Category: India

Jay Bhattacharya becomes the first Indian-American to be nominated by Donald Trump for a top administrative position

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has picked Indian-American scientist Jay Bhattacharya as the director of the National Institutes of Health, the country’s top health research and funding institutions.

With this, Mr. Bhattacharya becomes the first Indian-American to be nominated by Mr. Trump for a top administrative position.

Earlier, Mr. Trump picked Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency along with Tesla owner Elon Musk. However, that is a voluntary position and does not need confirmation from the U.S. Senate.

“I am thrilled to nominate Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, to serve as Director of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Bhattacharya will work in cooperation with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to direct the Nation’s Medical Research and to make important discoveries that will improve Health, and save lives,” Mr. Trump announced.

“Together, Jay and RFK Jr. will restore the NIH to a Gold Standard of Medical Research as they examine the underlying causes of, and solutions to, America’s biggest Health challenges, including our Crisis of Chronic Illness and Disease. Together, they will work hard to Make America Healthy Again,” he said.

Professor at Stanford
Mr. Bhattacharya is a professor of Health Policy at Stanford University, a research associate at the National Bureau of Economics Research, and a senior fellow by courtesy at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Stanford Freeman Spogli Institute, and the Hoover Institution, according to Trump.

He directs Stanford’s Centre for Demography and Economics of Health and Aging. His research focuses on the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, emphasising the role of government programmes, biomedical innovation, and economics.

Mr. Bhattacharya co-authors the Great Barrington Declaration, an alternative to lockdowns proposed in October 2020. His peer-reviewed research has been published in Economics, Statistics, Legal, Medical, Public Health, and Health Policy Journals. He holds an MD and PhD in Economics from Stanford University, Trump said.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/indian-american-jay-bhattacharya-is-donald-trumps-pick-to-lead-national-institutes-of-health/article68917152.ece

Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a crackdown on OGWs and terror suspects, recovering weapons and arresting individuals linked to JeM and LeT across multiple districts.

The operation, led by intelligence inputs, has resulted in several arrests and the recovery of incriminating materials, including electronic devices, documents, unaccounted cash, weapons, and ammunition.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu Zone, Anand Jain, stated that investigations are ongoing to dismantle terror networks and ensure lasting peace in the region.

The operations, which were carried out based on specific intelligence inputs, aimed to identify, track, and apprehend individuals involved in providing support to terrorist outfits. This includes managing logistics, recruitment, and facilitating the movement of arms, ammunition, and funds.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/crackdown-on-jem-let-links-jammu-police-arrest-terror-suspects-seize-weapons-article-115707069

Three persons died when their vehicle, following the Google Map instructions, plunged into the river a few days back, off the damaged river bridge.

Lucknow: Google has removed a road that led to a damaged river bridge in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun district after three persons died when their vehicle, following the Google Map instructions, plunged into the river a few days back.

The victims were on their way to attend a marriage ceremony when their vehicle fell into the Ramganga river on Sunday.

According to the sources, the police also questioned an official of Google in this regard though the details of the questioning were not revealed.

District officials said that the road leading to the bridge would no longer be seen on Google Map and it has been removed from the app.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/google-maps-removes-road-route-leading-to-damaged-bridge-after-causing-three-deaths-3294232

An Indian man awoke on a funeral pyre moments before it was to be set on fire after a doctor skipped a postmortem, medical officials said Saturday.

Rohitash Kumar, 25, who had speaking and hearing difficulties, had fallen sick and was taken to a hospital in Jhunjhunu in the western state of Rajasthan on Thursday.

Indian media reported he had had an epileptic seizure, and a doctor declared him dead on arrival at the hospital.
But instead of the required postmortem to ascertain the cause of death, doctors sent him to the mortuary, and then to be burned according to Hindu rites.

D. Singh, chief medical officer of the hospital, told AFP that a doctor had “prepared the postmortem report without actually doing the postmortem, and the body was then sent for cremation.”

Singh said that “shortly before the pyre was to be lit, Rohitash’s body started movements,” adding that “he was alive and was breathing.”

Kumar was rushed to hospital for a second time, but was confirmed dead on Friday during treatment.

Authorities have suspended the services of three doctors and the police have launched an investigation.

Source : https://www.arabnews.com/node/2580451/world

The researchers found that just by measuring the light intensity they can detect MPV and also measure the viral load.

Bengaluru: Researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru have developed a novel diagnostic tool for detection of DNA/RNA pathogens like bacteria and viruses, which is said to be better than the widely accepted PCR tests.

The project began as a way to detect SARS-CoV-2 (covid-19) said the corresponding author of the research article Prof Thimmaiah Govindraju.

“By the time we were successful with the detection of Covid-19, the third wave of the pandemic had already passed. But good thing about this platform is modular. We made use of this technique to improve detection of monekeypox and HIV-1,” he added.

First, the team identified special four-stranded structures (called G-quadruplexes) in viruses like HIV-1 and monkeypox (MPV) and then tailored the molecules that emit light when it meets these G-quadruplexes (GQs).

The fluorogenic molecular probe developed by Sumon Pratihar, Ramjayakumar Venkatesh, Mohamed Nabeel Mattath, and Thimmaiah Govindaraju also delivers more than 250-fold enhancement in detection output upon binding with a MPV GQs.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/researchers-from-jncasr-find-better-detection-route-for-monkeypox-hiv-1-3289556

AR Rahman sent a notice to slanderers, demanding removal of defamatory content. Meanwhile, Abhishek Bachchan proudly called himself a ‘girl dad’ while speaking about his relationship with Aaradhya.

AR Rahman, who announced his separation with wife Saira Banu, has issued a notice to ‘slanderers’, demanding removal of objectionable, defamatory content, and concocted stories about the couple that surfaced post the divorce announcement. AR Rahman’s counsel stated that failing to do so will result in legal action, and that an appropriate defamation suit will be filed against anyone who has contributed to such false content. Post Rahman and Saira Banu’s separation announcement, several defamatory theories and rumours surfaced on the Internet.

In the latest episode of KBC, Abhishek spoke with his father, Amitabh Bachchan, about his role in I Want To Talk, a film that explores the emotional journey of a single father navigating a troubled relationship with his daughter. The actor spoke candidly about his relationship with his own daughter, Aaradhya. “Aaradhya is my daughter, and Shoojit da has two daughters. We are all ‘girl dads,’ and we truly understand that emotion,” he shared.

Swara Bhasker reacted to her husband Fahad Ahmad losing in the Maharashtra Election s 2024. Fahad contested from Maharashtra’s Anushakti Nagar as a candidate of Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction. He was contesting against Ajit Pawar’s NCP nominee Sana Malik. After it was revealed that Fahad was trailing by a large number, Swara took to X and questioned the Election Commission about the EVMs, blaming them for Fahad’s loss.

At a recent event, Barkha Dutt said that while Sanjay is well-known in the business world, he is now also known as “Shalini Passi’s husband”. When asked how he felt about this tag, Sanjay said, “I feel proud about it. When someone asks me, ‘Are you Shalini Passi’s husband? I say yes.” Sanjay’s response won many hearts and fans even praised him for supporting Shalini.

Source : https://www.news18.com/movies/ar-rahman-issues-legal-notice-against-slanderers-abhishek-bachchan-on-being-a-girl-dad-to-aaradhya-9131898.html

Arvind Kejriwal files a petition challenging ED’s charge sheet against him regarding the Excise Policy case.

A Delhi court on Saturday directed the ED to file a response to former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea seeking a copy of the requisite sanction to prosecute him in the alleged excise scam money laundering case.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja passed the directions on Kejriwal’s application, who claimed that he had not been served a copy of the sanction.

In his plea, Kejriwal pointed out that during a recent hearing before the Delhi High Court, the ED stated that the required sanction had been obtained from the authorities concerned when the chargesheet was filed.

The judge issued a notice to the ED and directed it to file its reply by November 26, the next date of the hearing.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/excise-scam-delhi-high-court-seeks-eds-response-on-kejriwals-plea-for-prosecution-sanction-documents-9131726.html

Delhi faces persistent air pollution with very poor to severe AQI levels across several areas. The coming week will see clear skies with smog and fog during mornings and evenings, and temperatures ranging between 24-26 degrees Celsius during the day and 10-12 degrees Celsius at night.

Residents of Delhi-NCR continue to wake up to smoggy, dark mornings with a noticeable chill in the air during the early hours. Those venturing out today can expect a mainly clear sky, with shallow to moderate fog or smog in the morning and evening. Winds from the northwest will prevail at speeds of 4-12 km/h throughout the day. According to CPCB data recorded at 6 AM on Saturday, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) for the national capital stood at 370, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category.

Region-Wise AQI (As of 6 am)

1. Anand Vihar
AQI: Severe (416)
2. Ashok Vihar
AQI: Very Poor (397)
3. Aya Nagar
AQI: Very Poor (313)
4. Bawana
AQI: Severe (406)
5. ITO
AQI: Very Poor (323)
6. Punjabi Bagh
AQI: Very Poor (375)
7. RK Puram
AQI: Very Poor (377)
8. Wazirpur
AQI: Severe (415)

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) bulletin at 4 PM, Delhi recorded an average AQI of 412 on Saturday, ranking it as the most polluted city in the country. By 7 PM, 17 monitoring stations reported severe air quality, with Wazirpur emerging as the most polluted area, registering an AQI of 440.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured victories in all five constituencies, sparking widespread celebrations among party supporters.

The ruling coalition of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) celebrated a significant victory as they emerged victorious in all five assembly by-elections held in Assam.

As the final results of all five by-poll seats in Assam were declared on Saturday evening, a wave of jubilation swept across Bongaigaon, Dholai, Sidli, Behali, and Samaguri. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured victories in all five constituencies, sparking widespread celebrations among party supporters.

Streets came alive with the beats of dhols, bursts of fireworks, and chants of victory, as jubilant crowds thronged party offices draped in saffron hues.

For the BJP, these wins are more than just electoral triumphs—they are a resounding affirmation of their influence in the state, setting the stage for an energised campaign ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly polls.

Fielding candidates in Behali, Samaguri, and Dholai, while leaving the other two seats—Bongaigaon and Sidli—for its NDA partners, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People’s Party, Liberal (UPPL), the ruling alliance swept the by-polls with a decisive 5-0 victory.

In Dholai, BJP’s Nihar Ranjan Das claimed victory by a margin of 9,098 votes, while Diplu Ranjan Sarma triumphed in the hotly contested Samaguri seat by 26200 votes defeating Congress Lok Sabha MP Rokibul Hussain’s son Tanzil Hussain.

Behali saw Diganta Ghatowal emerge victorious, defeating Congress’ Jayanta Bora by a margin of 9,051 votes. In Sidli, UPPL’s Nirmal Kumar Brahma secured a comprehensive win with a margin of 37,016 votes the arch rival BP’ Sudha Kumar Basumatary, while Diptimayee Choudhury comfortably clinched the Bongaigaon constituency with a margin of 35,164 votes defeating Congress candidate just retd IGP IPS Brajenjit Sinha.

The NDA’s 5/5 victory in the current by-elections is a resounding testament to Assam’s unwavering support for Adarniya @narendramodi Ji’s vision of good governance and development…” wrote Chief Minister Himanyta Biswa Sarma on a popular micro-blogging website, after the results were declared.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/bjp-led-nda-sweeps-assam-by-polls-wins-all-5-seats

The TTE present inside the train reacted quickly and gave timely CPR to the patient due to which his life was saved. A video of the TTE giving CPR to the patient and blowing air into his mouth has gone viral on social media.

The cases of sudden heart attacks have spiked in the country as many cases are coming to the fore in the recent past, especially post COVID-19 pandemic. Another incident of sudden heart attack has come to the fore where an elderly passenger suffered heart attack while traveling in a train. The TTE present inside the train reacted quickly and gave timely CPR to the patient due to which his life was saved. A video of the TTE giving CPR to the patient and blowing air into his mouth has gone viral on social media.

The incident reportedly occurred in train number 15708 Amrapali Express as a passenger traveling in the general coach suffered sudden heart attack, after which the TTE came to the rescue of the 70-year-old passenger. The passenger was administered with CPR due to which the passenger got a new lease of life. The passenger was then sent to a hospital at Chhapra Railway Station for further treatment.

The video of the incident is going viral on social media and the internet users are slamming the TTE even after his heroic act of saving the life of the elderly passenger. The internet users are commenting on the video which was shared by the Railway Ministry on its official social media account, saying that CPR is not given to a person if he is conscious.

The video shows that the TTE is pumping the patient’s chest with his hands and also blows air into the mouth of the elderly patient while the patient is looking at him. The patient seems to be conscious, however, the patient is also in need of urgent medical attention as he allegedly suffered in moving train.

The Railway Minitry shared the video and said, “TTE’s promptness gave ‘life’. While travelling in the general coach of train number 15708 ‘Amrapali Express’, a 70-year-old passenger suffered a heart attack. The TTE deployed there immediately gave CPR and saved the life of the passenger. The passenger was then sent to the hospital at Chhapra railway station.”

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/video-tte-saves-passengers-life-by-giving-timely-cpr-after-he-suffered-heart-attack-on-moving-train-netizens-react

A video of a fashion shoot in India has gone viral and unexpectedly turned a group of underprivileged school children into local celebrities.

The footage shows the children, most of them girls between the ages of 12 and 17, dressed in red and gold outfits fashioned from discarded clothes.

The teenagers designed and tailored the outfits and also doubled up as models to showcase their creations, with the grubby walls and terraces of the slum providing the backdrop for their ramp walk.

The video was filmed and edited by a 15-year-old boy.

The video first appeared earlier this month on the Instagram page of Innovation for Change, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the city of Lucknow.

The charity works with about 400 children from the city’s slums, providing them free food, education and job skills. The children featured in the shoot are students of this NGO.

Mehak Kannojia, one of the models in the video, told the BBC that she and her fellow students closely followed the sartorial choices of Bollywood actresses on Instagram and often duplicated some of their outfits for themselves.

“This time, we decided to pool our resources and worked as a group,” the 16-year-old said.

For their project, they chose wisely – a campaign by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, one of India’s top fashion designers who has dressed Bollywood celebrities, Hollywood actresses and billionaires. In 2018, Kim Kardashian wore his sequinned red sari for a Vogue shoot.

Mukherjee is also known as the “king of weddings” in India. He has dressed thousands of brides, including Bollywood celebrities such as Anushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone. Priyanka Chopra married Nick Jonas in a stunning red Sabyasachi outfit.

Mehak said their project, called Yeh laal rang (the colour red), was inspired by the designer’s heritage bridal collection.

“We sifted through the clothes that had come to us in donation and picked out all the red items. Then we zeroed in on the outfits we wanted to make and began putting them together.”

It was intense work – the girls stitched about a dozen outfits in three-four days but, Mehak says, they had “great fun doing it”.

For the ramp walk, Mehak says they studied the models carefully in Sabyasachi videos and copied their moves.

“Just like his models, some of us wore sunglasses, one drank from a sipper with a straw, while another walked carrying a cloth bundle under her arm.”

Some of it, Mehak says, came together organically. “At one point in the shoot, I was supposed to laugh. At that moment, someone said something funny and I just burst out laughing.”

It was an ambitious project, but the result has won hearts in India. Put together on a shoestring budget with donated clothes, the video went viral after Mukherjee reposted it on his Instagram feed with a heart emoji.

The campaign won widespread praise, with many on social media comparing their work to that of professionals.

The viral video has brought enormous attention to the charity and its school has been visited by several TV channels, some of the children were invited to participate in shows on popular FM radio stations and Bollywood actress Tamannah Bhatia visited them to accept a scarf from the children.

The response, Mehak says, has been “totally unexpected”.

“It feels like a dream come true. All my friends are sharing the video and saying ‘you’ve become famous’. My parents were full of joy when they heard about all the attention we are getting.

“We are feeling wonderful. Now we have only one dream left – to meet Sabyasachi.”

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crk4rl4j5y6o

Eleven fishermen from the 13-member crew on board the Indian fishing vessel Marthoma were rescued, while the search for the remaining two crew members is ongoing by Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels.

A Scorpene-class submarine of the Indian Navy collided with a fishing trawler off the Goa coast during the operation “Sea Vigil 24,” a coastal defense exercise, late on Thursday night.

Eleven fishermen from the 13-member crew on board the Indian fishing vessel Marthoma were rescued, while the search for the remaining two crew members is ongoing by Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels.

“Search and rescue efforts for the missing fishermen are underway, coordinated with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mumbai. Six naval ships and surveillance aircraft have been deployed, with additional assets diverted to the area to augment the search efforts,” said an Indian Navy spokesperson.

The Indian Navy declined to share details regarding the damages to the diesel-electric submarine, which is armed with long-range guided torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.

Earlier in July, a major fire on board the frontline guided missile frigate INS Brahmaputra, which was undergoing maintenance and refit at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, raised questions about the Indian Navy’s safety protocols in the Mumbai harbor.

The submarine collision marks a series of tragedies plaguing the Indian Navy’s western coast over the past ten years, raising concerns about the severe shortage of naval officers and resources to manage the aging fleet.

“It is a major embarrassment for the Indian Navy, conducting coastal defense exercises, to be involved in an accident with a fishing vessel,” fumed a senior naval commander. “The fact that a fishing vessel in close proximity went undetected until the collision with the stealth submarine exposes security breaches in coastal defense.”

The collision occurred 70 nautical miles northwest of the Goa coast when the submarine was in transit, after participating in the joint coastal defense exercises and was surfacing.

The Indian Navy had concluded the fourth edition of the ‘Pan-India’ Coastal Defense Exercise Sea Vigil-24 on Thursday, which spanned an unprecedented scale in terms of geographical reach, covering the entire 11,098 km coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone of 2.4 million square kilometers. The coastal defense exercise had participation from six ministries and 21 state and central security agencies.

A multi-agency search and rescue operation was launched by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and Coastal Police with the help of local fishing communities to locate the missing fishermen in the dark waters.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/scorpene-class-submarine-of-indian-navy-collides-with-fishing-trawler-off-goa-coast-during-sea-vigil-24-exercise

In January 2023, a sessions court convicted the self-styled godman for the repeated rape of a female disciple at a Surat Ashram. The Gujarat High Court recently refused to suspend his life sentence.

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Gujarat government on a petition filed by self-styled godman Asaram Bapu seeking the suspension of the life imprisonment sentence imposed on him by a trial court in a rape case [Ashumal @ Asharam vs State of Gujarat].

A Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Aravind Kumar, however, made it clear that it would only examine if there are medical reasons to allow Asaram’s interim release from jail.

“We will issue notice, but we will consider only on medical conditions. (It is a) POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) case,” the Bench said.

Senior Advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu appeared for Asaram and told the Court that the godman was suffering from serious medical ailments, warranting his interim release from jail.

“He has multiple blockages. Doctors advise, in winter, he should be temperature-controlled room – else he will perish,” Naidu said.

“Earlier, you (Asaram) refused treatment and wanted your choice of hospital,” the Court pointed out

“I could not do bypass or allopathic, hence I wanted Ayurveda,” Asaram’s counsel replied.

The Court eventually issued notice returnable by three weeks.

In January 2023, a sessions court in Gandhinagar convicted Asaram Bapu under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in a 2013 rape case, for the repeated rape of a female disciple at a Surat Ashram.

An appeal against this trial court verdict is pending before the Gujarat High Court. In the meanwhile, Asaram moved a plea before the High Court seeking his interim release from jail.

In August this year, the Gujarat High Court refused to accede to this plea to suspend his life imprisonment sentence. The High Court reasoned that there was no exceptional ground made out to allow Asaram’s interim release from jail while his appeal against conviction remains pending.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/asaram-bapu-plea-supreme-court-suspension-life-sentence-rape-case

A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih passed the order while hearing the case concerning the Delhi air pollution crisis.

A methanol poisoning outbreak in Vang Vieng, Laos, has claimed four lives, including tourists from Australia, Denmark, and the US. Authorities suspect contaminated alcohol as the cause. Methanol, a toxic substance often found in unregulated drinks, can be deadly. Read on.

A suspected methanol poisoning outbreak in Vang Vieng, Laos, has taken the lives of four tourists. Recently, the fourth victim, Bianca Jones, a 19-year-old Australian tourist passed away due to methanol poisoning. Jones’s family confirmed her tragic death on Thursday.
Earlier in the week, the US State Department reported the death of an American man in the same town. Last week, two Danish women, aged 19 and 20, also succumbed to similar circumstances. Authorities believe the victims may have consumed methanol-laced beverages, sparking a full-scale investigation into the source of the tainted drinks.
New Zealand’s foreign ministry revealed that one of its citizens was also unwell due to suspected methanol poisoning. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese extended his condolences to Jones’s family, calling the incident “every parent’s worst fear.”

What is Methanol Poisoning?
Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a toxic substance commonly used in industrial and household products like antifreeze, photocopier fluids, de-icers, paint thinners, varnishes, and windshield wiper fluids. Although it is colourless and flammable like ethanol (the alcohol found in beverages), methanol is highly toxic to humans.
Even small amounts of methanol can be deadly. According to the Methanol Institute, ingesting just 25–90 millilitres can be lethal. Methanol is rapidly absorbed by the gut—within 10 minutes of ingestion—but its symptoms may not appear immediately.

Symptoms and EffectsPeople may seem normal in the initial 12 to 24 hours after ingestion. However, methanol poisoning soon triggers severe symptoms, including:
– Nausea and vomiting
– Intense abdominal pain
– Hyperventilation
– Difficulty breathing
In severe cases, methanol poisoning can lead to:
– Blindness (partial or complete)
– Coma
– Death
Prompt diagnosis and treatment are critical, especially within 10–30 hours of ingestion. Early medical intervention can mitigate the most severe outcomes, including permanent damage.
How Does Methanol Get into Drinks?
Methanol often contaminates drinks due to illegal or unregulated alcohol production. During the distillation process, improper techniques or contamination can lead to methanol forming as a byproduct. Counterfeit or home-brewed alcohol is especially susceptible to methanol contamination, as these beverages are not subject to the same safety standards as regulated alcohol.
In some cases, unethical vendors deliberately add methanol to increase the alcohol content of drinks, putting unsuspecting consumers at risk. Methanol is odourless and tasteless, making it almost impossible for people to detect its presence in beverages without specialized testing.
Who is at Risk?
Certain groups are particularly vulnerable to methanol poisoning:
– Tourists and Travelers:
Tourists are at high risk when consuming local or unregulated alcohol in regions where safety standards are inconsistent. In places like Laos, unregulated drinks, including those sold in street bars or markets, can pose significant dangers.
– Consumers of Illicit Alcohol:
People who consume illegally brewed alcohol face a greater likelihood of methanol poisoning, as these products are more likely to be contaminated.
– People in Low-Regulation Areas:
Regions with limited oversight of alcohol production or distribution are hotbeds for methanol-related incidents.
– People with Limited Access to Medical Care:
Rapid treatment is crucial to managing methanol poisoning. Those in remote or underserved areas may not receive the timely care needed to counteract methanol’s toxic effects.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/health/what-is-methanol-poisoning-that-is-killing-tourists-in-laos-are-you-at-risk-article-115538895

The Indian Army is adapting to evolving warfare by recruiting experts in emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and cyber warfare, while also emphasizing language skills and international cooperation.

More than 100 monkeys perished after inhaling a pesticide sprayed in a food godown and were stealthily buried in a pit, police on Friday said.

More than 100 monkeys perished after inhaling a pesticide sprayed in a food godown and were stealthily buried in a pit, police on Friday said.

On Friday, the bodies of monkeys, buried in a pit, were taken out for a postmortem by a team of veterinarians.

Circle Officer Yogendra Krishna Narayan said police came to know about the deaths on Wednesday.

Police have registered a case against the employees of Food Corporation of India and started an investigation.

According to police, the chemical in question was aluminium phosphide sprayed on wheat sacks to protect it from insects and rodents in an FCI warehouse on November 7.

A troop of monkeys entered the warehouse through a broken window of the godown on the night of November 7 and ended up inhaling the gas.

When the workers opened the warehouse on November 9, they saw several monkeys dead.

They allegedly chose not to inform their seniors about deaths and buried the bodies in a pit.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/over-100-monkeys-die-of-toxic-chemical-buried-in-pit-to-hide-carnage-in-ups-hathras-9130502.html

Fresh violence erupted in Manipur following the discovery of the bodies of six people who were kidnapped by suspected Kuki militants.

The Central government has deployed a total of 288 additional companies of Central forces in violence-hit Manipur.

Kuldiep Singh, the Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Security Advisor in Manipur, chaired a unified command meeting of security forces in Imphal, where he issued new Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for forces operating in Manipur.

The total number of the central forces in Manipur reached 288 companies after the Centre deployed 90 companies there last week following fresh violence.

A joint coordination committee was also announced in every district. Singh asserted that the priority is to protect the lives and properties of the citizens, as 258 people have been killed since May last year. Over 3,000 looted weapons have been recovered and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have started investigations in all cases handed to them.

What Is Happening In Manipur?
The recent violence erupted in the state after the bodies of six kidnapped individuals, including two children, were recovered after they were taken by suspected Kuki militants from the Jiribam district of Manipur. After this, an armed group of Meiteis attacked a village, allegedly raping and killing a woman, then setting a school and several houses on fire.

Things escalated when Kuki militants attacked a Meitei group in the same district, after which the CRPF gunned down ten suspected militants in Jiribam’s Borobekra on November 11. More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year.

Earlier, officials said the bodies of nine people from Manipur, including six abducted and killed in Jiribam, have been handed over to their family members at the Silchar Medical College Hospital (SMCH) in Assam. Family members of the victims, all belonging to the Meitei community, had refused to accept the bodies till they got justice.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/centre-sending-90-additional-companies-of-central-forces-to-manipur-amid-fresh-violence-9130342.html

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal said that most applicants willing to pay Rs 20 lakh for his Chief of Staff role would be rejected.

After facing severe backlash over the Chief of Staff job role that he offered on November 20, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal said that most of the applicants who are willing to pay Rs 20 lakh for it would be rejected.

The job role, based at Zomato’s Gurugram headquarters, sparked backlash on social media due to its unusual terms—no salary for the first year and a hefty Rs 20 lakh fee required from candidates.

However, Goyal clarified in an update that this “wasn’t just another hiring post” but a “filter” that would be used to select candidates who had the “power to appreciate the opportunity of a fast-track career, without getting bogged down by the constraints in front of them.”

The revised measures, that come amid souring ties between India and Canada, mandate that travellers to India will not be subject to extra screening.

Canada rolled back its standard operating procedures for extra screening of travellers flying to India, days after the move was implemented “out of abundance of caution”.
The revised measures, that come amid souring ties between India and Canada, mandating that travellers to India will not be subject to extra screening.

Canada’s Transport Minister Anita Anand on Monday, had earlier said that the “temporary additional security screening measures” may cause passengers some delays.

The back-and-forth comes at a time a diplomatic crisis plagues India-Canada ties after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused “agents” of Delhi of being involved” in the killing of Khalistani terrorist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing in Vancouver in June last year. He claimed “credible information” had been shared with intelligence partners, including the US.

The Canadian government expelled Indian diplomats and in a tit-for-tat move, New Delhi expelled Canadian Charge d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats.

“I think it is obvious the Government of India made a fundamental error in thinking they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians, here on Canadian soil. Whether it be murders or extortion or other violent acts, it is absolutely unacceptable,” Mr Trudeau said.

Nijjar – the mastermind behind banned terror outfit Khalistan Tiger Force – was on Delhi’s list of ‘most wanted’ terrorists for multiple crimes, including the murder of Hindu priest in Punjab. Anti-terror agency NIA had offered a ₹ 10 lakh reward for information leading to his capture.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/canada-rolls-back-extra-screening-for-fliers-to-india-days-after-announcing-it-7077302

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta praised the public broadcaster for digitising iconic Doordarshan classics such as “Buniyaad”, “Hum Log”, and “Bharat Ek Khoj”.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has given a thumbs up to Prasar Bharati’s newly launched OTT platform ‘Waves’, calling it “quite good and bug-free.”
Mr Mehta praised the public broadcaster for digitising iconic Doordarshan classics such as Buniyaad, Hum Log, and Bharat Ek Khoj, apart from its rich collection of music from All India Radio archives.

“From ghazals to qawwalis to Hindustani classical recitals, this is truly an achievement,” he wrote on X, tagging the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Prasar Bharati launched ‘Waves’ on Wednesday at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The platform was inaugurated by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who described it as a significant milestone for the Indian entertainment industry. The app, available on Android and iOS, delivers a mix of classic and contemporary programming under the tagline, “Waves – Family Entertainment Ki Nayi Lehar.”

The app offers users access to the vast archives of DD and AIR, allowing them to rediscover iconic Indian television series and music. It streams 40 live channels, including entertainment networks like B4U, ABZY, and SAB Group, alongside news channels like India Today, Republic, and NDTV India. Beyond streaming, Waves also includes modern features such as real-time news updates, ONDC-linked shopping options, games and interactive content and a library of films.

Earlier, Hansal Mehta voiced his disappointment over the lack of OTT interest in filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s critically acclaimed film, All We Imagine As Light. Reacting to a post by The New Yorker, Mr Mehta spoke on the harsh reality independent filmmakers face in India.

Quoting The New Yorker’s glowing review, which called the film “one of the year’s great movies, in any form, style, or language,” Mr Mehta wrote on X, “And from what I hear, a film that no OTT platform is buying. The harsh reality of making independent films in India. This is no country for the spectacular All We Imagine As Light. HOPE I’M PROVED WRONG.”

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/filmmaker-hansal-mehta-lauds-prasar-bharatis-ott-app-waves-7077162

The Delhi air crisis has led to hospitals in the capital seeing an increase in patients with respiratory ailments linked to severe air pollution in the city.

The air quality index (AQI) in Delhi has remained consistently in the ‘severe-plus’ category for the past few days, affecting healthy individuals and severely impacting those with pre-existing health conditions.
The crisis has led to hospitals in the national capital seeing an increase in patients with respiratory ailments linked to severe air pollution in the city.

There has also been a rise in cases of “walking pneumonia”, a term that healthcare providers use to refer to an illness that is less severe than full-blown pneumonia.

Bed rest or hospitalization are usually not needed, which is why it was nicknamed “walking pneumonia”.

What Causes Walking Pneumonia

Walking pneumonia is usually caused by a common bacterium called Mycoplasma pneumonia.

Infections caused by this bacteria are generally mild but can be severe in some cases. It is often diagnosed by a physical exam or an X-ray.

Symptoms Of Walking Pneumonia

Walking pneumonia has flu-like symptoms, including fever, sore throat and cough.

A person with walking pneumonia also has some mild breathing difficulties that last longer than the standard three to five days of an acute respiratory infection.

How Walking Pneumonia Spreads

Walking pneumonia can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and someone else breathes in those respiratory droplets.

It occurs most often in crowded settings, including schools and colleges.

Delhi Continues To Breathe Toxic Air

Delhi today woke up to another polluted morning with a thin layer of haze and smog engulfing the city. The air quality index (AQI), however, improved marginally but remained in the “very poor” category with particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) being the prominent pollutant, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

A thick layer of smog – a toxic blend of smoke and fog – has been enveloping the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) for the past few days.

The AQI had plummeted to the “severe-plus” category earlier this week, forcing authorities to switch schools to online classes and invoke strict pollution control measures.

Modi assured that in any crisis, anywhere in the world, India’s ‘sincere effort is to be the first responder and reach out to offer help’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a special session of the Parliament of Guyana on Friday, said that this is not the time for conflict, but rather a time to “identify and remove the conditions” that create conflicts. His comments come against the backdrop of the escalating Russia-Ukraine war.

The Prime Minister further assured that in any crisis, anywhere in the world, India’s “sincere effort is to be the first responder and reach out to offer help.”

“We have never moved forward with the idea of expansionism… I believe whether it is space or sea, this should be the subject of universal cooperation, not universal conflict. For the world also, this is not time for conflict, this is the time to identify the conditions that create conflicts and remove it,” Modi stated at the Guyana Parliament.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih was hearing a CBI plea against the September 20, 2022 order of a Jammu trial court that directed Malik, serving life term in Tihar jail, to be produced before it physically to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses in the kidnapping case of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of politician Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

The bench, however, remarked, “How will cross-examination be done online? There is hardly any connectivity in Jammu… In our country, a fair trial was given even to Ajmal Kasab and legal assistance was given to him in the high court.” The bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, to take instructions on the total number of witnesses in the case.

Mehta pointed out security concerns and said Malik couldn’t be taken to Jammu for the trial.

The law officer accused Malik of “playing tricks” for having asked to appear personally and not engaging a lawyer. Mehta said Malik was not an ordinary criminal and showed a purported photograph of Malik sharing the dais with terrorist Hafiz Saeed.

The top court said it could order trial to take place inside the jail besides asking the judge to come to the national capital for the proceedings.

The bench, however, noted all the accused persons in the matter had to be heard before it passes an order. Mehta said Malik physically appearing in the Supreme Court had raised security concerns previously.

The bench said Malik could be allowed to appear virtually in the apex court proceedings and posted the matter on November 28.

The CBI in the meantime has been directed to amend its petition and implead all accused persons as respondents.

In 2023, Mehta wrote to then Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla flagging a “serious security lapse” after Malik was brought to the Supreme Court to appear in a case. Malik, serving life sentence in a terror-funding case, was brought to the high-security apex court premises in a prison van escorted by armed security personnel without the court’s permission.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/even-ajmal-kasab-was-given-a-fair-trial-sc-remarks-in-yasin-malik-case-article-115531879

The Central government has taken a big action against cyber fraudsters amid a rising number of cases of digital arrest and blocked 17000 WhatsApp accounts.

According to the information, most of these numbers were active from Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand.

I4C took significant action against cyber fraud and blocked these accounts.

The committee was announced days after PM Narendra Modi flagged the issue of fraudsters targeting people with the cyber crime of “digital arrests” and urged people to adopt the mantra of “stop, think and take action” when faced with such a scam, asserting that these steps will provide digital security to them.

Over 6,000 complaints of digital arrests have been registered this year, a source said. “A special campaign will be conducted to curb incidents of digital arrests,” the source added.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/breaking-news-centre-big-crackdown-digital-arrest-cyber-fraud-17000-whatsapp-accounts-blocked-operated-from-4-countries-cambodia-thailand-laos-article-115518987

The excise case pertains to charges of alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was scrapped subsequently.

The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to probe agencies, CBI and ED, on AAP leader Manish Sisodia’s plea seeking relaxation of bail conditions in alleged liquor policy irregularities case.

The excise case pertains to charges of alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was scrapped subsequently.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/excise-policy-case-supreme-court-issues-notice-to-cbi-ed-on-manish-sisodias-plea-seeking-relaxation-of-bail-conditions-3287100

The surge in demand of electric vehicles along with other hybrid vehicles has left the American behemoth in a tough position.

An American Brand In Decline?

Ford is one of the most recognizable brands in the world of automobiles and the corporate world at large. The brand, which is a part of the American identity in many ways has had to face fierce competition in the carmaking business. This is because, with changing times, the elements that run the cart business have also changed.

The surge in demand of electric vehicles along with other hybrid vehicles has left the American behemoth in a tough position. It faces tough competition, not only from its peers in the USA, in the shape of Tesla, it is also facing a stiff competition from Chinese carmakers like BYD and Geely.

Ford To Cut 4000 Jobs By 2027

The men opted for the restricted route, which was closed using railings, to exit the train. Instead of usually stepping down on the railway platform as the train halted there, they switched to the other side and alighted with great difficulty. In the few seconds of the train’s scheduled halt at the railway station, nearly half a dozen of people managed to riskily pass through the railings.

An undated video from the Mumbai Local train service showing people not alighting on the railway platform but getting down on a restricted space, that too in a dangerous manner, has surfaced online. It shows men travelling on the second class coach of the transport leaving the footboard to hold the fence of the railway station.

Despite the route being restricted with some railings, they attempted to squeeze themselves into the fairly available space to exit the premises.

They appeared to be in a struggle to use a shortcut avoiding long walk on railway platform. Train passengers (said to be at the Dadar) alighted the transport to not step on the station platform but the little space around the stairs connecting the FOB. They did so in a risky manner by squeezing themselves through the railings installed there.

Watch video

Endorsing the film, Sharma said that this film must be watched for this reason as well that only a deep critical study of the past can help us understand the present and provide guidance for the future.

The Rajasthan government has declared the film The Sabarmati Report, based on the Godhra incident, tax-free in the state. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma announced this on social media, stating that the decision was meaningful and aimed at promoting awareness about a significant period of history.

“Our government has taken a meaningful decision to make the film The Sabarmati Report tax-free in Rajasthan. This film depicts that horrific period of history, which certain selfish elements attempted to distort to fulfill their own interests. The film effectively exposes the reality of the system at the time and refutes the false, misleading narratives that were propagated. This heart-wrenching incident has been presented with utmost sensitivity in the film,” CM Sharma said on X (formerly Twitter).

Endorsing the film, Sharma urged people to watch it, emphasizing its importance for a critical understanding of the past. “A deep, critical study of the past helps us understand the present and provides guidance for the future,” he added.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/rajasthan-govt-declares-film-the-sabarmati-report-on-godhra-incident-tax-free

Participant Bunty Banerjee found herself under the fire for joking about the heinous rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Comedian Samay Raina’s show India’s Got Latent has been in headlines ever since a contestant made fun of Deepika Padukone’s depression. The comedian, also one of the judges, faced social media heat over his casual reaction to the joke on mental health. But the controversy doesn’t seem to end anytime soon. The same participant has now garnered attention for poking fun at another sensitive issue, the Kolkata rape-murder case.

Participant Bunty Banerjee found herself under the fire for joking about the heinous rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident led to nationwide protests seeking justice from the administration. In a video that has now gone viral, the participant could be heard saying, “Whenever there’s a tense situation, the Bengali in me sleeps and Bihari wakes up.”

The standup comedian introduced herself as a Bengali who was born and brought up in Bihar. She performed in the show’s latest episode in the presence of judges including Samay Raina, comedian Tanmay Bhat, producer-actor Raghu Ram, neurologist Dr Sid Warrier, and Balraj Singh, the owner of Habitat (the show’s venue).

Bunty Banerjee went on to ask the audience, “Any Bengalis in the house,” adding, “See, sab so rahe hain. Nahi. Thak gaye honge na candle march karte karte (Bengalis are sleeping! Let them. Must be tried by holding candle march protests).” This statement led the panel to burst into laughter.

However, the matter did not go down well with the social media community who heavily trolled the standup comedian for making fun at such a serious matter of national importance. The video was shared on X with a caption, “She cooked the whole community.”

A user reacted to the video and said, “So this lady, claiming to be a comedian, at one point of her show,mocks depression and at another point ,ridicules Bengalis for holding candlelight marches to protest heinous crimes. It’s appalling that people think such cringeworthy behavior deserves applause. The joke’s on them.”

Source: https://www.news18.com/viral/after-deepika-padukone-indias-got-latent-participant-jokes-on-kolkata-rape-murder-case-9127428.html

A report in The Globe and Mail claims India’s NSA and external affairs minister were aware of a plot to assassinate Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India on Wednesday dismissed a Canadian media report as a “smear campaign” that claimed that the Indian prime minister was aware of an alleged plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023,
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023,
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticised the report, which quoted an unnamed Canadian official, labelling the claims as “ludicrous statements” deserving outright rejection.

“We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve,” he said.

Jaiswal said that smear campaigns like this only worsen the already strained ties between India and Canada. He was addressing media queries about the report published in the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail.

The report, published in The Globe and Mail, cited inputs from a senior national security official and alleged that India’s national security advisor (NSA) and external affairs minister were also aware of the purported plot.

Nijjar was gunned down outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023, and Canadian authorities arrested and charged four Indian nationals for the murder.

India has consistently stated that Canada has failed to provide any evidence supporting its allegation of Indian government involvement in Nijjar’s killing.

The Indian side has repeatedly said Canada has not provided any evidence to back up its allegation that Indian government agents were linked to the killing of Nijjar, already designated a terrorist by New Delhi.

India-Canada relations deteriorated sharply last month after Canada accused Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and other diplomats of involvement in the murder.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-slams-canadian-media-report-over-killing-of-hardeep-nijjar-ludicrous-smear-campaign-101732148060332.html

Prosecutors also said the Adanis and another executive at Adani Green Energy, former CEO Vneet Jaain, raised more than $3 billion in loans and bonds by hiding their corruption from lenders and investors.

Gautam Adani, the billionaire chair of Indian conglomerate Adani Group and one of the world’s richest people, has been indicted in New York over his role in an alleged multibillion-dollar bribery and fraud scheme, U.S. prosecutors said on Wednesday.

Authorities said Adani and seven other defendants, including his nephew Sagar Adani, agreed to pay about $265 million in bribes to Indian government officials to obtain contracts expected to yield $2 billion of profit over 20 years, and develop India’s largest solar power plant project.

Prosecutors also said the Adanis and another executive at Adani Green Energy, former CEO Vneet Jaain, raised more than $3 billion in loans and bonds by hiding their corruption from lenders and investors.

According to an indictment, some conspirators referred privately to Gautam Adani with the code names “Numero uno” and “the big man,” while Sagar Adani allegedly used his cellphone to track specifics about the bribes.

Adani Group did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside business hours in India, where the charges were announced early Thursday morning.

India’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Lawyers for the defendants could not immediately be identified.

Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Jaain were charged with securities fraud, securities fraud conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy, and the Adanis were also charged in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission civil case.

The other five defendants were charged with conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a U.S. anti-bribery law, and four were charged with conspiring to obstruct justice.

None of the defendants is in custody, a spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Breon Peace in Brooklyn said. Gautam Adani is believed to be in India.

Built empire

The 62-year-old Adani is worth $69.8 billion according to Forbes magazine, and one of the few billionaires formally accused in the United States of criminal wrongdoing.

His fortune makes him the world’s 22nd-richest person, and second-richest in India behind Reliance Industries Chair Mukesh Ambani, Forbes said.

Adani grew up in India’s Gujarat state, and dropped out of school at age 16.

He founded Adani Group in 1988 as a commodities trading firm, and built a business empire that has included airports, shipping ports, power generation, energy transmission and mining companies.

The charges were announced hours after Adani on Wednesday raised $600 million by selling 20-year “green” bonds.

They also came nearly two years after U.S. short-seller Hindenburg Research accused Adani Group of using offshore tax havens improperly, which the company denied.

Hindenburg’s January 2023 report sparked an approximately $150 billion meltdown in Adani Group stocks.

Adani planned investments, congratulated Trump

Others who were criminally charged on Wednesday include Ranjit Gupta and Rupesh Agarwal, respectively a former CEO and former chief strategy and commercial officer of Azure Power Global, which authorities said agreed to pay some of the bribes.

The remaining criminal defendants worked for Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec, a Canadian institutional investor, and included Cyril Cabanes, who was also an Azure director. He was also charged with wrongdoing by the SEC.

All of the defendants are Indian citizens apart from Cabanes, a dual French-Australian citizen who has lived in Singapore, prosecutors said.

According to court records, a judge has issued arrest warrants for Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani, and prosecutors plan to hand those warrants to foreign law enforcement.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/us-charges-gautam-adani-over-alleged-250-million-bribe-plot-101732156932458.html

Following US SEC charges of bribery against Gautam Adani, opposition parties criticise PM Narendra Modi and call for a JPC investigation.

As billionaire Gautam Adani faces charges in the US for alleged bribery and fraud, the Opposition on Thursday intensified its attack on the Centre over its alleged links with the Adani Group.

Gautam Adani has been charged in the US with allegedly paying $250 million in bribes to Indian officials between 2020 and 2024 to secure favourable terms for solar energy contracts. The scheme, prosecutors said, could have earned Adani’s group over $25 billion in profits.

Congress demands JPC probe
Reacting to the charges, the Congress called for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into alleged scams involving Adani’s conglomerate. The party also demanded the appointment of a “new and credible” Sebi chief to investigate Adani’s financial dealings and compliance with securities laws.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) actions highlight the failure of Indian institutions to investigate the group. “The indictment vindicates Congress’s demand since January 2023 for a JPC into the Modani scams,” Ramesh wrote on X.

He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of shielding Adani and claimed Congress’s “Hum Adani Ke Hain Kaun” (HAHK) series had exposed the businessman’s alleged fraud and his ties with the PM.

The fact that it has taken a foreign jurisdiction to properly investigate Adani only shows how Indian institutions have been captured by the BJP, and how decades of institutional development have been undone by greedy and power hungry leaders, the Congress leader said in another post.

“All of this is consistent with a long record of fraud and criminality carried out with impunity with the obvious protection of the Prime Minister,” Ramesh charged.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/adani-indicted-opposition-seeks-probe-into-us-charges-vindicates-congress-s-demand-101732161829288.html

Smoking accounts for 46 per cent of cases of COPD, followed by outdoor and indoor pollution which account for 21 per cent COPD cases and occupational exposure to gases and fumes account for 16 per cent cases

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the third largest killer after heart problems and cancer worldwide. Many people mistake their increased breathlessness and coughing as a normal part of ageing. They may not notice the symptoms in the early stages of the disease, and COPD can develop for years without noticeable shortness of breath, says Dr Sonal, pulmonologist at Livasa Hospital, Mohali.

She adds that the symptoms are visible in the more developed stages of the disease as COPD is a progressive form of lung disease ranging from mild to severe, and it affects nearly 63 million people in India, which is about 32 per cent of the world’s COPD population.

Dr Suresh Kumar Goyal, senior pulmonologist, adds that COPD causes more deaths than AIDS, TB, malaria and diabetes all put together. Its prevalence is around 5.5 per cent to 7.55 per cent in India, and recent studies suggest the prevalence rate of COPD in males is as high as 22 per cent and 19 per cent in women.

“COPD is an incurable and progressive condition, which inflames airways in lungs and destroys air sacs. The long-term effects of COPD result in an enlargement of the right side of the heart,” maintained Dr Ranjeet Kumar Gone, consultant, internal medicine.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/lung-disease-copd-pulmonary-disease-condition-symptoms-9680815/

During the summit, PM Modi proposed seven key pillars to strengthen ties between India and ‘CARICOM’. PM Modi explained the framework, “In the future, to strengthen our ties, I want to make a statement, it is based on 7 key pillars.”

The talks majorly focused on areas such as trade, technology, and tourism, among others. PM Modi became the first Indian head of state to visit Guyana in more than 50 years.

During the summit, PM Modi proposed seven key pillars to strengthen ties between India and ‘CARICOM’.

PM Modi explained the framework, “In the future, to strengthen our ties, I want to make a statement, it is based on 7 key pillars.”

“These 7 pillars are ‘CARICOM’. C stands for capacity building, through scholarship, training and technique, India has been helping in the capacity building of CARICOM countries, for the next 5 years, we will add 1,000 slots to the ITEC scholarship… for CARICOM, we will work to make forensic centres… with CARICOM friends, India is ready to work in parliamentary training also,” he added.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/pm-modis-caribbean-outreach-india-proposes-7-pillars-for-cooperation-with-caricom-puts-focus-on-5ts-article-115510601

Badrinath Nagar Panchayat initiated a post-Yatra cleanup, collecting 1.5 tonnes of waste after hosting 47 lakh pilgrims.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, a vocal proponent of cleanliness at Char Dham shrines, applauded the efforts. The municipality disposed of 110 tonnes of inorganic waste collected during the Yatra season.

On November 18, the sacred thrones of Uddhav, Kuber, and Shankaracharya began their winter journey from Badrinath Dham. Accompanied by an army band and rights holders, the palanquins departed for their designated locations, halting overnight at Pandukeshwar. Uddhav Ji and Kuber Ji will stay at the Yogadhyan Temple for winter worship, while Shankaracharya Ji’s throne has been placed in the Narsingh Temple at Joshimath. According to the scriptures, worship will continue for six months by humans and six months by gods.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/badrinath-launches-cleanup-drive-after-hosting-47-lakh-pilgrims-collects-1-5-tonnes-of-waste-article-115510908

The PIB, in a post on X, said that the central government has not made any such decision to raise the retirement age of central government employees.

The post claims that the Government of India has raised the age of retirement of central government employees to 62 years.

However, the claim was found to be false as the Indian government has made no such decision. The Press Information Bureau of the Government of India checked the viral claim and clarified the post doing rounds on the internet was fake.

The PIB, in a post on X, said that the central government has not made any such decision to raise the retirement age of central government employees.

Moreover, in August 2023, the government confirmed in the Lok Sabha that there is no proposal under consideration to change the retirement age of central government employees.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on August 9 said there is no proposal under consideration to change the retirement age of Central Government employees.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Singh said 122 government officers have been given compulsory retirement in the last three years under different provisions of service rules.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/did-centre-raise-age-of-retirement-to-62-years-fact-checking-viral-claim-article-115473769

Model Sannati Mitra shocked viewers with a towel dance video at Delhi’s India Gate to celebrate International Men’s Day.

A Kolkata model shocked Instagram users after she shared a video of herself dancing in a white towel in front of Delhi’s India Gate. Sannati Mitra, who claims to be the 2017 winner of Miss Kolkata pageant, had previously featured in a controversial photo along with two other women wearing cleavage-baring tops at a Durga Puja pandal.

Mitra, along with Hemoshree Bhadra, who says she won the Miss Kolkata 2016 title, had become the target of social media trolling for her outfit which many deemed inappropriate for a religious event.

The new video by the model-influencer has raised eyebrows as she is seen dancing in a white towel and slippers while lip-syncing to a song from hit Bollywood movie Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. A large crowd of tourists, which included children, can be seen watching in shock as she twirls and even opens the towel to bare herself. Interestingly, Mitra’s video seems to be a recreation of Kajol’s dance sequence in the film where her character dances in a towel in her room. (Also read: Amity University student’s dance is viral for ‘nudity’, internet sees no problem)

Take a look at the video here:

The video was shared with a caption wishing a Happy International Men’s Day. “Happy International Men’s day. May you all continue to inspire and motivate others with your courage, kindness and empathy,” she wrote.

The video has garnered over 200,000 views in just two hours and most users slammed her. Many of them called her out for using “cheap tactics” to get more views while others sought legal action against her for “obscene” dance in a public space.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/kolkata-model-dances-in-towel-at-india-gate-for-international-mens-day-video-sparks-outrage-101732027817541.html

PM Modi and President Lula addressed various bilateral issues reiterating India’s resolve to collaborate with Brazil in critical sectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday engaged in bilateral talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. The leader expressed robust support for Brazil’s ‘Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty’ initiative during their talks.

In their discussions, the two leaders addressed various bilateral issues reiterating India’s resolve to collaborate with Brazil in critical sectors such as energy, biofuels, defence, and agriculture.

Modi, who arrived in the Brazilian city on Sunday after concluding a two-day trip to Nigeria, complimented Lula on various efforts of Brazil during their G20 Presidency.

“We took stock of the full range of bilateral ties between our nations and reaffirmed our commitment to improving cooperation in sectors like energy, biofuels, defence, agriculture and more,” Modi said in a post on X after talks with Lula.

PM Modi thanked Brazilian President Lula for hosting G20 Summit

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Prime Minister Modi thanked President Lula for successfully hosting the G20 Summit.

“PM assured India’s full support to Brazil’s initiative of ‘Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty’. Discussions focused on exploring opportunities for greater cooperation in renewable energy, biofuels, defence, agriculture, healthcare, and digital technology,” he said in a post on X.

On Monday, Prime Minister Modi received a warm welcome from President Lula at the G20 Summit venue.

From Brazil, Modi will travel to Guyana at the invitation of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. It will be the first-ever visit of an Indian prime minister to Guyana in more than 50 years.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pm-modi-meets-president-lula-extends-support-to-brazils-hunger-poverty-cause-101732025581192.html

Two bikers died and almost three dozen people were injured in multiple accidents due to dense fog in western Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday morning.

Two bikers died and almost three dozen people were injured in multiple accidents due to dense fog in Noida and other parts of western Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday morning, said officials.

The worsening air quality in Delhi and surrounding areas led to low visibility, triggering a series of crashes, especially on national highways. Visuals of many such accidents also surfaced on the internet.

On the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, multiple crashes were reported with a broken-down truck, leaving several injured. They were rushed to Saifai Medical College, while one person was admitted to Shikohabad Hospital.

A victim of the accident described the scene, saying “We couldn’t see anything. Our car hit another vehicle, and then three or four more cars crashed into ours.”

In a separate road accident caused by low visibility, a truck collision on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway triggered a chain reaction. A bus travelling from Panipat to Mathura then crashed into the stationary trucks, injuring about a dozen passengers who were quickly taken to the hospital, reported NDTV.

Near Agra, six vehicles reportedly collided on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway after a pick-up truck broke down near Nasirpur. The stalled vehicle was not visible due to dense fog, leading to a pile-up of SUVs and other cars.

Two Bikers Killed
A speeding truck, whose driver claimed low visibility, rammed a bike on National Highway-34 in Bulandshahr, killing Mansharam, a Mainpuri resident. Later, the police detained the truck driver who admitted to speeding despite knowing the visibility conditions.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/western-up-noida-dense-fog-road-accident-bikers-killed-several-injured-latest-updates-9125240.html

A mountain collapse in the Democratic Republic of Congo revealed massive copper reserves while leading to a discussion on colonialism.

A mountain collapse in the Democratic Republic of Congo revealed massive copper reserves while leading to a discussion on colonialism. Footage of the dramatic mountain collapse has gone viral online, sparking many jokes about protecting the copper deposits from foreign invaders.

According to Al Jazeera, the mountain collapsed in the mineral-rich Katanga region of DR Congo. Viral footage of the event shows hundreds of people gathered together to watch the collapse. People closest to the site of the collapse were seen running for cover as boulders tumbled down.

Watch the video below:

About Congo’s copper reserves

Copper is one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s most valuable natural resources. The country has immense copper reserves, primarily located in the Katanga region (now Haut-Katanga Province), which is part of the Central African Copperbelt, the largest and richest mineral belt in the world.

DR Congo is home to some of the world’s largest high-grade copper deposits. Katanga’s copper is known for its high quality and relatively low production costs, making it highly competitive on global markets. The area also has other valuable reserves like cobalt, uranium, tin, and zinc.

The DMRC has recorded its 25 highest passenger journeys since August this year, the statement added. It emphasised that the more people opt for the metro over private vehicles, the greater the reduction in vehicular emissions, which will help improve the air quality of the city and its surrounding areas.

The ridership on November 18 surpassed the previous record of 77.49 lakh passengers, set earlier in August this year. Among the metro lines, the Yellow Line, which runs from Millennium City Centre in Gurugram to Samaypur Badli in Delhi, saw the highest traffic, with a record 20.99 lakh commuters using the service.

The surge in metro travel has put spotlight on the growing reliance on public transport amid ongoing air quality concerns and the disruption caused by the DTC strike.

The Blue Line followed closely with 20.80 lakh passengers, while the Red Line recorded 8.56 lakh commuters, 8.15 lakh in Pink Line and 7.93 lakh in Violet Line.

The Magenta Line saw 6.19 lakh passengers, followed by the Green Line with 4.12 lakh commuters, 81,985 in Airport Line, 57,701 in Rapid Metro, and 50,128, in the Grey Line, as per the data.

Thick grey haze continued to choke Delhi for the third consecutive day on Tuesday, with pollution levels remaining alarmingly high at 488 in the ‘severe plus’ category.

To encourage more people to use the metro in this scenario, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is running 60 extra trips on weekdays, offering more capacity than usual, an official statement said.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/delhi/delhi-metro-records-highest-ever-daily-ridership-on-nov-18is-pollution-the-reason-behind-it-article-115469986 

Uttarakhand Police arrested a man allegedly threatening famous YouTuber, Sourav Joshi and demanding Rs 2 crore as extortion

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/youtuber-sourav-joshi-gets-receives-rs-2-cr-threat-letter-from-bishnoi-gang-man-arrested-from-uttarakhand-article-115459917

The Sabarmati Report Making An Impact! Vikrant Massey Met The Chief Minister Of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath!

The Sabarmati Report has been receiving tremendous love and support from all corners. The film has made a significant impact on audiences, bringing to light one of the most crucial incidents in India’s history and revealing truths that have never been seen or heard before. As the film continues to create waves, the lead actor, Vikrant Massey, recently met the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath.

Yes, The Sabarmati Report is leaving no stone unturned in making its presence felt across the nation. While the film continues to garner love and support from all corners, the lead actor, Vikrant Massey, was seen visiting the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath. This is yet another example of the film’s impact and a well-deserved recognition for such a crucial incident in our India’s history.

Taking to his social media, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath shared the picture with the actor and wrote –

“आज लखनऊ स्थित सरकारी आवास पर फिल्म अभिनेता श्री विक्रांत मैसी ने शिष्टाचार भेंट की।”

Source: https://www.spotboye.com/trending/trending-news/the-sabarmati-report-making-an-impact-vikrant-massey-met-the-chief-minister-of-uttar-pradesh-yogi-adityanath/673c6e9ae4bfc703345e912c

The train, which will run on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), will be a significant development for the region, offering a direct rail link between the national capital and the Kashmir Valley.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the Vande Bharat Express connecting Kashmir to Delhi in January 2025, according to the Minister of State for Railways, Ravneet Singh.

About The Rail Service

The train, which will run on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), will be a significant development for the region, offering a direct rail link between the national capital and the Kashmir Valley.

Although Air India assured passengers of accommodations, several travelers reported delays and confusion in receiving hotel arrangements and meals.

Over 100 flyers of an Air India flight bound for New Delhi were stranded in Phuket, Thailand, for four days due to a technical issue with the aircraft. Many passengers took to social media to share their ordeal and claimed that they did not receive adequate support from the airline during the prolonged delay.

According to an India Today report, the flight was scheduled to take off on the night of November 16. Due to the technical issue, it was initially delayed by six hours.

After waiting for hours, the passengers were allowed to board the plane. However, an hour after boarding, the flight was abruptly canceled, and all passengers were asked to deboard. Following the initial delay and hours of waiting, the cancellation further escalated the situation.

The airline issued a statement acknowledging the cancellation and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the flyers.

“While our staff on the ground made an effort to minimize their inconvenience, providing all on-ground assistance, including hotel accommodation and meals, some of the guests were also re-accommodated on alternatively available flights. Passengers were also offered options for full refunds on cancellation and complimentary rescheduling. At Air India, the safety and security of our passengers and crew is the top priority,” Air India said in its response.

However, social media posts by passengers tell a different story. One passenger claimed in a post that there were no timely updates from the airline about the situation.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/over-100-air-india-flyers-stuck-in-phuket-for-4-days-airline-company-responds

The Union Home Ministry has decided to deploy 50 additional companies of Central Armed Police Forces to Manipur to manage the escalating violence and volatile situation in the state.

AFSPA Clamped Down In Violence-Hit Jiribam

This comes days after the central government reimposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in six police station areas, including violence-hit Jiribam.

The northeastern state has been on edge following fresh violence after clashes between the Meiteis and the Kukis. The conflict, which began over a year ago, has led to widespread unrest.

Jiribam Deaths Spark Fresh Protests 

Last week, the abduction and murder of six individuals — three women and three children — by suspected insurgents from Jiribam district, sparked further outrage. Their bodies were found in Assam five days later.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/manipur-violence-centre-to-deploy-50-additional-companies-of-capf-central-armed-police-force-amit-shah-security-meet-article-115418809 

The CCI found that the 2021 WhatsApp policy update was on a ‘take- it-or-leave-it’ basis, thereby constituting an imposition of unfair condition under the Competition Act, 2002.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Monday imposed a penalty of ₹213.14 on Mark Zuckerberg owned Meta (formerly Facebook) for abusing its dominant position in relation to implementation of WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy.

A press release issued by CCI said that it has issued cease-and-desist directions to Meta and WhatsApp and has also asked it to implement certain behavioural remedies.

“The Commission also issued cease-and-desist directions and also directed Meta and WhatsApp to implement certain behavioural-remedies within a defined timeline,” the press release stated.

In January 2021, WhatsApp had informed users about updates to its terms of service and privacy policy, effective from February 8, 2021. The notification stated that users must accept the new terms to continue using the platform. Unlike the previous privacy policy from August 25, 2016, which allowed users to opt out of data sharing with Facebook, the updated policy made data sharing with Meta mandatory.

Users were required to accept these terms, including the expanded scope of data collection and sharing to maintain access to WhatsApp.

The CCI received information regarding the WhatsApp’s violative policy and launched an investigation.

It concluded that Meta Group, through WhatsApp, was in a dominant position in the market for messaging apps through smartphones in India and in a leading position in online display advertising in India.

The CCI found that the 2021 WhatsApp policy update was on a ‘take- it-or-leave-it’ basis thereby constituting an imposition of unfair condition under the Competition Act, 2002.

According to the commission, the policy compels all users to accept expanded data collection terms and sharing of data within the Meta Group without an option to opt out of it.

“Given the network effects and lack of effective alternatives, the 2021 update forces users to comply, undermining their autonomy, and constitutes an abuse of Meta’s dominant position. Accordingly, the Commission finds that Meta (through WhatsApp) has contravened Section 4(2)(a)(i) of the Act,” the order said.

With respect to data sharing, CCI found that Meta violated the law for the following reasons:

(a) sharing WhatsApp users’ data between Meta companies for purposes other than providing WhatsApp Service creates an entry barrier for Meta’s rivals to compete with them, thus denying them market access.

(b) Meta has engaged in leveraging its dominant position in the OTT messaging apps through smartphones to protect its position in the online display advertising market .

In the light of this, CCI directed WhatsApp not to share data collected on its platforms with Meta company or its products for five (5) years.

By way of remedial measure, the WhatsApp has been directed to include a detailed explanation in its policy regarding the user data shared with other Meta Companies.

“This explanation should specify the purpose of data sharing, linking each type of data to its corresponding purpose,” the order assed.

Furthermore, WhatsApp was directed not to make data sharing a pre-condition for users to avail its services in India. The data sharing here would mean data collected for the purpose of advertising.

“In respect of sharing of WhatsApp user data for purposes other than for providing WhatsApp Services, all users in India (including users who have accepted 2021 update) will be provided with:

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/cci-imposes-21314-crore-penalty-on-meta-for-abuse-of-dominant-position

Giving details on Monday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said IFFI will be inaugurated by Union Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw along with the latter’s colleague in the ministry L Murugan.

Panaji: The 55th edition of the prestigious International Film Festival of India will kick off on November 20 in Goa, with one of the key events being Oscar winning composer AR Rahman paying tribute to late Lata Mangeshkar as part of a ‘memorial talk” on the legendary singer.

Giving details on Monday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said IFFI will be inaugurated by Union Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw along with the latter’s colleague in the ministry L Murugan.

“AR Rahman will pay tribute to Lata Mangeshkar as part of the ‘Lata Mangeshkar Memorial Talk. More than 270 films will be showcased during the festival at six venues in Panaji, Porvorim and Ponda. There will be more than 180 international films from 81 countries. The festival will see 15 world premieres, 40 Asian premieres and 106 Indian premieres,” Sawant told reporters.

“Swatantrya Veer Savarkar will be opening film in the Feature film category. The masterclasses will be held from November 21-27,m 2024 with four sessions in a day at Kala Academy. Saavat, a Konkani film directed by Shivam Harmalkar and Santosh Shetkar, is the only Goan film selected in the non-feature film category of the Indian Panorama,” the CM added.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/iffi-to-start-in-goa-on-november-20-composer-rahman-to-pay-tribute-to-legend-lata-mangeshkar-3281587

The decision came as Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was invoked in the National Capital Region, which includes the two western Uttar Pradesh districts.

Noida/Ghaziabad: The district administrations of Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) on Monday night ordered the suspension of physical classes till Class 12 in all schools and said studies will continue online due to poor air quality in the region.

The decision came as Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was invoked in the National Capital Region, which includes the two western Uttar Pradesh districts.

“In view of this, all schools of the District Gautam Buddh Nagar are directed to adhere to action enlisted under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan. Accordingly, it is directed that all schools shall discontinue physical classes from Pre-School to Class 12 till November 23 and conduct classes in online mode only,” District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said in an order.

Ghaziabad District Magistrate Indra Vikram Singh issued similar instructions, citing severe pollution levels.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/delhi-pollution-online-lessons-for-noida-ghaziabad-students-after-official-suspension-of-physical-classes-till-class-12-3281846

Manipur is again on the boil with violence escalating not only among the warring groups but also against seats and symbols of power. Mobs have attacked Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s ancestral house and the houses of many ministers and MLAs. Violence runs through a chain of incidents in the state with attacks and counter-attacks between the Meiteis and the Kukis, and it is spreading and intensifying by the day.

Manipur is again on the boil with violence escalating not only among the warring groups but also against seats and symbols of power. Mobs have attacked Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s ancestral house and the houses of many ministers and MLAs. Violence runs through a chain of incidents in the state with attacks and counter-attacks between the Meiteis and the Kukis, and it is spreading and intensifying by the day.

The spreading violence has had political consequences. The National People’s Party (NPP) which has seven MLAs has withdrawn support to the Biren Singh government, citing its “complete failure” in resolving the crisis. The withdrawal of support does not pose a threat to the government as it has a majority in the House though it shows distrust in the government, by a close ally. But there is opposition to Biren Singh even from within the BJP. A number of MLAs, including those from the Kuki side, have distanced themselves from the government. It has been clear, ever since the present phase of unrest and violence started last year, that Biren Singh is part of the problem in the state, but the Central government has been shielding him.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/editorial/missing-in-manipur-serious-political-intent-3281834

The Sena UBT leader shared a picture of the post on his X account and slammed the user for spreading the fake news. He also said that the post reflects the ‘disgusting mentality of the BJP’s ecosystem’ and divide and rule. Thackeray further tagged ECI and Mumbai Police demanding action against the user and those who are trying to spread hate in Maharashtra.

Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray strongly criticised a post on X made by a user, Mr Sinha, stating that the Waqf board has claimed Siddhivinayak temple of Mumbai. The post consists of a picture of the Siddhivinayak temple in Dadar along with a Ganpati photo. It was captioned, “Enough is enough! They’re getting out of hand. They need to be stopped…”

The Sena UBT leader shared a picture of the post on his X account and slammed the user for spreading the fake news. He also said that the post reflects the ‘disgusting mentality of the BJP’s ecosystem’ and divide and rule. Thackeray further tagged ECI and Mumbai Police demanding action against the user and those who are trying to spread hate in Maharashtra.

The absolutely disgusting mentality of the bjp’s ecosystem. Divide and rule. Lie and try to win.

“The absolutely disgusting mentality of the bjp’s ecosystem. Divide and rule. Lie and try to win. Will the Election Commission of India and Mumbai Police ever act and arrest such disgusting hate creators and Maharashtra haters? Don’t play with our sentiments and emotions in Maharashtra for your votes,” wrote Thackeray in his post.

According to CAQM, the air quality index (AQI) of the national capital was recorded at 441 (Severe)at 4pm on Sunday.

With pollution reaching alarming levels, the Centre’s panel monitoring Delhi-NCR air quality has announced to impose stage-4 restrictions under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) from Monday, November 18.

The air quality in the capital remained in the “severe” category for a past five days despite restrictions under GRAP, prompting authorities to impose stringent anti-pollution measures. The new set of restrictions would come into force from 8am on Monday.

The decision was taken by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

According to CAQM, the air quality index (AQI) of the national capital was recorded at 441 (Severe)at 4pm on Sunday. It has been gradually increasing further and has already reached Severe+ category, as the AQI clocked 447, 452 and 457 at 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm on Sunday, respectively.

No Physical Classes for Students, Barring Class 10 and 12: Atishi

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced that physical classes will be discontinued for all students, apart from Class 10 and 12 till further orders.

There is a photo of a gravestone in Jiribam, taken on a November evening when the winter sunlight is a soft yellow. Three children are seen standing around the gravestone, on which the name of their mother has been etched with an epitaph…

One of the worst cycles of the Meitei-Kuki ethnic violence in Manipur since May 2023 began on November 7 in Jiribam district, 220 km from the state capital Imphal, on the interstate border with Assam. At least 19 people have died, including 10 Kuki men who the police have called “militants”, in less than two weeks. The Kuki tribes claim the 10 men were “village volunteers”.
This multi-ethnic district, where a National Highway akin to a lifeline for Manipur passes through to reach Assam (and hence the rest of the country), had been violence-free for over a year until June, when the body of a Kuki teen was found in a river.

Kuki civil society organisations had alleged a Meitei armed group killed the teen and dumped him into the river. Then the body of a Meitei man was found, allegedly killed by a Kuki armed group in a retaliatory strike.

In both the cases and the many thereafter that shattered whatever semblance of peace Jiribam had, the police have not conclusively found the accused. All that remained were videos on social media, voice messages on WhatsApp groups, photos, screenshots, etc that claimed they were what really happened among the many ‘truths’ competing for takers. While some of these viral content can be cross-checked to a high level of accuracy, most are simply unverifiable.

Real people died, but narratives went on gliding smoothly through the airwaves.

November 7 Attack On Hmar Village

The macabre murders of six members of a Meitei family – including an infant, a two-year-old boy, and an eight-year-old girl – by suspected Kuki militants in Jiribam appeared to be the closing of the cycle of violence that began on November 7, when a woman from the Hmar tribe, mother of three little children and school teacher, was allegedly raped, shot in the leg, killed and set on fire by suspected Meitei militants in Jiribam’s Zairawn village.

Senior police officer KK Pandya said Anil Methania’s father had filed a complaint and a case of accidental death had been registered.

A first-year student of a Gujarat-based medical college has died allegedly after he was made to stand for three hours as part of a ragging exercise by seniors. Anil Methania was among several first-year students enrolled in GMERS Medical College and Hospital in Dharpur Patan this year. It is alleged that third-year students at the hostel made them stand for three hours at a stretch for an “introduction”. “Introduction” or “intro” is a word frequently used for ragging activities on residential campuses during which seniors harass freshers.
It is alleged that after standing for three hours, 18-year-old Anil collapsed and became unconscious. He was hospitalised and he recorded a statement with police that he was made to stand for three hours. He died soon after. The body has been sent for autopsy and its report is likely to provide more information on the cause of death.

Anil’s cousin Dharmendra said the family stays in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district — over 150 km from the college in Patan. “We received a call from the college yesterday and were told that Anil collapsed and has been hospitalised. When we reached here, we came to know that third-year students ragged him. We want justice,” he said.

Hardik Shah, the dean of the medical college, said, “As soon as we came to know that he had collapsed, we hospitalised him. He told police that he was ragged and made to stand for three hours. We have informed the cops and the family and will try to take strict action.”

Senior police officer KK Pandya said the student’s father had filed a complaint and a case of accidental death had been registered. “The autopsy has been conducted and the medical report has been asked to submit a report on the incident. Based on the findings, we will take further action,” he said. Asked about the ragging angle, the senior officer said, “We have asked for detailed information from the college on this point too.” News agency PTI later reported that 15 senior students have been named in the FIR.

Alongside Mr. Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden will be among the leaders attending the Rio de Janeiro summit on November 18-19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Brazil on Monday (November 18, 2024) on the second leg of his three-nation visit, during which he will attend the G20 Summit.

Vikas Yadav, accused in a high-profile “murder-for-hire” case and on the FBI’s “most wanted” list, has been granted personal exemption from court citing grave threats to his life.

Yadav claimed he was being subjected to “continuous surveillance by inimical elements who are trying to trace the applicant at all possible places, leaving no option for the applicant but to ensure his safety in the confines”. He further described the threat to his life as “clear, present, and grave”.

The application also argued that Yadav’s physical appearance in court would endanger his life, stating that “appearance of the applicant before the court is likely to annihilate the applicant”. Even attendance through video conferencing was deemed unsafe, as “the location might be detected by electronic technology”, the application said.

Murder-For-Hire Case

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/fbis-most-wanted-vikas-yadav-granted-exemption-from-court-hearing-cites-grave-threat-to-life-article-115388415

A passenger travelling in train number 20666 in Tirunelveli-Chennai Egmore Vande Bharat Express found an insect in a sambar served with breakfast on a train from Madurai on Saturday.

A video showing black insects floating in the sambhar drew widespread criticism. The matter escalated when Congress MP Manickam Tagore shared the video, raising serious concerns about hygiene standards on the premium Vande Bharat trains.

“Dear @AshwiniVaishnaw ji, live insects were found in the food served on the Tirunelveli-Chennai Vande Bharat Express Passengers have raised concerns over hygiene and IRCTC’s accountability. What steps are being taken to address this and ensure food safety on premium trains?”

What Railways Said

The Railways also extended an apology to the passenger and promised stern action against the licensee. According to officials, the Onboard Manager, Chief Catering Inspector (CIR), Chief Commercial Inspector (CCI) and Assistant Commercial Manager (ACM) inspected the food supplied by the Tirunelveli base kitchen managed by Brindavan Food Products.

The investigation revealed that the insect was found stuck to the lid of the casserole container, appearing uncooked, suggesting possible post-preparation contamination. Officials apologised to the passenger, promised stern action against the licensee, and offered an alternate meal at Dindigul station, which the customer declined.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/shocking-video-vande-bharat-passenger-finds-insect-in-sambar-railways-hits-caterer-with-hefty-fine-article-115384389 

“The reasoning assigned by the trial Court for awarding capital punishment are quite strange. The trial Court has quoted a verse from Mahabharata, which we feel to be an unwarranted exercise,” the Court said.

The Bombay High Court recently questioned the “strange” reasons that underpinned a trial court’s decision to award the death penalty in a multi-murder case, including an “unwarranted” invocation of the Mahabharata [State of Maharashtra vs Haribhau Telgote].

The Division Bench of Justices Vinay Joshi and Abhay Mantri also criticised the trial court for relying solely on statistical data on murders to award the death sentence, instead of prioritising the specific facts of the case before it.

The High Court emphasised that each criminal trial is unique, with its own characteristics and distinctions, requiring an individualized assessment.

“The reasoning assigned by the trial Court for awarding capital punishment are quite strange. The trial Court has quoted a verse from Mahabharata, which we feel to be an unwarranted exercise. More interestingly in paragraph no.344 of the decision, the trial Court has reproduced some crime data regarding State of Maharashtra of last 10 years … On the basis of said statistical data, it has been expressed that such incident of committing 4 murders in a single incident are rare and therefore, falls in the category of rarest of rare case. According to us, the said approach of the trial Court is erroneous, as on the basis of some statistical data, without returning to the facts of this case, the category cannot be decided … The approach (of the trial court) is wholly erroneous,” the November 13 ruling said.

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court made these observations while hearing an appeal filed by a family —parents and their son —convicted of killing four members of their maternal family over a land dispute.

The case revolved around a longstanding dispute over 29 acres of ancestral agricultural land. The accused, Haribhau Telgote (66), his wife Dwarkabai Telgote (55), and their son Shyam Telgote (35), were convicted by the Sessions Court in May 2024 for the premeditated murders of Dhanraj Charhate, his sons Shubham and Gaurav, and his brother Baburao.

In June 2015, Dwarkabai, who had been embroiled in a land partition lawsuit against her brothers, had sown cotton on a contested parcel of land. When Dhanraj objected, a verbal altercation ensued. Dwarkabai allegedly called her husband and sons, who arrived armed with deadly weapons. The attack that followed left four family members dead.

The Additional Sessions Judge imposed the death penalty, categorizing the case as falling under the category of “rarest of rare.”

The accused filed an appeal before the High Court, arguing that the death penalty was disproportionate.

The Bombay High Court, while referring to the Supreme Court’s rulings in Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab and Machhi Singh v. State of Punjab, reiterated that the death penalty is reserved for cases where the crime’s brutality is unparalleled, and whether the convict shows no prospects of reformation.

Applying this test, the High Court eventually commuted the death penalty awarded to two of the accused, while acquitting one accused.

The two persons (Haribhau Telgote and his son, Shyam Telgote) whose conviction was confirmed were sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court instead of imposing the death penalty. The Court found that while the crime was brutal, it did not meet the stringent “rarest of rare” standard.

The Court acquitted Dwarkabai Telgote, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to prove her active participation in committing murder.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/bombay-high-court-trial-court-mahabharata-death-sentence

Investigators attribute the vast difference between frozen and recovered money to the absence of a centralised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for recovering frozen money.

Bengaluru: Of the Rs 1,242 crore lost by Bengalureans to cybercrimes in the first eight months of this year, banks have frozen Rs 513 crore, or a little over 40%. However, investigators have managed to recover only Rs 111 crore.

Investigators attribute the vast difference between frozen and recovered money to the absence of a centralised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for recovering frozen money.

When a victim reports a cybercrime within the ‘golden hour’ and the bank freezes the recipient account, the victim must obtain the local court’s permission to defreeze the account and reclaim the money.

But there’s a catch. 

“If the same bank account is used in another cybercrime, investigators probing that specific case also freeze the same account. If the victim in that case also gets the court permission, it puts the bank in a dilemma about whom to return the money to,” a senior police officer explained.

While some banks release the money to the victim who gets the court permission first, many banks do not defreeze the account at all, he added.

A top police officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, acknowledged the issue and said they were exploring legal ways to solve it.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/cybercrimes-catch-22frozen-accounts-and-recovery-woes-3280456

“My chappal caught fire and I burned my foot. Then my salwar caught fire. I removed my salwar and discarded it. At that time, my mind was virtually not working,” she told PTI Videos.

Jhansi: Nurse Megha James was on duty when the fire broke out at the Jhansi hospital and she threw herself headlong into the rescue efforts, playing a hero’s role by saving several babies.

Even when her salwar got burned, she refused to give up and was able to evacuate 14-15 babies with others’ help.

Nurse Megha James On The Fire

“I had gone to take a syringe to give an injection to a child. When I came back, I saw that the (oxygen) concentrator had caught fire. I called the ward boy, who came with the fire extinguisher and tried to put it out. But by then, the fire had spread,” James said.

In the now-viral clip, Dolly Chaiwala was being interviewed by a senior journalist, who posed a series of seemingly routine questions. However, Dolly’s deadpan and sassy replies turned the ordinary exchange into an internet spectacle.

Dolly Chaiwala, the internet sensation known for his ‘tapri-style’ tea, has once again gone viral on social media this time for his cheeky response during an interview with a senior journalist from news channel News24. A video of the interaction has gone viral, leaving netizens laughing and giving their take on Dolly chaiwala’s quirky personality.

In the now-viral clip, Dolly Chaiwala was being interviewed by a senior journalist, who posed a series of seemingly routine questions. However, Dolly’s deadpan and sassy replies turned the ordinary exchange into an internet spectacle.

Towards the end of the interview, the journalist asked Dolly about his famous encounter with billionaire Bill Gates, questioning how serving tea to Gates made him an internet sensation. With a straight face, Dolly retorted, “You should talk to my assistant for more details.”

Watch the interview here:

The 50-year-old actor, known for her performances in films like Indian and Annamayya, had sparked public outrage after she made offensive remarks against Telugu people.

South actor Kasthuri Shankar was arrested by Chennai Police in Hyderabad for her alleged controversial remarks against Telugu community during an event in Tamil Nadu.

Following the rejection of her anticipatory bail by the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, which deemed her remarks “unwarranted,” police had been searching for her after she went missing from her home in Chennai and turned off her mobile phone.

The 50-year-old actor, known for her performances in films like Indian and Annamayya, had sparked public outrage after she made offensive remarks against Telugu people. While speaking at a public event in Tamil Nadu, she had said that Telugu people were descendants of the courtesans who had served kings in ancient times.

According to a report, the Egmore police in Chennai filed a complaint against the GodFather actor under four provisions of the Bharat Nagrik Suraksha Samhita.

Her remarks drew fire from BJP national co-in charge of Tamil Nadu Dr Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, who demanded an apology. Her comments hamper the cordial atmosphere among the people of Tamil Nadu and were against the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family), the BJP leader had told news agency PTI.

After facing backlash, the actor had expressed regret for her statements, claiming they were misinterpreted. Taking to X, Kasthuri shared her official statement which read, “I never intended to insult or disrespect my Telugu extended relatives. I apologise for any unintentional ill feelings.”

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/actress-kasthuri-shankar-accused-of-anti-telugu-remarks-arrested-in-hyderabad-9122939.html

Internet services were also suspended in seven districts of Manipur as fresh protests erupted against the killing of six people.

A mob on Saturday attempted to storm the private residence of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in Imphal, leading security officials to fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd outside the property.

Sources confirmed that Singh, who was not at his residence during the incident, is currently at his office and is safe.

Curfew imposed in Imphal

This latest incident comes after the Manipur government imposed a curfew in Imphal and suspended internet services in seven districts earlier today, following protests in the capital city demanding justice for the murder of three people in Jiribam district.

The protests turned violent when demonstrators stormed the residences of two ministers and three MLAs in Imphal.

Officials reported that a mob attacked the residence of Health and Family Welfare Minister Sapam Ranjan in Lamphel Sanakeithel, and also targeted the house of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister L. Susindro Singh.

In the Sagolband area of Imphal West district, protesters gathered outside the residence of BJP legislator RK Imo, the son-in-law of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, demanding an “appropriate response” to the killings and urging authorities to “arrest the culprits within 24 hours.”

Meanwhile, protesters who had gathered at the residence of independent legislator Sapam Nishikanta Singh in Tiddim Road, Keishamthong constituency, attacked the office of a local newspaper owned by the legislator after being informed that he was out of state. The mob also damaged temporary structures outside the building.

Imphal West District Magistrate Th. Kirankumar issued an order imposing the curfew from 4:30 pm on Saturday in response to the violence.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/manipur-violence-curfew-declared-in-imphal-protesters-target-mlas-houses-cm-biren-singh-latest-news-9122734.html

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the members of the Indian community received Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Abuja airport on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Abuja on Sunday, marking his maiden visit to Nigeria as part of a three-nation tour that will also include stops in Brazil and Guyana. He became the first Indian PM to visit the west African nation in 17 years.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed PM Modi at Abuja airport. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the Minister for Federal Capital Territory, presented PM Modi with the ‘key of the City’ of Abuja.

Taking to X, PM Modi thanked President Tinubu. “Thank you, President Tinubu. Landed a short while ago in Nigeria. Grateful for the warm welcome. May this visit deepen the bilateral friendship between our nations,” PM Modi tweeted.

The Indian community, gathered at Abuja airport, welcomed PM Modi. “Heartwarming to see the Indian community in Nigeria extending such a warm and vibrant welcome!” PM Modi further tweeted.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-lands-in-nigeria-president-tinubu-receives-him-at-abuja-airport-2634588-2024-11-17

For the Indian legal profession to truly uphold justice, it must, first and foremost, address the injustices within its ranks.

The Indian legal profession frequently receives accolades as a keeper of justice, equality and fairness. Still, there is a deep-rooted, dark side to this prestigious business: it is a male-dominated field where young women are systematically sexually harassed – a fact that is not much of a surprise to anyone who has practised law in India.

Though it may seem hard to reconcile the two ideas, the space of the courtroom is also the breeding ground for predatory behaviour. This unwritten rule makes the profession that much more inaccessible to women. Sexual harassment is the “hidden dirty secret” of the legal profession, according to Indira Jaising, a prominent lawyer and the first woman to serve as Deputy Attorney General of India.

Jaising has directly experienced the appalling behaviour directed towards women in the exalted chambers of the Supreme Court. Her own first-hand story, coupled with those of many other female lawyers and judges who have suffered similar fates, serves as a potent reminder that at the heart of our nation’s highest court, women are not safe from the kind of predatory behaviour that is all too common in many societies around the world.

We want to think that the courtroom and the chambers of the judges are places where justice is rendered and that the behaviour of all who work within these sacred spaces is governed by the highest standards. The Supreme Court is the jewel in the crown of our nation’s governance. Women should feel free to work within its shiny, protective walls and not fear that there are phoenixes among them who will ensnare them in a web of sexual predation.

This problem has its origins in the legal profession’s institutional weaknesses, particularly in its reporting mechanisms, which are not nearly as robust as they ought to be to instil confidence among reporting parties. A profession that is rather unsupportive of mothers will also largely be a profession that is asking its members to work in a rather repressive and secretive culture.

Young associates and interns who have recently begun their careers in law are particularly susceptible to the predatory advances of their superiors in areas that should be their bastions of confidence and empowerment. And when young women in law are forced to navigate the male-dominated minefield of sexual harassment, it robs the industry – both now and in the future – of the diverse perspectives and problem-solving capabilities that are essential to its integrity and growth.

Over the past few years, there have been limited attempts to tackle the crisis. The Supreme Court in 2021 banned a clerk found guilty of sexual harassment from the court for three months. Unfortunately, this alone does not do nearly enough to guarantee the safety of women in such a vulnerable profession. What we need, first and foremost, is a concerted effort by the legal industry to stop this ridiculous, pervasive problem in its tracks.

The first step is to put in place undemanding pathways for reporting. The second is a strong system of support for those choosing to use these pathways. These pathways and support systems should be the norm across all work sectors, not just the legal field. And accountability – zero tolerance for this kind of behaviour at every level. Our institutions have a long way to go before they reach that state.

Now is the moment to illuminate the insidious problem that darkens the Indian legal profession. Young lawyers and legal interns have the right to feel empowered, respected and safe as they pursue their dreams of working in the judiciary. There have been some attempts to address sexual harassment in India’s legal profession, but an overhaul of the legal system is necessary for lasting change to occur. The key facet of this overhaul is creating a strong, enforceable framework that runs through the entire legal system. While the Supreme Court has taken some steps, these reforms are too isolated to make a real impact.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/columns/the-hidden-crisis-sexual-harassment-in-indias-legal-profession

Developed jointly by three Japanese companies, these antennas are currently fitted on Mogami class frigates of Japan Maritime Self Defence force.

New Delhi, Nov 16: India has concluded its first military technology transfer pact with Japan with the two countries signing a “memorandum of implementation” for “co-development and co-production” of UNICORN mast for naval ships to increase their stealth features.

The agreement was inked at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo, an Indian Navy spokesperson said here on Saturday, noting that Bharat Electronics Ltd Bengaluru would be the nodal Indian partner in the project.

The unified complex radio antenna (UNICORN) is a mast with integrated communication systems that help improve the stealth characteristics of ships.

Developed jointly by three Japanese companies, these antennas are currently fitted on Mogami class frigates of Japan Maritime Self Defence force.

Unlike the conventional masts, UNICORN consolidates various antennas that are attached to multiple points on a mast into a single support column in order to reduce its radar signature and improve stealth.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com//india/india-japan-ink-first-military-technology-transfer-pact-for-development-of-unicorn-mast-for-naval-ships-3279587

Fire in Jhansi’s NICU led to the tragic death of 10 newborns, with reports highlighting ‘faulty’ fire alarms and ‘expired’ extinguishers.

Following the fire accident at Jhansi hospital that killed 10 newborns, a “defective alarm system” and “expired fire extinguishers” were discovered, according to a media report. A fire broke out at a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi on Friday night.

Families of the victims told News18 report that the lives of the 10 newborns could have been saved if the fire extinguishers were working properly.

Even the fire safety alarms were not functioning properly during the tragic incident, which delayed the hospital evacuation, the report mentioned.

According to the reports citing a man, identified as Kripal Singh Rajput, who came to see his grandson, every single bed in the infant ward was accommodating six children each, there were 18 beds in total

During his visit to the hospital, the fire broke out, and he rescued 25 newborns.

However, the government has dismissed allegations of safety lapses. UP Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak denied media reports claiming that the medical college had expired fire extinguishers.

“All firefighting equipment in the medical college was completely fine,” PTI reported quoting Pathak. He said a fire safety audit was conducted in February and a mock drill in June.

Several visuals of the accident emerged where alarmed patients and their caretakers along with police officials could be seen aiding the rescue operations.

The minister confirmed the cause of the fire saying, “The fire broke out due to a short circuit. Health Minister and state Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak reached there at night. 10 children had died there. The rest of the children are safe.”

Source : https://www.livemint.com/news/from-expired-fire-extinguishers-to-faulty-fire-alarms-what-caused-jhansi-hospital-fire-11731761032578.html

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for fog in the National Capital today in view of the worsening AQI levels. The AQI in the city continues to remain under the “severe” category, showing no improvement in the air quality levels. Read more to know the complete AQI and weather details of Delhi.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 417 under the “severe” category as of 4 PM on November 16, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The CPCB also revealed that AQI levels in key areas of Delhi continued to remain in the severe category on Sunday (November 17). Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 458, Ashok Vihar recorded an AQI of 466, and Aya Nagar recorded an AQI of 423—all categorised as “severe.”

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert on Sunday for the National Capital in light of the worsening air quality. The maximum temperature today is expected to reach 29 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is likely to drop to 15 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity fluctuated between 79 percent and 94 percent.

Delhi Weekly Weather Forecast
The city is expected to witness a foggy atmosphere in the coming week. On November 18, November 19, and November 20, moderate fog is predicted. The maximum temperature is expected to range between 27 degrees C and 28 degrees C, while the minimum temperature is likely to range between 13 degrees Celsius and 14 degrees Celsius. Later, on November 21 and 22, the national capital is expected to experience dense fog. The maximum temperature is projected to oscillate between 28 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius , while the minimum temperature is forecasted to remain between 13 degrees Celsius and 14 degrees Celsius.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/delhi/delhi-chokes-under-smog-as-aqi-remains-in-the-severe-category-imd-issues-fog-alert-article-115374665

In a joint operation between the Mumbai Police and Punjab Police, 22-year-old Akashdeep Karajsingh Gill, a resident of Pacca Chisti village, Tehsil Fazilka, District Fazilka, was apprehended for allegedly being an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi in the Baba Siddique murder case.

In the case of NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) leader Baba Siddique’s murder, another accused has been arrested near the Indo-Pakistan border in Pacca Chisti village, Punjab. In a joint operation between the Mumbai Police and Punjab Police, 22-year-old Akashdeep Karajsingh Gill, a resident of Pacca Chisti village, Tehsil Fazilka, District Fazilka, was apprehended for allegedly being an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi in the Baba Siddique murder case.

With this arrest, the total number of accused arrested in connection with the murder rises to 24. According to sources, Gill was allegedly kept in contact with Anmol Bishnoi and received instructions from him to pass on to the shooters.

According to the police, The joint operation was conducted in Fazilka Tehsil, highlighting effective inter-agency collaboration. The accused is being brought to Mumbai on transit remand for further legal proceedings.

Meanwhile, Punja police posted arresting information on ‘X’ stating, “In a major breakthrough, Anti-Gangster Task Force, Punjab (AGTF), in a joint operation with Maharashtra Police has apprehended one person, Akash Gill resident of Fazilka in connection with the Murder of Baba Siddiqui at Mumbai. Preliminary investigation reveals the arrested accused is an associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang and was providing logistical assistance to the shooters involved in the Murder of Baba Siddiqui. The accused has been handed over to Mumbai Police.”

Further mentioned, ‘United in our commitment to seamless cooperation, PunjabPoliceInd and Maharashtra Police have successfully executed an inter-state operation. This highlights our unwavering dedication to public safety and justice, strengthening security across state boundaries.’

The police revealed that the accused’s involvement was uncovered during the interrogation of previously arrested suspects, prompting a team to be dispatched to Punjab. The accused was presented before a court in Punjab and is now being transferred to Mumbai on transit remand. “Singh will be presented before a local court in Mumbai on Sunday,” according to the police.

On October 12, a 66-year-old NCP leader was shot dead by three assailants near the Bandra office of his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique. According to Crime Branch sources, the lead shooter, Shiv Kumar Gautam, remained at the scene for nearly 20 minutes after the attack.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/baba-siddique-murder-case-22-year-old-akashdeep-gill-arrested-near-indo-pak-border-24th-accused-nabbed-in-joint-mumbai-punjab-police-operation

Questions have been raised over the hospital’s safety measures, as witnesses claim fire alarms did not activate during the blaze.

Ten newborn babies have died after a fire swept through a neonatal intensive care unit at a hospital in northern India.

The fire, which also injured 17 other babies, spread quickly through the ward in Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi city late on Friday, where 49 infants were being treated, according to state deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak.

He said seven of the babies killed had been identified, with the authorities working to identify the remaining three.

“Seventeen of the injured are receiving treatment in different wings and some private hospitals,” Mr Pathak said.

He said the cause of the fire was not yet known.

“We will identify those responsible for this tragedy and take strict action. The government stands with families during this difficult time,” he added.

Eyewitnesses said rescue efforts began about 30 minutes after the fire started, and that the ward was already engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

Rescuers had to break through the windows to reach the babies.

Questions have been raised over the hospital’s safety measures, because parents of the babies and witnesses claim fire alarms did not activate during the blaze, according to The Associated Press.

Mr Pathak also said the hospital’s fire safety systems were last inspected in February, followed by a mock drill in June.

One of the parents whose baby died in the incident told the AP: “If the safety alarm had worked, we could have acted sooner and saved more lives.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the “heart-wrenching” incident.

Source : https://news.sky.com/story/india-fire-in-neonatal-ward-kills-10-newborn-babies-13255023

The Thane Crime Branch Unit One has arrested three men for allegedly possessing five country-made revolvers and four live cartridges worth Rs 1,85,000 in the Shil-Daighar area of Thane.

The Thane police have seized 15 weapons and 28 live cartridges worth Rs 7 lakh, and destroyed 18 illegal liquor sites in the city. They have initiated efforts to maintain law and order and peace in society. The police have also launched an operation to apprehend those involved in the illegal sale of arms.

The Thane Crime Branch Unit One has arrested three men for allegedly possessing five country-made revolvers and four live cartridges worth Rs 1,85,000 in the Shil-Daighar area of Thane. The accused have been identified as Shivkumar, Papilkumar, and Rahul alias Mohammad Guljar Khan. A case has been registered against them at Rabodi Police Station.

The Bhiwandi Crime Branch unit has arrested two individuals for allegedly possessing two country-made revolvers and two live cartridges worth Rs 1,70,600. The accused have been identified as Shrikant Datta Waghmare and Noor Mohammad Ansari.

The Wagale Estate Crime Branch arrested Sumit Pawar for allegedly possessing one country-made revolver and seven live cartridges worth Rs 1,12,000.

The Kalyan Crime Branch has arrested Deepak Koli for allegedly possessing three country-made revolvers and seven live cartridges worth Rs 75,000.

The Ulhasnagar Crime Branch has booked Ganesh Londhe and Bhagwan Yadav for allegedly possessing two country-made revolvers and two live cartridges worth Rs 51,000.

The Anti-Extortion Cell has booked a case against Abdul Kalam for allegedly possessing two country-made revolvers and one live cartridge worth Rs 50,000.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/thane-police-seizes-15-weapons-28-cartridges-worth-7-lakh-18-illegal-liquor-sites-destroyed-amid-election-season

The Court based its decision on Section 40 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 as well as relevant advisories issued by the Central government.

The Kerala High Court recently held that a person residing in or having their place of business in a State can get their vehicles registered at any registering authority of the same State. [Sabeer A v. State of Kerala & Ors]

Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh held so in light of Section 40 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (MV Act) as well as relevant advisories issued by the Central government.

“Considering the language implied in Section 40 of the MV Act and advisory issued by the Central Government, it is evident that the jurisdiction is in respect of the State and not in respect of the registering authority for registering the motor vehicle. A person residing in a State or having a place of business in a particular State can get the motor vehicle registered by any of the registering authorities of that State,” the Court said in its judgment.

The judgment was passed on a petition moved by the owner of a vehicle seeking an order to the Attingal Regional Transport Authority (RTO) to complete the registration process and issue the necessary certificate for his vehicle.

Even though he was issued a temporary registration certificate by the Attingal RTO, he was told to approach the Kazhakootam RTO as he wasn’t residing in the jurisdiction of the Attingal RTO.

Before the High Court, the petition argued that following the 2019 amendment to Section 40 of the MV Act, every owner of a vehicle is entitled to get it registered within the State of his residence from any registering authority.

The Government Pleader representing the State, however, argued that the amended provision indicates that the residence or the place of residence where the vehicle is normally kept has to be within the jurisdiction of the registering authority.

The Court noted that Section 40 of the MV Act reads as follows:

40. Registration, where to be made. – Subject to the provisions of section 42, section 43 and section 60, every owner of a motor vehicle shall cause the vehicle to be registered by [any registering authority in the State] in whose jurisdiction he has the residence or place of business where the vehicle is normally kept.

It also observed that the phrase “any registering authority in the State” was inserted instead of “registering authority” by the 2019 amendment. From this, the Court concluded that the jurisdiction mentioned is with regard to the State and not specific registering authorities.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/vehicle-registered-at-any-rto-in-state-residing-in-kerala-high-court

India strongly asserted that bringing in elements of any new goal outside the Paris Agreement’s mandate is unacceptable, and ruled out any scope for negotiating the 2015 accord

India at COP29 drew attention to the devastating impacts of climate change on the Global South and called on developed nations to realise and fulfil their responsibility for stronger climate action.

Intervening on behalf of Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) at the High-Level Ministerial on Climate Finance at the UN Climate Summit in Baku, India pushed for at least $1.3 trillion every year till 2030 to be mobilised by the developed countries through grants, concessional finance and non-debt-inducing support.

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This support must address the changing needs and priorities of the developing countries, without imposing any growth-restricting conditions on the provisions of finance, it emphasised.

Delivering the statement, India’s lead negotiator at COP29, Naresh Pal Gangwar, additional secretary in the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC), said this is vital for advancing towards COP30, where all parties are expected to submit their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). “What we decide here will enable all of us, particularly those in the Global South, to not only take ambitious mitigation action but also adapt to climate change. This COP is historic in this context,” he added.

NCQG not an investment goal

Making its focus clear on the New Collective Quantified Goals (NCQG) on climate finance which is currently under negotiation, India asserted that it cannot be changed into an investment goal when it is a unidirectional provision and mobilisation goal from the developed to the developing countries.

India also stressed that bringing in the elements of any new goal outside the Paris Agreement’s mandate is unacceptable, and ruled out any scope for negotiating the accord. “The Paris Agreement is clear on who is to provide and mobilise the climate finance – it is the developed countries,” it stated.

The statement also made it clear that the developed nations must take the lead in climate action in view of their historical responsibilities and differences in capacities, underscoring the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities. “The context of different national circumstances, sustainable development goals and poverty eradication, particularly with respect to the Global South, should not be lost sight of,” it added.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/cop29-india-pushes-for-1-3-trillion-annual-climate-finance-stronger-action-by-developed-nations-9121767.html

The boat came under the radar near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), after which it was brought to Porbandar.

In a massive drugs bust, a boat carrying over 700 kg of methamphetamine, simply known as meth, has been caught off Gujarat’s Porbandar after an overnight mid-sea operation. Eight persons on board the vessel who claimed to be Iranians have been arrested, officials said.

They are being questioned to find out the source of the drugs and where such a big consignment was headed, officials said. While there is no standard way to peg its actual value, it’s suspected to be worth around ₹ 2-5 crore.

The seizures were made as part of Operation Sagar Manthan, a joint operation by the officials from the Gujarat Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and the federal anti-drugs agency Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) led to the seizure.

The boat came under the radar near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) – which separates the international waters, after which it was brought to Porbandar.

Further searches are on for suspected vessels and more inbound consignments of drugs as officials keep an eye on the sea routes for smuggling of narcotics.

Officials are also questioning the suspects to find out details about the drug consignment.

It’s also under investigation if Pakistan was the source of the drugs. Several reports have accused Pakistan of pushing drugs across the border to fund their terror activities.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/iranian-boat-with-500-kg-drugs-caught-off-gujarat-after-overnight-mid-sea-operation-7025075

Patani alleged that the conmen misled him by introducing an accomplice as an “officer on special duty” to reinforce their claims.

Jagdish Singh Patani, retired deputy SP and father of actor Disha Patani, was allegedly defrauded of ₹ 25 lakh by a group of five individuals who promised him a high-ranking position in a government commission, police here said on Friday.
An FIR was registered at Bareilly Kotwali police station on Friday evening.

Kotwali police station in-charge D K Sharma said, “A case has been registered against Shivendra Pratap Singh, Diwakar Garg, Acharya Jayaprakash from Juna Akhara, Preeti Garg, and one unidentified person for cheating, criminal intimidation, and extortion.” “Efforts are underway to arrest the accused and take strict action,” Sharma added.

Jagdish Patani, a resident of Bareilly’s Civil Lines area, alleged that Shivendra Pratap Singh, whom he knew personally, introduced him to Diwakar Garg and Acharya Jayaprakash, according to the complaint.

The accused claimed to have strong political connections and assured Patani of securing a position as chairman, vice-chairman, or a similar prestigious post in a government commission.

After gaining Patani’s trust, the group allegedly took ₹ 25 lakh from him –” ₹ 5 lakh in cash and ₹ 20 lakh through transfers to three different bank accounts. When no progress was made over three months, the accused promised to return the money with interest, the complaint stated.

However, when Patani demanded his money back, they began issuing threats and behaving aggressively, police said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/actor-disha-patanis-father-duped-of-rs-25-lakh-fir-filed-7030599

The woman’s alleged rape and murder, a mother of three, led to a series of violent clashes in Manipur’s Jiribam district since November 7.

The autopsy report of a 31-year-old tribal woman, who was killed in Manipur’s conflict-torn Jiribam district, revealed signs of third-degree torture before she was allegedly raped and her house was set on fire, reported.

The FIR registered by the police in Jiribam quotes her husband alleging that she was “brutally raped” by armed militants from the Imphal Valley. The miscreants also plundered her house and set 17 homes ablaze in the Zairwan village that night, the report said.

An autopsy performed on the woman’s body by Assam’s Silchar Medical College could not ascertain if the woman was raped, as her charred remains ruled out any chances of collecting a vaginal smear.

The Times of India report notes that the woman was found with 99% of her body, even bone fragments, charred. The autopsy notes “a wound in the back of right thigh” and a “metallic nail embedded in the medial aspect of the left thigh.” The report also noted that “the right upper limb, parts of both lower limb, and the facial structure are missing.”

The autopsy findings reveal that the woman was alive when she was subject to brutal torture. After torturing her, the militants allegedly raped her and set her home on fire.

The Manipur Police said her remains were sent to Silchar instead of the state capital, Imphal, as it was “very much inconvenient to transport the body by road via National Highway-37 due to ongoing ethnic crisis” in the northeastern state.

The Kuki-Zo tribal organisations condemned the woman’s killing as “barbaric” and called for security forces to identify the killers. The Indigenous Tribes Advocacy Committee called for intervention from the Centre to safeguard the people of the Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribes. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITFL) warned of more unrest if the killers were not arrested.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/manipur-mother-of-3-tortured-before-being-set-on-fire-in-jiribam-finds-autopsy-report-101731546880183.html

It has done away with the mandatory setting up of examination centres within 10 kilometers of bus station, railway station and government treasury.

The state government has relaxed examination centre norms for the Combined State / Senior Subordinate Service (Preliminary) Examination-2024, commonly known as (PCS Pre).

It has done away with the mandatory setting up of examination centres within 10 kilometers of bus station, railway station and government treasury.

The fresh government order, a copy of which is with HT, came after the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) accepted protesting students’ demand and decided to revert to the system of holding the PCS (prelim) exam in one day instead of two days.

However, the new order still means that only government-run and government-aided secondary schools will be made examination centres as no exemption has been given in this regard as compared to an earlier order issued on June 19.

The new GO issued on Thursday makes clear that it will be ensured that examination centres are made only in the institutions located on the main road. Principal secretary (appointment and personnel) M Devraj issued instructions in this regard on Thursday and sent the order to the chairmen of the recruitment commissions and boards of the state.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/pcs-prelims-no-longer-necessary-to-set-up-exam-centres-within-10-km-of-bus-railway-stations-101731610963975.html

Dehradun accident: Police seek expert advice on legal steps after an accident that killed six, including three women, with one person seriously injured.

The family members of six students killed in a road accident in Dehradun are yet to file a complaint with the police, which may lead to the authorities taking action, The Times of India reported.

Police are seeking advice from experts about possible legal steps, as the initial investigation suggests that the truck driver was not at fault. The accident claimed six lives, including three women and three men, while one person was seriously injured.

Inspector KC Bhatt from the Cantt police station said they are waiting for a complaint from the families before they can register a case, the report added.

“We have not received any complaint from the family members of the victims that could warrant case registration,” ToI quoted Bhatt as saying.

Dehradun accident: What happened?
Six people were killed, and another critically injured, in the severe car accident in Dehradun early Tuesday morning. The accident took place around 1.30am at ONGC Chowk, where a speeding Innova car crashed into the rear of a container truck, leaving the car in a wrecked state, police said.

According to Circle Officer (City) Neeraj Semwal, the six deceased-three men and three women, all under 25 years of age, died on the spot. A seventh passenger, identified as 25-year-old Siddhesh Agrawal, survived but is in critical condition at Synergy Hospital.

Initial investigation suggests that the container truck driver was not at fault, as the speeding multi-utility vehicle (MUV) collided with the truck’s rear left section, a known blind spot in large vehicles.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dehradun-accident-6-students-killed-no-complaints-filed-yet-police-seek-advice-on-legal-action-what-happened-101731631367505.html

The current system has roots in 1958 when the East India Company transferred the dominion to the British crown, he said. He said the objective of the civil servants then was to go slow and delay implementation because the native population was to be kept under control.

Speaking at a media event, he said that the government should look beyond the present system where the candidates appear for the highly competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Services Commission (UPSC) by giving an examination in three or four subjects.

The selected candidates should be taken to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy Of Administration in Mussoorie for training in specialized sectors such as agriculture, defence or manufacturing. He said it would be a departure from the current practice of creating general administrators.

“Maybe Prime Minister Modi, who has done a brilliant job so far in terms of accelerating our economy, may want to look at whether we need more managers in the government rather than administrators,” Narayan Murthy said.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/infosys-founder-narayana-murthy-wants-pm-to-hire-civil-servants-from-b-schools-heres-why-article-115319821

Justice M Nagaprasanna passed the interim order on a petition filed by Surya seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him by the Haveri police following his post on social media platform X.

The Karnataka High Court Thursday issued an interim stay on the investigation against BJP MP Tejasvi Surya in an alleged case of spreading fake news regarding the suicide of a farmer in Haveri district in Karnataka.

Justice M Nagaprasanna passed the interim order on a petition filed by Surya seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him by the Haveri police following his post on social media platform X.

“The Petitioner is a parliamentarian. The allegation is under section 353(2) of the BNS that was 505(2) of the IPC, the earlier regime. The allegation is in terms of a suo motu complaint by the police inspector. His counsel contends the tweet was deleted and takes us through an interview given to the media by the deceased’s father after the tweet was deleted. His response would somehow, vindicate the petitioner’s position although the tweet has been deleted. All this prima facie would not become an offence under section 505 (2) of IPC as is held by Apex court,” the High Court said while staying the FIR and further proceedings against Surya until December 4, the next date of hearing.

Senior Counsel Aruna Shyam, who appeared for Surya, read out Surya’s post and said that Surya had made the post based on a “news report.”

In the post, Surya had said,

“A farmer in Haveri commits suicide after finding his land taken over by Waqf! In their haste to appease minorities, CM Siddaramaiah and Minister B. Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan have unleashed catastrophic effects in Karnataka that are becoming impossible to contain with every passing day”.

Shyam further said that after the police clarified that the man had committed suicide two years ago as he was burdened with loans and debts, Surya had deleted the tweet.

However, the State government opposed Surya’s plea asking the Court to consider if such post was not “promoting enmity between two groups” and having a bad effect on the society prima facie?

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/karnataka-high-court-stays-fir-tejasvi-surya-tweet-linking-farmers-suicide-wakf-board

The petition asked the Court to direct the Central government to ensure WhatsApp’s compliance with the new IT Rules and ban the app’s operations if it refuses to comply.

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking directions to the Central government to ban the operations of WhatsApp for its refusal to comply with the new Information Technology Rules (IT Rules) [Omanakuttan KG v WhatsApp Applications Services Private Limited and ors].

A Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Aravind Kumar passed an order to this effect today.

The petitioner, one Omanakuttan KG, had earlier moved the Kerala High Court seeking directions to the Central government to ban WhatsApp if it does not comply with the orders issued by government authorities.

Omanakuttan filed the plea after WhatsApp moved the Delhi Court challenging the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021(IT rules).

The Kerala High Court in June 2021 dismissed that PIL for being ‘premature’.

This prompted the present PIL before the Supreme Court.

Before the High Court, the petitioner had submitted that WhatsApp had claimed before the Delhi High Court that it is not amenable to IT Rules, 2021 because the end-to-end encryption of the app prevents it from tracing origins of messages.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/supreme-court-rejects-pil-to-ban-whatsapp

The representation, submitted with video evidence, said that Daljit Dosanjh had already sung songs promoting alcohol, drugs, and violence during a live show in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi last month, the notice pointed out.

Hyderabad: Ahead of Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s concert scheduled for Friday in Hyderabad, the Telangana government has issued a notice to the organisers stating that songs promoting alcohol, drug, and violence shall not be sung at the event.

Diljit’s concert here was part of his Dil-Luminati Tour to 10 cities across India. Based on a representation from a resident of Chandigarh, the notice has been issued by the District Welfare Officer of the Department of Welfare of Women and Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens, Rangareddy.

The notice bars Daljit Dosanjh from singing songs promoting alcohol, drugs, and violence during his live show planned at Cyberabad on November 15. The notice also restricted the singer from using children on stage during his show. The notice further said loud sounds and flashing lights during the concert are harmful for the children.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/telangana/no-songs-promoting-drugs-violence-at-concert-diljit-dosanjh-gets-notice-from-telangana-government-3277667

To fulfill PM’s dream project hundreds of workers working at freezing temperatures in Kedarnath.

Kedarnath Dham is experiencing increasingly cold temperatures, with nighttime lows dropping below zero. Despite the harsh winter conditions, reconstruction work in Kedarnath—part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream project—continues at full speed, aiming for completion by the end of this year.

This includes building bridges, a hospital, and the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) building, along with improvements to the Kedarnath-Gaurikund trekking route.

With the increase in cold, night-time temperatures in Kedarnath have dropped to as low as -4°C, and morning temperatures remain chilly. Vinay Kumar, Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) in Guptkashi in the Kedarnath division said over 700 workers are engaged along the temple route, pushing to complete critical infrastructure projects.

“The project is likely to be completed by the end of the year and therefore additional workforce have been deployed to meet the target,” he said.

These projects form part of the second phase of reconstruction in Kedarnath, which involves the construction of buildings, bridges, sewer lines, and a sewage treatment plant (STP). The new three-story hospital and the BKTC building are nearing completion, among other key facilities that are set to be finished within the year.

Since the Kedarnath Dham temple gates closed on November 3, construction has intensified, with horses and mules transporting several quintals of building materials daily up the trekking route.

Alongside the buildings, a new sewer line is being laid from the temple path to connect surrounding structures. Near the base camp, work on the sewage treatment plant is also in its final stages.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/uttarakhand-reconstruction-efforts-accelerate-in-kedarnath-amid-freezing-nights-700-workers-push-for-year-end-completion

Mild force used as students wanted to disrupt ‘Punjab Vision: 2047’ event, says UT senior superintendent of police Kanwardeep Kaur. A student leader claims the protesters were not aware of the presence of the chief minister at law auditorium.

A group of protesting students, seeking elections to Panjab University’s (PU) senate, had a clash with cops during a march near the PU Student Centre here on Wednesday morning.

The police said the protesters were heading towards the law auditorium where the ‘Punjab Vision: 2047’ event, in presence of Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, was being held whereas a student leader claimed the protesters weren’t even aware that the CM was present there. An FIR has been registered but no arrest has been made so far, the police said.

According to UT senior superintendent of police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur, leaders and followers of various student organisations, who were staging a sit-in in front of the vice chancellor’s (VC) office, started moving towards the venue of the CM’s event at about 11.45 am in a “pre-planned manner without intimating the PU authorities”. “Near the Student Centre, they began running towards the venue to disrupt the event,” she said.

The police said the protesters were urged to stop but they reached near the Student Centre’s parking area near the venue to disrupt the event. “Finding no other option to control them, the local police and the university security used mild force and made them sit in the parking area,” the SSP said.

The police further mentioned that the protesters were being led by Sandeep, Rimaljit Singh, Avtar, Navjot, Gurvinder, Sara and Monika of different student organisations.

The FIR has been registered under Sections 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Sector 11 police station. It was not immediately known who all were named in the FIR.

Meanwhile, Archit Garg, vice president of the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council, claimed that the protesters were not aware about the presence of the CM in the law auditorium. He said the students had planned in advance to take out the march as a mark of symbolic protest from the VC office chowk to the VC’s house via Sector 14 market. “The route was blocked so we marched towards the AC Joshi Library. We went to the Student Centre from there. We had to take a turn from the road outside the law department’s parking but PCR vehicles suddenly stopped in front of us and cops began hitting students without issuing warning,” he claimed. He also said that no female cop was present.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarh-seeking-senate-elections-10-students-hurt-during-clash-with-cops-at-panjab-university-101731520087292.html

The footage shows the man making his way across the gap, using the pipe as a makeshift bridge to reach the other side. Due to the lack of a proper bridge over the stream, villagers are forced to risk their lives by walking across an iron pipe.

A video has shed light on the plight of villagers in Kalluru of Nirmal-Kuntala district in Telangana where a man is crossing a stream, Sudda Vagu, by sliding through a pipe from one end to the other.
The footage shows the man making his way across the gap, using the pipe as a makeshift bridge to reach the other side. Due to the lack of a proper bridge over the stream, villagers are forced to risk their lives by walking across an iron pipe.

The video shows the lack of basic infrastructure in many parts of Telangana, where people still rely on traditional and risky methods to travel from one village to another.

The situation is particularly severe in the Kalluru-Pata Burugupalli area of Nirmal-Kuntala.

Despite changes in the local government and representatives, the bridge over the Sudda Vagu has not been rebuilt since the previous one collapsed due to heavy rains.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/telangana-news/video-man-slides-down-pipe-to-cross-collapsed-bridge-in-telangana-7011252

A seven-year-old boy, who went for surgery on his left eye at a hospital in Greater Noida, had his right eye operated on.

In a case of medical negligence, a seven-year-old boy, who went for surgery on his left eye at a hospital in Greater Noida, had his right eye operated on. The incident took place at the Anand Spectrum Hospital in Sector Gamma 1 on November 12.
According to the boy’s father, Nitin Bhati, they had taken him to the hospital as his left eye was watering often. After examination, the doctor, Anand Verma, told them that there was a plastic-like object in his eye – which could be cured by operation.

The operation cost ₹ 45,000, officials said.

The doctor conducted the operation on the boy, Yudhisthir, on Tuesday.

Upon reaching home, the boy’s mother noticed that the operation was done on the wrong eye. Following this, his parents confronted the doctor, but he and his staff misbehaved with them, the police said.

The family created a ruckus at the hospital and filed a complaint with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Gautam Buddha Nagar.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/cities/7-year-old-goes-for-surgery-greater-noida-doctor-operates-on-wrong-eye-7015593

According to Rajasthan police, the incident took place in Samravata village of Deoli-Uniyara during a protest by supporters of an independent candidate.

A major violence broke out in the Deoli-Uniara assembly constituency in Rajasthan’s Tonk district after Independent candidate Naresh Meena allegedly slapped sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Amit Chaudhary at a polling station on Wednesday.

The incident, which took place in Tonk district’s Samravata village, led to violence, arson, and clashes between police and supporters of Meena, who is running as an Independent candidate in the poll-bound constituency.

Ajmer range inspector-general of police Om Prakash confirmed that 60 people were arrested following the chaos that ensued after the alleged assault.

“There was a ruckus, stone pelting, and arson incident in Samravata village late last night when police tried to apprehend Naresh Meena, Independent candidate for Deoli-Uniara assembly constituency by-polls in Tonk district after he allegedly physically assaulted SDM Amit Chaudhary at a polling booth yesterday,” he said.

“Many vehicles were set on fire and vandalised. So far, 60 people have been arrested in this case,” Prakash told news agency ANI.

Naresh Meena’s response

Independent candidate Meena told news agency PTI that the district collector and SP were responsible for the entire episode. “All 60 people who have been arrested are innocent. If anyone should be punished, then it should be me,” he said.

In response to the incident, Meena had taken to social media platform X earlier, stating, “Main theek hu… na dare the na darenge, aage ki ranniti bata di jayegi (I am fine… I am not scared and will never be, will inform about further plans).”

The woman’s alleged rape and murder, a mother of three, led to a series of violent clashes in Manipur’s Jiribam district since November 7.

The autopsy report of a 31-year-old tribal woman, who was killed in Manipur’s conflict-torn Jiribam district, revealed signs of third-degree torture before she was allegedly raped and her house was set on fire, The Times of India reported.

The FIR registered by the police in Jiribam quotes her husband alleging that she was “brutally raped” by armed militants from the Imphal Valley. The miscreants also plundered her house and set 17 homes ablaze in the Zairwan village that night, the report said.

An autopsy performed on the woman’s body by Assam’s Silchar Medical College could not ascertain if the woman was raped, as her charred remains ruled out any chances of collecting a vaginal smear.

The Times of India report notes that the woman was found with 99% of her body, even bone fragments, charred. The autopsy notes “a wound in the back of right thigh” and a “metallic nail embedded in the medial aspect of the left thigh.” The report also noted that “the right upper limb, parts of both lower limb, and the facial structure are missing.”

The autopsy findings reveal that the woman was alive when she was subject to brutal torture. After torturing her, the militants allegedly raped her and set her home on fire.

The Manipur Police said her remains were sent to Silchar instead of the state capital, Imphal, as it was “very much inconvenient to transport the body by road via National Highway-37 due to ongoing ethnic crisis” in the northeastern state.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/manipur-mother-of-3-tortured-before-being-set-on-fire-in-jiribam-finds-autopsy-report-101731546880183.html

The earthquake occurred at 10:43 am in the Afghanistan region and the tremors were felt in the Kashmir Valley.

The quake occurred at 10:43 am in the Afghanistan region, officials told PTI.

The tremors were felt in the Kashmir Valley, causing panic among the people as they rushed outdoors.

The 2005 Kashmir Earthquake, which struck on October 8, 2005, was one of the most devastating seismic events in the region’s history. With a magnitude of 7.6, its epicentre was located near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), but it caused widespread destruction across Jammu and Kashmir in India. The earthquake claimed over 80,000 lives in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, while the death toll in Jammu and Kashmir was also significant, with hundreds of people killed and thousands more injured.

Earlier in November, a minor earthquake struck near Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, at a depth of approximately 10 jm, causing weak tremors felt by residents in surrounding areas. According to the Richter scale, the quake recorded a magnitude of 4.3.

Tremors were felt in several locations, including Ranchi and Taimad, prompting residents to evacuate their homes. The tremors lasted around five seconds and were strongest near the epicentre, in the east of Chandil. Despite noticeable shaking in nearby areas, including Jamshedpur and Chakradharpur, no immediate damage or injuries were reported.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/earthquake-of-magnitude-5-2-strikes-jammu-and-kashmir-article-115244587

ED is conducting raids 13 locations in Ahmedabad, three in Surat, two premises in Malegaon, Nashik, and five in Mumbai, it said.

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday said that multiple raids across several locations are ongoing in relation to an alleged cash-for-votes case, news agency

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/ed-raids-ongoing-in-gujarat-maharashtra-over-alleged-cash-for-votes-case-3275980