The government on Wednesday issued new guidelines for international arrivals amid the spread of mutant variants of coronavirus in many countries.

The new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will come into effect from 23.59 hours on February 22 till further orders.

In the context of spread of mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2 in many countries, the civil aviation ministry in consultation wtih the health and family welfare ministry has issued new guidelines for international arrivals, according to an official release.

There are fresh guidelines for all international travellers coming/transiting through flights originating from United Kingdom, Europe and Middle East.

The government has suspended international scheduled flights till February 28.

Overseas flights to and from India are currently operated as per air bubble agreements with various countries.   -- PTI

A 35-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly attacking an station house officer of the Delhi Police at the Singhu border, where farmers are protesting against the three new agri laws of the Centre, officials said on Wednesday.

The accused has been identified as Harmeet Singh, they said.

The incident that resulted in minor injuries to the officer took place around 8 pm on Tuesday, they said.

According to the police, the accused, who was in an inebriated state, snatched the car keys of one of the officers at the protest site and fled the spot.

Being chased by the police, the accused abandoned the vehicle, snatched a two-wheeler from another man and fled.

The security personnel finally overpowered him near the Mukarba Chowk around 8.30 pm and the station house officer (SHO) suffered injuries caused by a sword on his finger and neck while trying to nab him, a senior police officer said.

The SHO was admitted to a hospital, from where he was discharged after treatment, the police said.

The accused has been arrested and further investigation is underway, they added.   -- PTI

IMAGE: Security personnel stand guard during the ongoing farmers agitation against the three farm laws, at Singhu border in New Delhi, Friday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, who has been given additional charge of Puducherry, will be sworn-in at a function in Raj Nivas on Thursday.

A communication from the government said that she will be sworn in at 9 am.

She has been posted as Lt Governor incharge after former IPS officer Kiran Bedi was removed from office through a Presidential order on Tuesday.

Bedi was Lt Governor in Puducherry since May 2016.

Soundararajan arrived in Puducherry today evening and sources said she offered worship at a Pillayar temple in the neighbourhood of Raj Nivas.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy accompanied by Deputy Speaker M N R Balan and Government whip R K R Anandaraman met her at Raj Nivas and felicitated her.

A delegation of legislators belonging to the opposition and headed by leader of the opposition and former Chief Minister N Rangasamy (AINRC) called on her and presented bouquets.

Earlier, an official of the union territory handed over the warrant of appointment to the Telangana Governor at Hyderabad.

Krishna Kumar Singh, Spl Resident Commissioner, Pondicherry, called on the Telangana governor at Raj Bhavan and handed over the Warrant of Appointment 'to discharge the duties as the Lt Governor of Pondicherry', a Raj Bhavan press communique said in Hyderabad.

Puducherry has had four women as Lt Governor earlier including Kiran Bedi.

This is the first time in the history of Puducherry that a Tamil speaking person has been posted as Lt Governor.

Outgoing Lt Governor Kiran Bedi was given a farewell guard of honour by Puducherry Police outside Raj Nivas.

Sources said Bedi however would remain in Raj Nivas as per her desire till Saturday.  -- PTI

Union minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday said 90 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered in the country so far.

He also said India is supplying COVID-19 vaccines to 23 countries and 40 nations in all have requested for vaccines.

Vardhan was virtually addressing scientists of CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow on the occasion of its 70th Annual Day.

"As of today, 90 lakh doses of vaccines have been administered in India, and we are supplying vaccines to 23 countries and 40 countries in all have requested the vaccines," Vardhan said.

India has approved two vaccines -- Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and Covishield from Oxford/AstraZeneca stable being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India -- for emergency use in the country.

Congratulating the scientists of the institute, Vardhan highlighted that CSIR-CDRI participated in the fight against COVID-19 through its multi-pronged approach.

"The institute established COVID testing laboratory within a record time of two months and took complete charge of testing from two districts of Uttar Pradesh.

"The scientists also started testing the repurposed drug Umifenovir and received approval from DCG(I) for conducting clinical trials on the molecule," he said.

"Making the best use of its infrastructure and expertise, the institute also carried out genome sequencing studies and sequenced 200 samples from Uttar Pradesh," the minister pointed out.

Vardhan inaugurated 'Atal National Colloquium on Healthcare and Innovation', a series of lectures from highly eminent persons.

He also inaugurated 'Common Research and Technology Development Hub (CRTDH)', supported jointly by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research online.

The objectives of the CRTDH are to set up and operate a Pharmaceutical Formulation Development and National Clinical Trial Batch Production Facility.

This will be helpful for clinical trial centres, pharma industry, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and academia for advanced research.  -- PTI

Self-styled 'godman' Asaram, who is serving a life sentence in a rape case, was hospitalised on Tuesday night after he complained of chest pain and breathing difficulty, officials said.

Superintendent of the MDM Hospital, MK Aseri, said that a team of the cardiology department conducted ECG and other tests and Asaram is currently under observation.

All the reports were normal. He has been kept in the CCU under the observation of cardiologists. Repeat tests will be conducted on Thursday, after which the team of doctors would decide the next course of action, Aseri said.

Several followers of Asaram gathered outside the MDM Hospital on Wednesday morning, and police had to use force to prevent them from entering the premises.

Jail authorities first took him to the MG Hospital for a check-up.

Though the reports were found to be normal, he continued to complain of chest pain, following which he was taken to MDM Hospital amid tight security, the officials said.

According to senior cardiologist Sanjeev Sanghvi, Asaram has been kept under observation due to comorbidities.

He said that he had an angiography long back at AIIMS.

If there was a need for angiography again, we would proceed subject to his consent, he said.

Asaram was sentenced to jail till death in April 2018 for sexually assaulting a teenager in his ashram.

Two other convicts are out on bail following the suspension of their sentence.

The teenager had said in her complaint that Asaram had called her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013.

The 16-year-old girl from Shahjahanpur in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh was studying at Asaram's ashram in Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh.

Asaram, like the two other co-accused, had challenged his sentence in the high court in July 2018. The next hearing in the matter is on March 9.

He, however, has not yet moved any plea seeking suspension of his sentence.   -- PTI

The Union home ministry Thursday denied permission to 600 Sikh pilgrims intending to visit gurdwaras in Pakistan citing the security and COVID-19 situation in that country, officials said.

In a communication to the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the home ministry said that the security situation in Pakistan continues to be adverse and there is a threat to Indian citizens in that country.

Besides, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected five lakh people in Pakistan and 10,000 people lost their lives due to the disease.

The health infrastructure in Pakistan is also not adequate, the ministry said.

It also said that both passenger as well as trade traffic between India and Pakistan has stopped since March 2020 due to the pandemic.

Citing these reasons, the home ministry conveyed to the SGPC that it has decided not to accord permission to the Jatha comprising 600 pilgrims which intended to cross over to Pakistan on Friday.   -- PTI

P K Mishra, principal secretary to the prime minister, on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of the COVID-19 vaccination drive across the country and steps to accelerate the pace of vaccination.

An official release said principal secretary to the PM was apprised that version 2.0 of the Co-WIN digital app for self-registration of the vaccine beneficiaries is ready and will be launched in very near future.

Co-WIN app had faced technical glitches and slowed or stalled vaccination process.

The plans to involve private sector healthcare facilities in a significant way in the ongoing vaccination drive were also discussed in the meeting.

'This will enable registration of the population in the 50 years plus category for COVID vaccination, which is the third population priority group after the health care workers and frontline workers that are presently taking the vaccine,' the release said.

Co-WIN app had faced glitches and slowed or stalled vaccination process.

The principal secretary was briefed about the progress of the countrywide COVID vaccination exercise.

The release said that the vaccination coverage in India has crossed 9.06 million doses across health care workers and front line workers at 3 pm today.

With this cumulative number, India ranks third globally after the United States (55.2 million doses) and the United Kingdom (16.12 million doses) who have completed more than 60 days of vaccination in comparison to 31 days in India.

It was pointed out that India was the fastest country in the world to cross all the milestones from 1 million to 7 million cumulative vaccinations.

The release said that 68.3 per cent of all healthcare workers have been administered the first dose, 37.6 per cent eligible healthcare workers have been administered the second dose and 28.2 per cent of all frontline workers have been administered the first dose.

The meeting was informed that India has supplied COVID vaccine to 13 countries as grants through Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

These countries are Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Oman, Afghanistan, Barbados and Dominica.

In addition, the vaccine has also been supplied to 14 countries -- Bangladesh, Myanmar, Morocco, Brazil, Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia and El-Salvador -- under commercial contract. -- ANI

Following Rahul Gandhi's emphatic assertion that the Congress will not implement Citizenship (Amendment) Act if voted to power in Assam, the state unit of the party Wednesday urged cadres to collect 'Gamosas' (Assamese scarf) with messages against the Act.

The gamosas (traditional white and red woven cloth offered as an honour in Assam) collected as part of the anti-CAA campaign will be displayed at the martyrs memorial to commemorate the protestors against the Act who sacrificed their lives that the party proposes to set up in Guwahati if voted to power in the upcoming assembly elections.

"I request all Assamese to share gamochas with a message on why you do not want the CAA in the state. You may sign the gamocha and send it to us through courier or hand it over to any party worker when they visit you," said party's manifesto committee chairman Gaurav Gogoi at a meeting in Bihpuria.

The party's state unit president Ripun Bora said 'we have our ears on the ground and expect that the party will get at least 50 lakh gamochas from across the state and all of them will be displayed at the upcoming memorial'.

After Rahul Gandhi's no CAA call, the Assam unit of the Congress is devising programmes to make the contentious citizenship law an important election issue.

Polls to 126-member Assam assembly are expected in March- April this year.

The legislation had generated strong protests in Assam and elsewhere.

Five persons were killed in police firing in the state in December 2019 during violent protests against the Act that seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Addressing his firt public rally in the poll-bound Assam at Sivasagar on Sunday, Gandhi had declared that his party will protect every principle of the Assam Accord and will never implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act if voted to power in the state.

Gandhi and other leaders were seen wearing 'gamocha' where symbolically the CAA word was crossed, giving a message against the controversial law. Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that issues of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and unemployment are no more poll issues in the state.

But, the Congress which has formed a Grand Alliance with All India United Democratic Front and four other parties against the Bharatiya Janata Party for the state polls, has signalled that it would rake up the CAA issue prominently in the Assam assembly elections.

PCC chief Bora said that CAA shall be rooted out and the sacrifices made for saving 'Assamese pride' will be immortalised.

The Congress Legislature party leader in the assembly Debabrata Saikia said that the dark days of BJPs oppression of Assamese people are about to end and 'we will make sure that CAA is not implemented in Assam'.

The chairman of the Congress campaign committee Pradyut Bordoloi said that people of the state will not forget the bruise that BJP has given to Assamese ethos through its divisive and communal politics.

'Assam, this is your tryst to become a part of history! A gamocha in your name with a message against CAA will find a place at the grand memorial site to be built in Guwahati. As requested by Congress, hurry up & send your gamocha to Assam Congress office,' Bordoloi tweeted.   -- PTI

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved financial powers to clear projects worth up to Rs 200 crore to the deputy chiefs and command heads of the armed forces for capital procurement projects, officials said.

The financial powers have been approved for projects under the 'Other Capital Procurement Procedure' category, they said.

Financial powers to clear projects worth up to Rs 200 crore have been delegated to Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Air Officer Maintenance and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff as well as to additional director general of Indian Coast Guard.

'This delegation of powers within service headquarters and up to command level for items of capital nature such as overhauls, refits, upgrades etc. will enhance the utility of existing assets and will facilitate faster processing and implementation of projects,' the defence ministry said.

As per the approval, financial powers for capital procurement projects worth up to Rs 100 crore have been delegated to General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) at services commands and regional commands, officials said.   -- PTI

After his nearly one-hour visit, the mayor also appealed to the Delhi government to release Rs 1 cr in compensation and offer a job to his next of kin. 

The police has denied any communal angle in the murder of the youth in Mangolpuri last week, though BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders have been charging it was the fallout of his participation in a donation drive for the Ram temple. 

"I met Rinku Sharma's family to express my condolences to them. As a mayor, I made the announcement there that the 'chowk' near his house will be named after him," Prakash said. 

Also, efforts will be made to see, if a job can be offered to his next of kin, he said, adding, "We have asked for the biodata from his family". "I also appeal to the Delhi government to release Rs 1 crore as compensation to his family," he said.

The 50-year-old actor received the honour at the education society's ninth convocation ceremony. 

"I am truly humbled by this honour. This will only motivate me to keep pushing the envelope and challenging myself with newer projects," Madhavan said in a statement. 

The actor, who began his career in the late '90s, got a breakthrough with filmmaker Mani Ratnam's Tamil romantic film Alaipayuthey in 2000 and has since appeared in popular films like Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, 3 Idiots, the Tanu Weds Manu franchise and 2017 thriller Vikram Vedha. 

He made his digital debut in 2018, with Amazon Prime Video's Breathe. 

Madhavan is currently awaiting the release of his directorial debut, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, in which he also stars. The film is based on the life of Nambi Narayanan, a former scientist and aerospace engineer of the Indian Space Research Organisation who was accused of espionage.

On a day when petrol crossed the Rs 100 mark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the middle-class would not have been burdened if the previous governments had focussed on reducing India's energy import dependence.

 

Without referring to the relentless increase in retail fuel prices, which are linked to international rates, he said India imported over 85 per cent of its oil needs in the 2019-20 financial year and 53 per cent of its gas requirement.

 

"Can a diverse and talented nation like ours be so energy import dependent?" he asked, addressing an online event to inaugurate oil and gas projects in poll-bound Tamil Nadu.

 

"I do not want to criticise anyone but I want to say (that) had we focused on this subject much earlier, our middle-class would not be burdened," he said.

 

Price of petrol crossed the Rs 100 per litre mark in Rajasthan after fuel rates were hiked for the ninth day in a row. Since India imports the majority of its oil needs, retail rates are benchmarked to international prices, which have spiralled in recent weeks.

 

Opposition parties including Congress have criticised the price hikes, blaming it on the Modi government raising taxes to scoop out the benefit that arose from international oil rates plunging to a two-decade low in April/May last year. While global rates have rebounded with pick up in demand, the government has not restored the taxes, which are at a record high.

 

Central and state taxes make up for 60 per cent of the retail selling price of petrol and over 54 per cent of diesel.

 

The Prime Minister further said it was a collective duty to work towards clean and green sources of energy as well as energy independence.

 

"Our government is sensitive to the concerns of the middle class. That is why India is now increasing the focus on ethanol to help farmers and consumers," he said.

 

Ethanol extracted from sugarcane is being doped in petrol to reduce the requirement of imports. Currently, 8.5 per cent of petrol is ethanol and this proportion is targeted to be raised to 20 per cent by 2025, helping cut imports as well as give farmers an alternate source of income.

India, he said, is looking to cut energy import dependence as well as diversify its sources to reduce risks.

 

The focus now is also towards using renewable sources of energy, which will by 2030 form 40 per cent of energy generated in the country, he said, listing measures such as increased share of solar power, focus on public transport, switching to LED bulbs, scrappage policy for vehicles and use of solar pumps in irrigation.

 

"Today, India is increasing the share of energy from renewable sources. By 2030, 40 per cent of all energy will be generated from green energy sources," he said.

 

Modi further said India is looking to reduce energy import dependence through capacity building. "In 2019-20, we were fourth in the world in (oil) refining capacity. About 65.2 million tonnes of petroleum product have been exported. This number is expected to rise even further." -- PTI

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, increasing the role of district magistrates and additional district magistrates.

   

Addressing the media on the Cabinet decision, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said in every district, the district magistrate and the additional district magistrate will get the power to monitor functions of agencies responsible for the implementation of the  Act.

 

The district child protection unit will also function under the district magistrate, she said.

 

Irani said till now there was no specific direction to carry out a background check of people who are to become members of the child welfare committees.

 

According to the amendments cleared by the Cabinet, before becoming a member of the CWC, background and educational qualification checks will be included, she noted.

 

Irani said earlier any organisation which wanted to run a child care institution would need to give its purpose to the state government.

 

In the proposed amendments, before registration of a CCI, the DM will conduct its capacity and background check and then submit the recommendations to the state government, she said.

 

The DM can independently evaluate a specialised CWC, juvenile police unit and registered institutions.

 

The scope of the Juvenile Justice Act has been expanded. -- PTI

At least 45 Chinese soldiers were killed in the violent face-off in Galwan in May 2020, Lt Gen Y K Joshi, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Armys Northern Command said.

In an interview to CNN-News18, Lt Gen Y K Joshi said no land has been ceded to China. 

"No, a very emphatic no actually," he said.  

Giving an account of Chinese casualties in the violent Galwan face-off, he said, "I don't want make an estimate. ...We were able to pick up large number of casualties which were being picked up in stretchers and taken back. More than 60 actually, but they were fatal or non fatal, we can't say with authority so I will not hazard a figure on that. But you are aware that recently the Russian agency Tass had put out a figure of 45 and I think that could be the figure we can look at. ...It could be more as well."

Lt Gen Joshi said that India and China came close to an armed conflict yet again on August 29 and 30, 2020 when Indian troops occupied the Kailash heights, a move that forced the Chinese to bend after many rounds of failed Corps Commander-level talks.

 

"There were situations where it could have blown up into an armed conflict. ...We had the armour and the forces sitting on the top of the Kailash ranges. That was on August 29 and 30th night. On August 31 the adversaries wanted to come up right up to the Kailash Ranges. That was the time the situation was extremely tense. Galwan had happened, the red line had been drawn. We had been given absolute free hand to conduct operations the way we wanted. ...We were on the edge, we were absolutely on the brink. And those are very tense and  challenging moments for us," Joshi said. 

Former Union minister Dinesh Trivedi, who recently quit the Trinamool Congress, has said the "corruption and violence model" of West Bengal's ruling party will no longer work for it and take the state back to "dark days".

He also termed the "insider-outsider" debate started by TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as "antithetical" to Bengal's liberal ethos.

The former railway minister praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hailing his popularity and insisting people have faith in his leadership, but kept under wraps his political plans.

Trivedi had resigned from the Rajya Sabha and the TMC last Friday, saying he felt "suffocated" because of the violence going on in West Bengal and his inability to do anything about it.

He also insisted that the rule of law needed to be established in the state for bringing about the "real change".

"In Bengal, we talk about icons and their ideals but what we see is contrary. The (TMC) model of violence and corruption is not what Bengal stands for. This model will take Bengal to dark days. The state has so much potential and we can't just let it go waste," Trivedi said in an exclusive interview with PTI.

He said as a public representative he could not have turned a blind eye to what was happening in the state.

Trivedi maintained he felt ashamed when people asked him about the culture of violence in the state, something that "pricked" his conscience and made him take a firm stand.

"I should rather work for the people of the state in my way if my party is not allowing me to do so. It is high time that we ended the TMC's model and culture of corruption and violence," he said.

Trivedi also accused the TMC of being in "denial mode" over the happenings in the state and playing the "victim card".

"If the thought process is that if you don't abuse the prime minister and home minister regularly, you are not a loyal soldier of the party, then no one can help it. Criticising doesn't mean abusing. We are Bengali Bhadra lok

(gentlemen)."

He said the chair commands respect and those occupying it should not be denigrated just because they are from a rival party.

The veteran leader said he raised these issues several times on TMC forums but that did not yield any result as "somebody else" other than Mamata Banerjee took "control of the party" after it came to power in 2011. He, however, declined to name who it was.

"Time and again I raised the issues with the party. After Narada scam, when I raised the issue in a party forum it was set aside. I became the bad guy and was asked not to go for campaigning in the assembly polls. I never spoke out in public due to party discipline," he said, responding to a question about why it took him so long to speak out.

Political circles have been agog with speculation that he may join the BJP but Trivedi chose to keep his cards close to the chest while praising the saffron party.

"The BJP is the No. 1 party in the world. I thank Kailash Vijayvargiya Ji (BJP's Bengal minder) and Dilip Ghosh Ji (state party chief) from the core of my heart for welcoming me to the party. Only time will answer what's in store. But I will keep fighting for the betterment of the people of Bengal," he said.

Trivedi said people of the country as also West Bengal have faith in Narendra Modi's leadership, which was reflected in the way the BJP won 18 of the state's 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2019.

"It was due to people's faith in Modi that the BJP pulled off such a spectacular peformance. I too lost the Lok Sabha election because of the Modi wave. How can we deny that?" Trivedi, who had to bite the dust from Barrackpore, said.

The former union minister deprecated the insider-outsider debate triggered by Mamata Banerjee, saying it was against the state's cultural tradition of liberalism. 

He also said the union will hold programmes, such as panchayats and mahapanchayats, to make the country aware that the government at the Centre is "not for the people but of corporates". Farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at Delhi's borders against the legislations since November 28 last year and demanding these be repealed. 

"We are fighting for the rights of farmers and they will not return home till they win, and time does not matter in this struggle," Chaduni, who was on his way to Moradabad for a mahapanchayat, told reporters in Uttar Pradesh's Gelua village. 

"This government is not for the people but of corporates and only people can fight with it. We will hold panchayats in the entire country and make people aware and associate them with us," he said, a day ahead of a "rail roko" announced by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions which is spearheading the protest. Chaduni alleged that the entire agri business was being given to corporates and said the farmers' movement was for their "survival". 

 "Agriculture is our livelihood and not our business. The food grains of the country will go into godowns of corporates and they will indulge in black marketing. This is an 'andolan' (movement) not only of farmers but of all," he said.

 Farmers are protesting against the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

''They are youth and students who were hoodwinked, bluffed by Modi for the last seven years, with a promise of 2 crore jobs every year.

''And Mamata sings the same tune.

''But the youth can see that as long as there is Mamata or Modi, there is no hope."

CPI-M MP Mohammed Salim in conversation with Swarupa Dutt/Rediff.com.

Read the interview here. 

Around 109 assembly constituencies have been marked as critical for the party's dream to form government in the poll-bound state. Majority of these constituencies are in erstwhile Bengal Presidency region. The reach of BJP to voters in these constituencies will be supervised and manned by around 22 BJP leaders.

The decision has been communicated to these leaders in a virtual meeting presided over by national joint general secretary Shiv Prakash.

According to sources, BJP national president JP Nadda is likely to meet these leaders in Kolkata on February 25 or February 26.

"Meeting with party president is a tentative plan and is likely to take place by the end of February. All of the leaders will be given 3 to 6 constituencies depending on workload and additional charge," stated the source.

The BJP leaders who will be given charge of assembly constituencies include Nishikant Dubey, Vinod Sonkar, Vinod Tawde, Dharmendra Pradhan, Pradipsinh Vaghela, Basant Pandya, RK Singh, Mangal Pandey, Ramesh Bidhuri, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Nitin Nabin, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Ashish Shelar, Radha Mohan Singh, Madan Lal Sharma, Satish Upadhyay.

Both BJP and TMC have locked horns over issues of corruption and appeasement along with governance and law and order in the poll-bound state. The state with its 294 assembly constituencies is likely to go to polls in April/May. -- ANI

This is the second vaccine approved for use in Singapore, which received the first shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine on December 21.

"The vaccines were prioritised for loading into the aircraft in Brussels and was given precedence during unloading in Singapore. They were then transported to SATS' cold-chain facility, Coolport, for subsequent storage and ground transportation," Channel News Asia reported, citing a statement from Singapore Airlines (SIA) on Wednesday. The Health Sciences Authority had granted interim authorisation on February 3 for Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine to be used in Singapore on people aged 18 years and above. 

Explaining its role in the vaccine handling process, Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS) said once the shipment arrives at the airport, the temperature-controlled cargo containers would be unloaded to cool dollies, which have temperature loggers and location tracking features.

A Delhi court Wednesday acquitted journalist Priya Ramani in M J Akbar's criminal defamation case against her over the allegations of sexual harassment, saying a woman has the right to put grievances before any platform of her choice even after decades. 

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Pandey dismissed the complaint filed by Akbar saying that no charges were proved against her. The court said it is shameful that crimes against women are taking place in a country where mega epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana were written about respecting them. The glass ceiling will not prevent Indian women as a roadblock in advancement in society of equal opportunities, it said. 

 Ramani had made allegation of sexual misconduct against Akbar in the wake of #MeToo movement in 2018. Akbar had filed the complaint against Ramani on October 15, 2018 for allegedly defaming him by accusing him of sexual misconduct decades ago.

The delegation, which comprised envoys from Europe, Africa, South America and Asia, were taken to a government college in Budgam in central Kashmir where they were received by the administration and briefed about the strengthening of local bodies, including panchayat, officials said.

 The envoys from the EU, France, Malaysia, Brazil, Italy, Finland, Bangladesh, Cuba, Chile, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Senegal, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ireland, Ghana, Estonia, Bolivia, Malawi, Eritrea and Ivory Coast arrived amid heightened security arrangements in the city and elsewhere in the Valley, the officials said. 

 After a customary address, the envoys were seen moving freely with the panch and sarpanch, and understanding their issues and it was a free flow of ideas from both sides, officials said.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of protesting farmer unions which is spearheading the protest, last week had announced the rail blockade to press for its demand to repeal the legislations.

Director General, Railway Protection Force, Arun Kumar on Wednesday said, "I appeal to everyone to maintain peace. We will be liaisoning with district administrations and will have a control room in place." 

"We will gather intelligence. States such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, and some other areas will be our focus. We have deployed 20 companies (around 20,000 personnel) of the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) in these areas," he said. 

 "We want to persuade them to not cause inconvenience for passengers. We have a four-hour window and we want it (rail roko) to get over peacefully," Kumar said. The SKM had said that the rail blockade will held across the country from 12 pm to 4 pm. 

The announcement came amid the ongoing protests against the laws at Delhi's borders by farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, and 'mahapanchayats' that are being organised in these states to garner support for the movement.

On Tuesday, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni had said that farmer unions will hold meetings in poll-bound West Bengal as well and indicated that they will ask people there not to vote for those who are "snatching our livelihood". 

Farmers are protesting against the the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act. PTI 

Take a bow, Priya Ramani and her lawyer, Rebecca John.

"We are probing the matter and finding out who's behind it. We will soon nab the culprit," the police officer said. The IP (internet protocol) address used to create the profile has been identified, he said. 

 Dona, a noted Odissi dancer, said she was told about the fake Facebook page by one of her students, following which she approached the police. "Yes, a page using my name and Dada's (Sourav) photos has been created on Facebook. I was informed by one of my students about this. We have lodged a complaint with the police," she told PTI. 

 "I should not have minded if they had used mine or Dada's photos but at times people start posting remarks which other start thinking as ours, creating confusion which I dont want to happen. Hopefully, police will help me close this fake account," she added. Dona said that while her original Facebook account has only a few followers, the fake one has already attracted over 70,000 people to follow it. PTI

Archana Masih/Rediff.com met her as she sold her handmade items from the boot of her car with baby on her hip.

Read Smita's inspiring story here.

A day after the Congress government lost its majority with the resignation of one more MLA, the delegation of all 14 legislators belonging to the opposition in the territorial assembly, led by N Rangasamy, presented a joint memorandum to the officer on special duty, G Theva Needhi Das at Raj Nivas. 

Seven legislators including Rangasamy belonging to All India NR Congress, four from AIADMK and three nominated MLAs of the BJP, who have voting rights formed part of the delegation. Rangasamy, who is the Leader of Opposition, told reporters that the memorandum has been submitted to the official and said they have sought a direction to Narayanasamy to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

Kiran Bedi was removed as the Lt Governor of Puducherry last night and Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, who has been assigned additional charge of the union territory would assume office on Thursday, sources said. Soundararajan tweeted saying she received the warrant of appointment to discharge functions of Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. The resignation by John Kumar on Tuesday, who became the fourth legislator to quit the assembly since last month, reduced the numbers of the Congress-DMK alliance to 14 in the 33-member assembly and it now has an effective strength of 28. The party position in the assembly as of Tuesday: Congress (10), DMK three, All-India NR Congress seven, AIADMK four, BJP three and one independent who had supported the government all along. Four Congress MLAs have resigned and one member had been disqualified. Outgoing Lt Governor Bedi earlier in the day said her work was a sacred duty, fulfilling her constitutional and moral responsibilities. PTI

The Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency is represented by Harsimrat Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which only recently parted ways with long-time ally BJP following the unrest kicked up among the state's farmers by the Centre's three new farm laws. 

The counting of votes started at 9 am for elections to 2,302 wards of eight municipal corporations and 109 municipal councils in the state. The Congress has won the municipal corporations of Bathinda, Moga, Hoshiarpur and Pathankot, officials said. It is leading in Batala, Kapurthala and Abohar. 

The State Election Commission had ordered on Tuesday repolling at two polling booths of the Mohali Municipal Corporation. Therefore, the counting for the entire civic body will take place on Thursday. Tight security arrangements have been made at the counting centres, they further said.  

Over 70 per cent voting was recorded in the civic body elections on February 14. A total of 9,222 candidates were in the fray, of which 2,832 were independents, 2,037 from the ruling Congress and 1,569 from the Shiromani Akali Dal. The BJP, AAP and the BSP had fielded 1,003, 1,606 and 160 candidates respectively. The BJP and the Akali Dal, which walked out of the National Democratic Alliance last year over the farm laws issue, have fought the elections separately.

French envoy Emmanuel Lenain and Italian envoy Vincenzo de Luca were seen talking to the locals in Magam block.

Earlier today, the diplomats landed in the Union Territory, where they were accorded a traditional welcome by the District Development Council (DDC) Chairman, Nazir Ahmad Khan and other panchayat representatives.

The foreign envoys were briefed on Panchayati Raj and grievance redressal through Back to villages and Block, thus elaborating how the administration reaches the doorstep of people.

Foreign diplomats from Chile, Brazil, Cuba, Bolivia, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Bangladesh, Malawi, Eritrea, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Malaysia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and the European Union are on the visit.

The latest visit of foreign envoys comes in the backdrop of District Development Council polls, which saw huge participation and restoration of 4G mobile internet in the entire region after 18 months, which many see as a return of full normalcy in the Union Territory.

This will be the first visit by foreign diplomats to Jammu and Kashmir since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two batches of foreign diplomats had earlier visited J-K in January and February last year after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.Sources told ANI that some elements, who are working against Jammu and Kashmir's progress and restoration of normalcy, have been giving calls of a shutdown during the visit of envoys.

In January last year, envoys of 15 countries including the then US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and diplomats from Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh and Peru visited Jammu and Kashmir to see first-hand the efforts being made by the government in the region. -- ANI

In a joint drive with the BMC, the Mumbai division of Railways has fined 2558 passengers for not wearing a mask in the train, informed the Chief Public Relation Officers (CPRO), Western Railway. A total penalty of Rs 3,28,500 collected from them, CPRO said further.

Meanwhile, the Central Railways informed that 2060 passengers on Mumbai Suburban Network were fined for not wearing masks while onboard and a total of Rs 1,21,600 have been collected from them.

This comes after Maharashtra reported 3,663 new COVID-19 cases and 2,700 recoveries on Tuesday. Due to the surge in coronavirus in the state, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray directed senior officials on Tuesday to take strict action against people or organisations who flout COVID-19 guidelines.

"If the cases continue to rise and people ignore COVID norms and regulations, then BMC will not hesitate in taking a strong measure within the next 10 days," said Suresh Kakani, Additional Municipal Commissioner, BMC. -- ANI

Climate activist Nikita Jacob, who is involved in the controversial "Toolkit" document case related to farmers' protest, has said that there was a Zoom meeting before Republic Day, which was attended by Poetic Justice Foundation founder MO Dhaliwal, and other fellow activists including Disha Ravi.

In a document submitted by Jacob's lawyer to Mumbai police, she claimed that the "Toolkit" was being prepared by Extinction Rebellion (XR) India volunteers for presenting the whole picture with a simple breakdown for an international audience.

Despite this admission, Jacob has denied sharing any information with Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and added that the document was an "informational pack" and was not intended to incite violence.

She also claimed that she has "no religious, political and financial motive or agenda for researching, discussing, editing and circulating toolkits for raising awareness."

Apart from this, Jacob has sought protection from arrest for four weeks, interim protection from any coercive action and a direction to the Delhi Police to share with her a copy of the FIR registered against her.

The comments came after South African and Brazilian variants of the pathogen were detected in India. "GOI is being grossly negligent and over confident about Covid-19. It's not over yet," Gandhi tweeted. 

For the first time in India, four people were detected with the South Africa variant of SARS-CoV-2 and one tested positive for the Brazil variant in the country, the Health Ministry had said on Tuesday. 

In India, the South Africa strain has been detected in four returnees, one from Angola, one from Tanzania and two from South Africa in January, ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava had said. 

With 11,610 fresh cases, India's COVID-19 tally has climbed to 1,09,37,320 on Wednesday, while the number of recoveries has surged to 1,06,44,858, the ministry said. The death has gone up to 1,55,913 in the country with 100 more fatalities reported in a 24-hour period, as per the ministry's data. PTI

The Dalai Lama was giving a talk on "Empathy and Compassion in Policing" at the request of the Indian Police Foundation. He was addressing the members of the police force virtually from his residence in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. 

Emphasising on the need for humans to be compassionate and empathetic, he said such teachings should be part of one's education. "The west...the British introduced modern education, but you should also try to preserve the thousand-year-old traditions of the country, which are ahimsa, compassion, empathy. 

"We should pay more attention to educate students in a secular way. That kind of education will automatically make people more compassionate," the Dalai Lama said, adding that the Indian police is the "protector of karuna and ahimsa". He said with leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajendra Prasad, who preached non-violence, India could be an example for the rest of the world to learn about the co-existence of people of "different religions, languages, scripts".

DPL, the 12th port to join APSEZ's string of economic gateways across the eastern and western coast of India will establish the company's footprint in Maharashtra, the largest contributor to India's GDP.

He is serving life imprisonment in Jodhpur Central Jail in a rape case.

Asaram was taken to the emergency ward of Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jodhpur, from where he was shifted to Mathura Das Mathur Hospital. A cardiologist also checked him.

Talking to ANI over the phone, Dr MK Aseri, Medical Superintendent of Mathura Das Mathur Hospital said, "Asaram was admitted after he complained about chest pain. There were minor changes in his ECG, but his condition is stable now."Asaram Bapu was accused of raping a minor girl in his ashram in the Manai area near Jodhpur on the night of August 15, 2013.

He was found guilty of various charges, including sections 370(4) (trafficking), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354A (outraging modesty), 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and some sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. -- ANI

The Shiv Sena's mouthpiece 'Saamana' today said that situation in the state "worrying and serious", and "though lockdown will be the last step, people should take all necessary precautions.

The delegation arrived amid heightened security arrangements. 

The delegation is scheduled to visit Jammu on Thursday, the officials said.

Envoys from 24 nations -- Chile, Brazil, Cuba, Bolivia, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, EU, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Bangladesh, Malawi, Eritrea, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Malaysia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan -- are part of the delegation visiting J&K, officials said.

The 30-share BSE index was trading at 51,865.64. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty was quoting at 15,252.85. 

Nestle India was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding around 4 per cent, followed by ONGC, HDFC, TCS, PowerGrid and ICICI Bank. 

On the other hand, Bajaj Auto, SBI, Bajaj Finance and Reliance Industries were among the gainers. 

In the previous session, Sensex settled 49.96 points or 0.10 per cent lower at 52,104.17, and Nifty inched 1.25 points or 0.01 per cent lower to close at 15,313.45. 

Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Hong Kong were trading on a positive note in mid-session deals, while those in Tokyo and Seoul were in the red. Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.21 per cent higher at USD 63.48 per barrel.

As many as 50 people have died after a bus carrying 57 passengers fell into the canal on Tuesday, said District Magistrate, Ravindra Kumar Choudhary.

"The death toll in the bus accident at Sidhi rises to 50," he said. Seven people were rescued from the canal by the NDRF on Tuesday.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the kins of the people who died in a bus accident in Sidhi out of which Rs 10,000 each have been given to them immediately.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for kin of those who lost their lives in the accident and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured.

The bus going from Sidhi to Satna, carrying around 57 passengers, fell into a canal in Sidhi after the driver lost control over it. 

A team of the Delhi Police's Special Cell arrested a man, identified as Maninder Singh alias Moni, in connection with the violence at the Red Fort on Republic Day.

Maninder Singh alias Moni is one of the main accused in violence that was unleashed in Delhi on Republic Day during a tractor rally organised by farmer unions protesting against the three farm laws, Delhi Police officials said on Wednesday.

Maninder Singh alias Moni, 30, is a resident of Swaroop Nagar in Delhi and was held near the bus stop in Pitampura. Following his arrest, Delhi Police also recovered two swords from Maninder Singhs house in Swaroop Nagar.

As per Delhi Police officials, accused Maninder Singh was seen in a video swinging two swords at Red Fort on January 26.

According to the official data, India recorded another 100 deaths on Tuesday -- the toll now at 1,55,913. 

According to the data, India has already vaccinated 89,99,230. 

As the sudden spike in Covid-19 cases has forced the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Maharashtra government to mull fresh lockdown measures, Shiv Sena's mouthpiece 'Saamana' today said that situation in the state "worrying and serious", and "though lockdown will be the last step, people should take all necessary precautions.

The ward office in M-West ward in Mumbai that covers Chembur has already started issuing new guidelines to societies and directed the hawkers to undergo Covid-19 tests as the area is clocking in the highest number of new Covid-19 cases. 

Reports said that civic officials also hinted at the possibility of "imposition of local lockdown measures" to control rising cases. 

Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar had also warned of a lockdown as she noted that most people travelling on trains did not wear masks. 

Actor Ranvir Shorey on Wednesday said he has tested positive for coronavirus and is currently under quarantine.

  

The 48-year-old actor took to Twitter to inform fans and followers about the diagnosis. 

"I have tested positive for #COVID19. Symptoms are mild. Am quarantining," Shorey wrote.

On Tuesday, Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar warned that the Maharashtra government could think of imposing a "second lockdown" in light of the rise in COVID-19 cases in the city.

The tally of COVID-19 cases in the city increased to 3,15,030 with 461 new cases on Tuesday and the death toll rose to 11,423 with three new fatalities, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said.

Nepal has objected to a statement made by Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb in which he quoted Union Home Minister Amit Shah as saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party would soon form its government in Nepal.

Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali took to Twitter on Tuesday to confirm that the Government of Nepal has conveyed its formal objection to the remarks by India's ruling party leader.

"Noted. Formal objection has been already conveyed," Gyawali said in a tweet in response to a Nepali Twitter user, who had drawn his attention to the statement.

According to sources, Nepal's ambassador to India Nilamber Acharya has already conveyed the government's official objection to Arindam Bagchi, a joint secretary who is in-charge of Nepal and Bhutan affairs at India's Ministry of External Affairs, news agency PTI quoted My Republica newspaper.

Biplab Kumar Deb was quoted in media reports as saying that the BJP was planning to extend its footprint in Sri Lanka and Nepal.

On Saturday (February 13), Deb said Amit Shah, when serving as BJP president, had told party leaders that the BJP would establish rule in other regional countries as part of 'Atmanirbhar South Asia' initiative.

Deb said the BJP deeply valued the SAARC partnership. Nepal is a member of SAARC.

Kiran Bedi, who was suddenly removed from her post as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, issued a statement on her Twitter account, thanking all those who 'were a part my journey as Lt Governor of Puducherry -- the people of Puducherry and all the public officials'.

On Tuesday night, a brief communique issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesman Ajay Kumar Singh said the President has directed that Bedi "shall cease to hold the office of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry".

The direction from the President came amid the political crisis where the ruling Congress-led government has been reduced to a minority after one more MLA quit the party on Tuesday.

Bedi and Narayasamy have been at loggerheads over a range of issues.

US President Joe Biden is working to "recalibrate" the American relationship with Saudi Arabia, White House press secretary Jenn Psaki said, and plans to communicate with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud instead of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"We've made clear from the beginning that we're going to recalibrate our relationship with Saudi Arabia," Psaki said during a news briefing.

"And part of that is going back to engagement, counterpart to counterpart. The President's counterpart is King Salman, and I expect that, in appropriate time, he would have a conversation with him. I don't have a prediction of the timeline on that."

The approach marks another notable break from former US President Donald Trump, who had been strongly supportive of bin Salman even after US intelligence agencies' concluded that he had personally ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had written critically about the prince's policies in the kingdom. US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told lawmakers during her confirmation hearing that she would "absolutely" provide Congress an unclassified report on Khashoggi's murder.

Biden had announced earlier this month that the US will end all support for Saudi Arabia's offensive operations in Yemen. The conflict "has created a humanitarian and strategic catastrophe," the President said, even as he made clear the US will "continue to help and support Saudi Arabia."

The administration has also paused arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as it conducts a wider review of agreements worth billions of dollars made by the Trump administration, sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale suggested that Congress leader should get married, preferably to a Dalit woman.

Athawale said: "I believe that Rahul Gandhi is a good friend of mine and he is speaking on 'hum do, humare do'. This motto was used for family planning so if he wants to do 'hum do, humare do', then Rahul Gandhi should get married. If he marries a Dalit woman, then he would fulfil the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and help end casteism. This will provide a direction to all youth." 

"That's why he should get married and he should marry a Dalit woman. This is my suggestion to him," he said.

He also said that his ministry will provide Gandhi a scheme of Rs 2.5 lakh for his inter-caste marriage.

Last week, Gandhi in Lok Sabha took the "hum do, humare do" jibe at the government and said the new farm laws brought by the government will lead to "collapse of mandi system and allow unlimited hoarding".

Referring to the family planning slogan of 'Hum do hamare do' (we two and our two children), he alleged that the government was being run on this agenda and accused it of promoting "crony capitalism".

Thunderstorm and hail are likely in isolated places in the interior districts of Maharashtra on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department said.

As per the IMD's global forecasting system, some parts of the state would get thunderstorm and lightning, along with light to moderate rain, while some places may also experience hailstorm.

The late night updates have recorded clouds over central parts of the state, and required warning has been issued, an official said on Tuesday. -- PTI