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2:03 AM

Harsh Vardhan to address IISF 2020 curtain raiser on Dec 4

Setting the tempo for India International Science Festival 2020 (IISF-2020) scheduled for December 22-25 on the virtual platform, Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan will address a curtain-raiser session of the event hosted by Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) here on December 4. Giving a big thrust to the nation's AtmaNirbhar Bharat initiative, the theme of IISF 2020 is "Science for Self-reliant India and Global Welfare."

The event is being organized by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Vijnana Bharati, according to an official release. A series of seven curtain-raiser sessions have been planned in top science and technology institutions across the country ahead of IISF.

1:11 AM

Bihar police registered 730 rape cases in 2019: SCRB data

The State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB) of Bihar has published the data for 2019 which showed that Bihar Police had registered 730 cases of rape and gang-rape last year. In 2018, the Bihar Police had filed 651 cases of rape in 2018. Bihar Police DGP A.K. Singhal released the data on Tuesday evening, which showed that the police had registered 2,69,109 cases across state from January 2019 to December 2019, including 1,97,935 cases filed under different sections of the IPC. The SCRB, on the line of the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), publishes crime data every year.

The maximum number of rape cases was registered in North Bihar and the Seemanchal districts such as Supaul, Darbhanga, Araria, Khagaria, Katihar, Purnea and Kishanganj. Besides, the number of rape cases were also high in Bhagalpur, Shekhpura, Nawada, Alwal, Jahanabad and Patna. The SCRB data further said that as many as 3,138 murder cases were registered in 40 police districts of the state in 2019. A total of 15 districts, including Siwan, Mujffarpur, Vaishali, Bhojpur, Patna, Jahanabad, Gaya, Shekpura, Nalanda, Lakhisaray, Begusarai, Madhepura and Purnea, reported the highest number of murder cases in the state.

In addition, the Bihar Police registered 7,262 cases for rioting in 2019, compared to 10,276 cases filed in 2018. The districts which reported high number of rioting cases included Siwan, Saran, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Jahanabad, Gaya, Nalanda, Patna, Nawada and Shekhpura. The police also registered 1,120 case under the Dowry Act in 2019, compared to 1,107 cases filed in 2018.

11:58 PM

Former Pak PM Zafarullah Jamali dies at 76

Pakistan's former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali passed away at a military hospital in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, his family has said. He was 76. Jamali was on a ventilator in the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology & National Institute of Heart Diseases (AFIC-NIHD) after suffering a heart attack a few days ago.

His relative Senator Sana Jamali told the media that the former premier died in the evening. Jamali served as the prime minister from November 2002 until June 2004 when Former military dictator Pervez Musharraf was the president of the country. Hailing from the impoverished province of Balochistan, Jamali was a veteran politician who started political career in 1964. He was last elected as Member of Parliament in 2013. He resigned from the National Assembly only days before the completion of the assembly's term, citing health concerns.

11:21 PM

Cyclone Burevi is very likely to move nearly west-northwestwards: IMD

Cyclone Burevi is very likely to move nearly west-northwestwards thereafter, emerge into Gulf of Mannar and adjoining Comorin area on 3rd December morning: Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai

10:15 PM

Board exams in 2021 will be in written mode only and not online: CBSE officials

9:57 PM

MeitY issues order directing Wikipedia to remove link showing wrong map of J&K

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued an order under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 directing Wikipedia to remove the link from their platform that has shown the wrong map of Jammu and Kashmir.

9:49 PM

Former Gujarat minister Kantibhai Gamit and 17 others, including his son, arrested in state's Tapi district after video showing over 2,000 people attending his granddaughter's engagement ceremony went viral on social media: Police

9:30 PM

Bengal BJP to launch campaign highlighting misdeeds of TMC: Dilip Ghosh

BJP to launch campaign to highlight alleged misdeeds of TMC dispensation in West Bengal in response to Mamata Banerjee govt's 'Duare Sarkar' programme: State BJP president Dilip Ghosh

8:55 PM

India, Russia hold talks on UNSC issues, vow to deepen cooperation on counter-terrorism

India and Russia on Wednesday held consultations on UN Security Council related issues and agreed to deepen cooperation on counter-terrorism at multilateral platforms. The consultations come ahead of India taking up the non-permanent seat at the UNSC for the period 2021-22.

 

The Indian delegation for the consultations was led by Vikas Swarup, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, while the Russian delegation was led by Sergey Vasilyevich Vershinin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and included other Russian Foreign Ministry officials. The Russian side welcomed India taking up the non permanent seat at the UNSC for the period 2021-22, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

 

Both sides held wide ranging discussions on issues on the UN Security Council agenda and recent developments, the MEA said. The Indian and Russian sides agreed to deepen cooperation on counter-terrorism at multilateral platforms.

8:47 PM

India, Russia hold consultations on UN Security Council related issues

8:24 PM

Tata-Mistry tussle: Supreme Court to hear final arguments on Dec 2

The Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to put the legal battle related to appointment of Cyrus Mistry as the executive chairman of Tata Group. In December 2019, the National Company Appellate Law Tribunal (NCLAT) had passed the order restoring Mistry as executive chairman and held the appointment of Natarajan Chandrasekaran as executive chairman illegal. On January 10, the apex court had stayed the NCLAT order.

 

Senior advocate C.A. Sundaram, representing Mistry, today informed the apex court that they have filed an intervention application (IA). Sundaram submitted that the new IA only seeks an additional relief, as the earlier IA did not cover this.

 

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian told Sundaram, "Why have you filed the IA...why don't we go ahead with the final hearing?" The bench reminded him that it had kept the matter today for final hearing, yet an IA has been filed. "You file an IA, which requires replies and argument", said the Chief Justice, citing that the court had kept the matter for final hearing. After a brief hearing in the matter, the top court said "We will list it for December 2 for final hearing."

 

8:15 PM

SC directs Centre to install CCTV cameras in offices of CBI, ED and NIA

The Supreme Court directed the Centre on Wednesday to install CCTV cameras and recording equipment at the offices of investigating agencies, including the CBI, the ED and National Investigation Agency (NIA), which conduct interrogations and have the power of arrest.

 

A bench headed by Justice R F Nariman said that states and Union Territories (UTs) should ensure that CCTV cameras are installed at each and every police station, making them imperative at all entry and exit points, main gate, all lock-ups, all corridors, lobby and reception area as also areas outside the lock-up room.

 

The apex court, which had earlier ordered installation of CCTV cameras in police stations to check human rights abuses, said that as most of the probe agencies including Narcotics Control Bureau, Department of Revenue Intelligence and Serious Fraud Investigation Office carry out interrogation in their offices, CCTVs be compulsorily installed in all offices where such questioning takes place and accused are kept.

8:06 PM

SC adjourns to Dec 3 hearing on pleas seeking loan moratorium extension

The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned to Thursday the hearing on the pleas seeking an extension of the loan moratorium period and waiver of interest on interest on term loans in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. A bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, fixed the matter for further hearing to tomorrow. Utsav Trivedi, the lawyer for one of the petitioners, said that these are difficult times and the government must step in to help at this time.

 

Advocate Vishal Tiwari, one of the petitioners, said that after this situation many accounts will become non-performing assets. He asked how can these situations be handled?

 

He also stated that the moratorium period must be extended till March 2021, keeping in view the current situation and difficulties people are facing, Tiwari said and added that the stay on non-performing asset (NPA) must continue as the condition imposed for financial restructuring that on the date which borrower and lending Institution agrees on a resolution plan.

 

The apex court had earlier directed that the bank accounts as on August 31 should not be declared as NPAs until the disposal of the pleas seeking an extension of the moratorium period.

7:34 PM

LIVE: Cyclone Burevi to strike coasts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu on Thursday

Cyclonic storm Burevi is expected to cross the south Tamil Nadu coast amidst Pamban and Kanniyakumari between December 3 and December 4 with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph, gusting at 90 kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday.

 

In a weather bulletin, the IMD said Burevi, over southwest Bay of Bengal, moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 25 kmph during past six hours and lay centred, as at 11.30 a.m., about 140 km east of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 370 km east-southeast of Pamban (India) and 550 km nearly east-northeast of Kanniyakumari (India).

 

It is very likely to cross Trincomalee coast on Dec 2 evening/night. According to the IMD, on December 3 noon, Burevi will be centred close to Pamban. The IMD has warned of squally weather, with wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph and gusting to 65 kmph, over Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts on Wednesday.

 

Similarly for Thursday and Friday, it has warned of squally weather with wind speed, reaching 70-80 kmph and gusting to 90 kmph, as likely to occur over Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts.

7:01 PM

PM Modi spoke to Kerala CM on conditions prevailing due to Cyclone Burevi

6:41 PM

Maharashtra Cabinet clear proposal to rename all residential colonies having caste-based names

6:39 PM

Air quality 'severe' in Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, 'very poor' in Gurgaon, Faridabad

The air quality was recorded "severe" in Ghaziabad and Greater Noida, while it remained "very poor" across Noida, Faridabad and Gurgaon, according to a government agency data on Wednesday. Presence of pollutant PM 2.5 and PM 10 also remained high in the five immediate neighbours of Delhi, according to the air quality index (AQI) maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

 

According to the index, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

 

The average 24-hour AQI at 4 pm on Wednesday was 421 in Ghaziabad, 406 in Greater Noida, 394 in Noida, 326 in Faridabad and 324 in Gurgaon, according to CPCB's Sameer app. On Tuesday, it was 424 in Ghaziabad, 388 in Greater Noida, 387 in Noida, 335 in Faridabad and 311 in Gurgaon.

6:06 PM

Call special Parliament session to repeal farm laws: Farmers to govt

Protesting farmers on Wednesday demanded that the central government call a special session of Parliament to repeal the new farm laws and threatened to block other roads of the national capital if their demands are not met. Addressing a press conference, farmer leader Darshan Pal accused the Centre of dividing farmer organisations, but it will not happen. He said that protesting farmers will continue their agitation till the three farm laws are repealed.

 

"Centre should call a special session of Parliament to repeal the three farm laws," Singh said.

 

Another farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chadoni said that if the Centre does not withdraw the new laws, more steps will be taken in the coming days to press their demands. Before the press conference, leaders of around 32 farmer organisations held a meeting which was also attended by Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait at the Singhu border.

5:47 PM

SC to hear final arguments of Tata-Mistry case on Dec 8: Livemint

5:33 PM

Cyclone Burevi LIVE: IMD issues red alert for four districts of Kerala

5:02 PM

India sets up committee for implementation of climate change targets

The Centre has constituted a committee which will oversee the implementation of the climate change mitigation targets committed under the Paris Agreement by India. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on Wednesday issued a Gazette notification on the constitution of a high-level inter-ministerial Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement (AIPA).
 

“The purpose of AIPA is to generate a co-ordinated response on climate change matters which ensures that India is on track towards meeting its obligations under the Paris Agreement, including its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC),” said the public statement by MOEFCC.
 

There are 8 commitments made by India under the NDC, under which there are three quantitative goals - reduction in the emissions intensity of gross domestic product (GDP) by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels; achieving about 40 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030; and creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. READ ON...

4:47 PM

I-T refunds worth Rs 1.40 lakh cr issued to 59.68 lakh taxpayers in 8 months

The Income Tax Department has issued refunds worth over Rs 1.40 lakh crore to more than 59.68 lakh taxpayers this fiscal till December 1.

 

This include personal income tax (PIT) refunds amounting to Rs 38,105 crore and corporate tax refunds of over Rs 1.02 lakh crore during this period.

 

"CBDT issues refunds of over Rs 1,40,210 crore to more than 59.68 lakh taxpayers between 1st April,2020 to 01st December,2020. Income tax refunds of Rs 38,105 crore have been issued in 57,68,926 cases & corporate tax refunds of Rs 1,02,105 crore have been issued in 1,99,165 cases," the I-T Department tweeted.

4:36 PM

Drugs case: Rhea Chakraborty's brother Showik gets bail

A Mumbai court on Wednesday granted bail to actress Rhea Chakraborty's brother Showik Chakraborty, who was arrested in a drugs case linked to actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had arrested Showik Chakraborty in September this year under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

 

Special NDPS court judge G B Gurao granted bail to him on Wednesday on a personal bond of Rs 50,000.

 

In his bail plea, Showik Chakraborty had relied on a recent Supreme Court judgment which said that "confessional statements" made to NCB officials cannot be considered as evidence. He reiterated that he has been "falsely implicated" in the case. Earlier, the court had also granted him bail in a related case.

4:08 PM

Cyclone Burevi: NDRF teams deployed in Kerala and Tamil Nadu

3:50 PM

India invites Boris Johnson to be Republic Day chief guest next year: HT

3:38 PM

Listing of Lucknow Municipal bond a revolutionary step: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

3:37 PM

SC stays NCLAT order for CCI probe against Flipkart

The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the March 4 order of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) asking fair trade regulator CCI to again initiate the probe against e-commerce major Flipkart for an alleged use of its dominant position.

 

A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, which initially was of the view to send back the matter to NCLAT after setting aside March 4 order and decision on all aspects including the issue of dominant position being enjoyed by Flipkart, later stayed appellate tribunal's decision. The top court issued notice to All India Online Vendors Association (sellers association) and Competition Commission of India (CCI).

 

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Flipkart, said that CCI doesn't look at the findings of the Government and relied on the tax department findings and misread the findings of the tax tribunal.

3:14 PM

LIVE: NGT directs complete ban on sale, use of firecrackers

The National Green Tribunal has directed that there would be a total ban on the sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers during COVID-19 pandemic in the NCR and all cities/towns in the country where the ambient air quality falls under the 'poor' and above category. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said its direction to restrict the use of firecrackers in cities/towns where air quality is 'moderate' or below to green crackers and for the duration of not more than two hours will continue.

 

"There will be a total ban on the sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers during COVID-19 pandemic in the NCR and all cities/towns in the country where the ambient air quality falls under the 'poor' and above category," the bench said.

 

During Christmas, and New Year, green crackers can be used from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am only at places where air quality is 'moderate' or below, the NGT said.

 

It directed all District Magistrates to ensure that banned firecrackers are not sold and asked them to recover compensation from violators. Any victim of pollution, apart from other remedies, can approach District Magistrate for compensation.

2:48 PM

Total ban on sale and use of all fire crackers during Covid-19 pandemic in NCR: NGT

2:29 PM

SC refuses to pass orders for reforms in laws concerning rape, grievous injuries

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to pass any direction on a plea, filed in the backdrop of the Hathras incident, seeking reforms in the laws concerning rape and grievous injuries, but asked the petitioner to file a representation before the Central government for the same. A bench headed by Justice NV Ramana said the court can not make legislation and asked the petitioner, advocate Kirti Ahuja, to file representation before the Central govermment.

 

The petiitoner's counsel told the court that after the Hathras incident a lot of people searched for the victim online and added that even her (victim's) photograph was uploaded on internet.

 

During the hearing, Justice Ramana observed that these issues have nothing to do with law.