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ISIS causing unrest in Afghanistan: Taliban

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ANI
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terrorist
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The Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister admitted that 1,800 ISIS terrorists were released last year and claimed that ISIS fighters have been subdued while on the contrary, ISIS has claimed responsibility for the recent deadly attacks on mosques, schools, and cars across Afghanistan. 

Muttaqi even contradicted his statement, saying “the ISIS prisoners had been causing unrest in the country during the previous 11 months.”

Addressing the Tashkent international conference, acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban Amir Khan Muttaqi informed that when the Taliban took control of Kabul, the Afghan capital, 1,800 ISIS terrorists were released from Bagram and Pul-eCharkhi prisons, the Khaama Press reported. 

During his address, Foreign Minister Muttaqi confirmed the release of the ISIS prisoners and said that the Taliban had grown strong enough to subdue ISIS fighters during the previous 11 months of their administration. 

The previous Afghan administration flew the ISIS members to Kabul after they were besieged by the Taliban in Jawzjan province in northern Afghanistan, Khaama quoted the acting minister as saying. 

Uzbekistan hosted an international conference on Afghanistan on July 25-26 which was attended by the representatives of 20 world countries. 

Earlier, US officials expressed concern over the release of the ISIS prisoners and said that their release by the Taliban from the prisons of Pul-e-Charkhi and Bagram had strengthened the group.

 In February, the nominee to head the US Central Command, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla raised concern over the Taliban freeing Al-Qaeda and Islamic State (ISIS) prisoners and warned that the foreign terrorist groups are “reconstituting” in Afghanistan. 

All prisoners in detention centres and prisons in Afghanistan were pardoned after the Taliban took control of the country last August. Despite the Taliban’s claims that ISIS does not physically exist in Afghanistan and does not pose a threat, the group had claimed responsibility for deadly attacks on mosques, schools, and cars, the publication said. 

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan last August, the country has been mired in violence. The string of terrorist attacks took place in Afghanistan on April 21, 2022, including the attack against the Seh Dokan Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif and a separate attack in Kunduz, both claimed by Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), an entity affiliated with Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).

 The attacks have resulted in dozens killed and many more injured and follow other recent attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including in religious minority communities, across Afghanistan. Moreover, the law and order situation has deteriorated and Afghan citizens are living in perpetual fear of blasts and explosions.

‘Reform in drones, space and geospatial sectors are opening up new avenues’: PM Modi

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ANI
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narendra modi
Image : ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday that reforms in drones, space and geospatial sectors are opening up new avenues.

“Removal of angel tax, removal of retrospective tax, and reduction of corporate tax – are encouraging investments and industry. The reforms in drones, space and geospatial sectors are opening up new avenues”, he said.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister congratulated the students on getting their degrees. “Congratulations to all those who are graduating today in Anna University’s 42nd convocation. You would have already built a future for yourselves in your minds. Therefore, today is not only a day of achievements but also of aspirations”, he said.

Calling them the leaders of tomorrow, the Prime Minister also noted the sacrifices of the parents and support of teachers and non-teaching staff of the University.

The Prime Minister recalled the words of Swami Vivekananda in what was known as Madras 125 years ago about the possibilities for the youth of India.

The Prime Minister remarked that “the whole world is looking at India’s youth with hope. Because you are the growth engines of the country and India is the world’s growth engine.”

The Prime Minister also recalled former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s association with Anna University. “May his thoughts and values always inspire you”, said the Prime Minister.

PM Modi noted that the COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented event. “It was a once-in-a-century crisis that nobody had any user manual for. It tested every country,” he said.

He remarked that adversities reveal what we are made of. “India faced the unknown confidently, thanks to its scientists, healthcare professionals and common people,” said PM Modi.

As a result, he said, every sector in India is bustling with a new life while adding that industry, investment, innovation and international trade, all are seeing India at the forefront.

The Prime Minister said India was the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer last year. “Innovation is becoming a way of life. In just the last 6 years, the number of recognised start-ups increased by 15,000 per cent,” he said.

The Prime Minister informed that India received a record FDI of over 83 billion dollars last year and said that India’s start-ups too received record funding post-pandemic.

He added that above all this, India’s position in the international trade dynamics is at its best ever. In this era of tech-led disruptions, the Prime Minister said there are three important factors in India’s favour. He said that the first factor is there is a taste for technology. There is a growing sense of comfort with the use of technology. Even the poorest of the poor are adapting to it, he added.

“The second factor is there is trust in risk-takers. Earlier at social occasions, it was difficult for a youngster to say he or she was an entrepreneur. People used to tell them to ‘get settled’, meaning, get a salaried job. Now the situation is the opposite. The third factor is: there is temperament for reform,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that earlier, “there was a notion that a strong government means it should control everything and everyone. But we have changed this. A strong government does not control everything or everyone. It controls the system’s impulse to interfere. A strong government is not restrictive but is responsive. A strong government does not move into every domain. It limits itself and makes space for people’s talents”.

He gave examples of freedom and flexibility provided to youth by the National Education Policy and the scrapping of 25,000 compliances for ease of business.

The Prime Minister underlined the link between the progress of youth and the nation. He said in conclusion “Your growth is India’s growth. Your learnings are India’s learnings. Your victory is India’s victory.”

During the programme, the Prime Minister awarded gold medals and certificates to 69 gold medalists. Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, Chief Minister MK Stalin, and Union Minister L Murugan were among those present on the occasion.

Anna University was established on 4 September 1978. It is named after CN Annadurai, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. It has 13 Constituent Colleges, 494 Affiliated Colleges spread over Tamil Nadu and 3 Regional Campuses – Tirunelveli, Madurai and Coimbatore.

World Bank says no new plans for financing for Sri Lanka

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Web Team
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World Bank
Image: Agencies

The World Bank does not plan to offer new financing to Sri Lanka, which is battling its worst economic crisis in decades, until the Indian Ocean nation has an adequate macroeconomic policy framework in place, the lender said on Thursday.

In a statement, the World Bank said Sri Lanka needed to adopt structural reforms that focus on economic stabilization and tackle the root causes of its crisis, which has starved it of foreign exchange and led to shortages of food, fuel and medicines.

“The World Bank Group is deeply concerned about the dire economic situation and its impact on the people of Sri Lanka,” it said.

The bank is repurposing resources under existing loans to help alleviate shortages of essential items such as medicine, cooking gas, fertilizer, meals for children, and cash for vulnerable households, it added.

The bank said it was working closely to establish control and fiduciary oversight to ensure fair distribution.

Which ruling forces are giving protection to spurious liquor mafias in Gujarat, asks Rahul

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PTI
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Rahul Gandhi, Congress Leader, Speach
Image: Agencies

In the wake of the Gujarat hooch tragedy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed concern over the business of spurious liquor and drugs in the state and asked which ruling forces are giving protection to the “mafias” involved.

Forty-two people from Botad and the neighbouring Ahmedabad district have died so far after consuming the spurious liquor on July 25, while 97 people are still admitted to hospitals in Bhavnagar, Botad and Ahmedabad, Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi has said.

“In ‘dry state’ Gujarat, many houses were destroyed due to the consumption of spurious liquor. Drugs worth billions are also being recovered from there continuously,” Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

“It is a matter of great concern, on the land of Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) and Sardar (Vallabhbhai) Patel, who are these people who are indiscriminately doing the business of intoxication?” the former Congress chief said.

Which ruling forces are giving protection to these “mafias”, he asked.

Fifteen key accused, including the one who acquired the chemical and those who sold the liquor to people, have already been arrested in the case.

CBI court convicts former Union Coal Secretary Gupta in a coal scam case

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ANI
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hc gupta, coal scam, coal india scam
Image: Agency

A Special CBI Court on Friday convicted former Coal Secretary HC Gupta, former Joint Secretary, KS Kropha, Nagpur-based firm Grace Industries Limited and its director Mukesh Gupta after finding irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in Maharashtra. The Court of a special judge Arun Bhardwaj convicted HC Gupta and others under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The case relates to the allocation of the Lohara East Coal block in Maharashtra. The court will now hear the arguments on the point of sentence on August 4, 2022. Earlier, the CBI had registered a case in the matter on September 20, 2012, under section – 120B r/w 420 IPC r/w 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. On completion of the investigation, a chargesheet was filed by the CBI against Grace Industries Limited and Mukesh Gupta, director of the company in court on October 28, 2014.

The special judge while discussing the role of public servants at the Centre and the state ordered further investigation into the matter with a direction that the evidence collected during further investigation, may be placed before the competent authority for the consideration of providing sanction to prosecute public servants namely KS Kropha, the then Joint Secretary, Ministry of Coal and VS Sawakhande, the then Director, Directorate of Geology and Mining, Nagpur, Government of Maharashtra under section – 19 of the P.C. Act, 1988. The Court on August 10, 2015, took cognizance of the offences punishable under section – 120B r/w 409/420 IPC r/w 13(2) r/w 13(1)(c) and (d) of the PC Act, 1988 and substantive offences. Accordingly, summons were issued to the accused persons for their appearance before the Court. During the course of the trial, a total of 34 witnesses had been examined by the prosecution/CBI to prove its case.

According to the CBI, allegations against the convicts M/s Grace Industries Ltd. and Mukesh Gupta during the period between the year 2005 to 2011 in New Delhi, Maharashtra and other places, in furtherance of the common object of the criminal conspiracy hatched with other co-accused persons i.e. HC Gupta, KS Kropha and cheated by Ministry of Coal, Government of India by dishonestly and fraudulently inducing the Ministry of Coal to allocate “Lohara East Coal Block” situated in the state of Maharashtra in favour of M/s GIL on the basis of false information about net worth, capacity, equipment and status of procurement and installation of the plant. CBI also stated that the said, company in its application claimed its net worth as Rs.120 Crores whereas its own network was Rs 3.3 crores only the company falsified its existing capacity as 1,20,000 Third Party Administrator (TPA) against 30,000 TPA.

In an order dated August 25, 2014, the Supreme Court of India cancelled the entire allocations of Coal Blocks. Vide order dated: January 19, 2015, Special Judge of the trial court had observed that the working of the officers of the Prime Minister’s office also does not appear to be above Board.

A 27-year-old woman was killed on suspicion of an affair, accused was arrested in Mumbai

By
PTI
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Image : Representative purpose, Akhilesh Pyarelal Gautam
Image: Representative purpose

A 27-year-old woman was murdered allegedly by her boyfriend, who suspected she was in a relationship with another man, in the early hours of Thursday here in Mumbai, police said.

The police cracked the murder case within 12 hours of the incident by arresting the accused, Akhilesh Pyarelal Gautam (24), from suburban Mankhurd in the afternoon, an official said.

Gautam and the woman, Manisha Jaiswar (27), were in a relationship and planning to get married in near future, he said.

However, Gautam suspected his girlfriend was having an affair with another man, the official said.

He went to her residence in suburban Kandivali in the early hours of Thursday and after an argument, slit her throat. The woman was rushed to a hospital, where she was declared dead before admission, he said.

She also had two major injuries on her head, following which a case of murder was registered, the official said.

The police formed three teams to investigate the case and started collecting information about the deceased, he said.

After gathering details about her boyfriend, the police traced him and arrested him for the murder, the official said, adding further investigation was on.

Exclusive: Eknath Shinde is hell bent on taking over the Shiv Sena

By
Vaidehi Taman
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eknath shinde playing chess
Exclusive: Eknath Shinde is hell bent on taking over the Shiv Sena 8

Last month on this day, Uddhav Thackeray resigned as chief minister of Maharashtra after 40 of Shiv Sena’s 54 MLAs rebelled against him under the leadership of party’s Thane strongman Eknath Shinde. Eknath Shinde’s bid to take over the Shiv Sena. Shinde’s rebellions are unstoppable and they are hell bent on bringing down the Thackeray legacy.


Eknath Shinde sought to take control of the Shiv Sena party and corner Thackeray and his loyalists. This all has become even more desperate to escape the hitches that would have arisen because of the anti-defection law and second, to make it difficult for Thackeray to revive the party which is directly related to the survival of his faction. Under the provisions of the anti-defection law, any nonaligned faction has to merge with any of the existing parties in the assembly after defecting from the parent party. It means the Shinde faction would have had to merge with BJP or any other party to prevent disqualification under the law. If Shinde has to join BJP, then he would not be able to take independent decisions.

 
These days, Eknath Shinde greeting the old guards of Shiv Sena to claim his ownership over the party. A few days back he had met MP Gajanan Kirtikar and yesterday he met veteran Shiv Sena leaders Manohar Joshi and Liladhar Dake. The purpose of these meetings of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is to make a dent in the national executive of Shiv Sena. So that Uddhav Thackeray will come in minority. Thackeray will be left with Aditya Thackeray, Subhash Desai, Diwakar Raote, Sanjay Raut and Chandrakant Khaire.
 The roles of Anant Geete and Anandrao Adsul are overwhelming. The Shinde faction and the BJP will soon have an electoral alliance. The Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Bharatiya Janata Party will form an alliance and contest the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections. This alliance will also contest the elections of Mumbai Municipal Corporation, which is dominated by Shiv Sena for the last 25 years. The expansion of the cabinet of Eknath Shinde and the BJP government will be done before August 3.


That’s why those aspiring to become ministers have intensified the fielding. Several dozen people are willing to become ministers. Some people have faith in the attendance of Delhi Durbar, while some are making rounds of Mumbai Durbar. Ramdas Kadam is likely to go on Legislative Council. Ramdas Kadam’s claim on the Legislative Council seat vacated by the resignation of former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. At present one more seat in the Legislative Council has fallen vacant with 12 MLAs appointed by the Governor.

IAF retiring one Squadron of MIG-21 Bison after recent aircraft crash in Rajasthan

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ANI
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mig 21 1
Representative Image of MIG-21

Amid recent crashes involving its vintage Russian combat aircraft fleet, the Indian Air Force is now going to retire one more squadron of the MiG-21 Bison aircraft by September 30.

On Thursday evening, a MiG-21 Type 69 Trainer aircraft crashed in Barmer, Rajasthan killing both the pilots including a youngster Flight Lieutenant A Bal and Wing Commander Rana.

“The 51 Squadron based out of Srinagar air base is being number plated on September 30. After this, only three squadrons of the planes would be left in service and would be phased out by the year 2025,” sources in the IAF told to agencies.

Now every year, one squadron each of these planes would be number plated, they said. The 51 squadron is famous for thwarting Pakistan’s aerial attack on India on February 27, 2019, and taking out an F-16 in an aircraft flown by Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Abhinandan Varthaman.

This is the only instance when a MiG-21 aircraft brought down an F-16 in air-to-air combat, the sources said. The IAF has been replacing the MiG-21 fighter jets with more capable aircraft like the Su-30 and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

In the last 20 months, 6 MiG-21s have been lost in crashes in which five pilots have lost their lives. The MiG-21s were supposed to be retired a long time ago but delays in induction of the LCA Tejas aircraft have forced the IAF to continue flying these planes.

The IAF carries out extensive checks on these planes before flying and all safety aspects are taken care of before the pilot takes off, the officials said. The number-plated squadron would be reactivated soon with a more capable aircraft in the near future, the officials said.

BMC to close jumbo covid centre in phases

By
Web Team
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Covid Jumbo Centre
Image: Agencies

Mumbai is geared up to close all the covid jumbo centres and a field hospital in a phased manner as covid cases have been declining in the past few months according to BMC.

BMC closed three jumbo centres after phase one while others are still running. BMC also state that the Somaiya Jumbo centre in Sion will be kept open in case of emergency. Also, Covid treatment will be provided by 4 main civic hospitals and 16 suburban hospitals besides Kasturba hospital.

A total of 11,165 beds will be available across the city for Covid 19 patients after closing the right jumbo centre also. Additional beds will also get added as per needed bases according to BMC.

Mumbai’s first jumbo covid centre was set on 18 May 2020 at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) after the first case of Covid 19 found in the city

As the number of cases increased the civic body set a total of eight covid jumbo centres across the city which includes a total of 12,375 beds and 907 ICU beds. The field hospitals also opened inoculation centres.

The number of covid patience in the last couple of months is negligible. Prompting the BMC to close down the covid jumbo centre in phases, according to additional municipal commissioner Sanjeev Kumar

SA won by 58 runs against England: Rossouw, Shamsi shines

By
ANI
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RILEY ROSOUW
Image: ICC

An all-round show from South Africa led from the front by Rilee Rossouw and spinner Tabraiz Shamsi helped the visitors seal a 58-run win over England in the second T20I of the three-match series at Cardiff on Thursday. The three-match series is now level at 1-1.

In the first innings, South Africa put up 207/3 on the board, with Rilee Rossouw smashing an unbeaten 96 off 55 balls with ten fours and five sixes. Reeza Hendricks also played a great knock of 53 off just 32 balls. England could not inflict much damage with the bat as spinner Moeen Ali and pacers Richard Gleeson and Chris Jordan could only manage a wicket each.

In chase of 208 runs, England lost wickets regularly and it never looked as if they posed a threat. Half the team was back in the hut before it could cross the 100-run mark. Contributions did come from skipper Jos Buttler (29), Moeen Ali (28) and Jonny Bairstow (30) but it was not enough to stop Proteas from securing a 58-run win as the hosts were bowled out for 149.

Shamsi (3/27) was the best bowler for South Africa. Put to bat first by England, South Africa did not have a very good start as they lost Quinton de Kock for just 15 when the team was at 39. From that point. Hendricks and Rossouw stitched an attacking stand of 73 runs, with the former bringing up his ninth fifty. Gleeson sent him back for 53 off 32 balls after Bairstow took a solid catch at fine leg. Afterwards, Rossouw and Heinrich Klaasen kept the scoreboard ticking for a while before Klassen was dismissed for 19 off 10 balls by Jordan.

Finally, a 64-run stand between Rossouw and Tristan Stubbs (15*) took the visitors to 207/3. Ali, Gleeson, Jordan managed a wicket each for England. In chase of 208, skipper Buttler gave England a solid start, hitting three sixes and a four before being dismissed for 29 off 14 balls by Phehlukwayo when the team was at 37. From this point, England’s innings met an early collapse and the next four wickets fell for 55 runs.

Dawid Malan (5), Jason Roy (20), Moeen Ali (28) and Sam Curran (2) fell without making a heavy impact. Spinners Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj did not allow any big partnership to develop.

Bairstow and Liam Livingstone tried to stabilise the innings with some solid strike rotation and boundaries, but their resistance could last for only 36 runs before the former was dismissed by pacer Rabada for 30 runs. Livingstone followed him back to pavilion shortly for 18 after being dismissed by Phehlukwayo. England was seven for 141 runs. The rest of the lineup could not put up a fight against the Proteas and the hosts were bundled out for 149, losing the game by 58 runs.

Shamsi (3/27) and Phehlukwayo (3/39) were the leading bowlers for South Africa. Rossouw’s knock of 96* earned him the ‘Man of the Match’ title.

Brief Scores: South Africa: 207/3 (Rilee Rossouw 96*, Reeza Hendricks 53, Moeen Ali 1/17) defeated England: 149 in 16.4 overs (Jonny Bairstow 30, Moeen Ali 28, Tabraiz Shamsi 3/27) by 58 runs.

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