At 25 years old, Ayesha Aziz from Kashmir became the country’s youngest female passenger pilot. Coming from a region that has seen nothing but dispute, she stands as an inspiration not only to Kashmiri women but to women as a whole. Ayesha was also the youngest student pilot to get the student’s pilot license at 15 years of age.
Ayesha graduated from the Bombay Flying Club in 2017 and got her pilot’s license for flying commercial planes. She then underwent training at Russia’s Sokol Base trained to fly an MIG-29 jet the following year.
In an interview with news agency ANI, Aziz said she believed that Kashmiri Women are doing very well and have progressed in the field of education in the last few years. “Every other woman in Kashmir is doing her Masters or her doctorate. People of the Valley are doing great,” she said.
“I chose this field because I have loved travelling from a very young age and was very fascinated by flying. One gets to meet so many people. This is why I wanted to be a pilot. It is quite challenging because this is not like a normal 9-5 desk job. There is no fixed pattern and I have to constantly be ready to face new places, different types of weather, and meet new people,” Ayesha told ANI. “In this profession, one’s mental state should be very strong because you’ll be carrying 200 passengers and it is a great responsibility,” she added.
It is to be noted that, while she is the youngest female passenger pilot, Avani Chaturvedi was the youngest female pilot ever to get a pilot’s license in this country. She belongs to the IAF fighter squadron and was the first woman combat pilot along with two of her cohorts, Mohana Singh Jitarwal, and Bhawana Kanth.
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Gunasekaran, an LTTE member and one of the masterminds behind Sri Lanka’s former President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s failed assassination plot on Wednesday night. Few more of his aides, namely, Dileepan, Kennedy, Vigneshwara Perumal, Bomma and Prabakaran were also arrested along with him.
They were nabbed on tracing Gunasekaran’s conversations with Fonseka, an associate of Dawood, who was also arrested by Chennai Police’s Q Branch at the Chennai airport in October 2020. This branch of the police had been exclusively coined to watch and investigate cases relating to Naxal Movement and intercepted Gunasekaran when he was about to leave for Delhi.
Gunasekaran, or Sinnaiah Gunasekaran, was a major drug lord in Sri Lanka, with strong ties to Alahapperumaga Sunil Gamini alias Fonseka, a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim, the underworld don who has been the most wanted criminal in India for several decades. Fonseka was arrested in 2003 with charges of holding a fake passport but came out on bail in 2011 and has been absconding ever since. He was arrested in October of last year and has been under interrogation ever since.
It is believed that Gunasekaran has close ties with the Liberation Tigers, the rebel ethnic group which was involved in armed struggle in Lanka.
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Greta Thunberg, the Swedish school dropout who shot to fame as a ‘climate activist’ overnight, had put out a tweet on February 3 stating that she extended her solidarity to the ‘farmers’ protest in India.
In her tweet thread she had also shared a ‘tool kit’ that revealed a sinister plan to run a global propaganda against India.
The document titled ‘Global Farmers’ Strike – First Wave’ provides a list of ‘urgent actions’ and ‘prior actions’ to orchestrate the ‘largest protest’ in human history.
In the list of ‘urgent actions’ it called for a ‘Twitter Storm’ on February 4 and 5 between 11 AM to 2 PM with a link to the briefing doc and a Zoom call link.
The ‘urgent actions’ also included sharing ‘solidarity photos/video message’ to be sent to an email ID by February 6.
Here are some of the other items in the ‘urgent actions’ list.
Under the ‘prior actions’ list, there was a call for carrying out a ‘digital strike’ by trending the hashtag ‘Ask India Why’ and tagging the Prime Minister’s Office along with the office of Agriculture Minister and other government officials. It also called for ‘physical action’ instigating people to storm Indian embassies and local government offices.
The document also sheds light on the events that unfolded on January 26, the Republic Day of India. The document talks about an ‘Extinction Rebellion’ with farmers at Delhi borders. It is pertinent to note that it was on that day that a tractor rally was organized and the entire protest turned violent with the protestors storming Red Fort and removing the Indian National Flag to be replaced by a Sikh/Khalistani flag.
There was also a ‘cheat sheet’ to guide any tom, dick and harry to carry out the propaganda and instigate people to protest which has now been deleted.
Image Courtesy: Greta Thunberg’s deleted Google Doc linkImage Courtesy: Greta Thunberg’s deleted Google Doc linkImage Courtesy: Greta Thunberg’s deleted Google Doc link
There were also free resources like posters and flyers for people to use to run their campaigns and use it in protests.
Free flyers to be used for digital and offline propaganda. Image Courtesy: Greta Thunberg’s deleted google doc link
The document ‘Global Farmers’ Strike – First Wave’ contained other resources materials like ‘call scripts’ and ’email templates’ to be sent to ‘local representatives’, petitions, and a link to ‘divest from Ambani and Adani’.
“Billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani manufacture wealth by working hand-in-hand with the Modi Regime to exploit the world’s people, lands and culture. They control major industries and partner up with the world’s biggest brands. Do you own products or support companies linked to Adani and Ambani – the billionaires investing heavily in the Farm Bills? Created by ASovereignWorld, click below to hit them where it hurts : their bottom line.“, the document said giving a link to a website that gives details if a particular product or service has anything connected to Ambani’s Reliance group.
It is conspicuous that the document was not just meant for an Indian audience but to an entire global cabal especially for those in the UK to unleash propaganda against the Indian State as it talks about putting ‘international pressure’ on the Indian Government.
The document also says that there is a strong interest in UK MPs on the issue as UK is attempting to reform its own agricultural system. “The UK is attempting to reform its own agricultural system as it was realised to be detrimental to tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis; it is, therefore, imperative that UK supports India so it does not go down the same path of destruction / exploitation and instead encourage good agro-ecological practices and substantially support the small & marginal farmers.“, it said.
Another striking revelation was that the document also had a section of ‘suggested posts’. One of the suggested tweets in the document had the exact same tweet that Rihanna had posted. It is being said that the entire document has been shared with influencers across the world to build a propaganda against India.
Image Courtesy: Swarajya
After the document and its contents became viral, Greta Thunberg deleted the tweet containing the link to the Google doc. However, before the Google Doc itself was deleted, there were frantic attempts by the handlers to edit out the problematic portions.
Indian netizens who had meanwhile accessed the Google Doc had their bit of fun lashing out at Greta Thunberg and other handlers.
On February 4, the school drop out kid once again shared a link to an ‘updated toolkit’ stating that she removed the earlier link as it was ‘outdated’.
India has added one more feather to its cap amidst the global crisis with the country vaccinating around 45% of its health workforce. A feat that no other country has achieved.
India has so far vaccinated 4 million people in just 18 days, the fastest ever by a country.
2,48,662 people were vaccinated just on Wednesday (February 3) and a total of 43.9 lakh have been vaccinated.
Countries like the US took 20 days while UK and Israel took 39 days to vaccinate 4 million people.
Among the states, Madhya Pradesh has vaccinated the highest (69.4%) of its health workforce, followed by Rajasthan (64.7%).
In absolute numbers, Uttar Pradesh has vaccinated the maximum number of people (4.63 lakh), which is 51% of its health workforce.
Maharashtra which has the maximum number health workers has got only 34% of them vaccinated.
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In an important turn of events, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday (2 February) released the details of terrorist links in the Kerala gold smuggling case that has rocked the Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala.
In the charge sheet filed by the NIA against 20 accused, it has stated that the defendants formed a terrorist group and planned to destroy the economy of the nation.
NIA in its charge sheet also released the information that the defendants recruited people into the group and raised funds, including from abroad to form the terrorist group.
The group’s aim was to create chaos in India to stop the economic growth of the nation and also create a diplomatic and political rift between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which has large Kerala Muslim diaspora.
The group had taken advantage of the diplomatic channel for smuggling the gold and so far nine accused have been arrested in connection with the case.
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Pop star Rihanna who had on Tuesday tweeted about the ‘farmers’ protests at Delhi’s borders, was once thrown out by a British farmer after he found her shooting a sex scene in his farm as part of one her music videos.
In September 2011, Alan Graham, a barley farmer and a Democratic Unionist Party councillor found Rihanna scantily clad and filming in his fields. The scene was being shot for the music video “We Found Love” featuring Rihanna and Calvin Harris.
Graham reportedly had a conversation with Rihanna and had “requested” that the crew stop film to which they had agreed. He added that they shook hands and parted on good terms.
Back then, this incident of Graham kicking out Rihanna had made headlines in the UK and the west. Graham in an interview had said that what was happening in his farm was not ‘appropriate’ and had asked them to stop shooting as they had crossed a line which was unacceptable.
Rihanna posted a CNN news report about the temporary internet shutdown around New Delhi and tweeted, “why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest”.
Pop star Rihanna on Tuesday tweeted about the farmers protests at Delhi’s borders, earning heavy criticism from Indian netizens on Twitter. Rihanna posted a CNN news report about the temporary internet shutdown around New Delhi and tweeted, “why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest”.
Rihanna ―who has earlier faced allegations of cocaine abuse when a video of her snorting a white substance at the Coachella music festival in 2015 had gone viral ― faced a lot of flak from Indians for her tweet.
It is pertinent to note that Rihanna follows Khalistani sympathizing Canadian politician Jagmeet Singh on Twitter. In a TV show, Jagmeet Singh who is accused of terror funding can be seen flaunting off his friendship with Rihanna.
Jagmeet Singh who is accused of terror funding praising & showing off his friendship with Rihanna
Now you can understand how Rihanna got the 'motivation' for tweet supporting Farmer Protest pic.twitter.com/hHenXnB6n3
As Pakistan is all set to receive 17 million AstraZeneca’s vaccine, India on Tuesday (2 February) invited Pakistan’s diplomats for the phase-wise COVID-19 vaccination drive.
The invite to Pakistani diplomats is the part of the government’s offer to the entire foreign diplomatic community, based in Delhi which is now seen in Pakistan as a slap on the face. Though privately many influential people in Pakistan want to get there hands on the Indian vaccine as they do not trust the Chinese vaccine.
However, the Pakistan government is yet to decide if its diplomats will take part in India’s vaccination drive as it is still very upset that India did not extend the same support it has extended to all its neighbours by supplying free vaccine.
In December 2020, more than 50 foreign envoys were taken to Hyderabad to showcase India’s vaccine production centres at two biotech companies–Bharat Biotech and Biological E.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a release, “India’s R&D facilities, manufacturing capacity, foreign collaborations, etc. in the fields of pharmaceuticals, including vaccine production, were highlighted…India is committed to partnering with all interested countries in vaccine-related efforts, in the service of humanity.”
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Russian opposition leader and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has been sentenced to 3.5 years in jail by the Russian high court. He was sentenced on the grounds that he was violating the terms of parole.
Alexei was arrested on January 17, upon his return from Germany after undergoing treatment for poisoning. It was suspected that the Kremlin had been behind the incident, to take down one of their biggest critics. He has been campaigning against Vladimir Putin and his corrupt practices for several years, thereby earning the wrath of the ruling party.
Following the issue of this verdict, nationwide protests erupted, calling for Navalny’s release. After the court’s ruling, his supporters encouraged people to gather in central Moscow to protest. According to Reuters’ reporters, hundreds of protesters and the police detain some of them. Some of them chanted, “Putin is a thief!” and “Putin is a poisoner!”. More than 1050 protestors were arrested by the Russian police, as they stood their ground in subzero temperatures and sought the release of Navalny.
Judge Natalya Repnikova ordered a suspended three-and-a-half-year sentence Navalny received on fraud charges in 2014 to be changed to time in a penal colony, an AFP journalist at the courthouse said. Navalny had spent time under house arrest after the 2014 conviction — which was denounced by the European Court of Human Rights — and Repnikova said that would count as time served.
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Tamil Nadu is all set to get a major facelift in terms of its infrastructure, as it is all set to get 4 new airports and a whole new infrastructural boost. The Union Budget also provided for Central funding for the Chennai Metro Rail Phase II project, development of Chennai into a major fishing hub and establishing a multi-purpose seaweed park.
Union Transport Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the central government has allocated funds to set up airports in Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Neyveli and Vellore districts. He went on to say that funds have also been allocated for the expansion of Salem Airport. With a total allocation of ₹195 crore, ₹35 crore will be provided to Salem, ₹50 crore to Thanjavur, ₹30 crore to Neyveli, ₹44 crore to Vellore and ₹36 crore to Ramanathapuram for the construction of airports. Although some of these airports are operational, not all services are available. He added that appropriate steps will be taken to meet the necessary requirements. He added that efforts would be made to bring these small airports into regular operational use as well.
Besides announcing road works covering 3,500 km of National Highways in the State on investment of ₹1.03 lakh crore, the Budget document stated that the construction of the 278 km Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway would begin in 2021-22. The construction of the Salem-Chennai Expressway would begin in 2021-22, he added.
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The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) launched a ‘Re 1 Raam ke Naam’ campaign on Tuesday to raise funds for the construction of grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The campaign by the students’ wing of the Congress party in Rajasthan, was started by NSUI president Abhishek Chaudhary at the Commerce College in Jaipur.
Around 100 members of the student wing of the Congress party collected contributions from students in the college in three sealed collection boxes on the first day. “All colleges in the state will be covered under this 15-day campaign and the NSUI will hand over the amount collected during the initiative to the Ram temple authorities in Ayodhya,” NSUI spokesperson Ramesh Bhati said.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s Rath Yatra that was scheduled to start on the 1st of February in Delhi, has been postponed as stated by the party’s MP Manoj Tiwary. The Rath Yatra was a fund-raising campaign for the Ram Mandir on behalf of the BJP.
“The Delhi Police is doing a great job in the prevailing situation. In view of its preoccupation with farmers protest at national capital’s borders and the blast in the city, I decided to postpone the Rath Yatra,” Tiwari told PTI. He said the ‘Rath Yatra’ will be taken out once the situation normalises.
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