The Morning Filter: Gen. Rawat's funeral today

1. Mortal remains of Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife, brought to Delhi; funeral to be held today The bodies of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and Brig LS Lidder and 10 others killed in the tragic helicopter crash near Coonoor were brought to the national capital on Thursday. An Indian Air Force C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft carrying the bodies from the Sulur airbase touched down at the Palam technical airport at around 7:35 pm. The slot between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm will be kept for military personnel to pay their respects to the outstanding commander and his wife. The final journey of Gen Rawat from his residence to the Brar Square crematorium is scheduled to start at around 2 pm. The funeral is scheduled at 4 pm today. 2. PM Modi to speak during 'Save for Democracy' during leaders' plenary on Friday Prime Minister Narendra Modi “commended” the U.S. for holding a summit for democracies that was inaugurated by U.S. President Biden on Thursday, even as Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to skip it, making India one of only three South Asian nations attending the two-day event. “PM Modi said the democratic spirit, including respect for rule of law and pluralistic ethos, is ingrained in Indians,” MEA sources said, adding that the PM had spoken about the need for democracy in global governance and for technology companies to “contribute to preserving open and democratic societies”. Mr. Modi is due to make his “national statement” on Friday. 3. Air Marshal inspects chopper crash site, TN police registers case Air Marshal Manavendra Singh inspected the site of chopper crash on Thursday, starting investigation into the mishap that killed Chief of Defence Staff, Bipin Rawat and 12 others while the police registered a case and Tamil Nadu DGP, C Sylendra Babu held a review meeting here on the matter. Air Marshal Singh, inspected the site of crash near here along with officials and began a probe. 4. Maharashtra govt. demands to stay election process A day after all political parties demanded to stay election process until reservation for OBCs in local body polls is resumed, Maharashtra Government on Thursday clarified it holds the identical view. The State Government will also be filing a review petition in the apex court terming the court order as contradictory. 5. Bangladesh minister Md. Shahriar Alam arrives in West Bengal Bangladesh Minister of State for Foreign affairs Md. Shahriar Alam is in West Bengal on a four-day visit, an official said on Thursday. Alam arrived in the state on Wednesday evening through the Indo-Bangla border in Murshidabad and will be staying in the district till Friday afternoon. 6. Karnataka MLC polls on Friday, 90 candidates in the fray Voting for biennial election to the Karnataka Legislative Council's 25 seats from 20 Local Authorities' Constituencies will take place on Friday, for which 90 candidates are in the fray. The polling will be held between 8 am to 4 pm, the results of which will be declared on December 14. Out of total 90 candidates in the fray, twenty each are from BJP and Congress, six from JD(S), 33 independents and rest are all from smaller parties. 7. Mullaperiyar dam: Direct TN not to release huge quantity of water in wee hours, Kerala to SC The Kerala government has moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to Tamil Nadu not to release a huge quantity of water in the wee hours from the 126-year-old Mullaperiyar dam, saying it causes heavy damage to the people living downstream of the dam. In an application filed in the apex court, the Kerala government has also sought a direction to the Tamil Nadu government to control the water level by releasing water from the dam throughout the day instead of releasing a huge quantity of water at the wee hours without giving sufficient warning time. 8. Denmark orders eateries to close early, bans large concerts Denmark's government has decided that students up to the 10th grade must study remotely for the last few days before Christmas break and ordered nightclubs, bars and restaurants to close at midnight as part of efforts to counter an uptick in COVID-19 cases. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also banned concerts where audiences have more than 50 people standing and required restaurant patrons to wear face masks when they are not seated. He further recommended Wednesday that people work from home. 9. Biden asks Democracy Summit participants to make “concrete commitments” U.S. President Joe Biden kicked off Day One of his Summit for Democracy, calling on countries to make “concrete commitments” to reaffirm their democratic values. Over 100 countries have been invited, as well as civil society actors, members of various parliaments and the private sector. “Democracy doesn't happen by accident. We have to renew it with each generation,” Mr Biden, sitting beside his Secretary of State Antony Blinken, told over 50 world leaders who could be seen on a large screen. 10. Delhi riots: 'Witness statements fabricated, prosecution should be ashamed', says Umar Khalid Former JNU student leader Umar Khalid on Thursday told a Delhi court that witness statements recorded by the police in the riots conspiracy case were "fabricated". Khalid and several others have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a stringent anti-terror law, and are accused of being the "masterminds" of the riots which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. 11. North East faces Odisha in ISL Odisha FC will look to get back to winning ways and close the gap at the top of the table when they take on NorthEast United FC in the Indian Super League here on Friday. Odisha, who finished rock-bottom last season, got off to a flying start this time with two wins in two games. But their dream run came to an abrupt halt when they lost to Kerala Blasters 1-2 in their last outing. Placed fifth in the points table with six points from three games, the Kiko Ramirez-coached side have all to play for on the morrow as a win will catapult them back among the top four teams. 12. National car racing championship set to resume after break The MRF MMSC FMSCI National Car Racing Championship 2021 will resume after a break of nearly three months with Covid-19 safety protocols in place at the MMRT near here on Friday with a 12-race programme scheduled for the weekend. There are around 100 entrants in the fray across various categories in the championship, a press release said. Morning Filter will return tomorrow. Follow up on the day’s biggest stories and get concise analysis by The Hindu with the Evening Wrap newsletter. [logo] The Morning Filter 10 DECEMBER 2021 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Morning Filter newsletter, your guide from The Hindu on the major news stories and events to follow today. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Here are the latest updates and the big news stories to follow today 1. Mortal remains of Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife, brought to Delhi; funeral to be held today [Defense personnel carry a flag-draped casket of Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed forces Bipin Rawat at Palam airport in New Delhi, India, Thursday, December 9, 2021.] The bodies of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and Brig LS Lidder and 10 others killed in the tragic helicopter crash near Coonoor were brought to the national capital on Thursday. An Indian Air Force C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft carrying the bodies from the Sulur airbase touched down at the Palam technical airport at around 7:35 pm. The slot between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm will be kept for [military personnel to pay their respects]( to the outstanding commander and his wife. The final journey of Gen Rawat from his residence to the Brar Square crematorium is scheduled to start at around 2 pm. The funeral is scheduled at 4 pm today. 2. PM Modi to speak during 'Save for Democracy' during leaders' plenary on Friday [Prime Minister Narendra Modi “commended” the U.S.]( for holding a summit for democracies that was inaugurated by U.S. President Biden on Thursday, even as Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to skip it, making India one of only three South Asian nations attending the two-day event. “PM Modi said the democratic spirit, including respect for rule of law and pluralistic ethos, is ingrained in Indians,” MEA sources said, adding that the PM had spoken about the need for democracy in global governance and for technology companies to “contribute to preserving open and democratic societies”. Mr. Modi is due to make his “national statement” on Friday. 3. Air Marshal inspects chopper crash site, TN police registers case [Air Marshal Manavendra Singh inspected the site]( of chopper crash on Thursday, starting [investigation into the mishap]( that killed Chief of Defence Staff, Bipin Rawat and 12 others while the police registered a case and Tamil Nadu DGP, C Sylendra Babu held a review meeting here on the matter. Air Marshal Singh, inspected the site of crash near here along with officials and began a probe. 4. Maharashtra govt. demands to stay election process A day after all political parties demanded to stay election process until reservation for OBCs in local body polls is resumed, Maharashtra Government on Thursday clarified it holds the identical view. The State Government will also be [filing a review petition]( in the apex court terming the court order as contradictory. 5. Bangladesh minister Md. Shahriar Alam arrives in West Bengal Bangladesh Minister of State for Foreign affairs Md. Shahriar Alam is in West Bengal on a four-day visit, an official said on Thursday. Alam arrived in the state on Wednesday evening through the Indo-Bangla border in Murshidabad and will be staying in the district till Friday afternoon. 6. Karnataka MLC polls on Friday, 90 candidates in the fray Voting for biennial election to the Karnataka Legislative Council's 25 seats from 20 Local Authorities' Constituencies will take place on Friday, for which 90 candidates are in the fray. The polling will be held between 8 am to 4 pm, the results of which will be declared on December 14. Out of total 90 candidates in the fray, twenty each are from BJP and Congress, six from JD(S), 33 independents and rest are all from smaller parties. 7. Mullaperiyar dam: Direct TN not to release huge quantity of water in wee hours, Kerala to SC [MPs from Kerala stage a protest on the Mullaperiyar dam issue at Parliament House in New Delhi on Wednesday. PTI Manvender Vashist] The [Kerala government has moved the Supreme Court]( seeking a direction to Tamil Nadu not to release a huge quantity of water in the wee hours from the 126-year-old Mullaperiyar dam, saying it causes heavy damage to the people living downstream of the dam. In an application filed in the apex court, the Kerala government has also sought a direction to the Tamil Nadu government to control the water level by releasing water from the dam throughout the day instead of releasing a huge quantity of water at the wee hours without giving sufficient warning time. 8. Denmark orders eateries to close early, bans large concerts Denmark's government has decided that students up to the 10th grade must study remotely for the last few days before Christmas break and ordered nightclubs, bars and restaurants to close at midnight as part of efforts to counter an uptick in COVID-19 cases. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also banned concerts where audiences have more than 50 people standing and required restaurant patrons to wear face masks when they are not seated. He further recommended Wednesday that people work from home. 9. Biden asks Democracy Summit participants to make “concrete commitments” U.S. President Joe Biden kicked off Day One of his Summit for Democracy, [calling on countries to make “concrete commitments”]( to reaffirm their democratic values. Over 100 countries have been invited, as well as civil society actors, members of various parliaments and the private sector. “Democracy doesn't happen by accident. We have to renew it with each generation,”  Mr Biden, sitting beside his Secretary of State Antony Blinken,  told over 50 world leaders who could be seen on a large screen. 10. Delhi riots: 'Witness statements fabricated, prosecution should be ashamed', says Umar Khalid [Former JNU student Umar Khalid. File] [Former JNU student leader Umar Khalid]( on Thursday told a Delhi court that witness statements recorded by the police in the riots conspiracy case were "fabricated".  Khalid and several others have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a stringent anti-terror law, and are accused of being the "masterminds" of the riots which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. 11. North East faces Odisha in ISL Odisha FC will look to get back to winning ways and close the gap at the top of the table when they take on NorthEast United FC in the Indian Super League here on Friday. Odisha, who finished rock-bottom last season, got off to a flying start this time with two wins in two games. But their dream run came to an abrupt halt when they lost to Kerala Blasters 1-2 in their last outing. Placed fifth in the points table with six points from three games, the Kiko Ramirez-coached side have all to play for on the morrow as a win will catapult them back among the top four teams. 12. National car racing championship set to resume after break The MRF MMSC FMSCI National Car Racing Championship 2021 will resume after a break of nearly three months with Covid-19 safety protocols in place at the MMRT near here on Friday with a 12-race programme scheduled for the weekend. There are around 100 entrants in the fray across various categories in the championship, a press release said. [underlineimg] Morning Filter will return tomorrow. Follow up on the day’s biggest stories and get concise analysis by The Hindu with the Evening Wrap newsletter. Today's Top Picks [['It's ok to be mediocre': Group Cpt. Varun Singh in letter to students of his school] 'It's ok to be mediocre': Group Cpt. 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