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11:47 PM

Zelensky to address emergency UN meeting on Ukraine on Wednesday, reports AFP

9:26 PM

Mumbai measles outbreak: One death, 13 new cases reported

Mumbai records 13 new cases of measles and one death related to infection, according to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

8:53 PM

BJP is publicising fake videos due to fear of losing MCD polls: Sisodia

8:49 PM

FIFA World Cup 2022: Japan beat Germany 2-1 in World Cup 2022 shock

3:52 PM

Kamala Harris says she will run with President Joe Biden for second time in 2024

US Vice President Kamala Harris says she will run with President Joe Biden for a second time in 2024. Speaking to reporters while in the Philippines, the vice president said she has "no doubt" about the strength of the administration's achievements, citing pandemic relief and infrastructure legislation.

3:51 PM

Inclusion of CJI in consultative process for CEC appointment will ensure independence: SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the inclusion of the Chief Justice of India in the consultative process for the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner would ensure independence of the poll panel. The apex court was of the view that any ruling party at the Centre ''likes to perpetuate itself in power'' and can appoint a 'Yes Man' to the post under the current system.

3:40 PM

Hundreds of workers joined protests at Foxconn's flagship iPhone plant in China

2:52 PM

Bharat Jodo Yatra will be successful in Rajasthan, says Sachin Pilot

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday distanced himself from the threat by a prominent Gurjar outfit to disrupt the Bharat Jodo Yatra if its demand to make him the Rajasthan chief minister is not accepted, and instead blamed the BJP for trying to create "disturbances".

 

Gurjar Arakshan Sangharh Samiti leader Vijay Singh Bainsla has threatened to oppose the Rahul Gandhi's yatra in Rajasthan unless his demand to make Pilot, a prominent face from the community, the chief minister is accepted. Asked about the threat of Bainsla, the former deputy chief minister of the state said, No matter how hard the BJP tries, the yatra will be successful".

2:48 PM

Installed power capacity in India doubled in last 10 years: RBI Data

The installed capacity of power in India has doubled in the last 10 years. From 199,877 MW in 2011-12, it has risen to 399,497 MW in 2021-22, data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed.

 

Additionally, the total installed capacity of grid interactive renewable power has gone up by 3.7 times in the same period. It has risen from 19,971 MW in 2011 to 94,434 MW in 2021.

 

Maharashtra has the highest installed capacity of power of 43,466 MW followed by 42,208 in Gujarat. With 15,463 MW, Karnataka has the highest installed capacity of grid interactive renewable power in India. Tamil Nadu follows it with 15,225 MW and Gujarat with 13,153 MW, according to the RBI's "Handbook Of Statistics On Indian States".

2:27 PM

Meesho joins govt's Open Network for Digital Commerce

E-commerce platform Meesho on Wednesday said it has integrated with the government's Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to help connect buyers with hyperlocal sellers.

The government is running a pilot of ONDC where all e-commerce ecosystem players will facilitate online purchase of goods and services at competitive prices, thereby reducing cost burden on sellers and consumers.

The pilot with Meesho will be launched in Bengaluru and gradually rolled out in other locations in coming months. With this, registered buyers on ONDC will be able to access a list of products available on ONDC through Meesho.

2:24 PM

Govt's efforts to attract investment should convert into speedy progress for UP: Mayawati

A day after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced plans to invite investment in Uttar Pradesh, BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday said such efforts should not just be limited to acquiring land or serving electoral interests but also convert into speedy progress for the state.

Addressing a curtain-raiser in Delhi ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 on Tuesday, Adityanath said his government plans to organise roadshows in 18 countries and seven major cities of India to invite investors to the summit.

He said the state has set a target of attracting an investment of Rs 10 trillion through the event, which will be held in Lucknow from February 10 to 12 next year.

2:23 PM

Congress model means casteism and vote bank politics which creates rift among people: PM Modi in Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the "Congress model" meant nepotism, casteism, sectarianism and vote bank politics.

 

Addressing a rally at Mehsana in north Gujarat, where the two-phase Assembly elections are scheduled to be held next month, Modi said the Congress destroyed not only Gujarat but the entire country.

 

2:23 PM

Transnational, cross-border terrorism gravest threat before world: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday described transnational and cross-border terrorism as the gravest threat that the world is facing, and called for urgent and resolute intervention by the international community.

 

He made this call at the 9th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting, during the Cambodia-chaired ADMM Plus gathering at Siem Reap. Addressing the ASEAN ministers, Singh said, "The gravest threat requiring urgent and resolute intervention by the international community is transnational and cross-border terrorism. Indifference can no longer be a response, as terrorism has found victims globally."

 

2:04 PM

SC says will hear Mumbai's Aarey colony tree felling matter on Thursday

The Supreme Court said that it will hear on Thursday the matter pertaining to the felling of trees at Mumbai's Aarey Colony, the site for a metro car shed project.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices Hima Kohli and J B Pardiwala took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) that there was a need to fell 84 trees. The law officer said let the tree felling committee decide on the request of MMRCL on cutting of the tree and the decision would be dependent on the order of this court.

A senior advocate appearing for those opposed to felling of trees said they have also filed an interim plea.

1:35 PM

UK's top court to rule on Scottish bid for independence vote

Britain's Supreme Court is due to rule on Wednesday on whether Scotland can hold a vote on independence without the consent of the UK government, a case with huge implications for the future of the United Kingdom.

 

The semi-autonomous Scottish government has asked the top court to decide whether the Scottish Parliament can legislate to hold a referendum next October with the question “Should Scotland be an independent country?” The Conservative UK government in London refuses to approve a vote, saying the question was settled in a 2014 referendum that saw Scottish voters reject independence by a margin of 55 per cent to 45 per cent.

1:34 PM

How can his activities be construed as sectarian? asks Shashi Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday sought to know how his attending events and meeting some prominent persons in Kerala, along with MP M K Raghavan, could be construed as sectarian and said he was "a bit irritated" over the issues being created in the media.

 

A day after Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan said any kind of sectarianism or parallel activities would not be allowed in the party and warned that such moves would be dealt with "seriously", Tharoor questioned how activities of the two Congress MPs could be seen as sectarian.

1:28 PM

Pakistan govt says received names of six senior generals for next army chief

The clouds of uncertainty around the appointment of Pakistan's new army chief began to clear on Wednesday after the government announced on Wednesday that it has received the names of six senior generals for the post to succeed incumbent General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

 

Gen Bajwa, 61, is scheduled to retire on November 29 after a three-year extension. He has ruled out seeking another extension.

 

The Prime Minister's Office issued a brief statement on Twitter that it received the summary from the Ministry of Defence for the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff and the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee. The prime minister will take a decision on the appointments as per the laid down procedure, according to the statement.

1:16 PM

Twin explosions near bus stops shake Jerusalem; 1 dead and 14 wounded

Two blasts went off near bus stops in Jerusalem on Wednesday, killing one person and injuring at least 14, in what police said were suspected attacks by Palestinians.

 

The first explosion occurred near a bus stop on the edge of the city, where commuters usually crowd waiting for buses. The second went off in Ramot, a neighbourhood in the city's north. Police said one person died from the wounds and Israel's rescue service Magen David Adom said four people were seriously wounded in the blasts.

 

The apparent attacks came as Israeli-Palestinian tensions are high, following months of Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank prompted by a spate of deadly attacks against Israelis that killed 19 people.

1:09 PM

Satyendar Jain enjoying resort-like facilities in Tihar: Meenakshi Lekhi

AAP minister Satyendar Jain is enjoying facilities akin to a holiday resort inside Tihar Jail, Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi alleged on Wednesday, hours after a purported video showing him eating fruits and raw vegetables surfaced on various platforms.

 

Jain's lawyers said in court earlier this week that prison officials had stopped his supply of fruits and raw vegetables. Addressing a press conference, Lekhi also referred to another video showing Jain getting a massage by a rape accused in Tihar.

"I would not allow such a person to even come close to me. Imagine that person massaging his feet. The shameless actions of AAP leaders like Jain getting massage by a rape accused, are being noted by the people. AAP leaders say something and behave exactly opposite to it," Lekhi told reporters.

12:57 PM

China’s exit from Covid Zero seen stretching beyond 2023

China’s lack of intensive care hospital beds leaves the nation facing a slow exit from Covid Zero, likely stretching beyond 2023.

 

A full reopening may lead to 5.8 million people being admitted to intensive care, overwhelming a health system that currently has less than four ICU beds per 100,000 people, far less than developed countries, according to Bloomberg Intelligence senior pharmaceutical analyst Sam Fazeli.

12:54 PM

Received 55,497 requests for user data from Indian government: Meta

India with 55,497 requests was once again second only to the US in terms of asking Meta to provide user data in the first half of this year, and the social network restricted access in India to 597 items in response to directions from the IT Ministry in the reporting period.

In the second half of 2021, India had made 50,382 requests to Meta for user data.

According to Meta, the accessAto 597 items was restricted for violating Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, including content against security of the state and public order.

12:54 PM

Mamata Banerjee voices anguish over violence on Meghalaya-Assam border

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed anguish over the violence at a disputed Assam-Meghalaya border area and prayed for peace there.

 

"I am gravely anguished by the tragic instance of firing at Mukroh, Meghalaya, that claimed the lives of 6 people. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this conflict. I earnestly pray that peace and calm prevail for the greater good," Banerjee said on Twitter.

 

Six people, including a forest guard, were killed in the violence in the early hours of Tuesday after a truck allegedly laden with illegally felled timber was intercepted by forest personnel from Assam.

12:47 PM

Former bureaucrat CV Ananda Bose takes oath as West Bengal governor

Former bureaucrat CV Ananda Bose took oath as the governor of West Bengal in Kolkata on Wednesday.

 

On November 17, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Bose as the governor of West Bengal. "The President of India is pleased to appoint Dr C V Ananda Bose as regular governor of West Bengal," read a statement released by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

 

The post of the state's constitutional head fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar was elected the country's vice-president on August 11.

12:35 PM

Monster.com to transform into talent management firm, be known as foundit.in

Job search portal Monster.com announced it would transform into a full-fledged talent management platform and be known as "foundit.in" in Asia Pacific and the Middle East with a new logo and vision from Wednesday.

Monster said it has been serving more than 70 million job seekers and 10,000 customers spread across 18 countries.

As the company now transforms itself to an end-to-end talent management platform, it will offer comprehensive solutions to recruiters and highly personalised and contextual services to job seekers across Asia Pacific and the Middle East, it said.

12:01 PM

Fresh videos showing Satyendar Jain having raw food emerge from jail

Fresh videos of AAP's Satyendar Jain emerged from Tihar jail on Wednesday in which he is seen eating uncooked vegetables and fruits in his cell, days after the minister moved a city court alleging that he is not being provided raw food as per his religious beliefs.

 

However, the purported videos are dated September 13 and October 1. A Delhi court had on Tuesday sought the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) response to a plea by Jain seeking a direction to Tihar officials to provide him food items like fruits, dry fruits and dates as per his religious beliefs as he was observing a fast.

11:14 AM

Multiple people killed in Walmart shooting; shooter dead

Multiple people are dead and others are wounded after a shooting at a Virginia Walmart on Tuesday night, reports AP.
 

Officers responded to a report of a shooting at the Walmart on Sam’s Circle around 10:15 p.m. and as soon as they arrived they found evidence of a shooting, Chesapeake police spokesman Leo Kosinski said in a briefing.

 

Over 35 to 40 minutes, officers found multiple dead people and injured people in the store and put rescue and tactical teams together to go inside and provide life-saving measures, he said.

11:05 AM

Gujarat polls: UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Gujarat tour for third time in a week

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to visit Gujarat for the third time this week.
 

During his third Gujarat tour, he will hold election meetings for BJP candidates in Dwarka, Kutch, Morbi, and Surat districts. CM Adityanath will also conduct a roadshow in Surat and will worship in the Dwarkadhish temple.

 

10:54 AM

PM Modi extends birthday greetings to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended birthday greetings to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and lauded his efforts to further strengthen parliamentary democracy.

"Birthday greetings to Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla ji. His efforts to further strengthen our Parliamentary democracy are commendable. He is also admired for his rich intellect and Constitutional knowledge. Praying for his long and healthy life," PM Modi said in a tweet.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also wished Birla and praised him for running the House smoothly and increasing its dignity by further strengthening the parliamentary procedures.

10:41 AM

I hope Gujarat witnesses record turnout in assembly polls: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he hoped that Gujarat will witness a record voter turnout in the upcoming state polls, particularly among the youth and first-time voters.

Modi's remarks came after Jam Saheb Shatrushalya Singhji, scion of the Jamnagar royal family, cast his vote at his residence in the presence of the deputy collector and other election officials on Monday.

Tagging a tweet by the Press Information Bureau in Gujarat, Modi said, "I commend Jam Saheb Shri Shatrusalyasinhji for this remarkable passion towards the festival of democracy."

10:37 AM

Temp drops below freezing point in Srinagar for the first time this season

For the first time this season, the minimum temperature dropped below the freezing point in Srinagar on Wednesday. The coming days are likely to witness a further drop in the minimum temperature across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

 

"Minimum temperature dropped below the freezing point in Srinagar for the first time this season on Wednesday. Dry weather is likely to continue during the next few days, while the night temperatures are expected to drop further across J&K and Ladakh," an official of the weather department said.