the Covid 19 vaccine.Reports Arab News

Al-Nahyan tweeted an image of himself receiving the trial vaccine with a caption saying “corona vaccination is our way to return to normal life.”

Last month, UAE issued emergency approval for the COVID-19 vaccine for frontline healthcare workers.

“The vaccine will be available to our first line of defense heroes who are at the highest risk of contracting the virus,” the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said.

Its effective and has resulted in a “strong response” by generated antibodies in trial volunteers, the health minister said.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP, announced that it conducted 116,470 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment.

On Friday,As part of its intensified testing campaign, MoHAP announced 1,412 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the UAE to 112,849.

According to the Ministry, the infected individuals are from various nationalities, are in a stable condition, and are receiving the necessary care.

MoHAP also announced 3 deaths due to COVID-19 complications, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 455.

Also read:Israel Parliament Approves Peace With UAE

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-Top News UK News

UK disappointed with EU summit outcomes

“Disappointed by the euco conclusions on UK/EU negotiations. Surprised EU is no longer committed to working ‘intensively’ to reach a future partnership,” Frost tweeted…Reports Asian Lite News

British chief negotiator David Frost said that he was “disappointed” and “surprised” that the conclusions at a summit of the European Union (EU) said that the regional bloc is no longer committed to working “intensively” to reach a future partnership with Britain.

“Disappointed by the euco conclusions on UK/EU negotiations. Surprised EU is no longer committed to working ‘intensively’ to reach a future partnership,” Frost tweeted on Thursday, pointing out that intensive talks had been agreed with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on October 3, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Also surprised by suggestion that to get an agreement all future moves must come from UK. It’s an unusual approach to conducting a negotiation,” Frost said.

He said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out UK reactions and approach on Friday in the light of his September 7 statement.

Johnson said last month that a future trade deal needs to be agreed by mid-October to enable it to be approved ahead of January 1, 2021.

After EU Summit discussions on Brexit on Thursday, EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said he will continue intensive talks in the coming weeks and the EU hopes to reach a deal with the UK, but not at any price, urging Britain to agree to a level playing field for access to EU market.

Also read:Brexit: UK PM expresses “desirability” for EU trade deal

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-Top News Politics USA

Trump, Biden hold showdown in separate town halls

The two events took place on Thursday night. While Biden’s town hall was hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia, Trump’s 60-minute appearance in Miami was organised by NBC News….Reports Asian Lite News

Symbolising the deep chasm in US politics, President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden could not even agree on holding a debate and instead participated in two separate town hall events flinging accusations against each other.

The two events took place on Thursday night. While Biden’s town hall was hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia, Trump’s 60-minute appearance in Miami was organised by NBC News.

With only 19 days left before the November 3 Election Day, Trump was hit with tough questions on his Covid-19 response and on race, while Biden faced questions on his past support for a controversial crime bill that hit minorities hard.

Biden’s performance was gaffe-free, while Trump was often his combative self and there was nothing dramatic that could immediately impact the election.

Foreign policy hardly figured in the two events.

The second presidential debate, initially slated to be held in Miami on October 15, was cancelled after Trump refused to participate in a virtual face-off following his Covid-19 diagnosis.

  • US President Donald Trump formallt accepts Republican nomination.

Biden had howewer, agreed to decision by the Commission on Presidential Debates over the virtual format.

After the debate was scrapped, the two networks offered the rivals the town hall meetings.

The defining moment in Trump’s hour-long event was when he unequivocally denounced White supremacists, which he had not done explicitly at his debate.

He then challenged Biden to denounce the Antifa – the so-called anti-fascist movement – which is behind a lot of the violence and looting in recent months during the protests against police brutality and racism that is backed by the Democrats.

But he would not give a straight answer when asked about a fringe right-wing group called QAnon which spreads conspiracy theories about a “satanic” paedophile organisation with connections to Democrats.

He said he did not know them, but it was good they were against paedophilia.

On his Covid-19 response he brought out his usual defence that he imposed the ban on China travel early, while Biden and others were against it, and was ambiguous about when his own coronavirus tests showing negativity had been conducted saying he could not remember.

Meanwhile, Biden’s meeting moderated by President Bill Clinton’s former aide and now an ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos was a more sedate affair.

The only foreign policy issue of significance in either meetings came when a Trump supporter asked him about the president’s success in opening Israel to more Arab countries and Kosovo and Serbia normalising relations.

Giving Trump a grudging compliment, he said that the US was alone and insecure, estranged from NATO allies and added that “we are in a situation where in the Far East we find ourselves in the western Pacific, where we are isolated as well” with no mention of the Indo-Pacific where India has been asked to take on a greater role with Australia and Japan.

“China is making moves,” he said.

Race issues also came up in the Biden meeting when a young man asked him about the crime legislations that he had supported while in Senate that imposed disproportionate sentences on minorities.

Biden admitted, “It was a mistake”, but went on to defend it saying that the mistakes were at the local and state level and not federal.

Trump was asked by an African-American teacher about the risks young minority youth like her son and students face from police.

  • Trump, Biden trade early jabs in first presidential debate.

He said that he had undone some of the provisions in those crime legislations, cutting down the sentences given to minorities, and he went on to boast citing the pre-coronavirus low unemployment rate for African-Americans that he was the president who had done the most for them after Abraham Lincoln, who has abolished slavery.

Trump would not give a straight answer about his taxes or his finances, which were published by The New York Times based on what it said were his documents it had received.

Trump often seemed ill at ease as he was grilled by Savannah Guthrie, an anchor who has been critical of him on air.

The President and Biden are still scheduled to face-off in the third presidential debate on October 22.

With only 19 days left before the November 3 Election Day, nearly 16 million Americans have already cast their ballots in early voting

Also read:Fauci asks Trump campaign to take down ad featuring him

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-Top News Asia News COVID-19

Israel to partially lift lockdown measures

Jerusalem, Sept. 13, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a briefing on COVID-19 pandemic in Israel at his office in Jerusalem, on Sept. 13, 2020. Israel will reimpose a nationwide lockdown for three weeks, beginning on Friday, to slow a rapid resurgence of coronavirus infections, the government decided on Sunday. (Yoav Dudkevitch/JINI via Xinhua/IANS)

The first phase of the exit plan will begin on Sunday amidst declining numbers of new infections…Reports Asian Lite News

Israel’s special cabinet for handling the COVID-19 decided to partially lift a month-long lockdown on Sunday, by easing some of the restrictions.

The first phase of the exit plan will begin on Sunday amidst declining numbers of new infections, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Health Ministry said in a joint statement on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Under the cabinet decision, the restriction limiting residents to a 1,000-meter radius of their homes will be lifted.

Kindergartens and businesses that do not attend clients will be reopened, but schools and other businesses would still be closed. Restaurants would be allowed to take only take-away orders.

Gatherings of more than 20 will still be prohibited and local lockdowns in “red” cities with high morbidity rates might be imposed, the government said.

“The lockdown has been a major success,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of the meeting, citing “a decline in all data”.

He said that the exit needs to be “gradual, responsible, careful and controlled” to avoid “an additional lockdown in two or three weeks”.

Israel imposed a second nationwide lockdown on September 18 to curb the rapid resurgence of the pandemic.

Netanyahu’s government has been facing growing public anger over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak and the ensuing economic crisis.

Also read:Israel Parliament Approves Peace With UAE

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-Top News EU News UK News

UK adds Italy to quarantine list

The latest announcement came after Italy recorded another 8,804 coronavirus cases, its biggest daily increase in infections since the start of the outbreak…Reports Asian Lite News

Italy has been added to Britain’s quarantine list, which means travellers returning from the country will have to self-isolate for 14 days, a senior British official said.

British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also announced that people arriving in Britain from the Vatican and San Marino will have to isolate, adding that the measure will come into force at 4 a.m. BST (0300 GMT) on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Greek island of Crete has been removed from the quarantine list so people arriving from the island will no longer have to isolate, said Shapps.

The latest announcement came after Italy recorded another 8,804 coronavirus cases, its biggest daily increase in infections since the start of the outbreak.

Another 18,980 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 673,622, according to official figures released Thursday.

The coronavirus-related deaths in Britain rose by 138 to 43,293, the data showed.

The latest figures were released as the British capital, along with some other areas, is placed in a higher level of the government’s alert system.

Under the Tier Two of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s three-level COVID-19 alert system, millions of Londoners will face tougher measures from Saturday with different households banned from meeting in indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.

  • 22/09/2020. London, United Kingdom. Boris Johnson address to the Nation during Covid-19. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the White Room of No10 Downing Street, addressing the Nation on Covid-19. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street

“Now, I know that these measures are not easy but I also know that they are vital,” British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a statement to the House of Commons (lower house of parliament).

“Responding to this unprecedented pandemic requires difficult choices, some of the most difficult choices any Government has to make in peacetime,” Hancock told MPs.

London mayor Sadiq Khan said currently there was “simply no other option” to fight the fast spread of coronavirus.

“Nobody wants to see more restrictions but this is deemed to be necessary in order to protect Londoners,” he told London’s City Hall.

The London mayor said he will continue to urge the government for more financial support.

“We’ve got a difficult winter ahead,” he added.

  • LONDON, July 24, 2019 (Xinhua) — Britain\’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock arrives at 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, on July 24, 2019. Britain\’s new Prime Minister Boris Johnson named the first of his new front bench ministers on Wednesday night. (Photo by Alberto Pezzali/Xinhua/IANS)

The new three-level COVID-19 alert system came into force across England on Wednesday, with the level being decided according to local infection rates.

The alert system comprises three levels: “Medium”, “High” and “Very High”. The Liverpool City Region will be placed in the “very high” level since Wednesday,

Along with London, areas including Essex, Elmbridge, Barrow-in-Furness, York, North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield and Erewash, will also go into “High” alert restrictions this weekend.

To bring life back to normal, countries, such as Britain, China, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines.

Also read:MI5 Suspects China, Russia Threat On UK Security

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-Top News Asia News

Khalilzad urges Taliban to stick to the peace deal

Zalmay Khalilzad.

US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has urged the Taliban to remain committed to the implementation of the agreement between the two, warning that the rising level of violence in the country, especially in Helmand province, was threatening peace.

“Following several meetings General Miller and I had with the Taliban, we agreed to re-set actions by strictly adhering to implementation of all elements of the US-Taliban Agreement and all commitments made,” TOLO News quoted the envoy as saying in a series of tweets on Thursday.

“This means reduced numbers of operations. At present too many Afghans are dying. With the re-set, we expect that number to drop significantly.

“Attacks have been on the rise in recent weeks – threatening the peace process and alarming the Afghan people and their regional and international supporters,

“We will do our part and will monitor implementation actively. All parties must deliver on their responsibilities. We thank our international partners for their assistance and support,” he added.

Khalilzad’s remarks came as clashes between government forces and the Taliban in Lashkargah, the capital of Helmand, and surrounding areas continued for a sixth consecutive day on Thursday.

According to UN statistics, so far 35,000 people in Helmand have been displaced due to the latest conflict which broke out last weekend.

Also Read: Afghan peace talks remain in logjam

Also Read: Afghan President visits Kuwait, Qatar