Breaking News: October 31, 2020 | Highlights

In a bid to check air pollution on Diwali, the authorities here have decided to allow the sale of firecrackers only for three days, an official said on Saturday. District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said the step has been taken in view of the National Green Tribunal order to reduce air pollution.

He said till Saturday, the administration has received 85 applications for the sale of crackers in the city.

Thirteen applications have been received for the sale of firecrackers in rural areas, he said.

The DM said a temporary licence will be issued for three days and no one will be allowed to sell crackers of foreign origin.

Sale of firecrackers manufactured by using poisonous substances like lithium, mercury, arsenic and led will be prohibited.

Only firecrackers with reduced emission will be allowed, he said.

Overwhelmed by the response to the Ahmedabad-Statue of Unity seaplane service, SpiceJet on Saturday said it plans to start a similar service connecting Surat in south Gujarat with the 182-meter tall statue dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel near Kevadiya.

National carrier Air India has appointed new chiefs in some of its subsidiaries. Accordingly, Air India has appointed Aloke Singh as the Chief Executive in its international low cost subsidiary Air India Express.

Besides, Deepak Khullar has been appointed as the CEO of Hotel Corporation of India (HCI), another Air India subsidiary. HCI is best known for running the Centaur Hotels.

Furthermore, Harpreet A De Singh, Executive Director, Air India, will hold the CEO's charge in the Alliance Air Aviation Limited till further orders.

The Assam government will construct 119 schools in tea gardens by April next year, Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.

The administration will start laying the foundation stones for the schools from Sunday, he said.

The air quality improved marginally but remained 'very poor' in Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Saturday, according to a government agency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address four back to back rallies in Bihar Sunday to garner support for the NDA candidates in the poll-bound state.

Sri Lanka's second COVID-19 wave which began early this month has the mutation associated with high transmissibility, according to a study.

Easing curbs further, the Tamil Nadu government on Saturday allowed schools, colleges, cinemas, zoos, and amusement parks to reopen from next month by following Standard Operating Procedures. READ MORE

Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Saturday said passengers can travel on all seats of public transport buses from November 1, and cautioned that travellers will have to wear face masks and maintain physical distancing.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Friday midnight handed over the Mangaluru airport to the Adani group on lease for a period of 50 years, according to an official statement.

Over 19 lakh voters will decide the fate of 1,287 candidates in the second phase of the municipal corporation elections in Rajasthan’s three cities on Sunday.

According to State Election Commissioner P S Mehra, voting will be held from 7. 30 am to 5. 30 pm for Jaipur Greater, Jodhpur South and Kota South Municipal Corporations.

The COVID-19 death toll in Uttar Pradesh climbed to 7,025 on Saturday with 21 more fatalities, while 1,822 fresh cases pushed the infection tally to over 4.81 lakh, an official said.

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath has moved the Supreme Court challenging Election Commission's decision to revoke his "star campaigner" status for violations of the model code during campaign for the bye-polls in 28 assembly constituencies in the state.

The Belgian government has announced that a national lockdown will be imposed on Monday after the country was reported to have the highest Covid-19 infection rate in Europe.

Under the new lockdown, non-essential shops and businesses offering personal services like hair salons will remain closed across Belgium until the middle of December, the BBC reported.

The British government is considering imposing a new national lockdown in England after its scientific advisers warned that hospitalizations and deaths from the resurgence of the coronavirus could soon surpass the levels seen at the outbreak’s spring peak.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday launched a post-matric scholarship scheme for students belonging to the Scheduled Castes category.

Gujarat: PM Narendra Modi travels on the maiden seaplane flight from Kevadia to Sabarmati

The flight connects Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad to Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Narmada district

The public is not just the beneficiary of government policies, programs, but is the real driving force. That is why we need to move from government to governance: PM Modi to Civil Services Probationers

You are the officers who will be serving the country when it celebrates 100 years of Independence. From 2022, the 25 years ahead are very important for the country. You have a huge responsibility: PM Modi during virtual interaction with the Civil Services Probationers

Karnataka: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike issues notice of suspension of licence to seven hospitals found not complying with the direction of reserving 50% of beds in each category for treatment of COVID-19 patients

Telangana recorded 1,445 COVID-19 new cases, 1,486 recoveries and 6 deaths on 30th October, taking total cases to 2,38,632 including 2,18,887 recoveries, 1,336 deaths and 18,409 active cases

Odisha Government extends COVID19 lockdown in containment zones till 31st November

All academic institutions in the state will also remain closed till November 30. Under the supervision of schools, classes of 9th to 12th standard to be conducted from November 16

PM Modi flags off Rashtriya Ekta Diwas parade from Statue of Unity in Gujarat. Here are the pointers from his address

• Today, a seaplane service from Sabarmati riverfront to Kevadia will be started. This will help boost tourism in this area
• 130 crore Indians together honoured the COVID19 warriors in their fight against this pandemic. The way the country has proved its collective potential during this time is unprecedented
• Today, Kashmir has moved on a new path of development... Whether it is the restoration of peace in the Northeast, or the steps being taken for development there, today the country is establishing new dimensions of unity
• Today, all countries of the world need to unite against terrorism. No one can benefit from terrorism and violence. India has always fought against terrorism
• The country can never forget that some people were not saddened at the sacrifice of the security personnel during the Pulwama attack. At that time, these people were only doing politics... I request them not to do such politics in the interest of the nation

Mumbai: One dead, two injured as a crane loses control and collides with Metro pillar at Andheri Gundavali bus stop near Western Express Highway.

A woman standing at the bus stop got trapped under the rear wheels of crane and died on the spot while 2 others were rushed to the hospital.

With 48,268 new COVID-19 infections, India's total cases surge to 81,37,119. With 551 new deaths, toll mounts to 1,21,641.  

Total active cases are 5,82,649 after a decrease of 11,737 in last 24 hrs.

Total cured cases are 74,32,829 with 59,454 new discharges in the last 24 hrs.

'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' parade underway at Kevadia on the occasion of birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

PM Modi pays tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary, at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat

Uttarakhand: Century-old Jauljibi Mela not to be held this year in Dharchula due to COVID-19 

Gujarat: 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' parade to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, underway at Kevadia

Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra pays tribute to her grandmother & former PM Indira Gandhi at Shakti Sthal on her 36th death anniversary

Kevadia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnesses  'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' parade on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Kevadia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' parade on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary, at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat

Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and LG Anil Baijal pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary

Delhi: Air Quality Index is in 'very poor' category near IGI Airport, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data

West Bengal on Friday reported the highest single-day recovery of 4,015 COVID-19 patients, taking the total number of cured people to 3,25,888, the health department said in a bulletin.

A major Gurjar organisation on Friday said it will begin an agitation over reservation for the community from November 1. Ahead of the agitation, mobile internet services were suspended in Karauli, Bharatpur, Jaipur and Sawai Madhopur. Additional police forces have been put on alert to deal with any law and order situation, a senior police official said.

Nagaland on Friday reported the recovery of 210 more COVID-19 patients, taking the total number of people cured of the disease to 7,229, while 51 fresh cases pushed the tally to 8,945, Health Minister S Pangnyu Phom said.