LIVE! Javed Akhtar, Shabana meet Mamata in Delhi

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Thu, 29 July 2021

Javed Akhtar, Shabana meet Mamata in Delhi

Timeline Refresh

23:21 Citi, Jaslok Hospital to vaccinate 1 lakh Dharavi residents

One lakh residents of Dharavi slum sprawl will get COVID vaccines in the next two months under a drive announced by foreign bank Citi and privately-run Jaslok Hospital on Thursday.

Dharavi, one of the largest slum sprawls in the world, was one of the worst affected pockets in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The drive, christened 'Ummeed Dharavi Ke Liye', commenced on Tuesday and will see low-income earners from Dharavi getting inoculated at the hospital for six days a week within the slum sprawl by the Jaslok staff, as per a statement.

The low-income communities are being identified by non-profits and supported by the municipal authorities, it said.

Citi's head of global public affairs for south Asia Debasis Ghosh thanked Jaslok Hospital and the civic authorities and said the initiative has come out of the conviction of ''we are safe if all of us are safe'.

More locations are being identified in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai by the two partners in collaboration with local municipal authorities, the statement said.

Citi had earlier supported 1.15 lakh RT-PCR tests in 15 government hospitals across Maharashtra under the Phase-I of the same project and has also invested in six startups incubated by Society for Innovation and Development, founded by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, developing pandemic-related ideas or innovations. -- PTI

23:20 Javed Akhtar, Shabana meet Mamata in Delhi

Lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar and actor Shabana Azmi met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee in New Delhi on Thursday and spoke about a need for 'parivartan' (change), saying Bengal has always led "revolutionary movements".

They met Banerjee to "thank" her for supporting a bill that assures royalty for artistes.

The lyricist said historically, Bengal has always been a step ahead with revolutionary movements and this is why artistes and intellectuals in the state stood with Banerjee.

Asked whether there was a need for change, Akhtar said, "I can't say for everyone but personally, I feel there should be 'parivartan'. There are many tensions in the country right now, there is the issue of polarisation, many give aggressive statements... there are incidents of violence. It's a shame that Delhi witnessed communal riots. These things should not happen."

Replying to a question whether Banerjee should lead the opposition against the BJP, Akhtar said that during his discussions with her, she never said that she had the ambition to be the leader of an opposition front.

"However, she believes in parivartan. She fought for Bengal earlier, now she wants to fight for India.

"The important question is not who will lead and who won't. The important question is what kind of India do you want and the kind of tradition, atmosphere, freedom and democracy do you want. We are proud that we have a democracy but we should strive to make it better... Democracy is a constant process. It is not static, it's dynamic," he said.

Asked to comment on the now-viral slogan of "Khela Hobe (game is on)", Akhtar said that the slogan did not need any endorsement anymore.

"It is beyond any discussion now," he said.

Banerjee, who was standing silently as Akhtar spoke, quipped, "Khela hobe se aapko ek gaan banana hai (you have to compose a song on khela hobe)."

The chief minister arrived in the national capital on Monday on a five-day visit, her first since assuming office for a third straight term.

She is scheduled to leave the city on Friday afternoon. -- PTI

India on Thursday strongly rejected references made to Jammu and Kashmir in a recent joint press statement by Pakistan and China and asserted that the union territory as well as Ladakh have been and will remain its integral and inalienable part.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also objected to reference made to the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the statement, saying it is in Indian territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan.

"As in the past, India categorically rejects any reference to Jammu and Kashmir. The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the union territory of Ladakh has been and will remain an integral and inalienable part of India," Bagchi said at a media briefing.

On reference to the CPEC in the joint press statement, the spokesperson said India has consistently conveyed to both China and Pakistan that the so-called CPEC is in India's territory.

"We resolutely oppose any attempts by other countries to change the status quo in areas illegally occupied by Pakistan as also to Pakistan bringing up any material change in Indian territories under its illegal occupation. We call upon parties concerned to cease such actions," he said.

The CPEC is part of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

India has been severely critical of the BRI as the USD 50 billion corridor passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The Pakistan-China press statement was issued on last Saturday following talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi at Chengdu in Sichuan province in China.

It said the Pakistani side briefed China side on the "deterioration of the situation" in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan has been making concerted efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue. The neighbouring country stepped up an anti-India campaign after New Delhi announced in August 2019 its decision to withdraw the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the state into two union territories. -- PTI

The Bombay high court will resume physical or in-person hearing of cases from August 2, the court's administrative committee decided on Thursday.

The committee, headed by Chief Justice Dipankar Datta, said that all benches of the high court will start hearing cases physically for three days and through video conference on one (scheduled) day during a week.

This hybrid system will be introduced in all court rooms as soon as possible so that lawyers and litigants who can not attend in-person hearings can participate through video link, it said.

All COVID-19 safety protocols will be implemented on court premises. Litigants will be permitted inside a court room only if their physical presence is genuinely needed, the committee said.

Circulation/filing of matters through email and online mentioning to seek an urgent hearing will be allowed, as of now.

The Central and state governments will work out the modalities to facilitate travel by lawyers and court staff who have received both doses of anti-COVID vaccines by local trains in Mumbai by issuing a monthly pass, the committee said.

All subordinate courts, except those in the districts of Raigad, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Pune, Ahmednagar, Beed, Nashik, and Palghar (which have higher-than-average positivity rate), will restart full-day functioning.

Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the HC and subordinate courts had reduced their working hours.

The high court initially heard only urgent matters online. Earlier this year, the number of benches hearing matters online was increased. -- PTI

A complaint of extortion was filed against IPS officer and former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh here on Thursday, police sources said.

The process of registering a First Information Report was underway at the Thane Nagar police station, said an official.

The complaint, filed by alleged cricket bookie Sonu Jalan and businessman Ketan Tanna, also names former `encounter specialist' police officer Pradeep Sharma, he said, without giving more details.

The state Criminal Investigation Department is already probing another complaint of alleged extortion filed by Jalan against Singh, who was earlier the police commissioner of Thane.

Singh was shunted out from the post of Mumbai police chief in March this year in the aftermath of the discovery of an SUV with explosives near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in south Mumbai, and the subsequent death of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran who had claimed that the SUV had been stolen from his possession.

Singh later accused then home minister Anil Deshmukh of corruption.

Two other extortion cases were filed against the IPS officer earlier this month, based on a complaint filed by a builder. Singh is also facing inquiry by the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau. -- PTI

Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was not simply killed in a crossfire in Afghanistan, nor was he simply collateral damage, but was "brutally murdered" by the Taliban after verifying his identity, according to a report published in a US-based magazine on Thursday.

Siddiqui, 38, was on assignment in Afghanistan when he died.

The award-winning journalist was killed while covering clashes between Afghan troops and the Taliban in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar city.

According to the Washington Examiner report, Siddiqui travelled with an Afghan National Army team to the Spin Boldak region to cover fighting between Afghan forces and the Taliban to control the lucrative border crossing with Pakistan.

When they got to within one-third of a mile of the customs post, a Taliban attack split the team, with the commander and a few men separated from Siddiqui, who remained with three other Afghan troops.

During this assault, shrapnel hit Siddiqui, and so he and his team went to a local mosque where he received first aid. As word spread, however, that a journalist was in the mosque, the Taliban attacked. The local investigation suggests the Taliban attacked the mosque only because of Siddiqui's presence there, the report said.

"Siddiqui was alive when the Taliban captured him. The Taliban verified Siddiqui's identity and then executed him, as well as those with him. The commander and the remainder of his team died as they tried to rescue him," it said.

"While a widely circulated public photograph shows Siddiqui's face recognizable, I reviewed other photographs and a video of Siddiqui's body provided to me by a source in the Indian government that show the Taliban beat Siddiqui around the head and then riddled his body with bullets," wrote the writer Micheal Rubin, who is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

The Taliban's decision to hunt down, execute Siddiqui, and then mutilate his corpse shows that they do not respect the rules of war or conventions that govern the behaviour of the global community., the report said.

Siddiqui won the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 as part of the Reuters team for their coverage of the Rohingya crisis. He had extensively covered the Afghanistan conflict, the Hong Kong protests and other major events in Asia, Middle East, and Europe.

Siddiqui was laid to rest at the Jamia Millia Islamia graveyard where a sea of mourners gathered to pay their last respects.

His body arrived at the Delhi airport in the evening of July 18 and was later brought to his residence in Jamia Nagar where a huge crowd, including his family and friends, had gathered. -- PTI

21:50 Rs 238 cr spent so far for new Parl bldg: Govt

The government has so far spent Rs 238 crore and Rs 63 crore for the construction of a new Parliament building and the redevelopment of Centre Vista Avenue, respectively, Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.

In a written reply to a question, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore said that construction of a new Parliament building at an estimated cost of Rs 971 crore is being undertaken and is targeted to be completed by October next year.

Also, the redevelopment of Central Vista Avenue stretching from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate will cost Rs 608 crore and the project is expected to be completed by November this year, he said.

According to the government, the estimated costs to be incurred on these two projects for the financial year 2021-22 is Rs 1,289 crore.

Replying to another question, the minister said that the details of rental premises or area-wise hired by various establishments of the government and expenditure incurred on those private rental premises or area-wise since their origin of lease agreement is not centrally maintained.

Earlier, the government had said the ongoing Central Vista redevelopment project, which includes the construction of 10 new Secretariat buildings, would lead to a saving of Rs 1,000 crore in the form of rent for government offices.

The redevelopment project of the Central Vista -- the nation''s power corridor -- envisages a new triangular Parliament building, a common central secretariat, revamping of the three-km-long Rajpath, from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, new prime minister residence and the Prime Minister's Office, and new Vice President Enclave. -- PTI

Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Thursday appealed to party legislators to deposit their one month's salary in a party-operated fund for rain and flood-related relief work in the state.

The move by the Sena, which heads the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, to seek donations in the party's fund, instead of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, has the potential to stoke a controversy.

Under the CMRF, the chief minister has the discretion to approve funds for medical assistance or help people in distress.

Maharashtra BJP legislators have already announced donating their one month's salary to the CM Relief Fund.

A message circulated in the media by the Shiv Sena says the appeal to legislators for donations is being made as per instructions of chief minister and party president Uddhav Thackeray and Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray, who is also a minister.

The message has been attributed to Shinde and Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu.

The account, where legislators have to deposit money, is titled "Shiv Sena Madatnidhi" (relief fund) and held with Bhavani Sahakari Bank Ltd's branch in Mumbai's Dadar area.

Praveen Pandit, a Sena office-bearer and in-charge of the account handling work, said, "It is true that the party has decided to raise funds and asked its legislators, including ministers, to donate their one month's salary into the bank account operated by the party. I will be helping our legislators with the donation procedure."

"It is not a new exercise for party workers. We have done it earlier as well," he said.

Large regions of Maharashtra, especially the coastal Konkan and western parts of the state, have been ravaged by recent heavy rains and floods. More than 200 people have been killed in rain-related incidents so far.

The Congress and the NCP, constituents of the MVA, have not yet made any announcement about donation for flood relief work. -- PTI

20:54 Kerala records 22,000 Covid cases for 3rd day

Kerala reported over 22,000 coronavirus cases for the third day in a row on Thursday, even as a Central team will be rushing to the state to aid it in effective management of the situation.

Meanwhile, researchers said that due to Kerala's steady R-factor growth, the state will remain in the top spot for the next couple of weeks vis-a-vis new infections.

The R-factor indicates the speed at which the viral infection is spreading in the country and an analysis by researchers at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Chennai suggests Kerala has more worries in store.

The smaller the value of R is, the faster the disease is on the decline. Conversely, if R is greater than 1, the number of infected people is increasing in each round--technically, this is what is called the epidemic phase.

The bigger the number is than one, the faster the rate of spreading of the disease and Kerala has the highest number of active cases and continues to have an R-value around 1.11.

"So looks like it (Kerala) will remain in the top spot for the next couple of weeks. The Northeast continues to have a very bad situation with most states having R-value more than 1," said Sitabhra Sinha of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, who is leading the team.

Kerala on Thursday logged 22,064 new covid-19 cases and 128 deaths, taking the caseload to 33,49,365 and the death toll to 16,585.

It reported 22,129 cases on Tuesday and 22,056 on Wednesday.

State Health minister Veena George on Thursday said 1,63,098 samples were tested in the last 24 hours and the test positivity rate was 13.53 per cent.

George said 16,649 people recuperated from the disease on Thursday, taking the number of those cured to 31,77,453.

Currently, there are 1,54,820 people under treatment and 4,54,080 under observation of which 27,480 are in isolation wards of various hospitals.

There are 323 local self government bodies in the state with a TPR above 15 per cent, an official release said.

As its infection rate picks up pace, the Union Health Ministry announced deputing a six-member team to Kerala for effective covid-19 management. -- PTI

National Disaster Response Force Director General S N Pradhan on Thursday took over the additional charge of the Narcotics Control Bureau head from IPS officer Rakesh Asthana, who has been recently appointed as the Delhi Police Commissioner.

Sharing pictures on Twitter of him taking charge, Pradhan, a 1988-batch IPS officer from Jharkhand cadre, wrote, "Hope to do my bit towards sustaining the national mission against narcotics & psychotropic substances".

He is currently appointed as the DG of the National Disaster Response Force.

An order issued by the Union Home Ministry for the NCB on Wednesday said Pradhan "shall hold additional charge of the post of DG, NCB vice shri Asthana (Rakesh) with immediate effect for a period of three months or till the appointment and joining of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is earlier."

Asthana, a 1984-batch Indian Police Service officer, had been holding the additional charge of NCB DG since July, 2019.

The federal anti-narcotics agency, that functions as the apex national body on drugs and narcotics issues, had its last regular DG in IPS officer and current Odisha DGP Abhay who left the post on July 4, 2019.

Abhay was then appointed as the Director of the Hyderabad-based Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy.

Asthana was appointed the Delhi Police Commissioner On July 27 by the Union government.

In a related development, the Union government recently changed the appointment rules for the NCB DG as it has been "upgraded" from the pay matrix level-15 (Additional DG rank in the IPS) to the apex level of 16/17 (DG or DG equivalent rank in the IPS), effective from June 2. -- PTI

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi brainstormed with senior party leaders recently on the pros and cons of poll strategist Prashant Kishor joining the party, sources said on Thursday.

Senior Congress leaders A K Antony, Mallikarjun Kharge, Kamal Nath, Ambika Soni, Harish Rawat, K C Venugopal and some others attended the meeting held at Gandhi's residence here on July 22, they added.

The main agenda of the meeting convened by Gandhi was to discuss the pros and cons of having the poll strategist in the party and what role should be assigned to him if he joins the Congress, the sources said.

Most of the leaders who attended the meeting agreed that Kishor joining the Congress would be beneficial for the party, they added.

Prior to this meeting, Kishor met Gandhi on July 13. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present at that meeting. Since then, there has been speculation about the poll strategist joining the Congress.

There has been no official word on it from the party or from Kishor.

After the West Bengal assembly polls earlier this year, Kishor had said he would quit working as an election strategist.

He had joined the Janata Dal-United a few years ago, but had parted ways with the Nitish Kumar-led party subsequently. -- PTI

20:27 Mizoram says ready for lawsuit on border issue

Mizoram Deputy Chief Minister Tawnluia on Thursday said his government is ready to face any lawsuit over claims that it had encroached on neighbour Assam's territory.

The Deputy Chief Minister's remarks came as a rebuttal to the "encroachment" charge levelled by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday, who said his government would move the Supreme Court over the issue.

Speaking to reporters in Aizawl on Thursday, Tawnluia denied any encroachment by Mizoram on the neighbouring state's territory.

"We are ready and well prepared to be tried in a law court. We have valid documents to substantiate our stand," he said.

He said that Mizoram is merely protecting the territorial integrity of the state.

The two states have differing interpretations of their territorial border. While Mizoram believes that its border lies along an inner line drawn up in 1875 to protect tribals from the influence of plainsmen, Assam goes by a district demarcation survey done in the 1930s.

Tawnluia, who heads the boundary commission constituted by the state government last week, said the commission will deal with the boundary issue and its decision on issues related to the border with neighbouring states would be final.

He claimed that the commission has obtained important documents on boundary issue.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sarma had told reporters in Silchar that his government would move the Supreme Court over encroachment by the neighbouring state.

He had said that any settlement within the reserved forest areas is illegal and his government was protecting the reserved forest areas and the territorial integrity of the state. -- PTI

Six-time world champion M C Mary Kom on Thursday slammed the International Olympic Committee's Boxing Task Force for "poor judging" in her flyweight (51kg) pre-quarterfinal at the Tokyo Games which she lost despite winning two of the three rounds.

The Task Force is conducting the boxing competition in Tokyo after the International Boxing Association (AIBA) was suspended by the IOC for alleged misgovernance and financial wrongdoing.

"I don't know and understand this decision, what's wrong with the Task Force? What's wrong with the IOC?" she asked in a telephonic interview to PTI after the 2-3 loss to Colombian Ingrit Valencia in the pre-quarters in Tokyo.

"I was also a member of the Task Force. I was even giving them suggestions and supporting them in ensuring a clean competition. But what have they done with me?" she said.

The 38-year-old, multiple-time Asian champions who was eyeing her second Olympic medal after the bronze at the 2012 London Games, said this evening's loss did not sink in even after she had gone for her dope test.

"I was happy inside the ring, when I came out, I was happy because in my mind I knew I had won. When they took me for doping, I was still happy. Only when I saw the social media and my coach (Chhote Lal Yadav repeated it to me), it sunk in that I have lost," she said.

"I had beaten this girl twice in the past. I couldn't believe that her hand was raised by the referee. I swear, it hadn't struck me that I lost, I was so sure," she added.

The Indian trailed 4-1 in the opening round with four of the five judges scoring it 10-9 in favour of Valencia. In the next two rounds, Mary Kom got three of the five judges to rule in her favour but the overall score-line was still in favour of Valencia.

The Manipuri needed a 4-1 verdict in the final round to swing the bout for her.

"The worst part is that there is no review or protest. Honestly I am sure the world must have seen, this is too much what they have done," she said.

"I should have got the second round unanimously, how was it 3-2? What happened was totally unpredictable," she reasoned.

The IOC's Boxing Task Force had promised a more transparent judging system after amateur boxing's credibility took a hit during the 2016 Rio Olympics judging fiasco which led to suspension of 36 officials.

Mary Kom is part of the BTF's 10-member athletes ambassadors group. -- PTI

Johar Irani, son of Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani, on Thursday performed the 'bhoomi pujan' for the construction of the MP's house in Amethi.

During the campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Smriti Irani, who went on to wrest Amethi from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, had promised to build a house in the district so that local residents could meet her easily and didn't have to go to Delhi.

Vijay Gupta, Smriti Irani's representative, later told reporters that the minister has always kept her promises. She had said that she would get a house constructed here. The 'bhoomi pujan' was held and the construction of the house would start soon.

Smriti Irani is concerned about her constituency and has been working continuously for the development of every area, he said.

On February 22 this year, the minister purchased land in Mevai village to build her house. -- PTI

An anti-Narendra Modi agenda alone will not help sustain an opposition front to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party, senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily cautioned on Thursday, calling for drawing up a common minimum programme for parties to work together.

The former Union Minister also warned that such a front will not take off if parties debate on which leader or political outfit should lead it at this stage itself.

"They (opposition parties) should not bother about leadership now," Moily said.

"If they start debating as to who should become its leader, which political party should lead, it will not take off," the former Karnataka Chief Minister said.

He welcomed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's meeting with the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in the national capital on Wednesday, and her comments on the need for opposition parties to work together.

On perception in some quarters that only an anti-Modi sentiment is bringing opposition outfits together, Moily said: "That alone should not be projected. Anti-individualism will not take take any political front forward."

"That's what they (the then opposition parties) used to do -- anti-Indira Gandhi. That did not succeed," he said.

Moily said the opposition agenda should not be based on personal issues.

"It should be based upon ideological issues."

He spoke out against adopting a policy of "opposition-for-opposition-sake" and a "negative approach".

"Opposition parties should unite and come to a basic understanding.It should be principled opposition.They should draw up a common minimum programme as a result of unity.Otherwise, people will not trust us," Moily said.

Without a common minimum programme, an opposition front will not take off, according to him.

"The national debate should be on sustenance of democracy, secularism, and taking the country forward and also against the 'negative agenda' of the present government," Moily said.

He said no party in the opposition front should oppose entry of any outfit wanting to come onboard. -- PTI

The 23 members of poll strategist Prashant Kishor's I-PAC team, the alleged detention of which in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Tripura led the Trinamool Congress to attack the saffron party, surrendered before a local court on Thursday, which granted them bail.

The Indian Political Action Committee (I-team has been camping in Agartala to assess the political situation and potential support base for the TMC.

The police allegedly detained them in a hotel citing Covid norms on Sunday night.

Senior TMC leader and MP Derek O'Brien, who arrived in the state, alleged that the central leadership of the BJP is behind the incident.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate S B Das granted bail to the I-PAC team members, who were summoned to appear before the police on August 1 following registration of an FIR against them on Tuesday.

The police earlier said that the I-PAC team members will have to remain inside the hotel until their test report for COVID-19 is available. The reports came negative on Tuesday night.

Their counsel Pijush Kanti Biswas said that a case against the state government will be filed for harassing them.

"The I-PAC team members arrived in the state with Covid negative reports. But they were put under detention before the FIR was registered which amounts to harassment," Biswas said.

Additional Public Prosecutor Bidyut Sutradhar said a complaint was filed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Sadar, against the team, which was registered at East Agartala police station under Section 188 of IPC (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and under the National Disaster Management Act.

"The investigating officer served them notice to meet him on August one. There was no apprehension of arrest. But still, they surrendered before the court, prayed for bail and the court granted them bail," Sutradhar told reporters.

Mumbai and 24 other districts of Maharashtra which have reported COVID-19 positivity rates lower than the state's average are likely to get more relaxation from restrictions, state health minister Rajesh Tope said on Thursday.

The government is also considering if those who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus can be allowed to travel by local trains in Mumbai, he said.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the state's COVID-19 task force chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Tope said in the remaining 11 districts, where the infection rate is high, more restrictions may be imposed.

"We have discussed introducing more relaxation in 25 districts including Mumbai where the positivity rate is much lower than the state's average. A decision with a detailed set of instructions will be out in a couple of days," he said.

But there will be no relaxation in the remaining districts of Pune, Solapur, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Beed and Ahmednagar where the infection positivity rate is higher than the average, the minister said.

"If required, the local authorities may introduce more stringent restrictions (in these areas) to contain the spread of coronavirus," he said.

The issue of allowing those who have taken both the doses of coronavirus vaccine to travel by local trains in Mumbai was also discussed extensively in the meeting, he said.

"We are still discussing the ways to verify if a passenger has taken both doses. We will also speak to the railway authorities," the minister said.

At present only those engaged in essential and emergency services are allowed to travel by local trains in the state capital. -- PTI

Over 500 individuals and groups have written to Chief Justice of India N V Ramana seeking immediate intervention of the Supreme Court in the alleged Pegasus snooping matter.

They have also sought a moratorium on the sale, transfer and use of Israeli firm NSO's Pegasus spyware in India.

They have expressed shock over media reports that the spyware was used for surveillance of women students, academics, journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers and victims of sexual violence.

Besides, the signatories to the letter have requested the top court to adopt a gender-neutral sexual harassment, data protection and privacy policy.

The letter also referred to the issue of alleged snooping on the apex court official who had raised allegations of sexual harassment against then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.

"For women, the Pegasus scandal is deeply concerning, for speaking out against the state and men in positions of state power has meant that their lives are wrecked by such surveillance permanently.

"Human rights defenders have been imprisoned, and victims of sexual harassment have also not been spared such shocking forms of state sponsored cyber-crimes, which are analogous to digital forms of state terror," the letter said.

The letter has been signed by various activists including Aruna Roy, Anjali Bhardwaj, Harsh Mander; scholars and eminent lawyers like Vrinda Grover, Jhuma Sen among others.

An international media consortium has reported that over 300 verified Indian mobile phone numbers were on a list of potential targets for surveillance using Pegasus spyware. -- PTI

As the new National Education Policy completed one year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said it is one of the major factors in the grand exercise of nation-building and assures the youth that the country supports their aspirations.

Modi said in the last one year, teachers, principals and policymakers of the country have worked very hard in implementing the National Education Policy on the ground.

Addressing a programme on the completion of one year of the NEP, the prime minister said what new heights "we will achieve in the future will depend on what kind of education we are giving to our youth at present".

"India's new National Education Policy is one of the major factors in the 'mahayagna' (great exercise) of nation-building," Modi said.

The new NEP assures the youth that the country is now completely with them and with their aspirations, he said.

Modi said the Artificial Intelligence (AI) programme which has just been launched will make the youth future-oriented and open the way for an AI-driven economy.

Highlighting that the NEP also gives importance to mother tongue and local languages, Modi said he was happy that 14 engineering colleges in eight states are going to start studies in five Indian languages -- Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Bangla.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as well as some chief ministers also participated in the event.

The NEP, which was approved by the Union Cabinet last year at a meeting presided by Prime Minister Modi, replaced the National Policy on Education framed in 1986. It is aimed at paving the way for transformational reforms in school and higher education systems to make India a global knowledge superpower. -- PTI

China on Thursday reacted angrily to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's meeting with a senior representative of the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama in New Delhi, saying it is a violation of Washington's commitment acknowledging Tibet as part of China and not to support Tibetan independence.

Blinken on Wednesday met Ngodup Dongchung, an official in the Tibetan government-in-exile and representative of the Dalai Lama, in a clear signal to China about the Biden administration's continued support to the Tibetan cause. In the meeting, Dongchung thanked Blinken for the continued support by the US to the Tibetan movement. When asked, a spokesperson of the US State Department told PTI, "Secretary Blinken had an opportunity to meet briefly this morning in New Delhi with a representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Central Tibetan Administration Representative Ngodup Dongchung." Separately, another Tibetan representative, Geshe Dorjee Damdul, attended a roundtable Blinken held with around seven civil society members.

Asked for his reaction by the official media here at a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, "Tibetan affairs are purely China's internal affairs that allow no foreign interference.

"The 14th Dalai Lama is by no means just a religious person but rather a political exile who has long been engaged in anti-China separatist activities attempting to split Tibet from China," he said. China firmly opposes all forms of contacts between foreign officials and the Dalai Lama, he said. "Any formal contact between the US and the Dalai clique is a violation of the US commitment to acknowledge Tibet as part of China, not to support Tibetan independence and attempts to separate it from China, he said.

"We urge the US to honour its commitment to stop meddling in China's internal affairs under the pretext of Tibetan affairs, and offer no support to Tibet independence forces to engage in anti-China separatist activities. China will take all necessary measures to defend its own interests, he said. China comes up with such routine reactions whenever foreign dignitaries and officials meet the Dalai Lama or his representatives.

17:30 Covid patients complain of hair loss

Delhi's Indraprastha Apollo Hospital has seen a 100 per cent rise in complaints of hair loss among coronavirus patients, doctors said on Thursday. Normally, according to a spokesperson, the private hospital in South Delhi would record four to five complaints of hair loss a week.

However, hair loss cases "started increasing from mid-May and a consolidated report says we have been seeing double the number of cases since then", the spokesperson said. Usually, COVID-19 patients experience hair loss a month after recovering from the disease. In some cases, hair loss is observed during the infection period, too, doctors said.

Deficiencies due to change in dietary habits, fever during the infection, stress, anxiety, sudden hormonal changes and persistent post-Covid inflammatory reactions are some of the reasons for the temporary hair loss, they said. -- PTI

Minister of State (MoS) External Affairs, V Muraleedharan on Thursday said that India has been making efforts to ease travel restrictions wherever in place, for Indian students enrolled in foreign universities to make their travel to their respective countries possible.

Replying to Sanjay Singh in the Rajya Sabha on steps taken by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) Muraleedharan said, "The Ministry has been making efforts for easing travel restrictions wherever in place, for Indian students enrolled in foreign universities to make their travel to respective countries possible."

He also said that travel restrictions were being eased for Indian students to travel to many countries, including the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Georgia, etc.

"Issue of travel restrictions has been taken up at ministerial level with several countries. Consequently, travel restrictions are being eased for Indian students to travel to many countries, including the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Georgia, the minister said in the upper house.

"More countries are expected to open up when the Covid situation improves," Muraleedharan said.

Further, he also informed that Indian missions abroad have been actively taking up these issues with the respective governments and have been impressing upon those governments to ease the travel restrictions.

The remarks came at a time when many people, especially students studying in foreign universities are struggling to travel back due to the ongoing restrictions.

India on Thursday reported 43,509 fresh COVID-19 infections, 38,465 recoveries in the last 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

17:13 Go to the people, Yogi's strategy for UP polls

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday exhorted BJP workers to strengthen the party up to the booth level in view of the upcoming Assembly elections and asked them to go among people to resolve their problems. The chief minister, who arrived in Baghpat on Thursday morning, met party office-bearers and workers. "There is very less time left for the Assembly elections, for which preparations should be started from now," the CM said, according to a BJP spokesman.

The CM told them to go among people and know about their problems. Asking BJP workers to strengthen the organisation up to the booth level, he said they should motivate people to follow the COVID-19 protocol and go for vaccination.

During the meeting, MP Satyapal Singh sought approval of several development proposals for Baghpat and the CM assured him that all demands will be considered, the spokesman said, adding that Adityanath said the work on a medical college in Baghpat will start in December. The workers were also told to take government schemes to people.

During the visit, there was a slight tussle between police and RLD workers who wanted to meet the CM but due to security reasons, they were not allowed. -- PTI

The Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) in Palghar district of Maharashtra has reported 56 deaths due to coronavirus in a single day, which is 50 per cent of the total number of one-day fatalities recorded in the Mumbai circle, the official data has revealed.

As per the information published on the Maharashtra government's dashboard, these deaths were recorded on Wednesday. The state reported 286 coronavirus deaths during the day, of which 112 were reported in the Mumbai circle of the health division.

Vasai Virar alone recorded 56 deaths, which half the number of fatalities in the circle. Apart from the VVCMC, the deaths recorded in some other urban areas in the Mumbai circle on that day were Mumbai city (six), Thane city (three), Navi Mumbai (two), Kalyan Dombivli (eight), Mira Bhayandar (one), Palghar rural (two), Raigad (32), Panvel (two).

16:56 Mamata continues meeting opposition leaders

DMK MP Kanimozhi met West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee in Delhi today. On the table are a range of sanitizers, spectators to an unifying opposition.

16:51 Do you live in an orange state?

How the states stack up in Covid cases.

16:48 Sensex jumps 200 points, Tata Steel top gainer

Snapping its three-session losing streak, equity benchmark Sensex rose 209 points on Thursday following gains in Tata Steel, SBI and Reliance Industries amid a positive trend in global markets.

The 30-share BSE index climbed 209.36 points or 0.40 per cent to close at 52,653.07, while the broader NSE Nifty advanced 69.05 points or 0.44 per cent to 15,778.45.

Tata Steel was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rallying nearly 7 per cent, followed by Bajaj Finserv, SBI, HCL Tech, Sun Pharma, Bajaj Finance and Reliance Industries. On the other hand, Maruti, PowerGrid, Bajaj Auto and ITC were among the laggards. -- PTI

16:39 In Delhi, DMK's Kanimozhi meets Mamata

DMK MP Kanimozhi leaves from the residence of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee after meeting West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee. Yesterday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee called on her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal.

The Trinamool Congress supremo's visit to Kejriwal followed her meetings with Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi earlier in the day and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

Sherlyn Chopra

16:32 Raj Kundra porn case: Sherlyn Chopra's bail rejected

Mumbai Sessions court rejects the anticipatory bail application of actor Sherlyn Chopra in the pornography case related to businessman and actor Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra.

16:27 Bommai visits flood-affected districts

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai visits the flood-affected area of Karwar in Uttara Kannada district.

Six-time world champion M C Mary Kom's (51kg) pursuit of a second Olympic medal ended in the pre-quarterfinals of the Tokyo Games as she went down to 2016 edition's bronze-medallist Ingrit Valencia in a fiercely-fought showdown here on Thursday.

The 38-year-old legend, who is a multiple-time Asian champion and a bronze-winner from the 2012 London olympics, lost 2-3 to the Colombian, giving it her all in what would now be her final Olympic bout.

Mary Kom had tears in her eyes and a wide smile on her face when the referee raised Valencia's hand at the end of the bout, exhausted after the intense clash. The way Valencia rushed in when the first bell rang, it was quite obvious that the bout would be high voltage and it was exactly how it turned out to be.

The two were attacking each other from word go and Valencia grabbed the upper-hand when she clinched the opening round 4-1. The Manipuri veteran fought back to claim the second and the third round by 2-3 margins but the slender edge that Valencia took in the opening round tilted the final scores in her favour. -- PTI

35.8 cr vax doses were for the domestic market

15:47 India sent 6.4 cr Covid vaccines abroad

India dispatched approximately 6.4 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses to foreign countries from January 12 to July 22, the government informed Parliament on Thursday.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh said, "During the period January 12 to July 22, approximately 42.2 crore doses have been transported. "Out of these, approximately 35.8 crore doses have been handled at domestic airports and approximately 6.4 crore doses have been dispatched to international destinations."

The cumulative number of Covid vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 45 crore, including more than 15.38 crore jabs given to beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday. PTI

British-Swedish biopharma giant AstraZeneca, which manufactures the COVID-19 vaccine developed by scientists at the University of Oxford, on Thursday indicated that they would seek approval from the US medicines regulator for its jabs in the second half of this year.

The AZD1222 vaccine, also being produced under licence by the Serum Institute of India (SII) as Covishield and approved for human use by the UK and European medicines regulators, is pending a US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) application.

As part of second-quarter financial results released on Thursday, which showed that the company and its sub-licensees including SII delivered more than 700 million doses of the vaccine to over 170 countries in the first half of this year, the approvals timetable indicates a USFDA approval application for COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca SARS-CoV-2 (US) later in the year. -- PTI

Actor-turned-environmentalist Juhi Chawla on Thursday withdrew the petition that sought amendment of the word 'dismissed' to 'rejected' in an order passed by the Delhi High Court recently while dismissing her lawsuit related to the implementation of 5G mobile technology in India.

A bench of Justice Jayant Nath on Thursday allowed Counsel Deepak Khosla representing Juhi Chawla to withdraw the related application seeking modification in an order passed by Justice J R Midha while dismissing her petition. However, the court granted liberty to the petitioner to approach concerned appellate authorities, as informed by the counsel for Juhi Chawla.

15:12 Daily active Covid cases graphic

Here's how the cases stack up...

14:52 TMC allergic to Hindi-speaking people: BJP MP

A day after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey claimed that he was called a "Bihari Gunda" by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra, he accused the TMC of being "allergic to all the Hindi-speaking people" and termed her remark as an "attack on Bihar's pride".

Stating that he has submitted all the facts related to the matter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Dubey demanded an apology from Moitra.

Speaking to ANI at the Parliament on Thursday, the BJP MP said, "TMC is allergic to all the Hindi-speaking people that's why they called me 'Bihari Gunda'. This is an attack on Bihar's pride. I have submitted all the facts to the Speaker. She (Mahua Moitra) should apologise."

On Wednesday, Dubey claimed that Moitra had called him a "Bihari gunda" during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology on Wednesday.

Dubey, the MP from Jharkhand's Godda took to Twitter to say that Moitra's "abusive language" has brought out into the open TMC's hatred towards North Indians, especially Hindi speaking people.

"Trinamool Congress has abused the entire Hindi speaking people along with Bihar by using the word Bihari Gunda. Mamata Banerjee ji, this abuse by TMC MP Mahua Moitra has brought your party's hatred towards north Indians and especially Hindi speaking people in front of the country," Dubey tweeted in Hindi.

"Lok Sabha Speaker ji, heard abuse for the first time in my 13 years of parliamentary life. TMC member Mahua Moita said 'Bihari Gunda' thrice in the meeting of IT Committee. Om Birla ji, Shashi Tharoor Ji has taken the contract to end this parliamentary tradition," the BJP leader said in another tweet.

Meanwhile, Moitra too took to Twitter to say: "Am a bit amused by charges of name-calling. IT meeting did not happen because NO quorum - members did not attend. How can I call someone a name who was not even present!! Check attendance sheet!" she tweeted.

In absence of the quorum, meeting of the 31-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology led by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor to discuss the Pegasus snooping case with ministry officials was not held

."After a heated debate on Bihari Gunda, the meeting was postponed due to lack of quorum," a member of the committee told ANI.

14:37 Snooping has been around for ages

The Orwellian surveillance State is here. And here to stay, asserts Virendra Kapoor. Read the column on Rediff.com here.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday raised in the Lok Sabha the issue of a TMC member allegedly calling him a 'Bihari Gunda' during a Parliamentary committee meeting.

"I want to draw attention of all members of this House. This is my 13th year as an MP and the way I was called 'Bihari Gunda' at the Parliamentary committee meeting yesterday by a woman, by Trinamool Congress, I have not seen this in my life," Dubey said, amid din in the House due to protests by opposition over Pegasus and farm bill issues.

"What is our mistake? Our mistake is in developing this country. We have worked as labourers, as Hindi-speaking people whether from Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh... we have worked hard. We have learnt sessions from Lord Ram," Dubey said.

However, Dubey did not name the TMC member.

As Dubey was speaking, Rajendra Agrawal, who was chairing the proceedings, adjourned the House till 12:30 pm.

Dubey had alleged that Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra called him a 'Bihari Gunda'.

Dubey, in a tweet on Wednesday tagged TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and alleged that Moitra's comments show her party's attitude towards the people of Bihar and the Hindi-speaking parts of the country.

Moitra denied the charge, saying Dubey was not even present for the meeting.

-- PTI

The Union health ministry of health & family welfare on Thursday decided to depute a high-level multidisciplinary team to Kerala after seeing a continuous rise in COVID-19 daily cases.

The Centre's team to collaborate with the State Health Authorities in instituting effective public health measures for COVID-19 management. The Centre is sending 6 member team to Kerala headed by National Centre for Disease Control Director, tweeted Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

"As a large number of COVID cases are still being reported in Kerala, the team will aid state's ongoing efforts in COVID-19 management," Mandaviya wrote.

The team shall reach Kerala on Friday, and visit a few districts, a health ministry release said.

Earlier, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote a letter to the Kerala government on super spreader events observed in Kerala in the past recent past. The Health Secretary also mentioned Covid guidelines need to be followed properly.

A complete lockdown has also been imposed in Kerala from July 31 to August 01 in view of a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases.

-- ANI

An anti-Olympics protest march

13:51 Tokyo reports record 3,865 cases amid Olympics

Japanese officials sounded the alarm on Thursday as Tokyo reported record-breaking coronavirus cases for the third straight day with Olympics well underway. Tokyo reported 3,865 new cases Thursday on Wednesday, setting an all-time high since the pandemic began. Japan's National Institute of Infectious Disease (NIID) has estimated that the highly contagious delta variant is responsible for nearly 80% of infections in Tokyo.

The nationwide lockdown in India last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions in agricultural supply chains that negatively impacted the nutrition of women in the country, according to a study.

The research, published in the journal Economia Politica, shows that although food value chains and allied activities were exempted from the lockdown, women's dietary diversity -- the number of food groups consumed -- declined during the period compared to 2019. The researchers at Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition (TCI), New Delhi, found that the drop was due to decreased consumption of foods like meats, eggs, vegetables and fruits, which are rich in micronutrients that are crucial to good health and development.

"Women's diets were lacking in diverse foods even before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has further exacerbated the situation," said Soumya Gupta, a research economist at TCI who co-authored the study. "Any policies addressing the impact of the pandemic on nutritional outcomes must do so through a gendered lens that reflects the specific, and often persistent, vulnerabilities faced by women, Gupta added.

The nationwide lockdown was enforced to slow down the spread of COVID-19 on March 24, 2020. The lockdown was lifted on May 30, last year, though some restrictions remained in certain areas of the country. -- PTI

13:26 There used to be a village here

Rescue operation and restoration work continues in Honzar Dachhan area of Kishtwar district following cloudburst; 7 people have died, 12 were injured and 19 people remain missing. "Today, there is no sign left of a village here," says a local.

13:06 LS proceedings adjourned for third time

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the third time on Thursday till 2 pm as opposition members continued their protest over Pegasus and other issues. When the House met at 12:30 pm, Rajendra Agrawal, who was chairing the proceedings, took up papers to be laid by ministers.

As protests continued, he adjourned the House till 2 pm. Earlier in the day, Speaker Om Birla had expressed his displeasure over unruly behaviour by some opposition members and said he was "very hurt" over Wednesday's incident. On Wednesday, when papers were being laid in the House, Congress members Gurjeet Aujala, TN Prathapan, Hibi Eden and some others had thrown business papers of the day as well as torn pieces of paper and placards at the Chair.

A piece of the torn placard landed in the press gallery just above the Speaker's podium. As opposition continued their protest on Pegasus snooping controversy and three farm bills, Birla adjourned the House till 11.30 am. After the Question Hour ended at 12 noon, Agrawal, who was chairing the proceedings of the House, asked protesting members to go back to their respective seats.

"We are starting Zero Hour, please go back to your seats," he appealed to the members. Soon after he adjourned the House till 12:30 pm. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said the opposition has not been able to put forth its point due to the stubborn attitude of the government. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the members who resorted to tearing papers don't even want to apologise. PTI

Around 14 lakh expatriates have returned back to Kerala, of which about 10 lakh has cited job loss due to Covid-19, informed Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal on Thursday.

Replying to a query in Kerala Assembly here on Thursday, the Finance Minister said that Kerala would request for a special Covid package from the Centre considering the issues faced by the Non-Resident Indian population who were forced to return home.

"The peculiar situation Kerala is undergoing will be taken up with the Centre as a large number of the expat population was forced to return home due to COVID. Also, the plantation sector in the state is under severe financial distress. During the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had taken up the issues. All MPs from Kerala should jointly take up the matter," he said.

Due to various challenges including the COVID induced lockdown, Balagopal said the state is reeling under a serious financial crisis in the ongoing financial year too.

"The COVID pandemic has severely affected tax and non-tax revenue collection. But as a duty of the government we are carrying out various welfare schemes for people hit hard by the pandemic. Short term and long term plans have been devised and a stimulus package of Rs 20,000 crore was already declared in the budget," he said. -- ANI

WB extended the lockdown to avoid a situation like this market in Mumbai

12:47 Bengal extends Covid curbs till August 15

Keeping in mind the warning of experts about a possible third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the West Bengal government on Thursday extended the existing restrictions till August 15, but also announced certain relaxations.

The administration allowed government programmes at indoor facilities with 50 per cent seating capacity, according to an order.

Buses, taxis, autorickshaws have been permitted to operate with 50 per cent capacity. Offices, both government and private, are also allowed to function with half the manpower, it said

The restrictions, imposed on May 16, were last extended till July 30. All the district administrations were asked to ensure strict compliance of directives related to wearing of masks and social distancing.

"Any violation of the restriction measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and relevant sections of the IPC," the order stated. -- PTI

12:37 Goyal, Joshi meet Oppn leaders to pass bills

While the meeting of opposition leaders was underway to chalk out a strategy on the Pegasus issue, Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Pralhad Joshi met them and asked the leaders to support the House to pass bills.

However, opposition leaders insisted on the discussion of issues like Pegasus, inflation, farmers issues, hike in petrol and diesel prices, sources said. An all-party meeting will be called soon to discuss the issues, they added.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday had said that the entire Opposition is and will remain united on the issues of national security and farm laws.

On Tuesday, a meeting of all "like-minded" Opposition parties was held to decide on the next course of action if the government ignores the demand on the Pegasus issue in Parliament. -- ANI

Rescue operations were underway on Thursday to trace 20 people missing after a cloudburst hit Honzar village in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir with authorities pressing more teams into action.

Seven persons were found dead and 17 others were rescued in an injured condition after the remote village was struck by the cloudburst in the early hours of Wednesday, damaging 21 houses, cow sheds, a ration depot, a bridge and a mosque. The officials said the joint rescue operation by police, Army and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is going on in full swing to locate the missing people, including nine women.

Director General of Police-cum-Commandant General Home Guard, Civil Defence and SDRF, V K Singh said a team comprising SDRF and NDRF personnel left Jammu at 5:45 AM by road for Kishtwar, while another joint team is leaving Srinagar shortly to join the rescue operation.

Two more teams comprising SDRF and NDRF personnel are at the Jammu and Srinagar airports waiting for the weather to improve to get airlifted, he said. He said three teams of the SDRF have already joined the rescue effort and efforts are on to locate the missing persons.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) made an attempt to airlift one of the teams on Wednesday but returned to the technical airport in Jammu due to inclement weather. Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh rushed to Kishtwar by road on Wednesday night and visited the injured persons at district hospital, a police official said.

Singh along with divisional commissioner Jammu Raghav Langer was also on board the IAF chopper which attempted to take the SDRF team to the affected village. The Jammu and Kashmir government had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the incident and Rs 50,000 each and Rs 12,700 under SDRF to the grievously injured persons. The J-K government would do everything possible to support and protect the affected families.

In such trying times, it is our duty to care for those who have been unfortunately affected by these natural calamities," Lt Governor Manoj Sinha had said. Director, Meteorological department, Sonum Lotus said no major rain occurred during the night across Jammu and Kashmir. Right now weather is generally cloudy at most places and is likely to become partly cloudy towards afternoon. Occasional light rain possible at some places during the day, he said. -- PTI

LS Speaker Om Birla

11:53 LS adjourned, Speaker 'deeply hurt' by opposition

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday adjourned the House proceedings till 11:30 am amid protests, and also expressed displeasure over unruly behaviour by some opposition members on Wednesday.

As the House convened for the day, the Speaker said he was "very hurt" over Wednesday's incident. On Wednesday, when papers were being laid in the House, Congress members Gurjeet Aujala, TN Prathapan, Hibi Eden and some others threw business papers of the day as well as torn pieces of paper and placards at the Chair.

A piece of the torn placard landed in the press gallery just above the Speaker's podium. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said the opposition has not been able to put forth it point due to the stubborn attitude of the government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the members who resorted to tearing papers don't even want to apologise. As the protest continued, Speaker Birla adjourned the proceedings.

11:35 Pegasus row: RS adjourned till noon

Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Thursday adjourned till 12 noon as opposition members created uproar over Pegasus and various other issues. Soon after the listed papers were laid on the table of the House, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has not accepted the notices given by various opposition party members for suspension of the business to allow discussion on their issues. This was protested by Congress MPs and several of them were on their feet.

In the meantime, TMC members trooped into the Well of the House and were later joined by Congress MPs. Naidu asked the protesting members to return to their seats, but they did not yield. The Chairman then adjourned the proceedings till 12 noon. PTI

More than 2.88 crore balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states, UTs and private hospitals to be administered, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday. Over 47.48 crore vaccine doses have been provided to states and UTs so far through all sources and a further 53,05,260 doses are in the pipeline.

Of this, the total consumption including wastage is 44,74,97,240 doses, the ministry said More than 2.88 crore balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states, UTs and private hospitals to be administered. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from June 21. -- PTI

Amid the continued resurgence of COVID-19 infections in the country, Pakistan Railways decided to stop salaries of employees who refused to inoculate themselves against the virus by August 31.A notification was issued by the country's Railways Ministry in this regard, ARY News reported.

Pakistan Railways has also issued directives to all divisional headquarters regarding vaccination of all employees by the August deadline. "The ministry will stop salaries of employees who refused to inoculate themselves against COVID-19 by August 31," the notification read.

These directives come as Pakistan has reported the highest single-day spike of COVID-19 cases in the last two months.

The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) on Thursday informed 4,497 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours. Pakistan had last recorded more than 4,000 cases in a single day on May 21. -- ANI

After suspending the proposed clinical trials of Bharat Bioetch's COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin and a request for Emergency Use Authorisation, Brazil now has suspended its decision to import four million doses of the jab into that country.

According to a statement issued by the National Health Surveillance Agency of Brazil, Anvisa its Collegiate Board on Tuesday took a decision to suspend the exceptional and temporary authorisation for import and distribution of Covaxin after Bharat Biotech informed the South America government about the termination of its pact with its Brazilian partners.

"The Collegiate Board of Anvisaunanimously decided, on Tuesday (27/7), to provisionally suspend the exceptional and temporary authorisation for import and distribution of the vaccine against Covid-19-Covaxin, requested by the Ministry of Health," Anvisa said in statement posted on its website. Bharat Biotech on July 23 said it terminated the MoU it entered with Precisa Medicamentos and Envixia Pharmaceuticals LLC for its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin for Brazilian market.

The termination of the MoU came after the deal with the Brazilian government for supply of 20 million doses of Covaxin landed in controversy and attracted investigation by authorities in that country.

"The measure prevails until there is new information that allows us to conclude that the legal and technical security of maintaining the decision that authorised the importation is maintained," Anvisa further said in a roughly translated version of Portuguese of the statement. -- PTI

On the occasion of International Tiger Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India has achieved the target of doubling of tiger population four years ahead of schedule of the Saint Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation.In a series of tweets, PM Modi extended his greeting to the wildlife lovers, especially those who are passionate about tiger conservation on the occasion of International Tiger Day.

"On #InternationalTigerDay, greetings to wildlife lovers, especially those who are passionate about tiger conservation. Home to over 70 per cent of the tiger population globally, we reiterate our commitment to ensuring safe habitats for our tigers and nurturing tiger-friendly eco-systems," said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister said that the last tiger census of 2018 showed a rise in the tiger population.

"India is home to 51 tiger reserves spread across 18 states. The last tiger census of 2018 showed a rise in the tiger population. India achieved the target of doubling of tiger population 4 years ahead of schedule of the St. Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation," he tweeted.

He further said that India's strategy of tiger conservation attaches topmost importance to involving local communities -- ANI

10:42 Cong MP rides a bike to Parliament

Congress MP Ripun Bora rides a bicycle to the Parliament to protest against the rise in fuel prices. "We have been demanding a discussion in the Parliament on the hike in prices of all essential commodities. Being an MP, if we are not allowed a discussion in the Parliament, then, where will we raise such issues," Bora says.

Update: India logged 43,509 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,15,28,114, while the active cases registered an increase for the second consecutive day, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The death toll climbed to 4,22,662 with 640 fresh fatalities.

The active cases have increased to 4,03,840 and comprise 1.28 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.38 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed. An increase of 4,404 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 2.38 per cent, according to the ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,07,01,612, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.34 per cent, the data stated. Cumulative vaccine doses administered so far has reached 45.07 crore under the nationwide vaccination drive.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23. PTI

LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on what's ahead in Parliament today: "We only want discussion on Pegasus issue. For that, PM Modi and Home Minister's presence is necessary. This (snooping) is treason. If they let us discuss the issue, the House will function properly. We've also called an all-party meet today," Kharge said.

Since the Monsoon session began, Opposition leaders have been targeting the Centre over reports that Pegasus spyware was used to hack the phones of several prominent journalists and politicians in India. The Centre has consistently dismissed the issue.

A consortium of 17 global media outlets had published reports stating that Pegasus, a spyware developed by Israeli firm NSO, was used to hack into the phones of thousands of people across the world. The list of potential targets includes the names of around 300 Indians, including Opposition leaders, journalists and government officials. The Israeli firm behind Pegasus has always maintained that the software is only sold to governments and not to private players.

09:43 Delta variant spreads to 132 countries: WHO

The global number of new COVID-19 cases reported last week (19-25 July) was over 3.8 million, an 8 per cent increase as compared to the previous week, the UN health agency reported.

The latest data from the World Health Organization showed a "substantial" uptick in the Americas and the Western Pacific, which jumped 30 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively. An average of around 540 000 cases was reported globally each day over the past week as compared to 490 000 cases reported daily the week before.

The number of deaths reported this week increased sharply with over 69 000 deaths, a 21 per cent increase when compared to the previous week. The cumulative number of cases and deaths reported globally is almost 194 million and over 4 million respectively.

WHO said that over the seven days, the highest number of new cases was reported in the United States, which saw more than half a million new infections, representing a skyrocketing 131 per cent increase.

According to WHO's data, this rise was followed by Brazil - 324,334 new cases; Indonesia - 289,029 new cases; the United Kingdom - 282,920 new cases; and India - 265,836 new cases.

Of the four COVID-19 mutations that WHO has designated "variants of concern", the UN agency said that the Alpha variant is present in 182 countries, Beta is in 131, Gamma in 81 and after reaching eight new countries in the past week, the Delta variant is now in 132 countries.

-- ANI

09:32 India clocks 43,509 fresh Covid-19 cases

In the past 24 hours, India reported 43,509 cases, as per the health ministry.

In the same time span, the nation also recorded 38,465 recoveries.

According to the health ministry, the active caseload currently is at 4,03,840, while the recovery rate at 97.38 per cent.

A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Central government of 'tarnishing the soul' of India's democracy by using Pegasus spyware, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hit back at the Wayanad MP questioning whether why would someone spy on a person like him who is unable to "run the Congress party?"

Terming the Pegasus controversy a 'doctored motive', Patra alleged that the Opposition is giving more importance to it rather than COVID and accused it of "playing with the lives of people". Stating that the Congress boycotts all those meetings on important issues called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP spokesperson also accused the Congress of suppressing people's voices.

Patra said, "PM Modi calls for meetings on important issues, but Congress boycotts them. You (Rahul Gandhi) are saying that a doctored motive (Pegasus) is important for us, not COVID. You are playing with the lives of people. You are suppressing the voices of people."

"If his phone has a weapon, yet he doesn't file a complaint and only does press conferences. Why would anyone spy on Rahul Gandhi? He is unable to run the Congress party. What will be gained after spying on him? Rahul ji, you should get your phone checked," said Patra.

The BJP leader further attacked the Opposition by stating that its main motive is not to make efforts to bring back the country's 'golden age' back but to settle their families and children, unlike PM Modi whose main aim is to set India on the path of development.

-- ANI

Maharashtra may soon allow people who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease to travel on its local trains unrestricted. State cabinet minister Aslam Shaik said on Wednesday that a decision can be taken in two or three days.

"As a minister, I am also of the view that person whose two doses are completed should be allowed to travel in Mumbai local, we have also informed chief minister about this. After studying the report by the task force, a decision on Mumbai local will be taken in next two to three days," Shaikh, who is the guardian minister of Mumbai, said while speaking to mediapersons.

He added that a detailed discussion took place in one of the cabinet meetings recently about allowing fully vaccinated people to travel in suburban trains and BrihanMumbai Electric Supply and Transport buses.

The Maharashtra government started easing the Covid-19 curbs in the state as cases of the disease showed a decline. But, in view of the second wave of Covid-19 and delta plus variant spreading fast, some of the curbs were brought back. The state imposed stricter norms by reducing the five-level relaxation plan to three after cases of delta plus variants were found last month.

08:06 Kerala has least Covid antibodies: Serosurvey

At least two-third of the population surveyed in 11 states were found to have developed coronavirus antibodies, according to the findings of a serosurvey by the Indian Council of Medical Research done between June 14 and July 6.

Madhya Pradesh leads the chart with 79 per cent seroprevalence, while Kerala is at the bottom with 44.4 per cent. Seroprevalence in Assam is 50.3 per cent and Maharashtra 58 per cent.

The findings of the fourth round of national serosurvey conducted by the ICMR across 70 districts of India was shared by the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday. Seroprevalence was found to be 76.2 per cent among the surveyed population in Rajasthan, 75.9 per cent in Bihar, 75.3 per cent in Gujarat, 74.6 per cent in Chhattisgarh, 73.1 per cent in Uttarakhand, 71 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, 70.2 per cent in Andhra Pradesh, 69.8 per cent in Karnataka, 69.2 in Tamil Nadu and 68.1 per cent in Odisha.

Referring to the findings, the health ministry has advised states and union territories to conduct seroprevalence studies of their own in consultation with the ICMR to ensure that those studies follow a standardized protocol.

The findings of such serosurveys can then be utilised quickly by the states to guide objective, transparent and evidence-based public health response to COVID-19. The national sero-survey by ICMR was designed to capture the extent of the spread of Covid infection at the national level. Therefore, the national serosurvey results do not reflect the heterogeneity of seroprevalence between districts and even between states," a statement said.

00:10 Behaviour of Oppn not good for democracy: Govt

The government on Wednesday said it is ready to discuss any issue in Parliament but the Opposition is behaving in a manner that is not good for democracy.

It also alleged that the way the opposition parties are putting all their might to create havoc in Parliament, it is becoming clear that they are not interested in issues concerning the common man.

Union minister Anurag Thakur lamented that even after writing to the prime minister for a discussion in Parliament on the COVID-19 situation in the country, some opposition leaders, including those of the Congress, did not attend the presentation on the pandemic.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the manner in which the opposition parties are putting their might in creating havoc in Parliament, it is clear that they are not interested in issues concerning the public.

"The government is ready for a discussion, but if opposition members tear a minister's statement after snatching it from his hands and throw papers at the minister while he is replying and also throw those at the speaker, then such scenes are not good for India's democracy," Thakur said at the cabinet briefing.

"Parliament is there to discuss, the government is ready for a discussion and the prime minister has also said so. Representatives of all parties attend the business advisory committee meetings and all issues are discussed there," he said.

The Union minister for information and broadcasting said the government can only urge the Opposition to participate in discussions and raise issues concerning the public in Parliament.

He wondered that if the Opposition is not even interested in participating in a discussion on COVID-19 in Parliament, then where would it raise such public issues.

"There is a way to protest, but the Opposition has damaged the dignity and decorum of the temple of our democracy," Thakur said.

Sitharaman said the government will bring a bill for providing time-bound relief and insurance to bank depositors, but the Opposition does not seem interested in such public issues.

"If Parliament is run in this manner, then it is becoming clear that the Opposition is not interested in issues of providing relief to the common public. They are using all their might to create havoc in Parliament.

"The Opposition is not interested in all this.... Instead, they are using big banners and attempting to cover the speaker's face with those. They are not concerned about all this. I have to sadly say this," the finance minister said.

The proceedings of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have been repeatedly disrupted due to an Opposition uproar over the Pegasus snooping row, farmers' agitation and other issues ever since the Monsoon Session of Parliament started on July 19. -- PTI

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