New Delhi: Plastic will be banned across the country from tomorrow. Plastic carrier bags less than 75 microns and non-woven bags less than 60 gsm (grams per square meter) will be banned from tomorrow. All these are currently banned in Kerala.
Non-woven carry bags, which can be mistaken for cloth bags, are made of polypropylene and calcium carbonate. These do not dissolve completely in the soil and therefore cannot be reused.
A complete ban on single-use plastic products will come into effect across the country from July 1 next year. In Kerala, the complete ban on plastics came into effect on January 1, 2020.
Thiruvananthapuram: Vaccine distribution to children to prevent pneumonia in the state from October 1. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is reportedly being given to children under one year of age. The vaccine is given in three doses.
The pneumonia vaccine will be given to children at all immunization centers. Children under one year of age are vaccinated against the pneumococcal bacteria that cause severe pneumonia. The vaccine has been distributed in five states since 2017 as part of a central government program. Kerala is also a part of this.
Health Minister Veena George will inaugurate it on Friday. The first vaccination is given to one and a half month old babies. Vaccination is available at government hospitals such as PHCs, CHCs and taluk hospitals. The next dose should be taken between the ages of three and a half and nine months. Health authorities warn that children may be more affected by the third wave. In anticipation of this, vaccinations are given to prevent pneumonia in children.
Kochi: The government has informed the high court that 9 accused, including board members, have been arrested in the Karuvannur bank fraud case and the crime branch investigation is progressing. The government has explained that the probe should not be handed over to the CBI unless there is a complaint against the investigating officers.
Justice K Hari Pal adjourned the hearing for two weeks of the petition seeking a CBI probe.
Kochi: A transgender was found dead in a room in Edappally. The deceased was identified as transgender Shraddha (21). The body was found dead by friends in the morning in a room in Ponekara.
Shraddha is a student from Kollam. Police said that she is suspected to have committed suicide.
Two months ago. Transgender activist Ananya Kumari Alex has committed suicide following a mistake in her gender reassignment surgery. Following Ananya’s suicide, her friend Jiju was also found to have committed suicide.
New Delhi: The Center has informed the Supreme Court that it will provide financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each to the families of those who died of Covid. The order was issued on September 3. According to reports, the financial assistance announced by the Central Government came into effect on the 11th. Funding is also provided to those who have died of covid infection or who have taken precautionary measures related to relief work.
One week ago, the Supreme Court had directed that the suicide of a covid patient should be counted as covid death. The apex court had also directed the Center to change its policy of not paying compensation if covid victims commit suicide. The apex court was hearing a petition seeking Rs 4 lakh each in compensation to the families of those killed by covid. On June 30, the Supreme Court directed that relief money be provided to their families.
It also asked the National Disaster Management Authority to prepare a guideline in this regard within six weeks. Following this, the Central Government clarified its position on providing financial assistance to the families of those who died of Covid. Funding is provided from the State Disaster Response Fund. The Center also told the court that the amount would be transferred through the District Disaster Management Authority or the district administration.
Pathanamthitta: The complaint was lodged by the Pandalam Srivastava group in Pathanamthitta District Crime Branch against Monson Mavungal. According to the complaint, Monson embezzled Rs 6.27 crore. Monson Mavungal approached the Srivastava Group in 2020 to show that the money in the bank was withheld. Monson promised to return the money to the account once it was returned. Accordingly, Srivastava Group owner MK Rajendran Pillai handed over Rs 6.27 crore to Monson.
It is learned that the land owned by the Srivastava Group in Aroor in the Alappuzha district was leased out. Monson provided the space for the need to store luxury vehicles. But months later, the Srivastava group approached the high court after the money was not returned. The Pandalam police then registered a case based on the court order. The case was investigated by the Pandalam police and handed over to the district crime branch.
The crime branch team is also investigating whether additional financial transactions related to Monson have taken place in the district. Monson was arrested by the Crime Branch on Sunday on charges of financial fraud. Following this, more complaints are coming up against him. The plaintiff, a native of Pala, alleges that Monson swindled money by believing he was an antiquities seller.
Thiruvananthapuram: Change in rain alerts in the state. Under the influence of Cyclone Gulab, the monsoon intensifies in the Arabian Sea, causing heavy rainfall.
Fishing is still banned as winds can reach up to 50 kilometers per hour. It is likely to continue to rain in Kerala in the coming days. Yellow alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts.
Srinagar: Troops have nabbed a Pakistani terrorist who was trying to infiltrate the Uri Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Another terrorist was killed.
This is the first time in the last few years that a Pakistani terrorist has been caught alive. Since September 18, there have been multiple infiltration attempts in the Uri and Rampur areas.
For the past week, the military has been conducting a major operation to prevent infiltration. The Indian Army thwarted three terrorist operations, including a major infiltration attempt. Three terrorists were killed and a large cache of weapons was seized.
Bhopal: Nine people were killed in a lightning strike in Madhya Pradesh. These include seven women. Four people were injured. The accident took place in Khal Bamni village in the Dewas district. The government has announced assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed grief over the incident.
Kochi: The bail plea of the accused in the Muttil tree cutting case has been rejected. The petitions of Roji Augustine, Anto Augustine, and Jose Kutty Augustine were rejected. Accused demanded that they not be questioned again in custody and that bail be granted as there was a situation where the cut timber and documents had been seized. However, the High Court observed that the allegations against the accused were very serious. The court said the evidence would be destroyed if the accused were granted bail.
The government had told the high court that granting bail to the accused would affect the case. Accused countered that the charges against them were mere allegations and that the case was a smokescreen to quell public protests.
