Latest news LIVE: India logs 2,529 Covid-19 cases, 4 deaths in 24 hours

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1:55 PM

Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra will no impact: Karnataka CM

The Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', which is currently passing through the poll bound Karnataka, with the participation from the party's top leadership- Sonai, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, "will have no impact", state's Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday.

He rejected the claims that the ruling BJP was planning for rallies and state-wide tours of its leaders to counter the Congress' yatra, stating that they were planned much earlier.

"Naturally all party leaders will work for their own party, she (Sonia Gandhi) has walked for half-a-kilometer and gone, it's okay. As far as we are concerned, we have nothing to do with it and it doesn't make any impact," Bommai said in response to a question on the impact of Sonia, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi's marching in the state as part of the yatra.

1:42 PM

31 killed in mass shooting at a children's daycare in Thailand

At least 31 people killed in a mass shooting at a children's daycare center in northeastern Thailand, reports Reuters

1:39 PM

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman objects to increasing visas for Indians

Suella Braverman has again risked upsetting No. 10 after saying she has "reservations" about Britain's trade deal with India because it could increase immigration to the UK, The Guardian reported.

Liz Truss said she wants to sign a trade agreement with India by Diwali at the end of this month. The Indian government is demanding an increase in work and study visas for Indian nationals and earlier this year Boris Johnson said the agreement would lead to increased immigration.

In an interview with the Spectator, UK Home Secretary Braverman said Indian migrants make up the largest number of visa overstayers in the UK. The home secretary also criticised a deal with India, signed by her predecessor Priti Patel, to increase the number of illegal migrants and overstayers returned to the country, saying the agreement "has not necessarily worked very well".

Braverman told the Spectator: "I have concerns about having an open borders migration policy with India because I don't think that's what people voted for with Brexit."

 

1:18 PM

Mountaineering, trekking banned amid predicted bad weather in Uttarkashi

In the view of the safety of the trekking and mountaineering teams in Uttarkashi, district magistrate Abhishek Ruhela on Thursday instructed to keep the activities here closed for the next three days.

Ruhela has banned these activities in Uttarkashi from October 6 (today) to October 8 (Saturday)

The DM's decision came after the meterorological department issued an alert for the rain and snow fall here.

12:16 PM

US looking to ease sanctions on Venezuela to boost oil supply

The US government may soon reduce sanctions on Venezuela, allowing Chevron and other oil companies to resume oil drilling there. This comes just hours after OPEC+ countries announced a cut in oil supply by two million barrels per day (bpd). A report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said that lifting sanctions may allow oil exports from Venezuela to the US and Europe.

In return, the Venezuelan government led by Nicolas Maduro has agreed to resume talks with the Opposition and hold a free, fair presidential election in 2024, the WSJ report added. The deal also includes freeing up millions of dollars of Venezuelan funds that have been frozen in the US.

The funds, once released, will be used by Venezuela to recover from the economical slump, they are in currently. It recorded an inflation rate of 114.1 per cent year-on-year in September.

 

11:24 AM

India, US, UK, France condemn N Korea's ballistic missile launch

India, joining the US, UK and France, has strongly condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launch which overflew Japan, with New Delhi underlining that these launches affect the peace and security of the region and beyond.

The missile fired on Tuesday was the first from North Korea to fly over Japan in five years. The launch mark the 24th time this year that North Korea has conducted missile tests.

We have noted with concern the reports of ballistic missile launches by the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said at a UN Security Council meeting on DPRK on Wednesday.

"These follow the launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile by the DPRK in March this year, which was discussed in this Council, as well as other successive launches, she said.

 

10:59 AM

Taj Mahal to open during 'Sharad Purnima' for four nights this month

The Taj Mahal will be open for night viewing during 'Sharad Purnima' for four nights this time.

Superintending archaeologist Rajkumar Patel said, "As the Taj Mahal remains closed on Friday, tourists will be allowed to view the monument at night for four days, from Saturday to Tuesday. Tickets can be purchased one day before the night viewing date from the counter at the ASI office."

Sharad Purnima will be observed on the intervening night of October 9/10.

The phenomenon, called 'chamki', makes the monument's marble glow as the moonlight strikes it at different angles during this period.

 

10:25 AM

UN peacekeeping chief Lacroix to visit India during 9-day foreign trip

The United Nations peacekeeping chief is undertaking a visit to India, among the largest troop contributing countries for its operations.

Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix will visit India, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Japan. The multi-nation trip starts Thursday and will continue until October 15.

Stphane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters Wednesday that in New Delhi, Lacroix will participate in a two-day meeting organised by the Challenges Forum, which brings together leading policymakers, practitioners and academics on key issues linked to peace operations.

The head of the UN peacekeeping will then travel to Abu Dhabi, Islamabad and Tokyo.

 

10:06 AM

Hurricane Ian death toll in US crosses 110; 300,000 still without power

The death toll from Hurricane Ian in the US has exceeded 110, while hundreds of thousands of people remain without power.

At least 110 people, including 105 in Florida and five in North Carolina, have died due to Hurracane Ian, according to a tally by CNN on Wednesday.

Florida's Lee County has reported 55 fatalities while Charlotte County has seen 24 deaths, Xinhua news agency reported.

US President Joe Biden travelled to Fort Myers, Florida, on Wednesday to survey storm-ravaged areas.

Nearly 300,000 customers in Florida remained without power as of Wednesday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us.

 

9:41 AM

Govt appoint Delhi HC Justice as UAPA officer for PFI case

Centre appoints Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma of Delhi High Court as the Presiding Officer of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal in the matter of Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates or fronts

 

9:10 AM

9 killed in collision between private and KSRTC buses in Kerala

9 people, including 5 students, killed, around 40 injured in collision between private tourist bus and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus at Vadakkenchery in Palakkad district, reports PTI

9:08 AM

Sonia Gandhi joins Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra in Mandya

8:59 AM

India logs 2,529 new cases of Covid-19, 4 deaths

India on Thursday recorded 2,529 new cases of Covid-19, taking the nation's tally from the coronavirus pandemic to 44,604,463. With four new deaths in the last 24 hours, India's Covid toll has reached 528,745. India's tally of cured Covid cases has reached 44,043,436, as 3,553 people recovered from the infection in the last 24 hours.

8:33 AM

8 dead after flash flood hits Mal river in Bengal's Jalpaiguri

8 dead after flash flood hits Mal River in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri during Durga idol visarjan. Search operation underway, reports ANI

8:28 AM

Fitch Ratings cuts UK's credit outlook to negative on fiscal risk

The UK’s credit outlook was lowered to negative from stable by Fitch Ratings, which cited risk the government’s new growth plan could increase the nation’s fiscal deficit.

Fitch affirmed the UK’s rating at AA-, the fourth highest level, according to a Wednesday statement. The Bank of England’s outlook was also lowered to negative from stable by Fitch due to its link with the sovereign.

“The large fiscal stimulus, announced without compensatory measures or an independent evaluation of the macroeconomic and public finances’ impact, and the inconsistency between fiscal and monetary policy stance given strong inflationary pressures, have in Fitch’s view, negatively impacted financial markets’ confidence and the credibility of the policy framework,” analysts Erich Arispe Morales and Greg Kiss wrote.

 

7:32 AM

Delhi's air quality turns 'poor'; CAQM to enforce stage-1 control measures

Measures under 'stage-1' of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will be enforced in the national capital region with immediate effect, according to an order issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

According to the order issued by the CAQM: "It was noted that there has been a sudden dip in air quality parameters in the last 24 hours in the region which led to the AQI for Delhi moving into the "POOR" category. While this is likely to be a localised influence and the forecasts do not predict any further deterioration, in an effort to maintain the AQI in the moderate category, as a precautionary measure, the sub-committee decided that ALL actions as envisaged under Stage I of the GRAP -'Poor' Air Quality (DELHI AQI ranging between 201-300), be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, with immediate effect in the NCR."

 

6:48 AM

344 units in Delhi-NCR get closure notices for air pollution since Dec

A centrally mandated authority has shut 344 industries in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) for violating air pollution norms since last December.

In its first round of inspections and fines, the Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) flying squad issued closure notices to 484 units or establishments. Apart from industries, 99 construction and demolition (C&D) sites, and 41 diesel generator (DG) sets were issued closure notices by the commission’s Enforcement Task Force (ETF).

 

6:48 AM

Over 100 million Covid-19 vaccine doses wasted in India by September-end

India may have wasted a little over 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of September, as the doses were past their shelf lives. Assuming a price of Rs 225 per dose (for Covishield and Covaxin), the value of the wasted stock is around Rs 2,250 crore. Meanwhile, sources in the vaccine manufacturing industry indicate that they have no plans to seek further extensions in the shelf lives of these Covid-19 vaccines. Read more

 

6:47 AM

Uddhav, Shinde accuse each other of betrayal at rival Dussehra rallies

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday accused each other of betrayal as the Shiv Sena groups headed by them held Dussehra rallies in Mumbai. While Uddhav Thackeray branded Shinde and his supporters as traitors for teaming up with the BJP to wrest power, the latter said Thackeray had betrayed people of Maharashtra who voted for the Sena and BJP to form an alliance government, by teaming up with Congress and NCP after 2019 Assembly elections.

 

6:46 AM

5G users to get up to 600 Mbps speed during launch phase: Experts

Mobile subscribers will get up to 600 megabit per second speed in 5G network during the launch phase and handsets are expected to work at par with professional computers for accessing apps and data processing, according to industry players. Reliance Jio has started providing 5G services to select customers in parts of four cities -- Delhi Mumbai, Kolkata and Varanasi -- and Bharti Airtel in parts of eight cities -- Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Nagpur and Siliguri -- to all customers with 5G handsets.