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Fri, 29 July 2022
Passenger safety paramount: Aviation Min on snags
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23:01 Passenger safety paramount: Aviation Min on snags
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday asserted passenger safety is paramount to the government and that DGCA's measures to ensuring this would continue in the coming days in the backdrop of increased technical snags being reported by different airlines in the country.
Aviation safety regulator DGCA has conducted many spot checks and other measures and appropriate action has been taken commensurate with those checks and audits, he said.
"Let me first say this, that safety is paramount for us and there shall be no compromise on safety," he told reporters in Hyderabad when asked as to how the government is looking at the increased technical snags being reported by airlines.
Decisive action has been taken in the last few weeks and months, he said. The DGCA had earlier this week ordered SpiceJet to operate a maximum 50 per cent of its flights for the next eight weeks after several of its planes reported technical malfunction recently.
There shall not and cannot be any compromise on safety in civil aviation, he added.
"The DGCA is the safety regulator and in the last 10 days itself, many new actions have been taken by it," he said, adding the steps include better checks and audits of aircraft by engineers.
Scindia was speaking to reporters during his two-day visit to Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency as part of BJP's 'Sansad Pravas Yojana'.
Asked about Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao intensifying his attack on BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the war of words increasing between TRS and BJP, Scindia said the current dispensation stepping up its attack indicates that it is on the backfoot.
When the party in power experiences the ground slipping under its feet, it responds by intensifying such attacks, he said.
State BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar and party activists have worked on bringing to light the TRS government's poor performance and alleged corruption, he said.
When told about TRS Working President K T Rama Rao's statements that the NDA government at the Centre has not supported Telangana, he said it is the incumbent BJP-led dispensation which has substantially increased the share of funds shared to the states.
22:51 Zero tolerance for terrorism is 'must': India at SCO
There is an urgent need to address the global energy and food crisis triggered by disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Tashkent on Friday.
With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto listening, Jaishankar said "zero tolerance" for terrorism in all its manifestations is a "must".
In his address at the foreign ministerial meeting of the SCO, he also underlined the potential of the Chabahar port in Iran for the economic future of the grouping.
Talking about the current global challenges, Jaishankar said the response required includes resilient and diversified supply chains as well as reformed multilateralism.
The external affairs minister reiterated India's position on Afghanistan and highlighted its humanitarian support to the war-torn country including the supply of wheat, medicines, vaccines and clothing.
The major highlights of the deliberations included a decision to grant permanent membership of the bloc to Iran and make Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia its dialogue partners.
The ministers also supported the applications of Bahrain and the Maldives for the status of SCO dialogue partners.
The meeting also reviewed preparations for the upcoming summit of the grouping in Samarkand which is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders of the eight-nation grouping.
"Participated in the SCO Foreign Ministers' Meeting at Tashkent. Highlighted that world faces an energy and food crisis due to disruptions from the Covid pandemic and Ukraine conflict. This needs to be urgently addressed," Jaishankar tweeted.
"Response required includes resilient and diversified supply chains as well as reformed multilateralism. Zero tolerance for terrorism in all its manifestations is a must," he said.
He said India will give the "fullest support" for the success of the Samarkand summit.
"Reiterated India's position on Afghanistan and highlighted our humanitarian support: wheat, medicines, vaccines and clothing.
Underlined the potential of Chabahar port for SCO's economic future," Jaishankar said in another tweet.
Jaishankar said the meeting was "very useful" in preparing for the Samarkand summit.
"Spoke of the economic progress in India, stressing the relevance of startups and innovation. Cooperation in traditional medicine is in the common interest of SCO members," he added.
22:15 Students accuse FTII of not filling up SC/ST seats
A student association on Friday alleged that the seats reserved for OBC, SC and ST categories were not filled up while admitting students to the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) for the academic year 2021.
Members of the Students Association of FTII also staged a protest on campus against the "gross mockery of reservation" at the country's premier film and television training institute.
The FTII published its final merit list for the academic year 2021 on July 26, 2022, the association said in a release.
The admission process took place after a year's delay, said a student.
"Many seats, as well as waitlist positions in the OBC, SC and ST categories, have not been filled, citing reasons of ineligibility," the association alleged.
Students staged protests at the gate of FTII by holding placards with messages such as "Inequality in Admission", "Resist Attack on Reservation", "Discrimination" and "Don't Subvert Reservation".
FTII authorities told the association that many candidates in the reserved cateogry did not secure the cut-off percentage, it claimed.
The FTII director's office did not respond to a request for reaction to the allegations. -- PTI
21:47 NCB will dispose of 30,000 kg of drugs Saturday in presence of Shah
More than 30,000 kg of narcotics will be incinerated in four locations across the country on Saturday in the virtual presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Shah will be in Chandigarh to attend a national conference on drug trafficking and national security. During the conference, more than 30,000 kg of drugs will be burnt and disposed of by Narcotics Control Bureau teams in Delhi, Chennai, Guwahati and Kolkata in front of the home minister, according to an official release.
The NCB started the drug disposal campaign from June 1 and over 51,217 kg of narcotics have been disposed by it in 11 states till July 29, the release said.
On the clarion call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to celebrate 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', the NCB took a pledge to destroy 75,000 kg of drugs on 75 years of independence.
After the disposal of over 30,468.784 kg of drugs, the total quantity will reach around 81,686 kg surpassing the NCB's target, which is a big achievement in the fight towards a drugs-free India, the release said.
In the conference, for the first, the home minister, chief ministers of different states and different drugs enforcement agencies will be on one platform.
This conference shows the unwavering resolve of the Modi government to free the country from the menace of drugs, the release said. -- PTI
21:15 Will Smith apologises to Chris Rock in new video
Actor Will Smith has apologized to Chris Rock for slapping the comedian at the Oscars earlier this year, addressing the incident in a new video posted to social media.
"It's been a minute..." the text at the beginning of the video reads. "Over the last few months, I've been doing a lot of thinking and personal work... You asked a lot of fair questions that I wanted to take some time to answer."
Smith said he has reached out to Rock and the response he got was that the comedian is "not ready to talk," adding that, when Rock does feel ready, "he will reach out" to Smith.
"So I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk," Smith said.
For the unversed, while presenting the best documentary feature award at the 2022 Oscars, Chris Rock made a joke about Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head.
Rock said he couldn't wait to see Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia areata, star in G.I. Jane 2, which led Smith to go up on stage and slap Rock.
Smith returned to his seat and shouted, 'Keep my wife's name out of your fu**ing mouth!'
A few minutes after the incident, Smith was announced Best Actor at the Academy Awards.
While accepting his first-ever Oscar for best actor (leading role) in King Richard, Smith apologised to the Academy and fellow nominees, but did not mention Rock.
21:06 Lok Sabha likely to debate price rise on Monday
After a near washout of House proceedings for two weeks, Lok Sabha is likely to have a debate on price rise on Monday, followed by Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, political sources said.
Since the beginning of the session on July 18, the Opposition in both the House had been raising the issue of rising prices and GST, leading to near washout of proceedings.
The last two days of House proceedings were drowned due to "rashtrapatni" remark of Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and the subsequent Lok Sabha chamber face-off between Sonia Gandhi and Union minister Smriti Irani.
Chowdhury wrote to President Droupadi Murmu on Friday and apologised to her for his "rashtrapatni" remark.
The Congress has upped the ante on Irani over the alleged heckling of Gandhi by her and BJP MPs and organised protests inside and outside Parliament and demanded that she be sacked for her behaviour.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had this week told Lok Sabha that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has recovered from Covid and was attending Parliament. Thus, the government was willing to hold debate on price rise immediately.
Both the government and the Opposition have accused each other of "running away" from a debate on the issue.
But political sources said on Friday that normal House proceedings would resume from Monday and the debate could first take place in the lower house, followed by the upper house. -- PTI
20:57 Over 47,000 POCSO cases were registered in 2020, 1.7 lakh pending trial: Govt
More than 47,000 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act were registered in 2020, while 1,70,271 such cases were pending trial by the end of the year, the Women and Child Development Ministry said.
Responding to a question in Lok Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said the Department of Justice is implementing a scheme for setting up 1,023 fast-track special courts, including 389 exclusive POCSO courts, for expeditious trial and disposal of cases related to rape and POCSO Act in furtherance to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2018.
According to the information received from the National Crime Records Bureau, 47,221 POCSO cases were registered in 2020 and 1,70,271 cases were pending trial by the end of the year.
In a written response, Irani said the number of fast-track courts functional as on May 31 was 892 in the country.
Responding to another question, Irani said 596 children died in adoption agencies in the last three years. -- PTI
Karnataka minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan
20:14 Time has come for encounter killing: K'taka minister
Amid outrage over the murder of a Bharatiya Janata Party youth wing leader, Karnataka minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan on Friday favoured "encounter" killings of perpetrators of such incidents and said the state government is ready for it.
"Without giving any opportunity, merciless action will be taken. We are ready for encounter (killings). We have already communicated to our Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and the State government," Narayan, who holds the higher education, skill development, IT-BT portfolio, told reporters.
The minister was responding to a query on the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha district-level office-bearer Praveen Nettar's murder in his village Nettaru in Bellare near Sullia in Dakshina Kannada district on Tuesday when he was heading home after closing his shop.
Narayan said, "Some instigators are testing our patience. Hence, our government and the chief minister have given a clear message. In the coming days, we will make arrangements that the criminals should tremble to even think or dream of committing such murders."
"Time has come for encounter (killings). Our government will take stringent action. We will not give any chance for such activities by forming special squads. We will initiate measures to save innocent people," the minister said.
No one should suffer the way the BJYM activist's family is suffering.
Motorcycle-borne assailants hacked Nettar to death leading to tension in the district and public outrage. Police have held three suspects in connection with the case. Two of them have been identified as Mohammed Zakir and Shafiq.
Following the outcry, Chief Minister Bommai said today that the state government has decided to hand over the case to the National Investigation Agency. -- PTI
Rapper-singer Drake/Reuters
19:55 Drake pays homage to Moosewala at Toronto concert
Rapper-singer Drake paid another heartfelt tribute to Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala as he wore a t-shirt with the late musician's picture printed on it at a recent concert.
Drake, who has previously condoled Moosewala's demise on various platforms including social media and his radio show, chose the white t-shirt for his performance in hometown Toronto, Canada, the videos from which are going viral on internet.
The gig was held on Thursday at History, a new venue in Toronto.
Moosewala, whose real name was Shubhdeep Singh, was shot dead on May 29 in Punjab's Mansa district, a day after the state government curtailed his security cover.
The singer-rapper enjoyed a cult following in India and abroad with songs like So High, Same Beef, The Last Ride, Just Listen and 295.
Following his demise, Drake had shared a picture of the So High hitmaker with his mother on Instagram and captioned it, "RIP MOOSE @sidhu_moosewala." -- PTI
Tauru DSP Surendra Singh
19:38 Haryana cops nab all accused in DSP murder case
The Haryana police on Friday arrested a 12th man in connection with the recent mowing down of a deputy superintendent of police probing illegal stone-mining and indicated that they have now wrapped up the case.
Nuh police identified him as the person for whom stone was being transported in the dumper-truck that killed Tauru deputy superintendent of police Surendra Singh on July 19.
Mushtaq, also known as Mangal, is a resident of Pachgaon village.
The police said they have now arrested all the 12 accused in the case, including the truck driver.
The DSP was killed when a truck he had signalled to stop drove over him.
He had gone to Pachgaon near Tauru to conduct raids against illegal mining in the Aravalli hills.
The police said they are questioning the arrested man and will seek his remand when he is produced before a court on Saturday.
He was nabbed in Rajpuri village by a crime unit team, the police said.
Mushtaq was building his house at his village and the truck driver Sabbir and helper Ikkar were to deliver the stone to him.
Both were arrested earlier.
Meanwhile, in a sweeping operation targeting illegal mining in Nuh district, the police have seized 358 vehicles over six days. -- PTI
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19:26 Agra jail inmates stitching 10,000 tricolour flags as part of 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign
Four inmates, including two women, at a district jail here, are stitching 10,000 tricolour flags as part of the Centre's Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, an official said on Friday.
Har Ghar Tiranga campaign is to be carried out under the aegis of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' to mark the 75th year of India's Independence.
Under this campaign, the government has urged the citizens to hoist the flag at their homes from August 13 to 15 and upload pictures on harghartiranga.com
Talking to PTI, Superintendent at district jail, Agra PD Salonia said, "There are four inmates at the district jail. Out of them two are men Naresh Kumar and Devendra Kumar and two are women Ravina and Sonu alias Soni lodged in Agra district jail."
"Everyday, these four inmates are making about 500-600 tri-colour flags since July 27 at the district jail premises. And so far about 1,000 flags have been made. These inmates would make about 10,000 national flags by August 10, as a part of the har ghar tiranga campaign," he said.
"An NGO of Agra Satyamev Jayate is providing raw material and also paying Rs 2 per flag to inmates for making a tricolour," informed the superintendent. -- PTI
Representational image
18:59 7.58 cr people got precaution dose of Covid vaccine as on July 26: Govt to LS
A total of 7.58 crore people have got the precaution dose of COVID vaccine as on July 26, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.
In a written reply, she said that according to WHO, 203 countries have included booster or additional dose in their COVID-19 immunisation schedule.
For individuals infected with COVID-19, all vaccination, including precaution dose, is to be deferred by three months after recovery, Pawar said.
Precaution dose is available under the COVID vaccination programme for all eligible beneficiaries above 18 years, after six months from the date of administration of the second dose.
Under the 'COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava', precaution dose is available free of cost to all beneficiaries aged 18 years and above at all government covid vaccination centres from July 15.
"With the launch of the special initiatives of Har ghar dastak and 'COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava', there is a significant increase in the demand and administration of precaution dose across the country. As on July 26, a total of 7.58 crore beneficiaries have received precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine," Pawar said. -- PTI
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde
18:51 Uddhav's nephew joins hands with Shinde
Nihar Thackeray, nephew of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, on Friday met Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and extended his support to the latter.
Nihar Thackeray is the son of late Bindumadhav Thackeray, the eldest son of Sena founder Bal Thackeray.
A statement from Shinde's office released after the meeting said Nihar Thackeray will start his political journey under the CM's leadership.
Nihar Thackeray, who has stayed away from politics all this while, is married to the daughter of BJP leader and former state minister Harshvardhan Patil.
Last month, Shinde led a revolt in the Shiv Sena and walked away with nearly 40 party MLAs.
On June 30, he took oath as chief minister with support of the BJP. -- PTI
18:04 Taliban calls for implementation of Sharia law
In the wake of the deteriorating situation of women and minorities in the country, the Taliban on Thursday called for the implementation of Sharia law in Afghanistan, stressing the need for preserving Islamic values.
The Islamic Emirate leader Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada held a gathering with the provincial governors in Kandahar where he emphasized the need to solve every problem through Sharia and not laws made by people, reported Khaama Press.
"Over the past 20 years, there have been a lot of anti-Shari and Islam rhetoric and laws which are made by the people is not implementable," Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid quoted in the statement.
The statement by the leader stressed that all rights concerning women and minorities in the country must be based upon Sharia, and the implementation of the latest decree by the supreme leader has at least six articles, reported Khaama Press.
Since the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan in August last year, they have constantly escalated their atrocities against Afghan women by depriving young girls and women of humanitarian rights.
Girls above 6th grade have been barred from gaining access to schools under the Taliban regime.
Meanwhile, the Taliban issued a diktat against female employees and told them to send male relatives as their replacements. --ANI
17:54 Education policy rooted in Bharatiyata: Shah
The new National Education Policy (NEP) is in sync with the nation's roots and has gained unprecedented acceptance from the entire country, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday.
Noting that the NEP is rooted in "Bharatiyata" while assimilating global perspective, Shah said the policy enriches knowledge and culture and is aligned with aspirations of society.
"The purpose of education is to develop character, empathy, courage and prepare students to deal with challenges of life. Education can enable India to reach the pinnacle of success. Society is looking up to us with expectations and hope to make it happen. Our educational aspiration is not only for earning degrees and certificates but also to achieve global good," Shah said at an event on the completion of two years since the launch of NEP.
"National Education Policy is in sync with the roots of the nation and has gained unprecedented acceptance from the entire country. The policy has clearly stated that robust public education system is foundation of a thriving democratic nation. Purpose of NEP is to develop citizens who combine national pride with global good with the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," he said.
The home minister also noted that NEP is an antidote to Macaulay's system of education designed to colonise our minds. Shah launched a slew of initiatives in the education and skill development sector to mark the completion of two years of the NEP.
The NEP approved by the Union Cabinet in 2020 replaced the 34-year-old National Policy on Education framed in 1986 and was aimed at paving the way for transformational reforms in school and higher education systems to make India a global knowledge superpower. PTI
17:39 Differences of opinion, no fallout: Kejriwal on LG
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday met Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and said it is important for Delhi's development that both of them work together.
Saxena had last week rejected the Aam Aadmi Party government's proposal for Chief Minister Kejriwal's Singapore visit to attend a summit on August 1, saying his attendance at the mayors' conference will set a "bad precedent".
After his weekly meeting with the LG, Kejriwal said, "The meeting took place in a very cordial atmosphere. It is important for Delhi that the CM and the LG work together. There can be differences of opinion on various matters but there is no fallout between us." Kejriwal had skipped the weekly meeting last Friday. PTI
17:29 Massive fire at film set in Mumbai
A fire broke out at a film set in suburban Andheri on Friday afternoon, a civic official said.
The blaze erupted at a film set installed at Chitrakoot Ground next to the Andheri Sports Complex around 4.30 pm, she said. The fire erupted on the sets of filmmaker Luv Ranjan, say sources.
Earlier, officials had said the fire started in a shop in the area, but later they confirmed that it was at a film set. Plumes of black smoke were seen billowing from the spot. Three fire engines had reached the site and dousing operation was on, the official said, adding there were no reports of anyone getting injured.
17:27 4 confirmed Monkeypox cases in India so far: Govt
Four confirmed cases of Monkeypox disease, three from Kerala and one from Delhi, have been reported in the country as on July 27, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar told the Lok Sabha on Friday.
No death due to Monkeypox disease has been reported in the country, Pawar said in a written reply.
There is an increasing trend in the trajectory of COVID-19 cases in certain states and UTs, since May 2022, he said.
According to the current guidelines for International arrivals issued on February 10, 2022, international travellers to India are required to either upload a negative RT-PCR test report or upload a COVID-19 vaccination completion certificate on Air Suvidha portal, Pawar said responding to a question.
A subsection (2 per cent of the total passengers in a flight) are required to undergo random testing on arrival in India.
The Union Health Ministry provides required technical support to all states and Union Territories and has stipulated to them public health actions. The ministry also provides requisite support to the states and UTs to enhance preparedness and response capacities against COVID-19. -- PTI
17:01 IAF retiring one MiG-21 squadron by Sept, entire fleet by 2025
Amid recent crashes involving its vintage Russian combat aircraft fleet, the Indian Air Force is now going to retire one more squadron of the MiG-21 Bison aircraft by September 30.
On Thursday evening, a MiG-21 Type 69 Trainer aircraft crashed in Barmer, Rajasthan killing both the pilots including a youngster Flight Lieutenant A Bal and Wing Commander Rana.
"The 51 Squadron based out of Srinagar air base is being number plated on September 30. After this, only three squadrons of the planes would be left in service and would be phased out by the year 2025," sources in the IAF told ANI.Now every year, one squadron each of these planes would be number plated, they said.
The 51 squadron is famous for thwarting Pakistan's aerial attack on India on February 27, 2019, and taking out an F-16 in an aircraft flown by Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Abhinandan Varthaman.
Karnataka CM at the BYJM leader's home
16:53 NIA to takeover murder probe of BJYM leader
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said the probe into the murder of a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha worker will be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
One more person was arrested on Friday in connection with the killing of Praveen Nettar in Dakshina Kannada district that happened earlier this week.
Earlier, two persons had been apprehended by police in relation to the case. "We have decided to hand over the case to the NIA. It will be communicated to the Home Department. Since it is an inter-state issue (Karnataka-Kerala), we decided to hand over the matter to the NIA," Bommai told reporters here. PTI
Smriti Irani rages in the Lok Sabha
16:36 Cong protests in Amethi over Smriti's misbehavior
Congress workers on Friday staged a protest at the district headquarters here demanding Union Minister and local MP Smriti Irani's resignation for her alleged "misbehaviour" with Sonia Gandhi in Parliament a day ago.
Congress workers gathered in Amethi in the morning and after a meeting at the party office here they blocked the Gauriganj-Jagdishpur Road, disrupting traffic movement, district officials said.
Officials of the district administration tried to pacify the protesters but to no avail. They were later taken to the police lines, they said.
Spokesperson of the Congress' Amethi unit said, "The partymen were holding a peaceful protest but the police, showing a dictatorial attitude, detained hundreds of party workers, including former MLC Deepak Singh and district chief Pradeep Singhal."
"Congress workers blocked the traffic on the Gauriganj -Jagdishpur road and they were taken into custody," Amethi Superintendent of Police Ilamaran told PTI.
The Congress on Thursday accused BJP MPs of subjecting Sonia Gandhi to "brutal heckling, verbal assault and physical intimidation" in Lok Sabha. The face-off between their president and Irani in the Lok Sabha chamber added to the already raging row over party leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury referring to President Droupadi Murmu as 'rashtrapatni'. The remark on India's first tribal president drew a fresh battleline between the Congress and the BJP, which demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi.
As the Lok Sabha adjourned soon after noon, Gandhi walked across to the treasury benches and sought to know from BJP member Rama Devi why she was dragged into the issue.
Irani intervened and was seen gesturing towards Gandhi and apparently protesting Chowdhury's remark. Gandhi at first tried to ignore Irani's protestations but was soon seen gesturing towards the minister and speaking angrily. PTI
16:16 Good Luck Jerry Review
As commendable her confidence is, Janhvi's metamorphosis from bechari to bold is slight, observes Sukanya Verma. Read the review on Rediff.com here.
16:15 INS Tarkash heads to Rio
Indian Navy's guided missile frigate, INS Tarkash, completed her Mediterranean deployment and entered the Atlantic Ocean to continue with her long-range voyage.
INS Tarkash is on her passage to South America to visit Rio Di Janeiro, Brazil to hoist the National Flag on 15 August.
INS Tarkash is on her passage to South America to visit Rio Di Janeiro, Brazil to hoist the National Flag on 15 August.
15:54 Internship must for med students back from Ukraine
Indian students who were in last year of their undergraduate medicine course in Ukraine, but had to return to India due to the Russian invasion and have subsequently completed their studies and have been granted a certificate of completion of course on or before June 30, will be permitted to appear in the Foreign Medical Graduate Exam, says the National Medical Commission.
Such Foreign Medical Graduate students are required to undergo compulsory rotating medical CRMI internship for a period of 2 years to make up for clinical training which they could not physically attend during the undergraduate medicine course in the foreign institute.
15:46 Cong leaders ordered to delete tweets on Smriti
The Delhi High Court on Friday issued summons to Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D'souza in a civil suit filed by Union Cabinet Minister Smriti Irani.
The court also directed the congress leaders to remove the post, videos, tweets, retweets, and morphed pictures of the plaintiff and her daughter along with the allegations and stop their recirculation regarding allegations made against her and her daughter.
Union Minister Smriti Irani has filed civil defamation seeking permanent and mandatory injunction along with damages of over Rs 2 crore.
Justice Mini Pushkarna stated, "I am of the prima facie view that slanderous allegations were made against the plaintiff without verifying actual facts".
"Grave injury has been caused to the reputation of the plaintiff in view of the tweets and retweets carried out due to the press conference of the defendants", the court added.
"Plaintiff has made out prima facie case and balance of convenience lies in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendants. I deem it proper to pass an interim injunction directing Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D'souza to delete and remove the allegations made during the press conference from all social media platforms including Youtube, Facebook and Twitter inc.
"They are also directed to remove the post, videos, tweets, retweets, morphed pictures of the plaintiff and her daughter along with the allegations and stop their recirculation. If defendants 1-3 fail to comply with the directions within 24 hours of this order, defendants 4-6 (social media platforms) are directed to take down the material," the court added.
Union Minister Smriti Irani has filed a civil defamation seeking permanent and mandatory injunction along with damages of over 2 crores rupees and stated that congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D'souza conspired with other unknown individuals to launch a series of scathing and belligerent personal remarks to malign and defame a young child of the plaintiff who even not lives in the country. -- ANI
Lanka PM Renil Wickramsinghe
15:40 World Bank refuses aid to Sri Lanka unless...
The World Bank does not plan to offer new financing to crisis-hit Sri Lanka until an "adequate" macroeconomic policy framework is in place, the global funding body has said.
The statement by the World Bank was released on Thursday, two days after the International Monetary Fund-- another financial lending body under the United Nations -- asked the cash-strapped Sri Lanka to begin debt restructuring talks with its creditors, including China, before it can hope of getting the bailout package.
The island nation of 22 million is in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis that has led to severe shortages of fuel and other essentials. Until an adequate macroeconomic policy framework is in place, the World Bank does not plan to offer new financing to Sri Lanka, it said in a statement.
This requires deep structural reforms that focus on economic stabilisation, and also on addressing the root structural causes that created this crisis to ensure that Sri Lanka's future recovery and development is resilient and inclusive, the statement added.
The World Bank said it was deeply concerned about the dire economic situation and its impact on the people of Sri Lanka. To help alleviate severe shortages of essential items such as medicines, cooking gas, fertiliser, meals for school children and cash transfers for poor and vulnerable households, we are repurposing resources under existing loans in our portfolio, the statement said.
The World Bank said till now about USD 160 million of funds has been disbursed to meet urgent needs.
15:26 The audacious PR plot that seeded doubt about climate change
Thirty years ago, a bold plan was cooked up to spread doubt and persuade the public that climate change was not a problem. The little-known meeting - between some of America's biggest industrial players and a PR genius - forged a devastatingly successful strategy that endured for years, and the consequences of which are all around us.
Read the story here.
15:14 Sidhu Moosewala's parents get son's tattoo inked on their arms
In the memory of Sidhu Moosewala, his father Balkaur Singh paid an emotional tribute to the late singer by getting his face tattooed on his arm.
A video was shared on Sidhu Moosewala's Instagram page in which a tattoo artist is seen painting the former's portrait on Balkaur Singh's arm. Balkaur Singh also made the tattoo artist inscribe 'Sarwan Putt' (obedient son) on his arm in the Punjabi language. Sidhu Moose Wala's mother Charn Kaur also got inked 'Sarwan Putt' on her arm.
Reportedly, the parents got tattoos from the artist who had made tattoos on Sidhu Moose Wala's arms as well.
Fans became emotional after seeing the video. "Can't ever understand their pain. May god give them immense strength," a social media user commented. "After seeing @iSidhuMooseWalainsta story, my heart is heavy thinking about the grief of Sidhu's parents and fans," another one wrote.
Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead by assailants in Jawaharke village of Punjab's Mansa district on May 29. The incident took place a day after his security was withdrawn by the Punjab police among 424 others.
14:58 Maha activist urges villages to allow widows to hoist tricolour
Activist Pramod Zinjade, who heads the campaign against evil practices related to widowhood, has urged sarpanchs of all villages in Maharashtra to allow widows to hoist the tricolour this Independence Day on August 15.
In a public appeal to all sarpanchs, Zinjade said widows should be asked to make a speech after the flag hoisting ceremony in villages. "If all 28,000 villages honour 28,000 widows in this manner, Maharashtra will be seen as a gender equal state," he said.
"All gram sabhas should take photographs and shoot videos of flag-hoisting events and send the same to the state government through district collectors," the activist said.
He further said that all gram sabhas should pass a unanimous resolution ending rituals like breaking bangles, wiping off sindoor and removing toe rings of women after the death of their husbands.
A law should be enacted to end these rituals and discrimination against widows at social and religious gatherings, he added. Herwad in Kolhapur district became the first village in the country to pass a resolution banning the discriminatory rituals against widows, and several gram sabhas have followed suit since then. PTI
14:49 I am a victim of conspiracy: Partha Chatterjee
A day after he was stripped of all posts in the TMC and relieved of ministerial duties, following his arrest in connection with a school recruitment scam, Partha Chatterjee on Friday said that he was a victim of a conspiracy hatched against him.
The 69-year-old leader, who is under the custody of the Enforcement Directorate, was taken to ESI hospital at Joka on the southern outskirts of the city for a medical-check up during the day. As he deboarded a vehicle and was approached by reporters, Chatterjee said he was just a victim of a conspiracy.
Chatterjee, who was the industries and parliamentary affairs minister, had held the education portfolio when the scam was allegedly pulled off.
One of his close aides, Arpita Mukherjee, was also arrested by the ED after crores of rupees in cash were seized from her residences in parts of the city.
On Thursday evening, central agency officials had raided a third apartment linked to Mukherjee in the city's Chinar Park area.
As the flat was locked and the keys could not be traced, ED sleuths broke open its entrance door in the presence of central force officers. Earlier, a raid was carried out in Mukherjee's Belghoria area flat, where around Rs 28 crore unaccounted cash was apparently found stashed along with large quantities of gold and silver.
The central agency had also reportedly seized over Rs 21 crore in cash from another flat belonging to Mukherjee in Tollygunge area. The value of gold jewellery is still being ascertained, according to ED sources.
The CBI, as directed by Calcutta High Court, is probing the alleged irregularities committed in the recruitment of Group-C and -D staff as well as teachers in government-sponsored and -aided schools on the recommendations of the West Bengal School Service Commission. The ED is looking into the money trail involved in the scam. PTI
14:33 Swiggy to allow permanent work-from-anywhere
On-demand convenience platform Swiggy on Friday said it will allow permanent work-from-anywhere for a majority of its employees.
Going forward, corporate, central business functions and technology teams will continue to work remotely, the company said in a statement.
They will converge once in every quarter at their base location for a week to promote in-person bonding, it added.
However, employees who are in "partner-facing roles" are required to work from the office for a few days a week from their base locations, it added. Swiggy said the decision to allow permanent work-from-anywhere was taken based on "team needs and feedback from several managers and employees, who vouched for the flexibility and increased productivity working from home has given them in the last two years".
"Our focus was to enable employees with as much flexibility in their work life within the contours of their job. We observed global and local talent trends while also having our ears to the ground listening to the pulse from employees, managers and leaders," Swiggy Human Resources Head Girish Menon said.
At present, Swiggy has a total workforce of around 5,000 working out of 487 cities in 27 states and four Union Territories across India, the company said. PTI
14:17 Not slip of tongue: Rijiju on Adhir's 'Rashtrapatni'
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju continues the tirade against Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury: "It was not a slip of tongue. If you watch the clip, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury clearly (referred to President Murmu as) 'Rashtrapati' twice, then he corrected himself to say 'Rashtrapatni.'
"Such matters should not be taken lightly. He is an anti-national and anti-tribal person. And how can he trivialise this issue by saying that he can go to the President and seek an apology? Is it that simple? It is condemnable."
Yesterday, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury explained the use of the word 'Rashtrapatni' while referring to President Murmu saying, "I am a Bengali, I am not used to Hindi. I made a mistake, I agree," Chowdhury said on the issue that refused to die down.
"I have sought time from the President and I will apologise to her. But I will not apologise to these 'pakhandis' (hypocrites)," says Chowdhury outside Parliament.
"I can't even think of insulting the President. It was just a mistake.They can hang me if they want. I am ready to get punished but why is she (Sonia Gandhi) being dragged in this?" he asked after the BJP demanded that Sonia Gandhi apologise for his remarks.
Rescuers evacuate a woman from under rubble in Donetsk
13:59 Shelling kills Ukrainian prisoners of war
At least 40 Ukrainian prisoners of war captured during the fighting for Mariupol have been killed by Ukrainian shelling, Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine said.
Daniil Bezsonov, a spokesman for the Russia-backed separatists in the Donetsk region, said that at least 40 Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed and 130 were injured Friday when Ukrainian shelling hit a prison in the town of Olenivka.
There was no immediate comment from the Ukrainian authorities to the report. The Ukrainian troops were taken prisoner after the fierce fighting for Ukraine's Azov Sea port of Mariupol, where they holed up at the giant Azovstal steel mill for months.
The Azov Regiment and other Ukrainian units defended the steel mill for nearly three months, clinging to its underground maze of tunnels. They surrendered in May under relentless Russian attacks from the ground, sea and air.
Scores of Ukrainian soldiers were then taken to prisons in Russian-controlled areas such as the Donetsk region, a breakaway area in eastern Ukraine which is run by Russia-backed separatist authorities.
13:53 Cong leaders protest Smriti heckling Sonia
Congress leaders raise slogans against the ruling government in front of the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex, a day after an alleged face-off between the party's interim President Sonia Gandhi and Union Minister Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha.
13:43 India #1 in seeking to block journalistic tweets
India made the highest number of legal demands globally to remove content posted by verified journalists and news outlets on Twitter during July-December 2021, the microblogging platform said.
In its latest transparency report, Twitter said India was only behind the US in seeking Twitter account information, accounting for 19 per cent of global information requests. It was among the top five countries to issue content-blocking orders to Twitter during July-December 2021 for all kinds of users.
Twitter said 349 accounts of verified journalists and news outlets located around the world were subject to 326 legal demands to remove content, a 103 per cent increase in the number of accounts since the previous period (January-June 2021).
"This spike is largely attributed to legal demands submitted by India (114), Turkey (78), Russia (55), and Pakistan (48)," it said. India had topped this list for January-June 2021 as well. In that timeframe, India had made 89 of the total 231 such demands the platform received globally. Twitter said 'legal demands' include a combination of court orders and other formal demands to remove content, from both governmental entities and lawyers representing individuals.
Without giving details, 17 tweets from verified journalists and news outlets globally were withheld during the second half of 2021 as compared to 11 tweets withheld during January-June.
Twitter said it received a legal demand from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in India to remove content relating to privacy issues involving a minor.
While Twitter did not name anyone, the reference was to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's tweet of August last year when he shared a picture of the parents of a minor Dalit girl who was allegedly raped.
"The reported tweet published by a high-ranking political figure was withheld in India in compliance with the Indian law," it said.
Twitter also received the second highest number of government legal requests for providing account information of users from India, after the US.
"The United States submitted the most government information requests during this reporting period, accounting for 20 per cent of the global volume, and 39 per cent of the global accounts specified.
"The second highest volume of requests originated from India, comprising 19 per cent of global information requests and 27 per cent of the global accounts specified," it said. Japan, France and Germany were the other three nations in top five countries by volume.
Smriti Irani
13:03 Summons for Cong leaders on Smriti defamation suit
The Delhi High Court on Friday issued summons to Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D'Souza on a civil defamation suit filed by Union minister Smriti Irani seeking damages of over Rs 2 crore for allegedly making baseless allegations against her and her daughter.
Justice Mini Pushkarna directed the three Congress leaders to remove tweets, retweets, posts, videos and photos from social media in relation to the allegations made against Irani, who is holding the portfolio of Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Minority Affairs, and her daughter.
The court said in case the defendants fail to comply with its directions within 24 hours, social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and YouTube shall take down the material.
Irani's action came after the Congress leaders alleged that her 18-year-old daughter Zoish Irani ran a bar illegally in Goa and also targeted the minister over this, demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sack her from his Cabinet. PTI
A jumbo Covid centre in Malad
12:33 Mumbai to close Jumbo Covid centres as cases dip
All jumbo Covid-19 centres in Mumbai will be closed, said BMC officials on Friday after the number of cases dropped in the city.
As per BMC data, the city registered 281 new COVID cases on July 28, with an overall recovery rate of 98 per cent. Earlier, BMC had shut three centres and now the remaining five will be closed as well.
The Covd centres that have been set up at Seven Hills Hospital and some other hospitals run by BMC, will continue to function.
The corporation had started a total of 8 jumbo centres which had 12,375 beds including 907 ICU beds. A large number of patients from across the state were treated here.
"In the first phase the Covid Jumbo Centers of Dahisar, Nesco Center Goregaon and Kanjurmarg were closed and now the remaining 5 centres which are BKC, Richardson and Cruddas Byculla, Richardson and Cruddas in Mulund, NSCI Worli and Malad. These five which are jumbo centres will be closed simultaneously," said Additional Commissioner of Municipal Corporation, Dr Sanjeev Kumar.
The vaccination centres attached to these Centers will keep functioning as before.
The treatment of Covid will continue in four major hospitals of BMC and 16 sub-urban hospitals to ensure the timely treatment of the patients.
All the facilities started for Covid in Kasturba Hospital will also be available in the future for the people.
12:23 Ratan Tata remembers JRD on his birth anniversary
Ratan N. Tata on JRD Tata's birth anniversary today.
"I remember JRD fondly on his 118th birth anniversary as a warm hearted and caring human being who had an enormous influence in my life. We shared many common interests, but what I really miss is his affection and kindness. Although Jeh is not with us, his legend will continue," Ratan Tata tweeted.
Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and Ratan Tata come from different branches of the Tata family. In 1991, JRD Tata, who had led the group for over half a century, appointed Ratan Tata to be his successor.
Ratan Tata is Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons and Chairman, Tata Trusts.
12:16 Parl adjourned till Monday amid continued din
Both houses of Parliament adjourned till 11 am, Monday.
Lok Sabha: proceedings were disrupted on Friday after opposition staged protests and BJP members countered, leading to adjournment of the House till noon immediately after it assembled for the day.
As soon as the House met at 11 am, opposition members, mostly Congress MPs, came to the well shouting slogans against the government. BJP women members, who were standing in the second row of the Treasury benches, too stood up and shouted counter slogans.
Kirit Solanki, who was in the chair, first requested the members to sit down in their respective seats. Solanki repeated his request but the members ignored his pleas following which he adjourned the House till noon within a minute of assembling. When the House reassembled, the uproar continued and the Speaker adjourned the House till Monday.
The House had seen noisy scenes on Thursday when Union Minister Smriti Irani led the charge against Congress for its Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's comment on President Droupadi Murmu, terming her as 'Rashtrapatni' Irani had also demanded an apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi for Chowdhury's remark, leading to vociferous protests from opposition members and counter-protests from treasury benches.
Rajya Sabha proceedings on Friday were adjourned for close to an hour after uproarious scenes by both opposition and Treasury benches over different issues.
While the opposition parties pressed for a discussion on the hooch tragedy in Gujarat as well as the record rise in prices of essential commodities, BJP MPs were up on their feet shouting slogans seeking Congress president Sonia Gandhi's apology over her party leader's remarks on the President.
Amid slogan shouting, Deputy Chairman Harivansh adjourned the proceedings till noon. At the start of the day, official papers were laid on the table of the House, following which Harivansh said the chairman has not accepted notices under Rule 267 over issues of price rise and Agnipath scheme as a discussion on inflation is slated in the House next week and other issues have been allowed to be raised through Zero Hour mentions.
When the House reassembled at noon, uproar and protests continued, following which the chairman adjourned proceedings till Monday.
12:11 HM Shah meets the President
Union Home Minister Amit Shah calls on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.
11:52 Ministers meet President Murmu
Union Minister Smriti Irani along with MoS Dr Mahendra Munjpara and MoS John Barla calls on President Droupadi Murmu.
Representational image
11:48 Decomposed bodies of missing labourers found in AP
Bodies of five Assam labourers, who were among the 19 missing from a road construction site in Arunachal Pradesh's Kurung Kumey district for a fortnight, were found in a dense forest, a senior district official said on Friday.
Rescue teams have found the five decomposed bodies in the dense forest between Huri and Tapa in the last couple of days, Kurung Kumey Deputy Commissioner Nighee Bengia said.
The bodies were found in different locations and on different dates - one on July 25, three on July 26 and one on July 28, Bengia said.
With the recovery of the five bodies the number of deaths in the incident rose to six, he said.
One Hikmat Ali was drowned in Furak river. With this, the total number of deaths increased to six, Bengia said. The five decomposed bodies could not, however, be brought back.
The labourers, who were from Assam, had fled the remote road construction site at Damin circle, 200 kms from the district headquarters of Koloriang on the Indo-China border, on July 5 after they were denied leave to go home during Eid.
They then set out for their homes on foot in two groups of eight and 11 and have been missing since then.
So far 10 labourers were rescued in disoriented condition and are recuperating in health facilities," Bengia said.
The district commissioner said that he has directed the police, SDRF and local teams to continue the search operation till the remaining three missing labourers are found dead or alive.
The IAF chopper, which undertook a search operation on July 23, suspended it due to inclement weather and is waiting for good weather to resume.
The DC said according to the rescued labourers the bodies were that of Forizul Haque, Moijal Haque, Sohar Ali and Abul Hussain. The fifth body is yet to be identified. The rescued labourers are Khairul Islam (26), Majidul Ali (30), Monohar Hussain (18), Inamul Hussain (18), Jainal Ali (45), Hamidul Hussain, Abdul Amin, Ibrahim Ali, Kholebuddin Shiek (27) and Shamidul Sheik (19), he added. -- PTI
11:24 Day 4 of 5G auction: Rs 1.49L cr bids so far
The auction of 5G spectrum for ultra-high-speed internet services entered day four on Friday after garnering bids worth Rs 1,49,623 crore in 16 rounds of bidding conducted so far.
The high interest for spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in Uttar Pradesh East circle saw Jio and Airtel locked in intense bidding on Wednesday and Thursday, sustaining the tempo and stretching the auction timelines beyond initial expectations.
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio, Sunil Mittal-led Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and a unit of billionaire Gautam Adani's flagship Adani Enterprises are in the race to bid for a 5G spectrum that offers speeds about 10 times faster than 4G, lag-free connectivity and can enable billions of connected devices to share data in real-time.
After a flying start on Tuesday that saw players pouring in Rs 1.45 lakh crore on day one, the numbers inched up incrementally over Wednesday and Thursday.
Bidding activities resumed on Friday with the 17th round. Bids worth Rs 1,49,623 crore were received in 16 rounds of bidding till Thursday. A total of 72 GHz (gigahertz) of radiowaves worth at least Rs 4.3 lakh crore is on the block. -- PTI
11:17 Personal liberty in India is ending
When politicians have no respect for personal liberty and order arrests indiscriminately, it is silly to expect policemen and bureaucrats to not follow their example, writes Vir Sanghvi. Read the column here.
11:15 Biden, Xi exploring meeting in person
President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping are exploring a meeting in person, after the leaders spent more than two hours Thursday talking through the future of their complicated relationship.
Tension over Taiwan is once again emerging as a flashpoint.
Biden conducted the telephone call from the Oval Office, where he was joined by top aides, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
When Biden was vice president, he spent long hours with Xi in the United States and China, an experience he often recalls as he talks about the two countries' opportunities for conflict and cooperation.
However, they have not met in person since Biden became president last year.
Xi has left mainland China only once, to visit Hong Kong, since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
10:58 Indigo flight skids off runway in Jorhat, wheels get stuck in outfield
An IndiGo flight from Jorhat in Assam to Kolkata skidded off the runway during take off and a pair of its wheels got stuck in the muddy outfield, the airline said on Friday.
The incident took place on Thursday when the aircraft was taxing out for take off with 98 passengers on board and the flight was cancelled, it said.
"IndiGo flight 6E-757 operating from Jorhat to Kolkata returned back to bay during departure. While taxiing out the pilot was advised that one of the main wheels had partially run over the grass adjacent to the taxiway," the airline said in a statement. The pilot held the taxi procedure as a precaution and asked for necessary inspection, it added.
"The aircraft was taken back to the bay at Jorhat for inspection. During the initial inspection no abnormalities were observed. As a matter of caution the maintenance team initiated a thorough inspection. The flight was cancelled," the IndiGo statement said.
An Airports Authority of India official told PTI that the Indigo flight to Kolkata was cancelled after being held up for several hours at Jorhat due to a "technical issue" -- PTI
10:30 Suspended MPs' 50-hour long protest to end today
Opposition MPs continued their 50-hour day-night sit-in protest on Friday morning in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue inside Parliament premises to mark their strong protest against their suspension and the central government which they claimed was not ready to hold discussion over key issues like price rise and increased GST rates.
The 50-hour long sit-in is likely to end around 5 pm on Friday.
A total of 27 MPs including 23 Rajya Sabha MPs and 4 Lok Sabha MPs have been suspended for "unruly behaviour" during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament.
This is learnt to be the highest number of single-batch suspensions in the Upper House.
MPs, who were suspended for the week for their "unruly behaviour and disrupting proceedings" in the Parliament, had started the sit-in protest Wednesday afternoon.
Among the MPs who spent the night outside include Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Abir Ranjan Biswas and Derek O'Brien while TMC MPs Dola Sen, Sushmita Dev, Mausam Noor, AAP MPs Sushil Gupta and Sandeep Pathak were at the protest site till midnight.
On the second night under the sky, the MPs arranged mosquito nets for themselves.
TMC MP Derek O'Brien and AAP MP Sanjay Singh shared a photo from the protest site where the MPs could be seen inside mosquito nets.
Last rites of the man killed yesterday
10:25 Prohibitory orders in Mangaluru following back-to-back murders
Prohibitory orders have been clamped in the city following back-to-back murders of two people belonging to different communities in the last couple of days.
Security has been beefed up in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in view of the tense situation, police said on Friday. Schools and colleges in Suratkal, Bajpe, Mulki and Pannambur police station limits will remain closed today.
While BJP Yuva Morcha activist Praveen Nettar was hacked to death on Tuesday night, Mohammed Fazil was murdered by four unknown assailants on Thursday night.
Two residents of Bellare have been arrested in connection with Nettar's murder, investigation is on to nab the assailants of Fazil.
BJP Yuva Morcha worker Praveen Nettar was also hacked to death
10:13 Another youth hacked to death in Mangaluru
A 23-year-old youth was hacked to death by an unidentified group on the outskirts of Mangaluru, said the police on Thursday.
The deceased has been identified as Fazil and was attacked by lethal weapons. Following the incident, Section 144 was imposed at Surathkal, Mulki, Bajpe and Panambur.
"At around 8 pm (on July 28), there was an incident where a 23-year-old boy was brutally attacked by 4-5 people near Krishnapura Katipalla road, Surathkal. The boy was immediately shifted to a hospital and was declared dead," said Mangaluru Police Commissioner, N Shashi Kumar.
The officials also directed all wine shops under the commissionerate's limits to be closed on July 29.
"We have requested all Muslim leaders to perform their prayers at their homes, in the larger interest of the law and order of every locality. Due justice will be done quickly and fairly," Mangaluru CP added.
The police are taking up a complaint of an eyewitness who was with the deceased during the incident and a case of murder has been registered.
The Mangaluru Police Commissioner also instructed people to not fall prey to rumours and said, "The motive behind the incident and the identity of the culprits is being investigated... I appeal to all the citizens to not succumb to any rumours being spread by vested-interest groups." Further investigations are underway.
Earlier, in another incident, Praveen Nettaru, a young BJP worker, was attacked with lethal weapons by unidentified people on a bike in Bellare in Dakshina Kannada late Tuesday evening.
-- ANI
09:56 Gujarat court likely to pass order on bail pleas of Teesta, Sreekumar today
A sessions court in Ahmedabad is likely to pass its order on Friday on the bail applications of activist Teesta Setalvad and former Director General of Police R B Sreekuamr arrested for allegedly fabricating documents to frame innocent people in the 2002 riots cases.
Additional principal judge D D Thakkar is likely to pronounce the order on the bail pleas.
On Thursday, the court had deferred its order in the case till Friday, which it did for the second time this week.
The two accused have denied the charges.
The government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case.
Apart from Setalvad and Sreekumar, former Indian Police Service officer Sanjiv Bhatt is also an accused in the case and has been arrested.
The trio has been arrested by the crime branch, which had filed a first information report (FIR) against them under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 194 (giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction for capital offence).
In its affidavit, the SIT has alleged that they were part of a larger conspiracy carried out at the behest of late Congress leader Ahmed Patel to destabilise the then Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Narendra Modi.
It has alleged that Setalvad was paid Rs 30 lakh at Patel's behest soon after the Godhra train burning incident of 2002.
Sreekumar was a 'disgruntled government officer' who 'abused the process for damning the elected representatives, bureaucracy and police administration of the whole state of Gujarat for ulterior purposes', the SIT claimed.
The FIR against Setalvad, Sreekumar and Bhatt was registered after the Supreme Court last month dismissed the plea filed by Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who was killed during the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Her plea had alleged a 'larger conspiracy' behind the post-Godhra riots.
On February 8, 2012, the SIT filed a closure report giving a clean chit to Prime Minister Modi and 63 others, including senior government officials, saying there was 'no prosecutable evidence' against them.
The top court on June 24 this year upheld the SIT's clean chit to Modi and 63 others. -- PTI
09:28 Goa excise dept to hear complaint against Silly Souls cafe
The Goa Excise Commissioner will on Friday hear a complaint filed by lawyer-activist Aires Rodrigues alleging that the licence to run a controversial upmarket restaurant in Assagao in North Goa was obtained 'illegally' and that it was renewed this year in the name of a person who died in 2021.
The outlet, 'Silly Souls Cafe and Bar', was at the centre of a raging controversy after the Congress last week alleged Union minister Smriti Irani's daughter was linked to the property, a charge rejected by the minister.
The lawyer of Irani's daughter has said his client is neither an owner nor operating the restaurant in question.
In a notice, Excise Commissioner Narayan Gad said he will hear the complaint on July 29 (Friday) at 11 am at the Goa Raj Kar Bhavan at Altinho.
On July 21, the Excise Commissioner had issued a show-cause notice to the outlet on the complaint filed by Rodrigues.
Rodrigues, in his complaint, said the excise rules in Goa allow a bar licence to be issued only to an existing restaurant, but norms were violated in the present case.
'The excise department, on 18th February 2021, in rank violation of law issued a licence for retail sale of foreign liquor for consumption on the premises along with another licence for retail sale of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and country liquor to the outlet without the required restaurant licence being in place,' the complaint said.
He said the licence in the name of one Anthony Dgama was approved despite the Aadhaar card submitted by him showing he was a resident of Mumbai and that the document was issued only on December 30, 2020, days before the application for an excise licence was filed.
Rodrigues, in his complaint, also pointed out in June the local excise office at Mapusa, in clear contravention of law, 'renewed the excise licence in the name of Dgama despite him having passed away last year on May 17, 2021, as per the death certificate issued by the Municipal Corporation of Mumbai'. -- PTI
IMAGE: Members of the Youth Congress protest outside Silly Souls cafe in Goa, which, they claim, is linked to Union Minister Smriti Iranis daughter. Photograph: Courtesy @IYC/Twitter
08:46 School jobs scam: ED raids another flat of Partha's aide
The Enforce Directorate conducted a raid at another apartment linked to Arpita Mukherjee, a close associate of former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, in Kolkata's Chinar Park area on late Thursday evening, an official said.
The ED sleuths raided the flat a day after recovering around Rs 28 crore in cash from another flat of Mukherjee who was also arrested by the central agency in connection with the investigation into the school jobs scam.
From her yet another flat in the city last week, the ED had seized over Rs 21 crore unaccounted cash.
"This (Chinar Park) apartment belonged to Arpita Mukherjee and we suspect that like her other flats, cash can be stacked here as well. We are talking to the neighbours and trying to find out what kind of activities have been carried out here," the ED official said.
Since the door was locked and the keys could not be traced, the agency had to break it open amid the presence of central force officers.
During questioning earlier in the day, Mukherjee gave them details of the Chinar Park property.
The investigators are still ascertaining the value of the gold jewellery, believed to be several kilograms, seized from her flats.
The CBI, as directed by the Calcutta high court, is probing the alleged irregularities committed in the recruitment of Group-C and D staff as well as teachers in government-sponsored and aided schools on recommendations of the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC). The ED is tracking the money trail in the scam.
Chatterjee who was the education minister when the alleged irregularities took place was arrested on July 23.
He was stripped of all his cabinet portfolios and party posts earlier in the day. -- PTI
08:20 Don't play with fire: Xi warns Biden over phone
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned his United States counterpart, Joe Biden, not to 'play with fire' over Taiwan and asked the US to abide by the 'One China' principle, during a phone call between both leaders on Thursday.
"Those who play with fire will perish by it. It is hoped that the US will be clear-eyed about this. The US should honour the One-China principle and implement the three joint communiques both in word and in deed."
Xi stressed that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China and that China firmly opposes separatist moves toward 'Taiwan independence'.
He said that the US should abide by the one-China principle, which is the political foundation for China-US relations, an official statement from the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry quoted Xi.
'China firmly opposes separatist moves toward 'Taiwan independence' and interference by external forces, and never allows any room for 'Taiwan independence' forces in whatever form,' Xi said, adding, 'the position of the Chinese government and people on the Taiwan question is consistent, and resolutely safeguarding China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity is the firm will of the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people'.
On the contrary, US president Joe Biden said that the US does not support 'Taiwan independence'.
'The United States policy has not changed, it strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,' a White House statement quoted Biden.
The call between the two leaders comes after their conversation on March 18 and a series of conversations between high-level US and PRC officials.
Xi Jinping held the phone conversation with Biden at the request of the latter.
This was the second talk since they had a video call in March.
The two Presidents had a candid communication and exchange on China-US relations and issues of interest.
According to a White House press pool, during the call, the two Presidents discussed a range of issues important to the bilateral relationship and other regional and global issues and tasked their teams to continue following up on today's conversation, in particular, to address climate change and health security.
'Today I spoke with President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China as part of our efforts to deepen lines of communication, responsibly manage our differences, and address issues of mutual interest,' Biden tweeted.
Biden further said that the US hopes to keep an open line of communication with China to enhance mutual understanding and avoid misperception and miscalculation, and will work with China where the interests of the two countries align and, at the same time, properly manage differences.
Their fifth call since President Biden took office last year came amid heightened tensions among the geopolitical rivals.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is considering a trip to Taiwan during the congressional recess in August that would make her the highest-ranking American politician since 1997 to visit the island.
Even the US President cast doubt on Pelosi's trip to Taiwan.
Biden said the US military believes it is not a good idea for Pelosi to travel to Taiwan as planned.
"The military thinks it's not a good idea right now," Biden said on Wednesday as quoted by the White House press pool.
China has warned of 'resolute countermeasures' if Pelosi proceeds with crossing its 'red line'. -- ANI
00:20 SC to hear 6 pleas challenging Places of Worship Act
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Friday six pleas challenging the validity of certain provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
The petitions are listed for hearing before a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Aniruddha Bose.
The apex court will examine the petitions filed by retired army officer Anil Kabotra, advocates Chandra Shekhar and Rudra Vikram Singh, Devkinandan Thakur Ji, Swami Jeetendranand Saraswati, and former Bharatiya Janata Party MP Chintamani Malviya.
Kabotra has challenged the constitutional validity of sections 2, 3, and 4 of the 1991 Act contending that they violate the principles of secularism.
"By making the impugned Act, Centre has arbitrarily created an irrational retrospective cut-off date, declared that character of places of worship shall be maintained as it was on August 15, 1947, and no suit or proceeding shall lie in court in respect of disputes against encroachment done by barbaric invaders and lawbreakers and such proceeding shall stand abated," said the plea, filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey.
The 1991 provision is an Act to prohibit conversion of any place of worship and to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Several other pleas, including the one filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, challenging the validity of certain provisions of the 1991 Act is already pending in the apex court.
The top court had earlier sought the Centre's response to Upadhya's plea challenging the validity of certain provisions of the 1991 law, which prohibit the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.
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