Wellington [New Zealand], Novb 18: The first game of the three-match T20I series between India and New Zealand officially has been abandoned due to heavy rain at Sky Stadium in Wellington without a single ball being bowled on Friday.
India’s tour of New Zealand starts with a washout, with both teams eager to move on from their World Cup exits. Both teams will move to Mount Maunganui for Sunday’s second T20I of the three-match series.
The play was eventually called off just after 20:51 (Local Time). Following the three-match T20I series, New Zealand and India will be squaring off against each other for a three-match ODI series, starting from November 25. The 2nd T20I between New Zealand and India will be held at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on Sunday while the 3rd T20I will take place on Tuesday at Mclean Park, Napier.
There was approx a 90 per cent of chance at 7 PM Wellington Time that the match was scheduled to begin at 12:00 PM IST. The rain gets significantly increased as the day progressed and left no option for the umpires to call off the match.
Team India were hoping to put the disappointment of their departure from the T20 World Cup behind them against New Zealand in the first of three T20 Internationals on Friday. Like India, New Zealand too were eliminated in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup after bagging the top spot in their group.
New Zealand’s transition into a new era as their selectors opted against picking two of their stalwarts in Martin Guptill and Trent Boult, the latter because he no longer has a central contract.
There have been opportunities for people like Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, and Umran Malik, among others in Indian team. Shubman Gill is another young person who has been selected for the team.
India squad for New Zealand T20Is: Hardik Pandya (C), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson (wk), W Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umran Malik.
New Zealand squad for T20Is: Kane Williamson (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee and Blair Tickner. (Agencies)
India vs New Zealand Highlights 1st T20: Match abandoned due to rain
Weeklong sports and cultural event commences in Bhadarwah Jail
By King RJ
Bhadarwah:- With an aim to de-stress the inmates and to inculcate sportsman spirt among them to help them make better human being, Jail authorities in collaboration with Department of Youth Services and Sports organising Weeklong sports and cultural competition for inmates in District Jail Bhadarwah, which commences here.
ADC Bhadarwah Dil Mir Choudhary was the chief guest and SP Bhadarwah Mohd Aftab Mir remain present as guest of honour on the occasion, while Superintendent District Jail Bhadarwah Mushtaq Malla presided over the function.
The weeklong event in which Volleyball, Circket, Luddo, Chess and Carom competition will be held was inaugurated by ADC Bhadarwah Dil Mir Choudhary along with other dignitaries. The 7 days event will be followed by musical bonanza for the inmates.
ADC Bhadarwah and SP Bhadarwah appreciated the efforts of jail authorities for providing such opportunities to jail inmates.
Superintendent District Jail Bhadarwah Mushtaq Malla said that the event is primarily aimed at to de-stress the inmates by involving them in sports and cultural activities, beside provide them a platform to showcase their talent. He also said that it’s also a part of reformation of prisoners. He highlighted that the Department is working towards making jails self-reliant and providing better living conditions and training facilities to the inmates.
Jail inmates also expressed their gratitude towards Superintendent District Jail Bhadarwah for the event and hope that such programmes would be organized in future also.
MCD elections: 1169 nominations rejected in scrutiny process
The Delhi State Election Commission informed that 1,169 nominations were cancelled after scrutiny for the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections.
The scrutiny of the nomination papers was carried out on Wednesday. In 65 cases, the final decision on the nomination was taken after supporting documents.
“As many as 65 cases, which required further adjudication under rule 22 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Election of Councilors) Rules, 2012 to adduce more supportive evidences to the claims of the contesting candidates in the proceedings that are of quasi-judicial in nature, have also been finally disposed of on Thursday,” stated MCD.
The State Election Commission received total 2,585 nominations, out of which 1416 nominations were found valid–674 male and 742 female. The Commission received nomination papers from 2021 candidates.
There are 250 valid candidates each from Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party. As per information, three nominations of Congress were cancelled in MCD elections, Congress will contest only on 247 seats.
The candidates were rejected eight grounds–incomplete nomination forms, proposers incomplete/ proposer of another ward, missing affidavits, multiple nominations, covering candidates, non-submission of valid caste certificate, invalid/incomplete form, and no security deposit.
“A total of Rs. 75,07,500 has been realized by the Commission on account of the nomination fee deposited by the candidates,” said the Commission.
The elections for the 250-ward Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will be held on December 4 while the counting of votes will be done on December 7.
The last date for withdrawal of nominations is November 19.
The polls to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on December 4 is shaping up to be a two-way contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which currently holds the civic reins in the national capital, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is in power in the state.
586 industrial plot allottees served cancellation notice
Jammu, November :
The J&K Industries and Commerce Department has issued cancellation notice to the 586 allottees of land under the industrial development scheme for not setting up their units. The allottees have failed to deposit the land premium and execute lease deed. If they fail to respond to the notice, their allotments will be cancelled, an official said. The step has been taken to provide opportunity to others in the queue.
The administration had in January 2021 announced the new industrial development scheme (IDS) with a total outlay of Rs 28,400 crore to encourage new investments. The land to these 586 investors was allotted by the State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) and the Small Scale Industrial Development Corporation (SICOP) at different locations across Jammu and Kashmir.
J&K SIDCO Managing Director Smita Sethi said, “There are 4,500 applications in queue for grant of allotment for setting up units in J&K.” If the existing allottees don’t respond, there are others in the queue, she added.
The cancellation notice states, “As per the terms and conditions of the said allotment orders, the allottees were required to deposit the land premium, execute lease deed and complete other formalities within 60 days from the date of issuance. However, some unit holders have failed…”
A show-cause notice was also served through email to the allottees. “They again failed to deposit the due amount and complete the necessary formalities,” the notice stated.
The notice further mentioned that as per the directions of the administrative department of Industries and Commerce on November 4, a final notice of 15 days was being served to the allottees. “Failing which it shall be presumed that they have nothing to say in their defence and the allotment order shall be deemed to have been cancelled or withdrawn ab-initio, if no convincing response is received during this period,” said Smita Sethi, SIDCO MD.
15 days to respond
The notice issued by the J&K Industries and Commerce Department states that the final notice of 15 days was being served and if they fail to respond, the allotment order would be deemed to have been cancelled.
Editors Guild expresses concern at recent threats to journalists in Kashmir
New Delhi, November 18
The Editors Guild of India on Friday expressed concern about the recent threats issued to journalists working in Kashmir, by alleged terror organisations, and the subsequent resignations of five journalists.
In a statement, it said the journalists in Kashmir find themselves in the firing line from both the state authorities as well as terrorists. Once again, media houses had been named by terror groups warning that those associated with well-known regional papers would be declared “traitors”, it added.
According to the statement, space for media freedom and active civil society has been steadily eroding in the region. It must be recalled that the editor of Rising Kashmir, Shujaat Bukhari, was killed in June 2018. The Kashmir Press Club, which had become an important institution for fighting for the protection and rights of journalists, was shut down earlier in the year, it said.
These pronouncements by terror bodies had further worsened the sense of fear and insecurity, making it impossible for the journalists to work freely, it added.
The Guild condemned such threats and called upon the state government to create an atmosphere of security and trust, wherein the media is not compelled to take sides.
India hits back as Pakistan rakes up Jammu and Kashmir at UN
United Nations, November 18
India has slammed Pakistan after it raked the Jammu and Kashmir issue during a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly on Security Council reforms, saying Islamabad’s desperate attempts to peddle falsehoods and its bad habit of abusing the sanctity of multilateral forums deserves the international community’s collective contempt.
The General Assembly held a plenary meeting on Thursday on the issue of UN Security Council reforms during which Pakistan yet again raked up the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I am taking the floor today to exercise India’s Right of Reply to respond to Pakistan’s continued abuse of this august Assembly,” Counsellor in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN here Pratik Mathur said.
Mathur said that while the UNGA is meeting to discuss the “extremely important” topic of UN Security Council reforms, the representative of Pakistan has yet again made “unwarranted references” to Jammu and Kashmir.
“Jammu and Kashmir, let me repeat once again for his benefit, remains an integral and inalienable part of India, irrespective of what the representative of Pakistan believes or covets. Pakistan’s desperate attempts to peddle falsehoods and a bad habit of abusing the sanctity of multilateral forums deserve our collective contempt and perhaps some sympathy as well,” Mathur said.
Earlier in the day, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj had addressed the plenary meeting, delivering a statement on behalf of the G4 nations of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan. She had asserted that the longer the Security Council reform is “stalled, the greater its deficit in representation. And representation is – an inescapable precondition for its legitimacy and effectiveness”.
The G4 nations said the Inter-Governmental Negotiations process simply cannot be allowed to cocoon itself in perpetuity without letting the collective aspirations of the member states take a definite shape. “We hope this year’s IGN process will not be another missed opportunity,” Kamboj had said.
DDC asks telecom companies to improve connectivity
Rajouri: District Development Commissioner Rajouri, Vikas Kundal today chaired a meeting with the officers and representatives of telecom companies to review the telecom services being provided in the district.
The DC said that there was a dire need to improve the connectivity in the border areas of the district to mitigate the sufferings of the public as poor connectivity has become an impediment in the way of progress in these areas.
The DDC directed the telecom service providers to make the best use of existing infrastructure and create additional infrastructure in the district to improve connectivity. He further asked them to provide quality telecommunication services to the public.
He also instructed the concerned officers to submit the list of shadow zones within the shortest possible time so that necessary steps can be taken to provide better connectivity to all such areas of the district.
The DDC also directed the telecom operators to resolve all the administrative and technical inter-organisational issues and ensure that the shadow areas have services at par with other areas of the UT.
Officers who attended the meeting included ADC Rajouri, Sachin Dev Singh; CPO, Mohammad Khurshid; Tehsildars and representatives of telecom companies.
“Even a single attack is one too many”: PM Modi at anti-terror conference
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stressed that all terrorist attacks deserve equal outrage and action and noted that the intensity of the reaction to the various attacks cannot be based on its place of occurrence.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came while addressing the third Ministerial Conference on Countering Financing of Terrorism in the national capital.
“We consider that even a single attack is one too many. Even a single life lost is one too many. So, we will not rest till terrorism is uprooted. Significant that this conference is happening in India. Our country faced horrors of terror long before world took serious note of it. Over the decades terrorism in different forms tried to hurt India but we’ve fought terrorism bravely,” he said.
The Prime Minister also underlined the need to strike at the “root of terror financing”.
“Nobody likes an area that is constantly under threat. And due to this, the livelihood of people is taken away. It is all the more important that we strike at the root of terror financing,” PM Modi said.
He said that there is no place for “ambiguous approach while dealing with a global threat” calling terrorism an attack on humanity, freedom and civilization.
“In today’s world, ideally, there should be no need for anyone to remind the world of the dangers of terrorism, However, there are still certain mistaken notions about terrorism in some circles. The intensity of the reaction to various attacks cannot be based on where it happened. All terrorist attacks deserve equal outrage and action. Further, sometimes, there are indirect arguments made in support of terrorism to block action against terrorists. There is no place for an ambiguous approach while dealing with a global threat. It is an attack on humanity, freedom and civilization,” PM Modi said.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) said the conference will offer a unique platform for participating nations and organizations to deliberate on the effectiveness of the current international regime on Counter Terrorism Financing as well as steps required to address emerging challenges.
The conference will build on the gains and learnings of the previous two conferences held in Paris in April 2018 and in Melbourne in November 2019. It will also work towards enhancing global cooperation to deny finances to terrorists and access to permissive jurisdictions to operate.
“It will be attended by about 450 delegates from across the world, including Ministers, Heads of Multilateral organisations and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Heads of Delegations,” the PMO said.
During the Conference, deliberations will be held in four sessions which will focus on ‘Global Trends in Terrorism and Terrorist Financing’, ‘Use of Formal and Informal Channels of Funds for Terrorism’, ‘Emerging Technologies and Terrorist Financing’ and ‘International Co-operation to Address Challenges in Combating Terrorist Financing’.
PM Modi earlier today inaugurated the conference while Union Home Minister Amit Shah will conclude the event, conveying India’s determination in its fight against terrorism and its support systems for achieving success against it.
On Thursday, India said that confirmation from China is still awaited while Pakistan and Afghanistan are not participating in the international event.
However, a total of 78 countries and multilateral organisations, including Ministers from 20 countries, have confirmed their presence at the two-day conference being organised on November 18 and November 19 here in the national capital.
Rains, snowfall expected in J&K over weekend: MeT
Srinagar, Nov 18: The meteorological department has predicted light to moderate rains in plains and snowfall over higher reaches over the weekend while the mercury plunged to sub-zero levels at many places in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh on Friday.
MeT officials said that barring Banihal, all places in J&K and Ladakh recorded below than normal temperatures.
Quoting a MeT official, news agency GNS reported that Srinagar recorded a low of 0.4°C against 1.2°C on the previous night. The temperature was 0.8°C ‘below’ normal for the summer capital during this time of the year, he said.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 0.4°C against 3.6°C on the previous night. The temperature was 1.7°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at minus 4.2°C against minus 3.4°C on the previous night and it was 3.0°C below normal for the south Kashmir resort, he said.
Kokernag recorded a low of 0.6°C against 3.1°C on the previous night and it was 1.7°C below normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against 3.6°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.7°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 1.4°C against minus 0.1°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.9°C above normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 10.0°C against 10.7°C on the previous night. It was 3.4°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 6.6°C (2.5°C above normal), Batote 4.9°C (1.3°C below normal), Katra 9.4°C (2.0°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 1.7°C (1.5°C below normal).
In Ladakh, Kargil recorded a low of minus 8.1°C, Leh minus 10.1°C and mercury in Drass, the world’s second coldest place after Siberia, settled at minus 13.2°C, the official said.
While mainly dry weather has been forecast today, “cloudy with possibility of light to moderate rain in plains and snowfall at scattered places over higher reaches” has been forecast on Nov 19 and 20.
“There is no forecast of any major snow spell till the end of November,” he added.
J-K: DGP Dilbag Singh holds high level review meeting; directs officers for quality probe in NDPS, UAPA cases
Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], November 18 (ANI): To review the progress of “targets and goals” set for the Jammu zone in the Union Territory, the J-K police on Thursday held a review meeting on different fronts for the year 2022.
This review meeting was chaired by the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh at the police headquarters.
In the meeting, the DGP lauded the officials at each level for achieving the pre-set targets and goals that were set for this year (2022) and emphasised: “they need to contribute more by conducting supervisory meetings and by ensuring closer supervision of important cases, especially the cases of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances or Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for better results for the remaining period of the year.”
The DGP further advised the officials to improve the quality of investigation and prosecution to increase convictions.
He also impressed upon officers to identify more investigating officers and train them to deal with the increasing number of cases. He said that investigators have to equip themselves with the best investigation skills and take each and every necessary measure to ensure conviction of UAPA, Narco and other sensitive cases in the courts of law.
DGP Dilbag Singh also directed the officers to augment measures for improving the capability of personnel in dealing with Narco and UAPA cases.
As per an official release from Police media centre, DGP Singh then referred to the directions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and flagged that the drug menace has emerged as a big threat as the ill-gotten money from the drug trade is being used for terror activities.
While pushing the officers for pacing up and improving the quality of the NDPS’ investigation for increasing the rate of conviction, DGP Singh also impressed to work on mission mode on the two fronts of NDPS and UAPA.
He directed the officials to destroy the drug-related crops and advised district officers to initiate the seizure of properties raised by drug proceeds.
Highlighting the need for establishing Pairvy cells at the district, range and zonal levels, the DGP exhorted the officers to ensure that the police witnesses are well prepared for deposing in the courts. He directed the officers to dispose of the pending cases on the basis of their sensitivity in the shortest time possible.
Referring to the bovine (cattle) smuggling, here, the DGP said, “it is an organised crime and there is a need to break the nexus further.” He directed officers to put more effort to identify the main culprits behind the nexus and take strenuous action against the ones involved.
The DGP also asserted that the Police Headquarters was ready to support with all the assistance that is needed to improve the quality of investigation and Police personnel’s work.
He also directed the officers to increase the range of activities under the Civic Action Programme, particularly in border areas to provide the youth here with various platforms. He impressed upon officers to visit border areas frequently to review the Border outposts functioning.
Singh, later, directed the officers to review records of history sheeters from time to time and open files of the persons found in illegal and anti-social activities and publicise such police work.
He also reviewed the Savera Scheme for the Next of Kin (NoKs) of the martyrs and directed the officials to update the family’s database and hold regular visits to them. He also emphasized exploring the possibilities to introduce welfare schemes for their children.
The proceeding of the meeting and the PowerPoint presentation was made by AIG (T&P) J S Johar.
This meeting was attended by ADGP Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh; ADGP Headquarters PHQ, M. K. Sinha; ADGP Coordination PHQ, Danesh Rana; IGP Headquarters PHQ, B.S Tuti; DPT J&K Shridhar Patil; SSP Jammu Chandan Kholi; all the AIGs of PHQ and other gazetted officers of PHQ attended the meeting at the Police Headquarters.
Meanwhile, range DIGs of Jammu Zone, Sunil Gupta, Vivek Gupta, Mohammad Suleman Choudhary, Dr Mohammed Haseeb Mughal; District SSPs of Jammu Zone attended the meeting through video conferencing. (ANI)