The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports that a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is set to escalate into a cyclonic storm by Friday, with a projected landfall on the Bangladesh coast. The system, currently located east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, is expected to intensify over the next 24 hours, crossing Bangladesh between Mongla and Khepupara on Saturday. Anticipating wind speeds of 55-65 kmph (gusting up to 75 kmph), coastal areas of Odisha are warned of heavy rainfall and winds ranging from 40 kmph to 70 kmph. Fishermen are advised to avoid deep seas until November 18 due to rough conditions. [ photo courtesy: Zoom_arth/X ]  

India expressed deep concern as fighting between Myanmar’s anti-junta groups and government forces escalated near the border, leading to the capture of key areas, including the Rihkhawdar border crossing. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi called for a halt to violence and a constructive dialogue. Over 5,000 Myanmar nationals, including soldiers, sought refuge in Mizoram. The conflict intensified as resistance fighters expanded Operation 1027. Bagchi clarified India's stance, emphasizing the desire for stability and democracy in Myanmar. Amid calls to end ties with the junta, India stressed its actions aligned with national interests.      

Delhi Police arrested 4 people after patients died undergoing illegal surgeries at a clinic in the posh Greater Kailash area in South Delhi. Dr. Neeraj Agarwal, his wife Pooja posing as a surgeon, Dr. Jaspreet, and lab technician Mahender were arrested. Patients alleged Dr. Agarwal, a physician, conducted vital organ surgeries using fake documents. In one case, a gallbladder patient was told Dr. Jaspreet would operate but Pooja did it instead. He died post-surgery. Police say since 2016, 9 complaints have been filed and 7 patients died due to negligence. Raids revealed deficiencies, banned drugs and expired blades. Over 400 blank prescriptions were seized. The shocking case that has revealed a racket of fatal surgeries in an illegal clinic by unqualified people has created a sensation in the national capital. [Image Courtesy: NDTV]

The Uttarakhand government is enlisting the expertise of special rescue teams from Norway and Thailand to assist in the evacuation of 40 trapped laborers in the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel. Contacts have been made with a Thai rescue company known for saving children from a cave in 2018, while Norway's NGI agency is providing specific suggestions for tunnel operations. Indian Air Force aircraft are transporting 25 tonnes of heavy equipment to aid in debris removal, allowing for the deployment of a steel pipe. Experts from Indian Railways are also advising on rescue strategies.  

The MTHL, spanning 21.8 km, will connect Mumbai with Navi Mumbai, reducing travel time between the two locations to just 20 minutes, down from the current one-hour estimate via the Vashi Bridge. Equipped with an Open Road Tolling system, it eliminates the need to slow down at toll booths. The bridge, costing nearly Rs 18,000 crore, features 1,212 weather-resistant lighting poles with a Central Control & Monitoring System, aimed at accommodating around 70,000 vehicles daily. The project is set to enhance connectivity to key areas, including the Mumbai-Goa highway and Navi Mumbai International Airport.

Following the demise of Sahara Group's leader, Subrata Roy, over ₹25,000 crore lying with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has come back to attention. Roy faced regulatory battles over two Sahara group firms- SIREL & SHICL, with Sebi ordering the refund of funds allegedly raised through Ponzi schemes in 2011. After a long legal battle, the Supreme Court on August 31, 2012, upheld Sebi's directions asking the two firms to refund the money collected from investors with 15% interest. Sahara eventually deposited an estimated ₹24,000 crore with Sebi which rose to above ₹25,000 in due time. However, Sebi's latest report reveals only ₹138.07 crore refunded to investors in 11 years, while ₹25,163 crore lies in SEBI accounts. Roy, 75, passed away in Mumbai on Tuesday after battling illness.

On Bhai Dooj, PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed warm wishes on social media. Celebrating the unique bond between brothers and sisters, PM Modi called it a festival symbolizing sacred sibling bonds. Amit Shah extended greetings, emphasizing the festival's significance of love and affection. Rajnath Singh wished for a day filled with love, trust, and affection between siblings. Bhai Dooj, usually observed on the second day after Diwali, holds cultural importance across India with different regional names. [ Representative Image ]

In a somber announcement, Sahara India Pariwar confirms the demise of its esteemed leader, 'Saharasri' Subrata Roy Sahara. The visionary Chairman succumbed to cardiorespiratory arrest on November 14, 2023, at 10.30 pm (IST), following complications from metastatic malignancy, hypertension, and diabetes. Admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on November 12, his passing is a profound loss for the entire organization. Described as a guiding force and mentor, Saharasri leaves an indelible legacy. Sahara India Pariwar expresses commitment to upholding his vision and will communicate details about the last rites in due course.

Adultery should be made a crime again as "the institution of marriage is sacred" and must be "protected," a parliamentary panel recommended to the government on Tuesday. In its report on the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita bill, the panel argued the adultery law should treat both genders equally. Its report counters a 2018 Supreme Court ruling that struck down adultery as a crime, saying adultery "can be a ground for a civil offence... for divorce..." but could not be a criminal offence. The court reasoned that the 163-year-old, colonial-era law followed the invalidated concept of "husband is master of the wife." Dissenting Congress MP P Chidambaram said the state has "no business to enter into the lives of a couple." However, the panel wants adultery brought back as a gender-neutral offense, contradicting the SC judgment upholding privacy. [Image Courtesy: VFMI]

In a race against time, rescue teams in Uttarakhand are intensifying efforts to free 40 workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway. Following a landslide, authorities maintain contact with the workers, providing food and oxygen through a water pipeline. The men are currently in a buffered area, with 400 meters to navigate. Despite removing 21 meters of debris, 19 meters remain. Rescue teams plan to deploy a 900mm diameter pipe, utilizing a new drill to expedite the process. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assures close monitoring and support for the ongoing mission. [ photo courtesy: airnewsalerts/X ]