Latest news LIVE: Delhi's air quality second best on Diwali in seven years

From Diwali celebrations and Cyclone Sitrang to coronavirus cases and air pollution, catch all the latest developments from across the globe here

10:22 PM

Real-time monitoring of sound, air pollution on Diwali underway in Bengal: Minister

West Bengal Environment Minister Manas Bhuniya Monday said the new central control room at Paribesh Bhavan here is monitoring sound and air pollution in real time on Diwali and Kali Puja.

Bhuniya, who inspected the control room at the West Bengal Pollution Control Board headquarters, told reporters that experts from IIT-Delhi are examining the data at regular intervals, particularly during evening, and passing on the information to departments concerned.

9:08 PM

Liz Truss led with dignity and grace under exceptionally difficult circumstances: Rishi Sunak

I would like to pay tribute to Liz Truss for her dedicated public service to the country. She has led with dignity and grace for a time of great change and under exceptionally difficult circumstances both at home and abroad, said the UK PM-designate Rishi Sunak in London.

9:07 PM

I pledge that I will serve you with integrity and humility: Rishi Sunak

I pledge that I will serve you with integrity and humility and I will work day in and day out to deliver for the British people, said the UK PM-designate Rishi Sunak at the Conservative Party Headquarters in London.

 

Humbled & honoured to have support of my Parliamentary colleagues & to be elected as Leader of the Conservative & Unionist Party. It is the greatest privilege of my life to be able to serve the party I love & give back to the country I owe so much to, he said.

 

 

9:06 PM

I'll make it my utmost priority to bring our party & country together: Rishi Sunak

UK is a great country but we face a profound economic challenge. We now need stability  & unity. I'll make it my utmost priority to bring our party & country together as that's the only way we'll overcome challenges & build a better future for our children & grandchildren, said Rishi Sunak

 

7:22 PM

Maha govt not taking concrete steps to help rain-hit farmers, says Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party government in Maharashtra has failed to take concrete measures to help cultivators who have incurred heavy losses due to rains in parts of the state.

The former Union agriculture minister interacted with farmers in his home district of Pune to understand their grievances and losses faced by them due to heavy rainfall.

 

6:36 PM

Britain's Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak becomes the Prime Minister of the UK

6:31 PM

'Muhurat Trading' underway at Bombay Stock Exchange

6:04 PM

Chhattisgarh eyes 11 million MT paddy procurement in 2022-23

About 11 million metric tonnes (MT) of paddy is estimated to be procured at the minimum support price (MSP) in the ongoing kharif marketing season from farmers in Chhattisgarh, a government official said on Monday.

Last year, around 98 lakh MT of paddy was purchased from cultivators in the state.

4:04 PM

India considered war never first but last resort; strength necessary for peace: PM Modi

India stands for peace and has always considered war as not the first but last resort, but its armed forces have the strength and strategies to give a befitting reply to anyone who casts an evil eye on the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday.

Addressing soldiers here on Diwali, Modi said India is against war but also underscored the need for strength to ensure peace and asserted that its growing power boosts the chances of global peace and prosperity.

 

3:34 PM

Cyclone Sitrang: Vizag Coast Guard shepherds fisher boats to return harbour

The Indian Coast Guard has asked the fishermen to return with their boats as the fear of Cyclone Sitrang grips.

In an attempt to ensure safety of the people, the Indian Coast Guard Ship Sagar is making efforts to keep the fishing boats at sea.

"#CoastGuard Region East remains committed to ensure safety of fishermen. Amidst the fury of developing cyclone in #BayofBengal, @IndiaCoastGuard Ship Sagar maintains its efforts to ensure safety of all fishing boats at sea. All fishing boats being shepherded to return harbour," Defence PRO Visakhapatnam tweeted.

2:31 PM

VCs of 9 Kerala universities challenge Governor's order in HC

1:17 PM

'Fluffiest planet ever': Scientists discover gas giant with density of a marshmallow in deep space

Scientists discovered a gas giant planet with the density of a marshmallow orbiting a cool red dwarf star located 580 light years from Earth. The planet, identified as TOI-3757 b, is the "fluffiest" ever found, according to the National Science Foundation's NOIRLab, which operates some of the telescopes used in the research. The newly discovered exoplanet has a diameter of 150,000 kilometres, making it slightly bigger than our solar system's largest planet Jupiter. 

It orbits its host star once every 3.5 days. The research team calculated its average density as being 0.27 grams per cubic, which is about one-quarter the density of water - meaning it would float if placed in a giant bathtub filled with water. 

Photo: https://noirlab.edu/

1:00 PM

Ecuador issues yellow alert for Cotopaxi volcano activity

The government of Ecuador has declared a yellow alert (moderate risk) in areas near the Cotopaxi volcano amid increasing seismic activity. At present, nearby residents can see gas and water vapour hovering 500 metres above the crater, and an ash column as high as 2,353 metres, according to IANS. he last major eruption of the volcano occurred on June 26, 1877. In 2015, the volcano exhibited new activity but did not erupt.

12:47 PM

"Peace impossible without power": PM's Diwali message to Kargil soldiers

Peace is impossible to attain without power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the soldiers in Kargil, even as he said his government has always considered war as the last option. PM Modi is in Kargil to celebrate Diwali with the soldiers deployed there.

He addressed the soldiers in Kargil as his "family" and said he couldn't have celebrated a better Diwali without them. He also praised their bravery and said there has been no war with Pakistan where Kargil has not seen victory.

 

"Sweetness and brightness of my Diwali is amid you," he told the soldiers.

PM Modi celebrates Diwali in Kargil (Photo: ANI)

11:52 AM

India's prestige has risen globally, its standing going up, says PM Modi

"Atmanirbhar Bharat is the key scope for the development of 'New India'. The induction of women officers into 'Permanent Commission' has been a boon to the Armed Forces of our country," says PM Modi in Kargil as he celebrates Diwali with Indian soldiers today.

11:29 AM

Air pollution: Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur account for 60% stubble burning cases in Punjab

Punjab recorded nearly 3,700 stubble burning incidents between September 15 and October 22 and about 60 per cent of these were in three districts of Majha region -- Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Gurdaspur, reported PTI. According to data from the Ludhiana-based Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, Tarn Taran reported 1,034 stubble burning incidents, maximum in the state, followed by Amritsar 895 and Gurdaspur 324. The state overall witnessed 3,696 cases of stubble burning during the period.

 

Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital region in October and November. And, the situation is often aggravated by bursting of firecrackers around Diwali.

11:17 AM

"India seeks to strengthen UN's effectiveness": External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on United Nations Day

On United Nations Day, External Affairs Minister of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar took to Twitter to talk about India's role as a founding member of the UN. He said, "As the UN's founding member, India remains committed to its purposes & principles. India’s ongoing tenure as a member of the UNSC has reflected our principled approach of promoting dialogue and diplomacy to meet contemporary challenges."

11:05 AM

Fire broke out at a private drugs production firm in Ashok Nagar, Chennai

A fire broke out at a private drugs production firm in Ashok Nagar on Monday. Several fire tenders were seen at the spot to douse the fire. The cause of the fire is still awaited.

Photo: ANI

10:57 AM

Texas governor Greg Abbott, wife Cecilia celebrate Diwali at their residence in Austin

Texas Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, celebrated Diwali with members of the Indian-American community living in the state at his official residence in Austin. “Tonight, Cecilia & I celebrated Diwali at the Governor’s Mansion.We welcomed friends as we lit Diwali lamps & celebrated the victory of light over darkness, goodness over evil, & hope over despair. Happy Diwali to those celebrating the Festival of Lights!,” he tweeted with pictures and video of the Diwali event.

10:50 AM

1,334 new Covid cases in India, 16 virus-related deaths in 24 hours

India has recorded 1,334 fresh coronavirus infections, the lowest in 188 days, which took the tally of cases to 44,644,076, while the number of active cases has declined to 23,193, the Union health ministry said on Monday. The toll has climbed to 5,28,977 with 16 fatalities, which include 12 deaths reconciled by Kerala, data updated by the ministry at 8 am stated.  The active cases comprise 0.05 per cent of the total infections, while the national recovery rate has increased to 98.76 per cent, it said.

10:38 AM

Vice President Dhankhar greets people on Diwali

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar greeted people on Diwali, hoping that the festival of lights bring hope, happiness, health and harmony in the country.

9:52 AM

Rishi Sunak set to become Britain's next prime minister after Boris Johnson withdrew from the contest

Rishi Sunak praises Boris Johnson leadership, says he led the UK through some of the toughest challenges.

9:25 AM

PM Modi lands in Kargil to celebrate Diwali with soldiers

8:24 AM

PM Modi greets the nation on Diwali

8:18 AM

President Droupadi Murmu extends greetings on the festival of Diwali

8:15 AM

Cyclone Sitrang now lying about 520 km south of Sagar Island

Cyclone Sitrang is set to strike the Bangladesh coast early on Monday, although Kolkata started getting rain late on Sunday evening with some parts of the city receiving light showers. The rain is set to get heavier and continue till Tuesday afternoon, said the Met office. 

 

8:13 AM

Air pollution: Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Hyderabad are India’s most polluted cities

Among major Indian cities, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Hyderabad are the most polluted in the country. The main pollutant in these cities, according to the Central Pollution Control Board, was Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 or small particles with the primary sources being automobiles and industries.