News updates: Farm fires cross 7,000-mark after over 400 fresh cases in Punjab

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10:11 PM

Farm fires cross 7,000-mark after over 400 fresh cases in Punjab

Farm fire cases crossed the 7,000-mark in Punjab with the state reporting 418 fresh incidents on Monday.
 

Meanwhile, the air quality in many parts of Punjab and Haryana remained in the 'poor' category on Monday. However, Chandigarh's Air Quality Index (AQI) was in the 'very poor' zone.
 

From September 15 till November 11, Punjab has seen a total of 7,029 stubble burning incidents, as per the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data.
 

Among the districts, Sangrur on Monday reported 103 farm fires, maximum in the state, followed by 72 in Ferozepur, 46 in Muktsar, 40 in Moga, 37 in Mansa, 29 in Faridkot and 24 in Bathinda, the data showed.
 

Gurdaspur and SBS Nagar districts witnessed the lowest number of farm fires at one each, as per the data.

10:09 PM

UN warns that toxic smog in Pakistan's Punjab province endangering children

he UN children's agency on Monday warned that the health of 11 million children in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province is in danger because of air pollution that experts say has become a fifth season in recent years.

Toxic smog has shrouded Pakistan's cultural capital of Lahore and 17 other districts in Punjab since last month. Health officials say more than 40,000 people have been treated for respiratory ailments.

UNICEF's representative in Pakistan, Abdullah Fadil, in a statement urged the government to make urgent and greater efforts to reduce air pollution for the 11 million affected children under the age of 5 and others.

10:08 PM

DMRC launches bike taxi service from 12 metro stations

Delhi Metro passengers can now book bike taxi rides through the DMRC Momentum application without juggling between multiple platforms, an official statement said on Monday.

The service, which was introduced on Monday, includes two options -- SHERYDS for women, by women, and RYDR, available to all commuters, according to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The facility has been presently made available from 12 metro stations -- Dwarka Sec-21, Dwarka Sec-10, Dwarka Sec-14, Dwarka Mor, Janakpuri West, Uttam Nagar East, Rajouri Garden, Subhash Nagar, Kirti Nagar, Karol Bagh, Millennium City Centre Gurugram and Palam. The service, introduced as a new feature on the existing DMRC Momentum application, is being implemented in partnership with the First And Last Mile Connectivity India Pvt. Ltd., the release said. A total of 50 SHERYDS and 150 RYDR will be operating from these stations in a radius of around three-five kilometres between 8 am and 9 pm, it said.

10:02 PM

Kerala govt suspends IAS officers K Gopalakrishnan, N Prasanth for violation of discipline: Official sources

9:57 PM

Tata Group will continue to be part of Andhra's growth: CM Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said that the Tata Group continues to be an important stakeholder in the growth of the state.

 

Chandrababu Naidu had a meeting with the Executive Chairman of the Tata Group, Chandrasekharan, which totally reflected on the remarkable legacy of the late Ratan Tata.

 

In a message later posted on X Chandrababu Naidu said Ratan Tata's visionary leadership and contribution to the country have left an indelible mark on India's industrial landscape.

 

Ratan Tata had made an immense contribution to the growth of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu said and stated that the Tata Group will continue to be an important stakeholder in the progress of the State.

9:56 PM

Afghanistan attends United Nations climate talks for first time since Taliban's return to power

9:55 PM

Pollution board receives over 800 complaints from Delhi-NCR region in last 10 months

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has received over 800 pollution-related complaints from the Delhi-NCR region in the last 10 months, according to an RTI response.

 

In response to an RTI filed by environmentalist Amit Gupta, the CPCB said it has received 665 complaints from Delhi, 143 from Noida and 28 from Gurugram and Faridabad as of October 29.

 

All complaints were logged through Twitter, the Sameer app or via email to the board.

 

Despite receiving hundreds of pollution-related complaints, the CPCB's response shows no record of any action taken against officers across Delhi-NCR for failing to address these complaints, as mandated by a Supreme Court order dated November 26, 2018, Gupta told PTI.

 

The apex court's order had directed authorities to hold officers accountable if they failed to address pollution complaints, Gupta said.

9:03 PM

Trump chooses New York Rep. Elise Stefanik as ambassador to United Nations, reports AP

8:25 PM

Indian Overseas Congress calls for 'peace', 'harmony' in Indo-Canadian community amid recent clashes

The overseas unit of the Congress party has denounced the recent clashes between Khalistani protesters and devotees at a Hindu temple in the Canadian city of Brampton, calling for "peace" and "harmony" in the Indo-Canadian community.
 

The Indian Overseas Congress, in a press release on Sunday, said that the Indo-Canadian community has gone through a "difficult period" with various attempts made to divide it.

7:23 PM

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar inaugurates Women's Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2024 at the Rajgir Sports Complex

7:06 PM

Blast in Indian Oil Corporation's refinery at Vadodara in Gujarat

7:02 PM

ONGC Q2 results: Profit at Rs 11,984 crore, revenue from operations at Rs 33,881 core

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd has reported Q2 profit of Rs 11,984 crore. Revenue from operations was report at Rs 33,881 core.

The company has declared a dividend of Rs 6 per share.

6:58 PM

Centre extends the tenure of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri till July 2026

6:46 PM

BJP destroys whatever it touches: Kharge

BJP destroys whatever it touches; Ram Mandir roof leaking, bullet train bridge collapsed, alleges Cong chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Jharkhand.

5:43 PM

Waaree Renewable secures 41.6 MW solar project in Tamil Nadu

Waaree Renewable Technologies Ltd (WRTL) on Monday said it has secured an order to set up a 41.6 MW solar project in Tamil Nadu.

The order is valued at about Rs 146.77 crore, the company said in an exchange filing. The project is scheduled to be completed in the financial year 2025-26 as per the terms of the order, the filing said.The company is setting up an independent power production (IPP) unit at Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu.

5:21 PM

1984 riots: Delhi HC says murder trial to continue against Jagdish Tytler

The Delhi High Court on Monday made it clear that the murder trial in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler would continue. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri was hearing a plea filed by Tytler seeking a stay on the trial proceedings taking place against him in a Delhi court. The court would continue with the hearing on November 29. "It is made clear the trial will continue. Same will be subject to the outcome of the present proceedings," the judge ordered.

4:41 PM

Bombay HC quashes Centre's press release categorising hand sanitisers as disinfectants attracting 18% GST

The Bombay High Court on Monday quashed the Centre's 2020 press release classifying hand sanitisers as disinfectants attracting 18 per cent GST, noting that the issue of classification lies with the judicial and quasi-judicial adjudicatory authorities.

A division bench of Justices M S Sonak and Jitendra Jain said the press release virtually expresses a firm view on the classification of alcohol-based hand sanitisers as "disinfectants" and not "medicaments".

4:26 PM

Bombay HC quashes Centre's press release categorising hand sanitisers as disinfectants attracting 18% GST

The Bombay High Court on Monday quashed the Centre's 2020 press release classifying hand sanitisers as disinfectants attracting 18 per cent GST, noting that the issue of classification lies with the judicial and quasi-judicial adjudicatory authorities.

A division bench of Justices M S Sonak and Jitendra Jain said the press release virtually expresses a firm view on the classification of alcohol-based hand sanitisers as "disinfectants" and not "medicaments".

3:54 PM

Money laundering case: Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal gets medical bail

The Bombay High Court on Monday granted medical bail to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, who is an accused in a money laundering case. In May this year, a single bench of Justice N J Jamadar granted interim bail to Goyal on medical grounds. Justice Jamadar on Monday made the interim order permanent.

3:51 PM

Keir Starmer first UK PM since Churchill to attend Armistice Day in France

Keir Starmer on Monday became the first British Prime Minister to attend Armistice Day commemorations in France since the Second World War when Winston Churchill joined General Charles de Gaulle for the event that marks the end of First World War hostilities. As part of the Labour Party-led government's so-called reset with Europe, Starmer accepted French President Emmanuel Macron's "personal invitation" to attend the 106th anniversary of the Armistice of 1918 in Paris.

3:43 PM

PM Modi is habitual liar who never fulfils his promises, alleges Cong chief Kharge

In an election event in Palamu,  Congress  chief Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that PM Modi, Amit Shah Adani, Ambani running country.

3:29 PM

News update: EC issues show-cause notice to BJP's Sukanta Majumdar for remarks on national emblem, police

3:06 PM

Will bring legislation to prevent transfer of land to infiltrators if they marry tribal women, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday announced that a committee would be formed if BJP forms government in Jharkhand to identify and drive out infiltrators from the state besides reclaiming land grabbed by them. "Tribal population is declining in Jharkhand. Infiltrators are grabbing land by marrying our daughters. We will bring legislation to prevent transfer of land to infiltrators if they marry tribal women. We will also form a committee to identify infiltrators to drive them out and reclaim land grabbed by them," Shah said addressing a rally at Seraikela.

 

2:47 PM

Swati Maliwal assault case: Ex-Delhi CM aide moves against charge sheet cognisance

Former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar has challenged before a Delhi court an order that took cognisance of the police's charge sheet against him for allegedly assaulting AAP MP Swati Maliwal. Kumar is accused of assaulting Maliwal at the chief minister's official residence on May 13 and is currently on bail. A magistrate court took cognisance of the charge sheet against him on July 30.

2:45 PM

West Bengal Assembly bypolls: CM Mamata urges electorate to vote for TMC candidates

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday asked the electorate in six Assembly constituencies going to bypolls in the state to vote for the Trinamool Congress to ensure faster development. The bypolls were necessitated due to the resignations of sitting MLAs of the six assembly segments following their victory in this year's Lok Sabha elections. "I want to tell all the people in the six constituencies that the West Bengal government and Ma, Mati, Manush are with them 365 days; so please vote for the Trinamool Congress for faster development work in your area," the TMC supremo said at NSCBI airport.

2:00 PM

Will retire if PM Modi proves Cong collected Rs 700 cr for poll-bound states: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that he would retire from politics if Prime Minister Narendra Modi proves that the Congress government has mobilised Rs 700 crore for poll-bound states. Siddaramaiah also challenged Modi that he should resign if he fails to prove his allegations made at Akola in Maharashtra. "I am surprised to see the prime minister of this country lies so much. While campaigning somewhere in Maharashtra, the prime minister said that the Congress in Karnataka has collected Rs 700 crore through the excise department to send to Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and to spend on the bypolls," Siddaramaiah said at an election rally in Shiggaon in Haveri district on Sunday night.

1:47 PM

People not being allowed to celebrate festivals peacefully in Jharkhand, claims Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated today that natural wealth is being plundered under JMM-led regime, and labourers are being forced to migrate from Jharkhand.

1:42 PM

What you have done is a mere eyewash, only raw materials seized: SC raps Delhi police on firecracker ban

Implementation of firecracker ban not imposed seriously by Delhi police, the Supreme Court noted.

1:22 PM

Take tough action against traders troubling farmers: Telangana CM tells officials

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday asked officials to take stringent action against traders who are cheating or creating problems for farmers during paddy procurement. Invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), if necessary, against such traders, he said. Reddy spoke to senior officials after receiving information about the incidents of traders troubling the farmers, an official release said.

1:16 PM

India's unity key to make it a developed nation: PM Modi

"Unity among citizens and integrity of the nation is important to make India a developed nation by 2047. But, unfortunately some people are trying to divide our society on caste, religious, linguistic, men-women, village-city lines due to their vested interests or due to their narrow-mindedness," Prime Minister Narendra 

Modi said. "We have to understand their intentions and will have to unite to defeat them," he said in his address He was virtually addressing a gathering of devotees at Vadtal in Gujarat's Kheda district on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Shree Swaminarayan Temple in the town.