LIVE: Over 8.6 mn new job cards under NREGS scheme issued in FY21 so far

While addressing plea "Bindas bol" programme, SC asked whether media can be allowed to "target whole set of communities". Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

The Supreme Court questioned Sudarshan TV over its ‘Bindas Bol’ programme, whose promo had claimed that the channel would show the ''big expose on conspiracy to infiltrate Muslims in government service''. While ddressing the plea, the top court asked whether media can be allowed to “target whole set of communities”. The matter came up for hearing before a Bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud on September 15. The Bench restrained the channel from telecasting the episodes of the programme till further orders, saying the intent of aired episodes prima facie appeared to vilify the community.
 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dedicated to the nation the "historic" Kosi rail mega bridge through video-conference and also inaugurated 12 rail projects related to passenger facilities in Bihar. Modi has either inaugurated or laid the foundation stone of a number of development projects in the poll-bound state in the past few days. The total cost of these infrastructure and other programmes are estimated to be about Rs 16,000 crore.

In Lok Sabha, Opposition MPs staged walk out twice to protest against passage of agriculture bill, and MoS Anurag Thakur's remark on Nehru and Gandhi.

Stay tuned for the latest news of the day.

2:24 AM

Equities sink on virus angst, Fed aftermath

Global equity markets slid on Friday as investors sought direction after this week's US Federal Reserve meeting and a jump in coronavirus cases in Europe rattled sentiment, while gold rose and safe-haven buying lifted the Japanese yen.

 

The dollar posted its fifth straight day of declines against the yen as Japan's monetary policy of yield curve control pushes up real interest rates.

 

US technology-related stocks reversed early gains on Wall Street to extend their losses to a third day, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted a third straight week of declines.

 

The big tech names that have fueled the US rally from a pandemic-induced slump in March - Apple Inc , Microsoft Corp , Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc - led equities lower.

11:30 PM

Lok Sabha approves supplementary demand for additional spending of Rs 2.35 trillion in 2020-21

11:30 PM

India allows export of onions lying on ports in transit to all countries including Bangladesh: ANI

10:32 PM

Argument that states have not been given adequate share of tax collected by Centre does not hold ground. FM

10:26 PM

Additional resources sought under supplementary demand for grants to largely go for people-centric activities: FM Sitharaman in Lok Sabha

9:07 PM

Manipur CM inaugurates & lays foundation stones of projects worth Rs 180 crore

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday inaugurated five projects and also laid foundation stones of 46 others at a total cost of Rs 180 crore.

 

The chief minister inaugurated transit accommodation for doctors and teachers at Singhat, Churachandpur and Borobekra (Jiribam), a Manipur Police Training College barrack at Pangei and a model police station at Porompat via video conferencing, a press release issued by the CMs secretariat said.

 

The CM said the state government is giving priority to the development of hill areas of the state because hill districts are less developed compared to valley districts.

9:01 PM

Congress seeks special session of Haryana Assembly to discuss farm bills

The opposition Congress on Friday sought a special session of the Haryana Assembly to discuss the impact and ramifications of three farm-related Bills passed by the Lok Sabha.

 

Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said his party will move a resolution against the legislations when the assembly session is convened. Led by Hooda, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, a delegation of Haryana Congress MLAs submitted a memorandum to Satyadev Narayan Arya in this regard.

8:52 PM

8 beaches of India recommended for 'Blue Flag' International eco-label

8:43 PM

Kerala gold smuggling: NIA says action taken to issue Interpol Blue Notices against 4 accused in UAE

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court here on Friday extended till October 8, the the judicial custody of 12 accused persons, including Swapna Suresh, in the Kerala gold smuggling case.

 

The court also rejected Swapna's bail petition. Prior to this, she had cited her health conditions for getting bail, but the court denied the same. The court also directed the prison authorities that, they should allow Swapna to meet her relatives in prison.

 

The 12 accused were produced before the court through video conferencing.

 

NIA which is probing the high profile smuggling case made new revelations in its application before the special court asking for an extension of the judicial custody period of the accused.

8:37 PM

19.4% drop in Hepatitis-B birth doses, 31% drop in vaccination sessions in April-June

There has been an over 19 per cent drop in Hepatitis-B doses administered at birth and 31 per cent drop in vaccination sessions in health facilities and outreach sessions from April to June this year as compared to the same period last year in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, Parliament was informedon Friday.

 

During the same months this year, there has been a drop of 23.9 per cent in institutional deliveries in the country in comparison to the same duration in 2019 as per the Health Management Information System (HMIS),Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey saidin a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

 

As per the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) portal, a total of 10,96,048 antenatal checkups have been conducted from March to August this year.

8:29 PM

126 complaints on improper management of biomedical waste in 2 years: Govt

A total of 126 public complaints regarding improper management of biomedical waste were received in the last two years, with notices issued to healthcare facilities in Rajasthan, Assam and Madhya Pradesh, the environment ministry informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

 

Minister of State for Environment Babul Supriyo was responding to a question on whether the government was aware that bio-medical wastes generated from various hospitals in the country were being disposed of irresponsibly, thereby posing serious threat to the health of citizens. Read more

8:24 PM

Govt should allocate more funds to schemes like MNREGA: Saugata Roy

8:18 PM

Over 8.6 million new job cards under NREGS scheme issued in current financial year

A total of 86,81,928 new job cards under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS scheme has been issued during the current financial year so far as compared to 36,64,368 new job card issued during the same period of the FY 2019-20.

 

The data was provided by Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

8:11 PM

Monsoon withdrawal likely to begin next week: IMD

The Southwest Monsoon is likely to start withdrawing from west Rajasthan by the end of next week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday. Conditions are likely to become favourable in the next two days for the withdrawal of monsoon. North Indians plains are also witnessing above normal temperatures, it said.

 

"These are one of the weather patterns we see when conditions are ripe for monsoon withdrawal. From September 20 onwards, we don't see the possibility of monsoon rains in west Rajasthan," IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said.

 

The IMD has revised the withdrawal dates for monsoon from this year.

8:05 PM

Zoos, national parks in Bengal to reopen from Sep 23 with safety measures in place

All national parks, zoological gardens and ecotourism destinations in Bengal, which were shut in March after the Covid-19 pandemic struck, will reopen for visitors from September 23, a notification said on Friday. According to the forest department, visitors will be allowed at its "various establishments", where necessary safety protocols have been put in place.

 

"The effect of the pandemic is still being felt, but in view of the gradual unlocking and the need to restart economic activities... it has been decided to allow public to various establishments of the forest department with appropriate restrictions," the notification said.

 

Bookings have to be made online, and tourists would have to undergo temperature check at the entry points.