Breaking news on November 18

TMC MP Nusrat Jahan released from hospital after health condition improves.

As part of Navy Week 2019 celebrations, Naval Dockyard Mumbai organised a Harbour Cruise for young cancer patients. About 90 children participated in the event.

Pakistan on Monday evening initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation along LoC in Shahpur and Kirni sectors of Poonch District.

The firing of small arms and intense shelling with mortars started from the Pakistani side at about 2015 hours.

Indian Army is retaliating.

Nearly 17,000 migratory birds have died so far in Rajasthan's Sambhar Lake due to botulism, said the official.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Monday held a meeting with NCP Chief Sharad Pawar in Delhi. 

After his meeting with Pawar, Raut said, "The responsibility to form government was not ours, the ones who had that responsibility ran away, but I am confident that soon we will have a Govt in place."

Sabarimala shrine board president has said on Monday that the Lord Ayyappa temple receives over Rs 3.30 crore as revenue on opening day.

In tune with the pursuance of the policy of providing corruption-free and transparent governance, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched ‘Toll-free number 14500’ to curb sand mafia.

Complaints can be made to a toll-free numbers for irregularities like hoarding, smuggling, and selling sand at a higher price and such irregularities would attract penal action.

The External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with Bhutanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Tandi Dorji on Monday in New Delhi.

After Vodafone Idea increased its tariffs, now Airtel on Monday announces to increase mobile services rates.

Kerala CM Pinrayi Vijayan inaugurates 148-km Edamon-Kochi power highway, increasing the state's power import capability by 800 MW.

Avalanche hits Army positions in the Siachen Glacier where some Army jawans are stuck under snow. Rescue and recovery operations are on by the troops. The avalanche had taken place in the Northern Glacier where altitude is around 18,000 feet and above.

Amid massive protest in Jawaharlal Nehru University, entry and exit at three Delhi Metro stations near Parliament which were closed early today, are now reopened by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Vodafone Idea on Monday announced to increase mobile services rates from December 1, 2019.

Pakistan violated ceasefire in Sunderbani Sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri at 4:15 PM. Indian Army is retaliating.

Two residents of Punjab were arrested on Monday after 580 kgs of poppy straw was recovered from their truck in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

Gubaksh Singh and Santokh Singh, both residents of Sangrur district of Punjab, were arrested after the narcotic, concealed in 25 plastic boxes, was recovered from their truck during an inspection, a police official said.

A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 has been registered and further investigation is on, he said.

The truck was intercepted at Mansar Morh by the Special Operations Group of Jammu police and the Samba district police after they received specific information that some inter-state drug peddlers were trying to smuggle a huge consignment of poppy straw from Kashmir to other parts of the country, the official said.

HRD Ministry appoints three-member committee to recommend ways to restore normal functioning of JNU.

Philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar arrives at 10 Janpath in New Delhi to meet Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi.

As advised by Delhi Police, metro trains are not halting at Udyog Bhawan and Patel Chowk. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has closed the Exit/Entry Gates for Udyog Bhawan, Patel Chowk, and Central Secretariat temporarily.

Six children playing under a bridge have died after the bridge collapsed in Bihar's Gopalganj.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) along with other opposition parties including Shiv Sena has given notice to Chairman of Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu seeking short duration discussion on economic crisis in India and how to improve the situation.

Central Government has declared the Meghalaya-based insurgent group Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), along with all its factions, wings and front organizations as unlawful associations.

Sensex ends 72.50 points lower at 40,284.19, while Nifty settles below 11,900 on Monday.

Union Minister Smriti Irani and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates at the launch of 'Bharatiya POSHAN Krishi Kosh' in New Delhi. Ministry of Women and Child Development in partnership with Gates Foundation launched the repository of diverse crops for better nutritional outcomes.

PM Narendra Modi has concluded his speech in Rajya Sabha.

PM Narendra Modi praised NCP and BJD during his speech in Rajya Sabha

He said that both these parties decided that they will not come to the well of the house and all political parties should emulate them.

Underlining the importance of Rajya Sabha in Parliamentary system, PM Modi said that Rajya Sabha is indeed a second house but never a secondary house of the Parliament.

He quoted former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee while making this point.

PM Narendra Modi said that Rajya Sabha often rose above political differences and came together for greater national good. He is speaking in Rajya Sabha.

PM Narendra Modi remembered Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and said that it was in Rajya Sabha, that Dr Ambedkar was able to contribute towards nation's progress.

PM Modi in his speech said that Rajya Sabha gives those away from electoral politics, an opportunity to take part in the nation's development.

"Rajya Sabha represents the soul of India's federal structure," said PM Modi in his address to Rajya Sabha in its 250th session.

"Parliament has successfully adapted itself to changes," said PM Modi

PM Narendra Modi has begun his speech in Rajya Sabha.

This is Rajya Sabha's 250th session.

JNU Protests: Protesting student are now moving towards Nelson Mandela Marg near the university. The police have erected barricades there.

JNU Protest: A section of students has been observed to have stopped protesting.

JNU Protest: Several students have been detained by the police. Some of them have been sent to Vasant Vihar Police Station while others have been sent to Delhi Cantt. Police Station.

JNU Protest: Students are attempting to climb over third barrier erected by the police. If this barrier is breached, the police may use water cannon to disperse the student.

The Rajya Sabha will have a special discussion marking the 250th session of this august House.  PM Narendra Modi will be speaking in the House at around 2 PM.

JNU Protest: JNU students have breached second barricade erected by the police. The police had erected 3 lines of barricades. Two of them have been breached.

Police have kept water cannons ready to disperse protesting students.

JNU Protest: Protesting students are requesting Delhi Police to support them saying that the student march is not against the police. The students also said that they are with Delhi Police.

Rebel MLA (disqualified) Byrathi Basavaraj files his nomination as BJP candidate, from KR Puram assembly constituency, for the upcoming by-elections to the state legislative assembly.

JNU Protest: Police are talking with protesting JNU students to convince them to end their march to Parliament. However, students are not yet willing to call-off their stir and demanding that the recent fee-hike at JNU be reversed immediately.

JNU Protests: The police have stopped protesting JNU students at Ber Sarai. The student are not being allowed to continue their march towards the Parliament.

There was heavy police presence outside JNU campus this morning prior to the march. The police had erected barricades outside JNU campus this morning and posters were erected to warn students against holding protests. Watch the video below to have a look at security arrangements this morning.

JNU Protests: Human Resource Development Ministry has appointed a 3-member committee to resolve the impasse of fee hike in JNU and to restore normalcy to the campus

Click Here to read the entire story

"The sky is clear now, so there is no need of it," says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on implementing Odd-Even scheme once again.

JNU Protest: Police had set up barricades outside the JNU campus prior to the march. However, JNU students breached the barricades when they started marching towards the Parliament. Section 144 was imposed outside JNU campus.

Ahead of JNU's march to Parliament, Delhi Police had issued a traffic advisory for citizens

Click here to get all details

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised the issue of removal of Special Protection Group (SPG) cover to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. 

Actor and TMC MP Nusrat Jahan is not attending Winter Session of the parliament today. She has been admitted to Apollo Hospital in Kolkata after she complained of respiratory problems.

BJP-Shiv Sena fought together, we (NCP) and Congress fought together. They have to choose their path and we will do our politics, says NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

JNU students have begun their march to Parliament. A student of the university told India TV that the march had nothing to do with ideology but it was purely against JNU administration's decision to hike fees.

JNU students have begun marching towards Parliament.

Section 144 has been imposed outside JNU campus in anticipation of a protest march by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Students Union. Police have warned the students against organising any protest. Main gate of the University has been barricaded and posters warning the students against holding any demonstration have been erected.

Section 144 has been imposed near Parliament as well.

Section 144 prohibits an assembly of four or more people at a public place.

HRD committee on JNU will initiate dialogues with students and administration, submit recommendations on resolution of all issues. 

SC agrees to hear Chidambaram's bail plea in INX Media money laundering case either on Tuesday or Wednesday

Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad said that demise of BJP leader Arun Jaitley is a loss to entire nation.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has cancelled his scheduled visit Ayodhya. It is being said that the visit has been cancelled keeping in mind political situation in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Political Crisis: Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and Congress president Sonia Gandhi are scheduled to meet at 5 pm today. Sharad Pawar has flown to New Delhi for the meet.

Both the leaders are expected to chalk out strategy vis-a-vis Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government formation in Maharashtra.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla paid tribute to Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and Ram Jethmalani. All of them were parliamentarians who passed away recently.

As Winter Session of the Parliament got underway, Section 144 was imposed near Parliament ahead of protest march by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Students Union.

Under Section 144, assembly of four or more people is deemed 'unlawful' and all of them can be booked for rioting.

Vice President of India and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu paid tribute to Late Arun Jaitley as Winter Session of the Parliament began.

Naidu also paid tribute to Jagannath Mishra, Sukhdev Singh Libra, Ram Jethmalani, Gurudas Gupta; former members of Rajya Sabha who passed away recently.

As Winter Session of the Parliament began, Shiv Sena and People's Democratic Party MPs were seen holding demonstrations outside the Parliament building.

PDP protested against abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir while Shiv Sena held demonstrations over farmer issues.

Winter Session of the Parliament has started.

TMC has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over detention of National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah

In a joint raid conducted by officials of the health department and police at two drug stores here, two men were arrested for allegedly selling banned medicines. The tablets banned for sale were also seized during the raid in Kotwali police station area on Sunday, the officials said. According to Drug Inspector Vaibhav Babbar, two persons were held for selling the banned medicines at their drug stores

Train service between Srinagar and Banihal has resumed today. The train service in Kashmir was suspended on August 5 following the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A.

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar arrives in Delhi, to hold meeting with Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi at 4pm today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the media ahead of the Winter session of the Parliament on Monday. Below are the pointers: 

• This is the last session of 2019 and this comes with an opportunity of awareness for the citizens of India
• I express gratefulness to all MLAs and expect that this session of Parliament will take the country forward
• It is important to discuss all key issues in the Winter session
• The Constitution of India holds the unity and diversity of the country
• The Winter session of the Parliament gave me an opportunity to meet the MLAs of all political parties 

Unidentified persons robbed a truck driver of Rs 1 lakh and strangled him to death in Khatoli town here, police said on Monday. The body of Javed was found on Sunday with a belt wrapped around the neck, they said.

He had come to Muzaffarnagar where he sold tomatoes and was on the way to Amroha when the incident took place in Khatoli, police said. A case was registered in this connection and efforts are on to identify and nab the accused, they said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday greeted Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on his 73rd birthday, praying for his long and healthy life.
Nath was born in 1946 in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

"Birthday wishes to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Kamal Nath Ji. I pray for his long and healthy life," Modi wrote on Twitter

Justice SA Bobde leaves for Rashtrapati Bhawan. He will take over as Chief Justice of India today; President Ram Nath Kovind to administer him the oath of office.

CK Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, to hold a high-level meeting on air pollution today. The meeting to be attended by Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana & Uttar Pradesh.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Power and Ministry of Agriculture will also be present in the meeting

10 people killed, 20-25 injured in collision between a bus and truck on National Highway 11 near Shri Dungargarh in Bikaner district, Rajasthan

A 19-year-old physiotherapy student died when his speeding car overturned after hitting a kerb and ramming into a water tanker in southeast Delhi in the early hours of Sunday, police said.

Ansh Girdhar, a resident of Kalkaji Extension, was returning home when the accident occurred on the Okhla Estate Road, police said, adding that they were informed about it around 3.29 am.

Three men, including an employee of a finance company, were arrested for allegedly duping the firm to the tune of Rs 20 lakh, police said on Sunday.
The accused were identified as Sunil Kumar (25), who worked at Leyland Finance Limited, Harish Dhingra (40), a stock broker, and Mohammad Sualeheen (28), a dealer of old tyres in Jama Masjid area, they said.

The sacred portals of Badrinath in Garhwal Himalayas closed for devotees on Sunday for the winter season. After traditional prayers, the gates of the famed Himalayan shrine were closed at 5.13 pm, Badrinath-Kedarnath Mandir Samiti sources said.

The gates of 'chardham', a set of four pilgrimage sites in Garhwal Himalayas, including Badrinath are closed every year in October-November for devotees due to extreme cold conditions.