From the Newsroom: 'Metroman' E Sreedharan to join BJP; China says LAC disengagement process progressing smoothly

In your evening news brief, 'Metroman' E Sreedharan is set to join BJP and may even contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Kerala; Novak Djokovic enters Australian Open finals and China says the disengagement process was progressing smoothly.

Hi, you are listening to From The Newsroom— your daily evening news catch up show from Deccan Herald.

Here is the top news of February 18, 2021:

In an impetus to the BJP in Kerala, E Sreedharan, popularly known as 'Metroman', decided to join BJP.

Sreedharan told a section of media that both the CPM-led Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front that had been ruling Kerala over these years are only interested in political gains. He is hopeful that only the BJP-led NDA could initiate steps for Kerala's development. Hence, he decided to work with BJP, he said.

Sreedharan, who is now 89, may also contest in the upcoming Assembly elections.

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World number one Novak Djokovic ended the dream run of Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev in the Australian Open semi-finals Thursday, maintaining his bid for a record-extending ninth title.

The 33-year-old Serb, showing no ill-effects from an abdomen injury sustained in the third round, overwhelmed the 114th-ranked Karatsev 6-3, 6-4 6-2 to reach his 28th Grand Slam final.

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China on Thursday said the disengagement process of the Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the eastern Ladakh border was progressing smoothly and expressed hope that both sides will make concerted efforts to achieve the goal.

On February 10, China's Defence Ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Wu Qian in a brief press release announced that the Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the South and North banks of the Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh started synchronised and organised disengagement.

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Source: DHNS/ PTI/ AFP

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That is it today, From the Newsroom. Tune in tomorrow morning for our feature show, The Lead.

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