Leon Panetta, former Secretary of Defence and ex-CIA director spoke to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay as he discussed a range of issues including the circumstances involving the killing of Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan's role in the war on terror and China's military assertiveness including its role in the coronavirus crisis.

WION:&nbsp;Would you say President Donald Trump took a firmer and clearer stand on what his priorities were and who he thought was a sponsor of terror compared to President Obama who tried to always balance the two?

Leon Panetta:&nbsp;When I was the director of the CIA, we conducted an operation to go after bin Laden in Pakistan. It was a very difficult mission and the President made a very tough decision to do that and as the director of the CIA, my primary role was to target terrorism whether it was in Afghanistan or Pakistan or in the Middle East and I had strong support from the President to do that.

At the same time, I think President Trump has been tough with regards&nbsp;to terrorism and&nbsp;ISIS and going after terrorist leaders. He's been willing to do that so I think the US generally has made it very clear that we will not tolerate terrorism that can be a potential risk to our country or to other countries.

WION:&nbsp;After all these years, when you say it out loud in so many words that the Pakistan government of the day was aware and was, in fact, harbouring Osama bin Laden...

Leon Panetta:&nbsp;When we discovered the location of this compound in Pakistan, it was located in a place called Abbottabad. Abbottabad is a centre for their intelligence services and the Pakistani West Point is located there as well. This compound was three times the size of other compounds and had 18-foot walls on one side and 12-foot walls on the other side with barbed wire around it. I find it very difficult to believe that there wasn't somebody in Pakistan who was aware of this compound...

WION:&nbsp;Was the Pakistani establishment then confronted with what you found?

Leon Panetta:&nbsp;Once we found the compound, we had to make a decision whether we would share that information with Pakistan and the President made the decision that because when we shared information with Pakistan about the location of terrorists they were tipped off and suddenly were able to disappear because of that concern and that lack of trust very frankly we decided not to inform the Pakistanis about the location of bin Laden and we did not inform them about the operation that we conducted because we were concerned that if we did that it was likely bin Laden would be advised to move, so because of what we did I think we were able to be successful in the mission to go after bin Laden.

WION:&nbsp;It sounds like a serious trust deficit with a government that America has throughout called an ally in the war on terror. Did the US government inform any other country and was India on the list and what was the reaction from New Delhi?

Leon Panetta:&nbsp;We had made a decision that if we were able to get bin Laden that rather than having him buried in Pakistan or elsewhere where it could become a shrine that we would bury him at sea and we did it in the Indian Ocean.

We advised countries of the fact that we would bury him in the Indian Ocean and India as always was very supportive. I think for my purposes both as director of the CIA and secretary of defence, I found India to be a very close ally in the effort to try to protect the security of both India and the United States

WION:&nbsp;Do you fear that Pakistan still harbours terrorists who pose a threat to the security of both the US and India?

Leon Panetta:&nbsp;I don't think there's any question that Pakistan continues to have relationship with various terrorist groups. We were very concerned when we were fighting in Afghanistan, that there were terrorists who were coming across the border from Pakistan to attack our forces and we continued to complain to Pakistan that they had to take steps to prevent that from happening but they never really did. They also used terrorism as a vehicle to undermine stability not just in Afghanistan but also in India. I think the United States has expressed concern&nbsp;that Pakistan had to do more to deal with terrorism in their country.

WION:&nbsp;How does it help Mr. Panetta, when the US government after knowing everything that you have just told us gets Pakistan on board when it tries to negotiate peace in Afghanistan?

Leon Panetta:&nbsp;Well that's a challenge and it always has been, I think. You know we have continued to try to work with Pakistan. When I was the CIA&nbsp;director, I tried to work with their intelligence services. When I was Secretary of Defense, I tried to work with their defence ministry but while there were those that did provide cooperation, the fact was there were many that maintained ties to terrorist networks. As a result, it's sometimes very difficult to trust Pakistan to be supportive of efforts to achieve peace in Afghanistan or in that region.

WION:&nbsp;Does India not have any role in the Afghanistan peace process according to you and what role do you see for India apart from the developmental aid and all the work that the government is doing?

Leon Panetta:&nbsp;It's important that countries in that region support this process and India has been supportive of the peace process and we have always found that India has been a very good partner to the United States in dealing with issues in that region.

WION:&nbsp;You have always advocated deeper defence ties between India and the US but there was a time when New Delhi was reluctant to be seen as a military ally of America. Things have changed now as the two countries call each other strategic allies and they are meeting in a matter of days for the Quad meeting and this is being seen as an alliance to counter China. What role do you see in this new strategic equation?

Leon Panetta:&nbsp;I think it's extremely important. I believe the United States should continue to provide leadership in the world working with our allies. There are a number of areas where we need our allies whether it's in the Middle East dealing with Iran, whether it's in Asia dealing with North Korea, whether it's in Europe dealing with Russia and whether it's with India and the countries there dealing with China.

I think it's critical that countries that believe in democratic principles, that believe in the values of freedom and liberty and the ability to self-govern and the dignity of the individual, that those countries should work together when it comes to security.

I am concerned that there have been events on the China-India border that have occurred recently that raised the spectre of potential conflict and I think we have to make it very clear to China that the US will stand with India if there is any conflict in that region.

WION:&nbsp;How far do you think the US is prepared to go in the event of a conflict with China?

Leon Panetta:&nbsp;I think that the United States owes it to our allies to be able to support them in any potential conflict. Now, how far we go whether we directly involve ourselves, I think that's going to be a question depending on China's actions and their intentions.&nbsp;

So far I believe China understands that a war is not in their interest, it's not in their economic interest, it's not in their country's interest but as we know when there is tension, mistakes are made and conflicts can erupt.

So, I think the United States will determine whether or not this is an aggressive action by China or whether this is an error of some sort by people along the border area to determine just exactly what role it will play in that type of conflict.

WION:&nbsp;Do you think the United States and other global institutions and leaders are doing enough to hold China accountable for what the world has suffered this year?

Leon Panetta:&nbsp;No, I don’t. We are essentially in a Cold War with China and I think that China has taken steps to try to take advantage of opportunities because they view the United States as pulling back from responsibilities in the world whether it's trade or in other areas and they've taken advantage of that and they also continue their military aggressiveness in developing areas and militarising the islands in the South China Sea.

In the approach they've taken towards Hong Kong and Taiwan, they have been particularly aggressive, and we also have had a difficult relationship with regards to trade.

We expressed a tremendous amount of concern with China with regards to the failure to alert the world about COVID-19 and the dangers that all of us are now experiencing as a result.&nbsp;I think it's important to have a dialogue with China, I think it's important to continue to communicate with China's leaders but I think we have to do it from a position of strength.&nbsp;

I would say that to India and I would say that to others that deal with China. The only way you can deal with China is from a position of strength. That means maintaining our military strength and making it very clear that there are lines that China should not cross.

WION:&nbsp;Do you think India is doing that?

Leon Panetta:&nbsp;I think the United States is making those points clear. I think India is making those points clear and I think that China will think twice about any aggression in that part of the world.

Leon Panetta, former Secretary of Defence and ex-CIA director spoke to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay as he discussed a range of issues including the circumstances involving the killing of Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan's role in the war on terror and China's military assertiveness including its role in the coronavirus crisis.

Leon Panetta, former Secretary of Defence and ex-CIA director spoke to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay as he discussed a range of issues including the circumstances involving the killing of Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan's role in the war on terror and China's military assertiveness including its role in the coronavirus crisis. WION: Would you say President Donald Trump took a firmer and clearer stand on what his priorities were and who he thought was a sponsor of terror compared to President Obama who tried to always balance the two? Leon Panetta: When I was the director of the CIA, we conducted an operation to go after bin Laden in Pakistan. It was a very difficult mission and the President made a very tough decision to do that and as the director of the CIA, my primary role was to target terrorism whether it was in Afghanistan or Pakistan or in the Middle East and I had strong support from the President to do that. At the same time, I think President Trump has been tough with regards to terrorism and ISIS and going after terrorist leaders. He's been willing to do that so I think the US generally has made it very clear that we will not tolerate terrorism that can be a potential risk to our country or to other countries. WION: After all these years, when you say it out loud in so many words that the Pakistan government of the day was aware and was, in fact, harbouring Osama bin Laden... Leon Panetta: When we discovered the location of this compound in Pakistan, it was located in a place called Abbottabad. Abbottabad is a centre for their intelligence services and the Pakistani West Point is located there as well. This compound was three times the size of other compounds and had 18-foot walls on one side and 12-foot walls on the other side with barbed wire around it. I find it very difficult to believe that there wasn't somebody in Pakistan who was aware of this compound... WION: Was the Pakistani establishment then confronted with what you found? Leon Panetta: Once we found the compound, we had to make a decision whether we would share that information with Pakistan and the President made the decision that because when we shared information with Pakistan about the location of terrorists they were tipped off and suddenly were able to disappear because of that concern and that lack of trust very frankly we decided not to inform the Pakistanis about the location of bin Laden and we did not inform them about the operation that we conducted because we were concerned that if we did that it was likely bin Laden would be advised to move, so because of what we did I think we were able to be successful in the mission to go after bin Laden. WION: It sounds like a serious trust deficit with a government that America has throughout called an ally in the war on terror. Did the US government inform any other country and was India on the list and what was the reaction from New Delhi? Leon Panetta: We had made a decision that if we were able to get bin Laden that rather than having him buried in Pakistan or elsewhere where it could become a shrine that we would bury him at sea and we did it in the Indian Ocean. We advised countries of the fact that we would bury him in the Indian Ocean and India as always was very supportive. I think for my purposes both as director of the CIA and secretary of defence, I found India to be a very close ally in the effort to try to protect the security of both India and the United States WION: Do you fear that Pakistan still harbours terrorists who pose a threat to the security of both the US and India? Leon Panetta: I don't think there's any question that Pakistan continues to have relationship with various terrorist groups. We were very concerned when we were fighting in Afghanistan, that there were terrorists who were coming across the border from Pakistan to attack our forces and we continued to complain to Pakistan that they had to take steps to prevent that from happening but they never really did. They also used terrorism as a vehicle to undermine stability not just in Afghanistan but also in India. I think the United States has expressed concern that Pakistan had to do more to deal with terrorism in their country. WION: How does it help Mr. Panetta, when the US government after knowing everything that you have just told us gets Pakistan on board when it tries to negotiate peace in Afghanistan? Leon Panetta: Well that's a challenge and it always has been, I think. You know we have continued to try to work with Pakistan. When I was the CIA director, I tried to work with their intelligence services. When I was Secretary of Defense, I tried to work with their defence ministry but while there were those that did provide cooperation, the fact was there were many that maintained ties to terrorist networks. As a result, it's sometimes very difficult to trust Pakistan to be supportive of efforts to achieve peace in Afghanistan or in that region. WION: Does India not have any role in the Afghanistan peace process according to you and what role do you see for India apart from the developmental aid and all the work that the government is doing? Leon Panetta: It's important that countries in that region support this process and India has been supportive of the peace process and we have always found that India has been a very good partner to the United States in dealing with issues in that region. WION: You have always advocated deeper defence ties between India and the US but there was a time when New Delhi was reluctant to be seen as a military ally of America. Things have changed now as the two countries call each other strategic allies and they are meeting in a matter of days for the Quad meeting and this is being seen as an alliance to counter China. What role do you see in this new strategic equation? Leon Panetta: I think it's extremely important. I believe the United States should continue to provide leadership in the world working with our allies. There are a number of areas where we need our allies whether it's in the Middle East dealing with Iran, whether it's in Asia dealing with North Korea, whether it's in Europe dealing with Russia and whether it's with India and the countries there dealing with China. I think it's critical that countries that believe in democratic principles, that believe in the values of freedom and liberty and the ability to self-govern and the dignity of the individual, that those countries should work together when it comes to security. I am concerned that there have been events on the China-India border that have occurred recently that raised the spectre of potential conflict and I think we have to make it very clear to China that the US will stand with India if there is any conflict in that region. WION: How far do you think the US is prepared to go in the event of a conflict with China? Leon Panetta: I think that the United States owes it to our allies to be able to support them in any potential conflict. Now, how far we go whether we directly involve ourselves, I think that's going to be a question depending on China's actions and their intentions. So far I believe China understands that a war is not in their interest, it's not in their economic interest, it's not in their country's interest but as we know when there is tension, mistakes are made and conflicts can erupt. So, I think the United States will determine whether or not this is an aggressive action by China or whether this is an error of some sort by people along the border area to determine just exactly what role it will play in that type of conflict. WION: Do you think the United States and other global institutions and leaders are doing enough to hold China accountable for what the world has suffered this year? Leon Panetta: No, I don’t. We are essentially in a Cold War with China and I think that China has taken steps to try to take advantage of opportunities because they view the United States as pulling back from responsibilities in the world whether it's trade or in other areas and they've taken advantage of that and they also continue their military aggressiveness in developing areas and militarising the islands in the South China Sea. In the approach they've taken towards Hong Kong and Taiwan, they have been particularly aggressive, and we also have had a difficult relationship with regards to trade. We expressed a tremendous amount of concern with China with regards to the failure to alert the world about COVID-19 and the dangers that all of us are now experiencing as a result. I think it's important to have a dialogue with China, I think it's important to continue to communicate with China's leaders but I think we have to do it from a position of strength. I would say that to India and I would say that to others that deal with China. The only way you can deal with China is from a position of strength. That means maintaining our military strength and making it very clear that there are lines that China should not cross. WION: Do you think India is doing that? Leon Panetta: I think the United States is making those points clear. I think India is making those points clear and I think that China will think twice about any aggression in that part of the world.

Due to lack of trust we decided not to inform Pak about Osama bin Laden's location: Leon Panetta, ex-CIA director to WION

All accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case have been acquitted by the Special CBI court in Lucknow on Wednesday.

The court in Lucknow pronounced its judgment in the 28-year-old case and said that the demolition of the mosque was not pre-planned, but a spontaneous act. 
 
“The CBI court has acquitted all 32 accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case. This ends the long pending dispute related with the December 6, 1992 incident,” said lawyer KK Mishra.

Mishra represented 25 out of 32 accused in the case.&nbsp;

26 out of total 32 accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case, except LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti, Nritya Gopal Das, Kalyan Singh and Satish Pradhan were present at the court for the hearing.

Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti, Satish Pradhan and Mahant Nritya Gopal Das has attended proceedings via video conferencing.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-babri-demolition-case-all-32-accused-acquitted-331579/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The 1992 Babri Masjid demolition had cost around 3,000 lives and changed the country's political landscape.

Last year, India's apex court has directed the trial court judge hearing the Babri Masjid demolition case against LK Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti to conclude their hearing in nine months.

In July, BJP leader Advani had recorded his statement before the court through video conferencing while denying involvement in the conspiracy to demolish the mosque.

On April 19, 2017, India's top court had ordered a day-to-day trial to be concluded in two years. The Supreme Court had allowed CBI's plea on restoration of criminal conspiracy charge against the VVIP accused in the case.

Supreme Court had earlier termed the Allahabad High Court's February 12, 2001 verdict dropping conspiracy charge against Advani and others as "erroneous". Security has been beefed up in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the verdict.

Babri Masjid was demolished in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.

(With inputs from agencies)

All accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case have been acquitted by the Special CBI court in Lucknow on Wednesday. The court in Lucknow pronounced its judgment in the 28-year-old case and said that the demolition of the mosque was not pre-planned, but a spontaneous act.

All accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case have been acquitted by the Special CBI court in Lucknow on Wednesday. The court in Lucknow pronounced its judgment in the 28-year-old case and said that the demolition of the mosque was not pre-planned, but a spontaneous act. “The CBI court has acquitted all 32 accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case. This ends the long pending dispute related with the December 6, 1992 incident,” said lawyer KK Mishra. Mishra represented 25 out of 32 accused in the case. 26 out of total 32 accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case, except LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti, Nritya Gopal Das, Kalyan Singh and Satish Pradhan were present at the court for the hearing. Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti, Satish Pradhan and Mahant Nritya Gopal Das has attended proceedings via video conferencing. × The 1992 Babri Masjid demolition had cost around 3,000 lives and changed the country's political landscape. Last year, India's apex court has directed the trial court judge hearing the Babri Masjid demolition case against LK Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti to conclude their hearing in nine months. In July, BJP leader Advani had recorded his statement before the court through video conferencing while denying involvement in the conspiracy to demolish the mosque. On April 19, 2017, India's top court had ordered a day-to-day trial to be concluded in two years. The Supreme Court had allowed CBI's plea on restoration of criminal conspiracy charge against the VVIP accused in the case. Supreme Court had earlier termed the Allahabad High Court's February 12, 2001 verdict dropping conspiracy charge against Advani and others as "erroneous". Security has been beefed up in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the verdict. Babri Masjid was demolished in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. (With inputs from agencies)

Babri mosque demolition verdict: All accused acquitted, court says demolition not pre-planned

Protests erupted in several parts of India on Wednesday after the authorities had the body of a gang rape victim cremated. The cremation, however, happened without the consent of her family.

The 19-year-old victim from the Dalit community was attacked and raped on September 14 in a field near her home in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh -- 100 km (62-miles) from the capital, New Delhi. She died in hospital on Tuesday from injuries sustained during the attack. Police have arrested four men in connection with the rape.

Multiple videos on Wednesay showed that neither police nor government officials had sought the permission of the family to perform the funerary rite for the victim in her native village in Uttar Pradesh state at about 2 a.m. (0730 GMT) on Wednesday.

The rape and the aftermath has caused outrage in India.

Angry protesters, many wearing masks to ward off the novel coronavirus, scuffled with police in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-hathras-brutality-331577/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The question that now arises is -- can the police force a cremation? Why did they do it?

These are questions that the UP police has not answered. But the questions won't die down.

The case gets murkier when you consider another factor. The victim was a Dalit.

Activists say this is the reason the police were not prompt in their response to the case. Her family says that the main accused has a history of harassing Dalits in their area.

He belongs to an upper caste as do the other three accused.

All the four men have been arrested.

A crime is a crime, and it should not be seen through filters of caste and religion.&nbsp;

The brutality in Hathras is a blot on India -- it comes eight years after the Nirbhaya case or what is also referred to as the 2012 Delhi gang rape case.

That winter, India lit candles, marched in solidarity, chanted -- "never again".&nbsp;

But this country could not keep its word to its daughters.

Eight years on, look where we are -- the Nirbhaya case was supposed to be a wake-up call for India.

Our system has failed on many fronts. Reports say 63% of the Nirbhaya fund allocated to states had not been used.

Last year, India saw more than 4 lakh cases of crime against women. There were 87 cases of rape recorded everyday, and these are just the registered cases.

In 2018, India recorded 33,356 cases of rape; in 2017, the number was 32,559. These numbers are from NCRB.

Nirbhaya's family had to wait for eight years to get justice. And the case was, apparently, 'fast-tracked'.

When it comes to crime against women, India's slow legal process has failed to act as a deterrant. It has also created agitation, anxiety and unrest in people.

The result is this -- in India, people are citing the slow judicial process to justify taking law in their own hands.

What happened in Hyderbad last year makes for a classic example. A woman was gangraped, brutalised and murdered in hyderabad last year.&nbsp;

Police picked up the four accused, and all of them were killed in a police encounter even before a trial could start.

India cheered this, and for many, it was justice served.

Now in the case of the Hathras victim, authorities are promising a fast-track trial -- which, going by the record, does not inspire confidence.

This is cliched but true -- justice delayed is justice denied.

Protests erupted in several parts of India on Wednesday after the authorities had the body of a gang rape victim cremated. The cremation, however, happened without the consent of her family.

Protests erupted in several parts of India on Wednesday after the authorities had the body of a gang rape victim cremated. The cremation, however, happened without the consent of her family. The 19-year-old victim from the Dalit community was attacked and raped on September 14 in a field near her home in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh -- 100 km (62-miles) from the capital, New Delhi. She died in hospital on Tuesday from injuries sustained during the attack. Police have arrested four men in connection with the rape. Multiple videos on Wednesay showed that neither police nor government officials had sought the permission of the family to perform the funerary rite for the victim in her native village in Uttar Pradesh state at about 2 a.m. (0730 GMT) on Wednesday. The rape and the aftermath has caused outrage in India. Angry protesters, many wearing masks to ward off the novel coronavirus, scuffled with police in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi. × The question that now arises is -- can the police force a cremation? Why did they do it? These are questions that the UP police has not answered. But the questions won't die down. The case gets murkier when you consider another factor. The victim was a Dalit. Activists say this is the reason the police were not prompt in their response to the case. Her family says that the main accused has a history of harassing Dalits in their area. He belongs to an upper caste as do the other three accused. All the four men have been arrested. A crime is a crime, and it should not be seen through filters of caste and religion. The brutality in Hathras is a blot on India -- it comes eight years after the Nirbhaya case or what is also referred to as the 2012 Delhi gang rape case. That winter, India lit candles, marched in solidarity, chanted -- "never again". But this country could not keep its word to its daughters. Eight years on, look where we are -- the Nirbhaya case was supposed to be a wake-up call for India. Our system has failed on many fronts. Reports say 63% of the Nirbhaya fund allocated to states had not been used. Last year, India saw more than 4 lakh cases of crime against women. There were 87 cases of rape recorded everyday, and these are just the registered cases. In 2018, India recorded 33,356 cases of rape; in 2017, the number was 32,559. These numbers are from NCRB. Nirbhaya's family had to wait for eight years to get justice. And the case was, apparently, 'fast-tracked'. When it comes to crime against women, India's slow legal process has failed to act as a deterrant. It has also created agitation, anxiety and unrest in people. The result is this -- in India, people are citing the slow judicial process to justify taking law in their own hands. What happened in Hyderbad last year makes for a classic example. A woman was gangraped, brutalised and murdered in hyderabad last year. Police picked up the four accused, and all of them were killed in a police encounter even before a trial could start. India cheered this, and for many, it was justice served. Now in the case of the Hathras victim, authorities are promising a fast-track trial -- which, going by the record, does not inspire confidence. This is cliched but true -- justice delayed is justice denied.

Protests in India after late night cremation of gang rape victim

Even as the embers of the Hathras incident continue to smoulder, yet another incident of a Dalit woman being gangraped and killed in Balrampur district has taken place.

According to reports, a 22-year-old Dalit college student was raped and brutalizer in the Gaisari village of Balrampur on Tuesday.

Two persons have been arrested in connection with the crime.

The woman, a second-year B. Com student, had gone to a college in a nearby town to pay her fees on Tuesday. According to the family, she also worked in a private firm.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/protests-in-india-after-late-night-cremation-of-gang-rape-victim-331576">Also read|&nbsp;Protests in India after late night cremation of gang rape victim</a>

The girl did not return home till late in the evening and the family made several attempts to contact her on her phone.

Later in the night, the woman reportedly came home in a rickshaw in a semi-conscious state. She had a cannula injected in her forehand which indicated that she had undergone treatment.

Family members said that the woman looked dazed and in a serious condition. The family rushed her to a nearby hospital, but she died on the way.

The family has also alleged that the woman was lethally injected before she was raped.

Balrampur Superintendent of Police, Dev Ranjan Verma, said: "The family said that the woman did not reach home on time on Tuesday. They tried to contact her but could not get in touch. After some time, she came home in a rickshaw with a glucose drip attached to her arm and she was in a bad state. The relatives took her to a hospital but she died on the way."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/take-strictest-action-against-hathras-rape-culprits-pm-modi-to-cm-yogi-331365">Also read|&nbsp;Take 'strictest action' against Hathras rape culprits: PM Modi to CM Yogi</a>

According to the mother of the victim, she was unable to speak when she came back home and could only manage to utter the words, "I am in a lot of pain, I won't survive."

"She had gone to get her admission done at 10 in the morning. We have the receipts. On her way back, 3-4men forcibly put her in their car, injected her and raped her. The accused broke her back and her legs and sent her back in a rickshaw. She had no strength left to even walk," the mother told reporters.

However, the Balrampur Police, in a tweet, said reports about her limbs and waist being broken are not true and these injuries have not been confirmed in the autopsy report.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/hathras-gangrape-case-family-accuses-up-police-of-forcefully-cremating-victim-331354">Also read|&nbsp;Hathras gangrape case: Family accuses UP police of forcefully cremating victim</a>

Based on a complaint filed by the victim's brother, the Balrampur police registered a case and arrested two accused, Shahid and Sahil, on charges of gangrape and murder on Wednesday night.

The police also said that the victim was raped in the back room of a grocery store in the Gaisari village. The victim's sandals were found outside the room and the owner of the grocery store is the alleged mastermind of the crime.

Police investigations also revealed that the accused had tried to get the victim treated after raping her.

They called a nearby doctor to come and see the victim but the doctor got suspicious of the situation and refused to treat her in the absence of a guardian.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sit-to-probe-hathras-gangrape-congress-demands-yogi-adityanaths-resignation-331360">Also read|&nbsp;SIT to probe Hathras gangrape, Congress demands Yogi Adityanath's resignation</a>

"A boy named Sahil came to call me around 5 pm. He took me to his uncle Shahid's grocery shop. When I reached there, they told me to see a patient from their family. I saw that the room was empty and asked them who the woman was. They told me she is the daughter of a government secretary. I said I will not treat her until a woman or elder from the vicinity is present. They told me to go back to my clinic and said they will call the secretary and get the victim to my clinic. I do not know where they went after that," the doctor told local reporters.

The doctor also confirmed that the victim did not have an IV drip attached when he saw her.

Meanwhile, in what seems to be a replay of the Hathras incident, the Balrampur victim was also cremated in a hurry late on Tuesday night amidst a heavy police deployment.

The last rites were performed immediately after a post-mortem was conducted on the body. However, locals have said that the funeral was conducted with the permission of the victim's family.

Reacting to the incident, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in a tweet in Hindi said, "After Hathras, a girl has been gang-raped in Balrampur and she has now succumbed. The BJP government should not indulge in a cover-up like in Hathras and must immediately take strict action against the culprits."

Even as the embers of the Hathras incident continue to smoulder, yet another incident of a Dalit woman being gangraped and killed in Balrampur district has taken place.

Even as the embers of the Hathras incident continue to smoulder, yet another incident of a Dalit woman being gangraped and killed in Balrampur district has taken place. According to reports, a 22-year-old Dalit college student was raped and brutalizer in the Gaisari village of Balrampur on Tuesday. Two persons have been arrested in connection with the crime. The woman, a second-year B. Com student, had gone to a college in a nearby town to pay her fees on Tuesday. According to the family, she also worked in a private firm. Also read| Protests in India after late night cremation of gang rape victim The girl did not return home till late in the evening and the family made several attempts to contact her on her phone. Later in the night, the woman reportedly came home in a rickshaw in a semi-conscious state. She had a cannula injected in her forehand which indicated that she had undergone treatment. Family members said that the woman looked dazed and in a serious condition. The family rushed her to a nearby hospital, but she died on the way. The family has also alleged that the woman was lethally injected before she was raped. Balrampur Superintendent of Police, Dev Ranjan Verma, said: "The family said that the woman did not reach home on time on Tuesday. They tried to contact her but could not get in touch. After some time, she came home in a rickshaw with a glucose drip attached to her arm and she was in a bad state. The relatives took her to a hospital but she died on the way." Also read| Take 'strictest action' against Hathras rape culprits: PM Modi to CM Yogi According to the mother of the victim, she was unable to speak when she came back home and could only manage to utter the words, "I am in a lot of pain, I won't survive." "She had gone to get her admission done at 10 in the morning. We have the receipts. On her way back, 3-4men forcibly put her in their car, injected her and raped her. The accused broke her back and her legs and sent her back in a rickshaw. She had no strength left to even walk," the mother told reporters. However, the Balrampur Police, in a tweet, said reports about her limbs and waist being broken are not true and these injuries have not been confirmed in the autopsy report. Also read| Hathras gangrape case: Family accuses UP police of forcefully cremating victim Based on a complaint filed by the victim's brother, the Balrampur police registered a case and arrested two accused, Shahid and Sahil, on charges of gangrape and murder on Wednesday night. The police also said that the victim was raped in the back room of a grocery store in the Gaisari village. The victim's sandals were found outside the room and the owner of the grocery store is the alleged mastermind of the crime. Police investigations also revealed that the accused had tried to get the victim treated after raping her. They called a nearby doctor to come and see the victim but the doctor got suspicious of the situation and refused to treat her in the absence of a guardian. Also read| SIT to probe Hathras gangrape, Congress demands Yogi Adityanath's resignation "A boy named Sahil came to call me around 5 pm. He took me to his uncle Shahid's grocery shop. When I reached there, they told me to see a patient from their family. I saw that the room was empty and asked them who the woman was. They told me she is the daughter of a government secretary. I said I will not treat her until a woman or elder from the vicinity is present. They told me to go back to my clinic and said they will call the secretary and get the victim to my clinic. I do not know where they went after that," the doctor told local reporters. The doctor also confirmed that the victim did not have an IV drip attached when he saw her. Meanwhile, in what seems to be a replay of the Hathras incident, the Balrampur victim was also cremated in a hurry late on Tuesday night amidst a heavy police deployment. The last rites were performed immediately after a post-mortem was conducted on the body. However, locals have said that the funeral was conducted with the permission of the victim's family. Reacting to the incident, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in a tweet in Hindi said, "After Hathras, a girl has been gang-raped in Balrampur and she has now succumbed. The BJP government should not indulge in a cover-up like in Hathras and must immediately take strict action against the culprits."

UP: After Hathras tragedy, college student raped and murdered in Balrampur district

Meet India's Rafale ace Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh

India has called for restraint between Armenia and Azerbaijan over clashes that have erupted in past days leading to several casualties.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Calling the development "disturbing", ministry of external affairs spokesperson&nbsp;Anurag Shrivastava said, "India is concerned over the situation which threatens regional peace and security.''

''We reiterate the need for the sides to cease the hostilities&nbsp;immediately, keep restraint and take all possible steps to maintain peace at the border. India believes any lasting resolution to the conflict can only be achieved peacefully through diplomatic negotiation,'' he added.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/armenia-and-azerbaijan-a-decades-long-bloody-rivalry-330840">Armenia and Azerbaijan: A decades-long bloody rivalry</a>

Clashes have broken out between Christian Majority Armenia and Muslim majority Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has ethnic Armenians as a majority.

India has good ties with both Armenia and Azerbaijan. The North-South international transport corridor goes from Mumbai to Chabahar via Azerbaijan to Moscow, something crucial for India's connectivity plans. India's the then External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj visited Azerbaijan in 2018.

Last year Indian PM Modi met Armenia's PM Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. After the meet, he tweeted, "Held extensive deliberations with PM &nbsp;NikolPashinyan. We talked about expanding India-Armenia cooperation in aspects relating to technology, pharmaceuticals and agro-based industries."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Held extensive deliberations with PM <a href="https://twitter.com/NikolPashinyan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NikolPashinyan</a>. We talked about expanding India-Armenia cooperation in aspects relating to technology, pharmaceuticals and agro-based industries. PM Pashinyan also referred to the popularity of Indian movies, music and Yoga in Armenia. <a href="https://t.co/CJ5By5ROXA">pic.twitter.com/CJ5By5ROXA</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1177081353487228929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

During the meet, PM Pashinyan referred to the popularity of Indian movies, music and Yoga in Armenia. Earlier this year when Armenian PM was detected with COVID, PM Modi tweeted for a speedy recovery. He said,"In this difficult time of COVID-19 pandemic, wishing Armenian PM @NikolPashinyan and his family a speedy recovery. India stands with Armenia in the fight against COVID-19."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In this difficult time of COVID-19 pandemic, wishing Armenian PM <a href="https://twitter.com/NikolPashinyan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NikolPashinyan</a> and his family a speedy recovery. India stands with Armenia in the fight against COVID-19.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1267492956891746305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Armenia backs India on some key several fronts. Last year in response to a WION question in New York on the sidelines of united nations general assembly that Turkey has been raking Kashmir, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan said,"In the Kashmir issue we fully defend the Indian position and it is our firm position."

India has called for restraint between Armenia and Azerbaijan over clashes that have erupted in past days leading to several casualties. Calling the development "disturbing", ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Shrivastava said, "India is concerned over the situation which threatens regional peace and security.

India has called for restraint between Armenia and Azerbaijan over clashes that have erupted in past days leading to several casualties. Calling the development "disturbing", ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Shrivastava said, "India is concerned over the situation which threatens regional peace and security.'' ''We reiterate the need for the sides to cease the hostilities immediately, keep restraint and take all possible steps to maintain peace at the border. India believes any lasting resolution to the conflict can only be achieved peacefully through diplomatic negotiation,'' he added. Also see: Armenia and Azerbaijan: A decades-long bloody rivalry Clashes have broken out between Christian Majority Armenia and Muslim majority Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has ethnic Armenians as a majority. India has good ties with both Armenia and Azerbaijan. The North-South international transport corridor goes from Mumbai to Chabahar via Azerbaijan to Moscow, something crucial for India's connectivity plans. India's the then External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj visited Azerbaijan in 2018. Last year Indian PM Modi met Armenia's PM Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. After the meet, he tweeted, "Held extensive deliberations with PM NikolPashinyan. We talked about expanding India-Armenia cooperation in aspects relating to technology, pharmaceuticals and agro-based industries." Held extensive deliberations with PM @NikolPashinyan. We talked about expanding India-Armenia cooperation in aspects relating to technology, pharmaceuticals and agro-based industries. PM Pashinyan also referred to the popularity of Indian movies, music and Yoga in Armenia. pic.twitter.com/CJ5By5ROXA — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 26, 2019 × During the meet, PM Pashinyan referred to the popularity of Indian movies, music and Yoga in Armenia. Earlier this year when Armenian PM was detected with COVID, PM Modi tweeted for a speedy recovery. He said,"In this difficult time of COVID-19 pandemic, wishing Armenian PM @NikolPashinyan and his family a speedy recovery. India stands with Armenia in the fight against COVID-19." In this difficult time of COVID-19 pandemic, wishing Armenian PM @NikolPashinyan and his family a speedy recovery. India stands with Armenia in the fight against COVID-19. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 1, 2020 × Armenia backs India on some key several fronts. Last year in response to a WION question in New York on the sidelines of united nations general assembly that Turkey has been raking Kashmir, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan said,"In the Kashmir issue we fully defend the Indian position and it is our firm position."

India calls for restraint over Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes

Hitting out at Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights council, India has said that Islamabad continues to play "victim card" on the issue of terrorism to "distract international community" even though it supports it.

Highlighting that&nbsp;Pakistan&nbsp;continues with its "shenanigan of running with the hare and hunting with the hound",&nbsp;India's first secretary to the United Nations in Geneva,&nbsp;Vimarsh Aryan said, "Whenever there is a discussion on terrorism the failed State of Pakistan plays the victim card so as to distract international community’s attention from the reality that Pakistan is unabashedly harbouring and supporting UN proscribed terrorists and terrorist organizations."

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-over-80-of-illegal-drugs-entering-india-come-from-pakistan-331578/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Fact by fact, and case by case, Aryan exposed the condition of minorities, women, children and journalists in the country.

He said, "draconian State of Pakistan dares to talk about the rights of minorities in egalitarian India without realising that their responsibility is to protect people", citing example of Asif Pervaiz, a Christian man from Lahore who was recently sentenced to death under draconian blasphemy laws of Pakistan.

On women's right, giving example of&nbsp;Parsha Kumari, a Hindu women who was abducted and converted in southern province of Sindh, Indian diplomat said, "The barbaric State of Pakistan dares to talk about the rights of women in an inclusive democracy like India without realising that their responsibility is to protect women".

On children rights, he cited example of 3 year old Shahid Shah against whom FIR was lodged in Gujranwala. Aryan said,"ruthless State of Pakistan dares to talk about the rights of children in a progressive democracy like India without realising that their responsibility is to protect children"

When it comes to situation of journalists, he pointed at the "deep State of Pakistan" which "dares to talk about the rights of journalists in an open democracy like India" and without "realising that their responsibility is to protect honest journalists like Bilal Farooqi who is being tortured by Pakistani Army in Karachi, as we speak."

Hitting out at Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights council, India has said that Islamabad continues to play "victim card" on the issue of terrorism to "distract international community" even though it supports it.

Hitting out at Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights council, India has said that Islamabad continues to play "victim card" on the issue of terrorism to "distract international community" even though it supports it. Highlighting that Pakistan continues with its "shenanigan of running with the hare and hunting with the hound", India's first secretary to the United Nations in Geneva, Vimarsh Aryan said, "Whenever there is a discussion on terrorism the failed State of Pakistan plays the victim card so as to distract international community’s attention from the reality that Pakistan is unabashedly harbouring and supporting UN proscribed terrorists and terrorist organizations." Fact by fact, and case by case, Aryan exposed the condition of minorities, women, children and journalists in the country. He said, "draconian State of Pakistan dares to talk about the rights of minorities in egalitarian India without realising that their responsibility is to protect people", citing example of Asif Pervaiz, a Christian man from Lahore who was recently sentenced to death under draconian blasphemy laws of Pakistan. On women's right, giving example of Parsha Kumari, a Hindu women who was abducted and converted in southern province of Sindh, Indian diplomat said, "The barbaric State of Pakistan dares to talk about the rights of women in an inclusive democracy like India without realising that their responsibility is to protect women". On children rights, he cited example of 3 year old Shahid Shah against whom FIR was lodged in Gujranwala. Aryan said,"ruthless State of Pakistan dares to talk about the rights of children in a progressive democracy like India without realising that their responsibility is to protect children" When it comes to situation of journalists, he pointed at the "deep State of Pakistan" which "dares to talk about the rights of journalists in an open democracy like India" and without "realising that their responsibility is to protect honest journalists like Bilal Farooqi who is being tortured by Pakistani Army in Karachi, as we speak."

'Do not play victim card': India hits out at Pakistan on the issue of terror

UK MP Bob Blackman of the ruling Conservative Party in the country has written to chairman of the party, raising concerns against a group being announced in the party called "conservative friends of Kashmir" which may have long term implication, especially on the large Indian diaspora.&nbsp;

In the letter, he asked the party to make it clear officially that the group is "not an officially recognised body and has no links to the party" and therefore cannot use party logo or branding.&nbsp;

Highlighting the impact to the party, Bob in his letter to the Chairman of Conservative Party Amanda Milling said, "creation of this "conservative friends" group....risks alienating the diaspora that we have worked so hard and for so long, to cultivate and encourage to switch to our party. I cannot emphasize enough how emotive this issue is to our Indian diaspora."

Amanda Milling is the chairman of the conservative party along with Ben Elliot. The role of the chairman is party administration.

Bob elaborated that, "creation of the so-called conservative friends of Kashmir will cause severe tensions" between the already existing groups - conservative friends of India and conservative friends of Pakistan and "alienate a large percentage of voters".&nbsp;

The recent UK general elections saw&nbsp;the Indian diaspora shifting from Labour Party to the Conservative due to the former's stance on Kashmir. &nbsp;In fact, the decision taken at the Labour party conference on Kashmir, which was seen as considerably anti-India led to switching of allegiance of the British Indians to conservatives.&nbsp;

The UK MP said in the letter, "As we approach our Party's Conference this year, we must now follow the same path as the Labour party last year and risk alienating a large section of voters".

"Jammu and Kashmir is internationally recognized as a state of India and we do not have any other "conservative friends" that represent other areas of India...Party Policy is that security in Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter for India and you know that I have previously written to PM regarding the issue and he reiterated Party Policy on Jammu and Kashmir both in writing and also on the floor of the house of commons".

The official stance of the Conservative Party and UK government on Kashmir is that is bilateral matter between India and Pakistan.

Bob Blackman is the vice-chairman of the conservative friends of India and the chairman and vice-chairman of number of All-Party Parliamentary groups related to India.

UK MP Bob Blackman of the ruling Conservative Party in the country has written to chairman of the party, raising concerns against a group being announced in the party called "conservative friends of Kashmir" which may have long term implication, especially on the large Indian diaspora.

UK MP Bob Blackman of the ruling Conservative Party in the country has written to chairman of the party, raising concerns against a group being announced in the party called "conservative friends of Kashmir" which may have long term implication, especially on the large Indian diaspora. In the letter, he asked the party to make it clear officially that the group is "not an officially recognised body and has no links to the party" and therefore cannot use party logo or branding. Highlighting the impact to the party, Bob in his letter to the Chairman of Conservative Party Amanda Milling said, "creation of this "conservative friends" group....risks alienating the diaspora that we have worked so hard and for so long, to cultivate and encourage to switch to our party. I cannot emphasize enough how emotive this issue is to our Indian diaspora." Amanda Milling is the chairman of the conservative party along with Ben Elliot. The role of the chairman is party administration. Bob elaborated that, "creation of the so-called conservative friends of Kashmir will cause severe tensions" between the already existing groups - conservative friends of India and conservative friends of Pakistan and "alienate a large percentage of voters". The recent UK general elections saw the Indian diaspora shifting from Labour Party to the Conservative due to the former's stance on Kashmir. In fact, the decision taken at the Labour party conference on Kashmir, which was seen as considerably anti-India led to switching of allegiance of the British Indians to conservatives. The UK MP said in the letter, "As we approach our Party's Conference this year, we must now follow the same path as the Labour party last year and risk alienating a large section of voters". "Jammu and Kashmir is internationally recognized as a state of India and we do not have any other "conservative friends" that represent other areas of India...Party Policy is that security in Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter for India and you know that I have previously written to PM regarding the issue and he reiterated Party Policy on Jammu and Kashmir both in writing and also on the floor of the house of commons". The official stance of the Conservative Party and UK government on Kashmir is that is bilateral matter between India and Pakistan. Bob Blackman is the vice-chairman of the conservative friends of India and the chairman and vice-chairman of number of All-Party Parliamentary groups related to India.

Will alienate Indian diaspora, UK MP writes to chair of ruling Conservative Party over group on Kashmir

Supreme Court of India on Thursday directed airlines to either provide refund of tickets purchased by travellers for flights cancelled during coronavirus lockdown or provide a credit shell. The decision is applicable to domestic as well as international flight.

Supreme Court accepted the Centre's proposal. The court said that if the tickets were booked through an agent for travel during the lockdown period, a full refund will be given to the agent and he will pass on the amount to the passengers.

Supreme Court also said that if the airlines were not able to make a refund due to financial distress, they can provide a credit shell to the passenger that can be utilised upto March 31, 2021.&nbsp;

It is open to passengers either to utilise such credit shell up to March 31, 2021 on any route of choice or transfer the credit shell to any person including the travel agent concerned, and the airlines shall honour such a transfer, the top court said.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and M R Shah said the suggestions and formulations arrived at the meeting held by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA), Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which are acceptable to the majority of stakeholders have to be implemented in letter and spirit.

"We also feel that such formulations are workable solutions in these peculiar circumstances which are prevailing in the country," the bench said, while passing a slew of directions for refund of air tickets to the hassled passengers, whose flights were cancelled due to the pandemic induced lockdown.

The top court's verdict came on a batch of petitions, including by NGOs and passengers associations, seeking complete refund of ticket fare for the flights cancelled.

It said that the court cannot lose sight of the present situation prevailing in the country and across the globe with regard to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and any strict enforcement action of Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) (aviation norms) against the airlines would further restrict their operations.

"It cannot be disputed that the civil aviation sector, which is one of the important sectors, is seriously affected in view of the ban imposed for operating flights. Added to the same, air passenger traffic has come down heavily and which is gradually being restored," the top court said.

It added that any such enforcement action may further jeopardise the possibilities of generation of cash by airlines which can further adversely affect/delay the refund cycle.

"Strict enforcement of Civil Aviation Requirements at this moment may not yield any meaningful result for any stakeholder," the bench said.

It said that the passengers who booked tickets at any period of time but for travel after May 24, then the refund of fares to the passengers covered under this category shall be governed by the provisions of CAR.

"Even for international travel, when the tickets have been booked on an Indian carrier and the booking is ex-India (flights originating from India), if the tickets have been booked during the lockdown period for travel within the lockdown period, immediate refund shall be made," the bench said in its order.

If the tickets are booked for international travel on a foreign carrier and the booking is ex-India during the lockdown period for travel within the lockdown period, full refund shall be given by the airlines and said amount shall be passed on immediately by the agent to the passengers, wherever such tickets are booked through agents, it added.

"In all other cases airline shall refund the collected amount to the passenger within a period of three weeks," the bench emphasised and added that the credit shell issued in the name of the passenger shall be transferable which can be utilized up to March 31, 2021 and the concerned airline shall honour such a transfer by devising a mechanism to facilitate such a transfer.

"It is also made clear that such a credit shell can be utilized by the concerned agent through whom the ticket is booked, for third party use. It is also made clear that even in cases where the credit shell is transferred to a third party; same is to be utilized only through the agent who has booked the ticket at the first instance," it directed.

Justice Reddy, who penned the verdict on behalf of the bench, said that in cases where passengers have purchased the ticket through an agent, and credit shell is issued in the name of passenger, such credit shell is to be utilized only through the agent who has booked the ticket.

It said that in cases where tickets are booked through agent and credit shell is issued in the name of the passenger remains unutilized till March 31, 2021, then the "refund of the fare collected shall be made to the same account from which account amount was received by the airline".

The bench said that in all cases where credit shell is issued there shall be an incentive to compensate the passenger from the date of cancellation up to June 30, 2020 in which event the credit shell shall be enhanced by 0.5 per cent of the face value (the amount of fare collected) for every month or part thereof between the date of cancellation and June 30, 2020.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Supreme Court of India on Thursday directed airlines to either provide refund of tickets purchased by travellers for flights cancelled during coronavirus lockdown or provide a credit shell.

Supreme Court of India on Thursday directed airlines to either provide refund of tickets purchased by travellers for flights cancelled during coronavirus lockdown or provide a credit shell. The decision is applicable to domestic as well as international flight. Supreme Court accepted the Centre's proposal. The court said that if the tickets were booked through an agent for travel during the lockdown period, a full refund will be given to the agent and he will pass on the amount to the passengers. Supreme Court also said that if the airlines were not able to make a refund due to financial distress, they can provide a credit shell to the passenger that can be utilised upto March 31, 2021. It is open to passengers either to utilise such credit shell up to March 31, 2021 on any route of choice or transfer the credit shell to any person including the travel agent concerned, and the airlines shall honour such a transfer, the top court said. A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and M R Shah said the suggestions and formulations arrived at the meeting held by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA), Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which are acceptable to the majority of stakeholders have to be implemented in letter and spirit. "We also feel that such formulations are workable solutions in these peculiar circumstances which are prevailing in the country," the bench said, while passing a slew of directions for refund of air tickets to the hassled passengers, whose flights were cancelled due to the pandemic induced lockdown. The top court's verdict came on a batch of petitions, including by NGOs and passengers associations, seeking complete refund of ticket fare for the flights cancelled. It said that the court cannot lose sight of the present situation prevailing in the country and across the globe with regard to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and any strict enforcement action of Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) (aviation norms) against the airlines would further restrict their operations. "It cannot be disputed that the civil aviation sector, which is one of the important sectors, is seriously affected in view of the ban imposed for operating flights. Added to the same, air passenger traffic has come down heavily and which is gradually being restored," the top court said. It added that any such enforcement action may further jeopardise the possibilities of generation of cash by airlines which can further adversely affect/delay the refund cycle. "Strict enforcement of Civil Aviation Requirements at this moment may not yield any meaningful result for any stakeholder," the bench said. It said that the passengers who booked tickets at any period of time but for travel after May 24, then the refund of fares to the passengers covered under this category shall be governed by the provisions of CAR. "Even for international travel, when the tickets have been booked on an Indian carrier and the booking is ex-India (flights originating from India), if the tickets have been booked during the lockdown period for travel within the lockdown period, immediate refund shall be made," the bench said in its order. If the tickets are booked for international travel on a foreign carrier and the booking is ex-India during the lockdown period for travel within the lockdown period, full refund shall be given by the airlines and said amount shall be passed on immediately by the agent to the passengers, wherever such tickets are booked through agents, it added. "In all other cases airline shall refund the collected amount to the passenger within a period of three weeks," the bench emphasised and added that the credit shell issued in the name of the passenger shall be transferable which can be utilized up to March 31, 2021 and the concerned airline shall honour such a transfer by devising a mechanism to facilitate such a transfer. "It is also made clear that such a credit shell can be utilized by the concerned agent through whom the ticket is booked, for third party use. It is also made clear that even in cases where the credit shell is transferred to a third party; same is to be utilized only through the agent who has booked the ticket at the first instance," it directed. Justice Reddy, who penned the verdict on behalf of the bench, said that in cases where passengers have purchased the ticket through an agent, and credit shell is issued in the name of passenger, such credit shell is to be utilized only through the agent who has booked the ticket. It said that in cases where tickets are booked through agent and credit shell is issued in the name of the passenger remains unutilized till March 31, 2021, then the "refund of the fare collected shall be made to the same account from which account amount was received by the airline". The bench said that in all cases where credit shell is issued there shall be an incentive to compensate the passenger from the date of cancellation up to June 30, 2020 in which event the credit shell shall be enhanced by 0.5 per cent of the face value (the amount of fare collected) for every month or part thereof between the date of cancellation and June 30, 2020.

Supreme Court orders refund of tickets of flights cancelled due to lockdown

Vehicles in Delhi without&nbsp;High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) and colour-coded stcikers will be&nbsp;penalised soon.

According to a report by news agency Press Trust of India, there are almost 30 lakh vehicles that will require HSRP and stickers.

Earlier, the&nbsp;Delhi&nbsp;government had&nbsp;asked owners of vehicles registered before April 2019 to affix them with High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) and colour-coded stickers, saying a drive will be launched "soon" to check for the violation of the directive.

It had&nbsp;mandated a one cm green sticker, providing registration details, in all BS-VI compliant motor vehicles.&nbsp;The order has&nbsp;come into force from today onwards.

The order was issued amending the Motor Vehicles (High Security Registration Plates) order, 2018.

Earlier, the government has said that from April 1, 2019, all motor vehicles will be fitted with tamper-proof, high security registration plates (HSRP). 
 
This HSRP or third number plate will be fitted on the inside of the windshield of each new manufactured vehicle by the manufacturers.

What is&nbsp;HSRP? 
 
Under the High-Security Registration Plates, a chromium-based hologram is applied by hot stamping on the top left corner of the number plates both at the front and back besides laser-branding of a permanent identification number with a minimum of 10 digits into the reflective sheeting on the bottom left of the registration plate.

What are colour-coded stickers?

Colour-coded stickers are used to identify vehicles based on their fuel type and&nbsp;to detect polluting vehicles from the non-polluting ones.

Light blue sticker denotes petrol and CNG vehicle and orange denotes diesel vehile. 
 
A Road Transport and Highways Ministry official said it has been brought-forth that the BS-VI emission standards, which have been mandated from April 1, 2020, provide for strict emission norms, and requests were to made to have distinct identification for such vehicles as is being made in other countries. 
 
"Accordingly, a feature in form of a unique strip of green colour of 1 cm wide on top of the existing third registration sticker for the purpose of BS-VI vehicles of any fuel type, that is,&nbsp;for petrol or CNG, which have a light blue colour sticker and a diesel vehicle which is of orange colour sticker, will have a green strip of 1 CM on top has been mandated," he said.

Last year, the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) had directed that all vehicles in Delhi-NCR should have HSRP and colour-coded stickers by October.

(With inputs from PTI)

Vehicles in Delhi without High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) and colour-coded stcikers will be penalised soon. According to a report by news agency Press Trust of India, there are almost 30 lakh vehicles that will require HSRP and stickers.

Vehicles in Delhi without High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) and colour-coded stcikers will be penalised soon. According to a report by news agency Press Trust of India, there are almost 30 lakh vehicles that will require HSRP and stickers. Earlier, the Delhi government had asked owners of vehicles registered before April 2019 to affix them with High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) and colour-coded stickers, saying a drive will be launched "soon" to check for the violation of the directive. It had mandated a one cm green sticker, providing registration details, in all BS-VI compliant motor vehicles. The order has come into force from today onwards. The order was issued amending the Motor Vehicles (High Security Registration Plates) order, 2018. Earlier, the government has said that from April 1, 2019, all motor vehicles will be fitted with tamper-proof, high security registration plates (HSRP). This HSRP or third number plate will be fitted on the inside of the windshield of each new manufactured vehicle by the manufacturers. What is HSRP? Under the High-Security Registration Plates, a chromium-based hologram is applied by hot stamping on the top left corner of the number plates both at the front and back besides laser-branding of a permanent identification number with a minimum of 10 digits into the reflective sheeting on the bottom left of the registration plate. What are colour-coded stickers? Colour-coded stickers are used to identify vehicles based on their fuel type and to detect polluting vehicles from the non-polluting ones. Light blue sticker denotes petrol and CNG vehicle and orange denotes diesel vehile. A Road Transport and Highways Ministry official said it has been brought-forth that the BS-VI emission standards, which have been mandated from April 1, 2020, provide for strict emission norms, and requests were to made to have distinct identification for such vehicles as is being made in other countries. "Accordingly, a feature in form of a unique strip of green colour of 1 cm wide on top of the existing third registration sticker for the purpose of BS-VI vehicles of any fuel type, that is, for petrol or CNG, which have a light blue colour sticker and a diesel vehicle which is of orange colour sticker, will have a green strip of 1 CM on top has been mandated," he said. Last year, the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) had directed that all vehicles in Delhi-NCR should have HSRP and colour-coded stickers by October. (With inputs from PTI)

Delhi vehicles without HSRP and colour-coded stickers to be penalised soon

Under the new unlockdown guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, states and Union Territories can decide on whether to open schools from October 15. Cinemas and multiplexes will be allowed to open with 50 per cent capacity from the same date; limits on outdoor gatherings have been removed while indoors gatherings will be allowed with 50 per cent capacity.

India Unlock 5.0 guidelines: More relaxations, Less restrictions

Two Indian army solider have been killed in action during an unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Naugam sector in north Kashmir's Kupwara district while four others have been inured who are being evacuated to an army facility.&nbsp;

Earlier, Pakistan Army resorted to an unprovoked ceasefire violation on the line of control in Krishna Ghati Sector in Poonch district of Jammu region, killing a solider while another was injured.&nbsp;

In the morning, army said that "Pakistan fired mortars and other weapons while a befitting response is being given."&nbsp;

Three Indian army soldiers have been killed so far since last night in Pakistan's provocation. Before the snow sets in, Pakistan usually tries to push more terrorists to the Indian side because passes and tracks usually used by them get covered and closed.&nbsp;

In the past, Indian army has said that Pakistan violates ceasefire to provide cover to the infiltrators but their alertness have resulted in successfully soiling of these attempts.

(With inputs from agencies)

Two Indian army solider have been killed in action during an unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Naugam sector in north Kashmir's Kupwara district while four others have been inured who are being evacuated to an army facility.

Two Indian army solider have been killed in action during an unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Naugam sector in north Kashmir's Kupwara district while four others have been inured who are being evacuated to an army facility. Earlier, Pakistan Army resorted to an unprovoked ceasefire violation on the line of control in Krishna Ghati Sector in Poonch district of Jammu region, killing a solider while another was injured. In the morning, army said that "Pakistan fired mortars and other weapons while a befitting response is being given." Three Indian army soldiers have been killed so far since last night in Pakistan's provocation. Before the snow sets in, Pakistan usually tries to push more terrorists to the Indian side because passes and tracks usually used by them get covered and closed. In the past, Indian army has said that Pakistan violates ceasefire to provide cover to the infiltrators but their alertness have resulted in successfully soiling of these attempts. (With inputs from agencies)

Three Indian army men killed, five injured as Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC in J&K

A top Democratic senator has introduced a legislation in the US Senate to establish a forum for cooperation with India on clean energy technologies and energy transmission.

Introduced by Senator Robert Menendez, a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Prioritising Clean Energy and Climate Cooperation with India Act seeks to establish the US-India Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership (CEPTP) as the main forum for cooperation between the two nations on clean energy technologies.

The activities under the CEPTP include promoting joint research and development on clean energy technologies, encouraging US private investment in the Indian clean energy market and supporting initiatives to develop new and renewable energy generation capacity in India.

The legislation also promotes US-India cooperation on climate resilience and risk reduction, a statement said.

''Given the shared threat of climate change and India's growing need for electricity, there is a strong case to be made for strengthening the US-India clean energy partnership,''&nbsp;Menendez said.

''In that vein, I am introducing this legislation having witnessed firsthand the positive results that come when our nations work as a team to tackle common challenges,''&nbsp;he said.

It also sought America's participation in the International Solar Alliance led by India which is playing a key role in mobilising significant international investment in solar energy.

It urged the US to promote research, development and private sector cooperation on the production of electric vehicles and the planning and execution of an expansive charging station network to support extensive use of electric vehicles.

The Senate legislation, running into 39 pages, asks the Trump administration to support a report, within 90 days of its passage, detailing the scope and nature of the US' participation in Mission Innovation.

Observing that the US should support the Power for All initiative created by the Government of India through technical and other forms of assistance, the legislation said that the US should support the ambitious renewable energy generation goals set by the India through technical and other forms of assistance.

Increased demand for refrigeration and air conditioning in India, and the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, done at Montreal September 16, 1987, are driving innovation and investments in next-generation refrigeration equipment and refrigerants in India; it said.

As such the legislation says that enhanced United States-India bilateral cooperation and engagement on the development of technologies and chemicals that are compliant with the Kigali Amendment are in the interest of US industry leaders in the refrigeration and chemical coolant industries.

Menendez was part of a congressional delegation to India in the fall of 2019, during which he engaged with India's minister of New and Renewable Energy and Indian business leaders to discuss how the US and India can address the threat of climate change and deepen cooperation on clean energy production.

''By establishing the US-India Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership, we are laying the groundwork for successful partnerships between not only the US and Indian governments, but also our universities and private sectors. I am proud to lead this effort to further strengthen our relationship with India,''&nbsp;Menendez said.

The legislation also seeks to promotes lawful sharing of intellectual property between US and Indian private sector entities for renewable energy technology, air conditioning technology, and refrigeration systems technology.

A top Democratic senator has introduced a legislation in the US Senate to establish a forum for cooperation with India on clean energy technologies and energy transmission.

A top Democratic senator has introduced a legislation in the US Senate to establish a forum for cooperation with India on clean energy technologies and energy transmission. Introduced by Senator Robert Menendez, a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Prioritising Clean Energy and Climate Cooperation with India Act seeks to establish the US-India Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership (CEPTP) as the main forum for cooperation between the two nations on clean energy technologies. The activities under the CEPTP include promoting joint research and development on clean energy technologies, encouraging US private investment in the Indian clean energy market and supporting initiatives to develop new and renewable energy generation capacity in India. The legislation also promotes US-India cooperation on climate resilience and risk reduction, a statement said. ''Given the shared threat of climate change and India's growing need for electricity, there is a strong case to be made for strengthening the US-India clean energy partnership,'' Menendez said. ''In that vein, I am introducing this legislation having witnessed firsthand the positive results that come when our nations work as a team to tackle common challenges,'' he said. It also sought America's participation in the International Solar Alliance led by India which is playing a key role in mobilising significant international investment in solar energy. It urged the US to promote research, development and private sector cooperation on the production of electric vehicles and the planning and execution of an expansive charging station network to support extensive use of electric vehicles. The Senate legislation, running into 39 pages, asks the Trump administration to support a report, within 90 days of its passage, detailing the scope and nature of the US' participation in Mission Innovation. Observing that the US should support the Power for All initiative created by the Government of India through technical and other forms of assistance, the legislation said that the US should support the ambitious renewable energy generation goals set by the India through technical and other forms of assistance. Increased demand for refrigeration and air conditioning in India, and the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, done at Montreal September 16, 1987, are driving innovation and investments in next-generation refrigeration equipment and refrigerants in India; it said. As such the legislation says that enhanced United States-India bilateral cooperation and engagement on the development of technologies and chemicals that are compliant with the Kigali Amendment are in the interest of US industry leaders in the refrigeration and chemical coolant industries. Menendez was part of a congressional delegation to India in the fall of 2019, during which he engaged with India's minister of New and Renewable Energy and Indian business leaders to discuss how the US and India can address the threat of climate change and deepen cooperation on clean energy production. ''By establishing the US-India Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership, we are laying the groundwork for successful partnerships between not only the US and Indian governments, but also our universities and private sectors. I am proud to lead this effort to further strengthen our relationship with India,'' Menendez said. The legislation also seeks to promotes lawful sharing of intellectual property between US and Indian private sector entities for renewable energy technology, air conditioning technology, and refrigeration systems technology.

Legislation introduced in US Senate to boost clean energy cooperation with India

Amnesty International has had a troubled relationship with every kind of government in India. The BJP-led government in India has launched an investigation into Amnesty. India's Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) said that Amnesty International has been denied FCRA approval by successive governments since it's not eligible to get such approval.

Indian government rejects Amnesty International's claims

UP Hathras gang rape - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday constituted a three-member SIT to probe the Hathras gang-rape incident which has sparked outrage.

A senior government official said the chief minister has also asked for conducting the trial of the case in a fast track court.

A 19-year-old woman was brutally gang-raped in a village in Hathras district two weeks ago.

She died of her grievous injuries at a Delhi hospital on Tuesday, prompting outrage, protests and calls for justice.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/take-strictest-action-against-hathras-rape-culprits-pm-modi-to-cm-yogi-331365">Hathras gang rape Latest Updates </a>

The official said Secretary home, Bhagwan Swarup, will lead the SIT and DIG, Chandraprakash, and commandant PAC Agra, Poonam, will be its members.

The SIT has been asked to submit its report in seven days’ time, the official said.

The woman was gang-raped on September 14 following which she was admitted to the J N Medical College Hospital in Aligarh with serious injuries.

She was referred to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital on Monday after her condition showed no signs of improvement.

Meanwhile, the Congress on Wednesday slammed the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the Hathras gang-rape victim's family being allegedly denied the right to perform her last rites, with party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra demanding Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's resignation.

The body of the 19-year-old Dalit woman, who died in a Delhi hospital a fortnight after she was gang-raped, was cremated in Hathras in the early hours of Wednesday, with her family alleging the local police forced them to conduct the last rites in the dead of the night.

Local police officers, however, told PTI that the cremation was carried out "as per the wishes of the family".

The Congress has been holding protests in the national capital and various parts of Uttar Pradesh demanding justice for the gang-rape victim.

Party leader Rahul Gandhi, in a tweet, said, "A daughter of India is raped-murdered, facts are suppressed and in the end, the right to perform the last rites is also taken away from the victim's family."

"It is insulting and unjust," he said in the tweet in Hindi using the hashtag 'Hathras Horror Shocks India'.

Along with the tweet, Rahul Gandhi also tagged a video purportedly of the cremation site showing a police officer not answering to queries as to whether the body of the victim was being cremated there.

Hathras gang rape updates

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi said, "I was on the phone with the Hathras victim's father when he was informed that his daughter had passed away. I heard him cry out in despair."

"He had just been telling me that all he wanted was justice for his child. Last night the victim's father was robbed of the chance to take his daughter home for the last time and perform her last rites," she said in a series of tweets.

Tagging Adityanath, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said, "RESIGN. Instead of protecting the victim and her family, your government became complicit in depriving her of every single human right, even in death. You have no moral right to continue as chief minister."

In another tweet in Hindi, she alleged that at 2:30 am Wednesday the "victim's kin kept requesting", but the UP administration "forcibly" cremated the deceased.

"The government did not protect her when she was alive. The government did not provide her timely treatment when she was attacked. After her death, the government took away the right of the family to perform the last rites of their daughter and did not respect the deceased," Priyanka Gandhi said.

Hitting out at the chief minister, she alleged, "Gross inhumanity. You did not stop the crime but behaved like criminals. You did not stop the atrocities, but committed atrocity on an innocent child and her family twice."

Tagging Adityanath and asking him to resign, Priyanka Gandhi said, "There is no justice in your rule only injustice."

The Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also hit out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh and asked why the victim’s family was was denied the right to perform her last rites and why was the body cremated at 2:30 am.

He alleged that all limits of atrocities and brutality had been crossed and demanded Yogi Adityanath's resignation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/hathras-gangrape-case-family-accuses-up-police-of-forcefully-cremating-victim-331354">Hathras gang rape Detail</a>

On September 14, the young woman had gone to the fields with her mother and went missing soon after.

She was found later, beaten and tortured, her tongue cut as she bit it when the accused attempted to strangle her.

She was first admitted to Aligarh Muslim University's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital and then shifted to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi on Monday.

UP Hathras gang rape - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday constituted a three-member SIT to probe the Hathras gang-rape incident which has sparked outrage.

UP Hathras gang rape - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday constituted a three-member SIT to probe the Hathras gang-rape incident which has sparked outrage. A senior government official said the chief minister has also asked for conducting the trial of the case in a fast track court. A 19-year-old woman was brutally gang-raped in a village in Hathras district two weeks ago. She died of her grievous injuries at a Delhi hospital on Tuesday, prompting outrage, protests and calls for justice. Hathras gang rape Latest Updates The official said Secretary home, Bhagwan Swarup, will lead the SIT and DIG, Chandraprakash, and commandant PAC Agra, Poonam, will be its members. The SIT has been asked to submit its report in seven days’ time, the official said. The woman was gang-raped on September 14 following which she was admitted to the J N Medical College Hospital in Aligarh with serious injuries. She was referred to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital on Monday after her condition showed no signs of improvement. Meanwhile, the Congress on Wednesday slammed the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the Hathras gang-rape victim's family being allegedly denied the right to perform her last rites, with party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra demanding Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's resignation. The body of the 19-year-old Dalit woman, who died in a Delhi hospital a fortnight after she was gang-raped, was cremated in Hathras in the early hours of Wednesday, with her family alleging the local police forced them to conduct the last rites in the dead of the night. Local police officers, however, told PTI that the cremation was carried out "as per the wishes of the family". The Congress has been holding protests in the national capital and various parts of Uttar Pradesh demanding justice for the gang-rape victim. Party leader Rahul Gandhi, in a tweet, said, "A daughter of India is raped-murdered, facts are suppressed and in the end, the right to perform the last rites is also taken away from the victim's family." "It is insulting and unjust," he said in the tweet in Hindi using the hashtag 'Hathras Horror Shocks India'. Along with the tweet, Rahul Gandhi also tagged a video purportedly of the cremation site showing a police officer not answering to queries as to whether the body of the victim was being cremated there. Hathras gang rape updates Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi said, "I was on the phone with the Hathras victim's father when he was informed that his daughter had passed away. I heard him cry out in despair." "He had just been telling me that all he wanted was justice for his child. Last night the victim's father was robbed of the chance to take his daughter home for the last time and perform her last rites," she said in a series of tweets. Tagging Adityanath, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said, "RESIGN. Instead of protecting the victim and her family, your government became complicit in depriving her of every single human right, even in death. You have no moral right to continue as chief minister." In another tweet in Hindi, she alleged that at 2:30 am Wednesday the "victim's kin kept requesting", but the UP administration "forcibly" cremated the deceased. "The government did not protect her when she was alive. The government did not provide her timely treatment when she was attacked. After her death, the government took away the right of the family to perform the last rites of their daughter and did not respect the deceased," Priyanka Gandhi said. Hitting out at the chief minister, she alleged, "Gross inhumanity. You did not stop the crime but behaved like criminals. You did not stop the atrocities, but committed atrocity on an innocent child and her family twice." Tagging Adityanath and asking him to resign, Priyanka Gandhi said, "There is no justice in your rule only injustice." The Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also hit out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh and asked why the victim’s family was was denied the right to perform her last rites and why was the body cremated at 2:30 am. He alleged that all limits of atrocities and brutality had been crossed and demanded Yogi Adityanath's resignation. Hathras gang rape Detail On September 14, the young woman had gone to the fields with her mother and went missing soon after. She was found later, beaten and tortured, her tongue cut as she bit it when the accused attempted to strangle her. She was first admitted to Aligarh Muslim University's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital and then shifted to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi on Monday.

SIT to probe Hathras gangrape, Congress demands Yogi Adityanath's resignation

Hathras gangrape case latest news&nbsp;- The dead body of a 19-year-old woman from Hathras, who died in a Delhi hospital after sustaining serious injuries during an alleged gang rape, was cremated early Wednesday in her village amid tight security.

Her family alleged that the local police forced them to conduct the last rites in the dead of the night.

However, the local police officials said that the cremation was carried out "as per the wishes of the family".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/take-strictest-action-against-hathras-rape-culprits-pm-modi-to-cm-yogi-331365">Hathras Gangrape Case Action</a>

"We have talked to the victim`s family members. The last rites of the victim have been performed keeping in view of peace situation here. Four accused have already been arrested. Police and administration will ensure that the perpetrators of the crime are brought to justice," Prem Prakash Meena, Hathras Joint Magistrate said.

"Financial assistance has been provided to her family," he said.

"The cremation was done around 2.30 am - 3 am," the father of the deceased woman said on Wednesday morning.

(With inputs from agencies)

Hathras gangrape case latest news - The dead body of a 19-year-old woman from Hathras, who died in a Delhi hospital after sustaining serious injuries during an alleged gang rape, was cremated early Wednesday in her village amid tight security.

Hathras gangrape case latest news - The dead body of a 19-year-old woman from Hathras, who died in a Delhi hospital after sustaining serious injuries during an alleged gang rape, was cremated early Wednesday in her village amid tight security. Her family alleged that the local police forced them to conduct the last rites in the dead of the night. However, the local police officials said that the cremation was carried out "as per the wishes of the family". Hathras Gangrape Case Action "We have talked to the victim`s family members. The last rites of the victim have been performed keeping in view of peace situation here. Four accused have already been arrested. Police and administration will ensure that the perpetrators of the crime are brought to justice," Prem Prakash Meena, Hathras Joint Magistrate said. "Financial assistance has been provided to her family," he said. "The cremation was done around 2.30 am - 3 am," the father of the deceased woman said on Wednesday morning. (With inputs from agencies)

Hathras gangrape case: Family accuses UP police of forcefully cremating victim

Hathras rape culprits: PM Modi to CM Yogi&nbsp; - After the brutal gang rape and murder case of Hathras sparking outrage in India and abroad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take strictest action against the culprits.

The girl was gang-raped and strangulated on September 14 when she had gone to collect fodder from the field. Following which she was admitted to the J N Medical College Hospital in Aligarh with serious injuries. She was referred to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital on Monday after her condition showed no signs of improvement.

Hathras rape culprits

Meanwhile, Yogi Adityanath has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. The SIT, according to IANS, will comprise of home secretary Bhagwan Swaroop, DIG Chandra Prakash and IPS officer Poonam.

"Culprits of Hathras gangrape incident will not be spared. An SIT has been formed to investigate the incident, the team will submit a report within next 7 days. To ensure swift justice, this case will be tried in a fast-track court," said the Chief Minister.&nbsp;

All four accused have already been arrested.

The Yogi Adityanath led Uttar Pradesh government has been facing massive criticism over the incident.

"The police have forcibly taken the dead body, and my father along with them for cremation. When my father reached Hathras, he was immediately taken (to the crematorium) by the police," the victim`s brother told the media.

However, Hathras police have denied the charges and has issued a notice saying the coercion being talked about on social media is canard. It said: "The family cremated the body with due rituals under the supervision of police and administration."

(With inputs from agencies)

Hathras rape culprits: PM Modi to CM Yogi - After the brutal gang rape and murder case of Hathras sparking outrage in India and abroad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take strictest action against the culprits.

Hathras rape culprits: PM Modi to CM Yogi - After the brutal gang rape and murder case of Hathras sparking outrage in India and abroad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take strictest action against the culprits. The girl was gang-raped and strangulated on September 14 when she had gone to collect fodder from the field. Following which she was admitted to the J N Medical College Hospital in Aligarh with serious injuries. She was referred to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital on Monday after her condition showed no signs of improvement. Hathras rape culprits Meanwhile, Yogi Adityanath has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. The SIT, according to IANS, will comprise of home secretary Bhagwan Swaroop, DIG Chandra Prakash and IPS officer Poonam. "Culprits of Hathras gangrape incident will not be spared. An SIT has been formed to investigate the incident, the team will submit a report within next 7 days. To ensure swift justice, this case will be tried in a fast-track court," said the Chief Minister. All four accused have already been arrested. The Yogi Adityanath led Uttar Pradesh government has been facing massive criticism over the incident. "The police have forcibly taken the dead body, and my father along with them for cremation. When my father reached Hathras, he was immediately taken (to the crematorium) by the police," the victim`s brother told the media. However, Hathras police have denied the charges and has issued a notice saying the coercion being talked about on social media is canard. It said: "The family cremated the body with due rituals under the supervision of police and administration." (With inputs from agencies)

Take 'strictest action' against Hathras rape culprits: PM Modi to CM Yogi

The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday issued new guidelines for permitting more activities in areas outside the containment zones that include opening up cinemas, theatres and multiplexes with up to 50 per cent of their seating capacity from October 15.

States and UT governments have been given the flexibility to decide on reopening schools and coaching institutions after October 15 in a graded manner, and permitting social, religious and political gatherings beyond the limit of 100 persons, subject to certain conditions.

However, the ministry said that restrictions on international travel, except those permitted by the Centre, will continue. 
In a statement, it said the activities permitted from October 15 in areas outside the containment zones include cinemas, theatres and multiplexes that can open with up to 50 per cent of their seating capacity, for which the SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Business to Business (B2B) Exhibitions will be permitted and the SOP will be issued by the Department of Commerce.

Swimming pools being used for training of sportspersons will be allowed to open for which the standard operating procedure (SOP) will be issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Entertainment parks and similar places will also be permitted to open from October 15. The SOP will be issued by the&nbsp;Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in this regard.

All these activities had been shut after a lockdown was imposed from March 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The new guidelines are based on feedback received from states and UTs, and extensive consultations held with related central ministries and departments, the statement said.

The fresh guidelines said state and UT governments have been given the flexibility to permit social, religious and political gatherings beyond the limit of 100 persons, outside containment zones, after October 15.

However, they will be subject to certain conditions like a maximum of 50 per cent of the hall capacity with a ceiling of 200 persons and mandatory wearing of face masks.

This comes ahead of the three-phase Bihar assembly elections which will begin from October 27.

For the re-opening of schools and coaching institutions, State and UT governments can decide to do so after October 15, in a graded manner. The decision shall be taken in consultation with the respective school and institution management, based on their assessment of the situation, and subject to certain conditions, it said.

Online or distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged, the ministry said.

Where schools are conducting online classes, if some students prefer to attend online classes rather than physically attend school, they may be permitted to do so.

Students may attend schools and institutions only with the written consent of parents.

Attendance must not be enforced, and must depend entirely on parental consent, the home ministry said.

States and UTs will prepare their own SOP regarding health and safety precautions for the reopening of schools and institutions based on the SOP to be issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Union Ministry of Education, keeping local requirements in view.

Schools, which are allowed to open, will have to mandatorily follow the SOP to be issued by education departments of states and UTs.

Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education may take a decision on the timing of the opening of colleges and higher education institutions, in consultation with the home ministry, based on the assessment of the situation, the ministry said.

Online and distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged.

However, higher education institutions only for research scholars (Ph.D.) and post-graduate students in the science and technology stream requiring laboratory and experimental works will be permitted to open from October 15.

For centrally funded higher education institutions, the head of the institution will satisfy herself or himself that there is a genuine requirement of research scholars (Ph.D.) and post-graduate students in the science and technology stream for laboratory and experimental works.

For all other higher education institutions e.G. State universities, private universities, etc., they may open only for research scholars (Ph.D.) and postgraduate students in the science and technology stream requiring laboratory and experimental works as per decision to be taken by the respective State and UT governments.

The lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones till?October 31, the ministry said.

The home ministry reiterated that states will not impose any local lockdown outside the containment zones without prior consultation with the central government.

There will be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement.

The coronavirus induced country-wide lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from March 25 and it was extended in phases till May 31.

The Unlock process in the country had begun on June 1 with the graded reopening of commercial, social, religious and other activities.

India's coronavirus tally has mounted to 62,25,763 on Wednesday, while the death toll climbed to 97,497.

The number of people recuperating from the disease has surged to 51,87,825. There are 9,40,441 active cases of the infection in the country which comprises 15.11 per cent of the total caseload.

The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday issued new guidelines for permitting more activities in areas outside the containment zones that include opening up cinemas, theatres and multiplexes with up to 50 per cent of their seating capacity from October 15.

The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday issued new guidelines for permitting more activities in areas outside the containment zones that include opening up cinemas, theatres and multiplexes with up to 50 per cent of their seating capacity from October 15. States and UT governments have been given the flexibility to decide on reopening schools and coaching institutions after October 15 in a graded manner, and permitting social, religious and political gatherings beyond the limit of 100 persons, subject to certain conditions. However, the ministry said that restrictions on international travel, except those permitted by the Centre, will continue. In a statement, it said the activities permitted from October 15 in areas outside the containment zones include cinemas, theatres and multiplexes that can open with up to 50 per cent of their seating capacity, for which the SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Business to Business (B2B) Exhibitions will be permitted and the SOP will be issued by the Department of Commerce. Swimming pools being used for training of sportspersons will be allowed to open for which the standard operating procedure (SOP) will be issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Entertainment parks and similar places will also be permitted to open from October 15. The SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in this regard. All these activities had been shut after a lockdown was imposed from March 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The new guidelines are based on feedback received from states and UTs, and extensive consultations held with related central ministries and departments, the statement said. The fresh guidelines said state and UT governments have been given the flexibility to permit social, religious and political gatherings beyond the limit of 100 persons, outside containment zones, after October 15. However, they will be subject to certain conditions like a maximum of 50 per cent of the hall capacity with a ceiling of 200 persons and mandatory wearing of face masks. This comes ahead of the three-phase Bihar assembly elections which will begin from October 27. For the re-opening of schools and coaching institutions, State and UT governments can decide to do so after October 15, in a graded manner. The decision shall be taken in consultation with the respective school and institution management, based on their assessment of the situation, and subject to certain conditions, it said. Online or distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged, the ministry said. Where schools are conducting online classes, if some students prefer to attend online classes rather than physically attend school, they may be permitted to do so. Students may attend schools and institutions only with the written consent of parents. Attendance must not be enforced, and must depend entirely on parental consent, the home ministry said. States and UTs will prepare their own SOP regarding health and safety precautions for the reopening of schools and institutions based on the SOP to be issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Union Ministry of Education, keeping local requirements in view. Schools, which are allowed to open, will have to mandatorily follow the SOP to be issued by education departments of states and UTs. Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education may take a decision on the timing of the opening of colleges and higher education institutions, in consultation with the home ministry, based on the assessment of the situation, the ministry said. Online and distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged. However, higher education institutions only for research scholars (Ph.D.) and post-graduate students in the science and technology stream requiring laboratory and experimental works will be permitted to open from October 15. For centrally funded higher education institutions, the head of the institution will satisfy herself or himself that there is a genuine requirement of research scholars (Ph.D.) and post-graduate students in the science and technology stream for laboratory and experimental works. For all other higher education institutions e.G. State universities, private universities, etc., they may open only for research scholars (Ph.D.) and postgraduate students in the science and technology stream requiring laboratory and experimental works as per decision to be taken by the respective State and UT governments. The lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones till?October 31, the ministry said. The home ministry reiterated that states will not impose any local lockdown outside the containment zones without prior consultation with the central government. There will be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement. The coronavirus induced country-wide lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from March 25 and it was extended in phases till May 31. The Unlock process in the country had begun on June 1 with the graded reopening of commercial, social, religious and other activities. India's coronavirus tally has mounted to 62,25,763 on Wednesday, while the death toll climbed to 97,497. The number of people recuperating from the disease has surged to 51,87,825. There are 9,40,441 active cases of the infection in the country which comprises 15.11 per cent of the total caseload.

Cinemas, entertainment parks permitted to reopen from Oct 15 under new guidelines by Centre

Three&nbsp;of Apple Inc's top&nbsp;contract manufacturers plan to invest a total of almost $900 million in India in the next five years to tap into a new production-linked incentive plan, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Foxconn, Wistron&nbsp;and Pegatron all plan to make investments under the scheme, said the sources, who asked not to be named as the discussions are private.

India's new $6.65 billion production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme offers companies cash incentives on any increase in sales of locally-made smartphones over the next five years, compared with 2019-20 levels. The scheme aims to help transform India into an export manufacturing hub.
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-3-big-suppliers-of-apple-to-invest-900-million-in-india-331285/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

Foxconn has applied to invest about 40 billion rupees ($542 million), while Wistron and Pegatron have committed to invest close to 13 billion rupees and 12 billion rupees, respectively, under the PLI plan, the sources said.

It is unclear whether all of the investment will be targeted at boosting manufacturing of Apple devices in India, but the sources and industry insiders said the vast majority would be focused on expanding iPhone manufacturing in the country.

Foxconn said that as a matter of policy it did not comment on specific operations or work for any customer. Apple, Wistron, Pegatron and India's technology ministry, which formulated the PLI scheme, did not respond to emails seeking comment.

While Foxconn, Pegatron and Wistron make devices for companies other than Apple globally, Wistron's arm in India currently assembles only iPhones.

Wistron, which assembles roughly 200,000 second-generation iPhone SEs per month in India, plans to scale that up to 400,000 a month by the end of the year, one of the sources said, as it looks to cater to export demand for the device.

That plan is expected to create roughly 10,000 jobs, the source added.

Pegatron is yet to start Indian operations, but has been in talks with several states, with Tamil Nadu in the south emerging as a frontrunner for a planned plant to manufacture Apple devices, a third source said.

Foxconn, which also assembles devices for Xiaomi&nbsp;in India, already has enough capacity to meet Xiaomi's needs and is likely to use the PLI plan largely to boost iPhone production, a fourth source said.

The commitments would help Apple diversify its supply chain beyond China, which is locked in a trade war with the United States.

Apple started assembling in 2017 a low-cost iPhone model in India through Wistron's local unit in the tech hub of Bengaluru. It later ramped up production, with Foxconn beginning to assemble iPhones last year and Wistron widening operations.

"India is key to Apple's global ambitions as it expands beyond China," said Tarun Pathak, an associate director at tech researcher Counterpoint. "It offers a strategic market to them where skilled labour is cheaper as compared to other manufacturing destinations, the size of the internal market is huge and the export potential is enormous."

Local manufacturing helps Apple save costly duties levied on imports of fully-built phones and components in India, where the Cupertino, California-headquartered tech giant accounts for just 1% of smartphone shipments.

Apple is looking to change that. It launched its online store in India last week, and is building its first company-run retail store in the financial hub of Mumbai.

Three of Apple Inc's top contract manufacturers plan to invest a total of almost $900 million in India in the next five years to tap into a new production-linked incentive plan, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Three of Apple Inc's top contract manufacturers plan to invest a total of almost $900 million in India in the next five years to tap into a new production-linked incentive plan, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron all plan to make investments under the scheme, said the sources, who asked not to be named as the discussions are private. India's new $6.65 billion production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme offers companies cash incentives on any increase in sales of locally-made smartphones over the next five years, compared with 2019-20 levels. The scheme aims to help transform India into an export manufacturing hub. Foxconn has applied to invest about 40 billion rupees ($542 million), while Wistron and Pegatron have committed to invest close to 13 billion rupees and 12 billion rupees, respectively, under the PLI plan, the sources said. It is unclear whether all of the investment will be targeted at boosting manufacturing of Apple devices in India, but the sources and industry insiders said the vast majority would be focused on expanding iPhone manufacturing in the country. Foxconn said that as a matter of policy it did not comment on specific operations or work for any customer. Apple, Wistron, Pegatron and India's technology ministry, which formulated the PLI scheme, did not respond to emails seeking comment. While Foxconn, Pegatron and Wistron make devices for companies other than Apple globally, Wistron's arm in India currently assembles only iPhones. Wistron, which assembles roughly 200,000 second-generation iPhone SEs per month in India, plans to scale that up to 400,000 a month by the end of the year, one of the sources said, as it looks to cater to export demand for the device. That plan is expected to create roughly 10,000 jobs, the source added. Pegatron is yet to start Indian operations, but has been in talks with several states, with Tamil Nadu in the south emerging as a frontrunner for a planned plant to manufacture Apple devices, a third source said. Foxconn, which also assembles devices for Xiaomi in India, already has enough capacity to meet Xiaomi's needs and is likely to use the PLI plan largely to boost iPhone production, a fourth source said. The commitments would help Apple diversify its supply chain beyond China, which is locked in a trade war with the United States. Apple started assembling in 2017 a low-cost iPhone model in India through Wistron's local unit in the tech hub of Bengaluru. It later ramped up production, with Foxconn beginning to assemble iPhones last year and Wistron widening operations. "India is key to Apple's global ambitions as it expands beyond China," said Tarun Pathak, an associate director at tech researcher Counterpoint. "It offers a strategic market to them where skilled labour is cheaper as compared to other manufacturing destinations, the size of the internal market is huge and the export potential is enormous." Local manufacturing helps Apple save costly duties levied on imports of fully-built phones and components in India, where the Cupertino, California-headquartered tech giant accounts for just 1% of smartphone shipments. Apple is looking to change that. It launched its online store in India last week, and is building its first company-run retail store in the financial hub of Mumbai.

Three top Apple suppliers to commit $900 million to India smartphone incentive plan: Sources

India's COVID-19 tally has crossed the 62 lakh-mark with a spike of 80,472 new cases and 1,179 deaths reported in the last 24-hours, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

India tally stands at 62, 25,764 including 9,40,441 active cases, 51,87,826 recoveries and 97,497 deaths as per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data.

The government also said that India witnesses high single day recoveries, several States/UTs are reporting more patients recovering than the new cases.

The average single day recoveries have touched a record high of 90,000 in the recent days.

Total tests on a single day at 10.86 lakh vs yesterday’s 11.40 lakh. Recovery rate rises to 83.33 percent from yesterday’s 82.58 percent. Positivity rate just above 15 percent; its 15.11 percent vs yesterday’s 15.42 percent.

(With inputs from agencies)

India's COVID-19 tally has crossed the 62 lakh-mark with a spike of 80,472 new cases and 1,179 deaths reported in the last 24-hours, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

India's COVID-19 tally has crossed the 62 lakh-mark with a spike of 80,472 new cases and 1,179 deaths reported in the last 24-hours, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday. India tally stands at 62, 25,764 including 9,40,441 active cases, 51,87,826 recoveries and 97,497 deaths as per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data. The government also said that India witnesses high single day recoveries, several States/UTs are reporting more patients recovering than the new cases. The average single day recoveries have touched a record high of 90,000 in the recent days. Total tests on a single day at 10.86 lakh vs yesterday’s 11.40 lakh. Recovery rate rises to 83.33 percent from yesterday’s 82.58 percent. Positivity rate just above 15 percent; its 15.11 percent vs yesterday’s 15.42 percent. (With inputs from agencies)

India reports 80,472 fresh cases, 1,179 deaths as tally crosses 62-lakh mark 

India’s aviation regulator on Tuesday said it is in negotiations with Germany over flights between the nations after German carrier Lufthansa said it was forced to cancel some flights to the South Asian country. Lufthansa earlier said on Twitter that it had been forced to cancel some flights to India after New Delhi rejected its planned flight schedule for October.

Lufthansa cancels India flights till October 20

India on Wednesday highlighted Pakistan's hate speeches against Indian leadership and the situation of minorities in the country at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

India's first secretary at United Nations in Geneva, Pawan Badhe said, "We are not baffled that Pakistan does well when it comes to inciting hatred against religious minorities and targeting our leadership with hate speeches."

"It’s well cherished and inherited culture of hatred makes it the perfect candidate for carrying forward the legacy of intolerance against anybody having modern views on human rights," he added.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and other members of the ruling PTI have been making remarks about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India. Infact, Khan mentioned India 20 times during his United Nations General Assembly speech last week.

The Indian diplomat said, "No fabricated words against India are going to change the fact that Pakistan and territories under its control are deathtraps for journalists, human rights defenders, social activists and religious and ethnic minorities.

"Perennial India bashing project of Pakistan in the UN system is also not going to change the fact that hundreds of journalists and human rights defenders die each year in Pakistan due to systematic killings including extrajudicial ones. Incessant attempts to malign India in all international forums is not going to change the fact that tens of thousands of minorities would not stop fleeing Pakistan."

A number of reports of minority Hindu and Sikh girls have been converted in the country. Recent abduction and conversion of Jagjit Kaur to Ayesha Bibi has been dominating the news on both sides of the border with a number of Sikh groups protesting against it near Pakistani High Commission in Delhi.

To this end, Pawan said, "While the world has progressed well, Pakistan is still at the crossroads to understand the real meaning of modern laws, democracy and human rights. The language of accountability, civic space, fundamental freedoms, public participation is yet to find resonance with the authorities of Pakistan."

India on Wednesday highlighted Pakistan's hate speeches against Indian leadership and the situation of minorities in the country at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

India on Wednesday highlighted Pakistan's hate speeches against Indian leadership and the situation of minorities in the country at the United Nations Human Rights Council. India's first secretary at United Nations in Geneva, Pawan Badhe said, "We are not baffled that Pakistan does well when it comes to inciting hatred against religious minorities and targeting our leadership with hate speeches." "It’s well cherished and inherited culture of hatred makes it the perfect candidate for carrying forward the legacy of intolerance against anybody having modern views on human rights," he added. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and other members of the ruling PTI have been making remarks about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India. Infact, Khan mentioned India 20 times during his United Nations General Assembly speech last week. The Indian diplomat said, "No fabricated words against India are going to change the fact that Pakistan and territories under its control are deathtraps for journalists, human rights defenders, social activists and religious and ethnic minorities. "Perennial India bashing project of Pakistan in the UN system is also not going to change the fact that hundreds of journalists and human rights defenders die each year in Pakistan due to systematic killings including extrajudicial ones. Incessant attempts to malign India in all international forums is not going to change the fact that tens of thousands of minorities would not stop fleeing Pakistan." A number of reports of minority Hindu and Sikh girls have been converted in the country. Recent abduction and conversion of Jagjit Kaur to Ayesha Bibi has been dominating the news on both sides of the border with a number of Sikh groups protesting against it near Pakistani High Commission in Delhi. To this end, Pawan said, "While the world has progressed well, Pakistan is still at the crossroads to understand the real meaning of modern laws, democracy and human rights. The language of accountability, civic space, fundamental freedoms, public participation is yet to find resonance with the authorities of Pakistan."

At UNHRC, India highlights Pakistan's 'hate speeches'

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken more than one million lives across the globe with no concrete medication or vaccine in sight. But we bring good news!

As part of an ongoing research, clinical trials conducted across three hospitals have displayed that natural treatment, or as more commonly called “Ayurveda” has shown positive results in easing symptoms of the virus before the allopathic medicines.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/world-bank-announces-covid-19-relief-initiative-worth-12-billion-for-low-income-countries-331424" hreflang="en">World Bank announces COVID-19 relief initiative worth $12 billion for low-income countries</a>

The Ayurvedic remedy goes by the names “Immunofree” and “Reginmune”, made by Corival Life Sciences and Biogetica respectively. News agency IANS reported that the results are no short of “groundbreaking”&nbsp;

The most common tests for COVID-19 like Procalcitonin, RT-PCR, C reactive protein, etc are exhibiting 20-60 per cent improvement after the patients undergoing nature-based treatments, as opposed to the more common medications.

COVID-19 causes a range of symptoms, some minor like body ache, dry cough, headaches to more serious symptoms like shortness of breath and difficulty in speaking. The Ayurvedic mode of treatment was also able to relieve such symptoms a lot quickly.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/how-chinas-unapproved-covid-19-vaccine-drive-is-putting-citizens-at-risk-331253" hreflang="en">How China's unapproved COVID-19 vaccine drive is putting citizens at risk</a>

When compared with conventional treatments for COVID-19, Ayurvedic treatment has shown quicker improvement too. 86.66 per cent patients undergoing a natural treatment tested negative by the fifth day vs 60 per cent patients on conventional treatment.

On the 10th day, all patients tested negative for the virus after Ayurvedic treatment.

The three hospitals where Ayurvedic clinical trials are taking place in India are Government Medical Hospital, Srikakulam Andhra Pradesh; Parul Sevashram Hospital, Vadodara, Gujarat, and Lokmanya Hospital Pune, Maharashtra.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken more than one million lives across the globe with no concrete medication or vaccine in sight. But we bring good news! As part of an ongoing research, clinical trials conducted across three hospitals have displayed that natural treatment, or as more commonly called “Ayurveda” has shown positive results in easing symptoms of the virus before the allopathic medicines.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken more than one million lives across the globe with no concrete medication or vaccine in sight. But we bring good news! As part of an ongoing research, clinical trials conducted across three hospitals have displayed that natural treatment, or as more commonly called “Ayurveda” has shown positive results in easing symptoms of the virus before the allopathic medicines. Also read: World Bank announces COVID-19 relief initiative worth $12 billion for low-income countries The Ayurvedic remedy goes by the names “Immunofree” and “Reginmune”, made by Corival Life Sciences and Biogetica respectively. News agency IANS reported that the results are no short of “groundbreaking” The most common tests for COVID-19 like Procalcitonin, RT-PCR, C reactive protein, etc are exhibiting 20-60 per cent improvement after the patients undergoing nature-based treatments, as opposed to the more common medications. COVID-19 causes a range of symptoms, some minor like body ache, dry cough, headaches to more serious symptoms like shortness of breath and difficulty in speaking. The Ayurvedic mode of treatment was also able to relieve such symptoms a lot quickly. Also read: How China's unapproved COVID-19 vaccine drive is putting citizens at risk When compared with conventional treatments for COVID-19, Ayurvedic treatment has shown quicker improvement too. 86.66 per cent patients undergoing a natural treatment tested negative by the fifth day vs 60 per cent patients on conventional treatment. On the 10th day, all patients tested negative for the virus after Ayurvedic treatment. The three hospitals where Ayurvedic clinical trials are taking place in India are Government Medical Hospital, Srikakulam Andhra Pradesh; Parul Sevashram Hospital, Vadodara, Gujarat, and Lokmanya Hospital Pune, Maharashtra.

India: Ayurvedic trials treating coronavirus show groundbreaking results

For more than 140 days now, China has been promising a de-escalation with India at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Now, Beijing has come up with a new logic to justify its military assertiveness. Beijing says that it is following the LAC, which was proposed way back in 1959.

India has rejected their position for more than 60 years now. Naturally, New Delhi is strengthening its defences, and rolling out missiles to counter the Chinese threat.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/india-successfully-test-fires-brahmos-cruise-missile-with-extended-strike-range-of-450-km-331404" hreflang="en">India successfully test-fires BrahMos cruise missile with extended strike range of 450 km</a>

On September 30, India tested the BrahMos missile. Two more missiles&nbsp; have been deployed to counter ‘the Dragon’. The city of Balasore in India's Odisha was buzzing today as a supersonic cruise missile roared through the skies. It is capable of travelling nearly three times faster than the speed of sound.

BrahMos has been in India's arsenal for a while. Now, the scientists at India's Defence Research and Development Organisation or DRDO have extended its range. The missile can now travel up to 400 kilometres. It has the potential to hit targets deep inside enemy lines. The BrahMos is part of a line up of three missiles that would serve as deterrents against China.

As the border stand-off continues, India is now positioning these missiles close to counter the Chinese build-up. The BrahMos, along with the Nirbhay and Akash are guarding India on the front. The Nirbhay has a range of 800 kilometres. While the Akash which is a surface-to-air missile can hit targets that are 40 kilometres away.

These missiles have very specific roles to play in case China decides to escalate the situation. Reports say the BrahMos can be used to target Chinese airstrips in Tibet and Xinjiang. It can also be used to take out a warship in the Indian Ocean.

The Nirbhay is a long range, all-weather missile, and can be launched from multiple platforms, and it can carry conventional and nuclear warheads. The Akash can be used to counter any People’s Liberation Army aircraft intrusion across the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

Why this is necessary

Boosting India's defences against china is the need of the hour because China isn't pulling back its troops. PLA soldiers are stationed close to the LAC, and India has been expanding its border infrastructure to track their movements.

The Chinese aggression is an attempt to change the status-quo on the ground. Recently, Beijing said that it is abiding by the line of control proposed 61 years ago in 1959.

This was proposed by Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai to India's then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in a letter. The Chinese proposal was instantly rejected by India. Zhou wanted forces on both sides to withdraw 20 kilometres from the McMahon line in the east.

For the first time in this standoff, China has made its position on the border clear. It wants India to accept the proposal made in 1959. India has responded with another rejection. A statement from New Delhi called China's claims unilateral.

For more than 140 days now, China has been promising a de-escalation with India at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Now, Beijing has come up with a new logic to justify its military assertiveness.

For more than 140 days now, China has been promising a de-escalation with India at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Now, Beijing has come up with a new logic to justify its military assertiveness. Beijing says that it is following the LAC, which was proposed way back in 1959. India has rejected their position for more than 60 years now. Naturally, New Delhi is strengthening its defences, and rolling out missiles to counter the Chinese threat. Also read: India successfully test-fires BrahMos cruise missile with extended strike range of 450 km On September 30, India tested the BrahMos missile. Two more missiles have been deployed to counter ‘the Dragon’. The city of Balasore in India's Odisha was buzzing today as a supersonic cruise missile roared through the skies. It is capable of travelling nearly three times faster than the speed of sound. BrahMos has been in India's arsenal for a while. Now, the scientists at India's Defence Research and Development Organisation or DRDO have extended its range. The missile can now travel up to 400 kilometres. It has the potential to hit targets deep inside enemy lines. The BrahMos is part of a line up of three missiles that would serve as deterrents against China. As the border stand-off continues, India is now positioning these missiles close to counter the Chinese build-up. The BrahMos, along with the Nirbhay and Akash are guarding India on the front. The Nirbhay has a range of 800 kilometres. While the Akash which is a surface-to-air missile can hit targets that are 40 kilometres away. These missiles have very specific roles to play in case China decides to escalate the situation. Reports say the BrahMos can be used to target Chinese airstrips in Tibet and Xinjiang. It can also be used to take out a warship in the Indian Ocean. The Nirbhay is a long range, all-weather missile, and can be launched from multiple platforms, and it can carry conventional and nuclear warheads. The Akash can be used to counter any People’s Liberation Army aircraft intrusion across the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. Why this is necessary Boosting India's defences against china is the need of the hour because China isn't pulling back its troops. PLA soldiers are stationed close to the LAC, and India has been expanding its border infrastructure to track their movements. The Chinese aggression is an attempt to change the status-quo on the ground. Recently, Beijing said that it is abiding by the line of control proposed 61 years ago in 1959. This was proposed by Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai to India's then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in a letter. The Chinese proposal was instantly rejected by India. Zhou wanted forces on both sides to withdraw 20 kilometres from the McMahon line in the east. For the first time in this standoff, China has made its position on the border clear. It wants India to accept the proposal made in 1959. India has responded with another rejection. A statement from New Delhi called China's claims unilateral.

BrahMos: Another deterrent against the ever-aggressive neighbour China

Indian aerospace start-up AgniKul Cosmos has signed a memorandum of agreement with Alaska Aerospace Corporation to test launch their Indian-made Agnibaan rocket from the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island in the United States. The launch from Alaska is expected to take place from 2022 onwards.&nbsp;

Under this agreement, Alaska Aerospace and AgniKul will work together to secure several regulatory approvals. They include US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launch licensing, US export control, and will comply with export laws &amp; regulations in India to receive necessary clearances from the Indian authorities as well. The aim is to define launch vehicle-spaceport interfaces, related procedures and conduct at least one test launch from PSCA.

“We are thrilled AgniKul has partnered with Alaska Aerospace for high inclination flight testing,” said Mark Lester, President and CEO of Alaska Aerospace. “Agnikul has established itself as a leading rocket technology company, and we are pleased Alaska’s proven launch infrastructure and expertise continue to attract new space launch companies from around the world”, he added.&nbsp;

Srinath Ravichandran, CEO and Co-founder of AgniKul Cosmos said that this announcement was further evidence of their company’s steady progress towards launch. “Alaska Aerospace and AgniKul share a vision of providing rapid, agile, and low-cost access to space. This is a great platform for us to demonstrate our 'Made In India, for the world' launch services solution through our mobile vehicle Agnibaan” he elaborated.&nbsp;

When asked about the reason behind choosing the Alaskan launch port, Srinath said that for certain types of orbits which are preferred by customers, it was preferred to launch from a high latitude location. “In some cases we might have to launch closer from poles and Alaska offers that, when it comes to launches from close to the equator, Sriharikota is an option and we are working with India’s In-space for this” he told WION.&nbsp;

When WION asked about the complexities in the logistics of getting a rocket to a foreign land, he said that it would be similar to how flights land in foreign airports. “The rocket can be shipped to the destination and at the launch port we’ll be provided facilities like fuel and tracking and telemetry systems. This enables us to go where the customer is” he said.&nbsp;

He also feels that there isn’t much of a competition n the segment that his company is targeting - payload of upto 100 kg to low Earth orbits up to 700 km. “There are quite a lot of players making rockets, but very few in the less than 100kg segment” he said, adding that they were targeting a maiden test launch by end of 2021.

“By partnering with Alaska Aerospace, AgniKul engineers and staff can focus on the technical complexities of perfecting our rocket Agnibaan's launch operations from different environmental conditions across geographies,” said AgniKul Co-founder &amp; COO Moin SPM. "Having access to high latitude launch locations is an important aspect of our strategy for offering customer-centric launch services, and this partnership with Alaska Aerospace is going to be directly helpful” he added.&nbsp;

Under the agreement with the Alaska Aerospace Corporation additional tests and operational launches are also possible under. This is said to be an important step in moving the small satellite launch market towards a customer-centric business model as opposed to what it is today – a vehicle-centric model. This would mean faster, easier commercial space access, and ultimately will open up space for everyone.&nbsp;

AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited is a Chennai, India-based start-up incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and the company is targeting commercial rocket launches from 2022 onwards.&nbsp;

Indian aerospace start-up AgniKul Cosmos has signed a memorandum of agreement with Alaska Aerospace Corporation to test launch their Indian-made Agnibaan rocket from the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island in the United States.

Indian aerospace start-up AgniKul Cosmos has signed a memorandum of agreement with Alaska Aerospace Corporation to test launch their Indian-made Agnibaan rocket from the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island in the United States. The launch from Alaska is expected to take place from 2022 onwards. Under this agreement, Alaska Aerospace and AgniKul will work together to secure several regulatory approvals. They include US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launch licensing, US export control, and will comply with export laws & regulations in India to receive necessary clearances from the Indian authorities as well. The aim is to define launch vehicle-spaceport interfaces, related procedures and conduct at least one test launch from PSCA. “We are thrilled AgniKul has partnered with Alaska Aerospace for high inclination flight testing,” said Mark Lester, President and CEO of Alaska Aerospace. “Agnikul has established itself as a leading rocket technology company, and we are pleased Alaska’s proven launch infrastructure and expertise continue to attract new space launch companies from around the world”, he added. Srinath Ravichandran, CEO and Co-founder of AgniKul Cosmos said that this announcement was further evidence of their company’s steady progress towards launch. “Alaska Aerospace and AgniKul share a vision of providing rapid, agile, and low-cost access to space. This is a great platform for us to demonstrate our 'Made In India, for the world' launch services solution through our mobile vehicle Agnibaan” he elaborated. When asked about the reason behind choosing the Alaskan launch port, Srinath said that for certain types of orbits which are preferred by customers, it was preferred to launch from a high latitude location. “In some cases we might have to launch closer from poles and Alaska offers that, when it comes to launches from close to the equator, Sriharikota is an option and we are working with India’s In-space for this” he told WION. When WION asked about the complexities in the logistics of getting a rocket to a foreign land, he said that it would be similar to how flights land in foreign airports. “The rocket can be shipped to the destination and at the launch port we’ll be provided facilities like fuel and tracking and telemetry systems. This enables us to go where the customer is” he said. He also feels that there isn’t much of a competition n the segment that his company is targeting - payload of upto 100 kg to low Earth orbits up to 700 km. “There are quite a lot of players making rockets, but very few in the less than 100kg segment” he said, adding that they were targeting a maiden test launch by end of 2021. “By partnering with Alaska Aerospace, AgniKul engineers and staff can focus on the technical complexities of perfecting our rocket Agnibaan's launch operations from different environmental conditions across geographies,” said AgniKul Co-founder & COO Moin SPM. "Having access to high latitude launch locations is an important aspect of our strategy for offering customer-centric launch services, and this partnership with Alaska Aerospace is going to be directly helpful” he added. Under the agreement with the Alaska Aerospace Corporation additional tests and operational launches are also possible under. This is said to be an important step in moving the small satellite launch market towards a customer-centric business model as opposed to what it is today – a vehicle-centric model. This would mean faster, easier commercial space access, and ultimately will open up space for everyone. AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited is a Chennai, India-based start-up incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and the company is targeting commercial rocket launches from 2022 onwards.

Agnibaan rocket by Indian start-up to be test launched from Alaska, USA

India and China on Wednesday emphasised the need to strengthen communication, especially between the ground commanders in a fresh round of diplomatic talks held on Wednesday.

The Wednesday talks took place amid a war of words between the two sides on perception of the LAC, the de-facto Sino-India border spanning a length of nearly 3,500 km. The virtual talks were held under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs.

The talks were focussed on implementing the five-point agreement reached between the two countries to resolve the nearly five-month-long border standoff in eastern Ladakh.

At the meeting, the two sides reached a five-point agreement that included measures like quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs. The Director General of the Boundary &amp; Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Chinese delegation.

The two sides reviewed the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas and had detailed discussions on the developments since the last meeting of the WMCC on August 20, 2020, an Indian readout on the talks said.

The Ministry of External Affairs said, in a statement, that the two sides attached importance to the meetings between the two defence ministers and the two foreign ministers held earlier this month. They also noted that the agreement between the two foreign ministers should be sincerely implemented to ensure disengagement at all the friction points along the LAC.

​In this regard, the two sides positively evaluated the outcome of the sixth Senior Commanders meeting on September 21, the statement added. They emphasised the need to implement the steps outlined in the joint press release issued after the last meeting of the senior commanders so as to avoid misunderstandings and to maintain stability on the ground.

​Both sides also agreed that the next (seventh) round of the meeting of Senior Commanders at an early date so that both sides can work towards early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in accordance with the existing bilateral agreement and protocols, and fully restore peace and tranquility.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson recently insisted that China abides by the LAC as proposed by then Premier Zhou Enlai to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in a letter dated November 7, 1959.

In a sharp reaction, India on Tuesday categorically rejected China's "so-called unilaterally defined" LAC of 1959, and asked the neighbouring country to refrain from advancing an "untenable" interpretation of the de-facto border.

The Indian government also reminded China that its insistence there is only "one LAC" is contrary to the solemn commitments made by Beijing in previous bilateral agreements, and expected it will "sincerely" abide by them in their entirety.

On the basis of the understanding reached between Jaishankar and Wang, the two sides held a nearly 14-hour-long Corps commander-level talks on September 21 following which they announced a slew of decisions to de-escalate the situation.

The decisions included to stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoid taking any actions that may further complicate matters.

It was for the first time that the two armies announced specific measures to ease tensions in eastern Ladakh where the face-off began in early May.

(with inputs)

India and China on Wednesday emphasised the need to strengthen communication, especially between the ground commanders in a fresh round of diplomatic talks held on Wednesday.

India and China on Wednesday emphasised the need to strengthen communication, especially between the ground commanders in a fresh round of diplomatic talks held on Wednesday. The Wednesday talks took place amid a war of words between the two sides on perception of the LAC, the de-facto Sino-India border spanning a length of nearly 3,500 km. The virtual talks were held under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs. The talks were focussed on implementing the five-point agreement reached between the two countries to resolve the nearly five-month-long border standoff in eastern Ladakh. At the meeting, the two sides reached a five-point agreement that included measures like quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs. The Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Chinese delegation. The two sides reviewed the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas and had detailed discussions on the developments since the last meeting of the WMCC on August 20, 2020, an Indian readout on the talks said. The Ministry of External Affairs said, in a statement, that the two sides attached importance to the meetings between the two defence ministers and the two foreign ministers held earlier this month. They also noted that the agreement between the two foreign ministers should be sincerely implemented to ensure disengagement at all the friction points along the LAC. In this regard, the two sides positively evaluated the outcome of the sixth Senior Commanders meeting on September 21, the statement added. They emphasised the need to implement the steps outlined in the joint press release issued after the last meeting of the senior commanders so as to avoid misunderstandings and to maintain stability on the ground. Both sides also agreed that the next (seventh) round of the meeting of Senior Commanders at an early date so that both sides can work towards early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in accordance with the existing bilateral agreement and protocols, and fully restore peace and tranquility. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson recently insisted that China abides by the LAC as proposed by then Premier Zhou Enlai to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in a letter dated November 7, 1959. In a sharp reaction, India on Tuesday categorically rejected China's "so-called unilaterally defined" LAC of 1959, and asked the neighbouring country to refrain from advancing an "untenable" interpretation of the de-facto border. The Indian government also reminded China that its insistence there is only "one LAC" is contrary to the solemn commitments made by Beijing in previous bilateral agreements, and expected it will "sincerely" abide by them in their entirety. On the basis of the understanding reached between Jaishankar and Wang, the two sides held a nearly 14-hour-long Corps commander-level talks on September 21 following which they announced a slew of decisions to de-escalate the situation. The decisions included to stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoid taking any actions that may further complicate matters. It was for the first time that the two armies announced specific measures to ease tensions in eastern Ladakh where the face-off began in early May. (with inputs)

India, China hold another round of diplomatic talks on border standoff in eastern Ladakh

india-news

India, News on India, stories on India, articles on India, India stories at Wion, India news, India latest news

india news