editor - The Purbottar

07 Aug

Taliban captures Afghan provincial capital Zaranj

editor0 CommentsInternationalAfghanistan, Taliban

The Taliban has captured an Afghan provincial capital after pleas for reinforcements by local security forces went unheard, in a major blow to the western-backed government. Zaranj, in the south-western province of Nimroz, fell after just three hours of fighting becoming the first provincial capital to be taken by the insurgents who have intensified their nationwide offensive as foreign forces withdraw from Afghanistan after 20 years of war. Late on Friday, heavily armed Taliban fighters driving captured Humvees were patrolling the streets of Nimroz, one of the country’s main financial hubs, where Taliban commanders declared an overnight curfew. “Nowhere in…

07 Aug

Jharkhand judge death: SC pulls up CBI for not responding to judges’ complaints, issues notice

editor0 CommentsIndiajudiciary, SUPREME COURT

The Supreme Court on Friday said trial court judges, especially those dealing with cases involving gangsters and high-profile people, are most vulnerable to external threats and bristled at the inaction of the CBI, Intelligence Bureau and the police in countering the threats to create a conducive atmosphere for judges to do justice without fear or favour. A bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Surya Kant said, “In criminal cases involving gangsters and high profile persons, when the accused do not get expected orders from the courts, they start maligning the judiciary. Unfortunately, this is a new trend…

06 Aug

Johnson & Johnson applies for Emergency Use Authorization of its single-dose Covid vaccine in India

editor0 CommentsIndia, InternationalCovid-19 vaccine

Johnson & Johnson has applied for the Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) of its single-dose Covid-19 vaccine, said an official statement issued by the US-based pharmaceutical company on Friday. "On August 5, 2021, Johnson & Johnson Pvt. Ltd applied for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) of its single-dose covid-19 vaccine to the Government of India," read the statement. Johnson & Johnson claimed that its single-shot vaccine, in clinical trials, proved to be 85 per cent effective in preventing severe disease. The vaccine also showed protection against Covid-19 related hospitalisation and death, it said. "The EUA submission is based on topline efficacy and…

06 Aug

Pakistan Air Force Aircraft Crashes During Training Exercise In Punjab Province

editor0 CommentsInternationalPAKISTAN, plane crash

A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) trainer aircraft crashed on Friday during routine training exercise near Attock area of Punjab province."Both pilots have ejected successfully. No loss of life or property has been reported so far on ground," the PAF said in a statement. It said a Board of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the accident. This is the third such crash reported by the PAF in the last 18 months. In September 2020, a PAF trainer aircraft crashed in the Attock district during a routine flight.That same year in February, a PAF Mirage aircraft crashed near…

06 Aug

LAC: India and China disengage in Gogra, all temporary structures dismantled

editor0 CommentsIndia, InternationalChina, INDIA

India and China have disengaged their troops in the Gogra Heights area of eastern Ladakh. This comes nearly a week after the two sides held the 12th Corps Commander-level talks at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The disengagement has taken place around Patrol Point 17A in eastern Ladakh. This had been one of the friction points between the two countries amid the military tussle that has been on for more than a year. "All temporary structures and other allied infrastructure created in the area by both sides have been dismantled and mutually verified.…

06 Aug

Leo Messi not staying at FC Barcelona

editor0 CommentsSportsLIONEL MESSI

FC Barcelona officially announcedhat Lionel Messi would not be returning to the club. After a summer of negotiations that were seemingly going well, they’ve reached a point where in the financial situation La Liga and Barcelona are in means we won’t be seeing a deal finalized. The summer transfer window is into its final month for the major European leagues, which means the biggest clubs are looking to make a splash in the market before the new season begins. According to sources Man City are the favourites to sign him, but they have just spent big on Jack Grealish and had been interested…

06 Aug

Taliban kills Afghan government’s top media officer

editor0 CommentsBreaking News, InternationalTaliban

The Taliban claimed responsibility for killing Dawa Khan Menapal, head of the Government Media and Information Centre (GMIC). The assassination was the latest in a series conducted by the hardline Islamist group to weaken Ghani's democratically elected, western backed regime. U.S. diplomat in Afghanistan condemned Taliban fighters killing the Afghanistan government's top media and information officer in the capital Kabul.They condemned the act as an affront to human rights and free speech. Menapal had also served as a spokesperson in Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's outreach team.

06 Aug

Honda opens pre-launch bookings for new Amaze

editor0 CommentsBusinessBusiness

Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL), leading manufacturer of premium cars in India will launch the new Honda Amaze on 18 August. The new Amaze will come with a stylish new look, striking exteriors changes and enhanced interiors. The company commenced the pre-bookings of the new car at all authorized Honda dealerships across the country with a booking amount of Rs 21,000. Additionally, the customers can also book the car online from the comfort of their homes through ‘Honda from Home’ platform on HCIL website with an amount of Rs 5,000. Honda Amaze, currently in its 2nd Generation, is Honda’s largest…

06 Aug

ICICI Pru Life Insurance ties up with NPCI

editor0 CommentsBusinessBusiness

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has tied up with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to provide Unified Payments Interface (UPI) AUTOPAY facility to its customers. This would enable customers to buy insurance policies and make premium payments from the safety and comfort of their homes. ICICI Prudential Life has become the first life insurance company to provide its customers with the UPI AUTOPAY facility as part of its efforts to simplify processes and thereby provide convenience to customers. At the time of purchasing a life insurance policy customers can link their bank accounts with UPI AUTOPAY and easily make…

05 Aug

Kapoor family’s new kid Zahan Kapoor is all set to debut in Bollywood

editor0 CommentsEntertainmentBollywood

Late superstar Shashi Kapoor’s grandson Zahan is all set to leave his mark in Bollywood with his upcoming movie. He will be seen in Hansal Mehta’s directorial ‘Faraaz’. Zahan is the son of actor Kunal Kapoor and Sheena Sippy, daughter of filmmaker Ramesh Sippy. Faraaz’ is an action thriller depicting the Holey Artisan Cafe terrorist attack that shook Bangladesh in July 2016. Zahan’s father Kunal Kapoor is a producer for TV commercials and also an actor. Zahan lives in Mumbai and has been doing theatre for quite some time now. It will be interesting to see how the public is…