Month: June 2022

Pointing at the serious danger posed by China’s lending spree in poorer countries, particularly Africa, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that this could plunge the world into the next financial crisis.

“There is a really serious danger that the next major debt crisis in the global south will stem from loans that China has granted worldwide and doesn’t have a full overview of because there are so many players involved,” Scholz said.

“That would then plunge both China and the global south into a major economic and financial crisis and, incidentally, would not leave the rest of the world unaffected, to put it politely. So, this is a serious concern,” he added.

China’s infamous “debt-trap” policy is singularly responsible for the dire economic situation in many countries. Highly unsustainable levels of debt created by China in the developing world allow it to create economic dependencies and political leverages in these countries.

China has always maintained that its overseas lending follows a “no-strings-attached” approach and respects other countries’ right to select “their own development path” with a focus on developing countries’ control.

“One of the very, very big ambitions we have is to bring China in, as a country that is lending a lot in new ways,” he said, reported Hong Kong Post.

It is interesting to note that while criticizing China for its loan lending approach to the poor economies, Scholz pointed to the European Union’s recently unveiled Global Gateway initiative, which is in part aimed at countering China’s influence.

As per this initiative, the EU aims to invest over 150 billion euros in Africa. The investment is set for many key areas ranging from renewable energy to transport, vaccine production and education.

The ambitious scheme is widely seen as a response to China’s mammoth Belt and Road infrastructure project. Though there is worldwide condemnation of China’s debt-trap policy, Beijing disputes the charge. China argues saying that with the help of its loans the country is trying to alleviate poverty, as per the media portal. (ANI)

The number of people forced to flee their homes reached 89.3 million by the end of 2021, a record high since records began, up 8 per cent year on year, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Thursday.

UNHCR said in its annual Global Trends report that this 89.3 million, well over double the figure of 10 years ago, include 27.1 million refugees, 83 percent of which are now being hosted by low- and middle-income countries, and more than two thirds (69 percent) came from just five countries: Syria (6.8 million), Venezuela (4.6 million), Afghanistan (2.7 million), South Sudan (2.4 million) and Myanmar (1.2 million).
“Every year of the last decade, the numbers have climbed,” said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.

UNHCR stressed in its report that last year was notable for the number of conflicts that escalated and new ones that flared: 23 countries, with a combined population of 850 million, faced medium- or high-intensity conflicts.

Meanwhile, it said, food scarcity, inflation and climate crisis are adding to people’s hardship, stretching the humanitarian response just as the funding outlook in many situations appears bleak.

The report also said that by May of 2022, more than 100 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide by persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order.

“Either the international community comes together to take action to address this human tragedy, resolve conflicts and find lasting solutions, or this terrible trend will continue,” Grandi warned. (ANI/Xinhua):

Telegu star Mahesh Babu is ‘making memories’ on his Europe holiday with his wife Namrata Shirodkar and kids, Sitara and Gautham Ghattamaneni.

On Thursday, the 46-year-old star took to his Instagram handle and shared a streak of ‘goofy’ glimpses from his Italy trip. “In the here and now! Making memories.. one day at a time! #MyTribe”, he wrote in the caption.

In the selfie pictures, Namrata is clicking the selfie as she kept a straight face for the camera.

On the other hand, Mahesh and his kids could be spotted pulling funny expressions for the camera for the family selfie series.

Prior to this post, the ‘Sarkaru Vaari Paata’ star visited Germany and Switzerland and posted a picture with his wife and kids while he was on a road trip to Italy, “Germany-Switzerland-Italy. Road trip it is. Next stop Italy. Lunch with the crazies” he wrote in the caption of the selfie he posted right after his lunch date with his family.

In reaction to the post, Mahesh Babu’s wife Namrata Shirodkar wrote, “I missed the fondue.” in the comment section. Namrata’s sister Shilpa Shirodkar also reacted to the post by dropping a bunch of heart-eye emoticons in the comment section.

Mahesh Babu was last seen in the hit Telegu film ‘Sarkaru Vaari Paata’. The movie also starred Keerthy Suresh and was directed by Parasuram Petla. It was released in theatres on May 12.

After the success of his recent film ‘Sarkaru Vaari Paata’, Mahesh Babu will soon be seen sharing the big screen with Pooja Hedge in a Sukumar’s directorial. (ANI)

An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists at Hangalgund in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district on Thursday, the police said.

“#Encounter has started at Hangalgund, #Kokernag area of #Anantnag. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.

Earlier on Wednesday, an encounter broke out in the Kanjiular area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian.

More details are awaited. (ANI)

The number of Afghan child labourers in Iran has surged 20 times since the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan on 15 August 2021, claimed human rights activists cited by Iranian media.

On account of the World Day against Child Labour on June 12, Fatah Ahmadi, Iran’s deputy minister of justice for human rights and international affairs issued an alert against the Taliban presence in the country allegedly causing uncertainties for Afghan families and fuelling the perils of child labour in Iran, reported Khaama Press.
Ahmadi, as quoted by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s News Agency (IRNA) claimed that the Taliban’s control over Afghanistan had compelled several families to migrate to Iran with their children, where they are being recruited as labourers.

Taliban’s take over Afghanistan has stirred a humanitarian crisis in the country.

Several labour resources, industries, and public and private business companies ceased to exist resulting in poverty, inflation, and an increase in the number of drought-stricken people, reported the Afghani Khaama Press News Agency, claiming that presently, more than half of Afghanistan’s population is unsure where they will get their next meal from.

Despite the fact that the number of working children in Afghanistan has increased since the Taliban took power, the group has not responded to the upsurge of Afghan working children in Iran yet, claimed the agency. (ANI)

In an attempt to resist detention during the Congress party’s protest over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons to Rahul Gandhi, party leader and former union minister Renuka Chowdhury on Thursday held a policeman by his collar while being taken away by other police personnel here in Hyderabad.

Telangana Congress held a massive protest here today over the ED investigating Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. Several Congress workers and leaders were detained by the police.
Chowdhury was seen engaging in a heated argument with the policeman as she held his collar. Women police personnel then dragged the former union minister towards the police van.

Congress had given a “Chalo Raj Bhavan” call and at Telangana’s Raj Bhavan police detained several party workers who attempted to stage a protest there.

Apart from Hyderabad, the Congress held protests in several parts of the country including Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan.

Congress workers held a protest march in Bengaluru and Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar, CLP leader Siddaramaiah and other leaders and workers of the party were detained by police during their protest in Bengaluru.

“The protest is our right. We will fight for justice. They (ED) are not taking cases of any BJP leaders. They are harassing only Congress people,” Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar told ANI.

Bengaluru witnessed traffic snarls and an ambulance was seen stuck in the traffic.

Bengaluru Police said the Congress protest was against the High Court’s order.

“High Court had earlier ordered that protests will not be held anywhere except Freedom Park. We conveyed it to them. They gave us in writing about protest but we rejected it. We conveyed it to them in the morning too. If they proceed, we will take them into preventive custody,” Bheemashankar S Guled, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru East told ANI.

Meanwhile, Congress workers also held a protest in Chandigarh against the questioning of Rahul Gandhi by ED. Several workers of the party were detained by police.

“I cannot understand what has Rahul Gandhi done that he has been called for 3 days? Yesterday, Delhi Police barged into AICC office and beat up our MPs. Such vendetta politics has never been seen before. Government should not try to suppress voices,” Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Warring said.

“We will continue protesting. We were going to Raj Bhavan. Congress party stands with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. We will not step back. We will not be scared,” said a Congress worker.

Congress workers also staged a demonstration in Chennai and Jaipur.

“They want to suppress Rahul Gandhi’s voice. They can’t scare Indira Gandhi’s grandson with lathis. Congress will be the reason behind BJP’s end,” said Rajasthan Minister P Khachariyawas.

Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse Congress workers protesting in Thiruvananthapuram over the ED probe against party leader Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.

Rahul Gandhi has been asked to rejoin the probe on Friday by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in connection with the National Herald case, said sources. The Congress leader left the ED office after 9 pm on Wednesday after he appeared before the ED for the third consecutive day for questioning. (ANI)

At least three trains were set on fire in Bihar as protests against the Centre’s Agnipath recruitment scheme turned violent in the Chhapra, Gopalganj and Kaimur districts on Thursday.

Several aspirants for the armed forces are unhappy with the changes introduced under the new recruitment scheme for the Indian Army, particularly the length of service, no pension provisions for those released early, and the 17.5 to 21-year age restriction that now makes many of them ineligible.
Agitations have spilled over to several districts as youths protested by lying down on the railway tracks, and blocking roads, demanding the scrapping of the scheme.

“They are protesting on the railway tracks. We are trying to pacify them. We are making an effort to clear the railway track. We are monitoring the situation,” Rakesh Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Kaimur, told reporters.

Huge crowds gathered in the Chhapra, Jehanabad, Munger and Nawada areas of Bihar, demanding the withdrawal of the Agnipath scheme.

A group of army aspirants protested at Bhabua Road Railway Station and blocked the tracks before setting a train on fire.

“We prepared for a long and now they have brought ToD (Tour of Duty) as a four-year job. We want the old recruitment process back,” protesters said.

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Agnipath recruitment scheme which provides an opportunity for Indian youth to serve in the regular cadre of the Armed Forces for a period of four years.

The scheme has been designed to enable a youthful profile of the Armed Forces and provide a fresh lease of ‘Josh’ and ‘Jazba’ whilst at the same time bringing about a transformational shift towards a more tech-savvy Armed Forces – which is indeed the need of the hour.

The selection will be the exclusive jurisdiction of the Armed Forces. A total of 46,000 Agniveers will be recruited this year.

“We demand that the recruitment be done as it used to be done earlier. Tour of Duty (ToD) be rolled back and exams are held as earlier. Nobody will go to Army just for four years, a protestor in Munger told ANI.

Agnipath scheme aims to make the Army a future-ready fighting force capable of meeting multiple challenges across the full spectrum of conflict, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande said on Tuesday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, with three services chiefs General Manoj Pande (Army), Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and Admiral R Hari Kumar (Navy), addressed a joint press conference, while unveiling the new scheme.

“Agnipath scheme aims to make the Army a future-ready fighting force capable of meeting multiple challenges across the full spectrum of conflict and it will increase the technical threshold of the Army by recruiting ‘Agniveers’ through ITIs and other tech-institutes, said General Manoj Pande, the Army Chief.

But some army aspirants are unhappy with the Ministry of Defence’s new scheme for recruitment of youth into the armed forces.

“We work hard to get inducted into the Armed forces. How will the service be for four years, with months of training and leaves? How will we protect the nation after getting trained for just three years? The Government has to take back this scheme,” said an irate aspirant in Bihar’s Jehanabad. (ANI)

Actor Akshay Kumar announces the release date of his upcoming family entertainer ‘Raksha Bandhan’, the film is all set to clash with Aamir Khan’s forthcoming film ‘Laal Singh Chadha’ on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and Independence day.

Directed by Anand L Rai, Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar starrer ‘Raksha Bandhan’ is all set to hit the theatres on August 11, 2022.
The star cast announced the release date of their film with a motion poster.

“Bringing you all a story of the purest form of bond that will remind you of yours!

#RakshaBandhan releasing in cinemas on 11th August 2022.” Akshay Kumar captioned.

In the motion poster, the audience can also hear the teaser of the song ‘Tere sath hun main’ from ‘Raksha Bandhan’.

This is the second time Akshay Kumar will be working with director Anand L Rai after ‘Atrangi Re’. The film also stars Abhinay Raj Singh, Sahejmeen Kaur, Deepika Khanna, Sadia Khateeb and Smrithi Srikanth in prominent roles.

The point to be noted here is that Akshay Kumar will be clashing with ‘Mr. Perfectionist’ Aamir Khan at the box office and the fans are going to experience the biggest Bollywood clash of the year.

Aamir Khan recently released the trailer of his film ‘Laal Singh Chadha’ at the IPL 2022 Finals, and the trailer gathered a lot of appreciation from the audience. The film will be hitting the theatres on August 11, 2022. The film also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan in the lead role opposite Aamir Khan and south actor Naga Chaitanya in a special cameo.

‘Raksha Bandhan’ is going to be Akshay Kumar’s third release in the year 2022 after Bachchhan Paandey and Samrat Prithviraj, whereas Aamir Khan’s last film was ‘Thugs of Hindostan’ which was released in 2018 and after four years, the actor is coming back on the big screen.

Apart from ‘Raksha Bandhan’ and ‘Laal Singh Chadha, south actor Samantha Prabhu’s Pan-India film ‘Yashoda’ is also slated to release on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and Independence day.

Let’s see which film will roar at the box office. (ANI)

After glamorizing the film industry with her sexy moves, Malaika Arora has added yet another feather to her cap!

Malaika is all set to become an Author. She will soon write her debut book which is going to be all about nutrition. The actor, who also serves as a judge on the reality show ‘India’s Best Dancer’, will be sharing her wellness tips in the book.

The book will offer a deep insight into what the actor eats on a regular basis. It will also touch upon some key food and eating habits related topics like the relationship between eating right and overall well-being, the challenges associated with food deprivation; the process of mastering discipline in eating with a guide on how to follow a good nutrition plan that aligns well your fitness goals.

Talking about the book, Malaika Arora said, “My goal has always been to facilitate ideas around health and wellness. The book will help us share our insights with people at large. I personally believe in the comprehensive well-being of our body. Concentrating on just one, does not support the other. So the idea is to promote good health inside out and we have barely scratched the surface as of now.”

The book is being agented by The Sunflower Seeds literary consulting. Speaking about the project, Preeti Chaturvedi, said, “Health is a huge focus for the Indian readers. Malaika’s overall level of fitness is a testimony to the principles of healthy eating that she lives by. While her followers have engaged with her on social media, the book will offer them a unique opportunity to understand the concept and details of healthy living in much greater detail in Malaika’s terms.”

For the unversed, Malaika is a fitness freak. She practices Yoga and Pilates regularly and is often spotted outside her Yoga Studio by the paparazzi. Malaika also has her own yoga studio named Sarva Yoga.

Last year, Malaika also launched her delivery-only food service ‘Nude Bowls by Malaika’. She curated a menu for health-conscious people, adding a variety of flavours to it.

As far as her personal life is concerned, Malaika is currently dating actor Arjun Kapoor. The duo is often spotted by Paparazzi across the town. (ANI)