Afghan nationals gathered in numbers outside the Australian Embassy here in the national capital seeking immigration visas following the recent takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban.Australia has recently said it will over a year offer 3,000 places in its humanitarian visa program specifically for those now fleeing Afghanistan. The country's Prime Minister Scott Morrison however clarified in a recent press conference that "I note that some are talking about figures of 20,000 but can I tell you there are no clear plans about that. Australia is not going into that territory"."We heard that Aust

On the second day of the monsoon session of the Uttar Pradesh assembly, Congress leaders held a march from Gandhi Statue to the state Assembly to protest against inflation, COVID-19 deaths, and on the issue of women's safety.Speaking to ANI, Aradhana Mishra, a Congress MLA, said, "The state government has turned a deaf ear to the issues of the common people. If people raise their voices against inflation, unemployment issues, the government confiscates their property. We are here to support the common people." Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) President Ajay Kumar Lallu said, "the Chief

Mohali girl Anureet Pal Kaur became talk of the town with her talent of playing Algoza. Algoza is a folk instrument, a paired woodwind instrument similar to the flute. A continuous flow of air is necessary as the player blows into the two flutes simultaneously. Anureet registered her name in India Book of Records for playing the instrument. She was also honoured at the Independence Day celebrations in Mohali. Anureet started to learn Algoza in the year 2017. Her master is International bassist Karamjit Singh Bagga. She is also an expert in Punjabi folk dance and Gatka.

With Olympic Gold medallist Neeraj Chopra heading home to Samalkha in Panipat on Tuesday, a grand feast is being organised by the family for around 30,000 people.This will be Neeraj's first visit to his hometown after he won the coveted medal at the Tokyo Olympics.The whole village and distant relatives have been invited for the grand celebration."He will be receiving a grand welcome, I have prepared 'churma' for him. We will keep his gold medal in the temple, as it is after the blessings of God that he has reached these heights. I am looking forward to his arrival," says Neeraj's mother Saroj

To boost 'Ease of Doing Business' for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday approved a list of NOCs required for setting up of industry in the state.With this move, Punjab has become the first state in the country to take systematic proactive steps for improving ease of doing business in matters of NOCs to enable MSMEs to flourish and prosper in the state, an official release said.The Chief Minister had, in his Independence Day speech, announced the state government's decision to promote MSME business in the stat

India's cumulative Covid-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 54.58 crores, said the Central government on Monday. As per the data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 54,58,57,108 vaccine doses have been administered through 61,54,235 sessions out of which 17,43,114 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours. The country's recovery rate stands at 97.48 per cent and out of the people infected since the beginning of the pandemic, 3,14,11,924 have already recovered from COVID-19, and 35,909 patients recovered in the last 24 hours. The data revealed that 32,937 new cas

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has appointed Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) general secretary (Organisation).A circular issued by Sidhu stated, "With the approval of Hon'ble Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) Sh. K.C. Venugopal and Punjab Congress in-charge Sh. Harish Rawat, I hereby appoint S. Pargat Singh as PPCC General Secretary (Organisation) with immediate effect."Former hockey captain-turned-politician Singh is considered a close confidant of Sidhu. Singh was earlier with S

On the launch event of 'Fit India Freedom Run 2.0', Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur stated that the campaign has been launched at the 75 iconic locations of the country and 7.5 crore people are expected to join it this time. "To celebrate the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', we've launched 'Fit India Freedom Run 2.0' nationwide. This has been launched at 75 iconic locations today. This campaign will run till October 2. 75 villages from each district of the country will take part in this. In the coming days till October 2, people from each district and each village will participate in this movem

On August 13, India reported 40,120 new COVID-19 cases. 585 deaths were reported in last 24 hrs, taking the toll to 4,30,254. A total of 42,295 people got recovered in the same duration. The active caseload is 3,85,227 currently. Total 52,95,82,956 vaccine doses have been administered so far.