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13, మార్చి 2022, ఆదివారం

8pm NEWSFEED

Delhi Police saves student’s life after tweet alerts suicide bid

Posted: 12 Mar 2022 08:05 AM PST

New Delhi [India]: Delhi Police came to the rescue of a student, who was attempting suicide in the Yamuna, with a help of a tweet he published just before the act.


Hailing from Alwar in Rajasthan, Monish Dixit, a student of National Law University Bangalore, arrived in the national capital on February 28 without intimidating his friends or family. After a few days, he received his college results in which he had failed in one semester.

Tweeting in despair, Monish put out the word that he is attempting suicide. A friend of his acted swiftly and informed the Central Delhi Police.


Upon tracing the location, Monish’s was located near Signature Bridge. Timarpur Police Station was then pulled into the action and police personnel reached the spot.
After Monish spotted the police, he jumped into the river but with the help of divers, he was pulled out.


The police said that he is currently admitted to a hospital and is undergoing treatment.

Congress Working Committee meeting to be held tomorrow

Posted: 12 Mar 2022 05:58 AM PST

Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi has called a meeting of the party’s parliamentary strategy group at 10.30 am at 10 Janpath tomorrow.

In addition, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting will be held tomorrow at 4PM at AICC office in Delhi, to discuss poll debacle in 5 states and current political situation.

On Friday, Congress G23 met at senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad's residence in the national capital.

According to sources, the G23 group is expected to raise their demand for reforms in the party during the CWC meeting.

on Friday. 

‘Bulldozer’ tattoos a hit in UP after BJP win

Posted: 12 Mar 2022 04:12 AM PST

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): After the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)’s massive win in the Uttar Pradesh elections, in Varanasi supporters have found a unique way to celebrate- getting ‘bulldozer’ tattoos inked on their arms.


Some supporters are also sporting ‘Bulldozer Baba’ tattoos. At tattoo shops near Varanasi Assi Ghat, many people were spotted getting the tattoos.

During the recent elections, Yogi Adityanath came to be called “bulldozer baba” due to frequent references of his government deploying bulldozers to demolish the ill-gotten property of criminals and mafias in the state.


Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav during a speech had said, “Till now we were calling him “Baba Chief Minister” but today one of the reputed English newspapers called him ‘Baba Bulldozer’. I have not kept this name, this name was kept by a reputed English newspaper.”


The moniker for Adityanath caught on quickly and gained popularity. 

PM Modi condoles families, Kejriwal announces ex-gratia for Delhi’s Gokulpuri fire victims

Posted: 12 Mar 2022 04:08 AM PST

New Delhi [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief over the fire incident in Delhi’s Gokulpuri area, which claimed the lives of seven people.


“The fire incident in Delhi’s Gokulpuri is heart-wrenching. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. May God give them the strength to bear this immense sorrow,” the Prime Minister said in a tweet.


Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who visited the spot after the incident, has announced an ex-gratia Rs 10 lakh each to deceased adults’ families, Rs 5 lakh to deceased children’s families, and Rs 25,000 to those whose shanties were burnt.
The incident took place at around 1 am on Saturday.


“We recovered seven charred bodies which are unrecognisable, it seemed that these people were sleeping and could not escape as the fire spread extremely fast. 60 huts were also completely burnt. We are yet to know the reasons behind the fire,” Atul Garg, Delhi Fire Director said.

Three leopards spotted on camera trapping in Assam’s Sila Reserve Forest

Posted: 12 Mar 2022 04:01 AM PST

Guwahati (Assam): The Assam forest department spotted three leopards through a camera-trapping mission in various areas of Sila Reserve Forest on Saturday.


The leopards were spotted post the leopard counting census in the Kamrup district. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sunnydeo Choudhary said that the camera trapping mission had been going on for the last seven days.


“For the first time since the kick-off of the leopard population estimation in North Kamrup Forest Division through camera trapping mission since last seven days, three leopards have been spotted in cameras installed in various areas across Sila Reserve Forest” informed the forest department officer.


The DFO further said that the camera trapping will be done for a period of 24 weeks and data from each camera will be extracted at an interval of every seven days.
An exclusive leopard counting census in Assam’s forest and non-forest areas has been initiated by North Kamrup Forest Division in leopard density areas of Amingaon in Kamrup district.


The Kamrup district administration is also a part of census calculation. The forest department has targeted to cover 100 sq. km under North Kamrup Forest Division. 

Over 20 injured as suspended BJD MLA runs car into crowd in Odisha

Posted: 12 Mar 2022 03:57 AM PST

Khordha (Odisha): More than 20 people including police personnel were critically injured after a suspended Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA from Odisha allegedly rammed his car into a crowd at Banapur block in Khordha district of Odisha on Saturday, said police.


The suspended MLA from Chilika, Prashant Jagdev, was reportedly on his way to Banpur in his SUV for election to the post of block chairperson, scheduled to be held today. A huge crowd had gathered outside the Banapur Block Development Office (BDO) when the incident occurred.

Following the incident, the crowd assaulted Jagdev and vandalised his vehicle. Severely injured in the attack, he was then admitted to a hospital in Bhubaneswar and is undergoing treatment.


As per preliminary information, 15 BJP workers and one from BJD along with seven cops got injured due to the incident, said police. A probe has been initiated.


“Around 15 BJP workers, a BJD worker, and seven police personnel were injured in the incident. A probe has been initiated into the matter,” Balugaon Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) said.


Jagdev was suspended from the ruling BJD last year for “anti-party” activities.
After being suspended from BJD in September last year for assaulting a BJP leader near Chilika lake, Jagdev was arrested a month after in connection with the incident. He was later sent to jail after a sessions court rejected his bail petition. 

China supplies arms to Myanmar’s military junta to kill civilians

Posted: 12 Mar 2022 02:47 AM PST

Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur, in his report to the UN Human Rights Council recently identified countries, including China, which have supplied weapons used against civilians since Myanmar’s military coup.

The independent expert appealed to weapons-exporting nations to suspend their arms sales and urged to convene an emergency session of the Security Council to debate and vote on a resolution banning those arms transfers that Myanmar’s military uses against civilians. “It should be incontrovertible that weapons used to kill civilians should no longer be transferred to Myanmar. These transfers truly shock the conscience,” Andrews said, adding that “stopping the junta’s atrocity crimes begins with blocking their access to weapons. The more the world delays, the more innocent people, including children, will die in Myanmar.”

The Special Rapporteur identified China, Russia and Serbia as the member states that have, since the coup, been supplying the junta with weapons of the sort that are being used to attack civilians. “The people of Myanmar are imploring the UN to act,” he said.

“They deserve an up-or-down vote on a Security Council resolution that will stop the sale of weapons being used to kill them. Too many families are finding themselves in the cross-hairs of weapons of war that the Member States are supplying. This must end,” he said.

The report, titled Enabling Atrocities: UN Member States’ Arms Transfers to the Myanmar Military, also names States who have authorized the transfer of weapons since 2018 when Myanmar military atrocity crimes against the Rohingya ethnic minority were widely documented and a UN Fact-Finding Mission called for an immediate arms embargo.

It includes the types and, where known, the amounts of weapons that have been transferred to the Myanmar military.

Despite the evidence of the military junta’s atrocity crimes being committed with impunity since launching a coup last year, UN Security Council members Russia and China continue to provide the Myanmar military junta with numerous fighter jets, armoured vehicles, and in the case of Russia, the promise of further arms.
Last June the General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for the Member States to prevent the flow of arms into Myanmar.

“This was welcomed by the people of Myanmar, civil society organizations, and international human rights advocacy groups,” Andrews said. “The failure of the resolution to have any discernible impact on the crisis and the capacity of the junta to launch attacks on civilians, however, has led to anger and despair.”

Andrews urged the UNSC to take action these actions. “I appeal to Member States of the UN Security Council who are appalled by the killing of Myanmar civilians to put forward a resolution to stop it,” he said.

The report also called for coordinated action by the Member States to cut the junta’s access to revenue, just as the people of Myanmar are doing through widespread boycotts on goods linked to the military.

“Without legitimacy and against broad opposition among the people of Myanmar, the military junta operates as if it is a hostile military power. Military force is, therefore, its only means of attempting to exert control,” Andrews said.

Pakistan: Opposition accuses Imran Khan of coercive measures ahead of no-trust vote

Posted: 12 Mar 2022 02:41 AM PST

The use of force by deploying a heavy contingent of police commandos and the anti-terrorist force to expel volunteers of Ansarul Islam from Parliament Lodges shows how the Imran Khan government has now resorted to violence to suppress opponents, reported local media.

Notably, Islamabad Police on Thursday night stormed Parliament Lodges and made 19 arrests including key Opposition members of the National Assembly after members of Ansarul Islam, a uniformed volunteer force set up to protect the leadership of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), entered the Parliament Lodges in large numbers, reported the Dawn newspaper. The police commandos broke into the suite of JUI leader Salahuddin Ayubi and arrested activists of Ansarul Islam, dragged them out of the room, shifted them to the police prisoner vans and took them to an unknown place.

With Prime Minister Imran Khan issuing warnings of dire consequences for leadership of Opposition parties after the introduction of a no-confidence motion against him, it is not surprising that the JUI-F brought volunteers to their Parliamentary residences, said the media reports, adding that resorting to violence by turning the official residences into a battlefield for hours shows the ire of the government over the no-trust motion moved against it.

The situation could have easily been diffused by involving the National Assembly Speaker, who is supposed to ensure that no one is forcibly stopped from casting their votes. However, the government does not seem to want to settle down things, according to the media outlet.

The tensions are further aggravated by warnings from Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid that the government would not let anyone take the law into their own hands.
Also, the ruling party planning a public meeting near National Assembly a day before the no-confidence vote shows that Imran Khan has decided to first fight the no-trust motion outside the House as his grip on his legislators has loosened.

Any further violence by the government, in case the situation is not in its favour, will solidify the popular belief that politicians cannot think beyond power and self-interest in Pakistan, added the media reports.

Notably, this comes amid growing discontent against the Imran Khan government, with Pakistan’s main Opposition parties moving a no-confidence motion against the Pakistan PM in the National Assembly. 

Devendra Fadnavis asked to appear before Mumbai Police in phone tapping case

Posted: 12 Mar 2022 02:28 AM PST

Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said he had received a notice in which the Mumbai Police has summoned him on Sunday in connection with a phone tapping case.

Fadnavis slammed the Maharashtra government alleging that it had been brushing away the case for the past six months. Addressing a press conference here today, Fadnavis said, “Mumbai Police has sent me a notice under Sec 160 CrPC, asking me to appear before them at BKC Cyber Police Station at 11 am tomorrow. I will go there and record my statement.”

“As a Leader of Opposition, I have the privilege to not reveal where I got the information from but I was Home Minister once and I understand my responsibility. If an offence was falsely registered and if the police wants some help, I will respond. So, I will go to the Police Station tomorrow,” said Devendra Fadnavis.
The BJP leader alleged that the state government was attempting to protect scamsters involved in the case.

“Had the government caught the scamsters and those who are being probed by CBI on time and not brushed the matter under the carpet for six months, then I need not have exposed it. The State Government wants to protect them and somebody who has exposed this is being called to the police station,” he said.

On February 26 this year, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil claimed that former Pune Police Commissioner Rashmi Shukla had tapped phones of political leaders like Nana Patole, Bachchu Kadu, Sanjay Kakade and Ashish Deshmukh.
“FIR registered against former Pune CP Rashmi Shukla on the basis of inquiry report. During her tenure, she tapped phones of some political leaders on the pretext that the politicians were linked with the drugs business,” said Patil.

“She falsely took the permission which is against the Indian Telegraph Act. She tapped phones of leaders like Nana Patole, Bachchu Kadu, Sanjay Kakade and Ashish Deshmukh,” added the Maharashtra Home Minister.

Pune Police on Saturday registered an FIR against Rashmi Shukla in the Maharashtra phone tapping case. The case was registered under section 26 of the Indian Telegraph Act.

In July last year, the Maharashtra government had constituted a three-member high-level committee headed by the then Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjay Pandey to investigate the phone tapping cases for the period of five years from 2015 to 2019.
The high-level committee was tasked to find out whether the phones of various political leaders were tapped illegally for undesirable political or any other purpose.
The committee was asked to submit a detailed report of the probe and fix the responsibility of the person (if any) responsible for such cases.

The committee has now submitted the report to the government. According to the report, it is found that the phone tapping was done during the tenure of then Pune Police Commissioner Rashmi Shukla.

Accordingly, an FIR has been filed by Pune city police against her under section 26 of the Indian Telegraph act.

There were allegations of phone tapping levelled by several MLAs including Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole. The controversy over phone tapping had erupted in 2020 after audio clips purportedly having a telephonic conversation between Union minister Gajendra Singh and Congress leaders surfaced.

Interest rates on PF deposits cut to 4 decades low of 8.1 per cent

Posted: 12 Mar 2022 02:20 AM PST

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation’s (EPFO’s) top decision-making body the Central Board of Trustees on Saturday approved 8.1 per cent interest rate on provident fund (PF) deposits for the financial year 2021-22. This is the lowest interest rate on PF deposits in more than four decades.

In the last two financial years, 2020-21 and 2019-20, the interest rates on PF deposits stood at 8.5 per cent. The interest rate for 2021-22 will be the lowest since 1977-78 when it stood at 8 per cent. The decision on the PF deposit rates for the current financial year was taken in the EPFO’s Central Board of Trustees meeting held here. The Central Board of Trustees is the apex decision-making body of the EPFO. It is a tripartite body involving the government, workers, and employers’ representatives. The Board is headed by the union labour minister.

The union finance ministry will now vet the interest rate recommended by the EPFO’s Central Board of Trustees and issue notification.

The interest rates on PF deposits have been reduced sharply in the last six years. In 2015-16 the interest rate on PF deposits stood at 8.8 per cent. It was lowered to 8.65 per cent in 2016-17 and further to 8.55 per cent in 2017-18. In 2018-19 it was increased to 8.65 per cent. However, in 2019-20 it was again lowered to 8.5 per cent. It was kept unchanged in 2020-21.

Focused on repaying faith, says Rajasthan Royals’ Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of IPL 2022 season

Posted: 12 Mar 2022 01:17 AM PST

One of the highlights of the 2021 season for the Rajasthan Royals was the top-order exploits from promising youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal, who held the responsibility of providing blistering starts to the team at a strike rate of 148.21 across 10 matches.

The 20-year-old, whose growth and development has been on track in recent times, sweated it out on the practice pitches of the Royals’ high-performance centre in Nagpur in the pre-camp that was recently held ahead of the upcoming season. “I’m really looking forward to this season with great confidence and hope. We have managed to create a team that has everything in it to win the trophy. With a good balance of batters and bowlers, we’ve got a team which can produce performances on the field, but the most important thing for us right now is to start well and create momentum for ourselves,” stated Jaiswal, post an intense nets session.

Speaking about what has changed for him in the past couple of years, having produced match-winning and effective knocks for his domestic side Mumbai and the Royals, the left hander said, “I think everything comes down to how I prepare myself off the field. Even when I’m not playing any matches, I’m still trying to utilize my time to work on how I can get better during games. I’ve spent a lot of time in the nets and in the gym to improve on various aspects whether it’s fitness or batting technique. Hopefully this coming season my performances can reflect that on the field for the Royals.”

“I try to pick up the good bits from everyone I’m playing with or under, and also try to instill discipline in my game and in my personal life as well. I’ve also learned a lot from all the great players and coaches of the teams that I play for, and I have to credit the Royals for this because I’ve always kept learning and growing at the franchise even during the off-season,” he added.

Having not had the opportunity to feature in the playing XI for Mumbai in the recent Ranji Trophy matches, Jaiswal says he intends to take it in his stride and make a case for himself through performances in the IPL. “Of course, I was really disappointed (about not getting the chance to play) but I’m looking forward to using the IPL to showcase what I can provide. I know that if I do well, I will make my place in the (Mumbai) team.”

Commenting on what his approach will be like in the upcoming season, the batter said, “I am just focused on my role in the team. I want to be 100% prepared for whatever challenges will come along the way, and perform for the team in each and every match. We all know we are here to win, but it can only happen when we are courageous on the field. I know there will be times when I will have to take brave decisions for the team, and those may not always come off, but I have to keep applying my instincts and try to dominate the proceedings.”

Asked if there will be any pressure on him having been retained as one of the three players by the Royals, he said, “I am focused on repaying the faith that the Royals have shown in me, and the best way to do that is to perform and win matches.”


Yashasvi’s Royals will be playing their first match of IPL 2022 on March 29 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. 

Women’s CWC: Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, bowlers star as India thrash West Indies

Posted: 12 Mar 2022 12:49 AM PST

Brilliant centuries from Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur were backed by courageous bowling performance as India defeated West Indies by 155 runs in the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 here at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Saturday.
This is West Indies’ first defeat in the ongoing World Cup. Batting first, Indian opening batter Smriti scored 123 from 119 balls while in-form Harmanpreet smashed 109 from just 107 deliveries as star duo guided Women in Blue to a massive total of 317/8. The score of 317 is the highest by the Indian team in the World Cup. Chasing the target of 318, West Indies enjoyed a scintillating start as their openers gathered 100 runs after 12 overs. Deandra Dottin completed his half-century in the first power play as WI looked to chase the mammoth of a target with ease. However, Dottin soon faced a back issue which forced a lengthy break.

After the resumption, Sneh Rana gave India their first breakthrough as Dottin walked back with a brilliant 62 from 46 deliveries.

The wicket of Dottin triggered a middle-order collapse for the Windies as Kycia Knight was then removed by Meghna Singh in the 16th over. In the 18th and 19th over Meghna Singh and Sneh Rana struck again to remove Stafanie Taylor and Hayley Matthews respectively.

Pooja Vastrakarsoon joined the party as she bagged the wicket of Shemaine Campbelle in the 23rd over. And in the very next over Rajeshwari Gayakwad trapped Chinelle Henry for LBW.

Wickets kept coming at regular intervals for India, as West Indies collapsed at 162/10 in the 40.3 overs. Jhulan Goswami scalped his record-breaking wicket in the 36th over while Sneh ended the day with three wickets against her name.

Earlier, opting to bat first, opener Yastika Bhatia helped India make a fast start in Hamilton. Bhatia smashed 31 off just 21 deliveries before departing. Indian skipper Mithali Raj (5) holed out shortly after as India were reduced to 58/2 in the 10th over. Deepti Sharma was then removed by experienced Anisa Mohammed in the 14th over.
But after that Smriti and Harmanpreet started their counter charge to help India go above the score of 300.

Brief Scores: India 317/8 (Smriti Mandhana 123, Harmanpreet Kaur 109; Anisa Mohammed 2-59) vs West Indies 162/10 (Deandra Dottin 62, Hayley Matthews 43; Sneh Rana 3-22). 

China encroaching into Nepal’s territory, says report

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 11:57 PM PST

Kathmandu [Nepal]: A Nepalese government report, dated September 2021, has accused China of encroaching into Nepal’s territory along their shared border.


The report, commissioned after it was reported that China was trespassing in the Humla district in the far west of Nepal, claims that Chinese forces threatened Nepal’s border police. According to the report, surveillance activities by Chinese security forces had restricted religious activities on the Nepalese side of the border at a place called Lalungjong.

It further said that China had been limiting grazing by the cattle stock of the Nepalese farmers.


It further found that China was building a fence around a border pillar and attempting to construct a canal and a road on the Nepalese side of the border. The report also suggested the deployment of Nepalese security forces in the area to step up security.
Surprisingly, Nepal also remains silent on the issue as the report was not published by the government but was leaked. Despite all evidence on the ground, the report is now pending with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


Further, after the report was leaked, Nepalese Communications Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said, “Any border issues with its neighbours would be dealt with diplomatically. Either with India or with China, if there are any issues at our border, we will resolve them through diplomatic means. Such problems should not arise, and the Nepal government will always make efforts to prevent such situations.”


As per a media report, with the Nepalese government downplaying the issue, Binay Yadav, Chairperson of Rashtriya Ekta Abhiyan, had submitted a memorandum to the United Nations office in Kathmandu, urging the international community to take note of Chinese land grabbing tactics.


The memorandum says, “According to the study, the area between pillar number 5 (2) and the middle of the Kit Khola has been marked as the border between the two countries since the 1963 Boundary Protocol,” adding that it has been discovered that the Chinese side has erected fences and wires in Nepali land.


Meanwhile, amid reports of Chinese encroachment into Nepal in the last two years, there have been protests in Kathmandu against China’s expansionist ambitions. However, China has denied such reports as the Chinese Embassy in Nepal issued a statement in January, saying “there is no dispute at all. It is hoped that the Nepali people (will) not be misled with false individual reports.” 

Taliban to participate in 3rd regional meeting on Afghanistan in China

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 11:53 PM PST

Kabul [Afghanistan]: The acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi will be attending the third regional meeting on Afghanistan to be held in China later this month, a Taliban spokesperson said on Twitter.


The announcement comes after the acting Foreign Minister Muttaqi met with China’s ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations as well as the upcoming regional meeting on Afghanistan in China, Tolo News reported.

“The meeting focused on enhanced relations between both countries, political and economic issues as well as the convening and participation in the regional foreign ministers’ meeting to be held in China at the end of this month,” said Hafiz Zia Ahmad, deputy spokesperson of Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


“Minister Muttaqi said he would attend the meeting (in China), expressing optimism about a favourable outcome for Afghanistan,” Ahmad added.


Previously, the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that his country is preparing for the third foreign ministers’ meeting among the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, adding that his country is willing to contribute to the durable stability and security in Afghanistan, the report said.


The first meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s six neighbouring countries included Iran, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan and was hosted by Pakistan in September last year.


The second meeting of the foreign ministers of the regional countries was held in Iran last October in which the participants issued a joint statement and called for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, the report added.


Notably, the Taliban representatives are also attending the ongoing Antalya Diplomacy Summit in Turkey.


US Special Representative Thomas West on Friday met Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in the Turkish city of Antalya and discussed the political and economic situation in Afghanistan.


“With colleagues, Amb Beth Jones, Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts and Charge d’Affaires McCary @USAmbKabul, spent productive time with Taliban delegation. Covered critical issues for the Afghan people: economic stabilization & growth, education, & commercial air travel,” West tweeted. 

Opposition to hit streets if no-trust motion against Imran Khan fails

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 11:49 PM PST

Islamabad [Pakistan]: Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday said that the Opposition would hit the street, bringing anarchy in the country, if the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan fails, local media reported.


Imran Khan would not be able to rule the country even if the no-confidence resolution against his government fails, The News International quoted the PDM chief. Rehman said that though there are apprehensions of failure of the no-confidence motion, Imran Khan government should not think about continuing its regime as the Opposition was waging ‘Jihad’ against the premiere by moving a no-trust move.


“A person can be mad and its higher degree is insane as he had nothing to do with nobility and he had an inherent absence of noble character and no one knows in which society he has been brought up,” the media outlet quoted Rehman as saying.
He added that Imran Khan did not fit in the slot of the Prime Minister as he called others names, used abusive language and did immoral things.


“Whether we come or not, Imran Khan should go and we will use every democratic and Constitutional manner for his ouster,” he stated.


He also said that the civil or military bureaucracy should keep away from politics and asked the Election Commission of Pakistan to restrain Imran Khan from holding public rallies as a no-trust motion has been moved against him.


Notably, the Opposition parties in Pakistan are jettisoning mutual hatred to oust Imran Khan as they submitted the no-trust motion in the National Assembly secretariat on Tuesday. However, the Imran Khan government has exuded confidence to defeat the no-trust motion. 

IPL 2022: Delhi Capitals unveil new jersey ahead of season

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 11:47 PM PST

IPL franchise Delhi Capitals on Saturday unveiled the official jersey for the 2022 season.

Delhi Capital’s jersey has an equal dash of red and blue which exudes youthful and vibrant energy. While the red symbolises the team’s on-field courage, the blue stands for balance and composure. The tiger, an intrinsic part of the DC logo, is bigger and bolder in the jersey. The first jerseys were given to select DC fans at the team’s home ground – the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Additionally, select children from the city, the DC Cubs, were given official jerseys too.

“It’s a new cycle of the IPL, and we can’t wait to see our players in this brand new jersey,” said Vinod Bisht, Interim CEO, Delhi Capitals. “Supporting this team in its quest for glory is our fan army, so it’s only fitting for us to make them a part of our journey in every step.”

Delhi Capitals will kickstart their season on March 27 against Mumbai Indians at the Brabourne Stadium.

Uttar Pradesh: BJP govt likely to take oath after Holi

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 11:44 PM PST

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Days after the BJP retained power for the second consecutive term in Uttar Pradesh, the swearing-in ceremony, sources said, of the new government is likely to take place after Holi.


Uttar Pradesh’s acting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Delhi on Sunday, sources added. He will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda. Adityanath on Friday tendered his resignation to Governor Anandiben Patel at the Raj Bhavan in Lucknow.


Following the massive victory in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Adityanath on Friday held a meeting with his ministerial colleagues at the party office in Lucknow.


Adityanath, a monk-turned-politician, won his first-ever Assembly election by a margin of 1,03,390 from Gorakhpur Urban constituency, defeating the Samajwadi Party candidate Subhawati Upendra Dutt Shukla, who secured 62,109 votes in the recently-concluded UP Assembly elections.


Adityanath will be the first Chief Minister in the last 37 years to return to power after completing a full term in the state.

The BJP has retained power in Uttar Pradesh by winning 255 out of 403 constituencies, securing a 41.29 per cent vote share.

Census officers appointed; new dates for census may be announced soon

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 11:41 PM PST

New Delhi [India]: The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday appointed 10 ‘Directors of Census Operations’ in various states, including Uttar Pradesh.


The officers have been appointed in Sikkim, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat (Daman Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli), Tamil Nadu (Pudducherry) and Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India (ORGI).

The Gazette notification reads that the President is pleased to appoint the officers of Indian Administrative Service as Director of Census Operations or Director of Citizen Registration in various Directorates of Census Operations under Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India on central deputation.


However, the government is yet to announce new dates for the launch of the Census and the process is on hold since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In another Gazette notification, the MHA has also amended the Census Rule, 1990 to allow the data collection in paper and electronic form during the decennial Census exercise.


As per Census (Amendment) Rules, 2022, for the purposes of clause “electronic form” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (r) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000) and “self-enumeration” means filling-up, completion and submission of Census schedule by respondents themselves.


In Rule 5, after the words “in the Census”, the words “and to be used for self-enumeration” shall be inserted. And in clause (e), for the word “media”, the words “or electronic or any other media” shall be substituted. In Rule 6, after clause (b), the following clause shall be inserted, namely “(c) carry out such other tasks as may be necessary for the successful taking of the Census.”


After Rule 6C, the following shall be inserted, namely Rule 6D, which means the filling-up of Census schedule through self-enumeration, added the notification. It says that ‘without prejudice to any other provisions of these rules, a person may fill-up, complete and submit the census schedule through the self-enumeration’.


In Rule 8, in clause (vii), after the word “radio”, the words “print media, electronic media, social media,” shall be inserted. 

Anand given substantial powers, was privy to confidential information by Ex NSE chief, Chitra; CBI

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 11:36 PM PST

New Delhi [India]: In the National Stock Exchange co-location case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stated that investigation has revealed that in pursuance to criminal conspiracy, the accused Chitra Ramakrishna (former CEO and MD, NSE), by misusing her official position, re-designated the post of accused Anand Subramanian as Group Operating Officer and Advisor to MD from April 1, 2015, without bringing the same to the notice of NRC and the board.


It has also been revealed that substantial powers akin to MD were delegated to the accused Anand Subramanian, making him privy to important and confidential information related to the working of NSE, says CBI in before a special court of Delhi.

CBI, in its reply filed before Court against Subramanian’s bail, also stated that Anand Subramanian was well connected with Chitra Ramakrishna prior to his engagement as Chief Strategic Advisor at NSE. His wife Sunitha Subramanian also served as the Regional Head of NSE at Chennai from April 2011.


CBI’s reply further stated that NSE deals with the financials of the investors and is under the duty to protect the interest of the investor in particular and the public at large. “Various large financial institutions and banks viz State Bank Of India, LIC, GIC, etc hold a stake in NSE,” it read.


Meanwhile, CBI has also moved an application in the Court seeking permission for the recording of specimen handwritings of accused Anand Subramanian, who is presently in JC. On that, the Court sought a reply from Subramanian’s lawyer and put up the matter for March 23.


CBI Court of Delhi on Friday had reserved the order on bail plea of Anand Subramanian, former Group Operating Officer and adviser to former MD of the NSE. He was the first person who was arrested by CBI in the NSE co-location case last month.


CBI, while opposing the bail plea had said that the release of this accused on bail is likely to hamper the collection of evidence. The investigation is on to identity the persons with whom he shared these emails containing sensitive data. Investigation with regard to the foreign visits of Anand Subramanian, its necessity and outcome is underway. Anand Subramanian can influence these witnesses if he is given bail, says CBI.


On Friday, Advocate Arshdeep Singh Khurana who appeared for Arvind Subramanian argued that as far as the allegations contained in the FIR are concerned, the applicant has been “wrongly implicated in the case, since he is not connected in any manner with the allegations so levelled. No offence is made out even from a reading of the FIR.”


In fact, the FIR pertains to the applicant’s alleged role in the unfair access to co-location facilities to one Sanjay Gupta and his company OPG Security Pvt Ltd. It has been stated that Sanjay Gupta with help from unknown persons, managed the data centre staff of the NSE who passed on information regarding switching on time of NSE exchange servers, which gave him an unfair advantage, submitted Advocate Arshdeep Singh. Advocates Vishnu Mohan and Aakashi Lodha also appeared for Arvind Subramanian in the case.


CBI counsel while opposing the bail plea submitted that 832 GB of data was recovered. “We recovered it from the archive. We have written to Microsoft to give us the complete data. He was not cooperating with us. Even the deleted material and certain emails. Anand is very influential and there is every possibility that he might flee,” said the CBI lawyer.


Earlier, CBI submitted that they are seriously looking at all the aspects of the investigation and there is a special team of 30 officials consisting of a senior official to probe the case. “We are also probing the role of SEBI officials in the matter. We have also recently questioned Ravi Narain, former MD of NSE,” it read.


The Court recently also sent former managing director and chief executive officer of NSE Chitra Ramkrishna in connection with the NSE co-location case on CBI remand till March 14, 2022.


The CBI is probing the alleged improper dissemination of information from the computer servers of the market exchanges to the stockbrokers.


Earlier, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has penalised the NSE and its former CEOs Chitra Ramakrishna and Ravi Narayan and two other officials for lapses in recruitment at the senior level.


Ravi Narain was the MD and CEO of the National Stock Exchange from April 1994 till March 2013, while Chitra Ramkrishna was MD and CEO of the NSE from April 2013 to December 2016.


The market regulators observed that the NSE and its top executives violated securities contract norms relating to the appointment of Anand Subramaniam as group operating officer and adviser to the managing director. 

PM Modi holds roadshow in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 11:21 PM PST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on a two-day visit to Gujarat held a roadshow in Gandhinagar’s Dahegam.

Riding in an open jeep decked with floral garlands, PM Modi was seen waving at people during his roadshow which attracted a huge crowd in the city.

The roadshow culminated in Gandhinagar’s Lavad area where the Prime Minister will deliver the first Convocation address of the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) as the Chief Guest. The PM tweeted this morning that a building in the university will be dedicated to the nation.

Today evening he is scheduled to declare open the 11th Khel Mahakumbh and deliver an address on the occasion according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

PM Modi’s visit to the poll-bound state kicked off on Friday with a mega roadshow from the airport to the BJP office, Kamalam, followed by a meeting with the party leaders in Ahmedabad.

Further, the Prime Minister addressed a Maha-Panchayat Sammelan at GMDC Ground in Ahmedabad and then met his mother Heeraben Modi at her residence in Gandhinagar yesterday. He also chaired a meeting of the Shree Somnath Trust to discuss the ongoing infrastructure up-gradation measures in the district.

The PM’s visit comes in the wake of the victory of the BJP in four out of the 5 states in which Assembly elections was held. The party retained power in Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand.

BJP and its allies won 255 seats in 403 assembly constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, while in Uttarakhand it won 47 seats out of 70 seats; in Goa it won 20 seats out of 40 and in Manipur the ruling BJP coalition won 31 seats out of 60. In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party swept to victory on 92 out of the 117 assembly seats

Gujarat is heading into Assembly elections later this year.

Pakistan Opposition leader arrested in Karachi on corruption charges

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 10:06 PM PST

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday arrested Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former senator Chaudhary Tanvir Khan in Karachi in connection with a corruption case, local media reported.

The authorities alleged that Tanvir Khan was trying to “escape” from the country by boarding a flight to the United Arab Emirates, The Dawn reported. Tanvir’s name was included in an FIA ‘blacklist’ on the request of the Anti-Corruption Establishment of Punjab as a precaution after multiple attempts for his arrest met with failure, The Dawn further said citing sources.

“The FIA was already made aware of the possible move from the former senator to flee the country. His name was accordingly included in the blacklist and he was there today at the Karachi airport where he was arrested by the FIA immigration team. The FIA team would hopefully hand over his custody to the Anti-Corruption Establishment, Punjab, tomorrow (Saturday),” the report quoted an official.

The arrest comes at a time when the Opposition in Pakistan is mounting a slew of protests with plans of a no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan government over his ‘misgovernance’.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has regularly threatened the Opposition with consequences if the no-confidence motion against him fails.

The prime minister while addressing a public meeting at Dir Scouts Ground in Balambat on Friday reiterated that opposition leaders would face his wrath after the no-trust motion failed. “It was my dream that the opposition submits a no-confidence resolution against me in the NA (National Assembly),” he said, adding that the move would fail and the opposition would meet a shameful defeat, The Dawn reported.

MX Player releases trailer of Roohaniyat, a romantic mystery drama

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 09:56 PM PST

From love at first sight to fairytale endings, the portrayal of raw romance on-screen often leaves viewers with butterflies in their stomach. But whether it is real or reel, finding one’s soulmate has always been a roller coaster ride. Your first date, moments of intimacy, first fight, the spark of jealousy and the journey of realising if this is love for life is what makes it so interesting.

MX Player’s Original Series, Roohaniyat is all that and more. Set to release on March 23, Roohaniyat is a romantic mystery drama starring Arjun Bijlani, Kanika Mann, Aman Verma and Smita Bansal in pivotal roles. The fascinating trailer captures the engaging theme of ‘Is Forever Love A Lie’. While navigating the path of true love, Prisha meets Saveer and falls head over heels for him. But what awaits is a dark and twisted secret as her love interest is not exactly as she had hoped for. Saveer who once believed in love has suddenly lost all interest in it while Prisha is a hopeless romantic. Their ideas of love are poles apart. Will Prisha be able to make Saveer restore his belief in love, or will their lives take another twist?

Commenting on the release, Arjun Bijlani says, ‘Shooting for this series has been an amazing experience. This show is all about finding answers to whether love forever exists. This is not your usual love story. It has twists and turns that no one expects. I can’t wait to see the audience’s reaction to the trailer.”

Kanika Mann says, “When I read the script of Roohaniyat, it had me hooked from the very start. Prisha is an unpredictable girl who believes in the concept of true love and soulmates. I could relate to that character being a hopeless romantic myself. I hope the audience enjoys the series and appreciates our work.”

IPL 2022: Aaron Finch joins KKR as replacement for Alex Hales

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 09:39 PM PST

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have signed Aaron Finch as a replacement for England batter Alex Hales for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

According to an official IPL statement, Hales has cited bubble fatigue as his reason for withdrawal from the tournament. Finch – Australia’s ICC T20 World Cup-winning captain, has thus far played 88 T20Is and has scored 2686 runs with the help of two hundreds and 15 half-centuries.

Finch, who has played 87 IPL games and has over 2000 IPL runs, will join KKR at the price of Rs 1.5 crore.

“I am sad to announce that I have made the extremely difficult decision to withdraw from the forthcoming IPL. Having spent the last four months away from home in restrictive bio bubble’s and having tested positive for COVID myself in Australia, I don’t feel as though I can commit myself to another extended period within a secure environment,” said Hales in a statement on Twitter.

“It wouldn’t be fair on the team or myself if I wasn’t able to perform to the level expected of me as a result of ongoing bubble fatigue. I am truly gutted to have to turn down one of the best opportunities of my career due to the toll that the last two years of bubble life has taken on my mental well-being. I’ll now take some time to rest and recharge ahead of the summer. I want to thank KKR for believing in we during the auction and for their ongoing support in recent weeks. I wish Baz, Shreyas and the team the best of luck for the tournament and hope to see the Knight Riders fans at some point in the future,” he stated further.

KKR – the two-time IPL Champions – will kickstart the IPL 2022 proceedings on March 26 when they take on Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

Imran Khan government will do ‘whatever it takes’ to win no-trust motion

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 09:23 PM PST

Imran Khan government’s bizarre interpretation of the floor-crossing clause has not only left legal experts bewildered, but has also demonstrated that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will do anything it takes to ensure the failure of the no-confidence motion in National Assembly, local media reported.

The interpretation of the clause by the cabinet members shows how the constitutional government is preparing to stretch the limits of a constitutional process and its requirements to the maximum according to its convenience, the Dawn newspaper reported. The cabinet ministers have insisted that Imran Khan, as the leader of his party, can ask the speaker of the National Assembly to disqualify the dissident PTI MNAs and reject their vote in the no-trust motion if they turn up in the Parliament despite being ordered not to do so as this shows their disobedience against the leader.

However, this bizarre interpretation of the floor-crossing clause has been totally rejected by legal experts as the clause is only triggered when a legislator casts his vote against his own party thereby crossing the floor to the other side. Thus, it is voting that is considered the act of floor crossing, and the MNA, therefore, is disqualified. To disqualify a member before he casts his vote is synonymous with punishing a person for his intent instead of his action, according to the media outlet.
Moreover, the speaker of the assembly cannot disqualify a member as his role only allows him to determine if a member has crossed the floor and send a reference to the Election Commission if he finds the member guilty. It is the Election Commission that will then decide if the member should be disqualified.

Thus, PTI’s interpretation of the floor-crossing clause is not only a mockery of the law but also shows their malicious intent to fail the no-trust move in whatever way it is possible.

The cabinet ministers stating that they will stop those who plan to defy the orders and still go to parliament shows how the ruling party is threatening its own members and proclaiming the same openly.

This has emanated a dread that a constitutional crisis looms large as the government is actually ready and willing to go down any path in order to win, reported the Pakistani publication.

Notably, the opposition parties in Pakistan are jettisoning mutual hatred to oust Imran Khan as they submitted the no-trust motion in the National Assembly Secretariat on Tuesday.

Amit Shah flags off ‘Dandi Cycle Yatra’ on 92nd anniversary of historic march

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 09:11 PM PST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday flagged off ‘Dandi Cycle Yatra’ on the occasion of the 92nd anniversary of the Dandi March in Ahmedabad.

The Dandi Cycle Yatra, organised by Gujarat Vidyapeeth, left for Dandi from Kocharab Ashram in Ahmedabad.

The Dandi March or Salt Satyagrah was organised by Mahatma Gandhi from the Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad to the village of Dandi in the state’s coastal area. The Salt Satyagrah was a part of Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent movement against British rule.

The movement was started on March 12, 1930, and ended on April 5, 1930. 

7 dead after fire breaks out in shanties of Gokulpuri area, CM Kejriwal to meet victims’ families

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 08:59 PM PST

As many as seven people died in a fire that broke out in the shanties of the Gokulpuri area on Friday night.


Delhi Fire Service department informed on Saturday that the fire was brought under control on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. Officials recovered seven bodies from the site of the incident. The department officials further informed that as many as 13 fire tenders rushed to the site after gathering information about the incident.


Prima facie, it appears that the fire was caught in around 60 shanties, officials said.
More details are awaited.

Expressing grief, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that he would meet the people affected in the fire incident in jhuggis (shanties) in the Gokulpuri area of the national capital in which seven people are reported to have lost their lives.
The Chief Minister said that he will himself meet the families of the victims soon. In a tweet in Hindi today, the Chief Minister said, “I got to hear this sad news in the morning. I myself will go there and meet the victims.”

COVID-19: India logs 3,614 new cases, deaths below 100

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 08:55 PM PST

India recorded 3,614 fresh COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours with a positivity rate of 0.44 per cent, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed on Saturday.

With this increase in new infections, the country’s active caseload has gone up to 40,559. The weekly positivity rate is 0.52 per cent. The government data shows that 89 COVID-19 fatalities pushed India’s death toll to 5,15,803.

Meanwhile, as many as 5,185 people have been recovered from COVID-19 infection in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 4,24,31,513, as per government data. At present, the recovery rate is 98.71 per cent.

The Union Health Ministry also informed that about 179.91 crores (1,79,91,57,486) COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

J-K: 4 terrorists killed in separate encounters in Pulwama, Ganderbal, Handwara

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 07:23 PM PST

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday morning eliminated four terrorists in counter-terrorism operations in different parts of the Union Territory while capturing one terrorist alive.

The police informed that they killed two terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pulwama, one each in Ganderbal and Handwara, hailing from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Inspector-General of Police in Kashmir, Vijay Kumar informed today morning, “We had launched joint operations at 4-5 locations yesterday night. So far, two terrorists of JeM, including one Pakistani, has been killed in Pulwama, one terrorist of LeT killed each in Ganderbal and Handwara. Encounters are now over in Handwara and Pulwama. We have also arrested one terrorist alive.”

On the night of March 11, an encounter broke out at the Chewaklan area of Pulwama.
Similarly, an encounter broke out in the Serch area of Ganderbal earlier this morning. Further, an encounter has started at Nechama, Rajwar area of Handwara, the police informed.

The police forces are monitoring the situation on the ground.

Further probe into the matter is underway. 

Ukrainian foreign ministry calls detention of Melitopol mayor a ‘war crime’

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 07:20 PM PST

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has posted a hard-hitting statement on its Facebook account that calls the detention of the Melitopol mayor a “war crime.”

Earlier, Melitopol mayor Ivan Fedorov was seen on video being led away from a government building in the city by armed men, as reported by CNN. But after some time, the Russian-backed Luhansk regional prosecutor came forward to defend the mayor’s detention and claimed that Fedorov had committed terrorism offences and was under investigation.

On Facebook, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called Fedorov’s detention an “abduction,” and posted that this aggression is accompanied by “gross violations of norms and principles of international law, including international humanitarian law, war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as other human rights violations by the Russian military.”

The Foreign Ministry said that the abduction of the mayor is classified as a war crime under the Geneva Convention and its Additional Protocols that prohibit civilian hostages like Fedorov from being taken.

Foreign ministry further urged the international community to react immediately to this incident and also to increase pressure on Russia to end its barbaric war against the Ukrainian people,” the statement said.

“The fact of the abduction of the Mayor of Melitopol, along with hundreds of other facts of war crimes by Russian occupiers on the Ukrainian soil, are being carefully documented by law enforcement agencies. The perpetrators of this and other crimes will be brought to the strictest responsibility,” the post concluded.

Putin can stop war in Ukraine by agreeing to diplomatic solution or stopping bombing: US

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 07:16 PM PST

Russian President Vladimir Putin can stop the ongoing war in Ukraine right now by agreeing to a diplomatic solution or – at least – just stopping the bombing and the death and destruction he is causing, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said on Friday (local time).

“All of this is by choice. Mr Putin can stop this war right now by agreeing to a diplomatic solution or – at least – just stopping the bombing and the death and destruction he is causing,” John Kirby said at a press conference. Meanwhile, US Department of Commerce imposed new controls on the exports of their luxury goods to Russia and Belarus.

“We have also imposed an import ban on Russian alcohol, seafood and non-industrial diamonds,” Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said.
He said that the US will remain committed to Ukraine and also ensured that no relief on sanctions will be given to Russia.

“We are and we will remain committed to and united with Ukraine. There will be no relief from sanctions or other costs we have and will continue to impose on Russia until Putin reverses course and relents in his brutal aggression,” Price said.

Earlier, the EU also announced the ban on the exports of luxury products to Russia.

The European Commission President said that in addition to revoking Russia’s benefits as a world trade Organization member and fresh measures against Russian elites close to the Kremlin, the EU will ban the export of luxury goods to Russia.
Moreover, European Commission also said that the EU would prohibit the key goods in the iron and steel sector from Russia. EU also plans to propose a ban on investment in Russia’s energy sector.

The announcement came after EU leaders met with each other on Thursday and Friday in Versailles, France and pledged to announce new sanctions.

Earlier, Price also informed that the US is acting in concert with their G7 partners and took some steps to hold Russia to account. He further said, “We announced additional actions against wealthy Russian elites to ensure the govt of Russia pays a severe economic and diplomatic price for its invasion of Ukraine.”

UN says it has credible reports of Russian use of cluster bombs in Ukraine

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 05:01 PM PST

The UN human rights office has said that it had received “credible reports” of several cases of Russian forces using cluster bombs in Ukraine, adding that indiscriminate use of such weapons might amount to war crimes.

“We have also received credible reports of several cases of Russian forces using cluster munitions, including in populated areas. On 24 February, a cluster munition exploded at the Central City Hospital in Vuhledar, in government-controlled Donetsk, killing four civilians, injuring 10 others, and damaging ambulances, civilian vehicles and the hospital itself. There were other cluster munition attacks in several districts of Kharkiv, in which nine civilians were killed and 37 injured,” the UN spokesperson Liz Throssell said in a statement in Geneva. “Due to their wide area effects, the use of cluster munitions in populated areas is incompatible with the international humanitarian law principles governing the conduct of hostilities,” the spokesperson added.

Further in the statement, Liz Throssell said that civilian casualties are rising daily, as is general human suffering.

“We remind the Russian authorities that directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as so-called area bombardment in towns and villages and other forms of indiscriminate attacks, are prohibited under international law and may amount to war crimes,” the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile the war between Russia and Ukraine has crossed its sixteenth day. 

Poland’s Warsaw, and Krakow can no longer accept refugees from Ukraine

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 04:56 PM PST

Ukraine’s border guard service has said that Poland’s Warsaw and Krakow can no longer accept refugees from Ukraine.

Since Russia’s military operation began in Ukraine, thousands and thousands of people of Ukraine are fleeing to different countries. Most of the border-sharing countries have warmly accepted refugees from Ukraine. Over the course of two weeks, about 100,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Krakow, and 200,000 in Warsaw. But now, both of the cities are not able to accept refugees.

Even, in Romania, a total of 343,515 Ukrainian citizens have entered the country, of which 258,844 have since proceeded onward to other countries, while over 84,000 Ukrainians are currently staying in Romania, American Broadcaster CNN citing Romania official reported on Thursday [local time].

Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine on February 24.

US imposes ban on export of luxury goods to Russia, Belarus

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 04:52 PM PST

US Department of Commerce has imposed new controls on the exports of their luxury goods to Russia and Belarus.

“We have also imposed an import ban on Russian alcohol, seafood and non-industrial diamonds,” Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said. Price said that the US will remain committed to Ukraine and also ensured that no relief on sanctions will be given to Russia. He said, “We are and we will remain committed to and united with Ukraine. There will be no relief from sanctions or other costs we have and will continue to impose on Russia until Putin reverses course and relents in his brutal aggression.”

Earlier, the EU also announced the ban on the exports of luxury products to Russia. The European Commission President said that in addition to revoking Russia’s benefits as a world trade Organization member and fresh measures against Russian elites close to the Kremlin, The EU will ban the export of luxury goods to Russia.

Moreover, European Commission also said that the EU would prohibit the key goods in the iron and steel sector from Russia. EU also plans to propose a ban on investment in Russia’s energy sector.

The announcement came after EU leaders met with each other on Thursday and Friday in Versailles, France and pledged to announce new sanctions.

Earlier, Price also informed that the US is acting in concert with their G7 partners and took some steps to hold Russia to account. He further said, “We announced additional actions against wealthy Russian elites to ensure the govt of Russia pays a severe economic and diplomatic price for its invasion of Ukraine.”

After poll debacle in five states, Congress G-23 leaders to demand reforms during CWC meet

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 04:44 PM PST

Congress G-23 leaders, who are members of the Congress Working Committee, are set to raise their demand for reforms in the party during the CWC meeting to be held in the next few days to discuss the poll debacle in the five states, sources said on Friday.

Congress G23 met at senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s residence in the national capital on Friday. The Congress has said that party chief Sonia Gandhi will call a meeting of the working committee soon to discuss the party’s preparations.
Congress leaders Bhupender Singh Hooda, Manish Tewari, Kapil Sibal and Anand Sharma, Akhilesh Prasad Singh are among those present at the meeting. Sources said some other G-23 members have joined the meeting virtually. The G-23 leaders had written to party chief Sonia Gandhi in August 2020 calling for sweeping reforms in the party including direct election at various levels.

Congress had said on Thursday that the results of five states have come against the expectations of the party.

The party had also indicated that the clashing ambitions of its leaders had hurt the party’s prospects.

Party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said there was a need to “seriously introspect, re-examine, re-think” whether the race for political positions “is undermining the position of the party to an extent where we end up helping the cause of our opposition and where we end up causing loss to the Congress party”.
He said this question needs to be answered “not only in Punjab, not only in Uttarakhand, not only in Goa, but across the country”.

Surjewala also talked of anti-incumbency in Punjab, which was ruled by Congress.
“In Punjab, Congress presented a new leadership through Charanjit Singh Channi who is the son of the soil, but the entire anti-incumbency of 4.5 years under Captain Amarinder Singh could not be overcome and hence people voted for AAP for change,” he said.

Party leader Shashi Tharoor had on Thursday called for reforming the party’s “organisational leadership in a manner that will reignite those ideas and inspire the people”. “One thing is clear — Change is unavoidable if we need to succeed,” he said in a tweet.

Judges have to fill gap between the law and justice, says Justice DN Patel

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 04:39 PM PST

Judiciary has a role to play and judges have to fill the gap between the law and justice by their orders and judgements, said Delhi High Court Chief Justice DN Patel who attained superannuation on Friday.

Quoting Abraham Lincoln, Justice Patel said, “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time”. “This is perhaps the reason we mentally prepare ourselves and plan our lives accordingly. For me, the day has arrived when ages of my life shall turn a new chapter”, he added. Justice Patel said that the Judiciary is one of the three primary institutions of Indian democracy being the adjudicature of truth stood with both constitutional powers and responsibilities in the scheme of the Indian Constitution, he added.

He said, “It is pertinent to mention that judiciary is a unique institution in the grand scheme of the Indian Republic as it does not have the power of the sword or the purse control by other two primary institutions. Our primary task is to render justice through our orders and judgements by deciding cases where there is a dispute not only between the individual but also the institution and the state authorities”.

He further said, “And if there is any gap (between justice and law), a judge has to fill up the gap and that is known as judicial activism. That is inevitable. But as a matter of exception and not as a matter of role. We are not here, this is what I believe personally, to make the law, nor to evolve a policy brand new but we are the only interpreter of the law. But as an exception, as I have said, whenever there is a gap between law and justice, there is bound to be judicial activism.”

We are not here to make the law but we are only the interpreter of the law, like I have said, whenever there is gap between law and justice there is bound to be judicial activism. We are giving several guidelines in several decisions, he added.

He reiterated, “We are concerned with the law as it is and not with law as ought to be”, he emphasized. “It is a matter of Parliament and absence of law it is for the executive to draft the policy as per the bifurcation of the powers in the Constitution. I have always followed this theory of positivism and one has to maintain a balance between judicial activism and restrain”, he added.

Thus, the unique position of the judiciary ensures that it parlays with both citizenry and authority through its written words in orders and judgements. Hence, I am thankful to God for letting me be part of this esteemed institution, he added.
On the last day of chief justice in office, the member of the bar acknowledged and thanked him for his efforts during the pandemic to keep the court proceedings going on.

Delhi High Court Bar Association President Mohit Mathur thanked the Chief Justice for his efforts to make virtual hearing and e-filing possible during the pandemic days.
On the other hand Advocate Rakesh Sehrwat, Chairman Bar Council of Delhi acknowledged the support Justice Patel rendered for the issues of the lawyer’s fraternity.

ASG Chetan Sharma mentioned the important decision that Justice Patel passed during his tenure including in the matter of the Central Vista Project. He also appreciated the suo moto cognizance taken by Justice Patel in the Rohini Court firing incident.

On May 31, 2021, describing the Central Vista project as “vital and essential”, his bench had allowed construction work on the project to continue and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioners for their “motivated” plea.

The Central government on March 4 appointed Justice DN Patel, to the post of chairperson, Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). Patel had been appointed as the TDSAT Chairperson for a period of four years.

Congress G-23 leaders meet at Ghulam Nabi Azad’s residence after party’s drubbing in five state elections

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 04:29 PM PST

With Congress facing a major drubbing in the assembly polls to five states, leaders of Congress G-23 met at senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s residence here on Friday to discuss the developments.

The meeting is being held even as Congress has said that party chief Sonia Gandhi will call a meeting of the party’s working committee soon. Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Manish Tewari, Kapil Sibal and Anand Sharma, Akhilesh Prasad Singh are among those present at the meeting.

Sources said other G-23 members would virtually join the meeting. The G-23 leaders had written to party chief Sonia Gandhi in August 2020 calling for sweeping reforms in the party including direct election at various levels.

Congress had said on Thursday that the results of five states have come against the expectations of the party.

The party had also indicated that the clashing ambitions of its leaders had hurt the party’s prospects.

Party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said there was need to “seriously introspect, re-examine, re-think” whether the race for political positions “is undermining the position of the party to an extent where we end up helping the cause of our opposition and where we end up causing loss to the Congress party”.

He said this question needs to be answered “not only in Punjab, not only in Uttarakhand, not only in Goa, but across the country”.

Surjewala also talked of anti-incumbency in Punjab, which was ruled by Congress.
“In Punjab, Congress presented a new leadership through Charanjit Singh Channi who is the son of the soil, but the entire anti-incumbency of 4.5 years under Captain Amarinder Singh could not be overcome and hence people voted for AAP for change,” he said.

Party leader Shashi Tharoor had on Thursday called for reforming the party’s “organisational leadership in a manner that will reignite those ideas and inspire the people”. “One thing is clear — Change is unavoidable if we need to succeed,” he said in a tweet.

Stop crying like Congress, If you have the courage then don’t run away- Manish Sisodia to BJP

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 04:22 PM PST

Slamming the BJP over the delay in the announcement of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party not to cry like Congress.

“Stop crying like Congress. If you have the courage then don’t run away, fight (contest MCD elections) with us. It will be a big achievement for you if you will be able to get even 10 seats,” said Sisodia. Sisodia’s comment came after Union Minister Smriti Irani accused the Delhi government of depriving the MCD employees of Rs 13,000 crores.

Her statement comes after Kejriwal held a press conference earlier in the day expressing disappointment at the postponement of municipal corporation elections in the national capital, stating that doing so “weakens the democratic system.”

“Today Kejriwal held a presser (on MCD polls delay in Delhi) I want to ask him… Does he know that Nagar Nigam had sought reforms last year? Delhi government has purposely deprived MCD employees of Rs 13000 crores. Kejriwal chooses to empty the Nagar Nigam treasury,” Irani said while addressing a press conference here today.
The Union Minister also said that Kejriwal should deposit Rs 13,000 crores in MCD’s bank account.

Earlier, State Election Commissioner SK Srivastava said that the Centre has deferred the announcement of polling dates for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) election after the central government raised a few issues that are yet to be legally examined by the Election Commission.

He also informed that the Centre was planning to introduce a bill in the budget session of Parliament to unify the three municipal corporations of Delhi.

He further said that they were about to announce the dates, but now it will take another five to seven days to announce them.

ISRO espionage case: SC to hear CBI plea against anticipatory bail to former officials on March 25

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 04:16 PM PST

The Supreme Court on Friday posted for March 25 hearing on CBI plea challenging the Kerala High Court order granting anticipatory bail to four persons in connection with the 1994 ISRO espionage case relating to the alleged framing of scientist Nambi Narayanan.

A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar adjourned the matter after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought adjournment in the case saying he needed some time in the matter. Earlier, the apex court had issued notices to the accused on the petition of CBI.

The Kerala High Court on August 13 last year had granted anticipatory bail to four accused — the former Gujarat Director-General of Police (DGP) RB SreeKumar, two former police officers of Kerala S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt, and retired intelligence official PS Jayaprakash — in connection with the case.

Seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to them, the CBI had said the grant of anticipatory bail might derail the investigation in the case.

Earlier CBI had told the apex court that it has found in its probe that some scientists were tortured and framed in the matter due to which development of the cryogenic engine was hit and this led to India’s space programme going back by almost one or two decades.

Opposing the bail granted to the accused, CBI had said it is a “very serious matter” and there may be a larger conspiracy at the behest of foreign hands which is being investigated.

The CBI had alleged that there was a clear indication that the accused were part of a team, which had ulterior motives to torpedo the attempts of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for manufacturing the cryogenic engine.

It had registered a case against 18 persons for various offences, including criminal conspiracy, in connection with the arrest and detention of former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, who was accused of spying in 1994.

The case relates to allegations of transfer of certain confidential documents on India’s space programme to foreign countries by two scientists and four others, including two Maldivian women.

CBI had earlier given a clean chit to Narayanan and said that the Kerala police had “fabricated” the case. The investigating agency stated that the technology ex-scientist was accused to have stolen and sold in the 1994 case did not even exist at that time and then top police officials in Kerala were responsible for his illegal arrest.

On September 14, 2018, the top court had appointed a three-member committee and directed the Kerala government to give Rs 50 lakh compensation to Narayanan for compelling him to undergo immense humiliation.

Terming the police action against Narayanan as a “psycho-pathological treatment”, the top court had also said that his liberty and dignity, basic to his human rights, were jeopardised as he was taken into custody and, eventually, despite all the glory of the past, was compelled to face “cynical abhorrence”.

Bharat Biotech’s intranasal booster vaccine can be a game-changer – says expert

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 04:10 PM PST

Bharat Biotech’s intranasal booster vaccine can be a game-changer if it provides mucosal immunity against COVID-19, said Dr Sanjay Rai, Professor for Community Medicine at AIIMS as the clinical trials for the vaccine commenced on Friday.

The clinical trials for phase three of the BBV154 vaccine developed by the Hyderabad-based firm started at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi today. “We don’t know the result. Currently, we are in a phase three trial and if this vaccine is going to provide a mucosal immunity, then definitely that will be again a game-changer,” Dr Rai said.

The registration for the phase three clinical trials of the vaccine can be done either via email or on WhatsApp. People above the age of 18 years with a vaccination history of more than five months but less than seven months are eligible to participate in the trial, Dr Rai said.

Elaborating on the eligibility, he further elaborated that those registering for the trials should have taken the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine between August 10 and October 10, last year.

“I believe the recruitment will be over in one week’s time,” Dr Rai said.
This trial will be heterologous on both, those who have taken two doses of Covaxin or Covishield.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had granted permission to the Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company to conduct clinical trials of intranasal booster vaccine dose in the country in January 2021.
The NOC letter by DCGI reads: “Central Licensing Authority hereby permits Bharat Biotech International limited to conduct clinical trials of the new drug or investigational new drug.”
The dosage form of the vaccine is liquid for the intranasal route of administration and every single dose contains 0.5ml. The trials of the intranasal vaccine will take place at nine different places in the country.

Haryana govt declares ‘The Kashmir Files’ as tax-free

Posted: 11 Mar 2022 04:00 PM PST

The Haryana government on Friday declared that “The Kashmir Files” movie will be tax-free in the state and directed cinemas and multiplexes not to charge state GST on the screening of the movie.

A notification from the Excise & Taxation Department said that the order shall remain in force for six months from the date of the order. The Haryana government has allowed for reimbursement of state GST on entry to exhibition of film ‘The Kashmir Files’ in cinemas theaters of the state from the date of this order.

The registered taxpayer (multiplex/cinema theaters) during the period of reimbursement allowed by this order shall not charge State GST from the customers and the tickets will be sold at a price reducing the amount of State GST.

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