LIVE! Kanpur's Zika patient stable, 22 test negative

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Tue, 26 October 2021

Kanpur's Zika patient stable, 22 test negative

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23:47 Aryan case: Prabhakar Sail records his extortion bid statement with Mumbai police

Independent witness Prabhakar Sail appeared before Mumbai Police on Tuesday evening for recording statement in connection with his allegation of extortion attempt by NCB officials in the drugs seizure case involving Aryan Khan, an official said here.

Sail appeared before Milind Khetle, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Azad Maidan division and the process of recording his statement was on, he added.

"My client was summoned by the police and his written statement is being recorded," said Tushar Khandare, Sail's lawyer.

Sail was "misused" during the Narcotics Control Bureau's raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast on October 2 during which drugs were allegedly seized and Aryan Khan, actor Shah Rukh Khan's son, was arrested, the lawyer claimed.

When asked if the NCB too had asked Sail to appear before it, the lawyer said they had not received any summons from the Central agency.

Earlier in the day, the city police had said they had received four applications alleging extortion by NCB Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede and other officials, and have launched an enquiry to verify these claims.

One of the applications was sent by Prabhakar Sail who had alleged that he had overheard K P Gosavi, another witness in the cruise ship raid case, talking to one Sam D'Souza over the phone about a demand of Rs 25 crore including Rs 8 crore for Sameer Wankhede, police said.

Wankhede, who visited the NCB office in Delhi earlier in the day, has denied the allegations.

23:31 Kanpur's Zika patient stable, 22 test negative

The Zika virus patient in Kanpur is under treatment but stable, and samples of 22 persons who were in contact with him have resulted negative for the mosquito-borne disease, officials said on Tuesday.

The 57-year-old man had tested positive for Zika virus on October 22, prompting the Centre to send a high-level multi-disciplinary team of medical experts to Kanpur.

One case of Zika virus infection (a mosquito-borne viral infection) was found in the Pokharpur village of Jajmau area here a few days back. It was diagnosed at the Air Force Hospital, Kanpur, Kanpur Division Commissioner Raj Shekhar said.

He said immediately the administration and the Health Department took necessary measures, including diagnostic and preventive, as required and on Tuesday he visited the village along with health officials to review the situation.

"As on date, only one case of Zika virus is reported in Kanpur. Treatment of the patient is going on at the Air Force station hospital and the patient is stable," Raj Shekhar said.

The Health Department has collected samples of 22 other persons who are family members or close contacts. But all the samples were found negative for the virus, he added.

The senior IAS officer said two expert teams one from the Centre and another from the UP government -- are in Kanpur and working on the case.

The expert teams have collected the mosquitoes from sites which will be sent to the National Malaria Research Institute (NMRI) in New Delhi for DNA testing in a day to two, he added.

During the site visit, the division commissioner was accompanied by the chief medical officer, the additional municipal commissioner, among other senior officers of Kanpur.

They interacted with the family members of the Zika virus patient, took case details, his travel history and information of people who were in his contact in recent days, according to officials.

Awareness campaigns about the infection have been started and preventive measures also being implemented against the disease, the officials said.

Zika virus, whose first outbreak was recorded in African countries, can cause pregnancy-related complications and increased risk of neurologic complications in adults and children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) of Zika virus disease is estimated to be 3 to 14 days.

The majority of people infected with Zika virus do not develop symptoms, the WHO says. The symptoms are generally mild including fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache, and usually last for 2 to 7 days, it says.

While researches are ongoing there is no treatment available for Zika virus but its preventive measures include protection against mosquito bites during the day and early evening, according to the WHO.W

ANI Photo

22:26 Ashish Mishra shifted back to jail from hospital

Ashish Mishra, the main accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case who was admitted to a hospital after he tested positive for dengue, was shifted back to the district jail on Tuesday evening following improvement in his condition, a senior jail official said.

Ashish Mishra, the son of Union minister of state for Home Ajay Mishra, was arrested on October 9 in connection with the October 3 incident in which a vehicle mowed down a group of protesting farmers leaving four persons dead.

Ashish Mishra was shifted to the district hospital on Sunday after he tested positive for dengue and a panel of doctors from the district hospital diagnosed his blood sugar level to be critical.

District Jail Superintendent PP Singh said that Ashish Mishra has been shifted to the district jail.

Singh said, "Ashish Mishra would now be provided treatment at the jail hospital as per the prescription and recommendation of the panel of doctors of the district hospital."

Thirteen people, including Asish Mishra, have so far been arrested in connection with the incident.

Two BJP workers and a minister' driver were lynched by a mob, while a journalist was also killed in the violence.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray would write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the portrayal of Bollywood in a bad light in the wake of recent raids by the NCB which could affect the livelihood of the people dependent on that industry, NCP leader and minister Nawab Malik said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters, Malik said he had apprised the chief minister and state Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil about the current happenings.

"CM Thackeray informed me that he is concerned about the image of the Hindi film industry being portrayed in such a negative way. He is going to write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding this. The drug haul cases have maligned the image of the film industry," said Malik.

The NCP spokesperson has levelled a string of allegations against Narcotics Control Bureau's Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede and the raids conducted by the federal anti-drug agency, including the one on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast in which Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan was arrested.

"The chief minister's concerns are not about only 3-4 actors in the industry. After Hollywood, Bollywood is the biggest film industry. It offers jobs and employment to lakhs of people. If the industry is portrayed in a bad light, people could lose their livelihood. Hence the chief minister is going to write about it to PM Modi," Malik said, adding that the film industry's contribution to the country's GDP is around 3-4 per cent.

Responding to a query, Malik said no discussion was held during his meetings with the CM and Walse Patil about the caste certificate of Sameer Wankhede.

Malik had released a purported birth certificate of Wankhede and claimed that his father's actual name is Dawood Wankhede and not Dnyandev Wankhede, which he had dropped after converting to Islam.

Sameer Wankhede had denied all allegations.

Pakistani journalist Aroosa Alam said on Tuesday that she is ready to join any investigation by Indian agencies for her alleged links with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as she described the allegations against her as outrageous and utterly disappointing.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who also holds the home portfolio in the state Cabinet, last week said that a probe would be carried out to ascertain whether Alam has links with the notorious Pakistani spy agency.

"I am ready to cooperate with the central agencies of India if they are opening any probe on the issue. India can even engage third-country investigators to probe the baseless propaganda against me, Alam told PTI.

"Some 16 years ago when I was first refused an Indian visa over some reasons, the Indian government had conducted such an investigation and subsequently a visa was issued to me, she said, adding that she last visited India in November and former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is still her good friend.

"Despite this controversy Capt sahib is still my good friend, 67-year-old journalist said.

She mocked what kind of Raaz (secret)' the ISI had through her. The allegations are simply outrageous and utterly disappointing, she fumed.

On Randhawa's statement that a probe would be carried out to ascertain whether she has links with the ISI, Alam alleged: Linking me with the ISI can be a brainchild of Navjot Singh Sidhu's chief strategist (Mohd) Mustafa. He might have advised Sidhu to play an ISI card after badly losing his bid to become the chief minister. The ISI card sells well in India.

She also questioned the jurisdiction of Randhawa to claim that he would probe her links with the ISI. Randhawa does not know his jurisdiction. However, if he wants to investigate me, he is most welcome, she said.

Randhawa had claimed that Amarinder Singh has been friends with Alam for years, she stayed in India for many years and her visa was extended by the Centre from time to time.

"Aroosa was in India for four-and-a-half years and her visa was also extended from time to time. Why did Delhi not cancel her visa? Why did she leave India when we went against Amarinder Singh?" he recently asked, referring to developments in the Punjab Congress last month.

Amarinder Singh had hit back at the Congress leader, saying Randhawa is now resorting to personal attacks.

"What I'm worried about @Sukhjinder_INC is that instead of focusing on maintaining law and order at a time when terror threat is high and festivals are around the corner, you've put @DGP Punjab Police on a baseless investigation at the cost of Punjab's safety," he said.

Alam, who remained a member of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) and vice-president of National Press Club (Islamabad), further said she is no longer active in journalism.

"Since Capt Amarinder Singh intends to form his own party and may seek alliance with BJP, there has been mourning in the ranks of Congress, which is a deeply divided house. Sidhu wanted to be the chief minister and he had told the party leadership not to make Randhawa chief minister, she claimed.

"Randhawa knows this and he has a grudge against Sidhu. And here comes a dark horse Charanjit Singh Channi who was given the reins of Punjab which badly hurt Sidhu, said Alam, who is the mother of known TV host Fakhar-e-Alam who is currently hosting a programme regarding Men's T-20 ICC Cricket World Cup in Dubai on Ten's Sports.

Chiding Mustafa for embroiling her in this controversy, she said his wife Razia who had three ministries in the previous government now has hardly any in the incumbent set up. "After the setback, Sidhu has literally disappeared on the political map," she claimed.

The Nagpur police commissioner's notification permanently prohibiting prostitution in Ganga Jamuna area of the city has been challenged in the Bombay High Court with the Nagpur bench directing that a writ petition filed in this regard be registered as a PIL.

Petitioner Mukesh Shahu, through his counsels Chandrashekhar Sakhare and Priti Phadake, challenged the Nagpur police commissioner's notification of October 25 claiming it violated the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 of the Constitution.

The petitioner claimed the right to reside in the 'kholis', or rooms of the notified areas, is a fundamental right of prostitutes/sex workers and they cannot be prevented from occupying their residence, except in accordance of law.

Further, he contended that merely because these women were in the prostitution trade, it did not deprive them of their right to life and liberty, adding that prostitution, per se, was not a criminal offence and it was only when a prostitute operated within a notified area that an offence was committed.

Therefore, prostitutes can reside in the notified area and had a right to carry on their trade outside the notified area, the petition claimed.

The petitioner further submitted the provisions of Section 7(1)(b) of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, under which the notification was issued, did not lay down any guidelines for the commissioner of police or the district magistrate while issuing an order notifying the area in which prostitution would be an offence.

He said the HC should quash the notification and direct the police to not enter the rooms of the prostitutes without their permission or a valid warrant.

The division bench of Justice Sunil Shukre and Justice Anil Pansare, in its order, said the writ petition be registered as a PIL.

The matter will now come up for hearing on November 17.

A 36-year-old man was recently apprehended by CISF officials at a Delhi Metro station here for carrying Rs 58 lakh cash in an alleged unauthorised manner, a senior officer said on Tuesday.

The incident took place at the Lal Quila station on October 23 and the cash was recovered from the bag of a person identified as Raju Ranjan, a local who works in a plastic factory.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) detained the man and the cash and informed the Income Tax Department officials about the incident.

Tax officials, the CISF officer said, questioned the man before calling plastic business owner Ashok Bansal who resides in Chandigarh.

The owner "failed" to give a satisfactory reply for transporting the cash through his worker and hence the money was seized by the department on Monday, the officer said.

The tax department is investigating the case, he said.

The CISF provides a counter-terrorist cover to the Delhi Metro network that has over 155 stations in the national capital region.

The Delhi Cabinet will meet on Wednesday to approve the addition of Ayodhya in its free pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens of the city, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said during his visit to Lord Rama's birthplace on Tuesday.

Kejriwal offered prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya and also visited the Hanumangarhi temple there.

According to a Delhi government statement, a special meeting of its cabinet will be held at 11 am on Wednesday to include Ayodhya in the list of pilgrimage sites under the Mukhya Mantri Teerth Yatra Yojna.

The people of Delhi will be able to visit the land of Lord Shri Ram and worship at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi at no expense. The Delhi government makes arrangements for AC trains, AC hotels and the best possible facilities, it stated.

Kejriwal said, "In Delhi, we offer free pilgrimage to the people. The pilgrims get to visit Vaishno Devi, Shirdi, Rameswaram, Dwarka, Puri, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mathura, Vrindavan, among many other shrines."

Senior citizens of Delhi can now visit Ayodhya and offer prayers at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi for free, the chief minister said.

Under the scheme launched by the Kejriwal government in 2019, people aged 60 years and above and their attendants are provided free pilgrimage every year.

The scheme was launched with five pilgrimage sites and later seven more were added to it.

Senior citizens availing free pilgrimage are issued certificates by the MLAs of their respective areas. The ministers of the Delhi government and the chairman of the Tirth Yatra Vikas Samiti also issue certificates to the applicants.

The Delhi government bears all the expenses on the pilgrimage, including the travel, food and accommodation charges. Facilities like paramedical staff and attendants are also provided during the journey.

Kejriwal who is also the national convener of the AAP said that if his party forms government in Uttar Pradesh, the residents of the state will also get free pilgrimage to Ayodhya.

The AAP has decided to contest the UP Assembly elections slated to be held early next year.

19:14 Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed is new chief of Pak's ISI

Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum has been appointed as the director general of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence, a letter issued by Muhammed Azam Khan, secretary to Prime Minister Imran Khan, stated.

Lt Gen Anjum will take charge on November 20.

Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP K Muraleedharan was on Tuesday booked by police for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Thiruvananthapuram city corporation Mayor Arya Rajendran, police said.

Police said a case has been registered against the Congress leader under IPC Sections 354A (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) on the basis of the complainant filed by Rajendran, a Communist Party of India-Marxist member, alleging that he had insulted her womanhood by making derogatory remarks against her during a protest in front of the corporation office in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.

Addressing Congress workers during a protest seeking action against corporation officials allegedly involved in a revenue scam, Muraleedharan had said that the Mayor is looking beautiful but what comes out of her mouth was more terrible than the 'Kodungallur Bharani songs'.

Meanwhile, Muraleedharan on Tuesday expressed regret over his remarks, saying it was not meant to hurt anyone but slammed the Mayor for the alleged corruption in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation.

"I regret if my remarks have caused mental distress to anyone personally. I do not hesitate to say it. I do not want any of my statements to hurt anyone personally", the Vatakara MP said in a Facebook post.

He, however, said he doesn't see anything vulgar in saying that someone is beautiful. -- PTI

19:00 NCB team in Mumbai to quiz Sameer Wankhede

A five-member team of the Narcotics Control Bureau will reach Mumbai from Delhi on Wednesday to conduct probe into the allegations of corruption made by Prabhakar Sail, who is a witness in the drugs-on-cruise case of Mumbai.

The NCB team will comprise DDG NCB Gyaneshwar Singh along with 4 other officers, said sources.

The NCB team will interrogate zonal director Sameer Wankhede on Wednesday in connection with extortion charges levelled against him, reported India Today. -- ANI

18:10 No bail for Aryan today, hearing tomorrow

Hearing on the bail application of accused Aryan Khan has been adjourned for tomorrow by the Bombay High Court. So that's the 24th night in Arthur Road jail for the 23-year-old boy.

The court is now hearing co-accused Arbaaz Merchant's bail plea.

The Khans

17:55 'Case gets attention due to Aryan's parents'

Former Attorney General of India Mukul Rohatgi argues for Aryan Khan and makes a pertinent point: "This case has attracted public gaze and media attention only due to his parents otherwise this case would not have even been mentioned like this."

Aryan Khan, as you must know over the last couple of weeks, is the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

"With this compendium of facts, what I am saying that there is no case. There is no consumption, no possession... Why this boy has been sent 20 days in jail...," Rohatgi asks the court.

Now, the arguments in court are about a conversation between Aryan Khan and a college student on online poker. The conversation was retrieved from WhatsApp chats.

The college student is being referred to as Accused 17.

-- A17 is a young college kid. From all the records that are coming out, A17 is a friend with whom Khan was playing online poker. That was the communication exchanged. Based on that communication, they (NCB) are showing a connection. There is no connection between Accused 17 and the Cruise case.

-- "I had connections with only 2 people - Accused 2 (Arbaz Merchant) and Accused 17. Accused 17 was not even on the cruise.

17:37 Arbaaz Merchant is not my servant: Aryan

Mukul Rohatgi pleads Aryan Khan's bail:

-- I respectfully submit that I have a better case than all cases, I am citing because there is no recovery from me.

-- On the charas found with Aryan Khan's friend Arbaaz Merchant: "It was not in my control, what was found in Merchants shoe. Arbaaz is not my servant, he is not in my control, so there is no conspiracy.

-- On the international conspiracy angle put forth by the NCB: Those are to some people and supposedly to some international persons. This is in the past and that is just supposed to show the conspiracy. There is no case that I knew the other 20 people except for Merchant.

17:23 They are young, can be sent to rehab: Rohatgi

Mukul Rohatgi on punishment for consumption of drugs:

-- Maximum punishment is imprisonment of 1 year and that is maximum and not minimum. There is NO case of harbouring also.

-- These are young boys. They can be sent to rehab and they need not undergo trial. It had come in some newspaper that the social ministry was mentioning about reform.

-- I am not admitting to consumption or use. The only thing is conscious possession and that is also small quantity.

NCB officer Sameer Wankhede

17:10 Have nothing against any NCB officer: Aryan

Aryan Khan now denies any deal with anti-drugs agency (NCB) officers or any connection with the allegations of a payoff involving Sameer Wankhede, the officer leading the investigations against him and others in the drugs-on-cruise case.

Mukul Rohatgi in court:

-- I'm not concerned with any controversy going on the TV, Social media or anywhere else. I don't have anything against any NCB officer.

-- There was something filed by someone alleging something against NCB, and the director had filed an affidavit that it was due to a political personality whose son-in-law was arrested by the NCB.

-- It is all being portrayed that I was involved in this.

-- I made this clear with my rejoinder that I am nowhere connected to all these allegations and counter-allegations.

-- I am nowhere in all this ongoing controversy. My case is very much on merits which are in my favour.

Read this for a backgrounder: Aryan Khan case: Nawab Malik ups attacks on NCB's Wankhede

Aryan Khan's lawyer Mukul Rohatgi

17:05 23 days have passed till today: Aryan Khan

Mukul Rohatgi argues for Aryan Khan:

Accused 2 (Arbaz Merchant) says that he was not having possession (of drugs) but it was planted on him. Whether it was planted or it was in his possession, I have nothing to do with that.

-- 23 days have passed till today and I had nothing to do with all this.

-- I've no case of consumption, possession, purchase or sale against me. You can see the Punchnama & the rejoinder filed by me.

Mukul Rohatgi arguing for bail for Aryan Khan.

He began with the facts of the case which according to him are:

-- 6 gms of charas was recorded from Accused Number 2 (Arbaz Merchant), and I (Aryan) have no relation with him except for arriving with him there. There was no recovery. There was no proof of consumption.

-- As there was no recovery no consumption, I say that I'm (Aryan Khan) arrested wrongly.

-- What is put against me is that accused 2 (Arbaz Merchant) came with me and was having something with him. So I am charged with conscious possession of drugs.

-- How can I be charged with conscious possession if someone carried something in his shoes?

-- 2nd thing put against me (Aryan), is important -- that many others were found with some amount of drugs so they allege that there was a general conspiracy.

-- They're not charging me with consumption/possession but with conspiracy and conspiracy not with accused 2 but others.

-- There's one more thing put against me (Aryan) -- my WhatsApp chats of 2018, 2019 and 2020. These chats are not related to the cruise case.

-- Cruise case started with Gaba (Pratik Gaba) and ended there. There is no connection between my chats and present case.

Aryan Khan's lawyer Mukul Rohatgi tells the court that in his client's case there is no recovery of drugs, no consumption of drugs and no medical test was done either (to see if narcotics were present in Khan's bloodstream).

Rohatgi says there is nothing against my client and therefore there is no need for arresting him.

He told the court that the NCB had prior information that people will be carrying drugs. So the NCB sent officers so they could apprehend customers. Aryan Khan and Merchant were apprehended but since there was nothing against there was no need to arrest him.

Aryan Khan's bail hearing begins in the Bombay High Court.

The 23-year-old son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan has been denied bail twice, by a Mumbai magistrate court and special anti-drugs court.

He was arrested on October 3 in connection with a drugs raid on a Mumbai cruise ship party by Narcotics Control Bureau officers in disguise.

Khan is being represented by former AG Mukul Rohatgi today.

Arvind Subramanian was CEA from 2014-2018

16:15 There's a vacancy for the post of CEA

The government has invited applications for the post of chief economic adviser (CEA) to replace K V Subramanian, who will complete his three-year tenure next month.

Subramanian was appointed as CEA on December 7, 2018, while he assumed charge on December 24 in the same year.

As per the public notice dated October 24, 2021 issued by Department of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, officer of central, state governments, RBI and public sector banks holding analogous post on regular basis in parent cadres or department are eligible to apply for the post.

Candidates from recognised universities or recognised research institutions or central regulatory bodies and registered private institutions or financial institutions are eligible, it said. With regard to educational qualification, it said, a candidate should possess Master's degree in Economics or Finance from a recognised university or institution.

16:06 Amarinder may launch new party tomorrow

Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh may launch his new political party on Wednesday, according to speculation triggered by the announcement of a press conference.

Singh had last week said he would soon launch his own party, and that he was hopeful of a seat arrangement with the BJP provided the ongoing farmers' stir against farm laws was resolved in their interest.

The development comes just months ahead of the Punjab assembly elections.

Singh, who faced an unceremonious exit from the state government last month, had also said that he was looking at alliances with like-minded parties such as breakaway Akali groups.

The two-time chief minister had added that he would not rest till he secures the future of his people and his state.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Tuesday, however, said if Amarinder Singh floated a new political outfit, he would be making a big mistake.

"Singh's face in Punjab will be scarred," Randhawa said, and added that the Congress gave respect to Amarinder Singh and he enjoyed several posts in the party.

The meeting will discuss ramping up of vax drive

16:03 Mandaviya to meet Health Ministers of States/UTs tomorrow

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a meeting with Health Ministers of states and union territories on Wednesday regarding ramping up of the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country, said government sources on Tuesday.

The Union Health Minister will also discuss with the Health Ministers about PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission during the meet.

PM in Kedarnath in 2019

15:43 PM Modi to visit Kedarnath on Nov 5

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kedarnath on November 5, a day ahead of the closure of the Himalayan temple for winters, to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of Kedarpuri reconstruction projects worth over Rs 400 crore. It will be his second visit to the state within a month.

He had visited AIIMS, Rishikesh, on October 7 to inaugurate an oxygen plant there.

Confirming Modi's visit to Kedarnath next month, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said besides offering prayers at the Himalayan temple, the prime minister will lay inaugurate and the foundation stone of Kedarpuri reconstruction projects.

He will also unveil a statue of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, Dhami said. Modi has visited Kedarnath several times after becoming prime minister in 2014.

He could not come to Kedarnath last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Modi has been closely monitoring Kedarpuri reconstruction projects.

The portals of Kedarnath are scheduled to be closed for winter on November 6 on the occasion of Bhaiyya Dooj. PTI

Drugs on cruise case: The Bombay High Court limits the number of people to remain in court in order to decongest the courtroom.

The court will today hear the bail plea of 23-year-old Aryan Khan, who has been denied bail twice, both by a Mumbai magistrate court and special anti-drugs court, ever since his arrest on October 3 in connection with a drugs raid on a Mumbai cruise ship party by Narcotics Control Bureau officers in disguise.

He has been in Mumbai's Arthur Road jail since October 8 and was briefly in the custody of the NCB before that.

The court has asked police personnel to ensure that courtroom is decongested Aryan Khan's bail application matter is serial no.57

15:14 TMC: Can't wait indefinitely for Cong-led oppn

The Trinamool Congress cannot wait for the Congress indefinitely to bring Opposition parties under one umbrella against the BJP, senior TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said on Tuesday.

In a press briefing soon after new inductee Sushmita Dev, who switched over from the Congress, took oath as a TMC Rajya Sabha MP, Ray said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had approached political parties to forge an alliance but received no response.

"In order to forge an alliance with all other parties a proposal was given by none other than the TMC chairperson. She met (Congress president) Sonia Gandhi and many other leaders.

"We waited for six long months, but there was no response or initiative from any quarters. So we have moved on and we have decided to expand our base. Perhaps the Congress is too busy with its internal issues," said Ray.

It will depend on the Congress and other parties if they want to come under one umbrella or go alone, he said. PTI

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday issued an order allowing the common people, irrespective of the nature of their jobs, who are vaccinated fully against COVID-19 to board suburban trains in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

In this order, the state government has extended the definition of fully vaccinated people to cover even those people who are working in non-essential sectors.

This means people who have taken both the doses of vaccines against COVID-19 and completed 14 days after inoculation can travel in local trains.

The government also stated that the people working in essential sectors must be fully vaccinated and should have completed the 14 days post-inoculation before they can be allowed to board local trains.

Currently, the Central Railway and the Western Railway have been issuing a monthly pass to vaccinated commuters instead of daily tickets to curtail the crowd.

Notably, both the railways on Monday said suburban services in Mumbai will be operated at the 100 per cent capacity of the pre-pandemic level from October 28, but the existing travel restrictions for the general public will remain unchanged.

This decision was taken considering the increased flow of commuters, an official said on Monday.

14:16 Aryan involved in drug trafficking: NCB

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Tuesday opposed the bail plea filed by actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, who was arrested earlier this month in the cruise drugs seizure case, alleging the 23-year-old was not just a consumer of drugs, but also involved in illicit drug trafficking.

The agency also claimed that Aryan Khan and a woman named Pooja Dadlani, Shah Rukh Khan's manager, were tampering with the evidence and witnesses in the case in an attempt to derail the investigation.

On the other side, Aryan Khan's advocates submitted to the HC an additional note, stating that he has nothing to do with the allegations and counter allegations that are being circulated between the NCB's zonal director Sameer Wankhede and certain political personalities.

The NCB on Tuesday filed its affidavit in response to the bail plea filed by Aryan Khan in the HC. A single bench of Justice N W Sambre is likely to take the plea for hearing later in the day.

The anti-drugs agency in its affidavit said attempts are being made to tamper with the ongoing investigation with a malafide intention to derail the probe into the case.

"This is evident from the contents of a purported affidavit of one Prabhakar Sail," the agency said, referring to the allegations of extortion attempt made by Sail, an independent witness in the case.

The affidavit also referred to Pooja Dadlani and said "this lady appears to have influenced panch witnesses when the investigation is ongoing". The NCB said the bail plea was "misconceived and ill-conceived".

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has said it has no information on public requests -- and RTI documents show that the ministry hastily issued a circular on the renaming after Modi's tweet. Read the exclusive story by The Wire here.

Sameer Wankhede's sister, Yasmeen

13:50 NCB officials remove poster supporting Wankhede

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials removed the posters put up by Hindu Sena in support of NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede outside the agency's office in the national capital on Tuesday.

The Hindu Sena's support comes amid the political stir between Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik and Wankhede, who is investigating the alleged drug bust case involving Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader had earlier raised questions over the birth certificate of the officer. "Sameer Dawood Wankhede's fraud started from here," said Malik.

Yasmeen, NCB officer Sameer Wankhede's sister, said today, "Who's he (Nawab Malik) to look for a bureaucrat's birth certificate? His research team calls a picture posted in Bombay from Dubai...We're receiving death, threat calls. I feel I should also present false evidence...every day."

Gyaneshwar Singh, DDG Narcotics Control Bureau said Sameer Wankhede has not been called for questioning.

Pakistanis celebrate their win

13:36 DNA of those who burst firecrackers in India on Pak's win cannot be Indian: Vij

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij on Tuesday said the DNA of those who burst firecrackers in the country if Pakistan wins a cricket match against India cannot be Indian.

" The DNA of those who burst firecrackers in India on Pakistan winning a cricket match cannot be Indian. Be careful of the traitors hiding in our own house," Vij tweeted in Hindi.

The senior BJP leader's comments come amid media reports of anger against Kashmiris for celebrating the neighbouring country's victory. Pakistan had registered a 10-wicket victory over India in the ICC T20 World Cup tie in Dubai on Sunday.

Sameer Wankhede's wife, Kranti Redkar Wankhede

13:34 Sameer Wankhede reaches NCB office in Delhi

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, who is probing the drug case involving Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, reached the NCB office in the national capital on Tuesday.

While speaking to reporters on Monday, Wankhede said, "I have not been summoned. I have come here for a different purpose. All the allegations against me are baseless."

Kranti Redkar Wankhede, Sameer Wankhede's wife held a presser on Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik sharing a letter claiming fraud within Narcotics Control Bureau. She said such letters have no merit.

"My husband is not wrong, we will not tolerate this. Why should we go to court? Those levelling allegations against us should go to court. We are not 'crorepatis', we are simple people. Sameer is an honest officer. Many people wish that he should be removed," Kranti Wankhede, an actor, said.

Earlier on Monday, Wankhede had in a special court said that he and his family were being targeted and are ready for a probe into allegations against him.

Two affidavits have been filed in the case -- one by NCB and another by Wankhede.

Once an atheist, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, is now a politician.

And so, Kejriwal said today that he will hold a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday to include Ayodhya on the list of religious places under the free pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens of the national capital.

After offering prayers to Ram Lalla at the Ram Janmabhoomi site, Kejriwal began his speech with a chant of "Jai Shri Ram".

"Today I got the privilege of visiting the birthplace of Lord Ram and performing aarti of Mother Sarayu. I prayed to the Lord that our country gets freedom from the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone should live in peace and there should be a lot of development of the country. Today I have got the good fortune to have darshan of Lord, I wish that every Indian should get this good fortune," said Delhi CM.

He further promised to help as many people to have the darshan of Lord Ram with all his strength and resources.

12:27 Party over personal ambition, Sonia tells Cong

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday emphasised on the need for discipline and unity, saying strengthening the organisation must override personal ambitions.

Chairing a meeting of top party leaders to evolve a strategy for assembly elections in five states early next year, she said the party must redouble its fight for the victims of the Union government's "worst excesses".

Gandhi also expressed concern over the party's messages on key issues not percolating down to the grassroot cadres, and said there is lack of clarity and cohesion even among state leaders.

Former party chief Rahul Gandhi also attended the meeting of party general secretaries, in-charges and Pradesh Congress presidents at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi.

The leaders have also come together to chalk out a strategy for the party's new membership drive and finalise the modalities for it. The drive is starting from November 1 and will continue till March 31 next year.

"I would like to re-emphasise the paramount need for discipline and unity. What should matter to each and every one of us is the strengthening of the organisation. This must override personal ambitions. In this lies both collective and individual success," Sonia Gandhi said in her opening remarks.

Stressing on training programmes for party workers, the Congress chief said it should be taken up on priority. "The fight to defend our democracy, our constitution and the Congress party's ideology begins with being fully prepared to identify and counter false propaganda.

"We must fight the diabolical campaign of BJP/RSS ideologically. We must do so with conviction and expose their lies before the people if we are to win this battle," she said.

Noting that AICC releases important and detailed statements almost every day on issues facing the nation, Sonia Gandhi said, "But it is my experience that they do not percolate down to our grass root cadres at the block and district level. There are policy issues on which I find a lack of clarity and cohesion even amongst our state-level leaders."

"We must redouble our fight for those who are the victims of this government's worst excesses: our farmers and farm labourers, our youth fighting for jobs and opportunities, small and medium scale businesses, our brothers, our sisters with particular focus on the deprived," she stressed.

On the elections to five states, the Congress leader said our campaign must be founded upon concrete policies and programmes emanating from widespread discussions with all sections of society.

Assembly elections in the states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur are slated early next year.

12:12 Lakhimpur: SC directs UP to protect witnesses

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to grant protection to the witnesses of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case in which eight people including four farmers were killed during a farmers' protest.

A bench headed by Chief justice N V Ramana asked the Uttar Pradesh government, represented by senior advocates Harish Salve and Garima Prasad, to record the statements of other relevant witnesses before judicial magistrates under section 164 of the CrPC.

"We direct the District judge concerned to entrust the task of recording of evidence under section 164 of the CrPC to the nearest judicial magistrates available," said the bench which also comprised justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli.

The bench asked Salve to to convey its concerns to forensic labs and experts on preparation of reports on electronic evidence of the incident.

The top court, meanwhile, asked the state government to also file its report on two complaints including the one related to the lynching of a journalist.

The state is directed to file separate replies in the cases, the bench said and fixed the plea for further hearing on November 8.

Observing that the probe into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence should not be an unending story, the Supreme Court on October 20 had rapped the government, saying the court was getting the impression that the state police was dragging its feet, and also ordered the protection of witnesses. PTI

11:44 Six civilians injured in grenade attack in J-K

At least six civilians were injured in a grenade attack by terrorists in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, police said.

"At about 10:20 am, terrorists hurled a grenade upon the Army convoy near bus stand Sumbal which missed the target and exploded on road side," a police official said. The injured have been admitted to a hospital.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the Centre aimed to wipe out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and put an end to killings of civilians, and added that nobody will be allowed to disrupt peace and development in the Union territory.

11:36 A meeting of minds, great minds

Gita Gopinath tweets this picture of a 'fun pre-Diwali' evening with (L to R) Iqbal Dhaliwal, global executive director of Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, former RBI chief Raghuram Rajan and Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and his wife Esther Duflo.

The IMF's Chief Economist, Gita Gopinath, will leave her job in January next year and return to the prestigious Harvard University. Mysuru-born Gopinath is the first-ever woman chief economist of the IMF.

Interestingly, Rajan was also Chief Economist and Director of Research at the IMF between 2003 and 2006.

A special court in Ahmedabad has remanded an Afghan national in the NIA's custody for three days in connection with a case pertaining to the seizure of 2,988 kg of drugs at the Mundra Port in Gujarat last month.

Mohammed Khan, an accused in the Rs 21,000-crore heroin seizure case, was on Monday sent in the NIA's custody by special judge Shubhada Baxi, after he was brought here from Patiala on a transit warrant.

The special NIA court granted three-day remand of Khan to the National Investigation Agency, as against four days sought by it. Earlier, on October 18, the court had sent three accused in the case to the NIA's custody for 10 days.

The three accused included M Sudhakaran and Durga Vaishali, who allegedly ran the Vijayawada-registered M/s Aashi Trading Company which had imported a consignment of 'talc stones', and Rajkumar P. "Khan's name was revealed during the investigation into the case, and a lookout notice was issued against him.

He was detained by authorities at the Delhi airport while he was trying to escape from the country, and was handed over to the NIA and taken to Patiala," said Amit Nair, the special public prosecutor for the NIA.

The case relates to the seizure of heroin, disguised as a consignment of semi-processed talc stones originating from Afghanistan, which had arrived at the Mundra Port from Bandar Abbas Port in Iran.

NCB officer Sameer Wankhede

10:56 Nawab Malik on Sameer Wankhede...

Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik's fresh claims against NCB officer Sameer Wankhede.

"Sameer Wankhede through two private people in Mumbai and Thane is illegally intercepting the mobile phones of some people.

"I have received a letter from an unnamed NCB official. I am sending this letter to DG Narcotics requesting him to include this letter in the investigation being conducted on NCB's Sameer Wankhede. We demand there should be a probe

"The letter by the NCB official also claims that a number of people have been framed in false cases. Panchnamas were drafted at NCB office. We demand an investigation into this."

10:52 Sonia's meeting on state polls begins

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi's meeting to discuss the upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, among other issues, begins.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other Congress leaders are at the Congress party headquarters for the meeting.

Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Mohan Markam, Uttarakhand PCC chief Ganesh Godiyal, Jharkhand PCC chief Rajesh Thakur, Maharashtra PCC chief Nana Patole and Punjab PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu have also arrived at the party headquarters in the national capital for the meeting.

Earlier, at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on October 16, it was decided that organisation polls will be held next year and for that, a membership drive will be launched from November 1.

Shah Rukh Khan visits his son in jail

10:26 BJP acts like it owns central probe agencies: Sena

Amid a political slugfest over the cruise drugs seizure case of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the Shiv Sena on Tuesday said the BJP acts like it owns central investigation agencies, but it should not forget that in a democracy owners do change.

An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said the allegations of Rs 25 crore demand in the drugs case, in which Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan is an accused, are just the tip of the iceberg.

"The owners and their employees should be beware of the consequences, it said. The question is not about actor Shah Rukh Khan or his son, but it is about the character and honesty of the central investigation agencies. Who is going to find out where Kiran Gosavi, one of the (NCB's) witness in the case, is hiding? it said.

Gosavi, who is facing a cheating in Pune, was untraceable after his photos and videos with Aryan Khan went viral on social media following the NCB's raid on the cruise ship off the Mumbai coast earlier this month.

On Monday, Gosavi refuted the extortion claims made by his aide and another witness in the case, Prabhakar Sail, and said he will surrender shortly before the Lucknow police.

The NCB has ordered a vigilance inquiry into the claims made by Sail about of an extortion bid of Rs 25 crore by some agency officials, including its Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede, and others for letting off Aryan Khan. The three ruling parties in Maharashtra - Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress- have repeatedly claimed that central agencies were being used to target the opposition parties.

The editorial in 'Saamana' said, "The BJP acts like it owns the central investigation agencies. It should not forget that in a democracy owners do change.

There are proofs for it in history. The party (BJP) should not forget that it is like any other political party. It should also remember that political power comes and goes."

"The BJP was once a party of some principles, sacrifice and nationalism, but we cannot expect the same thing from it in its current form. Even the veterans in the BJP are uncomfortable, the Sena claimed.

It said people have been wondering about the claim of Rs 25 crore demand made in the Aryan Khan case for a few grams of drugs.

"How much bribe amount was sought to settle the case of 3,500 kg heroin found at the Adani group-controlled Mundra port in Gujarat? Nobody knew when that case was closed, but the Aryan Khan case is still going on, the Marathi daily said.

Mukul Rohatgi, the former Attorney General of India, will represent Aryan Khan in court for his bail hearing today.

The 23-year-old son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, in jail since October 8 in the drugs-on-cruise case, has been denied bail twice.

A development in the case is that Sameer Wankhede, the Narcotics Control of Bureau officer leading the investigation, has been hit with a Rs 8 crore payoff claim by a witness in the case, who has now turned hostile.

The anti-drugs agency has backed the officer, citing an "impeccable service record".

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi will be presiding over a meeting with core party leaders to discuss the upcoming assembly elections to Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, among other issues.

The meeting will be held at party headquarters.

As per the party sources on Monday, "a meeting of Congress general secretaries and state in-charges will be held on October 26 at All India Congress Committee headquarters to discuss membership, training, agitation program and strategy for the upcoming assembly polls. This meeting will be presided by party president Sonia Gandhi."

Pradesh Congress Committee presidents will also be present as well, sources said.

During Congress Working Committee meeting on October 16, it was decided that organisation polls will be held next year and for that, a membership drive will be launched from November 1.

As per sources, the Congress party may hold the organisational election on September 6, 2022 and have its president by October.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday paid homage to 40 Central Reserve Police Force jawans who were killed in the deadly Pulwama terror attack in February 2019 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Shah, who was on a four-day visit to the Union territory, laid a floral wreath at the memorial constructed last year for the victims of the attack carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammad.

The home minister later took to Twitter to pay tributes to the martyrs.

"At Pulwama martyrs memorial, paid tributes to the brave CRPF jawans who were martyred in the cowardly attack. The supreme sacrifice you made for the security of the nation makes our resolve stronger for uprooting the menace of terrorism. My revered tributes to the brave martyrs," he tweeted in Hindi.

Shah also planted a sapling in the memory of the martyrs.

08:43 Bombay HC to hear Aryan Khan's bail plea today

The Bombay high court on Tuesday will hear actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan's bail plea in Mumbai cruise drug case.

Last week, a special court in Mumbai said Aryan Khan's WhatsApp chats indicated "he is dealing in illicit drug activities of narcotic substances on a regular basis", so it could not be said he is not likely to commit similar offences while on bail.

The court had also said that the material placed on record points to a "nexus" between Aryan Khan and suppliers and peddlers.

Though no drugs were found on Aryan Khan, the court said he knew about six grams of charas hidden in his friend Arbaaz Merchant's shoe, and this amounted to "conscious possession".

Lawyers Satish Maneshinde and Amit Desai, appearing for Aryan Khan, argued in court that the NCB was "misinterpreting" his WhatsApp chats to implicate him.

A lawyer on Monday approached the Mumbai police with a complaint seeking registration of an FIR against Narcotics Control Bureau zonal director Sameer Wankhede and five others on charge of alleged extortion in connection with the drugs-on-cruise case, an official said.

According to the official, lawyer Sudha Dwivedi submitted the written complaint at the MRA Marg police station and also to offices of Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Milind Bharambhe and the state Anti-Corruption Bureau.

In the complaint, Dwivedi has demanded registration of FIR against Wankhede and five others, including NCB witnesses in the drugs case Prabhakar Sail and KP Gosavi, and a person named Sam D'Souza over alleged extortion charge.

"We have received the complaint, but no FIR has been registered till now," another official said.

The complaint comes a day after Sail claimed an extortion bid of Rs 25 crore by some NCB officials, including Wankhede, and others for letting off accused Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan, in the drugs case.

Sail said he was the bodyguard of another witness in the case, Gosavi, who is absconding after the NCB raids that were conducted on October 3 at the cruise terminal on Mumbai's coast leading to the arrest of as many as 20 people, including Aryan Khan.

Wankhede has denied the allegations being made against him in this case.

Earlier in the day, the IRS officer and the NCB filed two separate affidavits before a special court against the allegations of extortion attempt levelled against them.

Wankhede, in his affidavit submitted to the court, refuted the allegations levelled against him, and claimed he was under a "lurking threat of arrest as it does not suit some vested interests for conducting an honest and impartial investigation".

However, the special court said it cannot pass a blanket order barring courts from taking cognizance of an affidavit prepared by Sail in which he has made allegations of extortion attempt by Wankhede and others. -- PTI

Americans across the country are observing October as the Hindu Heritage Month, with more that 20 of the 50 states and over 40 cities issuing proclamations about it, community leaders said Monday.

The first ever initiative of Hindu groups in the country has been welcomed by elected representatives who have issued proclamations and notifications to acknowledge the contributions of this minority community in the US.

Hindus worldwide celebrate Navratri, Dussehra, Durga Puja, and Diwali around October.

Hence, this month was considered by several US-based Hindu organisations to celebrate as the Hindu Heritage Month, a media release said.

From Yoga to food, festivities to charity, dances to music, and non-violence to profound philosophy, a Hindu way has touched all walks of life in the US. The Hindu community is celebrating this month in any and all of these forms that uniquely identify with the Hindu community, it said.

Among the states that have issued these notifications are Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Georgia, Florida, Minnesota, Virginia, Nevada, Mississippi, Delaware, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana and Michigan.

Troy in Michigan, Irvine in Californiam Portland in Oregon and Irving and Houston in Texas are some of the cities to recognise October as the Hindu Heritage Month. For the American leaders across the nation, the contribution of the ancient Hindu way and, more importantly, the active role of Hindus in American society was worth appreciation and praise, the release said.

While US Congressman Troy Balderson acknowledged the resilience of the Hindu American community in his letter of recognition, Congressman Raja Krishnamurthy termed Hindusim a "uniquely pluralistic religion".

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said the vibrant Hindu community contributed tremendously in "the vitality of the Commonwealth..."

In addition to acknowledging Diwali and the contribution of Hindus, the City of Troy, Michigan, also recognised the charity carried out by the community during the festival.

A Hindu leader, Bindu Patel, thanked the City of Irving, for appreciating the community and supporting Hindu Heritage Month activities. She said the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh is working with the local interfaith community and celebrating Diwali as "Sewa Diwali food drive" with a spirit of giving back to the society. -- PTI

The United States will lift all travel restrictions for incoming non-citizen, non-immigrant travellers from November 8, with only limited exceptions, and they will be required to be fully vaccinated and produce proof of their COVID-19 vaccination prior to boarding a flight to the country, the White House announced on Monday.

The updated travel guidelines also include new protocols around testing.

To further strengthen protections, unvaccinated travellers whether US Citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), or the small number of accepted unvaccinated foreign nationals will now need to test within one day of departure.

Under this new international air travel system, foreign nationals will need to be fully vaccinated, in order to fly to the US.

The new system also includes enhanced testing requirements, strengthened contact tracing, as well as masking.

These are strict safety protocols that follow the science and public health to enhance the safety of Americans here at home, and the safety of international air travel, a senior administration official told reporters.

Beginning November 8, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travellers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the US, with only limited exceptions, the official said.

With this, the United States will lift all travel restrictions specific to all countries and regions.

According to the White House, passengers will need to show their vaccination status, and the airlines will need to match the name and date of birth to confirm that the passenger is the same person reflected on the proof of vaccination; determine that the record was issued by an official source (e.g., public health agency, government agency) in the country where the vaccine was given and review the essential information for determining if the passenger meets CDC's definition for fully vaccinated such as vaccine product, number of vaccine doses received, date(s) of administration, site (e.g., vaccination clinic, health care facility) of vaccination.

The Biden Administration will work closely with the airlines to ensure that these new requirements are implemented successfully, a senior administration official said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that for purposes of travel to the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorised and World Health Organisation (WHO) emergency use listed (EUL) vaccines.

Individuals can be considered fully vaccinated for more than weeks after receipt of the last dose if they have received any single dose of an FDA approved/authorised or WHO EUL approved single-dose series (i.e., Janssen), or any combination of two doses of an FDA approved/authorised or WHO emergency use listed COVID-19 two-dose series (i.e. mixing and matching).

For those Americans who can show they are fully vaccinated, the same requirement currently in place will apply they have to produce a negative test result within three days of travel, the White House said, adding that for anyone travelling to the United States who cannot demonstrate proof of full vaccination, they will have to produce documentation of a negative test within one day of departure.

Children under 18 are excepted from the vaccination requirement for foreign national travellers, given both the ineligibility of some younger children for vaccination, as well as the global variability in access to vaccination for older children who are eligible to be vaccinated.

Children between the ages of 2 and 17 are required to take a pre-departure test.

If travelling with a fully vaccinated adult, an unvaccinated child can test three days prior to departure (consistent with the timeline for fully vaccinated adults).

If an unvaccinated child is travelling alone or with unvaccinated adults, they will have to test within one day of departure, the White House said in a fact sheet.

The White House said there are a very limited set of exceptions from the vaccination requirement for foreign nationals.

These include exceptions for children under 18, certain COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial participants, those with medical contraindications to the vaccines, those who need to travel for emergency or humanitarian reasons (with a US government-issued letter affirming the urgent need to travel), those who are travelling on non-tourist visas from countries with low-vaccine availability (as determined by the CDC), and other very narrow categories.

Those who receive an exception will generally be required to attest they will comply with applicable public health requirements, including, with very limited exceptions, a requirement that they be vaccinated in the US if they intend to stay here for more than 60 days, the White House said. -- PTI

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