LIVE! JNU admn cut power, net to block Modi docu?

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Tue, 24 January 2023

JNU admn cut power, net to block Modi docu?

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23:37 Bodies of 7 members of family fished out of Pune river, suicide suspected

The Pune rural police on Tuesday registered an accident death report after the bodies of 7 members of a family were fished out from a river in Daund town of Pune district.

"All seven bodies have been recovered. While it is suspected that the family members died by suicide, we are looking into all possible angles in the case. However, nothing conclusive could be said till a detailed investigation is conducted," an officer of Pune rural police said.

The police further informed that they received information on January 18 that a dead body had been found floating in the river.

The sleuths sent word to the local municipal corporation and a joint search operation was launched.

Of the seven bodies recovered between January 18 and 22, four were adults, the police said, adding that they also found a mobile phone from the pocket of one of the deceased which helped them ascertain the identities of the victims.

In the search operation that extended to Tuesday, police recovered the bodies of three more deceased family members.

All were children.

All bodies are recovered from the Bhima River near Pargaon village under a bridge, at a distance of 100-200 metres from each other.

The police further informed that the post-mortem on all the bodies were conducted and the reports say all died from drowning. Based on the reports, police registered the ADR.

The deceased family members comprised an elderly couple, their daughter and son-in-law and their children, the police said.

They were identified as Mohan Pawar (45), his wife Sangita Pawar (40), daughter Rani Falware (24), her husband Shyam Falware (28) and their kids aged between 3-7 years, the police added. -- ANI

A 23-year-old Indian has died after he was shot during an armed robbery in Chicago, according to a media report on Tuesday.

Devsish Nandepu was shot during an armed robbery Sunday night in Princeton Park on the South Side, Chicago police said on Tuesday morning.

He succumbed to his injuries, a report in ABC7 Eyewitness News said.

The report added that Nandepu died just after 4 am on Monday morning at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

He had been shot in the armpit and taken to the hospital in critical condition during the incident.

Nandepu and another 22-year-old were near a parking lot about 6:55 pm on Sunday when a dark-coloured vehicle approached them.

Two occupants from the vehicle held them at gunpoint and demanded valuables from them.

Nandepu and his friend complied and were shot, officials said.

The younger man was struck in the chest and was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was in critical condition, police said.

No arrests have been made in the case so far. -- PTI

File image/ANI Photo

22:35 JNU admn cut power, net to block Modi docu?

The JNU students' union could not hold the proposed screening of a controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a student outfit alleging that the varsity's administration snapped power and internet connections at the union's office.

There was no immediate response from the JNU administration to the allegation.

Students, however, downloaded the documentary on their mobile phones through an online application to watch and share it, All India Students Association national president N Sai Balaji claimed.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Students' Union comprises members of the Left-backed DSF, AISA, SFI and AISF.

The government had on Friday directed social media platforms Twitter and YouTube to block links to the documentary titled India: The Modi Question.

The ministry of external affairs has trashed the documentary as a "propaganda piece" that lacks objectivity and reflects a colonial mindset.

However, opposition parties have slammed the government's move to block access to the documentary. Balaji, who was present for the screening, claimed that some students had downloaded the documentary on their mobiles and other devices.

"They (the JNU administration) have cut off the power and internet. We shared the documentary with other students and are watching it together," Balaji said. -- PTI

Amid recent incidents of unruly passenger behaviour, Air India has modified its in-flight alcohol service policy wherein cabin crew have been told to tactfully refuse further serving of alcohol if needed.

The Tata group-owned airline has been slapped with penalties in the last few days by DGCA for the unruly behaviour of passengers onboard two international flights for reporting lapses.

The exact changes in the revised policy could not be immediately ascertained.

According to the revised policy, guests should not be permitted to drink alcohol unless served by the cabin crew and that the cabin crew be attentive to identifying guests that might be consuming their own alcohol.

"Service of alcoholic beverages must be carried out in a reasonable and safe manner. This includes tactfully refusing to (further) serve a guest alcohol," as per the policy.

In a statement, an Air India spokesperson said the airline has reviewed its existing in-flight alcohol service policy, taking reference from other carriers' practice and input from the US National Restaurants Association's guidelines.

"These were largely in line with Air India's existing practice, though some adjustments have been made for better clarity, and NRA's Traffic Light system included to help crew recognise and manage possible cases of intoxication.

"The new policy has now been promulgated to crew and included in training curricula. Air India remains committed to the safety and well-being of our passengers and cabin crew, including but not limited to the responsible service of alcohol," the spokesperson said.

File image/PTI Photo

21:15 No Covid cases in Mumbai 1st time since Mar 2020

No new COVID-19 case was recorded in Mumbai in a day on Tuesday for the first time since the pandemic began in March 2020, said the local civic body.

Also, no fresh death linked to the infection was registered in the metropolis in the last 24 hours, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said.

With this, the overall tally of COVID-19 cases and the death toll in the country's financial capital remained unchanged at 11,55,240 and 19,747, respectively.

On March 11, 2020, the first two coronavirus patients in Mumbai were detected.

It means after two years, 10 months, and 14 days the city has logged zero COVID-19 case.

On Monday, the metropolis had recorded four coronavirus cases and zero fatality. -- PTI

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel/@BJP4India/Twitter

20:54 New Gujarat govt to present first budget on Feb 24

The budget session of the newly constituted Gujarat assembly will be held from February 23 to March 29, while the state budget for the next fiscal will be presented on February 24, Speaker Shankar Chaudhary said on Tuesday.

This will be the first budget of the new Bharatiya Janata Party government headed by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel which took office last month after the saffron outfit registered a landslide victory in the assembly polls.

"The budget session of the Assembly will start from February 23 and end on March 29. On the first day of the session Governor Acharya Devvrat will address the assembly," Chaudhary said.

"On February 24, the state budget will be presented," he said.

Gujarat Finance Minister Kanu Desai, who held the key portfolio in the previous government also, will present the budget for the third time.

The session will have a total of 25 sittings, the speaker said, adding five of them have been kept aside for discussion on various bills that the government wants to introduce and pass in the House. -- PTI

Rescue operations underway/ANI Photo

20:28 3 killed in building collapse in Lucknow

At least three people were killed and some others feared trapped in the rubble after a multi-storey residential building collapsed in Lucknow's Hazratganj on Tuesday, officials said.

"Rescue operation is going on. NDRF-SDRF have arrived at the spot. Police jawans and fire brigade personnel have also arrived at the spot. Three bodies have been found so far and sent to hospital," Uttar Pradesh deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak told reporters.

When asked whether the collapse was due to an earthquake earlier in the day, Lucknow District Magistrate Suryapal Gangwar told PTI, "Nothing can be said now. I am reaching the spot." -- PTI

20:02 Two Indians drown in New Zealand's Piha beach

Two Indian men, who were roommates in New Zealand, drowned when a rogue wave hit them while trying to swim in one of the most dangerous spots at Piha Beach, according to media reports.

The deceased, identified as Saurin Nayankumar Patel, 28, and Anshul Shah, 31, spent only 30 minutes at the beach in North Island last week before tragedy struck, The New Zealand Herald newspaper reported.

They were described as "non-swimmers" by their families.

The two hailed from Ahmedabad in Gujarat and were roommates in Auckland.

A friend of the two dead men, Hiren Patel, said another friend, Apurv Modi, was also in the water when a rogue wave pulled the trio apart.

Modi reached for Patel's hand but couldn't hold on as he "screamed and shouted' for help, Hiren said.

"It is with God's grace that Apurv Modi survived. He managed to come to shore but he lost his friends," Hiren said.

Patel was an electrical engineer who arrived in New Zealand in August last year, while Shah worked as a cashier at a gas station and came here in November, the report said.

A lifeguard spotted the duo swimming in a dangerous spot as the guards were going off patrol on January 21, United North Piha Surf Lifesaving Club president Robert Ferguson said. -- PTI

19:43 RRR's 'Naatu Naatu' song bags Oscar nomination

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli's period action blockbuster RRR on Tuesday created history, with the film's hit track Naatu Naatu earning an Oscar nomination in the Best Original Song category.

In the category, the movie was nominated alongside Applause from Tell It Like a Woman, Hold My Hand from Top Gun: Maverick, Lift Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and This Is A Life from Everything Everywhere All at Once.

"WE CREATED HISTORY!! Proud and privileged to share that #NaatuNaatu has been nominated for Best Original song at the 95th Academy Awards," tweeted the official website of the movie.

This is the third major international recognition for Naatu Naatu, composed by MM Keeravaani and penned by Kala Bhairava and Rahul Sipligunj, after Keeravani won a Golden Globe as well as a Critics Choice award for the track earlier this month.

The film won another Critics Choice award -- Best Foreign Language Film.

RRR (Rise Roar Revolt), a pre-independence fictional story, follows two real-life Indian revolutionaries Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Jr NTR) in the 1920s.

Jai Ho from the 2008 British film Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle, was the first Hindi song to win an Academy Award in the Best Original Score and Original Song categories. It was composed by AR Rahman and penned by Gulzar.

The nominations for 23 categories of the 95th Academy Awards were announced by Hollywood actors Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams on Tuesday.

The Oscars will take place on March 12.

Apart from Naatu Naatu, The Elephant Whisperers has been nominated in the Documentary Short Subject category at Oscars 2023, while All That Breathes has been nominated in the Documentary Feature Film category.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif/@Atifrauf79/Twitter

19:31 Power outages continue in Pak despite minister's claim of full restoration

Large parts of Pakistan on Tuesday experienced periodic electricity outages despite the government's claim that the power supply was fully restored across the country following a nationwide breakdown, the second in nearly four months.

The country sank into darkness due to the sudden breakdown of electricity on Monday morning after frequency variations hit the national grid, disrupting normal life and affecting millions of people.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday apologised to the nation for the inconvenience caused by the countrywide power outage.

Taking to Twitter, the premier wrote: "On behalf of my government, I would like to express my sincere regrets for the inconvenience our citizens suffered due to the power outage yesterday."

"On my orders, an inquiry is underway to determine reasons for the power failure. Responsibility will be fixed," he tweeted.

Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir said on Tuesday that electricity has been fully restored at grid stations across the country.

"Power at all 1,112 stations of the national grid has been restored," Dastgir tweeted.

The restoration failed to provide sustained power to large parts of the country and hours-long power outages were witnessed in Islamabad and other major cities.

Officials said that it was being caused by low production as compared to the demand. -- PTI

19:06 Will 'RRR' bag an Osar nomination today?

RRR has won so many global awards that its fans are convinced of the film making it to the Oscars this year.

After winning big at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Award, fans are anticipating the movie's nomination at the Oscars.

Many took to Twitter to express their anticipation and excitement as the Academy is going to release its official list of nominees now.

A fan wrote, "It's Bheem supremacy all over the globe #RRRMovie #RRRForOscars #NTRForOscars #NTRGoesGlobal #JrNTR"

Another Twitter user wrote, "Few HouRRRs to go , Hoping for the best. #RRRForOscars@TheAcademy @tarak9999 #NaatuNaatu."

A Twitter user rooted for Ram Charan's nomination and wrote, "I have no expectations I'm not even hoping but if Ram Charan is in Oscar nominations I won't be surprised #RamCharan #RRR #Oscars #RRRForOscars #Oscars2023."

'Team RRR' is currently enjoying the grand success of his magnum opus film. They won a Golden Globes for best original song trophy for their song Naatu Naatu at the 2023 Golden Globes.

Earlier this month, the team also got home two more prestigious awards at the 28th edition of the Critics Choice Awards.

The film bagged the Critics Choice Award for best song for its track Naatu Naatu. It also picked up the Critics Choice Award for best foreign language film in a ceremony held in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Now all hopes are pinned on the Oscars nomination list.

18:55 Egyptian President El-Sisi arrives in Delhi

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday and was accorded a warm welcome.

He will be the chief guest at the 74th Republic Day parade on Thursday.

He is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including five ministers and senior officials for his official visit that runs January 24-27.

This is the first time the president of Egypt has been invited as the chief guest on Republic Day.

Notably, India and Egypt are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

India has also invited Egypt as a 'guest country" during its G20 presidency.

-- ANI

Kangana Ranaut/Pallav Paliwal/ANI Photo

18:50 'Nice to be back': Kangana returns to Twitter

Kangana Ranaut is back on Twitter.

The actor-director returned to the microblogging site on Tuesday.

Her comeback tweet read, "Hello everyone, it's nice to be back here."

She further tweeted a BTS (behind the scenes) video of her upcoming film 'Emergency' and the news has the fans excited!

She attached a caption with the BTS video -- "And it's a wrap !!! Emergency filming completed successfully... see you in cinemas on 20th October 2023"

The actor's fans are quite ecstatic to have her back and many even replied to her tweet saying, "Welcome back!!!"

However, an official blue tick from her profile is missing, which fans are hoping will be attached to her account soon.

Last year, in May, Twitter "permanently suspended" Kangana's account on Twitter after she posted a series of tweets making derogatory remarks on the recent results of the West Bengal assembly elections.

In her tweets, the Queen star demanded President's rule in West Bengal after Mamata Banerjee-led TMC defeated BJP in the state elections last year.

Taking to her Twitter handle, the National Award-winning actor used demeaning words against Mamata.

In a series of controversial tweets, Kangana called her an "unleashed monster".

According to a Twitter spokesperson, Kangana's account was constantly provoking anger and violence, which was diminishing the value of global public conversation on the platform. -- ANI

18:36 Gainers and losers in Sensex pack

The 30-share BSE Sensex on Tuesday closed slightly up by 37.08 points or 0.06 per cent to 60,978.75, with 15 of its stocks ending in green and the rest in red.

The index opened higher and gained over 300 points to a high of 61,266.06 in early trade. The index, however, dropped over 400 points from the day's high to touch a low of 60,849.12 due to selling in select counters.

The broader NSE Nifty closed flat at 18,118.30 with 29 of its shares ending in red and 21 in green.

The 50-issue index touched a high of 18,201.25 and a low of 18,078.65 in the day trade.

Among major gainers, Tata Motors rose the most by 3.26 per cent. Maruti Suzuki India rose by 3.23 per cent after its posted a two-fold jump in net profit for the December quarter on robust sales.

HCL Tech, HDFC twins, Asian Paints, IndusInd Bank, TCS and ITC were among the gainers.

Axis Bank declined 2.43 per cent a day after it reported its financial results. L&T, Reliance Industries, SBI, Kotak Bank, Tata Steel and Power Grid were major losers.

President Droupadi Murmu will address the nation on Wednesday on the eve of the 74th Republic Day, her maiden speech on the occasion.

"The address will be broadcast from 1900 hrs on the entire national network of All India Radio (AIR), and telecast over all channels of Doordarshan in Hindi followed by the English version," according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement.

It will be followed by broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan.

AIR will broadcast regional language versions from 2130 hrs onwards on its regional networks.

Shraddha Walkar with Aaftab Poonawala/ANI Photo

18:10 Police files 6,629-page charge sheet against Aaftab

The Delhi police on Tuesday filed a "voluminous" 6,629-page chargesheet against Aaftab Amin Poonawalla in the Shraddha Walkar murder case.

The Saket court is likely to take cognizance of the chargesheet on February 7.

The investigation officer filed the chargesheet before the metropolitan magistrate Aviral Shukla.

The investigating officer informed the court that the chargesheet contains 6,629 pages including the annexures.

Following this, the judge said, "it is voluminous." Aaftab was produced through video conferencing from Tihar Jail after the expiry of his judicial custody.

Aaftab told the court that he wants to change his counsel advocate MS Khan.

After the proceedings, the court extended the judicial custody of Aaftab till February 7.

The chargesheet has been filed under sections 302, 201 and other sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The court listed the matter for cognizance of the chargesheet on February 7.

The court also directed to physically produce Aaftab Poonawalla on the next date of hearing.

Notably, the Delhi police filed the chargesheet before the expiry of 90 days after its investigation. -- ANI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis at the ministry of home affairs in the national capital on Tuesday.

The sugar industry, and cabinet expansion among other issues are expected to be discussed, according to the sources.

Further details are awaited.

Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh/Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh/Facebook

17:03 Not consulted on oversight committee, say wrestlers

India's ace wrestlers Sakshee Malikkh, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sarita Mor on Tuesday expressed their disappointment over not being consulted before the oversight committee was formed and said that they were assured that they would be consulted before the formation.

The Union ministry of youth affairs and sports announced on Monday that the oversight committee has been formed to probe into the sexual harassment allegations levelled against the Wrestling Federation of India and its chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Boxing great and Olympic medalist Mary Kom will head the five-member oversight committee.

"We were assured that we would be consulted before the oversight committee was formed. It is very sad that we were not even consulted before the formation of this committee. @narendramodi @AmitShah @ianuragthakur," Vinesh Phogat wrote in a tweet.

Other star wrestlers, Sakshee Malikkh and Bajrang Punia tweeted the same on their official Twitter handles.

The announcement of the commitment was made by Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday.

Thakur announced on Monday that boxer Mary Kom will be heading the oversight committee formed to probe into the allegations levelled against the Wrestling Federation of India and its chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and other coaches.

"Oversight committee has been formed today. Mary Kom will head the Oversight Committee. For the coming month, the committee will investigate the allegations put up by the wrestlers," Thakur told the media in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

"Assistant secretary WFI was sacked and an oversight committee will begin an impartial probe so that everything gets clear," Anurag Thakur said. -- PTI

Well-known architect and Padma Bhushan recipient Balkrishna Doshi, who worked with legends like Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn, died at 95 at his home in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those who paid rich tributes to Doshi.

"We are deeply saddened to inform you about the passing away of Balkrishna Doshi (August 26, 1927-January 24, 2023), loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather," his family said in a statement.

Condolences poured in from various quarters over the demise of Doshi, widely regarded as the foremost architect of modern India.

"Dr BV Doshi Ji was a brilliant architect and a remarkable institution builder. The coming generations will get glimpses of his greatness by admiring his rich work across India. His passing away is saddening. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," tweeted PM Modi.

Born in 1927 in Pune, Doshi worked with architecture legends like Le Corbusier.

He also worked with Louis Kahn as an associate to build the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and many other acclaimed projects.

CM Patel called Doshi the Pole Star in the world of architecture.

"Condolences on the passing away of Pritzker Prize winner 'Padma Bhushan' Balakrishna Doshiji, a world-renowned architect who is like the pole star in the world of architecture. May God rest his soul and give strength to his family, countless fans and disciples to bear this shock," he said in a tweet in Gujarati. -- PTI

A first information report (FIR) was registered against Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya on Tuesday over his controversial remarks on Ramcharitmanas, police said.

"A case has been registered against Swami Prasad Maurya at the Hazratganj police station for allegedly outraging religious feelings with his recent remarks on Ramcharitmanas," a police officer said.

The FIR was registered following a complaint by Shivendra Mishra, a resident of Aishbagh locality in Bazar Khala area of Uttar Pradesh, he said.

The FIR was lodged under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 298 (deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 153 A-(wanton vilification or attacks upon the religion, race, place of birth, residence etc), police said. -- PTI

16:14 DGCA slaps Rs 10 lakh fine on Air India

Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Air India for not reporting two incidents of unruly passenger behaviour on board a Paris-New Delhi flight in December last year.

This is the second time in less than a week that the watchdog has taken enforcement action against the airline in connection with unruly passenger behaviour.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DGCA said the incidents of passenger misbehaviour occurred on the AI-142 flight from Paris to New Delhi on December 6, 2022.

One drunk passenger was caught smoking in the lavatory and not adhering to the crew instructions, and another passenger allegedly relieved himself on a vacant seat and blanket of a fellow female passenger when she went to the lavatory, it said.

'Enforcement action in the form of a financial penalty of Rs 10,00,000 has been imposed on Air India for not reporting the incident to DGCA and delaying in referring the matter to its Internal Committee, which is a violation of applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements,' the statement said. -- PTI

The Chandigarh Police launched a search operation in the district court complex Tuesday afternoon following a bomb threat call, officials said.

"We got information from the control room that there might be a bomb (inside the court complex). After this, a massive search operation has been launched," a senior Chandigarh police official said.

The court complex in Sector 43 was evacuated, with the police asking all present inside including the judges and advocates to move out.

The area was cordoned off, and bomb disposal and dog squads were deployed at the site, which lies next to the busy interstate bus terminus in Sector 43.

An advocate also said information received suggested that there could be a bomb inside.

Police deployment in the area has been strengthened. -- PTI

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal Tuesday afternoon with tremors also being felt in parts of Delhi, national capital region and Jaipur.

The quake struck at 2.28 pm with the epicentre in Nepal at a place 148 km east of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand, the National Centre for Seismology said.

"It was scary as the tremors hit," said Shantanu, who resides in a high-rise tower in Noida.

Amit Pandey, a Delhi resident, said, "I was on the fifth floor of one of the blocks at the Civic Centre. I felt a growling noise beneath my feet and a mild shake, when the tremor passed through perhaps."

Many others in the towering Civic Centre, the headqauters of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, also felt the tremors which hit when the House proceedings were underway.

Tremors were felt in parts of Rajasthan's capital city of Jaipur as well.

There was no immediate report of loss of life or property from there. -- PTI

Thousands of crores of rupees have been pumped in by the BJP and the RSS systematically to distort my image but the truth always comes out, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Tuesday on him being derisively referred to as 'Pappu' on social media.

The Congress will teach the BJP that truth works in this country and not money, power and arrogance, Gandhi said as his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' continues in its final leg.

He was speaking to reporters in Jammu before starting his journey towards the Valley.

"Thousands of crores have been spent to distort my image. This was done systematically by the BJP and its leaders. Thousands of crores can't hide the truth and you have witnessed it. The truth always comes out," the 52-year-old said when asked if the Congress was spending crores of rupees to counter his 'Pappu' image.

He alleged the RSS and the BJP leaders think that anything can be achieved with money and power.

"You can demean anyone, distort anyone's image, buy any government, anything can be done with money. But that would not be truth. Truth always pushes aside money and power and this stark reality is becoming evident to the BJP leaders slowly," he said.

14:33 Zomato bucks tech trend, posts 800 openings

Contrary to layoffs currently happening with global tech giants, Zomato chief executive officer Deepinder Goyal has posted on LinkedIn that the company is looking at hiring about 800 positions and posted their vacancy across five roles that included engineers, product managers, growth managers, and others.

The CEO of the food aggregator firm has posted ads for five positions on his LinkedIn account. These posts included chief of staff to CEO, generalist, growth manager, product owner, and software development engineer.

"To express interest in knowing more about any of these roles, please mail me at deepinder@zomato.com -- me and/ or my team will be prompt in responding to you and closing the loop either way," Goyal said in his LinkedIn post.

On Monday there were reports that food aggregator Zomato has scrapped its 10-minute delivery service a year after piloting it in Bengaluru, Gurugram and in some areas of Delhi. It is rebranding the business and working on a new menu with its restaurant partners.

The food aggregator firm during March last year had announced plans to roll out Instant -- a 10-minute food delivery service.

The company's co-founder and chief technology officer, Gunjan Patidar, resigned earlier this month, while in November last year, co-founder Mohit Gupta quit Zomato. Rahul Ganjoo, the head of new initiatives, resigned and left the food aggregator in November.

Reacting to party leader Digvijaya Singh's statement on surgical strike, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he doesn't agree with Singh's remarks and the armed forces need not provide any proof of the strikes.

"We don't appreciate Digvijaya Singh's personal views. His views are outlying views. We are absolutely clear that the armed forces do their job exceptionally well and they do not need to provide proof of that," Gandhi said while addressing a press conference during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also distanced the party from Singh's remark.

"We have already clarified that the party stands with the Army. We have always been working for the country and will keep doing the same. We have immense respect for our Army," Kharge said.

Earlier on Monday, party's in charge of communication Jairam Ramesh had tweeted, 'The views expressed by senior leader Digvijaya Singh are his own and do not reflect the position of Congress. Surgical strikes were carried out before 2014 by the UPA government. Congress has supported and will continue to support all military actions that are in the national interest.'

This comes after Digvijaya Singh said there is no proof of the 2019 surgical strike against Pakistan, while the Centre claims to have carried out the attack.

However, on Tuesday, he tried to put an end to the row saying: "I have got the greatest regard for the defence forces." -- PTI/ANI

13:25 Cough syrup deaths: WHO calls for action

In the wake of fatalities among children linked to cough syrups and medicines made by manufacturers based in India and Indonesia, the WHO has issued an 'urgent call to action to countries to detect and respond to incidents of falsified medical products and protect children from contaminated medicines'.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that over the past four months, countries reported several incidents of over-the-counter cough syrups for children with confirmed or suspected contamination with high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG).

The cases are from at least seven countries, associated with more than 300 fatalities in three of these countries, with most young children under the age of five.

The WHO said the contaminants are toxic chemicals used as industrial solvents and antifreeze agents that can be fatal even in small amounts, and should never be found in medicines.

WHO is releasing an urgent call to action to countries to prevent, detect and respond to incidents of substandard and falsified medical products, the global health agency said.

Since October last year, the WHO has issued three global medical alerts over substandard paediatric medicines and syrups.

In October 2022, it issued an alert over Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, Haryana, India.

The four substandard products were identified in the Gambia and reported to the WHO in September 2022.

In November, an alert was issued by the WHO over eight products, including Unibebi Cough Syrup, Unibebi Demam Paracetamol Drops and Unibebi Demam Paracetamol Syrup, identified in Indonesia and manufactured by PT Afi Farma.

Earlier this month, the WHO issued an alert to warn against the use of two substandard cough syrups manufactured by Marion Biotech, India that have been linked to the deaths of 18 children in Uzbekistan.

Ambronol syrup and DOK-1 Max syrup were manufactured by Marion Biotech, based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

The global health organisation issued the alert saying the syrups fail to meet quality standards and contain contaminants that can prove fatal.

The WHO's medical product alerts were rapidly disseminated to the national health authorities of all 194 WHO Member States.

These medical product alerts requested the detection and removal of contaminated medicines from circulation in the markets; increased surveillance and diligence within the supply chains of countries and regions likely to be affected; immediate notification to WHO if these substandard products are discovered in-country; and otherwise inform the public of the dangers and toxic effects of the substandard medicines at issue.

It noted that since these are not isolated incidents, the WHO called on regulators and governments to detect and remove from circulation in their respective markets any substandard medical products that have been identified in the alerts as potential causes of death and disease; ensure that all medical products in their respective markets are approved for sale by competent authorities and obtainable from authorised/licensed suppliers.

It also urged authorities to assign appropriate resources to improve and increase risk-based inspections of manufacturing sites within their jurisdiction in accordance with international norms and standards and enact and enforce laws and other relevant legal measures to help combat the manufacture, distribution and/or use of substandard and falsified medicines.

The WHO called on manufacturers of medicines to only purchase pharmaceutical grade excipients from qualified and bona fide suppliers; conduct comprehensive testing upon receipt of supplies and before use in the manufacture of finished products and provideassurance of product quality including through certificates of analyses based on appropriate testing results.

It also urged suppliers and distributors of medical products to always check for signs of falsification and physical condition of medicines and other health products they distribute and/or sell and only distribute and/or sell medicines authorised by, and from sources approved by, competent authorities among other measures.

In December, India's drug regulator told the WHO that the global health body drew a premature link between the deaths of children in Gambia and the four India-made cough syrups which adversely impacted the image of the country's pharmaceutical products across the globe.

In a letter to Dr Rogerio Gaspar, Director (Regulation and Prequalification) at WHO, DCGI Dr V G Somani said a statement issued by the global health body in October in the wake of the deaths 'was unfortunately amplified by the global media which led to a narrative being built internationally targeting the quality of Indian pharmaceutical products'. -- PTI

SP Maurya

12:45 SP disowns Maurya's statement on Ramcharitmanas

The Samajwadi Party has distanced itself from the remarks of party leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya, who stated that certain verses of the Ramcharitmanas promoted social discrimination and spread hatred.

SP veteran Ravidas Mehrotra has said that Maurya's remarks were made out of "ignorance" and is not the party's line and the Samajwadi Party respected all religious texts and religions.

"It is hias personal views and has nothing to do with the party. This statement by Maurya has been given just out of ignorance. He has no knowledge that the verse of Ramcharitmanas, he was referring, has a different meaning," Mehrotra said talking to ANI.

Several party MLAs have also decided to distance themselves from Maurya's statement and raised the matter with the party chief over phone.

Maurya, considered a prominent OBC leader in Uttar Pradesh, had on Sunday sought a ban on the work composed by the 16-century poet-saint Tulsidas alleging that Dalits and women have been "insulted" in the epic poem based on the Ramayana.

Speaking to ANI, the SP leader said, "I don't have any issue with Ramcharitramanas but parts of it have insulting comments and sarcasm directed at particular castes and sects. Those should be removed."

Mehrotra further said that Maurya's remarks have been taken up with the Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and action will be taken against him.

Maurya's statement had triggered a controversy, with the Uttar Pradesh BJP hitting out at the Samajwadi Party.

UP BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary said, "People like Swami Prasad Maurya are deranged. Akhilesh Yadav should clarify whether it is his party's view or Swami Prasad's personal view."

LG-appointed members take oath first as MCD House reconvenes (Eds: With pic) New Delhi, Jan 24 (PTI)

The Lt Governor-nominated members took oath first despite opposition from Aam Aadmi Party councillors as the municipal House in Delhi reconvened on Tuesday amid heavy deployment of civil defence volunteers personnel and marshals.

Presiding Officer Satya Sharma administered the oath to the nominated members before the elected representatives as AAP members raised 'shame shame' chants.

AAP councillor Mukesh Goyal also objected to the nominated members being administered their oaths first.

The nominated members raised slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' after the ceremony.

Sharma then called on the elected councillors to take their oaths.

To avoid the chaos that ensued during the last meeting on January 6, there was heavy security deployment inside the municipal House, the Civic Centre premises and even the Well.

A larger number of civil defence personnel, including women members, and marshals were deployed compared to the deployment during the first municipal House, a senior official said.

The maiden meeting of the newly elected 250-member Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House was adjourned without electing the mayor and the deputy mayor amid loud protests by AAP councillors over the presiding officer's decision to administer oath to the 10 aldermen first.

The municipal House, after the recent high-stakes civic polls, reconvened on Tuesday during which the mayor and the deputy mayor of Delhi are slated to be elected, weeks after the first session was adjourned following a ruckus between the AAP and the BJP.

Following the mayoral poll, Delhi will get a mayor for the city as a whole after a 10-year gap. -- PTI

11:27 Heavy security at MCD House for mayoral poll

Authorities have stepped up security inside the municipal House and on the Civic Centre premises for the mayoral poll, scheduled to begin shortly.

A larger number of civil defence personnel, including women members, and marshals have been deployed compared to the deployment during the first municipal House on January 6, a senior official said.

The maiden meeting of the newly elected 250-member Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House on January 6 was adjourned without electing the mayor and the deputy mayor amid loud protests by Aam Aadmi Party councillors over the presiding officer's decision to administer oath to the 10 aldermen first.

As per the schedule shared by the MCD, House proceedings will begin at 11 am.

The municipal House, after the recent high-stakes civic polls, will reconvene on Tuesday during which the mayor and the deputy mayor of Delhi are slated to be elected, weeks after the first session was adjourned following a ruckus between the AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Following the mayoral poll, Delhi will get a mayor for the city as a whole after a 10-year gap.

"Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed outside the House as part of security measures," the official said.

Several councillors and Delhi MLAs, including AAP member Atishi, have reached the House to cast their votes. -- PTI

Amid an ongoing row over Digvijaya Singh questioning the authenticity of the 2019 surgical strikes, an agitated Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the media on Tuesday, saying all that needed to be said have already been done, and the questions should now be directed at the prime minister.

A day after Singh stirred up the hornet's nest and the Congress distanced itself from the leader, party MP in charge of communication, Ramesh told the media while walking for the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir that all queries related to the surgical strike uproar have been answered by his party and the media needs to aim its questions at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Digvijaya Singh trying to put an end to the row also said: 'I have got the greatest regard for the Defence forces', as the leaders marched on along with other padayatris.

Congress general secretary Ramesh refrained from answering any questions and said that 'we have answered all the questions'.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi resumed from Sitni bypass Nagrota in J-K on Tuesday.

"We have answered all the questions. You go and ask the Prime Minister the questions," said Jairam Ramesh.

"The Congress party has said whatever it wanted to. I tweeted yesterday regarding the same. I do not want to say anything other than this," he said.

Taking to Twitter, Ramesh claimed that even the United Progressive Alliance government had carried out surgical strikes.

'The views expressed by senior leader Digvijaya Singh are his own and do not reflect the position of Congress. Surgical strikes were carried out before 2014 by the UPA government. Congress has supported and will continue to support all military actions that are in the national interest,' Ramesh tweeted.

This comes after Digvijaya Singh said there is no proof of the 2019 surgical strike against Pakistan, while the Centre claims to have carried out the attack.

"They (Centre) talk about surgical strikes and that they have killed so many of them but there is no proof," said Digvijaya Singh in his address in Jammu on Monday. -- ANI

Representative image only

10:28 Taliban arrest Chinese nationals for 'smuggling'

Five men, including two Chinese nationals, were arrested by the Taliban over the alleged smuggling of an estimated 1,000 metric tons of lithium-bearing rocks out of the country, local media reported.

The Chinese nationals were reportedly trying to smuggle the 'precious' stones from Afghanistan to China via Pakistan by means of their Afghan allies.

The arrests and the rock confiscation took place in Jalalabad, a border city in eastern Afghanistan, according to Reporterly.

According to local sources, the rocks contained up to 30 per cent of lithium and were 'secretly' extracted from Nuristan and Kunar, two of the several Afghan provinces along the border with Pakistan.

The Chinese nationals and their Afghan collaborators were planning to illegally transport the 'precious stones' to China via Pakistan, said the Taliban intelligence officials in comments aired Sunday by Afghan television channels, according to Reporterly.

The relationship between China and Afghanistan has become dicey since December 12 when a bomb and gun attack targeted a hotel, injuring five Chinese nationals. -- ANI

10:05 Want To Know Who That Man Is?

Did you guess right to our Who Is This Man question?

That's novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Friday January 20, 2023.

Born in Zanzibar, the same island as Freddie Mercury, Gurnah won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2021.

A day after Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya alleged that certain verses of the Ramcharitmanas promoted social discrimination, a local leader of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha on Monday announced Rs 51,000 as reward to anyone who would 'cut off' his tongue.

Maurya, who is considered a prominent OBC leader in Uttar Pradesh, had said certain portions of the Ramcharitmanas 'insult' a large section of society on the basis of caste and demanded that these be 'banned'.

"Any courageous person, if they cut off the tongue of SP leader Swami Prasad Maurya, would be rewarded with a Rs 51,000 cheque. He has insulted our religious text and hurted the sentiments of Hindus," the mahasabha's district in-charge Saurabh Sharma said.

Members of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) carried a symbolic procession of Maurya, burnt his effigy and threw it into the Yamuna river.

Talking to PTI, ABHM national spokesperson Sanjay Jat said, "We object to the derogatory remark made by SP leader Swami Prasad Maurya."

"When the former cabinet minister was in the Bahujan Samaj Party, he used to say 'Jay Bhim, Jai Bharat', and when he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party he began respecting the Ramcharitmanas, and now, when he has joined the Samajwadi Party, he has made objectionable remarks against the Ramcharitmanas," he said.

"We protested against his remark and carried out a mock funeral procession of the SP leader and later burnt his effigy and dumped it into the Yamuna at Rambagh," Jat said.

A member of the legislative council in Uttar Pradesh, Maurya had said that 'there are certain lines (in the Ramcharitmanas) in which names of castes such as 'teli' and 'kumhaar' are mentioned' and because of these 'the feelings of lakhs of people hailing from these castes have been hurt'. -- PTI

The Aam Aadmi Party has said it will contest Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls with 'full might and political power' whenever they are held.

The decision was taken by the party at a meeting here chaired by the AAP's national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak who is also the party's poll strategist.

The meeting was attended by AAP's election in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir Imran Hussain as well as office bearers of the party's unit in the Union territory.

Addressing the meeting, Pathak, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said that AAP will take part and contest next assembly and panchayat elections in J-K.

"We will contest the next assembly and panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir with full might and political power," the AAP quoted Pathak as saying during the meeting.

Pathak also asked the AAP's J-K unit leadership to increase the pace of their efforts to strengthen the party's base in every town and village there, the party added on Monday.

In the first round of the meeting, party said, Pathak reviewed the AAP's work and structural development in the UT.

He was briefed by the AAP leadership from Jammu and Kashmir about the party's activities convened in the past and efforts made to strengthen the party at grass root level, the AAP said in a statement.

In this important meeting of Jammu and Kashmir AAP cadre, poll strategy for upcoming elections in the Union territory was also discussed and finalised with main emphasis on assembly polls, panchayat polls and municipal polls, the party said.

The meeting was attended by the AAP's chairpersons and co-chairpersons of various committees and all the district presidents of the party's Jammu and Kashmir unit, the statement said. -- PTI

Seven people were killed in two related shootings Monday at a mushroom farm and a trucking firm in a coastal community south of San Francisco, and a suspect was in custody, officials said.

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President Dave Pine says four people were killed at the farm and three at the trucking business on the outskirts of Half Moon Bay, a city about 48 kilometers south of San Francisco.

It wasn't immediately clear how the locations were connected.

California state Sen Josh Becker, who represents the area, said people were killed in separate shootings.

San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa tweeted that one shooting happened at a mushroom farm.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office tweeted that a suspect was in custody.

'There is no ongoing threat to the community at this time,' the sheriff's office said.

The shooting followed the killing of 11 people late Saturday at a ballroom dance hall in Southern California. -- Agencies

A BJP MLA from Gujarat on Monday caused a flutter stating Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was a member of an aatankwadi (terrorist) wing.

He apologised while blaming the incorrect translation for the mistake.

The MLA, Yogesh R Patel (Bapji), said the wrong words were posted on social media due to an error while translating from English to Gujarati.

As a tribute to Bose on his birth anniversary, Patel shared a post in Gujarati on his Facebook page which said, "Bose was a member of aatankwadi pankh (wing). He participated in the civil disobedience movement as a Congress leader, and was known for advocating socialist policies".

After the Anand MLA was alerted by some people about the choice of words, he quickly deleted the post.

"I condemn BJP MLA Yogeshbhai for terming Subhash Chandra Bose a terrorist. It is not enough to delete the post. Even if it was posted by mistake, Patel must tender a public apology," Gujarat AAP president Isudan Gadhvi said. Patel issued a statement saying, "wrong words were posted due to an error in translation from English to Gujarati".

"The person handling my account took an English text about Bose and put it on my page after doing an online translation. By mistake, a wrong word was chosen and got posted. I apologise for this mistake," he said. -- PTI

Chairman of Mahindra Group Anand Mahindra met with UP CM Yogi Adityanath/Twitter

01:08 Anand Mahindra meets with Adityanath in Lucknow

Chairman of Mahindra Group Anand Mahindra met with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at his official residence here on Monday, according to an official statement.

In light of the upcoming Global Investors Summit, investment proposals from the group for Uttar Pradesh were discussed during the meeting, it said.

Greeting Anand Mahindra on his arrival in Uttar Pradesh, the chief minister said the Mahindra Group has expertise in various sectors and the state will benefit from its long experience, technology, research and innovations.

Referring to 25 sectoral policies of the state, Adityanath said these were prepared keeping in mind the needs and expectations of the industry.

"The state has a huge land bank and open power access. Here the interest of investors is protected. All these facilities will be made available to the Mahindra Group by the government," the statement quoted Adityanath as saying.

Describing the state's industrial development policies as encouraging for the industry, Mahindra said Uttar Pradesh's law and order, practical sectoral policies, simple system and large population create investment-friendly opportunities for the Mahindra Group. -- PTI

Representational image/ANI

00:34 Another hooch tragedy hits Bihar's Siwan, 5 die

The death toll due to consuming spurious liquor in the Bala village in Lakari Nabiganj of Siwan district in Bihar, rose to five on Monday.

All the seriously ill are undergoing treatment at Sadar Hospital of Siwan, a district magistrate official said.

As per the information, the death toll due to this spurious liquor consumption is likely to be increased.

Police said 16 persons have been arrested so far in connection with the Siwan hooch tragedy.

Whereas, further investigation is underway.

Notably, the incident came to light days after the Bihar Police recovered illicit liquor bottles hidden in a gutter in Danapur on December 21 last year. -- ANI

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