Much of China's Shanghai locked down as mass Covid-19 testing begins

 China began locking down most of its largest city of Shanghai on Monday as part of its strict Covid-19 strategy, amid questions over the policy’s economic toll on the country.

China began locking down most of its largest city of Shanghai on Monday as part of its strict COVID-19 strategy, amid questions over the policy’s economic toll on the country. Shanghai’s Pudong financial district and nearby areas will be locked down from early Monday to Friday as citywide mass testing gets underway, the local government said.

In the second phase of the lockdown, the vast downtown area west of the Huangpu River that divides the city will then start its own five-day lockdown Friday. Residents will be required to stay home and deliveries will be left at checkpoints to ensure there is no contact with the outside world. Offices and all businesses not considered essential will be closed and public transport suspended. Already, many communities within the city of 26 million have been locked down, with their residents required to submit to multiple tests for COVID-19….Read More

Karni Sena supports Kangana Ranaut, seeks action against Sanjay Raut

The Karni Sena has come out in support of Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut and has sought action against Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

The Karni Sena has come out in support of Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut and has sought action against Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut. The Karni Sena members staged a protest in Gorakhpur on Tuesday against Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut for his disparaging remarks against the actor.

The Sena members also burnt the effigy of Sanjay Raut at Shastri Chowk in Gorakhpur and demanded his apology. They said the kind of language the Shiv Sena leader has used for Kangana is an insult to all women. Shri Rajput Karni Sena, popularly referred to as Karni Sena, is considered to be a fringe outfit and is based in Rajasthan.

Karni Sena district president Devendra Singh said, “Rajputs have always supported women whenever they have been subjected to humiliation and insult. Sanjay Raut has used unparliamentary language for Kangana Ranaut which is very objectionable. We demand that the Maharashtra government and the Shiv Sena take stern action against Sanjay Raut otherwise Karni Sena will come on roads to fight for the respect of women.”

Sanjay Raut is the executive editor of Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamna’, the party’s newspaper and, on Tuesday, he was appointed party’s chief spokesperson. The Karni Sena has also declared that it will take the responsibility for Kangana Ranaut’s security in Mumbai. The actor is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on Wednesday. The Karni Sena said its members will protect Kangana Ranaut and escort her from the airport to her home.

Criminal is dead, but what about those who aided Dubey: Priyanka Gandhi

Soon after gangster Vikas Dubey was killed in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asked “what about those who aided the criminal”

Soon after gangster Vikas Dubey was killed in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asked “what about those who aided the criminal”. “The criminal is dead, but what about those who aided the criminal?” the Congress leader tweeted (translated from Hindi).

Kanpur encounter main accused Vikas Dubey was killed in an encounter with the police on Friday. Dubey, the main accused in the Kanpur encounter case was arrested by the police in Ujjain on Thursday morning. He was on the run for the last several days and had come to Ujjain to offer prayers at Temple, where he was identified by a security guard at the shrine.

The gangster is the main accused in the encounter that took place in Bikru village in Chaubeypur area of Kanpur last week, in which a group of assailants allegedly opened fire on a police team, which had gone to arrest Dubey. Eight police personnel were killed in the encounter. Dubey managed to escape and the Uttar Pradesh police launched a hunt and raised the bounty on him to Rs 5 lakh.

Cong seeks JPC probe into electoral bonds, says it’s threat to democracy

The party also sought an early decision on the issue by the Supreme Court on the legality of these bonds

Stepping up its attack on the Union government over the electoral bonds issue, the Congress on Thursday sought an inquiry by a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) into these “opaque” donations.

The party also sought an early decision on the issue by the Supreme Court on the legality of these bonds. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Congress leader Manish Tewari said the party will continue to raise the issue in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha as it considers it to be a “threat to democracy”.

Earlier in the day, the party in the Lok Sabha accused the Union government of making “government corruption official” by introducing anonymous electoral bonds, and said the earlier regulation over the influence of the rich on politics is no longer there.

Tewari raised the issue during the Zero Hour but his reference to the role of the Prime Minister’s Office prompted Speaker Om Birla to turn off his mic and ask another member to raise his issue, prompting protests from Congress members.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who was in the House, then left her seat and led a walkout by her party members.Tewari earlier said despite reservations expressed by the Reserve Bank of India and the Election Commission, the government went ahead with the introduction of electoral bond. “This made government corruption official,” he said. There used to be control over the influence of the rich on politics earlier, Tewari said, adding this scheme introduced through the 2017 budget made donation anonymous….

1984 riots case: Delhi HC sentences Cong leader Sajjan Kumar to life term

The judgment was pronounced on the appeal challenging the Congress leader’s acquittal

Latest News: The Delhi High Court on Monday convicted Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The court asked Kumar to surrender before December 31 and imposed a fine of Rs 500,000 on him.Today’s verdict reversed the 2013 trial court judgment which had acquitted Sajjan Kumar. While pronouncing the judgment the judge observed, “In the, summer of 1947, during partition several people were massacred. 37 years later Delhi was the witness of a similar tragedy. They accused enjoyed political patronage and escaped trial.”

The judgment was pronounced on the appeal challenging the Congress leader’s acquittal. On October 29 the Delhi High Court had reserved the order in the case after the culmination of arguments. “We welcome the judgement, however we hoped for a death sentence for Sajjan Kumar,” said BJP’s Manjinder Singh Sirsa…

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