Breaking News: Punjab govt issues guidelines for release of ex-gratia to kin of Covid victims

Uttarakhand health minister Dhan Singh Rawat said that all eligible beneficiaries in the state would be fully immunised against Covid-19 by December 15, reports ANI.

Punjab Government issued guidelines for the release of ex-gratia amount of ₹50,000 to the families of those who died due to Covid-19, reports ANI.

NCB official Sameer Wankhede’s sister Yasmeen Wankhede wrote to the National Commission for Women requesting “to safeguard her constitutional rights as a woman,” reports ANI. 

She has also filed a police complaint to register FIR against Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik.

According to the latest serosurvey in Delhi, 90% of people were found to have antibodies against Covid-19 and over 85% seropositivity was found in every district, reports ANI. Around 28,000 samples were collected from 280 wards of Delhi.

India successfully test fired Agni-5 missile, capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 km with very high degree of accuracy, reports PTI.

With 1,485 new Covid-19 cases and 38 deaths, Maharashtra’s total caseload reached 6,606,536 and the death toll climbed to 140,098. Mumbai saw 417 new cases and four deaths and so far 755,480 cases and 16,229 deaths have been reported from the city.

Mandaviya also said that during the special vaccination drive, focus would be on 48 districts across the country with less than 50% eligible population vaccinated against Covid-19, reports ANI. 

The government will launch a mega vaccination campaign ‘Har Ghar Dastak’. and for the next one month, healthcare workers will go door-to-door to vaccinate people eligible for second dose and also those who have not taken the first dose, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, reports ANI.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that 77% of the eligible population in the country has been vaccinated against Covid-19 with the first dose while 32% people have been fully vaccinated, reports ANI. 

He also said that over 10 crore people have not received the second dose. “People who are eligible for second dose should take the vaccine,” he said.

The ministry of finance directed all ministries and departments of the central government to clear dues of Air India. The ministry also said that tickets may be purchased in cash till further instructions, reports ANI. 

Uttar Pradesh health minister Jai Pratap Singh said that no new cases of Zika virus infection have been detected in the 4-km radius of the Air Force station in Kanpur where one case was detected earlier, reports ANI. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed “India’s focus on a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and the principle of ASEAN Centrality in the region” in the 16th East Asia Summit hosted by Brunei. 

“India remains committed to strengthening respect for shared values of multilateralism, rules-based international order, international law and sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations. I look forward to participating in the 18th ASEAN-India Summit tomorrow,” he tweeted.

Several officials of the White House and US lawmakers celebrated the Diwali festival with the Indian diaspora at the Capitol Hill, reports ANI. 

Three police personnel were shot dead during a rally in Pakistan, reports AFP. 

Some protesters reportedly tried to break the barricading near Delhi’s Singhu border and “mild force” was used by the police at the spot, reports ANI citing sources in Delhi Police.

The Indian embassy in Oman said that Covaxin has been added to the approved list of vaccines for travel without quarantine to the country, reports ANI. 

Kerala reported 9,445 new Covid-19 cases and 93 deaths in the last 24 hours and the active caseload was recorded at 76,554, reports ANI.

Aryan Khan’s bail plea hearing in the drugs-on-cruise case has been adjourned to post-lunch tomorrow.

“Three people present when raid took place it’s their own case, 5 grams of Charas was found, personal search nothing found from Munmun Dhamecha. Most importantly the drugs which was found was also of very small quantity. The panchanama is silent exactly from whom the drugs was found from, they say it was from the cruise. But who brought it is not mentioned,” says Munmun Dhamecha’s counsel Ali Kashif Khan.

“Article 22 of the constitution is more imp than Section 50 of CrPC. It states that no person should be held without being informed about the grounds of arrest and the person shall have the right to consult a lawyer of his choice,” Mukul Rohatgi said.

Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Aryan Khan said that the arrest memo did not give the true and correct grounds for arrest. He also referred to the Section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

“When mobile phone was seized it is not mentioned in the panchanama nor arrest memo. They argued it was handed over voluntarily. But in a personal device, it is important to have a memo for the veracity,” Desai said.

“It was their own case there was no conspiracy. At 7 o’ clock, for reasons I don’t know, they invoke (Section) 29 of NDPS act. There is no connection, no phone calls, no messages nothing. The Special NDPS court rejected our application because of conspiracy. The Whastapp chats don’t support the conspiracy theory what so ever,” Amit Desai said.

“If there was an intention to consume then (Section) 27 of NDPS act does not apply. We have been arrested for an offence which was not committed. Consumption is a verb that has not happened and hence even NDPS (Section) 27 should have not been applied,” Amit Desai said.

Arbaaz Merchant’s counsel Amit Desai said that the first remand did not mention about conspiracy.

“The magistrate court was told later eight people were arrested for conspiracy though it was not what had happened. Because of this issues we are in custody for last twenty two days. Till today there is no arrest for conspiracy and conspiracy is a separate offence,” he said. 

ASG Anil Singh, Advait Sethna for prosecution reached court room and Aryan’s counsel Mukul Rohatgi, Satish Maneshinde and Arbaaz Merchant’s counsel Amit Desai reached the court room. Justice Nitin Sambre hearing other matters at this moment.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a meeting with state health ministers to discuss the scaling up of Covid-19 vaccination drive, reports ANI.

BJP MLA Krishna Kalyani, who resigned from the party earlier this month, joined the Trinamool Congress in presence of state minister Partha Chatterjee in Kolkata, West Bengal, reports ANI. 

The Mumbai unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party wrote to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and asked him to intervene in the matter of “baseless allegations” being levelled by NCP minister Nawab Malik against the NCB and Sameer Wankhede in the drugs-on-cruise case, reports ANI.

The ministry of external affairs said that China’s unilateral decision to enact a legislation that can impact existing border agreements with India is concerning, reports ANI. 

NCB’s deputy director general (DDG) Gyaneshwar Singh said that the statement of Sameer Wankhede is being recorded, reports ANI.

Delhi Disaster Management Authority allows celebration of Chhat Puja on November 10 in the capital city with strict protocols, said deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

Delhi schools to reopen from Monday for all classes, students won’t be forced to attend, online classes to continue.

Aviation regulator DGCA will conduct on-demand online exams to grant licenses to pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers from the next month onwards, the regulator said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Taliban have said that it will form three separate joint committees with China to facilitate “strengthening” bilateral relations, reported local media.

China has reported nearly 250 locally transmitted cases of Covid-19 since the start of the current outbreak 10 days ago, with many infections in remote towns along porous international borders in the country’s northwest.

NIA court convicts 9 of 10 accused in connection with 2013 serial blasts at Narendra Modi’s rally in Patna.

As many as 41 pregnant women have so far succumbed to Covid-19 in Kerala after the virus infection broke out in the southern state one and half years ago, state Health Minister Veena George said on Wednesday.

Delhi Cabinet approves addition of Ayodhya in its free pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens of city: CM Arvind Kejriwal.

The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) on Wednesday announced that only green crackers can be sold in the state and bursting of such firecrackers shall be allowed for two hours — between 8pm and 10pm — during Diwali and for two hours on Chhath.

Taiwan has “no right to join the United Nations”, a Beijing official said Wednesday, after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged greater inclusion of Taiwan in UN institutions.

Mumbai Police appoints an ACP-level officer to investigate the allegations levelled against NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede. All the complaints received against Wankhede will be probed by the officer. Four Police stations in Mumabai have received such complaints so far.

‘Exercise restraint’: EC warns Himanta Biswa Sarma over complaints of violating code of conduct ahead of by-polls.

Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi announces special Vidhan Sabha session on November 8 to scrap farm laws.

Supreme Court says that we live in the era of information and we must recognise that while technology is important, it’s important to safeguard right to privacy, not only for journalists but for all citizens. SC sets up an expert committee to be supervised by former top court judge RV Raveendran to probe into Pegasus row.

The Indian rupee depreciated by 6 paise to 75.02 against the US dollar in opening trade on Wednesday, weighed down by firm crude oil prices and a strong American currency in the overseas market.

With the administration of 55,89,124 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 103.53 crore, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday.

At 3.30pm today, Defence minister Rajnath Singh will address the Army Commanders’ Conference.

Passengers arriving from countries in Europe including UK, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand and Zimbabwe would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India including post-arrival testing.

Supreme Court to pronounce its order today on pleas seeking independent court-monitorerd probe into alleged Pegasus spyware case.

The overall air quality in the national capital is in the ‘moderate’ category on Wednesday but it is likely to degrade to the ‘poor’ category over the next three days due to an increase in “fire emission”, according to the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

India recorded 13,451 new cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the last 24 hours, which pushed the nationwide tally to 34,215,653, while the death toll climbed to 455,653 with 585 daily fatalities, according to the Union ministry of health and family welfare on Wednesday. 

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to chair a meeting of Delhi Cabinet today.

Cambodia’s government announced plans Tuesday to reopen the country in several stages to fully vaccinated foreign tourists starting from the end of next month.

NIA raids multiple places in Kashmir.

The Bombay high court will on Wednesday resume hearing of the bail plea of Aryan Khan in connection with seizure of drugs on a cruise ship. The hearing will resume at 2.30pm today.

Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD), the apex international annual conference of the Indian Navy, is scheduled to be held as a three-day online event that commences today, i.e. on October 27, and lasts till Friday, October 29.

Zhang Jiandong, a senior official with the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, said on Wednesday that Beijing is prepared for the Games but that the Covid-19 pandemic is the biggest challenge they face.

A Brazilian Senate committee recommended on Tuesday that President Jair Bolsonaro face a series of criminal indictments for actions and omissions related to the world’s second highest Covid-19 death toll.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) will hold a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) situation in the national capital. It is also expected to reconsider the ban imposed on Chhath Puja celebrations at public places.

The Goa bench of the Bombay high court will on Wednesday virtually hear the state government’s appeal against the acquittal of journalist Tarun Tejpal in a 2013 sexual assault case.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) will on Wednesday probe Prabhakar Sail, a witness in the drugs-on-cruise case, on allegations of corruption levelled by him against NCB witness Kiran Gosavi and Sameer Wankhede, the zonal officer in charge of the case.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, and Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya will virtually address the Investor Summit “Opportunities and Partnerships in Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices” on Wednesday from 10am to 4.30pm.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a meeting with health ministers of states and union territories on Wednesday over ramping up of Covid-19 vaccination drive in the nation, news agency ANI reported quoting government sources.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 16th East Asia Summit to be held virtually on Wednesday that will discuss matters of regional and international interest and concern including maritime security and terrorism, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh is on Wednesday likely to launch a new political party, the Punjab Lok Congress, according to people familiar with the developments.