MNS cancels Shivaji Park rally, UBT only one in the queue now

Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has canceled its closing election rally at Mumbai's Shivaji Park, citing lack of permission from the state government.With MNS withdrawing, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) remains the only applicant for the venue on November 17th, just two days before the state elections.

The role of White House press secretary traditionally involves holding daily briefings and acting as the public face of the administration. 

A fire ripped through the NICU of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, resulting in the tragic deaths of 10 infants. Parents described scenes of chaos and desperation as they frantically tried to save their children amidst the blaze. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire, with a short circuit being suspected.

Dehradun accident survivor's father’s remarks followed reports alleging the group was partying, drinking, and racing a BMW before the crash that killed six.

Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly remained tight-lipped about India's extradition request for alleged Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dalla. While acknowledging ongoing investigations and dialogues with Indian diplomats, Joly refrained from providing specific details. This follows India's confirmation of seeking Dalla's extradition, who faces serious charges including murder, terrorism, and terror financing.

At COP29, India has urged developed nations to commit at least $1.3 trillion annually until 2030 in climate finance, emphasizing the need for grants and concessional funding without restrictive conditions.India linked this financial support to developing countries' ability to enhance their climate action targets, highlighting the inadequacy of the previously pledged $100 billion.

The United States has returned over 1,400 looted artifacts, valued at nearly $10 million, to India. The recovered items, including a sandstone sculpture of a Celestial Dancer, were trafficked by criminal networks linked to Subhash Kapoor and Nancy Wiener. The repatriation follows a multi-year investigation and the conviction of five individuals involved in the smuggling ring.

This measure comes as part of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-III), which aims to combat severe air pollution levels.
 

Three bodies, discovered in Manipur's Barak River, are feared to be connected to the disappearance of six people from a displacement camp. The disappearances followed a security operation on November 11 where ten alleged militants were killed.Authorities are working to identify the bodies and locate the remaining missing individuals.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized Rs 8.8 crore from the Chennai office of lottery tycoon Santiago Martin during searches related to a money laundering case. The investigation involves alleged illegal gains exceeding Rs 900 crore from lottery distribution and sales. The ED is investigating Martin and his associates for fraud in the distribution of Sikkim state lotteries.

India, Nepal, and Bangladesh launched their first trilateral power transaction, marking a significant step in regional energy cooperation.Nepal will export up to 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh through the Indian grid, boosting sub-regional connectivity and supporting Bangladesh's energy needs. The agreement, signed last month, signifies a commitment to green energy initiatives and regional prosperity.

Jharkhand's first phase of assembly elections saw a 66.6% voter turnout, with women exceeding men's participation by 4.7 percentage points. While the INDIA bloc attributed this to the success of welfare schemes like the Maiyya Samman Yojana, the BJP viewed it as a sign of discontent against the incumbent government.

Residents in a cluster of villages in Dantewada, India, were astonished to discover petrol in their wells. The source was traced to a leak from a nearby fuel pump's underground reservoir. Authorities swiftly responded, sealing off the area and cutting off power to prevent a potential disaster.An investigation is underway.

The Himachal Pradesh government has approached the Supreme Court to challenge a recent high court ruling that invalidated the appointment of six parliamentary secretaries. The high court deemed the state law enabling these appointments as unconstitutional, prompting concerns of potential disqualification for the affected MLAs and political instability.

Mumbai Police investigations into the murder of former minister Baba Siddique have revealed a chilling hit list prepared by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's gang. Comedian Munawar Faruqui and Shraddha Walkar murder accused Aftab Poonawala were also potential targets. The gang, enraged by Faruqui's religious remarks, planned an attack during his Delhi performance, but intelligence agencies intervened.

The Madras high court quashed sexual harassment charges against a 20-year-old man, stating that hugging and kissing between lovers is natural and not a crime. The court acknowledged the three-year relationship and deemed the woman's allegations, made after the man refused marriage, insufficient to constitute sexual harassment under Section 354-A(1)(i) of the IPC.

The high court overturned a lower court's decision to discharge a rape accused, stating that entering a hotel room with a man doesn't imply consent for sex. The court emphasized that the survivor's immediate distress and complaint indicated a lack of consent and ordered the trial court to proceed with charges against the accused.

Ahmedabad police arrested and obtained a 10-day remand of head constable Virendrasinh Padheria for the murder of MICA student Priyanshu Jain. Padheria, a habitual offender, was apprehended in Punjab and is being investigated for his role in the crime, including locating the murder weapon.

India is creating a centralized platform to track cornea transplant waitlists. This initiative aims to address the shortage of cornea donations, with only 27,394 transplants performed in 2023-24 against a demand of 2 lakh. The platform will monitor eye bank performance, potentially revoking licenses from those collecting fewer than 100 corneas annually.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami stated that the Indian central government views the SGPC's authority as a "state within a state" and is attempting to limit its jurisdiction. Dhami alleged this during the SGPC's 104th foundation day, citing the government's alleged control over management of other gurdwaras as evidence.

An inter-ministerial committee has recommended that health supplements claiming to cure or mitigate diseases be classified as drugs. This shift aims to increase regulatory oversight by bringing these products under the purview of the CDSCO instead of the FSSAI, potentially impacting pricing and advertising practices.

A horrific car crash in Dehradun, India, claimed the lives of six young people and left one critically injured. The victims, aged 19 to 24, were in a speeding MUV that collided with a container truck. Overspeeding is believed to be the primary cause of the accident.

The Karnataka government will publicly disclose audit reports of major temples (A and B category) under its endowment department. This decision aims to address allegations by BJP and JD(S) regarding fund misuse. The reports will detail revenue, expenses, and fund allocation, covering approximately 207 A-category and 139 B-category temples.

Addressing a rally in Jharkhand, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP and RSS of trying to "kill" the Constitution by dividing the nation along caste and communal lines. He promised a caste census and increased reservations for OBCs, STs, and SCs if the INDIA bloc comes to power in the state.

Congress has filed a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that the BJP is manipulating government control to hinder the opposition's election campaigns in Jharkhand. The complaint stems from an incident where Rahul Gandhi's flight was delayed, preventing him from attending a rally in Deoghar. Congress claims that the delay was a deliberate tactic to obstruct their campaign efforts.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MLA Dinesh William Marandi joined the BJP after being denied a ticket by his party. Marandi accused the JMM leadership of threats and expressed his commitment to Jharkhand's progress. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan welcomed him and criticized the Hemant Soren government for corruption and poor governance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's return to Delhi from Jharkhand's Deoghar airport was delayed for over two hours due to a technical issue with his aircraft. The problem was detected while he was on board, prompting a halt and efforts to rectify it. A backup Indian Air Force plane was dispatched from Delhi to ensure his safe return.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath's controversial "Batenge toh katenge" slogan has sparked criticism from within the BJP's Maharashtra alliance.Prominent BJP figures, including Pankaja Munde and Ashok Chavan, expressed reservations, while NCP leaders also voiced disapproval.Despite attempts to clarify its meaning, the slogan continues to generate controversy.

During Jharkhand rallies, defense minister Rajnath Singh accused Congress of misleading voters with promises of a caste census, highlighting their lack of a concrete implementation plan. Singh criticized Congress's history with the census, stating their failure to publish the 2011 report despite conducting it.