In the wake of the post-monsoon season, the reptilian residents of Vadodara are often spotted in urban spaces. One such case involved the rescue of an 8-foot-long mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) from under Lalbaug bridge in a combined effort by Wildlife SOS-GSPCA and the Gujarat Forest Department. The crocodile has been handed over to the forest department and will soon be released back into the wild. In the early morning hours, passersby near the Rajmal compound spotted a huge 8-foot-long mugger crocodile under the Lalbaug bridge in Vadodara. Seeing the crocodile stranded and distressed, one compassionate onlooker informed Wildlife SOS on its emergency rescue helpline (+91 9825011117), which is operated in collaboration with the Gujarat Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA). A four-member rescue team from Wildlife SOS-GSPCA arrived promptly and assessed the situation, as the incident occurred in a busy central location of the city. After almost an hour-long operation, the combined rescue team of Wildlife SOS-GSPCA and the Gujarat Forest Department safely rescued the crocodile. The reptile was later handed over to the forest department for further care and eventual release into its natural habitat. Raj Bhavsar, Project Coordinator at Wildlife SOS and President of GSPCA, commented, “There was a brief spell of a shower during the time of Navratri, due to which the level of the Vishwamitri river had increased. Therefore the surrounding lowland areas including housing societies, factories and roads were flooded. When things went back to normal, the water receded, but in a few places crocodiles got stranded on dry land.” Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, remarked, “Our collaboration with the Gujarat Forest Department and citizens is crucial in these rescue operations. The cooperation of the onlookers in letting the experts do their job shows how crucial our work has been in spreading awareness about wildlife conservation in urban areas.” Karan Singh Rajput, Range Forest Officer, Vadodara, added, “By working together, the Wildlife SOS-GSPCA rescue team along with the forest department ensured the reptile’s safety while keeping the crowd at bay. The rescue of these crocodiles highlights the critical need for continued collaboration to promote peaceful coexistence between humans and wild animals.”
16 October,2024 02:25 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Omar Abdullah on being sworn in as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, and said the Centre will work closely with him and his team for J-K's progress. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Jammu and Kashmir CM on Wednesday, the first elected government in the Union territory since 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Congratulations to Shri Omar Abdullah Ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Wishing him the very best in his efforts to serve the people." Congratulations to Shri Omar Abdullah Ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Wishing him the very best in his efforts to serve the people. The Centre will work closely with him and his team for J&K's progress. @OmarAbdullah — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 16, 2024 "The Centre will work closely with him and his team for J&K's progress," the prime minister said. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to Abdullah, who takes over as chief minister for a second term and is the third generation of the Abdullah family to occupy the office -- after his grandfather Sheikh Abdullah and father Farooq Abdullah. Five ministers -- Sakina Masood (Itoo), Javed Dar, Javed Rana, Surinder Choudhary, and Satish Sharma -- also took the oath of office. While Itoo and Dar are from the Kashmir valley, Rana, Choudhary and Sharma are from the Jammu region. The Congress said it will not join the Council of Ministers for the moment. JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra said the Congress will not join the council of ministers in J-K for the moment as it is unhappy that statehood has not been restored. INDIA bloc leaders attended the event in full strength. Among those who had gathered at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) were Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Left leaders Prakash Karat and D Raja, DMK's Kanimozhi and NCP's Supriya Sule. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also attended the event. Omar Abdullah's family, including his father Farooq Abdullah, his mother Molly Abdullah, his two sisters, and two sons were present on the occasion. Abdullah was earlier unanimously elected leader of the NC Legislature Party. His first term as chief minister was from 2009 to 2014 when Jammu and Kashmir was a full-fledged state. The National Conference won 42 out of the 90 seats in the recent elections while alliance partner Congress bagged six. Together, the two pre-poll allies hold a majority in the 95-member assembly -- five members are to be nominated by the LG. In 2019, the erstwhile state was bifurcated into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. (With inputs from PTI)
16 October,2024 02:14 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi expressed heartfelt wishes to the National Security Guard (NSG), on the occasion of the 40th Raising Day of the NSG, praising their unwavering dedication and bravery in safeguarding the nation. On the occasion of NSG Raising Day, India salutes all NSG personnel for their unwavering dedication, courage and determination in safeguarding our nation. Their commitment to protecting our nation against threats is admirable. They embody valour and professionalism.… pic.twitter.com/hrkPsPqmE0 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 16, 2024 In a message shared on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi stated, "On the occasion of NSG Raising Day, India salutes all NSG personnel for their unwavering dedication, courage and determination in safeguarding our nation. Their commitment to protecting our nation against threats is admirable. They embody valour and professionalism." Home Minister Amit Shah also took to social media to honour the NSG personnel and their families on NSG Raising Day. On NSG’s Raising Day, I extend my warm wishes to our @nsgblackcats personnel and their families.Living up to the motto of ‘Sarvatra Sarvottam Suraksha’, the NSG has consistently fortified national security with remarkable expertise in rapid response, tactical surprise, stealth… pic.twitter.com/ceRbWAg4hV — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 16, 2024 He remarked, "On NSG's Raising Day, I extend my warm wishes to our @nsgblackcatspersonnel and their families. Living up to the motto of Sarvatra Sarvottam Suraksha, the NSG has consistently fortified national security with remarkable expertise in rapid response, tactical surprise, stealth operations, and flawless accuracy. Salute to the bravehearts of the NSG who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty," posted the Home Minister on X. On the 40th Raising Day of National Security Guard, we salute the valor, dedication, and unwavering spirit of our brave soldiers. Their relentless efforts ensure the safety and security of our nation. We honor their service and commitment in defending India from all threats. Jai… pic.twitter.com/mVlVIJtRyN — Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) October 16, 2024 Union Minister Nitin Gadkari joined in and wrote in his X post, "On the 40th Raising Day of National Security Guard, we salute the valour, dedication, and unwavering spirit of our brave soldiers. Their relentless efforts ensure the safety and security of our nation. We honour their service and commitment to defending India from all threats. Jai Hind!" Saluting the bravery and excellence of NSG on their Raising Day!Warm wishes to all @nsgblackcats personnel and their families. We honor those who gave their lives for the nation. Proud of NSG's dedication to keeping India safe. pic.twitter.com/CDAmhCElpT — Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) October 16, 2024 BJP leader Anurag Thakur also paid tribute, tagging the personnel on X, he wrote, "Saluting the bravery and excellence of NSG on their Raising Day! Warm wishes to all@nsgblackcatspersonnel and their families. We honour those who gave their lives for the nation. Proud of NSG's dedication to keeping India safe." The National Security Guard under Amit Shah’s Ministry of Home Affairs is a Federal Contingency World Class Zero Error Force. It was established under the National Security Guard Act of 1986. Operational headquarters in Manesar, Haryana, the NSG is specifically designed to address anti-terrorist activities. They are equipped and trained for exceptional circumstances. The NSG has played a critical role in thwarting serious acts of terrorism and ensuring national security ever since its foundation. Their mottos is Sarvatra Sarvottam Suraksha. (With inputs from ANI)
16 October,2024 01:52 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentKarnataka minister Priyank Kharge highlighted the potential of increased employment in the gaming industry and long-term benefits to the economy by providing a regulatory framework to it. Kharge attended the Indian Gaming Convention (IGC) in Taj Palace, New Delhi on Tuesday. He highlighted that the market for the gaming industry in the country is estimated to be around Rs 16,500 crore and has the potential to grow much more. "Our market is estimated to be close to around Rs 16,500 crores and in the next four to five years it has great potential to reach up to Rs 34,000 crores. Directly and indirectly, it can create another 2,50,000 jobs in this sector," he told ANI. He further said that if a regulatory framework could be provided to the industry, then it will be possible to generate more employment and will also benefit the economy in the long run. "If we can provide a regulatory framework for the gaming industry, I am sure it will create a lot of jobs and will benefit the economy in the long run. I think the central government and state government need to take this seriously. (They should) push more for responsible gaming, push more for skilling in this sector, provide a conducive environment. As of now India has around 44 crore gamers, and we have more than 2000 startups in this sector. This will create jobs and benefit the economy in the long run," he said. Calling Karnataka the "innovation and skilling capital of the country," he also highlighted the various centres for animations, visual effects etc., which have been set up in the state. "Karnataka is the innovation and skilling capital of the nation. We have set up centres of excellence in animation, visual effects, graphics. We are also looking at a gaming accelerator. So by default since we are the technology capital we also become the gaming capital. We intend to anchor skilling and innovation in this sector, probably in the next 2-3 years you will see a lot of global IPs being produced from the state," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 October,2024 12:54 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIThe Delhi High Court has granted a regular bail to an accused in a case of abduction and murder of a man for property in Greater Kailash in November 2019. The accused has been in custody since December 2019. Justice Anish Dayal granted bail to accused Hitesh Pratap Singh Chauhan considering his conduct in custody, his long incarceration and that the case is at the stage of evidence and all important witnesses have been examined. "In light of the above, and that the trial in the matter is likely to take some time, and it would not be prudent to keep the petitioner behind bars for an indefinite period, this Court finds it to be a fit case for grant of bail to the petitioner," Justice Dayal said in the order dated October 14. The accused petitioner has filed the plea for regular bail in the matter. The petitioner is directed to be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety of the like amount subject to the satisfaction of the Trial Court, the HC said. The accused's father was also arrested in this case, which was registered in the police station Greater Kailash -1. A chargesheet in the case was filed under sections related to abduction, murder, destruction of evidence and criminal Conspiracy. As per the prosecution, on November 16, 2019, one person Shashi Kiran Sharma came to the Police Station and reported that her brother Arun Kumar Sharma had left his residence to attend a court hearing in Gurugram on November 15, 2019. He was scheduled to meet his lawyer at M.G. Road Metro Station, but he was missing ever since. On the basis of the complaint, an FIR under Section 365 (kidnapping) of Indian Penal Code was registered. During the investigation it was revealed that Arun Sharma and Rishi Raj Pal Singh Chauhan have known each other for a long time. The complainant had stated that in 2009 differences arose between them and both of them claimed ownership of the property and this dispute reached the Supreme Court of India. In September 2019 the Supreme Court passed an order in favour of the deceased Arun Sharma. On November 15, 2019 the execution proceeding regarding the said property was listed before Gurugram Court. During further investigation, CCTV footage of some houses in the vicinity of the victim's house was collected. The images of two suspects and a white Mahindra Scorpio car was captured on CCTV footage. The registration number of the Mahindra Scorpio car was found to be fake as the number pertained to another car. Further, co-accused Rishi Raj Pal Singh Chauhan and Hitesh Chauhan were called for interrogation and during that they admitted to their involvement in the gruesome crime. It is alleged that the Investigation revealed that they had engaged three persons namely, Amet Vikram Chhabra, Priyank Khanna (alias Prince) and Sahil Kumar Bunty to kidnap and eliminate Arun Sharma. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 October,2024 12:40 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIResident doctors from various major hospitals in Delhi are set to protest outside Bengal Bhawan in the national capital on Wednesday. This demonstration aims to demand justice for a trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, reported news agency PTI. The protest was organised by the Joint Delhi Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) Action Committee, which announced the event late Tuesday night. The participating resident doctors are from AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital, GTB Hospital, Maulana Azad Medical College, and Lady Hardinge Medical College, with the protest scheduled for 6 pm on Wednesday. This protest is part of a larger movement that began on August 12 with a nationwide strike against the tragic incident involving the trainee doctor. The strike lasted until August 22 as it was temporarily halted after the Supreme Court assured that justice would be expedited, RDA stated. However, the investigation has "stalled" with no action taken report (ATR) shared publicly, as was highlighted during a recent Supreme Court hearing, a statement by RDA said, stated PTI. The RDA emphasised that this case has spotlighted the safety of healthcare workers, particularly female doctors. An RDA representative stated, "We suspended our strike in good faith, trusting the process, but now we feel betrayed." "The lack of communication and delayed action shows an alarming lack of sensitivity toward our safety concerns," the representative said. During a hearing on August 20, the Supreme Court established a National Task Force (NTF) to address safety issues within healthcare settings. An interim report was expected within three weeks, with a final report due within two months. However, over 50 days have passed without any updates, leading to frustration among resident doctors who feel their concerns are being overlooked, the statement said. The statement from the RDA also criticised the West Bengal government for failing to reassure protesting junior doctors, many of whom are currently on a hunger strike. The Joint Delhi Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) Action Committee plans to hold a press conference on Thursday to discuss these pressing issues. They have made it clear that if any harm comes to healthcare workers as a result of this ongoing protest, they will withdraw from both elective and emergency services and hold the appropriate authorities accountable, the statement said. The junior doctors at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata have been protesting since August 9 following the alleged rape and murder of their colleague. After initially ceasing work for 42 days and ending their stir on September 21 due to government assurances, they resumed protests with a hunger strike on October 5 when their demands went unaddressed. However, on October 5, the junior medics began a hunger strike at the Dorina Crossing in Dharmatala in the heart of Kolkata, claiming that the West Bengal government did not fulfil their demands. The doctors' key demands include securing justice for the murdered medic, immediate removal of Health Secretary NS Nigam, accountability for alleged administrative incompetence and action against corruption in the department. Other demands include a central referral system, better hospital infrastructure, bed vacancy monitoring, and improved on-call rooms and washrooms. Additionally, they seek increased police protection in hospitals, recruitment of permanent women police personnel, the swift filling of healthcare workers, and the formation of task forces to ensure essential provisions for CCTV. (With inputs from PTI)
16 October,2024 12:36 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentNational Conference leader Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister on Wednesday, the first elected government in the union territory since 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to Abdullah, who takes over as Jammu and Kashmir chief minister for a second term and is the third generation of the Abdullah family to occupy the office -- after his grandfather Sheikh Abdullah and father Farooq Abdullah. Five ministers were also sworn in. INDIA Bloc leaders attended the event in full strength. Among those who had gathered at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) were Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Left leaders Prakash Karat and D Raja, DMK's Kanimozhi and NCP's Supriya Sule. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also attended the event. Abdullah has been unanimously elected leader of the NC Legislature Party. His first term as chief minister was from 2009 to 2014 when Jammu and Kashmir was a full-fledged state. The National Conference won 42 out of the 90 seats in the recent elections while alliance partner Congress bagged six. Together, the two pre-poll allies hold a majority in the 95-member assembly -- five members are to be nominated by the LG. In 2019, the erstwhile state was bifurcated into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Omar Abdullah on Wednesday offered floral tributes at the Mazar-e-Anwar of "Sher-e-Kashmir" Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, in Srinagar ahead of his swearing-in ceremony. Omar Abdullah's grandfather, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, was the first Prime Minister of JK after its accession to India and later served as Chief Minister. Omar's father Farooq Abdullah has been the CM of the erstwhile state thrice. Speaking after he offered prayers Omar Abdullah said his government has a lot to do for the people of the region. "We have a lot to do. We have to give people the hope that this is their government and they will be heard. They have not been heard for the last 5-6 years. It will be our responsibility to listen to them and act on it," he said, reported ANI. "I have some strange distinctions. I was the last chief minister to serve a full six-year term. Now I'll be the first chief minister of the Union territory of J&K. The last distinction, as in the one of serving six years, I'm quite happy about. I hope that the status of a union territory is a temporary one. We look forward to working in cooperation with the government of India to resolve the people's problems and the best way to do that would be to start by restoring statehood to J&K, " he added, reported ANI. This will be the first elected government in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of the former state into two Union Territories. Omar, a former Member of Parliament was the Chief Minister of the erstwhile state between 2009-2015. He had also served as Union Minister of State for External Affairs in former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA government from 2001 to 2002. Jammu and Kashmir have been under Presidential rule since 2018 after the Bharatiya Janata Party withdrew its support from the coalition government with Mehbooba Mufti-led People's Democratic Party (PDP). (With inputs from PTI and ANI)
16 October,2024 12:12 PM IST | Srinagar | mid-day online correspondentAhead of his oath-taking ceremony as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday that he "looks forward" to working in cooperation with the government of India but being the CM of a Union Territory has its challenges, reported news agency ANI. In an interview with ANI, Omar emphasised restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. "I have some strange distinctions. I was the last chief minister to serve a full six-year term. Now I'll be the first chief minister of the Union territory of J-K. The last distinction, as in the one of serving six years, I'm quite happy about. Being a CM of a Union Territory is a different matter altogether. It has its own challenges. I hope that the status of a union territory is a temporary one. We look forward to working in cooperation with the government of India to resolve the people's problems and the best way to do that would be to start by restoring statehood to J-K," Omar Abdullah told ANI. Omar Abdullah said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have faced difficult times and have high expectations from the new government. "Jammu Kashmir has gone through difficult times. People have many expectations and our challenge is to live up to them. We have a lot to do. We have to give people the hope that this is their government and they will be heard. They have not been heard for the last 5-6 years. It will be our responsibility to listen to them and act on it," Omar stated. Omar Abdullah is set to take his oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. The ceremony will be officiated by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who will administer the oath of office to Abdullah along with his council of ministers. Prominent leaders from the INDIA bloc, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Supriya Sule, Prakash Karat, and Kanimozhi, will attend Omar's oath-taking ceremony, with welcoming posters displayed outside Srinagar airport. This marks the first elected government in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent reorganisation into two Union Territories. The Congress-National Conference alliance secured 48 seats in the recent Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, with NC winning 42 seats and Congress claiming six. There had been Presidential rule in Jammu and Kashmir since 2018 until recently, as the Bharatiya Janata Party withdrew its support from the coalition with Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party. The recent revocation of Presidential rule has paved the way for this new government formation in the Union Territory. (With inputs from ANI)
16 October,2024 11:11 AM IST | Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India | mid-day online correspondentAirbus A-300-600ST Super Transport also known as Beluga Airbus takes off from Kolkata Airport today after a crew rest stop. Only 5 such aircrafts have been built and are running in the entire world. Beluga is a specialised wide-body airliner used to transport aircraft parts and outsize cargoes. It received the official name of Super Transporter early on, but its nickname, after the beluga whale, which it resembles, gained popularity and has since been officially adopted. Airbus A300-600ST Super Transporter, also known as the Beluga, took off from Kolkata Airport yesterday after a crew rest stopCredits: Source at Kolkata airport#Beluga #Airbus #Kolkata #KolkataAirport #Aviation pic.twitter.com/ms9ossAsFD — Mid Day (@mid_day) October 16, 2024 Due to Airbus's manufacturing facilities being dispersed, the company had a long-term need to transport sizeable components, such as wings and fuselage sections, to their final assembly lines. In addition to its primary task of conveying Airbus components, the Super Transporter fleet has occasionally been used for charter flights, carrying outsized cargoes for various purposes, from whole helicopters to industrial equipment and humanitarian aid.
16 October,2024 09:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariThe Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the Supreme Court that the investigation in the rape and murder case of a doctor working at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata was going on with "utmost seriousness". Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, submitted the fifth status report of the agency before a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. "Investigation was going on in the matter with utmost seriousness. The charge sheet in the matter was filed on October 7 against accused Sanjay Roy and a Sealdah court has taken cognisance," he said. The top court observed that the CBI report indicated that the agency was probing the role of other persons as a part of its ongoing investigation and sought a further status report within three weeks. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 October,2024 08:50 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesOpposition MPs on Tuesday walked out of a meeting of the joint committee on the Waqf Bill, alleging derogatory remarks against them by a BJP member. Opposition members, including Kalyan Banerjee, Gaurav Gogoi, A Raja, Mohamed Abdulla and Arvind Sawant, stormed out of the meeting of the parliamentary panel, which was hearing a presentation from representatives of the Ministry of Minority Affairs on the bill. The opposition members rejoined the meeting after staying away for nearly one hour. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 October,2024 08:45 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
