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Sat, 26 October 2024
Kamala, Trump tied in key polls days before voting
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21:33 Kamala, Trump tied in key polls days before voting
Just 10 days ahead of the Election Day, the United States presidential race remained very tight with both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump locked in a dead heat for the popular votes in most swing states.
The final nationwide CNN poll found that 47 per cent of likely voters support Democrat Harris and an equal 47 would endorse Republican Trump in the elections.
In the final New York Times/Siena College national poll from October 20 to 23, the two aspirants are tied at 48 per cent. The remaining four per cent are yet to decide on their preference.
A separate poll conducted by the Financial Times and the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, showed that 44 per cent of respondents trust Trump to handle the economy as against 43 per cent for Harris.
An analysis by FiveThirtyEight poll tracker, however, showed that Harris is having a slight edge over Trump with 1.7 percentage points.
To win the race for the White House, the successful candidate will have to secure 270 of the 538 electoral votes up for grabs.
The seven key swing states which are seen to be crucial to determine the election results are Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Nevada.
With almost all surveys throwing up a very tight race, both Trump and Harris are stepping up their efforts to garner more popular votes in the last stretches of their campaign trails.
In the last rounds of rallies, Harris has been focusing on reproductive rights to woo the women voters while Trump has been highlighting his anti-migration views.
The Vice President held a rally in Houston on Friday where she focused on why reproductive rights of women are very fundamental.
Harris was joined at the rally by music icon Beyonce.
In the rally, Beyonce said she wasn't there as a celebrity or a politician, but as a mother.
"I am here as a mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in, a world where we have the freedom to control our bodies," she said, throwing support to Harris's focus on reproductive rights for women.
The singer urged Americans to 'sing a new song' and support Harris.
There are strict abortion bans in Texas and 13 other US states. The Democratic presidential nominee has been pressing for removal of the ban saying women must have reproductive rights.
In his closing rounds of the campaign, Trump has been highlighting his anti-migration views.
"We are like a garbage can for the rest of the world to dump the people that they don't want," Trump said on Friday in Austin. -- PTI
The final nationwide CNN poll found that 47 per cent of likely voters support Democrat Harris and an equal 47 would endorse Republican Trump in the elections.
In the final New York Times/Siena College national poll from October 20 to 23, the two aspirants are tied at 48 per cent. The remaining four per cent are yet to decide on their preference.
A separate poll conducted by the Financial Times and the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, showed that 44 per cent of respondents trust Trump to handle the economy as against 43 per cent for Harris.
An analysis by FiveThirtyEight poll tracker, however, showed that Harris is having a slight edge over Trump with 1.7 percentage points.
To win the race for the White House, the successful candidate will have to secure 270 of the 538 electoral votes up for grabs.
The seven key swing states which are seen to be crucial to determine the election results are Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Nevada.
With almost all surveys throwing up a very tight race, both Trump and Harris are stepping up their efforts to garner more popular votes in the last stretches of their campaign trails.
In the last rounds of rallies, Harris has been focusing on reproductive rights to woo the women voters while Trump has been highlighting his anti-migration views.
The Vice President held a rally in Houston on Friday where she focused on why reproductive rights of women are very fundamental.
Harris was joined at the rally by music icon Beyonce.
In the rally, Beyonce said she wasn't there as a celebrity or a politician, but as a mother.
"I am here as a mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in, a world where we have the freedom to control our bodies," she said, throwing support to Harris's focus on reproductive rights for women.
The singer urged Americans to 'sing a new song' and support Harris.
There are strict abortion bans in Texas and 13 other US states. The Democratic presidential nominee has been pressing for removal of the ban saying women must have reproductive rights.
In his closing rounds of the campaign, Trump has been highlighting his anti-migration views.
"We are like a garbage can for the rest of the world to dump the people that they don't want," Trump said on Friday in Austin. -- PTI
20:50 Over 30 flights get bomb threats on Saturday
As many as 33 flights received bomb threats on Saturday, according to sources.
In 13 days, more than 300 flights operated by the Indian carriers have received hoax bomb threats.
Most of the threats were issued through social media.
Amid the threats, the IT Ministry has asked social media platforms to observe due diligence obligations and promptly remove or disable access to misinformation within the strict timelines prescribed under IT rules.
The sources in the know said 11 flights each of IndiGo, Air India and Vistara received the threats on Saturday.
In a statement, an Air India spokesperson said a number of its flights were subject to security threats received on social media on Saturday.
"Following the laid down protocols, relevant authorities were immediately alerted, and all security procedures strictly adhered to, as per guidance from the regulatory authorities," the spokesperson said. -- PTI
20:35 Gujarat man arrested for giving sensitive info to Pak spy
The Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad arrested a Porbandar resident for allegedly sharing sensitive information about Indian Coast Guard vessels to a Pakistani agent posing as a Mumbai-based woman, an official said on Saturday.
Accused Pankaj Kotiya was lured by the Pakistani agent, who using the alias 'Riya', to share information about ICG vessels and its jetty at Porbandar, ATS Superintendent of Police K Siddharth said.
Kotiya, a casual labourer at the jetty, came in contact with 'Riya' on Facebook eight months ago and had been in touch since, he said.
'Riya' told Kotiya she worked with the Indian Navy and was based in Mumbai, the official added.
The Whatsapp number on which he shared sensitive information about location and other details of ICG ships and the jetty has been traced to Pakistan, the SP said.
Over the past eight months, Kotiya was paid Rs 26,000 in instalments through UPI for such information, Siddharth said.
Kotiya and 'Riya' have been charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for waging war against the government of India as well as criminal conspiracy, the ATS said. -- PTI
20:07 As Israel attacks Iran, India says...
India on Saturday said it was deeply concerned over the 'evolving escalation' in West Asia and urged all sides to exercise restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.
"Our Missions in the region are in contact with the Indian community," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
This comes after Israel carried out strikes on military sites in Iran on Saturday, further fuelling fears of a full-blown war between the two heavily armed countries.
Israel said the targeted facilities were used to make missiles fired at it, according to reports.
"We are deeply concerned by the evolving escalation in West Asia and its ramifications for peace and stability in the region and beyond," the MEA said.
"We reiterate our call to all concerned to exercise restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. The ongoing hostilities are to nobody's benefit, even as innocent hostages and civilian populations continue to suffer," it said.
The West Asia conflict was discussed in 'considerable details' during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in New Delhi on Friday. -- PTI
IMAGE: A general view of Tehran after several explosions were heard, on October 26, 2024. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
19:38 Maharashtra: BJP drops 2 MLAs in second list
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday released its second list of 22 candidates for the Maharashtra assembly elections, retaining six sitting MLAs and dropping two.
The saffron party, a member of the ruling Mahayuti coalition along with the Shiv Sena and NCP, has declared candidates for 121 constituencies so far.
In the second list, the party replaced sitting MLAs of Washim and Gadchiroli while retaining the MLAs of Akot, Nashik Central, Pen, Khadakwasala, Pune Cantonment and Ulhasnagar.
The second list also featured two members of the legislative council: Gopichand Padalkar was fielded from Jat and Ramesh Karad from Latur Rural where he would take on Congress' Dhiraj Deshmukh.
Elections to the 288-member assembly would take place on November 20. -- PTI
18:37 Amid MVA seat-sharing row, AAP says it won't...
The Aam Aadmi Party will not contest the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra.
Instead, party chief Arvind Kejriwal will campaign for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said on Saturday.
"In the Maharashtra elections, the party's National Convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, will campaign for the MVA candidates. Aam Aadmi Party will not contest elections in Maharashtra," Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha MP, said on X.
According to AAP sources, the Shiv Sena-UBT and the NCP-SP contacted the party about Kejriwal campaigning in Maharashtra.
Kejriwal is also set to campaign for Hemant Soren's ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in Jharkhand assembly polls, they said. -- PTI
17:45 Mahayuti allies still in talks over 8 seats: BJP
Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Saturday said talks are still on among the three Mahayuti constituents over seven to eight seats for the next month's state assembly polls.
Talking to reporters in Mumbai, the former state minister said the BJP would release the second list of candidates on Sunday.
Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20 and the counting of votes will take place three days later.
Two of the three Mahayuti allies -- BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena -- have separately released their first list of candidates, while the third partner, Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party, has come out with two lists of nominees so far.
"Discussions are still on over seven to eight seats. We are fighting like a family - taking everyone, including the elder brother and younger brother, along. The BJP's second list will be released tomorrow and we will also come out with a joint manifesto," he said.
Bawankule mocked the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's reported formula of all three allies contesting 90 seats each.
"We heard that Rahul Gandhi fired the state leaders for mishandling the seat-sharing talks," he claimed.
He said the MVA has no development agenda unlike the Mahayuti alliance.
"Instead of a development vision, the opposition alliance discusses who will be the chief minister and who will get the minister's post. MVA's fake narrative, which worked during this year's Lok Sabha elections, will not work now," he said.
Bawankule said Uddhav Thackeray's dream of becoming the chief minister again will not be fulfilled as his allies don't support his wish. -- PTI
Talking to reporters in Mumbai, the former state minister said the BJP would release the second list of candidates on Sunday.
Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20 and the counting of votes will take place three days later.
Two of the three Mahayuti allies -- BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena -- have separately released their first list of candidates, while the third partner, Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party, has come out with two lists of nominees so far.
"Discussions are still on over seven to eight seats. We are fighting like a family - taking everyone, including the elder brother and younger brother, along. The BJP's second list will be released tomorrow and we will also come out with a joint manifesto," he said.
Bawankule mocked the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's reported formula of all three allies contesting 90 seats each.
"We heard that Rahul Gandhi fired the state leaders for mishandling the seat-sharing talks," he claimed.
He said the MVA has no development agenda unlike the Mahayuti alliance.
"Instead of a development vision, the opposition alliance discusses who will be the chief minister and who will get the minister's post. MVA's fake narrative, which worked during this year's Lok Sabha elections, will not work now," he said.
Bawankule said Uddhav Thackeray's dream of becoming the chief minister again will not be fulfilled as his allies don't support his wish. -- PTI
17:16 Iran cancels all flights amid Israeli attack
Iran cancelled all flights until further notice due to escalating tensions and security concerns in West Asia, according to state news agency IRNA.
The spokesperson for Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, Ja'far Yazerlou, stated today that flights on all routes have been cancelled until further notice.
His remarks come hours after the Israeli regime attacked several positions in three provinces in Iran.
Iran's air defence force said the occupying regime attacked positions in Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam provinces, saying the aggression was successfully thwarted, as per IRNA.
Iranian state media citing Iran's air defence force, said the attacks caused limited damage in some locations and the dimensions of the incident are under investigation.
Tasnim news outlet citing informed sources reported that Iran is ready to respond to Israeli aggression, 'as previously stated', adding that 'Iran reserves its right to respond to any form of aggression, and there is no doubt that Israel will receive a proportional reaction to any action taken'.
The spokesperson for Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, Ja'far Yazerlou, stated today that flights on all routes have been cancelled until further notice.
His remarks come hours after the Israeli regime attacked several positions in three provinces in Iran.
Iran's air defence force said the occupying regime attacked positions in Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam provinces, saying the aggression was successfully thwarted, as per IRNA.
Iranian state media citing Iran's air defence force, said the attacks caused limited damage in some locations and the dimensions of the incident are under investigation.
Tasnim news outlet citing informed sources reported that Iran is ready to respond to Israeli aggression, 'as previously stated', adding that 'Iran reserves its right to respond to any form of aggression, and there is no doubt that Israel will receive a proportional reaction to any action taken'.
Earlier, Israel Defence Force spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari released a video hours after the Israeli strike and affirmed that Israel had achieved its objectives, adding "that those who threaten Israel will pay a heavy price." -- ANI
IMAGE: A general view of Tehran after several explosions were heard, on October 26, 2024. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
17:05 Lawyers must learn to pay proper salaries to youngsters: CJI
Lawyers must learn to pay proper salaries and emoluments to the youngsters who enter their chambers to learn, Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud has said In an interview with the All India Radio, Chandrachud said the legal profession is a difficult one where the foundation laid in the initial years keeps the young lawyers in good stead throughout their careers.
"There are always ups and downs in a profession. Initially, the amount you make at the end of your first month in the legal profession may not be very high," the CJI said.
So it is important to encourage the first timers to hang in, put in the hard work, and be sincere in what they do, Chandrachud said.
"Equally, our structures must change as well. For instance, lawyers must learn how to pay proper wages, salaries and emoluments to the young lawyers who enter their chambers," he said.
"Youngsters come to their chambers to learn. They also have a great deal to share, so it is a two-way process of absorption and sharing and mentorship which we have to provide to the younger lawyers," the CJI added.
Chandrachud also recalled his days as a presenter in the All India Radio during his college days in Delhi.
The CJI said his mother, a classical musician, often took him to the AIR studios in Mumbai when he was in third or fourth standard.
Later, after moving to Delhi in 1975, he auditioned for Akashvani and began hosting programmes in Hindi and English.
He also recalled how he grew up listening to AIR bulletins in Hindi, English and Sanskrit with his parents, getting enchanted by the iconic voices of Devki Nandan Pandey, Pamela Singh and Lotika Ratnam. -- PTI
Image only for representation
16:08 Woman claims sighting leopard at Bhubaneswar airport
Personnel of the Odisha forest department on Saturday launched a search operation at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, after a woman claimed to have spotted a leopard near the dump yard area, officials said.
The forest department sleuths along with the local police scanned the area carrying nets and other equipment, but could not find any trace of the leopard, they said.
Earlier in the morning, the woman, a worker at the dump yard, claimed to have spotted a leopard there, a forest official said.
However, only pug marks of jackal were found during the search operation of the high-security airport premises, 'but there was no sign of any leopard', he said.
In 2019, officials of the department had caught a leopard from the Bhubaneswar airport premises and released the animal in nearby Chandaka forest. -- PTI
The forest department sleuths along with the local police scanned the area carrying nets and other equipment, but could not find any trace of the leopard, they said.
Earlier in the morning, the woman, a worker at the dump yard, claimed to have spotted a leopard there, a forest official said.
However, only pug marks of jackal were found during the search operation of the high-security airport premises, 'but there was no sign of any leopard', he said.
In 2019, officials of the department had caught a leopard from the Bhubaneswar airport premises and released the animal in nearby Chandaka forest. -- PTI
15:49 Top 10 BSE firms according to market cap
Market capitalisation of top 10 BSE firms as on October 25, 2024.
15:33 Priyanka didn't disclose full info about assets: BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday accused Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of 'non-disclosure of essential information' regarding her and her husband Robert Vadra's assets in her affidavit to contest the Lok Sabha bypoll from Kerala's Wayanad.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed that Gandhi is in violation of the Supreme Court's directive to poll candidates to make a full disclosure of their, their spouse's and dependents' assets.
"The Supreme Court order is binding on all citizens. The Gandhi family is not above law. There can be only one outcome. If somebody furnishes wrong information in the affidavit, they have no right to contest elections," Bhatia told reporters in New Delhi.
The date for a scrutiny of the nominations by poll officials is October 28 and the BJP has been targeting the Congress general secretary over her affidavit in the run-up.
Referring to the alleged grab of National Herald assets by the Gandhi family, Bhatia said Priyanka Gandhi's affidavit made no mention of her ownership of shares in Associated Journals through a couple of trusts.
This amounts to non-disclosure of essential information, he said.
The affidavit, he added, mentioned Vadra's three firms while omitting his stakes in two other companies.
The BJP leader said his charge is based on 'irrefutable' documents.
He asked Priyanka Gandhi to respond to the allegations to inform the public about her stand on the issue.
The Congress will have to comply with the law or there will be serious consequences, Bhatia said, adding that the BJP will take all necessary and effective steps as it follows the Constitution.
The Gandhi family, he alleged, thinks that it can ignore the law and befool people.
No one should harbour such an illusion, he added.
The bypoll to the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency is scheduled to be held on November 13. -- PTI
15:28 Teacher held for sexually assaulting 17-year-old tribal student in Gujarat
A teacher was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a Class IX tribal student at a residential school in Gujarat's Dahod district, a police official said on Saturday.
The incident took place in a residential school for tribals in Khalta village and the accused has been identified as Kalpesh Baria, the Dhanpur police station official said.
"Baria called the 17-year-old student to his quarters in the Khalta ashramshala campus on Thursday evening on the pretext of cooking for him and made sexual overtures. He also grabbed her from behind. She managed to leave from the place only after she called her sister there," the official said.
"After her siblings, who study in the same school, found out about her ordeal, they informer their father. The family lodged a complaint against Baria on Friday and he was arrested soon after," he said.
Baria has been charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 75 (1)(i) (physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures), section 8 (sexual assault) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The ashramshala is run by the state social welfare department. -- PTI
14:25 8 held for gang rape of woman at picnic spot in MP
The police on Saturday arrested eight persons in connection with the gang rape of a woman while she was on an outing with her husband in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district, an official said.
The police have apprehended five persons who allegedly raped the woman and three men who shot a video of the assault that occurred at a picnic spot in Gurh tehsil on October 21, the official said.
Talking to PTI, Rewa Superintendent of Police Vivek Singh said, "We formally arrested the eight accused on Saturday morning. They are in their early to mid-20s. One of the five alleged rapists was nabbed from Raipur in neighbouring Chhattisgarh."
According to the police, the woman had got married recently.
The couple is in the age group of 19-20 years and is still in college.
Rewa headquarters Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Himali Pathak had said the woman told the police that one of the five persons who allegedly sexually assaulted her has tattoos on his hand and chest.
The couple approached the Gurh police station around 1.30 pm on Tuesday, and an FIR was registered later that evening, she said.
The official said that according to the woman's version of events, she and her husband had a fight near a fountain, about 2 km from a famous temple in the Gurh industrial area.
The woman alleged that five men took turns to rape her near the fountain, the DSP said, adding that the accused had also recorded a video of the act. -- PTI
14:04 Army vehicle skids off road in Kulgam; 1 soldier dead
An army soldier was killed and nine others injured when their Army vehicle skidded off the road and overturned in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, officials said on Saturday.
The injured were taken to a hospital where their condition is stated to be stable, they said.
The accident in Kulgam's D H Pora area happened during an operational move on Friday night, said the Army's Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also known as Chinar Corps.
"Tragically, one sepoy lost his life, while few soldiers sustained injuries who were promptly evacuated for medical care. All soldiers are stable," the Chinar Corps said. -- PTI
13:24 Coldplay tickets: ED finds 'irregularities'
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Saturday said it has detected alleged irregularities after it conducted raids in a money laundering probe into 'black marketing' of tickets for Coldplay and Diljit Dosanjh's 'Dil-Luminati' concerts.
The searches were undertaken on Friday at 13 locations in five states -- Delhi, Maharashtra (Mumbai), Rajasthan (Jaipur), Karnataka (Bengaluru) and Punjab (Chandigarh).
Normally, tickets are available on platforms like Zomato, BookMyShow and others but when the demand is very high, these tickets sell out quickly, leading people to seek alternate sources, the federal agency said.
"Searches and investigation conducted by ED has revealed information regarding multiple individuals known for providing such tickets, including fake tickets through social media using Instagram, WhatsApp and Telegram," the ED said in a statement.
It added that several 'incriminating' materials such as mobile phones, laptops, SIM cards, etc. used in the ticket sales 'scam' were seized.
The searches were aimed at investigating the illegal sales of tickets, financial networks supporting these scams, and tracing the proceeds of crime generated from such illegal activities, it said. -- PTI
13:22 Maharashtra polls: Cong releases 2nd list of 23 candidates
The Congress on Saturday released its second list of 23 candidates for the November 10 assembly elections in Maharashtra.
The list came after the party's Central Election Committee met and discussed the names of the candidates for the polls.
The Congress declared 48 candidates in its first list. With this list, the Congress has now announced 71 candidates.
The opposition party had retained 25 incumbent MLAs in its first list of nominees.
The Congress has also asserted that there were no differences in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition and the final seat-sharing arrangement among its constituents will be out by Saturday evening.
Speaking to reporters after the CEC meeting on Friday, party leader Ramesh Chennithala said the Congress CEC held a discussion on the remaining seats of Maharashtra.
"The MVA is contesting unitedly and we have no differences," Chennithala, who is the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Maharashtra, said.
"We will fight together to realise the dreams of the people of Maharashtra. We are confident that MVA will form the government. People are ready to throw out this corrupt government," Chennithala said.
Pradesh Congress Committee chief Nana Patole said the MVA will perform better in the assembly polls than in the Lok Sabha polls, and the MVA will form a full majority government.
'We, the MVA, are all set to sweep the upcoming assembly elections,' Venugopal said in a post on X after the deliberations.
He also shared pictures of the CEC meeting on the microblogging platform.
The Congress announced its first list of 48 candidates for the Maharashtra polls on Thursday, fielding Patole from Sakoli, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan from Karad South and Leader of Opposition in the outgoing assembly Vijay Wadettiwar from Brahmapuri. -- PTI
12:03 Haryana lynching: Meat sample not beef, say cops
Two months after a migrant worker from West Bengal was allegedly beaten to death in Haryana over suspicion that he had eaten beef, police on Saturday said it was found in a lab test that it was not beef.
Ten people have been arrested in connection with the killing of Sabir Malik, a rag picker who lived in a shanty in Hansawas Khurd village in Charkhi Dadri district.
"The meat sample from the shanty had been taken and sent for testing to a laboratory in Faridabad. We have received the report which has confirmed that it was not beef," Deputy Superintendent of Police, Badhra (Charkhi Dadri), Bharat Bhushan said over the phone.
"Soon, we will submit the challan in the court with the report," he said.
On August 27, suspecting that Malik had eaten beef, the accused had allegedly called him to a shop under the pretense of selling empty plastic bottles and then beat him.
When some people tried to intervene, they allegedly took him to another place and thrashed him again, according to police.
A case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered against the accused, police said. -- PTI
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi (left)/File image
11:03 7 Punjab cops suspended over Bishnoi interview
The Punjab police suspended seven personnel, including two deputy superintendent rank officers, in connection with an interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi while in police custody.
A Special Investigation Team of the state police, led by the special director general of police (human rights), found that one interview of Bishnoi was conducted when he was in Punjab police's custody in Mohali's Kharar while the second was done in Rajasthan.
The suspension came after the SIT found dereliction of duty on the part of the seven personnel.
According to an order of the Punjab home secretary issued on Friday, SP Gursher Singh Sandhu, DSP Sammar Vaneet, sub-inspector Reena (CIA Kharar), sub-inspector Jagatpal Jangu, sub-inspector Shaganjit Singh, assistant sub-inspector Mukhtiar Singh and head constable Om Parkash have been suspended.
"Keeping in view the sensitivity of the case, all the above officers have been suspended," said the order.
The home secretary order referred to the SIT report which found that Bishnoi's interview, aired on a private TV channel, was conducted through video conference on the intervening night of September 3 and 4 2022.
In March last year, a private news channel ran two interviews of Bishnoi. -- PTI
10:57 Jawan dies after army vehicle overturns in J-K's Kulgam
In a tragic accident, a sepoy was killed and a few soldiers sustained injuries after a vehicle of the Indian Army skidded and overturned in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, the Army said.
The incident unfolded during an operational move late Friday evening.
In a post on its social media platform, X, on Saturday, the Chinar Corps of the Indian Army said, "On 25 Oct 24 night, during an operational move in #Kulgam district, a vehicle of #IndianArmy skid and overturned. Tragically, one sepoy lost his life, while few soldiers sustained injuries who were promptly evacuated for medical care. All soldiers are stable. " -- ANI
File image
10:49 MF Investors Hit 50 Million
Sustained buoyancy in the equity market and a surge in equity fund launches brought in nearly 10 million new investors to the mutual fund fold in the last 12 months, shows data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi).
The pace of investor addition has more than doubled compared to the previous 12 months.MFs had added only 4.4 million investors during October 2022-September 2023.
The total investor count stood at 50.1 million at the end of September 2024.
The investor count had crossed the 40 million mark in September 2023.
The unique investor count is tracked using the number of permanent account numbers (PANs) registered with MF schemes.
According to MF executives, a surge in new investors is underpinned by the growing appeal of equity investments.
While retail interest in equities has been steadily growing since the pandemic, the recent uptick in investor numbers is attributed to the strong market rally, the robust performance of equity schemes, and a wave of new fund offerings (NFOs) in popular categories, according to experts.
Benchmark indices the Nifty 50 and the Sensex had risen around 35 per cent in the one-year period ending September 30.
In comparison, the two indices had gone up only around 10 per cent in the previous 12 months.
Amid the buoyant equity market sentiment, fund houses have launched numerous equity NFOs recently, with activity especially picking up in the last five months.
MFs launched 28 active equity schemes from May to August, collectively raising Rs 58,612 crore.
NFOs, especially in the equity space, are known to boost investor additions owing to higher promotion and marketing activities.
The new investor additions have been around 1 million for four consecutive months starting June 2024.
'The MF industry is proud to reach a milestone of 50,122,609 (50 million) unique investors. This, along with folio count surpassing 210 million, underscores the efforts taken by the AMCs and distributors to spread financial awareness," said Venkat Chalasani, chief executive, Amfi.
'The Mutual Funds Sahi Hai campaign has helped build investor confidence, which is indicated by the growing appreciation for mutual funds as a preferred investment avenue." -- Abhishek Kumar/Business Standard
A rickshaw puller wades through a waterlogged road following heavy rainfall as an effect of the 'Dana' cyclone, in Kolkata on Friday./ANI Photo
10:38 Cyclone Dana: 2 more killed in Bengal, toll rises to 4
Two more persons died in West Bengal due to cyclone Dana, taking the toll to four, officials said on Saturday.
A civic volunteer, identified as Chandan Das (31), died on the spot when he allegedly touched a live wire in Bud Bud in Purba Bardhaman district.
The incident happened when he was out with a police team, they said.
An employee of the Howrah Municipal Corporation was found dead in a waterlogged road in Tantipara.
It was suspected that he died due to drowning, they said.
The state on Friday reported two deaths due to electrocution. One person died in Patharpratima in South 24 Parganas district, and another died in south Kolkata's Bhabanipur area, they added.
Severe cyclonic storm Dana struck the eastern coast in the early hours of Friday, triggering torrential rain and high-speed winds that uprooted trees and electric poles, and caused significant damage to infrastructure and crops in Odisha and West Bengal. -- PTI
10:17 How Much Did FPIs Sell in Oct?
Selling by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) so far in October is the highest ever in a calendar month, surpassing the March 2020 levels.
However, comparing the assets under custody (AUC) of overseas investors shows that the intensity of selling is only the third-worst.
AUC is the value of outstanding holdings.
Until October 24, selling by FPIs stood at Rs 79,412 crore (an improvement from Rs 84,000 crore in outflow after factoring in inflows into the primary market, mainly due to Hyundai India's initial public offering), which is 1.02 percent of the FPI AUC of Rs 78 trillion and 0.18 percent of India's market capitalisation (mcap) of Rs 437 trillion.
FPI outflows of Rs 58,632 crore in March 2020 were over 2 percent of their AUC and 0.4 percent of the India's mcap back then.
Given the greater velocity of selling at that time, the markets had crashed by 23 percent.
This time, the indices are down over 5 percent -- about one-fifth of the March 2020 fall -- but still considerable and higher than previous bouts of large FPI selloffs.
This month too, the fall could have been worse if it were not the strong Rs 93,000 crore of investments by the domestic institutions. -- Samie Modak & Mayank Patwardhan/Business Standard
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10:01 Arms, explosive recovered in Manipur
Arms and ammunition were recovered by security forces in Manipur's Bishnupur and Imphal West districts, police said on Saturday.
During a search operation in Uyungmakhong in Bishnupur district on Friday, a 7.62 mm self-loading rifle with a magazine, six grenades, four grenade arm rings, two tear gas grenades, three stinger grenades and an IED weighing 2.3 kg were among the items recovered, they said.
In a similar operation in Shantipur Makha Leikai in Imphal West district, a single-barrel gun, two 9 mm pistols with two magazines, a 7.62 LMG magazine and three M-67 hand grenades along with detonators were recovered, they added. -- PTI
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09:43 Shot down 'adversial targets': Iran on Israel attack
Iran media on Saturday said that the country's air defence systems in central Tehran foiled Israeli attack in response to the escalating attacks by Tel Aviv.
State news agency IRNA said that Iran has successfully shot down "adversial targets" in the airspace around Tehran province.
Iranian state television noted hearing six loud sounds resembling explosions in parts of the capital, with the source of the noises currently unverified.
It reported an Iran military official as stating that the Air defence systems were operated to foil attacks on three different locations near Tehran.
A security source informed IRNA that some of the sounds heard were due to air defence activity in Tehran, and the air defence successfully operated during this incident.
On Saturday morning, Israel Defence Forces announced that its military had conducted "precise strikes" on Iranian military targets, around a month after Tehran launched around 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel.
"Right now, the Israel Defence Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran," Israeli army spokesman Rear Admiral Danial Hagari said in a statement. -- ANI
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio
09:36 Leonardo DiCaprio endorses Kamala Harris, bashes Trump
Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio has officially endorsed Kamala Harris for US president.
Taking to his Instagram account on Thursday, DiCaprio, who is best known for his environmental activism, expressed deep concern over recent hurricanes, which he linked to climate change.
In the video shared by DiCaprio, the actor criticized former president Donald Trump for denying climate science and withdrawing the U.S. from important environmental agreements.
"Donald Trump continues to deny the facts. He continues to deny the science. He withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accords and rolled back critical environmental protections. Now he's promised the oil and gas industry that he'll get rid of any regulation they want in exchange for a billion-dollar donation," the actor shared.
The actor also shared why he is supporting Kamala Harris.
"Climate change is killing the earth and ruining our economy. We need a bold step forward to save our economy, our planet and ourselves. That's why I'm voting for Kamala Harris."
He further praised Harris for her work on climate action and spoke on her role in passing the Inflation Reduction Act and her goals to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. -- PTI
Former US President Donald Trump/File image
09:16 Chinese hackers targeted phone data of Donald Trump, JD Vance: Report
Hackers linked to the Chinese government targeted the phone communications of former US President Donald Trump and Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance as part of their cyber-espionage activity aimed at high-level US targets, CNN reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
According to one of the sources, the Chinese hackers also targeted senior Biden administration officials. US officials this week informed the former president's campaign that Trump and Vance were among a group of people whose phones were targeted by the Chinese hackers, the report stated.
In a statement, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung slammed the Harris campaign for allegedly 'emboldening' China.
It was, however, not immediately clear what information, if any, the hackers were able to acquire.
Phone communications of current and former senior US officials are coveted by foreign spies, as reported by CNN.
In a statement on Friday, the FBI and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said, "The US Government is investigating the unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure by actors affiliated with the People's Republic of China."
After the FBI identified the hacking targeting telecommunication firms, the CISA and FBI "immediately notified affected companies, rendered technical assistance, and rapidly shared information to assist other potential victims," the statement said, adding the investigation was underway. -- ANI
Maharashtra ex-minister Baba Siddique/File image
09:01 Man held from Punjab in Siddique murder case
A man was arrested from Ludhiana in connection with the murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav said on Saturday.
Surjeet Sushil Singh was held in a joint operation of the Punjab police and the Mumbai police.
He has been handed over to the Mumbai police, Yadav, the director general of Punjab police said on X.
"In a major breakthrough, Mumbai police in a joint operation with Punjab police apprehends Sujeet Sushil Singh, resident of Mumbai, wanted in high profile murder of Baba Siddique," said Yadav on X.
"Sujeet was involved in the murder conspiracy and was informed about the plan to kill Baba Siddique three days in advance by Nitin Gautan (Gautam) Sapre-another accused. He also provided logistical assistance. He has been handed over to Mumbai police for further investigation," he said. -- PTI
Mehbooba Mufti/File image
08:37 Mehbooba dissolves PDP structure; new leadership after discussions with seniors
Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti has announced the dissolution of the party's entire structure with immediate effect.
According to sources, the new office bearers, along with various wings and bodies, will be formed after discussions with senior leaders.
The announcement was made at the JKPDP headquarters in Srinagar on Friday.
Following the Union Territory's assembly elections on October 8, the former chief minister congratulated the National Conference-Congress alliance for receiving the "people's mandate."
She stated that since the people had given a clear mandate, there would be no opportunity for parties to "mess around," adding that if the election had resulted in a hung assembly, certain "tricks" might have been used to "defeat the mandate of the people."
"I am happy with the way people have voted. 'Gadbad karna ka koi chance nahi hai ab' (there is no chance to mess around now). It seemed like if the mandate wasn't clear, dirty tricks could have been used to defeat the people's will," she said. -- ANI
08:17 US hires chartered flight to send back Indians who stayed illegally
The United States hired a chartered flight to send back Indian nationals who stayed in the US illegally, the department of homeland security said on Friday, noting that this has been done in cooperation with the Indian government.
Indian nationals without a legal basis to remain in the United States are subject to swift removal, and intending migrants should not fall for the lies of smugglers who proclaim otherwise, said a senior official performing the duties of deputy secretary of homeland security Kristie A Canegallo.
The charter flight was sent to India on October 22.
The statement said DHS continues to enforce US immigration laws and deliver tough consequences for those who enter unlawfully by swiftly returning those without a legal basis to remain in the United States while encouraging the use of lawful pathways.
Since June 2024, when the Securing the Border Presidential Proclamation and accompanying Interim Final Rule went into effect, encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border have decreased by 55 percent.
In Fiscal Year 2024, DHS removed or returned over 160,000 individuals and operated more than 495 international repatriation flights to more than 145 countries, including India, the statement said. -- PTI
Slain NCP leader Baba Siddique/File image
08:11 Siddique murder: Mumbai police recover weapon from accused's house
The Mumbai police recovered a weapon from the house of an accused in the NCP leader Baba Siddique murder case, officials said on Friday.
The weapon was recovered from the house of accused Ram Fulchand Kanoujia in Raigad, Maharashtra where he was living on rent, the police said.
The police recovered a total of four out of the five weapons that police reported during the preliminary investigation.
According to the police, the search for another pistol, which is an Australia made Bretta, is underway.
The police said that when the shooters' mobiles were searched, pictures of pistols were found in them.
After which, after interrogation, the Crime Branch started looking for the fourth weapon. --ANI
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08:05 Israel starts 'precision strikes' on Iran military targets
The Israel Defence Forces said on Saturday that it is carrying out "precise strikes" on Iranian military targets, around a month after Tehran launched around 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel.
The IDF noted that the strikes are being conducted in response to "relentless attacks" from Iran and its proxies since October 7, adding that Israel has the "right and the duty to respond."
The Israeli military said, "The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th - on seven fronts - including direct attacks from Iranian soil."
"Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond," it added.
The IDF stated its "defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized," and that it "will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel."
In a brief video statement, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced that there are no changes to instructions given to people at this time, as strikes are being conducted in Iran, The Times of Israel reported.
Expressing Israel's preparedness in attack and defence, Hagari said, "The IDF is fully prepared in attack and defence. We are following the developments from Iran and its proxies in the region," according to The Times of Israel report. -- ANI
Uddhav Thackeray (left) and Raj Thackeray /File mage
00:44 Will try to reunite Uddhav, Raj if given a chance, says MNS leader
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Bala Nandgaonkar on Friday said if he gets an opportunity, he will try to bring estranged Thackeray cousins Uddhav and Raj together.
Nandgaonkar was talking to reporters after filing his nomination as candidate of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS from Shivadi assembly seat in Mumbai.
To the question whether he will make efforts to bring the Thackeray cousins together, he said, "I had done it before, and will do it in the future if I get a chance." Although he is an MNS "sainik" (solider), he is also a "sainik" of late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, he said. Nandgaonkar became famous in the 1990s as a giant-killer after defeating Chhagan Bhujbal who had quit the undivided Shiv Sena to join the Congress. He himself left the Shiv Sena a decade later when Raj Thackeray fell out with Uddhav Thackeray and quit the party. The MNS has so far declared candidates for more than 50 out of the 288 seats. Assembly elections will be held in Maharashtra on November 20.
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00:29 SP leader fined Rs 54 lakh for stealing electricity in UP's Sambhal
The Uttar Pradesh power department has fined a former district president of the Samajwadi Party Rs 54 lakh in connection with an electricity theft case, an official said on Friday.
The case against Firoz Khan was registered on October 20 in Sambhal, executive engineer Naveen Gautam of the power department said.
"During an inspection on October 20 in Pakka Bagh, Hayatnagar, electricity theft was detected at Firoz Khan's private office," he said.
Consequently, an FIR was filed against Khan under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003, at the Anti-Power Theft Police Station, he said.
"The investigation revealed there had been no metre installed since 2012, and there was no valid electricity connection. After approval of the inspection report, a penalty of Rs 54 lakh has been imposed," Gautam said.
Khan has been sent a notice to present his case within 15 days.
"I have a generator, which is the source of electricity," Khan had told PTI on October 21.
"This case has been filed due to political motives to entangle me under false charges," he said. -- PTI
00:18 MVA final seat-sharing deal by today evening: Cong
The Congress asserted that there were no differences in the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition and the final seat-sharing arrangement among its constituents will be out by Saturday evening.
The party made the assertion after its central election committee met at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi on Friday to deliberate on the candidates' names for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary, organisation, KC Venugopal were among those who attended the meeting.
All India Congress Committee in-charge for Maharashtra Ramesh Chennithala, state Congress chief Nana Patole and other leaders from the state, including Balasaheb Thorat, were also present.
Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Chennithala said the Congress' central election committee held a discussion on the remaining seats of Maharashtra.
He said the second list of party candidates will be released very soon and the complete list will be out by Saturday evening.
"The MVA is contesting unitedly and we have no differences," Chennithala said. -- PTI
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