News updates: India calls for cross-border collaboration with Pak, B'desh to tackle pollution

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Describing pollution as a "transboundary" issue, India has urged nations, especially Pakistan and Bangladesh, to take proactive and collaborative measures to manage and mitigate air pollution across borders. This appeal comes as northern India has been witnessing a rise in pollution with New Delhi's air quality hitting a severe' level for the first time this season, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 418, on Wednesday. Ministers and heads of delegations from six of the eight countries that share the Earth's tallest cryosphere zone met at a meeting hosted by Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on day two of the global climate conference COP29 in Azerbaijan on Tuesday, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) said in a statement on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday alleged that infiltration has assumed an alarming proportion in Jharkhand and hit out at the ruling JMM-led coalition for "patronising" infiltrators. He also termed the ruling dispensation's 'Abua Awas' housing scheme in place of PM Awas Yojana as a 'farzi (fake)' scheme for 'cut money and commission.'

Taking a firm stance on 'bulldozer justice,' the Supreme Court ruled that if houses of people are demolished merely because they are accused or convicts, it will be totally unconstitutional. The top court said the Executive cannot replace the judiciary and the "legal process should not prejudge the guilt of an accused."

A thick blanket of smog covered Delhi and its neighboring areas including Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad on Wednesday morning. Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) above 400, placing it in the 'Severe' range, while Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad registered 'Poor' air quality. The AQI in Faridabad stood at 188, falling in the 'Moderate' category.  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', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe plus'.

  A goods train derailed in Peddapalli district of Telangana, leading to cancellation of 20 passenger trains, officials of South Central Railway (SCR) said on Wednesday. Eleven wagons of the goods train carrying iron ore derailed between Raghavapuram and Ramagundam on Tuesday late night, they said. Due to derailment of the goods train, as many as 20 passenger trains were cancelled, four were partially cancelled and 10 were diverted, a release from the SCR zone said. Two trains were also rescheduled and three were regulated, it added. The officials said efforts are underway to restore the track and resume train movement.

  India's fossil fuel emissions are projected to rise by 4.6 per cent in 2024, while China could see a marginal rise of 0.2 per cent, according to new research by a group of international scientists.The report, unveiled during the UN climate conference or COP29 in Azerbaijan's Baku on Wednesday, stated that global carbon emissions from fossil fuels could reach 37.4 billion tonnes, an increase of 0.8 per cent from 2023 levels.

  A thick blanket of smog covered Delhi and its neighboring areas including Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad on Wednesday morning. Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) above 400, placing it in the 'Severe' range, while Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad registered 'Poor' air quality. The AQI in Faridabad stood at 188, falling in the 'Moderate' category.

9:20 PM

India calls for cross-border collaboration with Pakistan, Bangladesh to tackle transboundary pollution

Describing pollution as a "transboundary" issue, India has urged nations, especially Pakistan and Bangladesh, to take proactive and collaborative measures to manage and mitigate air pollution across borders.

 

This appeal comes as northern India has been witnessing a rise in pollution with New Delhi's air quality hitting a severe' level for the first time this season, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 418, on Wednesday.

 

Ministers and heads of delegations from six of the eight countries that share the Earth's tallest cryosphere zone met at a meeting hosted by Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on day two of the global climate conference COP29 in Azerbaijan on Tuesday, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) said in a statement on Wednesday.

9:05 PM

In a first, sister and brother duo commands warships in Indian Navy

For the first time ever in the Indian Navy, sister and brother duo of Commander Prerna Deosthalee and Commander Ishan Deosthalee are commanding two different warships at the same time in the force.

 

Commander Prerna Deosthalee last year became the first ever female officer to be handed over the command of a warship in the Indian Navy. She is presently commanding the fast attack craft INS Trinkat. Her brother, Commander Ishan Deosthalee has now been given the command of INS Vibhuti which is a Veer-class missile vessel of the Indian Navy.

 

The vessel Vibhuti was part of the steam past given to President Draupadi Murmu off the coast of Goa in the Arabian Sea.

 

Both the brother and sister duo are commanding their warships under the Western Command.

 

The President Droupadi Murmu on November 7 visited the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant along with the Chief of Navy Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and witnessed an operational demonstration by the Indian Navy .

9:02 PM

Nyay Yatra received overwhelming response from people in phase 1: Delhi Congress chief

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said on Wednesday that the "Nyay Yatra" organised by his party in the national capital has received overwhelming support from people in its first phase.

 

The first phase of the month-long "Delhi Nyay Yatra", which was launched on November 8 from Rajghat, concluded on Tuesday. It covered 125 kilometres spanning 15 Assembly constituencies in five days.

 

The march has been organised by the Congress, which has been out of power in the capital for more than 10 years now, ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls due early next year.

 

Yadav claimed that people want the Congress back in power in Delhi.

 

The second phase of the yatra will start from the Gokulpuri Assembly segment on Friday.

 

Yadav said he interacted with people from diverse social backgrounds and professions during the march.

9:02 PM

IMA condemns attack on Chennai doctor, calls for exemplary punishment

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Wednesday condemned the attack on an oncologist by a patient's family member at a Chennai hospital and called for exemplary punishment for the accused and proactive safety measures.

 

The oncologist, Dr Balaji Jagannathan, was stabbed multiple times by the son of the patient at Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital on Wednesday morning allegedly over grievances regarding the treatment of his mother, according to hospital officials.

 

The accused has been arrested and the doctor's condition is stated to be stable, the officials said.

 

In a statement, the IMA said Jagannathan was stabbed seven times by the son of a patient who suffered from stage IV ovarian cancer.

 

The doctor has been stabilised with great effort. He lost a considerable amount of blood since he was on anticoagulants, it said.

 

"The medical profession of the country is stunned... (in) disbelief. No amount of superficial damage control exercises by governments is going to make doctors work without fear in this country. Strong deterrent legislations, exemplary punishments and proactive safety measures are required now and here," the IMA said.

8:52 PM

Back in Washington for first time since his election victory, Trump tells House Republicans 'it's nice to win'

8:15 PM

Jan Aushadhi Kendras will lower medicine prices in Rajasthan: CM Sharma

People will get medicines at low prices at the three 'Jan Aushadhi Kendras' launched in Rajasthan on Wednesday, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said. The state government is consistently making decisions to expand health services for the people, he said.

7:52 PM

UK Oppn leader Kemi Badenoch to press for FTA with India

The UK's newly elected Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch, said she will continue to press for the conclusion of the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations which she had worked towards as former business and trade secretary. Addressing a special diaspora gathering to celebrate the festive season at the High Commission of India in London on Tuesday evening, the Conservative Party leader said she would continue to champion the important bilateral partnership from the Opposition benches.

6:43 PM

Vi loss narrows to Rs 7,176 crore in Q2, revenue rises 1.8%

Vodafone Idea loss narrows to Rs 7,176 crore in September quarter, revenue rises 1.8 per cent to Rs 10,918 crore: Company filing

 

6:41 PM

Adani commits $10 bn in US energy, infra projects

Billionaire Gautam Adani on Wednesday committed to investing USD 10 billion in energy and infrastructure projects in the United States. "Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump," he posted on X, congratulating the incoming US President.

6:24 PM

Second quarter subscriber base impacted by recent tariff hikes: Vi

Second quarter subscriber base, including 4G subscriber, impacted by recent tariff hikes, said Vodafone Idea.

6:13 PM

Prez Murmu to inaugurate LokManthan-2024 in Hyderabad on Nov 22

President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate LokManthan-2024, a colloquium of nationalist thinkers, in the city on November 22. Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and other dignitaries are also expected to attend the event to be held from November 21 to 24.

6:01 PM

Sebi proposes tighter regulations for custodians

India's markets regulator on Wednesday proposed changes to the regulatory framework for custodians, including doubling their minimum net worth requirement. Custodians provide services such as safekeeping of assets and maintenance of securities accounts for clients like foreign portfolio investors, mutual funds, and portfolio managers. Currently, India has 17 registered custodians.

5:46 PM

Delhi LG advises CM to revise income limit for EWS admissions in private schools to Rs 5 lakh

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has strongly recommended to the AAP government in Delhi to raise the income limit for EWS category admissions in the private schools from Rs one lakh to Rs 5 lakh in view of vacant seats and higher minimum wages, officials said on Wednesday. Ideally the income limit should be Rs 8 lakh since the students benefitting at the primary and secondary levels are the ones who go ahead to avail higher education, he noted in a file related to a Delhi High Court matter concerning income limit.

5:38 PM

Total shutdown affects normal life in Manipur's Imphal Valley

Normal life was affected in Manipur's Imphal Valley on Wednesday due to a total shutdown called by 13 civil rights organisations to protest the alleged abduction of three women and children each by militants in Jiribam district, officials said. Business establishments and educational institutions in the five Imphal Valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur were closed due to the shutdown which commenced at 6 pm on Tuesday.

5:36 PM

NTPC Green targets to invest Rs 1 trn in solar, wind assets by FY27

IPO-bound NTPC Green Energy is aiming to invest up to Rs 1 lakh crore in solar and wind assets by FY27, a top official said on Wednesday. Assuming about 20 per cent of the investment to come from equity, it will need Rs 20,000 crore of its own funds for the expansion, its chairman and managing director Gurdeep Singh told reporters here, adding that Rs 10,000 crore of funds will be coming through the upcoming initial public offering.