LIVE News Updates: Andhra Pradesh reports 7,073 new COVID-19 cases, 6,61,458 total cases

Andhra Pradesh reports 7,073 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the infection tally in the state to 6,61,458. Forty-eight more fatalities take death toll to 5,606.

Farmers across Odisha on Friday staged protests against the passage of the contentious firm Bills by the Parliament.

The protests were joined by farmers, trade union workers, activists and students, while several political parties, including the Congress, extended their support to the protests.

Members of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan protested against the bills at the AG Square in Bhubaneswar. The police detained several protesters while they were trying to enter into the state secretariat.

Meanwhile, members of the Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) tried to gherao the Krushi Bhawan in the city.

Farmers also staged a protest at the Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) win the toss and elect to field against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the seventh match of IPL 2020 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Chandigarh reports 244 new positive cases today. The total number of cases is now 11,212 including 2,390 active cases, 8,677 recoveries and 145 deaths: UT Government

Plasma therapy has been administered to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who is suffering from dengue & COVID-19 at Max hospital, Saket. He was shifted from Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Hospital to Max hospital yesterday: Office of Deputy CM

Malaysia reported 111 new COVID-19 infections, the health ministry said on Friday, bringing the national total to 10,687.

Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement that four of the new cases are related to foreigners imported and 107 are local transmissions, most from the eastern state of Sabah, where a state Assembly election will take place on Saturday, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Noor Hisham urged voters in Sabah to conduct the voting while observing the standard operating procedure issued by the health authorities.

Health authorities also detected one new case cluster, traced to the crew of a ship docked in the southern Johor state, with two testing positive so far.

Another 30 patients have been released after recovery, bringing the total cured and discharged cases to 9,696, or 90.7 per cent of all cases.

One thing became clear after talking to farmers-that they don't trust the Modi govt at all.

Our voice is also one with the roaring voice of our farmer brothers and the entire country today protests against these farm bills.
#ISupportBharatBandh, tweeted Rahul Gandhi

Punjab: Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee continues their 'rail roko' agitation in Amritsar, in protest against the Farm Bills.

The Committee is holding the 'rail roko' agitation from September 24 to 26 against the Bills.

Look at the crime statistics. If you call that 'jungle-raj', this is 'rakshas raj', says RJD's Tejashwi Yadav when asked if he, as the face of the party, apologise for the term "jungle raj" used to describe Bihar during his father Lalu Yadav's tenure

Look at the crime statistics. If you call that 'jungle-raj', this is 'rakshas raj', says RJD's Tejashwi Yadav when asked if he, as face of the party, apologise for the term "jungle raj" used to describe Bihar during his father Lalu Yadav's tenure

West Bengal Transport Minister Subhendu Adhikari tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, sources said. His mother was also COVID positive and admitted to a hospital in Kolkata.

Adhikari had developed COVID symptoms a few days back with fever and underwent a Corona test. The test report came on Thursday.

Sources said that the West Bengal minister has already gone for self-isolation and quarantined himself in a guest house.

Earlier, state fire brigade minister Sujit Bose, food minister Jyotipriyo Mallick and animal husbandry minister Swapan Debnath were also tested positive for Covid-19. They all have recovered now.

Tripura's COVID-19 infection tally rises to 24,130 as 341 more people tested positive for the disease. With five more fatalities, death toll jumps to 262. The number of active cases stands at 6,381.

The Gujarat Assembly on Friday passed the Gujarat Fisheries Amendment Bill, 2020, which seeks to stop fishing boats from other states straying into Gujarat waters by penalizing the fishermen with a fine of upto Rs 1 lakh. The amendment Bill was passed unanimously.

Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja presented the Bill in the House on the last day of the five-day Monsoon Session.

"This new bill will provision 'search and seizure' powers to police Sub-Inspectors or officials above them at marine police stations and a fine of Rs 1 lakh will be imposed on boats from other states that enter Gujarat's marine boundary."

The present Act of 2003 did not have any provision to penalise boats from other states that enter Gujarat waters for fishing.

PM Narendra Modi condoles the passing away of singer SP Balasubrahmanyam. "A household name across India, his melodious voice and music enthralled audiences for decades. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with his family and admirers", tweets PM Modi.

A Special NIA court here on Friday again sent Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, in judicial custody till October 8.

Normal traffic was thrown out of gear at the Chilla border in east Delhi on Friday as a group of farmers reached there on their tractor-trolleys in a bid to enter Delhi. They were however stopped by Delhi Police deployed at the spot.

"We diverted the traffic after a group of agitating farmers reached the Chilla border. We stopped the farmers from entering and are taking all preventive measures," said a senior police officer.

"Obstruction in traffic at the Chilla Border has been reported due to a demonstration," a senior Traffic police officer confirmed.

Traffic snarls were also reported from parts of Rohini and Madhuban Chowk areas in Delhi.

My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and friends of Mr SP Balasubrahmanyam. His songs touched millions of hearts in many languages. His voice will live on, tweeted Rahil Gandhi

Beijing on Friday reported one imported COVID-19 case on Thursday, the municipal health commission said.

The newly confirmed case is the same asymptomatic case reported on September 19, Xinhua news agency quoted the commission as saying.

The patient was re-examined on Thursday and the result of the nucleic acid test was positive.

Following the results of a chest CT scan, the patient was diagnosed as a confirmed case.

The Chinese capital reported no new locally transmitted confirmed, asymptomatic, or suspected cases, according to the commission.

Multiple National award-winning singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, who has been hospitalized since August 5 after he tested positive for the coronavirus, died on Friday at MGM Health Care hospital in Chennai, reports Hindustan Times

Thousands of peasants took to the streets all over Maharashtra on Friday raising slogans, carrying banners and posters to protest against what they termed as "the anti-farmers" law recently passed by Parliament.

The agitation has been supported by the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, All India Kisan Sabha, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and other major farmers organisations in the state.

Spearheaded by AIKS President Ashok Dhawale from Palghar, in Mumbai it was led by Mahendra Ugade, Sunil Kharpat in Thane, Subhash Dake in Beed, Govind Ardad in Jalna, Sudam Thakre in Nandurbar, Arjun Ade in Nanded.

In Kolhapur, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana President Raju Shetti urged farmers in the state and all over the country to protest the laws with full vigour, and led an agitation in which a bonfire was made of the copies of the law.

Bihar to vote in 3 phases on 28th October, 3rd and 7th November; results on 10th November, announces Election Commission

The social media platforms are expected to make adequate arrangements to safeguard against misuse of their platforms & set up strict protocols to handle such issues as and when they arise: Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.

As we talk, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) stands enforced with this announcement. The Commission has already made elaborate arrangements for ensuring the effective implementation of MCC guidelines: Chief Election Commissioner, Sunil Arora, reports NDTV

In a shocking case of honour killing, a youth from Hyderabad was kidnapped and murdered by the family members of his wife for marrying her against their wish.

The body of Hemant Kumar, 28, was found in Sangareddy district near Hyderabad early Friday.

Hemant and his wife Avanti were kidnapped by a group of people from their house in TNGO colony in Gachibowli area around 3 p.m. on Thursday.

While Avanti managed to escape from their clutches by jumping out of a car, they took her husband to the city outskirts and murdered him.

Cyberabad police have reportedly arrested 12 people in connection with the kidnap and murder. They include Avanti's maternal uncle, cousins and hired killers.

COVID-19 patients who're quarantined will be able to cast their vote on the last day of poll, at their respective polling stations, under the supervision of health authorities. This is beside the option of postal facility already extended to them: CEC Sunil Arora, reports NDTV

To further decongest polling stations & allow more free movement of voters, polling time has been increased by 1 hour. It'll be held from 7 am-6 pm, instead of 7 am-5 pm earlier. However, this will not be applicable to Left-wing affected areas: CEC Sunil Arora.

Over 7 lakh hand sanitiser units, about 46 lakh masks, 6 lakh PPE kits, 6.7 lakh units of faces-shields, 23 lakh (pairs of) hand gloves arranged. For voters specifically, 7.2 crore single-use hand gloves arranged: Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora

The term of assembly in the state of Bihar is due to expire on 29th November, 2020. Bihar assembly has a strength of 243 members, of whom 38 seats are reserved for SCs and two for STs: Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, reports ANI

Bihar: BJP workers beat up workers of Pappu Yadav's Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) as the two groups clash in Patna. The brawl took place after JAP workers tried to enter BJP office in protest against recent Farm Bills.

Authorities in Canada's largest city of Toronto have announced the cancellation of all events for the rest of this year to prevent the spread of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cancellation "is based on public health advice and includes festivals and other large in-person gatherings held at outdoor sites managed by the city or other public locations, such as roads, parks and civic squares", Xinhua news agency quoted the authorities as saying in an announcement on Thursday.

However, the announcement does not include outdoor sport facility permits and activities; and other city facilities/sites that are permitted in Stage 3 of the Province of Ontario's Framework for Reopening and comply with the current gathering limit restrictions.

Professional sporting events are also not included.

Odisha's COVID-19 tally crosses 2 lakh-mark with 4,208 new cases; 15 fresh fatalities push death toll to 767: Health official

Noida: Members of Bhartiya Kisan Union block roads, stage protest near Delhi border against recent Farm Bills; police deployed. Additional DCP Noida says," We have diverted traffic so that people do not face any inconvinience."

The Delhi Police has intensified deployment of its personnel at the border areas in view of a nationwide protest call given by various farmer associations against the agriculture-related bills passed by the Parliament recently, officials said on Friday.

Members of some farmer organisations protested in Trichy and Tambaram in Tamil Nadu on Friday morning against the three farm Bills passed by Parliament.

A flawed GST destroyed MSMEs. The new agriculture laws will enslave our Farmers, tweeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

Members of Karnataka State Farmers' Association hold protest near Bommanahalli on Karnataka-Tamil Nadu highway against farm bills. Police personnel have been deployed in the area to ensure law and order is maintained and COVID-19 safety norms are followed during protest.

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav drives a tractor, as he takes part in the protest against Farm Bills passed in the Parliament.

Govt has made our 'anndaata' a puppet through its 'fund daata'. Farm Bills are anti-farmer and have left them dejected. Govt had said that they'll double farmers' income by 2022 but these Bills will make them poorer. Agriculture sector has been corporatised: Tejashwi Yadav, RJD

RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) workers protest in Darbhanga, against Farm Bills, while riding buffaloes.

A high alert has been sounded in western Uttar Pradesh for Friday when farmers' groups and opposition political parties have organised 'Bharat Bandh', against three farm bills passed by Parliament.

India's COVID-19 case tally crosses 58-lakh mark with a spike of 86,052 new cases & 1,141 deaths in last 24 hours. The total case tally stands at 58,18,571 including 9,70,116 active cases, 47,56,165 cured/discharged/migrated & 92,290 deaths: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Farmers, under the aegis of Bharatiya Kisan Union and Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI), block Amritsar-Delhi National Highway near Phillaur in Jalandhar, in protest against # Farm Bills passed in the Parliament.

Director General of Delhi Prisons Sandeep Goel has tested positive for COVID-19, jail officials said on Friday.

The COVID-19 caseload of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 3,744 on Friday as 32 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.

The Delhi Police have tightened the security at the border areas in the wake of the Bharat Bandh called by over two dozen farmer organisations on Friday.

Police personnel deployed in Amritsar city in the wake of farmers protest today, against Farm Bills passed in the Parliament. ACP says, "Security forces have been deployed at every crossroad and level crossing in the entire city so that no untoward incident takes place."

Police personnel being deployed around Ladowal Toll Plaza in Ludhiana, in the wake of nationwide protest by farmers today, over Farm Bills. SHO Ladowal says, "All prepartions made, additional forces deployed. Farmer leaders have assured us that protest will be peaceful."

Intensifying their protests against the contentious agricultural bills passed by the Parliament, various farmers' organisations, including from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have called a national shutdown on Friday.

The farmers' groups said they will hold a "chakka jam" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Though many of the protesters have said that they will protest in their own areas and not aim to head to Delhi, Delhi Police are on high alert and have made preparations to seal the border with Haryana, in a bid to forestall any such attempt. However, traffic across the Delhi-Haryana border was normal on Thursday.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) is among the groups that have called the shutdown, while in Punjab, 31 farmers organisations have come together to protest against the new laws.

BKU's Haryana President, Ratan Singh Mann, said: "Various farmers' organisations of Haryana will hold protests in all districts, tehsil, block and village levels against the farm bills passed by the Parliament. There will be a 'chakka jam' from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"Organisations of the 'arhatiyas' (commission agents), traders' bodies and other commercial organisations will also participate. All sections are supporting the farmers's struggle. Traders in Haryana will also keep their establishments shut in solidarity. We will protest in our areas and have no plans to march to Delhi."

Mann also said that like Haryana, there will be protests in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and other states.

Other farmers' groups also clarified that their protests will be local and they will not move to Delhi.

However, as a precaution, Delhi Police will be maintaining vigil at all border points.

With farmers in Punjab intending to block railway movement too, several trains bound for the state or passing through it have been cancelled, while some have been diverted.

On Thursday, there were protests on the Punjab-Haryana border, but Haryana Police have set up barricades to prevent entry of agitating farmers into the state on their way to Delhi.

The farmers are opposing the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.