Authorities in the Chinese capital are ramping up measures like testing and restricting hotel bookings as the total number of coronavirus cases climbed to nine on Saturday, while other parts of the country reported 38 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, according to the National Health Commission.

 

Five persons who tested positive in Beijing had travelled to Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Shanxi Province from Oct. 12 to Oct. 15, and returned to Beijing on Oct. 16.

 

Another person was a close contact, according to the municipal health commission.

 

This is in addition to the 32 cases reported nationwide on Friday.

 

The spike has prompted health officials in Beijing and other provinces to step up with measures like testing, isolation of communities, cancelling hotel bookings, and the use of sanitisers and masks.

 

The current spike in cases has been attributed to an elderly couple from Shanghai who flew to several cities including the tourist city of Xian, and tested positive for COVID-19, sending officials on a leather hunt to trace scores of people who came in contact with them.

 

Within three days of an announcement that the couple had tested positive in Xian on Saturday, hundreds of close contacts of the couple and their five travel companions, who later tested positive, had been identified.

 

During this period, several cities had rolled out mass testing, a land port stopped operating and popular locations visited by the group were closed for disinfection, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

 

Such cases causing periodic outbreaks presents considerable logistical and economic challenges to China despite administering vaccines to three quarters of its population.

 

On Saturday, China said more than 2.243 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in the country so far. -- PTI

Former governor and Bharatiya Janata Party national vice president Baby Rani Maurya has advised women not to visit police stations after dark.

 

Addressing women during a programme organised in Valmiki Basti of Bajardiha area in Varanasi on Friday, Maurya said women should take a male family member along when visiting a police station.

"There are female officers present in police stations, but I would say that women should never go to a police station after 5 pm when it is dark. If necessary, take your brother, father or husband to the police station the next morning," Maurya said.

The former Uttarakhand governor also claimed that under the BJP government, a lot of work has been done for women and the system has changed.

Meanwhile, BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali targeted the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh government over Maurya's statement.

Sharing a video of Maurya's statement on Twitter, he said, "Police stations have become so unsafe for women under (chief minister) Yogi Adityanath that former governor and BJP vice president Baby Rani Maurya is warning women to not visit police stations after 5 pm as it is not safe." -- PTI

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said that there is "omnipresent danger" to the stability of South Asia due to China's ambitions for power at the global level.

 

China is making "huge" inroads in South Asia and in the Indian Ocean region to cement its position as an emerging global power, he said delivering the first Ravi Kant Singh Memorial Lecture in Guwahati.

That country's dealings with Myanmar and Pakistan and its foray into Bangladesh are also not in India's interests, Gen Rawat said.

"Myanmar and Pakistan are the largest recipients of military hardware from China. They receive support in global fora from China," he said.

On Indo-Pak relations, Rawat said Pakistan's state-sponsored terrorism as well as by non-state actors is a stumbling block in the peace process between India and Pakistan.

"China's partnership with Pakistan and its stand on Jammu and Kashmir can be best described as an anti-India nexus," he added. -- PTI 

Anyone wishing to take up the primary membership of the Congress will have to make a declaration of abstention from alcohol and drugs and give an undertaking to never criticise the party's policies and programmes in public forums.

   

According to the grand old party's membership form, new members have to give a declaration that they will not own any property in excess of the ceiling laws and not hesitate to undertake "physical labour and work" to further the party's policies and programmes.

 

The membership form readied by the Congress ahead of the launch of a membership drive lists 10 points for personal declaration by those wanting to become its members.

 

The membership drive will begin on November 1 and continue till March 31 next year before organisational elections. The election of the new Congress president will be held between August 21 and September 20 next year, according to the schedule approved by the Congress Working Committee, the highest decision-making body of the party.

 

All new members will also have to give an undertaking that they do not indulge in any form of social discrimination and will work towards removing it in society.

 

"I am a habitual weaver of authentic Khadi; I stay away from alcoholic drinks and intoxicant drugs; I don't practise social discrimination or inequality and believe in working towards removing such distortions in society; and I am willing to commit myself to execute the works assigned to me by the working committee including any form of physical labour" are among the undertakings a new Congress member must make.

 

As part of the membership form, the Congress has said that its objective is the welfare and progress of all Indians and the party has the objective to establish a socialist state through peaceful and constitutional means, which is based on parliamentary democracy.

 

The Congress also seeks to establish a regime where there is equality in opportunities and economic, political and social rights and aims to bring world peace and universal brotherhood in society, as per the new membership form. -- PTI 

Senior Congress leader from Madhya Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh, on Saturday alleged Aryan Khan, arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau in connection with a drugs case in Mumbai, is being victimised because he is the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.   

          

Taking a swipe, the Bharatiya Janata Party said Singh was playing the politics of "appeasement". 

        

Aryan Khan (23) was arrested by the NCB on October 3 following a raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.

Currently in jail, Aryan on Wednesday moved the Bombay high court after a special court rejected his bail application. 

The HC will hear his bail plea on October 26.

        

"It is sad Shah Rukh's son is being victimised for being his son. What is his crime? Someone accompanying him had 5 grams of drugs with him!! What about Tonnes of Heroin seized at Mundra Port? Who is Kuldeep Singh? Would NCB and now NIA investigating this case please tell us?," Digvijaya Singh said in a tweet in English on Saturday morning.

        

Nearly 3,000 kg of heroin was seized from two containers at the Mundra Port in Gujarat by the DRI last month. The drug haul is considered to be one of the biggest in the world with the value of the seized heroin estimated to be Rs 21,000 crore in the international markets. 

        

Hitting back at Digvijaya, the Madhya Pradesh BJP said the Congress leader has delivered a verdict without waiting for the court.

        

"Finally, Digvijay Singh came to the rescue of Aryan Khan. The matter is right now sub-judice, the investigating agency is checking the facts but he (Singh) has given his verdict! After all, for how long will you continue to mislead people by doing politics of appeasement?" the BJP asked. -- PTI

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and his mother Kunda Thackeray tested positive for coronavirus infection on Saturday, a civic official said in Mumbai.

          

Both have mild symptoms, said the official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, adding that they were asked to isolate at their residence in Dadar area.  

        

A senior aide of Thackeray confirmed that he has the infection.

        

Thackeray (53) had recently been visiting Nashik, Pune and Thane and also meeting party leaders in Mumbai ahead of the next year's civic elections. -- PTI 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Indian COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers on Saturday, within two days of the country achieving a key milestone of administering 100 crore doses of the jabs, official sources said.

   

During the meeting, Modi discussed various issues including furthering the vaccine research, sources said.

 

Representatives from seven vaccine makers -- Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Zydus Cadila, Biological E, Gennova Biopharma and Panacea Biotech --  participated in the meeting.  

 

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Union Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar were also present in the meeting.  

 

The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has exceeded 101.30 crore, according to the latest health ministry data.

 

On October 21, India achieved a major milestone in its vaccination programme against COVID-19 as the cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 100-crore mark, resulting in celebratory events across various parts.  

 

More than 75 per cent of India's adult population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, with nine states and union territories administering the first dose to all eligible people. -- PTI

Tamil drama Koozhangal ("Pebbles"), directed by filmmaker Vinothraj PS, has been selected as India's official entry for the 94th Academy Awards. 

 

The movie follows an alcoholic abusive husband who, after his long-suffering wife runs off, sets out with his young son to find her and bring her back.

Koozhangal stars a host of newcomers and is produced by Vignesh Shivan and Nayanthara.

Shivan shared the news of the film's selection on Twitter. 

"There's a chance to hear this! And the Oscars goes to... Two steps away from a dream come true moment in our lives... #Pebbles #Nayanthara @PsVinothraj @thisisysr @AmudhavanKar @Rowdy_Pictures Can't be prouder , happier & content," he posted on the microblogging sire. 

Vinothraj said he was grateful for all the love and support. 

"Could not be more happier to receive this news," he tweeted. 

Koozhangal had won the top honour, the Tiger Award for best film, at the 50th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), earlier this year. 

The 94th Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on March 27, 2022 in Los Angeles. -- PTI 

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Varun Gandhi on Saturday shared a video clip purportedly showing a man setting fire to a heap of paddy crop after his vain efforts to sell it, and sought a rethink of the agriculture policy. 

"It is a failure of all in the nation if we cannot protect those who feed us," he said. 

Gandhi shared the video of the man on Twitter. 

"Samodh Singh, a farmer of Uttar Pradesh, had been running around mandis for the last 15 days to sell his paddy crop. When paddy did not sell, he in frustration put fire to it himself. Where has this system brought the farmers? The need of the hour is to rethink our agriculture policy," he said. 

"There is no greater punishment that a farmer can inflict upon himself than setting fire to his own crops. We must all introspect as to why the system has pushed them to the edge for no fault of their own. It is a failure of all in the nation if we cannot protect those who feed us," Gandhi added.

Without making a direct attack, the BJP leader has been critical of the government's handling of agri issues of late and has also sympathised with the farmers protesting against the three farm laws. -- PTI

Aam Aadmi Party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will visit Ayodhya in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh next week to offer prayers at the birthplace of Lord Ram, official sources said on Saturday.

   

A grand temple is coming up at the site which is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. Currently, a makeshift structure exists enclosing Lord Ram's idol. 

 

Kejriwal will offer prayers at Ramlala temple on October 26, they said.

 

The Aam Aadmi Party has announced that it will contest the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh early next year. -- PTI 

Bangladesh's security agencies on Saturday arrested a man in his 30s, who is believed to be the second key suspect behind the recent slew of violence against Hindus and mob attacks on temples in Bangladesh during the Durga Puja festivities, police officials said.

 

Shaikat Mandal, one of the masterminds behind the October 17 mayhem in Pirganj sub-district of northwestern Rangpur, and his accomplice was arrested from Gazipur, on the outskirts of Dhaka on Saturday, Elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion officials said.

 

Mandal had gone live on Facebook, which incited people and triggered a wave of violence, a RAB official said.

 

At least 70 houses and shops of the Hindus were torched in attacks at Pirganj following Mandal's Facebook post on October 17.

 

His arrest comes a day after police had nabbed Iqbal Hossain, 35, the key suspect from Cox Bazar area, and the man who had allegedly placed the Quran at a Durga Puja venue in Cumilla.

 

Hossain is currently placed under a seven-day police remand as other security and intelligence agencies would join to interrogate him.

 

So far, police have arrested nearly 600 people from various parts of the country for inciting violence against the Hindus during the Durga Puja festivities.  

 

In a related development, Mohammad Fayez, who was charged under Bangladesh's Digital Security Act for inciting people via social media was sent to jail on Friday evening, the Daily Star newspaper reported. -- PTI

Singapore on Saturday announced the removal of India and five other South Asian countries from its travel restriction list as the island-state continues to adjust border measures in response to the global Covid-19 situation.

 

All travellers with a 14-day travel history to Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore from Wednesday, the health ministry said.

 

However, travellers from these countries will be subjected to the tightest of border measures, which involve a 10-day, stay-home notice period at a dedicated facility, it said.

 

The ministry said in a release that it has reviewed the Covid-19 situation in the six South Asian countries it was previously closed off to.

 

Addressing a virtual press conference, health minister Ong Ye Kung said the situation in these countries has stabilised for some time.

 

"There is no longer a need for strict rules that prevent travellers from these countries from landing here," the Straits Times quoted Ong as saying.

 

The health ministry said changes that come into effect on Wednesday include the loosening of measures for travellers from Singapore's closest neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia.

 

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 165,663 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. The disease has claimed 294 lives so far in the country. -- PTI 

Three more arrests were made on Saturday in connection with the Tikonia violence in Lakhimpur Kheri which had left eight people, including four farmers, dead during a protest by farmers on October 3, officials said Saturday.

 

This takes to 13 the total number of arrests made so far, also including Union minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish, in connection with the violence. 

 

A senior police officer identified those arrested Saturday as Mohit Trivedi of Singahi town, Ranku Rana of Barsola Kalan and Dharmendra of Chimma Tanda both under Tikonia kotwali limits.

The arrests were made after their names emerged during the interrogation of other accused in police custody, the officer added.

All the three accused would be produced in the court later in the day and the investigators would request for their 14 days police remand for further interrogation,he said.

Ashish was arrested on October 9 and is presently in police custody.

The nine other arrested accused include Bharatiya Janata Party ward member Sumit Jaiswal, Ankit Das, Latif alias Kale, Shekhar Bharti, Shishu Pal, Satya Prakash Tripathi alias Satyam, Nandan Singh Bisht, Ashish Pandey and Lavkush Rana. 

Barring Ashish Pandey and Lavkush Rana, all other seven are in police custody for interrogation. -- PTI

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday flagged off her party's "Pratigya Yatras" from UP's Barabanki and promised complete loan waiver for farmers if voted to power in the state in the next year's assembly polls.  

   

The yatras will take three different routes -- Barabanki to Bundelkhand, Saharanpur to Mathura and Varanasi to Rae Bareli -- from October 23 to November 1 with the slogan, "Hum Vachan Nibhayenge".  

 

The Congress leader, who had earlier announced to give 40 per cent tickets to women in the elections besides smartphones to Class 12 pass girls and an e-scooty to graduate girls, also unveiled other resolutions of the party.  

 

These included complete loan waiver for farmers, Rs 2, 500 MSP for wheat, government jobs to 20 lakh people, Rs 25,000 to families to help them overcome their financial losses during the coronavirus crisis and halving of electricity bills.  

 

Speaking on the occasion, Priyanka said a separate manifesto will be brought for the women in a week's time. -- PTI

Veteran actor-dancer Minoo Mumtaz, the sister of celebrated comedian-filmmaker Mehmood, has died in Toronto, Canada.

 

Minoo Mumtaz, who was in her 80s, passed away on Friday night at a hospital following various health issues.  

Her younger brother Anwar Ali's wife Mona Mathur Ali said Minoo Mumtaz was recently diagnosed with cancer.

"She was diagnosed with cancer a few days ago but that may not have been the reason for her demise, there were other health issues. She was in her cheerful best. We spoke to her ten days ago on video call, she looked lovely, groomed and beaming self," Mathur Ali told PTI.

She said Minoo Mumtaz would meet her contemporaries, like veteran actor Saira Banu, whenever she would visit India. 

Born to father Mumtaz Ali, a dancer and character artiste in films in the 1940s, and mother Latifunissa Begum, Minoo Mumtaz was one of the four daughters and four sons.  

The actor, whose real name was Malikunnisa, started off as a dancer and featured in many films during the 1950s and 1960s. 

She made her acting debut with Sakhi Hateem and appeared in a popular song Jab raat hai aisi matwali' from Mughal-E-Azam, another hit song Reshmi salwar kurta jali ka' from Naya Daur, Sakhiya aaj mujhe neend nahin' from Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam', Boojh mera kya maam re' from CID, among others.

Some of her other notable works include films like Kaagaz Ke Phool, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Taj Mahal, Ghoonghat, "Insan Jaag Utha", "Gazal", Aladin" and Dharmaputra.

Minoo Mumtaz is survived by husband S Ali Akbar, a son and three daughters. -- PTI 

Judicial infrastructure is important for improving access to justice, but it is baffling to note that its improvement and maintenance was being carried out in an ad-hoc and unplanned manner in the country, Chief Justice of India N V Ramana said on Saturday as he shared the stage with Law Minister Kiren Rijiju.

          

Noting that an effective judiciary can help in the growth of the economy, the CJI said courts are extremely essential for any society that is governed by rule of law. 

        

CJI Ramana was speaking at the inauguration of two wings of the annexe building at the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court.

        

The CJI said today's success should not blind us to the issues that exist.

        

"We are faced with certain hard facts like several courts do not have proper facilities. Some courts function out of dilapidated buildings. Judicial infrastructure is important for improving access to justice," he said.

        

"It is baffling to note that the improvement and maintenance of judicial infrastructure is still being carried out in an ad-hoc and unplanned manner," CJI Ramana added.

        

He further said that the building that was inaugurated at Aurangabad on Saturday was envisioned in 2011.

        

"That it has taken 10 years for this vision to be implemented is extremely worrisome. This is a deeper problem that has plugged our judicial infrastructure planning in our country since the Independence," the CJI said.

        

"An effective judiciary can aid in the effective growth of the economy," he said.

        

The CJI said he has sent a proposal for the establishment of the National Judicial Infrastructural Authority to the Union Minister of Law and Justice, and added that he was hoping for a positive response and the issue is taken up during the upcoming winter session of the Parliament.

        

CJI Ramana said many ideas of social revolution that have resulted in the freedom and liberty that we all take for granted today have been born out of this fertile and progressive land.

        

"Be it the extraordinary Savitri Phule or the pioneering feminist Jyotirao Phule or the legendary Dr Bhimrao Babasaheb Ambedkar. They always aspired for an egalitarian society where every individual's right to dignity is honoured. Together they have set in motion an irreversible social change which has finally evolved in our Constitution," CJI Ramana said.

        

He added that it is a common notion that only criminals and victims approach court and people take pride in stating that they have never visited or seen a court building in their lifetime.

        

"But it is high time we take the efforts to remove this taboo for the affirmation of a citizen's rights. The common man deals with multiple legal issues during his lifetime. One must never hesitate to approach the courts. After all, people's faith in the judiciary is one the biggest strength of democracy," the CJI said.

        

He added that courts are extremely essential for any society that is governed by rule of law as they actively assure the constitutional right to justice. Courts in India have always stood up whenever an individual or society is at the receiving end of executive excess, he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday reviewed the security situation and steps taken to combat terrorism in Kashmir Valley in the wake of a spate of attacks on civilians, particularly non-local labourers and minorities.

   

Shah reviewed the security scenario at a meeting held at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar and attended by top civil administration officials, including Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and senior security officials from the Army, CRPF, police and other agencies, officials said.

 

The home minister was briefed about the steps taken to eliminate terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and counter-infiltration measures taken by the forces, the officials said.

 

Shah's visit to Kashmir comes in the backdrop of 11 civilian killings in the valley in October alone. 

Five of those killed were labourers from Bihar, while three, including two teachers, belonged to minority communities in Kashmir.

 Muslim man who took a Hindu identity and married a woman from that faith has been arrested in central Assam's Hojai district based on the complaint of his wife, said a police officer. 

          

The woman with the help of District Legal Services Authority of Hojai lodged a written complaint before Hojai Superintendent of Police against her husband, Lumding Police Station Officer-in-Charge S K Sarma told reporters on Friday.

        

As per the complaint of the woman, hailing from upper Assam's Dhemaji district,  she came in contact with the man as both used to work in Tamil Nadu.

        

She claimed that the man, who hails from Nakhuti's 2 Sarke Basti area under Lumding police station in Hojai district hide his religious identity and introduced himself as a Hindu and married her and then started torturing her both mentally and physically.

          

After some months, her husband allegedly looted a large amount of money from her and fled from Tamil Nadu to Assam's Nakhuti area, she claimed.

        

As her husband did not contacted her, the woman visited Hojai's Doboka area where she learnt about the real religious identity and other details of her husband. 

        

Hojai Superintendent of Police Barun Purkayastha on receiving the complaint sent a team from Lumding Police station to apprehend the accused  from his village on Wednesday night.

        

A case was registered at Lumding Police Station and the accused was arrested the same night and produced at a local court in Hojai on Thursday. -- PTI

Uttar Pradesh government has decided to rename Faizabad railway junction as Ayodhya Cantt, informed Chief Minister's office on Saturday.

"Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken the decision to rename Faizabad railway junction as Ayodhya Cantt," CMO tweeted. 

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's manager Pooja Dadlani visited the Narcotics Control Bureau office in Mumbai on Saturday morning, sources said.

                   

Dadlani arrived at the anti-drug agency's office at Ballard Estate in south Mumbai around 10 am, carrying an envelope in her hand, they said.

        

While stepping out of the office over an hour later, the media persons waiting outside tried to seek her comment, but she left the place without speaking to them.

        

Aryan Khan (23), son of Shah Rukh Khan, was arrested by the NCB on October 3 following a raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.

        

On Thursday, an NCB team had visited the actor's residence 'Mannat' in suburban Bandra seeking some documents related to the investigation of the alleged drug seizure case. 

        

On Friday evening, the Shah Rukh Khan's bodyguard had visited the NCB office and handed over some documents in a sealed envelope on the actor's behalf. -- PTI 

Superstar Akshay Kumar on Saturday announced that he has started filming for the sequel of his 2012 blockbuster movie OMG: Oh My God!. 

 

Filmmaker Amit Rai, known for the 2010 critically-acclaimed movie Road To Sangam, is on board to write and direct the movie. 

"Need your blessings and wishes for #OMG2, our honest and humble attempt to reflect on an important social issue. May the eternal energy of Adiyogi bless us through this journey," Kumar posted on Twitter alongside two posters of the film. 

According to a source close to the film's production, the actor is shooting for the movie in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. 

The film also features actors Pankaj Tripathi and Yami Gautam. 

Kumar's Prithviraj director Chandraprakash Dwivedi  is attached with the project as creative producer, while Amalendu Chaudhary is on board as cinematographer. 

Oh My God 2 is being produced by Cape of Good Films, Vipul D Shah, Rajesh Bahl and Ashwin Varde.

Oh My God was helmed by Umesh Shukla and featured Paresh Rawal in the lead role opposite Kumar. -- PTI  

The traffic on the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway and the Mughal Road was suspended on Saturday as heavy rains lashed several parts of Jammu with higher reaches experiencing first moderate snowfall, officials said. 

 

The Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was blocked by a massive landslide triggered by heavy rains at Cafeteria Morh near Ramban town, forcing suspension of traffic, Senior Superintendent of Police (national highway) Shabir Malik said. 

He said falling of stones from hillock overlooking the highway were also reported from several places between the Ramban-Banihal sector, including Kela Morh and Moumpassi. 

"The incessant rains are hampering the restoration work on the highway�It will take at least five hours to clear the landslide in Cafeteria Morh area after the rain stops," Malik said, adding that the concerned agencies have kept their men and machines ready to carry out the road clearance operation. 

Officials said the traffic on the Mughal Road, an alternate link connecting the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in the Jammu Region with south Kashmir's Shopian district, was also suspended due to moderate snowfall at Peer Ki Gali and adjoining areas overnight. 

Besides Peer Ki Gali along the Mughal Road, reports of first moderate snowfall were also received from higher reaches of Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri and Reasi districts, the officials said. 

A weather office spokesperson said moderate rainfall over plains and light to moderate snow was observed over middle and upper reaches during the last 12 hours. -- PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday arrived in Srinagar on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, his first since the revocation of Article 370, during which he will review the security situation in the valley.

   

Shah was received at the Srinagar airport by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha where other senior officials of the Jammu and Kashmir administration were also present, officials said.

 

The Home Minister is scheduled to chair a high-level security review meeting later in the day and also flag off the inaugural Srinagar-Sharjah flight.

 

He is also likely to interact with members of a youth club here.

 

This is Shah's first visit to Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir state into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.

 

Security was beefed up across Kashmir ahead of Shah's visit to the valley. Additional deployment of security forces has been made across the valley, the officials said. -- PTI

The coronavirus pandemic, which has affected the lives of people at different levels, has also caused a drop in the life expectancy of the country by almost two years, a statistical analysis by scientists of the Mumbai-based International Institute for Population Studies has revealed.  

          

The analytical report, which points out the drop in life expectancy at birth in both men and women due to the pandemic, has been published in a journal 'BMC Public Health' recently. IIPS professor Suryakant Yadav has authored the report.

        

"The life expectancy at birth in 2019 was 69.5 years for men and 72 years for women, which came down to 67.5 years and 69.8 years, respectively, in 2020," the report said.

        

The life expectancy at birth is calculated on the basis of the average number of years a newborn is expected to live if mortality patterns at the time of the birth of the infant remain constant in future. 

        

The study undertaken by professor Yadav also included a factor termed 'length of life inequality' and found that COVID-19 has claimed maximum lives of men in the age group of 39-69. 

        

"The 35-79 age group had excess deaths caused by COVID-19 in 2020 as compared to normal years and it is this group that has contributed immensely to the drop," Yadav said.

        

This study was conducted to look at the burden repercussions of the COVID-19 on mortality patterns in the country. 

        

IIPS director Dr K S James said, "Every time we are affected with some epidemic, the life expectancy at birth figures dwindle. For instance, after the HIV-AIDS epidemic in African nations, the expectancy had dropped. Once it was brought under control, the life expectancy recouped as well." -- PTI  

Police have registered a first information report (FIR) in connection with the fire in a 61-storey residential building in Currey Road area of central Mumbai, which resulted in the death of a security guard as he fell from its 19th floor, an official said on Saturday.

'A case has been registered against the owner of the building, its occupant, the fire safety maintenance contractor and others under Indian Penal Code sections 336 (rash or negligent act that endangers human life or personal safety of others), 304 (A) (causing death by negligence) and under sections of the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act at Kalachowki police station here,' the police official said.

The blaze had erupted on the 19th floor of the One Avighna Park building around 11.45 am on Friday.

The fire brigade had categorised it as Level-4 (major) fire.

Arun Tiwari, a 30-year-old security guard of the building, had got trapped in a flat on that floor and in order to save himself, he held on to the railing of the flat's balcony for some time before falling to death.

The fire brigade personnel had rescued 16 stranded persons.

'Initially a case of accidental death was registered,' the official said.

Police are probing the incident, he added.   -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet seven Indian COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers on Saturday, a meeting that comes in the wake of the country achieving the landmark of administering 100 crore doses of the jabs, official sources said.

Representatives from seven vaccine makers -- Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Zydus Cadila, Biological E, Gennova Biopharma and Panacea Biotech -- will be participating in the meeting.

Modi is likely to emphasise on ways to vaccinate eligible people in India as quickly as possible and also help other countries in inoculating their population as part of the mantra 'vaccine for all', an official source said.

The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has exceeded 101.30 crore, according to the health ministry data updated at 7 am.

India on October 21 achieved a major milestone in its vaccination programme against COVID-19 as the cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 100-crore mark, resulting in celebratory events across various parts.

More than 75 per cent of India's adult population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, with nine states and union territories administering the first dose to all eligible people.

Over 31 per cent of the country's around 93 crore adults have been administered both the doses, according to health ministry officials.

So far, all adult population in nine states and union territories --  Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Dadra and Nagar Haveli  -- have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine.

Three vaccines -- Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Sputnik V -- are currently being used in the country's Covid vaccination drive.   -- PTI

The Uttar Pradesh government decided on Friday to transfer money directly to the bank accounts of the parents of the students studying in Classes 1 to 8 in government and government-aided primary schools for buying uniforms, shoes, socks, sweaters and school bags.

It also decided to provide 80 hectares of land to the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) in the state capital on a token lease rent of Re 1 per year.

The decisions were taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

'For uniforms, shoes, socks, sweaters and school bags, the parents of the students from Classes 1 to 8 studying in government primary and aided schools will be given money directly in their accounts. About Rs 1,800 crore will be spent on this,' according to an official release issued after the cabinet meeting.

Presently, the uniforms, shoes, school bags are provided to the students through the schools for free.

For carrying forward the scheme, the parents of 1.6 crore students will be provided a total amount of about Rs 1,800 crore through direct benefit transfer (DBT).

In another significant decision, the cabinet gave its not to giving 80 hectares of land on a token annual lease rent of Re 1 to the DRDO, which will be developing the Brahmos missile in Lucknow.

The land has been identified in Sarojini Nagar tehsil, the release said, adding that investments of over Rs 9,300 crore will be made by the DRDO in the next five to seven years.

It will give jobs to 500 engineers and indirect employment to 1,500 people, the release said.   -- PTI

Petrol and diesel prices were hiked for the fourth consecutive day across the country on Saturday.

With a hike of Rs 0.35, the petrol prices increased to Rs 107.24 per litre in the national capital while the price of diesel was raised by the same amount to Rs 95.97 per litre.

In Mumbai, petrol and diesel prices per litre stand at Rs 113.12 and Rs 104.00 respectively.

As for Kolkata and Chennai, petrol and diesel cost Rs 107.78 and Rs 99.08 respectively in Kolkata and Rs 104.22 and Rs 100.25 respectively in Chennai.

Rates have been increased across the country and differ from state to state depending on the incidence of value-added tax.

The rising fuel prices in the country are not going to come down immediately.

The central government is in talks with several oil-exporting countries on the issue of supply and demand of oils but there is no possibility of immediate relief in prices.

On Monday, a source told ANI that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas recently raised concerns about the matter of pricing, supply and demand of oils to the major oil-producing countries.

"As crude oil prices rise internationally, the petroleum ministry has called on the energy ministries of many countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Russia and others," the source told ANI.

A bodyguard of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan visited the office of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai on Friday evening and handed over some documents in a sealed envelop on the actor's behalf, sources said.

He did not speak to the reporters waiting outside the office and left.

The day before, an NCB team had visited the actor's residence 'Mannat' in suburban Bandra seeking some documents related to the investigation of the alleged drug seizure case in which Khan's son Aryan has been arrested. Aryan (23) was arrested by the NCB on October 3 following a raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.

His bail plea is now before the high court.   -- PTI

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has set fresh guidelines to regulate pilgrims at Vaishno Devi temple to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic which mandated valid and verifiable RT-PCR/Rapid Antigen Test not older than 72 hours of arrival at the Union Territory.

The order issued by the Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday further informed that only those pilgrims who do not show any COVID symptoms will be allowed to enter the shrine.

'Valid and verifiable RT-PCR/Rapid Antigen Test not older than 72 hours of arrival should be made mandatory. Only those pilgrims will be allowed to visit the shrine who do not show any COVID-19 related symptoms,' the order said.

'Strict adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour/SOP must be followed,' the order undersigned by the Chief Secretary of the UT said.

This comes after it was observed that there is an uneven trend in the COVID-19 cases in the UT and there is a need to continue with the existing COVID-19 containment measures in all districts. -- ANI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday will inaugurate the first direct international flight between Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates on the first day of his three-day visit to the union territory.

This is his first visit to the union territory since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

Shah will chair the security review meeting in Srinagar and will also hold interaction with members of Jammu and Kashmir's Youth Clubs on Saturday.

Ahead of Home Minister's visit to the union territory, several traffic restrictions have been imposed in Srinagar including those driving two-wheelers subjected to intensive security checks.In addition, a total of 50 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) teams have been deployed to Jammu and Kashmir for security purposes.Recently, after the killings of non-locals in Jammu and Kashmir around 700 people have been detained in the union territory, a few under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), police officials informed.Meanwhile, a total of 26 detainees are being shifted to the Central Jail of Agra from Jammu and Kashmir under the Public Safety Act 1978. The order has been issued ahead of Shah's three-day visit to the union territory beginning Saturday. (ANI)

Top officials of various security agencies participated in a high-level conference to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's maiden visit to the Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370 on Saturday.

The security review conference was chaired by General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 16 Corps Lt Gen M V Suchindra Kumar and was attended by senior police, paramilitary, army and other officers, including Additional Director General of Police Mukesh Singh, they said.

The meeting at Nagrota on the outskirts of Jammu city on Friday came in the backdrop of ongoing anti-terror operation in Poonch forests in which nine Army personnel have been killed, increasing use of drones by Pakistan to ferry weapons and explosives along the Line of Control, and attacks on security establishments in the region.

A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and four other security personnel laid down their lives in a fierce gunfight during the start of the counter-insurgency operation in Surankote forest of Poonch on October 11.

Four other soldiers, including a JCO, lost their lives in another encounter in Nar Khas forest in Mendhar on October 14th evening after the security forces extended the cordon and search operation.

Meanwhile, BSF's Additional Director General (ADG) of Western Command N S Jamwal on Friday reviewed the security situation at the International Border (IB).

Jamwal visited sensitive border areas of Samba and Kathua and reviewed the operational preparedness of field formations at border, PRO BSF, DIG S P S Sandhu said.

During his visit, he also interacted with BSF troops and appreciated the challenging operational duties being performed by them, Sandhu said.

He was briefed by IG BSF Jammu Frontier D K Boora and the operational commanders with their domination plans.

Jamwal instructed them to be alive to the recent situation and strengthen their border domination more vigorously.

His touring of other areas of Jammu, Arnia and Akhnoor will continue for next couple of days, DIG said.