Latest LIVE: Congress prez Kharge constitutes 47-member Steering Committee

From INC getting a non-Gandhi president after 24 years and Rishi Sunak's appointment as UK PM to coronavirus cases and air pollution, catch all the latest developments from across the globe here

11:23 PM

IT Ministry has sought report from WhatsApp on recent outage: Ashwini Vaishnaw

The Ministry of Information Technology on Wednesday sought a detailed report from social media giant WhatsApp on the recent outage that was witnessed across the world on Tuesday.

Union Minister for Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed this to ANI, saying, "We have lakhs of WhatsApp users across the country and we asked for a detailed report from the company about the outage."

10:36 PM

Punjab sees 1,238 farm fire incidents on Oct 26, highest this season so far

Punjab on Wednesday witnessed 1,238 farm fire incidents, the highest number of crop residue burning cases so far this season.

With paddy growers continuing stubble burning, Tarn Taran topped the districts in Punjab with maximum number of farm fire incidents.

The northern state recorded 1,238 farm fire incidents on Wednesday, according to the Ludhiana-based Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data.

9:54 PM

No role in Ram Rahim's parole: Haryana CM Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday said he had no role in the parole granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh as jails have their own rules.

Ram Rahim, who is serving a 20-year jail term for raping two women disciples at his ashram in Sirsa, was granted parole for 40 days last week.

The decision to grant him parole ahead of the Adampur bypoll in Haryana on November 3 and panchayat elections has triggered a furore.

9:12 PM

Cattle smuggling: Court sends TMC leader's ex-guard to ED custody

A Delhi court has allowed the ED to interrogate Saigal Hossain, a former security guard of arrested Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal, in its custody till October 28 in connection with a money-laundering case related to alleged cattle smuggling.

Hossain, who allegedly amassed huge wealth through a cattle-smuggling racket, was brought from West Bengal to Delhi after he was arrested for not cooperating with Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers during his questioning at a correctional home in Asansol.

8:49 PM

Day is not far when we will hoist tricolour in parts of J&K occupied by Pak, China: BJP leader

The BJP on Wednesday celebrated "accession day" across Jammu and Kashmir, with its senior leader Ravinder Raina saying the day is not far when the tricolour will be hoisted in parts of the union territory occupied by Pakistan and China.

On October 26, 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, signed the instrument of accession on J&K. The BJP had decided to celebrate the day as 'vilay diwas'.

In Jammu, BJP leaders led by Raina, who is the party's Jammu and Kashmir chief, celebrated "accession day" or vilay diwas at the Maharaja Hari Singh park near the Tawi river.

8:22 PM

ECI directs Gujarat Chief Secretary to transfer 51 officials, send compliance report by Thursday

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday directed Gujarat Chief Secretary to transfer 51 officials to their respective headquarters (HQs) and report about the compliance by 4 pm tomorrow, sources said. The list of 51 officials includes six senior IPS officers, ANI reported.

The ECI had earlier sought an explanation from the state Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) for failing to file a compliance report on the transfer of officials.

Sources told ANI that the poll authority received a compliance report from Gujarat Chief Secretary today and more than 900 officers of various grades and services were transferred as per ECI guidelines and instructions.

7:53 PM

Kharge constitutes Steering Committee in place of the Congress Working Committee

The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has constituted the Steering Committee which would function in place of the Congress Working Committee. 

 

Senior party leaders including former PM Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others are the members of the Committee.

 

7:47 PM

PM likely to lay foundation of ArcelorMittal's Hazira plant expansion proj on Friday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to perform the groundbreaking ceremony and lay foundation stone of ArcelorMittal's Hazira steel plant expansion project on Friday in Gujarat, sources said.

According to PTI report, "PM Narendra Modi is the chief guest for the Bhoomi Pujan for AMNS India's Hazira plant expansion project on October 28, 2022."

7:21 PM

President Putin oversaw training of Moscow's strategic deterrence forces: Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday oversaw the training of Moscow's strategic deterrence forces and troops responsible for responding to threats of nuclear war, the Kremlin said.

7:07 PM

Now is the time to get to work and earn the trust of the British people: PM Sunak

This morning I set out to Cabinet the enormous task we face, and why I am confident that this government can rise to the challenge and deliver for the whole United Kingdom. Now is the time to get to work and earn the trust of the British people, said UK PM Rishi Sunak in a tweet.

7:05 PM

253 challans issued in Delhi, Rs 32.4 lakh fine imposed over non-compliance of dust norms: Rai

Authorities in Delhi have issued 253 challans and imposed a cumulative fine of Rs 32.4 lakh on user agencies that did not comply with dust control norms, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday.

The minister said government officials have so far inspected 6,868 construction sites under the anti-dust campaign under October 6.

"A total of 253 notices/challans have been issued and a fine of Rs 32.4 lakh imposed on violators," he said.

6:55 PM

BJP complains to EC on alleged violation of electoral laws in Odisha, Telangana by ruling parties

A BJP delegation led by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday met top Election Commission officials here to complain about the alleged violation of electoral laws and model code of conduct by the state governments in Odisha and Telangana.

Bypolls to Dhamnagar assembly seat in Odisha and Munugode assembly seat in Telangana are scheduled to be held on November 3.

6:33 PM

Sonia writes to British PM Sunak, hopes India-UK ties will further deepen

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday congratulated Rishi Sunak on his elevation as British Prime Minister and hoped India's ties with the UK will further deepen during his tenure.

"I am delighted at your taking over as Prime Minister of Great Britain. It is certainly a matter of pride for all of us in India," she said in her letter to Sunak, who is of Indian origin.

"India-Britain relations have always been very special and I am confident that they will be further deepened during your tenure," Gandhi said.

6:31 PM

We don't do politics of hate, we build schools, hospitals: Bhagwant Mann in Adampur

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here on Wednesday claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party does not indulge in politics of hate but talks of development and building schools and hospitals.

He said this talking to reporters while campaigning for his party candidate in the Adampur bypolls.

6:29 PM

Booker winners Geetanjali Shree, Marlon James among others to attend 16th edition of JLF

International Booker-winning author Geetanjali Shree, Booker winner Marlon James, writers Amish and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, among others will participate in the 16th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), the organisers announced on Wednesday.

Starting from January 19, the literary extravaganza will host a plethora of fiction and non-fiction writers of national and international renown.

4:59 PM

"Gujarat declared as 100% Har Ghar Jal state," tweets state's Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi

4:51 PM

Climate efforts remain insufficient to limit global temperature rise, shows new UN report

A new report from UN Climate Change on Wednesday showed countries are bending the curve of global greenhouse gas emissions downward but underlines that these efforts remain insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

 

According to the report, the combined climate pledges of 193 parties under the Paris Agreement could put the world on track for around 2.5 degrees Celsius of warming by the end of the century.

 

4:47 PM

Nitish Kumar shows his injuries received during the inspection of Chhath Ghat

4:46 PM

Finance Minister extends ITR filing deadline for companies

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has extended the ITR filing deadline for companies till November 7.

4:43 PM

Jharkhand gears up for Chhath Puja

4:38 PM

Case against former DGP, seven others for illegal possession of forest land

Former Uttarakhand DGP B S Sidhu and seven others booked for illegal possession of forest land and subsequently cutting 25 'sal' trees: Police

4:35 PM

Ist Central Election Committee meeting of Congress underway after M Kharge took charge as party president

3:52 PM

SC to examine validity of age restriction for conducting tests before abortion

The Supreme Court of India has agreed to examine the validity of the age restriction of 35 years on women's reproductive rights for conducting pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic tests. A bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S. Oka on October 17 issued a notice to the Centre and others on the aspects relating to age restriction only.

3:51 PM

143,000 cattle affected by lumpy skin disease in Maharashtra so far; more than 90,000 recovered: Official

The lumpy skin disease has affected 143,089 cattle in Maharashtra so far and 93,166 of them have recovered after treatment, a senior animal husbandry department official said on Wednesday. The disease has till now spread to 3,030 villages in 32 out of the total 36 districts of the state, Animal Husbandry Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh said.

The lumpy skin disease is a contagious viral infection that affects cattle and can also lead to death. Its symptoms include fever, nodules on the skin, reduced milk production, loss of appetite, and watery eyes, as per experts. 

"The affected cattle are being treated in the state and as on date, 140.97 lakh vaccines have been made available in various districts," Singh said.

So far, 135.58 lakh cattle have been given free vaccination in the state, he said. The vaccination process has been completed in Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Dhule, Akola, Aurangabad, Beed, Kolhapur, Sangli, Washim, Jalna, Nandurbar and Mumbai suburbs, the official said. "As per data, 97 per cent of the cattle have been vaccinated," he added.

3:42 PM

Union Home Minister Amit Shah to chair 'Chintan Shivir' of state home ministers from October 27

Development of an ecosystem for cybercrime management, increase in usage of IT in criminal justice system, women's safety, coastal security and other internal security issues will be discussed at the two-day 'Chintan Shivir' of home ministers of states at Surajkund in Haryana on October 27 and 28.
 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will preside over the 'Chintan Shivir', whose objective is to prepare an action plan for the implementation of 'Vision 2047' and 'Panch Pran' announced in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech, an official statement said.

 

PM Modi will address the 'Chintan Shivir' through video conferencing on October 28.

3:30 PM

Man's head smashed with brick over parking dispute in UP's Ghaziabad

A 35-year-old man was killed over a parking dispute at Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. The man had gone for dinner with his two friends when the accused thrashed his head with a brick after a dispute over parking a car. The accused and his friends fled the spot after the incident. The deceased was rushed to Delhi’s GTB hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The investigation into the matter is underway.

3:28 PM

"I'm very impressed by your minister..." UAE minister on Jaishankar

3:11 PM

ICC T20I Player Rankings: Virat Kohli climbs to No. 9 position

3:02 PM

Global energy transition might take 30 years, says Saudi finance minister

Saudi Arabia's finance minister said on Wednesday the world's energy transition away from fossil fuels could take as much as 30 years, necessitating continued investment in conventional resources to ensure security of supply.

 

While the global economy faces a "very difficult six months", Mohammed al-Jadaan said, the outlook for Gulf Arab oil producers was "very good" and would possibly remain so for the next six years.

 

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, and fellow OPEC producers have warned of underinvestment in hydrocarbons especially while spare production capacity is thin and demand still relatively healthy despite strong economic headwinds.

 

3:00 PM

Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif to visit China next week to meet Chinese President Xi

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will embark on a two-day visit to China next week and meet President Xi Jinping during which they will review the all-weather strategic cooperation partnership and exchange views on regional and global developments, the foreign ministry said here on Wednesday.

 

Sharif will be among the first foreign leaders to visit China following the recently-concluded historic 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in which President Xi won an unprecedented third five-year term in power.

 

Sharif's trip to China comes at a time when cash-strapped Pakistan is making all efforts to arrange billions of dollars for payment of debts and bridge trade deficit. Pakistan owes Paris Club countries a combined sum of around USD 10.7 billion. The Paris Club is a group of officials from major creditor nations whose role is to find coordinated and sustainable solutions to the payment difficulties experienced by debtor countries.