Breaking News: Centre gives green signal for Covaxin export; Govt to bring crypto bill

Fire engulfed in a bunker of Central jail Pulwama. Fire tenders, and other security agencies are on duty to put off the fire. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is in New Delhi today. She will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss Tripura violence tomorrow. She further welcomed three political leaders Ashok Tanwar, Pavan Varma, and Kirti Azad who joined the TMC today in New Delhi. 

In a big development, the government is all set to introduce a cryptocurrency bill in the winter session. The government has listed 26 bills for passing including, “The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021”. The three-week-long winter session is scheduled to be held from November 29 to December 23.

The Government of India gave the nod to the export of the country's indigenous vaccine Covaxin. This is done keeping in mind the increasing interest in Covaxin worldwide after the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Emergency Use Listing for Covaxin, which was approved on November 3.

An FIR has been registered against actor Kangana Ranaut in Mumbai for allegedly portraying the farmers' protest as the Khalistani movement and calling them 'Khalistanis' on social media.

SC directs the state's top police officials to hold a joint meet with state EC for assessing the availability of the paramilitary forces. SC says after assessment, if so required, the requisition shall be submitted to CRPF or MHA, the same shall be dealt with expeditiously in order to maintain peace in the state of Tripura.

SC also says DGP, IG L&O shall take steps to ensure that the election process goes on in a fair and peaceful manner, especially on polling day & counting. SC asks Tripura govt to file a compliance report by Nov 25. sc says it should also include tabulated data on complaints made, steps taken if first is registered.

SC warns Tripura govt, says if steps given aren't implemented, the court would be obliviated to take steps.
 

Ashok Tanwar, who quit the Congress in October 2019 and launched his own party, former JD(U) general secretary Pavan Varma, and Congress leader Kirti Azad joined TMC today in New Delhi. 

Uttar Pradesh will get a new airport as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone to Jewar Airport on November 25. 

Sources suggest that former Mumbai Police commissioner Parambir Singh is in and around Chandigarh. 

Former JDU MP Pavan Varma has joined TMC. 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman questioned who was in power when the 26/11 attack happened, and further said, "We haven't had justice given to us even today".

Application on behalf of former Mumbai Police commissioner Parambir Singh indicated that he doesn't want to cross-examine the witness. Application made in the last hearing is now being noted by the commission.

"RSS worker killing in Palakkad district of Kerala was not an accident" BJP claims Left government and police aiding Popular Front of India (PFI)

After pasting a notice at absconding Maharashtra cop Param Bir Singh's Juhu residence, the Mumbai Police team has arrived at the former Mumbai CP's Malabar Hill home. The notice declares Param Bir a proclaimed offender. 

NCB Mumbai launched an operation at Kamtha, Nanded and seized a total of 111 kgs of Poppy Straw (Commercial Quantity), 1.4 Kgs of Opium, Cash Rs 1.55 Lakh along with 2 grinding machines used for grinding of Poppy Seeds, electronic scale & note counting machine yesterday. 

As per NCB Mumbai, a drugs factory busted in the Nanded district of Maharashtra during a raid. A total of 100 kgs of drugs seized so far in the raids that began yesterday in Nanded, Jalna, and Aurangabad districts. Three people have been detained so far while raids are underway. 

The Patna Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Tuesday has postponed the hearing of Bihar Chief Minister and RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection to the fodder scam case for November 30. Earlier in the day, the former Bihar Chief Minister appeared at the Patna CBI Court for his hearing on Monday. He appeared before the court after being summoned by the CBI court for being physically present in the hearing pertaining to the illegal withdrawal of Rs 47 lakh from the Banka district treasury. 

Earlier, he was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court in April in connection to the fraudulent withdrawal from Dumka Treasury, which is also one of the cases related to the fodder scam. The court had also imposed a condition to Yadav for depositing two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each and a fine of Rs 10 lakh to the court. 

Meanwhile, the RJD President has already been granted bail in the Chaibasa Treasury Scam case in October 2020 followed by the Deoghar Treasury Scam case in February 2020. Meanwhile, the trial in the Doranda Treasury Scam case is still ongoing. 

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal during a press conference in Amritsar, said, "Many people in Congress are in touch with us but we don't want to take their garbage. If we start doing it then I challenge you that 25 Congress MLAs (in Punjab) would join us by evening. Their 25 MLAs & 2-3 MPs are in touch & want to join us (AAP)"

The state government has notified that the death toll amid torrential rainfall and flood-related incidents in Andhra Pradesh touched 34 while 10 more people still remained untraced. 

The matter is before a bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Vikram Nath. Supreme Court seeks to know the presence of the central paramilitary forces so that they can be deployed to sensitive areas. SC is hearing the contempt plea of TMC claiming that the law and order situation in Tripura is "worsening" by the day ahead of civil body elections.

Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta for TMC: Suppose, if this is the deployment for the last few days, the police are standing there and not doing anything is the real problem. 

Bench: It is possible for the State government to requisite the battalion of the paramilitary forces for additional security in these critical areas. 

Justice Chandrachud: We don't want to go into bickering & ensure that there's a sense of security. Adding central paramilitary forces will level some confidence. 

Bench: We will take it at 3:45 pm. Submit a detailed response then.

Mumbai court's notice has been pasted at former top cop Param Bir Singh's Juhu residence. He was granted protection from arrest on Monday and was asked to join the probe by Supreme Court. His lawyer Puneet Bali informed the apex court that Param Bir is still in India and has not fled the country. 

Directing Param Bir to join the investigation, the Supreme Court granted him interim protection from arrest. Moreover, it issued notice to the Maharashtra government, DGP and CBI and adjourned the matter till December 6.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal while addressing poll-bound Punjab in Amritsar, said, "We will improve Punjab govt schools just like we improved Delhi govt schools; only we know how to do it, no other party does. I guarantee to resolve multiple issues of teachers on an emergency basis."

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal stated that nobody is aware of BJP's CM candidate in Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and stated that AAP would declare the Chief Minister's face before any other party does. 

"No party has declared their Chief Minister candidate yet," CM Kejriwal stated. 

Sounding the poll bugle in Punjab, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal claimed that 25 MLAs and 3 MPs from the ruling Congress are ready to switch to the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party. 

Sounding the poll bugle in Uttar Pradesh, BJP chief JP Nadda inaugurated a new regional office for the party in Kanpur. Nadda is on a campaign trail in the election-going state. 

AAP convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal met several teachers of college and schools from Amritsar in Punjab and spoke about ways to improve the education system in the state. He promised to bring the same facilities and improvisions that are enjoyed by teaching professionals in the capital. Addressing the media from Amritsar, Kejriwal vowed to revolutionize education in Punjab. 

The BJP posed questions before the Congress on Tuesday after its senior leader Manish Tewari opined in his new book that the UPA govt's response to the 26/11 terror attack was not 'kinetic enough'. Addressing a news briefing in Delhi, BJP's Gaurav Bhatia asked the Sonia Gandhi-led party why it did not prioritize national security and retaliate to the deadly Mumbai attacks. 

Stirring a controversy, Congress MP Manish Tewari on Tuesday, opined that the UPA govt's response to 26/11 terror attack was not 'kinetic enough'. As per an excerpt released by Tewari from his new book -  '10 Flash Points; 20 Years - National Security Situations that Impacted India', he has lashed out at India's tepid response to Pakistan's cruelty. Tewari served as Union Minister (Independent charge) I&B in UPA-2 from 2012-2014. His fourth book delves into every salient National Security Challenge India has faced in the past two decades.

"For a state (Pakistan) that has no compunctions in brutally slaughtering hundreds of innocent people, restraint is not a sign of strength; it is perceived as a symbol of weakness. There comes a time when actions must speak louder than words. 26/11 was one such time when it should have been done. It, therefore, is my considered opinion that India should have actioned a kinetic response in the days following India's 9/11", opined Tewari.

Major Anuj Sood of the 21st RR Battalion has been accorded the Vir Chakra posthumously for his gallant actions in anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara in May 2020.

His wife Aakriti Sood receives the award from President Ram Nath Kovind.

Subedar Sanjiv Kumar of 4 Para Special Forces accorded the Kirti Chakra posthumously for an operation in Keran sector in Jammu and Kashmir in which he killed one terrorist and injured two others. His wife receives the award from President Ram Nath Kovind.

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai visits & inspects Kendriya Vihar Apartment, after heavy rains overflowed the Yelahanka Lake and water flooded into Kendriya Vihar and surrounding areas, in Bengaluru

A bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud asks counsel of Tripura government to take detailed instructions from DGP & Home Secretary on what specific arrangements are made for the day's campaigning, the polling day and for safety right up to the declaration of poll results.

SC notifies that it will continue to hear the matter today at 12.45 pm

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has been detained by J&K Police at her Gupkar residence ahead of her visit to Slain Altaft’s family who was killed at Hyderpora in an encounter. She held a protest demanding a judicial probe into the Hyderpora encounter. The PDP leader along with party workers held a protest march to Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s residence against the alleged killing of civilians in the Hyderpora encounter. Mufti on Saturday hit out at the J&K administration and demanded L-G Sinha to take responsibility for the killings in the Hyderpora encounter and targeting civilians.

Supreme Court dismisses a plea on the issue of a proposed change in use of a plot of land where the new official residences of the Vice-President and the Prime Minister are stipulated as part of the Central Vista project in Delhi.

Colonel Santosh Babu to receive the Mahavir Chakra posthumously today for resisting the Chinese Army attack while establishing an observation post in the face of the enemy in the Galwan valley in the Ladakh sector during the ongoing Operation Snow Leopard. Mahavir Chakra citation of the Colonel who laid down his life while resisting a vicious attack on his observation post by the Chinese Army.

An illegal drug manufacturing factory was busted in the Nanded district of Maharashtra during a raid. A total of 100 kgs of illegal substance has been seized so far after successful raids that began yesterday in Nanded, Jalna, and Aurangabad districts. Three people have been detained so far. Sources have informed that an inter-state drug cartel has come to the fore and raids by NCB officers are underway.

Attributable to government sources, PM Modi spoke with Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai regarding torrential rains in the state and took stock of potential adversities and management. 

The TMC supremo is set to meet the Prime Minister to raise issues of the recent Tripura violence and discuss the extension of BSF's jurisdiction. On Monday, TMC leaders and MPs had arrived at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence in the national capital to discuss the violence that transpired in Tripura. As per reports, Shah affirmed to stop the violence. 

National weather forecast agency, India Meteorological Department has alerted Tamil Nadu a 'yellow alert' for November 23-24 and 'orange alert' for November 25-26 owing to a 'cyclonic circulation lies over Southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood in lower tropospheric levels'. 

"It is very likely to move west-northwestwards towards Tamil Nadu coast during next 4-5 days," IMD stated. 

"Isolated heavy rainfall very likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during next five days and over Kerala and Mahe on 25 and 26 November. Isolated very heavy rainfall also very likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on 25 and 26 November," it added. 

Stirring a controversy, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Monday, batted for lesser spending on Defence, suggesting India must invest in education, health and nutrition instead. Addressing the India-Russian society programme in Delhi, Aiyar claimed that poverty can be removed from the world if countries invested less in military weapons. Aiyar has often been embroiled in controversy with his comments related to Pakistan.

Aiyar: "Spend less on Defence"

"Work in a focused manner to make us prosperous. But instead of that, we are spending crores to empower the army to destroy the world. The amount we are investing in defence equipment to annihilate the world, if we used that in education, health, and nutrition, we can remove the world from poverty. We should spend for maintaining peace," said Aiyar.

Similar controversial remarks were made by his peer Navjot Singh Sidhu while he visited the  Kartarpur gurudwara in Pakistan, where he referred to Pakistan PM Imran Khan. Addressing reporters in Kartarpur, Sidhu batted for 'open borders' with Pakistan, similar to European Union. 

For the tenth consecutive day on Tuesday, the air quality in the national capital continued to remain under the 'very poor' category. The System of Air Quality & Weather Forecasting & Research (SAFAR) stated Delhi's AQI currently stands at 315 as against 352 on Monday. Also, SAFAR has predicted that strong winds can improve the air quality marginally. 

The share percentage of stubbly burning to Delhi's air pollution is 2.5 lower and the effective fire count stands at 909. 

Delhi's Air Quality is likely to improve to the 'poor' or lower end of 'very poor' category for the next two days.

State Minister Shankar Patil Munenakoppa assured a compensation between Rs 50,000- 5 lakhs to farmers as crops (chilli, cotton, chana) are damaged due to rains in Dharwad. The sum will be deposited in farmers' accounts by November 30.

Reports suggest that red chilli cultivated in Kundgol and Hubballi taluks have been damaged across 7,000 hectares. Chilli was grown in 22,000 hectares and almost 40% of the crop are damaged. Horticultural crops, including onion, flowers and tomato and various other vegetables in 8,759 hectares are spoiled. 

Basis initial assessment, cotton in 11,616 hectares, maize in 4,213 hectares, paddy in 2,138 hectares, jowar in 755 hectares and wheat in 535 hectares have been damaged due to heavy downpour and incessant rainfall.

Notably, floriculturists in Uppin Betageri, Mangalgatti, Kurubgatti reported having suffered maximum losses amid torrential rains. 

United Nations experts, on November 22, asked China to release journalist Zhang Zhan, who was imprisoned for reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak, since her health is fast deteriorating and her life is in danger. Zhang Zhan has been jailed in Shanghai's Pudong New District Detention Centre since May 2020, where she is serving a four-year term for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble."

According to an official statement released by the UN, the experts stated that the failure by the authorities of China to act quickly and effectively could result in the journalist's death. "We urge them to immediately grant her unconditional release and ensure she receives the necessary medical treatment as soon as possible," they added.

According to the statement, the Chinese journalist was arrested after she made a video criticising the Chinese government's management of the COVID-19 outbreak and was accused of providing false information and stirring up negative feelings about the pandemic in Wuhan. In December 2020, she was found guilty and sentenced. 

Zhang Zhan has gone on complete and partial hunger strikes in protest of her confinement since her arrest. She now has acute malnutrition, a stomach ulcer, extensive oedema of her lower limbs, and is unable to move or elevate her head without assistance, according to ANI. 

United States Treasury Department has added four Afghan men to its list of Designated Global Terrorists, according to an official statement released on November 22. The sanctions were issued by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on four people including Ismatullah Khalozai, who was classified as a substantial financial facilitator for the Afghan branch of the Islamic State (ISIS-K).

"Today, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Ismatullah Khalozai, an individual who has acted as a financial facilitator for the Islamic State’s Khorasan Province (ISIL-Khorasan), active in Afghanistan and commonly referred to as 'ISIS-K.' This individual has provided support to ISIS-K’s operations in Afghanistan by facilitating international financial transactions that fund human trafficking networks and facilitating the movement of foreign fighters who seek to escalate tensions in Afghanistan and the region," the department stated.

Three more people, Sultan Aziz Azam, Sanaullah Ghafari, and Maulawi Rajab, were added to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists, according to the agency's statement. 

In a global embarrassment for Pakistan, human rights organisation Amnesty International has called out Pakistan's 'abhorrent' practice of enforced disappearances. In its report titled 'Living Ghosts', Amnesty International has urged Islamabad to stop forcibly disappearing suspected terrorists for years without a trial. The report has also highlighted the obstacles and difficulties faced by the families of the disappeared in obtaining information about their detained relatives. 

Amnesty International has also remarked that since the beginning of the United States-led War on Terror, hundreds of Pakistani rights defenders, activists, students and journalists have gone missing. In a tweet, the human rights NGO has also stated that 'enforced disappearances have been plaguing the people of Pakistan as far back as the 1980s'.

Moreover, Amnesty has also urged officials linked to such enforced disappearances to be put on trial. Even so, the Pakistani establishment has repeatedly denied the allegations. 

There is no scientific evidence so far to support the need for a booster vaccine dose against COVID-19, ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava said on Monday underlining the completion of second dose for India's adult population is the priority for the government for now.

According to sources, the booster dose issue is likely to be discussed in the next meeting of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India (NTAGI).

"Administering the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine to all adult population and ensuring that not only India but the entire world gets vaccinated is the priority of the government for now."

"More so, there is no scientific evidence so far to support the need for a booster vaccine dose against COVID-19," Bhargava told PTI.

PM Modi on Monday congratulated the recipients of the Gallantry Awards saying that their 'dedication and courage' was a motivation to the citizens. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi shared images of the two Defence Investiture Ceremonies at Rashtrapati Bhavan where he, along with President Ram Nath Kovind, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Gallantry Awards recipients pose for an official photograph. 

The Vir Chakra was conferred to Balakot Airstrike hero Indian Air Force Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Abhinandan Varthaman who is infamous for his showdown with a Pakistani fighter jet, following the Pulwama attack. During his valiant face-off, Abhinandan had brought down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet. After his brief custody with the Pakistan Army, he returned to India from the Wagah border on March 1, 2019.

Bharat Biotech's Covaxin entered the UK's list of approved COVID-19 vaccines for international travellers on Monday. With this, fully vaccinated Indians who have been inoculated with the 'Made in India' vaccine have been given a green signal to enter the UK from November 22.

Passengers inoculated with both doses of Covaxin would not need a pre-departure PCR test or self-isolation at the address declared on their compulsory Passenger Locator Forms. However, like other fully vaccinated travellers, including those vaccinated with SII's Covishield, they are required to pre-book a PCR or Lateral Flow Test on arrival in England (taken before the end of day 2). 

The move follows the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Emergency Use Listing for Covaxin, which was granted approval on November 3. The WHO in the press release informed that the Covaxin was assessed under the WHO EUL procedure based on the review of data on quality, efficacy, and safety. 

Earlier Monday, the Canadian government had also announced that they will now accept travellers vaccinated with three additional COVID-19 vaccines approved for use by the WHO which includes BB's Covaxin. Travellers fully vaccinated with Covaxin along with Sinovac, and Sinopharm have been allowed by the Canadian authorities to travel to Canada from November 30. 

A day after MoS PMO Jitendra Singh said that taking back PoK was next on the agenda of the Modi government, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah mocked the statement saying 'we can't take anything back' from Pakistan.

The former J&K Chief Minister once again batted for talks with the Imran Khan-led nation saying that India could not take back anything, it should rather work towards fixing the disputed area.

"I have said numerous times that we have to hold talks with Pakistan. You keep giving threats that you will take this or that, the situation will not be solved. If you can talk with China, which is inside our territory, and is increasing its presence in Arunachal, why can you not talk to someone who is so close to us (Pakistan)? We don't have anything to give, and we can't take anything, so we have to work towards fixing the land," the National Conference leader said. 

 Ahead of the crucial 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, BJP chief JP Nadda and other national leaders of the party held a meeting with senior leaders from the state, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, as per sources.

The core committee of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the BJP met at the party headquarters in the presence of JP Nadda.

Further sources informed that the senior BJP leaders held discussions for more than three-and-a-half hours to devise a strategy for the General Assembly polls due early next year.

The meeting was attended by Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan (BJP in-charge of the Uttar Pradesh polls), national vice-president of the party Radha Mohan Singh, both the Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma, state party chief Swatantra Dev Singh and general secretary of state BJP (organisation) Sunil Bansal, among others, the sources said.