LIVE: Palestinians flee north Gaza as Israel opens window for safe passage

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11:23 PM

PM Modi meets veteran actor Saira Banu

9:36 PM

DoT issues advisory against calls threatening disconnection of mobile services

"The DoT does not make calls to citizens threatening disconnection. Citizens are urged to exercise caution and not provide any personal information if they receive such calls," the advisory said. In the advisory, the DoT urged citizens to not share any personal information if they receive a call threatening disconnection.

8:16 PM

PM Modi meets Blinken, Lloyd Austin; says India-US partnership is truly a force for global good

8:02 PM

Palestinians flee north Gaza as Israel opens window for safe passage

Thousands of Palestinians streamed onto Gaza's only highway on Friday, fleeing the combat zone in the north after Israel announced a window for safe passage, as officials in the enclave said the Palestinian death toll surpassed 11,000 people. Amid an intensifying campaign of airstrikes and ground battles in Gaza City, the search for safety in the besieged enclave has grown increasingly desperate. Tens of thousands have walked south, where they face the prospect of ongoing bombardment and dire conditions. Others have crowded into and around hospitals, sleeping in operating rooms and wards.

7:30 PM

India-US defence relationship has evolved into strategic partnership based by mutual trust: Singh

6:15 PM

Heavy rains in Tamil Nadu disrupt normal life

With the onset of the northeast monsoon, several areas in Tamil Nadu were left inundated due to the harsh weather conditions. Since the beginning of November, it has been raining widely. For the past 4 days, most places in Tamil Nadu have received moderate rain and heavy rain in some places, resulting in severe waterlogging and schools being shut down.With the onset of the northeast monsoon, the rainfall was 43 percent less than normal last October. However, Tamil Nadu is likely to receive rain at many places for 4 days due to the low atmospheric circulation, the Meteorological Centre said.

4:31 PM

Delhi govt defers implementation of odd-even scheme as AQ improves

The Delhi government has postponed the implementation of the odd-even car rationing scheme as there has been a notable improvement in Delhi's air quality due to rain, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday. Addressing a press conference here, he said the government will review the air quality situation after Diwali and a call on the odd-even scheme may be taken if there's a sharp increase in pollution levels.Rai had earlier said the scheme will be implemented in the city after the Supreme Court reviews its effectiveness and issues an order.

4:21 PM

Air pollution: Delhi University declares winter break from November 13-19 in view

The Delhi University has declared an early winter break from November 13-19 in view of the air pollution in the national capital, according to an official notification released on Friday. The winter break, which is usually given in December, has been revised keeping in mind the GRAP-IV measures being implemented amid the prevailing air pollution in Delhi.

3:59 PM

Narco-terror module case: J-K SIA searches house of key accused in Poonch

The Jammu and Kashmir Police's Special Investigation Agency (SIA) on Friday searched the house of a key accused in a narco-terror module case in a hamlet near the Line of Control in Poonch district, officials said. A SIA team had taken accused Mohmmad Iqbal, who was arrested from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district in October, along with it to Karmara, they said. The case pertains to cross-border smuggling of arms, explosives and narcotics into Poonch, the officials said. Three accomplices of Iqbal were caught with a huge cache of arms, explosives and narcotics near the border fence in Poonch's Karmara area on the intervening night of May 30 and 31, they said. Iqbal was at large since then.

3:48 PM

China says Dalai Lama's successor needs its approval, projects Tibet as gateway to South Asia

China on Friday asserted that any successor to 88-year-old Dalai Lama should be from within the country and his heir needs to have its approval, as it projected the strategically-located Tibet region as the gateway to South Asia by highlighting the infrastructure development close to the Indian border. China, which refers to Tibet as Xizang, is increasingly anxious as the octogenarian Dalai Lama who lives in exile in Dharamsala in India will take the lead in appointing his successor which could have a profound spiritual impact in the Himalayan region as his legacy is ingrained in the minds of Tibetan masses.

2:23 PM

Farm fires in Punjab, NCR have to be stopped, says SC

The Supreme Court on Friday said that crop residue burning in Punjab and some other states adjacent to Delhi have to be stopped and solution has to found to reduce the pollution level in the national capital region (NCR). While hearing a matter relating to the debilitating air pollution in the Delhi-NCR, a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul observed there were several reports and committees on the pollution issue, but nothing was happening at the ground level.

2:13 PM

Air emergency: Health advisory for schools call for use of public transport

Amid the air emergency in the national capital, the Union Health Ministry on Friday issued an advisory for children in Delhi and neighbouring states amid mounting pollution concerns and toxic air days that have emerged as a clear and present danger to public health. However, in a measure of respite from the smog or toxic cloud that has been hanging heavy over the national capital in the last week and more, the city on Friday received showers that saw the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) drop below 400.

2:02 PM

EU's major plan aimed at fighting climate change to go to final votes

European Union institutions and conservationists on Friday gave a conditional and guarded welcome to a major plan to better protect nature and fight climate change in the 27-nation bloc. The plan is a key part of the EU's vaunted European Green Deal that seeks to establish the world's most ambitious climate and biodiversity targets and make the bloc the global point of reference on all climate issues. Yet it has had an extremely rough ride through the EU's complicated approval process and only a watered down version will now proceed to final votes.

1:32 PM

Article on Adani Group: SC grants protection to 2 journalists summoned by Gujarat Police

The Supreme Court on Friday granted protection from arrest to two journalists who have challenged the summons issued to them by the Gujarat Police in connection with an article allegedly written by them on Adani Group. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and P K Mishra directed the journalists to cooperate in the investigation and issued notice to the Gujarat government on the pleas filed by the duo.

12:56 PM

THDCIL inks pacts to develop 3,270 MW renewable energy projects in K'taka

THDC India Ltd (THDCIL) is planning to set up 3,270 megawatts (MWs) of clean energy projects, including pumped storage and floating solar, in Karnataka, its chairman and managing director R K Vishnoi has said. In this regards, the Uttarakhand-based company on Thursday signed two memoranda of understandings with Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) and Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) in Bengaluru.

12:34 PM

Air India bets on genAI, to introduce more AI features to address queries

Air India plans to introduce sophisticated features to its generative artificial intelligence virtual agent that handles more than 6,000 customer queries daily. The Tata Group-owned airline is using ChatGPT to analyse even some complex questions it may not be able to immediately answer to improve customer experience in later interactions and is helping it to become more attuned to natural language.

12:16 PM

PM Modi's state visit to US opened new chapter in our relationship: Jaishankar hails India-US ties

Hailing the ties between India and the United States, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US had opened a new chapter in the India-US relationship. During the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue opening remarks at the Hyderabad House here in the national capital, Jaishankar said that the dialogue would be an opportunity to advance the vision of the respective leaders of the two countries.

11:56 AM

India sees brisk gold sales on pre-Diwali Dhanteras festival

Pre-Diwali Dhanteras buying of gold and silver in India, the world's largest gold consumer, kick-started on a positive note on Friday on recovery of consumer demand with the softening of gold prices.

Gold prices have fallen by Rs 800-1,500 per 10 gram (24 carat) from the peak Rs 63,000-level on October 28 and this has evoked buying on Dhanteras, considered the most auspicious day in Hindu calendar for buying items ranging from precious metals to utensils, with traders expecting gold sales to surpass last year's level.

On Thursday, Gold prices plunged Rs 400 to Rs 60,950 per 10 grams in the national capital.

11:55 AM

"Indo-US partnership critical for rules based Indo Pacific": Rajnath Singh at 2+2 dialogue

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday called Defence one of most important pillars of the India-US bilateral relationship. He called India-US partnership critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

"In spite of various emerging geopolitical challenges, we need to keep our focus on important and long-term issues. Our partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region. We look forward to closely working with the US across the domains of capability and for partnerships which can address emerging challenges. I look forward to an engaging and enriching discussions today"

In his opening remarks at the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, Rajnath Singh welcomed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and said that Indo-US relationship was seeing growing convergence.

11:51 AM

HC quashes FIR against Raj Thackeray for model code violation ahead of 2010 civic polls

The Bombay High Court on Friday quashed an FIR and subsequent criminal proceedings initiated against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray for allegedly violating the model code of conduct ahead of the civic polls in 2010.

A division bench of Justices Ajey Gadkari and Sharmila Deshmukh allowed the 2014 petition filed by the MNS head against the FIR (First Information Report).

As per the FIR, Thackeray visited Kalyan and Dombivali area, on the outskirts of Mumbai, for campaigning which was to be completed by September 29, 2010, as per a circular of the State Election Commission (SEC).

11:49 AM

India, US hold 2+2 ministerial dialogue

India and the US on Friday held extensive deliberations to further expand their global strategic partnership through greater defence industrial ties, enhancing engagement in the Indo-Pacific and boosting cooperation in key areas such as critical minerals and high-technology.

The US delegation at the 2+2 ministerial talks was led by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh headed the Indian side.

"Our dialogue today will be an opportunity to advance the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden to build a forward looking partnership and construct a shared global agenda," Jaishankar said in his televised opening remarks.

11:46 AM

Just helped me double 2024 winning margin: Mahua Moitra on Ethics panel report

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Friday said she will be back with a bigger mandate in 2024, a day after the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee recommended her expulsion from the House in the "cash-for-query" matter. In a post on X, the TMC MP said, "Proud to go down in parliamentary history as 1st person to be unethically expelled by Ethics Comm whose mandate doesn't include expulsion. 1st expel & THEN ask govt to ask CBI to find evidence. Kangaroo court, monkey business from start to finish". "Never Waste a Good Crisis they say... - this just helped me double my 2024 winning margin," Moitra said.

11:42 AM

US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue: Jaishankar, Rajnath Singh meet with US counterparts

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar along with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken posed for the traditional family photo as the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue got underway here in Delhi. Notably, the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue is a diplomatic summit held every year since 2018, with the Minister of External Affairs and the Defence Minister representing India while the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defence represent the United States.

11:27 AM

Dousing operations underway at Howrah warehouse after massive fire, 12 tenders at spot

Dousing operations were underway at a warehouse next to a petrol pump in the Shibpur Forsa Road of Howrah after a massive fire broke out earlier on Friday. "We managed to contain the fire using 4-5 jets. A total of 12 fire engines are at the spot currently and are involved in the ongoing dousing operations. We are hopeful of putting out the blaze in 30-35 minutes. There have been no casualties in the fire," the deputy director of the West Bengal Fire Services Department, Shyam Chandra Mandal, told ANI.

11:06 AM

Odisha signs MoU for 2nd campus of World Skill Center

The Odisha government has signed an MoU for setting up a second campus of World Skill Center (WSC) here, an official said. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Thursday with the Singapore-based ITE Education Services (ITEES) for establishing and managing of this global skill facility, the official said.

10:16 AM

EAM Jaishankar meets US State Secy Blinken as India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue begins

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as fifth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue got underway on Friday. The two leaders shook hands and greeted each other before heading for the fifth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. Secretary Blinken arrived in Delhi on Friday to co-chair the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Blinken's visit will give a further boost to the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

9:56 AM

50,000 Palestinians moved to southern Gaza through corridor set up by Israel: UN

As many as 50,000 Palestinians have moved from northern to southern Gaza through the humanitarian corridors set up the Israel, the UN Office for the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced, The Times of Israel reported. Palestinians have been able to evacuate northern Gaza due to a formalized humanitarian pause in the fighting that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) implemented in several neighbourhoods in northern Gaza for the first time after pressure from the Biden administration.

9:46 AM

SIA conducts raids in J&K in terror funding case

The Jammu and Kashmir Police's State Investigation Agency on Friday carried out raids in the valley in a terror funding case, officials said. The raids were conducted at a few locations in Anantnag and Pulwama districts, the agency said. The case pertains to the illegal raising, layering and laundering of proceeds of crime by the accused people, they said. The proceeds of crime might subsequently have been used in unlawful activities, including secessionism and terrorism, according to the agency.

9:31 AM

T'gana polls: Cong releases Minority Declaration', promises Rs 4,000 cr budget for welfare

The Telangana Congress has said it would increase the budget up to Rs 4,000 crore annually towards minority welfare, besides conducting the caste census within six months after coming to power, if elected in the November 30 assembly polls. The "Minority Declaration" released on Thursday, said it will ensure fair reservation for all backward classes including, minorities in jobs, education and government schemes.

9:29 AM

UK to add India to list of safe states, illegally entering Indian nationals can't seek asylum

The UK government has announced that it will add India to a list of "safe states", which would speed up the process of returning people who have travelled from India illegally. With this addition, all asylum claims from Indian nationals who arrive on small boats or illegally on other routes will be deemed inadmissible. There will be no appeals and they will be sent back.