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.

2:43 PM

Bengal's education, tourism depts win gold at Skoch award

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said school and higher education and tourism departments of her government have secured gold at the Skoch award and congratulated officials for their hard work and dedication.

 

Education minister Bratya Basu also expressed happiness over the achievements and complimented all the stakeholders in the sector, including teachers, officials and students, for their efforts and services to ensure that teaching activities do not get hampered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2:14 PM

No point raising Pegasus; Opp shouldn't link session with polls: Naqvi

With the Congress set to raise the Pegasus snooping allegations in Parliament again, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday said what is the point of disrupting the House over issues that are "not based on facts", and also asserted that the Opposition should avoid linking the upcoming Winter session with assembly polls.

 

The deputy leader of Rajya Sabha said the government is ready to discuss and debate all issues on the basis of the decision of the chair in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Read more

2:12 PM

Custodial deaths on rise in UP under 'Thoko Raaj', Akhilesh Yadav slams Yogi govt

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that custodial deaths have increased in Uttar Pradesh under 'Thoko Raaj' prevailing under the BJP-led Yogi Adtyanath government in the state.

 

Talking to the media, the Samajwadi Party chief said, "Today, Uttar Pradesh is leading ahead of all the states in custodial deaths and this is because of the 'Thoko Raaj" which is running in the state. No one knows who would attack whom."

2:12 PM

Four Indians killed as vehicles crashes into pond in southern Nepal

Four Indians have died after the vehicle they were travelling in crashed into a pond in southern Nepal's Rautahat district near the border with India, according to a media report on Sunday.

 

The driver and the other occupants of the vehicle are suspected to have been "under influence", The Himalayan Times reported quoting police sources.

2:11 PM

Road safety: India, Japan researchers working on smartphone-based mapping of cracks, potholes

Researchers from India and Japan are working on smartphone-based mapping of road health in both the countries to reduce the accidents caused due to damaged roads.

 

The joint project by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee and the University of Tokyo is aimed at developing an affordable and deployable solution for automating the monitoring of road conditions and ultimately enhancing road safety.

 

The team also has inputs from Alexander Mraz, a data scientist from Luxembourg in Europe.

2:10 PM

BJP leaders from Punjab meet PM Modi seeking reopening of Kartarpur corridor

A delegation of BJP leaders from Punjab met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday and requested him to reopen the Kartarpur corridor before Gurupurab.

 

Pilgrimage to the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara was suspended in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

2:10 PM

Indian Army Chief to embark on maiden Israel visit

Aimed at enhancing military cooperation, Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane will embark on his maiden visit to Israel on Monday.

 

During the five-day visit from Monday to Friday, Gen Naravane is slated to meet senior Israeli military and civilian leadership during which he will discuss avenues for further enhancing the Indo-Israel defence relations, according a statement issued by the Indian Army.

 

The Army Chief will take forward the excellent bilateral defence cooperation between Israel and India through multiple meetings with senior officials of the security establishment and exchange views on various defence related issues.

2:09 PM

More power to Bengal BJP disciplinary committee to stop infighting

In an effort to control the internal rift within the party and arrest the spill-over effect of its negative impact on the people in general, the central leadership of BJP has given more power and authority to the state unit of the party.

 

According to senior leadership of the party these additional powers are vested on the state unit to accelerate the process of discipline in the party rank and file.

2:09 PM

Rebel leader Milind Teltumbde, 25 other Maoists 'killed in encounter'

Top Maoist leader Milind Teltumbde was among the 26 Naxals killed in an encounter with police in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, a senior police official said on Sunday.

 

The gun-battle took place on Saturday at Korchi in Mardintola forest area of the district, located over 900 km from Mumbai, when a C-60 police commando team was conducting a search operation, police earlier said. Read more

2:08 PM

BJP stands for arrogance, lies, says Akhilesh Yadav

Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's jibe against his party, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday attacked the BJP saying it stands for arrogance, lies, and inflation.

 

Akhilesh's response came a day after Shah's speech in Azamgarh, in which he termed the SP as a party that stands for Jinnah, Azam Khan and Mukhtar (Ansari), giving it the acronym JAM'.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has in past used JAM' as a shorthand to publicise his vision of getting a Jan Dhan Bank account, Aadhaar, and Mobile phone' to every person in the country.

 

On Sunday, Akhilesh used the same acronym to attack the BJP.

 

"For BJP, J' stands for Jhooth' (lie), A' stands for Ahankaar(arrogance), and M' stands for Mahangaai' (inflation), he said addressing a press conference in Kushinagar.

1:59 PM

Heavy rains lash Kerala, red alert declared in Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur by IMD

With heavy rains lashing various parts of the state since Saturday night, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday declared a red alert in central Kerala districts of Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur for the day.

 

The heavy rains led to water level in various dams in the state rising to the red alert mark, prompting the government to open one of the shutters of Cheruthoni dam of Idukki reservoir in the afternoon.

1:45 PM

ICC T20 World Cup could reach American shores by 2024

The ICC T20 World Cup could reach the American shores as early as in 2024 with the game's global governing body expected to award a joint bid for the lucrative tournament to USA Cricket and Cricket West Indies (CWI), according to reports.

 

"Cricket's governors may choose the United States as a venue for the first Twenty20 World Cup in the next events cycle as a springboard to help the game's bid for inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics," said a report in smh.com.au on Sunday.

1:45 PM

Laxman will be next NCA head, confirms BCCI official

Former India batter VVS Laxman will be the next head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), a senior BCCI official confirmed on Sunday.

 

Laxman will take over from his former batting colleague Rahul Dravid, who was recently appointed as chief coach of the Indian team following the end of Ravi Shastri's tenure, as reported by PTI on October 26.

 

"VVS Laxman will be the new head of NCA," the senior BCCI official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

1:44 PM

Taxpayers can now access new I-T annual info statement on e-filing portal

The Income Tax department on Sunday said taxpayers can now access the new Annual Information Statement (AIS), which includes additional categories of information like interest, dividends, securities and MF transactions, and remittances from abroad, on the e-filing portal.

 

The I-T department had last month expanded the list of high-value financial transactions, which would be available to taxpayers in their Form 26AS by including details of mutual fund (MF) purchases, foreign remittances, as well as information in ITRs of other taxpayers.

 

Form 26AS is an annual consolidated tax statement that can be accessed from the income-tax website by taxpayers using their Permanent Account Number (PAN).

12:26 PM

India's active Covid cases lowest in 17 months

India has 34.43 million Covid-19 cases and 463,530 deaths due to the disease, said the health ministry on Sunday, adding the country’s count of active cases was lowest in 17 months. The country recorded 11,271 cases and 285 new deaths from the disease in 24 hours.