The Statesman Kolkata - November 28, 2024

In this issue

November 28, 2024

India climbs up 11 slots to be among top 50 countries in Network Readiness Index

India has improved its position by 11 slots and is now placed at the 49th rank as per the Network Readiness Index 2024 (NRI 2024) report as against the 60th rank scored in the NRI 2023 report.

1 min

How long can Partha Chatterjee be kept in jail? SC questions ED

The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) over the low rate of convictions in money laundering cases, wondering how long former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, arrested over alleged irregularities in primary teachers' recruitment in the state, could be kept in jail.

1 min

India welcomes ceasefire deal in Lebanon

India on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, hoping such developments will lead to peace and stability in the region.

1 min

Israel-Hezbollah truce takes effect

If it holds, the ceasefire would bring an end to nearly 14 months of fighting

1 min

Both Houses of Parliament adjourned over Opposition demand for debate on Adani bribery, Sambhal violence

Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till tomorrow on the second day of the Winter session as the Opposition uproar continued over their demand to discuss various issues, including the Adani indictment and Sambhal violence.

1 min

Rahul Gandhi accuses govt of protecting Adani

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday, accused the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre of protecting billionaire businessman Gautam Adani, who was indicted by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for alleged bribery.

1 min

In climbdown, Eknath Shinde leaves Maharashtra CM decision to PM Modi

Four days after the results of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections were declared on 23 November, Eknath Shinde, the second contender for the post of chief minister, said at a press conference at his residence in Thane on Wednesday that he has left the final decision on the CM's post to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

1 min

Ma Canteen-on-wheels runs successfully in Durgapur

It can be termed as the state's first Ma Canteen on wheels.

1 min

High altitude balloon launching centre opened in Birbhum

Sixty three years after Homi Jahangir Bhabha's Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) set up India's first 'balloon facility' or high altitude balloon launching facility at Hyderabad in Telangana, the country's second balloon launching facility was inaugurated in Chandrapur by Kolkata based Indian Centre for Space Physics (ICSP) on Monday.

1 min

Durgapur residents choke with rising PM10 levels

Local residents are breathing toxic gases across this industrial city that has surpassed the degree of pollution of the national capital for the second consecutive day and topped the list of hazardous cities in the country, as the pollution index chart prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board reflects.

2 mins

Two arrested for scrap iron theft

Two persons Sagar Akure and Mohamed Raja Khan were arrested after Durgapur Police seized around Rs 5 lakh worth iron scraps stolen from a closed iron and steel factory in Durgapur today morning.

1 min

Protests through power bill nonpayment in GCPA strongholds

Members of the Rajbanshi community, under the banner of the Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA), protested against the disconnection of electricity connections in parts of Cooch Behar and adjoining areas in Jalpaiguri district.

1 min

Siliguri surgeon wins best medical teacher award

The medical fraternity in Bengal has a reason to celebrate, as senior surgeon Dr Kaushik Bhattacharya from Siliguri has been selected for the prestigious National Best Medical Teacher Award for the second consecutive year.

1 min

TMC Condemns Chinmayananda's arrest in B'desh, BJP Calls for border blockade

LoP Suvendu Adhikari also raised the demand for denial of visas, including medical visas to Bangladeshi citizens; he also asked the public to join the protests in border areas

2 mins

CBI focuses on lapses in autopsy report to establish evidence tampering

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials investigating the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata in August are focusing heavily on the lapses in the post-mortem report of the victim's body to establish the theory of tampering with the evidence in the case.

1 min

Assembly set to discuss Waqf Amendment Bill

The state government would introduce a resolution to discuss in the Assembly seeking revocation of the central government's Waqf Amendment Bill 2024.

1 min

1.58L vehicles fitted with tracking device so far: Minister

Around 1.58 lakh buses and pool cars have been retrofitted with vehicle location tracking device or VLTD (vehicle location tracking device) so far, informed the state transport minister Snehasis Chakraborty.

1 min

Trinamul set to launch its new people-outreach programme

Top party leaders are preparing a roadmap which will be placed before Mamata Banerjee for her approval

2 mins

Trinamul notice to MLA Humayun Kabir for anti-party comments

The Trinamul Congress' disciplinary committee, looking after issues in connection with the party MLAs in the state legislative Assembly on Wednesday served a show-cause notice to its legislator Humayun Kabir of Bharatpur constituency in Murshidabad on charge of making anti-party statements, regularly.

2 mins

ER registers surge in non-PRS earnings

The Eastern Railway registered an overall surge in non-PRS (passenger reservation system) earnings of 18.02 per cent in 2024-25, indicating a broader trend of increased passenger reliance on the flexibility and affordability offered by the railway system, according to the zonal railway.

1 min

BJP state secretary Nabarun Nayek removed on graft charges

In a major embarrassment for the BJP in West Bengal, state secretary Nabarun Nayek has been removed from his post following allegations of corruption.

1 min

Mamata Banerjee to attend Hemant Soren's swearing-in Ceremony

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday.

2 mins

Nothing short of genocide: ISKCON's Radharaman slams Das' arrest, Bangladesh situation

ISKCON Kolkata Vice President and spokesperson Radharaman Das on Wednesday strongly condemned the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a prominent Hindu priest and religious minority leader in Bangladesh and said this was \"nothing short of genocide.\"

1 min

'Kolkata needs regional airshed to address AQI deterioration during winter'

A recent study has pointed out that Kolkata's air quality worsens significantly during the winter months, driven by a combination of meteorological factors and pollution sources from both within and beyond the city limits including vehicular pollution

1 min

State sanctions funds for revamp of Rishra Seva Sadhan hospital

The residents of Rishra are thankful to Mamata Banerjee for taking special initiative to set up Rishra Seva Sadan hospital, which was closed for years due to legal tangles.

1 min

Night bus services in Asansol soon after passenger demand

Asansol Municipal Corporation (AMC) has taken initiative to operate initially 10 night special bus service in the civic body area at a cost of Rs 4 crores.

1 min

Bengal Assembly: BJP stages walkout after MLA's microphone 'disconnected'

The third day of the West Bengal Assembly winter session witnessed pandemonium on Wednesday as the BJP legislators staged a walkout after the microphone of the party's woman MLA was 'disconnected' in the middle of her speech.

1 min

Those dividing youth power are dividing India's future: Yogi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called upon the youth to adopt a positive attitude towards reforms and said that the youth should not deprive themselves of new knowledge.

1 min

After violence, allegations and counter-allegations over Sambhal

Allegations and counter-allegations have emerged over Sunday's violence during the survey of Shahi Jama Masjid in which four youths lost their lives.

2 mins

Cong expresses concern over insecurity faced by minorities in Bangladesh

Expressing deep concern at the atmosphere of \"insecurity\" being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh, the Congress on Wednesday said the arrest of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) priest Chinmoy Krishna Das was the latest example.

1 min

Stormy JPC meeting on Waqf Bill

Opposition MPs walked out alleging that the high-powered panel had left many state boards unheard

3 mins

Coast Guard to host 11th National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise in Kochi

The 11th edition of the Indian Coast Guard's (ICG) National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise & Workshop (SAREX-24) is set to take place on November 28-29, in Kochi, Kerala.

1 min

Unrest in BJP cadres in Kerala over party leadership

BJP workers in Kerala are dejected, disappointed and depressed over the state of affairs of the party in the state.

1 min

Kerala High Court seeks state's response to plea seeking CBI probe into Naveen Babu's death

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the investigating officer to produce the case diary in connection with the investigation into the death of Kannur Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu.

2 mins

MUDA scam: Petition filed against CM's wife

Petition is also filed against 11 others in connection with the case

2 mins

CM Yogi realising concept of Ramrajya-like Bharat: Kumar Vishwas

At the convocation ceremony of Allahabad University here on Wednesday, renowned poet Dr Kumar Vishwas praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, calling him the biggest source of energy in the country.

1 min

WCD Minister Annapurna Devi: One in five Indian girls married before 18 despite laws

Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annapurna Devi, revealed that one in five girls in India is married before the legal age of 18, despite existing laws prohibiting the practice.

1 min

Punjab: Anti-gangster Task Force, SAS Nagar Police arrest two operatives of Davinder Bambiha Gang

The Anti-Gangster Task Force, in collaboration with Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar Police, had apprehended two operatives associated with the Davinder Bambiha Gang, Punjab Director General of Police stated on Wednesday.

1 min

Once Victims, brave girls now champion fight against child marriage

Years ago when a 13-year-old Roshni Perween (photo, right) was forcefully married to a 45-year-old man, little did she know that not only would she be able to break from the shackles of an abusive marriage but also become a United Nation Young Activists Laureate winner for leading her cause against child marriages.

2 mins

Mechanised Infantry units receive President's Colours

Four battalions of the Mechanised Infantry were honoured with the President's Colours at the Mechanised Infantry Centre and School (MIC&S), Ahilyanagar.

1 min

NSG hub set up in Jammu amidst recent spike in terror attacks

The NSG forces have been stationed here on the orders of the Ministry of Home Affairs that directly looks after policing and security in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir

2 mins

Cut in budget of Ladakh will hamper development of region, LG tells finance minister

Faced with a massive cut of Rs.976 crores in the capital component of Ladakh's revised budget, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) on Wednesday met the Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman and urged her not to reduce the allocation as it will hamper development of the region.

1 min

Fragile Crossroads

Bangladesh's economic downgrade by credit rating agency Moody's from B1 to B2 signals a troubling convergence of political instability and economic fragility.

2 mins

Congress must reform

SIR, The Congress party had been in power for several decades after independence.

2 mins

Do we still need the G20?

The G20 remains an important platform for dialogue between major countries and a banner of multilateralism in today's world.

2 mins

Toxic Living~ II

While trucks and other heavy vehicles have been recognised as a major contributor to air pollution, in India, freight movement by rail has declined, giving way to a road-based freight system dominated by trucks. Rapid expansion of roads and highways has given impetus to road transport. The share of railways in 1950-51 was 89 per cent, which declined to 27 per cent in 2022

4 mins

Migration Tragedy

The conviction of two individuals involved in a human smuggling operation that led to the deaths of an Indian family at the US-Canada border in January 2022 underscores the devastating toll of illegal migration networks.

2 mins

World must cope with a king above the law

Donald Trump, a convicted felon, an unashamed racist, an unapologetic misogynist, a habitual liar, a climate change denier, and a twice-impeached former President, returned to the White House through democratic elections, fair and square.

4 mins

Reflections On the Constitution

Constitution Day, celebrated on November 26, holds immense significance in India and beyond not only because it marks the historical event of the adoption of the country's Constitution but also because the text of the \"highest law of the land\" resonates with our quotidian aspiration and further encourages continuous negotiation in the public sphere for reshaping India's governance framework.

5 mins

G7 ministers throw support behind Israel-Hezbollah truce but make no mention of ICC warrant

Foreign ministers from leading industrialized countries threw their strong support Tuesday behind an immediate cease-fire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah but sidestepped the question of whether to enforce an international arrest warrant for Israel's leader over the war in Gaza.

1 min

Mexico suggests it would impose its own tariffs to retaliate against any Trump tariffs

President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested Tuesday that Mexico could retaliate with tariffs of its own, after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose 25% import duties on Mexican goods if the country doesn't stop the flow of drugs and migrants across the border.

1 min

Turkey arrests suspects in Israeli-Moldovan rabbi's killing in UAE as they left airport

Turkish security forces arrested the three Uzbek suspects in the killing of a rabbi in the United Arab Emirates as they left an airport in Istanbul, local media reported Wednesday.

1 min

Hamas says ready for Gaza truce

War rages on in Gaza Strip as Lebanon ceasefire appears to hold, Israeli strikes kill 11 at two shelters

2 mins

Trump picks Jay Bhattacharya, who backed Covid herd immunity, to lead National Institutes of Health

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen health economist Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates, to lead the National Institutes of Health, the nation's leading medical research agency.

1 min

Russian FM Lavrov says diplomatic settlement on Ukraine remains distant

A diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine crisis remains a distant prospect as the battlefield situation continues to escalate, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview.

1 min

ICC prosecutor requests arrest warrants for the head of Myanmar's military regime

The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor asked judges on Wednesday to issue an arrest warrant for the head of Myanmar's military regime for crimes committed against the country's Rohingya Muslim minority.

1 min

Philippine police file criminal complaints against Sara Duterte and her security aides

Philippine police officials on Wednesday filed criminal complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte (photo left) and her security staff for allegedly assaulting authorities and disobeying orders in a recent altercation in Congress.

1 min

Brazil's Bolsonaro planned and participated in a 2022 coup plot, an unsealed police report alleges

Brazil's former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro was fully aware of and actively participated in a coup plot to remain in office after his defeat in the 2022 election, according to a Federal Police report unsealed Tuesday.

1 min

Biggest November snowstorm in half a century hits Seoul and grounds flights

The biggest November snowstorm to hit South Korea's capital in more than half a century blanketed the capital on Wednesday, grounding hundreds of flights, disrupting commuter traffic and leaving at least two dead.

1 min

PTI calls off Islamabad protest for the time being

Day of clashes in Islamabad's Red Zone ended in PTI leadership's hasty retreat; over 1,000 held

2 mins

Namibia votes and could have its first female leader; but election upsets have shaken the region

A 72-year-old woman who joined Namibia's independence movement in the 1970s is a strong contender to become its first female leader as the country votes Wednesday in a presidential election.

1 min

E-Daakhil portal, game-changer in consumer rights, implemented nationwide: Centre

The Department of Consumer Affairs on Wednesday announced the successful nationwide implementation of the E-Daakhil portal.

1 min

GenZ prefers strategic mindset over short-term gains, seeks clarity & purpose in careers

Gen Z, which now constitutes over 27 per cent of India's workforce is reshaping workplace dynamics with new priorities.

2 mins

India, UK need to collaborate in AI, tele-medicine, agri tech: Piyush Goyal

India and the UK have the potential to further collaborate in the fields like artificial intelligence (AI), tele-medicine, climate modelling and agri-tech to improve the lives of millions of people in both the countries, Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, said on Wednesday.

1 min

Market posts gains led by energy, auto stocks

Adani Group stocks also staged a sharp recovery, gaining as much as 12 pc

1 min

Motovolt Mobility teams up with HPCL to open 100 outlets across India

Motovolt Mobility Pvt Ltd, one of the leading electric mobility solution providers, has teamed up with HPCL to open 100 such outlets across India.

1 min

Creating robust data analytics ecosystem to support supervisory functions: RBI

Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Deputy Governor Swaminathan J said the central bank is working towards creating a robust data analytics ecosystem to support its supervisory functions, ensuring that the approach remains forward-looking and agile in a rapidly changing world.

1 min

Govt to launch first-ever tranche of mineral blocks auction in offshore areas

Centre will launch the first-ever tranche of auction of mineral blocks in the offshore areas of India on November 28.

1 min

Weddings in India to generate ₹6 trillion revenue in Nov, Dec: Report

The wedding season in India is set to generate around Rs 6 trillion in revenue with an estimated 4.8 million weddings scheduled for November and December.

1 min

Sharad Pawar NCP leaders begin campaign against EVMs

'We don't accept this defeat since it is a result of changes made by the powers that be to EVM machines,' says Jagtap

2 mins

Tension prevails as search continues for Meitei man missing from Army station

The Army has been placed in a tight spot following the disappearance of a contractor with the Military Engineering Service from the headquarters of the 57 Mountain Division located at Leimakhong, 20 kilometres from here.

1 min

Constitutional Whispers

There are several troubling aspects to the Apex Court's interventions in the R G Kar case, argues Debarshi Chakraborty.

5 mins

'India must be seen as arbitration-friendly'

laudia Salomon is the President of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC Court), the first woman in this role in its 100-year history. She spoke to The Statesman during a recent visit to India.

8 mins

Nathan Smith to debut for NZ in 1st Test vs England; Young replaces Williamson

New Zealand have confirmed seamer Nathan Smith will make his Test debut against England on Thursday, while the Player of the Series from their recent whitewash in India Will Young has been dropped.

1 min

England Veteran Stokes skipped IPL auction to prolong international career

Ever since the advent of cash-rich T20 leagues across the world, including the money-minting Indian Premier League, there has been a debate over players choosing franchise cricket over their respective national teams' interest.

1 min

BGT 2024-25: Australia to add uncapped Beau Webster to squad for pink ball Test

Australia are set to add uncapped fast-bowling all-rounder Beau Webster into their squad for the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test, to be played with the pink ball in Adelaide, starting on 6 December.

2 mins

Travis Head Quashes Rumours Of Cracks In Australian Test Team

Australia batter Travis Head has refuted claims the Test side is fractured after Josh Hazlewood caused a stir with a comment that implied there might be a split in the dressing room.

1 min

Bumrah rides Perth Test performance to reclaim top spot in ICC Test rankings

Pace maestro among several Team India colleagues to register big gains in latest ICC rankings

2 mins

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The Statesman Kolkata Newspaper Description:

The Statesman Kolkata is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by The Statesman Net Pvt Ltd in Kolkata, India. It was founded in 1875 and is one of the oldest and most respected newspapers in India. The newspaper is known for its in-depth reporting, investigative journalism, and editorial independence.

The Statesman Kolkata covers a wide range of topics, including politics, business, economy, society, culture, and sports. It also has a strong focus on local news and events. The newspaper is known for its critical and independent reporting on the government and the powerful.

The Statesman Kolkata is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to stay informed about the latest news and developments in India, and especially in West Bengal. It is also a great way to get in-depth analysis and commentary on current affairs.