Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has suspended two senior officials from the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) following the tragic deaths of 10 wild elephants over three days last week. The suspended officials include BTR Director Gaurav Chaudhary and the in-charge Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Fateh Singh Ninama, due to negligence in their duties.

CM Yadav stated that Chaudhary was suspended for keeping his mobile phone switched off and failing to return to duty from leave, despite directives from senior officials. Similarly, Ninama was suspended for not demonstrating the necessary leadership and responsibility during the investigation into the elephant deaths.

The unfortunate incidents occurred when four elephants died on Tuesday, four more on Wednesday, and two on Thursday. Only three elephants from the original herd of 13 have survived.

Preliminary investigations suggest the elephants may have died after grazing on pesticide-sprayed kodo millet crops, but the exact cause will be determined once forensic results of the viscera samples are received.

Ayodhya, Oct 30: The vibrant Deepotsav celebrations commenced in Ayodhya on Wednesday with a grand procession of over a dozen tableaux illustrating iconic scenes from the Ramayana. This year’s Deepotsav marks the eighth annual celebration and the first Diwali since the consecration of the Ram Temple earlier in January. The procession, featuring classical dance performances by artists from across India, paraded along the Ram Path and received a warm welcome from locals, who showered it with flower petals. “Representing our culture here feels truly blessed,” said Sakshi, a participant from Jammu and Kashmir. Participants expressed their joy at being part of this historic celebration. Vishal Sharma from Jammu and Kashmir shared his gratitude for joining the festivities after the temple’s consecration, while Iqbal Ansari, a litigant in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, said, “This is a moment of joy for everyone, and we’re celebrating alongside the community.” Later this evening, the Uttar Pradesh government aims to set a new world record by lighting over 28 lakh diyas along the Saryu River. To support this feat, orders have been placed with local artisans for the diyas, and arrangements have been made to host 5,000 to 6,000 visitors along the river’s ghats. Additionally, 40 jumbo LED screens have been installed to broadcast the event live. Adding to the cultural festivities, the Deepotsav will feature artistic performances from countries including Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Indonesia, along with a special staging of Ram Lila from Uttarakhand.

As global gold prices rise due to geopolitical tensions, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported that its gold reserves reached 854.73 metric tonnes as of September 30. Notably, 510.46 metric tonnes of this gold were held domestically, reflecting an increase of over 102 tonnes from 408 metric tonnes at the end of March this year.

The RBI’s “Half-Yearly Report on Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves: April-September 2024” revealed that of the total gold holdings, 324.01 metric tonnes are securely stored with the Bank of England and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), while 20.26 metric tonnes are held in gold deposits.

In terms of value, gold’s share in total foreign exchange reserves rose from 8.15% at the end of March 2024 to approximately 9.32% by the end of September. During this half-year period, India’s foreign exchange reserves increased significantly from $646.42 billion in March to $705.78 billion in September.

On a balance of payments basis (excluding valuation effects), foreign exchange reserves grew by $5.2 billion during April-June 2024, a decline compared to the $24.4 billion increase in the same period the previous year. Including valuation effects, reserves rose by $5.6 billion in April-June 2024, down from $16.6 billion a year earlier.

The RBI reported that its net forward asset (payable) stood at $14.58 billion at the end of September. From June 2023 to June 2024, external assets rose by $108.4 billion while external liabilities increased by $97.7 billion.

As of June 2024, the net International Investment Position (IIP) was negative at $368.3 billion, an improvement from the negative $379.0 billion recorded in June 2023, indicating a decrease in the gap between external liabilities and assets.

The foreign currency assets (FCAs), amounting to $617.07 billion at the end of September 2024, include a diversified portfolio. Of this total, $515.30 billion is invested in securities, $60.11 billion is deposited with other central banks and the BIS, and the remaining $41.66 billion consists of deposits with overseas commercial banks.

INDORE, Oct 30: A hoax bomb threat targeting Air India’s flight AI 636, traveling from Delhi to Mumbai via Indore, was reported on social media and subsequently investigated by local authorities. The Indore police in Madhya Pradesh have registered a case against an unidentified individual responsible for the threat.

The alarming message, claiming that a pipe bomb had been placed on the flight, was posted on an X social media account at 5:08 PM on Tuesday, shortly after the aircraft had departed from Indore at 4:38 PM, according to an officer from the Aerodrome police station.

Following a thorough investigation, Deputy Commissioner of Police Vinod Kumar Meena confirmed that the bomb threat was false. The police have filed a case against the anonymous individual under section 351(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation by concealing identity. Further investigations are ongoing.

Notably, over 100 flights operated by various Indian airlines received similar bomb threats on Tuesday. In the past 16 days, more than 510 domestic and international flights have faced such threats, which have all turned out to be hoaxes, primarily communicated through social media channels.