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7, మార్చి 2022, సోమవారం

8pm NEWSFEED

UP Polls: Jaunpur’s Madhopatti boasts of producing 51 civil servants

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 09:24 AM PST

Jaunpur (Uttar Pradesh): Jaunpur, a well-known district in eastern Uttar Pradesh is not just famous for ‘imarti’ and perfume, but also famous for producing maximum civil servants.


Gaddipur (Madhopatti) village in Jaunpur district, which consists of 75 households, also has an astounding 51 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or Provincial Civil Service (PCS) cadre officers.

Along with civil servants, this village has also produced professionals who are working in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Judiciary and various other prestigious government posts.


Interestingly, along with men, many women of this village are also IAS officers.
Education has always played a crucial role in this district, however, it all started with someone who never believed in gender inequality and asked his wife to come forward and teach the students.


Sumitra Singh (80), who was a librarian with Indian Embassy during her professional career, said, “My husband’s family was very educated since the beginning. Back in 1917, my father-in-law, Thakur Bhagwati Din Singh was an LLB and a freedom fighter.

He used to emphasise on women’s education. My mother-in-law Shyamrati Singh started teaching girls and then the boys also joined her. For 22 years without taking any fees she taught the village children.”


Shyamrati Singh was popularly known as “Guruji”. Till date, this family has given six IAS officers.


Indu Prakash Singh the former diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) belonged to Shyamrati Singh’s family in Gaddipur (Madhopatti).


Sumitra Singh now dreams of the “overall development” of this village and of their primary school named after her mother-in-law ‘Srimati Shyamrati Singh Prathmik Vidyalaya’ as the school does not have boundaries and proper toilet facilities.


Rajmurti Singh’s family, also from Madhopatti boasts of 14 IAS officers till date.
Jaunpur has two primary schools, one private English medium school and one inter-college -Sriramniranjan Inter College.


According to local residents, the pioneer of civil services from Madhopatti was Khan Bahadur Syed Mohammad Mustafa (father of poet Wamiq Jaunpuri) who was inducted into the administration (then under British govt) in 1914.


Jaunpur district is also famously known for its history and education.


Besides producing so many administrative officers and scholars, Jaunpur in the past held an important centre for Arabic and Persian.


Historically, it is said that Sher Shah Suri was educated here and Sufism too sprouted here.


Jaunpur district will go for polls tomorrow in the final phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly election. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. 

UP Polls: Varanasi, Azamgarh, Mirzapur and 6 other districts go to polls tomorrow

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 09:19 AM PST

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): As the seventh phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections is slated to take place on Monday, the major districts which are likely to face a fierce competition between Bharatiya Janata Party and Samajwadi Party include Azamgarh, Varanasi, and Mirzapur divisions.


As many as 613 candidates are in the fray for 54 constituencies spread across nine districts of Mau, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, and Bhadohi (Sant Ravidas Nagar). BJP is hoping to retain its dominance in the state while the SP not only aspires to hold Azamgarh but also trying to defeat the ruling party by putting its focus on wooing young voters on the issue of employment.


Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency will be at stake tomorrow as he is the single biggest influencer in the country since the 2014 elections. It comprises Pindra, Ajagara, Shivpur, Rohaniya, Varanasi North, Varanasi South, Varanasi Cantt, and Sevapuri Assembly seats.


There are a total of 8 seats in Varanasi, out of which the BJP holds a strong position on 6 out of them. However, this does not seem to be the case with the remaining two seats. One is Varanasi South on which BJP’s Culture Minister Neelkanth Tiwari is contesting against Samajwadi Party’s Kishan Dixit, head priest of Mrityunjay Mahadev. Another is Varanasi Cantt where the BJP has fielded Saurabh Srivastava opposite SP’s Pooja Yadav.


PM Modi even camped in Varanasi for two days and interacted with shopkeepers there. On the same day, he also had a brief stopover at a tea stall in Varanasi after holding a roadshow that attracted a huge crowd. He also tried his hand at ‘damru (drum)’ at Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, where he also offered prayers.
In the run-up to the elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav also addressed rallies in the BJP’s strong turf in Varanasi.

In Shivpur, another minister and the BJP candidate Anil Rajbhar is contesting the polls against SP’s Arvind Rajbhar. Arvind is the son of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Omprakash Rajbhar. The seat has a sizable caste population belonging to Brahmin, Vaishya, Kshatriya, Rajbhar, Patel, Maurya, Yadav, Scheduled Caste, among others.


From the Sevapuri Assembly constituency, Nilratna Patel and Surendra Patel are giving neck-to-neck fights to each other. Neelratna Patel is contesting from the BJP and Surendra Patel is the SP nominee. Surendra Patel has a stronghold over the region. However, Neelratna Patel had won the 2017 polls.


Samajwadi Party and the BJP seem to be engaged in a neck-to-neck contest on most of the seats in the district but in the Pindra constituency, Congress’ Ajay Rai is giving a tough fight.


The BJP has fielded Awadhesh Singh from the Pindra seat.


The seventh and final phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections 2022 would see polling in Azamgarh, which has been a traditional stronghold of Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP).


Azamgarh comprises 10 Vidhan Sabha (legislative assembly) segments. These are Gopalpur, Sagri, Mubarakpur, Azamgarh, Mehnagar, Atrauliya, Nizamabad, Phoolpur Pawai, Didarganj, and Lalganj.


Former minister Dara Singh Chauhan, who had joined Samajwadi Party after leaving BJP, is in the fray from the Ghosi seat of the Mau district. On Mau Sadar’s seat, don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s son Abbas Ansari is contesting on the SP ticket. In Shahganj in the Jaunpur district, the Samajwadi Party has fielded sitting MLA Shailendra Yadav Lalai.


Alka Rai, the sitting legislator and wife of the former BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai, is in the fray from Mohammadabad seat of Ghazipur district. Former BJP MP Krishna Pratap Singh is contesting on the Malhni seat of Jaunpur. Lucky Yadav is a Samajwadi Party candidate from the seat.


A total of 613 candidates are in the electoral fray for the last phase of Uttar Pradesh. The voting will begin at 7:00 am and will conclude at 6:00 pm tomorrow.
The month-long campaigning for the seven-phase state polls came to an on the evening of March 5.


The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

Bomb Blast at mosque leaves 3 dead, 20 injured in Afghanistan

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 09:13 AM PST

Paktia [Afghanistan]: A bomb explosion at the gate of a mosque in Dand Aw Patan district in southeastern Paktia province in Afghanistan killed three worshipers and wounded 20 more, said Local officials of the province.


Hundreds of people were coming out of the mosque finishing the Friday prayers when the blast took place leading to these casualties.

In the aftermath of the blast, those who were wounded were taken to the local hospitals in Samkani district and to the provincial hospital in the capital Gardiz. Moreover, among the injured, those who were in serious condition were sent to Kabul.

No one has claimed responsibility for the blast and the motive behind is also not unveiled, reported Khaama Press.


Head of information and culture directorate Khaliqyar Ahmadzai told reporters that they have started investigations about the explosion.


Following the Taliban takeover in August last year, it is the first bomb blast in the southeastern Paktia province. 

US has ‘very credible’ reports of war crimes in Ukraine, possibility of banning Russian oil imports: Blinken

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 09:07 AM PST

Washington [US]: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on Sunday (local time) said that US has “very credible” reports of war crimes in Ukraine adding that US along with its EU allies is looking into the possibility of banning Russian oil imports and put pressure on Russia.


Blinken, in an interview with CNN said, “We’ve seen very credible reports of deliberate attacks on civilians, which would constitute a war crime. We’ve seen very credible reports about the use of certain weapons.”

“And what we’re doing right now is documenting all this, putting it all together, looking at it and making sure that as people and the appropriate organisations and institutions investigate whether war crimes have been or are being committed, that we can support whatever they’re doing. So right now, we’re looking at these reports. They’re very credible and we’re documents everything,” the secretary said.


On the possibility of Russian oil imports ban, Blinken told CNN’s Jake Tapper, “When it comes to oil, Russian oil, I was on the phone yesterday with the President and other members of the Cabinet on exactly the subject, and we are now talking to our European partners and allies to look in a coordinated way at the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil while making sure that there is still an appropriate supply of oil in world markets.”


Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognised Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities following which the western countries imposed a host of sanctions. 

Anti-national activities’ in many private madrassas in Assam; state BJP

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 09:02 AM PST

Guwahati (Assam): The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday alleged that “anti-national activities” are going on in many of the private madrassas in the state and urged the administration to “keep a close watch if education is imparted in those private madrassas on the lines of government madrassas”.


BJP spokespersons Ranjib Kumar Sharma and Mominul Awal made the allegations during a press conference here. The spokespersons further said that an Islamic terror outfit ‘Al-Qaida in Indian Subcontinent’ (AQIS) has sprung up in the Madrassas situated in char-chapori(riverine) areas in the form of sleeper cells covering a wide network and the process has caught pace in the past couple of years.


Spokespersons, referring to the arrest of five youths from Barpeta district’s Chakaliyapara Madrassa by Assam Police recently, said, “this has exposed the wide network of the extremist outfit in the majority of the madrassas in the char- chapori areas of the state.”


“In many of the private madrassas anti-national activities are going in recent times and they urged the administration to keep a close watch whether education is being imparted on those private madrassas on the lines of government madrassas. It is very shocking that in these private madrassas of the state, the majority of the students are not aware of Mahapurush Sankardeva, Madhabdeva and Lachit Borphukan,” they added.


Hitting out at Opposition Congress, All India United Democratic Front and AMSU, they said that they have been appeasing the minorities and never raised a voice against the “militant network”.


“These political parties who have been appeasing the minorities have never raised any voice or taken any initiative against the widespread militant network in the riverine areas,” they said.


The party spokesmen alleged that Congress, AIUDF and AMSU have always been working in tandem with “Islamic extremist organisations”.


Spokesperson Ranjib Kumar Sharma further said the way Hakkani Network is at work to spread Islamic extremism across the globe.


“AQIS is also working steadfastly using the madrassa to set up sleeper cells in Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and other states along with Myanmar and Nepal. The incident that took at Barpeta’s Chakaliyapara madrassa is a classic example of this,” Sharma said.


Sharma further said that the dreaded ‘AQIS ‘ is directly associated with ISIS and Al-Qaida. 

Let medical students returning from Ukraine, complete studies here; Petition in SC

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 08:58 AM PST

New Delhi [India]: A petition has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking to accommodate the medical students returning from Ukraine and permit them to complete their education in Indian medical college with appropriate Indian or foreign degree as an emergency and one-time measure.


The petition was filed by Parthvi Ahuja and Prapti Singh through advocate Anoop Prakash Awasthi. “Accommodate the medical students returning from Ukraine and permit them to complete their education in Indian medical college with appropriate Indian or foreign degree as an emergency and one-time measure,” the petitioner urged.


The petitioner also urged that “in the alternative, coordinate with the Ukraine government and appropriate authorities in Ukraine and declare some central and/or state government/private medical colleges/some seats in the said colleges as overseas campuses of Ukrainian institutes for the purpose of continuation of studies as one-time emergency measure till normalcy prevails in Ukraine and the students may be taken back there for studies.”


The petitioner said that his Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlights the plight of Indian Students compelled to discontinue their studies in the various courses including Medical Courses in various institutes of war-affected Ukraine.


The petitioner also said that the petition is filed by the petitioners to enforce fundamental rights, particularly the Right to Life (Article 21) which should mean and include the right to access and continuance to medical education in India by students of India who are forced to leave their medical education abroad due to present scenario in that country. 

Premier League: Bukayo Saka shines as Arsenal defeat Watford 3-2

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 08:55 AM PST

Arsenal turned on the style as they beat Watford 3-2 at Vicarage Road in the Premier League on Sunday.

Watford’s Emmanuel Dennis had a goal ruled out for offside after only 16 seconds before the Gunners took a fifth-minute lead through Martin Odegaard, who rolled a Bukayo Saka cut-back into the bottom left corner.

The home side responded quickly as Cucho Hernandez met a Kiko Femenia cross with a fine overhead kick in the 11th minute.

Saka then got on the scoresheet on the half hour, firing into the roof of the net after a one-two with Alexandre Lacazette. Lacazette was again involved as Gabriel Martinelli made the score 3-1, setting up the Brazilian to finish from the edge of the penalty area in the 52nd minute.

Moussa Sissoko’s control and finish three minutes from time set up a nervy finish but Arsenal were able to see out a fourth straight victory.

That takes their points tally to 48, one more than fifth-placed Manchester United, who play Manchester City later on Sunday afternoon. Watford remain 19th, three points from safety.

BJP instigating Anganwadi workers; will take action against those who don’t return to duty: Delhi Minister

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 08:53 AM PST

New Delhi [India]: Delhi Cabinet Minister for Social Welfare Rajendra Pal Gautam on Sunday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party is behind the “continued strike” of the Anganwadi workers and helpers despite their demand for a hike in honorarium being fulfilled by the state government, and said that strict action would be taken against them who do not return to work.


Notably, the Anganwadi workers and helpers have been protesting against the Delhi as well as the Central government under the banner of Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union since January 31, demanding the honorarium of the Anganwadi workers to be hiked to Rs 25,000 and helpers to Rs 20,000.

Besides this demand, they had also demanded an increase in the honorarium along with arrears. Giving Anganwadi workers the status of government employees was one of their demands.

Speaking on the matterI, Gautam said, “Protest is also happening at the gate of our Women and Child Development Department office of ISBT. Our secretary has complained to the police in the matter that the work is being obstructed.

We have given them show-cause notice. Yesterday, some have also been terminated, further action will be taken against those who do not come on duty.”


The Delhi Cabinet Minister said that the government has increased their honorarium twice since 2017.


“Considering the demand of Anganwadi workers and helpers sitting on protest, we have increased their honorarium. Since this is a centrally sponsored scheme, an honorarium of Rs 4,550 for Anganwadi workers and Rs 2,250 for helpers has been fixed by the central government. Out of this, 60 per cent has to be given by the Centre and the remaining 40 per cent by the state government.

But in 2017, we had increased the honorarium on our own and we have done it again,” he said.
Giving a comparative study of the hike in the honorarium from the Centre and state government’s part, Gautam said that the Delhi government has increased it to Rs 12,720, of which the Centre has contributed Rs 2,700.


“Now the honorarium of Anganwadi workers in Delhi has increased to Rs 12,720. In this, the central government is giving only Rs 2,700, while the Delhi government is giving Rs 10,020. At the same time, we have increased the honorarium of the helpers to Rs 6,810, of which the central government is giving only Rs 910 and we are giving Rs 5,900,” he said.


The Cabinet Minister further alleged that the protest is politically motivated as it is continuing even after the announcement of a hike in honorarium.


“Despite this announcement of the honorarium hike and its implementation by the cabinet, the continuation of the strike shows that it is politically motivated. In view of MCD elections, political parties are shooting off the shoulders of Anganwadi workers.

BJP knows that it’s 15 years of rule in MCD is being rejected by the public, so this protest is being done. We have also received a letter from the Central Women’s Commission that arrangements for cleanliness and water should be made at the protest site, whereas they should have written a letter to the Central Government,” he said.


Alleging that the workers want to return to work, the Cabinet Minister said that the workers have written to the department about the same that the leader of the union is not letting them restart the work.


“The Anganwadi workers and helpers involved in the protest want to return to work, but there are some goonda elements among them, who are stopping them. Many workers have written a letter to the department that our honorarium has been increased, now we want to work, but the leader of this union, Shivani Kaul and some of her colleagues are not letting us work,” Gautam said

Tripura’s old central jail to be transformed into library after Bangladesh’s father of nation-Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 08:47 AM PST

Agartala (Tripura): The Tripura government has decided to dedicate the old Central Jail compound into a library named after neighbouring Bangladesh’s father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman.


According to historians, Bangabandhu spent a night in the old central jail complex during the Bangladesh liberation war and this is why the state government is keen to dedicate the place in his memory.

Tripura Government sources said, “Initially it was planned that the old building will be converted into an English Medium College in PPP model. The project was almost in the final stage but due to some problems, it could not work out. Thus, the new plan of converting the historic building into a library came up in the discussions”.


“Most probably, Sheik Mujibur Rahman entered Indian territory through Khowai borders (now a district) and straight arrived at the capital city–Agartala. He was then accommodated at the official residence of Nani Gopal Kar Bhowmik, the then Jail Superintendent of the old central jail,” said Sekhar Datta, historian and scholar.


Bangabandhu spent the whole night in Kar Bhowmik’s residence and met the then Tripura Chief Minister Sachindra Lal Singh. No official records of the meetings were kept considering the situation prevailing at that point of time.


Tripura’s significance in Bangladesh’s liberation has been recognized by the Bangladesh government time and again and this new initiative will certainly add a new feather to the bilateral ties, at a time when Tripura is trying hard to make progress in the field of trade and commerce using Bangladesh as a route to South-East Asian market.


A botanical garden may also be built alongside the library considering the demands of Mukta Mancha–a platform of intellectuals and civil society members.


Arif Mohammad, Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner, on the other hand, told ANI that the state government is also identifying the places with historical importance related to the Bangladesh liberation war.


“A good number of bunkers, graveyards and other places of significance pertaining to the Bangladesh liberation war still exists in Tripura. A process of identification of those places is underway,” Mohammad added.

Growing urban population is both an opportunity and a challenge: PM Modi

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 08:43 AM PST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that a growing urban population is both an opportunity and a challenge and listed a vision for the growing cities of the country where the government is committed to providing increasingly more green transport, electric buses, electric cars and electric two-wheelers.

The Prime Minister’s remarks came at the inauguration of the Pune Metro Rail Project and laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple developmental projects in Pune today. Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, Member of Parliament Prakash Javadekar were among those present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said, “The growing urban population is both an opportunity and a challenge. In order to cope with the growing population in our cities, development of mass transit system is the answer,” he said.

He listed a vision for the growing cities of the country where the government is committed to providing increasingly more green transport, electric buses, electric cars and electric two-wheelers.

“For smart mobility in every city, people use a single card for all transport facilities. There should be Integrated Command and Control Center in every city to make the facility smart. Every city should have a modern waste management system to strengthen the circular economy. There should be enough modern sewage treatment plants to make every city water plus, better arrangements should be made for the conservation of water sources,” the Prime Minister elaborated.

He also hoped that such cities will have Gobardhan and biogas plants to create wealth from waste. “Energy efficiency measures like the use of LED bulbs should be the hallmark of these cities. AMRUT mission and RERA laws are bringing new strengths in the urban landscape,” added PM Modi.

The Pune Metro Rail Project project is an endeavour to provide world-class infrastructure for urban mobility in Pune. The foundation stone of the project was also laid by the Prime Minister on December 24, 2016. The entire project is being built at a total cost of more than Rs 11,400 crore. The Prime Minister also inaugurated and inspected the Exhibition at Garware Metro Station and undertook a metro ride from there to Anandnagar Metro Station.

Kejriwal blames BJP for attack on Sisodia’s convoy, calls it ‘party of goons and hooligans’

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 08:41 AM PST

New Delhi [India]: Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of an alleged attack on the convoy of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday termed the BJP as “a party of goons and hooligans” and said that since the party is “losing MCD elections, it is showing its real face”.


“This is BJP, a party of goons and hooligans. When they are losing elections, they show their original face. The public will tell them their real place,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Earlier the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) shared a video on Twitter in which some people could be seen attacking a car from Sisodia’s convoy.


“BJP GOONS ATTACK DELHI MINISTER Satyendar Jain’s CONVOY! BJP is losing Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections, hence they are down to what they know best – VIOLENCE!,” AAP wrote the statement along with the video.


The elections for 272 wards in the North, South and East civic bodies are scheduled to take place this year. 

Afghanistan: 5 members of family beheaded in Herat province

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 08:37 AM PST

Five members of a family were beheaded by unknown assailants in Anjil district of Herat province on Friday night.

According to the Taliban provincial officials of Herat, the victims included a man, a woman, and three children, reported Khaama Press.

Health officials in the provincial hospitals said that the girls aged four, six, and eight the woman aged 20 while the slain man was an elderly one.

The motive behind the incident is not unveiled. In the meantime, two young girls in the Sholgara district of northern Balkh province have also been killed by unidentified gunmen, reported Khaama Press.

Telangana Home Minister supports KCR’s anti-BJP federal front

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 08:33 AM PST

Hyderabad (Telangana): Days after Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao arrived in Delhi to take forward his plan of an anti-BJP federal front, State Home Minister came out in support of Rao and said that this move will help in re-establishing secularism in the country.


In a conversation today, Telangana Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali said, “Our Chief Minister is capable of making federal front. There is a need to re-establish secularism in India. Wherever secularism ends, law and order situation get disturbed and the consequences can be disastrous for the country.”

“Here, people live with unity. That is the idea our Chief Minister wishes to promote in the country. He wants to spread ‘Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb’ across the country so that all the religions including Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam and Christianity prevail peacefully for the country to move ahead.”


Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had arrived in New Delhi on the night of February 28 in a continuation of his pursuit to cobble up a credible anti-BJP third or federal front.


Meanwhile, a three-day programme has been organised in the state to mark the International Women’s Day celebrations that will end on March 8.


Ali said today, “A lot of welfare schemes are present and in place for women in Telangana. In all aspects, women’s empowerment is given top priority. Women play a major role in the development of the country.”


Taking to Twitter today, Ali wrote, “Participated in the International Women’s Day celebrations organised at People’s Plaza in Necklace Road along with Minister Colleague Srinivas Yadav Garu, MLA Danam Nagender Garu, Mayor Vijayalaxmi Garu, Deputy Mayor Srilatha Garu and Other Dignitaries.”

BJP, MVA workers clash in Pune; police resort to lathi-charge

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 08:27 AM PST

Pune (Maharashtra): Pimpri Chinchwad police on Sunday carried out lathi-charge to disperse the crowd after a clash broke out between a group of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) workers during the inauguration of an event at Pimpri Chinchwad city in Maharashtra’s Pune district.


According to the police official, there was a chance of clashes between the two groups, so police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the gathering.

The incident happened just before the former Chief Minister and current Leader of the Opposition (LOP) of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis was to arrive for the inauguration of Atal Bihari Vajpayee garden. 

Police bust terror module in J&K; arrest 4 terrorists

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 08:22 AM PST

Awantipora (Jammu and Kashmir): Police busted a terror module of proscribed terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and arrested four terrorist associates, said Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday.


The arrested terrorists have been identified as Umar Farooq Dar a resident of Shahbad, Soraj Manzoor Malik a resident of Midoora, Irshad Ahmad Lone a resident of Midora and Afnan Javeed Khan a resident of Shahbad.

During preliminary investigation, it was revealed that these arrested terrorist associates were involved in providing shelter, logistic support and transportation of arms and ammunition to the terrorists Umais alias Usman and Abdul Rahman alias Jaat a foreign terrorist.


Meanwhile, today at about 1620 hrs, terrorists hurled a grenade at a civilian hotspot in the Amira Kadal area of Srinagar.


“In this terror incident, 23 civilians and one police personnel identified as John Mohammad received splinter injuries. All the injured were shifted to hospital for the treatment of their injuries however, one elderly civilian identified as Mohammad Aslam Makhdoomi son of Mohammad Amin resident of Makhdoom Sahib age about 60 years succumbed to his injuries,” said police.


It further said that senior police officers immediately reached the terror crime spot and the area has been cordoned off.


“Police is working hard for identification and arrest of involved terror criminal involved in today’s grenade attack and will smash this grenade throwing module at an earliest,” said Vijay Kumar Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir.


He also said that police have got some vital clues and the investigation is rigorously going on in the right direction.


Police have registered both the cases under relevant sections of law in respective police stations and investigations have been initiated.

Putin agrees to meet Ukraine & IAEA in a 3rd country

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 08:17 AM PST

Moscow [Russia]: Russian President Vladimir Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron over the phone on Sunday that he was not against a trilateral meeting among Russia, Ukraine and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a third country or via teleconference, but not in Chernobyl in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.


“Commenting on the proposal by the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency to hold a trilateral (IAEA-Russia-Ukraine) meeting in the Chernobyl zone to work out a mechanism for ensuring the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin said that this idea could be useful in general, but it would be worth considering holding such a meeting via teleconference or in a third country,” the statement read.

Putin also told his French counterpart that Kyiv does not comply with the agreements reached with Moscow on the evacuation of civilians from combat areas, the Kremlin said, reported Sputnik.


“They discussed the issue of evacuation of civilians from combat areas. Vladimir Putin drew [Macron’s] attention to the fact that Kyiv is still not implementing the negotiated agreements on such a pressing humanitarian issue,” the Kremlin said in a statement.


The recent clashes at the administrative buildings near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) could be a result of Ukraine storing documents on perspective developments of nuclear weapons there, a news report said citing Russian sources.


“Certain documentation was also available at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Clashes with Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in administrative buildings adjacent to the NPP were apparently related to this fact,” the source reportedly told Sputnik, adding that Ukrainian authorities have partially destroyed and evacuated the majority of documents on the issue from Kyiv and Kharkiv to Lviv.


The Russian source also accused Ukraine of trying to conceal nuclear weapons program, saying that the Ukrainian authorities used the Chernobyl NPP for making a “dirty bomb” and for the work on plutonium separation.


A “dirty bomb” is a type of “radiological dispersal device” that combines a conventional explosive, such as dynamite, with radioactive material according to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC).


“According to the available information, the work on both the dirty bomb production and the plutonium extraction were conducted there. The elevated radiation background in the Chernobyl zone concealed such work,” the source said.


He further accused Ukraine of destroying the evidence of its nuclear program saying, “In the realms of increasing tension in relations with Russia, the Ukrainian leadership decided to destroy all valuable documentation stored in the scientific centres in Kyiv and Kharkiv or evacuate it to Lviv Polytechnic National University.”


The development comes a couple of days after clashes erupted between Russian and Ukrainian troops near the Zaporizhzhia NPP facility, followed by a Russian shelling near the nuclear facility which resulted in a fire in a training facility adjacent to the reactors. The Russian troops eventually occupied the nuclear facility.


The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi in a press conference on Friday informed that the nuclear reactors in the facility were safe, and no radiation occurred.


“It is important to say that all the safety systems of the six reactors at the plant were not affected at all and that there has been no release of radioactive material … importantly, in this regard, is the radiation monitoring systems … are fully functional as well,” Grossi said.


Earlier, IAEA had put its Incident and Emergency Centre (IAEAIEC) in full 24X7 response mode due to the serious situation.


IAEA informed in a statement on Saturday that Ukraine has confirmed that two out of 6 reactors of Zaporizhhzhya NPP are working, and the radiation levels are normal.
“Ukraine’s nuclear regulator told the IAEA today it had been able to maintain communications with staff at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) where two out of six reactors were now operating, a day after Russian forces took control of the site in the country’s south-east,” the statement by IAEA Director-General read. 

Israeli PM Naftali Bennett discusses Ukraine-Russia situation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 08:09 AM PST

Berlin [Germany]: Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Germany, where both sides discussed several issues, including the situation between Ukraine and Russia.


Bennett first arrived in Moscow on Saturday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. After a stop in Moscow, he concluded his visit to Germany and headed back to Israel in the early hours of Sunday morning, reported The Times of Israel. Following his meeting with Putin, the Israeli PM also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky, after the talks, tweeted, “Prime Minister of Israel @naftalibennett called me after his meeting with Vladimir Putin. We continue the dialogue.”


Bennett’s spokeswoman, Anna Jonathan-Leus, told Sputnik on Sunday, Bennett has held a third phone conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky over the last 24 hours.
“Yes, he spoke. For the third time in 24 hours,” Jonathan-Leus said.


Earlier on Wednesday, Putin spoke to Bennett where both discussed the special military operation to “protect” Donbas. “Vladimir Putin discussed the special military operation to protect Donbas with Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett,” President of Russia had tweeted.


Israeli Prime Minister also offered his country’s intermediary services on Ukraine to Putin. “Naftali Bennett offered Israel’s intermediary services to suspend military actions,” the Kremlin said.


Putin said special military operations are being launched “to protect” the people in the Donbas region. Putin also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences”.


Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada and the European Union have condemned Russia’s military operations in the Donbas region.
Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognised Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities.

15 Opposition MPs will go ‘missing’ before no-confidence motion against Imran govt; Pak Defence Minister jibe

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 08:02 AM PST

Nowshera [Pakistan]: Amid calls of a no-confidence motion against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan by Opposition parties, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak on Saturday claimed that over 15 Opposition members would go “missing” on the day the no-confidence motion is presented before the National Assembly.


“Opposition will face ’embarrassment’. Seats on the Opposition benches would remain empty on the day of the motion,” said Khattak, addressing a rally in Nowshera, reported Geo News.

Speaking about the ongoing PPP’s “Awami March” and the upcoming Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) long march, he said that no matter how many meetings, processions, long marches the Opposition holds, “Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) doesn’t care,” reported Geo News.


Last month, the Opposition had announced that it would move a no-confidence motion against the incumbent PTI government.


Since the announcement, the Opposition has started contacting the allies of the PTI government and disgruntled members of the ruling party.


Three main Opposition leaders Asif Ali Zardari, Fazlur Rehman, and Shahbaz Sharif have also held multiple meetings to develop a strategy on the motion.


Talking to party members in the National Assembly on Saturday, Imran Khan reportedly said that the Opposition should go ahead with its plan of the no-confidence motion since all coalition partners are with him. He maintained that the government has done its homework.


Both the Government and the Opposition are confident of having the requisite numbers in the National Assembly in the run-up to the no-confidence motion, The News International said citing reports.

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation opens office in Kabul to coordinate humanitarian aid

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 07:57 AM PST

Kabul [Afghanistan]: The Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) opened its office in Kabul, tasked to coordinate OIC’s humanitarian efforts with Afghanistan and other international partners.


Muhammad Saeed Al-Ayash has been appointed as Director of OIC’s Afghanistan office, OIC said today on Twitter. The office was opened Friday, reported Tolo News. According to OIC, the office will follow up the implementation of the outcome of the organisation’s extraordinary ministerial meeting held in Pakistan last December.


“The OIC office in Kabul will coordinate the OIC’s humanitarian efforts with Afghanistan and international partners. It will be strengthened with human and material resources in conformity with the resolution adopted by the extraordinary ministerial conference on the situation in Afghanistan. This is to enable it fulfill its obligations to support the Afghan people in various fields,” it said.


At the OIC meeting on Afghanistan in Pakistan, a draft resolution was passed to establish a humanitarian trust fund to channel humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.


The member states agreed to “establish a Humanitarian Trust Fund, under the aegis of the Islamic Development Bank, to serve as a vehicle to channel humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan including in partnership with other international actors.”


At the meeting, OIC urged the Islamic Development Bank to operationalise the trust fund by the first quarter of 2022 to accelerate the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.


The Taliban seized control over Afghanistan in last August and since then Afghanistan is facing a looming economic meltdown and humanitarian catastrophe.

Another Afghan university professor who criticised Taliban goes missing

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 07:51 AM PST

Kabul [Afghanistan]: An Afghan university professor and political analyst, Sayed Baqir Mohsini who had criticised the Taliban has gone missing since Friday afternoon.


According to Mohsini’s family, he and a relative of his were on their way to participate in a TV program in the capital city of Kabul on Friday afternoon when they disappeared, reported Tolo News. His relatives said that they have contacted several security departments but have yet to get a response.


“His (Mohsini) phones have been switched off since yesterday afternoon. We have looked for him today too but didn’t find anything,” said Sayed Ahmad Hashimi, a relative of Mohsini, reported Tolo News.


Citizens on social media are claiming that Mohsini has been detained by the Taliban, but no official has yet to make any official comment in this regard.


Sayed Baqir Mohsini is a university professor and a political analyst who appeared in many TV programs and expressed criticism toward the Taliban’s policies.


“The Islamic Emirate should have patience and flexibility. I hope they don’t disturb him more than this and release him soon,” said Sayed Ishaq Gailani, leader of the National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan.


“Arbitrary detentions spread worries among the public… I don’t think these detentions will have positive consequences,” said Waheed Adalat Jow, head of Nuhzat-e-Bidari Islami Zanan Afghanistan. 

US in talks with Poland to send fighter jets to Ukraine: White House Spokesperson

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 07:46 AM PST

Washington [US]: The United States is in talks with Poland on a deal to provide fighter jets to Ukraine, a White House spokesperson confirmed.


The spokesperson also said that they are figuring out the logistics as to how the aircraft would be transferred from Poland to Ukraine. US is determining what “capabilities we could provide to backfill Poland if it decided to transfer planes to Ukraine,” added the spokesperson, reported CNN News. The spokesperson did not clear what ‘backfill’ options were under consideration and noted that sending fighter jets into Ukraine is a “sovereign decision for any country to make”.


Moreover, Two US lawmakers participated in a Zoom call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday said Zelensky indicated Poland had signalled it is prepared to send MiG fighter jets but “they are only waiting for you [the US] to allow it.”


US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday praised Warsaw for playing a “vital” role in the Ukraine crisis, by stating that the United States has deployed doubled the number of military personnel in Poland.


In a meeting with the Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, Blinken said expressed the United States’ admiration and appreciation for Poland’s solidarity and support for Ukraine.


“Poland is doing vital work to respond to this (Ukraine) crisis. It has done a great deal to facilitate security assistance to Ukraine. Since January 30, the US has more than doubled the number of military personnel deployed in Poland to now more than 10,000,” Blinken said.


Speaking about the humanitarian crisis, Poland Foreign Minister said: “Everything possible must be done to ensure evacuation. Russia’s aggression in Ukraine causes a humanitarian crisis of an unimaginable scale. Our priority is organising effective aid for millions of refugees. Poland has already received up to 700,000 refugees.”


Earlier Blinken met with Charles Michel, President of the European Council in Brussels as the two discussed their “support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Moreover, Blinken on Wednesday said the United States, in coordination with its allies and partners, is imposing additional economic costs on Russia and Belarus in response to military operations against Ukraine.


Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognised Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities.

Russian rockets destroy Vinnytsia airport -Zelensky

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 07:41 AM PST

Kyiv [Ukraine]: Eight rockets launched by Russia destroyed Vinnytsia airport located in Central Ukraine, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, reported The Kyiv Independent.


Zelensky called on the western nations and said, “The world has the power to close our skies for Russian rockets and aircraft.” He adds that Ukraine requires aircraft, to make Ukrainian skies safe.

Vinnytsia airport is located 7.5 kilometres east of the railway station of Vinnytsia and 1 kilometre southwest of the village of Gavryshivka. It is located in the centre of Ukraine and had convenient transportation for passengers and cargo both in Ukraine and abroad.


The aerodrome was founded in the early ’50s. For more than half a century it worked as an important transport system of Ukraine. Zelensky slammed NATO’s decision not to implement a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

“A NATO summit took place today. It was a weak summit, a confused summit, a summit that shows that not everyone considers the fight for freedom in Europe the number one goal,” Zelensky said in a video message, as quoted by Russia’s Sputnik.
Zelensky accused the members of the military alliance of giving Russia “the green light to start shelling Ukrainian cities and villages.”


He said that NATO countries have created a narrative that closing the skies over Ukraine would provoke Russia’s direct aggression against NATO. “This is the self-hypnosis of those who are weak, insecure inside, despite the fact they possess weapons many times stronger than we have,” the Ukrainian President was quoted as saying by CNN.


This reaction comes after NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday outrightly rejected to police a no-fly zone over Ukraine, and warned that such a move could provoke widespread war in Europe with Russia.


The remarks came during the extraordinary meeting of the NATO Foreign Ministers in Brussels on Friday.


Stoltenberg made clear that NATO would not impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine saying, allies have agreed NATO should not have planes operating over Ukraine.
Earlier in a video message, Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had called for NATO to act before it’s too late.


“If you don’t (help us), I am afraid you (NATO) will have to share responsibility for the lives and suffering of the Ukrainian civilians who die because of ruthless Russian pilots dropping bombs on them,” said Kuleba.


Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognised Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities.

Ukraine Crisis; Lviv covers all statues in city from possible attacks

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 07:35 AM PST

Lviv [Ukraine]: Amid escalating conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the Ukrainian city of Lviv has covered all its statues to protect its historical heritage against possible attacks.


Speaking on the matter a Ukrainian citizen Vlad said, “All the sculptures, statues have historical value and that’s why people want to protect them. Some sculptors are more than 100 years old. They have historical importance hence people are protecting them from the damage.”


“It’s better to protect them before something happens to them,” added Vlad.
When asked whether Ukraine is covering all the statues across the nation, Vlad said, “I don’t know about whole Ukraine, but definitely, Lviv is protecting them.”


All the statues in the city of Lviv have been covered so that if there is an attack then there will be no damage to the historical statues and heritage.


Four statues around Rynok square in Lviv were covered, including the “Statue of Neptune” considered as the protector of seas.

He also shared his experience regarding the escape from Kyiv. He said, “I came yesterday from Kyiv, I had to pass my family through the borders and then I came back to Kyiv. The situation in Kyiv is complicated, it’s a battlefield, fortunately, Kyiv is still protected.”


When asked about the shortage of gas supply and food supplies, Vlad said, ” They (Russians) are targeting civilian residential complexes and it’s pretty dangerous around Kyiv. Yes, there is a shortage of gas supply, but we are getting food supplies.”
Sharing his train journey from Kyiv to Lviv, Vlad said, “I came to Lviv by train and now it’s safe and pretty fast. You board the train in the evening in Kyiv and in the morning, you are in Lviv. Also, there is no rush for the trains.”

Ukrainian Red Cross coordinates with Indian World Forum to provide humanitarian aid to students in Sumy

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 07:27 AM PST

Sumy [Ukraine]: Ukrainian Red Cross in coordination with the Indian World Forum on Sunday provided humanitarian assistance to stranded students of all nationalities in Sumy city of Ukraine as the ongoing military operation by Russia in Ukraine entered the eleventh day on Sunday.


The students are being provided with water and essential supplies. Indian World Forum (IWF) President Puneet Singh Chandhok said Ihor Shapoval, Red Cross coordinator has visited the university campus in Sumy and interacted with students coordinators and liaised for their early evacuation subject to a green corridor.

IWF President also shared the images of the assistance being provided to the students on his Twitter handle.

Chandhok spoke with Maksym Dotsenko Director-General of RedCross Ukraine and Ihor Shapoval who are on the ground in Sumy and said, “They visited Indian Students there and coordinated with the university officials. Water is being provided now & efforts are being made by them for their early evacuation.” Moreover, he remarked that more aid will be provided as the situation eases.


More than 15,900 Indians have been brought back since the special flights under Operation Ganga began on February 22 to rescue the stranded Indian citizens in Ukraine.


To rescue Indian citizens, 2135 Indians have been brought back on Sunday by 11 special civilian flights from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries. The number of Indians airlifted by 66 special civilian flights goes up to 13852, said the Ministry of Civil Aviation.


To date, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has flown 10 sorties to bring back 2056 passengers, while taking 26 tonnes of relief load to these countries, as part of Operation Ganga,” it added.


Among the special Civilian flights today, 9 landed in New Delhi while 2 reached Mumbai. There were 6 flights from Budapest, 2 from Bucharest, 2 from Rzeszow, and 1 from Kosice.


On Monday, 8 special flights are expected to operate from Budapest (5), Suceava (2) and Bucharest (1), bringing in more than 1500 Indians back home.


The government has also deployed “special envoys” to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of the Indian nationals.


Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognised Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities. 

Last leg of Operation Ganga has begun; Hardeep Puri

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 07:18 AM PST

Budapest [Hungary]: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday said that close to 6,200 students have been evacuated from Ukraine till today including the 889 students who will be landing in India on Sunday. He further said that efforts are underway to evacuate Indian students from Sumy’s Ukraine and arrangements are being made.


Speaking on the matter, the Union Minister said, “I think after the 5 flights today the figure will be close to 6,200 but you can never be absolutely precise because some people who came to Hungary registered others we have to issue an advisory that last flight is going out.

Approximately 5,200 Indian nationals were returned home country yesterday. Today around 889 are returning to their home country. We are operating the last leg of Operation Ganga flights today.”


Puri said that when the evacuation process is on large scale, there are many anticipated and unanticipated challenges.


“When you carry out at evacuation process on such a large scale there will be challenges which you anticipate like those challenges many of our youngsters may have a valid document and many may not have. Some don’t have visas. So, we have to persuade Soviet countries to allow them in coming without visas because of the extraordinary circumstances. These days you can’t even enter a restaurant without a COVID certificate but insist on entering without a COVID certificate, all those were anticipated challenges but there are some unanticipated challenges things which crop up because of the nature of the mission.

For insane this mission is being carried out of a war zone and there were apprehensions that there would be an exaggeration of tensions, therefore, advisories were issued requesting people to move to safer places and some moved that’s why 6,000 are out and some stayed there,” he said.


The Indian Embassy on Sunday said that the last leg of ‘Operation Ganga’ has begun, asking the stranded students to reach the Hungarian City Center in Budapest.


Separately Indian Embassy in Kyiv also urged its nationals who are still in Ukraine to register themselves for the evacuation process under ‘Operation Ganga’.


Meanwhile, the MEA yesterday informed that almost all Indians have left Kharkiv city of Ukraine and the main focus of the government is to evacuate citizens from Sumy as it is challenging amid ongoing violence and lack of transportation.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent four special envoys to Ukraine’s neighbouring countries from where Indians are being evacuated.


Four cabinet ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiran Rijiju, General (Retd) VK Singh, and Hardeep Singh Puri have been on the job for the last many days. A former diplomat Hardeep Puri has been stationed in Hungary to coordinate their efforts to evacuate Indian students here.


Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognised Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk -as independent entities. Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia’s military operations in Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Moscow. 

1 killed, 25 injured in grenade attack near Amira Kadal bridge, Srinagar

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 05:59 AM PST

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) : The number of injured persons in a grenade attack that took place near Amira Kadal bridge of Srinagar, has increased to 25, informed Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday.


According to police, the 24 injured who are out of danger at present, includes 23 civilians and one police personnel. “In this terror attack, one old man has succumbed to injuries while one girl is in a critical situation. Other 24 injured including 23 civilians and one cop are out of danger. All civilians are required to be vigilant and report any suspected activity,” police added.


Following the incident, all the injured have been shifted to SMHS hospital in Srinagar for the treatment.


Meanwhile, the area has been cordoned off.


More details are awaiteded have been shifted to hospital: Police

Mariupol evacuation fails again; Russia, Ukraine blame each other

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 05:54 AM PST

Russia and Ukraine blamed each other today as attempts to form a humanitarian corridor out of Mariupol failed for the second time. The strategic city on the Azov Sea has been under siege and without electricity, food and water for days.

The evacuation of around 400,000 residents trapped by encircling Russian forces — attempted under a temporary ceasefire – was supposed to begin today. A similar plan had to be abandoned on Saturday after the ceasefire failed, with both sides trading charges.

According to AFP, in a new development, French President, Emmanuel Macron and Russian President, Vladamir Putin held new telephone talks that lasted over 1 hour 45 minutes.

Princess Diana’s never-before-seen portrait unveiled

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 04:17 AM PST

A stunning rare portrait of late Princess Diana has recently been made public, nearly two months after new portraits of Kate Middleton were released in honour of her 40th birthday.

As per E! News, the never-before-seen portrait of the late Princess Of Wales is now on display at a new exhibition, titled “Life Through a Royal Lens,” at London’s Kensington Palace.

The simple yet elegant, monochrome image shows a then roughly 27-year-old Diana staring into the distance, wearing a satin gown paired with teardrop earrings.

As per E! News, the portrait was taken in 1988 by David Bailey who famously photographed a number of pop-cultural icons including Andy Warhol, Twiggy and The Beatles. The fashion photographer was reportedly hand-selected by Diana, who passed away in 1997 for his high-contrast lighting and minimalist style.

According to a news release from Historic Royal Palaces, Diana’s decision to work with David “reflected her desire to establish a new photographic identity for herself,” a stark contrast from the more established forms of royal portraitures of the past.

The picture drew comparisons to Kate Middleton, who had three new portraits released by Kensington Palace in January in honour of her 40th birthday.

In one portrait, Kate, who shares three children with Diana’s oldest son Prince William, can be seen sporting a white ruffled dress with diamond and pearl drop earrings that once belonged to her late mother-in-law.

Kate has previously expressed her views on Diana as an inspiration, sharing with an outlet, “Obviously I would have loved to have met her and she’s obviously an inspirational woman to look up to.”

Ind vs SL, 1st Test: India crush Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs to take 1-0 lead in series

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 04:10 AM PST

Hosts beat visitors by an innings and 222 runs as Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin bagged four wickets in 2nd innings here at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on Sunday to take an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.

Resuming post Tea session at 120/4 the Indian spinners continued their wicket-taking spree as Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Charith Asalanka in the third ball post-tea caught by Virat Kohli making him his 435th Test victim and going past Kapil Dev to become India’s second most successful Test bowler behind Anil Kumble who has 619 Test scalps to his name. Ashwin is now ninth in the list of all-time highest wicket-taker in Tests.

Five balls later Sri Lanka lost Angelo Mathews for 28 to Ravindra Jadeja’s leg before wicket and then two balls later Suranga Lakmal hold out by Jayant Yadav in mid-on without troubling the scorers. Jadeja got two wickets in one over to take his innings tally to three wickets and match tally to eight to leave visitors tottering at 121/7.

Wicket-keeper batter Niroshan Dickwella and Lasith Embuldeniya tried hard to delay the inevitable striking a small partnership and taking their team’s total beyond the 150-run mark. Jadeja once again broke the partnership picking up his fourth wicket of the innings dismissing Embuldeniya for 2.

Dickwella was losing partners at the other end so he started playing shots but Mohammed Shami dismissed Vishwa Fernando for a duck to leave the Islanders at 170/9.

Dickwella went on to score his half-century and was the only Lankan batter to do so in 2nd innings. Ashwin finally dismissed no.11 batter Lahiru Kumara for 4 caught by Shami as he took his fourth scalp and Sri Lanka was bowled out for 178 in 2nd innings to succumb to a defeat by an innings and 222 runs.

Earlier, resuming Day 3 at 138/4 in the first innings, overnight batters Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka added 53 runs more to the total, and this saw Nissanka going past his half-century. India finally got the breakthrough in the 58th over as Jasprit Bumrah got the better of Asalanka (29).

Niroshan Dickwella (2) failed to impress with the bat and he managed to score just 2 before being sent to the pavilion by Ravindra Jadeja. In the same over, Jadeja removed Suranga Lakmal (0) and Sri Lanka was reduced to 164/7.

In the end, Sri Lanka was bundled out for 174, handing India a lead of 400 runs and the hosts enforced the follow-on.

At lunch break on Day 3, Sri Lanka’s score in the second innings read 10/1 — still trailing by 390 runs. Dimuth Karunaratne (8) and Pathum Nissanka (1) are currently at the crease.

After being asked to follow on, Sri Lanka once again got off to bad start as the side lost opening batter Lahiru Thirimanne (0) in the third over of the innings. Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka then ensured that the visitors do not lose any more wickets.

Resuming the post-lunch session at 10/1, Sri Lanka got off to a poor start losing Pathum Nissanka for six caught behind by wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant of Ravichandran Ashwin’s bowling who bagged his 434th Test scalp equalling Kapil Dev’s record and becoming India’s second most successful Test bowler.

Jayant Yadav managed to get the outside edge of Angelo Mathews on when he was batting on 1 but Virat Kohli dropped the catch in the slip.

Mohammed Shami was introduced into the attack and he dismissed Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne for 27 caught behind by keeper Pant who took his second catch of the innings to leave visitors tottering at 45/3.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Angelo Mathews then struck a much-needed partnership but the 49-run stand was broken by Ravindra Jadeja who took his first wicket in 2nd innings and his sixth wicket in the match as Sri Lanka lost their fourth wicket for 94.

Charith Asalanka came in to bat after de Silva’s dismissal and he played aggressively to score 20 runs in just 7 balls hitting two fours and two sixes as Sri Lanka went to Tea with 120 runs on board for the loss of 4 wickets trailing India by 280 runs.

Brief Scores: India 574/8d; Sri Lanka 174/10 and 178/10 (F/O)(Niroshan Dickwella 51*, Dhananjaya de Silva 30; Ravindra Jadeja 4-46, Ravichandran Ashwin 4-47).

Women’s Cricket World Cup: India defeat Pakistan by 107 runs

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 04:08 AM PST

Fighting knocks of Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar were backed up by all-round bowling performance as India defeated Pakistan by 107 runs in the fourth game of the ongoing ICC Women’s 50-over World Cup here at the Bay Oval on Sunday.

Chasing 245, Pakistan batters Javeria Khan (11) and Bismah Maroof (15) failed to stay at the crease for a long haul and the side was reduced to 53/2 in the 18th over. Javeria was dismissed by Rajeshwari Gayakwad while Maroof was sent back to the pavilion by Deepti Sharma.

Pakistan kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and in the end, India registered a comfortable 107-run win. For India, Rajeshwari Gayakwad returned with four wickets.

Earlier, Pooja Vastrakar (67), Smriti Mandhana (52) and Sneh Rana (53*) were the standout performers as India posted 244/7. Opting to bat first, India got off to the worst start possible as Diana Baig clean bowled Shafali Verma (0) in the third over of the innings and this brought Deepti Sharma out to bat. The left-handed duo of Deepti and Mandhana revived India’s innings and at the 15-over mark, Mithali Raj’s side’s score read 64/1.

Mandhana brought up her fifty in the 22nd over of the innings but the 92-run stand for the second wicket came to an end in the very same over as Nashra Sandhu bowled Deepti (40). Soon after, Anam Amin sent Mandhana (52) back to the pavilion while Nida Dar dismissed Harmanpreet Kaur (5) and Richa Ghosh (1) and hence, India was left in a spot of bother at 112/5 in the 31st over.

India’s hopes were given a body blow in the 34th over as Nashra Sandhu got the better of Mithali (9) and India was left reeling at 114/6 with Rana and Vastrakar at the crease. Both batters completely changed the complexion of the game as the duo scored briskly. Vastrakar and Rana formed a 122-run stand for the seventh wicket. In the final five overs, India scored more runs to take the total past the 240-run mark.

Brief Scores: India 244/7 (Pooja Vastrakar 67, Sneh Rana 53*, Nashra Sandhu 2-36) vs Pakistan 137 all out (Sidra Ameen 30, Diana Baig 24; Rajeshwari Gayakwad 4-31).

Prithviraj-starrer ‘Jana Gana Mana’ release date out

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 03:58 AM PST

The makers of Prithviraj Sukumaran and Suraj Venjaramoodu-starrer ‘Jana Gana Mana’ have unveiled the film’s release date on Sunday.

Taking to their respective Instagram handles, the lead actors shared the poster of the Malayalam film along with the theatrical release date — April 28, 2022. The caption read, “In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place – Mahatma Gandhi. #JanaGanaMana In theatres worldwide from 28/04/2022!”

The film is directed by Dijo Jose Antony, written by Sharis Mohammed and presented by Magic Frames and Prithviraj Productions.

IPL- Opening match between Chennai Super kings & Kolkata Knight Riders

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 03:49 AM PST

IPL 2022 will start from March 26 with the first match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai: BCCI

While the BCCI hasn't yet officially announced the full schedule, it has confirmed that MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings will take on Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 at the Wankhede Stadium with a doubleheader on Sunday, March 27. The timings will remain the same at 7:30 PM and 3:30 for the first match on doubleheader days. Stay tuned for more updates.

Shane Warne death; Blood stains on floor & towel found by Thai police

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 03:40 AM PST

The exact cause of Shane Warne’s death in Thailand on Friday is still a mystery. But, according to the Thai police, they have found “blood stains” on the floor of the legendary Australian cricketer’s room and on bath towels.

The bowling superstar was declared dead by doctors in the Thai International Hospital on Friday night, after friends tried to revive him in his luxury villa hours earlier. He was 52.

On Sunday, reports in local media said that there was blood on the floor and bath towels in the room Warne was staying.

“A large amount of blood was found in the room,” Satit Polpinit, a commander of the local provincial police, told Thai media. “When CPR was started, the deceased had coughed up liquid and was bleeding.”

According to the Koh Samui’s Bo Phut police station superintendent Yuttana Sirisomba, Warne had “seen a doctor about his heart” recently, following which they have ruled out treating it as a suspicious death.

Warne along with his friends had reportedly travelled to the popular island of Koh Samui, situated in the Gulf of Thailand.

As per the local police information, one of Warne’s friends found the Aussie legend unresponsive around 5 pm.

The group commenced CPR on Warne while waiting for an ambulance.

Warne’s management later released a brief statement to confirm his death.

Long, irregular menstrual cycles put women at higher risk for fatty liver disease

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 03:40 AM PST

Women with long or irregular menstrual cycles are known to have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. But, a new study recently found that these women might also be at risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

The study was published in the journal, ‘Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism’.

Around 24 per cent of US adults have NAFLD, a chronic disease in which excess fat builds up in your liver. This buildup of fat is not caused by heavy alcohol use. NAFLD can progress to chronic liver damage and is associated with a higher risk of death. Diet and exercise are the standard of care for NAFLD as no medicines have been approved to treat the disease.

“Our study results show that long or irregular menstrual cycles may be associated with an increased risk of developing NAFLD, and this link was not explained by obesity,” said Seungho Ryu, M.D., Ph.D., of the Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea.

“Previous studies have shown that long or irregular menstrual cycles are associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but our study is the first to find a link between long or irregular menstrual cycles and NAFLD,” he added.

The researchers studied a data set of 72,092 women under 40 years old. About 28 per cent of these women had long or irregular menstrual cycles, and 7 per cent had NAFLD. The researchers followed up four years later and found new cases of NAFLD occurred in almost 9 per cent of the women. The researchers concluded that there was an association between long or irregular menstrual cycles in young, premenopausal women and an increased risk of NAFLD.

“Young women with long or irregular menstrual cycles may benefit from lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of NAFLD as well as other cardiometabolic diseases,” Ryu said.

Body fat biggest risk factor for reduced thinking, memory ability – research

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 03:32 AM PST

The findings of a recent study have shown that greater body fat is a risk factor for reduced cognitive function, such as processing speed in adults.

When the researchers took cardiovascular risk factors (such as diabetes or high blood pressure) or vascular brain injury into account, the coalition between body fat and lower cognitive scores remained. This suggested other not yet confirmed pathways that linked excess body fat to reduced cognitive function.

The study was published in the journal, ‘JAMA Network open’.

In the study, 9,166 participants were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis to assess their total body fat.

As well, 6,733 of the participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure abdominal fat packed around the organs known as visceral fat, and the MRI also assessed vascular brain injury — areas in the brain affected by reduced blood flow to the brain.

“Our results suggest that strategies to prevent or reduce having too much body fat may preserve cognitive function,” said lead author Sonia Anand, a professor of medicine of McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and a vascular medicine specialist at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS). She is also a senior scientist of the Population Health Research Institute of McMaster and HHS.

She added that “the effect of increased body fat persisted even after adjusting for its effect on increasing cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as vascular brain injury, which should prompt researchers to investigate which other pathways may link excess fat to reduced cognitive function.”

Co-author Eric Smith, a neurologist, scientist, and associate professor of clinical neurosciences at the University of Calgary said that “preserving cognitive function is one of the best ways to prevent dementia in old age. This study suggests that one of the ways that good nutrition and physical activity prevent dementia maybe by maintaining healthy weight and body fat percentage.”

Smith is head of the brain core lab for the two population cohorts used for this new analysis- the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds (CAHHM) and PURE Mind- a sub-study of the large, international Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study.

The participants were in the age range of 30 to 75 with an average age of about 58. Just over 56 per cent were women; they all lived in either Canada or Poland. The majority were White European origin, with about 16 per cent other ethnic backgrounds. Individuals with known cardiovascular disease were excluded.

51.24% voter turnout till 2pm in Assam Municipal Election

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 03:31 AM PST

Guwahati (Assam): Assam on Sunday recorded 51.24 per cent voter turnout till 2 pm in the Municipal Board Election, as per the state election commission.


As per government data, the highest voter turnout of 71.35 per cent was recorded in Patacharkuchi Municipal Board while the lowest turnout was recorded at 37.04 in Jorhat. Voting for polls to 80 Municipal Boards comprising 977 wards across the state concluded at 4 pm today.


More than 16 lakh voters comprising 8.32 lakh males, 8.41 lakh females and 17 transgender sealed the fate of 2,532 candidates in the fray.


Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded the maximum number of candidates (825), followed by Congress with 706 candidates and BJP’s ally party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) with 243 candidates.


“For the first time EVMs are used instead of ballot papers in these elections,” said Chandan Kalita, Presiding Officer, Kamrup on Assam Municipal elections.


Adequate security arrangements have been made across the state. The votes will be counted on March 9

USD 32 million worth Humanitarian aid reaches Afghanistan

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 03:26 AM PST

Kabul [Afghanistan]: Another USD 32 million of humanitarian aid sent by the United Nations reached Kabul and will be delivered to the Afghanistan International Bank (AIB).


This is the 17th humanitarian aid package that reached Kabul, according to the Da Afghanistan Bank, the central bank of Afghanistan. Da Afghanistan Bank appreciated the assistance of the international community and calls on the countries of the world to cooperate with Afghanistan in providing the necessary banking facilities.


In January this year, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had called on the international community to quickly provide assistance to the central bank of Afghanistan and do more to inject liquidity in the country’s economy to avoid a collapse in 2022.


Nearly 23 million people, or 55 per cent of the Afghan population, are estimated to be in crisis or experiencing emergency levels of food insecurity in the month of March in 2022.


Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expresses concern about “conditional humanitarianism” or attempts to “leverage” humanitarian assistance for political purposes.


A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban have plunged the country, already suffering from high poverty levels, into a full-blown economic crisis. 

Women are more susceptible to Alzheimer’s Disease – Study

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 03:23 AM PST

Epidemiological studies have earlier shown that women are twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the cause of this phenomenon has been unclear. But a recent study may now have answers for this.

The study was published in the journal ‘Nature’.
Alzheimer’s is a disease in which a person slowly begins to forget everything known to them. It is a cruel punishment, both for the people who have to suffer with it, as well as the people who are their caregivers.

The study, led by Prof. Keqiang Ye from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, provided a clear answer to this mystery that has puzzled mankind for decades.

Integrating their previous studies, Prof. Ye’s team established the theory that the C/EBPb/AEP pathway was the core factor driving the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.

“Based on this theory, our team searched for female hormones that are dramatically changed during menopause and tested which hormone selectively activates the C/EBPb/AEP pathway,” said Prof. Ye.

Prof. Ye’s team identified follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as the major pathogenic factor.

“During menopause, the serum concentration of FSH strongly increases, binding to the cognate FSH receptor on neurons and activating the C/EBPb/AEP pathway. This resulted in Ab and Tau pathologies, leading to the development of AD,” said Dr Zaidi Mone, co-corresponding author of the study and a tenured professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

The researchers employed different methods to demonstrate this finding. Using ovariectomized mice, they used anti-FSH antibody treatment to block FSH and inactivate the C/EBPb/AEP pathway. They also deleted FSH receptor (FSHR) expression in neurons to abolish the binding of FSH to FSHR in the hippocampus. Both of these methods alleviated pathology and cognitive dysfunction. In addition, knockdown of C/EBPb in the AD mice model decreased AD pathologies.

Besides working with female mice, the researchers also injected FSH into male mice and discovered that FSH promoted AD pathologies.

All these findings suggested that increased FSH after menopause binds to FSHR in neurons and activates the C/EBPb/AEP pathway, which plays an important role in triggering AD pathology.

In the near future, the team will focus on dissecting the relationship between specific risk genes such as ApoE4 and FSH to explore why female ApoE4 carriers are more vulnerable to developing AD.

“Our findings demonstrate that the C/EBPb/AEP signalling pathway acts as a core factor in these age-dependent diseases, which may help disclose how a variety of risk factors mediate neurodegenerative diseases via activating this pathway,” said Dr Seong Su Kang from Emory University.

In addition, Prof. Ye’s team has extended this theory to numerous age-dependent chronic diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, cancer, and ageing.

7 dead, 15 injured in road accident in Pakistan’s Punjab state

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 03:22 AM PST

Chowk Azam [Pakistan]: At least seven people, including three children and a woman, were killed and 15 others injured in a road accident in Chowk Azam, a city in Punjab’s Layyah district in Pakistan.


Two vehicles in the city collided which lead to this horrific collision. The incident occurred near Gola Adda in Chowk Azam city. Following the accident, the injured bodies were moved to Taluka Headquarters Hospital (THQ). The cause of the accident is yet unknown as per the initial reports, reported ARY News.


In a separate incident, four people including a girl student lost their lives in a series of road accidents in Karachi. The girl named Ayesha was on her way to her University when a truck got out of control and ran over her. The unfortunate incident took place near the Expo centre.


The second incident took place near Urdu University when a bus ran over a young boy, Haider after he fell on the road following hit by a speedy car. According to the Police report, Haider died on the spot.

Five BSF personnel killed in fratricidal shooting in Amritsar

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 03:16 AM PST

Amritsar (Punjab): Five personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) were killed and one critically injured on Sunday in a fratricidal incident committed by Ct Satteppa SK at HQ 144 Bn Khasa in Amritsar, Punjab.


Later, Ct Satteppa SK himself succumbed to injuries, the BSF said in a statement. It further stated that a court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the facts.


“In an unfortunate incident, five BSF troops were injured on March 6 due to fratricide committed by Ct Satteppa S K at HQ 144 Bn Khasa, Amritsar. Ct Satteppa S K was also injured in the incident. Out of the six injured, five troops, including Ct Satteppa, have lost their lives. One of the injured is critical. A court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the facts,” the BSF statement read.

Overview of Priyanka Gandhi’s campaign trail; 167 rallies 42 roadshows in 5 states

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 03:11 AM PST

New Delhi [India]: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led an aggressive poll campaign for the 2022 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.


Taking the lead for the party’s campaign, Vadra hit the campaign trails hard, getting attention for her campaign with women in the fields. She sought to raise key public issues. In all her speeches, she emphasised that the elections should not be based on religion and caste, but on people’s issues. She stated that politicians talk about religion and caste because they want to escape their accountability.


Vadra further sought the limelight after she hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by raking up the “you’ve eaten my salt” slogan. In a public meeting, She referred to a video, saying that “old Amma in the video is saying that I have eaten Modi’s salt”.
In a democracy, the power lies with the people, maintained the Congress leader in her relentless attack on PM Modi.


The Congress leader’s emphasis was on the fact that the power in a democracy lies in the hands of the people, with a thrust on the empowerment of women. She also brought out women’s issues by bringing out a separate manifesto ‘Shakti Vidhan’.


In the Assembly elections of five states in 2022, Vadra addressed a number of rallies in Goa, Uttarakhand, Punjab and mainly focused on Uttar Pradesh. She addressed a total of 167 rallies, public meetings and corner meetings in all five states. Through 42 roadshows and door to door campaigns, she interacted with the public during the election campaign.


Besides, she addressed rallies in Uttarakhand, Manipur, and addressed a total of 340 Assemblies.


Congress made full use of her campaigning style, especially to woo the women voters. It was because of this that Gandhi in Goa and Punjab made the announcement related to women in the manifesto and later in Uttarakhand, she released the entire manifesto.

Spotlight on PM Modi’s LS seat in last phase of UP polls

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 03:03 AM PST

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): Eight Assembly seats in Varanasi will be in the focus in the last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with multiple seats witnessing close contests.


The Varanasi district is witnessing a multi-cornered contest among the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Samajwadi Party and Congress. Out of eight Assembly seats, five are within the Parliamentary constituency of Varanasi, represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha.


The eight seats are Banaras City South, Banaras City North, Shivpur, Sewapuri, Cantonment, Ajgara, Pindra and Rohaniya.


In Banaras South, BJP has fielded state minister Neelkanth Tiwari against SP’s Kishan Dixit. Dixit is the Mahant of Mahaamrtyunjay temple. Locals say that the two candidates hail from the Brahmin caste, pointing to a close contest.


“Dixit has been working among the people for a long time. Therefore, he holds a good influence among the voters. Whereas, Tiwari is a minister and is contesting the election in the name of PM Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath,” said a local.


From Banaras (North), the BJP has fielded another state minister Ravindra Jaiswal against SP’s Ashfaq Ahmed. Jaiswal has won the elections in 2012 and 2017. This seat is also seen witnessing a tough contest.


In Shivpur, another minister and the BJP candidate Anil Rajbhar is contesting the polls against SP’s Arvind Rajbhar. Arvind is the son of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Omprakash Rajbhar. The seat has a sizable caste population belonging to Brahmin, Vaishya, Kshatriya, Rajbhar, Patel, Maurya, Yadav, Scheduled Caste, among others.


From the Sevapuri Assembly constituency, Nilratna Patel and Surendra Patel are giving neck to neck fights to each other. Neelratna Patel is contesting from the BJP and Surendra Patel is the SP nominee. Surendra Patel has a stronghold over the region. However, Neelratna Patel had won the 2017 polls.


Samajwadi Party and the BJP seem to be engaged in a neck to neck contest on most of the seats in the district but in the Pindra constituency, Congress’ Ajay Rai is giving a tough fight.


The BJP has fielded Awadhesh Singh from the Pindra seat.


In the 1996, 2002 and 2007 elections, Ajay Rai had won the elections on a BJP ticket. After the delimitation, the Kolasala Assembly seat changed to Pindra.


The number of Brahmin voters in the Pindra Assembly seat is about 55,000, while Patels are 70,000 and there are 60,000 Dalits. There are 25,000 Yadavs, 30,000 Kshatriya, 30,000 Bhumihar, 25,000 Muslims, and 20,000 Maurya voters in the Pindra Assembly seat.


Babu Lal Patel from the BSP is also in the fray, and giving a tough contest while he had come second in the 2017 polls from the constituency.


Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lead a high-octane roadshow in Varanasi on Friday.


A total of 54 Assembly seats across nine districts including Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi and Sonbhadra, will go to polls on March 7.


Votes will be counted on March 10. 

Ashwin goes past Kapil Dev, becomes India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 03:03 AM PST

Ravichandran Ashwin on Sunday went past Kapil Dev’s tally of 434 Test wickets to become India’s second-highest wicket-taker in the longest format of the game.

Ashwin achieved the feat on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka here in Mohali. Charith Asalanka became Ashwin’s 435th Test scalp. Earlier on Day 3, Ashwin had equalled Kapil Dev’s tally.

Anil Kumble is India’s highest wicket-taker in Tests with 619 scalps.

After being asked to follow on, Sri Lanka once again got off to bad start as the side lost opening batter Lahiru Thirimanne (0) in the third over of the innings. Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka then ensured that the visitors do not lose any more wickets.

Earlier, resuming Day 3 at 138/4 in the first innings, overnight batters Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka added 53 runs more to the total and this saw Nissanka going past his half-century. India finally got the breakthrough in the 58th over as Jasprit Bumrah got the better of Asalanka (29).

Niroshan Dickwella (2) failed to impress with the bat and he managed to score just 2 before being sent to the pavilion by Ravindra Jadeja. In the same over, Jadeja removed Suranga Lakmal (0) and Sri Lanka was reduced to 164/7.

In the end, Sri Lanka was bundled out for 174, handing India a lead of 400 runs and the hosts enforced the follow-on.

International Election Visitors programme to be organised by ECI tomorrow; over 26 countries to participate

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 02:54 AM PST

New Delhi [India]: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday informed that it is going to organise an International Election Visitors Programme (IEVP) 2022 for foreign Election Management Bodies (EMBs)/Organisations in virtual mode on Monday.


“The ongoing legislative assembly elections in the states of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh have a combined electorate of 183.4 million, one of the largest to vote amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” the ECI said in a press release. IEVP constitutes an important part of ECI’s international outreach and is organised with the goal of familiarising fellow EMBs with the electoral system and processes adopted in the world’s largest democracy.


IEVP 2022 provides an opportunity for ECI to share best practices and experience of the conduct of the poll process along with the steps taken to ensure compliance of COVID-19 protocols.


As per the ECI, over 135 delegates from over 26 countries across the world including Australia, Bahamas, Bhutan, Croatia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, Guinea, Guyana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Romania, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Suriname, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Zambia etc. and 4 international organisations including International IDEA, International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES), Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) and Community of Democracies will be participating in IEVP 2022.


“Besides, Ambassadors/High Commissioners and other members of the Diplomatic Corps based in India from 20 countries have also been invited to participate in the virtual IEVP 2022,” the release read.


The Programme for IEVP 2022 comprises of an online briefing session by Umesh Sinha, Secretary General, ECI and Head of India A-WEB Centre at ECI, which would give the participants an overview of the large canvas of the Indian electoral process, the new initiatives taken by ECI on voter facilitation, transparency and accessibility of electoral system; ECI’s response to the changing needs of training and capacity building and the new formats necessitated by COVID-19 along with insights into the elections held in the states of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.


“With a vast electorate of more than 183.4 million, these elections have posed formidable challenges and arrangements have been made to address them and to deploy unique initiatives to conduct a Covid safe election,” the ECI said.


As per the ECI, the participants will be showcased a recorded broadcast from select polling stations in each of the five states of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh where polls have taken place as well as live streaming from polling stations in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on March 7.


The programme, as per the press release, includes familiarisation of participants with the electoral process, polling station arrangements, use of technology, interaction with various stakeholders followed by a Q&A session. 

Tight security arrangement for seventh phase of UP polls

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 02:47 AM PST

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): 40 companies of police forces and around two and a half thousand policemen have been deployed for the security of polling stations during the last phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh.


Apart from this, around 3,000 home guard personnel have also been deployed. A Satish Ganesh, Police Commissioner, Varanasi said, “40 companies of police forces have been deployed for conducting secure polling. A total of two and a half thousand policemen have been deployed for the security of polling stations. Apart from this, around 3,000 home guard personnel have been deployed.”


Polling parties have left for Varanasi ahead of the polls. These parties will reach the polling stations at 6 pm with full preparations so as to make sure that safe and secure elections take place from 7:00 am onwards tomorrow, added Ganesh.


Voters have been urged to participate in the elections and vote as much as possible. Police have also warned that appropriate lawful action will be taken against whoever tries to impede the election process.


It is worth noting that there are a total of 8 Legislative Assemblies in Varanasi, which include Cantt, City North, City South, Ajra, Pindra, Sewapuri, Rohaniya, and Shivpur.
A total of 3371 booths are to be voted in these 8 assemblies, for which polling parties are being dispatched today.


A total of 613 candidates are in the electoral fray for the last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 54 constituencies slated for Monday in nine districts of Mau, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, and Bhadohi (Sant Ravidas Nagar).


The counting of votes will take place on March 10. 

India is innovating, improving, and influencing the world- PM Modi

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 02:41 AM PST

Pune (Maharashtra): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India in the present time is innovating, improving, and influencing the world.


Addressing the Golden Jubilee of Symbiosis University, PM Modi said, “We learn that an institution is made by the hard work of everyone associated with it. Today is the day to celebrate all the students, alumni and professors who made Symbiosis University what it is today.”

“Symbiosis University is based on the principles of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. It is a medium to connect the whole world as one family, this has been our culture. I am glad that this tradition is still alive in our country,” he added.


Lauding initiatives like Startup India, Standup India, Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission represent the aspirations of our youth, PM Modi said, “Today’s India is innovating, improving and influencing the whole world.”


Further, the Prime Minister said that right now, amid the Ukraine crisis, the world is witnessing how India is evacuating its citizens out of the war zone safely with Operation Ganga.


“From software to health, from Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Electric Vehicle (EV), from drone to semiconductors, the government is bringing reforms in every sector to open up new opportunities for our youth,” he said.


“India has emerged as the second-largest country in the world in mobile manufacturing. Seven years ago, there were only 2 mobile manufacturing companies in India, today more than 200 manufacturing units are engaged in this work,” PM Modi added.


He also urged the youth to create their own startups, and said, “Solutions to local problems and challenges faced by people should come from universities and the youth.”


“Whatever field you are in, the way you set goals for your career, the same way, set goals for the country,” he added.


The sectors in which India did not show any representation before are the ones in which the nation is becoming a global leader, the Prime Minister said.


“The government trusts the strength of the youth of the country. That’s why we are opening sectors one after the other for you. I urge you all to make the most of these opportunities,” he added. 

Ukrainians in Taiwan join protest march against Chinese repression in Tibet

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 02:33 AM PST

Taipei [Taiwan]: Ukrainians in Taiwan extended their support to a protest march against 63 years of Chinese repression in Tibet on Saturday, media reports said.


The protest march for Tibet is organised by the Taiwanese every year since 2004 to commemorate the Chinese repression of the Tibetan uprising in March 1959. The Tibetan uprising against the rule of communist China lasted for two weeks before it was brutally suppressed.

Ukrainians who attended the march on Saturday drew parallels between the Chinese occupation of Tibet and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Taiwan News reported.


Yulia Koroleva, who has been staying in Taiwan for two years, told the protesters how the situation in Tibet had still not improved after 63 years of occupation, further adding that the Russian war against Ukraine showed that there were still large countries willing to disrespect and attack smaller nations.


“The powerful should respect other people, and not humiliate the weak,” Koroleva said while calling for the removal of autocrats and dictators. The Ukrainian resident emphasised that she opposed the war and loved freedom.


The protest march comes amid reports of the Chinese introducing draconian laws and regulations in Tibet in order to suppress its cultural identity.


A new code of conduct for members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Tibet explicitly forbids party members from all forms of religiosity in both public and private life. The six-point code of conduct is the first party regulation that clearly and comprehensively details the specific types of religiosity forbidden for party members in Tibet, according to a report in The Hong Kong Post.


Moreover, a new regulation called ‘Measures on the Administration of Internet Religious Informative Services’ which came into effect on March 1 bans all foreign organisations and individuals from spreading religious content online in China and Tibet except those who have acquired government licenses.


In November last year, Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamshala accused China of implementing a ‘One nation, one party, one language, one culture’ policy in occupied Tibet and said that Tibetans as a people and culture was being subjected to a slow death.


In the same month, US President Biden had raised concerns about China’s practices in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong with Xi Jinping during an online discussion.

China unveils policy orientation for economic & social development

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 02:27 AM PST

Beijing [China]: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang unveiled a government work report at the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People’s Congress held in Beijing and introduced the overall requirements and policy orientation for economic and social development in 2022.


In his report, the premier reviewed the government work in 2021 and said that the country worked hard as one and once again secured new and major achievements in its development in the past year in the face of complicated and challenging circumstances both in and outside of China, as well as many risks and challenges.

“While recognising our achievements, we are also very clear about the problems and challenges before us,” he said on Saturday, Xinhua News Agency reported.


According to Xinhua, targets were set for the country’s development in 2022 in the government work report, including a GDP growth of around 5.5 per cent, more than 11 million new urban jobs, and a consumer price index increase of around 3 per cent.

The report also listed major tasks for 2022, including achieving stable macroeconomic performance, maintaining job security, deepening reform, and expanding high-level opening up.


NPC deputies reviewed the report on the implementation of the 2021 plan and on the 2022 draft plan for national economic and social development, and the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2022; the report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2021 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2022, and the draft central and local budgets for 2022, Xinhua News Agency reported.


Chinese leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) on Saturday, held at the Great Hall of the People.


In the annual session, Wang Chen, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, expounded a draft amendment to the Organic Law of the Local People’s Congresses and Local People’s Governments, which has been submitted to national lawmakers for review.


Wang also delivered an explanatory speech on a draft decision on the number of deputies to the 14th NPC and their election.


In accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws, the election of deputies to the 14th NPC shall be completed in January 2023 before the incumbent 13th NPC deputies finish their term of office in March 2023, Wang said.


Wang also explained draft methods for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Macao SAR to elect their deputies to the 14th NPC, as per Xinhua. 

Mariupol evacuation begins today via humanitarian corridors

Posted: 06 Mar 2022 02:19 AM PST

Mariupol [Ukraine]: The Mariupol City Council announced the evacuation of civilians via humanitarian corridors on Sunday, a day later than the initially agreed upon date with Russia.


“A ceasefire will be established today, March 6, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time [08:00 to 19:00 GMT]. The evacuation of the civilian population begins at 12:00,” the council announced on Telegram. It added that civilians will be able to evacuate from Mariupol from three places by bus or leave the city on private transport. The evacuation was delayed by a day, which was blamed by both Russia and Ukraine on the other side.


Russia maintained that the Ukrainian forces prevented people from leaving the city on Saturday, while the Ukrainian authorities blamed the delay on Russian forces violating the ceasefire that was agreed upon.


According to the Donetsk authorities, 17 people managed to flee from Mariupol, and 36 others were taken out of the city by buses with an escort of the republic’s police on Saturday.


Russia and Ukraine had agreed to organise humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians in the second round of talks in Belarus on March 4.


Meanwhile, the Mayor of the South-Eastern city of Mariupol Vadym Boychenko informed on Saturday that the city has been blockaded by the Russian forces, after days of sustained attacks.


Mariupol, with a population of 450,000 people, is of strategic importance to Russian forces, as by taking Mariupol, they can complete a land corridor that would link Crimea with southern Russia, reported CNN.


The third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine may take place on March 7, according to Sputnik News Agency.


Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognised Ukraine’s breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics followed by the announcement of a “special military operation” to “demilitarise” and “denazify” Ukraine. 

Amit Shah attends CISF’s 53rd Raising Day ceremony

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 10:19 PM PST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday attended the 53rd Raising Day ceremony of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Ghaziabad’s Indirapuram.

The Union Home Minister also inspected the parade of the force here.

CISF DG, Sheel Vardhan Singh, at the event, said, “Today we are playing an important role in the development of the country by being at the forefront of security at the space and atomic energy centres, ports, airports and metro rails.”

The CISF contingent, dressed in pristine uniforms, represented the diversity of the force.

The CISF is a central armed police force of the country and is among one of the six paramilitary forces of India. It functions under the Union Home Ministry.

The CISF was set up under the act of the Parliament of India on March 10, 1969. Since then, CISF Raising Day is being celebrated on March 10 each year.

Ind vs SL: Sri Lanka all out for 174 runs, India enforce follow-on

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 10:10 PM PST

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Sunday became the sixth cricketer to register a score of 150+ and take five wickets in the same Test.

Jadeja achieved the feat on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka as he took five wickets in the first innings.Earlier, the left-handed batter played an unbeaten knock of 175 to help India post a 450+ score against Sri Lanka.

Earlier, Vinoo Mankad, Denis Atkinson, Polly Umrigar, Gary Sobers and Mushtaq Mohammad had achieved the feat.

Earlier, resuming Day 3 at 138/4 in the first innings, overnight batters Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka added 53 runs more to the total, and this saw Nissanka going past his half-century. India finally got the breakthrough in the 58th over as Jasprit Bumrah got the better of Asalanka (29).

Niroshan Dickwella (2) failed to impress with the bat and he managed to score just 2 before being sent to the pavilion by Ravindra Jadeja. In the same over, Jadeja removed Suranga Lakmal (0) and Sri Lanka was reduced to 164/7.

In the end, Sri Lanka was bundled out for 174, handing India a lead of 400 runs and the hosts enforced the follow-on.

Brief Scores: India 574/8d; Sri Lanka 174 and 10/1 (Dimuth Karunaratne 8*, Pathum Nissanka 1*; Ravichandran Ashwin 1-1).

US rhetoric irresponsible, provocative; Calls for dialog- Russian Ambassador to US

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 08:17 PM PST

Moscow [Russia]: Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov says that Washington’s anti-Russia rhetoric is starting to pose a risk to international security and that he is ready to discuss the issue of strengthening strategic stability with any US politician.


US Senator Rick Scott said in an interview on “Full Court Press with Greta Van Susteren” that will air on Sunday that sending US troops to Ukraine should not be completely excluded. “You should always keep all your options open … I don’t think you should ever take it off the table,” Scott said as quoted by The Hill.

Commenting on Scott’s remarks, Antonov told journalists that the “Anti-Russian rhetoric in the US has reached the point of absurdity. There is an impression that local politicians are not fully aware of their statements. The slogans voiced in Washington are becoming more and more irresponsible, provocative, and, most importantly, extremely risky for international security.”


The Russian ambassador pointed out that Scott’s remarks could be interpreted as a call for a direct confrontation between the major nuclear powers and urged US lawmakers to return to common sense and work on restoring dialogue.


“I am ready to meet with any American politician, including members of the upper and lower houses of Congress, to discuss ways to strengthen strategic stability,” Antonov said.


Last week, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that under no scenario does the US administration intend to send American troops to Ukraine.

5,476 new cases recorded in India

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 08:12 PM PST

COVID-19 latest: India records 5,476 new cases, 158 deaths and 9,754 recoveries in the last 24 hours.

The Active case load stand at 59,442.

PM Modi condoles demise of Vajpayee’s long-time aide Shiv Kumar Pareek

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 08:07 PM PST

New Delhi [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condoled the demise of Shiv Kumar Pareek who was former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s long-time aide.


Shiv Kumar Pareek had passed away on March 5. The Prime Minister said that Shiv Kumar Pareek was rooted in the ideologies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and devoted himself to the service of nation-building.


“Saddened by the passing away of Shri Shiv Kumar Pareek Ji. Firmly rooted in our Party’s ideology, he devoted himself to service, nation-building and worked closely with Atal Ji. Will cherish my interactions with him over the years. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti,” the Prime Minister tweeted.


Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday expressed condolences on the demise of Pareek and said that he had worked to nurture innumerable workers with nationalist ideas, human values and ideals.


“Deeply saddened by the news of the passing away of Shri Shiv Kumar Pareek Ji, a close associate of Prime Minister Shri Atal Ji before the era of Jana Sangh. He also worked to nurture innumerable workers with nationalist ideas, human values and ideals,” tweeted Pradhan.


Uttar Pradesh Law Minister Brajesh Pathak also expressed condolences and said that his demise was “heart-wrenching.”


“The sad news of the demise of Shri Shiv Kumar Pareek Ji, the personal secretary of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji, who supported Atal Ji like a shadow for almost 60 years, is heart-wrenching. May God grant the ‘Punyatama’, a place at his feet and strength to his family members and well-wishers,” tweeted Brajesh Pathak in Hindi.


Shiv Kumar Pareek used to work with AB Vajpayee as a personal assistant. On many occasions, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had also participated in programs held at Shiv Kumar Pareek’s house.


Vajpayee had passed away on August 16, 2018.

Puducherry’s iconic pier at the Rock beach collapses

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 08:02 PM PST

Puducherry [India]: Puducherry’s iconic pier at the Rock beach collapsed partially on Saturday night due to high waves as a result of deep depression over the Bay of Bengal.


Meanwhile, the depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved nearly southwestwards with a speed of about 07 kmph during the past six hours and lay centred over the same region, about 310 km north-northeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 260 km east-northeast of Nagappattinam, 270 km east-southeast of Puducherry, said the Indian Meteorological Department on Sunday.

“Depression over southwest BoB moved nearly southwestwards with a speed of about 07 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centred over the same region, about 310 km north-northeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 260 km east-northeast of Nagappattinam, 270 km east-southeast of Puducherry,” said a tweet from IMD.


Also, the IMD said that light to moderate rainfall/thundershower at a few places with heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and light to moderate rainfall/thundershower at isolated places is very likely over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema on March 6.


Further, it also predicted light to moderate rainfall/thundershower at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, and light to moderate rainfall/thundershower with heavy falls at isolated places is very likely over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema on March 7. 

We will engage in charity works for poor-Kerala Congress(B) MLA

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:58 PM PST

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): Kerala Congress (B) will focus on social and welfare measures in a bid to reach out to the poor and vulnerable in the state, said party MLA K B Ganesh Kumar.


Speaking on the matter, Kumar said that the party will have to rigorously work for the welfare of the poor, besides taking up social activities, including garbage management and cleaning of hospitals.

“The party has decided to involve in more charity works, mainly for the welfare of the poor and poorest people of the society. Those in the party will work especially in the (scheduled castes, scheduled tribe) SC/ST colonies. They will take up charitable works and social services like managing garbage. Now they will involve in hospital cleaning activities and report to higher committees about their services. This is the way the party will gain accountability,” Kumar said.


Kumar, an actor, said that Kerala Congress (B) is the first political party to use software for party membership.


“We are using software similar to the tools used by the Election Commissions. We are collecting photos, ID cards and Aadhaar numbers. There is no nomination of candidates. Everything is done by the selected committees,” he added.


Kumar also revealed that he has decided to donate his organs, adding that he will then serve as a role model for the party workers.


“Organ transplantation is a serious issue in our community and I have already decided to donate my organs. Some of my colleagues can do the same to help society. I am appealing to them to think about it. I think it will change our society,” he said.

Canada issues advisory to all nationals to leave Russia

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:53 PM PST

Ottawa [Canada]: The Canadian government is advising its citizens to refrain from visiting Russia and to leave the country as soon as possible amid the impacts of the Russian military operations in Ukraine.


“Avoid all travel to Russia due to the impacts of the armed conflict with Ukraine, including limited flight options and restrictions on financial transactions. If you are in Russia, you should leave while commercial means are still available,” the Canadian government said in a Saturday travel advisory.

Last week, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine after the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) appealed for help in defending themselves against the Kiev forces.

Russia said that the aim of its special operation is to demilitarise and “denazify” Ukraine and that only military infrastructure is being targeted. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.


In response to Russia’s operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow which includes airspace closures and restrictive measures targeting Russian officials and financial institutions.


On Saturday, both Visa and Mastercard announced that they were suspending operations in Russia and that their cards issued by Russian banks will no longer work outside the country.

China reports 175 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:49 PM PST

Beijing [China]: The Chinese mainland reported 175 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, local news reported citing the National Health Commission on Sunday.


Xinhua News Agency reported that out of the new local infections, 88 were reported in Shandong, 25 in Jilin, 20 in Guangdong, 14 in Hebei, nine in Inner Mongolia, five in Guangxi, four each in Jiangsu and Yunnan, two each in Zhejiang and Shaanxi, and one each in Shanxi and Henan, the commission said in its daily report. A total of 154 imported COVID-19 cases were reported on Saturday, said the commission.


Two new suspected cases, all arriving from outside the mainland, were reported in Shanghai, said the commission, as per Xinhua.


Meanwhile, China had reported 102 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases yesterday in the last 24 hours.

Malaysia COVID-19 cases rise

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:46 PM PST

Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia]: Malaysia reported 33,406 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight Saturday, the highest daily spike since the outbreak, bringing the national total to 3,595,172, according to the health ministry.


There are 342 new imported cases and 33,064 local transmissions, data released on the ministry’s website showed. A further 67 deaths have been reported, bringing the death toll to 33,173. The ministry reported 27,143 new recoveries, bringing the total number of cured and discharged to 3,250,793.


There are 311,206 active cases, 371 are being held in intensive care and 226 of those are in need of assisted breathing.


The country reported 68,081 vaccine doses administered on Saturday alone and 83.1 per cent of the population have received at least one dose, 78.9 per cent are fully vaccinated and 45.9 per cent have received boosters. 

Peshawar Mosque blast; 3 suspects identified

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:43 PM PST

Islamabad [Pakistan]: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have identified three suspects involved in the Peshawar mosque suicide blast, said Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Saturday.


Sharing a video message on his Twitter handle, Rasheed said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, along with the investigation agencies, have identified all three suspects involved in the blast. He added that the police and investigation agencies have closed in on the suspects, who are likely to be arrested in the next two to three days.


On Friday, an explosion at a Shia mosque in Peshawar had claimed the lives of 57 people and injured nearly 200. City officials termed the incident a suicide attack and said that two attackers were involved in the incident.


Notably, two terrorists opened fire at police officers near the mosque in Peshawar, after which one of them entered the building and set off the explosion. The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the explosion.


The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) strongly condemned the suicide blast which it said was intended to target Shia worshippers.


“The assault was clearly intended to target Shia worshippers and bears the hallmarks of sectarian outfits that have been allowed to run amok in recent years,” the HRCP said in a statement.


Meanwhile, the death toll in the incident rose to 63 after six more injured succumbed to their injuries on Saturday, Daily Times reported citing a spokesperson of the Lady Reading Hospital. 

16 cases of illegal wheat transportation registered in Pakistan

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:38 PM PST

Islamabad [Pakistan]: At least 16 cases of illegal transportation of wheat have been registered during the last two weeks in Sargodha city of Pakistan’s Punjab province, according to local media.


Daily Times reported that a meeting, chaired by Commissioner Sargodha Nabil Javed, was informed on Saturday about the registration of first information reports (FIRs). It was further informed that 14,435 wheat bags of 50-kg each were recovered and sold out at the government rates. The price magistrates also registered 16 cases of overselling of food items at higher rates, as per the media outlet.


The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Sargodha Muhammad Asghar Joyia, DC Mianwali Khurram Shehzad, DC Bhakkar Imran Hamid Sheikh, and ADCR Khushab, besides agriculture, food, and Local Government officials, Daily Times reported.


Pakistan’s inflation has reached a two-year high by soaring to 12.96 per cent in the first month of 2022, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) last month.


Dawn newspaper citing PBS data had reported that the year-on-year inflation during the last month — measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) — was the highest since January 2020 while the month-on-month inflation increased to 0.39 per cent compared to December.


In January 2020, inflation had risen to 14.6 per cent in the country, the publication reported, adding that the average inflation rate between July 2021 to January 2022 stood at 10.26 per cent.


Besides politicians, traders, farmers, businessmen and people from all walks of life have expressed serious concerns over the latest government move that, according to them, would bring a new wave of price-hike and inflation in the country, making it difficult for the middle and working classes to survive, Dawn newspaper had reported.

Academy Award-winning actor Sean Penn opens up about his meeting with Ukraine President

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:34 PM PST

Academy Award-winning actor Sean Penn, who was in Ukraine to film a documentary on Russia’s conflict with the neighbouring country, recently opened up about his experience witnessing the situation of people amid the crisis — especially while joining the fleeing Ukrainians on the exodus across the Polish border.

In a televised interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Sean said that he and his team members had “the luxury of being able to abandon a rented vehicle on the side of the road” but that “a startling thing” to him was just how many women and children were attempting to make their way across the border, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

He mentioned some were travelling in groups, others alone, with men “dropping them off and returning because we know that from 18 to 60, men are not to leave” in order to aid in the country’s resistance against Russia.

Sean also spoke about meeting Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and how his courage has impressed him.

“I don’t know if he knew that he was born for this, but it was clear I was in the presence of something. And again, I think reflected of so many Ukrainians, that was new to the modern world in terms of courage and dignity, and love that comes out of the man and the way he has unified that country,” he said.

The conflict began escalating after Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 announced the military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences they have never seen”, and since then thousands of Ukrainians, both civilians and troops, have been killed.

UN chief voices concern over political polarisation in Libya

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:33 PM PST

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held a telephone call on Friday with Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah, Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity of Libya to discuss the latest developments in the country, Guterres’ press office said on Saturday.


The secretary-general expressed deep concern at the current severe political polarisation in Libya which carries significant risks for Libya’s hard-won stability, said the press office in a readout. The secretary-general stressed the need for all actors to preserve calm and reiterated the United Nations’ firm rejection of the use of violence, intimidation and hate speech, said the readout.


The Libyan House of Representatives, the country’s parliament, on Tuesday, granted confidence to a new government to replace the government led by Dbeibah. The new government was sworn in on Thursday.


The House of Representatives withdrew confidence from Dbeibah’s government in September 2021 and kept it as a caretaker government. On February 10, it unanimously voted to appoint Fathi Bashagha as the new Prime Minister.


However, Dbeibah said his government would remain in office until an elected government is established. On February 21, he announced a plan to hold general elections in June. Dbeibah’s government on Tuesday accused the House of Representatives of approving the new government “without achieving quorum” during the session, confirming that it would continue to work and prepare for elections in June.


Guterres on Wednesday voiced concern over Tuesday’s vote in the House of Representatives. He expressed concern over reports that the vote fell short of the expected standards of transparency and procedures and included acts of intimidation prior to the session.


In Friday’s phone call, Guterres said the current stalemate required urgent dialogue to find a consensual way forward and reiterated his full support for mediation efforts such as those carried out by his special adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams.

China’s trade war with US resulted in loss of USD 550 billion: Report

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:28 PM PST

Beijing [China]: Amid an economic slowdown, China’s four-year ‘trade war’ with the US has resulted in a total loss of USD 550 billion in import tariffs, the majority of which are aimed at Beijing, a media report said on Saturday.


The trade war, accompanied by a slowdown in China’s economy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in the World Bank predicting a significant slowdown in the global economy as well as a lower prediction for the economic growth in the United States and China, reported The Hong Kong Post.

“China’s trade policy with respect to the United States has been more reactionary than anything else, responding to, rather than initiating, changes on a tit-for-tat basis,” said Jayant Menon, a visiting senior scholar of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s Regional Economic Studies Programme in Singapore.


China has targetted imports from even other countries that it sees as operating in the US’s sphere of influence. Chinese exporters have stopped importing Australian coal, sugar, barley, lobsters, wine, copper, and log lumber since 2020.


Last year, Japan filed a formal complaint with the World Trade Organisation over anti-dumping charges imposed by China on the stainless steel imports since July 2019, a move which Beijing termed as “regretful”, the report said.


However, while China restricted its trade imports from these countries, its exports to Australia, Japan, and the US in the following year were worth USD 648.7 billion, the report said, adding that the large exports were mostly due to the impact of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest free-trade agreement which China had entered into the previous year.


China would attempt to manipulate free trade deals and the international markets in order to offset the impact of the trade war and the economic slowdown, added the report.


China would regulate credit availability in international commerce, assist businesses in overcoming challenges and make greater use of free-trade agreements that have been negotiated or signed in order to “integrate and progress”, the report said citing Li Xingqian, the Director-General of International Trade in China’s Ministry of Commerce.


However, China despite its ambitions to create a new order in global trade will remain dependent on the US for innovation because much of its Information Technology (IT) sector currently is focused on manufacturing instead of innovation, the report said citing Alan Chong, an assistant professor at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. 

Mizoram: Assam Rifles recovers smuggled areca nuts worth Rs 26 lakh near Myanmar border

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:23 PM PST

Champhai (Mizoram): Preventing smuggling bid along Myanmar border, Assam Rifles recovered around 6,120 kg areca nuts also known as betel nut worth Rs 26.19 lakh from Champhai on Friday.


According to Assam Rifles, smuggling of Areca Nuts is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram, especially along the India-Myanmar border. “Serchip Battalion of Headquarter 23 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters Inspector General Assam Rifles (East) recovered areca nuts worth Rs 26,19,360 (appx 6,120 kgs) in gen area Ruantlang to Tlangsam Champhai on March 4.

The operation was carried out by a team of 8 Assam Rifles and 11 Assam Rifles on specific information,” said Assam Rifles.


The customs department seized the contraband items for further legal proceedings.

Polls for Municipal Boards commence in Assam

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:19 PM PST

Guwahati (Assam): Polls for 80 Municipal Boards comprising 977 wards across the state have begun where more than 16 lakh voters comprising 8.32 lakh males, 8.41 lakh females and 17 transgender will decide the fate of 2,532 candidates in the fray.


Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded the maximum number of candidates (825), followed by Congress with 706 candidates and BJP’s ally party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) with 243 candidates.


“For the first time, EVMs are used instead of ballot papers in these elections,” said Chandan Kalita, Presiding Officer, Kamrup on Assam Municipal elections
Adequate security arrangements have been made across the state.
The votes will be counted on March 9.

Moscow Wushu Stars Championship: Gold medalist Sadia Tariq receives warm welcome in Srinagar

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:15 PM PST

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): Sadia Tariq who won a gold Medal in the Moscow Wushu Stars Championship received a warm welcome from family and friends who reached Jammu and Kashmir’ Srinagar on Saturday.


Speaking on the matter, Tariq shared her happiness and thanked her family and coach for supporting her. “My eyes were in tears when I won the gold medal. If this happened today it is only because of my coach and family. I want to thank my coach who was there supporting me all the time,” she said.

Maimoona Tariq, mother of Sadia said her daughter was passionate about this since she was in the third standard, today she made all of us proud.


“I am proud of my daughter, she made us proud. She was always engaged in this game since the third standard. I want other children to participate in the game also and made their parents proud,” she added.

Masood Rather, Joint Secretary of Srinagar Wushu Association said “we all are very proud of Sadia. She performed very well in Wushu Stars Championship. Sadia already won two gold in national, it is her third gold medal.”

“As far as talking about Wushu, it is very popular in Jammu and Kashmir,” he further added.


Earlier in the last week of February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sadia Tariq on winning a gold medal in the Moscow Wushu Stars Championship, which is being held from February 22 to 28.


Sadia won the gold medal in Wushu Championship in Moscow by defeating a local player. Moscow Wushu Stars Championship is the approved event in the Annual Calendar Training and Competition of the Sports Authority of India. 

Court issues notice to CM Gehlot in Sachin Pilot phone tapping case

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:10 PM PST

Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India]: Additional Sessions Court in Jaipur has issued a notice to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, state minister Mahesh Joshi and others in the matter of an alleged phone tapping case.


Besides Gehlot and Joshi, the Court also sent notices to former Rajasthan Chief Secretary Rajeev Swarup and then Director General of Police Bhupendra Singh. The phone-tapping controversy surfaced in July 2020 when Congress leader Sachin Pilot had rebelled against Ashok Gehlot and accompanied by MLAs who supported him had camped in Haryana.


Congress leaders had alleged that BJP leaders were indulging in horse-trading to topple the Ashok Gehlot government.

RSS affiliate, Muslim Rashtriya Manch to launch all India campaign to raise minimum age of Muslim girls’ marriage

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:06 PM PST

Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) will launch a nationwide movement to raise the minimum age of marriage for Muslim women.


MRM, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliate organisation said a law should be made on the minimum age of marriage. The Manch said the Muslim society in the country has become aware of the ill effects of triple talaq, halala, polygamy, hijab, marriage of girls attaining puberty and others.

The Manch called for a nationwide discussion on these matters. The team of Muslim Rashtriya Manch visited the districts of Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Amroha, Rampur, Deoband, Bareilly, Bijnor, Shahjahanpur, Sambhal, Bahraich, Kairana, Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Faizabad, Saharanpur, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Gonda, Basti, Siddharthnagar, Varanasi, Mau, Deoria, Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar etc.


The Muslim Rashtriya Manch said it will run awareness campaigns and mass movements across the country for the upliftment of Muslim society. Various cells of the Manch will prepare a plan of reforms by taking together different sections of the society. These schemes will be implemented in a sequential manner across the country.


For this purpose, discussions will be held with muftis, maulanas, imams, doctors, professors, women, students, girl students and other people of the society.


Notably, the Centre introduced the “Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021” in the winter session of Parliament last year. The Bill seeks to increase the age of marriage of women from 18 years to 21 years. The Bill has been sent to the Parliamentary standing committee for examination. 

BJP will win UP- CM Yogi

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 07:00 PM PST

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday recalled the achievements of the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state and said the Modi government has focused on the welfare of poor and underprivileged sections.


“PM Modi changed the country’s agenda. PM Modi focused on villages, poor, underprivileged sections who were deprived of development and welfare schemes. We closed illegal slaughterhouses and established anti-Romeo squads to provide safety to women,” the Chief Minister said at a press conference. He said the state is witnessing a peaceful election to the state assembly.


“Before 2017, there used to be violence during elections but now elections are taking place in a peaceful manner. Polling for six phases has been completed and campaigning for the seventh phase went peacefully,” he said.


The Chief Minister further said that Lotus will bloom again in Uttar Pradesh on March 10 and BJP will again form the government.


Campaigning ended for the seventh and last phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections on Saturday. 

Clashes break out between BJP workers & Police in Mumbai

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 06:55 PM PST

Mumbai (Maharashtra): A clash broke out on Sunday between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and police outside Malvani police station in Mumbai where the interrogation of Union Minister Narayan Rane and his MLA son Nitesh Rane was underway in connection with Disha Salian’s death case.


Following the commotion, a few BJP workers were taken into custody.
Narayan Rane and son Nitesh appeared before Mumbai Police on Saturday in connection with the Disha Salian death case. The interrogation lasted for around nine hours at Malvani police station.


“We were released only after I called Amit Shah. Our statement was recorded then that Disha Salian did not die by suicide but was murdered. Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar provoked Disha Salian’s mother after which she complained stating defamation,” Rane told media persons while leaving Malvani police station after nine hours of interrogation.


“After the demise of Sushant Singh Rajput and Disha Salian, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray called me twice urging me to say it was not a minister’s car. This is an attempt to pressurise us,” added the Union Minister.


The father-son due had allegedly made defamatory remarks against late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s former manager Disha Salian.


On February 27, a case was registered against Narayan Rane and Nitesh Rane for allegedly spreading false information about the death of Salian.

UP’s future safe in Akhilesh’s hands- Mayank Joshi son of BJP MP Rita Bahuguna

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 06:50 PM PST

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Mayank Joshi, son of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi who joined Samajwadi Party (SP) on Saturday said that Uttar Pradesh’s future will be safe in former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s hands.


“I have joined Samajwadi Party today. Akhilesh Yadav talks about development, women’s safety and youth. As a youth, I thought to stand with such a person who talks progressively. I think Uttar Pradesh’s future will be safe in his hands,” said Mayank. Mayank’s joining the SP came ahead of the last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. His induction was announced by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav at an election Rally in Azamgarh.

Earlier, Mayank Joshi’s mother Rita Bahuguna Joshi had sought a ticket from BJP for her son to contest the UP Assembly Elections 2022 from the Lucknow Cantonment seat. However, BJP did not give the ticket to Mayank.


Rita Joshi had fought the 2017 elections and defeated Aparna Yadav, the then SP candidate from Lucknow Cantonment.


The elections for the 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh are being held in seven phases starting February 10. Polling for six phases has already concluded and the seventh phase will be held on March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

Tattoo artist arrested in alleged sexual assault of 6 women

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 06:41 PM PST

Kochi (Kerala): Kerala Police took a tattoo artist into custody in Kochi on Saturday for allegedly sexually assaulting several women.


Police said six cases have been registered against the accused Sujeesh PS who runs a tattoo studio at Edappally at Kochi. An 18-year-old girl alleged that she was raped by Sujeesh inside the tattoo studio while she was getting inked.


Kochi City Police Commissioner CH Nagaraju said that Sujeesh has been taken into custody and that further proceedings will be done on Sunday.


Sujeesh was taken into custody by Cheranalloor Police. Cases under sections 354 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code have been registered against him. The investigation is underway.

SBI, PHDCCI organise outreach programme to help SMEs in Punjab

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 06:37 PM PST

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) in association with the State Bank of India (SBI) organised an outreach programme in Amritsar to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Punjab that have been affected by COVID pandemic.

‘SBI-PHDCCI Industry Roundtable Meet’ at Amritsar was attended by the key policymakers from SBI and Punjab’s industries to ideate the way forward for ever closer cooperation between SBI and industry entities in the state to support the economic fundamentals and strengthen the business ecosystem, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a statement on Saturday.

“In the post-pandemic times, it was one of the early interventions for supporting Punjab’s SMEs and exporters. The deliberations of Meet are expected to help the state’s industry units to directly explore the financing and other banking services available with SBI in Punjab,” it said.

Speaking at the occasion Anukool Bhatnagar, SBI’s Chief General Manager, Chandigarh Local Headquarter & Head-Nepal Desk, said SBI is open for meeting the financing requirements of Punjab’s industries of all sizes (SMEs and large corporates).

Bhatnagar assured the industry participants attending the meet about SBI’s unwavering support for their businesses and Punjab’s development at large.

Atul K Thakur, Joint Secretary, State Development Council & Nodal Coordinator, India-Nepal Centre, PHDCCI, said PHDCCI in collaboration with SBI has planned a series of the outreach programme to help businesses, especially the SMEs, who have been badly affected by the COVID pandemic.

“A change in approach is much needed at this point of time, before the fundamentals of the world order go in reset mode, there should be determination to revive the SMEs financing to support the much-needed demand factor of the economy,” Thakur said.

PM Modi to inaugurate Pune Metro services today

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 06:35 PM PST

New Delhi [India]: In an endeavour to provide world-class infrastructure for urban mobility, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Pune Metro Rail Project on Sunday.


Prime Minister Modi will be in Pune today to lay the foundation stone and inaugurate several development projects. At around 11 am, the Prime Minister will unveil the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on the premises of Pune Municipal Corporation. The statue is made up of 1,850 kg gunmetal and is about 9.5 feet tall.


According to Prime Minister’s Office, the Pune Metro Rail Project project is being built at a total cost of more than Rs 11,400 crore. The foundation stone of the project had been laid by the Prime Minister on December 24, 2016. He will inaugurate a 12 km stretch of the total 32.2 km of the project today.


He will also inaugurate and inspect the Exhibition at Garware Metro Station and will undertake a metro ride from there to Anandnagar Metro Station.


The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of rejuvenation and pollution abatement of the Mula-Mutha River projects. Rejuvenation will be done in a 9 km stretch of the river at a project cost of more than Rs 1,080 crores. It will involve works such as river edge protection, interceptor sewage network, public amenities, boating activity etc.


Mula-Mutha River pollution abatement project will be implemented on the concept of “One City One Operator” at a cost of over Rs 1,470 crore. A total of 11 sewage treatment plants will be constructed under the project, with a combined capacity of around 400 MLD.


Prime Minister Modi will also launch 100 e-buses and e-bus depot constructed at Baner.


Further, he will inaugurate the R K Laxman Art Gallery-Museum constructed at Balewadi, Pune. The main attraction of the Museum is a miniature model based on the village of Malgudi which will be made alive through the audio-visual effects. Cartoons drawn by cartoonist R K Laxman will be showcased in the Museum.
Later on Sunday, PM Modi will kickstart the Golden Jubilee celebration of Symbiosis University.

TDP slams Andhra CM’s advisor Ramakrishna’s comments over Amravati farmers’ agitation

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 06:31 PM PST

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh): Telugu Desam Party (TDP) spokesman K Pattabhiram on Saturday slammed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s advisor Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy for his alleged remarks over Amaravati farmers’ agitation.

Addressing a press conference here, the TDP leader said the chief minister’s advisor had probably made those senseless comments without reading the verdict of the High Court on the Amaravati capital.

Pattabhiram asserted that the three judges including the chief justice unanimously rubbished the three capitals policy of Jagan Reddy. “It was his own misfortune if Sajjala could not open his eyes to see the truth even now.”


He said Sajjala’s calling the Amaravati agitation ‘farcical’ was a “brazen and thoughtless” comment.


The TDP leader pointed out that the High Court delivered a long, 307-page order on the Amaravati Capital. “The 3-member bench consisting of Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Misra, Justice Satyanarayana Murthy and Justice Somayajulu passed a clear verdict. They clearly said there was no chance for shifting the Capital and that Amaravati was the one and only capital city for Andhra Pradesh.”


He said the High Court had asked the government to abide by its agreements and hand over the developed plots to the concerned farmers as per a time frame. “Instead of falling in line with the court order, the YSRCP leaders were making all sorts of nonsensical statements which would only backfire on them eventually,” he said. 

China conducting military drills near Vietnam coast

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 06:23 PM PST

Beijing [China]: China is conducting military drills in the South China Sea in an area between its southern province of Hainan and Vietnam, media reports said on Saturday.


The Bangkok Post reported that Beijing has warned ships to stay away from the region. The Hainan Maritime Safety Administration said the drills would last until March 15. In a statement late on Friday, the Chinese administration provided coordinates for an area between Hainan’s Sanya and the Vietnamese city of Hue.


Earlier, Vietnam had slammed China for infringements on its sovereignty for entering part of the area that is well within Vietnam’s 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.


China claims a large part of the disputed waterway and has built artificial islands on some of its reefs and islets, to widespread concern from several countries including the United States.


Experts say that China’s claims are inconsistent with the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention.


The United States has repeatedly called on China to conform its maritime claims to international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention.


It has also called China to cease its unlawful and coercive activities in the South China Sea. 

China forced to increase defense budget after tech curbs from US, Europe; Analyst

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 06:20 PM PST

Beijing [China]: China’s decision to increase its military budget by 7.1 per cent, has caught the eyes of several analysts who believe that decision to spend more on defence-related research and development, was made after restrictions were imposed on the flow of technology from the US and Europe.


China is going to increase its military budget to USD 229.5 billion in 2022, according to the draft budgetary proposals released on Saturday. The draft budget was released at the opening of the annual session of the National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislature. “The main expenditures budgeted at the central level include the following: 1.45045 trillion yuan [USD 229.5 billion] on national defence, up 7.1 per cent,” the draft budget read. Another government report said that the country would boost military education and combat training in 2022.


China has the world’s second-highest military budget after the United States and is investing in long-range, nuclear-capable missiles and other weapons to extend power beyond its shores, Washington Post said.


In March 2021, China had announced a defence budget of 1.35 trillion yuan (USD 209 billion), a 6.8 per cent increase, higher than the 6.6 per cent enhancement in 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.


The money will be used to boost the modernisation of the Chinese military, including procuring and commissioning more advanced weapons and equipment in terms of both quality and quantity, strengthening the realistic combat-oriented training, and the welfare of military personnel, the report said citing experts.


The Chinese government has pledged to strengthen its national defence and military capability, according to the annual government work report delivered on Saturday morning by Premier Li Keqiang at the fifth session of the 13th NPC.


The report said that the armed forces must continue upholding the Xi Jinping “Thought on Strengthening the Military”, sticking to the goals set by the Communist Party of China, conducting combat training and exercises, and employing firm and flexible countermeasures against provocation to better safeguard sovereignty, security and national interests.


According to US analysts, China is now forced to spend more on defence-related research and development because the U.S. is cutting off the flow of technology and there are similar actions in some European countries.


A report published in the Voice of America (VOA) said China may also reconsider planned arms purchases from Russia because the performance of Russian weapons in Ukraine has reportedly disappointed some arms experts.


Experts believe that a major area of focus is China’s military behaviour in its neighbourhood. According to VOA, most of China’s neighbouring countries feel threatened by the rise in the strength of the People’s Liberation Army.

Mastercard, Visa suspend services in Russia

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 06:15 PM PST

Washington [US]: US President Joe Biden, during a conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky, welcomed the decisions of Visa and Mastercard to suspend services in Russia, the White House said.


Earlier, Zelensky said on Twitter that he held phone talks with Biden on Saturday, discussing Western support for Kyiv and anti-Russia sanctions. “President Biden highlighted the ongoing actions undertaken by the United States, its allies and partners, and private industry to raise the costs on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine. In particular, he welcomed the decision this evening by Visa and Mastercard to suspend service in Russia,” the White House said in a Saturday statement following the Biden-Zelensky conversation.


According to the release, Biden and Zelensky discussed the recent talks between Russia and Ukraine.


The White House said that the Biden administration is boosting assistance to Kyiv and is “working closely with Congress to secure additional funding.”

Ukraine president Zelensky talks to Biden on phone says 10,000 Russian troops killed

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 06:10 PM PST

Kyiv [Ukraine]: US President Joe Biden on Saturday spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discussed issues concerning security and financial support for Ukraine.


This is the second phone call between the two leaders this week. “As part of the constant dialogue, I had another conversation with @POTUS. The agenda included the issues of security, financial support for Ukraine, and the continuation of sanctions against Russia,” Zelensky said in a tweet.


The White House press pool said the conversation between Biden and Zelensky lasted about half an hour.


On Thursday, Biden had received an update from Zelensky regarding the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.


“President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine this evening to receive an update on the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” said White House.


Earlier on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called Zelensky after Bennett discussed the situation in Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a Saturday meeting in the Kremlin.

Ukraine latest-Ukraine requests urgent military assistance; Russia warns west on no fly zone

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 06:03 PM PST

Kyiv: Ukraine on Saturday urged the West to amp up military assistance to the besieged country, including warplanes, as Russian President Vladimir Putin escalated warnings against NATO.

“The highest demand that we have is in fighter jets, attack aircraft, and air-defense systems,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told a small group of journalists on the Poland-Ukraine border.

“If we lose the skies, there will be much more blood on the ground,” he said after a meeting with his US counterpart, Antony Blinken.

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “made a desperate plea for Eastern European countries to provide Russian-made planes” that Ukrainians are trained to fly, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said following a video call between legislators and the Ukrainian leader.

As the conflict moved into its 10th day, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West of a wider war if a no-fly zone is set up, as his forces resumed an offensive against a key Ukrainian city where security fears stalled a planned evacuation.

While Zelensky criticized NATO for ruling out a no-fly zone — amid worries it could spark a wider war — Putin spoke of “colossal and catastrophic consequences not only for Europe but also the whole world” if such a zone were established.

“Any movement in this direction will be considered by us as participation in an armed conflict by that country,” Putin said.

An intense round of shuttle diplomacy continued as Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made a surprise visit to the Kremlin for three hours of talks with Putin, Bennett’s office said.

It was Putin’s first face-to-face meeting with a foreign leader since the invasion began.

The Israeli leader later spoke with Zelensky.

Kyiv had asked Israel — which has strong relations with both Russia and Ukraine — to launch a dialogue with Moscow.

For Zelensky, under an escalating bombardment that has flattened more and more infrastructure and sent nearly 1.4 million civilians fleeing, the Western military alliance’s “no” to a no-fly zone essentially gave “the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages”.

The strategic city of Mariupol, on the Azoz Sea, has for days been under attack and without electricity, food and water.

After Russia declared a ceasefire to open a humanitarian corridor, city officials said the population of 450,000 could begin to leave by bus and private cars.

But the officials then delayed the evacuation, saying, “The Russian side does not adhere to the ceasefire and has continued shelling both Mariupol itself and its environs.”

A Russian Defence Ministry spokesman later announced the assault was back on, citing “the unwillingness of the Ukrainian side to … extend the ceasefire”.

The siege came as Russian forces inched closer to the capital, Kyiv, in an assault that has become ever more indiscriminate — and deadly.

Working-class towns such as Bucha and Irpin are in the line of fire, and air raids Friday broke many people’s resolve to stay.

“They are bombing residential areas — schools, churches, big buildings, everything,” said accountant Natalia Dydenko, glancing back at the destruction she was leaving behind.

Dozens of civilians have been killed in the northern town of Chernihiv. Those remaining live in craters or among ruins.

Scenes of devastation

“There were corpses all over the ground,” a man who gave his name only as Sergei told AFP, as air raid sirens wailed. “They were queueing here for the pharmacy that’s just there, and they’re all dead.”

AFP reporters saw scenes of devastation — despite Moscow’s insistence it is not targeting civilian areas.

A defiant Zelensky said Saturday that Ukrainian forces were counterattacking around Kharkiv, the country’s second largest city, inflicting “such losses on the invaders that they have not seen even in their worst dream”.

Kuleba was equally defiant, saying, “Ukraine is bleeding, but Ukraine has not fallen, and stands both feet on the ground.”

He added: “The myth of the unbeatable and almighty Russian army is already ruined.”

Since Putin’s army invaded on February 24, Russia has pummeled Ukrainian cities, with officials reporting hundreds of civilians killed.

But Moscow has so far seized only two key cities — Berdiansk and Kherson on Ukraine’s southern Black Sea coast.

Capturing Mariupol, however, would severely limit Ukraine’s maritime access and allow Russian forces to connect by land with troops from annexed Crimea and the Donbas.

The Kremlin said it was waiting for a third round of talks with Ukraine in Belarus.

The new talks would take place Monday, the Ukrainian side said.

The war has had serious global economic impacts, and the IMF warned on Saturday that its effects would be “all the more devastating” should the conflict escalate.

Russia’s business and other contacts with the West have been steadily cut. Moscow has suspended all flights by flagship carrier Aeroflot, effective Tuesday.

And the list of major companies suspending operations in Russia has grown steadily, now including Spanish clothing giant Zara and fashion chain owner Inditex.

In Washington, some lawmakers have urged President Joe Biden to take tougher measures, including banning Russia’s oil imports — though the administration is wary of seeing high fuel prices rise further.

With fears growing of direct conflict between NATO and Russia — both nuclear-armed — the US and Moscow have set up a new direct phone line to reduce the risks of “miscalculation”, the Pentagon said Friday.

US General Mark Milley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, became the latest Western figure to rule out a no-fly zone, saying it would mean taking on Russian air forces — something, he said in Riga, that neither NATO nor member state leaders are interested in.

Media exodus

Russian authorities have imposed a news blackout and multiple media outlets have halted operations. Twitter was restricted and Facebook blocked in Russia.

A host of news outlets including the BBC and Bloomberg News said they were suspending work in Russia after a new law there imposes fines and jail terms of up to 15 years for publishing “fake news” about the army.

CNN said it would halt broadcasting in Russia, while independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta said it would remove Ukraine content.

The Kremlin on Saturday defended the new law, saying it was necessary as the country was facing “an unprecedented information war”.

Putin has been unmoved as Russia has become isolated in economic, sporting and cultural fields.

Jammu and Kashmir: 230 passengers stranded in Gurez Valley airlifted

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 06:00 PM PST

In a major airlifting drive, 230 stranded passengers were airlifted to and fro Gurez valley in Bandipora on Saturday.

The airlifting drive was conducted by Bandipora District Administration in coordination with the Indian Army and other authorities.

Notably, there were 84 candidates who were expected to appear in the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) examination on Sunday among the passengers.

Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora Owais Ahmad said that with improvement in the weather on Saturday MI-17 and Aryan Private Helicopter were put into service to airlift the stranded passengers. He said more than 230 passengers were airlifted in 17 air sorties.

“114 passengers were airlifted from Dawar, Kanzalwan, Neeru and Baduaab areas of Gurez Valley to Bandipora while 103 adults and 13 infants were airlifted from Bandipora to Dawar, Kanzalwan and Baduaab areas of Gurez Valley,” he added.

Owais said the passengers including JKSSB aspirants were stranded and due to bad weather no flight could be operated till Saturday.

Visa, Mastercard suspend operations in Russia

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 05:48 PM PST

Credit card and Payment giants Mastercard and Visa announced that they were suspending operations in Russia and that their cards issued by Russian banks will no longer work outside the country.

“Effective immediately, Visa will work with its clients and partners within Russia to cease all Visa transactions over the coming days. Once complete, all transactions initiated with Visa cards issued in Russia will no longer work outside the country and any Visa cards issued by financial institutions outside of Russia will no longer work within the Russian Federation,” Visa said in a Saturday statement.

The company explained that its decision stems from the Ukraine crisis.

“This war and the ongoing threat to peace and stability demand we respond in line with our values,” Al Kelly, chairman and chief executive officer of Visa Inc., said as quoted in the release.

Mastercard also suspended network services in Russia over the latter’s special military operation in Ukraine.

“This decision flows from our recent action to block multiple financial institutions from the Mastercard payment network, as required by regulators globally,” Mastercard said in a Saturday statement.

The company added that cards issued outside of Russia will not work at Russian merchants or ATMs.

Responding to the statement issued by the two companies, the Russian state-owned banking company said the suspension of Visa and Mastercard services in the country will not affect the use of cards issued by Russia’s Sberbank within the country.

“International payment systems have decided to limit their work in Russia in the coming days. This decision will not affect the operation of Sberbank Visa and MasterCard cards within the country,” Sberbank said in a statement.

According to the release, Russian cardholders will be able to complete all transactions, such as cash withdrawals, money transfers and online payments as usual within the country.

#OperationGanga: Special flight carrying 183 Indian citizens reaches Delhi

Posted: 05 Mar 2022 05:42 PM PST

A special flight carrying 183 Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine reached Delhi on Sunday.

The special flight had departed from Hungary’s capital Budapest on Saturday under Operation Ganga.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav received the passengers at Indira Gandhi International Airport. He also interacted with the students.

Tensions have escalated following Russia’s military action against Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting on the Ukraine crisis on Saturday. The meeting was attended by Union Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary of India Harsh Vardhan Shringla and other top officials.

The Prime Minister has been regularly chairing high-level meetings over the Ukraine crisis.

Earlier on Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs said that over 13,300 people have returned to India so far under Operation Ganga from crisis-ridden Ukraine. The Ministry also informed that almost all Indians have left Kharkiv city in Ukraine and the main focus of the government is to evacuate citizens from the Sumy area as it is challenging amid ongoing violence and lack of transportation.

The government has also deployed ‘special envoys’ to five neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities.

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