Month: October 2021

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday promised the farmer at Punjab’s Mansa that after April 1, the party will not let any farmer die by suicide.

While interacting with farmers here, Kejriwal said, “It pains everyone when we hear about farmers dying by suicide. After 70 years of Independence, if our farmers are dying by suicide it is a shame for us.”
“Today, I can assure you that after April 1, after AAP-government is formed in Punjab, we’ll not let any farmer die by suicide. We’ll do anything for it. I promise you that,” he added.

Kejriwal also mentioned a “large scale planning” for the farming sector in Punjab and said that when he visits again after one month, he will share that “planning” with them.

The AAP Convenor said that his visit to the state is because of the loss farmers incurred due to untimely rains.

Further, referring to Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s announcement of compensation, Kejriwal claimed that none of the farmers was given any compensation and only “posters were pasted behind the buses”.

“Stop imitating the ‘common man’ Channi sahib; we fulfil the promises we make. Sit with the farmers to understand the loss incurred; compensation of mere Rs 8,000 is not enough,” he said.

He also claimed that the Delhi government gave a compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre to the farmers there, and is continuing to provide it.

He further requested the farmers of Punjab to not choose suicide if the Channi-government does not give them compensation, as, after winning the Punjab elections in March, the AAP government will provide full compensation by April 30.

Kejriwal is on a two-day visit to Punjab. On reaching Sangrur today, he met the party’s state president Bhagwant Mann’s family at the latter’s residence.

His address began with two minutes of silence to pay tribute to the three women farmers crushed to death at the Tikri border today. (ANI)

During a promotion event of her latest movie ‘Eternals’, Oscar winner Angelina Jolie avoided answering questions about the nature of her relationship with the Grammy winner singer The Weeknd.

The ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’ actor has been spotted out on multiple dinner dates with the ‘Blinding Lights’ singer in recent months which eventually sparked rumours that the pair could be romantically involved.
While recently appearing on an interview with E! News, the singer was asked if she and her children are more excited about her Marvel film or her friendship with the ‘Secrets’ crooner.

“They’re very excited about this film if that’s what you’re asking. They’re very excited about this film,” she answered smiling.

For the unversed, Angelina was in September spotted arriving separately from the singer at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, California; however, after a couple of hours inside, they were photographed leaving together, according to Page six.

Giorgio Baldi is the same place where the duo was spotted for their first-ever sighting together in June.

An insider earlier told Page Six that both the stars are simply ‘colleagues’.

“They’re clearly not trying to hide [the dinner date] He’s definitely focused on getting to the movie business. He has the new HBO series he’s starring in,” the insider told. (ANI)

Actors and real-life couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal have a cameo in filmmaker Shaad Ali’s upcoming project ‘Call My Agent: Bollywood’.

Sharing experience working with Ali Fazal in ‘Call My Agent: Bollywood’, Richa said, “It was a really blessing to be shooting opposite Ali for the first time. I love the French show and I am happy someone thought it could work in the Indian setting. The director was so open to ideas, he allowed us to improvise and come up with comedic lines. Shaad is cooking up a treat and I cannot wait for the release.”

‘Call My Agent: Bollywood’ is an Indian adaptation of the popular French series ‘Dix Pour Cent’, written by Abbas and Hussein Dalal.

Actors Soni Razdan, Rajat Kapoor and Ayush Mehra will be seen playing the lead roles in the Netflix series. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kedarnath, Uttarakhand on November 5, informed Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday.

As per a release of the PMO’s office, the Prime Minister will offer prayers at the Kedarnath Temple and thereafter inaugurate Shri Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi and unveil the statue of Shri Adi Shankaracharya.
“The Samadhi has been reconstructed after the destruction in the 2013 floods. The entire reconstruction work has been undertaken under the guidance of the Prime Minister, who has constantly reviewed and monitored the progress of the project,” read the release.

“Prime Minister will review and inspect the executed and ongoing works along the Saraswati Aasthapath. Prime Minister will also address a public rally. He will inaugurate key infrastructure projects which have been completed, including Saraswati Retaining Wall Aasthapath and Ghats, Mandakini Retaining Wall Aasthapath, Tirth Purohit Houses and Garud Chatti bridge on river Mandakini,” it added.

The release further informed that the projects have been completed at a cost of over Rs 130 crore.

It further said that PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for multiple projects worth over Rs 180 crore, including the Redevelopment of Sangam Ghat, First Aid and Tourist Facilitation Centre, Admin Office and Hospital, two Guest Houses, Police Station, Command and Control Centre, Mandakini Aasthapath Queue Management and Rainshelter and Saraswati Civic Amenity Building. (ANI)

Israel is cooperating with India in fighting terrorism and extremism and “we have to make terrorism disappear,” Israel’s newly-appointed envoy to India Naor Gilon has said.

In an interview with ANI, the envoy said that Israel is also a big victim of terrorism like India and is sharing its capabilities in fighting the menace.
“Terrorism is a sickness hitting our region especially but around the world, extremism is really bad. Israel is unfortunately big victim like India. We have developed our methods and its capabilities in fighting terrorism and we are very happy to share it with countries in general and India in particular and we do share it and we do work together. We have to make terrorism disappear, people have to talk to each other not to kill each other,” he said.

The Israeli envoy said Iran is a big threat to his country and they also shared concerns with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his visit to Israel earlier this month.

India shares good relations with Iran and both countries share common regional interests especially in the context of Afghanistan. Strategic Chabahar port has been built by India in Iran. The envoy said two friendly countries can have different interests.

“I think like many other issues, each country has its own vision and own interest because there is a difference sometimes between the two. Israel spoke at length with Indian Foreign Minister on how we see and perceives Iran. He made a point in saying India’s interest in having Iran cooperate on Afghanistan. We are trying to settle different visions, interests and different interests,” the envoy said.

Naor Gilon also said that recently held quadrilateral meet between India, Israel, US and UAE has no military component and is purely infrastructure oriented.

“This group of four is totally economic infrastructure of doing business and doing better for the region. So in general there is cooperation. This is not the right group for military cooperation but we do have bilateral, multilateral (cooperation) with….. this group of four,” he added.

The envoy referred to Indian Air Force participating in the Blue Flag 2021 international exercise in Israel. The UAE Air Force chief had also visited Israel to observe Blue Flag exercise.

“Indian fighter jets participated in this international drill for the first time,” he said.

The Israeli envoy also told ANI that one of the actors of popular web series ‘Fauda’ will be coming to India (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet Pope Francis in the Vatican on the second day of his arrival in Rome, Italy for the G20 Summit.
While there is no official confirmation on the date and time of this significant meet, PM Modi is expected to meet the head of the Catholic Church on October 30 at the Vatican, just hours ahead of the G20 Summit.

Sources are tight-lipped on the nature of the meet. Also, it is believed that the meet is expected to be seen as a gesture inspiring confidence and trust between the two countries.

The Vatican is a city-state surrounded by Rome and is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

The PM is visiting Rome for the two-day G20 Summit, which is scheduled to take place on October 30 and 31.

PM Modi is scheduled to attend the 16th edition of the G20 summit in Rome, Italy and will attend the World Leaders’ Summit of the COP26 in Glasgow after the summit.

PM is expected to pitch for collective measures to deal with the situation in Afghanistan.

G20 is a global forum whose members account for more than 80 per cent of global GDP, 75 per cent of global trade and 60 per cent population. The theme of this G20 meet under the Italian Presidency is centred around ‘People, Planet and Prosperity.’

The summit is being attended by heads of state/ government of G20 member countries, the European Union and other invited countries and international organisations.

PM is expected to hold bilateral meetings including one with Italian PM Draghi. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each from PM National Relief Fund to the next of kin of those killed in the bus accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Thatri.

Eight people were killed and several others injured after a mini bus travelling from Thathri to Doda in Jammu and Kashmir fell into a gorge at Sui Gwari along the river Chenab on the Thathri-Doda road early this morning.
The injured have been shifted to hospital and rescue operation is underway.

The PM has also announced Rs 50,000 each to those who sustained injuries.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that he has spoken to Vikas Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Doda regarding the incident.

“The injured have been shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Doda. Whatever further assistance required will be provided,” said the Union Minister. (ANI)

Israel’s new Ambassador to India Naor Gilon on Thursday said that the new quadrilateral economic forum between India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the US has no military component and the emphasis in only economy and infrastructure.

In the first four-nations virtual meeting earlier this month, the Foreign Ministers of the four countries discussed possible joint infrastructure projects in the fields of transportation, technology, maritime security, and trade.
The new Quad builds on cooperation between the US-Israel-the UAE after the Abraham Accords was signed last year that saw the UAE and Israel establish diplomatic relations.

On the question of whether this new forum is against Iran, Gilon replied that that cooperation is to promote something positive.

“I don’t think the cooperation is against Iran. Cooperation is to promote something positive and not to create something negative against someone else. .. There is no military element in this cooperation.”

Answering a question of the emergence of the new Quad in the middle east, ambassador Gilon said, “I think there is a lot of synergy between India, UAE and Israel because you have a lot of companies in UAE led by Indians and most of the biggest companies have representations there. So this is one link.”

The envoy said that the new quad has been created as a practical deal-making forum and not a symbolic one.

“Together with Israel; with the manufacturing ability of India; the technological ability of UAE and along with the money… this should be a big success. …We hope not to keep this as a symbolic forum but a practical deal-making forum,” he said. (ANI)

Bombay High Court on Thursday granted bail to Aryan Khan in the Mumbai cruise drugs seizure case.

Bombay High Court also granted bail to Arbaz Merchant and Munmum Dhamecha in the case.
At present, Aryan is lodged at the Arthur Road Jail along with another accused Arbaaz Merchant. Whereas, Munmun Dhamecha is at Byculla women prison.

Aryan Khan was arrested on October 3. An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa at mid-sea on October 2. A total of 20 people, including two Nigerian nationals, have been arrested so far in the case. (ANI)