LIVE news: Calling Kharge or Tharoor remote control insulting, says Rahul

Live news updates: "We are opposing the new education policy as it's distorting our history, traditions We want a decentralised education system," he added

11:50 PM

Women marching ahead in all areas with determination: President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said women are today marching forward in all areas with determination and hard work.

Women are excelling in every field, be it guarding the country's borders or flying aircraft, and they are making the country proud, she said in an address at a civic reception hosted in her honour at the Punjab Raj Bhavan here.

11:47 PM

North Korea launches missile toward sea after US-South Korea drills

The South Korean military said North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters on Sunday, the latest in the country's barrage of weapons tests in recent days.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement the launch occurred early Sunday but gave no further details, including how far the weapon may have flown.

The Japanese government also said North Korea fired what was a possible ballistic missile.

10:18 PM

PM Modi to embark on 3-day visit to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh from tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat from October 9 to 11, followed by a visit to Madhya Pradesh on October 11, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Saturday.

The Prime Minister will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 14,500 crore in Gujarat.

9:40 PM

KCR stopped going to state secretariat on advice of tantriks: Sitharaman

Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman hit out at Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday, alleging that he stopped going to the state secretariat and did not induct women in his cabinet for a long time on the advice of "tantriks" and numerologists.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also claimed that Rao, popularly known as KCR, changed the name of his party on the advice of "tantriks" (occultists).

9:13 PM

Objective of Bharat Jodo Yatra is to bring India together, not 2024 elections: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the objective of the Bharat Jodo Yatra was not 2024 general elections but to unite the people of the country, as he alleged that the BJP-RSS were spreading "violence and hatred".

Addressing a press conference here during the yatra, he said thousands of crores of media money has been spent in trying to project him in a way which is just "untruthful and wrong", and the people who care to look carefully will see what his truth is.

8:40 PM

G-20 summit: MCD begins work on beautification of Delhi

Over 370 public places in Delhi have been identified for beautification in view of the G-20 summit next year, civic officials said on Saturday.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has earmarked 375 public places for planting exotic flowering species, including gazania and pansy, in all its 12 zones, it said in a statement.

7:33 PM

'After CBI, I am expecting ED': Tejashwi on fresh charge sheet against parents

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, whose parents Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi were named in a fresh CBI charge sheet, on Saturday sought to link the development to the BJP's loss of power in the state where it is now pitted against a formidable multi-party 'Mahagathbandhan'.

The RJD heir apparent, who had earlier mockingly asked central investigating agencies to open their offices at his residence, added tongue in cheek that after the CBI, he expected the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to swing into action.

6:22 PM

No party has ideology, intention, strength to fight BJP: J P Nadda

BJP president J P Nadda on Saturday claimed no other party in the country has the "ideology, intention and strength" to fight the might of the saffron party, which is "on the rise".

Addressing a party workers' meet here after inaugurating the new office of the Assam BJP, Nadda asserted that his party is fighting against all the "family-led parties" in every state.

5:17 PM

Amit Shah conducts a meeting on Drug Trafficking and National Security in Guwahati

5:16 PM

CBI questioned former Governor of Meghalaya Satya Pal Malik over Rs 300 cr bribe

CBI questioned former Governor of Meghalaya Satya Pal Malik, at CBI headquarters in Delhi over his allegations that when he was J&K Governor, he was offered Rs 300 crore in bribes to clear two files, said CBI sources to ANI.

4:28 PM

Flood mitigation work progressing satisfactorily, says TN CM

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday said the stormwater drainage work, initiated as part of the flood mitigation in Chennai, and desilting work are progressing satisfactorily and would be completed soon.

The Chief Minister who has been showing interest in completing the works before the North-East Monsoon invigorates, said he had inspected several areas in south Chennai last week and visited many localities where the stormwater drainage works were taken up in north Chennai.

3:36 PM

Tharoor's appeal goes beyond party, Cong needs urgent reformist thinking: Karti Chidambaram

Voicing strong support for Shashi Tharoor in the Congress presidential poll, party MP Karti Chidambaram on Saturday said the former diplomat's pragmatic modernism coupled with his appeal beyond the party is crucial to fight against the BJP's "divisive politics".

Chidambaram also asserted that business as usual will not help the Congress and there is an urgent need for reformist thinking in the party.

"I support Shashi Tharoor for Congress President. His pragmatic modernism coupled with his appeal beyond the party, is crucial to fight BJP's divisive politics," the MP from Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga said.

3:06 PM

Arvind Kejriwal running from constitutional duties: Delhi LG

In a no holds barred letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, LG VK Saxena has accused him and his ministers of running away from their constitutional duties and responsibility of governance in Delhi.

 

In the letter dated October 7, Saxena also hit out at Kejriwal government saying its rule, based on "speeches and advertisement", was alienated from works of basic public interest.

 

Saxena's letter comes days after Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia accused him of interfering in AAP government's functioning and "unconstitutionally" setting up probes on its decisions and works.

3:06 PM

Tharoor dismisses talk of withdrawing from Cong prez poll race, says 'it's a fight to the finish'

Congress presidential polls candidate Shashi Tharoor on Saturday dismissed talk of him withdrawing from the election, asserting that he never backs down from a challenge and "it is a fight to the finish".

Tharoor, who has been aggressively campaigning in the polls, also asserted that it was a "friendly contest" within the party that was taking place and he is here to stay the course.

Tharoor is set to take on Mallikarjun Kharge in the polls.

"There are rumours going around attributed to sources in Delhi that I am withdrawing (from the polls) today. Let me assure you, I don't withdraw from a challenge, never have all my life, never will," the MP from Thiruvnathapuram said in a video message on Twitter.

"This is a struggle, it is a friendly contest within the party, but it is a fight to the finish and I am here to stay the course. Please come and vote on October 17. For me, 'Think tomorrow, think Tharoor'," Tharoor said.

3:01 PM

UK trade minister sacked after 'serious misconduct' complaint

British Prime Minister Liz Truss has sacked her trade minister, Conor Burns, with immediate effect after a complaint of "serious misconduct" made against him.

 

In a case reminiscent of a similar complaint against a senior aide in Boris Johnson's team that ultimately ended in his resignation as Prime Minister, Downing Street said the Conservative Party MP for Bournemouth West has also had the party whip suspended on Friday while the complaint is investigated. This means Burns is now an independent member of Parliament until the investigation is completed.

 

"Following a complaint of serious misconduct, the prime minister has asked Conor Burns MP to leave the government with immediate effect, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

 

2:56 PM

Pak Army chief Gen Bajwa calls for regional peace; warns 'price of status quo will be devastating for all'

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday emphasised the need for regional peace and developing a mechanism for resolving all bilateral issues peacefully among countries as he warned that the price of status quo will be devastating for all of us.

What could possibly be his last address at the prestigious Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul as he is set to retire by the end of November, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) said that the "world has changed, so should we as the price of status quo will be devastating for all of us.

Without naming any country, the 61-year-old Pakistan Army chief stressed the need for regional peace and developing a mechanism for resolving all bilateral issues peacefully.

2:50 PM

YSRCP legislators ready to quit in support of three capitals

The row over proposed three capitals in Andhra Pradesh took a new turn on Saturday with a minister and some legislators of ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) from north coastal Andhra offering to quit in support of Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital.

Leaders of various political parties and non-political groups came together here to constitute a non-political Joint Action Committee (JAC) to support the YSRCP government's move of three capitals.

The meeting elected the former vice-chancellor of Dr B. R. Amedkar University H. Lajapathi Rai as convenor.

2:41 PM

Nitish frowns upon CBI charge sheet against Lalu

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday voiced his disapproval of the CBI charge sheet against RJD president Lalu Prasad, his new ally, in a case pertaining to the latter's tenure as Railway Minister.

Talking to reporters here before leaving for Sitab Diyara, birthplace of Jayaprakash Narayan on the occasion of the socialist leader's death anniversary, Kumar also lambasted the BJP for trying to put him in the dock over the Patna High Court order quashing quotas for OBCs and EBCs in urban local body polls.

"You all may recall what happened about five years ago which caused me to walk out of the alliance", said Kumar, with his deputy and Prasad's son Tejashwi Yadav by his side, whose name had cropped up in another case which had led the JD(U) leader to snap ties with the RJD.

2:40 PM

Bharat jodo yatra to a break on Oct 17 for Congress prez poll

The Bharat Jodo Yatra, currently in its Karnataka leg, will take a break on October 17 in view of the Congress presidential poll.

For the around 40 Pradesh Congress Committee delegates participating in the march, polling booths will be set up at the camp site itself where all eligibles, including Rahul Gandhi, will cast their votes, officials said.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has clearly stated that the voters only need an ID card for exercising their franchise.

2:22 PM

Rajasthan govt hasn't given any preferential treatment to Adani: Rahul

A day after Gautam Adani pledged huge investments in Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the Congress government in the state has not given any preferential treatment to the industrialist and asserted that he is not against corporates but monopolies.

Addressing a press conference here, Gandhi also said that if the Rajasthan government gives business to Adani wrongly, he will oppose that too.

BJP on Friday mocked the Congress after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot lavished praise on Adani, the industrialist Gandhi often picks to allege that Prime Minister Narendra Modi helps only big businessmen.

2:05 PM

Both prez poll contenders people of stature, neither of them can be remote-controlled: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday dismissed suggestions that the next party chief could be remote-controlled by the Gandhi family, asserting that both leaders in the fray Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor are people of stature and understanding.

Addressing a press conference here during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi said he is not alone in the yatra and lakhs of people have joined it as they are tired of unemployment, price rise and inequality.

Asked about criticism from certain quarters that the next Congress president could be remote-controlled by the Gandhi family, the former party chief said, "Both the people who are standing (in the polls) have a position, have a perspective and are people of stature and people of understanding. I don't think either of them is going to be a remote control (chief) and frankly, this tone is insulting to both of them."

2:05 PM

Goa to host 37th National Games in October 2023: IOA

Goa will host the 37th edition of the National Games in October next year, the Indian Olympic Association confirmed on Saturday.

The Goa state government has conveyed to the IOA its in-principal approval to host the next edition of the National Games.

In a letter to Ajit Roy, Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, Goa, IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta wrote: "IOA is pleased to note the whole-hearted support of the Government of Goa to host the 37th National Games in Goa in 2023, hence conveying IOA's approval to orgainse the 37th National Games in Goa.

"The Goa delegation may receive the IOA flag in the Closing Ceremony of the 36th National Games on 12th October, 2022 in Surat, Gujarat."

The IOA, however, said the dates for the event will decided later.

1:40 PM

IOC proposes "appointed CEO" in place of elected Secretary General in IOA

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) may have an "appointed CEO" instead of an elected Secretary General after the December elections as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has proposed far-reaching changes to the constitution of the national sports apex body during a joint meeting in Switzerland last month.

Representatives of the IOC, Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), IOA and Sports Ministry had a meeting in Lausanne on September 27, following a "final warning" by the international sports umbrella body to ban the national Olympic body if elections are not announced before the next IOC executive board meeting (December 5-7).

Following the meeting, which was also attended by India's first individual Olympic gold medal winning shooter Abhinav Bindra, the IOC issued a summary which proposed, among other things, to change the position of an elected Secretary General into an appointed CEO hired by the executive committee.

1:25 PM

Russia says truck bomb damages key bridge to Crimea

Russian authorities said that a truck bomb on Saturday caused a fire and the collapse of a section of a bridge linking Russia-annexed Crimea with Russia a key supply artery for Moscow's faltering war effort in southern Ukraine.

The attack on the bridge comes a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin turned 70, dealing him a humiliating blow that could lead him to up the ante in his war on Ukraine.

Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee said that the truck bomb caused seven railway cars carrying fuel to catch fire, resulting in a partial collapse of two sections of the bridge. The committee didn't immediately apportion blame.

1:25 PM

PM Modi to embark on three-day Gujarat, MP visit; to inaugurate 'Mahakal Lok' in Ujjain

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch development projects worth Rs 14,500 crore in Gujarat and also inaugurate Mahakal Lok, which will provide modern amenities to pilgrims visiting the Mahakaleshwar temple in Madhya Pradesh, during his three-day tour beginning Sunday.

Modi will be in his home state, where Assembly polls are likely later this year, during October 9-11 and visit Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh on October 11, an official statement said.

He will inaugurate and lay foundation stones of multiple projects at Modhera in Mehsana on Sunday and also offer prayers at two temples.

1:05 PM

Rising food, crude prices coupled with weak rupee fuel inflation in India

Inflation in India has been on the rise consistently for the past several months and various reasons can be attributed to it such as soaring food and oil prices, among others.

However, most importantly, the sharply depreciating rupee against the dollar is one of the most significant reasons behind it.

India's retail inflation rose to 7 per cent in August from 6.71 per cent in July and this was due to higher food prices. In fact, retail inflation has been beyond the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) tolerance limit of 6 per cent for eight months in a row.

A rise in food prices has led to a spike in retail inflation and this is evident from the fact that inflation in food basket was 7.62 per cent in August, up from 6.69 per cent in July and more than double from 3.11 per cent in August 2021.

12:37 PM

Large fire reported on key bridge linking Russia to Crimea

Russian state-backed media are reporting that a fire has occurred on the bridge linking mainland Russia with the Russian-controlled Crimean peninsula.

RIA-Novosti and the Tass news agency quoted local Russian official Oleg Kryuchkov as saying an object thought to be a fuel storage tank caught fire and that traffic has been stopped on the bridge.

Images shared on social media purported to show fire and damage to the span.

12:26 PM

Cong prez poll: Real battle between Tharoor & K.C.Venugopal, say insiders

Though the "unofficial" candidate Shashi Tharoor managed to get few supporters in the Congress president poll, the real battle now appears to be between K.C.Venugopal and Tharoor, as the official candidate -- 80-year-old Mallikarjun Kharge -- is a clear choice of Venugopal and another Keralite A.K.Antony.

AICC general secretary (organisation) Venugopal and his senior party colleague Antony are known to be the closest aides of the Gandhi family in general and Rahul Gandhi in particular.

While Tharoor had thrown his candidature much before the official notification of the election, the Venugopal camp was caught unawares and things became tough, when Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Ghelot withdrew at the last minute.

12:09 PM

Don't understand why Kejriwal and his gang hate Hindu, Hindutva: Rijiju

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju hit out at the AAP and its leadership saying he does not understand why Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and "his gang" hate Hindu and Hindutva so much.

The minister's remarks came after a video clip purportedly showing Delhi Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam at an event where hundreds took a pledge to convert to Buddhism while denouncing Hindu deities went viral.

In a series of tweets posted late on Friday night and on Saturday morning, Rijiju said, "I really don't understand the reason as to why Arvind Kejriwal and his gang hate Hindu and Hindutva so much."

"I can understand about Rahul Gandhi but Arvind Kejriwal....," the BJP MP from Arunachal Pradesh said.

11:58 AM

Uttarkashi avalanche: Bad weather hampers rescue efforts for missing mountaineers

Search efforts for the three missing mountaineers were hamstrung by heavy snowfall on Friday over the avalanche-hit site near the Draupadi ka Danda' peak.

Twenty-nine members of a team from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering had gone missing after an avalanche hit them on their way back from the summit, according to the NIM.

Twenty-six bodies have since been recovered and three are still missing.