Month: October 2024

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai highlighted the Aam Aadmi Party government’s transformative measures to control increasing air pollution in the national capital, saying that these efforts have been successful, noting that the city has recorded 200 days of good air quality for the second consecutive year.

Rai also slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party saying that they keep spreading lies about air pollution.

The Delhi Environment Minister attributed the achievement to the combined efforts of the AAP government and the people of Delhi, urging more cooperation from the central government to further reduce pollution, especially as winter approaches.

“Winter typically brings pollution across North India, particularly in the capital city, Delhi. However, despite being the day after Dussehra, when air quality usually deteriorates, Delhi was experiencing clean air,” Gopal Rai said.

Minister Gopal Rai pointed out that the data, released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), confirms Delhi has experienced 200 good air quality days for two consecutive years. He said, “BJP keeps spreading lies that pollution has increased in Delhi. I urge them to speak to their Union Environment Minister or the CPCB and verify whether the CPCB figures are correct.”

The Delhi Environment Minister noted, “It has been almost ten days since it last rained in Delhi, yet the Air Quality Index (AQI) is not in the poor category. It’s not just about today. This is the second consecutive year in Delhi that this has happened.”

Minister Gopal Rai further added that last year, between January and October 12th, Delhi recorded 200 days of good air quality, and as of October 12th this year, the city had achieved the same milestone. He recalled that in 2020, for the first time after 2016, Delhi had also surpassed the 200-day mark.

“Achieving 200 good air quality days out of 365 without a lockdown is a major achievement for the people of Delhi. I believe that in the coming months if we continue to work together, we can increase the number of such days,” shared the Environment Minister.

Minister Gopal Rai pointed out that the data, released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), confirms Delhi has experienced 200 good air quality days for two consecutive years. He said, “BJP keeps spreading lies that pollution has increased in Delhi. I urge them to speak to their Union Environment Minister or the CPCB and verify whether the CPCB figures are correct.”

Minister Gopal Rai noted that some experts believe the recent good air quality days can be attributed not only to government initiatives but also to increased rainfall, which significantly helps control dust pollution, vehicle emissions, and biomass burning. He cautioned, however, that as the seasons change, with slowing winds and dropping temperatures, pollutants may settle closer to the surface.

He said, “During July, August, and September, the Air Quality Index (AQI) remained around 50 for extended periods, largely due to rainfall. Thus, to reduce pollution during such times, we suggest that artificial rainfall could be beneficial in maintaining good air quality.”

The Environment Minister said, “I had written a letter a month ago on August 30th to the Union Environment Minister asking him to call a meeting of experts from IIT Kanpur and other departments to address this issue, but there has been no response. We wrote a letter again on 10th October, and no response came.”

“My request to the Honorable Environment Minister, as the Central Environment Minister, it is also your responsibility to support the people of Delhi in this fight against pollution. Therefore, I repeatedly urge you that if the Artificial Rain technology developed by IIT Kanpur is available to India, we should implement it in Delhi so that even in alarming situations, we can reduce pollution levels,” he said.

Minister Gopal Rai expressed that the improvement in pollution levels in Delhi is a result of the cooperation of its residents. He said, “In the past 5-7 years, since Arvind Kejriwal’s government came into power and gradually implemented various measures, awareness among the people of Delhi has increased. People have become more sensitive about pollution and the environment. As a result, we see that more people are buying electric vehicles, planting trees and plants at home, and children are becoming more conscious of these issues.”

“Therefore, I believe that since we have achieved 200 good air quality days by October 12, we can further improve the pollution levels in the coming months of November and December, and for this, we need support from the people of Delhi,” he said.

The Environment Minister emphasised that there are numerous locations in Delhi where dust is prevalent, vehicles emit smoke, and people burn garbage and biomass. He called for cooperation from the public and the support of all media channels, newspapers, and digital platforms, highlighting that everyone in Delhi shares the same air to breathe.

Minister Gopal Rai announced the launch of the Green Delhi App and urged everyone in the city–to download it from the Google Play Store or App Store. By taking photos of polluting activities, residents can assist in the fight against pollution. He emphasized, “With the coordination of all departments through the Delhi War Room, we can effectively address these issues and reduce pollution levels. We are confident that with your help, we will run this campaign together.”

The Delhi Minister stressed the importance of public cooperation, stating that without it, achieving 200 good air quality days would not have been possible. He said, “Three factors have contributed to this success–the cooperation of the people of Delhi, nature, and government efforts. Together, these three factors have enabled us to achieve the goal of 200 good days for the second consecutive year.”

He also appealed to the central government to be more proactive and provide better support, expressing confidence that together they could achieve even better results.

Minister Gopal Rai mentioned the launch of the Anti-Dust Campaign on the 7th and his visits to several sites where violations were identified. Following these visits, he convened a meeting with 120 different agencies at the Delhi Secretariat to clarify necessary actions, as many had claimed ignorance. He assured that there would be no leniency moving forward, and strict action would be taken against anyone found contributing to dust pollution.

The Environment Minister added, “From tomorrow, the Anti-Dust Campaign will be intensified, and any violations will be dealt with strictly. Therefore, I urge all of you to cooperate in this fight and support the government’s initiative to make Delhi pollution-free.” (ANI)

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At a time when the Indian defence researchers are developing a large number of tactical missile systems, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has given approval for setting up a new missiles testing range in Andhra Pradesh.

The proposal was cleared by the CCS headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week as per which the new missile range will come up in the Nagayalanka area of Andhra Pradesh, government sources told ANI.

The new missile testing range will be used for test firing of tactical missile systems like the surface to air missile systems, anti tank missiles and various other projects being developed by the Research and Development Organisation, they said.

The CCS in its meeting last week gave clearance to major proposals of the armed forces including that of buying 31 Predator drones from the US and two nuclear submarines to be built by the Project ATV for developing strategic submarines for the Indian Navy, they said.

The proposals for building roads for the forces along with space based capabilities were also given a go ahead.

The DRDO is at an advanced stage of developing a large number of weapon systems for the defence forces including the Very Short Range Air Defence Systems, man portable anti tank guided missiles, anti tank guided missiles, quick reaction surface to air missile systems, vertical launched short range air defence systems and many other systems in the tactical domain.

The DRDO would also be playing a big role in the construction of the nuclear submarines that have been cleared by CCS. (ANI)

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Lakme Fashion Week, in collaboration with FDCI, continues to dazzle audiences with stunning collections and star-studded showstoppers.

On Sunday, Bollywood star Karisma Kapoor graced the runway as the showstopper for designer duo Ritika and Prerna, showcasing their debut collection under the label Urmil.

Karisma captivated the audience as she strutted down the ramp in an enchanting ethnic outfit that perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the festive season.

She looked like a goddess in a light green sleeveless blouse with a sweetheart neckline, adorned with intricate beaded embroidery and playful tassel detailing.

The asymmetrical hemline and delicate bow cascading from her shoulder added a touch of drama, beautifully complementing her matching flared skirt, embellished with floral sequin embroidery and frill accents.

Accessorizing her look with multiple stacked silver bracelets, a statement ring, and elegant silver strappy heels, Karisma exuded sophistication.

Her makeup was equally flawless, featuring shimmery eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, and glossy pink lips that accentuated her natural beauty. Completing her look, she left her luscious hair elegantly open, parted down the middle.

During a media interaction, Karisma described her outfit, saying, “I would describe this outfit as soft and fierce, maybe something like me,” accompanied by a playful wink.

Reflecting on her grandmother Krishna Kapoor’s influence, Karisma noted, “She is the epitome of grace. The way she carried herself, her style quotient–she is inspirational to me and to all her grandchildren.”

Karisma also emphasized the importance of comfort in her wardrobe choices, saying, “I like to wear what I am comfortable in. This outfit that I am wearing is bold and fierce; it is a standout piece. Today’s women are bold and fierce, yet soft, and this is something that epitomizes everyone.”

Speaking about the nerves of walking the runway, she admitted, “To be very honest, you definitely get a few jitters. We are used to acting in front of cameras, but here it’s live, so even though I have walked multiple times, I still have that one minute of ‘Oh my God!’ But when you see everyone cheering and familiar faces, then you relax.”

The Urmil label’s debut collection, titled “Poetry of Love,” is a tribute to the bond between people and is inspired by the enduring qualities of their grandmother.

Ritika and Prerna highlighted their collection’s feminine yet daring silhouettes, adorned with intricate embroidery and detailed craftsmanship.

The colour palette featured serene whites and sage greens, perfect for the festive season. (ANI)

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The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Sunday came lashing out at the Maharashtra government over law and order situation, “corruption” and non-fulfilment of promises.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray said that the MVA will announce their chief ministerial face after Mahayuti

Notably, Mahayuti is the alliance of BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction). MVA on the other hand, is the alliance of Congress, Shiv Sena-UBT (Uddhav Thackeray’s faction) and NCP-SP (Sharad Pawar’s faction).

Addressing a joint press conference, Uddhav Thackeray said, “BJP’s condition is so bad, that they are forced to contest under the leadership of thieves and traitors…Let Mahayuti announce their CM face first then we will let you all know who is our CM face. Being in government, Mahayuti should announce their CM face first.”

He also attacked the Maharashtra government over the killing of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui and said suspicions are raised on every action of the Shinde government.

“Whether it is the arrest of accused in Baba Siddique’s murder or encounter of Akshay Shinde (rape accused). Suspicions are being raised on every act of this govt and this is not a good thing. We are not sure who are these arrested accused. They (Maharashtra govt) are keeping tabs on our movements but are not watching the criminals,” the former CM said.

NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar and Congress leader Nana Patole also agreed with Uddhav Thackeray’s statement regarding MVA’s CM face.

“Whatever Uddhav Thackeray said about CM’s face was quite clear and that is it,” he said.

He also attacked the Maharashtra government over the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Scheme.

“Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Scheme was cheating, there is no clarity of budgeting and financial provision for the scheme. If they can make clear and separate provisions for financial support for this scheme we won’t oppose it,” Pawar stated.

The MVA leaders also released a booklet titled ‘Gaddarancha Panchnama’ attacking the Mahrashtra government accusing it of “betraying” the dharma of Maharashtra.

“We have a booklet of the same panchnama all the details are in this panchnama. We are showing a video of the same booklet,” Sharad Pawar said.

Nana Patole also attacked the Mahayuti alliance over Baba Siddiqui’s killing and said no one is safe under this government.

“Yesterday’s incident proves that no one is safe in this state. Children, women and even leaders are not safe. The government is only busy in doing politics,” Patole said.

“Police DG Rashmi Shukla is on his post unconstitutionally. We have also complained against this to the Election Commission,” he added.

The assembly elections in Maharashtra are expected to be held later this year. (ANI)

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Mumbai police presented the two accused in the Baba Siddique firing case, Gurmail Singh and Dharmraj Singh Kashyap in Mumbai’s Esplanade Court on Sunday.

Police have demanded 14 days of police custody for both the accused for further investigation. Additionally, Police have also recovered 28 live cartridges in possession of the accused. 

Former Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique, was shot near Nirmal Nagar in Bandra. He later succumbed to his bullet injuries at Lilavati Hospital late Saturday night.

Following the incident, Mumbai police apprehended two accused Gurmail Singh, a native of Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh in connection with the case. Mumbai Police said that two more accused are still absconding in this case.

According to the police, the two accused were in Mumbai and were keeping a close eye on Siddique.

The death of Baba Siddique has caused a political storm in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackrey attacked the Maharashtra government saying, “Whether it is the arrest of accused in Baba Siddique’s murder or encounter of Akshay Shinde (rape accused). Suspicions are being raised on every act of this govt and this is not a good thing. We are not sure who are these arrested accused. They (Maharashtra govt) are keeping tabs on our movements but are not watching the criminals.”

Siddique, after being associated with Congress for the last 35 years joined NCP eight months ago.

Meanwhile, Baba Siddique’s village in Sheikhpurdil, Bihar, mourned his demise and expressed concerns over the law and order situation in Maharashtra.

The villagers said that despite living in Mumbai, Siddique used to frequently visit Gopalganj and had 40 institutions running in the name of his father, Abdur Rahim Trust.

As per the villagers, Siddiqui also visited Gopalganj during Covid-19 and distributed a large amount of relief material to the people including sanitizers, masks and PPE kits.

Siddique’s nephew said that the family could not believe the news of the death.

“When we heard about the incident, we could not believe it. How could such a big political leader, who has been so helpful to other people and a big-hearted person be shot dead? If he could be shot dead, then what would be the situation of the common people? This raises several questions for the Maharashtra government. I demand strict action on the culprits,” he told ANI. (ANI)

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Over 100 children have died in Pakistan’s Karachi from diphtheria this year due to the unavailability of Diphtheria Anti-Toxin (DAT), despite the disease being preventable through vaccination, Geo News reported.

According to Sindh’s health officials, last year 140 cases were received by Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and 52 of them could not survive.

Meanwhile, experts of infectious diseases said the antitoxin medicine used against the disease was not available across Sindh, including Karachi. They said antitoxin worth Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 0.25 million was used for treating one child, Geo News reported.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Diphtheria is a contagious disease caused by a bacterium that affects the upper respiratory tract and skin. It produces a toxin that damages the heart and the nerves.

Although Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease, but multiple doses and booster doses are needed to produce and sustain immunity. Hence, those who are not immunized or under-immunized are at risk of the disease.

Experts in Pakistan have raised demands for vaccine coverage and intervention but it has fallen on deaf ears.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Director Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Muhammad Arif Khan had said last year that diphtheria was a life-threatening disease and timely vaccination was the sole way to prevent fatal ailment and its outbreaks in the community.

“It primarily affects the throat and upper respiratory tract but can also lead to systemic complications. Diphtheria is known for the formation of a greyish-white membrane in the throat, which can cause difficulty in breathing and swallowing.” Khan told the media.

Signs and symptoms of the disease as noted by WHO appear 2-5 days after exposure to the bacteria. Typical symptoms of the infection include a sore throat, fever, swollen neck glands and weakness.

According to WHO, for unvaccinated individuals, without proper treatment, diphtheria can be fatal in around 30 per cent of cases, with young children at higher risk of dying In 2023 alone, an estimated 84 per cent of children worldwide received the recommended 3 doses of diphtheria-containing vaccine during infancy, leaving 16 per cent with no or incomplete coverage. There is wide coverage variation between and within countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made matters worse as it impacted the delivery of routine immunization services and surveillance activities, a report by WHO noted.

According to the World Bank Group, immunisation rates across Pakistan vary widely with the lowest recorded in Balochistan at a meagre 38 per cent. When compared to countries in Eastern and Southern Asia that have a similar level of wealth, Pakistan’s immunization coverage ranks very low. (ANI)

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Actor Anupam Kher showered praise on actress and breast cancer survivor Mahima Chaudhry for her courage and brilliant performance during the filming of ‘The Signature’.

Taking to his Instagram on Sunday, the actor shared a video with glimpses from the film and wrote a sweet message, acknowledging Mahima’s strength while battling cancer.

In his post, the actor mentioned that Mahima continued to work on the film despite undergoing chemotherapy and losing her hair.

“This is NOT my movie promotion post. This is to APPLAUD you and your courage during the making of our film. Having discovered that you have #Cancer, that you were going through your chemotherapy and that you had lost most of your hair, you still went ahead and shot for our film. Happily and Professionally!,” Kher wrote.

Describing her performance in the film as “more than brilliant,” the actor shared, “Your performance in The Signature is more than BRILLIANT! It can easily be called one of the best in many years. Beautifully nuanced, heartbreaking, compassionate, effortless, and real.”

“You are the real HERO. A real #RoleModel. A real INFLUENCER! It was my pleasure and privilege to work with you,” he added.

The Signature explores the emotional trials of a devoted husband, essayed by Anupam Kher as he grapples with a life-altering crisis.

Produced by KC Bokadia and Anupam Kher Studio, the film features an impressive cast of Mahima Chaudhry, Neena Kulkarni, Annu Kapoor, and Ranvir Shorey.

The film follows Arvind (Anupam Kher), whose life is turned upside down when his wife collapses at the airport just before an anticipated trip.

The film premiered on Zee5 on October 4, offering viewers a heartfelt narrative of love, sacrifice, and resilience. (ANI)

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Security has been increased outside the apartment of Bollywood actor Salman Khan following the killing of former minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique on Saturday evening.

Visuals showed security personnel outside the Galaxy Apartment of the ‘Sultan’ actor.

Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and leader in Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was shot near Nirmal Nagar in Bandra.

He later succumbed to his bullet injuries at Lilavati Hospital late Saturday night.

Salman visited Lilavati Hospital late on Saturday night to offer his condolences and meet the family of Siddique, who passed away from bullet injuries.

The event comes months after an earlier security scare involving the actor.

On April 14, two bike-borne men opened fire outside Salman Khan’s Bandra residence. The assailants, Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, were later arrested in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police has registered a case in connection to the killing of Siddique under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Arms Act and Maharashtra Police Act.

The case has been registered at Nirmal Nagar Police Station under Crime Registration No. 589/2024, Sections 103(1), 109, 125, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3, 25, 5, and 27 of the Arms Act, and Section 37 and section 137 of the Maharashtra Police Act.

The police have also revealed the identities of two arrested accused and made some shocking revelations about their planning.

The two accused have been identified as Gurmail Singh, a native of Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday announced that Siddique would be cremated with full state honours.

According to the Chief Minister Office (CMO), Siddique will be given full state honours as he served as minister in the Maharashtra government during 2004-2008 and also as chairman of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday said that five teams have been formed and sent to different states to probe Siddiqui’s killing and it will be known in 2-3 days who was behind the incident. Ajit Pawar went to Cooper Hospital where the body of Baba Siddique was shifted for post-mortem and met the NCP leader’s son Zeeshan Siddique. (ANI)

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Kerala Raj Bhavan organised a Vidyarambham ceremony introducing children to the world of learning on the occasion of Vijayadashmi on Sunday.

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan helped the tiny tots with their first letters at the event organised by the Raj Bhavan held in Thiruvananthapuram.

Thousands of tiny tots were initiated into the world of letters and knowledge in Kerala on ths auspicious occassion, marking the culmination of the nine-day-long annual Navaratri festival.

In Kerala, Vijayadasami is observed as the day of Vidyarambham, the beginning of learning.

According to tradition, scholars, writers, teachers, priests, and other respected figures in society guide young children, typically between the ages of two and three, in writing their first letters of learning on this special occasion. They assist the little ones in writing ‘HariSree’ on rice-filled platters or trace it on the child’s tongue with a golden ring.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also initiated children into writing their first letters at a Vidyarambham ceremony at Saraswati temple in Thiruvananthapuram today.

Speaking on occasion, Shashi Tharoor said, ” Vidyarambham is a very important ritual where usually in devotion to Goddess Saraswati, for us Navratri is mainly about Goddess Saraswati.So learning is the culmination of Puja. We teach young children their first letters of the alphabet, it says initiation into letters. Parents bring their children, they sit on your lap or stand next to you, write on a grain platter, rice platter usually and we write ‘Om Hari Shri’.”

The Vidayarambham ceremony was also organised in Dakshina Mookambika Temple in North Paravur in Kerala’s Ernakulam to help children write their first letters on Vijayadashmi.

Vidyarambham or ‘Ezthiniruthu’ is one of many customs practised across Kerala on Vijayadashmi day. Basically, Vidyarambham means the initiation of knowledge (Vidya means knowledge and aarambham means initiate).

The children are made to write at first on a plate of rice and then the person who initiates the child to write also scribbles letters on the child’s tongue using a gold ring or coin. This symbolically represents the initiation of writing and speaking. (ANI)

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The first train since the derailment incident on Friday, passed through the Up main line at Ponneri-Kavarappetai railway station, after being cleared by the Southern Railway on Sunday morning.

This comes after 12-13 coaches of the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express derailed after a collision with a goods train on Friday. As many as 19 people sustained injuries, but no fatalities were reported.

Meanwhile, the restoration work is underway at Ponneri- Kavarappettai railway stations in Chennai Division, which is around 46 km from Chennai.

On October 12, the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Anant Madhukar Chowdhary inspected the site of the October 11 accident.

“I came here to investigate. I have to first check the site, take statements from various people and then come to a conclusion. The inquiry will start next week,” Chowdhary told reporters.

“At present, I have only seen the site. Let me first investigate, then only some conclusion can be drawn,” he added.

Southern Railway General Manager RN Singh had earlier said that the restoration is expected to be completed by Saturday night.

“Despite this serious incident, we are fortunate not to have any causality. Nobody is in danger, a few suffered minor fractures and they are getting treatment, all will be discharged from the hospital by evening. By tonight, the restoration will be completed,” RN Singh said while speaking to reporters earlier.

According to officials, the stranded passengers of Train No.12578 Mysuru – Darbhanga Bagmati Express which met the accident at Kavaraipettai in Chennai Division around 08.30 pm on 11th October 2024 were transported by buses to Ponneri and Chennai Central by two EMU Specials in early morning.

At Chennai Central, Railway doctors conducted a medical checkup for the passengers, after which they were provided food and water and were boarded onto the Passenger Special towards Darbhanga, via Arakkonam, Renigunta and Gudur.

The special Train left at 04.45 hrs from Dr MGR Chennai Central. A high-level enquiry has been ordered by the Railway into the accident.

Due to the accident, several trains were rescheduled and diverted. (ANI)

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