India

Islamabad, Aug 30 (IANS) In view of the skyrocketing prices of vegetables amid the ongoing floods and relentless monsoon rain across Pakistan, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday demanded the government to give permission for vegetable import from neighbouring India through the Wagah border.

LCCI President Nauman Kabir urged the government to grant permission to import vegetables from India to control its prices, Geo News reported.

"The recent floods have destroyed crops of tomato, onion, potato and other vegetables across the country," he said, adding that the crisis is expected to prevail for the next three months.

The vegetable crisis could further worsen in September, October and November, he added.

It will take a few days to transport vegetables from India to Pakistan via the Wagah border, Geo News reported.

The prices of vegetables skyrocketed as the grocery vendors are charging exorbitant prices from consumers amid the countrywide floods triggered by torrential rains.

The traders are making hefty profits at a time when the death toll from the relentless monsoon rains has exceeded the 1,100 mark and inflicting $10 billion loss on the country's economy.

According to the details, tomato is being sold at 250 PKR per kg in the market while its official price is 190 PKR per kg.

Similarly, the vendors are selling onion at 300 PKR to 320 PKR per kg while the commodity's rate was fixed at 290 PKR by the authorities, Geo News reported.

Potatoes are being sold at 120 PKR to 140 PKR per kg instead of its official rate of 100 PKR per kg.

Ginger's official rate is 360 PKR per kg but it is available for 380 PKR per kg in the market.

Garlic is being sold at 250 PKR per kg while its official rate is 200 PKR per kg.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) Microsoft has announced the general availability of the latest Azure Virtual Machines featuring the Ampere Altra Arm–based processor.

The new virtual machines will be generally available on September 1, and customers can launch them in 10 Azure regions and multiple availability zones around the world, the company said in a statement.

In addition, the Arm-based virtual machines can be included in Kubernetes clusters managed using Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). This ability has been in preview and will be generally available over the coming weeks in all the regions that offer the new virtual machines.

"Hundreds of customers have tested and experienced firsthand the excellent price-performance that the Arm architecture can provide for web and application servers, open-source databases, microservices, Java and .NET applications, gaming, media servers, and more," said Paul Nash Vice President, Azure Compute Platform.

Azure's Ampere Altra Arm–based virtual machines represent a cost-effective and power-efficient option that does not compromise the level of performance that customers require, said the company.

"The general availability of Microsoft Azure VMs on Arm marks an important milestone in redefining what is possible in cloud computing," said Chris Bergey, SVP and GM, Infrastructure Line of Business, Arm.

All the new virtual machine sizes support up to 40 Gbps of networking bandwidth.

The Ampere Altra Arm–based Azure virtual machines are now available in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia.

"We plan to expand Azure regional availability after September 1," said the company.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded a severe punishment for the criminals who burnt alive a girl in Jharkhand's Dumka.

Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday tweeted in Hindi, "The savagery treatment meted out to Ankita and her death has made every Indian's head hang in shame, she and her family will get justice when the perpetrators of the crime will get severe punishment as fast as possible.

"It's time today to make the atmosphere safer for women."

Class 12 student Ankita was being harassed by a youth who finally burnt her alive by throwing petrol on her after she spurned him and complained against him to her family.

The severely injured Ankita struggled for five days at RIMS in Ranchi before breathing her last late on Saturday night. She was cremated in Dumka on Monday morning. The city of Dumka, the sub-capital of Jharkhand, remained closed for the second day in protest against this incident. Accused Shahrukh, who set Ankita afire, is now in jail, but people are on the streets demanding that he be punished quickly. A campaign is also going on on social media regarding this incident. The hashtag 'Ankita Hum Sharminda Hain' is trending on Twitter.

The Jharkhand government has constituted SIT for fast and speedy action. People are also angry that when Ankita was battling between life and death in the hospital, no government representative took care of her and her family members. A video of Ankita's statement before her death is going viral, in which she is saying that Shahrukh, who burnt her, has gone to jail, but still his people are threatening to kill her family members.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) An expatriate group has approached the Delhi High Court seeking regulation of the exorbitant ticket prices of flights operating between the Gulf countries and India.

The writ petition of Kerala Pravasi Association (KPA), a registered Society, filed through Adv Kuriakose Varghese, a managing partner at KMNP Law pointed out that there are no yardsticks to fix the reasonableness of profit, thereby making the tariff fixation of tickets is highly irrational and non-transparent.

The tariffs are often dictated by the airline which has the larger seat share, thereby resulting in abuse of dominant position, the plea said.

Indians constitute the major population of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. Living in harsh and difficult conditions all-round the year, the expats look forward to visiting their homes and re-uniting with their families during summer vacations and other festive times, after saving money for months or years.

Unfortunately, in the recent past, this has become virtually impossible, especially for expats from Kerala due to the exorbitant and prohibitive fares charged by airlines, which operate in the sectors connecting the Gulf countries and India, the plea stated.

As per the data published by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India for the year 2020, approximately 89 lakh Indian Citizens are living in major countries of Gulf region, including UnitedAArab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman.

The petition said that unreasonable and exorbitant airfares impose restrictions on air travel as a mode of transportation and, thereby, infringe the constitutionally protected rights of Indian passengers to or from Gulf countries.

"While the airfares are normally market-driven and are not established or regulated by the Government, the ambiguity in the Rules confer unbridled powers on the airlines to establish fares which are exploitative. In this regard, it is submitted that the impugned Rule is also beyond the scope of the parent Act which prescribe that the Central Government may make Rules for economic regulation of civil aviation and air transport services, including the approval, disapproval, or revision on tariff of operators of air transport services," it read.

The petition sought directions to the Centre and others to recognise and follow the International Air service Agreements entered pursuant to the Convention of International Civil Aviation, 1944 to prohibit excessive and predatory tariffs for international flights.

Although Rule 135(4) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 (Rules') empowers DGCA to issue directions to an airline if it is satisfied that such airline has established excessive or predatory tariff under Rule 135(1) or has indulged in oligopolistic practice, the said provision is rendered otiose on account of the arbitrary and unbridled powers given under Rule 135(1) of the Rules to the airlines to establish tariff, the petition said further.

The plea also sought to declare the phrase "reasonable profit" and "generally prevailing tariff" of Rule 135(1) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 is vague, arbitrary and unconstitutional.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are the other respondents.

--IANS
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Chennai, Aug 30 (IANS) The leader of opposition in the Tamil Nadu legislative Assembly and joint coordinator of AIADMK, Edappady K. Palaniswami (EPS) has lashed out against the ruling DMK government. He said that there was no security for the common man under the DMK regime.

In a statement on Tuesday, the senior leader said that there was "neither security to the general public nor to some prisoners or to jail officials under the DMK government of M.K. Stalin".

EPS, the former Chief Minister, was referring to the death of a prisoner in mysterious circumstances in a Madurai prison as also the torching of the residence of an assistant jailor of Cuddalore prison.

The former Chief Minister said that anti-social elements were having a field day in Tamil Nadu after the DMK government had come to power.

The residence of an Assistant Jailor at the Cuddalore central prison at M. Pudur in Cuddalore was torched by unidentified elements on Sunday. The jail quarters of an assistant jailor, M. Manikandan was set on fire in the early hours of Sunday by pouring an inflammable liquid through the window grill of the kitchen window and setting the room on fire.

While Manikantan was on medical leave and was at Thanjavur, his family comprising his parents, wife, and two children were sleeping in the quarters. The family doused the fire after running out of the quarters and was helped by others in the neighbouring quarters.

A number of mobile phones were seized from the cells of prisoners, including that of a history-sheeter from Cuddalore central prison.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Aug 30 (IANS) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan asks 40-year-old dermatologist Anu Anna Varghese about pimples and how to get rid of them.

He also got impressed with the way she motivates her patients to be proud of their skin colour and tells them that melanin, the pigment that makes it dark is good for protecting the skin also.

She says: "Many patients often visit me, who are perfectly fine otherwise but society targets them for their skin colour and they want to change it. This approach needs to be changed and we should feel proud of our skin colour."

In banter, Bachchan asks her if his skin is fine or it needs more care, to which she replies: "It is perfectly okay" and he says: "My make-up artists must be happy listening to this."

Hailing from Thrissur, Kerala, Anu will be seen taking the hotseat and answering the questions of the host. The latest promos shows her winning the amount of Rs 75 lakhs and moving forward for the question of Rs 1 crore.

She says: "There was so much happening at that moment when I won Rs 75 lakhs. I was happy but I was also shocked that I had crossed the threshold of 'Dhan Amrit' and was on my way to the Rs 1 crore question. I could not believe my luck, and it felt like I was in a very elaborate dream."

Varghese shares that with the amount she won, now she could repay her debt.

"We had a debt of Rs 40 lakhs and that would be repaid now. I want to roam around the world with my husband and my daughter and that dream seems to be in the palm of my hand as well. Meeting Mr Bachchan was a heavenly experience. I never thought that such a legend could be so humble and sweet," she adds.

'Kaun Banega Crorepati 14' airs on Sony Entertainment Television.

--IANS
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Lucknow, Aug 30 (IANS) The Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in 2025, will be much larger in scale and grandeur compared to what it was in 2019.

Uttar Pradesh minister for industries and infrastructure development, Nand Gopal Gupta 'Nandi', said that preparations for a grander celebration of the what can be termed as the world largest religious congregation, have already begun.

Nandi, who belongs to Prayagraj, said: "The Chief Minister has directed that 2025 Maha Kumbh should be unforgettable and unprecedented."

He said that though it was a little early for him to divulge details, he said that the scale of the Maha Kumbh celebration will be at least 20 per cent higher while the convenience of the foot-pilgrims will be given much more importance.

"Feedback from the previous occasion has indicated that many pilgrims complained that they had to walk a lot to reach the Sangam last time. The needs of pilgrims will be addressed through better planning. In fact, the Chief Minister has said that the number of parking places at all entry points to the city must be increased to ensure the convenience of common pilgrims as they are the soul of the observances of Maha Kumbh," Nandi said.

Tourists and devotees coming to Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh 2025 would be able to enjoy streamer and mini-cruise rides for the first time.

For this, the Inland Waterways Authority of India has done the needed survey. The service will be operational from two points -- one from boat club to Sangam and second from Lavayan Kala (Naini side) on river Ganga to Sangam.

A two-floor jetty would also be constructed at boat club from where one can start the ride and rest at the floating restaurant.

At present, only VVIP's coming to Sangam avail steamer or motorboat service provided by the district administration.

The service would be launched from Magh Mela-2024 on a trial basis so that the administration can work on shortcomings, if any, and rectify the same the before Maha Kumbh-2025.

These services would be a major attraction for the pilgrims and tourists arriving here from all over the world to be a part of the grand religious fair.

Confirming the development, officer in-charge of Inland Waterways Authority of India, Prayagraj, Ashok Kumar said the central government has already made funds of around Rs 14 crore available to the state tourism department in this regard.

"Two jetties (structures that project from land out into water to allow boats/ships to dock along it) will be constructed for this. One would come up between the new and the old Yamuna Bridges near Prayagraj Boat Club while the other would come up at another at Arail or Lavayan Kala. Both the places would also be developed as picnic spots," he added.

Kumar said the state tourism department has entrusted the task of constructing the jetties to central public works department (CPWD) and tenders have already been invited.

The jetties would have changing and waiting rooms besides toilets and a designated parking spot. Each the two would be 35-ft long and 8-ft wide allowing people to embark and disembark from a boat/steamer, officials said.

The plan is to earmark separate routes for both the steamer and the cruise services on the Ganga and the Yamuna, the official added.

Also, the Prayagraj Mela Authority also plans to start chopper services during the religious affair allowing visitors to get a glimpse of the colourful mega fair from the top.

The authority is mulling over proposal wherein permanent helipads would be constructed at three places around the mela area, including one at boat club, one each at Arail side of Sangam and Jhunsi side of Ganga.

Preparations for the mega event have already begun with the infrastructure being the focus of all activity.

A senior district official said: "Roads, sewage system, electricity and water supply network is being expanded as well as spruced up for the Maha Kumbh. We have been asked to complete all the developmental work by the end of 2023 - a year ahead of the Maha Kumbh."

He said that regulation of pilgrim movement would be high on the priority list of the administration so that there are no traffic bottlenecks during the month-long event.

He said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was taking keen personal interest in the progress of developmental work and had already warned officials against any unexplained delay and laxity in completion of projects.

--IANS
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Patna, Aug 30 (IANS) A local court on Tuesday granted bail to BJP MLC Devesh Kumar in a liquor law violation case in Bihar.

Kumar was booked after he was found arguing with some in an inebriated state in Patli Path under Patliputra colony police station a month ago.

The BJP was in power in the state when the incident took place so the matter was brushed aside. But now, his detailed breath analyser report came positive on Monday when his party has assumed the role of the opposition in the state.

Since the MLC violated the ban for the first time, he was granted bail from the district court.

Kumar, on the other hand claimed that he went to the Patli Path to help one of his friends named Dr Sanjay Chaudhary who got involved in a verbal spat with some youths. He had nothing to do with that incident, he claimed.

Now, BJP's action is awaited in the matter.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) Congress on Tuesday questioned the Centre's silence on the Chinese fraud loan apps which has claimed 52 young lives and siphoned off Rs 500 crore through Hawala.

Addressing a press conference party spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh said it has been two years since the news of Chinese loan apps duping lakhs of Indians through its conspiracy of the debt trap surfaced.

He said: "An investigation between January and February 2021 found more than 1,100 digital loan apps available across play stores. RBI has accepted that at least 600 such apps were operating illegally. As per RBI, there was a jump of 12 times in loans on digital platforms between 2017 and 2020. Till now, 52 individuals in our country have committed suicide due to blackmailing by these loan apps. "

Vallabh also accused the Modi government of lying to the nation and lacking the courage to even talk against the Chinese aggression, and failing in international diplomacy.

He alleged that such apps have mushroomed since Covid struck in 2020. The Modi government has weakened the Indian economy pushing millions into poverty, he said.

"This is one of the main reasons why the lower and middle-income groups are forced to resort to such debt propositions. The other reason is the gross misdirection of focus for central agencies".

He said the modus operandi of the loan apps is make the user install the app from the app store or direct message. At the time of installation, the app asks for access to the user's phone book, photo gallery, messages, etc., without which the app will not be installed. The user is asked to provide AADHAAR or PAN Card for KYC purposes.

After providing a loan, the user is granted seven days' time for repayment of double the principal amount. But the user starts receiving phone calls after five days. Even if the user pays the entire amount, without his requirement, some more money is transferred into his account or repayment is not updated, forcing the user to pay the penalty for late payment.

"If the user fails to pay up, his/her morphed image is shared with his friends and family. If this doesn't work, using call centres, they abuse users with a warning to share their nude photographs."

The Congress spokesperson said the incompetence of the central government and agencies has led to multiple cases of suicides due to such debt traps. Chinese loan app companies have siphoned off Rs 500 crore from India through the hawala route.

"There has been no strategy, no focus by the Modi government in evaluating priorities. Certain Chinese apps were banned in 2020 but the action on such apps has been lackluster."

--IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) Gautam Adani was already Asias richest man and now he is also the world's third richest person, overtaking LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault and becoming the first Asian person to take that spot, according to Bloomberg and its Billionaires index.

Adani, who runs one of India's top conglomerates, is now believed to be worth approximately $137 billion, the tracker shows.

That's after a surge this week placed him just behind Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, whose own fortunes are estimated at $251 billion and $153 billion, respectively, CNN reported.

Like other billionaires around the world, Adani has seen his wealth skyrocket during the pandemic.

The founder of the eponymous Adani Group controls companies ranging from ports and aerospace to solar energy and coal.

His fortune has grown exponentially since the start of the global health crisis, as investors bet on his ability to grow his business in sectors that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritized for development.

Adani has also benefited from an uptick in coal usage, which has catapulted his ascent in recent months, according to Bloomberg.

He overtook fellow Indian tycoon to become the region's wealthiest person in February, CNN reported.

His shot up the global wealth rankings comes as some members of the world's 1 per cent give away more of their resources.

In July, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates announced he would devote $20 billion to the endowment of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and reiterated his intention to move "off of the list of the world's richest people".

Bill Gates is currently ranked the world's fifth most affluent person, according to Bloomberg's index, with a net worth of $117 billion, CNN reported.

--IANS
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