Day: February 12, 2021

12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

Over 77.66 lakh healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against Covid-19: Health ministry | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The number of healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against Covid-19 has reached 77.66 lakh on the 28th day of the countrywide inoculation programme, the Union health ministry said on Friday. The cumulative number of healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against Covid-19 till 6 pm on Friday is 77,66,319 as per the provisional report, the ministry said. These include 58,65,813 healthcare workers (58.9 per cent of the target number) and 19,00,506 frontline workers (21.2 per cent of the target beneficiaries) whose vaccination started on February 2, it said. "A total 2,61,309 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm on Friday across 35 states and UTs. These include 50,837 HCWs and 2,10,472 FLWs as per provisional figures," the ministry said, adding that the final repor...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

‘Bad bank’ idea: Govt guarantee for ARC paper likely

TO ENSURE THAT the ‘bad bank’ mechanism proposed in the Budget takes off, the Finance Ministry is planning to provide a guarantee against security receipts to be issued by the Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) to banks against the value of their bad assets being taken over. The ARC, according to government officials, is likely to take over Rs 2-2.5 lakh crore of stressed assets that remain unresolved in around 70 large accounts. Stressed loan accounts of more than Rs 500 crore each are expected to be transferred to the new entity. “Even though there will be no equity contribution by the government in the proposed ARC, the government will provide guarantee to ensure the success of this structure,” a senior government official said. The proposed ARC will provide banks 15 per...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Sports

Cricket is open again, crowds line up at Chepauk: ‘Chennai always a Test city, long gap was painful’

# Rama Subramanian, 64, has been watching Tests at Chepauk since 1975. By contrast, Gopinath, who is in his forties, and his son Ajith, will be at the venue for the first time to watch a Test. # Mythily has been a regular at the Indian Premier League (IPL) fixtures at Chepauk. She wanted to be in the stands for the second India-England Test that begins on Saturday – when cricket welcomes back spectators to the ground after a year of Covid-enforced hiatus. # Kamraj, a middle-aged software engineer and Test cricket nerd, hasn’t missed a five-day fixture at Chepauk since the India-Australia tied Test in 1986. The fans all stood in queue for hours on Friday, baking in the sun, waiting to collect the tickets that they had booked online. A daily turnout of around 14,000 is ex...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Gaming

Commuters hassled in parts of state due to Left-Cong’s bandh

Life was partially affected in parts of West Bengal on Friday because of a 12-hour bandh called by the Left Front a day after its workers were beaten by the police as they tried to make their way to state secretariat Nabanna. Workers of the Congress, which is in alliance with the Left for the upcoming elections, also took to the streets to ensure the success of the strike. In the morning, the effects of the bandh, which started at 6 am, were felt in Asansol, Bardhaman, Murshidabad, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas. While shops remained shut in Siliguri in north Bengal, protesters blocked railway tracks at Kanchrapara station in North 24 Parganas. CPI(M) blocked roads and rail tracks in both North and South 24 Parganas. Protesters burnt tyres at some places ...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Gaming

TMC leader Vinay Mishra’s home raided

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at the south Kolkata residence of TMC leader and businessman Vinay Mishra in connection with a cattle smuggling and a coal case, officials said. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) accompanied the agency during the raid. The raid came over two weeks after a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court issued an arrest warrant against him. The CBI, which had earlier raided Mishra’s house, is still looking for him. The agency has issued a lookout notice and interrogated his brother Vikash Mishra. The ED is investigating the money-laundering aspect of the case. According to sources, the focus is now on the larger conspiracy since the CBI has filed a chargesheet in the cattle smuggling probe. Though the CBI did not ...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

Govts failing in duty towards labourers, says Jharkhand CM

Governments across the board are failing in their responsibility in dealing with the problems of labourers in the unorganised sector, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said on Friday. Soren blamed the central government for the lack of coordination that had pushed to the back burner action on the commitment that his government had extracted from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to do away with labour contractors and to recruit directly from the state after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The Chief Minister was the keynote speaker at The Indian Express Thinc migration webinar series in association with Omidyar Network India, which focused on internal migration in the country. In June 2020, the Jharkhand government received a commitment from BRO to rec...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Sports

India vs England: Ajinkya Rahane’s home record a slight concern | Cricket News – Times of India

CHENNAI: Ajinkya Rahane's scores of 1 and 0 in the first Test at the Chepauk did little to correct a glaring anomaly in the Indian vice-captain's Test record. While Rahane's away average of 44.44 is commendable and he has contributed to memorable wins like at Lord's in 2014 and at the MCG most recently, his returns of 37.35 in India needs correction. It is an aspect of his game that is hard to decipher, given that most prominent Indian batsmen average over 50 in familiar surroundings at home. Rahane's teammates Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, for instance, have home averages of 67.42 and 59.31 respectively. The Mumbaikar, though, doesn't seem concerned by those numbers. On the eve of the second Test, the 32-year-old exuded confidence that he is going to contribute in this series. "I ...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

Covid gaps in the open: Bihar CM promises action, some heads roll; Centre seeks report

BIHAR CHIEF Minister Nitish Kumar Friday said that action is being taken on the findings of The Indian Express investigation that revealed glaring gaps in the state’s Covid testing data even as his government suspended nine Health personnel, including five senior officials, in Jamui district from where “irregularities were detected… in particular”. The Centre has sought a “detailed report” from the Bihar government on the findings. This came on the day RJD MP Manoj Jha referred to The Indian Express reports in the Rajya Sabha and demanded “a high-level probe”. In response, the Rajya Sabha chairman, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, suggested to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan that the issue “is a subject for inquiry”. A senior Central government official told The Indian...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

Bihar: First testing red flags went up 6 months ago

THE FIRST red flags came six months ago. In August 2020 when Covid testing was suddenly ramped up as infections began to soar across the country. In Bihar, Katihar led the way with around 3,000 samples a day that month, opening up a wide gap with others that were testing “barely 700-1,000 per day”. “After Katihar, a meeting of District Magistrates was called in Patna, where all DMs were asked to increase testing. Around that time, Antigen testing had begun and kits were being supplied in bulk to districts. A few other districts started following Katihar’s example, and there was pressure on other districts to increase testing,” a senior official, who attended the meeting, told The Indian Express. “The DMs were asked to put in extra effort… But some of them pointed out that ...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Sports

India vs England: Rahane, Root welcome return of fans | Cricket News – Times of India

CHENNAI: Never mind the artificial chants and crowd noises manufactured on TV, there is no substitute for the presence of actual spectators at a sports stadium. Just ask the cricket fans in Chennai, who have been forming long queues over the last two days in stifling heat and humidity to collect a physical copy of their tickets for the second Test. While the first Test marked the return of international cricket to India after a Covid-enforced break, the second Test is another step in the right direction as fans – even if only at reduced capacity for the time being – will make their presence felt for the first time since the pandemic. One among them will be Chennai Super Kings' 'super fan' Saravanan Hari, known for painting his body and face in yellow during IPL matches. While the antici...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

Fresh blow to TMC: MP Trivedi quits RS, praising Modi in House

AMIDST a series of resignations from the Trinamool ahead of the coming West Bengal elections, its Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Trivedi on Friday dramatically quit the House, claiming he was feeling “suffocated” over “violence in the state”. The former Union Minister for Railways was speaking during the debate on the Budget when he made the announcement. Listening to the speakers, he had started reflecting and decided to act as per his conscience, Trivedi said. “Why do we come into politics? We come into politics for the country,” he said, adding that the time had come to decide “if the country is bigger, your side is bigger or you yourself are bigger”. He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, talking about both the government’s Covid efforts and Modi’s tearful farewell to Con...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Entertainment

ETimes Paparazzi Diaries: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Nagarjuna shoot for Brahmastra, celebs attend Rajiv Kapoor’s prayer meet – Times of India

It was another busy day for our shutterbugs as they shuttled from one location to another to catch a glimpse of B-town stars. While Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Nagarjuna were spotted shooting for Brahmastra, heavily pregnant Kareena Kapoor Khan was snapped outside BFF Amrita Arora's residence. ETimes' paparazzi diaries bring you all the best spotting's of the day here: Amitabh Bachchan and Ajay Devgn Both the stars have been leaving no stones unturned for their upcoming project 'Mayday'. After giving us a glimpse of them from the Mumbai sets, our shutterbugs spotted them at the airport as they took an early morning flight out of the city. Photo: Yogen Shah Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt The couple has resumed the shoot of Brahmastra as a small portion of the most-awaited film is yet...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Sports

IOA forms panel to discuss contentious Sports Code 2011 | More sports News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Anil Khanna, one of the vice-presidents of the All India Tennis Association (AITA), has been appointed chairman of a nine-member panel of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for Constitution Governance Reforms and Sports Code Advisory Group. The panel was set up this week and will have its first meeting on February 16. The panel will review the issues pertaining to the National Sports Development Code 2011 and "interference" of the international sports federations in the affairs of the National Sports Federations (NSFs) of India. "As per the Sports Code 2011 guidelines, a president of an NSF is entitled to a tenure of three terms in the office, or 12 years, while it is two terms or eight years for secretary and treasurer. The cooling off period of one term or four years is s...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

Rahul slams pullback; Govt says misinformed, no territory ceded

Stating it had “taken note of some misinformed and misleading comments being amplified in the media and on social media regarding the disengagement currently underway at Pangong Tso”, the Ministry of Defence Friday said “India has not conceded any territory as a result of this agreement” with China. In a statement, the Ministry, referring to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement in Parliament Thursday on the start of the disengagement process on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, said: “Raksha Mantri’s statement also made clear that there are outstanding problems to be addressed, including at Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang. The outstanding issues are to be taken up within 48 hrs of the completion of the Pangong Tso disengagement.” Earlier in the day, Congress le...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

The day after, Army chief flags: China’s moves lead to conflict

A day after New Delhi confirmed the start of the disengagement process at Pangong Tso as a first step to resolve the nine-month military standoff in Ladakh, Army chief General MM Naravane cautioned against Beijing’s recent moves, including along the Line of Actual Control, which “have created an environment of confrontation and mutual distrust”. Addressing the joint annual seminar of the Assam Rifles and United Services Institution — excerpts of the keynote address Friday were made available to the press — General Naravane said: “The rising footprints of China in India’s neighbourhood and its attempts to unilaterally alter the status-quo along our disputed borders have created an environment of confrontation and mutual distrust.” He said the regional security environment i...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

Astrologer who ‘duped’ Karnataka HC ex-judge faces money laundering probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has opened up a probe into possible money laundering by an astrologer arrested in December by the Bengaluru Police crime branch on charges of duping politicians, a former Karnataka HC judge and businessmen of over Rs 80 crore by flaunting connections to top Central and state political leaders. The agency has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) to look at the financial activities of Yuvaraj Swami alias Yuvaraj Ramdas alias Sevalal, 52, who is an accused in as many as 14 cases of cheating in Bengaluru, an ED official said. Swami is accused of promising his victims high positions in the government – including that of Governor, MP, Union minister, as well as top positions in boards and corporations run by the Central and sta...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

BJP leaders give breach of privilege notice against Rahul Gandhi in LS, seek action over ‘serious contempt’ of House | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party leaders on Friday gave a breach of privilege notice in Lok Sabha against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his leading party members to observe a brief silence in the House without permission of the Chair "in utter disregard of rules". Jaiswal and BJP MPs Rakesh Singh and PP Chaudhary said Gandhi had committed "serious contempt" and "serious breach of privilege" and demanded action against him. Raising the matter, Jaiswal said Gandhi had asked his party MPs to stand in silence while speaking on new farm laws and farmers' protest and this was "insult to the dignity of the House". He said action should also be taken against all those who stood up on Gandhi's directions. Rakesh Singh said that Gandhi has hurt the dignity of the House and said if he wanted ...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Gaming

Activist Sudha Bharadwaj’s plea against NIA to withdraw ‘defamatory’ remarks rejected

A SPECIAL court on Friday rejected an application by law professor and activist Sudha Bharadwaj that sought directions to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to withdraw “defamatory” allegations made against her in a written reply filed by the agency. Bharadwaj had filed a plea in December, seeking access to unredacted copies of statements of witnesses recorded under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The NIA, in its reply, had opposed the plea and alleged that access to statements was sought to cause harm to the witnesses. Bharadwaj had then filed a separate plea, seeking that directions be given to NIA to withdraw such allegations. Her plea said that there is absolutely no proof that she would cause harm to any witness and that on the contrary, she has spent ...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Gaming

Mumbai serial blasts 1993: Accused allowed to visit cemetery after twin brother passes away

AN ACCUSED in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts was granted permission by a special court to visit a cemetery to offer condolence prayers for his twin brother, who passed away on Tuesday. Mohammed Farooq Yasin Mansoor, who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates in 2018, had submitted a plea before the special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court on Wednesday. He stated that as an elder brother, he had to carry out religious prayers at the cemetery where his twin brother, Mohammed Ahmed, was buried. In an application filed through his lawyer Farhana Shah, the accused had also sought permission to attend prayers at his residence with police escorts. He further sought that the charges of the police guards be waived of due to his poor financial c...

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12Feb By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Travel

KU to open in blended mode from February 15 – Times of India

KURUKSHETRA: The Kurukshetra University (KU) officials told that following a letter received from the higher education department of Haryana, vice-chancellor (VC) KU, Prof Som Nath Sachdeva constituted a high-level committee to discuss and finalize opening of the varsity for students. The committee headed by dean academic affairs Prof Manjula Chaudhary and consisting of all the Deans of 10 faculties decided to open KU in blended mode in phased manner from February 15, this year onwards. KU director public relations (DPR) Prof Brajesh Sawhney informed that it has been decided to open KU campus for practical work, consultancy and teaching from 15 February. “In the first phase all the PhD scholars, who have completed their course work, have been permitted to have hostel facilities and t...

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