LIVE: Powell-led FOMC keeps key interest rates unchanged at 5.25-5.50%

Catch all the latest updates LIVE from across the globe here

11:52 PM

Massive fire engulfs stubble storage house in Punjab's Firozpur village

A massive fire broke out in an open stubble storage house built by a private company in Saiyanwala village in Punjab's Firozpur late on Wednesday evening, ANI reported quoting officials. Visuals from the scene showed paddy straw collected from hundreds of acres of fields being reduced to ashes, the report added. Following information, fire brigades from nearby cities reached the spot and launched an operation to control the fire. Fire Officer Prabhdeep Singh said, "The fire broke out in the evening hours, and the reason is still unknown.""Multiple fire brigades are working to contain the fire. The fire has spread over a large area as the stubble from multiple acres of farms was stored here," he said."Efforts to bring the situation under control are on," he added.

11:51 PM

4 killed, 7 injured as vehicle falls into gorge in HP's Mandi

Four people, including three women, were killed while seven suffered injuries when a pick-up van they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district on Wednesday evening, PTI reported quoting police. The vehicle, travelling from Lagdhar to Kotli, had 11 occupants at the time of the accident. Police said the driver lost control over the vehicle near Dhanyara in Kotli, about 26 km from Mandi, adding that the accident took place when they were returning after attending a marriage function.

11:51 PM

Indian Navy successfully test-fires BrahMos missile in Bay in Bengal

The Indian Navy on Wednesday said that it has successfully test-fired a BrahMos missile from its warship in the Bay in Bengal.

11:50 PM

Brazil seeks tariff-free quota to export cotton to India

Brazil is negotiating with India a request for tariff-free quota of 100,000 metric tons for exports of Brazilian cotton to the Asian nation, according to a statement from the Brazilian cotton farmers association (Abrapa) on Wednesday. The association said in the note that a team of government officials and Brazilian cotton farmers is visiting India this week, seeking to seal a deal to have that quota implemented. Currently, any cotton exports to India pay an import tax of 11%, the association said.

11:39 PM

Powell-led FOMC keeps key interest rates unchanged at 5.25-5.50%

Jerome Powell-led US Fed Reserve keeps interest rates steady at a 22-year high at 5.25-5.50%, even as the US economy remains resilient despite high interest rates while inflation still remains above the Fed's 2 per cent target level. In its last policy meeting, the the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) had left the benchmark interest rates unchanged at 5.25 per cent - 5.50 per cent. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the US expanded at an annualised rate of 4.9 per cent in the third quarter, according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) first estimate.

11:38 PM

SP hints at contesting on 65 of 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP in 2024

The Samajwadi Party on Wednesday indicated that it will contest on 65 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2024. SP president Akhilesh Yadav, who attended a meeting of the party's state executive committee here, called upon party workers to make full preparations to remove the BJP from power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "This election will decide the future of coming generations. It will be the last election to save democracy and the Constitution. Party workers should make full preparations to remove the BJP from power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," Yadav was quoted as having told the state executive meet at the party headquarters here.

 

11:30 PM

Nita Mukesh Ambani Junior School (NMAJS) unveiled in Mumbai on Wednesday

11:29 PM

Israel Embassy in New Delhi puts up posters of Israeli citizens kidnapped by Hamas terrorists

11:21 PM

Cyprus plans to send humanitarian aid directly to Gaza by ship

Cyprus offered more detail Wednesday on its initiative to create a sea corridor for the steady flow of humanitarian assistance from Cyprus to Gaza, saying that aid-laden ships would sail directly to the enclave, where United Nations personnel would receive it for eventual distribution. Cyprus government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saw the initiative in a positive light during a long telephone conversation Tuesday evening with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

11:02 PM

UN chief 'appalled' over Israeli air strikes on Gaza refugee camp

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Israel's air strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, his spokesman said Wednesday."The Secretary-General is appalled over the escalating violence in Gaza, including the killing of Palestinians, including women and children in Israeli airstrikes in residential areas of the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

10:32 PM

Manipur govt extends internet ban till Nov 5 after fresh violence

The Manipur government prolonged the mobile internet suspension for an additional five days, now in effect until November 5. A mob on Wednesday tried to gherao a Manipur Police office complex demanding arms in Imphal, the capital of the restive state, prompting the authorities to order firing of several rounds in the air and withdraw curfew relaxations in two districts, officials said.

9:37 PM

Boat capsized near Matiyar village in Manjhi block of Saran district, Bihar

9:34 PM

Delhi's AQI 'very poor' for fifth day in row, max temp at 32.3 deg C

Delhi's air quality remained in the "very poor" category for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday as the maximum temperature was recorded at 32.3 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature settled at 16.4 degrees Celsius. According to the India Meteorological Department, the relative humidity at 5:30 pm stood at 48 per cent.

9:09 PM

India keen to host 2030 Youth Olympics, 2036 Olympics: PM Modi

"We are trying to host the 2030 Youth Olympics and 2036 Olympics," PM Modi said. He lauded the performance of India's Asian Para Games contingent at the Asian Para Games 2022 and motivated them for future competitions.

9:08 PM

There is above-zero chance that AI will kill us all, says Elon Musk

"There is some chance, above zero, that AI will kill us all. I think it's slow but there is some chance. I think this also concerns the fragility of human civilization. If you study history, you will realise that every civilisation has a sort of lifespan," Tesla CEO Elon Musk said as per media reports.

8:16 PM

Telangana assembly elections: BJP holds CEC meeting at party headquarters in Delhi

8:11 PM

CBSE to open office in UAE soon: Education Minister

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday said the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will set up an office in the UAE soon. The minister made the announcement during a three-day visit to Abu Dhabi. "UAE-India relations are in a very good position today. In a strategic partnership, especially in education and skill, India and UAE have strong relations. We are opening an IIT in UAE, and many prominent universities of India have already come here," the minister said.

7:18 PM

More than 97% of Rs 2,000 notes returned: RBI

The Reserve Bank on Wednesdays said more than 97 per cent of the Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation have been returned to the banking system, and only Rs 10,000 crore worth of such notes are sill with public. On May 19 this year, the RBI had announced the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes from circulation.

6:49 PM

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal issues directions to Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal issues directions to Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot that till the engagement and deployment of Home Guards as bus marshals is done, the current bus marshals are to be continued so that women's safety is not compromised. CM also asks to expedite the process of payments of bus marshals ahead of Diwali.

6:34 PM

SpiceJet inducts five leased Boeing 737s (including 3 737 MAX aircraft) into its fleet

6:27 PM

8,796 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since Oct.7: Health Ministry in Gaza

At least 8,796 Palestinians, including 3,648 children, have been killed in Israeli strikes since Oct. 7, the health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza said on Wednesday.

5:51 PM

UAE's GDP grew 3.7% in first half of 2023, supported by non-oil sector

The United Arab Emirates' gross domestic product grew 3.7% in the first half of the year, the economy minister said on Wednesday, as non-oil sector growth vastly outperformed overall growth. Non-oil growth surged 5.9% in the first six months of the year, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said, speaking at a business conference in Dubai.

5:45 PM

First wounded escape war-torn Gaza for Egypt

Ambulances transported wounded residents out of Gaza for urgent medical care in Egypt Wednesday, with hundreds of desperate foreign passport holders also poised to flee the territory wracked by three weeks of war with Israel. The evacuation of the first people to escape war-torn Gaza provided a rare glimmer of hope in an otherwise desolate humanitarian crisis, with 8,796 people killed in Israeli bombing, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

5:27 PM

Israel strikes apartment buildings in Gaza refugee camp for second day, says Hamas-run govt

The Hamas-run government in Gaza says Israeli airstrikes have hit apartment buildings in a refugee camp near Gaza City for a second day in a row, causing many deaths and injuries. The toll from Wednesday's strikes was not immediately known. Al-Jazeera television, which is still reporting from northern Gaza, aired footage of devastation and of several wounded people, including children, being brought to a nearby hospital.

5:06 PM

PM Modi meets Asian Para Games contingent at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium

4:43 PM

Gaza faces another communications blackout for several hours

Gaza was plunged into another communications blackout on Wednesday, with internet and phone service cut for several hours as Israeli troops battled Hamas militants. Meanwhile, dozens of foreign passport holders crowded into a border crossing ahead of what could be the first such departure from the besieged Palestinian enclave. Communications began to be restored later in the day, but aid agencies warned that such blackouts severely disrupt their work in an already dire situation. Daily airstrikes have displaced more than half of the population and basic supplies are running low.

3:55 PM

India's cultural vibrancy shines brighter: PM Modi as Gwalior, Kozhikode join UNESCO Creative Cities Network

3:52 PM

Our dream was to ensure that people of Telangana rule the state: Rahul Gandhi

3:18 PM

Will ban construction work in areas with severe air quality for 5 days in row: Delhi minister

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said the city government will ban construction work in areas recording an air quality index (AQI) above the 400 mark for five consecutive days. During a press conference, he said Delhi's AQI has remained around 350 for the past few days and meteorologists attribute this to a drop in temperatures and calm winds.

2:57 PM

Rahul interacts with coal mines workers, voices concern over privatisation

Voicing concern over "privatisation of mines", Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that it was a violation of labour laws and it meant pushing the workers into "bonded" labour, as he shared a video of his recent interaction with workers of the Singareni Coal Mines in Telangana.

In the video shared by Gandhi on his YouTube channel, he tells the workers that the Congress stand is very clear that there should be no privatisation is strategic sectors.

"A few days ago, I got a chance to meet and talk to the workers and employees of the coal mines of Singareni. Listened to their problems, and after listening I came to know that the root of every problem is the privatisation of mines," he said in his post along with the video.