LIVE
Fri, 01 December 2023
Telangana cabinet to meet a day after results
Timeline Refresh
23:47 Telangana cabinet to meet a day after results
The Telangana cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held on December 4, a day after the votes of the assembly elections are counted.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will chair the meeting at 2 pm, an official release from Rao's office said without disclosing the agenda.
Election for the 119-seat assembly was held on November 30.
Rao contested from two segments-Gajwel and Kamareddy.
In a post on X, Bharat Rashtra Samiti working president K T Rama Rao said, 'After a long time had a peaceful sleep. Exit polls can take a hike. Exact polls will give us good news.'
Dismissing some exit-poll surveys that suggested that the ruling BRS will fall short of a majority in the Assembly polls, Rama Rao had said the Chandrasekhar Rao-led dispensation will return to power with over 70 seats. -- PTI
22:43 Panel report on Mahua Moitra to be tabled in Parl on Mon
The committee, at a meeting on November 9, adopted its report recommending Moitra's expulsion from the Lok Sabha over the 'cash-for-query' allegation.
Moitra can be expelled only if the House votes in favour of the panel's recommendation.
The Winter Session of Parliament begins on Monday and is scheduled to continue till December 22. -- PTI
The report of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee recommending the expulsion of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in a 'cash-for-query' case will be tabled in the lower house of Parliament on Monday.
According to the agenda papers circulated by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, Ethics Committee chairperson Vinod Kumar Sonkar will lay on the table of the House the panel's first report.
The committee, at a meeting on November 9, adopted its report recommending Moitra's expulsion from the Lok Sabha over the 'cash-for-query' allegation.
Six members of the panel voted in favour of the report, including Congress MP Preneet Kaur who had earlier been suspended from the party. Four members of the panel belonging to opposition parties submitted dissent notes.
The opposition members termed the report a 'fixed match' and said the complaint filed by BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey, which the panel reviewed, was not supported by a 'shred of evidence'.
Moitra can be expelled only if the House votes in favour of the panel's recommendation.
The Winter Session of Parliament begins on Monday and is scheduled to continue till December 22. -- PTI
22:19 Delhi HC refuses to entertain pleas seeking Uniform Civil Code
The Delhi high court on Friday refused to entertain a batch of petitions seeking a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying the Supreme Court has already dealt with the issue and has rejected the pleas.
The high court said it cannot direct the legislature to enact a law and referred to an order of the apex court in which it was held that framing of law lies exclusively within the domain of legislature.
"The Supreme Court order is clear and categorical. We will not go beyond the Supreme Court order. They (Law Commission) don't need us. They are an authority constituted by the Constitution to do it. They will do it," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna said.
This prompted lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, one of the petitioners, and other petitioners to withdraw their pleas from the high court.
The high court noted that the Law Commission is already seized of the issue and if petitioners wish, they can approach the commission with their suggestions.
The high court had earlier also observed that it 'cannot do anything' if the issue has already been decided by the Supreme Court and added that in March, a top court bench had already declined a plea for 'gender neutral' and 'religion neutral' laws filed by Upadhyay.
In April, a division bench headed by the then chief justice had said that Upadhyay's petition was prima facie not maintainable and asked him to place before it the 'prayers' made by him before apex court.
The high court was informed that in March, the top court refused to entertain petitions by Upadhyay in respect of 'gender neutral' and 'religion neutral' laws as it observed that the matter fell in the legislative domain and that in 2015, he had even withdrawn a plea from there in relation to UCC.
Besides Upadhyay's petition, there are four other petitions as well before the high court , which have contended that India 'urgently needs a Uniform Civil Code'.
The petitioners have contended that gender justice and gender equality, guaranteed under Articles 14-15 of the Constitution and dignity of women, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, cannot be secured without implementing Article 44 (the State shall endeavour to secure for citizens a UCC throughout the territory of India).
The petitions have claimed that the UCC, with a common set of rules governing every citizen of the country, will replace the personal laws, which are based on the scriptures and customs of various religious communities.
In response, the Centre has said citizens from different religions and denominations following different property and matrimonial laws is an affront to the nation's unity and the Uniform Civil Code will result in the integration of India.
It has however stated that a petition is not maintainable for formulation of the UCC as it is a 'matter of policy', which has to be decided by the 'elected representatives of the people' and 'no direction can be issued on with regard'.
The Centre has asserted it would examine in consultation with stakeholders the issue of formulating the Code after it receives the report of the Law Commission.
In May 2019, the high court had sought the Centre's response on Upadhyay's petition seeking constitution of a judicial commission to draft the UCC in order to promote national integration, gender justice and equality, and dignity of women. -- PTI
22:00 Counting of votes in Mizoram deferred to Monday
The counting of votes in Mizoram will take place on December 4, a day after it was originally scheduled, the Election Commission said on Friday.
It said the decision was taken following representations from various quarters requesting for a change in the date of counting from December 3 on the ground that Sunday holds a special significance for the people of Mizoram, a Christian-majority state.
'The Commission, having considered these representations, has decided to revise the date of counting for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Mizoram from 3rd December, 2023 (Sunday) to 4th December, 2023 (Monday),' it stated.
The counting was earlier scheduled for December 3, along that in four other states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana -- where assembly polls were held last month. -- PTI
20:51 Shivraj evades questions on 5th stint as MP CM
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said his party would pull off a spectacular victory in the state assembly elections, but evaded a direct reply to a question whether he would be the chief minister for the fifth time, as he just said 'Bharatiya Janata Party Zindabad'.
His statement comes a day after most exit polls put the BJP ahead in Madhya Pradesh.
It was for the first time since 2003 that the BJP contested the assembly polls held on November 17 without projecting a chief ministerial candidate.
The counting for the assembly elections will be held on the coming Sunday.
"The BJP is heading for a spectacular majority as the schemes of the central and the state governments have reached down to the people of MP," Chouhan, the longest-serving chief minister of the state, told reporters in Gwalior.
The central government's schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and the state government's Ladli Behna Yojana, under which women are being paid Rs 1,250 per month financial assistance, have been admired by people, he said.
"The double-engine government with its welfare and beneficial schemes have won the hearts of the people and achieved progress and development in MP," Chouhan said.
Asked whether he would become the chief minister for the fifth time, he just said, 'Bharatiya Janata Party Zindabad'.
On March 17 last year, Chouhan achieved the distinction of being the longest-serving chief minister from the BJP in the country. He broke the record which had been held by former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh.
His tenure as the chief minister, however, saw a break as the BJP was out of power for 15 months after the Congress formed the government led by veteran leader Kamal Nath following the 2018 assembly polls. -- PTI
His statement comes a day after most exit polls put the BJP ahead in Madhya Pradesh.
It was for the first time since 2003 that the BJP contested the assembly polls held on November 17 without projecting a chief ministerial candidate.
The counting for the assembly elections will be held on the coming Sunday.
"The BJP is heading for a spectacular majority as the schemes of the central and the state governments have reached down to the people of MP," Chouhan, the longest-serving chief minister of the state, told reporters in Gwalior.
The central government's schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and the state government's Ladli Behna Yojana, under which women are being paid Rs 1,250 per month financial assistance, have been admired by people, he said.
"The double-engine government with its welfare and beneficial schemes have won the hearts of the people and achieved progress and development in MP," Chouhan said.
Asked whether he would become the chief minister for the fifth time, he just said, 'Bharatiya Janata Party Zindabad'.
On March 17 last year, Chouhan achieved the distinction of being the longest-serving chief minister from the BJP in the country. He broke the record which had been held by former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh.
His tenure as the chief minister, however, saw a break as the BJP was out of power for 15 months after the Congress formed the government led by veteran leader Kamal Nath following the 2018 assembly polls. -- PTI
20:06 Ruckus as Delhi airport after Spicejet flight delayed by 7 hrs
Passengers travelling on a Spicejet flight from Delhi to Patna created a nuisance, confronting the airline staff at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Friday after the flight got delayed for 7 hours.
"Today at about 3:10 pm, it came to notice that a group of passengers bound for Patna by Spicejet airline flight no. SG-8721/STD were creating a nuisance at the domestic boarding gate 54. On query, it was learnt that the flight was delayed for more than 7 hrs as the incoming flight arrived. On this, the group got frustrated and started creating a nuisance with airlines' staff," the Airport Authority said.
"The same was informed to the boarding gate-in-charge (B/G I/C) who, along with the Quick Response Team (QRT) responded at the location and pacified the matter," it added.
However, Spicejet said that the passengers were informed earlier about the revised departure time so that passengers could accordingly plan their travel.
"Today's Spicejet Delhi-Patna flight SG 8721 has already landed at its destination. The flight's departure had been revised last night and passengers had been duly informed about the revised departure time at 12.40 am last night itself so that they could accordingly plan their travel to the airport," Spicejet said. -- ANI
20:02 Above-normal temperatures in most parts in Dec, says IMD
Minimum temperatures in December are likely to remain above normal in most parts of the country, the India Meteorological Department said on Friday.
Addressing a press conference about the December temperature and rainfall forecast, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra also said the occurrence of cold waves over north, northwest, central, east and northeast parts of country during the upcoming winter season (December to February 2024) is likely remain below normal.
Maximum temperatures for December are likely to be above normal over most parts of the country except some areas of central and north India, he said, adding above normal minimum temperatures are also forecast for most parts.
Speaking about the monthly rainfall forecast for December, Mohapatra said it is most likely to be above normal across the country.
"Monthly rainfall over the country as a whole during December 2023 is most likely to be above normal (=121 per cent of long period average). Above-normal rainfall is most likely over most parts of the northwest, adjoining areas of central and east India and some areas of extreme south peninsular India," the IMD said.
"Below normal rainfall is likely over many parts of the northeast India, north peninsular India and adjoining areas of central India," it added. -- PTI
19:32 Gujarat: 80% of those died of heart attack were in 11-25 age group
A total of 1,052 persons have died of heart attack in Gujarat in the last six months, with 80 per cent of the deceased being in the 11-25 age group, state education minister Kuber Dindor said on Friday.
In view of the rising number of heart attacks, nearly two lakh school teachers and college professors will be provided training in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a crucial lifesaving intervention during such medical emergencies, Dindor said.
"As many as 1,052 persons have died due to heart attack during the last six months in Gujarat. Nearly 80 per cent of them were in the age-group of 11 to 25 years and these students and youngsters were not even obese. The 108 ambulance service receives 173 cardiac emergency calls per day," said Dindor while addressing the media in Gandhinagar.
Youngsters are living in fear because a majority of the heart attack victims were in their age group, he claimed.
"We have seen how people died (due to heart attack) while playing cricket or taking part in garba (a traditional dance form popular during Navratri festivities) in the last six or seven months. I urge teachers to take part in this CPR training camp so that they can save lives," the minister said.
Under this initiative of the state Education Department, CPR training camps will be conducted at 37 medical colleges between December 3 and 17 to provide training to nearly two lakh school and college teachers, he said.
Some 2,500 medical experts and doctors will be present at these training camps and certificates will also be provided to the participants, Dindor added.
Such training was given earlier to Bharatiya Janata Party workers and police personnel in the state, he pointed out. -- PTI
19:04 Kejriwal meets Delhi rat-hole miners involved in tunnel rescue
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met the rat-hole mining experts from Delhi who participated in the operation to rescue the 41 workers trapped in Silkyara tunnel, officials said on Friday.
The workers were trapped inside the tunnel in Uttarakhand after a portion of it collapsed. They were rescued on Tuesday following 17 days of a multi-agency operation.
The 12-member team of rat-hole mining experts were called to do the drilling after an American auger machine came across hurdles while clearing the rubble.
According to officials, some of them are involved in laying sewer lines and pipelines for the Delhi Jal Board.
"Kejriwal met the miners from Delhi. During the meeting, Water minister Atishi and Urban Development minister Saurabh Bharadwaj were also present in the meeting. The miners returned from Uttarakhand on Thursday," the official added.
Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually 3-4 feet high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed 'rat holes', as each just about fits one person.
At the Silkyara tunnel, the 12 experts were called by Trenchless Engineering Services Pvt Ltd and Navayuga Engineers Pvt Ltd to deploy the rat-hole mining technique horizontally in the collapsed part of the main structure. -- PTI
18:20 Modi meets Israeli President in Dubai amid Gaza war
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Israeli President Isaac Herzog and underscored India's support for an early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy.
Modi met Herzog on the sidelines of the COP28 World Climate Action Summit here in the UAE.
The prime minister expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 7 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on X.
On October 7, Israel was stormed by Hamas militants in a deadly assault that launched the war.
Modi and Herzog exchanged views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the region.
The prime minister reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population, Bagchi said.
Modi emphasised India's support for a two-state solution and early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy.
'..at the COP28 conference, I met dozens of leaders from around the world. I spoke with them about how Hamas blatantly violates the ceasefire agreements and repeated again and again the demand to place the release of the hostages at the very top of the international community's agenda, alongside respect for the right of the State of Israel to defend itself,' Herzog said. -- Uzmi Athar/PTI
17:08 I propose to host COP33 Summit in India: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India is among the few countries which is on course to meet Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) as part of efforts to combat climate change and proposed that the country will host COP33 in 2028.
"India is committed to UN Framework for Climate Change process. That is why, from this stage, I propose to host COP33 Summit in India in 2028," PM Modi said in his remarks at the opening ceremony of High-level segment of COP28 being hosted by UAE.
He said India has presented an excellent example of the balance between ecology and economy before the world.
"Despite India being home to 17 per cent of population of the world, its contribution to Global Carbon Emissions is less than 4 per cent. India is one of those few economies of the world that is on the path to meet NDC targets," he said.
Prime Minister reached Dubai on Thursday to attend the World Climate Action Summit of the Conference Of Parties-28. -- ANI
16:48 'Michaun' nears, cyclone warning for TN coast
After the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted cyclone 'Michaung' to cross South Andhra Pradesh and adjoining North Tamil Nadu coast between Chennai and Machilipatnam on December 4 evening, MeT department Chennai said that Tiruvallur is expected to get very heavy rainfall when the cyclone makes the landfall.
S Balachandran, Deputy-Director General of Meteorology, Chennai said, "The well-marked low-pressure area has concentrated into a depression this morning. It is now located over the south-east bay and about 790 km from south-east of Chennai. Now, this system is likely to move in a north-westerly direction, which will further intensify into a deep depression by tomorrow. Further, it will intensify into a cyclonic storm. And it is expected to cross between Chennai and Machilipatnam by 4th December."
S Balachandran said that for the next four days in North Tamil Nadu, light to moderate rainfall was expected in major parts.
KBK Infographics
16:45 Sensex jumps 493 points
Among the Sensex firms, ITC, NTPC, Axis Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Finance, Asian Paints and Tata Steel were the major gainers. Mahindra & Mahindra, Wipro, Maruti, IndusInd Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HDFC Bank were among the laggards
16:16 Nifty hits life-time high
Key equity index Nifty hit its lifetime high while Sensex jumped 493 points to close at an 11-week high driven by favourable macroeconomic data and continuous foreign fund inflows.
The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 492.75 points or 0.74 per cent to settle at 67,481.19, the highest closing level since September 18. During the day, it surged 575.89 points or 0.85 per cent to 67,564.33.
The Nifty climbed 134.75 points or 0.67 per cent to settle at an all-time high of 20,267.90. During the day, the benchmark touched its intra-day record high of 20,291.55, up 158.4 points or 0.78 per cent. Among the Sensex firms, ITC, NTPC, Axis Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Finance, Asian Paints and Tata Steel were the major gainers. Mahindra & Mahindra, Wipro
Palestinian patients at Al Shifa hospital. File pic
16:07 Israel airstrikes kill 30 Gazans in a few hours
Israel-Hamas war: Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says at least 30 people have been killed by airstrikes in the hours since fighting resumed. Leaflets have been dropped warning people to the east of Khan Younis, a southern city, to head even further south to Rafah, near the Egypt border.
The IDF has created a new map dividing Gaza into hundreds of zones, which is says will be used to warn civilians of areas they need to evacuate in "preparation for the next stage of the war".
15:25 Gaps along Pak, B'desh borders to be plugged: HM
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said India's two major borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh will be completely secured in the next two years, with work underway to completely plug gaps in about 60 km stretch along these two fronts.
Shah was speaking after taking salute from a ceremonial parade of the Border Security Force (BSF) on the occasion of its 59th Raising Day celebrations in Hazaribag, Jharkhand.
The minister said the Narendra Modi government has fenced and plugged gaps in about 560 km of the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders in the last nine years since it came to power at the Centre.
These gaps were being used for infiltration and smuggling, he said. All the gaps in these two borders on India's western and eastern flank respectively are being plugged and work in only about 60 km is left.
In the next two years we will entirely secure these two borders, Shah said. The two borders-- 2,290 km of India-Pakistan International Border and 4,096 km of India-Bangladesh border-- are marked by long riverine, mountainous and marshy areas where it is very difficult to erect fences and hence the BSF and other agencies use technical gadgets to check infiltration.
"I firmly believe that a country cannot develop and prosper if its borders are not secure...the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led the country to the moon with the Chandrayaan mission, G20 Summit and brought the economy from the 11th to the fifth spot, and this was all possible due to our forces deployed for securing the borders like the BSF," he said.
"You, the BSF, are the essential pillar of this journey," the minister told the BSF personnel at the 'Meru' training camp here during his 22-minute long address. "I believe that the border fence does not alone protect the country, it only helps in rendering this task. It is the brave BSF jawan who does this task," he said. The border force, about 2.65 lakh in strength, was raised on December 1, 1965, and is primarily tasked to guard the over 6,386 km-long Indian fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh. -- PTI
14:58 Over 1 lakh buildings in Gaza damaged
New satellite images commissioned by the BBC reveal the extent of destruction across northern Gaza, before the start of the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The satellite images were taken last Thursday, just before the suspension of hostilities came into force, following weeks of Israeli air strikes and on-the-ground fighting. Separate satellite data analysis also provides a snapshot of the destruction across the whole of Gaza.
Drone footage and verified video also show buildings and entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble. While northern Gaza has been the focus of the Israeli ground offensive and has borne the brunt of the destruction, widespread damage extends across the entire strip.
14:35 Hezbollah lies in wait as IDF resumes Gaza strikes
As Israel resumes bombing in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Defense Forces is also currently in a heightened state of alert and preparedness along the border with Lebanon, responding to the continuous threats posed by Hezbollah.
Since October 7, the IDF has deployed significant military resources, including artillery, tanks and engineering corps, along the Lebanese border, striking Hezbollah anti-tank missile squads and other terrorists whenever they are detected, either after an attack or preparing for one.
This low-intensity conflict when compared to Gaza has resulted in some 90 casualties for Hezbollah and nine Israeli casualties--six military personnel and three civilians.
Several Israeli homes and military bases have sustained heavy damage from Hezbollah strikes since Oct. 7, and tens of thousands of Israeli residents from areas near the border with Lebanon remain evacuated, displaced from their homes by the threat of the Hezbollah's elite Radwan terrorist unit.
In response, the IDF has employed a defensive-responsive posture aimed at protecting Israeli territory from Hezbollah's aggression but not escalating the situation into a full-scale war front at this time.
Its approach is characterized by a reactive rather than proactive stance. Operations are tailored to respond to specific threats and attacks from Hezbollah, avoiding initiating aggression.
This goal remains to protect civilian lives and property, as well as to make sure that Hezbollah cannot surprise the north as Hamas did the south. But, the decision of any expanded war efforts in Lebanon remains up to the war cabinet.
Hezbollah's tactics, meanwhile, involve embedding its operations within Lebanese civilian areas; using southern Shi'ite villages as bases of attack; firing anti-tank missiles at Israeli northern homes and military positions; and continuing to pose a serious and persistent threat.
The question of whether the 8,000-man Radwan unit, which has murder and kidnap squads much like Hamas's Nukhba unit, could breach the Israeli border and conduct attacks has no clear answer at this time, although the IDF is present at the border in large numbers and has proven effective at detecting Radwan unit movements in real-time. -- ANI
14:03 No electricity in Raipur T20 stadium, bill unpaid
The fourth T20 international between India and Australia will be played today at Raipur's Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh stadium. But with just hours to go for the crucial encounter, there is no electricity in parts of the stadium.
Reason: An electricity bill which hasn't been paid since 2009.
The stadium has an outstanding bill of 3.16 crore, due to which the electricity connection at the stadium had been cut 5 years ago.
A temporary connection was installed at the request of the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association, but that only covers the spectators' gallery and boxes. The floodlights during the match today would need to be run using a generator.
Raipur Rural Circle in-charge Ashok Khandelwal said that the Secretary Cricket Association has applied to increase the capacity of the temporary connection of the stadium.
13:24 Navy men on death row 'will be brought back'
Navy Chief on eight former naval personnel on death row in Qatar: "We are working closely to ensure their interests are looked after. The government of India is putting all-out efforts to ensure they are brought back," Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar says.
A Qatar court last month accepted former Indian Navy Men's appeal filed by the Indian legal team to challenge the death penalty awarded to them. The eight naval veterans are imprisoned in Doha. The court will now study the appeal to come to a decision in the case. The next hearing is expected soon.
Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar
13:14 Indian navy just made history, 1st woman CO in...
The Indian Navy has appointed the first woman commanding officer in a naval ship in sync with its philosophy of 'all roles-all ranks' for female personnel, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Friday.
Addressing a press conference ahead of Navy Day, Admiral Kumar said the Indian Navy's ships, submarines, and aircraft have sustained a high operational tempo in the strategic waters in the last one year.
On China's increasing forays into the Indian Ocean, he said Indian Navy monitors all activities in the region. "Our ships, submarines, and aircraft have sustained a high operational tempo - undertaking missions and tasks encompassing military, diplomatic, constabulary and benign roles," he said. "Our units were mission deployed across the Indian Ocean Region and beyond, to protect and promote our national interests," he said. -- PTI
13:05 MoD refuses permission for Rahul's plane in Kochi
The Congress alleged on Friday that the Ministry of Defence denied landing permission for an aircraft carrying party leader Rahul Gandhi at the Naval airport in Kochi.
Ernakulam DCC president Mohammed Shiyas alleged the Ministry had initially granted permission for the aircraft's landing at the Naval facility but later withdrew it.
Consequently, the aircraft, carrying Gandhi from Kannur, was directed to the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) in nearby Nedumbassery, he told PTI.
An official source told PTI that the decision regarding granting permission for the landing of private jets at the Naval Station was made by the Defence Ministry. He, however, did not elaborate. The former Congress chief, currently touring Kerala, has two programmes scheduled in Kochi on Friday. PTI
12:38 Prez presents President's Colour to AFMC Pune
President Droupadi Murmu presented the President's Colour to Armed Forces Medical College at Pune today. She also virtually inaugurated the Armed Forces Centre for Computational Medicine 'Prajna'.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that AFMC has earned a reputation as an institution of the highest standard in medical education. The graduates of this institute have made the nation proud through their dedicated service in the face of war, counter insurgency operations, natural calamities, and pandemics, both at home and beyond our national boundaries.
12:35 RBI: Rs 2000 notes totalling Rs 9760 cr with...
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday said nearly 97.26 per cent of the Rs 2,000 bank notes have been returned to the banking system, and only about Rs 9,760 crore worth of the notes are still with the public.
On May 19, the RBI announced the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 denomination bank notes from circulation.
"The total value of Rs 2,000 bank notes in circulation, which amounted to Rs 3.56 lakh crore as at the close of business on May 19, 2023 when the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 bank notes was announced, has declined to Rs 9,760 crore as at the close of business on November 30, 2023," the RBI said in a statement.
Thus, 97.26 per cent of the high-value currency in circulation as on May 19, 2023, has since been returned to the banking system, it added.
"The Rs 2,000 bank notes continue to be legal tender," the RBI added. People can deposit and/or exchange Rs 2,000 bank notes at the 19 RBI offices across the country. People can also send Rs 2,000 bank notes through India Post from any post office, to any of the RBI Issue Offices for credit to their bank accounts in India. -- PTI
12:31 Modiji Census Kab Hoga?
"Given the reality of the disparity and the enormous shift over the last 50 years, this can be done without an open and frank conversation with the people, something that has not begun and, knowing the style of our leader, is not expected to begin," asserts Aakar Patel.
Read the column here.
12:30 Animal review
"First, Ranbir Kapoor's nakedness knows no bounds. He strips himself bare as an artist body and soul.
Second, Animal's violence isn't for the fainthearted unless you have an appetite for Korean style mayhem, like yours truly.
Third, book your tickets now. You have to see this," writes Sukanya Verma.
The full review on Rediff.com in just a bit!
12:03 Indian student in US held captive, beaten for months
Authorities in the US have rescued a 20-year-old Indian student, who was held captive for months without access to a bathroom, viciously beaten, and forced to work at three homes by his cousin and two other men in an incident described as "absolutely inhumane and unconscionable."
The victim, whose name was not disclosed, spent months trapped in three homes in the US state of Missouri.
On Wednesday, police descended upon a home on a rural highway in St Charles County. They later arrested Venkatesh R Sattaru, Sravan Varma Penumetcha and Nikhil Verma Penmatsa, and on Thursday charged them with offences including human trafficking, kidnapping and assault. Police were dispatched to investigate the home after a concerned citizen became aware of his situation and called 911.
The victim is safe and being treated at a hospital for multiple bone fractures, as well as lacerations and injuries covering his entire body, said prosecutor Joe McCulloch.
Over seven months, the men locked the student in a basement and forced him to sleep on an unfinished floor without access to a bathroom, charges say. He scavenged for scraps in nearby restaurant dumpsters and was beaten with electrical wire, PVC pipe, metal rods, wooden boards, sticks and a water supply hose for a washing machine, St Louis Post-Dispatch, a major regional newspaper, reported.
"It's absolutely inhumane and unconscionable that one human being could treat another human being like this," said McCulloch at a news conference Thursday.
The three defendants are accused of confining and abusing the victim at three different homes owned by Sattaru in Defiance, Dardenne Prairie and O'Fallon, starting in April 2023, according to St Charles County's official website.
Sattaru was identified by investigators as the ringleader and lives in the O'Fallon home with his wife and children.
The main suspect in the case, Sattaru, 35, is additionally charged with human trafficking for the purpose of slavery and contributing to human trafficking through misuse of documentation. Penumetcha and Penmatsa live in the home where the student was rescued.
Authorities said the student had come to the US from India last year with hopes of studying at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. Instead, he was taken to Sattaru's homes beginning in April and was forced to begin chores around 4:30 am, work a full day for Sattaru's IT company and then complete a list of evening tasks.
The student told police he regularly got three hours of sleep on a concrete floor in a locked basement where Sattaru monitored him with a surveillance camera, according to court documents. If the 20-year-old didn't complete the tasks properly, he was severely beaten.
Charges say he was forced to strip down naked and was hit all over his body. He was kicked, stomped and lashed, charges say, and his injuries included previous fractures and breaks that did not heal properly.
This was where a home stood. File pic. Yasser Qudih/Reuters
11:38 Israel begins bombing Gaza after truce expires
The Israeli military says fighter jets are striking Hamas targets in Gaza after weeklong truce expired. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that sirens were sounding for communities near the Gaza Strip and the military said it had intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza.
The Israel military released a statement saying, "Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory. The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organisation in the Gaza Strip."
11:31 'Don't call me Uncle. Call me Sam'
"Besides his strategic and tactical acumen, it was his amazing personality, quick wit and ability to remain unflustered under any circumstances that stood him apart from almost any leader one has read about or known," recalls Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd), of Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw. Read the column on here.
11:26 There's a cyclone brewing near Andhra, Chennai
The low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression on Friday and is likely to become a cyclonic storm which will cross the coast between Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Chennai around December 4 evening, the IMD said.
At 5.30 am on Friday, the system lay centred over the sea about 800 km away from Chennai, 970 km from Machilipatnam, 990 km from Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh and 790 km away from Puducherry.
It is likely to continue to move towards the west and northwest, intensify into a deep depression by December 2 and further into a cyclonic storm around December 3, the IMD said.
Thereafter, it would move in the same direction and cross South Andhra Pradesh and adjoining North Tamil Nadu coast between Chennai and Machilipatnam around the evening of December 4 as a cyclonic storm, it said in a statement.
It appears that the system will have no impact on Odisha, an official at the Special Relief Commissioner's Office said here. PTI
Nithyananda is wanted in India
11:15 Paraguay official quits after deal with fake country
A Paraguayan government official was replaced after it was revealed that he signed a memorandum of understanding with representatives of a fugitive Indian priest's fictional country, who also appear to have duped several local officials in the South American country.
The revelation sparked a scandal and lots of social media mockery in Paraguay but it's hardly the first time self-described representatives of the United States of Kailasa duped international leaders.
Earlier this year, they managed to participate in a United Nations committee meeting in Geneva and also signed agreements with local leaders in the United States and Canada. Arnaldo Chamorro was replaced as chief of staff for Paraguay's Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday shortly after it was revealed that he signed a proclamation with representatives of the United States of Kailasa.
Among other things, the Oct. 16 proclamation expressed a sincere wish and recommendation for the government of Paraguay to consider, explore and actively seek the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States of Kailasa and support the admission of the United States of Kailasa as a sovereign and independent state in various international organisations, including, among others, the United Nations, according to a copy of the agreement posted on social media.
Representatives of the fictional country met with Chamorro and Agriculture Minister Carlos Gimnez, Chamorro said in a radio interview. During the interview, Chamorro recognized he didn't know where Kailasa was located and said he signed what he characterized as a memorandum of understanding because they offered to help Paraguay with a variety of issues, including irrigation.
Photos posted in Kailasa's social media accounts also showed representatives of the fictional country signing agreements with local leaders of the Mara Antonia and Karpai municipalities. The social media account celebrated each of these signings.
On Kailasa's website, the fictional country is described as the revival of the ancient enlightened Hindu civilizational nation which is being revived by displaced Hindus from around the world. It is led by a self-styled guru, Nithyananda, who is wanted in India on several charges, including sexual assault. His whereabouts are unknown.
10:43 Israel-Hamas truce deadline has just expired
The deadline to extend the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has now expired. There is no word from mediator Qatar on an extension, raising possibility of renewed fighting in Gaza. This, despite efforts by the US, Egypt and Qatar to for an extended truce. \
Explosions and gunfire have been heard in the northern Gaza Strip, particularly to the northwest of Gaza City. The Israel military said it intercepted a rocket near the border with Gaza.
10:21 Kejriwal to meet rat-hole miners from Delhi
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will meet the rat-hole mining experts from Delhi who participated in the operation to rescue the 41 workers trapped in Silkyara tunnel, officials said on Friday.
The workers got trapped inside the tunnel in Uttarakhand after a portion of it collapsed. They were rescued on Tuesday following 17 days of a multi-agency operation. The 12-member team of rat-hole mining experts were called to do the drilling after an American auger machine came across hurdles while clearing the rubble.
According to officials, some of them are involved in laying sewer lines and pipelines for the Delhi Jal Board.
"Kejriwal will meet them later in the day," an official said.
Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually 3-4 feet high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed "rat holes", as each just about fits one person.
At the Silkyara tunnel, the 12 experts were called by Trenchless Engineering Services Pvt Ltd and Navayuga Engineers Pvt Ltd to deploy the rat-hole mining technique horizontally in the collapsed part of the main structure. PTI
Children of war
10:05 'Hamas not terror organisation, it is...'
Coming out heavily against Israel, Palestinian Ambassador to India, Adnan Abu Al-Haija on Thursday said that Hamas is "not a terror organisation" but "freedom fighters" fighting against the occupation.
Referring to Israel, he said that the "occupation" is "terrorist" and should leave Palestine. He further affirmed that Palestinians should be allowed to live like any other country in "peace and freedom."
Al-Haija also thanked the people of the state of Kerala for supporting the people of Palestine during the ongoing conflict.
Speaking to reporters in Kozhikode, the Palestinian envoy said, "I would like to mention here, that Hamas is not a terrorist organisation. Hamas is a freedom fighter organisation. They are fighting the occupation, the occupation is terrorist and should leave our home. We should live like any other country in the world in peace and freedom".
"I would like to present my thanks to the people of Kerala, for their support to the Palestinian cause and Palestinian people," he added.
Notably, ever since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, Palestinian authority has never condemned the assault. Earlier, the Palestinian envoy had told ANI that unless the "Palestinian state is established with East Jerusalem as capital" the conflict with Israel will continue forever.
On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise terror attack on Israel. Over 2000 terrorists breached Israeli borders and launched a massive assault killing over 1200 people and leaving many injured. Hamas also took over 200 people with them as hostages into Gaza Strip on October 7. -- ANI
09:48 Review: Sam Bahadur
"Meghna Gulzar's biopic Sam Bahadur offers a straightforward portrait of the Indian military's most famous commander. There's no question that it's a meticulously researched and detailed account of her glorious subject's triumphs. But it is also disappointingly impersonal in its approach."
Read the Rediff.com review here.
09:46 India-US troops joint exercises in Meghalaya
Troops of 1st Special Forces Group (SFG) of US Special Forces and Indian Army participate in the 14 th Edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise "VAJRA PRAHAR 2023', at the Joint Training Node in Umroi on Thursday.
09:42 Good, appropriate: US on India's probe into Pannun
The US has welcomed as "good and appropriate" India's decision to announce a high-level probe into its allegations that an Indian official was involved in a foiled plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil and said it is looking forward to seeing the results.
US federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh extremist who is an American and Canadian citizen.
An unnamed Indian official appeared in an indictment filed by US federal prosecutors in a Manhattan court on Wednesday along with the Indian national, who the Department of Justice alleges hired someone in the US to assassinate Pannun. India on Thursday described as a "matter of concern" the US charging the Indian national with conspiring to kill the Sikh separatist, and asserted that a high-level probe committee will investigate all aspects of the case.
"The government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and that's good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters travelling with him in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Thursday.
Blinken did not give any details about the case, calling it an ongoing legal matter. "So you'll understand I can't comment on it in detail. I can say that this is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian Government in past weeks," Blinken said.
-- PTI
09:30 Delhi's smoking 23 cigarettes this morning
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the National Capital dipped into the 'Severe' category in several areas, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). As per the official data, in Anand Vihar and Ashok Vihar, the air quality was recorded as 'severe' with AQI readings of 412 and 405, respectively, at 6 a.m.
Similarly, the AQI at the Jahangirpuri and Dwarka sector -8 was recorded at 411 and 405 respectively, falling in the 'severe' category. Anuj Kumar, a local, blamed the government for not doing enough to bring down levels of pollution.
"There is a lot of pollution in Delhi. We face difficulty breathing during our morning walk. The pollution was reduced a little due to the rain but it is still a lot. The government does not make enough effort... The pollution is very high", he said.
An AQI of 412 converts to approximately 23 cigarettes over a period of 24 hours.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar
09:23 RAW downs shutters in North America 1st time since inception in 1968
The expelled officers were head of RAW station in San Francisco & second-in-command of its operations in London, it is learnt. RAW was founded in 1968. Read the report here.
08:56 Farm fires down by 27% in Punjab, 37% in Haryana compared to last year: Govt
Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana has declined by 27 per cent and 37 per cent as against last year, the Union environment ministry has said.
From 83,002 fires in 2020, the count in Punjab dropped to 71,304 in 2021, 49,922 in 2022, and further to 36,663 in 2023, the ministry said on Thursday.
In comparison to 2022, there was a 27 per cent reduction in farm fires in 2023.
The reduction was even higher, standing at 49 per cent and 56 per cent, respectively, when compared to 2021 and 2020.
In 2020, the farm fire count in Haryana was 4,202 which increased to 6,987 in 2021, then reduced to 3,661 in 2022, and further decreased to 2,303 in 2023.
This marks a 37 per cent reduction in 2023 compared to 2022, with reductions of 67 per cent compared to 2021 and 45 per cent compared to 2020.
The ministry said four districts in Punjab saw over 50 per cent fewer fires in 2023 compared to 2022. Five districts showed improvements ranging from 27 per cent to 50 per cent.
Three districts in Haryana recorded more than 50 per cent fewer fires in 2023 than in 2022. Five districts saw improvements of up to 37 per cent, while five others had increased fire counts in 2023.
08:36 India a strategic partner, but...: US on Pannun plot
The White House on Thursday praised New Delhi for setting up its own investigations on the US allegations that an Indian official was involved in a foiled plot to kill separatist Sikh leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
The unnamed Indian official appeared in an indictment filed by federal prosecutors in a Manhattan court on Wednesday along with an Indian national, who the Department of Justice alleges hired someone in the US to assassinate Pannun, a vocal critic of India and espousing the cause of a separate Khalistan.
"These allegations in this investigation, (we) take it very seriously. And we're glad to see that the Indians are too by announcing their own efforts to investigate this. And we've been clear that we want to see anybody that's responsible for these alleged crimes to be held properly accountable," John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, told reporters at a news conference in Washington, DC.
However, this will not have an impact on India-US relationship, he said, observing that the US unearthed this plot after the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US.
"I want to be careful here that I don't get ahead of the Department of Justice and talk about an ongoing investigation. I would just say two things. India remains a strategic partner and we're going to continue to work to improve and strengthen that strategic partnership with India. At the same time, we take this very seriously," Kirby said in response to a question.
The Department of Justice, in an indictment charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with conspiracy to commit murder for hire for his alleged role in the plot to kill the Sikh American individual. Gupta is accused of working with an Indian government employee to recruit and pay an assassin to carry out the killing. -- PTI
01:20 Modi arrives in Dubai to attend World Climate Action Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday called for supporting developing countries with adequate climate financing and technology transfer to enable them to deal with climate change as he arrived here to attend the World Climate Action Summit in the Gulf emirate.
Before leaving Delhi, Modi said he was happy to see that this significant event is being held under the Presidency of the UAE, an important partner for India in the field of climate action.
"In keeping with our civilizational ethos, India has always laid emphasis on climate action even as we pursue social and economic development," he said.
"During our G20 presidency, climate was high on our priority. The New Delhi Leaders' Declaration includes numerous concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development. I look forward to the COP28 taking forward the consensus on these issues," Modi said in his departure statement.
Modi will attend the World Climate Action Summit on Friday during the United Nations 'Conference of the Parties' on climate, known as COP28.
Several world leaders are set to attend the climate action summit to discuss ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and effectively combat climate change.
The World Climate Action Summit is the high-level segment of the COP28. -- PTI
01:06 36-year-old Israeli woman found dead in Kerala; police suspect murder
A 36-year-old Israeli woman was on Thursday found dead at her residence in this southern Kerala district, the police said.
The police suspect that the woman's 70-year-old live-in partner killed her and have lodged an FIR under section 302 of the IPC against him.
An officer of Kottiyam police station narrated the statement given by the man, who claims to be a yoga acharya', that the couple decided to commit suicide and as part of that, the woman slit her throat.
The man claimed that he also stabbed his own neck and later his stomach, the police said.
However, the woman had several stab wounds on her body besides the fatal injury to her neck, it said.
The man was also booked under section 309 (suicide attempt) of IPC and is presently hospitalised and under police surveillance, the officer said.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, came to light when the accused's relative found the couple in their room in an injured state.
As the relative shouted for help, the man, who was still conscious, got up and shut the door, the police said.
The door was broken down after police arrived, but by then the woman was dead, the officer said.
The couple were living in the house of the accused's relative, the police said.
The woman had been in Uttarakhand for 15 years and was in Kerala for the last one year, he said. -- PTI
File image
00:57 Six injured as BRS, Cong clash in Telangana's Nalgonda district
Six persons were injured following a clash between supporters of the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi and Congress in Nalgonda district on Thursday, the police said.
The incident happened after completion of the Assembly polls in Chandampet mandal of the district wherein members of the Congress and the BRS hit each other with sticks resulting in minor injuries to six of them even as police dispersed them.
Those injured include five from the Congress and one belonging to the BRS, a senior police official said. -- PTI
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra and CM Ashok Gehlot (right)
00:55 Days ahead of poll results, Rajasthan CM Gehlot meets Governor Kalraj Mishra
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday met Governor Kalraj Mishra at the Raj Bhavan in Jaipur.
A Raj Bhavan spokesperson called it a courtesy meeting.
While sharing a photo of the meeting, Gehlot wrote on 'X', "Today I had a courtesy meeting with Honorable Governor Kalraj Mishra. During this, meaningful discussions were held on important topics of the state."
The meeting comes ahead of the counting of votes of the assembly polls on December 3.
The voting for 199 out of 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan took place on November 25. -- PTI
R Subbalakshmi (left) with daughter Thara Kalyan/Courtesy Thara Kalyan on Instagram
00:52 Noted Malayalam actress and Carnatic musician Subbalakshmi dies at 87
Noted Malayalam actress R Subbalakshmi died at a private hospital here on Thursday night, film industry sources said.
She was 87.
Subbalakshmi, also a Carnatic musician and a painter, was one of the distinguished supporting actresses in Malayalam cinema, often portraying grandmotherly roles with impressive delicacy and skill.
She was widely recognised for her roles in Malayalam movies, including popular films like Kalyanaraman (2002), Pandippada (2005), and Nandanam (2002).
The late actress leaves behind a lasting legacy, not only for her on-screen presence but also as the mother of Thara Kalyan, a fellow actress in Malayalam films.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Malayalam film actor Dileep condoled her demise. -- PTI
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha/File image
00:32 Ready to hold polls in J-K whenever EC wants: LG
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said his administration is ready to hold assembly polls in the Union Territory whenever the Election Commission of India directs it to do so.
Taking a swipe at certain political leaders for spreading misinformation about elections, LG Sinha said he would leave Jammu and Kashmir only after successfully conducting the assembly polls.
"Whatever information has been sought by the ECI from J&K about arrangements, have been submitted to them. I want to tell from this platform that whenever the ECI tells us, the J&K administration is ready to hold elections," Sinha said while addressing a conference, 'Samvaad', organised by Amar Ujala in Jammu.
Referring to the democratic processes in J&K, LG Sinha highlighted that the right to conduct assembly polls lies exclusively with the Election Commission of India.
He also criticized political leaders for allegedly misleading the public.
"My task was to ensure that writ of the nation is established in Jammu and Kashmir and that has been established. That was (my) work and I have performed it," he said.
"All top commanders of terrorist organisations have been eliminated. Those who are still alive will soon be eliminated. There is no place for terrorism here," he said.
He said that there is good coordination between the army, CRPF and the police.
"Attempts are being made by our neighbour to foment trouble here and some incidents took place. There was martyrdoom of some jawans. We will avenge those killings", he added. -- PTI
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances