DISENGAGEMENT IN EASTERN LADAKH’S PANGONG TSO IN FULL SWING, MAY BE OVER SOON

The disengagement process in eastern Ladakh’s Pangong Tso area is in full swing, with the Chinese PLA knocking down military structures it had built since the border standoff began last May, people familiar with the developments said on Monday.

Disengagement between rival soldiers deployed on heights on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso began on February 10. The process will be over by the weekend, said a second official. Senior commanders of the two armies are likely to meet next week to discuss disengagement at other friction points in eastern Ladakh, the official said.

PLA is retreating to its base east of Finger 8 on the north bank of Pangong Tso, while the Indian army is moving back to its permanent position near Finger 3. Neither side will patrol the contested areas in between until an agreement is reached through future talks.

Outstanding problems with PLA at Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra - friction points on the contested border in eastern Ladakh - will be tackled after full disengagement in the Pangong Tso area.

COVID-19 VACCINES NOT READY FOR OPEN-MARKET ROLL-OUT YET, SAYS GOVT

A month into the vaccination drive, which has covered more than 8.5 million so far, the health ministry has indicated that Covid-19 vaccines are not likely to be there in the open market anytime soon.

This is because the govtt is not willing to take chances with technical protocols and the responsibility of a national vaccine roll-out.

“It is emergency use authorisation and during this time it is the responsibility of the govtt to keep things under control. That is why it cannot be brought in the open market yet ... If some wrong product comes to the market, then who would be responsible for it?” Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday.

On whether emergency use authorisation will be converted into regular market authorisation for the two vaccines, Vardhan said: “There will be an appropriate time for that as well ... All over the world vaccines are currently under emergency use.”

The health minister also said there had been no serious or severe adverse event or death because of the vaccine. “The smallest of adverse events are being recorded. No death has been found attributable to the vaccine. Even the routine side-effects are negligible. I want to assure the people that vaccines in the public domain are safe and immunogenic,” the health ministry said.

PROTESTS TOOLKIT: NON-BAILABLE WARRANTS AGAINST TWO MORE ACTIVISTS

Climate activist Disha Ravi along with Mumbai lawyer Nikita Jacob and Pune-based engineer Shantanu Muluk created the 'toolkit' related to the farmers' agitation and shared it with others to tarnish India's image, the Delhi Police said on Monday. Non-bailable warrants have been issued against Nikita and Shantanu.

The police claimed that Disha Ravi, who was arrested on Saturday from Bengaluru, sent the 'toolkit' to teen climate activist Greta Thunberg through the Telegram app, and also 'coaxed her to act on it'.

According to police, before the Republic Day violence, that left 500 police personnel injured and a protestor dead, Nikita and Shantanu had on January 11 attended a Zoom meeting organized by 'pro-Khalistani group Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF) in which modalities were decided to create the 'toolkit' titled 'Global Farmer Strike' and 'Global Day of Action, 26 January'.

Demonstrations and online protests raged in many parts of the country on Monday. Historian Ramachandra Guha, who joined protesters in Bengaluru for a short time, said: “If you stand non-violently for farmers and oppose climate change, you are arrested. On the other hand, if you go from door to door, intimidating people to donate for the ruling party, you are free. Thuggishness in the name of BJP is allowed... peaceful protest in the name of democracy, human rights or environmental sustainability is a crime.”

The Opposition and ruling BJP exchanged verbal blows on Monday with the Congress-led camp flagging a young 21 year old activist’s arrest a “threat to democracy” and the BJP saying “a crime is a crime, age just a number”.

BJP leaders defended the police action, saying Disha was an adult and must be held responsible for her actions. “A criminal is a criminal and age is immaterial if the person isn’t a juvenile.” party spokespersons Sambit Patra and Gaurav Bhatia said.

Congress leaders Rahul, Priyanka and Shashi Tharoor stepped up the offensive over the arrest of Disha. Priyanka tweeted, “Those with guns are afraid of a girl who has no weapons. A girl without arms has spawned courage all around.”

The AAP and RJD also demanded the release of Disha. :Arrest of 21 yr old Disha Ravi is an unprecedented attack on Democracy. Supporting our farmers is not a crime," tweeed Arvind Kejriwal.

Accusing the govtt of ‘murdering democracy’, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the country will not be silenced. "Your lips are free to speak. Say that the truth is still alive. They are scared, not the country. India will not be silenced," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

the BJP alleged that the opposition, especially the Congress, have always stood with "anti-India" forces in their bid to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that Ravi's arrest has totally exposed the "nefarious conspiracies of the break India forces" to demean the integrity of India.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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SUU KYI DETENTION EXTENDED AS PROTESTS CONTINUE IN MYANMAR

Myanmar’s military leaders have extended their detention of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose remand was set to expire February 15 and whose freedom is a key demand of the crowds of people continuing to protest this month’s military coup.

Ms. Suu Kyi will now be remanded until February 17, when she will likely appear in court by videoconference, according to Khin Maung Zaw, a lawyer asked by Ms. Suu Kyi’s party to represent her.

Suu Kyi’s extended detention is likely to further inflame tensions between the military, which seized power a February 1 coup, and the protesters who have taken to the streets across the nation seeking the return of the govtt they elected.

Protesters continued to gather across Myanmar on February 15 following a night in which authorities cut the country’s Internet access and increased the security presence in major cities seeking to curtail demonstrations.

INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE CAPITOL RIOTS

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Congress will establish an "outside, independent" commission to investigate the 6 January attack on the US Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump.

In a letter to lawmakers, she said the commission would be modelled on the inquiry into the 11 September 2001 attacks on New York and the Pentagon.

Former President Trump was acquitted by the Senate of inciting the violence. But Democrats and some Republicans have backed an independent probe into the riots, which left five people dead.

Ms Pelosi said that US Army Lieutenant General Russel Honoré had, over the past few weeks, been assessing the security needs of the Capitol in light of the attack. "It is clear from his findings and from the impeachment trial that we must get to the truth of how this happened," she said.

THE REST

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UTTARAKHAND DISASTER: THREE MORE BODIES RECOVERED FROM TUNNEL, TOLL CLIMBS TO 54

Three more bodies were recovered Monday from the Tapovan tunnel, taking the toll in the Uttarakhand flash flood to 54 as hopes of finding survivors there over a week after the disaster dimmed.

So far nine bodies have been pulled out from Adit tunnel at the National Thermal Power Corporation’s ‘s Tapovan-Vishnugad project site, choked by debris after the February 7 flood which ripped into two hydel plants in the Alaknanda river system.

Apart from the confirmed 54 dead, 150 others are still missing. The multi-agency rescue effort in Chamoli district is focusing on the Tapovan tunnel where about 30 workers were feared trapped.

The agencies involved in the Tapovan rescue work include the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force.

ALL THREE FARM LAWS FOR ‘HIS CAPITALIST FRIENDS’, NOT FARMERS: PRIYANKA GANDHI’S DIG AT PM

In line with Rahul Gandhi’s “hum do, hamare do” dig at Narendra Modi-led central govtt, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Monday alleged all the three farm laws have not been brought in for the farmers, but for PM’s capitalist friends.

Addressing farmers at Kisan Mahapanchayat in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka said, “His capitalist friends run media in this country. The elections are also run with the help of the same capitalist friends. The whole country has been given away to these capitalist friends.”

Vowing to stand by the farmers in their fight for their rights, Priyankai said, “I am with you, Rahul Gandhi is with you. Each and every Congress worker is with you. I have faith in you that you will keep on fighting for your rights.”

INDIA OPENS UP GEO-SPATIAL SECTOR

Indian entities will no longer need govtt permission to collect, use, publish or share geospatial data, including maps.

The govtt yesterday deregulated the sector, ending its own 250-year-old colonial era monopoly in the area with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing the move as a massive push to the national goal of self-reliance.

The Guidelines for Acquiring and Producing Geospatial Data and Geospatial Data Services, including maps, acknowledge that maps and other accurate geospatial data are crucial for national infrastructure projects like linkages of rivers, creation of industrial corridors and deploying smart power systems. “From creation of maps to their dissemination, Indian firms were hitherto required to seek licences and follow cumbersome procedures of permissions,” Science Minister Harsh Vardhan said.

The govtt said emerging vibrant technologies like e-commerce, autonomous drones, delivery and urban transport require a massive leap in mapping with greater depths, resolution and precision for which deregulation was necessary.

The guidelines place some restrictions on the marking of sensitive attributes (such as strategic locations) on maps, but there is no restriction on surveying or mapping any area as long as it is physically accessible. High-spatial accuracy geospatial data finer than 1 metre horizontally and 3 metres vertically can, however, only be acquired and owned by Indian entities and stored in India.

“Data of accuracy coarser than that is globally available through satellites and has hence not been regulated. Also finer data such as data needed to predict disasters can be licensed for foreign entities also but these entities cannot own that data,” the guidelines say.

WHATSAPP CASE: FOR PEOPLE, PRIVACY MATTERS MORE THAN FIRM'S VALUE, SAYS SC

The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the Centre and Facebook-owned WhatsApp within a month on a fresh plea alleging lower standards of privacy for Indian users as compared with European counterparts.

A Bench, headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, was hearing an interim application filed by petitioners, Karmanya Singh Sareen and Shreya Sethi, in a pending petition of 2017. Their lawyer, Shyam Diwan, said the messaging app was differentiating between European countries and India in its policy.

The apex court said people have grave apprehensions that they will lose their privacy, and it is our duty to protect them. “You (Facebook and WhatsApp) may be two or three trillion (dollar) companies. But people value their privacy. It is our duty and we have to protect people's privacy,” Justice Bobde said.

WhatsApp told the top court that Europe has a special law on privacy and it will also follow if India has a similar statute. “This 2021 policy is applicable everywhere, apart from Europe as it has a law. If India has a law we will follow the same,” said Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal, representing WhatsApp. The case will be heard next after four weeks.

WhatsApp had said its proposed policy update “does not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family in any way. The changes are related to optional business features on WhatsApp, and provide further transparency about how we collect and use data”.

SIDDIQUE KAPPAN CAN VISIT MOTHER, CAN’T TALK TO MEDIA: SUPREME COURT

Citing “humanitarian grounds”, the Supreme Court Monday allowed jailed journalist Siddique Kappan, who was arrested by UP Police in October, to visit his ailing mother in Kerala — but under strict “safeguards”, including a bar on speaking to the media.

Kappan is in jail in Mathura in a case linked to an alleged conspiracy to inflame religious enmity over the rape in Hathras of a Dalit girl and her death.

The order was issued by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde after Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), sought five days interim bail for Kappan to see his mother. The court said it is allowing the visit on humanitarian grounds.

However, the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, laid down a few conditions: the visit shall be “only for the purpose of seeing his ailing mother”; “he shall not give any interview to any media including the social media”; and, “he shall not meet the members of the public”.

NEEDLE POINTS TO BJP IT CELL HEAD, 12 INFLUENCERS: ANIL DESHMUKH

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said the preliminary inquiry into tweets by celebrities, in response to tweets by some international figures, has brought to fore names of the BJP’s IT cell head and 12 “influencers”.

Addressing his first media briefing after recovering from Covid-19, Deshmukh sought to clarify his earlier statement in this regard: “My earlier statement regarding tweets by celebrities was presented in a distorted manner. I never meant that the inquiry was going to be of celebrities. Lata Mangeshkar is godlike for us. And every countryman respects Sachin Tendulkar. There is no question of their inquiry. What I had meant was that inquiry will be done into the role of the BJP’s IT cell. And preliminary inquiry has brought to fore the names of BJP’s IT cell head and twelve influencers and further probe is on in the matter.”

MS DHONI ACTOR SANDEEP NAHAR FOUND DEAD HOURS AFTER POSTING ‘SUICIDE NOTE’ ON FACEBOOK

Actor Sandeep Nahar, who starred in Akshay Kumar’s Kesari and the MS Dhoni biopic, allegedly died by suicide on Monday, hours after he wrote on Facebook about his intention of taking the extreme step. Nahar, a Mumbai resident, was declared brought dead when he was taken to SRV hospital in Goregaon West.

In his long FB post, Nahar accused his wife of two years, Kanchan, and mother-in-law of relentlessly harassing and blackmailing him. The actor, who was also seen in ALT Balaji’s Kehne Ko Humsafar Hai, said that he and his wife were in an unhealthy relationship, which was riddled with constant fights and arguments. He, however, said no one should be held responsible for his death.

JLR'S $3.5 BN PLAN TO TAKE ALL JAGUARS, 60% LAND ROVERS ELECTRIC BY 2030

All Jaguar cars and six out of every 10 Land Rover models will go electric by 2030 as the UK subsidiary of Tata Motors ditches the combustion engine in favour of the zero-emission technology as part of its ‘Reimagine’ strategy.

According to the plan, crafted by JLR’s newly-appointed chief executive officer, Thierre Bollore, the company will invest about 2.5 billion pounds a year into electrification and related technologies. The Land Rover line will get its first fully electric model in 2024, and by the following year, all Jaguar models will be entirely powered by batteries.

To execute the plan, JLR will empower a new centralised team to build and accelerate pioneering innovations in materiality, engineering, manufacturing, services and circular economy investments.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN: SINGLES DOWN TO LAST 8s

Ash Barty made light of the challenge of unseeded American Shelby Rogers to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the third year in a row with a commanding 6-3 6-4 victory on Monday. The world No. 1 has tried to deflect talk that she might end Australia's 43-year wait for a homegrown champion on Saturday but she looked every bit the title contender as she swept into the last eight without dropping a set.

With no crowds until Thursday at the earliest because of Melbourne's five-day coronavirus lockdown and no Australian men left in the singles draw, Barty has the hopes of organisers as well as fans resting on her shoulders.

Quarterfinals Lineup

Men's Singles

N. Djokovic (1) vs M. Raonic (14)

G. Dimitrov (18) vs A. Karatsev

A. Rublev (7) vs D. Medvedev

S. Tsitsipas (5) vs R. Nadal (2)

Women's Singles

A. Barty (1) vs K. Muchova (25)

J. Brady (22) vs J. Pegula

S. Hsieh vs N. Osaka (3)

S. Williams (10) vs S. Halep (2)

ASHWIN WOWS HOME CROWD WITH ALL-ROUND BRILLIANCE

Ravichandran Ashwin does not know if he will play another Test at his home ground in Chennai and the 34-year-old was naturally thrilled to conjure an all-round performance that put India on course for a series-levelling victory against England on Monday.

He then returned to smash 106 in front of delirious home crowd to prove there was no demon in the pitch.

The off-spinner also removed Rory Burns in the final session as England, chasing a record 482, slumped to 53-3.

Along with skipper Virat Kohli, who made 62, Ashwin showed how to play spin on a deteriorating track where the ball often kicked up dust on landing.

Scores at end of day 3: India 329 & 286; England 134 & 53/3

INDICATORS

Sensex 52,154 (+610), Nifty 15,315 (+151), Trading Value NSE (Rs.crores) 68779

(US markets were closed yesterday on account of Washington's Birthday)

US$-Rs. 72.58 GBP-Rs. 100.89, Euro-Rs. 88.04, UAE Dhm-Rs.19.75, Can$-Rs. 57.34, Aus$- Rs. 56.45

GBP 0.71 /US$, Euro 0.82 /US$, Jap.Yen 105.24 /US$, Aus$ 1.28 /US$, Sing 1.32 /US$, Bang Taka 83.23 /US$, Can$ 1.26 /US$, Mal Ring 4.03 /US$,

Pak Re 158.38 /US$, Phil Peso 47.92 /US$, Russian Rouble 73.36 /US$, NZ$ 1.38 /US$, Thai Baht 29.84 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 27.66 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 48,439

Dollar Index 90.24 Brent Crude 63.52  BDI 1339

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,825 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 4,700 / 4,600, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 69,200

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Too often reason deceives us, but conscience never deceives. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau

OFF TRACK

In a lecture to a group of Korean officers, an American general took three minutes to tell his favourite joke. The interpreter then translated using only ten words. Nevertheless everyone burst out into hearty laughter. After the lecture, the general asked the interpreter how he had been able to tell such a long joke so quickly.

“Well Sir,” confessed the Korean, “I didn’t think everyone would get the point so I just said: ‘The general has just told a joke. Everyone will laugh.’”