13:53 Rahul Gandhi finally overtakes Modi in RTs: The Hindustan Times has crunched Twitter data to show that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, hitherto a laggard when it comes to the social media, may have finally turned the corner, going purely by the number of retweets he gets.
After lurking well below both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ever since he debuted on Twitter in May 2015, the number of Rahul Gandhi’s retweets slowly started climbing around June this year, to first overtake Kejriwal.
Around July this year the RTs of Prime Minister Modi too started declining, and around the middle of September Rahul Gandhi finally overtook him.
Till October 15, each of Rahul Gandhi’s tweet is forwarded an average of 3800 times, while Modi’s has fallen to around 2300.
But Modi remains the king of RTs; in November 2016 and July 2017 his RT strike rate was above 4000.
Will Rahul Gandhi get there, you think?
13:48 In Yogi’s Diwali fete, ‘Lord Ram’ will return to Ayodhya in ‘Pushpak Viman’: As many as 1,71,000 earthen lamps will glow on the banks of river Saryu as the Uttar Pradesh government’s plans to project the heritage of Ayodhya will be on full display when Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will attend a mega event — ‘Deepotsav’ — in the evening.
The event will seek to create the celebratory atmosphere witnessed in Ayodhya on Lord Rama’s return along with wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after victory over Ravana, as narrated in the epic Ramayana, according to officials.
A series of programmes have been scheduled to celebrate Diwali in the pilgrim town, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Awanish Awasthi said.
The ‘Deepotsav’ will be organised on the ‘Ram Ki Paidi’ where 1.71 lakh earthen lamps will be lit, he said.
Prominent buildings and ghats will be illuminated to attract tourists. The objective of the entire programme will be to promote Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Rama, as a tourist destination, he said.
A heritage walk, a ‘yatra‘ reminiscing the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya, and the launch of several schemes by the chief minister and other dignitaries will be part of the programme, Awasthi said.
A grand aarti of River Saryu will also be performed by Chief Minister Adityanath and Governor Ram Naik followed by a laser show.
During today’s programme, Ramlila will be staged by artistes from Indonesia and Thailand.
Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma will be present on the occasion. The Union Tourism ministry has sanctioned Rs 133.70 crore for making Ayodhya a tourism hub.
To add a touch of fantasy to the event, a chopper decorated as the mythological ‘Pushpak Viman’, will descend on Ram Katha Park with artistes decked up to resemble Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman.
A 22-minute laser show with special sound effects on Ramayana will be the major attraction during the mega event at Ram Katha Park, Awasthi said.
“The aim of the programme is to attract tourists and showcase tourism spots and the potential of Ayodhya,” he added. — PTI
13:22 Cops begin probe in Haryana singer murder case: The Panipat Police on Wednesday began investigation in singer Harshita Dahiya murder case.
Dahiya, a local singer and dancer, was shot dead on Tuesday by unknown assailants when she was leaving after a programme in Panipat’s Israna.
The assailants came in a car and fired five to six shots at her before fleeing away.
Dahiya, 22, a resident of Nahra-Nahri village of Haryana’s Sonipat, was living in Narela of Delhi.
She was on way to her home at around 4.15 pm when the incident occurred.
She was accompanied by a male singer, her assistant and driver.
The body of the deceased singer has been sent to the mortuary at a general hospital.
Dahiya had recently posted a mobile video on social media alleging death threats and had declared that she was not afraid. It is not known if she had alerted the police.
Meanwhile, Dahiya’s sister Lata said, “She was killed by my husband because she was a witness in my mother’s murder case.” — ANI
Photograph: Harshita Dahiya/Facebook
13:16 BJP MLAs accused of resisting arrest of docs conducting sex determination: Two Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs in Aligarh allegedly did not let Rajasthan officials detain doctors accused of conducting illegal pre-natal sex-determination test.
“Yes. Two MLAs asked the Rajasthan officials not to arrest some doctors and they were not allowed to take the doctors,” Aligarh District Magistrate Rishikesh Yashod said.
However, BJP MLA Anil Parashar said the DM wrong.
“This is incorrect information. We believe in ‘Beti bachao, beti padhao‘. The DM is wrong. We only wanted fair inquiry,” Parashar said.
12:16 How Twitter plans to combat hate and abuse: For most of us fed up of the online hatred, misogyny etc that trolls unload on Twitter, help seems to be at hand.
The micro blogging site is now doing something about it, with CEO Jack Dorsey announcing on Twitter that will be introducing new rules ‘around unwanted sexual advances, nonconsensual nudity, hate symbols, violent groups, and tweets that glorify violence,’ and that they were holding daily meetings on the issue.
Following up from his tweet, wired.com reports, ‘Twitter’s head of safety policy emailed members of its Trust and Safety Council with detailed plans on its new rules, which Twitter plans to implement in the coming weeks.’
How do these new rules differ from the past? What areas do they cover, specifically? Will pornography be banned on Twitter? What about hate groups?
The email from Twitter’s head of safety policy offers an insight into these and related questions.
12:04 Communist Party Congress begins in China, to confirm Xi’s 2nd term: China’s ruling Communist Party today began its week long once-in-a-five-year Congress which will confirm a second five-year term for President Xi Jinping and elect new set of leaders.
A host of former leaders including former Presidents, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jimtao took part in the opening meeting.
The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will also elect a new generation of leaders to work with Xi.
The agenda for the key Congress, which will conclude on October 24, has been set at the preparatory meeting held yesterday.
Xi presided over the preparatory meeting at the Great Hall of the People which was attended by 2,307 party delegates and especially invited delegates, CPC spokesman Tuo Zhen told media yesterday.
A 22-member delegate credentials committee was approved at the meeting. A presidium of the Congress consisting of 243members was also approved.
The agenda of the party for the Congress includeexamining the work report about the progress achieved duringthe past five years, scrutinising report of the disciplineinspection relating to the massive anti-corruption carried outin which over 1.34 million party officials especially some topranking leaders were punished.
The meeting will also deliberate and adopt an amendmentto the party’s Constitution, Tuo said.
It will also elect a new Central Committee and its 19thCentral Commission for discipline inspection.
Besides Xi and Premier Li Keqiang, the party was expected to elect a new generation of leaders for various powerful bodies of the party. — PTI
11:10 Harvey Weinstein resigns from Weinstein Company board: Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has resigned from the Weinstein Company board of directors, as his company tries to distance itself from the disgraced mogul.
Weinstein was fired as co-chairman on October 8, but he continues to own 22 per cent of the company’s stock, and until today continued to hold a seat on the board, reported Variety.
The remnants of the Weinstein Company board, including the other co-founder, Bob Weinstein, convened on Tuesday at the Manhattan offices of Debevoise and Plimpton, a law firm hired by the studio to investigate allegations made against Weinstein.
In a statement, the three member board confirmed that Weinstein had stepped down and said it had ‘… ratified its decision to terminate’ his employment.
The company now risks falling into a protracted legal battle with Weinstein, who alleges his firing was illegal.
Since the allegations against Weinstein first became public, most Weinstein Company board members have resigned, leaving only Tarak Ben Ammar, Lance Maerov and Bob Weinstein. — PTI
10:07 UPDATE: Four civilians injured in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Balakote sector of Poonch.
10:02 American author George Saunders wins 2017 Man Booker Prize: American author George Saunders won Britain’s renowned Man Booker Prize for his first full-length novel Lincoln in the Bardo.
Saunders became only the second writer from to win the prestigious English-language literary award.
The judges praised the book as ‘utterly original’ that chronicles the death of Abraham Lincoln’s 11-year-old son Willie using the accounts of hundreds of narrators.
‘The form and style of this utterly original novelreveals a witty, intelligent, and deeply moving narrative,’ said Lola Young, chair of the judging panel, while announcing the prize in London.
Saunders, 58, said the award is a ‘great honour’.
“I hope to live up to the honour with the rest of my work, for the rest of my life,” he said.
He also made several thinly-veiled references to the controversial policies of United States President Donald Trump.
“We live in a strange time,” he told the audience. “In the US now we’re hearing a lot about the need to protect culture. Well, this tonight is culture.”
This year’s Man Booker Prize shortlist pitted three US and three British writers against one another. — Agencies
IMAGE: George Saunders, author of Lincoln in the Bardo, poses for photographers after winning the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2017 in London, on Tuesday. Photograph: Mary Turner/Reuters
09:38 Pak violates ceasefire in Poonch, targets civilians: Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire in Balakote sector of Poonch, and Manjakot sector of Rajouri on Wednesday morning.
The Indian Army is strongly retaliating to it and the firing is still on.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police also tweeted to confirm the news.
The tweet said, ‘Today morning Pakistan violated ceasefire by resorting firing at Dabbi, Nijot & Basoni posts in Balakote Sector Mendhar. Army retaliating.’ — ANI
IMAGE: Cars damaged in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Balakote sector of Poonch. Photograph: ANI
08:47 To corner North Korea, Trump on Asia tour next month: United States President Donald Trump will start his five-nation tour from November 3 to call on the international community to pressurise North Korea over its nuclear programme.
During a five-nation Asia tour plus a stop in Hawaii from November 3 to 14, Trump will ‘call on the international community to join together in maximising pressure on North Korea’, said The White House in a statement.
North Korea has a military nuclear weapons programme and also has a significant amount of chemical and biological weapons.
Since 2003, North Korea is no longer a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
The country has come under sanctions after conducting a number of nuclear tests, beginning in 2006.
Trump, in his address at the United Nations General Assembly last month, said North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong-un is ‘a rocket man, who is on a suicide mission’.
Trump will visit Japan from Nov 5 for talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a meeting with the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, Kyodo News reports.
The Abe-Trump talks and Trump’s meeting with the kin of abduction victims — including the parents of Megumi Yokota who was abducted when she was 13 — are expected to take place on Nov 6, Kyodo News quoted Japanese officials as saying.
According to the White House, Trump will also meet with US forces stationed in Japan and members of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces.
In the bilateral summit, Abe and Trump are expected to affirm close coordination in addressing North Korea’s nuclear, missile and abduction issues.
Japan officially lists 17 citizens as abduction victims and suspects North Korea’s involvement in many more disappearances. While five of the 17 were repatriated in 2002, Pyongyang maintains that eight — including Yokota — have died and the other four never entered the country.
After visiting Japan, Trump will travel to South Korea for talks with President Moon Jae In on Nov 7. Trump will also speak at the National Assembly, at which he will celebrate the ‘enduring alliance and friendship’ between Washington and Seoul.
During a visit to Beijing from Nov 8, Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and attend a series of commercial and cultural events.
On Nov 10, Trump will travel to Danang, Vietnam, for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and deliver a speech at an APEC business summit.
‘In the speech, the president will present the United States’ vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region and underscore the important role the region plays in advancing America’s economic prosperity,’ the White House said.
After meeting with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang in Hanoi on Nov 11, Trump will visit Manila the following day for summit meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
According to the White House, Trump will attend a US-ASEAN summit and bilateral talks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Nov 13 before heading back home, according to the White House. — ANI
08:33 SC ban on cracker sale: Over 1,200 kg firecrackers seized, 29 held: Delhi Police has seized over 1,200 kg of firecrackers and arrested 29 people from 13 districts in a drive being carried out after the Supreme Court order temporarily banning sale of firecrackers.
After the Supreme Court order, Delhi Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik had directed the deputy commissioners of police of the 13 police districts to ensure that crackers are not sold in the city.
Special teams have been deployed in districts to monitor the situation.
In the crackdown, following the Supreme Court order, the police have seized 1,241 kilogram of firecrackers and registered 29 FIRs and arrested 29 people, said Madhur Verma, PRO, Delhi Police.
According to the data, eight cases have been registered in the north district against the people found selling firecrackers, the maximum among all the districts.
Police have seized 368 kilogram of firecrackers from the southwest district, the maximum among all districts with Rohini a close second at 344.5 kg.
Two Delhi Police personnel posted at the Mangolpuri police station in outer district were suspended for allegedly failing to curb the sale of firecrackers in their beat areas. — PTI
Representative image.
08:15 Trump celebrates Diwali in Oval office: United States President Donald Trump celebrated Diwali in Oval Office of the White House along with senior Indian-American members of the administration, including Nikki Haley, Seema Verma and community leaders.
Cabinet ranking Haley is US Ambassador to the United Nations and Seema Verma is administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Ajit Pai, chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission and Raj Shah his Principle Deputy Press Secretary were among those from his administration.
Daughter Ivanka Trump also joined the President in celebration of Diwali celebrations.
Last year Ivanka, who is now a presidential advisor, had visited Hindu temples in Virginia and Florida as part of Diwali.
Trump, then as the Republican presidential nominee, had addressed the Indian-American community from a public meeting in New Jersey wherein he lit the traditional diya.
The tradition of Diwali celebration was first started by former President George Bush.
During his term it was celebrated mostly in the India Treaty Room of the adjacent executive office building, which is part of the White House Complex.
Bush never personally participated in the White House Diwali celebrations.
In the first year of his presidency, his successor Barack Obama, lit the ceremonial diya in the East Rook of the White House.
Thereafter he made it a point in celebrating the festival of lights in one way or the year. — PTI
Image only for representation.
00:16 Raqqa recaptured from Islamic State, claims US-backed forces:
United States-backed forces said on Tuesday that they have recaptured The Syrian city of Raqqa from the Islamic State group.
The Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces said on Tuesday that they had captured the citys stadium and the nearby hospital, which were the last holdouts of the terrorist group in the city. But they fell short of issuing an official statement announcing the liberation of Raqqa.
Military operations have ended in Raqqa, but sweeping operations are continuing to destroy sleeper cells if they exist and to cleanse the city from mines, Talal Selo, a SDF spokesman, said in a statement.
The situation is under control in Raqqa and soon we will announce the liberation of the city.
Islamic State first captured Raqqa in early 2014 before spreading to a number of other major cities in Syria and Iraq, including Mosul. It is believed to have used the city as a command centre for operations in the Middle East and well as in the west. A number of westerners imprisoned by Isis were also held there before being killed.
Source: Rediff