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11:06 PM

China sends inter-agency task force to Pakistan to probe Karachi blast

China on Friday said it dispatched an inter-agency working group to Pakistan following the deadly suicide bomb attack in Karachi in which two Chinese were killed and another injured to review security for scores of Chinese personnel working in CPEC projects.
 

Following the attack on a Chinese convoy of the coal-fired power plant at Karachi which killed and injured Chinese personnel on October 6, China quickly sent an inter-agency working group to Pakistan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
 

“After arriving in Islamabad on October 8, the working group immediately joined the Embassy in Pakistan and the company concerned in the emergency response,” it said.
 

The working group met intensively with heads of Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, and the military, police and intelligence departments. It said public concerns here mounted over the continued attacks on Chinese personnel working in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

10:38 PM

Cricket news live: Bumrah named vice captain of Indian squad for upcoming Test series against New Zealand

Pacer Jasprit Bumrah named vice captain of 15-member Indian squad for upcoming three-match home Test series against New Zealand

10:26 PM

DGCA to examine AI Express plane to ascertain cause for hydraulic failure during its flight to Sharjah

DGCA to examine AI Express plane to ascertain cause for hydraulic failure during its flight to Sharjah on Friday: Civil Aviation Ministry

9:51 PM

At least two coaches derail in train accident, rescue teams, ambulances on way to spot: Tamil Nadu police

At least two coaches derail in train accident, rescue teams, ambulances on way to spot: Tamil Nadu police

9:39 PM

Express train rams into stationary train at Kavarapettai in Tamil Nadu, several feared injured: Railway police

Express train rams into stationary train at Kavarapettai in Tamil Nadu, several feared injured, said Railway police.

8:46 PM

NC leader Omar Abdullah reaches Raj Bhavan in Srinagar to stake claim to form government in J&K

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah reaches Raj Bhavan in Srinagar to stake claim to form government in Jammu and Kashmir. 

8:33 PM

NC-Congress alliance stakes claim to form government in Jammu and Kashmir: Omar Abdullah

NC-Congress alliance stakes claim to form government in Jammu and Kashmir, says ex-CM Omar Abdullah.

7:48 PM

Had to attend an event, all cabinet decisions had my approval: Ajit Pawar on leaving cabinet meeting early

Had to attend scheduled programme, all cabinet decisions had my approval, said Ajit Pawar on buzz over leaving cabinet meeting early. Cabinet can overrule objections of any department: Ajit Pawar on negative remarks by finance dept led by him on populist schemes. All is well, speculations about dispute in Maharashtra cabinet meeting baseless, said Pawar at press conference in Mumbai.

7:41 PM

Haryana polls: Cong submits more complaints to EC on 'discrepancies' in EVMs while counting

 The Congress on Friday submitted more complaints to the Election Commission alleging discrepancies in the electronic voting machines during counting of votes for the Haryana Assembly elections.

The Congress candidates from 20 assembly constituencies, in their written complaints to the Election Commission (EC), have alleged that the batteries in some of the EVMs were charged at 99 per cent during counting on October 8.

The complaints follow the Congress' shock defeat in the Haryana Assembly elections after the party failed to win a simple majority even after 10 years of the BJP rule in the state.
 

The Congress has said that the assembly polls results were "unexpected" and have alleged discrepancies in the EVMs in some seats.

7:40 PM

Eco-friendly Whatsapp-based ticket service launched for Mumbai's metro lines 2A and 7

The MMMOCL on Friday launched a Whatsapp-based "eco-friendly" ticketing service for passengers of metro rail lines 2A and 7 in Mumbai, an official said.

Metro line 2A is from Andheri West to Dahisar and runs on the new link road, while line 7 is from Andheri East to Dahisar on Western Express Highway. The two lines were launched in April 2022 and serve passengers in the north-west part of the metropolis.

In a release, Maha Mumbai Metro Operations Corporation Limited said, "This innovative service, now available to passengers on Metro Lines 2A and 7, allows commuters to purchase tickets directly through Whatsapp, eliminating the need for paper tickets and providing a seamless, user-friendly experience." The Whatsapp-based ticketing service was launched at the hands of a woman passenger as part of the ongoing Navratri celebrations, symbolizing empowerment and innovation, the release added.

7:36 PM

EV firm Polestar expects positive fourth-quarter gross margin despite slow demand

Polestar said on Friday it expects a positive gross profit margin in the fourth quarter, despite a 14% drop in third-quarter electric vehicle deliveries, sending the Swedish company's share down over 6% in premarket trading.

Polestar, which is majority owned by China's Geely , has been grappling like rival EV makers with weakening demand for its vehicles owing to factors such as high interest rates, prompting consumers to pivot to cheaper hybrid cars.

Polestar recently went through a major reshuffle where it replaced its CEO, head of design, chair of the board and appointed a new CFO.

New CEO Michael Lohscheller, in his first public statement since taking over on October 1, said on Friday it was conducting a review of its strategy and operations, with an update to be provided on Jan. 16 along with its third-quarter financials.
 

"A key to our future success will be the development of our commercial capabilities: going from showing to actively selling cars. Adopting a more active sales model is already supporting our ambitions, as the first markets to implement it are showing solid order intake," Lohscheller said.

6:45 PM

UN peacekeeping force says new explosions have hit their HQ in southern Lebanon, injuring two personnel

The UN peacekeeping force says new explosions have hit their headquarters in southern Lebanon, injuring two personnel, reports AP.

6:16 PM

Haryana Assembly elections result 'unexpected': Ex-Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday termed the results of the Haryana assembly elections "unexpected" and said that the real reasons will be known only after a review by the party.
 

He also said that it would not affect the by-elections to be held on seven assembly seats in Rajasthan.
 

"The results of the assembly elections in Haryana were very unexpected and opposite to the expectations of people," he said.
 

He said the party president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called a meeting. It was decided that the party should get to the bottom of what actually happened so they could form a team.
 

He said that the impact of the Haryana assembly election results will not show on assembly bypolls in Rajasthan.
 

Talking to the reporters regarding the BJP's review of decisions made by the former Congress government in Rajasthan, Gehlot said that the schemes should not be stopped.

6:10 PM

Travel company asked to pay Rs 3.25 lakh to senior citizen for deficiency in service

The central Delhi District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission has directed a travel and tour company to refund Rs 3.25 lakh to a senior citizen, and pay a fine of Rs 25,000 for causing her mental agony and harassment.
 

The Central Delhi Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum's bench comprising president Inder Jeet Singh and member Rashmi Bansal was hearing a complaint alleging deficiency in service by the tour operator for its failure to refund the amount for a cancelled tour and travel package in 2021.
 

The complainant, Anjani V Raghavan, said she had booked a 15-day senior citizen's package -- 'Scandinavian Midnight Sun' -- from Bunk Tribe Private Limited for Rs 3.25 lakh but the tour was cancelled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel company did not refund her the amount.
 

Raghavan had sent a legal notice to the company on May 18, 2021, following which the company sought two more months to process the refund, citing financial difficulties. The woman, however, did not receive the refund prompting her to move the consumer forum.

4:56 PM

Singapore govt orders investigation into Indian-origin activist's inaccurate' social media posts

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said it would refer Kokila Annamalai to the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Office for "investigations into her non-compliance with the correction direction that was issued to her on October 5".

4:47 PM

SC seeks ED response on ex-WB minister Partha Chatterjee's bail plea in recruitment case

A bench of justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan issued a notice to the ED On October 1 and sought a reply by October 17.

4:45 PM

Delhi: Mohalla bus trials launched on one more route

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot has flagged off the Mohalla bus. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from R K Puram, Parmila Tokas, was also present during the event.

4:39 PM

J-K Congress MLAs meet to elect legislature party leader

The legislature party meeting of the newly elected Congress MLAs began here on Friday to elect their leader in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly. The meeting of the six newly elected leaders of the Congress party began in the party headquarters at M A Road here, a Congress leader said. He said the meeting will elect the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).

4:32 PM

Profitability of small finance banks expected to decline in FY25: Crisil

The profitability of small finance banks, measured in terms of return of assets (RoA), will moderate around 40 basis points to about 1.7 per cent this fiscal from 2.1 per cent in last financial year due to lower net interest margins (NIM) and higher credit costs, said a report.

4:25 PM

Trump says India 'biggest' import tariff charger, vows to reciprocate if elected

Vowing to introduce a reciprocal tax if elected to power, former US president Donald Trump has claimed that India imposes the highest tariffs on foreign products. But they do it with a smile, he added. Perhaps the most important element of my plan to make America extraordinarily wealthy again is reciprocity. It's a word that's very important in my plan because we generally don't charge tariffs. I started that process, it was so great, with the vans and the small trucks, etc, Trump said Thursday in a major economic policy speech.

 

4:01 PM

Delhi HC asks NHAI to decide representation over undue toll collection on highways

A bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was hearing a PIL on September 25 when it disposed of the petition while allowing the petitioner to file a comprehensive representation with the NHAI within two weeks.

3:47 PM

Thrust will be on accelerating development in third term, say Haryana BJP leaders

Hailing BJP's victory in the Haryana polls as "historic", many winning candidates of the party Friday said now the thrust will be to accelerate development in the third term and take the state to new heights. BJP's firebrand leader Anil Vij, who has been elected as MLA for seventh time, told he has already started his work by taking stock of the ongoing projects in his Ambala Cantt constituency.

3:36 PM

Andhra CM Naidu calls for collective efforts to nurture potential of girls

In a social media post, he said: "On the occasion of International Day of the Girl Child, let us collectively strengthen our commitment to nurturing the boundless potential of daughters and empowering them with the resources they need to pursue their dreams."

3:28 PM

PM Modi's water conservation initiative Catch the Rain to raise awareness in Rajasthan, MP and Bihar

In just a month, the campaign has gained momentum across Gujarat, with 8,817 water conservation works initiated through public participation. Of these, over 4,588 projects have already been completed, while 4,229 are in progress and are expected to be finished soon. 

3:18 PM

India's top drug regulator meets WHO standards for functional vaccine regulatory system

Drug regulator CDSCO and the National Regulatory Authority of India have met the standards set up by the World Health Organisation for a functional vaccine regulatory system

3:05 PM

Delhi air pollution: PM's principal secretary flags slow progress in clearing landfill sites

Chairing a meeting of the High-Level Task Force to address Delhi's air pollution, Mishra called for stronger enforcement of dust control at construction sites and better waste management.

2:55 PM

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Japanese organisation of atomic bombing survivors

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organisation of survivors of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for its activism against nuclear weapons.

2:48 PM

PM Modi gifts Indian handicrafts to leaders from Laos, Thailand, N Zealand and Japan

These gifts, which highlight India's artistry and craftsmanship, also included a vintage brass Buddha statue with mina (enamel) work for Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, a Patan Patola scarf in a Sadeli box for Naly Sisoulith, the President's spouse, a Kadamwood embossed Buddha head for Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, and a malachite and camel bone box featuring a Radha-Krishna theme for his spouse.

 

1:55 PM

'Deeply concerned: India on theft of religious article from temple in Bangladesh'

India has urged Bangladesh to investigate the reported theft of a religious article that was gifted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple during his visit to that country in 2021. In a post on 'X', the Indian High Commission in Dhaka expressed deep concern over the theft and called upon the authorities to recover the article and take action against the perpetrators of the crime.

 

1:45 PM

Over month after Coast Guard chopper crash, body of missing pilot recovered off Gujarat coast

The body of a missing Indian Coast Guard pilot has been recovered over a month after a helicopter belonging to the maritime security agency crashed into the Arabian Sea off Gujarat coast, officials said on Friday. Three crew members went missing after the ALH MK-III helicopter fell into the Arabian Sea off Porbandar on September 2. While the bodies of two crew members were recovered subsequently, a search continued to trace Rakesh Kumar Rana, the pilot in command of the mission.