LIVE! African swine fever confirmed in Patiala

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Fri, 19 August 2022

African swine fever confirmed in Patiala

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22:03 African swine fever confirmed in Patiala

Samples of unwell pigs from Punjab's Patiala district have tested positive for African Swine Fever, Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said on Friday.

Following this, the state government has declared the whole of Punjab as a 'controlled area', while Bilaspur and Sanauri Adda villages in Patiala have been notified as 'epicentre' of the disease in order to prevent, control and eradicate it, he said in an official statement.

The minister for animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy development said the government has initiated these measures under 'The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009' and they have come into force with immediate effect.

Up to a kilometre from the two villages declared the epicentre are considered as 'infected zones' while up to 10 km area are classified 'surveillance zones', he added.

Bhullar said the highly contagious and fatal viral disease affecting domestic pigs was confirmed by ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal.

No live pig, unprocessed pig meat, feed or any material from piggery farms or backyard piggery shall be taken out of or brought into the infected zone and no person shall bring into market any pig or pig products known to be infected with the disease, the minister said.

Interstate movement of pig or any material belonging to piggery farms is banned until further orders, he added. -- PTI

21:01 Story on Delhi education model not paid: NYT

The New York Times story on Delhi's education system was based on 'an impartial and on-the-ground reporting', the American newspaper said on Friday, rejecting the paid news charge.

The report triggered a war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party after the Central Bureau of Investigation raided the residence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also hold the education and excise portfolios, on Friday in connection with alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the AAP's government's excise policy.

The AAP said the Narendra Modi government sent the CBI to Sisodia's home after The New York Times carried a positive story on the Delhi model of education, and the BJP hit back saying it was a 'paid' article.

Requested for a clarification on the matter, the NYT's external communications director Nicole Tylor told PTI in an email, 'Our report about efforts to improve Delhi's education system is based on impartial, on-the-ground reporting.'

She said education is an issue that The New York Times has covered over many years.

'Journalism from The New York Times is always independent, free from political or advertiser influence,' she added.

On the charge that the same story was also published by the Khaleej Times, Tylor clarified, 'Other news outlets routinely license and republish our coverage.'

On August 18, The New York Times published the story, titled 'Our children are worth it', in the front page of its international edition, highlighting the 'broader transformation of Delhi's education system' during the Aam Aadmi Party regime and noting that 'the overhaul of the public schools in the capital of India has students clamouring to enroll'.

Along with the story, the NYT published a picture of Sisodia with three girl students of Delhi government schools, with the caption, 'Manish Sisodia, the Delhi education minister, started the overhaul by making surprise visits to schools. Now other states in India are pushing to adopt the Delhi model.' -- PTI

20:50 First indigenous monkeypox test kit released

The first indigenously-developed RT-PCR kit for testing monkeypox was launched at the Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone (AMTZ) on Friday.

Developed by Transasia Bio-Medicals, the kit was unveiled by Principal Scientific Adviser to the Centre Ajay Kumar Sood.

The Transasia-Erba monkeypox RT-PCR kit is highly sensitive, but an easy-to-use test with uniquely formulated primer and probe for enhanced accuracy.

Founder-chairman of Transasia Suresh Vazirani said the kit would help in early detection and better management of the infection which the WHO declared as a public health emergency of international concern.

Scientific Secretary Arabinda Mitra, former Director General of ICMR Balram Bhargava, adviser in the Department of Biotechnology Alka Sharma and others were present at the launch-function. -- PTI

20:07 Dolo 650 manufacturer rubbishes freebie claim

Bengaluru-based pharmaceutical company Micro Labs Limited on Friday termed allegations that it had gifted freebies worth Rs 1000 crore to doctors to promote its Dolo-650 tablets as 'baseless and incorrect'.

The company claimed that the brand had done a business of just Rs 350 crore when Covid was at its peak and it was simply unviable for it to promote the drug by spending a much larger amount.

"It is impossible for any company to spend Rs 1,000 cr on the marketing of a brand which did 350 cr in the Covid year. That too when Dolo 650 comes under NLEM (price control)," said Jayaraj Govindaraju, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Communication, Micro Labs Limited while speaking to ANI.

He also claimed that it was not just Dolo tablets but several other products of the company that were used widely due to the COVID onslaught.

"It was not just Dolo 650, even other COVID protocol drugs like Vitamin C and Vitamin combinations also did very well during COVID," he added.

The Supreme Court on Thursday described the matter pertaining to the allegation that the manufacturer of Dolo 650 had distributed freebies worth Rs 1,000 crore as a 'serious issue'.

An NGO, based on some findings of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), had raised the issue related to freebies being used to encourage doctors to prescribe drugs.

The Supreme Court asked the Centre to file its response within 10 days on the PIL seeking directions to make pharmaceutical companies liable for giving freebies to doctors as an incentive.

A bench of Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice A S Bopanna was informed that makers of Dolo-650 mg tablet had invested Rs 1,000 crore in freebies to have its anti-fever drug prescribed to patients.

The Central Board for Direct Taxes has accused makers of the Dolo-650 tablet of distributing freebies worth Rs 1,000 crore to doctors as consideration for prescribing the tablet, said senior advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Association of India.

Justice D Y Chandrachud remarked that it is a 'serious issue' and said that even he was prescribed the same tablet during COVID.

According to Dr Chandra Gulati, Editor, Monthly Index of Medical Specialities (MIMS), not only drugs formulations but their molecules should also come under price control to avoid such activities.

"My views are that there are about 2,000 molecules in India and out of that not even one-third are under control and companies can price them the way they want. The problem is that the basic salt isn't under price control, what is under price control is the formulation, for eg if paracetamol is 500, 600, or 125 miligram. Now, if the paracetamol is under price control then the problem is over, but it's not like that."

"The problem is certain formulations of a paracetamol are under price control like 500 mgm is under control, but 650 mgm paracetamol isn't. So they can sell the drug at higher prices." he said.

A Delhi based drug distributor, Kanav Nangia, said the price of Crocin and Dolo 650 is similar but the distribution commission is more in Dolo 650.

"Still the demand for the medicine is high because of the viral Fever and COVID," the distributor said.

When asked about these aspects, Govindraju claimed that the Dolo-650 manufacturer had reduced the distribution rate as well. -- ANI

Alluding to his rebellion against the Shiv Sena leadership in June which toppled the Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress coalition government in the state, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said he and his supporters 'broke a very tough Dahi Handi'.

Shinde, who was sworn in as chief minister on June 30 with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party and fifty-odd MLAs including those from the Shiv Sena, attended a Dahi Handi event at Tembhi Naka in Thane.

"You are breaking a Dahi Handi now. We broke a very tough Dahi Handi one and a half months back. It was very difficult, high, and we had to put up 50 strong layers but we succeeded," said the rebel Shiv Sena leader.

While Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray wanted a party worker to become Maharashtra chief minister, the late Anand Dighe wanted a Sena worker from Thane to get the top post, he said.

Dighe, a prominent face of the Shiv Sena in Thane in the 1990s, is considered to be Shinde's mentor.

Dighe's wish has been fulfilled now, the chief minister said, speaking before a huge crowd of revellers and supporters.

Dahi Handi, where troupes of 'govindas' vie with each other to form human pyramids and break earthen pots of curd or buttermilk suspended high above the ground, is a popular feature of the Krishna Janmashtami festivities in Maharashtra.

In Mumbai and Thane, the event also gets political patronage in a big way. -- PTI

JUST IN: The Central Bureau of Investigation lists 15 accused, including Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, in its first information report (FIR) on alleged excise scam, say officials. -- PTI

Hundreds of people from Myanmar crossed over to India over the last few days after a fresh bout of violence rocked the neighbouring country's Chin state, a local leader said.

Zokhawthar village council president Lalmuanpuia told PTI that hundreds of people from Myanmar entered Mizoram since Sunday.

The latest crisis was triggered by the Myanmar army torching Haimual village in that country's Chin state and 'abducting' five people, including two children of the leader of a civil defence force, on Sunday, he said.

Haimual village is about 7 km away from Zokhawthar, the first border village in Mizoram's Champhai district.

The violence at Haimual and the recent attack on the Myanmar army camp in Khawmawi have triggered the fresh influx from the neighbouring country to Zokhawthar and surrounding villages, Lalmuanpuia said.

The state Home Department could not be reached immediately to confirm the number of Myanmar nationals who crossed over to India since Sunday.

Thousands of people from Myanmar fled to Mizoram after February last year when the Myanmar Army took power through a coup.

The Myanmar nationals are taking shelter in different parts of Mizoram and provided with food and other relief by the state government, NGOs, students' bodies, churches and village authorities.

Around 156 makeshift relief camps have been set up across the state, official sources said.

Most of the Myanmar nationals are from Chin state and share ethnicity with the Mizos. The majority of them live in relief camps, while others are accommodated by their local relatives, and some live in rented houses.

Six Mizoram districts -- Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Serchhip, Hnahthial and Saitual -- share a 510-km-long international border with Myanmar's Chin state. -- PTI

Four persons including two staff of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad office were arrested on Friday by the police in Wayanad in connection with the damage caused to Mahatma Gandhi's photo allegedly following a violent protest by activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) nearly two months ago.

While police confirmed the arrest of four people in connection with the incident, Congress sources told PTI that two of the arrested persons were staff of the Wayanad MP's office here while two others were workers of the party.

The Congress had alleged that the photo of Mahatma Gandhi, which was hanging on the wall of Rahul Gandhi's office, was damaged during the vandalism of the Wayanad MP's office allegedly by SFI activists on June 24. -- PTI

Amid a buzz that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may emerge as the opposition's prime ministerial candidate, his party Janata Dal-United said on Friday if other parties want so, then this is an option.

JD-U president Lalan Singh said Kumar's main focus is on uniting opposition parties to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and he will visit the national capital to meet leaders from various parties after the vote of confidence in the Bihar assembly next week.

Kumar, Bihar's longest serving chief minister and the main face of the JD-U, is not a contender for the opposition's prime ministerial candidate, his close aide Singh told PTI.

Asked for the party's view in case of other opposition parties backing him to take on the mantle, he said, "If other parties decide and want so, then it's an option."

The JD-U president and Lok Sabha MP noted that many opposition leaders, including Sharad Pawar and Arvind Kejriwal, called up Kumar to congratulate him after he snapped ties with the BJP and allied with its rivals to form a new government in Bihar.

He said all opposition parties should sit together to decide on the leadership to take on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls.

"Or, all parties should fight unitedly to defeat the BJP and decide later who will be their leader. Both options are there. Nitish Kumar will work on bringing all other parties fighting the BJP on one platform to pose a united challenge to its rule," he said.

Kumar's decision to break ties with the BJP, his ally since 1996 except for a period between 2013-17, has fuelled speculation about his prime ministerial bid.

BJP leaders have claimed that it was this ambition which was behind his decision to join hands with the Rashtriya Janata Dal-Congress-Left alliance.

Kumar has rejected such claims.

There is a view that his image untainted by allegations of corruption and nepotism -- twin planks of the BJP to target most opposition parties including the Congress -- makes him a strong choice to emerge as the leader of the joint Opposition.

Lalan Singh also made light of the BJP's target of winning at least 35 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, and claimed the party will lose 40 seats from its 2019 tally in Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand alone.

Losing 40 seats will reduce the BJP's tally to below the majority mark, he noted, saying the ruling party should worry about its fate across the country in such a scenario.

In the 2019 polls the BJP had won 303 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. -- PTI

The National Investigating Agency (NIA) which is investigating the July 26 murder of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leader Praveen Nettar has obtained the custody of five key accused in the case for six days.

The NIA approached the special court on Thursday for custody of the accused till August 23 after the State police completed custodial investigations on August 16, officials said.

The accused taken into custody are Naufal (28), Sainul Abid (22), Mohammed Syed (32), Abdul Basheer (29) and Riyaz (27).

Bellare police in Sullia had registered a case under prevention of unlawful activities act in connection with the murder.

The case was later transferred to NIA.

Praveen Nettar was hacked to death on July 26 night when he was about to return home after closing his chicken stall at Bellare in Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. -- PTI

15:15 CBI raids Sisodia: AAP supporters detained

Several Aam Aadmi Party supporters were on Friday detained for protesting against Central Bureau of Investigation raid at the residence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in New Delhi in connection with the excise policy case, police said.

A senior police officer said the party supporters came to Mathura Road near Sisodia's residence and started protesting.

The protesters were removed from the spot and taken to Vasant Kunj police station in buses, he said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday carried out searches at the residences of Sisodia and IAS officer Arava Gopi Krishna besides at 19 other locations after registering an FIR in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. The central agency had registered the FIR in connection with the alleged irregularities in formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy brought in November last year. PTI NIT

14:45

COVID-19 situation in India as on August 19, 2022.

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14:16 Vacant dilapidated building collapses in Mumbai

A vacant and dilapidated five-storey building collapsed in Borivali area of Mumbai on Friday afternoon, but there was no report of any casualty so far, civic officials said.

The fire brigade personnel are checking whether anyone was trapped under the debris, an official said.

"Gitanjali Building near Saibaba temple in Saibaba Nagar in Borivali west collapsed around 12.30 pm. At least eight fire engines, two rescue vans and other vehicles of Mumbai fire brigade were rushed to the spot along with the police and civic ward staff," he said.

As per the information given by the R-Central ward of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the building was declared dilapidated and had been vacated, another official said.

"The fire brigade is checking whether anyone is trapped," he said. -- PTI

The Uttarakhand high court has acquitted the two main accused in the November 2021 case of vandalism and arson at the house of senior Congress leader and former Union minister Salman Khurshid.

Kundan Chilwal and Rakesh Kapil were acquitted of the charges by senior Justice Sanjay Kumar Mishra on Thursday on the basis of a letter of settlement produced by the caretaker of Khurshid's property, who was also the complainant in the matter.

On November 15, 2021, arson, vandalism and firing were reported at Khurshid's house in village Puda in Mukteshwar, causing damage to the property.

On the complaint of the caretaker of the house Sundar Ram, the police had registered a case against Chilwal and Kapil.

Earlier, the court had stayed their arrest.

On Thursday, an agreement was presented before the court on behalf of Chilwal, Kapil and caretaker Sundar Ram.

Based on this, the court disposed of the case.

The agreement states that these people were not involved in the incident which was carried out due to political reasons.

Khurshid's house had been attacked amid a raging controversy over his book Sunrise Over Ayodhya:Nationhood In Our Times in which he had drawn a comparison between Hindutva and Islamic States. -- PTI

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has registered a case against unidentified persons in connection with the yacht that was found off the Raigad coast near Mumbai with AK-47 rifles and live rounds on board, an official said on Friday.

A first information report (FIR) under sections 7 and 25 of the Arms Act has been registered against unidentified persons, and the Navi Mumbai unit of the state ATS is investigating the case, he said.

The 16-metre-long yacht with three AK-47 rifles on board was found off the coast of Harihareshwar-Shrivardhan in Raigad district Thursday morning, causing a scare, although officials had maintained that there was no terror angle in it.

The discovery of the weapons on the vessel created a buzz as it came ahead of Dahi Handi and Ganesh festivals, but Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said no terror connection had been found.

Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, had informed the state Assembly on Thursday that the name of the vessel was Lady Han and it was owned by an Australian woman.

The three assault rifles, some rounds of ammunition and also documents were found on the yacht, Fadnavis added. -- PTI

12:16 Conspiracies won't break me: Sisodia

Conspiracies will not break him or deter his resolve to continue to work for good education, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Friday as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids at his residence and 20 other places.

'The CBI has arrived and is welcome,' Sisodia said on Twitter.

Besides the home of the Aam Aadmi Party leader, the probe agency also searched the residence of IAS officer Arava Gopi Krishna and 19 other locations after registering an FIR in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

"We are hard core honest and are shaping the future of lakhs of children. It is very unfortunate that those who do good work in our country are harassed like this. That is why our country could not become the number one," Sisodia said.

In a series of posts on Twitter, he said they will extend full cooperation in the probe so the truth emerges soon.

"Till now, there have been many cases against me but nothing came out. Nothing will come out in this also. My work for good education in this country cannot be stopped," he asserted.

Sisodia alleged that people were troubled by the excellent work being done in Delhi in the sectors of education and health.

That's why, he said, Delhi's education and health ministers had been caught a reference to himself and Satyendar Jain who is behind bars.

"There are false allegations against us and the truth will emerge in court," he added.

"I won't be broken by your conspiracies. I have made these schools for lakhs of children of Delhi. The smiles we brought in the lives of lakhs of children is my strength. Your intention is to break me," Sisodia said.

Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena last month recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in implementation of the Excise Policy 2021-22.

He had also suspended 11 excise officials in the matter. Sisodia had also demanded a CBI probe in the alleged irregularities in the policy.

Jain was arrested on May 30 by the Enforcement Directorate under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and is presently in judicial custody. -- PTI

The government has held back names of two advocates recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium for appointment as judges of the Punjab and Haryana high court, sources said.

In July, the SC Collegium had recommended names of 13 advocates for elevation as judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Acting on the recommendation, the government had notified the appointment of 11 advocates as judges on August 14. However, it decided to hold back the names of H S Brar and Kuldeep Tiwari.

Citing certain old allegations against one and lack of experience and less age of the other, sources aware of the process to appoint members of the higher judiciary said the government will take a considered view on the two names at an appropriate stage.

They also pointed out that the government has a right to seek reconsideration from the SC Collegium for its recommendations. -- PTI

11:13 India records 15,754 fresh COVID cases

India saw a single day rise of 15,754 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,43,14,618, with the active cases increasing to 1,01,830, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Friday.

The death toll climbed to 5,27,253 with 47 fatalities which includes eight deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

The active cases comprised 0.23 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.58 per cent, the health ministry said.

An increase of 487 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 3.47 per cent, and weekly at 3.90 per cent, according to the health ministry.

The Hindu community in Bangladesh has the same rights as she has, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said, asserting that the number of mandaps in Dhaka during the Durga Puja festivities were much higher than in West Bengal.

Hasina interacted with the Hindu community leaders on Thursday on the occasion of Janmashtami and urged believers of other faiths not to think of themselves as minorities, saying everyone irrespective of their religions will enjoy equal rights in Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority country.

"We want people of all faiths to live with equal rights. You are people of this country, you have equal rights here, you have the same rights as I have," the Dhaka Tribune newspaper quoted her as saying.

"You would always think that you are the citizens of this country and you will enjoy equal rights," the premier noted.

Hasina virtually joined the event at Dhakeswari Mandir in Dhaka and JM Sen Hall in Chattogram from her official residence in Gonobhaban.

"We also want to see you in that way. Please don't undermine yourselves. You were born in this country, you are the citizens of this country," she noted.

The prime minister said the number of mandaps in Dhaka is higher than the number in West Bengal or Kolkata, and across Bangladesh during the Durga Puja festivities.

Hasina lamented that whenever an untoward incident occurs, it is propagated in such a manner that the Hindu community don't have any rights in Bangladesh.

"Colours are given to that incident in a way that the Hindus have no rights here. And the actions of the government after the incidents don't get proper attention, Prothom Aalo newspaper quoted her as saying.

Hasina said her government and the Awami League did not believe in undermining people from any religion.

"We can say it clearly. Our government is very cautious about it. I can assure you that," she added.

The Hindu community is the second largest religious affiliation in Bangladesh according to the 2022 census, constituting approximately 7.95 per cent out of the total 161.5 million population. -- PTI

A flex banner displayed by a local Hindu Mahasabha leader in Mangaluru's Surathkal extending Sri Krishna Janmashtami greetings sparked a row as it had pictures of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse and Hindutva icon V D Savarkar.

However, before the controversy spread, the civic authorities removed the banner immediately following complaints on Thursday.

The flex was installed by Hindu Mahasabha local leader Rajesh Pavitran, police sources said. After a complaint was received, the banner was removed on the order of the Commissioner of Mangaluru City Corporation.

Police security was beefed up in Surathkal in view of Sri Krishna Janmashtami celebrations, the sources said.

The Hindu Mahasabha had courted a controversy when they displayed a banner with a photo of Savarkar on August 14 at Surathkal flyover. -- PTI

10:00 CBI raid reward for good performance: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the Central Bureau of Investigation raid at his junior colleague's house was the result of their good performance which is being appreciated globally.

He said there were CBI raids before and nothing will come this time as well.

The CBI on Friday morning conducted raids in connection with Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, at over 10 locations including the residence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

"The day Delhi's Education model was appreciated and Manish Sisodia's photo appeared on the front page of America's biggest newspaper NYT, the Centre sent CBI at the residence of Manish.

"CBI is welcome. Will extend full cooperation. Earlier also there were raid and probe. Nothing came out. Nothing will come out now also," Kejriwal tweeted. -- PTI

The Central Bureau of Investigation has raided the residence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

"I extend my welcome to the CBI. I will cooperate with the investigation so that the truth comes out at the earliest. Till now many cases have been filed against me but nothing has come out. Nothing will come out of it either. My work cannot be stopped for a good education in the country," Sisodia tweeted.

"It is unfortunate that those who do good work in our country are harassed like this. That is why our country has not yet become No 1," Sisodia said in another tweet.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also tweeted and extended support to his deputy.

Hadi Matar, who stabbed renowned author Salman Rushdie on stage in New York state last week, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault.

Matar, 24, made the plea in a courtroom in Chautauqua County, New York.

This comes after prosecutors said a grand jury had indicted him this week.

Matar, who hails from New Jersey, stabbed Indian-born-British author Rushdie in western New York State last week during a lecture, praised Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini and admitted that he didn't think that the author would survive.

"When I heard he survived, I was surprised, I guess," Hadi Matar said as quoted by the New York Post.

Rushdie suffered three stab wounds to his neck, four stab wounds to his stomach, puncture wounds to his right eye and chest, and a laceration on his right thigh, Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt said during the suspect's arraignment.

Smoking, alcohol use, high body mass index (BMI), and other known risk factors were responsible for nearly 4.45 million global cancer deaths in 2019, according to study published in The Lancet journal on Friday.

The findings can help policymakers and researchers identify key risk factors that could be targeted in efforts to reduce deaths and ill health from cancer regionally, nationally, and globally.

"This study illustrates that the burden of cancer remains an important public health challenge that is growing in magnitude around the world," said Christopher Murray, Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, US.

"Smoking continues to be the leading risk factor for cancer globally, with other substantial contributors to cancer burden varying," said Murray, a co-senior author of the study.

Using results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) 2019 study, the researchers investigated how 34 behavioural, metabolic, and environmental and occupational risk factors contributed to deaths and ill health due to 23 cancer types in 2019.

Changes in cancer burden between 2010 and 2019 due to risk factors were also assessed.

Estimates of cancer burden were based on mortality and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), a measure of years of life lost to death and years lived with disability.

In addition to 4.45 million cancer deaths which made up 44.4 per cent of all cancer deaths in 2019, risk factors included in the analysis accounted for 105 million cancer DALYs globally for both sexes in 2019 -- 42.0 per cent of all DALYs in that year, the researchers said.

Behavioural risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol use, unsafe sex, and dietary risks were responsible for the vast majority of cancer burden globally, accounting for 3.7 million deaths and 87.8 million DALYs in 2019, they said.

The study shows that almost 2.88 million deaths in men (50.6 per cent of all male cancer deaths) could be attributed to the risk factors studied, compared to 1.58 million deaths in women (36.3 per cent of all female cancer deaths).

The leading risk factors globally for cancer deaths and ill health for both sexes were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI, the researchers said.

The leading cause of risk-attributable cancer death for both men and women globally was tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer, which accounted for 36.9 per cent of all cancer deaths attributable to risk factors, they said. -- PTI

With a large number of Indians facing long waiting times for Canadian visas, Canada's High Commission here said it understands their "frustration and disappointment", and assured that it is working to improve the situation.

The Canadian High Commission, in a series of tweets on Thursday, said thousands of Indian students were receiving their visas every week and that it would continue to make every effort to reduce the wait time.

"We understand your frustration and disappointment and want to assure you that we are working to improve the situation. In fact, we have been processing applications throughout the year, including study permits for the September 2022 intake," it said.

"Many thousands of students in India are receiving their visas each week. We will continue to make every effort to reduce wait times against an unprecedented volume of applications received," the mission said.

It said the current processing time for study permit applications globally is 12 weeks.

"While processing times in India have been higher in 2022, we are making every effort to reduce wait times in our services globally," the High Commission said.

"We urge students who are still waiting the outcome of their visa applications at this stage to contact their Designated Learning Institution in Canada to discuss options should they be unable to arrive in time for the start of classes," it said.

Canada is one of the popular destinations for Indian students. -- PTI

Independent MLA Bachchu Kadu

08:19 Maha rebel MLA wants anti-defection law scrapped

Former Maharashtra minister and Independent MLA Bachchu Kadu on Thursday said the anti-defection law should be scrapped as it prohibits legislators from opposing parties in case "anti-people" decisions are taken by them.

The MLA from the Achalpur constituency in the Vidarbha region has backed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde since his rebellion against the Shiv Sena leadership in June which subsequently brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

"The anti-defection law should be removed at once. I can not even speak against the policies of my party if those are going against the interests of my region and if the party has erred. What is this arrangement? Are we not accountable to the people who have voted for us?" Kadu said in the Assembly.

He was participating in a discussion in the Lower House on a resolution moved by the Opposition on the plight of farmers affected by the recent floods in parts of the state.

Kadu, who was a Minister of State in the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government, switched sides following the revolt by Shinde and backed the CM.

Seen as a member of the Shinde camp, the controversial Independent MLA, was, however, not inducted into the state Cabinet when it was expanded for the first time on August 9.

Taunting the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs, Kadu said despite "wrong policies being implemented in front of us, we can not speak against them."

"We cannot speak because we want a Cabinet berth. But if we do not raise our voice, then where will the voter who has voted for us will go?" asked the former minister.

"Whether it is the Congress, the NCP, the BJP or the Sena, we have seen every government. But homeless do not get houses, farmers continue to raise demands. These all parties are guilty and even us, who support these parties, are guilty," Kadu said. -- PTI

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00:23 Maha man dies after running for 'Agnipath' test

A 22-year-old man died on Thursday, hours after collapsing while running as part of a physical test for the 'Agnipath' defence recruitment scheme in Aurangabad city of Maharashtra, a police official said on Thursday.

Karan Pawar, a resident of Vitthalwadi village in Kannad tehsil of Aurangabad, died while undergoing treatment in a government hospital here in the morning after he collapsed during the physical test in the wee hours, he said.

Pawar had come to Aurangabad to take part in the 'Agniveer' recruitment programme. This process has been underway in Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University campus since the last couple of days, the official said.

"Pawar, who was running as part of one of the fitness tests for the recruitment process, collapsed on the ground around 1 am on Thursday. He was taken to the Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment, but died in the morning during treatment," he said.

After the post-mortem, his body was handed over to his family members this evening, a senior official of Begumpura police station said, adding that a probe will be conducted into the death.

The Agnipath scheme was announced by the Centre on June 14 for recruitment in the three armed forces. Those recruited under the new scheme will be called Agniveers.

The scheme seeks to recruit youngsters in the age bracket of 17-and-a-half to 21 years for a four-year period, with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. For 2022, the upper-age limit has been extended to 23 years.

Several parts of the country had witnessed violent protests against the scheme that largely provides for a four-year tenure on a contractual basis and does not offer pensions and other benefits that regular soldiers are given. -- PTI

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