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Nora Fatehi applauds PM Modi’s support to Morocco after devastating earthquake

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Nora Fatehi expressed her gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Instagram. She posted a screenshot of PM Modi’s tweet on her stories

Updated On – 12:48 PM, Sun – 10 September 23


Nora Fatehi applauds PM Modi’s support to Morocco after devastating earthquake



Mumbai: Actor and dancer Nora Fatehi on Sunday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he expressed grief and offered support to her hometown, Morocco, following the deadly earthquake that struck the country.

Taking to Instagram, Nora shared a picture of PM Modi’s tweet on her stories and wrote, “Thank you Prime Minister @narendramodi for this big support! You were one of the first countries to raise awareness and extend a helping hand! The Moroccan people are very thankful and grateful! Jai Hind.”

More than 2,000 people have been killed so far after a deadly earthquake jolted Morocco in the late evening hours on Friday, according to Al Jazeera.

After the magnitude 6.8 earthquake, which claimed the lives of more than 2,012 people and injured 2,059 others while also leaving many homeless, authorities on Saturday proclaimed three days of national mourning in the country.

Nora also offered her condolences to those affected by the Morocco earthquake.

She wrote on her Instagram stories, “The news today of the earthquake in Morocco is extremely devastating! I’m just seeing the impact it has left on so many cities and many lives have been lost. My heart goes out to everyone right now! I’m praying for everyone’s safety! This is so scary. I thank God that our friends and families are safe! My condolences to anyone who has lost a loved one! Allayhfdkom ya Rab.”

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the quake.
Taking to X, PM Modi said, “Extremely pained by the loss of lives due to an earthquake in Morocco. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the people of Morocco. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. India is ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult time.”

The earthquake took place at 03:41:01 (UTC+05:30) at a depth of 18.5 km. The magnitude of the earthquake caused pulses to travel from Sidi Ifni in the south to Rabat in the north and beyond.
The epicentre was noted at 72 kilometres west of Marrakesh, a major economic centre.

According to Al Jazeera, the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Department (AFAD) says it has placed two hundred and sixty-five members of medical, relief, and search and rescue agencies on alert, in case it receives a distress call from Morocco.

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G20 dinner: ITC serves millet-based cuisine for world leaders

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The dishes that are on the menu of all ITC hotels include some like the Avocado and Pearl Millet Salad as well as Jowar and Jackfruit Haleem.

Published Date – 12:45 PM, Sun – 10 September 23


G20 dinner: ITC serves millet-based cuisine for world leaders



New Delhi: A bouquet of millets-based vegetarian cuisine by ITC hotel chains is on the menu served for world leaders who have converged in India for the G20 summit.

Two women chefs from ITC Sheraton New Delhi have displayed as many as 20 dishes all prepared from millets. The dishes were inspired by the ‘Mission Millets’ initiative of ITC hotel chains.

The United Nations declared the year 2023 as the International Year of the Millet, following a proposal by India, which wants to position itself as a global hub for Millet.

The dishes that are on the menu of all ITC hotels include some like the Avocado and Pearl Millet Salad as well as Jowar and Jackfruit Haleem which according to ITC were well appreciated by the spouses of the visiting heads of G20 states, including Akshata Murty, the First Lady of the United Kingdom. Millets are also the most secure crops for small farmers as they are resilient and climate-adaptable in both hot and drought environments. India produces all the nine commonly known traditional millets viz. Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Finger Millet, Foxtail Millet, Proso Millet, Little Millet, Barnyard Millet, Browntop Millet and Kodo Millet.

The lobby of the hotel featured hand-painted ‘Alpona’ designs on terracotta earthen pots with traditional Indian flowers – a remarkable representation of India’s rich cultural heritage, environmental consciousness, and commitment to sustainability – the theme for G20 India.

On Saturday, about 170 guests attended a G20 special dinner at the Bharat Mandapam, hosted by President Murmu. The menu of the official dinner featured several millet based dishes.

According to a statement given by G20 India’s Special Secretary Muktesh Pardeshi to ANI, the catering at the venue, where the G20 Summit meetings are held is being done by the ITC hotel chain.

Also, on Saturday, the first ladies and spouses of G20 member countries experienced the agricultural prowess of India first-hand, in a one-of-a-kind exhibition organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Campus in Pusa in the national capital.

The event featured a range of captivating components, such as a millet-focused live cooking session led by celebrity chefs Kunal Kapur, Anahita Dhondy, and Ajay Chopra, as well as a display of cutting-edge agricultural technology from prominent Indian startups, interaction with Indian women agri-champions at the ‘Agri-Street’.

Spouses of G20 heads of state had a brief pitstop at the ‘Rangoli Area’, which featured two massive ‘Millet Rangolis’. The government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution for declaring the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets and the proposal of India was supported by 72 countries.

Millet is a common term for categorizing small-seeded grasses that are often called Nutri-cereals. Most of the states in India grow one or more millet crop species. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are the major millets producing states.

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Project connecting India to Europe via Middle East ‘largest cooperation project’ in history: Netanyahu

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Benjamin Netanyahu has described it as the “largest cooperation project in our history” that will “change the face of the Middle East, Israel, and will affect the entire world”

Published Date – 12:45 PM, Sun – 10 September 23


Project connecting India to Europe via Middle East ‘largest cooperation project’ in history: Netanyahu

File Photo

Jerusalem: Welcoming the announcement of the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described it as the “largest cooperation project in our history” that will “change the face of the Middle East, Israel, and will affect the entire world”.

The new economic corridor, which many see as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, was jointly announced on Saturday by the leaders of the US, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi.

In a video message released late Saturday evening, Netanyahu said that Israel is at the focus of an unprecedented international project that will link infrastructure from Asia to Europe.

“I welcome the statement that was released today by the United States, India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the European Union, as well as France, Italy and Germany,” Netanyahu said.

“A good week to you, citizens of Israel. This evening, I am pleased to inform you (of) some major news,” the Israeli Prime Minister said.

His message came as hundreds of thousands of Israelis protested on the streets against the government’s judicial overhaul plan they think will undermine the authority of the judiciary.

“Israel is at the focus of an unprecedented international project that will link infrastructure from Asia to Europe. This link will also realise a multi-year vision that will change the face of the Middle East, and Israel, and will affect the entire world,” he said.

“This vision starts in India, passes through the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel before reaching Europe,” Netanyahu said.

The announcement of the ambitious project comes amid discussions around the normalisation of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The two countries do not have diplomatic relations but the Gulf kingdom has been seen to be recently softening its position towards Israel by allowing Israeli airlines to use its air space.

It is said to have also demanded, as per media reports, several concessions from the United States for the normalisation of ties to happen with the Jewish state, some very contentious ones.

“They announced the launch of a pioneering initiative to develop an economic corridor from India, through the Middle East, to Europe. I am pleased to inform you, citizens of Israel, that our country, the State of Israel, will be a central junction in this economic corridor,” Netanyahu said.

“Our railways and ports will open a new gateway from India, through the Middle East, to Europe, and back – from Europe to India via Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” the Israeli Prime Minister, battling a downturn in the economy in the face of his controversial Judicial overhaul plans, said.

“I would like to thank US President (Joe) Biden and his administration for the major effort that has led us to today’s historic announcement. Several months ago, the US contacted us regarding the realisation of this historic opportunity. Since then, it has held urgent diplomatic contacts in order to bring about today’s breakthrough,” he stressed.

The project reshapes the face of our region and allows a dream to become reality, he said.

The initiative includes the construction of railways, the laying of a hydrogen pipeline, the energy of the future, the laying of fibre optic communications cables, the laying of electricity cables and more infrastructure, the Israeli Prime Minister noted.

“The State of Israel will contribute its capabilities, all of its experience, momentum and commitment, to realise the largest cooperation project in our history. All government ministries will be instructed to join in realizing this dream,” he emphasised.

“I have directed the National Security Council, in the Prime Minister’s Office, to coordinate the staff work and also the close cooperation with the US and other countries in order for this vision to become reality as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said.

The project will lead us to a new, unique and unprecedented era of global and regional cooperation and involvement. “Together we will succeed,” Netanyahu asserted.

With protesters turning up in hundreds of thousands every weekend for the last 36 weeks, Israel faces threats of mass emigration, resignations in critical positions, army desertions, strikes and flight of capital backed by gloomy predictions from prestigious global credit rating agencies.

Netanyahu has been struggling to show that everything is under control and the economy is stable amid widespread angry protests. He also hinted at the major link project during his trip to Greece and Cyprus early this week to boost the morale of his citizens and supporters.

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Foreign forces presence to complicate regional situation

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The presence of foreign forces in the region serves to further complicate the regional situation, the top diplomat told his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in a phone call on Wednesday.

Amir-Abdollahian was referring to the so-called “Eagle Partner” military exercises that kick-started between the US and Armenia on Monday.

The 10-day drills involve 85 US and 175 Armenian troops. It is taking place at two training grounds near the Armenian capital of Yerevan.

The drills come at a time of high tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Karabakh, while acknowledged as a part of Azerbaijan by the international community, has a predominantly Armenian population that has persistently opposed Azerbaijani governance since a separatist war in 1994.

Tensions over the region took a turn for the worse earlier this week when the two sides accused each other of amassing troops close to their joint border.

The Iranian foreign minister urged that such disputes be tackled at their roots towards the realization of sustainable peace in the region.

He considered the most effective means of achievement of comprehensive regional peace to be lying in recourse to regional negotiations and mechanisms as the 3+3 format that features Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia plus Russia, Turkey, and Iran.

For his part, the Armenian official deemed taking the place of whatever change to the South Caucasus region’s borders to be unacceptable.

The top diplomats, meanwhile, addressed the available means of expansion of bilateral relations between Tehran and Yerevan, expressing satisfaction with the underway trend of the ties’ development.

MNA/PressTV 

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UN humanitarians partnering in Libya to help in wake of deadly storm

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UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Libya, Georgette Gagnon, has designated an emergency team to support local authorities and partners following storm Daniel

Published Date – 08:50 AM, Thu – 14 September 23


UN humanitarians partnering in Libya to help in wake of deadly storm



United Nations: The UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Libya, Georgette Gagnon, has designated an emergency team to support local authorities and partners following storm Daniel, UN humanitarians said.

A 12-person UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team has been deployed in Libya to support the world body’s response to the massive flooding that has killed thousands of people with thousands more missing, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Wednesday, noting that the UN is responding to calls for assistance and providing aid in the affected areas.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at the beginning of a press conference on Wednesday preceding next week’s annual high-level General Assembly session, again expressed his deepest condolences and full solidarity with all those affected by the flooding in Libya and the deadly earthquake in Morocco, Xinhua news agency reported.

“These heart-wrenching disasters have claimed thousands of lives and affected countless families and communities,” he said.

“The United Nations is mobilising to support relief efforts and we will work in any and every way we can with partners to help get emergency assistance to those who so desperately need it.”

The UN humanitarians said search-and-rescue operations continue in Libya, led by national agencies, the military, the Libyan Red Crescent and local volunteers.

“The lack of accurate and reliable data across affected regions presents a significant challenge; access challenges and conflicting reports from multiple sources further add to the difficulties in coordinating and effectively deploying humanitarian assistance,” OCHA reported earlier on Wednesday in its Flash Update No. 1 report.

According to the report, significant displacement is being observed across affected regions, most notably in Derna, where available data indicates that at least 30,000 individuals were displaced. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, especially in Derna, where accessibility remains a critical challenge due to damaged infrastructure.

The report said critical infrastructure, including healthcare, electricity, buildings, roads and telecommunications, were significantly damaged. However, there is progress in restoring electricity and communications to the affected areas.

“Many international partners indicated their interest to provide emergency response assistance,” OCHA added.

“The United Nations in Libya is preparing a flash appeal to garner and coordinate international support in response to Libyans’ request for humanitarian assistance.”

Undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs Martin Griffiths, the UN emergency relief coordinator, announced on Tuesday an initial allocation of $10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support people affected by the flooding.

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5 killed, 25 injured in Gaza border blast

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At least five Palestinians were killed in a blast at the Israel-Gaza border, the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said

Published Date – 08:30 AM, Thu – 14 September 23


5 killed, 25 injured in Gaza border blast



Gaza: At least five Palestinians were killed in a blast at the Israel-Gaza border, the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said. The explosion that took place during a mass demonstration of the Palestinians injured 25 others, it added on Wednesday.

Before the blast, there was a clash between dozens of Palestinian protestors and Israeli soldiers along the border fence, during which Israeli soldiers fired live bullets and tear gas bombs, Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Israeli soldiers used dispersal measures after the Palestinians hurled explosive devices and grenades at the barrier, according to The Times of Israel.

Investigation is underway to find the cause of the explosion, but the IDF claimed an explosive device was placed by the Palestinian “rioters” during the demonstration in an attempt to hurt Israelis, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Army denied the possibility that Israeli gunfire caused the explosion, saying that the device exploded on its own during an attempt to throw it.

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Scientists hint at existence of closest black holes to Earth

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Astrophysicists have hinted at the existence of several black holes in the Hyades cluster — the closest open cluster to our solar system

Published Date – 01:10 PM, Sun – 10 September 23


Scientists hint at existence of closest black holes to Earth



New Delhi: Astrophysicists have hinted at the existence of several black holes in the Hyades cluster — the closest open cluster to our solar system — which would make them the closest black holes to Earth ever detected.

To reach this conclusion, the study, published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, used simulations that track the
motion and evolution of all the stars in the Hyades — located at a distance from the Sun of about 45 parsecs or 150 light-years — to reproduce their current state.

The simulation results were compared with the actual positions and velocities of the stars in the Hyades, which are now known precisely from observations made by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Gaia satellite.

“Our simulations can only simultaneously match the mass and size of the Hyades if some black holes are present at the centre of the cluster today
(or until recently),” said Stefano Torniamenti, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Padua in Italy.

The new results indicate that the Hyades-born black holes are still inside the cluster, or very close to the cluster.

This makes them the closest black holes to the Sun, much closer than the previous candidate, namely the black hole Gaia BH1, which is 480 parsecs
from the Sun (One parsec is about 3.26 light-years).

“This observation helps us understand how the presence of black holes affects the evolution of star clusters and how star clusters in turn contribute to gravitational wave sources,” said Mark Gieles, a member of the University of Barcelona (UB) Department of Quantum Physics and Astrophysics.

“These results also give us insight into how these mysterious objects are distributed across the galaxy”.

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Oil-rich Guyana opens bids for new offshore blocks as it seeks to boost production

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Guyana has opened bids for 14 offshore oil blocks available for exploration and development as the South American country seeks to ramp up oil production

Published Date – 07:20 AM, Thu – 14 September 23


Oil-rich Guyana opens bids for new offshore blocks as it seeks to boost production

A ship creates an artificial island by extracting offshore sand to create a coastal port for offshore oil production at the mouth of the Demerara River in Georgetown, Guyana, April 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)

Georgetown: Guyana has opened bids for 14 offshore oil blocks available for exploration and development as the South American country seeks to ramp up oil production.

Six companies and groups submitted bids for the available blocks late Tuesday after the bidding process was postponed three times to provide more time for those interested to evaluate the blocks’ data.

No one knows what the 14 blocks located miles off Guyana’s coast contain, but ExxonMobil has successfully drilled more than 30 wells near them in waters off a country now considered one of the world’s biggest offshore oil producers.

The blocks cover a total area of at least roughly 386 square miles (1,000 square kilometers).

ExxonMobil once again teamed up with its partners in Guyana, US-owned Hess Corp. and China National Offshore Oil Corp, to submit a bid.

Meanwhile, French-owned Total Energies partnered with companies in Qatar and Malaysia. Also submitting bids were companies and groups based in the US, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, Guyana and London.

“You want to be part of the auction? Please come up. Any government in any part of the world, any company in any part of the world, you are free to be a part of the auction,” President Irfaan Ali told reporters recently as he sought to promote the area and attract big companies capable of working in deep waters.

The government of Guyana said it would start evaluating bids next week and expects to start negotiating with bidders by mid-October. Final decisions could be announced by early November.

Guyana already has seen its economy soar thanks to a massive oil discovery in 2015 that so far has led to the production of nearly 400,000 barrels of oil a day. The number is expected to rise to 1 million barrels a day since the ExxonMobil consortium has applied for approval to explore four more blocks.

The US Geological Survey estimates that Guyana’s coastal area has roughly 13.6 billion barrels of oil reserves and gas reserves of 32 trillion cubic feet.

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Raeisi: Iran can't tolerate presence of terrorists on its border with Iraq

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President Ebrahim Raeisi has asserted that Iran cannot tolerate the presence of terrorist groups on the country’s common border with Iraq.

The chief executive made the remarks in Tehran on Wednesday to Iraq’s visiting Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, urging Baghdad to honor its relevant security commitments towards Tehran.

“During the days that Iraq was besieged by the Daesh terrorist group, the Islamic Republic did not withhold any assistance from Iraq, proving itself to be Iraq’s friend during its (the Arab country’s) tough days,” Raeisi said.

The president was referring to the military advisory support that the Islamic Republic began providing for Iraq after the latter found itself in the grip of the Takfiri group’s campaign of bloodshed and destruction in 2014.

The remarks came two days after Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani said the ultimatum given to Iraq to disarm anti-Iran separatist groups based in the Arab country’s Kurdistan region would not be extended.

“Iran’s stance is completely clear. According to the agreement reached with the Iraqi government, the final deadline for the disarmament of the terrorist and separatist forces in Iraq’s Kurdistan region ends on September 19 and that deadline will not be extended in any way,” Kan’ani said at a weekly press briefing in Tehran on Monday. The spokesperson noted that the Iraqi government had taken measures in this regard and had stressed that it would honor its commitments.

Hussein, for his part, considered the constant meetings that have been taking place between the countries’ diplomatic delegations and ranking officials to be an indication of their strong and developing relations.

“Today, the countries’ relations have gone beyond [simple] political, cultural, and economic ties,” he said, stressing that “we should preserve these unparalleled relations.”

The Iraqi top diplomat laid emphasis on Baghdad’s complete commitment to the implementation of standing security agreements between the countries.

“The Iraqi government will, under no circumstances, allow any movement or group to use the country’s soil to pose a threat or perpetrate an incursion against the borders of Iraq’s neighbors, especially the Islamic Republic, or let them (such groups) deploy themselves on the Iraqi soil,” he emphasized.

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PM Modi hands over G20 ceremonial gavel to Brazilian president

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the gavel to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who hailed India for giving voice to topics of interests of emerging economies

Updated On – 02:10 PM, Sun – 10 September 23


PM Modi hands over G20 ceremonial gavel to Brazilian president



New Delhi: Marking the ceremonial transfer of the G20 presidency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday handed over the gavel to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who hailed India for giving voice to topics of interests of emerging economies.

At the concluding session, Modi handed over the gavel and offered best wishes to Brazil for the presidency. Brazil officially will take over the mantle of the presidency of the elite grouping on December 1 this year.

Speaking on the occasion, Lula da Silva congratulated Modi and thanked India for its efforts to give voice to the topics of interest to emerging economies.
Lula da Silva also listed social inclusion, the fight against hunger, energy transition and sustainable development as G20 priorities.

He said the UN Security Council needs new developing countries as permanent, non-permanent members to regain political strength.
“We want greater representation for emerging countries at the World Bank and the IMF,” he said.