The Indian Panorama

Month: October 2021

  • Handi Chicken

    Handi Chicken

    Ingredients

    750 gms Chicken on Bone, 3 big Tomatoes, 2 medium sliced Onions, 1 1/2 tblsp ginger garlic paste

    1/2 cup Curd, 1/2 cup Full Cream, 2 tbsp Coriander Powder, 1 tsp Turmeric Powder, 1 tsp Red Chilly Powder, 1 tsp Fenugreek Leaves (Kasthuri Methi), Salt To Taste, 3 -4 tblsp Ghee / Oil, 2 tsp Garam Masala (Ingredients given below)

    For Garam Masala:

    3 tsp Cumin Seeds (Jeera ), 3 tsp Coriander Seeds (Sookha Dhania), 1 1/2 tsp Black peppercorns, 4 Cloves (Laung), 1 ” Cinnamon Stick piece, 3 Brown Cardmom, 2 tsp Fennel Seeds (Saunf), 1 Star Anise, 2 Dry Red Chillies

    For Garnish

    Finely chopped green coriander

    How to make Handi Chicken

    –              Heat ghee or oil in a heavy bottom pan, add chicken pieces and fry till they are done. Take them out on a paper towel.

    –              In the remaining ghee add the onions sliced abd saute them till light brown. Make sure not burn them.

    –              Add the ginger garlic paste and cook till all the raw smell disappears. Now add all the dry spices – Red Chilly Powder, Corainder Powder, Turmeric Powder. Add a tablespoon of water so that the spices do not burn.

    –              Once the masala is nicely cooked add the tomato puree and cook it till the oil separates. Now add beaten curd and cook till the curd gets fully incorporated in the gravy.

    –              When the oil starts to separate add the chicken pieces and mix well so that all the pieces are fully smeared with the masala. Let the chicken simmer for few minutes in this masala. Once the chicken is fully done add the cream and kasuri methi and garam masala.Cook for just 2 minutes on low flame and then take it out in a serving dish.

    –              Garnish with the finely chopped coriander leaves.

  • India in history this Week-October 22 to october 28, 2021

    India in history this Week-October 22 to october 28, 2021

    22 OCTOBER

    1680       Rana Raj Singh of Mewar passed away.

    1796       Death of Rana Raj Singh of Mewar.

    1962       India’s largest multipurpose river valley project ‘Bhakra Nangal’ dedicated to the nation

    2008       Chandrayaan-1 was successfully launched from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.

    1879       The first sedition case under British rule was against the great revolutionary Basudev Balwani Phadke.

    2016       India won the Kabaddi World Cup.

    1933       The elder brother of Sardar Patel and the famous freedom fighter Vitthalbhai Patel died.

    1893       Dalip Singh, the youngest son of Maharaj Ranjit Singh of Punjab, died.

    23 OCTOBER

    1623       The famous poet Tulsidas died.

    1764       Mir Qasim was defeated in the battle of Buxar.

    1934       Mahatma Gandhi resigned as the leader of the Indian National Congress.

    1943       Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose founded the ‘Rani Brigade of Jhansi’ of Azad Hind Fauj in Singapore.

    2003       India and Bulgaria signed the Extradition Treaty.

    1883       Mirza Ismail, Assistant Secretary to the Maharaja of Mysore was born.

    1957       Sunil Mittal, an Indian industrialist, social worker and chairman of India’s largest telecom company Airtel was born.

    24 OCTOBER

    1605       The Mughal ruler Jahangir ascended the throne in Agra.

    1914       Freedom fighter and philanthropist Laxmi Sehgal was born.

    1991       Famous Hindi writer Ismat Chugatai passed away.

    1851       First telegraph line started between Calcutta and Diamond Harbor.

    1579       Jusuit pastor SJ Thomas was the first Englishman to visit India. He arrived in Goa by Portuguese boat.

    1975       An ordinance was brought to end the bonded labor system and came into effect from the next day.

    1982       Sudha Madhavan became the first Indian female athlete to run in a marathon.

    1984       First underground metro train started between Esplanad and Bhawanipur in Kolkata.

    2013       Renowned playback singer Manna Dey of Hindi and Bengali films in Indian cinema world passed away. In 2005, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan in the field of art.

    25 OCTOBER

    1924       The British arrested Subhash Chandra Bose and sent him to jail for two years.

    2005       Hindi writer Nirmal Verma passed away.

    1951       The first general election began in India.

    1964       The first indigenous tank ‘Vijayanta’ was built at the Avadi factory.

    1995       The then Prime Minister of India, Narasimha Rao addressed the 50th anniversary session of the United Nations.

    1955       For the first time, a company called Microwave Oven was started by Tappan Oven for domestic use.

    26 OCTOBER

    1947       After the partition of India and Pakistan, after the attack from Pakistan, the Hindu king of the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir decided to go with India on this day.

    1934       All India Rural Industries Association was established under the patronage of Mahatma Gandhi.

    1947       Raja Hari Singh agreed to merge Jammu and Kashmir with India.

    1969       The first astronauts to step on the moon, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, came to Mumbai.

    1775       Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last emperor of the Mughals was born in India.

    1890       Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, who participated in the freedom struggle, was born.

    1943       The cholera epidemic in Calcutta (erstwhile Kolkata) killed 2155 people in the third week of October.

    1962       After the Chinese attack on India, the then President declared Emergency for the first time.

    1999       The Supreme Court of India fixed life imprisonment for 14 years.

    27 OCTOBER

    1920       The 10th and first Dalit President of the country, K. R. Narayanan was born in 1920.

    1952       Anuradha Paudwal, who created a special identity with the hymns along with the film world, was born in 1952.

    2008       The Central Government issued a notification of interim relief to journalists and non-journalists of the newspaper industry.

    1947       Raja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir accepted the accession of Jammu and Kashmir into India.

    28 OCTOBER

    1867       Birth of Swami Vivekananda’s disciple Bhagini Nivedita in Ireland

    1913       Jain Shwetambar Terapanthi Sabha was established

    1851       The British Indian Association was established in Bengal.

  • Karwa Chauth: Celebration of love, marriage and the unbreakable bond

    Karwa Chauth: Celebration of love, marriage and the unbreakable bond

    In Hinduism, Karva Chauth is one of the most auspicious festivals for women. On this day, married women keep a Nirjala (without water) fast not only for the long life of their husband but also as a symbol of love and affection.

    In many regions across the country, young girls also keep the Karwa fast in order to get the desired groom. Being a Hindu festival, it is more significantly celebrated in the northern part of India, however, any married woman can keep this fast in the love of her husband.

    According to the Hindu calendar, Karva Chauth is celebrated each year on the Chaturthi Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik. This year Karva Chauth is falling on Sunday, 24 October 2021. On this day, women break the fast after offering Arghya to the moon at night in an earthen pot known as Karwa.

    History

    According to the Vrath Katha, there was a queen named Veerawati who deeply loved her husband. She also had seven brothers who loved her immensely. The story goes that one day Veerwati was visiting her home during Karwa Chauth while she was fasting for her husband’s long life.

    By evening, she began to feel a little faint and was eagerly waiting for the moon to come out so that she could eat something. Upon seeing her like this, her brothers could not bear to witness this and begged her to eat something. However, when she denied, they devised a plan to ease her misery.

    One of her brothers climbed up a pipal tree and held up a sieve with a flame behind it. Their aim was to trick Veerawati into believing that the moon was out and that she could break her fast. Upon seeing the flame, the innocent Veerawati believed her brothers and broke the fast.

    Unfortunately, the moment she did, the news of her husband’s passing arrived within a few minutes. She began to cry when a goddess appeared in front of her and revealed that she had been tricked by her brothers. Veerawati promised to keep the fast with full devotion and begged the goddess to return her husband to life. This is when Yama, the Lord of Death saw her devotion and restored her husband’s life.

    Significance of Karwa Chauth

    Karwa Chauth is a festival in which married women pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati for the long life of their husbands. They dress up in ethnic clothes mostly sarees and salwar suits and adorn all the traditional symbols of a married woman such as Sindoor. Women from the neighborhood gather at one place where they hear the Vrat Katha and sing hymns. Later in the evening, a Puja is performed and once the Moon is sighted, the fast is broken.

    What’s interesting is that in 2021, the moon on Karwa Chauth is expected to rise in the Rohini Nakshatra. According to the Hindu calendar, this constellation is very auspicious and since the Moon is the lord of this nakshatra, it is believed that seeing the moon and worshipping it in this nakshatra will be very auspicious.

    Apart from observing fasts, women also pray for a prosperous and happy married life. Later in the evening, they perform puja for their husbands before the moon sighting. After this, the women try to see the moon through a sieve and then catch a glimpse of their husbands through the same sieve. It is also believed that when a wife looks at her husband through a sieve, all negative emotions are filtered through it.

    Once this is done, the women eat something and their fast is completed. The festival has also been made popular by its depiction in various movies and TV shows. During recent times, a lot of men have also started observing fasts for their wives. This has made the festival even more special as it signifies love, compassion and understanding.

  • Bodh Gaya: Buddha, Mahabodhi Tree and the land of Nirvana

    Bodh Gaya: Buddha, Mahabodhi Tree and the land of Nirvana

    Bodh Gaya is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in Gaya District of Bihar. Famous for the Mahabodhi Temple, It was here under the Bodhi tree that Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. It is now one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a lot of foreign countries, including Japan and China, have helped the Indian government in building facilities for the Buddhist pilgrims. The place is bustling with pilgrims all through the year from India and abroad who come to pay their homage in monasteries, temples and remnants of Bodhi Tree. Located near the river Neranjana, Bodh Gaya was earlier known as Uruwela. It was also known as Sambodhi, Vajrasana or Mahabodhi until the 18th century CE. It is one of the four important Buddhist sites that include: Kushinagar, Lumbini and Sarnath.

    Places to visit – Mahabodhi Temple

    The Mahabodhi temple, also called the “Great Awakening Temple”, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Bodhgaya, Bihar. It is a Buddhist temple that marks the location where the Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Lord Buddha holds a very significant place in the religious history of India as he is believed to be the 9th and the most recent incarnation of Lord Vishnu to have walked the earth. The temple spreads over an area of a whopping 4.8 hectares and is 55 meters tall. The Bodhi Tree is situated to the left of the temple and is believed to be the direct descendant of the actual tree under which Lord Gautam Buddha meditated and attained enlightenment and laid down his philosophy for life. The original temple was built by Emperor Ashoka after he turned to Buddhism in order to seek peace and solitude from war and conquests.

    The great Emperor Ashoka visited Bodh Gaya in around 260 BC. During his visit, he constructed a small temple by a tree, which was the Bodhi tree- the tree under which Gautam Buddha was sitting when he attained enlightenment. An inscription dated back to between 1st century and 2nd century read that the temple built by Emperor Ashoka was replaced by a new one. Many monks and devotees can be seen performing countless prostrations to the tree. It’s a purificatory ritual, and some monks are known to do up to 1,00,000 prostrations at one time. The architecture of the temple and its overall silence and peace will surely enchant you as you visit it.

    Great Buddha Statue

    This statue of Lord Buddha is the tallest in India and was instated by the XIV Dalai Lama in 1989. It is a meditating Buddha resting on a giant lotus, constructed using intricately carved sandstone and red granite.

    Bodhi Tree

    The Bodhi Tree, located 100 kilometres to the south of Patna in the north Indian state of Bihar, is perhaps the most prominent and respected sacred places in Buddhism because of the rich historical significance attached to it. It is under this tree that Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher who later became to be known as the Buddha, attained enlightenment. It is believed that Prince Siddhartha had to sit and meditate under this tree for seven days. Later on, a shrine known as Animisalocana Cetiya was erected on the spot where he had sat down. A small temple was also built near the Bodhi tree in the 7th century.

    The Bodhi tree is a frequently visited destination spot by tourists and is one of the four main Buddhist pilgrimage sites. In fact, the Anandabodhi tree in Sravasti and the Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura, both of which are again significant places that find mention in the history of Buddhism, are believed to have been propagated from this tree here at Bodh Gaya. The aura of the Bodhi tree and the temple complex in which this tree is located have attracted sages, meditators and yogis to it ever since the time of the Buddha. Great and renowned spiritual figures like Buddhajnana, Padmasambhava, Vimalamitra, Nagarjuna and Atisha, have lived and meditated underneath the historically and religiously significant Bodhi Tree. Bodh Gaya is also popular for its UNESCO World Heritage Site- the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, which is just beside the tree. Religious people, as well as lovers of history, find this place especially fascinating.

    Thai Monastery

    Well known for its curved roof covered with exquisite tiles of gold, the Thai Monastery houses a bronze statue of Buddha and another recently erected 25m high statue in the garden.

    Muchalinda Lake

    A popular site at Bodh Gaya, the Muchalinda Lake is located next to the main temple. It is associated with a mythological tale stating that Lord Buddha was protected from the storm by Snake King Muchalinda.

    A popular site at Bodh Gaya, the Muchalinda Lake is located next to the main temple. It is associated with a mythological tale stating that Lord Buddha was protected from the storm by Snake King Muchalinda.

    Vishnupad Temple

    As the name suggests, this temple was built as a dedication to Lord Vishnu and features a 40 cm long footprint of Lord Vishnu that is enclosed by a basin made of silver plates.

    This footprint marks the act of Lord Vishnu subduing Gayasur by placing his feet on Gayasur’s chest. Within the courtyard, there are other temples situated as well. One is dedicated to Lord Narasimha and another to Lord Shiva in the form of Phalgwisvara. This temple serves as a very significant place of worship for Hindus and is located in Gaya.

    Dungeshwari Hills

    Dungeshwari Hills is where Lord Buddha spent a few years before travelling to Bodh Gaya in search of enlightenment. The hills are mostly known for the caves that Gautam Buddha used for shelter and meditation. The Stupas/ Buddhist shrines exist even today amidst the beautiful natural surroundings. The picturesque location of the Dungeshwari Hills is also a well-known trekking destination and draws enthusiasts in large numbers.

  • India-Pak tie: T20 World Cup: For Sunday ‘dogfight’, leadership key, says Matthew Hayden

    India-Pak tie: T20 World Cup: For Sunday ‘dogfight’, leadership key, says Matthew Hayden

    Karachi (TIP): Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden says leadership would be key in the much-anticipated match between India and Pakistan at the T20 World Cup on Sunday, October 24. India would be led in the contest by the passionate Virat Kohli while Pakistan’s captain is Babar Azam, often cited as Kohli’s rival as a top-class batsman.

    The marquee match will be played on the second day of the main tournament after the qualifying round. Hayden, currently working with the Pakistan team as a batting consultant, cited the examples of MS Dhoni and Eoin Morgan in leadership roles in the recent IPL. “Their individual performances were not as good as they have previously done as per their statistical records but the way they led their troops and conducted themselves played an important part in their teams reaching the IPL final in UAE conditions,” Hayden said.

    No margin for error

    Hayden said the margin for error will be very small in the big match. “I feel leadership will be key in the coming match as conditions in UAE leave very little margin for error and there are dogfight conditions out there,” Hayden said. He said Azam would have a huge role to play in the match as a leader and top batter. “There will be additional pressure on him as captain and batsman because he will be targeted and everyone will be wanting to, like they say, put him in their pocket,” Hayden said. “Babar has command and presence and he needs to fulfil that role in a batting sense and captain.”

    KL, Pant threat

    Hayden also said that having followed Indian cricket very closely over the years, he believed that KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant pose the biggest threat to Pakistan. “More or less I have watched KL Rahul grow and he is a major threat to Pakistan. I have watched him grow up as a boy. I have seen his struggles and his dominance in shorter formats,” Hayden said. “I have seen someone like Rishabh Pant, his brash nature and beautiful vision for the game, how he has destroyed bowling attacks because he has got the opportunity because he sees it that way.”

    Matchless

    Hayden said having been part of the sport for a very long time, he believes nothing matches the rivalry between Pakistan and India. “For an Australian obviously the Ashes and matches against England are tops but nothing matches the rivalry of these two teams,” he said.

    Asked about his short-term role as consultant with the Pakistan team, Hayden said his main purpose was to bring calmness and control into the dressing room, telling the players to remain ever-present in play. “I have learnt for whatever reason you are always under pressure, you don’t need to create additional pressure to what the game demands,” Hayden said.

                    Source:  PTI

  • Sonu Sood on hosting NatGeo series ‘It Happens Only in India’

    Sonu Sood on hosting NatGeo series ‘It Happens Only in India’

    Sonu Sood is all set for a new series titled It Happens Only in India. Hosted by him, this 10-part series will take viewers into the lesser-known and well-researched narratives from across the length and breadth of India. Sonu Sood will be seen presenting some fascinating stories from different corners of the country from modern to mystic, people to places, myths to natural wonders, talented innovators, astounding mega structures to the latest in-space technology that are all distinctly Indian. It will help the viewers to understand India in a better way. Sonu said, “No matter how much you learn about India, you can’t know enough. The country’s diversity has tons of incredible stories that are yet to be revealed and this show will take viewers on a fascinating journey; bringing them closer to the incredible culture, nature, heritage and marvels of our nation and make them proud to be a citizen of this country.” It Happens Only in India will start from October 26 at 8 p.m. on National Geographic.

    Source:IANS

  • ‘I have always done Dhaakad things in life,’ says Kangana Ranaut

    ‘I have always done Dhaakad things in life,’ says Kangana Ranaut

    Kangana Ranaut, who took to social media to share a four-looks-in-one poster of her upcoming film, Dhaakad, launched it in person here at an event, saying that all her life she has done Dhaakad things. When a journalist compared her with Arnold Schwarzenegger, however, Kangana countered testily if it was a compliment. Asked about the Dhaakad moments in her life, Kangana said, “I think everything I have done is Dhaakad. From running away from my home till now, I continue to do all the Dhaakad stuff. Now, I am doing this Dhaakad film and I hope the audience will love it.”

                    Source: IANS

  • Salma Hayek says she and Chloe´ Zhao had ‘serious fight’ at her home

    Salma Hayek says she and Chloe´ Zhao had ‘serious fight’ at her home

    Salma Hayek will debut as a superhero in Marvel’s upcoming film Eternals. Directed by Oscar-winning Chloe´ Zhao, Salma will be seen playing Ajak in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film. While Salma was excited about playing the part, she confessed she had issues with the script and had gotten into a ‘serious fight with Chloe´. In a recent interview, Salma revealed that the argument took place at the actor’s house and the people overhearing the ‘fight’ were worried Salma might get fired from the film. “I had some problems with the script and we got into a serious fight at my house. We were both passionate. And she was like, ‘No, but that’s not how I designed it.’ The people outside my house were calling it a fight, because we were kind of screaming. We continued to talk and talk, and it went on for a long time. The people outside were so nervous that I was going to get fired,” she told Elle.

  • Freida Pinto says she secretly married fiance Cory Tran

    Actor Freida Pinto has revealed she tied the knot with her fiance and photographer Cory Tran when they were in lockdown amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The “Slumdog Millionaire” star said when they got engaged in November 2019, they thought they will have “this most magical wedding” but the pandemic played a spoilsport.

    “I should clear the air. I wasn’t planning a big fat Indian wedding. It was just going to be something pretty and simple… But then Covid happened and it’s still happening and we just realised we were going to be planning this for the rest of our lives and probably never doing it,” Pinto said during an appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” on Wednesday, Oct 20.

    The 37-year-old actor, who is expecting her first child with Tran, said the couple eventually went to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and got married.

    “Honestly, I have to say if any of you have planned a wedding, you probably know this, I do not want stomach ulcers from planning my own wedding. This was perfect! We got married and then we got to go home and take an afternoon nap,” she added.

    Pinto also shared she meet Tran, 34, through actor Aaron Paul, her co-star in the drama series “The Path”. She told Clarkson that she was happily single while shooting their television show in New York when Paul said, “‘I want you in my life forever, Freida, so I’m going to introduce you to my friend’.”        Source: PTI

  • Alec Baldwin fired prop gun that killed cinematographer: Police

    US actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun that killed a cinematographer and wounded the director on a film set in New Mexico, US law enforcement officers said Thursday, October 21.

    The incident happened on the set of Rust in the southwestern US state, where Baldwin is playing the lead in a 19th-century western. No charges have been filed over the incident, which is being investigated.

    Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza “were shot when a prop firearm was discharged by Alec Baldwin,” the sheriff in Santa Fe said in a statement, with Hutchins succumbing to her wounds.

    According to AP, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said a 42-year-old woman was airlifted to a hospital, where she died, while a 42-year-old man was getting emergency care at another hospital.

    Production has been halted on the movie, which is being directed by Joel Souza with Alec Baldwin producing and starring in it. A spokesperson for Baldwin said there was an accident on the set involving the misfire of a prop gun with blanks.

    The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Baldwin was seen Thursday outside the sheriff’s office in tears, but attempts to get comment from him were unsuccessful.

  • Sarah Jessica Parker poses in a lehenga

    Sex and the City actor Sarah Jessica Parker wore an Indian attire on the sets of her upcoming series And Just Like That. In several pictures that surfaced online, Sarah was seen wearing a fuschia pink and blue chequered pattern blouse with matching lehenga.

    Sarah Jessica Parker wore a floral maang tikka and tied her hair into a braid adding a bunch of fresh flowers to her hairdo. She wore minimal makeup and accessorised her look with a pendant neckpiece, earrings and bangles. In the photos, she smiled and posed for the camera.

    The lehenga has been designed by Indian designer Falguni Shane Peacock. Taking to her Instagram Stories, Falguni re-shared posts on Sarah wearing the lehenga.

    And Just Like That, a Sex and the City reboot, will air in December. It will follow the life of Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) as they navigate friendship in their 50s. Original series star Kim Cattrall will not return for the sequel, following a much-publicized feud with Sarah.

    Since the last feature film, the cast has been open about spats between Kim and the other stars, notably Sarah. Kim had lashed out at Sarah on social media following her brother’s death in 2018 and the cast and crew opened up about behind-the-scenes drama in a podcast later that year.

    The original series of Sex and the City was based on author Candace Bushnell’s book of the same name. It had been adapted from her dating column, based on her own life, for the New York Observer. Candace told The Hollywood Reporter, “Of course, I’m going to watch it. … I hope it runs for six seasons.”

    Darren Starr got the TV rights and turned it into the successful show that aired from 1998-2004 on HBO and spawned two feature films.

  • Air bubbles to continue for some time

    Air bubbles to continue for some time

    New Delhi (TIP): International air travel to and from the country will continue only under the “air-bubble” arrangement for the foreseeable future, according to Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia. If certain routes see a spurt in demand, the government could look at increasing frequency of flights within the “air-bubble”.

    “Within our current air-bubble arrangement, we are scaling up. Earlier, U.K. was only 15 flights, which we have now increased to 35 flights. We are going to do this across the board. As the demand goes up, we are going to increase that [the number of flights] in the air-bubble,” Mr. Scindia said at an event organized by Public Affairs Forum of India. He was responding to a question on resumption of international flights. “International travel is not governed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation alone, but also by the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs and [also depends on] other countries,” Mr. Scindia said, implying that concerns over the spread of COVID-19 as well as travel restrictions by various countries were hindering India from fully opening up international travel.

    Scheduled international flights were banned by the government on March 23 last year. Later that year, the government started gradually opening up the skies by entering into “air bubble” agreements with various countries, with a limited number of direct flights permitted to and from India. India now has “air bubble” tie-ups with 28 countries.

    Defence ministry clears Rs 423-cr deal for US torpedoes

    The Navy will strengthen its anti-submarine capability with the Defense Ministry signing a contract with the US Government for the procurement of MK 54 Torpedo and expendable (chaff and flares) at a cost of Rs 423 crore.

    In April, the US Department of State had approved this Foreign Military Sale to India at an estimated cost of $63 million. The principal contractor for the first deal is Raytheon Integrated Defense System.

  • Uttarakhand rain fury: 88 rescued as death toll rises to 75

    Uttarakhand rain fury: 88 rescued as death toll rises to 75

    Dehradun (TIP): The death count in Uttarakhand rose to 75 on Friday, Oct 22,  as rescue workers found more bodies and also brought to safety score of stranded people after the rains that recently lashed the state.

    State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) men rescued 65 trekkers, including six foreigners, stranded near Bageshwar’s Pindari and Kafni glaciers. Twenty-three people were rescued from from Darma Valley of Pithoragarh.

    The official death toll in the state now is 68, including the five bodies of members of a team of 11 people who were trekking from Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi to Chitkul in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.

    The figure, however, does not include two others member of the Chitkul trek reported dead.

    Five people feared dead in Bageshwar are also not included in the official count.

    Rains battered Uttarakhand for nearly three days, beginning Sunday night, with the Kumaon division bearing the brunt of it.

    An official said Kumaon suffered a loss of Rs 2,000 crore, out of Rs 7,000 croe damage statewide estimated by the Uttarakhand government.

    “SDRF teams have rescued 42 tourists, including six foreigners, from Dwali near the Pindari glacier and 23 from the Kafni glacier,” Bageshwar DM Vineet Kumar told PTI.

    Meanwhile, two Cheetah helicopters, which were to make sorties in search of 10 members of a trekking team stranded in Sundardhunga, could not take off due to cloudy weather, he said.

    “But four members of the team have returned safe. We suspect that there may have been some casualties too. The helicopters will make another attempt early on Saturday morning in search of the missing members of the trekking team,” Kumar said.

    Besides, 15 people who had gone missing in Sarmool, the point of origin of the Saryu river, have also been found safe, he said.

    Twenty-one tourists and two ailing locals were rescued from Darma Valley of Pithoragarh district, DM Ashish Chauhan said.

    Two surviving members of a trekking team have already been rescued while the search for two missing is on, officials in Uttarkashi said.

    Kumaon Divisional Commissioner Sushil Kumar said, “Kumaon division bore the brunt of the unseasonal spell of record rains which damaged crops and property worth Rs 2,000 crore besides accounting for the highest number of deaths and large scale destruction of houses,” the official said.

    Fifty-nine deaths were reported from Kumaon alone with Nainital reporting the maximum 35 deaths followed by 11 in Champawat, six in Almora, one in Bageshwar and three each in Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar districts.

  • 1 billion jabs identity of a new India: Modi

    New Delhi (TIP): India gave a befitting reply to those questioning the country’s ability to vaccinate its population against Covid-19 and surmounted the challenge posed by the pandemic by administering one billion shots in a short time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, Oct 22.

    Modi also took a swipe at his opponents and said economic growth was getting a boost from rising vaccinations, a day after India administered the billionth Covid-19 shot to much fanfare.

    “100 crore vaccinations are not just a figure, but a reflection of the strength of the country, it is the creation of a new chapter of history. This is a picture of a new India that sets difficult goals and knows how to achieve them,” the PM said in a televised address to the nation.

    He said that while other countries had the expertise, India achieved the target by basing the vaccination programme on scientific methods. “Questions were asked if Indians can cope with this pandemic, where will it get the money to purchase vaccines, will Indians get the vaccines or not, will it be able to inoculate so many to stop the (Covid-19) spread… This one billion is an answer to these questions,” he added.

    The billionth shot was administered on Thursday, nine months and five days after the country’s Covid-19 immunisation programme kicked off on January 16. Only China has been able to administer more doses.

  • India among 11 ‘countries of concern’: US intel report on climate change

    India among 11 ‘countries of concern’: US intel report on climate change

    New Delhi (TIP): India is among the 11 countries which have been identified by United States intelligence agencies as ‘countries of concern’ with regard to climate change.

    According to a US intelligence report, these 11 countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, are highly vulnerable in terms of their ability to prepare for and respond to environmental and societal crises caused by climate change.

    A senior intelligence official told news agency Reuters that in a fresh National Intelligence Estimate report of the National Intelligence Council, the office of the director of national intelligence (ODNI) predicted that global warming will increase geopolitical tensions and risks to the United States’ national security up to 2040. The report has been released ahead of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.

    Among the countries of concern, heat, drought and the ineffective government in Afghanistan make the situation in the war-torn country worrying, the above official said. Meanwhile, in India and the rest of South Asia, water disputes has been predicted as important geopolitical flashpoint.

    The report threw light on India and China playing a critical role in determining the trajectory of temperature rise. India and China are the fourth and first largest emitters respectively, it said.

    Both the countries are growing their total and per capita emissions. On the other hand, the United States and the European Union (EU), as the second-and third-largest emitters, are reducing their emissions.

    “Both China and India are incorporating more renewable and low-carbon energy sources, but several factors will limit their displacement of coal,” the report said.

    “They need to modernise their grids, have sunk costs that make it relatively cheaper to use coal compared with other energy sources, want to minimise reliance on fuel imports for national security reasons and are trying to appease domestic constituencies who rely on the coal industry for jobs,” it added.

    Source: HT

  • SIT chief probing Lakhimpur Kheri violence transferred, will continue to head probe

    SIT chief probing Lakhimpur Kheri violence transferred, will continue to head probe

    Lucknow (TIP): The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday transferred DIG Upendra Kumar Agarwal, heading the SIT probing into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, to Gonda but will continue to supervise the investigation. While transferring Agarwal to Gonda from the UP PHQ, the state police headquarters made it clear that it was a routine exercise and he will continue to head the Special Investigation Team set up to probe into the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed. Agarwal is a 2005-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. As per the UP PHQ’s transfer notification, five other IPS officers have been given new postings as well. When asked about Agarwal’s transfer, UP Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar told PTI that he will continue to lead the SIT team investigating the Lakhimpur Kheri case.

    Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra was arrested by the SIT after 12 hours of grilling on October 9. Besides the minister’s son, 10 others too have been arrested in this case so far.

    After an intensive and extensive, nine hours of questioning, DIG Agarwal had on October 9 said Ashish Mishra has been arrested for not cooperating in the investigation and making evasive replies to police queries.

    An FIR was lodged at the Tikonia police station on October 3 over the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

    Besides, Agarwal five other officers who have been transferred include Ayodhya IG Sanjeev Gupta who has been posted as IG (Law and Order) with Allahabad IG K P Singh taking over his place in the temple town.

    Singh’s place as Allahabad IG was taken over by Rakesh Singh. Basti IG Anil Kumar Rai has been transferred to Central Zone’s PAC with IG (Law and Order) Modak Rozas taking his place in Basti.     Source: PTI

  • Pakistan PM Imran Khan accused of selling gifts received from other countries’ heads

    Lahore (TIP): Pakistan’s Opposition parties on October 20 accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of selling gifts he received from other countries’ heads, including an expensive watch worth USD 1 million.

    Gifts are routinely exchanged between heads of states or officers holding constitutional positions during a state visit. According to the gift depository (Toshakhana) rules, these gifts remain the property of the state unless sold at an open auction. Rules allow officials to retain gifts with a market value of less than Rs 10,000 without paying anything, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

    “Imran Khan has sold the gifts he received from other countries,” PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz tweeted in Urdu. “Caliph Hazrat Omar (companion of Prophet Muhammad) was accountable for his shirt and robe and you (Imran Khan), on the other hand, looted foreign gifts from Toshakhana and you are talking of setting up a state of Madina? How can a person (Khan) be this insensitive, deaf, dumb and blind?” asked the daughter of deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    Opposition alliance—Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — president Maulana Fazlur Rehman said there are reports that Prime Minister Khan has sold a precious watch he received from a prince. “This is shameful,” he said. (PTI)

  • Death toll reaches 104 as rains lash Nepal, trigger floods and landslides

    Kathmandu (TIP): The death toll from flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Nepal climbed to 104 on October 21 after 16 more fatalities were reported from various parts of the country, officials said.

    Forty-one people have gone missing and the same have been injured in the incidents so far, according to the latest data published by the ministry’s Disaster Management Division.

    According to a Home Ministry statement, the highest number of fatalities, 62 were reported from Province No. 1, followed by Sudur Paschim Province with 31 fatalities and Karnali Province with seven fatalities. At least 104 people lost their lives in the recent incidents of flood, landslides and inundation that hit different parts of the country, following incessant rains over the past three days, health ministry officials said.

    Three persons were killed in Lumbini province and one in Bagmati province.

    In Province 1, where the death toll has reached 62, 20 have been injured and 13 have gone missing. Of the total 62 fatalities, 14 were reported in Ilam, 26 in Panchthar, seven in Dhankuta, eight in Sunsari, two in Udayapur, and one each in Morang, Solukhumbu and Bhojpur.

    In Sudur Paschim where a total of 31 deaths were reported, 16 cases were reported in Doti, eight in Bajhang, four in Baitadi, two in Dadeldhura and one in Kailali.

    In Karnali Province, where seven deaths were reported, six from Humla and one from Kalikot. In Lumbini where three deaths were reported, two from Pyuthan and one from Kapilvastu.

    Similarly, the Sindhuli district of Bagmati Province reported a single fatality in the disaster.

    The natural disaster hit 20 districts of Nepal. However, weather conditions have started improving from Thursday, the officials said.

    Meanwhile, Home Minister Balkrishna Khand has directed the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department and Nepal Army to promptly rescue the foreign tourists stranded at Humla district.

    Twelve people, including four Slovenian tourists and three guides, are stranded at Nakhla in Humla district, 700 km west of Kathmandu after heavy snowfall blocked the road at Limi area. They were on their way back to Simikot after completing their trekking expedition at Limi, Humla Chief District Officer Ganesh Acharya said.

    Snowfall started in the area on Sunday and the rescue works could not be carried out on Wednesday due to bad weather. The local administration has sought a helicopter from the home ministry to carry out the rescue operation, officials said. —PTI

  • Bangladesh Prime Minister orders strict action against arsonists

    Bangladesh Prime Minister orders strict action against arsonists

    Dhaka (TIP): Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on October 21 instructed her home minister to initiate immediate action against those who incited violence using religion, as she asked people not to trust anything on social media without fact-checking. Attacks on Hindu temples have intensified in Bangladesh since last Wednesday after an alleged blasphemous post surfaced on social media during the Durga Puja celebrations. Late Sunday night, a mob damaged 66 houses and set on fire at least 20 homes of Hindus in Bangladesh. During the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Hasina instructed Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to initiate immediate action against those who incited violence using religion, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam was quoted as saying by a daily.

    PM Hasina, who joined the meeting through video-conferencing from her official residence, also urged the people of the country not to trust anything on social media without checking facts, he said.

    She has instructed the Home Ministry to remain vigilant and take steps to prevent such incidents from recurring, Islam said. Local media reported that six Hindus were killed in separate attacks, but the figures could not confirmed independently.

    Hasina has promised to bring to justice the perpetrators of recent violence. She has announced to provide all possible assistance to the affected families. The foreign ministry statement underlined that the Government of Bangladesh “unequivocally condemned those incidents and took serious note of the reactions from within and outside the Hindu community”. Regrettably, it said, the domestic elements that opposed Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan were still propagating their “toxic narratives to instigate violence, hatred and bigotry”. — PTI

  • Pakistan joined on FATF grey list by close ally Turkey

    Pakistan joined on FATF grey list by close ally Turkey

    Lahore (TIP): The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on October 21 kept Pakistan on the grey list as it “needs to further demonstrate that investigation and prosecution of proscribed terrorists and terror groups is being seriously pursued,” said FATF chief Marcus Pleyer at the end the global finance watchdog’s deliberations that began on Sunday. “On the action plan from 2019, we require Pakistan to demon that terrorist financing investigators are targeting UN proscribed senior leaders and commanders,’’ said Pleyer but discounted any possibility of moving it to the Black List. “Pakistan has already completed 30 out of 34 action points. So this shows the clear commitment of Pakistan Government. So there was no discussion on blacklisting. The Government is cooperating with FATF and we urged it to very quickly address the remaining four items of as soon as possible,’’ he said.

    Pleyer denied that it was pressure by India that led to Pakistan’s retention on the grey list. “FATF is a technical body and we take our decisions by consensus. It is not one country but 39 jurisdictions and the decision is taken by consensus on a jurisdiction to be put under increased monitoring,’’ answered Pleyer when asked whether it was India which is instrumental in keeping Pakistan on the grey list in June 2018.

    In a further blow to Pakistan, Turkey, its closest ally in FATF, was also put on the Grey List along with Jordan and Mali.

    Pakistan is estimated to have lost over $ 30 billion in foreign investments since it was it was grey listed. Till the meeting, FATF has 22 countries under “grey listing”, including Albania, Morocco, Syria, South Sudan and Yemen. It has removed two – Botswana and Mauritius – and added three – Mali, Jordan and Turkey – making it a total of 23 countries on the Grey List.

    Since June, the FATF has been focusing on Pakistan’s money laundering deficiencies after the Asia Pacific Group found a number of serious issues. On terror financing, Pakistan had addressed all but one of the 27 action points.

    The revelation of Pandora Papers has also led the FATF to recommend a sweeping number of changes in which anonymous shell companies are used by criminals and the corrupt. “The same money is often used to facilitate further crime. (TNS)

  • Chinese, Russian naval vessels jointly sail through Japan strait

    TOKYO (TIP): A group of 10 naval vessels from China and Russia sailed through a strait separating Japan’s main island and its northern island of Hokkaido on October 22, the Japanese Government said, adding it was closely watching such activities. It was the first time Japan has confirmed the passage of Chinese and Russian naval vessels sailing together through the Tsugaru Strait, which separates the Sea of Japan from the Pacific.

    While the strait is regarded as international waters, Japan’s ties with China have long been plagued by conflicting claims over a group of tiny East China Sea islets. Tokyo has a territorial dispute with Moscow as well.

    “The government is closely watching Chinese and Russian naval vessels’ activities around Japan like this one with high interest,” Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihiko Isozaki told a regular news conference on Tuesday.

    A Japanese Defence Ministry spokesperson said there had been no violation of Japanese territorial waters and no international rules were violated by the passage of the vessels. — Reuters

    South asia page

  • South Korea test-launches 1st domestically made space rocket

    Seoul (TIP): South Korea test launched its first domestically produced space rocket on October 21 in what officials describe as an important step in the country’s pursuit of a satellite launch programme. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the three-stage Nuri rocket succeeded in delivering a dummy payload – a 1.5-ton block of stainless steel and aluminum – into orbit 600 to 800 km (372 to 497 miles) above Earth. Live footage showed the 47-meter (154 foot) rocket soaring into the air with bright yellow flames shooting out of its engines following blastoff at Naro Space Centre, the country’s lone spaceport, on a small island off its southern coast.

    The launch, which was observed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, was delayed by an hour because engineers needed more time to examine the rocket’s valves. There had also been concerns that strong winds and other conditions would pose challenges for a successful launch.

    Officials at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, the country’s space agency, said it would take about 30 minutes to determine whether the rocket successfully delivered the payload into orbit.

    Nuri’s largest first stage, the core booster stage, was expected to land in waters southwest of Japan after separation, and its second stage was expected to fall in remote Pacific waters east of the Philippines, about 2,800 km (1,740 miles) away from the launch site. (AP)

  • Britain, New Zealand strike free trade deal after 16 months of talks

    Britain, New Zealand strike free trade deal after 16 months of talks

    London/Wellington (TIP): Britain and New Zealand have reached agreement in principle on a free trade deal designed to reduce tariffs, improve services trade, and take London one step closer to membership in a broader trans-Pacific trade agreement. Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Jacinda Ardern sealed the deal in a Zoom call on October 20 after 16 months of negotiation.

    “This is a great trade deal for the United Kingdom, cementing our long friendship with New Zealand and furthering our ties with the Indo-Pacific,” Johnson said in a statement.

    It comes only months after a similar British agreement with Australia as ministers in London look to flesh out a post-Brexit pivot away from relying on commerce with the European Union.

    “This deal serves New Zealand’s economy and exporters well as we reconnect, rebuild and recover from COVID-19, and look forward into the future,” Ardern said at a news conference in Wellington, adding the deal was the country’s best ever. Tariffs on 97% of the products will be eliminated for both countries the day the deal comes into force, Ardern said. The immediate economic impact of any deal on Britain’s 3 trillion dollar economy is expected to be negligible according to British analyses published in 2019 and 2020. An updated economic analysis will be published when the deal is signed, for which a date has not been set.

    New Zealand said the deal would provide a boost of almost NZ$1 billion to its GDP. It’s the South Pacific nation’s second deal this year after sealing an upgraded trade pact with its biggest trading partner China in January.

    PACIFIC TILT : UK-New Zealand trade was worth £2.3 billion pounds ($3.18 billion) last year. The agreement signals a return of close trade ties between the nations that were curtailed when Britain joined the then European Economic Community in the 1970s. It also aligns with Britain foreign policy push for more influence in the Indo-Pacific to try to moderate China’s global dominance.

    The deal took longer than expected to reach, coming nearly two months after a target date. Britain’s opposition Labour Party criticized it, saying it harmed farmers and failed to deliver on jobs, exports or economic growth.

    However, ministers see it as another stepping stone toward joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) – an 11-country bloc including Australia, Singapore and Mexico. CPTPP membership has emerged as Britain’s top post-Brexit trade aim after the prospects of a quick and comprehensive deal with the United States faded. (Reuters)

  • China arrests star pianist with sex worker, warns celebrities

    Beijing (TIP): Police in China’s capital Beijing say famed international pianist Li Yundi is a suspect in a prostitution case. A message on the force’s microblog said a suspect had been placed in administrative detention and an investigation opened on Thursday involving a woman identified by her surname Chen and a man named as “Li di”, with the first part of his personal name deleted as is standard in police cases. The post was followed by another message depicting a piano keyboard and the words “one must definitely see clearly the difference between black and white”.   The official China Musicians Association also said it was expelling Li from the organisation based on the Beijing Chaoyang District police notice that he had been arrested. Li, 39, began playing piano as a small child and studied in China and Germany before becoming the youngest winner of the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2000 at age 18. He has since toured the world and recorded frequently, making him one of China’s best known international artists. AP

  • Swedish rapper shot dead, stoking outrage over gang violence

    Stockholm (TIP): Einar, one of Sweden’s most popular rappers, was shot dead in Stockholm late on October 21, heightening outrage over gang-related violence that has afflicted the Nordic country in recent years. Einar, 19, whose real name was Nils Gronberg, was killed in the upmarket Stockholm suburb of Hammarby Sjostad, and no arrests had been made so far. In a previous incident last year, Einar was abducted and assaulted by rival rappers. “A young life has been extinguished, and I understand that he meant a lot to many young people. It is tragic,” Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told TT. Gronberg, who made his debut at 16, issued four albums, had tens of millions of streams on music platforms and won several Swedish Grammys and other awards.

    Last year, he was kidnapped and beaten up by rival rappers with ties to a Stockholm crime gang. Several people, including Yasin Byn, another of Sweden’s most successful rappers, were given prison terms for their role in the kidnapping. Johan Forsell, law and order spokesperson for the main Moderates opposition party, said it was time to put an end to gang violence in Sweden. “The limits of what can be accepted in a civilized country have been passed a very long time ago,” he wrote on Twitter. “We need action not words to turn the tide and get Sweden in order.” Sweden has suffered gang-violence for years and gone from having one of the lowest rates of gun crime in Europe to having one of the highest over the past two decades. (Reuters )