🔍Moderna’s COVID vaccine: What you need to know

https://ift.tt/2IL1AGj

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍Explained: Article 32 and Supreme Court

https://ift.tt/2HelWaq

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍Explained Ideas: Why Pratap Bhanu Mehta believes the Supreme Court is failing to live up to its role

https://ift.tt/3lKgwCX

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍New research: Hepatitis C drugs shown to inhibit coronavirus enzyme

https://ift.tt/3nAsWxS

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

☕ *Your Expresso is ready*

Read the briefing in a single page here: https://indianexpress.com/article/live-news/top-news-briefing-today-7055321/

📬 Get this delivered straight to your inbox. To subscribe and stay updated with the latest reportage, visit: https://indianexpress.com/newsletters/

🚨 *Only in the Express*

In part-2 of our exclusive series on Agusta Westland case, we focus on what chartered accountant Rajiv Saxena told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) about the entities and investments through which part of the alleged kickbacks were routed in the Rs 3,000-crore VVIP chopper deal. And how defence dealer Sushen Mohan Gupta and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s nephew Ratul Puri were allegedly involved.

https://www.inexp.in/3W2cCh

In the scholarship scam uncovered by The Indian Express, the first set of 11 FIRs have been filed in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad against two officials of the district welfare office whose job is to screen scholarship applications, a mastermind and his two associates, five school principals who have been accused of creating fake beneficiaries, a local advocate — and a mother of two who has gone missing.

https://www.inexp.in/hwJxC0

Pratap Bhanu Mehta writes: "The Indian Supreme Court was never perfect. It has had its dark periods before. But the signs are that it is slipping into judicial barbarism... This phenomenon is not just a matter of individual judges or individual cases. It is now a systematic phenomenon with deep institutional roots.

https://www.inexp.in/vDmFR3

📰 *From the Front Page*

Covid-19, climate change, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region: These were the three issues that had come up in the first conversation between US President-elect Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi since the US election results. PM Modi said "we reiterated our firm commitment to Indo-US strategic partnership".

https://www.inexp.in/V7lVRh

The Supreme Court expressed its displeasure, for the second time in two months, after a fresh affidavit filed by the Centre was silent about the coverage of television news channels in a case related to the media’s reporting of the Tablighi Jamaat attendees in Delhi testing positive for Covid-19.

https://www.inexp.in/DgdAYL

Calling the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) the “Gupkar Gang”, Union Minister Amit Shah said it, along with the Congress, wanted to “take J&K back to the era of terror and turmoil”. And former Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, whose parties are part of the PAGD, reacted sharply to Shah’s remarks.

https://www.inexp.in/wwfRXq

To check "rising incidents of love jihad", according to Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, the state government is planning to bring out a Bill that would supersede the Freedom of Religion Act and increase jail time for violators to five years of rigorous imprisonment. And the offences listed in the Bill would be non-bailable.

https://www.inexp.in/Rhhbuo

👩‍💻 *Must Read*

Even though the BJP emerged as the bigger partner in the NDA in Bihar assembly elections, portfolio allocation in the new Nitish Kumar government does not show much change, with the JD(U) keeping all important departments it had in Nitish’s previous term. Division of departments between the two partners also shows that the BJP is also not trying to put pressure on Nitish. At least, for a while.

https://www.inexp.in/sdnWnV

The Congress, which a year ago had asked the government to not sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement and claimed credit when the Centre decided to put on hold its decision to join the RCEP, stood divided on Tuesday, with leaders speaking in different voices, and reflecting the confusion within on key issues.

https://www.inexp.in/9r-kzc

China on Tuesday signed off on the BRICS counter-terrorism strategy that called upon on all countries to take steps to prevent the use of their territories for terrorist activities against other countries or their own citizens.

China also signed off on the declaration which talked about “respect for territorial integrity” of Syria, Libya, Iraq. However, there was no mention of the border stand-off between India and China.

https://www.inexp.in/gtZCOe

🎯 *ICYMI*

👉 The RBI imposed a 30-day moratorium on struggling Lakshmi Vilas Bank and restricted withdrawals by depositors at Rs 25,000, and expenditure on any item at Rs 50,000 per month.

https://www.inexp.in/n7IucQ

👉 The Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra has shelved its plan to absorb the power bills of domestic consumers for three months during the lockdown.

https://www.inexp.in/ouEvkP

👉 A 15-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly set on fire in Bulandshahr on Tuesday morning and died at Delhi’s RML Hospital later in the day, the police said.

https://www.inexp.in/876K-J

👉 After spending 21 days behind bars, the man who had allegedly posted inappropriate comments on social media against Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya, was granted bail by a local court on Monday.

https://www.inexp.in/gsrsFG

👉 The Lady Shri Ram College Staff Council has passed a resolution expressing regret that members of the college administration are being “targeted” over the suicide of second-year student Aishwarya Reddy.

https://www.inexp.in/aGNXn3

⌛ *And Finally...*

Roy Krishna, who boarded a flight from Labasa on September 24, spent 30 days in quarantine, in three countries, to make it in time to play for defending champions ATK Mohun Bagan. Ten Covid tests, 40 days and four connecting flights later, the Fijian footballer of Indian origin stepped onto the training field in Goa, where this season of the Indian Super League (ISL) will start Friday.

https://www.inexp.in/lD+oH8

🤐 Delhi confidential: Although Kerala was one state Amit Shah had focussed on during his tenure as BJP president, the state unit’s failure in bringing in even a semblance of unity among its leaders seems to have upset the party. So the second state now on the party’s priority list is Tamil Nadu.

https://www.inexp.in/nznLy+

🎧 In today's episode of the Three Things podcast, we look into the long term mental health issues that some face post COVID-19, how Moderna and Pfizer vaccine candidates compare with each other, and why Delhi's third wave of infection may not have peaked yet.

https://www.inexp.in/MBDJZW

Until tomorrow,

Leela Prasad G and Shreyasi Jha

🔍India coronavirus numbers explained, Nov 18: Kerala seems to have left the worst behind

https://ift.tt/35EHlmh

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍Explained: Is Delhi contemplating a lockdown? What is the market shutdown move?

https://ift.tt/3pOLAUG

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍Explained: All about the rare Ebola-like Chapare virus that can spread from human to human

https://ift.tt/3nAFfdr

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍Explained: Where does BJP stand in Tamil Nadu

https://ift.tt/2IRsL2c

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍100 years of SGPC: A tumultuous history of faith and politics

https://ift.tt/3lHCDtz

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍Explained: Why Akhilesh Yadav will not risk any alliance for 2022

https://ift.tt/32UMLIe

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍Explained: What is the Guillain Barre Syndrome some Covid-19 patients develop

https://ift.tt/3nyqFTN

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍Explained: What is the Mahajan Commission report on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute?

https://ift.tt/2UFnWve

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍Explained: With trains suspended, what happens if Punjab fields don’t get urea on time

https://ift.tt/3lJwCNg

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍Explained: India has dismissed as ‘fake’ a report about China’s use of ‘microwave weapons’. What are they?

https://ift.tt/3kHKvdA

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍What a failed bank means

https://ift.tt/36MGtf1

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍Explained: What are deemed forests, and why Karnataka wants to declassify some

https://ift.tt/38Yf0tk

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍Explained: Why does Djokovic want only three sets at the Grand Slams?

https://ift.tt/35J8lBh

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

🔍Explained: The enduring appeal of Diana, the ‘People’s Princess’

https://ift.tt/3pFxlRZ

Go beyond the headlines with #ExpressExplained

☕ *Your Expresso is ready*

Read the briefing in a single page here: https://indianexpress.com/article/live-news/daily-briefing-security-blanket-for-ddc-polls-in-jk-new-rooms-tents-with-heating-for-troops-on-lac-as-harsh-winter-sets-in-7056790/

📬 Get this delivered straight to your inbox. To subscribe and stay updated with the latest reportage, visit: https://indianexpress.com/newsletters/

Good morning,

🚨 *The Big Story*

With just nine days left for the District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu-Kashmir, mainstream parties are claiming that non-BJP candidates are not being allowed to campaign freely. Several candidates claimed they have been whisked away to "secure locations" soon after filing their nomination papers.

https://www.inexp.in/Fx0eM8

The BJP and the National Conference may not see eye to eye in Kashmir, but the two parties don't seem to be having any problem in sharing power in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil (LAHDCK). However, BJP claims the "Kashmir NC" has nothing to do with that party’s unit in Kargil.

https://www.inexp.in/LjHLqN

📰 *From the Front Page*

Temporary accommodations for troops have sprung up just behind the Line of Actual Control as the six-month-old military standoff in Ladakh enters winter. They will be put up in heated tents and equipped with Extreme Climate Clothing and Equipment as temperatures in the region can dip to minus 30-40 degrees.

https://www.inexp.in/Co4z97

The Bansi Paharpur sandstone, coveted for its unique pink shade, was sourced as the exclusive material for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, where stockpiling began in 1989. With mining banned after 2016 and supply drying up due to seizures of illegally mined stones, the Rajasthan government has sought the Centre's approval to resume mining.

https://www.inexp.in/VTonl9

A Delhi Police fact-finding committee formed to probe “negligence on part of local police” in connection with the violence inside Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on January 5, has given a clean chit to the force, it is learnt. At the time, questions were raised as to why police had remained outside the campus even as violence raged inside.

https://www.inexp.in/IbnxPb

⚡ *Only in the Express*

Rajiv Saxena, the key accused in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, floated a new company with his personal trainers, who he said were his close friends, as shareholders in an attempted cover-up after authorities began to probe the deal.

https://www.inexp.in/Ylbt0j

The Covid lockdown has set off sweeping economic distress in cities but its crucial dimension has remained untold: the silent, devastating toll on the working woman in the city suddenly out of work.

https://www.inexp.in/BuoW4u

👩‍💻 *Must Read*

During his telephone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday night, US President-elect Joe Biden spoke about “strengthening democracy at home and abroad”, words that are being seen as referring implicitly to the current situation in India and in several other parts of the world.

https://www.inexp.in/FOVwbm

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that Sudarshan TV’s Bindas Bol show breached the Programme Code, and that its episodes were “not in good taste, offensive and (had) a likelihood of promoting communal attitudes”. It added that the channel can air the remaining episodes subject to modifications.

https://www.inexp.in/wBhhnM

🎯 *ICYMI*

👉 The Bombay High Court allowed Telugu writer-poet Varavara Rao, accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, to seek treatment at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai for 15 days.

https://www.inexp.in/gExNgn

👉 US pharma giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech announced that their vaccine candidate indicates an efficacy rate of 95 per cent in volunteers without prior Covid-19 infection.

https://www.inexp.in/fPckw7

👉 The deadlock between Punjab farmers and the Centre over the new farm laws continued on Wednesday, even after a five-hour meeting with state Cabinet ministers.

https://www.inexp.in/Uy1mQb