Month: November 2020

The opposition’s Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has vowed to defy government ban on its public gathering in Peshawar on Sunday and warned the district administration that use of force to stop the protesting citizens could spark street battles.

While speaking at a joint press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, the representatives of the opposition parties declared that rallies across the country will be held as the PDM planned, until Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is removed, reported Dawn.

This came after the Peshawar deputy commissioner had refused to allow the opposition to hold their rally scheduled for November 22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The COVID-19 positivity rate [in] District Peshawar has presently exceeded 13 per cent, which is alarmingly high and any large public gathering is likely to further increase the spread of life-threatening virus. The undersigned regrets to inform you that permission for the said event has not been granted,” Dawn quoted the Peshawar deputy commissioner, reported Dawn.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) central information secretary Dr Nafeesa Shah at a separate presser also warned the government against playing with the emotions of the masses, asking the administration to allow the 11-party opposition alliance to hold its Peshawar rally in a ‘peaceful’ manner.

Expressing serious concern over the increasing prices of life-saving drugs, food items and other essential commodities, Dr Shah said the existing inflation was the outcome of bad governance.

She further added the government was trying to hide behind the pandemic but warned that it would not find any route to escape.

The PPP leader also alleged that the recent Gilgit-Baltistan election once again proved that the PTI had come to power through election engineering.

Meanwhile, several other opposition leaders also condemned the administration for turning down the permission for the Sunday gathering during the press conference, and said the rulers were using different pretexts to disturb the people’s movement against the government, according to Dawn.

They further warned the government that any attempt to create hurdles in the holding of PDM’s meetings would spark street protests.

“We are ready to go to extreme point against government,” said Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter chief Senator Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman.

The PDM had earlier held massive rallies in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, demanding Prime Minister Imran Khan’s resignation.

Meanwhile, opposition candidates have led protests in Gilgit Baltistan, who accuse the local election commission of delaying and manipulating the results of Sunday’s polls to favour Imran Khan’s PTI party. (ANI)

Dr Lobsang Sangay, President of Tibetan government-in-exile on Friday formally entered the United States White House, a historic feat for the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).

According to a release from the office of Tibet in Washington, Dr Sangay became the first Sikyong (President of CTA) to be formally invited into the US State Department to meet Assistant Secretary and Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Robert Destro.

For the last six decades, the head of CTA was denied entry to the US State Department and White House, as the US government does not recognise the Tibetan government-in-exile. The Friday’s visit amounts to an acknowledgment of both the democratic system of CTA and its political head.

Sangay was invited to the US State Department for the first time in 60 years last month.

The CTA informed that Dr Sangay met with White House officials, and prior to this meeting, he had met them in undisclosed meetings and locations over a dozen times in the past 10 years since he became the CTA’s Sikyong in 2011.

“Though he nears the end of his term as the Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration, Dr. Sangay has tirelessly advocated for the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2019,” said the release.

Earlier this week, Dr Sangay held several virtual meetings, through which he discussed Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) and other matters with the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China Chairman Jim McGovern and senior Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffers, both on the Republican and Democrat side.

Representative Ngodup Tsering and Kelsang Dolma had also accompanied Dr Sangay on these meetings.

In October, after Sangay was invited by the State Department, the Chinese government has asked the US to stop interfering in China’s internal affairs or undermining the development and stability of the country’s Tibet region.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a daily briefing in Beijing on Tuesday that Destro “violated the commitment and the policy stance of the US side on not supporting Tibet’s independence and not acknowledging this government in exile”. (ANI)

Actor Taapsee Pannu on Saturday gave her fans a glimpse of her training routine for her upcoming film ‘Rashmi Rocket.’

The ‘Pink’ actor hopped on to Instagram to shared three pictures from her training sessions. The pictures see her in a black tank top which she paired with white coloured shorts.

Pannu is seen hopping in one picture, skipping in the other one, and running in the third one.

“Hop … Skip… Run.. Repeat!#RashmiRocket P.S- those marks aren’t of the brutal assault on me but technically only on my muscles. #BattleScars,” she wrote in the caption.

After wrapping up the shoot for her film ‘Haseen Dilruba,’ the ‘Thappad,’ actor has been shooting for ‘Rashmi Rocket’ which is a sports drama. (ANI)

In a move that is expected to draw the ire of China, the United States and Taiwan on Friday signed a blueprint for closer economic ties, in Washington.

The memorandum of understanding agreed to during Friday’s inaugural talks over a US-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue included healthcare, semiconductors, 5G infrastructure and energy sectors, besides supply-chain security.

“We find ourselves in a drastically changing world with new challenges to human rights, cybersecurity, economic stability and geopolitics,” Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan’s official representative in Washington, said in a statement. “Therefore today’s dialogue comes at an opportune time to discuss how we could work together to address these challenges.”

Taiwan’s delegation Friday was led by its Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-chyi, with the US side headed by Undersecretary of State Keith Krach, who visited Taipei in September.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin warned last week that the partnership risks damaging Washington-Beijing relations. “China consistently opposes official exchanges between the US and the Taiwan region,” he said, adding that Washington should “send no misleading signals to the Taiwan separatist forces”.

Taipei also announced on Friday that US Environmental Protection Agency head Andrew Wheeler would visit the island in December, the third such high-level US official visit since August. China has long sought to contain Taiwan globally.

China regards Taipei as a “breakaway province” and has said that it wouldn’t mind using force to claim it. At the same time, Beijing has also accused Washington and Taipei of promoting independence.

China in recent years has also increased military drills around Taiwan, with almost 40 Chinese warplanes crossing the median line between the mainland and Taiwan on September 18-19, one of several sorties the island’s President Tsai Ing-wen called a “threat of force”.

During US Health Secretary Alex Azar’s historic visit to Taiwan in September, China deployed fighter jets that briefly crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait, South China Morning Post had reported citing Taiwan’s Defence Ministry.

The ministry had said it had tracked the PLA fighters with its land-based anti-aircraft missiles and had “strongly driven them out”.

In August, the United States announced that it was establishing a new economic dialogue with Taiwan focused on technology, healthcare, energy and other sectors. Taiwan hopes talks will result in a free-trade agreement with the United States. The Trump administration has also stepped up military support for Taiwan in recent years through increased arms sales. (ANI)

India’s coronavirus tally crossed the 90-lakh mark on Friday with 45,882 new infections reported in the last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Friday.

The total cases in the country now stands at 90,04,366 including 4,43,794 active cases and 84,28,409 recoveries. With 584 new deaths, the toll mounted to 1,32,162.

This is the 13th consecutive day when India reported less than 50,000 cases in a day. The last time daily new cases crossed the 50,000-threshold was on November 7.

Leading the state tally of the maximum number of cases reported in the last 24 hours, Delhi recorded 6,608 new cases on Friday. Active cases in the national capital currently stand at 40,936, while 4,68,143 patients have recovered from the viral infection. The total COVID-19 tally in Delhi has reached 5,17,238, with 4,68,143 recoveries, and 8,159 deaths.

Following close behind, Kerala recorded 6,028 new Covid-19 cases today. The active cases in the state are currently at 67,831, while 4,81,718 people have recovered from the viral infection.

Maharashtra reported 5,640 new COVID-19 cases, 6,945 recoveries, and 155 deaths on Friday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 17,68,695. There are 78,272 active cases in the state and 16,42,916 patients have recovered so far. The death toll is currently at 46,511.

As many as 2,762 new cases of Coronavirus were recorded in Rajasthan today. The total cases in the state have risen to 2,37,669 including 2,130 deaths and 2,14,616 recoveries. Active cases in Rajasthan stand at 20,923

Gujarat witnessed a rise of Covid-19 cases and recorded 1420 new patients on Friday. As many as1040 recoveries and seven deaths have also been reported in Gujarat in the last 24 hours. The state currently has 13,050 active cases, while the total Covid tally stands at 1,94,402.

A total of 1,781 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Karnataka on Friday, taking the total cases in the state to 8,69,561. There are 24,752 active cases in the state while 8,33,169 people have recovered and 11,621 patients have lost their lives due to the viral infection.

Andhra Pradesh reported 1,221 new Covid-19 cases taking the total positive cases in the state to 8,57,037 on Friday. There are 15,382 active cases, while 8,34,735 people have recovered cases in the state. The death toll has reached 6,920 in Andhra Pradesh.

As many as 661 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Jammu and Kashmir today, out of which 253 were from the Jammu division and 408 were from the Kashmir division. The total number of cases in the Union Territory now stands at 1,05,376 including 5,678 active cases, 98,076 recoveries, and 1,622 deaths.

A total of 5 deaths and 512 fresh Covid-19 cases were reported in Uttarakhand today. The total number of positive cases in the state has reached 70,205 including 64,939 recoveries, 4,051 active cases, and 1,138 deaths.

On Thursday, the Union Health Ministry said that India’s active caseload has fallen under 5 per cent and the new recoveries continue to overtake the daily new cases continuously for the past 47 days. It also said that the national coronavirus recovery rate now stands at 93.58 per cent. (ANI)

India on Friday at the United Nations (UN) said that as peace process and violence cannot go together, therefore for durable peace in Afghanistan there must be “an end to terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries operating across the Durand Line”.

Speaking during Arria Formula Meeting at the UN on the theme “What can the Security Council do to support the peace process in Afghanistan”, Ambassador TS Tirumurti, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, said, “Even as we meet today, fighting continues in Afghanistan in several areas across the country. Reports are coming in of civilians, including children and women, killed or injured in the violence. Terrorist attacks continue to target innocents and institutions of learning.”

He further said, “It is our view that peace process and violence cannot go hand in hand, and we call for immediate comprehensive ceasefire. For durable peace in Afghanistan, we have to put an end to terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries operating across the Durand Line. The report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team under the Al-Qaeda/Da’esh Sanctions Committee has also highlighted the presence of foreign fighters in Afghanistan. For violence to end in Afghanistan, these terrorist supply chains must be broken.”

He urged the Security Council to speak “unequivocally against violence and terrorist forces” and act against the terrorist sanctuaries and safe-havens.

Speaking on the India-Afghanistan relations, Tirumurti said, “India and Afghanistan are contiguous neighbours. We are connected together by centuries of historical, people-to-people and cultural relations. India has stood resolutely behind the Government and people of Afghanistan and has supported the development of Afghanistan.”

He also gave a number of necessary points that need to be followed to achieve “our endeavour” to bring “lasting peace and stability” in Afghanistan.

“Firstly, the peace process must be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. Solutions must come from the Afghans themselves, in line with the wishes and aspirations of all sections of Afghan society. Sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan must be respected,” he said.

He further said, “Secondly, there needs to be zero tolerance of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Afghanistan can succeed only when terrorism no longer flows across the Durand Line. Terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan’s future or dictate the choices Afghans make. It is important to ensure that no one provides sanctuary to terrorists who threaten Afghanistan or any other country in the region. Those who do so must be held accountable.”

“Thirdly, the international community, simply cannot afford to lose the gains of the last two decades. The progress achieved so far is hard-won. The future which we seek should have a place for every Afghan and should have space for everyone’s aspiration. In particular, India is convinced that the rights of women need to be strongly protected. Gender mainstreaming and safeguards are integral to the future of Afghanistan and we appreciate the remarks of the President of Afghanistan in this context. The rights of the minorities and the vulnerable need to be safeguarded. Respect for human rights and democracy needs to be ingrained in any framework that a future Afghanistan designs for itself. The recent targeted attacks on ANDSF, Universities, women occupying positions of responsibility and youth only serve to highlight the concerted effort by terrorists and their sponsors to erode the gains of the last two decades,” he told the UN.

“Fourthly, it is important to ensure that the issue of full transit rights to Afghanistan is not used by States to extract political price from Afghanistan. The international community should discourage medieval mentalities and work towards removal of artificial transit barriers imposed on Afghanistan. It should ensure all transit rights guaranteed to Afghanistan under bilateral and multilateral transit agreements operate without any hindrance. India remains committed to working with the international community towards achieving this shared objective,” he added. (ANI)

Three Bollywood films – ‘Thappad,’ ‘Chhapaak,’ and ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan,’ – have been nominated for the prestigious Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTA).

All three films revolve around different social issues and bring out the message of the need to bring a change in the society.

Film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh took to Instagram to announce that the three films have been nominated for the prestigious awards in the Best Asian Film category.

“UPDATE… #Thappad, #Chhapaak and #ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan nominated in #BestAsianFilm category at the prestigious #AACTA Awards,” he wrote.

“The awards are supported by #NSW Government, #Australia… Earlier, #Dangal had won #BestAsianFilm award… #IFFMelbourne is the industry partner,” he added.

While Anubhav Sinha’s ‘Thappad,’ revolves around the issue of gender roles and domestic violence, Meghna Gulzar’s ‘Chhapaak,’ is based on the life of a real acid attack survivor.

Hitesh Kewalya, and Rohit Sharma’s ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan,’ on the other hand deals with homosexuality and same-sex love. (ANI)

Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Friday knocked the doors of the Supreme Court seeking custody of Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy for his alleged failure to return the money collected from the public.

SEBI has sought Rs 62,602 crore from Sahara that the company had collected from the public, with a promise of return.

On the other hand, Sahara had claimed that it returned all the money collected from depositors.

Subrat Roy is currently on bail in the ongoing SEBI vs Sahara refund case in the apex court. (ANI)

Amid the rising COVID-19 cases in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met with representatives of market associations on Friday and took note of their grievances.

During the meeting, he conveyed to members that the Delhi government does not wish to close the markets, which are emerging as the hotspot in the region.

“Met representatives of market associations. I removed their anxieties — govt does not wish to shut any market. They assured anyone not wearing a mask in the market will be provided free by market asssociation. All shops will also be asked to keep spare masks and hand sanitisers,” Kejriwal tweeted.

Earlier today, Kejriwal had said market associations can play an important role in the fight against COVID-19.

“Am meeting representatives of market associations today to seek their cooperation to ensure appropriate COVID behaviour at market places. Market associations can play a very important role,” Kejriwal tweeted.

On Tuesday, the Delhi government informed about the proposal that it has sent to the Centre, saying that if needed, markets flouting safety protocols be closed for a few days.

“Since cases are rising in Delhi, we are sending a general proposal to the Central government, that if required, Delhi Government can implement shutting down those markets for few days, where norms are not being followed and these market places are becoming a local COVID-19 hotspot,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday during a virtual press conference.

A total of 7,546 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi on Thursday taking the total count to 5,10,630.

According to the Delhi Health Department, 6,685 people recovered from the coronavirus today and the total recoveries now has gone up to 4,59,368. (ANI)