Month: January 2021

Afghanistan will soon receive 500,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine from India, said Tahir Qadiry, Afghanistan’s Charge d’Affaires, on Monday.

Qadiry said in a tweet, “In the continuation of admirable humanitarian gesture and bilateral bonhomie, India will soon send 500,000 doses of vaccine to Afghanistan.”

“This will expedite our efforts to tackle this medical emergency. Immensely thankful to our allies,” he added.

Till now, India has supplied COVID-19 vaccines made in the country, under the initiative of Vaccine Maitri programme, to neighbouring countries including Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Last week, Anurag Srivastava, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, said at a press briefing that supplies as grant assistance to Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be undertaken after receiving confirmation of regulatory clearances from these two countries.

Contractual supplies are also being undertaken to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Morocco, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

India had earlier supplied hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and paracetamol tablets, as well as diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves and other medical supplies to a large number of countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. (ANI)

Despite a change at the White House with a new commander-in-chief, tensions between Washington and Beijing continued to escalate with China slamming US military deployment in the South China Sea saying that President Joe Biden-led administration is doing so to “flex its muscles.”

Speaking at the regular press briefing, Zhao Lijian, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, slammed the US for sending an aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt to the South China Sea to promote “freedom of the seas”.

“It does no good to regional peace and stability for the United States to frequently send military vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea to show off muscles,” Zhao said.

He further said, “We urge the US side to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, and refrain from sending any wrong signals to the “Taiwan independence” forces so as to avoid damaging China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”

On January 23, the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) had announced, the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) entered the South China Sea on January 23 to conduct routine operations.

The TRCSG consists of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), Destroyer Squadron 23, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS John Finn (DDG 113).

This comes days after China passed a law that gives power to its coastguard to fire on foreign vessels and demolish structures built in disputed waters, South China Morning Post reported.

China’s top legislative body, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, on Friday passed the coastguard law that empowers the coastguard to use “all necessary means” to deter threats posed by foreign vessels in waters “under China’s jurisdiction”. It will also allow the coastguards to launch pre-emptive strikes without prior warning if commanders deem it necessary.

The SCMP reported that it is yet to ascertain whether the law will be applied to all waters claimed by Beijing, which has a number of competing claims with its neighbours in the East and South China Seas.

Meanwhile, Taipei on Sunday expressed gratitude to the US for its commitment of “rock-solid support” against China’s coercion after the United States expressed plans to strengthen ties with Taiwan under President Joe Biden’s administration.

“We sincerely thank US State Department for its rock-solid support of democratic of Taiwan in the face of Beijing’s ongoing coercion. Based on shared values and interests, we are committed to our partnership with the United States in furthering peace and stability in the Indo Pacific,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan said in a tweet amid Beijing’s growing belligerence. (ANI)

President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday said that the economy has started showing indications of recovery “faster than anticipated” and has “regained dynamism” and the slowdown induced by COVID-19 has turned out to be “transitory”.

In his address to the nation on the eve of 72nd Republic Day, the President said the process of unlocking was carefully calibrated by the government in order to open up the economy without risking the lives of the people.

“This has proved effective and the economy has started showing indications of recovery faster than anticipated. The latest unprecedented collection of GST and India’s emergence as a most favoured destination for foreign investment are indicative of our faster economic recovery,” he said.

The President said the government has encouraged small and medium industries to unleash entrepreneurial spirit by providing easy loans to them and helped them to come up with innovative business ideas.

He also referred to economic reforms continuing apace, long-pending reforms in labour and agriculture and the launch of National Education Policy 2020.

“The net outcome of all these efforts is before us. After about a year of this unforeseen ordeal, India today stands not despondent but confident. The slowdown has turned out to be transitory as the economy has regained its dynamism. A self-reliant India has manufactured its own vaccine for COVID-19, and is now undertaking a mass vaccination drive, which will be the largest exercise of its kind in history,” he said.

The President said that given the country’s population density, diversity of cultural traditions, natural and geographical challenges, taking precautionary measures against COVID-19 was far more difficult for us. “Yet, we have managed to check the spread of the virus to a large extent.”He also referred to difficulties faced by students due to conditions created by COVID-19 and said the institutions and teachers quickly adopted new technology.

“Despite the serious calamity, we have succeeded in taking forward our activities in many spheres. The pandemic threatened to derail the young generation’s learning process, but institutions and teachers quickly adopted new technology and ensured that there was no break in education,” he said.

The President lauded the Election Commission for holding polls in Bihar amid difficulties posed by COVID-19.

“By conducting not only free and fair but also safe elections in Bihar which has high population density and in union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with difficulties of access and other challenges, our democracy and the Election Commission have accomplished remarkable feats. The judiciary found help in technology and continued to function and dispense Justice. The list is long,” he said. (ANI)

A ‘Green tax’ will soon be imposed on older vehicles in a bid to clean up the environment by phasing out unfit and polluting vehicles.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has approved the proposal to levy the tax and it will now go to the states for consultation before it is formally notified.

As per a statement, transport vehicles older than eight years could be charged the Green Tax at the time of renewal of fitness certificate at the rate of 10 to 25 per cent of the road tax, and personal vehicles are to be charged Green Tax at the time of renewal of Registration Certification after 15 years.

Vehicles like strong hybrids, electric vehicles, and alternate fuels like CNG, ethanol, LPG, and those used in farming will be exempted.

Public transport vehicles like city buses will be charged lower, while a higher tax (50 per cent of Road Tax) will be imposed for vehicles registered in highly polluted cities.

The tax amount will depend on fuel (petrol/diesel) and type of vehicle.

“Revenue collected from the Green Tax to be kept in a separate account and used for tackling pollution and for States to set up state-of-the-art facilities for emission monitoring,” the statement said.

The Green tax is aimed at dissuading people from using vehicles that damage the environment and to motivate people to switch to newer, less polluting vehicles.

Gadkari also approved the policy of deregistration and scrapping of vehicles owned by the government and PSU, which are above 15 years of age. It is to be notified and will come into effect from April 1, 2022.

The statement further added that it is estimated that commercial vehicles, which constitute about 5 per cent of the total vehicle fleet, contribute about 65-70 per of total vehicular pollution.

“The older fleet, typically manufactured before the year 2000 constitute less than 1 per cent of the total fleet but contributes around 15 per cent of total vehicular pollution. These older vehicles pollute 10-25 times more than modern vehicles,” it said. (ANI)

Ahead of the farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday appealed to the farmers to ensure that the event remains peaceful while urging the Centre once again to heed the troubled voice of the farming community in the true spirit of the Indian Republic.

“Peace has been the hallmark of farmers’ democratic protests all these months, and should remain integral to your agitation in the days ahead, including the R-Day Tractor Rally into the national capital,” said the Chief Minister, in his Republic Day eve message.

The sight of farmers’ tractors on Delhi roads tomorrow will underline the fact that the ethos of the Indian Constitution and the essence of our Republic is inalienable and uncompromisable, he said.

Chief Minister said that the brazen manner in which the three Farm Laws were pushed through, without debate or discussion, cannot, and should not be accepted in the world’s largest democracy.

The Centre had absolutely no power to legislate on a state subject, which Agriculture is, and the implementation of the farm legislation violates every principle of our Constitution and the federal structure it stands for, he added.

The Chief Minister said in their collective fight, in which his government was standing shoulder to shoulder with the farmers, was aimed at protecting the federal core of the Indian Constitution.

“We stand by every farmer whose sweat and blood has nurtured Punjab’s soil for decades, and without whom India today would not stand tall as a self-reliant nation. Besides compensation and job for one family member of each of the deceased farmers, we shall extend any other help their families may need. We shall continue also to reach out to the families of those still camping at the Delhi border to make their voice heard by the Government of India,” said Captain Amarinder, reaching out to every farmer and their families in Punjab.

He also extended his respects to all those farmers who had lost their lives in the prolonged agitation, which could have been avoided in the first place or could have been brought to an end long back had the “insensitive” Government of India, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not chosen to stand on unwarranted ego.

There was no justification, said the Chief Minister, for the Central Government’s adamant refusal to repeal the Farm Laws, which, in any case, have been implemented arbitrarily without consultation or discussion with the farmers and other stakeholders.

Recalling the contribution of Punjab’s farmers to India’s self-reliance and progress, the Chief Minister said they did not toil with their sweat and blood to see a nation whose

Constitutional ideals of justice, liberty, equality and dignity, were being systemically trampled over the past 6 years, most notably over the past 2 months of their struggle.

“The voice of the farmers, and in fact every section of our populace, is being subjugated, and we have to ensure that their voice is not only heard but also heeded,” he asserted, adding that the celebration of the Indian Republic would not be complete without the acknowledgement of this contribution of Punjab and its farmers to India’s progress.

Farmers from all across the country are marching towards Delhi to take part in the scheduled rally. Tractors from Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan have reached on Tikri border as the farmers sit in for protest for nearly two months.

Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws – Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (ANI)

Months before the West Bengal Assembly polls, Congress and the Left Front alliance on Monday announced here that they will stay on the seats which they had won in the 2016 Assembly Election while the sharing of the rest 217 seats will be concluded by January 31.

Addressing the media, West Bengal state Congress Committee president Pradip Bhattacharya said, “For now, we agree on the principle that the 77 seats that won by Congress and the Left parties in 2016 Assembly elections will be in same status quo. Right now it’s not possible to talk about the exact numbers. The sharing of the rest 217 seats will be concluded by January 31.”

In the press conference, it was also announced that Congress and the Left parties will hold a mega joint rally at Brigade in Kolkata at the end of February.

Slamming the political opponents, Bhattacharya said, “Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) are indulged in a bullfight and dirty word exchanges. Bengal cannot be handed over to them.”

Discussing further programmes of the alliance, Chairman of the Left Front Biman Bose said, “On Republic Day tomorrow, the Left parties and Congress will hold processions in all districts in solidarity with the farmers’ agitation in Delhi. On January 30, we will march to Gandhi Ashram in Beliaghata from Entally to mark the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.”

In the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections, out of the 294 seats, Congress had managed to win 44 seats while the Left Front bagged 33 seats. The ruling TMC secured 211 seats and BJP had won 3 seats.

Elections for 294 Assembly seats in West Bengal are slated to take place this year. (ANI)

By Reena Bhardwaj

Champ and Major, the pair of German Shepherds of President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden arrived at the White House finally on Sunday (local time) to join the first family.

In a statement, the First Lady’s office said that Champ is “enjoying his new dog bed by the fireplace and Major loved running around on the South Lawn.”

Champ joined the Biden family during the presidential transition in December 2008, weeks after Biden became vice president-elect.

Major joined the Biden clan almost eight years later. The Bidens fostered Major from the Delaware Humane Association and made his adoption official in November 2018.

Former President Donald Trump was the first president in modern times to have spent four years in the White House without procuring a pet. He was also the first occupant of the White House not to have a dog in over 100 years.

The Biden pooches will join the elite ranks of Socks Clinton, Barney Bush, Macaroni Kennedy and Rebecca Raccoon Coolidge, all pets that former Presidents welcomed into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. (ANI)

Kannada actress and ‘Bigg Boss 3 Kannada’ contestant Jayashree Ramaiah was found dead at an old-age and rehabilitation centre in Bengaluru.

The police said that she was found hanging and may have committed suicide. It is suspected that she was struggling with depression due to family issues.

Jayashree had acted in movies like ‘Uppu Huli Khara’ and ‘Kannada Gothilla’.

Police reports suggest that she died by suicide on January 24 late night. A case has been registered with the Bengaluru police station. More details are awaited as the investigation is underway. (ANI)

Sharing a happy picture from Rann of Kutch, Bollywood star Taapsee Pannu on Monday announced a wrap on her upcoming sports-drama ‘Rashmi Rocket’.

The ‘Pink’ star hopped on to Instagram to post a happy picture of herself as she cherishes a camel ride.

The photo sees Pannu sitting on a cart, which is being pulled by a camel decorated with colorful ornaments. The ‘Thappad’ star herself is seen sporting balloon pants and red top and paired it with an embroidered white waistcoat that has red detailing.

The actor seems to enjoy the ride as she smilingly waves her hands in the air. Along with the post, she said that she ‘hitch-hiked’ in the Rann of Kutch.

“I hitch hiked.#LastDayOfShoot#RashmiRocket #WhiteDesert #KachchhDiaries.”

Celebrity followers including Tamannah Bhati and more than 55 thousand fans liked the post within an hour of being posted.

Pannu’s upcoming sports flick is directed by Akarsh Khurana and co-produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Neha Anand and Pranjal Khandhdiya.

The drama, which chronicles the story of a girl Rashmi and her journey from a tiny village to athletic contests is expected to release sometime in 2021. Besides that, she also has ‘Looop Lapeta’ and ‘Haseen Dillruba’ in the pipeline. (ANI)

Days after a physical brawl between the Chinese and the Indian Army took place on January 20 along the Line of Actual Control in Sikkim, the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday “urged” India to “refrain from actions that might complicate the situation along the border”.

Speaking at a press briefing, Zhao Lijian, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, also claimed that the Chinese border troops are “committed to upholding peace and tranquillity along the border with India”.

“I would like to stress though that China’s border troops are committed to upholding peace and tranquillity along the border with India,” he was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.

“We urge the Indian side to work in the same direction as us and refrain from actions that might escalate or complicate the situation along the border,” he said while adding that both countries will take “proper actions to manage their differences and take concrete actions to safeguard peace and stability along the border”.

This comes after the Indian Army had confirmed that a physical brawl between the Indian and Chinese soldiers took place on January 20.

“It is clarified that there was a minor face-off between Indian Army and Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops at Naku La, Sikkim on January 20. It was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols,” the Indian Army said.

According to earlier sources, soldiers from both sides were injured during the brawl.

This comes amid the ongoing standoff between India and China.

In June last year, 20 Indian soldiers, including a Colonel, lost their lives in the face-off in clashes with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley.

The ninth round of Corps Commander Level talks between India and China to address the ongoing military standoff in Ladakh ended at 2:30 am on Monday.

The meeting lasted for more than 15 hours after starting at 11 am on Sunday at Moldo opposite Chushul in the Eastern Ladakh sector.

The two countries have been engaged in a stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since April-May last year. While China began amassing massive military strength along the LAC, India responded with a befitting build-up.

Multiple rounds of talks have failed to yield any significant result in defusing border tensions. (ANI)