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India to host SCO Council Summit on Nov 30: MEA

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on November 12 informed that India will be hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads of government. The Summit will be held in a virtual format on November 30th. ?We have accordingly informed all 8 SCO members state, 4 observer states, SCO secretary general and Director of SCO,? said Srivastava

India is providing food aid to African countries amid COVID-19: MEA

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that India is providing humanitarian aid to African countries. He said that India has decided to provide humanitarian assistance to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea in the form of food aid which is of 270 metric tons to people affected by natural calamities and COVID-19 pandemic.

I made no claim for CM chair, NDA to take decision: Nitish Kumar

Patna (Bihar), Nov 12 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that people have given the mandate to NDA and it will form government. He also clarified that he does not claim Chief Minister?s chair and the decision will be taken by the NDA. ?I have made no claim, the decision will be taken by NDA,? he said.

Date for oath ceremony not yet decided: CM Nitish Kumar

Patna (Bihar), Nov 12 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a press conference in Patna and said that it is not decided yet when the oath ceremony will take place, whether after Diwali or Chhath. ?We are analysing the results of this election. Members of all four parties will meet tomorrow,? he said.

Rahul Gandhi slams Modi govt for ?recession?, Anurag Thakur tells him to focus on Congress

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Anurag Thakur on November 12 reacted on Rahul Gandhi?s recent tweet which he made on country?s economic situation. Thakur said that Gandhi must focus on his party; there is discontent brewing against him in the Congress. ?He must retrospect to understand the reasons for the reducing vote bank, and why Congress numbers have dwindled in the Lok Sabha,? he said. Rahul Gandhi recently tweeted quoting a new paper with heading, ?Recession: July-Sept GDP to contract 8.6%, estimates RBI? he also wrote that, ?India has entered into recession for the first time in history. Mr Modi?s actions have turned India?s strength into its weakness.?

PM Modi unveils Swami Vivekananda's statue at JNU campus

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a statue of Swami Vivekananda at the JNU campus on November 12 via video conferencing. Education Minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal was also present during the virtual unveiling ceremony. PM Modi during the ceremony said, ?I wish that this statue inspires everyone, gives courage, compassion and teaches us dedication and intense love for our country.?

FM Sitharaman announces additional Rs 10,000 crore for Garib Kalyan Rojgar Yojana

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): Addressing a joint press conference in the national capital on November 12, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke on Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Rojgar Yojana (PMGKRY). She said, "An additional outlay of Rs 10,000 crores will be provided for Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Rojgar Yojana in the current financial year." "It will accelerate the rural economy," the FM added.

Chief Election Commissioner explains reason behind slow counting in Bihar

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on November 12 visited Rajghat after the successful bypolls conducted in Bihar. Replying on allegations of 'slow counting' during Bihar bypolls, he said that to ensure social distancing additional 33,000 polling booths were allotted for the state elections.

My govt's prime importance is to boost relations with ASEAN countries: PM Modi

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi co-chaired 17th ASEAN-India Summit with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc. While delivering his opening remarks, he said that it's prime importance of his government to improve physical, economic, societal, digital, financial and maritime connections between India and ASEAN. "We've come closer in these sectors in the last couple of years and I believe this summit will go further to bridge gaps," he said.

Gold rush: People throng markets in Delhi on Dhanteras

New Delhi, Nov 11 (ANI): As the country is celebrating Dhanteras today, people in the national capital came out to purchase gold. Making purchase on this auspicious day is an age-old tradition. One of the store owners in Karol Bagh claimed that people have anticipated, that gold prices are likely to spike in coming times, therefore they are viewing the purchase as an investment. On COVID impact, a store owner said, "After lockdown, people were a little reluctant in coming to the retail stores, because of lot of social distancing restrictions but as the time is passing by people are getting used to this new normal. 80% sales are back in the market in comparison to last year." Dhanteras marks beginning of five-day long Diwali festivities in India.

No rule of law in West Bengal: Governor Dhankar slams attack on Dilip Ghosh's convoy

Siliguri (WB), Nov 12 (ANI): West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar reacted on attack on stones hurled on the convoy of BJP president Dilip Ghosh. He said that there is no rule of law and the state is heading towards anarchy if opposition party's leadership gets compromised. "Attack on Ghosh's convoy is a very serious matter and political violence means danger to democracy of the country," he said.

Bollywood actor Asif Basra found dead in Dharamshala

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): Bollywood actor Asif Basra was found dead at a private complex in Mcleodganj on November 12. Mcleodganj SSP Kangra Vimukt Ranjan told ANI that a forensic team reached the spot and the police in investigating the matter. The 53-year old actor has given numerous hits including 'Black Friday,' 'Jab We Met,' and 'Kai Po Che.' Filmmaker Hansal Mehta took to Twitter to express grief. He wrote, "Asif Basra! Can't be true. This is just very, very sad."

COVID guidelines flouted in Delhi during festive shopping

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): Amid the festive season, people were seen in large numbers at a market in Delhi on November 12. COVID guidelines were flouted as people did not maintain social distancing. Country is celebrating Dhanteras today, which marks the beginning of five-day long Diwali festivities in India. One of the rituals on this day is making new purchases, therefore people thronged to the markets. One of the customers said, "Precautions are being undertaken but as it is Diwali, Dhanteras so we have to do the purchase."

CPEC is not an economic but military corridor, says Sindhi leader Shafi Burfat

Frankfurt (Germany), Nov 12 (ANI): Sindhi leader Shafi Burfat has accused Pakistan of being a fascist state imposed on historical nations through the fascist Punjabi military. Sindh, he said is a colony of Punjabi imperialism and a victim of its atrocities and tyranny. Punjab has continuously been exploiting Sindhs natural and mineral resources including the sea, the river, the national wealth, the lands, the oil, the gas, the coal, the ports, and the Sea Islands. These resources have been plundered by Punjab for the last seventy-three years with both hands as spoils of war. He along with other Sindhi nationalists has been demanding Sindhudesh, a separate homeland carved out of Pakistan for Sindhis.

FM Sitharaman announces steps to boost real estate sector

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): Addressing a joint press conference in the national capital on November 12, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "Support for construction and infrastructure-performance security on contract to be reduced to 3% instead of 5%. Earnest Money Deposit will not be required for tenders and will be replaced by bid security declaration. Relaxations will be given till December 31, 2021." "For primary residential real estate sales, relief on the difference between circle rate and agreement value up to 20% vs 10% earlier. We expect a lot of clearance of inventories through this step," she added.

ASEAN is core of India's Act East Policy: PM Modi at 17th ASEAN-India Summit

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc co-chaired the 17th ASEAN-India Summit on November 12. The leaders of all ten ASEAN Member States participated in the Summit that was held virtually. He said, “Strategic Partnership of India and ASEAN is based on our shared historical, geographical and cultural heritage. ASEAN has always been the core of our Act East Policy. There are many similarities between India's 'Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative' and ASEAN's 'Outlook on Indo Pacific'."

Demonstration against China's repression of Uyghurs in occupied East Turkistan

Dhaka (Bangladesh), Nov 12 (ANI): Civil society members organised a protest outside Dhaka Press Club to mark the Independence Day of the Islamic Republic of East Turkistan. East Turkistan had fallen into Chinese occupation in the 18th century when the Qing dynasty of the Manchu empire annexed it. Though, it was never fully subdued and was briefly declared as an independent state till Chinese invasion in December 1949. The occupied region is known as Xinjiang Autonomous Region. East Turkistan has not only lost its independence, but is also gradually losing its identity. Protesters accused China for brutality and suppression of Uyghur Muslims. Chinese government has reportedly detained more than a million Uyghurs in reeducation camps. Chinese officials maintain that what they call vocational training centres do not infringe on Uyghurs' human rights. Activists allege that most people in the camps have never been charged with crimes and have no legal avenues to challenge their detentions.

Rs 900 crore allocated for COVID vaccine development: FM Sitharaman

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): Addressing a joint press conference in the national capital on November 12, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke on COVID Suraksha Mission.She said, "Rs 900 crore provided for COVID Suraksha Mission for research and development of the Indian COVID vaccine to the Department of Biotechnology."

10 new champion sectors will be covered under Production Linked Incentives scheme: FM

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): Addressing a joint press conference in the national capital on November 12, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "10 new champion sectors will now be covered under the Production Linked Incentives (PLI) Scheme to boost the competitiveness of domestic manufacturing. It is expected to give a significant boost to economic growth and domestic employment." "Rs 18,000 crore will be provided over and above the budget estimate which was mentioned in the Budget 2020-21 under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana particularly for the urban areas. This extra budgetary resource being provided will help 12 lakh houses to be grounded and 18 lakh houses will get completed as a result," she added.

Dilip Ghosh's convoy attacked in WB's Alipurduar

Alipurduar (WB), Nov 12 (ANI): Unidentified people attacked on BJP state president Dilip Ghosh's convoy near Alipurduar on November 12. Protest had also erupted against Dilip Ghosh. Protestors also showed black flags and raised 'go back' slogans. Two cars were vandalised in the attack as protestors pelted stones on the convoy.