Breaking News October 12 | Highlights

Kolkata's Sree Bhumi Puja Pandal designed on the theme of Burj Khalifa 

15 dengue patients are admitted here: LNJP Delhi Medical Director

AMRUT 2.0 approved till 2025-26

Govt to ramp up per day coal production from 1.94 million tonnes to 2 million tonnes per day

India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage crosses the 96 crore mark today. More than 46 lakh (46,23,892) doses have been administered till 7 pm today: Government of India

Advocates, judicial officers appointed as Judges of Allahabad HC, Madras HC, Gauhati HC

NIA conducts searches at multiple places across Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

Manish Sisodia writes to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

Flight movements affected due to lighting system at Sreebhumi Durga Puja Pandal

Search & seizure operations in case of three Bengaluru-based contractors

We are aiming to give 20 lakh jobs: Kerala CM

Two more accused arrested in Gorakhpur property dealer murder case

Pakistani terrorist Mohd Asraf arrested from Delhi's Laxmi Nagar area remanded to14-day police custody

Arvind Kejriwal along with Raghav Chadha arrive at Amritsar airport

Amit Khare appointed as Advisor to the Prime Minister

Yesterday we supplied 1.94 million tons, the highest ever supply of domestic coal: Coal Minister

Union Textile Minister Piyush Goyal meets Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio

Delhi: Ravan effigy makers incur losses as sales are low due to covid restrictions

Indrajit Mahanty was on Tuesday sworn-in as the sixth Chief Justice of Tripura High Court at a simple ceremony in the Raj Bhavan in Agartala.

Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya administered the oath of office to Justice Mahanty at a function here, maintaining the Covid protocols.

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, his council of ministers, leaders of various political parties, judges of the High Court and senior bureaucrats were present on the occasion.

Justice Mahanty was serving in the Rajasthan High Court before being transferred to Tripura High Court as Chief Justice. He succeeded Justice Akil Kureshi, who was transferred to Rajasthan High Court as Chief Justice.

India said on Tuesday that the cross-border terrorism is not statecraft but "simply" another form of the menace as it called upon the international community to unite against this evil, as seriously as it does on issues like climate change and pandemics.

Addressing the 6th meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Conference of Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) here, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also asserted that the connectivity must respect the most basic principle of international relations-respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"If peace and development is our common goal, the biggest enemy we must overcome is terrorism. In this day and age, we cannot countenance its use by one state against another. Cross-border terrorism is not statecraft; it is simply another form of terrorism," he told the gathering.

It is "unprofessional" and "unbecoming" for a lawyer to refuse to attend the court due to a strike or boycott by the Bar Associations as they cannot disrupt court proceedings and put the interest of their clients in jeopardy, the Supreme Court has said.

The top court further observed that an advocate is an officer of the court and enjoys a special status in the society.

A bench of Justices M R Shah and A S Bopanna made the observation while hearing a case in which the advocates in the Rajasthan High Court went on strike on September 27, 2021.

A fire broke out on Tuesday on the 14th floor of Nabanna, the West Bengal secretariat, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's office is situated, an official said. Four fire tenders were pressed into service to put out the "smoke, which was first spotted around 11.55 am", he said.

The smoke was believed to have originated from a telephone tower equipment, the official said.

The state secretariat was closed on the occasion of Durga Puja.

Ankit Das, who is reportedly Ashish Mishra's friend, files a surrender application in the CJM court; court to ask for a report from the concerned police station.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra takes part in the 'antim ardas' of the farmers who were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri violence

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attends the 'antim ardas' of farmers who were killed in the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri violence

Piyush Goyal met Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, ahead of G20 Trade Ministers' Meet in Italy.

"Italy is India's 5th largest trading partner in EU. Its recognition of Covishield for travel is reflective of our strengthening bilateral ties," he tweets.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday alleged that the Central government was hiding the truth from the country over the power crisis and coal shortage after complaints from various states regarding thermal units facing shut down.

"The minister says that there is no shortage of coal, but complaints are coming from every state that thermal units are closed and power generation is not happening because there is no coal."

He further alleged that the government is now hiding facts like they were doing during the second wave of COVID-19 regarding the shortage of oxygen.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condoled the demise of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) chairman Sardar Balvinder Singh Nakai.

"Sardar Balvinder Singh Nakai Ji was a doyen of the agriculture and cooperatives sector. He made pioneering contributions towards empowering farmers. His passing away is saddening. Condolences to his family and well-wishers. May his soul rest in peace," tweeted PM Modi.

The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday banned chartered accountant firm Haribhakti & Co LLP from undertaking any type of audit assignments for regulated entities for a period of two years starting April 1, 2022. The banking sector regulator has taken this action against the firm for failure to comply with a specific direction issued by the RBI with respect to its statutory audit of a Systemically Important Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), the central bank said in a statement.

This is the first time that the RBI has taken such action against an auditor of any systemically important NBFC.

"The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in exercise of the powers vested under section 45MAA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, has, by an order dated September 23, 2021, debarred M/s Haribhakti & Co LLP, Chartered Accountants (ICAI Firm Registration No 103523W / W100048), from undertaking any type of audit assignment/s in any of the entities regulated by RBI for a period of two years with effect from April 1, 2022," it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been relentlessly working for the welfare of poor, backwards and deprived sections of society, thereby protecting their human rights, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday. Addressing the foundation day of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Shah also appreciated the work being carried out by the rights body for creating awareness among people of the country about their human rights over the last 28 years of its existence.

The home minister said a government with absolute majority was formed at the Centre for the first time in a long period in 2014 and since then it has been doing welfare work for the poor and deprived sections.

He said that after the Narendra Modi government came to power, 10 crore families were given toilets, thereby protecting the human rights of the women, girls and all others.

At least three suspected Maoists, including two women, were gunned down in an exchange of fire in Tulasi Forest Range in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, a top police officer said on Tuesday. Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team of the special operation group and Malkangiri district voluntary force had launched a combing operation in the area, DGP Abhay said.

Upon learning about the presence of jawans in the forest near Kerimiti village along the border of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, they opened fire and the security personnel retaliated, he said.

Ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh failed to appear before the Crime Branch of Mumbai Police that had sent him a notice asking him to appear before them. He was summoned to record his statement in an extortion case registered against him by Crime Branch Unit 11

Bharat Biotech, which completed the Phase 2/3 trials of COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin for use in children under 18 years of age last week, has received the Subject Expert Committee's nod for administering the drug to kids.

Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain has alleged the Centre has asked NTPC to cap the production capacity of all its plants to half.

"There is no coal power plant in Delhi. We buy electricity from coal plants situated in other states. NTPC capped the production capacity of all its plants to half. There can be two reasons, first coal shortage or secondly centre has told them to do it." Jain said.

He further said that Delhi is currently getting only half the supply and if it is stopped then a blackout might happen.

"Blackout depends upon them, right now they are giving only half supply if they stopped giving it then blackout might happen," said Satyendar Jain.

Indian Army chief General MM Naravane arrived in Sri Lanka today and he was extended a warm welcome by General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of Sri Lankan Army at the airport.

One person detained in the weapon-dropping case of Phallian Mandal, says Jammu and Kashmir police.

One AK-47, a night vision device, 3 magazines & ammunition, were dropped by a drone at Phallian Mandal in Jammu on Oct 2

Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait attends 'Antim Ardas' of farmers killed during Lakhimpur Kheri violence

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi to inaugurate a photo exhibition on the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, at AICC office tomorrow

Ahead of the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today conducted a rath yatra in Kanpur. The 'rath' will proceed till Vijay Path in the state. 

"BJP betrayed 'Ganga Maiya'. It's in the same dirty condition. BJP govt has betrayed people. We are going with 'Vijay Rath Yatra' to eliminate BJP from the state," Akhilesh Yadav said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed the NHRC Foundation Day Programme and said human rights are violated when viewed via political spectacles.

"Some people see human rights violations in some incidents but not in other similar incidents. Human rights are violated when viewed via political spectacles. Selective behaviour harmful to democracy. They attempt to harm nation's image through selective behaviour," the prime minister said today. 

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal today addressed the media over the pollution status of the national capital. Here are the pointers

• We had started the 'Red Light on, Gaadi off' initiative last year. This will begin again from 18th October, as soon as you stop at a Red signal, turn down the engines of your vehicle. You can begin today itself, though it'll be formally launched on 18th
• We should decide to not take out our vehicle at least once a week and travel on the metro, bus, or share vehicles with others. Experts say that if we do this, pollution can be brought down and fuel can be saved
• If you've not downloaded the Green Delhi app, do it. If you see pollution anywhere in Delhi -a truck causing air pollution, any industry that's causing pollution, waste being burnt- you can complain through the app. Our team will reach the spot and stop the source of pollution

Congress delegation, led by Rahul Gandhi, to meet President Ram Nath Kovind tomorrow over Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Congress had sought an appointment from the President's office which has been granted.

Rahul Gandhi dares PM Modi on the breakdown of talks with China on border issues

The States are requested to use the unallocated power for supplying electricity to the consumers of the State. In case of surplus power, the States are requested to intimate so that this power can be reallocated to other needy States. If any State is found selling power in power exchange or not scheduling this unallocated power, their unallocated power may be temporarily reduced or withdrawn to other States which are in need of such power: Ministry of Power 

Delhi High Court dismisses the petitions challenging the appointment of Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as Delhi Police Commissioner and extension of his service by a year

Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra has been sent to three-day police custody in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. Senior prosecution officer S.P. Yadav said that the remand will end on October 15 morning. Ashish will be taken for a medical examination, before and after the period of remand.

The police had sought a 14-day remand of Ashish Mishra, but the court allowed only a three-day remand and that too, with conditions which include that there will be no mental or physical harassment of the accused and that he will have access to his legal team.

Delhi: A meeting of the Union Cabinet and CCEA (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs) to be held at 6 pm today.

CBI teams are carrying out searches at the residence of Baseer Khan, former Advisor to J&K LG Manoj Sinha. The raids are being carried in connection with a fake gun license racket.

India reports 14,313 new COVID-19 cases, 26,579 recoveries, and 181 deaths in last 24 hrs, as per Union Health Ministry

Total cases 3,39,85,920
Active cases: 2,14,900 
Total recoveries: 3,33,20,057
Death toll: 4,50,963

Total vaccination: 95,89,78,049 (65,86,092 in last 24 hrs)

Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane to reach Sri Lanka today on a five-day visit to strengthen bilateral military ties. He would be meeting the top politician and military leadership of the island nation during his stay there: Indian Army officials

Delhi Police Special Cell arrests a terrorist of Pakistani nationality from Ramesh Park, Laxmi Nagar. He was living with a fake ID of an Indian national. One AK-47 assault rifle with one extra magazine and 60 rounds, one hand grenade, 2 sophisticated pistols with 50 rounds seized

NIA on Tuesday conducted raids at 16 locations in J&K in a new case linked to the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of various Tanzeems including The Resistance Front (TRF) and 5 locations in Delhi-NCR in Mundra drug seizure case: NIA (National Investigation Agency)

Hoardings on way from Lucknow to Lakhimpur, ahead of Priyanka Gandhi's visit to the violence-hit district

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tributes to Vijaya Raje Scindia, who was from the Gwalior royalty and one of the founding members of the BJP, on her birth anniversary and lauded her contribution to the party.

An earthquake of magnitude 3.6 on the Richter scale struck Karnataka's Gulbarga at around 8 am on Tuesday morning, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) informed.

Under the month-long 'Clean India' initiative as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav commemorating 75 years of the country's independence, Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday carried out a cleanliness drive in the area around Humayun's Tomb in the national capital.

58,50,38,043 samples tested for COVID-19 up to 11th October 2021. Of these 11,81,766 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Jaipur sculptor gets orders from across India and abroad as the demand for Maharana Pratap statue and other statues increases.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the Extraordinary Leaders' Summit on Afghanistan, called by Italy, chair of Group of 20 (G20) major economies. Today, the world's richest economies will discuss the humanitarian crisis and terror risks emanating from Afghanistan.

India has already shared its position that it stands with Afghans and is ready to continue its assistance programme. India has indicated in the also past that it wants unimpeded, unrestricted access.

New Delhi also called for the impartial distribution of assistance to all sections of society. Being one of the biggest donors, India has spent 3 billion dollars to rebuild the war-torn country. There are small and big India-built community and developmental projects in all provinces of Afghanistan.

With the number of fresh Covid cases showing a steady decline, the Rajasthan government on Monday lifted the ban on organising religious programmes in the state, capping the number of people attending them to 200.

In a new guideline released on Monday, the state government allowed organising religious programmes from 6 am to 10 pm, on the condition that the participants are vaccinated with at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. Also, the district administrations will have to be informed about the programmes in advance.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit Lakhimpur Kheri today where she will take part in the 'antim ardaas' of farmers who died in the violence there on October 3rd

Early morning 'aarti' being performed at Jhandewalan temple in Delhi 

North Korea's Kim Jong Un says US is 'root cause' of tensions

Three terrorists of LeT (TRF) killed in the Shopian encounter. Identification of the terrorists being ascertained. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered. Search going on, says Kashmir Zone Police

An encounter and search operation is underway in Dehra Ki Gali (DKG) area, Rajouri adjoining to the Poonch sector where one JCO & four soldiers had lost their lives during a counter-terror operation on Monday.

Heavy rainfall in Bengaluru causes waterlogging outside Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru

139 cases of dengue reported in Delhi so far in the month of October, 217 cases were reported in September. 

Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson writes to Delhi Lt Gov; requests him to consider their submissions for schools-anganwadis opening- "Nursery to Grade 8 to open at least 2 days a week and anganwadis at least once a week for all children in staggered form"

• Our vision should embrace reformed multilateralism, gender, human rights, development, counter-terrorism, climate change and environment, financing, pandemic and vaccines, peace and security and other priorities
• There're areas that need greater focus. I'm aware, of the importance Secy General has placed on combatting terrorism and we commend the work of UNOCT. But terrorism as a priority has been dealt with rather cursorily in the report
• In fact, the word terrorism appears only twice in the report whereas “climate change” appears more than 20 times and the word “climate” more than 70 times
• I do hope that this can be remedied sooner than later since terrorism will continue as the single most crucial threat to peace and security and one of the biggest obstacle to achieving the common agenda

A small plane crashed into a Southern California neighbourhood, killing at least two people, injuring two others and setting two homes ablaze, authorities say. The twin-engine Cessna went down in suburban Santee, about 20 miles northeast of San Diego