INDIA'S PARALYMPIANS BEAT THE ODDS, COME HOME WITH 19 MEDALS

Inspirational, incredible and indomitable. India's paralympians were all these and much more in an epoch-making campaign at the Tokyo Games, where an unparalleled 19 medals, including 5 gold, helped them sign off 24th in the overall tally -- the highest ever.

The tally also included 8 silver and 6 bronze medals, but, most importantly, it was a performance during which history was scripted almost every day as the contingent lived up to the 'Spirit in Motion' motto of the Games.

Even on the last day of competition, the medal rush did not stop. Krishna Nagar won gold after Noida's District Magistrate Suhas Yathiraj signed off his brilliant run with a silver to complete a remarkable badminton show.

The duo's performance was like icing on the cake for the contingent, which found new heroes, celebrated some established ones and brought para-sports firmly into spotlight in India.

In all, 54 athletes came to Tokyo and 17 of them left with medals around their necks. Two athletes, shooters Avani Lekhara and Singhraj Adana, finished on podium twice, creating their own legacies in their debut Paralympics.

It was an improved performance no doubt, but calling it just improvement would be an understatement given that India's overall Games haul, across all editions, was a mere 12 before this edition.

To put things in perspective, at the 2016 Rio Games, India had 19 athletes across five disciplines and four returned with medals.

"Phenomenal Rise of Indian Paralympians! A New Era has Begun," said sports minister Anurag Thakur.

'DEFEAT BJP' CALLS RAISED AT MEGA FARMER EVENT IN POLL-BOUND UP

It was a massive show of strength and unity in Muzaffarnagar in the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh yesterday as farmers from across the country gathered for a “kisan mahapanchayat” organised by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha. Over 300 farmer unions from 15 states and several “khaps” from the region participated in the event organised in the home turf of BKU (Tikait) leader Rakesh Tikait.

The mahapanchayat was organised at the Government Inter College ground in Muzaffarnagar in protest against the Centre's controversial farm laws but it turned into broad complaints against the BJP govts at the centre and in UP.

Thousands (or lakhs by some estimates) of farmers gathered as Tikait called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders 'rioters' and said the party should be given a drubbing in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

Tikait also targeted the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh over sugarcane prices. "This (Muzaffarnagar) is the sugarcane belt. There was a government which had raised the sugarcane price by Rs 80, while another government had increased it by Rs 50. "Is the Adityanath government weaker than these two dispensations? It did not increase the price even by one rupee. "This government should be given 'vote ki chot' (electoral defeat). The slogan of 'fasalon ke daam nahi, to vote nahi' (no fair price for crops, no votes) will have to be raised," Tikait said at the mega rally attended by farmers from UP and neighbouring states.

Lashing out at the Centre over its National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), the BKU national spokesperson said 'India for sale' boards have been put up. Referring to Modi, Adityanath and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as 'outsiders', the farmer leader said he has no objection if they become prime ministers after winning polls from Uttarakhand or Gujarat. "But on the soil of Uttar Pradesh, these rioters will not be tolerated," he said.

He further claimed the country's railways, airlines and airports are being 'sold' along with 'privatisation of electricity' and 'sale of roads'. "The banks are being sold like FCI land is being given to Adani. The 'Sale of India' boards have been put up and the purchasers are Ambani and Adani," he alleged referring to the top industrialists.

He also claimed that state-run energy giant Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and fuel retailer Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) are in 'danger'.

Popular names like Medha Patkar and Yogendra Yadav were also seen on the dais.

BKU media in-charge Dharmendra Malik said farmers belonging to 300 organisations spread across different states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, among others, have gathered for the event.

The farmers’ unions called for a “Bharat bandh” on September 27.

NARENDRA MODI PIPS 13 GLOBAL LEADERS TO HAVE HIGHEST APPROVAL RATING IN GLOBAL SURVEY

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has topped the approval rating chart of world leaders as per a survey conducted by Morning Consult Political Intelligence.

As per the survey, the prime minister of India is the most approved of 13 of the world leaders, which include US president Joe Biden, UK prime minister Boris Johnson among others.

The list also included Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Canada’s Trudeau, Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and others. According to the survey, Modi received a stellar approval rating of 70 percent while Mexico's president Andrés Manuel López Obrador was second with 64 percent and Italy's prime minister Mario Draghi completed the top three with 63 percent.

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, stood at number 4 with 52 percent approval. With 48 percent approval each, the fifth and sixth spots were taken by United States president Joe Biden and Australia's Scott Morrison. The last three spots on the list were acquired by Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez, French president Emmanuel Macron, and Japan's prime minister Yoshihide Suga with 35 percent, 34 percent, and 25 percent respectively.

The report also showed that his approval rating has increased in the last two months as his approval rating was 66 percent in June. However, the data also showed that in May 2020, Modi enjoyed a record high rating of 84 percent.

The report also stated that Modi's disapproval rating has also dropped to around 25 percent, one of the lowest on the list. According to the survey, the PM's disapproval rating had reached a peak in May 2021 when the second wave of the Covid hit the country hard. Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden’s approval rating is low after the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. Many Americans are unhappy over the US’ policy in Afghanistan with a significant section calling US’ role as a “failure".

According to Morning Consult, they conduct more than 11,000 daily interviews globally about leadership approval.

The Morning Consult calculates the approval and disapproval rating “based on a seven-day moving average of all adults in a given country with a margin of error of between +/- 1-3 percent”. Online interviews of approximately 2,126 adults were sampled for the data on India.

KEY COVID NUMBERS

Current Active Cases Countrywide: 3,99,023

New Cases in last 24 hours: 39,512

Recovered in last 24 hours: 43,917

Change in no. of Active cases in last 24 hours: -4,623

No. of deaths in last 24 hours (Total Covid Deaths so far): 218 (4,40,785)

Daily Tests (Thursday): 18,18,180

Daily Positivity Rate (Proportion of Positives among total Tested): 2.4%

Percentage of Population Vaccinated (At Least One Dose / Two Doses): 39.4% / 12.0%

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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PANJSHIR VALLEY KEEPS SENDING CONFLICTING SIGNALS

The Taliban said that they have taken control of all districts in Panjshir province, a claim that has been denied by resistance forces, according to a media reports on Sunday.

Deputy head of the Taliban's cultural affairs commission Ahmadullah Wasiq said on Sunday that fighting between Taliban fighters and the Resistance Front was ongoing in central Panjshir. He said, 'Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate has an active presence in all districts and areas of Panjshir.' All areas are under Mujahideen control. “Only in the central bazaar of Panjshir has there been resistance.”

However, the leader of the Resistance Front denied the Taliban's claim in a tweet, saying that the resistance forces had re-captured the Parian district of Panjshir from the Taliban on Sunday and had inflicted heavy casualties on the Taliban.

Fahim Dashti, spokesperson for the Resistance Front said that at least a thousand terrorists were trapped due to the blockade of the exit route, all the attackers were killed, surrendered or captured by the resistance fighters with the help of the locals during the retreat.

The leader of the Afghan resistance group, Ahmad Massoud, said he supported a plan, put forward by religious clerics, for a negotiated settlement, and called on the Taliban to end their offensive.

Meanwhile, the delay in announcing the leadership in Kabul continues.

UAE LIBERALISES STRINGENT RESIDENCY LAW, MAJOR BOOST FOR VISA SEEKERS

The United Arab Emirates has announced a major plan to stimulate its economy and liberalize residency for expatriates, as the country seeks to overhaul its finances and attract foreign capital and residents.

The country's finance minister on Sunday pledged that the government would pour some $13.6 billion into the economy over the next year. Other UAE ministries introduced various government overhauls.

The Emirates for years since its independence has tied employment to residency status, giving employers outsized power and forcing people to immediately leave the country once they lost their jobs. The new plans give residents more time to seek other jobs after termination, allow youth over age 15 to gain employment and others to more easily join their families in the federation of seven sheikhdoms.

We are building the new 50 years' economy, Thani al-Zeyoudi, the minister of state for foreign trade, said in an interview, adding that free trade and openness have long made UAE a major global entrepot. Anyone who is trying to be more conservative and trying to close their markets, the value is going to be only in the short term, but in the long term, they're harming their economies.

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MAHARASHTRA CM CAUTIONS AGAINST CALLS FOR OPENING UP

Attacking the Opposition over its demand of reopening places of worship, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray asked them not to hold protests and warned that playing politics with the pandemic could endanger lives.

Thackeray also said that it was up to the people “to prevent or invite” a third wave of Covid and urged them to avoid crowding during the Ganesh festival. The second wave has not subsided completely, the CM said, pointing to its still evident “thick tail”.

Without naming the opposition BJP and MNS, Thackeray said that playing politics at this time was to play with people’s lives. “Many are in a hurry and insist on opening more activities. But we are also ensuring that the activities that are being opened are not closed again. Otherwise, we may not be able to come out of this pandemic,” he said.

“Everyone should consider that this haste would lead to endangering the lives of people. While we play politics, people’s lives are lost. Don’t play with people’s lives. If you want to protest, do it against corona.”

NAXAL FOOTPRINT WEAKENING, 20 DISTRICTS NO MORE AFFECTED

As the Naxal footprint in the country has shown a definite weakening trend, the government has removed 20 of the 90 districts and one from among 11 affected states from the coverage of centrally sponsored scheme — the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) — for implementing two-pronged strategy to contain the ultras and their induced violence, said officials involved in counter-left-wing extremism.

Uttar Pradesh is out of the coverage of SRE as its three districts — Chandauli, Mirzapur and Sonebhadra — no longer require targeted interventions for containing Naxalism..

Under the SRE scheme, the Centre reimburses the bulk of the expenditure incurred by the Naxal-hit states, including ex gratia payment to civilians and security personnel killed by the ultras besides the expenses on mobility, logistics and communication as also ammunition used for operations against the ultras by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the respective police forces, among others.

BJP'S VARUN GANDHI CALLS FOR ENGAGING WITH PROTESTING FARMERS

In a tweet on Sunday, BJP leader Varun Gandhi described protesting farmers gathered in Muzzaffarnagar for a mahapanchyat as “our own flesh and blood” and stressed the need to “understand their pain” and re-engage with them.

Gandhi’s stand seems to be a breaking of ranks indicating a growing unease in the BJP over the continued farmers’ agitation ahead of the UP assembly elections.

While a number of BJP leaders have condemned the agitation calling it either anti-national or being hijacked by the opposition, most have chosen to stay quiet on the issue while advocating dialogue.

BJP MLA from Khurja Vijendra Singh tweeted: “Sorry Varun ji but still you need to make difference between farmers and anti-national elements”. Singh later deleted his tweet.

Varun Gandhi is one of the few BJP MPs to come out in support of the farmers. Many in the party, however, attributed his outburst over his exclusion in the union cabinet in July.

AAP RELUCTANT TO NAME HIM CM FACE, MANN FLEXES POLITICAL MUSCLE

There are whiffs of a muted rebellion brewing between the central leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the party’s Punjab unit president and Sangrur MP, Bhagwant Mann. The AAP so far has been wary about naming Mann as the chief ministerial candidate for 2022 Punjab Assembly polls. Mann on the other hand has repeatedly emphasised that party leaders and cadre want him to be named as the CM candidate as soon as possible.

The two-time Sangrur MP has been meeting droves of supporters daily at his house for the past one week and sending out signals that he is the popular choice amongst party members to be named as the AAP’s CM candidate, should they win next year’s elections. Some AAP MLAs too have come out in open support of Mann’s candidature, thereby underlining a rift within the party.

A senior party leader, however, confided that the central leadership of AAP has taken a dim view of Mann’s flexing of political muscle and attempting to force his name to be announced as CM face of the party.

KERALA HEALTH DEPT ON HIGH ALERT AFTER FRESH NIPAH OUTBREAK

Nipah virus has returned to haunt Kerala with a 12-year old boy on Sunday succumbing to the infection, the first such incident three years after it wrecked havoc in parts of Kozhikode and Malappuram districts of the state.

As Kerala reeled under severe COVID-19, the deadly Nipah virus has come as another thorn in its side, prompting the state to further heighten the alertness of its health machinery to prevent an outbreak of a different infection.

State Health Minister Veena George, who is camping in Kozhikode district said situation was under control and there was no need for any panic.

Meanwhile, a team from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reached the state to provide support as two others also displayed symptoms of the Nipah virus infection.

The first Nipah virus disease outbreak in South India was reported from Kozhikode district in Kerala on May 19, 2018. The outbreak was then contained and declared over by June 10, 2018.

Thereafter, in June 2019, a new case of Nipah was reported from Kochi and the sole patient was a 23-year old student, who later recovered.

With this year's reporting of a case, it is the fifth time the virus has been detected in India and the third in Kerala.

RSS DISTANCES ITSELF FROM ARTICLE CRITICAL OF INFY

The RSS on Sunday distanced itself from an article in its affiliate publication Panchjanya which alleged that Bengaluru-based IT major Infosys supported anti-India forces.

Clarifying the organisation’s stand on the matter, RSS spokesperson Sunil Ambekar tweeted: “As an Indian company, Infosys has made seminal contribution in progress of the country. There might be certain issues with a portal run by Infosys, but the article published by Panchjanya in this context only reflects individual opinion of the author.” “Panchjanya is not mouthpiece of the RSS and the said article or opinions expressed in it should not be linked with the RSS,” he added.

U.S. OPEN: LEYLAH FERNANDEZ UPSETS ANGELIQUE KERBER TO REACH QFINALS

Leylah Fernandez of Canada followed up her upset of No. 3 Naomi Osaka in grand style.

The 18-year-old from Montreal upset No. 16 seed and three-time Grand Slam singles champion Angelique Kerber of Germany on Sunday to reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals, righting herself after an inconsistent first set to earn a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Fernandez, who isn’t seeded here, had a 4-2 lead in the first set but Kerber won the last four games of the set and extended that into the second set to win seven of eight games. But Fernandez found her footing and turned things around by breaking Kerber’s serve to pull even at 4-4. In the tiebreak, Fernandez took a 5-1 lead before Kerber — the 2016 U.S. Open winner — managed to regroup. Fernandez had three chances to win the set before she closed it out.

OVAL TEST; DAY 4: BATSMEN MAKE MERRY AS FOURTH TEST HANGS IN BALANCE

The under-fire opening pair of Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns gave England a strong start after the indomitable Shadul Thakur and calm Rishabh Pant ensured India a 367-run lead, as the fourth Test entered an engrossing home stretch.

Hameed (batting on 43 off 85 balls) and Burns (batting on 31 off 109 balls) put on a 77-run partnership in 32 overs, on a placid track that showed little signs of wear and tear, after Thakur (60 off 72 balls) and Pant (50 off 107 balls) helped India put up a commendable 466 in their second innings on Day 4.

With 291 runs of the target of 368 required on the final day, England, who were 77 without loss at stumps on day 4, will at least fancy a draw, if not victory, as the pitch has nothing on offer for the bowlers.

Ravindra Jadeja (0 for 28 in 13 overs), whose primary skill has been overlooked by the team management, looked pedestrian during the overs he bowled on the penultimate evening. A few balls did turn, but Burns tackled them with ease.

Earlier, in the morning session Ajinkya Rahane failed to prove his worth, as Chris Woakes (25-8-47-2) dismissed him with an off-cutter for a duck.

Virat Kohli (44 off 96) missed out on a half-century after another dismissal outside the off-stump – India were at a precarious 312/6 at that stage – a lead of just 213.

Scores at end of Day 4 : India 191 & 466; England 290 & 77/0

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't. - Steve Maraboli

OFF TRACK

At long last the good-humored boss was compelled to call our friend Sunil into his office. "It has not escaped my attention," he pointed out, "that every time there's a one-day match, you have to take your mom to the doctor."

"You know you're right, sir," exclaimed Sunil. "I didn't realize it. You don't suppose she's faking it, do you?"