Marvel’s upcoming series, Echo, is generating excitement among fans. Created by Marion Dayre, the show follows Maya Lopez as she returns to her Choctaw Nation roots in Oklahoma after her introduction in the 2021 hit, Hawkeye. Directed by Sydney Freeland and Catriona McKenzie, the series delves into Maya’s standalone narrative of power and revenge. Alaqua Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio reprise their roles as Maya Lopez and Kingpin, adding to the anticipation. Now, D’Onofrio has confirmed that he will also be a part of Daredevil: Born Again.

During an interview, the actor shared that he has had a lot of fun playing Kingpin in Echo and Daredevil: Born Again. Opening up about his co-star Charlie Cox, D’Onofrio said, “We see each other so often. If we are not traveling during press, then we are working together on the show. Over the time we have become really good friends. We think alike in terms of our dedication and commitment to our parts and the writing. Just the whole commitment to the situation we are with in Marvel, we are very similar in our approach to our job. It has evolved into a great relationship.”

Boasting a stellar cast that includes Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Devery Jacobs, Zahn McClarnon, Cody Lightning, and Graham Greene, the series guarantees an action-packed narrative deeply rooted in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Executive producers Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Richie Palmer, Jason Gavin, Marion Dayre, and Sydney Freeland lead the series, supported by co-executive producers Jennifer L. Booth and Amy Rardin. Together, they ensure a culturally rich and compelling storytelling experience.

Marvel Studios’ Echo will premiere on January 10, 2024.

See Also: Echo director Sydney Freeland on Maya Lopez: “She’s not a generic Native American character…” 

A fresh set of satellite images, less than a month old, indicate the staggering pace at which China continues to illegally carve into northeast Bhutan by constructing townships along a river valley in Beyul Khenpajong, a region with deep cultural significance.

Bhutan, a nation with a population of less than 8 lakh – just one-fourth that of India’s National Capital Region – can do little, but to watch China continue to salami-slice into its northern, western and southwestern periphery, a pattern of illegal land grabs evident across the Himalayan frontier.

“This case represents China making a very recent, doubtful claim about an area that is of great cultural significance to a far less powerful neighbour, knowing that the neighbour has few if any options as to its response,” says professor Robert Barnett, an expert on Tibetan history at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London.

Beijing’s construction activity comes despite ongoing border talks with Bhutan, and the extent of the construction here and in the nearby Jakarlung region clearly indicates that Beijing may be too far down the road to contemplate any withdrawal from these areas.

Responding to queries on China’s construction activity in Beyul Khenpajong, Bhutan’s Ambassador to India Major General Vetsop Namgyel (retired) said, “While it is our policy not to give comments to the media on the ongoing border talks, I would like to state that we will always uphold and safeguard Bhutan’s territorial interests during the boundary negotiations.”

Satellite imagery experts NDTV has spoken to describe images of the construction activity published here as “large format settlements capable of housing hundreds.” NDTV has counted more than 200 single- and multi-storey structures, though it is believed the final number will be significantly larger since construction of three enclaves visible here is still not complete.

Earlier images from November 2020, published here as a point of reference, show that large-scale construction activity in the region had not begun then. Since November 2020, the Beyul Khenpajong has been entirely transformed, and valleys and hillsides carved into, in order to accommodate a significant road network linking the enclaves.

In a recent piece published by Chatham House, John Pollock and Damien Symon, a leading geo-intelligence researcher, explained the significance of the Beyul, or hidden valley. “The royal family traces its ancestral heritage to the mountainous region, yet the government has been powerless to stop Chinese settlement there.”

China’s occupation of parts of Bhutan also has profound security implications for India. In 2017, Indian and Chinese soldiers faced off in the high-altitude Doklam plateau, adjacent to Sikkim. Indian soldiers physically prevented Chinese soldiers from extending a road that they had constructed in the area, which is internationally recognised as Bhutanese territory.

Since then, Chinese workers have carved into Bhutanese territory to build three villages along the Amu Chu river valley, which lies to the east and directly adjacent to Doklam. New Delhi sees China’s land grab in Bhutan to be a part of a process to extend its presence south in order to threaten the Siliguri corridor, the narrow strip of land that connects the northeast with the rest of India.

“Chinese construction activity violating Bhutanese territorial sovereignty could be aimed at undermining the Bhutan-India relationship and compelling Thimphu to accede to Chinese demands,” says Dr Brahma Chellaney, India’s foremost China-watcher.

India’s security concerns are, in fact, an added problem for Thimphu. “China has imposed a so-called package deal on Bhutan – it refuses to return Jakarlung and areas to its south and west unless Bhutan cede areas in western Bhutan to China, especially the Doklam plateau, which Bhutan cannot give up because of its treaty obligations, diplomatic ties and geostrategic priorities regarding India,” says Dr Barnett.

Under extreme pressure from China, Bhutan is keen to end incursions into its territory once and for all. In October last year, Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji travelled to Beijing, a first for Bhutan. That same month, Prime Minister Lotay Tshering said he was hopeful of a proper border being demarcated between China and Bhutan. Thimphu hasn’t made public statements on the progress of the talks, though it is believed that New Delhi has been kept in the loop on the newest developments.

India’s biggest concern, though, may be the future of Bhutan’s ties with China.

“Bhutan is slowly shifting in the strategic orbit of China and there is not much that India can do, except if a new security agreement is signed between New Delhi and Thimphu,” leading Tibetologist Claude Arpi told NDTV last month.

There are no signs of any move in that direction.

Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, an accused in the alleged fraud of Rs 538 crore at Canara Bank, on Saturday, told a special court here with “folded hands” that he had “lost every hope of life” and it will be “better if he dies in jail” than living in his present condition.

The septuagenarian, who turned teary-eyed, submitted that he misses his wife Anita very badly and said she is in the advanced stage of cancer, according to court records.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Goyal on September 1 last year in connection with the alleged bank fraud. He is currently in judicial custody at Arthur Road jail here.

Mr Goyal had moved a bail application before special judge M G Desphande.

He was produced before the court on Saturday and during the proceedings Mr Goyal requested for a few minutes of personal hearing, which the judge allowed.

As per the court’s ‘roznama’ (record of daily hearings), Mr Goyal with folded hands and “continuous tremors in his whole body” submitted that “his health is very bad and precarious”.

The businessman said that his wife is bedridden and their only daughter too is unwell. The jail staff has their limitations in helping him, said Mr Goyal.

“I heard him patiently and also observed him when he made the submissions as such. I found that his whole body was trembling. He needs assistance even to stand,” the judge noted.

Goyal pointed to his knees and said they were swollen and painful and he was unable to fold his legs.

The Jet Airways founder brought to the court’s notice that he has severe pain while urinating and sometimes blood is passed through urine, coupled with unsustainable pain. Most of the time, he hasn’t been able to get assistance, he said.

The businessman told the judge that he had become very weak and there was no use in referring him to J J Hospital. The journey with other inmates as per the convenience of prison staff and escort party from Arthur Road jail to the hospital is “very troublesome, hectic and tedious which he cannot bear and sustain”.

Also, there is always a long queue of patients and he cannot reach the doctor in time and whenever he is examined by the doctor further follow-up is not possible, Goyal said, adding that Goyal said that these are “very badly affecting his health”.

He said his wife Anita is in the advanced stage of cancer and undergoing treatment.

There is no one to look after her as his only daughter is also suffering from health issues, submitted Goyal, with tears in his eyes.

He requested the court not to send him to J J Hospital and instead “allow him to die in the jail itself”.

Goyal said, “he has lost every hope of life and (it’s) better he should die rather than be alive in such a situation”.

He submitted that he would turn 75 and he has no hope for any future. It’s “better if he dies in jail, his destiny would rescue him”, he said.

Goyal also submitted that his health doesn’t permit him to attend the court personally. This time, Goyal said, he insisted that he be produced before the court so that he would be able to submit everything personally. He said he won’t insist on physical appearance any more.

“I have taken note of everything he has submitted and also assured the accused that he will not be left helpless and all possible care of his mental and physical health will be taken with proper treatment,” the judge said after hearing Goyal.

The court directed his lawyers to take appropriate steps concerning his health.

In his bail plea filed last month, Goyal cited multiple medical ailments like heart condition, prostate and orthopaedic issues and claimed there were reasonable grounds to believe that “he is not guilty”.

The ED has filed a response to his bail plea and the matter will be further heard on January 16.

The ED case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) stems from an FIR of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Jet Airways, Goyal, his wife Anita and some former company executives of the now-grounded private airline in connection with an alleged fraud of Rs 538 crore at the state-run Canara Bank.

The FIR was registered on the bank’s complaint alleging that it had sanctioned credit and loans worth Rs 848.86 crore to Jet Airways (India) Limited of which Rs 538.62 crore was outstanding.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)