LIVE: India needs collaboration to solve air pollution problem, say experts

Latest live news: India's environment and climate minister says the phrase reflects the "national circumstances of emerging economies.

4:05 PM

UAE backs establishment of Palestinian state under 2-state solution

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) supports the establishment of a Palestinian state within the framework of a two-state solution, Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, said during an event here on Sunday.

 

The UAE normalised ties with Israel following the signing of the Abraham Accords in September 2020 and Al Marar reaffirmed that the historic pact will not affect the UAE's support for the Palestinian cause.

3:59 PM

Actor Sonu Sood's sister to contest from Moga in Punjab assembly polls

Actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood on Sunday said his sister Malvika is joining politics, but added he has no such plans for himself.

 

Malvika later said she will contest the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls from Moga.

 

Sood, who is from Moga district, said his sister has done a lot of amazing work in the past.

 

"We today officially want to say that Malvika will certainly come to serve Punjab," the actor said, addressing the media at his residence in the district.

3:55 PM

Air purifier makers see a surge in sales as pollution level worsens

As the pollution level of Delhi and surrounding areas is getting worse and Air Quality Index touching alarming levels, room air purifier makers see a surge in their sales numbers.

 

Like previous years, makers are looking for a silver lining as sales numbers of this seasonal product spikes after Diwali and has now touched almost Rs 500 crore market size, in which the Delhi NCR and the Northern region contributes around three-fourths of the sales.

 

This season, manufacturers have lined up new models and claiming to get a reprieve, not from poor air quality but also threat from the SARS COV-2 virus besides other smart features.

3:51 PM

Sonia, Rahul speak with Mayawati following her mother's death

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi called up Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Sunday expressing their condolences over her mother Ramrati's demise, sources said.

 

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister's residence in the national capital at 3, Tyagraj Marg in the morning and offered her condolences.

 

Vadra was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda as she met Mayawati.

3:14 PM

Britannia rural biz contribution may rise to 50 per cent in 3 years

The country's largest biscuit-maker Britannia Industries rural focus remains intact and the company's rural revenue may touch 50 per cent in the next three years amid a gradual rebound in urban demand.

 

The company was also targeting to makeup the unprecedented annualised cost inflation of Rs 1,300 crore by March 2022 in a combination of price increase and reduction in pack size.

 

The cost of inflation in 2021-22 for Britannia is more than the cumulative six previous years, company officials said.

3:14 PM

COP26: Central Asia joins hands for snow leopard conservation

Central Asia has joined hands at the 26th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for conservation of the snow leopard.

 

Now some smaller, more vulnerable countries are coming together to join forces to preserve their natural treasures and livelihoods of the local communities.

3:13 PM

Eyeing LA Olympics, ICC could award 2024 T20 World Cup to USA

The USA is likely to host the T20 World Cup in 2024, which could serve as a launch pad in the ICC's bid for cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

 

The ICC is expected to award a joint bid by USA Cricket and Cricket West Indies to host the 2024 T20 showpiece.

 

According to a report in Sydney Morning Herald, a "decision on venues for ICC events in the next cycle was imminent, and that an outward, global focus would mean they were more widely distributed than in the recent past."

3:12 PM

Withdraw Kangana's Padma Shri: DCW chief writes to Prez

Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday urging him to withdraw the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, bestowed on actor Kangana Ranaut for her remarks allegedly belittling the country's Independence.

 

Ranaut on Thursday had kicked off a row by saying India attained "real freedom" in 2014, apparently referring to the Narendra Modi-led government assuming power, and describing the country's Independence in 1947 as "bheek" (alms).

 

Maliwal, in her letter, said the actor had "made certain outrageous statements disgracing the great freedom fighters of the country".

3:12 PM

Govt to soon clear list of independent directors for various banks

The government is expected soon to clear a list of independent directors to be appointed on various public sector banks and financial institutions to meet regulatory norms of corporate governance.

 

There have been vacancies at the independent director level across the public sector space, leading to regulatory non-compliance, sources said.

 

A list of eligible persons to be appointed as independent directors has gone to the Prime Minister's Office and it will take a final call soon, the sources said.

3:12 PM

We'll crackdown on those involved: Karnataka CM on Bitcoin scam

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday announced that "we will crackdown on those involved in the Bitcoin scandal".

 

Speaking to mediapersons after paying tributes to late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary, Bommai said that there is no question of sparing anyone who is involved.

 

"Our government is open on this issue. We are the one who exposed this case. It is our government which recommended the ED and CBI to probe the case. The ED is conducting the probe and the CBI has taken it to Interpol as well. All the necessary information has been provided for these agencies," he said.

3:11 PM

USTR to visit India this month; countries to discuss trade, investment issues

India and the US will discuss ways to promote trade and investments besides increasing cooperation in agriculture sector and intellectual property rights during a meeting this month between US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, an official said.

 

The two-day meeting will begin from November 22.

 

The US Trade Representative (USTR) is visiting India to revive the Trade Policy Forum (TPF), which has not met for the last four years, the official said.

3:10 PM

Congress only alternative in UP, will get majority; BJP will not cross 30 seats: State unit chief

Predicting that the Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll results will spring a surprise, Congress' state unit chief Ajay Kumar Lallu on Sunday claimed that his party would secure a clear majority while the BJP would "not be able to cross 30 seats" in the elections next year.

 

He also hit out at the Samajwadi Party (SP), alleging that the Akhilesh Yadav-led party was only interested in fighting polls and not in struggling on the ground for people's issues, making the Congress the only alternative in Uttar Pradesh.

 

In an interview with PTI, Lallu reiterated that the Congress will not forge an alliance with the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), but its doors were open for smaller parties in Uttar Pradesh.

2:50 PM

PM transfers first instalment of PMAY-G to 147,000 beneficiaries in Tripura

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday transferred the first instalment of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G) to more than 1.47 lakh beneficiaries of Tripura via video conferencing.

 

With this, more than Rs 700 crore were credited directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries on the occasion. Read more

2:46 PM

Manipur attack: Mortal remains of Assam Rifles personnel to head to their homes

The mortal remains of Col Viplav Tripathi, his family and the Assam rifles personnel, who lost their lives in a terror attack in Manipur, will be flown to their hometowns on Sunday, official sources said.

 

A special flight from the Imphal airport will fly the mortal remains, and is scheduled to reach the Guwahati airport in Assam at first, following which it will fly to Panagarh airbase in West Bengal, they said.

 

From there, the flight will head to Raipur in Chhattisgarh and then to Jaipur in Rajasthan. The special plane is scheduled to land at the Jaipur airport at 11 pm, they added.

2:44 PM

Nehru's birth anniversary: Oppn slams govt over absence of RS Chairman, LS Speaker from Parl event