Month: November 2020

People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration is not the enemy of the nation, but that of of the ruling BJP, said NCP leader Farooq Abdullah here on Monday.

“We’re not nation’s enemies. We’re enemies of the BJP. They want to separate Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians from each other. We believe in the India of Mahatma Gandhi where everyone is equal,” said Abdullah while talking to media.

He added that the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration is an alliance of political parties, and all of them will fight the upcoming District Development Council (DDC) election together.

“We’re not a gang but an alliance of parties. Those who call us a gang are the biggest dacoits; so they see everyone as a gang… We’ll fight the election together but we can’t get one single election symbol so we’ll contest on our respective symbols with joint candidates,” he said.

On Saturday, Abdulla had clarified the speculations about the Congress contesting the DDC elections. “The Congress party is still a part of the People’s Alliance for the Gupkar Declaration and we will fight the DDC elections together.”

Earlier today, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also confirmed that her party will contest the DDC election under the umbrella of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration.

“Under our chairperson Farooq Abdullah, we are fighting the elections together. The problems of people are more important than fighting elections independently. We all came together to fight against the divisive powers trying to divide Jammu and Kashmir,” said Mufti. (ANI)

As her debut flick ‘Saawariya’ clocked in 13 years on Monday, actor Sonam Kapoor Ahuja reflected on her journey in Bollywood.

She took to Instagram to share a picture from her initial photo-shoots for the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial.

The picture that features Sonam with actor Ranbir Kapoor sees the duo decked in the ‘Saawariya’ attire.

The ‘Delhi 6,’ actor captioned the post with a note thanking India for appreciating her work throughout the course of 13 years.

“13 years ago I debuted with Saawariya. Each and every moment in this industry has been a blessing. The good bad and ugly has all been intensely cinematic,” she wrote in the caption.

“Thank you India and thank you for each and every filmmaker who believed in me. I’ve been blessed to have worked with the best who’ve pushed me to give my best,” she added.

Released in 2007, the romantic flick ‘Saawariya’ marked the Bollywood debut of both Sonam and Ranbir. (ANI)

Hyderabad has become a hub for the organ donation and transplantation, said health experts on Sunday.

While speaking to ANI, Dr Swarna Latha, in charge of Jeevandan Program, Government of Telangana said that state government has been successfully running organ donor program ‘Jeevandan’ since 2012.

“Jeevandan is a deceased donor transplantation program by Government of Telangana. I had been handling this process since its inception in 2012. Transplantation is the recent advancement in modern medicine and it is the need of an Hour. At the end stage, organ failure can be treated with medication but beyond a certain point, they require organ transplantation,” Dr Latha said.

“For organ transplantation, there is an act in place which has come up in 1994, with some amendments time to time. As per the act, we can have a living donation, which can be done by family member and the other one is deceased donor, where the patient is brain dead then the organs can be utilized. Organ donation can be done only by person who is brain dead, and not from any other natural death,” she said.

She further said that in Telangana the organ donation rate is five donations per million population which is higher than the national average because of the structured and transparent policies of the state.

“As we look at Hyderabad, there is been an increase in organ transplantation. With health infrastructure and expertise, there are large numbers of organ transplantation going on. Patients register through online portal ‘Jeevandan ‘. The donation rate calculated in terms of per million population, In India the average is around one donation per million population but as a state we have gone up to an average of five donations per million population. So our state has been performing very good compared to other states. As we have structured program and transparent way of organ allocation through the online portal,” she added.

Dr N Bheerappa, Professor and Head of Department of Surgical Gastroenterology at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences told ANI that the state government is emphasizing on developing the skills of the surgeons and added that Hyderabad has become the hub of organs transplantation.

“After starting the Jeevandan program, the state government is maintaining the data of patients by statisticians and hospitals very well. The government is sponsoring the increase of skills in surgeons. Hyderabad has now become a hub for organ transplantation in the country” Dr Bheerappa said.

Dr Thomas Cherian, Liver Transplant surgeon, South Asian Liver Institute told ANI that at present there are more than ten liver transplant centres in Hyderabad which has helped the city to become a centre for medical treatment.

“I do believe that Hyderabad is a hub for medical treatment, and it has been for many decades. I agree that it is one of the most important centre in India for organ transplantation. In 2003 ,when there was no other centre in South India even then Hyderabad was one of the centre for liver transplant and at present Hyderabad has more than ten Liver transplant centres,” he said.

Dr Thomas Cherian has previously served as the National Director for Care Group of Hospitals. (ANI)

The coronavirus vaccine developed by drug giant American Pfizer and German biotechnology firm BioNTech was more than 90 per cent effective at protecting people from infection as compared to placebo saline shot, according to an analysis.

The analysis was conducted by an independent data monitoring committee that met Sunday.

“I would say it is a historical moment. Something like this has never happened before. First of all, the world was faced with such a terrible situation, the pandemic, and being able in such a short time to go through what usually takes many years,” Washington Post quoted Kathrin Jansen, head of vaccine research and development at Pfizer, as saying. “Hearing that at the interim analysis we are over 90 percent effective — it was almost stunning to hear.”

The Pfizer has conducted 44,000-person trial. Among them, there have been so far 94 cases of COVID-19 in persons who were not previously infected. Fewer than nine of those cases were among people who received two shots of the vaccine, a strong signal of efficacy.

The vaccine requires two doses, given three weeks apart. Pfizer and BioNTech are working around-the-clock to scale up production, in hopes of having 50 million doses — enough for 25 million people to receive both shots — by the end of the year, and 1.3 billion doses in 2021.

The data is not yet published or peer-reviewed, and the company news release could not be presented to outside experts under the terms of an embargo.

With more people being exposed to the virus amid the coronavirus surge, the trial is rushing toward completion faster than company executives anticipated.

The data community noted no serious safety concerns. Jansen said the side-effect profile of the vaccine was similar to what was reported in an earlier study, which included pain at the injection site and fatigue, chills and fever — that occurred more frequently in younger trial participants than in adults over age 65.

Pfizer and BioNTech said they plan to submit an application for emergency authorisation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after the third week of November, when they will have two months of safety follow-up data on half of the participants in their trial, along with data on their manufacturing process.

The trial will continue until it reaches its endpoint of 164 cases of COVID-19, which Jansen said could take a few weeks. (ANI)

The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to grant interim relief to Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami in connection with a 2018 suicide case and directed him to approach a lower court to seek bail.

A division bench of Justice SS Shinde and Justice MS Karnik observed that no case is made out to exercise the extraordinary jurisdiction of the High Court. Earlier today, Goswami had filed a bail before a Raigad Sessions court.

The High Court also rejected the bail applications of two other persons accused in the death case of interior designer Anvay Naik, who allegedly died by suicide in Alibaug in May 2018. A suicide note purportedly written by Naik alleged that Goswami had not paid him his dues.

The Bombay High Court had on November 7 reserved its order on Arnab Goswami’s plea challenging his arrest and seeking relief in the matter.

Last week, Goswami and two others were in connection with the case. He, along with the other two accused, was sent to 14-day judicial custody by a lower court later that day.

Goswami had alleged that he along with his mother-in-law, father-in-law, son and wife were physically assaulted by the officers of the Mumbai Police, who entered Goswami’s residence, to arrest him at the early hours of November 4.

The suicide case, in which a closure report was filed in 2019, was reopened after Naik’s wife Akshata approached a court. In September this year, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had ordered a re-investigation into the case after a fresh complaint by Naik’s daughter. (ANI)

India skipper Virat Kohli will be missing three Test matches in the upcoming series against Australia, the BCCI confirmed on Monday. The board also confirmed that Rohit Sharma will be rested for the white-ball leg of the Australia tour and he will be a part of the Test squad. Earlier on Monday, ANI had reported that Rohit will be flying to Australia for the Test series.

Kohli has been granted paternity leave and as a result, he will be featuring in just the opening Test of the four-match series. The first Test is slated to begin on December 17 at Adelaide and it will be a day-night contest.

“At the selection committee meeting held on October 26th, 2020, Mr Virat Kohli had informed the BCCI about his plans to return to India after the first Test in Adelaide. The BCCI has granted paternity leave to the Indian captain. He will return after the first Test against Australia in Adelaide,” the BCCI said in an official statement.

“The BCCI Medical Team has been monitoring Rohit Sharma’s fitness and has briefed All-India Senior Selection Committee on the same. In consultation with Mr Sharma, it has been decided to rest him for the ODIs and T20Is in Australia to regain full fitness and he has been included in India’s Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” said the BCCI.

Spinner Varun Chakravarthy has also been ruled out of the three-match T20I series against Australia and pacer T Natarajan has been named as his replacement.

Natarajan was seen in remarkable form for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and the left-arm pacer has gained a reputation as a death-overs specialist.

For the ODI series against Australia, Sanju Samson has been included as a back-up wicket-keeper to KL Rahul.

SunRisers Hyderabad skipper David Warner on Sunday had confirmed that wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha has a hamstring tear.

So taking note of the situation, BCCI said that a final call for Saha’s participation will be taken later.

“The senior Indian wicket-keeper Sanha sustained injuries to both his hamstrings during his side’s IPL game on 3rd November. A call on his availability will be taken later,” said the BCCI in its release.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti who was set to accompany the Indian squad for the tour of Australia will not be able to travel to Australia as he is still working with the medical team on his bowling workload management, clarified the BCCI.

Ishant Sharma will be added to the Indian Test squad once he clears his fitness Test

The revised squads are as below:

Team India T20I squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul (vice-captain and wicket-keeper), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, T Natarajan.

Team India ODI squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (vice-captain & wicket-keeper), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper).

Team India Test squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Mohd. Siraj. (ANI)

China on Monday refrained from congratulating US President-elect Joe Biden on his victory in the high staked presidential election, saying the results of the poll “will be confirmed according to US laws and procedures “.

While leaders around the world rushed to congratulate Biden on his election victory, Russia, China, Mexico and Brazil are yet to officially wish him.

In first response since Saturday, when Biden was announced winner of the 2020 elections, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said: “We have noticed that Biden announced being successfully elected, and, as we understand, the result of the presidential election will be determined in accordance with the US legislation and established procedures.”

In 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Donald Trump soon after the Republican candidate’s win in 2016, South China Morning Post reported.

Asked on Monday when Xi would offer his congratulations, Wang Webin Wang did not respond directly, saying only that China would “act according to international customary practice”.

“On China-US relations, we have always advocated that both sides should enhance dialogue, manage differences on the basis of mutual respect, cooperate on the basis of mutual benefits, and to push for the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations,” Wang said.

Chinese foreign policy specialists have said they expect tensions between US and China to continue under the Biden presidency.

At times during the election campaign, Biden took a tough line on China, calling Xi a “thug”. His campaign has also signalled that he will call out China on its repressive policies in the far western region of Xinjiang.

Wang said China remained resolute in protecting its sovereignty and hoped the next US administration would “meet China halfway”. (ANI)

A reporter from a Tamilian news channel was hacked to death near his house in the city’s outskirts on Sunday night by a gang involved in ganja smuggling and real estate allegedly over his reportage on illegal land grabbing in Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu.

The victim, G. Moses, was a journalist with a regional channel in Tamil Nadu. Around midnight, Moses was found dead outside his house when his father heard an outcry and ran outside to look for his son. According to his father, Yesudasan, Moses was lying outside with blood shattered all over his body.

Moses was rushed to the hospital but was declared ‘brought dead’.

Moses’ father later claimed that any journalist who tried to expose land grabbing issues in the area would face the same fate. He refused to accept his son’s body and demanded an investigation in the case.

Three men have been arrested and the search of another man, Navamani, who is the prime suspect, in this case, is underway, according to the police. (ANI)

Actor Arjun Kapoor who is currently in Dharamshala shooting for his upcoming horror-comedy ‘Bhoot Police,’ on Monday said that he would be shooting for the film even on this Diwali.

The 35-year-old actor will be celebrating this Diwali with the cast of ‘Bhoot Police,’ which includes actors Jacqueline Fernandez, Saif Ali Khan and Yami Gautam.

“I am not going to meet my friends and family this Diwali and I will be working but I feel blessed and lucky that I am getting to work this year after all that we have seen,” he said.

“I think my friends and family would understand the lesser we socialise and the more we maintain distance, it will only allow us to maybe prevail against the virus it’s beneficial to all. Even our festivities should teach us that we don’t need to be with one another to celebrate. It’s the emotion, it’s the feeling,” he added.

The ‘Ishaqzaade,’ actor went on to express gratitude for being able to work during the coronavirus pandemic and said that being able to work during this is his actual “Diwali gift.”

“I am feeling grateful to be working, lucky to start a film in a time where it seemed impossible a couple of months back. I guess that’s a Diwali gift. God has been kind. I plan to spend it in Dharamshala with our cast and crew,” Kapoor said.

“I think we will be able to have a basic get together because we are in a bubble while we are shooting. It will be a day off, allowing everybody to connect with their families back home and take it easy and just be happy and pray for an amazing start to the new year,” he added.

‘Bhoot Police’ has been presented by Tips Industries Ltd in association with 12th Street Entertainment.

The spooky comedy has been produced by Ramesh Taurani, Akshai Puri, and co-produced by Jaya Taurani. (ANI)