Category: Current Affairs

NATIONAL NEWS 

UAPA: Supreme Court agrees to fix date to hear plea to quash FIRs by Tripura police

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to fix a date and hear a petition filed by several persons to quash the FIRs registered against them under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for social media posts alleging communal violence in Tripura. Tripura Police have booked 102 social media users, including journalists and activists, under the UAPA and accused them of criminal conspiracy and forgery. The police have sent notices to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to freeze their accounts and sought information on them. The State police had registered a case under UAPA against Supreme Court lawyers who were part of a fact-finding team which released a report on the alleged instances of communal violence in Tripura. These lawyers were part of the fact-finding team which investigated these incidents in Tripura. Social media users who posted messages like ‘Tripura is burning’ have also been charged under UAPA, advocate Prashant Bhushan addressed a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana during the mentioning of the case for urgent hearing. Chief Justice Ramana suggested the petitioners could approach the High Court first. Bhushan replied that the petition had also challenged the constitutionality of certain provisions in the UAPA. The Editors Guild of India had recently condemned the Tripura Police’s invocation of the draconian UAPA in the case.

 

India demands $1 trillion as ‘climate finance’ 

 India has demanded a trillion dollars over the next decade from developed countries to adapt to, and mitigate, the challenges arising from global warming, and has kept this as a condition for delivering on climate commitments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a senior official who is part of ongoing climate agreement negotiations in Glasgow told The Hindu. India’s five-fold plan, as Modi spelt out on November 2, is as follows — India’s non-fossil energy capacity would reach 500 GW by 2030; it will meet 50% of its electricity requirements with renewable energy by 2030; reduce its total projected carbon emissions by a billion tonnes by 2030; it will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy to less than 45% and achieve net zero by 2070.   Net zero is when a country’s carbon emissions are offset by taking out equivalent carbon from the atmosphere, so that emissions in balance are zero. However, achieving net zero by a specific date means specifying a year, also called a peaking year, following which emissions will begin to fall. Nationally Determined Contributions are voluntary targets that countries set for themselves, which describe the quantum and kind of emission cuts they will undertake over a fixed period to contribute to preventing runaway global warming. India’s last NDC was submitted following the Paris Agreement of 2015. Before COP26 began on November 1, countries were expected to provide updated NDCs. India, however, did not furnish one. He added that developing countries, as a group, had demanded $1 trillion annually. Gupta did not, however, clarify the members of this group, or if India had formally communicated these demands, or if they had emerged as part of the negotiations. Delivering on climate finance is among the stickiest points of contention between developed and developing countries because developed countries, as a group, have failed to provide $100 billion annually by 2020, as promised from a decade ago. With the conference scheduled to draw to an end on Friday, nearly 200 countries are yet to finalise a final text of an agreement.

 

Jairam Ramesh moves privilege motion against Culture Minister Kishan Reddy 

Congress chief whip in the Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh on Thursday moved a privilege motion against Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy over the appointment of former MP Tarun Vijay as the chairperson of the National Monuments Authority, a post for which, Ramesh said, Vijay was not qualified. In a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu ahead of the winter session of Parliament from November 29, Ramesh cited a section of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 that says the chairperson of the NMA should have proven experience and expertise in the field of archaeology, country and town planning, architecture, heritage, conservation architecture or law…. The Congress leader wrote that for the first time, the government had appointed a chairperson whose educational and professional background does not meet the requirements of law passed by Parliament in March 2010. That the appointee is a former MP is irrelevant and makes no difference whatsoever. I would like to move a privilege motion against the Union Minister of Culture in this regard for wilfully disregarding the provisions of law passed by Parliament. He has, in fact, made a mockery of this law, Ramesh wrote. Vijay had been a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2010 to 2016 and his profile on the House website says he is a journalist and writer by profession, having served as the chief editor of the RSS magazine Panchjanya for about two decades. He holds a B.A. degree from Osmania University, Hyderabad, the profile says. When reached for response, Vijay declined to comment, saying he was busy and that the matter pertained to the Minister. Reddy took over the Culture portfolio from Prahlad Singh Patel after the Cabinet expansion in July last.

 

Delhi HC seeks Centre’s stand on plea to label all products as vegetarian or non-vegetarian 

The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the Centre’s stand on a plea for labelling all items used by the public, including home appliances and apparel, as vegetarian or non-vegetarian on the basis of their ingredients and items used in manufacturing process. A bench headed by Justice Vipin Sanghi observed that everyone has the right to know and follow their belief and asked the Central Government to seriously examine the plea by Ram Gaua Raksha Dal — a trust working towards the welfare of cows — which claims that there are certain non-vegetarian products that are unknowingly used or consumed by those professing vegetarianism due to absence of proper disclosures. There can be no denying the fact that every person has the right to know which springs from right to free speech. The issue raised by the petitioner has a bearing on a person’s right to life in as much as the person is entitled to profess and follow his beliefs, said the bench, also comprising Justice Jasmeet Singh. It said a copy of the order be given to the concerned secretaries of Ministries of Health and Consumer Affairs for their consideration and directed that a response be filed in three weeks. The petitioner, represented by lawyer Rajat Aneja, has highlighted in the petition that there are several items and commodities which are used in everyday lives without those professing vegetarianism realising that they are either derived from animals or processed using animal-based products. Aneja told the court that bone char or natural carbon is used for polishing or refining white sugar, which is not fit for the consumption of people professing vegetarianism. Bone china products and even crayons have ingredients of animal origin, he added. The petition has asserted that the information regarding the usage of any non-vegetarian component ought to be disclosed and be considered as a factor to declare that product as non-vegetarian.

 

Won’t have airlines in India to board if fare limits not increased: Aviation Minister 

There won’t be any airline in India to board if limits on domestic airfares are not increased as oil prices have jumped from $22 each barrel to $85 in the last eight months, Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday. At the ‘Times Now Summit 2021’, he said aviation turbine fuel (ATF) is about 40% of an airline’s cost structure in the country. Domestic air travel became costlier on August 12 this year when the Aviation Ministry raised the lower and upper caps on domestic fares by 9.83% to 12.82%. The Ministry had increased the lower limit for flights under 40-minute duration from ₹2,600 to ₹2,900 — an increase of 11.53%. The upper cap for flights under 40-minute duration was increased by 12.82% to ₹8,800. The reason for the Aviation Ministry raising the fare bands is that airlines must be given some cushion when there is a 400% jump in the prices of raw materials. If you are not able to give a 12.5% hike on the revenue side then you and I won’t have an airline to board, he added. India had imposed lower and upper limits on airfares based on flight duration when services resumed on May 25, 2020, after a two-month Covid lockdown. The lower caps were imposed to help the airlines that have been struggling financially due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions. The upper caps were imposed so that passengers are not charged huge amounts when the demand for seats is high. The caps mentioned by the government in its order does not include the passenger security fee, user development fee for the airports and the GST. These charges are added on top when a ticket is booked.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Taliban welcomes NSA meeting by India on Afghanistan

Taliban on November 11, 2021, welcomed the Delhi regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan. The Taliban group claimed that they have already fulfilled all the demands mentioned for the India conference on Afghanistan. The Taliban group said it welcomes the India meeting. We are trying to make solid steps in governance, and countries should not be worried about Afghanistan soil being used against anyone, said the Taliban Group in media reports. The National Security Adviser (NSAs) of the National Security Councils of eight countries including India participated in the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan. India’s NSA Ajit Doval chaired the meeting.

 

UN Security Council calls for immediate end to violence in Myanmar

The UN Security Council in a statement dated November 10, 2021, called for an immediate end of violence across Myanmar following the reports of clashes between the armed forces and militant groups. The UNSC while expressing concern over the violence noted that the ‘recent developments pose particular serious challenges for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees and internally displaced persons’. The Council highlighted the need for improving the health and humanitarian situation in Myanmar. The UN Relief Chief Martin Griffiths said that the humanitarian situation in Myanmar is deteriorating. The USD 385 million humanitarian support for Myanmar is less than half funded as of yet.

NATIONAL NEWS 

Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Weapon seized from Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son was fired, confirms FSL report

A forensic report has confirmed that weapons recovered from Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra and others after the Lakhimpur violence had been fired. Protesting farmers had alleged that Ashish Mishra had opened fire. Though the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed that the weapons had been discharged, it does not specify whether they were fired on the day of the violence or some other day. Four weapons, including a rifle belonging to Ashish Mishra alias Monu Mishra, had been seized following the Lakhimpur violence. A pistol owned by Ankit Das, nephew of former Union Minister Akhilesh Das, and a repeater gun, which was with Das’ bodyguard Lateef Kale, were also among them. The special investigation team (SIT) probing the case is yet to issue an official statement on the FSL report. After the arrest of Ashish Mishra, Das and Kale, the SIT had recovered their licensed weapons – a rifle, pistol, revolver and a repeater gun – and sent them for forensic examination on October 15. According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the police on a complaint of Jagjit Singh, a native of Bahraich district, the entire episode was premeditated for which the conspiracy was hatched by the Minister and his son. Ashish Mishra and 15-20 unnamed men were mentioned as accused and charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, rash driving and rioting among others. Of them, police have so far arrested 13. Minister Ajay Mishra had refuted the allegations that his son was involved in the episode that took place near his native Banbirpur village in the Tikonia area of the district. The FIR has been lodged under Indian Penal Code Sections 147, 148, 149 (all three related to rioting), 279 (rash driving), 338 (causes grievous hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life), 304A (causing death by negligence), 302 (murder) and 120B (party to a criminal conspiracy).

Centre to restore MPLAD scheme

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved restoration and continuation of the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), which was suspended in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the Cabinet presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the scheme has been restored for the remaining part of financial year 2021-22. The scheme will continue till 2025-26. Funds will be released at the rate of ₹2 crore per MP for the remaining period of 2021-22 in one instalment, he said. From 2022-23 to 2025-26, funds will be released under the scheme at the rate of ₹5 crore per annum to each of the MPs in two instalments of ₹2.5 crore each, he added. In April last year, the government had suspended MPLADS during 2020-21 and 2021-22, and said that the funds would be used for managing health services and the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Under the scheme, MPs can recommend development programmes involving expenditure of ₹5 crore every year in their constituencies.

In blow to AAP, MLA joins Congress in Punjab

In a setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, its Bathinda rural MLA Rupinder Kaur Ruby on Wednesday joined the Congress. Ruby said the stupendous performance of the Congress Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi during the past 50 days has been far better than that of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s Government in Delhi, prompting her to join hands with the Congress. Ruby announced her resignation through her twitter handle on Tuesday night saying: Mr. @ArvindKejriwalji Convener, AAP & @BhagwantMannji. This is to hereby inform u that I am resigning with immediate effect from the membership of Aam Aadmi Party. Please accept my resignation. Thx Rupinder Kaur Ruby. (MLA Bathinda, rural). Channi said it is a matter of great pride and honour for them as Ruby has joined the party highly moved by the pro-people policies of his government. Leader of the Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema (AAP) said Ruby has changed her loyalties as she does not stand a chance to get re-nomination in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Odisha government launches road safety initiative ‘Rakshak’ to train first responders

Odisha government on November 10, 2021, launched a first-of-its-kind road safety initiative called Rakshak. Under the state-level program, 300 master trainers will train and empower the local people across all the 30 districts to provide help to the road accidents victims. Under Rakshak, 30,000 volunteers near accident-prone spots will be trained as First Responders to road accidents. The 30,000 first responders will be equipped to administer first aid and pre-hospital trauma care to accident victims. As per sources, India reports around 1.5 lakh people every year dying in road accidents. Odisha reports more than 5,000 road accidents victims.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

India seeks greater consultation on Afghanistan

India had been keenly observing the unfolding situation in Afghanistan and the time had come for close cooperation and consultation among the regional countries for the all-round security of Afghanistan, said National Security Adviser Ajit Doval addressing the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Wednesday. Russian representative Nikolai P. Patrushev said dialogue mechanisms should not complicate the unfolding situation in the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. This is the third meeting of the process that was initiated by Iran in 2018. We had the second meeting there as well. We are grateful to Iran for that. We are meeting today to discuss matters related to Afghanistan. These have important implications not only for the people of Afghanistan but also for its neighbours and the region. This is a time for close consultation amongst us and greater cooperation, interaction and coordination among the regional countries, Doval said initiating the discussion. The meeting has drawn representation by the heads of the national security establishment of all the Central Asian countries, Russia and Iran. Pakistan and China too were invited to participate in the consultation but both have stayed away. This is the first meeting of the security heads of these countries that India is hosting since the Taliban took power in August after dislodging the Government of President Ashraf Ghani. Doval is accompanied in the meeting by Samant Goel, head of the Research and Analysis Wing, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and other Indian diplomats who have been part of Afghanistan-related initiatives in recent months. Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai P. Patrushev praised the role of various regional dialogue mechanisms that had been framed to deal with the political situation in Afghanistan. However, he appeared to favour the Moscow consultation which he praised for broad participation by all sides. Such dialogue mechanisms should not complicate the work of each other but rather complement each other. The Moscow format of consultation on Afghanistan retains its important potential because of the broad participation of the stakeholders, Patrushev said, asking for stability in the region around Afghanistan.

South Africa’s last apartheid president FW de Klerk died at the age of 85

South Africa’s last apartheid president FW de Klerk passed away at the age of 85 on November 11, 2021 after suffering from mesothelioma cancer, confirmed the FW de Klerk Foundation. FW de Klerk was South Africa’s last apartheid president who oversaw the end of the country’s white minority rule. FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their efforts in moving South Africa towards democracy away from institutionalized racism. Frederik Willem de Klerk was a South African politician who was President of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and Deputy President from 1994 to 1996. FW de Klerk was the last President from the era of white-minority rule. Klerk’s government dismantled the apartheid system and introduced democracy in South Africa. The apartheid system in South Africa was referred to as the brutal system of racial discrimination in the country. Klerk led the National Party from 1989 to 1997. Prior to being elected to the Parliament as a member of the National Party that institutionalized the apartheid system, FW de Klerk was studying law. In 1978, Klerk was appointed for a series of ministerial posts including Internal Affairs. He was born in Johannesburg in 1936.

NATIONAL NEWS 

96 countries have agreed to mutual acceptance of COVID vaccination certificates, says Health Minister; Covaxin in U.K.’s approved list from November 22

Ninety six countries have agreed to mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificates with India, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday. TheThe government continues to be in communication with the rest of the world so that beneficiaries of the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination programme are accepted and recognised, thereby easing travel for education, business and tourism purposes, Mandaviya said in a statement. At present, 96 countries have agreed to mutual recognition of vaccination certificates and also those who recognise Indian vaccination certificates of travellers fully vaccinated with Covishield/WHO-approved/nationally approved Covid vaccines, Mandaviya stated. Consecutively, persons travelling from these countries are provided certain relaxations as enunciated in the Union Health Ministry’s guidelines on international arrivals issued on October 20, 2021. For those who wish to travel abroad, the international travel vaccination certificate can also be downloaded from the CoWIN portal, the ministry said. Meanwhile, the U.K. Government has said that India’s Covaxin will be added to its list of approved COVID-19 vaccines for international travellers from November 22, meaning that those inoculated with the Bharat Biotech-manufactured jab will not have to self-isolate after arrival in England.

Rafale scam trail ends at PM’s door, says Congress

The Congress party on Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi government of covering up corruption in the Rafale scam and shying away from registering an FIR even 36 months after evidence emerged on middleman Sushen Gupta’s role in the deal. Addressing a press conference, party spokesperson Pawan Khera said the government is busy burying the black melting pot of corruption, kickbacks and collusion. And in doing so, it has undermined national security, jeopardised the interests of Indian armed forces, and caused a loss to the exchequer of ₹41,000 crore, he added. French investigative journal Mediapart in fresh revelations had exposed how middleman Gupta got hold of confidential documents belonging to the Indian Negotiating Team (INT) in 2015 from the Ministry of Defence. The documents detailed the stance of Indian negotiators during the final lap of negotiation and in particular how they calculated the price of the aircraft. This gave a clear advantage to Dassault Aviation (Rafale), Khera claimed, citing the Mediapart report. The corruption can be tracked to PM Modi’s doorstep, the Congress leader said. The evidence in this case had first came up on October 4, 2018 when two former Union ministers of the BJP — Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha — submitted a file to then CBI Director Alok Verma. On October 11 the attorney general of Mauritius also sent documents about the middleman Gupta, the Congress spokesperson said. The Congress leader also alleged that on Prime Minister Modi’s directions the anti-corruption clauses — no bribery, no gift, no influence, no commission, no middlemen — was removed. Were the anti-corruption clauses deleted to escape responsibility from bribery and commission to be paid in the Rafale deal? Why was the deletion of anti-corruption clauses approved by the Prime Minister and the Modi government in September 2016, despite the Defence Ministry’s insistence upon including it in the inter-governmental agreement in July 2015, Khera asked. 

BJP demands Rahul’s response on fresh ‘revelation’ by Mediapart 

Reacting to a French media report that commissions were paid between 2007 and 2012 for securing the Rafale deal with India, the BJP on Tuesday said the INC (Indian National Congress) should be renamed as I Need Commission and alleged that the failed negotiations for the aircraft took place when the Congress was in power and they failed because of the latter’s dissatisfaction with the ‘cut’. At a press meet at the BJP headquarters, spokesperson Sambit Patra accused the Congress, especially its former president Rahul Gandhi, who has been alleging corruption in the purchase of the fighter aircraft by the Modi Government, of spreading canard, disinformation and lies. Patra also sought Gandhi’s response to the fresh revelation by French investigative portal Mediapart. Thirteen India Specific Enhancements to the Rafale fighter jet were demanded by the Indian Air Force. Mediapart has claimed that bogus invoices were used that enabled the French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation to pay at least €7.5 million in secret commissions to a middleman to help it secure the Rafale deal with India. According to its investigation, the Dassault Aviation paid the kickbacks to the intermediary in Mauritius between 2007 and 2012, putting it in the time frame when the Congress-led UPA was in power. The Supreme Court and the CAG have already gone into the contents of the Rafale deal signed by the Modi Government and found nothing wrong in it, Patra said. He said Gandhi had made the alleged corruption in the purchase a big election issue during the 2019 polls but it failed to make any impact. The BJP retained power with a bigger majority, he said.

Punjab Cabinet accepts resignation of Attorney General Deol 

The Punjab Cabinet has accepted the resignation of Attorney General A P S Deol and the post left vacant by him will be filled by Wednesday, said Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi in Chandigarh. State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has been pushing for the replacement of Attorney General Deol, who had represented former Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in cases related to the 2015 desecration incidents and police firing on protesters. Addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Channi said the AG had resigned a few days ago. The Cabinet today accepted it (resignation), said Channi, adding that it would be sent to the State Governor. Tomorrow, the new AG will be appointed, said Channi.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

China capable of blockading its key harbours, says Taiwan.

China’s armed forces are capable of blockading Taiwan’s key harbours and airports, the island’s Defence Ministry said on Tuesday, offering its latest assessment of what it describes as a grave military threat posed by its giant neighbour. China has never renounced the use of force to bring democratic Taiwan under its control and has been ramping up military activity around the island, including repeatedly flying war planes into Taiwan’s air defence zone. Taiwan’s defence ministry, in a report it issues every two years, said China had launched what it called gray-zone warfare, citing 554 intrusions by Chinese war planes into its south western theatre of air defence identification zone between September last year and the end of August. MilitaryMilitary analysts say the tactic is aimed at subduing Taiwan through exhaustion. AtAt the same time, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is aiming to complete the modernisation of its forces by 2035 to obtain superiority in possible operations against Taiwan and viable capabilities to deny foreign forces, posing a grave challenge to our national security, the Taiwan Ministry said. AtAt present, the PLA is capable of performing local joint blockade against our critical harbours, airports, and outbound flight routes, to cut off our air and sea lines of communication and impact the flow of our military supplies and logistic resources, the ministry said.

Japan confirms season’s 1st Avian Flu outbreak

Japan on November 10, 2021, confirmed Avian Flu outbreak at a chicken farm in Akita prefecture, Northeastern Japan. The season’s first Avian Influenza outbreak was confirmed through genetic testing at a chicken farm in Yokote. 1,43,000 birds on that farm will be culled. The Akita prefectural government has banned the delivery of chickens or eggs from farms within 10 kms of the chicken farm in Yokote. It has asked the Self-Defense Force to resolve the issue. PM Fumio Kishida has also called the Farm Ministry and governmental agencies to take preventive measures. On November 9, a veterinarian reported to local health authorities about the increasing number of chickens dying at a farm in Yokote. After a simple test of 13 chickens from the farm showed 12 chickens positive for Avian Flu.

NATIONAL NEWS

Centre amends Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 for increasing protection of consumer rights. The amendments will come into effect from April 1, 2022. The Consumer Affairs Ministry omitted Rule 5 defining Schedule II determining the pack sizes of different types of commodities. The Ministry introduced a new provision for indicating the unit sale price on pre-packed commodities to enable easier comparison of prices of commodities at the time of purchase. TheThe amendment makes it mandatory to declare the date of manufacturing on the pre-packed commodities for pre-packed commodities. TheThe amendment has also made declaring MRP in Indian currency inclusive of all taxes. The removal of illustration has simplified the provisions for manufacturers for declaration of MRP on the pre-packed commodities.

 

Malayalam actress Kozhikode Sarada passes away at 75

Veteran Malayalam actress Kozhikode Sarada passed away at the age of 75 on November 9, 2021. Sarada was admitted to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital on November 7 after she reported difficulty in breathing. OnOn November 8, Sarada suffered cardiac arrest while she was undergoing treatment. She died at the same hospital where she had worked as a nursing assistant for 27 years. SaradaSarada had made her acting debut with Angakkuri movie in 1979. She had acted in several TV serials and more than 100 movies.

 

Ghosts of aircraft deals past

Past aircraft deals are coming back to haunt the government again with two such deals back in focus today. The first is the Rafale deal, in which the Indian government purchased multi-role combat aircraft from the French company Dassualt. The French investigative website Mediapart has now alleged that a middleman, Sushen Gupta, was paid at least 7.5 million euros by Dassault between 2007 and 2012 to secure the purchase. Apparently, the payment was facilitated through a shell company in the Mauritius which was “overbilled” for IT contracts. A more stinging allegation is that the CBI has not probed this even though the papers on this have been available since October 2018. The Mauritian Authorities had sent the papers to the CBI when in connection with the probe into the AugustaWestland VVIP chopper kickback deal case. Sushen Gupta, who is said to have facilitated the kickback payment in that deal, was arrested by the ED in 2019 in the same case. Coincidentally, this news comes a day after news reports about the government lifting the ban on the Italian Defence company involved in the AgustaWestland helicopter deal. The procurement ban was lifted just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Rome.

 

Regional NSAs to arrive today for dialogue on Afghanistan

Security Czars of Russia, Iran and five Central Asian countries will arrive in Delhi on Tuesday ahead of the “Delhi regional security dialogue” on Afghanistan chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who will also meet his counterparts bilaterally. Officials involved in the dialogue said that the meeting, which Pakistan and China have declined to participate in would seek to share a “common understanding of concerns” shared by Afghanistan’s neighbours due to the Taliban takeover, and build consensus on the way forward to deal with the threats emanating from the Taliban takeover on August 15.

 

Mamata likely to expand Cabinet today

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee may expand her Cabinet on Tuesday and she is likely to keep the finance portfolio for herself and make Chandrima Bhattacharya the minister of-state in that department, a top source in the government said on Monday. Former Finance Minister Dr Amit Mitra, who had expressed his inability to continue as a minister owing to his fragile health conditions, might be made an advisor.

 

Patnaik, Reddy likely to discuss disputed Andhra-Odisha border

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy are likely to discuss the disputed border between the two states as well as inter-state river projects at a meeting here on Tuesday. At the meeting scheduled to be held from 5 pm at the Lok Seva Bhavan here, the chief ministers are likely to take up the dispute over the Kotia cluster of villages in Koraput district, construction of Neradi barrage over the Vamsadhara river, and the Polavaram multi-purpose project on the Godavari river, officials said.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Vietnam launches country’s first metro rail service in Hanoi

The Vietnam Railway on November 6, 2021, launched the country’s first metro rail service in Hanoi. The 13.1-km-long Line 2A of Hanoi Metro will connect Cat Linh to Yeh Nghia with 12 stations. TheThe 12 stations on the Vietnam’s first metro rail service are Cat Linh, La Thanh, Thai Ha, Lang, Thoung Dinh, Vanh Dai 3, Phung Khoang, Van Quan, Ha Dong, La Khe, Van Khe and Yen Nghia. The Chinese firm CRRC has supplied a total of 13 Rolling Stock (metro trains) for Vietnam’s first metro rail service in Hanoi. CRRC delivered the first metro train to Vietnam in March 2017. Vietnam will use Third Rail DC for its metro rail service to ensure stability, safety, and urban landscape.

 

China delivers largest, most advanced warship to Pakistan navy

China on November 8, 2021, delivered the largest and most advanced warship to the Pakistan navy in a commissioning ceremony in Shanghai. The frigate has been designed and built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC). hee Type 054/P frigate has been named PNS Tughril. The frigate is the first hull of the four ‘Type 054’ frigates batch being built for the Pakistan Navy. The Type 054 frigates can execute naval warfare missions in a highly intense multi-threat environment. The PNS Tughril is a technologically advanced and highly capable platform with enormous potential for surveillance, surface-to-air, surface-to-surface, and underwater firepower. PNS Tughril is equipped with an electronic warfare system, modern self-defence capabilities, state-of-the-art combat management.

 

SPORTS NEWS

ICC T20 WC: BCCI, ECB receives approval for 100 per cent attendance for crowd for finals

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) received approval from the UAE authorities for 100 per cent attendance of the crowd for the ICC T20 World Cup finals. ApprovalApproval for 100 per cent attendance means that all the 25,000 seats at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium will be available for fans to fill for the finals of the ICC T20 World Cup on November 14, 2021. All COVID-19 protocols are to be followed.

 

Rohit Sharma becomes 3rd cricketer to score 3,000 runs in men’s T20I World Cup 2021

Indian batter Rohit Sharma on November 8, 2021, became the 3rd cricketer in the world who accumulated 3,000 T20I runs. Rohit achieved this feat during the match against Namibia in ICC men’s T20 World Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. IndianIndian skipper Virat Kohli is currently at the top with a tally of 3,227 runs followed by New Zealand’s Martin Guptill with 3,115 runs and India’s Rohit Sharma with 3,0008 runs.

 

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Rain batters Chennai, several areas flooded 

Heavy overnight rain led to flooding in several areas of Chennai on November 7. Nungambakkam recorded 21.5 cm of rainfall, the highest recorded in a 24-hour period since 2015. Tamil Nadu has received a 43% surplus rainfall and Chennai registered a 26% excess since October 1. Following rain in the catchment areas leading to heavy inflows, the State Government gradually began releasing surplus water from reservoirs around Chennai including Poondi and Chembarambakkam. From an initial 500 cusecs, the discharge from Chembarambakkam was increased to 2,000 cusecs in the evening. With more heavy rain forecast for the city over the next 48 hours, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a two-day holiday for schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpet and Kancheepuram districts. He visited flooded areas in the city and directed officials to ensure food supply for residents displaced and affected by the floods. Commuters wade through a waterlogged area following heavy rain in Chennai.

 

SC to hear Lakhimpur Kheri violence matter today The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on November 8 the matter related to the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed in violence during a farmers’ protest. A bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli would hear the matter in which the apex court had on October 26 directed the Uttar Pradesh government to provide protection to witnesses under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018. The top court had also asked the Uttar Pradesh government to record the statements of other witnesses before the judicial magistrate under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and expedite the examination of digital evidence by experts. 

PM Modi to lay foundation stone for expansion of 2 Pandharpur highways 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for four-laning of five sections of Shri Sant Dnyaneshawar Maharaj Palkhi Marg (NH-965) and three sections of Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg (NH-965G) via video conferencing on November 8. The development is designed to facilitate pilgrims’ journey to Pandharpur, a town associated with Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshawar. Dedicated walkways for ‘Palkhi’ (palanquin) will be constructed on either side of these national highways, providing hassle-free and safe passage to devotees, the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement. 

CBI arrests former Assam CM Hiteswar Saikia’s son The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the eldest son of former Assam Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia in a bank loan default case. The CBI team arrested Ashok Saikia, also the brother of Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia, from his Guwahati residence in a case related to a ₹9.37 lakh loan taken from the Assam State Cooperative and Agriculture Development (ASCARD) Bank in 1998. The case was initially registered at Guwahati’s Paltan Bazar police station and transferred to the CBI in 2001 after two complaints were filed with the probe agency’s Kolkata branch. Mr. Ashok Saikia was convicted in one of the cases in 2013. 

Petrol to be cheaper by ₹10 in Punjab from Monday, diesel by ₹5 

The Congress-led government in Punjab on October 7 announced a reduction in value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel, making them cheaper by ₹10 and ₹5 per litre respectively in the State. The new rates will be effective from midnight. Currently, petrol and diesel rates in Punjab are ₹106.20 and ₹89.83 per litre respectively. The move, which will cost the state nearly ₹6,000 crores, comes days after the BJP-led central government reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel, and several other States, including Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, slashed VAT rates on the fuels to give relief to consumers. TheThe move by Punjab cabinet comes days after the BJP-led central government reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel.

 

Climate talks resume in Glasgow on November 8 India is among 27 countries to sign up for a sustainable agriculture action agenda at the conclusion of the first week of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, laying out new commitments to make farming more sustainable and less polluting. Among other developments from week one of the COP26 climate summit, the World Bank will commit to spending $25 billion in climate finance annually to 2025 through its Climate Action Plan, including a focus on agriculture and food systems. After a brief break on November 7, the climate talks will resume on November 8 and conclude at the end of the summit on November 12. 

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Pakistan Hindu Council to celebrate Diwali at temple that was attacked in 2020 

The Pakistan Hindu Council will organise a grand function on November 8 to celebrate Diwali at a century-old temple in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which was vandalised and set on fire by a mob led by a radical Islamist party last year, a media report said on November 7. Pakistan’s Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmad has been invited by the Council to celebrate the festival of lights at the Teri Temple in Karak, the Dawn newspaper reported.  The grand function to celebrate Diwali is being organised by the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC), which will also host a large number of pilgrims from the Sindh and Balochistan provinces. 

Nicaragua’s Ortega seeks re-election in questioned vote 

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega sought a fourth consecutive term in elections on November 8 against a field of little-known candidates while those who could have given him a real challenge sat in jail. Voting was orderly and speedy as voters noted the absence of long lines at more than 13,000 polling places around the country. Voting closed on the evening of November 8 without reported incidents. But US President Joe Biden strongly criticised the vote as a “pantomime election that was neither free nor fair, and most certainly not democratic”. 

 

SPORTS NEWS 

T20 WC | Shastri-Kohli partnership eyes winning end to significant chapter in Indian cricket Outgoing head coach Ravi Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli, who will lead the country for one last time in the shortest format, would aim to finish India’s underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign on a positive note with a victory over Namibia in the team’s final Super 12 match on November 8.  Around 6:30 pm, New Zealand hit the winning runs against Afghanistan much to the disappointment of the Indian fans, who were hoping against hope that a miracle will happen under the blazing afternoon sun at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

NATIONAL NEWS 

Speed up vaccination, caution doctors in the wake of fresh resurgence in the West

The growing COVID-19 vaccination coverage in India is not adequate, warn doctors, who say the cost of people opting not to get vaccinated has the potential to cause a new outbreak. If people decide not to get vaccinated due to hesitancy and doubts, or even if the vaccination is delayed due to logistical reasons, the potential for new outbreaks of COVID-19 remains very high. New variants of SARS-CoV-2 are sprouting, which might be more transmissible and resistant to vaccines, said Mubasheer Ali, senior, internal medicine, Apollo Telehealth. Dr. Ali added that promoting the uptake of vaccines will require understanding whether people are willing to be vaccinated and the reasons why they were willing or unwilling to do so. So, the need of the hour is to speed up the vaccination process and drives, spread awareness about disease and its effects and making sure there is no vaccine hesitancy by rightly educating the people. The world shares a collective responsibility in fighting this pandemic; therefore, continued research on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy should be a priority, he observed. Citing the example of Germany, doctors said the country was currently witnessing a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Sundari Shrikant, director, internal medicine, QRG Super Speciality Hospital, Faridabad, said there was currently a broad agreement within the global scientific community that the most effective way to defeat the pandemic was through mass vaccination of populations around the world. Opting not to get vaccinated puts the person, his family and the community at large at risk of infection and the spread of the disease. Vaccination not only prevents infection but, if infected, the person develops mild infection. It also prevents community spread. Besides, it is important to emphasise the continued practice of COVID-19-appropriate behaviour for personal safety and prevention of community transmission, said Dr. Shrikant. Doctors add that people who are unvaccinated have higher chances of getting moderate to severe COVID-19 and undergo hospitalisation.

Anil Deshmukh sent to judicial custody

Former Home Minister of Maharashtra Anil Deshmukh was sent to judicial custody by a holiday court on Saturday in a case dating back to March 20, 2021, of alleged money laundering and corruption. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), appeared before Special Judge P.R. Sitre and sought further custody of nine days. However, the court rejected this and Mr. Deshmukh was remanded in judicial custody. Mr. Deshmukh was arrested by the ED  on November  after being questioned for by the central enforcement agency for 12 hours. He was sent to the ED’s custody till November 6. Mr. Deshmukh’s counsel on Saturday also filed for an anticipatory bail application on behalf of Hrishikesh Deshmukh, son of  Mr Deshmukh, which will be heard on November 12. On October 29, the Bombay High Court rejected Deshmukh’s plea, seeking to quash five summons issued by the ED. The case dates back to March 20, 2021 when former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh wrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging that Mr. Deshmukh had abused his position and powers to seek illegal monetary benefits. The letter alleged instances of  Deshmukh directing suspended police officer Sachin Vaze and others to collect ₹100 crore from bars and restaurants over a month. Soon thereafter, the High Court directed a preliminary enquiry to be held against Mr. Deshmukh by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The ED then stepped in and started a probe into allegations of money laundering against Mr. Deshmukh.

For Deepavali excesses, Delhi gasps for air

Delhi continued to choke as air quality remained in the severe category for the second day on Saturday as people burst crackers late on Thursday despite a ban. The air quality index (AQI ) of Delhi is expected to improve from Sunday evening, as per authorities. Several other NCR cities such as Gurugram and Greater Noida and towns in North India such as Baghpat and Bulandshahr also reported severe air pollution. The AQI of Delhi was 446 on Saturday at 10 a.m., as per Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) data. The AQI of Delhi was 444 at 6 a.m. on Friday. The AQI of the day for Friday was 462, as per CPCB’s 4 p.m. bulletin, which is an average of the past 24 hours and considered the day’s AQI. Friday had the worst air quality in the day after Deepavali in five years, as per official data, and was also the first day with severe air pollution this winter season.  The air pollution is due to a combination of an increased impact of stubble burning, low local wind speed and emissions from bursting of crackers. Fog/smog conditions today [Nov. 6] morning has improved in Delhi NCR as forecasted. A shallow fog with visibility of 600 to 800 m was reported at its two airports during 0530 till 0930 hrs. It has been due to westerly to northwesterly winds set in and have also reached 8 to 15 kmph and some humidity reduction or moisture dry up, IMD said in a statement.  An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe.

District hospital catches fire in Ahmednagar

At least 11 coronavirus patients were killed and another one suffered serious burn injuries after a major fire broke out in the ICU of the district civil hospital in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar city on November 6, officials said. The blaze erupted around 11 a.m. in the intensive care unit (ICU), where 20 COVID-19 patients were undergoing treatment, they said. Television visuals showed smoke pouring out of the lower floors of the hospital, as doctors desperately tried to save lives.Rajendra Bhosale, district collector of Ahmednagar, confirmed that 10 patients died in the blaze, which also left one patient critical. Shankar Misal, chief fire officer of the Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation, said that after the fire broke out, police and fire brigade personnel rushed to the facility and began the rescue and fire-fighting operation. It took more than two hours to douse the fire.  The cooling operation is on, Misal said, adding that short circuit is suspected to be the cause behind it. A police official said that after the fire, the injured patients were rushed to a nearby hospital, where 10 of them were declared brought dead. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted in the evening to say he was anguished by the loss of lives. Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire in a hospital in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest, he said.  Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has ordered a probe into the tragedy, and announced ₹ 5 lakh compensation for the families of those who died. 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Iraqi officials: Prime minister survives assassination bid 

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi survived an assassination attempt with an armed drone that targeted his residence early Sunday, and is unharmed, officials said. The Prime Minister tweeted shortly after the attack: The rockets of treason will not shake one bit of the steadfastness and determination of the heroic security forces. I am fine and among my people. Thank God, he wrote.

Sudan activists reject power-sharing with army, call strikes Sudan’s protest movement has rejected internationally backed initiatives to return to a power-sharing arrangement with the military after last month’s coup, announcing two days of nationwide strikes starting Sunday. The movement called for the establishment of a civilian government to lead a transition to democracy.