Month: February 2021

The Chinese and Indian border troops on the southern and northern shores of Pangong Lake began disengagement on Wednesday as per the consensus reached during the ninth round of military commander-level talks, according to China’s Ministry of National Defense.

The Chinese and Indian border troops on the southern and northern shores of Pangong Lake began disengagement as planned on Wednesday according to the consensus reached during the ninth round of military commander-level talks, reported Global Times, citing the Defense Ministry.

India and China had agreed to push for an early disengagement of the frontline troops in eastern Ladakh during the ninth round of the China-India Corps Commander Level meeting held on the Chinese side of the Moldo-Chushul border meeting point on January 24 to address the ongoing military standoff.

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.

The Chinese have been asking India to withdraw troops and tanks first from the southern bank but India has been asking for disengagement from all the friction points. (ANI)

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday (local time) signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the leaders of the military coup in Myanmar.

“Today, I am announcing a series of actions that we are taking to begin imposing consequences on the leaders of the coup. The US government is taking steps to prevent the generals from improperly having access to the 1 billion dollars in Burmese (Myanmar) government funds held in the United States and today I have approved a new executive order, enabling us to immediately sanction the military leaders who directed the coup, their business interests and their family members,” he said at the White House.

Biden further said that Washington will identify the first round of targets this week and will also impose strong export controls, along with freezing US assets that benefit the Myanmar government while maintaining support for healthcare, civil society groups and other areas benefitting the people of Myanmar directly.

The President also condemned violence against demonstrators protesting against the coup and called it ‘unacceptable’. He also said that the US is ready to impose additional measures and will work with its international partners to urge other nations to join them in these efforts.

“I also call on the Burmese military to immediately release the democratic political leaders and activists and they’re detained including Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint, the President. The military must relinquish the power it seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people of Burma as expressed in their November 8 elections,” Biden said in his remarks.

Maintaining that the situation in Myanmar remains an issue of deep concern, Biden informed that the US last week had helped bring together the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and issued a strong statement in support of the democracy in the country.

According to New York Times, sanctions were imposed on Myanmar during the 1990s, when a repressive military government ruled the country. However, former President Barack Obama lifted those sanctions in 2016.

Myanmar’s military launched a coup on February 1 and detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Win Myint and other National League for Democracy (NLD) members.

The military also announced a one-year state of emergency in the country, vowing to “take action” against alleged voter fraud during the November 8 general election, which saw Suu Kyi’s NLD party secure a resounding victory.

Police forces on Tuesday cracked down on protesters by arresting over 100 demonstrators and firing live rounds and riot control weapons that led to serious injuries.

Police and military personnel on Tuesday night raided the headquarters of the NLD in Yangon, reported NHK World. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau and assured that India will do its best to support Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

A PMO release said that the Prime Minister received a telephone call today from PM Trudeau in which the Canadian leader informed about his country’s requirements of COVID-19 vaccines from India.

Expressing his appreciation, the Canadian Prime Minister said that if the world managed to conquer COVID-19, “it would be significantly because of India’s tremendous pharmaceutical capacity, and Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in sharing this capacity with the world”.

The Prime Minister thanked PM Trudeau for his sentiments.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a telephone call today from Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. Prime Minister Trudeau informed Prime Minister Modi about Canada’s requirements of COVID-19 vaccines from India. Prime Minister assured the Canadian PM that India would do its best to support Canada’s vaccination efforts, just as it had done for many other countries already,” the release said.

It said that the two leaders also reiterated the common perspective shared by India and Canada on many important geo-political issues.

They agreed to continue the close collaboration between both countries in fighting global challenges like climate change and the economic impacts of the pandemic.

The release said that the two leaders looked forward to meeting each other in various important international fora later this year, and continuing their discussions on all issues of mutual interest.

PM Modi said in a tweet that he had assured his Canadian counterpart that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada.

“Was happy to receive a call from my friend @JustinTrudeau. Assured him that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada. We also agreed to continue collaborating on other important issues like Climate Change and the global economic recovery,” he said.

MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said last month that New Delhi plans to supply 10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 10 lakh to United Nations health workers under GAVI’s (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) COVAX facility.

He said Covishield supplies on commercial bases are likely to take place to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada Mongolia. (ANI)

Delhi Police is seeking information from actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu about his whereabouts on January 26 when violence took place in the national capital during tractor parade called by protesting farmers, sources said.

Police sources said police were also searching for his three friends who went to Red Fort with him on Republic Day.

Sidhu was sent to seven-day police custody on Tuesday. He was arrested earlier in the day for his alleged role in the violence that took place at the Red Fort and other parts of the national capital during the tractor parade.

“Police is asking Deep Sidhu about his whereabouts on January 26 and searching for his three friends who went to Red Fort with him. Crime Branch is verifying all details that Sidhu has revealed during interrogation,” a Delhi Police source told ANI.

Sources said Sidhu stayed somewhere near Singhu border on January 25. He went to Singhu border on January 26 and reached Red Fort at around 11 am.

Delhi Police had told Metropolitan Magistrate Prigya Gupta that Deep Sidhu was the main instigator. He allegedly instigated the mob not to follow the permitted route of the Kisan parade and to breach barricades with tractors on January 26.

Delhi Police told the Court that there is video evidence to show that Sidhu entered Red Fort with supporters carrying lathis and flags. Delhi Police also told the court that he was at the rampart of the fort where a flag was raised

Meanwhile, another accused in the January 26 Delhi violence case, Iqbal Singh, was arrested by Special Cell from Hoshiarpur in Punjab on Tuesday night. (ANI)

All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will take a holy dip at Sangam in Prayagraj district on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya on Thursday.

The Congress leader is scheduled to reach Prayagraj at 11 am, where she will also participate in that Magh Mela at Sangam.

According to sources, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will first stay at Anand Bhawan, from where she will proceed to Sangam.

“No political program has been planned during her visit. She will return to Delhi in the evening,” said the source.

However, contrary to sources’ claims, the actions of UP Congress in-charge cannot be seen without a political prism. Her plans and programs are always designed with a motive keeping the image of the party in mind.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is the sole face of Congress in Uttar Pradesh, where the party is trying to regain the political ground lost almost three decades ago.

The holy dip seems like a nod to the Hindutva cadre in the state. Yesterday too, while on her way to Kisan Panchayat in Chilkana, the Congress leader visited the Shaktipeeth Shakambhari Devi temple. (ANI)

By sharing a mesmerising view of a garden, Bollywood’s ageless beauty Madhuri Dixit Nene on Wednesday treated fans to a stunning picture.

The ‘Kalank’ star took to Instagram as she posted a picture of a gorgeous garden filled with lush green plants. In the breathtaking photograph, one can see all the colours of nature from the blue sky to pink flowers and the soothing green of the plants.

The photo sees the ‘Devdas’ star sporting white pants and a grey top paired with a long shrug. The star accessorised her look with a pair of sunglasses.

Comparing the place to a paradise, the ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ star simply captioned the post writing, “Paradise,” (adding a flower emoticon).

Celebrity followers including Farah Khan Kunder and more than 1 lakh fans liked the post which was shared over the photo-sharing platform. Of late, Madhuri has been quite active on social media and keeps updating fans about her activities by posting pictures and videos.

Earlier, the actor marked 32 years of film ‘Ram Lakhan’ by sharing a picture featuring the cast of the film including herself, Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher from the celebrations on the occasion.

Madhuri was last seen in the movie ‘Kalank’, in which she co-starred along with Sonakshi Sinha, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Sanjay Dutt. She has not announced any new projects yet. (ANI)

Development in West Bengal is only possible when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee leaves and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) ‘kamal’ (lotus) blooms, said BJP national President JP Nadda on Wednesday.

“(Prime Minister) Modiji has tried everything possible to bring development in Bengal while Mamata has exploited the public through appeasement and dictatorship, and damaged Bengal’s culture. Development in West Bengal will be possible only if you say goodbye to Mamata’s government and welcome the BJP’s lotus,” Nadda said while attending the party’s ‘Cha Chakra’ programme in the Kharagpur district.

“Kamal is the way ahead. It will bring development in Bengal. Recently, Modi ji dedicated Rs 4,700 crore for a refinery project and Rs 25,000 crore for highways here. All this development will be possible only when the lotus blooms,” he added.

Nadda is in West Bengal as part of the parivartan yatras being carried out in an effort to oust the ruling Trinamool Congress government.

The first yatra was launched by Nadda from Nabadwip in Nadia district on Saturday.

Assembly polls are likely to be held in West Bengal in April-May this year. (ANI)

Another accused in the January 26 Delhi violence case, Iqbal Singh, was arrested by a Special Cell from Hoshiarpur in Punjab on Tuesday night, the Delhi Police informed.

As per the police, Singh was arrested by Northern Range of the Special Cell and a reward of Rs 50,000 had been declared on his arrest.

This comes days after the arrest of actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu for his alleged involvement in 26 January violence in the national capital. He was sent to 7-day police custody on Tuesday.

As per the police, Sidhu had allegedly instigated the mob not to follow the permitted route of the kisan parade and to breach barricades with tractors. The police also told the Court that there is video evidence showing Sidhu entering Red Fort with supporters carrying lathis and flags.

Delhi Police also told the court that he was at the rampart where the flag was unfurled.

Another accused, Sukhdev Singh was also arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch from Chandigarh on Sunday. He allegedly led the mob at the Red Fort and his role in the violence was found to be very active, the police said. A reward of Rs 50,000 was announced on him as well.

The investigation into the Republic Day violence is being conducted at three levels – local police, Special Cell and Crime Branch.

Violence broke out in the national capital during the Kisan tractor parade on January 26 against the Centre’s farm laws, after several protestors strayed from the agreed-upon route, broke barricades and clashed with the police. Properties also vandalised in the incident and many also entered the Red Fort and unfurled their flags from its ramparts.

Farmers have been protesting against three of the Centre’s 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)

Gauri Khan on Wednesday treated fans to a super adorable picture of her and megastar Shah Rukh Khan’s son AbRam Khan, calling the little one her ‘Mike Tyson’.

Gauri took to Instagram to share the sweet picture of the 7-year-old munchkin. The photo sees AbRam sporting a grey crew-neck T-shirt with his messy hair. He can be seen wearing boxing gloves while he stares at the camera with a straight face. The snap seems to be taken amid a boxing practice session and we are all for it.

Celebrity followers including Huma Qureshi, Diana Penty, Malaika Arora, and scores of fans liked the post that garnered more than 59 thousand likes within an hour of being posted.

While Malaika called AbRam a “cutie,” in the comments section, Diana showered love on the little one by leaving lovestruck emoticons.

Gauri is quite active on the photo-sharing application and often shares pictures of her children Aryan, Suhana, and AbRam on her account and her fans can never get enough of them. (ANI)

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s jibe made during the Budget Session, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday called himself a proud ‘andolan jeevi’ (one who thrives on protests) and the quintessential ‘andolan jeevi’, according to him, was Mahatma Gandhi.

“I am a proud andolan jeevi. The quintessential andolan jeevi was Mahatma Gandhi,” Chidambaram tweeted.

This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Monday said a new community has come up in the country — andolan jivi — who can be spotted in every protest and are parasite for the nation.

“We are well aware of some terms like ‘Shram Jivi’ and ‘Buddhi Jivi’. But, I am seeing that from some time a new entity has come up in this country- ‘Andolan Jivi’. This community can be spotted wherever there is a protest, be it agitation by lawyers, students, or labourers, sometimes at the forefront and sometimes from behind. They cannot live without protests. We have to identify such people and protect the nation from them. They are parasites,” PM Modi had said while replying to the motion of thanks on President’s address in Rajya Sabha.

Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year 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)