LIVE updates: India logs 1,5674 new Covid cases, toll climbs to 529,008

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2:59 PM

Former Union IT Minister Kapil Sibal on amended IT rules

"Safe for the government and unsafe for others, that is what the policy of this govt always has been. The only platform left for ordinary citizens was social media; when statements defamatory are made,people will be prosecuted," said Former Union IT Minister Kapil Sibal on amended IT rules.

1:53 PM

Preparations for Chhath Puja underway in Delhi

1:46 PM

Bhalswa lake was dirty earlier, it has now been cleaned within 10 days: Delhi Lt Gov Vinai Kumar Saxena

Bhalswa lake was dirty earlier, it has now been cleaned within 10 days. I hope devotees will get to offer prayers in a clean space this time. The lake will be further improved in the time to come, said Delhi Lt Gov Vinai Kumar Saxena, after inspecting Bhalswa Lake ahead of Chhath Puja.

1:46 PM

The second edition of Naval Commanders' Conference of 2022 is scheduled from 31st Oct to 3rd Nov

The conference serves as a platform for Naval Commanders to discuss important maritime matters at the military-strategic level through an institutionalised forum.

1:38 PM

Use of unmanned aerial systems by terrorist groups is challenge for govts around world, says EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday highlighted the global threat of terrorism is growing and expanding, particularly in Asia and Africa, despite the UN Security Council's (UNSC) best efforts to combat the "gravest threat to humanity".

1:35 PM

Lakhs turned overage waiting for UP Police recruitment, alleges Varun Gandhi

BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Saturday said lakhs of youths have become overage for recruitment in the Uttar Pradesh Police after waiting for it for four years.

"No recruitment was done and nor was any hope offered. They (youths) have been raising their voice on social media but there is no redressal," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

"The same students, if they hit the streets, will be called troublemakers. Isn't this injustice," Gandhi asked.

1:34 PM

Imran begins long march with guns aimed at ISI chief

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chair­man Imran Khan has kicked off his much-awaited 'Haqeeqi Azadi march towards Islamabad with a no-holds-barred speech targeting the countrys premier spy chief and other intelligence officers.

Addressing from atop a container at the starting point of the march, the Lib­erty Roundabout, Khan incriminated the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general (DG) for holding a "political presser", and called out two other army officers for playing the role of "Dirty Harry" for picking up and torturing a party senator, Dawn news reported.

Seeking the attention of army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, the former Prime Minister said these officers were tarnishing the image of the institution.

1:15 PM

Social media platforms turning into potent instruments in 'toolkit' of terror groups: Jaishankar

India on Saturday pitched for concerted global efforts to stop possible misuse of new technologies such as encrypted messaging and crypto-currency by "non-state actors", and cautioned that the social media platforms have turned into potent instruments in the "toolkit" of terror groups.

In an address at a special meeting of the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said terrorist groups, their "ideological fellow-travellers" and "lone wolf" attackers have significantly enhanced capabilities by gaining access to the new technologies.

He also said the counter-terror sanction regime of the United Nations has been effective to put countries on notice that turned terrorism into a "state-funded enterprise", seen as an apparent reference to Pakistan.

12:46 PM

Fired Twitter employees carrying boxes outside its HQ was 'fake'

As Elon Musk fired Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and CFO Ned Segal in a dramatic style, two men carrying boxes were seen outside the entrance of Twitter's San Francisco headquarters, claiming they have been laid off by Musk. One of them, however, turned out to be a fake employee, at least.

One man "Rahul Ligma" identified himself as a software engineer at Twitter, who later turned out to be someone whose name does not even exist in Twitter's Slack or email system.

There is also no evidence that the employee exists on LinkedIn, reports The Verge.

After seeing these two men with boxes in their hands, several media outlets had earlier reported that laid-off Twitter employees were leaving the Twitter building.

Musk poked fun at media outlets, tweeting: "One of the best trolls ever."

12:25 PM

India to contribute USD 500,000 for UN Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that India will contribute $500,000 to the United Nations Trust Fund for Counter Terrorism this year to aid capacity-building support to member states in combating terrorism.

He made this announcement during his keynote address at the plenary session of the UNSC special meeting of the Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC ) on 'Countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes' in New Delhi today.

Addressing the UNSC's special meeting in the national capital, Jaishankar said, "India will be making a voluntary contribution of half a million dollars to the UN Trust Fund for Counter Terrorism this year to augment the efforts of Office of Counter-Terrorism in providing capacity-building support to member states in preventing and countering the threat of terrorism."