News LIVE: IMD says Cyclone Mandous landfall started near Mamallapuram

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11:38 PM

M K Stalin launches TN Climate Change Mission

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin launched the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission on Friday to protect the natural resources in the state besides restore them on a long-term basis.

 

The state will achieve carbon neutrality much ahead of 2070 target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said while launching the pioneering initiative, which takes the climate agenda on priority with district missions and climate officers already in place in the state.

11:35 PM

Shikhar Dhawan announces 75 million dollar Global Investment Sports Tech Fund

India opener Shikhar Dhawan on Friday announced that he would be launching a new 75 million dollars Global Investment Tech Fund to focus on innovation across the sports spectrum.

 

The Fund, consisting of a greenshoe option of 25 million dollars, is the first organised VC fund by an Asian sportsperson and the first by an Indian celebrity. The 37-year-old cricketer made the announcement during the annual Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Finance Week.

11:31 PM

Kurhani bypoll result reflection of people's anger against Nitish: Prashant Kishor

Political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor on Friday claimed that BJP's victory in the recently held Kurhani bypoll was a reflection of people's anger against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his Mahagathbandhan government.

 

Kishor, who is on a 3,500 km-long padayatra in the state, also said that he has found out during interactions with people that they were fed up with the "rampant corruption" in Bihar.

11:28 PM

AAP opposes NJC Bill, Raghav Chadha calls it 'constitutional impossibility'

The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday strongly opposed a private member's bill for a National Judicial Commission, introduced in the Rajya Sabha, calling it a "constitutional impossibility".

 

AAP member Raghav Chadha registered the party's objection to the introduction of the National Judicial Commision Bill, 2022, by CPI-M's Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya during Private Members' Business in the upper house. The bill aims to regulate the procedure to be followed by the National Judicial Commission for recommending persons for appointment judges of the higher judiciary

11:20 PM

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan backs Uniform Civil Code

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Friday supported bringing a Uniform Civil Code, and said anyone who has sworn to the constitution will never oppose it.

 

Asked about his opinion on the Uniform Civil Code, he said, "Anyone who has sworn to the Constitution will not say that it should not come."

11:15 PM

AAP to decide MCD mayor after LG appoints date to convene municipal house

The AAP will decide on the probables for the mayor's post after the Delhi LG gives a date for the house to be convened, a party functionary said on Friday.

 

The MCD will be approaching Delhi LG VK Saxena to seek a date on which the Municipal House can be convened so that the councillors can take oath, and a mayor can be selected

11:14 PM

4,000 police personnel on duty during PM's visit to Nagpur on Sunday

Around 4,000 police personnel from different units will be on security duty in Nagpur during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the city on Sunday, said officials on Friday.

 

Ahead of Modi's visit, top police officials reviewed security arrangements. The police in the presence of Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel will conduct route trails on Saturday, they said.

11:04 PM

Congress high command to take decision on next Himachal CM: Rajeev Shukla

Congress in-charge for Himachal Pradesh Rajeev Shukla addresses a presser after the legislature part meeting in Shimla. He denies reports of any division withing the Himachal Pradesh Congress unit over the selectionof the next chief minister, says these reports are "absolutely wrong". 

Shukla says the MLAs have not suggested any names for the CM post and all of them have "unanimously" passed a resolution leaving the decision to the party high command. "We will submit our report to the party high command tomorrow," he adds.

All 40 MLAs of the Congress party reportedly took part in the CLP meeting. The meeting started late evening amid a high drama by supporters of Congress leaders aspiring to become the chief minister of the hill state. The supporters shouted slogans in favour of their leaders outside the party office. 

10:57 PM

Cyclone Mandous: Waterlogging reported from parts of Chennai after heavy rainfall

10:17 PM

IMD regional centre says Cyclone Mandous landfall process has begun

9:38 PM

PM chairs meeting of governors, CMs, LGs on G-20 presidency, says it belongs to entire nation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a virtual meeting of governors, chief ministers and lieutenant governors on Friday to discuss issues related to India's G-20 presidency, and said it is a unique opportunity for the country to showcase its strengths. The PM emphasised the importance of teamwork and sought the cooperation of states and union territories in organising G-20 events, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement.

PM Modi pointed out that the G-20 presidency would help showcase parts of India beyond the conventional big metros, thus bringing out the uniqueness of each part of the country.

He also underlined the importance of states and UTs utilising this opportunity to re-brand themselves as attractive business, investment and tourism destinations, according to the statement.

 

9:18 PM

Cyclone Mandous likely to pack winds speeding up to 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph: IMD

Cyclone Mandous, meaning 'treasure box' in Arabic, is likely to cross north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Sriharikota around Mamallapuram midnight tonight or early tomorrow morning. 

IMD says the cyclonic storm is likely to pack winds speeding up to 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph. During landfall, the storm surge of about 0.5 m height above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate low-lying areas of north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, it adds.

In Tamil Nadu, Dindigul collector has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Sirumalai and Kodaikanal tomorrow.

8:36 PM

Himachal Congress legislature party meeting finally begins to pick next CM

Newly elected Congress MLAs have finally sat together in Himachal Pradesh capital Shimla late this evening to discuss who will become the next chief minister.

The MLAs are expected to pass a resolution authorising the Congress president to pick the legislature party leader. The meeting started at the Congress office amid a show of strength by the chief minister aspirants. Two Congress observers - Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and former CM of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda -- and AICC in-charge for Himachal Pradesh Rajeev Shukla are attending the meeting.

State party chief Pratibha Singh, leader of the opposition Mukesh Agnihotri and head of the election campaign committee Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu reached the party office along with their supporters, who raised slogans in their favour.

The Congress wrested power from the BJP in Himachal, winning 40 of the 68 assembly seats. The polling was held on November 12 and the results were declared Thursday. 

8:13 PM

Cyclone Mandous: Tirupati temple premises waterlogged, devotees face problems

7:50 PM

2020 Delhi riots: Court acquits two men of rioting, arson and dacoity charges

A Delhi court on Friday acquitted two people of the charges of rioting, arson and dacoity in a case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi communal riots.

The court was hearing the case registered on the complaint of Saleem Khan, accusing the two of being part of a riotous mob that committed robbery and set ablaze his two shops -- a salon and an automobile spare parts store -- in Sadatpur village on February 24, 2020.

"I find that charges levelled against both the accused persons are not proved beyond reasonable doubt. Hence, accused Mahender and Dharmender are acquitted of all the charges levelled against them in this case," Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala said.

The court said the identification of the accused persons in the present case was "doubtful".