Wednesday, January 21

Vasudha S

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COVID-19International

Macron Refuses COVID Test During Russia Trip Over DNA Theft Fears: Source

Vasudha SFebruary 17, 20220

The French and the Russian presidents sat across a long table after Macron refused to undergo a Russian COVID test. After many memes, comes a new DNA theft theory. What is this DNA theft after all? The Putin-Macron meeting over the Ukraine crisis had barely ended when the picture of both leaders sitting across a rather long table went viral on the Internet. It spawned several hilarious memes. The reason for that distance was obvious. The Russian president Vladimir Putin has long been kept in a strict health bubble and carefully follows social distancing protocols. Putin has of course been seen in close proximity to a few other leaders like the President of Kazakhistan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev(barely 3 days after meeting with Macron). The leaders who refused t...

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IndiaInternationalLatest NewsPolitics

“India Out” Movement In Maldives: The Story So Far

Vasudha SJanuary 20, 20220

India and Maldives have shared the most cordial ties since the island nation gained its independence in 1966. New Delhi and Male have shared a warm relationship of close diplomatic, strategic, economic and Defense cooperation. This relationship has been in the face of a storm for some time now.  A vicious internet and social media-fuelled movement called the “India Out” campaign has been raging through the archipelagic nation. The movement is being led by the former President of Maldives Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s party. It has united the opposition parties against India and the country’s pro-India government headed by Ibrahim Solih.  The movement has been worrying government heads in both New Delhi and Male. Interestingly, the ruling governments of both nations still remain ...

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ArticleInternationalUncategorized

Taliban Bans Forced Marriage Of Women

Vasudha SDecember 4, 20210

In a surprising move, the Taliban has decreed to ban forced marriages of women in Afghanistan. The decree issued by the Taliban’s reclusive chief Hibatullah Akhunzada states that women should not be treated as ‘property’ and that their consent is mandatory for marriages. In a move that bodes well for women’s rights in Afghanistan, forced marriages have now been banned by the Taliban. Kabul, December 3, 2021: The famously reclusive Hibatullah Akhunzada, the Supreme Leader of the Taliban, issued a decree on Friday stating that the Taliban henceforth bans forced marriages of women. The decree that was just one of the surprisingly progressive announcements made on Friday, was not quite clear on the minimum age for marriage (previously it was 16 years). The decree was issued by the Talib...

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InternationalUncategorized

Barbados Is Officially A Republic: Becomes The Latest Country To Ditch British Monarchy

Vasudha SDecember 3, 20210

Barbados ditches one more vestige of colonial rule. Formally bids adieu to the yoke of British monarchy. The island nation declared itself a republic at the stroke of the midnight hour on 30th November 2021 Prince Charles receives the Order of Freedom of Barbados, from president Sandra Mason. Midnight: Darkness encompasses Savannah... then the Barbados flag emerges.” -The Advocate, Nov 30th 1966. On the 30th of November 1966, the picturesque, Caribbean island nation of Barbados threw off the first shackles of colonial rule, declaring independence at the midnight hour. The words quoted above, taken from the Bajan newspaper ‘The Advocate’ describes the moment when the British Union flag was lowered, and following a minute of darkness, the flag of Barbados was revealed fluttering pr...

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PoliticsUncategorized

Aircel-Maxis Case: Court Summons P. Chidambaram And His Son Karti On December 20

Vasudha SNovember 30, 20210

On Saturday, November 27, a Delhi court took cognisance of charge sheets filed against former union minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in the 2006 Aircel-Maxis case. The father-son duo, along with 18 other persons on the CBI case and 14 other individuals on the ED case have been summoned by the court on December 20. Special Judge M.K. Nagpal noted that there was sufficient evidence to issue the summons to Chidambaram, Karti and other accused in the case.  Delhi court took cognizance of the charge sheets filed by the CBI and the ED. The Ex-finance minister had allegedly granted approval to the deal beyond his capacity and received kickbacks. The Aircel-Maxis case was lodged by the CBI and the ED (Enforcement Directorate) alleging corruption and money-laundering...

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IndiaInternational

Russia, India, China (RIC) Trilateral Calls For “Truly Inclusive ” Govt In Afghanistan

Vasudha SNovember 28, 20210

On November 26 three of the largest and arguably the most important nations of the Eurasian region: India, Russia and China came together for a virtual meeting. The meeting was held under the RIC (Russia-India-China) framework. Friday’s trilateral summit is the 18th meeting of the RIC countries at the level of foreign ministers, and possibly the most important one given the recent geopolitical shifts and complications in the region. India took over the chair of the RIC after the last Moscow trilateral held in September. Hence India’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar chaired this meet. His Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended the meeting. Together, the representatives of the three nations tackled issues such as: recent changes in the ...

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ArticleIndiaLatest NewsPolitics

PM Modi’s Photo In The Hindu Mahasabha Office Taken Down After Repeal Of Farm Laws

Vasudha SNovember 27, 20210

In a 30-sec video clip from the Hindu Mahasabha office, officials are seen taking PM Modi’s photograph from the wall. It was later replaced with Savarkar’s photograph. PM’s photograph was recently taken down from the Hindu Mahasabha office. PM Modi had barely finished his speech declaring the repeal of the controversial farm laws before the internet witnessed a large-scale meltdown from India’s angry and disillusioned right-wing. Many hardcore, longtime loyalists were seen criticising PM Modi for what they perceived to be an unpardonable sign of weakness in someone they considered a strong leader. Ranging from irate, to sad, to downright funny there was an entire range of emotions and outbursts on full and unrestrained display. Somewhere in the midst of all that internet and soc...

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ArticleInternationalLatest News

Xi-BIDEN Virtual Summit: A Quick Look At The Relevance And Takeaways

Vasudha SNovember 18, 20210

Joe Biden and Xi Jinping held a virtual meeting recently. The world watched cautiously as the two clashing behemoths of the international, geopolitical stage discussed ways to scale down mutual mistrust and prevent potential clashes. On Tuesday the Chinese president Xi Jinping met his American counterpart Joe Biden over a virtual meeting. Xi and his group of advisers spoke to Biden who was joined by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and a few more aides. This meeting comes in the midst of rising tensions between the two of the biggest powers in the world right now. Understandably, both countries and possibly everyone else who was following this summit closely had low expectations and high hopes from this meeting.  Joe Biden in the middle of the virtual summit with Chinese Pres...

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ArticleIndiaInternationalPoliticsUncategorized

Should India Be Worried About Pakistan’s New Ambassador To USA?

Vasudha SNovember 12, 20210

Ambassador Masood Khan is a seasoned career diplomat and was previously ‘President’ of POK. Will Khan’s appointment as US Ambassador affect the US stand on the Kashmir issue? The new Ambassador of Pakistan to the USA and Ex ‘President’ of POK Masood Khan. The appointment of the ex ‘president’ of POK as Pakistan’s latest ambassador to the USA should be a matter of concern to at least a few heads in the South Block offices. Masood Khan is not an average ex-politician elevated to a cushy diplomatic posting. This man is a seasoned career-diplomat, with extensive experience of both international diplomacy and internal politics in Pakistan. His appointment has raised some concerns over whether or not he can successfully sway the White House’s stand on the Kashmir issue. Pakistan as we ...

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ArticleIndiaInternationalLatest NewsNewsUncategorized

The Facebook Papers Expose: Greed Of Tech Giants

Vasudha SOctober 27, 20210

What Is Facebook Papers Now?On Monday (October 25) a consortium of American and European news organizations began to put out content that analyzed and exposed thousands of pages of internal company documents of Facebook. The documents were obtained by the former Facebook employee and whistleblower Frances Haugen.  Some of the stories and analyses have been drawn from the redacted versions of disclosures presented to the US Congress in the ongoing proceedings. The said consortium had accessed these redacted documents. Journalists from an array of big and small newsrooms worked together to access and then analyze the documents used for the exposè. A huge tranche of internal documents was obtained by whistleblower Frances Haugen. The series of articles that have been put out since M...

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ArticleFinanceIndiaNewsPoliticsWomen in profession

Light Goes Out On Women First; Let’s Explore Why And How?

Vasudha SOctober 25, 20210

Coal, fuel and electricity are running short and getting dearer in India and the world. It’s a good time to look at our collective crises from a gendered perspective. Picture this: There has been no power for 24 hours now. The days prior to this blackout were no cakewalk either. Hardly 2-4 hours of electricity in a day for several months now. Children’s education cannot be compromised. Husband’s job cannot be compromised. The household’s basic health and hygiene cannot be compromised. The lady of the house now plans all household chores around the few hours of electricity supply. Remember, in the absence of electrical appliances, her work has more than doubled.  Picture this: An international bottle-neck in crude oil supply is driving up cooking fuel prices. At home the gas...

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ArticleForce MajeureIndiaNews

The Two Seasons Of Uttarakhand: Pilgrimage Season And Disaster Season

Vasudha SOctober 25, 20210

Making sense of the incessant spate of disasters in the Himalayan state. Uttarakhand as a naturally disaster prone state made worse by reckless human activities. Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand On good days Uttarakhand is in the news for high-profile visitors thronging the state seeking spiritual rejuvenation. Political faces like PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, and many others have walked up its winding, paved paths leading up to its famed Kedarnath temple.  On bad days, the state is buried under landslides or submerged under floodwaters. On such days, the same high-profile visitors are back in the state on choppers, aerially surveying the extent of the damage. Life in Uttarakhand looks like a seamless dance between profound spiritual existence and climatic tragedies of epic propor...

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