News Highlights: Delhi CM Atishi orders audit of Discoms to look into pension surcharge issue

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9:49 PM

Delhi Police makes biggest-ever drug bust, seizes drugs worth Rs 5,600 cr

The Delhi Police has made one of the biggest drug busts ever seen in the city, seizing over 560 kilograms of cocaine and 40 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana estimated to be worth around Rs 5,620 crore, officials said here. They said a Delhi Police Special Cell team nabbed four people from South Delhi's Mahipalpur and confiscated the consignment weighing over 602 kilograms.

9:32 PM

Amazon hit with US labor board complaint over 'joint employment' of drivers

Amazon.com has been accused by a US labor board of illegally refusing to bargain with a union representing drivers employed by a contractor, the agency announced on Wednesday. The complaint from the National Labor Relations Board claims that Amazon is a so-called "joint employer" of drivers employed by the contractor, Battle Tested Strategies (BTS), and used a series of illegal tactics to discourage union activities at a facility in Palmdale, California.

8:42 PM

Delhi CM orders audit of Discoms to look into pension surcharge issue

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has ordered a special audit of power companies to look into the pension surcharge issue, an official statement said on Wednesday. To be conducted by auditors approved by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the move aims to ensure greater transparency in the pension process of the Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB), it said.

8:38 PM

US President Biden to join G7 call on West Asian crisis

Biden to join G7 call on Mideast crisis on Wednesday; Israel combat losses in south Lebanon rise to eight.

 

8:11 PM

Cong names Raju Poojary for K'taka Legislative Council bye-election

Congress names Raju Poojary for Karnataka Legislative Council bye-election.

7:47 PM

Hundreds offer prayers at Gandhi temple in Odisha on birth anniversary

Hundreds of people offered prayers at the Gandhi temple at Bhatra in Odisha's Sambalpur district on the 155th birth anniversary of the father of the nation on Wednesday. It is probably one of the oldest of the few temples dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi in the country.

7:27 PM

Samsung workers observe one day token fast near Chennai

Workers of Samsung India Electronics Ltd on Wednesday observed a token fast near the factory here on Wednesday, as part of intensifying their ongoing protest which entered the fourth week.

7:03 PM

Uttarakhand's Gross State Domestic Product increases 1.3 times in 20 months

Uttarakhand's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has increased by 1.3 times in the last 20 months, the state government said on Wednesday. New policies brought by the state government, amendments in the old ones besides employment and self-employment programmes underway have contributed to the GSDP growth, Secretary energy, housing and planning R Meenakshi Sundaram said at a press conference.

6:56 PM

Modi diverted wealth of entire country to Gujarat, says Prashant Kishor

Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor on Wednesday alleged that after being voted to power by people impressed with his track record in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "diverted wealth of the entire country to his home state".

6:27 PM

51 killed in Israeli operation on southern Gaza: Palestine

Israel launched ground operations and carried out airstrikes in a hard-hit city in southern Gaza overnight, killing at least 51 people, including women and children, Palestinian medical officials said Wednesday.

4:57 PM

Poll strategist Prashant Kishor launches Jan Suraaj Party

Ahead of the forthcoming Bihar polls, Prashant Kishor has launched Jan Suraaj Party in Patna. 

4:48 PM

JMM-led coalition govt devouring poor's ration and water, misusing central funds: PM Modi

JMM-led govt patronising infiltrators; population of Hindus and Adivasis declining, PM Modi asserted today at a rally in Hazaribag.

4:46 PM

JMM-led coalition derailed development in Jharkhand: PM Modi

Time ripe for 'Parivartan' in Jharkhand to protect 'beti, mati, roti' and check corruption, PM Modi said today.

4:44 PM

Welfare schemes of JMM-led coalition govt in Jharkhand means of corruption: PM Modi in Hazaribag

Land 'dalals' rule Jharkhand; Army land not spared, mines and minerals being looted, PM Modi stated in a rally at Hazaribag

4:38 PM

EAM Jaishankar meets US counterpart Blinken; discuss bilateral co-op, West Asia and Ukraine

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his US counterpart Antony Blinken here and held discussions covering deepening bilateral cooperation, the situation in West Asia, recent developments in the Indian sub-continent, the Indo-Pacific and Ukraine.

Jaishankar - on his first visit to the US capital since the third Modi government took office - met Blinken on Tuesday at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the US State Department.

4:30 PM

Hathras stampede: UP Police files 3,200-page charge sheet, names 11 individuals as accused

The police here have filed a 3,200-page charge sheet in a court in connection with the stampede that occurred during the Narayan Sakar Hari "Bhole Baba" congregation on July 2, which claimed 121 lives. The police have named 11 individuals as accused, including those responsible for securing the event's permit. The court has set October 4 as the date for providing copies of the charge sheet to the accused, defense lawyer AP Singh said. On Tuesday, a physical appearance was made in court for the 10 accused, including main organiser and fund raiser of the event Dev Prakash Madhukar, who were brought from Aligarh District Jail to the Hathras District Court, he said.

4:18 PM

Arvind Kejriwal pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, highlights AAP's commitment to Bapu's vision

AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal paid tribute to Mahatama Gandhi on his birth anniversary and reaffirmed the party's commitment to Gandhian ideals of equality and inclusiveness, known as 'Sarvjan Sambhaav'. Kejriwal highlighted the strides made by the AAP government in Delhi towards realising Gandhi's vision of a harmonious society where quality education, healthcare and essential services transcend barriers of caste and religion.

3:50 PM

Mahatma Gandhi's life message is eternal guide for mankind: Gujarat CM

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his birthplace in Porbandar on the occasion of his 155th birth anniversary. He said the life message of Gandhiji is eternal which will always be a guide for mankind. After attending an all-faith prayer meeting at Kirti Mandi, a small museum at the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, Patel participated in a cleanliness drive under "Swachhta Hi Seva Abhiyan" on the Sudama Mandir premises.

3:30 PM

Death toll from a large Israeli operation has climbed to 51, says Gaza health ministry

Gaza's Health Ministry says at least 51 people have been killed and another 82 wounded in a large Israeli air and ground operation in the southern city of Khan Younis. Israel's military has yet to comment on the operation, which began early Wednesday. Palestinian residents say ground forces pushed into three neighbourhoods. 

3:28 PM

Rays of development reaching remote tribal villages, says PM Modi in Hazaribag

Centre's top priority tribal development, Rs 80,000 crore to be spent for development of 65,000 villages, PM Modi stated today.

3:22 PM

Bomb threat to rail stations, other places in Rajasthan, MP

A letter threatening bomb blasts at several railway stations and religious places in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh was received at the Hanumangarh railway station, police said on Wednesday. Additional SP, Hanumangarh, Pyare Lal Meena said the letter was delivered by post to the Hanumangarh station master and the local police was informed on Tuesday evening. "It was threatened in the letter, which was in the name of Jaish-e-Mohammed, that the railway station and places in Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota, Bundi, Udaipur, Jaipur will be blown up by bombs on October 30," he said.

2:51 PM

Manipur Congress hits out state govt for failing to rescue two abducted youth

The Manipur Congress on Wednesday described the abduction of two youths as a total failure of the law and order situation in the state. Speaking to reporters here, state Congress chief K. Meghachandra said they recently held a joint meeting with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and legislators, where they urged the CM to enforce constitutional provisions and the laws of the land. "We also called on him to seek the assistance of Home Minister Amit Shah to rescue the two youths with the help of state and central forces," he said.

2:09 PM

Here's what Misa Bharti had to say over speculations of Chirag Paswan leaving NDA

"I don't think anything like this is going to happen. Chirag Paswan is a central minister and he (his party) has won 5 seats also...", says  RJD MP Misa Bharti on On speculations that Union Minister Chirag Paswan might leave NDA.
 

On Jan Suraaj Chief Prashant Kishor's statement, she says, "...I heard that he is going to launch his political party today...Will he name it as Bharatiya Janta Party B team?"

1:55 PM

CM Pushkar Dhami pays tribute to martyrs of Uttarakhand state movement

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday paid tribute to martyrs of the Uttarakhand state movement by offering flowers to their picture in the holy memory of the martyrs of the Uttarakhand state movement at Shaheed Sthal Kachhari, Dehradun. The Chief Minister, while paying homage to all the state movement activists who sacrificed their lives for the attainment of Uttarakhand state, said that they had many dreams for the state

1:26 PM

Reiterate call for restraint by all parties, says MEA on Iran-Israel conflict

"It is important that the conflict doesn’t take a wider regional dimension and we urge that all issues be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

1:23 PM

SC to deliver verdict on Thursday on plea against 'caste-based discrimination' in jails

The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on Thursday on a plea which has alleged that prison manuals of some states in the country encourage caste-based discrimination. According to the cause list of October 3 uploaded on the apex court website, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra is slated to deliver the judgement on the petition.

1:05 PM

News update: India issues travel advisory amid Iran-Israel conflict, says avoid non-essential travel

12:53 PM

PM Modi inaugurates gaushala with Bio-CNG plant, launches other projects in MP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 'Lal Tipara Gaushala' with Bio-CNG plant in Gwalior and launched various development projects of Rs 685 crore in Madhya Pradesh on the occasion of Swachhta Diwas on Wednesday. Swachhta Diwas is observed on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) every year. The 'gaushala', or cow shelter, with the Bio-CNG plant that can produce three tonnes of natural gas per day using 100 tonnes of cow dung, has been set up in collaboration with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), an official said.

12:35 PM

PM Modi congratulates new Japanese prime minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Shigeru Ishiba on taking over as prime minister of Japan. PM Modi said on X, "Heartiest congratulations PM @shigeruishiba. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen India-Japan Special Strategic & Global Partnership and promote peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond."

12:28 PM

Govinda's revolver accident: Mumbai crime branch officials meet actor in hospital

The Mumbai crime branch personnel have met actor Govinda, who sustained leg injuries after his revolver accidentally went off, and enquired with him about the incident, officials said on Wednesday. While the local police have been conducting an investigation, the Mumbai crime branch has also initiated a parallel enquiry into the incident. No one has lodged any complaint in this matter so far, police said.