Month: April 2022

Having activated the first anti-ship cruise missile battalion earlier this month, Filipino military personnel would start arriving in India from July-August onwards to receive training on operating the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system for which they signed a contract worth over USD 375 million in January.

Government officials told ANI that presently, Indo-Russian joint venture company BrahMos Aerospace is helping the Philippines military in setting up the bases for the anti-ship missile system.
The first set of BrahMos missile system is expected to reach Manila in around the next 18 months. Their military personnel would start arriving in India for training on the missile system by July-August timeframe this year, the officials said.

After activating their first BrahMos missile battalion, the Philippines Marine Corps stated that it will be operating one of the best antiship missile systems on the planet which can quickly detect, track, chase and destroy targets, media reports from the Philippines said.

BrahMos Aerospace would impart training to the Philippines marine corps personnel in Delhi and Hyderabad where they have main production and training centres.

The deal with the Philippines for the BrahMos missiles is the biggest ever export contract signed by India with any foreign country and is expected to open doors for many doors in southeast Asia.

The contract includes training of the firing and maintenance crew for the missiles. The missile system will be delivered to the Philippines within the stipulated timeframe.

BrahMos Aerospace and DRDO have been working towards enhancing the capabilities of the BrahMos missile inducted already in the three services and its range has been extended successfully.

The missile was at the centre of a controversy recently when it got accidentally fired during a routine inspection from a missile base in western India and landed in Pakistan without causing any significant damage.

After the incident, the Philippines and some other countries had sought clarification on the issue. The Indian officials from Delhi had communicated the reasons for the incident and they understood the matter completely, officials said.

The issue is over for all sides and now the Philippines military is preparing for its future with the BrahMos missile system. (ANI)

Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) on Saturday announced that it has revised the price of its COVID vaccine Covishield for private hospitals from Rs 600 to Rs 225 per dose.

“We are pleased to announce that after discussion with the Central Government, SII has decided to revise the price of Covishield vaccine for private hospitals from Rs 600 to Rs 225 per dose. We once again commend this decision from the Centre to open precautionary dose to all 18+,” tweeted Adar Poonawalla, CEO SII.
The Union Ministry of Health on Friday announced the rollout of the precautionary third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for the 18-plus population at private vaccination centres from April 10.

All those who are more than 18 years of age and have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose, would be eligible for the precaution dose, the ministry said in a statement.

This facility would be available in all private vaccination centres.

India started administering precaution doses to frontline workers, healthcare workers and those above the age of 60 years with comorbidities on January 10 this year. Later, on March 16, the vaccination drive for precaution dose was extended to all adults above the age of 60 years. (ANI)

The Taliban have denied reports that the United States conducted airstrikes on a weapons cache in Helmand and said the Islamic Emirate had detonated mines near the province, Afghan media reported.

“The rumours that indicate an airstrike was conducted in Shurab of Helmand and that it inflicted casualties, are not true. However, old mines were gathered from several parts of Helmand, and we detonated them,” said Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman for the Taliban, TOLOnews reported.
Political analysts said that if the reports were true, the attack would be considered a violation of international law. This comes as former US President Donald Trump suggested that US troops have left major weapons in the country and might march back to recapture them, quoted TOLOnews.

“A heavy explosion at a weapons depot at the Shurab military base took place on Wednesday last week, a source close to the Taliban said the blast was not caused by fire … it was an airstrike that targeted the depot …” Modern Diplomacy said.

Back in time, similar strikes were carried out in Nowzad and Musa Qala’h districts in Helmand, and Tarink city. A radio tower belonging to the Taliban, and another IED were demolished during the assault. Quoting the sources, Khaama Press also reported an instance of a search operation conducted by the Afghan Special Forces for a suspected weapons cache in Ahmedabad district of Paktika province and discovered one magnetic mine and 16 mine controllers. (ANI)

Bollywood diva Malaika Arora, who met with a car accident last Saturday, opened up about the incident on social media today.

For the unversed, Malaika suffered minor injuries in a car accident last Saturday and was hospitalised at the Apollo hospital in Navi Mumbai.

Taking to her official Instagram handle, the actor penned a note to thank everyone for their love and support.

She began, “The last few days and the events that unfolded have been quite unbelievable. Thinking about it in retrospect feels like a scene from a film and not something that actually happened. Thankfully, immediately after the accident, I felt like I was enveloped with the care from so many guardian angels – be it my staff, the people who helped me reach the hospital, my family who stood by me throughout this ordeal and the amazing hospital staff.”

She continued, “My doctors ensured my safety in the most caring way possible at every step. They made me feel safe and secure instantly and I am so very grateful for that. And finally, ofcourse the love that came in from my friends, family, my team and my Insta fam was just so reassuring.”

Malaika added that moments like these are reminders to offer gratitude to all those who offer support in difficult times.

She wrote, “Moments like these are not epiphanies but strong reminders that we must always offer gratitude to those – known and unknown – who shower you with love and good wishes at a time you need it the most. A big heartfelt thank you to each and everyone of you for being there making sure I come out of this with renewed vigour. I’m now on my road to recovery and I assure you, I’m a fighter and I’ll be back before you know it!”

After the accident, Malaika was visited by several friends and family members, including boyfriend Arjun Kapoor and sister Amrita Arora.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Malaika was last seen as a judge in the dance reality show ‘India’s Best Dancer’. (ANI)

The voting in the Pakistan National Assembly over the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to be held after 8 pm (local time) on Saturday.

The session was adjourned as the opposition parties continued to chant slogans, pressing for the taking up of the no-confidence motion, while Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was speaking in the National Assembly, local media reported.

In an apparent move seen as part of the strategy of the ruling Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) to delay the proceedings, Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, while chairing the Saturday session to take up the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government, said that the House should also hold a discussion on the issue of “international conspiracy.”

The Speaker’s suggestion was met with strong protest by the Opposition MPs, who asked the Chair to stick to the mandate of the session spelt out by the Supreme Court.

Urging the Speaker to carry out the proceedings of the House according to the norms of the Constitution, Shahbaz Sharif, Leader of Opposition in Pakistan National Assembly, stated, “I hope you (Speaker) will carry out today’s proceedings of the House as per the Supreme Court order. I urge you to stand for the Constitution and law. You must catch this moment with your conviction.”

During the session, Foreign Minister and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi made it clear that it is the duty of the government to defend the no-confidence motion. “It is the Constitutional right of the Opposition to move a no-confidence motion against the government, and it’s the government’s duty to defend it,” he added.

Proceedings of the Pakistan National Assembly session with the specific mandate to take up the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan-led government and the election of the new leader of the House got underway on Saturday.

Heavy security has been deployed outside the Pakistan National Assembly in Islamabad.

Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, and other MNAs are attending the session of the National Assembly, reported Geo News.

The Supreme Court had on Thursday ordered the incumbent government to face the no-confidence motion on Saturday. The court had turned down the ruling of the Deputy Speaker to reject the no-confidence motion.

The top court’s directives came after Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu cognisance of Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly, declaring all the decisions unconstitutional.

As per the order of the Supreme Court, voting is to be held at all costs today and in case the PM is voted out, the election of a new Leader of the House will be held during the same session.

The voting on the no-confidence motion is at the fourth position in the six-point agenda issued for today.

Speaker Asad Qaiser can not take up agenda other than voting on the motion, and if he did not do so, he would have to face contempt of court proceedings, reported Geo News.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Opposition has submitted the no-confidence motions against the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. However, Asad Qaiser can chair today’s session according to the rules.

The National Assembly officials told Geo News that according to the SC larger bench’s written order, the NA Speaker has been made duty-bound to proceed with the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government as per the April 3 agenda of the House.

The NA officials said that the voting on the no-trust motion could take place within seven days of its submission and last Sunday (April 3) was the last day of voting. So, SC’s larger bench ordered the Speaker to revive the April 3 agenda of the National Assembly and conduct voting on the no-confidence motion, they added. Therefore, today (April 9) will be considered the last day (seventh day) of voting on the no-confidence motion and it is essential to move with the set agenda, reported Geo News.

The NA officials said if the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan succeeds, the National Assembly session will be extended till Sunday to complete the process for the election of the new Leader of the House while the Secretariat will undertake the necessary documentation.

When asked if the government tried to get the voting on the no-trust motion delayed for a day or a week, the NA official said that in this situation, the NA Speaker would violate SC’s larger bench order and should get ready to face a five-year disqualification and contempt of court.

Despite Imran Khan-led PTI government’s hectic efforts to avoid voting on the no-confidence motion, the National Assembly will decide the fate of the premier today.

Meanwhile, the ruling party has prepared its strategy to scuttle the proceedings and delay the voting by asking its MPs to give lengthy speeches on the ‘foreign conspiracy”, reported Geo News.

The same was endorsed by Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chauhdry.

Talking to Geo News, he said that the foreign secretary is going to brief the House on the “threat letter”, so the voting on no-confidence may not happen and maybe deferred till next week. (ANI)

Maryam Nawaz Sharif, vice president of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Imran Khan, calling him a “Psychopath” while asserting that he must not be allowed to take the nation down.

Taking to Twitter, Maryam wrote, “One person who is not in his senses anymore cannot be allowed to wreak havoc & bring the entire country down. This is not a joke. He should not be treated as PM or ex PM, he must be treated as a PSYCHOPATH who just to save his own skin is holding the entire country hostage. Shame.”

The PML-N leader also that if Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan likes India so much then he should go there and leave Pakistan.

Imran Khan was conspicuous by his absence in the National Assembly, which commenced its proceedings on Saturday to take up the no-confidence motion on the direction of the Supreme Court.

The no-confidence motion is listed fourth on the day’s agenda of the National Assembly. While the Opposition has come out in full force, very few members of the treasury benches were seen in attendance. Prime Minister Imran Khan was also not present in the House, reported Geo News.

Taking the floor, the leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif hailed Thursday as a historic day when the apex court rejected the Deputy Speaker’s ruling to reject the no-confidence motion. According to the PML-N leader, the SC decision had made Pakistan’s future “bright”, reported Geo News.

He also thanked the Opposition leaders for leading protests against the erroneous ruling of the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

He called upon the National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to conduct proceedings in accordance with the SC’s directives, stating that Parliament would be writing history today.

“Today, Parliament is going to defeat a selected prime minister in a Constitutional manner,” he declared.

Shehbaz urged the Speaker to let bygones be bygones and to stand for the law and the Constitution. He urged the Speaker to play his role and get his name “written in history in golden words”.

“You must cash in on this moment with conviction and with your heart and mind. Don’t act on the dictation of the selected Prime Minister,” he urged Qaiser, adding that the apex court’s directives were clear.

Responding to Shehbaz’s earnest plea, Qaiser assured the Opposition leader that he would conduct proceedings according to the law and the Constitution. “[But] the important thing is that there has been talk of an international conspiracy. This should also be discussed,” he said, as the hall echoed with protests from the Opposition benches.

This prompted Shehbaz Sherif to tell the Qaiser that he would be violating the court’s directives if he would go down that road (foreign conspiracy). He also read out the court’s directives regarding the convening of the session of the National Assembly.

“Under the court’s directives, you are bound to take up this agenda item and no other items. That is the intent of the order and you cannot deviate from it,” he said, calling on the Speaker to hold voting on the motion forthwith.

“The SC’s orders will be followed in true letter and spirit,” Qaiser replied, giving the floor to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, reported Geo News.

After what can perhaps be called the longest week in Pakistani politics in recent history, the National Assembly session to decide the fate of Prime Minister Imran Khan is currently underway.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser is chairing the session which began at 10:30 am sharp, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directives.

Lawmakers began arriving at Parliament House ahead of the session while television footage showed tight security arrangements in place in the capital.

The united Opposition also held a meeting of its Parliamentary group that was chaired by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and attended by 176 lawmakers, reported Geo News.

The Opposition needs the support of at least 172 lawmakers from a total of 342 to oust the premier through the no-confidence motion.

Despite the impression that the PTI has lost its majority in the lower House, the ruling party is still adamant that it would not leave the field open for the Opposition and has vowed to make things as difficult for them as they can by creating hurdles in the voting procedure and also preventing the election of Opposition nominee Shehbaz Sharif as the new leader of the House.

Ahead of the session, on Friday, PM Imran had presided over a meeting of the party’s Parliamentary group.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said the government would present the “threatening” cable — purportedly containing evidence of a foreign plot against the government — or its contents in the Assembly and will ask the Speaker for a debate on the issue.

The joint Opposition, primarily the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the PPP, had submitted the no-confidence motion against the premier with the NA Secretariat on March 8. (ANI)

Once you become a parent, things are never the same. Actor Shahid Kapoor feels his whole life has changed after entering fatherhood.

“Fatherhood is a life-changing experience. Everything changes after the birth of the children. My point of view has changed due to the presence of my kids in my life. When you have kids in your life you can’t think only from your point of view… a similar thing has happened to me. My approach towards life has changed,” Shahid told ANI.
The ‘Kabir Singh’ star, who tied the knot with Delhi-based Mira Rajput in July 2015, embraced parenthood for the first time with the arrival of their daughter Misha in 2016. Two years later, the couple was blessed with a baby boy whom they named Zain.

While speaking about fatherhood, Shahid, with a big smile on his face, gave full credit to his kids for making him realise the real value of parents in his life.

“Misha and Zain have taught me the true importance of parents. And I now completely believe that the actual importance of parents is realised by people only when they become parents themselves. We should never take them (parents) for granted,” he emphasised.

Sharing how he always keeps his inner child alive, Shahid added, “I am 41 and I am still a kid to my parents. Whenever I meet my mom or whenever I meet my dad, I don’t hesitate to behave like a child in front of them. No matter the age, we will always be their kids.”

Interestingly, Shahid’s forthcoming film ‘Jersey’ is about a father-son’s relationship. The film, a remake of the National Award-winning Telugu film of the same name, will see Shahid play the role of Arjun, a failed cricketer who decides to fulfil his dream of representing Team India for his son.

Mrunal Thakur is also a part of ‘Jersey’, which will be out in theatres on April 14. (ANI)

Pakistan federal minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday said that voting on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government could be shifted to next week.

As proceedings of the Pakistan National Assembly (NA) session began with the specific mandate to take up the no-confidence motion against the government and the election of the new leader of the House got underway today, Geo News reported that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has prepared its strategy to scuttle the proceedings and delay the voting by directing MPs to give lengthy speeches on the ‘foreign conspiracy”
Talking to Geo News, the minister for information and law said that the foreign secretary will brief the House on the “threat letter”, so the voting on no-confidence may not happen and may be deferred till next week.

The publication stated that according to sources, despite the court’s orders, the PTI-led government has planned not to conduct voting on a no-confidence motion today.

They added that PTI members of the National Assembly have been directed to hold “long debates during the NA session,” so the voting can be “avoided due to a shortage of time.”

In a historic judgment a day earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had ordered National Assembly Speaker Asad Qasier to summon the session on Saturday (April 9) no later than 10:30 am to allow the vote on the no-confidence motion against the premier.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan had also restored the National Assembly after it declared the government’s decision to dissolve the assembly and NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling null and void and against the Constitution.

On the other hand, the National Assembly secretariat urged members that the voting on the no-trust motion against PM Imran Khan must be conducted today, otherwise, the speaker can be charged with contempt of court.

In the NA’s six-point agenda issued Friday, voting on the no-confidence motion is at the fourth position, reported Geo News.

Meanwhile, PTI’s political committee, a day prior, had suggested that the party should hand down en masse resignations from the legislatures in the Centre, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sources privy to the matter said.

The suggestion came during the meeting of PTI’s political committee chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Sources said that the meeting discussed the current political situation in the country and held consultations on whether to make the alleged foreign plot in the “threat letter” public.

As per sources, committee members presented suggestions regarding the matter in light of the Secrets Act and judicial orders, reported Geo News.

The committee suggested making the “threat letter” public, saying that since there is pressure from the public, a decision should be made through thoughtful consideration. (ANI)

Actor Will Smith has responded to being banned from Academy events for 10 years after slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars ceremony.

The Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, on Friday, voted to ban the ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’ star from all the Academy events for 10 years.
Minutes after the decision was announced, Smith responded by saying, “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision,” to Page Six.

“The Board of Governors has decided, for a period of 10 years, from April 8, 2022, Mr Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards,” the Academy announced on Friday, through an official statement.

The statement continued, “We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances. We also want to thank our hosts, nominees, presenters and winners for their poise and grace during our telecast.”

Smith, 53, will keep the Oscar he won this year for his role in ‘King Richard.’

For the unversed, while presenting the best documentary feature award at the 2022 Oscars, Chris Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.

Rock said he couldn’t wait to see Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia areata, star in ‘G.I. Jane 2’ which led Smith to go up on stage and slap Rock. Smith returned to his seat and shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fu**ing mouth!”

A few minutes after the incident, Smith was announced Best Actor at the 94th Academy Awards. While accepting his first-ever Oscar for best actor (leading role) in ‘King Richard’, Smith apologized to the Academy and fellow nominees but did not mention Rock.

However, after receiving backlash for his disorderly behaviour, Smith issued an apology to Chris Rock and Academy on his social media handle.

On March 29, there was a short virtual meeting between Smith, Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson, initiated by Smith.

A few hours later, Smith announced his resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, claiming he “willfully accept any and all consequences for my conduct.” (ANI)