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Wednesday, 1 November 2023

Police clampdown in Ludhiana reflects CM’s fear of facing questions during debate: Sunil Jakhar

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Tuesday, 31 October 2023

ED questions Rajasthan CM son Vaibhav Gehlot for 8 hours

New Delhi: Vaibhav Gehlot, son of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was questioned for over eight hours on Monday by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in FEMA case.

He said that he has given all the answers to agency.

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Speaking to the media after the ED questioning, Vaibhav said, “They (ED) have not called me again tomorrow. They did a detailed interrogation, I have given my answers.”

Vaibhav was summoned by the ED in connection with a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case and was asked to appear before it on Friday. However, he skipped the ED summons asking for more time and also informed that he would be appearing before it on Monday.

The summons to Vaibhav were issued in connection with the agency’s action in August this year in connection with a FEMA case involving Triton Hotels and Resorts Pvt. Ltd., Vardha Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. and its Directors, Promoters Shiv Shankar Sharma, Rattan Kant Sharma and others..

The ED had earlier in a statement in September this year said that it had carried out searches on August 29 to 31 at various locations in Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai and Delhi in connection with the case.

It had also said that during the search operations, unaccounted cash of Rs 1.27 crore, various incriminating documents including digital evidences, hard disks, mobiles etc. were seized which reveal large scale transactions done by the group out of books of account. Unaccounted cash receipts have been invested in development of Hotels.

The ED had registered a case on the basis of credible information wherein Triton Hotels and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. received FDI from Mauritius-based Shivnar Holdings Ltd at a huge premium which was revised several times violating FEMA provisions.

It said that information further revealed that Triton Group has been involved in “Hawala transactions” having “cross border implications”.

The sources said that Vaibhav question was necessitated after Rattan Kant Sharma’s alleged links with him. Rattan Kant Sharma has been a business partner of Vaibhav in a car rental company in the past.

On Thursday, the Chief Minister had shared the copy of the summon issued to his son by the ED asking him to appear before it in FEMA case.

The Chief Minister has also slammed the BJP government questioning the timing of the ED searches in Rajasthan on Thursday including the premises of state unit chief Govind Singh Dotasara and summons to his son.

The polling for the 200 member assembly polls in Rajasthan is scheduled on November 25 and counting of votes will take place on December 3.

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Amit Jogi to take on Baghel, says fight is against graft

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Monday, 30 October 2023

Bengaluru: BMTC buses mow down 2 within 24 hours, drivers held

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World Cup: No other Indian World Cup team has marched as imperiously as Rohit Sharma’s men in 2023

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Sunday, 29 October 2023

Mumbai: More than 30% increase in organ donations

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No one has harmed tribals more than Jharkhand CM Soren: Nadda in Ranchi

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Saturday, 28 October 2023

Buzz in Maha after BJP posts video of I will return remarks of Fadnavis

Mumbai: The Maharashtra BJP on Friday posted a four-year-old video of its leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announcing that he will return to helm the state, prompting speculation in political circles.

“I will return for building a new Maharashtra,” the state BJP posted in the evening on social media platform X, along with the video.

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However, the post was deleted two hours later.

Before the Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019, Fadnavis, then-chief minister, had said, “Mi punha yein” (I will return). The remarks had evoked many social media memes.

Fadnavis is now one of the two deputy chief ministers in Maharashtra, the other one being Ajit Pawar of the NCP’s rebel faction.

Maharashtra BJP’s chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said there is no need to draw “any other conclusion” from the video posted on Friday.

“BJP’s stance is clear. This video has also been posted earlier on social media. Fadnavis has said the next state elections will be fought under Shinde’s leadership,” he told a TV channel.

“There is no need for the Shinde group to be apprehensive (over the video). Shinde and Fadnavis share a good rapport and coordination. Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are working together for development of Maharashtra,” Upadhye said.

CM Eknath Shinde told a TV channel that he is yet to see the video posted by state BJP unit.

BJP leader Pravin Darekar said Fadnavis has already made it clear that the state government is working fine under Shinde’s leadership.

Former CM and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan wondered if there is a move afoot to replace Shinde as CM. “Maybe Shinde is being made the scapegoat. Such a move may be because the government led by him has failed to tackle important issues,” Chavan added.

The state BJP posted the video two days after Fadnavis visited New Delhi and met senior party leaders.
The Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the NCP (Ajit Pawar group) and the BJP are part of the state’s ruling coalition.

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In war-ravaged Ukraine, soldiers’ families demand cap on military service time

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Friday, 27 October 2023

Judge says he’ll look at Donald Trump’s comments, reconsider $10,000 fine for gag order violation

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Thursday, 26 October 2023

Cong to observe fourth anniversary of J-K becoming union territory on Oct 31 as ‘black day’

Jammu: The Congress on Wednesday said it would observe October 31, the day the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir officially became a union territory four years ago, as a “black day”.

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Vikar Rasool Wani accused the BJP of destroying the princely state by dividing it into two union territories and demanded immediate restoration of its statehood.

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On August 5, 2019, the Centre revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, which contains provisions to divide the state into two union territories came into effect from October 31, 2019.

Addressing a meeting of the Congress’ Rajouri district unit, Wani said, “The Jammu and Kashmir administration and some people who were describing it as a temporary move are making preparations to celebrate UT diwas (on October 31). The Congress will observe it as a black day’ to lodge a protest against the policies of the BJP, which has ruined the state.”

A lot of harm has been caused to Jammu and Kashmir, which was a gift of Maharaja Hari Singh (the last Dogra ruler) to India, he said.

“The Congress has turned union territories into states but this was for the first time in the history of the country that a state was turned into two union territories and its special status was revoked,” he added.

Targeting the BJP, the Congress leader said, “The BJP’s policies hit Jammu and Kashmir economically — we are number one in unemployment and our businesses are now on the decline.”

Wani said the last assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held in 2014.

Since the BJP fears that it will be defeated due to its anti-people policies, it is not allowing elections to be held, even though polls have been announced in some other parts of the country, he said.

“Even the urban local body and panchayat polls are being deferred to hide the failures of the BJP,” he added.

The Congress leader also slammed the Jammu and Kashmir administration for not being able to fill up vacancies in government departments and claimed no post of a teacher has been filled up since 2010 and the situation is the same in police, electricity, water, forest, fisheries and other departments.

Wani urged party workers to set aside their differences and stand united against the BJP as “everyone wants this government to go”.

He also asked them to remain cautious of political parties that have a “secret alliance” with the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

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Earning big bucks from globetrotting franchise gigs never a temptation: Heinrich Klaasen chose domestic grind to represent country

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Wednesday, 25 October 2023

Rahul Gandhi to campaign in Telangana in November first week

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Telangana

Hyderabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Telangana in the first week of next month to participate in the second phase of bus yatra as part of the party’s campaign for the November 30 Assembly elections.

While the schedule of his visit is yet to be finalised, he is likely to cover south Telangana districts during this phase.

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Gandhi, along with his sister and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi had launched the election campaign on October 18 with a public meeting in Mulugu.

Rahul Gandhi participated in Vijayabheri bus yatra on October 19 and 20 covering various constituencies in five districts in north Telangana.

State party Working President Mahesh Kumar Goud said the second phase of bus Yatra will start from October 28.

The party, however, has not yet finalised the schedule and the leaders who will participate in it. Congress incharge for Telangana Manikrao Thakare, state unit chief A. Revanth Reddy, MPs Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Uttam Kumar Reddy and other senior leaders will campaign on October 26 and 27.

They will visit two constituencies a day to explain to people the six guarantees announced by the party.

Priyanka Gandhi will visit the state again on October 31. She will address a public meeting in Mahabubnagar district.

Titled ‘Palamuru Praja Beri’ public meeting, it will be held in Kollapur constituency where former minister Jupally Krishna Rao is the party candidate.

Goud said after reaching Shamshabad Airport in Hyderabad, Priyanka Gandhi will leave for Kollapur. He said a meeting of the Central Election Committee (CEC) of the party would be held in Delhi on Wednesday. The second list of candidates is likely to be announced after the meeting. He said the CEC will decide the candidate for Nizamabad Urban assembly segment, where he is one of the aspirants.

Former Mayor D. Sanjay, former DCC president Taher Bin Hamdan and TPCC former Secretary N. Ratnakar are also the aspirants.

Goud said Muslims were demanding tickets for Adilabad, Nizamabad, and Mahbubnagar seats. Claiming that minorities are backing the party, he said only Congress can do justice to minorities.

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Apple announces ‘Scary Fast’ product launch just before Halloween

Apple Scary fast

New Delhi: Apple on Tuesday announced a special product launch event on October 30, calling it “Scary Fast” just before the Halloween festival which is on October 31.

According to earlier reports, Apple is preparing to reveal updates for the Mac lineup.

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“You’re invited to watch a special Apple Event online. Tune in at apple.com,” the company said in an invite.

Apple may be planning to announce a refreshed 24-inch iMac at the event, along with a new MacBook Pro, according to reports.

Previous rumours indicated the new computers could include Apple’s new M3 chip for even faster performance.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the tech giant may end “an over 900-day drought since the M1 iMac launched in the first half of 2021”.

He was “told that Apple is planning a Mac-centered product launch around the end of this month”.

According to the report, several configurations of the iMac, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and other higher-end Pro models won’t ship until November.

The tech giant organised its “Wonderlust” event in September, where it revealed the new iPhone 15 lineup, Apple Watch Series 9, and AirPods Pro with USB-C charging.

Meanwhile, Apple has brought more choice to iPad users with a new and affordable Apple Pencil that offers pixel-perfect accuracy, low latency and tilt sensitivity.

The new Apple Pencil will be available for Rs 7,900 (Rs 6,900 for education) beginning in early November.

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With strong physical fitness having worked in farms, Sarabjot pushes to secure India’s eighth Paris Olympics quota in shooting

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Tuesday, 24 October 2023

Rajasthan polls: Congress MLA Danish Abrar’s car pelted with stones

Danish Abrar- X

Jaipur: Congress MLA Danish Abrar was shown black flags by a group of people and his vehicle pelted with stones in Sawai Madhopur district on Monday.

Abrar is the MLA from the Sawai Madhopur seat and the party has declared him its candidate from this seat for the upcoming assembly elections despite protests against him.

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The incident took place on Malarna Chaud bypass when Abrar was travelling with his mother and other family members. The group stopped his car and showed Abrar black flags. Some of them also pelted stones at the vehicle damaging its window panes.

Abrar said “anti-social” elements were behind the attack. Police said some of the accused have been identified and they would be caught soon. Abrar has been facing stiff resistance in Sawai Madhopur and Jaipur from some of his own party members, who have opposed his candidature.

BJP has fielded Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Meena from Sawai Madhopur seat.

STORY | Rajasthan: Congress MLA Danish Abrar's car pelted with stones

READ: https://t.co/cPHKmfddoD

VIDEO: pic.twitter.com/65cuaAoQsV
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 23, 2023

Meanwhile, in Dausa district, some local Congress leaders protested against the candidature of Om Prakash Hudla from Mahuwa seat. Hudla had contested the 2018 elections as an independent candidate after the BJP denied him the ticket. The Congress has given him the ticket apparently for supporting the Gehlot government during the 2020 political crisis in the state.

In Bikaner, Congress leader Rajkumar Kiradu on Monday resigned from the membership of Vipra Welfare Board for Brahmin community in protest against the party ticket to Cabinet minister B D Kalla from Bikaner West seat. Kiradu said that the party has given the ticket to Kalla for the 10th time.

“I am very angry with this decision of the Congress party. I will do everything to defeat the party in Bikaner,” the disgruntled leader said.

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Ram temple Trust rolls out training course for priests

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Monday, 23 October 2023

Abu Dhabi Masters: Ashwini Ponnappa-Tanisha Crasto, Unnati Hooda clinch titles at Super 100 event

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Congress releases 3rd and final list of candidates for Chhattisgarh polls

New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday released its third and final list of seven candidates for the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly elections.

With this, the party has now announced candidates for all the 90 seats of Chhattisgarh assembly.

Ambica Singh Deo has been fielded from Baikunthpur, Chaturi Nand from Saraipali (SC), Rashmi Chandrakar from Mahasamund, Sandeep Sahu from Kasdol, Kuldeep Juneja from Raipur City North, Ambika Markam from Sihawa (ST), and Omkar Sahu from Dhamtar.

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The first phase of polling for 20 seats will be held on November 7, and the remaining 70 seats will go to polls on November 17.

Counting of votes will take place on December 3.

In 2018, the Congress had decimated the BJP by winning 68 out of the 90 seats.

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In MP, discontent in BJP, Cong ranks hits a flashpoint over candidate lists

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Sunday, 22 October 2023

Sikkim flood: Part of NH-10 restored for 4-wheeler movement

National Highway

Gangtok: Over two weeks after parts of Sikkim were devastated by a flash flood, the authorities have opened the damaged National Highway 10 for one-way movement for four-wheelers, according to a government notification on Saturday.

People now can use NH-10, considered the lifeline for the state, to drive between Sikkim’s capital Gangtok and Siliguri in West Bengal for 12 hours from 6 am.

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The transport department notification also provided two routes for heavy vehicles to move between these two places, avoiding the NH-10.

The government has taken several measures so that prices of essential commodities such as food items and medicines do not escalate, as the suggested routes are longer than the ones used to be taken earlier, the notification said.

The flash flood in the Teesta river that hit the Himalayan state in the wee hours of October 4 left at least 78 people dead in Sikkim and northern West Bengal.

In its 7 pm bulletin on Saturday, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said that the toll is 42 while 77 others are missing.

Authorities of the Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal said 53 bodies of victims of the flood have been recovered so far and 14 of them were identified. The number of bodies of West Bengal residents is only three.

Sikkim government officials said they are only taking those bodies found in West Bengal in the lower reaches of Teesta which have been identified into account while tabulating the death toll. This would imply that the total death toll could be as high as 78 and the number of missing reduced by 36 to 41.

Jalpaiguri district officials said they have been sending photographs of bodies found. However, some of the bodies have been smashed on boulders or have bloated beyond recognition making identification difficult.

There are chances of duplication in the number of casualties reported by the two neighbouring states.

In four affected districts of Sikkim, Pakyang has reported the maximum number of deaths 27 including 11 Army men. The other three districts – Gangtok (8), Mangan (4) and Namchi (3) have accounted for the remaining 15 deaths, the SSDMA said.

In order to keep prices of essential commodities stable, the state government has decided not to levy supervision charges on trucks carrying such items till October 31.

Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) will also be made available at Rangpo and Siliguri to the public on demand at normal fares to carry essential commodities, the notification added.

Meanwhile, the Army and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have been working on to connect places which were cut off because of the flood.

The two have started construction of bailey bridges both at Sanklang and Chungthang.

“Construction of the bailey bridge at Sanklang is likely to be completed within a few days. Whereas, at Chungthang, abutment construction work is under progress and the bridge is likely to be completed by Diwali,” a defence official said.

In addition, BRO workers are working to restore connectivity amid the tough terrain between villages Naga and Ritchu to evacuate the stranded villagers.

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Mumbai Port initiates revamp of Bhaucha Dhakka fishing terminal in Mazgaon

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Saturday, 21 October 2023

World Cup: Aiden Markram’s rollercoaster journey from a deflated young man to South Africa’s mainstay

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Republican Jim Jordan loses third US House vote as opposition grows

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Mephedrone factory in Nashik was planned by Lalit Patil and chemical engineer in Yerawada jail: Police

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India should take balanced stand, demand immediate ceasefire, says ex-Palestinian Authority minister

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Friday, 20 October 2023

PM Modi condoles death of civilians at Gaza hospital in call with Prez Abbas

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to convey condolences over the loss of civilian lives in an attack on the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza and assured him that India will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians.

During the phone conversation with Abbas, Modi also reiterated India’s long-standing “principled position” on the Israel-Palestine issue but at the same time shared with him New Delhi’s “deep concern” over terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region.

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“Spoke to President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. Shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region,” Modi said on ‘X’.

“Reiterated India’s long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue,” the Prime Minister added.

It was Modi’s first conversation with Abbas since militant group Hamas carried out the unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7.

The call also came two days after an explosion rocked the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza that killed about 500 people, triggering strong international condemnation.

Palestinian authorities blamed Israeli air strikes for the explosion at the hospital while Israel said it was caused by a misfired rocket launched from Gaza by the militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

At a media briefing External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, replying to a question on the attack on the hospital in Gaza, said India is for strict observance of the international humanitarian law.

Referring to Hamas’s multi-pronged attack on Israeli cities, he said the international community must stand together in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

He said around 1200 Indians and 18 Nepali nationals have come back to India in five flights from Tel Aviv under ‘Operation Ajay’ and that the government was monitoring the situation and decided accordingly on facilitating the return of more people.

“We have strongly condemned the horrific terrorist attack on Israel, and we believe the international community must stand together in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” Bagchi said.

On the Palestine issue, he said India has been in favour of direct negotiations for having a two-state solution.

“As regards Palestine, we have reiterated our long-standing position of advocating the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel,” he said.

“We have also expressed our concern at the civilian casualties due to the ongoing conflict. We also remain concerned about the humanitarian situation,” Bagchi said.

“We would urge the full respect and strict observance of international humanitarian law,” he said, replying to a question on Tuesday’s attack on Al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza.

Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday expressed shock at the loss of lives in the attack on the hospital and said those involved in civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict should be held responsible.

“Civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious and continuing concern. Those involved should be held responsible,” Modi said on X.

To a question on humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people, Bagchi said India has been supporting them.

“India has been supporting Palestine and Palestinian refugees through significant contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). A total of USD 29.53 million has been contributed to UNRWA between 2002 and 2023,” he said.

“The Indian annual contribution to UNRWA was increased from USD 1.25 million to USD 5 million in 2018. India has pledged an annual contribution of USD 5 million for the next two years (FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25),” Bagchi said.

The latest conflict has been triggered by the unprecedented and multi-pronged attacks against Israel by Hamas militants on October 7. Israel has launched a massive counter-offensive in Gaza to avenge the attacks.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 3,300 people have been killed and over 12,000 wounded in Gaza since the conflict began.

Answering a question, Bagchi said there has been no report of any Indian casualty yet and that an Indian woman, who has sustained injuries, is recovering well.

A caregiver from Kerala had sustained injuries in the attacks by Hamas.

The sudden escalation in hostilities between Israel and Palestine has triggered global concerns. Leading powers like Germany, the US, France and the UK emphasised the importance of preventing the situation from further escalation.

US President Joe Biden has already visited Israel, showing solidarity with the Israeli people. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also paid a visit to Israel.

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Cricket World Cup: SL pacer Matheesha Pathirana doubtful for rest of tournament, opener Kusal Perera likely to miss Netherlands tie

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Thursday, 19 October 2023

Tripura govt asks Durga Puja organisers to join fight against drug menace

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Wednesday, 18 October 2023

Mahua Moitra matter goes to LS Ethics Committee: What it does and who all are in it

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Tuesday, 17 October 2023

Karan Johar reveals he did not see Kuch Kuch Hota Hai with the audience in India: ‘We had some threatening calls at that time, my parents and I had to fly out’

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Monday, 16 October 2023

Urvashi Rautela files police complaint after losing her ’24 carat real gold iPhone’ during India-Pakistan match: ‘Please help’

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Ahmedabad jeweller makes feather-light replica of Cricket World Cup trophy

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Sunday, 15 October 2023

World Cup: Stern English test awaits Afghanistan

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BJP attacks Nitish for holding teachers’ training during Durga Puja holidays

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Row erupts over Professor K S Bhagawan’s ‘anti-Vokkaliga’ remark, several groups stage protest in Mysuru

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Saturday, 14 October 2023

Vivo PMLA case: Court extends ED custody of accused by 3 days

Smartphone brand Vivo exits German market

New Delhi: A court here on Friday extended by three days the ED custody of four people arrested in a money laundering case against Chinese smart phone maker Vivo, including the managing director of Lava International mobile company and a Chinese national.

The four accused were produced before Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala on completion of their three-day ED custody.

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On Friday, the agency moved four separate applications seeking extension of their custody by 10 days but the court granted it only three more days for custodial interrogation of the accused.

“I am of the considered opinion that the ED is able to make out the case for grant of further custody remand. However, it is clarified that the ED is duty bound to explain that the custody period is properly utilised for the purposes of investigation,” ASJ Jangala said.

“The accused persons namely Hari Om Rai, Nitin Garg, Rajan Malik and Guangwen Kuang alias Andrew are accordingly further remanded to ED custody till October 16,” the judge added.

The court directed that the interrogation be conducted at a place having CCTV coverage and the footage be preserved.

“Accused persons shall be medically examined once in every 48 hours during the above period the accused persons shall also be permitted to meet their Advocates for half an hour daily between 6pm to 7pm during the said period of their ED custody in a manner that the ED officials are not able to hear their conversations,” the court said.

Noting that the public prosecutor had submitted on Tuesday that Hari Om Rai has not taken food despite it being served in custody, the court said Rai wanted to have an audience with higher officers of the ED.

This request was, however, strongly opposed by the prosecutor who said it was prohibited under the PMLA.

The court then said, “The officers of ED are public servants subservient to the Constitution of India, hence bound to hear the grievance of any person, including the accused.” It said there was no such prohibition under the PMLA.

“Accordingly, the investigating officer is directed to produce the accused Hari Om Rai before the Joint Director/Special Director of ED to give him a personal hearing for redressal of his grievance relating to the ED,” the court said.

During the proceedings, the prosecution sought extension of their custody so they could be interrogated further. It said they had to be confronted with 13 witnesses and digital data from multiple devices had to be extracted.

The defence counsel opposed the agency’s plea, claiming the ED was engaging in “flagrant violation of procedures”.

The four accused were taken arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The agency had raided the company and individuals linked to it in July last year, claiming to have busted a major money laundering racket involving Chinese nationals and multiple Indian companies.

The ED had then alleged that a whopping Rs 62,476 crore was “illegally” transferred by Vivo to China in order to avoid payment of taxes in India.

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Arctic Open 2023: PV Sindhu comes from behind to win marathon clash against Thuy Linh Nguyen and enter semifinals

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Friday, 13 October 2023

Telangana polls: Eatala Rajender to contest Huzurabad, Gajwel

Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state election management committee chairman Etala Rajender will contest from two constituencies – Huzurabad and Gajwel. The announcement was m,ade on Thursday, October 12.

It should be noted that chief minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) supremo K Chandrashekar Rao also plans to contest from the Gajwel and Kamareddy assembly constituencies. This will be an interesting fight between the former TRS (now BRS) leader and once a close aide to KCR.

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Rajender joined the saffron party after his name surfaced following land encroachment allegations. In November 2021, he won the Huzurabad seat with a margin of 23,855 votes.

Telangana goes to polls on November 30 and counting will be held on December 3. The Assembly consists of 119 seats.

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53-yr old cab driver held for sexually assaulting, blackmailing minor niece

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How squash helped Abhay Singh drop 26 kilos in a year as a teen, and propelled him to stardom after Asian Games

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Thursday, 12 October 2023

Information asymmetry prevalent in current world order: Kerala CM Vijayan

Kerala CM accuses Sangh Parivar of treating minorities as 'enemies', BJP hits back

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday highlighted the prevalent information asymmetry in the current world order, which hinders the dissemination of models that address various challenges.

Speaking at the 20th anniversary of the Globelics international conference, he emphasised the importance of global connectivity for sharing ideas.

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Vijayan announced that his government has declared internet access as a citizen’s right and established the Kerala Fibre Optic Network, aiming to overcome barriers related to physical, social, regional and financial factors.

He said his government was working to ensure that the society was connected to the global information highway, so that ideas can be freely assimilated and disseminated.

“To enable that, we declared access to the internet as a right to our citizens, and established the Kerala Fiber Optic Network. This network ensures that all can enjoy the right to the internet, overcoming the barriers imposed by physical, social, regional or financial factors. It is yet another first-of-its-kind experiment in our country,” he said.

He described this initiative as a pioneering effort in India.

Vijayan said there were several such interventions from the Global South that have become models to the world.

“However, the prevalent information asymmetry in the current world order often serves as impediments to propagating and popularising such models,” he claimed.

The chief minister urged the conference to deliberate on interventions needed to amplify the visibility of successful models from the Global South.

He lauded Kerala’s achievements in health, education, and Sustainable Development Goals, asserting the state’s unparalleled performance in poverty eradication and providing skilled manpower.

Vijayan credited Kerala’s successful development model to a rich tradition of collective learning, renaissance movements, progressive campaigns, and various intervention programmes.

He also acknowledged the challenge of creating vibrant economic sectors for generating employment opportunities within Kerala, emphasising the role of science, technology, and innovation in achieving this goal.

The chief minister expressed satisfaction that scholars from around 50 countries were presenting their research outcomes at the event and appreciated their engagement with universities and colleges to share insights with the next generation.

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Bihar train accident: 3 coaches of Northeast Superfast train derails in Buxar

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Wednesday, 11 October 2023

All Nepali students in Israel shifted to secured location, says govt

Nepal and Israel

Kathmandu: The Nepal government on Tuesday said all Nepali students who are in Israel have been shifted to a secured location, a day after it confirmed the death of 10 students when Hamas militants from Gaza launched an unprecedented attack against the Jewish nation.

Israel has formally declared war on the Islamist militant group Hamas after its fighters launched a brazen attack on Saturday that has so far killed more than 1,000 people in Israel.

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Nepal announces national mourning on Tuesday over death of Nepalese in Israel

Ten Nepalese students in Israel were killed by Hamas militants in the country’s southern region.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a statement confirmed that all Nepali students in Israel “have been shifted to secured location”.

“With the assistance of the Israeli army, we have successfully moved nearly all the students to safe areas. As per the information available to me, over 50 students were safely transferred by nightfall,” MFA spokesperson Sewa Lamsal said.

“The ministry is maintaining continuous contact with the Nepal embassy team in Israel and is actively preparing to charter a flight to bring these students back home to Nepal once Israel grants permission for air travel,” she said.

“Tragically, last Saturday, 10 Nepali students lost their lives during an indiscriminate attack by the Palestinian extremist group Hamas on Israel,” Lamsal recalled.

The spokesperson said of the total 17 students who were attacked by Hamas, one remains out of contact, and four others who sustained injuries are receiving treatment with the assistance of the Israeli army. The remaining two have already been evacuated from the incident site and are under the security of the Israeli government.

These 17 were among the 49 students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture at Sudur Paschim University who had gone to Israel last month under an 11-month learn and earn programme. Of them, the remaining 32 students have been shifted to safe places, the ministry said.

Similarly, 23 students from the Agriculture and Forestry University of Nepal, who are working as interns in different farmhouses in Israel, have also been relocated to safe locations, it said in the statement.

There are a total of 265 Nepali students settled in Israel under the “learn and earn” programme. Besides, 450 Nepalis are working as caregivers in different parts of Israel.

The Nepal government has been arranging special aircraft to bring back citizens working in Israel. To date, 324 individuals have registered their names in the database provided by the foreign affairs ministry for rescue and repatriation. While 288 citizens have expressed their intent to return, 36 want to be relocated.

Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs N P Saud has made a phone call to his Israeli counterpart Ali Cohen and asked for necessary coordination to bring back the dead bodies of the 10 students killed in the Hamas attack, according to the Foreign Minister’s secretariat.

Saud also asked Cohen to provide necessary support to bring home Nepali students studying in Israel.

Cohen expressed sorrow over the killing of 10 Nepali students and wished speedy recovery of those injured in the incident. He also assured of providing necessary help and support for the repatriation of Nepalese students and to bring back the dead bodies to Nepal, the secretariat said.

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Cricket World Cup: Pakistan create new record with majestic run-chase against Sri Lanka

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Tuesday, 10 October 2023

Largest Hindu temple outside Asia to open for public in New Jersey on Oct 18

Largest Hindu temple outside Asia

Robbinsville: The largest Hindu temple outside Asia — Swaminarayan Akshardham — will be thrown open for public in New Jersey on October 18.

It is claimed that the temple is larger than the Bridgewater Lord Venkateshwara temple in New Jersey and the Pittsburgh temple of the same name.

The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple was inaugurated on October 8. Sitting on a massive 185-acre plot in Robbinsville county of New Jersey, the temple was built by 12,500 volunteer workers from all over the world. The temple was in the works since 2011, but hit the headlines only a decade later for the wrong reasons, media reports said.

Swaminarayan Akshardham was built with 2 million cubic feet of stone, a spokesperson of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, known as BAPS, which has temples around the world, told NBC Asia news.

Placing 2 million cubic feet of stone in Robbinsville township was no small feat. And the temple itself is a cultural mix with materials sourced from all over the world. It also gives historical nods to American history on its walls, a spokesperson said.

For Indian Americans, it’s a massive milestone of an achievement, the spokesperson said.

Along the temple walls are carvings of historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln.

“When you come to the mandir, you will see people of all genders, all castes and social backgrounds eating, praying, loving and serving together,” he said.

But the temple is not without controversies created by the labour force that built it. The impressive construction prompted a labor lawsuit, now on hold, with some saying it “raises questions about the thin line between religious service and labour exploitation”.

“I wake up every morning and scratch my eyes thinking, ‘Am I still in central New Jersey?’” said Yogi Trivedi, a temple volunteer and a scholar of religion at Columbia University.

“It’s like being transported to another world, specifically to India.”

“This is the American Dream,” he said, adding: “The sacred geography of India and beyond is here in this one place and you can experience, witness and admire it all here in New Jersey. I anticipate, as a scholar of religion, that this will become a popular place of pilgrimage for Hindus from across the world.”

To withstand cold New Jersey winters (anything between -5-degree C to -20-degree C), the outside of the temple has been built with non-traditional Bulgarian limestone. The inside features of the temple bear testimony to the stones imported from all over the world, ranging from Greece, Italy to India.

A traditional Indian stepwell contains waters from 300 sacred river bodies in India and all river waters from all 50 US states of the union.

Women were also actively engaged in key roles in running the project. Something rarely seen in temple construction.

“Now people who visit here from the American community will realise that the brown family two houses away from them is not all that different,” Trivedi said.

Trivedi said he sees the design as reminiscent of the community that will form in the temple — a mix of cultures with something for all people.

“That kind of inclusivity is not just talked about, it’s actually seen on the walls,” he said.

Built by 12,500 volunteers from all over the world, the Akshardham has been in the works since 2011. But it made headlines in the US media a decade later, sometime around 2021, when a group of immigrant labourers sued the global temple faith organisation. The lawsuit alleged “shocking” conditions, including forced labour, gruelling work hours, inhospitable living conditions and caste discrimination.

“For these long and difficult hours of work, the workers were paid an astonishing $450 per month, and even less when the defendants took illegal deductions,” the initial complaint said.

“Their hourly pay rate came to approximately $1.20 per hour.”

Many of the manual labourers involved in the temple’s construction came to New Jersey from India on religious visas and were Dalits, meaning they fell into historically marginalised groups in South Asia’s caste system. The lawsuit alleges that the temple leadership enforced that caste hierarchy at work, NBC reported .

The lawsuit has, however, been put on hold with 12 of the original 21 plaintiffs moving to dismiss their claims, and BAPS Akshardham spokespeople assure that the temple will be a place for people of all creeds and castes, claims Sakshi Venkatraman who filed the report for the NBC that has been circulated widely in the US media.

A spokesperson for BAPS was quoted by the NBC report as saying, “There’s a distinction between employment and religious volunteer service, known as seva.”

Some activists say the allegations still raise questions about the thin line between “religious service and work exploitation”, which Dalit communities are especially vulnerable to.

“The artisans who helped build our mandir came to the US as volunteers, not as employees,” spokesperson Ronak Patel said in a statement.

“We took care of the artisans’ needs in the US, including travel, lodging, food, medical care, and internet and prepaid phone cards so they could stay in touch with their families in India. BAPS India also supported the artisans’ families in India so they did not suffer financial hardship as a result of the artisans’ seva in the US.”

“A place of worship, a temple, is such an important space, especially for an immigrant community who’s making home in a new country,” said Viswanath, a co-founder of the civil rights group Hindus for Human Rights.

“I would want anybody who goes to the temple to really ask themselves, really do some soul searching, about going to a temple where there are such serious allegations of labour and human rights violations,” he added.

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JNU to confer honorary doctorate to Tanzanian President

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Cricket World Cup: Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra give New Zealand all-round strength as they thrash Netherlands for second straight win

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Monday, 9 October 2023

ICC World Cup 2023: Rahul, Kohli carry India to six-wicket win over Australia

ICC World Cup 2023

Chennai: A stunning 165-run partnership off 215 balls between KL Rahul (97 not out) and Virat Kohli (85) carried India to a memorable six-wicket win over Australia to start their 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup campaign on a high at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.

After Ravindra Jadeja spun a vicious web of left-arm spin mastery while picking an outstanding 3-28 as spinners helped India bowl out Australia for just 199 in 49.3 overs, the visitors caused early jitters in the hosts’ camp by reducing them to 2-3 in two overs.

With the pressure being extremely high, Rahul and Kohli joined forces and used their extensive experience to resurrect the innings and get India on track in the chase. Kohli was also helped by a reprieve on 12 by Mitchell Marsh and kept the scoreboard moving with Rahul in a critical partnership to get India over the line.

Australia needed to strike with the new ball to put India under pressure and Starc did what the doctor ordered by enticing Ishan Kishan to slash hard at a wide delivery and edged to first slip for a golden duck, giving the left-arm pacer his 50th World Cup scalp and the fastest bowler to do so.

Hazlewood added more misery on India by getting a length delivery to nip one back in and trap Rohit Sharma lbw for a six-ball duck. The right-arm pacer, who got in-and-out seam movement, ended the over by having Shreyas Iyer hit a short ball straight to cover fielder to fall for a three-ball duck.

With the crowd completely silent, it started to cheer when Kohli got his first runs, though he was later on beaten by Starc and Hazlewood. KL Rahul got India’s first boundary by driving an overpitched Hazlewood delivery for four, followed by Kohli bringing out straight drive off him for a boundary.

The crowd had a huge sigh of relief in the eighth over when Mitchell Marsh, running in from mid-wicket, couldn’t hold on to a top-edge coming from Kohli’s mistimed pull, giving the batter a reprieve at 12, as India ended power-play at 27/3.

Kohli then flicked off his wrists twice in the mid-wicket region off Cameron Green in the 15th over, followed by Rahul timing his late cuts perfectly to pick a brace of fours off Adam Zampa before driving through extra cover for his third boundary off the 18th over.

Kohli and Rahul would keep the scoreboard moving with their quick running between the wickets, before the former raised his fifty with a pull off Pat Cummins. Two overs later, Rahul got his half-century, followed by Kohli pulling Cummins for a boundary.

With dew also coming in, plus Zampa not getting right length, Kohli and Rahul continued to take boundaries off pacers and spinners as India inched closer to victory. After Kohli pulled straight to mid-wicket off Hazlewood and fell for 85, Hardik Pandya slammed Hazlewood for a lofted six over long-off, also the first maximum of the chase.

Rahul then danced down the pitch to loft Maxwell over long-off for six and followed it up to muscle a four over the non-striker’s head. He finished off the chase in style with a well-timed lofted six over cover and was down on his haunches as India completed an incredible win.

Brief Scores: Australia 199 in 49.3 overs (Steven Smith 46, David Warner 41; Ravindra Jadeja 3-28, Jasprit Bumrah 2-35) lost to India 201-4 in 41.2 overs (KL Rahul 97 not out, Virat Kohli 85; Josh Hazlewood 3-38, Mitchell Starc 1-31) by six wickets

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World Cup: How KL Rahul flourished in Chennai from a Zampa takedown

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