NATIONAL Conference President Farooq Abdullah was on Saturday unanimously chosen as theChairman of the recently-floated People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti will be his deputy, the amalgam said. CPM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami is the convenor of the alliance, while Sajad Lone of People’s Confer..

THE current civil war-like situation in Pakistan may deal a blow to the execution of the ongoing China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a collection of mega infrastructure projects, and thereby dent its economic revival process. Opposition parties in the country led a joint rally protesting against Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “puppet” Government and the Army. Besides, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has also ruled against taking Pakistan off the ‘grey list’ and gave Islamabad time till February ..

A TODDLER from Hyderabad has earned laurels for his sharp memory and has secured his name in the India Book of Records as well as Bravo International Book of World Records. He has now been nominated for another award- The Global Kids Achievers Award 2020. At the tender age of two years and eleven months, Devaansh Surpur can recognise deities, car logos, colours, all the letters of the English alphabet, domestic animals, wild animals, professions, body p..

   MUMBAI :  A CITY-BASED lawyer on Thursday filed a criminal complaint against actor Kangana Ranaut for allegedly posting a “malicious” tweet against the judiciary after a local court ordered the registration of an FIR against her. The police have already summoned Ranaut and her sister for questioning next week after a case was registered against them on the Bandra Metropolitan Magistrate’s order on another complaint. ..

UNION Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given a major relaxation to all Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders and all other foreign nationals intending to visit India for any purpose. But, this excludes foreigners, OCI and PIO holders applying to come on tourist visa. The move comes in an effort to provide relaxation to people trying to come to India amid COVID-19 pandemic. “The Government has now decide..

SCRIPTING a new chapter, the Indian Navy has got ready its first batch of three women pilots for Maritime Reconnai ssance (MR) missions on Dornier aircraft. Lieutenant Divya Sharma, Lt Shubhangi Swaroop and Lt Shivangi are now ready to take on all MR missions on Dornier aircraft, a Defence spokesman said on Thursday. They have been “operationalised (mission ready) on Dornier aircraft” by the Southern Naval Command (SNC) here on Thursday, he said...

INDIA has warned Twitter over its location setting that showed Leh in China, saying any disrespect of the country's sovereignty and integrity is totally unacceptable. In a strongly-worded letter, Ajay Sawhney, Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), asked Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to respect the country's sensitivities, sources in the Ministry said...

THE first-ever comprehensive analysis of air pollution’s global impact on newborns finds that outdoor and household particulate matter pollution contributed to the deaths of more than 1,16,000 Indian infants in their first month of life in 2019, a new global study on Wednesday. ..

THE next logical step in the process of defence reforms in India is the formation of Integrated Theatre Commands to synergise the capabilities and combat potential of the three armed services during war and peace, Indian Army chief, General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Wednesday...

FORMER Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate for the second time in three days on Wednesday in connection with a multi-crore scam in the JK Cricket Association, with his National Conference terming the summons “yet another attempt to browbeat” the Opposition...

RESEARCHERS have found the evidence of a “lost” river that ran through the central Thar Desert, near Bikaner, as early as 172 thousand years ago, and may have been a life-line to human populations enabling them to inhabit the region...

ALARMED by cases of rapes and molestations reported at COVID-19 centres in Maharashtra, the National Council for Women on Tuesday asked the State Government to ensure that Standard Operating Procedures are strengthened to prevent such crimes. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma, who is on a 3-day visit to Maharashtra, asked whether such SOPs have been established and adhered to for the safety and protection of women patients at COVID centres. “She expressed her anguish at crimes of molestation and rape of ..

WITH the onset of festival season, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made an impassioned appeal to people to follow COVID-19 guidelines, saying this is not the time to be careless as the virus is still around and even a small negligence can dampen the festive spirit. In his seventh address to the nation following the COVID-19 outbreak, Modi cited examples of the US and several European countries to note that the coronavirus cases there have seen a sudden and worrisome rise after witnessing a ..

AMID a political furore over the three new farm laws, a Gaon Connection survey has found that more than half of the country’s peasantry oppose these, but one-third of them did not know details of the legislations. Similarly, of the 35 per cent respondents supporting the agri laws, almost 18 per cent were not informed about them. The survey, “The Indian Farmer’s Perception of the New Agri Laws,” found that out of the 52 per cent who opposed the..

THE arbitration proceedings between Amazon and Kishore Biyani have begun in Singapore. The judgement will eventually decide the fate of Reliance’s deal with the Future Group. Amazon’s investment in Future Group is around Rs 1,500 crore, which is an insignificant amount for Jeff Bezos -- the richest man in the world and CEO of Amazon...

OVER 1.8 lakh passengers have flown within the country on October 18, taking the total count of domestic fliers to 1.39 crore since May 25 amid the COVID-19 outbreak, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday. Nearly 1.39 crore domestic fliers since May 25: Hardeep Singh Puri The Minister, in a tweet, said that the airports across the country received a footfall of 3,63,757...

SENIOR BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the Maharashtra Government must take a loan to provide relief to farmers affected by heavy rains as doing so was not a “sin” nor would it be unprecedented. Speaking to reporters while touring rain-hit regions of Pune and Solapur, Fadnavis said the state’s limit to obtain loans had not even been utilised “50 per cent”. Fadnavis said he agreed with NCP chief Sharad Pawar that the State Governme..

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said necessary changes are being made in every sector to ensure growth and to make this decade India’s. He also said that efforts are being made at all levels to make the country a global hub for higher education and its youth competitive. “In the last 6-7 months you might have seen the speed and the ambit of reforms is increasing. Whether it is agriculture, space, defence, aviation or labour. In every sector necessary changes are being made for growth,” Modi ..

THE jailed promoter of crisis-hit mortgage lender DHFL, Kapil Wadhawan, has offered his personal and family properties, which he claims are worth Rs 43,000 crore, for repayment of outstanding loans of lenders to the company. Wadhawan wrote to RBI-appointed administrator R Subramaniakumar on October 17 saying his offer would ensure maximum value for the assets that have been put on the block to repay loans. Currently under judicial custody, Wadhawan has proposed to the transfer of the right, title ..

RELIANCE Jio is planning to launch a 5G smartphone for less than Rs 5,000 and gradually reduce the price to Rs 2,500-3,000 a unit when it scales up the operation, according to a company official. The company will target 20-30 crore mobile phone users who use 2G connection at present. “Jio wants to bring the device for less than Rs 5,000. When we scale up the sales, it can be priced in the range of Rs 2,500-3,000,” a company official said on the condition of anonymity...

THE Government is unlikely to extend the Rs 3 lakh crore-Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for MSME sector beyond October even though the sanctioned amount so far is only nearly 65 per cent of the target, sources said. The scheme is meant to provide financial support to businesses, primarily Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), impacted by slowdown triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. The sources said the objective is to provide support to all those affected and if there are ..

TWO persons were killed in a fresh spell of overnight heavy rain, which left dozens of residential colonies inundated in the city and adjoining areas, adding to the woes of people who are yet to recover in the aftermath of last week’s deluge...

THE COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an education crisis, fuelled by deep and multiple forms of inequality having gender roots and implications, the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report by UNESCO has pointed out. Increase in gender-based violence during the period families spent at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, potential rise in teenage pregnancies or early marriages, possibility of a section of girls dropping ou..

JOSEPH Mar Thoma Metropolitan, the supreme head of the Thiruvalla headquartered Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church passed away early on Sunday, said church officials. He was 89. The Metropolitan was battling cancer for a while and was admitted to a private hospital at Thiruvalla for a few days. Till recently he was conducting the weekly Sunday mass at the Thiruvalla church, located about 130 km from here. The last rites would be held at the church ..

MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said gymnasiums and fitness centres in the State will be allowed to reopen from Dussehra, which falls on October 25. During a virtual meeting with representatives of gyms and fitness centres, the Chief Minister said group activities like zumba and yoga and steam and sauna facilities will not be allowed...

A LARGE number of people turned up on Saturday at the cremation of Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh Sandhu, who was shot dead by two unknown assailants in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district. Earlier, the family had refused to cremate the body unless the accused were arrested, but then agreed to conduct the last rites after an assurance was given by the Tarn Taran district administration about prompt action in the case. The administration also assured them about their request for a government job for ..

THE National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday said that a Delhi court has sentenced 15 persons to rigorous imprisonment of five to 10 years, who were earlier convicted in the IS conspiracy case. The case pertains to the recruitment of Indian Muslim youth by Syria based IS media chief Yusuf-Al-Hindi to work for the terror organisation and commit acts of terrorism in India at its behest...

THE ARMY destroyed five unexploded 120-mm mortar shells fired by Pakistan during ceasefire violations in different villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said...

A CHINOOK helicopter on Saturday took off the debris of Indian Air Force’s MI-17 helicopter that caught fire following a collision with an iron girder while landing at the helipad near Kedarnath temple in 2018. The debris of the MI-19 helicopter will be carried to a nearby airbase. The preparations for lifting the debris has been going on for the last 15 days...

IN ITS most direct attack on the Lok Janshakti Party, the BJP on Friday accused its President Chirag Paswan of trying to create confusion by harping on his relations with senior leaders of BJP, and asserted that it had no ties with the LJP...

DEFENCE Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday presented the Raksha Mantri Trophy for the Best and Second Best Command Hospitals of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for the year 2019. Command Hospital (Air Force) Bengaluru and Command Hospital (Eastern Command) Kolkata were judged as the Best and Second Best Command Hospital for the year 2019 respectively. The award ceremony was attended by the Defence Secretary besides senior service and civilian dignitaries. ..

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India has been providing free ration to about 80 crore poor for the last seven to eight months amid COVID-19 pandemic. “During the coronavirus crisis, many kinds of discussions are going on around the world about starvation and malnutrition. India has been providing free ration to about 80 crore poor for the last 7-8 months. During this time, India distributed foodgrains worth about Rs. 1.5 lakh crores to the poor,” Prime Minister Modi said during an ..

INDIA has gained more than a decade of life expectancy since 1990, but there are wide inequalities between States, according to a new study which assessed more than 286 causes of death and 369 diseases and injuries in more than 200 countries and territories across the world. ..

STRICTER anti-pollution measures, including a ban on electricity generators, under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into effect in Delhi-NCR on Thursday as a layer of haze hung over the region and air quality slipped to ‘very poor’ levels. NASA’s satellite imagery showed a large cluster of farm fires near Amritsar, Patiala, Tarn Taran, and Firozpur in Punjab, and Ambala and Rajpura in Haryana. However, the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi said its impact ..

FACING the twin task of fighting the coronavirus pandemic today and building a better tomorrow, the world is experiencing a new Bretton Woods moment, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday. Addres- sing the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund’s Board of Governors, she said that what was true at Bretton Woods, when allies at the end of World War II gathered for a conference to create t..

RELIEF operations were underway on Thursday in Hyderabad and other places in Telangana in the wake of heavy rains thatcaused inundation of low-lying areas, damage to property and also standing agriculture crops. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao would hold a meeting with Ministers and officials on Thursday afternoon on the rain relief measures...

AT LEAST 27 people have died in rain-related incidents in Solapur, Sangli and Pune districts of Western Maharashtra, officials said on Thursday. Over 20,000 people were evacuated to safer places in these three districts. State capital Mumbai too witnessed water-logging in many areas after overnight rains on Thursday. The districts in Western Maharashtra -- Pune, Solapur, Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur -- are witnessing heavy showers in the last two ..

ANTI-corruption ombudsman Lokpal has held that review petitions regarding an order passed by its bench cannot be entertained due to the absence of related provisions in the law governing it, according to an official order. The move comes after the Lokpal witnessed an increasing number of complainants desirous of a “reconsideration” or “review” of the orders passed by it. A committee comprising three Lokpal members -- Justices Abhilasha Kumari, ..

THREAT of terrorists using hexacopters to lob grenades at security forces at Line of Control (LoC) as well as in the Kashmir hinterland have made armed forces adopt new training course for the troops. Now, soldiers are learning how to kill drones. The Indian Army has adopted a new training module for their troops deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for counter insurgency and counter terror operations...

MAHARASHTRA Government on Wednesday announced it has decided to probe the Jalyukt Shivar water conservation scheme launched by the Devendra Fadnavis - led Government. The decision was announced after a meeting of the State Cabinet here earlier in the day, an official said...

THE lockdown measures enforced to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were associated with an unprecedented decline in global carbon dioxide emissions, larger than during the financial crisis of 2008, the oil crisis of the 1979, or even World War II, according to a new study by an international team of researchers...

THE Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has clarified that loans which have remained standard without any defaults as of March 1, 2020, will be eligible for restructuring under the pandemic-related resolution framework issued in August...

WINTER could be colder this season due to the prevailing La Nina conditions, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said on Wednesday. He said, there should not be an impression that climate change leads to rise in the temperature, but on the contrary, it leads to erratic weather...

A CBI team on Tuesday quizzed the family members of the 19-year-old Dalit victim in the gangrape and murder case in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh and examined the crime scene, officials said. The team, which reached the crime scene in Bulgarhi village on Tuesday morning after registering the FIR two days back, took the brother of the victim to record his statement, they said...

INDIA’S human space flight mission Gaganyaan will be “slightly delayed” owing to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic even as ISRO resumes rocket launch activities from the first week of November, space agency chief K. Sivan said on Monday. Answering a query at the plenary session of the International Astronautical Congress 2020, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman said India’s first human space flight was targeted in August 2022, but ow..

WITH focused strategies and calibrated measures, India has sustained its global position of being the country with one of the lowest COVID-19 cases per million and reported deaths per million, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday. From the last five weeks, there has been a continuous decline in the average daily new cases. ..

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his Government’s ‘historic’ farm reforms will create opportunities to take farmers to entrepreneurship and added his regime is focused on increasing their income. Modi was speaking after releasing the autobiography of former Union Minister Balasaheb Vikhe Patil and renaming the Pravara Rural Education Society in Ahmednagar district after the Padma Bhushan recipient, via video conferencing...

INDIA generated 18,006 tonnes of COVID-19 biomedical waste in the last four months, with Maharashtra contributing the maximum (3,587 tonnes) to it, according to a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. Around 5,500 tonnes of COVID-19 waste was generated across the country in September - the maximum for a month so far...

THE Bombay High Court on Monday granted two days time to actor Richa Chadha and aspiring actor Payal Ghosh to file ‘consent terms’ for settling the dispute between them with regard to the defamation suit filed by Chadha against Ghosh. Last week, Chadha filed the suit against Ghosh for making a “false, baseless, indecent and derogatory” statement against her and sought monetary compensation as damages. Ghosh, while levelling allegations of rape against filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, had also dragged ..

THE Bombay High Court on Monday asked the Union Government why there should not be a statutory body to regulate the content broadcast through television news channels, a poser coming in the backdrop of frenzied media coverage of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. The court sought to know why the electronic media should have an “open hand” over its coverage. “Is there a statutory mechanism for (TV news) broadcasters?” the HC asked. “Just as how the Press Council of India exists for the print media, ..