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People not getting jobs, their pockets being robbed says Rahul Gandhi targeting Centre

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KORBA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit out at the BJP-led Centre while claiming that people in the country were not getting employment and were facing the wrath of inflation.

Addressing a gathering in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district during his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, Gandhi asked the people to wake up, claiming their pockets were being robbed and they were being misled.

The backward classes, Dalits and Adivasis (tribals) comprise 74 per cent of the country’s population, but not a single person from these communities is the owner or in the management of India’s top 200 companies which are being given “all the money of the country”, he claimed.

“Tell me, have you seen any poor, labourer, unemployed person or small businessmen at the Ram Mandir inauguration I only saw Adani ji, Ambani ji, Amitabh Bachahn, Aishwarya Rai and other big businessmen. Adani ji, Ambani ji and their families were giving big statements,” Gandhi said.

People are not getting employment and facing the wrath of inflation, while “Adani and Ambani were fetching profit by selling Chinese goods,” the Congress leader alleged while terming it as economic injustice.

370-plus seats a target for BJP in LS polls says P.M Modi

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BHOPAL: While exuding confidence that the BJP will win 370-plus seats on its own in the coming Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the target will be achievable once the party adds 370 new votes to its best ever votes tally on each polling booth.

“Even the prominent opposition leaders are now admitting that the 400 seats-plus figure for the NDA in the coming polls is achievable. I’ve been hearing about 400-plus seats for the NDA and 370-plus seats for the BJP on its own.For the BJP to win 370-plus seats on its own, we’ll first have to find out the party’s best performance on each polling booth in the last three elections.” he says.

“Once the best tally of votes is found, then our efforts should be focused to add 370 new votes to that best ever tally of votes on each booth. Once we add 370 new votes to our best ever tally on each booth, the 370-plus seats target for BJP will be assured,” Modi adds while addressing the Vishal Adivasi Mahakumbh in Bhil tribe dominated Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh.

“For adding 370 votes in BJP’s best ever tally on each booth, you’ll have to reach out to every voter, educate them about the schemes and achievements of the government. Tell them which schemes have benefitted the voters. But those voters who are yet to be benefitted by the schemes, assure them that the benefits will be ushered to them, once Modi returns to power,” the PM said while addressing the gathering which included BJP workers from Jhabua and adjoining tribal dominated districts of western MP as well as party’s tribal leaders from adjoining Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Odisha and Jharkhand.

Before addressing the mega tribal gathering, Modi unveiled and laid the foundation of development projects worth over Rs 7,500 crore for MP. He laid foundation of multiple projects, including CM Rise School in Jhabua, Talavada Project for drinking water to people in Jhabua, Ratlam and adjoining tribal dominated districts.

Netanyahu promises safe passage to Palestinians ahead of Rafah operation

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PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: The threat of an Israeli incursion into Gaza’s southernmost town of Rafah persisted Sunday, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised “safe passage” to civilians displaced there.

In an interview airing Sunday, Netanyahu reiterated his intention to extend Israel’s military operation against Hamas into Rafah.

Despite international alarm over the potential for carnage in a place crammed with more than half of the Gaza Strip’s 2.4 million people, Netanyahu told ABC News: “We’re going to do it”.

“We’re going to do it while providing safe passage for the civilian population so they can leave,” he said, according to published extracts of the interview.

It remains unclear however, where the large number of people pressed up against the border with Egypt and sheltering in makeshift tents can go.

When asked, Netanyahu would only say they are working out a detailed plan

As Israeli forces have pushed steadily southwards, Rafah has become the last major population centre in Gaza that troops have yet to enter, even as it is bombarded by air strikes almost daily.

“They said Rafah is safe, but it is not. All places are being targeted,” Palestinian Mohammed Saydam said after an Israeli strike destroyed a police vehicle in the  on Saturday.

The Israeli premier, who contends victory over Hamas cannot be achieved without clearing battalions in Rafah, directed his military on Friday to prepare for the operation. His announcement set off a chorus of concern from world leaders and aid groups.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry warned Saturday of “very serious repercussions of storming and targeting” Rafah and called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting, while UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said he is “deeply concerned” about the prospective offensive.

“The priority must be an immediate pause in the fighting to get aid in and hostages out,” he wrote.

The war in Gaza was sparked by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Vowing to eliminate Hamas, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza that the territory’s health ministry says has killed at least 28,064 people, mostly women and children.

Militants also seized 250 hostages, 132 of whom are still in Gaza, although 29 are presumed dead, Israel has said.

Netanyahu announced the plan for a ground operation in Rafah only days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel seeking a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange.

Netanyahu has rejected the proposed truce after what he called “bizarre demands” from Hamas.

But Israel’s plans for Rafah have drawn sharp rebuke from main ally and military backer Washington, with the State Department warning that if not properly planned, such an operation risks disaster

In unusually sharp criticism, US President Joe Biden on Thursday called Israel’s retaliatory campaign “over the top”.

Gaza’s Hamas rulers warned on Saturday that a full-scale Israeli invasion of Rafah could cause “tens of thousands” of casualties.

The office of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said the move “threatens security and peace in the region and the world” and is “a blatant violation of all red lines”.

The Hamas-run territory’s health ministry said on Sunday that 94 people were killed in overnight bombardments across Gaza, including in Rafah.

The Israeli military said it killed two “senior Hamas operatives” in a strike on Rafah Saturday.

It was part of a wider bombardment that killed at least 25 people in the city, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

To the north in Gaza City, Israel’s military claimed that its troops uncovered a Hamas tunnel under the evacuated headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called for its head, Philippe Lazzarini, to quit.

Lazzarini said the agency had not operated from the compound since October 12 when staff evacuated it under instruction from Israeli forces.

Already under pressure after Israel claimed 12 UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack, he called for an independent investigation into the latest Israeli accusations.

An AFP photographer was among a number of journalists taken to the compound and tunnel by the Israeli military on Thursday.

UN premises are considered “inviolable” in international law and immune from “search, requisition, confiscation, expropriation and any other form of interference”.

Hamas has repeatedly denied Israeli accusations that it has dug a network of tunnels under schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure as cover for its activities.

On Sunday, Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy called UNRWA “a Hamas front”.

The war, now in its fifth month, has spawned intensifying public fury in Israel.

Protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night to demand the release of the hostages, Netanyahu step down and fresh elections be called.

“It’s clear Netanyahu is dragging out the war, he has no idea what to do on the day after,” Israeli protester Gil Gordon said.

The war has had far-reaching impact well bedyond Israel and Gaza, with violence involving Iran-backed allies of Hamas surging across the Middle East.

A senior Hamas officer survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Lebanon, Palestinian and Lebanese security sources told AFP, but two other people including a Hezbollah member were killed in the attack.

And in Syria, Israeli strikes near Damascus killed three people, a war monitor said, adding the targeted neighbourhood hosted villas for top military and civilian officials.

Hungarian president resigns over granting pardon to child abuser

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BUDAPEST: Hungarian President Katalin Novak, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, announced her resignation Saturday following outrage over a pardon granted to a man implicated in a child sexual abuse case.

Soon afterwards another Orban supporter, former justice minister Judit Varga, announced she was withdrawing from public life over the affair.

The announcements followed growing pressure from opposition politicians and protests outside the presidential palace Friday evening.

“I am resigning my post,” said 46-year-old Novak, acknowledging that she had made a mistake.

“I apologise to those who I hurt and all the victims who may have had the impression that I did not support them,” the former minister for family policy added.

“I am, I was and I will remain in favour of protecting children and families.”

Novak became the first woman to hold the essentially ceremonial role of president in March 2022.

The controversy was sparked by the pardon granted to a former deputy director of a children’s home. He had helped to cover up his boss’s sexual abuse of the children in their charge.

The decision was made last April during a visit by Pope Francis to Budapest.

Since the independent news site 444 revealed the decision last week, the country’s opposition has been calling for Novak’s resignation.

On Friday evening demonstrators gathered outside the presidential palace and three presidential advisers quit their posts.

Novak, who had been in Qatar to attend Hungary’s match against Kazakhstan at the World Water Polo Championships on Friday, swiftly returned to Budapest.

As soon as her plane had landed she emerged and announced her resignation.

“The pardon granted and the lack of explanation may have given rise to doubts about zero tolerance of paedophilia,” she said.

“But there can be no doubt on this subject”, she added, before offering her apologies.

Minutes after her announcement, another ally of Orban, Judit Varga, also announced her “withdrawal from public life”.

As justice minister, a post she quit in order to lead a European Parliament election bid, she had approved the pardon.

“I renounce my mandate as an MP and the head of the list for the European Parliament,” she said on Facebook.

“It was quick: first Novak, then Varga,” said Hungarian MEP Anna Donath, reacting to the news.

“But we know that no important decision can be taken in Hungary without Viktor Orban’s approval,” added Donath, a member of the small liberal Momentum party, on Facebook.

“He has to take responsibility and explain what happened… it’s his system”.

In an attempt to calm national anger, Orban had announced on Thursday that he wanted to revise Hungary’s constitution to exclude the possibility of pardoning paedophile criminals.

Novak, who has been temporarily replaced by the Speaker of Parliament Laszlo Kover, was named last year by Forbes magazine as the most influential woman in Hungarian public life.

Her departure leaves Hungary’s political landscape even more male-dominated. Since mid-2023 there have been no women in Viktor Orban’s 16-man cabinet.

King Charles thanks well-wishers after cancer diagnosis

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LONDON: Britain’s King Charles III on Saturday expressed his “heartfelt thanks” to well-wishers, in his first statement since his shock announcement that he has cancer.

Buckingham Palace said Monday that Charles had begun treatment, but did not specify what type of cancer he has.

“I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days,” the king wrote in a message to the public.

“As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement,” he added.

The note was published on the 75-year-old monarch’s website and the royal family’s official page on social media platform X.

Charles added that it is “equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organisations which support cancer patients and their families across the UK and wider world.”

“My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience,” he concluded, signing the letter “Charles R.”

Britain’s National Health Service reported this week that the king’s diagnosis had sparked a surge in online searches for advice about the disease.

Charles has taken an indefinite break from public duties while he receives treatment and is currently staying at the royal country residence of Sandringham, in the east of England.

He is continuing some administrative duties and held his weekly audience with the prime minister via phone this week.

Charles is not thought to have prostate cancer, since after his recent hospital procedure for a benign prostate enlargement the palace said that “a separate issue of concern was noted”, adding subsequent tests had identified “a form of cancer

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the condition was “caught early”.

On Thursday, Charles’s wife Queen Camilla said that her husband was doing “extremely well” under the circumstances.

Charles’s diagnosis comes just 17 months into his reign following the death of his 96-year-old mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, 2022.

He has generally enjoyed good health, barring injuries from polo and skiing.

Prince William, heir to the throne, has taken on most of the king’s duties alongside Charles’s sister Princess Anne and wife Camilla.

The diagnosis has left William, 41, shouldering a heavy royal burden as his wife Catherine continues to recover from a recent abdominal operation.

William also thanked the public for their “kind messages” this week.

Charles’s estranged younger son Prince Harry flew back to Britain to see the King on Tuesday, adding to this week’s drama.

The pair had a 45-minute meeting at Charles’s Clarence House residence in London before Harry flew back to his home in the United States.

Afif hat trick secures Qatar back-to-back Asian Cup titles after 3-1 win against Jordan

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LUSAIL: Akram Afif scored a hat trick of penalties to secure back-to-back Asian Cup titles for Qatar in a 3-1 win against Jordan on Saturday.

The forward struck in the first half of the final and then twice after the break at Lusail Stadium to finish as the tournament’s leading scorer with eight goals.

Yazan Al Naimat had leveled the game in the second half, but Qatar was awarded two penalties on video review and Afif showed no nerves to convert on both occasions.

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe had lit up this spectacular stadium at the World Cup, and now it was Afif’s turn, with his goals in front of more than 86,000 fans crowning his outstanding tournament.Since Japan in 2000 and 2004. It is the fifth nation to successfully defend the title, though Iran won it three times in a row from 1968 to 1976.

But despite being defending champion, this represented an unexpected triumph for a nation that endured a miserable World Cup on home soil in 2022 when exiting the tournament after three straight defeats in the group stage.

Spanish coach Márquez López had only been hired in December and Qatar was beaten 2-1 by Jordan in a friendly in January.

Preparations were hardly ideal, but it didn’t take long for Qatar to show its credentials as potential champions again after reeling off a 100% winning record in the group stages, with standout performances from Afif.

Afif won and converted a penalty in the 22nd minute Saturday, but Jordan — playing in its first Asian Cup final — was back on level terms when Al Naimat rifled home from inside the box in the 67th.

It was behind again, however, when Ismaeel Mohammad was brought down by Mahmoud Al Mardi.

It took a video review before referee Ma Ning pointed to the spot — but when he did, again Afif delivered by firing into the left hand corner.

In the fifth minute of stoppage time Afif completed his hat trick after he was fouled by Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila.

Again it took a video review to award the spot kick. Again Afif converted.

Kohli out of seriesr K.L Rahul Back in squad

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CHENNAI: Virat Kohli will not feature for the duration of the India – England Test series. This was the main piece of selection news as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 17-man squad for the remaining three Tests of the series. “Virat Kohli will remain unavailable for selection for the remainder of the series due to personal reasons,” a BCCI press release stated while announcing the team. “The Board fully respects and supports Mr. Kohli’s decision.” It’s the first time that Kohli will not feature in a multi-match Test series since making his debut in 2011.

As expected, both KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, players who missed the second Test at Visakhapatnam with niggles, could be in line for an immediately recall at Rajkot. However, they will have to be cleared by the BCCI medical team. If Rahul is cleared, he is expected to replace Shreyas Iyer in the XI. Shreyas, considered as one of the better batters of spin in the line-up, has been left out. If Rahul is not cleared and the hosts want to stick to the same combination, Sarfaraz Khan could make his debut in Rajkot.

Shubman Gill, another batter who was feeling the pressure in Vizag, had come up with a match-winning contribution. So, he retains his place and will likely come in at No. 3. An immediate area of concern for the team will be a very greenhorn looking middle-order, especially if Rahul does not pull through.In such a scenario, both Rajat Patidar — the debutant from Vizag — and Sarfaraz may well feature in the XI.

The squad the BCCI has named is further evidence of them looking to move away from the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara (a name they may well revisit in the days to come) and Ajinkya Rahane. While Rahane’s struggles have extended to the Ranji Trophy, Pujara is flourishing for Saurashtra. He began this year with an unbeaten 243 in Rajkot — venue for the third Test — in January before a 91 to close out January. While he was dismissed without opening the scoring against Maharashtra, he made a 100 against Rajasthan a few days ago.

In terms of the bowlers, Mohammed Siraj, rested for the second game, is back in. While there are no asterix next to Jasprit Bumrah’s name, it won’t be a surprise if he’s rested for either the fourth or the fifth Tests. The management is conscious of his workload management and they will be mindful of the upcoming assignments which include a T20 World Cup in under four months.

One pacer who will remain unavailable is Mohammed Shami. The pacer, who set the pulses racing during last year’s World Cup, picked up an ankle injury late last year. In terms of new faces, Bengal’s Akash Deep, who possesses a first-class average of 23.18 across 29 games, has been included at the expense of Avesh Khan.

Squad for the final three Tests

Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul*, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep

Another jolt to INDIA, AAP to contest alone from all Lok Sabha seats in Punjab

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CHANDIGARH: In yet another setback to the Opposition INDIA bloc post Nitish Kumar’s somersault, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal announced that his party would contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and the lone seat of Chandigarh UT. It virtually closes all doors for the laboured projection of the Congress-AAP alliance in the state.

Kejriwal was addressing a rally at Khanna, a town known for the grain market in Ludhiana district, on the launch of the party’s free ration scheme. “Bless AAP with a victory on all 14 seats of Punjab and Chandigarh the way you did in the Assembly polls two years back by AAP victory in 92 out of the 117 Punjab Assembly seats,” Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal took a dig at the Congress and SAD, saying neither the Akalis nor Congress took any step for the well-being of the people in their party rules. “If I ask you today, in 75 years, the Congress ruled for so many years, tell me one good work the Congress has done. You will not remember. If I ask you Akali Dal ruled for so many years, tell me one good work the Akali Dal has done, you will not remember,” said Kejriwal.

Kejriwal’s announcement will add to the turmoil in the opposition bloc. TMC chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has already said her party would go it alone in the state for LS polls.

Mann said the centre has adopted a hostile attitude against all non-BJP-ruled states. He blamed the Centre for the now-scrapped farm laws, adding that the BJP continues with the hostile attitude by stalling funds meant for various welfare schemes in Punjab.

Punjab CM Mann said that candidates for all the 13 Lok Sabha seats will be announced by month-end

Sakshi Malik attacks Usha, Mary Kom for not supporting women wrestlers’ stir against Ex-WFI chief

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Retired Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik has launched a scathing attack on the country’s iconic sportspersons PT Usha and Mary Kom for not extending support to the public protests by a group of female wrestlers over sexual harassment charges against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Though Usha and Mary Kom were celebrated as “inspirations” by sportspersons like her, they did not speak up for the aggrieved woman wrestlers despite listening to their stories, Malik said.

The Olympic medal winner was speaking during a recent session held as part of the ongoing Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) 2024 at Kanakakkunnu here.

Expressing shock over the response of the legendary sports stars towards their agitation, she said both of them had assured all support to wrestlers but did nothing to find any solution.

“P T Usha madam had visited our protest venue. We told her in detail about our issues. She could have supported us. But she remained silent despite assuring us that she would stand by us and extend all help,” Malik said.

The decorated wrestler slightly turned emotional while speaking about legendary Mary Kom.

Kom was a member of the oversight committee formed to probe into the sexual harassment charges against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and submit a report.

Malik recalled that the boxing icon turned “very emotional” when the complainants narrated the shocking details.

She also said that Kom heard the stories of each woman wrestler as she was in the panel.

“After listening to the stories, she became very emotional like I am sorry feel so bad she also said she would stand by us,” she said.

But, there was no solution even after months had passed, she pointed out.

The wrestler said she was deeply anguished over Kom’s silence as she was considered an “inspirational” figure by her.

“Even she didn’t speak for us and remained silent,” Malik said on Saturday at the fifth edition of MBIFL where over 400 speakers from around the world have been invited to participate and share their views and experiences.

Top grapplers such as Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik had staged a sit-in protest in New Delhi demanding the arrest of Bhushan after accusing him of sexual harassment against female grapplers.

Later, Punia had returned his Padma Shri award to the government in protest over Bhushan’s aide, Sanjay Singh, being elected as the WFI chief.

Malik too had quit wrestling for the same reason.

The MBIFL which began on February 8 would be concluded on February 11.

The theme for this year’s edition of the literary event is ‘Exploring Plurality’ — a 360-degree attempt at understanding diverse perspectives, cultures, and identities.

Karnataka HC sets timeline for auction of abandoned vehicles

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BENGALURU: The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday fixed a timeline for auction of abandoned/unclaimed vehicles parked on public roads and footpaths.

Accordingly, vehicles older than 15 years should be auctioned in 30 days. Vehicles that are 1 to 5 years old can be auctioned after three months. Vehicles that are 5 to 15 years old can be auctioned after two months.

A division bench of Chief Justice PS Dinesh Kumar and Justice TG Shivashankare Gowda passed this order after hearing Advocate General (AG) Shashikiran Shetty’s submission to a petition filed by Prashanth Rao on the issue of encroachment of footpaths.

Meanwhile, an affidavit filed by MN Anucheth, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bengaluru, stated that a meeting was held on January 31 with BBMP officials on identifying and disposing of abandoned/unclaimed vehicles and identifying places where such vehicles could be kept. It stated that vehicles which have not been moved from footpaths for more than 15 days will be treated as abandoned. Later, they will be taken to places identified to keep them.

BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath also filed an affidavit and informed the court that palike officials will conduct periodical special drives to clear encroachments on footpaths of 609.89 km arterial roads and 734.45 km sub-arterial roads.

The chief commissioner submitted that town vending committees have been formed in eight zones of the BBMP to conduct a survey of street vendors and identify vending zones, restricted vending zones and no-vending zones. ID cards will be provided to street vendors identified by the BBMP.

He submitted that the BBMP will make efforts to ensure that vending zones and restricted vending zones are not far away from residential areas. Till such zones are identified, it will ensure that street vendors are given space to sell their goods without disturbing people’s movement.

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