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2:58 PM

Both Gehlot and Pilot are assets to the Congress party: Rahul Gandhi

Amid a raging feud between Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and his rival Sachin Pilot, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that both the leaders are assets to the party.

 

During a press conference near Indore, Gandhi was asked about different statements being given by Rajasthan leaders Gehlot and Pilot. He said, "It will not affect the yatra and both the leaders are assets to the Congress party."

The Lok Sabha member from Wayanad in Kerala also said that the decision to contest again from Amethi would be taken after one or one-and-a-half years. "At present, my focus is on the Bharat Jodo Yatra," he added.

 

2:09 PM

Centre rejects Saurabh Kirpal's name for elevation as Delhi HC judge

The Centre has rejected lawyer Saurabh Kirpal's name for elevation as a high court judge and sent his file back to the Supreme Court Collegium for "reconsideration", according to a report by India Ahead.

On November 17, Kirpal told the media that his promotion has been delayed "at least since 2017" due to his sexual orientation. Kirpal earlier came out as gay. 

 

However, under the provisions of the Memorandum of Procedure, if a name is sent to the Centre by the collegium for the second time, the government will have to clear it. Kirpal is the son of former chief justice of India (CJI) BN Kirpal.

1:34 PM

Scindia inaugurates first flight from Itanagar's Donyi Polo airport

1:04 PM

Kharge says BJP leaders giving provocative speeches in poll-bound Gujarat

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday accused senior BJP leaders of giving provocative speeches in the poll-bound Gujarat and misleading people.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Kharge said, "Even after 27 years of their rule, the prime minister, the home minister and five chief ministers are coming here and giving provocative speeches while misleading people. There must be (some) fear behind that."

 

"Instead of bringing change in the state, they (BJP) changed the CM, and three CMs were changed in six years. That means they haven't done any work in the state," he added.

 

12:16 PM

SSB arrests two intruders including NZ national from India-Nepal border

The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) said on Monday that their personnel manning the Panitanki India-Nepal border in Darjeeling district of West Bengal have arrested two illegal intruders. Fake Indian identity documents -- Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and driving licences -- were seized from them.

After initial investigation, one of the two persons arrested on Saturday has been identified as Andrew James, a resident of New Zealand. The other person arrested has been identified as Mohammad Nurul Islam, a resident of Bangladesh.

Both of them will be presented before the Siliguri sub-divisional court today.

 

11:34 AM

Protests against China's strict Covid restrictions reach capital Beijing

Protests against strict Covid-19 restrictions in China have spread to the capital Beijing, where hundreds of people converged near Liangmahe river late last evening, reports PTI. They carried candles and shouted slogans against Chinese authorities for implementing arbitrary curbs.

The protests initially began in the eastern metropolis of Shanghai over the weekend after 10 people were killed in an apartment block under strict lockdown in Urumqi in Xinjiang region. 

Meanwhile, China continued to battlerising Covid cases. On Monday, it reported close to 40,000 coronavirus cases as authorities scrambled to contain the fresh surge in infections. More than 4,000 cases were reported from Beijing for the fifth consecutive day.

 

11:19 AM

10 detained in Brussels amid unrest after Belgium-Morocco World Cup match

At least ten people were detained in Brussels, where riots erupted after Morocco beat Belgium 2-0 at the World Cup in Qatar, the Belgium-based RTBF broadcaster reports. Several people set trash containers on fire and threw bricks at vehicles in the centre of Brussels after Belgium's loss.

Media reports said police used water cannons and tear gas and that there were casualties. The broadcaster said about ten administrative arrests and one judicial arrest were made amid the riots. 

 

11:12 AM

India, Australia bilateral training exercise Austra Hind 22 to start today

The 'Austra Hind 22'  bilateral training exercise between the armies of India and Australia will kick-start in Rajasthan on Monday and will continue till December 11. The defence ministry said it will be a yearly event that will be conducted alternatively in India and Australia.

 

"Bilateral training exercise 'AUSTRA HIND 22' between contingents of the Indian Army and the Australian Army is scheduled to take place at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges (Rajasthan) from November 28 to December 11, 2022. This is the first exercise in the series of AUSTRA HIND with participation of all arms and services contingent from both armies," the ministry said in a statement. 

10:48 AM

PM Modi to address rallies in Kutch, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar and Rajkot today

Ahead of the first phase of the Gujarat assembly election, parties are putting their heavyweights at the forefront to attract voters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address public meetings in Kutch's Anjar, Jamnagar's Gordhanpur, Bhavnagar's Palitana, Jamnagar's Gordhanpar and Rajkot today.Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be holding rallies at four places: Kheralu, Savli, Bhiloda and Naranpura. The BJP has also fielded Assam CM Hemanta Biswa Sarma and Union ministers Smriti Irani and Parshottam Rupala.

 

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is scheduled to hold poll rallies in Mehsana and Ahmedabad today. He will also address a press conference in Ahmedabad.

 

10:17 AM

India logs 291 fresh Covid cases but active cases decline to 5,123

India logged 291 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 4,46,71,853, while the active cases declined to 5,123, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Monday.

The death toll has climbed to 5,30,614 after two fatalities were reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate increased to 98.80 per cent.

A decrease of 140 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. According to the ministry, 219.90 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far.

9:56 AM

Say no to ragging: Assam CM urges after student jumps off varsity building, gets hurt

9:42 AM

DRI seizes heroin worth Rs 40 crore at Mumbai airport, arrests 2 foreigners

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has seized 8kg of heroin worth Rs 40 crore in the international market at the Mumbai airport and arrested two foreign nationals. 

The DRI had received information that two passengers were to come to Mumbai with banned drugs, after which its officers laid a trap and arrested the duo. The foreign nationals had hidden two packets filled with "white powder",which was later confirmed to be heroin.

9:31 AM

Bharat Jodo Yatra heads for Ujjain; Rahul Gandhi rides bicycle briefly

The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi headed for Ujjain from Indore on Monday, the sixth day of its Madhya Pradesh leg. The foot march started in the morning from Indore's Bada Ganpati square. A cyclist joined the yatra and Gandhi was seen riding his bicycle briefly.

 

Famous Urdu poet Rahat Indori's son Satlaj Rahat also joined the yatra and said he presented to Rahul Gandhi two books dedicated to his late father, including the latter's autobiography.

9:24 AM

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti asked to vacate govt quarter in Anantnag

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti has been served a notice by the Jammu and Kashmir administration to vacate the government quarter she is occupying in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, reports ANI.

 

"You are asked to evict the quarter under reference within 24 hours failing which action warranted under law shall be taken against you," read the notice by the deputy commissioner of Anantnag.

On October 20, Mehbooba Mufti confirmed she has been served a notice to vacate her Fairview residence - her official government accommodation in Srinagar. According to sources, she has been offered an alternate bungalow in Srinagar.

 

9:02 AM

Karnataka set for legal battle over border row with Maharashtra: CM Bommai

Karnataka chief minister Basavraj Bommai has said that the state is all set for a legal battle with Maharashtra over the border dispute. The CM chaired a meeting with senior advocates and officials on Sunday in the wake of the matter coming up before the Supreme Court for a hearing on November 30.

"The petition filed by the state of Maharashtra in regard to the border issue did not have any legal provision since it was filed on the basis of the State Reorganisation Act and Article 3 (formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing states) of the Constitution," he said.

Bommai has claimed that some villages in Maharashtra's Sangli district, facing a water crisis, have passed a "resolution" seeking to merge with Karnataka. The Maharashtra government has denied any such thing happened in recent times.