Thursday 30 November 2023

97.26% of Rs 2,000 notes returned since May 19 when they were withdrawn: RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday said that  97.26% of Rs 2,000 notes in circulation as of May 19, 2023, have returned, adding, that the notes still continue to be a legal tender.

“The total value of Rs 2000 notes in circulation, which amounted to 3.56 lakh crore as at the close of business on May 19, 2023 when the withdrawal of Rs 2000 banknotes was announced, has declined to Rs 9, 760 crore as at the close of business on November 30, 2023. 97.26% of the Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation as of May 19, 2023, have returned. The Rs 2,000 banknotes continue to be legal tender,” the RBI said in a statement.

The RBI had announced the withdrawal of Rs 2000 notes from circulation on May 19, 2023 and the status of the withdrawal of the notes is periodically published by the central bank.

The facility for deposit or exchange of the notes was available at all bank branches in the country initially up to September 30, 2023, which was later extended to October 7, 2023.

“The facility for the exchange of Rs 2000 banknotes was also available at the 19 Issue Offices of the Reserve Bank from May 19, 2023. From October 9, 2023, RBI Issue Offices, in addition to exchanging Rs 2000 denomination banknotes across the counters, are also accepting Rs 2000 banknotes for individuals/entities for deposit to their bank accounts,” read the statement.

“Further, members of the public from within the country can send Rs 2000 banknotes through India Post from any post office in the country, to any of the RBI Issue Offices for credit to their bank accounts in India,” it added.

The decision to discontinue the circulation of Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes was made in accordance with the RBI’s ‘Clean Note Policy’.

A few months ago, a study published by the State Bank of India said the removal of Rs 2,000 notes from circulation will have positive implications for the country’s banking system.

It added that the move will boost bank deposits, and repayment of loans, and have an overall positive impact on consumption and the Reserve Bank of India’s retail central bank digital currency (CBDC).

With inputs from agencies



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15 Bengaluru schools get bomb threat on email; over 5,000 children, staff evacuated

On a Friday morning, there was massive chaos at the premises of at least 15 schools in Karnataka’s Bengaluru. More than 5,000 students and staff were hurriedly evacuated when the administrative staff received a bomb threat via email.

There was panic among students, parents and school authorities who immediately informed the police. At the time of filing this report, anti-sabotage and bomb squads of Bengaluru police were conducting checks in these schools.

Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda said, many anti-sabotage teams were scanning the school premises and they found no suspicious objects.

“As of now, it looks like a hoax-message. We will complete the search operation soon. However, we request parents not to panic,” the senior cop said.

Looking into all aspects: Karnataka govt

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara said, “At present, we have received information about 15 schools where threatening e-mails have been received, last year also such threats were received. We cannot take any risk, we are inspecting the schools and are taking all precautionary measures in schools. We will take strict action against those who are making threatening calls. We are looking into all aspects.”

Email sent from different addresses

A report by The Indian Express quoted sources in Bengaluru Police saying the emails received on Friday were sent from various addresses with masking of the IP address of origin of the emails.

Bengaluru schools on alert after bomb threat email

Initially, the email of bomb threats was received by seven schools, including Napel and Vidyashilpa in Basaveshwar Nagar. One of the schools that received the threats is situated next to the residence of Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar.


Soon, more educational institutions complained of receiving similar threats via email.

B Dayananda said the email threats appeared similar to last year’s when miscreants had sent similar threat emails to many schools in the city.

On 8 April 2022, at least 16 schools in Bengaluru received hoax bomb threat emails between 11 am to 2:30 pm.

“A very powerful bomb has been planted in your school, attention is not a joke, this is not a joke, a very powerful bomb has been planted in your school, immediately call the police and sappers, hundreds of lives may suffer including yours, do not delay, now everything is only in your hands!” the email read.



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After deepfakes, Google, YouTube plan to take down fake news ahead of India’s 2024 general elections

YouTube, the video streaming giant owned by Google, is set to combat the spread of fake news and disinformation in the lead-up to India’s general elections. A senior official from the company revealed plans to remove misleading content and provide users with access to high-quality news by collaborating with reputable news publishers and independent journalists.

During a recent interaction with the press YouTube India Director Ishan Chatterjee emphasized the platform’s commitment to addressing misinformation. He explained that their policies dictate action against content that has been technologically manipulated to deceive users and poses a real-world harm risk. However, Chatterjee stressed that this is only one facet of their strategy.

The second part of YouTube’s strategy focuses on ensuring users have access to reliable and high-quality news content produced by news organizations and independent journalists. Despite news not being a distinct category on YouTube, it remains a significant driver of content consumption.

Chatterjee highlighted the substantial growth in news consumption on platforms such as YouTube Shorts and Connected TV (CTV). CTV has been the fastest-growing platform for YouTube in India, boasting over 58 million people streaming YouTube on their TVs as of June.

YouTube’s Director and Global Head of Responsibility, Tim Katz, noted the uniqueness of the Indian market, where the consumption of live content, particularly news, is exceptionally high, even on CTV. Katz observed significant growth during sensitive moments, such as major news stories and election cycles.

Emphasizing diversity, Katz acknowledged the increasing presence of various news partners on the platform, ranging from independent journalists to broadcasters, print publishers, and digital native publishers. He expressed the platform’s commitment to serving and supporting the entire spectrum of the news ecosystem.

A report by the Google News Initiative in collaboration with Kantar highlighted video as the most popular format for news consumption across different languages and formats. The report also revealed that half of Indian language internet users engage with news, with a third of them residing in urban areas. Furthermore, seven in ten users consume hyperlocal news across India.

According to the Oxford Economics Impact Report, 70 per cent of media and music companies in India with a YouTube channel consider the platform to be a crucial source of revenue for their businesses.

(With inputs from agencies)



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WATCH: Indian diaspora welcomes PM Modi in Dubai for COP28, says 'the world needs leader like him'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome at the Dubai airport as soon as he landed there to attend the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) Summit.

The Prime Minister will be participating in the World Climate Action Summit of COP28 which is scheduled on 1 December.

PM Modi was received by UAE’s Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahayan at the airport.

PM Modi gets rousing welcome in Dubai

The Indian diaspora, waiting outside a hotel in Dubai, were all excited upon PM Modi’s arrival in UAE. They sang ‘Saare Jahan Se Achha’ and chanted slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, ‘Vande Mataram’, ‘Modi, Modi’, ‘Ab Ki Baar Modi Sarkar’.

 

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, PM Modi said, "Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Dubai. Their support and enthusiasm is a testament to our vibrant culture and strong bonds."

'World needs a leader like PM Modi'

The members of the Indian diaspora in Dubai were elated at the opportunity to meet PM Modi and they highlighted his global leadership qualities.

"I have been living in UAE for 20 years but today it felt as if one of my own has come to this country," said a member of the Indian diaspora after meeting PM Modi in Dubai.

After meeting PM Modi, a student said, "It was a very inspiring and motivating moment. We felt good after seeing him."

"The amount of time PM Modi gave us and the events that happened here we are very happy to witness it," said another student after meeting the Indian Prime Minister.

"We are so happy to see PM Modi here. We will never forget this day in our lives. The world needs a leader like PM Modi," said another member of the diaspora after meeting PM Modi.

"We felt good that PM Modi has come here. He shook hands with us. He is a global leader," said another member of the Indian diaspora.

"We have no words to say. We are very happy that PM Modi shook hands with us and he recognised us because of our 'pagdi'," said another member of the diaspora.

"I am big fan of PM Modi. He is favourite leader. I told him about the lotus saree that I am wearing," said a woman of Indian origin after meeting PM Modi in Dubai.

Prime Minister Modi also witnessed cultural performance by members of Indian diaspora upon his arrival at hotel in Dubai.

PM Modi is on a one-day visit to the UAE and has a packed schedule on Friday (1 December, 2023).

The Prime Minister will arrive at the Leadership Pavilion of the COP28 venue at Expo City around 10:30 am (local time). The leaders will then have a welcome photograph with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

There will be the traditional family photograph of all the attending delegates (heads of state/heads of government) around 11:30 am (local time).

PM Modi will speak at five events as part of the COP28 summit. These are the opening session of the World Climate Action Summit, ceremonial opening of high-level segment for heads of state/government, presidency's session on transforming climate finance, high-level event on green credits programme, and leadership group for industry transition.

With inputs from agencies



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Tunnel worker’s father dies hours before dramatic rescue. ‘Anxiety,’ says kin

Hours before the dramatic rescue of the 41 trapped workers from the collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel, a 70-year-old Jharkhand man “died of anxiety” for his son who was among those rescued later that day.

Baset alias Barsa Murmu was anxious for his son, 28-year-old Bhaktu, since he heard about the collapse of the under-construction Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand on November 12, his family members said on Wednesday.

A resident of Bahda village in East Singhbhum district, Murmu, died at around 8 am on Tuesday when he was sitting on his cot, around 12 hours before Baktu was rescued.

Local government officials said they are yet to confirm the reason behind the death though it is suspected that he died of heart attack. Since Tuesday, Bhaktu’s mother Piti Murmu has stopped speaking and has been disoriented.

Murmu’s son-in-law Thakar Hansda who was there when the septuagenarian breathed his last said he was anxious about the well-being of his son and suddenly fell from the cot and died.

The family members said Murmu anxiously kept waiting for information regarding his son’s rescue. Officer-in-charge, Dumaria police station, Sanjeevan Oraon who visited the victim’s residence, said the reasons behind the death are not known.

Civil Surgeon, East Singhbhum, Dr Jujhar Manjhi said they had information of the death but no medical report has reached them as yet.

Bhaktu along with 14 others from Jharkhand is recuperating at AIIMS Rishikesh where he reached along with others for the health check-up around 2 pm on Wednesday.

“The Uttarakhand government has kept the workers under observation. As soon as they are released from the hospital, we will airlift them to Ranchi,” Jharkhand Labour Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sharma told the media.

Quoting Uttarakhand officers, he said the workers will be kept under observation at AIIMS Rishikesh for 24 hours. “Once it is complete, we will take our workers to Dehradun from where they will fly to New Delhi. They will fly to Ranchi from New Delhi as there is no direct flight between Dehradun and Ranchi,” Sharma said.

A three-member Jharkhand government team had reached Uttarkashi soon after the tunnel collapse. The successful operation to rescue 41 workers trapped in an under-construction road tunnel in Uttarakhand culminated on Tuesday night.

A portion of the under-construction tunnel on Uttarakhand’s Char Dham route collapsed on November 12, blocking the exit of the workers who were inside.



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Wednesday 29 November 2023

WATCH: Chennai braces for more heavy rain, shuts schools, deploy NDRF; netizens fume over poor drainage

Low-lying areas across Tamil Nadu have been submerged in water after heavy showers on Wednesday. Schools and colleges in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Ranipet and Kanchipuram districts have declared holiday for the day as IMD has forecast intense rain along with thunderstorms and lightning on Thursday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange alert for Chennai and its neighbouring districts on 2 and 3 December, predicting the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall.

The weather office further informed that a well-marked low pressure area persists over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea, which is expected to move west-northwards and turn into a depression over the Bay of Bengal on Thursday. Thereafter, on 2 December, it is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm, IMD said.

Coastal areas may have to prepare for more rain till the weekend with a weather system brewing over the southeast Bay of Bengal.

NDRF deployed in Tamil Nadu

In view of the impending cyclone warning issued by the IMD, as five NDRF teams have been deployed in Chennai, Chengalpet, Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu.

Also 28 members of the SDRF, Tamil Nadu Commando force have been stationed at Rippon Building, prepared for any contingency. They are equipped with essential lifesaving gear and other facilities.

Helpline number launched

The Greater Chennai Corporation has launched helpline numbers in the city for people who need flood and rain related help.

Exams postponed, schools shut

The University of Madras has has postponed the semester exams scheduled for Thursday, 30 November, 2023, due to rain. The revised date to be announced later.

Puzhal Lake, also known as the Red Hills Lake, reached its full capacity due to continuous rainfall in the area. 389 cusecs of water have been released from the lake.

'Trapped in sea of water'

People took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share videos and pictures of roads in Tamil Nadu and Chennai submerged in water.

A user shared video of office goers, pedestrians, motorists wading through water logged street at Ekattuthangal Metro. Hitting out at the state government, the user said, "What a pathetic condition is this? Just an hour rainfall.. look at the situation of 100ft road at Ekattuthangal Metro... They want to reach home, but trapped in sea of water."

Another user shared video from St Mary's road showing vehicles "struggling becasue of water stagnation".

Here's what other users posted after Chennai streets were waterlogged following heavy rains:

With inputs from agencies



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Polling begins for 119 assembly seats in Telangana, both Congress, BJP look to wrest power from KCR

Amid speculation about a strong anti-incumbency wave against Telangana chief minister and BRS supremo KCR and with both the Congress as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party hoping to wrest a southern state, polling began at 7.00 am on Thursday morning in Telangana to elect 119 members to the state legislative assembly.

Voting is underway in 35,655 polling stations across the state, officials said.

Polling would be held till 5 pm in 106 constituencies, while it will conclude at about 4 pm in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected seats.

There are 3.26 crore eligible voters, including 1,63,13,268 male voters and 1,63,02,261 female electors, in the state.

A total of 2,290 contestants are in the fray for the upcoming elections, including Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, his minister-son KT Rama Rao, state Congress president A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar and D Arvind.

The model code of conduct came into force in the state after the Election Commission announced the schedule on October 9.

BRS has fielded candidates in all 119 seats.

According to the seat sharing agreement, BJP and actor Pawan Kalyan-headed Jana Sena are contesting in 111 and 8 seats respectively.

The Congress has given one seat to its ally CPI, and is fighting from 118 others.

Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has put up candidates in nine segments in the city.

More than 2.5 lakh staff will be engaged in poll duties for the assembly elections, Chief Electoral officer Vikas Raj has said.

About 77,000 security personnel, comprising state police and Home Guards drawn from the state and neighbouring states, besides 375 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), have been deployed across the state as part of the security arrangements for the election.

For the first time in Telangana, home voting facility was provided to persons with disabilities and voters above 80 years.

As on November 29, law enforcement agencies have seized cash, gold, liquor, freebies among others all worth about Rs 745 crore in the state ever since the model code of conduct came into force in the state on October 9, an official release said.

The EC has ordered all private establishments including IT firms to declare holiday on November 30 to enable employees to exercise their franchise.

The counting of votes will be taken up on December 3.



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Tuesday 28 November 2023

India votes in favour of UNGA resolution that shows concern over Israel not withdrawing from Syrian Golan

India has voted in favour of a draft resolution at the UN General Assembly that expressed concern over Israel not withdrawing from the Syrian Golan. The Syrian Golan is a region in southwest Syria that was occupied by Israeli forces on June 5, 1967.

The 193-member UN General Assembly voted on the draft resolution ‘The Syrian Golan’ under agenda item ‘The situation in the Middle East’ on Tuesday. The resolution, introduced by Egypt, was adopted by a recorded vote with 91 in favour, eight against and 62 abstentions.

Apart from India, those voting in favour of the resolution included Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates. Australia, Canada, Israel, the UK and the US voted against it.

The resolution said it is deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which has been under occupation since 1967, contrary to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.

The resolution declared that Israel failed to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981), which decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is null and void and without international legal effect.

Tuesday’s resolution also declared the Israeli decision of December 14, 1981, null and void and said it had no validity whatsoever. It called upon Israel to rescind its decision.

The resolution also stressed the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction and other activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967.

It demanded Israel’s withdrawal from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of June 4, 1967, in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, and determined that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region.

The resolution expressed grave concern over the halt in the peace process on the Syrian track and expressed hope that peace talks will soon resume from the point they had reached.



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Centre flags surge in China respiratory infections, 5 states on alert mode

Soon after the Centre’s directive to review preparedness in view of a surge in respiratory illnesses among children in China, five states have put their health infrastructure on alert mode. The state governments of Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu have asked hospitals and healthcare staff to ensure that they are adequately prepared to tackle patients complaining of respiratory ailments.

The Karnataka health department has also asked people to be aware of the seasonal flu. Listing the symptoms and risk factors of seasonal flu, the advisory also mentions dos and don’ts. These include covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, frequent washing of hands, avoiding touching the face, and using masks in crowded spots.

Rajasthan health department’s advisory indicated that the situation is “not worrisome at present” but the medical staff should keep watch and prevent spread of infectious diseases. It added that adequate arrangements should be made in paediatric units and medicine departments.

In Gujarat, health minister Rushikesh Patel said the healthcare infrastructure created during the COVID-19 pandemic was being strengthened as a precautionary step in view of the health crisis among children in China. The Gujarat government has asked government officials to review their readiness.

In Uttarakhand, the government directed health officials to step up surveillance for cases of respiratory illnesses. Three districts of Uttarakhand — Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh — share borders with China. A statement by the state health department said that while the state hasn’t reported any child pneumonia cases yet, officials have been asked to keep watch as a precautionary measure.

The move by the Uttarakhand government comes after the Union Health Ministry’s advisory to states, asking them to review preparedness to tackle any emerging situation. The Union Health Ministry has said the situation is not alarming, and it is closely monitoring it.

“All States and Union Territories have been advised to implement ‘Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in the context of COVID-19’, shared earlier this year, which provides for integrated surveillance of respiratory pathogens presenting as cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI),” the ministry said in a statement.

The sudden spike in respiratory illnesses in northern China, particularly among children, has become a cause for concern four years after Covid-19 emerged in the country and went on to become a pandemic that changed the world.



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Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates: Families extend gratitude to govt following successful rescue of 41 workers

08:17 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Families extend gratitude to govt following successful rescue of 41 workers from Silkyara tunnel

After 17 days of nervous waiting, joy and gladness flooded the faces of the family members of the 41 trapped workers on Tuesday evening as they learned of their successful rescue from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi.

The dramatic scene emerged as the finale of the nation's attention-grabbing rescue attempts.

After experiencing extended despair, the families celebrated the rescue and praised the authorities sincerely for bringing their loved ones back.

They celebrated by breaking crackers and handing out candy.

Some family members used video conferencing to check on the workers' well-being.

Many families who had arrived at the scene a few days after the disaster and had been sleeping there since were reunited with their loved ones.

08:13 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

How the rescue of 41 trapped workers unfolded over 17 days

The ordeal of 41 workers trapped inside the collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi has finally come to an end on Tuesday as rescue workers successfully cleared the final few metres of debris and laid the exit pipe using the banned manual “rat-hole” mining after high-tech auger machines failed to do so.

Ambulances were being lined up and a temporary medical facility was set up inside the tunnel itself to attend the evacuees.

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08:12 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

Amit Shah congratulates rescue workers for successful evacuation

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his gratitude to all rescue personnel after the 41 trapped workers were evacuated from the collapsed Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand on Tuesday evening.

“It is great news for the nation that all our 41 Shramik brothers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarkashi have been rescued safe and sound. Nation salutes their grit in facing such a challenging situation in the tunnel for so long,” Amit Shah said in a statement on social media.

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08:11 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

'Amazing example of humanity, teamwork': PM Modi on successful Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation

All 41 workers who were trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand since November 12 were successfully rescued on Tuesday.

Soon after the rescue operation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The success of the rescue operation of our labour brothers in Uttarkashi is making everyone emotional. I want to say to the friends who were trapped in the tunnel that your courage and patience are inspiring everyone. I wish you all well and good health. It is a matter of great satisfaction that after a long wait, these friends of ours will now meet their loved ones.”

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08:10 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

President Droupadi Murmu praises officials for 'historic' rescue operation

President Droupadi Murmu praised the rescue teams for what she described as one of the most difficult rescue missions in history after all 41 trapped workers were evacuated from the collapsed Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand on Tuesday evening.

The President also praised the trapped workers for their resilience and thanked them for their service to the nation.

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07:54 (IST)

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE Updates

PM Modi speaks to workers rescued from Uttarakhand tunnel over phone

After the operation was pronounced a success, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called workers who had been rescued from the collapsed tunnel after 17 days. All of the workers were gathered in one room and spoke on the phone with the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister had already praised the actions of the rescue squad in successfully and safely removing the personnel.

"The success of the rescue operation of our brothers in Uttarkashi is making everyone emotional. I want to say to the friends who were trapped in the tunnel that your courage and patience are inspiring everyone. I wish you all well and good health," the Prime Minister posted on X.

After the operation was pronounced a success, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called workers who had been rescued from the collapsed tunnel after 17 days. All of the workers were gathered in one room and spoke on the phone with the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister had already praised the actions of the rescue squad in successfully and safely removing the personnel.

“The success of the rescue operation of our brothers in Uttarkashi is making everyone emotional. I want to say to the friends who were trapped in the tunnel that your courage and patience are inspiring everyone. I wish you all well and good health,” the Prime Minister posted on X.

“It is a matter of great satisfaction that after a long wait, these friends of ours will now meet their loved ones. The patience and courage that all these families have shown in this challenging time cannot be appreciated enough,” the Prime Minister added.

The construction of the tunnel which is part of the ambitious Char Dham project, collapsed on November 12.



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Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: PM Modi calls up rescued workers, asks about well-being

After a protracted 17-day rescue mission, workers in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel were extracted, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with them late on Tuesday.

Officials told India Today that the Prime Minister called the rescued construction workers to check on their well-being.

After a day-long rat-mining operation, which was started because large and sophisticated drilling machines were unable to remove the debris from the Silkyara tunnel that was still under construction, all 41 workers were successfully evacuated by rescue crews.

The Prime Minister praised the weeks-long efforts of the rescue forces to successfully and safely extract the workers on X (previously known as Twitter) shortly after they were removed.

He claimed that all of the mission’s participants had produced a wonderful illustration of humanity and cooperation.

“The success of the rescue operation of our brothers in Uttarkashi is making everyone emotional. I want to say to the friends who were trapped in the tunnel that your courage and patience are inspiring everyone. I wish you all well and good health,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

“It is a matter of great satisfaction that after a long wait, these friends of ours will now meet their loved ones. The patience and courage that all these families have shown in this challenging time cannot be appreciated enough,” he added.

On November 12, a landslip caused a section of the Silkyara tunnel, which is a component of the Center’s massive Char Dham project, to collapse, trapping 41 construction workers.



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Monday 27 November 2023

UP court summons Rahul Gandhi over 2018 objectionable remarks about Home Minister Amit Shah

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been summoned by a MP/MLA court on December 16 in connection with a 2018 case for making derogatory comments against Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a Bengaluru event. The complaint was lodged by then BJP district vice-president, Vijay Mishra.

“I was the vice president of BJP when this incident happened. Rahul Gandhi had accused Amit Shah in Bengaluru and called him a murderer. When I heard these allegations, I felt very pained because I am a 33-year-old worker of the party. I filed a complaint regarding this through my lawyer and this continued for almost 5 years. Today a decision has been taken by the court,” Vijay Mishra told news agency ANI.

Santosh Kumar Pandey, the lawyer appearing for Vijay Mishra said that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi can be given a maximum punishment of 2 years if sufficient evidence is found against him.

“Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held a press conference in Bengaluru. About 5 years ago, Amit Shah who is currently the Home Minister, objectionable remarks were made against him. On August 4, 2018, this case was filed in the District and Sessions Court of MP-MLA Court Sultanpur. In which on Monday, Judge Yogesh Kumar Yadav of MP MLA Court Sultanpur has summoned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on December 16. This statement came from Rahul Gandhi during the Karnataka elections in Bengaluru in 2018,” Pandey said.

“When the information came through social media and TV news channels, the then District Vice President of BJP, Vijay Mishra had filed a complaint. Statements of three witnesses were taken in the complaint. He (Rahul Gandhi) can be given a maximum punishment of 2 years in this entire case if sufficient evidence is found against him.”

“Either Rahul Gandhi should appear in court and get his bail and if he does not come then the court can take action against him,” he added.



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Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Multi-pronged operation underway to rescue trapped workers

Authorities have launched multi-pronged operations to rescue the 41 trapped workers from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand. Both manual and vertical drilling works are being carried out at similar paces from inside the tunnel and atop the hill respectively.

Pipes have been inserted up to 52 metres through the rubble at Silkyara tunnel, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Tuesday as efforts to rescue the 41 workers trapped there continued for the 17th day.

Over 12 rat hole mining experts have been employed in the horizontal excavation efforts who have been working their way through the last 10 or 12-metre stretch of debris of the collapsed portion of the under-construction tunnel on Uttarakhand’s Char Dham route since Monday.

However, officials part of the vertical drilling team said that the work undertaken from the mouth of the tunnel is seen as the more feasible rescue option and that it will be completed faster than vertical drilling.

“All the experts have been working for a long time. 52 metres of drilling work has been done, everyone is fine, everyone is full of energy. We hope the work will be completed as soon as possible. The manner in which the work is ongoing, we hope that there will be a breakthrough very soon,” Dhami said.

Meanwhile, talking to ANI, Micro tunnelling expert Chris Cooper said, “It went very well last night. We have crossed 50 metres. It’s now about 5-6 metres to go…We didn’t have any obstacles last night. It is looking very positive.”

Rat-hole miners are carrying out the manual drilling work which has been going on since Monday night. The debris thus generated is taken out manually using ropes from the rescue pipe.

With inputs from agencies



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PM Modi vows determined efforts for safe evacuation of trapped workers in Uttarakhand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed unwavering determination on Monday to overcome the challenges posed by nature in the ongoing evacuation of 41 workers trapped inside a tunnel in Uttarakhand.

Despite facing obstacles, the government is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety of the workers, said PM Modi during a ‘Koti Deepotsavam’, a religious event of lighting lamps during the Hindu Kartika month.

Addressing the situation, PM Modi conveyed his prayers for the workers’ safe evacuation, highlighting the government’s continuous efforts to rescue them promptly.

Emphasising the need for a vigilant relief and rescue operation, he acknowledged the persistent challenges posed by nature but reassured the public of the government’s resolute stance.

PM Modi underscored the round-the-clock efforts being made by the government and various agencies, leaving no stone unturned to bring the trapped workers to safety.

During the religious event, PM Modi urged the nation to pray for the workers and their families, offering support and courage to the loved ones of those trapped for the past 15 days.

The Prime Minister concluded with a heartfelt wish that the lamps lit during ‘Dev Diwali’ and ‘Koti Deepotsavam’ would symbolise the arrival of light in the lives of the trapped workers.

The workers have been trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel for 15 days since a section of it collapsed on November 12. Although rescue efforts commenced promptly, challenges in drilling have caused delays in the operation.

With inputs from PTI



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16 flights diverted as bad weather hits Delhi airport

Rain battered the nation’s capital on Monday, causing sixteen planes scheduled to depart for Delhi between 6 and 8 p.m. to be rerouted. Ten of the sixteen aircraft had their routes changed; three went to Lucknow, one to Ahmedabad, and two to Amritsar.

Furthermore, according to the airline’s social media handle, severe weather and air traffic congestion at Delhi airport caused a Vistara aircraft from Guwahati to Delhi to be rerouted to Jaipur.

On Monday Evening, there was some light rain in Delhi and the National Capital Region, which dropped the temperature a few degrees. Delhi’s air quality, meanwhile, continued to be classified as “very poor”.

Northern India temperatures are expected to decrease by a further two to three degrees, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Additionally, starting on November 28, the weather service has forecast an increase in fog in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi-NCR.

According to RK Jenamani, Senior Scientist at IMD, Delhi’s current weather is gloomy and will stay that way for the next 12 to 18 hours. It is anticipated that the highest and lowest temperatures will be approximately 25 degrees Celsius and 12 degrees Celsius, respectively.

“The weather in the national capital Delhi is currently cloudy and will persist for the next 12-18 hours. The temperature is anticipated to decrease by 2 to 3 degrees at night, and fog is expected to intensify in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab from November 28,” Jenamani was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

(With agency inputs)



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Sunday 26 November 2023

PM Modi visits Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirupati, prays for 'prosperity of 140 crore Indians’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday visited the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala and offered prayers for the good health, well-being and prosperity of all Indians. The prime minister visited the temple at around 8am.

“At the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, prayed for the good health, well-being and prosperity of 140 crore Indians,” said Modi in a post on ‘X’.

The temple priests showered Vedic blessings on Modi. The prime minister arrived at Tirumala on Sunday night.

Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy received Modi at the Reniginta Airport. After the temple visit, the prime minister will proceed to Telangana.

 



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Google bets big on BharatGPT-maker CoRover, to invest $4 mn in India’s answer to OpenAI, ChatGPT

Google is placing some major bets on Indian startup CoRover, and believes it to be India’s answer to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. That is why, the tech giant is set to invest about $4 million in CoRover.

CoRover is the Indian AI studio behind BharatGPT, an LLM-based AI solution that has proven to be much more capable than ChatGPT, and supports a number of Indic languages.

Earlier this year, CoRover unveiled BharatGPT, a significant addition to a body of large language models or LLMs.

This innovative language model supports more than 12 Indian languages and over 120 foreign languages, surpassing the language range of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which is limited to 95 languages and primarily operates in English.

What sets BharatGPT apart is its versatility, as it can process diverse data formats, including images, audio, video, and maps, unlike ChatGPT, which predominantly handles text.

CoRover emphasizes that BharatGPT boasts an impressive accuracy level of 90 per cent. Leveraging a vast repository of internet data as its foundation, BharatGPT offers the flexibility to fine-tune and enhance its content.

This adaptability allows the system to incorporate contextually relevant information based on factors such as region, sector, domain, client, business, and specific use cases, ensuring that users receive current and pertinent information in response to queries.

In a blog post, CoRover highlights BharatGPT’s ability to integrate with custom knowledge bases, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, as well as Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for real-time transactions.

This latest offering from CoRover provides organizations with the capability to build and manage chatbots across communication channels.

CoRover currently extends its AI virtual assistant services to prominent organizations such as IRCTC, LIC, Max Life Insurance, NPCI, and the Government of India, catering to over one billion users.

Moreover, in a notable development, Google is reportedly on the verge of investing approximately $4 million in CoRover, marking another significant milestone in the growth of the Indian conversational artificial intelligence startup. Following a non-equity funding of $500,000 earlier this year, discussions are underway for a $4 million equity investment after the official launch of BharatGPT. As a strategic partner, Google offers cloud computing credits to CoRover, and the additional funds are intended to scale up BharatGPT in the coming weeks.



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Tata doubles down on iPhones: Plans to expand Hosur Apple factory, to employ 28,000 people at it

In a significant move, Tata Electronics, a part of the Tata Group, is set to amplify its iPhone-casing facility in Hosur, with intentions to double its current size, according to a report by the Economic Times, quoting sources familiar with the matter.

The company, which recently acquired Wistron’s iPhone assembly plant in Karnataka, is strategically positioning itself to enhance its contract manufacturing capabilities for premium electronic devices and accessories.

The existing Hosur unit, established with a substantial investment of Rs 5,000 crore, is spread across 500 acres and accommodates over 15,000 employees. The proposed expansion, anticipated to conclude within 12-18 months, could result in a workforce surge to approximately 25,000-28,000 individuals at the consolidated site.

The report quotes a senior government official saying, “The company is looking to expand the unit to 1.5-2 times the current size and capacity.” While speculations suggest the new facility may primarily focus on manufacturing components for Apple phones, there is also a possibility of catering to other high-end smartphone manufacturers.

Industry insiders have believed for long that Tata Electronics is planning to establish a major plant in Hosur, emphasising its commitment to manufacturing phone components, potentially aligning with Apple’s ambitious export targets from India.

Tata Electronics, being the sole Indian company shortlisted by Apple as a vendor, is playing a pivotal role in diversifying Apple’s manufacturing operations away from China, particularly in the production of iPhone enclosures.

This expansion aligns seamlessly with Apple’s overarching strategy to bolster smartphone manufacturing within India.

The Cupertino-based tech giant has steadily increased its reliance on Tata Electronics to meet the escalating demand for iPhone exports. Notably, in the second quarter of this year, Apple surpassed Samsung to become the leading smartphone exporter from India, commanding 49 per cent of the country’s total shipments compared to its Korean counterpart’s 45 per cent.

The latest estimates indicate that Apple has exported iPhones worth over $5 billion in the first seven months of FY24 (April-October) from India, marking a remarkable year-on-year growth of 177 per cent. This underscores the mutually beneficial partnership between Tata Electronics and Apple, further solidifying India’s role in global smartphone manufacturing.

(With input from agencies)



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India-Iran Foreign Office Consultations held in Tehran, regional and global issues discussed

The 18th edition of the India-Iran Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) took place in Tehran on Sunday. Leading the Indian delegation was Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, while the Iranian side was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri.

In a statement on ‘X’, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi mentioned that the co-chairs, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Deputy FM Ali Bagheri, engaged in discussions covering a spectrum of topics, including political, trade and economic, cultural, people-to-people ties, connectivity projects such as the Chabahar port, agriculture cooperation, and capacity building.

The officials also exchanged perspectives on current regional and global issues.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, currently on a two-day visit to Iran, met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Sunday. Their discussions revolved around bilateral concerns, connectivity projects like the Chabahar port, and shared insights on prevailing challenges in the region.

“Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra called on FM @Amirabdolahian of Iran in Tehran today. Discussed bilateral matters, connectivity projects including Chabahar port, and shared perspective on current challenges in the region. Both sides agreed to further strengthen the ongoing cooperation in various spheres,” Bagchi wrote on ‘X’.

A recent development saw Mahdi Rangrona, Vice President of the Iran-India Joint Chamber of Commerce, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ajay Shai, Director General and CEO of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations. The MOU aims to enhance collaboration in trade, investment, quality standards, and technology transfer.

Taking on their social media ‘X’, Iran in India stated, “Mr Mahdi Rangrona, Vice President of Iran-India Joint Chamber of Commerce & Dr Ajay Shai Director General & CEO of @FieoHq (Federation of Indian Export Organizations) Signed MOU to develop cooperation in the fields of investment, trade, quality standards, & technology transfer.”

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and discussed matters of bilateral and regional importance.

The two leaders reiterated their commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, including to realise the full potential of Chabahar Port as a connectivity hub.

“Prime Minister highlighted that India- Iran relationship is underpinned by close historical and civilizational connections, including strong people-to-people contacts,” Prime Minister’s Office said in a press release.

With inputs from ANI



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Rescue efforts intensify for trapped workers in Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) announced on Sunday that efforts are underway to recover the damaged auger machine components and initiate manual digging, along with the commencement of vertical drilling, to rescue 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi for the past 14 days.

Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, a member of the NDMA, said, according to PTI, that various strategies are being implemented to rescue the workers. The second-best option, vertical drilling, began around noon, with 15 meters already completed. Hasnain explained that after reaching 86 meters in vertical drilling, the tunnel crust would need to be broken to extract the trapped workers.

Highlighting ongoing efforts, Hasnain mentioned that six rescue plans are in progress, with horizontal drilling being the most promising, having completed 47 meters. Machines for perpendicular drilling are anticipated to arrive at the site during the night.

Simultaneously, the recovery of the damaged auger machine parts, obstructed during horizontal drilling, is in progress using magna and plasma cutters. Once retrieved, a 15-meter manual digging process will commence to reach the trapped workers, acknowledging that it may take time.

Hasnain emphasised the collaborative efforts of all concerned agencies for the success of the rescue operation.

A plasma cutter from Hyderabad was flown in on Sunday to remove the obstructed parts of the auger machine within the Silkyara tunnel rubble.

Complete disengagement of the machine is essential to resume the rescue work, involving manually pushing pipes through rubble to create an escape passage.

Additionally, a unit of Madras Sappers, an engineer group from the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers, has arrived to assist in the rescue operations.

The auger machine, drilling through the collapsed tunnel rubble, faced complications on Friday night when its blades got stuck, prompting officials to explore alternative options that could extend the rescue operation duration significantly.

On the 14th day of rescue mission, focus shifted to two alternatives: manual drilling through the remaining 10- or 12-meter stretch of rubble or, more likely, drilling down 86 meters from above.

With inpurts from PTI



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Centre urges states to review preparedness amid pneumonia outbreak in China

The Union Health Ministry has recommended that states promptly assess their public health preparedness in response to recent reports highlighting a rise in respiratory illnesses among children in northern China.

“This is noted to be important in view of the ongoing influenza and winter season that results in an increase in respiratory illness cases. The Government of India is closely monitoring the situation and indicated that there is no need for any alarm,” it said.

In a letter to all states and Union territories, the Union health secretary urged an immediate review of public health and hospital preparedness.

This includes evaluating the availability of beds, drugs, influenza vaccines, medical oxygen, antibiotics, personal protective equipment, testing kits, reagents, functionality of oxygen plants and ventilators, and adherence to infection control practices.

States have been advised to implement the Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in the context of COVID-19, shared earlier in the year.

These guidelines encompass integrated surveillance of respiratory pathogens presenting as cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI).

District and state surveillance units of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) are instructed to closely monitor trends of ILI and SARI, especially among children and adolescents, with data required to be uploaded on the IDSP-IHIP portal.

Additionally, state authorities are directed to send nasal and throat swab samples of SARI patients, particularly children and adolescents, to Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories for testing respiratory pathogens.

The state authorities have been asked to send nasal and throat swab samples of patients with SARI, particularly children and adolescents, to the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories for testing for respiratory pathogens.

Recent information from the World Health Organization (WHO) has pointed to an increase in respiratory illnesses in northern China, primarily attributed to typical causes such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia, and SARS-CoV-2.

According to the WHO, the release of COVID-19 restrictions coinciding with the onset of winter season in addition to cyclical trend of respiratory illnesses such as mycoplasma pneumonia have led to this surge.

While the WHO has sought additional information from the Chinese authorities, it is assessed that there is no cause for any alarm at the moment, the ministry said.

With inputs from PTI



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Saturday 25 November 2023

'Every day, we hear 2 more hours': Anxiety grips J'khand village as tunnel rescue delays

With three residents of this village on the outskirts of Ranchi still trapped in the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand, where rescue efforts have encountered yet another obstacle, the anxiety in Khirabeda has now reached a breaking point.

The auger machine’s blades, which were intended to cut through the tunnel’s rubble, became lodged in the debris on Saturday. This forced officials to contemplate other options that might delay the rescue of the 41 trapped workers for several days or even weeks.

Despite being confined to his bed, the desperation on the face of 55-year-old Shravan Bediya, whose only son Rajendra is trapped there, has been palpable since the news reached him.

Besides 22-year-old Rajendra, two others from the village — Sukhram and Anil, both in their early twenties, are trapped inside the tunnel for two weeks now.

Sukhram’s mother Parvati, who is also paralysed, has been inconsolable since she found out about the disaster that happened in Uttarkashi.

In Anil’s house, his grieving mother has not cooked anything for the last two weeks. The family has been surviving on whatever food their neigbours are providing.

The rescue effort began November 12 when a portion of the under-construction tunnel on Uttarakhand’s Char Dham route collapsed following a landslide, cutting off the exit for the workers inside.

Anil’s brother Sunil who rushed to the spot from Ranchi told.

(with inputs from agencies)



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Nijjar killing: India was convicted before even probe began, says Indian envoy to Canada

The Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma told Canadian broadcaster CTV that India was “convicted” even before the investigation into the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Khalistani terrorist who was murdered by unknown miscreants in Canada’s Surrey. Canada has accused India of playing a role in the death of Nijjar, an allegation India has denied.

The Indian envoy also said that New Delhi would look into anything “very specific and relevant” communicated to them to back up Justin Trudeau’s allegations. He urged Canada to release evidence to back up its allegation in connection with the killing.

In an interview with CTV news channel, the high commissioner was asked about the allegations raised by Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau of possible Indian government involvement in Nijjar’s killing.

Responding to this, Verma said, “There are two points on that. One is that, even without the investigation being concluded, India was convicted. Is that a rule of law?

“On being asked “how was India convicted”, the high commissioner said, “Because India was asked to cooperate and if you look at the typical criminal terminology, when someone asks to cooperate, it means you have already been convicted and you better cooperate”.

“So, we took it in a very different interpretation. But, we have always said that if there is anything very specific and relevant, and communicated to us. We will look into it,” the Indian envoy added.

Ties between India and Canada have been strained after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations of Indian involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil earlier this year. Nijjar was shot dead outside Gurdwara in Canada’s Surrey on June 18.

India had rejected the allegations and called them “absurd and motivated” and expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move after Ottawa asked a senior Indian diplomat to leave. Notably, Canada has not been able to present any evidence to back its claims over the killing, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Earlier this week, India resumed the electronic visa services for eligible Canadian citizens with effect from November 22, 2023. This came after India decided to resume visa services in Canada for four categories after a considered review of the security situation last month.I

In October, Canada pulled out 41 diplomats from India and also halted its visa and consular services in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru consulates in the wake of the Union government’s decision to strip them of their immunity. This came after New Delhi conveyed its concerns to Ottawa over the disproportionate number of diplomats in India and sought a ‘parity’ in diplomatic strength.

With inputs from ANI.



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Friday 24 November 2023

Aditya L1 Mission: Spacecraft is nearing its final phase, says ISRO chief

Aditya L1 spacecraft is nearing its final phase, and manoeuvres to enter the L1 point are expected to be completed by January 7, 2024, according to ISRO Chairman S Somanath.

“Aditya is on the way. I think it has reached almost its final phase,” the ISRO chief told PTI on the sidelines of an event organised at VSSC to commemorate the 60th year of the First Sounding Rocket Launch.

Aditya L1, India’s first space-based mission to study the Sun, was successfully launched on September 2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota. The spacecraft, after travelling about 1.5 million km from Earth over 125 days, is expected to be placed in a Halo orbit around the Lagrangian point L1, considered closest to the Sun.

He said that the last preparations for the spacecraft’s entry into the L1 point are currently underway incrementally.”Possibly by January 7th, the final manoeuvres will be done for entering into the L1 point,” Somanath added.

Among other tasks, it will capture and transmit pictures of the Sun for scientific experiments.

What is the Aditya-L1 mission?

The Aditya-L1 is an ‘observatory’ or spacecraft that will monitor the Sun 24×7. This will be the first time that India will put a spacecraft on a Lagrange point – a position in space where, as per NASA, “the gravitational forces of a two-body system like the Sun and Earth produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion”.

There are five Lagrange points in the Sun-Earth system; India’s solar mission will be placed in a halo orbit around Lagrange point 1, or L1, which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth, according to ISRO.

L1, Aditya’s parking spot, has been housing Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, a project by America’s NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) since 1996, reported Space.com.

The Aditya-L1 mission will carry seven payloads, out of which four will directly observe the Sun. These seven payloads or scientific instruments include Visible Emission Line Coronagraph(VELC), Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS), High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS), Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX), Plasma Analyser Package For Aditya (PAPA) and Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution Digital Magnetometers.

These instruments will study the photosphere or the Sun’s visible surface; the layer above the photosphere known as the chromosphere; and the corona – the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere.

Objectives of Aditya-L1 mission

As per ISRO, the spacecraft will examine the dynamics of the chromosphere and corona; in-situ particle and plasma environment; the heating mechanism of the corona; magnetic field topology and magnetic field measurements in corona; temperature, velocity and density of coronal and coronal loops plasma; and development, dynamics and origin of coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

It will also study chromospheric and coronal heating, space weather, the physics of the partially ionized plasma, what leads to solar eruptive events, and how CMEs and solar flares start.

Why is studying the Sun important?

Before that, here are some facts about the centre of our solar system. The Sun, which sustains most life on Earth, is a 4.5 billion-year-old star. Located 150 million kilometres away from the Earth, the Sun’s gravity holds the solar system together. Unlike Earth, the Sun’s surface is not solid but made of “super-hot, electrically charged gas called plasma”, noted NASA.

According to the US Space Agency, “The Sun’s activity, from its powerful eruptions to the steady stream of charged particles it sends out, influences the nature of space throughout the solar system.”

The solar activity constitutes solar flares, CMEs or huge plasma clouds, high-speed solar wind, and solar energetic particles.

With inputs from agencies.



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Uttarakhand Silkyara Tunnel Rescue: Option of manual drilling being considered, 'no timeline yet'

Uttarakhand Silkyara Tunnel Rescue: Efforts to rescue the trapped workers continued as the drilling machine faced another setback late on Friday night. The ongoing rescue operations for the 41 workers stuck in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi district reached the fourteenth day on Saturday.

Officials said that manual drilling would commence soon to cut through the debris separating rescuers from the trapped workers in the collapsed portion of the tunnel. Once the US-made, heavy-duty Auger drilling machine is removed from the pipeline designated for bringing out the trapped workers, manual drillers will initiate their work, he said.

The workers have been trapped since Nov. 12, when a landslide in mountainous Uttarakhand state caused a portion of the 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) tunnel they were building to collapse about 200 meters (650 feet) from the entrance.

Success could soon be achieved in taking the Auger driller out of the pipeline, officials informed further, adding that the heavy-duty drillers could now be moved back by 22 metres.

Speaking to ANI, a senior official involved with the rescue operation said manual drilling could start soon. He added that the remaining debris, extending approximately up to 6 to 9 metres, which stands between the rescuers and the trapped workers, will be removed through manual drilling.

Elaborating on the reasons why the officials involved in the rescue operation have decided to remove the Auger from the pipeline, the senior official told ANI, “While drilling with the US-made Auger machine, if we hit an obstruction every two to three feet, we have to remove it. And, every time we hit an obstruction, we have to roll Auger back 50 metres (up to which the pipeline has been laid). After running repairs, the machine has to be pushed back up to 50 metres, which takes about 5 to 7 hours. This is the reason why the rescue operation is taking longer than it should.”

“The rescue team has now decided that the pipeline will be extended further through manual drilling over small distances. Even if we hit an obstruction further up, the issue could be resolved manually and the pipeline could be extended further without losing out on precious time,” the official added.

He informed further that after drilling up to a further 5 metres, the rescuers will reach the final few metres that separate them from the trapped workers.

Authorities have been supplying the trapped workers with hot meals made of rice and lentils through a 6-inch (15-centimetre) pipe, after days in which they survived on dry food sent through a narrower pipe. Oxygen is being supplied through a separate pipe.



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Rajasthan elections: Polling begins in 199 out of 200 constituencies

Polling started Saturday morning for the 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan. The BJP is making significant efforts to wrest power while the Congress aims to overcome the state’s historical trend of anti-incumbency.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (Sardarpura), former chief minister Vasundhara Raje (Jhalrapatan), former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot (Tonk), state PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra (Lachhmangarh), RLP convenor Hanuman Beniwal (Khinvsar) are some of the key faces among the 1,862 candidates in the fray.

“This is a festival of democracy. We all have cast votes for BJP for freedom from corruption, increasing crime, increasing incidents of rape and appeasement in Rajasthan. Congress government will never come to power in the state in future because people of the state have suffered a lot in the last five years…BJP will definitely get more than 150 seats…” Union Minister Kailash Choudhary said after casting his vote.

“Polling began at 7 am today. A total of 51,507 polling booths have been set up across the state,” Rajasthan’s chief electoral officer Praveen Gupta said. Union Minister of State Kailash Chaudhary was among the first to cast his vote, exercising his franchise in Balotra.

More than 1.70 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state. 70,000 Rajasthan Police personnel, 18,000 Rajasthan Home Guards, 2,000 Rajasthan Border Home Guards, 15,000 Home Guards of other states (Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh), 120 RAC Companies have been deployed for the day.

Rajasthan has a total of 200 assembly seats but polling will be held on 199 seats as the election in the Karanpur seat of Sriganganagar district was postponed following the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar. There are 5,25,38,105 voters in the 199 assembly constituencies.

While the ruling Congress is hoping that it will retain its government in Rajasthan, opposition party BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.
The results of the polls will be declared on December 3.

Gehlot who is in his third term as chief minister is contesting from Sardarpura, a seat he has been representing since 1998. The chief minister is up against BJP’s Mahendra Singh Rathore, former chairman of the Jodhpur Development Authority.

In Tonk, which has a sizable Muslim population, Congress party’s former state chief Sachin Pilot will face BJP’s Ajit Singh Mehta, who represented the seat in 2013.
This is the second assembly election for Pilot, who has previously won Lok Sabha polls from Dausa and Ajmer.

Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje is contesting from Jhalrapatan constituency, which she currently represents with Congress’ Ram Lal Chauhan pitted against her. She has been the chief minister for two terms.

Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal, who founded the Rastriya Loktantrik Party, could be a concern for both the BJP and Congress in Khinvsar.
Several leaders of the BJP and Congress have rebelled against their parties after being denied a ticket

Chief BJP rebels include former assembly speaker Kailash Meghwal, Chandrabhan Akya from Chittorgarh and former transport minister Yoonus Khan from Deedwana.

In Congress, main rebel candidates include Joharilal Meena from Rajgarh-Laxmangarh, Gopal Baheti in Pushkar, Habiburrahman from Nagaur, Virendra Beniwal in Lunkaransar, Khiladi Lal Bairwa in Baseri, and Dr. Param Navdeep Singh in Sangaria.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are also contesting the assembly polls in the state.

With inputs from PTI.



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