Vol. 67 No. 40 | TUESDAY | NOVEMBER 14, 2023 | 19 Pages | `5 & for Pune `6 only Quality at Value www.freepressjournal.in HAPPY CHILDREN’S DAY EDITIONS: MUMBAI*, Pune, Nashik, Konkan, Indore, Bhopal, E-paper ISHAAN KHATTER ON PIPPA The army training was very challenging for me EDIT HAPPY DIWALI PADAWA DIWALI SEES RECORD TRADE OF `3.75L CR: CAIT CASTE, QUOTAS AND ELECTORAL POLITICS Festivals later this month may attract additional trade worth `50,000 crore China eyes Arabian Sea dominance STAR HOTELS GET VIA JOINT PATROLS WITH PAK NAVY INTO THE GAME Chinese warship in Karachi PTI / BEIJING, KARACHI THE FP BULLETIN HAMAS HAS LOST CONTROL: ISRAEL H amas has “lost control in Gaza,” Israel's Defence Minister claimed on Monday, over a month after the Palestinian group launched a “surprise” attack on the nation. “Hamas has lost control of Gaza. Terrorists are fleeing southward. Civilians are looting Hamas bases,” he said without providing evidence. “They don't have faith in the government anymore,” Gallant added in a video broadcast on Israel's main TV stations. Meanwhile, Gaza's biggest hospital, Al Shifa, is “nearly a cemetery”, the World Health Organization warned, with bodies piling up inside and outside. GANGRAPE IN UP HOMESTAY F ive people have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape of a woman at a homestay in Agra. Police say that the victim was an employee of the hotel. A viral video shows the victim being assaulted by a group of men. In disturbing videos shared online, the rape survivor is seen crying and hyperventilating as she sits in as huddle in the balcony on the ground floor of a house. "See what they did to me," she says as she sobs, pointing to torn and stained clothes. She also said the accused made an objectionable video... based on which “they were blackmailing” her. BUILDING FIRE: 9 PEOPLE DEAD N ine persons died and eight were injured when a fire broke out in a 4-storey residential building in Nampally on Monday morning. The fire broke out while the car was being repaired in a garage on the ground floor. It spread after it ignited highly combustible chemical drums stored in the cellar. Six of the deceased belonged to the same family. A BDS doctor Tahura Farheen, who died in the accident, had come to her parents' house along with her two children as it was a holiday. HOLIDAY NOTICE The Free Press Journal offices will remain closed on November 14 on account of Diwali and there will be no edition on November 15. The e-paper can, however, be accessed. COURTESY: NDTV The navies of China and Pakistan are set to conduct their first joint maritime patrol in the Arabian Sea, reports the official news portal of the Chinese military . The move signifies a significant upgrade of military to military ties between the two all-weather allies and is no doubt aimed at undermining the dominance of the Indian Navy . Exercises between the armed wings of all-weather allies China and Pakistan are an annual affair. But this is the first time both the navies are conducting “joint operations.” India, which considers the Indian Ocean its backyard, is also a major player in the changing dynamics of the Pacific. The China-Pakistan joint maritime exercise, which carries a rather provocative theme of "Joint Response to Maritime Security Threats", began in a naval base in Karachi on November 11 in the waters and airspace of the northern Arabian Sea. SOUND POLLUTION, FAST AND FURIOUS FPJ NEWS BUREAU / MUMBAI This Diwali was noisier than last year, reveals a report on noise levels on the evening of November 12 (Lakshmi Puja), the main day of the festival. In most places, citizens ignored the Bombay High Court’s order last week to restrict the use of firecrackers between 8pm and 10pm. In other areas, firecrackers violated noise pollution rules limiting sound levels in residential areas in the night.   Awaaz Foundation, an antinoise campaign group that recorded decibel levels at six locations across the city on Sunday evening, said that the DEAFENING DIWALI 2021 100.4dB at Shivaji Park 2022 109.1dB at Marine Drive 2023 117dB at Marine Drive maximum noise level of 117 decibels (dB) was recorded at Marine Drive at 9.55pm. This was higher than 109.1dB recorded at the same spot, on Diwali day in 2022. The report MUMBAI, KOLKATA JOIN DELHI AMONG WORLD’S TOP 10 POLLUTED CITIES PUNITIVE ACTION AGAINST 734 noted that fewer aerial crackers were burst overall, since 2020, but the bursting of loud firecrackers on the ground set decibel levels soaring. CONTD. ON NATION AQ INDEX Malad (323) Worli (75) Chembur (338) BKC (310) Borivali (306) Navi Mumbai (223) INFLATION CLOSE TO TARGET FPJ DESK / MUMBAI India's retail inflation softened in October on lower food prices, inching closer to the central bank's medium term target of 4%, which it has said needs to be firmly in sight before it can start lowering rates. Annual retail inflation fell 4.87% in October, down from 5.02% the previous month. The previous low inflation was recorded at 4.87 per cent in June. The Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee, in its October meeting, projected CPI inflation at 5.4 per cent for 2023-24 -- a cooling-off since 6.7 per cent in 2022-23. The government has tasked the RBI to ensure the CPI inflation remains at 4 per cent with a margin of 2 per cent on either side. The central bank mainly factors in the retail inflation while arriving at its bi-monthly monetary policy . The central bank last month kept its key lending rate steady for a fourth consecutive policy meeting. Monday's data release indicates stable inflation, CONTD. ON NATION Singhania, wife Nawaz part ways DHARMESH THAKKAR / MUMBAI Billionaire Gautam Singhania, who is the chairman and managing director of textilesto-real estate conglomerate Raymond Ltd, has announced that he is splitting from wife Nawaz Modi after 24 years of marriage. The couple had tied the knot in 1999 and have two daughters, Niharika and Nisa. He had married her when she was 29, after 8 years of courtship. Nawaz, daughter of solicitor Nadar Modi, is a renowned artist and fitness trainer. ‘‘This Diwali is not going to be the same as many in the past,” 58-year-old Singhania said in a post on X wherein he mentioned the 32 years together as a couple, growing as parents and being a source of strength to each other. He, however, did not give details of the separation and custody of their two children. The announcement came minutes after a video surfaced online which purportedly shows Nawaz allegedly not being allowed to enter a party hosted by Singhania at Thane last week despite an invite for the pre-Diwali bash. Nawaz had alleged that security and local police obstructed her entry at the behest of Gautam. CONTD. ON NATION Spanning seven days from November 11 to 17, the exercise is divided into two phases, shore-based exchanges, and maritime joint operations, which include training courses on formation maneuvering, VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure), helicopter cross-deck landing, joint search and rescue, and joint anti-submarine drills. Participating troops from the Chinese PLA Navy consist of six vessels, including the guided-missile destroyer Zibo, guided-missile frigates CONTD. ON NATION HAWA-HAWAI ORDER GOES FOR A TOSS KALPESH MHAMUNKAR MUMBAI To curb air pollution  in Mumbai and surrounding areas, the high court had directed that firecrackers should be burst only from 8 pm to 10 pm during Diwali. The state government and the BMC had also appealed to citizens to follow the direction of HC and co-operate with the BMC, to bring down the air pollution. But citizens have chosen to disregard the directions, defiantly bursting firecrackers beyond the time frame. At many places, the bursting of firecrackers went on past 12am. According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade, 27 incidents of fire, related to firecrackers, occurred in Mumbai.  Apart from this, the BMC had placed restrictions on the burning of garbage in Mumbai but received 23 complaints of garbage-burning. These violations caused the deterioration of Mumbai’s air quality index, which was seemingly on the mend. Unsurprisingly though, the main reason for the degradation of the AQI was dust from the construction sites. CONTD. ON NATION RUPEE FALLS TO ALL-TIME LOW The rupee declined by 5 paise to settle at its all-time low of 83.33 against the US dollar on Monday, tracking a negative trend in domestic equities. Persistent foreign fund outflows weighed on the local unit, forex traders said. Earlier, the currency's lowest closing level was recorded at 83.32 versus the dollar on Sept 18 this year. RAJA MANE/ MUMBAI “We are resolving the issue of Maratha reservation in a positive way We will talk to Manoj . Jarange-Patil until January 2, to find a meeting ground,” Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told The Free Press Journal on Monday Asked . about the reference to January 2, the earlier deadline, Shinde said, “December 24 or January 2 – how does it matter? We have taken positive steps regarding Maratha reservation.” ‘Unofficial’ ban on Tiger 3 in Gulf nations? Has Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif ’s Tiger 3 been banned in Qatar, Oman and Kuwait? The big Bollywood extravaganza is yet to hit the celluloid screens in the three Gulf countries, which is a trifle surprising considering that Salman is a big draw among both Indian and Pakistani expats in these countries. That, in turn, has ignited speculation of an ‘unofficial’ ban. Media reports said that a key factor behind the non-release of the film was its negative portrayal of Muslim characters. Also, the India-Pakistan narrative in the story might not be palatable to some. “Though the film is showing on the VOX Cinemas website, we can’t buy tickets. It is disappointing as I was waiting for this movie for a long time,” a movie buff, Santosh, told The Times of Oman. “I went to Vox Cinemas to buy tickets for Tiger 3 movie. I was told by the cinema it has been banned in Oman. Does anyone know the reason for this?” a nonplussed moviegoer in Muscat wondered on social media. Tiger 3 is the third instalment in the franchise after Ek Tha Tiger, which was released in 2012, and Tiger Zinda Hai (2017). Both movies were blockbusters at the box office, with the for- mer laying the foundation for Yash Raj Films’ ‘Spy Universe’, which includes War (2019) and Pathaan (2023). Actor Emraan Hashmi has essayed A t the outset, let’s get the cricketing details right off the bat: Why New Zealand is the team to beat – it is the bogeyman we need to bust. Our performance against NZ in NZ has always been subpar Now that they are on . our turf, it’s time to make amends. Then there is the matter of our knockout loss from the 2019 ODI World Cup, when India was on top of the table and the Kiwis, at No. 4, came and treated us like the inside of a Kiwi fruit or discarded us like its rind, whatever you prefer . We lost to them in the World Test Championship in 2021. We have an axe to grind. So, noses to the grindstone. The Kiwis may have beaten Virat Kohli’s team in past clashes, but their recent losses, including a defeat by Rohit Sharma & Co in Dharamshala, hold out a glimmer of hope for the Men in Blue. As the Wednesday spectacle dawns, past records and results will fade into the sunset. The spotlight will be on the 22 players on the field, battling it out at the same venue where India lifted their second ODI World Cup trophy under MS Dhoni in 2011. the main role of antagonist in the film, which also features Ashutosh Rana and Revathi in supporting roles. Tiger 3, which released in Indian cinemas on Diwali, has earned Salman the biggest opening day of his career by amassing Rs94 crore worldwide, Yash Raj Films (YRF) said on Monday . In a post on X, YRF said the film had Rs94 crore in global pickings, making the film the highest earning Diwali release in Hindi cinema. Tiger 3 collected Rs52.50 crore (gross) in India (Rs 44.50 crore net) and Rs41.50 crore from the overseas markets, the studio said in a collection note shared on social media. ROHAN SEN /  MUMBAI Mumbai is all lit up and not just because it’s Diwali. The extra sparkle is in anticipation of a cricket spectacle starring the Men in Blue v/s the Men in Black Caps, in the first semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2023, on November 15. As the players gear up for the crucial match, fans are frantically scrambling to secure tickets and hotel accommodations in the Maximum City Not just fans but . businesses too --- the hospitality business in particular - are agog with anticipation, with hotels having been quick to seize the initiative and score handsomely From . luxury establishments to two- and three-star accommodations, asking rates are surging by nearly 80 per cent.   Five-star establishments like The Oberoi at Nariman Point are commanding up to Rs 90,000 for a suite, while the tariffs at Trident start at Rs 32,000 on November 14 – both five-star establishments are strategically positioned as the closest luxury options to the Wankhede Stadium, the venue for the November 15 semi-final. The Taj Mahal Palace in Colaba is charging Rs 56,000 for a base category room on this day while the adjacent Taj Mahal Tower seeks Rs 41,300 for the same. Their suburban cousin, Taj Santacruz near the domestic airport, is offering rooms priced at Rs 19,000 - Rs20,000 per night for the duration of November 14-15.  So much for luxury accommodation. Two- and three-star hotels have also jumped into the game, having hiked their prices from the earlier Rs 3,000-Rs10,000 to approximately Rs5,000-Rs18,000 per night during the semi-finals. Rishi Sunak sacks Goan-origin Suella PTI / LONDON British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday fired his hardline Indian-origin Home Secretary Suella Braverman and brought in one of his predecessors, David Cameron, back into the government as the Foreign Secretary . In a cryptic response that presaged more trouble, Braverman said, "I will have more to say in due course.” James Cleverly 54, will be , replacing her in the Cabinet and make way for Cameron, also 54. Cameron served as the UK Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016 and was Leader of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016. He resigned Dec 24 or Jan 2, how does it matter, asks Shinde LAST WORD FPJ NEWS SERVICE / MUMBAI ASKING RATES FOR HOTEL ROOMS SOAR BY 80% The confusion about the deadline for resolving the issue persists. Shinde has expedited the process for issuing Kunbi certificates and evaluation of evidence. From the schedule of the activists, however, it is apparent that their actions are based on the assumption that the government has a December 24 deadline. Given this backdrop, Shinde’s utterance is important. A ‘Diwali Sneh Mela’ was organised for journalists at Varsha, the CM’s official residence, on Monday . EC SEEKS POLL BOND DETAILS T he Election Commission has asked "all parties" which have got any donation through electoral bonds to furnish by November 15 the details of such contributions received by them since the inception of the scheme. The EC move comes after the Supreme Court on November 2 directed the poll panel to produce before it in sealed cover the "up to date" data of funds received by political parties through electoral bonds till September 30, 2023. as prime minister in June 2016 soon after he lost in the Brexit referendum, having campaigned for the UK to remain within the European Union (EU). At the time, he was directly at odds with Sunak -- then a junior minister -- who had campaigned for Britain to leave the EU. CONTD. ON NATION Hundreds flee Myanmar, cross into Mizoram REUTERS / NAYPYIDAW (MYANMAR) Ethnic minority insurgent groups attacked security posts in Myanmar on Monday as fighting erupted on , two new fronts, and thousands of people crossed into India seeking refuge. Myanmar's military junta is facing its biggest test since assuming power in a 2021 coup after three ethnic minority forces launched a coordinated offensive in late October, capturing some towns and military posts. The military-installed president last week said Myanmar, a country the size of France, was at risk of breaking apart because of an ineffective response to the rebellion. CONTD. ON NATION