LIVE: India to host third 2+2 ministerial dialogue with US on Oct 27

At least three people were killed and 15 others suffered injures in Pakistan in an explosion near Maskan Chowrangi in Karachi's Gulshan-i-Iqbal area. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

1:38 AM

China is the threat of the century: Trump's security adviser

President Donald Trump's national security adviser accused China on Wednesday of trying to steal Covid-19 vaccine research from the West, casting it as a malign rival that was seeking to monopolise every important industry of the 21st Century.

 

Trump identifies China as the United States main competitor, and has accused the Chinese Communist Party of taking advantage over trade and not telling the truth over the novel coronavirus outbreak, which he calls the China plague.

 

In a 20-minute broadside against China, Robert OBrien told top British and US military and intelligence officials that China was a predatory power that repressed its people and had sought to coerce both neighbours and Western powers.

1:12 AM

Dazzling Snap rally extends $2.7 billion windfall to its co-founders

Snap Inc.’s co-founders got richer by billions of dollars in just a few hours, after the company reported better-than-expected results as the coronavirus pandemic boosted usage of its app.

 

Shares soared as much as 25 per cent to $35.57 in late New York trading Tuesday after the owner of the popular Snapchat mobile app said sales jumped 52 per cent to $678.7 million in the third quarter, with 249 million daily active users. The gains lifted the fortunes of Snap’s co-founders, Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, by $1.3 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively, taking them to $6.9 billion and $7.2 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

 

12:33 AM

Taliban ambush kills 25 Afghan security personnel

At least 25 security personnel were killed in northeast Afghanistan. The attack has been blamed on the Taliban, according to officials.

 

One official said that the fighting is ongoing and that the Taliban itself has suffered heavy causalities. The security forces were on their way for an operation when they were attacked by the terror group.

 

The Taliban have not commented on the attack, yet.

11:36 PM

Mike Pompeo to visit India next week for India-US 2+2 Dialogue

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would travel to New Delhi for the third India-US 2+2 Dialogue next week on his second Asia trip in less than a month that would also take him to Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

 

"Looking forward to my upcoming trip to India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia, for productive conversations with our friends and partners, and the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with" Defence Secretary Mark Esper and "our Indian" counterparts, Pompeo said.

 

Each stop, he said, will include discussions on a "broad range of bilateral topics." Discussions will also include how they can cooperate to maintain a "free and open Indo-Pacific," he said. "I'm sure my meetings will also include discussions on how free nations can work together to thwart threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party," he told reporters at a news conference.

10:46 PM

India, US to explore ways to further expand, strengthen strategic ties during 2+2 dialogue on Oct 27

9:27 PM

Twelve districts of Jammu and Kashmir have figured in the list of PMGSY top performing 30 districts of the country

9:17 PM

Trump tends to his electoral map, Biden eyes Obama boost

President Donald Trump is hopping from one must-win stop on the electoral map to the next in the leadup to a final presidential debate that may be his last, best chance to alter the trajectory of the 2020 campaign.

 

As Democrat Joe Biden holes up for debate prep in advance of Thursday's faceoff in Nashville, Tennessee, he's hoping for a boost from former President Barack Obama, who will be holding his first in-person campaign event for Biden on Wednesday in Philadelphia.

 

Obama, who has become increasingly critical of Trump over the three and a half years since he left office, will address a drive-in rally, where supporters will listen to him over the radio inside their cars.

8:52 PM

Delhi's pollution levels worsen, air quality still in 'poor' category

Delhi's pollution levels worsened on Wednesday even as the air quality index remained in the 'poor' category, with a government agency forecasting improvement in the situation on Thursday with cleaner easterly wind coming in.

 

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 268 on Wednesday morning. However, the data updated in the evening showed the average AQI of the past 24 hours at 256.

 

The figures are based on data collected from 34 monitoring stations in the city.

8:35 PM

Mobile internet speed in J&K to be restricted to 2G, except in Ganderbal, Udhampur

8:27 PM

India will host the third India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on 27 October, 2020 in Delhi: Ministry of External Affairs

8:14 PM

E-tailing to become $200-bn opportunity by 2025: Report

Online spending, which has got a boost during the pandemic, is expected to grow at an annual rate of over 35 per cent to $200 billion in the next five years, and a lot of this growth will come from direct-to-consumer brands, according to a report.

The domestic direct-to-consumer (D2C) market is estimated to be $100 billon by 2025, or 11 per cent of the total retail market that is slated to touch $1.7 trillion by then, investment bank Avendus Capital said in the report.

Overall retail market stood at $977 billion in 2019, it said.

The domestic retail market, which is the fifth largest globally, is projected to surpass $1.7 trillion by 2025, driven by e-tailing. Of the total retail market, only 17 per cent was in the modern trade in 2019, which is slated to touch 31 per cent by 2025.

8:01 PM

AAI plans to develop 100 airports, waterdromes, heliports under UDAN by 2024

Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to develop at least 100 airports, waterdromes and heliports by 2024 under the regional air connectivity scheme, according to an official release.

 

The fourth anniversary of the scheme, also known as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), was commemorated on Wednesday. The scheme is aimed at providing affordable, economically viable and profitable air travel on regional routes.

 

"50 unserved and underserved airports (including five heliports) with 285 routes have been added under UDAN across the length and breadth of India. As the implementing agency, AAI has an ambitious plan to develop at least 100 airports/ waterdromes/ heliports by 2024 under the scheme," the release said.

 

During a video conference to commemorate UDAN Day on Wednesday, Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said stakeholders should work towards making the scheme sustainable on its own and improve its efficiency.

7:49 PM

KVIC launches khadi footwear, eyes Rs 1,000 cr market share

Eyeing the Rs 50,000 crore footwear market in India, Khadi Village Industries Corporation (KVIC) on Wednesday launched a range of footwear made of khadi fabric and said that it targets a Rs 1,000-crore market share in the first year.

The footwear range for both men and women was launched by MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari, Minister of State for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi, and KVIC Chairman Vinai Saxena.

Speaking at the launch, Gadkari said: "Global footwear industry is valued at Rs 1.45 trillion. KVIC will generate immense demand for khadi footwear with its range of products."

"Khadi footwear is a unique product. International quality and use of fine fabric like Patola silk, Banarasi silk, cotton, and denim will attract youngsters who can purchase it online. These footwear are cost-effective," Gadkari said.

7:35 PM

In 2024 election, we will support the party that will take up this cause: Bimal Gurung

7:23 PM

Cabinet approves procurement of 1.2 mn tonne apple in J&K this season

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the extension of a scheme under which cooperative NAFED will procure 12 lakh tonne apple in Jammu and Kashmir during the current 2020-21 season.

 

National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) has also been allowed to use the government guarantee of Rs 2,500 crore for this operation. The losses, if any, will be shared between the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir government on a 50:50 basis.

 

A decision in this regard was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

7:12 PM

Protesting farmers in Punjab allow only goods trains to ply till Nov 5

Heeding to the appeal of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, 30 protesting farmers' organisations in Punjab on Wednesday decided to allow goods trains to ply till November 5, while passenger train services would continue to remain disrupted in the state.

 

However, their sit-in protests against BJP leaders, corporate houses and toll plazas would continue. They would meet again on November 4 to decide on the next course of action.

 

These decisions were taken at a meeting called by 30 farmers' bodies here on Wednesday, a day after the legislative Assembly unanimously passed three Bills and formally rejected the 'black' farm laws brought by the BJP-led Union government. Read more

6:52 PM

CG Power shareholders vote to declassify Gautam Thapar as promoter

Shareholders of fraud-hit CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd have voted overwhelmingly to declassify sacked founder-chairman Gautam Thapar as a promoter and have reappointed Sudhir Mathur, who is leading the rescue of the company, as a director.

 

At the company's annual general meeting of shareholders, on October 19, held virtually, 99.99 per cent of the shareholders voted for "re-classification of the existing promoters and promoter group as public", the firm said in a regulatory filing.

 

Within days of the unearthing of the fraud involving siphoning off money raised using company assets as collateral, Thapar was removed by the company board on August 29, 2019. Read more

6:41 PM

Stubble burning continues in Punjab; visuals from Kathunangal village

6:28 PM

PM Modi holds telephone conversation with South Korean president

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to South Korean president Moon Jae-in, as the two leaders reviewed important global developments, including the progress in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.

The two leaders also reviewed the ongoing diversification of international value chains, the need to preserve a transparent, development-oriented and rules-based global trading order, and the important role of the World Trade Organisation, a Prime Minister's Office (PMO) statement said.

In a tweet, the prime minister said, "Spoke to my friend, President @moonriver365 today on a variety of issues, including the immense promise that the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership offers in the post-Covid world."

6:13 PM

Indian soldiers have done 'miraculous job' on China border: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said Indian soldiers have done a "miraculous job" in their standoff with the Chinese troops along the LAC in Ladakh and asserted that no power can capture even an inch of Indian land under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong leadership.

 

Referring to the situation along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, Singh said he cannot divulge operational details of the Indian Army's actions there, but asserted that people will not just clap but start jumping with joy if they get to know about their valour.

 

Addressing an election rally here, the senior BJP leader also said he salutes mothers of the Bihar Regiment bravehearts who sacrificed their lives during a violent standoff with Chinese soldiers at the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

 

"I salute and bow in front of the mothers of bravehearts of Galwan valley who not only made the Bihar but the entire country proud," Singh said.

6:02 PM

Many Durga Puja committees planning to install giant screens near pandal

Some big puja organisers in the city, including College Square Durga Puja committee, said they are planning to install giant screens as the High Court's modified order Wednesday left no chance for revellers to watch the deity at their marquee even from 10 metre distance.

However, others have already made arrangements accordingly and welcomed the decision to allow 60 members from the organising committee inside the pandal and said they will tinker arrangements for pushpanjali and sandhi puja adhering to the directives of the court.

Bikash Majumder an office-bearer of College Square committee told PTI "we have locked the entire College Square ground as directed by Kolkata Police and switched off all illumination on water since Choturthi, Tuesday. Only 60 members of puja committee will be allowed inside, 45 at a time. We are sad but there is no other way out."

5:43 PM

Videocon insolvency case: Dhoot family offers to pay Rs 30k cr to lenders

Videocon insolvency case: Dhoot family offers to pay Rs 30k cr to lendersThe Dhoot family has offered to pay Rs 30,000 crore to lenders to settle their outstanding loans and pull out 13 Videocon group companies from the insolvency proceedings.

 

A proposal for paying the amount has been forwarded to the Committee of Creditors (CoC) of the Videocon Industries, Venugopal Dhoot told PTI.

 

Venugopal Dhoot was the Chairman and Managing Director of the suspended board of Videocon Industries. The company's board was suspended following initation of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). Read more

5:23 PM

Army chief visits College of Defence Management & Bison Division in Telangana

5:21 PM

Bihar: Congress manifesto promises 1 mn jobs, farm loan waiver, unemployment allowance

The Congress on Wednesday released its manifesto for the Bihar assembly polls, promising 1 million government jobs, farm loan waiver and a monthly unemployment allowance of Rs 1,500 if voted to power.

It also assured the farmers of 50 per cent rebate in electricity bills and repeal of the three farm laws brought by the Centre.

Actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar released the manifesto titled 'Badlav Patra 2020' (The Document of Change) here at the partys state headquarters Sadaqat Ashram in the presence of national general secretaries Randeep Singh Surjewala and Tariq Anwar and AICC Bihar incharge Shakti Singh Gohil.

The Congress is contesting 70 out of the 243 assembly seats in alliance with the RJD, and three Left parties.

4:59 PM

Covid-19: EC frets as parties violate distancing norms during poll campaigning

The Election Commission on Wednesday took a "serious view" of utter violation of social distancing norms during poll campaigning and leaders addressing public meetings without wearing masks in complete disregard of its guidelines.

In an advisory issued to presidents and general secretaries of all recognised national and state parties, the poll panel said chief electoral officers and the district machinery would be expected to invoke appropriate and relevant penal provisions against candidates concerned as well as organisers responsible for such violations.

"The Commission has taken a serious view of the laxity on the part of political parties and candidates, on the ground, in terms of maintaining crowd discipline, and hereby reiterates and further advises them to demonstrate utmost vigil and care during electioneering," the advisory said.

4:41 PM

New integrated terminal building at Pune airport to be ready by 2022: AAI

The new integrated terminal building being constructed at Pune airport with an investment of Rs 475 crore to handle 2,300 passengers during the peak hours is expected to be completed by March 2022, AAI said on Wednesday.

 

A multi-level car park (ground plus three storeyed +2 basement floors) is also under construction at a cost of Rs 120 crore as part of the airport revamp plan, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said in a release.

 

AAI has undertaken the construction work for the new integrated terminal building at Pune Airport in order to cater to the continuous surge in passenger traffic and ease congestion at the airport.

4:24 PM

Sensitize students against bursting firecrackers, Delhi govt to schools

The Delhi government has directed all schools in the national capital to sensitise students against bursting firecrackers during the festival season in view of the deteriorating air quality, which is an increased cause of concern during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Since the schools continue to be closed, the authorities have been advised to use WhatsApp groups and other virtual mediums to motivate the students to "say no to crackers". Read more

4:10 PM

EVMs to be used for first time in Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council polls

3:59 PM

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh likely to visit Sikkim on Dussehra

Amid the ongoing border conflict with China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to visit Sikkim on this Dussehra to boost the morale of troops deployed against the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

 

The Defence Minister is likely to visit Sikkim on October 23-24 and also inaugurate a number of road projects and strategic bridges built for easy movement of troops and common citizens to border areas, defence sources said.

 

The Defence Minister is also likely to do "shastra puja" at one of the local units deployed in Sikkim near the China border as per the Hindu tradition in which arms are worshipped annually in Dushehra by warriors. Last year, he had done it in France while receiving India's first Rafale fighter aircraft from there. Read more

3:45 PM

SC to peruse if educational institutions, varsities fall under consumer law

The Supreme Court has agreed to examine the question as to whether an educational institution or university can be sued under the consumer protection law for deficiency in services, saying there have been "divergent views" of the top court on the issue.

 

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee has admitted an appeal filed by Manu Solanki and other students of a medical course against Vinayaka Mission University at Salem in Tamil Nadu, alleging deficiency in services.

 

"Since there are divergent views of this Court bearing on the subject as to whether an educational institution or University would be subject to the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 1986, the appeal would require admission. Admit," the top court said in its order of October 15. Read more