JAMMU, Nov 10: The Meteorological (MeT) department on Thursday forecast a generally cloudy sky with chances of light rain during the next 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir.
On Wednesday, the UT experienced inclement weather with widespread rain/snow.
“Generally cloudy sky with chances of light rain is likely in J&K during the next 24 hours”, an official of the MeT department said.
Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded 4.7 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 2.8 and Gulmarg minus 2 degree as the minimum temperature this morning.
Drass town in Ladakh region registered minus 3.4 degree, both Kargil and Leh 3.8, while
Jammu recorded 14.4 degrees, Katra 10.6, Batote 3.5, Banihal 4.6 and Bhaderwah 3.4. (AGENCIES)
Generally cloudy sky, light rain likely in J&K: MeT
Russia orders troops to withdraw from Ukraine’s Kherson
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered troops to withdraw from the western bank of Ukraine’s Dnipro River, meaning that the forces were retreating from Kherson — the first big city to fall to Moscow after it launched its invasion on February 24.
Shoigu announced the decision on state TV, with Russia’s commander in Ukraine, Gen Sergei Surovikin reporting on the situation on the ground in Kherson.
“It is appropriate to organise defence along the barrier border of the Dnipro River, on its left bank… The decision to defend the left bank of the Dnipro is not an easy one. At the same time, we will save the lives of our military and the combat capability of the troops,” Ukrayinska Pravda quoted Surovikin as saying.
“The manoeuvre of the troops will be carried out as soon as possible. The troops will occupy the prepared defensive positions on the left bank of the Dnipro,” he added.
The main part of the Kherson city is located on the right bank of the wide river, and Surovikin called it a difficult decision to withdraw but it would most importantly preserve lives and combat capability of the Russian forces.
He explained that although the Russian air defence has been successfully repelling Ukrainian shelling of Kherson, up to 20 per cent of the rockets can still hit targets and the city and nearby settlements cannot be fully supplied, reports Xinhua news agency.
Meanwhile, Shoigu demanded Surovikin to take all measures to ensure the safe relocation of the personnel, armaments and hardware behind the Dnieper River.
Following the withdrawal, Russian troops could be deployed to carry out offensives in other directions, Surovikin added.
He also claimed that Ukraine had lost 9,500 soldiers in the battles for Kherson, whilst Russia’s losses were apparently 7-8 times less.
But Ukrainian authorities have claimed that they see no signs of Russia retreating from Kherson without a fight.
“Actions speak louder than words. Ukraine sees no signs that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight. A significant part of the Russian troops remain in the city, and additional reserves are being sent into the region,” Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky, said in a social media post.
“Ukraine is liberating territories utilising intelligence data, not staged TV statements,” he added.
In his nightly address to the nation, Zelensky said the armed forces are moving forward “very cautiously, attentively, without undue risk” in order to liberate Ukrainian land with minimum losses.
“This is exactly how we are going to ensure the liberation of Kherson, Kakhovka, Donetsk, and other cities in our country. But this will be a result of our efforts, our defence operations.
“Those that are currently going on and those that we are still being planned,” he added.
Russian troops swept across southern Ukraine from annexed Crimea at the start of the war, seizing Kherson city in early March.
They also launched attacks in the south, east and north of the country, including surrounding the capital, Kiev.
In recent months, however, Ukraine’s forces have made significant advances.
This counter-offensive escalated in September, when Ukraine drove back Russian forces, retaking the cities of Izyum and Kupiansk, both key supply hubs for Moscow’s forces.
India believes in equality among countries: Rajnath
NEW DELHI: India does not believe in a world order where a few countries are considered superior to others, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday and noted that the possibility of a global framework could be envisaged if security becomes a truly collective enterprise.
In an address at the National Defence College, he also sounded a note of caution about cyber warfare and said it has increased the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
“I would like to tell you that conduct of our strategic policy should be moral. India does not believe in a world order where few are considered superior to others,” Singh said.
“India’s actions are guided by the very essence of human equality and dignity, which is a part of our ancient ethos and its strong moral foundations, give us our political strength. Even our freedom struggle was based on the bedrock of high moral values,” he noted.
His comments came amid increasing concerns over China’s aggressive military posturing along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as well as in the Indo-Pacific.
If security becomes a truly collective enterprise, “we can think of creating a global order which is beneficial to all of us”, the minister said.
Key infrastructure like power generation and distribution is increasingly becoming more complex and there is need for dealing with such challenges effectively, Singh said.
The energy sector, he added, is one of the main targets of cyber-attacks but it is not the only one; transport, public sector services, telecommunications and critical manufacturing industries are also vulnerable.
Singh emphasised that national security should not be considered a “zero-sum game” and that there is need to create a win-win situation for all. “We should not be guided by narrow self-interest which is not beneficial in the long run, but by enlightened self-interest which is sustainable and resilient to shocks,” he said.
The defence minister said a strong and prosperous India would not be built at the cost of others. “Rather, India is here to help other nations realise their full potential.”
“Our increasingly interconnected financial systems are also at great risk. You all must be aware that in February 2016, hackers targeted the central bank of Bangladesh and tried to steal 1 billion dollars. While most transactions were blocked, 101 million dollars still disappeared,” he said.
“This was a wake-up call for the finance world that cyber risks in the financial system had been severely underestimated. Today, the assessment that a major cyber-attack poses a threat to financial stability is not a question of if, but when.”
According to Singh, information warfare has the potential to threaten political stability.
“There is no account of how much fake news and hate material is likely to be brought in society through social media platforms. The organised use of social media and other online content generation platforms is being used for engineering the opinion or perspective of the masses,” he said.
“The deployment of information war was most evident in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Throughout the conflict, social media has served as a battleground for both sides to spread competing narratives about the war and portray the conflict on their own terms,” he observed.
LAHDC adopts resolution seeking constitutional safeguards for Ladakh
The BJP ruled Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) of Leh in a special session of the general council meeting on Wednesday passed a resolution seeking constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, protection of land and employment for youth.
The meeting was presided by LAHDC chairman TashiGyalson.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman, TseringAngchuk; EC RDD, Tashi Namgyal Yakzee; EC Minority Affairs, Ghulam Mehdi; EC Agriculture, StanzinChosphel; DC/CEO LAHDC Leh, Shrikant Suse; Leader of Opposition, Tsering Namgyal, and the Councillors representing different constituencies including Nominated Councillors.
Threadbare discussion took place on the two resolutions moved in the house, including the one moved by Executive Councillor for Agriculture, Stanzin Chosphel stating the need for a Constitutional safeguard for Ladakh under a suitable provision of the Indian Constitution as per the aspiration of the people of Ladakh and the other moved by Leader of the Opposition, Tsering Namgyal seeking Constitutional Safeguard on the lines of 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
After a detailed discussion, the house passed the resolution moved by Executive Councillor, StanzinChosphel thus seeking the Central Government’s intervention in fulfilling the aspiration of the people of Ladakh with the need for having safeguard for the protection of land, employment, socio-economy, culture, environment and trade.
Appreciating active participation of all the Councillors during the day-long session, CEC TashiGyalson said that every member of the house has shown his concern on the need for having a proper safeguard protecting the interest of the people of Ladakh in every sector, and further hoped that the Union Government under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Home Minister, Amit Shah would definitely take a major decision in the interest of the people of Ladakh in this regard.
It is worth mentioning that the LAHDC meeting has come days after the widespread protests across Ladakh organised by a joint action committee of all political parties, except BJP, seeking constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule, protection of land, employment for youth and protection of culture and heritage of Ladakh.
I-T raid held on premises of Jalandhar newspaper owner
Jalandhar, November 10
The Income Tax department raided the premises of industrialist and owner of Dainik Sawera newspaper Shital Vij here on Thursday.
His house and business premises were checked.
Details are awaited.
Gulmarg amasses 20cm fresh snowfall as mercury drops in J&K, Ladakh
SRINAGAR, Nov 10: Temperatures dropped in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday amid rainfall in plains and snowfall over higher reaches, officials of meteorological department(MeT) said.
Quoting an official of MeT, that the ski resort of Gulmarg received 20 cm of snowfall in the 24 hours ending 8:30 am today.
During the same time, he said, Srinagar received rainfall of 1.9mm, Qazigund 2.2mm, Pahalgam 4.6mm, Kupwara 10mm, Kokernag 0.6mm, Jammu 5.0mm, Banihal 8.2mm, Batote 12mm, Katra 15.2mm and Bhaderwah 22.4mm.
He said the temperatures also witnessed a fall in many parts of Kashmir.
Srinagar recorded a low of 4.7°C against 5.4°C on the previous night. The temperature was 2.9°C above normal for the summer capital during this time of the year, he said.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at 2.8°C against 2.9°C on the previous night and it was 3.9°C above normal for the south Kashmir resort.
Kokernag recorded a low of 3.7°C against 4.1°C on the previous night and it was 1.0°C above normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 2.0°C, the same as on the previous night and it was 2.2°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at 3.0°C against 4.7°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.7°C above normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.
Qazigund recorded a low of 5.0°C, the same as on the previous night – 3.1°C above normal.
Jammu recorded a low of 14.2°C against 14.6°C on the previous night. It was 0.2°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 4.6°C (normal), Batote 3.5°C (3.3°C below normal), Katra 10.6°C (below normal by 1.2°C) and Bhadarwah 3.4°C (below normal by 0.4°C).
In Kargil area of Ladakh, he said, mercury settled at minus 3.8°C, Leh saw a low of minus 1.1°C and Drass minus 3.4°C.
The weather department has forecast light to moderate rain or snowfall (over higher reaches) till November 11 forenoon but has ruled out possibility of any major rain or snowfall during the spell.
From November 12-16, he said, the weather is expected to be “fair to partly cloudy”. (Agencies)
India Logs 1,016 New Covid Cases In Last 24 Hours, Active Tally Dip To 13,187
New Delhi, Nov 10: India logged 1,016 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,46,63,968, while the active cases dipped to 13,187, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
The death toll climbed to 5,30,514 with three new fatalities — two in Maharashtra and one in Rajasthan –being reported in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.78 per cent, according to the ministry website.
A decrease of 372 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,20,267, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry’s website, 219.76 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year. It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year. (Agencies)
Crime Branch produces chargesheet against accused in Building permission fraud
SRINAGAR, Nov 10: The economic offence wing of Crime Branch Kashmir has produced chargesheet in a Srinagar court against a man posing as civil engineer to fraudulently mint money from a man on pretext of providing building permission in Jammu.
Quoting an official statement, that the Crime Branch filed the chargesheet under section 420 RPC against Rajinder Pandita alias Raju, at present a resident of Jammu, before the Court of Passenger Tax Srinagar.
The official said that the case had been registered upon receipt of written complaint, wherein it was alleged by the complainant that Rajinder Pandita deceived him dishonestly and fraudulently by inducing him to pay huge amount under the pretext of providing building permission from Jammu Municipal Corporation for construction over his land at Jammu.
“The Economic Offence Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir conducted investigation in the matter and during the course of investigation, it came to fore that Rajinder Pandita projected himself as Civil Engineer and fraudulently, dishonestly induced the complainant to pay huge amount for providing building permission and other formalities,” it read.
It said that the act omitted and committed have prima facie disclosed the commission of offence under section 420.
“The instant case stands registered against the accused person at Police Station Crime Branch Kashmir and accordingly Charge Sheet of the said case produced in the Court of Passenger Tax Srinagar,” it read. (KNO)
India’s progress in next 25 years will be tech driven: Jitendra Singh
SRINAGAR, Nov 10 : Union minister Jitendra Singh Wednesday said the progress of the country in the next 25 years will be technology driven and the sooner the youth of the country realise that the better it would be for the nation.
Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day ‘Kashmir Expo – start-up for livelihood’ event at SKICC here, Singh appealed to the youth to avail of unexplored start-ups.
“The entire progress and growth in the years to come is going to be technology-driven, and the sooner we understand this, the better for us,” said the Union Minister of State (Independent charge) in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
However, he said the country lacked a direction before Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.
“The paradox is that we had the potential, we had the capacity, but, we didn’t have the direction … There was no priority at the policy, planning level. That gap has been filled by Modi now with thinking that there is no alternative, no option without it in the future,” he said.
Singh, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, said the valley could be the hub of agri-tech start-ups, “because we have the resources which no other region has”.
“If you are not able to explore this, the deficiency lies somewhere with us,” he, however, added.
The MoS said the next 25 years are an opportunity for the people of the country.
“Our youth, who have the potential and the energy, will raise our flag high when the country will celebrate its 100th year of independence. God has gifted them and they should realise this. Whether we will be there or not after 25 years, we should feel satisfied that we performed our role – the role which was expected from us, in their capacity building,” he said.
He said when the prime minister announced the ‘Start Up India, Stand Up India’ campaign from the ramparts of Red Fort in 2015, a movement started across the country, but it did not gain speed in J-K.
“It means that there is a lack of information and that there is a need to change the mindset of the people. Our youth should realise that there is a world beyond government jobs and many opportunities have been provided by this government through which income of more than a government employee can be generated,” he said.
He said J-K and other hill states will play an important role in India’s economy in the next 25 years. (Agencies)
BJP CEC meeting discusses on 182 Gujarat Assembly seats, likely to release 1st candidates’ list on Thursday
A meeting of BJP’s Central Election Committee was held on Wednesday at the party headquarters in New Delhi for the upcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat scheduled to be held in two phases on December 1 and 5.
The CEC discussed and decided the names of 182 party candidates for the Gujarat polls. According to sources, the BJP is likely to release its first list of candidates for the Gujarat Assembly polls on Thursday.
Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the meeting was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat BJP Chief C.R. Patil, BJP National President J.P. Nadda, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, among others.
After former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and former Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, including several veteran leaders opted not to contest the state polls on their own, it is expected that BJP’s candidates’ list will include young party leaders this time as compared to the last state Assembly elections.
According to sources, in the marathon meetings held on Wednesday, it has been decided not to give party tickets to several other veteran leaders and induct young party leaders.
After concluding meeting of the Central Election Committee, Union Home Minister Shah also held a separate meeting with the Gujarat Chief Minister and Gujarat BJP Chief.
According to sources, the BJP is likely to announce the names of candidates to be chosen for 89 Assembly seats in the state for the first phase of election to be held on December 1 including nearly 100 candidates.
Polling is to be held on 89 Assembly seats in the state on December 1 and 93 seats on December 5. The last date for nominations for 89 assembly constituencies in the first phase of elections in the state is November 14 and November 17 is the last date for nominations for the 93 assembly seats to be held in the second phase on December 5.