LIVE: 'If state wanted to arrest me, police could have come to my house'

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8:44 PM

Delhi reports 300 new #COVID19 positive cases, 163 recoveries and 2 deaths in the last 24 hours

8:44 PM

9 flights diverted from Delhi airport to Jaipur airport due to the weather condition: Airport sources

Nine flights diverted from Delhi airport to Jaipur airport due to the weather condition, reports Airport sources.

 

Light rain, coupled with a thunderstorm, lashed the national capital on Wednesday evening under the influence of western disturbance affecting northwest India, Met officials said. Winds gusting up to 40 kilometres per hour barrelled through the city.

 

Vistara updated its passenger that Flight UK910 from Mumbai to Delhi (BOM- DEL) has been diverted to Jaipur (JAI) due to Air Traffic congestion at Delhi Airport and is expected to arrive in Jaipur at 19:40 hours.

 

Other airlines also made announcements for the same.

 

5:53 PM

Amritpal Singh's video surfaces on social media, slams Police for arresting Sikh youths during crackdown

Amritpal Singh's video surfaces on social media, radical preacher slams Punjab Police for arresting Sikh youths during crackdown.

5:26 PM

"Legalising same-sex marriage will have devastating impact on society": Former judges

5:19 PM

Polish ambassador Adam Burakowski speaks in Hindi on his tenure and time spent in India

4:37 PM

"Ukraine conflict taught us to be self-reliant in energy needs": Rajnath Singh

2:56 PM

Cheetah translocated to India from Namibia gives birth to 4 cubs: Minister

Four cubs have been born to one of the cheetahs translocated to India from Namibia, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Wednesday.

 

He termed it a momentous event in India's wildlife conservation history during 'Amrit Kaal'.

2:39 PM

Was reinstated as they were worried about outcome in SC: Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal

Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal on Wednesday said he was reinstated by the Lok Sabha Secretariat hours before his plea against his disqualification was to be considered by the Supreme Court, as they were worried about the outcome in the apex court.

While welcoming his reinstatement, Faizal said "it was obvious" why the LS Secretariart issued the notification before the case was to be heard by the top court.

 

2:22 PM

Election Commission says looking into AAP's national status issue

The Election Commission on Wednesday said it is looking into the issue of according the national status to the Aam Aadmi Party.

 

"It is under review... We will soon come back to you," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar told a press conference here when asked about the issue.

2:04 PM

MakeMyTrip plans to grow franchise base by over 50% this year

Online travel services provider, MakeMyTrip on Wednesday said it plans to grow its franchise base by over 50 per cent this year to expand its reach in smaller cities and towns across India.

The company is seeking to tap into the opportunities provided by the government's initiative to increase the number of airports in India by adding 80 airports over the next three years, taking the number to 220 by 2025, MakeMyTrip (MMT) said in a statement.

1:43 PM

No charge on normal UPI payment; interchange fee applicable for PPI merchant transactions: NPCI

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Wednesday said there is no charge for the bank account to bank account-based UPI payments or normal UPI payments.

However, interchange charges are only applicable for the prepaid payment instruments (PPI) merchant transactions and there is no charge to customers, NPCI clarified in a statement.

1:24 PM

Maruti Suzuki India crosses 2.5 mn units milestone of cumulative exports

Automaker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Wednesday said it has crossed the 25 lakh units milestone of cumulative exports since starting overseas shipments in 1986-87.

The company, which started exports with shipments to neighbouring markets like Bangladesh and Nepal in 1986-87, said it currently exports to nearly 100 countries, including markets in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.

1:06 PM

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day after passing Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022

Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022, amid ruckus in the House with opposition MPs continuing their protest over the Adani issue.

As MPs re-assembled at 12 pm after the adjournment in the morning, opposition members rushed to the Well of the House and raised slogans demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue.

12:53 PM

Average increments to drop to 9.1% in 2023 across sectors: Study

The average increment in 2022 was 9.4 per cent, Deloitte India Talent Outlook 2023 stated on Wednesday.

The study found that in 2023 increments are expected to be lower across almost all sectors, compared to 2022 actual increments.

12:40 PM

Israeli PM, Biden exchange frosty words over legal overhaul

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday rebuffed President Joe Biden's suggestion that the premier walks away from a contentious plan to overhaul the legal system, saying the country makes its own decisions.

The exchange was a rare bout of public disagreement between the two close allies and signals building friction between Israel and the U.S. over Netanyahu's judicial changes, which he postponed after massive protests.

12:28 PM

Karnataka polls on May 10, results on May 13: EC

Assembly elections in Karnataka will be held on May 10 and the results will be declared on May 13, the Election Commission announced on Wednesday.

 

Addressing a press conference here, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the notification for the elections to the 224-member assembly will be issued on April 13 and the last date for filing nomination papers will be April 20.

12:11 PM

Vietnam economy slows on rising costs, weaker exports

Vietnam's economy slowed sharply in the first quarter of this year, with growth coming in at a much weaker than expected 3.3%, as its exporters were hit by rising costs and weaker demand, the General Statistics Office reported Wednesday.

The slowdown in the January-March quarter from 5.9% year-on-year growth in the last quarter of 2022 was nearly as severe as that during the beginning of the pandemic and the second lowest for the first quarter in 12 years, it said.

11:54 AM

58,282 polling stations to be set up in 224 assembly constituencies in Karnataka

Karnataka has 52,173,579 registered electors in 224 Assembly constituencies in the State. 58,282 polling stations to be set up across the State: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar

 

11:47 AM

Voters increased in Karnatak for the first time, says CEC Rajiv Kumar

First-time voters have increased from 2018-19 by 917k in Karnataka. All young voters who are turning 18 years of age by April 1, will be able to vote in Karnataka Assembly elections: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar

 

11:38 AM

Rahul Gandhi believes it's his birthright to rule country, alleges BJP

The BJP claimed on Wednesday that Rahul Gandhi believes it is his "birthright" to rule the country because he was born in a particular family.

 

Keeping up the heat on the Congress leader, whose disqualification from Lok Sabha has become a rallying point for the Opposition, the BJP cited several instances of "attack" on institutions during the Congress rule to counterattack rival parties over their similar charges,

11:20 AM

Bhrashtachari bhagao abhiyan: Kharge hits back at PM over corruption jibe

Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his corruption jibe at the Opposition, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday accused him of running a "bhrashtachari bhagao abhiyan" (make the corrupt flee campaign) and said he must stop his image makeover by posing as an anti-corruption crusader.

 

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating an extension of the BJP headquarters here on Tuesday, Modi linked the coming together of opposition parties against the BJP to his government's campaign against corruption and said "anti-India" forces are attacking constitutional institutions -- the strong foundation of a rising India -- to stall the country's growth.

10:55 AM

Parties like JD(U), Shiv Sena were your allies, now they are corrupt: Sibal's dig at PM Modi

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Wednesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'corrupt are coming on one platform' remark, saying parties such as the JD(U) and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) were his allies at one point of time and are now "corrupt", but were not so back then.

 

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating an extension of the BJP headquarters here on Tuesday, Modi linked the coming together of opposition parties against the BJP to his government's campaign against corruption and said "anti-India" forces were attacking constitutional institutions -- the strong foundation of a rising India -- to stall the country's growth.

10:40 AM

Single-day rise of 2,151 fresh Covid-19 cases in India; highest in 5 months

India recorded a single-day rise of 2,151 new coronavirus cases, the highest in five months, while the active cases increased to 11,903, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Wednesday.

A total of 2,208 cases were recorded on October 28 last year.

10:26 AM

TMC MPs to protest against Centre in Parl over issue of 'Save Democracy'

Trinamool Congress MPs will stage a protest at Ambedkar Statue in the Parliament at 10 am on Wednesday which coincides with a two-day dharna by the party's supremo Mamata Banerjee who will protest against the Centre in Kolkata.

 

The TMC MPs will hold the protest over the issue of 'Save Democracy, Federalism and Parliament' while Mamata will protest for allegedly not disbursing funds for West Bengal and the Centre's "anti-people policies". She will protest at the Ambedkar Statue in the capital city of Kolkata at 12 pm.

10:13 AM

EV startup Lucid lays off around 1,300 employees

Electric vehicle (EV) startup Lucid announced that it is laying off around 1,300 of its employees or 18 per cent of its workforce, within the upcoming months.

According to an email from CEO Peter Rawlinson, which was attached to a regulatory filing, the job cuts will impact employees and contractors "in nearly every organisation and level, including executives", reports The Verge.

9:59 AM

Ex Starbucks CEO to defend union opposition before Senate

Longtime Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz will face sharp questioning Wednesday when he appears before the Senate Health, Education, Labour and Pensions Committee to defend the company's actions during an ongoing unionising campaign.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent who has been a vocal supporter of Starbucks labour organisers, has been seeking Schultz's testimony for months.

9:44 AM

Irrigation projects worth Rs 5,500 crore sanctioned in Karnataka: CM Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said that irrigation projects worth Rs 5,500 crore have been sanctioned and launched across the state.

 

Speaking after unveiling the statues of Kittur Rani Chennamma, Kranti Veera Sangolli Rayanna, and Dr BR Ambedkar in the premises of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here on Tuesday, he said in this year's budget, provision has been made to establish the Kittur Karnataka Development Authority which will decide on various big projects and the special funds required for development as well as work out the plan of action.

9:25 AM

Bill to reform H-1B and L-1 visa programme introduced in US Senate

A group of influential lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan legislation in the US Senate to comprehensively overhaul the H-1B and L-1 visa programmes and usher in more transparency in the recruitment of foreign workers.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

9:13 AM

Bengal CM Banerjee launches flagship road 'Pathashree-Rastashree' project

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the 'Pathashree-Rastashree' project in Bengal's Singur on Tuesday.

 

'Pathashree-Rastashree' is a flagship project of the West Bengal government to strengthen road infrastructure and enhance connectivity to villages by constructing 12,000 km of roads in 22 districts of the state.

8:58 AM

Amritpal Singh: Massive search in Hoshiarpur village after some abandon car following police chase

The Punjab Police has launched a massive door-to-door search operation in a Hoshiarpur village following inputs that radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his aide could be in the area.

There was heavy police deployment in and around the Marnaian village here as police began the operation late on Tuesday night after some suspects abandoned their vehicle following a chase.