A group of 25 Muslim men have been serving langar (community kitchen) over the past few days to farmers protesting against the Centre’s contentious new farm laws at Delhi’s Singhu border. The team of the Muslim Federation of Punjab, led by Faaroqi Mubeen, say they have arrived at the Singhu border to “serve the farmers …

Bringing back the horror of the Gorakhpur tragedy where at least 60 new-borns died at BRD Hospital, as many as 8 infants have died during treatment at the district hospital at Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh in the last four days, prompting the state government to launch an inquiry. The infants had been admitted to the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) …

In a big move towards making India plastic-free, Railway minister Piyush Goyal announced that tea will now be sold in environment-friendly ‘Kulhads’ (earthen cups) in place of plastic cups at all railway stations across India. Goyal said that tea will now be sold in environment-friendly kulhads in place of plastic cups at every railway station across the country. File Photo …

The farmers protest is set to gather more momentum as khaps from Haryana have decided to join the agitation against Centre’s contentious farm bills. The decision was taken in a meeting of the chiefs of 30 ‘khaps’ (caste councils) in Rohtak, independent MLA from Haryana’s Dadri constituency Sombir Sangwan, who also heads the ‘Sangwan Khap’, told PTI over the phone. …

A new 70-metre-long eco-bridge is ready in Kaladhungi Range near Nainital in Uttarakhand, to protect reptiles from accidents and help them cross roads.  Kaladhungi Range Forest Officer Amit Kumar Gwaskoti said that a 70 meter long Eco Bridge bridge has been constructed at a cost of two lakh rupees.  Rope, bamboo, and grass have been used in bridge construction. Twitter …

For most Hindus, firecrackers are synonymous with Diwali but with rising toxic air pollution and a resurge in COVID cases, most states in the country banned bursting of firecrackers. However, the ban was up in flames as people completely flouted the rule.  Most non-BJP ruled states including Delhi, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Odisha and Maharashtra imposed a complete ban on bursting …

Delhi is reeling under the third wave of COVID-19 amid the staggering rise in air pollution, leading to fewer beds in hospitals to accommodate patients. Doctors said the number of vacant beds are shrinking fast and outpatient departments (OPDs) witnessing a spike in footfall. Besides this, ICU beds with ventilators at most top private hospitals and major Centre-run facilities are …

In an appalling development from Uttar Pradesh, a man was beaten to death by a charged mob when he objected to the sexual harassment of his daughter. Police have lodged an FIR against eight people and arrested seven of them. According to the complaint, Bhola Prasad’s daughter was sitting outside her home at Ishwarpura village under the Ekouna police station …

As air quality continues to deteriorate across the world after the coronavirus lockdown was eased, a study has found about 15 per cent of deaths worldwide from COVID-19 may be linked to long-term exposure to air pollution. Researchers, including those from Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Germany, found that in Europe the proportion of COVID-19 deaths linked to air pollution …

As things looked up earlier, the Mizoram government decided to open schools for the students of classes X and XII. However, with the rising number of locally transmitted cases, the state government has decided to shut all schools that were reopened. Mizoram Education Minister Lalchhandama Ralte also said that some pupils have tested positive for the infection. The schools that …