Highlights: 27 maoists killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh

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4:51 PM

One-time constitutional amendment needed for 'One nation, one election': Shivraj

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said a one-time constitutional amendment is essential to implement simultaneous elections across the country, asserting that frequent polls are hampering governance and inflating public expenditure. "There should be a serious discussion over 'One Nation, One Election' and we should end this by bringing about a constitutional amendment," Chouhan said while addressing a dialogue on the topic with students and intellectuals at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

4:36 PM

Topmost Maoist leader Basavaraju among 27 killed in Chhattisgarh, says Amit Shah

CPI-Maoist general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, the topmost leader and backbone of the Naxal movement, was among the 27 dreaded Naxals killed by security forces in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced. He also said that this is for the first time in three decades of India's battle against Naxalism that a general secretary-ranked leader has been neutralised by the security forces.

4:20 PM

Hegseth orders new review of Afghanistan withdrawal and suicide bombing at Kabul airport

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered another review of the U.S. military's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, and of the suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that killed American troops and Afghans. President Donald Trump and Hegseth have repeatedly blasted the Biden administration for the withdrawal, which Hegseth said Tuesday was “disastrous and embarrassing". 

3:49 PM

2 Covid-19-linked deaths in Maharashtra since January, 52 patients under treatment: Health dept

Maharashtra has reported two COVID-19-related deaths since January this year, the state health department said on Tuesday. In a release, the department said both fatalities were reported from Mumbai and involved patients with comorbidities (simultaneous presence of two or more medical conditions in a person).

2:56 PM

Comparing Gaurav's Pak visit with that of BJP leaders like equating apples with oranges: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday asserted that Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi's visit to Pakistan cannot be compared with trips to the neighbouring nation by BJP stalwarts like L K Advani, dismissing the opposition leader's attempt to draw parallels as equating “apples with oranges”. Sarma and the BJP have been attacking Gogoi, the deputy leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, alleging that he and his British wife, Elizabeth Colburn, have links to Pakistan's ISI.

2:23 PM

Terrorists themselves gave proof of ‘Operation Sindoor' to the world: Vice President Dhankhar

Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, said on Wednesday that the terrorists themselves had provided evidence of ‘Operation Sindoor' to the world, and that the coffins of those targeted were escorted by Pakistani military officials and politicians. Dhankhar said India's precise military strikes during Operation Sindoor gave a befitting message to Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

2:19 PM

Lion population in Gujarat goes up from 674 to 891 in 5 years; footprint expands too

The estimated population of Asiatic lions in Gujarat has increased to 891 from 674 five years ago as per the census conducted this month, officials said on Wednesday. Not only the count went up by 217, but the animals were found outside the Gir National Park, their traditional habitat, and spread across 11 districts of Saurashtra including non-forested and coastal areas, the officials said.

1:25 PM

Lawyers don't want to work during vacation but judiciary blamed for backlog of case: CJI Gavai

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Wednesday said lawyers don't want to work during vacation but the judiciary is blamed for the backlog of cases. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih got miffed when a lawyer urged listing of a petition after the summer vacation.

12:51 PM

ED conducts multi-city raids in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted search operations in various cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Jalandhar, Indore and Kolkata, in connection with its probe into alleged money laundering in a firm. The searches were carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the agency said in a social media post.

12:20 PM

Tea tribes intrinsic part of Assam's society: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday greeted the tea garden community on the occasion of International Tea Day, and said the state's oldest industry has contributed significantly over the years. “On #International Tea Day, I extend my best wishes to our tea garden community,” Sarma said in a post on X.

12:09 PM

'Aranyer Din Ratri' receives standing ovation at Cannes 2025 screening

The 4K restored version of Satyajit Ray's classic "Aranyer Din Ratri" received a standing ovation at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it was screened under the Cannes Classics section. Veteran actors Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal, who were part of the ensemble cast of the 1970 Bengali film, attended the showcase on Monday evening.

11:18 AM

Rain, thunderstorm forecast for Mumbai

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted the possibility of thunderstorms and moderate-to-heavy rains in Mumbai on Wednesday, civic officials said. Some parts of India's financial capital reported heavy rains accompanied by thunder and lightning on Tuesday night. Mumbai is expected to witness a generally cloudy sky with rains in Mumbai and its suburbs as per the IMD, said a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official.

11:15 AM

Encounter breaks out between security forces and Naxalites in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh

An encounter broke out between security forces and Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Wednesday, a police official said. Naxalites opened fire when teams of District Reserve Guards of police from four districts were out on an operation in Abhujmad area following intelligence inputs about the presence of senior cadres of the Mad division of Maoists, he said.

10:48 AM

PM thought of sending delegations to divert attention from tough questions:Jairam Ramesh

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi suddenly thought of sending multi-party delegations of MPs to visit different countries to divert attention from the tough questions he is being called to answer, while his image globally has been "shattered".

The Congress general secretary made the remarks in a post to pay tribute to former Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary.

10:31 AM

PM Modi pays tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on 34th death anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 34th death anniversary. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "On his death anniversary today, I pay my tributes to our former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji." Rajiv Gandhi was the last Congress prime minister to have headed a majority government, from 1984 to 1989.

10:27 AM

US officials must keep control of migrants sent to South Sudan in case removals were unlawful

A federal judge ruled late Tuesday that U.S. officials must retain custody and control of migrants apparently removed to South Sudan, in case he orders their removals were unlawful. US District Judge Brian E Murphy in Massachusetts ordered an emergency hearing for Wednesday, after attorneys for immigrants said in court documents that up to a dozen people from several countries, including Myanmar and Vietnam.

10:00 AM

FIR filed against BJP IT cell chief, journalist Arnab Goswami

An FIR has been registered against BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya and Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV, Arnab Goswami for allegedly running false information, police said. The case was registered at High Grounds police station on Tuesday, based on the complaint from the Indian Youth Congress's legal cell head Shrikant Swaroop B N against the duo under section 192 (wantonly giving provocation with an intent to cause riot) and 352 (Intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, they said.