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Tue, 05 November 2024
2 Chinese nationals shot at by Pak guard in Karachi
Timeline Refresh
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23:51 Army to hold 13-day recruitment rally in J-K's Poonch
The Army is conducting a recruitment drive in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district from November 8 to 20 to fill over 350 vacancies in the territorial army, a defence spokesman said on Tuesday.
The recruitment rally being held at Advance Landing Ground in Surankote area will provide a platform for local youths to join the army and serve their nation while supporting their community, the spokesman said.
He said the event aims to fill 307 vacancies for soldier-general duty and 45 vacancies for clerks and tradesmen in the Territorial Army.
The recruitment rally is open to candidates from 31 tehsils of Jammu division, including Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, and Jammu districts, for soldier general duty, the spokesman said, adding the candidates from the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are eligible to apply for clerks and tradesmen positions.
"The rally will offer opportunities for young individuals to showcase their skills and contribute to the nation's defence. The Indian Army and civil administration of Jammu and Kashmir have joined hands to ensure the smooth conduct of this rally," the spokesman said.
He said the Army also expects this rally to be a grand success and enable the youths of the region to earn the honour of serving their motherland as 'Sons of Soil'. -- PTI
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23:32 2 Chinese nationals shot at by Pak guard in Karachi
Two Chinese nationals were injured on Tuesday when a local security guard opened fire at them following a quarrel in Pakistan's port city of Karachi, the police said.
The incident reportedly took place at a police station in the Industrial Trading Estate area of Karachi in Sindh province.
Deputy inspector general of police Azhar Mahesar said they were investigating the incident to find out what had led to the security guard opening fire on his superiors.
"Two Chinese nationals were injured in the firing after an argument with the security guard who is now under arrest," he said.
Both were rushed to a hospital. The condition of one of the injured is said to be critical.
Later, the foreign office confirmed that two Chinese nationals were injured in Karachi as a result of a firing incident following a dispute with a private guard on Tuesday. The injured were immediately taken to hospital and are under treatment.
"We extend our sympathies to the families of the injured and offer prayers for their swift recovery, it said in a statement. It said the incident is under investigation and added that Pakistan remains resolute in bringing to justice the responsible individual. The ministry of foreign affairs is in close contact with the ministry of interior and the chinese Embassy in Islamabad. -- PTI
Singer Diljit Dosanjh/Image courtesy X
22:58 Police register 32 FIRs in phone theft cases during Diljeet's Jaipur concert
Thirty-two FIRs were registered in connection to cases of stolen mobile phones during singer Diljit Dosanjh's concert in Jaipur, police said on Tuesday.
Station house officer Nandlal said the victims filed FIRs at Sanganer Sadar Police Station on Sunday and Monday.
"The mobile phones are being tracked," he added.
Some fans even made a video and requested the singer to help them.
Dosanjh's show, part of the Dil-Luminati India Tour 2024, was held at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Center in Sitapura on Sunday. -- PTI
Famous folk singer Sharda Sinha/ANI Photo
22:36 Famous folk singer Sharda Sinha passes away
Famous folk singer Sharda Sinha passed away on Tuesday night at AIIMS, New Delhi, where she had been undergoing treatment since last week.
She was 72.
"Sharda Sinha expired at 9.20 pm due to refractory shock as a result of septicemia," an AIIMS official said.
Sharda Sinha, locally known as Bihar's Kokila, is popular for her Chhath festival songs.
Sinha was known among her fans for folk songs such as Kartik Maas Ijoriya and Koyal Bin as well as Bollywood numbers Taar Bijli from Gangs of Wasseypur- II and Babul from Hum Aapke Hain Koun.
Earlier, AIIMS said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuously monitoring Sinha's condition and has prayed for her speedy recovery.
Sinha, a Padma Bhushan recipient synonymous with folk songs in Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Maghahi languages, was on ventilator support following a health complication due to multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer.
The singer was admitted to the intensive care unit of Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (IRCH), the cancer institute of AIIMS, last month.
"Noted folk singer, Smt. Sharda Sinha is admitted in AIIMS, New Delhi for treatment. Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji is continuously monitoring her condition and is in direct contact with the treating doctors. He has conveyed his prayers for her good health and speedy recovery through the treating team," AIIMS in a post on X said earlier.
Later in the day, Union minister Giriraj Singh visited the ailing artist at AIIMS. -- PTI
22:31 CM Yogi gets death threat, accused identified: Police
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has allegedly received death threat on social media from a Gorakhpur resident who used an alias to make the post, the police said on Tuesday.
According to the police sources, the accused has been identified as Riazul Haq Ansari, a resident of Gorakhpur, who made the threat on Instagram using the alias Saif Ansari and is on the run now.
An organisation called "Voice of Hindus" made a police complaint over the matter and forwarded the screenshot of the Instagram message to the Gorakhpur police on Monday evening.
Gorakhpur's superintendent of police (City) Abhinav Tyagi on Tuesday said they are treating the threat with utmost seriousness.
"The cyber cell has been directed to trace the suspect's social media activity. We will take strict action against anti-social elements to ensure peace in the state," he said.
The SP added that efforts were underway to apprehend the accused who is at large.
The Mumbai Police has arrested a 24-year-old woman for allegedly giving death threats to Adityanath.
The woman, Fatima Khan who has done BSc in Information Technology, resided in the Ulhasnagar area of the Thane district of Maharashtra with her family members.
Her father is in the timber business, an official said. -- PTI
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22:22 Terrorist killed, 2 security personnel injured in encounter in J-K's Bandipora
An unidentified terrorist was killed while two security personnel were injured in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district on Tuesday, the police said.
A police official said security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Choontpathri forest area of Bandipora based on information about the presence of ultras there.
He said a gunfight broke out as the terrorists opened fire on the security forces, who retaliated. In the exchange of fire, a terrorist was killed, while an Army jawan and a CRPF trooper were injured, the official said.
He added that the injured were taken to a hospital and the operation was underway. -- PTI
22:17 Labourers carrying sugarcane die of electrocution in UP village
Two labourers were electrocuted after their sugarcane-loaded tractor-trolley touched a high-tension cable between Mubarakpur and Dhanayan village, police said on Tuesday.
The incident happened late Monday night in the Shahpur police station area.
The victims were identified as Ajay, 35, and Raju, 25, who were carrying sugarcane to Mansurpur Sugarmill. They both died on the spot.
Circle officer (Budhana) Gajendra Pal Singh told reporters that their bodies were sent for a postmortem. -- PTI
A view of the Jagannath temple in Puri/ANI Photo
21:43 Cracks in Puri temple's wall; ASI urged for repair
Authorities at the Puri Jagannath Temple on Tuesday called for immediate repairs after cracks were discovered in the temple's outer boundary wall, known as the Meghannath Prachari.
Arabinda K Padhee, chief administrator of the Jagannath Temple in Puri, addressed concerns about cracks in the temple's outer boundary wall.
Padhee revealed that the Archaeological Survey of India has been tasked with the restoration and conservation efforts.
He said, "The Archaeological Survey of India has been taking the restoration and repair and conservation works of the Sri Jagannath temple in Puri. And over the last few months, we have noticed a few cracks in the Meghannath Prachari, the outer wall of the Sri Jagannath temple."
Padhee also underlined that the temple administration has requested urgent repairs and restoration from the Archaeological Survey of India.
He added, "From the Sri Jagannath temple administration side, the technical team of our administration, we have already noticed the cracks and we have already taken some original repair works."
He mentioned that they have corrected the crevices and removed moss and algae from affected areas, as well as worked to prevent water seepage.
Padhee also noted a drainage issue from the Ananda Bajar site, which the temple administration is addressing.
He assured full support to the ASI in their repair efforts, requesting a comprehensive and scientific survey of the Meghannath Kachari for long-term solutions.
He stated, "The structural safety and integrity of the temple structure is of paramount importance to the temple administration." -- ANI
Rescue operation underway at the accident site in Anand, Gujarat/ANI on X
21:37 Worker killed in mishap at Guj bullet train project site
One worker has been killed as a temporary structure crashed at Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train construction site near Vasad village, said officials on Tuesday.
The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited said that three labourers have been trapped under the debris, reports ANI.
Rescue operations are underway and the police as well as fire brigade officials have rushed to the spot, said National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited.
An injured worker has been admitted to hospital. With PTI inputs
AAP leader and Delhi ex-minister Satyendar Jain/File image
21:14 Court directs CBI to file status report in DA case against Satyendar Jain
A court in New Delhi on Tuesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation's DIG concerned to file a status report in a corruption case against AAP leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in relation to alleged disproportionate assets, noting that the probe agency had not maintained the case diary according to rules.
Special Judge Jitendra Singh, who was told by the CBI that investigation in the case was complete and the file was sent to the appropriate authority for approval, noted that the last case diary, dated June 24, mentioned that the investigation was still pending.
"Thereafter, there is no case diary wherein it is mentioned that the investigation is complete as alleged by the CBI. It is apparent that the case diary has not been updated and is not being maintained as per rules..."
"The supervision of any investigation is primarily vested upon the senior officials as per rules. In these circumstances, the worthy DIG is directed to file the status report regarding the approval before the next date of hearing, so that the matter could be proceeded expeditiously," the judge said.
The judge directed the DIG concerned to file the report by November 20, when the court will further hear the matter.
The CBI made the submission while informing the court that it will file a supplementary charge sheet after getting the approval.
The federal probe agency had on December 12, 2023 informed the court that further investigation was likely to be completed in two months.
It was alleged by the CBI that the minister, while functioning as a public servant, had amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income to the extent of approximately Rs 1.62 crore between February 14, 2015 and May 31, 2017. -- PTI
Folk singer Sharda Sinha/ANI Photo
20:40 Folk singer Sharda Sinha critical, Modi in direct contact with treating docs
The health condition of popular folk singer Sharda Sinha, currently under treatment at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, remains critical, her son said on Tuesday.
Sinha is known among her fans for folk songs such as Kartik Maas Ijoriya and Koyal Bin as well as Bollywood numbers Taar Bijli from Gangs of Wasseypur- II and Babul from Hum Aapke Hain Koun.
In a post on X, AIIMS said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuously monitoring Sinha's condition and has prayed for her speedy recovery.
Sinha, a Padma Bhushan recipient synonymous with folk songs in Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Maghahi languages, is on ventilator support following a health complication due to multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer.
The 72-year-old singer was admitted to the intensive care unit of Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, the cancer institute of AIIMS, last month. Sinha's son Anshuman Singh said his mother is "fighting for her life".
"Sharda ji is currently on ventilator and the situation is critical. I have spoken to the doctors and they say the danger persists... The challenge for doctors has increased but there is whole team of doctors is working hard... We want to fight till the end and win this. But now it is god's will. Sharda ji is fighting a huge battle. "I am requesting everyone to pray for her... The devotees of Chhat Puja should include her in their prayers so that we can bring her home," he said.
He also updated fans on the singer's heath in a YouTube live where he debunked fake news reports of her death circulating on social media.
"Doctors are trying their best. We pray that she comes out of this. This is a difficult time, please pray for us," Singh said in the video shared on Sinha's official YouTube channel on Tuesday. -- PTI
The Hindu Sabha temple was attacked in Canada's Brampton/Screen grab/@AryaCanada/X
19:55 Canada temple 'attack': Right-wing groups hold protest in Delhi
The United Hindu Front and Rashtrawadi Shiv Sena held a protest in New Delhi on Tuesday against the alleged attack on a Hindu temple in Canada.
Holding placards, the protesters demanded action against the perpetrators and raised slogans against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
"Several people attacked our temple in Brampton... No Sanatani will tolerate this," Jai Bhagwan Goyal, international working president of the UHF, said.
Goyal alleged that the local police were supporting the attackers.
On Sunday, Canadian Police said that a protest occurred at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton and unverified videos circulating on social media appeared to show demonstrators holding banners in support of Khalistan, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported. -- PTI
BJP leader Pragya Singh Thakur
19:38 Malegaon blast trial: Warrant issued against Pragya
A special NIA court here on Tuesday issued a bailable warrant against BJP leader Pragya Singh Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, for failing to attend the proceedings.
Final arguments were going on and the presence of the accused is necessary, special judge A K Lahoti noted as he issued a bailable warrant of Rs 10,000 against Thakur.
The warrant is `returnable' by November 13 which means Thakur will have to appear before the court by then and get it cancelled.
The BJP leader's lawyer cited her health problems while requesting the special court for National Investigation Agency cases to grant her reasonable time to remain present.
But the court noted that Thakur, the accused number 1, had not attended the proceedings since June 4.
Her past applications for exemption on the grounds of illness and hospitalization were considered from time to time, the special judge said.
"Today, the application was filed, along with a xerox copy of the medical certificate, showing she is undergoing ayurvedic treatment, but the original certificate is not annexed," the court said while rejecting her plea. -- PTI
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19:17 WR suspends TTE after he makes passenger write apology letter
The Western Railway has suspended a train ticket examiner for allegedly making a passenger write an apology after the latter asked him to speak in Marathi, an official said on Tuesday.
The action came after a photograph of the apology letter surfaced on social media, and passengers staged a protest, he said.
Talking to PTI, Vineet Abhishek, chief public relations officer of Western Railway, said an inquiry is ordered into the incident that took place at Nallasopara station on November 3, and TTE Rakesh Mourya has been suspended.
"All passengers, regardless of their religion, language, or region, are equal to us. Providing excellent service to them is our goal. The matter will be investigated thoroughly, and necessary action will be taken," he said.
Around 70 to 80 passengers staged a protest at Nallasopara station after the purported apology letter surfaced on social media on Monday, officials said.
According to officials, the TTE asked the passenger, Amit Patil, and his wife to furnish their local train tickets.
The couple asked him to speak to them in Marathi as they did not understand Hindi, and an argument ensued.
The TTE took the couple to the office of the Railway Protection Force, where Patil claimed that the official had threatened them and made him write an apology, they said.
The Western Railway, in its statement, affirmed its commitment to respecting all languages and passengers.
"Western Railway respects all languages spoken across the country and values the diversity of our passengers, standing firm on unity in diversity," it stated. -- PTI
People line up to cast their votes in the 2024 US presidential election in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US, November 5, 2024/Quinn Glabicki/Reuters
18:51 Millions of American voters head to polling stations
Millions of Americans headed towards polling stations on Tuesday to elect the 47th President of the United States, capping one of the most bitter presidential campaigns in the country's history.
On Monday night, both the candidates, Republican leader Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, spent a considerable amount of time in Pennsylvania, the biggest electoral college prize out of the seven swing states, to sway the remaining undecided voters.
Harris, 60, and Trump, 78, remained neck and neck in polls conducted by various media outlets, with a few projecting a slight edge for the Democratic nominee.
Besides Pennsylvania, the other battleground states that have emerged as crucial are Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
More than 82 million Americans have already cast their votes in early and mail-in voting, according to the University of Florida's Election.
In their final rallies, the two candidates concluded their campaigns with virtually opposing visions of how to take the country forward, with Harris calling for a vision to overcome "hate and divisiveness" and make a "fresh start" and Trump warning of a bleak future under a Democratic regime.
"Tonight, then, we finish, as we started with optimism, with energy, with joy," said Harris, closing her campaign in Pennsylvania. -- PTI
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18:33 Bullets fired at moving train in Odisha, none hurt
Bullets were allegedly fired at a moving train in Odisha's Bhadrak district by unknown persons on Tuesday, prompting the GRP to launch an investigation, officials said.
No one was injured in the incident that took place near Charampa station. Railway Protection Force personnel secured Nandan Kanan Express and escorted it till Puri, a statement issued by the Railways said, adding that the matter is now under investigation by the GRP.
"The guard of the 12816 Anand Vihar-Puri Nandan Kanan Express reported an incident that the window of the guard van was hit with something piercing through it. As per the reports, the incident took place in the Bhadrak-Baudpur section of Odisha around 9.30 am," the Railways said in the statement.
Sources said the train left Bhadrak station around 9.25 am and the alleged firing took place five minutes later.
A senior GRP official said efforts were on to identify those involved in the alleged firing.
The motive and target of the firing were yet to be ascertained. -- PTI
18:04 Will appear before Lokayukta for questioning in MUDA case: Siddaramaiah
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he will appear before the Lokayukta police in Mysuru on Wednesday in response to the summons issued to him for questioning in the MUDA site allotment case.
"I'm going tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10 (am)," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bengaluru on Tuesday in response to a question.
The CM, who has been named as accused number 1 in the FIR lodged by the Lokayukta police, is facing allegations of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife Parvathi B M by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority.
They had on October 25 questioned his wife, who has been named as accused number 2. Siddaramaiah, his wife, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy and Devaraju -- from whom Swamy had purchased a land and gifted it to Parvathi -- and others have been named in the FIR registered by the Mysuru-located Lokayukta police establishment on September 27.
Swamy and Devaraju have already deposed before the Lokayukta police. -- PTI
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17:44 Encounter breaks out in J-K's Bandipora
An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district on Tuesday, officials said.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Choontpathri forest area of Bandipora district on Tuesday following information about the presence of ultras there, the officials said.
They said a gunfight broke out as the terrorists opened fire on the security forces who retaliated. -- PTI
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17:33 Clash between 2 groups leads to stone pelting at Delhi temple
Two groups of juveniles clashed at a temple in Delhi's Jahangirpuri area, leading to stone pelting, police said on Tuesday.
According to the police, two minor boys sustained injuries in the incident who were rushed to a nearby hospital where their condition was stated to be normal.
A purported CCTV footage of the stone pelting incident went viral on social media platforms in which some of the boys can be seen throwing stones on each other at a temple.
The police said that the incident took place at around 8.15 pm on Monday and legal action has been initiated in the matter.
"We received multiple PCR calls regarding a stone pelting incident at a temple. Teams from Mahindra Park police station immediately rushed to the spot and initial investigation suggested that two groups of juveniles from the same community clashed with each other," a police officer said in a statement.
The officer further said that there had been a dispute between both the groups and earlier three juveniles were booked as well. -- PTI
17:11 With bated breath Sensex awaits US results
In a roller-coaster ride, stock indices in India swung between red and green on Tuesday's session. Sensex finally closed the day at 79,476.63 points, up 694.39 points or 0.88 per cent, 24,213.30 points, up 217.95 points or 0.91 per cent. Benchmark Sensex is however some distance behind its all-time high of 85,978 points. Nifty Bank, Financial Services, Metal, PSU Bank, and Private Bank were the top movers, NSE data showed.
16:38 In tiny New Hampshire town Kamala, Trump tie
First ballots cast: Harris and Trump have tied with three votes each in the tiny New Hampshire township of Dixville Notch, which kicked off Election Day as one of the first places in the country to report its presidential preference.
Harris' final rally: Lady Gaga performed at Harris' final rally, singing "God Bless America". Oprah Winfrey also took the stage with 10 first-time voters and a stark warning that: "If we don't show up tomorrow, it is entirely possible that we will not have the opportunity to ever cast a ballot again.
Trump's final rally: Trump finished his campaign in Michigan, the same place he has closed three previous presidential campaigns campaign. He repeated many of his campaign promises, such as vowing to impose hefty tariffs and to crack down on illegal immigration, and brought his children on stage alongside him.
-- CNN
Zamir Abdullah meets Akhilesh Yadav during Omar's swearing-in
16:31 Omar Abdullah's sons watch J-K assembly proceedings for first time
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's two sons Zahir and Zamir watched the legislative assembly proceedings for the first time on Tuesday. In their 20s, both Zahir and Zamir Abdullah -- Omar's sons with his estranged wife Payal Nath -- are lawyers by profession.
They arrived at the legislative assembly complex here and watched the proceedings during obituary references. The fourth generation Abdullahs sat beside Nasir Aslam Wani,? the advisor to the chief minister. Both Zahir and Zamir actively took part in the campaign for the assembly elections in the family's bastion Ganderbal from where their father contested and won.
They had joined him in electioneering even during the parliamentary polls which Abdullah lost from north Kashmir's Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency. In the assembly polls, the duo was actively seen canvassing for their father, meeting and interacting with party workers in the Ganderbal assembly segment.
16:08 Stock markets rebound, Sensex jumps 694 pts
Benchmark Sensex recovered its early losses to close sharply higher by 694 points on late buying in banking, steel and oil & gas shares amid firm trends in global equities. Bouncing back from Monday's sharp fall, the BSE Sensex jumped 694.39 points or 0.88 per cent to settle at 79,476.63.
During the day, it soared 740.89 points or 0.94 per cent to 79,523.13. The NSE Nifty climbed 217.95 points or 0.91 per cent to 24,213.30. Stock markets opened on a weak note and traded in a range with a negative bias the first half.
Sensex hit a low of 78,296.70 while Nifty touched 23,842.75. Value buying in the afternoon session helped indices recover losses and closed in the green.
From the 30-share Sensex pack, JSW Steel surged nearly 5 per cent while Tata Steel jumped nearly 4 per cent. Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, Kotak Mahindra Bank and UltraTech Cement were also among the big gainers. Adani Ports, ITC, Bharti Airtel and Asian Paints were among the laggards.
15:57 Parliament Winter Session from Nov 25 to Dec 20
Dates for Parliament's Winter Session has been announced. The parliament session will be from November 25 to December 20.
15:22 Won't contest any election any more: Sharad Pawar
In a major announcement, Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said that he no longer intends to contest any election in the future, as his tenure in the Rajya Sabha is nearing an end.
"I have fought elections 14 times, and will think if I should detach or not from my parliamentary position after my Rajya Sabha tenure completes," said Sharad Pawar. The NCP (SP) chief was on a Baramati tour as part of the election campaign for his grandson Yugendra Pawar. The three-time Chief Minister stressed the need to hand over responsibility to the new generation, adding that he doesn't need to win any election to continue serving the people.
Addressing a public rally, Pawar emphasized his detachment from his parliamentary position and said, "I am not in power. I am in Rajya Sabha and the last one and a half years are left. I have already contested 14 elections, how many more shall I contest? Now I think the new generation should be given the opportunity. I will continue to do social work, especially for the rural and backward areas, the Adivasis. To continue this work I don't need any elections."
"I will not contest in Lok Sabha. I will not contest any election. So far I have contested 14 elections and you people have never let me go home during any election. Every time you have made me win the elections, so I should stop somewhere. A new generation should be brought in. I have not left social work, I do not want power but I have not stopped serving the people," he added.
Pawar's Rajya Sabha tenure will be completed in the year 2026.
Recalling his political tenure, Pawar said, "30 years ago, I decided to do only national politics and gave all the responsibility of the state to Ajit Pawar and nearly for these 25 to 30 years responsibility of state has been with him. Now the arrangements have to be done for the next 30 years."
He launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that several big projects that should have come to Maharashtra have moved to Gujarat.
"Those in power are not focused on the state anymore. When I was in power, I considered the development of Pune. I knew that only agriculture wouldn't suffice. I don't know what magic this government has done. The Tata Airbus factory which was supposed to be in Nagpur, was shifted to Gujarat. A semiconductor factory, Vedanta Foxconn also moved to Gujarat. If you are only going to work for one particular state then why are you the Prime Minister, become the chief minister."
"The government needs to change. There is no option without a change in power. We need a representative who will create more job opportunities," he added.
Baramati, which is a long-standing bastion of the Pawar family will again witness a family battle as seven-time MLA Ajit Pawar will face his nephew Yugendra Pawar. The high-profile seat will witness a Pawar Vs Pawar for the second time this year after Ajit fielded his wife Sunetra Pawar against sister Supriya Sule during the Lok Sabha elections 2024. In assembly elections, the uncle, Ajit Pawar, and nephew, Yugendra Pawar will be up against each other. The preparations for upcoming elections have been intensified in Baramati.
14:48 Trump sends out dark message ahead of D-day
Donald Trump described the United States as an "occupied country," pointing to both undocumented and legal migrants as he pledged Monday to "rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered."
The former president's comments, at his election eve rally in the critical battleground state of Pennsylvania, underscore the dark and dystopian image he is portraying as he and Vice President Kamala Harris make their final arguments to voters ahead of Tuesday's election.
Trump made little distinction between undocumented immigrants he said had overrun an apartment complex in Colorado and thousands of Haitian migrants who entered the United States legally and live in Springfield, Ohio.
"These are military invasions without the uniforms. That's all it is,' Trump said, as he vowed to launch a massive deportation effort.
Trump was closing his third presidential campaign Monday with the same anti-immigration rhetoric that he used to launch his first White House bid. He described a nation in decline, overrun by migrant crime, much as he did in his first inaugural address, when he vowed to stop the "American carnage."
The former president said he would target migrant gangs, ban sanctuary cities and seek the death penalty for any migrant that kills a US citizen. He invited conservative commentator Megyn Kelly on stage. Kelly listed several people killed by undocumented immigrants. Her appearance was particularly notable after Trump ripped Kelly for the way she asked him tough questions while moderating a Republican presidential primary debate in 2015, starting off months of sparring over social media and in subsequent interviews. -- CNN
14:18 Three diamond workers die every month in Surat
Flagging the issue of suicides by diamond workers in Surat in the last 18 months, the Congress on Tuesday said they must be registered and provided financial assistance to protect them from the vagaries of the market.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge, communications, Jairam Ramesh cited a media report which claimed that job losses and factory closures were pushing Surat's diamond workers to the edge and there had been 71 suicides in 18 months.
"In the last 18 months, at least 71 diamond workers have taken their lives in Surat. Surat has a long and storied history as one of the world's greatest centres for the diamond trade," Ramesh said on X. Estimates suggest that there are 25 lakh workers in the diamond industry in Gujarat, with 8-10 lakh workers in Surat alone, he said. "The advent of lab-grown diamonds has wreaked havoc on diamond industries across the world. Surat has been hard hit, with large-scale layoffs (up to 15,000 workers between February and June 2024 alone) and pay cuts," he said.
It has spawned acute financial and psychological distress among the workers in this industry, the Congress leader said. These diamond workers are not permanent and registered employees, so the government has no data on them or specific schemes for their welfare, Ramesh said. "We must do better, we must recognise and register these workers, afford them financial assistance, and protect this industry and its workers from the vagaries of the market," he said. PTI
14:12 Sanjay Verma named Maharashtra Director General of Police
Sanjay Kumar Verma, a 1990-batch IPS officer, was on Tuesday named as the new Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra, an official said. Verma, serving as Director General of Legal and Technical, succeeds Rashmi Shukla, after the Election Commission ordered that she be removed as the state police chief following complaints by the opposition parties. Verma is set to retire in April 2028, the official said. PTI
14:02 Buy the watch that Mark Twain chose for just $1
Timex is celebrating its 170th Anniversary with 1,000 limited-edition Waterbury watches for just $1. On November 16, consumers in India will have a chance to claim their limited-edition $1 watch at 10 am on shop.timexindia.com and on select retailers.
It commemorates Timex's iconic Yankee pocket watch -- their first timepiece sold at $1 and known as "the watch that made the dollar famous".
170 years ago, timekeeping was exclusive to the elite, with pocket watches expensively priced to the public. It was then that the Waterbury Clock Company stepped in and democratized timekeeping for all. Farmers checked it during harvests, train conductors relied on it for punctuality, and factory workers synchronized their breaks with its hands.
By the turn of the century, over six million of these 'dollar watches' had found their way into the hands of everyday Americans. Even legend Mark Twain couldn't resist owning one, having sent Timex a dollar in exchange for his very own watch.
The $1 Anniversary Watch pays homage to the original Waterbury campaign, which promised 'correct time for little money.'
13:56 Ahead of polls Sharad Pawar praises nephew Ajit
NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday acknowledged Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's contribution to Baramati but asserted that the region needs a new leadership for its development for the next three decades.
Pawar senior was campaigning for grandnephew NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar, who will take on his uncle Ajit Pawar, in the November 20 assembly polls.
Addressing a meeting in Shirsuphal in Baramati, the NCP (SP) chief said the contest for the Baramati Lok Sabha seat earlier this year was difficult, as it was fought within the family, and now, after five months, people of the region will witness a similar situation. Baramati MP Supriya Sule emerged victorious against sister-in-law and Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra Pawar, in the general election.
Yugendra Pawar is the son of Ajit Pawar's younger brother Srinivas Pawar. "You have made me the chief minister not once or twice but four times. You elected me in 1967, and I worked here for 25 years before moving on to work for Maharashtra. I handed over all local powers to Ajit dada, entrusting him with all decisions, to plan for programmes and elections for local bodies, sugar and milk bodies," Pawar said.
He said Ajit Pawar worked in the region for 25 to 30 years, and there was no doubt about the work he did. "Now, it's time to prepare for the future. We need to groom leadership that will work for the next 30 years," the former union minister said, adding that everyone should get an opportunity and he has never held anyone back.
In an apparent dig at Ajit Pawar, he said if someone keeps saying he will take everything, people may not say anything but will disapprove of it. Pawar further said that though he hadn't come to ask for votes recently, the people of Baramati have never disappointed him.
The NCP (SP) chief charted developmental works in Baramati, including setting up an industrial area, attracting businesses and generating employment. "We established an MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) here, several companies have come up, and a few thousand people have found employment. To continue this work, we need a knowledgeable and hardworking representative. Hence, we have chosen Yugendra. He studied in America. On his return, he took on the responsibility of running a sugar mill. He is willing to take on this responsibility as well, and I am happy," Pawar said.
13:27 Indian-Americans split between Kamala, Trump
As the voting for the US presidential election commenced on Tuesday (local time), the Indian-American voters are expressing divided views, with some supporting Donald Trump for his economic and immigration policies while others are standing behind Kamala Harris, attracted by her leadership style.
Ajay Patel, an Indian-American from New York, expressed his support for Donald Trump, citing shared values such as hard work and economic independence. He believes immigration should be limited and the needs of Americans should be prioritized.
"I support Trump because he believes in some of the values I have. If we work hard, I want to keep my money, I don't want to take care of other people of the country who are entering the country illegally," Ajay Patel told ANI.
"We should not have people starving on the streets of America while we worry about people across the world who don't care about America or the values that America has so that's why the Trump group has started to resonate more with Indians. This time around I feel more Indians are in lines with the views of President Trump holds and we support him that the reason," Ajay Patel added.
Kumar, an Indian-American from New York, expressed mixed feelings about Kamala Harris, stating that she has done a tremendous job and resonated with the people; however, she has not been able to "fully introduce" herself to America.
"What she (Kamala Harris) has done is, put together a phenomenal campaign in the last 90 days...she has done tremendous job, she has resonated the people...she has unfortunately not been able to completely introduce herself to America," Kumar told ANI.
Ajay Bhutoria, a member of Kamala Harris's presidential campaign National Finance Committee, affirmed confidence in Harris' victory and urged people not to be 'misled' by Trump's false statements.
"I am so excited...tomorrow will be a historic day where the country gets to choose the first Indian-American, first black woman, first woman commander-in-chief of our country...please don't fall into the traps of misleading statements made by Trump...she will work hard...we are going to win," Bhutoria told ANI.
The United States presidential elections have commenced in the US on Tuesday. The first ballot has been cast in New Hampshire's small township of Dixville Notch, a township located along the US-Canada border. Over 160 million voters are expected to cast their ballots, with the results either delivering a return to power for Republican former President Donald Trump (78) or electing America's first woman in the White House, Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris (60). -- ANI
Sikh protestors picket outside the Indian consulate in Canada.
12:39 Political space given to extremists: EAM on Brampton
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday took a strong exception to the Hindu temple incident in Brampton and said it tells in a way the "political space" which is being given to "extremist forces" in Canada.
He said this in response to queries related to the incident that took place in Canada on Sunday and the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada, during a joint press briefing with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong here.
In Canada's Brampton, protestors carrying Khalistani flags clashed with people at the Hindu Sabha temple on Sunday and disrupted a consular event co-organised by the temple authorities and the Indian Consulate. "You would have seen a statement first by our official spokesperson and also the expression of concern by our Prime Minister," Jaishankar told reporters in Canberra. The external affairs minister is on an official visit to Australia from November 3-7.
"Let me make three comments, one, Canada has developed a pattern of making allegations without providing specifics. Secondly, when we look at Canada, for us, the fact that...our diplomats under surveillance, is something which is unacceptable," Jaishankar said.
"The third is the incident which the gentleman spoke about, do look at the video. I think that will tell in a way the political space which is being given to extremist forces there," the EAM said.
The development comes as India-Canada ties remain deeply troubled over the North American country's alleged support to Khalistani separatists and its accusation of India's involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who has been designated a terrorist by India. -- PTI
Image: Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters
12:15 Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy booked for threatening cop
A case has been registered against Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy for allegedly threatening a senior police officer probing a mining case against him. The case was registered on Monday based on a complaint by Inspector General of Police M Chandra Sekhar alleging that Kumaraswamy threatened a government servant to prevent him from discharging his duties
The complainant stated that he was heading the Special Investigation Team probing a mining case in which Kumaraswamy is an accused. The probe against Kumaraswamy pertains to allegations that he illegally approved a 550-acre mining lease to Sri Sai Venkateswara Minerals (SSVM) in Bellary district in violation of law, during his tenure as Karnataka Chief Minister from 2006 to 2008.
12:05 Madrassas in UP can function: SC overturns HC
Another big judgment from the Supreme Court.
The SC today upheld the validity of the 2004 Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act. The apex court said it does not violate the principle of secularism.
The SC therefore set aside Allahabad HC order that had quashed UP Board of Madarsa Education Act and asked state to relocate students to other schools.
"We have upheld validity of UP Madrasa law, statute can be struck down if State lacks legislative competence," CJI D Y Chandrachud said.
"The Allahabad HC erred in holding that UP madrasa law had to be struck down for violating basic structure i.e. principle of secularism. The Legislative scheme of UP Board of Madarsa Education Act was to standardise level of education being prescribed in madrasas," the SC said.
11:53 Team Uddhav expels five rebel leaders
Maharashtra Elections: Uddhav Thackeray's Sena expels five rebel leaders for not withdrawing nominations.
Yesterday, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi issued a one-hour ultimatum to rebel candidates to withdraw their nominations, saying it was not in favour of "friendly fights".
Addressing a joint press conference with NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray warned that action would be taken against rebels who fail to withdraw their nomination by 3 pm.
11:42 SC's big order rules for individuals as against 'common good'
Update: In a majority 7:2 ruling, the Supreme Court on Tuesday held that states are not empowered under the Constitution to take over all privately-owned resources for distribution to serve the "common good".
A nine-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, however, said states can stake claim over private properties in certain cases.
The majority verdict pronounced by the CJI overruled Justice Krishna Iyer's previous ruling that all privately owned resources can be acquired by the State for distribution under Article 39(b) of the Constitution.
The CJI wrote for himself and six other judges on the bench which decided the vexed legal question on whether private properties can be considered "material resources of the community" under Article 39(b) and taken over by State authorities for distribution to subserve the "common good".
It overturned several verdicts that had adopted the socialist theme and ruled that states can take over all private properties for common good. Justice BV Nagarathna partially disagreed with the majority judgement penned by the CJI, while Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia dissented on all aspects.
The pronouncement of judgements is underway.
The top court had, in the Minerva Mills case of 1980, declared two provisions of the 42nd Amendment, which prevented any constitutional amendment from being "called in question in any court on any ground" and accorded precedence to the Directive Principles of State Policy over the fundamental rights of individuals, as unconstitutional. Article 31C protects a law made under Articles 39(b) and (c) empowering the State to take over material resources of the community, including private properties, for distribution to subserve the common good.
The top court had heard 16 petitions, including the lead petition filed by the Mumbai-based Property Owners' Association (POA) in 1992. The POA has opposed Chapter VIII-A of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) Act.
Inserted in 1986, the chapter empowers State authorities to acquire cessed buildings and the land on which those are built if 70 per cent of the occupants make such a request for restoration purposes.
The MHADA Act was enacted in pursuance of Article 39(b), which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy and makes it obligatory for the State to create a policy towards securing "that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good". PTI
11:32 Sebi allows MFs to invest in overseas schemes
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has allowed mutual funds (MFs) to invest in overseas funds and unit trusts (UTs) that have up to 25 per cent exposure to Indian equities.
The decision opens scope for domestic funds to invest in prominent global schemes, especially passive ones, which provide exposure to markets across the globe.
In recent years, Indian equities have gained higher weights in key global indices.
The move is aimed at facilitating ease of investment in overseas MFs/UTs, bringing transparency in the manner of investment, and enabling MFs to diversify their overseas investments, Sebi said in a circular.
Subsequent to the investment, if the exposure breaches the threshold, an observance period of six months from the date of publicly-available information of such breach would be permitted to Indian MF schemes. This is for monitoring of any portfolio rebalancing activity by the underlying overseas MF/UT.
During the observance period, the Indian MF scheme would not undertake any fresh investment in such overseas MF/UT. It can resume investments in such overseas MF/UT in case the exposure to Indian securities by such overseas MF/UT falls below 25 per cent.
In addition, the regulator said non-compliance will lead to suspension of fresh subscription into the scheme. Also, the asset management company (AMC) will not be allowed to launch any new scheme.
The new framework will come into force with immediate effect, Sebi said.
However, MFs have limited scope to invest in international stocks and MF schemes. This is given that they have exhausted their international investing limit. The regulator has listed several other conditions as well.
MF schemes are required to ensure that all investor contributions to an overseas MF/UT are combined into a single investment vehicle without any side vehicles.
The corpus of an overseas MF/UT should be a blind pool with no segregated portfolios. It should ensure that all investors have equal and proportionate rights in the fund.
-- Abhishek Kumar/Business Standard
11:13 Not all pvt property can be taken by govt: SC
Supreme Court rules not all private property is community resources, so cannot be taken over by government. SC's majority verdict rules not all privately owned resources can be acquired by State. Verdict notes old ruling that State can take over private properties was motivated by particular economical, socialist ideology.
Details in a bit.
10:59 Drunk driver mows down woman pillion in K'taka
A 30-year-old woman died after she was hit by a luxury car being driven by a youth, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, police said on Tuesday.
Dhanush (20) was arrested, they said, adding that he has been sent to judicial custody.
According to police, Sandhya A S was crossing the road near the Kengeri TTMC (Traffic and Transit Management Centre) on the busy Mysuru Road on Saturday when she was hit by the Mercedes Benz car which then crashed into a bike.
After the accident, the accused tried to flee from the spot but was caught by bystanders who allegedly thrashed him. The injured woman and the biker identified as Syed Arbaz (23), were immediately rushed to a hospital where Sandhya was declared brought dead on arrival. Arbaz was treated for minor inuries, a senior traffic police official said.
"An alcometer test of the accused driver showed that he had 177 mg/100 ml of blood alcohol content, which was way higher than the legally permissible limit of 30 mg/100 ml," he said, citing preliminary inquiry. Dhanush's father owns a private bus travels company.
"We have registered a case under sections 281 (rash driving or riding on a public road), 125 A (Act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the accused car driver at Kengeri traffic police station and arrested him," a traffic official said. PTI
10:30 US hours away from historic polls; will Kamala win?
The United States is on the cusp of a historic presidential election as Republican leader Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Kamala Harris criss-crossed key battleground states and delivered closing remarks ahead of the election day, capping months of intense campaigning.
On the final day of canvassing, former president Trump, known for his aggressive rhetoric, held rallies in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan while Harris addressed supporters in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.
More than 78 million Americans have already cast their votes, according to the University of Florida's Election Lab that tracks early and mail-in voting across the US. Pennsylvania has emerged as the most crucial of the seven battleground states having 19 electoral college votes followed by 16 each in North Carolina and Georgia, 15 in Michigan and 11 in Arizona.
Other battleground states, Wisconsin has 10 and Nevada has six. The US has 50 states and most of them vote for the same party in every election except the swing states. Based on the volume of population, the states are assigned electoral college votes. Overall a total of 538 electoral college votes are up for grabs. A candidate with 270 or more electoral votes is declared winner in the election.
The election is being billed as historic as it has been one of the tightest presidential races in the last several decades.
"This is the most consequential election in our lifetime," senior US senator Bernie Sanders told CNN, while explaining why Trump as president will be detrimental to the US's foundational values.
If Harris wins the race, history will be made as she will become the first woman, first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to become the US President. In his rally in Pittsburgh, Trump again mounted a sharp attack on the Biden-Harris administration and said the American people have suffered "catastrophic failure, betrayal and humiliation" in the last four years.
"We do not have to settle for weakness, incompetence, decline and decay," he said. "With your vote tomorrow, we can fix every single problem our country faces and lead America, and indeed the whole world, to new heights of glory," he said. We are just one day away from what will be the most important political event in the history of our country -- but you have to get out and vote! Together, we make America Great Again, Trump said on 'X'.
In the final rallies ahead of the election day, Harris pledged to put an end to divisiveness and called for working unitedly to take the country to a better future. "It is my pledge to you -- if you give me a chance to fight on your behalf as president, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way," she said at a rally in Pennsylvania. "We rise and fall together. That's the strength of who we are," she said. The vice president also called on people to go out and vote.
"We need everyone in Pennsylvania to vote," Harris said, adding "You are going to make the difference in this election."
In the overall campaign in the last few days, Harris has been projecting the election as the one to protect the country's fundamental freedoms, safeguard constitutional values and ensure women's rights. In his rallies, Trump has been promising to rebuild the economy and rid the US from illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, various leading American cities have been brought under tight security as a precautionary measure to prevent any violence after election results are announced. The security cover around the White House and Capitol Hill in Washington DC has been strengthened significantly. -- PTI
10:20 Sensex in the red again, unabated fund outflows
Stock markets declined in early trade on Tuesday amid constant foreign fund outflows and cautious investors' sentiment ahead of the US presidential elections and the Federal Reserve interest rate decision.
The BSE Sensex declined 326.58 points to 78,455.66 in early trade. The NSE Nifty went down by 86.7 points to 23,908.65.
From the 30-share Sensex pack, Adani Ports, ITC, Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, Power Grid and Hindustan Unilever were the biggest laggards.
JSW Steel, Tata Steel, IndusInd Bank, Tata Motors, Maruti and Sun Pharma were among the gainers. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 4,329.79 crore on Monday, according to exchange data. In Asian markets, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong quoted in the positive territory while Seoul traded lower. -- PTI
09:54 Salman gets 3rd death threat: Pay Rs 5 cr or...
Bollywood actor Salman Khan has received received another threat, a police official said on Tuesday, adding the person who threatened the actor has demanded Rs 5 crore from him.
The threat message was received on the Mumbai traffic police helpline and an officer read it around midnight, the official said. The person who sent the message claimed he is brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, the police official said. "If Salman Khan wants to stay alive, he should go to our (Bishnoi community) temple and apologise or pay Rs 5 crore. If he does not do so, we will kill him; our gang is still active," the message said.
Police are probing the origin of the threat message and have beefed up security measures for Salman Khan, sources said, adding police are also checking if the message is linked to Lawrence Bishnoi, who is in jail on various charges, including attempted murder and extortion. PTI
09:36 Canadian Hindus protest repeated Khalistani attacks
Over a thousand Canadian Hindus gathered outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, Canada on Monday evening (local time) to protest against the repeated attacks on Hindu temples in the country, a day after the temple was attacked by Khalistani extremists.
The organizers of the solidarity rally pressed Canadian politicians and law enforcement agencies to not give further support to Khalistanis. The details were shared by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) on social media platform X. The CoHNA highlighted the multiple attacks on Hindu temples across Canada during the Diwali weekend and called on to stop the "Hinduphobia" in the country.
"Over a thousand #CanadianHindus have gathered in Brampton to protest against the increasingly brazen attacks on Hindu Temples," the post read. "Yesterday, during the sacred #Diwali weekend, Canadian Hindu temples, coast to coast, came under attack. We ask Canada to stop this #Hinduphobia now!" it added.
On Sunday, an Indian consular camp at the Hindu Sabha Temple witnessed a "violent disruption" in Brampton, near Toronto. Following the attacks, the Hindu Canadian Foundation, a non-profit organisation working for the Hindu community in Canada, shared a video of the attack on the temple and said that the Khalistani terrorists attacked kids and women. on a Hindu temple in Canada, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the "deliberate attack" and said that "cowardly attempts to intimidate" Indian diplomats were appalling and New Delhi expects Canadian authorities to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.
Representational image
09:26 Army successfully patrols disengaged Depsang
The Indian Army successfully patrolled one of the patrolling points in the Depsang area of eastern Ladakh on Monday, days after Indian and Chinese troops completed the disengagement at Depsang and Demchok, the two friction points in the region.
The patrolling at Demchok began on Friday, a day after the completion of the troop disengagement process.
"Following the consensus reached between the Indian and Chinese sides for disengagement and resumption of patrolling in Depsang and Demchok, the Indian Army patrol to one of the patrolling points in Depsang was successfully conducted today. This is yet another positive step towards maintaining peace and tranquility on the LAC," the Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps posted on X.
It was not immediately known which patrolling point the troops patrolled. The Indian Army has commenced a verification patrolling at Depsang, the second friction point in eastern Ladakh, the government said on Saturday.
Replying to a query at a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said that following the disengagement agreement with China, the verification patrolling began on mutually agreed terms in both Demchok and Depsang. Last week, Indian and Chinese troops also exchanged sweets at several border points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Diwali.
Sources had earlier said that the areas and patrolling status were expected to be moved back to pre-April 2020 level. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on October 21 said in Delhi that an agreement was finalised between India and China following negotiations over the past several weeks and that it would lead to a resolution of the issues that arose in 2020.
The agreement was firmed up on patrolling and disengagement of troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, a breakthrough to end the over four-year standoff. The move marked a significant development in the pursuit of reduced tension along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. The ties between the two Asian giants had nosedived following the clash. PTI
08:43 Over 3 dozen Indian Americans running for state legislations, local bodies
Over three dozen Indian Americans are running for local bodies and state legislation elections across the country reflecting the growing interest among this small ethnic community to be part of political mainstream.
"If you are not at the table, you are on the menu, Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi comments at various Indian American gatherings motivating and encouraging community members to run for elections at all levels.
Probably the largest number of Indian Americans running for local offices are in the state of California, which sends two members to the House of Representatives Ro Khanna and Dr Ami Bera in addition to Vice President Kamala Harris whose mother was from India.
Those include Adlah Chisti who is running for County Supervisor for District 11, Aliya Chisti for City College Board San Francisco, Darshana Patel for State Assembly, Nicole Fernandez for San Mateo City Council, Nithya Raman for Los Angeles City Council, Richa Awasthi for Foster City Council and Sukhdeep Kaur for Emeryville City Council.
Tara Sreekrishnan is seeking to enter California's State Assembly from District 26 in Silicon Valley.
With close to 900,000 Indian Americans residents, California boasts the largest Indian American population in the entire country. Michigan is a presidential battleground, with elections decided by merely 10,000 votes.
Dr Ajay Raman, is running for Oakland County Commissioner for District 14; while Anil Kumar and Ranjeev Puri are running for the Michigan State House.
Indian Americans are a crucial part of Arizona's growth and diversity. Priya Sundareshan is running for the State Senate in Arizona and Ravi Shah is running for School Board. In Pennsylvania, Anand Patek, Anna Thomas, and Arvind Venkat are running for State House, while Nikil Saval is seeking to enter the State Senate.
In Illinois, Anusha Thotakura is running for school board and Nabeel Syed for State House.
If elected Ashwin Ramaswamy would be the youngest ever elected to the Georgia State Senate. Of late he has been subject to racial and hate attacks by his opponents.
In Ohio, Chantel Raghu is running for County Commissioner and Pavan Parikh for County Clerk of Courts, while in Virginia Danny Avula is running for Mayor of Richmond.
In New York, Jeremy Cooney and Manita Sanghvi are running for State Senate while Zohran Mamdani is seeking to enter the State Assembly. -- PTI
08:34 Canada cop who attended Khalistani protest, suspended
A Peel Regional Police officer has been suspended after a video went viral on social media showing him participating in a pro-Khalistan protest outside a Hindu temple in Brampton, Canada, media reports said, quoting authorities.
The suspended officer is Sergeant Harinder Sohi, an 18-year veteran of the force. Following the suspension, Sergeant Sohi has received death threats on social media, prompting the Peel Regional Police Association to offer "assistance and protection." Sohi at present does not face any allegations of wrongdoing.
Richard Chin, Peel Police spokesperson said that they are aware of the video circulating on social media showing one of their off-duty officers participating in a protest.
"We are aware of a video circulating on social media which shows an off-duty Peel police officer involved in a demonstration. This officer has since been suspended in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act. We are investigating the circumstances in totality depicted in the video and are unable to provide further information until such time that this investigation is complete," Chin said, according to CBC News.
Meanwhile, Peel Regional Police asserted that they are taking measures to ensure "peaceful and lawful" planned protests by deploying officers.
Sharing a post on X, the Peel Regional Police wrote, "Officers will be deployed to ensure peace and lawfulness at planned demonstrations. Violence and other criminal acts has no place in our community."
Image only for representation
01:07 Pak Navy test-fires ballistic missile
The Pakistan Navy successfully test-fired an indigenously developed ballistic missile having a range of 350 km from a warship, it said on Monday.
"The missile system with a range of 350 km is capable of hitting land and sea targets with high precision," according to the Pakistan Navy.
The system is equipped with an advanced navigation system with features to change its direction and speed.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, senior officers of the Pakistan Navy, scientists and engineers witnessed the demonstration of test-firing of the missile.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Services Chiefs congratulated the participating navy units and scientists on the missile test. -- PTI
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