LIVE! Earthquake of magnitude 4.1 hits Himachal Pradesh

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Wed, 16 November 2022

Earthquake of magnitude 4.1 hits Himachal Pradesh

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23:38 Earthquake of magnitude 4.1 hits Himachal Pradesh

An earthquake of 4.1 magnitude shook parts of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, according to the National Centre for Seismology.

The epicentre of the temblor, which struck at 9:32 pm, was located 27 km north northwest of Mandi in the hill state.

The Himalayan region has witnessed a series of quakes over the past fortnight.

The Himalayan region along the Uttarakhand-Nepal border has experienced at least 10 earthquakes of varying magnitudes between November 8 and 16, data from the National Centre of Seismology showed. -- PTI

Bardhaman Dakshin MLA Khokan Das/Twitter

23:13 Ensure pro-TMC Bangladeshis in voter list: WB MLA

A West Bengal MLA has stirred controversy by allegedly asking Trinamool Congress workers to ensure that only those Bangladeshi immigrants who support the ruling party in the state find a place in the voters' list.

The draft electoral roll revision is underway in the state along with the rest of the country.

In a purported video that has gone viral on social media, Bardhaman Dakshin MLA Khokan Das is heard saying, "Many new people are coming...they are from Bangladesh. Many of these people vote for BJP based on Hindu sentiments. Please ensure that only those who support our party get place in the voters' list."

The legislator was addressing a public meeting in Bardhaman town on Tuesday evening.

PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. Sources said that in the 2021 assembly elections, Das trailed in several wards of Bardhaman town, including in his own area, Kanchannagar-Rathtala, which is populated mainly by people of Bangladesh origin.

However, when the legislator was later asked to clarify his comment, he told reporters, "Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are entering our area every day. I gave a message to TMC workers that their names should not find a place in the voters' list." -- PTI

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22:48 Over 100 roads closed in Himachal following snowfall in high altitude

More than 100 roads have been blocked in Himachal Pradesh following snowfall in the higher reaches of the hill state for the past three days, official sources said on Wednesday.

According to the sources from the disaster management department, 90 roads have been blocked in Lahaul and Spiti, six in Kullu, including National Highways 03 and 305 at Rohtang pass and Jalori pass, four in Kullu, three in Kangra, two in Chamba and one in Mandi.

The Tindi-Pangi road in the Udaipur subdivision of the tribal Lahaul and Spiti district was blocked following a landslide that occurred 70 km away on Wednesday morning.

No loss of life was reported in the incident.

Meanwhile, the restoration work is in progress, they said.

Cold wave conditions are prevailing in higher altitude areas with Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti being the coldest place in the state after its minimum temperature dropped to minus 6.9 degree Celsius. -- PTI

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22:32 8 killed as SUV falls into gorge in J-K's Kishtwar

Eight people were killed when an SUV fell into a deep gorge in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday evening.

According to Jammu and Kashmir police, the incident took place around 5:30 pm in Marwah area of Kishtwar.

The rescue operation is underway.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed condolences over the loss of lives.

"Just now spoke to deputy commissioner Kishtwar Devansh Yadav after receiving the news of an unfortunate road accident in Marwah area. Eight persons have died on the spot. The rescue operations are in progress to recover other persons. All possible assistance is being provided. Further help as needed would also be made available. My sincere condolences to the bereaved families," Singh said in a Twitter post.

Further details awaited. -- ANI

West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar on Wednesday claimed that the state would soon get a new governor who would follow the footsteps of former Raj Bhavan occupant Jagdeep Dhankhar, who had frequent run-ins with the TMC government.

Prior to his election as the vice president of India, Dhankhar was the governor of West Bengal for nearly three years and, on many occasions, had engaged in tussles with the Mamata Banerjee government over the law and order situation and other issues in the state.

La Ganesan, who took oath as the new governor of West Bengal in July this year, shares a cordial relationship with the state government.

Ganesan, also the governor of Manipur, has been given the additional charge of West Bengal.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee travelled to Tamil Nadu earlier this month to attend a family function at the invitation of La Ganesan.

"We expect that very soon, West Bengal will have a new governor. And we believe that he would follow former governor Jagdeep Dhankhar's footsteps," Majumdar told a news channel.

According to West Bengal BJP sources, the state unit is not happy with the functioning of the Raj Bhavan, especially during the Akhil Giri episode when despite seeking the governor's appointment for three days, the BJP legislative party did not get any appointment as he was not in town.

Senior BJP leader and MP Saumitra Khan recently said that Dhankhar was "very vocal" on various issues, and the party misses him.

-- PTI

Kamal Nath

21:43 Kamal Nath cuts temple-shaped birthday cake, Chouhan fumes

Controversy erupted on Wednesday over a `temple-shaped' birthday cake with a picture of Hanuman prepared for Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath's birthday celebrations.

As a video of the celebration emerged on social media, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan termed it an insult of Hindus".

During Nath's three-day visit to his hometown Chhindwara, his supporters celebrated his birthday, which falls on November 18, in advance.

n the video, Nath, who calls himself Hanuman-bhakt, is seen with the cake.

The celebration apparently took place at the former chief minister's house in Chhindwara on Tuesday evening.

When asked about it by reporters at the BJP office on Wednesday, Chouhan said, "Congress was against the Ram temple. Now they remember Hanumanji only for votes They put Hanumanji's picture on the cake and then cut it. This is an insult to Hindu religion and Sanatan tradition."

When contacted, MP Congress Media Department chairman KK Mishra said he was unaware of the controversy.

Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who has the distinction of being the first-ever Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, has joined the conservative Fox News channel, a media report said.

Gabbard, 41, who represented the Second Congressional District of Hawaii as a Democrat for four consecutive terms beginning in 2013, had quit her parent party last month.

"A representative for the conservative-leaning cable channel confirmed Gabbard signed a deal Monday and will start appearing on its programmes next week," The Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday.

On October 11, Gabbard announced that she is leaving the Democratic Party.

Subsequently, she campaigned for and supported several Republican Party candidates during the just concluded midterm elections.

"I refuse to be a part of today's Democratic Party that is controlled by fanatical ideologues who hate freedom and work to silence and destroy anyone who opposes their efforts to undermine it," Gabbard told her supporters after leaving the Democratic Party.

"I can no longer remain in today's Democratic Party -- which is now under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness. The Democrats of today divide us by racializing every issue, stoking anti-white racism, and are actively working to undermine our God-given freedoms enshrined in our Constitution," Gabbard said. -- PTI

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21:01 Tension in K'taka town over religious conversion

Tension prevailed in a locality in Hubballi of Karnataka over alleged religious conversion and a man lodged a complaint against 15 people including a few pastors and a history-sheeter, the police said.

An FIR has not been registered by the police.

A large number of people from the Shikkaligar community along with members of pro-Hindu outfits gathered at the Old Hubballi police station on Tuesday night demanding action against Christian missionaries who were allegedly involved in converting people.

According to police, the incident came to light following a quarrel between a couple.

The husband alleged that his wife is forcing him to convert to Christianity and refusing to live with him.

When he couldn't handle the pressure from his wife, he had brought the matter to the notice of community leaders, they said.

The members of Shikkaligar community held a protest at the police station demanding conversion bids to be stopped.

Complainant Sampath told reporters that the pastors had come to his in-laws' house and asked them to attend prayers.

He also charged that the missionaries have been targeting his community to convert them into Christians.

Some other community members alleged that the missionaries are taking the help of a local history-sheeter to force people to leave Hinduism and get converted to Christianity.

A Hindu outfit leader, who joined the protest, said the Shikkaligars are a marginalised and economically weak community. -- PTI

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20:37 Low pressure area likely, rains to resume in TN

A low pressure area is likely to form over Bay of Bengal soon and rainfall is expected to resume in Tamil Nadu from November 20, the India meteorological department said on Wednesday.

A cyclonic circulation lies over south Andaman sea and neighbourhood in middle tropospheric levels, the IMD said in a bulletin.

"Under its influence, a Low pressure area is likely to form over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman sea during next 24 hours. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and gradually concentrate into a depression over central parts of south Bay of Bengal during subsequent 48 hours."

Hence, heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places over coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal from November 20.

Rajapalayam (12 cm) in Virudhunagar district and Ayakudi and Sivagiri (9 and 7 cm respectively) in Tenkasi district received heavy rainfall, during the 24-hour period that ended on November 16 morning.

The northeast monsoon (October-December) has been active in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry, with both the regions witnessing widespread rainfall. -- PTI

The release of activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoists links case, was delayed yet again on Wednesday as the National Investigation Agency raised safety concerns about a premises in Navi Mumbai where he had proposed to live during his house arrest.

Veteran actor Suhasini Mulay appeared before the special NIA judge Rajesh Katariya during the day and stood as surety for Navlakha which the court accepted.

"Since there is strong objection on the part of the prosecution (NIA) for keeping the accused in the premises on account of safety and security of the accused, it would not be proper to keep the accused in house arrest in the given premises," the judge said in his order.

Further, as the special public prosecutor also submitted that the prosecution was going to file a report of the evaluation of the premises in the Supreme Court, it would not be appropriate to shift the accused there until further directions from the Apex court, the court added.

The 70-year-old activist, who claims to be suffering from multiple ailments, is in prison since April 2020.

On November 10, in response to his petition, the Supreme Court allowed Navlakha to be put under house arrest for a month and said the order should be implemented within 48 hours.

But the release was delayed as necessary formalities were not completed.

Actor Suhasini Mulay appeared in the court on Wednesday and said she was standing as surety for Navlakha. -- PTI

The funeral of veteran Telugu film star Krishna was conducted with state honours in Hyderabad on Wednesday after several prominent personalities and a large number of fans paid their last respects.

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, renowned Telugu actor N Balakrishna, BJP president in Telangana Bandi Sanjay Kumar were among those who paid homage to Krishna.

Scores of fans queued up to have a one last glimpse of their favourite actor and some of them were in tears as they arrived to pay their tributes.

The mortal remains were then taken to the 'Mahaprasthanam' crematorium at Jubilee Hills where the funeral was held.

Krishna's son Mahesh Babu is a leading actor in the Telugu film industry.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday had directed officials to conduct the last rites with state honours. -- PTI

A court in Alipurduar has issued an arrest warrant against Union Minister of State for Home Nisith Pramanik in connection with thefts at two jewellery stores 13 years ago.

The hearing of the case was conducted at the judicial magistrate's court and no lawyer representing the minister, also a Bharatiya Janata Party MP, was present at the court when the warrant was issued.

Along with the minister, the warrant of arrest was also issued against another accused on November 11.

Pramanik's lawyer Dulal Ghosh did not disclose their next legal move.

The incidents of theft had taken place at jewellery shops near Alipurduar railway station and Birpara in 2009.

Public prosecutor Jahar Majumdar told PTI on Wednesday that the matter was transferred from a special MP/MLA court in North 24 Parganas district to the Alipurduar court on the directions of the Calcutta high court.

Pramanik is a resident of Dinhata town near the Bangladesh border in north Bengal. -- PTI

The 7th edition of Jashn-e-Rekhta festival will be held from December 2 in New Delhi at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium after a hiatus of three years.

Last held in December 2019, the grand celebration of Urdu language and Hindustani culture will host a stellar lineup of actors Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Shah Pathak, Shabana Azmi, poets Javed Akhtar, Anisur Rahman, Farhat Ehsas, Shailesh Lodha, Kumar Vishwas and several other distinguished authors, poets, and artistes.

Spread across three days, with more than 150 artistes, the festival will see ghazals, sufi music, qawwali, dastangoi, panel discussions, mushaira, and poetry recitations.

"Jashn-e-Rekhta aims to bring people closer through the celebration of Urdu language, its music, art, culture, and its Indian ethos. It was last celebrated in December 2019 after which COVID disrupted life as we know it. However, people exhibited remarkable resilience and came together in overcoming this challenge," Sanjiv Saraf, founder of Rekhta Foundation said.

"I am delighted that the 7th edition of Jashn-e-Rekhta 2022 is being held after a period of three full years. I invite one and all to join us as we celebrate our cultural heritage and oneness and make the Jashn an unforgettable experience," Saraf said.

The event will also feature a curated food festival (Aiwan-e-Zaiqa), a book exhibition, and art & craft bazaar. -- PTI

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had an exchange of words during their conversation on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali on Wednesday with the Chinese leader complaining about the media reporting about their communication, according to a video of the meeting posted by a Canada-based journalist.

In the video, Xi is heard expressing his displeasure about talks between China and Canada being leaked to the Canadian Press.

The two leaders had earlier met on Tuesday on the sidelines of the summit.

"The Cdn Pool cam captured a tough talk between Chinese President Xi & PM Trudeau at the G20 today. In it, Xi expressed his displeasure that everything discussed yesterday "has been leaked to the paper(s), that's not appropriate... & that's not the way the conversation was conducted," Annie Bergeron-Oliver from the Canadian press CTV National News said in a tweet.

She posted the video along with her tweet.

Speaking through an interpreter, Xi said, "Everything we decided has been leaked to the papers that's not appropriate... and that's not the way the conversation was conducted if there is sincerity on your part..."

The Canadian prime minister is heard stating that there was free, open and frank dialogue and that there will be things the two countries disagree on.

"We will continue to help...work constructively together but there will be many things we will disagree on," Trudeau said.

The video ends with Xi Jinping saying "let's create the conditions first".

The two leaders shook hands after the brief conversation. -- ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday left for India from Bali after spending two "productive days" at the G20 Summit here during which he had "fruitful deliberations" with several world leaders and assumed the presidency of the influential grouping for the coming year.

Before his departure, Prime Minister Modi in a tweet thanked the people of Indonesia, the Indonesian government and President Joko Widodo for their warm hospitality.

"Spent two productive days at the @g20org Summit in Bali. Had fruitful deliberations with various world leaders and also highlighted India's position on key subjects," he said.

During his two-day visit here, Prime Minister Modi met several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

In a session on digital transformation at the G20 Summit earlier in the day, Modi strongly pitched for a pledge by the G-20 leaders to work for bringing digital transformation into the life of every human being in the next 10 years so that no person is deprived of the benefits of the new technologies.

The digital transformation should not be confined to a small part of the "human race" and its greater benefits will be realised only when digital access becomes "truly inclusive", he said.

On the Ukraine issue, leaders at the G20 summit on Wednesday called for an immediate end to the conflict, holding that "today's era must not be of war," a formulation that echoed Modi's message to Russian President Vladimir Putin in September. -- PTI

18:11 Tharoor turns down Cong student wing's invite

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor was asked by the party's student wing National Students Union of India to address a campaign event in Gujarat but declined as his name was not on the star campaigners' list of the party for the assembly polls in the state, sources said on Wednesday.

Tharoor's name does not feature in the list of 40 star campaigners for the party that included the likes of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Among the other star campaigners listed by the party are Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Kerala minister Ramesh Chennithala, former chief ministers Digvijaya Singh, Kamal Nath, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Ashok Chavan.

Asked if he was disappointed over his name not featuring on the list, Tharoor told PTI, "The Congress knows who or what is best for it, so the question of disappointment is irrelevant."

Tharoor had lost to Kharge in the party's presidential poll last month but had secured over 1,000 votes out of the more than 9,000 votes cast.

The NSUI had invited Tharoor for the event in Gujarat but sources close to him said he had to decline as his name was not there on the star campaigners' list. -- PTI

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17:31 Over 200 kg gelatin sticks found in Rajasthan's Dungarpur

Sacks stuffed with over 200 kg gelatin sticks were found at two separate places under a bridge across the Som river in Rajasthan's Dungarpur district, the police said.

On Wednesday, nearly 40 kg gelatin sticks stuffed in polythene bags were found 200 metres away, the police said.

Seven sacks with 185 kg gelatin sticks, which are used in mines to carry out blasts, had been recovered on Tuesday, they added.

Deputy superintendent of police Aspur, Kamal Kumar said the sticks found on Wednesday had the branding of Rajasthan Explosive and Chemical Factory, Dholpur.

The spot is around 70 km from the site in Udaipur where an explosion took place on a railway track on the intervening night of Saturday-Sunday.

The police said the two incidents didn't seem to be connected as the make of the gelatin was different from the material found on the railway tracks on Sunday.

However, investigation from all angles is going on, they said.

Inspector General, Udaipur, Prafulla Kumar told PTI, "Prima facie, it appears that someone dumped old stock of gelatin used in mining there. However, we are investigating the matter from all possible angles." -- PTI

Gautam Navlakha

17:21 Actor Suhasini Mulay stands as surety for Navlakha

Veteran actor Suhasini Mulay on Wednesday stood as surety for activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, before he could be released from prison and put under house arrest.

Navlakha, 70, who claims that he is suffering from multiple ailments, is in prison since April 2020.

On November 10, in response to his petition, the Supreme Court allowed him to be put under house arrest for a month and said the order should be implemented within 48 hours.

But he is still in prison as formalities of release could not be completed. Mulay, known for her work in films such as "Bhuvan Shome" and "Hu Tu Tu", appeared before the special judge for National Investigation Agency cases Rajesh Kataria, and stated that she was standing as surety for Navlakha.

A surety takes responsibility that a person who is going to be released from prison would appear before a court whenever directed. -- PTI

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16:55 Masks no more compulsory during air travel: Govt

The civil aviation ministry on Wednesday said the use of masks is not compulsory during air travel but passengers should preferably use them amid the declining number of coronavirus cases.

Till now, the use of masks or face covers while travelling on flights was mandatory.

In a communication to the scheduled airlines, the ministry said the latest decision has been taken in line with the government's policy of a graded approach to COVID-19 management response.

"... the in-flight announcements henceforth may only mention that in view of the threat posed by COVID-19, all passengers should preferably use mask/face covers," the communication said.

It also said that any specific reference to fine/penal action need not be announced as part of the in-flight announcements.

The total number of active coronavirus cases in the country accounted was only 0.02 per cent of the total infections and the recovery rate increased to 98.79 per cent, according to the latest official data. -- PTI

The country's elite compact allows wealth and power to perpetuate over generations and keeps everyone else out. Read the column here.

PM Modi with US President Joe Biden in Bali

16:38 Russia praises Biden's response to Poland missile

The Kremlin has praised Washington's "measured" response after a missile landed in Poland and US President Joe Biden said it was "unlikely" that it had come from Russia, says reports.

Poland said on Wednesday that a Russian-made missile fell in the country's east, killing two people, though US President Joe Biden said it was unlikely it was fired from Russia.

The blast, which Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy decried as a very significant escalation, prompted Biden to call an emergency meeting of G-7 and NATO leaders. A deliberate, hostile attack on NATO member Poland could trigger a collective military response by the alliance.

But key questions around the circumstances of the missile launch none larger than who fired it remained amid the confusion caused by a blistering series of Russian airstrikes across the nearby border in Ukraine.

Russia denied any involvement in the Poland blast.

When asked if Russia is involved in attacks that took place in Poland, Biden said, "There is preliminary information that contests that. I don't want to say that until we completely investigate. But it is unlikely in the lines of the trajectory that it was fired from Russia, but we will see."

16:13 Israel pays homage to 26/11 victims

Remember 26/11/2008 in Mumbai?

Remember the carnage at Nariman House, Colaba?

If you've answered 'yes', to both the questions, you would remember Moshe Holtzberg.
Moshe was only two years old when his father Rabbi Gavriel and mother Rivka Holtzberg died along with four visitors at Nariman House. After the death of his parents, he moved to Israel to live with his grandparents.

Alongside is a picture of young Moshe at Israel's parliament, the Knesset, today.

"At the swearing-in ceremony of #Israel's 25th #Knesset, 26/11 survivor Moshe Holtzberg recited Psalm 122 from the Book of Psalms. Moshe lost his parents in the 2008 #Mumbai terror attack. This horrific incident is a shared pain for both our nations (India and Israel flags)," tweets @IsraelinIndia

15:55 When Obama called Dr Manmohan Singh 'guru'

The ruling dispensation's penchant of painting everything with the 'new India vs old India' brush is rubbished by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Ramesh set the record straight for those who think India is being heard at international fora for the first time thanks to PM Modi.

Ramesh tweets, "In my presence at the Copenhagen Climate Conference in mid-Dec 2009 President Obama embraced Dr. Manmohan Singh saying: how is my Gooroo [guru] doing?"

Ramesh was at the time, chief negotiator for India at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Copenhagen.

It's just that the BJP's PR machinery is well oiled.

Also read: 'President Obama has a very, very, great respect for the prime minister'

As India was handed over the presidency of the G20, the Congress on Wednesday alleged that the grouping's summit in 2023 will be milked by "the world's greatest event manager" for the Lok Sabha elections, an apparent jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India was handed over the presidency of the influential bloc at the end of the two-day G-20 summit in Bali which was hosted by Indonesia.

India will officially assume the G20 Presidency from December 1.

The next G20 Leaders' Summit at the level of Heads of State/Government is scheduled to be held on September 9 and 10 in New Delhi.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter, "G20, a grouping of 19 major economies & the European Union was set up in 1999. Since 2008 an annual summit is held in each member country IN TURN."

"Each country gets a chance and India will host the summit in 2023," he said.

"It's certainly to be welcomed like similar summits held earlier. The Non Aligned Summit of over 100 countries took place in New Delhi in 1983 followed by the Commonwealth Summit," Ramesh said.

"The 2023 Summit will of course be milked by the world's greatest event manager for the Lok Sabha elections a year later to distract from real issues of the people," he alleged.

In his remarks at the closing ceremony of the summit in Bali, Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday said India's G-20 presidency will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive, and action-oriented, noting that the country is taking the charge at a time when the world is grappling with geopolitical tensions, economic slowdown and rising food and energy prices.

The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies.

It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union.

15:25 G20 Declaration echoes PM's message of peace

Leaders at the G20 summit on Wednesday called for an immediate end to the Ukraine conflict, holding that "today's era must not be of war", a formulation that echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message to Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.

A communique was issued at the end of the two-day summit that extensively deliberated on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its implications for the world.

It said the members of the grouping have called for peace, cessation of hostilities and an end to the war in Ukraine, underlining that the continuation of the ongoing situation will have adverse impacts on food and energy security.

"The peaceful resolution of conflicts, efforts to address crises, as well as diplomacy and dialogue, are vital. Today's era must not be of war," the communique said.

In his bilateral meeting with Putin in Uzbekistan on September 16, Modi said "today's era is not of war" and nudged him to end the conflict. The declaration said many G-20 members strongly condemned Russia's war against Ukraine and expressed the view that Moscow's "illegal, unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine is impairing the global economic recovery."

India played a key and critical role in bringing consensus amongst all countries on the communique, people familiar with the matter said.

India worked in partnership with all developing countries and emerging markets to draft the final statement and the preamble to the statement, they said.

"India emerged as a leader, solution provider and consensus builder through its positive and constructive approach, they added. "It is essential to uphold international law and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability. This includes defending all the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and adhering to international humanitarian law," the G-20 communique said.

It said the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible, in an apparent reference to Moscow's reported indication that it could use the nuclear option.

"The meeting was held under challenging circumstances, as the war in Ukraine continues and its impacts are felt by countries beyond Europe. Members expressed deep concerns about the humanitarian crisis, economic and financial impacts of the war, and called for an end to the war as soon as possible," the communique said. It said many member countries condemned the war as unprovoked and unjustifiable, and a violation of international law.

"Few members expressed that G20 should be faithful to its own mandate and ensure the discussions focus on economic impacts and take a comprehensive and balanced approach. Some members expressed concerns about the economic consequences of sanctions," it added.

The communique said the leaders are "gravely concerned" by the increased and ongoing conflicts in many parts of the world, including the one in Ukraine. -- PTI

The Delhi police is planning to conduct a psycho-assessment test on Aaftab Poonawala, arrested for allegedly strangling his live-in partner Shraddha Walker to death. He then disposed of her body after chopping it into 35 pieces in South Delhi's Chhatarpur area in May this year.

Aftab was arrested on Saturday after Delhi police started probing a missing complaint filed by the woman's father.

A senior Delhi police officer told ANI that since there are multiple discrepancies in Aaftab's statement, there is a possibility that police teams investigating this case will request his mental and psycho-assessment test.

"The test will let us know if Aaftab is telling the truth. It will also help us understand his mental state and the nature of the brutal crime he has committed. We also want to know what his relationship with Shraddha was," a senior police officer said.

The police also said that if Aaftab turns out to be mentally unfit, required measures will accordingly be taken. The test is expected in the coming days once the initial investigation is done.

Delhi police has previously also conducted psycho-analysis tests in some cases.

Last year, a psychoanalysis test was conducted on four students who had been apprehended in connection with the Israel Embassy blast case. Police had then said as per the test report, two of the accused were telling the 'partial truth' as far as their role in the blast was concerned. -- ANI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the BJP ended "appeasement politics" and established the rule of law in Gujarat during its 27-year rule and slammed Congress on various issues.

Shah alleged the Congress used to mock Bharatiya Janata Party and its cadres over the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and asked Rahul Gandhi to visit the temple, which he said will be ready for inauguration in January 2024.

Shah was speaking at an election rally in support of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the BJP's candidate from the Ghatlodia seat in Ahmedabad city.

After the rally, Shah and Patel led a roadshow up to the Sola area where Patel submitted his nomination papers for the next month's elections to authorities. Gujarat is scheduled to vote in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.

The BJP is eyeing a seventh straight term in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah, where a triangular contest among BJP, Congress and AAP is shaping up.

"People of Gujarat had seen the days when communal riots were common, especially between 1985 and 1995 (under non-BJP governments). Curfew remained imposed for 250 days out of 365 days (a year). Women used to pray for their family members whenever they used to visit the walled city areas," Shah said.

Shah said the BJP governments improved the situation as a result of which no one dares to create disturbance now.

"All the Latifs and Ijju Shaikhs (two criminals from Gujarat) were already eliminated. Today, 20-year-old youths do not even know what curfew is like. We eliminated the appeasement-based politics and established the rule of law in Gujarat," the Gandhinagar MP said.

The Ghatlodia assembly segment is part of the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

In the 2017 elections, Patel was elected from Ghatlodia with a huge margin of 1.17 lakh votes.

Shah said Congress used to mock the BJP and its cadres for supporting the construction of Ram Mandir. The party created legal hurdles to delay the temple construction, he alleged.

"Earlier, Congress used to taunt us saying when the temple will be built. Now, when the temple is getting ready for its inauguration in January 2024, Rahul Baba can visit the temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has solved this 550-year-old dispute peacefully," he said.

Shah praised the prime minister for abrogating Article 370 (which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir) and bringing a law banning the practice of triple talaq.

"I want to congratulate CM Bhupendra Patel for demolishing illegal mazars (a Muslim shrine or enshrined tomb) and other illegal constructions which mushroomed in Beyt Dwarka (a small island off the coast of Dwarka) over years. There were more mazaras than the population," said Shah.

PM with French President Macron

13:43 G20: PM talks defence at lunch date with Macron

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held "fruitful" talks with French President Emmanuel Macron over a working lunch with a focus on ramping up cooperation in areas of defence, nuclear energy, trade and food security.

After the meeting that took place on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Bali, Modi said close India-France ties are a "force of great global good". It is understood that the Ukraine conflict and its implications including on food and energy security figured in the talks.

"As always, an excellent meeting with President @EmmanuelMacron. We had in-depth discussions on various issues including boosting cooperation in defence, nuclear energy and food security. Close India-France ties are a force of great global good," Modi tweeted.

On his part, Macron tweeted that both sides share the same agenda for peace and that France will work on it under India's upcoming G20 Presidency.

The prime minister's office said the two leaders discussed how to enhance defence ties, further sustainable growth and increase economic cooperation. "PM @narendramodi and President @EmmanuelMacron held talks at the @g20org Summit in Bali. They had fruitful deliberations on a variety of subjects. The two leaders discussed how to enhance defence ties, further sustainable growth and increase economic cooperation," it tweeted.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Modi and Macron reviewed cooperation in defence, civil nuclear, trade, investment and new areas of economic engagement. Without elaborating, he said they also discussed regional and global developments.

The military cooperation between India and France has witnessed a major expansion in the last few years. Currently, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande is on a visit to France. -- ANI

Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia

13:14 BJP goons have abducted AAP's Surat East candidate: Sisodia

The Aam Aadmi Party alleged on Wednesday that its Surat East candidate Kanchan Jariwala was abducted at the behest of the BJP, which "feared" a defeat in the seat during the Gujarat Assembly election.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said Jariwala had been missing along with his family members since Tuesday.

"In this election, the BJP is miserably losing in Gujarat and has become so rattled that it has stooped to the level of kidnapping our candidate from Surat East," Sisodia said.

"Fearing defeat, the BJP goons have kidnapped the AAP candidate from Surat, Kanchan Jariwala," he said. Jariwala was last seen at the Election Commission's office in Surat, where he had gone for scrutiny of his nomination papers, the AAP leader added.

"This is not just kidnapping of our candidate, but kidnapping of democracy. This is a very dangerous situation in Gujarat," Sisodia said. He appealed to the EC to take cognisance of it and "deploy all machinery to trace and bring back our party's candidate and his family members". PTI

Narendra Modi with heads of state of France, Netherlands, US

12:45 G20 ends, Indonesia hands over presidency to India

Bali G20 Summit ends, Indonesia hands over presidency for coming year to India.

India will assume the presidency of the G20 from December and host the summit of leaders of the world's twenty largest economies in New Delhi during September 9-10, 2023.

Under its Presidency, India is expected to host more than 200 preparatory and other meetings across the country, beginning in December this year.

An exercise is already underway to identify suitable venues in places ranging from Tamil Nadu to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for hosting these meetings.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken

12:34 US discusses explosion with Ukraine, Poland

US secretary of state Antony Blinken held talks with foreign ministers of Poland and Ukraine, Zbigniew Rau and Dmytro Kuleba, respectively, to discuss the explosion in Poland.

The leaders committed to remain "closely coordinated" in the coming days as the investigation proceeds and determine the "appropriate next steps.

"Sharing details regarding his talks with Kuleba and Rau, Blinken tweeted, "I spoke this morning from Bali with Polish Foreign Minister Rau and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba regarding the explosion in eastern Poland. We pledged to remain closely coordinated in the days ahead as the investigation proceeds and we determine appropriate next steps."

During his telephonic conversation with Zbigniew Rau, Antony Blinken offered condolences for the two explosion victims in eastern Poland.

He reiterated US assistance for Poland's investigation into the explosion, according to the statement released by US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price. The two leaders stressed the importance of the alliance to remain in close coordination as they assess the development.

The statement issued by US State Department spokesperson Ned Price reads, "The Secretary expressed condolences for the two Polish lives lost and reiterated full U.S. support for and assistance with Poland's investigation."

Underscoring the strength of NATO's bonds, the Secretary and the Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of the alliance staying in close coordination as they assess the development and the appropriate next steps.

Nalini Sriharan was suicide bomber Dhanu's, handler

12:24 Innocent Tigers get a free pass

The 10 final frames were a photographic record, not just of the moments before the carnage on the night of May 21, 1991, but of the men and women who made it happen. Read the column here.

12:22 Maken wants to quit as Rajasthan in-charge

Congress General Secretary and in-charge of Rajasthan Congress, Ajay Maken writes to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressing his unwillingness to continue as in-charge of Rajasthan.

Maken stated the developments that took place in Jaipur on September 25 (when the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi appointed Kharge and Maken as observers for the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party in Rajasthan, which MLAs boycotted), further said that this warrants the party's interest in having a new in-charge of Rajasthan.

He stressed that Bharat Jodo Yatra is coming to Rajasthan, it's important to have a new state in-charge soon.

12:08 Take a Covaxin shot? Read this

As the Covid-19 pandemic spread across the world two years ago, one of India's leading biotech companies was racing to develop a vaccine with crucial backing from the Indian government.

The shot engineered by Bharat Biotech was, in part, an important effort to create a home-grown product that could bolster the fortunes of the Indian pharmaceutical industry.

However, a STAT review of documents detailing the steps taken toward government approval found that regulators endorsed the vaccine, called Covaxin, despite discrepancies in the number of clinical trial participants. Moreover, questionable changes were made to the trial protocols -- which are established procedures for testing a vaccine or medicine -- to expedite the approval process.

US President Joe Biden shares a moment with PM Modi

11:43 Unlikely: Biden on missile being fired from Russia

President Joe Biden said Wednesday it was unlikely that a missile that killed two in NATO-ally Poland was fired from Russia, but he pledged support for Poland's investigation into what it had called a Russian-made missile.

Biden spoke after he convened an emergency meeting of the Group of Seven and NATO leaders in Indonesia Wednesday morning for consultations on the explosion that killed two people in the eastern part of Poland near the Ukraine border.

"There is preliminary information that contests that," Biden told reporters when asked if the missile had been fired from Russia. "It is unlikely in the lines of the trajectory that it was fired from Russia, but we'll see," Biden added.

Three U.S. officials said preliminary assessments suggested the missile was fired by Ukrainian forces at an incoming Russian missile amid a crushing salvo against Ukraine's electrical infrastructure Tuesday.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Ukraine still maintains stocks of former Soviet and Russian-made weaponry, including the S-300 air-defence missile system.

The president, who was awakened overnight by staff with the news of the missile explosion while in Indonesia for the Group of 20 summit, called Polish President Andrzej Duda early Wednesday to express his deep condolences for the loss of life.

Biden promised on Twitter full U.S support for and assistance with Poland's investigation, and reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to NATO.

Biden said that he briefed the allies on his conversations with Duda and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and that there was Total unanimity among the folks at the table to support Poland's investigation into the explosion.

"I'm going to make sure we find out exactly what happened," Biden said. "And then we're going to collectively determine our next step as we investigate. -- PTI

11:18 Modi meets Gita Gopinath

"Enriching interaction with @KGeorgieva and @GitaGopinath," tweets Modi. Georgieva is Managing Director of @IMFnews. Gita Gopinath is First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF.

Damage after an explosion in Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine. Pic: Reuters

11:14 Missile most likely made in Russia, says Poland PM

Poland does not have any conclusive evidence on who fired the missile that caused an explosion in the Przedwodow village near Ukraine's border, president Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday.

In an address, Andrzej Duda said that the missile was "most likely produced in Russia," CNN reported.

During his address from the Bureau of National Security in Warsaw, Duda said that Poland is working in a "very calm manner," as per the CNN report.

Duda announced that Poland has raised the alert status for its military. Duda stated that NATO allies have affirmed support for the United States. Duda stated that the US will be sending experts to conduct an investigation at the site of the explosion as part of a joint operation.

"We are working calmly and in a very calm manner," CNN quoted Andrzej Duda as saying.

In a statement on Tuesday, Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lukasz Jasina said that a "Russian-made missile" fell in Przewodow, which is close to Ukraine's border and claimed lives of two people.

Jasina further said that the Polish Ministry of External Affairs has summoned Russia's ambassador to Poland and demanded an "immediate and detailed explanation."

Jasina in a statement said, "At 3:40 pm, a Russia-made missile dropped on the village of Przewodow, district Hrubieszow, Lubelskie province, and resulted in the death of two citizens of the Republic of Poland."

The Polish foreign ministry did not specify details regarding the type of "Russian-made missile" which they claim landed in Przewodow. -- ANI

US President Joe Biden stumbled on the stairs while he was heading towards the Taman Hutan Raya mangrove forest.

On Tuesday, Biden, not for the first time, stumbled on the stairs and appeared to lose his footing after which, Indonesian President Joko Widodo held him during their visit to a Mangrove forest in Bali at G20 Summit.

This is not the first time Biden has been caught stumbling on live camera. On November 6, when Biden appeared at Sarah Lawrence College in a rally attended by hundreds, he at one point stumbled on the stage and appeared to lose his footing, New York Post reported.

"Whoops," he said as he recovered his stance.On Tuesday 79-year-old Biden managed to arrest his fall with the help of the Indonesian President unlike in June when he fell off his bike, or when he stumbled while walking up the stairs to Air Force One last year.

Earlier in June, Biden took a tumble off his bike as he took a ride near his vacation home in the US state of Delaware. On that occasion, Biden's security crowded the US President and helped him get upright.

"I'm good," Biden said, telling pool reporters that he had had trouble taking his biking shoes out of the pedals.

"As the President said, his foot got caught on the pedal while dismounting and he is fine. No medical attention is needed. The President looks forward to spending the rest of the day with his family," a White House official said. -- ANI

10:33 On a lighter vein

Doing the rounds on social media: @haveigotnews tweets: "UK's presence at the G20 causes major headache for local engravers."

10:21 3,000 visas for Indians after Sunak meets PM

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has given the go-ahead for 3,000 visas for young professionals from India to work in the UK each year.

The British government said India is the first visa-national country to benefit from such a scheme, highlighting the strength of the UK-India Migration and Mobility Partnership agreed last year.

"Today the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme was confirmed, offering 3,000 places to 18-30-year-old degree-educated Indian nationals to come to the UK to live and work for up to two years," the UK Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet.

This announcement in the Downing Street readout came hours after Sunak met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 17th edition of the G20 Summit.

This was their first meeting after the first Indian-origin British PM assumed office last month.

"Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @RishiSunak in conversation during the first day of the @g20org Summit in Bali," PM Modi's Office said in a tweet.

Under the new UK-India Young Professionals Scheme, the UK will offer 3,000 places annually to 18-30-year-old degree-educated Indian nationals to come to the UK to live and work in UK for up to two years. The scheme will be reciprocal. -- PTI

10:21 Modi, G20 leaders walk in a mangrove forest

PM Narendra Modi, US President Biden and other G20 leaders visit a Mangrove forest in Bali and plant trees on the second day of the G20 Summit.

Modi visits Taman Hutan Raya mangrove forest in Bali

10:04 G20 delegates to visit Aurangabad in Feb 2023

The G20 summit delegates will visit the world famous Ajanta and Ellora caves and other prominent sites in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district over two days in February next year, officials said.

India will assume Presidency of the influential G20 group for one year from December 1, 2022.

The group comprises 19 countries - Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the USA - and the European Union (EU).

Around 500 delegates will visit the world heritage sites of Ajanta, Ellora, other prominent places like the Daulatabad (Devgiri) Fort along with an industrial visit in Aurangabad on February 13 and 14 next year, a release from the divisional commissioner's office said on Tuesday. -- ANI

09:54 Hello there!

PM Modi and US President Biden exchange greetings at the mangrove forest in Bali, Indonesia during the G20Summit 2022.

09:42 Modi at a mangrove forest

PM Narendra Modi reaches a mangrove forest in Bali on the second day of the G20 Summit.

09:34 Aaftab shows no remorse: Police

Call centre employee Shraddha Walkar's live-in-partner Aaftab Poonawala, accused of brutally murdering her in Delhi, had appeared confident with no trace of remorse on his face when Manikpur police in Maharashtra called him for questioning earlier this month, an official said.

After Walkar's family members filed a missing person's complaint when she was not traceable, the Manikpur police in Vasai town of Palghar called Poonawala for questioning twice -- last month and on November 3 -- and on both the occasions he told the police that Walkar had left his place and they were not staying together, assistant police inspector Sampatrao Patil told PTI.

Poonawala (28) has been arrested by the Delhi police for allegedly murdering Walkar, who had stayed in Vasai, in May this year, chopping the body into 35 pieces before dumping them at different places in the national capital over several days.

"Poonawala was called for questioning for the first time in October but was then asked to go. Later on November 3, he was again called and his two-page statement was recorded. Both the times he looked very confident and there was no remorse on his face," Patil said.

The official said last month they visited Mehrauli police station in Delhi and questioned Poonawala. But that time also he kept saying the same thing, that he and Walkar were not staying together, and failed to revealed anything more, he said.

"We questioned him at the police station in Delhi also for hours, but never get suspicious about him," the official said.

Walkar's close friend Rajat Shukla said it was possible that Poonawala might have been forcing her to convert (her religion). "He (Poonawala) is not an ordinary man... Love Jihad, terrorism, or may be some mission in the entire case... an investigation should be done into the case and the truth should come out. He was misleading people but the reality has to come out now, Shukla said.

"Poonawala did not seem to be a lover as such a person cannot commit a heinous crime like chopping the body of a person he loved into pieces, keeping them in a fridge and disposing them in a forest," he said.

Shukla also said they came to know in 2019 about Poonawala being in a live-in relationship with Walkar. "But, it seems both of them were in a relationship since 2018 and kept it a secret. A few of our friends had also met Poonawala," he added. -- PTI

09:28 Eleven dead in tanker fire in Aizwal

At least 11 people have died and 10 others were injured in a fire incident in Tuirial, Aizawl district, after a tanker carrying petrol caught fire. "A four-wheeler taxi and two 2-wheelers got damaged in the incident," Aizawl SP C Lalruaia.

"A total of 11 died in a fire incident after a tanker lorry carrying 22,000 litres of petrol met with an accident within the vicinity of Tuirial Airfield and people gathered to collect the spilling petrol from the tanker," Mizoram police said.

09:22 Just Gita and Justin at G20

Gita Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, tweets from Bali: "A productive day of discussions at the G20 with several leaders making candid & constructive suggestions, especially those from Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau of Canada."

The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi continued on the 10th day of its Maharashtra leg on Wednesday in Washim district.

The foot march, which began at 6 am from Jambhrun Phata, will proceed to Medshi village in the evening and will take a night halt at Patur in Akola district.

The yatra started on September 7 from Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu and entered its 70th day on Wednesday.

Gandhi on Tuesday claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party keeps attacking the Constitution everyday as it does not want to accept that Dalits, tribals and the poor should get rights.

He had also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the implementation of Goods and Service Tax (GST) and the 2016 note-ban exercise and dubbed them as two weapons to kill small and medium businessmen, shopkeepers and farmers.

Gandhi had also hit out at Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar and alleged he was "working" for the British and took pension from them. The Bharat Jodo Yatra, a mass contact initiative of the Congress, entered Maharashtra on November 7 from Telangana.

It has so far covered Nanded, Hingoli and Washim districts in the western state. The foot march will further cover Akola and Buldhana districts in Maharashtra before proceeding to Madhya Pradesh on November 20.

The NCP and Shiv Sena leaders, allies of the Congress in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), have participated in the yatra in Maharashtra. PTI

The Polish government has summoned the Russian ambassador to the country, claiming that a Russian-made missile fell in the country, killing two citizens.

In a statement, Polish foreign ministry spokesperson Lukasz Jasina has it has demanded 'immediate detailed explanations' on the incident.

'On 15 November 2022, another hours-long, massive shelling took place of the entire territory of Ukraine and its critical infrastructure by the armed forces of the Russian Federation. At 3:40 pm, a Russia-made missile dropped on the village of Przewodow, district Hrubieszow, Lubelskie province, and resulted in death of two citizens of the Republic of Poland,' the ministry statement said.

'Therefore, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Zbigniew Rau summoned the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Polish MFA and demanded immediate and detailed explanation,' it added.

Following the explosion near the Ukrainian border, Poland will increase the combat readiness of some troops and is considering activating Article 4 of the NATO military alliance treaty, CNN reported citing officials.

As per article 4 of the military alliance, the NATO members 'consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened'. -- ANI

IMAGE: Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller speaks to media after a meeting of the security committee in connection with the missile attack on the territory of Poland, in Warsaw, on November 15, 2022. Photograph: Maciek Jazwiecki/Agencja Wyborcza/Pool/Reuters

08:25 Trump files papers for 2024 presidential run

Former United States President Donald Trump has filed papers to contest for the post of president again.

He filed his documents establishing his candidacy to run for the presidency again in 2024, CNN reported.

The announcement comes after the mid-term elections held in the US.

Democrats have been leading in 50 seats of the US Senate while Republicans continue to take lead in 49 seats, The Washington Post reported.

Democrats have been leading in 207 seats while Republicans have been leading in 217 seats in the US House.

Trump in recent months has been hinting that he would run in the presidential elections.

Addressing a rally in Iowa recently, Trump had said, "I will very, very probably do it again," CBS News reported.

Trump in the aftermath of the midterms admitted that his party had faced a 'somewhat disappointing' outcome and has already moved on.

Former US President has set his eyes on winning a second term in Washington as he made a statement regarding two GOP governors Ron DeSantis of Florida and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia who could challenge his status as the party's anchor in the coming months, CNN reported.

Making a statement regarding Glenn Youngkin, Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social said, "I Endorsed him, did a very big Trump Rally for him telephonically, got MAGA to Vote for him - or he couldn't have come close to winning."

Notably, Donald Trump lost to US President Joe Biden in the presidential elections held in 2020.

He and his supporters have not acknowledged the results and accused of voter fraud. -- ANI

United States President Joe Biden held an emergency roundtable meeting with world leaders on the margins of the G20 summit in Bali, according to the White House.

The meeting took place Tuesday night after reports emerged on Russian-made missiles landing in Poland earlier in the day.

Moscow has denied and described it as an effort to escalate the situation in Ukraine, the Sputnik news agency reported.

Biden declined to give reporters an update on what information he has received on Poland , according to the White House press pool.

The White House broadcast a brief video clip of Biden at a table with several world leaders including his counterparts from France, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, among a few others.

In earlier remarks, Polish President Andrzej Duda said that Poland does not have any conclusive evidence at the moment as to who launched the missiles, but added that they were most likely Russian-made.

He added that there is no indication that there will be a similar repeat of the incident.

On November 15, Polish media reported that two missiles fell on the territory of Poland in the Lubelskie province bordering Ukraine.

The Russian Defence Ministry dismissed reports, saying its military has performed no strikes targeting the Ukrainian-Polish border zone.

"Polish mass media and officials commit deliberate provocation to escalate situation with their statement on alleged impact of 'Russian' rockets at Przewodow," the Russian ministry was quoted as saying by TASS news agency.

"Russian firepower has launched no strikes at the area between Ukrainian-Polish border."

The Polish government has summoned the Russian ambassador to the country, claiming that a Russian-made missile fell in the country, killing two citizens.

In a statement, Polish foreign ministry spokesperson Lukasz Jasina has it has demanded 'immediate detailed explanations' on the incident. -- ANI

IMAGE: US President Joe Biden speaks to President Andrzej Duda of Poland. Photograph: Kind courtesy @POTUS/Twitter

Representational image

01:29 S African Indian-origin abducted girl found safe and unharmed in Cape Town

An eight-year-old Indian-origin girl who was abducted in South Africa's Cape Town has been safely returned to her family and is unharmed, the police said on Tuesday.

Abirah Dekhta, a student of Rylands Primary School, was abducted on the morning of November 4 from her school transport vehicle by some unknown persons while she was waiting for another student.

Her parents settled in Cape Town from India some years ago.

Her father runs a mobile phone shop in the city. South African Police Services have confirmed that Dekhta has been safely returned to her family.

"SAPS members from various specialised units and City of Cape Town law enforcement officials utilising state-of-the-art technology have located her in a shack in Town Two, Khayelitsha, on Monday evening," spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said on Tuesday.

Khayelitsha is a sprawling mainly Black township on the outskirts of Cape Town.

"She has since been sent to a doctor for a medical assessment. Meanwhile, investigations into the crime of kidnapping continue with police detectives currently questioning several individuals with a view to apprehending the perpetrators of the crime," Twigg added. -- PTI

Nawab Malik

01:20 Court allows Maha ex-minister Malik to undergo diagnostic test

A special court in Mumbai on Tuesday allowed the plea of former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik, arrested in a money laundering case, seeking permission to undergo diagnostic examination PET-CT.

The money laundering case against Malik (62) is linked to the activities of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.

The NCP leader, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in February this year, is in judicial custody and currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mumbai.

On Monday, Malik, through his lawyer Taraq Sayyed, filed a plea seeking permission for undergoing PET-CT scan.

Positron emission tomography scan is an imaging test that can help reveal the metabolic or biochemical function of a person's tissues and organs.

Special judge R N Rokade on Tuesday allowed his plea and directed the Arthur Road Jail superintendent to take Malik for the scan at the Nuclear Imaging Centre at Sarvodaya Hospital in suburban Ghatkopar. -- PTI

Dismissed Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze on Tuesday filed a bail application before a special court in Mumbai in a money laundering case linked to former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh.

This was Waze's second application for bail under section 88 of the CrPc where the applicant is remanded to judicial custody at a post-cognizance stage and not arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Waze has not been arrested under the provisions of PMLA thus the rigour of the Act will not be attracted to the applicant, his bail plea said.

It stated the court has granted bail to the accused in matters where they have not been arrested during the stage of investigation and requested the court to grant bail to Waze.

Special court judge RN Rokade after hearing brief arguments from both sides adjourned the matter for order on November 18.

The Bombay high court on October 4 granted bail to Anil Deshmukh in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate.

He was arrested by ED last November.

The ED's case is that Deshmukh had collected Rs 4.70 crore from various bars and restaurants in Mumbai through then assistant police inspector Waze when he was the home minister. -- PTI

The Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala will be opened on Wednesday, a day ahead of commencement of two-month long pilgrimage season.

The annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season begins on November 17.

The sanctum sanctorum of the temple will be opened at 5 pm on November 16 in the presence of chief priest (tantri) Kandararu Rajeevaru by outgoing head priest N Parameswaran Namboothiri.

Later, newly selected head priests of Lord Ayyappa and Malikappuram temples will take over for performing poojas for the next one-year period.

The 41-day Mandala puja festival will conclude on December 27.

The temple will be opened again on December 30 for the Makaravilakku pilgrimage on January 14, 2023.

The shrine will be closed on January 20, concluding the pilgrim season.

Officials said thousands of devotees are expected to participate this year as it is the first pilgrim season after lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions which were in place during the last two years. -- PTI

Bollywood actress Sunny Leone has moved the Kerala high court seeking to quash an FIR filed against her by the crime branch wing of the state police for allegedly breaching terms of a contract supposedly entered into with a firm for a stage performance in Kozhikode four years ago.

In her plea, the actress rejected the allegations against her, her husband and their employee.

She contended that the charges would not constitute the ingredients of the alleged offences.

She claimed they were not involved in any crime till date.

She said they were put to untold misery, irreparable loss in making them face what she called a long-drawn process of trial when no material or clear evidence against them has been found.

The crime branch is investigating into the case that was registered on a complaint from Shiyas Kunjumohammed, an individual, from Ernakulam district. -- PTI

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