Two groups of the UN chemical watchdog’s experts to Syria
Russian envoy to the UN called on the West to “refrain from plans” it might be harboring for Syria, after three consecutive resolutions to investigate the alleged recent chemical attack near Damascus failed to pass.
The latest resolution to fail was a Russian-sponsored draft backing an Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) fact-finding mission at the site of the alleged attack in Douma. The draft received five votes in favor (Russia, China, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan and Bolivia), four votes against (the US, the UK, France and Poland) and six abstentions, falling short of the minimum nine votes required for adoption.
The failure of an “innocuous” draft in support of an impartial investigation into the alleged chemical incident in Syria’s Douma is a “litmus test which speaks volumes,” Russia’s UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia said. The draft was based on, and “almost completely copied,” an earlier proposal by Sweden. Nebenzia argued that the proposal was stonewalled simply because it ultimately came from Russia.
Nebenzia warned of the consequences that ill-conceived decisions by the West might lead to, saying that the threats towards Syria “should worry us, all of us, greatly, because we could find ourselves on the threshold of some very sad and serious events.”
Russian envoy to the UN called on the West to “refrain from plans” it might be harboring for Syria, after three consecutive resolutions to investigate the alleged recent chemical attack near Damascus failed to pass.
The latest resolution to fail was a Russian-sponsored draft backing an Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) fact-finding mission at the site of the alleged attack in Douma. The draft received five votes in favor (Russia, China, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan and Bolivia), four votes against (the US, the UK, France and Poland) and six abstentions, falling short of the minimum nine votes required for adoption.
The failure of an “innocuous” draft in support of an impartial investigation into the alleged chemical incident in Syria’s Douma is a “litmus test which speaks volumes,” Russia’s UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia said. The draft was based on, and “almost completely copied,” an earlier proposal by Sweden. Nebenzia argued that the proposal was stonewalled simply because it ultimately came from Russia.
Nebenzia warned of the consequences that ill-conceived decisions by the West might lead to, saying that the threats towards Syria “should worry us, all of us, greatly, because we could find ourselves on the threshold of some very sad and serious events.”
US and its allies’ refusal to back the Russian proposal shows that “our Western colleagues do not need any independent investigation,” Nebenzia said, reiterating Russia’s calls to exercise restraint with regards to Syria.
The US, UK and France had earlier indicated they are likely to resort to military action in response to the alleged chemical incident in Douma on Saturday. They believe the alleged attack was perpetrated by the Syrian forces dropping chlorine-filled munitions on civilians, based on reports by the rebel-linked White Helmets civil defense group.
The Russian envoy once again called for the West to show restraint.
“I ask you once again – refrain from the plans which you might be harboring with regards to Syria,” he said.
Justifying the nay vote by the US, Ambassador Nikki Haley accused Russians of hypocrisy, claiming it is “very good in being consistent and playing games.” The proposed draft, she said,“does not accomplish anything.”
The draft resolution mainly asks for the OPCW to send a fact-finding mission to Douma. But the fact-finding mission is already travelling to Douma, they have a mandate to investigate and collect samples,”Haley noted. The draft, she argued, aimed to put “the Russian and the Syrian governments in the driver’s seat for making arrangements” and to “micromanage” the OPCW investigation.
“This Council, and least of all Russia, should not be calling the shots,” she stressed.
US approach is far from attempting to establish the truth, and is more about its own geopolitical agenda, former US diplomat Jim Jatras told RT.
“This has nothing to do with the alleged use of chemical weapons. This has everything to do with a geopolitical agenda that wants to put the Iranians in a box, wants to confront Russians in Syria,” Jatras said. The former diplomat also noted that Western powers and their local allies like Saudi Arabia are “upset” over their own failed efforts in the region.
As the Syrian government and President Bashar Assad remain in power, the US has “been seeking a pretext to change that, so this really has nothing to do with the truth or falsehood of the allegations about Douma,” according to Jatras.
Council rejected two rival drafts on Syria submitted by Russia and the US. Russia, which vetoed the US-sponsored draft, said that it was designed to justify what seems to be an imminent military action against Syria. Nebenzia argued that the US resolution was an attempt to resurrect the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), whose mandate had expired in November and it would take months to implement. The draft gives the UN Secretary-General 30 days to set up a new investigative body.
The subsequent Russian-sponsored draft failed to gain enough votes, with the US blaming Moscow for trying to influence the composition of the team of experts, as well as the itinerary of the mission.
The OPCW, meanwhile, announced it is sending a fact-finding mission to Douma “shortly.”According to Nebenzia, two groups of the UN chemical watchdog’s experts will leave for Syria by the end of this week.
Media agencies
AICRA Holds National Summit & Exhibition
PRESS INVITATION
AICRA cordially invites you to attend the special National Summit & Exhibition and to share with you the uniqueness of
‘AICRA STEM SUMMIT 2018’
(All India Council for Robotics & Automation. A National Summit & Exhibition following the scenario of robotics education in India and its synchronization with Industry. Along with India’s 1st STEM Awards for contribution in STEM development, supplies & education.)
To be addressed by:
- Dr. Harsh Vardhan(Hon’ble Minister of Science & Technology Incumbent)
- P. Srinivasan(Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani)
- Pramod Sharma (Principal at Genesis Global School)
- E. Sreedharan(Indian civil engineer, known as the “Metro Man”)
And many other prominent personalities…
Time: 11:00 AM
Date: 11th April 2018 (Wednesday)
Venue: NDMC Convention Centre, Connaught Place, Delhi
India to be a key driver in the energy sector
India will be a key driver in the energy sector in the next 25 years: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 16th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting in Delhi.
Further PM said,My vision for India’s energy future has four pillars – Energy access, energy efficiency, energy sustainability and energy security. Our govt is boosting local manufacturing through Make in India & filling of youth in industries such as textile, petrochemical, engineering:
NAPM condemns the high-handedness of UCIL and Andhra Authorities
NAPM condemns the high-handedness of UCIL and Andhra Authorities
Detention and prevention of activists from participating in public meeting on ‘uranium mining impacts’ at Kadapa, Unlawful and Undemocratic.
Detention and prevention of activists from participating in public meeting on ‘uranium mining impacts’ at Kadapa, Unlawful and Undemocratic.
UCIL-BARC must come clean on its operations and ensure that all its activities are subject to strict environmental and legal regulations.
10th April, 2018: National Alliance of People’s Movements strongly condemns the high-handedness of the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), a Govt. of India undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy (headed by the Prime Minister) and the Andhra Pradesh police in misbehaving with activists of Human Rights Forum and NAPM and denying them access to the venue of a public meet yesterday in Kadapa District of Andhra Pradesh by unlawfully detaining them for a couple of hours.
The team that was arbitrarily detained on their way to the UCIL (where the meeting was called) and taken to Vemula police station included septuagenarian Dr. Babu Rao; eminent scientist and environmentalist (HRF-NAPM), Adv. Jayasree Kakumani of Human Rights Forum and Rajesh Serupally, NAPM. It was only after intense protest by the activists and villagers and an immediate letter by EAS Sarma, Former Secretary, Govt. of India to the Collector, Kadapa and Mr. Nripendra Misra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, that Dr. Babu Rao was allowed to participate in meeting with nuclear scientists and officials from UCIL and BARC. However, the other activists were kept in unlawful detention and released only late into the night at around 9 pm. All of them were made to sign papers stating that they would not indulge in such ‘anti-social activities that disturb peace’, which they did, under protest signatures. Media entry to the meeting site as also restricted. Interestingly, this ‘awareness meeting’, had to be held at a neutral place but was called for within the UCIL premises itself.
In response to the series of complaints and protests by the villagers and some intervention, at people’s behest, by Mr. Y.S Avinash Reddy, the YSR-CP MP representing Kadapa constituency in the Parliament, the UCIL authorities consented to ‘meet’ the villagers to ‘create awareness’ and address their queries and demands. Since much of the terminology used by UCIL is generally technical, the villagers approached activists associated with HRF, NAPM and other people’s groups to attend the meeting on 9th April, along with them, to have a more effective interaction with the officers of UCIL & Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), in a better way. Thus, to deny access to public-spirited persons who came to participate in the meeting, at the invite and request of villagers is totally undemocratic and brazenly disempowering. If the UCIL can take the aid of BARC’s scientists, so can the villagers take assistance of independent scientists and activists. To deny people this right is arbitrary and unacceptable.
It may be noted that the Tummalapalle mine in Kadapa district is estimated to hold one of the largest reserves of uranium in the world, catering to fuel requirements of nuclear power plants. While the UCIL obtained clearance from the Centre in 2006, mine operations began around 2012. Not surprisingly, locals state that land acquisition for the plant was done in a coercive manner and public hearings before the environmental clearance witnessed protests and police action against villagers.
Over the past couple of years, the villagers of Mabbuchintilapalli, KK Kotala,Bhumayagaripalli and Kanumalavaripalem, residing barely 6 kms away from the mine and processing plant at Tummalapalle, have been repeatedly protesting against UCIL, complaining of plummeting underground water levels, due to relentless pumping and drastic increase in sodium and uranium, leading to air, soil, ground and surface water contamination. Reportedly, this pollution has been happening due to poor lining for the tailing pond, causing seepage. The cumulative impacts of the plant operations in the form of damage to agriculture and standing crop, water, health of local population (skin allergies, ulcers and kidney problems) and livestock (illnesses ad pre-mature deaths), alleged negligence by contractor and plant authorities is a saga of continuing anguish and anger. Apparently, quite a few villagers have had to ‘vacate’ their houses, due to these impacts. There is widespread fear in the region of the long-terms implications of radiation, making the place another ‘Jaduguda’.
We have learnt that water samples collected by local farmers from their tube wells and tested at the labs of Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), an autonomous scientific body under the Govt. of India, produced results indicating significant increase in uranium and sodium levels, much higher than the permissible and standard level. Besides, in December 2016, researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Anantapur, analysed samples of water and soil and noted increased levels of barium, arsenic, cobalt, chromium, copper, molybdenum, lead, vanadium and yttrium, which could impact crop productivity and local environment. This study was also published in the International Journal of Advanced Research. It is now well-established that heavy metals, if consumed in large quantities, may lead to severe health issues, including cancers, respiratory and kidney complications.
Instead of addressing all these concerns, the UCIL recently issued an advertisement in newspapers claiming that a “few individuals and NGOs are spreading wrong information against the organization”, in a way indicating that all is not well with its operations. Clearly, such a public announcement, detention and denial of access to civil society activists, is more a measure to discredit and muzzle voices that are raising uncomfortable and important questions, in public interest.
UCIL’s operations in Kadapa, is yet another classic case of weak post-clearance monitoring by the authorities, especially the Pollution Control Board (PCB) and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF & CC). NAPM demands that the UCIL must ensure full disclosure of all necessary information in the public domain and in a manner discernable to the local population. It must immediately comply with all conditions stipulated at the time of project clearance including payment of full and fair compensation for all forms of losses and impacts incurred by the local population due to UCIL operations. PCB and MoEF must undertake an immediate visit, comprehensive assessment and rigorous monitoring of the present status of environmental compliance (or lack of it) and conduct a post-clearance public audit and hearing. These monitoring authorities should also be ready to issue and impose orders of cessation of operations, if violations are found.
National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM)
‘PROMOTING INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND IP GENERATION AMONG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS’
dipankar.barkakati@ficci.com
To:nksagar_1@yahoo.com
10 Apr. at 3:42 pm
April 10, 2018
Dear All,
Greetings from Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)!
We are pleased to announce that FICCI is commemorating the World IP Day 2018 with a conference on the theme ‘PROMOTING INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND IP GENERATION AMONG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS’ – being organized on April 27, 2018 at Hotel Lalit, Barakhamba Lane, New Delhi.
The focus of the event will be in keeping with WIPO’s IP Day theme for 2018 –Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity – and is intended to be a tribute to the brilliance, ingenuity and courage of the women who are making a difference in our lives while shaping our world’s future. The objective is also to provide a comprehensive outlook on India’s industrial landscape in the light of the various IP related developments in the country, and to generate stakeholder exchanges on how innovation is driving the businesses worldwide, and its relevance to India’s growth story.
We wish to cordially invite you to participate in the seminar and take part in the deliberations, on 27th April 2018. The registration time is 9.30 AM.
Conference admission is free of charge. However, in view of limited seats, you are requested to confirm your attendance (last date for confirmation 20th April 2018 by 5 PM) by replying to: dipankar.barkakati@ficci.com – or Call 011 -23487477.
You can also register online by clicking here.
The tentative program agenda is annexed herewith for your kind perusal.
We look forward seeing you on 27th April 2018.
Warm regards,
Dipankar Barkakati
Additional Director& Head
IPR & FICCI CASCADE
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Industry’s Voice for Policy Change
Federation House, 1, Tansen Marg, New Delhi 110001, INDIA
T: +91-11-23487368 F: +91-11-23320714
M: 9560052173
ISO 9001:2008 certified
Click here to access: FICCI’s Knowledge Paper Series & FICCI’s Voice from SG’s Desk
FICCI Corporate Identity Number (CIN) : U99999DL1956NPL002635
Shooter Ankur Mittal bags bronze
India won three medals today in CWG 10. Shooting three medal have come from Shreyasi Singh won the women’s double trap gold, Ankur Mittal the men’s double trap gold while Om Mitharval won the men’s 50m pistol bronze.
Ankur Mittal added to the Indian shooting contingent’s medal tally by winning a bronze in the men’s double trap event at the 21st Commonwealth Games on Wednesday. The 26-year-old marksman finished third on the podium after a score of 53 in the final at the Belmont Shooting Centre.
Mohammed Asab, the other Indian shooter in the six-man final, was fourth, a climb down from the bronze medal he won at the Glasgow Games years ago.
Scotland’s David Mcmath claimed the gold medal with a Games record 74, while the silver went to Tim Kneale (70) of Isle of Man.
Shooter Shreyasi Singh won India’s first gold on Wednesday when she clinched the women’s double trap final in a shoot-off at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. Earlier, Om Mitharval was the first Indian to win a medal on Wednesday when he clinched the men’s 50m pistol bronze. A short while later, Ankut Mittal won the men’s double trap bronze.
Another medal highlight for India was MC Mary Kom’s victory in the 48 kg semi-final bout against Sri Lanka’s Anusha Dilrukshi Koddithuwakku.
Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal thrashes South African Elsie de Villiers 21-3, 21-1 in 18 minutes to enter women’s singles Round of 16.
Indian boxers, Hussamuddin Mohammed (56kg), Amit Panghal (49kg), Naman Tanwar (91kg) and Manoj Kumar (69kg) assured themselves of Commonwealth Games medals after advancing to the semi-finals, in Gold Coast, on Tuesday.
Trump’s homeland security adviser Thomas Bossert has resigned.
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Sagar Media Inc: CGG 18 Shooter Om Mitharwal wins bronze medal for India in 50m Pistol Men’s Finals.Jammu of JK bandh today Rain in Chandigarh from last night Delhi NCR cloudy windy , rain soon. PM Modi & Senators to fast on 12 April to address opp parl washout.
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Sagar Media Inc: Trump’s homeland security adviser Thomas Bossert has resigned. The move is the latest in a string of resignations or firings of senior administration officials The White House announced the resignation on Tuesday.
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Sagar Media Inc 8: CWG 18 : Heena Sidhu, Sachin Chaudhary, boxers lift medal tally.Russia stock tumble on Trump fresh santion loss 16 billion $ in a day.Russian FM to visit NKorea prepare collective consenus US talk May on NKorea nuke. US and Russia no direct confront A Syria
PM Modi to inaugurate the IEF16
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Sagar Media Inc M6.2 – COQUIMBO, CHILE Preliminary Earthquake Report Magnitude6.2 Date-Time 10 Apr 2018 10:19:34 UTC 10 Apr 2018 06:19:34 near epicenter 10 Apr 2018 14:19:34 standard time in your timezone Location30.986S 71.557W Depth76 km
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Sagar Media Inc , PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate today the 16th International Energy Forum. IEF16 a the largest gathering of Energy Ministers from across the globe, industry leaders and heads of key international.Facebook Mark Zuckerberg faces US Congress on datas leak
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Haub, a 58-year-old businessman, is one of the richest men in Germany.
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A new star is rising to replace modi…
Quake 6.2M in Chile
M6.2 – COQUIMBO, CHILE
| Magnitude | 6.2 |
| Date-Time |
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| Location | 30.986S 71.557W |
| Depth | 76 km |
Malaysia “Voting day is on May 9,”
Malaysia’s “Voting day is on May 9,” commission chairman Mohamad Hashim Abdullah told a press conference. There will be an 11-day campaign period before the election.
Victory is however less certain due to the comeback of Mahathir, 92, who has turned on his former protege Najib over the 1MDB scandal.
In a stunning volte-face, he was named the prime ministerial candidate in the opposition coalition Pact of Hope, which is filled with parties he crushed during his 22 years in power.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition´s popularity has been sliding in recent years and its problems have been worsened by a multi billion-dollar scandal surrounding state fund 1MDB, but Najib is still tipped to win due to BN´s firm grip on power.
He is under pressure from allies in his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the main coalition party, to score an emphatic victory after the government lost the popular vote for the first time at the last election in 2013.
Voters had become increasingly disillusioned over recurring graft scandals, divisive racial politics in the multi-ethnic country, and the rising cost of living.
The 1MDB scandal has only added to Najib´s woes.
Billions of dollars were allegedly looted from the fund in an audacious campaign of fraud and money-laundering which is being investigated in several countries, and it is claimed that large sums ended up the personal bank accounts of Najib.
Najib, who has been prime minister since 2009, and the fund deny any wrongdoing.
Student protests across Bangladesh
Thousand of university students across Bangladesh blockaded roads on Tuesday in the third day of protests against what they say are discriminatory quotas for government jobs.
Students took to the streets in Dhaka and elsewhere despite assurances from the government that it would review the controversial quota system.
The mass protests roiling campuses across the country have been among the biggest faced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her decade in power.
At Dhaka University — where more than 100 were injured in clashes with police in recent days — students vowed to stage sit-ins until the government reform the quota system.
“We´ll continue our agitation until the authorities accept our demands,” said Rahat, one of the roughly 500 students camped out at the university’s main square.
The protest was largely peaceful, with no repeat so far of the tear gas and rubber bullets fired by police to disperse crowds.
But outside the camps, traffic was brought to a standstill as protesters blocked roads in the nation´s capital.
The protests also spread to private campuses for the first time since the demonstrations erupted on Sunday, drawing hundreds to the streets.
Demonstrators want the share of top government positions set aside for minority groups and the disabled significantly reduced.
They are also particularly irate that 30 percent of government positions are reserved for descendants of veterans from Bangladesh´s independence war in 1971.
The government promised to review the system on Tuesday, but that caused a rift among demonstrators, with some accepting the assurance and others resisting it.
A pro-government faction of the student movement had postponed its protest action but left-leaning groups pledged to keep up the fight.
Hasina — whose father was the architect of Bangladesh´s independence from Pakistan — has in the past rejected demands to slash the quotas.
Have you visited Atomium?
Embassy of Belgium in New Delhi 
celebrating a birthday with Brussels at Atomium.
The Atomium turns 60!
One of the most popular tourist attractions of Europe, the #Atomium is an icon of the Brussels World’s Fair in 1958 
️. The nine spheres of the Atomium represent an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times as a sign of technical and scientific progression.
One of the most popular tourist attractions of Europe, the #Atomium is an icon of the Brussels World’s Fair in 1958 ️. The nine spheres of the Atomium represent an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times as a sign of technical and scientific progression.
Last year, to mark the 70 years of Belgium-India relations and the State Visit of Their Majesties to India, the Indian National Flag 
️ was flown atop the Atomium on Oct 28, 2017.
️ was flown atop the Atomium on Oct 28, 2017.
Recently Indian TV Actors from the #Ramayan series Gurmeet Choudharyand Debina Bonnerjee also visited this iconic symbol of peace. Take a look at the pictures!
Have you visited Atomium? Post your picture and tag us. We would love to share it on our page! 
China launches Yaogan-31
China launches Yaogan-31 remote-sensing satellites from Jiuquan center.
China today from Beijing launched the first group of Yaogan-31 remote-sensing satellites into space at 04:25 GMT on Tuesday from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Xinhua said.
China today from Beijing launched the first group of Yaogan-31 remote-sensing satellites into space at 04:25 GMT on Tuesday from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, Xinhua said.
The satellites were carried by a Long March-4C rocket, the 271st mission of the Long March rocket family. The mission also sent a micro-nano technology experiment satellite into orbit, according to the report.
The satellites are intended for electromagnetic environment surveys and other related technology tests. The first “Yaogan” series satellite, Yaogan-1, was launched in 2006.
Delhi’s Urvashi Reaches Mrs. India UK 2018 Pageant Finals!
One of the finalists for the forthcoming Mrs. India UK pageant, Urvashi Salaria Chawla represents Indian married women in the UK.
Urvashi Salaria Chawla from Delhi, India is a finalist for “Colors TV UK presents Mrs. India UK 2018 organized by BrandWok”. Mrs. India UK is a unique pioneer pageant in the United Kingdom for British Indians and Asian married women residing in the United Kingdom.
Urvashi Salaria Chawla is a successful entrepreneur in the makeup industry who owns a beauty studio in India and is an esteemed Asian Bridal Makeup Artist in London.
Academically she’s a journalism graduate, worked in the aviation industry, a beauty blogger and now she’s representing married Asian women residing in the UK in such a massive platform. She has been married and residing in London for 4 years. She is an environmentalist by nature who believes in spreading awareness about climate change. She has been doing a lot of plantation drives and also has been closely associated with volunteering in environmental activities like WWF Earth Hour campaign. Urvashi believes in expressing the notion of “beauty with a purpose”. She will be competing with 30 other multi-talented finalists.
Mrs. India UK aims to encourage, empower women and provide opportunities to married women. It ensures learning, development, building confidence and strengthening the bond between diversified cultures of Indians abroad. Urvashi and all the other contestants of Mrs. India UK have been going through intensive training with various mentors. They’ve had sessions for fitness, catwalk, acting, photoshoot and much more during this journey. Urvashi tells, “Our mentors have been super helpful and supportive throughout our journey focusing on individual attention. Not just that – they’ve been mentoring us through online sessions too.”
Urvashi recently won the subtitle of Mrs. Glamorous at Mrs. India UK 2018. The finale of this beauty pageant is on 15th April at Hilton Tower Bridge, London.
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