INDIA ABSTAINS ON UN RESOLUTION "DEPLORING RUSSIA'S AGGRESSION" IN UKRAINE

India on Wednesday abstained on a UN General Assembly resolution that strongly deplored Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the third abstention in less than a week by the country in the world body on resolutions on the escalating crisis between Moscow and Kyiv.

The resolution was adopted with 141 votes in favour, five Member States (Russia, Belarus, Syria, Eritrea and N Korea) voting against and 35 abstentions. The General Assembly broke into an applause as the resolution was adopted.

The resolution required a 2/3 majority to be adopted in the General Assembly.

The resolution also condemned Russia's decision to increase the readiness of its nuclear forces and deplores the involvement of Belarus in this "unlawful use" of force against Ukraine, and calls upon it to abide by its international obligations.

The resolution urges the immediate peaceful resolution of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine through political dialogue, negotiations, mediation and other peaceful means.

The UNGA resolution demanded that Russia immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine and refrain from any further unlawful threat or use of force against any UN member state. The resolution, condemning the February 24 declaration by Russia of a "special military operation" in Ukraine, demanded that Moscow "immediately, completely, and unconditionally" withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders."

MODI, PUTIN TALK: RUSSIA SAYS KYIV HOLDS STUDENTS HOSTAGE, WILL WORK ON WAY OUT

Hours after its envoy to New Delhi said the Russians were working on a “humanitarian corridor” for the safe passage of stranded Indians via the Russia-Ukraine border, the Kremlin claimed Wednesday night that Indian students in Kharkiv had been “taken hostage” by Ukrainian security forces who were using them as “a human shield”.

This was announced by the Russians in their readout of the phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin. However, there was no mention of this in the Indian statement. The Prime Minister’s Office said, “The leaders reviewed the situation in Ukraine, especially in the city of Kharkiv where many Indian students are stuck. They discussed the safe evacuation of the Indian nationals from the conflict areas.”

According to the Kremlin statement, “Putin stressed that all the necessary instructions had been given and that the Russian military was doing everything possible to ensure the safe removal of Indian citizens from the war zone and their return to their homeland”. “The Russian side, in particular, is trying to organise an urgent evacuation of a group of Indian students from Kharkov (the Russian name of Kharkiv) through the humanitarian corridor along the shortest route to Russia,” it said.

The MEA said yesterday that 17,000 Indians had left Ukraine since government’s advisories were issued and that efforts were still ongoing to reach the more difficult-to-access eastern cities.

The comments by MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came hours after the Indian embassy in Ukraine asked all Indians in Kharkiv to leave the city immediately for three safe zones.

Bagchi said 15 flights are scheduled over the next 24 hours and some of them are already operating.

Separately, he said an Indian national, identified as Chandan Jindal, died in Ukraine due to natural causes. He was in the hospital for the last few days.

GOVT MAY SOON ALLOW RUPEE-RUBLE TRADE

The government may soon give the green light to bilateral trade between Russia and India in their national currencies to avoid any trade disruptions.

“The finance ministry will take a call on how to peg the two currencies,” a senior government said.

In the past, the two nations have had rupee-rouble trade, and when such an arrangement is implemented again, it will bypass the sanctions imposed on Russia by the West. “The mechanism is likely to be devised and implemented soon. The government is holding consultations with the RBI,” said an official.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST / March 3

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Wednesday 6,561

Active Cases 77,152 (-8,528)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 5,14,388 (98)

Total Vaccination: 178.02 Crores (+21,83,976)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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UKRAINE: FIRST KEY SOUTHERN CITY FALLS

Russian forces on Wednesday seized the first major Ukrainian city in their onslaught, the strategic southern port of Kherson, as they stepped up bombardment of civilian targets across the country, laid siege to other cities — including Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city — and pushed to encircle and cut off the capital, Kyiv. A huge convoy of Russian military vehicles continued to stand ominously to the capital’s north.

Russian artillery and rocket fire have cut off essentials like electricity, medicine, water and heat to many Ukrainian communities, and turned a growing number of offices, homes, businesses and vehicles to crumpled, burning hulks. Counts of civilian deaths are rising, and around the country, people are sheltering in basements and tunnels as explosions shake the ground above them. In Kyiv alone, some 15,000 people are sleeping in the subways.

The United Nations said that 227 civilians in Ukraine were killed and 525 were injured between Feb. 24, when the invasion began, and March 1, but has noted that its numbers are likely undercounts. Shelling from heavy artillery, multi-launch rocket systems and airstrikes were responsible for most of the casualties, according to the U.N. Human Rights Office, which is leading the U.N.’s count.

The week-old Russian invasion appeared to be making its biggest gains in the south, with the capture of Kherson potentially clearing the way for a bid to seize Ukraine’s entire Black Sea coast, which would cut off the country from world shipping. Russian forces surrounded another key port city, Mariupol, whose fall would enable two flanks of Russian and Russian-backed fighters to trap Ukraine’s forces in the southeast.

Meanwhile, a planned second round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials did not take place on Wednesday amid a disagreement over the location.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on Wednesday that the United States was “keeping the door open to a diplomatic way forward” with Russia, but that officials remained skeptical.

The United States delayed the test launch of an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile in an effort to avoid escalating the tensions.

More than one million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began last week, Filippo Grandi, the head of the UN refugee agency, said on Thursday.

STATE OF UNION ADDRESS: BIDEN HURLS STRONG WORDS AT PUTIN, RUSSIA

President Vladimir Putin has badly misjudged the resolve of America and its European allies and he will pay for it, US President Joe Biden said in his State of the Union address Tuesday evening, as he pledged to punish the Russian “dictator”, those around him, and Russia itself for his “premeditated and unprovoked” attack on Ukraine.

“Six days ago, Russia’s Vladimir Putin sought to shake the very foundations of the free world, thinking he could make it bend to his menacing ways. But he badly miscalculated. He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over. Instead, he met with a wall of strength. . . He met the Ukrainian people,” Biden said in his speech, which came under a nuclear war overhang that has replaced the pandemic cloud.

Ukraine leapt front and centre in the US president’s annual report card, with him spending the first ten minutes of his speech on the country. The Ukrainian ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, who was a guest of first lady Jill Biden in the VIP box, was the cynosure of all eyes as Biden introduced her to applause from lawmakers, some of whom waved small Ukrainian flags.

Biden then went on to outline a series of punitive steps, including closure of US airspace to Russia and other economic measures to inflict pain on the country, while warning the US and its allies would continue to sap Russia’s economic strength and weaken its military. “Putin is now isolated from the world more than he has ever been,” Biden said, later throwing in a line that was not in the prepared text — “Putin has no idea what’s coming”. Biden said the US would specifically target “Russian oligarchs and corrupt leaders who have bilked billions of dollars”, revealing that the US department of justice is assembling a dedicated task force — ‘KleptoCapture’ — to go after the crimes of Russian oligarchs.

Biden rounded off his hour-long address with the familiar rousing assertion of American values. “We built the strongest, freest and most prosperous nation the world has ever known”, before pledging, “Now is the hour. Our moment of responsibility. We will save democracy. ”

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UN ENVIRONMENT MEET: 175 NATIONS SIGN MANDATE TO CURB USE OF PLASTIC

One hundred and seventy-five countries, parties to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), on Wednesday signed a mandate which makes it legally binding for the signatories to address the full life of plastics — from production to disposal, to end plastic pollution.

An International Negotiating Committee (INC) will now be tasked with drafting and ratifying over the mandate over next two years.

A Global Plastics Treaty adhering to the blueprint laid out in Wednesday’s mandate will join the Montreal Protocol and the Paris Climate Agreement as one of the most significant international environmental laws in world history.

“Historic step at UNEA 5.2. 175 nations endorse a resolution to beat plastic pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024. Under leadership of our PM Narendra Modiji, India has already taken resolute steps to address plastic pollution,’’ Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who is leading the Indian delegation at the UN Summit in Nairobi, tweeted.

According to the mandate, the treaty will tackle the whole life cycle of plastic — not just post-consumer waste. This is a critical shift in international policymakers’ approach to the crisis, which previously focused on plastic as a “marine litter” issue.

CENTRE CHANGES RULES FOR DEPUTATION OF DIGs

After its proposal to amend the All India Service Rules that would allow it to call any IAS, IPS or IFoS officer on central deputation with or without the state’s consent, the Centre has issued another order on central deputation of Deputy Inspector General-level IPS officers that may not be palatable to the states.

In an order issued on February 10, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has said that IPS officers coming to the Centre at DIG level would no longer be required to be empanelled at that level with the Union Government.

Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the move is aimed at increasing the pool of DIG-level IPS officers for central deputation in the backdrop of massive vacancies in central police organisations (CPOs) and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

Most states, including some ruled by the NDA, have opposed the move.

There is a serious paucity of officers in the states too. In a cost-cutting move during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime, the size of IPS batches among other government staff was reduced even though sizeable vacancies existed even then. From 80-90 officers each, IPS batches were cut to 35-40 officers (in 1999-2002, the average was 36). The average attrition rate of IPS officers due to superannuation is 85 per year.

“While the number of districts in some states doubled in a decade or so, the availability of officers was one third,” a former MHA official said.

In 2009, against a sanctioned strength of over 4,000 IPS officers, there were more than 1,600 vacancies. During the Manmohan Singh regime, the government began intake of IPS batches as large as 150. The government has continued to increase the size of batches with the 2020 Civil Services Exams taking in 200 IPS officers. According to the MHA, as on January 1, 2020, there were 908 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 4,982.

FUEL PRICES POISED TO FLARE UP AS OIL HITS 8-YEAR HIGH OF $113

The political expediency of keeping fuel prices under check will end with the polls. With the dollar also apprecia- ting to Rs 75. 71, the gap between the cost and retail prices of petrol and diesel is too wide for the freeze to continue, without hurting bottomlines of retailers.

Even though Russia has said it will not weaponise energy flow to Europe and elsewhere, the US sanctions and Moscow’s removal from SWIFT, the global inter-bank messaging system for transactions, is creating hurdles for shipping and insurance.

This is forcing many consumers to look at West Asia for alternative supplies. This is where the crunch could lie as the Opec+ grouping, including Russia but dominated by West Asian producers, does not have much spare capacity. At Wednesday’s ministerial meeting, the grouping decided to carry on with raising monthly production by 400,000 barrels/day as planned.

The price spike is not due to any change in market fundamentals but due to the “geopolitical situation”, the grouping said after its meeting. No wonder, US president Joe Biden’s announcement of releasing 30 million barrels failed to douse the oil market.

INDIAN FARMERS CAN NOW TRADE IN CARBON CREDITS TO BOOST INCOME

Days after the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) about disastrous consequences of environmental factors on Indian agriculture, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) will join hands with a private firm -- for the first time -- to build a marketplace for trading in carbon credits for farmers in the country.

“GrowIndigo India Ltd”, which is a collaborative effort between leading agriculture firm Mahyco and Indigo Ag, is executing a project with the IARI and International Wheat and Maize Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) to develop a first-of-its-kind marketplace for carbon trading for Indian farmers.

Farmers can claim carbon credits for a host of regenerative agricultural practices such as not burning paddy straw, conservation agriculture such as not ploughing land, and laser levelling of land.

For each such practice undertaken, some credits that can be monitored will be generated. They will then be valued in accordance with standard international practices.

Companies that want to lower their carbon footprint, such as fertiliser manufacturers or airlines, but are finding it difficult to do so because of the nature of their business, can step in by directly purchasing credits from farmers, using the platform and its high-end technology.

It is a win-win situation for both farmer and company in multiple ways. First, farmers are paid for adopting healthy agricultural practices that reduce carbon emission. They also benefit the soil, environment, and also their own surroundings while at the same time companies meet their targeted emission norms.

HC REFUSES TO QUASH CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST WHATSAPP GROUP ADMIN

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking quashing of criminal proceedings against the admin of a WhatsApp group in which a morphed picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was allegedly posted.

The petitioner’s contention was that the message was not sent by him and he was only the group ‘admin’.

The Uttar Pradesh government counsel opposed the petition and said that liability of the sender of the message and that of the ‘group admin’ is co-extensive and it cannot be said no offence under Section 66 (computer related offences) of the IT Act was made out against the petitioner.

The court, while dismissing the petition, observed, “From the perusal of the record it appears that the applicant was a ‘group admin’ and he is also a co-extensive member of the group. In view of the above, I do not find any cogent reason to interfere.”

FOR A PRICE, BRANDS SET TO GET SPACE IN RAILWAY STATION NAMES

Like Delhi Metro, Indian Railways will also allow names of commercial brands to be added to names of its stations, for a fee. However, it will not name the brands in its announcements, and names of individuals cannot be added to station names.

In a new policy for earning non-fare revenue, the national transporter has decided that government arms and “reputed business houses” will be allowed to prefix or suffix their brand name or logo to the name of a railway station at all the displays in station premises.

The co-branding exercise, however, comes with certain dos and don’ts.

For instance, the font or style of the brand name joined with the name of the station, say, “New Delhi, should be smaller” than the station name and also the Indian Railway logo. Moreover, co-branding will not be permitted on railway tickets, websites, route maps, in announcements through the public address systems, the policy says.

In other words, while the station will share its name with a brand, Railways will not utter the brand name in its public address systems or even on its websites.

Zonal railways have been given the freedom to bid out its station names either individually or in clusters for a three-year contract. One advantage the co-branding company will get is that it will get prominent space in station circulating areas to display its advertisements, as part of the deal.

Heritage station names have been kept out of purview of this policy.

INDICATORS

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Pak Re 177.09 /US$, Phil Peso 51.44 /US$, Russian Rouble 107.23 /US$, NZ$ 1.47 /US$, Thai Baht 32.57 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 29.77 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 43,817

Dollar Index 97.48 Brent Crude 116.13 BDI 2,137

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,927 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 5,204 / 4,770, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 71,900

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Life is like a blanket too short. You pull it up and your toes rebel, you yank it down and shivers meander about your shoulder; but cheerful folks manage to draw their knees up and pass a very comfortable night. - Anonymous

OFF TRACK

There was a man who needed millions of dollars to clinch an important deal went to church to pray for the money. By chance he knelt next to a man who was praying for $100 to pay an urgent debt.

The businessman took out his wallet and pressed $100 into the other man's hand. Overjoyed, the man got up and left the church.

The businessman then closed his eyes and prayed, "And now, Lord, that I have your undivided attention..."