News highlights: Assam CM Sarma meets Union Ministers Gadkari, Nadda, Goyal, Scindia

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12:58 PM

Sukhbir Badal performs 'sewadar' duty at Golden Temple

A day after the Sikh clergy pronounced the 'tankhah' (religious punishment) for Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Shiromani Akali Dal leader on Tuesday performed the duty of a 'sewadar' outside the Golden Temple here. Holding a spear in one hand, Badal, in blue 'sewadar' clothes, was at the entrance of the Golden Temple in his wheelchair, serving his punishment. He has a fractured leg.

12:50 PM

Writ petition in Bangladesh High Court seeks ban on Indian TV channels

A writ petition has been filed in the Bangladesh High Court seeking a ban on the broadcast of all Indian TV channels in the country citing provocative news aired on them, according to a media report. Lawyer Ekhlas Uddin Bhuiyan filed the petition and confirmed the matter on Monday, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

12:33 PM

Terrorist killed in encounter with security forces in Srinagar

A terrorist was gunned down in an encounter with security forces in the Dachhigam forest area of Srinagar on Tuesday, according to the Army. Officials in Srinagar said that acting on specific intelligence inputs, the security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the upper reaches of Dachhigam which turned into a gunfight when terrorists opened fire on a search party.

11:54 AM

Security beefed up at Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi

A day after protesters stormed the Bangladesh consulate in Agartala, Delhi Police on Tuesday stepped up security around the Bangladesh High Commission in Chanakyapuri here, according to officials. "The security has been increased and extra police personnel have been deployed all around the commission. We are also ensuring no gathering takes place around its premises," a senior police officer said.

11:39 AM

President Murmu to arrive in Odisha on Tuesday for five-day tour

President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to arrive here on Tuesday for a five-day tour of Odisha during which she will attend several programmes, including Navy Day celebrations in Puri. Upon her arrival at Biju Patnaik International Airport here at 5 pm, the President is scheduled to unveil a statue of Santali writer and educator Pandit Raghunath Murmu and visit the Adim Owar Jarpa Jaher, a sacred place for Santals, in the city, according to her official itinerary.

11:18 AM

Former CBI director Vijay Shankar passes away

Former CBI director Vijay Shankar passed away on Tuesday after prolonged illness, his family said. He was 76. Shankar was admitted to a private hospital in Noida for some time. His mortal remains will be donated to AIIMS as per his last wish, they said. A 1969-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Shankar headed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from December 12, 2005 to July 31, 2008.

 

11:08 AM

Cyclone Fengal updates: Rahul asks Cong workers to help administration in relief work

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed "devastating" the damage caused by Cyclone Fengal in Tamil Nadu and urged Congress workers in the state to help the administration in relief efforts wherever possible. Cyclone Fengal emerged as a low-pressure area on November 23 and caused unprecedented devastation across 14 districts of Tamil Nadu.

10:50 AM

PM Modi calls Tamil Nadu CM, assures Stalin full support to deal with flood situation

Villupuram district in north Tamil Nadu continued to reel under unprecedented flooding on Monday following extremely heavy rainfall, virtually blocking access to villages and residential colonies as bridges and roads were submerged and inundating huge acreage of standing crops. In Tiruvannamalai, tragedy unfolded as five bodies were recovered from a house crushed by a boulder that rolled down a hilltop following a mud slip on the night of December 1 during rains.

10:20 AM

India tops global list for mobile malware attacks: Zscaler Report

"India has become the top global target for mobile malware attacks, accounting for 28 per cent of the total, surpassing the United States (27.3 per cent) and Canada (15.9 per cent). This significant jump from its 3rd place ranking last year underscores the critical need for Indian enterprises to adopt robust security measures, especially amid the rapid digital transformation and increasing cyber threats," the report said.

10:11 AM

Traffic jam near Mahamaya Flyover in Noida

A traffic congestion occurred near the Mahamaya Flyover as a result of farmers' protest at the Dalit Prerna Sthal located in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

9:54 AM

SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal serves as a 'sewadar' at Golden Temple in Amritsar

The Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht on Monday had directed the senior Akali leader to perform as a 'sewadar', and wash dishes and clean shoes as part of 'tankhah' (religious punishment) for the 'mistakes' committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.

9:43 AM

Prohibitory orders in place as Maharashtra village plans 'repoll' with ballot papers

The sub-divisional magistrate on Monday imposed prohibitory orders  in Maharashtra's Malshiras assembly segment, under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, from December 2 to 5 in the area to avoid any conflict or law and order situation due to the "repoll" plan of some locals, an official said.

9:30 AM

We seek compensation, jobs, says protesting farmer

 "In 1985-1986, NTPC acquired the land of 2200 farmers. They gave a total of  182 jobs. They had said that whichever family loses its land will get a job. But they did not fulfil their promises and have given almost no compensation. We want compensation and jobs," a protesting farmer told news agency ANI.

9:25 AM

US President-elect Donald Trump to visit Paris on Dec 7, attend historic Notre Dame Cathedral's reopening

US President-elect Donald Trump will visit Paris over the weekend to attend the re-opening of the historic Notre Dame Cathedral. Considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, the 13th century cathedral was destroyed in a fire on April 15, 2019. It took five years to completely restore the historic building.

9:14 AM

Jammu-Kashmir updates: Encounter underway between security forces and terrorists in Dachigam forest

An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Dachigam forest area of Srinagar on Tuesday, police said. A police official said security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the upper reaches of the Dachigam forest after receiving specific intelligence inputs.Dachigam is a national park on the outskirts of the city.