Haridwar administration says no permission given for mahapanchayat, clamps Sec 144

 FOLLOWING announcement of a mahapanchayat by Hindu religious leaders in Dada Jalalpur village near Roorkee to discuss the recent violence and stone pelting in the village, the Haridwar district administration on Tuesday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC in 5-km area of the village and confirmed that no permission has been granted for the event.

The prohibitory orders were imposed hours after the Supreme Court directed the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary to place on record the state’s position that there will not be any “untoward situation” or “unacceptable statements” during the event.

Swami Anand Swaroop, a Haridwar-based religious leader and one of organisers of the Wednesday event, however, told The Indian Express they will go ahead with their plans and reach the village. He said he will be part of the mahapanchayat along with Dharam Sansad core committee members like Yatindranand Giri, Prabodhanand Saraswati, Parmanand ji Maharaj and others.

He said the mahapanchayat has been announced to discuss police action and their failure to arrest the main culprits in the April 16 communal violence that took place in the village during a Hanuman Jayanti procession.

Several persons were injured and at least four vehicles were set on fire during the violence. So far 14 people, all belonging to the minority community, have been arrested in connection with the violence.

Demanding the arrest of the local mosque’s Imam, who he alleged was responsible for the violence, Swaroop said, “We had given them (the authorities) a week’s time, which ended Tuesday. We had already announced that after one week we will organise a mahapanchayat and everyone should accept whatever the mahapanchayat decides.”

DIG (Garhwal Range) Karan Singh Nagnyal said Section 144 CrPC has been imposed in the area as a preventive measure. “This is not just with the planned mahapanchayat in mind, but also to maintain peace and law and order in the area,” he said.

Haridwar SSP Yogendra Singh Rawat said Section 144 has been imposed in 5 km area of the village and no assembly or gathering is allowed there.

“Heavy police force has been deployed in the area to stop the mahapanchayat as no permission has been granted to anyone. If anyone tries [to organise it], it will be considered an illegal activity. Around 200 police personnel and 100 inspectors and sub-inspectors have been deployed. Additionally, five companies of PAC have also been sent to the area. The entire issue is being monitored by the Supreme Court and we do not want any leniency. If anyone tries to break the law, strict action will be taken,” he said.

Haridwar District Magistrate Vinay Shankar Pandey said no permission has been granted for any mahapanchayat.

“It is clear that no event will be organised tomorrow. So far, preventive action has been taken against 33 people who were involved in organising the event. We will follow the Supreme Court guidelines and no one has the right or permission to take law in their hands,” he said.

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Covaxin gets DCGI nod for 6-12 age group, Corbevax for 5-12 year olds

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Tuesday granted regulatory approvals to three Covid-19 vaccines, health ministry sources confirmed. The Indian drug regulator has granted an emergency use authorisation (EUA) to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for the age group of 6-12 years and to Biological E’s Corbevax for the age group 5-12, sources said.

On Tuesday, Gujarat-based Zydus Cadila’s two-dose Covid-19 vaccine was also granted emergency use authorisation for the 12 years and above population. At present, the three-dose version of the Zydus Cadila’s DNA vaccine is being used in the national immunization drive for the adult population. It is the first Covid-19 vaccine in the world that is built on a DNA platform and has been approved for commercial use.

With Tuesday’s decision, India will have an approved Covid-19 vaccine for 5 years and above. However, the final decision will be taken by the government’s expert body on vaccination to roll out the vaccination drive for this population. At present, India is using Corbevax for the 12-14 years age group and Covaxin for the adolescent population. Currently, US and UK are administering Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine for 5 years and above.

On December 25, less than a year after India rolled out one of the world’s largest adult Covid-19 vaccination drives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced vaccination for children in the age group of 15-18 years. The decision came in the backdrop of rising cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant across various pockets in the country, and schools and colleges re-opening in a phased manner.

From March 27, kids in the 12-14 age bracket were able to get their Covid-19 vaccines as the Centre decided to expand its inoculation drive.

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Twitter begins negotiations with Elon Musk after Tesla CEO woos shareholders

Twitter Inc kicked off deal negotiations with Elon Musk on Sunday after he wooed many of the social media company's shareholders with financing details on his $4-billion acquisition offer, people familiar with the matter said.

The company's decision to engage with Musk, taken earlier on Sunday, does not mean that it will accept his $54.20 per share bid, the sources said. It signifies, however, that Twitter is now exploring whether a sale of the company to Musk is possible on attractive terms, the sources added.

Musk, chief executive of electric car giant Tesla Inc, has been meeting with Twitter shareholders in the last few days, seeking support for his bid. He has said Twitter needs to be taken private to grow and become a genuine platform for free speech.

Many Twitter shareholders reached out to the company after Musk outlined a detailed financing plan for his bid on Thursday and urged it not to let the opportunity for a deal slip away, Reuters reported earlier on Sunday.

Musk's insistence that his bid for Twitter is his "best and final" has emerged as a hurdle in the deal negotiations, the sources said. Nevertheless, Twitter's board has decided to engage with Musk to gather more information on his ability to complete the deal, and potentially get better terms, the sources added.

Twitter has not yet decided if it will explore a sale to put pressure on Musk to raise his bid, according to the sources. The people with knowledge of the matter declined to be identified because the deal discussions are confidential.

Twitter wants to know more about any active investigations by regulators into Musk, including by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), that would present a risk to the deal being completed, one of the sources said.

Securities lawyers say that Musk, who settled charges that he misled investors by suggesting four years ago he had secured funding to take Tesla private, may have breached SEC disclosure rules as he amassed a stake in Twitter earlier this year.

Twitter is also looking into whether regulators in any of the major markets it operates would object to Musk owning the company, the source added. Were Twitter to establish that a sale to Musk would be risky, it could ask for a sizeable break-up fee, according to the sources.

The social media company adopted a poison pill after Musk made his offer to prevent him from raising his more than 9% stake in the company above 15% without negotiating a deal with its board. In response, Musk has threatened to launch a tender offer that he could use to register Twitter shareholder support for his bid.

A concern that Twitter's board weighed was that unless it sought to negotiate a deal with Musk, many shareholders could back him in a tender offer, the sources said.

While the poison pill would prevent Twitter shareholders from tendering their shares, the company is worried that its negotiating hand would weaken considerably if it was shown to be going against the will of many of its investors, the sources added.

Representatives for Twitter and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Sunday that Musk and Twitter would meet to discuss the acquisition offer.

The price expectations among Twitter shareholders for the deal diverge largely based on their investment strategy, the sources said.

Active long-term shareholders, who together with index funds hold the biggest chunk of Twitter shares, have higher price expectations, some in the $60s-per-share, the sources said. They are also more inclined to give Parag Agrawal, who became Twitter's chief executive in November, more time to boost the value of the company's stock, the sources added.

"I don't believe that the proposed offer by Elon Musk ($54.20 per share) comes close to the intrinsic value of Twitter given its growth prospects," Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a Twitter shareholder, tweeted on April 14.

Short term-minded investors such as hedge funds want Twitter to accept Musk's offer or ask for only a small increase, the sources said. Some of these are fretting that a recent plunge in the value of technology stocks amid concerns over inflation and an economic slowdown makes it unlikely Twitter will be able to deliver more value for itself anytime soon, the sources added.

"I would say, take the $54.20 a share and be done with it," said Sahm Adrangi, portfolio manager at Kerrisdale Capital Management, a hedge fund that owns 1.13 million shares in Twitter, or 0.15% of the company, and has been an investor since early 2020.

One silver lining for Twitter's board is that Musk's offer did not appear to convert much of his army of 83 million Twitter followers into new shareholders in the San Francisco-based company who could back his bid, the sources said.

Twitter's retail investor base has increased from about 20% before Musk unveiled his stake on April 4 to some 22%, according to the sources.

Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Editing by Will Dunham and Kenneth Maxwell.

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Apple may launch iPhone 14 Pro in THIS surprising shape

With some major advancements, Apple is preparing for its next-generation iPhones. In addition, the iPhone 14 Pro models will include a small but pleasing form modification.

According to iPhone 14 leaks, iPhone 14 Pro models will have a subtle shape change. The tech giant plans to make the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max "far more curved" than current iPhone 13 Pro models, according to render artist Ian Zelbo.

Moreover, the shape change is a fix for an existing iPhone problem that is subtle but, once spotted, something you cannot unsee. 

"The design of the iPhone 13 Pro has a peculiarity," Zelbo reveals. "The phone's corners do not have the same radius as the camera bump (obviously, an odd decision for a company like Apple, who is known for their cohesiveness)... Apple has dramatically softened the sides of the iPhone 14 Pro, finally resolving the strange appearance of the iPhone 13 Pro."

"In addition to being more rounded, the screen's corners are also significantly more curved," Zelbo pointed out.

Why did Apple make this decision?

Due to Apple’s supersized new iPhone 14 Pro camera bump. If Apple kept the same radius as the iPhone 13 Pro, it would result in a pretty uneven looking handset, Zelbo said.

After reviewing leaked iPhone 14 Pro schematics, Zelbo pointed out that similarly leaked iPhone 14 schematics suggest that the non-Pro versions will not undergo the same design modification because they're continuing with last year's camera technology, just as they are with an older chipset.

The next-gen Apple iPhone 14 series is expected to be launched around September-October this year.  

Best Aviation Training Academy in India.

Here are the Top Institutes in Aviation, which are not only providing students with a comprehensive education, but also focusing on intensifying placement prospects.

• GMR Aviation Academy

A global gateway for aviation learning in India, the institute imparts quality education through highly skilled faculty members possessing diverse Aviation experience.

• International Institute of Aviation

With a unique curriculum, pedagogy and innovative programs, the institute charts a unique and high growth path not only in aviation, but also in hospitality, travel management and customer service industry.

• Aimfill International

A finishing school catering to the aviation industry, the institute provides training in all the technical and nontechnical skills required to be a successful professional.

• Bird Academy

The institute helps young entrants in not only specializing in chosen areas of the industry, but also acquiring a comprehensive knowledge of all segment of Civil Aviation, Hospitality, Travel and Tourism.

• Flamingo Air Academy

A pioneer in the Aviation Industry and Hospitality Education in the state of Gujarat, the academy caters to the needs of the aspirants who want to carve their future in the industry.

• Glider Aviation Services

One of the leading aviation-training institutes in South India, the academy has employed a team of professionals who draw strategies that seamlessly synchronize with the market expectations.

• Inspire Academy

With highly experienced faculties who are aviation experts, the institute offers well researched and flexible courses that help aspirants be industry ready professionals.

• Jettwings

One of the ost sought after training institutes by the recruiters and trainees, the academy focuses in quality training and placements into niche segment of Hospitality, Travel and service sector.

• Orient Flights Civil Aviation Academy

Having one of the best fleet of training aircrafts, the academy trains its student pilots with the latest achievement in technology and safety.

• World Wide Aviation

Certified by the International Organization to provide professional aviation, the institute is specialized in profeesional and private flight programs.

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Omicron and its 9 sub-types driving up Delhi Covid cases, say govt sources

 The Omicron variant of coronavirus and its sub-types are driving the surge in Delhi, government sources said on Thursday, April 21. Samples have shown the presence of BA.2.12.1 and eight other subtypes of Omicron. The findings were arrived at after studying genome sequencing of samples.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in February had said that the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron is more transmissible than the BA.1 strain. However, there was no cause for alarm as it was no more severe than the original strain, it said.

So far, the World Health Organisation has put five subtypes of Omicron on its watch list - BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.4, BA.5.

Delhi is slowly registering a steady spike in daily Covid-19 cases. As many as 1,009 new patients were reported on Wednesday, the highest since February 10. The case positivity rate was logged at 5.7%.

While one fatality was reported on Wednesday, the active caseload stood at 2,641.

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‘Kemcho…majamma’: WHO chief's Gujarati greeting as he, PM Modi unveil medical centre

 World Health Organisation director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday won the hearts at the inaugural ceremony of the WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar with his Gujarati.

“Kemcho..majama..” said Ghebreyesus, evoking a thunderous applause from everyone including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was present on the stage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar in the presence of the WHO director Ghebreyesus and the Mauritian prime minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth.

The WHO's Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) will be the first and only global outpost centre for traditional medicine across the world. It will emerge as an international hub of global wellness.

“India is taking this centre as a big responsibility for service to all of humanity. This centre will help in providing better medical solutions to the world with the support of traditional medicines,” the PM said.

World Health Organisation director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday won the hearts at the inaugural ceremony of the WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar with his Gujarati.

“Kemcho..majama..” said Ghebreyesus, evoking a thunderous applause from everyone including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was present on the stage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar in the presence of the WHO director Ghebreyesus and the Mauritian prime minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth.

The WHO's Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) will be the first and only global outpost centre for traditional medicine across the world. It will emerge as an international hub of global wellness.

“India is taking this centre as a big responsibility for service to all of humanity. This centre will help in providing better medical solutions to the world with the support of traditional medicines,” the PM said.

Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who also attended the event virtually, hailed PM Modi's Covid-19 fight. “The efforts of the government of India, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and achieving massive coverage is really commendable,” she said.

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