LIVE: AIADMK says alliance with BJP to continue as Amit Shah visits

AIADMK coordinator said that alliance with BJP will continue in state polls. Stay tuned for latest news live.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today will be attending the 15th G-20 summit, which will be held today and tomorrow, at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. The theme of the Summit is -- "Realising the opportunities of 21st Century for all".

He will also attend the eighth convocation ceremony of the Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar via video-conferencing today.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has invited protesting farmers for a meeting today, a day after seeking the Union government's support to create a "congenial environment" for ending their prolonged agitation against the the Centre's new farm laws.

Amidst the rising number of coronavirus cases in Gujarat, a three-member team of health officials will be visiting the state today. Meanwhile, in a bid to stem Covid-19 spread in the state, the Gujarat government has imposed night curfew in Rajkot, Surat, and Vadodara, between 9 pm and 6 am daily, starting from today.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah would visit Chennai today to take part in official and party events.

Stay tuned for the latest news of the day.

8:57 PM

Soldier killed, three injured in Pak firing along LoC in JK

A havaldar in the Indian Army was killed and three others, including two women, were injured on Saturday as Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing on forward posts and villages in different sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The casualties came barely a week after multiple ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the LoC in north Kashmir left 11 people, including five security personnel, dead on November 13. Havaldar Patil Sangram Shivaji, who was manning a forward post, was critically injured in the Pakistani firing in the Lam area of Rajouri district's Nowshera sector around 1 am, the officials said, adding he later succumbed to injuries. Another soldier also sustained injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at a military hospital, they said.

8:56 PM

PM Modi attends 15th G20 summit via video conference

8:46 PM

UK signs trade deal with Canada to prepare for Brexit

The UK signed an interim trade deal with Canada on Saturday, the second major agreement the country has reached as negotiators hurry to cement trading relationships in preparation for life outside the European Union.

While Britain formally withdrew from the EU in January, it continues to trade with other countries under the bloc's umbrella during a transition period that is scheduled to end December 31.

Without a series of new bilateral agreements, trade with countries around the world may be hampered by barriers such as tariffs and increased paperwork.

The UK government says the stopgap agreement paves the way for future negotiations on a new tailor-made UK-Canada trade deal.

8:37 PM

TN CM orders creation of revolving fund to pay fees of govt school students admitted to medical colleges

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Saturday ordered creation of a revolving fund to pay fees of government school students who cleared NEET and were allotted seats in private medical and dental colleges under the governments 7.5 per cent reservation. The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation, which has been directed to create this fund,has been asked to settle the tuition and hostel fees directly to the respective colleges.

"This measure is aimed at giving effect to my announcement on November 18 to provide post matric scholarship and other financial assistance to all government school students who have been allotted seats (in the undergraduate courses) under the 7.5 per cent quota, Palaniswami said in a statement here on Saturday. Accusing opposition DMK leader M K Stain of enacting a farce by offering to pay the fees, the chief minister said the students need not wait for scholarship funds. "Despite being aware that these students would get financial assistance from the government,DMK offered its help. This is nothing but a political drama," Palaniswami charged.

8:17 PM

Parliament panel asks FSSAI to nudge States/UTs to take food safety seriously

A parliamentary panel has asked food regulator FSSAI to nudge states/UTs for taking corruption and unethical practices in food safety matter seriously as cases of adulteration in food items are rising. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare on Saturday submitted its action taken report related to functioning of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

The panel took note of various measures taken by the FSSAI to prevent unethical practices and hoped that they would be able to contain corrupt practices to some extent. "But since cases of adulteration in food items are on the rise, the Committee feels that there is a need to force some stringent measures in this regard. The committee, therefore, reiterates its recommendations and urges upon FSSAI to nudge the States/UTs to take corruption in food safety matters seriously," the report said. The panel also raised apprehension about the food safety monitoring mechanism.

7:59 PM

Air quality improves but remains in 'poor' category in Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Faridabad

The air quality improved on Saturday but remained in the "poor" category in Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad in the National Capital Region (NCR), according to a government agency. Presence of pollutant PM 2.5 also remained high in the five immediate neighbours of Delhi, according to the air quality index (AQI) maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

According to the index, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. The average 24-hour AQI at 4 pm on Saturday was 256 in Gurgaon, 246 in Faridabad, 238in Ghaziabad, 231 in Noida and 228 in Greater Noida, according to CPCB's Sameer app.

7:52 PM

Schemes, funds provided to Tamil Nadu by Centre are state's right: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the schemes and funds provided to Tamil Nadu by the Central Government are not meant for help but it is the right of Tamil Nadu that were not being given to it earlier. "With all humility, we state that the schemes and funds provided to Tamil Nadu by the Central government are not meant for help but it is the right of Tamil Nadu that were not being given to it but Modi ji ensured that now Tamil Nadu gets its rights," said Shah after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of various development projects in Chennai.

"Sometimes I heard DMK leaders speaking of injustice done to Tamil Nadu. DMK and Congress were at the Centre for 10 years. We are ready for a debate on whether Tamil Nadu got more help in those 10 years or during the tenure of our government," he added. Meanwhile, overwhelmed with the visit of Amit Shah, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister and AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam said that his party will continue its alliance with the BJP for state polls.

6:57 PM

Not just government and its machinery but 1.3 bn Indians fighting battle against Covid-19 under PM Modi's leadership: HM Amit Shah

6:56 PM

Delhi court grants bail to student activist Gulfisha Fatima in northeast Delhi riots case

6:44 PM

NCB arrests comedian Bharti Singh after interrogation

NCB raided production office & house of comedian Bharti Singh & from both the places 86.5 gms of Ganja was recovered. Both Bharti & her husband Harsh Limbachiya accepted consumption of Ganja. Bharti Singh arrested & examination of Harsh Limbachiya is underway: NCB

6:30 PM

Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan violated ceasefire in Nowshera Sector of Rajouri district at about 1800 hours today. Indian Army is retaliating.

6:29 PM

Amit Shah lauds Tamil Nadu for securing first place among states in good governance

6:07 PM

Modi to inaugurate flats for MPs on Nov 23 via video-conference

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate multi-storeyed flats, which have come up  in place of old bungalows, in Delhi for members of Parliament on November 23 via video-conferencing

5:55 PM

Uttarakhand government is paying Rs 50,000 to inter-caste and inter-faith couples to encourage such alliances: Officials

5:47 PM