New Delhi, Oct 9,2021: Tata group has won the bid to acquire flag carrier Air India adding another airline brand in its hangar with the other two being Vistara and Air Asia India.
“Talace Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd, has emerged as a successful bidder for the sale of equity shareholding of GoI (Government of India) in Air India, in AIXL which is a subsidiary of Air India as a part of this transaction and 50 per cent of Air India in AISATS which is another joint venture of Air India along with management control,” Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) announced on Friday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah-led Ministerial panel has approved the winning-bid.
The government had in January 2020 invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from private parties for selling 100 per cent stake in Air India along with its subsidiary Air India Express (AIXL) and 50 per cent stake in the carrier’s ground-handling JV Air India SATS (AISATS).
Pandey said that Talace Pvt Ltd quoted an enterprise value of Rs 18,000 crore to acquire the airline.
The successful bidder will retain Rs 15,300 crore of Air India’s debt and pay Rs 2,700 crore cash to the government.
New Delhi, October 7,2021: Pakistan-based terrorist groups are using hybrid terrorists to disrupt the atmosphere of peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir, said top government sources on Thursday.
The information comes on a day when two teachers were killed by terrorists in Srinagar.
“The hybrid terrorists used by these terror groups for these targeted killings are mostly engaged in normal jobs and are used for such killings using small weapons. They return to their normal routine after carrying out such acts,” top government sources told ANI.
They said the security forces have received inputs about many of these youth and strict action is underway.
Sources said the number of such youth is quite significant and their identification is being done rapidly.
The union territory has reported several terror attacks in the last three days.
Two teachers were killed in a terrorist attack at a government school in the Eidgah area of Srinagar on Thursday.
Earlier on Wednesday, a street hawker was shot dead by terrorists in Srinagar.
Rishikesh, Oct 7,2021: The world is watching how India is handling the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday as he dedicated 35 PSA oxygen plants to the nation, and lauded the efforts made by India through the Covid-19 pandemic in augmenting and creating health infrastructure like labs, oxygen supply and the ongoing vaccination program.
Speaking at an event at AIIMS Rishikesh, the Prime Minister also recalled that it was this day 20 years ago, he got a new responsibility to serve the public as the chief minister of Gujarat. “World is closely watching how India is facing the biggest challenge of 100 years (Covid-19 pandemic). The kind of facilities India created in limited time shows our capabilities,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said India created a network of labs, increased its oxygen production by almost ten times during the second wave, and is now running the world’s “fastest and largest” vaccination program. He also said that the country’s large population and diverse geography were major challenges.
“Work was done at war scale day and night. Wherever possible, oxygen plants and tankers were arranged. Special oxygen trains were run, Indian Air Force aircraft were used for transporting oxygen, PSA oxygen plants were built and funds were given for over one lakh oxygen concentrators,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation 35 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plants established under PM CARES, across 35 States and Union Territories. According to an official statement, 1224 PSA Oxygen Plants have been funded under PM Cares all across the country, out of which more than 1,100 Plants have been commissioned, providing an output of over 1750 MT oxygen per day.
Washington [US], October 6,2021: Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang has announced a new political party in a bid to break the “two side duopoly” of Democrats and Republicans that he says is driving the American families apart.
This decision comes after Andrew announced his departure from the Democratic Party. Yang’s new party has termed itself as the Forward Party. “Not left. Not right. Forward,” the slogan of his party says.
In the video announcement posted on his Twitter account, Andrew pointed out that the polarisation in the US is reaching a record high to a point where people cannot be in the same room as their family members. “And this is going to worse and not better.”
“Right now we have this two-sided duopoly that’s just clashing and clashing, and you may love one side more than the other, but you have to face facts that this system is not working,” he said.
According to Yang, neither Democrats nor Republicans are able to meaningfully solve problems being faced by Americans.
His party in a letter said that people in the United States are left with an out-of-date bureaucracy ill-suited to solve the problems of today. “Washington D.C. is painfully behind the curve, in part because of a seniority system that has led to a gerontocracy.”
“Indeed, 60 per cent of Americans now regard both parties as out of touch, and 57 per cent want a third party. Most Americans want common sense solutions that would improve our lives – like Universal Basic income – and sense that we will be waiting forever for those solutions to arrive,” the letter read.
Yang came to the forefront in political circles in the US during his candidacy in the 2020 Democratic primary, The Daily Caller reported. Earlier, he had criticised the two-party system and proposed numerous radical changes to the American system.
Lakhimpur Kheri/ Lucknow, Oct 4,2021: Even as a FIR has been registered against Ashish Mishra, son of Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra Teni in yesterday’s incident, Uttar Pradesh government has gone strict against the politicians trying to reach Lakhimpur Kheri.
Police said a FIR has been registered against 14 people, including Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home, in connection with the death of farmers. Case registered under 302,120B, and 147 of the IPC on the complaint of the farmers.
Similarly a counter FIR has been lodged against the farmers by the BJP leaders too.
UP Additional Chief Secretary Avnish Awasthi in a written order has asked Lucknow airport not to allow Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder S Randhawa to land at the airport.
They were supposed to reach Lucknow by their state aircrafts on Tuesday morning and were scheduled to go to Lakhimpur.
Samajwadi party president Akhilesh Yadav too have been forced to remain inside his Vikramaditya Marg residence in Lucknow after large contingent of police including RAF have been deployed outside his house.
A truck has also been put blocking the road. Akhikesh Yadav was slated to go to Lakhimpur this morning.
Pragatsheel Samajwadi party Lohia presidebt Shivpal Singh Yadav was also detained at his residence.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has been detained in Sitapur even after she reached Hargaon, dodging the police.
Priyanka was stopped at Hargaon on Monday morning around 5.30 am.
Officials claimed that Priyanka would be sent back to Lucknow. Presently she along with other Congress leaders were lodged at a guest house in Sitapur police lines.
Meanwhile, second round of talks between the agitating farmers and Lakhimpur authorities were underway to resolve the issue.
Around 12 farmers including farmer leader Rakesh Tikait are present in the meeting. DM and SP of Lakhimpur are also present in this meeting.
Following the death of eight people in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri incident, District Magistrate Arvind Kumar Chaurasiya on Sunday said that it was an unfortunate incident, and it should not be politicized.
Chaurasiya confirmed that four farmers and four others have died in the incident.
“Four farmers and four others have died (in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident). Probe underway. It’s an unfortunate incident, should not be politicized,” the District Magistrate told reporters.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Lakhimpur Kheri Arun Kumar Singh confirmed eight deaths including four farmers and four occupants of the vehicle(s) that allegedly ran over the farmers in the Lakhimpur incident on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh police in a tweet said, “In the unfortunate incident of Lakhimpur, 8 casualties have been reported till now as per the district administration. ADG LO, ACS Agriculture, IG Range and Commissioner are on the spot and situation is under control. Adequate deployment has been done to prevent any untoward incident.”
Paris, Oct 3,2021: Nearly 48,000 people participated in demonstrations against the coronavirus health passes held across France on Saturday, La Depeche newspaper reports citing the French Interior Ministry.
Around 5,000 people protested in Paris alone on Saturday, which was the 12th consecutive Saturday of demonstrations against the health passes, La Depeche said, adding that the number of protesters has been steadily declining.
Last Saturday, around 64,000 people protested across France, with 7,200 demonstrators gathered in Paris.
In July, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a series of new restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19, including the special health pass indicating that a person has either been vaccinated or has a negative test result for COVID-19. Before that, the health pass was already required in museums, theaters, movies and all public events attended by over fifty people.
Starting August 9, the pass became mandatory in restaurants, bars, shopping centers, airplanes and long-distance trains.
The move caused widespread discontent among the French, and protests against the measure have been held every weekend since.
New Delhi, Oct 2,2021: President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri at Raj Ghat and Vijay Ghat on Saturday.
Paying tribute to the Father of the Nation on his 152nd birth anniversary, President Kovind urged people to take a pledge to strive towards making India the country of his dreams.
“Homage to Bapu on Gandhi Jayanti. It is a special day for all Indians to remember Gandhiji’s struggles and sacrifice. Let us take a pledge that we will continue to strive for making India a country of Gandhiji’s dreams while adhering to his teachings, ideals, and values,” he wrote in a tweet.
The President also paid tributes to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat on his 117th birth anniversary.
He tweeted, “Homage to former PM Shri Lal Bahadur Shastriji on his birth anniversary. He was a great son of the country who served the nation with full devotion and dedication. His simplicity, conduct, and integrity are a source of inspiration for all fellow citizens”.
PM Modi also visited Bapu’s Samadhi Sthal at Raj Ghat hereto pay floral tributes. He said Bapu’s life and idea will inspire every generation to walk the path of their duties.
Taking to Twitter, Modi said, “I bow to Bapu on Gandhi Jayanti. His ideal principles are relevant across the world and strengthen millions of people.”
“Humble tribute to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary. The life and ideals of Pujya Bapu will continue to inspire every generation of the country to walk on the path of duty,” he tweeted.
On this occasion, Sarva Dharma Prarthana Sabha was also organised.
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat.
In his message, he wrote that his life based on values and principles will always remain an inspiration for the countrymen.
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.
Kabul, Oct 2,2021: Senior Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the first deputy prime minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, urged countries around the world to reopen their embassies in Kabul.
Baradar made the remarks at a meeting in Kabul on Thursday evening attended by ambassadors of a number of countries including Russia, China and Pakistan and some officials from the Islamic Emirate, including acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Tolo News reported.
Baradar in his speech said the Islamic Emirate does not have any policy to harm any country and that countries should reopen their embassies in Kabul.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan wants good relations with countries of the world. If anyone has an issue with us, we are ready to resolve it through talks and understanding. We are neither intending nor have policy of harming others, the future Afghanistan will be a home of peace,” tweeted Suhail Shaheen, spokesman of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, quoting Baradar.
Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said the Islamic Emirate wants a fresh start: “We want to open a new political chapter of good governance at home and a new political chapter with the region and the world as far as our relations are concerned,” Shaheen tweeted quoting Muttaqi.
A number of political analysts said the Islamic Emirate might have to accept some demands of the international community for the sake of being recognized.
The Islamic Emirate officials also assured world countries that their nationals will be safe in Afghanistan.
Both Baradar and Muttaqi are in the UN proscribed list of terrorists.
Washington, Oct 1,2021: The United States is calling for a full and transparent investigation into the killing of the informal leader of nearly a million Rohingya living in Bangladesh who was shot dead in the country’s largest refugee camp, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
“We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the murder of Rohingya Muslim advocate and community leader Mohib Ullah in Bangladesh on September 29,” Blinken said in a statement on Thursday. “We urge a full and transparent investigation into his death with the goal of holding the perpetrators of this heinous crime accountable. We will honor his work by continuing to advocate for Rohingya and lift up the voices of members of the community in decisions about their future.”
Ullah, chair of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, was assaulted by unidentified gunmen on Wednesday after having received multiple death threats in recent years.
Blinken said Ullah was a brave and fierce advocate for the human rights of Rohingya Muslims around the world.
“He traveled to the Human Rights Council in Geneva and to the United States to speak at the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom in 2019. During his trip, he shared his experiences with the President and Vice President and spoke together with other survivors of religiously motivated persecution,” Blinken added.
Human Rights Watch said the Ullah documented alleged crimes committed by the Myanmar military against the minority Muslim population, many of whom fled to neighboring Bangladesh since the start of the security forces’ crackdown in 2017. It urged Bangladesh to promptly investigate Ullah’s murder.