Giriraj Singh says, ‘Mahagathbandhan’ formed out of ‘Selfish Interest’

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August 16, 2022

Soon after the Bihar Cabinet expansion, Union Minister Giriraj Singh, lashed out at the newly formed “Mahagathbandhan” or the Grand alliance by saying that this alliance is formed out of “selfish interests”.

However, Singh extended his best wishes for the alliance to complete the remaining term in Bihar.

In an exclusive conversation with the agencies, Giriraj Singh said, “I give my best wishes (to the newly formed Mahagathbandhan) to complete the remaining term. Although, I believe that this alliance is formed out of selfish interests.”

“Nitish Babu (Nitish Kumar) snapped ties with RJD in 2017. Now, for some reason or the other, he has gone back with RJD. Nitish wishes to become a candidate for Prime Minister’s post and (Deputy Bihar Chief Minister) Tejashwi Yadav wishes to become Chief Minister under his regime. As long as these two have their own interests, this (politics) will continue,” he said.

Hailing the newly formed Magagathbandhan government in Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Kumar Jha on Tuesday said that the “map of 2024 elections is clear” up to a great extent.

“This entire Mahagathbandhan is stronger with Nitish Kumar coming (into the alliance). So, the map of 2024 is clear up to a great extent,” Manoj Jha told to agencies.

Responding to this, Giriraj Singh said, “Whether the Opposition will get united, it is up to them to know. Everyone dreams to become the prime minister and is in the race for sharing power. But the post of Prime Minister is for one person only.”

A total of 31 ministers were inducted into the Bihar cabinet on Tuesday from various parties that are part of the Mahagathbandhan or the Grand Alliance in the state.

The new Ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan at Raj Bhavan here.

The RJD got 16 ministerial berths and the Janata Dal (United) 11.

Two legislators from the Congress, one from Jitin Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha and the lone Independent MLA, Sumit Kumar Singh, also took oath as cabinet ministers.

From RJD, Deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav’s brother Tej Pratap Yadav, Samir Kumar Mahaseth, Chandrashekhar, Kumar Sarvajeet, Lalit Yadav, Surendra Prasad Yadav, Ramanand Yadav, Jitendra Kumar Rai, Anita Devi and Sudhakar Singh and Alok Mehta took the oath.

Congress legislators Afaque Alam and Murari Lal Gautam were inducted into the cabinet as ministers, while Hindustani Awam Morcha’s Santosh Suman was also sworn in.

The Bihar cabinet can have up to 36 ministers, including the Chief Minister. Some ministerial berths will be kept vacant for future cabinet expansion, sources said.

Nitish Kumar had broken away from the BJP and formed a government with the RJD and other parties earlier this month. The Chief Minister and his deputy – RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav – took oath on August 10.

The Bihar Grand Alliance has a combined strength of 163. Its effective strength climbed to 164 after Independent MLA Sumit Kumar Singh extended its support to Nitish Kumar.

The new government is likely to prove majority in the Bihar assembly on August 24. The BJP’s central leadership will hold a meeting with the party’s Bihar unit leaders here on Tuesday, days after the JD(U) parted ways with it and formed a new government in the state.

They are likely to deliberate upon the BJP’s future course of action, and the strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, sources said, adding organisational changes may also come up for discussion.

The meeting will be chaired by BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda and the general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh will also be present.

The 2020 Assembly polls in Bihar was a tight one with the National Democratic Alliance winning 125 seats, with BJP winning 74 of these, the Janata Dal (United) of Nitish Kumar 43, the Vikassheel Insaan Party 4 and Hindustan Awaam Party (Secular) 4.

This put the NDA just above the requisite 122-majority mark needed to form the government. The RJD and its allies, on the other hand, had won 110 seats.

The RJD finished as the single-largest party with 75 seats, while Congress won a mere 19 seats. Of the 29 seats the Left parties had contested, they won in 16, with the CPI (ML-Liberation) winning 12 of them. Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM had won five seats in the Seemanchal region of the state. Four of its MLAs have switched to the RJD.

Irish Cricketer Kevin O’Brien announces retirement from international cricket

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ANI

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August 16, 2022

Ireland star all-rounder Kevin O’Brien called time on his international cricket career on Tuesday, leaving a lasting legacy on the game.

Making his debut for Ireland in 2006, O’Brien was a prominent figure in his team’s rise with a career that spanned close to two decades.

The star all-rounder represented Ireland in three Tests, 153 ODIs and 110 T20Is. In his blistering international career, he scored 5850 runs and bagged 172 wickets.

O’Brien announced his retirement in a Twitter post and said that he originally planned to retire after this year’s T20 World Cup but was not selected in Ireland’s WC squad and decided to call the time on his stunning career.

“Today I announce my retirement from international cricket after 16 years and 389 caps for my country. I had hoped to finish my career at the T20 World Cup in Australia but having not been picked for the Irish squad since last year’s World Cup, I feel that the selectors and management are looking elsewhere,” O’Brien wrote in a Twitter post.

“I have enjoyed every minute playing for Ireland, made many friends on the pitch and I have so many happy memories to remember from my time playing for the National side,” he wrote.

“I have enjoyed every minute of playing for Ireland, made many friends on the pitch and I have so many happy memories to remember from my time playing for the National side. It’s now onto the next stage of my life and my career for me, the time is right,” said O’Brien.

I want to continue to grow my own Coaching Academy here in Ireland and I have some exciting opportunities coming up in the near future.

I also want to continue to gain coaching experience overseas and hopefully will have more opportunities with some international and professional sides in the near future,” he further added.

Master plan for AIIMS redevelopment submitted for approval to Centre: Randeep Guleria

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ANI

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August 16, 2022

AIIMS 1 — Image: ANI | Representative Image

A master plan to re-develop All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) has been submitted to the government, the director of AIIMS, Dr Randeep Guleria said on the occasion of the 75th Independence Day.

While addressing the AIIMS faculty, administrative staff and doctors, Dr Guleria said, “AIIMS Master Plan Project which aims to re-develop our infrastructure in a holistic manner by consolidating patient care, teaching research and administration, outpatient services and residential facilities has been submitted to the government.

” The project will include new 50 new operation theatres and over 3000 patient care beds, including 300 emergency beds in the present Institute of the campus.

“This project will result in the transformation of AIIMS New Delhi into a world class medical University with the creation of fifty new operation theatres and over 3000 patient care beds, including 300 emergency beds,” he said.

Research labs, animal facilities, clinical trial facilities, 4000 hostel units and 14000 parking spaces will be installed through new project.

Dr Guleria further said, “We have completed our preparatory work of this project and submitted the detail report to the government and recently the project has been notified as a re-development project by the government.”

He said that five different land parcels of Masjid Moth, Ansari Nagar West, Ansari Nagar East, Trauma centre have also been amalgamated under a new category of Medical Education and Research University by the Delhi Development Authority which will give more flexibility to the campus.

“I am hopeful that on the 75th year of independence, AIIMS will enter in a new era of holistic transformation where not only our physical infrastructure but also our digital backbone and assets will be built up to match the best in the world.”

Earlier, the Central government decided to organize a ‘Chintan Shivir’ that will primarily focus on improving the functioning (AIIMS) across the country.

According to the sources, during the upcoming Chintan Shivir that will be held for two days i.e. August 24-25, the experts and stakeholders will discuss standards of teaching, learning, research and service delivery for patients at AIIMS.

The other focus will be on evaluating “patient satisfaction” in AIIMS like developing institutional procedures to make facilities available ‘at ease’ to the patients, sources told media.

The Chintan Shivir will have directors from various AIIMS, colleges in India and will focus on how AIIMS can become common platform for various clinical research purposes.

Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdulla express grieves over ITBP personnel in Pahalgam bus accident

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ANI

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August 16, 2022

Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday “felt sorry about the targetted killings in Shopian” and expressed condolences to the family of the six Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel who died in the tragic Pahalgam bus accident.

“Terribly sorry to hear about the targeted killing in Shopian. Condolences to the deceased’s family. GOI (Government of India) continues to behave like an ostrich with its head buried deep under the sand. Every resident of J&K has become cannon fodder in Delhi’s quest for ‘manufactured normalcy’,” Mufti said in a tweet.

Thirty-three personnel sustained injuries in the accident that took place when a civilian bus carrying 37 ITBP personnel and two J-K Police was on its way to Pahalgam from Chandanwari when it rolled down into the deep gorge reportedly after its breaks malfunctioned, a senior ITBP official said.

National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also took to Twitter to express his grief. “…I send my condolences to the families and colleagues of the brave ITBP jawans killed in an accident in Pahalgam today. A number of ITBP personnel have been injured. I send my best wishes for their speedy and complete recovery,” he said in a tweet.

“Deeply anguished by the bus accident near Chandanwari in which we have lost our brave ITBP personnel. My condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. All possible assistance is being provided to the injured personnel,” Lt Governor Sinha said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed his grief on the tragic incident and took to Twitter to wish for the early recovery of those injured.

“Anguished to learn about the accident of a bus carrying ITBP and police personnel in Pahalgam, J&K. My prayers and thoughts are with the bereaved families. The injured were rushed to the hospital. May they recover at the earliest,” he tweeted.

A doctor at the Government Medical College of Anantnag, Dr Syed Tariq said that 30 people were injured in the accident. “Our six jawans have lost their lives, 30 injured. We will provide the best possible treatment to the injured. ITBP Headquarters is keeping a watch on the situation. The jawans were returning from Amarnath Yatra duty. All help will be provided to affected families, Vivek Kumar Pandey, ITBP PRO said. The mishap took place at Frislan in Pahalgam area. The jawans were deputed in the area for the Amarnath Yatra. “We are in touch with local administration and teams of disaster management have been rushed to the site for a rescue operation,” an ITBP official said.

The Amarnath Yatra began on June 29, from Jammu amid tight security arrangements made by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) along with the army and the local police.

The Amarnath shrine pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva, located in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, is held from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal.

Rajnath Singh hands over indigenous defence systems to Indian Army

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ANI

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August 16, 2022

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handed over multiple indigenous weapons to the Indian Army, said the officials on Tuesday.

Defence Minister handed over the F-INSAS system to the Indian Army in presence of Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande and Lt Gen Harpal Singh. Indian Army’s Futuristic Infantry Soldier as a System (F-INSAS) soldier gave a briefing to Defence Minister on his new weapon systems and aids including the AK-203 assault rifle.

Anti-personnel mine ‘Nipun’ was also handed over to the Indian Army, by Defence Minister Singh. Around 7 lakh of these mines would be provided to the force manufactured by the Indian private sector industry.

The indigenously manufactured weapons that were given part to the Army included Landing Craft Attack for operations in Pangong lake, infantry combat vehicles and many other systems.

The move comes in wake of the Make in India movement that was launched by the Centre to grow indigenous manufacturing of goods.

Earlier for the first time in the history of India, the indigenously developed artillery gun ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System) prototype developed under the government’s Make in India initiative were fired from the Red Fort during the Independence Day celebrations on August 15.

The completely indigenous gun designed and developed by DRDO will give the ceremonial 21 Gun Salute along with the “25 Pounder British guns” which are traditionally fired till now. A team of DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune led by Scientists and Artillery Officers have been responsible for making this possible.

Sangam Sinha, DG (R&M), DRDO said, “On the occasion of the elixir of freedom, folding cannon is a great gift for India. This is the longest-range cannon in the world and is capable of hitting targets from 45 to 48 km.”

“The biggest thing is that for the first time it is Made in India by Bharat Forge. It is an indigenous artillery gun being used for the 21-gun salute on Independence Day. The ATAGS is developed by DRDO and is currently at the Red Fort. This will be a big support to the Indian Army,” he added.

The ATAGS project was started in 2013 by DRDO to replace older guns in service in the Indian Army with a modern 155mm artillery gun. ARDE partnered with two private firms Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced Systems Limited for the manufacturing of this specialised gun.

India is our invaluable neighbour: Sri Lankan Foundation for Buddhist Brotherhood

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ANI

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August 16, 2022

India and Sri Lanka — Image: ANI | Representative Image

As India commemorated 75 years of Independence, the Foundation for the Buddhist Brotherhood of Sri Lanka conveyed their greetings to the government of India and its people hailing India as an invaluable neighbour.

“India, our invaluable neighbour and the largest democracy in the world, is today celebrating her Independence Day which is a momentous annual event in the annals of independent India,” the official statement of the foundation read.

Highlighting the bilateral ties between the two nations, the Chairman of the Foundation for Buddhist Brotherhood, Dr Damenda Porage stated that the people of Sri Lanka are delighted in sharing the spirit of the celebrations with India and conveying their greetings to the government of India and its people.

“We gratefully reminisce the very rare historical occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival to participate in the UN-declared international Vesak day celebrations in Colombo in May 2017; his immediate arrival in Sri Lanka to share our grievances after disastrous bomb blasts on Easter Sunday on the 21st of April 2019; and the ever-continuing magnanimous support and assistance towards strengthening the historical, cultural, spiritual, linguistic and traditional relations,” he added.

Sri Lankan’s indebtedness is inexpressible in mere words, he said, adding that for India’s prompt humanitarian and all medicinal related support and assistance during the long years of the coronavirus pandemic and the magnanimous and humanitarian support and assistance to feed and rescue the starving Sri Lankans in the recent months joined benevolently also by the state governments, the media release stated.

The Maha Sangha of Sri Lanka has strongly and openly reiterated on its commitment to safeguarding the regional interest of India and its neighbours in the Indian Ocean zone against threats from anti-democratic and hegemonic forces. “We remain committed towards the growth of India from strength to strength as a democratic country and strongly believe that our retention depends inalienable on India’s growth and we convey our heartiest greetings to the Indian leadership and the people of India on this very auspicious occasion,” the statement read.

Indian women’s team to play Tests against Australia, and England at home in 2023-24

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ANI

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August 16, 2022

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday announced the first-ever Women’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) that confirms the bilateral international tours for 10 teams over the next three years and incorporates all three formats of the game.

“A result of a joint effort from Members, the FTP ensures more matches for teams with the enhancement of the ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) to a 10-team event. With teams featuring in more matches across formats in bilateral series, over 300 matches will be played as part of the 2022-25 FTP,” stated an official release.

There are a total of seven Tests planned in the 2022-25 period. India will be hosting both England and Australia for one Test each in December 2023. Indian women’s team will be playing 2 Tests, 24 ODI and 36 T20 from August 2022 to January 2025.

Among the fixtures are two multi-format Ashes series during the period consisting of one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is each – one in England in June 2023 and the other in Australia in January 2025.

The three ODIs in the first series will be part of the ICC Women’s Championship, which provides direct qualification to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India.

The other commitments for Australia, reigning World champions of both the 50-over and 20-over formats as well as winners of both previous editions of the IWC, include an away series of a Test, three ODIs and three T20Is in India in December 2023 apart from the IWC home series against them.

They also play a three-match home series, which is not part of an IWC tour, against New Zealand in March 2025. England, India and South Africa are the other teams to schedule Tests during this period while some teams have planned five-match T20I series.

England plays New Zealand in both a home and away series of three ODIs and five T20Is during this period while India has three T20Is each scheduled along with their IWC series against Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies.

The West Indies play five T20Is at home versus Ireland, three T20Is in Australia, five in Pakistan, three in Sri Lanka, and three each at home against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh plays additional three T20Is each against South Africa and the West Indies (January 25) while Ireland plays five T20Is against the West Indies in June 2023, three home T20Is against England on September 24, three away T20Is against India, in January ’25 and five T20Is away against Bangladesh in December ’24.

Sri Lanka plays three T20Is each against Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies. ICC General Manager of Cricket, Wasim Khan, said the confirmation of the first-ever women’s FTP was a watershed moment for women’s cricket.

“This is a huge moment for the women’s game. This FTP not only lends certainty to future cricket tours but also sets the base for a structure that is sure to grow in the coming years,” ICC GM of Cricket Wasim Khan said.

“The ICC Women’s Championship, which underpins the FTP, is instrumental in propelling the game to the next level and the competitive matches that we saw in this year’s World Cup in New Zealand were a result of the greater number of matches that women have got to play because of the IWC,” Khan said.

“I thank the Member Boards for helping draft this historic FTP, which I am sure will go a long way in taking the women’s game to the next level,” he added.

Bilkis Bano’s family was surprised by the release of 11 life-term convicts in case of her gang rape and kin murder

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PTI

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August 16, 2022

Bilkis Banos family — Image: PTI | Bilkis Bano, who was gang-raped during the 2002 riots, gets emotional while addressing a press conference, in New Delhi, Wednesday, April 24, 2019

The husband of Bilkis Bano on Tuesday said they were surprised after coming to know from the media about the release of all 11 convicts sentenced to life imprisonment for her gang rape and murder of seven members of her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Bilkis Bano’s husband Yakub Rasul told the media that he does not intend to comment on the latest development in the case on Monday.

Rasul said he, his wife and five sons, the eldest now aged 20, continue to live without a fixed address, more than 20 years after the incident.

The 11 convicts on Monday walked out of the Godhra sub-jail after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy.

A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mumbai on January 21, 2008, sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment on the charge of gang rape and murder of seven members of Bilkis Bano’s family. Their conviction was later upheld by the Bombay High Court.

Rasul said he came to know about their release from the media.

“We had no knowledge about when they (convicts) processed their application and which judgement the state government took into consideration. We never received any kind of notice and were not told about this. There was no way we could have known about this in advance,” he said.

Asked about his reaction to the government’s decision, Rasul said he does not know what to say.

“We don’t intend to say anything on this. I can talk only after getting the details. All we want to do is pray for peace in the souls of our near and dear ones who lost their lives in the riots. Every day we remember those who were killed in the incident, including our daughter,” he said.

Rasul said the Gujarat government paid the family a compensation of Rs 50 lakh as directed by the Supreme Court.

“But the government has not yet made any arrangements for a job or house as directed by the Supreme Court,” he said.

The family continues to live virtually in hiding without a fixed address, he said.

“We have no fixed address yet, we can’t yet talk about where we live, it is quite difficult for us to do so,” he said.

The compensation money, he said, was being used for the education of his sons.

The 11 convicts who were granted premature release are Jaswantbhai Nai, Govindbhai Nai, Shailesh Bhatt, Radheshyam Shah, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Pradeep Mordhiya, Bakabhai Vohania, Rajubhai Soni, Mitesh Bhatt, and Ramesh Chandana.

Radheshyam Shah, the convict whose plea for premature release paved the way for all the 11 life sentence convicts to walk out of jail, said he feels happy to be released.

“The Gujarat government has released us as per the order of the Supreme Court. I feel glad to be out as I will be able to meet my family members and begin a new life,” he said.

“We were convicted and lodged in jail. When I was not released after completing 14 years in jail, I approached the Supreme Court for remission. The apex court directed the Gujarat government to take a decision, after which we were released,” he said.

The convicts were released on Monday under the Gujarat government’s remission policy after they completed more than 15 years in jail.

On March 3, 2002, Bilkis Bano’s family was attacked by a mob at Randhikpur village in Limkheda taluka of Dahod district during the post-Godhra riots. Bilkis, who was five months pregnant at that time, was gang-raped and seven members of her family were killed.

The Supreme Court had in April 2019 directed the Gujarat government to give Rs 50 lakh compensation, a job and accommodation to Bilkis.

The 11 convicts who walked out of the jail were convicted for gang rape of a pregnant woman, murder and unlawful assembly under sections of the Indian Penal Code.

While convicting them, the special court acquitted seven accused citing a lack of evidence.

One of the accused had died during the course of the trial.

The Bombay High Court on May 3, 2017, upheld their conviction. It also convicted seven others, including five policemen and two doctors, under IPC sections 218 (not performing their duties) and 201 (tampering with evidence).

Riots had erupted in Gujarat following the burning of a Sabarmati Express coach that killed 59 ‘karsevaks ‘on February 27, 2002.

The violence had claimed the lives of 1,044 people, mostly Muslims, across different parts of the state.

The central government had informed the Rajya Sabha in May 2005 that 254 Hindus and 790 Muslims were killed in the post-Godhra riots.

Mumbai already got 83% of season’s rain, before the monsoon ends

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Web Team

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August 16, 2022

Rainfall, Maharashtra — Image: Agencies/ Representative

The total rainfall required for the season that extends from June to September is 2,319mm .

The total rainfall recorded so far by IMD’s Colaba observatory is 1,523mm.

The weather bureau has indicated that the wet spell is expected to continue in the city for the next few days.

The 75th Independence Day celebrations in the city saw rain coupled with gusty winds playing spoilsport at intervals.

The Santacruz observatory of IMD has recorded 83% of the season’s average rainfall with another month still to go of the monsoon season.Till 8. 30am on August 15, the total rainfall recorded at Santacruz was 1,947mm, 234mm above normal.

Heterologous Covid-19 vaccine came to market

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Web Team

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August 16, 2022

Covid-19, Maharashtra,Mumbai — Image: Representative

The country’s first heterologous Covid vaccine, Corbevax, is now available at all public vaccination centres.

Heterologous is when a booster dose is different from the first two doses.

While the availability of the first mix-and-match booster has expanded options, it has also caused a dilemma in many — should they switch vaccines for the third shot or stick to their primary vaccine? Vaccination centres will offer both heterologous and homologous choices, leaving it to individuals to decide what they want.

After the Centre recently allowed mixing and matching by enabling the use of Corbevax as a heterologous booster, it was made available at all public centres from August 12.

A centre head called for clarity on what should be offered to individuals when they walk into a vaccination centre. He said there had been no instructions from the Centre or state.