News highlights: GST collection rises by 8.5% to Rs 1.82 trn in Nov, shows govt data

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9:49 PM

AP Minister claims over Rs 48,000 crore illegal rice exports through Kakinada Port

Andhra Pradesh Minister N Manohar on Sunday alleged that illegal rice exports worth Rs 48,537 crore, amounting to over 1.3 crore MT, were routed through Kakinada Port under the erstwhile YSRCP regime.

Addressing a press conference, the Minister for Civil Supplies, Food and Consumer Affairs, accused the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government of bringing infamy to the port, located in Kakinada district, and turning it into a "smuggling den".

8:56 PM

Himachal hasn't received disaster relief funds due to Centre's step-motherly treatment: CM

The Union government has not given any funds for disaster relief since last year's monsoon, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Sunday, alleging "step-motherly treatment" towards opposition-ruled states.

Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of World AIDS Day programme here, he said accusing that the central government is discriminatory towards states ruled by opposition parties.

8:52 PM

DGP meet: PM Modi asks police to become strategic, meticulous, adaptable

DGP meet: PM Modi asks police to become strategic, meticulous, adaptable, reliable and transparent.

8:43 PM

DGP meet: Aspirational India to convert challenge into opportunity, says PM Modi

DGP meet: Harness double AI power of artificial intelligence, Aspirational India to convert challenge into opportunity, says PM Modi.

8:35 PM

DGP meet: PM Modi expresses worry over threats generated from digital frauds, cybercrimes

DGP meet: PM Modi expresses worry over threats generated from digital frauds, cybercrimes, potential of deepfake to disrupt relations. 

8:11 PM

NCP (SP) picks Jitendra Awhad as party group leader in Maharashtra assembly

The NCP (SP) on Sunday named party MLA Jitendra Awhad as its group leader in the Maharashtra legislative assembly.

Debutant MLA Rohit Patil has been appointed as the party's chief whip, said state NCP (SP) president Jayant Patil.

"We have named Jitendra Awhad as the legislature party leader since MLCs were not present at the party meeting of the newly-elected MLAs," he told reporters.

7:39 PM

BSF's Western Command seized 250 illegal drones this year, 242 of them in Punjab: Official

Additional Director General of BSF's Western Command Satish S Khandare said here on Sunday that this year's drone seizures along the International Border in Punjab have been the highest and added that the force is deploying anti-drone systems to neutralise illicit drones.

Pakistan is trying to "destabilise the security situation in the country" by sending armed militants into J&K, sending weapons and drugs into Punjab and Rajasthan, he said.

7:00 PM

Manipur situation will impact Assam: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday that the situation in neighbouring Manipur will have an impact on the state.

Additional police forces have been deployed in Barak Valley which shares a border with violence-hit Manipur to ensure no spill-over effects.

 

6:34 PM

Welfare pension fraud: LoP Satheesan sends letter to Kerala CM, FM

The opposition Congress on Wednesday urged the Kerala government to release the names of government employees found to have received social security pensions meant for the poor in the state. The opposition party warned that unless the names were disclosed, even honest officers would fall under suspicion.

6:30 PM

NGT sends notice to Assam's principal chief conservator over forest encroachment in Kamrup

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the principal chief conservator of forest, Assam, in a matter regarding alleged encroachment of forest land in the Kamrup metropolitan district of the state.

The NGT has taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report claiming that a substantial portion of the 16 reserved forests covering more than 35,329 hectares in the Kamrup metropolitan district had been encroached.

6:26 PM

GST collection rises by 8.5% to Rs 1.82 trn in Nov, shows govt data

GST collection rises by 8.5% to Rs 1.82 trillion in Nov, shows govt data.

 

6:06 PM

Ex-principal of RG Kar College helped two cartels procure hospital contracts: CBI chargesheet

Former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh allegedly helped two cartels in procuring hospital contracts, the agency has said in its recently filed chargesheet.

The special court has taken the chargesheet on record but it is yet to take its cognisance because the West Bengal government has not provided sanction to prosecute Ghosh and other accused.

 

5:43 PM

T'gana govt to implement Rythu Bharosa' scheme after Sankranti festival

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said on Sunday his government is committed to implementing "Rythu Bharosa" (investment assistance to farmers), one of the Congress party's six poll guarantees, after the Sankranti festival. Addressing a press conference, Reddy stated that a committee of cabinet ministers has already been formed to submit a report on the modalities for implementing the scheme, and it will be discussed during the Assembly session this month.

5:23 PM

Maharashtra CM suspense: I'm doing good now...this govt will listen to people, says Eknath Shinde

Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, said on Sunday that he has recovered from a fever and is in good health. Shinde, who had been suffering from a throat infection and fever for the past few days, mentioned that he had retreated to his native village in Satara district to take a break after a hectic election schedule.

4:47 PM

IMD issues red alert for four districts in Kerala; heavy rains expected on Dec 2

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a red alert for four districts in the state, predicting isolated heavy rains on December 2.

According to the latest update from the IMD, the northern districts of Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Kannur are expected to experience extremely heavy rainfall on Monday.

3:23 PM

Bangladesh HC acquits all accused, including ex-PM Khaleda Zia's son, in 2004 Hasina attack case

The Dhaka High Court scrapped the lower court's verdict and acquitted all accused, including former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman and former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar, in a 2004 grenade attack in ousted premier Sheikh Hasina's rally. The High Court annulled the trial court verdict and acquitted all convicts including Tarique Rahman," a spokesman for the attorney general's office said.

3:13 PM

Our fight is for the spirit of our country, says Priyanka Gandhi

Congress MP P"riyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday launched a scathing attack against the BJP-led Centre, saying that today the fight is against the force that is weakening the rights of the people and handing over them to a few "businessmen friends." Addressing a meeting in Mananthavady here, she said, "We are fighting against a force that is doing everything in its power to destroy the institutions upon which our country was built."

2:54 PM

Man posing as Army jawan held in Gujarat's Porbandar

Police have arrested a 30-year-old man posing as an Army solider in public in Gujarat's Porbandar city allegedly with an intention to deceive people, an official said. The accused, Sanjay Dodia, resident of Shapar Veraval in Rajkot district, was apprehended from Kamla Baug area of Porbandar city on Saturday and later released on bail, he said.

2:51 PM

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi holds roadshow in Kerala's Wayanad

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra held a roadshow in Kerala's Wayanad this morning. Huge number of people gathered on both sides of the road as Priyanka Gandhi's motorcade passed through the lanes of Wayanad's Mananthavady. People were seen holding tricolor balloons and waving at their MP. Gandhi also addressed a public rally at Mananthavady. During the address, the Congress leader thanked the people of Wayanad for choosing her to be their MP.

2:35 PM

Judicial panel members visit Sambhal, inspect areas where violence broke out

Amid tight security, members of a judicial commission on Sunday visited the Shahi Jama Masjid here and other areas which witnessed violence over a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque. Panel head retired Allahabad High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora and retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain were the two members of the three-member Commission which visited the areas that witnessed violence on November 24.

2:06 PM

BSF deploys 2 more battalions in Jammu to check infiltration from Pakistan

The Border Security Force (BSF) has completed the deployment of two fresh battalions, comprising more than 2,000 personnel, in the Jammu region to better plug infiltration from across the Pakistan front and check the recent spurt of terrorist activities in the area.

1:42 PM

Cyclone Fengal: Disaster personnel use boats to rescue people in flooded Cuddalore

Many districts in Tamil Nadu are witnessing incessant rainfall after Cyclone Fengal made landfall last on November 30. Residential areas in Cuddalore district were flooded due to heavy rainfall and disaster teams are using boats to rescue people. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team led by District Collector Balaraman is rescuing the affected people with the help of boats.

1:35 PM

India's Jay Shah takes over as new ICC chairman

The BCCI's outgoing secretary Jay Shah on Sunday took charge as the chairman of the International Cricket Council, becoming the fifth Indian to head the global body. The 36-year-old Shah, who has been the BCCI secretary for the last five years, was the unanimous choice of ICC's Board of Directors and replaced New Zealand attorney Greg Barclay, who didn't wish to continue for a third consecutive term.

1:13 PM

Three people killed in road accident in Karnataka

Three people were killed when the car they were travelling in crashed into a tree in the district, which borders Andhra Pradesh, this morning, police said. While three people died on the spot, another occupant of the car was injured, they said. The incident occurred when they were returning to Ballari via Anantapur in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh from Bengaluru International Airport. The driver lost control of the car and hit the tree at 4 am.

12:52 PM

Raised law and order issues hoping for action from Centre but I was attacked instead: Kejriwal

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal targeted the BJP-led central government for alleged inaction on law and order issues here, claiming that instead of taking action against criminals, an attack was orchestrated on him during his November 30 padyatra in Malviya Nagar.

12:09 PM

Cyclone Fengal: Unprecedented rainfall paralyses life in Pondy

Normal life was crippled in Puducherry on Sunday due to heavy rains that lashed the union territory in the wake of Cyclone Fengal, which crossed the coast here on November 30 night. According to India Meteorological Department, Puducherry recorded 46 cm rainfall during the last 24 hours ending 9 am today.

11:53 AM

Delhi's air remains under 'very poor' AQI for eighth consecutive day

National capital continued to grapple with toxic air as its air quality remained in the "very poor" category for the eighth consecutive day today. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 329 at 9 AM, a slight dip from Saturday's 24-hour average of 346, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Out of the 38 monitoring stations across the city, 23 stations recorded "very poor" AQI, according to the Sameer app, which provides hourly data.

11:40 AM

Man arrested with six rifles in Mizoram's Serchhip

A man was arrested with six 12 bore single barrel rifles in Mizoram's Serchhip district, the Assam Rifles said in a statement. Acting on a tip-off about the smuggling of weapons, Assam Rifles and state police set up a check post on November 29 and intercepted a vehicle, it said. A thorough search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of the rifles, it added.

11:26 AM

PM Modi greets people of Nagaland on statehood day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people of Nagaland on their statehood day and wished for the state's continuous progress in the times to come. "Greetings to the people of Nagaland on their Statehood Day. Nagaland is widely admired for its rich culture and the wonderful nature of people belonging to the state," Modi said in a post on X. "Naga culture is known for its spirit of duty and compassion. Praying for Nagaland's continuous progress in the times to come," he added.

11:16 AM

Indian Army continues flood relief operations in cyclone-affected region of Puducherry

The Indian Army has launched flood relief operations in Puducherry following heavy rainfall caused by Cyclone Fengal, which has resulted in widespread waterlogging. The operations were initiated in response to a formal requisition from the District Collector of Puducherry, requesting immediate assistance.