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Doctors offer elective OPD services outside Nirman Bhawan in Delhi

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New Delhi: Doctors have decided to provide elective outpatient services outside Nirman Bhawan on Monday as they continue their strike for the eighth day over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.

Resident doctors will be available to provide elective OPD services in around 36 specialties, including medicine, surgery, obstetrics & gynaecology, paediatrics, ophthalmology, and orthopedics, to patients outside Nirman Bhawan on Monday, according to a statement by the AIIMS RDA.

However, emergency services will continue as before at the hospitals.

The doctors’ strike in the national capital over the rape and murder of a medic at a state-run hospital in Kolkata completed a week on Sunday and is now entering its second week, causing difficulties for patients.

Late Sunday, resident doctors announced that their strike will continue.

The doctors will proceed to Nirman Bhawan at 11 am, according to a statement by RDAs.

A resident doctor from the Safdarjung Hospital said a concrete response from the government regarding bringing the Central Protection Act for medics would have offered some relief.

“However, after seven days, we are still waiting. As stated earlier, the strike will continue indefinitely until our demands are met,” the doctor said.

Protests began here on August 12 in the evening. Initially, restricted to medical college campuses, doctors started taking to the streets from Friday.

The action committee, formed on August 15 for the central law, includes members from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Maulana Azad Medical College, and Lady Hardinge Medical College.

Chinese and Philippine ships collide again in disputed waters and the countries are trading blame

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Taipei: Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships collided at sea, damaging at least two boats, in an encounter early Monday near a new flashpoint in their increasingly alarming confrontations in the disputed South China Sea.

Both blamed the other for the collision near Sabina Shoal, a disputed atoll in the Spratly Islands, where overlapping claims are also made by Vietnam and Taiwan. There were no reports of injuries.

China’s coast guard accused the Philippines of deliberately crashing one of its ships into a Chinese vessel. Two Philippine coast guard ships entered waters near the shoal, ignored the Chinese coast guard’s warning and intentionally collided with one of China’s boats at 3:24 am, a spokesperson said in a statement on the Chinese coast guard’s website.

“The Philippine side is entirely responsible for the collision,” spokesman Gan Yu said. “We warn the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringement and provocation, otherwise it will bear all the consequences arising from that.”

The Philippines’ National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea said two of the coast guard’s ships, BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engano, “encountered unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” from Chinese coast guard vessels while en route to Patag and Lawak islands in the area.

“These dangerous maneuvers resulted in collisions, causing structural damage to both Philippine Coast Guard vessels,” the statement read.

The task force said the collision between BRP Cape Engano and one of the Chinese ships created a hole on the deck of the Philippine ship with a diameter of about 5 inches (12.7 centimetres).

About 16 minutes later, the other Philippine ship, BRP Bagacay, was rammed twice on its port and starboard sides by a different Chinese vessel, leading to minor structural damage, according to the task force.

“The (Philippine Coast Guard) stands firm in its responsibility to ensure the safety and security of our maritime domain while addressing any threats to our national interests,” it said.

Gan added China claimed “indisputable sovereignty” over the Spratly Islands, known in Chinese as Nansha Islands, including Sabina Shoal and its adjacent waters. The Chinese name for Sabina Shoal is Xianbin Reef.

In a separate statement, he said the Philippine ship that was turned away from Sabina Shoal entered waters near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, ignoring the Chinese coast guard’s warnings. “The Chinese coast guard took control measures against the Philippine ship in accordance with law and regulation,” he added.

Sabina Shoal, which lies about 140 kilometres west of the Philippines’ western island province of Palawan, has become a new flashpoint in the territorial disputes between China and the Philippines.

The Philippine coast guard deployed one of its key patrol ships, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, to Sabina in April after Filipino scientists discovered submerged piles of crushed corals in its shallows that sparked suspicions that China may be bracing to build a structure in the atoll. The Chinese coast guard later deployed a ship to Sabina.

Sabina lies near the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Shoal, which has been the scene of increasingly alarming confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships and accompanying vessels since last year.

China and the Philippines reached an agreement last month to prevent further confrontations when the Philippines transports new batches of sentry forces, along with food and other supplies, to Manila’s territorial outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal, which has been closely guarded by Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships.

The Philippine navy transported food and personnel to the Second Thomas Shoal a week after the deal was reached and no incident was reported, sparking hope that tensions in the shoal would eventually ease.

China has been at odds with many other countries in the Asia-Pacific for years over its sweeping maritime claims, including almost all of the South China Sea, a strategic and resource-rich waterway around which Beijing has drawn a 10-dash line on official maps to delineate what it says is its territory.

Beijing is in the midst of a massive military expansion and has become increasingly assertive in pursuing its claims, giving rise to more frequent direct confrontations, primarily with the Philippines, though it is also involved in longtime territorial disputes with Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

A 2016 arbitration ruling by a United Nations tribunal invalidated Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea, but China did not participate in the proceedings and rejected the ruling.

13-year-old girl sexually assaulted by boy in Bihar’s Bhojpur

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A 13-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a boy in Bihar’s Bihar’s Bhojpur district, police said on Monday.

Following the incident that happened on Sunday night, a large contingent of police was deployed in the village located in the Kishangarh police station area to prevent any disorder as the survivor and the accused belonged to different communities, they said.

In a statement, police said they received a call regarding the incident around 9 pm.

“Senior officers of the local police station immediately reached the spot and took the victim to the district hospital for medical examination. In the meantime, on the basis of the statement given by family members of the victim, police registered a case against a minor of the same village,” it said.

Police said they also searched the residence of the accused, who was on the run.

The accused boy’s father was called for questioning, they said.

The medical report of the survivor was awaited, they added.

Karnataka CM files writ petition in HC, seeks quashing of Governor’s sanction in MUDA case

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Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the order of the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot giving sanction for investigation against him in connection with irregularities in the allotment of alternative sites by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

The Chief Minister submitted that the sanction order was issued without due application of mind, in violation of statutory mandates, and contrary to constitutional principles, including the advice of the Council of Ministers, which is binding under Article 163 of the Constitution of India.

Siddaramaiah challenged the August 16 order granting prior approval and sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

“The Hon’ble Governor’s decision is legally unsustainable, procedurally flawed, and motivated by extraneous considerations, and thus the Petitioner has preferred this Writ Petition seeking to quash the impugned order dated 16.08.2024 amongst other reliefs,” he submitted.

Champai Soren says experienced ‘bitter humiliation’ as Jharkhand CM hints at quitting JMM

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Ranchi : JMM leader Champai Soren on Sunday said he experienced “bitter humiliation” as chief minister and three options are open to him, including floating a new outfit.

His comment hinting that he may quit the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) came shortly after he reached Delhi amid speculation about a potential switch to the BJP as party supremo and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren accused the saffron party of “poaching” MLAs and “dividing society”.

BJP leader Babulal Marandi said in reaction to Champai Soren’s post that this is “just the beginning of the downfall of JMM, which has deviated from its ideology”.

In a statement, Champai Soren alleged that all his government programmes in the first week of July, when he was the chief minister, were abruptly cancelled by the party leadership without his knowledge.

He said he kept quiet as he was not greedy for power but his self-respect was hurt.

“After so much humiliation, I was forced to look for an alternative path,” Champai Soren said in a post on his social media.

The ex-chief minister said he had announced in the legislative party meeting that “a new chapter in my life is going to begin from today”.

“I had three options. First to retire from politics, second to float a separate outfit, and third, if I find any ally, to carry forward with them. From that day till today, and till the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections, all options are open for me in this journey,” he said in a post on X.

Champai Soren also spoke about the events that preceded his removal as chief minister after Hemant Soren’s release from prison on bail.

“When I enquired about the reasons for cancellation (of his events), I was informed that there was a meeting of party legislators on July 3 and that I could not attend any government programmes until then,” he said.

“Can there be anything more humiliating in a democracy than having a chief minister’s programme cancelled by another person?” he asked.

Champai Soren claimed that although a chief minister has the authority to call a meeting of the legislative party, he was not even informed of the meeting’s agenda.

“During the meeting, I was asked to resign. I was taken aback. Since I had no desire for power, I resigned immediately. However, my self-respect was deeply hurt,” Champai Soren added.

The JMM leader mentioned that he was emotional and struggling to control his tears.

“But all he (referring to Chief Minister Hemant Soren without naming him) seemed interested in was the chair. I felt as though I had no existence, no presence in the party to which I had dedicated my entire life,” he said.

Champai Soren noted that he faced many such humiliations, which he preferred not to detail at the moment.

He also emphasised that this is his personal battle and he does not intend to involve any party member or harm the organisation.

“I can never think of harming the party which we have nurtured with our blood and sweat. But circumstances have been created such that…” he added.

The JMM leader also mentioned that party supremo Shibu Soren is not active in politics due to health reasons. “Had he been active, things would have been different,” Champai Soren said.

The former chief minister claimed that during his tenure as chief minister, he made numerous decisions in public interest.

“People of the state will assess the decisions I made during my tenure, considering the elderly, women, youth, students, and every section of society,” he added.

Champai Soren assumed office as the 12th chief minister of Jharkhand on February 2, shortly after his predecessor Hemant Soren resigned just before being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering case.

Hemant Soren was released from jail on June 28 after being granted bail by the high court. On July 3, he was elected as the JMM’s legislature party leader.

Champai Soren subsequently submitted his resignation to the governor, paving the way for Hemant Soren to be sworn in as chief minister for a third time.

Reacting to Champai Soren’s post, Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi said the JMM has become a “party of only one family”.

“Champai Soren ji, who had devoted his entire life to the party, was humiliated and removed from the post of chief minister. His rights were violated and his programmes were forcibly cancelled,” he alleged.

JMM senior leader and minister Mithilesh Thakur said Champai Soren is the party’s senior leader and if there is any issue, it would be sorted out.

“JMM is a family and if there is any issue in the family, it would be resolved within it,” he said.

Police taking action against those posting fake information on social media: Kunal Ghosh

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Kolkata: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh on Monday said police are taking action against only those people who are posting on social media wrong information, fake audio and disclosing the name of the doctor raped and murdered in R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Ghosh said people can protest but in a proper manner.

“If you think you will protest, do it a hundred times in proper language. Do it a thousand times,” Ghosh posted on X.

“But giving wrong information, distorted assumptions, fake audio, purposeful inciting posts, names and photos of the deceased, the police will warn you”, he said.

Kolkata Police on Sunday summoned TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, hours after he demanded that the CBI interrogate Kolkata Police commissioner and former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Roy had called upon the CBI, which is probing the rape and murder of a woman doctor at state-run RG Kar MCH, to act fairly and demanded the custodial interrogation of the former principal of the medical establishment and the CP to know “who and why floated the suicide story”.

Kolkata Police asked Roy to appear before its officers at its headquarters in Lalbazar at 4 pm on Sunday for allegedly posting wrong information regarding the incident, a police source said.

Kolkata Police have also issued summonses to former BJP MP Locket Chatterjee and two renowned doctors for allegedly spreading rumours and disclosing the identity of the woman doctor who was raped and murdered at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, an officer said.

Apart from these persons, the police have also issued summonses to 57 others for spreading wrong information about the incident, he said.

Dr Kunal Sarkar and Dr Subarna Goswami were issued summonses to appear before officers of the Kolkata Police Headquarters in Lalbazar at 3 pm on Sunday, he added.

These people have been accused of revealing the identity of the victim, spreading rumours and fake news, the officer said.

The body of the woman postgraduate trainee doctor was found inside a seminar hall of the hospital on August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested the next day for his alleged involvement in the crime.

Trinamool accuses BJP of hijacking Kolkata murder protests to destabilize government

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Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “hijacking” the ongoing protests related to the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

The accusation was made on Monday, with Trinamool MP Saket Gokhale alleging that the BJP is using a “sinister toolkit” with the intention of toppling the West Bengal government.

The allegation comes amid widespread protests across the state following the horrific incident. The Trinamool claims that the BJP is exploiting the situation to create political instability in West Bengal.

Probe starts against former Bangladesh PM Hasina 9 others for genocide crimes against humanity

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Dhaka: Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has started an investigation against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and nine others on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity that took place from July 15 to August 5 during students’ mass movement against her government.

A complaint was filed on Wednesday with the investigation agency of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal against Hasina, Awami League general secretary and former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and several other prominent figures within the party.

The complainant’s lawyer Gazi MH Tamim confirmed on Thursday that the Tribunal started the probe on Wednesday night.

Hasina, 76, fled to India on August 5 after resigning from her post amidst unprecedented anti-government student-led protests.

The Hasina-led Awami League along with its affiliated organisations is also named in the petition.

The petition was filed by Bulbul Kabir, the father of Arif Ahmed Siam, a Class IX student who was killed during the anti-discrimination student movement.

“The (ICT-BD) investigation agency has started reviewing the charges… The accusation of genocide and crimes against humanity has been recorded as a case,” said the lawyer.

The application accuses Hasina and others of orchestrating a violent crackdown on student protestors, resulting in widespread casualties and human rights violations.

He said the progress of this investigation outcome would be informed to the Tribunal, originally constituted to try the Bengali-speaking hardened collaborators of Pakistani troops during the 1971 Liberation War, within seven days.

He said that in line with the tribunal law in addition to the plaintiff and other witnesses, reports published in various media from July 16 to August 6 were submitted as necessary documents.

Separately, a case of enforced disappearance was filed on Wednesday against Hasina and several others, including former ministers of her cabinet, on the charge of kidnapping a lawyer in 2015.

On Tuesday, a murder case was filed against Hasina and six others over the death of a grocery shop owner during last month’s violent clashes that led to the fall of her government.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Thursday asked police to submit by September 15 the probe report of the case filed against Hasina and six others over the death of grocery shop owner Abu Saeed in police firing in the capital’s Mohammadpur area during the quota protests on July 19.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Zaki Al Farabi set the date after the case was placed before his court for the next course of action.

The development coincided with the now scrapped National Mourning Day holiday marking the August 15, 1975 assassination of Hasina’s father and Bangladesh’s founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The interim government of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus cancelled the holiday after discussions with different political parties other than Awami League while most of its leaders are on the run or in jail following the collapse of Hasina’s regime on August 5.

According to media reports, some parties were in favour of keeping the mourning day holiday while others opposed it.

Unlike the previous years, no sombre wreath offering ceremony was held at Bangabandhu’s 32 Dhanmandi private residence later turned into a memorial museum which was burnt into ashes by angry mobs following Hasina’s resignation and fleeing to India.

“Nobody approves of it… but somebody’s (Hasina regime) overdoing caused the overreaction,” ex-premier Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader and spokesman Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury earlier told PTI, referring to the attack on the museum.

Political commentator and New Age newspaper editor Nurul Kabir, known for his stern criticism of the past regime, said Hasina herself was responsible for the defamation of her father.

Kabir added, “Who can deny his contribution to Bangladesh’s creation”.

“The blame lies with them (Hasina regime or party),” he said.

Reports and witnesses said film actress Rokeya Prachi, followed by several people to stage a sit-in, on Wednesday went to the museum but was dispersed by protesters who used sticks to chase them away.

However, a huge group of stick-wielding people on Thursday positioned themselves in front of the museum to bar anyone from paying tributes in front of his bust at Bangabandhu Bhaban, despite calls from the deposed premier.

“I went to pay my respects in the morning. But I could not place wreaths. I felt good as some people gave salam (Muslim traditional greeting) and asked me to go back,” said a 1971 veteran and leader of a Krishak Sramik Awami League, a party belonging to the opposition camp.

He however complained that brickbats were thrown at his car, damaging the vehicle.

The student-led protests demanding reforms in government job quotas evolved into a government-toppling movement in early August.

Over 230 people died in Bangladesh in the incidents of violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Hasina government on August 5, taking the death toll to 560 during the three weeks of violence.

Following Hasina’s resignation, a caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed in the country, promising to address administrative and political reforms and hold accountable those involved in the violence.

More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza the territory’s Health Ministry says

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Deir al-Balah (Gaza Strip): More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the territory’s Health Ministry said Thursday.

Israel’s offensive has also wounded 92,401 people and displaced over 85% of the population from their homes, the ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said.

The announcement came during yet another push from international mediators to broker a cease-fire in the war, now in its 11th month.

The conflict began Oct 7 after Hamas-led group attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people — most of them civilians — and dragging roughly 250 hostages to Gaza.

Israel says 111 of the captives have not been released, including the bodies of 39. The hostages include 15 women and two children under the age of 5.

In Gaza, health officials have struggled to fully identify the dead as bodies stream into overwhelmed hospitals and morgues where they say the count is compiled amid the chaos of war and displacement.

In its most recent detailed report on the dead, issued Thursday, the ministry said 40,005 people have been killed. Health officials and civil defence workers say the true toll is likely thousands higher, since many bodies remain buried under the rubble of buildings destroyed in airstrikes.

Israel’s air and ground offensive in Gaza has been one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history.

The bombardment and shelling have killed entire Palestinian families. With cemeteries often unreachable, families fleeing Israeli airstrikes bury their dead wherever possible — in backyards, along roadsides and under the staircases of their homes.

Israel says it aims to eliminate Hamas. It blames Hamas for civilian deaths because the group operate in civilian areas and have built extensive tunnel networks underneath them. Israeli forces have regularly targeted mosques, schools, hospitals and cemeteries where it claims fighters or tunnels are located, often causing civilian casualties.

The fighting has also killed 329 Israeli soldiers. The Israeli military claims that over 17,000 Hamas fighters are among those killed in Gaza but has not provided evidence.

Nearly 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes, fleeing multiple times across the territory to escape ground offensives. During the war, thousands within Israel and in southern Lebanon have also been displaced.

The assault has created a massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The entire territory is at high risk of famine and over 495,000 people — more than a fifth of the population — are expected to experience the most severe level of hunger in the coming months, according to the latest report by the leading authority on measuring hunger.

Also, Gaza’s sanitation systems have been destroyed, leaving pools of sewage and towers of garbage in tent camps packed with displaced families.

The offensive likely either damaged or destroyed 59% of all structures in Gaza by July 3, including 70% of buildings in northern Gaza, according to an analysis of satellite data by Corey Scher and Jamon Van Den Hoek, experts in mapping damage during war.

The conflict has sparked fears of a wider regional war, with Lebanon’s Hezbollah group and the Israeli military trading fire almost daily over their countries’ border.

More than 500 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, including some 350 Hezbollah members and 50 fighters from other groups, with the rest being civilians. In Israel, 22 soldiers and 24 civilians have been killed.

Hindenburg tip of iceberg, only JPC probe can unravel truth of Adani ‘scam’: Congress

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New Delhi: The demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Adani issue goes beyond the Hindenburg Research’s revelations, the Congress said Friday and claimed the “irregularities and wrongdoings” relating to the business conglomerate span every dimension of the political economy.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said “Hindenburg is only the tip of the iceberg” and its allegations are limited to those that deal with the capital markets.

“The demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation into the Adani Mega Scam goes far beyond the revelations made by Hindenburg Research’s reports.

“Irregularities and wrongdoings relating to the Adani Group span every dimension of the political economy, as documented in our 100 question series HAHK (Hum Adani Ke Hain Kaun),” Ramesh said in a post on ‘X’.

Elaborating on what he said were key elements of the “scam”, Ramesh claimed it pertains to “misuse” of India’s investigative agencies to secure “Adani monopolies” in ports, airports, cement and other critical sectors.

He alleged that extraordinary favouritism had been shown by government banks, particularly the SBI, in providing credit for key projects, including the Adani copper plant at Mundra, the airport in Navi Mumbai, and the UP Expressway Project.

The senior Congress leader also alleged “subordination of India’s foreign policy interests to the needs of Adani Enterprises, at the cost of India’s standing in the neighbourhood”.

He claimed that India’s strategic relationship with Israel had been handed to a single company, Adani.

Ramesh also claimed coal and power equipment over-invoicing, alleging that it has not only facilitated money laundering and abnormal profits but also raised the common citizen’s electricity bills.

He cited “unregulated extension” of leases over publicly-owned assets to Adani Group at throwaway prices.

“The Hindenburg allegations do not refer to any of the above. Its allegations are limited to those that deal with the capital markets — stock manipulation, accounting fraud, and conflict of interest in regulatory agencies. Hindenburg is only the tip of the iceberg,” Ramesh said.

“Only a JPC can investigate and unravel the true and full extent of this Modani mega-scam,” he stressed.

Ramesh’s remarks come days after Hindenburg Research launched a fresh broadside against market regulator SEBI chairperson Madhabi Buch, alleging she and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the Adani money siphoning scandal.

SEBI Chairman Buch and her husband have denied the allegations levelled against them as baseless and asserted that their finances are an open book.

Adani Group has also termed Hindenburg Research’s latest allegations as malicious and manipulative of select public information, saying it has no commercial relationship with the SEBI chairperson or her husband.

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