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Thu, 19 September 2024

3 killed, 2.5 lakh affected by flood in West Bengal

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23:56 3 killed, 2.5 lakh affected by flood in West Bengal

Three persons were killed and over 2.5 lakh people affected by the floods in southern West Bengal, an official said on Thursday.

Six districts of the state were affected by the flood, he said.

After visiting the flood-affected areas in Paschim Medinipur and Howrah districts, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a meeting at the state secretariat and directed officials to prepare a list of the damage caused by the calamity, he said.

She instructed officials to start repairing roads immediately after the water recedes, he added. Banerjee also directed officials to chalk out plans to deal with the water released by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) from its dams.

Meanwhile, rising waters of the adjoining Buriganga canal inundated Banerjee's Kalighat residence in the afternoon. At that time, she was not at home. -- PTI

Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha in 'All We Imagine as Light'.

23:25 Cannes winner 'All We Imagine As Light' to be released in Kerala tomorrow

Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light, the winner of the Grand Prix award at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, is set to be released in limited screens across Kerala on Saturday, the makers announced on Thursday.

Production house Spirit Media, founded by Baahubali star Rana Daggubati, has acquired the exclusive rights to distribute the Malayalam-Hindi film in India.

The movie, titled Prabhayay Ninachathellam in Malayalam, will subsequently be released across all major cities in India.

It is an official Indo-French co-production between Chalk and Cheese Films from India and petit chaos from France Zico Maitra (Chalk and Cheese Films) and Ranabir Das (Another Birth), who also served as the cinematographer on the film, serve as the Indian producers on the movie.

Kapadia, an alumnus of the FTII who charted history by becoming the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix award for All We Imagine as Light, said she is thrilled to have her film released in India. -- PTI

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22:59 Doctors to withdraw 'cease work' from Saturday

Agitating junior doctors announced that they will "partially" lift their 'cease work' and partially rejoin their duties at emergency and essential services in state-run hospitals from Saturday as the West Bengal government has accepted most of their demands.

The medics, who have been on 'cease work' for the last 41 days following the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, announced that they would lift their sit-in outside Swasthya Bhawan on Friday.

Before lifting the sit-in, they would hold a march from Swasthya Bhawan, the state health department headquarters, to CBI office at CGO Complex in Salt Lake area.

"It has been decided that given the flood situation in West Bengal and the state government agreeing to certain demands of ours, we will be rejoining emergency and essential services partially from Saturday. We are withdrawing our cease work partially," an agitating doctor said after their general body meeting.

The protesting doctors said they will not work in the Out Patient Department (OPD) but will work partially in emergency and essential services. -- PTI

A video purportedly showing singer Arijit Singh turning down a fan's request at a UK concert to sing a protest song he wrote for the Kolkata's RG Kar rape and murder victim, saying it was "not the right time and place", went viral on social media on Thursday.

In the video, posted by several users on X and Instagram, Singh is seen singing Ramta Jogi song from Taal, when he receives a request for the protest track, called Aar Kobe.

"This is not the place, people haven't come here to protest. They have come here to listen to me and that's my job, right? What you are saying is my heart. This is not the right time and place," the singer said to the fan.

Singh then resumes singing the track before pausing again and telling the fan to join the protests in Kolkata.

"If you really feel about it, go. Go to Kolkata. Gather some people, a lot of Bengalis are here. Go, on the street," he said.

"That song ('Aar Kobe') is not monetised. It will never be monetised... Anybody can use it," Singh added.

The singer had released Aar Kobe on his official YouTube channel on August 28.

Besides crooning the track, Singh is credited as the lyricist and music composer.

The song is dedicated to the victim as well as all "women who face the horrors of gender-based violence", according to the official description..

"This song is a cry for justice, a lament for the countless women who suffer in silence, and a demand for change...Our song echoes the voices of doctors across the country, who tirelessly serve despite the dangers they face.

"This is not simply a protest song, it is a call to action. It is a reminder that our fight for women's safety and dignity is far from over. As we sing, we remember the tireless efforts of those on the frontlines, our doctors, our journalists and our students who deserve not just our respect but our protection," it read. -- PTI

Representational image. Pic: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

21:53 Reuters report wrong about Indian ammo entering Ukraine: Govt

India on Thursday described as "inaccurate" a media report that said artillery shells sold by Indian arms manufacturers have been diverted by European customers to Ukraine and New Delhi has not intervened to stop it.

"We have seen the Reuters report. It is speculative and misleading. It implies violations by India, where none exist and hence, is inaccurate and mischievous," ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

He said India has an "impeccable" track record of compliance with international obligations on the export of military and dual-use items.

"India has been carrying out its defence exports taking into account its international obligations on non-proliferation and based on its own robust legal and regulatory framework, which includes a holistic assessment of relevant criteria, including end-user obligations and certifications," Jaiswal said.

Artillery shells sold by Indian arms makers have been diverted by European customers to Ukraine and New Delhi has not intervened to stop the trade despite protests from Moscow, the media report has said, citing 11 unnamed Indian and European government and defence industry officials as well as a Reuters analysis of commercially available customs data.

The transfer of munitions to support Ukraine's defence against Russia has occurred for more than a year, it has said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi/File image

21:37 BJP files plaints against Rahul for his remarks in US

Three separate police complaints were filed by the Delhi BJP against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, including for his "divisive and provocative comments" on the condition of Sikhs in India and remarks to end reservation, during his recent US visit.

The development comes a day after the Congress filed a complaint at the Tughlaq Road police station here on Wednesday over recent statements of leaders belonging to the ruling National Democratic Alliance targeting Gandhi.

The Congress alleged that the statements of the NDA leaders were aimed at jeopardising the safety and security of the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and to disturb peace throughout the country, especially in view of the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana.

The complaints against Gandhi were filed by the Sikh cell, SC Morcha and ST Morcha of the Delhi BJP at different police stations, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said.

"Rahul Gandhis statement in the US about Sikhs has hurt the religious sentiments of the community in the country, while his remarks to do away with reservation has outraged the Scheduled Castes (SCs)," Sachdeva said. -- PTI

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21:05 Kejriwal to join AAP's Haryana poll campaign with roadshow in Jagadhri

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal will join the party's campaign in poll-bound Haryana with a roadshow in the Jagadhri constituency on September 20, AAP national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak said on Thursday.

He will also participate in 13 events across 11 districts, covering the Dabwali, Rania, Bhiwani, Meham, Kalayat, Assandh and Ballabhgarh constituencies, among others, in the coming days, Pathak said at a press conference.

"AAP national convenor Kejriwal has come out of jail after defeating the BJP's conspiracy. Now he is fully prepared for the election campaign in Haryana and will start on September 20," he said.

His further campaign schedule will be announced later, he added.

Kejriwal resigned as Delhi chief minister after being released from Tihar jail last week in the excise policy case.

He will have a hectic campaign schedule in Haryana, which goes to the polls on October 5.

The AAP is contesting all 90 seats in Haryana after talks with the Congress over a seat-share agreement broke down.

It is clear that "the BJP is going to be completely wiped out from Haryana", Pathak claimed. -- PTI

The Madras high court on Thursday directed the Tamil Nadu government to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to two victim girls who were allegedly sexually abused at a fake NCC camp in a school in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district recently.

The court also directed the government to pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each to 21 other girls, who were also abused.

The first bench comprising acting Chief Justice D Krishnakumar and Justice PB Balaji gave the directive while passing further interim orders on a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate A P Suryaprakasam, seeking to transfer the investigation into the incident from the Krishnagiri police to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

During the course of arguments, Suryaprakasam submitted the victims were paid only an interim compensation. They have to carry the 'cross' till the end of their life.

Therefore, they may be paid further compensation, he added.

The bench said the government can pay Rs 5 lakh to two of the victims and one lakh each to the remaining 21 girls.

The compensation amount be deposited in Mahila Court in Krishnagiri district and the victims' families can file applications for claiming the compensation amount, the bench added.

The bench made it clear it was open to the authorities to proceed against the school management for recovery of the compensation amount.

Let the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority assist the victims' families to withdraw the compensation amount, the bench added. -- PTI

An iron pole lying across the tracks near Rudrapur, Uttarakhand/ANI on X

20:17 Train driver spots iron pole on tracks, averts mishap

The driver of the Naini Jan Shatabdi Express averted a possible accident when he slammed the emergency brakes on finding an iron pole across the tracks near Uttarakhand's Rudrapur, officials said on Thursday, alleging that it could be sabotage.

The incident occurred on Wednesday near Rudrapur City Railway Station, approximately 43 kilometres from Uttar Pradesh's Rampur, Railway officials said.

"On September 18 at 10.18 pm, the loco pilot of train number 12091 reported to Station Master/Rudrapur City that he found one 6-metre-long iron pole on track between Bilaspur Road and Rudrapur City," a spokesperson from the railway ministry said suggesting an act of sabotage.

"The driver stopped the train to clear the track. He started the train safely afterwards," the spokesperson said.

On the complaint of Rudrapur City Section Railway Engineer Rajendra Kumar, an FIR was lodged at GRP Police Station Rampur under sections of the Railways Act 1989 against unnamed people.

"On seeing the electric pole, the loco pilot applied emergency brakes and stopped the train and after removing the pole the train resumed its journey," the FIR read. -- PTI

RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's former principal Sandip Ghosh/File image

19:54 RG Kar ex-principal Sandip Ghosh's medical registration cancelled

The West Bengal Medical Council on Thursday cancelled the registration of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's former principal Sandip Ghosh, an official said.

Ghosh, who is in CBI custody, has been removed from the list of Registered Medical Practitioners maintained by the WBMC, he said.

His licence was cancelled under various provisions of the Bengal Medical Act of 1914, the official said.

He is an orthopaedic surgeon and without the licence, he cannot practice.

Ghosh was arrested by the CBI on September 2 for his alleged involvement in the financial irregularities at the hospital amid the protests over the rape and murder of the on-duty trainee doctor.

He was later accused of evidence tampering in the rape-murder case. Aniket Mahato, one of the leading faces of the junior doctors who have been agitating over the death of their colleague, described it as a "victory".

"This is a victory for our deceased sister. The cancellation of Ghosh's medical registration should have been done the very next day of his arrest. We are happy that the West Bengal Medical Council has finally taken this step," he said. -- PTI

The lab report/ANI on X

19:35 Lab report claims beef tallow in Tirupati laddu

Amid the controversy over the alleged use of substandard ingredients and animal fat in the preparation of the world renowned Tirupati laddu, the ruling Telugu Desam Party on Thursday claimed that the adulteration has been confirmed by Gujarat-based livestock laboratory, NDDB CALF Ltd on the ghee samples.

TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy in a press conference displayed the purported lab report which apparently confirmed the presence of "beef tallow" in the given ghee sample.

The purported lab report also claimed the presence of "lard" (relating to pig fat) and fish oil in the samples.

The sample receipt date was July 9, 2024 and the lab report was dated July 16.

However, there was no official confirmation on the lab report from either the Andhra Pradesh government or the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the famous Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple.

CALF (Centre for Analysis and learning in Livestock & Food) is a multidisciplinary analytical laboratory at NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) based in Gujarat's Anand. -- PTI

The rupee strengthened by 10 paise to hit its two-month high level of 83.66 against the US dollar on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve cut the benchmark interest rate by 0.50 percent, boosting investors' sentiment.

Forex traders said massive buying in domestic equities and inflow of foreign funds also supported the local unit.

At the same time, some initial gains in the American currency post Fed's announcement failed to resist recessionary fear in the world's largest economy.

Moreover, an upward movement in the crude oil prices, capped the rise in the local unit, they added.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the Indian currency opened at 83.70 and touched the intra-day high of 83.56 against the greenback.

During the session, it touched the lowest level of 83.73 against the dollar. -- PTI

West Bengal minister Swapan Debnath/File image

18:57 Women booze during 'reclaim the night': Bengal min

West Bengal minister and senior Trinamool Congress leader Swapan Debnath has stirred a controversy by saying that parents should monitor what their daughters do during the 'Reclaim the night' movement held after midnight, while citing an alleged incident of a protestor consuming liquor with men during one such agitation.

The animal resources development minister said that any untoward incident makes the state government responsible but the safety of women is the responsibility of everyone.

The ruling Trinamool Congress, however, sought to distance itself from the remarks made by the minister.

In a purported video, Debnath was seen telling a gathering in Purba Bardhaman district on Wednesday that during a recent 'Reclaim the night' movement in his area Purbasthali, a woman and two men were seen sipping beer at a hotel.

"What if something untoward would have happened to the woman? Our men had kept vigil at that time. But if they were not around? My words for parents -- your daughter had gone to join a protest. That's fine. But later, she was seen consuming liquor. We informed you (parents) to take her home, we also asked the police to ensure she is safe," he said.

Debnath said he has requested the hotel owners in his area not to sell liquor to women after midnight. -- PTI

Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com

18:52 Mumbai ex-top cop Sanjay Pandey joins Congress

Mumbai police ex-commissioner Sanjay Pandey, who was arrested in 2022 in the NSE co-location case, on Thursday joined the Congress ahead of the assembly polls in Maharashtra.

He was inducted into the Congress by its Mumbai unit chief and Lok Sabha MP Varsha Gaikwad at the party office in south Mumbai.

Calling himself a 'secular' minded person, the retired IPS officer who briefly served as the acting Maharashtra director general of police, maintained that no other political party except the Congress follows secular ideology.

"I am not joining a party but a family. I wanted to join the Congress way back in 2004, but didn't get a chance," said Pandey on the occasion as he started a new political innings.

Expressing confidence about the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi coming to power in Maharashtra after the assembly polls, Pandey noted that under its rule common citizens will not have to fear anything.

"As a retired police commissioner, I can say how false cases were filed against me," he said. -- PTI

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has issued an apology after mispronouncing Marathi word kachra in a video.

Bachchan, 81, shared a video on Wednesday in which he pledged not to litter on streets.

However, his friend, singer Sudesh Bhosale, pointed out a mistake the actor made in the video.

Now, the actor has shared another video post where he narrated the same and apologised for his mistake.

The caption of the post read, "Had done a video where pronunciation was wrong .. so corrected it .. Apologies."

He began the video by saying, "Hello, I'm Amitabh Bachchan. A few days ago, I shared a video on raising social awareness stating that I won't litter. I also said the same thing in Marathi language, and my pronunciation in Marathi was a bit incorrect."

"The word, kachra in Marathi was mispronounced. My friend Sudesh Bhosale informed me about the mispronunciation. Hence, I'm making this video, this time with correct pronunciation," he added.

The actor is currently hosting the 16th season of Kaun Banega Crorepati.

D Kempanna/File image

18:19 Contractors' body chief Kempanna, known for 40% commission claim against BJP, dies

Karnataka State Contractors' Association president D Kempanna, who was at the forefront in its fight in exposing the alleged "40 percent commission" scam during the previous BJP government, passed away in Bengaluru on Thursday.

The 84-year-old died due to heart attack at his residence, and is survived by his wife, a son and three daughters, sources close to him said.

The contractors' association under the leadership of Kempanna had during the previous BJP government alleged "harassment" by ministers, elected representatives and others, accusing them of demanding 40 percent commission for awarding contracts and clearing bills, and had also written a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.

During the 2023 assembly polls, the then opposition Congress had used the contractors' association's 40 percent commission charge as a major weapon to corner the BJP government, which is said to be one among the factors that led to the saffron party's debacle in the election.

After coming to power, the Congress had, based on the allegations, formed the Justice HN Nagamohan Das Commission to investigate irregularities in various contracts awarded and works carried out, in the wake of allegations of '40 per cent commission' that were levelled against the previous BJP administration. -- PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde/File image

17:45 Shinde defends MLA Gaikwad over Rahul remarks

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday supported his embattled MLA Sanjay Gaikwad and asked the Congress to protest against Rahul Gandhi for his comments on reservations.

Gaikwad was panned by leaders cutting across party lines after he offered Rs 11 lakh to anyone who cut off Gandhi's tongue for the latter's statement in the US on reservations.

Shinde also attacked AAP leader Atishi, who will be sworn in as Delhi chief minister on September 21, for "supporting" terrorist Afzal Guru.

The BJP has been claiming Atishi's parents signed a mercy petition for Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Addressing an event connected to the state government's Ladki Bahin Yojana, Shinde praised Gaikwad for conceptualising the statues of saints and other revered personalities in Buldhana.

"The Congress must protest in front of Rahul Gandhi residence for his statement against reservations. The opposition spread fake narrative about Constitution being changed and the end of reservations. Now, Congress leaders are going abroad and talking about ending quota. This is an insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar and the Constitution," Shinde asserted. -- PTI

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17:41 Quota agitations: Prohibitory orders in Maha's Beed till Sep 27

The Beed district administration has imposed prohibitory orders till September 27 in the wake of agitations over quota by the Maratha, OBC and other communities in Maharashtra, officials said on Thursday.

Activist Manoj Jarange has been on an indefinite fast in Antarwali Sarati village of Jalna district since September 16 midnight over his demand for reservation to the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes category.

OBC leader Laxman Hake on Thursday commenced his indefinite fast in Wadi Godri village of Jalna to counter Jarange's agitation and to put forth the demand that their quota should not be disturbed.

According to a release issued by the Beed administration on Thursday, the agitations of various communities, like Marathas, OBCs and Dhangars, are underway.

There is a chance that a problem of law and order may arise over any small reason.

"Hence to maintain the law and order, prohibitory orders are imposed in Beed from September 14 to 27," it said, while exempting government employees from the order.

The gathering of five or more persons for an agitation or procession will be subject to permission from authorities concerned, the release said. -- PTI

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17:13 Quota agitations: Prohibitory orders in Maha's Beed till Sep 27

OBC leader Laxman Hake on Thursday commenced his indefinite fast in Wadi Godri village of Jalna to counter Jarange's agitation and to put forth the demand that their quota should not be disturbed.

According to a release issued by the Beed administration on Thursday, the agitations of various communities, like Marathas, OBCs and Dhangars, are underway.

There is a chance that a problem of law and order may arise over any small reason.

"Hence to maintain the law and order, prohibitory orders are imposed in Beed from September 14 to 27," it said, while exempting government employees from the order.

The gathering of five or more persons for an agitation or procession will be subject to permission from authorities concerned, the release said. -- PTI

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16:57 Govt probing exploitative work culture after EY CA's death

The ministry of labour & employment is investigating alleged "unsafe and exploitative work environment" days after the tragic demise of Anna Sebastian Perayil who worked with SR Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global.

Perayil was a 26-year-old chartered accountant who died allegedly due to extreme work pressure at the firm.

"Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Anna Sebastian Perayil. A thorough investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway. We are committed to ensuring justice & LabourMinistry has officially taken up the complaint," Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje Thursday said on X.

EY on Wednesday issued a statement stating, "We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian's tragic and untimely passing in July 2024."

Since the death, EY has been in touch with the family, helping them but it is only now that her family has chosen to write to the company, complaining about the "excessive workload", it had said.

EY has said it will continue to improve and provide a healthy workplace in its offices throughout the country. -- PTI

The Uttar Pradesh government is planning to equip stray cattle with fluorescent strips particularly at night to mitigate the risk of road accidents. The initiative aims to enhance the visibility of stray cattle to drivers thereby preventing collisions and safeguarding both human and animal lives, officials said.

According to the officials, the fluorescent strips would be positioned on the horns and necks of stray cattle. These highly reflective strips would be illuminated by vehicle headlights, making the animals easily visible in low-light conditions, thus reducing the number of accidents caused by unexpected encounters with these animals on roads.

Animal Husbandry Department Director P N Singh revealed that the plan is nearing its final stages and is expected to receive approval soon.

"The proposal has been under discussion for the past two weeks and has also been shared with the relevant minister for final approval," he said.

The Animal Husbandry Department is slated to serve as the nodal agency for the implementation of this project. The introduction of fluorescent strips on stray cattle is part of a broader plan to address the issue of stray animals in the state.

According to official records, Uttar Pradesh currently has approximately 15 lakh stray cattle, of which around 12 lakh are housed in animal shelters. The remaining three lakh stray cattle are partially managed by marginal families under the Sahbhagita scheme. These families receive a maximum of Rs 1,500 per month per cattle for fodder.

A single family can participate in the scheme with a maximum of four cattle. Experts attribute the stray cattle problem in UP to a confluence of factors. One primary reason is the lack of proper animal husbandry practices, leading to uncontrolled breeding and abandonment of animals.

West Bengal Medical Council cancels registration of former RG Kar hospital principal Sandip Ghosh.

The second round of talks between agitating junior doctors and officials of the West Bengal government failed to resolve the impasse due to the RG Kar issue on Wednesday night despite the meeting taking place on a "positive note", following the state government's refusal to hand over written minutes of the talks, the doctors alleged.

The medics announced that they would continue with their agitation and 'cease work' till the government issues written directives on the safety and security measures for doctors in state-run hospitals as agreed in the talks.

"While the talks went smoothly, the government refused to hand over signed and written minutes of the issues which were discussed. We are feeling let down and disappointed with the government's attitude. We will send an email tomorrow detailing our demands based on which the government has assured it will issue directives. We will continue our agitation till then," Dr Aniket Mahato, one of the agitating doctors, said.

The doctors maintained that although the government agreed on most of their demands and accepted them as legitimate, they stopped short of putting it down in writing.

The body of the post-graduate trainee doctor was found at the RG Kar hospital on August 9.

A court extended the jail custody of the 44 people arrested in connection with the vandalism at the hospital on the eve of Independence Day till September 24. A mob ransacked parts of the hospital while protests were going on outside it over the rape and murder of the doctor.

15:52 Girl mauled to death by leopard in Udaipur

A 16-year-old girl was mauled to death by a leopard in Rajasthan's Udaipur district, police said Thursday.

According to the police, the incident happened in Undithal village under Gogunda police station area. Kamla had gone to graze goats in the jungle on Wednesday afternoon. When she did not return home by the evening, family members started searching for her in the jungle.

"The villagers along with family members searched the jungle and today morning they found the girl's body in the jungle. The leopard attacked the girl's face, back and chest area," Gogunda SHO Shaitan Singh Nathawat said.

He said that a forest department team has also reached the spot to investigate the matter and trap the leopard. PTI

Police have arrested 15 persons for allegedly pelting stones at a Ganesh festival procession in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, an official said on Thursday.

Three women and two men were injured in the incident which took place in Pundaliknagar area at around 11.30 pm on Tuesday, the final day of the Ganesh festival, he said.

Some members of a Ganesh mandal threw 'gulal' (vermillion powder) on persons representing another mandal, leading to a quarrel among them. Members of one Ganesh Mandal allegedly hurled stones on a procession of the other mandal, a police release said.

After receiving information, police personnel, including a SRPF team, reached the area and apprehended four persons from the spot. A case under relevant provisions was registered against the four persons caught there and 11 others who fled from the spot, the official said. Later, police teams were sent to trace the other 11 accused and they were also arrested, he said.

India is on track to becoming the third-largest economy by 2030-31, driven by a projected annual growth rate of 6.7 per cent this fiscal, S&P Global said in a report on Thursday.

The report also said that with 8.2 per cent growth rate in FY2024, continued reforms are crucial to improving business transactions and logistics, boosting private sector investment, and reducing reliance on public capital. It said equity markets are expected to stay dynamic and competitive due to strong growth prospects and better regulation, and foreign inflows into Indian government bonds have surged since the country joined major emerging market indexes, with further growth anticipated.

To maximize trade benefits, India must develop infrastructure and geopolitical strategies, particularly regarding its extensive coastline, said the first edition of 'India Forward: Emerging Perspectives' report. Nearly 90 per cent of India's trade is seaborne, necessitating robust port infrastructure to manage increasing exports and bulk commodity imports, it added.

Noting that India faces rising domestic energy demands and can look to sustainable technologies, including renewables and low-emission fuels, balancing energy security with its energy transition plans, the report stated that agriculture will rely on advanced technologies and new policies to improve infrastructure and productivity.

The need is to address critical infrastructure issues such as irrigation, storage, and supply distribution to ensure food security and economic stability, it added. The S&P Global India Research Chapter's inaugural study was launched here on Thursday. PTI

14:59 Delhi's new Cabinet under Atishi finalised

The new cabinet under Delhi's future Chief Minister Atishi on Thursday has been finalised. Four ministers from the Kejriwal cabinet--Saurabh Bhardwaj, Kailash Gehlot, Gopal Rai, and Imran Hussain -- will continue in their roles and take oath again. One new face, Mukesh Ahlawat, the MLA from Sultanpur Majra, will join the cabinet. Ahlawat, from the Dalit community, will be the new minister. One ministerial position remains vacant.

The entire cabinet, along with CM Atishi, will take oath on Saturday, 21 September.

Earlier in the day, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced that MLA MP Atishi will take oath as the new Chief Minister of Delhi on September 21.

"Atishi will take oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi on September 21, and other ministers will also take their oaths alongside her," said the AAP in a statement. Atishi, who has staked her claim to the position, expressed mixed feelings about the change in leadership. She said that she is happy about the trust placed in her by outgoing CM Arvind Kejriwal but is also sad that he has resigned from his post. Speaking to the media, she added that she would work hard to bring Kejriwal back as Chief Minister after the upcoming assembly elections.

"First of all, I would like to thank the popular CM of Delhi, AAP national convener, and my guru - Arvind Kejriwal. He gave me such a huge responsibility and trusted me for it. This can be done only in AAP, only under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, that a first-time politician becomes the CM of a state. I come from an ordinary family. Had I been in any other party, perhaps I would not have been given even an election ticket," Atishi said.

At 43, Atishi will become the third woman Chief Minister of Delhi, following in the footsteps of Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit.

A prominent leader of AAP, Atishi has played a key role in improving education in Delhi's government-run schools during her time as an advisor to the former Education Minister, Manish Sisodia.

Atishi currently represents the Kalkaji constituency in the Delhi Assembly and holds the most portfolios in the Delhi government. She joined the Delhi cabinet in March 2023 and is now set to lead AAP as it prepares for the upcoming assembly polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday targeted the Abdullahs, Muftis, and Gandhis, saying they have brought only fear and anarchy to Jammu and Kashmir, and added that the region will no longer remain under their control as the local youth are now challenging them.

He also accused these three families of believing that it is their birthright to grab power by any means and deprive the people of Jammu and Kashmir of their legitimate rights.

Addressing a public rally in Srinagar PM Modi said, "The three families think that it is their birthright to capture power by any means and then loot you all. Their political agenda has been to deprive the people of Jammu and Kashmir of their legitimate rights. They have given only fear and anarchy to Jammu and Kashmir but now Jammu and Kashmir will no longer be in the grip of these three families...Now our youth here is challenging them. The youth whom they did not allow to progress have come out against them."

Modi further criticized Congress, the National Conference (NC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for creating divisions and asserted that the BJP is uniting everyone and bridging the gap between 'Dil' and Delhi.

"Congress-NC-PDP just did the division. But BJP is uniting everyone. We are bridging the distance between 'Dil' and Delhi."

PM Modi claimed that the Abdullah, Mufti and Gandhi families have destroyed the youth's faith in democracy, but now the youth are realizing that only their vote can bring real change.

"The three families here consider the politics of Jammu and Kashmir as their fiefdom. They do not want to let anyone else come forward except their own family. Otherwise, why did they stop the elections of the panchayat, BDC and DDC? They thought that through this, new people would emerge in politics and challenge their family regime. The result of their selfishness was that the youth here started losing faith in democracy. They felt that whether they cast their vote or not, these three families would definitely come to power. So much has changed now as compared to the earlier circumstances... The youth here have developed confidence that only their vote can bring about real change," PM Modi said.

After Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif said that Pakistan and the NC-Congress alliance were on the same page on the restoration of Article 370, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said on Thursday that he does not know what Pakistan says.

Speaking to ANI, he said, "I don't know what Pakistan says. I am not a Pakistani; I am an Indian citizen."

On the Jammu Kashmir Assembly Polls, he said that everything would be clear in front of the people on October 8.

"Wait till October 8, everything will be clear. The first thing I will do is bring back the Darbar Move. We have both been caused a loss because of the Darbar Move. People used to go there in the winter in the Darbar Move. There was a relationship between Jammu and Kashmir. In summer, they used to come here to finish the work. You can go and ask the people how much loss they have suffered because of the Darbar Move," he said.

Earlier, the BJP has lashed out at the Congress-National Conference alliance after Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif said that Pakistan and the alliance were on the same page when it came to the restoration of Article 370 in the Union Territory.

BJP leader Amit Malviya in a post on X said, "Pakistan, a terrorist state, endorses Congress and National Conference's position on Kashmir. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, on Hamid Mir's Capital Talk on Geo News says, "Pakistan and National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page in Jammu & Kashmir to restore Article 370 and 35A". How is it that, from Pannun to Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi and his Congress, are always seen on the side of those inimical to India's interest?"

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said, "The question is what is this relation of Congress party & NC with Pakistan called?... We can see how the Congress Party National Conference and INDIA Alliance are continuously trying to join hands with Pakistan..."

Salim Khan with Arbaaz

14:11 Was joking: Couple who threatened Salim Khan

Update: A man and a burqa-clad woman allegedly threatened noted screenwriter Salim Khan, father of Bollywood actor Salman Khan, citing jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's name in Mumbai's Bandra area, police said on Thursday.

The incident took place when Khan was sitting at the Bandra Bandstand promenade after his morning walk on Wednesday, following which the police detained the accused duo, an official said.

During their investigation, they told the police that they were playing mischief with Khan, he said. "A man and a burqa-clad woman going on a two-wheeler spotted Salim Khan sitting at the Bandstand promenade and came near him after taking a U-turn. They stopped close to him and asked him 'Lawrence Bishnoi ko bheju kya?' (Should we send Lawrence Bishnoi to you?)," the official said.

After threatening him, the couple fled from the spot, he said. Salim Khan's bodyguard later lodged a complaint at the Bandra police station on Wednesday, based on which an case was registered.

"We launched a probe and detained both the accused persons. During their investigation, they told us that they were playing mischief," he said. PTI

The Bhartiya Janata party on Thursday released the party's manifesto for the Haryana Assembly elections, just a day after the Congress party announced seven guarantees for the poll-bound state.

Union Minister and BJP President JP Nadda, along with Haryana BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were present during the launch of the manifesto in Rohtak, Haryana.

The Bhartiya Janata party promised guaranteed jobs for Agniveers and financial assistance of Rs2,100 per month under 'Lado Laxmi Yojana'.To boost employment in the state, the party announced that ten industrial cities will be built on the lines of IMT Kharkhoda and more than 50,000 youth from nearby villages will be given employment.

Under the healthcare initiatives, under Chirayu Ayushman, the amount of Rs 5 lakh received per year will be increased to Rs 10 lakh.

The party also promises to offer scooters to college going female students under Awal Balika Yojana and LPG cylinders for Rupees 500 under the Har Ghar Grahini Yojana.

During the event, Union Minister JP Nadda highlighted key promises from the party's 'Sankalp Patra,' stating, "All women will be provided financial assistance of Rs 2,100 per month under the 'Lado Laxmi Yojna.' Under the Chirayu Ayushman scheme, the Rs 5 lakh you get per year will be increased to Rs 10 lakh. MSP on 24 crops will continue, and we will provide government jobs to 2 lakh youth."

He also assured that LPG cylinders would remain available for Rs 500 to Antyodaya BPL families and guaranteed government jobs for Agniveers. -- ANI

13:08 Bishnoi ko bheju kya? Salim Khan threatened

Bollywood actor Salman Khan's father Salim Khan receives a threat while on his morning walk, Mumbai police have launched a probe. According to reports a man on a scooter accompanied by a female approached Salim Khan, stopped in front of him, and issued a direct threat linked to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The man reportedly asked, "Lawrence Bishnoi ko bheju kya? (Should I send Lawrence Bishnoi?)"

The incident came months after the gang fired at Salman Khan's Bandra house allegedly at the behest of the gangster.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a rally in Srinagar:

"You have come in such large numbers today. This enthusiasm of the youth, the message of peace in the eyes of the elders and such a large number of mothers and sisters, this is the new Kashmir. The aim of all of us is the rapid development of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Today, I have come amongst you with the message of energizing the spirit of rapid progress of Jammu & Kashmir. I see that today my brothers and sisters of Kashmir are saying 'Khushamdeed PM'.

"I thank them from the bottom of my heart. The first round of voting started in 7 districts yesterday. It is a matter of great joy for all of us that such a large number of people came out of their homes to vote. More than 80% voting in Kishtwar, over 71% voting in Doda, over 70% voting in Ramban...The voting records were broken in many seats. This is a new history.

"Today the world is seeing how the people of Jammu and Kashmir are strengthening the democracy of India and I congratulate the people of Jammu and Kashmir for this. A few days ago, when I came to Jammu and Kashmir, I had said that three families are responsible for the destruction of J&K and since then these people are in panic, from Delhi to Jammu and Kashmir, these three families think how can anyone question them.

"The three families think that it is their birthright to capture power by any means and then loot you all. Their political agenda has been to deprive the people of Jammu and Kashmir of their legitimate rights. They have given only fear and anarchy to Jammu and Kashmir but now Jammu and Kashmir will no longer be in the grip of these three families...Now our youth here is challenging them. The youth whom they did not allow to progress have come out against them. The suffering that the youth of J&K have faced in the rule of these three families, is often not able to come out.

"Today, many of the youth of the valley who are 20-30 years old, have remained deprived of education. There are many who took more years than the rest of the students of the country to reach 10th, 12th or college. This did not happen because our youth of Jammu and Kashmir failed, but this happened because the three families of Congress, NC and PDP had failed."

12:43 Deceptive myth

What light will illumine the city's tragedy this Puja? The sadness and grotesquerie of our female symbol this year has vanquished the opiate symbol of Shakti, writes Saikat Majumdar. Read the column here.

The Bombay High Court Thursday said creative freedom and the freedom of expression cannot be curtailed and the censor board cannot refuse to certify a film just because there is an apprehension of a law and order problem.

A division bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla expressed its displeasure with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for not taking a decision on the issuance of a certificate to Kangana Ranaut-starrer film "Emergency", and ordered for the decision to be taken by September 25.

It asked if the CBFC thinks the people of this country are so naive to believe everything that is shown in a movie.

On the petitioner's claim that the CBFC was delaying issuance of certificate to the movie due to political reasons, the HC noted the film's co-producer Ranaut was herself a sitting BJP parliamentarian and questioned if the ruling party was acting against its own MP.

Ranaut, who has directed and co-produced the film besides playing the lead role of former prime minister late Indira Gandhi, earlier this week accused the CBFC of stalling certification to delay the release.

The bench said, "You (CBFC) have to take a decision one way or the other. You must have the courage to say this film cannot be released. At least then we will appreciate your courage and boldness. We don't want the CBFC to sit on the fence."

The court was hearing a petition filed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises, seeking a direction to the CBFC to issue a certificate for the film "Emergency".

The biographical drama, earlier scheduled for release on September 6, is caught up in controversy after Sikh organisations including the Shiromani Akali Dal objected, accusing the film of misrepresenting the community and getting historical facts wrong.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi called for immediate action against the culprits of the Nawada incident, where several houses were burned, emphasizing that the state police must swiftly take measures to rehabilitate the victims.

At least 25 houses were set ablaze by unidentified miscreants in the Mufassil Police Station area in Krishnanagar in Bihar's Nawada.

Highlighting injustice against the Bahujans in Bihar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the BJP and the NDA allies for suppressing the community.

"Burning down an entire colony of Mahadalits in Nawada and destroying the houses of more than 80 families is highlighting the horrifying picture of injustice against the Bahujans in Bihar. The cries of the Dalit families who had lost their homes and property and the terror created in the deprived society by the echo of the fierce firing were also not successful in waking up the sleeping government of Bihar," Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X.

Lashing out at the NDA government and accusing them of sheltering the anarchists who intimidate the Bahujans, Rahul said that the silence of the Prime Minister on such an incident is a "seal of approving" this big conspiracy.

"The Bihar Government and the State Police must take immediate and strict action against all the culprits of this shameful crime and provide complete justice to the victim families by rehabilitating them," the Congress leader wrote on X.

Amid growing voices by the opposition leaders over the incident in Nawada, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ADG Law and order Bihar to inspect the spot.

Bahujan Samaj party Chief Mayawati asked the Centre to aid the victims.

"The incident of burning down many houses of poor Dalits in Bihar's Nawada by the goons and ruining their lives is extremely sad and serious. The government should take strict legal action against the culprits and also provide full financial help for the rehabilitation of the victims," Mayawati wrote in a post on X.

In a significant move, Canada said that it is taking steps to manage its temporary resident population by reducing the number of study permits issued to international students and tightening eligibility for work permits.

Notably, the government plans to reduce the number of study permits from 4,85,000 in 2024 to 4,37,000 in 2025, a 10 per cent decrease.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the decision of reducing the number of study permits granted to foreign students and said that when "bad actors" abuse the immigration system, "we crack down.

"Sharing a post on X, Trudeau wrote, "We're granting 35% fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number's going down by another 10%."

"Immigration is an advantage for our economy -- but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down," the post added.

Notably, on Wednesday, Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced additional measures to manage the volume of temporary resident arrivals, uphold the integrity of our immigration system and protect vulnerable people.

Eighteen hours after a two-year-old girl fell into a 35-foot open borewell in Dausa on Wednesday, the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force successfully rescued the girl here on Thursday.

The girl, after the rescue, was admitted to the nearest hospital.

SP Ranjita Sharma said that the rescue operation of the girl was a successful one due to the NDRF and SDRF teams.

"We are very happy that we were able to rescue the girl from the borewell after 18 hours of rescue operation. It was indeed a very hard task to accomplish, but with the help of the NDRF and SDRF teams, we were able to do it. The girl has been admitted to the nearest hospital. I would like to thank everyone who made this happen," the SP said.

Yogesh Kumar, NDRF, said that the girl was stuck at 28 feet and a parallel approach was started to rescue her.

"The girl was stuck at 28 feet and a parallel approach was dug up to rescue her. We had trouble locking her in the borewell. We had approached her sandal at 21 feet and had succeeded in the first go. No compromises were made with her security. Due to the rain, the rescue operations took longer than expected. A total of 30 people from NDRF and 10 people from SDRF worked on the rescue operations," Kumar said.

11:14 Remembering Comrade Yechury

CPI(M) West Bengal shares this image on X, writing, "Tu Zinda Hai! Palakkad, Kerala. #LongLiveSitaramYechury."

Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on September 12, 2024 following a prolonged illness, hospital and party sources said. He was 72.

11:07 'Will BJP be in a majority fForever?'

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah confronts the most difficult challenge in his electoral career.

In June, Omar lost the Lok Sabha election in Baramulla to Engineer Rashid, an accused in a terror funding case and who was incarcerated in Tihar jail.

Some Kashmiris believe the winds of change have arrived in the Valley and Omar will become obsolete politically post October 8 after the results of the assembly election.

Omar is a candidate in two assembly seats, Ganderbal and Budgam.His decision to contest from Budgam came after the central government allowed jailed cleric Sarjan Ahmad Wagar aka Sarjan Barkati, popularly known as Azadi Chacha, to contest against Abdullah in Ganderbal.

"It is not a coincidence that 49 to 50 percent of candidates contesting the elections are Independent candidates. These 49 to 50 percent of candidates are on this side of the mountain (Kashmir) and not in Jammu. This is being done by design and we need to caution the voters of Kashmir about it," Omar Abdullah tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com after a day of hectic campaigning in Budgam.

Read the interview here.

BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda has written a letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in response to a letter Kharge had earlier addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In his letter, Nadda slammed Kharge's attempt to defend Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, calling it an effort to "polish a failed product."Nadda began his letter by pointing out what he described as Rahul Gandhi's "history" of disrespecting both the Prime Minister and the OBC community.

He highlighted Gandhi's controversial statements, including calling the Prime Minister a "thief" and using other inappropriate language.

Nadda questioned Kharge's defence of Gandhi, asking, "Due to what compulsion are you trying to justify Rahul Gandhi?"

He also mentioned past remarks made by other Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, who had referred to Modi as a "merchant of death."

Nadda criticised Congress for glorifying such statements and asked, "Why did the Congress forget about political purity then?" He further accused the party of ignoring political standards while claiming to uphold political dignity.

Nadda claimed that Congress has now become a "copy and paste" party under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, alleging that the party has adopted "evil ways" under pressure from its "famous prince." He stated that Congress leaders have insulted Prime Minister Modi over 110 times in the last decade and listed derogatory terms allegedly used by Congress leaders.

In Supreme Court hearings streamed live, the nation got to see the tragic spectacle of a state that is in the depths of ruin in terms of administrative and moral decline. Read the column here.

A case of rape, sexual harassment and criminal intimidation has been registered against BJP MLA Munirathna and six others, police said on Thursday. It was registered following the complaint of a 40-year-old woman who alleged that the incident took place at a private resort within the Kaggalipura police station's jurisdiction.

"We received a complaint on Wednesday night and based on it, we have registered case against seven people, including the BJP MLA under various sections for rape by public servant, sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy, voyeurism, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, Information Technology Act, and others," a senior police officer said. The matter is being investigated, he said.

The fresh FIR against the BJP MLA, also a former Minister, comes days after he was arrested by the Bengaluru Police in connection with the two cases filed against him for alleged harassment, threats and casteist abuse, police said. PTI

Delhi Chief Minister-designate Atishi and her cabinet will take the oath of office on September 21, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said on Thursday. The ruling party had initially decided that only Atishi would be sworn in, however, it was later determined that her council of ministers would also take the oath. Arvind Kejriwal resigned as the Delhi chief minister on Tuesday, after which Atishi staked claim to form a new government in the national capital. PTI

10:10 Yes, this accident had survivors

Two people were injured when their speeding SUV crashed into a guardrail that pierced through the middle of the vehicle near Rajghat in north Delhi early Thursday, police said.

The Hyundai Venue car had three occupants and all of them have been hospitalised, they said. Prima facie, it appears that the car was being driven at a high speed and the driver lost control leading to the crash, police said, adding that a probe is underway. PTI

Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty surged to their fresh record high levels in early trade on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate after more than four years.

The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 735.95 points to scale a new all-time high of 83,684.18 in early trade. The NSE Nifty also surged 209.55 points to hit a fresh record peak of 25,587.10.

"The big Fed rate cut by 50 bps has the potential to take equity markets into a consolidation phase with an upward bias. The rate cuts by the Fed will pave the way for rate cuts in India, too," said V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Financial Services. More rate cuts are expected from the Fed, going forward, Vijayakumar added. From the 30 Sensex firms, NTPC, Axis Bank, Tata Motors, Tata Consultancy Services, Bharti Airtel, Tech Mahindra, Infosys and HDFC Bank were the biggest gainers. Bajaj Finserv emerged as the only laggard from the pack. In Asian markets, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong rallied while Seoul quoted marginally lower.

The US markets ended lower on Wednesday. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 1,153.69 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.

"The 50 bps rate cut is a bold stance by the US Fed to revitalise their subdued economy, which will in turn open the door for other global central banks, including RBI to kick-start the softer interest rate regime," Vijay Bharadia, Founder, Wallfort Financial Services Ltd, said.

-- PTI

An idol on auction

09:58 Want to bid for gifts PM received?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged people to bid for the mementoes he has received and which are now being auctioned, noting that their proceeds will be used for the 'Namami Gange' initiative.

He said on X, "Every year, I auction the various mementoes I receive during the public programmes. The proceeds of the auction go to the Namami Gange initiative. I'm delighted to share that this year's auction has opened. Do bid for the mementoes you find interesting!"

Namami Gange is a government's initiative for conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga river.

File pic

09:28 US excited about Quad, PM reaches on Saturday

The upcoming Quad Summit in Delaware will show that the four-nation grouping is more strategically aligned and relevant than ever before, the White House has said. The QUAD, comprising Australia, Japan, India and the US, is an initiative of President Joe Biden.

In the first 100 days of his presidency, Biden convened a virtual leadership summit of the QUAD countries in 2020. Since then QUAD leaders have been holding an annual summit on a rotation basis.

"We believe you'll see... that the Quad is more strategically aligned and more relevant than ever before," John Kirby, White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Director told reporters at a news conference in Washington on Wednesday.

Kirby's comments came ahead of President Biden's hosting of the other three QUAD leaders from Australia, India, and Japan in Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday. It was India's turn to host the Quad Summit., but following a request from Washington, India agreed to host the Summit next year.

Biden will host the fourth Quad Leaders Summit' in Wilmington, Delaware, on September 21. Kirby said the current Quad Summit will be the first time that the US has hosted foreign leaders in Wilmington, the president's hometown.

"And he's very excited about that, about showing them a place and a community that shapes so much of the public servant and the leader that he became. It's also a reflection of his belief that like politics, foreign policy is also personal," he said.

Kirby said Biden will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese individually, and later in a plenary. Kirby said over the last more than three years, Biden has made it a priority to invest in rebuilding America's network of alliances and partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.

"So think about AUKUS, for instance, or the trilateral Camp David summit with Japan and South Korea or the first ever US-Japan-Philippines Leaders' Summit in April," he said.

Prime Minister Modi will pay a three-day visit to the US beginning September 21 to attend the annual Quad Summit and address the Summit of the Future' at the UN General Assembly. He will also address a gathering of the Indian community in New York on September 22 during his three-day visit. PTI

Calcutta Medical College Superintendent Anjan Adhikari was questioned by the CBI on Thursday regarding the RG Kar Medical College woman doctor's rape and murder case.

He was called to provide information about TMC MLA and West Bengal Medical Council President Sudipta Roy.

Speaking to the media after his meeting with the CBI, Adhikari said, "Sir (Sudipta Roy) did call, and I was in touch with him often, we mostly about how the functioning and work were going. I wasn't aware of any incident. I only came to know about the incident through the media."

Meanwhile, Junior doctors from the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front expressed dissatisfaction after officials failed to agree to all their demands following a meeting with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant at Nabanna on Wednesday evening.

Speaking to ANI, a junior doctor said, "When the meeting was going on, then the Chief Secretary agreed to accept all our demands, but after the meeting, our demands were refused as they did not focus on our demands. There were things that were not discussed; they asked us to mail. What is the point of writing mail after holding a meeting? What we wanted was not given to us, and they even refused to provide us in writing. We have submitted our demands, and our protest will continue because we are upset with the meeting."

Another doctor, Shaintini, added, "Today, when we went in, we were very hopeful... for 41 days, we have been on the streets demanding basic human rights and justice. We not only wanted our healthcare to improve but also patient care. After the meeting, we feel hopeless. We want the protest to end but are forced to continue until all our demands are met."

The junior doctors have been protesting for over a month, seeking improvements in healthcare and working conditions. Following the meeting, the state government accepted some of their demands, including the removal of the Kolkata Police Chief and two senior health officials -- ANI

Fifteen hours after a two-year-old girl fell into an open borewell in Dausa on Wednesday, the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force are still carrying out the rescue operation on Thursday.

Yogesh Kumar, Assistant Commander (NDRF), said that 31 feet of ground have been parallel dug and 12 feet have been dug horizontally.

"We have dug 31 feet of the ground in a parallel manner and 12 feet of ground has been dug horizontally until now. The child is conscious and we are trying to take care of her," said the Assistant Commander.

The occurrence of intermittent rain has also hindered the rescue operation.

The local team of Lalsot has also been collectively making efforts to rescue the girl.

The girl had fallen into an open borewell in the Bandikui area of Dausa on Wednesday, prompting the district administration to launch a rescue operation.

On Wednesday, the Dausa District Collector Devendra Kumar, Dausa Superintendent of Police Ranjita Sharma, officials from the Water Supply Department, and local administration reached the spot as rescue operations started.

Dausa SP Ranjit Sharma stated that experienced teams from SDRF and NDRF are conducting rescue operations.

"We are putting efforts into doing it fast, as she is a child, and she has already spent more than 5 hours. We have called the SDRF and NDRF teams, who are experts in such kinds of rescue operations."

Ranjit Sharma, SP, Dausa said, "We are trying to know the movement and condition of the child through cameras. We are trying multiple methods so that the child can be rescued safely."

She further said that the efforts are to save the child as soon as possible.

Devendra Kumar, district collector, said, "SDRF and NDRF teams are present and are continuing their rescue operation. The medical team has also arrived to supply oxygen to the child." -- ANI

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray has said if the Union government is so concerned about the 'one nation, one election' reform, it should first hold polls to the civic bodies in Maharashtra.

Elections to several municipal bodies in the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), are pending.

'If so much importance is being given to elections, then first hold civic body polls,' Raj Thackeray said in a post on X on Wednesday, noting that by October many civic bodies will be running under administrators for more than four years.

While the Union cabinet has approved a recommendation for simultaneous elections by a high-level panel, it must also consider views of the states, the MNS chief said.

He also sought to know what happens if a state government collapses or an assembly is dissolved, or if there are mid-term Lok Sabha polls in the country.

The central government on Wednesday accepted a high-level panel's recommendations for holding simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies in a phased manner after a countrywide consensus-building exercise.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the cabinet's decision, saying it will be a giant stride towards landmark electoral reforms in the country. Various opposition parties, however, have said holding simultaneous polls is not practical.

Asserting that several political parties are already on board, the government said even the parties opposed to it may now feel pressure from within to change their stand due to widespread support on the issue from the people of the country. -- PTI

Jerome Powell

08:09 US Fed cuts interest rate by 50 basis points

In a departure from the recent monetary policy stance by holding interest rates steady in eight straight meetings, the United States Federal Reserve announced a steep 50 basis points interest cut in its latest review meeting.

Investors globally were certain that the US central bank would cut rates, but they were looking for the quantum of the cut.

The US Federal reserve monetary policy committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 50 basis points to 4.75 to 5.0 percent.

"The committee has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent, and judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance. The economic outlook is uncertain, and the Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate," Fed said in its statement.

"In considering additional adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks," it added.

Investors across financial markets globally were waiting for fresh cues from the outcomes of the two-day US monetary policy review meeting, particularly the extent of interest rate cut.

Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell had recently indicated that it was time for the US central bank to reduce interest rates as inflation rates aligned with its target.

Addressing the much-awaited Jackson Hole Symposium last month, Powell said that 'the time has come for policy to adjust' but stopped short of hinting at the quantum of interest rate cut.

Inflation worries: Inflation has been a pain point for the policymakers in the US, who wish to bring retail inflation to 2 per cent on a sustainable basis.

The silver lining is that the latest inflation data (for August) showed that the inflation rate is steadily moderating towards the intended target.

US inflation fell to 2.5 per cent in August, and is slowing aligning with the intended 2 per cent target. For much of the past three years, inflation ran well above the US central bank's 2 per cent goal, and labour market conditions were extremely tight.

Impact on stocks in India: Foreign portfolio investors seemed to have upped their investments in India, hoping for a better return on investments with high chances of interest rate cuts in the US.

FPIs have been net buyers here in India.

Domestic stock indices had been rising substantially of late, possibly due to inherent strength in domestic market fundamentals. Indian markets surged strongly this week, reclaiming record highs.

Loosening monetary policy in the US through rate cuts typically leads to flight of capital to markets where policy rates are high. The steeper the rate cut in the US, the more is the tendency of flight of capitals to alternative investment destinations, including India.

It is to be seen how Indian stocks react to the Fed outcome, when the market bell rings Thursday morning. On Wednesday, Sensex and Nifty closed marginally lower, as investors awaited Fed announcements. -- ANI

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01:17 Four wagons derail near yard in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, services affected

Four wagons of a mechanical rake derailed near Narayanpur Anant yard in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district on Wednesday, disrupting railway services on the route, officials said.

No one was injured in the incident that happened near point 67 of the yard in the Sonpur division of the East Central Railway around 5 pm, they said.

"The incident has caused disruption of rail traffic on the route. Mechanical and other technical staff are on the job to restore services," East Central Railway CPRO Sharswati Chandra said.

"The matter is being investigated by the senior officials of the ECR," he said.

More than 10 trains had to be diverted, and some trains short-terminated following the accident, he added.

Among the diverted trains were Amritsar-Jaynagar Shaheed Express, Patna-Jaynagar Express, Harihar Express, Darbhanga-Amritsar Jannayak Express and Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, Chandra said. -- PTI

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01:07 Odisha flood situation grim, 11,000 people evacuated

The Odisha government on Wednesday expedited rescue and relief operation in Balasore district as the flood situation continued to remain grim, prompting the administration to evacuate over 11,000 people to safety.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who undertook an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in the district, directed the authorities concerned to ensure the rescue of people living in villages marooned due to the flood in Subarnarekha River following deep depression-induced heavy rain in northern Odisha and upper catchment areas of the river.

After taking an aerial survey of worst-affected Baliapal, Jaleswar and Bhograi blocks, the chief minister told reporters, "One team of NDRF, three teams of ODRAF and eight teams of fire service personnel have been deployed in the rescue and relief operations in the affected areas."

He also asked the district administration to speed up the rescue and relief efforts, as people are still marooned in several villages.

The chief minister said villagers in 35 gram panchayats were still affected and efforts were underway to assist them. -- PTI

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01:00 21 houses set on fire in Bihar's Nawada, land dispute suspected

Twenty-one houses were set on fire in Bihar's Nawada district on Wednesday evening, police said. Preliminary investigation suggested that a land dispute could be the cause behind the incident that happened in Manjhi Tola in Mufassil police station area, they said. No one was injured in the incident, they added.

Ten people were detained, and a search was on to nab the other accused persons, the police said.

"A call was received around 7.30 pm that some houses were set on fire in Manjhi Tola. Police immediately reached the spot along with fire engines. It took some time to douse the blaze. According to villagers, a group of people started setting the houses on fire around 7 pm," said SP Abhinav Dhiman who also visited the area.

"Preliminary investigation suggests that land dispute is the reason for the incident. A case has been registered and an investigation is underway," he said. -- PTI

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00:39 UP cops attacked during Ganesh idol immersion in Mathura; 7 held

Two constables of the local intelligence unit were attacked allegedly by a group of intoxicated people involved in a dispute at a tea stall during the Ganesh idol immersion festivities at Gokul Barrage here, police said on Wednesday.

Seven of the attackers were apprehended at the scene by police who responded to the incident. A search is underway for additional suspects, they said.

Senior superintendent of police Shailesh Kumar Pandey said, "Head constable Sumit Singh and constable Gaurav Kumar who were monitoring the immersion event, were dressed in plain clothes and witnessed the altercation."

"Their efforts to mediate were met with aggression from the intoxicated group, leading to a physical assault. Sumit Singh sustained a head injury, and both constables were subjected to verbal abuse," he added.

Deputy superintendent of police Bhushan Verma arrived with reinforcements and arrested seven accused.

However, some individuals managed to flee.

The injured Sumit Singh was rushed to a hospital for treatment, SSP said. -- PTI

A jailed gangster's wife has been arrested in connection with the murder of a crew member of Air India in Greater Noida in January this year, officials said on Wednesday.

Suraj Maan, brother of jailed gangster Parvesh Maan, was shot dead by three motorcycle-borne men when he was going to a gym near his residence, a killing linked to a gang war between Pravesh Mann and another incarcerated gangster Kapil Maan.

Additional commissioner of police (crime) Sanjay Bhatia said that Kajal Khattri, who is the wife of Kapil Maan and is known as Lady Don, was wanted for allegedly conspiring to murder Suraj.

The 29-year-old was arrested from a hotel in Hisar of Haryana. Bhatia said that since Kapil was behind bars, Kajal was running his gang.

The Uttar Pradesh police had announced a reward of Rs 25,000 foe her arrest.

"She has been arrested by our team and is being interrogated," Bhatia said.

A family feud between Kapil and Parvesh, hailing from the same village in Delhi's Khera Khurd, turned into a desperate gang war in which several people have been killed in the past few years. -- PTI

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