News Highlights: PM Modi leaves for India after attending Brics summit in Russia

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9:54 PM

Bhajan Lal Sharma to inaugurate Terminal 1 of Jaipur International Airport on Oct 26

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma will inaugurate the Terminal 1 of Jaipur International Airport on October 26. The 1.5 million passenger capacity (per annum) Terminal 1 will become operational exclusively for international flights from midnight of October 27.

 

8:50 PM

Delhi hospitals report 30-40% spike in respiratory cases as city grapples with rising pollution

The deteriorating air quality in the national capital has triggered a 30-40 per cent surge in respiratory cases, with children and the elderly found to be the most vulnerable. Health experts have advised people to avoid stepping outside and minimise exposure to dust. Delhi's air quality has been in the 'poor' category for over a week.

8:18 PM

PM Modi leaves for India after attending Brics summit in Russia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday left for home after wrapping up his two-day "impactful" visit to Russia where he attended the 16th BRICS Summit and held bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "PM @narendramodi wraps up an impactful visit to Kazan and emplanes for New Delhi," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on X.

8:01 PM

Sea beaches deserted as Odisha prepares for landfall of cyclone Dana

Popular sea beaches of Odisha wore a deserted look on Wednesday as the state is making preparations to tackle cyclone Dana which is likely to make landfall in the early hours of October 25. Besides gusting wind, the cyclone will bring torrential rain and tidal waves in the state, because of which the administration has restricted entry of people to the beaches.

7:38 PM

MVA allies to contest 85 seats each in Maharashtra Assembly polls

Maha Vikas Aghadi of Congress, NCP (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday announced to contest 85 seats each in Maharashtra assembly elections even as deliberations to seal a final seat-sharing pact are still underway. Addressing a press conference, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said consensus has been reached on 270 out of total 288 seats for the November 20 elections.

7:09 PM

SKM to hold statewide road blockade in Punjab on October 25

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha on Wednesday announced a statewide road blockade in Punjab on October 25 to protest the alleged "tardy" paddy procurement and lifting. A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting here. The farmers' collective said it was a unanimous opinion that there was no improvement in the paddy procurement operations.

6:42 PM

Baba Siddique case: Cops make 11th arrest

In a breakthrough in NCP politician Baba Siddique's murder case, police arrested a Haryana native, suspected to be an important link between a shooter and the mastermind of the conspiracy, an official said on Wednesday. The latest arrest took the number of persons in the custody of Mumbai Police to 11.

6:07 PM

Govt removes floor price for non-basmati white rice exports

India has removed the floor price for the export of non-basmati white rice, the government said in an official order on Wednesday.

5:54 PM

Hungary's Orban claims EU seeks to topple his govt as his hostility toward it grows

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed in a speech on Wednesday that the European Union seeks to topple his government and install a puppet regime in the Central European country, an escalation of open hostility toward the bloc by the member considered Russia's closest ally.

5:51 PM

PM Modi meets Xi Jinping on sidelines of Brics summit in Russia

Bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, begins in Kazan, Russia on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.

4:56 PM

Haryana govt raises DA of govt employees, pensioners by 3%

The Nayab Singh Saini government in Haryana on Wednesday announced to hike dearness allowance and dearness relief of employees and pensioners by three per cent effective from July 1. "The dearness allowance and dearness relief payable to Haryana government employees and pensioners or family pensioners has been enhanced from 50 percent to 53 percent of the basic pay with effect from 1 July, 2024," the order read.

4:37 PM

BJP, JD(S) to discuss and announce candidate for Channapatna by-polls, says Nikhil Kumaraswamy

JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy on Wednesday said leaders of BJP and his party will discuss and announce the NDA candidate for the November 13 by-polls to Channapatna Assembly segment. BJP leader C P Yogeeshwara's move to quit the party and join Congress on Wednesday to contest the by-polls was not "unexpected", he said, claiming that the ruling party could not find a suitable candidate from within, and had to rely on an "outsider" for the contest.

4:32 PM

FIRs in matrimonial disputes can't be quashed in routine manner: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has refused to quash a case against a man for allegedly torturing his estranged wife, observing the offences related to matrimonial relationships "should not be closed in a routine manner" especially when the victim opposes it. Justice Chandra Dhari Singh noted although the estranged couple had initially decided to get a divorce decree through mutual consent and settle all disputes, the woman subsequently opposed the dropping of the case against the husband claiming he had taken the settlement amount back and subjected her to torture.

4:14 PM

Brics is inspiring world to move in direction of positive cooperation, says PM Modi

We should move ahead in timely manner for reforms in global institutions like UN Security Council, WTO, PM Modi stated at the Brics Summit. 

3:52 PM

Brics is an organisation that has the will to change itself according to the times: PM Modi

We should set an example before whole world and raise our voice unanimously for reforms in global institutions: PM Modi 

3:47 PM

We should work for global regulations for cyber security, safe and secure AI: PM Modi

We have to work together on pending issue of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in UN: PM Modi 

3:44 PM

There is no place for double standards on such a serious issue, says PM Modi on challenge of terrorism

We should take active steps to prevent radicalisation among youth of our countries, says PM Modi at Brics summit. 

3:40 PM

We all have to cooperate strongly and unanimously to deal with terrorism and terror financing: PM Modi

Just as we together defeated Covid-19, we are fully capable of creating new opportunities for safe, strong & prosperous future, says PM Modi.

3:38 PM

We support dialogue and diplomacy, not war, says PM Modi at Brics summit

Containing inflation, ensuring security in food, energy, health and water sectors priority issues for all countries, says PM Modi at BRICS summit. 

3:27 PM

Water treatment plants affected due to untreated effluent in Yamuna from UP, Haryana: Delhi CM

Water treatment plants in Delhi have been affected due to high ammonia levels in Yamuna water, Chief Minister Atishi said on Wednesday while accusing BJP-ruled Haryana and Uttar Pradesh of discharging untreated industrial waste into the river. Atishi, while briefing mediapersons during a visit to the Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant, alleged that the BJP was using pollution as a "weapon against Delhi". She reiterated her charge that both the rising pollution levels in the Yamuna and the worsening air quality in the capital are the result of the BJP's "dirty politics".

3:24 PM

News update: We meet at a time when multilateralism is under threat, says South African President Ramaphosa

2:59 PM

Rain starts in Odisha as Cyclone Dana's outer band touches land mass: IMD

Parts of Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts in Odisha experienced rain and adverse weather conditions on Wednesday afternoon with the Indian Meterological Centre (IMD) saying that the outer bands of Cyclone ‘Dana' has begun to affect the eastern coastline. Senior IMD scientist Umashankar Das posted on X, "According to radar data from Paradip, the outer band of Cyclone ‘Dana' has touched the land mass in Bhadrak and Kendrapara districts." 

2:53 PM

Centre to launch initiative to provide localised weather forecasts to gram panchayats

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will on Thursday launch a weather forecast service for gram panchayats which will provide them with localised daily weather forecasts for five days and enhance disaster preparedness, an official statement said. Gram Panchayat Level Weather Forecasting, which will be launched in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), will also allow gram panchayats to check hourly weather forecasts and directly benefit farmers and villagers across the country, said the statement issued by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj on Wednesday.

2:35 PM

Questions remain, govt must take people into confidence on agreement with China on patrolling: Cong

Days after India and China firmed up an agreement on patrolling by their militaries along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, the Congress on Wednesday said it expects that the disengagement will restore the status quo ante as it existed in March 2020 and asked the government to take the people of India into confidence on the matter. "The Foreign Secretary has said that this is 'leading to disengagement and eventually a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020'. We hope that India's worst foreign policy setback in decades is being honourably resolved," Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said. "We expect that the disengagement will restore the status quo ante as it existed in March 2020," he said. Ramesh alleged that "this sorry saga is a complete indictment" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's gullibility and naiveté regarding China.

2:19 PM

Mangrove forest likely to reduce cyclone Dana's impact in Odisha's Bhitarkanika area: Official

The mangrove forest spread over nearly 200 square km in Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha's Kendrapara district would reduce the impact of impending cyclone Dana, if it makes landfall in the area, a senior forest officer said here on Wednesday. Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district and Dhamra port in Bhadrak district.

2:15 PM

In retort to BJP, Priyanka says she has 35 yrs of experience in politics

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday marked her electoral debut by filing her nomination for the upcoming Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll, saying that she has 35 years of experience in the political arena beginning from the age of 17 years when she campaigned for her late father Rajiv Gandhi in 1989. Her statement comes a day after BJP's Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll candidate Navya Haridas said she was more experienced in representing people than Priyanka.

1:54 PM

Here's what Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling had to say over preparation related to Cyclone Dana

On preparations related to Cyclone Dana, Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling says, "The Health Department is on alert. Directions have been given to all CDMOs and their leaves have been cancelled. Measures have been made against the issue of snake venom...The CM is also personally monitoring the situation..."

1:31 PM

Supreme Court defers hearing on pleas against immunity to husbands in marital rape cases

Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, who is demitting office on November 10, Wednesday deferred hearing by four weeks on pleas challenging the immunity granted to husbands in cases of marital rape. The CJI said he will not be able to conclude the hearing and render the verdict if the hearing does not conclude before the top court closes for Diwali vacation. Justice Chandrachud said all the lawyers concerned have to be given time sought for making the submissions in the matter.

1:19 PM

Prashant Kishore changes candidates for two seats in Bihar bypolls

With just a couple of days left for filing of nomination papers, Prashant Kishor's fledgling Jan Suraaj party on Wednesday announced it was changing its candidates for two of the four assembly seats in Bihar where by-polls are scheduled. Social activist Kiran Singh will be contesting from Tarari, in place of Lieutenant General Shri Krishna Singh (Retd) a former Army Vice Chief whose candidature was announced with much fanfare last week.

1:10 PM

22 FIRs filed, 16 Haryana farmers arrested for stubble burning

Officials in Haryana's Kaithal have filed 22 FIRs and arrested 16 farmers for stubble burning. The farmers have been booked for disobeying a public servant's order under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. However, the accused were released on bail.