Junagadh:&nbsp;In a boost to the tourism sector in Junagadh and surrounding districts of Gujarat, flight operation will be inagurated in upgraded Keshod airport on April 16.The airport will provide air connectivity to tourists visiting Sasan-Gir, the last abode of Asiatic lions or pilgrims to Girnar to seek the blessings of Maa Amba and nearby areas.Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will inaugurate the upgraded facilities at Keshod airport and flag off new flights to Mumbai-Keshod-Mumbai under Regional Connectivity Schemes (RCS).Airport will commence scheduled flight operations on the Mumbai-Keshod-Mumbai route under RCS-UDAN scheme from April 17. The terminal building of the airport has been renovated at the cost of approximately Rs 25 crores District Collector Junagadh, Rachit Raj told IANS that it is going to promote sports and tourism in Junagadh districts."All the tourist destinations in and around Junagadh and nearby districts will be benefitted and tourism will be increased. It will boost tourism in Sasan Gir (only abode in the world of the Asiatic lions), Girnar, Somnath and Diu tourism circuit. The area will witness multifold increase in tourism activities due to flight connectivity," Raj said.Sasan-Gir is 50 kilometres and Junagadh is 35 kilometres Afrom Keshod. The Keshod city also developed as a historical city and after commencement of the ropeway at Girnar mountain. The tourist visiting to Somnath temple is also expected to rise as it is just 55 km from Keshod.The 2.32-km long ropeway built at a cost of Rs 135 crore in Girnar mountain has become a huge hit among the pilgrims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the ropeway project in 2007 when he was Gujarat Chief Minister. The ropeway was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi and then Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in October 2020.According to the Junagarh District Collector, the ropeway is a huge hit among the pilgrims visiting Maa Amba temple located on Mount Girnar in Junagadh, which is 1,069 meters above the sea level. Earlier, the only option to visit Girnar Mountain was by climbing over 9,000 stairs."Girnar ropeway is one of India's biggest and one of the largest passenger ropeway projects in Asia constructed on Mount Girnar, the tallest mountain of the state. Since the start of operations of ropeway started in Junagadh in October 2020, over 10 lakh people have used the services. The ropeway covers a distance of 2.3 km in under 7.5 minutes," Raj said.Talking about the restoration, conservation and development of the historic Uparkot fort of Junagadh, Raj said that the work is in full swing and it will be completed in coming months."The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat (TCGL) is also developing a walkway along the fort complex and making arrangements for light-and-sound-show as part of the restoration and development project," Raj added.

In a boost to the tourism sector in Junagadh and surrounding districts of Gujarat, flight operation will be inagurated in upgraded Keshod airport on April 16.

Flight operation from Keshod airport to be inaugurated on April 16

Los Angeles: Singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne has called off a series of concerts in Canada following "a positive COVID case within the tour and subsequent exposures". Lavigne, who is currently on the road in support of her album 'Love Sux', took to Twitter on Sunday hours before she was scheduled to play a show in the city of Laval. "To my fans and friends in Laval, QC, Moncton, NB and Halifax, NS, we are sincerely sorry to let you know that we are postponing these shows due to a positive COVID case within the tour and subsequent exposures," she wrote. The Sunday show at Place Bell in Laval will be rescheduled for May 7 and new dates for both Moncton and Halifax shows will be announced shortly, she added in the statement. Lavigne, best known for songs "Complicated" and "I'm With You", said the decision of nixing the shows was made keeping everyone's safety in mind. "I/we sincerely apologize and want you to know that this was not a decision we made lightly. We remain focused on everyone's safety and can't wait to see you all very soon," she further said. Lavinge's tour is scheduled to continue across Canada and the U S through the spring and summer.—PTI

Singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne has called off a series of concerts in Canada following "a positive COVID case within the tour and subsequent exposures".

Avril Lavigne postpones shows due to COVID-19 case on tour

Mumbai : Actor Ayushmann Khurrana says his upcoming political action thriller "Anek" gave him an opportunity to play a character that pushed him "physically and mentally".Set against the geopolitical backdrop of North East India, the film stars Khurrana in the role of an undercover cop named Joshua.The film is the story of a "rebellion, an uprising", and the pursuit of an Indian, "who wants nothing more than peace for the nation", according to a press release.The makers also released the trailer of "Anek" on social media on Thursday."'Anek' celebrates the spirit of truly being an Indian. Anubhav sir is pushing the envelope and setting a benchmark with his passionate storytelling with this film. My character Joshua compelled me to do things I had never done before, both physically and mentally. With the right guidance and training, I gave this role my best shot to bring life to everything Anubhav envisioned for the film," Khurrana said in a statement.Directed by Anubhav Sinha, "Anek" is the filmmaker's another attempt at chronicling various sociopolitical issues in the country, following "Mulk" and "Thappad". It also marks Sinha and Khurrana's second collaboration after 2019's "Article 15".The filmmaker said his latest directorial has been his "most challenging film so far"."It's based on a topic that's probably been less spoken of in the county. It re-emphasises the fact that in spite of being different in our cultures, traditions, languages, India can rise above and win as a country. Despite all the challenges that came our way, whether it was shooting in difficult terrain or filming during the pandemic, we powered through. I feel a great sense of pride and triumph that we've accomplished everything we set out to with this film," Sinha said."Anek" is jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar's T-Series and Sinha's Benaras Mediaworks.Kumar said the film is "another brilliant piece of cinema" from Sinha."Audiences and Ayushmann fans have much to look forward to in this film and he has gone all out to embrace this role and make it memorable for the audience," Kumar added.Also starring Andrea Kevichusa, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, and J D Chakravarthy, "Anek" is set to release on May 27—PTI

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana says his upcoming political action thriller "Anek" gave him an opportunity to play a character that pushed him "physically and mentally".

Gave 'Anek' my best shot, says Ayushmann Khurrana

Colombo: An investigation has been launched by Sri Lanka's jail authorities on the allegations that a group of inmates from a prison camp in the island nation were used to attack anti-government protesters in Colombo this week, according to a media report on Thursday.Violence erupted in Sri Lanka on Monday after supporters of former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa attacked peaceful anti-government protesters demanding his ouster over the country's worst economic crisis that led to acute shortages of staple food, fuel and power.Over 200 people have also been injured in the violence in Colombo and other cities.Sri Lanka prisons have launched an investigation on the allegations raised claiming that a group of inmates from the Watareka Open Prison Camp were used to attack protestors in Colombo recently, Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya was quoted as saying by the News First website.Footage posted on social media following the attack on peaceful protests showed locals detaining a group of men who later claimed that they were prisoners from the Watareka Open Prison Camp, the report added.It was observed that the pants worn by the group of detained men were identical to those worn by people who were among the group that attacked peaceful protests on Monday in Colombo.The Commissioner-General of Prisons said that the men were not wearing prison fatigues, but were wearing a uniform provided to them by the institutions that employed their services.The Commissioner-General of Prisons, and another officer will be present at the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on Thursday for an inquiry over the matter.Several people sustained injuries as the supporters from the ruling SLPP, armed with poles and other objects, attacked 'GotaGoGama' protesters in Galle Face.The mob destroyed several tents and other structures erected at Galle Face and also attacked some of the demonstrators, demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, resigned as Sri Lankan Prime Minister on Monday amid unprecedented economic turmoil, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy Army troops in the capital.The violence saw arson attacks on the homes of several politicians, including the ancestral home of the Rajapaksas in Hambantota—PTI

An investigation has been launched by Sri Lanka's jail authorities on the allegations that a group of inmates from a prison camp in the island nation were used to attack anti-government protesters in Colombo this week, according to a media report on Thursday.

Lankan prison inmates employed to attack anti-govt protesters? Probe ordered

Colombo: Newly appointed Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said he will provide a full explanation of the financial crisis faced by the island nation on Monday, days after he was appointed as the prime minister in the midst of the violent protests throughout the country. Ranil was appointed prime minister this week with a promise to rejuvenate the crippling Sri Lankan economy. He has invited opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and his party to form a non-partisan government that goes beyond traditional parliamentary politics.In a series of tweets on Sunday, Wickremesinghe said there is a lot to be "done and undone" amid the unprecedented economic crisis in the country, which requires his government to prioritize matters. "We are prioritizing matters, rest assured they shall be addressed as early as possible. We have managed to get things moving in the last 48 hours. I will provide a full explanation of the financial crisis faced by the country tomorrow," he said.Given the dollar scarcity at banks, Sri Lankan PM said his government is exploring other options of securing the necessary funds to pay for the coming week's fuel requirements. On the LP Gas front, he said, "The government has secured payments for an LP Gas consignment which will begin to unload and distribute as early as possible." Earlier today, the Sri Lankan PM held discussions with the country's representatives of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) amid the ongoing economic crisis in the Island nation. "Medicine, Food and Fertilizer: At the conclusion of our meeting today, The World Bank and ADB have pledged support to assist in procuring essential items," he said in another tweet. Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has been accused of mismanaging the nation's economy, appointed four ministers to the new cabinet after United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as country's prime minister on Thursday. The new appointments are Dinesh Gunawardena as the minister of public administration, GL Peiris as the minister of foreign affairs, Prasanna Ranatunga as the minister of urban development, and Kanchana Wijesekera as the minister of power and energy.More ministers are expected to be appointed as the president and prime minister are urging all political parties to join hands to form a national government to tackle the ongoing political and economic instability in the country. Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down on Monday, following violent incidents reported between pro-government groups and anti-government protesters.—ANI

Newly appointed Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said he will provide a full explanation of the financial crisis faced by the island nation on Monday, days after he was appointed as the prime minister in the midst of the violent protests throughout the country.

'Lot to be done and undone': New Sri Lankan PM on severe financial crisis

New Delhi: Amid the worst economic crisis in Sri Lanka, India took another initiative to extend support and supplied 12 shipments and over 400,000 Metric Tones (MT) of fuel to the island nation. The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka took to its Twitter handle to make the announcement of the consignment. "12 shipments and more than 400,000 MT of fuel!! Latest consignment of #Diesel from #India under the credit line for fuel was delivered in #Colombo by Torm Helvig today," the High Commission of India in Colombo tweeted.Earlier, on Thursday, India extended its support by supplying 65,000 metric tons of urea to the island nation. The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda, held a meeting with the Secretary in the Department of Fertilizers of India Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi where the issue was discussed, reported Daily Mirror."High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda met with the Secretary to the Department of Fertilizers of India Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi and thanked him for India's decision to supply 65,000 MT of urea required for the current Yala cultivation season in Sri Lanka," said the High Commission of Sri Lanka in a message.In the meeting, both Moragoda and Kumar Chaturvedi discussed possible ways and measures to ensure that chemical fertilizers from India to Sri Lanka are supplied continuously under the existing USD 1 billion Indian lines of credit and beyond, reported Daily Mirror.Moreover, India has promised to provide over USD 3 billion to the debt-ridden island country in loans, credit swaps, and also credit lines since the beginning of the year. India has also expressed its desire to work with the new Sri Lankan government. Currently, Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices, and power cuts affecting a large number of the citizens.—ANI

Amid the worst economic crisis in Sri Lanka, India took another initiative to extend support and supplied 12 shipments and over 400,000 Metric Tones (MT) of fuel to the island nation.

India delivers over 400,000 MT of fuel to Sri Lanka

Delhi: As taxpayers face technical glitch on the GST portal, the government on Tuesday said it is considering extending the April tax payment deadline and has directed Infosys for early resolution of the problem. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said a technical glitch has been reported by Infosys in generation of April 2022 GSTR-2B and auto-population of GSTR-3B on portal."Infosys has been directed by Govt for early resolution. Technical team is working to provide GSTR-2B &amp; correct auto-populated GSTR-3B at the earliest," the CBIC tweeted. GSTR-2B is an auto-drafted Input Tax credit (ITC) statement which is available to every GST registered entities based on the information furnished by their suppliers in their respective sales return form GSTR-1. GSTR-2B statement is usually made available to businesses on the 12th day of succeeding month, based on which they can claim ITC while paying taxes and filing GSTR-3B.GSTR-3B is filed in staggered manner between 20th, 22nd and 24th of every month for different categories of tax payers. "Considering the difficulties faced by taxpayers in filing their GSTR-3B for the month of April 2022, a proposal to extend the due date of filing GSTR-3B for April 2022 is under active consideration," the CBIC tweeted. On Sunday, GST Network, which provides the technology backbone for Goods and Services Tax, had issued an advisory saying that in a few cases, certain records are not reflected in the GSTR-2B statement for the period of April 2022 and asked taxpayers to file GSTR-3B return on self-assessment basis. "The technical team is working to resolve this issue for the impacted taxpayers and generate fresh GSTR-2B at the earliest. "In the interim, affected taxpayers interested in filing GSTR-3B are requested to file the return on self-assessment basis using GSTR-2A," the GSTN had said.GSTR-2A is a system generated statement of inward supplies. In 2015, Infosys was awarded a Rs 1,380 crore contract to build and maintain the GST system. AMRG &amp; Associates Senior Partner Rajat Mohan said "technical glitches on the portal would derail the tax filings for millions of taxpayers in the current month. For the benefit of all the businesses, the government must either extend the timelines for tax filings or waive the late fees payable on delayed filings".—PTI

As taxpayers face technical glitch on the GST portal, the government on Tuesday said it is considering extending the April tax payment deadline and has directed Infosys for early resolution of the problem.

Govt may extend deadline for filing April's GST

I only echo the voices of thousands who sounded the alarm before me, but then again it cannot be said enough. America is facing unprecedented social and political peril. We must mobilize every resource humanly possible to prevent a catastrophe from happening before it is too late.Righting the Wrong New York (The Hawk): Since Trump rose to power in 2016, my concerns about the future of America have only been gravely compounded. It never occurred to me that after 240 years of a successful experiment in democracy and the development of solid democratic institutions based on the will of the people, we would face such unimaginable social and political peril. President Biden has made significant progress in addressing some of these issues that have plagued us, especially in restoring America’s global leadership. That said, the prognosis for the mid-term elections suggests that the Republicans may well take back both the House and the Senate, and the possibility that Trump may run again and even win in 2024 should send shivers down the spine of every concerned American.Beware AmericaIt is not that I want to rehash the past, but what happened to America during Trump’s presidency continues to have horrifying implications as to where America is heading. Was it even conceivable that a thoroughly corrupt racist, who failed to win the popular vote, was impeached twice, lost reelection, conspired to reverse the result of a legitimate and fair election, and instigated an insurrection to seize power, would still unfathomably remain in command of his party? If this is not a terrifying prospect, what is?To be sure, the Republican party has slipped into a bottomless pit of political sewage. What does it say about the party that chose him? This is a party that has long since lost its moral bearing, a party that put its own interest above that of the nation, and a party that blindly followed an imposter and a liar only because he is shameless, bold, and crude, and served the party’s racist agenda. This is a party whose members seek the endorsement of a charlatan, a party that will stop short of nothing to regain power, including violence that will make the January 6 resurrection look like a mere rehearsal, which could lead to civil war.The shortcomings of the Republican party are numerous, but it suffices to mention only a few to demonstrate how dangerous the party has become to the future of this nation.Bigotry runs rampantThe Republican party is a bigoted party that embraces white supremacy, and being the minority party, it is terrified of the prospect that people of color will replace white America. Thus, bent on recapturing power, the party is enacting in every Republican state hundreds of electoral laws designed to deprive Black and Hispanic Americans of their right to vote through gerrymandering, voter ID laws, and other nefarious schemes that defy democracy. Racism is consuming America from within, and white supremacy, which has been allowed to run rampant, is poisoning America’s soul.Carnage of Americans by gun violenceThe Republican party refuses to pass gun control laws regardless of how many Americans are shot to death. Gun violence is destroying our youth, decimating families, and literally robbing this country of its future. Yet, knowing all this, the Republican party refuses to do anything to stem the tide of violence. Gun violence is now the number one cause of death for all children and teens between 1-19 years of age.More than 120 Americans are killed every day by firearms. How many more mass shootings must we endure before the Republican party comes to its senses? At a minimum, we must move to ban assault weapons and implement universal background checks. The recent racially-motivated shooting in Buffalo where 10 innocent people were shot to death should shock the conscience of any decent American. Yet Republicans seem to be numb to this American tragedy; even when 20 children—six and seven-year-olds—were gunned down in their school in 2012, Republicans still refused to act.Defying climate change to our perilAnother catastrophic failure of the Republican party is its refusal to acknowledge that climate change is real. The plethora of scientific evidence is indisputable and overwhelming, and denying climate change, which is already upon us, is tragic. As a result, we are now witnessing massive fires, hurricanes, an unprecedented rise in sea levels, droughts, and the destruction of coral reefs. Moreover, climate-related migration is rising due to increased flooding, storms, extreme weather events, and higher temperatures, while precipitating geopolitical instability.Erin Pettit, a glaciologist from Oregon State University, is alarmed at how fast ice is cracking up in Antarctic. “It was hugely surprising to see things changing that fast,” said Pettit. According to the Washington Post, satellite imagery revealed long, parallel fissures in the frozen expanse. This is a calamity in the making, but the Republican party couldn’t care less.Denying healthcare as a rightAnother vile attitude of the Republican party is its position regarding universal healthcare. The Republican party never understood that healthcare is a human right. Everyone has the right to receive the healthcare they need. It is simply inconceivable that the richest country in the world provides no basic access to healthcare, which is central to the wellbeing of society, especially to children whose health directly impacts their mental development.According to CEOWorld Magazine’s 2021 Health Care Index, the ten countries with the best health care are: South Korea, Taiwan, Denmark, Austria, Japan, Australia, France, Spain, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. It is disgraceful that the United States comes in 30th on the Index – behind Mexico, Greece, and Ecuador. One of the strongest arguments for universal health care is that it will foster a healthier population overall; a healthy population will be less prone to disease, and hence more productive and competitive, not to speak of the moral obligation that a responsible government must be guided by.Usurping women’s right to chooseOne more manifestation of the Republican party’s moral bottom is its treatment of women, especially denying them the right to abortion. Here we have white haired reactionary Republican men, controlling red states from governor’s mansions or legislative bodies, deciding what women can or cannot do with their bodies. How dare they? For 50 years they have been trying to reverse the landmark law Roe v. Wade ruling, and the Supreme Court, with a majority of conservative justices, is now poised to do just that.This conservative-dominated Supreme Court is thoroughly politicized and the justices’ assumed impartiality gives in to dogma on hot-button issues, and lately they have been putting ideology above remaining faithful to the letter and the spirit of the rule of law. The Court, which is tasked to uphold the sacred right of every American, is becoming an instrument in the hands of the Republican party, which has manipulated the nomination and confirmation process in recent years to ensure as many conservatives on the Court as possible. The overturning of Roe v. Wade will not be the end of the conservative assault on women’s rights but only the beginning. We can be sure that laws limiting access to contraception, prohibiting same sex marriage, and denying the rights of the LGBTQ+ community will be next.To understand how debased the Republican party has become, all we have to do is see who most of the party’s leadership follows. Trump represents a new moral bottom, a new definition of sleaziness, a new standard of sheer loathsomeness. Trump is not only a traitorous, lying, narcissistic con man — he is literally the embodiment of the rot and moral decay that is consuming America’s spirit. Trump is a cancer on the body politic and the longer the Republican party allows him and all that he represents to remain and fester, the closer this Republic will inch to suicide.Trump’s grip on the Republican Party is a sad testament to the spinelessness of its leadership, the majority of whom still subscribe to his false claim that the 2020 election was stolen; in recent primaries, those who backed his claim were predominantly rewarded. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that even if Trump is not the Republican nominee in 2024, whoever is will in all likelihood be aligned with Trumpism and even transcend it by their extremely twisted conservatism, which rivals even the most backward extremists such as the Taliban.A victory for Trumpism in 2024 will mean that this country will continue to see its democratic institutions and processes attacked and gradually eroded; toxic white supremacy will thrive and anti-immigration policies will be the order of the day; environmental deregulation will continue apace, and economic inequality will keep soaring to new and unprecedented heights. America’s global leadership will evaporate and spell the end of the country as we know it. Trumpism is literally poison that will destroy this country from within if it is permitted to grow.There are thousands of loyal and dedicated Republican officials who are just as concerned as I am about the future of this country but remain silent, fearing the wrath of their fellow party members. They must remember that their allegiance is to the country and to the constitution, which they took an oath to defend and protect. Their solemn duty is to raise the alarm now and save America before the extreme right destroys what this country has stood for, fought for, and sacrificed for over two and a half centuries.If the Republican party in its current ideological makeup ends up in control of both Congress and the presidency, it will be to America’s everlasting shame. It will be a confession that we have lost faith in our Constitution and in this Republic. The noble principle of electing a government of the people, by the people, and for the people will tragically vanish.I am only adding my voice to the thousands who preceded me. No one can say we were not warned. Beware America; time is running out. If we do not act now, it will be us who wrote the obituary of the American dream. *Dr Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He taught courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies for over 20 years.

Since Trump rose to power in 2016, my concerns about the future of America have only been gravely compounded. It never occurred to me that after 240 years of a successful experiment in democracy and the development of solid democratic institutions based on the will of the people, we would face such unimaginable social and political peril. President Biden has made significant progress in addressing some of these issues that have plagued us, especially in restoring America’s global leadership.

Beware America

Washington: United States President Joe Biden said on Monday that Washington is ready to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan in the event of invasion. Biden met with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan on Monday to advance cooperation on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues.During a joint press conference with the Japanese PM, Biden reaffirmed Washington's commitment to ensuring the security of the Taiwan Strait and preventing any change in the status quo unilaterally. When asked whether the US is ready to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan, he replied in the affirmative, adding that this is the commitment that the US has taken on. "We remain committed to supporting peace and stability in Taiwan Strait. The US stands firmly with Japan and other nations not to let that happen (China taking over Taiwan)," he said."After this, US and Japan together with 11 other nations will be launching the Indo-Pacific economic framework. This framework is a commitment to working with our close friends and partners in the region and challenges that matter most to ensuring economic competitiveness," he added.According to the White House statement, Biden commended Prime Minister Kishida's leadership in responding to Russia's war against Ukraine, and his determination to strengthen Japan's defence capabilities, noting that a strong US-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.The two leaders committed to work closely together to address security challenges, including North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and China's increasingly coercive behaviour that runs counter to international law. They agreed to deepen cooperation in areas such as emerging technologies, supply chain security, and clean energy. Addressing a press conference, the Japanese PM said the two leaders discussed the impact of the Ukraine situation on the Indo-Pacific. "For China, we concurred to monitor recent activities of Chinese Navy and joint military exercise of China and strongly oppose the changes caused by force." Ahead of the Quad summit on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi slammed the United States' Indo-Pacific strategy on Sunday, charging that the four-nation grouping was formed in the guise of freedom and openness but with the purpose to contain China.He made these comments while addressing a press conference after talks with visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Guangzhou,&nbsp;Xinhua&nbsp;news agency reported.When asked about the 'Indo-Pacific Strategy', Wang said: "The US' Indo-Pacific Strategy is causing more and more vigilance and concern in the international community, especially in the Asia-Pacific region."—ANI

United States President Joe Biden said on Monday that Washington is ready to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan in the event of invasion.

US ready to send troops if China invades Taiwan

Beijing: China on Wednesday announced military drills around Taiwan, days after United States President Joe Biden said Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rediff.com/news/report/us-ready-to-send-troops-if-china-invades-taiwan/20220523.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(71, 123, 196);">would intervene militarily</a>&nbsp;if Beijing tried to reunify with the island by force. China continues to regard Taiwan as its province even after decades of separate governance.Chinese President Xi Jinping even threatened to take the island, if needed."The recent patrol and training exercises by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) around the Taiwan Island were necessary actions against the collusion between Taiwan and the United States," a Chinese defence spokesperson was quoted as saying by&nbsp;Xinhua&nbsp;on Wednesday. Tan Kefei, the spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, said that the PLA Eastern Theater Command had recently organised a joint war-preparedness alert patrol and combat training exercises involving troops of multiple services and arms in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island."These are necessary actions taken targeting the collusion between Taiwan and the United States, and conforming to the need of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Tan said. Seeking 'Taiwan independence' is doomed to fail, and so is supporting such actions, Tan said, adding that by playing the 'Taiwan card' to contain China, the United States is putting the situation in jeopardy.The PLA is on high alert and ready to take all necessary measures to resolutely thwart any external forces' interference and secessionist attempts for 'Taiwan independence', he added.This strong reaction from China comes after Biden on Monday said that Washington is ready to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan in the event of invasion.Biden met with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan on Monday to advance cooperation on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues.During a joint press conference with the Japanese PM, Biden reaffirmed Washington's commitment to ensuring the security of the Taiwan Strait and preventing any change in the status quo unilaterally. When asked whether the US is ready to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan, he replied in the affirmative, adding that this is the commitment that the US has taken on."We remain committed to supporting peace and stability in Taiwan Strait. The US stands firmly with Japan and other nations not to let that happen (China taking over Taiwan)," he said.—ANI

China on Wednesday announced military drills around Taiwan, days after United States President Joe Biden said Washington would intervene militarily if Beijing tried to reunify with the island by force.

China responds to Biden's remark with military drills near Taiwan

New Delhi: Extending their rally to a third straight day, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty jumped nearly 2 per cent on Monday on heavy buying in Reliance Industries and Infosys amid a firm trend in global equities.The 30-share BSE Sensex rallied 1,041.08 points or 1.90 per cent to settle at 55,925.74.During the day, it gained 1,197.99 points or 2.18 per cent to 56,082.65.The broader NSE Nifty jumped 308.95 points or 1.89 per cent to settle at 16,661.40.From the Sensex pack, Titan, M&amp;M, Infosys, Larsen &amp; Toubro, Tech Mahindra,&nbsp;HCL Technologies, TCS, Reliance Industries and UltraTech Cement were the leading gainers.In contrast, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy's and ITC were the laggards.Elsewhere in Asia, markets in Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong settled with gains after China eased COVID-19 curbs on business activity in Shanghai and Beijing.Markets in Europe were also trading in the green during the afternoon trade.Stock markets in the US ended significantly higher on Friday.The Sensex rallied 632.13 points or 1.17 per cent to settle at 54,884.66 on Friday. The Nifty jumped 182.30 points or 1.13 per cent to end at 16,352.45.International oil benchmark Brent crude gained 0.43 per cent to $119.9 per barrel.Foreign institutional investors continued their selling spree as they offloaded shares worth Rs 1,943.10 crore on Friday, according to stock exchange data.—PTI

Extending their rally to a third straight day, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty jumped nearly 2 per cent on Monday on heavy buying in Reliance Industries and Infosys amid a firm trend in global equities.

Sensex, Nifty soar nearly 2% on gains in RIL, Infosys

Beijing: Taking advantage of the Russia-Ukraine war, China has been conducting military drills on its far north-eastern border, raising expert concerns that Beijing could be considering a push into Russian territory. Anthony Klan, writing in&nbsp;The Klaxon,&nbsp;an investigative Australian newspaper. said it has obtained images and details of China's air force and army conducting secretive exercises in the Russian border areas along the Ussuri River, near Russia's sparsely populated Khabarovsk and Ussuriysk regions, in February and March this year. The military drills involve Chinese Air Force fighter jets and bombers, including live-fire exercises, out of its north-eastern Harbin Air Base, and China's 78th Group Army running tank and armoured vehicle tactical drills. The activities are considered unusual because the only border China shares in the region are with Russia.The military drills come despite China publicly backing Russia's February 24 military operation in Ukraine, said Klan."Beijing secretly began its air force and armoured unit drills from February, near Russian borders, in the name of routine exercises," said one senior intelligence source.Intelligence sources said China's military activities along the Ussuri River had gone unnoticed with the global spotlight focused on Russia's Ukraine invasion and on China's movements in the Taiwan Strait, reported&nbsp;The Klaxon.China and Russia have a history of tension in the region. In March 1969, China surprised Moscow by ambushing the remote Damansky Island in a bloody attack which saw 31 Soviet border guards killed and brought the two powers to the brink of an all-out war.The tiny island, known as Damansky in Russian and Zhenbao Dao in Chinese, sits in the middle of the Ussuri River, which itself marks the China-Russia border in the Far East.The deadly ambush remains a sore point with many Russians. Any move by China into Russian territory would send shockwaves around the world, said Klan.China has publicly expressed support for Russia, but experts note Beijing has territorial disputes with almost all of its neighbours, making an advance on Russia far from out of the question. "China appears to be way too prepared for the ongoing war situation," said one security expert."The far eastern territory of Russia including the areas of Khabarovsk and Ussuriysk are already remote and Russians have hardly enough military presence to secure these areas, especially if China attempts to venture out".—ANI

Taking advantage of the Russia-Ukraine war, China has been conducting military drills on its far north-eastern border, raising expert concerns that Beijing could be considering a push into Russian territory.

China eyes Russian territory as Moscow focuses on Ukraine: Report

Mumbai (The Hawk): Hitchcockian thriller ‘Incognito’ narrates the story of a motel receptionist who captures hidden visuals of guests and sells those on the internet to earn extra bucks, said director Ravi Muppa at #MIFFDialogue today. “I wanted to tell a story purely from the protagonist’s point of view. So I chose a despicable character. The flow of the film is as such at some point of time, the audience tend to empathize with the protagonist”, said Ravi.<iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rxnYrJlLa_A?showinfo=0"></iframe> He said, the film rather than giving a message, intend to draw a line between moral and immoral act, narrative of which is subjective and varies from person to person.About the Film: Incognito<img src="https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/image/12-2ZK42.jpg">Director:&nbsp;Ravi MuppaProducer: Ravi MuppaWriter: Ravi MuppaDOP: Azim Moollan&nbsp;Editor: Konark SaxenaDirector’s Bio:Ravi Muppa is a screenwriter/director based in Mumbai. He has developed critically and commercially successful films such as "Stree (2018)", "Bala (2019)" and "The Family Man (2019)”.He wrote a short film, "Valu", which deals with sand mafia and was screened at Austin Film Festival (2019). He has created and sold a half-hour series "The Substitutes" to the biggest streaming platform in India. Currently, he is co-creating a period satire series titled "The Mad King”. Incognito is his first film as writer director.Synopsis:Incognito is a Hitchcockian thriller about a lonely motel receptionist who makes an extra buck by selling the hidden-cam videos of his unsuspecting guests on the internet. But when one such guest turns out to be a young girl who is being trafficked, he faces a crisis of conscience.

Hitchcockian thriller ‘Incognito’ narrates the story of a motel receptionist who captures hidden visuals of guests and sells those on the internet to earn extra bucks, said director Ravi Muppa at #MIFFDialogue today.

Hitchcockian thriller ‘Incognito’ narrates the story of a motel receptionist: Ravi Muppa

Los Angeles: Kate Miner, who is known for her work in the comedy-drama TV series 'Shameless' will be leading the horror-thriller 'Stay Safe along with and American-Cuban actor Jason Canela. The film is about a pandemic hotzone, reports 'Deadline'. As per 'Deadline', the film has entered post-production and features Miner as Eva and Canela as Patricio, with Katalina Viteri also starring.Stationed on the front lines of a Pandemic Hotzone, the pic follows Army Surgeon Eva's attempt to uncover the truth behind a subliminal message she received from a patient, while dealing with the unexpected arrival of an illegal immigrant into her home.'Deadline' further states that American Entertainment Investors, Synkronised Films and Elipsis Capital are behind the film, with Daniela Delfino, who also features in 'Stay Safe', Joseph Cohen and Alex Cohen serving as producers. 'Stay Safe' has been penned by David Gregg, Gia Neri, Rolando Vinas with director Carlos V. Gutierrez at the helm of affairs, who has developed the movie from a story by Clarence Williams IV.Miner, who is also a singer-songwriter, was most recently seen wrapping the final 11th season of Showtime's 'Shameless', in which she played Phillip Gallagher's love interest Tami Tamietti. Her past credits include 'Fifty Shades of Black' and 'The Campaign'. Canela joined ABC's 'The Rookie' last year, playing Cesar Madrigal, and has also featured in 'The Glades', Josh Waller's 'Camino', Fox's 'Pitch' and Netflix's 'Always be my Maybe'.—IANS

Kate Miner, who is known for her work in the comedy-drama TV series 'Shameless' will be leading the horror-thriller 'Stay Safe along with and American-Cuban actor Jason Canela. 

Kate Miner, Jason Canela to star in horror-thriller ‘Stay Safe’

Islamabad: Pakistan’s armed forces are likely to be allocated Rs 1.4 trillion (USD 7.6 billion) in the budget for the next fiscal year, about Rs 83 billion higher than the current year, a media report said on Sunday.Defence spending often comes under scrutiny at the time of the annou­nce­ment of the annual budget when allocati­ons for various sectors are earmarked.The allocation of Rs 1.453 trillion (USD 7.6 billion) would be about Rs 83 billion higher than the outgoing year’s allocation of Rs 1.37 trillion, an increase of almost six per cent, the Dawn newspaper reported. The increased amount, defence sources say, will be consumed mostly by the allocation for employees-related expenses, salaries and allowances of servicemen. Other heads of the budget include civil works, which caters for the military infrastructure development and repairs; physical assets that relate to local purchases of arms and ammunition and some imports and the related costs; and operating expenses, which cover costs incurred on transport, ration, training and treatment, the report said. The powerful Pakistan Army, which has ruled the coup-prone country for more than half of its nearly 75 years of existence, has hitherto wielded considerable power in the matters of security and foreign policy.Former prime minister Imran Khan, who was ousted from power in April through a no-trust vote, had apparently lost support of the Army after he refused to endorse the appointment of the ISI spy agency chief last year.According to sources, the spending per soldier is about Rs 2.65 million per annum, which, they claim, is not even one-third of what India spends.&nbsp;A raise of Rs 136 billion was expected after taking into account an average of 11.3 per cent inflation for the outgoing year, the report said. Therefore, in number terms, the armed forces would be getting about Rs 53 billion less than what they say was needed for coping with inflation, it said. The impact of the defence spending is measured in two ways — the share of the defence services in the overall budget pie and as a percentage of the GDP. The share in the total outlay explains how much money is going to the armed forces. Meanwhile, calculating the defence budget as a percentage of the GDP indicates its burden on the national economy.—PTI

Pakistan’s armed forces are likely to be allocated Rs 1.4 trillion (USD 7.6 billion) in the budget for the next fiscal year, about Rs 83 billion higher than the current year, a media report said on Sunday.

Pak to raise defence spending by Rs 83 bn armed forces to get Rs 1.4 tn in budget

Mumbai: 'Gully Boy' star Ranveer Singh, a self-confessed city-slicker, is all set to get a taste of the wilderness along with Bear Grylls for India's first interactive adventure reality special titled 'Ranveer vs Wild with Bear Grylls', the teaser of which was unveiled on Friday. The teaser shows the actor taking off on a thrilling date with nature, fending for himself, and learning new survival skills as he ventures into the depths of the wild to find a rare flower for his lady love in the harsh forests of Serbia.The streaming special, which will be available on Netflix, has been produced by Banijay Asia in association with The Natural Studios. Monika Shergill, VP-Content, Netflix India, said in a statement, "We are excited to take audiences on the ultimate adventure with the high octane and unstoppable Ranveer Singh and the world's best survival expert, Bear Grylls in 'Ranveer vs Wild. with Bear Grylls'. Netflix brings India's first ever interactive adventure special that will give audiences all over the world the controls to test Ranveer Singh, as he pushes his boundaries in this adrenaline-pumping experience of a lifetime," she further said in her statement. 'Ranveer VS Wild with Bear Grylls' will premiere on July 8 on streaming platform Netflix.—IANS

Gully Boy' star Ranveer Singh, a self-confessed city-slicker, is all set to get a taste of the wilderness along with Bear Grylls for India's first interactive adventure reality special titled 'Ranveer vs Wild with Bear Grylls', the teaser of which was unveiled on Friday.

Ranveer to taste wilderness in 'Ranveer vs Wild with Bear Grylls'

Moscow: The Russian military wrapped up large-scale exercises in the Pacific Ocean, according to an official statement. During the week-long drills, more than 300 combat exercises were conducted, 170 of which involved the practical use of weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday in a statement.The sailors practiced searching submarines, firing artillery and striking targets with high-precision sea-based weapons, Xinhua news agency reported. More than 40 warships and support vessels as well as about 20 aircraft of the Russian Pacific Fleet participated in the exercises.—IANS

The Russian military wrapped up large-scale exercises in the Pacific Ocean, according to an official statement. During the week-long drills, more than 300 combat exercises were conducted, 170 of which involved the practical use of weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday in a statement.

Russia Completes Massive Military Drills In The Pacific

I am at a loss for words to express my horror as I watched the first segment of the public hearing of the Congressional committee investigating the January 6 insurrection. As long as the Republican Party denies what happened that infamous day and Trump remains free, this country faces unprecedented peril. Righting the Wrong Alon Ben-Meir* New York (The Hawk): The Congressional committee investigating the January 6 insurrection began the first of its public hearings yesterday. Each of these is of the highest importance to the country, even if many Americans are unlikely to be swayed by them. Last Thursday’s hearing revealed never-before-seen footage of the violence that erupted in the nation’s capital, and testimony from officials and advisors close to Trump (including Attorney General Barr and Ivanka Trump) made it clear that they did not believe Trump’s fabrication of a stolen election and told him so.These hearings are crucial to our Republic, to maintaining the integrity of our democratic norms and institutions, and to preventing not simply another violent mob outbreak, but another attack on our democracy orchestrated, as this was, by the highest office in the land. Indeed, what happened on January 6, 2021, was unprecedented in our history. It was the culmination of a concerted months-long effort by the President of the United States to halt the transfer of power and stage a coup that would have meant the end of this country as we know it, had he been successful.The rule of law hung in the balance that day. Trump knowingly lied and continues to lie about the results of the 2020 election, and he summoned a mob to the capital promising that January 6 would be “Wild” – a last ditch effort to prevent the certification of Biden’s election victory. Every president in our nation’s history has honored the constitutional duty to relinquish power and allow the peaceful transfer of executive authority – every president that is, until Donald Trump.This is what many Americans still fail to grasp or acknowledge: Trump struck at the very heart of our democracy, he broke a solemn oath and in doing so he has made it easier for this to happen again. If presidents are unwilling to honor the results of free and fair elections, then the future of this Republic in the gravest of danger. As it is, Trump has forever stained the office of the president: in breaking his oath to the constitution he has irrevocably broken the sacred trust between the American people and their chief executive.Nothing will ever change the fact that a sitting president attempted an illegal, unconstitutional, and profoundly immoral coup to remain in power; that is a cause not only for the gravest concern but for the deepest sadness. These hearings then are among the most important ever conducted in the 246 years since this nation was born, for they bear on nothing less than the very survival of this country as a constitutional democracy.The existential danger that burst into deadly mob violence on January 6 has not been laid to rest, it is ongoing. It is still poisoning our country and casting a shadow over the next presidential election. Trump continues to lie to the public; Republican lawmakers continue to parrot those lies and downplay what happened on January 6 or excuse and even justify it as “legitimate political discourse.” If a mob attack on the Capitol is “legitimate political discourse” then our fate is already sealed – it is, then only a matter of time until the next violent insurrection; and the next one may well make January 6 look like a mere rehearsal.If Trump had his way, then Vice-President Pence would have also broken his oath to the constitution and derailed the certification of electoral votes. Our continued existence as a Republic might very well have hung on Pence’s actions that day. The mob’s response was to call for Pence to be hanged, and a noose and scaffold was erected apparently for that very purpose. What was Trump’s reaction when he was told that the mob was calling for Pence’s summary execution? His words were: “Maybe our supporters have the right idea.” Mike Pence “deserves” it.Trump did not want the attack to stop, responded angrily to advisors that begged him to call off the mob, and supported their aim to see Mike Pence, one of his most loyal followers, hanged. The country as a whole must reckon with and acknowledge what a sitting president perpetrated and the existential harm he brought on this country with his reckless, abhorrent, and illegal actions. To be sure, Trump was personally and directly responsible for the worst attack on the Capitol since 1814, and as long as he is at the helm of the Republican Party, he remains a very serious threat to the United States.The Republican Party has been irredeemably hijacked by Trump’s autocratic ambitions. In following him they are bringing this country ever closer to another existential precipice. Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming – effectively excommunicated from the Republican Party simply for performing her sworn duty as a member of Congress – said what every Republican lawmaker “defending the indefensible” must hear and take to heart: “There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain.”Indeed, if these hearings assure us of anything it is that history will not be able to forget or deny the peril in which the nation was placed by a violent mob deployed by the President of the United States to overturn the result of a legitimate elections.It is now clear, even before we hear more testimony, that Trump and his co-conspirators engineered a coup to prevent the peaceful transfer of power even though he handedly lost the election. Trump knowingly violated the constitution that he swore to uphold and protect. Thus, there should be no doubt in anybody’s mind that he has committed treason against the United States, for which he must be charged and face his day in court. *Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He taught courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies for over 20 years.

The Congressional committee investigating the January 6 insurrection began the first of its public hearings yesterday. Each of these is of the highest importance to the country, even if many Americans are unlikely to be swayed by them. 

A Treasonous President And A Nation In Peril

Texas: A mysterious figure in seemingly shaggy form was caught on security cameras in Amarillo zoo in Texas, making the city ask for help identifying a creature.The video provided by the zoo's security camera went viral after it tweeted for help in identifying the figure. Last week, the city of Amarillo released an image showing a seemingly shaggy form lurking in the dark outside the Amarillo Zoo's perimeter fence.A motion-activated camera alerted zoo officials after the photo was taken at 1:25 am on May 21."The Amarillo Zoo captured a strange image outside the zoo in the dark and early morning hours of May 21 (around 1:25 a.m.). Is it a person with a strange hat who likes to walk at night? A chupacabra? Do you have any ideas of what this UAO- Unidentified Amarillo Object could be?" CityofAmarillo tweeted on June 9. Chupacabra, in Latin American popular legend, is a monstrous creature that attacks animals and consumes their blood. The name is derived from the Spanish words chupar ("to suck") and cabra ("goat") and can be translated as "goat-sucker."The silhouette of the object is unrecognizable, though what appears to be two long legs seem to support it from underneath."Was it a person with a strange hat who likes to walk at night? A large coyote on its hind legs? A Chupacabra? It is a mystery - for Amarillo to help solve," the government said in a light-hearted statement, according to Fox News.Chupacabras were first reported in 1995, in Puerto Rico, where they were blamed for attacks on goats, sheep, and other domestic animals, supposedly leaving uneaten carcasses that were drained of blood. Early reports described them as a creature that stood upright and resembled a large reptilian kangaroo.The clip captured by the camera has sparked a fierce online debate.The strange, silly, and serious theories range from bigfoot, Sonic the Hedgehog to a jumping coyote.After Amarillo zoo's clips went viral, San Antonio Zoo in Texas released footage of a mysterious figure and sought the public's help in identifying the strange creature."A mysterious figure has been spotted wandering Brackenridge Park on zoo security cameras. We are seeking the public's help in identifying this strange creature," the zoo's official Instagram page read.Thousands of people have weighed in on social media.&nbsp;—ANI

A mysterious figure in seemingly shaggy form was caught on security cameras in Amarillo zoo in Texas, making the city ask for help identifying a creature.

Chupacabra? Texas Zoo Authorities Seek Community Help In Identifying 'Strange' Creature Captured On Camera

Lucknow: Emphasising the MSME sector"s important role in making India a USD 5-trillion economy, Union Minister Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma on Tuesday said the government will remove all the barriers in credit flow to this sector.The Union Minister of State for MSME also said that the government was also committed to develop a better system of redressal and debt facilities.Verma was addressing a session - Making Indian MSMEs Globally Competitive through Trade, Finance &amp; Investment Facilitation - on the second day of Uttar Pradesh MSME Convention 2022.It was organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) in association with the central government and the MSME ministry.The theme of this session was making the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) globally competitive through trade, finance and better investment facilities.The minister said the MSME sector is being developed as a new engine of growth in the country and modernised through innovation and will be more competitive.Verma said that the export business from the MSME sector is continuously increasing with the contribution to the country"s exports now touching almost 50 per cent."It also accounts for about 30 per cent of the country"s GDP. In such a situation, the role of our MSME sector becomes important in strengthening India"s position in the global trade," he said.The industry has to move with time and must focus on adopting new-age technology, including digitising systems, processes and operations in all aspects of the business to save time and expenses, he said.In his address at the session, Ravi Gupta, Co-Chairman of Assocham National Council on WTO Trade and Investment, stressed on MSMEs to keep their products eco-friendly and clean.He said that the small-scale industries of the state can play an important role in the economic development of the country.Since Uttar Pradesh is renowned for its leather, carpets, handicrafts, milk, and milk products, which are produced on a large scale, the state can play an important role in making them self-reliant, he added. —PTI

Emphasising the MSME sector"s important role in making India a USD 5-trillion economy, Union Minister Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma on Tuesday said the government will remove all the barriers in credit flow to this sector.

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Flight operation from Keshod airport to be inaugurated on April 16

Pushkar Raj Kapoor

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Flight operation from Keshod airport to be inaugurated on April 16

Pushkar Raj Kapoor

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