Month: August 2021

Global star Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Friday shared a selfie in which her cheek and forehead are smeared with bloody wounds. Along with it, she dropped the question for her fans to figure out which of the wounds were real.

The picture, posted on her Instagram Story, was taken from the sets of ‘Citadel’, her upcoming spy series currently being shot in London.

Along with the hard-to-look-at-photo, Priyanka wrote the question, “What’s real and what’s not”.

In the follow-up Insta story, ‘The Sky Is Pink’ actor revealed that the scar on her eyebrow is real, while the blood-marks on her cheek are fake.

‘Citadel’, the Amazon-backed project is being helmed by the Russo Brothers. ‘Game of Thrones’ star Richard Madden is also a part of it.

Priyanka will also be seen in ‘Text For You’ which includes Celine Dion and Sam Heughan in the lead roles.

Apart from that, she will also be seen in ‘Matrix 4’ and the recently announced Bollywood film ‘Jee Le Zaraa’, which will mark actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar’s return as a director. (ANI)

Celebrity couple Kishwer Merchant and Suyassh Rai on Friday announced the birth of their baby boy on social media.

Sharing the good news with their fans, they posted a picture with their newborn. In the Instagram photo, Kishwer and Suyyash could be seen cuddling up with their son.

“27.08.21. Welcome BABY RAI!!! It’s a boy #sukishkababy,” their respective posts read. The baby’s name is yet to be revealed.

The post which garnered more than a lakh likes within a span of few hours got several congratulatory messages from fans, several of whom left heart emojis in the comment section.

Kishwer and Suyyash, who are fondly known as Sukish by fans, commenced dating in 2010 and got married in 2016. This year, in March, the couple announced that they were expecting a baby. They later revealed, in a video shared on her YouTube channel, that the pregnancy was unplanned.

Ever since they announced their pregnancy, Suyyash and Kishwer have been sharing gorgeous pictures of the latter flaunting her growing baby bump. Suyyash reportedly also hosted an intimate baby shower bash for their family and close friends in June. (ANI)

Day after the Kabul terror attack, some Defence experts feel that the terror groups Islamic State (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda will re-establish themselves once again under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

While speaking to ANI, PK Sehgal on Friday said that there is absolutely no doubt that ISIS will re-establish itself in Afghanistan in a big way.

“US and NATO have feared that under Taliban regime ISIS and Al-Qaeda will re-establish themselves once again and will pose a major threat to peace and tranquillity not only in Afghanistan but also other countries. This is a very serious threat and needs to be dealt with very-very severely by all countries in a united manner,” said Sehgal.

Another defence expert Captain Anil Gaur said that there is a chance of civil war in Afghanistan in the coming days as the people including the self-proclaimed ‘caretaker’ President of the Afghanistan Amrullah Saleh has taken up resistance against the Taliban.

“Now we can see in the coming days there is going to be a civil war over there in Afghanistan because this is the third factor after the Panjshir valley, where former Vice President Amrullah Saleh has taken up resistance against Taliban,” said Gaur.

Gaur said that Afghanistan is going to be in a very-very dire situation after August 31 and no one can predict what will happen in Afghanistan.

“Taliban yesterday what they did was they had put former president Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah under house arrest and have taken their away guards. Therefore, it seems Afghanistan is going to be in a very-very dire situation after August 31. Everyone is trying to evacuate their citizens and our government is also trying to do that because no one can predict after 31 what will happen in Afghanistan,” he added.

He further said India has always stood for democracy, for equal rights to everyone and in Afghanistan also India has given so much aid without any expectations from the govt over there.

“India gave nearly 3 billion dollars of worth of project which Pakistan had been asking Taliban to destroy as soon as they started taking over but Taliban proved to be very wise and they refused to do that because they said these assets are the assets of Afghanistan people and they will not destroy it and they have Indian over there to carry on their works but seeing the situation over there India has withdrawn its people from there,” Gaur added.

Afghan health officials gave varying estimates of the toll at the international airport in Kabul, the capital — from at least 30 dead to more than 60, and from 120 wounded to 140 — while a Taliban spokesman cited at least 13 civilians killed and 60 wounded, reported The New York Times.

The first blast was reported at the Abbey Gate in Kabul airport while the second one was near the Baron Hotel. (ANI)

Army Chief General MM Naravane on Friday visited Southern Command Headquarters at Pune and reviewed the operational preparedness.

He appreciated the assistance provided to civil administration by the Army during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent floods.
“General MM Naravane #COAS visited Headquarters #SouthernCommand. #COAS reviewed the operational preparedness and appreciated the assistance provided to civil administration during the COVID pandemic and recent floods. #IndianArmy #StrongAndCapable,” the Indian Army wrote in a tweet.

Earlier today, Naravane held a telephonic interaction with Nepal’s Chief of Army Staff, Purna Chandra Thapa and discussed aspects of bilateral Defence cooperation. (ANI)

Uttar Pradesh reported 21 fresh Covid-19 cases on Thursday, with this the active caseload in the state stands at 329.

As per the Uttar Pradesh health bulletin, the state has a daily positivity rate of 0.01 per cent and the recovery rate stands at 98.6 per cent.
27 discharges were also reported in the state taking the cumulative recoveries to 16,86,083.

The vaccine coverage in the state has exceeded 6,68,47,000 and 7,41,523 people were vaccinated in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, 18 districts in the state have been declared corona-free with zero active cases, as per the state health bulletin.

Earlier on Thursday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed a Covid-19 review meeting and said that UP has been maintaining control over the Covid-19 situation fairly well.

“In view of rising cases in other states, we must not let our guard down. Everyone must follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, ensure the usage of masks and social distancing. The police should issue a warning ahead of time through hooters so that the shops are closed by 10 pm. People should not roam on the streets unnecessarily,” he stated. (ANI)

Actors Sara Ali Khan and Radhika Madan are currently vacationing in Ladakh, and Sara’s Instagram posts are proof of fact that the girls are having the best time of their lives in the land of high passes.

On Friday, Sara took to the photo-sharing application and uploaded a string of images from her trip.
“Prakriti, Sukh, Shanti,” she captioned the post.

In one of the images, Sara and Radhika can be seen sharing smiles with each other while posing in front of one of the Shanti Stupa in Ladakh.

We also get to see Sara standing amid several Buddhist flags.

A day ago, Sara gave us a glimpse of the famous Pangong Tso lake. She also added Yo Yo Honey Singh’s ‘Aaj Blue Hai Paani Paani’ as the background music of the video. She also shared photographs of the terrace of her hotel, wherein she is seen capturing the scenic view of Ladakh.

It’s not clear whether Sara and Radhika are in Ladakh for some work or just for a fun trip. (ANI)

By Vipul Kashyap

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has forgiven Vinesh Phogat for her behaviour at the Tokyo Olympics and has said that the grappler is welcome to give selection trials.

“We have now forgiven Vinesh, she did wrong but she accepted her fault and as you know we usually scold our child at home so that they obey us. Vinesh is also our child and we welcome her to give trials,” WFI President Brijbhushan Sharan Singh told ANI on the sidelines of an event organised by the federation and Tata Motors.

The wrestling trials are slated to be held on August 31.

Earlier, Vinesh Phogat had apologised to the WFI after the body temporarily suspended her over disciplinary issues at the recently-concluded Tokyo Olympics.

“She has sent an e-mail, the committee will see her response and it depends whether they are satisfied with it or not. The disciplinary committee will take the call,” sources within the WFI had told ANI.

The grappler had travelled to Tokyo from Hungary where she was training with coach Woller Akos. Upon arriving, she refused to stay and train with the other Indian team members.

Grappler Vinesh Phogat’s hopes of winning a bronze medal were dashed in the Games as her quarter-final opponent Vanesa Kaladzinskaya of Belarus lost in the semi-final of the Tokyo Olympics. (ANI)

Actor Drashti Dhami, who can be currently seen in a new web show ‘The Empire’, is trying to inculcate a reading habit.

Directed by Mitakshara Kumar, the eight-episode long show is based on the novel Empire of the Moghul by Alex Rutherford.

Speaking about her reading habit, Drashti, who is best known for her TV shows ‘Geet-Hui Sabse Parayi’ and ‘Madhubala’, said, “I never read about my character, the show, or the book. My diction teacher read it out to me. I do not read a lot. But, now I am trying to read. I have started with kids’ books as of now because I think I need to get into reading. I got to know things from other people on set from what they were saying. But I never read about it. I just read my lines well.”

Kunal Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, and Dino Morea are also a part of ‘The Empire’, which is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. (ANI)

US Navy Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday on Thursday (local time) paid solemn tribute to 13 American troops who were killed in the Kabul airport terror attack.

“Their courage and selflessness represent the highest ideals of America. We pay solemn tribute to their sacrifice. To the families and loved ones who grieve – you are not alone,” tweeted Gilday.
The first blast was reported at the Abbey Gate in Kabul airport while the second one was near the Baron Hote that killed 13 US troops and injured an additional 15 service members as well as numerous Afghan civilians.

In a message to shipmates, Fleet regarding the service members killed in Afghanistan, he said, “This is a solemn day for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps team. Those warriors who died gave their lives to save thousands of men, women and children, Americans and Afghans alike.”

Condoling the families and loved ones of soldiers killed in the terror attack, he said, “We stand beside you in this pain, humbled by the loss of these heroes, grateful that individuals of such valor chose to serve among us.”

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden on Thursday (local time) ordered that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the federal government till August 30 to honour the victims of Kabul attack.

US President Joe Biden said the United States has reason to believe the leaders of the Islamic State-Khorasan terror group are behind the attacks at the Kabul airport.

Biden said the Islamic State-Khorasan has planned complex attacks against US forces and others in Afghanistan after they were released from prisons during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

Afghan health officials gave varying estimates of the toll at the international airport in Kabul, the capital — from at least 30 dead to more than 60, and from 120 wounded to 140 — while a Taliban spokesman cited at least 13 civilians killed and 60 wounded, reported The New York Times. (ANI)

India on Thursday (local time) said that Ethiopia needs all the support it can get from the international community amid the Tigray crisis.

Speaking at United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Peace and Security in Africa, India’s Permanent Representative to UN, TS Tirumurti said, “There is an urgent need to scale up efforts consistent with UN guiding principles for humanitarian assistance. Ethiopia needs all the support it can get from the international community.”
The conflict in Tigray is having a severe impact on the civilian population. The fighting in Tigray broke out in November after the Ethiopian government accused the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of attacking a regional military base to hijack weapons and arm the anti-government militia. The Ethiopian forces launched a military operation in the conflict-torn region, with Eritrea sending its troops to help Addis Ababa.

“The unilateral ceasefire announced by the Government of Ethiopia on June 28, 2021, was an important step. Unfortunately, the opportunity provided by the ceasefire seems not to have been grasped, with the continuing aggression and belligerence of one side, and the spread of fighting beyond the Tigray region,” said Tirumurti.

Tirumurti stressed strengthening the efforts towards a ceasefire at the meeting.

Noting the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia and its leadership in addressing the situation, he said, “Welcome the establishment of a Regional Emergency coordination Centre in Semera comprising federal institutions/regional counterparts, WFP and UNOCHA, to facilitate movement of trucks along afar routes to Tigray and to coordinate emergency assistance to displaced people.”

Further, Tirumurti urged for sustained close coordination between humanitarian agencies and the Ethiopian authorities to bridge the remaining gaps.

He strongly denounced and condemned all atrocities committed by armed groups against civilians including children. “Those responsible for human rights violations and sexual violence perpetrated in Tigray should be prosecuted,” said the Indian envoy.

He said that the solution to the conflict must be Ethiopian-led and within the constitutional framework of Ethiopia.

Underscoring the importance of mutual trust, engagement, dialogue, and reconciliation, for lasting peace and stability, Tirumurti reiterated the strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ethiopia by India. (ANI)