Breaking news: PM Narendra Modi to address COP26 Summit in Glasgow

After running into Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the COP 26 Summit, his Israeli counterpart Naftali Bennett on Monday expressed happiness on finally meeting him. Taking to his official Twitter handle, PM Naftali Bennett shared a video with PM Narendra Modi from the opening event of the Summit in which the two leaders can be seen embracing each other and exchanging pleasantries.

The political battle has commenced in the coastal state slated for polls as after Mamata Banerjee, now Aam Aadmi Party supremo, and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced a series of fresh promises to woo the people of Goa ahead of the 2022 assembly elections. 

AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, who is on a day-long trip to Goa extended his party’s campaign by announcing election agendas and promising people free electricity and free religious trips, among other things. He also slammed the incumbent Goa government for massive corruption in the state and said, “If voted to power, AAP will give Goa its first honest government.”

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 A day after former prime minister Manmohan Singh was discharged from AIIMS, his wife Gursharan Kaur on Monday said he was recovering from a bout of dengue fever. In a statement, she thanked all doctors, nurses, and support staff of AIIMS and friends and well-wishers for their whole-hearted support towards his speedy recovery.

"My family and I are pleased to inform all our friends and well-wishers that Dr. Manmohan Singh has come home from the hospital and is recovering from his bout of dengue fever," she said.

"On this occasion, we would like to convey our special thanks to all the doctors, nurses, and support staff of AIIMS and numerous well-wishers for their whole-hearted support and hard work for his speedy recovery," Gursharan Kaur added.

The former prime minister was undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here and he was discharged on Sunday. 

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin on Monday wrote to PM Narendra Modi calling his urgent attention to the issue of delays in payment of MGNREGS wages which as per him is causing hardships to rural households in Tamil Nadu. 

PM Narendra Modi arrives at the venue of COP26 World Leaders' Summit in Glasgow, Scotland. In one of the first pictures uploaded from COP26, PM Modi can be seen embracing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Also, in the pictures is United Nations' Secretary-General António Guterres. 

In a massive development, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Monday sentenced four people to death in connection with the 2013 Gandhi Maidan Blast in Patna. This comes days after the court had convicted 9 accused in the case, while one accused was acquitted in the absence of evidence. The four convicts who are sentenced to death are Haider Ali, Noman Ansari, Md. Mujibullah Ansari and Imtiaz Alam. Among other convicts, Umar Siddiqui and Azharuddin Qureshi have got life imprisonment. On the other hand, Ahmed Hossain and Md. Firoz Aslam are sentenced to ten years imprisonment and Iftikhar Alam is sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

In another sign of the Congress party's capitulation before Navjot Singh Sidhu, Punjab Advocate General Amar Preet Singh Deol has resigned from his post, sources told Republic TV. This was one of the main demands put forth by the Punjab Congress president for a possible rapprochement with the party top brass after being ignored for the CM's post.

Deol was appointed as the AG on September 27 after Charanjit Singh Channi took over as Pubjab CM. As per sources, Sidhu was peeved at Deol's appointment as the latter had appeared for ex-DGP Sumedh Singh Saini and other accused in the sacrilege cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The Supreme Court on Monday set aside Calcutta High Court's order banning the use of firecrackers in West Bengal during upcoming festivities of Kali Puja, Diwali, Chatt Puja, Jagadhatri Puja, Guru Nanak's Birthday, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve this year citing pollution.

While hearing a plea challenging the Calcutta High Court's order, the vacation bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi said that the blanket ban was influenced by the lack of a mechanism to ensure that only green crackers are being used. The bench directed the West Bengal government to explore the possibility to ensure that banned firecrackers and related items are not imported into the state at the entry point itself.

"There cannot be a complete ban of firecrackers. Strengthen the mechanism to stop the misuse", orally observed the bench during the hearing.

After Akhilesh Yadav counted Jinnah among freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday suggested the Samajwadi Party' Chief to sit with the historians and take lessons. Pointing out that it is only from the lessons that Akhilesh Yadav will know what happened in 1925, in 1934, and then 1937, Owaisi concluded that it was in fact Jinnah who was the 'main Architect of Pakistan'. 

During the hearing on Monday, suspended cop Sachin Vaze submitted an application before the court, demanding special facilities. Vaze has recently undergone heart surgery and has demanded facilities in view of the same. The development comes on the same day he was taken into custody by the Mumbai Police for questioning in the extortion case. He was taken into custody from the Taloja Jail where he was lodged following his arrest in the Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran death case. 

Wading into the Nawab Malik-Devendra Fadnavis fight, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on Monday, has dared the ex-CM to reveal proof of his accusations immediately. In an informal chat with a group of reporters in Mumbai, Thackeray countered Fadnavis' remark 'Will set off bomb after Diwali' saying 'Why wait till Diwali?'. NCP minister Nawab Malik has accused Fadnavis of alleged 'drug links' while the ex-CM accused Malik of 'underworld links'.

Priests protested against former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat during his visit to Kedarnath. The priests were agitating against the Devasthanam Board Act that was enacted during Rawat's tenure. The Former Chief Minister had reached Kedarnath with protocol minister Dhan Singh Rawat and state BJP chief Madan to take stock of the preparations for the PM Modi’s proposed tour to Kedarnath on Nov 5. 

As per the South Delhi Municipal Corporation data, Delhi has reported 531 new Dengue cases in the past week. So far, six deaths have been reported this year. While Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya during the review meeting held to discuss measures to curb the increasing dengue cases in the national capital said that on-ground initiatives such as hotspot identification, fogging and timely treatment will be implemented. He further informed that the Centre will send a team of experts to States with rising Dengue cases

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh issued a statement before appearing at the ED office in Mumbai. He stated that he will completely co-operate with the ED investigation. He further questioned the authenticity of the claims made by Param Bir Singh who has fled the country now. 

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav announced that he will not be contesting the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls early next year. He further informed that an alliance between his party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for the polls has been finalized.

In an interview with PTI, Yadav said, "Our alliance with RLD is final. Seat sharing is to be finalised". 

Australia declared COVAXIN, manufactured by Bharat Biotech, India, as a “recognised vaccine” for international travellers as part of measures aimed at safely reopening the country from November. It has also determined that BBIBP-CorV vaccines, manufactured by Sinopharm, China, would be 'recognised' for the purpose of establishing a traveller's vaccination status. People who are eligible to travel according to this guideline include individuals aged 12 and above vaccinated with COVAXIN and those aged 18 to 60 years vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV. 

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh is at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Mumbai with his lawyer in connection with a money-laundering case. He is there to record his statement concerning the case. Earlier, a Deputy Secretary of the Maharashtra Home Department appeared before the ED in Mumbai in connection to the case registered against Anil Deshmukh and others.

The Kerala government resumed schools in the state in a staggered manner from today for classes 1 to 7 and classes 10 and 12. The schools will function in line with COVID-19 protocols. Kerala has reported 7,167 new COVID-19 cases and 167 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

The NCB Zonal Director, Sameer Wankhede, has arrived at National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Delhi. Subhash Ramnath Pardhi, a member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes informed that Sameer has reached Delhi to present his case before the Commission where his documents will be verified. Earlier, Arun Haldar, Vice-Chairman of the NCSC had visited Sameer's father and assured him that his family won't be harassed anymore.

Sachin Vaze was taken into police custody for interrogation in connection with an extortion case. Earlier, Mumbai Police had approached the special court and sought Sachin Vaze's custody to investigate the extortion case registered against him and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh at Goregaon police station by businessman Bimal Agarwal. 

Former Maharashtra CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis held a press briefing and said, "Those who have relations with the Underworld should not speak about me. I will present evidence of Nawab Malik's relations with the Underworld. I am waiting for Diwali to pass". This remark comes following NCB leader Nawab Malik's statement where he said in connection to drug trafficking case, only Jaydeep Rana is in jail who has relations with former CM Devendra Fadnavis. He further claimed that the drugs business in the state grew under Fadnavis's tenure. 

In his address at the Samajik Pratinidhi Sammelan, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that if the insurgent group, Taliban moves towards India then an airstrike is ready to destroy them. He added that Afghanistan and Pakistan are already disturbed by the Taliban. UP CM said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is so powerful that no one can dare to raise their eyes towards the country. 

Delhi's total air quality is in the 'very poor' category as the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) reported an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 302. According to SAFAR, air quality will "improve to the upper end of poor" as the change in wind direction to westerly/south-westerly will reduce emissions from stubble burning travel. Buring emissions from agricultural residue account for around 8% of PM2.5 emissions. 

India on Monday, November 1, has reported 12,514 fresh Coronavirus infections with 12,718 recoveries and 251 deaths in the past 24 hours. According to Union health ministry data, out of the total infections, the active cases account for less than 1%, which is currently at 0.46%, the lowest since March 2020. The COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 98.20%. 

To date, India has administred 1,06,35,08,247 COVID-19 vaccine doses across 61,307 vaccination sites.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Glasgow, UK, to participate in the UN's 26th 'Conference of the Parties' (COP26) on climate change. PM Modi who is on a two-day visit to Glasgow, will meet UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and discuss bilateral ties. He further interacted with the Indian community gathered at the hotel to welcome him.

Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya will chair a review meeting today amid rising dengue cases in Delhi. According to the officials, the health minister will discuss measures to curb the surge in cases and further assist the AAP-led government in doing the same. The officials of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) will also participate in the meeting. 

NCP leader Nawab Malik said, "Yesterday, the Chairman of the National Scheduled Castes Commission and BJP's, Arun Haldar visited Sameer Wankhede's residence & gave him a clean chit. He should have conducted an investigation first & submitted a detailed report. We will complain about him to the President". This remark comes in aftermath of Arun Haldar's visit to the residence of the father of Mumbai NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede where he assured that Sameer or his family members will not be harassed. 

India and the UK plan to launch a project known as the 'Green Grids Initiative' that aims to create a solar grid connecting countries in different parts of the world at the upcoming  COP26 Climate Summit, in Glasgow. It is initiated by the International Solar Alliance, which was launched by India and France at the 2015 Paris climate conference to promote solar energy. In May, the UK and India agreed to join forces in the initiative. 

All schools in Delhi will open from today after remaining closed for 19 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had informed last month that physical attendance will be voluntary and parents would not be forced to send their children to school. Teaching and learning would be conducted in both offline and online modes. 

With no relief to the public, oil marketing companies have increased the price of commercial cylinders by Rs 266 per cylinder. In Delhi, the price of a commercial 19 kg cylinder costs Rs 2000.50. From today, the new price will be effective. In early October, the price of domestic LPG cylinders was hiked by Rs 15 per cylinder.

Ahead of Assembly polls, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will visit Goa today. This will be Kejriwal's third visit to the state this year. The Party has announced to fight the 2022 Goa Assembly polls. In his previous visits, Kejriwal had announced free 24/7 electricity and a job guarantee if the party comes to power in Goa.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) urged the Centre to ensure the smooth supply of fertilizers by controlling its price and black-marketing in the country. This remark comes after four farmers were reported dead while they were waiting to purchase fertilizers, standing in the queue, or would have committed suicide unable to get fertilizers for their crops. Agricultural fertilizer scarcity is faced by the Bundelkhand region.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on October 31, during an on-board visit on the vessel, reviewed the progress of sea trials of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant. On October 24, The ship sailed out for the second sea trials. After the visit, Union Minister told reporters, "This kind of indigenous aircraft carrier 'Vikrant' is an example of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. Great work done by the Indian Navy. I hope they'll continue with their efforts for final commissioning of this aircraft carrier in India Navy by August next year".