Lucknow (The Hawk): The Samajwadi Party wants to strengthen its M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) support in the coming year and compete with the BJP's M-Y (Modi-Yogi), which has shown its strength in recent elections across the nation.
The Samajwadis in Uttar Pradesh have had a roller-coaster year, and the party is currently revising its 2023 strategies.
The party is working extra hard to boost its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the wake of the passing of its founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and the reconciliation with Shivpal Singh Yadav.
Akhilesh Yadav, the president of the SP, is likewise attempting to refute claims that he is a backroom politician.
A day before Irfan Solanki, a detained party MLA, was transferred to the Maharajganj district jail, he paid him a visit in the Kanpur jail.
Additionally, he would pay a visit to the Jhansi jail, where Deepchand Yadav, another SP MLA, is being held.
It appears that Akhilesh made the decision to meet with his struggling party officials in order to encourage the party's members.
After the 2022 Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party lost three allies in UP: the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), Mahaan Dal, and Janwadi Party. However, the SP has more or less made up for the loss by enlisting Shivpal Yadav.
For his organisational prowess and capacity to inspire the party faithful, Shivpal Yadav is well-known. If given the chance, he will be crucial in preparing the party for the elections of 2024.
Additionally, his return to the SP will stop the party's Yadav voter base from becoming divided.
Under the condition of anonymity, a senior SP MLA stated that "Shivpal's return to the party fold will prove to be an elixir for the party and also galvanise the veterans who had retreated into their shells when the Akhilesh-Shivpal schism developed."
Party sources claim that Akhilesh will seek out new allies for the general elections in addition to strengthening his friendship with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).
Instead of concentrating on the BSP and Congress, he will concentrate on smaller groups like the Azad Samaj Party (Bhim Army).
"He is aware that the SP is the only organisation capable of opposing the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. The outcomes of the most recent Assembly elections, where the SP significantly increased its vote share and doubled its seats, serve as evidence that the SP alone is capable of taking on the BJP coalition "The MLA remarked.
The SP's choice to openly endorse Muslims represents yet another significant shift in its election strategy for 2024.
Since assuming leadership of the party in 2017, Akhilesh has been promoting soft Hindutva and attempting to distance himself from a pro-Muslim stance.
"Akhilesh, however, is now speaking out against crimes against Muslims. He has come to understand that the SP should adopt his late father's Muslim-Yadav caste system. He used this tactic when he went to see Irfan Solanki in prison "a party senior claimed.
The "respectable amalgamation" of Shivpal Singh Yadav's supporters will be the major obstacle that Akhilesh must overcome in the upcoming days. He is anticipated to provide Shivpal a prominent place in the party.
Sources claim that Akhilesh will make sure that the general election ticket distribution is mostly based on winnability.
Every seat counts, and the party will make sure that candidates are chosen carefully, according to a former MLC who was well-known for being close to Akhilesh.
But Akhilesh's biggest problem is that the BJP has a very efficient organisational structure, and SP isn't yet able to compete with it.
Additionally, although the BJP has numerous leaders who carpet-bomb the entire state during elections, Akhilesh is commanding a one-man army.
(Inputs from Agencies)

The Samajwadi Party wants to strengthen its M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) support in the coming year and compete with the BJP's M-Y (Modi-Yogi), which has shown its strength in recent elections across the nation. The Samajwadis in Uttar Pradesh have had a roller-coaster year, and the party is currently revising its 2023 strategies.

SP's (M-Y) Muslim-Yadav vs. BJP's (M-Y) Modi-Yogi in UP

Texas (US): A new comprehensive study headed by The University of Texas at Austin gives an overview of the world's freshwater supply as well as solutions for managing them sustainably.
The study, published in Nature Reviews Earth &amp; Environment, emphasises the linkages between surface and groundwater and argues for diverse management techniques for both.
"I like to emphasize a lot of solutions and how they can be optimized," said lead author Bridget Scanlon, a senior research scientist at the UT Bureau of Economic Geology, a research unit of the Jackson School of Geosciences.
The study draws on data from satellites, climate models, monitoring networks and almost 200 scientific papers to analyze the Earth's water supply, how it's changing in different regions and what's driving these changes. The study's co-authors include almost two dozen water experts from around the world.
According to the research, humans primarily rely on surface water. Globally, it accounts for 75 per cent of irrigation and 83 per cent of municipal and industrial supply annually. However, what we see at the surface is tightly connected to groundwater flow. In the United States, about 50 per cent of annual streamflow starts as groundwater. And globally, surface water that seeps into the ground accounts for about 30 per cent of annual groundwater supplies.
Human intervention can strongly influence the exchange of water between surface and groundwater sources. About 85 per cent of groundwater pumped by humans in the U.S. is considered "captured" from surface water, which leads to declines in streamflow. At the same time, irrigation sourced from surface water can increase groundwater recharge as irrigated water seeps through the ground back to aquifers.
The study cites numerous examples of human activity affecting this flux between surface water and groundwater supplies. For example, surface water irrigation recharged aquifers in the early to mid-1900s in the Northwestern U.S.' Columbia Plateau and Snake River Plain, while global models show that groundwater pumping has greatly reduced the volume of water going to streams, with 15-21 per cent of global watersheds at risk because of the reduced flows.
Despite their inherent connection, surface water and groundwater are frequently regulated and managed as separate resources. According to the researchers, future water resilience depends on recognizing that surface water and groundwater behave as a single resource -- and acting on that knowledge.
The study describes different ways of managing water through both natural and engineered solutions that can help increase water supplies, reduce demand, store water and transport it. According to Scanlon, one of the best ways to adapt to increasing climate extremes is storing water during wet times and drawing on it in times of drought.
"We have droughts and we have floods," she said. "We are trying to manage those extremes and a way to do that is to store water."
Annually, the world stores about 7,000-8,300 cubic kilometres, or about two Lake Michigan's worth of water, in surface reservoirs. The researchers said it was important to continue developing groundwater supplies, too, because they are more resilient than surface reservoirs during long-term droughts. Managed aquifer recharge can help cities build up their groundwater supplies by collecting surface water and diverting it underground into aquifers. Globally, about 10,000 cubic kilometres of water are stored this way each year.
"This type of integrated research, linking surface and groundwater, is exactly what is needed to develop lasting solutions to issues such as freshwater use," said Scott Tinker, the director of the Bureau of Economic Geology. "Too often studies are done in isolation, and well-intended applications have unintended outcomes."
Matthew Rodell, a hydrologist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center who was not involved in the study, said that the paper offers a useful compendium of research results and potential solutions for managing water supplies while also keeping water quality -- a characteristic that's more difficult to monitor remotely than quantity -- in mind.
"Water quality is one of the next targets in terms of being able to manage water resources," he said. "I like that this was incorporated as well." —ANI

A new comprehensive study headed by The University of Texas at Austin gives an overview of the world's freshwater supply as well as solutions for managing them sustainably.

New Study Reviews Freshwater Supplies And Strategies To Manage Them

New Delhi: Delhi Minister Atishi on Wednesday said that Arvind Kejriwal is not a candidate for the Prime Minister's post.  Reacting to the remarks made by AAP's National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar that Kejriwal can be an ideal Prime Minister for the nation, Atishi said, "This might be the personal opinion of the chief spokesperson. But Arvind Kejriwal is not at all a part of the PM race. AAP is a part of the INDIA alliance because India needs to be saved today."
"The country, its constitution and its democracy need to be saved. I officially say that Arvind Kejriwal is not a candidate for the PM post," she added.  Earlier today AAP's National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said that Arvind Kejriwal should be the Prime Ministerial candidate as he has worked for the welfare of the public in the national capital.  "If you ask me, I would want Arvind Kejriwal to be the Prime Ministerial candidate. Even in such back-breaking inflation, the national capital Delhi has the lowest inflation. There is free water, free education, free electricity, free bus rides for women, and free pilgrimage for the elderly, but still a surplus budget is presented. He raises people's issues and rises as a challenger," she said.&nbsp;
Earlier Gopal Rai said that every party AAP member wanted to see their party convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as the prime ministerial candidate for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. However, the AAP leader added that the prime ministerial candidate will be decided by the opposition bloc-INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance). The INDIA alliance members are meeting in Mumbai on Aug 30 and Aug 31. Arvind Kejriwal will be attending the meeting. This is the second meeting that the AAP will participate in after skipping the first meeting of the alliance in Patna. A total of 26 to 27 parties are likely to participate in the third meeting of the newly formed opposition alliance. The meeting will see discussions on the bloc's strategies ahead of the upcoming state elections and the all-important general elections next year. The logo of the The opposition alliance is also likely to be unveiled during the two-day meeting. The inaugural meeting of the alliance was convened by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23. The second meeting of the group was hosted at Bengaluru in Congress-ruled Karnataka on July 17-18.
—ANI

Delhi Minister Atishi on Wednesday said that Arvind Kejriwal is not a candidate for the Prime Minister's post.  Reacting to the remarks made by AAP's National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar that Kejriwal can be an ideal Prime Minister for the nation, Atishi said, "This might be the personal opinion of the chief spokesperson.

"Arvind Kejriwal not in race to become PM": Delhi Minister Atishi

New Delhi: There are too many challenges for the market in the near-term. Brent crude at $94, the dollar index above 105, the two-year US bond yield at 5.09 per cent and the INR at record lows against the dollar are strong headwinds, says V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.
To add to these headwinds, now there is the disappointing news of the likely compression of NIMs of HDFC Bank, which might temporarily impact sentiments in Bank Nifty, he said.
The straining of relations between India and Canada is unlikely to have any lasting impact on the market.
The hectic activity in the mid- and small-caps has pushed valuations in these segments to high levels. The sharp rise in many of these stocks has been driven by hope. It remains to be seen whether this hope will translate into reality. Execution challenges may arise.
Investors may adopt a cautious strategy of staying with high quality large-caps, he added.
In the broader market, the valuations of reasonably good PSU banks like BoB, Canara Bank and Indian Bank are even now attractive, he said.
BSE Sensex cracked in morning trade and is down 625 points at 66,946 points. HDFC Bank is down more than 3 per cent.
—IANS

There are too many challenges for the market in the near-term. Brent crude at $94, the dollar index above 105, the two-year US bond yield at 5.09 per cent

Sensex cracks more than 600 points due to multiple headwinds

Chennai (Tamil Nadu): AIADMK party leadership has called a meeting with its secretaries, district secretaries, parliament members and assembly members on September 25 at party headquarters in Tamil Nadu's Chennai, a party statement said on Sunday.  According to the party statement, the meeting will held at around 3.45 pm tomorrow at AIADMK party headquarters and will be headed by AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami.&nbsp;
The sources suggest that the meeting will discuss the AIADMK - BJP alliance and strategies for the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2024.  On September 18, AIADMK announced that BJP is no longer their ally alleging BJP State President K Annamalai is crossing alliance dharma lines. AIADMK leaders also criticised Annamalai for his remarks on Annadurai and Periyar.  AIADMK senior leader and former Tamil Nadu minister D Jayakumar said that Annamalai is unfit to be holding his current post. He also alleged that while the BJP’s rank and file want to remain in an alliance with his party, Annamalai does not want to do so.&nbsp;
Jayakumar announced that AIADMK is not in an alliance with the BJP as of now and that a decision about the alliance will be taken during the elections only.  Jayakumar slammed Annamalai for criticizing leaders of his party including former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.  The ties between BJP and AIADMK in the state also suffered after AIADMK leaders said that their alliance with the BJP caused losing votes of members of the minority communities in the Erode East by-election which the party lost.  It is this tug-of-war between Annamalai and AIADMK that led the latter to declare that they are not in alliance with the BJP.  While BJP leaders argue that the fact that AIDMK is "insecure" shows that BJP and Annamalai are growing popular in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK leaders say without their party BJP is nothing in Tamil Nadu.  
As the relationship between both parties worsened, on September 14, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami met with Union Minister Amit Shah in Delhi and had a one-to-one talk for 30 minutes.  Meanwhile, on September 22, AIADMK top leaders C V Shanmugam, Thambidurai, SP Velumani, Thangamani, KP Munusamy, and Natham Viswanathan met BJP Leaders in Delhi. Sources suggest that the meetings have been unsuccessful.
—ANI

AIADMK party leadership has called a meeting with its secretaries, district secretaries, parliament members and assembly members on September 25

AIADMK general secy Palaniswami to chair key meet in Chennai tomorrow

Chennai: The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will not change the repo rate at their meeting next month but would try to manage liquidity with various instruments it has, said senior economists.
Repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends to banks and a hike will make the banks to increase their lending rates to their borrowers.
They also said the RBI will not change the repo rate this fiscal but would maintain a hawkish stance while the erratic monsoon would impact agricultural produce mainly rice and pulses resulting in inflation.
“We would expect a status quo on both repo rate and stance. The Inflationary environment is not yet congenial for considering any change here. In fact the OIS (Overnight Indexed Swap) rates indicates that repo could go up, but we believe that inflation while high at 6.8 per cent will come down in September to something closer to 6 per cent and remain in the downward direction subsequently,” Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, Bank of Baroda told IANS.
According to him, the liquidity situation is tight and hence there will be no incremental cash reserve ratio (ICRR) like move as the focus will be on ensuring that there is adequate liquidity in the market.  At their last meeting the MPC imposed ICRR of 10 per cent on deposits received by banks between May 19- July 28, 2023 sucking out about Rs1,00,000 crore of liquidity.  “Now that the Rs 2,000 notes have returned to the system, there may be a need for some open market operations to induce liquidity if the credit conditions so warrant,” Sabnavis added.  India's central bank, the RBI, acts to control inflation through its monetary policies while the government does that through governance, infrastructure development that brings down the transaction costs and other ways.
RBI has been mandated to keep the inflation rate at 4 per cent.  Suman Chowdhury, Chief Economist &amp; Head - Research, Acuite Ratings told IANS that RBI will continue to hold on to the pause button on the interest rates in the current scenario.  “While vegetable prices have moderated after July-August and the government has continued to take steps to cool down food prices, there are potential food inflation risks due to the erratic monsoon and its impact on the kharif output particularly rice and pulses. RBI MPC is expected to keep a close eye on not only the food prices but also on increased crude oil prices and its implications on the overall inflation curve,” Chowdhury said.  “Given that the inflation risks will continue to hover over the macro horizon for longer, we expect a prolonged pause upto Mar-24 from MPC. However, there will be a hawkish bias to the monetary policy and liquidity will be kept relatively tight through various available tools with RBI to minimise the upward pressures on inflation,” Chowdhury added.
—IANS

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will not change the repo rate at their meeting next month but would try to manage liquidity

RBI’s MPC will not tinker interest rate, to maintain hawkish stance: Economists

New Delhi: China has propelled Apple‘s growth with a remarkable 128 per cent surge in net sales in the last 9 years, a new report said on Tuesday.  According to StockApps.com financial analyst Edith, “China has been a vital market for Apple, contributing significantly to the company’s global sales. The Chinese market has seen remarkable growth and challenges for Apple in the past decade”.
Apple entered the Chinese smartphone market in 2010, and its sales soared over 20 times within five years. It peaked at $58.7 billion in 2015. However, economic headwinds and increased competition led to a gradual decline in sales, which dropped to $40.3 billion in 2020, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the report said.  Nonetheless, China has once again become Apple’s growth engine in the last two years. Moreover, the report mentioned that the ban on iPhones for Chinese government officials is concerning for Apple as China accounts for 20 per cent of its sales, but this situation is not Apple’s first challenge in the country.  The ban comes from Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro flagship smartphone launch, which introduces a Chinese-made 7-nanometer processor. This move raised eyebrows internationally given the US export ban on advanced semiconductors to China.  Despite these obstacles, Apple’s ability to navigate the Chinese market is noteworthy. The company has demonstrated resilience by constantly evolving its strategies, the report stated.  Apple has customised its products and services to suit local preferences by incorporating features like dual SIM card support, better selfie cameras, and region-specific content on services such as Apple Music and the App Store.  Furthermore, the company has extended its retail footprint in China, opening stores in major cities to offer customers a physical space to experience its products and obtain assistance, according to the report.
—IANS

China has propelled Apple‘s growth with a remarkable 128 per cent surge in net sales in the last 9 years, a new report said on Tuesday.

China propels Apple’s growth in last 9 years, net sales up by 128%: Report

New Delhi [India]: Dismantling of terror ecosystem, good practice in terror investigations, terror funding trends and countermeasures, the use of UAPA and other legal provisions to counter terror and crime, as well as harvesting investive intelligence through digital forensics and data analytics are among five topics to be discussed in the two-day Anti-Terror Conference 2023 that started here in the national capital on Thursday. These topics will be discussed in five separate sessions-- two set to be held on Thursday and three on Friday--of the conference hosted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and being attended by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, Director Generals of Police of various states as well as Central Armed Police Forces.
Officers from Special Task Force (STF) and Anti-Terrorim Squad (ATS) of all the states, Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, Special Cell of Delhi Police among others state and Central concerned agencies are also participating in the event. Topics like good practice in terror investigations and dismantling of the terror ecosystem will be discussed in the two sessions to be held today following the inauguration of the Anti-Terror Conference 2023 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. However, three topics such as terror funding-trends and counter measures, use of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other legal provisions to counter terror and crime, and harvesting investive intelligence through digital forensics and data analytics will be discussed on Friday in three separate sessions listed in the agenda of the conference. Case study on targeted killings, infiltration of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, Gorakhnath Temple attack in Uttar Pradesh, espionage, challenges in detection and investigations of transnational crimes, Khalistani terrorism, Left Wing Extremism as well as illegal arms manufacturing and trafficking issues will be presented by officers of NIA and state organizations like CB-CID, STF and ATS in the two sessions being held on Thursday. The agenda of the conference mentions discussion over case study on ISIS module, generation of financial intelligence for terror funding investigations by Financial Intelligence Unit - India (FIU-IND), terror funding offences and money laundering, terror funding through crypto currencies, case study on terror funding, use of terror related legal provisions, Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), investigations abroad and case study on banned terror outfit Popular Front of india during three sessions being held on Friday. Important terror-related judgment, case study on chip-off forensics and metadata, capacity building of the state Law Enforcement Agencies, iMOT, drone forensics, GANDIV and its utilities, and challenges of digital and cyber forensics are among others pointers to be discussed in the sessions to be held on Friday. Union Home Secretary will chair the valedictory session of the conference on Friday. Before attending the event, Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on 'X', formerly Twitter,"The Central government-led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is firmly committed to rooting out terrorism from our country and said that the the '3rd Anti-terror Conference' being hosted by National Investigation Agency (NIA) here in the national capital illustrate PM's vision behind the policy of zero tolerance for terrorism adopted by the nation." The Conference will not only discuss various issues to deal with the terror menace as well as prepare a road map in the fight against it in close coordination with other agencies and state forces concerned.
—ANI

Dismantling of terror ecosystem, good practice in terror investigations, terror funding trends and countermeasures

Dismantling of terror ecosystem among 5 topics to be discussed in Anti-terror Conference 2023

Ahmedabad: Former left-arm wrist spin bowler Brad Hogg believes talismanic India batter Virat Kohli will score big in the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup final, but added that Australia would go on to win the title.  Hosts India have won all 10 games in the tournament so far as they aim to clinch their third Men’s ODI World Cup title and second on home soil after the 2011 triumph, and break their ten-year drought of not winning a global title. Kohli is the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 711 runs in ten innings.  “I think the Australian bowling line-up has got the goods to unsettle the Indian batting line-up. I think Virat Kohli is going to have a day out, he’s going to make another big score. He’s going to bat through this innings and try and stabilize this Indian batting order.”  “The likes of Rohit Sharma and (Shubman) Gill coming upfront and trying to be aggressive against the likes of (Josh) Hazlewood and (Mitchell) Starc with the new ball is going to be an interesting contest,” said Hogg on JioCinema’s daily show ‘#AAKASHVANI’.  Australia, who are on an eight-match unbeaten streak, are eyeing an unprecedented sixth World Cup crown and are now playing their eighth final. Australia also beat India in the World Test Championship final earlier this year in June at The Oval in London. Sunday's meeting will be the eighth between India and Australia in ODIs this year.  “When you’ve got Starc bowling with a good height and good pace and swinging the ball into the right-handers, he can get Rohit Sharma and Gill early. But, if these two bat well and get India off to a good start, (Shreyas) Iyer comes up against (Adam) Zampa. This is another interesting contest that we are looking at.”  “But, I think Zampa may have a day out and get the big wicket of Iyer. So for me, Australia are going to win the game with Starc and Hazlewood getting on top of Rohit and Gill early and Zampa taking the wicket of Iyer. Australia are going to take another World Cup in the 50-over format,” added Hogg.  India had met Australia in what was the tournament opener for both teams at Chennai on October 8, where Pat Cummins' side were bowled out for 199, before a stunning 165-run partnership off 215 balls between KL Rahul (97 not out) and Virat Kohli (85) carried India to a memorable six-wicket win after being 2/3 in two overs.  Former India captain Anjum Chopra had a different take, saying India look strong to win the title. “I think India are going to win the final. If we compare the bowling line-ups of both teams then I feel India’s is better. If (Mohammed) Shami doesn’t get you, (Ravindra) Jadeja will. If (Jasprit) Bumrah does not get you, Kuldeep (Yadav) will.”  “When it comes to batting, it will be important for Mitchell Marsh and David Warner to help them get a good start in the powerplay. Steve Smith and Travis Head are contributors. Glenn Maxwell can give the match a different direction but only on his day. So head-to-head, India looks stronger.”  —IANS

Former left-arm wrist spin bowler Brad Hogg believes talismanic India batter Virat Kohli will score big in the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup final

Men’s ODI WC: 'Kohli will score big but Australia are going to win the World Cup', says Brad Hogg

Mumbai: Stating that some Non Banking Finance Company-Microfinance Institutions (NBFC-MFIs) are making wider net interest margins, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday asked entities to be "judicious" in using the flexibility on the interest rates they charge from borrowers. Speaking at the annual Fibac event, Das said the microlending segment serves marginalised clientele and has emerged as an important financial conduit to foster financial inclusion.  "Though the interest rates are deregulated, certain NBFC-MFIs appear to be enjoying relatively higher net interest margins. It is indeed for microfinance lenders themselves to ensure that the flexibility provided to them in setting interest rates is used judiciously," he said.  It can be noted that following the crisis in the microfinance segment in Andhra Pradesh that had also led to the creation of the NBFC-MFI segment, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had capped the maximum interest which lenders can charge at 24 per cent. The rate regime was deregulated it in 2021, making it possible for entities to charge as much as they want.
Das acknowledged that such entities have to bear in mind the affordability and the repayment capacity of the borrowers while setting their interest rates.
—PTI

Stating that some Non Banking Finance Company-Microfinance Institutions (NBFC-MFIs) are making wider net interest margins, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday

RBI Governor asks NBFC-MFIs to be judicious in using flexibility on interest rates

Tel Aviv: The Hamas leadership will have to pay the price for its unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7, says Ruth Wasserman Lande -- a former member of the Knesset (Parliament) and former advisor to late President Shimon Peres. Lande, who is also co-chair of the Knesset caucus for the promotion of the Abraham Accords, made the remarks in an exclusive interview to IANS during which she spoke about the raging Israel-Hamas war and the developments that are unfolding.

<div style="text-align:left;"><img src="https://thehawk.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/download.webp" alt="Ruth Wasserman Lande" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></div>
 Here are some excerpts from the interview. IANS: What actually happened on October 7? Do you feel that there was a gross intelligence failure? Ruth: On October 7 there was a failure and it will be examined after the war but not at the moment because the entire community is recruited to win a war which is very very unusual in Israeli history. It is one of the worst hits perpetrated on Israel and specifically on the civilians of Israel. Thousands of Hamas operatives came rushing in with heavy arms, including automatic rifles and RPGs, broke the fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Several youngsters were dancing at the Supernova festival. They killed hundreds of people at the festival and massacred hundreds of others else where. They cut the bodies of civilians who were attending the festival. The Hamas men attacked Israeli villages on the Gaza border and killed residents, burnt several others, and also cut open a pregnant woman and and killing her baby. IANS: Israel has said that it would wipe out the top Hamas leadership and those who conspired and executed the October 7 massacre. Your comment? Ruth: Yes this is what Israel has said. Hamas stated in its founding objective that its main aim is to kill every single Israeli. They have said this again and again shamelessly. The militants have also said that if given a chance, they would repeat the October 7 carnage again. Their ideology is to wipeout the entire state of Israel and to kill each and every single Jew across the world. Then they will kill all the ‘infidels’ who does not believe in the same ideology of Islam that the Hamas do. Why do I say this is that they have killed Muslims in Rahat ( a predominantly Arab Bedouin city in the Southern District of Israel) and nearby places in Gaza. One lady who was killed had a head scarf and was visibly identified as a Muslim. They have taken Gaza hostages from Israel to Gaza, which include children, elderly and women who are also Bedouin and Muslims. This is why we have openly said that we will eliminate the top leadership of Hamas as otherwise they will again repeat October 7 and attack the country of Israel. IANS: Students of several top universities of the US are opposing Israel in this issue. Why do you feel is this happening? Ruth: A lot of the campuses for years have allowed antisemetic and anti-Israel rhetoric. A lot of Israel advocates had warned that if this was not contained and kept under supervision, hate speech will spiral out of control. If it was not dealt properly in campuses of several European countries and specifically the US, in the name of freedom of speech a lot of anti-semetic and anti-Zionist rhetoric was allowed to go by as it was freedom of speech. Israel doesn’t have a PR system unfortunately. The state of Qatar is funding the campus demonstrations and also the country of Iran with its imperialistic ideas to control the world. Israel is the first step and the ultimate goal is the free world and the free world order and to bring in a rule that is what is practiced by Hamas and Iran. Many Muslims in the world know that this has nothing to do with Islam but Qatar and Iran are funding these demonstrations in campuses to create an environment supportive of their movements. IANS: The world has taken a position in the war. Do you feel that Israel can overcome this in the days to come? Ruth: Israelis are very resilient people. The Jews have for centuries undergone severe prosecution including pogroms, the Holocaust and terrible other things. We will overcome as we are a resilient people and God is with us and we have no choice as it is an existential fight. We had never entered Gaza, and quite frankly, a vast majority of the people of Israel -- the right wing and left wing -- were shocked, even those who knew that Hamas was terrible and would not agree for anything peaceful as they never ever thought in their worst nightmare that such a barbaric thing as October 7 would happen to their brethren. This is a realisation that our children, our women and our elderly should never again be exposed to such a thing again. IANS: As a former member of the Knesset and a former advisor to late President Peres, what you feel the Israel government should do now? Ruth: I want us to stay united and we should bring all our hostages back home. This includes Jewish people, Muslim hostages, children, women and elderly. Second thing is to finish the Hamas capabalities and their leadership. Then we have to develop the area with the social rehabilitation. There should be a civilian and logistic effort along with a military effort to make sure that no terrorist raises its head again in the Strip. The education system has to be changed. The teachers are chosen by UNRWA which is a UN body and lot of European funds are pumped here and the same educational system is followed in the Palestinian Authority and this system of education has to be changed. This education has to be stopped otherwise the military effort will come to a naught. IANS: Will the war effect the economy of Israel? Ruth: Of course... Any war will affect the economy of a country. However the Hamas could not break us, instead we became united. The people of Israel, from north to south got united. The elderly, the women and children are united now. We are a single people and we have this resilience. People don’t have much money but they support each other and farmers are being given support and thus we will overcome the present crisis and will come out with huge positivities.
—IANS

The Hamas leadership will have to pay the price for its unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7, says Ruth Wasserman Lande

Hamas will have to pay the price for Oct 7: Israeli politician Ruth Wasserman Lande

Tel Aviv [Israel]: The truce brokered by Qatar between Israel and Hamas went into effect at 7 am (local time). In the lead-up to the temporary ceasefire, there were rocket sirens in Israeli towns near Gaza, and the IDF conducted intense shelling in Gaza to advance its mission against Hamas, The Times of Israel reported.
At 4 pm, 13 hostages in Gaza are set to be freed, followed by an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

<div style="text-align:left;"><img src="https://thehawk.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/h1.webp" alt="Hostage Release" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></div>

Over the next four days, around 50 women and children will be released, leaving an estimated 190 in the hands of Palestinian groups. Additionally, 150 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women and minors, are expected to be released, as reported by The Times of Israel. The deal offers incentives for more hostage releases, with Israel agreeing to an extra day of truce for every ten additional hostages released by Hamas. The truce allows for an influx of fuel and humanitarian supplies to Gaza, marking the first cessation of fighting since the conflict began seven weeks ago when Hamas massacred roughly 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Thursday afternoon (local time) that the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas would take effect on Friday at 7 am. The Prime Minister's Office confirmed the receipt of an "initial" list of names of abductees expected to be released, updating families of those set to return and providing information to relatives of those not included in the list.

<div style="text-align:left;"><img src="https://thehawk.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/h2.webp" alt="Soldier in Israel Hamas war" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></div>

Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari stated that Doha had received the list of names of civilians the terror group would release on the first day of the deal. Originally expected to commence on Thursday morning, the truce was delayed late on Wednesday night, with Israel's National Security Council chairman Tzachi Hanegbi stating that the release of hostages would not begin before Friday. Despite planning to halt combat operations on Thursday, Israel indicated it would continue as usual until the deal came into effect, The Times of Israel reported. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the new demands put forward by Hamas included a stipulation that the hostages released from Gaza be transferred directly to Egypt rather than to the Red Cross, as previously stated. A reason was not provided. Following news of the delay, spokesman al-Ansari said that Qatar was continuing to work, along with the US, to "ensure the rapid start of the truce and to provide what is necessary to ensure the parties' commitment to the agreement." Even though Israel has given no public reason as to why the deal was delayed, several unconfirmed reports have emerged. Speaking to CNN, one Israeli official dismissed the delay as the result of "fairly minor implementation deals." The claims were echoed by the United States, and Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the White House's National Security Council, told the Wall Street Journal that the relevant parties were merely ironing out the "final logistical details," adding that the US's primary objective was to ensure that the hostages were brought home safely, as reported by The Times of Israel. Meanwhile, Egyptian officials told the Wall Street Journal that Hamas' failure to provide a full list of hostage names to be released, as well as its failure to sign off on the deal, were the reason behind the delay. Speaking to UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron during his wartime visit to Israel on Thursday afternoon, Benjamin Netanyahu was confident that the deal would go through. "We hope to get our hostages out -- it's not without its challenges, but we hope to get this first tranche out and then we're committed to getting everyone out," The Times of Israel quoted Netanyahu as saying. Israel expresses optimism that the number of hostages released by Hamas during the ceasefire may exceed the initially agreed-upon 50. Hamas plans to use the pause to locate additional women and children held by various cells. Both parties have agreed that for each additional 10 hostages freed, an extra day of calm will be observed. Israeli authorities estimate that Hamas could potentially identify around 30 more Israeli mothers and children. As per the current understanding of the deal, each group of hostages released by Hamas daily will be transferred to Israel through one of Gaza's border crossings. Upon verifying that the released hostages are the Israeli citizens agreed upon, Israel will release its predetermined group of Palestinian prisoners. Upon arrival on the Israeli side, the freed hostages will undergo a brief medical examination before being flown to hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families, according to The Times of Israel. Israel has committed to refraining from initiating military action during the ceasefire. However, if Hamas breaches the truce and attacks soldiers stationed in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops will be authorized to retaliate. Israel also aims to utilise the pause in fighting to strategize for the subsequent steps in the ongoing conflict. Israel's war cabinet has vowed to continue its war effort, with the declared aims of destroying Hamas and securing the return of all hostages, after the pause in fighting lapses. During a Wednesday evening press conference, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Hamas' Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar could "try all kinds of tricks" and said that the government was prepared for that eventuality. He stressed that the ceasefire agreed upon with Hamas did not apply to Hamas chiefs abroad, saying that there was "no such obligation." And he said he had "instructed the Mossad to act against the heads of Hamas wherever they are." Defence Minister Yoav Gallant echoed Netanyahu's warning. "You can convey to (Hamas leaders) that they are living on borrowed time," he told a reporter. "As far as I'm concerned, the fight against Hamas spans the entire globe, from the terrorists who travel with a Kalashnikov in fatigues and battle [our] soldiers in the field to those who travel in luxury planes and enjoy themselves while the actions of their emissaries are perpetrated against women and children. They all face death," The Times of Israel quoted Gallant as saying.
—ANI

The truce brokered by Qatar between Israel and Hamas went into effect at 7 am (local time).

Israel-Hamas war: 4-day Qatar-brokered ceasefire comes into effect; first release of hostages today, families notified

New Delhi: Legendary South Africa batter AB de Villiers believes Hardik Pandya’s speculated move to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2024 retentions is happening as the all-rounder might have felt his time in the newly-created franchise is over.  He has also predicted Hardik to captain Mumbai in future, with Rohit Sharma carrying the responsibilities of being India’s all-format captain. Over the last few days, speculations have risen of Hardik moving back to Mumbai, the franchise from where he started his IPL career in 2015.  From an uncapped player, Hardik rose to be Mumbai's vital cog in the wheel as a fast-bowling all-rounder, earning an India cap across all formats and was a member of their IPL title-winning seasons in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.  He was released by Mumbai ahead of IPL 2022 mega auctions and became captain of Gujarat franchise, leading them to the title in their debut season in 2022, becoming Player of the Match in the final against Rajasthan Royals and led them to a runners-up finish in 2023.  “I don’t know if its going to cause them a bit of a headache on who’s going to be the captain. I mean, Rohit is the captain and loves leading from the front. Its exciting as he (Hardik) was a big player for Mumbai Indians for many years. He loved playing at the Wankhede Stadium. He won the trophy with Gujarat Titans and then also went to the final (of the 2023 season).”  “He probably feels his time there is done and now head back to Mumbai Indians. I have a funny feeling Rohit is going to let him (Hardik) captain and take the reins, as Rohit carries a lot of pressure of captaining Team India. Maybe that is going to be the move, but let’s see what happens," said de Villiers on his YouTube channel.  De Villiers, who cemented an IPL legacy of dishing out whirlwind 360-degree knocks for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, feels his former team, with a new head coach in Andy Flower, can let go of pacer Harshal Patel and leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who were roped in the franchise at a cost of INR 10.75 crore each.  "RCB paid a lump sum for them (Harshal and Hasaranga) and maybe they are feeling to shift around. Releasing them will open up a big purse for them. This is where the scouting will come in and see at the handful pool of players they are looking at.”  “They might also go back into the auction and buy both of them, but it can also backfire too and could end up buying Harshal for a bit more. Long story short, Mr. Flower seems to have some plans up his sleeve in the set-up and this seems one of them," he added.
—IANS

Legendary South Africa batter AB de Villiers believes Hardik Pandya’s speculated move to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2024

Hardik Pandya probably feels his time there is done and now head back to Mumbai Indians, says AB de Villiers

New Delhi [India]: In a bid to boost its mobile firepower in high-altitude border areas like Line of Actual Control with China the Indian Army is soon going to issue a tender for acquiring 200 new mounted howitzers equipped with 105 mm guns. A tender is set to be issued soon to Indian firms for this 'Make in India' project to buy 200 new mounted howitzers equipped with 105 mm 37 calibre guns, defence sources told ANI.
This would be the first time that the Indian artillery would have these type of 105 mm mounted howitzers and would add to the strength of the formations deployed in forward positions, they said. The Indian Army is modernising the artillery through the indigenous route using the capabilities of the Indian firms as the Indian industry has developed capabilities in this field and is now even exporting these systems to foreign countries. Along with the 200 mounted howitzers, the Defence Ministry is also soon going to take up the case of clearing procurement of 400 new towed guns under the Make in India route. The proposal for procuring 400 towed artillery gun systems is expected to come up for discussion in the Defence Acquisition Council meeting scheduled for November 30.  Indian Army's Regiment of Artillery is looking to use the expertise of Indian Industry to produce 155 mm/52 calibre Towed Gun System, which will be lighter, versatile and cater for future technological advancements. The Indian Army has already issued a tender for buying 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) along with one for finding a mounted gun system for its requirements along borders with China and Pakistan. The Indian Designed, Developed and Manufactured howitzer would mean that it would be totally Indian in all ways. The Army wants the guns to be lighter in weight and easier to deploy in high-altitude areas like the older Bofors guns. The procurement process is part of the Army plan for Mediumisation with indigenous guns and is likely to be completed by the year 2042. In the last decade, four contracts have been concluded for the procurement of a 155 mm howitzer. These Gun Systems have already been inducted and more Regiments are being equipped with these guns.  These gun systems include Dhanush, Sharang, Ultra Light Howitzer (ULH) and K-9 Vajra Self Propelled Guns. Dhanush Guns are an electronic upgrade of Bofors Guns, while the Sharang Guns have been up-gunned from 130mm to 155mm calibre. Seven Regiments have already been equipped with ULHs while five have been equipped with self-propelled guns.
—ANI

In a bid to boost its mobile firepower in high-altitude border areas like Line of Actual Control with China the Indian Army is soon going to issue

Indian Army to boost firepower with 200 new mounted howitzers, 400 towed gun systems

Tel Aviv [Israel]: Israeli commander Doron Gavish explained the workings of the Iron Dome system as part of a multi-layered defence system that has helped Israel intercept thousands of rockets from multiple targets. Former Commander of the Aerial Defense Array Brigadier General (res.) Doron Gavish said that the system also helped Israel in minimising the civilian casualties amid attacks.
In a video posted by TPS - Israel's News Agency, Gavish said, "Iron Dome is part of a multi-layered defence system, developed here during the last 10-15 years. The role of this formation is to defend against threats that arrive at short ranges, whether it is from the direction of Hezbollah or whether it is from the direction of Gaza".  He said that the system was built for the benefit of rockets but it also performs two other crucial tasks. "It helps is assisting in alerting the residents of Israel, basically every rocket that comes towards Israel, the residents of Israel receive an alert. It also assists in the interception of unmanned aerial vehicles. So, this is basically an Iron Dome, on top of which there is a layer for a longer range of a system called David's Sling," Gavish added. The Israeli commander further said that the system has helped in thousands of interceptions and it exudes confidence in Israeli defence to defend the country. "Here the role of Home Front Commander comes in. He warns the residents to go inside the shelters. This is what we call the passive defence, the combination, on one hand, active defence, and on the other hand passive defence. This allows for a very very low percentage of casualties despite the very large number of rockets fired at Israel," he added.
—ANI

Israeli commander Doron Gavish explained the workings of the Iron Dome system as part of a multi-layered defence system

Israeli commander explains role of Iron Dome in intercepting rockets, minimising casualties

Tel Aviv [Israel]: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has confirmed the release of over 14 hostages, including 10 Israelis and four Thai nationals, from Hamas captivity, as reported by The Times of Israel. As a part of the Israel-Hamas extended truce deal, Hamas released these 14 hostages, who have been transferred by the Red Cross from the Gaza Strip to Egypt via the Rafah crossing.
Earlier, Hamas released two dual Russian-Israeli citizens, Yelena Trupanov and her mother, Irena Tati, as part of a gesture to Russian President Vladimir Putin, unrelated to the truce deal with Israel, according to The Times of Israel. The mother and daughter were then brought to Sheba Medical Centre following their return to Israel.  Moreover, according to The Times of Israel, the 10 Israeli hostages released were identified as Raz Ben Ami, Yarden Roman, Liat Atzili, Moran Stela Yanai, Liam Or, Itay Regev, Ofir Engel, Amit Shani, Gali Tarshansky and Raaya Rotem. Moreover, the hostages will be brought to a meeting point where Israeli forces will verify their identities before escorting them into Israel via a side gate at the Kerem Shalom crossing. Meanwhile, the IDF said, "The families of the hostages are being updated by IDF representatives with the latest available information." Excluding today's release of hostages, 50 were released between Friday and Monday, while 10 others were freed on Tuesday night. According to the initial truce agreement, Israel agreed to halt its military operations in Gaza for four days and emphasised that it would release three Palestinian security prisoners for each of the 50 hostages freed from Gaza, The Times of Israel reported.  Notably, Israel President Isaac Herzog is set to attend the COP28 climate conference in Dubai later this week to hold sideline meetings with global leaders, in order to get the remaining hostages released from Gaza, his office said. "The purpose of these meetings is to reveal to world leaders in a clear and profound manner the atrocities committed by the Hamas terror organization during the horrific massacre on October 7 and to emphasize the essential security threat that led to Israel's forced entry into the war," Herzog's office said. Furthermore, Herzog will also use the meetings to highlight the steps Israel is taking to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as it continues its war against Hamas once the truce concludes, The Times of Israel reported.
—ANI

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has confirmed the release of over 14 hostages, including 10 Israelis and four Thai nationals, from Hamas captivity

Hamas releases 10 Israelis, 4 Thai hostages on sixth day of truce

Thiruvananthapuram: India ranks among countries with the highest mortality rates due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and statistics show that one child dies every nine minutes due to illnesses caused by bugs that resist antibiotics. This shocking revelation was made at a plenary session of the Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF) here on Tuesday, where experts discussed the role traditional medicines can play in overcoming the threat of AMR, which is rising in almost every part of the world, prompting WHO to declare it as one of the top health threats. Speaking on the issue, Professor Thomas Rampp from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, an expert in integrative medicine, said the US and European countries also face the threat from AMR, but the risk to countries in Asia and Latin America is bigger.

<div style="text-align:left;"><img src="https://thehawk.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/ayur1.webp" alt="Professor Thomas Rampp" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></div>
 Terming resistance to antibiotics a "new phenomenon", he recalled that resistance to Penicillin was reported in 1940, though the drug was put into use by 1928. This led to the creation of newer antibiotics to overcome that, but in the last three decades, no new antibiotics have been developed and this has aggravated the problem. Professor Rampp also said the use and overuse of antibiotics are leading to their resistance. He stated that this is not limited to the medical field, as over 80 percent of the antibiotics produced in the world are used in farms and fisheries, which inevitably enter our food chain. "The reasons for resistance to antibiotics come from the overprescribing of antibiotics, patients not finishing the treatment properly, the overuse of antibiotics in livestock and fish farming, poor infection control in hospitals, and poor sanitation," he said. Prof Rampp said traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda can contribute significantly to improving the situation, as they approach problems and work to improve immunity. This can prevent illness and stop the unnecessary use of antibiotics. He pointed out that Ayurveda has always focused on providing a balanced diet, and modern science now emphasises the importance of micro biomes in the gut region, which is essential to building up immunity. Speaking on the same issue, Subarna Roy, director of ICMR National Institute of Traditional Institute in Karnataka, said their studies showed that resistance to antibiotics is different in various areas within the Karnataka state. He warned that AMR is contributing to the rise of diseases like diphtheria in some areas of India. A network of facilities established to monitor the AMR situation in India has identified about 10 pathogens that are proving to be dangerous. He said sometimes antibiotics are prescribed even though they will not cure the disease but merely reduce the symptoms. The national health policy says alternative methods to treat infectious diseases should be considered, and this is where Ayurveda can play a vital role, said Roy. "Ayurveda practitioners are already helping the fight against AMR as they treat patients without prescribing antibiotics," he said.
—IANS

India ranks among countries with the highest mortality rates due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and statistics show that one child dies every nine minutes

Antibiotic resistance kills millions in India

Vijayawada: The severe cyclonic storm Michaung in the Bay of Bengal started making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast near Bapatla on Tuesday, triggering heavy rains accompanied by gales.  The sea was rough, with tidal waves lashing the coast. Met officials said the severe cyclone slightly weakened at the time of landfall. It is expected to completely cross the coast in one hour.  According to the India Meteorological Department, the cyclone will weaken into depression by Tuesday evening.  Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds with speeds of 100-110 kmph were lashing the coast. Trees and electric poles uprooted at some places while standing crops were damaged.  Authorities in Bapatla district have shifted people from low-lying areas near the coast to relief camps Heavy rains have been lashing Rayalaseema and south coastal Andhra since Monday.  Heavy rains in Tirupati, Annamayya, Kadapa, Guntur, Nellore, Bapatla, Prakasam, Krishna and NTR districts inundated low-lying areas and damaged crops.  Several parts of Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra have been experiencing heavy rains since Monday. Many areas in Tirupati and Nellore districts recorded over 25 cm rainfall in the last 24 hours.  A couple of places in Tirupati and Nellore district recorded rainfall of 39 cm during the last 24 hours.  Rivulets, streams, tanks and other water bodies were overflowing. The rains have disrupted road transport at few places. Low-lying area in parts of Tirupati, Nellore, Krishna and Guntur districts were inundated.  Incessant rains were lashing Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Rajamahendravaram, Bhimavaram, Eluru, Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, Guntur, Ongole, Nellore and Tirupati.  Meanwhile, air services have been suspended at Rajahmundry Airport due to the cyclone. Officials said 18 flights were cancelled.  The inclement weather also affected air traffic at Visakhapatnam Airport. As many as 23 flights were cancelled.  Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed the District Collectors, SPs and officials of various departments to be on high alert for taking up relief measures.  Holding a review meeting virtually from the Camp Office, the Chief Minister told them to treat the cyclone as a major challenge and take necessary steps to avoid loss of life and property as the cyclonic winds are expected to blow at a speed of over 110 km.  Collectors of Tirupati, SPSR Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema and Kakinada districts explained the relief and rescue preparedness in their respective districts.
—IANS

The severe cyclonic storm Michaung in the Bay of Bengal started making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast near Bapatla on Tuesday

Cyclone Michaung crosses Andhra coast, triggers heavy rains

New Delhi: Homeless people in the national capital are being shifted to temporary tents set up by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board as part of the city government's winter action plan, officials said on Wednesday.
A meeting of the joint apex advisory committee was held in the first week of November to rescue homeless people and provide shelter to them. The committee comprises nodal officials of the Delhi Jal Board, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and Delhi Police, a DUSIB official told PTI.  "Delhi government's winter action plan for the homeless has started and rescue teams have also been deployed to shift them to the temporary tents," the official said.
He said 110 tents have been set up in the city for the homeless and 15 rescue teams have been deployed on the ground who are spreading awareness about the arrangements.  "Around 30 to 40 more tents will be set up soon. We conduct surveys and accordingly chalk out the locations where tents need to be set up," the official said.  The teams identify the clusters and inform the control room that sends volunteers to shift the homeless to the temporary tents.  Teams of doctors are also visiting the temporary shelters twice a week.  "The homeless are being provided food and tea and this is something that we do all year long. We also keep track of the work that is happening," the DUSIB official said.  According to the Delhi government, there are 195 DUSIB shelter homes, which are functional in Delhi at present with a total capacity of 7,092 people. The new tents will accommodate about 2,000 more people on potential sites of high concentration to meet the increased demand for shelters during winter.  Additional tents will further be installed, if required, based on the requirement of shelters.  Teams have started to rescue the homeless people lying on the roadside or open spaces/parks from 10 pm to 4 am every day and each rescue team is equipped with one vehicle, driver and two attendants.  After receiving the information from DUSIB control room or from other sources, rescue team responds to pick up the homeless person from the identified location and take them to nearby shelter or hospital as per requirement.  "The main function of the Joint Apex Advisory Committee (JAAC) is to ensure better inter-departmental coordination among all the departments to ensure necessary civic amenities for homeless people in the shelter homes for the successful implementation of the winter action plan. Divisional Executive Engineers regularly check the upkeep and day-to-day maintenance of the shelter homes," a notice from the Delhi government said.  A centralised control room with dedicated staff is functional at Punarwas Bhawan, I.P. Estate, New Delhi to monitor and assist the rescue teams. The control room receives complaints/information 24x7 through a dedicated helpline, mobile app, and from other sources.  The control room toll free number is 14461, 011-23378789 and 011-23370560 (landline) and +919871013284 (WhatsApp).  Mobile App 'Rain Basera' to track and rescue the homeless person has been made operational, which can be downloaded from Google Play store, the notice read.  "Any person who comes across a homeless person lying/residing along the roadside can simply click a photograph in his/her smart phone and submit it to central control room. The central control room automatically locates the sender/homeless person through GPS and informs the rescue teams to rescue the homeless person," the notice read.  The notice further said that the DUSIB has started coordination with health department, DJB, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and other civic agencies to ensure the availability of basic amenities to the homeless people residing in the night shelters.  Facilities available at the shelter home includes television, drinking water, toilet facility, lockers for belongings (where-ever available), complaint box, first aid box and nothing is charged for availing said facilities.  One caretaker has been allotted for each shelter home who remains available for eight hours a day, along with a female security guard.
—PTI

Homeless people in the national capital are being shifted to temporary tents set up by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board

Winter action plan for homeless begins, 110 tents set up across Delhi

New Delhi: The Delhi Police are on alert after the US-based Khalistani supporter Gurpatwant Singh Pannu released a video message threatening to "shake the very foundation of Parliament" on December 13, the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament.
A senior police officer said security has already been stepped up in and around Parliament. "No one will be allowed to disturb law and order," he said.  "When Parliament is on, we remain alert. We are taking all precautionary measures to prevent any untoward incident," the officer said adding that security has also been beefed up in entire Delhi.&nbsp;
In the video, which also had a photo of the 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, the chief of the proscribed organisation Sikhs for Justice claimed that the Narendra Modi government tried to kill him and threatened to respond on December 13.  Pannu claimed that his response would shake "the very foundation of the Indian Parliament".
—PTI

The Delhi Police are on alert after the US-based Khalistani supporter Gurpatwant Singh Pannu released a video message threatening

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