Breaking News, November 23 | HIGHLIGHTS

A punishing new barrage of Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure on Wednesday caused power outages across large parts of the country — as well as neighbouring Moldova — further hobbling Ukraine's battered electricity network and adding to civilians' misery as winter begins. Multiple regions reported attacks in quick succession and Ukraine's Energy Ministry said that “the vast majority of electricity consumers were cut off.” Officials in Kyiv said three people were killed and nine wounded in the capital after a Russian strike hit a two-story building. Russia has been pounding the power grid and other facilities with missiles and exploding drones for weeks and the energy system is being damaged faster than it can be repaired.

New Governor of West Bengal C V Ananda Bose is likely to fly to New Delhi on Thursday, where he could meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, as part of a protocol visit, a Raj Bhavan source said. Bose is expected to be on a four-day tour to the national capital, though nothing has been finalised yet, he said. "This is a protocol visit. Soon after taking oath, a governor is supposed to meet the home minister,” the source said. Bose on Wednesday took oath as the new governor of West Bengal. He was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court Prakash Shrivastava in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Speaker Biman Banerjee at a programme in Raj Bhavan.
 

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday led a cabinet delegation to Mukroh village, and handed over Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia payment to the next of kin of each of the five persons who were killed during recent clashes along a disputed border area with Assam, officials said. Sangma was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsonga, Urban Affairs Minister Snaiwbhalang Dhar and Social Welfare Minister Kyrmen Shylla, among others, they said. Interacting with the family members of the deceased, the chief minister expressed his condolences on behalf of the state government, and told them that all official functions and festivals have been cancelled in the wake of the incident.

Nepal's newly-formed Rastriya Swotantra Party (RSP), which is emerging as the third force in the recently held general elections, will get recognition as the national party as it will get sizable seats in the parliament, a senior party leader said on Wednesday. RSP leader Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, who won the Kathmandu-8 constituency, also said that he will dedicate himself to maintaining good governance in the country, checking corruption, and generating employment for the youth in the coming days. "Our party will get recognition as the national party after the election as it will get sizable seats in the parliament," he said, adding that the party will not let down the voters who have trusted it. The RSP, which was formed six months ago with a bell as its election symbol by TV presenter Ravi Lamichhane, has earned popularity overnight. The party has become the choice of young voters, who have been disillusioned by the ill performance and corrupt politicians. "I think the people have revolted against the disorder, mismanagement, and unhealthy politics based on nepotism and favouritism by expressing their anger and frustration through ballot paper,” Shrestha said, adding that the voters were tired of decades of dirty politics, corruption, and chaotic situation. The 40-year-old, who is one of the four RSP leaders who have registered victory, said that climate change and environmental pollution are among his top priorities.

Allahabad High Court on Wednesday rejected an application by disqualified BJP MLA Vikram Saini seeking suspension of his conviction in a case related to 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. On October 10, a special MP/MLA court in Muzaffarnagar had sentenced Saini and 10 others to two years' imprisonment in the case. The conviction resulted in Saini being disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. On Tuesday, the single-judge bench of Justice Samit Gopal reserved its order on his appeal challenging the conviction after hearing arguments of the state's and Saini's counsels. On November 18, the court had suspended the sentence awarded to Saini and also granted him bail.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday sought to corner the Congress for not supporting a tribal woman, Droupadi Murmu, in the presidential poll and lashed out at the opposition party, accusing it of engaging in vote bank politics, nepotism, sectarianism and supporting "anti-social elements" during its rule in Gujarat. The PM hit the campaign trail in Gujarat just after a day-long break and addressed rallies in Dahod, Mehsana, Vadodara and Bhavnagar in support of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates ahead of the next month's Assembly polls. Earlier, Modi was in the state for three days - November 19, 20 and 21 - and addressed a series of poll meetings for his party.

Uttar Pradesh to observe a holiday on November 28 to mark the Guru Teg Bahadur Shaheedi Diwas. 

A local court on Wednesday remanded former chief secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Jitendra Narain to police custody till November 25 in a gang rape case filed against him and others by a 21-year-old woman. The police sought the custody of Narain, who was in judicial remand, as the special investigation team (SIT) wants to interrogate him jointly with two other accused - suspended Labour Commissioner Rishishwar Lal Rishi and a businessman Sandeep Singh alias Rinku. After hearing the arguments of Public Prosecutor Sumit Karmakar, the victim’s lawyer Phatick Chandra Das and Rishi’s counsel Rakesh Pal Govind, Chief Judicial Magistrate Ayan Majumder forwarded Narain and Singh to police custody till November 25. Rishi, who was arrested on Monday after he reached here from Chennai, is in police custody since November 22.

Just days before his retirement, Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday warned that the army's patience to the ongoing smear campaign against it may not be unlimited and asked all political leaders to set aside their ego, learn from past mistakes and move forward. He also dismissed claims that there was a foreign conspiracy to topple the previous government and asserted that the army would not have sat idle to let it happen if there was such a conspiracy. Gen Bajwa, 61, is scheduled to retire on November 29 after a three-year extension. He has ruled out seeking another extension.

Gold price declined by Rs 40 to Rs 52,797 per 10 gram in the national capital on Wednesday amid a fall in prices of the yellow metal in overseas markets, according to HDFC Securities. In the previous trade, the precious metal had closed at Rs 52,837 per 10 gram. Silver, however, climbed by Rs 110 to Rs 62,056 per kilogram. In the international market, gold was quoting lower at USD 1,745 per ounce while silver was flat at USD 21.27 per ounce. "COMEX gold edged lower in Asia as investors look to US Federal Reserve minutes due for release later tonight for fresh clues on the yellow metal's direction," said Dilip Parmar, Research Analyst at HDFC Securities. 

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said the Gujarat assembly election results will be surprising. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the state for campaigning every week, while Union Minister Amit Shah is camping there. "This is their condition in their home state. I believe that the results in Gujarat Assembly election may be surprising," Gehlot, who is the senior observer for the state election, told reporters here. Gujarat assembly elections will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will take place on December 8, which coincides with Himachal Pradesh's result date. He also targeted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, questioning why the party withdrew its campaign from Himachal Pradesh before the elections. "AAP disappeared from campaigning in Himachal Pradesh. Neither Kejriwal nor Modi have faith in democracy, they are fascists and damaging the country. The fake promises of Kejriwal are being exposed," he added. 

Authorities reported power outages in multiple cities of Ukraine, including parts of Kyiv, and in neighbouring Moldova after renewed strikes on Wednesday struck Ukrainian infrastructure facilities.Multiple regions reported attacks in quick succession, suggesting a barrage of strikes. In several regions,  authorities reported strikes on critical infrastructure. Russia has been pounding the power grid and other facilities with missile and exploding drones for weeks, seemingly aiming to turn the cold and dark of winter into a weapon. 

A magnitude-5.9 earthquake hit a town in northwestern Turkey early Wednesday, causing damage to some buildings and widespread panic. At least 68 people were injured, mostly while trying to flee homes. The earthquake was centred in the town of Golkaya, in Duzce province, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) east of Istanbul, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency said. It struck at 4:08 am (0108 GMT) and was felt in Istanbul, in the capital Ankara and other parts of the region. Dozens of aftershocks were reported, including one with a magnitude of 4.3.

Twenty-five-year-old Keshav who was arrested on charges of killing his parents and two other relatives, issued a death threat to his cousin just before his arrest. It was Kuldeep Saini (26) who caught Keshav while he was trying to flee after the killings and handed him over to police. "When I come out of jail, it will be your turn," he warned Saini without showing any remorse. Keshav is a drug addict and allegedly killed his sister and grandmother along with his parents at their residence in southwest Delhi's Palam area at 10 pm on Tuesday, the police said. Saini said his and Keshav's families lived on different floors of the same building.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Wednesday said he expected the new army chief to be appointed before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Turkey on Friday, hours after the premier's office announced that it has received the names of six top generals for the coveted post. Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, 61, is scheduled to retire on November 29 after a three-year extension. He has ruled out seeking another extension. "The prime minister will leave the day after tomorrow in the evening. So it (the appointment of new army chief) will be settled before then," Asif said. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) will send the summary to President Arif Alvi who will notify the appointments of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee (CJCSC). Prime Minister Sharif was scheduled to leave for Ankara on a two-day visit on Friday at the invitation of Turkish President Reccip Tayyip Erdogan. Earlier, the PMO issued a brief statement on Twitter announcing that it has received the summary from the Ministry of Defence for the appointments of the COAS and CJCSC.

A plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking review of its verdict upholding 10 per cent reservation introduced in 2019 for the economically weaker sections (EWS) in admissions and government jobs that excluded the poor among the SC/ST/OBC categories. Congress leader Jaya Thakur has filed the petition in the apex court seeking review of the November 7 verdict. In the landmark judgement, a five-judge Constitution bench of the top court had said that the use of basic structure doctrine as a "sword" to "stultify" the State's effort to do economic justice cannot be countenanced. It had delivered a 3:2 majority decision in favour of the 103rd Constitution amendment.

ITC Hotels on Wednesday said it has partnered with Jolle Hospitality for a 116-room hotel in Belagavi in a bid to expand its footprint in south India. The hotel, spread over more than 5 acres, is currently under construction and is likely to be completed by 2024. It will be named ITC WelcomHotel Belagavi, a release said. Located in the industrial area of Kakti, off NH-4 on Pune-Bengaluru highway, the property is just 10 kilometres from the popular tourist spot Belagavi fort and easily accessible from India's first private aerospace special economic zone (24 kilo

Three persons were arrested for allegedly strangulating an 11-year-old girl, whom they had kidnapped for ransom, police said on Wednesday. They were arrested from Nandgram in Ghaziabad and Bulandshahr. The father of the girl Sonu, who lives in Toki Manoli village in Sonipat Haryana had lodged an FIR about his missing daughter, who lived with her maternal grandmother in Nandgram, after getting a call from the kidnappers, they said. The three had kidnapped Khushi on November 20 and demanded Rs 30 lakhs from her father, Ghaziabad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muniraj G told newspersons.

Senior Congress leader Manish Tewari on Wednesday claimed there cannot be a bigger proof of a government's "inefficiency" than the move to change its chief ministers in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Gujarat, where the Assembly polls are due next month. Talking to reporters here, former Union minister Tewari hit out at the state government over its "arrogance" while referring to the last month's Morbi bridge collapse which claimed 135 lives, and asked why nobody resigned over it and why the "biggest accused", the wealthy persons and those given the bridge renovation contract, have not been arrested. The BJP had in 2016 replaced the then Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel with Vijay Rupani. Rupani, who continued as the CM after the 2017 elections, was last year replaced with Bhupendra Patel, who is also the BJP's chief ministerial face for the Gujarat Assembly polls to be held on December 1 and 5.

Hours after a new purported video of jailed Delhi minister Satyendar Jain having an elaborate meal inside Tihar has emerged, Union Minister and BJP leader Meenakashi Lekhi said that the AAP leader is enjoying facilities like a luxury resort inside the Tihar Jail. Taking a dig at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Lekhi said that those who were giving character certificates to others got exposed. "Those who give character certificates to others have their own character getting exposed. Jail meant to house a criminal should be dealt with strict manner. There is food being served on platters, a masseur facility is available, it isn't a luxury resort," Union Minister told ANI."There's a conflict of interest, this man (Satyendra Jain) is a minister and the jail is managed by the Delhi administration. Thus they'll continue to exploit officials," Lekhi said.Already the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is under attack after the footage of the minister Jain receiving an oil massage inside his jail cell was surfaced ahead of civic elections. Addressing a press conference, the Union Minister said, "Satyendar Jain is the same Aam Aadmi Party leader who used to throw mud at other political parties. Now, he is taking a massage from a rapist. I would not allow such a person to even come close to me. Imagine that person massaging his feet. Despite all this, Satyendar Jain still continues to hold the post of minister. The shameless actions of AAP leaders like Jain getting massage from a rape accused are being noted by the people. AAP leaders say something and behave exactly opposite to it.""There should be decency in politics. The behaviour of Satyendar Jain in jail is the character of the Aam Aadmi Party," she added.She further said that there are prison manual rules for food and medical services in jail.

Three senior advocates have been summoned by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court next month in connection with a complaint against them for alleged misconduct. The summons were issued to the advocates, including former Kashmir Bar association president Mian Abdul Qayoom, after law secretary Achal Sethi filed a complaint for initiating disciplinary action against them under the Advocates Act. According to the complaint, Qayoom, Gulam Nabi Thoker and Nazir Ahmed Ronga committed professional and other misconduct.

A 25-year-old drug-addict allegedly stabbed his parents, sister and grandmother to death in southwest Delhi's Palam days after returning from a rehabilitation centre, police said on Wednesday. Keshav killed his entire family Tuesday night following a quarrel, officials said, adding the bodies were found in separate rooms at their home with blood all over. The deceased have been identified as grandmother Deewana Devi (75), father Dinesh (50), mother Darshana and sister Urvarshi (18). As Keshav went on the stabbing spree, the screams of his family members alerted some relatives, who live in the same building, and neighbours.

The Delhi High Court sought the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) stand on Wednesday on a bail plea moved by Unitech promoter Sanjay Chandra's wife, Preeti Chandra, in a money-laundering case. Justice Jasmeet Singh issued a notice to the federal investigating agency and asked it to file its status report. The court also asked the ED to "address" Chandra's plea for interim release. Appearing before the court on behalf of Chandra, lawyer Adit Pujari said the applicant is a fashion designer and philanthropist, who has been in custody since October 4, 2021, and there are no proceeds of crime relatable to her.

An 11-year-old girl was killed and her two siblings injured after they allegedly jumped from a railway bridge here on Wednesday when they saw a train approaching, an official said. While Hadia Fatima died in the accident, her brother Mohiuddin (12) and sister Alia (six) sustained injuries, he said.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has claimed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi looks like "Saddam Hussein", the former Iraqi dictator, and it would have been better had he turned his appearance like Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru or Mahatma Gandhi. Hitting back, senior Congress leader Manish Tewari said the Assm CM was sounding like a "petty troll".

Narco test on Aaftab Amin Poonawala, accused of murdering his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar, is likely to be conducted on Thursday, sources said.
The 28-year-old will, however, have to undergo a set of tests to ascertain his emotional, mental, physiological and psychological well-being. The narco analysis cannot be conducted if he is found to be "disturbed" in the preliminary tests.

Cold conditions set in Kashmir as most places recorded sub-zero night temperature, even as the meteorological office has forecast dry weather with colder nights till the end of this month, officials said on Wednesday. Mercury across the Valley, except Kokernag in South Kashmir, settled below the freezing point on Tuesday night, the officials said.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it will hear on December 6 a plea related to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and objections related to the draft constitution for the sports body. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices Hima Kohli and J B Pardiwala also took note of the submissions of senior advocate Raju Ramchandran, appearing for the AIFF, that the sports body needed some urgent directions.

A day after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced plans to invite investment in Uttar Pradesh, BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday said such efforts should not just be limited to acquiring land or serving electoral interests but also convert into speedy progress for the state. Addressing a curtain-raiser in Delhi ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 on Tuesday, Adityanath said his government plans to organise roadshows in 18 countries and seven major cities of India to invite investors to the summit.

The Pakistan Army has submitted the names of six of its top generals for the post of Army chief to succeed incumbent General Qamar Javed Bajwa, ending the suspense over the key appointment. Gen Bajwa, 61, is scheduled to retire on November 29 after a three-year extension. He has ruled out seeking another extension.

An explosion in Syria has killed an official with Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, the force said on its website on Wednesday, blaming Israel for the killing. The force identified the officer killed as Col. Davoud Jafari, who it said was working for the Guard. The statement warned that Israel will answer for what it called the “crime.”

People previously infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus still benefit from vaccination against COVID-19, gaining 60 per cent to 94 per cent protection against reinfection, according to a study. The research, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, analysed infection and vaccination data from nationwide Danish registers. The data included all people living in Denmark who tested positive for the virus or were vaccinated between January 2020 and January 2022.

The Mumbai Police have arrested a 50-year-old man associated with gangster Amar Naik and wanted for 23 years in a dacoity case, an official said here on Wednesday. The accused, Ravindra Dhole, was nabbed on Tuesday from Vitthalwadi locality in Junnar taluka of Maharashtra's Pune district, he said.

Mercury dipped in parts of Rajasthan where the minimum temperature was 5.1 degrees Celsius in Fatehpur (Sikar), according to officials. The minimum temperature in Churu was 5.3 degrees, 6.7 degrees in Chittorgarh, 7.8 degrees in Sikar, 8.6 degrees in Nagaur and 9 degrees in Sangaria (Hanumangarh), according to the Met department.

At least 35 illegal constructions have been demolished on service roads along the Navale bridge on Mumbai-Bengaluru highway in Pune where a truck had hit several vehicles and caused a pile-up, police said. The accident, which took place late Sunday evening, prompted authorities to take short-term measures which include the removal of encroached structures in the area.

The UN special envoy for Yemen said Tuesday he is not only trying to renew and expand the truce that expired last month but to get the warring parties to initiate talks on a path toward a settlement of the eight-year conflict. Hans Grundberg told the UN Security Council that he outlined ideas and options to the internationally recognized government and Houthi rebels and has been in constant contact with them on the issues that prevented an extension of the truce.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Madhya Pradesh today. The yatra entered the state from Boderli village situated on the Maharashta-MP border. The yatra flag was handed over to Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. The Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Govind Singh, was also seen holding the flag on the occasion.

At least four members of a family including two sisters, their father and their grandmother were stabbed to death in a house in the Palam area. According to the Delhi police, the accused has been arrested and further investigation is underway.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has been elected with a huge margin of votes from Dadeldhura constituency in far west Nepal for the seventh consecutive time. Deuba, 77, secured 25,534 votes against his nearest rival Sagar Dhakal, 31, an independent candidate who received 1,302 votes. Deuba has never lost any parliamentary election in his five decades of political career.

President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that his administration will extend the pause on federal student loan payments while the White House fights a legal battle to save his plan to cancel portions of the debt. "It isn't fair to ask tens of millions of borrowers eligible for relief to resume their student debt payments while the courts consider the lawsuit," Biden stated. 

Aftab Poonawala, the accused in the Shraddha murder case, is likely to undergo a narco test today. This comes a day after his polygraph test was conducted on Tuesday. Poonawala told a Delhi court, which extended his police remand by four days, that he acted in the "heat of the moment" and that it was not "deliberate", according to Abinash Kumar, the lawyer representing the accused.