Diplomatic Adviser to the President of France Emmanuel Bonne today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed wide-ranging bilateral and global issues. In a tweet, Mr Modi said, he had a productive meeting with Mr Bonne. Mr Modi expressed joy at the progress in India-France Strategic Partnership, a force for global good in the post-COVID world. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction on the progress both countries have made on key aspects of the India-France Strategic Partnership, including counter-terrorism, cyber-security, defence and strategic cooperation.

Mr. Bonne also briefed the Prime Minister on India-France cooperation on various regional and global issues, including maritime and multilateral cooperation.

The Prime Minister fondly recalled his recent exchanges with President Macron and conveyed his best wishes for his health. He also reiterated his invitation to President Macron to visit India as soon as conditions permit.

India and France held their Annual Strategic Dialogue yesterday in New Delhi. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval led the Indian delegation while the French delegation was led by Mr Bonne. The two sides held discussions on wide-ranging bilateral and global issues.

The cumulative COVID-19 testing in the country has crossed the 18 crore mark today and the country’s COVID-19 recovery rate has reached 96.41 per cent. During the last 24 hours, more than nine lakh 16 thousand samples were tested and more than 19 thousand patients have recovered.

The Health Ministry said, during the last 24 hours,  The total number of recoveries has gone up to over one crore 56 thousand. The actual caseload currently comprises only 2.15 per cent of the total positive cases. Presently, the total number of active cases in the country is around two lakh 24 thousand.

During the past 24 hours, 18 thousand 222 new cases were reported taking the total number of positive cases in the country to over one crore four lakh. The Ministry said, currently, India’s Case Fatality Rate is 1.45 per cent, which is one of the lowest globally. During the last 24 hours, 228 deaths were reported taking the toll to one lakh 50 thousand 798.

In Cricket, Australia were 39 for 2 in the third test at Sydney, a short while ago.  Earlier India, which resumed its first innings from the overnight score of 96 for 2, were dismissed for 244 on the third day today.

Patrick Cummins took four wickets and Josh Hazlewood took two wickets and Cheteshwar Pujara scored one of the slowest half-centuries for India.  Australia has taken a first-innings lead of 94 runs and it would be an uphill task for India to make a comeback in this match. The hosts were all out for 338 in the first innings.

The four-match series is currently levelled at 1-1, and if India manages to win this Test, the side will retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy even if Australia goes on to win the last Test at Brisbane.

India today said that the United Nations proscribed entities and designated terrorists act as proxies for Pakistani establishment to fulfill its anti-India agenda. MEA Spokesman Anurag Srivastava today said, it is for the international community to hold Pakistan to account and ensure that it takes credible action against terror groups, terror infrastructure and individual terrorists.

On a query on Pakistan court’s 15-year jail sentence to LeT terrorist Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Mr Srivastava said, the timing of these actions clearly suggests the intention of conveying a sense of compliance ahead of the Asia Pacific Joint Group, APJG meeting and next Financial Action Task Force, FATF plenary meeting next month. He said, it has become routine for Pakistan to come up with such farcical actions prior to important meetings.

On a query on UNSC Taliban Sanctions Committee, the MEA Spokesman said, India began its two-year tenure at the UN Security Council as a non-Permanent Member on the first of this month. He said, during the tenure, India will be guided by a commitment to promote responsible and inclusive solutions to international peace and security, a new orientation for a reformed multilateral system and a world view anchored in our ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. Mr Srivastava said, with regard to Afghanistan, India and Afghanistan as contiguous neighbours share a natural historical relationship and the strategic partnership and long-term commitment to the development of Afghanistan reflects this time-tested partnership. He said, India has invested heavily in peace and development in Afghanistan and it support all efforts to bring peace and stability there. The Spokesman said, India’s position on the peace process has also been articulated. He said, the peace process must be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. Mr Srivastava said, as an an important stakeholder, India is looking forward to work towards a peaceful, prosperous, sovereign, democratic and united Afghanistan. 

On a question on Line of Actual Control, LAC, Mr Srivastava said, the latest round of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination, WMCC was held on 18th of last month December. He said, the two sides have agreed to hold the next round of Senior Commanders meeting and are in constant communication through diplomatic and military channels in this regard. The Spokesman said, in the meantime, both sides have maintained communication at the ground level to avoid any misunderstandings and misjudgments even as discussions continue for achieving complete disengagement in all friction areas in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements to restore peace and tranquility.

On another query on the issue of Indian sailors stranded in Chinese waters, Mr Srivastava said, Indian Embassy in Beijing is continuously following up the issue with relevant Chinese authorities. He said, Indian Ambassador has again personally taken up this issue with the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister and requested early approval for crew change for Indian crew members aboard two ships M V Jag-Anand and M V Anastasia. The Ministry is also in regular contact on this issue with the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi. The Spokesman said, in view of China’s strict COVID-19 pandemic control and prevention measures as well as various travel restrictions in place, the Chinese authorities have outlined detailed steps to ensure the smooth movement of new crew to China to effect crew change. He said, these steps have to be complied by the concerned shipping companies. With regard to the request of exploring alternative modes of crew change at sea, The Spokesman said, this possibility has also been taken up by with Chinese authorities, who have indicated that the details for this option are being worked out. He said, we are awaiting these details from Chinese authorities. Mr Srivastava said, we will continue to remain in touch with various relevant Chinese authorities as well as shipping companies to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the crew are taken care of and that crew changes can be effected at the earliest.

On a query on Vaccine Cooperation, the Spokesman said, India has been at the forefront of the global response in this common fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. He said, India sees international cooperation in this field, particularly with its neighbours, as its duty. Mr Srivastava said, in our neighbourhood, we have already provided medicines and other essential supplies. He said, we have held training sessions for experts from these countries on vaccine-related issues. 

On a query on H1B Visa, Mr Srivastava said, we have taken note of the recent proclamations of the US Government extending by three more months the current suspension of entry of certain immigrants and non-immigrants to the United States of America. He said, India is engaged with the U.S. Government for increased predictability in the visa regime and to minimize inconvenience to Indian nationals in the U.S. or those proposing to travel to the U.S. for bonafide reasons, including the movement of Indian professionals. The MEA Spokesman said, people-to-people relations are a vital part of the partnership between India and the U.S. He said, there is recognition in the U.S. of the fact that Indian skilled professionals have contributed to the growth of the U.S. economy and helped the U.S. retain its competitive edge and innovation advantage.

The next round of talks between the Centre and farmer leaders will be held on 15th of this month. Briefing media after the eighth round of talks with representatives of farmers’ unions, Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, discussion on the farm laws was taken up, but no decision could be made. He said, the government urged that if farmer unions give an option other than repealing, it will consider it, but no option could be presented, so the meeting was concluded.

The Minister said, those supporting the protest are of the view that the laws be repealed and there are many others who support the laws. He said, the government is continuously talking to the unions who want these laws to be repealed and it will also give appointment to those supporting the laws, when they request the government.

In the United States, the President-elect Joe Biden has appointed two Indian-Americans to the National Security Council of the White House. Biden has named Indian-American Sumona Guha as senior director for South Asia and Tarun Chhabra as senior director for Technology and National Security.

Sumona Guha is currently serving as senior vice president at Albright Stonebridge Group. She was co-chair of the South Asia foreign policy working group during the Biden-Harris campaign. During the Obama-Biden administration, she was special advisor for national security affairs to the then Vice President Biden. She is a graduate of Johns Hopkins and Georgetown University.

Tarun Chhabra, who has been appointed senior director for Technology and National Security, is a senior fellow at the Centre for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University. Chhabra had also served on the National Security Council staff as director for Strategic Planning and director for Human Rights and National Security Issues during the Obama-Biden Administration. Chhabra is an alumnus of Stanford University, Oxford University and Harvard Law School.

Biden has also named Shanthi Kalathil as Coordinator for Democracy and Human Rights in his National Security Council. She is currently senior director of the International Forum for Democratic Studies at the National Endowment for Democracy.

India has said that the United Nations proscribed entities and designated terrorists act as proxies for Pakistani establishment to fulfill its anti-India agenda. MEA Spokesman Anurag Srivastava  said, it is for the international community to hold Pakistan to account and ensure that it takes credible action against terror groups, terror infrastructure and individual terrorists.

On a query on Pakistan court’s 15-year jail sentence to LeT terrorist Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Mr Srivastava said, the timing of these actions clearly suggests the intention of conveying a sense of compliance ahead of the Asia Pacific Joint Group (APJG) meeting and next Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary meeting next month. He said, it has become routine for Pakistan to come up with such farcical actions prior to important meetings.

On a query on UNSC Taliban Sanctions Committee, the MEA Spokesman said, India began its two-year tenure at the UN Security Council as a non-Permanent Member on the first of this month. He said, during the tenure, India will be guided by a commitment to promote responsible and inclusive solutions to international peace and security, a new orientation for a reformed multilateral system and a world view anchored in our ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued guidelines to airlines and other aircraft operators for transportation of Covid-19 vaccines.

“All scheduled operators who have been currently authorized to carry dangerous goods may carry COVID19 vaccine packed in dry ice, meeting the regulatory requirements,” DGCA said in a circular.

“Non-scheduled operators, including aircraft engaged in general aviation, that are required to participate in the carriage of COVID 19 vaccines packed in dry ice shall seek specific approval before commencing such operations,” it added.

Covid-19 vaccination in India is expected to start in the next few days, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said yesterday, adding that the union government has requested the stakeholders in the process to help in its smooth rollout.

The DGCA circular said that while dry ice with temperature varying from -8C to -70C is affordable for transportation of vaccine, it added that all operators engaged in vaccine transportation would need to establish the maximum quantity of dry ice that can be loaded in cargo holds or passenger cabins if passenger aircraft is deployed for vaccine transportation.

The circular added that operators will need to prepare and ‘Dos and Don’ts’ guidance for handling of vaccines and such packages would be handled only by trained personnel.

India’s drugs regulator Drugs Controller General of India has approved AstraZeneca and Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute in India under the Covishield brand and the indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country.

As per DGCA directives, authorised airlines can carry vaccine in dry ice in passenger cabin or cargo cabin. Passengers won’t be allowed on board if vaccines are being transported in the passenger cabin.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  interacted with India’s leading economists on charting the economic agenda in the post covid world. The interaction was organised by the NITI Aayog. All the attendants agreed that high frequency indicators are showing signs of a strong economic recovery and that too earlier than expected.

Prime Minister Modi appreciated the inputs received from the participants and highlighted the crucial role such interactions played in setting the national development agenda. He highlighted how the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent management threw up new professional challenges for all those involved. Mr Modi underlined that together with a fiscal stimulus, the government also tried reform based stimulus, which was seen through historic reforms in agriculture, commercial coal mining and labour laws.

The Prime Minister explained his vision behind an Atmanirbhar Bharat, where Indian companies are integrated in global supply chains in a manner not seen before. He underscored  the faith shown by foreign investors in India’s growth story, with foreign direct investment growing by 11 per cent between April and October, despite a global recession. Mr Modi highlighted the economic potential set to be unleashed by the National Optical Fibre Network, providing internet connectivity to some of India’s most remote areas.

On infrastructure, the Prime Minister highlighted the National Infrastructure Pipeline as the government’s commitment to developing world class infrastructure. The Prime Minister  stated the importance of partnerships in achieving the goals and  that such consultations play a crucial role in setting the broader economic agenda.

The attendants were broadly in agreement that next year will see robust growth and suggested measures to maintain this growth rate to drive India’s socio-economic transformation. The participants stressed the importance of investing in public health and education, as human capital would also likely emerge as a driver of growth, especially in the knowledge economy going forward. They also stressed on labour-intensive manufacturing given the success India has achieved in launching the production linked incentives,PLI scheme in mobile manufacturing.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar and Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and other officials also attended the meeting along with leading economists of the country.

The 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention will be held today through virtual mode. The convention will commence at 10 AM in the morning and will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the inaugural session, President of the Republic of Suriname and Chief Guest, Chandrikapersad Santokhi will address the participants. The Valedictory Address will be delivered by President Ram Nath Kovind. The theme of the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.

 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated once in every two years to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Indian Government and it is also an endeavour which reconnects them with their roots. This year due to the pandemic, the convention is being held in a virtual mode, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The inaugural session will be followed by the two plenary sessions where discussions between eminent diaspora experts will be held on themes which include Role of Diaspora in Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and Facing Post Covid Challenges. India is proud of its largest diaspora across the globe which consists of nearly 31 million people. External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, recently said that the Indian government values it’s vast diaspora enormously as they are the image of the country in the world.

India is also the country with the highest foreign remittances in the world which amounts to over 80 billion US dollars. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has time and again said that the Indian diaspora is the living root bridge between India and the world. He believes that the success of our diaspora has changed the perception of both India and Indians across the world. In the political sphere as well, people of Indian Origin are in prominent positions across the world.

Kamala Harris, Priyanca Radhakrishnan , Pravind Jugnauth, Leo Varadkar , Nikki Haley, Bobby Jindal, Priti Patel, Preet Bharara and Pramila Jayapal are few such names in the long list. The growing prominence of Indians in both business and politics abroad is  raising the profile of the country and will further encourage future trade links. Huge number of participants have registered this year to participate in the convention where 30 eminent diaspora members will be honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards.
Fifteen winners of the Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz will also be announced in the convention who would be later invited for a pan-India tour after the Covid-19 pandemic.