NATIONAL NEWS
Election Commission extends ban on rallies, roadshows till January 22
The Election Commission on Saturday banned rallies and roadshows in the five election-going States, but allowed political parties to hold indoor meetings of up to 300 people or 50% of the venue’s capacity. While announcing the poll schedule for Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on January 8, the EC banned all physical rallies, roadshows, padyatras, processions and vehicle rallies in view of the rising COVID-19 cases. Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra had said the ban would be till Saturday, when it would be reviewed. On Saturday, the EC held virtual meetings with the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry and Chief Electoral Officers, Chief Secretaries and Health Secretaries of the five poll-bound States. The three-member Commission held a comprehensive review of present status and projected trends of COVID pandemic with special focus in the five poll going States, an EC statement said. The EC decided to continue the ban on roadshows, padyatras, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies, processions and rallies by political parties and candidates till January 22, when it would review the decision again. However, the Commission has granted relaxation for the political parties to the extent that indoor meetings of maximum 300 persons or 50% of the capacity of the hall or the prescribed limit set by SDMA will be allowed, the EC statement read.
BJP names 107 candidates, fields Adityanath from Gorakhpur
The BJP on Saturday declared its first list of candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to contest from Gorakhpur (Urban) and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya from the Sirathu Assembly constituency. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP general secretary Arun Singh named a total of 107 candidates for the first two phases of the seven-phase election. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addresses a press conference after inspecting a COVID-19 care ward at BRD Medical Collage in Gorakhpur on January 15, 2022. With the declaration of Mr. Adityanath’s seat as Gorakhpur, all speculation that he might contest from Ayodhya has also been put to rest. The list of 107 seats, 57 for phase I and 48 for phase II, saw 63 out of 83 sitting MLAs of the party being retained and 20 MLAs dropped. As far as the caste break-up of the candidate list goes, 68% of the seats have gone to OBC candidates (44 candidates) and 19 to SC candidates, including Jagpal Singh being fielded from the general category seat of Saharanpur. While 10 women have been included in the list, no Muslim has been given ticket.
Virat Kohli steps down as Test captain
Virat Kohli on Saturday dropped a bombshell by quitting Test captaincy following the unexpected series defeat against South Africa. Kohli was appointed Test captain in 2014 when M.S. Dhoni stepped down in the middle of the series against Australia. Virat Kohli. Every thing has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test captain of India, it’s now. There have been many ups and also some downs along the journey but there has never been lack of effort or lack of belief, Kohli wrote in a statement which he posted on Twitter, taking everyone by surprise. His shock announcement came a day after India lost the Test series in South Africa 1-2. Kohli led India to the top of world rankings, and during his tenure the team recorded a memorable series win in Australia. The 33-year old had recently quit as T20 captain and was later sacked at ODI captain by the BCCI.
Won’t let any attempt to change status quo along borders: Army Chief
The Army will not let any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along the country’s borders succeed, Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane said addressing the rank and file on Saturday while the Army’s paratroopers showcased the new combat dress at the Army Day parade. Our patience is a sign of our self-confidence, but no one should make the mistake of testIng it… Our message is clear, the Indian Army won’t let any attempt to unilaterally change status quo along country’s borders to succeed, Gen. Naravane said addressing the parade on the 74th Army Day. His comments come in the backdrop of the continuing standoff in eastern Ladakh with the 14th round of Corps Commander talks between India and China earlier this week failing to achieve a breakthrough for the next phase of disengagement at Hot Springs. Over 50,000 troops from each side continue to be deployed in the high-altitude region very close to the Line of Actual Control in extreme winters. Gen. Naravane said joint efforts at various levels have led to disengagement in many areas which in itself is a constructive step and added that on the basis of mutual and equal security, efforts would continue to find a solution to the current situation.
Inquiry rules out mechanical failure, sabotage or negligence
The tri-services inquiry into the Mi-17 V5 helicopter that killed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Bipin Rawat and 13 others has submitted its preliminary findings according to which the crash occurred due to unexpected change in weather conditions that led to spatial disorientation of the pilot resulting in Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), the Indian Air Force (IAF) said on January 14. The Court of Inquiry (CoI) has ruled out mechanical failure, sabotage or negligence as a cause of the accident. The accident was a result of entry into clouds due to unexpected change in weather conditions in the valley. This led to spatial disorientation of the pilot resulting in CFIT, the IAF said in a statement. Based on its findings, the CoI has made certain recommendations which are being reviewed. The IAF added that the inquiry team analysed the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder besides questioning all available witnesses to determine the most probable cause of the accident. Army personnel carry out an investigation procedure at the crash site in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, on December 9, 2021 a day after an Army helicopter crashed, killing 13 people, including Indian defence chief General Bipin Rawat.
J&K Police arrest human rights activist Ahsan Untoo for ‘spreading disaffection’ against India
The J&K Police on January 14 said they have booked and arrested human rights activist Ahsan Untoo for spreading disaffection, ill-will and disharmony against the Union of India. By spreading false propaganda, disinformation campaigns and hate speech through the social media spaces, Untoo is not only threatening to disturb the prevailing peaceful atmosphere of UT of J&K but spreading disaffection, ill-will and disharmony against the Union of India. He Is also actively spreading the terrorist secessionist agenda and is thus inciting youth to resort to violence and indulge in unlawful activities, a police spokesman said. The police said the activities of Untoo amount to commission of cognizable offence. Thakur and Dar, in their online statements, have refuted the police charges and denied their involvement in any militant activities in J&K.
Bishop Franco acquitted in nun rape case
The Additional District and Sessions Court in Kottayam on January 14 acquitted Bishop Franco Mulakkal, former head of the Latin Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar, of all charges in connection with a rape complaint filed by a nun in the same diocese. Praise the Lord, the Bishop told media persons, while emerging out of the court after the verdict. He also broke down and embraced his lawyers following the judgment. Earlier In the day, the police had beefed up security on the court premises by taking into consideration a possible crisis in the law-and-order situation. Based on a rape complaint lodged by a nun on June 29, 2018, the bishop was arrested on September 21 the same year. He was in jail for 25 days after the court remanded him. The chargesheet against the Bishop, which consisted of 2,000 pages in three volumes, was submitted on April 4, 2019. The trial in the case commenced in November 2019 and concluded on January 10. Of the 83 witnesses listed by the prosecution, 39 were examined during the trial. The witnesses included Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, Bishop Kurian Valiyakandathil, Bishop of Bhagalpur in Bihar, and Bishop Sebastian Vadakkel of the diocese of Ujjain, and 11 priests and 25 nuns. The bishop was arraigned as an accused in the case under Indian Penal Code Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 376 (2k) (rape on a woman incapable of giving consent), 376 (2n) (causing grievous bodily harm during rape), 376 © (a) and 377 (unnatural offence), and 506 (1) (criminal intimidation).
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Russia demands U.S., NATO response next week on Ukraine
Russia on Friday strongly repeated its demand that NATO will not expand eastward, despite the rejection of that by the military alliance amid a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine. It added that it wouldn’t wait indefinitely for the Western response. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday described Moscow’s demands that NATO will neither expand nor deploy forces to Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations as essential for the progress of diplomatic efforts to defuse soaring tensions over Ukraine. He argued that the deployment of NATO forces and weapons near Russia’s borders poses a security challenge that must be addressed immediately. We have run out of patience, Lavrov said at a news conference. The West has been driven by hubris and has exacerbated tensions in violation of its obligations and common sense. Lavrov said that Russia expects Washington and NATO to provide a written response to its demands next week. Amid the tensions, Ukraine sustained a massive cyberattack Friday, which hit websites of multiple government agencies. This week’s negotiations in Geneva and a related NATO-Russia meeting in Brussels were held amid a significant Russian troop buildup near Ukraine that the West fears might be a prelude to an invasion.
Novak Djokovic’s visa cancelled for a second time by the Australian government
The Australian government cancelled Novak Djokovic’s visa for a second time on January 14, saying the world tennis No. 1, unvaccinated for COVID-19, may pose a risk to the community. The decision raises the prospect of a second court battle by the Serbian tennis star to be allowed to stay and bid for a record 21st major tennis title at the Australian Open, but time is running out with the tournament starting on January 17. Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke exercised his discretionary powers to revoke Djokovic’s visa after a court quashed an earlier revocation and released him from immigration detention on January 10. Today I exercised my power under section 133C (3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr. Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so, Hawke said in a statement. The government is firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawke said. He said he had carefully considered information from Djokovic, the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force. Under the section of the Migration Act which the minister used to exercise his power to cancel the visa, Djokovic would not be able to secure a visa to come to Australia for three years, except in compelling circumstances that affect Australia’s interest. Djokovic, the Australian Open defending champion, was included in the draw on January 13 as top seed and was due to face fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic for his opening match, probably on January 17 or January 18.
