Who is Prajwal's brother Suraj Revanna, who has been detained for suspected 'unnatural offences'?

Suraj Revanna (L), Prajwal Revanna's brother, was detained on a charge of "unnatural offences".(X/@iSurajRevanna)

Suraj Revanna, the brother of suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, was detained on sexual assault allegations on Sunday following a complaint from a party worker. Suraj Revanna was arrested a day after being charged under several sections of the IPC, including "unnatural offences," for allegedly sexually assaulting a 27-year-old man a few days prior.

The complainant claimed that Suraj Revanna sexually molested him at his farmhouse in Ghannikada on June 16, allegations that the JD(S) leader strongly denied. Instead, he accused the complainant of attempting to extort money from him by threatening to file a bogus sexual assault claim against him.

Suraj's assistant, HL Shivakumar, submitted a complaint alleging that the JD(S) worker requested ₹5 crore, which was eventually lowered to ₹2 lakh. Suraj's assistant said that the JD(S) worker met with Suraj six months ago and again in June, looking for work. Suraj stated that he cannot now assist the man in finding work, but may consider it in the future. The man then requested ₹5 crore.

"I completely reject these charges. They are involved in a political plot. An FIR has also been filed against the complainant. Let the truth out. "I believe in the law of the land," Suraj Revanna stated.

Who is Suraj Revanna?

Suraj Revanna, a member of Karnataka's legislative council (MLC), is the oldest son of Holenarasipur MLA HD Revanna and grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. The whole Revanna family has been mired in scandal after pen drives with recordings of Prajwal Revanna with several women were discovered in Hassan.

Prajwal Revanna was arrested by the SIT at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on May 31 after returning from Germany, where he had been holed up after rape and intimidation charges were filed against him.

H D Revanna and his wife Bhavani are free on bail. They have been accused of kidnapping and harbouring an alleged victim of their son Prajwal's sexual crimes.

Afternoon briefing: Students, parents protest government after NEET-PG postponed, ISRO completes testing of 'Pushpak', and more.

 

Lucknow, June 20 (ANI): Police detain supporters and students of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over an alleged paper leak in the UGC NET exam in Lucknow on Thursday. (ANI Photograph)(Naeem Ansari)

After the Centre announced the delay of the NEET-PG 2024 examination set for Sunday, various student bodies and doctor's groups expressed their dissatisfaction with the move, claiming that the country's education system had been "destroyed." They also sought a high-level investigation of the agency in charge of organising the NEET-UG and NEET-PG exams.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) completed the third landing experiment of the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV LEX-03) dubbed 'Pushpak' on Sunday. According to a space agency release, the test took place at 07:30 IST at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.

Spread of the Covid-19 subvariant: Is JN.1 more contagious?

Healthcare personnel at the Government Fever Hospital in Hyderabad arrange beds and medical supplies following the Center's COVID advisory.

According to specialists, the increment in cases around the world shows that JN.1, an Omicron sub-lineage, may be able to outcompete other variations since of its tall resistant elude capacity. Since of this, the WHO has assigned JN.1 as a "variation of intrigued" (VOI), distinctive from the parent ancestry BA.2.86, due to its rapidly spreading nature. It is the variety that is developing the speediest in the US, concurring to the Centres for Malady Control (CDC). There is no require to freeze, but individuals are pondering if the COVID-19 sub-variant, which has as of now been connected to 21 cases in India, is spreading quickly.

"Delayed overwhelming period, secure evade, and extended transmission"

The development advantage, agreeing to Dr. Rajesh Karyakarte, the Maharashtra genome sequencing facilitator, is exponential. He cites WHO information illustrating how JN.1 rapidly rose from 3.3% of all coronavirus cases between October 30 and November 5 to 27% a month afterward. "This speaks to an 86 per cent development advantage," Dr. Karyakarte claims, clarifying that the longer irresistible period, upgraded transmission, and safe elude were the causes.

According to the CDC, this appears that it is infectious and is getting to be more capable at sidestepping the body's resistant protection framework than the genealogical strain. In any case, since healing center affirmation rates are moo, the spike in transmission does not essentially show a genuine sickness. Specialists include that there is small hazard of contamination, so those who have as of now been immunized or have had a earlier contamination shouldn't be concerned.

Expanded spread as a result of spike protein mutation

According to genome analysts Vinod Scaria and Bani Jaunty, the SARS-CoV-2 infection is always changing and branching out into modern ancestries. Each contamination gives the infection the chance to create encourage, and JN.1, an Omicron sub-lineage, is recognized by the nearness of an additional spike protein change, L455S. They claim that since of its solid safe elude characteristic, JN.1 might outcompete other variations.

According to a later consider distributed in the Lancet, JN.1 can escape the safe framework more rapidly than its parent BA.2.86 due to this one change alone.

Should we be concerned?

Expert in irresistible maladies Dr. Ameet Dravid says that the infection will proceed to change to develop more strong. As of right presently, we are giving healing center treatment for minor upper respiratory tract diseases. Since the variation is more safe hesitant, there may be a spike in cases. Individuals must get inoculations, especially those who are as it were mostly inoculated, agreeing to Dr. David. As of presently, no especially striking indications have been detailed, and the signs and indications incorporate sore or scratchy throat, depletion, cerebral pain, body throb, clog, hacking, and fever, comparable to past variations.

However, Dr. Dravid says that since cases are on the rise, cover utilize ought to to be required in swarmed zones. He proceeds, "It's time to camouflage significant respiratory behavior, like covering your nose and mouth when you hack or wheeze."

Government to sell 7 lakh tonnes of onions by the end of February in order to lower the price per kilogramme to Rs 35.

Onion prices have been bringing tears as domestic prices stay elevated for over 4 months

In an effort to rein in onion prices, which have increased by 48 per cent, the government is amassing a massive buffer stock, which in November contributed to a higher-than-average inflation rate of 5.55 per cent.

The government has already prohibited the edible bulb's exports because general elections are soon.

"We are continuing to procure the commodity to bring it to 7 lakh tonnes, and we have built up a substantial buffer of 5 lakh tonnes." In order to lower prices, we are also offloading this buffer concurrently. When the buffer runs out in late February, prices should drop to around Rs 35 per kilogramme, and by March, they should return to normal levels of around Rs 20, according to Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh, who spoke with Moneycontrol.

As of December 12, the average price of onions throughout India is Rs 55.12 per kilogram.

Up until now, the government has purchased roughly 5.10 lakh tonnes of onions and offloaded 2.72 lakh tonnes in expensive markets through both open markets and direct retail sales to customers.

Data indicates that government-held buffers keep prices under control, giving us a strong buffer to step in further. Then, traders are aware that they cannot control the market, according to Singh.

Export ban

In an effort to keep domestic prices under control, on August 19, the Centre decided to buy an extra 200,000 tonnes of onions from farmers while also enacting a 40 per cent export duty on onions. But because prices did not decline much, on October 29 it also announced a minimum export price (MEP) of $800 per million tonnes (free-on-board basis).

"But even with MEP, we observed that over a lakh tonne of exports were made each month because other neighbouring countries' onion prices remained high," the secretary continued.

The MEP was first implemented on December 31 and was later extended to a complete export prohibition through March 2024.

Delays in Kharif arrivals, export restrictions by Egypt and Turkey, hailstorms during Kharif crops, and high global retail prices as a result of availability worries have all been blamed for the price increase.

After the kitchen staple's retail sale price in the national capital surpassed Rs 80 per kg, while prices in the mandis stayed around Rs 60 per kg, exports of this staple were ultimately outlawed. Since July, the Consumer Price Index basket's onion inflation has been in double digits, with a nearly four-year high of 42.1 per cent in October.

"Not Aware": Mamata Banerjee Will Not Attend The Upcoming India Bloc Meeting

In north Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has a prearranged programme. (FILE)

Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, will not be present at this Wednesday's INDIA alliance coordination meeting. On that day, Ms. Banerjee has a prearranged programme in north Bengal. She claimed that the Congress lost the most recent state elections because there were no seat-sharing agreements with other INDIA members.

"I am not informed of this meeting. I've already planned a programme in north Bengal because of this. There, I have a seven-day schedule. Would I have continued with this programme if I had known? Without a doubt, I would have taken it. However, I'm going on the north Bengal tour because we don't have any information," she declared.

According to sources, her party, the Trinamool Congress, might also skip the meeting.

Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh described the meeting as "informal" following Mamata Banerjee's announcement.

The opposition bloc's next meeting was called by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge yesterday, despite the party suffering significant losses at the hands of the BJP in three states. Three months have passed since the last meeting, which took place in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1.

Plans for the Lok Sabha election of the following year are anticipated to be outlined at the meeting.

The Congress suffered a crushing defeat as the BJP swept Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, strengthening its grip on the Hindi heartland.

The Congress found solace in Telangana, where it defeated the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the state assembly elections, which were widely considered a prelude to the general elections of the following year.

The allies of the INDIA bloc criticised the Congress for putting the Opposition alliance in a state of confusion while it concentrated on the state elections, blaming the party for not fighting the elections together.

Earlier in the day, the chief minister of Bengal claimed that a "division of votes" resulted from the Congress's decision to contest the polls.

Telangana is now a Congress state. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan would have been their victories. The INDIA parties withheld some votes. That is the reality. We had proposed a system of seat sharing. In a speech to the West Bengal Assembly, Ms. Banerjee stated, "They lost because of a division of votes."

"The attempt to bring everyone together should gain momentum," stated Abhishek Banerjee, national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress. It ought to be demonstrated by their deeds rather than words."

"In the end, everyone is fighting the BJP's autocracy together. We should make the most of the time we have left because there isn't much left. We must work in the best interests of the people, putting aside our own interests. Set aside political egos, the opportunity to fight should be extended to those who are capable and strong in their areas. The people will gain from this," he continued.

Omar Abdullah, the leader of the National Conference, made fun of the Congress yesterday for remembering the INDIA alliance so late: "The Congress chief has invited some INDIA alliance leaders for lunch on December 6. Three months later, they called for the INDIA alliance again. See you later."

A day after the crushing defeat, the Congress declared that it would examine the events in the two states it controlled, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The sources claim that Mr. Kharge stated, "Mistakes have occurred and we will make course corrections." "Over confidence in some states and refusal to adhere to proper candidates and campaign cost us in the last few days of the elections," he stated.

However, a number of opposition leaders emphasised that the INDIA bloc needs to put in more effort ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and that the results will not affect the bloc.

"There are wins and losses. Both those who have triumphed and those who have lost have lessons for us to learn. Leading member of the National Conference (NC), Farooq Abdullah, stated that "India has to be one, it is for everyone, and we need to strengthen the country."

Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, stated that "INDIA has to get back where we started." "We began by emphasising the need to back the parties in the areas where they are most powerful. The polling in 2024 will be historic. Change is on the horizon."

Source: NDTV

Congress Postpones India Alliance Meeting Following Top Leaders' Refusal to Attend

 

New Delhi: Sources told NDTV this afternoon that the opposition bloc in India has rescheduled its meeting, which was scheduled to take place in Delhi tomorrow. The meeting will now take place "at a date convenient to all," as announced by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday, amid his party's crushing defeat in three state elections.

The Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar both intended to skip the meeting, sources told NDTV, prompting the postponement. Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of Bengal, announced on Monday that she would not be there as well. All three are prominent members of a group meant to bring the opposition together in order to fight the BJP in the state elections in November and the Lok Sabha election the following year, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to run for an unprecedented third consecutive term.

A coordination meeting of Parliamentary Party leaders of India Alliance will be at 6 pm on December 6th, 2023 at the residence of Congress President Sh. Mallikarjun Kharge.

Thereafter meeting of Party Presidents/ Heads of the India Alliance will be scheduled in third week of…

— Gurdeep Singh Sappal (@gurdeepsappal) December 5, 2023

According to sources, senior INDIA leaders Mr. Kumar, Mr. Yadav, and Ms. Banerjee were not the only ones who backed out of the meeting on Wednesday. According to reports, MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, had also declared he would not attend the meeting; in his case, the state is experiencing flooding as a result of Cyclone Michaung.

A wide range of leaders have responded negatively to the Congress's invitation, highlighting the widening divide within the INDIA bloc as local parties continue to complain louder and louder about the national party and maintain that it will fight elections as the majority partner or on its own in every case.

This week, Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee both emphasised how the Congress could have won or at least narrowed the margin of its defeats in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan if it had consented to share seats. This was a reference to the ongoing dispute over the distribution of six Madhya Pradesh seats between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party.

"... we suggested seat-sharing (but) they (the Congress) lost because of division of votes," said Ms Banerjee. Reminding the Congress that "we started on the point that we have to support parties in regions (in which) they are strong," Mr. Yadav appeared to be a little kinder to his detractors.

Sources: Nitish and Akhilesh will withdraw from the India meet.

Akhilesh Yadav, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, was expected to send his uncle, Ramgopal Yadav, while Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar was expected to send party President Rajiv Ranjan, according to sources who spoke with NDTV earlier today.

According to sources, Mr. Yadav may have felt that it was better for him to distance himself from the meeting and that he preferred the Congress's top brass to get in touch with him.

Sources added, however, that the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the other half of the Bihar government, would have been represented by a number of its leading figures, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, the party's patriarch.

Ms. Banerjee stated on Monday that she had prior obligations. "I am not conscious of this meeting. I've planned a seven-day programme in north Bengal; if I had known beforehand, I would have taken it."

According to sources, there may not have been a single Trinamool representative in her case.

The Congress appeared to take a step back after the Bengal leader's "not aware" remark; Jairam Ramesh, the party leader, referred to the gathering on December 6 as a "informal meet". This afternoon, sources told NDTV that a "formal meeting" has been scheduled for December 18 or 19. That phrase was used once more.

In the run-up to last month's Assembly polls, allies of the Congress have been criticising it for more than just seat-sharing disputes; they have also been criticising it for insisting that the planning for the general election of the following year, which is the main reason the INDIA bloc was formed, be delayed until it is free to take the lead.

This month, most likely, is when the Congress will call the next INDIA meeting, which was held in Mumbai at the end of August. Nitish Kumar, who claimed he had been "... pushing them forward in (the) INDIA alliance but, of late, there has not been much progress," poked fun at him for failing to comply.

Akhilesh Yadav and Nitish Kumar Might Send Representatives, Will Skip India Meeting: References

Former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and leader of the Samajwadi Party is Akhilesh Yadav (R) (File).

New Delhi: According to sources that spoke to NDTV this morning, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will not attend Wednesday's INDIA bloc negotiation. The leader of the Janata Dal (United) and Mr. Yadav, a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, are the second and third prominent figures to decline to attend the gathering that the Congress arranged, highlighting the widening divide within an alliance intended to bring the opposition together and crush Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP in the Lok Sabha election of the following year.

Update | Congress Postpones India Alliance Meeting Following Top Leaders' Refusal to Attend

According to sources, NDTV When Mallikarjun Kharge called Nitish Kumar to extend an invitation, he informed him of his decision. Senior leader Sanjay Jha and JDU President Rajiv Ranjan would represent Nitish Kumar in Delhi. On the other hand, sources suggested that the primary representatives of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the other half of the Bihar government, would probably be its leaders, Tejashwi Yadav, the deputy chief minister of Bihar, and his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Meanwhile, sources said that Akhilesh Yadav might send his uncle, Ramgopal Yadav. Mr. Yadav reportedly wants a personal invitation as well. He and the Congress have reportedly clashed numerous times in recent months, with Mr. Yadav criticising his ally over the breakdown of seat-sharing negotiations for the Madhya Pradesh election.

Mamata Banerjee, the fiery leader of the Trinamool Party and a tense ally with the Congress, announced on Monday that she would not be attending as well. She claimed to be "not aware" of the meeting and to have prior commitments in northern Bengal on that day. "I am not conscious of this meeting. I have a seven-day programme planned in north Bengal; if I had known, I would have taken it. However, I'm going on the north Bengal tour because we don't have any information," she declared.

Read | "Not Aware": Mamata Banerjee Will Not Attend The Upcoming India Bloc Meeting

According to sources, Ms. Banerjee's party may also skip the meeting. If this is the case, it will be interpreted as a sign of intense dissatisfaction within INDIA, which has been further heightened by the Congress's crushing losses in Sunday's assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Following three consecutive losses, the Bengali leader, who caused a stir by rejecting India's caste census resolution at its most recent meeting in Mumbai, appeared to criticise the Congress, saying, "We proposed a seat-sharing arrangement." "Divided votes caused them (the Congress) to lose," she informed the Assembly.

She did, however, refrain from making any further pointed remarks and instead stated that the bloc "will learn from the mistakes"

Mamata Banerjee's remarks appeared to support the views of other INDIA members, such as Akhilesh Yadav, who stated that in order to maximise their influence over voters, regional parties needed to take the lead in the opposition to the BJP wherever feasible. In the run-up to the Madhya Pradesh election, the Samajwadi Party and the Congress had a falling out over seat-sharing. Data collected following the election indicates that the Congress would have benefited more from a ground-level coalition than from going it alone.

After the Congress had taken early leads in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and was running neck and neck with the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Kharge called for the meeting on Sunday afternoon.

Tragically, the party soon found itself significantly behind in all three. Eventually, the Hindi heartland states were taken over by the BJP. In 2018, the Congress took up all three states.

The agenda item for tomorrow's INDIA bloc meeting is likely to be the formulation of the party's 2024 Lok Sabha election strategy, which is now progressively moving in the BJP's direction for a third consecutive term.

Source: NDTV

13 People Died in Manipur Clashes Between 2 Groups: Report

According to officials, the incident happened on Monday afternoon in Leithu village. (Symbolic)

Imphal: According to authorities, a gunfight between two groups in Manipur's Tengnoupal district on Monday claimed the lives of at least 13 people.

According to them, the incident happened on Monday afternoon in Leithu village.

"Another group of insurgents dominant in the area ambushed a group of militants on their way to Myanmar," a hill district official said.

He stated that 13 bodies had been found by security forces thus far. Although the identities of the deceased were unknown, they didn't seem to be locals.

The district of Tengnoupal has a porous border with Myanmar.

Story Source: NDTV

Cyclone Michaung | As Andhra Pradesh prepares for landfall, coastal Tamil Nadu braces for heavy rain.

The Met Office predicts that a depression will develop into Cyclone Michaung by December 4, with landfall in Andhra Pradesh on December 5; preparations for rescue, relief, and evacuation efforts are underway.

As a deep depression intensified over the Bay of Bengal, moving northwest and likely to evolve into Cyclone Michaung by December 3 morning, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu prepared for heavy rainfall in their coastal districts. Winds of 80 to 90 kmph with gusts of up to 100 kmph are expected, according to the India Meteorological Department on December 2.

Disaster relief efforts are underway along the coast, with state and national teams on the ground and naval forces in the region on standby. Fishermen have been advised not to go out to sea, and 144 trains have been cancelled. In Andhra Pradesh, relief camps are being established, and plans are being made to evacuate coastal areas if necessary.

On December 2, 2023, fishermen at Jalaripeta fishing colony in Visakhapatnam relocate their boats to safety in anticipation of Cyclone Michaung.

The storm made landfall on December 5th. Deep depression prevailed over the southwest Bay of Bengal in December, about 420 kilometres southeast of Chennai. The cyclonic storm is expected to reach the waters off southern Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu by December 4 morning, and then move parallel to the coast, making landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam a day later, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai.

"Melodi": Italian Prime Minister Meloni says it's always a pleasure to meet friends when he snaps a selfie with Modi at COP28.

Italy's Prime Minister posted a selfie with PM Narendra Modi on X at the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai. (X/@narendramodi)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to a selfie that his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni had taken during the COP28 Summit on Saturday by saying that it was always a pleasure to meet friends.

The Italian prime minister and PM Modi shared a selfie on X on Friday, captioning it, "Good friends at COP28," and adding the hashtag "Melodi," which combines the surnames of the two leaders.

PM Modi replied by retweeting the picture along with the phrase, "Meeting friends is always a delight."

Meeting friends is always a delight. https://t.co/4PWqZZaDKC

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 2, 2023

The annual Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28), which is being held in Dubai through December 12, is being attended by world leaders.

After his trips to Glasgow in 2021 and Paris in 2015, Prime Minister Modi made his third appearance at the World Climate Action Summit after landing in Dubai late on Thursday. The Indian community in Dubai greeted him with open arms.

Among the many world leaders he met were Meloni, King Charles, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

Earlier today in Dubai, I had the opportunity to interact with King Charles, who has always been passionate towards environmental conservation and sustainable development. He is an important voice in the fight against climate change. @RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/vRktqe0H3m

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

During the summit's opening speech, the prime minister stated that India has set goals to reduce its emission intensity by 45% by 2030 and raise the proportion of non-fossil fuels to 50%. Additionally, he put forth the Green Credit Initiative, which aims to engage individuals in the process of creating carbon sinks.

After an all-night search of the ED's Madurai office, Tamil Nadu police report finding "incriminating" documents.

Ankit Tiwari, an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer who was detained on Friday, is the subject of an alleged bribery case. The Tamil Nadu Police wrapped up a protracted search operation on Saturday morning.

Tiwari was posted at the ED office in Madurai, and the officer's home was also searched by the Tamil Nadu Police's Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). Searches continued until six in the morning on Saturday, and authorities reported finding evidence of incrimination.

Prominent state government sources stated they would rebuff requests to transfer the investigation to a federal agency.

Tiwari was detained early on Friday morning on suspicion of accepting a bribe from a government physician. In a late-night press release, the DVAC said that Tiwari had gotten in touch with him on October 29, 2023, citing a 2018 case involving disproportionate assets against the government doctor that the DVAC's Dindigul district branch had already resolved. According to the DVAC statement, Tiwari purportedly stated that he had received orders to reopen the investigation from the Prime Minister's Office.

Officials claim that after the doctor was called to the ED office in Madurai on October 30, Tiwari allegedly forced him into a car and demanded a bribe of Rs 3 crore to stop the police from taking action. The doctor eventually agreed to accept Rs 51 lakh. It is purported that the first installment of Rs 20 lakh was delivered on November 1. Following the doctor's complaint to the DVAC, an operation was conducted, which resulted in Tiwari's arrest.

This occurs in the midst of the ED reopening a number of cases that the DVAC previously handled. State and DMK government ministers are involved in the majority of these cases. Minister V Senthil Balaji was arrested and imprisoned as a result of one such case.

The DVAC statement claims that during searches conducted after Tiwari's arrest, authorities found documents purportedly indicating Tiwari's potential involvement in threatening or blackmailing other officials with similar methods. According to the statement, more investigations are being conducted.

A DVAC representative commented on the search at the ED's Madurai office, saying: "At first, they said we cannot search and asked us to wait for permission. However, they consented after we showed them the warrant and made it clear that we were only there to search Tiwari's office. The Chennai office of the ED now has more security.

J&K: Two Army soldiers slain in Rajouri after coming into contact with terrorists

The confrontation started in the Dharmsal neighbourhood of Bajimaal after a cordon and search.

According to PTI, which cited officials, two Army personnel were slain during a clash between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Wednesday.

Following a cordon-and-search operation, the police said, an encounter between the terrorists and joint forces of the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police occurred in the Bajimaal area of Dharmsal.

#WATCH | An encounter is underway between terrorists and joint forces of Army & J-K Police in the Bajimaal area of Dharmsal in Rajouri district

(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/pNnXvtbRKt

— ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2023

According to officials, one officer and one soldier were killed in the gunfight. They also said that one officer had been hurt and had been taken to a hospital, as reported by PTI.

Five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were slain by security forces last Friday in the Kulgam district of south Kashmir during one of the bloodiest gunfights of the year in the Union Territory.

Officials claim that several of them participated in earlier this year's attacks on Pandits and migrant labourers.

According to the officials mentioned above, the five men who were killed are all locals: Sameer Ahmad Sheikh, Danish Hameed Thokar, Ubaid Padder and Hanzla Shah from Shopian, and Yasir Bhat from Kulgam.

The Kulgam operation takes place a few weeks after the October 26 killing of five LeT members in Kupwara along the Line of Control (LoC). Terrorists were fought for more than a week in September by security forces in the Garol forests of Anantnag. Two officers, a soldier and a deputy superintendent of police, lost their lives in the operation. On September 19, the confrontation came to an end when Uzair Khan, the commander of the LeT, and two other terrorists were shot dead.

Over forty terrorists have been killed in the Valley so far this year, according to police.

How the Gaza War is related to the Houthis' seizure of a ship headed for India

The British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship Galaxy Leader, which was reported to have been captured by Houthis in the Red Sea, is depicted in a file photo.

The Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group, hijacked a ship that was headed for India on Sunday, November 19, adding a new twist to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. All 25 members of the crew were taken hostage when Huthi fighters descended from helicopters onto the ship. The rebels claim that the crew is being treated "by Islamic values."

Israel has called the hijacking "another Iranian act of terrorism" and asserted that the ship is operated by Japan and owned by the British.

Why have the Indian-bound ship's Houthis taken control of it? What responses have different stakeholders given to this? How are the Houthis connected to the Israel-Hamas conflict, and who are they?

What led to the ship's hijacking?

The ship Galaxy Leader had no cargo when it sailed from Turkey to Pipavav in Gujarat. Members of its crew hail from Mexico, the Philippines, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Ukraine.

The hijacking is consistent with the Houthis' previous declaration that should Israel continue its bloodshed in Palestine, they would attack ships associated with Israel in the Red Sea as well as the vital Bab al-Mandeb, a narrow strait that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

This past week, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, the leader of the group, stated in a broadcast speech that "we are open to constantly monitor and search for any Israeli ship in the Red Sea, especially in Bab al-Mandab, and near Yemeni regional waters," as reported by Reuters.

The chief negotiator and spokesman for the Houthis, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, claimed in an online statement following the hijacking that the Israelis only speak "the language of force," according to AP. "The Israeli ship's detention is a concrete measure that demonstrates the Yemeni military's determination to fight the war at sea, no matter the cost. This marks the start," he continued.

Why is Japan involved, and how has Israel responded?

Israel has declared that neither it nor any of the crew members are Israeli owners or operators of the ship.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, "This is another act of terrorism by Iran that represents an escalation in Iran's belligerence against the citizens of the free world, with concomitant international ramifications vis-a-vis the security of global shipping routes."

According to AP, the Israeli military described the hijacking as a "very grave incident of global consequence."

The ship does seem to be connected to an Israeli billionaire, though. As per the Associated Press, the ship's owners were linked to Ray Car Carriers, which was established by Abraham "Rami" Ungar, a prominent figure in Israel, based on ownership details found in public shipping databases.

A ship connected to Ungar experienced an explosion in the Gulf of Oman in 2021. Iran was then held responsible by Israeli media.

The Japanese company Nippon Yusen was in charge of operating the Galaxy Leader. In addition to denouncing the hijack, Japanese officials have stated that they are in talks with the Houthis and are enlisting the aid of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iran to free the ship and its crew.

What is the purpose of the Houthis' involvement, and who are they?

A civil war has been raging between the Houthis and the Yemeni government for nearly ten years. They control the northern part of Yemen, which includes Sanaa, the official capital. These days, the official government is based in Aden.

The Houthi tribe is the source of the group's name. Iran supports the Houthis, who are Zaydi Shias, while Saudi Arabia, Iran's main adversary, and the West back the Yemeni government. The early 1990s Zaydi religious revival movement is where the group got its start.

Houthis' unwavering hostility to Israel and the West is the basis for their support of "brothers and sisters in Palestine." They have tens of thousands of fighters and a massive arsenal of ballistic missiles and armed drones, making them a formidable fighting force, according to Reuters. The Houthi stronghold in Yemen is too far away from Israel for their fighters and rockets to directly threaten Israel, but they have been launching missiles in the direction of the "enemy country."

The primary risk posed by the Houthis' actions is that their participation may intensify the fighting and possibly involve Iran. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia may be forced to intervene in the conflict if Israel decides to launch rockets over the country in retaliation against the Houthis. Many other nations with an interest in the maritime trade in the area may also be involved in the seizure of vessels in the sea.

The first images of workers trapped in the Uttarkashi Tunnel for ten days

New Delhi/Dehradun: Workers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand were spotted for the first time early this morning as a camera fitted through a pipe captured their images.

Last night, an endoscopic flexi camera was slid into a six-inch pipe inserted through the rubble to provide food to the 41 workers who have been trapped since a part of the tunnel collapsed on November 12.

The workers, who had thick beards, were seen waving to the camera in their hard hats and work gear, indicating that they were doing well. Rescue personnel were observed requesting the workers to come in front of the camera while communicating with them via Walkie Talkies or radio phones.

"Aap camera ke paas walkie talkie pe aake baat karein (come in front of the camera and talk to us through the Walkie Talkie)," an official was heard urging.

"We will bring you out safely, do not worry," rescuers were heard telling the men.

Last night, khichdi in glass bottles was pushed through the pipe, providing the stranded workers with their first hot meal in 10 days. They had previously survived on dry fruits and water.

सिलक्यारा, उत्तरकाशी में निर्माणाधीन सुरंग के अंदर फँसे श्रमिकों से पहली बार एंडोस्कोपिक फ्लेक्सी कैमरे के माध्यम से बातचीत कर उनका कुशलक्षेम पूछा गया। सभी श्रमिक बंधु पूरी तरह सुरक्षित हैं। pic.twitter.com/vcr28EHx8g

— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 21, 2023

Colonel Deepak Patil, the man in charge of rescue operations, stated that mobile phones and chargers would be delivered to the workers via the pipe soon.

Attempts to rescue the workers have failed several times in the last week due to obstacles such as topography and the nature of the rocks in the area. Last week's efforts were hampered by falling debris and landslides.

Rescuers reported great progress after a vertical drilling machine entered the tunnel from the top. A driver told news agency ANI that it took 13 hours and three vehicles to get the machine to the location.

The Centre has prepared a five-option action plan that includes digging from three sides in order to gain access to the besieged workers. Each operation has been assigned to five separate agencies.

Two tunnels will be drilled horizontally from the right and left sides of the main tunnel, with a vertical shaft excavated from the top.

Multiple organisations, including the NDRF, SDRF, BRO, and the ITBP, are working around the clock to save people. Yesterday, an international tunnelling specialist team arrived and joined the efforts. A robotics team from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has also arrived.

According to officials, all workers are safe and are receiving food and water through steel pipes bored into the aperture.

The tunnel is part of the ambitious Char Dham project, a national infrastructural programme that aims to improve access to the Hindu holy sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: The government claims it'might reach stranded workers in two and a half days if...'

 

Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse: A rescue operation for 41 stranded workers was halted on Sunday, November 19, while authorities focused on planning for the next step, which included using different methods to reach the men who had been trapped for many days. Here are the most recent developments in this story: 

1) According to a story published by the news agency PTI, officials stated a road to the top of the hill was created in a single day for excavating a vertical shaft down into the tunnel.

2) The Tehri Hydroelectric Development Corporation planned to start "micro tunnelling" Sunday night from the Barkot end of the Char Dham route's under-construction tunnel, a portion of which collapsed on November 12.

3) The American-made heavy-duty auger equipment faced a hard impediment after roughly 22 metres of boring into the wreckage of the collapsed 60-meter section from the Silkyara end, according to PTI. 

4) In addition, the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited has commenced work on a vertical pipeline to provide critical products when the approach road to the top of the hill is completed.

5) The multi-pronged effort is the result of a series of setbacks, including a part of the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel collapsing the previous Sunday morning, barring the route out for workers finishing the night shift.

Also Read: Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: PM Modi calls Uttarakhand CM

6) On Sundays, Road, Transport, and Highways Secretary Anurag Jain stated that the government has launched a five-pronged action plan to rescue the 41 workers who have been stranded at the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi since November 12. 

7) Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari visited the collapsed tunnel site on Sunday and stated that digging horizontally through the rubble with a massive auger machine looked to be the best option. In two and a half days, he expected a breakthrough.

8) "The most important priority is to save the trapped workers and evacuate them as soon as possible." "Preparations are being made to restart the auger machine and resume tunnel drilling and pipe-laying," Gadkari added.

9) "Though I am no technical expert, horizontal digging appears to be the best option in the given circumstances." "If there are no obstacles, the auger machine could reach the trapped workers in two and a half days," he added.

10) In case a replacement was required, a comparable machine was dispatched from Indore. The vertical drilling equipment arriving next is too large to be transported by plane and will be transported to the site by road, according to officials.

Who is the underground specialist overseeing the rescue operation of the collapsed Uttarkashi tunnel, Professor Arnold Dix?

Professor Arnold Dix has gained attention as a result of the collapse of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, on November 12, which trapped 41 workers. He is a well-known authority on disaster investigations and tunnel safety worldwide. Professor Dix is leading the intricate rescue effort with his experience, demonstrating his skill at handling difficult subterranean circumstances.

LIVE updates on the collapse of the Uttarkashi tunnel

Renowned for his knowledge of disaster response and tunnel safety, Professor Dix is the President of International Tunnelling Underground Space. His qualifications attest to his knowledge in this area. Dix plays a critical role in the current crisis. He is well-known for his ability to investigate technical details and have an intuitive understanding of the subtleties of each project.

Following the tunnel collapse, Dix emphasized the significance of careful planning and safety, noting that while the current situation appears promising, it still needs to be carefully evaluated to prevent additional risks. His method emphasizes the importance of carefully examining and analyzing every facet of these crucial operations.

There's a race against time for the rescue attempt, which involves ' micro tunnelling' and other creative tactics. A road has already been built to the top of the hill to facilitate the drilling of a vertical shaft that will allow workers who are trapped to be rescued. The difficulty of the process is demonstrated by the employment of American-made auger equipment that encountered difficulties when drilling through the trash.

The career of Professor Arnold Dix

Throughout his career, Professor Dix has received several honours, which attest to his important contributions to tunnel safety on a global scale. He was awarded the semi-annual Alan Neyland Australasian Tunnelling Society Award for achievement in tunnelling, with a focus on tunnel fire safety, in 2011.

His revolutionary efforts to improve tunnel fire safety have been acknowledged. In 2022, the National Fire Protection Association of the United States of America presented him with a Committee Service Award, recognising his ongoing and significant contributions to the development of tunnel safety norms and standards.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: PM Modi calls Uttarakhand CM, saying 'workers will be evacuated safely'

PM Modi emphasized that the workers would be evacuated safely with mutual coordination between central and state agencies.

At least 41 workers have been stranded in the Silkyara tunnel since November 12th when a section collapsed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to discuss the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse and assured him that the central government would provide all necessary rescue equipment and resources. The Prime Minister emphasized the need to maintain the morale of the stranded workers and stated that the central government is providing the necessary rescue instruments and resources. He also assured that the workers will be evacuated securely thanks to the cooperation of national and state authorities.

The Prime Minister has met with Dhami three times to discuss the Silkyara tunnel rescue efforts. The Chief Minister has shared information on the workers stuck in the tunnel, who are receiving regular air supplies, nutritious food, and water. Dhami also updated him on the rescue activities, stating that all authorities cooperate and consult with professionals to carry out the rescue operations.

Dhami has inspected the location and is continuously keeping an eye on the rescue efforts. He emphasized that every effort is being made to get the workers out as soon as possible. He told PM Modi that in addition to a team from the Prime Minister's Office supervising rescue efforts, medical teams are positioned at the location.

This morning, large vehicles intended to aid in the rescue operation made their way to the Silkyara tunnel via the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway. Neeraj Khanna, the Nodal Secretary, stated that the rescue team had been instructed to finish the operation as soon as possible. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has declared that the government's top priority is saving the trapped workers and getting them out as soon as possible.

Source: Here!

Why Delhi Has Said It Will Be Dry On November 19, the Day of the World Cup Final

New Delhi: In anticipation of Team India's attempt to win their third ICC ODI World Cup championship when they play Australia in the World Cup 2023 final, Delhi has proclaimed Sunday to be a dry day. 

Due to Chhath Puja on Sunday, the national capital's liquor stores will be closed.

According to a formal directive released on Thursday by Commissioner (Excise) Krishna Mohan Uppu, all alcohol stores would remain closed on Sunday, Pratihar Shashthi, also known as Surya Shashti (Chhath Puja), is a dry day.

The people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar celebrate Chhath, a well-known festival, as a way to honour the Sun.

On November 17 of this year, the four-day celebration got underway. During the final two days, believers give 'arghya' to the Sun God and fast.

The Delhi Excise Commissioner has the authority to declare days off on special occasions such as national holidays and the anniversaries of notable national figures. There is no payment to excise licence holders on dry days.

Earlier in the year, on March 8 (Holi), October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti), October 24 (Dussehra), and November 12 (Diwali), around 637 liquor outlets operated by four government organisations stayed closed.

The Delhi government's Excise department released a list indicating that Christmas (December 25) will be the next dry day.

On November 19, India and Australia will face off in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 final.

The game is set to start at 2:00 PM IST at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. 

India, who haven't won an international championship since the 2013 Champions Trophy, is going for their third ODI World Cup trophy, having won two previous ones in 1983 and 2011. Australia is going for a record-breaking sixth ICC ODI World Cup victory.

According to VFS Global, its visa application centers would continue to be open in 10 Indian locations.

Following Canada's announcement that it will be removing 41 of its diplomats from India, the supplier of visa services VFS Global stated that their centers for applying for Canadian visas will still be operating in 10 Indian locations.

In a statement released on October 20, VFS Global said: "Please note that our Canada visa application centers across 10 Indian cities continue to operate properly, as instructed by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)".

In the cities of New Delhi, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune, VFS Global runs visa application centers for Canada.

Significantly, IRCC is Canada's main immigration authority and is in charge of reviewing the numerous applications submitted by Indian citizens seeking visas for study, travel, or permanent residence.

After IRCC's statement that the reduction in Canada's diplomatic representation in India will influence the processing time for visas, VFS Global provided the explanation.

"The IRCC is downsizing from 27 to 5 personnel in India. Reduced personnel levels are anticipated to affect processing timelines, but IRCC will still accept and handle applications from India, it said.

Nevertheless, the Canadian immigration board explained that "89% of India's applications are processed through the worldwide network," meaning that the vast majority of applications from India have already been processed outside of India.

The five IRCC employees with Canadian bases who are still in India will concentrate on tasks that call for in-country presence, like expedited processing, printing visas, risk assessment, and managing important partners, it added.

Melanie Joly, the foreign minister of Canada, announced the removal of 41 diplomats from India on October 19 during a press conference in Ottawa. She claimed that the decision by New Delhi to grant diplomatic immunity to only 21 out of the 62 Canadian diplomats now stationed there made the move necessary.

I can confirm that, as of right now, India has formally communicated its intention to dishonestly revoke diplomatic immunity for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents based in Delhi by October 20. This would put the personal safety of 41 Canadian ambassadors and their 42 dependents in peril of having their immunity revoked on an arbitrary date, she told the news agency ANI.

Joly continued by saying that the action will have an impact on diplomatic operations in several Indian cities. What this signifies for our business in India may be a question on the minds of Canadian viewers. Without a doubt, India's choice will affect the level of services provided to Consulates in both nations. Sadly, all in-person services at our consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bangalore must be suspended "She spoke.

Last month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that there was a "possible link" between the two countries "in relation to the assassination of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar to Indian officials in Canada. The accusation has been refuted by the Indian government.

By 2035, India hopes to have its own space station and send astronauts to the moon.

India hopes to send an astronaut to the moon by 2040, according to the government, which announced the goal on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also instructed the space agency to develop plans for a space station by 2035.

India became the fourth nation overall to successfully complete a soft landing in August, just days after a similar Russian attempt failed. This achievement helped India's aspirations for space travel to soar.

After that achievement, India launched a rocket to study the sun, and this week, as part of a crewed space mission, a test is planned.

According to a statement from the government, the prime minister ordered that India should now set new and ambitious targets, such as establishing the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and sending the first Indian to the moon by 2040.

The Department of Space will create a roadmap for moon exploration in order to carry out this vision, it continued.

In addition, PM Modi urged scientists to work on Venus and Mars expeditions.