India

New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS) As BJP has already started preparations for the forthcoming Assembly elections to be held in Madhya Pradesh in 2023, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met BJP National President J.P. Nadda to discuss the political situation in the state and revamp the state Cabinet.

Before the 2023 Assembly elections to be held in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP now wants to complete the process of making all political appointments as soon as possible. Along with this, the exercise of filling the vacant ministerial posts in the state Cabinet has also started.

Amid the recent talks of cabinet expansion in the state, Chouhan met Nadda on Tuesday which has further intensified the news speculated across political circles.

According to top party sources, during his meeting with Nadda, the Madhya Pradesh CM informed him about the political situation in the state and conveyed the wishes of all top leaders and discussed the core issues concerning the party organization and his government.

Sharing the photos of meeting Nadda, Chouhan tweeted, "Today, in New Delhi made a courtesy call on BJP National President JP Nadda ji and on this occasion informed him about various works and efforts for the development and public welfare in the state."

Shivraj further said, "I sincerely thank Nadda ji for his continuous cooperation, support and guidance."

The Chief Minister wants to get all the regional and caste equations right before the 2023 Assembly elections by expanding the state Cabinet this time. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who recently visited Madhya Pradesh, had discussed the election preparations in the state while reviewing the work of the party organization and state government.

On Tuesday, Chouhan also met President Droupadi Murmu and invited her to come to Madhya Pradesh while congratulating her formally on winning the recent presidential election.

--IANS
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Varanasi, Aug 31 (IANS) A research team led by Manoj Pandey from the Department of Surgical Oncology at the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), has identified the somatic mutations responsible for developing gallbladder cancer.

Gallbladder cancer is one of the most common kind of cancers reported in the Gangetic belt. The cancer is often diagnosed late and has a poor survival rate. The current five-year survival rate is 10-20 per cent.

According to Pandey, the researchers at BHU have been working on gallbladder cancer for the past 25 years to find out the probable causes which continue to remain elusive.

As a part of the research, the team carried out next generation sequencing of tumour DNA from gallbladder cancer in 33 patients. This was further subjected to bioinformatics analysis.

The research team identified 27 somatic mutations that involved 14 critical genes. Of these, two genes namely p53 and KRAS were the most mutated and appeared to be driver mutations behind these cancers.

He said that the bioinformatics analysis identified MAP kinase, PI3K-AKT, EGF/EGFR and Focal Adhesion PI3K-AKT-mTOR signalling pathways and cross-talk between these pathways.

The study suggested that the complex crosstalk between the mTOR, MAPK and multiple interacting cells signalling cascades promotes gallbladder cancer progression, and hence, motor targeted treatment is an attractive option in the cure of gallbladder cancer.

These targeting molecules are available and approved for different indications, however, they have never been used in gallbladder cancer.

The findings of the study have been published in the prestigious scientific journal Molecular biology reports.

According to Pandey, the driver mutations for gall bladder cancers have been identified for the first time.

However, it is still unclear why the mutations occur mainly in these two genes in this geographical area. Heavy metal toxicity and typhoid carrier state have earlier been implicated in gallbladder carcinogenesis.

He said this pathway and the cross talk have been identified for the first time in the world, and this opens the gate for use of new therapeutic drugs like evrolimus and temsirolimus in gallbladder cancer. Both of these drugs are mTOR inhibitors and interfere with the synthesis of proteins that regulate proliferation, growth and survival of tumour cells.

They also reduce tumour growth by reducing angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation in tumour) by inhibiting VEGF (gene) and hence cut its food supply, thereby killing the cells.

Pandey added that the research team has submitted a proposal for a clinical trial of mTOR inhibitors in gallbladder cancer, which if successful, will open a new doorway for treatment of gallbladder cancer which is considered incurable till now.

--IANS
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Puri, Aug 31 (IANS) On the eve of Ganesh puja, renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a sand sculpture of Lord Ganesh using 3,425 sand ladoos at the Puri beach in Odisha.

Sudarsan has created a six-feet-high sand sculpture of Lord Ganesh by using the sand ladoos with two elephants, and with a message "Happy Ganesh Puja". He shows two elephants in his sculpture praying for the environment.

"Every year we do something different in the sand. This year, we try to give a message to save our environment through our sculpture," said the sand artist.

The two-time world champion and Padma awardee artist Sudarsan always tries to spread awareness through his sculptures. His sand arts, created for public awareness, were appreciated by the UN Environment Programme and the World Health Organisation.

He has participated in more than 60 international sand art festivals and championships around the world and won many prizes for the country.

--IANS
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Gurugram, Aug 30 (IANS) Over two-dozen workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including its former president of Gurugram district, Mahesh Yadav (sarpanch), joined the BJP on Tuesday.

The AAP members joined the saffron party at 'Gurukamal' - the BJP's local office - in the presence of state president Om Prakash Dhankhar.

"All these workers, who were angry with the policies of AAP, have joined the BJP and in future, they will work for the BJP and serve the public," Dhankhar told the media.

Dhankhar on Tuesday held an organisational meeting of party officials from Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, Jhajjar and Nuh districts at Gurukamal.

During the meeting, he gave a target to the officials to include one-third of the families of the state in the BJP family before the 2024 elections.

"While BJP is an organisationally strong party, every worker associated with it should try to make it even more strong," he said.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) A Delhi court has issued a fresh summon to filmmaker Leena Manimekalai in a suit filed against the depiction of Hindu goddess Kaali in the poster of her controversial film by the same name, video and tweet "in a very uncalled way".

Civil Judge Abhishek Kumar of Tis Hazari Courts, in an order dated August 29, noted the submissions of plaintiff Adv Raj Gaurav, in which it was stated that an application filed by him on the previous date is pending for adjudication.

He also sought to serve the notice to the defendants (Manimekalai and others) through e­-mail as well as WhatsApp.

"In view of the submissions, let summons be issued afresh through all modes including service through e-­mail as well as Whatsapp," the judge ordered.

The matter will be next heard on November 1.

Earlier in July, the court had issued summons to Manimekalai.

The plea moved by advocate Raj Gaurav contended that the poster of the film depicts the goddess smoking, which not only hurts the religious sentiments of common Hindus but is also against the basics of morality and decency.

Apart from the filmmaker, notices and summons were also issued to her company, Touring Talkies Media Private Limited.

The controversy had escalated after Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra had said that she had every right as an individual to imagine goddess Kaali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting deity, as each person has his or her unique way of offering prayers.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) Congress G-23 leaders Prithviraj Chavan, Anand Sharma and Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday met Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has resigned from the party and is going to hold his first public meeting in Jammu in September's first week.

The G-23 leaders are understood to be planning to contest the Presidential polls of the party which is slated on October 17.

Former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, who is likely to throw his hat into the ring, however said that: "Let's wait for sometime." Sources say Tharoor and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Chavan are likely candidates who could challenge the Gandhis' candidate.

With Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot emerging as front runner for the Congress President, being seen as choice of interim chief Sonia Gandhi, even as some want the return of Rahul Gandhi - with Gehlot too proposing his name, the G-23 was understood to have made up its mind to field a candidate if no Gandhi stood.

However, it remained to be seen if it would do so as it seemed unlikely as Sonia Gandhi's choice would be challenged.

The last time the election was conducted for the Congress President's post was in 2000 when Jitendra Prasada had challenged Sonia Gandhi but lost.

--IANS
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Kolkata, Aug 30 (IANS) All the primary teachers' recruitments in West Bengal done by the West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE), through teacher eligibility test (TET) since 2011, are under the scanner of the central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The ED had sought the documents of all the recruitments done through TET since 2011 from the WBBPE. ED sources said that the documents has been sought from the joint director level officer of the agency. Accordingly, the WBBPE has sought these details from the different district primary education councils and asked them to send the files in this matter latest by September 1.

ED sources said that their sleuths will examine each file of recruitment done through TET since 2011 and identify whether there had been irregularities in the appointments made.

Already the CBI and the ED are conducting parallel probes in the matter following a directive of the Calcutta High Court's single- judge bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay. He also ordered the immediate removal of the Trinamool Congress legislator, Manik Bhattacharya from the chair of WBBPE President.

--IANS
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Udaipur, Aug 30 (IANS) India is no longer weak and has become the most powerful country in the world, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said here on Tuesday.

Speaking after unveiling a statue of Panna Dai, a 16th-century nursemaid, the Defence Minister also said that the Russia-Ukraine war was stopped for a few hours at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hence the government could bring back over 22,000 Indian students from the war-torn region.

"Such an incident will never be repeated in the future," he said after unveiling the 9.6 feet tall statue.

Panna Dai is known sacrificing her son to safeguard the future of Mewar in Rajasthan. When Mewar scion Udai Singh was left in her care after Rani Karnavati committed 'Jauhar' in 1535, he was attacked by his uncle Banvir. It was Panna Dai who sacrificed her own son's life to save Udai Singh.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajnath Singh said, "I consider myself lucky to have unveiled this statue. The story of Panna Dai's sacrifice is known to all. I was also touched by her bravery and valour."

"India has not invaded any country till date, nor has it occupied any place. However, if someone looks at our country with an evil eye, we give a befitting reply," he added.

Speaking about the country's armed forces, the Defnce Minister said, "We will soon stop buying arms and ammunition from other countries, as everything will be manufactured in India. Presently, we are selling weapons worth Rs 13,000 crore. Eight years ago, this figure was only Rs 900 crore. By 2047, it will go up to Rs 2.75 lakh crore."

"'Amrit Kaal' is ending in 2047, which will take another 25 years. By 2047, India will become a 'Vishwaguru'," he added.

Praising Rajasthan, he said the soil of the state tells the story of women with valour, as he remembered the sacrifices made by Panna Dai and Hadi Rani, among others.

Hadi Rani was a brave queen of Rajasthan, who sacrificed her life to motivate her husband to go to a battle.

Remembering Panna Dai, Singh said, "She did not worry about being called a 'kumata', as she sacrificed her own son. She had only one goal -- to safeguard the kingdom of Mewar."

Union Minister of State Krishan Pal Singh Gurjar was also present for the event, which was attended by all the MPs and MLAs from Udaipur district.

The event was originally scheduled to be held in June, but it had to be postponed due to the protests against the Agnipath scheme for short-term recruitment into the armed forces.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Aug 30 (IANS) The Indian rupee ended 51 paise up at 79.45 against the US dollar as heavy short covering was witnessed in capital markets from FIIs, dealers said.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, rupee ended at 79.45 as against 79.96 against US dollar previously.

Indian markets will be closed on Wednesday on account of Ganesh Chaturthi.

"Rupee gained strongly by 0.40 points as heavy short covering was witnessed in capital markets from FIIs. As benchmark rose 2.50 per cent in Indian capital markets, hence rupee time gained more than 0.50 per cent for the first time in the month of August," said Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst at LKP Securities.

Dollar index, which gauges the the strength of greenback against the basket of six major currencies, was at 108.460.

Brent crude oil prices were at $101.49 a barrel by the closing of Indian market hours.

Sensex ended 1,564.45 points, or 2.70 per cent, up at 59,537.07, and Nifty closed 445.40 points, or 2.58 per cent up at 17,759.30. Nifty bank was up sharply 3.29 per cent.

All the 30 stocks on the Sensex ended in green.

"Going ahead, 80.00 will keep acting as strong support for rupee whereas 79.00 will be tested in the coming session," Trivedi added.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Aug 30 (IANS) Benchmark indices ended sharply up on Tuesday after falling sharply on Monday due to delivery-based buying by the FIIs and short covering in the F&O market, dealers said.

At close, Sensex ended 1,564.45 points, or 2.70 per cent, up at 59,537.07, and Nifty closed 445.40 points or 2.58 per cent up at 17,759.30. Nifty bank was up sharply at 3.29 per cent.

All the 30 stocks on the Sensex ended in green.

BSE LargeCap was up 2.59 per cent, BSE MidCap, and BSE SmallCap up 1.97 per cent, and 1.40 per cent, respectively. Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, IndusInd Bank, Tech Mahindra, and ICICI Bank were major gainers on the BSE.

"Today's rebound indicates the domestic economy's resilience in comparison to its global peers. Although the markets are currently at premium valuations, continued support from foreign investors aided domestic stocks to inch higher. Sectors in swing with the progress of the domestic economy should be able to do well compared to the rest," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

Volumes on the NSE were the highest in more than a week. Among sectors, realty, power, banks, oil and gas, and auto indices rose the most. Broader market underperformed; however the advance decline ratio was sharply positive at 2.96:1.

Global stocks rose on Tuesday as investors sought bargains following two days of declines as Chinese authorities pledged to stimulate the world's second-largest economy. China will step up measures to boost demand and stabilise employment and prices in the second half of the year to optimise economic outcomes, the country's Finance Ministry said on Tuesday, as policymakers strive to prop up faltering growth.

"Nifty has nullified the bearish signals from the downgap created on the previous day and has filled that downgap. It has closed at the highest ever on monthly charts. It will now face resistance at 17965-17992 band while 17522-17623 band could offer support," said Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research, HDFC Securities.

--IANS
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