Delfin Lorenzana claims the flotilla anchored at Whitsun Reef is manned by Chinese militias. The Philippine defense chief on Sunday demanded more than 200 Chinese vessels he said were manned by militias leave a South China Sea reef claimed by Manila, saying their presence was a “provocative action of militarising the area.” “We call on the Chinese to stop this incursion and immediately recall these boats violating our maritime rights and encroaching into our sovereign territory,” Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement, adding without elaborating that the Philippines would uphold its sovereign rights.A government watchdog overseeing the disputed region said…
Author: Mike Harrison
The decision to hold the joint exercise ‘Pabbi-Antiterror-2021’ was announced during the 36th meeting of the Council of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure held in Uzbekistan on March 18 India, Pakistan, China and other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will hold a joint anti-terrorism exercise this year, the eight-member bloc said.The decision to hold the joint exercise “Pabbi-Antiterror-2021” was announced during the 36th meeting of the Council of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on March 18.At the meeting, representatives of the SCO member states also approved the draft program of cooperation for 2022-2024 to counter-terrorism,…
NCP workers hit the streets in Nagpur in support of the State Home Minister and decrying the corruption claims as a bid to defame him. BJP workers on Sunday staged protests in Nagpur and Pune demanding resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in view of allegations of corruption levelled against him by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh.While Mr. Deshmukh is facing flak, NCP activists hit streets in Nagpur against Mr. Singh alleging that he was defaming the State Home Minister.Days after he was shunted as Mumbai Police Commissioner, Mr. Singh wrote a letter to the CM claiming…
Just a month ahead of CJI Bobde’s retirement, panel must walk tightrope between representation from High Court and seniority. The Supreme Court Collegium is striving to reach a consensus on recommendations to fill up the five vacancies in the apex court. With barely a month left for Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde to retire, the Collegium is discussing diverse opinions from within on issues like proportionate representation from various High Courts and seniority among High Court judges before finalising the names to recommend to the government for appointment. Proportionate representation from High Courts and seniority, though only conventions…
More than 6 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been sent to 76 nations, while 4.5 crore doses have been administered to beneficiaries in the country till now, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday.He also called for making the vaccination drive a “Jan Aandolan” (mass movement).“Until this morning, nearly 4.5 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given to the people in this country. More than six crore doses have been sent to 76 nations,” Mr. Vardhan said during a media interaction at the Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH) here.“Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party (BJP) president J.P.…
He is expected to meet with senior Afghan government officials, including President Ashraf Ghani. Afghanistan media reports that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived on Sunday in Kabul on his first trip to Afghanistan as Pentagon chief, amid swirling questions about how long American troops will remain in the country.State-owned Radio and Television Afghanistan and popular TOLO Television reported Mr. Austin’s arrival in Kabul from India. He was expected to meet with senior Afghan government officials, including President Ashraf Ghani.U.S. President Joe Biden said last week in an ABC News interview that it will be “tough” for the U.S. to…
The shells landed at the entrance and in the courtyard of the hospital in Atareb, a town in rural western Aleppo Artillery shells fired from government areas hit a hospital in a rebel-controlled town in northwestern Syria on Sunday, killing at least five civilians and wounding medical staff, rescuers and activists reported.The shells landed at the entrance and in the courtyard of the hospital in Atareb, a town in rural western Aleppo, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The hospital is located underground, a tactic used by the opposition to avoid targeting in the conflict-prone area.The explosion…
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over her death and paid tributes to the departed soul Noted Odissi dancer Laxmipriya Mohapatra, the wife of legendary classical dancer Kelucharan Mohapatra, has died due to old age-related ailments, family sources said on Sunday.She was 86.Mohapatra died at her residence here around 11.20 p.m. on Saturday, they said.She is survived by her son Ratikanta Mohapatra and daughter-in-law Sujata Mohapatra, who are also Odissi dance gurus.Starting her dancing career at an early age at the Annapurna Theatre in Puri in 1947, Laxmipriya came in contact with Kelucharan Mohapatra at the Annapurna Theatre-B in Cuttack.Though…
China has the strongest military in the world, scoring 82 out of 100 points in the index, it noted. China has the strongest military force in the world while India stands at number four, according to a study released on Sunday by defence website Military Direct.”The USA, despite their enormous military budgets, comes in 2nd place with 74 points, followed by Russia with 69, India at 61 and then France with 58. The U.K. just about makes the Top 10, coming in 9th place with a score of 43,” said the study.The study said “ultimate military strength index” was calculated…
The working group comprises of 15-member working group comprising seven members of the cabinet sub-committee and one each member from the eight civil society organizations. The first meeting of the working group on job reservation in Nagaland government services on Saturday could not arrive at any concrete solution, officials said.The meeting chaired by chief secretary J. Alam decided that the next meeting of the working group would be held on April 21 at Kohima.During the meeting, members from the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) once again presented their stand with Eastern Nagas demanding 45% reservation in government services while other Naga…