Month: August 2022

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will deploy two medium-lift helicopters for disaster relief operations in Madhya Pradesh’s Vidisha where a flood-like situation prevails in many areas after heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours.

IAF has decided to deploy two medium-lift Helicopters – Mi17 V5s – at Vidisha at Madhya Pradesh government’s request.
In the last 24 hours, State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) together have rescued over 400 people from inundation rain in the state.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj S Chouhan reviewed situations in rain-affected districts of the state.

The Rajgarh collector informed that precautions were being taken in view of the increased water levels of Ajnar river, added the CMO.

Reportedly, due to incessant rains, the Narmadapuram administration decided to keep all schools closed for today.

Earlier, India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in 39 districts including Bhopal, Ujjain, Jabalpur, Ratlam, Neemuch and Mandsaur.

IMD also informed that a deep depression over the Central parts of Madhya Pradesh and adjoining south Uttar Pradesh has weakened into a depression.

The IMD said that the depression will continue to move west-north-westwards across north Madhya Pradesh and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area during the next 24 hours.

The authorities also released names of some of the people who were rescued: Vidisha (190), Rajgarh (103), Ashoknagar (94), Raisen (7), Jabalpur (5), Mandla (3), Sidhi (2), Guna (3), were among those rescued. (ANI)

National General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party Tarun Chugh slammed former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah over his local and non-local voters remark and said that no ISI or Afghan terrorist has been made a voter in the region.

“Farooq Abdullah’s statement is unfortunate. He being such a senior leader refers to non-local and local voters. The Constitution of India gives the right to vote to all citizens of India,” said Chugh.
He alleged that the voting rights of people who had been staying in the valley for decades were withheld by Abdullah.

“Farooq Abdullah had withheld the voting rights of the people. Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba ji are spreading the poison of local and non-locals. The citizens of India have now got their right to vote while under your leadership they were left for terrorists from Afghanistan and ISI and were given the title of refugees,” he added.

He also stressed that the President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Farooq Abdullah would be given voting rights across various regions in the country as a citizen of India and he thus questioned the credibility of his ‘non-local voters remarks.’

The BJP secretary’s remarks came as an all-party meeting was held at the National Conference president Farooq Abdullah’s residence in Srinagar over the “registration of new voters in Jammu and Kashmir. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also present for the meeting.

The meeting was convened following remarks by the Union Territory’s chief Electoral officer Hirdesh Kumar on the addition of voters in the revised electoral rolls after which the Jammu and Kashmir’s Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) issued a clarification stating that there is no change in the special provisions for the enrolment of Kashmiri migrants.

“There is no change in the rules regarding the buying of property and jobs in the Jammu and Kashmir’s government,” it added.

“We will see what all parties think about this law,” National Conference leader AM Sagar said ahead of the meeting.

The Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) chairman Sajad Gani Lone, however, did not participate in the meeting.

“We as a party neither accept the clarification given by the government in totality nor do we reject it. We know the current administration here or in Delhi doesn’t hold political parties in Jammu and Kashmir in high esteem,” Lone said.

“It’s not the law that’s a threat to us. We’re scared of those implementing the law. If we feel there is demographic intervention or the rights of the people of J&K are compromised, then we will sit on hunger strike in front of Parliament in Delhi,” the JKPC leader said.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party president Ravinder Raina also called a meeting of top party leaders at the party headquarters in Trikuta Nagar.

The agenda of the meeting was to chalk out a counter strategy against the all-party meeting called by Farooq Abdullah and others in Srinagar.

Notably, Election Commission on August 17 announced the schedule of the Special Summary Revision in Jammu and Kashmir, and announced that the people who were not voters in the Assembly after the abrogation of Article 370 from the region can now be named on the voter’s list.

According to an official, the person need not be a “permanent resident” of the Union Territory for the same.

The move was opposed by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti who called it the “last nail in the coffin of electoral democracy”.

Addressing a press conference last week, Hirdesh Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer, J-K and Ladakh, said, “After the abrogation of Article 370, many people who weren’t voters in the Assembly can now be named on the voter’s list to cast their vote… and no person needs to be a permanent resident of the state/UT.”

According to the schedule, Integrated Draft Electoral Roll would be published by all Electoral Registration Officers on September 15, 2022. The period between September 15 and October 25 has been earmarked for filing claims and objections and all disposals in this regard would be completed by November 10.

Checking of health parameters and obtaining the Commission’s permission for final publication, updating the database and printing of supplements are to be done by November 19, 2022. The Final Electoral Roll would be published on November 25.

The Chief Electoral Officer reiterated that any person attaining the age of 18 years on or before October 1, 2022, who is otherwise qualified to be enrolled as an elector in the Electoral Roll, can apply for his registration during this special summary revision.

The final electoral roll after due disposal of all claims and objections filed within the stipulated time period would be published on November 25, 2022. (ANI)

Ahead of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s return to Sri Lanka, a rights group said the government should provide protection to the former president and his family.

Rajapaksa had relinquished power after a series of violent protests amid an unprecedented economic crisis in the country.
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has recommended that the government takes all necessary steps to assess the threat situation and provide the former president with security protection provided under the law, Sri Lanka’s Newswire reported.

“The Family of Gotabaya Rajapakse, now living aboard, is entitled to the protection of the law to a safe return to the country,” the HRCSL said.

This recommendation comes as Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) last week sought protection for Gotabaya, who is expected to return to the island nation this week.

Gotabaya’s brother Mahinda Rajapaksa led-SLPP put forward the demand in a meeting with the incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe and requested the President to ensure Gotabaya Rajapaksa is given safe passage into Sri Lanka, Colombo Gazette reported.

Sri Lanka has been facing its worst economic crisis, which led to massive protests in the country that forced Rajapaksa to flee abroad and also hand in his resignation last month.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in Thailand last week following his departure from Singapore. He was granted entry into Thailand following a request from the Sri Lankan government.

He left Singapore last Thursday after nearly a month’s stay. The former president was issued a 14-day visit pass when he arrived at the Changi Airport in Singapore from the Maldives last month and he was allowed to stay there for two weeks.

Thailand has denied reports that the former Sri Lankan President has sought asylum in the country. The Thailand Foreign Ministry said it received a request from Rajapaksa to visit the country with no intention of seeking political asylum.

Thailand would be the second Southeast Asian country after the Maldives that Rajapaksa is seeking temporary shelter in after fleeing his island nation last month amid mass protests.

Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced the official resignation of Rajapaksa on July 15. After the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as President of Sri Lanka on July 21 in Parliament.

He was earlier appointed as interim president of Sri Lanka as Rajapaksa fled abroad after his palace was stormed by angry protesters amid the unprecedented economic crisis. (ANI)

Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar was on Tuesday detained by the Telangana Police in Jangaon district.

BJP leader and official spokesperson NV Subash confirmed reports of his detention.
“Bandi was holding a protest in Jangaon District against the arrest of BJP workers in Hyderabad,” Subash said.

He was holding a protest Dharma Deeksha against the arrest of BJP workers in Hyderabad who allegedly attacked MLC Kavitha’s residence on Monday.

Earlier, Hyderabad Police on Tuesday took into custody BJP MLA Raja Singh for making an alleged blasphemous remark against Prophet Muhammad.

Hyderabad South Zone Police filed an FIR against Raja Singh on Tuesday morning. The FIR was registered against him at the Dabeerpura Police Station under sections 153a, 295, and 505 of the Indian Penal Code.

Protests had erupted in parts of Hyderabad late on Monday after Singh, the MLA from Goshamahal released a video in which he purportedly made the remarks. Protestors gathered in front of the city Police Commissioner’s office demanding immediate action against the BJP MLA.

Police took the protesters into custody at the commissioner’s office in Basheer Bagh and shifted them to several police stations.

According to the inspector at the Dabeerpura police station, last night over 250 people gathered to protest in front of the Dabeerpura police station stating that Raja Singh has shared a derogatory video about the Prophet and had also abused and hurt the religious sentiments of the community.

“We immediately took all the details from them and registered a case under relevant sections of IPC and further probe into the case has been initiated,” Inspector Dabeerpura police station said.

Police took the protesters into custody at the commissioner’s office in Basheer Bagh and took them to several police stations.

On August 19, the BJP MLA was put under house arrest after he opposed the show that was held by standup comedian Munawar Faruqui in Hyderabad on August 20.

Raja Singh made a video claiming that Hyderabad Police had given protection to the stand-up artiste and helped to make his show successful.

The BJP MLA alleged that Faruqui had made certain remarks that hurt religious sentiments and used foul language for him.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad police have increased the security and have deployed forces out of the Hyderabad police commissioner’s office. Police have also increased security in parts of the city. (ANI)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and actress Sonali Phogat died in Goa, police confirmed on Tuesday. She was 42.

As per reports, the ‘Big Boss 14’ participant suffered a heart attack this morning.
DGP Jaspal Singh confirmed Sonali Phogat’s demise.

Sonali Phogat, who hailed from Haryana, contested the last assembly election from Haryana from the Adampur constituency on a BJP ticket against Kuldeep Bishnoi. She also appeared in the reality show ‘Bigg Boss’ in 2020.

Hours before her sudden demise, Sonali Phogat had posted some pictures and videos of herself on Instagram. In the images, she was seen flaunting her pink dupatta.

In 2016, Sonali Phogat made her acting debut with the TV show ‘Amma: Ek Maa Jo Laakhon Ke Liye Bani Amma’. She was also a part of the web series, ‘The Story Of Badmashgarh’ in 2019.

She had rose to fame with her videos on TikTok that had a huge following.

In the year 2020 she made headlines for thrashing a Market Committee Official in Hisar.

Several videos of the incident circulated on social media in which Sonali Phogat was seen slapping the individual identified as Sultan Singh.

The late BJP leader then removed her footwear and began hitting the man with it.

More details regarding Sonali Phogat’s death are awaited. (ANI)

Hollywood stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, on Saturday tied the knot for the second time in Georgia. The couple’s wedding celebration was a romantic affair and “a dream” for the bride.

According to People magazine, a source close to the couple shared that Lopez thought the couple’s weekend celebration in Georgia with their friends and family was “perfect.”
The source stated, “It was a dream for her.” “She loved having all the kids there. She loved the location. It all felt very special.”

According to the source, the actress and singer “feels extremely happy being married to Ben.”

“She keeps saying my husband and it’s very cute,” said the source.

Jennifer and Ben, first tied the knot earlier in July this year and recently celebrated their three-day wedding extravaganza with their family members and close friends in Georgia.

Twinning with her husband, Lopez wore a beautiful white Ralph Lauren gown with a long, flowing train and veil at the weekend ceremony, with the Argo Oscar winner in a tuxedo with a white jacket and black pants.

Pictures from their wedding are currently being circulated on social media which showed them walking down a white aisle followed by their children. Jay Shetty, a popular podcaster and life coach officiated the ceremony.

The guest lists included Ben’s long-time friend Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Barosso, the ‘Clerks’ director Kevin Smith and actor Jason Mewes and top Hollywood talent agent Patrick Whitesell and his wife, model/actress Pia Miller, according to People.

Ahead of the wedding ceremony, a source confirmed that Affleck and Lopez had an extraordinary weekend of celebrations planned, including a pre-wedding party, a ceremony and … lots of fun lined up.

The insider stated that the ‘Marry Me’ actor was ecstatic about the plans, noting that their kids will be part of the celebrations too. It will be a beautiful weekend.

On Thursday, Glow Med Spa owner Courtney Victor told PEOPLE after Lopez visited the spa that she and Affleck “are clearly in love.”

Earlier in an interview, Glow Med Spa owner Courtney Victor shared that after Lopez’s spa visit. It was noticeable that she and Affleck “are clearly in love.”

“They all seemed like such a happy and cohesive family unit. “She is absolutely flawless. It’s unbelievable how beautiful she is,” said Victor.

Ben, 49, and Jennifer, 53, surprised fans in July when they revealed they wed at A Little White Chapel in Las Vegas.

The high-profile pair who met in 2001 when they both starred in the movie “Gigli,” embarked on a very public romance and got engaged the following year.

The wedding was postponed and in 2004 they called it quits. Ben went on to marry “Alias” star Jennifer Garner, with whom he shares three children, Violet, 16, Seraphina, 14, and Samuel, 10. They finalized their divorce in 2018 and he went on to date “SNL” producer Lindsay Shookus and Cuban actress Ana de Armas who he met on the set of their film, “Deep Water.”

On the other hand, Jennifer married singer Marc Anthony in June 2004, with whom she shares twins, Emme and Max, born in 2008. The pair eventually divorced. And in May 2021, Ben and Jennifer sparked dating rumours when they were spotted holding hands while on vacation in Montana. Jennifer revealed in her ‘On the JLo’ newsletter that she and Affleck, 49, tied the knot at A Little White Chapel.

In the newsletter, she wrote, “So with the best witnesses you could ever imagine, a dress from an old movie and a jacket from Ben’s closet, we read our own vows in the little chapel and gave one another the rings we’ll wear for the rest of our lives,” adding that the ceremony was “exactly what we wanted.” (ANI)

Hyderabad Police on Tuesday took into custody BJP MLA Raja Singh for making an alleged blasphemous remark against Prophet Muhammad.

Hyderabad South Zone Police filed an FIR against Raja Singh on Tuesday morning. The FIR was registered against him at the Dabeerpura Police Station under sections 153a, 295, and 505 of the Indian Penal Code.
Protests had erupted in parts of Hyderabad late on Monday after Singh, the MLA from Goshamahal released a video in which he purportedly made the remarks. Protestors gathered in front of the city Police Commissioner’s office demanding immediate action against the BJP MLA.

Police took the protesters into custody at the commissioner’s office in Basheer Bagh and shifted them to several police stations.

According to inspector at the Dabeerpura police station, last night over 250 people gathered to protest in front of the Dabeerpura police station stating that Raja Singh has shared a derogatory video about the Prophet and had also abused and hurt religious sentiments of the community.

“We immediately took all the details from them and registered a case under relevant sections of IPC and further probe into the case has been initiated,” Inspector Dabeerpura police station said.

Police took the protesters into custody at the commissioner’s office in Basheer Bagh and took them to several police stations.

On August 19, the BJP MLA was put under house arrest after he opposed the show that was held by standup comedian Munawar Faruqui in Hyderabad on August 20.

Raja Singh made a video claiming that Hyderabad Police had given protection to the stand up artiste and helped to make his show successful.

The BJP MLA alleged that Faruqui had made certain remarks that hurt religious sentiments and used foul language for him.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad police have increased the security and have deployed forces out of the Hyderabad police commissioner’s office. Police have also increased security in parts of the city. (ANI)

The Yuan Wang 5, China’s missile and satellite tracking ship which had berthed at Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, departed on Monday, media reports said citing the Harbour Master.

Sri Lankan media portal, News First reported the information. The Chinese research ship last week arrived and docked at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port. Notably, the vessel is capable of tracking satellites and intercontinental missiles and considered a spy ship.

There were grave concerns that the ship could conduct satellite research in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean region, prompting security concerns from India. China on Tuesday said that the docking of its Yuan Wang 5 ship at Hambantota port in Sri Lanka does not affect any country and termed at as normal exchange between the two countries.

Commenting on the Chinese spy vessel Yuan Wang-5 docking in Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that any developments which have a bearing on India’s security are “obviously of an interest to us”.

“What happens in our neighbourhood, any developments which have a bearing on our security obviously are of an interest to us,” Jaishankar said at a Joint Press Conference after the 9th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting and MoU signing ceremony.

India had expressed its security concerns over the docking of the vessel at the Sri Lankan port as it was shown as a research vessel with the capability of mapping the ocean bed, which is critical to the antisubmarine operations of the Chinese Navy.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister confirmed that the Chinese vessel ‘Yuan Wang-5’, widely believed to be a spy ship, has been given clearance to arrive at Hambantota Port on August 16.

“Having considered all material in place, on 13 August 2022, the clearance to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China was conveyed for the deferred arrival of the vessel from 16-22 August 2022,” Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

Giving details about the process, the foreign affairs ministry said that they were informed by China via a diplomatic note on June 28 regarding Yuan Wang 5 arrival.

The Sri Lankan government was requested to provide necessary assistance and positive consideration to the request by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

“On 12 August 2022 the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China informed the Ministry via Diplomatic Note that the vessel Yuan Wang-5 was scheduled to arrive in the port of Hambantota on 16 August 2022 and applied for clearance for replenishment purposes for the new dates 16 to 22 August 2022,” the statement reads.

Hambantota Port, located around 250 km from Colombo was built with high-interest Chinese loans. The Sri Lankan government struggled to repay the debt they had taken from China following which the port was handed over to the Chinese on a 99-year lease. (ANI)

As many as 13 people have been arrested in connection with stone pelting at the convoy of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the police said on Monday.

“A total of 13 accused have been arrested in connection with stone-pelting at the convoy of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar yesterday,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patna.

On Sunday, stones were hurled at the Chief Minister’s convoy in Patna. Nitish Kumar was not present in the convoy when the incident took place.

Earlier on Friday, the Chief Minister was on an ariel survey of drought-hit areas in the state.

Several districts of Bihar are staring at a drought-like situation after a deficit in rainfall was reported this monsoon.

The political scenario in the state has changed since upset with Bharatiya Janata Party, Nitish Kumar broke the alliance with BJP and staked a claim to form a government with RJD earlier this month.

Kumar was sworn Chief Minister for a record eighth time on August 10 and expanded his cabinet a week after breaking his alliance with BJP. (ANI)

The national capital reported 625 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours, another drop in the infections in comparison to yesterday, according to a bulletin by the Delhi Health Department on Monday.

The city had reported 942 fresh infections yesterday with a case positivity rate of 7.25 per cent which increased to 9.27 per cent today.
The active cases in the city dropped to 4,645 from 5,559 yesterday.

According to the bulletin, 1,114 COVID patients recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries since the onset of the pandemic in the city to 19,63,376.

Seven patients succumbed to the virus. The death toll in the city rose to 26,427.

A total of 6,744 COVID samples were tested in the last 24 hours.

As many as 25,738 beneficiaries were administered COVID vaccines during this period. Cumulatively, 3,62,42,820 doses of vaccines have been jabbed so far. (ANI)