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‘Missing’ Jack Ma makes first public appearance, Chinese state media claims

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‘Missing’ Jack Ma makes first public appearance, Chinese state media claims

Chinese state media Global Times on Wednesday released a video where in Jack Ma makes his first public appearance. As per Global Times’ claims, the Alibaba founder showed up at a rural teacher-themed social welfare event via video.

As per Chinese state media, he attended the Jack Ma Rural Teachers Award ceremony, an annual event launched by the Jack Ma Foundation in 2015. As per the report, Ma addressed 100 rural teachers across China and said he would meet them once the Chinese coronavirus pandemic was over.

Jack Ma mysteriously disappeared soon after criticising Chinese govt

The business tycoon had been mysteriously missing after he made disparaging statements against Communist-ruled China’s government and was reported off the radar by several Chinese run media outlets.

Ma had gone on a tirade against China’s current banking system, the financial regulatory structure of the Communist-ruled country and how it was unsuitable for his fintech giant, Ant group. Ma’s critical remarks for the Communist regime, which demands nothing more than complete and utter obedience, terminated the planned IPO of his fintech giant, Ant Group, on November 3, just two days before it was scheduled to begin trading.

Days after his unflattering opinion of the Chinese authorities, Ma was summoned to a meeting with Communist Party officials. His other venture, Alibaba is also under investigation for monopolistic behaviour, as per a statement released by the Chinese Communist Party’s market supervision arm.

This is Jack Ma’s first ever public appearance since October 2020.

Earlier, reports had emerged that Jack Ma has been ’embracing supervision’ at an unknown location. However, Duncan Clark, the chairman of BDA China, said that he does not believe that Jack Ma was under custody.

Ma’s disappearance from the public sphere is a part of a bigger design by the CCP to exact compliance and loyalty from individuals who hold great sway in shaping public opinion. It is apposite to note that Jack Ma is not the first high-profile man to have disappeared out of a thin air.

Watch: ‘Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa’- the war cry of Indian Army’s Brahmos regiment

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: ‘Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa’- the war cry of Indian Army’s Brahmos regiment

Just a week from now, the sacred chants of ‘Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa’ will reverberate on Raj Path in New Delhi on the occasion of Republic Day parade. The 861 Brahmos regiment, one of India’s most lethal forces, will take part in the celebrations in the national capital, which is gearing up to chant the enthralling prayers to Lord Ayyappa.

The 861 Missile Regiment, a part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army, will display the Brahmos missile during the Republic Day celebrations this year at Raj Path. The war cry of the regiment is ‘Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa’.

Recently, the 861 Missile Regiment and its Brahmos missile systems had participated in the 73rd Indian Army Day, that was observed on January 15, where the sacred chants to Lord Ayyappa were first heard.

Incidentally, the war cry is raised along with Durga Mata ki Jai and Bharat Mata Ki Jai by the regiment. The Brahmos regiment’s war cry is seen as a fitting tribute to Lord Ayyappa as the deity is symbolized to have defeated the evil forces by riding atop a tiger holding a bow and arrow.

The 861 Brahmos Missile Regiment

The 861 Missile Regiment, is one of the three Brahmos regiments currently in the Indian Army. It was first raised as the 863 Light Battery by merging the 121 (Independent) Heavy Mortar Battery (Congo) and a battery of 35 Heavy Mortar Regiment on 20 June 1963. Lieutenant Colonel Sewa Ram was the first Commanding Officer.

The Regiment has provided fire-power to 28 Infantry Brigade of 10 Infantry Division in the Battle of Chamb in the India-Pakistan War of 1971. The Regiment was awarded the battle honours “Laleali” & “Picquet 707”. The Regiment has also taken part in Operation Meghdoot, Operation Vijay and Operation Parakram.

Gujarat Government renames dragon fruit as ‘Kamalam’. Here is why

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat Government renames dragon fruit as ‘Kamalam’. Here is why

On January 19, the Gujarat government announced that they have decided to rename Dragon Fruit to ‘Kamalam.’ Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the word dragon is not suitable for a fruit. Thus, they have decided to change the name. “As the outer shape of the fruit resembles a lotus, hence Dragon Fruit shall be renamed as ‘Kamalam’,” he added.

The state government has sent a petition through Gujarat Forest Department to the Indian Council of Agriculture Research to rename the fruit Kamalam. The state government has applied to patent the name.

Notably, in the last few years, Kutch and Navasari have producing Dragon fruit in large quantities. Over 150 farmers in Gujarat are growing the fruit, and it is being sold across India and abroad.

PM Modi mentioned dragon fruit in Mann Ki Baat

On July 26, 2020, in Mann Ki Baat’s episode, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had talked about the fruit. He said that farmers of Kutch are making commendable efforts in the cultivation of Dragon fruit. “I have been told that the popularity of Dragon Fruits is constantly increasing, especially usage in breakfast has increased considerably. The farmers of Kutch have resolved that the country should not import Dragon Fruit, and this is what self reliance is all about,” he added.

Day before US President elect Joe Biden takes office, Trump administration declares China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims as ‘genocide’

OpIndia Staff
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Day before US President elect Joe Biden takes office, Trump administration declares China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims as ‘genocide’

The Trump administration, in in last few hours of being in power, has declared that China is committing ‘genocide and crimes against humanity’ against the Uyghur community group. Condemning mass repression, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday accused China of imprisoning, torturing and carrying out forced sterilisation against Uyghurs, a Muslim minority group.

US officials, while briefing reporters said that the move came after exhaustive documentation of China’s own policy, practices and abuse in Xinjiang which was viewed by Pompeo. “After careful examination of the available facts, I have determined that the PRC, under the direction and control of the CCP, has committed genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uighurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang,” Pompeo said in a statement.

He further added that he believes the genocide is ongoing and the Chinese party-state is systematically trying to destroy the Uyghurs. “Since at least March 2017, local authorities dramatically escalated their decades-long campaign of repression against Uyghur Muslims and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups, including ethnic Kazakhs and ethnic Kyrgyz,” Pompeo said in the statement.

Earlier, the US Department of State had estimated that up to two million Uyghurs as well as members of other Muslim minority community have been detained across intermittent camps in the region. A report by CNN states that camp detainees face food and sleep deprivation and forced injections. Further, some Uyghur women were forced to use birth control and undergo forced sterilisation as a part of deliberate attempt to bring down population of the minority.

China, however, has denied the atrocities and human rights abuse. It claims that these steps are important to curb religious extremism and terrorism in an area which is home to about 11 million Uyghurs.

‘Will implemented changes to address concerns raised against Tandav, thank Ministry of I&B for guidance,’ says Director Ali Abbas Zafar: Details

OpIndia Staff
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‘Will implemented changes to address concerns raised against Tandav, thank Ministry of I&B for guidance,’ says Director Ali Abbas Zafar: Details

Ali Abbas Zafar, the director of Tandav, has announced that the makers of the controversial web series will implement the changes to address concerns with regards to hurting religious sentiments. The filmmaker also expressed gratitude towards the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for their guidance during the whole controversy.

The makers of Tandav will implement changes, says director Ali Abbas Zafar
The makers of Tandav will implement changes, says director Ali Abbas Zafar

Ali Abbas Zafar said in a statement, “We have utmost respect for the sentiments of the people of our country. We did not intend to hurt or offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead.”

“The cast & crew of Tandav have made the decision to implement changes to the web series to address the concerns raised towards the same. We thank the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the guidance & support in the matter. We once again apologize if the series has unintentionally hurt anybody’s sentiments,” he added.

Ali Abbas Zafar had earlier issued an ‘unconditional apology‘ for hurting religious sentiments after Hindus protested against the derogatory manner in which Hindu gods were portrayed. An FIR was also registered by the Uttar Pradesh police regarding the matter.

Amazon Prime’s India head of original content, Aparna Purohit, producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra and others have been named in the FIR. The Information and Broadcasting ministry had summoned the makers as well over the alleged Hinduphobic content.

It is unclear whether implementing necessary changes will settle the matter as people on social media remain unconvinced of the integrity of the apology.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav tries to cash in on India’s great cricket victory, leaves netizens in splits with his bizarre poll promise: Details

OpIndia Staff
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SP chief Akhilesh Yadav tries to cash in on India’s great cricket victory, leaves netizens in splits with his bizarre poll promise: Details

Hours after the Indian Cricket team registered a historic win at the Gabba International ground in Brisbane and sealed the series 2-1, the Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav posted a rather bizarre tweet congratulating the team and promising to recognise “Tennis Cricket” if it is elected to power.

“Heartfelt congratulations to the Indian cricket team for winning the Test series in Australia. When Samajwadi Party would come to power, we will recognise ‘Tennis Cricket’,” Yadav tweeted.

Akhilesh Yadav’s tweet promising to approve ‘Tennis Cricket’ elicits hilarious reactions from netizens

The absurd promise of authorising ‘Tennis Cricket’ if SP is elected to power had the Twitterverse in splits, with several users posting amusing responses on Akhilesh Yadav’s tweet.

A Twitter user who goes by the handle @theskindoctor13 asked what Tennis Cricket meant. He further asked if Tennis Cricket entails batsmen batting on a cricket ground with Tennis racket or batting on a tennis court with a cricket bat. Taking a dig at Akhilesh Yadav, the user asked him to come on ‘Google Maps’ to respond to his query.

Another popular Twitter user @KyaUkhaadLega shared the picture of Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza on Akhilesh Yadav’s tweet on ‘Tennis Cricket’. It is pertinent to note here that Shoaib Malik is a Pakistani cricketer who had married tennis player Sania Mirza.

Baffled by Akhilesh Yadav’s promise of approving ‘Tennis Cricket’ if his party comes to power, a Twitter user said he thought it’s a parody account but he forgot that Akhilesh himself is a parody of RaGa, presumably Rahul Gandhi.

Another Twitter user shared the pictures of Australian Tennis player Ashleigh Barty practicing her trademark forehand volleys with a cricket bat. The user claimed that after Akhilesh Yadav’s announcement, the number 1 tennis player has started practicing tennis with a cricket bat and would soon fight the upcoming Australian elections on an SP ticket.

Another Twitter user responded to Akhilesh Yadav’s tweet saying, “pehle tonti cricket ko manyata dijiye(First give approval to ‘Tonti Cricket’).”

India’s historic win at Gabba Test match

In a historic feat, a callow Indian side defeated the Australian cricket team in its own bastion at the Gabba cricket stadium in Brisbane.

With an aggressive batting masterclass from Rishabh pant and Washington Sundar, India chased down the mammoth target of 328 runs with 3 wickets remaining. The temperament of the last day was set by Shubman Gill with his crucial 91 runs. It was followed by the resilience and defensive gameplay of Cheteshwar Pujara. While skipper Rahane failed to make it big, a cameo by Washington Sundar and a stellar knock from Pant did the job for India.

Until today, Australia was unbeaten at the Gabba cricket ground since 1988, a record broken by the superlative performance of the Indian team. The last time Australia had lost a match at Brisbane was against West Indies when the latter managed to win the match with 9 wickets.

‘Today Malaysia kept our aeroplane, tomorrow someone will keep the PM over non-payment of loans’: Pakistani lawmaker takes a dig at Imran Khan

OpIndia Staff
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‘Today Malaysia kept our aeroplane, tomorrow someone will keep the PM over non-payment of loans’: Pakistani lawmaker takes a dig at Imran Khan

In a rarest of rare cases in the history of international civil aviation, Malaysian authorities had seized a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing-777 aeroplane at the Kuala Lumpur Airport owing to non-payment of aircraft lease dues.

While the seizure of the PIA plane over non-payment of dues gave the world a sneak peek into the current economic condition of Pakistan, it also gave an opportunity to Imran Khan’s opponents to poke fun at him and his government, which has cautiously led the country into a state of deep financial crisis.

Amidst the entire fiasco, a video has surfaced where a Pakistani lawmaker Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party is heard taking a dig at Pakistan PM Imran Khan. At around 9.20 minutes into the video that has since gone viral, the Pakistani lawmaker is heard asking: “Today Malaysia has halted our aircraft in lieu of loan repayment. Tomorrow if any airport detains the Prime Minister over non-payment of loans…what will happen?”

The opposition leader appears extremely confident as he asserts that the day is not far when the Prime Minister will be detained for non-payment of loans. “Rokenge… agar aap karze wapis nahi kange toh rokenge” (they will stop, if we do not repay loans, they will stop us), claimed Haideri in his speech in the Senate on January 18, 2021.

Calling it a matter of shame and embarrassment, he alleged that the country was taking loans but not repaying them. “If Malaysia…which is an Islamic nation…a country that is our friend… has been forced to take this action, I can confidently say that tomorrow our Prime Minister will also be detained,” he says.

PIA flight detained after Pak fails to repay loans

According to reports, the PIA aircraft was seized on the orders of a local Malaysian court over the non-payment of aircraft lease dues. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had leased two aircraft, including the Boeing-777, from a Vietnamese company in 2015. However, they had failed to pay the dues to the Vietnamese company.

Reportedly, the authorities seized the plane after passengers had already boarded the aircraft. The aircraft’s 18-member staff also become stranded in Kuala Lumpur due to the seizure and will now quarantine for 14 days as per protocols.

Pakistan and its debt trap

Pakistan has been grappling with economic woes and the situation is not likely to change anytime soon. As per reports, following the footsteps of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) might seek repayment of its $3 million debt from the Pakistani government.

Saudi Arabia had asked Pakistan last year to repay its debt of $3 billion, which the Arab country provided as a financial support package to the latter in 2018. Besides the package, Saudi Arabia had also announced a credit facility of $3.2 billion for deferred oil payments. Pakistan, which had attempted to form an alliance with Malaysia and Turkey as ‘alternative Islamic powers’, had drawn the ire of Saudi Arabia.

According to the Pakistani Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Pakistan had taken a loan from China to repay a $3 billion loan taken from Saudi Arabia. A desperate Pakistan did so because had it defaulted the payment, Saudi Arabia would have reduced its financial suppo

Kerala: Police registers 32 cases against 44 men for molesting a 17-year-old girl for over five years

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Police registers 32 cases against 44 men for molesting a 17-year-old girl for over five years

Over the last few years, a 17-year-old girl in the Pandikkad region of Malappuram district in Kerala was abused and raped by 38 men. Police said on Monday that they have registered 32 cases against 44 men, and most of them have been arrested. The cases registered by the police include three rape cases with the abuse that went on for months.

PP Shams, Deputy Superintendent of Police, said she was assaulted in 2016 and again in 2017. This was the third time she has faced sexual abuse. He said, “The victim had given 164 statements before the magistrate that she was sexually abused for the third time. She was sexually abused in 2016 and 2017 since she was 13 years old. After the incident, she was at Nirbhaya shelter home. Later, she was sent to her relatives where she faced sexual assault the third time.”

He further added that there are 44 suspects. Out of 32 cases, seven are grave. The suspects in the grave crimes have been arrested. In the remaining cases, the suspects are yet to be arrested.

Several cases pending in different district courts

According to reports, she lived in a small colony in the Pandikkad region of Malappuram district, Kerala. In 2015, her mother filed a complaint that her girl went missing. At that time, the family said that her girl went away with her friend. She was traced and handed back to the family. At that time, two POSCO cases were registered. Later in 2017, the family again filed a complaint. In all the cases registered so far, sections of the POSCO act were imposed, and trials under various courts in the district are pending.

In December 2019, her family again registered a complaint that she went missing after having gone with a friend on a motorcycle. As she was a minor, the police traced her and produced her before the magistrate to record her statement.

The girl made shocking revelations in which she mentioned 15 incidents, including two sexual assaults. She was sent to a rescue home, and another statement was recorded by the court. In the new statement, she mentioned another 12 molestation incidents and a rape case.

Based on her statements, the Kerala police registered a total of 32 cases, including three rapes. The remaining cases were registered on molestation charges. Out of 44 men named in the cases, the police have already arrested 20 men. The police are working on arresting the remaining 24. As per reports, the mother of the girl works as a daily wager, and when she leaves the house, the girl would be alone. At that time, she faced sexual assault and molestation by neighbours and other men in the locality.

CWC is monitoring the investigation in Kerala

Shajesh Basker, a member of the Child Welfare Committee, said, “Many people from a particular area were involved in this case. We suspect any personal revenge or vested interests were behind it. Now the child is in our protection. No one can influence or threaten her.” He added that Further proceedings would be completely in accordance with the law, and the CWC is monitoring police investigation as well.

Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath govt takes back Azam Khan’s Jauhar University land

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath govt takes back Azam Khan’s Jauhar University land

In a fresh blow to Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has taken over the land belonging to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, run by a Trust headed by Azam Khan. According to reports, Jauhar University’s land will now be registered in the name of the state government in the revenue records.

The order to acquire the land was passed by Rampur ADM (Administration) Jagdamba Prasad Gupta after the Court on January 16th ruled that the land needed to be returned to the government since the Jauhar Ali trust did not fulfil the conditions set by the state government during the sale of the land to the Jauhar University in 2005.

“When a person or organization has to buy more than 12.5 acres of land, then permission has to be sought from the state government. The state government had set some conditions at the time of the sale of this particular land. One of the conditions set by the state government was that the land would be used for charitable work. The court found that it was not being done. Other conditions included that no purchase will be done from people who belong to SC and ST categories and that gram samaj land will not be taken over. The UP Revenue Act rules were also being violated by the Trust. The land will now be registered in the name of the government in revenue records,” Tiwari said.

Rampur administration proposes to bring Azam Khan’s Jauhar University under State Govt control

In March last year, Rampur Administration had proposed that UP government should take over the control of Rampur based Mohammad Ali Jauhar University after it was reported that the half of the land the University is grabbing belongs to the State Government.

Muhammad Ali Jauhar University was established in 2006 and registered under section 2(F) of the University Grants Act, 1956. Jauhar University is located in Rampur city of Uttar Pradesh.

As per the Additional District Magistrate, a nine-member committee produced a report that states that out of 78 hectares, 36 hectare land of Jauhar University is owned by the state. The report asserts that more than 88 Crore in the total 163 Crore used to run the university was sanctioned as part of state funds.

Notably, Azam Khan is the founder and lifetime chancellor of Maulana Jauhar Ali University. Khan’s wife Tanzeen Fatma, his two sons are members of the Trust. Azam’s elder sister is the Trust’s treasurer.

As per Additional district government counsel (ADGC-civil) Ajay Tiwari, the court had issued notices to Khan, but the SP leader had refused to accept the notices.

Several land grabbing cases registered against SP leader Azam Khan

Around 80 cases have been filed against Azam Khan, many of which are regarding land encroachment by Jauhar University. The family of Azam Khan surrendered in court on 26 February in connection with multiple cases of land grabbing and theft against them.

A large number of farmers had filed cases against him accusing him of grabbing their land for the university. It was alleged that Azam Khan had got the farmers abducted that they had refused to sell land to him, and registered their land in the name of the university without any payment, with the help of local officials.

Woman accused of stealing Nancy Pelosi’s laptop during Capitol Hill Riots arrested, suspected of trying to sell it to Russians: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Woman accused of stealing Nancy Pelosi’s laptop during Capitol Hill Riots arrested, suspected of trying to sell it to Russians: Details

The woman believed to be responsible for stealing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s laptop during the storming of Capitol Hill on the 6th of January has been arrested. The woman, identified as one Riley June Williams, was arrested on Monday from the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Riley June Williams has been charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Hill grounds.

The FBI said in a court filing on Sunday that they were informed by a witness claiming to be her former ‘romantic partner’ that Williams “intended to send the computer device to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell the device to SVR, Russia’s foreign intelligence service.”

An affidavit filed by an FBI agent noted, “[The witness] also claimed to have spoken to friends of Williams, who showed [the witness] a video of Williams taking a laptop computer or hard drive from Speaker Pelosi’s office. [The witness] stated that Williams intended to send the computer device to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell the device to SVR, Russia’s foreign intelligence service.”

However, the transfer does not appear to have taken place and Riley June Williams still has the laptop or has destroyed it. It is alleged that she can be seen multiple times in a video that was posted to YouTube. Law enforcement officials showed the video to her mother who positively identified her. Her mother told the Harrisburg Police that she had developed a sudden interest in ‘far right message boards’.

Apart from Nancy Pelosi’s laptop, multiple other documents and electronics were stolen by protesters as well, raising national security concerns. The protesters had managed to breach premises and enter Pelosi’s office during the storming of Capitol Hill. Numerous arrests have been made in connection to the incident.

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