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Tue, 12 November 2024
Polling officials checked my bag again: Uddhav
Timeline Refresh
23:59 Polling officials checked my bag again: Uddhav
Shiv Sena-UBT president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday claimed his bags were inspected by election authorities after he arrived in Latur district of Maharashtra to campaign for the November 20 assembly polls.
This is the second consecutive day that the former chief minister's party posted a video on a social media platform about his bags being checked by the poll authorities.
On Monday, he said that after his helicopter landed at Wani in Yavatmal district, his bag was checked by the authorities.
On Tuesday, he said a similar exercise was carried out by the election officials after his chopper arrived at Ausa in Latur ahead of his scheduled rally there.
The Shiv Sena-UBT posted a video of poll authorities' act on its X handle.
In the video, Thackeray is heard asking the election officials their names and their posting while they are checking his bags.
During his interaction with them, the Sena-UBT chief is heard asking them, "How many people have you searched so far?"
On their response that he is the first one, he says, "I am the first customer then." -- PTI
23:51 Closed in 2007, quadruple murder case solved by Ladakh police after 26 yrs; 3 held
A quadruple murder case was solved by the Ladakh police 26 years after the crime with the arrest of all three persons from the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Senior Superintendent of Police Shree Raam said Mohd Ali, Haji Anayat Ali of Kargil and their assistants Shero Ali and Nazir Ahmad of Kathua had gone to the higher reaches of Warwan in J&K's Kishtwar district to purchase livestock in August 1998 but did not return to their homes.
He said a case was registered and three nomads -- Mohd Rafeeq, Mohd Fareed of Kathua and Abdul Aziz of Samba -- were apprehended from Jammu on April 25, 1999 for questioning.
However, all of them were released on bail due to a lack of evidence.
And with not much progress in the case, it was closed as untraced in 2007.
Four years later, on September 9, 2011, skeletal remains were found near the Kanital Glacier in the Warwan area and their DNA testing confirmed they belonged to Nazir Ahmad and Shero Ali, the officer said. -- PTI
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose
23:46 WB Guv seeks report from CM on prime accused's claim about ex-Kolkata CP's involvement
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Tuesday sought an immediate reply from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on RG Kar rape-murder prime accused Sanjay Roy's claim that he had been framed and that former Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goel and other senior officers were behind the conspiracy, sources in the Raj Bhavan said.
Bose also urged the state government to look into the matter and inform him the factual position and its stand on the allegations "at the earliest", they said.
"The governor sought an immediate report from CM Mamata Banerjee on the prime accused in the RG Kar case alleging that he was framed by senior police officers, including former Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goel," a top source said.
"He also asked the state government to look into the matter and inform him the factual position and its stand on the allegations at the earliest," he said.
Roy had on Monday claimed outside the court that he was innocent and alleged that Goel and another senior police officer of Kolkata Police have conspired to frame him in the RG Kar case. -- PTI
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23:25 10 injured in explosion in UP's Mathura refinery
At least 10 people were injured in a massive explosion that broke out in Indian Oil Corporation's refinery on the Agra-Delhi National Highway here on Tuesday, the police said.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by flames shooting up from the refinery in Mathura.
Flames were visible from several kilometres away as the blaze engulfed the refinery, they said.
The powerful explosion took place around 8.30 pm while the main plant was being restarted after a month-and-a-half shutdown, sources said.
Initial reports suggest 10 to 12 workers were injured in the fire, with four individuals in a critical condition, the police said.
The injured were first taken to the refinery's hospital, where they received immediate treatment.
However, four individuals in critical condition were transferred to a private hospital in the city.
While there has been no official statement from the administration of the refinery administration or the district authorities yet, Refinery police station Inspector Sonu Kumar confirmed the incident. The explosion was heard between 8.30 pm and 9.00 pm, injuring several workers near the main plant, he said.
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22:56 SC to pronounce verdict on pleas for pan-India norms on razing properties
The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on Wednesday on pleas seeking framing of guidelines on demolition of properties in the country.
A bench headed by Justice BR Gavai had reserved the verdict on October 1.
The top court had said it will lay down pan-India guidelines while making clear that any religious structure in the middle of a road, be it a 'dargah' or a temple, "has to go" because public interest is paramount.
It had said merely because somebody is an accused or even a convict cannot be a ground for demolition of property.
A batch of pleas alleged that properties, including of those accused of crime, were being demolished in several states.
"Whatever we are laying down, we are a secular country. We are laying it down for all the citizens, for all the institutions, not for any particular community," the bench had said.
The top court was hearing the petitions filed by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and others seeking directions to various state governments to ensure no further demolition of properties of those accused in cases of rioting and violence takes place.
While hearing the matter earlier, the top court had observed that even one instance of illegal demolition was against the "ethos" of the Constitution. -- PTI
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22:32 Lakhimpur violence: HC grants bail to 12 accused
The Allahabad high court on Tuesday granted regular bail to 12 accused in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence which claimed at least eight lives, and in which former Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish is the main accused.
While approving the release of the accused on bail on Tuesday, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court asked them to cooperate in the trial or their bail would be revoked.
Prime accused Ashish Mishra was already granted regular bail by the Supreme Court in the case earlier this year.
The Allahabad HC bench that granted the bail to the 12 co-accused was presided over by Justice Krishna Pahal.
It approved separate bail petitions filed by Ankit Das, Nandan Singh Bisht, Latif alias Kale, Satyam Tripathi alias Satya Prakash Tripathi, Shekhar Bharti, Dharmendra Singh Banjara, Ashish Pandey, Rinku Rana, Ullas Kumar Trivedi alias Mohit Trivedi, Lavkush, Sumit Jaiswal and Shishupal.
The court had reserved its decision on October 18 after hearing the case in full and pronounced it on Tuesday via video conferencing from the Court.
In the court, the defense counsel argued that the case involves 114 witnesses, yet only seven have testified so far.
It also argued the Supreme Court has already granted regular bail to prime accused Ashish Mishra.
The state government and the complainant's counsel opposed the bail petitions. -- PTI
22:24 Parents receive skull of teenage daughter killed 18 years ago
Parents received the skull of their teenage daughter, who was killed 18 years ago, from a court in Kasaragod, Kerala.
The girl was murdered in Goa and chopped into pieces allegedly by a man from Kasaragod.
The victim Sofia was hailing from Coorg in neighbouring Karnataka and her parents wanted to perform last rites to their daughter, according to their religious customs.
The principal sessions court accepted their request and handed them over the skull of the girl on Monday.
The skull and fragments of bones, which were recovered from an isolated place some time after the death of the girl, became evidence in the case of murder of the teenage girl.
Besides her mother Ayesha and father Moithu, people from Aiyangeri in Coorg, a few close relatives of the deceased girl were also reportedly present when the skull was handed over by the court.
The mortal remains were taken to their native place and buried in a local masjid there on Monday night itself, family sources said.
According to police, 13-year-old Sofia was killed in December, 2006 in Goa while she was serving as a maid in the house of KC Hamsa, a contractor hailing from Kasaragod.
She allegedly suffered severe burns from kitchen and Hamsa, out of fear of punishment, killed the girl and chopped her body into pieces before dumping them in an under-construction dam site in Goa, they said.
The mortal remains were recovered in 2008.
Though the accused was arrested later and a local court sentenced him to death in 2015, the high court commuted his punishment into life imprisonment in 2019. -- PTI
22:12 Modi to attend two-day G20 summit in Brazil from Nov 18
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a three-nation visit from November 16-21 during which he will also travel to Brazil to attend the G20 summit, the ministry of external affairs said on Tuesday.
On the sidelines of the G20 summit, Modi is expected to meet several leaders.
The prime minister will visit Rio De Janeiro from November 18-19 to attend the G20 summit hosted by Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, the MEA said in a statement.
India is part of the G20 troika along with Brazil and South Africa, and has been actively contributing to the ongoing G20 summit discussions, it said.
"During the summit, the prime minister will put forward India's position on various issues of global importance and build on the outcomes from the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration and Voice of the Global South Summits which were hosted by India in the past two years," the MEA said.
On the invitation of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Modi will visit Nigeria from November 16-17.
This will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Nigeria in 17 years, according to the statement.
"During the visit, the prime minister will hold talks to review the strategic partnership between India and Nigeria and discuss further avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship," the statement said. -- PTI
Actor Salman Khan
21:38 Songwriter tries to extort Rs 5 cr from Salman
The Mumbai police on Tuesday arrested a budding song writer for allegedly sending threat messages to Bollywood actor Salman Khan and demanding Rs 5 crore from him in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, an official said.
Sohail Pasha, held from Raichur in Karnataka, wanted a song written by him to become famous and used this ploy for the purpose, the police claimed.
The WhatsApp helpline of Mumbai traffic police on November 7 received multiple messages stating that the sender was a member of the Bishnoi gang, and Salman Khan would be killed if he did not pay Rs 5 crore.
They would also kill the writer of the song Main Sikandar Hun, the sender warned.
The crime branch of Mumbai Police tracked down the mobile number from which the messages had come to Raichur.
Accordingly, a team was sent to Karnataka and Vyankatesh Narayan, who owned the number, was interrogated, the official said.
But Narayan's mobile phone had no Internet facility, he said. -- PTI
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21:16 Man held at Delhi airport for smuggling in heroin worth over Rs 29 cr
An Indian man has been arrested at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi for allegedly smuggling into the country heroin worth over Rs 29 crore, the customs department said on Tuesday.
It said the accused was intercepted upon arrival from Bangkok via Kuala Lumpur on November 9.
"During baggage search of the pax, white colour narcotics substance packed in 7 green colour polythene packets, totally net weighing 7.321 kg (without packing material) was recovered from trolley bag of the pax," a statement issued by the customs department said.
The recovered substance suspected to be heroin is valued at Rs 29.28 crore approximately, the statement said.
The passenger was arrested and the narcotic seized, it added. -- PTI
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20:58 Pitbull chews off owner's son's face in Bareilly
A pitbull chewed off its owner's 26-year-old son' lips and a part of his face in the Khalilpur area Bareilly, the police said.
The man, Aditya Shankar Gangwar, underwent surgery Monday night, Dr Kaushal Kumar, a senior surgeon at a private hospital, said on Tuesday.
Forest department ranger Vaibhav Chaudhary said the dog was caught by the municipal corporation team.
The civic body's risk in-charge Guru Charanjit Singh said the dog has been kept in the Animal Birth Centre, so that it does not attack anyone else.
Though the dog is calm since, the workers present there are scared of going near it, he said.
According to local residents, they heard Aditya screaming when the dog attacked him and rushed to save him.
Pitbull is known for its ferocious temper and is often seen attacking even the owners. -- PTI
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20:29 India, China to patrol once a week in Demchok, Depsang
Armies of India and China have agreed to carry out one coordinated patrol every week in the Demchok and Depsang areas in eastern Ladakh sector and have already completed one round of patrolling there.
The two sides had started coordinated patrols in the first week of the month after completing disengagement in both Demchok and Depsang in the last week of October.
The two sides have agreed to carry out one patrol each by both sides every week in Depsang and Demchok.
In each area, one patrol would be carried out by Indian troops and one patrol would be done by the Chinese troops, defence sources told ANI.
The two sides reached the agreement for disengagement from Depsang and Demchok in Eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control after multiple rounds of talks at political, diplomatic and military levels.
Indian and Chinese sides will continue to hold ground commanders-level of engagements at regular intervals in these areas. -- ANI
Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor
20:17 Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor rents out Mumbai apartment for Rs 20 lakh/month
Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor and his wife have given on rent a luxury apartment in Mumbai for over Rs 20 lakh per month, according to Square Yards.
The apartment, originally purchased in May 2024 for Rs 58.6 crore, was jointly acquired by Shahid and Mira Kapoor.
In a statement on Tuesday, real estate consultant Square Yards said Kapoor recently rented out the luxurious apartment in 'Three Sixty West' project at Worli.
The property spans 5,395 square feet of carpet area and 6,175.42 sq ft of built-up area, with three dedicated car parking spaces.
The project 'Three Sixty West', developed by Oberoi Realty, is a high-end residential project spread over 1.58 acres, offering 4 and 5 BHK ready-to-move-in apartments.
The lease agreement, registered in November 2024, is for a tenure of 60 months with an initial security deposit of Rs 1.23 crore.
The property will generate an average gross rental yield of 4-5 per cent, it said. -- PTI
19:47 BSE Sensex top losers today
Benchmark BSE Sensex tumbled by nearly 821 points or more than 1 percent and broader Nifty plunged below 23,900 level on Tuesday due to heavy selling in banking, power and auto shares and sluggish global trends.
The 30-share Sensex tumbled 820.97 points or 1.03 percent to settle at 78,675.18 with 25 of its constituents ending lower and five higher.
During the day, it plunged 948.31 points or 1.19 percent to 78,547.84.
From the 30-share Sensex pack, NTPC, Asian Paints, HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, Tata Motors, JSW Steel, Maruti and Power Grid were among the major laggards.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar
19:37 Uphold fair play, CEC tells observers for Maha polls
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday asked the Election Commission's central observers deployed for the Maharashtra assembly polls to uphold fair play, respond promptly to candidates' concerns and maintain professional conduct.
At a review meeting held with the central observers for the Maharashtra polls, Kumar directed them to be accessible to all candidates and parties without any favouritism.
"Any complaints in this regard will be viewed seriously," a functionary aware of the deliberations quoted the CEC as saying.
Addressing the observers from the national capital via video conference, he also asked them to maintain strict vigilance over the law-and-order situation and flow of any inducements like drugs, liquor, freebies and cash that can be used to vitiate the election space.
Kumar asserted that checking and screening by enforcement agencies should be done as per the established protocol and in a completely impartial manner, maintaining a level playing field.
Observers should see that central forces and state police forces maintain neutrality and their deployment is not favouring any political party or a candidate, he said.
CEC Kumar was of the view that observers can particularly ensure that the whole election process, specifically the campaign discourse, does not in any manner affect the dignity of women. -- PTI
Congress leader Jagadish Tytler
19:20 Delhi court acquits Jagadish Tytler, Abhishek Verma in forgery case
A Delhi court on Tuesday acquitted Congress leader Jagadish Tytler and controversial arms dealer Abhishek Verma in a 2009 case of allegedly forging the letterhead of then minister of state for home Ajay Maken, a defence lawyer said.
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja acquitted the accused, saying the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt, advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Verma, said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation had filed the case on Maken's complaint that a forged letter on his letterhead was written to the then prime minister by Verma seeking easing of business visa norms in 2009.
The CBI in its chargesheet had alleged that the "forgery was done with active connivance" of Tytler with Verma.
The forged letter was given to a China-based telecom firm with the purpose of wrongfully assuring them of visa extension in India, the CBI alleged.
It alleged that Verma had demanded one million dollars from the firm for showing the letter but the money did not exchange hands.
Acting on the complaint of Maken, the CBI had registered a case against Verma under section 469 of the IPC which relates to forgery for the purpose of harming reputation.
The full order is awaited. -- PTI
19:09 CPM leader Biman Bose hospitalised with fever
Veteran CPI-M leader Biman Bose was admitted to a hospital in Kolkata with a high fever, a party leader said.
Bose, the chairman of the CPI-M-led Left Front, was admitted to the hospital on Monday night after he returned from a trip to Malda and Uttar Dinajpur in northern West Bengal, he said.
"He has had a high fever for the last three days. He was unwilling to get admitted to the hospital but taking into account his age, we did not want to take any chances and decided to take him to the hospital," the leader said.
A doctor treating him said that a few tests were done and his condition is stable at present.
Bose was the state secretary of the CPI-M, and is at present, a special invitee to the party's central committee. -- PTI
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18:36 Taliban appoints acting consul in Mumbai Afghan mission
The Taliban regime has appointed Ikramuddin Kamil as the acting consul in the Afghan mission in Mumbai, Afghan media has reported.
It is the first such appointment made by the Taliban set up to any Afghan mission in India.
There was no immediate comment from the Indian side on the appointment that came.
The ministry of foreign affairs of Afghanistan has announced the appointment of Kamil as the acting consul in Mumbai, the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources.
"He is currently in Mumbai, where he is fulfilling his duties as a diplomat representing the Islamic Emirate," it said.
The appointment is part of Kabul's efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties with India and enhance its presence abroad, the media outlet said.
Kamil holds a PhD degree in international law and previously served as the deputy director in the department of security cooperation and border affairs in the foreign ministry, it said.
He is expected to facilitate consular services and represent the interests of Afghanistan in India, the report added. -- PTI
18:23 Liquor worth over Rs 29 cr seized from Channapatna in K'taka: EC
Nearly three lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 29 crore have been seized from Channapatna assembly segment, which goes to by-polls along with Shiggaon and Sandur in Karnataka, on Wednesday.
Among the three constituencies, the spotlight is on Channapatna, where Union minister and JD-S leader HD Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil has crossed swords with Congress heavyweight CP Yogeeshwara in a prestigious battle.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka, seizures made by the police, excise and other officials from October 16 to November 11 totaled Rs 33.33 crore -- over 300 litres of liquor from Shiggaon, 2926 litres of liquor from Sandur and 2,95,395 litres of liquor worth Rs 29 crore from Channapatna.
Meanwhile, 8.2 kgs of narcotics/drugs were seized from Shiggaon.
More than seven lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in about 770 polling stations in Shiggaon, Sandur and Channapatna, where a total of 45 candidates are in the fray.
By-polls for Sandur, Shiggaon, and Channapatna are necessitated, as the seats fell vacant following the election of their respective representatives -- E Tukaram of Congress, former CM Basavaraj Bommai of BJP, and H D Kumaraswamy of JD-S -- to Lok Sabha in the May elections. -- PTI
Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president YS Sharmila/File image
17:59 Jagan encouraged indecent social media posts on me: YS Sharmila
Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president YS Sharmila on Tuesday alleged that YSRCP supremo YS Jagan Mohan Reddy encouraged indecent posts against her on social media.
Alleging that she is a victim of vitriolic attacks on social media, Sharmila claimed that those attacks would have stopped had Reddy called for ending them.
Addressing a press conference at Andhra Ratna Bhavan in Vijayawada, Sharmila said, "They (social media activists) spoke as they liked, about me, Sunitha (late YS Vivekananda Reddy's daughter) and mother (YS Vijayamma). Jagan Mohan Reddy himself told them to make those indecent posts."
Observing that social media activists have emerged as a satanic army, she called for action and regulation on this virtual medium.
Though some social media activists have been nabbed, Sharmila said the actual perpetrators behind them should be apprehended and punished stringently.
Reacting to the state budget of Rs 2.94 lakh crore presented on Monday, the Congress president said it was a deceptive one and alleged that people were cheated after getting their votes.
Terming the budget as not a people's budget, she said, "People do not have clarity whether this is a budget or a manifesto. They repeated the statements made during the polls. Budget means allocations but this is a budget without an allocation." -- PTI
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17:31 35 killed as car rams into crowd in Chinese city
Thirty-five people were killed and 43 others injured when a car rammed into a crowd in China's Zhuhai City on Monday, official media reported on Tuesday.
Zhuhai is currently hosting China's prestigious airshow.
While the details of the incident have not yet been released, the state-run Xinhua news agency said that 35 people were killed and 43 others injured after a car rammed into people.
A 62-year-old driver has been detained, the police said.
It was not immediately clear whether it was an accident or an attack.
President Xi Jinping has urged all-out efforts to treat the people injured in the car-ramming case in Zhuhai City.
Xi also demanded punishment for the perpetrator in accordance with the law, the Xinhua report said. -- PTI
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17:26 Govt sanctions first all-women reserve battalion for CISF
A first-ever all-women Central Industrial Security Force reserve battalion comprising more than 1,000 personnel has been sanctioned by the Union government keeping in mind the burgeoning duties of the force at airports and other vital installations.
Officials told PTI that the unit will be raised from within the sanctioned manpower of the force of about two lakh personnel.
The Union home ministry issued a sanction order this week approving an exclusive women reserve unit in the force with a total strength of 1,025 personnel led by a senior commandant-rank officer, they said.
The Central Industrial Security Force has 12 reserve battalions under its establishment at present.
As the name suggests, these units are kept in reserve and used as reinforcement when the force gets a new job like temporary duties of conducting elections and permanent tasks of guarding an installation like the Parliament House complex that came under CISF cover this year, an official said.
The force has a huge women interface at facilities like the 68 civil airports that it guards, the Delhi Metro and historical monuments like the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort.
The force had projected a requirement of having an all-women reserve battalion which has been recently sanctioned, a home ministry official said.
Apart from these installations, the 1969-raised CISF provides a counter-terrorist security cover to a number of facilities in the nuclear and aerospace domain apart from those in the private sector like the Infosys offices in Bengaluru and Pune, Reliance refinery in Jamnagar (Gujarat), among others. -- PTI
16:32 Indian stock indices in red for 4th day
Indian equity indices, the BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50, both ended in the red on Tuesday, due to the losses in banking, auto, and financial sector stocks.
The markets extended the fourth consecutive day of declines driven by concerns over weak earnings and foreign fund outflows. At the end of the trading today, Nifty at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed at 23,883.45, down 257.85 points, and BSE Sensex closed at 78,675.18, declining 820.97 points.
Both benchmarks declined over one per cent. Losses were led by heavyweights like Britannia, Bharat Electronics, NTPC, Asian Paints, and HDFC Bank, with some stocks declining up to 7.3 per cent. On the other hand, Trent, Sun Pharma, Infosys, and HCL Tech bucked the trend, posting gains. -- ANI
16:25 See: Lahore's toxic, thick smog visible from space
Thick, toxic smog clouds enveloping Pakistani city Lahore , which has been reeling under severe pollution can in now visible from space as per satellite imagery taken by US space agency NASA, Geo News reported.
Various cities in Pakistan, including major ones like Multan and Islamanad are battling the smog crisis. Geo News reported that cities of Lahore and Multan have been blanketed by the dark haze which engulfed streets and blocked buildings from view.
According to the Swiss air quality technology company IQAir Lahore on Tuesday turned out to have the most polluted air in the world. At noon today the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore stood at 429 with one locality showing real time AQI reading of 720.
The deteriorating air quality in Pakistan saw the UNICEF issuing a warning that the highly polluted air in Punjab is posing severe risks to people, including more than 11 million children under the age of five, Geo News observed.
It stated that hundreds of people, including dozens of children, have been hospitalised in hard-hit cities, and the pollution is so severe that it is visible from space. -- ANI
16:16 Retail inflation rises to 6.21% in September amid higher food prices
Retail inflation rose to 6.21 per cent in October from 5.49 per cent in the preceding month mainly due to higher food prices, breaching the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) upper tolerance level, according to official data released on Tuesday.
The consumer price index-based inflation was 4.87 per cent in October 2023. The National Statistics Office data showed that inflation in the food basket rose to 10.87 per cent in October from 9.24 per cent in September and 6.61 per cent in the year-ago month.
The RBI, which kept the key short-term lending rate unchanged earlier this month, has been tasked by the government to ensure inflation remains at 4 per cent with a margin of 2 per cent on either side. PTI
16:12 What's happening in Khavda?
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani tweets, "It was a privilege to host the ambassadors from the EU, Belgium, Denmark and Germany at our office. I deeply appreciate their visit to the world's largest renewable energy park in Khavda, Gujarat, and India's largest port, logistics and industrial hub in Mundra. Our discussions were truly insightful, focusing on strengthening global partnerships to drive India's energy transition and accelerate the hydrogen ecosystem. At Adani, we continue to drive forward with our ambitious renewable energy initiatives while ensuring a balanced energy mix that supports a sustainable future for all of India."
15:40 Yes, Shah and Nadda's bags also checked: EC
A day after Shiv Sena (UBT) questioned the move of poll authorities to check the bag of party chief Uddhav Thackeray, sources in the Election Commission on Tuesday said aircraft and helicopters of top leaders across political spectrum are checked as part of standard operating procedure (SOP).
They said in the previous polls too, planes and helicopters of BJP president J P Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah were checked.
"There have been strict SOPs followed by enforcement agencies for a level playing field. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a similar issue was raised in Bihar and it was clarified that the helicopters of prominent leaders, including Nadda was checked in district Bhagalpur on April 24 and Shah in district Katihar on April 21 were also checked as per SOP," a functionary pointed out.
The sources also recalled the statement of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar during the announcement of ongoing assembly elections that directions have been given to the enforcement agencies to ensure checking of helicopters of all leaders for a level playing field.
Thackeray had on Monday claimed his bag was inspected by the election authorities when he arrived in Maharashtra's Yavatmal to campaign for the November 20 assembly elections. The former chief minister asked if the election authorities would also inspect the bags of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) also posted on X a video Thackeray recorded while poll officials were checking his bags on his arrival in Yavatmal. In the video, Thackeray can be heard asking officials if they had similarly inspected the bags of any other senior leader or if they would check PM Modi or Union Home Minister Shah's bags.
Thackeray recounted this experience while addressing a public meeting at Wani in Yavatmal. PTI
15:03 MVA bhrashtachar ke sabse bade khiladi: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the opposition 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' over the growth in the state and accused the alliance of putting a break in the development of Maharashtra.
Likening the MVA as the 'biggest player of corruption,' the Prime Minister said that the MVA has done a 'PHD' in putting brakes and 'stalling, hanging and wandering' the development projects of the city.
Addressing a rally in Chandrapur's Chimbur, PM Modi said, "Maharashtra ka tez vikas Aghadi walo ki baski baat nai hai. MVA ne keval kaamo par break lagane mai PHD ki hai. Kaamo ko atkana, latkana aur bhatkana."
Taking a shot at the Congress, PM Modi said that the party has done a double PhD and is an expert in this concept of putting a break in the development works.
"Ye Congress wale toh isme expert hai, 2.5 years mai inhone har vikas ki projects ko rokne ki koshish ki hai. Aghadi wale hai bhrashtachar ke sabse bade Khiladi," said PM Modi. -- ANI
14:32 Srinagar grenade attack: Woman dies of injuries
A woman, who was injured in a grenade attack at a popular flea market here earlier this month, succumbed to injuries on Tuesday, officials said. The grenade attack on November 3 at the Sunday market near the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) here had left 12 persons injured.
The 45-year-old woman succumbed to injuries at the SMHS hospital this morning. She was identified as Abida, a resident of Naidkhai area of Bandipora district in north Kashmir. Police has arrested three terror associates of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, who were involved in the grenade attack. Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, V K Birdi on Friday said the Srinagar Police solved the attack case with the arrest of three terror associates.
"The arrested persons have been identified as Usama Yasin Sheikh, Umar Fayaz Sheikh and Afnan Mansoor Sheikh. All three belong to the Ikhrajpora area of the city," Birdi told reporters. He said the terror associates carried out the attack at the instance of Pakistani handlers with the aim of disturbing peace and tranquility.
"A case under UAPA [Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act] has been registered against the trio," he added. PTI
Image: Security personnel conduct a cordon and search operation
13:46 'Modi ki Guarantee' fell flat on June 4: Congress
The Congress on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the promises made by him for Jharkhand, saying the 'Modi ki Guarantee' campaign fell flat when Lok Sabha polls results came out and the people of Jharkhand will finish whatever is left of it as well on November 13 and 20 Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh listed some of the promises made by the PM and also the current status of the projects.
"Medical College in Koderma: The college was supposed to be built on --70 acres of land and offer 100 MBBS seats. The non-biological PM laid its foundation stone six years ago, in 2018, and then promised to complete the project again in 2019. It is yet to materialize," he said.
Ramesh pointed out that during his campaign for Jharkhand's 2014 assembly elections, Modi had promised a range of industrial and educational projects, including a premier IT institution and several engineering colleges.
However, only two institutions were ever established, National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT Ranchi) and Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET Khunti), he said, adding that these too, after nine and seven years respectively, do not have a permanent campus.
"In October 2022, the Railway Ministry sanctioned the Chatra-Gaya rail project but two years later, no progress has been made. BJP leaders have consistently promised the Korba-Lohardaga line, but it has also been given a silent burial," Ramesh said.
"Just ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the PM laid the foundation stone of the Mandal dam project with great fanfare," he said.
"Conceptualised to address agrarian distress in Jharkhand and Bihar, the project has languished even while the state has suffered back-to-back droughts in recent years," Ramesh claimed.
The Congress leader further said that Jamshedpur had a functional airport until 2016 but despite being inducted into the UDAN scheme in 2018, plans for a new airport have failed to materialise.
"In January 2019, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Jharkhand Government and the Airports Authority of India for the construction of Dhalbhumgarh Airport by December 2022. This would have been a massive boost to the industrial sector, from major players like Tata to the MSME sector in Adityapur," he said. -- PTI
13:19 Death threat to SRK: Assault case filed
Mumbai police on Tuesday filed a case of assault against the man who was arrested from Chhattisgarh for allegedly issuing a death threat to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
The accused has been identified as Faizan Khan. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Raipur, Santosh Singh said, "A team of Bandra police from Mumbai reached Pandri police station. They have arrested Faizan Khan in the case of threatening actor Shah Rukh Khan. He was given a notice a few days ago. After the investigation, he was found guilty and arrested."
"The accused is being taken to Mumbai on transit remand. A case of assault is already registered against him," said the SSP.
The suspect is currently being questioned by the police officials. Last week, the Mumbai Police received a call threatening Shah Rukh at the Bandra station. The caller even demanded Rs 50 lakh, following which the police registered a case and dispatched a team to Raipur for further investigation. More details regarding the suspect have not been disclosed yet.
The threat to Shah Rukh follows a series of threats issued to fellow friend and Bollywood star Salman Khan, allegedly from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Earlier on October 24, Mumbai Police arrested a man from Jamshedpur who had threatened Bollywood actor Salman Khan in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and demanded a ransom of Rs 5 crore. The police registered a case against an unknown person and started an investigation after Mumbai Traffic Police received a threatening message. -- ANI
13:04 Dogs maul toddler to death in Andhra
A fourteen-month-old boy succumbed to injuries after he was attacked by a group of stray dogs in Andhra Pradesh's NTR district, police said. According to the police, the boy was attacked by a group of stray dogs on Monday while playing outside his house in Model colony of the Penuganchiprolu area.
The boy was rushed to a nearby government hospital in Nandigama but succumbed to his injuries there, they said. Family of the victim boy and the villagers protested at the old cinema hall in Penuganchiprolu area following the boy's death calling for a sustainable solution to the attacks.
The protestors also demanded justice on the boy's death. Gopal Rao, the boy's father, said that a group of stray dogs attacked his son while he was playing outside the house leading to his death.
He said that stray dogs were wandering in the village in large numbers. The villagers said that many parents are now worried about the safety of their children and they are afraid to let them out to play. -- ANI
12:22 Two bodies recovered in Manipur's Jiribam
Bodies of two elderly men were recovered on Tuesday morning in Manipur's Jiribam district where a gunfight between suspected militants and security forces broke out a day before, police said.
During a search operation for missing persons, the bodies of Laishram Balen and Maibam Kesho were detected in debris in Jakuradhor Karong area where a few shops were set on fire by suspected militants on Monday, a senior officer said.
"The two elderly men died after the insurgents torched a few shops in Jakuradhor Karong area," he said.
The search operation has been launched as five individuals have been reported missing, the police said. The Jiribam district administration imposed prohibitory orders to avoid any untoward incident in the area, the officer said.
A shutdown has been observed since 5 am on Tuesday in Kuki-Zo majority areas in the hills to protest against killing of suspected insurgents in the gunfight with security personnel, another police officer said. The Kuki-Zo Council called for a total shutdown in the hill areas of the state from 5 am to 6 pm on Tuesday to express their "collective grief and solidarity who were brutally shot dead".
Eleven suspected militants were killed in the fierce gunfight with security forces on Monday after insurgents in camouflage uniforms, armed with sophisticated weapons, fired indiscriminately at a police station and an adjacent CRPF camp in Jiribam district.
Two CRPF personnel also sustained injuries during the heavy exchange of fire at Borobekra, and the condition of one of them was stated to be critical, another officer said. The situation in Jiribam remained calm but tense on Tuesday morning with policemen patrolling at vulnerable points, he said. -- PTI
12:17 No reservation of jobs for Muslims: Karnataka govt
The Karnataka Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on Tuesday responded to media reports claiming that the state government was considering a proposal for Muslim reservation in jobs, calling the reports "another new lie."
The statement clarified that while there has been demand for reservation, "there is no proposal before the government in this regard."
This clarification comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding the issue of reservations for Muslims in Karnataka. The official statement from the CMO said, "A report has been published in some media that a proposal to give reservations to Muslims in jobs is before the government."
"It is true that there has been a demand for reservation. However, it has been clarified that there is no proposal before the government in this regard," the CMO added. -- ANI
11:52 Melania may skip traditional meet with Jill Biden
Former US First Lady Melania Trump is not expected to attend the traditional White House meeting with first lady Jill Biden, according to a report by CNN.
This development follows on the heels of Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 US Elections.
As per CNN, the sources familiar with Melania Trump's plans cited a prior scheduling conflict for the former first lady related to her newly released memoir. One source said the decision had not been finalized.
Jill Biden extended Melania Trump the customary invitation last week as her husband also invited the president-elect to the Oval Office, a symbolic gesture to show the country and the world that there will be a peaceful transition of power.
Donald Trump and Joe Biden are set to meet on Wednesday, according to the White House.
There was discussion about encouraging Melania Trump to come to Washington for the meeting, as some members of the president-elect's team felt it was important, the report stated.
Aside from 2020, it has been tradition for the current first lady to host the incoming first lady at the White House. In 2016, then-first lady Michelle Obama hosted Melania Trump for tea in the White House's Yellow Oval Room and took her on a tour of the private residence.
11:48 Encounter underway in J-K
An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district on Tuesday, officials said. Based on a specific intelligence input regarding presence of terrorists, security forces launched a search operation in Nagmarg in the north Kashmir district, they said.
After suspicious activity was observed, the security forces challenged the terrorists, who fired at the forces. The firing was effectively retaliated, leading to the encounter. The operation is underway. PTI
11:20 Nana Patole calls BJP 'dogs' in Akola rally
Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole has stirred controversy with a purported "dog" jibe against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticising its alleged treatment of the OBC community in the Akola district of the State, which is heading to Assembly polls.
Campaigning for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, of which Congress is a part of, Patole on Monday, "I want to ask, will the OBC people of Akola district vote for the BJP who are calling you dogs? It is time to make the BJP a dog now; they have become so arrogant."
Patole accused the BJP of disrespecting the OBC community. His remarks are expected to intensify the ongoing political rivalry between the MVA and Mahayuti.
Similar controversies have taken place earlier. Previously Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant reportedly referred to Shaina NC, a leader who defected from the BJP to the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde, as "imported maal."
Sawant criticized her defection, saying, "Look at her condition. She was in the BJP all her life and now she went to another party. Imported 'maal' doesn't work here; only original 'maal' does." Sawant later apologized for his sexist remark.
11:06 Veteran Bengali actor Manoj Mitra dies at 86
Famous Bengali theatre personality Manoj Mitra, known for writing and directing farces and fantasies to highlight social and political issues, died on Tuesday in a hospital here due to old-age related ailments, family sources said.
Mitra was 86.
According to a doctor, Mitra breathed his last at around 8.50 am on Tuesday.
"He was admitted to the hospital on November 3 with several illnesses. His condition kept on deteriorating and today at around 8.50 am he left us," the doctor told PTI.
The octogenarian was earlier admitted to hospital on September 20 with breathing issues, imbalance of sodium and potassium among other health-related issues, doctors said. He was discharged from the hospital on September end.
Famous for his stellar performance in Tapan Sinha's film 'Banchharamer Bagan', Mitra has also acted in the legendary director Satyajit Ray's classics such as 'Ghare Baire' and 'Ganashatru'. Bancharamer Bagan was based on Mitra's play 'Sajano Bagaan'.
Known for his comedy and antagonist roles, Mitra has also acted in films of Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Basu Chatterjee, Tarun Majumdar, Shakti Samanta and Goutam Ghose.
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi
10:45 Delhi biz men get 160 extortion calls in 300 days
Businessmen in Delhi are experiencing restless nights, having received around 160 extortion calls till October this year, averaging one call every other day, police sources said on Tuesday.
The majority of these calls originate from foreign-based gangsters or their associates, using Voice Over Internet Protocol or international phone numbers, they said.
According to the sources, the calls were received mostly by builders and property dealers, jewellers, and owners of sweet shops and car showrooms across the city. Around 160 extortion calls to businessmen have been reported till October (around 300 days) this year.
In some cases, the calls were followed by firing outside the house of the office of the targeted individual, a source said. Last week, seven such cases were reported in just four days where gangsters targeted a jeweller, gym owner, property dealer, sweet shop owner and a motor workshop owner among others. In one such incident reported from Rohini on November 5, three men entered a showroom and fired in the air. They left behind an extortion note with the names of gangsters and an amount written on it.
"Yogesh Dahia, Fajje Bhai and Monti Mann and Rs 10 crore", said the note. In another case on November 7, a call was made by an international number demanding Rs 7 crore from a gym owner in Nangloi. The caller claimed to be associated with jailed gangster Deepak Boxer, who is an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi.
In all the seven cases, FIRs have been registered and separate teams of the Special Cell and Crime Branch are working to nab the culprits, a police officer said.
According to the Delhi Police's statistics accessed by PTI, a total of 133 extortion cases were reported from across the national capital till August 15, this year.
A total of 141 such cases were reported during the same period last year and the figure for 2022 was 110, according to the statistics. Police said 204 cases of people getting extortion calls were reported throughout 2023 and 187 in 2022.
A police officer, who handles such cases, said the callers mostly use VOIP numbers or WhatsApp numbers taken on fake SIM cards. Sources said police have identified 11 gangs involved in making the extortion calls as well as shootings and murders in the national capital region in the last few months.
The gangs include Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar, Himanshu Bhau, Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu, Jitender Gogi-Sampat Nehra, Hashim Baba, Sunil Tillu, Kaushal Chaudhary, Neeraj Faridpuria and Neeraj Bawana.
10:29 Awww!
Rahul and Priyanka share a sibling moment during the campaign trail for the bypolls in Wayanad. Rahul captioned the image: 'Ek hazaron mein meri behan hai'.
10:23 Rupee falls 2 paise to all-time low of 84.40 against USD
The rupee slipped 2 paise to an all-time low of 84.40 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday, as persistent foreign fund outflows and strength of the American currency in the overseas market dented investors' sentiments.
Forex traders said the rupee is expected to trade between 83.80 and 84.50 in the medium term with the Reserve Bank of India likely limiting any significant downside, aided by its robust foreign exchange reserves.
Pic: Mike Segar/Reuters
10:01 NSA Mike Waltz will be good for India-US relationship: Ro Khanna
Congressman Mike Waltz, who was tapped by President-elect Donald Trump as his National Security Advisor, "would be good" for the India-US relationship, Indian-American Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna has said.
Khanna, 48, and Waltz, 50, are respectively the Democratic and Republican Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, which is the largest country-specific caucus in the House of Representatives. "I am confident he will be very good for the US-India relationship," Khanna told PTI soon after the news broke that Walz was tapped by Trump as his National Security Advisor.
Waltz was tapped by Trump on Monday. He would replace Jake Sullivan as the National Security Advisor after Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025.
"I have a great relationship with Mike Waltz, and he was always good to work with. We travelled to India together when we led a delegation in 2023 for India's Independence Day, Khanna told PTI. Both Khanna and Waltz have worked together on a number of key issues related to India US relationship. -- PTI
09:51 Madonna's yoga guru passes away
Yoga guru Sharath Jois, who taught in Virginia, United States, has passed away. He was 53. He taught ashtanga yoga to a number of global celebrities including Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sting.
The farmers stir in 2023
09:39 Farmers hold Punjab cops captive, attack them
A Punjab police team was attacked on Monday by members of a farmers' union in Raike Kalan village, Bathinda, during the ongoing paddy procurement process.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Harbans Singh Dhaliwal confirmed that an Inspector and a Naib Tehsildar were briefly held captive by the farmers. An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) suffered injuries in the attack and was hospitalised.
DSP Dhaliwal said, "In Raike Kalan village, the farmers' union gheraoed the Inspector and Naib Tehsildar during paddy procurement. When our police party arrived, they requested the release of our officers, but the farmers' union didn't relent."
"When the police party tried to get them released, they (farmers' union) attacked them. One of our officials was injured. Our vehicles were vandalised. Tehsildar and Inspector were freed. We are speaking with the offices if others were injured too. An ASI-rank officer was attacked with the intent to kill. He has sustained injuries. He was attacked with sticks, a kirpan and a machete...We will take action as per law." he added.
This incident comes amid increasing criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab over its handling of paddy procurement.
Pic courtesy: @beastieboy07
09:35 Hindi, Punjabi headlines for King Kohli's arrival in Oz newspaper
Virat Kohli landed in Australia on Sunday night, 12 days before the start of the first Test in Perth on November 22. Kohli became the first of a large group of Team India players set to arrive in Australia.
Australia papers carried Virat Kohli's arrival as expected but as Bharat Sunderasan puts it: "... is the norm whenever India are in town but never expected to see Hindi and Punjabi appearing in the Adelaide Advertiser. Tells you about the magnitude of the #AusvInd series for Australia & cricket in this country."
The rest of the Indian team will arrive in two batches, with the first one consisting the likes of Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. Team India are set to practise at the WACA Ground in Perth, ahead of the first Test.
09:26 Case against RGV for posts on AP CM, family
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has landed in legal trouble for allegedly posting content related to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders, including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, his son Nara Lokesh and daughter-in-law Brahmani on social media.
A police case was filed in Prakasam district following a complaint lodged by TDP Manadal secretary Ramalingam.
According to sub-inspector Siva Ramaiah, the case was registered under the provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act.
"An investigation into the allegations has been launched," the sub-inspector informed.
Ram Gopal Varma allegedly posted controversial content on social media as part of the promotions for his movie 'Vyuham'.The complaint was lodged on Sunday night against him. Ram Gopal is best known for directing films such as 'Rangeela', 'Company' and 'Satya'. -- ANI
08:54 Baba Siddiqui murder: 5 accused sent to police custody
Mumbai's Killa Court on Monday sent Shiva Kumar, the main accused and shooter in Baba Siddiqui murder case, along with four other accused, to police custody till November 19. All accused were arrested by a joint team of UP Special Task Force (STF) and the Mumbai Crime Branch from Nanpara area of Uttar Pradesh's (UP) Bahraich on Sunday.
NCP leader Baba Siddique was shot dead by three assailants near his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique's, office in Mumbai's Nirmal Nagar on October 12. The gang led by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has claimed responsibility for the murder.
Meanwhile, in the backdrop of NCP leader Baba Siddique's murder, the Mumbai Crime Branch has revealed that another Pune leader was on the radar of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which was planning to eliminate the latter and had given the responsibility of carrying out the crime through its shooters.
According to the information received from a senior officer of the Mumbai Crime Branch, the investigation of the Mumbai Crime Branch has revealed that after the murder of Baba Siddiqui, a big leader of Pune was also on the radar of the Bishnoi gang. "The Lawrence Bishnoi gang was planning to kill the Pune leader too and the responsibility of carrying out the crime was given to the shooters involved in Plan B," said the official.
08:46 Kharge hostile to Sanatan Dharma: Ex-Cong leader
Acharya Pramod Krishnam, a former Congress leader and Kalki Peethadhishwar, hit out at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge over his remarks on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying "true Hindus" do not disrespect their religious figures.
Kharge had slammed Adityanath at a poll rally in Nagpur for his 'batenge toh katenge' (if divided, we will be wiped out) slogan, saying these were divisive statements.
A day later at a Jharkhand poll rally, he said, "A true Yogi cannot use language like batenge toh katenge'. This language is used by terrorists. Yogi is head of a mutt, wears saffron robes, but believes in mukh me Ram bagal me chhuri' (A wolf in lamb's clothing).
Kharge said those who truly want a united country should refrain from such statements. Reacting to the Congress president's remarks, Krishnam said on Monday, The name Mallikarjun Kharge suggests he is Hindu, but his actions do not reflect that."
The kind of remarks Kharge has been making indicate a certain hostility towards Sanatan Dharma, he said.
"Those who have animosity towards Sanatan Dharma and saints do not deserve a place in Indian politics. Kharge, a senior leader, should not resort to insulting Hindu saints or Sanatan Dharma or the saffron flag. True Hindus do not disrespect their own religious figures," he said. -- PTI
08:19 Trump's choice for secretary of state is...
President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate Sen. Marco Rubio to serve as secretary of State, according to two people informed of the decision. If confirmed for the role, Rubio may bring some more traditional GOP views into Trump's foreign policy orbit.
The Florida Republican has hawkish views on many U.S. foes, but he has also championed maintaining alliances, such as NATO. It's unclear whether Rubio would endorse large-scale cuts to the State Department workforce as some Trump allies hope to push through, but he will likely support some reforms to the institution.
Trump has also asked Rep. Mike Waltz to be his national security adviser.
The nod came despite simmering concerns on Capitol Hill about Trump tapping members of the House, where the final tally is still uncertain and there are worries about pulling any GOP members from the chamber because that would force a new election to fill the empty seat. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter before Trump made a formal announcement.
Read the full story here
RPF constable Chetansinh Chaudhary and the train in which firing took place/File image
00:58 July 2023 train firing: Trial begins as Mumbai court records testimony of first witness
More than 15 months after four people were gunned down on a Mumbai-bound train allegedly by a RPF constable, the trial in the case commenced on Monday with a city court recording the testimony of the first witness, who identified the weapon used in the crime.
RPF constable Chetansinh Chaudhary, the lone accused in the case who was later dismissed from service, is accused of fatally shooting his superior officer assistant sub-inspector Tika Ram Meena and three passengers on board the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express when the train was on the city's outskirts.
The first witness, also a dismissed Railway Protection Force staffer, was with Chaudhary at the time of the shooting.
He is also the complainant in the case.
On the opening day of the trial, the evidence presented by the complainant was recorded before Additional Sessions Judge M L More.
During his examination-in-chief, the witness identified the weapon used in the crime (examination-in-chief refers to process of questioning a witness by the party who has called them to testify).
As per Chaudhary's lawyer, Jaywant Patil, testimony of the witness was recorded in absence of the accused as he couldn't be connected through video conferencing from a jail due to technical reasons.
The dismissed RPF constable is lodged in a jail in eastern Maharashtra's Akola district, about 550km from Mumbai. -- PTI
Prajwal Revanna/File image
00:32 SC rejects bail plea of ex-MP Prajwal Revanna booked for rape
The Supreme Court on Monday denied bail to former JD-S MP Prajwal Revanna, accused of rape and sexual assault.
Rejecting the plea, a bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma observed Revanna was a "very influential person".
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the politician, argued that the chargesheet had been filed in the case without the charge of Section 376 (rape) of the IPC.
The bench, however, observed it could not interfere with the Karnataka high court's October 21 decision denying him bail.
Subsequently, Rohatgi sought the liberty to approach the court after six months.
The bench said it could not say anything about it and dismissed the plea. In August, a special investigation team in Karnataka which is probing four cases of sexual assault and harassment against Revanna submitted a 2,144-page chargesheet.
The chargesheet pertains to an alleged rape case against the former MLA. Revanna is the son of Holenarasipura JD-S MLA H D Revanna and the grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda. --PTI
MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal/ANI Photo
00:11 BJP MLA raises waqf issue at temple event, hooted out
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal was on Monday forced to leave a venue in Bagalkote he was invited to when he tried to bring up the waqf issue during a temple inauguration.
The MLA representing Vijayapura constituency was invited for the inauguration of Allama Prabhu temple in Terdal in Bagalkote district.
As soon as he raised the Waqf Board issuing eviction notices, outraged people hooted at him and asked him not to raise the matter.
They told him to stick to the topic of temple inauguration and Allama Prabhu.
Muslims in the area are said to have donated Rs 6 lakh for the construction of the temple.
After being hooted, the MLA stopped his speech midway and left the venue. -- PTI
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