News Highlights: Delhi air quality worsens, AQI worst in country at 382

Catch all the major news updates from around the globe here

1:06 PM

PM Modi congratulates Duma Boko on being elected Botswana president

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Duma Boko on being elected as the president of Botswana and said he looks forward to working closely with him to further strengthen bilateral ties. Duma Boko, the presidential candidate of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), was declared Botswana's sixth president last week. In a post on X, Modi said, "Congratulations @duma_boko on your election as the President of Botswana. Best wishes for a successful tenure."

12:43 PM

Four injured in explosion in Howrah Mail coach in Punjab

Four people were injured in an explosion in a general coach of the Howrah Mail near Sirhind railway station in Punjab's Fatehgarh district, Government Railway Police (GRP) officials said. The explosion took place in a plastic bucket containing firecrackers around 10.30 pm on Saturday night when the train was headed to Howrah from Amritsar, they said.

12:34 PM

BJP to implement Uniform Civil Code in Jharkhand, tribals to be out of its ambit: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday announced that the BJP will implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Jharkhand if voted to power in the state, but would keep tribals out of its ambit. Shah, while releasing the saffron party's manifesto 'Sankalp Patra' for the upcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand, announced that a Displacement Commission would be formed to ensure rehabilitation of people displaced by industries and mines in the state.

12:25 PM

Woman held for sending message threatening to harm UP CM Adityanath

The Mumbai police have arrested a 24-year-old woman for allegedly giving a death threat to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, an official said on Sunday. The woman, identified as Fatima Khan, who has done BSc in Information Technology, resided in Ulhasnagar area of neighbouring Thane district of Maharashtra with her family members. Her father is into timber business, the official said.

11:44 AM

Jharkhand Assembly polls: Amit Shah releases manifesto, says, this election is to ensure future of the state

"This election in Jharkhand is not just an election to change the government, but an election to ensure the future of Jharkhand. The people of Jharkhand have to decide whether they want a government full of corruption or a BJP government moving forward on the path of development under the leadership of PM Modi. Do they want a government that endangers the identity, land and women of Jharkhand by allowing infiltration or do they want a Bharatiya Janata Party government that protects the borders," Amit Shah said, after releasing the BJP's Sankalp Patra event in Ranchi.

11:28 AM

EAM Jaishankar extends Independence Day greetings to Micronesia

In a message posted on X, EAM Jaishankar expressed his "warm greetings to Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin S Robert and the Government and people of Federated States of Micronesia on their Independence Day," underscoring India's goodwill and supportive ties with FSM.

 

10:59 AM

Fire at furniture factory claims 2 lives in Delhi's Kirti Nagar

A fire broke out in a furniture factory and godown in Delhi's Kirti Nagar area on Sunday, claiming the lives of two people, police said. The deceased were identified as Atul Rai, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh and Nand Kishore Dube, a resident of Bihar's Gaya. Rai was working as a labourer in the same premise and used to sleep there, while Nand Kishore used to work as a rickshaw puller.

10:42 AM

NCERT team to visit Tripura to review Vidya Pravesh implementation

A six-member team of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is scheduled to visit Tripura from November 5-7 to review the implementation of Vidya Pravesh school preparation module for class 1 students, an official said. Vidya Pravesh is an NCERT prescribed project aimed at bringing newly admitted class 1 students to a common platform of learning level.

10:26 AM

Museum honouring unsung hero who made Tawang part of India inaugurated in Arunachal

In 1951, an assistant political officer of the erstwhile North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and the present-day Arunachal Pradesh carried out an audacious operation to bring Tawang under the Indian Union. Seventy-three years later, a museum of valour has been inaugurated in Tawang in memory of the unsung hero, Major Ralengnao Bob Khathing.

10:10 AM

Sat Sharma appointed Jammu and Kashmir BJP president

The BJP leadership on Sunday appointed Sat Sharma as president of the party's Jammu and Kashmir unit, replacing Ravinder Raina. A party communication said Raina has been made a member of its national executive. Sharma has been at the helm earlier as well and is an experienced organisation person.

10:06 AM

Two cops injured in attack by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Sukma

Two policemen were injured after Naxalites attacked them with sharp weapons at a weekly market in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district on Sunday morning, an official said. The incident took place when the police were deployed on security duty at the market in Jagargunda village, he said.

9:46 AM

SC status for religious converts: Centre extends tenure of Commission till October 2025

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has extended by a year the tenure of a commission established to examine whether Scheduled Castes (SC) status can be granted to individuals who have converted to religions other than Sikhism and Buddhism. This decision, formalised through a notification dated November 1, comes as the Commission, initially set to conclude its work on October 10 sought additional time to finalise its report.

 

9:26 AM

Pawan Kalyan announces Sanatana Dharma protection wing in Janasena party

Janasena Party Chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Saturday announced the formation of 'Narasimha Varahi Brigade,' a dedicated wing within his party aimed at protecting Sanatana Dharma.

9:17 AM

Delhi AQI at 364, residents face difficulty in breathing

A thin layer of smog engulfed parts of the national capital on Sunday, and the Air Quality Index (AQI) continues to be in the 'very poor' category. Most areas in the capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) over 350, raising health concerns for residents. The AQI of Delhi was recorded at 364 at 7 AM on Sunday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

9:12 AM

Odisha minister hopes ISKCON's Houston unit will drop 'untimely' Rath Yatra plan

Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said that he was optimistic that ISKCON would not go ahead with its plan to hold "untimely" Rath Yatra on November 9 at Houston in the USA.