From the Newsroom: Rahul Gandhi says Modi 'scared' of China

In your evening news brief, Rahul Gandhi says Modi 'scared' of China; the countdown for the launch of the PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 mission starts and the UAE supports Saudi Arabia's position on the US report on Khashoggi.

Here is the top news of February 27, 2021:

The countdown for the launch of the PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 mission commenced on Saturday from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

PSLV-C51 rocket, which is the 53rd mission of PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle), will launch Amazonia-1 of Brazil as primary satellite and 18 co-passenger satellites from Sriharikota, about 100 km from Chennai, Bengaluru-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation said in a statement. The launch is tentatively scheduled at 1024 hours on February 28, subject to weather conditions. The countdown began at 0854 hours.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Sino-India border standoff, charging him with being 'scared' of the eastern neighbour.

Before the stand-off at eastern Ladakh, where the disengagement process has been completed with the withdrawal of troops, weapons and other military hardware from the North and South banks of Pangong ake areas, the Chinese "tested the idea in Dokhlam (in 2017)," he said.

The United Arab Emirates supports Saudi Arabia's position on the United States intelligence report about the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the UAE's state news agency WAM reported on Saturday.

The UAE's foreign ministry "expressed its confidence in and support for the Saudi judiciary rulings, which affirm the kingdom's commitment to implementing the law in a transparent and impartial manner, and holding all those involved in this case accountable," WAM said.

Source: PTI/ Reuters