LIVE: ED chief gets one-year tenure extension till November 18, 2022

This, days after the Centre brought ordinances to allow ED and CBI directors to occupy the office up to five years

11:22 PM

Noida Police issues traffic advisory as Delhi bans entry of goods vehicles

The Noida Traffic Police on Wednesday issued an advisory, prohibiting entry of heavy and medium category of goods vehicles into Delhi, and suggesting alternative routes for those moving elsewhere via the Peripheral Expressway.

 

The advisory comes in the wake of high pollution levels in Delhi and the NCR, as schools and colleges were shut down till further orders and construction activities stopped except in some cases in the national capital.

 

The Noida Traffic Police said the general public is informed that in compliance with instructions of the Commission for Air Quality Management in the NCR and adjoining areas, heavy and medium goods vehicles (except those carrying essential items) issued till November 21 shall be strictly prohibited from entering Delhi.

10:40 PM

US designates Pakistan and China as countries of particular concern for religious freedom violation

The United States on Wednesday designated several nations, including Pakistan, China, Iran, North Korea and Myanmar, as countries of particular concern for violation of religious freedom.

 

"I am designating Burma (Myanmar), the People's Republic of China, Eritrea, Iran, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

 

Blinken also announced to place Algeria, Comoros, Cuba, and Nicaragua on a Special Watch List for governments that have engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom.

9:54 PM

ED summons Mehbooba Mufti's brother for questioning in PMLA case

Brother of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has been asked to appear before the Enforcement Directorate in the national capital on Thursday for questioning in a money laundering case, officials said on Wednesday.

 

Tassaduq Hussain Mufti, who was a tourism minister in his sister's cabinet, has been asked to appear before the investigating officer of the case here on Thursday and get his statement recorded under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

 

The investigation, they said, pertains to some funds allegedly received by him in his accounts from some Kashmir-based businesses.

9:46 PM

CCEA approves continuation of PMGSY-I, PMGSY-II

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the proposals of the Ministry of Rural Development for continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-I and II up to September, 2022 for completion of balance road and bridge works.

 

The CCEA also approved continuation of Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCP-LWEA) up to March, 2023.

 

The government said that PMGSY-I will provide connectivity to unconnected habitations of population size 500 plus in plain areas and 250 plus in North-East and Himalayan states while in selected left wing extremism blocks, habitations of 100 plus population were also to be provided connectivity.

8:52 PM

India clubbed alongside Uganda, South Africa and Ireland for U19 World Cup

India were on Wednesday placed in Group B alongside debutants Uganda, South Africa and Ireland for the ICC Under-19 men's cricket World Cup, set to be held in the West Indies across four countries from January 14 February 5, next year, PTI reported.

 

A total of 16 teams will travel to the Caribbean to compete in 48 matches.

 

Defending champions Bangladesh, England, Canada and the United Arab Emirates form Group A while Group C comprises Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea.

8:36 PM

Novavax asks EU drug regulator to OK its COVID vaccine

The European Union's drug regulator said it received an application from Novavax to authorise the American biotechnology company's coronavirus vaccine, a request that could significantly boost the continent's vaccine supplies if it's granted, AP reported.

 

In a statement on Wednesday, the European Medicines Agency said it had begun evaluating data submitted by Novavax for its two-dose vaccine.

 

An expedited review process could produce a decision within weeks if the data submitted are sufficiently robust and complete to show the efficacy, safety and quality of the vaccine, the agency said.

8:11 PM

ED chief gets one-year tenure extension till November 18, 2022

7:46 PM

Schools in Haryana to resume classes with 100% capacity from Dec 1

7:23 PM

Kerala: RAF company deployed at Sabarimala to control crowd

A company of Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed in Sabarimala temple in Kerala to control the crowd in the temple premises, ANI reported.

 

A senior CRPF officer on anonymity told ANI, "A company of Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed in Sabarimala temple in Kerala for crowd control at the request of the state government."

 

The Sabarimala temple has been opened for the annual two-month-long pilgrimage season from Monday.

 

7:23 PM

Mumbai logs 275 new Covid cases, 2 deaths; active tally at 2,821

Mumbai on Wednesday reported 275 new coronavirus cases and two fresh fatalities, taking the infection tally to 7,60,270 and the death toll to 16,299, a civic official said, according to PTI.

 

The financial capital has witnessed a marginal rise in COVID-19 cases and fatalities from a day ago. On November 16, the city had reported 218 COVID-19 cases and only one fatality. The official said the city is left with 2,821 active COVID-19 cases after 256 recovered patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours.

7:00 PM

Karnataka will soon come out with R&D policy: CM Bommai

Karnataka would soon come out with a Research and Development policy that would make R&D an integral part of schools, colleges, universities and even private institutions, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Wednesday, PTI reported.

 

"Shortly we will come out with a R&D policy, wherein we want R&D in schools, colleges, universities and private sector institutions as well as we want to encourage garage oriented R&D centres. We want R&D to percolate to that level," he said.

 

Speaking to reporters here, he said it will be a spectrum of different fields, as innovation is limitless.

6:59 PM

Afghanistan's Taliban government urges US to unfreeze its assets

The Taliban-led Afghanistan government has asked the US to unfreeze the country's assets worth over USD 9 billion and lift the sanctions on its banks, citing the hardships faced by the people ahead of harsh winter, PTI reported.

 

The US froze over USD 9 billion of assets of the Afghan Central Bank after the Taliban insurgents seized power in the war-torn country in mid-August.

 

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in a letter to the US Congress wrote that freezing of Afghanistan's assets cannot resolve any problem.

6:29 PM

Kerala reports 6,849 fresh Covid cases

6:19 PM

MP CM announces series of relaxations

6:05 PM

WHO: Europe is only region with increasing COVID deaths

The World Health Organisation says coronavirus deaths in Europe rose by 5 per cent in the last week, making it the only region in the world where COVID-19 mortality increased, AP reported.

 

The UN health agency said confirmed cases jumped 6 per cent jump globally, driven by increases in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

 

In its weekly report on the pandemic issued late Tuesday, WHO said COVID-19 deaths in all regions other than Europe remained stable or declined, and totaled 50,000 worldwide last week. Of the 3.3 million new infections reported, 2.1 million came from Europe.