LIVE
Thu, 17 October 2024
NEET aspirant ends life in Kota, 15th case this year
Timeline Refresh
Former MLA Pranab Kumar Balabantaray/Courtesy Facebook
23:55 Tension after eggs hurled at former MLA in Odisha
Tension erupted in Odisha's Jajpur district on Thursday after some youths hurled eggs at the vehicle of Biju Janata Dal leader and former Dharmasala MLA Pranab Kumar Balabantaray.
The incident took place at Kurikana village within Dharmsala assembly constituency in the district when Balabantaray was on way to visit various Laxmi Puja pandals.
A group of youths raised slogans against him and targeted his vehicle as he returned from one of the pandals, the police said.
The police from Jenapur police station arrived at the scene and launched an investigation into the incident.
Despite eggs being thrown at his vehicle, Balabantaray continued his visits to the pandals.
Balabantaray alleged that supporters of Dharmasala MLA Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo may have been involved. Balabantaray, son of late minister and Rajya Sabha MP Kalpataru Das, lost his seat to independent candidate Sahoo in the 2024 assembly elections. -- PTI
23:24 NEET aspirant ends life in Kota, 15th case this year
A 20-year-old NEET-UG aspirant from Uttar Pradesh allegedly hanged himself in his PG in Kota, the coaching hub's fifteenth suspected suicide death this year.
The incident happened in the Dadabari police station area of Kota city on Wednesday night, police said on Thursday.
According to police, when the youth failed to respond to knocks on the door of his room and calls from family members on Wednesday night, the caretaker of the PG alerted the police.
After arriving at the scene, police entered the room and found his body, they said.
The police said Ashutosh Chorasia, who hailed from Mirzapur, UP, had been preparing for the medical entrance test in Kota for the past six months.
The youth's body has been placed in the hospital mortuary, awaiting the arrival of his parents for the post-mortem, they said. -- PTI
Tamil Nadu assembly Speaker M Appavu/Courtesy Facebook
23:20 TN Speaker moves HC to quash AIADMK leader's defamation case against him
Tamil Nadu assembly Speaker M Appavu on Thursday approached the Madras high court to quash a defamation complaint pending against him before a special court, trying cases related to MPs and MLAs.
Justice G Jayachandran, before whom the petition came up for hearing, ordered notice to the complainant, the AIADMK advocates wing joint secretary, Babu Murugavel.
The judge posted to October 22, for further hearing of the case.
In his petition, Appavu submitted that Babu Murugavel, in his complaint, made an allegation against him, that he had defamed the AIADMK.
The allegation was that on November 21, 2023, the petitioner had claimed that 40 AIADMK MLAs had been 'ready' to switch over to the DMK after the demise of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in 2016.
Appavu said Babu Murugavel, has, therefore claimed, that the petitioner has committed an offence under sections 499 and 500 of the IPC.
The Speaker said a reading of the private complaint reveals that it was illegal, inherently improbable and had political motives.
Therefore, the complaint before the court is liable to be quashed. -- PTI
Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar/Reuters/ANI Photo
22:31 Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar among 3 killed by Israel
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed on Thursday that three terrorists have been eliminated during its operations in Gaza, one of whom can be Hamas chief and one of the masterminds behind the horrific October 7 attacks last year.
The IDF and Israel Security Agency are investigating the possibility of Sinwar's death.
But, the identities of the terrorists have not been officially confirmed at this stage.
IDF shared a post on X and wrote, "During IDF operations in Gaza, 3 terrorists were eliminated. The IDF and ISA are checking the possibility that one of the terrorists was Yahya Sinwar."
"At this stage, the identity of the terrorists cannot be confirmed. In the building where the terrorists were eliminated, there were no signs of the presence of hostages in the area. The forces that are operating in the area are continuing to operate with the required caution. SAID IDF," the post added.
This developments comes weeks after Israel eliminated another high-profile leader, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah through airstrikes in Lebanon. -- ANI
NCP leader Baba Siddique/File image
22:17 Siddique murder: Look-out circular against 3 accused
The Mumbai police probing the murder of Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique have issued a look-out circular against three accused, including main shooter Shivkumar Gautam, to prevent them from fleeing the country, an official said on Thursday.
The other two accused named in the LOC are the "co-conspirator' Shubham Lonkar and suspected handler Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar. crime branch teams of the Mumbai police have been sent to various parts of the country to nab the accused, the official said.
The LOC has been issued since the accused might attempt to flee the country.
As per the circular, all seaports and airports have been put on alert to apprehend them, he said. Siddique (66), a former Maharashtra minister, was shot dead on October 12 night outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Mumbai's upscale Bandra.
The police have so far arrested four persons, including Haryana resident Gurmail Baljit Singh (23), Uttar Pradesh native Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap (19), both alleged shooters; Harishkumar Balakram Nisad (23), and "co-conspirator' and Shubham Lonkar's brother Pravin Lonkar, who hails from Pune. -- PTI
File image
22:11 Prohibitory orders remain in force in Uttarakhand's Gauchar for 3rd day
Prohibitory orders imposed in the wake of a clash remained in force in Gauchar and Karnaprayag of Chamoli district for the third consecutive day on Thursday.
Shops owned by Muslims did not open on Thursday even three days after the incident.
The clash began with an argument between two youths over parking of a scooter on Tuesday and escalated into a fight.
The violence left one Kailash Bisht seriously injured.
As tensions escalated, the district administration clamped prohibitory orders in Gauchar and the adjoining Karnaprayag municipal area.
A case has been registered against 70-80 unidentified people under different sections of the BNS including that of rioting, Chamoli superintendent of police Sarvesh Panwar said
Four people arrested earlier in connection with the communal flare-up have been released on bail, he said.
They are Shadab Ahmad, 21, Usman, 28, Asif, 26, and Sarik, 26, all of whom hail from Uttar Pradesh, he said. -- PTI
Representational image
21:56 Extension for enhanced insurance benefits for EPFO members
Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday announced an extension of the enhanced insurance benefits for all members of retirement fund body EPFO under Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme.
The move will ensure up to Rs 7 lakh of life cover to more than 6 crore EPFO members.
The scheme has been extended with retrospective effect from April 28, 2024 onwards, Mandaviya told reporters.
The EDLI Scheme, launched in 1976, seeks to provide insurance benefits to members of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in order to ensure some financial assistance to each member's family in case of the member's death.
In 2018, the minimum insurance cover of Rs 1.5 lakh was introduced under the scheme.
Till April 2021, the maximum benefits to the legal heir of the deceased employee was capped at Rs 6 lakh as per the criteria defined in the EDLI Scheme. Later, the government, through a notification issued on April 28, 2021, enhanced both minimum and maximum benefits under the scheme to Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 7 lakh, respectively, for the next three years.
Further, the condition of continuous service of 12 months in an establishment was also relaxed so as to cover even those employees who changed jobs during that period.
These benefits were effective for the three-year period which came to an end on April 27, 2024.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi/File image
21:37 Atishi yet to receive possession of Flagstaff Road bungalow: CMO
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has received a letter from PWD about allocation of 6, Flagstaff Road bungalow but is yet to take possession of the house, a statement from the CMO said on Thursday.
Atishi is still at AB-17, Mathura Road residence that was allocated to her last year when she was appointed a minister of Delhi government, it said.
"Chief Minister Atishi received an allocation letter for 6, Flgastaff Road on late Wednesday night. However, she has not received possession of the house as of yet," read the statement from the Delhi chief minister's office.
The bungalow in the posh Civil Lines area was formally allotted to Atishi by the Public Works Department on October 11, amid a controversy over handing over process of the house after it was vacated by her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal.
The bungalow was occupied by ex-CM Arvind Kejriwal for over nine years.
He vacated the bungalow earlier this month, after stepping down as chief minister.
Officials said that the chief minister accepted allocation of the bungalow. She moved in the bungalow on October 7 but was made to vacate it two days later pending completion of formalities, including preparation of an inventory of items in it. -- PTI
File image
21:05 UK scrambles fighter jet to intercept AI plane after bomb threat
The Royal Air Force on Thursday scrambled a Typhoon fighter jet to intercept an Air India aircraft that received a bomb threat and the plane later landed safely in London.
The bomb threat was received for the Air India plane from Mumbai to London, an airline official said.
"We can confirm that RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft from RAF Coningsby were launched this afternoon, to investigate a civilian aircraft," a Royal Air Force spokesperson said.
Following an uneventful interception the aircraft was released to continue to its original destination under the direction of civilian air traffic control, the spokesperson said.
Further, the spokesperson said the incident is now being handled under the control of civilian authorities.
The airline official said the flight landed safely at London Heathrow airport.
A loud sonic boom was heard in East Anglia region of England as the jets were scrambled, authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons. -- PTI
Former minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav/Courtesy Facebook
20:53 Haryana Cong leader Capt Ajay Yadav quits party, alleges shabby treatment
Soon after the Haryana assembly elections, senior Congress leader and former minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav on Thursday quit the party alleging shabby treatment after Sonia Gandhi left the post of party president.
He said he was quitting the party and also resigning as chairman of the All India Congress Committee's Other Backward Classes department.
Yadav (65) said he is disillusioned with the party high command "for treating me shabbily after Sonia Gandhi left the post of Congress President".
"I have sent my resignation letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji from Chairman AICC OBC Department and also from primary membership of Indian National Congress party @kharge @RahulGandhi @SoniaGandhiiINC," Yadav posted on X.
"This decision of resigning was really hard decision with whom my family had 70 years of association as my father late Rao Abhey Singh became MLA in 1952 and there after I continued with family tradition but am disillusioned with the party high command for treating me shabbily after Sonia Gandhi left the post of Congress President @kharge @RahulGandhi @SoniaGandhiiINC," Yadav posted on X. -- PTI
20:33 Hearing in defamation case against Rahul in UP postponed to Oct 31
The hearing in the MP-MLA court in Sultanpur in a defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, scheduled for Thursday, was postponed as the special judge was on leave.
The next date of the hearing has been set for October 31.
"As the special judge of MP-MLA court, Shubham Verma, was on leave, the date for the next hearing has been set for October 31," plaintiff's advocate Santosh Kumar Pandey said.
During the previous hearing in the case on October 9, the court recorded the statement of Vijay Mishra, a local Bharatiya Janata Party leader who has filed the case against the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Gandhi has been accused of making objectionable comments during the 2018 Karnataka polls about Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was then the BJP president. -- PTI
20:11 Namaste, Lawrence bhai...: Salman's ex-girlfriend's request to gangster
Former model and actor Somy Ali has reached out to Lawrence Bishnoi via social media and requested an audience with the jailed gangster over a Zoom call, saying she has some details to share that would "benefit" him.
Her post came days after the murder of Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, who police say may have been targeted by Bishnoi because of his proximity to superstar Salman Khan.
Ali, who was believed to be in a relationship with Khan back in the 1990s, sent a "direct message" to Bishnoi on Wednesday through an Instagram post.
"Namaste, Lawrence bhai, I've heard and seen that you are able to do Zoom calls despite being in jail. I want to speak to you. Please let me know whether we can arrange something. Rajasthan is my most favourite place in the world. I want to visit your temple there.
"But if we would speak over a Zoom call before that... Trust me, this will benefit you. Share your mobile number, it would be a great favour. Thank you," she wrote alongside a photo of the gangster who is currently lodged in Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail.
The Navi Mumbai police have arrested a member of the Bishnoi gang in connection with an alleged plot to kill Khan, an official said on Thursday.
The accused, Sukha alias Sukhbir Balbir Singh, was apprehended from Panipat in Haryana by a team of Panvel Town police (in Navi Mumbai) on Wednesday, he said.
He had allegedly given a contract to Bishnoi gang members to kill Khan, the official said. -- PTI
19:41 My family needs justice: Baba Siddique's son
Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique on Thursday said the killing of his father and Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique should not be politicised and asserted his family needs justice.
Baba Siddique (66) was shot at in Nirmal Nagar in Mumbai's Bandra area on October 12 by three persons. He succumbed to injuries at nearby Lilavati Hospital soon after.
In a post on X, Zeeshan Siddique said his father lost his life protecting and saving the lives and homes of poor innocent people.
"Today, my family is broken but his death must not be politicised and definitely not go in vain. I NEED JUSTICE, MY FAMILY NEEDS JUSTICE!" the Bandra East MLA said in his social media post.
Baba Siddique, a former state minister, had joined the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party from the Congress recently. -- PTI
19:09 7-8 social media handles suspended for threat to airliners
Over half-a-dozen social media handles that issued hoax bomb threats to multiple Indian airliners this week have been suspended or blocked by cyber security agencies till now, official sources said Thursday.
The sources told PTI that the handles were "analysed" by a joint team of cyber, aviation security and intelligence agencies following which orders were issued to suspend these accounts as they continued to issue "mindless" threats.
About seven-eight social media handles, majority of them on X, have been suspended or blocked since Monday, when these hoax bomb and terrorist attack threats started being sent to virtually all the Indian airliners for both their domestic and international route operations, the sources said.
The agencies have also found some common lines and words used in these fake threats like "bombs", "blood will spread everywhere", "explosive devices", "this is not a joke" and "you will all die" and "bomb rakhwa dia hai" (Hindi for bomb has been placed) among others.
The sources said the agencies, apart from getting police FIRs registered in each such hoax bomb messages case, have enhanced 'cyber patrolling' on the social media and the dark web to check for possible linkages or trends where threats are being posted online leading to grounding or diversion of the aircraft.
The online surface is being scratched to find the primary email registration and geographical locations of these threat-issuing handles, some of which are possibly being prompted from overseas locations, the sources said.
These details are being shared with jurisdictional police departments, they said.
Beginning Monday, more than two dozen Indian carriers have been affected by these social media posted threat messages, all of which have come out hoax or false, officials said.
In two cases, fighter jets of Singapore and Canada had to be scrambled to help the Indian planes that were carrying hundreds of passengers. -- PTI
18:50 It was my call to bat first, but...: Rohit on 46 all out
India skipper Rohit Sharma admitted he was "hurting" after his team crashed to its lowest-ever total of 46 at home on the second day of the opening Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru on Thursday.
After Rohit opted to bat in overcast conditions, India's innings folded in just 31.2 overs with five home batters not even managing to open their accounts.
"I am hurting to see this score of 46 as a captain as it was my call to bat first. But one or two bad calls in a year is quite alright," Rohit said at the day-end press conference.
This 46 all-out was the first instance in which the team failed to cross the 50-run mark in a Test innings at home.
The previous Indian record of lowest Test innings total at home came nearly 37 years ago, against the West Indies in November, 1987 at Delhi. -- PTI
18:30 23 passengers injured as bus hits heavy vehicle on Mumbai-Pune E-way
At least 23 passengers were injured, 11 of them seriously, after a private bus they were travelling in hit a heavy vehicle on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway near Lonavala in Pune district early on Thursday, police said.
The bus was travelling to Borivali in Mumbai from Kolhapur in western Maharashtra when the accident took place around 5 am, they said.
"It appears that the driver of the bus dozed off, which resulted in it hitting a heavy vehicle, like a container or a trailer, from behind. While 11 of the passengers were seriously injured, 12 others sustained minor injuries," a police official from Lonavala said.
All the injured passengers were admitted to a hospital and are currently undergoing treatment, he said. -- PTI
18:08 8 coaches of Agartala-LTT Express derail in Assam
Eight coaches of the Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express derailed at Dibalong station in Assam's Dima Hasao district on Thursday afternoon, Northeast Frontier Railway officials said.
There were no reports of any fatality or major injuries yet, they said.
The cause of the derailment, which occurred at 3.55 pm, was yet to be ascertained.
The derailed coaches include the power car and the engine of the train.
An accident relief medical train has already left for the site from Lumding along with senior officers to supervise the rescue and restoration work.
Running of trains on the Lumding-Badarpur single-line hill section has been suspended, the officials added. -- PTI
17:46 China prefers Harris over Trump as US president
China will prefer Kamala Harris to Donald Trump as the next United States presidential considering that bilateral ties deteriorated sharply during the latter's presidency leading to serious confrontation, a senior member of the Chinese national advisory body said on Thursday.
The Chinese government prefers not to comment on the US presidential election because it doesn't want to be accused of interfering in American domestic politics, Jia Qingguo, member of the Standing Committee of the national advisory body CPPCC said.
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is a key component of the state governance system and a distinctively Chinese political institution.
The views of the Chinese general public are divided over Harris and Trump, but "I would prefer Harris because of the bad experience with Trump. We don't want to have that experience again," he told BBC in a rare comment voicing Beijing's preferred choice in the US presidential election.
During Trump's presidency, the relations declined sharply and the two countries ended up in serious confrontation. "From China's point of view, US Vice President Kamala Harris, who has worked under President Biden, represents the continuity," he said.
Trump, during his Presidency, was quite emotional and spread a lot of bad information about China, said Jia, who is also the Director of the Institute of Global Cooperation and Understanding of the Peking University.
"We have problems with the Biden admiration too," but Biden inherited a lot of tough measures initiated by Trump against China for the reasons of domestic politics and perhaps out of his ideological conviction, he said, adding, "Under Biden, the US policy towards China is more stable, predictable."
"We are re-engaging with each other. Officials are meeting with each other, talking about issues," which he said is stabilising the relations.
17:15 Sensex, Nifty fall for 3rd day amid foreign fund exodus
Market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty slumped on Thursday, taking their downward trend to the third day running amid unabated foreign fund outflows. Intense selling in realty, auto, consumer discretionary and consumer durable stocks also dragged the markets lower.
The BSE Sensex tanked 494.75 points or 0.61 per cent to settle at 81,006.61. During the day, it tumbled 595.72 points or 0.73 per cent to 80,905.64. The NSE Nifty slumped 221.45 points or 0.89 per cent to 24,749.85.
From the 30 Sensex firms, Nestle declined over 3 per cent after the FMCG major reported a decline of 0.94 per cent in its net profit at Rs 899.49 crore for the second quarter that ended September 2024, as some of its key brands faced softer consumer demand and high commodity prices.
Mahindra & Mahindra, UltraTech Cement, Bajaj Finserv, Titan, Maruti, Axis Bank and Tata Steel were among the other big laggards. However, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Power Grid, Larsen & Toubro and State Bank of India were among the biggest gainers.
17:13 Canada refuses to act against Lawrence gang: MEA
On India-Canada Row, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says:
"We have made our position very clear on this particular matter. You would have seen that several press releases have been issued in the last two days putting out our position, which we are very clear, that since, September of 2023 the Canadian government has not shared a shred of information with us.
"Yesterday, again, after the public inquiry, public hearing again, we issued a statement saying that Canada has given serious allegations but has so far not given any evidence to back it up. As far as the allegations are concerned, PM Trudeau's own admission, yesterday would indicate the value of these allegations.
"As regards our stance, we reject false imputations against our diplomats. We have seen comments of PM Trudeau that he believes in One India policy, but so far the actions we have requested against anti-India elements, no action has been taken. There is a gap between actions and words here.
"We had summoned the acting High Commissioner of Canada and thereafter conveyed that we had no faith that the Canadian govt will look after the safety of our diplomats and therefore we had taken a decision to withdraw our High Commissioner and along with him 5 other diplomats, after that, there was a communication from Canadian side asking them to leave but we had withdrawn our diplomats before their decision,
"There are 26 extradition requests pending with Canadian side, these are over the last decade or more, along with that there are several provisional arrest requests which are also pending with Canadian side of certain criminals...we had shared security related information with the Canadian govt regarding gang members including those of Lawrence Bishnoi gang and requested them to arrest them (criminals)...so far no action has been taken by Canadian side on our request. We find it really strange that now people who we wanted to be deported or action to be taken, we are being told that, RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) is blaming Indian side for the crimes committed by these people in Canada."
17:00 Emergency film gets censor certificate: Kangana
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut tweets, "We are glad to announce we have received the censor certificate for our movie Emergency, we will be announcing the release date soon. Thank you for your patience and support."
The decision comes days after it was reported that Zee Studios, the production company backing the film, has agreed to make all the modifications and deletions as suggested by the board's revising committee.
16:45 CM Abdullah holds his first Cabinet meeting
A day after taking oath as a first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah on Thursday chaired his first cabinet meeting, officials said.
The meeting was held at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.
Meanwhile, a delegation led by Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary called on the CM Omar Abdullah at his residence in Gupkar on Thursday morning, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference informed in a post on X.
Party Treasurer Shammi Oberoi, Political Advisor to the CM, Nasir Aslam Wani and PL Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta were also present on the occasion.
Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday that the aim of his government is to serve people, not to inconvenience them. "I have spoken to the DG @JmuKmrPolice that there is to be no "green corridor" or traffic stoppage when I move anywhere by road. I have instructed him to minimise public inconvenience & the use of sirens is to be minimal," Omar Abdullah said in his first post on X after taking oath as Chief Minister.
"The use of any stick waving or aggressive gestures is to be totally avoided. I'm asking my cabinet colleagues to follow the same example. In everything our conduct must be people friendly. We are here to serve the people and not to inconvenience them," he added.
16:33 The family, Abdullahs
Zahir, Omar Abdullah's son, shares this picture from yesterday, when his father was sworn in as the chief minister of J-K. Also in the picture are Farooq Abdullah and Zamir Abdullah.
Junior doctors protest the RG Kar horror
16:24 RG Kar: Women march to CBI office, seek speedy justice
Hundreds of women on Thursday marched to the CBI office in Kolkata, seeking speedy justice in the RG Kar hospital rape and murder incident. The women, under the banner of the little known Jago Nari' organisation, walked to the CBI office at Salt Lake in North 24 Parganas in the northern fringes of the city.
"We think that the probe agency is not doing its job properly; it is basically parroting what the Kolkata Police had earlier said. The CBI should make serious efforts in resolving this case at the earliest so that the main culprits can be punished," one of the protesters said.
Carrying posters and placards, the activists shouted slogans against the CBI for delaying the investigation, and the state government for failing to provide a safe and secured atmosphere to women at workplaces. The police put up barricades near the CGO complex, which houses the CBI office, to stop the protesters from entering the area.
Meanwhile, the fast-unto-death' by agitating junior doctors in West Bengal over the RG Kar hospital incident entered the 13th day on Thursday.
The hunger strike began on October 5, following nearly 50 days of 'cease work' in two phases, after the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee inside state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. PTI
A vandalised shop in Bahraich
16:09 Bahraich violence: 5 suspects fleeing to Nepal held
Five suspects in the Bahraich violence case were arrested in Bahraich Thursday after an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police in which two of them suffered gunshot injuries, a senior official said.
The accused were allegedly trying to flee to Nepal, which shares a border with Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh, the officer said.
"Five accused have been arrested," Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash told a news channel. On the encounter, he said, "I have information of exchange of fire and gunshot injuries."
Yash said the Bahraich police, investigating the murder and subsequent violence, has already established the link of one of the accused in Nepal. Violence broke out at Maharajganj in the Mahsi tehsil of Bahraich district on Sunday allegedly over loud music being played outside a place of worship during a Durga Puja immersion procession.
Ram Gopal Mishra, 22, part of the passing group, died of gunshot wounds in the ensuing violence. The incident triggered vandalism and arson in the area with angry mobs torching several houses, shops, showrooms, hospitals and vehicles. PTI
15:49 CBI chargesheets Karti Chidambaram
The CBI has filed a charge sheet against Congress MP Karti Chidambaram and others in connection with alleged bribery in facilitating visas of Chinese nationals for a power company in 2011 when his father P Chidambaram was the Union home minister, officials said on Thursday.
In its charge sheet submitted before a special court in New Delhi, the CBI has named Karti Chidambaram, the Lok Sabha MP from Sivaganga, his alleged close associate S Bhaskararaman, company Talawandi Sabo Power Ltd (TSPL), a subsidiary of Vedanta and Mumbai-based Bell Tools, through which bribes were allegedly routed, they said.
The agency has invoked charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery under the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, they said. Other charge-sheeted accused include Viral Mehta, Anup Agarwal, Mansoor Siddiqui and Chetan Shrivastava, they said. T
he CBI has filed the charge sheet after two years of probe into its FIR registered in 2022 where it had alleged that the Punjab-based TSPL was setting up a 1980 MW thermal power plant and the work was outsourced to a Chinese company Shandong Electric Power Construction Corp (SEPCO). The project was running behind its schedule and the company was allegedly facing prospects of penalty.
"In order to avoid penal actions for the delay, the said private company (TSPL) of Mansa was trying to bring more and more Chinese persons and professionals for their site at district Mansa (Punjab) and needed project visas over and above the ceiling imposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs," the CBI said in a statement in 2022.
15:13 Now, train bookings open only 60 days before
The Railway Board has reduced the advance reservation period of seats from existing 120 days to 60 days with effect from November 1, 2024. "It has been decided that w.e.f 01.11.2024, the existing time limit for advance reservation by trains will be reduced from 120 days to 60 days (excluding the date of journey)," a Railway Board's circular, dated Oct 16, 2024, said. All bookings done up to October 31 under the ARP (Advance Reservation Period) of 120 days will remain intact, it added.
The circular did not cite any reason for the reduction in ARP.
According to the Board, cancellation of the booking made beyond the ARP of 60 days will, however, be permitted.
"There will be no change in the case of certain day time express trains like Taj Express, Gomti Express etc where lower time limits for advance reservation are, at present in force," the Board's circular said.
There will also be no change in the case of a limit of 365 days for foreign tourists, it said. On March 25, 2015, the Ministry of Railways had increased the ARP from 60 days to 120 days. PTI
15:04 What did Amit Shah tell Nayab Saini?
OBC leader Nayab Singh Saini shares a light moment with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the swearing-in ceremony this afternoon. Saini took as the chief minister of Haryana at a ceremony in Panchkula attended by a galaxy of NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Saini took oath in Hindi.
14:59 Tomato prices to cool down soon in Delhi-NCR
Relief may be in sight for Delhi-NCR residents reeling under soaring tomato prices, which have crossed Rs 100 per kg mark, with increased supplies expected from Maharashtra in the coming days, Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said on Thursday.
The government will continue selling tomatoes at a subsidised rate of Rs 65 per kg in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai through the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF), Khare told reporters. The price surge comes as supplies from key southern states Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have been disrupted due to retreating monsoon rains causing crop damage and pest infestation.
This supply crunch, coupled with festive season demand, has pushed prices northward. "While weekly arrivals have been impacted, we expect supplies from Maharashtra to improve shortly, which should help stabilise prices in the national capital," Khare said, adding that the government is maintaining strict vigilance on price movements.
Since October 7, NCCF has sold around 10,000 kg of tomatoes through mobile vans and outlets in Delhi and Mumbai at a subsidised rate.
"The retail intervention will continue until we see a meaningful impact on prices," Khare said, noting that similar measures had helped control prices last year. The government's market intervention this time has extended beyond a week, reflecting the severity of the price surge and the administration's commitment to providing relief to consumers during the festive season. PTI
14:56 2 Mumbai-bound international flights receive bomb threats
The pattern of domestic airlines receiving bomb threats to their flights continued for the fourth day as two international flights, one each of Vistara and IndiGo, were targeted in the similar manner on Thursday.
Earlier on Wednesday, seven flights of IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa received similar bomb threats. Prior to that, nearly a dozen flights operated by Indian carriers received similar threats on Monday and Tuesday.
On Thursday, a Mumbai-bound Vistara flight with 147 persons on board was immediately taken to security checks on its arrival from Frankfurt following the Boeing 787 aircraft receiving a bomb threat, according to the airline.
At the same time, an IndiGo flight operating from Istanbul in Turkiye for Mumbai also received a bomb threat and was taken to an isolation bay here for the security agencies to carry out a comprehensive security check. "The Vistara flight UK 028 operating from Frankfurt to Mumbai on October 16, 2024 was subject to a security threat received on social media," the airline said.
As per protocol, all relevant authorities were immediately informed, it said, adding the aircraft safely landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai.
"It was taken to the isolation bay where all customers were disembarked. We are fully cooperating with the security agencies to complete the mandatory security checks," Vistara said in the statement.
There were 134 passengers and 13 crew on board the aircraft, a source said. The aircraft, which departed for Mumbai from Frankfurt on Wednesday at 8.20 pm (local time), made an emergency landing in Mumbai at around 7.45 am on Thursday, the source said. IndiGo in a statement said,
"Flight 6E 18, operating from Istanbul to Mumbai, received a security-related alert. Upon landing, the aircraft was isolated, and all passengers were safely disembarked." The airline worked closely with the relevant authorities, and standard operating procedures were followed, it said.
MVA allies Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray
14:35 Consensus on 200/288 seats in Maharashtra: Pawar
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the three Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies have so far arrived at a consensus on 200 assembly seats in Maharashtra out of the total 288 for the next month's elections.
Speaking to reporters at Karad in Maharashtra's Satara district, he said the results of Haryana polls, where the Congress suffered a drubbing at the hands of the BJP, will not have any bearing on the elections in Maharashtra.
"I am not directly involved in the seat-sharing discussions. (NCP-SP state unit chief) Jayant Patil is representing our party in the talks. As per the information he shared, an understanding has been reached on approximately 200 out of the total 288 seats," he said in response to a question.
Asked about which seats in Satara district that the NCP (SP) will demand, he said a decision on seat-sharing will be taken by Patil.
Elections in Maharashtra will be held on November 20, while the counting of votes will take place on November 23. The MVA, comprising the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) is fighting against the ruling Mahayuti alliance of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Ajit Pawar-helmed NCP.
This is the first assembly election in the state after the Shiv Sena and NCP parties split in June 2022 and July 2023 respectively. Responding to a query about the INDIA bloc's strategy after the Congress's defeat in the Haryana assembly elections, Pawar said the BJP was ruling that state and it managed to retain power.
"We are studying Haryana (results), but at the same time look at the results of Jammu and Kashmir (polls). I do not think that it (Haryana results) will have any bearing on the state's (Maharashtra's) elections. As far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, the world community gives more attention to it and its poll results are more important for the country," he said.
14:09 Hoax bomb threats: Govt plans crackdown
The
civil aviation ministry plans to put in place strict norms to prevent
incidents of hoax bomb threats to airlines, including placing the
perpetrators on the no-fly list, a senior official said on Thursday.
In
four days, more than 20 flights of various Indian airlines received
bomb threats, including international flights, and some of them were
diverted.
The threats have turned out to be hoaxes.
Against
this backdrop, the ministry is looking at amending existing rules,
including those related to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS),
in order to ensure stringent punishments are in place for the culprits,
the official in the know said.
Placing
individuals making hoax bomb threats in the airlines' no-fly list is one
of the proposals being looked at, the official said.
The official also said legal opinions are being gathered with respect to making the changes in the rules.
The provisions being followed in foreign countries to deal with hoax bomb threats are also being examined by the ministry.
Further,
the official said that if necessary, legislative amendments will be
explored for having a strong deterrent to prevent people from making
hoax bomb threats to airlines.
Currently, there
are strict norms against unruly passenger behaviour onboard flights but
there are no specific provisions under the aviation regulations to deal
with instances where a bomb threat has come from outside sources such
as social media.
At present, the actions against hoax bomb threat incidents are taken by the police under criminal laws.
The official also said that discussions are going on with home and law ministries while inputs are being gathered from airlines.
"We want rules that can act as a deterrent," the official said.
On
Wednesday, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said law
enforcement agencies are actively pursuing all cases of bomb threats
against airlines and the government is closely monitoring the situation.
He also condemned any attempt to compromise the safety, security and operational integrity of the aviation sector. -- PTI
13:28 Nayab Saini sworn-in as Haryana CM; PM attends
OBC leader Nayab Singh Saini takes oath as the chief minister of Haryana at a ceremony in Panchkula where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP bigwigs and NDA partners were in attendance today.
The BJP's choice of day for the swearing-in ceremony is significant as it is Valmiki Jayanti. Sage-poet Valmiki is the author of the Hindu epic Ramayana and a revered figure, especially among Dalits. Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Saini, who will become the chief minister for the second time. Ministers of Saini's cabinet are also likely to be sworn in at the ceremony.
Haryana can have a maximum of 14 ministers, including the chief minister. Massive security arrangements have been made for the ceremony.
Union minister and BJP president J P Nadda, and Union ministers Chirag Paswan and Rajiv Ranjan Singh arrived to attend the ceremony. Thirteen chief ministers of various BJP-ruled states were also there. Hours before the ceremony, Saini visited the Valmiki Bhawan and offered prayers at a gurdwara and the Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula.
12:56 SC nod for Nayab Saini's oath taking ceremony
The Supreme Court refuses to stay oath taking ceremony of Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government in Haryana. Saini will take the oath of office, marking a new chapter for Haryana. The ceremony is being held in Panchkula. Following the ceremony, a crucial NDA meeting will be held in Chandigarh from 3 PM to 5 PM.
Omar Abdullah was sworn-in as CM yesterday
12:31 SC to consider plea for restoration of JK statehood
The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will consider listing a plea seeking time-bound restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for applicants, urged a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that the plea needed an urgent hearing.
"There is an MA (Miscellaneous Application) for conferring statehood. It was noted (in last year's judgement) that it has to be time-bound," the senior lawyer said. "I will deal with it," the CJI said.
The fresh application was filed by Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, an academician, and Khurshaid Ahmad Malik, a socio-political activist, in Jammu and Kashmir.
On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court had unanimously upheld the revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which accorded a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, in 2019 and ordered that assembly elections be held there by September 2024. The court had also said that Jammu and Kashmir's statehood should be restored "at the earliest". PTI
12:07 The NCP leader Sharad Pawar is promoting big time!
Amid Maha Vikas Aghadi's Chief Minister face talks for upcoming assembly election, Sharad Pawar, the chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), has hinted at a more significant role for Jayant Patil, the Maharashtra NCP-SCP president, in shaping the state's future.
Pawar emphasized that the journey to rebuild a progressive and developed Maharashtra will start from Islampur in Sangli and Jayant Patil should take the responsibility on his shoulders and the party and all his colleague will back him.
This statement hinted that Patil can play a crucial part in upcoming election period.
While addressing a public rally in Islampur assembly constituency in Sangli district of Maharashtra on Wednesday, Sharad Pawar said, "The bad picture of the Maharashtra needs to be changed. We want a different Maharashtra. If I say different Maharashtra that means like of the vision of first Chief Minister Yashwantrao Chavan and to make such, many have made sacrifices like Vasant Naik, Rajaram bapu etc. They all wanted a powerful and strong progressive state. But the people who are in power currently do not even think in the interest of Maharashtra."
He also pointed out that situation is such today that the state is trailing at a low level in all sectors.
"Once upon a time Maharashtra was on the top of all state in the country, therefore we have to take this job in our hand to shape, rebuild and make the state progressive again," he said."In upcoming election, we have to take this job in our hand and I am happy that this is starting from here in Islampur Sangli. I am happy that Jayant Patil is going in all corners of the state. He is meeting people, giving them confidence and informing about our ideology. I am sure the youth of the state will stand strongly with him and the dreams which we have about Maharashtra will be fulfilled. You, me and all Maharashtra people expect that he should take this responsibility on his shoulder. We need to back him strongly," Sharad Pawar said.
He further assured that he and his party will back Jayant Patil "strongly".
Assembly elections in Maharashtra will be held in a single phase on November 20, the Election Commission of India announced on Tuesday (October 15, 2024). With this, the political parties have begun gearing up for an election that will be unprecedented in many ways.
11:27 Why did CEC spend freezing night in ghost village?
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar spent the night in sub-zero temperatures at a ghost village in Uttarakhand with two officials and two pilots, sources familiar with the matter told ANI.
Kumar and five officials, including two pilots, spent the night in Ralam, a small village in the Munsyari Block of Pithoragarh District. Ralam, situated in a remote area and covered in snow, consists of 28 houses but is currently deserted as its residents have migrated elsewhere.
Kumar, along with the Additional Chief Election Officer of Uttarakhand Vijay Kumar, his Personal Security Officer (PSO) Navin Kumar, and two pilots, had to stay overnight at Ralam Village.
The CEC was on a scheduled visit to remote polling stations in Pithoragarh to gain firsthand insight into the challenges faced by polling teams and voters in the region's high-altitude and difficult terrain. He had planned to visit polling stations in 14 nearby villages.
However, due to bad weather, his helicopter made an emergency landing near Ralam. The group spent the night in an empty village home, enduring sub-zero temperatures, before being rescued early this morning.
Once the weather stabilised, their helicopter took off and safely reached the Munsyari Tehsil Headquarters.
CEC Kumar was on a five-day visit to Milam, the last village in the Johar valley of Pithoragarh district. Milam lies on a route across a high mountain that passes Unta Dhura, Jandi Dhura, and Kingribingri Dhura, leading to Gyanima Mandi in Tibet. Yesterday, the helicopter was en route from Munsyari to Milam when bad weather forced the emergency landing at Ralam around 2 pm.
This isn't the first time CEC Rajiv Kumar has ventured to remote polling locations. Soon after assuming office, he trekked to one of the most distant polling stations in Dumak village, Chamoli district, to experience the challenges faced by polling teams.
Following that visit, District Election Officers (DEOs) reviewed and optimised route maps for P-3 and P-2 polling stations, ensuring shorter and safer routes, which has nearly eliminated P-3 stations
11:18 Depression crosses TN-Andhra coasts
The depression over Bay of Bengal crossed the coasts of north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh between Puducherry and Nellore on Thursday morning, said the Meteorological Department.
The weather system crossed these coasts close to Chennai around 4:30 am and subsequently weakened into a well-marked low pressure area. It (depression) weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area and lay over South coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north coastal Tamil Nadu at 5:30 am today, said the Met Department in a press release.
Further, the weather system is likely to move west to northwestwards and weaken into a low pressure area in the next 12 hours. Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) managing director R Kurmanadh said heavy rains are likely in parts of South Coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP) and Rayalaseema on Thursday. -- PTI
11:09 SC upholds Citizenship Act for Assam Accord
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act related to the grant of Indian citizenship to illegal immigrants in Assam by a majority verdict of 4:1.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said the Assam Accord was a political solution to the problem of illegal migration. Justices Surya Kant, M M Sundresh and Manoj Misra in their majority verdict held that Parliament had the legislative competence to enact the provision.
Justice Pardiwala gave a dissenting judgment to hold Section 6A as unconstitutional. -- PTI
Salman Khan pays his respects to Baba Siddique
10:59 Shooter held for attack on Salman's farmhouse
The Navi Mumbai's Panvel City police on Thursday arrested shooter named Sukkha from Panipat in Haryana. An FIR has been registered against him. He is among those accused who had conducted a recce of Salman Khan's farmhouse in Panvel, Navi Mumbai and was the main accused in the conspiracy to attack Salman Khan's at his farmhouse.
Sukkha is being brought to Navi Mumbai.
The police uncovered the plan to attack Salman Khan's farmhouse near Panvel in Navi Mumbai while they were investigating the incident of firing outside the actor's house in Bandra.
On June 1, Navi Mumbai Police had arrested four people from Lawrence Bishnoi's gang as they had planned to attack actor Salman Khan's car in Panvel. According to the police, there was a plan to order weapons from a Pakistani arms supplier for this attack.
10:40 20 people dead consuming hooch in Bihar
20 people have lost their lives in Chapra on Thursday after consuming spurious liquor, as per Siwan SP Amitesh Kumar. Chapra Superintendent Kumar Ashish said that a Special Investigation Team has been formed. Three people have been arrested and an FIR has been filed against eight people.
Additionally, the local Chowkidar and Panchayat Beat Police officers have also been suspended. An explanation has been sought from the SHO of the Masrak Police station and the Masrak Zone ALTF in charge of the departmental action. Legal action is being taken against the Bhagwanpur SHO and Prohibition ASI of the Bhagwanpur Police Station, as per the District Magistrate Mukul Kumar Gupta. Speaking to ANI a relative of one of the deceased said that his relative's health deteriorated after he had consumed alcohol on October 15.
10:34 'As Long As Trudeau Is PM, There Won't Be De-escalating'
"We have to be realistic that America and Canada are working together. To my mind, America is milking it to their advantage," says retired Ambassador K P Fabian about the diplomatic showdown between India and Canada.
During his posting in Ottawa, Ambassador Fabian was attacked by Khalistan supporters in Manitoba. He was unhurt.
"Our youngsters who had the Canadian dream to study, find good jobs and have a good life there, I'm sorry to say, but that dream has become rather distant," tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih. Read the interview here.
10:14 Radhika Apte is a momma-to-be
Acclaimed actress Radhika Apte has officially announced that she is expecting her first child with her husband, music composer Benedict Taylor.
The revelation came during her appearance on the red carpet at the BFI London Film Festival on October 16, where she showcased her baby bump while attending the screening of her latest film, 'Sister Midnight'.
Apte's pregnancy surprise delighted fans, as she shared her experience at the festival through social media, posting photos that captured her radiant presence on the red carpet.
While she did not directly mention her pregnancy in the caption--simply stating, "SISTER MIDNIGHT UK Premier #lff2024"--the images revealed her in a stunning black off-shoulder midi dress, her hair elegantly styled in a bun. The actress was met with a wave of congratulations and well-wishes from her fans online.
One admirer exclaimed, "Ah! Congrats on the premiere and your pregnancy! You are magnificent on the red carpet."
10:10 Saini visits Valmiki temple ahead of swearing-in
Haryana Chief Minister designate Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday offered prayers at Valmiki Temple in Panchula on the occasion of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti ahead of his oath-taking ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Nayab Saini said, "It is a matter of good fortune for me that today is the birth anniversary of Lord Valmiki. He worked to end the evils prevalent in the society and gave a message to the society. Today it is my good fortune that I have got the opportunity to worship at the feet of Lord Valmiki. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the people of the state on his birth anniversary."
09:53 'Indo-Canada spat on whether Nijjar is a terrorist'
Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent statement acknowledging that the evidence is intelligence-based rather than concrete on the Khalistan issue as a major win for the Indian narrative.
While speaking with ANI, Bordman said, "This is a pretty big win for the Indian narrative right now... From the Canadian perspective, we had gone pretty hard. We had gone to the point where we had kicked out a diplomat... We had named the Indian High Commission. We started this publicly..."
The Canadian journalist further pointed out that the diplomatic spat between India and Canada centers around whether Hardeep Singh Nijjar a Khalistani terrorist or a community activist.
"On the geopolitical technicality aspect, India wins here because you never said you had evidence. But what does it change from the grand structures of things? Ultimately, the diplomatic spat is really about the unanswered question, was Hardeep Singh Nijjar a Khalistani terrorist or a community activist? And that general disagreement has not moved," Bordman added.
Bordman also criticised Trudeau's, "Canada's position has always been to defend the territorial integrity of India" statement and said that his actions don't align with his words.
"Trudeau says things and then Trudeau does things. Often times, what Trudeau says he is doing does not match with the reality of what he is doing. He might claim that he is against Khalistani separatism but he would also promote Khalistani separatism. Don't think it is outlandish to assume that he is being untruthful when he says he is doing something when he is not doing that thing. This is a common Justin Trudeau thing which leads back to his scandals and unpopularity...," Bordman said.
Notably, Trudeau on Wednesday had said that his government had not provided India with hard evidence but just intelligence regarding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
Testifying at Canada's foreign interference inquiry, Trudeau said India has been insisting on evidence over allegations levelled by Canada."Behind the scenes (were trying) India to co-operate with us. Their ask was...give us the evidence you have on us. Our response was it is within your security agency. You should be looking into how much they know, you should be engaging... 'No, no but show us the evidence'. At that point, it was primarily intelligence, not hard evidentiary proof. So we said let's work together...," he said.
CJI Chandrachud demits office on Nov 10
09:42 Who will be new CJI? Chandrachud suggests...
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Chandrachud has formally proposed Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor.
In a communication to the Union government, Chief Justice Chandrachud stated that since he is demitting office on November 10, Justice Khanna would be his successor. Upon approval by the government, Justice Khanna will become the 51st Chief Justice of India.
He is set to serve a tenure of six months, concluding on May 13, 2025, before his retirement. The letter is written as per convention where the retiring Chief Justice of India nominates the second-most senior judge a successor.
The Union government then approves the recommendation.
Justice Chandrachud took over as the CJI on November 9, 2022. Judges of the Supreme Court retire by the age of 65.
Born on May 14, 1960, Justice Khanna enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983 and initially practised at the district courts at the Tis Hazari complex, and later in the High Court of Delhi and tribunals. He was elevated as an additional Judge of the Delhi High Court in 2005 and was made a permanent judge in 2006. Justice Khanna was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019.
09:36 Sibling love
Safia Abdullah Khan, shares this picture with her brother and J-K chief minister Omar Abdullah, writing, "New beginnings." Abdullah was sworn in as the first CM of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir yesterday.
09:31 Liam Payne, former One Direction singer, falls from balcony and dies
Singer Liam Payne, the former 'One Direction' star, has tragically passed away at the age of 31. The singer's death occurred after he reportedly fell from a hotel balcony in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires, Argentina, early this week.
Local authorities confirmed the incident, with state police revealing details of the fall from the third-floor balcony on Costa Rica Street, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Born on August 29, 1993, in Wolverhampton, England, Payne's rise to fame began in 2010 when he auditioned for The X Factor.
Though he initially failed to make an impact in the 2008 auditions, his return two years later, where he performed Michael Buble's "Cry Me a River," catapulted him into the spotlight.
This performance led to his place in the newly formed boy band, One Direction, alongside fellow members Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik.
Despite not winning the competition, One Direction went on to become one of the world's most successful boy bands, with iconic hits such as "What Makes You Beautiful" and "Night Changes."
After One Direction's hiatus in 2016, following Zayn Malik's departure, Payne pursued a solo career. In 2017, he released his debut single "Strip That Down," featuring Quavo, which became a commercial hit, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Over the years, Payne collaborated with artists like Zedd and J Balvin, and his tracks garnered millions of streams worldwide. His music career also saw notable success on the Billboard Hot 100 with hits like "For You" with Rita Ora and "Bedroom Floor," as per The Hollywood Reporter. -- ANI
09:02 Trudeau just confirmed Canada has no proof: MEA
As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified before a Commission of Inquiry, the MEA on Thursday said what it has heard only 'confirms' New Delhi's consistent stand that Canada has 'presented us no evidence' in support of the serious allegations Ottawa chose to level against India and Indian diplomats.
Trudeau on Wednesday acknowledged that he had only intelligence and no 'hard evidentiary proof' when he alleged the involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement in the early hours on Thursday in response to media queries related to Trudeau's deposition, some of whose details came out in media reports.
'What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently all along -- Canada has presented us no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats,' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.
The ministry further said, "The responsibility for the damage that this cavalier behaviour has caused to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone."
Testifying before the public inquiry into foreign interference in federal electoral processes and democratic institutions, Trudeau claimed the Indian diplomats were collecting information on Canadians who are in disagreement with the Narendra Modi government and passing it to the highest levels within the Indian government and criminal organisations like the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
India strongly rejected attempts by the Canadian authorities to link Indian agents with criminal gangs in Canada with official sources in New Delhi even saying that Ottawa's assertion that it shared evidence with New Delhi in the Nijjar case was simply not true.
Sources in New Delhi also rejected Trudeau's previous allegations that India was engaging in activities, including carrying out covert operations targeting Canadian nationals in his country.
India earlier on Monday expelled six Canadian diplomats and also announced withdrawing its high commissioner from Canada after dismissing Ottawa's allegations linking the envoy to a probe into the killing of Nijjar.
The escalation in diplomatic row between India and Canada is a major downturn in already frosty ties between the two nations.
The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a 'potential' involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing.
New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as 'absurd'.
India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.
Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18 last year. -- PTI
Trudeau on Wednesday acknowledged that he had only intelligence and no 'hard evidentiary proof' when he alleged the involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement in the early hours on Thursday in response to media queries related to Trudeau's deposition, some of whose details came out in media reports.
'What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently all along -- Canada has presented us no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats,' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.
The ministry further said, "The responsibility for the damage that this cavalier behaviour has caused to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone."
Testifying before the public inquiry into foreign interference in federal electoral processes and democratic institutions, Trudeau claimed the Indian diplomats were collecting information on Canadians who are in disagreement with the Narendra Modi government and passing it to the highest levels within the Indian government and criminal organisations like the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
India strongly rejected attempts by the Canadian authorities to link Indian agents with criminal gangs in Canada with official sources in New Delhi even saying that Ottawa's assertion that it shared evidence with New Delhi in the Nijjar case was simply not true.
Sources in New Delhi also rejected Trudeau's previous allegations that India was engaging in activities, including carrying out covert operations targeting Canadian nationals in his country.
India earlier on Monday expelled six Canadian diplomats and also announced withdrawing its high commissioner from Canada after dismissing Ottawa's allegations linking the envoy to a probe into the killing of Nijjar.
The escalation in diplomatic row between India and Canada is a major downturn in already frosty ties between the two nations.
The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a 'potential' involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing.
New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as 'absurd'.
India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.
Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18 last year. -- PTI
08:33 Pannun case: US 'satisfied' with Indian response
The United States had a 'productive meeting' with visiting officials of the India Enquiry Committee, a State Department official said on Wednesday, adding they were satisfied with the cooperation from the Indian side.
"We are satisfied with the cooperation. It continues to be an ongoing process. We continue to work with them on that, but we do appreciate the cooperation and we appreciate them updating us on their investigation as we update them on ours," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference.
He was responding to a question on the visit of officials from the India Enquiry Committee, which is investigating the American allegations of involvement of an Indian official in the assassination plot of a Sikh separatist, who is also an American citizen.
"The meeting that occurred yesterday -- we updated -- we being the US government broadly -- updated members of the Committee of Inquiry about the investigation that the United States has been conducting. We've received an update from them on the investigation that they have been conducting. It was a productive meeting and I will leave it at that," Miller said.
"They did inform us that the individual, who was named in the Justice Department indictment is no longer an employee of the Indian government," he said in response to a question. -- PTI
"We are satisfied with the cooperation. It continues to be an ongoing process. We continue to work with them on that, but we do appreciate the cooperation and we appreciate them updating us on their investigation as we update them on ours," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference.
He was responding to a question on the visit of officials from the India Enquiry Committee, which is investigating the American allegations of involvement of an Indian official in the assassination plot of a Sikh separatist, who is also an American citizen.
"The meeting that occurred yesterday -- we updated -- we being the US government broadly -- updated members of the Committee of Inquiry about the investigation that the United States has been conducting. We've received an update from them on the investigation that they have been conducting. It was a productive meeting and I will leave it at that," Miller said.
"They did inform us that the individual, who was named in the Justice Department indictment is no longer an employee of the Indian government," he said in response to a question. -- PTI
00:16 Mobile phones won't be allowed inside polling booths in Mumbai
Voters in Mumbai will not be allowed to carry mobile phones inside the polling booths at the time of voting during the next month's Maharashtra assembly elections, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner and administrator Bhushan Gagrani said on Wednesday.
Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly will be held in a single phase on November 20, and votes will be counted on November 23.
Addressing a press conference at the BMC headquarters, Gagrani, who has been appointed as the district election officer for Mumbai and suburbs, said voters will either have to leave their mobile phones at home or hand them over to someone outside the polling station.
"Mobile phones will not be allowed inside the polling stations...Voters should make their own arrangement in this regard before entering the polling station," he said in response to a query.
Gagrani said the issue of whether mobile phones will be allowed at the polling booths was brought to the notice of the Election Commission of India (ECI) authorities during their recent visit to the city as there was confusion over it during the Lok Sabha polls.
In Mumbai, there are a total of 36 assembly constituencies, of which 10 are located in the island city, while the remaining 26 are in the suburban district.
Gagrani said the mapping of vulnerable polling booths has been completed, but so far no booths have been classified as vulnerable. -- PTI
Representative image
00:14 Man-eater leopard kills 8th victim in Udaipur
Amid continuous search of the man-eating leopard by the forest department for past several days in Rajasthan's Udaipur, a leopard killed a woman in a fresh attack on Wednesday.
The leopard attacked two women who were working in the field in Madar village of Badgaon police station area. One of them got injured in the attack and died during treatment.
Haathi Pol police station in-charge Adarsh ?Kumar said this incident took place near the area where the man-eating leopard was being searched.
He said on Wednesday, a leopard attacked and injured Keshibai and Mangibai who were working in the field. Keshibai's leg and Mangibai's neck were injured in the attack.
Kumar said Mangibai, who was seriously injured in the leopard attack, died during treatment in MB Hospital on Wednesday.
The police have kept the body in the mortuary of the hospital.
The police officer said the woman is the eighth person to die in leopard attack since September 18.
He said the eight victims include four women and a five-year-old kid who died due to leaopard attacks in various areas of Udaipur.
The Forest Department has given orders to shoot the man-eating leopard in Udaipur.
The Forest Department, police and Army teams are searching for the man-eating leopard. After the man-eating leopard attacks, discussions took place on September 30 between the Udaipur Divisional Commissioner, Inspector General of Police, District Collector, Superintendent of Police and forest officials. The Forest Department headquarters gave conditional permission to kill the man-eating leopard on October 1. -- PTI
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances