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Days after discovery of Cocaine in the White House, Donald Trump says President Biden uses it before making his speeches

OpIndia Staff
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Days after discovery of Cocaine in the White House, Donald Trump says President Biden uses it before making his speeches

On 12th July (local time), former President Donald Trump opined that the cocaine found in the White House was for both President Joe Biden and Hunter Biden.

Former US president Donald Trump claimed that an unnamed “they” are using cocaine to “pump” Joe Biden up for speeches after a small amount of cocaine was found during a routine security check at the White House by the secret service. Pushing the theory that the drug was for the current President or his son Hunter Biden, a recovering cocaine addict, Donald Trump said that Joe Biden is “a president that’s on cocaine”.

Speaking to Wayne Allyn Root of Real America’s Voice, the former President said, “In my opinion, it’s Hunter and probably Joe! Because you know you see at the beginning of the speech, he has little light. Not much. But he got little light. By the end of the speech, a disaster. He can’t even find his way off the stage. So there’s something going on there, and I would not be surprised if it’s both of them. It is just my opinion.”

Donald Trump continued and said, “I think they pump him up, absolutely. And we can’t have a president that’s on cocaine when you’re dealing with nuclear weapons and everything else.” Insinuating that the US is in a dangerous situation in Biden’s hands, Trump said people in his position should be at the top of their game, which Biden was at the peak of his career.

The cocaine found in the White House could be just the tip of the iceberg, according to the former President. Reports suggest that the Secret Service is still investigating the incident, and there have been no reports if Bidens had any connection to the contraband found in the White House. When the drugs were found, both Joe Biden and Hunter Biden were away on a trip to Camp David.

ISRO scientists visit Tirupati Venkatachalapathi temple ahead of Chandrayaan-3 launch with its miniature model, perform puja and pray for a successful mission

OpIndia Staff
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ISRO scientists visit Tirupati Venkatachalapathi temple ahead of Chandrayaan-3 launch with its miniature model, perform puja and pray for a successful mission

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is going to launch Chandrayaan-3 on 14th July 2023. A team of ISRO scientists took a miniature model of Chandrayaan-3 to Tirupati Venkatachalapathi temple on 13th July 2023 to pray for the successful launch.

ISRO scientists offer prayers at Tirupati Venkatachalapathi Temple in Andhra Pradesh, a regular affair before every major launch. ISRO is going to launch India’s 3rd lunar mission on 14th July 2023 at 2:35 pm from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

On Tuesday, 11th July 2023, ISRO successfully rehearsed for landing Chandrayaan-3 on the moon. In a tweet, ISRO said that the 24-hour rehearsal of the entire preparation and process of the launch was successfully completed in dummy form. The focus of Chandrayaan-3 is on landing safely on the lunar surface. Earlier, ISRO had launched two missions – Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2, but both of them could not land on the surface.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is the next phase of Chandrayaan-2, which will land on the lunar surface and conduct tests. It will have a propulsion module, a lander and a rover. The focus of Chandrayaan-3 is on landing safely on the lunar surface. New equipment has been created for the success of the mission. The algorithm has been improved. The focus has been on the reasons why the Chandrayaan-2 mission could not land on the lunar surface.

The mission will take off from the Sriharikota facility at 2:35 pm on 14th July 2023 and land on the moon on August 23 or 24 if everything goes according to plan. Earlier on Wednesday, an encapsulated assembly containing Chandrayaan-3 was attached with LVM3 at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota. The successful completion of this mission will make India the fourth country in the world to make a soft landing on the moon after USA, Russia and China.

Liberals mock temple visit by ISRO scientists

As soon as the news of ISRO scientists visiting Tirupati Venkatachalapathi Temple ahead of the Chandrayaan – 3 launch spread, liberals started to mock the activity. Bhavika Kapoor tweeted, “What if Chandrayaan 3 launch doesn’t work? Does God fail? Non-scientific temperament promotion. Idiocy.”

Adolanjeevi posted, “They are praying that Panauti doesnt come over again to take credit for the launch.”

IRS officer Dr. Kiran Kumar Karlapu, however, took to Twitter to provide lesser-known information about the tradition of visiting temples before a mission launch. He posted, “This has been a tradition for decades. A visit to the Tirumala Venkateswara temple along with prayers at the Chengalamma temple in Sullurpeta is a must for the ISRO scientists before any launch. Chengalamma is considered the Kshetrapalika (protector of the local lands) for Sriharikota.”

The launch of Chandrayaan 3 has come four years after the partial failure of the Chandrayaan-2, whose lander Vikram and rover Pragyaan crashed on the Moon’s surface in the early hours of September 7, 2019.

Journalist Sheela Bhatt affirms PM Modi’s MA degree, says ‘he was very focused on studies, shared mentor with him in 1981’

OpIndia Staff
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Journalist Sheela Bhatt affirms PM Modi’s MA degree, says ‘he was very focused on studies, shared mentor with him in 1981’

While the leftist liberal cabal and a few political parties continue to peddle the claim that the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an ‘illiterate person who cannot run a country’, veteran journalist Sheela Bhatt revealed that Modi completed his post-graduation in the year 1981-82 and that he was a very focused student.

On Wednesday, July 12, Sheela Bhatt who was invited to the ANI podcast by Smita Prakash stated that PM Modi was a hardworking and focused disciple of her mentor named Prof Pravin Sheth. “Modi was studying MA part 2 and was a studious disciple of Prof Sheth who was also my mentor. I also know a classmate of his who is a lawyer now. When Congress and AAP began claiming that Modi is illiterate, I had asked her to speak up but she chose to keep mum,” Bhatt said.

This is months after the Aam Aadmi Party launched a campaign ‘Modi hatao Desh bachao’ ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and claimed that India needed and “educated” Prime Minister and not someone ‘illiterate like PM Modi. “He (PM Modi) says he is illiterate. India needs an educated person, to make policies, to stop hatred,” AAP media coordination committee chairman Nawab Nasir Aman had said.

Here is the entire discussion of Sheela Bhatt with Smita Prakash.

Earlier, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had also raised the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree. He had said that since the prime minister of India was ‘not sufficiently educated’, he had an inherent weakness in understanding the nuances of policy formulations and that is why the country was suffering.

The AAP chief had also termed the degree certificates of PM Modi as ‘fake’. Kejriwal then said that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had published the forged BA degree of PM Modi and that the Delhi University had no records of the Political Science course which was pursued by Narendra Modi in 1978.

BA Degree certificate of PM Modi

Later the Congress had also joined the degree controversy and had targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue of his educational qualification saying his government was a ‘habitual offender’ on the matter. The Congress had said that the BJP was misleading the people over the educational qualifications of PM Modi.

As per the degree certificates made public by the BJP in the year 2016, PM Modi completed his graduation in Political science in the year 1978-79 from Delhi University and he finished his post-graduation degree in the year 1981-82 from Gujarat University. the BJP then also said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had lowered the level of public discourse by spreading lies and committing the sin of defaming the country.

MA degree certificate of PM Modi

On July 12, veteran journalist Sheela Bhatt stated her mentor Prof Pravin Sheth and his wife considered her as their daughter, and she used to frequent their residence. She added that Prof Seth was also the mentor of PM Modi and she had seen him several times. “He used to study a lot and was very studious. I know this because we shared mentors. I also know one of his classmates who is a lawyer today,” Bhatt said.

Sheela Bhatt has been in the profession of journalism for around 44 years. She has been working since the year 1979 and has worked with several news outlets to date including the Indian Express and Dainik Bhasker. At present, she writes columns at the Gulf News and the Print.

Yamuna flows at a record high level in Delhi, water spills onto the streets of the capital, reaches ITO

OpIndia Staff
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Yamuna flows at a record high level in Delhi, water spills onto the streets of the capital, reaches ITO

On 13th July, the Yamuna River in Delhi crossed the 208 mark and swelled to 208.46 metres at around 7 AM. The highest flood level of Yamuna was recorded on Wednesday at around 1 PM on 12th July at 208.08 metres. Forty-five years ago, Yamuna touched the 207.49 metres mark, and since then, it never reached such heights. As per reports, the rising level of water in Yamuna has resulted in waterlogging in low-lying areas at the ITO and Kashmiri Gate.

ITO is the key route for those who travel from east Delhi to central Delhi and Connaught Place. Other areas that are facing similar issues include Civil Lines, Chandgiram Akhada and Nigam Bodh Ghat. The traffic movement in these areas has been severely impacted, and the Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory to commuters to plan their journey in advance.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged the people of Delhi to avoid roads around Yamuna owing to the swelling water levels.

The government has shut down both private and government schools in the national capital to ensure the safety of the students.

The roads that have been hit by overflowing Yamuna water include Mahatma Gandhi Marg between the IP flyover and Chandgi Ram Akhara, Mahatma Gandhi Marg between the Kalighat Mandir and Chandgi Ram Akhara, and Outer Ring Road between Wazirabad Bridge and Chandgi Ram Akhara. Traffic movement at Bhairon Road near Pragati Maidan has also been closed due to overflowing drain water near the railway underbridge.

Meanwhile, Delhi Traffic Police has restricted the entry of non-destined commercial vehicles in the city and diverted them to the eastern and northern Peripheral Expressways. Commercial vehicles that are supposed to travel from Mukarba Chowk, Sarai Kale Khan and Ghazipur border have also been diverted.

Commercial vehicles from Akshardham have been diverted towards DND. No commercial vehicles will be allowed between Mukarba Chowk and Wazirabad Bridge, Sarai Kale Khan and IP flyover, Akshardham and Sarai Kale Khan.

Kejriwal blamed Haryana for the flood-like situation in Delhi

Just two days after urging political parties not to play the blame game as North India is facing a flood-like situation, CM Kejriwal wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging him to intervene as Yamuna water rose to near a dangerous level. In his letter, he blamed the Haryana government for the rising water in Yamuna. He wrote, “The water level of Yamuna is not rising because of rains in Delhi, but it is increasing as Haryana is releasing water from Hathnikund Bariraj. I humbly request that you issue directions to release water from Hathnikund in a limited manner so that the water level in Delhi does not increase further.”

Earlier, Delhi Jal Board chairman and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj accused Delhi LG of taking credit for desilting the drains and claimed now LG was giving lack of desilting as the reason for waterlogging in Delhi. Notably, Delhi received over 150mm of rain in less than 48 hours, resulting in waterlogging across the city.

Modi in France: Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Paris, here are the scheduled events of the 2-day visit

Shraddha Pandey
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Modi in France: Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Paris, here are the scheduled events of the 2-day visit

On Thursday, July 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a two-day visit to France at the invitation of President Emanuel Macron. 

This visit is of special significance since Prime Minister Modi is the guest of honour at the prestigious “Bastille Day Parade,” which is scheduled for July 14. Every year in Paris, the Bastille Day Parade is a massive military display commemorating the historic French Revolution. It honours France’s national pride while showcasing the country’s military prowess.

An Indian tri-services contingent will take part in this year’s event in order to reinforce its significance, representing the strengthening of ties and shared ideals between India and France. India’s participation in the Bastille Day Parade, as an ascending global power, emphasises its broadening influence on the international scene and reflects the strengthening ties between the two democracies.

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, PM Modi talked about his visit to France as he looked forward to productive discussions with the French President and interaction with the Indian diaspora and prominent CEOs. 

“Leaving for Paris, where I will take part in the Bastille Day celebrations. I look forward to productive discussions with President @EmmanuelMacron and other French dignitaries. Other programs include interacting with the Indian community and top CEOs,” PM Modi tweeted.

PM Modi referred to his UAE visit and said, “On the 15th, I will be in UAE for an official visit. I shall be holding talks with HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. I am confident our interactions will add strength to India-UAE friendship and benefit the people of our countries.”

25 years of India-France partnership

As this year marks the 25th anniversary of the India-France partnership PM Modi in his departure statement outlined the close cooperation between the two countries across various sectors including defense, space, civil nuclear, blue economy, trade, investment, education, culture, and people-to-people ties.

Thursday at noon, PM Modi will arrive in Paris and have his first meeting with French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, followed by a meeting with Gérard Larcher, President of the French Senate. On Thursday evening, he is going to engage in an interaction with members of the Indian community, which will be followed by a private dinner that the French President will host at the Elysee Palace.

India and France to take a leap in defense cooperation with the signing of Rafale Marine deal

The signing of deals totaling more than 90,000 crore, which includes the purchase of 26 Rafale M aircraft (22 single-seat versions and four double-seat trainer versions), as well as three Scorpene submarines, is one of the major highlights. These will serve to boost the Indian armed forces’ defense capabilities. 

As a short-term solution, the Indian Navy has been looking into options to replace its aging MiG-29K. As a long-term solution to its need for carrier-based fighters, India continues to be working on developing its own Twin-Engine Deck-Based fighters (TEDBF). However, because it will be some time before the aircraft is developed in-house, the Navy is reportedly opting to move ahead with the acquisition to meet its aviation requirements.

Deepening cooperation in manufacturing, digital economy and clean energy

Although strategic cooperation has taken the center stage of discussion around PM Modi’s France visit, the two countries are also expected to extend cooperation in the arena of the digital economy, clean energy, and the manufacturing sector. 

On July 14, 10–12 business executives from each side are scheduled to meet at the Quai d’Orsay, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for the India–France CEOs Forum. Paul Hermelin, Chairman of information technology giant Capgemini SE, will lead the French side while Hari Bhartia, Co-Chairman of the Jubilant Bhartia Group, will co-chair the Indian side. The French government has also designated Hermilin as the administrator for business and trade with India. Around 200,000 people work for Capgemini in India, and a 6G lab will soon be developed there. 

It is interesting to note that with an overall Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) contribution of $10,389 million from April 2000 to September 2022, France ranks as the 11th largest foreign investor in India, underscoring the strong economic ties between the two nations.

If things go right, the prospective launch of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)—a digital payment technology, by PM Modi in France would be a breakthrough in the arena of digital economy.

PM Modi’s visit is also likely to focus on clean energy. Small modular reactors, batteries, and green hydrogen will be the main topics of discussion. In this context, the two parties have advanced technical discussions on the 8000-page techno-commercial offer made by France in 2019 and made significant progress on the 1650×6 MW Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project. 

During a media briefing on Wednesday (July 12), Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, “The techno-commercial arrangements of the Jaitapur cooperation project and also the engineering elements of those need to converge together for the concretization of cooperation to materialize. Now this is something on which both sides, the EDF and the relevant French authorities on their side and the Department of Atomic Energy and other agencies on our side, are very intensely engaged with each other to address all elements relating to progress in the Jaitapur project.”

The two countries will also talk about how they can work together on civil nuclear issues, space, cyber security technology, counterterrorism, climate change, renewable energy, and the global solar alliance.

The state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France will have a significant impact on the development of bilateral ties, defence capabilities, economic cooperation, and strategic ties between India, France, and the European Union. His French visit also demonstrates India’s determination to fend off China’s expanding influence. 

Six more lives lost in West Bengal panchayat poll violence as death toll reaches 48

OpIndia Staff
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Six more lives lost in West Bengal panchayat poll violence as death toll reaches 48

On 12th July 2023, fresh incidents of violence were reported in West Bengal, resulting in six more casualties, bringing the total death toll to 48 since the announcement of the rural panchayat elections on June 8. The violence, thanks to clashes between political party supporters, has raised concerns about the state’s security situation.

Three individuals, including two Indian Secular Front (ISF) supporters, were allegedly killed in police firing outside a counting centre in Bhangar, South 24 Parganas district. The victims were identified as Rezaul Gazi (23), Hasan Mollah (27), and Raju Mollah (25). While the relatives and residents accused the police of firing the shots, the police authorities declined to comment until an investigation is conducted.

According to police sources, the violence erupted when Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters reportedly attempted to coerce ISF candidate Jahanara Bibi into admitting defeat, despite the official results not yet being declared. This led to clashes, with ISF supporters gathering outside the counting centre and allegedly hurling crude bombs. The police allegedly responded with gunfire, resulting in casualties.

In separate incidents, a TMC supporter named Tariqul Sheikh was killed when miscreants threw a bomb at a victory rally in the Khempur panchayat area of Chanchal block in Malda district. Additionally, a TMC worker named Biplab Halder was allegedly killed in Raidighi, South 24 Parganas. Furthermore, a Congress worker named Rajesh Shekhar (28), who was injured during polling on 8th July, succumbed to his injuries in a Kolkata hospital.

Amidst the escalating violence, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that 19 people, primarily from the TMC, had died in poll-related violence since the announcement of the elections. Banerjee assured that the police would be given a free hand to act against those responsible for the violence. She also announced compensation for the families of the deceased.

The TMC has emerged as the clear winner in the panchayat elections, securing over half the seats while BJP finished second in the election that was marred by large-scale violence.

A four-member BJP team led by former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad visited violence-affected areas in West Bengal on Wednesday, 12th July 2023, and planned to submit a report to party president JP Nadda.

The incidents of violence during the panchayat polls have raised concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in West Bengal. The Calcutta High Court has already ordered the retention of central forces in the state for at least 10 days after the announcement of poll results to prevent post-poll clashes. Over 800 companies of central forces have been deployed in the state to maintain peace and security.

BBC’s Huw Edwards named by his wife as the presenter who paid a young person for sexually explicit images

OpIndia Staff
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BBC’s Huw Edwards named by his wife as the presenter who paid a young person for sexually explicit images

On 12th July, Vicky Flind, wife of one of the United Kingdom’s leading news anchors Huw Edwards, named him the BBC presenter accused of paying a vulnerable young person in exchange for sexually explicit images. Edwards, who is one of the network’s highest-earning anchors, was suspended by BBC pending an investigation.

A household name, Edwards was given the responsibility for some of the biggest stories of the UK, including the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, elections, the 2012 Summer Olympics and more.

In a statement, Flind said Edwards was getting treatment at the hospital for his “serious mental health issues”. The statement was given on his behalf “primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children”.

Flind said that her husband was suffering from serious mental health issues and pointed out that it was well-documented he had severe depression. There were no details on the allegations against Edwards in the statement. She “hoped” that the statement would end the speculations being raised in the media about other BBC presenters.

Huw Edwards’s wife’s statement

The statement published by the BBC read, “In light of the recent reporting regarding the ‘BBC Presenter,’ I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family. I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.

Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years. The last few days’ events have greatly worsened matters; he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care, where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future.“

In her statement, she mentioned that Edwards was first informed about the allegations on 6th July (local time). She appealed for privacy on behalf of her family.

BBC published her statement soon after London’s Metropolitan Police said they did not find any indication of a criminal offence committed by the presenter.

BBC noted that the detectives from Met’s Specialist Crime Command concluded the assessment and determined no criminal offence was committed. Met said, “In reaching this decision, they have spoken to a number of parties, including the BBC and the alleged complainant and the alleged complainant’s family, both via another police force. Detectives are aware of media reporting of further allegations against the same individual but have received no specific details or information about these allegations… and therefore, there is no police action at this time.”

BBC has resumed its investigation into the matter. A spokesperson said, “We will now move forward with that work, ensuring due process and a thorough assessment of the facts whilst continuing to be mindful of our duty of care to all involved.” BBC director general Tim Davie said the incident “remains a very complex set of circumstances”. Speaking on the statement of the family, he said it “is a reminder that the last few days have seen personal lives played out in public.” He added, “This will no doubt be a difficult time for many after a challenging few days. I want to reassure you that our immediate concern is our duty of care to all involved.”

The case so far

On 8th July, The Sun published the shocking story of an unnamed BBC presenter who allegedly paid a teen 35,000 Pounds over a period of three years for sexually explicit images. The publication cited the victim’s mother’s version while publishing the story against the BBC presenter.

On 10th July, it was reported that the TV representative, who was identified as a male staffer of BBC, called the young person and asked, “What have you done?” in panic. The BBC presenter called the young man twice after the allegations were published in the publication. The report adds that the BBC ‘star’ asked the victim to drop their complaint or stop the ongoing investigation.

BBC confirmed the reports that it had known about the complaint way back in May this year. However, the state-run British Broadcaster claimed that the new allegations were of a “different nature”. It added that it had suspended the male staffer accused of these wrongdoings.

The lawyer of the young person whose mother accused a well-known BBC presenter of paying her child in exchange for money said there was nothing wrong in paying the teen for his sexually explicit images, a report in the BBC said. He further claimed that the mother and the young person are estranged.

While the young person who received money for sexually explicit images denied the claims made by the mother and the stepfather, the parents rubbished them. They said they wanted the BBC presenter to stop sending him money. The young person’s mother accused the BBC presenter of pushing the young person, who was only 17 when it started, towards drugs.

Censor Board sends Akshay Kumar’s ‘Oh My God 2’ for review to avoid Adipurush-like backlash

OpIndia Staff
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Censor Board sends Akshay Kumar’s ‘Oh My God 2’ for review to avoid Adipurush-like backlash

On the 12th of July, 2023, the upcoming Hindi film ‘Oh My God 2’ (OMG 2), starring Akshay Kumar and Yami Gautam, underwent a screening in front of the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) Examining Committee. Following the initial screening, the film was recommended for further review by the Review Committee, a standard practice within the Censor Board. This move comes as a precautionary measure to avoid potential controversies and backlash similar to what the film ‘Adipurush’ faced recently.

An official from the Censor Board clarified that the Board does not possess the authority to ban a film outright but can choose not to issue a certificate if objections arise. In such cases, it becomes the responsibility of the filmmakers to make the necessary changes to address these concerns.

During the certification process, a film is viewed by at least seven censor members, including the Regional Officer, comprising three men and four women. The initial viewing is conducted by the Examining Committee, and then the screening is held in front of the Review Committee.

The makers of ‘Oh My God 2’ recently released the film’s teaser, generating mixed reactions from the audience. The teaser showcases Akshay Kumar in the role of Lord Shiva and Pankaj Tripathi as an ardent devotee of Shiva. The narrative seems to revolve around the relationship between God and mankind, reminiscent of its predecessor Oh My God. While some individuals on social media praised the teaser, others objected to depicting anointing scenes involving Lord Shiva, claiming that their sentiments were hurt.

After the decision to send ‘Oh My God 2’ to the review committee, Viacom India, the production company behind the film, remained tight-lipped and refrained from providing any details on the matter. Similarly, other stakeholders involved in the movie have also refrained from commenting.

It is worth noting that the film ‘Adipurush,’ directed by Om Raut, faced significant criticism due to its dialogues and poor visual effects (VFX) quality. As a result, the filmmakers released a revised version by altering some of the dialogue. Manoj Muntashir, the dialogue writer for ‘Adipurush,’ issued an apology on social media following the backlash.

The specific scenes or dialogues in ‘Oh My God 2’ that raised concerns for the Censor Board are yet to be disclosed. Once the film undergoes review by the committee, the Censor Board will decide on its certification.

‘Oh My God 2,’ directed by Amit Rai, features Akshay Kumar in the role of Lord Shiva and includes notable actors such as Yami Gautam, Pankaj Tripathi, and Arun Govil, known for his portrayal of Lord Rama in the television series ‘Ramayan.’ The film is scheduled to release in theatres on August 11. As of now, it remains unclear how the Censor Board’s review will impact the film’s content and eventual release.

Spanish Minister Teresa Ribera criticised for hypocritical behaviour at Climate Summit, rides a bicycle to venue after travelling by private jet and cars

OpIndia Staff
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Spanish Minister Teresa Ribera criticised for hypocritical behaviour at Climate Summit, rides a bicycle to venue after travelling by private jet and cars

Spanish Minister Teresa Ribera, who holds the significant portfolios of Minister of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge as well as Deputy PM, faced severe backlash after allegedly engaging in a hypocritical act during the European Union’s Climate Summit on July 11, 2023. A video capturing the minister riding a bike to the summit went viral on Twitter, initially seeming like a commendable eco-friendly gesture. However, subsequent revelations disclosed that Ribera had actually travelled to the event via a private jet.

Netizens swiftly expressed their displeasure at what they deemed to be a calculated public relations stunt. It was discovered that the minister had arrived at the summit venue in chauffeured cars but made a calculated decision to disembark approximately 100 meters before reaching the entrance and continued the rest of the way on a bicycle. This staged action was perceived as an attempt to deceive the public and project a false image of commitment to environmental sustainability.

Moreover, during the bicycle ride, she was escorted by two armoured cars.

The backlash against Ribera was further intensified due to the nature of her ministerial responsibilities. As the Minister of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, she is tasked with overseeing Spain’s ecological policies and addressing the pressing issue of climate change. Therefore, her alleged hypocritical behaviour drew even more ire from critics.

Environmental organisations and activists have been quick to point out the stark contrast between Ribera’s outward display of environmental consciousness and the environmental impact of private jet travel. According to Transport and Environment, a prominent European clean-transport group, individuals flying on private planes emit 10 to 20 times more carbon pollution than commercial airline passengers. This revelation has only served to fuel the public’s dissatisfaction and amplify the accusations of hypocrisy against the minister.

A Twitter user Froilan I De Espana wrote, “Teresa Ribera’s thing about making you arrive by bicycle at a climate summit, travelling barely a hundred meters, escorted by two armoured gasoline cars is another of the images that perfectly define this government.”

Andrew Bridgen wrote, “She arrived by private jet with a four-car cavalcade and did the last few metres to the climate summit on a bike. She is the Spanish environment minister. Net zero, It will be enforced environmental measures reducing your freedom, standard of living and ability to travel but not for them.”

As the news spreads, the spotlight on Minister Teresa Ribera’s alleged hypocrisy continues to grow. The public demands answers and accountability from a government official entrusted with spearheading ecological and climate-related initiatives.

Climate Hypocracy of the Western Politicians

Western world politicians have faced criticism for maintaining double standards when it comes to climate change and environmental issues. While they often sermonize countries from Africa and Asia, particularly the Indian subcontinent, about the imperative of limiting fossil fuel usage to protect the environment, they themselves appear to be exempt from adhering to the same code of conduct. This perceived hypocrisy has led to frustration and scepticism among observers who question the sincerity of these Western politicians’ commitments to tackling climate change. Such inconsistencies in their behaviour not only undermine their credibility but also hinder global efforts towards achieving a sustainable and equitable future for all. The need for Western – especially European politicians – to lead by example and align their actions with their words has become increasingly vital in fostering international cooperation and addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change.

North Korea fires 12th long-range ballistic missile amid NATO summit attended by South Korea and Japan, had warned of shooting down alleged US surveillance flights

OpIndia Staff
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North Korea fires 12th long-range ballistic missile amid NATO summit attended by South Korea and Japan, had warned of shooting down alleged US surveillance flights

North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)  off the east coast on Wednesday. The development was reported by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Japanese military. This is the 12th such launch by the country this year and comes ahead of South Korea and Japan’s meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Lithuania.

The missile launch comes two days after North Korea accused the US of violating its airspace by conducting surveillance flights and warned that it will shoot down such flights.

Japanese media reportedly said the missile appeared to have landed a little later in the morning and flew for 74 minutes at an altitude of 6,000km and a range of 1,000 km. This could be the longest-ever flight time for a North Korean missile. It landed about 250 km west of northern Japan’s Okushiri island.

According to analysts, it could have been a second test of the solid-fuel Hwasong-18 ICBM.

The USA, South Korea and Japan condemned the development. Incidentally, the missile was launched just after a rare trilateral meeting of top military generals of the United States, Japan and South Korea in Hawaii.

White House said it would take all necessary measures to ensure its security and also the security of South Korea and Japan from such threats. “The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge said in a statement.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency national security council meeting and vowed to use the summit to call for strong international solidarity to confront such threats. He is in Lithuania for the NATO summit. He said, “We cannot condone these provocations, and we must respond to North Korea’s reckless actions through strong responses and solidarity of the international community.”

Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held separate talks on the sidelines of the NATO summit and strongly condemned the launch as a grave violation of multiple U.N. resolutions and a serious provocation that escalates tension. The Japanese PM said the missile launch by Kim Jong administration threatened peace and stability in the region and beyond, and required closer cooperation between the two neighbours and with the United States.

North Korean ruler Kim Jong UN’s sister Kim Yo Jong said the country will respond to threats of military activity in its economic zone again.

According to state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Yo Jong said, “In case of repeated illegal intrusion, the US forces will experience a very critical flight.” The country also reportedly condemned Washington’s plan to deploy a nuclear missile submarine near the Korean peninsula.

“There is no guarantee that such a shocking accident as the downing of the U.S. Air Force strategic reconnaissance plane will not happen in the East Sea of Korea,” KCNA quoted a state spokesperson.

The missile launch is one of many recent military drills being conducted by North Korea in a show of strength to the US and the Republic of Korea. On 15th June, North Korea test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast amid the 5th round of US and South Korea joint military exercises near the Korean border.

On 13th April, an alert was issued in Japan following a missile launch by North Korea. “Evacuate immediately” messages echoed and sirens echoed across Hokkaido. However, the missile did not land near the island and the alert was withdrawn.

So far, more than 25 missiles have been fired by the country. North Korea test-fired its first-ever solid-fuel ICBM in April this year. Although most of the North Korean missiles have landed in the sea around Japan, analysts believe the country possesses missiles that can reach the USA. It is also believed that the country has developed nuclear warheads that can fit on its missiles.

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