LIVE: Maharashtra crosses 100 mn Covid vaccination milestone, says Tope

Live news updates: 14 districts of the state warned of more heavy showers as parts of Chennai are flooded.

8:49 PM

India's coal import 12% drops to 94 MT in Apr-Aug

The government on Tuesday said the country's total coal import dropped 12 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to 94.15 million tonnes (MT) in April-August 2021, on account of a substantial reduction in the import of non-coking coal, PTI reported.

 

This has resulted in considerable financial savings in the current year as coal prices are going up sharply in the international market, the coal ministry said in a statement.

 

"Due to a substantial reduction of import of non-coking coal in the current year, the total import of coal has also reduced to 94.15 MT in the period from April to August 2021 as compared with 107.01 MT during the corresponding period of 2019-20, a decrease of about 12 per cent," the statement said.

8:32 PM

Mumbai records 279 Covid-19 cases, one death

Mumbai on Tuesday reported 279 new coronavirus infections and one death, an official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said, according to PTI.

 

The caseload in the country's financial capital rose to 7,58,189, and death toll to 16,282.

8:13 PM

Maharashtra crosses 100 mn Covid vaccination milestone, says Tope

8:05 PM

Covid-19 vaccine: Nagpur civic body mulls 'no free first dose' after Nov 30

In order to speed up the coverage of first dose beneficiaries of the COVID-19 vaccine, Nagpur Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra on Tuesday said it was planning to discontinue free jabs at its vaccination centres after November 30, PTI reported.

 

Additional Municipal Commissioner Ram Joshi said Nagpur city, with 160 free vaccination centres, has 19.73 lakh eligible beneficiaries, of which 16.92 lakh have received the first dose.

 

"The Maharashtra government has given directions to complete the administration of the first dose by November 30. We are taking various measures to cover the remaining 2.80 lakh people by then. As part of it, we are planning to make only the second dose available for free at these centres after November 30," he said.

7:49 PM

BCCI announces India's squad for T20Is against New Zealand

7:27 PM

Kerala clocks 6,409 fresh coronavirus cases, 384 more deaths

Kerala recorded 6,409 fresh coronavirus infections and 384 deaths, raising the caseload to 50,27,318 and the fatalities to 34,362, the state government said on Tuesday, according to PTI.

 

With 6,319 more people recovering from the virus since Monday, the total recoveries touched 49,21,312 and the active cases reached 71,020 today, an official press release said.

 

Of the 384 deaths, 47 were reported over the last few days and 337 were designated as COVID deaths after receiving appeals based on the new guidelines of the Centre and Supreme Court directions, it said.

7:18 PM

Holidays declared on Nov 10, 11 for nine districts

6:42 PM

Month-long campaign against waste burning from Nov 11: Delhi minister

The Delhi government will launch a month-long campaign to prevent open burning of waste and biomass from November 11 as part of efforts to further reduce pollution from local sources, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday, PTI reported.

 

The second phase of the anti-dust campaign will be run from November 12 to December 12, he said at a press conference after a meeting with officials of the departments concerned in view of severe air pollution.

 

The increase in pollution levels is largely a result of the bursting of firecrackers on Diwali and the smoke from stubble burning in neighbouring states. It created a blanket of smog all over the city, he said.

6:41 PM

Mahindra & Mahindra plans to launch 16 EV models by 2027

Homegrown auto major Mahindra & Mahindra on Tuesday said it plans to launch 16 electric vehicles (EVs) by 2027 across SUV and light commercial vehicle categories to strengthen its leadership position in India's electric mobility segment, PTI reported.

 

The company, which has set a cumulative revenue growth target of 15-20 per cent by 2025, is keeping its options open to either bring in private equity investors or carve out its EV business into a separate entity to drive its growth.

 

M&M, which has already announced plans to invest Rs 3,000 crore in EVs, is also considering a new brand name for the electric SUVs that it will launch by 2027.

 

6:04 PM

Rafale deal: Cong demands JPC probe, alleges cover-up by Modi Govt

The Congress on Tuesday accused the Modi government of trying to "cover-up" corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal and demanded a JPC probe into it, asking why it did not investigate the role of a middleman despite recovering incriminating documents from him, PTI reported.

 

The remarks came after French investigative portal Mediapart in fresh revelations alleged bogus invoices were used that enabled French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation to pay at least 7.5 million euros in secret commissions to a middleman to help it secure the Rafale deal with India.

 

The report claimed that commissions were paid between 2007 and 2012 for securing the Rafale deal with India.

6:02 PM

India is poised to achieve services export target of $1 tn by 2030: Goyal

5:29 PM

Rajasthan Assembly to hold session for children on Nov 14

The Rajasthan Assembly will hold a session for schoolchildren on November 14 to apprise them of the working of the House, PTI reported.

 

They will be seen in the role of the chief minister, speaker, leader of opposition and MLAs during the session on Children's Day, the birth anniversary of the country's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

 

There will be a question hour and zero hour, in which the students will raise issues to seek answers.

5:29 PM

K'taka relaxes RT-PCR norms for visitors from Maharashtra for short trips

5:02 PM

Tendulkar among 50 most influential people on Twitter: Report

Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar is among the 50 most influential people on Twitter this year, placed at number 35, according to an annual research carried out by consumer intelligence company Brandwatch, PTI reported.

 

The legendary right-hander is ranked above the likes of American actors Dwayne Johnson and Leonardo Di Caprio, and former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama among others.

 

American singer Taylor Swift is at number 1 spot and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is placed at number two in the list.

4:39 PM

Heavy rainfall expected in some places today

4:24 PM

Coal mine project: Mamata announces Rs 10k-cr compensation package for land losers

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced a compensation package of Rs 10,000 crore for the ones who would get displaced or affected in some way or the other due to the Deocha-Pachami coal mine project in Birbhum district, PTI reported.

 

The state has been allotted the Deocha Pachami Harinsingha Dewanganj -- the world's second-largest coal block -- by the Centre a few years ago.

 

"We will not do anything like what had happened in Singur (forcible land acquisition for car project). We will start the project with a government-owned land. We are a pro-people government. We don't believe in doing things by force," she told the Assembly.

4:23 PM

96 nations have agreed to mutual acceptance of vaccination certificates: Mandaviya

4:01 PM

Govt buys over 209 lakh ton paddy so far this Kharif marketing season for Rs 41,066 cr

The government on Tuesday said it has procured 209.52 lakh tonne of paddy so far in the current Kharif marketing season for over Rs 41,066.80 crore, PTI reported.

 

The Kharif marketing season (KMS) 2021-22 runs from October to September.

 

Food Corporation of India (FCI) is the government's nodal agency for the procurement and distribution of foodgrains.

4:01 PM

Pakistan's Chief Justice inaugurates rebuilt Hindu temple destroyed by radical Islamists

A century-old Hindu temple, which was vandalised and set on fire by an irate mob of radical Islamists in northwest Pakistan last year, has been opened to devotees by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed who had ordered authorities to reconstruct it, according to a media report on Tuesday, PTI said.

 

In December last year, century-old Shri Param Hans Ji Maharaj temple in Teri village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Karak district was vandalised and demolished by a mob led by some local clerics belonging to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F).

 

Chief Justice Ahmed at the time ordered authorities to reconstruct the temple and instructed them to recover the money for the restoration work from the attackers whose act had caused "international embarrassment" to Pakistan.

3:26 PM

US special envoy for Afghanistan to visit India, Pakistan

US special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West, said he plans to visit India and Pakistan as part of his upcoming trip to Europe and Asia, ANI reported.

 

"[Within] my upcoming travels, I do plan to visit Pakistan, Russia and India," Sputnik quoted West as saying during a briefing.

 

The US Special Representative pointed out that he will be in Pakistan "later this week."

3:25 PM

TN: CM Stalin visits rain-affected areas in Chennai, distributes food to needy people

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday visited rain-affected and water-logged areas in Chennai and distributed food to needy people in various parts of the city, reported ANI.

 

The chief minister reviewed the situation of the areas affected in the wake of incessant rains in the city.

 

With the onset of northeastern rains, Chennai received the heaviest rains in the past six years, recalling the 2015 floods. It resulted in flooding in the central and northern parts of the city.

2:59 PM

With an eye on Indian Ocean, China delivers largest, most advanced warship to Pakistan

China has delivered its largest and most advanced warship to Pakistan as it seeks to beef up the navy of its all-weather ally in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, where it has increased its own naval presence in recent years, PTI reported.

 

Designed and built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC), the frigate was delivered to the Pakistan Navy in a commissioning ceremony in Shanghai, the CSSC announced in a statement on Monday.

 

The Type 054A/P frigate was named the PNS Tughril, state-run Global Times reported on Tuesday.

2:46 PM

'Will drop a bomb tomorrow in connection with Fadnavis,' says Malik

2:33 PM

Sonia Gandhi, Manipur leaders discuss political situation in state

Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi met Manipur leaders at her residence in the national capital on Tuesday and discussed the political situation in the state, reported ANI.

 

All India Congress Committee (AICC) in charge of Manipur Bhakt Charan Das while speaking to ANI said that the meeting was regarding the Manipur elections.

 

"We discussed with Sonia Gandhi about the Manipur political situation and the coming elections. Everyone gave their viewpoint and it was listed by the high command. Everyone presented their views, she had a long discussion with senior leaders," he said.

2:30 PM

Delhi govt to launch campaign against open burning of garbage

1:50 PM

UP: State govt will provide free ration till Holi, says Yogi

1:47 PM

Bengal: Night curfew lifted in Nadia, Hooghly Districts on Nov 12,13

1:24 PM

Tamil Nadu govt issues helpline numbers

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran said two teams of NDRF personnel have been deployed in Madurai and one team each in Chengelpet and Tiruvallur. Similarly, the state disaster response teams are stationed in Thanjavur and Cuddalore districts. The Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services wing is on alert mode with all the necessary equipment, he said on Monday. The 24 x 7 state control room in Chennai and those in districts could be contacted through the toll free numbers 1070 and 1077 respectively, he said. People may also get in touch with authorities of Greater Chennai Corporation by using the 1913 toll free number.

 

1:04 PM

Chennai police station shifted due to heavy rainfall

The S-8 Adambakkam police station in Chennai was shifted temporarily to a house nearby after it was inundated following heavy rains, police said on Monday. The station is now relocated at New Colony Second Sstreet, Adambakkam. “The station is three feet below the ground level and during rains, water enters the station and the building is also leaky. After incessant rains for the past two days, the station is full of water and on the directions from senior officers, we have shifted our station to a nearby home to serve the public,” Police Inspector Valarmathi told media persons.

12:05 PM

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin inspected rain-affected areas of Kolathur and Villivakkam in Chennai

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin inspected rain-affected areas of Kolathur and Villivakkam in Chennai, where he distributed food and relief materials to the needy people.