LIVE: Canada stopped talks on free trade agreement, says Piyush Goyal

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10:41 PM

544 candidates, including former CM Raje, file nomination papers for elections

A total of 544 candidates, including Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, on Saturday filed nomination papers for the Assembly elections.

 

9:36 PM

Air pollution linked to Parkinson's disease, finds study

Researchers discovered that those who live in places with median levels of air pollution are 56 per cent more likely to get Parkinson's disease than those who live in areas with the lowest levels of air pollution.The study, which will be published in Neurology - the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology - sought to discover national and geographic patterns of Parkinson's disease, as well as to test for nationally and region-specific connections with fine particulate matter.

9:16 PM

Canada stopped talks on free trade agreement, says Piyush Goyal

The talks between India and Canada for a free trade agreement are on a pause as the latter stopped discussions due to some misconceptions, India’s trade minister Piyush Goyal said, according to a Bloomberg report. “There are some misconceptions among some Canadian politicians, which are baseless,” Goyal said at the the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on Saturday. Goyal said the move would hurt Canada more as India’s market is big and offers more opportunities. He added talks with the UK around the agreement are progressing steadily. Canada-India ties have deteriorated since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused New Delhi of orchestrating the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia.Trade between the two nations stood at $8.16 billion in 2022-23, dwarfing in comparison to $128.7 billion in India’s bilateral trade with the US. However, India depends almost entirely on imports for its potash needs, and buys a large amount of the crop nutrient from Canada, the world’s biggest exporter.

8:24 PM

Delhi records 'severe' air quality in several areas

The air quality in several areas of Delhi was recorded in the 'severe' category on Saturday as a thick toxic haze lingered over the city for the fifth consecutive day. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city's maximum temperature stood at 29.5 degree Celsius, a notch below the season's average. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 16.6 degree Celsius, one notch above the normal. The humidity oscillated between 88 per cent and 72 per cent, the IMD said. The air quality index (AQI) at many places in the National Capital Region (NCR) crossed the 450 mark. The national capital recorded an AQI of 433 at 7 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The AQI at Anand Vihar was 488. It was 487 at Shadipur, 474 at Wazirpur, 465 at Punjabi Bag, 454 at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, 463 at Bawana, 448 at Okhla and 459 at Rohini, the CPCB data showed. In Delhi-NCR, the AQI in Greater Noida stood at 498 at 7 pm. It was 408 at Ghaziabad, 441 at Faridabad and 423 at Gurugram, the CPCB said. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. The IMD has forecast shallow fog for Sunday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 30 and 17 degrees Celsius respectively, it said.

7:56 PM

Nepal quake: Injured shifted to hospital at the foothills, some may be sent to India

Even as search and rescue operations continued in the mountainous Jajarkot district in western Nepal hit by a powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake on Friday night, authorities shifted scores of injured persons to multiple hospitals in the foothills and some of them may be airlifted to India.

 

At least 143 people were killed and over 150 others injured when the Friday night earthquake, the worst since 2015, struck western Nepal's remote areas destroying hundreds of houses in the Himalayan country.

 

The epicentre was in Jajarkot district, about 500 km northwest of Kathmandu. Nepalgunj, which is at the Himalayan foothills, close to the India-Nepal border, is nearer to the quake-affected region as compared to Kathmandu.

 

Around 30 injured persons, including children, were brought to Bheri Hospital here from the quake-affected areas. This is the nearest big hospital to Jajarkot. Scores of near and dear ones of the injured made a beeline outside the emergency department of the Bheri hospital.

 

A round of the emergency and general wards of the hospital by PTI showed that several injured had fractured hands or legs.

7:40 PM

IDF eliminates 15 Hamas terrorists in northern Gaza Strip

Amid the relentless onslaught on Hamas following the October 7 terror attacks, Israeli ground forces eliminated 15 terrorists and destroyed the outfit's infrastructure in Gaza, The Jerusalem Post reported on Saturday.

 

In the latest engagement between the IDF personnel and Hamas terrorists amid the fierce fighting in Gaza, soldiers from the Armored Corps and Intelligence on Friday confronted 15 terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip, according to the report.

 

The soldiers successfully neutralised several terrorists and destroyed three Hamas observation posts, The Jerusalem Post stated.

7:29 PM

EAM Jaishankar speaks to Israeli counterpart, reaffirms commitment to counter terror, pursue 2-state solution

Amid the offensive against the terror group Hamas in Gaza, external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday had a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, reaffirming India's commitment to "countering terrorism, observance of international humanitarian law and for a two-state solution".

7:21 PM

Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says war death toll hits 9,488

The health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said Saturday at least 9,488 people were killed in the Palestinian territory since war with Israel erupted last month.

6:43 PM

Chhattisgarh BJP leader murdered by Maoists 3 days before elections, reports NDTV

6:43 PM

Chhattisgarh BJP leader murdered by Maoists 3 days before elections

5:26 PM

Delhi: Bus rams into over a dozen vehicles, one killed

A Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) low-floor electric bus rammed into more than a dozen vehicles in Rohini South here on Saturday, killing a man, police said. The accident occurred around 2.45 pm near Vishram Chowk in Awantika. The bus hit a car, then an e-rickshaw and two-wheelers parked on the side of a road, they said. Police have the CCTV footage of the crash. A man died on the spot while another was injured, police said, adding that it seems the bus driver lost control of the vehicle.

4:59 PM

Employees of pharma company in Haryana get cars as Diwali gift

A pharmaceutical company in Haryana's Panchkula said it has gifted 12 cars to its employees and plans to give similar rewards to 38 others for their "hard work and loyalty" during this Diwali. In a statement, Mits Healthcare Private Limited said it has given cars to its employees as a Diwali gift.The company's director M K Bhatia, who referred to his employees as "celebrities", presented the cars to 12 "star performers".

4:45 PM

Now the discussion will not be on who will win: PM Modi

4:33 PM

Govt approves 29th tranche of electoral bonds; sale from Nov 6

Ahead of assembly elections in five states, the government on Saturday approved the issuance of 29th tranche of electoral bonds that will open for sale on November 6. The decision comes amid campaigning for assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. Elections in these states span from November 7-30. Counting of votes will be done on December 3. Electoral bonds have been pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency to political funding.

4:19 PM

Nepal earthquake: India releases helpline number for urgent assistance

After a massive 6.4-magnitude earthquake jolted Nepal, claimed 132 lives and several injured, India has released an emergency contact number for Indians who require urgent assistance. "Alert Emergency Contact Number for Indians requiring assistance due to the recent earthquake in Nepal: +977-9851316807 MEA India," India in Nepal posted on X (formerly Twitter).

4:05 PM

Maharashtra police officials with drug links will be dismissed: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said state police personnel with drug links will not just be suspended but also dismissed from service. Talking to reporters here, Fadnavis said anyone involved in the manufacturing and peddling of drugs will be booked under harsh laws. People involved will face strict action, but those police officials found to be involved (in drug trade) will not just be suspended but also dismissed under (Article) 311 (of the Constitution), Fadnavis said.

3:49 PM

Mother Dairy's Safal outlets to sell buffer onion at Rs 25 per kg

Stepping up measures to provide relief to consumers from rising onion prices, the Centre on Saturday said Mother Dairy's Safal outlets will also sell buffer onion at a subsidised rate of Rs 25 per kg from weekend in Delhi-NCR, while Hyderabad Agricultural Cooperatives Association is doing so in Telangana and other southern states. Already, cooperative bodies NCCF and Nafed are retailing buffer onion at subsidised rate on behalf of the central government. While Nafed has so far set up 329 retail points consisting of mobile vans and station outlets in 55 cities across 21 states, NCCF has set up 457 retail points in 54 cities in 20 states, it said.

3:33 PM

Nepal quake: Cong chief Kharge says Indians stands shoulder to shoulder with neighbouring country

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday condoled the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake in Nepal and said in this hour of crisis, Indians stand shoulder to shoulder with the neighbouring country. At least 140 people were killed and several others injured when a powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake jolted Nepal just before midnight on Friday, destroying hundreds of houses in the Himalayan country's remote mountainous region in the most devastating tremor since 2015.

 

2:56 PM

ED, CBI, I-T raids in Chhattisgarh can't demoralise Cong workers, we'll win there and in MP: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said the recent raids by central agencies in Chhattisgarh can't demoralise their workers, asserting that the party will win the assembly elections there as well as in BJP-governed Madhya Pradesh.

Kharge was addressing a public meeting at Katangi town in the Naxal-affected Balaghat district of MP.

2:55 PM

Congress, NC, CPI(M) slam J&K admin for warning employees against protests

The Congress, National Conference (NC) and CPI(M) criticised the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday for warning its employees against staging protests, describing the move as an attempt to "crush every voice of dissent" in the Union Territory.

The lieutenant governor-led administration warned the employees on Friday against going ahead with their proposed agitation, saying such acts will attract disciplinary action.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971 make it clear that no government employee shall resort to or, in any way, abet any form of strike in connection with any matter pertaining to his service or the service of any other government employee.

2:50 PM

Why has Mahadev app not been banned till now, Baghel asks PM Modi

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel today hit back at the BJP questioning why the Central government had not banned the Mahadev betting app till now. Baghel alleged that no crackdown on the betting app means Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have connections with the firm.

The Chief Minister of the poll-bound state is facing heat from the BJP after the Enforcement Directorate claimed that he was allegedly paid Rs 508 crore by Mahadev app promoters.

2:37 PM

Act strictly against land grabbers: UP CM directs officials during Janata Darshan

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday heard the grievances of around 300 people during a 'Janata Drashan' event and directed officials to take strict legal action against land-grabbers.

The chief minister's instruction came after he listened to a grievance raised by a woman during the public grievance meeting held in front of Mahant Digvijaynath Smriti Bhawan on the Gorakhnath Temple premises, the UP government said in a statement.

2:33 PM

India can eliminate nefarious acts on either side of border: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said if someone tries to carry out any nefarious act, India can eliminate them on this side of the border, and if necessary, on the other side as well.

Singh was addressing a rally while campaigning for BJP candidate Lal Singh Arya at Khaneta village under the Gohad assembly seat in Bhind district.

India's pride is soaring all over the world. During the Congress rule, people abroad would say India is a weak country. The world did not take our words very seriously, the minister said.

2:17 PM

Nine terrorists killed as clearance operation at Pakistan Air Force Mianwali base concludes

As many as nine terrorists were killed in a clearance operation after Pakistan's army foiled a terrorist attack on the Mianwali Training Air Base of the Pakistan Air Force in the early hours of Saturday, Pakistan-based Dawn reported citing the military's media wing.

In an afternoon update, the military said that the "combing and clearance operation at PAF Training Airbase Mianwali has been concluded and all nine terrorists have been sent to hell." It further said that the operation was launched to "eliminate any potential threat in the surrounding area following the cowardly and failed terrorist attack on the base this morning."

2:16 PM

Four killed as car collides with bus in Rajasthan's Dungarpur

Four persons died while one was injured in an accident between a car and a private bus in Rajasthan's Dungarpur district, police said on Saturday.

The bus was going towards Dungarpur when a car coming from the wrong side of the road collided with it in

Bichhiwada on NH 48 of the district late on Friday night. The collision was so severe that the car was completely damaged from the front, Bichhiwada SHO Madanlal Khatik said.

2:13 PM

Maharashtra govt delegation hand over GR copy to Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange

The Maharashtra Government delegation including Minister Sandipan Bhumre and Minister Atul Save on Saturday, handed over the Government resolution (GR) on the ongoing Maratha quota row to activist Manoj Jarange Patil.

The Maratha activist agreed to call off his protest and gave the state two months' time to come good on its promise of reservation for the Maratha community.

2:03 PM

Madhya Pradesh: Sarva Meena Samaj chief joins BJP ahead of state assembly polls

President of Madhya Pradesh Sarva Meena Samaj, Jagdish Singh Meena has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with his supporters ahead of the state assembly polls.

He took membership of the BJP in the presence of the Union Minister and Madhya Pradesh election in-charge for BJP, Bhupender Yadav in the state capital Bhopal on Saturday.

After joining the party Meena said, "I have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party after being impressed by the party's devotion towards the backward classes, SC-ST category, the nation and along with this its ideology towards Sanatan Dharma."

1:57 PM

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar attends "Keraleeyam" event despite party boycott

In an embarrassment to the Congress in Kerala, veteran leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Saturday attended the 'Keraleeyam' programme organised by the Left government despite the state unit's stand to boycott the event, alleging it was a 'financial extravaganza'.

Aiyar took part in a seminar and showered praises on the southern state's achievements in the area of decentralisation.

Addressing the seminar, the former Union Minister for Panchayat raj said he was happy to hear from the Additional Chief Secretary that the principle focus of the Panchayat Raj in Kerala is already and will continue to be the removal of extreme poverty.

1:20 PM

Congress has habit of committing corruption, misleading people: Athawale on ED's claims against Baghel

Launching an attack on Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over an alleged Rs 508 crore deal with Mahadev betting app promoters, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said that Congress has a habit of corruption and misleading people.

The Union Minister also said that corruption has increased in Chhattisgarh during the governance of Bhupesh Baghel.

Speaking to ANI on the Mahadev betting app case, Athawale said, "This is big corruption. Congress has a habit of committing corruption, coming into power, and misleading people. Bhupesh Baghel's game will end, and he will have to go to jail. The government agencies do the inquiry only after getting evidence. So it is not good to blame the government. Corruption has increased during the tenure of Bhupesh Baghel."

1:18 PM

PM Modi pays tribute to BJP MLA Govardhan Sharma

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to BJP MLA Govardhan Sharma who died in Maharashtra's Akola after battling cancer.

In a post on X, Modi wrote, "Pained at the passing away of MLA in Maharashtra Assembly Shri Govardhan Sharmaji. He will be remembered for his notable efforts to serve the society. He made a mark as an effective legislator, who always highlighted issues of public welfare. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti."

Sharma (74), popularly known as 'Lalaji, represented the Akola West Assembly seat six times since 1995.