Indian Sub-continent

KANPUR: A truck laden with 24 tonnes of banned polythene below 50 microns was seized within Kanpur Municipal Corporation precincts here on Monday. The total value of seized polythene has been estimated at rupees 13.50 Lakh.

Amrit Lal Nagar, the additional municipal commissioner stated that a truck laden with 24 tonnes of banned polythene was confiscated.

KANPUR: Whether it is Sisamau Nullah or Nawabganj Nullah or Ranighat Nullah, unfinished work was creating hurdles in the tapping of different nullahs (streams) falling into the Ganga River here.

The work on nullahs tapping continues to be carried despite the expiry of the first time limit of October 30. Meanwhile, the testing of Sisamau Nullah failed owing to rupture into the connection within 15 minutes.

Washington, Nov 5; PTI:  India, China and Japan are among eight countries temporarily allowed to continue buying Iranian oil as they showed significant reduction in oil purchase from the Persian Gulf country after the US reimposed crippling sanctions on Tehran, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday.

Pompeo vowed that the US will be "relentless" in pressuring Iran as he announced the list of the countries temporarily exempted from the US sanctions during a press conference broadcast live.

New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) A criminal defamation complaint has been filed against Congress leader Shashi Tharoor before a court here for his alleged "scorpion" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In his complaint, Delhi BJP leader Rajeev Babbar said his religious sentiments were hurt.

New Delhi, Nov 5 (PTI) Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday alleged that the Narendra Modi-led government did not fulfil the promises it made five years ago and said it had achieved "nothing".

The former finance minister said the BJP-led government began its term with promises of development, jobs and depositing money into people's bank accounts, but now it is promising grand temples, statues and doles.

New Delhi, Nov 5 (PTI) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday welcomed the acquittal of its chief Arvind Kejriwal in a criminal defamation case filed by a former aide of Congress leader Sheila Dikshit and said political battles should not be fought in courts.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal granted relief to the Delhi chief minister citing lack of evidence against him.

Kolkata, Nov 5 (PTI) Union Minister Ramdas Athawale Monday said the issue of Ram temple should be settled through discussion among Hindus and Muslims and that there was no need for an ordinance as the the court was yet to pronounce its verdict.

"We can all understand very well the emotions and sentiments of the people of the Hindu community who want construction of the Ram temple. But any decision would be taken after discussion with the Muslim community," Athawale, the union minister of state for social justice and empowerment told reporters here.

New Delhi, Nov 5 (PTI) Delhi recorded its worst air quality of the season on Monday, with the pollution levels inching towards 'severe plus emergency' category due to a change in wind direction and rampant stubble burning in neighbouring states.

The PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) and PM10 concentrations touched 365 and 503 respectively, touching the 'severe-plus emergency' category, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

Guwahati, Nov 5 (PTI) A senior Assam police official is the latest to be caught in the ongoing #MeToo storm after he was accused of sexually harassing his junior colleague.

Majuli (HQ) Additional Superintendent of Police Leena Doley has charged Additional Director General (Law and Order) Mukesh Agarwal with sexual misconduct six years back.

Agarwal could not be contacted for his reaction.

Malkangiri (Odisha), Nov 5 (PTI) At least five Maoists, including two women, were killed in an exchange of fire with security personnel in a forest in Odisha's Malkangiri district Monday, a senior police official said.

Though five ultras were eliminated, their leader 'Randev', managed to escape from the area which is considered to be a naxal hotbed, police said.