Ruble sinks 26% after SWIFT sanctions against Russian banks 2
The ruble sank nearly 26 per cent against the US dollar early Monday after Western nations moved to block Russian banks from the SWIFT global payment system.
The ruble was trading at a record low of 105.27 per dollar, down from about USD 84 per dollar late on Friday. Over the weekend, Japan joined the moves by the US and other western nations to impose more sanctions against Russia.
Restrictions on the Russian central bank targets its access to more than USD 600 billion in reserves the Kremlin has at its disposal. They hinder Russia’s ability to support the ruble as it plunges in value. Sanctions announced earlier had taken the Russian currency to its lowest level against the dollar in history.
Meta Platforms said a hacking group used Facebook to target a handful of public figures in Ukraine, including prominent military officials, politicians, and a journalist, amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country.
Meta said in the last 48 hours it had also separately removed a network of about 40 fake accounts, groups, and pages across Facebook and Instagram that operated from Russia and Ukraine targeting people in Ukraine, for violating its rules against coordinated inauthentic behaviour.
A Twitter spokesperson said it had also suspended more than a dozen accounts and blocked the sharing of several links for violating its rules against platform manipulation and spam. It said its ongoing investigation indicated the accounts originated in Russia and were attempting to disrupt the public conversation around the conflict in Ukraine.
In a blog post on Monday, Meta attributed the hacking efforts to a group known as Ghostwriter, which it said successfully gained access to the targets’ social media accounts. Meta said the hackers attempted to post YouTube videos from the accounts portraying Ukrainian troops as weakened, including one video which claimed to show Ukrainian soldiers coming out of a forest and flying a white flag of surrender.
Ukrainian cybersecurity officials said on Friday that hackers from neighbouring Belarus were targeting the private email addresses of Ukrainian military personnel “and related individuals,” blaming a group code-named “UNC1151.” The U.S. cybersecurity firm FireEye has previously connected the group with Ghostwriter activities.
Meta’s security team said it had taken steps to secure targeted accounts and had blocked the phishing domains used by the hackers. It declined to give the names of any of the targets but said it had alerted users where possible. Meta said the separate influence campaign, which used several fictitious personas, claimed to be based in Kyiv and ran a small number of websites masquerading as independent news outlets. These outlets published claims about the West betraying Ukraine and Ukraine being a failed state.
The company said it had found links between this influence network and an operation it removed in April 2020, which it had connected to individuals in Russia, the Donbas region in Ukraine, and two media outlets based in Crimea. Meta declined to give several impressions or views for the influence campaign’s content but said it had seen a “very low level” of shares, posts, or reactions. It said the campaign had fewer than 4,000 Facebook accounts following one or more of its pages and fewer than 500 accounts following one or more of its Instagram accounts. It did not say how long the campaigns had been active on its platforms.
It said the campaign had also used Alphabet Inc’s YouTube, Telegram, and Russian social media sites Odnoklassniki and VK. YouTube, Telegram, Odnoklassniki, and VK did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The crisis in Ukraine has seen escalating clashes between Moscow and major tech companies. On Friday, Russia said it would partially restrict access to Facebook, a move Meta said came after it refused a government request to stop the independent fact-checking of several Russian state media outlets. On Saturday, Twitter also said its service was being restricted for some Russian users.
Ukraine’s health ministry said on Sunday that more than 300 children, had been killed since the beginning of the invasion. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation.”
Ukraine has been buffeted by digital intrusions and denial-of-service actions both in the run-up to and during the Russian invasion. Several big tech companies have announced measures to bolster the security and privacy of their users in the country. Meta, which has in recent days made changes like removing the ability to view and search the friend’s lists of Facebook accounts in Ukraine, said on Monday it was also making this change in Russia in response to public reports of civil society and protesters being targeted.
Aaditya Thackeray alone can’t bring any national fortune for Shiv Sena 5
Shiv Sena is a regional political party now trying to spread its wings across Indian states but Sena is yet to grow nationally. The third generation of Thackeray leadership is not so popular and at the same time, he lacks that command. Aaditya Thackeray’s cabinet politics started with an irreparable controversy. The series of media trials did not go well with his entrance into active politics. These days, since his father Uddhav is unwell Aaditya is promoted as the lead of the Party. From election campaigns to ribbon cuttings his PR campaigns are at their peak but still he lacks acceptance outside Maharashtra. Aaditya has one strongest advantage and that is his surname, Thackeray.
He went to Goa and Uttar Pradesh campaigning for Shiv Sena but these rallies may not fetch any push for them. People of UP don’t even know who he is. They know Sanjay Raut because he travelled and created some momentum for Shiv Sena. When Aditya was called for a speech, Raut had to introduce people that he is the grandson of Balasaheb Thackeray.
On the other hand, Shiv Sena has many prominent leaders like Sanjay Raut, Dr Neelam Gohre, Vinayak Raut, Arvind Sawant, Milind Narvekar, Varun Sardesai, Ravindra Waikar, Gajanan Kirtikar, Kishori Pednekar and Ramdas Kadam who are well nurtured and well adapted on the lines of Shiv Sena ideology but since they are not Thackeray, they have a limited role to play in spite of their huge contribution towards the day-to-day workings of Shiv Sena.
Shiv Sena was always one of the largest and strongest political parties with all grassroots level leaders and Bala Saheb’s supremacy. But one thing is very prominent only Thackeray’s can become “Shiv Sena Pramukh”. Balasaheb passed on this legacy to his son Uddhav. For that, he even disowned his nephew, Raj Thackeray. Now Uddhav is slowly passing this legacy to Aaditya. In fact, I don’t think anyone in ShivSena would dare to entertain the idea of ever becoming ShivSena Pramukh. They know their place and somewhere they adjusted with this belief.
When Balasaheb was alive all the important decisions were taken at Matoshree. Balasaheb was the actual boss without holding any political post. He could do that because Shiv Saniks were loyal to him. However, the era of absolute loyalty ended with the death of Balasaheb. It does not mean that Shivsaniks are disloyal to Uddhav, but the same level of trust has become rare in politics. Hence, Aaditya Thackeray might have been fielded by Shiv Sena. Now with the third generation of Thackerays, the party is fully engrained in dynasty politics.
The main reason for Shiv Sena not being popular outside Maharashtra is their rooting and pitching Marathi Manoos in the State. They were always against the non-Maharashtra people, now their mood has changed but people have not forgotten what they tackled in the past. Till the time Shiv Sena was aligned with BJP, they could generate some popularity among right-wingers, since the alliance flipped with Congress-NCP and their secular ideologies; they lost their relevance outside Maharashtra.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi took decades to gain people’s confidence. They worked very hard, they actually lived with the people and addressed their grievances. Till now they were also projected in a bad light by the BJP It cell but with time they could change the narrative. The dynastic politics was always condemned by Narendra Modi and hugely imbibed in people’s minds. Media channels got engaged 24/7 in creating wrong perceptions about Sonia Gandhi and her children. It’s the upbringing by Indira and political nurturing by their mother and Congress veterans that have paid them now.
Both siblings matured with time and they both have developed a sense of fair politics. They talk fearlessly and voice for the people. They are born in the family of pre-independence leaders and the post-independence era of politics. They both are hugely accepted and acknowledged across India because they proved their make. Aditya needs to walk miles to match them.
The Congress shares power with the Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra. Hitting the campaign trail in Uttar Pradesh, Aditya Thackeray addressed a public meeting in Dumariyagang assembly seat in Siddharthnagar district, terming Shiv Sena candidate Shailedra alias Raju Shrivastav as an “agent of change”. But people were in a dilemma looking at the Maharashtra state politics, where each day one leader is getting arrested on corruption charges.
He addressed a few more gatherings, but one should know the people who attended his rallies were brought there by Shiv Sena local candidates, some just came to see the leaders of Mumbai and others were there out of curiosity. These villagers go to every rally to see what is happening around them. But they were not the crowd of voters like the attendees of Samajwadi rallies or BJP and congress rallies. The campaign trail in Uttar Pradesh by Aaditya Thackeray became news for the day and now people have almost forgotten him and his speeches.
Now Aaditya has challenges for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal elections. His image so far is of a boy who is being pitched for a man’s responsibility; he has to prove his abilities just like Gandhi’s young generation. Without going Congress’s way, Shiv Sena should grant some liberty and responsibility to its leaders and make it big nationally.
Any suggestions, comments or disputes with regards to this article send us at feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com
A Polish border guard assists Ukrainian refugees as they arrive to Poland, on February 26. / Image: AP
Over 156,000 residents of Ukraine have entered Poland since the beginning of hostilities in the country amid Russia’s military operation, the Polish Border Guard said on Sunday.
“Since the beginning of hostilities, the Border Guard officers have registered a total of 187,800 people at border crossings with Ukraine, including over 156,000 people in the direction of entry into Poland,” the agency said in a statement.
According to Warsaw, a record number of 88,400 people have been registered on the Polish-Ukrainian border over the past 24 hours, with 77,300 seeking to enter Poland. On Thursday, Russia began a special operation to demilitarize and “denazify” Ukraine, responding to calls from the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics for help in countering the aggression of Ukrainian forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.
Kathak is one Indian classical dance form that has captivated the minds and hearts of people all over the world, this dance form is today a part of almost all Indian dance festivals and one can see its presence on the international dance festival platforms as well.
There are a few artists who have dedicated their entire life to take the legacy of this dance forward and Shila Mehta is one such kathak exponent who tirelessly works towards taking Kathak to a global platform.
Recently Ms. Mehta organized Sanskriti Mahotsav a festival of exclusively to promote Kathak, but what was unique about this initiative was the presence of all the Gharanas of Kathak. This dance festival was especially curated by Shila Mehta to bring awareness about the differences and similarities within each kathak gharana. I spoke with this talented lady in regards to the same and this is what she had to say:
How did the Sanskriti Mahotsav tribute come about?
Shila Mehta
This festival was a tribute to celebrated the contribution of Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj ji to the field of Kathak, homage to Guru Pandit Vijay Shankar ji who passed away a while back and in loving memory of dance scholar and critic Padmashree Dr Sunil Kothari ji who passed away due to Covid. Our Sanskriti Mahotsav was a nine days festival spread over five weekends. And I believe that we as artist should contribute to the society too so we joint hands with charity of autism.
What made you think of a festival with various Gharana of Kathak?
I believe the beauty of dance lies in connecting the past to the present and preparing the future. Past is not old, rather old is gold. Gharana is a lineage and if that is kept strong and if its origin and source is kept it alive only then creativity can be enhanced. There is a beautiful saying “The deeper the roots taller the shoots” that is where gharana plays an important role. At the same time Gharana is not dividing a kathak dancers it is a way to show that kathak has many fragrances and flavors and each has their own beauty. Festival had four gharana showcased at the festival.
How difficult was it to bring the biggest names of different gharana together on one platform?
Oh my God, it took me nine months to get it ready, it was almost like delivering a baby. First phone call I made was to Maharaj ji and he praised my initiative and stood for me that gave me the encouragement. Due Covid many were not in the right frame of mind but constant follow up did the trick and I finally got great support from artists like Rajendra Gangani, Prerna Shrimali, Durga Arya, Prerna Deshpande and many more came forward. Younger artists like Vishal Krishna, Sauvik, Shivani verma and others were a delight to have. Having the presence of Ram Lal Barit ji and his students were something very special. But yes, I must admit many of my contemporaries did not care to reply to my calls back but I guess the situation is such that all are not in the right circumstances.
You did join dance and the cause of autism together, what made you do that?
Nupur Jhankar is my NGO which uses art to raise awareness about different problems in the communities around the world, we have branches of Nupur Jhankar in India, USA, UK and Belgium and every time we bring spotlight unto various society issues and this time it was autism. I felt awareness and understanding of what autism really is, is very low all over the world so I decided to link it to the festival and we even presented some autism theme based kathak performances too. It was an online ticketed show, we did not get anyone in for free and every penny was given to the charity. We also had talk from Flamis organization of Autism USA and Autism society of India which brought more light to the cause.
Out of all the gharana talks and presentation which one was most well received?
The Mahotsav showcased in-depth interviews, talks and performances of the four different Gharans in Kathak, mainly: Lucknow Kathak Gharana, Jaipur Kathak Gharana, Banaras Kathak Gharana and Raigarh Kathak Gharana. What was most well received were the talks and thoughts by the legends of each gharanas. Different films of “Gharana Tree” were something all loved, performances of the masters were a big hit too. The high energy and zeal of the younger artists was something audience took back with them.
Where do you think today an artist is lacking?
Today’s generation of dancers are absolutely brilliant, the skills of a young dancers are immaculate and they all are very well polished as a performer too but the I feel that the personal thirst of dance connecting it with and to spirituality is totally missing. Dance has become more of an entertainment, well I don’t deny the fact that it is a medium of entertainment but that is for the audiences, for the ones who see the dancer but, for the artist who is presenting it, the art needs to be get deeper and connect the soul to the art and in turn link the divine to the art of dance.
What is next for you?
The Sanskriti Mahotsav response was tremendous is over but its recorded shows are going to be taken ahead. As of now we are screening the show at event being held at Embassy of India in Belgium, UK and USA. Nehru Center UK is also going to be showcasing the festival along with live panel discussion with few eminent dance personalities from UK. I also wish to make more films on this same topic of Gharana as it is a very huge topic to explore. At the same time, I also have my Vande Mataram festival that is coming up soon. I am a Gujarati so, garba and dandiya is in my blood so I wish to also bring and keep alive the folk-dance tradition too, the energy of folk dance is what keeps me alive.
Shila Mehta is an artist with a heart that keeps beating for the love of dance, each of her shows and festivals are meant to not just entertain but to even educate its performers and as well as the audience.
BMC aims at making Terrace Gardens mandatory for new buildings 11
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to make terrace gardens mandatory for all new buildings having a plot size of more than 2000 sq. m. The move is aimed at increasing green cover in the city.
Soon the BMC will hold discussions with builders’ associations such as the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI), and National Real Estate Development Council. The draft policy by the Gardens Department recommends making it compulsory for every builder/developer to do vertical gardens at least on the main road-facing sides during construction to reduce air and noise pollution.
The draft policy states that the stability of the structure should not be compromised nor should the waterproofing suffer. The rooftop gardening should be made with an irrigation facility. “While approving plans for the construction of buildings or such structures, care should be taken that sufficient earthen/soil space should be left for proper growth of big trees. Also, if possible permeable Tiles should be made compulsory at ground level for percolation of water,” it reads.
BMC trees and garden superintendent Jitendra Pardeshi told Afternoon Voice, “The land shortage causes lack of greenery in Mumbai among residential areas, it just looks like concrete jungles. This policy will help in the cumulative green cover which is facing hurdles due to land shortage. Within the framework of Development Control Regulations (DCR), the development plan department should see the viability of making it mandatory to provide podium gardens for big projects. Some native tree varieties having shallow root system or medium size canopy can be planted at podium level for increasing green cover ensuring structure stability too.”
The Idea of making rooftop gardening compulsory was first proposed by former mayor Dr Shubha Raul in 2019. Following her demand, then Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta had assured that such rules will be incorporated in DCR.
Russian troops enter Ukraine's Kharkiv: Ukrainian official 13
Ukrainian forces were battling Russian troops on the streets of Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv on Sunday, said regional governor Oleh Sinegubov.
“The Russian enemy’s light vehicles have broken into Kharkiv, including the city centre,” Sinegubov said. “Ukraine’s armed forces are destroying the enemy. We ask civilians not to go out.”
Videos published by Anton Herashchenko, adviser to the interior minister, and Ukraine’s State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection showed several light military vehicles moving along a street and, separately, a burning tank.
A power outage was reported from some pockets in central and south Mumbai on Sunday morning, resulting in the halting of the local train services on one rail line, officials said.
Train movement halted between Andheri and Churchgate railway stations as the power supply stopped, Western Railway’s chief public relations officer Sumit Thakur said.
The local trains, considered as the lifeline of the country’s financial capital, were moving on the Central Railway route after a brief disruption, but the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus was facing a blackout, officials said.
Earlier, residents of Sion, Dadar and Matunga areas in central Mumbai reported a power outage. There were also similar reports from parts of south Mumbai, said Nehal Shah, a municipal corporator.
The exact cause of the power outage has not yet been determined and efforts are on restoring the supply, officials said.
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport, a state undertaking, distributes power in the island city and depends on producers like Tata Power.
A spokesperson of Tata Power did not immediately comment on the outage.
Earlier, Mumbai had faced a massive power outage on October 12, 2020, which lasted up to 18 hours in certain pockets.
Maharashtra - Total unemployment rate 4.22 per cent in January 2022 16
The unemployment rate for Maharashtra was 4.22 per cent in the month of January 2022. Though Maharashtra’s unemployment rate fluctuated substantially in recent months, it tended to decrease through the February 2021 – January 2022 period ending at 4.22 per cent last month.
January 2022, the rural unemployment rate for Maharashtra was 3.06 per cent. Though Maharashtra’s rural unemployment rate fluctuated substantially in recent months, it tended to decrease through the February 2021 – January 2022 period ending at 3.06 per cent last month.
MCCIA spokesperson said, “There is still some effect of the pandemic on the informal sector, as well as Tier III or IV suppliers in the market. Their recoveries have been slow due to multiple factors, including the pandemic and commodity prices. But various indicators, such as the low unemployment rate in Maharashtra, or the FDI inflows, or a steady rise in demand for electricity, point to real signs of recovery.”
According to the July-September 2020, quarterly report of the periodic labour force survey (PLFS), which estimates labour force indicators in the current weekly status (CWS) for urban areas alone, Jharkhand had the second-highest unemployment rate in the two quarters since the outbreak of the pandemic at 32 per cent and 19.8 per cent, respectively.
Urban Maharashtra was the worst hit by the pandemic in terms of loss of employment. The rate of unemployment in the urban areas of the industrialised state were 35.6 per cent and 22.6 per cent, respectively, in the April-June and July-September quarters of the last year at 35.6 per cent and 22.6 per cent, far higher than the national averages of 20.9 per cent and 13.3 per cent.
Russia says willing to talk to Ukraine once their military "lays down arms" 18
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow would be ready to hold talks with Kyiv, but only once Ukraine’s military had laid down its arms.
He also said that Moscow did not want “neo-Nazis” to govern Ukraine.
Russia launched its invasion by land, air and sea on Thursday following a declaration of war by President Vladimir Putin, in the biggest attack on a European state since World War Two.
