Month: August 2021

India wrestler Vinesh Phogat lost in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Freestyle 53kg event at the Tokyo Olympics after going down against Belarus’ Vanesa Kaladzinskaya here at Makuhari Messe Hall A Mat B on Thursday.

Vanesa Kaladzinskaya won against the 26-year-old Indian by pinning her on the mat (victory by fall). The number one seed Indian came under early pressure in the bout as the Belarusian took an early lead by 2-0. Vinesh soon equalised for 2-2 but in the same sequence, Kaladzinskaya grabbed two more points and later another point as the Indian trailed 2-5 going into the second half.

Chasing the bout, Vinesh started the final three minutes with more aggression but the European champion stood strong with firm defence. Kaladzinskaya gave no chance to Indian even after a successful review by Vinesh’s side which saw one point for Indian and two points fewer for Vanesa.

Vinesh soon got pinned down by Kaladzinskaya in an absolutely brilliant move as she cruised into the semis of the event. The Belarusian will now face USA’s Jacarra Gwenisha Winchester or China’s Qianyu Pang in the final four.

Earlier in the day, Vinesh progressed into the quarterfinals of the Women’s Freestyle 53kg event at the Tokyo Olympics after defeating Sweden’s Sofia Magdalena Mattsson by 7-1 in the 1/8 finals. (ANI)

Amid uproar over the Centre’s three farm laws, National Convenor of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan VM Singh chaired a meeting of a farmers delegation on Wednesday said that Rashtriya Kisan Morcha will a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting their issues.

Around 100 farmers’ organisations from different states participated in the meeting at Rakabgunj Gurudwara to hold discussions over farm laws.

“We have constituted an organisation called Rashtriya Kisan Morcha. Around 125 Kisan organisations came here at Rakabgunj Gurudwara. Raju Shetty, PV Rajgopal, Rajendra Singh and many other leaders joined us from different states through video conferencing,” VM Singh said, according to a release.

“We are ready for talks, but the dialogue will not happen in closed rooms. It will happen in front of televisions. The nation must see what dialogue is going on. Tomorrow, we will write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioning these issues and we will say that if they are concerned about the farmers then he must show it,” Singh said.

Speaking further, he said: “We are seeing that no dialogue is taking place between the farmers and the government. Till when this deadlock will continue? We have come here to resolve the problems. This is neither good for the country nor the farmers. This meeting is to tell Narendra Modi ji that even if we are not protesting at the borders we are still against the bills,” he added.

The farmer leader said they are demanding four amendments to the farm laws.

“We are demanding four amendments to the laws. We want amendment in the jurisdiction of the court as we want it to be there. Secondly, we want the government to clarify that in any kind of agreement, farmers’ land is not at stake. Thirdly, the guaranteed price will be a minimum support price (MSP) as per the contract act. Lastly, instant payment should be done at the time of buying the crops from farmers,” he added.

“They must agree to these four amendments. There is a possibility that if govt agrees to these amendments then farmers who are sitting at the borders also get ready for talks over the MSP guarantee,” he said.

VM Singh demanded that criminal cases against farmers who were protesting since November last year should be withdrawn.

Farmers have been protesting on different borders on 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 Farms Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (ANI)

A frenzied mob in Bhong city in Rahim Yar Khan district of Pakistan attacked a Hindu temple on Wednesday. A video clip which was posted on social media claimed that the mob was attackingthe Sidhi Vinayak temple in the city.

The clip shows a violent group of over two dozen people vandalizing the temple and breaking idols as well as the temple structure.

This is not the first time that minority Hindu places of worship have come under attack from Muslim hardliner groups. In late March this year, an over 100-year-old Hindu temple undergoing renovation in Pakistan’s garrison city of Rawalpindi has been attacked by a group of unidentified people.

In January 2021, a violent mob set fire to a Hindu Temple in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region before desecrating the idols. Just three weeks back, on July 13, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government withdrew criminal cases against 350 people accused of burning down the temple, claiming that the minority Hindu community has pardoned them.

Minorities have been a constant target of Islamic hardliners in Pakistan which has also frequently repored forced conversions and kidnapping of women belonging to minoritiy communities like Hindus, Sikhs and Christians.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said that the Taliban’s demands from the International community will not be accepted until they stop the ongoing violation.

He also said that the terrorist group will not be recognized either, Khaama Press reported.

“Taliban are demanding their leaders’ names to be taken out of the black list and ultimately do visits to other countries around the world which he believes will not be logical and pragmatic with the current level of violation by the group,” he said during the announcement of the US new program-Program2- for resettling Afghans who have worked for the United States government beyond interpreters and translators.

The US expresses concern over crimes by the Taliban days after the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission in a statement cited its investigation over the alleged massacre by the Taliban in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province.
As per the investigation, the Taliban have killed over 40 former and current officials of the Afghan government, as per Khaama Press.

On Tuesday, Afghanistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanif Atmar while calling upon the international community said that press releases are not sufficient, they should give the Taliban a serious response in upcoming Doha meetings.

During a meeting with the ambassadors and representatives of regional and international countries including the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and European Union, he said: “press releases do not suffice but the International community should give the Taliban a serious response in upcoming Doha meetings.” reported Khaama Press.

The twin gatherings hosted by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs were attended by over thirty ambassadors and representatives, Khaama Press reported further.

Heavy clashes are taking place between Afghanistan forces and the Taliban in several Afghan cities. Aghan forces battled the Taliban in Lashkar Gah as the fighting intensified in the city in southern Helmand province and the frontline was in District 1 where the US conducted an airstrike on Monday morning.

Over the last few weeks, the Taliban have captured several districts in Afghanistan including Takhar, the country’s northeastern province.

Nationwide, the Taliban controls 223 districts, with 116 contested and the government holding 68, according to the Long War Journal, whose calculations tally with CNN’s estimates. It says 17 of 34 provincial capitals are directly threatened by the Taliban. (ANI)

By Naveen Kapoor

The grand Ram Temple being constructed in Ayodhya will be opened for devotees from December 2023. Source told ANI that Garbhagriha, all five mandaps and the first floor will be ready by December 2023 and the temple will be opened for devotees

Museum, digital archive and research centre will also be built in the complex and the entire journey of the temple will be encapsulated in the museum, informed sources said. The entire complex will be spread over more than 100 acres of land.

The cost of the construction of the grand Ram temple is about Rs 1,000 crore and it is learnt that Rs 3000 crore has already been received in donations for temple construction. This does not include donations from NRIs living in foreign countries as FCRA account is not there still to receive NRI funds, a source told ANI

There will be no use of bricks and steel in the overall structure but the Ram Temple Trust is sensitive about the bricks in Karsewakpuram as they are being carved for more than 20 years stones and will also be integrated into the structure, sources said.

The majority of stones are coming from Bansi Pahar in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Some stones to be used in Ayodhya are being carved at the mining site only. Copper will be used in joining the stones and there will be no use of steel, sources said.

On peak days, more than 5 lakh devotees are expected to converge in the temple and arrangements are being made accordingly at the premises.

Outside security of the temple will be provided by state and central governments. However, security inside the temple is expected to be undertaken by the Ram Temple Trust. Larsen and Toubro is implementing the construction of the project and Tata Consulting Engineers has been hired as the monitoring agency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5 last year. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed the “stupendous performance” of Indian hockey teams at the Tokyo Olympics.

Referring to the semi-final match played by the Indian women’s hockey team and the team’s performance in the tournament, he said they played with grit and determination and showcased great skill.
The Prime Minister said he was proud of the women’s hockey team.

“One of the things we will remember Tokyo 2020 for is the stupendous performance by our Hockey teams. Today and through the Games, our Women’s Hockey team played with grit and showcased great skill. Proud of the team. Best of luck for the game ahead and for future endeavours,” he said in a tweet.

The Indian women’s hockey team on Wednesday lost 1-2 to Argentina in a hard-fought match at the Tokyo Olympics here. Indian women’s hockey team reached the semi-final at Olympics for the first time.

The Indian men’s hockey team lost 2-5 to Belgium in the semi-final on Tuesday. India reached the semi-final of men’s hockey in the Olympics after four decades. (ANI)

As Bollywood actor Kiara Advani gears up for the release of her upcoming film ‘Shershaah’, her director Vishnuvardhan has showered the diva with praises, comparing her with south female superstar Nayanthara.

As the promotions of Kiara’s upcoming film ‘Shershaah’ are in full swing, Vishnuvardhan, in an interaction, commended the 29-year-old actor saying, “When you get the right cast, 50 per cent of your battle is won. The rest of the 50 per cent is how they’re going to perform and Kiara is one of the smartest and most intelligent actors I have actually met, which is very good.”

“The last I had met someone like that was Nayanthara (the two had worked together in the 2007 and 2013 Tamil blockbusters, Billa and Arrambam), and seeing Kiara today… well… it was a pleasure working with her. And once you see the film, you’ll understand why the casting has been done the way it has been done because we had certain images of the real and reel people as we were closer and as genuine as could be to the story and characters that lived,” he added.

Vishnuvardhan said when she worked with Nayanthara, she used to be so sharp and so intelligent and “I felt that similar way when working with Kiara”.

“She’s so smart and so sharp. All you need to do is just give them a hint and tell them what it is and they catch it so fast.”

Exploring the untold stories of the unsung heroes of war, Kiara’s character Dimple Cheema pays an ode to the sacrifices and strength of the strong pillars of support to the army officers at the frontline.

With her simple, endearing, and heartwarming portrayal, Kiara is winning the hearts of the audience in glimpses through the trailer and songs of ‘Shershaah’.

Apart from ‘Shershaah’, Kiara Advani will be next seen in ‘Bhool Bhoolaiya 2’, ‘Jug Jugg Jeeyo’, Shashank Khaitan’s untitled next as well as the recently announced Shankar’s next with Ram Charan. (ANI)

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of the revised Samagra Shiksha Scheme for School Education for a period of five years from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2026.

The scheme covers 1.16 million schools, over 156 million students, and 5.7 million Teachers of Govt. and Aided schools (from pre-primary to senior secondary level).
Addressing the press briefing here, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “The Centre will be investing at least Rs 3,00,000 crore in the education infrastructure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is focusing on four points in education– equality, quality, accessibility, and affordability.”

“Sustainability Development goals for education have been kept in mind. Universal education which was a part of the National Education Policy is a part of the scheme as well,” he stated.

“Government schools will have playschools as well and teachers will be trained accordingly,” he said.

“Emphasis will be placed on vocational learning. Classes 6-8 will receive their exposure and focus on skills will be placed on classes 9-12. Talks are held to formalize coding, augmented and virtual reality, etc. along with more modern skills in schools,” he said.

The Education Minister also mentioned that transportation facilities will be provided to the students who cannot afford them under Samagra Shiksha 2.0 and it has been extended to secondary level at up to Rs 6,000 per annum.

“For out-of-school children at 16 to 19 years of age, support will be provided to SC, ST, disabled children, up to Rs 2000 per child per grade to complete their secondary/senior secondary levels through National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS),” he said.

Recognising the crucial role of Foundational skills in the national development, it was announced under the ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’ campaign that a National Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission will be launched, for ensuring that every child in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy in Grade 3 by 2026-27.

In this context, the “National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat)” has been launched on 5th July 2021 under Samagra Shiksha. (ANI)