Month: February 2022

The first batch of evacuees from Ukraine reach Romania via Suceava border crossing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Friday.

Bagchi also said that the Indian team at Suceava will now facilitate travel to Bucharest for their onward journey to India.
“The first batch of evacuees from Ukraine reach Romania via Suceava border crossing. Our team at Suceava will now facilitate travel to Bucharest for their onward journey to India,” he tweeted.

Earlier in the day, the Embassy of India in Kyiv said that more than 470 Indian students will exit Ukraine and enter Romania through the Porubne-Siret Border, amid escalating tensions over Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.

“Today afternoon more than 470 students will exit Ukraine and enter Romania through the Porubne-Siret Border. We are moving Indians located at the border to neighbouring countries for onward evacuation. Efforts are underway to relocate Indians coming from the hinterland,” India in Ukraine Tweeted.

The Indian Embassy also informed that the massive evacuation operation was organized through the joint efforts of the Ministry of External Affairs, Embassy of India in Kyiv, Embassy of India, representing India in Hungary and Bosnia, Embassy of India, Bucharest accredited to Romania, and Embassy of India in Warsaw, Poland.

“This massive evacuation operation was organized through the joint efforts of @MEAIndia @IndiainUkraine @IndiaInHungary @eoiromania @IndiainPoland. Preparations are underway for continued movements,” it said in another Tweet.

Indian Embassy in Kiev issued a fresh advisory informing stranded Indian citizens that the government is working to evacuate them through Romania and Hungary.

In addition to the Control Rooms in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi and the Embassy of India in Kyiv, the presence of MEA Teams have been expanded in western Ukraine and its neighbouring border regions to assist in the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, as per the MEA statement today.

MEA Control Room 1800118797 (Toll free), +91 1123012113, +91 1123014104, +91 1123017905, +91 11 23088124 (Fax).

The contacts numbers of Embassy of India in Ukraine, Kyiv are: +380 997300428, +380 997300483, +380 933980327, +380 635917881 and +380 935046170.

While contact numbers of Camp Office in Lviv, Ukraine are +380 679335064 and +48 881551273.

MEA Team in Poland: Shehyni-Medyka border crossing (for pedestrians / using public transport) +48 575 762 557, +48 660 460 814.

Team in Poland: Krakowiec border crossing (for personal cars): +48 575 467 147

Team in Hungary: Zahony / Kpp Tysa border crossing: +36 305199944, +36 308644597, +36 302286566 Whatsapp: +91 7395983990, +36 308644597, +91 8950493059

Team in Slovak Republic: Vysne Nemecke border crossing, +421 908025212, +421 908458724

Team in Romania: Suceava border crossing: +40 731347728, +40 724382287, +40 763528454, +40 722220823

The Indian Embassy also advised Indian nationals, especially students living closest to the above border checkpoints to depart first in an organized manner, in coordination with teams from the Ministry of External Affairs to actualize this option. (ANI)

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday said that the roads of the national capital will be pothole-free within a month and if any defects are found then the action would be initiated against the concerned engineers.

Sisodia, who was allocated the charge of the Public Works Department (PWD), on Wednesday, held a meeting with officials to review the progress of development projects today.

During the meeting, Sisodia directed the officers that the entire stretch of roads of a total 1300 km of length that falls under the PWD Delhi should be inspected; the patches, which require any repairs, should be mended within a month.

He directed the officials to ensure that the roads should be repaired in an efficient manner, with no delays or nuisance. If any defects are found, an action would be initiated against the concerned engineers.

Sisodia also directed the officials to launch a mobile app for the public to avail the PWD services.

“PWD Delhi will soon launch this mobile application which would allow the residents of Delhi to access better services and register their complaints on the spot. This application would enable the residents of Delhi to register their complaints against the poor infrastructure of roads,” he added.

Earlier, Delhi’s Home Minister Satyendar Jain was holding the charge of PWD. (ANI)

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested to Russian President Vladimir Putin that they sit down at the negotiation table amid escalating tensions over Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.

“I would like to address the president of Russia once again … let us sit down at the negotiation table to stop people dying,” Zelenskyy said in a video address, Sputnik News Agency reported. The Ukraine President also said he will talk to Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

“Today at 10.30 am at the entrances to Chernihiv, Hostomel and Melitopol there were heavy fighting. People died. Next time I’ll try to move the war schedule to talk to #MarioDraghi at a specific time. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to fight for its people,” Zelenskyy said in a tweet.

He also said that Sweden has provided military, technical and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. “Grateful to @SwedishPM

for her effective support. Building an anti-Putin coalition together!” he said in another tweet.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had said earlier in the day that Moscow is ready for negotiations on Kiev at any moment.

“We are ready for negotiations. At any moment, as soon as the armed forces of Ukraine respond to the call of our president (Vladimir Putin), stop resisting and lay down their arms. No one is going to attack them, no one is going to oppress them, let them return to their families,” Lavrov said.

Zelenskyy also criticized some European countries for not being fast enough in extending assistance to Ukraine amid tensions.

“We do not quite see what you are going to do with this; how are you going to defend yourselves if you are so slow helping us in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in a televised statement, Sputnik reported.

He said that Western actions against Russia were not enough. He urged Western leaders to disconnect Moscow from the SWIFT banking system and withdraw ambassadors from the Russian capital.

Zelensky urged European countries to demand stoppage of “the war”.

Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia’s military operations in Ukraine. They have also imposed heavy sanctions on Russia.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday said that the US will introduce a new wave of sanctions against Russia in a broad effort to isolate Moscow from the global economy.

The new package of sanctions aims to cut Russia off from the US financial markets and includes freezing the assets of four major Russian banks, including VTB Bank, the nation’s second-biggest bank.

Hours after that, President of the European Council Charles Michel said that the EU has made a political decision to impose additional sanctions on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine.

“We took a political decision to add an additional package of mass sanction which will be painful for the Russian regime,” Michel said after the extraordinary EU Summit.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the new EU sanctions against Russia will hit 70 per cent of the Russian banking sector, key state-run corporations and deprive Russia of access to modern technologies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations “to protect” the people in eastern Ukraine. (ANI)

Celebrities from the Indian film fraternity extended birthday wishes to B-town’s handsome hunk Shahid Kapoor, who turned a year older on Friday.

Taking to her Instagram account, Kriti Sanon shared a picture of the birthday boy and wrote, “Wish u all the happiness, love and light. Have the bestest and most memorable year ahead! Happiest birthday Shahid!”

Actor Rakul Preet Singh also wished the ‘Udta Punjab’ actor on her Instagram Stories by writing, “Happy birthday Shahid Kapoor. Wishing you an amazing birthday and a blockbuster year!”

Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar, who is currently shooting with Shahid for a highly-anticipated thriller film, took to his Twitter handle and shared a picture featuring him with the birthday boy on the movie date.

Alongside the snap, he wrote, “Happy birthday @shahidkapoor. keep smiling and keep troubling me like you always do.”

Actor Diana Penty took to her Twitter handle and extended heartfelt wishes to Shahid by writing, “Happy Birthday @shahidkapoor Hope the year brings you loads of love, luck and good health.”

Filmmaker duo Raj and DK, who collaborated with Shahid for an upcoming OTT project, shared a picture with the birthday boy from their shooting set and wrote, “Happy Birthday @shahidkapoor!! Have an awesome, amazing and ‘sunny’ year! For real, no faking!”

Actor Raashii Khanna, who will share the screen space with Shahid for Raj and DK’s project, took to her Instagram Story and shared a selfie featuring herself with the ‘Jab We Met’ star. Alongside the snap, she wrote, “Happy birthday Shahid. Wish you a year filled with love, laughter and joy.”

Earlier in the day, Shahid’s wife Mira Kapoor also dedicated a heartwarming social media post to the birthday boy.

Sharing a series of stunning pictures, Mira wrote, “Happy Birthday life. May you get the best of everything because you are the best. Best dad, best friend, best husband, best sage… I love you.”

Meanwhile, on the work front, Shahid will be next seen in the sports drama ‘Jersey’. The film, also starring Mrunal Thakur, will hit theatres on April 14.

Apart from ‘Jersey’, Shahid has several other projects in the pipeline including his upcoming digital debut, a quirky thriller drama directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, along with an untitled action film directed by Ali Abbas Zafar.

He also has ‘Bull’ in his kitty. The action film, directed by Aditya Nimbalkar, will arrive in cinemas in April 2023. (ANI)

Amid Russian military operations in Ukraine, the Resident Doctor Association (RDA) of Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to evacuate medical students stranded in Ukraine.

“More than 17,000 Indian students pursuing their medical studies are stranded in Ukraine. AIR INDIA has increased flight fares 2-3 times in such a grave situation. It is very difficult for them to afford the escalated costs of air travel. Even those affording cannot travel due to the adverse conditions there. Everyday we are getting information of bomb explosions,” RDA wrote to Prime Minister Modi.

“Their parents here are anxious and worried about the safety and well-being of their children. We sincerely and humbly appeal to your good self to give prior to our young students and bring them back as soon as possible. We request further to the Government to help them financially and make all possible efforts to get them out,” urged the RDA.

Ukraine has closed its airspace after Russia launched a military operation against it.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has sent teams to the land borders with Ukraine in Hungary, Poland, Slovak Republic and Romania to assist the evacuation of Indian nationals.

According to sources, the central government will arrange evacuation flights for Indian nationals in Ukraine.

They said that the cost will be completely borne by the government for this evacuation.

“Two flights for Bucharest today and one flight for Budapest for tomorrow are being planned to be operated as GOI chartered flights,” a source said.

A number of explosions were heard in the capital city of Ukraine as the Russian special military operation entered the second day, local media reported on Friday.

In his telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, PM Modi also sensitised him about India’s concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, and conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return to India. (ANI)

Moscow on Friday claimed to have destroyed 118 military facilities of Ukraine’s military infrastructure in a counter-offensive operation by the groupings of troops of Donetsk and Lugansk with fire support from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

“During the special military operation, the Russian Air Force destroyed 118 military facilities of Ukraine’s military infrastructure, including 11 military airfields, 13 command posts and communication centres, 14 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 36 radar stations,” tweeted Russian Embassy in India.
In the course of a special military operation, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed 118 military facilities of the military infrastructure of Ukraine. Among them were 11 military airfields, 13 command posts and communication centres of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 14 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 36 radar stations.

Meanwhile, it shot down 5 combat aircraft, 1 helicopter, 5 unmanned aerial vehicles.

18 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 7 multiple rocket launchers, 41 units of special military vehicles and 5 combat boats were destroyed, read the Russian Defence Ministry release.

“After the stabilization of the situation in the combat area, all surrendered Ukrainian servicemen will be released home,” said the ministry.

Meanwhile, on Thursday night, units of the Russian Airborne Troops took full control of the territory in the area of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

An agreement was reached with the servicemen of a separate battalion of protection of the nuclear power plant of Ukraine on joint security of the power units and the sarcophagus of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, said the release. (ANI)

Amid the ongoing hijab controversy in Karnataka, the Education Committee of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has issued an order asking its education department officials to ensure that no student comes to its schools in “religious attire”.

In a phone conversation with ANI, SDMC’s Education Committee Chairperson Nitika Sharma said, “An incident had come to the fore from an East Delhi school where a girl had gone to the school wearing a hijab. Keeping that in mind, we have issued the order of following the dress code in school. All primary schools come under MCD. We cannot allow children to dress on the basis of religion.”

“Schools are being divided on the basis of religion. According to me, students should look similar in their dressing style otherwise a sense of inequality will rise among them. We have primary schools which is the foundation period of a student. We respect all religions and all the students are equal to us,” she added.

Sharma has written the letter to the Director, Education (SDMC). The SDMC runs primary schools up to Class 5.

In the letter to the Director, Sharma wrote, “It has been observed that some parents are sending their children to school in religious attire which is not right. This may develop the mentality of inequality among students, which is not good at all for their future. Keeping in view all these factors, all zonal officials should be directed to ensure that students can wear dress other than their uniforms only during school competitions and festivals.”

Meanwhile, speaking on the incident of a school refusing entry to a girl in hijab, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, “Girls of every religion and every caste study in Delhi schools. There is no restriction and every tradition is respected, so far no one has any problem. We value each and every child.”

The hijab protests in Karnataka began in January this year when some students of Government Girls PU college in the Udupi district of the state alleged that they had been barred from attending classes. During the protests, some students claimed they were denied entry into the college for wearing hijab.

Following this incident, students of different colleges arrived at Shanteshwar Education Trust in Vijayapura wearing saffron stoles. The situation was the same in several colleges in the Udupi district. The Karnataka pre-University education board had released a circular stating that students can wear only the uniform approved by the school administration and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has announced that all schools will function completely in offline mode from April 1. (ANI)

Ahead of the fifth phase of the Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday promised the people free gas cylinders in Diwali and Holi.

Speaking at a rally in Prayagraj, Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided gas cylinders to 1.67 crore houses of Uttar Pradesh.

“Now if you vote the BJP government back to power again, then Yogi Adityanath’s government is will give you one gas cylinder free of cost on Holi and Deepawali.”

Shah also warned the public from those doing politics on the basis of religion and caste and urged the people to vote for the BJP.

“Those opposing the BJP (Samajwadi Party) have spectacle in their eyes. Through one glass they see caste and through another, they see religion. You and I are not visible in either of the glasses. Those who do politics on the basis of caste and religion cannot do good to the poor and backwards,” Shah.

He further stated that only BJP-led NDA can do good for poor and backward society under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.

“After the vaccine was discovered, Akhilesh Yadav tweeted asking the people not to take the vaccine saying that it is Modi vaccine. He, who ridiculed the COVID-19 vaccine, got himself vaccinated after ten days ‘in the dark’. The third wave was not severe because the Modi’s government provided free COVID vaccines to the people of the country,” said Shah.

Speaking about the development in Uttar Pradesh, Shah said, “Congress, SP and BSP ruled this state for 70 years but the poor did not even get toilets. With the Yogi government coming to power, toilet facilities were made available and there is ample electricity supply.”

The Union Home Minister said, “In the NDA meeting, Anupriya Patel said that there was no reservation for backward society in the NEET examination. Within seven days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it easy for aspiring doctors by giving reservation in the NEET examination.”

Speaking on BJP’s alliance with other parties in Uttar Pradesh, Shah said, “Our alliance with Nishad Party and Apna Dal is a winning alliance. All three of us are working for the welfare of backward, poor, downtrodden people of society. Your vote to the Nishad Party and Apna Dal will strengthen Prime Minister Modi.”

The fifth phase of voting in Uttar Pradesh will take place on February 27 when 60 assembly constituencies will go to the polls. (ANI)

As COVID-19 cases continue to decline in the national capital, a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) withdrew several restrictions and with that, the offline classes in all schools will resume from April 1 onwards.

Delhi Chief Minister advised all to follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and highlighted that fines for not wearing masks have been reduced to Rs 500 in the national capital.

Taking to Twitter today, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote, “DDMA withdraws all restrictions as the situation improves as people facing hardships due to loss of jobs. Schools to function fully offline from April 1. Fines for not wearing masks reduced to Rs 500. All should continue following COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour. The government will keep a strict watch.”

On Thursday, Delhi reported 556 new COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths, as per the state health bulletin.

The DDMA convened a virtual meeting under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was also present in the meeting. (ANI)

Amid ongoing Russia’s military operations against Ukraine, the Government of India will arrange evacuation flights for Indian nationals in Ukraine, said sources on Friday.

The sources further said that the cost will be completely borne by the government for this evacuation.
“Two flights for Bucharest today and one flight for Budapest for tomorrow are being planned to be operated as GOI chartered flights,” said Government sources.

Air India is operating three flights between India-Ukraine on February 22, 24, and 26.

The flights will take off from Boryspil International Airport and bookings are open through Air India booking offices, website, call centers, and authorized travel agents.

Earlier on Thursday, with Ukraine closing its airspace after Russia launched a military operation against it, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had sent teams to the land borders with Ukraine in Hungary, Poland, Slovak Republic and Romania to assist the evacuation of Indian nationals.

India strongly emphasized the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a mutually amicable solution.

A number of explosions were heard in the capital city of Ukraine as the Russian special military operation entered the second day, local media reported on Friday.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations “to protect” the people in the Donbas region.

Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia’s military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow. (ANI)