NATIONAL NEWS

Centre amends Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 for increasing protection of consumer rights. The amendments will come into effect from April 1, 2022. The Consumer Affairs Ministry omitted Rule 5 defining Schedule II determining the pack sizes of different types of commodities. The Ministry introduced a new provision for indicating the unit sale price on pre-packed commodities to enable easier comparison of prices of commodities at the time of purchase. TheThe amendment makes it mandatory to declare the date of manufacturing on the pre-packed commodities for pre-packed commodities. TheThe amendment has also made declaring MRP in Indian currency inclusive of all taxes. The removal of illustration has simplified the provisions for manufacturers for declaration of MRP on the pre-packed commodities.

Malayalam actress Kozhikode Sarada passes away at 75

Veteran Malayalam actress Kozhikode Sarada passed away at the age of 75 on November 9, 2021. Sarada was admitted to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital on November 7 after she reported difficulty in breathing. OnOn November 8, Sarada suffered cardiac arrest while she was undergoing treatment. She died at the same hospital where she had worked as a nursing assistant for 27 years. SaradaSarada had made her acting debut with Angakkuri movie in 1979. She had acted in several TV serials and more than 100 movies.

Ghosts of aircraft deals past

Past aircraft deals are coming back to haunt the government again with two such deals back in focus today. The first is the Rafale deal, in which the Indian government purchased multi-role combat aircraft from the French company Dassualt. The French investigative website Mediapart has now alleged that a middleman, Sushen Gupta, was paid at least 7.5 million euros by Dassault between 2007 and 2012 to secure the purchase. Apparently, the payment was facilitated through a shell company in the Mauritius which was “overbilled” for IT contracts. A more stinging allegation is that the CBI has not probed this even though the papers on this have been available since October 2018. The Mauritian Authorities had sent the papers to the CBI when in connection with the probe into the AugustaWestland VVIP chopper kickback deal case. Sushen Gupta, who is said to have facilitated the kickback payment in that deal, was arrested by the ED in 2019 in the same case. Coincidentally, this news comes a day after news reports about the government lifting the ban on the Italian Defence company involved in the AgustaWestland helicopter deal. The procurement ban was lifted just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Rome.

Regional NSAs to arrive today for dialogue on Afghanistan

Security Czars of Russia, Iran and five Central Asian countries will arrive in Delhi on Tuesday ahead of the “Delhi regional security dialogue” on Afghanistan chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who will also meet his counterparts bilaterally. Officials involved in the dialogue said that the meeting, which Pakistan and China have declined to participate in would seek to share a “common understanding of concerns” shared by Afghanistan’s neighbours due to the Taliban takeover, and build consensus on the way forward to deal with the threats emanating from the Taliban takeover on August 15.

Mamata likely to expand Cabinet today

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee may expand her Cabinet on Tuesday and she is likely to keep the finance portfolio for herself and make Chandrima Bhattacharya the minister of-state in that department, a top source in the government said on Monday. Former Finance Minister Dr Amit Mitra, who had expressed his inability to continue as a minister owing to his fragile health conditions, might be made an advisor.

Patnaik, Reddy likely to discuss disputed Andhra-Odisha border

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy are likely to discuss the disputed border between the two states as well as inter-state river projects at a meeting here on Tuesday. At the meeting scheduled to be held from 5 pm at the Lok Seva Bhavan here, the chief ministers are likely to take up the dispute over the Kotia cluster of villages in Koraput district, construction of Neradi barrage over the Vamsadhara river, and the Polavaram multi-purpose project on the Godavari river, officials said.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Vietnam launches country’s first metro rail service in Hanoi

The Vietnam Railway on November 6, 2021, launched the country’s first metro rail service in Hanoi. The 13.1-km-long Line 2A of Hanoi Metro will connect Cat Linh to Yeh Nghia with 12 stations. TheThe 12 stations on the Vietnam’s first metro rail service are Cat Linh, La Thanh, Thai Ha, Lang, Thoung Dinh, Vanh Dai 3, Phung Khoang, Van Quan, Ha Dong, La Khe, Van Khe and Yen Nghia. The Chinese firm CRRC has supplied a total of 13 Rolling Stock (metro trains) for Vietnam’s first metro rail service in Hanoi. CRRC delivered the first metro train to Vietnam in March 2017. Vietnam will use Third Rail DC for its metro rail service to ensure stability, safety, and urban landscape.

China delivers largest, most advanced warship to Pakistan navy

China on November 8, 2021, delivered the largest and most advanced warship to the Pakistan navy in a commissioning ceremony in Shanghai. The frigate has been designed and built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC). hee Type 054/P frigate has been named PNS Tughril. The frigate is the first hull of the four ‘Type 054’ frigates batch being built for the Pakistan Navy. The Type 054 frigates can execute naval warfare missions in a highly intense multi-threat environment. The PNS Tughril is a technologically advanced and highly capable platform with enormous potential for surveillance, surface-to-air, surface-to-surface, and underwater firepower. PNS Tughril is equipped with an electronic warfare system, modern self-defence capabilities, state-of-the-art combat management.

SPORTS NEWS

ICC T20 WC: BCCI, ECB receives approval for 100 per cent attendance for crowd for finals

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) received approval from the UAE authorities for 100 per cent attendance of the crowd for the ICC T20 World Cup finals. ApprovalApproval for 100 per cent attendance means that all the 25,000 seats at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium will be available for fans to fill for the finals of the ICC T20 World Cup on November 14, 2021. All COVID-19 protocols are to be followed.

Rohit Sharma becomes 3rd cricketer to score 3,000 runs in men’s T20I World Cup 2021

Indian batter Rohit Sharma on November 8, 2021, became the 3rd cricketer in the world who accumulated 3,000 T20I runs. Rohit achieved this feat during the match against Namibia in ICC men’s T20 World Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. IndianIndian skipper Virat Kohli is currently at the top with a tally of 3,227 runs followed by New Zealand’s Martin Guptill with 3,115 runs and India’s Rohit Sharma with 3,0008 runs.

NATIONAL NEWS 

Rain batters Chennai, several areas flooded 

Heavy overnight rain led to flooding in several areas of Chennai on November 7. Nungambakkam recorded 21.5 cm of rainfall, the highest recorded in a 24-hour period since 2015. Tamil Nadu has received a 43% surplus rainfall and Chennai registered a 26% excess since October 1. Following rain in the catchment areas leading to heavy inflows, the State Government gradually began releasing surplus water from reservoirs around Chennai including Poondi and Chembarambakkam. From an initial 500 cusecs, the discharge from Chembarambakkam was increased to 2,000 cusecs in the evening. With more heavy rain forecast for the city over the next 48 hours, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a two-day holiday for schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpet and Kancheepuram districts. He visited flooded areas in the city and directed officials to ensure food supply for residents displaced and affected by the floods. Commuters wade through a waterlogged area following heavy rain in Chennai.

SC to hear Lakhimpur Kheri violence matter today The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on November 8 the matter related to the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed in violence during a farmers’ protest. A bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli would hear the matter in which the apex court had on October 26 directed the Uttar Pradesh government to provide protection to witnesses under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018. The top court had also asked the Uttar Pradesh government to record the statements of other witnesses before the judicial magistrate under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and expedite the examination of digital evidence by experts. 

PM Modi to lay foundation stone for expansion of 2 Pandharpur highways 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for four-laning of five sections of Shri Sant Dnyaneshawar Maharaj Palkhi Marg (NH-965) and three sections of Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg (NH-965G) via video conferencing on November 8. The development is designed to facilitate pilgrims’ journey to Pandharpur, a town associated with Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshawar. Dedicated walkways for ‘Palkhi’ (palanquin) will be constructed on either side of these national highways, providing hassle-free and safe passage to devotees, the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement. 

CBI arrests former Assam CM Hiteswar Saikia’s son The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the eldest son of former Assam Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia in a bank loan default case. The CBI team arrested Ashok Saikia, also the brother of Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia, from his Guwahati residence in a case related to a ₹9.37 lakh loan taken from the Assam State Cooperative and Agriculture Development (ASCARD) Bank in 1998. The case was initially registered at Guwahati’s Paltan Bazar police station and transferred to the CBI in 2001 after two complaints were filed with the probe agency’s Kolkata branch. Mr. Ashok Saikia was convicted in one of the cases in 2013. 

Petrol to be cheaper by ₹10 in Punjab from Monday, diesel by ₹5 

The Congress-led government in Punjab on October 7 announced a reduction in value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel, making them cheaper by ₹10 and ₹5 per litre respectively in the State. The new rates will be effective from midnight. Currently, petrol and diesel rates in Punjab are ₹106.20 and ₹89.83 per litre respectively. The move, which will cost the state nearly ₹6,000 crores, comes days after the BJP-led central government reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel, and several other States, including Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, slashed VAT rates on the fuels to give relief to consumers. TheThe move by Punjab cabinet comes days after the BJP-led central government reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel.

Climate talks resume in Glasgow on November 8 India is among 27 countries to sign up for a sustainable agriculture action agenda at the conclusion of the first week of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, laying out new commitments to make farming more sustainable and less polluting. Among other developments from week one of the COP26 climate summit, the World Bank will commit to spending $25 billion in climate finance annually to 2025 through its Climate Action Plan, including a focus on agriculture and food systems. After a brief break on November 7, the climate talks will resume on November 8 and conclude at the end of the summit on November 12. 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Pakistan Hindu Council to celebrate Diwali at temple that was attacked in 2020 

The Pakistan Hindu Council will organise a grand function on November 8 to celebrate Diwali at a century-old temple in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which was vandalised and set on fire by a mob led by a radical Islamist party last year, a media report said on November 7. Pakistan’s Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmad has been invited by the Council to celebrate the festival of lights at the Teri Temple in Karak, the Dawn newspaper reported.  The grand function to celebrate Diwali is being organised by the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC), which will also host a large number of pilgrims from the Sindh and Balochistan provinces. 

Nicaragua’s Ortega seeks re-election in questioned vote 

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega sought a fourth consecutive term in elections on November 8 against a field of little-known candidates while those who could have given him a real challenge sat in jail. Voting was orderly and speedy as voters noted the absence of long lines at more than 13,000 polling places around the country. Voting closed on the evening of November 8 without reported incidents. But US President Joe Biden strongly criticised the vote as a “pantomime election that was neither free nor fair, and most certainly not democratic”. 

SPORTS NEWS 

T20 WC | Shastri-Kohli partnership eyes winning end to significant chapter in Indian cricket Outgoing head coach Ravi Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli, who will lead the country for one last time in the shortest format, would aim to finish India’s underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign on a positive note with a victory over Namibia in the team’s final Super 12 match on November 8.  Around 6:30 pm, New Zealand hit the winning runs against Afghanistan much to the disappointment of the Indian fans, who were hoping against hope that a miracle will happen under the blazing afternoon sun at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

NATIONAL NEWS 

Speed up vaccination, caution doctors in the wake of fresh resurgence in the West

The growing COVID-19 vaccination coverage in India is not adequate, warn doctors, who say the cost of people opting not to get vaccinated has the potential to cause a new outbreak. If people decide not to get vaccinated due to hesitancy and doubts, or even if the vaccination is delayed due to logistical reasons, the potential for new outbreaks of COVID-19 remains very high. New variants of SARS-CoV-2 are sprouting, which might be more transmissible and resistant to vaccines, said Mubasheer Ali, senior, internal medicine, Apollo Telehealth. Dr. Ali added that promoting the uptake of vaccines will require understanding whether people are willing to be vaccinated and the reasons why they were willing or unwilling to do so. So, the need of the hour is to speed up the vaccination process and drives, spread awareness about disease and its effects and making sure there is no vaccine hesitancy by rightly educating the people. The world shares a collective responsibility in fighting this pandemic; therefore, continued research on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy should be a priority, he observed. Citing the example of Germany, doctors said the country was currently witnessing a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Sundari Shrikant, director, internal medicine, QRG Super Speciality Hospital, Faridabad, said there was currently a broad agreement within the global scientific community that the most effective way to defeat the pandemic was through mass vaccination of populations around the world. Opting not to get vaccinated puts the person, his family and the community at large at risk of infection and the spread of the disease. Vaccination not only prevents infection but, if infected, the person develops mild infection. It also prevents community spread. Besides, it is important to emphasise the continued practice of COVID-19-appropriate behaviour for personal safety and prevention of community transmission, said Dr. Shrikant. Doctors add that people who are unvaccinated have higher chances of getting moderate to severe COVID-19 and undergo hospitalisation.

Anil Deshmukh sent to judicial custody

Former Home Minister of Maharashtra Anil Deshmukh was sent to judicial custody by a holiday court on Saturday in a case dating back to March 20, 2021, of alleged money laundering and corruption. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), appeared before Special Judge P.R. Sitre and sought further custody of nine days. However, the court rejected this and Mr. Deshmukh was remanded in judicial custody. Mr. Deshmukh was arrested by the ED  on November  after being questioned for by the central enforcement agency for 12 hours. He was sent to the ED’s custody till November 6. Mr. Deshmukh’s counsel on Saturday also filed for an anticipatory bail application on behalf of Hrishikesh Deshmukh, son of  Mr Deshmukh, which will be heard on November 12. On October 29, the Bombay High Court rejected Deshmukh’s plea, seeking to quash five summons issued by the ED. The case dates back to March 20, 2021 when former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh wrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging that Mr. Deshmukh had abused his position and powers to seek illegal monetary benefits. The letter alleged instances of  Deshmukh directing suspended police officer Sachin Vaze and others to collect ₹100 crore from bars and restaurants over a month. Soon thereafter, the High Court directed a preliminary enquiry to be held against Mr. Deshmukh by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The ED then stepped in and started a probe into allegations of money laundering against Mr. Deshmukh.

For Deepavali excesses, Delhi gasps for air

Delhi continued to choke as air quality remained in the severe category for the second day on Saturday as people burst crackers late on Thursday despite a ban. The air quality index (AQI ) of Delhi is expected to improve from Sunday evening, as per authorities. Several other NCR cities such as Gurugram and Greater Noida and towns in North India such as Baghpat and Bulandshahr also reported severe air pollution. The AQI of Delhi was 446 on Saturday at 10 a.m., as per Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) data. The AQI of Delhi was 444 at 6 a.m. on Friday. The AQI of the day for Friday was 462, as per CPCB’s 4 p.m. bulletin, which is an average of the past 24 hours and considered the day’s AQI. Friday had the worst air quality in the day after Deepavali in five years, as per official data, and was also the first day with severe air pollution this winter season.  The air pollution is due to a combination of an increased impact of stubble burning, low local wind speed and emissions from bursting of crackers. Fog/smog conditions today [Nov. 6] morning has improved in Delhi NCR as forecasted. A shallow fog with visibility of 600 to 800 m was reported at its two airports during 0530 till 0930 hrs. It has been due to westerly to northwesterly winds set in and have also reached 8 to 15 kmph and some humidity reduction or moisture dry up, IMD said in a statement.  An AQI between 0 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.

District hospital catches fire in Ahmednagar

At least 11 coronavirus patients were killed and another one suffered serious burn injuries after a major fire broke out in the ICU of the district civil hospital in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar city on November 6, officials said. The blaze erupted around 11 a.m. in the intensive care unit (ICU), where 20 COVID-19 patients were undergoing treatment, they said. Television visuals showed smoke pouring out of the lower floors of the hospital, as doctors desperately tried to save lives.Rajendra Bhosale, district collector of Ahmednagar, confirmed that 10 patients died in the blaze, which also left one patient critical. Shankar Misal, chief fire officer of the Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation, said that after the fire broke out, police and fire brigade personnel rushed to the facility and began the rescue and fire-fighting operation. It took more than two hours to douse the fire.  The cooling operation is on, Misal said, adding that short circuit is suspected to be the cause behind it. A police official said that after the fire, the injured patients were rushed to a nearby hospital, where 10 of them were declared brought dead. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted in the evening to say he was anguished by the loss of lives. Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire in a hospital in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest, he said.  Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has ordered a probe into the tragedy, and announced ₹ 5 lakh compensation for the families of those who died. 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Iraqi officials: Prime minister survives assassination bid 

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi survived an assassination attempt with an armed drone that targeted his residence early Sunday, and is unharmed, officials said. The Prime Minister tweeted shortly after the attack: The rockets of treason will not shake one bit of the steadfastness and determination of the heroic security forces. I am fine and among my people. Thank God, he wrote.

Sudan activists reject power-sharing with army, call strikes Sudan’s protest movement has rejected internationally backed initiatives to return to a power-sharing arrangement with the military after last month’s coup, announcing two days of nationwide strikes starting Sunday. The movement called for the establishment of a civilian government to lead a transition to democracy.

NATIONAL NEWS 

Mumbai out, Delhi in on cruise party probe

The probe into the cruise party drug case in which Aryan Khan, the son of Sharukh Khan, was arrested, has been moved from the Narcotic Control Bureau’s Mumbai unit to a unit from Delhi. The move comes after allegations of corruption were raised against Sameer Wankhede, the Mumbai unit’s head, by Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik. The NCB, which had already been facing criticism for the extended pre-trial custody of Aryan Khan, said that this and five other cases were being moved to the Delhi because they had “wider and inter-state ramifications”. Mr. Wankhede has been retained as the Mumbai unit head, even as he faces an internal investigation over allegations of extortion raised by a witness in the cruise case. The shifting of the probe from under Wankhede should give some breathing space to the Central agency.

Another antiviral drug

Another antiviral drug that shows promise against COVD-19 has been announced. Pharmaceutical giants Pfizer, which also produces one of the vaccines for COVD-19, says that its new drug cut rates of hospitalization and death by nearly 90% in high-risk adults during trials. The drug will need approval from authorising agencies in the U.S and other countries before it can reach the market. The new drug comes just weeks after Merck announced its antiviral drug molnupiravir. With the vaccines and the antiviral drugs, the global arsenal against COVD-19 is building up.

Modi in Kedarnath

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for multiple projects worth over ₹180 crore, according to the PMO. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated several developments works in Kedarnath, in poll-bound Uttarakhand, including the unveiling of a statue of Adi Shankaracharya and monuments related his samadhi. Speaking at a prayer meeting, he invoked the cultural heritage of India and emphasised on his government’s work to revive cultural centres.

Two Indian Army officers receive Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award. 

Two Indian Army officers Lieutenant Colonel Servesh Dhadwal and Colonel Amit Bisht have been awarded the prestigious Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2020 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award is the highest adventure sports honour in India that is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award is the highest adventure sports honour in India that is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Tenzing Norgay National Award has been named after Tenzing Norgay who was one of the first two individuals who scaled the summit of Mount Everest along with Edmund Hillary in 1953. The Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award was instituted in 1993-94 by the then Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports as a separate National Adventure Awards but considered at apar with Arjuna Awards. The Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award is awarded for outstanding achievement in the field of adventure on land, sea, and air. The award includes a bronze statue of Tenzing Norgay and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakhs.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Pakistan Cabinet approves removal of ban on Tehreek-e-Labbaik

The Pakistan Cabinet led by PM Imran Khan on November 6, 2021, approved the removal of extremist group Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) from the list of banned outfits thereby ending the anti-government agitation. The government has released more than 2,000 activists of the TLP. TheThe Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) was formed in 2015 and was declared as a proscribed (banned) organization in April 2021 following their violent protests forcing the government to expel the French ambassador over cartoons published in France.

Astronaut Wang Yaping becomes 1st Chinese woman to walk in space

Astronaut Wang Yaping has become the first Chinese woman to walk in space on November 7, 2021. Yaping is a crewmember of China’s Shenzhou-13 mission, a six-month mission launched on October 16, 2021, to the Tiangong space station module Tianhe. 41-years-old Wang Yaping along with astronaut Zhai Zhigang carried out extravehicular operations in the ‘Flying’ extravehicular suit. Shenzhou-13 is Wang’s second space mission. WangWang had joined the People’s Liberation Army Air Force in August 1997 and served as a Deputy Squadron Commander. In May 2010, Wang joined the second group of astronauts at the PLA Astronaut Division.

NATIONAL NEWS

More States slash petrol, diesel prices after Centre’s excise duty cut

After fuel prices went through the roof, buckling under pressure, the Union Government on the occasion of Diwali, slashed the excise duty on fuel; several States followed suit by lowering Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel to give some respite to consumers. Excise duty on petrol and diesel were slashed by ₹5 and ₹10 per litre on Wednesday. Six BJP-ruled states have announced a cut in VAT rates but a formal notification has so far been issued only in case of four. Puducherry saw an additional ₹7 a litre reduction in both petrol and diesel price because of the cut in value added tax (VAT).  Petrol costs ₹103.97 per litre in Delhi against ₹110.04 per litre, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers. Diesel rates accordingly reduced to ₹86.67 per litre from ₹98.42 per litre. In Mumbai, petrol price has been cut by ₹5.87 to ₹109.98 per litre and diesel by ₹12.48 to ₹94.14 per litre. Kolkata saw the price of diesel being reduced by ₹5.82 to ₹104.67 per litre and that of diesel by ₹11.77 to ₹89.79 per litre. Petrol price in Chennai has been reduced by ₹5.26 to ₹101.40 per litre and diesel by ₹11.16 to ₹91.43 per litre. Other states namely, Gujarat, Mizoram and Sikkim governments too have reduced the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel by ₹7 per litre each. The Haryana government too announced a reduction in VAT on the fuels on Thursday, making them cheaper in the BJP-ruled State by ₹12 per litre on Deepavali. Odisha too slashed the prices of petrol, diesel by ₹3 per litre. The Uttar Pradesh government too on Wednesday lowered the VAT on the two fuels making them cheaper by ₹12 per litre in the state. Goa saw an additional ₹5.47 a litre cut in petrol and ₹4.38 on diesel. Despite a cut in excise duty, diesel was selling more than ₹100 per litre in several States. 

Assam earmarks land for the evicted but insists on citizenship proof

The Assam government said it has earmarked around 130 hectares for relocating the evicted families of Gorukhuti in Darrang district provided they are valid citizens besides a set of other requirements, the emphasis on documentation has raised concerns about dispossession.  According to reports, around 1,200-1,400 houses were razed to the ground on September 20 and September 23 at Dhalpur I, II and III villages in Gorukhuti, leaving over 7,000 people homeless. Village markets, mosques, kabristans, madrassas and maktubs were also bulldozed. The eviction drive had passed off peacefully on the first day but met stiff resistance by local people on the second instance and also left two dead in a police firing on September. Among the dead was a 12-year-old boy who had got his first identity proof, an Aadhaar card, before he was shot dead. Over 20 people were injured, including policemen. The evicted families of Dhalpur village in Gorukuti will not, however, be paid any compensation as they are encroachers, the government said in an affidavit to Gauhati High Court in response to a PIL filed by the Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia.An area of about 1,000 bighas (about 134 hectares) of land in the southern part of No 1 & No 3 Dhalpur village has been earmarked for relocating the evicted persons subject to verification of the status of erosion affected and landless status in their respective original places and districts, citizenship and existing rehabilitation policy of the state, the affidavit by the government said. Sipajhar Revenue Circle Officer Kamaljeet Sarma, representing the Assam government, said in the affidavit that the occupants of the areas were encroachers and they were liable to be evicted at any time as per rules framed under Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886.The matter is related to encroachment and eviction only and is not at all related to acquisition of land. Therefore, the question of resettlement, rehabilitation and compensation etc as per Land Acquisition Act is irrelevant, he added.

Ram Temple in Ayodhya to open for ‘darshan’ from December 2023

The Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya is ongoing and the temple will be open for ‘darshan’ for devotees from December 2023, said Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Gopal on November 3, 2021. Graphite from Bangalore, stones from Jodhpur and Mirzapur, sandstones from Bansi Paharpur have been coming in for the construction of the Ram Temple. Work on the 5-feet (1.5 meters) path of rafting is expected to be completed within 15 days. The General Secretary of Shriram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust informed that the Ram Temple construction work is being done at night as the concreting is being done currently.

India to host 3rd NSA-level meeting on Afghanistan on November 10

India will host the 3rd Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan on November 10, 2021. The dialogue to be held at the National Security Advisor (NSA) level will be chaired by India’s NSA Ajit Doval. All Central Asian countries as well as Russia and Iran have confirmed their participation. This is the first time that all central Asian countries will participate. Invitations to Pakistan and China were also extended however Pakistan informed that it will not attend the dialogue. The high-level NSA meet on Afghanistan to be hosted by India will deliberate on the situation in Afghanistan and address the growing concern of regional countries on the same. The meeting will allow countries to consult and coordinate efforts for promoting peace and security in Afghanistan.

India, Bhutan to set up 7 additional entry and exit points for trade

Through the process of Letters of Exchange, India and Bhutan announced 7 additional entry and exit points of trade between both countries during the Commerce Secretary Level meeting in New Delhi on November 4, 2021, to deliberate on trade and transit issues. During the meeting, India and Bhutan deliberated extensive discussions on the current trade and transit issues including plans for strengthening bilateral trade relations and issues of mutual interest, increasing trade connectivity between both countries. Secretary, Department of Commerce BVR Subrahmanyam led the Indian delegation, and the Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs Dasho Karma Tshering led the Bhutanese delegation at the Commerce Secretary Level meeting.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Britain says yes to Merck’s coronavirus antiviral pill

Britain has granted a conditional authorization to the first pill shown to successfully treat COVID-19 — Merck’s coronavirus antiviral, becoming the first country to approve the treatment, although it was not immediately clear how quickly the pill would be available, agencies have reported. Today is a historic day for our country, as the UK is now the first country in the world to approve an antiviral that can be taken at home for COVID-19, said Britain’s health secretary, Sajid Javid. We are working at pace across the government and with the NHS to set out plans to deploy molnupiravir to patients through a national study as soon as possible, he said in a statement, referring to the U.K.’s National Health Service. Doctors said the treatment would be particularly significant for people who do not respond well to vaccination. The pill was licensed for adults 18 and older who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have at least one risk factor for developing severe disease. The drug, known as molnupiravir, is intended to be taken twice a day for five days by people at home with mild to moderate COVID-19. An antiviral pill that reduces symptoms and speeds recovery could prove ground-breaking, easing caseloads on hospitals and helping to curb outbreaks in poorer countries with fragile health systems. It would also bolster the two-pronged approach to the pandemic: treatment, by way of medication, and prevention, primarily through vaccinations. Molnupiravir is also pending review at regulators in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced last month it would convene a panel of independent experts to scrutinize the pill’s safety and effectiveness in late November. Initial supplies will be limited. Merck has said it can produce 10 million treatment courses through the end of the year, but much of that supply has already been purchased by governments worldwide.

Countries pledge to phase out dependence on fossil fuels

Several major coal-using nations have pledged for the first time to phase out their use of the heavily-polluting fossil fuel or to speed up existing plans to do so, while others announced commitments to end investment in new coal-fired power plants, agencies have reported. U.K. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said on Wednesday that the commitments made on the sidelines of the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, meant the end of coal is in sight. But critics noted the several major economies still have not set a date for ending their dependence on the fuel that is a major source of planet-warming emissions. The British government said pledges of new or earlier deadlines for ending coal use came from countries including Poland, Ukraine, Vietnam and Chile. India is also committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2070. Existing targets for curbing global warming require countries to stop burning coal, but many major economies including the United States, China, India and Japan have set no formal dates for ending its use. Still, experts said the announcement and others made so far at the October 31-November 12 summit showed the growing momentum to ditch coal.

New York congresswoman Maloney introduces Diwali Day Act in the US Congress

The New York congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney on November 3, 2021, introduced the Deepavali Day Act in the House of Representatives to make Diwali a national holiday in the US. Maloney was joined by Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Congressman Gregory Meeks Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. If the Deepavali Day Act gets approved, all federal institutions in the US will observe the Diwali holidays and honour the cultural heritage of millions of Indian Americans in the US. Congresswoman Maloney has earlier successfully advocated urging the US Postal Services to approve and issue a commemorative stamp to honour Diwali. The stamp got issued for circulation in 2016.

Indian Navy delivers 100 tonnes of nano nitrogen liquid fertilizers to Sri Lanka

Two Indian Air Force planes carrying 100 tonnes of Nano Nitrogen Liquid Fertilizers successfully landed in Colombo, Sri Lanka on November 4, 2021. Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka in a tweet said that the delivery was conducted in response to a call by the Sri Lankan government for urgent support in airlifting nano fertilizers. In May 2021, Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced to stop importing chemical fertilizers. Since then, Sri Lanka is experiencing an acute crisis of fertilizers after the ban. Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced the decision to import nano nitrogen liquid fertilizer to which India has offered to supply nano fertilizer to Sri Lanka.

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