The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict today on a plea seeking restoration of conspiracy charges against senior BJP leaders, including Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti in the demolition of a disputed structure case in Ayodhya. A bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and R F Nariman is scheduled to pronounce the judgement.

There were two sets of cases relating to the demolition of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992. 

The first involved unnamed ‘karsevaks’, the trial of which is taking place in a Lucknow court, while the second set of cases relate to important personalities in a Rae Bareli court.

On April 6 this year, the bench had indicated that they may order holding of joint trial of the two sets of cases by transferring the trial from Rae Bareli to the Lucknow court.

The apex court had also said since 25 years have already passed, in the interest of justice, it would consider ordering time-bound trial on day-to-day basis, to be completed preferably within two years.

Expressing concern over the increasing incidence of diabetes among the young population, Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh has called for focus on controlling the disease and said that this was not only a health priority but also a national priority considering the invaluable potential of the youth energy in the making of “New India”. 

Addressing a National Consultation on “Optimising the Skills of Health Workers To Tackle NCDs in India’’, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the disease spectrum in India, over the last few decades, had shifted from Communicable to Non-Communicable Diseases as a result of which, Type 2 Diabetes mellitus, heart disease and cancer had occupied the centre stage. This has, at the same time, also resulted in huge social and economic burden on society which has more than 65% of population below the age of 45 and, therefore, cannot afford any drainage or wastage of valuable youth potential. 

Dr Jitendra Singh cautioned that more than the rapidly spreading epidemic of Diabetes, the more serious concern is upsurge of Diabetes in younger age groups and among hitherto lesser affected sections of the society and lesser affected parts of the country including rural areas and village folk. This, he said, is also, to a great extent, because of the breakdown of the rural-urban divide resulting in unhealthy lifestyle changes across all sections of society. 

Making a strong plea for engaging in public-private partnership (PPP) modules, Dr Singh said the government agencies, social scientists and health professionals will have to work in tandem to devise strategies for control and prevention of Diabetes before it appears. 

Underlining the Central Government’s concern and priority for health issues, Dr Singh referred to the recent decision of the Government to streamline and control the prices of cardiac stents used for heart patients. He also referred to the Government’s move for use of generic medicines and to introduce a comprehensive health policy under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Considering the topography of some of the far-flung and inaccessible areas of the country, Dr Singh said, he had also proposed the idea of having “Air-Clinic” set up inside a helicopter with a specialist and requisite equipment as well as paramedics which could be used as an OPD at more than one places on a single day. 

The Consultation, organized by Project Hope, drew experts from the government, corporate, senior endocrinologists ad diabetologists, civil society, academia and international donor agencies, was aimed at providing a platform for presenting and discussing the most recent innovations, promising practices, trends, challenges and solutions adopted to improve the skills of health workers in the field of NCDs.

According to Dr Laxmikant Palo, Regional Director for Project Hope South-East Asia, the quality of NCDs related health outcomes was inextricably dependent on the availability of skilled, motivated and well-supported health workforce and adequate health infrastructure. The public and private sectors need to invest more for continuous improvement of the skills of health workforce to effectively respond to the growing burden of NCDs in India, he added.

Shortly after the arrest of liquor baron and India’s one of the biggest defaulters Vijay Mallya, Westminster Magistrate Court granted him bail. Vijay Mallya tweeted, “Usual Indian media hype. Extradition hearing in court started today as expected.”  
Soon after the arrest internet started trending with the hashtags of #VijayMallya. 
Loans from Banks, Rupees in crore:
State Bank of India- 1600 Punjab National Bank- 800 IDBI- 800Bank of India- 650United Bank of India- 430Central Bank of India- 410UCO Bank- 320Corporation Bank- 310State Bank of Mysore- 150Indian Overseas Bank- 140Federal Bank – 90Punjab & Sindh Bank- 60Axis Bank- 50

Downfall of Kingfisher Airlines
Kingfisher Airlines was founded in 2003 under the parent company of United Breweries Group. It made its maiden commercial flight on May 9th 2005. In June 2009, Mallya bought Air Deccan and in November it recorded a net loss of 418.77 crore. This loss laid off more than 100 pilots of Kingfisher. In 2011, Mumbai International Airport sent notice to the Mallya to pay 90 crore outstanding amount. Later on, Vijay Mallya repeatedly asked the government for a bailout package to pay the debt of the banks. The then government denied any such package and then he fled to London after failing to pay the loan to banks. Finance Minister Mr. Arun Jaitley had also appealed to British Prime Minister Theresa May in February 2017 to give access to extradite Mallya. It looks like the consistent effort of the NDA government behind the arrest of Vijay Mallya. Now, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will appeal in the British court to extradite Mallya to India. 

In an endeavor to provide smooth travel experience to the railway travelers, Indian Railways have taken various initiatives for improved passenger experience. Considering the peak season during summers, Indian Railways is poised to offer convenient travel to the passengers without upsetting their plans. 
To ensure optimal utilization of available accommodation, following initiatives have been undertaken by Indian Railways:-
i) Finalization of first reservation chart at least 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train.
ii) After preparation of first reservation chart, current ticket booking facility provided through any reserved ticket booking window as well as on internet till preparation of second reservation chart.
iii) Transfer of vacant available accommodation after preparation of second reservation chart to next remote location.
iv) Following facilities are also provided online through IRCTC website:
a) Waitlisted passengers given the option of accommodation in any other train without payment of any difference of fare or grant of refund thereon under VIKALP scheme. This facility can also be availed for e tickets booked prior to 01.04.2017
b) Tickets booked across reserved ticket booking window can be cancelled through IRCTC website or through 139.
c) In case of e tickets, boarding points can be changed through IRCTC website at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the train.
d) The facility of online booking of wheel chair provided free of cost to passengers.
e) The facility of online booking of retiring rooms through IRCTC website has been introduced.
f) Disposable bedrolls can be purchased through IRCTC website.
g) E Catering introduced to increase food options available with passengers.

NEW DELHI: Liquor baron Vijay Mallya who had left for London on March 2 last year has been arrested there by the Scotland Yard. 
Mr. Mallya had launched with great fanfare Kingfisher airlines which could not survive has been accused of defaulting in paying back his bank loans worth Rs. 9000 crores. 
The NDA government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been making efforts to get Mr. Mallya extradited from London to join the probe by investigating agencies here and face charges of wrongdoing, financial bungling and defaulting on loan repayment to banks, including leading public sector bank State Bank of India. Recently, his villa in picturesque coastal State of Goa was auctioned for Rs. 73 crores.  
Known for  his extravagant and flamboyant life style, Mr, Mallya is also a former independent Rajya Sabha member and his family owned the liquor giant UB group, headquartered in Bengaluru. His group also supports a number of sporting activities and beauty pageants.  
There was no immediate word from official circles on his arrest but agency reports from London indicated that after  his arrest Mr. Mallya has been taken to a court there. Since extradition is a long drawn judicial process, it is often seen that such requests fail to fructify and the proceedings take a long time in competent court.   

NEW DELHI:The visiting U.S. National Security Advisor (NSA) Lt. Gen H. R. McMaster called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday. . 
Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster conveyed the greetings of President Donald Trump to the Prime Minister. Mr. Modi recalled his positive telephonic conversations with President Trump that reaffirmed the importance attached by both sides to the strategic partnership and to stepping up India-U.S. engagement across the board. 
Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster shared his perspective with Prime Minister on the security situation in the extended region, including in Afghanistan, West Asia and North Korea. During the conversation, they exchanged views on how both countries can work together to effectively address the challenge of terrorism and to advance regional peace, security and stability, according to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office. 

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to tighten the rules for technology companies seeking to bring highly skilled foreign workers to the United States. The order signed by Mr Trump yesterday targets the H-1B visa programme. 
“With this action, we are sending a powerful signal to the world: We’re going to defend our workers, protect our jobs and finally put America first,” Mr Trump said.
The White House said the programme undercuts American workers by bringing in large numbers of cheaper foreign workers, which drives down US wages. The order directs US agencies to propose rules to prevent immigration fraud and abuse in the programme. 
Agencies have also been asked to suggest changes so that the H-1B visas are granted to the most-skilled or highest-paid applicants. Mr Trump said the order sends a powerful signal to the world that the United States will defend its workers, protect their jobs and put America first.

Even as the tense situation with the Africans in this country requires to be defused, the ambassadors from that continent have only hardened their stand. Their reason — Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not condemned the attack on one of their students. 

New Delhi believes this is definitely not a racial slur though African students insist they are increasingly feeling uncomfortable and scared to leave their home. It is a law and order problem and the government needs to put systems in place whereby African students are not singled out for attacks. 

External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had been double quick in intervening in the matter following the attack on a student on March 27 in Greater Noida in the National Capital Region. She urged the new Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath for prompt investigations and bringing to book the offenders.  

Subsequently, the 43 African ambassadors hardened their stand that the Modi government’s response and subsequent reaction had been found wanting. Ms Swaraj felt the 43 African Ambassadors were overreacting to the attacks on Nigerian citizens. India’s relations with Africa are age old be it in their fight against apartheid in South Africa or the movements for independence finding an echo in this country. 

Fault lines appear to be developing in Indo-African relationship at a time when New Delhi is trying to reach out to African nations for stronger political, economic and trade ties. 

China has taken a lead over India by enlarging ties in Africa with its liberal funding along with getting involved in promoting development.

The harsh statement by the African ambassadors complained that the Modi government took “no known, sufficient and visible deterrent action” against the miscreants. It categorised the attack as “xenophobic and racial in nature”. 

In the past African students have been blamed in many countries for peddling drugs and having a corrupting influence on the local youth. It is incumbent on the police to protect the students or anyone else from mob assault. The inquiry ordered must be completed speedily and action taken against the mobsters. 

Simultaneously, the African students should be made aware of the stringent laws in this country against drug related offences. At the same time the office of the Dean of the African Group Head of Missions said all diplomatic options were on the table to serve justice to the victims of the attack. 

They resorted to unprecedented action proposing giving a call for an independent investigation by the National Human Rights Commission as well other human rights bodies, and to comprehensively report the matter to the African Union Commission. 

On her part, Ms Swaraj told the Lok Sabha “What the Dean of the African diplomats has said about the silence or inaction of our political leadership is completely contrary to facts. “And every criminal act is not racist in nature,” she added. 

African diplomats are concerned about India’s reluctance to acknowledge racism as a motive behind many of the attacks. India insists that the attacks be treated as individual law and order incidents. “Such acts represent the action of an uninformed misguided few” the spokesperson of the MEA stressed. “India would continue to welcome African people including students and youth as partners,” he added. 

An African diplomat emphasised New Delhi needs to ensure that “such assaults don’t trigger an African exodus from this country”. 

It is believed that immediate proactive steps by local administrators could have nipped the evil in the bud. There have been many incidents in this country where people from the African continent have been targetted. An unambiguous message has become necessary that any discrimination against foreigners at any level will not be tolerated. 

Most importantly, this country must rectify its image that foreigners are not safe in this country. It has become imperative to remove the apprehension of Africans about their safety in this country. 

(T R Ramachandran is senior journalist and commentator. The views are personal.)

NEW DELHI: It was a unique and different Sunday for children with special abilities as they joined people from other walks of life to  “Run 4 Cause” around the well spread Nehru Park in the national Capital’s tree-lined diplomatic area of Chankyapuri. 

The run was organised by Dr. Lal Singh’s Foundation, a non-governmental organisation engaged in charitable activities like free clinics, providing hygienic canteen food daily to patients and their relatives thronging AIIMS and Safdarjang Hospitals, taking specialist doctors to Delhi’s Central Tihar jail and holding regular free medical camps. It was the third edition of the “Run 4 Cause” which witnessed participation of nearly 4000 people, including those with special needs. The entire area wore a paint of blue as all the participants were donning blue T-shirts, emblazoned with the foundation’s motto “Humanity First.” 

Dr. Sanjeev Singh Chawla, President of the foundation, said the run has become an important event in the Capital’s annual calendar and has been by and large successful in creating awareness about children with special needs and educating their parents about the ways of taking care of such children and providing them treatment. “Many organisations engaged in taking care of children with special needs partner with our foundation to participate in this annual run and all of us come together under the platform of our foundation,” he said. 

Such events also help in showcasing the talent and immense willpower of the children with special needs. “Our foundation is making efforts to remove the negativity that surrounds families of such differently-abled children who need special training, treatment and care to stabilise them and bring them into the mainstream of the society and nation,” he said. 

This Sunday Chairman of the All India Anti-terrorist Front M S Bitta and Kathak guru Pulkit Misra turned up as special guests to flag off the run and the brand ambassador was 1992 Asian marathon champion Sunita Godara. 

“Our foundation is spreading the message that differently-abled children are courageous and have a very warm heart. Their mind needs to be soothed and trained to become more stable,” Dr. Chawla said. As a leading Homeopath, he says that there are remedies which can calm the nerves and minds of such children. He should know that as his family can boast of the three generations of well qualified and experienced practicing Homeopaths. 

His octogenerian father Dr. Lal Singh, a former head of Biochemistry department of AIIMS, who took to Homeopathy later, his elder brother Dr. Amarjit Singh who has been practicing for the last three decades, his nephew Dr. Gurshabad Singh who is shaping up well to carry forward the family tradition. Apart from charitable clinics, all of them put together attend to nearly two thousand patients in three clinics in South and West Delhi everyday. 

New Delhi:-The Bengaluru based think-tank, Public Affairs Centre, has developed a mobile application for the effective waste collection and management. PAC Waste Tracker mobile app targets to monitor the primary waste collection process through citizen participation in Bengaluru. Currently, it is being piloted in the four wards of the city.

The data is dependent on local neighbourhood citizens to answer an online questionnaire designed by PAC, which is available on the Mobile Application “PAC Waste Tracker”. The representatives are trained to understand the workings of a mobile application and answer the questionnaire in the given specific format. These answers are sent to a common platform which is monitored in real time and data on specific issues plaguing the collections points can be generated as required. A summary of the answers sent is shown to the representatives before they submit the answers for a final verification. The whole process is monitored online using the PAC Waste Tracker website, where the number of questionnaires answered and the number of representatives answering the same can be viewed. The application is also developed in the local language to make it more users friendly.

While Ms. Bhargavi Nagendra, Program Officer – PAC, talking to Gaurav Raj, said, “Keeping in mind the importance of effective waste collection, the PAC Waste Tracker app throws light on the actual status quo as far as waste collection is concerned. Our data showed us that there are many challenges including lack of segregation of waste at source, public littering, and lack of equipment for the garbage collector and traffic congestion during the waste collection process which needs to be addressed.

The mobile application is not open to public now. First, it will be launched in those wards which are chosen for the pilot mode. PAC plans to launch the Waste Tracker App in Bangaluru soon and aims to take the app to other cities in India as well.  

This e-waste management system can uplift the execution of PM Modi’s flagship project, ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan’.