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Fri, 20 September 2024

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23:50   Tirupati laddu row: Rahul says authorities have to...
Amid the Tirupati laddu row, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday said this issue needs to be thoroughly looked into and asserted that authorities across India have to protect the sanctity of religious spaces.

The Congress said if claims of 'desecration' of the Tirupati laddu are right, a full-fledged enquiry must identify the guilty, but if they are wrong or motivated, millions of Tirupati devotees will not forgive those playing with their faith.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's claim that animal fat was used in Tirupati laddus during the previous government triggered a massive political row, with the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party accusing Naidu of indulging in 'heinous allegations' for political gains and the Telugu Desam Party circulating a lab report to back its claim.

During an NDA legislative party meeting on Wednesday, Naidu claimed that the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government did not even spare the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati and used substandard ingredients and animal fat to make laddus.

'The reports about the defilement of the Prasad at Sri Venkateshwara temple in Tirupati are disturbing,' Gandhi said in a post on X.

Lord Balaji is a revered deity for millions of devotees in India and across the world, he said.

'This issue will hurt every devotee and needs to be thoroughly looked into. Authorities across India have to protect the sanctity of our religious spaces,' the former Congress chief said.

Earlier, in a post on X, the Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, 'If the claims of desecration of the Tirupati Laddus are right, of course a full fledged enquiry must identify the guilty and strictest possible punishment must be meted out BUT, if the claims are wrong or motivated then, millions of devotees of Tirupati will not forgive those playing with their faith.'

'Until then, it suits the BJP to allow polarising conspiracy theories to fly thick in the air in election season,' he said.   -- PTI
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23:22   How monsoon has advanced over India
Distribution of rainfall in India from June 1 to September 20, 2024.
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23:00   Laddu row: Karnataka instructs temples to use only Nandini ghee
With Tirupati Laddu row snowballing into a major controversy, Karnataka government on Friday issued a circular instructing all temples coming under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department, to maintain quality in 'prasada' prepared there.

The temples have also been asked to only use the Nandini brand ghee of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) at the temples.

"It is hereby instructed that at all notified temples that come under the Karnataka State Religious Endowment Department to only use Nandini ghee compulsorily for 'sevas' (services), lamps, preparation of all kinds of prasadas, and at 'Dasoha Bhavans' (where food is served)," the circular said. 

It said, "It is instructed to maintain quality in prasada at the temples." 

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the super-rich Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple on Friday revealed it has come across sub-standard ghee and presence of lard in samples tested for quality, echoing claims first made by Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu two days ago.  -- PTI
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22:40   Arundhati Roy's first memoir to release in September 2025
Booker-winning writer Arundhati Roy's first work of memoir, Mother Mary Comes to Me, will hit the stands in September next year, publisher Penguin Random House announced on Friday.

The book is a soaring account, both intimate and inspiring, of how the author became the person she is, shaped by circumstance, but, above all, by her complex relationship to the extraordinary, singular mother she describes as 'my shelter and my storm'.

Her latest writing is borne out of her response to the death of her mother and women's rights activist Mary Roy in September 2022.

"I have been writing this book all my life. Perhaps a mother like mine deserved a writer like me as a daughter. Equally, perhaps a writer like me deserved a mother like her. Even more than a daughter mourning the passing of her mother, I mourn her as a writer who has lost her most enthralling subject.

"It's not easy for me to think of this story being out in this world, at this time, but I am reassured by the fact that it will be published by some of the most thoughtful, legendary publishers in the world," Roy said in a statement.

Roy, who was puzzled and 'more than a little ashamed' by the intensity of her response to her mother's death, wrote this book to make sense of her feelings about the mother she ran from at age 18, 'not because I didn't love her, but in order to be able to continue to love her'.

The author is known for her award-winning novels like The God of Small Things and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness and the political clarity of her essays compiled in The End of Imagination, The Doctor and The Saint, and The Algebra of Infinite Justice.

"That Arundhati Roy has chosen this generous, courageous memoir as her means to unravel her relationship with her formidable mother is our privilege entirelyfor, in doing so, she allows her reader to bear witness to a remarkable journey. Filled with heart and nerve, humour and pathos, and the very raw edges of love, Mother Mary Comes to Me is a visceral and unflinching account of personal and political awakening. We are delighted to share it with the world," Manasi Subramaniam, editor-in-chief of Penguin Press, Penguin Random House India said.

The book will be simultaneously published in the UK (Hamish Hamilton), the US & Canada (Scribner), Germany (Fischer), France (Gallimard), Italy (Guanda), Spain (Alfaguara/PRH), the Netherlands (Park Uitgevers), Sweden (Bromberg), Finland (Otava) and Norway (Pax).  -- PTI
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22:36   NIA conducts searches in Punjab in Pannun case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at four locations in Punjab on Friday as part of its probe in a terror-conspiracy case involving designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a banned organisation associated with him.

NIA teams swooped down at one location in Moga, two locations in Bathinda and one location in Mohali, at premises connected with suspects in the case, an official statement said.

The searches led to the seizure of various incriminating materials, including digital devices, which are under examination, it added.

The case relates to a conspiracy allegedly hatched by Pannun with other members of the SFJ, the statement issued by the NIA said.

"The NIA on Friday conducted searches at four locations across Punjab in a case related to the promotion of terror-related activities and violence by SFJ leader Gurupatwant Singh Pannun," it added.

The agency had registered the case against Pannun and the SFJ on November 17, 2023, for issuing video messages threatening Air India passengers. Pannun, the self-proclaimed general counsel of 'unlawful association' SFJ, had released the video messages on social media platforms on November 4 last year.

He had asked Sikhs not to travel on Air India planes on and after November 19 last year, claiming that there was a threat to their lives if they opted for the airline.

The listed terrorist had also threatened that Air India would not be allowed to operate globally.

Following this, a high alert was issued and investigations were launched by security forces in Canada, India and certain other countries where Air India flies, according to the NIA.

Pannun has been under the NIA's lens since 2019, when the anti-terror agency registered its first case against him.

He was declared a 'Proclaimed Offender' on November 29, 2022.   -- PTI
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22:17   Udhayanidhi displeased by questions on elevation
Superstar Rajinikanth on Friday declined to comment on an expectation in the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam that Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin will soon be elevated as deputy chief minister and the latter deprecated disturbing the top actor with a question on the matter.

While Rajinikanth told reporters in Chennai that he had already made it clear to them to not pose political questions, Udhayanidhi, addressing an event, later said some (media outlets) had posted a thumbnail/heading in YouTube as though the actor was incensed by the prospect of him becoming the deputy chief minister.

Though Rajinikanth made it amply clear that he was not inclined to answer questions related to politics, 'what is the heading they have given? what an impression it will give (to readers)?', Udhayanidhi, also the DMK youth wing secretary asked.

He said he was himself taken aback. The minister said the actor was at the airport to take a flight and wondered if it was necessary to bother him with such a question.

He said he was not sure about the thumbnail to be posted by the media for the points he has now made on the matter.

"It could be like this...Udhayanidhi hits back at Superstar Rajinikanth, I am giving you a cue."

Furthermore, he said: "I am not the Deputy CM yet. There is no announcement yet. It is the prerogative of the chief minister."

On the chances of elevation, journalists have asked Chief Minister M K Stalin and they also posed the same question to him and this was alright. But the practice of asking questions related to this matter from almost everyone was not appropriate, he said.   -- PTI
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21:36   Official found dead in embassy premises in Washington, DC
An Indian embassy official was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside the mission premises in Washington, DC, officials said.

Local police and the Secret Service are currently investigating the incident that occurred two days ago, including the possibility of suicide.

With deep regret, we wish to confirm that a member of the Embassy of India passed away in the evening of 18th September 2024. We are in touch with all relevant agencies and members of the family to ensure the swift transfer of the mortal remains to India, the Indian embassy said in a statement on Friday.

Additional details regarding the deceased are not being released out of concern for the family's privacy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family in this time of grief, it said, without giving any further details.

-- Lalit K Jha/PTI
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21:22   Poem on National War Memorial included in NCERT's Class 6 curriculum
A poem on the National War Memorial and a chapter on India-Pakistan war martyr Abdul Hameed have been included in the NCERT's Class 6 curriculum from this academic session, officials said on Friday.

The objective of the initiative, jointly undertaken by the defence and the education ministries, is to inculcate the values of patriotism, devotion to duty, and courage and sacrifice among schoolchildren and the participation of youngsters in nation-building, they said.

"The poem 'National War Memorial' is to appreciate the spirit behind it. The chapter titled 'Veer Abdul Hameed' honours the braveheart Abdul Hameed, who made the supreme sacrifice fighting for the country during the India-Pakistan war of 1965 and was (posthumously) awarded the country's highest gallantry award Param Veer Chakra," a senior official said.

The National War Memorial was set up in 2019 to inculcate a sense of high moral values, sacrifice, national spirit and belongingness in each citizen and pay a befitting tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives defending the nation.

"As part of an action plan initiated towards branding the National War Memorial as an iconic national monument, the Ministry of Defence has collaborated with the Ministry of Education to add the memorial and related references or material in the curriculum," the official added.   -- PTI
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21:12   MP-MLA court in UP summons Kangana
An MP-MLA court here has summoned Lok Sabha member and actor Kangana Ranaut on October 25 over a case filed against her for making objectionable remarks about the 2020-21 farmers' protest, a lawyer said Friday.

The complaint filed by a functionary of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Kisan Shakti) pertains to Ranaut's remarks during media interviews in which she claimed 'violence', 'rapes' and 'murders' happened during the protest against three controversial farm laws, which were later withdrawn by the Centre. 

"The matter was filed in the court on September 19 which issued notice to Kangna Ranaut for (appearance) on October 25. The matter pertains to her comments against farmers during the protest," advocate Sanjay Sharma, representing the plaintiff, said.

He told PTI that the matter was filed in the court of Second Additional Civil Judge (senior division) Arjun Singh.

Gajendra Sharma, general secretary (organisation) of BKU (Kisan Shakti), said, "I have lodged the complaint over the indecent remarks made against farmers by Lok Sabha MP Kangna Ranaut. Even before she became an MP, she had made indecent remarks on farmers who were engaged in the protest at Ghazipur border (of Delhi). She had termed farmers as Khalistani and Pakistani and now after becoming an MP she called farmers rapists and killers."

"We condemn her statements. We will take the matter to bigger forums, we have filed a case here and if required we will approach the high court and the Supreme Court also. Action should be taken against her immediately. We request the President and the Prime Minister also that membership of such a parliamentarian should be dismissed," Sharma said.   -- PTI
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20:19   US prepares for war with China
United States Navy Chief Admiral Lisa Franchetti unveiled the 2024 Navigation Plan, outlining navy's readiness for a potential war with China over the next two years, Taiwan News.

Franchetti released her Navigation Plan (NAVPLAN) for America's Warfighting Navy at the Naval War College on September 19, according to the official statment.

In her presentation of the Navigation Plan, Franchetti said the navy is committed to meeting the challenge of aggression from China in the Pacific. 

She said the US Navy is ready for war today, and will be even more prepared by 2027.

This is the year in which Xi Jinping anticipates China will be prepared for a military campaign to invade Taiwan, as per Taiwan News.

The first section of the report opens, "The Chairman of the People's Republic of China has told his forces to be ready for war by 2027; we will be more ready."

Franchetti said that meeting the goals of the Navigation Plan will ensure the navy is ready to 'deliver warfighting excellence' to deter aggression and defend US national security interests.

The plan includes seven main areas to invest time and resources, with a pointed focus on the warfighting environment in the Indo-Pacific.

The Navigation Plan notes, "The PRC's defense industrial base is on a wartime footing, including the world's largest shipbuilding capacity ... In response, we understand that deterring PRC threats to US allies, partners, and interests --and winning decisively if called upon -- requires (the US Navy) to stay committed to a Navigation Plan that delivers integrated, all-domain sea control as part of a warfighting ecosystem."

A crucial component of the plan is to prioritize interoperability with partner nations by establishing a 'joint and combined' warfighting ecosystem, with a 'clarity of purpose' shared across the warfighting force.

The release of the Plan came on the opening day of the 26th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense conference.

The 26th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence conference kicked off in Kona, Hawaii, bringing together 28 senior defence leaders from partner nations and multinational organisations.

The conference provides a platform for top military officials from the US, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and India to discuss regional challenges and promote cooperation among defense forces.

The theme for this year's conference is 'The Future Indo-Pacific: Building a Resilient and Interconnected Region'.   -- ANI
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19:34   'Mother of Malayalam films' passes away
Veteran Malayalam actor Kaviyoor Ponnamma died at a private hospital in Kochi on Friday, hospital sources said. She was 80. 

With an illustrious career spanning seven decades, Ponnamma had been undergoing treatment for some time. 

She leaves behind a legacy of over 700 films, predominantly playing iconic mother roles. She has also won the state award four times.
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19:29   Mumbai coastal road to open for traffic all days
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday announced that the Mumbai Coastal Road will be open for traffic all days of the week starting September 21.

Earlier, the road linking Marine Lines and Worli was operational from 7 am to midnight only on weekdays.

The BMC, in a release, informed that 92 per cent of the work on the Dharmaveer Swarajyarakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai Coastal Road has been completed.

The road connects the Shamaldas Gandhi Marg (Princess Street) flyover to the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The construction of the ambitious Rs 13,983 crore project began on October 13, 2018.

In a separate notification, the traffic wing of the Mumbai police has banned heavy vehicles from plying on the coastal road.

The police have also prohibited vehicles from stopping and people from alighting, taking pictures and shooting videos on this route, it said.        

Heavy vehicles, such as trailers, mixers, tractors, and goods vehicles (excluding BEST, state transport buses, and passenger-carrying vehicles) are prohibited, the notification stated.

Besides this, two-wheelers, bicycles, two-wheelers with sidecars, three-wheelers, animal-driven carts, and pedestrians will also not be on this road, it said.

According to the order, the speed limit is 80 km on a straight stretch, 60 km in the tunnel, 40 km at turnings, and 30 km at the merging point of the Coastal Road and sea link.

During the Ganpati festival earlier this month, the civic body kept the road open 24x7 from September 7 to September 17.

As per the BMC's release, the southbound arm of the Coastal Road from Bindumadhav Thackeray Chowk, Rajni Patel Chowk (Lotus Junction), and Ambedkar Udyan to Marine Drive, and the northbound route to the Sea Link will remain open for vehicular movement.

The BMC also urged commuters to follow traffic rules, and speed limits, and exercise caution while driving to avoid accidents. 
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19:17   Bengal doctors call off 'cease work' after 42 days
Junior doctors agitating over the RG Kar incident called off their 'cease work' on Friday evening, announcing partial resumption of duties entailing attending essential services in state-run hospitals from Saturday.

Ending the logjam persisting for 42 days, the medics withdrew the 'cease work' after holing a march to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Salt Lake, Kolkata, from the state health department's headquarters, where they had been demonstrating for over a week.

The procession covered a distance of around 4 km from the 'Swasthya Bhawan' to the CGO Complex.

The medics have said they would not work in the Outpatient Department (OPD), but partially function in emergency and essential services.

The doctors had called the 'cease work' and staged the sit-in outside the state health department headquarters in the wake of the rape and murder of a young medic at RG Kar hospital.   -- PTI
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18:43   Sinkhole swallows truck in Pune
A truck of the civic sanitation department fell in after a sinkhole opened on the premises of the City Post Office in Pune on Friday afternoon.

The incident took place around 4 pm in the densely-populated Budhwar Peth locality. 

The driver of the jetting machine truck -- used to clean drainage lines -- escaped unhurt, said a fire brigade official. 

Underground work of Pune Metro is going on in the area but the reason for the sinkhole was yet to be ascertained, he added. 

Videos showed the truck sliding into the pit rear-side first as the surface, paved with interlocking cement blocks, caved in.

Efforts to pull out the truck were underway.  
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18:38   Are Women Empowered? IIMA Finds Out
The Gender Centre at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) launched a report today on the status of womens empowerment in India.

The report, titled Womens Empowerment at the Subnational Level: Towards Achieving Gender Equality, introduces the Women Empowerment Index that provides a detailed, district-level analysis of womens empowerment across India, offering new insights and data to help advance gender equality.

By focusing on district-level data, rather than taking a broader state-wide approach, the report reveals the unique challenges women encounter in different regions and across different communities -- from limited access to education and economic independence to the struggle for a better work-life balance -- to enable more targeted interventions by districts.

The study compared and analysed data for women aged between 15 to 49 from a total of 705 districts across the country from the National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4) and NFHS-5, and it reveals a complex landscape with significant variations in womens empowerment. Some key findings from the report are:
  • Of the sample of 705 districts, 67.5% of districts report women empowered in decision-making and mobility. There has been an increase in women's involvement in decision-making, particularly regarding their own healthcare, household purchases, and how to spend their husband's income. The percentage of women who make decisions either alone or jointly with their partners has grown.
  • The percentage of women who have ownership of their own asset (land or house) alone or jointly with their partner has also increased from 29.09% in NFHS-4 to 35.00% in NFHS-5.
  • Although womens literacy rates have increased, only 46.1% districts reported educational empowerment, and women respondent in just 32.25% of districts felt that they were able to achieve work-life balance, highlighting ongoing challenges with unpaid domestic work.
  • Higher education: The average number of women completing higher education increased from 11.43 per 100 women in NFHS 4 to 14.42 per 100 women in NFHS 5. But primary and secondary education didnt show very significant difference.
Furthermore, interest in mass media has also surged from 69.12% in NFHS-4 to 76.24% in NFHS-5, with more women engaging with various forms of media, indicating greater exposure to mass media (listening to radio, watching television, and reading newspapers).

You can access the full report HERE
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18:28   UP: 13-yr-old Dalit girl gang-raped in moving car
A Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped by three persons in  Mathura in a moving car, after which she was thrown out on the side of a road, police said on Friday.

A first information report (FIR) has been lodged against the accused following a complaint from the minor's father and efforts are on to arrest the trio, they added.

Superintendent of Police (Rural) Trigun Bisen said the girl, who is around 13-year-old, has been sent to the district women's hospital for a medical examination, after which her statement will be recorded before the magistrate.

Citing the complaint lodged by the girl's father, the SP said the incident took place on Thursday when the the minor went to a shop in her neighbourhood to buy items for breakfast.

At the shop, a man named Neeraj allegedly gave her a bottle of water laced with sedatives. As soon as she drank the water, she started feeling dizzy and fainted, the complaint said.

Neeraj, his friend Shailendra and another associate then allegedly took her away in a car. They raped the girl in the moving car while she was in a semi-conscious state and threw her out under the flyover of Barsana Road before fleeing. On regaining consciousness, the girl reached home and informed her parents about the incident, the complaint added.

According to the SP, while narrating her ordeal, the condition of the girl deteriorated and the family immediately took her to a doctor, who also confirmed that she was raped.

Following this, her parents filed a complaint at the Chhata police station. 

Bisen said that a case has been registered and the matter is being probed, adding that efforts are on to arrest the three accused persons.   -- PTI
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17:59   Put under house arrest for third consecutive Friday, claims Mirwaiz Umar Farooq
Separatist Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has claimed that he was put under house arrest for the third consecutive Friday, preventing him from discharging his religious duties.

He also described as 'strange' Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha's claim to a private TV news channel that the Hurriyat Conference leader was a free man and could go wherever he wanted.

"No reason is given for this infringement of my fundamental right to freedom and liberty. It is enforced in private and denied in public. No visitors, especially the media, are allowed to meet me," the Mirwaiz said on Friday. 

The separatist leader alleged that 'repeated detention' were affecting his obligations as the Mirwaiz (chief cleric) and his socio-educational initiatives. 

He said he would file a rejoinder before the high court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh concerning his ongoing lawsuit seeking permanent release from house arrest.

The Mirwaiz also condoled the passing of Jammu and Kashmir's first Muslim IAS officer Mohammad Shafi Pandit, who died on Thursday.

Pandit, who retired as chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission in 2009, died at a Delhi hospital while undergoing treatment for cancer.

"Shafi sahab was a dynamic bureaucrat, for whom the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir was the motivating force throughout his career. Even after his retirement, he continued to serve the society through philanthropic and social initiatives. Such people are an asset to society and he will always be remembered for that," the separatist leader said.   -- PTI
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17:38   Odisha sexual assault: CM vows to act against cops
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday said his government will take stringent action against those involved in the alleged torture of an army officer and sexual assault of his fiancee at a police station in the state capital.

Majhi, who is on a tour of his home district Keonjhar, said: "The state government has already ordered a Crime Branch inquiry into the incident, suspended the accused police personnel and also registered a case against them."

The CM, who is also in charge of the home department, said his government would not hesitate to take action against the culprits involved in the case. 

"The government has been taking all steps required in the case. There should be no worries over it. The government is fully aware about the incident and will take strong action in the case," Majhi said.

The chief minister's statement in this regard came hours after Leader of Opposition and Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik demanded a court-monitored SIT probe and a judicial inquiry into the incident where an army officer and his fiancee were allegedly tortured and sexually assaulted by the personnel of the Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar.  -- PTI
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17:21   Bombay HC strikes down IT Rules on fake content
The Bombay high court on Friday held as unconstitutional and struck down the amended Information Technology (IT) Rules which sought to identify fake and false content on social media against the government.  

The matter was assigned to Justice A S Chandurkar as `tie-breaker judge', after a division bench in January delivered a split verdict on the petitions challenging the amended IT rules. 

Justice Chandurkar on Friday held that the rules violated constitutional provisions.

"I have considered the matter extensively. The impugned rules are violative of Article 14 (right to equality), 19 (freedom of speech and expression) and 19(1)(g) (freedom and right to profession) of the Constitution of India," the judge said.

The expression "fake, false and misleading" in the Rules was "vague and hence wrong" in the absence of any definition, he added.

With this ruling, the high court allowed the petitions filed by stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra and others challenging the new rules, including the provision to set up a Fact Checking Unit (FCU) to identify fake or false content about the government.
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16:56   K'taka BJP MLA Munirathna arrested in rape case
BJP MLA N Munirathna was arrested on Friday in connection with a case of rape, sexual harassment and criminal intimidation registered against him, the police said. 

Along with him, six others have also been booked in the case 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, they said. 

Munirathna's arrest came a day after a special court for people's representatives granted conditional bail to the MLA who was arrested on various charges, including using casteist slurs. 

The court had, after hearing arguments on his bail plea, allowed his application on the condition of furnishing a Rs 2 lakh bond and two sureties, and issued specific instructions prohibiting him from tampering with evidence or obstructing the investigation. 

The 60-year-old was arrested soon after he stepped out of Parappana Agrahara Prison, where he had been lodged for three days in connection with an SC/ST atrocity case.
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16:49   Get your iPhones delivered!
Albinder Dhindsa, CEO Blinkit, posts this image on X this morning and writes, "We started delivering iPhones at 8 AM - and we're going to cross the 300 mark in a couple of minutes Today is going to be one crazy day!"

Starting today, quick-commerce platforms like Blinkit and BB Now will deliver the iPhone to your doorstep within minutes. 

 Albinder Dhindsa, the co-founder and CEO of Blinkit, informed in a social media post on Friday that the company will deliver the iPhone 16 in Delhi, NCR, Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru on the very launch day of the iPhone. "Get the all-new iPhone 16 delivered in 10 minutes! We've partnered with @UnicornAPR for the third year in a row, bringing the latest iPhone to Blinkit customers in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru (for now) -- on launch day! P.S - Unicorn is also providing discounts with select credit cards and EMI options are available too," said Dhindsa.
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16:45   Pakistan mob burns body of blasphemy accused
A mob has burnt the corpse of a doctor who was accused of blasphemy and later killed by a policeman in Pakistan's Sindh province, preventing the family from carrying out his burial. 

Dr Shahnawaz Kanbar was killed in a shootout with police in Sindh province amidst allegations of blasphemy that prompted him to flee near Mirpurkhas, approximately 250 km northeast of Karachi on Wednesday night. 

According to police, the doctor was shot dead after he refused to surrender and tried to escape from being arrested. On Thursday evening Kanbar's body was handed over to his family for burial. The slain man is survived by three sons, a daughter, and his widow. 

 The family had brought the body to their native village, Janhero, for burial but a mob gathered there demanding the corpse be handed over to them, local police officer Shakoor Rasheed said.

 The family members escaped for their lives without carrying out the burial as the mob chased them out, Rasheed said, adding that The mob found the body in one of the cars left behind and set it on fire, he added.
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16:36   How FarmDidi Is Changing Lives
Each bottle of pickle that leaves FarmDidi, headed to a consumer, has a little kahani behind it -- it's linked to the tale of a life, the life of a simple, striving village woman who created it, and that's what gives Manjari Sharma satisfaction and happiness. Vaihayasi Pande Daniel reports. Read the story here. 
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16:24   Sensex zooms above historic 84,000 mark
Benchmark Sensex closed above the historic 84,000-mark for first time while Nifty settled at a new record high on Friday, powered by a rally in frontline bank stocks along with upbeat trends in the US and Asian markets.

The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 1,359.51 points or 1.63 per cent to settle at an all-time high of 84,544.31. During the day, it soared 1,509.66 points or 1.81 per cent to hit the momentous intra-day peak of 84,694.46. 

 The NSE Nifty surged 375.15 points or 1.48 per cent to close at a record 25,790.95 level. During the day, the gauge zoomed 433.45 points or 1.70 per cent to reach an all-time intra-day peak of 25,849.25. 

 From the 30 Sensex firms, Mahindra & Mahindra jumped over 5 per cent. JSW Steel, ICICI Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Bharti Airtel, Nestle, Adani Ports, Hindustan Unilever, HDFC Bank, Tech Mahindra, Maruti, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Tata Steel were the other big gainers.

 State Bank of India, IndusInd Bank, Tata Consultancy Services and Bajaj Finance were the laggards. The Indian market has joined the rally following the 50bps Fed rate cut and super accommodative monetary policy. --  PTI
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16:06   Only Chandrababu can use god for politics: Jagan
Tirupati Laddu Prasadam row: YSRCP chief and former Andhra Pradesh CM, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy says, "Only Chandrababu Naidu has mentality to use god for politics. Ghee adulteration allegations are atrocious. Is it fair to play with sentiments of crores of devotees across world?
"The tender process occurs every six months, and the qualification criteria has not changed for decades. Suppliers must provide an NABL certificate and a product quality certificate. TTD collects samples from the ghee, and only products that pass certification are used. TDP is politicizing religious matters. We have rejected the products in our regime 18 times."
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15:58   UP: Out on bail, rape accused shoots dead victim
A rape accused, out on bail, shot dead his victim in Sambhal, UP, police said on Friday, adding that the man along with another person have been detained.

 Additional Superintendent of Police Shrish Chandra said, "A 17-year-old girl was shot dead in the Kaila Devi police station area on the night of September 18. A case has been registered against two men. 

 The main accused, Rinku 20, had raped the girl and a case was registered against him in Ghaziabad police station in February. He came out of the jail on bail earlier this month, he said. According to a complaint filed by the victim's family, the minor girl was shot dead while she was returning home on a motorcycle with her brother and mother. 

 The family alleges that Rinku along with another person intercepted them and opened fire, the police said. "We are looking into all aspects of the shooting incidents. CCTV footage of the area are also being gathered," the officer said. PTI
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15:51   Pak's financial crisis may worsen, will owe $100 bn
The critical condition of Pakistan's finances may take a turn for the worse within the next four years. The country will soon have to pay an external debt of USD 100 billion which is several times more than the current foreign exchange reserves. 

 Pakistan's Deputy Finance Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik on Thursday revealed that in the coming four years, Pakistan will have to repay USD 100 billion to external moneylenders.

 Presently, the external debt owed by Pakistan's federal government is around 10 times more than the current USD 9.4 billion gross foreign exchange reserves of the country, the Express Tribune reported. Reportedly, Pakistan is planning to attempt the repayment upcoming repayment by securing rollovers and restructuring its external debts due to its deteriorating financial condition. 

Another disclosure made by Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb stated that despite signing a USD 7 billion International Monetary Fund new programme, the country will not be able to meet its external financing requirements.
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15:45   HC dismisses Maliwal's plea seeking quashing of charges in corruption case
The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a plea by Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal challenging framing of charges against her under the anti-corruption law for allegedly abusing her official position when she was Delhi Commission for Women chief in appointing people associated with the AAP to different posts in the women's rights body. 

 Justice Amit Mahajan refused to quash the order framing charges against Maliwal. A detailed order is awaited. On December 8, 2022, the trial court had ordered framing of charges against Maliwal and three others under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act, including Section 13(1)(d) (criminal misconduct by a public servant). 

 The case was lodged by the Anti-Corruption Bureau on a complaint by former DCW chairperson and BJP MLA Barkha Shukla Singh. The high court last year stayed the trial court proceedings against Maliwal in the criminal case. According to the prosecution, the accused, in conspiracy with each other, abused their official position and obtained pecuniary advantages for AAP workers, who were appointed to different DCW posts without following the due process.
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15:23   Father of woman sexually assaulted at police station demands dismissal of cops
The father of the woman, who was sexually assaulted at a police station in Bhubaneswar, on Friday demanded the arrest and dismissal of the cops for taking the law into their hands. 

The woman's father, who is a retired brigadier, said: "The police personnel have violated several laws by putting an army officer in the lock up, physically assaulting him, sexually harassing my daughter." 

 While condemning the September 15 incident at the Bharatpur police station in the state capital where his daughter was allegedly subjected to sexual assault, the father said: "They (cops) have not just committed crime, rather their acts can be termed as heinous crime. They must be punished."

 The father demanded the arrest and dismissal of the accused police personnel for violating the law of the land. 

 "They (police) too have come up with a false narrative and arrested my daughter. My daughter was sexually assaulted in custody. She suffered bruises on her face and body," he said. 

 The woman's father also appealed to the state government and the police to sensitise the low ranking police personnel on how to behave with women. He also urged the state government to set an example by punishing the police personnel. 

"Other police personnel across the state should get a lesson from the punishment from this case," the father said. 

 Former Odisha chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik said, "Who gave the right to the police to thrash a girl? If there are no cops for night patrolling, what's the government doing then? So much money is being spent on different schemes, but why money is not being spent on public security." The former chief secretary also demands stringent action against the Bharatpur police station inspector in charge. 

"Even if steps are being taken for women's empowerment, they are unsafe," he said.

 The army officer posted in West Bengal and his fiance had approached Bharatpur Police Station early on Sunday to lodge a complaint of road rage in which they were allegedly harassed by some local youths. 

 At the police station, the duo got engaged in a quarrel with the personnel over the registration of an FIR. The woman, who was arrested in Bhubaneswar for allegedly misbehaving with the police, claimed that she was sexually assaulted after being taken into custody. 

 She was on Thursday released on bail granted by the high court. The woman, who is at present undergoing treatment at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar, said some more personnel arrived at the police station on that night and asked her friend to write a complaint. PTI
Spokespersons of the dairy
Spokespersons of the dairy
15:09   Our ghee is pure: Dairy amid Tirupati laddoo row
AR Dairy Foods in Dindigul that had supplied ghee for Tirupati temple prasadam and which is now amid a controversy says: "Samples have been collected from the Food Safety Department, and we have already sent samples to the Tirupati Devasthanam laboratory. The lab has conducted tests and found no irregularities. There was a rumour about defects in the ghee sent in June and July, but the Food Safety Department and Agmark officials visited, collected samples, and found no issues. 

"Our ghee is pure, and we have samples. We invite anyone to conduct tests at any laboratory they prefer. We have been consistently supplying ghee to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams through A.R. Dairy Foods from June to July. However, at present, we are not giving ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. With over 25 years of experience in ghee production, we have never received any complaints or quality issues to date."

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan today said he was "deeply disturbed" by the findings of animal fat in Tirupati temple 'prasadam' (consecrated food), and suggested setting up a national board to look into the issues pertaining to temples.

His comments come two days after TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu claimed that the previous YSRCP government did not even spare Sri Venkateswara temple and used substandard ingredients and animal fat for making laddus.
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14:59   Power tariff hikes if Kejriwal isn't CM: Atishi
Chief minister-designate Atishi on Friday urged the people of Delhi to choose Arvind Kejriwal to prevent a BJP government from increasing power tariffs in the national capital, assuring that she would protect them during the next four months. 

 She alleged that the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government's electricity model was the "costliest with long outages" and said choosing Kejriwal as chief minister would prevent them from the same fate. 

 "What we are seeing in Uttar Pradesh, we might have to see in Delhi if you do not choose Kejriwal. This is important as only he can give free electricity 24x7. I will protect the people of Delhi during the next four months as the BJP might try to increase power tariffs in the national capital," she said at a press conference.

 Atishi also claimed the Uttar Pradesh government had increased electricity connection rates by 250 per cent. "For getting a 1-kilowatt electricity connection, people (in Uttar Pradesh) will have to pay Rs 3,000 against the earlier Rs 1,200 while the cost of getting a 5-kilowatt connection has been hiked by 118 per cent," she claimed.

 Hitting out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, she said there were long power cuts during the summer months in Noida, Ghaziabad, Sahibabad while there were no outages in Delhi. PTI
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14:37   'BJP's response to death threats to Rahul inferior'
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday expressed concern over the safety of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following recent comments made by BJP leaders. 

She mentioned that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about these statements, but the response came from BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda, which she deemed 'inferior' and 'aggressive.'

According to the Congress leader, due to the unchecked and violent remarks made by certain BJP leaders and ministers, Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, wrote a letter to the Prime Minister expressing concern for the safety of Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

"If the Prime Minister had faith in democratic values, equal dialogue, and respect for elders, he would have personally responded to this letter. Instead, he had an inferior and aggressive response written by Nadda ji and sent it," she added in her post.
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14:26   6-yo-girl found dead on campus of govt-run school in Gujarat
A six-year-old girl was found dead on the campus of a government-run primary school in a village in Gujarat's Dahod district, police said on Friday. 

The Class 1 student was found in the compound of the primary school in Torani village of Singvad taluka on Thursday night by her parents and relatives, Deputy Superintendent of Police J D Kansara said. 

 "When the girl did not return home after school, her parents and relatives started searching for her and arrived at the school at night. They found her unconscious in the compound behind the school building," he said. 

 The child was taken to the Limkheda Civil Hospital, where doctors declared her dead, he said. "We have registered a case of accidental death and sent the body for post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death, the official said. 

 Talking to reporters, a relative of the deceased girl said the school gate was locked, and they had to jump over the compound wall. The child was found unconscious behind the school building. PTI
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14:06   Congress being run by tukde tukde gang: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lashed out at the Congress, saying the party is being run by the tukde tukde gang and urban Naxals. "The Congress which you see today is not the party with which a great man like Mahatma Gandhi was associated," Modi said, addressing a public meeting at Wardha in Maharashtra on completion of one year of the PM Vishwakarma scheme. 

The ghost of hatred has entered the Congress, Modi said. 

In today's Congress the soul of patriotism has breathed its last, he added. Modi also spoke of the anti-India agendas of the Congress leaders in their speeches abroad, without naming that party's leader Rahul Gandhi, who is facing flak from the ruling dispensation for his remark in the US on scrapping the reservation system. PTI
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13:49   E&Y India India chairman 'regrets' for missing employee's funeral
E&Y India chairman Rajiv Memani has expressed regret at not attending the funeral of a 26-year-old employee whose death was blamed on stress by her mother, and said he will not rest till achieving the goal of harmonious workplace.
   
Anna Sebastian Perayil, who passed her CA exams in 2023 and worked at EY Pune office for four months, died in July. According to a letter her mother wrote to Memani, she was overworked with a "backbreaking" load as a new employee that affected her "physically, emotionally, and mentally".
 
The government too has stepped in to say that it will investigate the work environment at Big Four accounting firm EY.
 
In a post on LinkedIn, Memani said he was "deeply saddened" by the death and as a father, can only imagine the grief of the family.
 
"I have conveyed my deepest condolences to the family, although nothing can fill the void in their lives," he wrote. "I truly regret the fact that we missed being present at Anna's funeral. This is completely alien to our culture. It has never happened before; it will never happen again."
 
With the incident catching the attention on social media, he said he was aware that people have commented on some of EY's work practices. "It has always been very important to us to create a healthy workplace and we attach the highest importance to the well-being of our people."
 
"I would like to affirm that the well-being of our people is my top-most priority and I will personally champion this objective. I am absolutely committed to nurturing a harmonious workplace, and I will not rest until that objective is accomplished," he added. -- PTI 
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13:43   AAP demands govt accommodation for Kejriwal
The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday demanded an accommodation for outgoing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying he is entitled to it on account of being the convener of a national party. 

At a press conference in New Delhi, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said the party will be writing to the ministry concerned for this. 

"I hope we will not have to fight a legal battle for this. Kejriwal decided to resign for the sake of his morals and will move out of his official residence," he said. 

"He does not have a property or even his own house. As the convener of a national party, he is entitled to a government accommodation. The Centre should give him that," Chadha added. -- PTI
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13:03   Tirupati prasadam row: Minister calls for probe
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday called for a detailed investigation into the Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's allegation that the previous YSRCP government had used substandard ingredients and animal fat in making Tirupati laddu, a consecrated sweet.

"Whatever the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister said is a very serious matter, it should be investigated in detail and whoever is guilty should be punished," Joshi told reporters.

Citing a copy of a "lab report," TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy alleged that "beef tallow and animal fat--lard and fish oil--were used in the preparation of ghee, which was supplied to Tirumala."

"The lab reports of samples that were sent for testing to the National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat certify that beef tallow and animal fat, lard, and fish oil were used in the preparation of ghee that was supplied to Tirumala and also the S value is only 19.7. The Hindu religion is offended by this. The 'prasadam' which is offered to the Lord thrice a day has been mixed with this ghee," Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy alleged.

"We hope that justice will be done and Lord Govinda will forgive us for whatever mistakes have been committed," he said.
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12:50   'Kashmir Needs A Bal Thackeray'
As Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com arrives at Mazbug bridge near Doabgah village, an Indian Army hoarding greets him with the slogan, 'Aap Ka Mulk, Aap Ki Fauj, Aap Ka Camp.'

Doabgah made it to the headlines when Afzal Guru, who's from this village, was convicted in the Parliament attack case of December 13, 2001 and hanged to death on February 9, 2013, at Tihar jail in New Delhi.

Afzal was buried in Tihar jail but his family could not attend the last rites as the Manmohan Singh government informed them via speed post which did not reach on time.

Eleven years on, Afzal's brother Aijaz Ahmad Guroo has decided to contest the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Read the interview here. 
Tirupati's famous laddoos
Tirupati's famous laddoos
12:32   Tirupati laddoo controversy: Jagan's party moves HC
Days after Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu alleged former YSRCP government for adulterating the Tirupati Prasadam with "animal fat," the YSRCP on Friday moved to the Andhra Pradesh High Court demanding an investigation into the claims made by the ruling party.

The lawyers representing the YSRCP, requested the court that either a sitting judge or a committee should be appointed by the High Court to investigate the claims made by the Chief Minister. 

The bench suggested that a PIL be filed by Wednesday, stating that the arguments would be heard on that day.

Earlier, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan urged for the constitution of a 'Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board' to look into issues related to temples across the country.In a post on X on Friday, Pawan Kalyan assured strict action on the ongoing laddu controversy in Tirupati and added that this matter points to many issues surrounding "desecration of temples, its land issues and other dharmic practices."

The Deputy Chief Minister also called for national-level debate on the matter and urged for a collective fight against "desecration of Sanathana Dharma in any form."

Meanwhile, former TTD Chairman YV Subbareddy denied the TDP claims and said that only organic ingredients were used in the preparations of the Prasadam.
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12:26   Supreme Court's YouTube channel hacked
The Supreme Court's YouTube channel was hacked on Friday and showing videos promoting a cryptocurrency developed by US-based company Ripple Labs. 

 A blank video with the title "Brad Garlinghouse: Ripple Responds To The SEC's $2 Billion Fine! XRP PRICE PREDICTION" is currently live on the hacked channel. The apex court has been using YouTube to stream live hearings of cases listed before constitution benches and matters involving public interest.

 In a unanimous decision taken by the recent full court meeting headed by then CJI UU Lalit, the top court decided to live-stream proceedings of all constitution bench hearings following a path-breaking verdict on the matter in 2018. PTI
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12:09   SC refuses to transfer trial in 2015 cash-for-vote case involving Telangana CM
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to transfer the trial in the 2015 cash-for-vote case, involving Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and others, from Telangana to Bhopal. The apex court directed Reddy not to interfere in any way with the functioning of prosecution in the case. 

 A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan directed that the Director General of the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) would not report to the Telangana CM with regard to the prosecution of the case. The counsel appearing for Reddy told the court that the plea seeking transfer of trial in the case was filed with a "political motive".
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12:02   CBI gets nod to prosecute Lalu in land-jobs scam
The CBI told a Delhi court on Friday that it has obtained requisite sanctions from authorities concerned to prosecute former railway minister Lalu Prasad in a corruption case related to the alleged land-for-jobs scam. The CBI filed the sanctions before Special Judge Vishal Gogne. 

 The central probe agency informed the court that there were around 30 other accused in the case for whom prosecution sanction was awaited, and urged it to grant 15 more days to enable it to obtain the requisite documents. 

The court directed the CBI to expedite the process to obtain the sanctions for the other accused and posted the matter for further hearing on October 15. The case pertains to Group-D appointments made in the West Central Zone of the railways based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, during Lalu Prasad's tenure as the railway minister from 2004 to 2009 in return for land parcels gifted or transferred by the recruits in the name of the RJD supremo's family or associates, according to officials. 

 The agency registered the case on May 18, 2022, against Prasad and 15 others, including his wife, two daughters, unidentified public servants and private persons. PTI
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11:39   RG Kar: WB docs to march to CBI office today
The agitating junior doctors in West Bengal, who have announced withdrawal of their sit-in before Swasthya Bhavan, will hold a march to the CBI office in Salt Lake on Friday, seeking justice for the alleged rape and murder of a medic in the state-run RG Kar hospital last month. 

 Ending the logjam persisting for the last 41 days, the junior doctors had on Thursday announced partial resumption of duties entailing the attending essential services in state-run hospitals from Saturday. 

 To mark the withdrawal of their 10-day dharna near the state health department's headquarters, they will organise the procession from their protest site to the CGO Complex, a distance of around 4 km, demanding a quick wrap-up of investigations. 

 The medics also announced setting up of Abhaya medical camps, in memory of the brutally murdered RG Kar post-graduate trainee doctor, in flood-affected regions of the state from Friday. 

 "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," an agitating doctor said on Thursday after their general body meeting. 

 The protesting doctors said they would not work in the Outpatient Department (OPD) but would partially work in emergency and essential services. 

 "We will wait for a week for the West Bengal government to implement all its promises and if unfulfilled, we will resume 'cease work'," the doctors said.

 The announcements came shortly after Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, following up on issues discussed in Wednesday's meeting between the agitating junior doctors and the state task force, issued a list of directives on the safety, security and conducive environment for healthcare professionals, saying those orders need to be implemented immediately. 

 Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier transferred Kolkata Police chief Vineet Goyal and appointed Manoj Kumar Verma in his place, while also removing the directors of medical education and health services.
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11:15   SC raps CBI over its plea seeking transfer of cases outside Bengal
The Supreme Court on Friday rapped the CBI over its plea seeking transfer of cases relating to the 2021 post-post violence cases outside West Bengal. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal said the agency cannot cast aspersions on the entire judiciary in West Bengal. 

"How can you cast aspersions on entire judiciary.You are showing as if there is a hostile environment in whole West Bengal," the bench said.

 Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the CBI, told the apex court that there is no intention to cast aspersions and it is a case of loose drafting. PTI
Make your millions now!
Make your millions now!
11:02   Sensex breaches 84,000-mark for 1st time ever
Sensex breaches 84,000-mark for first time ever; Nifty hits fresh all-time high level. 

Nifty, Sensex opened strong on Friday following a global market surge after the US Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates. 

The experts pointed out that the FIIs have changed their positions in Indian markets following the concerns of Indian stocks being overvalued, however, the strong support by domestic investors continues in Indian markets.
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11:02   Hollywood A listers lend support to Kamala Harris during Oprah show
A bevy of Hollywood A listers US Vice President Kamala Harris and media mogul Oprah Winfrey sat down for an event in battleground Michigan that touched open issues ranging from immigration to the economy, reproductive rights and gun violence prevention.

 "It is so good to be with @Oprah for a town hall to speak directly with Americans about the issues on their minds in this election," Harris said in a post on X. 

 "There is so much at stake in this election, and, ultimately, the question before us is: What kind of country do we want to live in? The beauty of a democracy, as long as we can hold on to it, is that each of us has the power to answer that question," the Democratic Presidential candidate said.

 "Our campaign is about who we are as Americans--and making clear that we stand for freedom, independence, and dignity. Oprah conducted the talk titled "Unite for America," as studio show that was similar to the set of Winfrey's former talk show. 

 The event, which was also livestreamed included around 400 audience members and those who joined virtually, including celebrities Ben Stiller, Jennifer Lopez, Bryan Cranston, Chris Rock, Tracee Ellis Ross, Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep. During the show voters joined in person to talk about their experiences with reproductive access, school shootings and other key issues.
HM with victims of Naxal violence
HM with victims of Naxal violence
10:54   Shah warns Naxals: Surrender or else!
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday appealed to Naxals to give up violence, lay down arms and surrender, saying an all-out operation will otherwise be carried out against them.

Addressing 55 victims of Naxal violence from Chhattisgarh at his residence here, Shah also said that Maoists will take their last breath on March 31, 2026. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided that Naxal violence and ideology will be wiped out from the country. 

"I appeal to Naxals to give up violence, lay down arms and surrender as the militants in the northeast have done. If you do not listen, then an all-out operation will be carried out soon to end the menace," Shah said. 

 The Union home minister said security forces have achieved significant success in their operations against Maoists as the problem is now confined to just four districts of Chhattisgarh. He said that Maoists once had planned to establish a corridor from Pashupatinath (Nepal) to Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) but that was destroyed by the Modi government. 

 The Ministry of Home Affairs will soon chalk out a welfare scheme for Naxal violence-affected people of Chhattisgarh, in close coordination with the state government. "We will help you in whatever way we can through our welfare measures in jobs, healthcare and other areas," he said. PTI
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10:32   I picked each photo in this book: Trump
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump promotes his book: "I just learned that my newest book, SAVE AMERICA, is a New York Times BEST SELLER! No other book takes you behind the scenes like this coffee table book. I picked each photo, and I can tell you it is FANTASTIC. Get your copy today at https://45books.com."
The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island
The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island
10:23   Quad Summit to focus on maritime security, infra
The Quad summit in Delaware will feature ambitious announcements in multiple areas such as maritime security, high-quality infrastructure and critical and emerging technologies to demonstrate the group's endurance, a top White House official has said. 

 US President Joe Biden will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan for the fourth in-person Quad Leaders' Summit on Saturday, September 21. 

 This year's Quad Summit will feature ambitious announcements in the areas in which the Quad has grown and is used to working and where Indo-Pacific partners prioritise the Quad's delivery. 

These include health security, humanitarian and disaster response, maritime security, high-quality infrastructure, critical and emerging technologies, climate and clean energy, and cyber security, Mira Rapp-Hooper, White House National Security Council Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania, told reporters at a news conference. 

 This is the first time President Biden will host foreign leaders in Wilmington, Delaware, reflecting his strong relationship with the leaders, and their strategic importance, she said on Thursday. 

 This year's Quad summit was originally scheduled to be held in India, but the venue was shifted to the US after looking at the schedule of the four leaders, she said. 

 "But as we looked at all four of these leaders' schedules, it became increasingly clear that the best way to make sure that they met and had the time that they wanted to have these deep discussions would be this weekend here in the United States. So Prime Minister Modi graciously agreed to swap host years with us, and we do expect all four Quad leaders to meet in India next year," she said. 

 Responding to a question, Rapp-Hooper said President Biden is very proud of the fact that the Quad has become a leading regional grouping, and he alongside of Quad partners agreed that the priority for the next several years at least should be focused on institutionalizing the Quad and making sure it is strongly rooted in the Indo-Pacific.
Crowds outside BKC
Crowds outside BKC
09:47   iPhone 16 jumps of shelves in Delhi, Mumbai
The highly awaited iPhone 16 series officially went on sale today with enthusiastic buyers lining up outside Apple Stores in Delhi and Mumbai. Hundreds of eager fans gathered outside Apple Saket in Delhi and Apple BKC in Mumbai, some arriving hours before the stores opened, hoping to be among the first to purchase the new iPhone models. The excitement surrounding the iPhone 16 series launch has driven a huge turnout.

Pre-bookings began on September 13, and deliveries for those who pre-ordered is also set to start on the same day. Prices begin at Rs Rs 79,900 and go up to Rs Rs 1,84,900.
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09:33   Alert loco driver saves hundreds of lives
Yet another incident of attempted murder, and mass murder, at that. 
On the 18 September, at 22.18 hours, a loco pilot of train number 12091 reported to the Station Master of Rudrapur City that he found a 6-meter-long iron pole on the track between Bilaspur Road and Rudrapur City. The alert driver stopped the train, cleared the track and then started the train safely.


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09:28   15 GORGEOUS wildlife photos
The 60th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will return to the Natural History Museum, London, in the second week of October, with 100 gorgeous images of animals in the wild.

Nine-year-old Shreyovi Mehta, from Faridabad, was named a runner-up in the prestigious competition.

Shreyovi's winning entry, titled In the Spotlight, is of two peafowls silhouetted against a hazy, dreamy canopy of trees at the Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan.

Her photograph was chosen from among 60,000 entries sent in by participants of all ages from 117 countries.

Take a peek at these extraordinary photographs and prepare to be amazed by the beauty and diversity of our planet.

A flooded area in Bihar
A flooded area in Bihar
09:26   16 fall off boat after electric shock in Chhapra
A tragic incident occurred in Bihar's Saran district, where a boat rescuing 16 people from flooded areas collided with an electric pole, received an electric shock, causing several people to fall off the boat. 

The incident took place near the Jaitia Powerhouse in the Sonepur police station area on Thursday evening.

According to the Saran Police, the boat was travelling through floodwaters when it came in contact with an electric pole, resulting in an electric shock that caused the boat to crash. 16 people, including the boatman, were on board at the time. Local divers and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team rushed to the scene after receiving information about the accident.

Sonpur Police Station Head Rajnandan confirmed the details, saying, "On Thursday evening around 6:30 pm, a boat in flood water near Jaitia Power House under Sonepur police station collided with an electric pole, due to which the boat crashed due to electric shock. A total of 16 people, including the sailor, fell in the water."

Out of the 16 people, 10 were rescued safely by the local divers and the SDRF team. Two individuals, Bhushan Rai and Kameshwar Rai, suffered burn injuries due to the electric shock and are currently being treated at a local hospital. Four people, identified as Mukesh Kumar, Mrityunjay Kumar, Nagendra Rai, and Bhishma Kumar, are still missing. The search operation for them is ongoing with the help of local divers and SDRF teams.

Saran Police have deployed forces to maintain law and order at the site of the incident. Senior officials are currently present at the location, overseeing the rescue and search operations. 

"The injured are being treated, and the missing people are being searched with the help of local divers and SDRF team," said the police in their official statement.
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09:17   'Doctors Have Given Us Citizens A Spine'
On Tuesday morning the doctors have had sandwiches for breakfast. A man selling tea sits by the wall. Packs of mineral water are stacked in several places. A man goes around the beds, where some protestors lie asleep, picking up rubbish in a giant black garbage bag.

A group of women working for an NGO have organised lunch for 300 doctors -- huge containers of millet Khichdi and Alu-Dum (potato curry).

At the far end, a group of doctors have set up the 'Abhaya Clinic', the name given to the deceased victim. Doctors sit and write prescriptions for those who have come seeking treatment, a bunch of medicines lie on the table.

On a 'Cease Work' protest until justice is done to their colleague who was raped and brutally killed -- and to address the deep rooted wrongs of the state medical education system -- the doctors are unrelenting till all their demands are addressed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government, confronting an acute crisis led by the young that has transfixed the city of joy.

Rediff.com's Archana Masih reports on an afternoon spent with the striking doctors. Read it here. 
Representative image
Representative image
08:31   Israel attacks Hezbollah, destroys rocket launchers
Israel Air Force fighter jets on Thursday night attacked about 30 rocket launchers and military infrastructures of the terrorist organization Hezbollah in Lebanon.
 
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that over 100 rocket launchers primed for imminent attacks on Israel were destroyed. 

These launchers, scattered across Hezbollah's positions in southern Lebanon, contained an estimated 1,000 rocket barrels. In addition, several Hezbollah buildings and a weapons depot were also hit.

The airstrikes come just a day after Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, vowed revenge for what he described as a series of unprecedented and deadly attacks against Hezbollah operatives. 

Speaking in his first public address since these attacks, Nasrallah accused Israel of detonating communication devices belonging to Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon which resulted in 37 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries.

Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant warned that the country was entering a "new phase in the war," indicating that the conflict, previously centred around Gaza, was now expanding to the northern border with Lebanon.
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File image
01:18   Apple to start selling iPhone 16 series from today, Pro model at Rs 1,19,900
Premium mobile device maker Apple will start selling iPhone 16 series smartphones from September 20 onwards, sources aware of the development said. 

The company for the first time has plans to start assembling iPhone Pro Series in India but those models will start selling at a later date, the source said. 

"The entire iPhone 16 lineup will be available across the country tomorrow," an Apple India spokesperson said. 

The company, however, did not offer any comment on the availability of assembled in India iPhone Pro series. 

This is the first time the company is selling the iPhone Pro series at lower price than the previous version mainly on account of import duty cut in the recent budget. 

"iPhone 16 Pro starts at Rs 1,19,900 and iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,44,900," the company had said in a statement. 

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max were launched at starting price of Rs 1,34,900 and Rs 1,59,900 about a year ago. 

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities with largest ever display size of 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches in iPhone series. -- PTI
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00:51   Mumbai student's email ID hacked to send abusive messages to Poland Consulate General
An unidentified person hacked email account of a student and sent abusive mails on the IDs of the Consulate General of Poland in Mumbai and officials of a medical science university in the European country, the police said on Thursday. 

Based on a complaint of the 18-year-old Mumbai student, Hiren Bhunje, a case was registered against the unidentified person.

The incident came to light on Wednesday evening when Bhunje approached the Parksite Police Station with a complaint of email hacking, an official said. 

The teenager, who resides in Ghatkopar (West), has passed Class 12 in science stream and wants to study MBBS in Poland. 

The medical aspirant had applied for a visa and submitted all required details, including his email ID. 

He was also in contact with officials of a medical university in Poland for admission through his email, the official said. 

At around 11.25 pm on Tuesday, an unidentified person illegally obtained access to Bhunje's email ID and sent abusive mails to the Consulate General of Poland in Mumbai and the university officials, he said. -- PTI
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi/File image
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi/File image
00:32   German envoy meets Rahul Gandhi, discusses Indo-German ties
German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann met Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday and discussed Indian politics and the ties between both nations. 

Ackermann posted a picture with Gandhi as he hailed his "great discussion" with him. 

"Great discussion today with the Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Useful exchange on Indian politics and Indo-German relations," he said in a post on X. -- PTI
A viw of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital/ANI Photo
A viw of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital/ANI Photo
00:25   CBI quizzes TMC youth leader over doc's murder
The CBI on Thursday interrogated Trinamool Congress youth leader Ashish Pandey, who is also a house staff at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in connection with the rape and murder of the doctor, an officer said. 

Pandey was questioned for hours at the CBI's CGO Complex office before he left late in the night, he said. 

"Pandey's phone number was found in the call lists of several persons. He had checked in at a hotel in Salt Lake with a woman friend on the day the trainee doctor's body was found. We are trying to ascertain his activities on that day," the CBI officer said. 

The CBI also summoned the hotel authorities for details of Pandey's bookings and payments made. 

"The hotel room was booked via an app. He checked in on August 9 afternoon and left the next morning. We are trying to find out what was the purpose of his stay there," the officer said. -- PTI

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