Croatia-Belgium thriller, Germany’s final push and more — What to watch out for on Day 12 of FIFA World Cup 2022
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Groups E and F are still undecided. Only one nation is out of contention for a Round of 16 spot in these two groups as 11 teams battle it out on the last day to nab those four valuable spots that will enable them to play in the knockout rounds. Let’s look at what Day 12 has in store for its spectators.
Nail-biting action was promised and delivered on Day 11 as the curtains dropped on Groups C and D. Group D was the first to get settled as Australia scraped past Denmark thanks to Matthew Leckie’s strike at the hour mark at the Al Janoub Stadium as the Socceroos booked their last-16 spot, while a Wahbi Khazri goal helped Tunisia beat defending champions France at the Education City Stadium after a 98th minute Antoine Griezmann equalizer was chalked off for offside by VAR.
In Group C, Argentina breezed past Poland at Stadium 974, despite Lionel Messi’s penalty miss. The penalty miss turned out to be crucial for Poland as it kept their goal difference positive. That factor confirmed their passage to the Round of 16 as Mexico could only beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. Poland and Mexico finished level on points but the former qualified because of a better goal difference.
In the Round of 16, France will play Poland, while Argentina will play Australia.
Groups E and F are still undecided. Only one nation is out of contention for a Round of 16 spot in these two groups as 11 teams battle it out on the last day to nab those four valuable spots that will enable them to play in the knockout rounds. Let’s look at what Day 12 has in store for its spectators.
GROUP F:
Canada have been eliminated after losing both their games in Group F. However, three nations will be fighting for two Round of 16 spots on Day 12. Currently, Croatia are at the top with four points and Morocco are second with the same number of points, just behind on goal difference. Belgium are hot on the heels of both these sides in third with three points, while Canada are rooted to the bottom without a single point.
The two simultaneous kick-offs will include the clash between Canada and Morocco at the Al Thumama Stadium and the battle between Croatia and Belgium at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.
A win or even a draw for Croatia against Belgium will put them amongst the last 16. If Croatia lose, they will go through only if Canada beat Morocco by a greater goal margin than Croatia’s losing margin. Morocco also need a draw to qualify for the next round. If they lose, they can only go through if Croatia beat Belgium by any goal margin or Belgium beat Croatia by a margin that is higher than their losing margin.
GROUP E:
It’s all to play for in Group E as two crunch encounters see Costa Rica and Germany in action at Al Bayt Stadium and Japan take on Spain at the Khalifa International Stadium. As things stand, Spain are topping the group with four points. Japan are second with three, ahead of Costa Rica just because of goal difference, while Germany sit at the bottom with one point.
Spain would like to nab all three points against Japan but a draw will also be enough for them to qualify for the next stage. Japan will also need a win to go through. A draw would also get them through only if the Costa Rica-Germany game also ends in a draw or Germany win by a margin of less than two goals.
If Costa Rica want to qualify, they have to beat Germany. A draw also gets them through, but only if Spain defeat Japan by a margin of six or more goals, which is highly unlikely. Germany need nothing less than a win to go through. If the Japan-Spain game ends in a draw, Germany have to beat Costa Rica by a margin of two or more goals.
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World AIDS Day: 10 facts everyone should know about HIV/AIDS
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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One of the most feared diseases, AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome does not have a permanent cure.
One of the most feared diseases, AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, does not have a permanent cure. It was first reported in 1981 by doctors in New York and Los Angeles. AIDS describes a collection of symptoms and infections that is caused by HIV or human immunodeficiency virus. The level of immunodeficiency or the appearance of certain infections is used to determine when the HIV infection has progressed to AIDS. Those with AIDS who do not receive treatment typically survive about 3 years.
On World AIDS Day, here’s a look at 10 important facts about HIV/AIDS that everyone must know.
AIDS and HIV are not the same and those with HIV do not always have AIDS. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.
If not treated, majority of people with HIV develop signs of AIDS within eight to 10 years.
According to the World Health Organisation, HIV is a major global public health issue, which has claimed as many as 40.1 million lives so far.
HIV is transmitted through unprotected sex, sharing of infected needles or other sharp instruments, the transmission of infected blood, and from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
In 2021, 1.5 million people acquired HIV, while 650,000 people died from HIV-related causes.
Even though there is no cure for HIV infection, it has become a manageable chronic health condition with effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.
One of the misconceptions about HIV is that only gay men get the virus. Even though it is true that gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (MSM) are at greater risk of HIV infection, anyone can get the virus. In 2020, cases in which individuals acquired HIV through heterosexual contact accounted for more than one in five new HIV infections or 22 percent.
It is believed that one in eight people with HIV are not aware that they have it.
A person cannot get HIV from insect bites or stings, hugging, shaking hands, or sharing toilets or dishes.
Before 1996, it was believed getting HIV was basically a death sentence. However, a lifesaving regimen of drugs known as antiretroviral therapy (ART) has helped fight the infection. At times, medicines reduce a person’s viral load to such as extent that it is undetectable in the blood, as measured in a viral load test.
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Gujarat Election Phase-1 Highlights: 63.14% voter turnout in first phase, down from 66.75% in last polls
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Gujarat elections 2022: As many as 788 candidates are in the fray for 89 of 182 Gujarat assembly seats in the first phase of the polls.
An average 59.24 percent voter turn-out was recorded as of 5:00 PM on Thursday across 89 Assembly seats in the first phase of Gujarat elections, election officials said. While voting began at 8:00 AM in the morning and ended at 5:00 PM, the final turn-out would be higher as the process continued at the polling stations where voters had arrived before 5 pm and were standing in queues. The fate of 788 candidates will be decided in the first phase.
Barring a few incidents, polling was largely peaceful across all 89 seats in south Gujarat and Saurashtra-Kutch regions which went to polls in the first phase. The voter turn-out figure was provisional as data from some polling stations had not been received and it also did not include postal ballots, the Election Commission said.
Voting was halted in a few places due to malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines as well as control units and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) but the faulty units were replaced and the process resumed, it added.
Thank you for joining our coverage of Gujarat Election Phase-1. We will now wrap the blog. Good night, folks!
> Congress writes to EC, seeks probe into charges of Gujarat Police role in securing EVMs after voting
With polling for the first phase of assembly elections held in Gujarat, the Congress on Thursday complained to the Election Commission over the security of electronic voting machines amid allegations that the Gujarat Police will be in charge of the machines after voting. The Congress wrote to the EC seeking an investigation into the allegations of electoral fraud in Gujarat and cited reports that the Tripura State Rifles, which has been deployed for Gujarat polls, has been asked to maintain distance from polling booths post voting.
> PM Modi’s 30-km-long roadshow underway in Ahmedabad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s more than 30-km-long roadshow in Ahmedabad city, where polling will be held in the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections, started from Naroda village on Thursday evening. A large number of people standing on both sides of the route welcomed Modi and greeted him with flowers during the roadshow that began around 5.20 pm. Standing on a specially-designed vehicle, the prime minister waved back at the crowd.
> Voters take gas cylinders to polling centres to protest against inflation
Cooking gas cylinders became a symbol of protest against price rise in Gujarat on Thursday as some voters carried them to polling stations during the first phase of the Assembly elections. A member of the Maldhari community went to the polling station with a cow and a calf to highlight the plight of his cow-rearing community. Some voters were in celebratory mood — a marriage party visited a polling centre in Botad district with `band-baja’ before the wedding took place.
> Voting ends in first phase of Gujarat Assembly elections
Voting ended for the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections in 89 seats across 19 districts of Saurashtra-Kutch and southern regions at 5:00 pm on Thursday. While the final voting figures were awaited, a 48.48 percent turn-out was recorded till 3 pm, the Election Commission said.
> 48.48% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm
(Source: ANI via EC)
> Tribal-dominated Tapi, Dang and Narmada district recorded highest turnout till 1 pm. Out of the 19 districts where polling was underway on Thursday, Tapi recorded the highest voter turnout at 46.29 per cent till 1 pm, followed by Dang 46.22 per cent and Narmada 46.16 per cent. All these districts are tribal-dominated, repots PTI.
> PM Modi hits out at Congress: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said there is a competition among Congress leaders as to who will use the most abusive words against him, referring to party president Mallikarjun Kharge’s ‘Ravan’ jibe at him. On Monday night, Kharge had addressed a rally in Behrampura area of Ahmedabad city where he said the prime minister asks people to vote “looking at his face” in all elections. “Are you 100-headed like Ravan,” he had said.
I respect Kharge ji. He will say what he has been told to say. Congress party doesn’t know that this is Ram Bhakts’ Gujarat. On this land of “Rambhakts”, they were asked to say, “Modi ji 100 maatha wala raavan”: PM Narendra Modi in Kalol, Panchmahal#GujaratAssemblyPollspic.twitter.com/bPfj79Uca8
>ALSO READ | Gujarat’s ‘Moustache man’ wants government to encourage youth to grow moustache
Sabarkamtha: Moustache man Maganbhai Solanki, an independent candidate contesting from Himmatnagar seat in Sabarkantha district in Gujarat. (PTI Photo)
> Amit Shah: “Whenever the Congress used inappropriate words against PM Modi, people of Gujarat replied through ballot box.”
#WATCH | Union Home min Amit Shah speaks with ANI on issues related to Gujarat, Anti-radical cell & Congress’s remarks on PM Modi, during roadshow in Ahmedabad.
He says “Whenever Congress used inappropriate words, against PM Modi, people of Gujarat replied through ballot box” pic.twitter.com/FVb7oD8iEE
> A man reschduled his wedding ahead of casting his vote in Tapi.
#GujaratAssemblyPolls | Prafulbhai More, a man whose wedding is scheduled for today casts his vote in Tapi
He says, “I urge everyone to vote, you shouldn’t waste it. My wedding was scheduled for the morning but I rescheduled it for the evening, we’ve to go to Maharashtra for it” pic.twitter.com/q1nWt9q8k1
> Union minister Darshana Jardosh cast vote in Surat. She said: “People are voting for double-engine govenment in the state. People from every community have been voting and we’ll be forming govt with an absolute majority.”
> According to a News 18 report, long queues outside polling station were witnessed for the First 30-45 minutes. Watch ground report here:
> Gujarat polls: 19.13 percent voter turnout recorded till 11 am
> Amit Shah: “In the last two decades, Gujarat became synonymous with development and peace, which every Indian is proud of. But this has become possible because of the strong government elected by the people of Gujarat…I appeal to the voters of the first phase to vote with unprecedented enthusiasm and in large numbers to continue this journey of development.”
> Mandhatasinh Jadej Thakor Saheb and Kadambari Devi – members of the erstwhile royal family in Rajkot cast their votes today in the first phase of the Gujarat Election 2022
> Union Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya interacts with villagers, before casting his vote, in Hanol village in Bhavnagar district.
People of my village (Hanol) have always believed in the politics of development. I see that the trust of the people of Gujarat has increased in BJP. This time we will break our record & will create a new record: Union Health Min & BJP leader Mansukh Mandaviya#GujaratElectionshttps://t.co/3Z81lmMOyypic.twitter.com/B9B10u5gHX
> Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai: “Gujarat has been progressing and the people of the state have decided to vote for the BJP. People have trust in BJP and there’ll be development further in the state. BJP will form the government in the state.”
> Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel held a roadshow in Mehsana. Mehsana will be voting in the second phase of the elections to be held on December 5.
#GujaratAssemblyPolls | Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel holds a roadshow in Mehsana. Mehsana will be voting in the second phase of the elections to be held on December 5. pic.twitter.com/enNamFZhC0
> Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja cast his vote at a polling station in Jamnagar. His wife and BJP candidate Rivaba Jadeja voted in Rajkot earlier today.
Jamnagar: Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja with his wife and BJP candidate Rivaba Jadeja (PTI Photo)
> Anirudhsinh Jadeja, cricketer Ravindra Jadeja’s father and BJP’s Rivaba Jadeja’s father-in-law said: “I’m with Congress. Party matter different from family matter. We should stay with our party, been with them for yrs. He knows it’s a party matter, no family problem.”
> “For the time being, I’ll observe and understand things. I’ll go among public and after that I’ll come,” Mumtaz Patel, late senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel’s daughter on why didn’t she contest. She added, “We are advocating a change. Chief ministers were changed, so they can feel anti-incumbency. There is a neck-to-neck fight here (Ankleshwar).”
> Gujarat polls: 100-year-old in Umargam casts her vote | In Pics
(Credit: EC)
> Congress’s Arjun Modhwadia cast his vote in Porbandar. “People have taken resolve to remove the BJP. The BJP knows about this that’s why they changed the cabinet, including CM, a yr ago. There were corruption allegations against them. New government running just like that. So, people are in mood for change,” he said.
> Gujarat BJP chief CR Paatil: “Modi magic works every time, everywhere. He’s in people’s hearts. They trust him and he’s capable of meeting their expectations: Those who said that will get to know of their ‘aukaat’.”
> 4.92% voter turnout recorded till 9 am in the first phase of Gujarat Assembly Elections: EC
> Congress MLA Paresh Dhanani said there will be “a transition of power and Congress will” rise to power in this year’s Gujarat Assembly polls. “Inflation and joblessness have increased in Gujarat due to the failure of BJP government. Gas and fuel prices have skyrocketed and privatisation of education has happened,” he said while speaking in Amreli. Dhanani had left to cast his vote with a gas cylinder on a bicycle, highlighting the issue of high fuel prices.
> Women voters gather at a polling booth in Surat to cast their votes amid the first phase of polling that’s underway in the state.
> Key candidates: AAP’s chief ministerial face Isudan Gadhvi is contesting from Khambhaliya in Devbhumi Dwarka district. BJP’s Hardik Patel, Former Gujarat minister Parshottam Solanki, six-time MLA Kunwarji Bavaliya, Morbi ‘hero’ Kantilal Amrutiya, cricketer Ravindra Jadeja’s wife Rivaba, and Gujarat AAP president Gopal Italia are also in the fray.
> AIMIM contesting Gujarat polls for the first time: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is contesting the Gujarat polls for the first time. Party’s president Asaduddin Owaisi has been campaigning over the past 25 days.
Talking about the response so far, AIMIM’s national spokesperson Waris Pathan told News18: “We are contesting the Gujarat Vidhan Sabha elections for the first time. We are contesting from only 13 seats. Earlier, we contested the civic body elections a year ago, where 23 of our corporators got elected. We have a presence here.”
> Arjun Modhwadia of Congress said: “People have taken resolve to remove BJP. BJP knows about this that’s why they changed the cabinet, including CM, a year ago. There were corruption allegations against them. New Government is running just like that. So people are in mood for change.”
> Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said exuded confidence, saying that BJP is going to form the government in Gujarat for the seventh time. “People have love & respect for PM Modi, they won’t go anywhere else,” he was quoted by ANI as saying.
>WATCH | Congress MLA Paresh Dhanani leaves his residence, to cast his vote, with a gas cylinder on a bicycle underscoring the issue of high fuel prices.
> BJP’s candidate from Jamnagar North cast her vote on Thursday. “I have full trust in my voters,’ she told reporters.
(Credit: News 18)
> ‘Set a new record,’ CEC Rajiv Kumar tells Gujarat Voters: “Gujarat is celebrating festival of democracy today. On behalf of the Election Commission, my sincere appeal to all 4.9 crore voters of Gujarat to vote today and on 5th December during the second phase of elections. There are over 4 lakh PwD voters and 9.8 lakh senior citizen voters in Gujarat,” said CEC Rajiv Kumar.
To motivate and inspire young voters, for the first time, 33 polling centres will be managed by young polling parties. These are polling staff who have been appointed recently: CEC Rajiv Kumar#GujaratAssemblyPollspic.twitter.com/JX3Pqmve9x
> Prime Minister Narendra Modi called “upon all those voting today, particularly first time voters to exercise their franchise in record numbers”.
Today is the first phase of the Gujarat elections. I call upon all those voting today, particularly first time voters to exercise their franchise in record numbers.
>Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja’s wife and BJP’s candidate from Jamnagar North, Rivaba Jadeja, expressed hopes for the party’s victory ahead of polls.
Gujarat | Today is a very important day. The hard work of all BJP candidates is going to pay off. I request people to vote as much as possible: Rivaba Jadeja, BJP’s Jamnagar North candidate #GujaratElectionspic.twitter.com/Ujr1T2TLyq
> Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar expects record voting in Gujarat Assembly Election. Speaking to ANI, he said on Wednesday, “Tomorrow is the first phase of elections in Gujarat in which voting will be held on 89 assembly seats. There are 2.39 crore voters in these 89 seats. Voting will be held tomorrow at 25,430 polling stations. Preparations are complete, now is the time to call upon the voters to come out of their homes and vote.”
Voting for first phase on; BJP, Congress, AAP to fight it out in triangular contest
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is among some prominent candidates in the first phase of the Gujarat elections. He is contesting from Ghatlodia. Other candidates in the fray in this phase are AAP chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, who is contesting from Khambhaliya, former Congress leader and BJP candidate Hardik Patel from Viramgam, former Congress leader and now BJP candidate Alpesh Thakor from Gandhinagar South.
AAP state president Gopal Italia is contesting from Katargam constituency, Gujarat Home Minister (State) Harsh Sanghavi from Majura, Rivaba Jadeja from Jamnagar North, former Gujarat minister Parshottam Solanki from Bhavnagar Rural, Kunwarji Bavaliya from Jasdan, Kantilal Amrutiya from Morbi and Jayesh Radadiya from Jetpur. Former BJP MLA Madhu Shrivastav is contesting as an Independent from Vaghodia.
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FIFA World Cup 2022: Argentina beat Poland 2-0, both teams progress to the Round of 16
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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The Argentina great had a penalty saved but his team still beat Poland 2-0 Wednesday after second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez and advanced to the last 16. The final whistle blew with Poland players still unsure if they were advancing, given the Mexico-Saudi Arabia game was ongoing. A stoppage-time goal by the Saudis ended Mexico’s hopes and helped Poland sail through to the next round along with Argentina.
Rest easy, football fans. Lionel Messi will grace the World Cup stage at least one more time.
The Argentina great had a penalty saved but his team still beat Poland 2-0 Wednesday after second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez and advanced to the last 16.
Argentina finished in first place in Group C to set up a match against Australia, a surprise qualifier for the knockout stage. It was ultimately a happy night for Poland, too, which went through as the group’s second-place team on goal difference ahead of Mexico and will next play defending champion France.
It’s a strong position for Argentina to be in, especially considering the team opened the World Cup with a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in one of biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.
Messi’s likely final World Cup rolls onto Saturday and he will be relieved after failing to score a penalty for the second straight World Cup. It was awarded after he was hit in the face by the flailing hand of Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who made amends by diving to his left to block Messi’s kick.
A largely pro-Argentina crowd, waving flags and scarfs and beating drums behind both goals, had been sweeping Messi and his team along at the 44,000-seat Stadium 974 and they didn’t stop after the penalty. Within seconds, a chant of “MESSI! MESSI!” immediately reverberated around the venue in a bid to keep their idol’s head high.
And the roars were even louder at the start of the second half, first after Mac Allister’s goal — a scruffy finish from Nahuel Molina’s cut-back from the right — in the first minute and again after it became clear Mexico had taken the lead against Saudi Arabia.
Messi never stopped surging forward and he was a menace all game to Poland with his dribbling ability and vision.
He wasn’t involved in either goal, though. For the second, Enzo Fernandez scooped a pass to Alvarez — selected ahead of Lautaro Martinez — and he took one touch before curling his shot into the top corner in the 67th minute.
The final whistle blew with Poland players still unsure if they were advancing, given the Mexico-Saudi Arabia game was ongoing. A stoppage-time goal by the Saudis made it even harder for Mexico, sparking loud cheers by Poland’s team and the squirting of water from their bottles in the middle of the field.
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FIFA World Cup 2022: Mexico beat Saudi Arabia but miss out on last 16
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in World Cup Group C on Wednesday but fell agonisingly short of reaching the last 16 on goal difference.
Mexico scored twice in five second-half minutes in a thrilling last-ditch effort to stay in the World Cup on Wednesday, beating Saudi Arabia 2-1 but agonisingly missing out on the last 16 on goal difference.
Goals from Henry Martin and Luis Chavez soon after the interval catapulted Mexico back into contention, but a string of superb saves by Saudi keeper Mohamed Al-Owais and two disallowed efforts denied the South Americans the elusive goal they needed to advance.
The match went right down to the wire and at one point looked like Mexico would miss out to Group C rivals Poland by virtue of having accrued more yellow cards, but Saudi striker Salem Al-Dawsari netted in stoppage time to make goal difference the decider.
Mexico’s exit ended a run of seven successive last-16 appearances at the World Cup and the defeat for Saudi Arabia killed off what had looked to be a realistic chance of advancing from the group stages for the first time in 28 years.
Having failed to score in their opening two Group C matches, Mexico’s chances of progressing had looked slim going into the match, hinging on the outcome of the game between Argentina and Poland which Argentina won 2-0 to top the group.
Urgently needing to beef up their goal difference, Mexico took the game to Saudi Arabia from the start and never stopped running, peppering the goal with long-range efforts in a desperate bid to wrest control of their own fate.
Orbelin Pineda and Chavez were the engines in a high-octane match that the Saudis struggled to get into, defending with desperation.
Mexico broke the deadlock two minutes after halftime, when Cesar Montes’s deft back-heel from a corner found Martin who bundled the ball over the line in a crowded goalmouth.
They doubled their lead on 52 minutes when Chavez’s powerful free kick 20 metres out sailed into the corner of the goal beyond the reach of Al-Owais, sparking wild Mexican celebrations on the field
Lozano found the net but his goal was disallowed and Mexico battled hard to get the decisive third but were denied constantly by the reflexes of Al-Owais in the Saudi goal.
Substitute Uriel Antuna had a stunning late effort disallowed for offside four minutes from time before Al-Dawsari shattered Mexican hopes when he grabbed a Saudi consolation goal deep into stoppage time.
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Coal minister asks for faster evacuation of coal to increase supply to non-power sector
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Coal India’s production has witnessed a 17 percent rise compared to the last year and 18 percent more rakes are available for transportation, Coal Secretary Amrit Lal Meena told CNBC TV18 that the government is targeting a stock of 34 MT coal at thermal power plants by December 31 and 45 MT coal stock by the end of March 2023.
Union minister for coal and mines Pralhad Joshi has asked for faster evacuation of coal to increase coal supply to the non-regulated sector (NRS), which includes the non-power sector.
A week ago, a paper industry body IARPMA (Indian Agro & Recycled Paper Mills Association) had urged the Centre to increase coal allocation to the non-power sector as the cost of paper and paper board had skyrocketed due to the use of costly imported coal and power from the grid.
Pointing out that Coal India’s production has witnessed a 17 percent rise compared to the last year and 18 percent more rakes are available for transportation, coal secretary Amrit Lal Meena told CNBC-TV18 that the government is targeting a stock of 34 MT coal at thermal power plants by December 31 and 45 MT coal stock by the end of March 2023.
He said Coal India has ample coal stocks for the current and next financial year based on the power ministry’s projection of power demand. However, he added that coal imports will continue for power plants and gencos specially designed for it.
Currently, the 11 coal-bearing states in India are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh. He said no other state is slated to join the league of coal-producing states in near future.
The coal ministry held industry interactions on coal gasification last week, where suggestions were sought from the private sector on the support desired from the government in coal gasification.
The coal secretary said the 50 percent revenue share rebate for coal gasification is a reasonably good booster of private sector participation in coal auctions, even as the suggestions given by the private sector on coal gasification are under discussion and deliberation by the coal ministry.
The ministry is conducting daily follow-ups on developments in coal gasification and is looking at three demonstrable models: the BHEL facility in Trichy, the JSPL facility in Angul, and a pilot project in Pune.
The coal ministry is conducting an Investor Conclave on December 1, 2022, in Mumbai and on December 3 in Bengaluru to attract investment in commercial mine auctions.
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Delhi excise policy a ‘device’ to generate illegal funds by AAP leaders: ED
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Enforcement Directorate claimed that the Delhi government “lost revenue of 12 percent or Rs 581 crore only to fill the personal coffers of the leaders of the AAP and overall the total loss of revenue due to alleged irregularities in the policy stood at Rs 2,873 crore (including loss of licence fee).”
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, some of whom are part of the government, considered the Delhi excise policy as a “device” to generate illegal funds at the cost of the state exchequer, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told a local court Wednesday.
It also said that at least 36 accused, including Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and a PA of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, “destroyed or used” 170 phones in order to conceal evidence of “kickbacks” worth thousand of crores of rupees in the alleged scam.
“The policy was formulated with deliberate loopholes, inbuilt mechanism to facilitate illegal activities and is marred with deliberate inconsistencies which when looked deeply, reflect malafide intentions of the policymakers.
“This policy, though on the face of it, has promising and laudable objectives of stopping cartelisation and encouraging fair trade practices, in reality it promoted cartel formations through back door, awarded exorbitant wholesale (12 percent) and huge retail (185 percent) profit margins and incentivised other illegal activities on account of criminal conspiracy of leaders of AAP,” it alleged.
The federal probe agency also claimed that the Delhi government “lost revenue of 12 percent or Rs 581 crore…only to fill the personal coffers of the leaders of the AAP and overall the total loss of revenue due to alleged irregularities in the policy stood at Rs 2,873 crore (including loss of licence fee).”
The agency made these claims while seeking the remand of Amit Arora, director of liquor company Buddy Retail Pvt Limited, from a local court after his arrest on Tuesday night. He was later sent to the ED custody till December 7 by the court.
“An attempt was also made to see that the evidence pertaining to the commission of this scam running into thousands of crores were either destroyed which would contain valuable digital data and material to prove further kickbacks.
“It is pertinent to note that major evidences with respect to the subject liquor scam were stored in digital formats both in mobile phones and laptops. However, as soon as the scam was unearthed and the case was handed over to investigating agencies, large number of digital devices were found to be destroyed/changed by the persons involved/suspected to be involved in this case,” the ED said.
At least 36 accused/suspects involved in the “excise scam” have destroyed/used 170 phones (as per IMEI analysis), it said.
“There is no earthly reason for the suspects to change their mobile phones, specifically the phones that were used during the period of the scam,” it said.
The “magnitude” of the destruction is such that most suspects, liquor barons, senior government officials, the excise minister of Delhi (Sisodia) and other suspects have changed their phones multiple times, it said, adding the cost of the phones involved in these instances is about Rs 1.38 crore.
Fortunately, it told the court, the ED has been able to recover 17 out of 170 phones, otherwise the kickbacks would have been much more and involvement of other important persons would have surfaced more clearly.
The ED annexed a report in the remand note saying Sisodia handled four different mobile numbers and their IMEIs changed 14 times between June 6 and October 14 this year.
International mobile equipment identity (IMEI) is a unique number that identifies a cellphone. However, dual SIM phones can have two such unique codes.
The ED also listed the cellphone activity of Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot, saying he handled a single SIM number but his IMEI changed three times.
It also furnished the IMEI change activity of other accused involved in the case such as AAP communications in-charge Vijay Nair, liquor businessman Sameer Mahandru (earlier arrested in the case), Amit Arora, Abhishek Boinpally (earlier arrested) and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s PA Bibhav Kumar.
The agency also said that a person named Kavitha Kalvakathla used two phones and her IMEI changed 10 times. It, however, did not identify the person concerned.
The ED told the court that in the phones recovered by it, data was found to be “deleted/formatted”.
“It is in this background and hardship that the ED had to investigate. Despite this, incriminating material has been unearthed by the ED through the arduous process of extraction and examination of numerous devices,” the ED said.
The agency alleged that Amit Arora played a “crucial role” in the alleged scam and he has been instrumental in connecting the cartels of liquor manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers to the political leadership and facilitating 6 percent kickbacks by working closely with Dinesh Arora (another accused whom the CBI has made approver in the case) and Vijay Nair (arrested earlier) who were working “on behalf of AAP leaders.” It alleged that the “political leaders of AAP” received kickbacks at three levels by introducing irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi excise policy, which has now been scrapped.
The ED said Vijay Nair was “not an ordinary worker” of the AAP but a “close associate of Arvind Kejriwal, the CM of Delhi”. It said Nair recorded statements with the ED saying he functions from the camp office of Kejriwal and lives in the government bungalow allotted to Gahlot, who “ironically” lives in Najafgarh in southwest Delhi.
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FIFA World Cup 2022: Tunisia bow out in style as they upset defending champions France in final group game
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Summary
Khazri steered home a 58th-minute winner amid a cluster of defenders for only a third victory at six World Cup tournaments for Tunisia but they were still eliminated. It was Tunisia’s third victory at a World Cup, and it was France’s first loss at the tournament since the 2014 quarterfinals, when Germany beat the team 1-0.
Defending champion France won its World Cup group despite losing to Tunisia 1-0 Wednesday.
Wahbi Khazri scored in the 58th minute to give the Tunisians the victory, but it wasn’t enough to get them into the round of 16. Australia beat Denmark 1-0 in other Group D game and finished second on goal difference.
Khazri ran at the heart of the French defense and beat two players before poking the ball into the bottom corner. He fell to his knees and was mobbed by teammates. When he got back up, he made a heart shape to the Tunisian fans behind the goal and then limped off, appearing to hurt himself as he fell when scoring his 25th international goal and his third at World Cups.
It was Tunisia’s third victory at a World Cup, and it was France’s first loss at the tournament since the 2014 quarterfinals, when Germany beat the team 1-0.
France forward Antoine Griezmann thought he had evened the score in the eighth minute of stoppage time but he was ruled offside following a video review. At the same time, Tunisia’s players on the bench crowded around a TV monitor hoping for a Denmark goal that would have changed the group standings.
A few minutes after Khazri’s goal, a man ran onto the field at Education City Stadium with what appeared to be a Palestinian flag. He did some acrobatic jumps before six security officials dragged him off.
With France already qualified for the knockout stage, coach Didier Deschamps rested Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé and most of his regular starters. Only four of the team lining up at the beginning had even started a World Cup match before.
But Khazri’s goal prompted Deschamps to bring on Mbappé and Griezmann and the increased urgency almost led to an equalizer.
Deschamps had selected more of a “C” team than a “B” team. Randal Kolo Muani struggled to make an impact at center forward and Kingsley Coman — who scored Bayern Munich’s winner in the 2020 Champions League final — was isolated.
France central defender Raphael Varane, however, mopped up on the occasions Tunisia got close to the penalty area in the first half.
RARE APPEARANCE
With goalkeeper Hugo Lloris among the rested, 37-year-old Steve Mandanda played only the second World Cup match of his long career. The other was also in the team’s third group game four years ago.
Mandanda’s appearance means Lloris will have to wait a little longer to equal defender Lilian Thuram’s national record of 142 appearances. Lloris has made 141 appearances for Les Bleus.
Striker Olivier Giroud also has to be patient. He still has 51 goals, equal with Thierry Henry as France’s all-time leading scorer.
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