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Uttar Pradesh: Six hospitalised after man feeds cannabis sabzi instead of fenugreek sabzi as ‘joke’

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Six hospitalised after man feeds cannabis sabzi instead of fenugreek sabzi as ‘joke’

A family of six was reportedly rushed to the district hospital by the police in Miyaganj village in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, after they mistakenly consumed a dish made from hemp, a variety of cannabis.

In order to play a prank with his neighbour Omprakash, a man named Naval Kishore handed out weed to Omprakash’s son Nitesh by falsely claiming it to be dry fenugreek (methi). Nitesh then gave the cannabis to his sister-in-law Pinki. Reportedly, she made a curry from the hemp around 4 pm, assuming it to be dried fenugreek. By five in the evening, the family members of Omprakash had consumed the curry.

Prank gone wrong

After some time, the condition of the family members deteriorated. Reportedly, Omprakash had somehow managed to communicate to his neighbours to call in the doctors. Soon, the entire family became unconscious. Neighbours informed the Kotwali police about the matter, post which the family was admitted to the district hospital. As per report, the cops had seized the unused hemp and the curry made by Pinki that rendered Omprakash’s family sick. On interrogating the accused Naval Kishore, it was revealed that it was a case of a prank gone wrong.

Cannabis mistaken for dried fenugreek leaves

In August 2019, a family of five fell unconscious after a woman cooked cannabis sabzi instead of dried fenugreek by mistake. The incident happened in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh. Cannabis and fenugreek leaves were chopped and kept side by side. The woman ended up cooking the cannabis sabzi by mistake. After eating, they all started feeling unwell and fell unconscious. They were taken to a hospital and admitted.

Delhi anti-Hindu riots charge sheet: In Jafrabad, the Muslim mob had started pelting stones at the people demanding re-opening of roads

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi anti-Hindu riots charge sheet: In Jafrabad, the Muslim mob had started pelting stones at the people demanding re-opening of roads

The Delhi anti-Hindu riots that started on the 24th of February had a definite precursor to it. While the organisation of the riots started in January, on the 23rd of February, an incident in Jafrabad can be considered the first incident of violence that started the Delhi riots of February.

At the time, the media had widely reported that anti-CAA and pro-CAA protestors had ‘clashed’ in Jafrabad saying that stones were pelted from both sides.

The PTI report from the 23rd of February read:

Clashes broke out Sunday evening between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jaffrabad in northeast Delhi after a large number of people who have been protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) blocked a road, while similar sit-ins started in several others part of the national capital. Police fired tear gas shells as members of the two groups pelted stones at each other in Maujpur, soon after a gathering called by BJP leader Kapil Mishra who demanded that the police remove anti-CAA protesters within three days.

However, OpIndia has exclusively accessed the chargesheet that paints a vastly different picture of the incidents of 23rd February.

In the charge-sheet, it categorically mentioned that it was the anti-CAA Muslims who had started pelting stones and indulging in violence at those who were demanding re-opening of the roads blocked by the anti-CAA protestors.

Chargesheet in Delhi Riots case
Chargesheet in Delhi Riots case

A group of individuals who were demanding the opening of the 66-Foot road near Jafrabad had assembled at Maujpur Chowk around 3:00 PM on 23rd February. The Maujpur Chowk where they had assembled was about 750 M away from the Jafrabad Metro Station.

The charge sheet then reveals that the residents of Jafrabad and Kardampuri who were supporting the blockage of the Jafrabad metro station congregated in the thousands and started pelting stones from all quarters at the group that was demanding the re-opening of the roads.

While the police fired tear-gas shells etc to disperse the crowd, the situation remained tense.

However, this portion of the charge sheet proves that the incidents of violence were indeed started by the anti-CAA protestors and were not a ‘clash’ per se between the two groups as earlier reported.

It was on the 24th of February that a clash between two groups in Maujpur has been recorded in the charge sheet. However, on the 23rd, it is evident that it was the anti-CAA group that was attacking the group which wanted the re-opening of roads.

Toronto: Tibetan Youth Congress slams China, raises pro-India slogans outside the Chinese Consulate General

OpIndia Staff
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Toronto: Tibetan Youth Congress slams China, raises pro-India slogans outside the Chinese Consulate General

The members of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress held a protest against the Chinese occupation of Tibet in front of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto, Canada. The demonstrators held placards, waived the Tibetan flag, and shouted pro-India slogans outside the Chinese Consulate-General.

“Tibet stands with India”, a protestor can be heard as saying. The slogan is then repeated over and again by the members of the organisation. “Thank you Indian Army! Free Tibet”, she reiterated. The protestors held placards that read, ‘Jai Hind Jai Bharat’, ‘Free Tibet’, ‘Tibet belongs to Tibetans’, ‘Stop Genocide in Tibet’ and ‘China out of Tibet now.’

CTA asks UN to hold China accountable

After slamming China for its expansionist policies and issuing a warning to Nepal regarding Chinese combativeness, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has now asked the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to hold a special session on human right violations by China in Tibet and other regions under it. Accusing China of committing a ‘cultural genocide’ in Tibet, President of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, has issued a statement in which he has asked UNHRC to act with a sense of urgency to unite and ensure that China fulfils its obligations under international laws including human rights obligations before it is too late.

Pakistan: Maulana threatens China after Chinese companies ban Pakistani employees from offering namaz

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Maulana threatens China after Chinese companies ban Pakistani employees from offering namaz

A Pakistani maulana has threatened China and asked the Chinese companies to follow the law of the land after various Chinese companies ban Pakistani employees from offering namaz, the Islamic prayer. In a video that has gone viral on social media, a visibly upset maulana can be heard threatening China to not interfere in their religion.

“Un Chinese ko bolo yeh unke baap ka mulk nahin hai (tell those Chinese this is not their country,” he could be heard saying. “When some people gather and protest, they’d be scared. Then even their father will let you offer namaz. Today morning someone was asking that they’re afraid of losing job and hence can’t protest against Chinese companies for stopping namaz. This is our country, not their daddy’s. When we go to their country, we follow the rules,” he said.

You have to make people respect you. “Make them realise that ‘you have come here, you are the real guest’. You will work as per our laws. Then they will let you offer namaz,” he can be heard saying. It is unclear when the video has been shot and if it is a recent threat to China over reports of namaz being banned.

Chinese companies ban Pakistani employees from offering namaz

As per reports, many Chinese companies in Pakistan have disallowed its Pakistani employees from offering namaz, one of the five basic tenets of Islam. A video shared by Twitter user Farah Khan reveals how one Pakistani employee of a company was beaten up by his employers for allegedly offering namaz.

In the above video, a person can be seen bleeding who is being taken away by his colleagues as the person recording the video claims that the man was beaten up for offering namaz. The person recording the video clims that he was beaten up badly when he was offering namaz. “Chinese are not letting Muslims offer namaz. I appeal to the Prime Minister Imran Khan to take action,” he says.

However, it still remains unclear whether the ban on namaz and/or the threat of the maulana to China are recent or dated.

New swine flu virus with ‘pandemic potential’ identified by researchers in China: Study

Dibakar Dutta
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New swine flu virus with ‘pandemic potential’ identified by researchers in China: Study

Amidst the Coronavirus pandemic that has infected more than 1 cr people and killed over 5 lacs worldwide, researchers have reportedly found a new strain for swine flu in China which possesses genes of pandemic potential. Even though the flu virus is transmitted from pigs, scientists fear that it can mutate and facilitate human-to-human transmission.

As per reports, the new virus strain is named G4 and it has descended from the same H1N1 strain that had caused a pandemic in 2009.

In a paper, ‘Prevalent Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza virus with 2009 pandemic viral genes facilitating human infection’ published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists have highlighted measures to contain the virus and close monitoring of workers in the swine industry. While researchers have noted that the new strain from swine flu is not an immediate problem but has the potential of a global outbreak and thus requires close monitoring. As per reports, people have no immunity to the virus as it is relatively new.

As per the report, the swine flu pandemic began in 2009 in Mexico. However, it was less fatal than Coronavirus as aged people had some immunity to the virus (A/H1N1pdm09), due to its similarity with other flu viruses. People are now protected from the swine flu by the annual flu vaccine. And the new virus strain (G4 EA H1N1) that has been discovered in China is similar to the Swine flu virus of 2009 but with additional modifications.

Current vaccines cannot protect against new flu virus strain

Professor Kin-Chow Chang and other co-authors of the research paper have observed that the new virus strain can multiply rapidly in cells that line the human airways. They also noted that the current flu vaccines, available in the market today, cannot provide immunity against the new strain but stated that it can be modified to do so. Reportedly, more than one in 10 people, working in the swine industry, have already been exposed to the virus.

As per reports, the researchers conducted experiments with ferrets and found that the virus strain is highly infectious and replicates faster than other viruses and in ferrets. The study warned that human infection due to the virus can trigger a human pandemic. Scientists have been able to isolate 179 swine flu viruses from 30,000 nasal swabs of pigs between that were collected between 2011 and 2018 from slaughterhouses in 10 provinces in China.

Over 4% population already exposed

The paper found that about 4.4% of the general population have also been exposed to the new strain of the Swine flu virus. Scientists say that while evidence for the animal to human transmission of the virus existed, they failed to ascertain the human-to-human transmission aspect.

Professor Kin-Chow Chang observed, “Right now we are distracted with coronavirus and rightly so. But we must not lose sight of potentially dangerous new viruses. We should not ignore it.”

Bharat Biotech’s potential COVID-19 vaccine ‘Covaxin’ enters clinical trials after DGCI approval

OpIndia Staff
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Bharat Biotech’s potential COVID-19 vaccine ‘Covaxin’ enters clinical trials after DGCI approval

Bharat Biotech, one of India’s leading Bio-Technology companies, has got approval for human trials of their potential Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin from Drug Controller General of India on 29th June. DGCI, the drug regulator body, has permitted the company to conduct phase I and phase II clinical trials for the first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine that are expected to begin in July. Bharat Biotech has developed the potential vaccine in collaboration with the National Institute of Virology, and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Promising pre-clinical studies led to trial approval

The company presented the results of pre-clinical studies of the potential vaccine that ensure safety and immunity response. The pre-clinical trials of the potential Covid-19 vaccine took two months to complete after getting approval from the regulatory body. Krishna Ella, Chairman and MD of Bharat Biotech, said, “The collaboration with NIV was instrumental in developing this vaccine. The proactive support and guidance from CDSCO have enabled approvals to this project.” The vaccine is being developed in a high containment facility in Hyderabad.

Ella added that their ongoing research and expertise in forecasting epidemics had enabled them to successfully manufacture a vaccine for the H1N1 pandemic. “Continuing our focus on creating the only BSL-3 containment facilities for manufacturing and testing in India, Bharat Biotech is committed to advancing vaccine development as a matter of national importance to demonstrate India’s strength in handling the future pandemics.”

Race to develop vaccine for Covid-19

There are around 86 teams working across the globe to develop vaccines for Covid-19. Some of them have already entered clinical trials. According to the World Health Organization, 13 vaccines are undergoing clinical trials. 129 vaccines are currently in the pre-clinical evaluation phase. In India, Zydus Cadila, Serum Institute of India and other Indian pharma companies are developing a vaccine for the infection.

Rising Covid-19 cases in India

As per the Ministry of Health, out of 5,49,946 cases in India, 3,34,821 patients have been cured while 16,893 have lost their lives due to complications related to Covid-19. 2,15,125 cases are still active in the country, with Maharashtra having maximum cases, followed by Tamil Nadu and Delhi.

Andhra: 3 days after Kurnool incident, another gas leak in Vizag kills 2 persons, 4 hospitalised

OpIndia Staff
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Andhra: 3 days after Kurnool incident, another gas leak in Vizag kills 2 persons, 4 hospitalised

On Monday, two factory workers died and four were reportedly hospitalised, following the leakage of Benzimidazole gas at a pharma company, Sainor Life Sciences Pvt Limited in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh at 11:30 pm in the night. The area falls under the jurisdiction of the Parwada police station.

Inspector (Parwada) informed that the gas did not spread anywhere besides the factory and that the situation was under control. The factory was visited by the police Commissioner RK Meena, and the District Collector V Vinay Chand. Reportedly, the two deceased workers have been identified as one Narendra and Gowri Shankar. The cause of the gas leak has not yet been ascertained. However, it is believed to have caused due to unforeseen technical reasons.

The incident took place at the factory which is located at the Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City (JNPC) area in Vizag. The injured were rushed to the hospital. As per reports, the condition of one patient is said to be critical and he has been put on a ventilator. State Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy enquired about the accident and his office had informed that the factory had been temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure.

3 days after the Kurnool gas leak incident

On June 27, ammonia gas leakage in a chemical plant owned by former MP S P Y Reddy had caused the death of a general manager and hospitalisation of four other employees. The incident had occurred in the factory owned by SPY Agro Industries in Nandyala town of Kurnool district. Welding work of a gas pipeline was underway when the incident happened.

Gas leak at LG Polymers in May

This is not the first time that such an incident has come to light. In May this year, at least 12 people, including one child, had died and about 500 people had fallen ill after a gas leak in a chemical factory named LG Polymers. People in the vicinity were taken to hospital after they complained of burning sensation in eyes and breathing difficulties. After the report of gas leak poured in, police and ambulance were called on the spot. The leakage reportedly happened at around 3 AM near the Naiduthota area which is close to Gopalapatnam.

Lucknow: Priyanka Gandhi close aide and UP Congress’ minority cell chief Shahnawaz Alam arrested for role in anti-CAA violence

OpIndia Staff
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Lucknow: Priyanka Gandhi close aide and UP Congress’ minority cell chief Shahnawaz Alam arrested for role in anti-CAA violence

Lucknow police on Monday arrested Shahanwaz Alam, the chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Congress minority cell for his alleged role in the anti-CAA riots that took place in December 2019. Congress leaders circulated a CCTV video in which cops were taking a person from outside an apartment located close to the Chief Minister’s residence. He is believed to be a close aide of Congress General Secretary and Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Gadhi Vadra.

DCP central Dinesh Singh issued a statement in which he confirmed that they had arrested Shahanwaz for his involvement in anti-CAA protest on 19th December 2019 in Lucknow that turned violent. He added that they arrested Alam after gathering evidence against him.

Congress leaders protest against the arrest

Ajay Kumar Lallu, UP Congress chief and Aradhna Mishra, state Congress legislative party leader reached the Hazratgant police station with party workers following Alam’s arrest. They got into an argument with the senior cops while enquiring about the arrest. The Congress leaders alleged that police lathi-charged the Congress workers to disperse them.

Ashok Singh, UP Congress spokesman was quoted by India Today as saying, “Shahanwaz, his driver and a party worker, were picked up by the police on Monday late evening. However, the police arrested Shahanwaz and released the other two people. The cops also impounded a vehicle. This government is behaving like an autocrat and is unnecessarily targeting Congress leaders and workers who are exposing the wrongdoings of the state government.” He added that Ajay Lallu was also arrested earlier and now other leaders are being arrested.

Who is Shahanwaz Alam?

Hailing from Balia district, Shahanwaz Alam was appointed as the head of Uttar Pradesh minority cell in January 2020. He has been a member of AISA, the communist party’s student wing during his college days and actively participated in student politics.

Day after Govt of India banned 59 Chinese apps, TikTok India releases statement, claims does not share data with Chinese govt

OpIndia Staff
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Day after Govt of India banned 59 Chinese apps, TikTok India releases statement, claims does not share data with Chinese govt

The Chinese video sharing app TikTok’s India office today released a statement where it said that after the banning of 59 Chinese apps on security concerns by the Government of India, TikTok is invited to meet the concerned authorities and submit clarifications.

In a statement, Nikhil Gandhi, head of TikTok in India claimed that TikTok continues to comply with data privacy and security requirements and has not shared information of users to any foreign government including the Chinese government. TikTok claims that even if such a request comes in future, it will not share user data.

TikTok, WeChat, CamScanner and other apps banned

On Monday, the Government of India banned 59 apps over security and privacy concerns. The Ministry of Information Technology, invoking its power under section 69A of Information Technology Act, with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 has ordered a block on the use of 59 apps saying that these apps are “engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order”.

‘So problem only with Dhoni’s Balidan badge?’ Netizens express anger as ICC shows off ‘Black Lives Matter’ logo West Indies players will wear in upcoming series

OpIndia Staff
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‘So problem only with Dhoni’s Balidan badge?’ Netizens express anger as ICC shows off ‘Black Lives Matter’ logo West Indies players will wear in upcoming series

On Monday, the International Cricket Council showed off the ‘Black Lives Matter’ logo the West Indies players will sport in their upcoming test series against England.

Soon, Indian cricket fans took to Twitter to question ICC on their reservation against former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni wearing the Balidan insignia on his wicketkeeping gloves which had apparently upset the ICC in 2019.

Dhoni was wearing the paratrooper insignia during the cricket World Cup in 2019.

According to the global body governing cricket, it is against the regulations. When asked whether Dhoni could be punished for breaching ICC rules, Furlong said that at present Dhoni is only requested to remove the insignia and there will be no punishment for the first time offence.

The dagger insignia called the Balidan Badge is a distinct insignia of the special forces forming part of the Parachute Regiment.  The badge can only be worn by Paramilitary Commandos. Dhoni, who was conferred an honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment in 2011, was flaunting the Balidan Badge as a mark of respect for the Armed Forces. The former Skipper had also undergone training under the Para Brigade in 2015.

However, with ICC flaunting the ‘Black Lives Matter’ logo, Indian fans were visibly upset.

Dhoni wearing the Balidan badge came months after the ghastly Pulwama attack where Pakistan-backed terrorist killed CRPF soldiers in a suicide attack. Following this, Indian armed forces destroyed terror camps in Balakot and the tensions at the border had escalated.

What ICC rules say

As per rule G.1 in ICC’s Clothing and equipment Rules and regulation guideline, “Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey messages through arm bands or other items affixed to clothing or equipment (“Personal Messages”) unless approved in advance by both the player or team official’s Board and the ICC Cricket Operations Department. Approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes. The ICC shall have the final say in determining whether any such message is approved. For the avoidance of doubt, where a message is approved by the player or team official’s Board but subsequently disapproved by the ICC’s Cricket Operations Department, the player or team official shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey such message in International Matches.”

Hence, what appears is that the ‘Black Lives Matter’ logo, which is related to ‘racial activity or cause’ is ‘preapproved’ by the ICC unlike Dhoni’s badge, which was asked to be removed.

Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter is an organised movement in many countries of the world against the racial discrimination and police brutality against African-American people. It was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Trayvon Martin was a 17-year-old African-American boy from Florida who was shot dead by George Zimmerman after physical altercation. The movement regained momentum recently after Minneapolis cops killed an African-American man George Floyd by choking him even as he kept requesting that he can’t breathe.

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