LIVE: Pact to set up Tata-Airbus proj in Guj inked under MVA rule, says min

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2:28 PM

Maoists with guns or pens have to be defeated, says PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that Maoism in all its forms has to be eliminated to strengthen the internal security of the country.

The government has already adopted zero tolerance policy against terrorism, now it is high time that the urban Naxals or the Maoists holding pens were destroyed to safeguard the younger generation from being misled, he added.

Prime Minister Modi was virtually addressing the Ministry of Home Affairs MHA)'s Chintan Shivir in Surajkund, Haryana organised to discuss problems related to internal security.

As the government has been focusing on the Maoist-affected districts, the Maoists with pens are increasing their intellectual circle to the places from where they can create a distorted mentality in the coming generations, which would further be responsible for a rift in society, he stated.

Maoism has to be dealt with intelligently by experts. "Their faces look different and they work differently and the security agencies need to understand this," the PM stated, adding that the Maoists also get foreign help.

2:09 PM

Pact to set up Tata-Airbus aircraft project in Gujarat inked during MVA rule: Maha minister Samant

Maharashtra minister Uday Samant on Friday claimed that the deal to set up the Tata-Airbus C-295 transport aircraft project in Gujarat had been signed by the Centre in September last year when the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was in power in the state.

The state Industries Minister also slammed the opposition for creating "confusion" over the project.

Samant said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up the aircraft unit in Gujarat was signed by the Centre in September 2021.

"Be it the Vedanta-Foxconn project or the Tata-Airbus project, the decision about where to set up these projects was taken before this (Eknath Shinde-led) government came to power in the state late June this year. The opposition is doing nothing except to criticise and create confusion among people," Samant said.

2:08 PM

Chirag to campaign for BJP candidates in Bihar by-polls: Sanjay Jaiswal

Bihar BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal on Friday asserted that Chirag Paswan is an "NDA ally" and he will be campaigning for saffron party candidates for the November 3 by-polls to Mokama and Gopalganj assembly seats in the state.

Jaiswal made the averment at a press conference he addressed here and claimed that Paswan, who is a Lok Sabha member from Jamui, will canvass for BJP candidates next week.

"We treat all parties that have fought elections in alliance with us and supported us in the Presidential polls as NDA partners. Chirag Paswan very much fits the bill and he will be campaigning on October 31 and November 1," the BJP leader said.

2:00 PM

Iran's elite technical university emerges as hub of protests

The aging brick campus of the Sharif University of Technology, Iran's elite technical school, has long been a magnet for the nation's brightest minds, with a record of elevating its students to the highest reaches of society.

Thousands of Sharif University alumni power Iran's most sensitive industries, including nuclear energy and aerospace.

One of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's closest advisors has taught there for decades.

But as demonstrations erupt across Iran first sparked by the death in September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the country's morality police the scientific powerhouse known as Iran's MIT has emerged as an unexpected hub for protest, fuelling Iran's biggest anti-government movement in over a decade.

1:50 PM

PM Modi moots idea of "One Nation, One Uniform" for police

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday mooted the idea of "One Nation, One Uniform" for police, saying it is just a suggestion for consideration and he is not trying to impose it on the states.

Addressing a "Chintan Shivir" of state home ministers, Modi also advocated close cooperation among the states to tackle crimes and criminals.

He said cooperative federalism was not only the feeling of the Constitution but also the responsibility of the states and the Centre.

1:42 PM

Terrorism still thriving due to funds, resources: Jaishankar at UN counter-terrorism meet

1:37 PM

North America's largest Hindu temple in North Carolina inaugurates its "royal gateway" to God

This year's Diwali celebrations became extra special for the Hindu community in North Carolina when the largest temple in the US state inaugurated a 87-feet tower which is described as the "royal gateway" to God.

The grand tower was inaugurated at Sri Venkateswara Temple on October 24, a milestone for the area's growing Hindu community in North Carolina.

Known as the "Tower of Unity and Prosperity", the tower was inaugurated by Governor Gary Cooper who thanked temple leaders for inviting him to inaugurate the religious tower.

1:32 PM

Centre plans to deregulate uplinking of satellite television channels: Broadcasting secretary

The government will soon deregulate uplinking of satellite television channels in a bid to make India an uplinking hub.

 

Addressing the India Space Congress here, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra said on Friday that of the 898 television channels broadcast in the country, 532 use foreign satellites for uplinking and downlinking of their services.

 

"We want to deregulate uplinking to satellites under the guidelines so that India can become a hub," Chandra said.

1:08 PM

Rajnath Singh inaugurates 75 infrastructure projects in Ladakh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 75 infrastructure projects, including Shyok Setu in Leh, Ladakh on Friday.

12:57 PM

AAP leaders hold protest over garbage issue

Aam Aadmi party (AAP) leaders staged protests in several constituencies of the national capital on Friday against “garbage mismanagement” in the city by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

 

Several leaders including Kalkaji MLA Atishi, Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh, Vikas Puri MLA Mahendra Yadav and Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar joined the protest in their respective constituencies.

 

The leaders and the party workers gathered with placards in their constituencies and raised slogans against the BJP.

12:49 PM

National Human Rights Commission issued a notice to Rajasthan govt on reports that girls are being sold

12:47 PM

Terrorism may have plagued several regions of the world: Minister of External Affairs

12:45 PM

Germany plans to legalize recreational cannabis for adults

12:42 PM

Pakistan, China decide to execute $10bn railway project

Pakistan and China have agreed to execute the Mainline-1 (ML-1) railway project at an estimated cost of $10 billion.

The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) also decided to undertake business-to-business deals under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), The News reported.

Pakistan will also request for the rollover of deposits and rescheduling of its $27 billion debt.

12:42 PM

Putin jabs at West over Ukraine war, says operation going to plan

Russian President Vladimir Putin showed no regrets for the war against Ukraine, insisting it was going to plan and playing down any nuclear standoff with the West, while both sides prepared for what could be a key battle in Kherson in Ukraine's south.

 

Putin had a familiar litany of grievances against "Western opponents" as he addressed a conference in Moscow on Thursday, accusing the West of inciting the war and of playing a "dangerous, bloody and dirty" game that was sowing chaos.