Indian Sub-continent

NEW DELHI (AP) — An energy crisis is looming over India as coal supplies grow perilously low, adding to challenges for a recovery in Asia’s third largest economy after it was wracked by the pandemic.

Supplies across the majority of coal-fired power plants in India have dwindled to just days worth of stock.

Federal Power Minister R. K. Singh told the Indian Express newspaper this week that he was bracing for a “trying five to six months.”

“I can’t say I am secure … With less than three days of stock, you can’t be secure,” Singh said.

Kolkata, Oct 7 (PTI) BJP state secretary and the former mayor of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Sabyasachi Dutta, who had quit the TMC to join the saffron camp two years ago, returned to the Mamata Banerjee-led party on Thursday.

He joined the state's ruling party at TMC secretary general and cabinet minister Partha Chatterjee's room in the Assembly, in the presence of other leaders.

New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) People in the national capital breathe the "worst" air between November 1 and November 15 every year, an analysis of data collated by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) over the last five years showed.

The capital's average PM2.5 level oscillates between very poor and severe categories from October 16 to February 15.

It records an average PM2.5 concentration of 285 micrograms per cubic metre from November 1 to November 15.

Lucknow, Oct 7 (PTI) BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Thursday posted a video purportedly of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and said the protesters cannot be silenced through murder asking for accountability for the farmers.

"The video is crystal clear. Protestors cannot be silenced through murder. There has to be accountability for the innocent blood of farmers that has been spilled and justice must be delivered before a message of arrogance and cruelty enters the minds of every farmer," the Pilibhit MP said in a tweet.

Mathura (UP), Oct 6 (PTI) A 20-year-old nursing student allegedly hanged herself from a ceiling fan in her hostel room in this district on Wednesday, police said.

Rashmi was a second year student living in Nivedita Nurses Hostel run by the Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama Hospital, Vrindavan. She belonged to Agra, they said.

"It is prima facie a suicide case. However, all angles are being looked into," SP (City) Martand Prakash Singh said.

Dehradun, Oct 6 (PTI) Jim Corbett National Park, a world-renowned tiger reserve in Uttarakhand, may be renamed as Ramganga National Park in the future.

Union Minister of State for Forest and Environment Ashwini Kumar Choubey hinted about the change in name of India's first national park which is spread over an area of about 521 km. He recently mentioned it in a museum guest book on his tour of the park.

Mumbai, Oct 6 (PTI) The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alleged on Wednesday that the NCB's raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast on October 2 was fake , and no narcotic drugs were found during it.

The party also questioned the presence of two persons along with the NCB team during the raid, and alleged that one of them was a BJP member.

Kanpur: As many as 13 more cases  reported afresh have pushed tally to a total of 298 dengue cases in Kanpur.

Out of the total registered numbers, 237 patients have been recorded in rural areas of Kanpur.

On the remaining 61 infections were identified in the urban regions of the district.

New Delhi, Oct 6 (PTI) Ice creams sold by a parlour or such outlets will attract 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST), the CBIC said on Wednesday.

In two sets of circulars, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) clarified on issues raised by trade and industry on rates changes related to 21 goods and services, the decision of which was taken at the 45th GST Council meeting on September 17.

New Delhi, Oct 6 (PTI) The Supreme Court has decided to hear on Thursday the Lakhimpur Kheri case of Uttar Pradesh in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed as violence erupted during a farmers' protest.

As per the cause list uploaded on the apex court website, a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli would hear the matter.