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Sindhu trains at PPBA academy for a week to regain form, Vimal says she needs to make technical changes

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ANI
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Sindhu trains at PPBA academy for a week to regain form, Vimal says she needs to make technical changes 2

Olympic medallist P V Sindhu needs to make a few technical changes in her game and is likely to take some time to regain her form, said former India coach Vimal Kumar, who has observed the Indian ace from close quarters during her week-long stint in Bengaluru.

Sindhu has found the going tough ever since returning from a long lay-off following an ankle injury en route to the Commonwealth Games gold last August.

Desperate to arrest the slide, the 28-year-old, a two-time Olympic medallist, sought the help of the legendary Prakash Padukone and trained under him at the PPBA academy in Bengaluru last week.

”We have been sitting and observing her sessions. Prakash spoke to her her and tried to motivate her. We have also interacted with her coach (Muhammad Hafiz Hashim),” Vimal, who is the director of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, told PTI.

”She is at the moment low on confidence and physically and mentally slightly in a poor state. She has some work to do and we shouldn’t expect much from her at the Asian Games.

”She is a big player and it is important to give her some time, it might take a few months for her to regain her touch. There are a few technical aspects, where she can make some changes. Some initiatives she needs to take in the technical aspect.” Sindhu, the 2019 world champion, has lost seven times in the first round of BWF tour events this year with a semifinal finish at the Canada Open and two quarterfinals — US Open super 300 and Australian Open super 500 — being the highlight so far.

Ahead of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Sindhu has pulled out of the China Open Super 1000 and Hong Kong Open Super 500 to focus on the multi-sport event beginning September 23.

She along with her coach Hafiz Hashim then spent the last week training at the PPBA under the former All England champion Padukone.

”The last week has been a good change for her. She had a good experience of learning from Mr Prakash Padukone. He was very kind to be there and watch her practice session,” Sindhu’s father PV Ramana, who had won a bronze medal as part of the Indian Volleyball team in the 1986 Asian Games, said.

”They have been very supportive and has given her great encouragement. It is good to learn from different coaches, everyone has different views and ways. As a player, she might like to go again, every player have their own strategy.” For world number 14 Sindhu, it is a crucial period in her career with the Olympic qualification period for the 2024 Games having started from May 1.

In February, the player from Hyderabad parted ways with Korean coach Park Tae-Sang, who was instrumental in her winning the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Sindhu worked with SAI coach Vidhi Chaudhary for sometime before roping in Hafiz ahead of the Olympics.

Trudeau in India, Khalistani separatists hold ‘referendum’ in Canada

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ANI
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Trudeau in India, Khalistani separatists hold 'referendum' in Canada 4

Even as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in India for the G20 Leaders’ Summit on Sunday, Khalistani secessionists held a so-called ‘Referendum’ in Surrey, British Columbia. Designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), was present at the gathering of the Khalistani separatists held at the Guru Nanak Singh Gurudwara in Surrey, Vancouver.

In a provocative speech, Pannun used intimidating language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and other leaders. He claimed that the separatists were challenging the territorial integrity of India. Prime Minister Modi had on Sunday raised “strong concerns” about the continuous “anti-India activities” by extremist elements in Canada in his pull-aside meeting with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.

Prime Minister Modi stated that it was essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats. “The Prime Minister conveyed our strong concerns about the continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

It added, “The nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates, and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well. It is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats”. Prime Minister Modi also mentioned that a relationship based on mutual respect and trust is essential for the progress of the India-Canada relationship.” After his meeting with PM Modi, Trudeau said in a news conference that he had many conversations with PM Modi on the issue of Khalistan extremism and “foreign interference”, and Canada would always defend freedom of expression and, at the same time, will always be there to prevent violence.

He further emphasized that the “actions of the few” do not represent the entire community or Canada. “Both the issues came up. Over the years, with PM Modi, we have had many conversations on both of those issues. Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and freedom of peaceful protest, which are extremely important to us. At the same time, we are always there to prevent violence and to push back against hatred,” Trudeau said. He added, “I think on the issue of the community, it is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada. On the flip side of it, we also highlighted the importance of respecting the rule of law, and we did talk about foreign interference”.

Earlier this month, Canadian authorities revoked permission to hold the so-called ‘referendum’ at a public school in Canada after concerns were raised over promotional materials that featured pictures of a weapon. The referendum was scheduled to be held at Tamanawis Secondary School in Surrey, Canada, on September 10.

G20 summit: Foreign Media irked over denying access to cover Modi–Biden meeting

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Vaidehi Taman
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g20 summit, g20, narendra modi, modi, pm modi, joe biden, biden, press meet, foreign press, us journalists, press conference
Image Courtesy: ANI

Since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has never held a press conference; a press meet was never on his agenda, and in the recent past, when there was a press conference in the White House, an American journalist asked an embarrassing question to Modi that created a lot of unrest on social media. Maybe to avoid such awkward situations, Modi avoids press meetings. He just obliges his mouthpieces by going to their studios for an overhyped interview. This time, foreign reporters accompanying US President Joe Biden on his visit to India for the G20 summit were also given the same treatment.

Since taking over as the Prime Minister of India in 2014, Modi has been criticized nationally and internationally for avoiding press conferences. So far, he has not held a single press conference. The only time in the nine years that he took questions from the press was during the joint press conference with Biden during his state visit in June, which put him in a bad light.

Biden headed into a confidential meeting with Modi on September 8, soon after arriving in India. As Biden and Modi met at the prime minister’s residence, the US press outfits were confiscated in a van, out of the eyesight of the two leaders—an unusual situation for the reporters and photographers who follow the U.S. president at home and around the world to witness and record his public appearances.

The Joe Biden administration repeatedly requested increased media access for the bilateral meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit on Friday, but the Government of India rejected those requests, according to the White House’s tweet.

The press pool spray refers to the access of a pool of reporters to the two leaders at the venue right before the meeting with cameras and microphones. The purpose of the pool spray is to grant the leaders publicity with opening remarks and also grant the media the opportunity to ask questions. The leaders are at liberty to take questions of their choice since it is an informal press interaction and not a formal press conference. Such press pool sprays frequently happen at the White House’s Oval Office, where the President of the United States often hosts foreign leaders. But in India, this opportunity was denied. Biden will not address the press in Delhi but will hold a press conference in Vietnam, where he will go after Delhi.

Besides the meeting with Modi, Biden is not expected to have any other bilateral meetings. The White House has said that there could be informal interactions with leaders on the margins or pull-aside kinds of conversations, but the schedule is not expected to allow for a proper bilateral sit-down.

Maha Min Sudhir Mungantiwar felicitated at Rajanna Temple, Telangana

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Web Team
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The Minister of Forest of Maharashtra Sudhir Munigantiwar

The Minister of Forests of Maharashtra, Sudhir Munigantiwar, visited the Rajanna Temple in Telangana. He was accorded a warm reception by the leaders of the Rajanna Temple Employees Association, namely Sirigiri Sriramulu and Chandrasekhar, who presented him with a traditional shawl as a token of respect.

A drone attack kills at least 30 in Sudan’s capital as rival troops battle, activists say

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ANI
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A drone attack kills at least 30 in Sudan's capital as rival troops battle, activists say 8

A drone attack Sunday on an open market south of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, killed at least 30 people, activists and medical workers said, as the military and a powerful paramilitary group battle for control of the country.

At least three dozen others were injured in the attack in Khartoum’s May neighbourhood, according to an activist group known as the Resistance Committees and two health care workers at the Bashair University Hospital, where the casualties were treated.

The activist group posted footage on social media showing bodies wrapped in white sheets in an open yard at the hospital.

It was not immediately clear which side was behind Sunday’s attack. Indiscriminate shelling and airstrikes by both factions aren’t uncommon in Sudan’s war, which has reduced the Greater Khartoum area to a battleground.

Sudan has been rocked by violence since mid-April, when tensions between the country’s military, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, burst into open fighting.

The clashes have since spread to several parts of the country. In the Greater Khartoum area, which includes the cities of Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri, RSF troops have commandeered civilian homes and turned them into operational bases.

The military responded by bombing residential areas, rights groups and activists say.

In the western Darfur region — the scene of a genocidal campaign in the early 2000s — the conflict has morphed into ethnic violence, with the RSF and allied Arab militias attacking ethnic African groups, according to rights groups and the United Nations.

The conflict has killed more than 4,000 people, according to August figures from the United Nations. However, the real toll is almost certainly much higher, doctors and activists say.

The number of the internally displaced has nearly doubled since mid-April to reach at least 7.1 million people, according to the UN refugee agency. Another 1.1 million are refugees in neighbouring countries.

PM Modi announces conclusion of G20 Summit, proposes virtual review session in November

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ANI
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PM Modi announces conclusion of G20 Summit, proposes virtual review session in November 10

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced the conclusion of the G20 Summit here and proposed to hold a virtual G20 session in November to review the suggestions and proposals made at the premier forum for international economic cooperation.

“As you all know India has the responsibility of G20 presidency till November 2023. In these two days, all of you gave a lot of suggestions and placed proposals. It is our duty to see how faster progress can be achieved on these,” PM Modi said.

“I propose that at the end of November, we hold a virtual session of G20. We can review the topics decided in this Summit, in that virtual session. I hope you all will connect in the virtual session. With this, I declare the conclusion of the G20 Summit,” he added. Before declaring that the summit had ended, PM Modi handed over the ceremonial gavel of the Group of 20 presidency to Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

“I congratulate the Brazilian President and my friend Lula da Silva and hand over the gavel of Presidency,” PM Modi said. Earlier Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva handed over saplings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of Session 3 of the G20 Summit.

While Indonesia held the G20 presidency last year, Brazil will hold the presidency after India. India took over the G20 presidency on December 1 last year at the G20 Summit in Bali and will continue to hold it till the end of November.

The New Delhi Declaration was adopted by G20 leaders on Saturday, the first day of the Summit. The G20 leaders visited Rajghat on Sunday morning to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.

Work for huge win in Lok Sabha polls for DMK to have a big role in central govt, Stalin tells cadres

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ANI
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Work for huge win in Lok Sabha polls for DMK to have a big role in central govt, Stalin tells cadres 12

DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday urged party workers to strive together for a stupendous victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls so that the party would have a key role in the next government at the Centre.

Stalin said the opposition INDIA alliance should win the Parliamentary elections next year to ensure the nation’s welfare.

”India itself can be protected only if the INDIA alliance wins,” he told party workers in his virtual address on the occasion of a wedding in the family of the party’s Neyveli MLA Saba Rajendran. For the well-being of the nation, all 39 Lok Sabha segments in Tamil Nadu and the one constituency in neighbouring Puducherry should be won by the DMK and its allies, the party chief said.

Only a huge victory in all 40 seats would enable the DMK to play a significant role in the new dispensation at the Centre following the parliamentary polls, he added.

The DMK president urged party workers to take a vow to work unitedly for a big win in the Lok Sabha polls and raised the party’s slogan ”Naarpathum Namathe, Nadum Namathe (All 40 seats are ours and the country too).”

Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan win toss, put India to bat first

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ANI
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Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan win toss, put India to bat first 14

Pakistan won the toss and put India to bat first here at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo in the Super Four match of Asia Cup 2023. India have made one forced change to their playing eleven as Shreyas Iyer is ruled out due to back spasms and KL Rahul comes in as his replacement.

India and Pakistan have met each other 18 times in the continental tournament. In these matchups, India have secured victory in nine games, while Pakistan emerged triumphant on six instances, with three matches concluding without a definite result. The group stage match between India and Pakistan was called off due to rain, with both teams sharing one point each. India were bundled out at 266 in 48.5 overs with Hardik Pandya’s 87 and Ishan Kishan’s 82 helping the team post a decent target. However, rain played spoilsport and the match was called off without Pakistan facing a single ball.

The weather is way brighter, open with no big signs of rain though there are clouds. Notably, it did not rain during yesterday’s Super Four clash between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. “We will bowl first. I think there is a bit of moisture, we need to use that. Always, India Pakistan is high intensity, but we will take it match to match. As a team, we are playing well, we are focused on this one. No changes,” said Pakistan captain Babar Azam after winning the toss.

“Looking to bat first. There will be a challenge upfront, but the way we guys batted last time around gives us confidence. Every game is important for us, but one thing at a time to focus on. (On rain delays) That’s the nature of the sport, it gave us good time to prepare and now we’ll look to play well. Two changes – Bumrah is back and one forced change, Shreyas Iyer just got a back spasm so KL Rahul comes in for him,” said India captain Rohit Sharma after the toss. India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

Pakistan (Playing XI): Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan(WK), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.

I would love to see Akhand Bharat, “India without partition”

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Vaidehi Taman
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I would love to see Akhand Bharat, "India without partition" 16

Akhand Bharat means India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh as one nation. It’s been more than 77 years since the partition of India. You can undo the land partition, but you cannot change the behavior of people. At this moment, India might be wanting Akhand Bharat, but the two sovereign nations of Pakistan and Bangladesh should also think on the same lines, which is just not possible. So, Akhand Bharat remains only an emotional idea. World politics always moves towards the split of countries, not the union or reunification of countries. People find it very hard to live together, especially when they have already split up in history.

Even if India acquires Afghanistan, Pakistan, or these countries, people will come with them. Additional geography comes with people. We are not able to manage anti-nationals within India. Crackers burst when Pakistan wins against India and whatnot. There are clear Pakistan supporters in every city in today’s India, coming from some Muslim sections. Akhand Bharat will have a double Muslim population, with many Muslim-majority states. Can you imagine the result of the elections? In a house of 750 members, you need 376 seats to win, Without much change in Hindu seats. Even Modi would find it impossible to form a government. Can you imagine the level of appeasement in politics? How secular will politics be then?

If you are ambitious, why limit yourself to South Asian geography? Why not think of the world? There are a lot easier chances out there if you open yourself up. Do not cling to a single idea. This is the world of democracies. If you are more numerous, then many countries can be yours. And there are countries full of natural resources but lacking population growth. We just need to migrate there; within 20 years, that country will be ours. I am not naming any countries, but it’s easy to find.

In countries with a low population, where Indians are already around 5% to 15 per cent. If you double the migration rate to these countries, we can reach more than 30% in 40–50 years. We are never expansionists or exploiters. The countries will still be vibrant democracies. This will just be a spiritual and more balanced world. There are easy opportunities lying out there in the entire world; why Akhand Bharat? Understand the changing dynamics of the world and use them in our favor.

Historically, Indian empires occasionally conquered a few portions of Afghanistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. I don’t remember any period when Tibet was a part of any Indian empire. Yes, during the ancient and medieval ages, Indian Hindu and Buddhist culture did spread to these regions, but that doesn’t make them a part of India.

If you talk about forming an EU- or ASEAN-like intergovernmental organization, then yes, that can work. It will be beneficial for all the nations in the Indian subcontinent and beyond. But the India-Pakistan rivalry is a big hurdle. That is why SAARC couldn’t succeed. And in such organizations, India can and should not play big brother. In the EU and ASEAN, all countries are equal partners. We also cannot agree on open borders due to security issues and demographic threats.

Even the BJP’s core members know Akhand Bharat is wishful thinking. There are naive people who don’t live beyond their daily routine of struggling to put two square meals on the table. These people think that annexation is a cakewalk. Akhand Bharat refers to the Idea that India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, and other nations have been a part of India. But we were separated from India because of invaders from Muslims and the West. Afghanistan was called Gandhara, the parent’s place of Gandhari in Mahabharat. This entire area had the same culture, same lifestyle, and same dress style (dhoti, shawl, saree, etc.) in those days. Even so, there were numerous kingdoms ruled politically by various kings. Even these kings were fighting wars against each other. War between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. War between Ram and Ravan. The Kalinga Wars, and many more.

Politically, let there be Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, etc.; no problem. But the way of living should be the same everywhere. All these States should acknowledge our ancestors as well as our values. All the present-day political States should be emotionally united, and that is the root of Akhand Bharat.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said that ‘Akhand Bharat, or undivided India, will be a reality before today’s young generation gets old. Since then, the Opposition has been alleging that the Modi government is planning to drop India and stay with just Bharat as the country’s name.

Congress claimed that the alliance of like-minded opposition parties named I.N.D.I.A. has worried the BJP, which is now trying to drop India and keep only Bharat as the country’s name. Mohan Bhagwant had made a strong pitch for the use of the word ‘Bharat’ instead of India. Bhagwat emphasized that the name of our country has been Bharat for ages. Whatever the language, the name remains the same.

Akhand Bharat is a concept that says India is united. As long as there is casteism in India, as long as there are political differences, as long as there are “Hindus or Muslims” and not Indians,” and as long as people cannot accept ideas that contradict their beliefs, there will never be an Akhand Bharat.

PM Modi “looks forward” to bilateral meetings with Biden, Bangladesh PM, Mauritius PM

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ANI
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PM Modi "looks forward" to bilateral meetings with Biden, Bangladesh PM, Mauritius PM 18

As the global leaders have begun to arrive in India to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that he looks forward to the three bilateral meetings scheduled at his residence.

On Friday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to hold bilateral meetings with Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, and US President Joe Biden.

“This evening, I look forward to three bilateral meetings at my residence,” posted PM Modi on X.

The Prime Minister also said that these meetings will provide an opportunity to review India’s relations with these countries.

“I will be meeting Mauritius PM @KumarJugnauth, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and @POTUS @JoeBiden. The meetings will give an opportunity to review India’s bilateral ties with these nations and further strengthen developmental cooperation,” the post further read.

Mauritius PM Jugnauth arrived in India on Thursday, while Bangladesh PM Hasina arrived on Friday afternoon.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Mauritius PM hailed India’s G20 Presidency and said that there couldn’t have been a better theme for the summit than ‘One Earth, One Family, and One Future’, which translates to ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.

He also thanked India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inviting Mauritius as a Guest Country at the G20 Summit and affirmed his contribution to the summit.

Jugnauth said, “I must thank the government of India, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for having invited Mauritius as a Guest Country to attend this G20 Summit. Mauritius is very honoured and privileged to be participating. We have contributed throughout the year, and we are going to contribute to this Summit. This is being held at a very critical juncture because we have been facing the COVID-19 pandemic. We were in a situation when the whole world was on its knees. On top of that, it is being compounded now with this conflict in Ukraine. We also see the effects of climate change”.

US President Biden is expected to arrive in India on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, on PM Modi and Biden’s bilateral meeting, US NSA Jake Sullivan has said that meaningful progress on a number of issues, including GE Jet engine issues, MQ9 Reapers, 5G, 6G, and civil nuclear areas, will show the breadth of the relationship.

“Tomorrow the president will be meeting with Prime Minister Modi, and it will be an opportunity to follow up on Prime Minister Mod’s visit to the United States, and we will see meaningful progress on a number of issues, including the GE jet engine issue, the MQ9 reapers on 5G and 6G, a collaboration on critical and emerging technologies, and progress in the civil nuclear area as well,” he said.

Sullivan also said, “We will mark all of that progress when the two of them meet tomorrow, which shows the breadth of the relationship between our countries. Of course, President Biden will also speak on critical fundamental values that the United States stands for, as he does in all of his engagements, and then he’ll look forward to seeing a number of other leaders on the margins of the G20 over the weekend.”

Sullivan’s remarks came on the heels of US President Joe Biden’s departure for New Delhi to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

The G20 Leaders’ Summit is scheduled to take place on September 9 and 10 in India.

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