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Mon, 06 September 2021
Internet restored in 8 districts of Kashmir
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23:24 Internet restored in 8 districts of Kashmir
The internet services on mobile devices were restored in eight of the 10 districts in the Kashmir valley on Monday, police said.
Voice call and internet services, except the lease lines, were snapped late on Wednesday night, hours after death of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani at his Hyderpora residence.
The mobile internet services were restored in all districts of the valley Monday except Srinagar and Budgam districts around 7 pm, a police official said.
The suspension of these services in Srinagar and Budgam districts will be reviewed on Tuesday, police said.
While voice call and internet services on broadband and fibre platforms were restored on Friday night, the internet services on mobile devices remained suspended till Monday.
'Mobile internet will be open shortly today by 7 pm in all districts except Srinagar & Budgam. Will review about Srinagar & Budgam tomorrow afternoon,' Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar tweeted. -- PTI
23:05 Viral fever in Firozabad: Central team says majority cases of dengue
A central team which was sent to Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh to investigate the cause of a fever outbreak and deaths among children has observed that the majority of cases are of dengue and a few are of scrub typhus and leptospirosis.
Firozabad district has recorded 51 deaths, mostly of children, and hundreds of hospitalisations in over a fortnight and the viral fever has now spread to neighbouring Mathura and Mainpuri districts.
Based on the observations of the central team, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in a letter to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary has recommended screening of all fever patients for dengue, malaria, scrub typhus and leptospirosis.
Bhushan highlighted the need to strengthen ELISA-based testing facilities and suggested that activities related to fever survey and vector control be continued under a micro plan submitted by the central team.
He also recommended that surveillance should be strengthened with implementation of the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) in the district in coordination with the central surveillance unit at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and that entomological activities be strengthened and continued according to standard guidelines and SOPs of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).
He also recommended augmenting isolation beds and admission facilities in the district hospital of Firozabad and neighbouring districts and organising a short reorientation of all doctors at primary health centres and community health centres.
Services of experts on infectious diseases from King George's Medical University and similar institutions may be utilised for this purpose.
'You may recall that a central team comprising National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) officials was sent to Firozabad to investigate the cause of fever outbreak and deaths among children and suggest suitable recommendations for containment of this outbreak. The central team has observed that the majority of cases are due to dengue, while a few are because of scrub typhus and leptospirosis,' Bhushan said in the letter.
He further suggested intensifying awareness activities By the district administration.
The NCDC has deputed two epidemic intelligence service (EIS) officers in the district for a period of 14 days and they will assist the district in strengthening its outbreak response, Bhushan said.
A district official had said that over 100 people with fever were admitted to the district hospital on Sunday.
The hospital had over 400 patients on Sunday, the official added. -- PTI
IMAGE: Patients receive treatment at Sarojini Naidu Childrens Hospital, in Prayagraj, on Monday. Parts of Uttar Pradesh are reeling under a dengue outbreak amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Photograph: PTI Photo
22:03 Maha's daily Covid count lowest since Feb 15
Maharashtra reported 3,626 new coronavirus cases on Monday, the lowest daily count since February 15, and 37 fresh fatalities, taking the infection tally to 64,89,800 and the death toll to 1,37,811, a health department official said.
The fresh deaths were lowest since March 8. The number of recovered patients outnumbered the new cases in the last 24 hours.
As many as 5,988 patients were discharged from hospitals, taking the cumulative number of recovered cases to 63,00,755, he said.
Maharashtra now has 47,695 active cases.
Maharashtra has reported the lowest daily cases since February 15, when it had registered 3,365 new cases.
The number of fatalities in the state was the lowest since March 8, when 22 deaths were reported.
The state has 3,03,169 people in home isolation and another 1,963 in institutional quarantine, according to the official.
The official said Maharashtra's COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 97.09 per cent, while the fatality rate is 2.12 per cent.
The cumulative number of tests conducted in the state climbed to 5,49,99,475, of which 1,45,457 were done in the last 24 hours, he said.
Nandurbar, Akola, Amaravati, Yavatmal, Wardha, Bhandara and Gondia districts, and Jalgaon, Dhule, and Amravati municipal corporations (urban areas) did not report any fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, he said.
The official said Ahmednagar district reported the highest 805 new infections, followed by Pune at 416, while Mumbai registered the highest five fatalities in the state in the last 24 hours.
Among the eight regions of Maharashtra, Pune reported the highest 1,267 new COVID-19 cases, followed by the Nashik region at 953.
Among the other regions, the Mumbai region reported 728 new cases, Kolhapur 517, Latur 98, Aurangabad 36, Nagpur 14 and the Akola region 13, he said.
According to the official, among the 37 fatalities from eight regions, the highest 12 were reported from the Pune region, followed by 10 from the Nashik region.
The Nashik region reported 10 fatalities, Mumbai 6, Kolhapur five and the Aurangabad region four.
Significantly, Aurangabad, Akola and Nagpur regions did not report any fresh fatalities.
The official said Mumbai witnessed 383 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths, while Pune city reported 198 new cases, but no fresh fatality.
Among 47,695 active patients in the state, Pune district has the highest at 12,413, he said.
The official said among 63,00,755 recovered patients across the state, the highest at 10,92,471 were are from Pune district.
Coronavirus figures for Maharashtra are as follows: Total cases 64,89,800; new cases 3,626; total deaths 1,37,811; total recoveries 63,00,755; active cases 47,695; total tests 5,49,99,475. -- PTI
21:10 Cong to field candidate against Mamata in bypoll
Changing its earlier stance, the West Bengal Congress on Monday announced it has decided to field a candidate against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the September 30 bypoll in the Bhabanipur assembly seat and the name of the party nominee will be sent to All India Congress Committee for consent.
The decision made at a Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) meeting to contest the by-election came at a time when the party and the Mamata Banerjee-headed Trinamool Congress are maintaining a bonhomie at the national level since July.
'Majority of our members were in favour of contesting against Trinamool and we have decided to field our candidate from that seat (Bhabanipur). We will fight the elections with Left Front and announce candidates after discussion with them,' state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told a press conference.
During the assembly elections held earlier this year, Trinamool Congress nominee Sovandeb Chattopadhyay won from Bhabanipur in south Kolkata and he has vacated the seat later necessitating the bypoll.
The Congress, which fought the polls in alliance with the Left parties, fielded a candidate from there.
Chowdhury, who had earlier advocated not to put up any candidate against Banerjee in Bhabanipur as a matter of courtesy, said the ruling party is not showing political courtesy.
The TMC recently attacked Congress workers and demonstrated against opposition leaders like him, Chowdhury alleged.
The TMC, however, did not attach any importance to the Congress' decision to contest the bypoll from Bhabanipur.
'The Congress and the Left are two big zeroes in terms of their influence in the state. When you add two zeros, you get another zero,' TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said.
The Congress and TMC have been showing closeness to each other at the national level of late.
The TMC supremo in July went to Delhi in a bid to bring together the non-Bharatiya Janata Party forces ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
She met senior opposition leaders including All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence.
The Congress had then also tweeted, along with a photograph of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, claiming that Mamata Banerjee's nephew is a victim of Pegasus spyware snooping.
Banerjee had moved out of her traditional Bhabanipur seat to fight in Nandigram during the assembly polls but lost to Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP.
After the election results were out, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay who won from Bhabanipur vacated the seat to allow Banerjee to contest from there.
Banerjee had won from Bhabanipur twice since 2011.
The TMC supremo has to win this by-poll to retain her chief minister's post.
The bypoll will be held on September 30 along with the elections to two seats in Murshidabad district -- Samserganj and Jangipur -- where polling was countermanded during the eight-phase assembly elections earlier this year due to death of candidates.
'It is unfortunate that we cannot field a candidate from our party from Samserganj. We cannot force anyone,' Chowdhury said.
The party cannot field any new candidate from the Samserganj seat as per rules.
Its candidate Amirul Islam recently expressed unwillingness to contest.
Jakir Hossain is the Communist Party of India-Marxist candidate from Jangipur.
The notification for the Bhabanipur bypoll was issued on September 6, beginning the nomination process.
September 13 is the last date of filing nominations, while scrutiny of papers will take place on September 14.
September 16 is the last date to withdraw from the electoral battle.
Counting will be held on November 3. -- PTI
20:15 Farmers to hold Karnal meet despite Sec 144
Ahead of farmers' Mahapanchayat against police lathi-charge on farmers on August 28, Haryana Bharatiya Kisan Union Chief Gurnam Singh Charuni said that the Panchayat will continue as scheduled.
The farmer leaders met with the Karnal administration today to discuss the Karnal Mahapanchayat on September 7 and the gherao of the mini secretariat.
"No outcome me from the meeting with Karnal administration. We will go ahead with our Panchayat," Singh said.
Further, claiming that the administration is not ready to cooperate, Singh said, "They said that they will stop us, but we are ready to bear whatever they bring to us. The administration is not ready to listen to us or to cooperate with us at all."
"Sector 144 is the government doing its own will; it is like they want to beat us, but do not want to let us cry either. At least let us cry," he added.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which is heading the farmers' agitation against three farm laws, has given a call for gherao of the secretariat demanding registration of an FIR against those officers who had allegedly ordered a lathi-charge on agitators during their protest against a Bharatiya Janata Party event in Karnal on August 28.
Haryana Police have tightened security arrangements in view of the call for gherao of Karnal Mini Secretariat on Tuesday made by several farmers' organisations, said police on Monday.
Giving this information here today, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Navdeep Singh Virk said that the primary objective of these arrangements is to maintain public peace and order, prevent any kind of violence, facilitate the functioning of traffic and public transport systems and to safeguard the public property across the state in general and Karnal in particular. -- ANI
19:50 Pregnant women's health should be family's joint responsibility: Irani
Union minister for women and child development Smriti Irani on Monday said pregnant women's health should be a joint responsibility of the family.
Speaking at Poshan Jagrukta Abhiyaan (nutrition awareness campaign) programmes organised by the Union ministry for women and child development and Union ministry for minority affairs for women from minority communities, she also stressed the importance of good nutrition.
"Discussions on maternal health are no longer confined to women. Nowadays, men are also thinking about women's health. Pregnant women's health should be a joint responsibility of the family," she said.
During the day-long programme, Irani and Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi interacted with members of Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, Christian and Parsi communities.
Irani said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned women's issues into a social issue.
"If we want to be able to tell the world that not a single child in India suffers from malnutrition, then it is important for members from all communities to come forward," Irani said.
Naqvi said health and hygiene, ignored earlier, are the mainstay of a result-oriented priority programme by the Modi-led government.
The Central government has worked on a war-footing to provide affordable and quality health services to the country, Naqvi said.
The National Digital Health Mission was launched on August 15 last year to provide a health ID to every Indian, he said. Over 2.11 crore people were provided free medical treatment under the Jan Arogya Yojana, he said, adding 15 new AIIMS were approved since 2014.
Over 8,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country are giving medicines at affordable prices to the poor, the BJP leader said. About four crore children were vaccinated against various diseases under Mission Indradhanush, he added.
While a year ago there was a lack of adequate resources in India to tackle a pandemic, the country is now self-reliant in coronavirus vaccines, testing kits, medical oxygen and Covid-19 hospitals, he said. The world's largest free coronavirus vaccination drive is going on in India, where over 69 crore people have been vaccinated, he said.
Free ration has been provided to over 80 crore people during the pandemic, Naqvi said.
Modi's commitment to the health and well-being of the people has ensured that despite having a huge population, India has faced coronavirus challenges effectively compared to those nations who already had better and adequate resources, he said.
The Central government's Poshan Abhiyaan has become an effective mass movement to eradicate malnutrition in the country, especially among children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers, he said.
19:44 Farmers' stir: Mobile internet shut in Karnal
The Haryana government on Monday ordered suspension of mobile internet services in Karnal district to 'stop the spread of misinformation and rumours', a day ahead of the farmers' mahapanchayat and planned gherao of the mini-secretariat over the August 28 lathi-charge.
The mobile internet services in Karnal district will remain suspended from 12.30 pm on Monday to Tuesday midnight, according to an order of the Home Department.
The order, issued 'to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of Karnal district, said mobile internet services (2G/3G/4G/CDMA/GPRS), SMS services, including bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services etc provided on mobile networks, except voice calling, will remain suspended.
'Whereas, it has been brought to my notice vide...dated September 6 by ADGP (CID), Haryana, and District Magistrate, Karnal, that there is chance of intensification of protest which may adversely affect the public safety and law and order situation in Karnal district in the wake of call for Kisan Mahapanchayat on September 7.
'And whereas, there is a clear potential of disruption of public utilities and safety, damage to public assets and amenities and law and order in district Karnal on account of misuse of internet services by way of spread of inflammatory material and false rumours, which are being/could be transmitted/circulated to the public through social media/messaging services on mobile Internet services, SMS services and other dongle services,' the order said.
It said that the suspension of mobile Internet services was ordered to stop the spread of misinformation and rumours through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter on mobile phones and SMS.
It said this could facilitate mobilisation of mobs that can cause serious loss of life and damage to public and private properties by indulging in arson, vandalism or other violent activities.
All telecom service providers of Haryana are, hereby, directed to ensure compliance of the order, it added.
18:47 NIA chargesheets 13 Bangladeshis in Bengaluru human trafficking case
The NIA on Monday filed a chargesheet before a special court here against 13 Bangladeshi nationals for their involvement in trafficking women and children from the neighbouring country after illegally crossing over to India, an official said.
Rafik, Sobuj Shaik, Mohammed Rafikdul Islam Ridoy, Rakibul Islam, Mohammed Babu Molla, Mohammed Alami Hossen, Mohammed Dalim, Hossain Azim, Mohammed Jamal, Enamul Haque Shuzan, Mohammed Ruhul Amin, Riday Islam and and Mohammed Milon Biswas -- all Bangladeshi nationals -- have been charged with sections of the IPC, the Foreigners Act and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, the NIA official said.
The case was registered in June in Bengaluru city against the 13 accused based on a raid conducted by the police at a rented house where seven women and one child of Bangladeshi nationality were rescued from the custody of four human traffickers, the official said.
The NIA took over the case and found that the 13 chargesheeted accused had illegally crossed over to India from Bangladesh, the official of the premier investigation agency said.
They were luring women from Bangladesh and trafficking them to India with promise of jobs, the NIA official said.
The women were then confined in rented accommodations and subjected to sexual exploitation, the official said.
The accused had also forged identity cards and used these forged documents as genuine to obtain Indian identity cards such as Aadhaar Card, PAN Card among others for themselves and their victims, the NIA official said, adding that further investigation in this case continues.
Representational pic
18:04 Mob assaults pastor inside police station in Raipur
A day after a pastor and two others were manhandled and abused inside a Chhattisgarh police station by a mob accusing them of indulging in religious conversion, two people were arrested on Monday in connection with the incident, a police official said.
Pastor Harish Sahu, Ankush Bariyekar, general secretary of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, and one Prakash Masih were manhandled and abused in Purani Basti police station on Sunday, the official said, adding that two persons, identified as Sanjay Singh and Manish Sahu, have been arrested.
Sahu, Bariyekar and Masih had been summoned to the police station on Sunday after being accused by alleged right-wing activists of indulging in religious conversion, the official said.
"Several others wanted in the case filed on the complaint of Bariyekar are on the run and efforts are on to nab them. They have been charged under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 294 (obscene acts and songs), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation)," he said.
After a video of the incident went viral, the station house officer of Purani Basti police station was attached to police lines on Sunday.
Courtesy, Akshay Kumar on Instagram
17:48 Akshay Kumar returns to Mumbai as mother is hospitalised
Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar on Monday flew back to India after his mother Aruna Bhatia was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai.
Kumar was in the UK shooting for his upcoming movie Cinderella, produced by Vashu Bhagnani and directed by Ranjit M Tewari, sources said.
"He flew back to the country this morning as his mother is unwell. She is currently in the hospital. He was shooting for Cindrella in the UK.
"He has taken permission from the Bhagnanis (producers) and has come here," the sources said.
The 53-year-old actor's mother is reportedly admitted in the intensive care unit of Hiranandani Hospital. However, there is no clarity about her illness.
Representational image
17:33 Ants travel business class in AI
A London bound Air India (AI-111) flight aborted take-off at Delhi airport after a swarm of ants was found in the business class. The Prince of Bhutan was on board. Later Air India changed the aircraft.
17:13 Ker HC seeks 4 weeks gap between Covishield jabs
The Kerala High Court has asked the Centre to enable the scheduling of the second Covishield dose after four weeks from the first for those who want to take it early. The gap between the two doses at present is 84 days.
The Central government had submitted in the Kerala High Court last week that the duration of 84 days between 1st and 2nd doses of Covishield vaccine is providing the best protection against COVID-19.
India reported 38,948 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours taking the overall tally to 3,30,27,621, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Of the 38,948 new cases, Kerala alone has reported 26,701 cases in the last 24 hours. The trend of less than 50,000 daily new cases is being reported for 71 consecutive days now.
16:55 Varavara Rao to stay out of jail till Sept 24
The Bombay High Court on Monday adjourned till September 24 the hearing on the plea for interim bail extension of poet-activist Varavara Rao, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, and said he need not surrender to Taloja prison authorities till September 25.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is conducting a probe into the case, opposed Rao's plea for the extension of medical bail and to shift to Hyderabad from Mumbai, saying his medical reports did not indicate that he suffers from any serious medical ailment.
Rao (82), who was granted interim bail on medical grounds in February 22 this year, was scheduled to surrender and return to judicial custody on September 5.
But, last week, the activist, through lawyer R Sathyanarayanan and senior counsel Anand Grover, filed an application seeking extension of the bail. Rao had also sought permission to stay in his hometown Hyderabad while out on bail, saying he found living in Mumbai and accessing health facilities here unaffordable.
16:39 Sensex gains 167 points
Equity benchmark indices extended their bull run to scale new highs on Monday with IT and auto stocks leading the rally.
Courtesy, Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.
16:02 How ancient India changed the world, with maths
Indian mathematicians made seminal contributions to the study of trigonometry, algebra, arithmetic and negative numbers among other areas.
Perhaps most significantly, the decimal system that we still employ worldwide today was first seen in India, writes Christian Yates, Senior Lecturer in Mathematical Biology, University of Bath, in The Conversation, and lists 5 ways ancient India changed the world with maths, here.
While on the subject, to read more on the Bakshali manuscript, the oldest recorded evidence of the origin of the zero symbol, click here.
15:57 China mum on attending Taliban govt formation
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday did not respond to a media report claiming that the Taliban has invited China, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Iran and Qatar to attend the new government formation ceremony in Afghanistan.
China is already coordinating its evolving policy on Afghanistan with its all-weather ally Pakistan and Russia which also share borders with Afghanistan.
Beijing, which has kept its Embassy open in Kabul along with Pakistan and Russia, is awaiting the formation of a government by the Taliban to decide on recognising it amidst firm indications by the US, the UK and other western countries that they will not be in a hurry to endorse the new government in Kabul.
Asked about a media report that the Taliban has invited China and five other countries -- Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Iran and Qatar -- to participate in the new government formation ceremony in Afghanistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said: I have no information to offer at this moment.
He reiterated that China supports Afghanistan forming an open, inclusive, broadly-based government upholding moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policies and live in good terms with the neighbouring countries.
China is also keeping a close watch on the Panjshir Valley fighting between the Taliban and the militias of Ahmad Massoud-led National Resistance Front (NRF) which has reportedly delayed the formation of the new government in Afghanistan. -- PTI
15:39 Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft completes over 9,000 orbits around moon, says ISRO
India's Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft has completed more than 9,000 orbits around the Moon, and imaging and scientific instruments on board have been providing excellent data, officials said on Monday.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is holding a two-day Lunar Science Workshop 2021, which began on Monday, to commemorate the completion of two years of operation of Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft around the lunar orbit.
In his inaugural address, ISRO Chairman, K Sivan said the eight payloads on board the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft are conducting remote sensing and in-situ observations of the Moon at around 100 km altitude from the lunar surface.
"Till date, the Chandrayaan-2 has completed more than 9,000 orbits around the Moon," added Sivan, also Secretary in the Department of Space (DoS). According to the Bengaluru-headquartered ISRO, data product and science documents were released by Sivan, along with data from Chandrayaan-2 orbiter payloads.
"The science data are being made available for analysis by academia and institutes, for a greater participation to bring out more science from Chandrayaan-2 mission," ISRO said.
15:34 Over 100 dengue cases in Delhi this year, 72 in August
At least 124 cases of dengue have been reported in the national capital this year, according to a civic report released on Monday. The number of dengue cases for January 1-September 4 period is also the highest this year since 2018 when the count had stood at 137 in t same duration.
Seventy-two cases were reported in August, according to the report, which is about 58 per cent of the total reported cases. No cases have been recorded in the first four days of September.
Dengue mosquito larvae breed in clear, standing water, while those of malaria thrive even in dirty water. Cases of vector-borne diseases are usually reported between July and November, but the period may stretch till mid-December.
According to the civic report issued by the municipal corporations last week, 97 cases of dengue were recorded till August 28 this year. At least 124 cases have been reported this year till September 4, the report said.
The month-wise distribution of cases are January (0), February (2), March (5), April (10) and May (12), June (7) and July (16), it said. In the previous years, the cases in the same period were 771 (2016), 829 (2017), 137 (2018), 122 (2019) and 96 (2020), as per the report.
However, no deaths have been reported due to dengue in the city till now, it said. According to the civic report released on Monday, 57 cases of malaria and 32 cases of chikungunya have also been reported till August 28 this year.
15:17 Stop programmes that attract crowds: Uddhav
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday appealed to political parties to immediately stop agitations, meetings and other programmes to avoid crowding in the wake of a slight increase in the number of daily COVID-19 cases in the state.
"We can celebrate festivals later. Let us prioritise the lives and health of our citizens. The situation can go out of hand in view of the spike in daily cases," Thackeray said in a statement.
"Who would like to impose restrictions on festivals and religious programmes? But people's lives are important," he said.
The chief minister said the upcoming festive days were crucial and challenging. The onus is on political parties to ensure things do not go out of control, he said. The CM further said the "third wave of COVID-19 is at our doorsteps".
"Kerala is seeing a spike of 30,000 cases daily. This is a danger signal and if we don't take it seriously, Maharashtra will have to pay a heavy price," he added.
Since the past few days, Mumbai has been reporting more than 400 new COVID-19 cases every day, as per official data.
On Sunday, Maharashtra reported 4,057 coronavirus cases, which took the state's infection tally to 64,86,174, while the death of 67 patients pushed the toll to 1,37,774, the health department said. PTI
15:05 SC refuses to defer NEET-UG exam
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to defer the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-UG examination, scheduled for September 12, saying it does not want to interfere with the process and it will be "very unfair" to reschedule it.
A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar said if students want to appear in multiple exams, then they need to prioritise and make a choice as there may never be a situation where everyone is satisfied with the date of exams.
The apex court said however that the petitioners will be at liberty to make a representation before the competent authorities on the issue and the same may be decided at the earliest in accordance with the law.
"The arguments which you (counsel for petitioners) are canvassing may not be relevant for 99 per cent candidates. For one per cent candidates, the entire system cannot be put on hold," the bench, also comprising justices Hrishikesh Roy and C T Ravikumar, told advocate Shoeb Alam who was appearing for the petitioners.
When Alam said that around 25,000 students will be appearing in either improvement or compartment examinations for class 12, the bench observed that only around one per cent candidates go for that. Alam argued that medical entrance exam NEET-UG 2021 be deferred as many other examinations are scheduled around September 12.
"If you are to appear in multiple examinations, then you need to make choice," the bench said, adding, "You have to prioritise. You must also be conscious that any deferment is likely to clash with some other examination."
The bench said the respective boards will do their job and the court will not interfere with examinations in such a situation. It said deferment of exams might affect the next course and whole thing will be prolonged. "It will be very unfair to reschedule the examination. NEET is a very large examination. It is not state-wise, it is a nation-wide exam," the bench said. Alam told the court that around 16 lakh candidates are likely to appear in the NEET exam. -- PTI
14:29 Shastri found COVID positive in RT-PCR test, to isolate for 10 days
India head coach Ravi Shastri has tested positive for COVID-19 in the confirmatory RT-PCR test as well and will remain in isolation for at least the next 10 days, ruling him out of the team's fifth and final Test against England in Manchester this week.
The 59-year-old Shastri returned positive in a lateral flow test (Rapid Antigen Test) on Sunday and on Monday, his RT-PCR test report confirmed the infection. The fifth and final Test is scheduled to start on September 10. "After testing positive in two lateral flow test, Shastri has also returned a positive result in RT-PCR test. He has mild symptoms like sore throat. He will undergo 10 days of isolation," a BCCI source informed PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Three support staff members were also isolated after being deemed his close contacts. They are bowling coach Bharath Arun, fielding coach R Sridhar and physiotherapist Nitin Patel.
The playing members had tested negative in two lateral flow tests conducted on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. All the players and the support staff are fully vaccinated. Shastri is likely to have got the symptoms after attending the launch of his book in the team hotel where outside guests were also allowed. Arun, Patel and Sridhar attended that function in person. PTI
14:05 IBP mountaineers summit Mt Balbala
ITBP mountaineers summited Mount Balbala (21,050 feet) in Uttarakhand on 4th September. It was the first summit by any Indian expedition since 1947 which is when a Swiss expedition made a successful climb to Mount Balbala.
14:03 Security stepped up at Javed Akhtar's home
Security was beefed up outside the residence of writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar in Mumbai on Monday after a Maharashtra BJP MLA demand an apology from him over his remark where he allegedly compared the RSS with the Taliban, a police official said.
Adequate police bandobast was placed outside Akhtar's residence near the ISKCON temple in Juhu area, the official said, adding that security personnel, including women constables, were deployed outside the lyricist's home.
Akhtar recently told a news channel that right wing all over the world has an uncanny similarity.
"The Taliban want an Islamic country. These people want to make a Hindu Rashtra," the lyricist said without naming the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). BJP MLA and state party spokesperson Ram Kadam condemned Akhtar's remark. The legislator from Mumbai said no film involving Akhtar will be allowed to be screened in the country until he apologises to Sangh functionaries over his comments.
13:32 Taliban commander killed in Punjshir
Bilal Sarwary, a journalist from Kabul says that Fasihudin, the notorious Taliban commander from Badakhshan, was killed in Punjshir. "He had the central role in managing the TB insurgency in Badakhshan and greater north eastern Afghanistan. If true this is a massive loss for the Taliban," Sarwary tweets.
13:14 Mapped: India's Covid figures across states
India reported 38,948 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours taking the overall tally to 3,30,27,621, but reported lowest fatalities in 167 days.
12:55 The Talibans radicalism shines through quiet gestures elsewhere
As Afghans who failed in the desperate stampede to flee the country are forced to come to terms with their lot, their new rulers face an even more excruciating challenge.
But in reconciling their austere ideology of denial with promises of a less illiberal dispensation, they can find a disingenuous exponent of the art of quietly replacing hoary institutions with monuments to their own glory in India whose drift towards some form of Hindu Talibanism is spiced with the populist political tactics of Europe before the Second World War.
Read Sunanda K Datta-Ray's column here.
12:49 Karnataka allows five-day Ganesha festival
The Karnataka government has allowed five-day Ganesha festival celebrations from September 10 in those districts where the COVID test positivity rate is below two per cent.
The government has, however, prohibited any cultural events and processions while bringing the idol to the Pooja 'pandal' or during immersion.
"Ganesha idols should be immersed within five days of their installation and there should not be any procession during their immersion," Revenue Minister R Ashoka said.
The government said in its order that the event should be organised in a simple manner and less than 20 people should assemble. It also said the organisers should have a COVID-19 negative test report and must have taken both the jabs of novel coronavirus vaccines.
12:40 India vaccinating 1.25 cr people every day: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India is administering 1.25 crore Covid vaccines daily which is higher than the population of several countries. Modi said Himachal Pradesh has become a champion by being the first state to administer the first dose of Covid vaccine to all eligible people despite logistic difficulties.
Sikkim and Dadra and Nagar Haveli too have achieved this target, he said. Earlier, Modi interacted with healthcare workers and beneficiaries of the Covid vaccination programme in the state through video conference.
Interacting with Dr Rahul, posted at the Dodra Kwar Civil Hospital in Shimla district, Modi said 10 per cent of the expenditure can be saved if all 11 shots in a single vial are used while administering Covid vaccines. PTI
Avoid crowds, stay home, stay safe
12:20 80% Covid immunity lost in 6 months of Pfizer vax
COVID-19 antibodies produced by the Pfizer vaccine decreased more than 80 per cent in senior nursing home residents and their caregivers six months after receiving their second dose, a US study has found.
The research led by Case Western Reserve University and Brown University in the US studied blood samples of 120 nursing home residents and 92 health care workers.
The researchers particularly looked at humoral immunity -- also called antibody-mediated immunity -- to measure the body's defences against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.
The yet-to-be published study, posted on the preprint server medRxiv, found that individuals' antibody levels decreased more than 80 per cent after six months. The results were the same in seniors, with a median age of 76, and caregivers, with a median age of 48, and old alike, according to the researchers.
Earlier research by the team found that within two weeks of receiving the second dose of vaccine, seniors who had not previously contracted COVID-19 already showed a reduced response in antibodies that was substantially lower than the younger caregivers experienced.
By six months after vaccination, the blood of 70 per cent of these nursing home residents had "very poor ability to neutralise the coronavirus infection in laboratory experiments," said David Canaday, a professor at the Case Western Reserve University.
The results support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC), recommendation for booster shots especially for the elderly due to fading immunity, Canaday said. The study noted that the boosters are even more important as the Delta variant spreads.
11:30 Taliban pledge safety, security of humanitarian staff: UN official
The Taliban have pledged safety and security of humanitarian staff and assured the UN of cooperation to ensure the assistance is delivered to the people of Afghanistan, a senior UN official has said.
United Nations humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths met Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and head of the its political office and other leaders of the outfit in Kabul on Sunday, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
"At the request of the Secretary-General, Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator for the United Nations, met with Mullah Baradar and the leadership of the Taliban in Kabul to engage with the authorities on humanitarian issues, he said in a statement on Sunday.
In the meeting, Griffiths reiterated the humanitarian community's commitment to deliver impartial and independent humanitarian assistance and protection to millions of people in need.
He emphasised the critical role of women in the delivery of aid and called on all parties to ensure their rights, safety and well-being and called for all civilians especially women and girls and minorities to be protected at all times and expressed his solidarity with the people of Afghanistan.
The authorities pledged that the safety and security of humanitarian staff, and humanitarian access to people in need, will be guaranteed and that humanitarian workers both men and women will be guaranteed freedom of movement.
The authorities committed to cooperate with the humanitarian community to ensure assistance is delivered to the people of Afghanistan, the statement said.
11:18 Cong unlikely to field candidate against Mamata
Congress is unlikely to field a candidate against CM Mamata Banerjee in the upcoming by-elections on September 30.
The Election Commission announced on Saturday it will hold by-polls in three assembly constituencies of West Bengal, including the Bhabanipur seat where chief minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee intends to contest, and one seat in Odisha on September 30.
The by-poll on the Bhabanipur seat in West Bengal will give Mamata Banerjee a chance to become a member of the state assembly. She needs to win from any assembly seat within November 5 if she has to continue as the chief minister of West Bengal.
10:51 Panjshir province completely captured: Taliban
Several reports say the Taliban have taken complete control of Panjshir province, the last area in Afghanistan being held by resistance forces, the Islamist terrorist group's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said. There was no immediate word from Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the opposition group resisting Taliban forces.
Thousands of Taliban fighters overrun eight districts of Panjshir overnight, according to witnesses from the area. They spoke on condition of anonymity fearing for their safety.
10:34 Sensex above 58,000K, RIL gains 2.8%
Equity benchmark indices extended their bull run during early hours on Monday with auto stocks leading the rally.
At 10:15 am, the BSE S&P Sensex was up by 253 points or 0.44 per cent at 58,383 while the Nifty 50 rose by 67 points or 0.39 per cent to 17,391. Sectoral indices were mixed with Nifty auto and realty up by 0.6 per cent. But Nifty financial service, metal and pharma were in the negative zone.
Among stocks, Reliance Industries moved up by 2.8 per cent to Rs 2,456.90 per share while Grasim rose by 2.9 per cent.
10:28 COVID-19: Lowest fatalities reported in 167 days
Some good news: India logged 38,948 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,30,27,621, while the death toll climbed to 4,40,752 with 219 fresh fatalities, the lowest in 167 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.
The case fatality rate has declined to 1.33 per cent, according to the data updated at 8 am. India had reported 199 deaths in a single day on March 23. The active cases have declined to 4,04,874 comprising 1.23 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.44 per cent, the ministry said. A decrease of 5,174 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
10:16 The Jallianwala Bagh makeover
"It is grotesque, this thoughtless desecration of one of the most poignant memorials of our Independence struggle -- the anger being expressed on social media and by some of the leading Indian and international historians who have worked on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre is legitimate and I've been straining to join the fray. But first, I wanted to see it for myself."
Read the column here.
10:10 Sena calls out Javed Akhtar for Taliban-RSS comparison
Shiv Sena, which is in alliance with Congress in Maharashtra, has slammed lyricist Javed Akhtar, in its mouthpiece 'Saamana' for the latter's alleged comparison of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) with the Taliban, which recently captured Afghanistan following months of offensive and said "linking Hindutva with the Taliban is disrespectful to Hindu culture."
In the editorial, Shiv Sena said the people who think that the ideology of RSS and VHP are similar to the Taliban must introspect.
"Nowadays one is comparing anyone with Taliban as the outfit is the biggest threat to society and mankind. Countries like Pakistan and China where democracy doesn't exist are backing the Taliban in Afghanistan because human rights have no place in these countries. But India is a democratic country and respects an individual's freedom so it is erroneous to compare RSS with the Taliban. India is tremendously tolerant in every way," it said.
"For organisations like RSS and VHP, Hindutva is a culture. They want the rights of Hindus should not be suppressed. Moreover, it has never imposed any restrictions on women's rights. But the situation in Afghanistan is heart-wrenching. Many fled from their own country in fear, the rights of women are being suppressed," the editorial claimed.
Shiv Sena said that Javed Akhtar is known for his outspoken statements and has several times attacked extremist views of Muslim society, yet we do not accept the comparison of the Sangh with the Taliban.
"Most of the population of the country is secular and respects each other religious views. We cannot accept the 'Talibani ideology'. In spite of the fact that India being home to a majority of the Hindu population, it is a proud secular country," Shiv Sena said. -- ANI
10:08 Maska, says the Mumbai police
The Mumbai police's cool tweet to get people to mask up as Maharashtra continues to remain the state with the 2nd highest Covid numbers in the country. @MumbaiPolice tweeted, "Spread the importance of 'Mask' in any language of your choice, but with your face covered. #WearAMask #TakingOnCorona."
10:02 4,40,752 people have died of Covid in India so far
India reports 38,948 new COVID-19 cases, 43,903 recoveries and 219 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Health Ministry.
Active cases: 4,04,874
Total cases: 3,30,27,621
Total recoveries: 3,21,81,995
Death toll: 4,40,752
Total vaccination: 68,75,41,762.
09:41 Taliban stopping thousands from evacuation
The Taliban are preventing around 1000 people including dozens of American citizens and Afghans holding visas to the US or other countries, from leaving Afghanistan, US media reports said on Sunday.
Multiple planes are waiting for clearance for the departure from the group, The New York Times (NYT) reported and added that the holdup is caused due to ongoing negotiations between the US and Taliban.
This comes as the United States completed its withdrawal last week, after the Taliban's swift takeover of Kabul, following an offensive that saw the rapid fall of the Afghan government forces.
US media reports say, the planes stuck in Afghanistan are not currently loaded and the passengers are being held nearby as the Taliban won't let them inside the airport.
A Pentagon official concerned with evacuation operations said the reason the Taliban wants to prevent these people from leaving is likely because they intend to punish them for their cooperation with the US
09:12 ED issues lookout notice against Anil Deshmukh
The Enforcement Directorate has issued a lookout notice against Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in connection with a money laundering case.
Sources said that the lookout circular was issued to prevent Deshmukh from fleeing the country.
He has skipped various summons issued by the ED in the case that forced him to resign from the post of Maharashtra Home Minister in April.
The move comes as the Supreme Court had refused to offer Deshmukh interim relief from coercive action in the lawsuit last month.
Deshmukh had moved the Bombay high court on September 2 seeking to quash the agency's summons.
The plea, however, was not taken up for hearing immediately.
The ED has till now issued five summons to Deshmukh, asking him to appear before it for questioning.
However, Deshmukh skipped every summons, saying he would be seeking appropriate remedy available under law.
ED registered its money laundering case against Deshmukh and others based on a corruption case filed against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Deshmukh is accused of allegedly misusing his post while serving as Home Minister. It is also alleged that the leader through dismissed police officer Sachin Waze collected Rs 4.70 crore from various bars and restaurants in Mumbai. -- ANI
09:05 Woman who claims to be Maha minister Munde's second wife held for attack on man
Police on Sunday arrested a woman named Karuna Sharma, who claims to be the second wife of Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde, and one more person for allegedly attacking a man at Parli city in Beed district of the state, an official said.
The action against them was taken based on a complaint lodged by one Vishakha Ghadge in connection with the incident that took place on Sunday, he said.
Sharma had earlier announced on social media that she would hold a press conference in Parli on Sunday, where she would reveal some information. As per her announcement, Sharma came to Parli in the afternoon. A heavy deployment of police was put in place around Shree Vaidyanath Mandir area, where she arrived, the official said.
In the complaint, Ghadge said that when she was standing in the area, Sharma came there and abused her over her caste and also pushed down a woman named Bebi Tamboli, who was standing close to her. At that time, one Arun More, who accompanied Sharma, attacked a man named Guddu Tamboli with a knife, Beed Superintendent of Police (SP) Raja Ramaswami said quoting the complaint.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered against Sharma and More under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) and under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, he said, adding that the duo was arrested.
Meanwhile, police recovered a revolver in Sharma's car during a search, following which her driver was booked and arrested under the Arms Act, the official added. -- PTI
08:27 Afghan resistance leader's nephew killed in Panjshir: Report
The Afghan national resistance front on Monday informed that another senior member of their group, General Abdul Wudod Zara has been killed during the standoff between rebel forces and the Taliban.
General Wudod was the nephew of Panjshir resistance leader Ahmad Massoud.
Some reports also claim that Amrullah Saleh has moved to a safe place after a helicopter attacked his house, Samaa News reported.
The developments came soon after Afghan resistance force spokesperson Fahim Dashti was reported dead by various Afghanistan media.
"Regretfully, The National Resistance of Afghanistan lost two companions in the holy resistance against oppression and aggression today. Mr. Fahim Dashty, NRF spokesperson, and General Abdul Wudod Zara were martyred. May their memory be eternal," the Afghan resistance front was quoted as saying by the Samaa News.
A day earlier, Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the resistance forces in Afghanistan's northeastern province of Panjshir said resistance forces are ready to cease fighting and start negotiations if the Taliban leave the province, Sputnik reported on Sunday.
The Panjshir Valley lies in the Hindu Kush mountains, approximately 90 miles north of Kabul.
The Taliban have been unable to take this major holdout of resistance after steamrolling across pro-government troops in a matter of months.
The war over Panjshir province escalated from Friday night. -- ANI
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