Delhi's air quality improves to 'very poor' category, with overall AQI standing at 334, as per System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting & Research
7:55 AM
We will raise our head, fighting BJP & Congress in 2023: HD Deve Gowda
Congress wants to demolish this party under the leadership of Siddaramaiah. Nobody can destroy this party. It has got its own base. We will raise our head, fighting BJP & Congress in 2023: HD Deve Gowda, former PM and JDS leader
7:44 AM
Salman Khan turns 55
7:36 AM
Sweden confirms first case of mutated coronavirus strain
A person who travelled from London to Sweden to celebrate Christmas has been confirmed sick with the new and more infectious variant of the coronavirus that has been rapidly spreading in the UK recently. Sara Byfors of Sweden's Public Health Agency told a news conference on Saturday that the person has been self-isolating since arriving in the southwestern province of Sormland and that no one else in the household has tested positive for Covid-19. However, Byfors added that there are likely more cases in Sweden that have yet to be detected, Xinhua news agency reported.
7:29 AM
Russia Always Ready To Provide Humanitarian Aid To Other Countries, Says Putin
Providing humanitarian aid is one of the key areas covered by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations and Russia will always provide the necessary assistance to other countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. "A very difficult noble task that you are now undertaking is delivering humanitarian aid to the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh. I will add that over the past 30 years, the Ministry of Emergency Situations has carried out more than 500 humanitarian operations abroad. I consider this one of the most important, significant areas of your work," Putin said in an address on Emergency Rescuer's Day, marked on December 27.
7:14 AM
Protests keep up against Israeli PM Netanyahu as new election looms
Hundreds of Israelis protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling on the long-serving leader to resign just days after the country was plunged into a new national election. The protesters have been gathering outside on Saturday Netanyahu's Jerusalem residence for months, slamming him for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and saying he cannot lead the country while under indictment for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate corruption cases. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing.
6:45 AM
Unemployment benefits for millions in limbo as Trump rages
Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet were set to lapse at midnight Saturday night unless President Donald Trump signed an end-of-year COVID relief and spending bill that had been considered a done deal before his sudden objections. Trump's refusal to sign the bipartisan package as he demands larger COVID relief checks and complains about pork spending could also force a federal government shutdown when money runs out at 12:01 Tuesday in the middle of a pandemic.
11:53 PM
PM Modi to flag off 100th Kisan Rail via video-conferencing on Monday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the 100th Kisan Rail from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal on Monday via video-conferencing.
The multi-commodity train service will carry vegetables such as cauliflower, capsicum, cabbage, drumsticks, chillies, onion, as well as fruits like grapes, oranges, pomegranate, banana and custard apple. Modi will flag off the train at 4.30 p.m. on December 28. Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal will also be present on the occasion.
Loading and unloading of perishable commodities will be permitted at all enroute stoppages of the multi-commodity train service with no bar on size of consignment. The Centre has extended a subsidy of 50 per cent on transportation of fruits and vegetables. READ ON...
11:29 PM
BJP will again come to power in Himachal Pradesh in next Assembly election: CM Jairam Thakur
10:36 PM
CBSE to declare 2021 board exam dates on Dec 31 at 6 pm: Education Minister
The dates of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examinations for Classes 10 and 12, proposed to be held next year, would be announced on December 31 at 6 pm, announced Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Saturday.
"Major announcements for students & parents! I will announce the date when the exams will commence for students appearing for CBSE board exams in 2021," the minister tweeted.
Moreover, CBSE has reduced the syllabus by 30 per cent for the 2021 board examinations. A detailed plan for the conduct of CBSE examinations 2021 will be prepared according to the health protocol orders issued by the Ministries of Health and Home Affairs. READ MORE...
10:15 PM
PM Modi to address nation through his radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' at 11 am tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the nation through his radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' at 11 am tomorrow.
9:46 PM
Govt procures 25% more paddy worth Rs 84,928 cr this kharif season so far
Paddy procurement has increased by 25 per cent in this kharif marketing season so far to 449.83 lakh tonnes at the minimum support price (MSP), valued at Rs 84,928.10 crore.
"In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes," an official statement said.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other state agencies have procured 449.83 lakh tonnes of paddy till December 25 as against 360.09 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year.
"About 55.49 lakh farmers have already been benefited from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs 84,928.10 crore," the statement said. READ ON...
9:23 PM
ISRO developing green propulsion systems for Gaganyaan rocket
Indian space agency the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is developing a green propulsions system for its rocket carrying humans or Gaganyaan mission, said a top official here on Saturday. Delivering the 16th Convocation Address at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology, K.Sivan, Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, ISRO said, the space agency is developing green propulsion for its human spaceflight mission.
"In future, all the propulsive stages may adopt green propulsion," Sivan said. He said as India continues to focus on economic growth, it needs to ensure that environmental damage is limited by adopting green technologies.
"ISRO has done the technology transfer of its space grade lithium-ion batteries to industry. This technology is useful for mass adoption of electrical vehicles without remaining perpetually dependent on foreign sources," Sivan said.
Sivan suggested to the fresh graduates that they take calculated risks and innovate.
8:41 PM
Avoid drinking, says IMD as north India braces for 'severe' cold wave
It is going to get very cold in north India, and drinking alcohol at home or year-end parties won't be a good idea, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
In its latest impact-based advisory, the IMD said "severe" cold wave is expected over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and northern Rajasthan from December 28 and there is increased likelihood of various illnesses like flu, running nose or nosebleed which usually set in or get aggravated due to prolonged exposure to cold.
"Don't drink alcohol. It reduces your body temperature," the advisory read. "Get indoors. Eat vitamin-C-rich fruits and moisturize your skin regularly to counter the effects of severe cold," it said. READ MORE...
8:10 PM
Preparations underway ahead of Home Minister Amit Shah's Manipur visit tomorrow
 "RCP Singh")
