INDIA

Imphal, Oct 30 (IANS) At least 129 more people tested positive for dengue, taking the total number of vector-borne cases to 3,594 this year, officials said on Thursday. According to a report released by S. Priyokumar Singh, State Malaria Officer (National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme), at least 3,594 people have tested positive for dengue in the state this year, while a patient died in the state's Bishnupur district.Singh, in his report, said that they have been following the guidelines of the central National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) in curbing the outbreak of dengue in the state since January.According to a report by the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control under the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry, 2,463 cases of dengue were reporte...

Thiruvananthapuram Oct 30 (IANS) The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) has accused the state government of turning a blind eye to the long-pending demands of medical college doctors, even as the Cabinet announced a slew of welfare measures in its latest meeting.The association on Thursday said the continued neglect of medical college doctors — who shoulder both patient care and teaching responsibilities — was “deeply unjust” and warned of launching an indefinite strike if the government failed to intervene.KGMCTA said none of its key demands had been addressed despite repeated assurances.These include rectifying anomalies in the entry-level pay structure, clearing arrears from the 2016 pay revision, creating new teaching and medical posts in recently establ...

Bengaluru, Oct 30 (IANS) The Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) on Thursday stayed the suspension order issued against a Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) for participating in a foot march organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).The KAT stayed the order suspending PDO Praveen Kumar, who had been penalised for taking part in the RSS foot march held in Lingasagur, Raichur district. Challenging the order, Praveen Kumar approached the tribunal, contending that his suspension was unlawful and driven by political pressure.Senior counsel Prabhuling Navadgi represented Kumar before the tribunal.Welcoming the KAT’s decision, BJP Yuva Morcha National President and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya said, “The unilateral suspension order issued against PDO Praveen Kumar for participat...

Mumbai, Oct 30 (IANS) In a dramatic rescue operation, a social media channel owner was disarmed of an air gun and detained to free 20 children held “hostage” by him after an audition round at R A Studio in Mumbai’s Powai on Thursday, a police official said.Rohit Arya had taken the children hostage and circulated a video as part of a plan to force certain individuals to speak to him, failing which he threatened to set the studio building and the hostages on fire, the police said.The Mumbai Police were alerted after some of the hostages, who attend acting classes on the first floor, managed to wave at passersby and seek help.The drama ended after senior police officials engaged Arya, who they suspect is mentally unstable, in talks and stormed the premises, said a police official.“All child...

New Delhi, Oct 30 (IANS) India on Thursday highlighted its ongoing cooperation with Afghanistan on water matters, calling the Salma Dam as a "perfect example" of this long-lasting partnership between the two nations.Addressing a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal recalled Afghanistan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi's recent visit to India, stating that the joint statement mentioned India's readiness to support Afghanistan's efforts towards sustainable management of water resources including hydro-electric projects."We had the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan. He visited India recently as part of the visit, we had issued a joint statement between both countries. This particular joint statement clearly ...

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 30 (IANS) Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty has launched a scathing attack on CPI leaders, accusing them of disrespectful conduct and "crossing limits" in their criticism over the PM SHRI school project controversy.The minister's outburst marks a fresh flare-up within the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), even after both parties announced a truce on the issue.Sivankutty said CPI leader and State Food Minister G.R. Anil had publicly "insulted" him despite his courtesy visit to the party's state headquarters to brief CPI Secretary Binoy Viswam on why Kerala had initially agreed to join the Central government's PM SHRI scheme."I had called Anil before visiting the office. Yet, he made belittling remarks to the media, questioning even the principle of Cabinet ...

Thiruvananthapuram Oct 30 (IANS) Kerala Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar on Thursday called for full public cooperation with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list, even as AICC general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi criticised the exercise, alleging that it could open the door for manipulation of electoral rolls.Inaugurating the SIR process at Raj Bhavan, Governor Arlekar urged officials to ensure that every eligible person in the State is included in the revised list.“All eligible persons should get the chance to vote. The revised electoral roll should be total, besides being more accurate and inclusive,” he said.The Governor appealed to the people to “wholeheartedly support and cooperate” with the voter revision drive, assuring all possible assistance fr...

Hyderabad, Oct 30 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday directed authorities to intensify relief efforts in Warangal town and other parts of the state affected by floods following heavy rains under the impact of Cyclone Montha.CM Revanth Reddy directed Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) to immediately send as many boats as necessary and to immediately move State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to various flood-hit districts.He also asked officials to take steps to utilize Hyderabad Disaster Response Force and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) personnel and flood relief equipment wherever necessary.The Chief Minister, who reviewed the situation through a video-conference from here, asked authorities concerned to immediately evacuate people in flooded a...

Srinagar, Oct 30 (IANS) J&K Education Minister, Sakina Itoo, said on Thursday that the government is committed to strengthening the fundamental education system.Sakina Itoo addressed the Orientation Program for capacity building of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) AAYAS (helpers) at J&K State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT), Bemina.Addressing the gathering, Minister Sakeena emphasised the government’s unwavering commitment to nurturing young minds through inclusive, child-centred, and play-based learning.She added that this orientation programme is a significant step towards strengthening the foundation of quality education in Jammu and Kashmir.The Minister highlighted that early education serves as the cornerstone for cognitive, emotional and social g...

Jaipur, Oct 30 (IANS) Persistent drizzle and fog blanketed large parts of Rajasthan on Thursday, ushering in a sharp wintry chill across several districts including Jaipur, Udaipur, Alwar, Sikar, and Karauli. The intermittent rainfall since morning caused a significant drop in temperature, while dense fog enveloped rural and semi-urban areas, reducing visibility on key highways and affecting vehicular movement.The Meteorological Department on Thursday issued a yellow alert for rainfall across 17 districts, warning of light to moderate showers accompanied by gusty winds in parts of the state.According to officials, the impact of a cyclonic system over the Arabian Sea became clearly visible from Wednesday, as southern and southeastern regions of Rajasthan witnessed widespread cloud formation...