India urges Russia and Ukraine to arrange ceasefire to evacuate students
March 4, 2022, 3:28 pm

India urges Russia and Ukraine to arrange ceasefire to evacuate students

Flag of India-national flag/Pixabay

The Statesman reported, India appealed to the two warring nations, Russia and Ukraine, to arrange a ”local ceasefire” so that it could evacuate its citizens after rejecting President Vladimir Putin’s claim that Indian students were being held hostage by Ukrainian authorities.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters: “We urge parties concerned to have a local ceasefire so that we can get our citizens back. Our primary focus remains on getting them (Indian citizens) back safe and sound.”

On Putin’s claim, he said; “We have already issued a statement yesterday…we haven’t heard of any Indian being held hostage.”

The spokesperson confirmed reports that an Indian student Harjot Singh was shot multiple times while trying to escape from Ukraine capital Kiev. He added: “Our embassy officials are trying to reach him. The government will bear his medical expenses."

Ukrainian citizens try to prevent Russian tanks from entering the city (File photo: Euromaidan Press)

Regarding “Operation Ganga” to bring back stranded Indians from Ukraine, the spokesperson said a total of 18 more flights brought back 4000 Indians from the embattled country in 18 flights. So far, 48 flights have brought back about 10400 Indians from that country since the Russian invasion, he added.

The spokesperson said 16 more flights, including four of the IAF, were scheduled to bring back Indians from the countries neighbouring Ukraine. “With this, a vast majority of Indians who have crossed over from Ukraine would have been brought back home,” he added.

Muslim Council of Britain calls for EU to treat refugees with mercy regardless of color, creed

The spokesperson said some 700 Indians were still in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, which has witnessed heavy shelling by Russian forces over the past few days.

On India’s humanitarian assistance to war-hit Ukraine, he said three tranches were being sent today.

Source: thestatesman

Muslim Council of Britain calls for EU to treat refugees with mercy regardless of color, creed Thai man sentenced to 2 years in jail for putting sticker on king's portrait during 2020 protest

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”