Union minister Ajay Kumar Mishra will visit the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency, a stronghold of Shiv Sena, in Maharashtra on August 7 and interact with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers during the three-day tour, a senior leader said on Tuesday.
Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra was named as an accused in connection with the violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri last year in which four farmers were killed. “Ajay Kumar Mishra is coming to visit the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency on August 7.
During his three-day visit, he will interact with BJP workers, hold meetings with local leaders of the party, and review development works,” said BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
Given the acrimony with former ally Shiv Sena, the BJP has identified some 16 Lok Sabha seats out of the total 48 in Maharashtra where it has decided to focus more and prepare the ground for the party candidates for the 2024 general elections. In the three elections held after the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency came into existence in 2009, 2014, and 2019, the Shiv Sena won twice and the Congress once.
The constituency is currently represented by Vinayak Raut of Shiv Sena, a Uddhav Thackeray loyalist. Of the six assembly segments under this constituency, the BJP holds the Kankavli constituency which is represented by Nitesh Rane, son of Union minister Narayan Rane, a former Shivsainik and bete noire of Uddhav Thackeray.
In 2009, Rane’s other son Nilesh Rane won the Lok Sabha election from the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency by defeating Suresh Prabhu of Shiv Sena.
Brandon King’s fiery knock of 68 after Obed McCoy’s six-wicket haul guided West Indies to the five-wicket win over India in the second T20I of the five-match series at the Warner Park, St Kitts on Monday.
West Indies maintained a stronghold on the match in the chase with opener Brandon King playing an anchoring role after Obed McCoy’s six-wicket haul helped the hosts bundle out India for 138 runs.
Chasing a target of 139, West Indies got off to a good start as their openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers started smashing Indian bowlers all around the ground. But their stint of blistering batting was cut short by Hardik Pandya as he dismissed Mayers in the 6.1 over.
Mayers’s wicket invited captain Nicholas Pooran to the crease, who could not do much and went back to the pavilion after scoring 14 runs in 11 balls on the delivery of Ravichandran Ashwin.
The star batter of West Indies Shimron Hetmyer could not do much and was sent back to the hut by Ravindra Jadeja.
In the 15.3 over of the innings, Brandon King was dismissed after scoring 68 runs in 52 balls by Avesh Khan.
At that point of the run chase, King had done his part to take his team closer to winning the second T20I against India.
After 17 overs the equation of the chase went down to 27 runs in 18 balls Devon Thomas and Rovman Powell started playing aggressive and smashed Pandya for a six over the long-on.
Arshdeep Singh gave India a breakthrough as he dismissed hard-hitting batter Powell in the 19th over of the innings. Powell’s wicket invited Odean Smith to the crease.
In the last thrilling over of the innings hosts needed 10 runs in 6 balls. Devon Thomas hammered Avesh Khan for back-to-back one six and one four to guide his team to the victory with five wickets in hands.
Earlier, the hosts were dominant during the Indian innings, dismissing skipper Rohit Sharma was sent off the very first ball after which India struggled to get proceeding.
McCoy’s figures of 6/17 were the best by a West Indies bowler in T20Is and India were all out for just 138 runs on a ground that is known to allow batters to hit sixes.
Brief score: India 138 (Ravindra Jadeja 27, Hardik Pandya 31; Obed McCoy 6-17) vs West Indies 141/5 (Brandon King 68, Nicholas Pooran 14; Hardik Pandya 1-11).
Most wanted terrorist Ayman al-Zawahiri killed in drone attack
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) added a “deceased” caption under the profile image of Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri on its website, after the most wanted terrorist was killed by the US in an air strike in Kabul.
Zawahiri was killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan on Saturday, according to US President Joe Biden.
There is what the profile of Zawahiri was on the FBI website before his killing was announced.
In a televised address on Monday (local time), US President Joe Biden said that “Justice has been delivered.”
al-Zawahiri was one of the world’s most wanted terrorists and a mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks was killed in a drone strike carried out by the US in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday
“On Saturday, at my direction, the United States successfully conducted an airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan that killed the emir of al-Qa’ida: Ayman al-Zawahiri. Justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more,” Biden said in a video address from the Blue Room Balcony at the White House.
“He will never again, never again, allow Afghanistan to become a terrorist safe haven because he is gone and we’re going to make sure that nothing else happens,” he added.
Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon was deeply involved in the planning of 9/11 and he also acted as Osama Bin Ladens personal physician.
Al-Qaeda, who had just turned 71, took over the leadership of Al-Qaeda after the US Forces hunted down Osama bin Laden in Jalalabad of Pakistan. 11 years after Laden was killed, Zawahiri had become an international symbol of the group, and a global terrorist with a reward of USD 25 million on his head.
In 1993, he took over the leadership of Islamic Jihad in Egypt and became a leading figure in a campaign in the mid-1990s to overthrow the government and set up a purist Islamic state. He was found to be involved in the killing of over 1,200 Egyptians.
Years later, Zawahiri became number two on the list of “most wanted terrorists” announced by the US government in 2001.
In 1998, Zawahiri finally merged the Egyptian Islamic Jihad with Al-Qaeda.
Zawahiri was indicted for his alleged role in the bombings of August 7, 1998, when nearly simultaneous bombs blew up in front of the American embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in Africa – 224 people died in the blasts, including 12 Americans, and more than 4,500 people were wounded.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Monday in Rajya Sabha said that scheduled domestic airlines are not charging any fee for completing web check-in formalities.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation General VK Singh (retired) in a written reply to a question about whether most of the airline companies in the country are assigning most of the seats to the passengers on a payment basis in the name of online check-in before travelling.
Singh replied that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued Air Transport Circular (ATC)-01 of 2021 titled, “Unbundle of Services and fees by scheduled airlines” as per which, some services like preferential seating have been allowed to be unbundled and charged separately from the travellers.
Such unbundled services are provided on an “opt-in” basis by Airlines and are not mandatory in nature. The question was raised by S Selvaganabathy, BJP MP from Pudducherry.
He further asked whether any guidelines have been issued by Government to the airline companies to regulate the sale and allotment of seats. Singh replied that there is also a provision for auto seat assignment to the passengers who have not selected any seat for web check-in before scheduled departure.
Scheduled domestic airlines are not charging any fee for completing web check-in formalities.
As far as check-in at Airports is concerned, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has advised all the scheduled airlines not to charge any additional amount for issuing boarding passes at the airport check-in counters as the same cannot be considered within ‘tariff’ as provided under Rule 135 of The Aircraft Rules, 1937.
Ministry of Civil Aviation or Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been receiving grievances related to air transport. They are redressed as per the established mechanism or extant guidelines in the matter, Singh added.
Earlier, DGCA had made it clear that airlines charging for preferred seats is as per the unbundling of fare and is left to airlines and we have no role in that.
Ahead of the release of Aamir Khan’s ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’, the film triggered controversy after “#BoycottLaalSinghChaddha” started trending on Twitter.
Apparently, some Twitter users went through the archives and dug up Aamir’s controversial “India’s growing intolerance” statement and circulated it on the micro-blogging site.
Reacting to the boycott trend, Aamir while speaking to Mumbai reporters requested people to watch his film. “That Boycott Bollywood… Boycott Aamir Khan… Boycott Laal Singh Chaddha… I feel sad also because a lot of people who are saying this in their hearts believe I am someone who doesn’t like India… In their hearts they believe that… And that’s quite untrue,” Aamir quoted as a saying.
“I really love the country… That’s how I am. It is rather unfortunate if some people feel that way.I want to assure everyone that it’s not the case so please don’t boycott my films, please watch my films,” he pleaded.
Well, this is not the first time that netizens have expressed anger towards the upcoming film. Earlier, when the makers of the film launched the trailer in May, the same hashtag was trending.
Talking about the controversial statement in question, in 2015, Aamir Khan said in an interview, “Our country is very tolerant, but there are people who spread ill-will”. His wife Kiran Rao also made headlines for saying that she considered leaving the country for the safety of their children.
Helmed by Advait Chandan, ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ is an official Hindi adaptation of the Academy Award-winning 1994 film ‘Forrest Gump’, which had Tom Hanks in the lead role. It is scheduled to release on August 11. Kareena Kapoor Khan and Mona Singh are also a part of the film.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today visited the residence of Sahitya Ratna Demokratira Anna Bhau Sathe in Ghatkopar on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
On this occasion Chief Minister Shri. Shinde saluted Anna Bhau Sathe by offering a wreath.
Also, his family members were also interrogated.
On this occasion, MP Rahul Shewale along with the officials of Sahitya Ratna Demokratar Anna Bhau Sathe Smarak Samiti were present.
Under the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, the District Sports Officer, Mumbai Suburban, is inviting applications from the meritorious sportspersons (male, female and disabled sportspersons) and sports mentors of Mumbai Suburban District for the District Sports Award for the year 2021-22.
District sports awards are given to meritorious sportspersons, and sports guides in the district to appreciate their work/contribution and to encourage them.
For the year 2021-22, meritorious athletes (men, women and disabled athletes) and sports mentors will be awarded.
The award eligibility criteria are as follows. Sports Mentor Award: The applicant applying for the award should have resided in the concerned district for 15 consecutive years in Maharashtra.
Should have completed 35 years of age. Should have worked as Sports Guide for 10 years continuously. Performance in that district will be taken into consideration for scoring.
Also, sports guides who have produced at least state and national medal winners in the senior category as well as junior school, rural and women (Khelo India) medal winners up to the national level in the last ten years will be eligible for the award.
Pradeep Durge, Vocational Education and Training Officer, Mumbai Suburban District, has appealed that the deadline for admission to Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) has been extended till 27th August 2022, and interested and eligible students of Mumbai Division should apply for it.
In a press conference held at Mulund ITI on behalf of the Mumbai Division, Shri. Durge gave this information. New online admission application and determination of admission form.
In order to provide a chance for the counselling round to the candidates who could not submit the application form within the prescribed time, facilities have been made available on the website from 1st to 27th August 2022 for filling the application form online, editing the application form, paying the application fee and fixing the application form.
There are, Mr Durge said. There are 67 government ITIs in 7 districts of the Mumbai division, including 49 general ITIs, 3 ITIs for women, 10 tribal ITIs, 2 minority ITIs, and 3 tribal ashram schools. Apart from this, there are 39 private ITIs in the Mumbai division.
This admission process is being implemented for 20 thousand 184 seats in government and private ITIs. The available seats for various profession-wise admissions as well as information about professional courses and the admission process are available on the department’s website www.dvet.admission.gov.in.
12 thousand 394 candidates of a total of 67 Government Industrial Training Institutes of Mumbai Division have been allotted admission for admission in the first round of central online admission till 29 July 2022 and 2 thousand 157 candidates have confirmed admission till 1 August 2022.
Candidates are urged to confirm the first round of admission by August 3.
Second T20I between India, and West Indies cricket match to delay 10
Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed there will be a delay in the start of the second T20I match against India which will be played at Warner Park in St Kitts on Monday.
“Due to circumstances beyond CWI’s control, there have been significant delays in crucial team luggage arriving into St Kitts from Trinidad. As a result, today’s match T20 match is due to start at 12:30 pm (11:30 am Jamaica/10 pm India). CWI regrets any inconvenience caused to our valued fans, sponsors, broadcast partners and all other stakeholders,” said CWI in a statement. Stadium gates will open at 10:00 am as per Jamaica time.
The match was to start at 8 pm IST. India leads the five-match series 1-0 following their victory by 68 runs last Friday at the match played in Trinidad. Thanks to some fantastic batting from Rohit Sharma (64), and Dinesh Karthik (41*), India posted 190/6 in their 20 overs.
West Indies had no answer to superb bowling from Arshdeep (2/24), spinners Ravi Bishnoi (2/26) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/22) and were bundled out for 122. Shamarh Brooks scored 20 runs and emerged as the top scorer for his side.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday told a special PMLA court in Mumbai that former director of Guru Ashish Construction Pvt Ltd Pravin Raut was the frontman of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut in the Patra Chawl scam.
Sanjay Raut is currently in the custody of the ED in a money laundering case related to irregularities in a chawl re-development project in Mumbai’s Goregaon area.
The ED on Monday produced Shiv Sena MP before a special sessions court after his arrest here early this morning in connection with Patra chawl money laundering case.
Hearing the matter, the Court sent Raut to ED custody till August 4. The central agency had sought 8-day custody of the Shiv Sena MP. ED’s counsel Hiten Venegaonkar argued that Pravin Raut, former director of Guru Ashish Construction Pvt Ltd did not invest a single penny. He received Rs 112 crore.
ED said the investigation revealed that Rs 1.6 crore was transferred to the account of Sanjay Raut and wife Varsha Raut. The probe agency argued that Raut and family were beneficiaries of Rs 1.6 crore.
ED further told the court that the investigation revealed that out of Rs 1.6 crore, a plot of land at Kihim Beach in Alibaug was bought. One plot was taken in the name of Swapna Patkar. The probe also revealed that Pravin Raut has been the frontman of Sanjay Raut. The agency said witness Swapna Patkar and sellers have confirmed about cash transactions in the land deal.
“The investigation also revealed that Pravin Raut is a close confidante and associate of Sanjay Raut. Being the frontman of Sanjay Raut, he utilised his proximity with Sanjay Raut for obtaining approval from MAHADA and other advantages best known to themselves. Being a very influential person and given his proximity to Sanjay Raut, Praveen Raut has received PoC of around 112 crores and there is every likelihood that Sanjay Raut has received more PoC during that period,” ED told the court.
ED’s lawyer said Sanjay Raut was summoned four times but he appeared before the agency only once. During this period, Raut tried to tamper with the evidence and key witnesses, said ED’s lawyer seeking 8-day custody of the Shiv Sena leader.
On the other hand, Sanjay Raut’s lawyer, Advocate Ashok Mundargi argued that Raut’s arrest is politically motivated. Advocate Mundargi said Raut is a patient with a heart-related ailment. He had also undergone surgery. Papers related to this have been presented before the court.
After the Court’s ruling, Sanjay Raut’s brother Sunil Raut told reporters, “Sanjay Raut was arrested late night yesterday. His medical checkup was done today and he was taken to court. We have faith in the judiciary, we believe he will be released soon.” Sunil Raut had earlier said that the Shiv Sena leader has been framed since the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre is afraid of him.
“BJP is afraid of him and got him arrested. They have not given us any documents (regarding his arrest). He has been framed,” said Sanjay Raut’s brother.
Earlier on Monday, Raut was taken for a medical test at the JJ hospital before being produced at the court. ED officials raided the Shiv Sena leader’s home on Sunday, and after detaining and questioning him for several hours, arrested him in the early hours today. Raut is a close aide of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Meanwhile, another FIR was registered against Sanjay Raut in Mumbai for allegedly threatening Swapna Patkar, the wife of Sujit Patkar, believed to be a close aide of the Shiv Sena MP. The case was registered at the Vakola police station under sections 504, 506 and 509 of IPC.
An audio clip had gone viral in which Raut was allegedly heard threatening Swapna Patkar. Notably, Swapna Patkar is a witness in the Patra Chawl land case in connection to which the ED detained Raut on Sunday.
According to sources, ED officials seized Rs 11.50 lakh unaccounted cash from the residence of Raut earlier on Sunday. ED sleuths reached Raut’s residence around 7 am on Sunday and conducted the raid.
Soon after the ED officials detained him in connection with the Patra Chawl land scam case, the Shiv Sena leader said that “Jhukega nahi” (will not be cowed down)”.
Speaking to media persons on Sunday, Raut said, “False charges and documents are being framed against people. All of this is being done to weaken Shiv Sena and Maharashtra. Sanjay Raut will not be cowed down. I will not leave the party.”
On June 28 this year, Raut was summoned by ED in connection with the prevention of the money laundering case pertaining to the Rs 1,034 crore Patra Chawl land scam. Refusing to join the probe and citing the Monsoon Session of Parliament as a reason for not joining the probe, he then dared the probe agency to arrest him.
Later, he reached the ED office. In April this year, the ED had provisionally attached assets worth over Rs 11.15 crore belonging to Raut’s wife Varsha Raut and two of his associates as part of its investigation.
