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.