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Sat, 21 September 2024
Tirupati row: Pawan Kalyan begins 11-day penance
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Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan
23:56 Tirupati row: Pawan Kalyan begins 11-day penance
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Saturday said he will undertake an 11-day penance to propitiate Lord Venkateswara for the alleged adulteration of animal fats in Tirupati laddus.
The actor-politician said he will begin the ritualistic penance from Sunday at Sri Dasavatara Venkateswara Swamy temple at Namburu in Guntur district.
"After undertaking the 11-day penance, I will visit Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy," said Kalyan in a post on 'X', and appealed to the deity to grant him the power to do the ritualistic sanitisation to undo the alleged sins committed by the erstwhile YSRCP government.
Further, the Janasena founder wondered how Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) employees and board members could be oblivious to these alleged irregularities.
TTD is the official custodian of Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. -- PTI
23:09 Modi meets US President Biden ahead of Quad summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met US President Joe Biden on the margins of the Quad summit and the two leaders were expected to discuss a range of issues, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
During the meeting at Biden's home in Wilmington, Delaware, the two leaders would review and identify new pathways to further deepen India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
The war and Modi's recent visit to Ukraine is expected to figure prominently in the bilateral meeting, according to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
Modi, who is in Delaware as part of his three-day visit to the United States, will also hold separate bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who are here for the Quad Summit.
"My meeting with President Biden will allow us to review and identify new pathways to further deepen India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership for the benefit of our people and the global good," Modi had said in his departure statement in New Delhi.
Modi was accompanied by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Ambassador of India to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra.
The US team included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs T H Jake Sullivan and Ambassador of the US to India Eric Garcetti.
The annual Quad summit being hosted by President Biden in his hometown Wilmington is expected to roll a series of new initiatives to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and explore ways to find peaceful solutions to the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
The four-member Quad, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, advocates upholding a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Beijing sees it as an ant-China grouping.
From Wilmington, Modi will travel to New York where he will attend an Indian community event at Long Island on September 22 and address the Summit of the Future at the UN General Assembly the next day.
"I am eagerly looking forward to engaging with the Indian diaspora and important American business leaders, who are the key stakeholders and provide vibrancy to the unique partnership between the largest and the oldest democracies of the world," Modi said.
22:34 Hindu outfit moves SC over Tirupati laddu row
Surjit Singh Yadav, president of Hindu Sena Samiti has filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court on Saturday to form a special investigation team to probe the allegations of using animal fat in preparation of prasadam for Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple in Tirupati.
The president of Hindu Sena Samiti also sought registration of the complaint and investigation and prosecution of the persons involved in the alleged mixing of animal fat.
The row comes days after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, a sweet offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, during the previous Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party government.
Moreover, Telangana Vishwa Hindu Parishad also demanded strict action on the issue.
Speaking to ANI, VHP vice president Ram Singh, said, "Vishwa Hindu Parishad is demanding that everyone involved in this should get immediately arrested and punished. If the government does not do that, then the Hindu organisation like Bjarang Dal, Sangh Parivar and the devotees of Balaji should take action." -- ANI
PM Narendra Modi receives rousing welcome from Indian community members in Philadelphia/ANI Photo
22:07 Modi arrives at Hotel duPont in Wilmington ahead of Quad Leaders' Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Hotel du Pont in Delawar on Saturday morning (local time) ahead of QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) Leaders' Summit, which is set to take place in US President Joe Biden's hometown.
Modi, after arriving at the hotel, met members of the Indian diaspora gathered to welcome him there.
Prior to arriving at the hotel in Wilmington, Delaware, PM Modi landed at the Philadelphia International Airport, where he received a rousing welcome from the Indian community members.
He also interacted with the diaspora members outside the airport. After Modi's arrival at the airport, the official spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs, Randhir Jaiswal said, "PM Narendra Modi arrives in the historic city of Philadelphia. An action packed day with engagements in bilateral and Quad formats in Wilmington, Delaware lies ahead."
The diaspora members in the US said they were extremely excited to meet the PM.
A member of the Indian diaspora outside Philadelphia International Airport following the Prime Minister's arrival said, "We live in the US as the cultural ambassadors of Modi ji...We would like to make India proud by following Modi ji's guidance." -- ANI
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21:26 Bangladesh reverses hilsa export ban, approves 3K tonne shipment to India
Bangladesh's interim government on Saturday said it would export 3,000 tonnes of hilsa fish to India, coinciding with the upcoming Durga Puja, revising its earlier decision.
Durga puja will be celebrated from October 9 to 13.
The development comes days after the interim government, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, earlier this month imposed a ban on hilsa export to India to meet domestic demand, discontinuing a long-standing tradition of Bangladesh as a "goodwill gesture" to its neighbour.
"Against the backdrop of appeals by the exporters, approval has been given to export 3,000 tonnes of hilsa fish (to India), fulfilling the specific conditions on the occasion of the upcoming Durga Puja," the commerce ministry said in a statement.
The ministry asked applicants to contact its relevant wing to obtain export permission.
The previous Awami League government led by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina had allowed hilsa exports to India between September and October every year as a goodwill gesture, a tradition that had been nurtured for years.
Officials said Bangladesh in 2023 had allowed 79 companies to export a total of 4,000 tonnes to India, coinciding with the Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of Hindu Bengalis. -- PTI
CPM leader MM Lawrence/Courtesy X
21:19 Veteran CPM leader M M Lawrence dies at 95
Veteran Communist Party India-Marxist leader MM Lawrence, who was among the leaders involved in the attack on a police station at Edappally in Kochi during the Communist uprising in Kerala in 1950, died on Saturday, party sources said.
He was 95.
His death occurred at a private hospital where he had been receiving treatment for age-related ailments for about a month.
Lawrence's body, which was shifted to the mortuary of the hospital, will be kept at his residence, the CPI-M Ernakulam district committee office, and the town hall on Monday for the public to pay their last respects.
The body will later be handed over to the Government Medical College Hospital, Ernakulam, at 4 pmon Monday, the CPI-M said in a statement.
According to CPI-M leader and state industries minister P Rajeeve, the body will be donated to the medical college, fulfilling his last wish, which he had previously discussed with his family. -- PTI
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20:55 Terrorists exchange fire with security forces in J-K's Kishtwar
A brief encounter took place between terrorists and security forces in a remote forest area in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Saturday evening, officials said.
The gunfight broke out when the forces launched a search operation in Chatroo forest following information about the presence of terrorists, the security officials said.
They said reinforcements have been rushed to the area and further details are awaited. Meanwhile, a massive search operation is also continuing in the Chassana area of Reasi district where terrorists and security forces were engaged in a gunfight on Friday evening. -- PTI
Andhra ex-chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy/File image
20:40 Complaint filed against ex-CM Jagan in laddu case
A complaint was lodged in Hyderabad against former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and others accusing them of "malicious acts of defiling" the sanctity of Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple and for hurting Hindu religious sentiments following allegations of adulteration of ghee used in the famous Tirupati 'laddu prasadam'.
Advocate K Karuna Sagar, who filed the complaint with Saidabad police, citing a lab report, said he was shocked to see it.
He requested the police to investigate the matter and take appropriate action against Jagan Mohan Reddy and others for allegedly undermining the sanctity of the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple and for hurting the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus under sections 298 and 299 of IPC.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, which manages the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple on the hills of Tirumala, 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
20:15 Modi lands in US, to meet Quad leaders shortly
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in the US for a three-day visit to attend a Quad summit and address a key conclave at the United Nations.
Modi will also hold separate bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden and other world leaders on the margins of the Quad summit in Wilmington, Delaware, and the 'Summit of the Future' at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Modi landed at Philadelphia for his onward journey to Wilmington.
The annual Quad summit at President Joe Biden's hometown Wilmington is expected to roll out a series of new initiatives to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and explore ways to find peaceful solutions to the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
The prime minister's other engagements include joining an Indian diaspora event at Long Island and participating in a round table with CEOs of American firms working on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing and semiconductors.
In his departure statement at New Delhi, Modi said he looked forward to joining his colleagues President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for the Quad Summit.
The forum has emerged as a key group of like-minded countries to work for peace, progress and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, he added.
The four-member Quad, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, advocates upholding a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Beijing sees it as an ant-China grouping.
From Wilmington, Modi will travel to New York to attend an Indian community event at Long Island on September 22 and address the Summit of the Future at the UN General Assembly the next day.
US national security advisor Jake Sullivan/File image
19:48 India should back principles of sovereignty: US NSA on Ukraine conflict
The US on Saturday said that Russia's war against Ukraine flouted all international norms and urged countries like India to support the principles of principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On being asked about US President Biden's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and what he could say about what he wants India to do vis a vis China and Russia and the ongoing war in Ukraine, US national security advisor Jake Sullivan says, "I won't go too deep into the details of what he will say on those issues which are obviously sensitive and will obviously be critical priorities in the bilateral meeting. I will just say that the United States has been clear about our view that Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine flouted every norm and principle of international law, that countries like India, should step up and support the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that every country everywhere should refrain from supplying inputs to Russia's war machine for it to be able to continue to prosecute this brutal war. So they will talk about that."
"The President will also hear from Prime Minister Modi about his trip to Ukraine, which was an important and indeed historic trip, and it will be the opportunity for the two of them to talk about their respective views on the way forward. And then with respect to China, you know, they will talk about how they see China's actions in the region where China is headed. And that's not just true in the security domain, but in the economic and technology domain as well. And work to try to coordinate approaches to the extent that makes sense for both..." -- ANI
19:33 'Modi, Modi' chants in air as Indian diaspora awaits PM's arrival in Delaware
The Indian diaspora in Delaware is buzzing with excitement as they prepare to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chants of "Modi, Modi" filled the air as community members prepared for the PM's arrival.
Members of the Indian diaspora from different cities of the US have gathered near Philadelphia International Airport and the Hotel Dupont in Delaware to welcome PM Modi on his arrival. The diaspora members said they were extremly excited to meet PM Modi in the United States.
A member of the Indian diaspora outside Philadelphia International Airport said, "We live in the US as the cultural ambassadors of Modi ji...We would like to make India proud by following Modi ji's guidance."
Dr Avinash Gupta, president of the Federation of Indian Association said, "We are excited to welcome PM Modi ji. The US-India ties will strengthen with this visit. We are excited to listen to PM Modi...."
The PM's three-day US visit includes, a bilateral meeting with President Biden, attending the Quad summit, a diaspora address in New York and addressing the Summit of the Future at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. -- ANI
Congress leader and MP Kumari Selja
19:08 Union minister Khattar asks Cong MP Kumari Selja to join BJP
Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Manohar Lal Khattar has asked senior Congress leader and MP Kumari Selja, a prominent Dalit face, to join the saffron party, amid reports that she was staying away from the campaign for the October 5 Haryana assembly polls.
The former Haryana chief minister, also pointed towards the alleged infighting in the state unit of Congress ahead of the assembly polls.
Khattar was addressing a gathering in Gharaunda in support of BJP nominee Harvinder Kalyan on Friday evening.
"There is so much infighting there (in Haryana Congress) and there is no clarity about their chief ministerial face. There is a fight between the father and the son (Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Deepender Hooda). The father says he will become the CM while son says he will. Besides them, other leaders also have desire (for the CM post)," he said.
"There is our Dalit sister... sitting at home. A large section of people are today thinking about what they should do. Many people were upset with them and we brought them into the party fold. We are ready with an offer and if (she) comes, we are ready to induct her," Khattar said. -- PTI
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu/File image
19:00 Naidu to consult experts on Tirupati laddu case
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said the government will consult pontiffs, sages, priests and other top Hinduism experts on the future course of action to be taken following allegations of animal fat adulteration in Tirupati laddus.
During a recent NDA legislative party meeting, Naidu claimed that the previous YSRCP government did not even spare Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple and used substandard ingredients and animal fat for making the popular Tirupati laddus, known for its unique taste.
The chief minister said after consultation, the government will take its decision with respect to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, the official custodian of world-renowned Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati.
"We are discussing what to do next and how to go forward with respect to TTD. After deliberating with pontiffs, priests and Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) experts, we will decide on how the samprokshana (ritualistic sanitisation) should be done," said Naidu in an official release. -- PTI
18:38 HC refuses bail to Azam Khan, son in machine theft case
The Allahabad high court on Saturday rejected a bail application of former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam Khan in a machine theft case.
Justice Samit Gopal passed the order rejecting bail. Earlier, the court had reserved its order on September 2 after hearing the counsels for the applicants and the state government.
The criminal case was registered in 2022 against Khan, his son and five others alleging that they had stolen the road-cleaning machine, which was purchased by Nagar Palika Parishad, Rampur district.
It was further alleged that this machine was later recovered from the Khan's Jauhar University of Rampur.
After the change of government in the state, a person named Wakar Ali Khan lodged an FIR in 2022 at Kotwali, Rampur against the seven persons.
It was alleged in the FIR that they had in 2014, by misusing their power, had stolen the government's road cleaning machine. -- PTI
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17:44 Woman killed in Bengaluru, body cut into 30 pieces
A 29-year-old woman's dismembered body was found in a house in Malleswaram in Bengaluru police sources said on Saturday.
According to the police, Mahalakshmi's body, cut into over 30 pieces, was stuffed in a refrigerator.
Senior police officers reached the spot and barricaded the road leading to the building where the body was found in a single bedroom house, where the victim was staying alone.
The police suspect it to be a case of murder, which took place about a fortnight ago.
An investigation has been launched into the case. -- PTI
17:17 Defamation case against Rahul: Hearing postponed to Oct 1
The hearing in a defamation case against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in a MP-MLA court in this Uttar Pradesh district was postponed on Saturday due to a health camp organised by the bar council.
The matter will now be heard on October 1.
Plaintiff Vijay Mishra's lawyer Santosh Kumar Pandey said his client's statement was to be recorded on Saturday, but due to the health camp organised by the Bar Association on the civil court premises, the lawyers were busy in it and no court work could be done.
"The court has postponed the matter to October 1," he said.
Gandhi has been accused of making objectionable comments during the 2018 Karnataka polls about Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was the BJP president then.
Mishra, a local Bharatiya Janata Party politician, filed a complaint against Gandhi in August 2018.
Since then, the matter has been going on in the court.
Gandhi surrendered before the court during the "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra" on February 20 and was granted bail on personal surety bonds of Rs 25,000 each. -- PTI
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16:49 Pak police arrest 4 ISIS terrorists in Punjab province
Four alleged ISIS terrorists have been arrested in Pakistan's Punjab province, the police said on Saturday.
A spokesperson of Punjab Police's Counter Terrorism Department said that acting on a tip-off, the CTD raided the hideouts of terrorists in four cities of Punjab -- Lahore, Toba Tek Singh Bahawalpur and Mianwali -- and arrested as many terrorists belonging to Daesh (ISIS).
The terrorists were identified as Amjadur Rehman, Sher Ali, Zahabullah and Tayyab Raees.
The police recovered 2,570 grams of explosives, three detonators, 18.7 feet of safety fuse wire, a Kalashnikov rifle with 40 rounds of ammunition, a 30-bore pistol with 20 bullets, four hand grenades, and banned literature of ISIS from their possession.
The CTD spokesperson said the arrested terrorists had planned to target important installations and personalities.
Meanwhile, CTD Punjab has conducted 980 combing operations this week, in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies, screening 32,662 individuals.
These operations led to the arrest of 109 suspects and the registration of 102 FIRs, with 88 recoveries reported. -- PTI
AAP leader Atishi takes oath as 8th Chief Minister of Delhi/ANI Photo
16:41 Atishi sworn in as Delhi CM
Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi was sworn in as chief minister at the Delhi Raj Niwas on Saturday afternoon.
She is the 17th female chief minister of the country.
The Atishi government will have a brief tenure as the assembly polls in Delhi are due in February next year.
More details soon.
Delhi Chief Minister designate Atishi and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal/File image
16:35 Delhi CM designate Atishi meets Kejriwal ahead of swearing-in ceremony
Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, Delhi Chief Minister designate Atishi and leaders who will be part of her cabinet on Saturday met AAP supremo and her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal.
Earlier this week, Atishi was chosen as the leader of the legislature party after Kejriwal made an unexpected announcement of resigning and only returning as chief minister if people give him "certificate of honesty".
Atishi and AAP leaders Gopal Rai and Kailash Gahlot visited Kejriwal's residence in Civil Lines before the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for 4.30 pm. -- PTI
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16:09 Stone pelting on Ganpati procession: 4 unidentified booked in Bhiwandi
Four unidentified persons were booked in connection with the stone pelting on a Ganpati procession in Bhiwandi in Thane district on September 18, a police official said on Saturday.
Stones were thrown on the immersion procession of Sri Hanuman Sarvajanik Mitra Mandal some time after midnight that day, resulting in damage to the idol, which created tension in the Vanjarpatti Naka locality, the official said.
"The stones were thrown from the direction of a chicken shop. The case against four persons, who are as yet unidentified, was registered on the complaint of a VHP functionary," he said.
They have been charged under sections 298 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class), 125 ( act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 324 (4) (mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the official added. -- PTI
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15:43 Amul says never supplied ghee to Tirupati, files FIR against campaign
Managing director of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, Jayen Mehta on Saturday said that an FIR has been lodged at the cybercrime branch of Ahmedabad police against "misinformation campaign" allegedly defaming Amul and spreading rumours that they had supplied the ghee that allegedly contained animal fat to Tirupati Balaji temple.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Mehta said, "In Andhra Pradesh, the ghee used in the Tirupati temple was found with adulteration. Some people tried to propagate false information by saying that ghee to TTD was supplied by Amul."
"To stop this 'misinformation campaign', we have lodged an FIR in the cybercrime branch of Ahmedabad, as, this is a serious issue, related with 36 lakh families, who are associated with Amul," he said.
The MD of the cooperative milk federation, which owns the Amul brand said that Amul 'has never supplied its product to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam."
"Amul products are of top quality and passes through stringent quality checks. We urge people to stay away from such kind of disinformation," Mehta said.
Amid a row over the use of animal fat in prasadam given at Tirumala temple, Amul on September 20 issued a statement , stating that it had never supplied ghee to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.
After posts on various social media platforms, Amul.coop posted a statement on X, stating that Amul Ghee was never supplied to the TTD. -- ANI
15:16 Ridley Scott teases 'Gladiator 3', says he has 'lit the fuse'
Filmmaker Ridley Scott has teased that he is already toying with the idea for a third Gladiator movie.
Scott, who directed the multiple Oscar-winning movie Gladiator, starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, in 2000, is currently awaiting Gladiator II, which will open in cinemas worldwide in November.
In an interview with French magazine Premiere, the Oscar-nominated director hinted at plans to complete the trilogy with a third film in the future.
"With that, I'm already toying with the idea of Gladiator 3. No, seriously! I've lit the fuse," Scott said.
"The ending of Gladiator II is reminiscent of The Godfather, with Michael Corleone finding himself with a job he didn't want, and wondering, 'Now, Father, what do I do?' So the next (film) will be about a man who doesn't want to be where he is," he added. -- PTI
Muktesh Pardeshi
14:47 India appoints ambassador to Turkiye
Seasoned diplomat Muktesh Kumar Pardeshi has been appointed as India's new ambassador to Turkiye -- a country that has emerged as an influential player in the resolution of regional conflicts, including in the Middle-East.
Pardeshi, a 1991-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is currently serving as a secretary at the ministry of external affairs (MEA).
"He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," the MEA said in a brief statement.
Pardeshi was a key member of a group of top officials who played a key role in India's successful hosting of the G20 Summit in September last year, including managing to produce a leaders' declaration overcoming deep divisions over the Ukraine conflict.
The post of India's ambassador to Turkiye has been lying vacant since June after the demise of incumbent Virander Paul following prolonged illness.
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14:12 Road to Kedarnath caves in, pilgrimage halted
The pilgrimage to Kedarnath by road was put on hold on Saturday after part of the trek route to the Himalayan temple caved in near Jungle Chatti.
Pilgrims returning from Kedarnath as well as those leaving for the temple from Gaurikund and Sonprayag were stopped after 10-15 metre stretch of the road was damaged, Rudraprayag superintendent of police Akshay Prahlad Konde said.
Movement along the route will be resumed after the damaged portion of the road is repaired, he said.
Meanwhile, an alternative route is also being readied to bring down the pilgrims stranded on their way back from Kedarnath and those waiting in Gaurikunad and Sonprayag to visit the temple, the SP said.
Police, SDRF, NDRF and DDRF teams rushed to ensure the safety of the pilgrims immediately after receiving information about the road collapse on Saturday morning, he said.
PWD officers are also on the spot to help in preparation of an alternative route which can be used by the pilgrims for the time being, Konde said.
No pilgrim has been allowed to go beyond Sonprayag and Gaurikund after damage to the trek route near Jungle Chatti, the SP said. -- PTI
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14:06 Bangladesh Army urges peace amid deadly violence in hilly regions
Amidst tensions and violence in Bangladesh's hilly regions, which claimed four lives, the Bangladesh Army has issued an appeal to the public, urging them to maintain peace and harmony.
"The ongoing tension may turn into violent riots in the three hill districts. Leading individuals are urgently requested to assist the law enforcement agencies in de-escalating the ongoing tension," the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate said in a statement.
"Necessary legal action will be taken after identifying the real culprits by conducting a proper investigation. The people are specially requested to maintain peace and harmony in the three hill districts," it said.
Notably, Chittagong Hill Tracts has long history of conflicts.
In 1997, the Bangladesh government signed a peace accord with Parbatta Chattagram Jana Sanghatti Samiti, the largest tribal group that controlled the Santibahini, a militia.
After the accord, some smaller groups including United People's Democratic Front rejected it.
On September 18, one Md. Mamun (30), the father of deceased Noor Nabi, was killed in a mass thrashing by some people in Khagrachari district headquarters over the theft of a motorcycle, the statement said.
Later, Sadar police station recovered the body of the deceased and handed it over to the family after post-mortem, the statement added. -- ANI
Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh/ANI Photo
13:59 Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh appointed as next chief of the air staff
Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh has been appointed as the next chief of the air staff.
Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, is presently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, as the next chief of the air staff, in the rank of Air Chief Marshal, with effect from the afternoon of September 30, 2024.
The present Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, demits office on September 30, 2024. -- ANI
13:45 Siddhant Chaturvedi's 'Yudhra' earns Rs 4.52 cr at the box office on Day 1
Action entertainer Yudhra, headlined by Siddhant Chaturvedi, collected Rs 4.52 crore on its opening day at the domestic box office, the makers said on Saturday.
Yudhra, directed by Ravi Udyawar of Mom fame and also starring Malavika Mohanan in her Bollywood debut, was released in theatres across the country on Friday.
The film is produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment.
"Its never-before-seen action sequences have captivated audiences, resulting in an impressive opening at the box office with a whopping Rs 4.52 crore," the makers said in a press note.
Yudhra features Chaturvedi as the titular character, a man with anger issues, who goes undercover to bring down the powerful drug syndicate headed by Firoz and his son Shafiq. -- PTI
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13:20 Train sabotage attempt foiled in Gujarat
Unidentified persons allegedly tampered with a railway track by removing fish plates and loosening several bolts in an attempt to derail trains in Gujarat's Surat district on Saturday, the police said.
The sabotage attempt came to light before a train could pass through the affected track between Kosamba and Kim railway stations as a lineman detected the damage and alerted the railway authorities in the early hours of the day, officials said.
Unidentified persons removed two fish plates that bolted the ends of two rails on the railway track and placed them on the parallel track, Superintendent of Police, Surat (rural), Hitesh Joysar said.
They also loosened some 40-50 bolts, he said.
Deputy superintendent of police RR Sarvaiya said a lineman inspecting the track discovered the tampering around 5.30 am and alerted the railway administration.
"Railway engineers and other staff reached the site and repaired the line, and the movement of trains resumed," he said. -- PTI
New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens during captivity of rebels/ANI Photo
13:06 New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens released by Papua rebels after 19 months
New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released by separatist rebels in Indonesia's restive Papua region, 19 months after his kidnapping.
Mehrtens had been held captive since February 2023.
The New Zealand government said that Phillip Mehrtens, taken hostage in Papua, Indonesia, is now safe.
Mehrtens was taken hostage while working as a pilot at a remote airstrip in Paro, Papua on February 7, 2023.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters in a statement expressed his relief at the release of Mehrtens and said, "We are pleased and relieved to confirm that Phillip Mehrtens is safe and well and has been able to talk with his family."
He added, "This news must be an enormous relief for his friends and loved ones."
The foreign minister further said that for the last 19 and a half months, a wide range of government agencies worked with Indonesian authorities and others towards securing Mehrtens' release.
"The ministry of foreign affairs and trade, with staff in both Indonesia and Wellington, has led a sustained whole-of-government effort to secure Phillip Mehrtens' release, and has also been supporting his family," Peters said. -- ANI
12:42 Two held with drugs worth over Rs 15 crore in Assam
The Assam police arrested two persons and recovered contraband worth Rs 15.5 crore from them in Cachar district, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.
The recovery was made from a truck, he said.
"A successful anti-narcotics operation by @cacharpolice. Based on reliable inputs, Cachar Police intercepted a truck at Banskandi and upon thorough search recovered drugs worth Rs 15.5 cr, Sarma posted on X.
A total of 18,000 Yaba tablets and 2 kg of crystalline methamphetamine were seized from the truck.
Two people have been apprehended in this connection, the CM added.
Yaba or crazy medicine' is a tablet form of a mixture of methamphetamine (a powerful and addictive stimulant) and caffeine. -- PTI
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12:26 Normal life affected in Imphal Valley due to 18-hour bandh called by militants
Normal life was affected in the Imphal Valley districts of Manipur due to an 18-hour bandh called by a militant outfit, officials said. Markets, business establishments and banks across the five valley districts remained closed and public transport vehicles were off the roads as proscribed militant outfit National Revolutionary Front of Manipur called for a bandh from Saturday midnight.
A few private vehicles, were, however, seen plying the roads.
Essential services were exempted from the purview of the bandh. Normal life in the hill districts, was, however, not affected, an official told PTI.
The bandh call was given by NRFM in protest against the signing of the merger agreement between the then Manipur ruler Maharaja Bodhchandra and the Government of India on this day in 1949.
After the signing of the agreement, the princely state of Manipur officially became a part of the Union of India on October 15, 1949. -- PTI
File image
12:12 Dharavi tense as BMC plans to raze mosque portion
Tension prevailed in Dharavi slum here on Saturday after hundreds of local residents gathered on a road and opposed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's plan to pull down an alleged illegal portion of a mosque, an official said.
A large number of police personnel have been deployed there to prevent any untoward incident in view of the prevailing situation, he said.
"A team of BMC officials from G-North administrative ward reached the 90 Feet Road in Dharavi around 9 am to demolish alleged illegal portion of Mehboob-E-Subhani masjid.
Soon, a large number of local residents gathered at the spot and stopped the civic officials from entering the lane where the mosque is located," the police official said.
"Later, hundreds of people also assembled outside the Dharavi police station located there and squatted on the road to protest against the civic body's move," he said. -- PTI
Actor Parvin Dabas/Courtesy Facebook
11:54 Actor Parvin Dabas in ICU after car accident
Actor Parvin Dabas was on Saturday admitted to the intensive care unit of a suburban hospital in Mumbai after a car accident, his family said.
Dabas, 50, has appeared predominantly in Hindi and English language films such as Mira Nair's "Monsoon Wedding", Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara, Khosla Ka Ghosla, "The Perfect Husband" and "The World Unseen".
His wife, actor Preeti Jhingiani, said in a statement that Dabas, the co-founder of arm-wrestling competition Pro Panja League, is recuperating in Holy Family Hospital in Bandra.
"We regret to inform you that Parvin Dabas, Bollywood actor and co-founder of the Pro Panja League, has been hospitalised and is in the ICU at Holy Family Hospital Bandra following an unfortunate car accident in the early hours of Saturday morning.
"Details of the incident are still emerging, but we can confirm that Mr Dabas is receiving medical attention, the statement read. -- PTI
11:23 Jharkhand to shut mobile internet for 2 days
Mobile internet services will be suspended across the state for over five hours for two days starting on Saturday in view of the Jharkhand General Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examination (JGGLCCE), in a bid to check any malpractice during the examination, an official statement said.
The services will be suspended from 8 am to 1.30 pm on 21st and 22nd September, it said.
According to the official statement, the step has been taken to conduct the examinations in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
'It has been observed in previous instances that some unscrupulous individuals resorted to unfair practices utilising various mobile applications, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, X (Twitter), Telegram, and YouTube, which rely on Internet/Wi-Fi connectivity,' the statement reads.
'The Government of Jharkhand seeks to eliminate any loopholes in the examination process that may raise doubts in the public mind regarding the integrity of the recruitment process, potentially leading to law and order issues that could impact public safety,' the statement further said.
'The Government of Jharkhand has thoroughly evaluated the situation and concluded that, in the interest of conducting a free, fair, and transparent public examination, it is both prudent and necessary to mitigate all possible loopholes by temporarily disabling mobile Internet, mobile data, and mobile Wi-Fi connectivity during examination hours on the designated days,' the official statement reads.
The Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission will conduct the examination in 823 centres, with around 6.40 lakh candidates expected to appear for the test, the official statement said. -- ANI
10:36 Modi&US: What You Must Know
Excerpts from the press kit for the Modi&US event at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is located in Uniondale, New York on Sunday, September 22, 2024:
Modi&US is a celebration of India&US and the cultural ethos Indians carry around the globe -- an ethos which views the world as one family, diversity a strength, and the wellbeing of all people and the planet an inspiration for building a better world together.
Indo American Community of USA (IACU) is the east coast chapter of the Indo American Community of West Coast USA (IACWC) and the sponsor for the Modi&US community gathering welcoming the honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, during his upcoming visit to the United States.
IACWC was honored to sponsor the Prime Minister in September of 2015 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, where over 18,000 members of the Indian Americans and the diaspora welcomed Shri Narendra Modi.
The costs of this event has been covered by donations from the community.
Key Facts:
13,200 attendees representing Indias religious, linguistic and cultural diversity
500+ Welcome Partners
500 artists and performers
350 volunteers
150+ media professionals
85+ media outlets
60 chartered buses
40+ US states represented
2 great democracies - United States and India
1 extremely popular Prime Minister
Modi&US will feature cultural extravaganzas on two stages -- the main stage and the outer stage.
On the mainstage will be Echoes of India - A Journey Through Art and Tradition, a cultural extravaganza showcasing 382 nationally and internationally known artists, including Grammy award nominee, Chandrika Tandon, STAR Voice of India winner and superstar, Aishwarya Majumdar, Instagrams Dancing Dad, Ricky Pond, and singing sensation, Rex DSouuza, in a seamless experience of Indias cultural diversity.
The outer stage will be graced with unique performances by 117 artists, impressing and entertaining attendees as they enter the coliseum.
30+ classical, folk, modern and fusion performances will pay homage to the rich and diverse cultures of India -- north, south, east, west and everything in between
Modi&US is a celebration of India&US and the cultural ethos Indians carry around the globe -- an ethos which views the world as one family, diversity a strength, and the wellbeing of all people and the planet an inspiration for building a better world together.
Indo American Community of USA (IACU) is the east coast chapter of the Indo American Community of West Coast USA (IACWC) and the sponsor for the Modi&US community gathering welcoming the honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, during his upcoming visit to the United States.
IACWC was honored to sponsor the Prime Minister in September of 2015 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, where over 18,000 members of the Indian Americans and the diaspora welcomed Shri Narendra Modi.
The costs of this event has been covered by donations from the community.
Key Facts:
13,200 attendees representing Indias religious, linguistic and cultural diversity
500+ Welcome Partners
500 artists and performers
350 volunteers
150+ media professionals
85+ media outlets
60 chartered buses
40+ US states represented
2 great democracies - United States and India
1 extremely popular Prime Minister
Modi&US will feature cultural extravaganzas on two stages -- the main stage and the outer stage.
On the mainstage will be Echoes of India - A Journey Through Art and Tradition, a cultural extravaganza showcasing 382 nationally and internationally known artists, including Grammy award nominee, Chandrika Tandon, STAR Voice of India winner and superstar, Aishwarya Majumdar, Instagrams Dancing Dad, Ricky Pond, and singing sensation, Rex DSouuza, in a seamless experience of Indias cultural diversity.
The outer stage will be graced with unique performances by 117 artists, impressing and entertaining attendees as they enter the coliseum.
30+ classical, folk, modern and fusion performances will pay homage to the rich and diverse cultures of India -- north, south, east, west and everything in between
The program will also feature surprise celebrity appearances that will add an unexpected touch of star power.
Prime Minister Modi's keynote address will be in Hindi.
English audio will be made available through the YouTube feed.
English audio will be made available through the YouTube feed.
10:27 Bengal junior docs resume duties partially
Junior doctors on Saturday morning rejoined their duties partially at various government-run hospitals in West Bengal after a hiatus of 42 days.
They were on 'cease work' agitation in protest against the rape and murder of an on-duty woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The junior doctors rejoined their duties in essential and emergency services at all state-run hospitals but not in the outpatient department (OPD).
"We have started rejoining duties today. Our colleagues have started returning to their respective departments since this morning only in essential and emergency services, but not at the OPDs. Please do not forget that this is only a partial resumption of duties," Aniket Mahato, one of the agitating doctors, told PTI.
He said his other colleagues have already left for flood-hit districts of the state where they would start 'Abhaya clinics' (medical camps), to demonstrate their commitment to public health even amid ongoing protests.
The agitating doctors said that they would wait for another seven days for the administration to fulfill their demands for justice for the deceased doctor and the removal of state health secretary or else they would start another round of 'cease work'.
The doctors have been protesting since August 9 when the body of a woman medic was found at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, demanding justice for the deceased doctor as well as removing key officials from their posts alleging their involvement in the case.
The CBI, which is investigating the case, has arrested several people, including former principal of the RG Kar Hospital, in connection with its investigation into the matter. -- PTI
IMAGE: Junior doctors, who were protesting over the RG Kar rape and murder case, celebrate after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee agrees to doctors' demands including the removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal and removal of health department officials, in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo
10:04 Sanctity of Tirupati laddu now restored: TTD
Amid concerns among devotees on the quality of ghee used in the famous Tirupati 'laddu prasadam', the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has said sanctity of the sacred sweetmeat has been restored.
In a social media post on Friday night, the TTD, which manages the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, on the hills of Tirumala said the divinity and purity of Srivari Laddu is unblemished now.
'The divinity and purity of Srivari laddu is unblemished now. TTD is committed to protecting the holiness of Laddu Prasadam to the satisfaction of all the devotees,' the temple board said in the post.
The temple body managing the super-rich shrine 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.
With the fingers of accusation being pointed at the previous YSRCP regime over the issue, former CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy described the matter as 'diversion politics', and slammed it as a 'concocted story'.
The Centre has sought a report on the matter from the Andhra Pradesh government and promised suitable action after examining it.
Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi called for an investigation into the allegations.
Citing a lab report on Friday, the TTD stated that there was presence of 'lard' (pig fat) and other impurities in the ghee.
TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao said lab tests have revealed the presence of animal fat and lard in chosen samples and the board was in the process of blacklisting the contractor who supplied 'adulterated' ghee. -- PTI
In a social media post on Friday night, the TTD, which manages the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, on the hills of Tirumala said the divinity and purity of Srivari Laddu is unblemished now.
'The divinity and purity of Srivari laddu is unblemished now. TTD is committed to protecting the holiness of Laddu Prasadam to the satisfaction of all the devotees,' the temple board said in the post.
The temple body managing the super-rich shrine 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.
With the fingers of accusation being pointed at the previous YSRCP regime over the issue, former CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy described the matter as 'diversion politics', and slammed it as a 'concocted story'.
The Centre has sought a report on the matter from the Andhra Pradesh government and promised suitable action after examining it.
Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi called for an investigation into the allegations.
Citing a lab report on Friday, the TTD stated that there was presence of 'lard' (pig fat) and other impurities in the ghee.
TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao said lab tests have revealed the presence of animal fat and lard in chosen samples and the board was in the process of blacklisting the contractor who supplied 'adulterated' ghee. -- PTI
09:08 LIC MF May Launch Rs 100 SIPs In October
Khushboo Tiwari/Business Standard
LIC Mutual Fund plans to launch smaller ticket-size systematic investment plans (SIPs) of Rs 100 by the first week of October, said R K Jha, its MD and CEO.
LIC Mutual Fund plans to launch smaller ticket-size systematic investment plans (SIPs) of Rs 100 by the first week of October, said R K Jha, its MD and CEO.
The decision comes at a time when Sebi has been advocating lower-size SIPs to allow more participation from investors.
In its initiative to make it more accessible, the market regulator has been working on measures to make Rs 250 SIP more cost-effective and viable for fund houses.
At present, there are a few fund houses that offer SIPs below Rs 500.
LIC MF plans to bring down the minimum daily SIP amount to Rs 100 from the current limit of Rs 300. For monthly SIPs, it will be brought down to Rs 200 from Rs 1,000.
"We will bring the addendum for lowering SIP amounts on October 7," said Jha.
Jha was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of its new fund offering (NFO) -- LIC MF Manufacturing Fund -- an open-ended equity scheme focusing on the manufacturing theme.
The fund house believes that push from the government and global shift in supply chain to China+1 are in favour of the sector for the long term.
The fund house is aiming to take its assets under management (AUM) to Rs 1 trillion by FY26 from the current Rs 35,000 crore (Rs 350 billion).
08:47 iPhone 16 sales up 15-20% over iPhone 15 on Day 1
Surajeet Das Gupta/Business Standard
The highly anticipated launch of Apple iPhone 16 series generated significant buzz in India on Friday, with serpentine queues at flagship stores and quick-service platforms offering deliveries for the first time.
According to Counterpoint Research, which undertook the initial sample survey across retailers, iPhone 16 series has witnessed up to a 15 to 20 per cent surge in sales on the inaugural day compared to its iPhone 15 counterpart.
Neil Shah, founder of Counterpoint Research in India, said that based on the initial feedback, the basic iPhone 16 model was the bestseller on Day 1, followed by Pro Max.
Shah points out that the agency has conducted a dipstick study on the first day to gauge consumer sentiment and traction.
Over the fortnight, it will be undertaking a more comprehensive study comprising a larger sample of over 200 retailers.
Big Basket, which promised quick delivery of iPhone 16 in 10 minutes, delivered 138 phones in the first hour.
The quick-service platform has been selling 3 to 4 phones every minute, according to Hari Menon, co- founder of Big Basket.
Blinkit, which has tied up with reseller Unicorn, made over 300 deliveries in four cities, including in Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Pune since 8 am when sales kicked off, Unicorn founder Albinder Dhindsa said.
In FY24, sales in India, primarily driven by iPhones, touched Rs 67,000 crore (Rs 670 billion), growing by 35 per cent year-on-year.
In FY 2019, domestic sales were only Rs 11,000 crore (Rs 110 billion), representing a sevenfold increase.
For the first time, Apple is assembling its top-end models, including the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, in India, simultaneously with production in China.
The highly anticipated launch of Apple iPhone 16 series generated significant buzz in India on Friday, with serpentine queues at flagship stores and quick-service platforms offering deliveries for the first time.
According to Counterpoint Research, which undertook the initial sample survey across retailers, iPhone 16 series has witnessed up to a 15 to 20 per cent surge in sales on the inaugural day compared to its iPhone 15 counterpart.
Neil Shah, founder of Counterpoint Research in India, said that based on the initial feedback, the basic iPhone 16 model was the bestseller on Day 1, followed by Pro Max.
Shah points out that the agency has conducted a dipstick study on the first day to gauge consumer sentiment and traction.
Over the fortnight, it will be undertaking a more comprehensive study comprising a larger sample of over 200 retailers.
Big Basket, which promised quick delivery of iPhone 16 in 10 minutes, delivered 138 phones in the first hour.
The quick-service platform has been selling 3 to 4 phones every minute, according to Hari Menon, co- founder of Big Basket.
Blinkit, which has tied up with reseller Unicorn, made over 300 deliveries in four cities, including in Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Pune since 8 am when sales kicked off, Unicorn founder Albinder Dhindsa said.
In FY24, sales in India, primarily driven by iPhones, touched Rs 67,000 crore (Rs 670 billion), growing by 35 per cent year-on-year.
In FY 2019, domestic sales were only Rs 11,000 crore (Rs 110 billion), representing a sevenfold increase.
For the first time, Apple is assembling its top-end models, including the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, in India, simultaneously with production in China.
Image used only for representation
00:09 J-K: Bus falls into gorge, 3 BSF personnel dead
At least three Border Security Force troopers were killed and 32 others injured when a bus carrying the forces' personnel for election duty fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district on Friday, officials said.
The bus was hired to carry BSF jawans for duty in the second phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. The second phase of polling will be held on September 25.
Around 35 jawans were injured in the accident and they were rushed to a hospital, officials said, adding that three of the injured troopers succumbed to injuries.
The other were being treated and their condition was stated to be stable, they added.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir police chief R R Swain expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the colleagues of the deceased.
"We mourn the loss of these dedicated soldiers who tirelessly served the nation. We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and assured them of all necessary support and assistance by the Jammu and Kashmir Police," he said in a statement.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, V K Birdi along with the IG of the BSF's Kashmir Frontier visited the injured BSF soldiers at the City Hospital.
They were joined by the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, SSP Srinagar, SSP Budgam, DC Budgam, and other senior officers.
During the visit, the IGP Kashmir expressed concern for the well-being of the injured soldiers and interacted with the medical staff to ensure they were receiving the best possible care. -- PTI
The bus was hired to carry BSF jawans for duty in the second phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. The second phase of polling will be held on September 25.
Around 35 jawans were injured in the accident and they were rushed to a hospital, officials said, adding that three of the injured troopers succumbed to injuries.
The other were being treated and their condition was stated to be stable, they added.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir police chief R R Swain expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the colleagues of the deceased.
"We mourn the loss of these dedicated soldiers who tirelessly served the nation. We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and assured them of all necessary support and assistance by the Jammu and Kashmir Police," he said in a statement.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, V K Birdi along with the IG of the BSF's Kashmir Frontier visited the injured BSF soldiers at the City Hospital.
They were joined by the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, SSP Srinagar, SSP Budgam, DC Budgam, and other senior officers.
During the visit, the IGP Kashmir expressed concern for the well-being of the injured soldiers and interacted with the medical staff to ensure they were receiving the best possible care. -- PTI
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