LIVE updates: More than 100 shops gutted in Delhi's Chandni Chowk fire

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11:43 AM

Union minister Pralhad Joshi convenes all-party meeting of floor leaders on Dec 6

Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi has convened an all-party meeting of floor leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on December 6, a day before the winter session starts.

He is expected to discuss important legislative business and issues likely to be taken up during the winter session, which wiill continue for 23 days and conclude on December 29. 

This will be the first parliament session in which Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, will officiate proceedings in the upper house.

 

11:31 AM

Germany relaxes Schengen visa rules for Indians

Bringing a cheer to Indians, Germany has relaxed its Schengen visa appointment rules with the country centralising its short-term visa processing at its centre in Mumbai.

"As a result of centralisation of Schengen visa (short term visa) processing in German Visa Centre Mumbai, we are pleased to inform about... relaxation regarding appointment bookings," the German embassy said in a statement.

A short-stay Schengen visa allows one to visit Germany and other Schengen countries for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.

This visa is issued in the form of a sticker affixed to the passport of the traveller.

11:25 AM

Update: Over 50 shops gutted in fire at wholesale market in Delhi's Chandni Chowk

After a firefight of more than 12 hours, Delhi Fire Service chief Atul Garg says the fire at Chandni Chowk is now under control 

The cause of the fire at the wholesale market Bhagirat Palace area is still unclear. 

More than 50 shops have been gutted in the blaze. However, no injuries have been reported so far, fire department officials said.

The fire was reported to the department last night and 40 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. Weak structures, shortage of water and narrow lanes posed a major challenge to firefighters. Currently, 22 fire tenders are engaged in cooling operations at the spot.

11:01 AM

BJP 'hatching a conspiracy to assassinate' Kejriwal, alleges Delhi Dy CM Sisodia; demands probe

A day after accusing the BJP of "hatching a conspiracy to assassinate" Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, fearing poll defeats in Gujarat and the MCD, his deputy Manish Sisodia Friday demanded a probe into it and said a complaint will also be submitted to the Election Commission.

Addressing a press conference here, Sisodia also alleged that the kind of language used by BJP leader Manoj Tiwari on Thursday against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is an "open threat".

"His language betrays the conspiracy being hatched to assassinate Arvind Kejriwal. We also demand that Manoj Tiwari be arrested for this threat," Sisodia said.

10:58 AM

Money laundering case: Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor granted bail

10:52 AM

Maha to make voter registration mandatory for students above 18 years seeking admission to colleges

The Maharashtra government will make it mandatory for students above 18 years of age to get their voter registration done for getting admission to colleges, a state minister has said.

Speaking at a meeting of vice chancellors of non-agriculture universities at the Raj Bhavan here on Thursday, state Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil also said that the government will introduce four-year degree courses from June 2023 as mandated under the National Education Policy (NEP) and the universities will have to implement the decision.

"There is no option for universities as they will have to implement the four-year degree courses from June as mandated under the NEP," he said, warning that action will be taken against those failing to do so.

10:49 AM

Assam continues 'advisory' against travel to Meghalaya

Assam on Friday continued to 'advise' people from the state not to travel to Meghalaya as the "situation is not very good" following a clash in a disputed border area between the two neighbouring states in which six persons were killed four days ago.

Transportation of fuel from Assam to the hill state has also been stopped by the apex petroleum workers' body since Thursday following reports of attacks on vehicles from the state in Meghalaya, though other vehicles ferrying goods continued to cross the border.

The situation at the clash site in West Karbi Anglong district continued to remain tense but under control with security forces ensuring no further flare-ups, official sources said.

10:27 AM

Delhi's minimum temp at 7.8 deg C, coldest November morning since 2020

The national capital recorded its coldest November morning in the last two years on Friday as the minimum temperature dipped to 7.8 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal, according to India Meteorological Department.

 

The weather office has predicted a partly cloudy sky throughout the day; the maximum temperature is expected to settle at 27 degrees Celsius.

 

Friday's minimum temperature is the lowest in the month since November 23, 2020, when the city recorded a low of 6.2 degrees Celsius.

9:58 AM

Guidelines to check fake online reviews on e-commerce websites to kick in today

The guidelines to do away with the menace of product fake reviews on e-commerce websites will come into effect on Friday. These guidelines have been finalised by the Bureau of Indian Standards following complaints about fake reviews of products shared by several e-commerce companies on social media.

 

According to the guidelines, e-commerce companies will now have to ensure that the ratings and reviews of their products are genuine.

The secretary of the consumer affairs department, Rohit Kumar Singh, said all stakeholders would have to ensure self-regulation. However, if fake reviews continue to circulate online, complaints can be made to various consumer fora and tribunals.

9:52 AM

Centre to launch month-long campaign against gender-based violence today

The Centre will launch on Friday a nationwide campaign to sensitise women, especially in rural areas, about gender-based violence and make them aware of various institutional mechanisms available to help them.

 

Named 'Nai Chetna', the month-long campaign will be launched by Union Minister for Rural Development Giriraj Singh at an event in New Delhi to mark International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls.

 

"It is sad that a large number of men and women still consider gender-based violence normal. Such a perspective needs to change," rural development ministry secretary Nagendra Nath Sinha said.

 

9:47 AM

Delhi: AAP leader Sandeep Bhardwaj found dead at residence, probe underway

9:28 AM

India reports 347 fresh Covid cases on Friday; active tally now at 5,516

India saw a single-day rise of 347 coronavirus infections, taking the virus tally to 44,670,830, while the active cases further declined to 5,516, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

 

The death toll has climbed to 530,604 with one death each reported from Delhi, Gujarat and Karnataka in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.

 

The active cases constitute 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.80 per cent, according to the ministry website.

 

A decrease of 365 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in 24 hours.

 

The number of recoveries increased to 44,134,710, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

 

9:23 AM

Outgoing Pakistan army chief says only 34,000 Pak soldiers surrendered to India in 1971 War

Addressing the Defence and Martyrs Day ceremony as chief guest, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa said, "The East Pakistan crisis was not a military but a political failure. The number of fighting soldiers was not 92,000, rather only 34,000. The rest were from various government departments."

 

He said these 34,000 people had been confronting 2,50,000 Indian Army soldiers and 200,000 trained Mukti Bahini, according to a report in Pakistan Today.

 

On December 16, 1971, the largest military surrender after the second world war happened when 93,000 soldiers from the Pakistan army laid down their arms in front of Indian forces. This resulted in the liberation of Bangladesh.

9:14 AM

Delhi: Massive fire at Chandni Chowk wholesale market continues to rage

9:11 AM

Vigilance directorate suggests probe into 'Rs 1,300-cr scam' in building classrooms of Delhi govt schools

The vigilance directorate has recommended a probe by a "specialised agency" into alleged irregularities in the construction of classrooms for Delhi government schools, claiming it involved a "scam of Rs 1,300 crore", official sources said Friday. 

 

The Central Vigilance Commission, in a report dated February 17, 2020, highlighted "glaring irregularities" in the construction of over 2,400 classrooms in Delhi government schools by the Public Works Department.