India
Miss Universe is India's Harnaaz Sandhu, 70th winner
Harnaaz Sandhu of India was crowned the 70th Miss Universe on Sunday, topping a field of some 80 contestants in a pageant that was touched by politics and the pandemic.
The previously reigning Miss Universe, Andrea Meza of Mexico, crowned her successor, a Bollywood actress, in the Israeli Red Sea resort town of Eilat. The pageant was held in the middle of the night, wrapping up at 5 a.m. local time (10 p.m. EST) to accommodate the primetime schedule in the U.S.
The pageant included traditional displays of national costumes, swimwear and a series of interview questions to test contestants' public speaking skills. The top 10 showed off intricately bedazzled full-length gowns in either gold, silver or bronze. The Philippines' Beatrice Luigi Gomez wore an asymmetrical cut dress with one sleeve, highlighting a new tattoo she said “celebrates her womanhood.”
Read:'Sesame Street' debuts Asian American muppet
But the contest also drew attention in recent weeks for other reasons.
A grassroots Palestinian-led boycott had urged contestants to skip the event to protest Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.
In the end, only Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country with close ties to the Palestinians, did not send a representative, citing the global COVID-19 situation. The South African government, which also strongly supports the Palestinian cause, withdrew support for the country’s representative over her participation.
In an interview last month, Meza urged contestants to leave politics out of the pageant, saying the gathering was meant to bring together women from different backgrounds. “When you are in there you forget about politics, about your religion,” she told The Associated Press at the time.
Sara Salansky, an official with the Israeli Tourism Ministry, said the country was selected to host the contest earlier this year because of Israel’s successful coronavirus vaccination program.
The contest suffered a last-minute hiccup with the arrival of the omicron variant, which forced Israel to close its borders to foreign tourists late last month.
Most of the Miss Universe contestants were already in the country before the new regulations came into effect. But those who came afterward were given special permission to enter, albeit with a mandatory 72-hour quarantine period.
Throughout the run-up to Sunday’s contest, all contestants were tested for the coronavirus every 48 hours and required to obey strict mask requirements.
Read:‘The Crown,’ ‘Ted Lasso,’ top Emmy Awards
Amid all the safeguards, France’s contestant, Clemence Botino, tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after arriving in Israel. After 10 days in quarantine, she was declared virus free last week and allowed to rejoin the competition.
Last year’s pageant was delayed due to the pandemic before Meza was crowned in May for her abbreviated tenure.
Sunday’s contest was hosted by U.S. TV personality Steve Harvey. Organizers said the pageant was expected to reach an estimated 600 million viewers via the FOX network in 172 countries.
AstraZeneca to seek India nod for antibody cocktail
British-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca NSE 1.67 % said it intends to apply for emergency use authorisation (EUA) of its long-acting Covid-19 monoclonal antibody cocktail Evusheld in India reported The Economic Times.
"The US Food and Drug Administration's EUA approval of AZD7442 for the prevention of Covid-19 is an important milestone globally... we have already initiated engagements with the relevant health authorities in India to provide them with the latest evidence," said Gagandeep Singh Bedi, managing director, AstraZeneca India Pharma.
Evusheld is a combination of tixagevimab and cilgavimab. The drug received EUA in the US on Thursday for pre-exposure prophylaxis or preventing infection in people aged 12 years and above who are immunocompromised and those who may not mount an adequate immune response to Covid-19 vaccination, as well as those individuals for whom Covid-19 vaccination is not recommended.
Also read: AstraZeneca, Pfizer vaccines effective against Delta Covid-19 variants: Study
Recipients should not be currently infected with or had recent known exposure to a person infected with SARS-CoV-2. The pivotal phase-3 data showed Evusheld provides at least six months of protection. About 2% of the global population is considered at increased risk of an inadequate response to a Covid-19 vaccine.
"In India, this percentage could be a bit higher given the problem of underdiagnosis and ignorance. This includes people with blood cancers or other cancers being treated with chemotherapy, and those taking medications after an organ transplant or who are taking immunosuppressive drugs for conditions including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis," said AstraZeneca.
Also read: 77.8% efficacy, robust antibody response: 5 points from Lancet's new study on Covaxin
Maradona's stolen watch recovered in India
Believe it or not, Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona's stolen limited edition Hublot wrist watch has been recovered by police in India.
The watch worth around two million Indian rupees that was stolen from Dubai was, in fact, found in the possession of a resident in the northeastern state of Assam this morning. The accused recently returned to India from Dubai, where he worked.
State Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter to announce the recovery.
Also read: Diego Maradona: A year without the Argentine Legend
"In an act of international cooperation @assampolice has coordinated with @dubaipoliceHQ through Indian federal LEA to recover a heritage @Hublot watch belonging to legendary footballer Late Diego Maradona and arrested one Wazid Hussein. Follow up lawful action is being taken," he tweeted.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of football, Maradona was popular as "The Golden Boy" of the sport. Maradona who played in four FIFA World Cup died in November last year.
Also read: For Napoli fans, the team is a religion and Maradona is god
India bids emotional farewell to military chief
India on Friday bid an emotional farewell to the country's first military chief General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel who died in a chopper crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
In Delhi, the 63-year-old Chief of Defence Staff and his wife Madhulika were cremated with full military honours this evening, as political leaders cutting across party lines, senior Indian defence officials as well as top military commanders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal thronged the Brar Square crematorium to pay silent tribute to the departed souls.
Read: India orders tri-services probe into military chief's chopper crash
The bodies of General Rawat and his wife were laid side by side on the same funeral pyre that was lit by their two daughters, Kritika and Tarin, as per Hindu tradition. Some 800 Indian defence personnel witnessed the funeral, which was telecast live on all Indian channels.
The bodies of the 13 chopper crash victims were brought to the Indian capital on Thursday night on a special Air Force transport aircraft. After the plane landed at Palam airport, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and top military officials paid tributes to the departed souls in a brief ceremony.
General Rawat, a four-star General, was on his way to deliver a lecture at Defence Services Staff College in Wellington when the Mi-17 V5 chopper crashed in the hilly terrain of the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu's Coonoor district and burst into flames around noon on Wednesday. Of a total of 14 people on board the ill-fated chopper, 13 were charred to death.
Read:India's first military chief among 13 dead in chopper crash
The lone survivor of the crash -- senior Air Force officer Group Captain Varun Singh -- was on Thursday evening airlifted to a state-of-the-art military hospital in the neighbouring state of Karnataka's capital Bengaluru from a medical facility in Wellington.
The Indian government on Thursday only ordered a tri-services probe -- an investigation by the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force -- into the chopper crash. "The investigation will be led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh (Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command)," the Defense Minister told the Indian Parliament.
General Rawat has had a chequered career in the armed forces spanning over 40 years, rising from the rank of a junior commissioned officer to the Indian Army chief and eventually the first head of the tri-services. He reported directly to the Indian Prime Minister.
India orders tri-services probe into military chief's chopper crash
India on Thursday ordered a tri-services probe into Wednesday's chopper crash that claimed the lives of the country's first military chief, General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 other armed forces personnel.
Tri-services probe means an investigation by the three branches of the military -- the Indian Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.
“The Indian Air Force has ordered a tri-service inquiry into the military chopper crash. The investigation will be led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh (Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command)," Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told the Parliament.
Read: India's first military chief among 13 dead in chopper crash
Meanwhile, the lone survivor of the crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu -- senior Air Force officer Group Captain Varun Singh -- was airlifted to a state-of-the-art military hospital in the neighbouring state of Karnataka's capital Bengaluru from a medical facility.
"Group Captain Singh is on life support and all efforts are being made to save him," the Defence Minister said.
The 63-year-old Chief of Defence Staff was on his way to deliver a lecture at Defence Services Staff College in Wellington when the Mi-17 V5 chopper crashed in the hilly terrain of the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu's Coonoor district and burst into flames on Wednesday noon.
Read: FM shocked at India's military chief's death in chopper crash
"With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat (wife) and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident," the Air Force tweeted last evening after day-long DNA tests confirmed the identities of the bodies.
Moments later, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, the supreme commander of the armed forces, tweeted to say that "the nation has lost one of its bravest sons". Prime Minister Modi, on his part, described the four-star General as "an outstanding soldier".
General Rawat has had a chequered career in the armed forces spanning over 40 years, rising from the rank of a junior commissioned officer to the Indian Army chief and eventually the first head of the tri-services. He reported directly to the Indian Prime Minister.
India reiterates concern on terrorist entities gaining access to chemical weapons
India on Wednesday reiterated its concern regarding the possibility of terrorist groups and individuals gaining access to chemical weapons at the United Nations Security Council briefing on Syria (Chemical weapons).
The remarks came from Prathik Mathur, Counsellor in India's Permanent Mission to UN, during the UNSC briefing, reports ANI.
"India has been repeatedly cautioning against the possibility of terrorist entities and individuals gaining access to chemical weapons," Mathur said adding that India attaches high importance to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and stands for its full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation.
Read: India successfully test-fires air-launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
The CWC Convention is aimed to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons by States Parties, an official statement informed.
During his address to the UNSC, Mathur also said that India is against the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances.
"India is against the use of chemical weapons by anybody, anywhere, at any time and under any circumstances," Mathur said.
"We've consistently maintained that any probe into use of chemical weapons must be impartial, credible and objective," he added.
Read: India's first military chief among 13 dead in chopper crash
The Indian Counsellor also urged Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and Syria to work constructively in the matter.
Meanwhile, a Chemical Weapon is a chemical used to cause intentional death or harm through its toxic properties.
Munitions, devices and other equipment specifically designed to weaponize toxic chemicals also fall under the definition of chemical weapons, OPCW informed on its website.
India successfully test-fires air-launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
Air launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired from the supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi 30 MK-I from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday.
In this copy book flight, the missile launched from the aircraft followed the pre-planned trajectory meeting all mission objectives, read a press statement from the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, reports ANI.
Read:India's first military chief among 13 dead in chopper crash
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has praised Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), BrahMos, Indian Air Force and the industry on the successful test firing.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the launch is a major milestone in the BrahMos development as it paves the way for the serial production of air-version BrahMos missiles within the country. Major airframe assemblies which form the integral part of the Ramjet Engine are indigenously developed by Indian Industry. These include metallic and non-metallic air frame sections comprising Ramjet fuel tank and pneumatic fuel supply system.
Various laboratories of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), academic institutions, quality assurance & certification agencies, Public Sector undertakings and Indian Air Force participated in the development, testing, production and induction of this complex missile system.
Read: India's military chief feared dead in chopper crash
During the test, the structural integrity and functional performance have been proven. The air version of BrahMos was last flight tested in July 2021.
BrahMos is a Joint Venture between India (DRDO) and Russia (NPOM) for the development, production and marketing of the supersonic cruise missile. BrahMos is the potent offensive missile weapon system already inducted into the Armed Forces.
FM shocked at India's military chief's death in chopper crash
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has expressed deep shock at the death of India's Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and other co-passengers in a chopper crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
India's top military commander, his wife and 11 others died after the Mi-17V5 helicopter came down in the hilly terrain of the Nilgiris in the state's Coonoor district and burst into flames on Wednesday morning.
READ: Border killings remain an irritant, FM Momen tells Shringla
"I'm deeply shocked and saddened," Dr Momen said in a condolence message forwarded to his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar.
On behalf of the government of Bangladesh and on his own behalf, the Foreign Minister conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved family members of General Rawat and other deceased, and the people of India.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and their near and dear ones. May they have the strength to bear with the irreparable losses," the message reads.
READ: Dhaka, Delhi created model relations, says FM terming Dec 6 a historic day
Bipin Rawat, 63, was appointed as India's first chief of defence staff in January 2019.
General Rawat has had a chequered career in the armed forces spanning over 40 years, rising from the rank of a junior commissioner officer to the Indian Army chief and eventually the first head of the tri-services – the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.
India's first military chief among 13 dead in chopper crash
India's first military chief General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel were killed in a chopper crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
The 63-year-old decorated Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was on his way to deliver a lecture at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington when the ill-fated Mi-17 V5 helicopter crashed just before landing around 11.45am in the hilly terrain of the Nilgiris in the state's Coonoor district and burst into flames.
A senior Air Force officer accompanying the four-star General survived the fatal crash but sustained severe burn injuries. He has been identified as Group Capt Varun Singh, who is currently under treatment at the Military Hospital in Wellington.
Read: India's military chief feared dead in chopper crash
Bangladesh-India border: Shringla says small issues can be resolved through BGB-BSF talks
Visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Wednesday said some small issues happening along the Bangladesh-India border can be settled through holding meetings between the border forces of the two countries.
“Bangladesh and India have settled all major issues through discussions; some small incidents happening along the border between the two countries can be solved through holding meetings between BGB and BSF,” Shringla said when he met Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban.
PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
“We want this issue to be resolved,” he quoted the Indian Foreign Secretary as saying.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also agreed with Shringla, said Karim.Covid Issue
The Indian Foreign Secretary said normalcy is coming back in India after the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic setback.
Read: Border killings remain an irritant, FM Momen tells Shringla
Shringla said all are alert and aware about the Omicron variant of Covid-19 as 21 cases have been detected so far in India.
Covid-19 has mutated 15 times before transforming into Omicron variant, said Shringla adding that the variant has been detected in many countries in Europe apart from African countries.
He conveyed the greetings of Indian Prime Minister Modi to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Hasina also greeted her Indian counterpart through the Indian Foreign Secretary.
The Indian Foreign Secretary appreciated the economic progress of Bangladesh despite the Covid-19 pandemic and said there is good growth in India as well.