Monday, November 8, 2021
Ghislaine Maxwell to challenge claims she groomed girls for Epstein to abuse
Lawyer’s letter made public on Monday outlines possible defence strategy to criminal charges against Maxwell, 59
Ghislaine Maxwell plans at her criminal trial to challenge prosecution claims that she “groomed” underage girls for the late financier Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse, and to offer testimony that her accusers might have faulty memories.
A letter from the lawyer Jeffrey Pagliuca, made public on Monday, outlines possible defenses to charges that Maxwell helped recruit and groom four underage girls for Epstein to abuse from 1994 to 2004, and engaged in sex trafficking of the fourth girl.
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Obama implores world leaders to ‘step up now’ to avert climate disaster
- Ex-president criticizes China and Russia for emissions failures
- ‘Images of dystopia start creeping into my dreams,’ Cop26 hears
Barack Obama has called on world leaders to “step up and step up now” to avert climate breakdown, singling out China and Russia for being foremost among countries that are failing to cut planet-heating emissions quickly enough.
Obama said that while progress has been made at the Glasgow climate talks, including significant pledges made by countries to reduce methane emissions and to end deforestation, “we are nowhere near where we need to be at” in cutting emissions and that “most nations have failed to be as ambitious as they need to be”.
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Minister ‘regrets’ bid to change standards rules to spare Owen Paterson
Steve Barclay seeks to heal rift between No 10 and furious Tory backbenches and senior ministers
A cabinet minister has expressed regret and admitted it was a mistake to try to spare a Tory MP from suspension by ripping up the standards system in a move that sparked a huge backlash from colleagues and the public.
Steve Barclay, the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, avoided directly apologising, but sought to heal the huge rift between Downing Street and both backbench Conservatives and senior ministers, who are still furious at the government’s actions last week.
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Cop26: African nations seek talks on $700bn climate finance deal
Negotiators say funding needed to speed up decarbonisation and help developing countries to adapt
African nations want Cop26 to open discussions this week on a mega-financing deal that would channel $700bn (£520bn) every year from 2025 to help developing nations adapt to the climate crisis.
Tanguy Gahouma-Bekale, the chair of the African Group of Negotiators on climate change, said the increased finance was needed for the accelerated phase of decarbonisation required to hold global heating to 1.5C.
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Chhattisgarh: CRPF jawan guns down four fellow troopers fast asleep in the barracks
Raipur: Four CRPF jawans were killed and three others injured after their colleague opened fire at them in a camp of the paramilitary force in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Monday. The incident took place around 3.15 am in the camp of CRPF’s 50th battalion in Linganpalli village under Maraiguda Police Station, located nearly 400 km from the state capital Raipur, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said.
As per preliminary information, constable Reetesh Ranjan fired at his colleagues with his service weapon, an AK-47 rifle, the official said. The seven injured jawans were immediately shifted to a hospital in nearby Bhadrachalam area of neighbouring Telangana, where doctors declared four of them dead on arrival, the official said.
Those killed were identified as constables Rajmani Kumar Yadav, Rajib Mondal, Dhanji and Dharmendra Kumar, he said, adding that three other injured personnel were being treated at the hospital.
“The motive behind the firing is yet to be ascertained and an investigation is on into the incident,” the official said. Constable Ranjan was immediately held and his interrogation is under way, he said. Sukma Superintendent of Police Sunil Sharma told PTI that Ranjan was scheduled to be on sentry duty at the camp from 4 am and after getting ready for it, he allegedly opened fire at his colleagues who were sleeping in a barrack. “Around 40 to 45 jawans were sleeping inside the barrack at that time. After all the bullets in Ranjan's rifle got exhausted, he was overpowered and captured by some of his colleagues who woke up on hearing the sound of gun shots,” the official said.
“As per preliminary information, Ranjan and the victims had been exchanging jokes and teasing each other for last two-three days. The accused might have been offended with the teasing and hence, took such a step,” Sharma said. However, the exact motive behind the incident will be known after an investigation, he said.
Two of the three injured jawans were being airlifted to Raipur for further medical assistance, while another jawan was undergoing treatment at Bhadrachalam, a statement from the Chhattisgarh government said. Of the deceased jawans, three belonged to Bihar and one was from West Bengal, it said.
In his condolence message, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel termed the incident as “unfortunate” and expressed grief over it. Baghel also asked police officers to take necessary steps to ensure such incidents do not recur. He instructed authorities to provide best treatment to the injured jawans.
With this incident, as many as 15 security personnel have died in five cases of fratricide in the state in last three years, according to police officials. In a similar incident on January 29 this year, a CRPF jawan was killed and another one injured after their colleague opened fire at them in their camp in the state's Bastar district. The offender had then tried to commit suicide by shooting himself, they said.
On May 29 last year, two Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) jawans were killed and another one injured after an assistant platoon commander of their unit opened fire at them at a camp in Narayanpur district.
On December 4, 2019, six Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) jawans were killed at the camp of 45th battalion of the paramilitary force in Narayanpur district in a similar incident.
In the wake of such incidents of fratricide and suicide, the Chhattisgarh Police in June last year launched a special campaign, titled 'Spandan', for security staff to overcome mental stress and depression.
source https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/chhattisgarh-crpf-jawan-guns-down-four-fellow-troopers-fast-asleep-in-the-barracks
IBM opens Client Innovation Center in Mysuru; its eighth in country
IBM announced the opening of its new IBM Client Innovation Center (CIC) in Mysuru, India to support the rapid, high-tech driven economic growth in the region and provide comprehensive hybrid cloud and AI technology consulting capabilities.
As an entrepreneurial start-up within IBM Consulting, the CIC specializes in design, software engineering and analytics. The CIC’s mission is to support clients in the transformation of their business by utilizing delivery capabilities throughout the entire system development life cycle, from design to architecture to creation, it said in a press release.
“Digital transformation is happening at an accelerated pace across Mysuru,” said Amit Sharma, Managing Partner, Worldwide Global Delivery. “The IBM CIC will play a key role in the digital transformation of the IT-ecosystem throughout the city and create new employment opportunities to foster the next wave of technology innovation.”
IBM CIC is looking to hire over 10,000 staff this quarter globally. This builds on double-digit hiring growth in its Global Delivery Centers already this year. This continued investment in talent will expand the company's skillsets in areas such as AI, intelligent workflows, application modernization and management, and hybrid cloud. New skills will serve to open-up new business streams and strengthen the IT industry ecosystem in the region through close collaboration with clients and partners including cloud solution and service providers, the press release added.
“This is a significant achievement of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) and its ‘Spoke-shore Strategy’ to attract companies to set up operations in Mysuru and other places under our Beyond Bengaluru initiative,” said Dr. Ashwath Narayana, Minister for Higher Education; IT & BT, Science & Technology; Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood. “With IBM’s contribution as a major employer, the state of Karnataka is destined to retain and grow as a global front-runner for digital services and developing new technologies,” he added.
IBM Consulting will now operate eight CIC locations, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, National Capital Region and Pune, across India.
source https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/ibm-opens-client-innovation-center-in-mysuru-its-eighth-in-country
Navi Mumbai: Man loses Rs 3.5 lakh in investment fraud
A Navi Mumbai resident lost Rs 3.25 lakh in his ambition to earn more by investing in an e-commerce venture. The complainant responded to a WhatsApp message from an unknown number which claimed good returns on investment. He filled in his bank details in a phishing link, later realising that the money got debited from his bank account.
The Nhava Sheva police said the complainant works in a private company at Vikhroli and resides in Ulwe. The complainant received the message on November 1, and was promised Rs 600 to Rs 900 as returns within two hours on investing a certain amount in e-commerce marketing.
A police officer said, the complainant, while filling his bank details, also linked his bank account to enable transaction mode. Initially, he received some returns on his investment. However, two days later, when he went to a grocery shop to make some purchases, he learnt there was no money in his bank account. On checking with the bank, he realised Rs 3.25 lakh had been siphoned off.
He approached the police after which a complaint was lodged on Friday under sections 34 (common intention), and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 66C (punishment for identity theft) and 66D (punishment for cheating by personation by using computer resource) of the Information Technology Act.
The police officer said they only have the WhatsApp number from which the fraud had taken place and the details of the account holder. We are probing further, he said.
source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/navi-mumbai-man-loses-rs-35-lakh-in-investment-fraud
Mumbai cruise drug case: Witness Prabhakar Sail appears before NCB
Prabhakar Sail, a witness in the cruise raid case on Monday appeared before the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) Special Enquiry Team (SET) to get his statement recorded in connection with the enquiry initiated by the agency following Sail's claim about alleged payoff following the raid.
According to the SET sources, Sail was issued a summon by the enquiry team asking him to get his statement recorded. In a notarized affidavit on October 23, Sail had stated that post-midnight after the raid, his employer KP Gosavi and one Sam D'Souza had traveled to Lower Parel bridge in their respective vehicles.
Sail in his affidavit claimed, "Till we reached Lower Parel, Gosavi was talking to Sam on the phone and stated that you put a bomb of 25 crores and let's settle at 18 final because we have to give 8 crores to Sameer Wankhede."
Sail added, "After a few minutes, a Mercedes arrived at the spot and I saw Pooja Dadlani come in that car. Sam, Gosavi, and Dadlani sat in the Mercedes and started talking, and then we left."
Sail also claimed in the said affidavit that Gosavi had asked him to visit Tardeo signal and collect Rs 50 lakh cash from someone. "I reached around 9:45 am at the said place where a car came and someone gave me two bags filled with cash," the affidavit stated.
Sail further claimed that he had given the said bags to Gosavi, who later asked him to deliver a bag, containing cash to Sam in a hotel in South Mumbai. As per Sail, when Sam counted the cash it was only Rs 38 lakh.
The SET on Monday visited the cruise terminal, where Sail and Gosavi were present, and then went to inspect the Lower Parel bridge area where Sail claimed Gosavi and Sam had met Dadlani. The SET team also visited the Tardeo signal where Sail had claimed that he was handed over the bags full of cash.
Deputy Director-General Gyaneshwar Singh of the NCB, who is heading the SET, said, "We had visited different places for inspection which are essential for the inquiry. The information related to the spots and their geography will help us in joining the dots in the inquiry and to link the evidence."
Meanwhile, the NCB's Special Investigation Team (SIT) which is probing the six high-profile cases earlier probed by the Mumbai NCB, on Monday had taken over the documents related to these cases.
Also Read: FPJ Legal: Drugs-on-cruise case witness KP Gosavi's police custody extended till November 9
source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-cruise-drug-case-witness-prabhakar-sail-appears-before-ncb
FPJ-Ed: IIT Bombay's cultural festival, Mood Indigo is going hybrid!
Mood Indigo, the cult festival at IIT-Bombay (IITB), will go hybrid this year and this is happening for the first time in its long history. Announcing the same primarily on social media, FPJ learnt that the decision was taken given the pandemic like situation still prevalent in the city.
Confirming this, overall coordinator of Mood Indigo, Pranjal Singh said that the fest is more about the vibe it generates than just being an event. "It is a cultural event and we wanted to do something that would maintain a balance between the Covid-19 restrictions as well as the cultural environment. So, we decided to make it happen in both-ways."
Hybrid basically means a combination of offline and online events. Which event will be offline has been discussed and considered viable after numerous discussions by the organizing committee. "There are some events like stand up, concerts, performances that can only happen offline and rest like games and activities can be organized offline. Hence, we came up with a plan on three levels. while some will be offline and online, a few will be exclusively kept for either of the platforms."
IITB also released a teaser on Instagram today which specifically talks about the efforts that have gone into the make the impending festival different and vibrant. Mood Indigo hopes that this festival will herald happy days for the city the event having earned an iconic status over the years.
Also Read: Mumbai: About 2,000 students back on IIT-B campus after 10 months
source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/fpj-ed-iit-bombays-cultural-festival-mood-indigo-is-going-hybrid
Sunday, November 7, 2021
Madhya Pradesh: Infant found under ambulance at district hospital in Morena
Morena (Madhya Pradesh): An infant girl was found under the ambulance parked in the district hospital premises of Morena district on Sunday.
The people passing nearby heard the sound of the baby's cry and informed the administration of the district hospital. After that the child was admitted in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the hospital.
Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Pediatrician of the District Hospital says that the child was born on Sunday morning. The weight of the newborn baby was 779 grams, which is much less than a normal baby. The condition of the girl is bad, she has issues with breathing and the heartbeat count is also reported less than usual. The treatment of the baby is going on, he added.
Notably, two newborn girls have been found in the district hospital before this. Once someone was left near the bathroom and the other time near the water cooler. There are CCTV cameras installed in the hospital though such incidents are being reported.
The district emergency management has also informed the City Kotwali police station about the incident.
Also Read: Madhya Pradesh: Man booked for giving triple talaq to wife over phone for dowry
source https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/madhya-pradesh-infant-found-under-ambulance-at-district-hospital-in-morena
FPJ Legal: Lahore court acquits 6 leaders of Hafiz Saeed's JuD in terror financing case
Pakistan's Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday acquitted six leaders of Hafiz Saeed-led Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD), the front organisation for the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack, in a terror-financing case.Lashkar-e-Taiba orchestrated the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed more than 160 people.
According to Dawn, the trial court had sentenced nine-year imprisonment to each Prof Malik Zafar Iqbal, Yahya Mujahid, Nasrullah, Samiullah and Umar Bahadur while Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki had been awarded a six-month jail term.
"The appellants challenged their conviction before a division bench of the LHC comprising Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti and Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh. Their counsel argued that the prosecution failed to prove the charge against the appellants beyond a reasonable doubt. He said the trial court had not appreciated the evidence properly which had caused the serious miscarriage of justice," Pakistani media reported.
He argued that the Al-Anfaal Trust, of which the appellants were members, had no nexus with the proscribed Lashkar-i-Taiba (LeT).
The counsel contended that there was not a whit of evidence that the appellants engaged in any activity that supported the objectives of the LeT or other such organization. He said the appellants had already disassociated them from the trust way back in the mid 2000s, Dawn reported.
An additional prosecutor general opposed the appeals and argued that the trust was working as a proxy for the LeT owing to which the government proscribed it in 2019. He said the appellants were trustees/office bearers and staunch activists of the trust. Allowing the appeals, the division bench observes that the statement of the main prosecution witness is not reliable as there is no corroboratory evidence, Dawn reported.
"In his cross-examination, Inspector Muhammad Khalid (prosecution witness) conceded that the local police station never received any complaint against the appellants and even during his investigation nobody from the general public brought anything to his notice which could expose their malefactions," the bench noted.
The bench remarks that it is trite that the prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt to secure the conviction of an accused. It maintains, "The appellants cannot be convicted for the mere reason that LeT or the trust have been proscribed," Dawn reported.
The bench ruled that the prosecution must independently establish the ingredients of the offences under sections 11-F and 11-J(2) of the ATA which it has failed to do.Meanwhile, JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and several other leaders have been convicted in dozens of FIRs registered by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on charges of terror financing. The CTD had registered as many as 41 FIRs against the JuD leaders in different cities, Dawn reported.
source https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/fpj-legal-lahore-court-acquits-6-leaders-of-hafiz-saeeds-jud-in-terror-financing-case
Bhopal: Function to mark first death anniversary of BJP leader Kailash Sarang
Bhopal: Kashyath Samaj will organise programmes to mark death anniversary of BJP founder member Kailash Sarang and birth anniversary of Prasun Sarang on November 14. It is first death anniversary of Kailash Sarang. His book, Kailash Pravah: Rashtraniti aur Rajniti, will be released on the occasion. A meeting was held at Gujarati Bhavan on Sunday to finalise the programme to mark the occasion.
Main function will be held at Ravindra Bhavan. Virtual bhoomi pujan of Hindu Darshan Shodh Sansthan and Dhyan Kendra will be performed.
RSS leader Suresh Soni, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, union minister Narendra Singh Tomar, State BJP president VD Sharma will also be present.
Besides, Kailash Prasun Sarang Anna Kshetra will be started on November 15 in Ashoka Garden. Matru Chhaya Dussehra Utsav Samiti will organise kavi sammelan on November 16 at Dussehra Maidan, Ektapuri, Semra. Free medical check-up camps will be held from November 19-21.
Also Read: Bhopal gas victims: Why is minister planning to put concrete at Union Carbide Corporation site
source https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-function-to-mark-first-death-anniversary-of-bjp-leader-kailash-sarang
Bhopal: Khushi ka Kona - Special post-Covid mental health activities for teachers, kids
Bhopal: School education department has asked District Education Officers to organise special activities with children and teachers to handle post Covid mental health issues. Rajya Shiksha Kendra has also given over dozen ideas related to activities that can be held in schools for this purpose.
Rajya Shiksha Kendra director Dhanaraju S shot a letter to DEO and District Project Coordinators asking them to take special care of children and teachers to handle post-Covid mental health issues.
Schools across the state have opened after one-a-half years. Many children have lost their near and dear ones in the pandemic. Several others have witnessed problems like financial crisis that have led to unpleasant situations at home. Besides, children remained confined to homes for so long, which may have changed their behaviour.
Schools have been asked to organise activities like storytelling sessions where children can speak their heart out. Schools have also been advised to hold creative games and activities like painting, writing slogans, essays etc. “Main objective behind organising these activities is to open up children so that they share their bad experiences and feel lightened,” said Dhanaraju.
Schools have also been advised to mark a corner and term it like Khushi ka Kona or Aao Baat Kare. Positive stories will be shared that lays positive impact on children, he added. Online sessions including talks with experts and cartoon shows will also conducted for children that would help build a positive atmosphere around.
Psychologist Vinay Mishra said such moves will help the school children to overcome the trauma they had undergone during pandemic. It is not necessary that children who have lost someone will have impact rather other elements including their confinement at home or studying online for more than a year may have brought behavioural change in children. Such step will help them,” he added.
Also Read: Bhopal: CM gets upset, scolds officers on plethora of complaints in native village
source https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-khushi-ka-kona-special-post-covid-mental-health-activities-for-teachers-kids
BJP not family-run party, will win coming state polls: PM Modi at party national executive
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Covid: Demand for booster shots grow as stocks near expiry
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Sitharaman hints at no dilution in agri laws stand
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Drone attack on Iraqi PM’s home ‘marks escalation’ in power struggle
Officials see strike as assassination attempt by Iran-backed militant groups trying to overturn election result
Senior figures in Iraq believe a brazen drone attack on the home of Iraq’s prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, marks an unprecedented escalation between the country’s leaders and Iran-backed militant groups attempting to overturn last month’s election.
The overnight attack is seen by Iraqi officials as an assassination attempt, and the first of its kind against a prime minister since the US-led invasion to remove Saddam Hussein nearly 19 years ago.
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MPs could be barred from consultancy roles in sleaze clampdown
Watchdog considers tightening restrictions on MPs’ second jobs which could affect 30 parliamentarians
MPs could be banned from having consultancy jobs like Owen Paterson’s under plans for a clampdown on sleaze being considered by the Commons standards committee.
The prospect of tightened restrictions on MPs’ second jobs is to be decided within weeks and could affect more than 30 parliamentarians earning between £180,000 and hundreds of pounds a year on top of their £82,000 salary.
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‘Get the vaccine’: family of Covid victim’s plea to pregnant women
Saiqa Parveen planned to have jab after giving birth but died from disease after daughter was delivered by emergency caesarean
She was eight months pregnant and weeks from welcoming her fifth daughter to the world, but Saiqa Parveen died of Covid after putting off getting the coronavirus jab. Her family have now issued an emotional plea for pregnant women to get vaccinated.
Parveen, 37, had planned to delay having the jab until her baby was born, her family said, but she was admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties in September and put on a ventilator.
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T20 World Cup: Pakistan show batting might to end Super 12 unbeaten; Richie Berrington valiant knock in vain for Scotland
Shadab Khan's double strikes along with the other bowlers helped Pakistan keep Scotland to 117 for six to win by 72 runs in their Super 12 clash of the T20 World Cup in Sharjah on Sunday. Richie Berrington stayed unbeaten on 54 for Scotland. Earlier, Babar Azam hit a steady 66 while Shoaib Malik hit an unbeaten 18-ball half century to help Pakistan to 189 for four.
George Munsey began by taking two boundaries off Shaheen Shah Afridi's first two overs. Kyle Coetzer hit a boundary off Imad Wasim but was bowled by Hasan Ali in a wicket-maiden final over of Powerplay. Post that runs began to dry as Pakistan began to exert pressure on Scotland.
Scotland were dealt with a strong blow as Matthew Cross was run-out at the non-striker's end with Wasim getting a hand on the ball on a straight drive from Munsey. In an attempt to break free, Munsey tried to attack Khan but sliced to short third man in the 11th over. Two balls later, Khan had another wicket as Dylan Budge was bowled by a googly.
Though the result was a foregone conclusion, Scotland tried to delay the inevitable. Michael Leask had a 41-run stand with Berrington for the fifth wicket. The partnership broke when Afridi clean bowled Leask in the 16th over.
Berrington, the lone warrior for Scotland, smashed two more boundaries and reached his half-century with a brace off Ali. But it wasn't enough as Pakistan ended their Group 2 campaign with an all-win record.
Thanks to Malik's blitz earlier, Pakistan scored 43 runs in the last two overs, including 26 in the final six balls bowled by Chris Greaves. It was tournament's joint fastest fifty alongside KL Rahul's 18-ball 50 which also came against Scotland.
Azam, who once again donned the role of the accumulator, became only the third batter to score four half-centuries in a T20 World Cup after former Australia opener Matthew Hayden and India captain Virat Kohli, who achieved the feat in 2007 and 2014 respectively.
Having struggled to 60 for two at the halfway stage, Pakistan got 129 runs in back 10.
Opting to bat first, Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were off to a sedate start, as the Scotland bowlers managed to keep the run rate below six until the powerplay.
Having smoked Bradley Wheal for a gigantic six over deep mid-wicket, Rizwan was dismissed by Hamza Tahir, who drew the batter with a tossed-up delivery before getting an under-edge to the wicketkeeper.
The Scots deserves plaudits for the manner in which they kept a lid on the Pakistan scoring as they ended the powerplay at 35 for no loss, which became 35 for one in the first ball of the next over with Rizwan's dismissal.
Even as Azam went along nicely, one-down Fakhar Zaman's lean run in the tournament continued as the batter ended up giving a catch to Leask while going for a big shot off Greaves.
Pakistan were not so well placed at 60 for two at the halfway stage as Scotland managed to keep their opponents to a run a ball.
However, things changed completely as Pakistan entered the back 10 with both Azam and the veteran Mohammad Hafeez (31 off 19 balls) cutting loose to clear the ropes at regular intervals during a brisk 53-run third-wicket partnership.
Azam was his usual classy self when he played the ball along the ground, but at the same time, he did not hesitate to go over the top, the result of which were three sixes.
After Azam's dismissal, the show belonged to Malik.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 189/4 in 20 overs (Babar Azam 66, Shoaib Malik 54*; Chris Greaves 2/43) beat Scotland 117/6 in 20 overs (Richie Berrington 54*; Shadab Khan 2/14) by 72 runs
source https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/cricket/t20-world-cup-pakistan-show-batting-might-to-end-super-12-unbeaten-richie-berrington-valiant-knock-in-vain-for-scotland
Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik claims Mumbai cruise drugs bust was elaborate plan to kidnap Aryan Khan
In yet another revelation, Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik on Sunday claimed that the cruise liner episode of October 2 was no mid-sea rave party bust but a kidnapping and ransom operation. It is further claimed that BJP leader Mohit Kamboj was the mastermind of the conspiracy which finally led to the arrest of Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan. Kamboj allegedly colluded with the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) Mumbai zonal director, Sameer Wankhede, in kidnapping Aryan and demanding ransom.
“The cruise drug bust case was a case of kidnapping and ransom and it was not what appeared to be,” said Malik. He said Aryan Khan did not buy a ticket for the cruise party but it was Pratik Gaba and Amir Furniturewala who brought him there. “The trap was laid through Kamboj. Aryan was kidnapped and ransomed; after the initial demand of Rs 25 crore, the deal was settled at Rs 18 crore,” he claimed.
Malik reiterated that the NCB had let off three individuals — Rishabh Sachdeva, Pratik Gaba and Amir Furniturewala — after having allegedly detained them during the raid on the rave party. He said that Sachdeva was Kamboj’s brother-in-law, who was released because of Kamboj’s close relations with Wankhede.
Malik said that one selfie -- the photo taken by a private detective and witness in the cruise drug bust case, K P Gosavi, with Aryan Khan in the NCB cabin -- had “spoiled the extortion play.” (Gosavi was recently arrested by the Pune police in a 2018 cheating case and has a number of fraud complainsts lodged against him in Pune, Mumbai and Thane).
Refrring to the alleged collusion, Malik claimed Kamboj and Wankhede had met outside the Oshiwara graveyard on October 7, a few days after Aryan was arrested in the case.
“After this, Wankhede panicked and complained to the police that they were being followed. They were lucky that the nearby CCTV was not working and we couldn’t get the feed,” Malik said, adding that Kamboj is Wankhede’s ‘partner-in-crime’ in an extortion racket.
In response to Kamboj’s allegation that Dhule-based Sunil Patil, who is closely associated with NCP leaders, was the mastermind of the cruise drug party, Malik claimed he had never met Patil and the latter had no links with the NCP. Instead, he claimed, Patil was a member of Wankhede’s ‘private army’ and had links with top BJP leaders.
“Sunil Patil is not an NCP worker, nor have I ever met him. Photos are, however, in circulation showing him with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and with other BJP leaders. Likewise, Manish Bhanushali, another controversial NCB witness alleged to be a BJP worker, has had his pictures taken with top-ranking BJP brass — from Prime Minister Modi to others. I am not accusing any political party but I do contend that this Patil is a fraud and also part of Wankhede’s private army,” said Malik.
Malik also clarified that he was not against the BJP or the NCB and neither was it a tussle between the state and the Centre but his fight was against the drug menace and he would take it to its logical conclusion. He however, appealed to the BJP to stop shielding ‘dubious’ characters like Kamboj, Bhanushali and Patil. He also called upon the NCB to weed out their department of ‘rotten fish’, including Wankhede and three others. “The gang of four (chandal chaukdi) are spoiling the NCB’s reputation,” alleged Malik and said that there was no mid-sea drug bust operation as claimed by the NCB and that the entire episode was one of “sordid extortion”.
Malik said he was not scared of bogus cases being filed against him and his family as his fight was against extortion.
Moreover, Malik released a purported conversation between one Sam alias Sanville D’Souza and NCB officer V V Singh and alleged that D’Souza was also a member of Wankhede’s private army. He further alleged that the press conferences by Sam D’Souza and Kamboj were a failure. “Sam D’Souza and Kamboj are members of Wankhede’s private army and they were told to address PCs but they are getting caught in their own trap,” he said.
source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/maharashtra-minister-nawab-malik-claims-mumbai-cruise-drugs-bust-was-elaborate-plan-to-kidnap-aryan-khan
Thane: 53-year-old found dead at Bhiwandi residence, police registers case against unknown person
The Bhiwandi police in the Thane district have registered a murder case against an unknown person after a 53-year-old man was found dead at his residence. The police said the deceased, identified as Rajendra Singh, was found dead with head injuries.
According to the police, Singh works as a daily wage worker with a dyeing company in Bhiwandi. The incident took place in-between 8 pm on November 4 to 12:30 pm on November 5.
"Singh was found dead at a place near Madhu Dyeing, Kaneri, Bhiwandi. He had head injuries as if he was assaulted with some heavy object. The serious injuries showed the intention of murder. However, a murder case was registered and the investigation was started," said a police official from Bhiwandi police station.
The Bhiwandi police have registered a case under section 302 (punishment for murder) of the Indian penal code.
"We investigated to find that Singh used to stay with a room partner, Gulab. After the murder case, Gulab is missing and had fled away from the room. We suspect that Gulab's role behind the murder. But after he is caught we can get a much clearer picture behind the scenes. The investigation is going on from all angles," added the police official.
source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/thane-53-year-old-found-dead-at-bhiwandi-residence-police-registers-case-against-unknown-person
BJP national executive meet: PM Modi wants cadres to act as ‘bridge of faith’; UP CM Yogi Adityanath moves political resolution
Lucknow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked BJP workers to reach out to the common man and work as a "bridge of faith," said senior party leader Bhupendra Yadav after the party's national executive meeting.
During his address at the concluding session, the prime minister also highlighted that the BJP is in its pre-eminent position only because it has always been connected with the common man since its inception.
Modi further dubbed service of masses as the highest form of worship. ‘‘The BJP isn't run by a family…Instead it is sustained by the values of ‘sewa, sanklap aur samparan’ (service, resolution and commitment)," he said.
Referring to the "selfless service" of the BJP cadres during the pandemic, PM Modi said that a "new culture of service has been perpetuated by the 'karyakartas' under party chief JP Nadda".
Before the PM’s address, party presidents of five poll-bound states presented a report about their poll preparedness with the Punjab unit chief underscoring that they were confident of contesting all the 117 seats. The BJP is without an ally in the border state and needs to quell the unrest among farmers who are demanding repeal of three farm laws.
That UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has an important role to play in the BJP’s future scheme of things was obvious when he was asked to table the political resolution at the executive; it is an indication that PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are backing him to the hilt.
Asked about the decision to pick Adityanath, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman retorted, "Why not", while praising his work as chief minister and noting that he heads India's largest state.
Asked if there was any reference to the recent by-election results, which have been a mixed bag for the party, Sitharaman said there was no specific discussion on them.
The political resolution praised PM Modi's leadership and accused the opposition of "opportunism" and acting with a ‘‘petty’’ mind set of "extreme hate.’’ It slammed the Opposition for criticizing and spreading rumours regarding the vaccination drive and not reducing VAT on fuel in states ruled by them, after the Centre did so earlier this week. The party’s top leaders charged the opposition had stayed indoors when the pandemic was raging rather than helping the people.
The National Executive put out an unambiguous message that the party must showcase the 100 crore-plus vaccinations and free ration scheme for 80 crore people as big achievements in the upcoming elections.
source https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/bjp-national-executive-meet-pm-modi-wants-cadres-to-act-as-bridge-of-faith-up-cm-yogi-adityanath-moves-political-resolution
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