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Thu, 11 November 2021
Take back Kangana Ranaut's Padma Shri: Congress
Timeline Refresh
23:39 Take back Kangana Ranaut's Padma Shri: Congress
Hitting out at actor Kangana Ranaut for describing India's Independence in 1947 as 'bheek' or alms, the Congress on Thursday said her remarks amounted to "treason" and demanded the government take back the Padma Shri bestowed on her recently as she has "insulted" the country's Independence movement.
In a 24-second clip shared widely, Ranaut says India's Independence in 1947 was not freedom but "bheek" (alms).
And we got real freedom in 2014," she said at an event organised by a news channel. Some people in the audience were heard clapping.
Reacting to Ranaut's remarks, Congress's senior spokesperson Anand Sharma termed the comments "shocking and outrageous".
"Ms Kangana Ranaut's statement heaping insult on the courageous freedom fighters led by Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and Sardar Patel but also belittling the sacrifices of revolutionaries like Sardar Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekar Azad and several others," he said in a series of tweets.
Sharma urged President Ram Nath Kovind to immediately take back the Padma award given to Ranaut. Psychiatric evaluation should be carried out before giving such awards so that such persons do not dishonour the nation and its heroes, the former Union minister said.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi should break his silence and tell the nation if he endorses the views of Ranaut. If not, the government should take appropriate legal action against such people," he added.
23:19 Court orders to frame charges against AAP MLA in doctor suicide case
A Delhi court on Thursday ordered farming of abetment of suicide, extortion, and other charges against AAP MLA Prakash Jarwal in connection with a case of the alleged suicide of a doctor in south Delhi last year.
Dr Rajendra Singh, 52, allegedly committed suicide in Durga Vihar in south Delhi on April 18, 2020. In his suicide note, the doctor had allegedly held Jarwal responsible for his death.
Like Jarwal, Singh was also involved in the business of water supply with the Delhi Jal Board since 2007, and police alleged that the MLA and his associates were extorting money from other water-tanker owners, including the doctor.
Special Judge Geetanjli Goel also ordered framing of charges against Jarwal's close aide Kapil Nagar, saying there were "prima facie' enough evidence against them.
The court ordered framing of charges under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt), 384 (extortion), and 506 (criminal intimidation), and 306 (abetment of suicide) under IPC. The court, meanwhile, discharged co-accused Harish for the offence under Sections 306 and 386 IPC but ordered framing of charge for the offence of criminal intimidation.
The court held that while there were allegations of continuous harassment at the hands of Jarwal and Nagar which prima facie created circumstances under which the deceased had no option but to commit suicide, but as regards to Harish, except the reference to his name at three places in the diary, it was seen that there was no reference of any specific act or incident whereby he had committed any wilful act or omission or harassed the deceased or extorted money from him. -- PTI
22:33 Sameer Wankhede's statement recorded in caste certificate case
The Mumbai police has recorded the statement of Narcotics Control Bureau zonal director Sameer Wankhede in connection with an allegation of forgery of caste certificate against him, an official said on Thursday.
An assistant commissioner of police recorded Wankhede's statement recently and is conducting further probe, he said.
Wankhede submitted relevant documents to the ACP and recorded his statement in detail, the official added. Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik had alleged that Wankhede's father had converted to Islam, but Wankhede got government job under the Scheduled Caste quota which a Muslim person cannot get.
Wankhede and his father refuted Malik's claims.
Wankhede's father Dnyandev Wankhede has also filed a defamation suit against the Nationalist Congress Party leader.
On Monday, Dnyandev Wankhede filed a police complaint against Malik under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Malik leveled several allegations against Sameer Wankhede after the NCB arrested Aryan Khan, actor Shah Rukh Khan's son, and 19 others in an alleged drug seizure case last month. -- PTI
21:42 Cong appoints Harshwardhan Sapkal, Chetan Chauhan as AICC secretaries
The Congress on Thursday appointed Harshwardhan Sapkal and Chetan Chauhan as All India Congress Committee secretaries and said they will assist the party in-charge for Punjab and Chandigarh.
Harish Chaudhary is the AICC in-charge for party affairs in Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
"Congress president has appointed Harshwardhan Sapkal and Chetan Chauhan as AICC secretaries attached to AICC in-charge for Punjab and Chandigarh with immediate effect," the party said in a statement.
Chaudhary was recently made the AICC in-charge for Punjab, after Harish Rawat sought to be relieved of the charge due to the upcoming assembly elections in Uttarakhand.
Assembly elections in Punjab are slated for early next year and the Congress, having replaced its chief minister amid an internal feud, is seeking to retain power there. -- PTI
21:27 Azad disagrees with Khurshid on Hindutva=ISIS
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday dismissed as 'factually wrong and an exaggeration' the comparison of Hindutva with the jihadist Islam of terrorist groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram in party colleague Salman Khurshid's latest book.
Azad, a former leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and a member of the group of 23 leaders that wrote to party chief Sonia Gandhi seeking organisational overhaul, tweeted, "In Mr Salman Khursheed's new book, we may not agree with Hindutva as a political ideology distinct from composite culture of Hinduism, but comparing Hindutva with ISIS and Jihadist Islam is factually wrong and an exaggeration."
The book by former Union minister Khurshid on the Ayodhya verdict, titled Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times, was released on Wednesday.
A Delhi-based lawyer has filed a complaint with the Delhi police seeking registration of an FIR against Khurshid on the matter.
According to lawyer Vivek Garg, Khurshid in his book writes, "Sanatan Dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints were being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a political version similar to the jihadist Islam of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram of recent years." -- PTI
20:35 Rupee falls 18 paise against US dollar
The rupee depreciated by 18 paise to end at 74.52 (provisional) against the US currency on Thursday, as heavy selling pressure in domestic equities and a strong greenback in the overseas market weighed on investor sentiments.
In addition, investors remained concerned over rising crude prices and sustained foreign capital outflows, forex dealers said.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local currency opened at 74.44, then lost further ground to quote 74.59 against the American currency. -- PTI
ANI Photo/Twitter
20:19 Good Samaritan: TN woman police officer rescues cemetery worker
A woman police officer on Thursday rescued a cemetery worker, who appeared unconscious, by carrying him on her shoulder from the premises of a graveyard here, police said.
Following information that a 28-year old man, who worked at a cemetery under the jurisdiction of T P Chattiram Police Station was lying motionless at the burial ground premises, Inspector Rajeswari rushed to the spot.
She lifted the man, who was lying on the wet ground and carried him on her shoulder to the street and rushed him to a nearby government hospital in an autorickshaw, police said.
The man, who appeared lean and weak, was identified later as R Udhayakumar. He worked at the cemetery.
Udhayakumar had continued to stay in the graveyard premises amid heavy rains and it is suspected to have affected his health. Initially, it was suspected that he was dead as he appeared unconscious. The woman officer was assisted in her effort by two of her colleagues.
The man is being treated at the Kilpauk Government Medical College Hospital.
A video of the officer lifting the man and carrying him to the street and rushing him to hospital in an autorickshaw went viral on the social media.
Kind courtesy @ImranKhanPTI/Twitter
20:11 1,500 Sikh pilgrims to visit Pak from Nov 17: MEA
India on Thursday said that a Jatha of around 1,500 pilgrims will visit Pakistan from November 17 to 26 through the Atari-Wagah Integrated Check Post, as per the 1974 bilateral protocol between India and Pakistan on Visits to Religious Shrines.
The move came keeping in view the significance of the upcoming occasion of Guru Nanak Gurpurab, and the sentiments associated with the religious festival, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said during a media briefing.
"It's been decided that a 'jatha' of around 1,500 pilgrims will visit Pakistan from Nov 17-26 as per the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines b/w India-Pakistan," Bagchi said.
"They [the jatha] will visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Sri Panja Sahib, Dera Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib and Gurdwara Sacha Sauda," he added.
Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, celebrates the birth of the first Sikh Guru and is considered one of the most sacred festivals among Sikhs.
The day is celebrated on the full moon day of the Kartik month as per the Hindu calendar. It is also marked as Kartik Poornima.
This came after Bagchi was asked about his remarks on the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor.
"The movement to Kartarpur Corridor was suspended in March 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. Land travel between India and Pakistan is since been conducted on a limited scale through Attari-Wagah integrated check-post in coordination with the Pakistan side," the spokesperson said.
The 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines between India and Pakistan is a set of principles that was implemented while keeping in view the sentiments and devotion of the various communities in the two countries.
The protocol states that such visits from one country to the other shall be allowed without discrimination as to religion or sect; upto 20 parties may be allowed to visit from one country to the other every year, while the number could be revised from time to time; Every effort should continue to be made to ensure that places of religious worship mentioned in the agreed list are properly maintained and their sanctity preserved, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
Earlier in this year, Pakistan has denied permission to Sikh pilgrims from India to Pakistan on two occasions in June this year; one on the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and second on the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji, the MEA spokesperson said.
During the press briefing, Bagchi also made remarks on India's Vaccine Maitri programme and informed that India has resumed the overseas supply of Indian vaccines.
"Keeping in mind our domestic requirement of vaccines, we have resumed our overseas supply of India made vaccines," Bagchi said.
"Some shipments have already taken place, while others are in the pipeline including through the COVAX facility," he added.
Representational pic
19:02 Storm begins crossing TN coast: IMD
The depression over Bay of Bengal has started crossing coast near here, the Meteorological Department said here on Thursday.
"The depression has started crossing coast. During the past six hours, it has moved with a speed of 16 kilometer per hour and the landfall process will continue for the next two hours," Deputy Director General of Meteorology, S Balachandran told reporters here.
The red alert for Chennai indicating extremely heavy rainfall, is withdrawn he said.
The Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, KKSSR Ramachandran also said that the weather system has started crossing the coast near here.
18:57 MAPPED: States with most active COVID-19 cases
Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Mizoram, Telangana, and Assam are among the top eight states in India with the most active number of COVID-19 cases as of Nov 11.
However, active COVID-19 cases across India have come down to 138,556 as per data released by Union ministry of health and family welfare
D M Awasthi IPS/Twitter
18:24 Days after CM censure, Chhattisgarh DGP shifted
In a sudden move, the Chhattisgarh government on Thursday appointed Ashok Juneja, a 1989-batch IPS officer, as acting Director General of Police (DGP), replacing the incumbent D M Awasthi.
As per an order issued by the Home Department, Awasthi, a 1986-batch IPS officer serving as the DGP since December 19, 2018, has been appointed as Director General of the State Police Academy in Raipur.
Juneja, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) of anti-Naxal operations/state intelligence branch (SIB) and holding the additional charge of Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and Special Task Force (STF), has been made acting DGP till further orders, the order said.
Juneja will continue to hold the existing portfolios till further orders, it said.
The reshuffle took place two days after Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel chaired a review meeting and expressed displeasure over "slow" progress of various works in the home department.
Rain waters inundates the ESI hospital in Chennai
17:36 TN floods toll 14, heavy rain expected today
Amid dark clouds and squally winds, the flooding, triggered by intense showers and release of surplus from dams, transformed several areas in Chennai and in the suburbs into a virtual, large water body.
Fourteen people were killed in rain-related incidents in Tamil Nadu.
The depression, that moved towards the metropolis on Thursday is all set to cross the coast in Tamil Nadu soon.
Authorities used heavy-duty motors, robotic excavators and deployed its full manpower to pump out water, de-clog drains, remove trash and uprooted trees.
The heavy rainfall, since last night covered almost the entire city under sheets of water including downtown Mylapore and heavily inundated several parts of neighbourhoods including Velachery.
Rain water entered state-run hospitals in KK Nagar and Chromepet prompting authorities to shift patients to other facilities.
The bylanes of Pudupet, near the swollen Cooum River, Choolai, Semmancherry, Kodambambakkam, KK Nagar-MGR Nagar and Arumbakkam were among the innumerable neighbourhoods hit by the deluge.
The streets around Hasthinapuram, close to suburban Chrompet resembled an angry speeding river, with water level raising over three-feet.
Inundation in several places like the Five Furlong Road in Guindy-Velachary point was about three feet or a little over it.
The inundation hit neighbouhoods like those off Mudichur, Perungalathur and Nandivaram-Guduvancherry appeared like mini islands with little access to essential needs and power supply was disconnected to all such neighbourhoods considering safety.
A woman who was riding a scooter on the road abutting Raj Bhavan was injured when a tree fell.
Besides Chennai and its suburbs which fall under the districts of Chengelpet, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram, other regions of the state including the northern belt too received heavy rainfall.
Chief Minister M K Stalin held discussions with Ministers chaired a meeting of top state officials led by Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu to review the rain situation.
17:17 Will extend full support to Pegasus probe: Govt
The government will fully cooperate with the committee of experts set up by the Supreme Court to probe allegations of snooping using Pegasus software, IT and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday.
He said the government will provide infrastructure, manpower, laboratory facilities, and information needed by the committee to complete its probe.
On social media regulations, the minister said that while social media platforms have given people chance to express themselves freely, at the same time, misuse of technology has placed "a huge burden of thinking" on where should the regulation be. Speaking at 'Times Now Summit 2021', Vaishnaw asserted that there has to a balance between privacy and social responsibility. "I would say, our policy will have to have our cultural roots, our needs, our realities in focus when we do the policy," he said, adding that the element of "trust" has to come in social media.
"The government's approach is not to censor but to enable self-regulation while empowering users of social media," Vaishnaw said.
"There has to be first, an element of self-regulation. Self regulation is the first step, second is the users themselves come out and regulate. The third is the government should step in. So, the way we have structured our social media and intermediary rules, basically puts the consumer in the front," he said. India enforced new IT intermediary rules earlier this year, aiming to bring greater accountability for big tech companies, including Twitter and Facebook.
17:04 Pune police take custody of NCB witness Gosavi
The Pune Cantonment police have taken the custody of Kiran Gosavi, an NCB witness, in a 2020 cheating case, an official said on Thursday.
Gosavi was on Tuesday sent to judicial custody in another 2018 cheating case registered against him at the Faraskhana police station in Maharashtra's Pune city, for allegedly duping one Chinmay Deshmukh to the tune of Rs 3.09 lakh by promising him a job in the hotel industry in Malaysia.
The case registered in the Cantonment police station pertains to Gosavi allegedly cheating three people to the tune of Rs 4 lakh under the pretext of providing them jobs in Malaysia in 2020.
He was booked under sections 420 (cheating) and 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), an official earlier said. Officials of the Cantonment police station on Tuesday moved an application before the court seeking Gosavi's custody, which was allowed by the court.
On Thursday, the Cantonment police station's senior inspector Ashok Kadam said, "We have arrested Gosavi in the case registered with our police station and he was produced before the court. He has been remanded to the police custody till November 17." -- PTI
16:42 The most polluted city in the world is...
Lahore is on top of the list of the most polluted cities in the world, according to air pollution data released by the US Air Quality Index.
... Lahore!
The air quality in the city of Pakistan was recorded at over 600 on Wednesday. Karachi stood at the fifth position on the list.
A level of 681 was recorded in Gulberg, 626 was recorded in Raiwind, 541 in Anarkali Market and 532 in Model Town, SAMAA TV reported.
Meanwhile, smog in Pakistan's Punjab province has also caused concerns among the authorities.
16:37 Mapped: The top losers in the markets today
SBI was down 2.83 points; take a look alongside for the other scrips that lost today.
16:26 Transfer of Madras HC CJ to Meghalaya HC: Is there more to it than meets the eye?
The abrupt transfer of Madras High Court Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, to the Meghalaya High Court is not only controversial, but raises a host of issues. Read the column here.
16:22 S Africa's last Apartheid president FW De Klerk dies
South Africa's last Apartheid president, FW De Klerk, has died.
"Former President FW de Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye earlier this morning following his struggle against mesothelioma cancer," the statement said. He was 85 years old.
As South Africa's last head of state from the era of white-minority rule, he and his government dismantled the apartheid system and introduced universal suffrage.
De Klerk won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1993 for his work in ending apartheid.
16:10 Former Maoist gunned down in J'khand
A former member of the CPI (Maoist) was shot dead by unidentified men at a village in Hazaribagh, Jharkhan, on Thursday as he was on his way home from a river ghat, where he had gone to observe Chhath puja rituals, a senior police officer said.
Six men on three motorcycles gunned down Kedar Thakur at Kolgay village in Keredari police station area around 6.30 am, said Superintendent of Police Manoj Ratan Chouthe.
The assailants are suspected to be active members of the banned outfit.
According to Chouthe, the victim, who was in his forties, had distanced himself from all Maoist-related operations, after having served his time in Hazaribag Central Jail for criminal activities.
SBI was the top loser in the Sensex pack
15:55 Sensex slumps 433 pts; Nifty drops below 17,900
Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled by 433 points on Thursday tracking losses in index majors ICICI Bank, HDFC and SBI amid mounting inflationary pressure in the global market and foreign fund outflows.
The 30-share index ended 433.13 points or 0.72 per cent lower at 59,919.69. Similarly, the Nifty fell 143.60 points or 0.80 per cent to 17,873.60.
SBI was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding around 3 per cent, followed by Bajaj Finserv, Tech Mahindra, Sun Pharma, Bajaj Finance and Axis Bank. On the other hand, Titan, M&M, Reliance Industries and TCS were among the gainers.
15:54 Amarinder asks Punjab govt not to politicize national security issues
Rejecting the Punjab government resolution moved in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today against the proposed move of the centre to extend the operational jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) from 15 km to 50 km, former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh asked the state government not to politicise the issue of national security.
"The operational jurisdiction of the BSF concerns national security and not law and order in the state, which the current powers that be in Punjab are apparently not able to understand," he remarked in a statement issued today.
Singh said that it was sad that the government was trying to politicize an issue, which concerns national security and concerns all border states including Punjab.
He pointed out that it is not only Punjab but the states like Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal and others where the BSF jurisdiction is 50 kilometres inside the international border.
15:21 Tharoor: Faced backlash for wishing Advani
Shashi Tharoor tweets to say that he has been called a Sanghi sympathiser for wishing BJP veteran LK Advani on his birthday. Advani turned 94 on Monday.
Tharoor writes, "I am frankly appalled by the vicious backlash against my birthday greetings to LK Advaniji. Has civility disappeared entirely from our political discourse? Gandhiji taught us to respect & honour the humanity in our political opponents. It seems that now makes me a Sanghi sympathiser!
"In fact Gandhiji taught us to fight the sin but love (& embrace) the sinner. Ahimsa is "a positive state of love, of doing good even to the evildoer". While good and evil are Gandhian terms I cant easily use (most human beings are shades of both), I deplore intolerance on either side.
"So yes, I intend to continue to wish LK Advani & @narendramodi well on their birthdays, while opposing what they stand for politically. My 40 years of writing makes clear what I believe in. Only those who havent read me would call me a Sanghi. My values wont be discarded 4them."
15:10 Chennai turns into Venice without Piazza San Marco
Streets near the High Court Metro Station are waterlogged due to incessant rainfall in Chennai. Several areas of the city are inundated.
Most districts in northern Tamil Nadu including Chennai are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, S Balachandran said, even as the city and its suburbs received sharp showers all through the night and on Thursday morning as well.
The depression over Bay of Bengal will cross the coast between north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh this evening and the city would witness "strong" winds up to 45 km, the weather office here said on Thursday.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin reviewed the situation and urged the Ministers and officials concerned to expedite relief activities in affected areas.
Beneficiaries queue up for Covid vaccination
14:53 MP inoculates 13.52 lakh people in a day
At least 13.52 lakh people were administered the COVID-19 vaccine in Madhya Pradesh in one day, which was the highest single-day vaccination in the country, an official claimed on Thursday.
The mega campaign to achieve the target of 100 per cent inoculation saw a major success on Wednesday after the health staff administered 13.52 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine till 9 pm, the official from the public relations department said.
"This is the highest in the country as compared to the other states, the official claimed. The government had set up 11,159 vaccination centres as part of its four-day mega campaign, which began on Wednesday, he said, adding that three more such drives will be run on November 17, 24 and December 1.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has set a target to vaccinate all eligible persons with both doses of the vaccine by December-end, the official said. Around 5.49 crore people in the state are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, an official earlier said.
Migrants on the move in March 2020 amid the unplanned lockdown
14:27 No improvement in living condition of migrants' families in Odisha: Study
The living condition of migrants' family members in western Odisha has not improved at all even as remittances sent by them is considered a pillar of economy for many households, according to a study.
A major part of the remittances have been used for household consumption only, the Centre of Excellence Regional Development and Tribal Studies of Sambalpur University has revealed in its survey.
It has been observed that there are households that invested the remittances on education, children, purchase or lease of land and also healthcare, said professor Arun Kumar Acharya, the nodal officer of the centre. However, since the investments are marginal, it has no positive effect on overall household development, Acharya said.
Interviews of as many 394 households were conducted by home visit during the survey in seven districts -- Bargarh, Sambalpur, Balangir, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Subarnapur and Deogarh.
The study indicates that remittances sent by the migrants of western Odisha have not contributed much for the improvement of the household living conditions and human development, Acharya added.
The survey revealed that 58.4 per cent of migrant households had low levels of human development, 37.6 per cent had medium human development and only 4.1 per cent migrants had high human development.
As many as 87.8 per cent of those who migrated did so in search of better economic opportunity, of which 46.7 per cent migrated to Tamil Nadu, while 13.7 per cent to Andhra Pradesh.
It said 19.8 per cent of the migrants earn around Rs 10,000 per month and 58.6 per cent migrants earn around Rs 10,000-15000 per month. Very few migrants -- 4.1 per cent -- earn more than Rs 20,000.
A waterlogged Marina Beach
14:20 No arrivals at Chennai airport till 6 pm
Due to severe rains and heavy crosswinds, Chennai Airport has suspended arrivals from 13:15 hrs to 18:00 hours, today. Departures will continue.
Pounded by rains over the past few days, Tamil Nadu has recorded more than 50 per cent excess rainfall (as compared to historical average) for the monsoon season starting October 1.
More rainfall is expected over the next few days, with a depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal moving towards the state's northern coast.
13:53 Covaxin maker: Covid vax booster needed if...
People will need booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine would be required if the COVID-19 virus gets mutated, said Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, Dr Krishna Ella.
Talking to ANI, Dr Ella said, "If there is a mutated COVID-19 virus and a booster is required. What type of booster would be needed and how do we deliver it on a fast track basis. On that, we are working on various strategies that can be contained. Even if something comes up; we know how to handle situations."
Commenting on India surpassing the administration of 100 Crore vaccination, Dr Ella said, "India has done an amazing job. I think that is significant and we appreciate the commitment of the government and healthcare workers. Honestly, I salute the citizens of this country and who believe in Indian science and are coming forward to take the vaccine."
On the export of Covaxin, Dr Ella lauded the central government and said, "Right from the beginning of the pandemic, the Indian government has helped other countries. We are already supplying COVID-19 vaccines by the Vaccine Maitri programme and I think the government has a sincere commitment to helping other parts of the world."
13:43 SN Pradhan appointed as NCB chief till Aug 2024
Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Satya Narayan Pradhan has been appointed as Director-General of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on a deputation basis till the date of his superannuation on August 31, 2024, or until further orders.
Pradhan, a Jharkhand cadre 1988-batch IPS officer, was currently holding additional charge of NCB chief despite holding the responsibility of Director General of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
He was given additional charge of NCB Director-General after Rakesh Asthana was appointed as Delhi Police Commissioner.
As 1988-batch Gujarat cadre IPS officer Atul Karwal was on Tuesday appointed as NDRF Director-General, Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) in a late Wednesday order appointed Pradhan as Director-General of NCB on a full-time basis.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) later directed the concerned wing for the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointment of Satya Narayan Pradhan to the post of Director-General, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on deputation basis, "with effect from the date of his assumption of charge of the post and till the date of his superannuation on August 31, 2024, or until further orders, whichever is earlier".
The MHA also requested to relieve Pradhan from his charges of NDRF Director General immediately to enable him to take up the new assignment.
13:32 Priyanka to meet Khurshid amid book row
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is currently in the national capital, has cancelled her visit to Lucknow and is expected to meet senior party leader Salman Khurshid, sources said on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Khurshid got embroiled in controversy for "defaming and comparing Hindusim with terrorism" in his recent book "Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times".
Khurshid's new book on the Ayodhya verdict was released last week. It explored the Apex Court's landmark judgement on the Ayodhya dispute. The senior Congress leader Khurshid has compared Hindutva to radical terrorist groups like "ISIS and Boko Haram".
As per sources, Vadra will also visit Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh today to meet the family of the man who was allegedly killed in police custody in the district. However, police have denied the charge of custodial death and said the man commit suicide.
According to Botre Rohan Pramod, Superintendent of Police in Kasganj, "Police called a man for questioning yesterday. During questioning, he requested to go to toilet and was sent to lock up in the washroom. There he tried to strangle himself with string inside his hoodie. Police officials took him to hospital in an unconscious state."
Gautam Adani
13:11 Why Hidme Markam, a voice for Adivasis, is in prison
She was a former school cook before joining agitations to free Adivasi prisoners and stop a government-owned iron ore mine to be run by the Adani group on a sacred mountain in Congress-run Chhattisgarh.
The arrest of a 28-year-old in Bastar, who the police call a 'Maoist with Rs-1-lakh bounty', is the latest front in a conflict that has raged over four decades.
Read the report here.
12:58 Germany's daily COVID-19 cases rise to all-time high
The daily number of COVID-19 cases in Germany has reached a new all-time high, with 39,676 cases registered in one day, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said on Wednesday.
The seven-day incidence rate also rose to 232.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, peaking for the third day in a row, according to the German disease control and prevention agency.
"We are mostly experiencing, at least in the intensive care units in hospitals, a pandemic of the unvaccinated, and that puts the system under stress once again," Health Minister Jens Spahn told broadcaster RTL/ntv.
Kangana Ranaut receiving the Padma Shri on Monday
12:21 BJP's Varun Gandhi slams Kangana's 'bheek' comment
BJP MP Varun Gandhi slams actress Kangana Ranaut for her comments at a media conclave where she said "India got real independence in 2014", and that "what we got in 1947 was 'bheek' (alms)."
Gandhi, who is the only BJP leader to criticise the government on the farmers' protests and the laws, said on Kangana's remarks, "Sometimes she insults Mahatma Gandhi's sacrifice and penance, sometimes she lauds his killers, and now she has scorned the sacrifices of martyrs from Mangal Pandey to Rani Lakshmibai, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekar Azad, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and lakhs of other warriors of India's Independence movement. What do you call this thinking? Is it insanity or treachery?"
In January this year, Kangana was called out for allegedly glorifying Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. On Gandhis death anniversary on January 30, the actress had posted few photos of Godse and tweeted, "Every story has three sides to it, yours, mine and the truth .... A good story teller neither commits nor conceals... and thats why our text books suck ... full of exposition #NathuramGodse."
Kangana was awarded the Padma Shri on Monday. She had said that the award is a reply to all those who question her statements on national issues.
11:28 How Nepal is resisting greedy Chinese investment
Chinese investment in Nepal faces resistance from the local population, as many see Beijing's promises regarding infrastructure advancement harming the Nepali interests, and benefitting only China, a news report said.
According to The Singapore Post, the challenges faced by Chameliya Hydropower Project, which was constructed by China in Nepal's Darchula district, includes delays in the execution of the project, leading to huge cost overruns. The 30 MW Chameliya Hydropower Project, constructed by China, is one of the most costly projects executed.
"The run-of-the-river project was initiated in 2010 and took 10 years to complete, against the target of three years. Also, the cost of Chameliya, initially estimated at Nepali Rs 6 million escalated to Nepali Rs 16 million.
Of late, the Chinese company functioning as the civil contractor for the project, China Gezhouba Group (CGGC) has raised a number of issues with Nepal on the HPP," reported The Singapore Post.
According to the news outlet, the Chinese know how to get their pound of flesh from smaller neighbours.
In 2014, the CGGC halted work for nearly 18 months and demanded an additional NRs (Nepali rupees) 1.1 billion from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) on the ground that construction costs had increased due to the 'squeezing' of the tunnel.
When CGGC completed the project in 2018, they inflated the cost to NRs 16 billion. Pertinently, even in terms of per MW cost, the Chameliya HPP is very expensive. Private sector companies have been developing HPPs at the cost of NRs 180 million per MW, while CGGC has demanded three times more, i.e., NRs 540 million per MW for Chameliya, The Singapore Post reported.
Similarly, in 2017, the then Nepalese government scrapped the agreement with Gezhouba Group for the development of the Budh Gandaki HPP (USD 44.6 million).
The Budh Gandaki was, however, restored to the Chinese firm in 2018 by the KP Oli government, the objective was to woo Chinese investors to get involved in building Nepal's ailing infrastructure. Notably, the project has affected nearly 40,000 people, the news outlet reported.
Chinese investment in Nepal has often come under scrutiny and in some cases protests by locals.
Issues faced by the Chameliya hydropower project in Nepal are not a one-off case, but part of a larger Chinese predatory lending mechanism to developing countries, who unwittingly take untenably large loans, from China, The Singapore Post reported. -- ANI
A water-logged Marina beach in Chennai
10:57 Depression to cross coast between TN and AP around Chennai this evening, says IMD
The depression over Bay of Bengal will cross the coast between north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh this evening and the city would witness "strong" winds up to 45 km, the weather office here said on Thursday.
Districts in northern Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Kancheepuram and Villpuram are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, S Balachandran said, even as the city and its suburbs received sharp showers all through the night.
The depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 21 kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 5.30 am on Thursday over southwest Bay of Bengal, about 170 km east-southeast of Chennai and 170 km east of Puducherry, the India Meteorological Department said in a bulletin.
"It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu & adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts around Chennai by the evening of today," it added. As a result, Balachandran said, Chennai would witness "strong surface winds" ranging between 40-45 km, he told reporters.
A man walks through a haze this morning
10:50 Delhi AQI in 'very poor' category this morning
Smoke and haze continue to cover the national capital with air quality in the 'very poor' category.
Low temperatures allow accumulation of pollutants, said Mahesh Palawat, vice president (meteorology and climate change), Skymet Weather.
The minimum temperature is expected to dip to 10 degrees by November 15, the India Meteorological Department said.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi's 24-hourly average air quality index stood at 404 at 4 pm, up from 390 on Monday.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
The share of farm fires in Delhi's pollution rose to a three-year high of 48 per cent on Sunday. On Monday, government agencies reported 5,450 farm fires, the highest this season, in neighbouring states of the national capital.
10:33 Sensex slumps over 300 points in early trade
Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled over 300 points in early trade on Thursday tracking losses in index-majors HDFC twins, ICICI Bank and Infosys amid a largely negative trend in global markets and sustained foreign fund outflow.
The 30-share index was trading 303.07 points or 0.50 per cent lower at 60,049.75 in initial deals.
Similarly, the Nifty fell 102.60 points or 0.57 per cent to 17,914.60. Tech Mahindra was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding around 2 per cent, followed by HDFC, SBI, Nestle India, Axis Bank, HCL Tech and ICICI Bank. On the other hand, Titan, Tata Steel, L&T, Bharti Airtel and Maruti were among the gainers.
Mohammad Rizwan
10:29 Pakistan's Rizwan, Malik get flu ahead of SF against Oz
Pakistan batters Mohammad Rizwan and Shoaib Malik are suffering from "mild flu" and they could be doubtful starters for the T20 World Cup semifinal against Australia on Thursday.
Rizwan and Malik, who missed the team's training session on Wednesday, though tested negative for COVID-19.
The team has also cleared the regular testing through the tournament. "Both players were tested for COVID-19 and both tested negative," 'ESPNCricinfo' reported.
"As with the rest of their squad, they have cleared regular COVID-19 testing through the tournament, including one a couple of days ago. That is part of the ICC's policy to encourage teams to test as often as possible," it added.
According to the report, the two players woke up on Wednesday morning with "light flu and low fever" and were first advised to delay practice but were later allowed to give it a miss.
"Pakistan are not overly concerned at the moment about their participation in Thursday's game, and will be reviewing their status in the morning again," the report said.
Both players have played key roles in the ongoing tournament and missing the services of either will be a huge blow for Pakistan.
Vaccination is the only way forward
10:09 India records 340 Covid deaths in 24 hours
India added 13,091 new coronavirus infections in a span of 24 hours taking the country's total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,44,01,670, while the active cases declined to 1,38,556, the lowest in 266 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
The death toll climbed to 4,62,189 with 340 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 20,000 for 34 straight days and less than 50,000 daily new cases have been reported for 137 consecutive days now.
India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.
It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23. PTI
09:36 From LED TVs to refrigerators, Chandrapur civic body offers vax incentives
In a bid to encourage more and more people to get inoculated against COVID-19, the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra has announced a vaccination bumper lucky draw, with lucrative prizes ranging from LED TVs, refrigerators to washing machines.
Citizens who come to the civic-run vaccination centres to get their jabs from November 12 to 24 will get a chance to win these prizes, according to a release issued by the municipal corporation on Wednesday evening.
The decision to offer the incentives to citizens was taken during a review meeting held under the chairmanship of Mayor Rakhi Sanjay Kancharlawar.
After the meeting, civic commissioner Rajesh Mohite and other officials appealed to people to go to their nearest civic-run inoculation centre and get vaccinated.
Those who take the jabs between November 12 and 24, will be eligible to participate in the lucky draw, which offers a refrigerator, washing machine and LED television set as first, second and third prizes, respectively.
Besides, 10 citizens will get mixer-grinders as consolation prizes, according to the civic body.
So far, 1,93,581 citizens have got their first dose of vaccine in Chandrapur city, while 99,620 have received both the doses, the release said.
The number of vaccinations is still low compared to the total number of eligible persons in the city, it said.
The civic body's health department has set up vaccination facilities at 21 centres here and all eligible people should get vaccinated at the earliest, the mayor said.
The civic body in its release also said it has decided that hawkers, essential service providers and shop-keepers will have to show their vaccination certificates, of having taken at least one dose, or else they would not be allowed to enter the city's markets.
The government has directed to achieve the target of cent per cent vaccination in the city.
Hence, every establishment should plan to get its employees inoculated and even other eligible members of the general public should get their jabs before November 30, Mohite said.
It is mandatory for every service provider, including vendors and vegetable sellers, and those who come in frequent contact with the public to get vaccinated, he said.
People should also carry the vaccination certificate with them and produce it whenever required, he added.
On Wednesday, three new COVID-19 cases were reported in Chandrapur district, while there was no fatality due to the viral infection, as per the district information office.
So far, 88,823 cases and 1,542 deaths have been reported in the district since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, as per official data. -- PTI
08:53 Xi warns against return of 'Cold War era'
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday warned against a return to Cold War-era tensions in the Asia-Pacific.
"The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era," he said at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit via video, Xinhua reported.
The Chinese President also said that at present, COVID-19 is still ravaging the world, and the journey to global economic recovery remains a difficult and tortuous one, the media outlet reported.
He urged the region to make all-out efforts to fight COVID-19.
"At this trying time, it is all the more important that we should stay confident, keep a steady hand on the tiller, and forge ahead with determination," Xinhua News Agency reported Xi as saying.
China had not attended the COP26 climate change conference last week.
The country had also not attended India-convened security dialogue on Afghanistan citing 'scheduling reasons'.
Meanwhile, the bilateral virtual meeting between United States President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to hold on Monday, as per Russian media Sputnik. -- ANI
01:06 RBI guv reiterates opposition to cryptocurrencies
The monetary authority on Wednesday again reiterated its strong views against cryptocurrencies saying they pose serious threats to the macroeconomic and financial stability of the country and also doubted the number of investors trading on them as well their claimed market value.
Governor Shaktikanta Das reiterated his views against allowing cryptocurrencies saying they are serious threat to any financial system since they are unregulated by central banks.
His comments come ahead of the RBI's internal panel report on the contentious topic which is expected next month.
"Cryptocurrencies are a serious concern to RBI from a macroeconomic and financial stability standpoint. The government is actively looking at the issue and will decide on it. But as the central banker, we have serious concerns about it and we have flagged it many times," Das told an event.
Questioning the big numbers being reported in the media on the number of investors trading on them as well the market value of these currencies, Das said, "I am not sure about the veracity of these numbers. Of course my view may not be fully right as we don't get full information about these currencies as they aren't regulated by us or by any other central bank. But I still think the number of investors look clearly exaggerated as bulk of them, say over 70 per cent, have invested only about Rs 1,000 each in cryptocurrencies." -- PTI
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