Category: India

A 31-year-old school teacher and mother of three children belonging to the Hmar community was allegedly targetted by a group of Meitei armed men at Zairawn village in Jiribam district as her husband and the children managed to flee.

Guwahati: The killing of two women, one belonging to Hmar and another to the Meitei community, in less than 24 hours on Friday and Saturday (November 9 and 10) has once again brought to the fore how women have become targets of attacks and counter-attacks in the Meitei-Kuki conflict in Manipur since May last year.

A 31-year-old school teacher and mother of three children belonging to the Hmar community was allegedly targetted by a group of Meitei armed men at Zairawn village in Jiribam district as her husband and the children managed to flee.

The FIR lodged by the woman’s husband alleged that she was caught by the armed members of Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei radical group, raped and set on fire at around 9 pm on Friday. Her charred body was recovered from the burnt houses hours later. Hmars are ethnically linked to the Kukis.

Hours later, a 27-year-old Meitei woman farmer, Ongbi Sofia Devi was killed by suspected Kuki insurgents while she was harvesting paddy in her field in the Saiton area in Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district on Saturday morning.

Eyewitnesses told police that Kuki insurgents fired from a nearby hill targetting the woman and killing her on the spot. According to security forces, this could be a “revenge attack” and a “counter” to the Jiribam incident.

Although organisations representing both communities launched protests demanding action against their killers, two leaders of women organisations of both the Meitei and the Kukis told DH on Sunday these are not isolated cases and women have been targetted since the conflict started in May last year.

“The Meiteis have been carrying out ethnic cleansing of the Kuki-Zo communities and they are not sparing the women and children. Our women have been raped, paraded naked in public and even set on fire in the most barbaric and inhuman way. There seems to be no end to their brutality as no strict action has been initiated against such heinous crime so far,” Ngaineikim, president of Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights told DH from Kuki-dominated Churachandpur.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/manipur/raped-burnt-alive-and-shot-dead-women-targeted-in-meitei-kuki-conflict-of-manipur-3270690

The 25-year-old accused, who was a classmate of the man’s daughter, fired one round with the airgun causing injury to the victim’s right eye

Hyderabad: A man allegedly shot at and injured the 57-year-old father of his woman friend with an airgun on Sunday, angry over the latter sending his daughter to the US to “break their friendship”, police said.

The 25-year-old accused, who was a classmate of the man’s daughter, fired one round with the airgun causing injury to the victim’s right eye, they said.

The man in a complaint alleged the youngster was harassing his daughter in the name of love and that he had also quarreled with him recently over the matter.

The accused was also counselled in front of his parents by the woman’s father after the former had threatened of “killing” him after being told not to meet his daughter, police said.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/telangana/youth-fires-at-man-for-sending-daughter-abroad-to-break-their-friendship-3270473

Intensifying violence in the region. Militants attacked multiple villages, including Thamnapokpi, Yaingangpokpi, Sabungkhok and Sanasabi, firing on civilians from hilltops overlooking the valley.

Armed militants launched a series of targeted attacks across Imphal East district in trouble torn Manipur early Sunday morning.

Intensifying violence in the region. Militants attacked multiple villages, including Thamnapokpi, Yaingangpokpi, Sabungkhok and Sanasabi, firing on civilians from hilltops overlooking the valley.

The assault began around 9:30 a.m., with militants firing three rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) toward farmers working in paddy fields near Thamnapokpi. The explosions forced villagers to flee as a barrage of gunfire followed, resulting in an exchange between militants and a joint security team of the Maha Regiment, Border Security Force (BSF), and local police. One personnel from the Maha Regiment sustained an arm injury while retaliating. The skirmish continued until afternoon when security forces managed to bring the situation under control.

Simultaneous attacks were reported in nearby villages of Sabungkhok, Sanasabi and Yaingangpokpi, where militants allegedly fired shots and launched explosives, heightening unrest and spreading fear among residents.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/manipur-militants-launch-rpg-attacks-on-villages-intensifying-violence-in-imphal-east

The radio service uses new technology to reach areas outside its bases, using shortwave radio frequencies, encrypted internet protocols such as VPNs or Tor networks, online platforms, and encrypted applicatins to circumvent shutdown attempts by security agencies.

The Islamic State (ISIS) has intensified its recruitment strategies on the global scale by using its Al-Bayan radio station, once operatioanl only in conflict zones, to target potential recruits in other areas.

The radio service uses new technology to reach areas outside its bases, using shortwave radio frequencies, encrypted internet protocols such as VPNs or Tor networks, online platforms, and encrypted applicatins to circumvent shutdown attempts by security agencies.

The Official Voice Of ISIS

According to the group’s banned magazine, Voice of Khurasan, Al-Bayan serves as the official voice of ISIS, where mujahideen, Muhajireen, and Ansar share their experiences in jihad and promote fear, manipulation, and violence. This radio station is another tool kit of the terror organisation for spreading its ideology, recruiting young people with fabricated stories about non-existent jihadists, and guiding them on how to reach the so-called “land of jihad.

The channel features jihadists sharing their stories of initially connecting with extremists online, entering jihadi networks, and eventually contacting handlers. They describe the challenges faced in crossing borders, hiding their intentions under the guise of other purposes, and, upon reaching training camps, enduring rigorous training under extreme conditions. They narrate survival tactics during attacks by American forces and their continuous fight to establish a caliphate.

The broadcast also includes messages urging parents to keep their children committed to jihad, warning that failure to do so will lead to their children facing eternal punishment or living in ignorance without allegiance (bay’ah) to the cause.

About Al-Bayan Radio

Al-Bayan Radio, initially a regional broadcast focused on ISIS-controlled territories, is now attempting to broadcast globally in multiple languages, including Arabic, English, French, and Russian. It employs several methods, primarily using shortwave radio frequencies. These frequencies allow radio waves to travel long distances and be received across borders. The transmission typically occurs within the 5,000 to 10,000 kHz range, a strategic bandwidth that enables its broadcasts to penetrate layers of interference and disruption. However, these frequencies are not static; ISIS continuously alters them to evade detection and jamming by counterterrorism agencies. The use of shortwave technology is a calculated tactic, allowing Al-Bayan to maintain its global influence and recruitment efforts, even in the face of relentless efforts to shut it down.

The 60-kilometre track will enable advanced testing of rolling stock which includes high-speed trials for bullet trains, and introduce new capabilities in railway infrastructure. Once it becomes operational, the track will accommodate speeds of up to 230 kmph, marking a milestone for high-speed rail testing in India.

India’s first dedicated railway test track, under construction in Rajasthan, is expected to be completed by December 2025 with a total investment of Rs 820 crore, according to the Ministry of Railways.

The 60-kilometre track will enable advanced testing of rolling stock which includes high-speed trials for bullet trains, and introduce new capabilities in railway infrastructure. Once it becomes operational, the track will accommodate speeds of up to 230 kmph, marking a milestone for high-speed rail testing in India.

Where Would It Be?

Located near Sambhar Lake in the Jodhpur Division, about 80 kilometres from Jaipur, the track runs between Gudha and Thathana Mithdi in the Deedwana district. The new track marks a milestone for Indian Railways, allowing extensive testing without disrupting existing passenger services.

New Delhi has repeatedly defended its purchases from Russia as necessary to keep prices in check in the developing country of 1.42 billion people.

New Delhi: Global oil prices “would have hit the roof” if big importer India had not bought oil from Russia following the Ukraine war, India’s oil minister said, adding that prices would determine where the country buys oil from.

India, the world’s third largest oil importer and consumer, has become the top buyer of discounted Russian sea-borne oil shunned by Western countries since Ukraine’s invasion began in early 2022. Before that, India bought little oil from its long-running defence partner, Russia.

New Delhi has repeatedly defended its purchases from Russia as necessary to keep prices in check in the developing country of 1.42 billion people.

“What many around the world don’t seem to realise is that global oil prices would have hit the roof if India had not bought oil from Russia,” India’s oil minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, wrote on X late on Friday.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/business/economy/india-says-oil-prices-would-have-rocketed-without-its-russian-imports-3269387

The processing time for students applying under the Student Direct Stream (SDS) was significantly shorter and approval rates higher, something that will change after Canada ended the scheme on Friday.

Ottawa: Canada has ended with immediate effect the popular fast track study visa programme, SDS, a major policy decision that is likely to impact scores of international students, including from India.

The processing time for students applying under the Student Direct Stream (SDS) was significantly shorter and approval rates higher, something that will change after Canada ended the scheme on Friday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September had announced on X, “We’re granting 35 per cent fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number’s going down by another 10 per cent.” “Immigration is an advantage for our economy – but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down,” he added in the post as the Canadian government said it was looking to reduce the number of temporary residents.

The move comes amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada.

According to the Indian High Commission here, India is the largest source country of foreign students with an estimated 4,27,000 Indian students studying in Canada.

“Canada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits,” the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said in a statement on Friday.

Canada’s goal is to “strengthen programme integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience,” the statement said.

The SDS was launched in 2018 to provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students, it said, adding, it was eventually opened to legal residents of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com//india/canada-ends-fast-track-visa-programme-for-international-students-indian-students-likely-to-be-impacted-most-3269645

Doubts about the Baku CoP emanate primarily from the uncertainties caused by the two wars raging in the neighbourhood.

As the year-end approaches, governments and representatives of industry, businesses and civil society are gearing up for the annual United Nations climate conference, commonly known as the Conference of Parties (CoP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

This year, Azerbaijan, an oil-producing country, situated on the borders of Europe and Asia, will host the 29th iteration of the climate conference. The proceedings and outcomes of previous conferences have been under global observation as they have implications for how governments and businesses manage energy and environment-related policies. However, questions were raised early this time about the ability of the CoP 29 to deliver significant results.

Doubts about the Baku CoP emanate primarily from the uncertainties caused by the two wars raging in the neighbourhood. Rising energy prices, issues of energy security and unpredictable trade scenarios have upset the energy transition plans of several countries. The decision of some important corporate leaders and heads of government to pass on the  Baku meet is either because of political affiliations or other geopolitical factors, causing further uncertainty.

It is not as though the agenda of CoP 29 is any less important than that of the previous summits. The description by the Azerbaijani Presidency of its priorities — of ‘enhancing ambition’ and ‘enabling actions’ — is cryptic and anodyne. It conceals some key objectives. The first is the new collective and quantified goal (NCQG) for climate finance, which is a deliverable at Baku. It flows from the mandate that was arrived at the Glasgow CoP in 2021, the year when the implementation of the Paris Agreement began.

Another important item on the agenda is a decision on how the countries may raise or revise their targets for mitigation in the next cycle of the nationally determined contributions (NDCs), beginning 2025, in light of the Global Stock Take (GST) held last year at Dubai.

Reaching an agreement on the collective and quantified goals for climate finance is indeed a major task of the Baku conference. The existing goal of mobilising at least $ 100 billion in climate finance annually is going to expire in 2025 and a new commitment of developed countries, under the Paris Agreement, has to take effect from 2026 onwards.

Mode of funding

However, there are serious concerns about how climate finance is defined—whether it includes all types of financial flows or only public grants and concessional finance. The discussion is mostly focused on the scale of finance, which includes the private sector, public finance, loans from multilateral development banks, grants, and debt.

Involving the private sector in reaching a higher scale of finance appears to be the main objective of the discussions. There are also varying estimates of the required scale.

CoP 28 had projected the requirements ranging from $ 4 trillion for renewable energy transition and $4 to 6 trillion for low carbon economic transformation to $5.9 trillion for all climate actions, including adaptation. The G20 group of independent experts has pegged the amount at $500 billion per year for official development assistance, including concessional finance for climate.

While private sector participation may be crucial to raising the scale of climate finance, there is, at present, little indication of how climate risks will be addressed for the international private capital to flow without raising the cost for recipient countries. Even if Baku is able to establish a long-term finance goal, the capacity of multilateral development banks to leverage private capital, without causing additional risk, will remain a key issue. 

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com//specials/baku-s-test-can-cop-29-deliver-on-climate-promises-3269821

Mangroves are considered an important ecosystem as they are host to both marine and freshwater animals.

Hubballi: Like his ancestors, Rathnakar Tandel, a fisher from Karwar, stands at the mouth of River Kali during Noolu Hunnime (a full moon day in August) each year to offer coconut and a sacred thread to the sea. After the annual deep fishing ban is lifted that day, he prays to the sea gods for a bountiful catch, the safety of the fishing community and calm seas.

Of late, he feels as though his prayers are going unheard. “Even after the rainy season, the sea remains disturbed for several months,” he says.

He is also unhappy with the catch that traditional fishing communities get, even after the two-month annual ban on deep-fishing. The ban intends to facilitate fish breeding.

“There were limited large-scale deep fishers then. Two decades ago, every expedition in my Rampani boat (a traditional fishing boat with 40-50 fishers rowing) in the shallow waters would have fetched me at least Rs 4 to Rs 5 lakh. Today, despite heavy mechanised boats being deployed, every venture into the sea only fetches between Rs 1 and Rs 2 lakh,” says Tandel.

Pradip Panda, a Kolkata-based marine researcher, says anthropocentric activities are not just impacting marine life but entire ecologies, including mangrove, coral reef and intertidal habitats. “Industrial waste and untreated sewage being discharged into the sea through Hooghly river is adversely impacting the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangroves,” he laments.

Mangroves are considered an important ecosystem as they are host to both marine and freshwater animals.

“A deficit in the supply of fresh water to the sea is increasing salinity in the Sundarban mangroves, affecting the life cycle of several fish and crabs. Hilsa fish, a staple in the region, is disappearing from the plates of local communities. These fish are moving southwards,” he says.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com//india/tides-of-loss-oceans-grow-empty-as-marine-life-fades-3269822

For Justice Khanna, who started his career as an advocate at the Tis Hazari court, a district court in Delhi, it has been a long journey.

New Delhi: Supreme Court’s senior most judge Justice Sanjiv Khanna is going to be the next Chief Justice of India with effect from November 11, 2024. He will be the 51 st CJI.

His hands would be full from day one till his tenure ends on May 13, 2025, ensuring greater diversification in Collegium picks for the high courts and the Supreme Court, and taking institutional steps to reduce pendency of cases. He would also have to deal with charges of institutional intrigues in allocation of cases and ensuring quick disposal of cases particularly in which the question of personal liberty is involved.

For Justice Khanna, who started his career as an advocate at the Tis Hazari court, a district court in Delhi, it has been a long journey.

He got enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983 after completing law degree from the Delhi University’s Campus Law Centre, though his parents wanted him to become a chartered accountant since practising law was always seen as a tough choice.

Born in 1960 to a distinguished legal family, Justice Khanna carries forward a remarkable legacy of his uncle, Justice Hans Raj Khanna, who is easily one of the most revered judges who ever graced the Supreme Court.

His father, Dev Raj Khanna, was a judge of the Delhi High Court. He retired in 1985. His mother, Saroj Khanna, was a lecturer of Hindi at the Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi.

But for Justice Khanna, his inspiration was his uncle Justice Hans Raj Khanna who resigned from the Supreme Court after being superseded by Justice M H Beg for the CJI post by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1976. She was irked with his judgment in the ADM Jabalpur Vs Shiv Kant Shukla case, popularly known as the Habeas Corpus case.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com//india/from-district-court-to-cji-chair-justice-khanna-makes-a-distinguished-career-3269591

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud warned against the danger of selective demolitions as acts of reprisal and called for accountability of state officials involved in such actions. He argued that this unlawful ‘bulldozer justice’ should lead to disciplinary and criminal actions.

In his final judgment before retiring as Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud held that citizens’ voices must not be silenced through threats of property destruction and emphasised that ‘bulldozer justice’ is unacceptable in a society governed by the rule of law.

He underscored that the safety and security of a citizen’s home are fundamental rights deserving of protection. Consequently, the state is obligated to follow procedural safeguards and ensure due process before taking action against alleged illegal encroachments or constructions.

“Justice through bulldozers is unknown to any civilised system of jurisprudence. There is a grave danger that if high handed and unlawful behaviour is permitted by any wing or officer of the state, demolition of citizens’ properties will take place as a selective reprisal for extraneous reason,” the Chief Justice said in a verdict in a case related to the demolition of a house in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj in 2019.

The top court stressed, “Citizens’ voices cannot be throttled by a threat of destroying their properties and homesteads. The ultimate security which a human being possesses is to the homestead”.

The Supreme Court has been addressing numerous cases concerning the use of bulldozers to demolish properties allegedly associated with individuals accused of criminal activities. This practice, often referred to as ‘bulldozer justice,’ has sparked widespread controversy and drawn significant criticism from opposition parties.

Calling ‘bulldozer justice’ “simply unacceptable”, the Chief Justice called for action against officials involved. The November 6 verdict, which was uploaded on the court’s website later, proposed to lay down certain minimum thresholds of procedural safeguards which must be fulfilled before taking action against properties of citizens.

During his eight-year stint at the Supreme Court, Justice Chandrachud has authored over 600 judgments and been part of more than 1,200 benches.

Justice DY Chandrachud, the 50th Chief Justice of India, will demit office on November 10, leaving behind a legacy of landmark verdicts.

Born on November 11, 1959, he comes from a family with a rich legal heritage. He is the son of India’s longest-serving, Chief Justice YV Chandrachud.

During his eight-year stint at the Supreme Court, Justice Chandrachud has authored over 600 judgments and been part of more than 1,200 benches. In this time, he passed verdicts on issues such as the right to privacy, freedom of speech and gender justice, among others.

With Justice Chandrachud’s tenure drawing to a close on November 10, we take a look at his most significant judgments and notable dissents in matters of public importance.

1. Right to Privacy is a fundamental right under Article 21

Case Title: Justice (Retd) KS Puttaswamy v. Union of India and Others

In this case, a nine-judge Constitution Bench unanimously recognised privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Justice Chandrachud (as he was then), writing for the majority, highlighted that privacy is an essential part of the dignity of human existence.

He further held that happiness derives from the right to decide for oneself and dignity, which are both essential attributes of privacy. Justice Chandrachud was of the view that privacy includes at its core the preservation of personal intimacies, sanctity of personal life, marriage, home and sexual orientation.

2. Decriminalising Homosexuality

Case Title: Navtej Johar v. Union of India and Others

A five-judge Constitution Bench decriminalised gay sex between consenting adults by reading down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The Court unanimously found that Section 377 discriminates against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, violating Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution.

In his opinion, Justice Chandrachud stated that Section 377 had pushed a group of individuals to the sidelines. Placing reliance on his prior decision in Puttaswamy, which had established the basic right to privacy, he stated that not recognising the right to sexual orientation constituted a violation of privacy.

3. Refusal to allow same-sex marriage

Case Title: Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty and anr v. Union of India

In this case, a five-judge Constitution Bench unanimously refused to recognise the right of same-sex couples to enter into marriages.

The Court said that the law as it stands today does not recognise the right to marry or the right of same-sex couples to enter into civil unions, and that it is up to the parliament to make laws enabling the same.

The majority held that civil unions between same-sex couples are not recognised under law and they cannot claim the right to adopt children either. Justice Chandrachud disagreed with the majority decision on the limited aspect of terming same-sex relations as civil unions.

He ruled that it would be within the domain of parliament to give legal recognition to same-sex marriages. He said that the decision in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India and the nine-judge Constitution Bench decision in Justice KS Puttaswamy (Retd) & Anr v. Union of India & Ors recognises the right of couples to exercise the choice to enter into a union.

4. Decriminalising Adultery by striking down Section 497 IPC

Case Title: Joseph Shine v. Union of India

A five-judge Constitution Bench unanimously struck down Section 497 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), which penalised adultery.

The Court, however, clarified that adultery will be a ground for divorce. It also stated that if an act of adultery leads the aggrieved spouse to suicide, the adulterous partner could be prosecuted for abetment of suicide under Section 306 of the IPC.

In his concurring opinion, Justice Chandrachud held that Section 497 is based on viewing women as chattel, seeks to control sexuality of women, and impedes the autonomy and dignity of women.

5. Permanent Commission for Woman officers

Case Title: Secretary, Ministry of Defence v. Babita Puniya and Others

The Court allowed the grant of permanent commission to Women Short Service Commission Officers on par with their male counterparts.

Justice Chandrachud took critical note of the need to change mindsets about gender stereotypes that view women as the weaker sex.

The Court added that that the Centre’s line of reasoning in its submissions were not only disturbing but also insulting to the dignity of the Indian Army – both men and women personnel.

It pointed out that the decision to extend permanent commission opportunities to women officers in all ten streams of the Armed Forces would mark a step forward in recognising the right of equal opportunity in the Army.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/columns/litigation-columns/20-important-judgments-justice-dy-chandrachud-supreme-court

Uncover the emotional healing powers of this vibrant green stone and learn how to maintain its radiant energy

Peridot is a striking green gemstone, a variety of the mineral olivine. It has been valued for its vibrant colour and association with light and beauty for centuries. Known for its bright, lime-green hue, peridot is often called the “gem of the sun,” as ancient Egyptians believed it was the product of the sun’s rays. In Hawaiian mythology, peridot represents the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. This association ties peridot to the volcanic forces and passion of nature.
Peridot is also the birthstone for August, symbolising prosperity, healing, and warmth.

Mohs Scale

With a rating of 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale, peridot is relatively soft compared to harder stones like sapphire or diamond. It requires gentle handling.

The recovered weapons have been secured in a storage facility, and the district administration has sent a formal notification to the Archaeological Department for further examination.

In a surprising discovery, a large cache of historical weapons believed to be from the 1857 Indian Rebellion has been unearthed during plowing in a field in Shahjahanpur. The recovered weapons have been secured in a storage facility, and the district administration has sent a formal notification to the Archaeological Department for further examination.

District Magistrate Dharmendra Pratap Singh shared details of the incident on Friday, saying, “Babu Ram, a farmer from Dhakia Parvezpur village in the Nigohi police jurisdiction, was plowing his field when he encountered a metallic object resembling a sword. As the digging continued, more weapons began to emerge from the soil.”

Discovery of a historical arsenal

According to officials, the excavation revealed a total of 23 swords, remnants of 12 matchlock rifles, a spear, and a dagger. The rifles are in a deteriorated state, with only iron fragments and barrels remaining, as the wooden parts appear to have decomposed due to termites. The design of the firearms, however, strongly suggests they are matchlock rifles, a type commonly used during the 1857 uprising.

District Magistrate Singh further informed that following the discovery, the area was inspected by local authorities, and the recovered weapons have been securely stored at the Nigohi police station’s storage facility for safekeeping.

Responding to a question on the ban, Jaiswal had said: ‘This happened just an hour or so, a few hours after this particular handle carried the news conference of external affairs minister along with Penny Wong’

An Australian news outlet focusing on South Asia on Friday broke its silence on Canada banning its social media content purportedly after it covered the joint media conference of external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong and also published a separate interview with him.

Thanking the media outlets that stood by it, managing editor of The Australia Today, Jitarth Jai Bharadwaj, posted on X: “The recent restriction and ban on our interview with Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar and the press conference with Australian Foreign Minister @SenatorWong on #socialmedia, under orders from the Canadian government, have been difficult for our team and those who value free and open #journalism.”

External affairs ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal had on Thursday billed the ban as an example of Canada’s hypocrisy towards freedom of speech.

Responding to a question on the ban, Jaiswal had said: “This happened just an hour or so, a few hours after this particular handle carried the news conference of external affairs minister along with Penny Wong. And the particular media outlet also had several articles on the visit of the external affairs minister (to Australia) as also an interview of the external affairs minister, so we were surprised. It looks strange to us.

Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/hypocrisy-finger-at-canada-for-banning-australian-news-channel-for-airing-s-jaishankar-interview/cid/2061721

A video posted on X by BJP’s IT Cell chief Amit Malviya lists the range of opulent items found at the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence. It was vacated by Arvind Kejriwal after he stepped down as Chief Minister in October.

The BJP has alleged that the inventory list prepared by the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence has revealed expensive fittings and renovations, including luxury items like full body massagers and jacuzzis. The residence at 6 Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines was previously occupied by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Kejriwal vacated the residence in October after stepping down as the Delhi Chief Minister, and Atishi took over the top job after being selected by the party legislature.

A video posted on X by BJP’s IT Cell chief Amit Malviya lists the range of opulent items found at the residence. “The lifestyle of the rich and infamous Arvind Kejriwal,” Malviya tweeted.

Justin Trudeau acknowledged the presence of a Khalistan support base within Canada but quickly added that they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole.

As the diplomatic standoff between India and Canada continues, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has admitted for the first time the presence of Khalistanis in his country. In an unexpected statement, Trudeau acknowledged the presence of a Khalistan support base within Canada but quickly added that they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole. His remark came during a Diwali celebrations event at Ottawa’s Parliament Hill.

Relations between India and Canada have deteriorated since the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. Trudeau’s allegation that India may have been involved in the murder set off a diplomatic firestorm that continues to rage. During his Diwali address, Trudeau stated that while there are supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in Canada, they do not represent all Hindu Canadians either.

“There are many supporters of Khalistan in Canada, but they do not represent the Sikh Community as a whole. There are supporters of the Modi government in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians as a whole,” he said.

Growing Tensions

Earlier this week, protesters, some waving Khalistani flags, clashed with devotees at a temple in Canada’s Brampton, throwing punches, swinging poles, and disrupting a consular event that had drawn Indian nationals and Canadian citizens alike. Videos that quickly went viral on social media appeared to show protesters physically confronting worshippers outside the temple grounds. The footage depicted chaotic scenes of fistfights, with people hitting each other with poles as the tension escalated.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the violence, stressing that every Canadian has the right to practice their faith in peace. “The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely,” Trudeau wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Thank you to the Peel Regional Police for swiftly responding to protect the community and investigate this incident.”

The Centre expressed deep concern over the safety of Indian nationals in Canada, while unequivocally condemning the attack on the Hindu Sabha temple.

The vehicle was covered with a green cloth, and the family members bid farewell by performing puja and showering rose petals as priests chanted mantras.

A farmer’s family in Gujarat’s Amreli district has become the talk of the town after they held a grand burial event for their “lucky” car.
Nearly 1,500 people, including seers and spiritual leaders, attended the function organised by Sanjay Polara and his family at Padarshinga village of Lathi taluka on Thursday.

A video of the event that went viral on social media shows Polara and his family performing rituals at their farm, where a slope and 15-foot deep pit was dug for their 12-year-old Wagon R.

The hatchback, decorated with flowers and garlands, was taken to Polara’s farm from his house with much fanfare, driven on the slope and placed in the pit.

The vehicle was covered with a green cloth, and the family members bid farewell by performing puja and showering rose petals as priests chanted mantras.

Finally, an excavator machine was used to pour clay and bury the car.

Polara, who has a construction business in Surat, said he wanted to do something different so that future generations remember the car that proved lucky for the family.

Talking to reporters, Polara said, “I bought this car nearly 12 years ago, and it brought prosperity to the family. Apart from seeing success in business, my family also gained respect. The vehicle proved lucky for my family and me. Hence, instead of selling it, I gave it a samadhi at my farm as a tribute.” Polara, who spent ₹ 4 lakh on the ceremony, said he plans to plant a tree at the burial place as a reminder for his future generations that the family’s lucky car is lying under the tree.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gujarat-family-honours-lucky-car-with-burial-ceremony-1-500-people-attend-6977314

Without directly naming Freshworks, Vembu’s post aligns closely with recent developments at the Chennai-based SaaS competitor, which posted a 22% revenue increase but announced the layoff of 13% of its workforce.

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu didn’t hold back his criticism following Freshworks’ decision to lay off 660 employees, calling out what he sees as “naked greed” in corporate America creeping into India. “This behavior, sadly, has become all too common in the US corporate world, and we are importing it in India,” Vembu said in a social media post.

Without directly naming Freshworks, Vembu’s post aligns closely with recent developments at the Chennai-based SaaS competitor, which posted a 22% revenue increase but announced the layoff of 13% of its workforce. Vembu expressed disdain for a company that lays off workers despite being profitable and holding substantial cash reserves, saying, “A company that has $1 billion cash… and is actually still growing at a decent 20% rate… laying off 12-13% of its workforce should not expect any loyalty from its employees ever.”

Freshworks also announced a $400 million stock buyback, which Vembu condemned as a failure of leadership imagination. “Don’t you have the vision to invest $400 million in another line of business where you can deploy those people you hired?” he questioned, adding, “Are you so lacking in curiosity, vision, and empathy?”

Vembu’s comments come as Freshworks, listed on Nasdaq, reports third-quarter revenue of $186.6 million, marking significant growth. Yet, the company cited “streamlining operations” as it cuts roles across the U.S., India, and other regions. Vembu argued that, rather than laying off workers, companies with ample cash could pause hiring or explore new projects to deploy their workforce effectively.

“We put our customers and employees first. Shareholders should come last,” he emphasized, sharing that Zoho’s decision to remain private shields it from these pressures. In his response to users on X, Vembu described the damage that prioritizing shareholder profit causes to employee morale, pointing out that corporate America was not always this way. “This private equity and Wall Street-led ‘shareholder first’ world does not work and won’t even work out well for shareholders.”

Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/this-is-naked-greed-zohos-sridhar-vembu-lashes-out-at-freshworks-sackings-says-such-firms-deserve-no-loyalty-453021-2024-11-08

Many women’s rights activists have voiced support for this well-meaning mandate, arguing that a space free of men will reduce “discomfort” and open up new job opportunities for women.

The Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission on Friday proposed a sweeping policy to “safeguard” women by mandating female-only trainers, tailors, and gym instructors, complete with background checks on men who dare to measure or spot women in tailoring shops, saloms, and gyms.

Babita Chauhan of the commission claims this is a “vital step” to secure women’s spaces, though many women have grown up watching the quiet mastery of ‘Masterji’— that reliable male tailor who magically turns a few pins and a deft cut into perfectly fitted salwar-kameez or a bridal lehenga, And here’s the kicker: these policies are meant to assure women they’ll be safer while getting their workout or their wardrobe adjusted, yet no one’s asked them if they want this “protection” or what they’ll actually lose by it.

Irony Runs Deep

The irony runs deep, and is even comical, if you think about it. Most women will tell you that their best tailor is indeed a man. In fact, tailoring in India’s north often rests on the finesse of Muslim artisans, who inherit skills through generations, erafting clothes that are often stories in themselves. Yet now, the commission’s policy could mean all that will be replaced by a female workforce without quite the same level of skill—-because, after all, trust takes time to build, and tailoring isn’t just about stitching but understanding the dient’s mind, mood, and style.

Air India has reportedly cancelled multiple flights between India and North America during the peak winter season, affecting popular routes like Delhi-San Francisco, Delhi-Washington, and Delhi-Toronto.

While flight cancellations aren’t unusual, they are notably disruptive during peak season. December is a high-demand period for India-North America routes, with many people of Indian origin and tourists visiting family and friends or vacationing in India for the Christmas holidays.

These cancellations are likely due to aircraft groundings, with four of Air India’s Boeing 777-300ER planes currently out of service. Two of these are undergoing extensive maintenance in Turkey.

What’s Next For Passengers? 

For affected passengers, rebooking may prove difficult, as peak season fares are high and last-minute tickets are expensive. Due to peak season, many may struggle to find available seats on alternative flights at reasonable prices.

AeroRoutes, a schedule tracking website, recently detailed cancellations and frequency changes on several Air India routes, including Delhi-San Francisco, Delhi-Washington, Delhi-Toronto, Delhi-Chicago, and Delhi-Newark. According to exclusive data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, the airline is cutting over 50 flights, impacting around 14 flights to Chicago, 16 to San Francisco, 8 to Toronto, and more than 20 to Washington.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/planning-winter-travel-air-india-cancels-multiple-flights-during-peak-season-key-details-inside-article-115056727 

Welcome to the live updates platform for Hindustan Times. Follow the major news updates, headlines and breaking news stories from Bengaluru/Bangalore and the rest of Karnataka here. Track the real-time developments of major events from India’s IT capital on November 8, 2024.

Hardeep Singh Puri emphasised that Russian oil was not subject to sanctions, but only a price cap, which he assured Indian entities had adhered to.

India’s decision to buy oil from Russia amid global uncertainties helped avert a potential spike in global oil prices, Union petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in a post on social media platform X on Thursday.

“India did the entire world a favour by buying Russian oil because if we had not done so, the global oil prices would have skyrocketed to $200/barrel,” Hardeep Singh Puri wrote.

The Union minister emphasised that Russian oil was not subject to sanctions, but only a price cap, which he assured Indian entities had adhered to. He also pointed out that European and Asian countries had also engaged in significant energy purchases from Russia, stating, “Let us not forget that while some ill-informed commentators talked about putting restrictions on India, many other European and Asian nations bought much more crude oil, diesel, LNG, rare earth minerals worth billions of dollars from Russia.”

The minister further highlighted India’s commitment to sourcing energy at the best rates available. “We will continue to buy energy from whoever offers the best rates to our oil companies. That’s the confidence of PM Narendra Modi Ji’s leadership,” Puri noted, adding that ensuring “steady availability, affordability, and sustainability of energy” for India’s citizens remains a top priority.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-did-world-a-favour-by-buying-russian-oil-because-hardeep-puris-message-to-ill-informed-commentators-101731030100808.html

A total of 19 premises of these “preferred” vendors located in Delhi, Gurugram and Panchkula (Haryana), Hyderabad (Telangana) and Bengaluru (Karnataka) were covered as part of the action, the sources said.

The Enforcement Directorate Thursday conducted searches against some of the “main vendors” operating on platforms of e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart as part of a foreign direct investment “violation” investigation, official sources said.

A total of 19 premises of these “preferred” vendors located in Delhi, Gurugram and Panchkula (Haryana), Hyderabad (Telangana) and Bengaluru (Karnataka) were covered as part of the action, the sources said.

It is learnt that the ED inspected documents and took copies of some from the premises of about six such vendors who were not named.

The sources said a probe has been initiated by the federal agency under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) after it received several complaints against the two large e-commerce companies where it is alleged that they were “violating India’s FDI (foreign direct investment) rules by directly or indirectly influencing the sale price of goods or services and not providing level playing field for all the vendors”.

There was no immediate response from the two e-commerce companies.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) welcomed the ED action.

“The CAIT, along with several other trade bodies, has been raising these issues for the past few years. I welcome the Enforcement Directorate’s actions as a step in the right direction,” CAIT secretary general and BJP MP from Delhi Praveen Khandelwal said in a statement.

He claimed that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) had also issued “penalty notices” to Amazon and Flipkart, and their “preferred” sellers, for “engaging” in anti-competitive practices that have adversely affected small traders and ‘kirana’ (grocery) stores.

As per existing rules, 100 per cent FDI is allowed through automatic route in the marketplace model of e-commerce. But overseas investment is not permitted in an inventory-based model.

In the market place model, e-commerce entities can only provide a platform for third-party sellers and they cannot own the inventory. They also cannot directly or indirectly influence the price of the goods.

It has been reported in the past that the CCI, which works to ensure fair business practices across sectors in the marketplace, is already looking into alleged anti-competitive ways of e-commerce companies.

The CAIT and mainline mobile retailers’ association AIMRA had also petitioned the CCI sometime back seeking immediate suspension of operations of Flipkart and Amazon as they alleged that the companies engaged in predatory pricing and were burning cash to offer heavy discounts on products .

These practices, in turn, are creating a grey market of mobile phones, causing losses to the exchequer “as players in the grey market evade taxes”, they had said.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had recently flagged the same concerns as he had questioned Amazon’s announcement of USD 1 billion investment in India, saying the US retailer was not doing any great service to the Indian economy but filling up for the losses it had suffered in the country.

He had said in August that their huge losses in India “smells of predatory pricing”, which is not good for the country as it impacts crores of small retailers.

Goyal said e-commerce companies were eating into the small retailers’ high-value, high-margin products that are the only items through which the mom-and-pop stores survive.

The minister had said that with the fast-growing online retailing in the country, “are we going to cause huge social disruption with this massive growth of e-commerce”.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/probe-agency-searches-amazon-vendors-over-foreign-exchange-violation-report-6968202

The Delhi High Court held the lawyer guilty of using “deplorable and derogatory language” which was “clearly contemptuous” against judicial officers, high court judges and the court.

The Delhi High Court has held a lawyer guilty of criminal contempt, sentencing him to four months’ imprisonment for “scandalising and lowering the dignity” of courts through his remarks against judges. A bench of Justices Pratibha M Singh and Amit Sharma held the lawyer guilty of using “deplorable and derogatory language” which was “clearly contemptuous” against judicial officers, high court judges and the court.
“The contemnor has no respect for the courts as also the entire judicial system itself… He has not expressed any apology and his entire conduct is merely an attempt to scandalise and malign the courts. Such conduct on behalf of the contemnor, especially, someone who is qualified as an advocate cannot be left unpunished,” the court said.

The bench noted neither an apology nor any remorse was expressed by the lawyer for his conduct.

“Considering the aforesaid, filing of 30 to 40 complaints against judicial officers, police officers as also the judges of this court by the contemnor clearly shows that his intention is to scandalise the court, as also lower the dignity and authority of the court,” the bench said.

Refusing to suspend the sentence, the bench outlined the “vilification campaign” run by the contemnor against courts in general and several judges in particular besides the “brazen nature” of his submissions in the contempt petition.

In May, a single judge had initiated suo moto criminal contempt case against the lawyer after he passed personal remarks at judges and posted contemptuous comments in the chat box during the virtual proceedings.

The division bench held his comments in the chat box were aimed at settling scores with his family and engage with them in frivolous proceedings. The lawyer was observed to have therefore made the scandalous allegations against the judicial officers, judges of the high court and police officers.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delhi-high-court-jails-lawyer-for-remarks-against-judges-6969575

Asking media houses to exercise “due editorial discretion”, the army said requested them to “verify and authenticate facts” before putting out such information in the public domain

The Indian Army on Thursday dismissed media reports about obstacles in the disengagement process with China across the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

Asking media houses to exercise “due editorial discretion”, the army said there were no such issues from either side and the published articles were “speculative” and “bereft of facts”. It further requested media houses to “verify and authenticate facts” before putting out such information in the public domain.

“Certain Media Articles on 06-07 November 2024 have speculated about roadblocks/objections in the disengagement process consequent to the consensus between the Indian and Chinese sides on 21 October 24,” said the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI – Indian Army) in a post on X.

The army further said disengagement at the two remaining points of Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh has been completed. The resumption of traditional patrolling duties is being undertaken in a planned manner and there are no “roadblocks/objections” from either side, it said.

It added: “The articles published in this regard are speculative and bereft of facts. The concerned media houses are requested to verify and authenticate facts before publishing such sensitive articles and exercise due editorial discretion so that no unsubstantiated or misleading information is propagated.”

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/speculative-bereft-of-facts-army-slams-reports-of-roadblocks-in-lac-patrolling-9112885.html

The crime branch of the Mumbai Police on Thursday made two more arrests in the murder case of NCP leader Baba Siddique.

The crime branch of the Mumbai Police on Thursday made two more arrests in the murder case of NCP leader Baba Siddique. The two arrested individuals, identified as Aditya Gudankar and Rafiq Shaikh, were presented in the Esplanade court. Both the arrested accused were sent to the custody of the Mumbai Police till November 13.

Both the accused were arrested from Pune, Maharashtra. Till now, the Mumbai Police have arrested 18 individuals linked to the murder case.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mumbai Crime Branch police arrested another suspect in connection with Siddique’s murder. According to officials, the suspect, identified as Gaurav Vilas Apune (32), was also nabbed from Pune.

During the investigation, officials found that Apune had met with other suspects to plan the assassination and was in contact with the group of shooters initially hired to kill Siddique.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Crime Branch recovered another weapon used in Baba Siddique’s killing from the Pune residence of one of the suspects, Rupesh Mohol.

Earlier, a weapon was recovered from the Raigad residence of another suspect, Ram Fulchand Kanoujia, where he was living on rent. Police had also said that, upon examining the shooters’ mobile phones, pictures of pistols were found.

On Wednesday, one of the key eye-witnesses in the case was threatened by an unknown caller, who demanded ₹5 crore. The eye-witness said in his police complaint that he was asked to pay ₹5 crore, else he will be murdered. A complaint was registered in the Khar police station.

On October 12, NCP leader and veteran politician Baba Siddique was shot dead outside his son Zeeshan’s office building in Bandra East. He sustained two bullet injuries and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/baba-siddique-murder-mumbai-crime-branch-arrests-2-accused-101730985467279.html

After slow progress initially, work in Maharashtra for the bullet train project is underway in full swing now. Last month, the NHSRCL invited bids for the ‘Design, Supply and Construction of Track and Track related Works including Testing and Commissioning for Double Line High-Speed Railway’ in the state

It is difficult to accommodate a new infrastructure project in old and congested cities due to land unavailability. Mumbai was no different when planning started for India’s first bullet train project connecting the city with Gujarat’s Ahmedabad. And it was decided that the entire stretch of the high-speed corridor in Mumbai would be underground.

The city will have a 21-km-long tunnel between Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai and Shilphata in Thane that will also include India’s first undersea tunnel at Thane Creek. Out of 21 km of tunnelling work, 16 km is through Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) and the remaining five kilometre is through the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM).

News18 has learnt that as of last week, 1.36 km has been excavated in NATM, while for the remaining part, shafts are ready at three locations.

“For the 16 km TBM part, shafts are ready for lowering TBMs and in the 5 km NATM part, more than a kilometre has been excavated so far,” an official told News18 on condition of anonymity.

The tunnel also includes seven kilometres of India’s first undersea tunnel at Thane Creek.

National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), building the bullet train project, is also using various geotechnical instruments including inclinometers, vibration monitors, ground settlement markers, and tilt meters at and around construction sites for monitoring tilt, settlement, vibration, cracks and deformation.

“These instruments play a crucial role in making sure that neither is there any risk to ongoing underground works like excavation and tunnelling nor to the structures surrounding the site,” they said.

Further, one Additionally Driven Intermediate Tunnel (ADIT) has also been completed for easing the work on the main tunnel. The ADIT was planned to facilitate additional access to the underground/undersea tunnel for faster construction progress The ADIT adds two additional NATM faces for the excavation work in addition to Shilphata.

The 394-metre ADIT tunnel was ready in just six months in May this year. This 11 metre x 6.4 metre ADIT gives direct vehicular access to the main tunnel during construction and operations. It also acts as an evacuation path in case of any emergency.

According to police investigation, Rs 82 lakh was deposited across 77 bank accounts, with funds also transferred to the HDFC Bank branch in Rupana village. The funds were withdrawn from the bank using three cheques, all made payable to a woman named Sunita, who never visited the bank

The Cyber Thana Police in Haryana’s Panchkula have arrested the HDFC bank manager in connection with an Rs 82 lakh ‘digital arrest’ case. The accused has been remanded in custody for two days.

Police revealed that this amount was defrauded under the pretence of a ‘digital arrest’, and the entire sum was transferred to an HDFC Bank branch in Rupana village in Punjab’s Muktsar tehsil.

A resident of Sector-20, Panchkula, was defrauded of Rs 82 lakh under the pretence of a ‘digital arrest’. Two individuals were previously apprehended in this case.

During the investigation, the police discovered the involvement of the HDFC bank manager, who is stationed at Rupana village. Investigating officer Sukhwinder Singh stated that the accused will be interrogated while in police custody.

Singh further said that the complainant had alleged he was threatened during a call and told, “Your money has been used in money laundering.” Singh said that these calls were made from Delhi impersonating a CBI official and an IPS officer.

The High Court said it was satisfied that the union government had adhered to requisite norms for the conferment of the award.

The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by a lawyer seeking a direction to the Central government to revoke the Padma award conferred upon spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev in April 2017.

A bench of Chief Justice KR Shriram and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy dismissed the PIL that was filed in 2017 by advocate M Vetriselvan.

The bench said it was “satisfied” that the Union government had adhered to requisite norms for the conferment of the award.

The petitioner moved the Court claiming that Vasudev’s Padma Vibhushan award be revoked given that his foundation, the Isha Foundation, was facing multiple charges and was the subject of litigation in several cases.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/madras-high-court-rejects-pil-seeking-revocation-jaggi-vasudev-padma-vibhushan

Biden had allowed the restrictions imposed by Trump on the grant of non-immigrant US visas to lapse in March 2021.

New Delhi: Even the incoming administration of Donald Trump in Washington DC will have to make a distinction between mobility and immigration, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday, amid speculation that the professionals from India might find it difficult to get visas to work in the United States after the return of the 78-year-old Republican to the White House.

Jaishankar also said that Trump’s return as the US president might lead to “more geopolitical hedging” by all nations around the world.

The external affairs minister noted at an event in Sydney on Thursday that the world would see a much more integrated workforce in the next few years.

“Even a US under Donald Trump will make a distinction in immigration and mobility for them. An economically justified mobility will have to be fostered by those countries, where the economic value is less or negative (and) will have to be managed” he said, addressing the business leaders of Australia.

His comment came a day after Trump, the 45^th US president, won the elections to return to the Oval Office in the White House as the 47^th.

Trump promised during his campaign for re-election that he would build on the measures taken during his first term in the White House to drastically bring down both legal and illegal migration to the US.

He accused President Joe Biden of allowing “terrorists,” “common street criminals,” and “drug dealers” to enter the US.

New Delhi anticipates that the second Trump Administration, while pursuing its “Make American Great Again” policy, might make it difficult for India’s Information Technology professionals to get non-immigrant work visas to work in the US, just as it had done during his first term from 2017 to 2021 when the H1B visa denial rate had gone up from 6% in 2016 to 24% in 2018 before coming down to 21% in 2019.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/even-us-under-trump-will-have-to-encourage-economically-justifiable-mobility-says-s-jaishankar-3267367

The victims, identified as Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar, were reportedly kidnapped from their residences in a remote village of Kishtwar district by a group of armed militants. According to sources, the militants shot dead them in Kuntwara forest area of Kishtwar.

Srinagar: Two village defence guards (VDGs) were reportedly shot dead by militants after being kidnapped from their homes in the hilly Kishtwar district of Jammu region on Thursday.

The victims, identified as Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar, were reportedly kidnapped from their residences in a remote village of Kishtwar district by a group of armed militants. According to sources, the militants shot dead them in Kuntwara forest area of Kishtwar.

A local English daily—Rising Kashmir—quoting an unnamed senior police officer said the bodies of the guards have been recovered and a massive search operation has been launched by security forces in the area.

VDGs, previously known as Village Defence Committees (VDCs), were set-up in the mid-1990s as a countermeasure to militant attacks, acting as a force multiplier in vulnerable areas.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/two-village-defence-guards-shot-dead-by-militants-in-jammu-and-kashmirs-kishtwar-3267127

A rectangular bar, one triangular and another uneven-shaped gold bar weighing 957.57 grams in total were extracted from the gold paste recovered from the passenger.

New Delhi: A man was arrested at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport here on Thursday for allegedly smuggling into the country around one kg of gold concealed in his rectum, the customs department said.

The Indian man was intercepted after his arrival from Dubai, it said.

“Detailed examination of the baggage and personal search of the passenger resulted in the recovery of three oval-shaped capsules suspected to contain gold in paste form having a gross weight of 1,124 grams inclusive of transparent adhesive tape used for packing/concealment ejected by the passenger voluntarily from his rectum,” according to a statement.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/1-kg-gold-in-rectum-man-held-at-delhi-airport-for-smuggling-precious-metal-worth-rs-72-lakh-3267094

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a pan India search operation on Thursday targeting premises of key vendors associated with e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart. The ED is investigating these vendors for alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), focusing on potential foreign exchange rule breaches by vendors on these major platforms.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a pan India search operation on Thursday targeting premises of key vendors associated with e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart. The ED is investigating these vendors for alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), focusing on potential foreign exchange rule breaches by vendors on these major platforms.

The searches were commenced 19 location early in the Thursday morning, continued through the evening, on the the main vendors of these e-commerce companies, with premises located in Mumbai Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Haryana.

According to the sources, the ED initiated its alleged Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violation investigation based on several complaints filed against Amazon and Flipkart. The complaints allege that these e-commerce platforms, which provide marketplaces, are violating Foreign Direct Investigation (FDI) rules by directly or indirectly influencing the sale prices of goods and services, thereby fail to provide a level playing field for all vendors.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI), which works to ensure fair business practices across sectors in the marketplace, is already looking into alleged anti-competitive ways of e-commerce companies.

According to the sources

PM warmly congratulated him on his re-election as the President of the United States of America as well as Republican Party’s success in the Congressional elections. He highlighted that his spectacular and resounding victory reflected the deep trust of the American people in his leadership and vision.

Times Now, according to the sources privy to the matter, learnt: 

Duo vows to work for world peace

Trump to PM Modi: ‘World loves you’

Trump to PM: ‘India is a true friend’

According to sources, during the conversation, President-elect Donald Trump said that “the whole world loves PM Modi and India is a magnificent country and PM Modi is a magnificent man.”

PM warmly congratulated him on his re-election as the President of the United States of America as well as Republican Party’s success in the Congressional elections. He highlighted that his spectacular and resounding victory reflected the deep trust of the American people in his leadership and vision.

Reflecting on the positive momentum of the India-US partnership during President Trump’s first term, PM Modi, during the telephonic conversation, recalled their memorable interactions, including the Howdy Modi event in Houston in September 2019 and the Namaste Trump event in Ahmedabad during President Trump’s visit to India in February 2020. Both leaders reiterated the importance of the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, for the benefit of the people of the two countries as well as for global peace and stability.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/2024-us-election-result-donald-trump-wins-donald-trump-calls-pm-modi-a-magnificent-man-says-world-loves-you-kamala-harris-loses-article-115037294

Muzaffarnagar, Hapur, Meerut, Charkhi Dadri, Greater Noida, and Bahadurgarh— all situated within the National Capital Region (NCR)– were among top 10 polluted cities in the country

Delhi has once again emerged as India’s “most polluted city” in October 2024, according to a study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Besides Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida and Gurgaon featured in the top 10 polluted cities in the country.

The capital’s monthly average PM2.5 level reached 111 µg/m³, marking its highest pollution level since 2021. The air quality deteriorated despite the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) since October 15.

Stubble Burning Contributed Only 10% To Delhi Pollution

As per the Decision Support System for Air Quality Management in Delhi, CREA analyst Manoj Kumar said transboundary sources contributed 60 to 70% of Delhi’s average PM2.5 levels in October while less than 10% originated from stubble burning.

However, the Ministry of Earth Sciences’s data showed that the daily average contribution of stubble burning to PM2.5 mass concentration in Delhi increased rapidly from October 21.

In a fire incident that broke out at Bhugaon Steel company in Wardha district on Wednesday, 16 workers were injured.

In a fire incident that broke out at Bhugaon Steel company in Wardha district on Wednesday, 16 workers were injured.
All the injured workers have been admitted to the hospital, with one reported to be in critical condition.

Upon receiving information, the administration reached the spot and the fire was brought under control.

“16 workers were injured after a fire broke out at Bhugaon Steel Company in Wardha district. All the injured have been admitted to the hospital for treatment. One of them is in critical condition. The fire has been brought under control. An inquiry has been started as to how exactly this incident took place. The administration team has reached the spot,” said Rahul Kardile, Collector, Wardha.

The operation against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district ended on Thursday with the killing of one terrorist and recovery of arms and ammunition from the slain militants, officials said.

The operation against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Kupwara district ended on Thursday with the killing of one terrorist and recovery of arms and ammunition from the slain militants, officials said.
“The operation against terrorists in Lolab area of Kupwara district ended, resulting in elimination of one militant and recovery of one AK Rifle, two hand grenades, four AK magazines, ammunition and other war-like stores”, officials said on Thursday.

The operation in Lolab area started on Tuesday and one terrorist was killed in this operation on Wednesday.

One terrorist was also killed in Ketsun forests of Bandipora district on Tuesday, but the Bandipora operation is still going on.

Ever since an elected government took office in J&K, terrorists have increased their activities and the Intelligence agencies believe the terror handlers sitting across the border in Pakistan have been frustrated due to the largely people participative and peaceful Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in J&K.

On November 2, a top commander of the LeT identified as Usman Bhai alias Chota Waleed of Pakistan was killed after a day-long gunfight in the old Srinagar city Khanyar area.

Two local policemen and two CRPF troopers were injured in the Khanyar gunfight.

Last month, terrorists killed six workers of an infrastructure project company and a local doctor in the Gagangir area of the Ganderbal district.

The workers were building a tunnel from Gagangir to Sonamarg tourist resort to make the Srinagar-Sonamarg an all-weather road and generate economic growth and employment in the area.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/op-against-terrorists-ends-in-kupwara-one-militant-killed-6962058

So far, the health officials said that 327 cases of dengue have been reported in the district till date, though no patient has died of the vector-borne disease yet this year.

In light of the increasing cases of dengue Karnal MLA Jagmohan Anand, on Wednesday, chaired a meeting of the health department regarding the vacant chief medical officer (CMO) and principal medical officer (PMO) posts .

So far, the health officials said that 327 cases of dengue have been reported in the district till date, though no patient has died of the vector-borne disease yet this year.

However, sources said the number could be much higher than the government figures as most of the residents opt for private labs and hospitals for treatment that in turn do not report the cases to the government, despite reminders.

This keeps the authorities on their toes to maintain a more accurate count of infections and identified hot spots to further curb the spread. Four to five areas have shown the highest concentration of cases, sources added.

Soniya Sharma, a homemaker and a resident of Karnal said that she was declared dengue positive last week and had to spend three days at a hospital as her platelet count dropped.

“I’m still unable to recall where I got infected. I’ve been at my home during those days for Diwali preparations. However, there has been no regular sweeping on the roads in our lane, there is a pile of garbage in the park near our house and water gets collected there,” she added.

Similarly, Aditya Bhardwaj, a skill trainer said, “My wife was infected last month, and we are still clueless about the cause. There is a dearth of civic amenities in our localities, and we are helpless and have to pay private individuals to collect garbage or clean drains.”

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/as-dengue-cases-surge-karnal-mla-holds-meeting-101730919929501.html

Indian Consulate in Canada cancelled the scheduled consular camps after the security agencies conveyed their “inability to provide minimum security protection”.

The Indian Consulate in Canada has cancelled the scheduled consular camps to issue life certificates after the security agencies conveyed their “inability to provide minimum security protection” to the organisers of the camp, the Consulate General of India, Toronto said on Thursday.

“In view of the security agencies conveying their inability to provide minimum security protection to the community camp organizers, Consulate has decided to cancel some of the scheduled consular camps,” the Consulate General of India posted on X.

The announcement comes merely days after pro-Khalistan supporters attacked members from the Hindu community when the Indian consulate had co-organised a consular camp outside the Hindi Sabha Temple in Brampton, near Toronto.

India registered its protest from the highest echelons with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing anguish over the incident.

Previously, attempts were made to disrupt similar camps held in Vancouver and Surrey on November 2 and 3.

Speaking at the House of Commons in the Canadian Parliament on Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that the communities who instigated the violence were neither the Sikh community nor the Hindu community in Canada, failing to underscore the involvement of Khalistani separatists in the attacks.

“The violence we have seen in South Asian communities across the country over the past few nights, let me be very clear. The individuals who are inciting violence and division and hatred in no way represent either the Sikh community or the Hindu community in Canada,” news agency ANI quoted Justin Trudeau as saying.

“At the time of Diwali and Bandi Chhor Diwas, we are seeing communities come together to celebrate their diversity and strength; we will continue to stand for the unity of Canadians,” he added.

The agency had started its search operations at 20 locations in connection with the case, in which a former aide of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Pankaj Mishra, is also an FIR-named accused, they said.

The CBI has seized cash amounting to more than ₹ 13 lakh and jewellery worth about ₹ 52 lakh from former district mining officer, Sahibganj, Bibhuti Kumar during searches in poll-bound Jharkhand in connection with an illegal stone-mining case, officials said on Wednesday.
The agency had started its search operations at 20 locations in connection with the case, in which a former aide of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Pankaj Mishra, is also an FIR-named accused, they said.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) teams have seized ₹ 75 lakh so far during the operation, including the seizure from the premises of Bibhuti Kumar, the officials said.

In addition to the cash and jewellery, the CBI has also seized investments worth ₹ 11 lakh, documents pertaining to seven properties worth crores of rupees and fixed-deposit receipts worth around ₹ 10 lakh from Bibhuti Kumar’s premises, they said.

Polling for the Jharkhand Assembly is scheduled to take place on November 13 and November 20. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and other INDIA bloc constituents will face off against the BJP and its NDA allies.

The agency registered the case on November 20, 2023 on the directions of the Jharkhand High Court.

In the FIR, the Ranchi unit of the CBI booked Mishra, Pavitra Kumar Yadav, Rajesh Yadav, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, Bacchu Yadav, Sanjay Yadav and Suvesh Mandal.

They were allegedly involved in the “pilferage and illegal extraction” of stones at Nimbu Pahar in Sahibganj.

“Investigations revealed that large-scale illegal-mining activities in Sahibganj district allegedly caused substantial losses to the government, primarily through unpaid royalties and the violation of mining laws,” a CBI spokesperson said.

He said searches are being carried out at the premises of the suspects whose roles came up during further investigation.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cbi-seizes-cash-jewels-worth-rs-75-lakh-from-jharkhand-ex-mining-officer-6960084

While JKC has staked its claim in the ownership of the airline, the creditors urged the Supreme Court to use its inherent powers under Article 142 to liquidate the company.

“I have spoken to him (Amit Shah). He has called me (for a meeting). I cannot talk much about it, but the meeting will take place,” the father of the deceased woman medic at the RG Kar Hospital told reporters on Wednesday.

The father of the deceased woman medic of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital said he has spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah who has called him for a meeting.

He, however, declined to divulge much about his talks with Shah and when and where the meeting would be held.

“I have spoken to him (Amit Shah). He has called me (for a meeting). I cannot talk much about it, but the meeting will take place,” the father of the deceased woman medic at the RG Kar Hospital told reporters on Wednesday.

Parents Of The Victim Write To Home Minister Amit Shah

In total, over 65 lakh passengers have benefited from special trains operated by Indian Railways to accommodate the increased travel demand.

Indian Railways transported around 3 crore passengers in just 24 hours on 4th November 2024 including both, suburban and non-suburban passengers. “This is a staggering number, surpassing the combined population of Australia and New Zealand, highlighting the scale of the national transport network’s operations during peak travel times.

According to an official of Indian Railways, from 1st October to 5th November 2024, approximately 7.5 crore passengers have been transported to regions like Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, marking an extensive movement of people for the festive period. In total, over 65 lakh passengers have benefited from special trains operated by Indian Railways to accommodate the increased travel demand.

Special Trains and Increased Capacity

In response to the surging passenger demand during the festive rush, Indian Railways has introduced more than 7,600 special trains between 1st October and 30th November 2024. This is a 73% increase compared to the 4,500 special trains operated last year. The special trains, in addition to regular services, have played a critical role in easing congestion on the busiest routes.

On 4th November, Indian Railways achieved its highest single-day passenger figures for the year, with a total of 120.72 lakh non-suburban passengers (including 19.43 lakh reserved and 101.29 lakh unreserved) and 180 lakh suburban passengers, all travelling across the country. This exceptional surge reflects the substantial demand during the ongoing festive season, especially for destinations like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Orissa. Asked about the planing an official stated, Indian Railways has put in place robust measures to ensure smooth and safe travel for millions. Special control rooms have been set up at all levels—from the Railway Board to divisional and station levels—while regular updates via social media, newspapers, and public announcements are ensuring passengers are well-informed about the special train services. In addition, crowd management protocols have been strengthened, particularly at high-traffic stations, to ensure safety and efficient handling of passengers. “Through this unprecedented operation, Indian Railways continues to demonstrate its crucial role in connecting millions of passengers across the country during the festive season” he said.

Exchange of fire is going on and both operations are in progress.

An encounter broke out between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, officials said on Wednesday.

Based on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, a cordon and search operation was launched by security forces during the night in Margi area of Lolab in the north Kashmir district, they said.

Officials said contact was established with the militants and a firefight began. Exchange of fire was going on and the operation is in progress, the officials added.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/2-counter-terrorist-ops-under-way-in-jammu-and-kashmir-one-terrorist-killed-3263928

Speaking at yesterday’s discussion organised by The Indian Express, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud answered many pressing issues and controversies including whether the Supreme Court stands true to the ‘bail is the rule, jail an exception’ principle.

Set to demit the office on November 10, CJI was asked by Apurva Vishwanath, The Indian Express, what institutional processes and mechanisms are required to prevent cases such as that of G.N. Saibaba and Stan Swamy, who have languished as undertrial prisoners for years in jail. G.N. Saibaba suffered 90% disability and relied on a wheelchair for mobility, suffered from multiple medical issues while he remained incarcerated for over 10 years in prison.

Saibaba, who passed away recently had been just acquitted by the Bombay High Court for the second time, after the Trial Court convicted him of offences under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The Court said there is absolutely no evidence to make for a case under UAPA.

When he was acquitted by the Bombay High Court for the first time for want of sanctions under UAPA, a vacation bench of the Supreme Court sat on Saturday, stayed his release and remitted the matter for a fresh hearing by the High Court. He was continuously denied bail on medical grounds and was also denied parole to attend his mother’s funeral. Similarly, father Stan Swamy, accused in the Bhima Koregaon matter where UAPA was invoked, passed away as an undertrial prisoner awaiting bail on medical grounds.

Answering the question, CJI at the outset stated that it is because of media, particularly journalistic media, that certain cases assume prominence. Based on that, the Court is either criticised or appreciated. But added that assuming significance in the media is not enough because often “when a judge applies their mind to the record, what emerges from the record may be very different from what is portrayed in media on merits of the particular case”.

CJI added: “For one or two cases which you mentioned, I can tell you a dozen cases, sensitive cases and somebody will call them politically sensitive cases or politically important personalities whose names I can’t mention as CJI, we have dealt with those cases and bail has been granted.”

Vandita Mishra, the Opinion Editor of The Indian Express, added another name to the list: Umar Khalid. She referred to the anti-CAA riots case and the Bhima Koregaon case and stated that in both matters, bail pleas remain pending for years and years and asked if the ‘bail is the rule, jail an exception’ is being arbitrarily applied because the Court intervenes in some bail matters and drops the ball to the lower court in others.

Source: https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/i-have-always-granted-bail-from-a-to-z-from-arnab-to-zubair-cji-dy-chandrachud-274327

With around 10 crore people expected to travel to Prayagraj by train for Mahakumbh early next year, several measures, including the installation of face recognition cameras, are being taken to enhance security at the nine railway stations here.
For the first time, the Prayagraj Railway Division will install face recognition (FR) cameras alongside CCTV at railway stations, specifically for the Mahakumbh, the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement.

These FR cameras, powered by AI, will be instrumental in monitoring suspicious activities and identifying potential troublemakers, it added.

With approximately 10 crore people expected to travel by train for the Mahakumbh, the railway authorities are implementing comprehensive security measures, the release said.

Prayagraj Railway Division PRO Amit Singh said for the Mahakumbh, around 650 CCTV and 100 facial recognition cameras will be installed at the railway stations in Prayagraj.

He further added that the surveillance will cover routes, shelters, and platforms at all nine railway stations in the Prayagraj district.

“To ensure a safe and smooth experience for devotees and tourists during Mahakumbh, the Prayagraj Railway Division is installing AI-based face recognition cameras as part of the comprehensive security arrangements,” Singh said.

“These FR cameras use AI technology to recognise faces, helping in the identification of suspects even in crowded areas,” he said.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/soon-face-recognition-cameras-at-prayagraj-railway-station-for-mahakumbh-6951664

Deven Mehta claimed that the attackers shattered his car windows, threw stones and threatened him and a woman inside his vehicle – all while a traffic police officer allegedly looked on without intervening.

A Bengaluru man recently recounted a harrowing experience in which his car was attacked by a group of men in the middle of a busy road in the Kudlu area. Sharing pictures and videos of the incident on X, user Deven Mehta claimed that the attackers shattered his car windows, threw stones and threatened him and a woman inside his vehicle – all while a traffic police officer allegedly looked on without intervening. “My car was attacked by goons on crowded bangalore streets at 7pm while a traffic police watched them break glasses, throw stones & threaten us at Kudlu, despite a woman in the car,” Mr Mehta wrote on X.

In another post, the X user shared why the group of men attacked his vehicle. “Their bike touched my car (old car) from behind (their fault) in head-to-head traffic. I was looking from my mirror when they yelled in Kannada. I told them “Kannada illa, no problem, no damage- aap jao”. I believe they got infuriated at how a Hindi man gave them instructions,” Mr Mehta said.

In response to the post, the Bengaluru police requested further details, urging him to share his contact information via direct message. However, Mr Mehta declined to share any information, citing safety concerns. “Sorry, I don’t want to provide any details as I don’t feel safe. I have shared it here so that more people remain vigilant and careful on the streets till we get better police and safety services,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, in the comment section of Mr Mehta’s post, several users expressed frustration over the growing crime rate in the city.

“@BlrCityPolice congratulations. The city has gone to the dogs. Your inaction and silence on such matters is deafening. I sincerely hope you do something better than asking the sufferer for more details,” wrote one user.

“Wow….Bangalore is turning safer by the day. Goons being given a free hand to attack people, road range on the rise, everyone wants to come first on the road and show off this shitty driving skills, violations everywhere. Great progress seen in India’s Silicon Valley,” sarcastically commented another.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bengaluru-man-says-group-of-men-attacked-his-car-on-crowded-street-police-respond-6953825

The ISRO chief spoke of the challenges for the space sector in India, as well as the possibility of it contributing 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product one day.

“It was possible to dream about it. Now, we have available capacities. We can think of rockets to send a man on the Moon by 2040. The technology is there,” he said.

The ISRO chief spoke of the challenges for the space sector in India, as well as the possibility of it contributing 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product one day. For that, various challenges in the “upstream” areas have to be overcome, high investment is necessary, both by the public and private sectors. Investors also need to have risk-sharing capabilities and perhaps, big firms, alone and together with others.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/india-on-the-moon-by-2040-isros-new-goals-signal-ambitious-space-future-article-114983278

Devotees gathered in large numbers to offer prayers and perform the ritual holy bath, a significant part of the festival dedicated to the Sun God.

As the four-day Chhath festival begins with the traditional ‘Nahay Khay’ on Tuesday, a disturbing sight marred the religious fervour along the banks of the Yamuna River near Kalindi Kunj in Delhi.
Devotees gathered in large numbers to offer prayers and perform the ritual holy bath, a significant part of the festival dedicated to the Sun God.

However, their devotion was overshadowed by the sight of toxic foam floating on the river’s surface, a stark reminder of the city’s persistent pollution.

Amid the rising pollution levels that have plagued the national Capital, sections of the Yamuna River, particularly around Kalindi Kunj, were seen covered in thick, frothy foam, leaving both environmentalists and devotees concerned.

As the festival enters its first day, the foam – an unpleasant and potentially hazardous byproduct of chemical pollution- has once again raised an alarm about the state of the river, which is central to the Chhath Puja rituals.

Each year, devotees of Chhath Puja gather by the Yamuna to perform sacred bathing and prayers as part of the traditional worship. However, this year, the sight of foam on the river’s surface has led many to question the efficacy of the measures taken by the administration to address the growing pollution problem.

The foam, a result of untreated sewage and industrial waste being dumped into the river, has become an annual issue during the festival, yet no lasting solutions seem to have been implemented.

“I love the Yamuna River, and I have come here to take a bath on Chhath Vrat, but the condition of the river is very bad. It feels very unfortunate,” said Kiran, a devotee who had travelled to the riverbank for the ritual.

“The government should think about the state of the river that we hold in reverence and worship. It’s disgraceful that the water we are supposed to bath in is polluted water,” she said.

Another devotee, Ram Dulari, who was also performing the traditional bath, echoed similar sentiments. “Today is Nahay Khay, the first day of our Chhath Puja. I just want to request the government to clean the Yamuna River,” she said, visibly distressed by the condition of the water.

The toxic foam, which has become a recurring issue during festivals like Chhath Puja, raises serious concerns about the quality of the water and its potential impact on public health.

The foam is composed of harmful chemicals, detergents, and pollutants from industrial and domestic waste. Prolonged exposure to such polluted water can lead to skin irritations and other health risks, especially for those who wade into the river to perform rituals.

This scene of environmental degradation in the Yamuna also highlights the systemic issue of untreated sewage being discharged into the river, which has been an ongoing challenge for years.

The river’s pollution levels have reached alarming proportions, with high concentrations of chemicals and industrial waste dissolving into the water, further complicating efforts to clean it.

Despite the Delhi government’s repeated assurances of measures to tackle the pollution in the Yamuna, the situation seems to have worsened over time. The lack of effective intervention during major religious events like Chhath Puja raises questions about the sincerity of the administration’s efforts to improve water quality and safeguard public health.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/video-toxic-foam-on-yamuna-in-delhi-raises-concern-as-chhath-puja-begins-6952219

Muzaffarnagar, Hapur, Meerut, Charkhi Dadri, Greater Noida, and Bahadurgarh— all situated within the National Capital Region (NCR)– were among top 10 polluted cities in the country

Delhi has once again emerged as India’s “most polluted city” in October 2024, according to a study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Besides Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida and Gurgaon featured in the top 10 polluted cities in the country.

The capital’s monthly average PM2.5 level reached 111 µg/m³, marking its highest pollution level since 2021. The air quality deteriorated despite the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) since October 15.

Stubble Burning Contributed Only 10% To Delhi Pollution

As per the Decision Support System for Air Quality Management in Delhi, CREA analyst Manoj Kumar said transboundary sources contributed 60 to 70% of Delhi’s average PM2.5 levels in October while less than 10% originated from stubble burning.

However, the Ministry of Earth Sciences’s data showed that the daily average contribution of stubble burning to PM2.5 mass concentration in Delhi increased rapidly from October 21.

Sharda Sinha, who was undergoing treatment at AIIMS-Delhi, died on Tuesday night. She was 72.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed grief at the death of famous folk singer Sharda Sinha, and said her demise is an irreparable loss to the music world.

In a post on X, he noted that her folk songs in Maithili and Bhojpuri were extremely popular.

Her songs on Chhath, a grand festival of faith, will echo forever, he added, conveying his condolences to her family members and admirers.

The Court made the observation while quashing charges of identity theft and obscenity against a man accused of defaming his brother-in-law through posts allegedly made from a fake Facebook account created by him.

The Bombay High Court’s Aurangabad Bench recently ruled that printed screenshots of defamatory Facebook posts will not be sufficient to prove that they were created by a fake Facebook account [Mahesh Shivling Tilkari v State of Maharashtra].

The Court made the observation while quashing charges of identity theft and obscenity against a man accused of defaming his brother-in-law through posts allegedly made from a fake Facebook account created by him.

After going through the material submitted as evidence, a Bench comprising Justice Vibha Kankanwadi and Justice SG Chapalgaonkar stated,

“Print of screenshots of Facebook material will not at any stretch of imagination prove that the said post was created from an alleged fake account.”

Justice Vibha Kankanwadi and Justice SG Chapalgaonkar

The case began when the man’s brother-in-law filed a complaint with the Latur police station claiming that the man had created two fake Facebook accounts—one under the name “Minal Basavraj Swami” and another under “Chandra Surnal”— to post defamatory material about him and his family.

He alleged that the posts harmed his reputation and that of his family, particularly the man’s wife.

The complaint cited a marital dispute between the man and his wife as the possible motive behind the defamation.

However, the Court in its ruling observed that the investigation lacked sufficient evidence to link the accused to the creation of the fake accounts.

“Only the screenshots of Facebook, of which prints have been taken, are annexed after seizure and there are statements of two witnesses. Only on the basis of said material it cannot be said that the said Facebook posts were created by the man. Therefore, there is absolutely no evidence against him, and it would be a futile exercise to ask him to face the trial,” the bench stated.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/print-out-facebook-screenshots-not-proof-fake-account-bombay-high-court

Punjab police on Tuesday claimed to have solved the two recent petrol bomb incidents targeting Shiv Sena leaders with the arrest of four members of terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) module being operated by foreign-based individuals Harjit Singh alias Laddi and Sabi.

Punjab police on Tuesday claimed to have solved the two recent petrol bomb incidents targeting Shiv Sena leaders with the arrest of four members of terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) module being operated by foreign-based individuals Harjit Singh alias Laddi and Sabi.

Elaborating on the arrests, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, asid that those arrested have been identified as Jaswinder Singh alias Binder, a resident of Ludhiana, Ravinder Pal Singh alias Ravi, Manish Sahid alias Sanju, and Anil Kumar alias Honey, trio residents of Nawanshahr. Police teams have also recovered two mobile phones and impounded the motorcycle used in the crimes.

“This operation has successfully solved the petrol bomb incidents targeting Shiv Sena leaders, including the October 16, 2024, attack on Yogesh Bakshi’s residence and the recent November 2, 2024, incident at Harkirat Singh Khurana’s home in Model Town Extension, Ludhiana,” DGP Yadav said in a post on his X handle.

It may be recalled that three unknown persons had hurled a petrol bomb on the house of Bakshi located at New Chander Nagar in Haibowal, Ludhiana at around 9.40 pm on October 16 while a little over a fortnight after a similar petrol bomb attack took place on the house Shiv Sena Leader Harkirat Singh located in Model Town Extension on November 2.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/punjab-4-babbar-khalsa-international-members-held-for-petrol-bomb-attacks-on-shiv-sena-leaders

The online sale of t-shirts with pictures jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi on popular retail fashion platform Meesho and Teeshopper has led to outrage with netizens condemning glamourising of criminals.

The online sale of t-shirts with pictures jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi on popular retail fashion platform Meesho and Teeshopper has led to outrage with netizens condemning glamourising of criminals.

The listing sparked outrage among social media users criticizing Meesho for selling products that glorify criminals on its platform.

A social media user shared a post on X on November 4 that showed t-shirts with images of Bishnoi were up for grabs on Meesho for as low as INR 166. Some t-shirts depicted Bishnoi as “hero”, while others had the word “gangster” printed on them.

Filmmaker-journalist Alishan Jafri brought attention to this issue, describing it as an example of “India’s latest online radicalisation”.

He raised concerns on social media, noting that such merchandise was being sold not only on Meesho but also on other platforms like Flipkart, with prices as low as ₹168.

The incident has increased tensions between Canada and India, and between Sikh separatists and Indian diplomats.

India foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Tuesday the vandalism of a Hindu temple in Canada on Monday was deeply concerning.

“What happened yesterday at the Hindu temple in Canada was obviously deeply concerning,” he told reporters in the Australian capital Canberra while on an official visit.

The incident happened weeks after Ottawa expelled six Indian diplomats, linking them to the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in 2023 in Canada. Canada has accused the Indian government of conducting a broad campaign against South Asian dissidents in Canada, which New Delhi denies.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/deeply-concerning-s-jaishankar-on-vandalism-of-hindu-temples-in-canada-3262184

IAF MIG-29 Jet crashed in Agra on Monday. The Incident took place near Songa village.

The video of the incident also surfaced online. The plane had reportedly taken off from Adampur in Punjab and was en route to Agra for an exercise when the incident happened.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/breaking-news-iafs-mig-29-fighter-jet-crashes-in-agra-article-114946628

After Demchok, the Indian Army conducted its first successful patrol in Depsang on Monday. Patrolling was done at traditional patrolling points in Despang.

The Indian Amy’s Fire and Fury Corps in an X ost said that patrol to one of the patrolling points in Depsang was successfully conducted. It called it a “positive step” in towards maintaining peace.

Fire And Fury Corps Tweet:

“Following the consensus reached between the Indian and Chinese Side for disengagement and resumption of patrolling in Depsang and Demchok, the Indian Army patrol to one of the patrolling points in Depsang was successfully conducted today. This is yet another positive step towards maintaining peace and tranquility on the LAC,” the Fire and Fury Corps tweeted.

Patrolling was done at traditional patrolling points in Despang. The areas have seen numerous clashes between India and China troops particularly in 2013 and 2015. On the right of Despang is AKsai Chin.

On November 1, the Indian troops conducted patrolling in the Demchok area. It is seen as a big diplomatic victory for India. Notably, it was the first time after the 2020 Galwan clash that Indian Troops patrolled in Demchok and Depsang areas.

In the Demchok area, Indian troops moved from Demchok to Charding-Nilung Nala Junction (CNNJ). Apart from two points at Demchok, troops patrolled PP 50 and 51 at Charding Nilung CNNJ. The access to these points was blocked by the Chinese after 2020 Galwan skirmish.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/indian-army-conducts-1st-successful-patrolling-of-depsang-area-days-after-disengagement-pact-along-lac-article-114954901

According to sources, an initial probe has found that Sajjad and Danish had conducted reconnaissance of force camps and were planning grenade attacks.

After a long period, Srinagar saw a grenade attack on Sunday, but that is not the only incident. Sources in the security grid have found that grenade attacks may be the latest strategy to attack forces.

Importantly, an experienced Over Ground Worker (OGW) who was arrested on a tip-off from Military Intelligence revealed that more than half a dozen camps of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Rashtriya Rifles (RR) were reconnoitered by him along with his handler who was arrested with grenades. Danish was arrested last week and 10 grenades were recovered from him and Sajjad Ahmed Dar was arrested on Saturday and two grenades were recovered from him along with pistols.

It is believed by the Intelligence agencies that that Sajjad Ahmed Dar was the handler of Danish Bashir Ahenger. According to sources, an initial probe has found that Sajjad and Danish had conducted reconnaissance of force camps and were planning grenade attacks. The process of recce was on and more camps were narrowed down. Officials aware about the development claimed that the duo planned to use grenades with a delay mechanism.

The Cali Fund aims to finance biodiversity conservation and reward those who are frontline protectors of biodiversity such as indigenous people and forest dwellers

Big pharma, cosmetics, nutraceutical, and biotechnology industries that use digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources will have to share a minuscule share of their profits to raise money for biodiversity conservation globally. This was among the key decisions taken at the Convention on Biological Diversity’s annual negotiations (COP16) at Colombia’s Cali, which concluded on November 2.

Though the Cali talks had to be suspended as many delegates had left on the day it was due to conclude, the multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism for using DSI and establishment of the Cali Fund was adopted.

Companies to pay for digital data

The Cali Fund aims to finance biodiversity conservation and reward those who are frontline protectors of biodiversity such as indigenous people and forest dwellers. The decision in this regard acknowledges the major role of digital sequence information on genetic resources and open access to such information. It recognises the importance of the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources to achieving Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

A police officer in Imphal said five insurgents of the Kangleipak Communist Party (People’s War Group) were arrested from Charangpat Mayai Leikai in Thoubal.

The security forces arrested six insurgents from two banned groups and a member of the Meitei armed group Arambai Tenggol in the last 24 hours in Manipur, the police said on Monday.
The security forces also recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition from different districts. These include one SLR, one sniper rifle, two bolt-action rifles, one 9 mm pistol, five grenades, and different types of ammunition along with a two-wheeler.

The insurgents were arrested in Thoubal and Bishnupur districts for their involvement in kidnapping and extortion.

A police officer in Imphal said five insurgents of the Kangleipak Communist Party (People’s War Group) were arrested from Charangpat Mayai Leikai in Thoubal.

A grenade, five ‘demand letters’, five mobile phones, 13 SIM cards and a four-wheeler were seized from them.

In another incident, police arrested an insurgent identified as Nongmaithem Gunamani alias Allu, 32, belonging to PREPAK(PRO) outfit from Kumbi in Bishnupur district.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/7-insurgents-arrested-in-manipur-large-quantity-of-weapons-recovered-6944577

The Allahabad High Court had declared the 2004 Uttar Pradesh madrassa law as “unconstitutional” and violative of secularism.

Thousands of madrassa students across Uttar Pradesh may get to know today which way their education will go as the Supreme Court decides if the madrassa law, scrapped by the Allahabad High Court, should stay or not.

Here are top 10 points on this big story:

The Supreme Court on Monday demanded answers from the Delhi government on how its ban on bursting firecrackers to curb pollution was flouted during Diwali celebrations in the national capital [In Re: Commission for Air Quality Management].

A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih today took a serious view of newspaper reports that indicated a total non-compliance with the government’s restrictions on bursting firecrackers.

“We want Delhi government to immediately respond as to why this has happened. We will simultaneously issue notice to Delhi Police Commissioner as to why there is non-compliance. We have to hear this immediately. The real problem is that this is all under Air Prevention Act, 1981, which after amendment this year, has only penalty provisions,” the Court orally remarked during today’s hearing of a plea concerning air pollution in and around the national capital.

The Court proceeded to order the Delhi government to file an affidavit on the steps taken to ensure that pollution is tackled and to enforce the firecracker ban.

The Court said that this affidavit should also detail the steps that would be taken to ensure that firecracker-related pollution does not arise again during Diwali celebrations next year.

The Court further said that these steps should include measures to conduct a public campaign to sensitise the public against such pollution.

Notably, the Court also asked the Delhi government to consider implementing a perpetual firecracker ban in the national capital.

“The affidavit by Delhi Government and Police Commissioner to be filed in one week … In the meanwhile, Delhi Government and other authorities must also take call on perpetual ban of these firecrackers,” the Court’s order said.

The Court will consider this aspect of Diwali-related pollution again on November 14.

“There cannot be any dispute that ban on fire crackers was hardly implemented. The ban on fire crackers being non-complied is very well clear from the report which amicus cited, which is that this time pollution level was at all time high. Even report suggested farm fire was also at a high time rise,” the Court further observed in its order.

Delhi Government and other authorities must also take call on perpetual ban of these firecrackers.
Supreme Court
Amid concerns of the deteriorating air quality in Delhi, the State government had recently banned the production, sale, and use of various types of firecrackers in the national capital till January 1, 2025.

However, during today’s hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Archana Pathak Dave agreed that there was absolute non-compliance with these restrictions during Diwali this year.

Amicus Curiae Aparajita Singh added that there is a report suggesting a huge increase in air pollution on the day of Diwali, with the pollution percentage rising from 10 per cent to 27 per cent

The Court observed that something needs to be done to address this issue.

“Something has to be done. Either the ones’ who are selling crackers despite ban, their premises must be sealed. We will look into this. Amicus Curiae points out that a report suggested that there was huge increase in the pollution on the day of Diwali. Pollution percentage goes from 10 percent to 27 percent … This has to be responded immediately,” the Court said.

The Court also flagged concern over people bringing in firecrackers from other States into Delhi to defy the firecracker ban.

“People are bringing fire crackers from other states. There has to be public campaign before Diwali, lack of public understanding,” the Bench remarked.

The case before the Court also concerns pollution due to stubble burning in neighbouring States such as Punjab, which is said to be a major factor to air pollution in Delhi.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/delhis-firecracker-ban-go-up-smoke-diwali-supreme-court

“The Customs laws of India do not insist that Michelangelo’s David be fully clothed before he passes through our Customs Borders,” the Court added.

The Bombay High Court recently ordered the release of seven paintings by renowned Indian artists Francis Newton Souza and Akbar Padamsee, while admonishing the customs officials for confiscating such artwork on the ground that they were ‘obscene.’ [B K Polimex India Private Limited v. Union of India and Ors]

A Bench of Justices MS Sonak and Jitendra Jain emphasized that customs officials cannot arbitrarily claim to represent community standards for determining what is obscene without proper justification.

The Court proceeded to quash a July 1 order of the Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Airport Special Cargo Commissionerate, by which the paintings were confiscated.

“Every nude painting or every painting depicting some sexual intercourse cannot be styled as obscene … The Customs laws of India do not insist that Michelangelo’s David be fully clothed before he passes through our Customs Borders. An assistant commissioner of customs cannot lightly and without adverting to relevant considerations assume the mantle of being a spokesperson for community standards. Just as one swallow does not make a summer, so also one such decision of one such assistant commissioner of customs does not make the law on this subject,” the Court added.

The Supreme Court, in its 2006 ruling on police reforms, urged state governments to enact new police legislation to maintain police independence and safeguard citizen rights under the rule of law.

The Uttar Pradesh government now has the authority to appoint the Director General of Police (DGP) at the state level. In a recent cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the ‘Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh Selection and Appointment Rules 2024’ policy was approved. This new policy mandates a nomination committee headed by a retired High Court judge, with a minimum tenure of two years for the DGP.

Details On Nomination Committee

The nomination committee will include the Chief Secretary, a representative from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Chairman of the UP Public Service Commission or a designated representative, the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and a retired DGP who has previously served in the role, as reported by Hindi news portal Amar Ujala.

Following the PM’s visit at the CJI residence, opposition parties led by the Congress and a section of lawyers had raised concerns over propriety and separation of powers between the judiciary and the executive. The BJP, on the other hand, dismissed the criticism as unwarranted and said it was a “part of our culture”.

Addressing questions over the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his official residence for Ganpati prayers, Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud on Monday said there was “nothing wrong” in it and underscored the need for a “sense of maturity in political sphere” on such issues.

Following the PM’s visit at the CJI residence, opposition parties led by the Congress and a section of lawyers had raised concerns over propriety and separation of powers between the judiciary and the executive. The BJP, on the other hand, dismissed the criticism as unwarranted and said it was a “part of our culture”.

Speaking at an event organised by the Indian Express, CJI Chandrachud said one has to respect that the dialogue between the judiciary and the executive takes place as a part of the robust inter-institutional mechanism and separation of powers does not mean the two will not meet.

“The separation of powers concept does not postulate that judiciary and executive are antagonist in the sense they will not meet or not engage in a reasoned dialogue. In the states, there is a protocol of chief justice and the administrative committee of the high court meeting the chief minister and on the chief minister meeting the chief justice at their residence. In most of these meetings, you are discussing basic issues like budgeting, infrastructure, technology etc,” he said.

CJI Speaks On PM Modi’s Visit To His Home

The attack, which left the vendor injured, took place at a restaurant on Delhi Road and the assault was captured on camera. The footage has since gone viral on social media.

In a shocking incident, a mobile phone vendor was assaulted by the son of a former MLA and his associates in the Nagar Kotwali area in Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur. The attack, which left the vendor injured, took place at a restaurant on Delhi Road and the assault was captured on camera. The footage has since gone viral on social media.

Details of the Incident

The victim, Ankush Kukreja, who lives in Patel Nagar and sells mobile phones, reported the incident to the police. According to Ankush, the trouble began when Satendra alias Bobby, the son of a former MLA from the Srinagar locality, visited his shop. Bobby allegedly demanded ₹5 lakh from Ankush and, when refused, asked for a mobile phone instead. Ankush tried to avoid giving in to these demands.

On Saturday (November 2), Ankush went to have dinner with Vineet, an employee, at a restaurant on Delhi Road. During their meal, Bobby arrived at the restaurant along with Rahul Sharma, Archit Bansal, Amardeep Kolaithar and several others. The group attacked Ankush using weapons including a pistol, knife and iron rods. Ankush sustained severe injuries after being brutally thrashed by the goons.

The incident was caught on the CCTV camera installed inside the restaurant and the video of the incident doing rounds on social media. It can be seen in the video that eight to ten youths barge into the restaurant and start beating Ankush who was sitting at the table. He can be seen surrounded with the goons who came to thrash him. They stripped Ankush semi-naked and thrashed him brutally inside the restaurant.

They opened the door and dragged Ankush out of the restaurant. There are reports that they thrashed him outside the restaurant. Ankush reportedly suffered serious injuries in the attack.

Vijay’s party TVK, in its resolution, said states should be given full freedom. That’s how NEET can be removed from Tamil Nadu.

The party, in its resolution, said states should be given full freedom. That’s how NEET can be removed from Tamil Nadu.

The resolution comes less than a week after he against the need for the medical entrance exam during his maiden speech. On October 27, he delivered his maiden public speech eight months after announcing the launch of TVK.

Recalling his deceased sister, he said that just like her death had impacted him, the alleged suicide of medical aspirant, S Anitha from Ariyalur in the state who could not clear NEET, also had a profound impact on him.

On July 3, days after the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution urging the Union government to abolish the controversial medical entrance examinations, NEET, actor and the leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Vijay, criticised the NEET examinations and urged the departments of education and sanitation to be moved back to the State list from the Concurrent list.

Vijay said this while speaking at the second leg of TVK’s special meet-and-greet to honour students who topped in the recently-held 10th and 12th-grade examinations. The event was held at the Ramachandra Convention Center in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai.

Resolutions Passed By TVK

On Sunday, TVK also passed resolution against DMK Govt over law and order situation in State, saying the crimes that happen in broad daylight only show the apathy. Rather than working towards abolishing the sales of illicit liquor and increased usage of drugs among youth, the govt is only focused on the welfare of certain people in power.

The party also passed resolution condemning the idea of One Nation, One Election. Says ONON is against Democratic Values. The party also said, “the Union Government’s desire to impose a third language against the two language formula that’s being followed in Tamil Nadu will never succeed.”

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/breaking-news-actor-vijays-tvk-passes-resolution-against-neet-article-114906594

Terrorists lobbed a grenade at a CRPF bunker near a crowded flea market in Srinagar on Sunday, injuring at least 11 civilians.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday took strong note of a grenade attack in Srinagar and directed the Union Territory’s top police officer and other security officials to give a “forceful response to the terrorists.”

The Lieutenant Governor reaffirmed the government’s resolve to thwart the plans of terrorist elements. “Terrorists targeting our citizens will have to pay a very heavy price for their actions. You have full freedom to crush terror outfits and leave no stone unturned to complete this mission,” Sinha told senior security officials.

Shortly after the grenade attack in Srinagar, which left 11 people injured, Sinha, who heads the Unified Command in Jammu and Kashmir, spoke with Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat and other senior security officials, directing them to respond forcefully to punish those responsible for the attacks.

The Lieutenant Governor wished a speedy recovery to those injured and directed the district administration to provide all possible assistance.

Security experts believe that Manoj Sinha’s “freehand to security forces” reflects his administration’s commitment to eradicating terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

“It is because of the freehand given by the LG to the security officials that Jammu and Kashmir witnessed peace for many years and that many hardcore terrorists were killed by security forces,” a security expert told CNN-News18.

LG Underscores Need For Pre-Emptive Acton
During a recent review meeting of the unified command in Srinagar that focused on the security situation and development aspects across all districts of Kashmir Division, the Lieutenant Governor underscored the need for pre-emptive action against terrorist threats.

He highlighted that peace and development must be safeguarded and called for the strongest possible actions against terrorists and those providing any form of assistance to them.

“We aim to ensure socio-economic development and promote a sense of security among the people,” Sinha stated.

He emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to anti-national propaganda and public safety threats, advocating for greater vigilance and coordination among security agencies to dismantle the terror ecosystem. Additionally, he directed that the issue of narco-terrorism should be dealt with immediately, prioritizing the dismantling of the entire network.

While chairing the meeting at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar, Sinha reinforced that terrorism must be eradicated from Jammu and Kashmir, and those responsible for attacking innocent civilians and security forces should not be spared under any circumstances. He instructed the security apparatus to devise a comprehensive strategy to hold accountable all supporters of terrorism and those who take up arms.

The Unified Command meeting followed the Gagangir terror attack, in which terrorists killed seven innocent civilians.

Following that attack, Sinha tweeted: “The brutal and savage attack against construction workers will be avenged. I’ve asked the J&K Police and security forces to exact a price that will be remembered by the terrorists and their associates for time to come.”

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/crush-terror-outfits-j-k-lg-manoj-sinha-tells-security-forces-after-srinagar-grenade-attack-9107981.html

The AAP said that the second phase will cover all Delhi assembly constituencies in November and December

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday launched the second phase of his padyatra from Rajouri Garden, west Delhi, and said that the upcoming Delhi assembly elections are a decisive choice for the people between “preserving Delhi’s progress” or allowing it to revert to an “era of power cuts, inflated bills and broken infrastructure.” The second phase of the padyatras will cover all Delhi assembly constituencies in November and December.

The Delhi assembly elections are scheduled for early 2025.

Addressing the gathering at Rajouri Garden, Kejriwal said, “The election is a choice between safeguarding the significant progress Delhi has made in the past decade and reverting to outdated systems of governance. This election is not just about re-electing the AAP. It’s about saving Delhi.”

In response, the BJP appealed to Delhi’s residents to ask the AAP leaders, whenever they approach them, about the failures of the corruption-ridden AAP government over the past 10 years. Leader of opposition in the Delhi assembly Vijender Gupta said that people should show the AAP leaders the garbage in their neighbourhoods, the broken roads, clogged sewers, drinking water issues, and ask them why pollution in Delhi is so high, why the Yamuna is so polluted, why stubble burning in Punjab cannot be prevented, why Delhi’s transport system has deteriorated so badly, how the Delhi Jal Board ended up in a ₹73,000-crore deficit, why sewage treatment plants were not set up, and why CAG reports are not being presented in the Assembly.

The AAP chief said that Delhi residents should “secure the city’s future” by voting for a government committed to inclusivity and progress. “Our opponents don’t want to serve the people. They just want control over Delhi. They want to turn Delhi into another Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, or Madhya Pradesh…consider the progress we had achieved together over the past decade,” Kejriwal said.

Earlier in the day, AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said in a press conference that Kejriwal was launching the second phase of the padyatras (foot marches) in the national capital which will cover all Delhi assembly constituencies in November and December. Singh said that these marches are being organised so that Kejriwal could directly connect with the people. The first phase of the AAP padyatras were launched in August after which they were paused for Diwali festivities.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/kejriwal-launches-phase-2-of-padyatra-from-rajouri-garden-in-west-delhi-101730658419030.html

Condemning the recent lathi charge violence against advocates in Ghaziabad Court, allegedly at the behest of the District and Sessions Judge, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association today passed a resolution deciding to file a criminal contempt case against the Judicial Officer (Judge Anil Kumar-X).

In its resolution, the Allahabad HCBA also decided to abstain from judicial work on November 4 to protest the ‘unjustified’ violence unleashed against the advocates in Ghaziabad.

The association has also stated that the District and Sessions Judge and the concerned police officers should be dismissed from service immediately and that compensation should be provided to the injured advocates without delay.

The executive committee of the HC Bar Association has also resolved to state that the High Court should take such concrete steps so that such incidents do not occur again in any other district court.

The resolution adds that during the hearing of criminal contempt reference at the High Court, the advocates are prevented from presenting their case and are coerced into seeking unconditional apology in the courtroom, often accompanied by police brutality.

The resolution was passed today in an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee of the High Court Bar Association, Allahabad, chaired by President Anil Tiwari, Senior Advocate, and conducted by General Secretary Advocate Vikrant Pandey, Advocate.

The executive committee expressed deep concern over the current scenario, stating that the courts are harassing the advocates on multiple fronts.

The resolution states that if an advocate raises objections against a judicial officer’s ‘wrongful’ actions, the officer quickly refers the matter to the High Court for criminal contempt. Further, the Advocates face additional harassment, and if they choose to strike in protest against the arbitrary actions of such judicial officers, they are threatened with contempt proceedings.

Source: https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/ghaziabad-court-lathicharge-violence-allahabad-high-court-bar-association-criminal-contempt-case-district-sessions-judge-274126

Police have registered a case under sections relating to attempt to murder and obstructing a public servant in his duty

In a shocking case of rash driving on the streets of Delhi, a car jumped a red signal, hit two traffic policemen and kept moving with the cops hanging on to the bonnet. Visuals show the Maruti Suzuki Fronx taking a U-turn as the cops hang on for their lives and ask the driver to stop. The car, police have said, drove on for about 20 minutes with the cops holding on to the bonnet.
The incident occurred at Ber Sarai in south Delhi around 7.30 pm yesterday. The cops, Assistant Sub-Inspector Pramod and Head Constable Shailesh Chauhan, have said they were conducting checks on vehicles passing the busy area near Ber Sarai market.

Suddenly, they spotted a car jump the red light. When they signalled the car to stop, it slowed down and then accelerated suddenly. The cops in front of the vehicle were swept off their feet as the car lunged forward. They hanged on the bonnet, as the driver did not stop. The car was finally brought to a halt after 20-odd metres. The cops have been admitted to Safdarjung hospital.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/delhi-traffic-cops-stop-car-that-jumped-signal-scary-bonnet-ride-follows-6933801

Amit Shah expressed confidence that the NDA would form the government in Jharkhand, claiming it would win at least 52 out of 81 assembly seats based on the calculations from the recently held Lok Sabha elections.

Attacking the Hemant Soren-led JMM coalition for “fuelling Naxalism,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government will eliminate the menace from the face of the country by March 2026.
Amit Shah expressed confidence that the NDA would form the government in Jharkhand, claiming it would win at least 52 out of 81 assembly seats based on the calculations from the recently held Lok Sabha elections.

“It is time to oust the anti-Dalit, anti-tribal, anti-poor, and anti-youth Hemant government from Jharkhand, which is fuelling Naxalism for petty political gains,” he said while addressing a rally in Simaria, Chatra district.

“We uprooted the menace from Jharkhand during the last five years, and now the Prime Minister Modi-led Centre will wipe out Naxalism from India by March 2026.” Accusing the Soren government of devouring funds meant for poor and tribals, he said the BJP once voted to power will put all corrupt Jharkhand leaders behind the bars.

“NDA will win 52 seats out of 81 in Jharkhand given people cast 47 per cent votes to the alliance in Jharkhand during the recent Lok Sabha elections,” Amit Shah said.

He said the people of Jharkhand gave nine out of 14 parliamentary seats to the NDA, with a total of 80 lakh votes cast in favour of the alliance.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/naxalism-will-be-wiped-out-from-india-by-march-2026-amit-shah-6936677

Delhi AQI today: The pollution level, measured as PM2.5 concentration, is currently 59 times higher than the WHO-prescribed danger limit.

Delhi’s air quality touched a new low as many areas like Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 600 and above, the worst this season so far, according to the Aqicn website data. Meanwhile, the overall air quality in the national capital stood at 317 as of 8 am on Monday.

According to the IQair website, the pollution level, measured as PM2.5 concentration, is currently 59 times higher than the WHO-prescribed danger limit. Constant exposure to high pollution concentrations can cause severe health concerns, such as lung and brain damage.

xAn AQI, which is a report of the quality of air in a region, is considered ‘poor’ between 200 and 300, ‘very poor’ between 301 and 400, severe at 401 and 450, and above 450 is “severe-plus,” which can cause damaging health concerns to residents.

AQI levels in various Delhi areas on Monday as of 8 am:

• Anand Vihar – 627 (hazardous)
• Alipur – 388 (hazardous)
• Punjabi Bagh – 319 (hazardous)
• Narela – 372 (hazardous)
• RK Puram – 268 (very poor)
• Bawana – 368 (hazardous)
• ITI Shahdra – 408 (hazardous)

Delhi AQI: How is the Atishi govt tackling air pollution?

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that around 200 mobile anti-smog guns will be deployed across the national capital to combat dust pollution.

Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Gopal Rai said that the Delhi government is continuously working on the ground to combat the rising pollution levels.

The External affairs minister is on a five-day visit to Australia from November 3 to 7.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Sunday recalled a question from prime minister Narendra Modi in 2014 that left him ‘speechless.’

“He asked me, ‘Explain to me why hasn’t our relationship with Australia developed?’ It has everything going for it. There is a language, shared culture, and tradition, and yet somehow, something is not happening,” Jaishankar told the Indian community in Brisbane, Australia’s third-largest city, on Sunday.

Jaishankar, who was India’s ambassador in the United States at the time, admitted he found himself ‘without an answer’ to PM Modi, who was just months into his first term and in June this year, won a third straight term.

Meanwhile, the ex-foreign secretary also said bilateral ties between the two countries evolved in the past 10 years because of the ‘great efforts’ of people from both sides.

“This didn’t happen on auto-pilot. People, on both ends, made great efforts to build it,” Jaishankar remarked.

Further, the External Affairs Minister attributed the progress in India-Australia relations to four ‘key’ factors: the prime minister, the Australian government, global dynamics, and the contributions of the Indian diaspora in Australia.

“I want to highlight how much this relationship has changed in the last decade. There are four reasons. One is PM Modi, two Australia, three the world, and the fourth is all of you. That is why we have come a long way,” he stated.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jaishankar-recalls-pm-modis-question-on-ties-with-australia-that-left-him-speechless-i-had-no-answer-101730686631529.html

Businessman Utsav Dixit, who recently entered the entertainment industry, escaped from the spot but was traced and arrested.

Utsav Dixit, a Hyderabad-based businessman who recently entered the entertainment industry as a stand-up comedian, was arrested for allegedly crashing his luxury vehicle, a Porsche, against the wall of a park, police said on Sunday.

“The car collided against the boundary wall of KBR Park at about 5:45 am on Friday. It hit a tree and caused severe damage to the wall, grills, and pavement. Its front portion and wheels were damaged,” a police release, PTI reported.

Dixit escaped but was traced and arrested. The 33-year-old lost control over the car due to ‘reckless’ driving, resulting in the collision, the release noted.

“He was sent for alcohol and drug tests and other procedures as per the legal provisions. The Banjara Hills police station has registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), Motor Vehicle Act, and Prevention of Damage to Property (PDPP) Act,” it added.

Earlier, the incident was reported on the ‘Dial 100’ helpline by a citizen. The Porsche was found without a number plate; a broken one was found inside the car.

Dixit could now lose his driving rights as his license was sent to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) for disqualification.

Meanwhile, The Times of India reported that a court has instructed the police to issue a notice under Section 35 of the BNS to Dixit to appear for questioning. He will be asked for further details and his statement will be recorded and submitted to the court.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hyderabad-comedian-arrested-for-reckless-driving-that-led-to-car-crash-101730682128518.html

Superintendent of Police (Raebareli) Yashveer Singh said the allegations are being investigated by the additional superintendent of police and action will be taken based on his report.

A village head’s representative in Nasirabad area here was allegedly forced to lick his spit by the local police for “creating chaos” during a ‘nautanki’ programme organised without permission from the authorities, officials said on Sunday.
Superintendent of Police (Raebareli) Yashveer Singh said the allegations are being investigated by the additional superintendent of police and action will be taken based on his report.

Sushil Sharma, the representative of the head of Kapurpur village in Nasirabad, organised a ‘Nautanki’ programme without permission on October 30, Mr Singh said in a statement.

During the programme, he and his associates misbehaved with the people and created chaos under the influence of alcohol. The accused also misbehaved with a police team from the local police station after which five people, including Sharma, were taken into custody, it said.

Mr Sharma, however, said the police team reached the village late at night and asked him to stop the nautanki programme.

Sharma claimed that he and four others were detained and physically assaulted at the local police station while he was made to lick his spit.

He also accused Nasirabad SHO Shivakant Pandey of demanding a bribe of ₹ 2 lakh from him.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/up-man-allegedly-forced-to-lick-own-spit-by-cops-for-creating-chaos-6936695

A Revanth Reddy, who held a review meeting with Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, D Sridhar Babu, Damodar Raja Narasimha and senior officials reiterated that the state government is committed to conduct the Backward Class caste census.

Reddy, who held a review meeting with Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, D Sridhar Babu, Damodar Raja Narasimha and senior officials reiterated that the state government is committed to conduct the BC caste census.

The chief minister instructed the officials to take necessary steps to constitute the commission by tomorrow (Monday), an official release said.

The Telangana High Court on October 30 directed the state government to appoint within two weeks a dedicated commission in place of ‘Backward Classes Commission’ for conducting “contemporaneous, rigorous empirical data” for the purpose of providing reservations for OBCs in the local body elections in the state.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/telangana/form-panel-to-conduct-empirical-data-on-bc-quota-in-local-body-polls-telangana-cm-reddy-tells-officials-3260529

The recurring bomb threats have led to emergency landings and extensive inspections, causing significant financial losses for airlines and distress for passengers.

Bomb threats targeting both domestic and international flights across Mumbai and the country show no signs of stopping. On Tuesday alone, over 100 flights received bomb threats, although no explosives were found upon investigation. These threats are not new; in the last several days, more than 500 flights have received similar warnings. Aviation experts suggest that this could be a deliberate attempt to destabilize India’s growing economy, with perpetrators aiming to disrupt the aviation sector’s contribution to the country’s financial growth.

The recurring bomb threats have led to emergency landings and extensive inspections, causing significant financial losses for airlines and distress for passengers. To date, all threats have been false. Reports indicate that since October 14, bomb threats have been reported in over 510 flights, leading to losses exceeding ₹1,000 crore due to delays and disrupted schedules. The most frequent targets of these threats are flights to and from major hubs like Mumbai and Delhi.

These threats began on October 14 when social media posts claimed that bombs were planted on three flights. The threats have since escalated, with dozens of flights being targeted each day. The majority of these threats were posted on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, but these platforms have largely refrained from cooperating with aviation authorities under the premise of free speech. Mumbai Police have registered 14 cases so far, arresting a 17-year-old from Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, who made threats to take revenge on a friend, and a 25-year-old man named Shubham Upadhyay in Delhi, who admitted he made false claims to gain fame.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/bomb-threats-disrupt-over-500-flights-nationwide-aviation-sector-on-high-alert

The bridges connecting Vapi and Surat include those over the Kolak, Par, Auranga, and Kaveri rivers, among others. Work of other bridges in progress.

As of October 29, 2024, the bridge over the Kharera River in Navsari district has been completed, marking a significant milestone in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Corridor project. This achievement brings the total number of river bridges completed between Vapi and Surat to nine.

“The Kharera River bridge is notable for its length of 120 meters and consists of three full-span girders, each measuring 40 meters. The piers supporting the bridge range in height from 14.5 to 19 meters and include one circular pier with a diameter of 4 meters and three additional circular piers of 5 meters in diameter. Strategically located, the bridge sits approximately 45 kilometers from Vapi and just 6 kilometers from Bilimora Bullet Train stations” said an official.

In total, 12 of the 20 planned river bridges in Gujarat have now been completed as part of this vital infrastructure project. The bridges connecting Vapi and Surat include those over the Kolak, Par, Auranga, and Kaveri rivers, among others. Work of other bridges in progress.

“The completion of these river bridges is a significant step forward in enhancing connectivity and supporting the rapid transit system in the region, reinforcing the project’s importance for economic growth and development in Gujarat” further added official.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/mumbai-ahmedabad-bullet-train-project-big-update-all-9-river-bridges-completed-between-vapi-and-surat

Rajnath Singh said that the government’s efforts to achieve self-reliance are turning out to be highly successful as defence exports, which were around just ₹ 600 crore 10 years ago, crossed a record number of ₹ 21,000 crore in Financial Year 2023-24.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that India’s Aatmanirbhar drive was “yielding the desired results” and the country was poised to reach ₹ 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029-30.
Addressing the 65th Foundation Day celebrations at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, the Defence Minister called upon Indian youth to indigenously develop high-end technologies, which the country imports, to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.

He stressed on the need to get a hold on high-end technology, urging the young ignited minds to realise their potential and contribute to the country’s progress. He termed institutions like IIT Kanpur as academic engines, which can provide a dynamism to India in the present competitive environment.

Rajnath Singh said that the government’s efforts to achieve self-reliance are turning out to be highly successful as defence exports, which were around just ₹ 600 crore 10 years ago, crossed a record number of ₹ 21,000 crore in Financial Year 2023-24. He exuded confidence that the progress will continue and defence exports will reach ₹ 50,000 crore by 2029-30.

Highlighting the increasing role of technology in the defence ecosystem across the globe amidst ongoing conflicts, the Defence Minister said that the use of drones, laser warfare, cyber warfare, precision guided missiles and hypersonic missiles has transformed warfare into a technology-oriented one.

“The biggest hurdle in achieving ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence is that we are compelled to import some high-end technologies necessary for our items. There is a need to focus on the defence application of modern cutting-edge technologies in view of the changing nature of warfare,” he added.

Rajnath Singh assured the government’s full support in this endeavour and reiterated the commitment to take all stakeholders, including the private sector and academia, together to make India self-reliant in defence.

“India has dreamed of becoming a developed nation by 2047 on the strength of our youth. We must put in all our power to realise that dream. There is a proverb, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’. We need to walk together to achieve our target,” he said.

Enumerating the steps taken by the government to promote self-reliance and innovation in defence, Rajnath Singh spoke about the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative which provides a grant of ₹ 1.5 crore to innovators and start-ups.

He added that Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme was launched to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies, wherein start-ups are eligible to receive grant-in-aid of up to ₹ 25 crore for their research, development, and innovation endeavours in defence technology.

The Defence Minister pointed out that manufacturing of a technology involves three major steps – ideation, application & production – and institutions like IIT Kanpur can play a big role from incubating ideas to creation of products. He underscored the importance of coming out with products and technologies, which become a necessity for the Armed Forces once they are developed.

As part of the celebrations, IIT Kanpur hosted a special event on defence innovation, aligning with the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

Rajnath Singh visited a Defence Research, Product, and Incubation Showcase organised by the Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur, which highlighted pioneering solutions from 23 SIIC-incubated start-ups, presenting advancements in defence technology such as autonomous systems, AI-driven surveillance, and next-generation communication tools.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indias-defence-exports-to-touch-rs-50-000-crore-in-2029-30-rajnath-singh-6929922

The Waqf Board has reportedly claimed that certain lands were registered in its name 50 years ago. However, Parameshwara clarified that the Waqf and revenue records must align for any claims to be valid; otherwise, revenue records will take precedence.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said all district deputy commissioners have been instructed not to serve any notices to farmers under the Waqf Act.

He stated that the revenue records would be treated as final, and administrative actions would align with them.

“The Chief Minister has directed all deputy commissioners to withdraw any such notices or letters. The matter is now resolved, though we are uncertain about possible developments in the future,” Parameshwara told reporters here.

The Waqf Board has reportedly claimed that certain lands were registered in its name 50 years ago. However, Parameshwara clarified that the Waqf and revenue records must align for any claims to be valid; otherwise, revenue records will take precedence.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar accused the BJP of initiating the issuance of notices and altering the Records of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops (RTC) under the Waqf Act.

“The BJP began issuing notices and changing revenue records under the Waqf Act. We will not allow any farmer to be evicted from their land. If any officer acts otherwise, we will take corrective action,” Shivakumar told media in Mangaluru.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com//india/karnataka/withdraw-all-notices-sent-to-farmers-on-waqf-land-issues-karnataka-cm-siddaramaiah-tells-officials-3259707

The sprawling Rs 431 crore complex is at the centre of a massive row once again as CM Chandrababu Naidu accuses his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy of extravagant spending.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday once again trained his guns on his predecessor – YSRCP leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy – over the sprawling Rushikonda Palace the former CM built in Visakhapatnam. Referring to Reddy as “Andhra Escobar” – after the infamous Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar – Naidu said, “In total he (YS Jagan) did not spend even Rs 400 crores on irrigation project but for his own palace, he spent Rs 431 crores.” He accused the Chief Minister of extravagant spending, and misleading the public about the estate’s true purpose and use.

“You might have heard what they said during the construction of this place, at every point they started saying lies. They said that they are constructing this for tourism purposes; after that when some talks emerged, they said that this is for the stay for Prime Minister and President when they visit,” Naidu continued. “If Prime Minister or the President comes, they stay in a Naval guest house. That’s a small guest house. They never asked for this type of palace, but they even dragged them into this.”

Naidu further said, “Today I am asking the people of Andhra Pradesh, I am not able to understand his (Jagan) mindset. Is he thinking of himself as a king or much bigger than a king?”

Raising concerns over the lavish complex, Naidu said, “There is Vengi block. We understood 2-3 blocks but how did this Vengi block come up, we are not able to understand. They constructed a big block for the servants and people who will be working here.”

Elaborating further, he said, “Just now, if we see based on what our leaders said, there’s one 100 KVA sub station, 200 tonnes AC, central AC… We saw the fans. Once upon a time, I saw a chandelier. Now I saw fancy fans. Air condition also looks fancy which we never saw anywhere. I am also surprised, I have been to so many countries. How did these thieves get such a big idea? They used money like anything. It’s not their own money and they violated all the rules, not just one or two – National Green Tribunal, the High Court, Central government – they kept everyone aside and constructed as per their wish. They threatened the officer and got their work done. If there is a thorough inquiry, all these officers would be under fire. He is a cruel person and a big criminal, that is why I called him ‘Andhra Escobar’.”

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/watch-inside-the-rs-431-crore-palace-that-earned-jagan-mohan-reddy-pablo-escobar-title-from-chandrababu-naidu-article-114884292

Jaishankar said that India seeks friendship with as many countries as possible.

External affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Saturday said that “friendships are no longer exclusive”, referring to the emerging multipolar world. He added that India is positioning itself as a “Vishwamitra” and seeks friendship with as much countries as possible.

“What is perceived as freedom by one nation can be viewed as interference by another and emphasised that sensibilities regarding sovereignty and territorial integrity remain crucial in evaluating international partnerships,” ANI quoted Jaishankar as saying.

“Some friends may also be more complicated than others. They may not always share the same culture of mutual respect or ethos of diplomatic etiquette. We have, from time to time, seen comments on our domestic issues,” the minister added.

“However, the same courtesies are rarely accorded to the other side. What is freedom for one can apparently become interference from the other. The fact is that sensitivities like sovereignty and territorial integrity will always be a factor in evaluating partners,” Jaishankar said.

‘India not a dogmatic civilisation’: Jaishankar

Asserting that India is not a “dogmatic civilisation”, Jaishankar said that India seeks friendship with as many countries as possible.

“India is today positioning itself as a Vishwamitra. We seek to be friends with as many as possible… If you look deeper, there are cultural and historical factors at work as well, including the fact that we are not a dogmatic civilisation.”

“There is a capability aspect as well, which accounts for the self-confidence with which we approach the world,” he said.

Jaishankar said that there were cultural and historical factors to develop such friendships, including the fact that India was not a “dogmatic civilisation.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-positioning-itself-as-vishwamitra-jaishankar-on-multipolar-world-101730563212605.html

Delhi AQI today: A thick layer of smog engulfed the national capital, and the overall AQI was over 300 in most areas as of 8:30 am.

Delhi Air Quality Index (AQI) continues to deteriorate as it crossed the 400 mark on Sunday, two days after Diwali. The air pollution level now lies in the alarming ‘hazardous’ category in the national capital as of 10:30 am, which is detrimental to the health of people living in Delhi and its adjoining areas.

A thick layer of smog engulfed the national capital, and the AQI was recorded above 300 in most areas, making Delhi-NCR’s PM2.5 levels over 50 times more threatening than the WHO-prescribed limit, according to the AQICN data.

An AQI, which is a report of the quality of air in a region, is considered ‘poor’ between 200-300, ‘very poor’ at 301 and 400, severe at 401 and 450 and above 450 is “severe-plus” and can cause damaging health concerns to residents.

Meanwhile, the AQI figure soared from 327 to 447 within 12 hours in Delhi. At 9 pm on Saturday, Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 327 in most areas. In areas like Anand Vihar, the AQI remained above 500 after 8:30 am.

Alipur, Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Aaya Nagar, Bawana, Burari, Mathura Road, IGI Airport, Dwarka, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Narela, Patparganj, Rohini, Shadipur, Sonia Vihar, Wazirpur, Mandir Marg, Nehru Nagar, Najafgarh and other weather-monitoring stations witnessed “very poor” air quality, according to the Sameer app that provides hourly updates of the National AQI published by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/delhincr-air-pollution-65-times-above-who-acceptable-limit-aqi-crosses-500-mark-101730593066677.html

Jagdish Uikey, 35, from Gondia, a Maoist-affected district in Maharashtra, had emailed the PMO and other officials nearly 100 times since January.

A serial hoax mailer, who was detained in Maharashtra’s Nagpur for sending nearly 100 emails targeting the prime minister’s office (PMO), top government officials, and various flights and trains across India intended to publish a book titled “Atankwad-Ek Tufaani Rakshash (Terrorism: A Demonic Storm)”.

Jagdish Uikey, 35, from Gondia, a Maoist-affected district in Maharashtra, had emailed the PMO and other officials approximately 100 times since January, seeking endorsement for his book on terrorism, according to Nagpur DCP for cybercrime, Lohit Matani. Uikey requested support for his book and eventually began sending false alerts out of frustration.

“Prima facie, he seemed to be pursuing PMO and others to get his book published with repeated emails, but later he switched to sending hoax mails in frustration,” police commissioner Ravinder Singal told The Times of India.

According to Nagpur’s additional CP, Sanjay Patil, Uikey’s book appears to be a basic compilation of terrorist theories readily available online.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/man-who-sent-over-100-fake-bomb-threats-to-flights-pmo-wanted-to-publish-a-book-on-terrorism-101730603916522.html

Mumbai Police received the death threat against Yogi Adityanath, where the blackmailer threatened to kill him like NCP leader Baba Siddique.

A death threat against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was received by the Mumbai Police on Saturday, following which all security forces have been put on high alert.

The Mumbai Police Traffic Control Cell received a call from an unknown number on Saturday evening. The alleged blackmailer threatened that Adityanath would face similar consequences as slain NCP leader Baba Siddique if he did not resign within 10 days.

Security forces are on high alert after receiving the threatening message. The Mumbai police are currently investigating the matter and are also attempting to locate the perpetrator of the death threat against Adityanath.

Baba Siddique Murder Case

Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar, was killed after being shot by three individuals in Bandra East, Mumbai, on October 12 evening.

The 66-year-old politician was shot in the chest after which he was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital where he succumbed to the injuries. The leader had received a death threat just 15 days ago and was under ‘Y’ category security.

So far, the police arrested 15 accused in the case and are still searching for alleged masterminds Gautam, Zeeshan Akhtar, and Shubham Lonkar. The key shooter, Shivkumar Gautam, is also absconding. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch initiated the process for the extradition of Gangster Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, in connection with the case.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/death-threat-against-yogi-adityanath-in-mumbai-security-forces-on-alert-9107635.html

An officer from the elite 21 Para-Special Forces unit, Col Mahadik was awarded a Sena Medal for gallantry during Operation Rhino in the North-East in 2003.

Classmates of an Army officer from Maharashtra, who laid down his life battling militants near the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, have sent 300 kg sweets to soldiers in his unit.

Col Santosh Mahadik, the Commanding Officer of 41 Rashtriya Rifles, was critically injured during the operation in the Haji Naka forest area of Kupwara in November 2015 and succumbed to his injuries at a hospital later.

The “mithai” boxes, weighing 300 kg, landed at Srinagar airport from Chandigarh in an Air Force transport aircraft and were delivered to personnel of the 41 Rashtriya Rifles, for distribution among the soldiers the martyr once commanded, a classmate of Col Mahadik, involved in this initiative, told PTI.

Col Mahadik was an alumnus of Sainik School, Satara in Maharashtra.

“Like we do every Diwali, this time also we thought of his comrades in arms, who suffer harsh climes and the enemy from across the border. We thought this would be a nice gesture for soldiers, who spend Diwali away from their families,” he said.

An officer from the elite 21 Para-Special Forces unit, Col Mahadik was awarded a Sena Medal for gallantry during Operation Rhino in the North-East in 2003.

An ace football goalkeeper, a skilled horse-rider and a tough boxer, Col Mahadik was an all-rounder, his friends recalled.

Despite the inhospitable terrain that made the Kupwara operation immensely challenging, the colonel particularly chose to lead his unit.

Col Mahadik’s classmates, who include several serving and retired officers from the armed forces, have launched the initiative which they call ‘Operation Diwali’.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/classmates-of-army-officer-killed-in-action-in-kashmir-send-diwali-sweets-for-unit-jawans-article-114874356

“The people of Sagarpur, Dwarka had called me and the situation there is very bad. I went to a house and black water was being supplied there. I filled that black water in a bottle and I brought that water here, at the Chief Minister’s residence,” Swati Maliwal said.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Swati Maliwal visited Chief Minister Atishi’s residence on Saturday, carrying a bottle of contaminated water reportedly supplied to residents in Sagarpur and Dwarka. Expressing her frustration over Delhi’s persistent water crisis, the Rajya Sabha MP poured the polluted water in front of the CM’s residence as a warning, threatening a larger protest if the issue remains unaddressed.

“The people of Sagarpur, Dwarka had called me and the situation there is very bad. I went to a house and black water was being supplied there. I filled that black water in a bottle and I brought that water here, at the Chief Minister’s residence,” Swati Maliwal said.

“Since 2015 we have been hearing that next year everything will be fine. That black water which I have brought with me, will Delhi have to drink this water? I warned the Chief Minister that what I have done today is only a glimpse. If within fifteen days she does not fix the water supply of entire Delhi, I will bring a whole tanker full of such water,” she warned.

“I am leaving this water for her. She can bathe with this water, drink this water or purify her sins… Chhath Puja is coming. Today was Govardhan Puja, yesterday was Diwali and this is the condition of Delhi… Who can drink this water and live? Who can stay alive after drinking this water? The Chief Minister is also the Water Minister. Is her job just to make fun by holding ten press conferences every day?” Maliwal asked as he hit out at Delhi Chief Minister.

Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi was sworn in as Delhi’s eighth chief minister on September 21, 2024, after AAP’s national convener, Arvind Kejriwal, resigned on September 17.

Delhi’s PM2.5 levels up by 13% on Diwali night this year: Report

The national capital’s PM2.5 levels hit a peak by midnight on Diwali this year, which was 13 per cent higher than the peaks observed last year and in 2022, a recent analysis showed.

The Diwali night this year had higher nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels that indicates high traffic congestion, a report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said, as reported by PTI.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/will-delhi-drink-this-swati-maliwal-pours-polluted-water-outside-cm-atishis-residence-article-114886876

The tremor was recorded at 3.58 am with its epicentre located 53 km north-east of Lakhpat, the Gandhinagar-based ISR said.

A tremor of 3.4 magnitude was experienced in Gujarat’s Kutch district early on Sunday, the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said.

The tremor was recorded at 3.58 am with its epicentre located 53 km north-east of Lakhpat, the Gandhinagar-based ISR said.

No casualty or loss of property was reported in the district due to the seismic activity.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/earthquake-of-3-4-magnitude-hits-gujarats-kutch-article-114902317

Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, former MD of Go First who resigned in August 2017, faced accusations of transferring confidential information to his personal and a third party’s email during his tenure.

The Bombay High Court has recently quashed a first information report (FIR) against Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, the former Managing Director of Go First Airlines (formerly GoAir), in a data theft case [Wolfgang Prock-Schauer v. State of Maharashtra].

The Bench comprising Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande held that the case lacked sufficient evidence to proceed.

“The continuation of the proceedings against the Petitioner would be nothing short of mere procedural rigmarole,” the Court added.

Prock-Schauer, who served as MD and resigned in August 2017, faced accusations of transferring confidential information from his official email to his personal account and a third party’s email during his tenure.

The offences cited against him included criminal breach of trust under Section 408 of the Indian Penal Code and violations of Sections 43(b) and 66 of the Information Technology Act.

Go First claimed he had not only shared sensitive data but also formatted his iPad, resulting in financial losses for the company.

In his defense, Prock-Schauer argued that the documents he sent to himself were related to negotiations with Airbus, necessary for preparing official presentations during business trips.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/bombay-high-court-quashes-data-theft-fir-formergofirstmd

The Court also directed Tamil Nadu government to establish “Child Tobacco Cessation Centres” in all districts across the State to ensure that minors addicted to using banned tobacco products are counselled and treated.

The Madras High Court recently urged Union government to consider the grave impact of filter tobacco products such as cool lip on students and to issue orders under the Food Safety Act to ban sale of such products.

Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy also directed the Tamil Nadu government to establish “Child Tobacco Cessation Centres” in all districts across the State to ensure that minors addicted to using banned tobacco products are counselled and treated.

The Court issued these directions after noting a sudden spurt in children using such products with at least ten bail cases related to such products coming up before the Court daily.

“Extreme emergency looms. There is a sudden spurt of children using Tobacco product more specifically a product named Cool Lip. Huge quantity of tobacco products is seized in State of Tamil Nadu especially in and around the schools. Decision has to be made by this Court in at least 10 cases per day relating to grant of bail in these types of matters,” the High Court noted.

The Court was hearing a bail application filed by one Aunestraja who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody in August this year after he was found in possession of 27 packets of Cool Lip tobacco products. The State claimed that he had purchased the Cool Lip products from other States and smuggled them into Tamil Nadu.

The High Court had granted him interim bail in September this year.

On October 30, the Court passed an order making such bail absolute.

While doing so, the Court also expressed concern over the rise in use of tobacco products among school students.

It also took note of the helplessness expressed by State authorities in clamping down on any smuggling of tobacco and filter tobacco products from other States into Tamil Nadu.

Justice Chakravarthy said that while the sale of such products is prohibited in Tamil Nadu and some other States, the Union government can consider taking further steps under Section 86 of the Food Safety Act to ensure that students across the country do not get access to such products.

“As such, the State Governments are bound to comply with the directions and therefore the Central Government shall consider the grave nature of the situation and issue further directions under Section 86 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The wide use, immense popularity and appeal to the children and the unique nature of these new dipping/filter tobacco products shall be taken into consideration,” the High Court said while disposing of the petition.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/madras-high-court-urges-centre-ban-filter-tobacco-products

Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua observed that such children are living beings and the same needs to be acknowledged in law.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court recently observed that children cannot be denied the registration of their births merely because they were born out of an unregistered or a legally invalid marriage.

Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua held that the birth of children from a relationship that may not have the sanctity of law has to be considered independently of such a relationship.

“The relationship between the parents may not be sanctioned by law but the birth of a child in such relationship has to be viewed independently of the relationship of the parents. A child born in such relationship is innocent and is entitled to all the rights which are given to other children born in valid marriage. This is the crux of the amendment in Section16(3) of the Hindu Marriage Act,” the Court said in its October 17 order.

The Court added that such children are living beings and this needs to be acknowledged in law.

The Court was dealing with a plea filed by a woman on behalf of her three minor children. Their counsel informed the Court that the marriage between the parents of these children was solemnised in 2011, and that the couple had been living as husband and wife since then.

Notably, this marriage could not be registered as the husband was still legally married to his first wife, who was in poor health and had given her husband permission to enter into a second marriage.

In other words, the union was not viewed as legally valid since it violated Section 4(a) of the Special Marriage Act, 1954 which says that a person cannot enter into a marriage if he has another living spouse.

Since the marriage was not viewed as legally valid or registered, the State authorities declined to register the births of the children born out of this union as well in the Panchayat records, namely in the Birth Register and the Pariwar (family) Register

The Court, however, disagreed with the decision taken by the Panchayat authorities and said that the children of even invalid unions cannot be denied recognition in law.

The Bench added that this is also recognised in Section 16 (3) of the Hindu Marriage Act, which provides that though a marriage may be null and void, a child born from such marriage would still be treated as legitimate.

There was nothing in the Special Marriage Act or the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj General Rules which barred the registration of names of children born out of an unregistered marriage in the birth or family records, the Court further observed.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/birth-registration-children-invalid-marriage-himachal-pradesh-high-court