Two oil wells in Kirkuk, Iraq, have been set on fire by Islamic State (IS) jihadists, Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail said, adding that the fires have been successfully extinguished. Iraqi oil firms managed to extinguish the fires in the two wells of Khubbaz oilfield in Kirkuk province at an unprecedented time on Wednesday, Xinhua’s news agency quoted Ismail as saying in a letter to Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Ismail lauded the actions of employees of the Iraqi North Oil Company and the national oil firms who advocate the extinction of oil wells, stressing that this is the appropriate response…
Author: Our Correspondent
The US Congress voiced concern over China’s “aggression” along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India and proclaimed Beijing’s territorial demands to be “baseless” in the Himalayas. The Defence Spending bill, approved by both houses of the Congress, urged China to stop using coercion to resolve the conflict along the LAC and instead use diplomacy. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives, presented the portion of the bill entitled “Congress on the aggression of the Government of China along the border with India and its growing territorial claims.” The measure, including a military allowance of…
Canada reached a deal with the United States to launch a Canadian astronaut around the moon in 2023, said Navdeep Bains, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Technology and Business, on Wednesday. At a video news conference, Bains announced the Gateway Treaty, which formalises Canada’s participation in the U.S.-led effort to construct a new international space station above the surface of the moon to enable exploration and potential missions to Mars. The Treaty contains an undertaking to get a Canadian on It requires a promise to get a Canadian on board as the United States flies the moon in 2023, as well…
India has recorded 26,382 fresh coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, taking the country’s total number of cases to 99,32,548. Among the 99.3 lakh coronavirus cases, India now has a total of 3,32,002 active Covid-19 cases while 94,56,449 have been discharged so far. In the past 24 hours, the country also recorded 33,813 new discharges. With 387 new Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours, India’s death toll has gone up to 1,44,096. The Covid-19 active caseload remained below four lakh for the 10th consecutive day. There are 3,32,002 active coronavirus infections in the country which constitute 3.34% of the total…
On Wednesday, India and the World Bank signed a $400 million project to finance the nation’s efforts to provide social services to impoverished and needy households badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second procedure in a two-part programmatic sequence. The first operation of $750 million was approved in May 2020. The programme will strengthen the capability of state and national governments in India to provide coordinated and adequate social protection to the poor and vulnerable from the shocks triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative will help further extend and deepen the reach of India’s social security…
A big boost to the indigenous defence industry, India is launching six new Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft to be developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on Air India aircraft to further enhance Air Force surveillance capability along the borders with China and Pakistan. Government sources said that as part of the discussions on the AEW&C Block 2 aircraft to be built by the DRDO under a 10,500 crore programme, the six aircraft will be purchased from the Air India fleet and upgraded to operate with a radar that would provide the defence forces with a…
The Joint Entrance Examination (Mains) — the eligibility test for admission in the country’s top engineering colleges including the prestigious IITs — will be conducted in four sessions spread across four consecutive months, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank announced on Wednesday, adding the new system will offer students the flexibility to appear in the exam and a chance to improve their scores later. Recommended: Crack JEE with AI-Based JEE Online Preparation Program(Live Classes, UNLIMITED Mock Tests, 24*7 Faculty Support & Much more)Know More The first edition of the exam will be conducted under the new system from February 23…
Batting great Sachin Tendulkar gave Team India a piece of advice ahead of the much-anticipated pink-ball test against Australia, encouraging the hosts to be mindful of the clock and bat accordingly. India will launch the much-anticipated 4-Test series with a day-night fixture at the Adelaide Oval on December 17. Sachin Tendulkar urged India to think out of the box when it comes to batting in the day-night Test. Tendulkar said, from his observations about the pink-ball Test, teams should look to play more shots in the first session, contrary to the traditional approach of seeing the new balls. Tendulkar said…
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took stock of progress made under various schemes under the three Aatmanirbhar Bharat Packages (ANBP) to assist revive economy hit hard by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Following announcement by the Prime Minister, Sitharaman presented the small print of the Rs 20.97 lakh crore ANBP 1.0 during a series of press conferences from May 13-17. it had been followed by AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package 2.0 on Columbus Day and therefore the third tranche on November 12. Sitharaman on Friday concluded a comprehensive review of ANBP with the Secretaries of varied Ministries and Departments concerned over three days,…
President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday recalled the valour of Indian soldiers martyred within the 1971 war and said the state is eternally indebted to them. India celebrates December 16 as Vijay Diwas to commemorate its victory over Pakistan during the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh. On Vijay Diwas, allow us to recall the valour of our soldiers that affirmed our nation’s unwavering commitment to defend our sovereignty and protect human dignity. Their martyrdom in 1971 war had shown unparalleled grit & prowess of our forces. the state is eternally indebted to them,” Kovind tweeted.