Month: July 2021

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Thursday launched a training programme in Turkey for Afghan military personnel.

This is the first time when Afghan soldiers are being trained outside their country after the end of the NATO training mission in Afghanistan, Pajhwok News reported.
“NATO’s continued support to Afghanistan includes out-of-country training for Afghan Special Forces. This training has now begun. For security reasons, we will not go into the details of our out-of-country training for Afghan special forces,” NATO informed.

These soldiers were flown to Turkey on Wednesday for military training and it is supposed to be the prelude to regular training.

Earlier, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated NATO’s continued support for Afghanistan, noting that this will include funding, civilian presence, and out-of-country training, Pajhwok News reported.

Meanwhile, human rights violations have been increasing in Afghanistan at a time when the withdrawal of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces from the war-torn country are about to be completed.

Over the past few weeks, Afghanistan has witnessed a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified its offensive with the complete pullback of foreign forces just a few weeks away.

The UN has also reiterated that both the parties in Afghanistan are obliged to respect the human rights and dignity of all Afghans, especially those of women and girls who have in the past been subjected to particularly acute forms of discrimination.

The Taliban now control about half of the 419 district centres in Afghanistan, and while they have yet to capture any of the country’s 34 provincial capitals, said General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

As the Taliban seize more territory, the Afghan security forces are consolidating their positions to protect key population centres, including Kabul, he said. (ANI)

Actor Alaya F, who is currently in Chandigarh for the shoot of her upcoming project, can’t wait to eat delicious street food items of the city.

“I’ve been in Chandigarh for almost a month now, due to the restrictions we are trying to make the best out of the time we are getting to shoot here, which results in a very packed day,” Alaya, who made her debut with ‘Jawaani Jaaneman’ in 2020, said.

“However I’m super excited to be in the city and once we wrap our schedule here I’d love to explore the streets because I have heard a lot about it and try the local vegetarian food like the famous Chole Kulche, Gol Gappe, Lassi and explore more vegetarian variety that Chandigarh has to offer since I’ve recently turned vegetarian,” Alaya added.

Alaya is shooting for the Hindi remake of the 2018 blockbuster Kannada thriller ‘U Turn, which featured Shraddha Srinath in the lead role.

The new version is being helmed by debutante director Arif Khan and produced by Ekta Kapoor. (ANI)

A nurse at a hospital in the national capital was arrested on Friday after she allegedly beat up a two-month-old and inflicted severe injuries on him.

According to police the nurse employed at a hospital in Shahdara’s Vivek Vihar was arrested based on a complaint by the infant’s father.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahdara R Sathiyasundaram said the arrested nurse was identified as Somayya (24).

“It’s suspected that she was drunk on the night of the incident”, police added stating that as per allegation the nurse used to frequently get drunk on the job.

According to complainant Sabeeb (28), a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras, his wife had delivered twins in May and one of his sons who fell sick was admitted to the hospital in Vivek Vihar in the national capital on July 18.

The man said that on July 24, he received a call from the hospital informing him about injuries sustained by his son.

When Sabeeb enquired about the injuries, the doctor allegedly threatened him. He said he was appalled to see that his son had suffered a fracture in his hand and his face had become swollen.

Also, Sabeeb said that CCTV footage from the room where his son was admitted showed that around 4 am on July 24, a nurse was seen thrashing his son. Sabeeb approached police on July 27 and after an enquiry, Shahadra Police registered an FIR under section 325 (Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (Common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and under relevant sections of JJ Act. (ANI)

Singaporean rapper Yung Raja has paid an ode to superstar Rajinikanth through his new single, titled ‘Spice Boy’.

“Rajinikanth has been my idol all through my growing-up years. He’s such a legend world over and I wanted to give an ode of sorts to him and celebrate his supremacy in my music video and for as long as I’m creating, I’ll look back to the moments he has given me as inspiration – his style mainly, and as inimitable as it is, I belong to the generation of fans that have his swagger permanently etched in our minds,” Yung Raja said.

‘Spice Boy’ is a playful exploration of South Asian distinctions embedded in cheeky nods towards Western hip-hop culture, all unified by his radical bilingual wordplay. Basically, it is an amalgamation of English and Tamil languages.

Produced by Flightsch and RIIDEM, the hip-hop track is now available on all audio streaming platforms. (ANI)

India reported 44,230 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the daily positivity rate at 2.44 per cent, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday.

With these new cases, the active tally has climbed to 4,05,155 and constitutes 1.28 per cent of total cases. The country’s cumulative COVID-19 tally has reached 3,15,72,344.
With 42,360 recoveries in the last 24 hours, the overall recoveries in the county have reached 3,07,43,972. The recovery rate now stands at 97.38 per cent.

A total of 4,23,217 deaths have been reported so far out of which 555 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

The health ministry further informed that the weekly positivity remained below 5 per cent and today stood at 2.43 per cent.

The testing capacity has substantially ramped up as the country has conducted 46.46 crore tests so far.

The ministry also informed that 45,60,33,754 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far. (ANI)

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday said pugilist Lovlina Borgohain’s fabulous performance has confirmed another medal for the country in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.

While speaking to ANI, Thakur said 130 crore Indians are sending their best wishes to Lovlina to win a gold medal.
“Lovlina Borgohain’s fabulous performance has confirmed another medal for the country. 130 cr Indians are sending their best wishes to Lovlina to win a gold medal. We hope our contingent perform well in the remaining events at Tokyo Olympics as well,” said Thakur.

Talking about Mary Kom’s issue the Sports Minister said he had taken the matter up with the Indian boxing Federation so that they can raise the issue on the right platform.

“It was unfortunate that happened with Mary Kom at the Tokyo Olympics. Mary Kom gave her best and no one can say that something was missing from her game. We have taken the matter up with the Indian boxing Federation so that they can raise the issue on the right platform,” said the sports minister.

On the first anniversary of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched SAFAL (Structured Assessment For Analysing Learning), a competency-based assessment for grades 3, 5 and 8 introduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

According to a press release issued by CBSE, SAFAL will be used to assess the progress of foundational skills and basic learning outcomes among students.
“This is in line with Para 4.40 of the National Education Policy 2020 which recommends that for the benefit of students, parents, teachers, principals, and the entire schooling system in planning improvements to schools and teaching-learning processes. All students will take school examinations in Grades 3, 5 and 8 which would test achievement of basic learning outcomes, through assessment of core concepts along with relevant higher-order skills and application of knowledge in real-life situations, rather than rote memorization,” the statement read.

SAFAL, as a diagnostic assessment, will provide developmental feedback to schools and teachers to improve teaching-learning without additional examination pressure on students. It has been designed to help students, parents, and teachers to track learning progress throughout the school years and not just in Grades 10 and 12.

SAFAL results will not be used in any manner by schools for the promotion of students to the next grade.
SAFAL will be conducted on a pilot basis in CBSE schools for students in Grades 3, 5 and 8 during the academic year 2021-22, in key curricular areas of Language, Mathematics, and EVS, Science.

CBSE has invited affiliated schools to participate in SAFAL 2021-22. The details on the assessment and registration for SAFAL will be released on the CBSE website in due course of time. (ANI)

Mary Kom, the face of India’s boxing contingent, was “shocked and upset” to learn about her Tokyo Olympics exit on Thursday. Mary Kom faced a shocking defeat — split decision — at the hands of Colombia’s Ingrit Valencia to bow out from the tournament. Valencia won bout 3-2.

However, Mary Kom thought she had won since the ace boxer had clinched two rounds after going down in the first essay.
“I thought I have won but after some time I saw Kiren Rijiju’s tweet, I was shocked and upset at the same time (to know that I have lost the match),” Mary Kom told reporters two hours after the bout.

After Mary Kom’s defeat, Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of Law and Justice, said the boxer was a clear winner but judges had their “own calculations”.

“Dear Mary Kom, you lost in Tokyo Olympics by just one point but for me you are always a champion! You have achieved what no other female boxer in the world has ever achieved. You are a legend. India is proud of you BOXING & OLYMPICS will miss you @MangteC,” Rijiju tweeted.

“For all of us @MangteC was the clear winner but Judges have their own calculations,” he added.

Global star Priyanka Chopra, who played the role of ace boxer in sports drama Mary Kom, said the Indian pugilist have inspired each and every one.

“This is what the ultimate champion looks like…Bravo @MangteC… you’ve shown us how to go the distance with passion and dedication. You inspire us and make us proud Every.Single.Time Raising hands #Legend,” Priyanka tweeted.

Valencia advanced to the quarter-finals of the showpiece event after defeating Mary Kom in the women’s flyweight (48-51kg) category event. (ANI)

Actor Shilpa Shetty has filed a defamation suit in Bombay High Court against 29 media personnel and media houses accusing them of “false reporting and maligning her image” following the arrest of her husband Raj Kundra in a case connected with creation and distribution of pornographic content.

The hearing in Kundra’s case is scheduled for Friday.
Shetty urged the High Court to issue a “permanent and mandatory injunction restraining the defendants, (themselves and through their servants, agents, assigns and/or any person claiming by or through them) from making and/or publishing and/or reproducing and/or circulating and/or speaking and/or communicating, any derogatory and defamatory statements.

She also requested the High Court to issue a mandatory order directing the defendants to forthwith delete and/or remove the defamatory articles and the defamatory videos from their respective websites and social media platforms and to issue an unconditional apology.

The petitioner is also seeking a mandatory order “directing the defendants to issue a clarificatory statement and an unconditional apology in their respective websites and elsewhere where the defamatory statements are contained stating that the defamatory articles and defamatory videos was published without ascertaining the veracity or the genuineness of the statements and hence, are baseless, unsubstantiated and unwarranted”.

The defendants be ordered and directed to pay to the plaintiff (Shilpa Shetty) an amount of Rs 20 crore together with interest thereon at 18 per cent per annum from the date of filing of the suit until payment and/or realisation, read the plea.

The actor also sought for passing appropriate directions requiring Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms to remove or delete or take down the defamatory articles and defamatory videos.

Shetty’s husband Raj Kundra was arrested by police on July 19 along with 11 other people on charges related to the alleged creation of pornographic films. Kundra has been named as the key conspirator by the Mumbai Police which has slapped charges against him under Sections 420 (cheating), 34 (common intention), 292, and 293 (related to obscene and indecent advertisements and displays) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) besides relevant sections of the IT Act and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, said the police.

Mumbai Crime Branch on Tuesday said that actor Shilpa Shetty has not yet been given a clean chit in the pornography racket case where her husband and businessman Raj Kundra is the prime accused.

“Shilpa Shetty has not been given a clean chit yet. All the possibilities and angles are being probed. Forensic auditors have been appointed and they are looking into the transactions of all the accounts in this case. This audit may take some time as it is a lengthy process but until the audit is complete, no clean chit to anyone,” the officials had said. (ANI)