LIVE
Wed, 01 September 2021
Mandaviya reviews availability of COVID-19 drugs

Timeline  Refresh

image
23:55   Mandaviya reviews availability of COVID-19 drugs
Union Minister for Health and Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday reviewed the supply and availability of COVID-19 related essential medicines in the country.
   
During the review, it was noted that sufficient stocks of all the essential medicines are available, a Health Ministry statement said.
 
Raw materials for these drugs are also available in enough quantities. 
 
The strategic buffer stock has been created for eight drugs and all of these are available in the country. The drugs are Tocilizumab, Methyl Predinisolone, Enaxopirin, Dexamethasone, Remdesivir, Amphotericin B Deoxycholate, Posaconazole and Intravenous Immunoglobilin (IVIG), the statement said.
 
Senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare were present in the review meeting. -- PTI
image
23:49   Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani dies
Pro-Pakistan separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani dies in Srinagar after prolonged illness, say Officials. 
image
22:53   India's sugar export to Afghanistan almost comes to halt
India's sugar export to Afghanistan has almost come to a halt with Indian merchants reporting cancellation of orders in the wake of the current situation there, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
 
The Taliban ousted the government in Afghanistan and took over the control of the country after capturing Kabul last month.
 
Afghanistan is one of the top three destinations for Indian sugar exports. 

About 6,00,000-7,00,000 tonne of the sweetener is exported annually.      
 
About 6,50,000 tonne of sugar has already been exported so far in the current 2020-21 season ending this month, as per the trade data. 

Sugar season runs from October to September.      
 
"Our sugar export to Afghanistan has been affected now because of the prevailing current situation out there. Some orders have been cancelled," Joint Secretary in the Food Ministry Subodh Kumar Singh told PTI.       
 
However, sugar exports to Afghanistan should resume in the next season after the normalcy is restored under the new regime, he said.        
 
Taliban fighters, who were removed from power in Afghanistan by US-led forces in 2001, have resurfaced again, taking control of most of the parts of Afghanistan, after the government there collapsed and embattled president Ashraf Ghani fled the country, much like his fellow citizens.       
 
Currently, there is no change in the India-Afghanistan trade policy unlike Pakistan which has decided not to buy sugar from India. 

India, the world's second largest sugar producer after Brazil, has so far exported more than 6 million tonne of the sweetener in the 2020-21 season.      
 
Sugar production in India is estimated at 31 million tonne in the current 2020-21 season. -- PTI 
image
22:50   Rawat meets Amarinder, asks to reduce power tariffs
All India Congress Committee general secretary Harish Rawat on Wednesday asked Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to provide relief to people by reducing power tariffs, one of the major demands of state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu.
 
He also told reporters that power purchase rates with private power companies should be renegotiated and the benefit of reduced prices should be passed on to consumers.
Rawat, the in-charge of the party's Punjab affairs at the AICC, had arrived in Chandigarh on Tuesday amid an ongoing tussle between the camps of Amarinder Singh and Sidhu. 
Rawat on Wednesday met the CM at his residence in Mohali's Siswan. The meeting, in which the advocate general and the DGP were also present, lasted for about three hours.
After the meeting, Rawat said he told the CM that the state government should provide some relief to power consumers.
"I am hoping that the Punjab government will soon give some relief to general category power consumers," he said, pointing out that at present, up to 200 units of free power was being given to SC and other categories.
"I requested the CM and said the AICC also wants it. At present, we are in the government and we should provide some relief to power consumers," he said, adding that how much relief was to be given will be decided after the CM consulted with his ministers.
While referring to power purchase agreements, Rawat said that the government will take every possible measure to provide power to people at lower rates.
He blamed the previous SAD-BJP regime for "imposing" the "faulty" PPAs on the people of the state.
"I said that the companies must be clearly told that they should come and renegotiate the rates," said Rawat.
Rawat also took an update from Amarinder Singh on the progress on an 18-point programme given by the party high command.
On the issue of action in the 2015 sacrilege incidents, Rawat said it was "highly sensitive", adding that he urged the CM to take legally possible action in the matter.
However, he said that the government has already initiated a "lot of action" in it.
On the central farm laws, Rawat said the CM informed him that three amendment bills were passed to "negate" the central farm legislations but the Punjab governor continued to sit on these bills. -- PTI
image
22:27   All is not well in J-K: Farooq
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday debunked the BJP's claim about "all is well in Jammu and Kashmir", saying if that is actually the case, why are its activists being killed in militancy violence.
 
Addressing a day-long interactive session with National Conference functionaries of Jammu Province at the Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan, Abdullah dwelt upon the overall scenario and also discussed party affairs with senior colleagues.
He made a reference to the acts of violence against elected representatives and called for adequate security to those elected to panchayat raj institutions.
"Their security should not be jeopardised," Abdullah cautioned.
The NC president said the people, especially the youth, are faced with numerous problems as the promises made to them have proved to be hoax.
Unemployment is on the rise, and the educated unemployed are undergoing a phase of despair. The is a need to arrest this trend, he added.
Abdullah, however, expressed optimism about things changing for the better in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the National Conference has to play a vital role in this regard.
He called for further rejuvenating the party at the grassroots level and enhancing public outreach. He said the National Conference cadre has to get further activated to meet the challenges.
"We are passing through the most difficult times, and there is a crucial need of maintaining guard against polarising forces by upholding our unity," Abdullah said, adding that division of the society is inimical to our glorious ethos. -- PTI  
image
22:15   No chance of alliance with TMC, CPI-M in Tripura: Cong
All India  Congress Committee member in-charge of Tripura, Ajay Kumar Wednesday said there is no chance of the party forging any alliance with either Trinamool Congress or Communist Party of India-Marxist in the state assembly election due in early 2023.
           
He, however, kept doors open for alliance with Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma-led TIPRA Motha, which recently swept to power in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.
        
He expressed confidence that the Congress will capture power in the state in the next assembly election.
        
"People of Tripuira want to bring back Congress to power for good governance,".Kumar told reporters at the Pradesh Congress Bhawan.
         
"There will be no alliance with TMC and no alliance with the communists. No chance," he said.
        
On the party's understanding with the state outfit, he said,"Congress and TIPRA Motha have a lot of similarities in their agendas like empowerment of tribals and autonomy. But we have not opened any dialogue with that party".
         
Asked if  Congress will support TIPRA Motha's call for 'Greater Tipraland', Kumar said Congress shares the agenda of fighting for the  rights of tribals and the poor but it will not support any party on contentious issues like changing the demarcation of states' borders.
        
"Demarcation of borders is a national issue ... We don't believe in any kind of change in states' borders. It has to happen after discussions by  all stakeholders. I don't think we shall be ever discussing such changes", he said.
        
Asked about the resignation of the Tripura Congress president Pijush Kanti Biswas in August to protest against lack of desired support and cooperation from the state party leaders, he said,"Biswas had withdrawn his resignation the same day. Unity and cooperation is essential to make any party stronger. We have taken efforts to make a strong organization".
        
He alleged that promises made by BJP before the 2018 state election were not implemented and a strong anti-incumbency was prevailing in the state. -- PTI
image
21:56   Mumbai reports 400+ Covid cases after over a month
Mumbai reported 416 new COVID-19 cases, the highest since July 21, and four deaths on Wednesday, a senior Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official said.
           
The tally of COVID-19 cases in the financial capital of the country thus rose to 7,44,571 and death toll reached 15,981.
        
On July 21, the city had recorded 435 new cases. The number had dipped below 400 after that.
        
The average doubling rate -- period taken for the caseload to double --  has now gone below 1,500 days while the number of sealed buildings has crossed 30, adding to the authorities' concerns.
        
In August, the average doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in the city had improved to more than 2,000 days and number of sealed buildings had gone down to 20.
        
But daily new cases are rising steadily for the past two weeks. 
        
On August 16, Mumbai had reported 190 new infections, lowest since April 2020. The number climbed over 300 from August 25.
        
There are 3,187 active COVID-19 cases in the city at present, as per the BMC. -- PTI
image
21:41   Chhattisgarh CM launches app, web portal to record data of OBC, EWS population
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday launched a mobile application and web portal of the Chhattisgarh Quantifiable Data Commission to record the population of the Other Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections in the state, an official said.
         
Speaking at the launch at his official residence, the chief minister said providing justice to the deprived sections of the society and creating equal opportunities is the state government's top priority.
        
"The state government has taken several steps for the welfare of farmers, forest dwellers, labourers and landless people. The state government had increased the reservation for the OBCs from 14 per cent to 27 per cent through an ordinance on September 4, 2019. Apart from this, a provision of 10 per cent reservation has also been made for people from the EWS category," Baghel said.
        
However, this decision had been challenged in the court, following which the Chhattisgarh high court, while staying the implementation of the order, directed the state government to submit a quantifiable data of the concerned population, he said.
        
In compliance with the high court's directive and to legally strengthen the provisions of reservation, the state government has constituted a Quantifiable Data Commission and its portal and mobile app have been launched, Baghel said.
        
The mobile app and web portal will help the commission complete its work in a systematic and accurate manner, he said, appealing to people from the OBC and EWS categories to cooperate in the work of data collection in the survey.
        
A total of 5,549 supervisors have been appointed for the survey in the state, of which 1,103 have been appointed in the urban areas and 4,446 in gram panchayat areas. -- PTI 

image
21:32   Mumbai: RT-PCR test must for travellers coming from Europe, Middle East, China
COVID-19 RT-PCR test is made mandatory for travellers arriving at the international airport in Mumbai from select countries such as the United Kingdom, Middle East, Brazil and China, from September 3, the Mumbai civic body said on Wednesday. 
                 
It said passengers arriving from or transiting through the UK, Europe, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand and Zimbabwe will have to undergo paid RT-PCR tests after they land at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International airport.
                
Other passengers (excluding the above countries), who have to exit the airport or board connecting flights, will have to show the RT-PCR negative report conducted within 72 hours of their journey, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation stated.
                
"RT-PCR tests will not be mandatory for such passengers on arrival at the Mumbai airport from 12 AM on September 3," it said. 
                
All passengers will have to submit their self-declaration forms and undertakings to officers deployed at the airport and will have to undergo 14-day home quarantine.
                
The civic body further stated that the steps are being taken based on the Centre's guidelines because of the detection of more transmissible variants of coronavirus.
                
The airport operator has already made arrangements for conducting RT-PCR tests and registration at the airport, for which passengers will have to pay Rs 600, the release stated, adding the airport can conduct 600 tests per day. -- PTI 
image
21:10   State-wise vaccination in India
Here's the data of fully vaccinated persons in states.
image
21:02   AAP to go solo in UP assembly polls: Sanjay Singh
The Aam Aadmi Party will contest elections on all 403 assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh during polls next year and not enter into an alliance with any outfit, party leader Sanjay Singh said on Wednesday.
   
His clarification came at a press conference in Noida amid speculations that the AAP could tie up with regional parties in order to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the state.
 
"We have made it clear that the AAP will fight elections on all 403 assembly seats in UP and not form alliance with any other party," Singh, AAP's Uttar Pradesh unit in-charge, told reporters, as he was flanked by senior party colleague and Delhi's deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.
Holding an interaction with reporters on the sidelines of AAP's 'Tiranga Sankalp Yatra' in Noida on Wednesday, Singh also slammed the Yogi Adityanath government for allegedly trying to prevent such campaigns of other parties.
 
"FIRs have been registered against AAP workers during the previous Tiranga Yatra in Agra. Today also party workers were sent notices and asked against joining the yatra," the Rajya Sabha MP alleged.
When told that the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police had invoked restrictions on public gatherings under CrPC section 144, Singh shot back , saying if the rules applied only to opposition political parties' events.
He said besides the yatra, which is next scheduled in Ayodhya on September 14, the AAP will be organising several other programmes in Uttar Pradesh to commemorate the 75th year of the country's Independence. -- PTI 
image
20:42   'Break farmers heads': Haryana officer shifted
The Haryana government on Wednesday transferred 19 IAS officers, including Karnal SDM Ayush Sinha, who was recently caught on tape allegedly telling policemen dealing with a farmers' protest to "break their heads".  
   
Sinha will now be the additional secretary of the Citizen Resources Information Department, a government order said, adding that he has been shifted against a vacant post.
 
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier admitted that the choice of words by Ayush Sinha, a 2018-batch IAS officer, was wrong but had defended the police action.
 
Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala had also disapproved his remark and had promised action against him. -- PTI 
image
19:59   NDA ally asks govt to roll back LPG price hike
The Bharatiya Janata Party ally Janata Dal-United demanded on Wednesday that the government roll back the hike in cooking gas cylinder prices and step in to check the rising fuel prices as these have affected common households.
 
JD-U spokesperson K C Tyagi said the repeated hike in the LPG price has affected people's budget adversely.
 
"The government should roll back the hike," he said.
 
He also spoke against leaving petrol and diesel prices to market mechanism, and said the government must step in to curb their cost for people's benefit.
 
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party has of late taken positions on certain issues that have raised eyebrows.
 
Kumar had backed the opposition's demand for a probe into the alleged snooping involving Pegasus spyware.
 
He has also led the chorus for a caste census, a politically fraught issue over which the BJP has so far maintained silence.
 
The prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cooking gas cylinders across all categories including subsidised gas were hiked on Wednesday by Rs 25 per cylinder -- the third straight increase in rates in less than two months.
 
Subsidised as well as non-subsidised LPG now costs Rs 884.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi, according to a price notification of oil companies. -- PTI  
image
19:44   Is Taliban a terror organization or not?: Omar to Centre
A day after India officially talked to the Taliban, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday asked the Union government to clarify whether or not it considered the outfit a terror organisation.
   
"Either Taliban is a terror organisation or it is not. Please clarify to us how you (GoI) see the Taliban," the National Conference vice president told reporters after an Indian representative in Doha met a Taliban leader on Tuesday.
 
This was the first officially acknowledged meeting when Indian Ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal met senior Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai and conveyed India's concerns that Afghanistan's soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism.
 "Is the Taliban a terrorist organisation and if it is not, will you move to the United Nations to delist it as a terror organisation. Right now, you (India) are presiding over the UN Security Council," Abdullah, who has been a Minister of State for External Affairs during Vajpayee's tenure, said.
 
Citing media reports, he questioned that if the Taliban is a terror outfit then why is the government engaging with it in Qatar.
 
"They are engaging Taliban. It is in today's news that you are talking to each other in Qatar. If you are talking to them, why are you asking this question to me," he said.
 
He was replying to a question whether India should engage with the Taliban and give it a chance.
  
He further asked how does one distinguish the Taliban from other terrorist outfits. "If it is not a terrorist organisation, please move in the UN to remove it from the list of terror organisations. Let its bank accounts start functioning, let us not treat them differently," Abdullah said. 
 
The former chief minister said there should not be different yardsticks for different terror organisations.
 
"If they are a terror organisation, why are you (GoI) talking to them? If they are not a terror organisation, why are you banning their bank accounts. Why are you not recognizing their government? Make up your mind," he said. -- PTI 
image
19:43   Covid: Cases of depression, social media addiction on the rise among youth, say docs
Cases of anxiety, depression and social media addiction have been on the rise among the youth during the Covid pandemic, a private hospital said on Wednesday.
   
Doctors at Apollo Hospital said curbs on outdoor activity since the outbreak of the pandemic have led to issues of irritability, erratic sleep, appetite problems and weight gain becoming more common among youths.
 
"The number of OPD consultations for young adults have doubled for anxiety, depression, gaming and social media addiction and inability to concentrate and focus on studies," said Dr Sandeep Vohra, senior consultant, mental health and psychiatry.
 
Therefore, he said, parents are advised to actively engage with their children, talk to them and observe all kind of behavioural changes shown by them.
 
Doctors compared average number of such cases in 2021 with the corresponding figures in 2019 to reach their conclusion, a spokesperson of the hospital said.
 
With remote learning being the only solution for continuation of studies during the pandemic, the use of internet has increased manifold, their study said.
 
Further, due to lack of physical activities, various behavioural changes have been observed among school and college-going students.
 
All these factors are contributing to the cultivating of a sedentary lifestyle among young adults, and a feeling of agitation and helplessness among them, it said.
 
Doctors highlighted the role of certain hormones--endorphins, serotonin, dopamine--released during physical activity, in keeping one happy and even-keeled.
 
They stressed that mental health issues of young adults must be addressed by parents and teachers at the earliest.
 
If the issues persist still, they should seek professional help, the doctors advised, according to the statement.
 
Adolescence is an evolving stage of life, any disturbance in terms of both physical and mental health at this stage can hamper the future experiences in life, they said. -- PTI
image
19:21   Goa opens Covid vaccination for foreigners
Foreign nationals staying in Goa can now take COVID-19 vaccines after showing the passport, a state government official said on Wednesday. 
                 
Goa Vaccination Nodal Officer Dr Anup Netravalkar told reporters that foreign nationals can either book a slot online through the CoWIN portal or visit vaccination centres to receive the jab.
                
He said the foreigners, who had received their first dose of the vaccine outside Goa, can take the second jab in the coastal state. 
                
Netravalkar also said the state government has decided to reduce the gap between two doses of vaccine for the teaching and non-teaching staff from 84 days to six weeks. 
                
He said the vaccination drive won't be organised on September 10 and 11 on the occasion of Ganesh festival.
                
"This would be the first time in Goa that vaccination will take a break. The vaccination drive has been going on for the last 228 days without a break," Netravalkar said.
             
He said a total of 15,63,726 people had received the first jab in the state and "35 per cent of them were administered the second jab". 
        
Goa's coronavirus caseload went up by 95 to reach 1,74,050 on Wednesday, a health department official said. -- PTI 
image
19:07   Jallianwala restored with utmost respect: Govt
Amid allegations the government was "glamourising" the Jallianwala Bagh complex, the culture ministry Wednesday said it has been "restored" by the Archaeological Survey of India, the agency that has restored World Heritage sites in the country, to conserve it for posterity.
 
It also said a "poignant" soundtrack has been chosen as part of the sound and light show describing the event on the day of the massacre. 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated four new galleries and opened the renovated memorial virtually, a year-and-a-half after it was closed for the revamp.
The well into which the people jumped when forces led by Reginald Dyer opened fire on them has been covered with a transparent barrier. 

The narrow entrance has been adorned with sculptures. 

A daily sound and light show explaining the events has been started.
Ministry of Culture Secretary Raghvendra Singh argued the complex was in dire need of conservation. 
"It has been restored by the Archaeological Survey of India which is the agency that restored World Heritage sites in the country. Instead of letting a derelict structure to fall, we have restored it to conserve it for posterity," he told PTI, but refused to comment on the political storm brewing over the restoration.
On the criticism over the light and sound show, Singh said that the show existed but it became defunct over time.
"The soundtrack is so poignant. It has been very sensitively done and is informative as well. Anyone coming to this place will leave better informed. The galleries too have been improved, technology has been improved to bring out the poignancy of the killings of innocents and how the incident influenced other bravehearts," said Singh.
He said the work has been done with "utmost respect".
Slamming the revamp, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said only a person who does not know the "meaning of martyrdom can inflict such an insult on the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh".
image
18:48   Kerala logs 32,803 fresh Covid cases, 173 deaths
Kerala on Wednesday reported 32,803 new COVID-19 cases and 173 deaths which pushed the total infection count to 40,90,036 and the fatalities to 20,961.
  
The test positivity rate was found to be 18.76 per cent after testing of 1,74,854 samples in the last 24 hours, according to a state government release.

With this, 3,17,27,535 samples have been tested till now, it said.

It also said that since Tuesday, 21,610 people have recovered from the infection taking the total recoveries to 38,38,614 and the number of active cases to 2,29,912.
 
Among the 14 districts of the state, Thrissur recorded the highest with 4,425 cases followed by Ernakulam (4,324), Kozhikode (3,251), Malappuram (3,099), Kollam (2,663), Thiruvananthapuram (2,579), Palakkad (2,309), Kottayam (2,263), Alappuzha (1,975), Kannur (1,657), Pathanamthitta (1,363), Wayanad (1,151) and Idukki (1,130).

Of the new cases, 108 were health workers, 154 from outside the state and 31,380 infected through contact with the source of the contact not being clear in 1,161 cases, the release said.

There are currently 5,57,085 people under surveillance in various districts. Of these, 5,24,380 are in home or institutional quarantine and 32,705 in hospitals. -- PTI 
image
18:30   Jaishankar speaks to British counterpart Raab on situation in Afghanistan
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his British counterpart Dominic Raab on Wednesday on the situation in Afghanistan, their second such conversation in a week.
   
India has been in constant touch with all major countries on the fast-paced developments in Afghanistan, particularly after the Taliban took control of the country on August 15.
 
"Nice speaking again to UK Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab. Conversation focused on Afghanistan related developments," Jaishankar tweeted.
 
The Jaishankar-Raab conversation came a day after the US completed the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan, ending its two-decade war in the country.
 
The external affairs minister spoke to Raab on August 25 as well on the Afghan crisis.
 
On Wednesday, Jaishankar also spoke to Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi.
 
"Good to talk to Omani Foreign Minister @badralbusaidi. Discussed Afghanistan and Covid. Thank Oman for supporting our repatriation flights," Jaishankar tweeted.
 
India has been closely monitoring the unfolding developments in Afghanistan.
 
Indian Ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal met senior Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai in Doha on Tuesday, in the first formal and pubicly acknowledged contact between the two sides.
 
The meeting took place at the Indian embassy in Doha at the request of the Taliban side and came two weeks after the outfit seized control of Kabul.
 
India has been a key stakeholder in Afghanistan and it has invested nearly USD 3 billion in carrying out nearly 500 projects across Afghanistan.
 
The UN Security Council, under India's presidency, on Monday adopted a resolution demanding that the territory of Afghanistan not be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists.
 
There have been mounting concerns in India over the possibility of rise in activities of various terror groups, including Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. -- PTI
image
18:24   Actor Armaan Kohli sent to 14-day judicial custody
A Mumbai court on Wednesday sent Bollywood actor Armaan Kohli, arrested in a drugs case, to 14-day judicial remand at the end of his Narcotics Control Bureau custody.
  
Kohli, soon after being remanded to judicial custody, moved a bail plea before the court.

The actor was placed under arrest on August 28 after being questioned by the Narcotics Control Bureau following recovery of drug from his house in suburban Juhu.
 
He was produced before the court at the end of his NCB custody on Wednesday.

The court sent the 49-year-old actor to jail under judicial custody as no further remand was sought by the apex  drug law enforcement  agency.     
 
Earlier, the  NCB had told the court it had seized more than one gram of cocaine from the actor's house during a raid.

The central agency had told the court that there was evidence to suggest Kohli, booked under the  Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, was associated with an international drug syndicate.
 
An alleged drug peddler, Ajay Raju Singh, who was arrested by the NCB along with the actor and booked under the NDPS Act, too, was  sent to 14-day judicial custody by the court.

Kohli has featured in the Salman Khan-starter Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, among other Hindi, films and was also one of the contestants of TV reality show Bigg Boss. -- PTI 
Vietnam PM Pham Minh Chinh
Vietnam PM Pham Minh Chinh
18:04   Vietnam PM to visit India at year-end
Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will visit India at the end of 2021 to discuss with PM Narendra Modi measures to advance bilateral comprehensive and strategic partnership, the country's ambassador, Pham Sanh Chau, said here on Wednesday.
 
This will be his first visit to India since taking charge in April this year. 
"Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is scheduled to pay an official visit to India at the end of 2021 to discuss with PM Modi measures to advance our bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership forward," the diplomat said at the event.
During a telephonic conversation in July, Prime Minister Modi had congratulated Chinh on his appointment as the premier of Vietnam and invited him to undertake an official visit to India at an early suitable date.
PM Modi had expressed confidence that the India-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership will continue to become stronger under Chinh's able guidance.
Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi and Chau also inaugurated a bust of Vietnam's founding father and President Ho Chi Minh at Kautilya Marg park in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri.
This is the second bust of Ho Chi Minh in India, the first being in Kolkata.   
Chau said a bust of Mahatma Gandhi will be inaugurated in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, on the occasion of his 152nd birth anniversary on October 2.
The city was named after President Ho Chi Minh in 1975 when Vietnam was unified. 
"Mahatma Gandhi's bust will be standing in Tao Dan park, the most open and beautiful park in Ho Chi Minh city. Is this a coincidence? No, this is destiny. A destiny that brought the two great men of mankind together in their thought that brought the Vietnamese and Indian people together. They have been, continue to be and will always be great friends of each other," he said.
The bust of President Ho Chi Minh will stand forever as a reminder of the depth and the strength of the long-lasting cordial relationship dated more than 2,000 years ago when Buddhism started spreading from India to Vietnam, Chau said.
"Uncle Ho wrote over 60 articles, research papers, poems, letters, telegraph messages and speeches about India and his experience with Indian leaders. His in-depth knowledge about India and its people and his close association with the then Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru has helped cement the Vietnam-India relationship,"he said. 
Lekhi said the way Mahatma Gandhi and India live in the hearts of Vietnamese people, "Ho Chi Minh is our hero, too. He lives in our hearts". 
"I'm happy to be here to pay my respect to President Ho Chi Minh whose love for our country lay the foundation of Vietnam- India relations on politics, diplomacy, economics, defence security, education training, science and technology and people to people relations. Present political structure of both counties may be different, but we share a strong historical and cultural bond," she said.
"The two countries share their history for thousands of years. At that time, the border of India and Vietnam would have been a contiguous border. And even today, there are no borders in our hearts and minds," she said. -- PTI 
Arun Ferreira, one of the Elgar Parishad accused
Arun Ferreira, one of the Elgar Parishad accused
17:50   NIA, Maha oppose bail pleas of Elgar Parishad accused
The Maharashtra government as well as the National Investigation Agency on Wednesday opposed applications for `default' bail filed by some of the accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoists links case before the Bombay high court.
  
After both sides concluded arguments, the court reserved its order.

Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira have challenged the power of the Pune sessions court which took cognizance of the charge sheet in 2019, and sought bail on this technical ground or `by default'. 

On Wednesday, senior advocate Sudeep Pasbola, Dhawale's lawyer, told a bench of Justices S S Shinde and N J Jamadar that the accused were booked for `scheduled offenses' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and hence only a special court for UAPA cases could have handled the case and not an ordinary sessions court.

On the other hand, Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, the state government's lawyer, argued that in September 2018 the Pune court had granted extension of 90 days to Pune Police (who probed the case initially) to file a chargesheet. 

As the chargesheet was filed within that period, the accused were not entitled to default bail, he said.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, who appeared for the NIA, made the same argument. A court taking cognizance of charge sheet has no relevance for default bail application, he added.

Advocate Pasbola said the NIA's argument was that the case should have gone before a special court only after the central agency took it over  in January 2020, but that was not what the law mandated.

The bench then reserved the matter for order. 

Activist and lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, a co-accused, too had filed a similar plea earlier this year seeking default bail.

Bharadwaj's counsel and senior advocate Yug Chaudhry had argued before the HC that  judge K D Vadane, who had taken cognizance of the police's charge sheet and remanded Bharadwaj and seven other accused in judicial custody, was not a designated special judge.
image
17:29   Mapped: GST revenue collection
Signalling accelerating economic activity, GST collection topped the Rs 1-lakh-crore mark for the second straight month in August at Rs 1.12 lakh crore.
image
17:00   Rahul deconstructs increase in 'GDP'
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi holds a press conference. Highlights...

In the last seven years, we have seen a new economic paradigm. Demonetisation on one side, and monetisation on the other side. 

-- First Modi ji said that he is undertaking demonetisation and Finance Minister says that she is undertaking monetisation. The people are asking what is undergoing monetisation, and what is being subjected to demonetisation?

-- Farmers, labourers, small and medium businesses, MSMEs, salaried class, govt employees and honest industrialists are being demonetised. Who is being monetised? 4-5 friends of Narendra Modiji - economic transfer is being done.

-- Modiji keeps saying that GDP is rising, Finance Minister says that GDP is showing an upward projection. I then understood what does it mean by GDP. It means 'Gas-Diesel-Petrol'. They have this confusion.

"When UPA left in 2014, LPG cylinder was priced at Rs 410/cylinder. Today, it costs Rs 885/cylinder - a rise of 116%. Petrol was Rs 71.5/litre in 2014, today it's Rs 101/litre - a rise of 42%. Diesel was priced at Rs 57/litre in 2014, it's Rs 88/litre today. 
image
16:42   The top losers in the Sensex today
Mahindra & Mahindra dropped by 2.89 percent. 
image
16:39   Mamata demands 14 cr Covid vaccines
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday took a potshot at the Centre by highlighting the shortage of COVID-19 vaccines and said that the state requires 10 crore more vaccine doses as it has administered 4 crore doses till yesterday with zero wastage.

She stated that in accordance with the number of vaccine doses received by the West Bengal government from the Centre, "the state has administered 4 crore vaccine doses till Tuesday with zero wastage".

Addressing the inauguration of various development projects, the West Bengal Chief Minister said, "In COVID-19 vaccination, we have achieved the vaccination target as we are number one. What we got from the Centre we have given till yesterday. We completed the vaccination of 4 crore people in Bengal yesterday. My state's requirement is that of 14 crore vaccine doses, looking at the possibility of third wave where children are on priority."
image
16:33   Papad, irrespective of shape, is exempt from GST: CBIC
Papad, by whatever name known, is exempt from the GST and the tax rate does not vary based on its shape, the CBIC has clarified. The clarification by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) came after industrialist Harsh Goenka tweeted that round shaped papad is exempt from Goods and Services Tax whereas a square papad attracts the levy. 

 "Did you know that a round papad is exempt from GST and a square papad attracts GST? Can anyone suggest a good chartered accountant who can make me understand the logic?" Goenka, chairman of RPG Enterprises, tweeted on Tuesday. 

 "Papad, by whatever name known, is exempt from GST vide Entry No. 96 of GST notification No.2/2017-CT(R). This entry does not distinguish based on the shape of papad. This notification is available at cbic.gov.in," the CBIC said in a late night tweet, which quoted Goenka's tweet.
Infosys was among the major losers
Infosys was among the major losers
16:10   Sensex drops 214 points on profit booking
Equity benchmark Sensex dropped 214 points on Wednesday, led by losses in index majors Infosys, HDFC and TCS as investors booked profits at record levels despite a positive trend in global markets. 

 After touching a lifetime high of 57,918.71 during the session, the 30-share index pared all gains to end 214.18 points or 0.37 per cent lower at 57,338.21. 

 Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty declined 55.95 points or 0.33 per cent to 17,076.25. It touched an intra-day record of 17,225.75. M&M was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding around 3 per cent, followed by Tata Steel, Bajaj Finserv, TCS, HDFC and Infosys. On the other hand, Asian Paints, Nestle India, Axis Bank and Titan were among the gainers. -- PTI
NDRF rescues a baby in Kolhapur
NDRF rescues a baby in Kolhapur
16:08   Maha: Raigad gets over 2,900 mm rainfall since June
Maharashtra's Raigad district has recorded over 2,900 mm rains since June 1, which is 93.06 per cent of its average annual rainfall, an official said on Wednesday. The district recorded 83.43 mm rains in 24 hours ending 8.30 am, with Panvel taluka receiving the highest 181.40 mm showers and Poladpur getting the lowest 19 mm, the official said. As against 3,139.38 mm rainfall recorded from June 1 to September 1, 2020, the district has seen 2,993.15 mm in the same period this year, the official said. Alibaug has recorded an average annual rainfall of 101.70 per cent, which is the highest in the district, while Khalapur has received the lowest 75.07 per cent rains, he added. PTI
image
16:00   Filmmaker Farah Khan tests Covid positive
Filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan Kunder has tested positive for COVID-19, despite being fully vaccinated.

On Wednesday, the 'Main Hoon Na' director took to her Instagram Story and revealed that she has contracted the virus somehow, even though she was working with "mostly double vaxxed people."

 "I wonder if this happened coz I didn't put my "kaala teeka".. Despite being double vaccinated, and working with mostly double vaxxed people.. Iv still managed to test positive for covid.. Iv already informed everyone I came in contact with, to get tested. However if I have forgotten someone (because of old age n fading memory) pls test urself. Hoping to recover soon," Farah wrote.
image
15:39   EC to hold meeting with WB govt on bypolls
The Election Commission of India (ECI) will hold a meeting with West Bengal Chief Secretary on Wednesday via video conferencing.

The discussion will be on conducting by-polls that is pending for seven seats in Bengal, informed the officials to ANI today. The seven vacant constituency seats are Jangipur and Samserganj in Murshidabad district, Gosaba in South 24 Parganas district, Kharagpur in South Medinipur district, Nadia district's Shantipur, Cooch Behar's Dinhata and Bhowanipore.

On July 15, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had urged the Election Commission to conduct by-elections to fill seven casual vacancies in the State Legislative Assembly of West Bengal.

A TMC delegation had met with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra in the national capital and handed over a letter on this matter. The delegation included Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Saugata Roy, Derek O'Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar.

"We have appealed that all by-polls are held within six months. They listened to us and we hope that our discussions are successful," TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay had told reporters.

Notably, the general elections to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, 2021 were held in eight phases between March 27, 2021 to April 29, 2021 and concluded on May 2, 2021 with the announcement of results.

Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress won 213 seats in the West Bengal Assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party garnered 77 seats in the 294-seat state assembly.  -- ANI
image
15:36   Mapped: Covid case numbers in India
Covid cases are going up in Kerala.
Afghan protestors at the UNHRC in Delhi
Afghan protestors at the UNHRC in Delhi
15:30   Afghan protestors can be Covid super spreaders: HC
The Delhi High Court Wednesday expressed concern over a large gathering of Afghan nationals protesting outside UNHCR office and seeking refugee status, saying it could act as a super spreader of coronavirus as there is lack of adherence to COVID-19 appropriate norms. 

 The high court said the situation cannot be permitted to continue as the protestors could be seen sitting and standing next to each other without even wearing masks and asked the authorities to act on it. 

 Justice Rekha Palli asked the Centre, Delhi government and police to coordinate on how the issue can be resolved and to see the gathering does not act as a super spreader of COVID-19. 

 The high court issued notices to the ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs, Delhi government, Delhi Police, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and Delhi Jal Board on a petition by Vasant Vihar Welfare Association which stated that the foreign nationals (refugees/ asylum seekers) have gathered outside the office of the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) at B Block in South Delhi's Vasant Vihar since August 15, including lanes and parks adjoining it and residents are facing difficulties due to this. 

 The point is that the general public is suffering because of this, the court said and asked the Delhi government to inform what it has done in pursuance to the Supreme Court's direction to frame guidelines on the issue of the right to protest so as to ensure a balance between fundamental rights and the maintenance of law and order.
image
15:11   Banks to operate full time in Bengal from Thursday: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said banks in the state would start functioning full time from Thursday. Banking hours were revised several times in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases in Bengal during the course of the second wave. 

 "Banks need to operate full time now. Many new accounts are being opened due to the Lakshmir Bhandar' scheme. Therefore, we have decided to allow banks to operate as per the usual schedule," Banerjee said. The usual banking hours are 10 am to 4 pm.
image
15:00   Mapped: LPG price hike
The prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cooking gas cylinders across all categories including subsidised gas on Wednesday were hiked by Rs 25 per cylinder -- the third straight increase in rates in less than two months. Subsidised as well as non-subsidised LPG now costs Rs 884.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi, according to a price notification of oil companies. This is the third straight increase in prices in less than two months. Subsidised and non-subsidised LPG rates were hiked by Rs 25.50 per cylinder on July 1.
image
14:54   Congratulations Bihar! 23L vaccinated in a day!
A record number of 23.5 lakh people were vaccinated against COVID-19 in a single day in Bihar, the state health department said on Wednesday. The feat was achieved with several districts like Patna, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Gaya and East Champaran reporting inoculation of more than one lakh beneficiaries each on Tuesday, which was marked for Tikakaran Mahaabhiyan' (vaccination megadrive). 

 In tweets put out late Tuesday night, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed elation over the state having crossed the 20-lakh mark, and said the brisk pace would enable it to achieve the target of "six crore vaccine doses in six months". 

 He also stated that so far, more than two crore doses of vaccines have been administered in Bihar. PTI
image
14:50   State funding of religious institutions: HC seeks reply of Uttar Pradesh govt
The Allahabad High Court has sought details from the Uttar Pradesh government on funding of religious institutions like madrasas recognised and aided by it, and asked whether the policy to provide financial aid to such institutions is consistent with the secular scheme of the Constitution.

 Hearing a writ petition filed by Madrasa Anjuman Islamia Faizul Uloom and another, Justice Ajay Bhanot asked the state government to file a counter affidavit within a period of four weeks and fixed October 6 as the next date of hearing.

The bench asked the state government to bring in the record the syllabi/courses, conditions and standards of recognition including the requirement for playgrounds at the madrasas and all other religious institutions which are recognised or aided by the state government. 

 The court also asked whether madrasas so recognised and aided also admit girl students.

The state government shall also indicate in its affidavit the details of various other boards of education with institutions imparting theological education of other religious sects.
image
14:47   President prorogues Rajya Sabha
President Ram Nath Kovind prorogued Rajya Sabha on August 31, according to an official statement. "The Rajya Sabha which adjourned sine die on August 11, 2021 has been prorogued by the President on August 31, 2021," the Rajya Sabha secretariat said in the statement. The Monsoon session of Parliament ended on August 11, two days ahead of schedule. Prorogation implies the end of a session not of a Parliament. -- PTI

To prorogue a session of parliament is to discontinue it without dissolving it. 
The Taliban at the Presidential Palace in Kabul
The Taliban at the Presidential Palace in Kabul
14:18   Al Qaeda praises Taliban's victory in Afghanistan
A few hours after the last US troop left Kabul, Al Qaeda's senior leadership released a congratulatory statement on Tuesday on the occasion of the "Taliban's victory" in the war-ravaged country.Al Qaeda's leaders said it "soothed" their hearts to hear verses from the Quran recited in the "Presidential Palace" in Kabul, reported FDD's Long War Journal, an American news website.

 "We praise the Almighty, the Ominpotent, who humiliated and defeated America, the head of disbelief," the statement reads.

 "We praise Him for breaking America's back, tarnishing its global reputation and expelling it, disgraced and humiliated, from the Islamic land of Afghanistan," the statement added.

The Taliban on Tuesday declared victory over the US from the tarmac of Kabul airport after the last American troop left Afghanistan. Standing on the airport runway, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told a small crowd that "This victory belongs to us all".
image
13:56   Reports of 60 youths missing from Valley fake news: Police
 Kashmir Police on Wednesday refuted reports claiming that 60 youths have gone missing from different parts of the Valley amid Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

"Some #SocialMedia platforms are running that 60 youth have gone #missing from different parts of the #Kashmir Valley amid the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. This is totally #fake news," said: IGP Kashmir," Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. 

On August 15, Afghanistan had fallen to the Taliban and since then people are in a state of terror with increasing cases of human rights abuses being reported from several parts of the country. -- ANI
Saira Banu with Dilip Kumar
Saira Banu with Dilip Kumar
13:54   Saira Banu hospitalised
Actor Saira Banu, wife of late veteran actor Dilip Kumar, was admitted to Hinduja Hospital in Khar, Mumbai after she complained of issues related to blood pressure three days ago. She has been shifted to the ICU ward today. 
image
13:36   Justice Kureshi's exclusion from SC raises troubling questions
Justice Akil Kureshi's absence in the present list of nine new appointees to the Supreme Court has become a raging point of discussion. Read more here. 

image
13:35   India's mfg sector activities moderate in Aug constrained by COVID-19, surging costs: PMI
India's manufacturing sector activities moderated in August, as business orders and production rose at softer rates due to the pandemic and rising input costs, a monthly survey said on Wednesday. 

The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) stood at 52.3 in August, down from 55.3 in July, indicating a softer rate of growth that was subdued and below its long-run average. 

 The August PMI data pointed to an improvement in overall operating conditions for the second straight month. In PMI parlance, a print above 50 means expansion while a score below 50 denotes contraction.
image
13:32   Rawat to do penance for 'panj pyare' remark
Congress leader Harish Rawat today apologised for his controversial comments comparing Navjot Sidhu and team to "Punj Pyare", a term of reverence for Sikhs. He also promised to atone for the blunder by volunteering his services at a gurdwara.

"I used that word (Panj Pyare) as a reference for a respected person. Still, if my words hurt feelings of any person, I apologize and take my words back. For atonement, I'll sweep the floors of a Gurudwara in my state (Uttarakhand)," Punjab Congress in charge Harish Rawat said today. 

He added that it was his responsibility to discuss with the PCC chief, his team and the "Panj Pyare"(Navjot Singh Sidhu and 4 working presidents). "Sidhu has told me that the discussions over polls, organizational structure will be geared up... Rest assured, PCC is working.

Rawat, whose comments about removing Sidhu's advisers over their ill-advised comments on Kashmir and Pakistan worsened the infighting in the party, had described the Punjab Congress chief and his working presidents as "Punj Pyaras".

"As far as I know, Navjot Singh Sidhu is the first PCC chief who held a meeting with all frontal organisations and others to find out that where are they facing problems in their functions and how can it be resolved."
image
13:16   Speaking Truth To Power: Citizens And The Law
"It is important to first ask ourselves what does "speaking truth to power" even mean? Defined in ancient Greek tradition as parrhesia, it refers to an an act by a speaker to use truth to criticize someone more powerful than them. In India, it would be akin to Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of satyagraha, where truth is used as a form of non-violent resistance to those in power. As such, "speaking truth to power" aims to wield the power of "truth" against the powerful, be it an imperial power or even an all-powerful State. Crucially, the assumption is that the act of speaking the "truth" will counter-act power, and obviate a predisposition towards tyranny."

Read the full text of Justice MC Chagla Memorial Lecture By Justice DY Chandrachud here. 

Karnataka CM Basavraj Bommai
Karnataka CM Basavraj Bommai
13:11   Karnataka issues terror alert
Also from Karnataka, comes news that a high alert has been issued in the coastal areas of the state following an intelligence input received about terrorist activities in coastal Kerala, said Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday.

Interacting with media at the Hubli Airport before his departure for his assembly constituency Shiggaon, the Chief Minister said the state administration is keeping a strict watch for any suspicious activity in the coastal and adjoining forest areas. 

"I can not discuss some issues openly, but I want to tell you that Karnataka police along with NIA is keeping a strict vigil on any anti-national activity in coastal and adjoining forest areas. NIA had also picked up a person who was involved in such activities. We have also issued a high alert has in coastal areas," said the Chief Minister.

When asked if public gatherings will be permitted in the state on the occasion of Ganesh Utsav, Bommai said the state government has appointed an expert panel to study last year's celebration and Covid status presently.

"We have a meeting with the experts' panel on September 5 and will make the final decision on that day," he said. -- ANI
image
13:02   32 students test Covid +ve in Karnataka college
The case for keeping educational institutions closed. 

At least 32 students have tested positive for COVID-19 in a college in Kolar. "All of them are Kerala returnees. I'll visit the college and take action against the management," says Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar. 
image
12:52   The picture is why you don't want to be in Delhi today
A mega traffic snarl caused by waterlogging at ITO due to heavy rainfall in the national capital today. Thunderstorms with moderate to heavy intensity rain would occur in Delhi and its adjoining areas during the next two hours, the India Meteorological Department alerted on Wednesday.
Waterlogging in Gurugram today
Waterlogging in Gurugram today
12:49   India to receive above normal rainfall in Sep: IMD
The country received 24 per cent less rainfall than normal in August, belying the IMD's predictions for the month, but rainfall is expected to be above normal in September. Above normal rainfall to normal rainfall is likely over many parts of central India in September, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said on Wednesday. 

 The monsoon deficit now stands at nine per cent and this is expected to come down due to good rainfall during September, he said. Before August, June too had recorded seven per cent less rainfall. 

 The country received 24 per cent less rainfall than normal in August, but rainfall is expected to be above normal in September, the IMD said in its forecast for the month. Mohapatra also said that normal to below rainfall is expected over north and northeast India and southern parts of south India. PTI
image
12:33   A walk in the park and a movie date
This is how New Yorkers are watching movies amid the ongoing pandemic. Max Guliani tweets, "MovieNight at Bryant Park #NYC."
image
12:09   Mapped: Monsoon over India from June to August
Western India has received deficient rains this year.
Cars float on a waterlogged road in Guruguram
Cars float on a waterlogged road in Guruguram
12:07   Delhi drowns after highest rainfall in 12 years
Severe waterlogging is being seen in several parts of Gurugram following heavy rainfall.  As per the IMD, the city received 64.2 mm of rain in the last 24 hours.

"Generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers' is likely in Gurugram for the 3 three days," IMD says.

A fresh spell of heavy rain pounded the capital on Wednesday morning, submerging low-lying areas in knee-deep water and affecting traffic movement in parts of the city. 

 Officials at the India Meteorological Department said the Safdarjung Observatory, considered the official marker for the city, gauged 112.1 mm rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8:30 am on Wednesday, the highest in at least 12 years. 

In 2010, the capital had recorded 110 mm rainfall on September 20. The weather stations at Lodhi Road, Ridge, Palam and Ayanagar recorded 120.2 mm, 81.6 mm, 71.1 mm and 68.2 mm rainfall, respectively, in the 24 hours ending 8:30 am. 

 On Tuesday, Delhi gauged 84 mm rainfall in just six hours -- between 8:30 am and 2:30 pm -- that flooded roads and led to massive traffic snarls on key stretches such as ITO, Ring Road near IP Estate flyover, Dhaula Kuan, and Rohtak road. At 6 am on Wednesday, the IMD issued an alert for "one or two spells of moderate rain" and "heavy rain at isolated places" in Delhi-NCR.
image
11:59   Taliban did NOT hang interpreter from chopper'
Video footage has surfaced on social media that shows a US-made Black Hawk helicopter flying over Afghanistan's Kandahar province, with a' person seen hanging below from a rope. Early reports said the person was an Afghan interpreter working for the US in Kabul and was being executed by the Taliban. 

Factcheckers say the person in this video is not being executed. He's wearing a harness, is alive and can be seen waving to people on the ground, according to Snopes, a fact-checking website. 

The flight was an attempt to "fix a flag over a public building using their newly-captured US-built equipment," Afghanistan experts told BBC News.

Afghan journalist Bilal Sarwary tweeted, "Afghan pilot flying this is someone I have known over the years. He was trained in the US and UAE, he confirmed to me that he flew the Blackhawk helicopter. Taliban fighter seen here was trying to install Taliban flag from air but it didn't work in the end."
image
11:33   Should you watch Breathe into the shadows?
The 10 Best Thriller Web series streaming now... take a look. 
image
11:05   Mapped: The Rupee vs Dollar in August
How the Rupee fared against the USD last month.
image
11:03   Mapped: Stock market performance in August
Here's how the markets performed last month... 
image
11:03   No case of deadly Covid variant C.1.2 in India
No case of new COVID-19 variant C.1.2 has been reported in India so far, government sources said on Wednesday.

The scientists from National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) in South Africa have said that new variant of SARS-CoV-2c could be more transmissible and evade protection provided by the present COVID-19 vaccines.

The scientists said that C.1.2 was first detected in South Africa in May 2021.The potential variant of Covid has been found in China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritius, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Portugal and Switzerland.
image
10:45   AIADMK leader Panneerselvam's wife dead
AIADMK top leader and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's wife Vijayalakshmi died here on Wednesday at a hospital following illness. She was 63 and was admitted to a private hospital here for treatment, party sources said. AIADMK co-coordinator and former Chief Minister K Palaniswami and several party office-bearers and MLAs rushed to the hospital on learning about her demise, they said. PTI
image
10:41   A 9,000-Mile Journey Along India's Contested Land Borders
Suchitra Vijayan's "Midnight's Borders" follows the lives of people in the borderlands facing displacement and state-sanctioned violence. Read more
image
10:29   Lekhara fails to qualify for Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1 final, other Indians also disappoint
Shooter Avani Lekhara, who became India's first female gold medallist in Paralympic Games two days ago, failed to replicate her success as she crashed out in the qualification round of the mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1 event in Tokyo on Wednesday. 

The SH1 (Rifle) allows individuals with no impairment in the upper limbs but an impairment in either/both the lower limbs to compete. Lekhara was not at her usual best as she she finished a disappointing 27th with a score of 629.7, crashing out in the third round. 

Other Indian para shooters in the men's event, Sidhartha Babu and Deepak Kumar witnessed a horrible outing, finishing 40th and 43rd respectively with scores of 625.5 and 624.9 at the Asaka Shooting Range. 

 The gold in this event was won by Germany's Natascha Hiltrop, while silver and bronze were bagged by South Korean Park Jinho and Ukraine's Iryna Schetnik. The 19-year-old Lekhara created history in her debut Games, winning India's first Paralympic medal in shooting with a gold in R2 women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1. -- PTI
image
10:15   Sensex surges over 200 points to hit fresh record
Equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 200 points to scale a fresh record in early trade on Wednesday, following strong GDP data and heavy foreign fund inflow. 

 The broader NSE Nifty too surged to its lifetime high of 17,194.35. After touching a record high of 57,783.34, the 30-share index was trading 205.86 points or 0.36 per cent up at 57,758.25. 

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty advanced 56.55 points or 0.33 per cent to 17,188.75 in the opening session. Axis Bank was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 4 per cent, followed by Asian Paints, L&T, Bajaj Auto, IndusInd Bank, Nestle India and UltraTech Cement. 

On the other hand, Tata Steel, HDFC, Maruti and Bajaj Finserv were among the laggards. 

 In the previous session, the BSE index ended 662.63 points or 1.16 per cent higher at its record close of 57,552.39, and Nifty soared 201.15 points or 1.19 per cent to an all-time closing peak of 17,132.20. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers in the capital market as they purchased shares worth Rs 3,881.16 crore on Tuesday, as per provisional exchange data. -- PTI
image
10:10   Last US soldier leaves Afghanistan
The US Department of Defense tweeted this image last night of the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan. His name is Major General Chris Donahue, commanding general of the 82ndABNDiv. He boarded an US airforce C-17 on August 30th, 2021, ending the U.S. mission in Kabul.
image
09:56   460 Covid deaths in India in 24 hours
India reports 41,965 new Covid-19 cases, 33,964 recoveries and 460 deaths in last 24 hours, as per the Health Ministry. 

Total cases: 3,28,10,845 
Active cases: 3,78,181 
Total recoveries: 3,19,93,644 
Death toll: 4,39,020 
Total vaccination: 65,41,13,508 (1,33,18,718 in last 24 hours)
image
09:35   Delhi schools reopen amid strict Covid protocol
Wearing masks and carrying umbrellas as heavy rains lashed Delhi, students of classes 9-12 returned to schools after they reopened on Wednesday following a long hiatus due to COVID-19. 

 Some institutions, however, chose to adopt a wait-and-watch approach and have decided to call children for physical classroom studies only after a few weeks. 

 Following a marked improvement in the Covid situation in the national capital, the Delhi government on Friday had announced that schools for classes 9 to 12, colleges and coaching institutions would reopen from September 1. 

 It had clarified that no student would be forced to attend physical classes and the consent of parents would be mandatory. "I am excited on meeting my friends," a Delhi government school student from east Delhi said, adding that with COVID-19 still around, everybody has to take precautions. "This is the new normal and we will have to adjust," the student said.

 Though it has allowed institutions to open, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has notified several safety guidelines. 

 Allowing only 50 per cent students per classroom, mandatory thermal screening, staggered lunch breaks, alternate seating arrangement and avoiding routine guest visits are among the guidelines announced by the DDMA for reopening of schools. The DDMA has said students, teachers and non-teaching staff living in Covid containment zones will not be allowed to come to schools and colleges.
image
09:30   Chidambaram warns of axis of China, Pak, Afghanistan
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday said it is too premature to congratulate ourselves over the UN Security Council adopting a resolution on Afghanistan, and cautioned that the possible axis of China, Pakistan and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is a cause for worry. 

 His remarks came after the UN Security Council, under India's Presidency, adopted a strong resolution demanding that the territory of Afghanistan not be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists and that it expects the Taliban will adhere to commitments made by it on regarding the safe and orderly departure from the country of Afghans and all foreign nationals. Reacting to the development, Chidambaram said the government is congratulating itself for the UNSC resolution adopted on Afghanistan.

 "'Resolution' has two meanings. The first is that the issue has been 'resolved' or settled to India's satisfaction. That is not what happened at the UNSC. The second meaning is that we have put our wishes on paper and got some others to sign that paper! That is what happened at UNSC yesterday," the former Union minister said on Twitter. It is too premature to congratulate ourselves, Chidambaram said.
Representational pic
Representational pic
09:15   FIR registered in J-K's Kishtwar after communally sensitive video goes viral
The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday registered an FIR after a communally sensitive video went viral on social media, officials said.

A few people were detained for allegedly sharing the video, they said, adding that the clip showed the skin of a bovine.

Considering that the clip could disturb communal harmony in the area, an FIR was registered under relevant sections of the law at Kishtwar Police Station and a few suspects were detained for questioning, they said.

After preliminary investigation, it surfaced that the video was reportedly shot near a nullah in Palmar area of Kishtwar.
Swami Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati/Facebook
Swami Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati/Facebook
08:37   FIR against UP priest for insulting Hindu women
The Masuri Police in Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh have lodged an FIR against Dasna Devi temple priest Swami Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Hindu women, a senior official said on Tuesday.

A purported video clip of the priest circulating on social media shows him sitting inside the premises of the temple and making obnoxious comments on the relationship of Hindu women with the people of another religion, Superintendent of Police (rural), Ghaziabad, Iraj Raja said.

The FIR has been registered under section 505-1(C) (intent to incite), 509 (insult the modesty of any woman), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, and section 67 (publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) of the Information Technology Act, Raja said.

Legal action would be initiated after completion of investigation of the matter, the officer added.

The priest was booked by police following a direction from National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma.

In a tweet, Sharma had asked the Uttar Pradesh Police to lodge an FIR and arrest the priest.
image
08:28   Dismantling Global Hindutva conference anti-Hindu, says Ohio Senator
A prominent American State Senator has strongly condemned hosting of the "Dismantling Global Hindutva" conference and described it as an anti-Hindu gathering as several universities asked the organisers to remove their logos from the site of the event which has generated outrage among Hindu Americans.

"This conference represents a disgusting attack on Hindus across the United States, and we must all condemn this as nothing more than racism and bigotry against Hindus. I will always stand strong against Hinduphobia," Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani said in a statement.

"I am condemning in the strongest possible terms the Dismantling Global Hindutva' Conference,'' he said.

Antani is the youngest Hindu elected official in the history of the United States and is the first Indian American state senator in Ohio history.

Being held on the weekend of September 10-12, organisers of the "Dismantling Global Hindutva" have said they want to remain anonymous. However, they have made public names of several eminent speakers and academicians who will participate in the event.

Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) has written more than 3,50,000 emails against the conference to the universities, academicians and various stake holders. In an email to CoHNA, Rutgers University president Jonathan Holloway said that it was unaware that the university logo was being used by the organisers of the conference.

"This conference paints Hindus disproportionately and falsely as purveyors of extremism, actively denies the genocide of Hindu people, and most troublingly, labels those who disagree as "Hindutva" which the conference organisers define as Hindu extremism," CoHNA said in a statement.

"The conference's features the "Hindutva Harassment Field Manual" as an official resource that categorically states that Hindus have never "faced systematic oppression throughout history and in present times". This resource also denies that anti-Hindu bias has ever led to "casualties on horrific scales," it said.

In an email, Rutgers university said that it "is not a sponsor of the symposium". However, it noted that individual faculty from Rutgers may well be participating in the conference consistent with the tradition of academic freedom and fundamental American free speech rights. Dalhousie University has urged the organisers to remove its logo from their promotional material.

"We were previously unaware that UMass Boston was listed as a co-sponsor and we have not formally received any request, not have we approved any request, for UMass to be listed as such," Marcelo Suarez-Orozco, chancellor of the university, said in an email.

CoHNA said its emails to several universities have been receiving similar response, reflecting that there was a "concerted and organized" effort against the Hindus.

Meanwhile, a group of scholars and members of academic communities, in a joint statement, came out in support of the event.

"The purpose of the Dismantling Global Hindutva conference is to bring together leading scholars in South Asian studies and public commentators on Indian society and politics from around the world in order to discuss the global phenomenon of Hindutva," they said.

In a previous statement to PTI, organisers of the conference said the goals of the conference are to scrutinise what Hindutva says and does with regard to a wide range of topics, from caste, to political economy, to gender and sexuality, and more.

The conversation will feature academics, public intellectuals, activists and artists who will speak "carefully and powerfully" to educate the wider public about these issues, they said.

"This conference is held during a time when a Hindu supremacist regime is in power in India, and so this conference will also throw light on what Hindutva does when it has captured state power by closely scrutinising both its official policies, and its unofficial policies like creating impunity for Hindutva violence and setting up a massive propaganda machinery," said the organisers, who have said that they do not want to be identified.

"We categorically reject the idea that critiquing Hindutva is in any way harmful to Hindu students. Indeed, we consider Hindutva to be the most significant threat to Hinduism's pluralist ethos, as well as to efforts to fight ills in Indian society like casteism. That certain groups can't distinguish between a critique of Hindutva and attacks on Hinduism says more about their confusion, affiliation, and desire to defend Hindutva using any rhetoric necessary, than it says about this conference," they said.
image
07:56   Afghan withdrawal best decision for US: Biden
United States President Joe Biden said withdrawing the troops from Afghanistan to end the 20-year war was the "best" and the "right" decision for America.

He said there was no reason to continue in a war that was no longer in the service of the "vital national interest" of the American people.

"I give you my word: With all of my heart, I believe this is the right decision, a wise decision, and the best decision for America," Biden said in his address to the nation from the White House on Tuesday.

"We've been a nation too long at war. If you're 20 years old today, you have never known an America at peace. So, when I hear that we could've, should've continued the so-called low-grade effort in Afghanistan, at low risk to our service members, at low cost, I don't think enough people understand how much we have asked of the 1 percent of this country who put that uniform on, who are willing to put their lives on the line in defense of our nation," he said.

Telling his fellow Americans that the war in Afghanistan is now over, Biden said he is the fourth President who has faced the issue of whether and when to end this war.

"When I was running for President, I made a commitment to the American people that I would end this war. And today, I've honoured that commitment. It was time to be honest with the American people again. We no longer had a clear purpose in an open-ended mission in Afghanistan," he said.

"After 20 years of war in Afghanistan, I refused to send another generation of America's sons and daughters to fight a war that should have ended long ago," Biden added.

TOP STORIES