News updates: As we move towards goal of developed India, you're our protectors, says PM to soldiers

Latest news updates: Catch all the latest news developments from across the world here

8:12 PM

PM Modi sends condolences over TPG Nambiar's passing away

"Shri TPG Nambiar Ji was a pioneering innovator and industrialist, who was a strong votary of making India economically strong. Pained by his passing away. Condolences to his family and admirers," he wrote in a post on X.

7:38 PM

Germany orders 3 Iranian consulates shut in response to the execution of Iranian-German prisoner

Germany orders 3 Iranian consulates shut in response to the execution of Iranian-German prisoner Jamshid Sharmahd, reports AP

7:38 PM

Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says war death toll at 43,204

7:20 PM

Germany orders 3 Iranian consulates to shut after Iranian German prisoner is executed

Germany ordered the closure of all three Iranian consulates in the country on Thursday in response to the execution of Iranian German prisoner Jamshid Sharmahd, who lived in the United States and was kidnapped in Dubai in 2020 by Iranian security forces.

Sharmahd, 69, was put to death in Iran on Monday on terrorism charges, the Iranian judiciary said. That followed a 2023 trial that Germany, the US and international rights groups dismissed as a sham.

The decision to close the Iranian consulates in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich, announced by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, leaves the Islamic Republic with only its embassy in Berlin.

6:29 PM

Syria state media report Israel strike on town near Lebanon border

5:58 PM

PM Modi is winning elections through 'fraud', alleges Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is winning the elections by resorting to "fraud" and questioned the authenticity of EVMs.

 

The Congress veteran also referred to business tycoon Elon Musk's statement questioning the genuineness of EVMs to support his claim.

 

"Modi hasn't won a by election. Everything is fraud. He gets 10,000 names removed from the voter list or get 10,000 to 20,000 new names added. This is the truth but the question is how to prove it," Kharge said at the Congress Bhavan here.

 

He was speaking at an event to pay tribute to former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi and Congress stalwart and first Deputy Prime Minister of India Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.

 

Kharge said Musk, who is a tech expert, has said EVMs can be altered and hacked through computers.

 

He added that no major western nation such as the US, Canada, Britain, Germany, France or Italy use EVMs.

 

The Congress chief took a dig at the BJP leaders for defending EVMs everytime.

5:20 PM

More evacuations as Israeli airstrikes kill 8 in Lebanon

The Israeli military has warned people to evacuate from more areas of southern Lebanon as airstrikes across the country killed at least eight people on Thursday. Meanwhile, Palestinian officials said an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank killed three people.

 

The Palestinian Health Ministry said two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike and a third by Israeli gunfire. The Israeli military said its forces were targeting militants in the area of the Nur Shams refugee camp, which has seen repeated battles in recent months. The military said it eliminated a Hamas militant who was involved in planning attacks on Israelis.

 

Also Thursday, Israeli police said they have arrested a couple accused of spying on Israeli intelligence sites and collecting information on an Israeli academic on behalf of Iran.

 

The developments come as mediators are ramping up efforts to halt the wars in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, circulating new proposals to wind down the regional conflict.

 

Hezbollah's newly named leader, Naim Kassem, said the militant group will keep fighting in its war with Israel until it is offered cease-fire terms it deems acceptable.

5:20 PM

Odisha govt downgrades Patnaik's security to Y category: Official

The Odisha government has downgraded the security of the state's five-time former chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who is also the leader of opposition, from Z to Y category, an official said on Thursday.

 

Most of the security personnel assigned to Patnaik have been withdrawn after a high-level committee dealing with security issues of important persons recommended the downgrade of the BJD chief's security, he said.

 

Patnaik would now be assigned only two constables in Havildar rank, the official said.

 

"Former chief ministers are provided with two PSOs. Additional security is provided as and when required," he said.

 

As the leader of opposition, Patnaik will be provided with required security by the local police when he undertakes a tour outside Bhubaneswar, he said.

 

However, Patnaik has also personally appointed two senior PSOs who have recently retired from government service.

5:00 PM

UN says Israel-Hezbollah war has killed one child a day in Lebanon in past month

4:59 PM

Yen firms after less dovish BOJ, dollar dips ahead of inflation data

The yen firmed on Thursday after the Bank of Japan took a less dovish tone than expected while the U.S. dollar ticked lower ahead of jobs data later this week and the U.S. presidential election next week.

 

The dollar was last down 0.6% on the Japanese currency at 152.360 yen as the BOJ maintained ultra-low interest rates but said risks around the U.S. economy were somewhat subsiding, signalling that conditions are falling into place to raise interest rates again.

 

Governor Kazuo Ueda's remarks were seen as less dovish than those made before the meeting that the BOJ could "afford to spend time" scrutinising the fallout from risks such as U.S. economic uncertainties.

 

The BOJ cut its core consumer inflation forecast but said risks were skewed to the upside for that year, causing the yen to rise, said Andrea Cicione, head of strategy at GlobalData.TSLombard.

 

"This was a deliberate comment by the BOJ to stop this weakening in the yen that has been going on for six weeks."

4:49 PM

When world sees you, it sees India's strength: PM Modi to Indian soldiers

"When world sees you, it sees India's strength, when enemies see you, they see end of their sinister plans," said PM Modi to Indian soldiers.

4:49 PM

Bharat will not compromise on borders, aligns policies with armed forces' resolve, says Modi

Modi also stressed the need for unity among the army, navy, and air force, asserting that their collective strength would significantly enhance India’s defense capabilities. He commended the soldiers as the protectors of the nation's aspirations, stating, "You all are the protectors of this dream," as India progresses towards becoming a developed nation.

4:00 PM

J-K LG Sinha hits out at politicians for missing UT's Foundation Day

"I am seeing that those who took oath as MLA of a Union Territory and often refer to the Constitution of India (are not here)," Sinha said in his address at the UT's fifth Foundation Day. The National Conference did not attend the event, nor did People's Conference leader Sajad Gani Lone and CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, who said the administration went ahead with the programme despite people "clearly voting" against it.

3:55 PM

Everyone who works at Tirumala should be Hindu, says new Tirupati board chairman

"Everyone who works at Tirumala should be Hindu. That would be my first effort. There are many issues in this. We have to look into that," the newly-appointed chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board B R Naidu stated. Naidu is a media personality who runs Telugu TV channels, including a Hindu devotional channel. Naidu stated that he would speak to the Andhra Pradesh government on how to deal with staff members belonging to other religions, whether they should be sent to other government departments or given VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme).

3:50 PM

India, China troops 'making progress' in disengagement in 'orderly manner', says Chinese military

Commenting for the first time after the October 21 agreement to disengage the troops, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, told a media briefing that "China and India have reached resolutions on the issues concerning the border areas through diplomatic and military channels". "The frontline troops of the two militaries are making progress in implementing resolutions in an orderly manner," he said, reiterating the foreign ministry's comments on Wednesday.

3:39 PM

Raj Thackeray is supporting BJP out of concern for son's political future: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut hit out at Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray for stating  that the next chief minister will be from the BJP.  Raut claimed that Thackeray’s support for the BJP comes from his concern for his son, Amit Thackeray, who is making his debut from the Mahim constituency in Maharashtra Assembly polls.

3:27 PM

Tigress Jamuna healthy in Similipal: Official

The authorities of the Similipal Tiger Reserve Thursday said tigress Jamuna is healthy and hunted a wild boar in her enclosure. The two-and-half-year-old tigress brought from Tadba tiger conservation project in Maharashtra on October 28 was released in a soft enclosure inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district. The forest department is optimistic that this tiger will help in keeping the genetic diversity of tigers under control due to the increase in the number of tigers and especially the number of black tigers in Simlipal.

3:10 PM

One wheel of express train derails in Tamil Nadu, none injured

The Southern Railway stated today that one wheel of a Bodinayakkanur-bound express train derailed here on Thursday but nobody was injured in the incident. No passengers were affected, and all other train operations at Madurai Junction continued as usual, it added.

 

2:53 PM

No proposal to revisit 'Shakti' free bus travel scheme: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

"There is no such proposal before the government, he (Shivakumar) only said what some women are saying. I don't know, I was not there. I will speak," CM Siddaramaiah said in response to a question regarding the Deputy CM's statement. "There is no situation for revisiting it at the government level. There is no such intention, there is no such proposal."

2:28 PM

Sardar Patel's contribution in integrating over 560 princely states was 'immense': Haryana CM

Paying tributes to Sardar Patel, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said he was a leader equipped with great administrative skills and was a great nationalist. Since 2014, Sardar Patel's birth anniversary has been celebrated on October 31 as the 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' or National Unity Day.

2:05 PM

No one can take back welfare schemes, says Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated that all the welfare schemes started by his government will continue, noting that the intention of the opposition is to take back the welfare schemes after coming to power. "The opposition leaders say that if they form the government, they will stop all schemes and make enquiries into the schemes. No one can take back the welfare schemes," Shinde asserted.

1:45 PM

News update: Indian, Chinese troops at LAC exchange Diwali sweets after border disengagement

1:42 PM

Banned Yaba tablets worth Rs 10 crore seized in Assam, two held

Two persons from Manipur were arrested after Yaba tablets, a narcotics substance, valued at Rs 10 crore were recovered from their possession in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, police said on Thursday. The arrests and recovery were made during a routine checking exercise in Dillai Tiniali area on Wednesday evening. "Our team searched a vehicle and recovered 25 bundles of Yaba tablets kept in a hidden chamber," the official said. The bundles comprise 50,000 tablets, which are valued at approximately Rs 10 crore, he said.

1:29 PM

News update: BPL founder TPG Nambiar passes away

1:14 PM

Efforts are being made to 'misappropriate' Sardar Patel's legacy: Congress

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Respectful tributes to the Iron Man of India, the first Deputy Prime Minister of the country, former Congress President and our idol, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ji, who made an independent India a complete country, on his birth anniversary." The party alleged that continuous efforts are being made to "misappropriate" his legacy by those whose "ideological gurus" opposed the Quit India Movement and criticised the Constitution.

1:06 PM

Union Minister Suresh Gopi dares Kerala govt to seek CBI probe into Thrissur Pooram

Amid controversy over his use of an ambulance to reach the Thrissur Pooram venue after hearing that the festival was disrupted, Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Thursday detailed the sequence of events leading to the incident and demanded a CBI probe into the entire episode. Gopi, the Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism, while not refuting the allegations that he reached the festival site in an ambulance, claimed that he reached close to the festival site in his car, which was then attacked by some 'goondas' of the rival political parties.

12:52 PM

Maha Vikas Aghadi to launch poll campaign on Nov 6, says Sharad Pawar

The Opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi will start its campaign for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections on November 6, said NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday. Pawar said the campaign will be spearheaded by him and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.

12:41 PM

Former Opposition leader in Mumbai civic body switches from Cong to BJP

Former Opposition leader in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and city Congress veteran Ravi Raja on Thursday joined the BJP ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls. Senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the party's Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar welcomed Raja to the saffron party.

12:38 PM

Banning UNRWA will lead to vacuum, more suffering for Palestinians: Agency's chief

The head of the UN agency caring for Palestinian refugees said Wednesday that newly passed Israeli laws effectively banning its activities in Israel will leave a vacuum that will cost more lives and create further instability in Gaza and the West Bank. UNRWA has been the main agency procuring and distributing aid in the Gaza Strip.

12:17 PM

Central government names 463 police personnel for 'Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak'

More than 460 police personnel of various states and central organisations have been named for the 'Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak' for 2024 as a recognition of their excellent work and to promote high professional standards. The awards are presented for exceptional service in special operations, investigation and forensic science, an official statement said.