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4:38 PM

Discoms' aggregate loss rises 66% to Rs 50,281 cr in 2020-21: Report

Aggregate losses of power distribution utilities or discoms increased by 66 per cent to Rs 50,281 crore in 2020-21 as compared to the previous year, a report by state-run Power Finance Corporation said.

'The Report on Performance of Power Utilities in 2020-21' unveiled at state power ministers' conference in Udaipur also stated that overall AT&C (aggregate technical & commercial) losses of discome deteriorated from 20.73 per cent in 2019-20 to 22.32 per cent in 2020-21.

4:11 PM

UK announces additional GBP 10 mn aid for flood relief efforts in Pakistan

The UK on Friday announced an additional GBP 10 million humanitarian assistance for flood relief efforts in Pakistan, bringing the country's total contribution to GBP 26.5 million.

According to Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority, the unprecedented floods that have submerged huge swathes of the country have so far killed nearly 1700 people and destroyed or damaged 2 million houses. As many as 546,000 people are living in relief camps. The disaster has also damaged 12,716 km of roads and 22,000 schools. In total, 745 health centres have been damaged or destroyed.

3:36 PM

HImachal Pradesh to vote on Nov 12; counting on December 8: EC

3:34 PM

Himachal Pradesh elections: 55,07,261 electorates: EC's Rajiv Kumar

There are 55,07,261 electorates in Himachal Pradesh and first time voters are 186,681, said EC's Rajiv Kumar.

3:33 PM

Some polling stations will be managed entirely by women: Kumar

Some polling stations will be managed by women, and some entirely by Public Works Department staff, said Kumar.

3:33 PM

Four chances in a year to enroll as a voter, says Rajiv Kumar

Four chances in a year to enroll as a voter, also advance application facility to 17+ year youngsters from November 9 onwards, who are turning 18+.

3:29 PM

EC begins presser to announce poll schedule for Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh

2:57 PM

Congress will restore old pension scheme if voted to power in Himachal: Priyanka

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday promised to restore the old pension scheme for government employees in Himachal Pradesh if her party was voted to power in the Assembly elections.

 

AICC general secretary Vadra said this at the 'Parivartan Pratigya Rally' held at Thodo Maidan in Himachal Pradesh's Solan.

 

She said the decision to restore the old pension scheme and provide one lakh jobs to unemployed youth would be taken in the first cabinet meeting if the Congress was voted to power in the state.

2:51 PM

Turkey, Russia to study Putin's gas hub proposal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey and Russia have instructed their respective energy authorities to immediately begin technical studies on a Russian proposal that would turn Turkey into a gas hub for Europe.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has floated the idea of exporting more gas through the Turk Stream gas pipeline running beneath the Black Sea to Turkey after gas deliveries to Germany through the Baltic Sea's Nord Stream pipeline were halted.

Erdogan said Russian and Turkish energy authorities would work together to designate the best location for a gas distribution center, adding that Turkey's Thrace region, bordering Greece and Bulgaria appeared to be the best spot.

2:48 PM

Cong polls: Happy with MP reception, didn't get such welcome in some states, says Tharoor

Lok Sabha MP and Congress presidential poll candidate Shashi Tharoor on Friday said he was gladdened by the reception he has got from partymen in Madhya Pradesh and admitted he did not get this kind of welcome in some states.

Tharoor is pitted against veteran colleague Mallikarjun Kharge for the polls to the party's highest post, scheduled for October 17. Poll results will be declared on October 19.

"I am glad at the reception I received in Madhya Pradesh. MP Congress president Kamal Nath, Leader of the Opposition Govind Singh met me, Tharoor told reporters here. He was accompanied by party MLA Lakshman Singh, younger brother of Rajya Sabha MP and senior leader Digviijaya Singh.

2:40 PM

India will do all that is required to ensure energy security, affordability: Puri

Reacting to the decision of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said India will do all that is required to ensure its energy security and affordability.

 

He said if required, India will go for diversification of energy sources.

 

"This is their (OPEC's) sovereign right what they want to do but equally it is my job to point out that all actions have consequences, intended or unintended. India will be able to navigate through the situation with confidence," the petroleum and natural gas minister said at GEO India 2022 conference here.

2:38 PM

Hope in judiciary, says student who fought for hijab

Even as the Karnataka government has vowed to continue the hijab ban in educational institutions till the Supreme Court gives a final verdict, Aliya Assadi, one of the girl students who started the fight for hijab at the government PU college in Udupi, says there is still hope for a fair judgement on the issue.

Assadi took to Twitter to express her view on the split verdict given on the hijab issue by the Supreme Court, saying the judgement has upheld the rights of victim girls.

"Hon'ble Justice Dhulia's statement has further strengthened our hope in fair judgement and continued constitutional value at least in miniscule. Thousands of hijabis students are waiting to resume their education," she tweeted.

2:14 PM

Vande Bharat Express likely to make southern debut on Nov 10

The Vande Bharat Express is likely to make its southern debut on November 10, when its fifth edition will be launched between Chennai-Bengaluru and Mysuru, sources said on Friday.

 

The distance it will cover will be around 483 km.

 

The Railways recently launched the third and the fourth Vande Bharat Express from poll-bound states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

2:02 PM

Symptomatic Covid infection linked with poor mental health: Lancet study

Having symptoms of COVID-19 infection is associated with poorer mental health and lower life satisfaction, according to a study published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal.

The team, led by researchers at King's College London and University College London (UCL) in the UK, looked at the impact of COVID-19 infection on subsequent mental health and wellbeing.

Data was taken from 11 longitudinal studies between April 2020 and April 2021, in which there were 54,442 participants with and without self-reported COVID-19. Researchers found that rises in psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and lower life satisfaction were associated with prior self-reported COVID-19.

1:50 PM

SC to examine on Dec 6 if pleas against electoral bond need scrutiny by larger bench

The Supreme Court on Friday said it would examine on December 6 whether a batch of pleas challenging laws permitting funding of political parties through the electoral bond scheme should be referred to a larger bench.

 

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and B V Nagarathna said this is an important matter and sought assistance of the Attorney General and Solicitor General in the matter.