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New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged the global health community to prioritise pregnant and lactating women in research and vaccine trials of tuberculosis (TB) -- the world's most infectious disease.

As per WHO data, every year, an estimated 200,000 pregnant or postpartum women develop TB, yet they remain largely invisible in research and clinical trials. This exclusion leaves critical gaps in evidence, delaying access to life-saving treatment and vaccines for these populations.

Pregnant and postpartum women have an increased risk of developing TB compared with the general population. Moreover, TB disease in pregnancy is also associated with an increased risk of maternal morbidity, complications during birth, and perinatal morbidity and mortality. TB disease puts neonates born to mothers with TB at higher risk of the disease.

“The benefits of TB research must flow to all people with TB, including pregnant and lactating women,” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the WHO Department for HIV, TB Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections.

“It is time to prioritise their inclusion -- not as an afterthought, but as a fundamental step toward equitable, evidence-based care,” Kasaeva said.

The WHO also released a Consensus Statement, which outlines a comprehensive framework to ensure equitable access to TB innovations for all, including those most at risk. Prepared by over 80 global experts, it covers five themes: preclinical TB research, TB therapeutics research, TB vaccine trials, maternal TB surveillance, and advocacy.

The key actions required in the statement include closing data gaps on TB in pregnancy and postpartum through improved surveillance and reporting, initiating timely preclinical studies to assess efficacy and safety of novel TB compounds and vaccines in pregnancy.

It called on global researchers to include pregnant and lactating women in all stages of TB drug trials and include them in adult TB vaccine research for candidates with a favourable risk-benefit profile and plan for rollout and monitoring.

Further, it urged addressing legal, ethical, and regulatory barriers by engaging and empowering affected communities.

The document also provides a roadmap for product developers, study sponsors, researchers, regulators, ethics committees, government programmes, funders, and civil society to act decisively to advance inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in TB research.

--IANS

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Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) The Department of Personnel and Training, under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, has issued a notification Monday promoting 12 officers from Maharashtra to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

The list of 12 officers includes Vijaysinh Deshmukh, Vijay Bhakre, Trigun Kulkarni, Gajanan Patil, Mahesh Patil, Pankaj Deore, Manjiree Manolkar, Asha Pathan, Rajlaxmi Shah, Sonali Muley, Gajendra Bawane and Pratibha Ingle.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule in his post on X said, “Heartfelt congratulations. A proud moment for Maharashtra. Twelve officers from the Maharashtra Revenue Service have been promoted to the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS) by the Union Public Service Commission.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of them. This promotion marks a significant milestone and offers these officers a greater opportunity to make Maharashtra’s administrative services more efficient, transparent, and people-centric.

“As Maharashtra’s Revenue Minister, I have always encouraged and supported the officers of the Revenue Ministry.

“I publicly acknowledge their dedication and consistently commend their work in the legislature. My sole aim is to ensure that welfare schemes truly reach the people they are meant for.”

He further said that the Revenue Department is the backbone of Maharashtra’s administration.

“I sincerely hope these officers now utilise their full potential in contributing to the state’s development.

“Under the visionary leadership of Hon. Chief Minister Shri @Dev_Fadnavisji, this achievement stands as a testament to the recognition and respect our officers have earned. Congratulations Once Again!”

--IANS

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New Delhi/Ranchi, July 14 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Jharkhand High Court while hearing a petition filed by 10 convicts, including six on death row, who alleged inordinate delay in the pronouncement of judgment on their appeals.

The petitioners had approached the Jharkhand High Court between 2018 and 2019, challenging their convictions by a lower court. Despite the completion of hearings in 2022-23, the High Court has yet to deliver its verdict, which prompted the convicts to move apex court.

Out of the 10 petitioners, six were sentenced to death and the remaining four to life imprisonment. Nine of them are currently lodged in Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar, Ranchi, while one has recently been released on bail from Dumka jail.

A bench comprising Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that the judge who reserved judgment in all these appeals is the same in each case, raising questions about the prolonged delay.

Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Fauzia Shakil argued that withholding a verdict for years after hearings are concluded constitutes a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, including the right to speedy justice.

Shakil highlighted the mental anguish faced by the convicts due to the delay, especially those awaiting execution.

She cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in HPA International vs Bhagwandas, where the court expressed concern over the practice of reserving judgments indefinitely.

The petition also referred to the Jharkhand High Court Rules (2001), which mandate that judgments must be delivered within six weeks of the conclusion of arguments.

Further, citing previous Supreme Court rulings related to sentence suspension, the advocate pointed out that convicts who have already served eight years of actual sentence are, in most cases, eligible for bail.

--IANS

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Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday in the state assembly announced that a separate cell will be set up to resolve the problems faced by the municipal corporations and municipalities in the state in waste management.

He was responding to a question raised by BJP legislator Vijay Deshmukh in this regard. Members Abhimanyu Pawar and Arjun Khotkar also raised a sub-question.

Shinde said that the work of disposing of the waste collected daily from Solapur city in a scientific manner is being done by Solapur Bioenergy Company Limited. A biogas project with a capacity of 300 tons per day is operating here, and biogas and fertiliser are produced from wet waste, while dry waste is separated and sent to processing industries.

“Proper classification of waste in municipalities and municipal corporations is essential. Instructions have already been given to the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department to resolve the problems of small municipalities and municipal corporations in this regard. The state government will provide necessary assistance to all such places. The Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department will be instructed to verify the resolutions so that the process of taking resolutions in the municipality remains transparent at all times,” he said.

Minister of State Madhuri Misal said that in Solapur city, garbage is collected from house to house using bell carts. However, there is a problem that garbage accumulates in some slum areas even after the bell carts are used. Currently, about seven lakh tons of waste have been dumped in Solapur city. Of this, about five lakh tons of waste have been collected.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister, in his reply to another question by Shiv Sena UBT legislator Bhaskar Jadhav, announced that inquiry will be conducted through the Divisional Commissioner in connection with two different schemes used for water supply works being carried out under the Maharashtra Golden Jayanti Urban Redevelopment Mission in the jurisdiction of Chakan Municipal Council.

“Under the Maharashtra Golden Anniversary Urban Redevelopment Mission, the water supply work under the district level scheme of Chakan Municipal Council was given administrative approval on February 24, 2024 and work order on March 13, 2024. Although an extension has been given till March 31, 2025, the Chakan Municipal Council has proposed to recover the delay penalty for non-completion of the work by the contractor. However, when it was observed that orders had also been given under the state-level scheme at the same place, instructions were given to the concerned on May 13, 2025, to stop the work, and no payment has been made from the state-level scheme,” he said.

--IANS

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Chandigarh, July 14 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Bittu on Monday slammed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of glorifying drugs, corruption, and criminal behaviour through his past “as a comedian”.

Bittu claimed Mann’s earlier performances continued to influence his governance, harming Punjab’s institutions and social fabric.

He alleged that Mann’s lifestyle and past behaviour raised serious questions about his suitability to hold high office. He accused the Chief Minister of being habitually intoxicated, even during official meetings.

Referring to a recent inter-state discussion on water sharing with Haryana, Bittu told the media here that Mann was visibly under the influence and failed to address the media properly.

Citing an incident at the airport in Frankfurt, Bittu said Mann’s fall due to intoxication, which led to his turban slipping, was an international embarrassment.

He further claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had to step in diplomatically to control the fallout.

Bittu also played excerpts from Mann’s earlier comedy shows such as “Jugnu Kehnda Hai” and “Jugnu Mast Mast”, alleging that they promoted bribery in the education system, illegal liquor trade, and misrepresented teachers and public servants.

“These shows weren’t harmless comedy. They carried dangerous messages that undermined public trust in institutions,” Bittu said.

He went on to say that in some skits, Mann, while portraying a fictional chief minister, openly advocated drug distribution, electoral malpractice, and the use of weapons to influence voters.

“What he used to joke about is now policy under his regime,” Bittu said, linking the satire to real-life allegations during the Ludhiana (West) assembly by-election.

Calling the AAP government a “regime of propaganda and deception”, Bittu said Punjab has witnessed a deterioration in law and order, worsening drug addiction, and a sharp decline in education quality under Mann’s leadership.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) Delhi Home and Power Minister Ashish Sood will on Tuesday boost the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign - inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi - by planting a sapling in the Janakpuri area, said an official.

As part of the ongoing Van Mahotsav of the Delhi government, the Minister will plant a sapling at Municipal Corporation of Delhi park in A-2 Block Ram Vatika in Janakpuri, said the official on Monday.

Sood's green initiative follows Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena's participation in the New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) special tree plantation drive on Sardar Patel Marg in the national capital under the nationwide initiative ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ on Sunday.

NDMC Vice-Chairman and BJP leader Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the L-G planted an Amaltas (Cassia fistula) sapling, symbolising hope and resilience.

NDMC Chairman Keshav Chandra and BJP Lok Sabha MP from New Delhi, Bansuri Swaraj, jointly planted a Pride of India (Lagerstroemia speciosa) sapling.

Chahal planted a Gulmohar (Delonix regia) tree, reinforcing NDMC's commitment to greening the Capital.

On the occasion, Chahal elaborated on NDMC's special ‘Gap Filling Campaign’ -- a strategic effort launched from July 1 to ensure continuous green cover along 80 major roads, intersections, and roundabouts.

Unlike previous years, where only a few stretches were covered, this year's drive scales up significantly, aiming to eliminate barren or patchy areas with lush vegetation.

BJP leader Chahal said that this focused initiative, meticulously monitored by NDMC's Horticulture Department, will not only enhance aesthetics but also contribute to reducing urban air pollutants such as PM10, PM2.5, and PM1, thereby improving air quality and public health.

He shared that under the direction of the L-G, the Delhi government has undertaken a parallel large-scale greening project along Sardar Patel Marg, with the plantation of more than 12,000 flowering trees and shrubs.

This includes iconic species like Amaltas, Queen's Crepe Myrtle, Rosy Trumpet Tree, and Bougainvillaea.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) Vandana Gurnani, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, exhorted Global Capability Centres (GCCs) on Monday to leverage existing government schemes for hiring talent in the country.

She urged the GCCs to engage with government initiatives such as the Employment Linked Incentive Scheme, which holds substantial potential for job creation, and the National Career Services Portal, a comprehensive platform with partnerships across major firms offering job matching services, to find talent.

Gurnani was speaking at the GCC Business Summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.

Discussing ongoing labour reforms, she noted the implementation of the Labour Codes and highlighted ongoing collaboration with state governments to drive these reforms. She also outlined the expansion of career lounges in universities, which can serve as talent pipelines for the GCC sector, and noted India’s international agreements for workforce mobility that can be effectively leveraged for GCC operations.

Outlining India’s core competitive advantages that have enabled GCC’s phenomenal growth trajectory, Anuradha Thakur, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, pointed to strong physical and digital infrastructure, strategic interventions through the Digital India initiative, streamlined approval processes, large talent strength, and a robust regulatory environment built over the past decade.

Underscoring India’s talent strengths, Thakur pointed to the country’s large annual output of STEM graduates, a diverse workforce with significant female participation, and a young median age. She emphasised that these demographic factors provide fertile ground for continued GCC growth and expansion.

Sanjay Bahadur, Member (Income Tax), Central Board of Direct Taxes, recognised the sector’s remarkable growth and its rising contribution to India’s GDP and employment. He highlighted the dramatic evolution of GCCs from basic outsourcing units to complex, cross-border operations engaging in high-value functions.

He further noted that modern GCCs are involved in sophisticated design innovation, backend services, and engineering inputs, creating complex value chains that pose unique challenges in transfer pricing.

“The Central Government has begun formulating a comprehensive national framework for GCCs to enhance their growth and expand their base,” said K K Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Singh observed that the majority of GCCs are concentrated in six major locations, with significant presence in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune, and Chennai, while only a small share operates in emerging cities. He acknowledged the challenges of expanding into tier-2 cities and underlined the government’s intent to benchmark and replicate best practices from successful tier-1 hubs.

Gunjan Samtani, Chair of the CII Taskforce on GCCs and co-chairman of Goldman Sachs in India, co-presented a framework for the National GCC Policy that would serve as a roadmap to expanding India's GCCs to around 5,000 units in the coming years.

--IANS

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Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Deputy Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who also holds the Urban Development portfolio, said on Monday in the state Assembly that instructions will be given to the Commissioner of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to list and categorise unauthorised constructions in Mumbai.

He said that the government will not support any unauthorised constructions, adding that if the officials are found to be supporting unauthorized constructions, strict action will be taken against them too.

He was replying during question hour host of questions raised by ruling and opposition parties about increasing unauthorised constructions and lack of action by the civic body.

Members Parag Alvani, Yogesh Sagar, Jitendra Awhad, Dilip Walse Patil, Varun Sardesai, Murji Patel, Ajay Chaudhary, Bala Nar demanded a stern action against illegal constructions and a comprehensive action plan be crafted not only for Mumbai but also for rest of Maharashtra.

Sagar brought to the government’s notice that as per the prescribed norms and the government resolution released earlier the action should be taken against the concerned ward officers and senior police inspectors where unauthorised constructions mushroomed.

Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar asked the government to prepare a list of unauthorised constructions from various wards of Mumbai and prepare its list for further action.

“The Municipal Corporation has taken action against several unauthorised constructions within the limits of the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation, and in some cases, those constructions have remained temporarily due to court stays. However, they will also be removed as soon as the court orders are received. Since people are currently residing in some places due to the monsoon, it is not possible to take immediate action against unauthorized constructions. However, after the monsoon, those constructions will also be evicted,” said DCM Shinde.

After it was noticed that a shed had been constructed illegally on plot No. 256 owned by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in Vile Parle (East), the Municipal Corporation took action to demolish this shed on March 24, 2025. Subsequently, a complaint was received by the Municipal Corporation regarding encroachment of unauthorized parking on the concerned plot. Taking cognizance of this complaint, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation took action against the encroachment on June 3, 2025 and removed the unauthorised parking,” said DCM Shinde.

Minister of State Madhuri Misal said that action is taken against unauthorised constructions as per the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act. Members should provide information about unauthorized constructions in their area. Action will be taken at the relevant places. Action will be taken against the concerned officials for unauthorised constructions.

--IANS

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Jammu, July 14 (IANS) Newly appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta, on Monday assured the people of the Union Territory that he would diligently fulfil his responsibilities and address the challenges they face.

Speaking to IANS after his appointment, Kavinder Gupta said, “I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, the Home Minister, and all national leadership for this opportunity. The challenges faced by the people of Ladakh will be my priority. I will fulfil my duties to the best of my ability.”

Gupta, who will succeed BD Mishra as L-G, is a senior BJP leader from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and previously served as Deputy Chief Minister of the state during Mehbooba Mufti’s tenure as Chief Minister.

He becomes the first political leader from J&K to hold the post of L-G of Ladakh, a Union Territory carved out after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories—J&K (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without a legislature)—on August 5, 2019.

His appointment comes after he was denied a party ticket to contest last year’s Assembly elections in the J&K Union Territory.

Born in 1959, Gupta joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at the age of 13. He was jailed for thirteen months during the Emergency. He also served as secretary of the Punjab unit of the Vishva Hindu Parishad from 1978 to 1979.

Gupta led the J&K unit of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha from 1993 to 1998. He was elected Mayor of Jammu city for three consecutive terms, from 2005 to 2010.

In the 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, Gupta contested as a BJP candidate from Gandhinagar constituency, defeating Congress’s Raman Bhalla. On 19 March 2015, he was elected Speaker of the Assembly—the first BJP leader to hold that post.

He was appointed Deputy Chief Minister on 30 April 2018 as part of a cabinet reshuffle, succeeding Nirmal Kumar Singh. However, he resigned from the post on 19 June 2018 after the BJP withdrew from its alliance with the PDP, ending the coalition government after 51 days.

--IANS

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Shivamogga (Karnataka), July 14 (IANS) Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, along with Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, dedicated the Sigandur project to the nation on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, BJP MP B. Y. Raghavendra stated, "This is the country’s second-largest connectivity bridge, connecting Ambaragodlu - Kalasavalli - Sigandur - Kollur (locally known as the 'Holebagilu’ bridge).

The bridge built across the ‘Sharavati River’ is a crown jewel in the Malenadu capital of Karnataka. This historic cable-supported bridge measuring 2.25 km in length has been constructed with state-of-the-art technology, funded by approximately Rs 423 crore, he stated.

"Today, the historic project has been dedicated to the nation. This marks a permanent liberation after six decades of continuous struggle by the affected flood victims," he stated.

Responding to the cries of the people from the flood-affected region for over six decades, the central government released around Rs 423 crore in funding, making this a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.

MP Raghavendra further stated that this historic event is a result of the determination of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and the selfless love and blessings of all. Malenadu stands witness to this, he added.

This also sends a message to the nation that the central government is a responsive administration that immediately answers the calls of the people it governs, Raghavendra stated.

Furthermore, it continues the tradition of completing projects within the stipulated time and inaugurating them within its tenure, thereby making history, he said.

This bridge will not only resolve the longstanding problems of the flood-affected people of Sharavathi’s hinterland but also help to foster stronger ties between the Malenadu and coastal districts. Additionally, it will strengthen economic activities, tourism, and the confluence of diverse cultures between the two districts, heralding the beginning of a new era, Raghavendra stated.

This is a historic occasion, which is to be inscribed in golden letters, said MP Raghavendra. He remembered and expressed heartfelt thanks to Prasanna Kerekarai and hundreds of other fighters who have struggled for decades for this cause.

The inauguration of the 2.12-kilometre-long Sigandur Bridge, built at a cost of Rs 473 crore, has run into controversy after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah alleged that protocol was not followed and announced that no local Ministers or MLAs from the state government would attend the event.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Monday, CM Siddaramaiah stated that it was the Centre that had initiated the conflict.

Responding to the objections raised by Siddaramaiah over being neglected by the Centre in the invitation to the inauguration of the Sigandur cable bridge project, the Centre has clarified that the Chief Minister was invited to the event on June 11 and was also requested to preside over the programme.

Karnataka BJP has slammed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s absence from the Sigandur Bridge inauguration event as ‘pettiness’. The party further asked, "Does it burn that BJP achieved what Congress couldn't in 60 years?’.

--IANS

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