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Wed, 13 November 2024
Biden meets Trump, both pledge smooth transition
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23:56 Independent candidate for Deoli-Uniara bypoll in Raj slaps election official
An Independent candidate for the Deoli-Uniara assembly bypoll allegedly slapped a sub-divisional officer engaged in election duty as area magistrate on Wednesday, officials said.
Following the incident, a Rajasthan Administrative Service association demanded that the candidate be arrested for hitting Malpura SDM Amit Chaudhary.
It threatened a pen-down strike if he was not arrested by Thursday morning.
On the other hand, the candidate, Naresh Meena, sat on a dharna in Samravta village and asked his supporters to gather there.
The dharna turned violent when police tried to remove Meena and his supporters, who pelted stones at police personnel and set two vehicles on fire, according to officials.
Voting for the bypolls to seven assembly seats in Rajasthan was held on Wednesday.
Meena, a Congress rebel, allegedly caught Chaudhary by his collar and slapped him, an official said. District election officer and Tonk Collector Saumya Jha said the residents of Samravta village had announced they would boycott the bypoll and Meena supported them.
"The village currently comes under Nagar Fort tehsil. The villagers are demanding that it be brought under Uniara tehsil, which is closer," she said.
Chaudhary, the area magistrate for the bypoll, had gone to the village to convince people to cast their votes when Meena slapped him, Jha said. -- PTI
23:43 ED initiates assets return process to duped investors of Heera Group Ponzi scam
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday said it has initiated the process to restore funds to a clutch of genuine investors who were allegedly duped in a multi-crore Ponzi scam perpetrated by the Heera Group of companies in Telangana.
The Supreme Court issued an order on Monday allowing the federal agency to auction two immovable assets of the main promoter and "prime accused" in the case, Nowhera Shaik, and "settle" the claims of investors, it said in a statement.
The ED, over the last few months, has been undertaking the 'restitution of assets' or return of properties action for the persons, who were duped by fraud schemes, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
It has undertaken this measure in a few cases including in the Saradha Ponzi case of West Bengal.
The order of the apex court came on a writ petition of Shaik where she had listed three properties owned by her that can be auctioned to settle the dues after the ED told the SC that "substantive" justice would be met to investors who were duped in the "fraudulent" investment schemes of Shaik and Heera Group of companies.
The agency has been probing the accused since 2019 on charges of cheating gullible people and collecting thousands of crores of rupees from them on the false promise of "abnormally high" returns of around 36 per cent per annum. -- PTI
President Joe Biden and ex-president Donald Trump during a televised debate, June 27, 2024/File image/Brian Snyder/Reuters
23:18 Biden meets Trump at White House, both pledge smooth transition
US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday met President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House to ensure a smooth transition of power, a hallmark of American democracy which took a break four years ago.
In a brief meeting, the two leaders assured the nation of a peaceful transition of power on January 20 next year. Biden said, "welcome back' to Trump, and the two leaders shook hands.
He congratulated Trump on his victory and said he looked forward to a smooth transition.
"Well, Mr. President-elect, Donald, congratulations... and I look forward to having a smooth transition. Welcome," Biden said.
"Politics is tough, and it's, in many cases, not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today, and I appreciate it very much. The transition is so smooth, and it will be as smooth as it can get...," Trump said in his remarks. -- PTI
Commander Prerna Deosthalee and Commander Ishan Deosthalee/ANI Photo
23:04 In first, sister, brother command naval warships
For the first time ever in the Indian Navy, sister and brother duo of Commander Prerna Deosthalee and Commander Ishan Deosthalee are commanding two different warships at the same time in the force.
Commander Prerna Deosthalee last year became the first ever female officer to be handed over the command of a warship in the Indian Navy.
She is presently commanding the fast attack craft INS Trinkat.
Her brother, Vommander Ishan Deosthalee has now been given the command of INS Vibhuti which is a Veer-class missile vessel of the Indian Navy.
The vessel Vibhuti was part of the steam past given to President Draupadi Murmu off the coast of Goa in the Arabian Sea.
Both the brother and sister duo are commanding their warships under the Western Command.
The President Droupadi Murmu on November 7 visited the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant along with the Chief of Navy Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and witnessed an operational demonstration by the Indian Navy. -- ANI
22:35 Five of family get lifer for killing relative over land dispute in UP
A court in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced five members of a family to life imprisonment for killing their relative in 2016 over a land dispute.
Special Judge Vinay Kumar Singh found Jitendra Yadav (32), Mohit Yadav (30), Ajay Yadav (20), Ramesh Yadav (26), and Sharda Devi (56) guilty of beating to death Ram Ji Yadav on July 24, 2016, district prosecuting officer Brijendra Nath Tripathi said.
All five were convicted under various sections of the IPC, including murder (302), unlawful assembly (149), and causing disappearance of evidence (201), he said.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 11,000 on each convict, with an additional six months in jail if they fail to pay, he said.
During the trial, 11 witnesses were examined to support the prosecution's case.
District prosecuting officer Tripathi said he argued for a strong sentence to deter similar offences. -- PTI
22:01 BJP offered Rs 50cr each to 50 Cong MLAs: Sidda
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday alleged that the opposition BJP offered Rs 50 crore each to 50 Congress MLAs to remove his government.
He said none of the Congress MLAs agreed with it, due to which the BJP is now resorting to filing false cases against him.
"To overthrow the Siddaramaiah government somehow, they (BJP) offered Rs 50 crore to 50 MLAs. Where did they get so much money from? Did former Chief Ministers B S Yediyurappa, Basavaraj Bommai, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra print the money?" Siddaramaiah asked after inaugurating public works worth Rs 470 crore in the T Narasipura assembly constituency in Mysuru district.
He said it was all "bribe money".
"They have made crores of rupees. Using the money, they offered Rs 50 crore to each MLA," the chief minister alleged.
"But none of our MLAs agreed for it this time. That's why they have started a campaign to remove this government somehow. That's why they are doing it (filing false cases)," Siddaramaiah said.
The Congress has 133 MLAs in the 224-member Karnataka assembly, whereas the BJP and its ally JD-S have 65 and 18 MLAs respectively.
Elon Musk. Pic: Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters
21:52 UK publication 'Guardian' quits Elon Musk-owned X
British news publisher The Guardian on Wednesday said that it is quitting the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, citing billionaire owner Elon Musk's influence during the US presidential election process.
In a statement on Wednesday the publication said it will no longer post from any official Guardian accounts on the site.
Further, it said that the recent US election underlined its view that X is a "toxic" platform and that Musk uses it to influence politics.
Musk who campaigned actively for US president-elect Donald Trump has been named as one of two heads of a new "department of government efficiency."
In its message to its readers, The Guardian said, "We think that the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives and that resources could be better used promoting our journalism elsewhere."
The publication said that its journalists will continue to use X as a news-gathering source. X, it said, "now plays a "diminished role in promoting our work."
"We will stop posting from our official editorial accounts on the platform, but X users can still share our articles, it said.
"The nature of live news reporting means we will still occasionally embed content from X within our article pages" it said adding that X users will still be able to share its articles.
The Guardian has more than 80 accounts on X with approximately 27 million followers.
It said content on the platform about which it had longstanding concerns included "far-right conspiracy theories" and "racism". It added that the site's coverage of the US presidential election had crystallised its decision.
Last year, US media organisation National Public Radio [NPR], stopped posting on X after the social media platform labelled it as "state-affiliated media".
PBS, a US public TV broadcaster, also suspended its posts for the same reason.
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21:30 More than 8 cr ITRs filed for FY24, 74% in new tax regime
More than 8 crore income tax returns for assessment year 2024-25 have been filed this year, of which 74 percent taxpayers have opted for new tax regime, a source said.
Also, around 75 lakh updated ITRs have been filed this year in high garnered additional taxes of Rs 8,000 crore.
The source said so far over 8 crore individuals have filed ITRs for income earned in 2023-24 fiscal, of which over 5.92 crore are in the new income tax regime.
The new tax regime was set as "a default regime" from 2023-24 and the Assessment Year corresponding to this is AY 2024-25.
This can be changed by the taxpayer at the time of filing Income Tax Returns by an individual.
Eligible persons without any business income will have the option to choose the regime for each financial year.
However, the benefit of various exemptions and deductions (other than standard deduction for salary income and family pension) is not available, as in the old regime.
The old tax regime which is still in force and offers a host of deductions and exemptions, exempts income up to Rs 2.5 lakh from taxes. -- PTI
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21:10 Cong's J'khand manifesto release violates poll code: CEO
Jharkhand's Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar said on Wednesday that the Congress released its manifesto for the assembly polls in violation of the model code of conduct, and a report regarding this has been submitted to the Election Commission.
The Congress released its manifesto on Tuesday, a day before the first phase of polling in the state.
It promised 250 units of free electricity, a caste-based census and the filling up of all vacant government posts within a year.
The state BJP had lodged a complaint with the EC, seeking action against the Congress and JMM for releasing their manifestos during the silent period.
"We have sent a detailed report to the EC. Our report also states that the manifesto was released violating the Representation of People Act," Kumar said.
The state Congress, however, denied having violated the model code of conduct.
Congress spokesperson Rakesh Sinha said, "We don't think it is a violation of the election norms. We released it in our office."
On the JMM manifesto, the officer said, "We have sought a report in this regard from the district election officer of Ranchi." -- PTI
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20:59 Meghalaya bypoll: 90.84% voter turnout in Gambegre assembly seat
A voter turnout of 90.84 percent was registered in the by-election to Gambegre assembly constituency in Meghalaya on Wednesday, an official said.
Voting began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements and ended at 4 pm, he said.
Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer BDR Tiwari said voters turned out in large numbers on Wednesday at the Gambegre bypoll in western Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district and the voter turnout was 90.84 percent.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma's wife Mehtab Chandee Sangma is contesting on an NPP ticket, while Jingjang M Marak from the Congress, Sadhiarani M Sangma from the Trinamool Congress, Bernard N Marak from the BJP and two independent candidates Sengkrabirth Marak and Jerry A Sangma are also in the fray.
The by-election for the Gambegre constituency was necessitated after MLA Saleng A Sangma representing the seat was elected to the Lok Sabha.
Altogether 32,254 voters, including 15,923 women, are eligible to exercise their franchise.
Of the 51 polling stations in the constituency in West Garo Hills district, 31 were identified as critical. -- PTI
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20:50 Police in plain clothes to attend weddings in Agra to prevent thievery
Invited or not, Agra Police personnel will now attend every wedding in the district.
With an aim to curb incidents of theft at wedding venues, the Agra police formed a special team of personnel to keep an eye on suspicious visitors, including children who are often used by gangs to steal valuables, officials said Wednesday.
Deputy police commissioner of Agra City Suraj Rai said members of the force would be deployed at wedding venues in simple clothes and they would attend the functions like family members.
"This initiative has been taken keeping in mind past incidents of thefts in marriages. Gangs target parents of the bride and groom, and steal their belonging, including jewellery and cash," he told reporters.
"Eighteen clusters, that have marriage lawns and banquet halls and similar venues, have been earmarked. In every cluster there will be three teams of police personnel. They will be deployed in simple clothes and their duties will be changed accordingly. Monitoring will also be done through CCTV cameras," Rai added.
The DCP further said, "Residents of Agra who have to attend weddings in other districts or regions may inform at local police stations or police posts, so that patrolling can be done near their house in their absence."
"The main purpose of this initiative is to prevent cases of theft that occur mainly in marriages during the wedding season," he added. -- PTI
PM Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar/File image
20:06 Nitish touches Modi's feet, faces Tejashwi taunt
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday drew a taunt from Tejashwi Yadav, his former deputy, for touching the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was in the state for a function.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader responded to queries from journalists about the behaviour of the Janata Dal-United boss, who is in his 70s and had, after finishing his speech at the function in Darbhanga, bent to touch the feet of Modi, who is less than a year his senior.
In a video clip that has gone viral on social media, the PM can be seen getting up from his chair, startled, holding Kumar by his shoulders and asking the alliance partner to take his seat.
When Yadav was asked about the incident, he quipped, "What is unusual? He (CM) has been of late falling at the feet of all. He did so even to officials of his government."
The allusion was to Kumar's behaviour at some functions earlier this year where he had offered to touch the feet of IAS officers and an engineer of a private company to shame them into speedy completion of projects.
The conduct has not gone down well with critics of the longest serving CM, who frown upon Kumar's show of extreme humility before Modi on earlier occasions, including at the swearing in ceremony of Yogi Adityanath in 2022 and a rally during the recent Lok Sabha elections. -- PTI
Bharatiya Janata Party ex-MP Pragya Thakur/File image
19:59 Pragya faces new warrant for skipping court hearing
A special court in Mumbai on Wednesday issued a fresh bailable warrant against former Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pragya Thakur, a prime accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, as she failed to appear before it citing health issues.
This was the second warrant issued this month against Thakur by the special court for National Investigation Agency cases.
On November 5, the court had issued a warrant against her for failing to attend the proceedings, and directed her to appear on November 13.
On Wednesday, Thakur's lawyer J P Mishra told the court that she could not appear as she was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Bhopal.
He also submitted related medical records.
The judge then issued a fresh bailable warrant of Rs 10,000 and directed her to remain present in the court on December 2.
The trial is at the fag end, and the court has repeatedly asked all the accused to remain present for daily hearings.
Six people were killed and more than 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town in north Maharashtra about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008. -- PTI
19:47 Subhash Ghai announces 'Aitraaz' sequel on film's 20th anniversary
Filmmaker Subhash Ghai on Wednesday announced Aitraaz 2, a follow-up to his 2004 film on its 20th release anniversary.
Aitraaz, starring Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Kareena Kapoor Khan, was a romantic thriller which hit the screens on November 12, 2004.
The romantic thriller film was directed by Abbasustan. Ghai, who produced the film via his banner Mukta Arts, said the script of the sequel is ready.
"Now MUKTA ARTS is ready for AITRAZ 2 with a finest script with 3 years of hard work. Just wait n watch. @muktaartsltd @muktaa2cinemas (sic)" he wrote on Instagram.
In his post, the producer recalled how Priyanka was initially doubtful about playing the role of Sonia, who accuses her former lover and junior colleague Raj (Akshay) of sexual harassment.
"BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL PRIYANKA CHOPRA DARED N DID IT. That's why cine lovers can not forget her performance even after 20 years today in #AITRAZ - produced by Mukta arts.
"When she was too apprehensive to do this role of an ardent ambitious woman but did it with full confidence..." Ghai said.
Aitraaz also starred Amrish Puri, Annu Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Upasana Singh, and Vivek Shauq. -- PTI
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19:27 IndiGo, Air India cancel flights to Bali following volcanic eruption
IndiGo and Air India on Wednesday cancelled their flights to Bali due to ash clouds from a volcanic eruption in the Indonesian island.
The Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano located in a remote island in East Nusa Tenggara province erupted earlier this month and has resulted in ash clouds.
These clouds could pose a threat to flight operations and as a result, many airlines have cancelled their services to Bali.
IndiGo and Air India operate daily flights to Bali from Bengaluru and Delhi, respectively.
"#6ETravelAdvisory: Due to a recent volcanic eruption in #Bali, flights to/from the region have been cancelled, as ash clouds may impact air travel," IndiGo said in a post on X.
Air India said its flights from Delhi to Bali and return (AI 2145 and AI 2146 respectively), scheduled to operate on Wednesday have been cancelled due to unfavourable weather caused by the recent volcanic eruption.
"All possible efforts are being made to minimize inconvenience caused to our customers, due to this unforeseen situation, including complimentary rescheduling, accommodation in next available flight(s) or full refunds to those who opt for it," the airline said in a post on X.
The flight was earlier operated by Vistara, which has now been merged with Air India. -- PTI
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19:05 UP dance teacher alleges rape, death threats from 'Bishnoi gang' member
A dance teacher in Basti district of Uttar Pradesh has lodged a police complaint, alleging that she had been receiving rape and death threats from a suspected member of the "Lawrence Bishnoi gang".
In her complaint, the teacher alleged that a man, who claimed to be a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, threatened her over the phone, stating that he had already "raped and killed 25 women and that she would be his next victim".
The woman, a popular dance teacher in the Basti Sadar Kotwali area, shares dance tutorials on YouTube.
She alleged that the man used multiple numbers to call her.
Circle officer Satendra Bhushan Tiwari said, "We have received a complaint from the dance teacher regarding the threats. Preliminary investigation into the matter is underway."
Bishnoi, whose name cropped up in the recent murder of a Maharashtra MLA, is currently lodged in a Gujarat jail. -- PTI
18:50 Jharkhand polls: 65% turnout in 43 seats till 5 pm
A voter turnout of 64.86 percent was recorded in the 43 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where polling was held in the first phase on Wednesday, officials said.
Lohardaga district topped the list with 73.21 percent polling while Hazaribag district recorded the lowest at 59.13, officials said and added that polling continued till 5 pm.
The poll percentage in other districts were Seraikela--Kharsawan (72.19), Gumla (69.01), Simdega (68.66), Khunti (68.36), Garhwa (67.35), Latehar (67.16), West Singhbhum (66.87) , Ramgarh (66.32), East Singhbhum (64.87), Chatra (63.26), Palamu (62.62), Koderma (62), Ranchi (60.49) and Hazaribag (59.13).
Former CM Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora were among the 683 candidates in fray in the first phase.
"Today is the first round of voting in Jharkhand assembly elections. I urge all voters to vote with full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy. On this occasion, my heartiest congratulations to all my young friends who are going to vote for the first time! Remember - first vote, then refreshment!," Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X. -- PTI
18:35 Vivo ropes in Suhana Khan as brand ambassador for Y-series smartphone
Chinese smartphone company Vivo has roped in Bollywood actor Suhana Khan as brand ambassador for Y-series smartphones, the company said on Wednesday.
She made her debut in Bollywood with Zoya Akhtar directed film The Archies.
"As a rising star, Suhana resonates with young audiences, making her an ideal ambassador for the Y series," the company said in a statement.
According to Counterpoint Research, Vivo led the Indian smartphone market in volume terms with 19.4 percent share, while it was on third spot with 15.5 percent share in value terms in the in the third quarter of 2024.
"Suhana's dynamic personality and style perfectly capture the essence of the Y Series -- where cutting-edge design meets smart functionality. We're thrilled to partner with her to bring even more exciting, stylish, and valuable experiences to our consumers, elevating the Y series to new heights," Vivo India head of corporate strategy Geetaj Channana said. -- PTI
18:11 BSE Sensex top losers today
Benchmark Sensex plunged 984 points to close at a more than four-month low on Wednesday following heavy selling in banking, auto and capital goods shares amid retail inflation soaring to a 14-month high in October and unabated foreign fund outflows.
The BSE Sensex slid to 77,690.95, down by 984.23 points or 1.25 percent, marking its second straight day of losses.
During the day, it slumped 1,141.88 points or 1.45 percent to 77,533.30.
Registering its fifth day of decline, the NSE Nifty tumbled 324.40 points or 1.36 percent to 23,559.05, a level not seen since June 24, 2024.
From the 30-share Sensex pack, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Steel, Adani Ports, JSW Steel, IndusInd Bank, Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank were the biggest laggards.
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17:50 Delhi air quality turns to 'severe' for first time this season
Delhi's air quality turned 'severe' for the first time this season on Wednesday, with the AQI soaring to 418.
In comparison, the national capital's 24-hour average Air Quality Index -- recorded at 4 pm every day -- stood at 334 on Tuesday.
At 9 am on Wednesday, the air quality was 'very poor' with a reading of 366.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe plus'.
Of the 36 monitoring stations in Delhi, 30 reported air quality in the 'severe' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. -- PTI
Song Jae-lim/ Image courtesy Instagram
17:22 K-Drama actor Song Jae-lim passes away at 39
South Korean actor Song Jae-lim, famed for his roles in beloved television dramas like Moon Embracing the Sun and Two Weeks, has passed away at the age of 39.
The actor was found dead at his home in Seoul on November 7, 2024, as per E! News.
According to the documents obtained from Seoul's Seongdong police and reported by E! News, Song was discovered by a close friend who arrived at his apartment around 12:30 p.m. for a lunch meeting.
The cause of death has not yet been disclosed, though police have stated that there were no signs of foul play.
Following his untimely passing, Song's family shared with Yonhap News Agency that they would hold a private funeral on November 14, attended only by immediate relatives and close friends, as per E! News.
Song Jae-lim made his acting debut in 2009 with the film Actresses, but it was his role in the hit historical drama Moon Embracing the Sun (2012) that catapulted him to fame.
He portrayed a loyal warrior in the popular series, which brought him widespread recognition and critical acclaim.
His career continued to thrive with notable roles in The Idle Mermaid (2014), Unkind Ladies (2015), and I Wanna Hear Your Song (2019), among others. -- ANI
16:55 Uddhav's convoy stopped at Maha-Goa check-post
Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray's convoy was stopped at a checkpost on the Maharashtra-Goa border in Sindhudurg district on Wednesday.
The incident was reported days after bags of the former Maharashtra chief minister were checked by poll officials in Yavatmal district ahead of a poll rally, prompting him to raise allegations of selective targeting.
On Wednesday, Thackeray and his son Tejas were on a campaign tour in the coastal Konkan region.
Visuals show Thackeray's carcade being stopped at the Inshuli check post when it was entering Maharashtra from Goa, leaving him infuriated.
Check-post personnel allowed the convoy to proceed after realising that Thackeray was travelling in one of the cars.
Thackeray then proceeded towards Sawantwadi in Sindhudurg district to address a campaign rally.
Earlier this week, bags carried by Thackeray were frisked by poll officials after the helicopter carrying him landed at a helipad for a rally in Yavatmal district in east Maharashtra. -- PTI
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16:33 30 students fall sick after eating breakfast in Karnataka
About 30 students of a private residential school fell sick after eating breakfast on Wednesday in the taluka headquarters town of Humnabad in Bidar district, the police said.
It is suspected to be a case of food poisoning, they said.
"The students started vomiting after eating the rice item for breakfast. They also complained of dizziness and fatigue," a police official said.
"They were rushed to a hospital." The condition of all the students -- aged between 12 and 14 -- is stable, the official said.
"The condition of all of them is stable and, based on the medical examination report, further action will be taken. As of now, it is suspected to be a case of food poisoning," he said. -- PTI
Bombing in Beirut. Pic: Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters
16:21 Israeli airstrikes kill 3 Hezbollah commanders
Three Hezbollah field commanders have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed on Wednesday. The announcement came on the heels of the army's disclosure on Tuesday night that a majority of the terror group's weapons storage and production facilities in Beirut's Dahieh district have been destroyed.
The targeted strikes "further degrade Hezbollah's capability to carry out terror attacks from southern Lebanon against Israeli civilians on the northern border," the army said.
The IDF said Ayman Muhammad Nabulsi, the incoming commander of Hezbollah's 'Nasser' Unit's anti-tank missile array in the southern Lebanese area of Hajir was killed on Sunday. Also confirmed killed in a recent strike was Hajj Ali Yussef Salah, who served as the Hezbollah commander of the Tebnit area along with another commander of the Ghajar area.
The army also confirmed the elimination of Muhammad Musa Salah, Hezbollah's commander of the Khiam area in October.
Salah was responsible for the launches of more than 2,500 rockets at northern Israel and at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the IDF also announced on Tuesday night that airstrikes destroyed "a majority" of Hezbollah's weapons storage and missile manufacturing facilities located under the Dahieh district" of Beirut.
Dahieh is a Shi'ite stronghold in the southern area of Lebanon's capital city. "Over the past 20 years, the Hezbollah terrorist organization has established dozens of weapons production sites and storage facilities in the heart of the Dahieh district, the organization's governing stronghold.
These sites, systematically concealed beneath civilian buildings, have produced and stored hundreds of missiles and rockets intended to inflict significant harm on the State of Israel," the statement said. -- ANI
15:57 Sensex slumps for fifth straight day
Benchmark stock indices in India slumped for the fifth straight day, touching a multi-month low. The fall was due to a host of factors, including relatively weak Q2 earnings, sustained foreign fund flows, and rising domestic inflation.
Sensex closed at 77,691 points, down 984 points or 1.25 per cent, while Nifty closed at 23,559 points, down 324 points or 1.36 per cent. All the sectoral indices were deep in the green.
"Indian equity markets slipped after opening in positive territory due to a sell-off across the sectors amid a rise in dollar index and relentless foreign outflows," said ICRA Analytics.
15:32 Demolition-affected must get time: SC
The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued pan-India guidelines on demolition of properties and said affected people need to be given some time to challenge demolition orders before an appropriate forum.
Invoking its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the apex court passed a slew of directions which came with a caveat that these will not be applicable on unauthorised structures in public places.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan said no demolition should be carried out without a prior show-cause notice returnable either in accordance with the time provided by local municipal laws or within 15 days from the date of service of such notice, whichever is later.
It clarified that its directions will not be applicable if there is an unauthorised structure in public places such as road, footpath, abutting railway line or any river or water body and also where there is an order for demolition made by a court of law.
The bench said notice shall be served upon the owner or occupier by a registered post and additionally, shall also be affixed conspicuously on the outer portion of the structure in question.
"The time of 15 days, stated herein above, shall start from the date of receipt of the said notice," it said.
It said to prevent any allegation of backdating, as soon as the show-cause notice is duly served, intimation shall be sent to the office of the collector or district magistrate concerned digitally by e-mail. The bench said an auto-generated reply acknowledging receipt of mail should also be issued from the office of collector or DM.
It said the collector or DM shall designate a nodal officer and also assign an e-mail address and communicate the same to all municipal and other authorities in charge of building regulations and demolition within one month from today. The bench said the notice shall contain details regarding nature of unauthorised construction, specific violation and grounds of demolition.
It said notice shall also contain a list of documents that notice is required to furnish along with his reply and also specify the date on which personal hearing is fixed and the designated authority before whom it will take place.
"Every municipal/local authority shall assign a designated digital portal, within 3 months from today wherein details regarding service/pasting of the notice, the reply, the show cause notice and the order passed thereon would be available," the bench said. It said designated authority shall give an opportunity of personal hearing to the person concerned and minutes of such a hearing shall also be recorded. -- PTI
15:02 Swiggy IPO makes 500 employees crorepatis
Swiggy's much-anticipated stock market debut on Wednesday catapulted over 500 current and former employees to the "crorepati" club, with the food delivery and quick commerce major's listing poised to unlock Rs 9,000 crore in ESOPs for 5,000 staffers, people aware of the details said. Swiggy's initial share sale had a price range of Rs 371-390 a share.
"The total Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) pool is worth Rs 9,000 crore, with 5,000 past as well as present employees holding them. At the upper price range of the initial share price (Rs 390), 500 employees out of the 5,000 are set to become crorepatis," a person in the know shared the details requesting anonymity.
On Wednesday, shares of Swiggy were listed with a premium of nearly 8 per cent against the issue price of Rs 390 on NSE. Shares of the firm made the market debut at Rs 420, a jump of 7.69 per cent on the bourse.
The stock on the BSE was listed at Rs 412, a jump of 5.64 per cent from the issue price. Later, it surged 7.67 per cent to Rs 419.95. The company's market valuation stood at Rs 89,549.08 crore during the early trade.
The Rs 11,327-crore initial public offer of Swiggy was fully subscribed on the final day of the share sale on Friday, ending with 3.59 times subscription. -- PTI
14:50 Zomato's sweet message to Swiggy IPO: You & I...
In a kind gesture, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal on Wednesday congratulated rival Swiggy on its stock market debut, whose shares got listed at a premium of nearly 8 per cent on the NSE.
"Congratulations @swiggy! Couldn't have asked for a better company to serve India with..," Goyal said in a post on X, tagging another post by Zomato which said, "You and I... In this beautiful world @Swiggy".
Swiggy got listed at Rs 420, a jump of nearly 8 per cent from the issue price on the NSE. The Rs 11,327-crore initial public offer of Swiggy got fully subscribed on the final day of the share sale on Friday, ending with 3.59 times subscription. Marking its stock market debut, Swiggy rolled out an ad film encapsulating the brand's ethos and the decade-long journey that led to the milestone.
In a tribute to the backbone of Swiggy's operations, two of the company's delivery partners, Jigar Khan and Namrata Vora, were invited to join Swiggy's Co-Founders and Management Team on stage at the National Stock Exchange.
"Together, they rang the ceremonial bell, symbolising the collective effort of Swiggy's delivery network and honouring their vital role in the company's success. This gesture reinforced Swiggy's commitment to celebrating the hard work and contributions of its delivery heroes, who are at the heart of the brand's journey from a startup to a publicly listed company," Swiggy said in a statement.
The Bengaluru-based company's IPO was priced in the range of Rs 371-390 a share. PTI
14:42 TMC leader shot dead in Bengal's North 24 Parganas district
A Trinamool Congress leader of Jagatdal area in North 24 Parganas district was shot dead by unidentified miscreants on Wednesday, police said. The deceased was identified as Ashok Shaw, a former TMC president of Jagatdal Ward No 12.
Shaw was shot multiple times by miscreants who also hurled bombs when he was standing in front of a tea stall, only a few hundred metres away from Jagatdal police station, they said.
Shaw was rushed to the nearby Bhatpara State General Hospital where he died, a senior police officer said, adding that an investigation has been started. A few others, who were also injured in the attack, were undergoing treatment in hospital, he said.
File pic
14:37 Bengal bypolls: Over 45% turnout till 1 pm
Polling was by and large peaceful in six assembly seats of West Bengal where voter turnout of over 45 per cent was recorded till 1 pm during by-elections on Wednesday, an election official said.
Polling in Sitai, Madarihat, Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, and Taldangra assembly constituencies started at 7 am, amid tight security arrangements, he said. Voting will continue till 5 pm, he added.
"Polling has been more or less peaceful. No untoward incident has been reported from the constituencies where voting is underway. Our security officers are keeping a tight vigil on the polling process," the official said.
14:25 HM: Art 370 won't be restored even if Indira returns
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should remember that even if his fourth generation were to come, Muslims won't get reservations meant for SCs, STs and OBCs.
"A few days ago, Ulemas met the president of Congress party and said that Muslims should be given reservation," Shah said, addressing a rally for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections.
"If reservation has to be given to Muslims, then reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs will have to be cut. Rahul Baba, not only you but even if your four generations were to come, they cannot cut the quota meant for SCs, STs and OBCs and give it to Muslims," Shah said.
Shah also said Article 370 won't be restored, come what may. "Even if Indira Gandhi were to return from heaven, Article 370 won't be restored," Shah said.
Describing the opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi grouping in Maharashtra as Aurangzeb Fan Club, Shah said the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance abides by the ideals of Shivaji Maharaj and Veer Savarkar. PTI
Photograph: Kent J Edwards/Reuters
13:49 Coldplay announces another show in India
Rock band Coldplay and online ticket platform BookMyShow on Wednesday announced a fourth show in Ahmedabad as part of the band's 'Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025' citing 'incredible fan demand'.
The new announcement comes following a controversy over reports of black marketing of tickets after they were sold out within minutes.
The fourth show will be held at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on January 25, 2025, and the tickets will be available on BookMyShow.
In September, Coldplay announced two shows on January 18 and 19, 2025, at the DY Patil Sports Stadium. The music group added a third concert on January 21 at the same venue on popular demand.
The British band, led by vocalist Chris Martin, posted on their official X page about the new concert in India. The tickets for the new show will go on sale on November 16 at 12pm.
'2025 AHMEDABAD DATE ANNOUNCED...The band will play their biggest ever show, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 25 January, 2025. #MusicOfTheSpheresWorldTour,' the band posted on X.
According to a press release by the ticketing platform, the multiple Grammy-award winning band will perform for a potential audience of 100,000 fans, making it 'the biggest stadium show of their career'.
"The only way to better serve the record-breaking demand for Coldplay's Music Of The Spheres World Tour in India has been to secure the country's largest venue, making it possible to host Coldplay for their biggest-ever stadium audience globally. Bringing another show to life took immense effort from our teams and partners alike and we are thrilled for the chance to make this happen for Coldplay's fans," Anil Makhija, COO - Live Entertainment and Venues, BookMyShow, said in a statement.
The Enforcement Directorate began a probe in the alleged illegal sale of tickets of concerts of 'Coldplay' and Diljit Dosanjh after these events were sold out in just minutes on online ticketing platforms, including Zomato Live.
Many of them then landed on unauthorised platforms where they were being sold at exorbitant prices.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, BookMyShow said to ensure a level playing field for all fans, the ticket booking process will feature a virtual queue with a waiting room, where fans will be allocated queue positions through an Automated Queue Randomisation System, when the sale goes live.
'Music Of The Spheres World Tour in India' is produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live, the live entertainment experiential division of BookMyShow and Live Nation, the global promoter of the tour.
Jared Braverman, SVP of Global Touring, Live Nation Entertainment, shared, 'Over 20 years into their touring career, Coldplay continues to push boundaries in both scale and reach. Performing in Ahmedabad, their largest single stadium show to date, showcases their unwavering commitment to connecting with fans worldwide.'
Dhanraj Nathwani, President, Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), said, 'This historic Coldplay concert in Ahmedabad not only positions our city on the global entertainment map but also reflects the vibrancy and modern infrastructure of Gujarat... We are also excited to partner with BookMyShow Live, a company that has consistently brought the best of global entertainment to India, and Live Nation, making this a truly momentous occasion for Gujarat.' -- PTI
The new announcement comes following a controversy over reports of black marketing of tickets after they were sold out within minutes.
The fourth show will be held at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on January 25, 2025, and the tickets will be available on BookMyShow.
In September, Coldplay announced two shows on January 18 and 19, 2025, at the DY Patil Sports Stadium. The music group added a third concert on January 21 at the same venue on popular demand.
The British band, led by vocalist Chris Martin, posted on their official X page about the new concert in India. The tickets for the new show will go on sale on November 16 at 12pm.
'2025 AHMEDABAD DATE ANNOUNCED...The band will play their biggest ever show, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 25 January, 2025. #MusicOfTheSpheresWorldTour,' the band posted on X.
According to a press release by the ticketing platform, the multiple Grammy-award winning band will perform for a potential audience of 100,000 fans, making it 'the biggest stadium show of their career'.
"The only way to better serve the record-breaking demand for Coldplay's Music Of The Spheres World Tour in India has been to secure the country's largest venue, making it possible to host Coldplay for their biggest-ever stadium audience globally. Bringing another show to life took immense effort from our teams and partners alike and we are thrilled for the chance to make this happen for Coldplay's fans," Anil Makhija, COO - Live Entertainment and Venues, BookMyShow, said in a statement.
The Enforcement Directorate began a probe in the alleged illegal sale of tickets of concerts of 'Coldplay' and Diljit Dosanjh after these events were sold out in just minutes on online ticketing platforms, including Zomato Live.
Many of them then landed on unauthorised platforms where they were being sold at exorbitant prices.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, BookMyShow said to ensure a level playing field for all fans, the ticket booking process will feature a virtual queue with a waiting room, where fans will be allocated queue positions through an Automated Queue Randomisation System, when the sale goes live.
'Music Of The Spheres World Tour in India' is produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live, the live entertainment experiential division of BookMyShow and Live Nation, the global promoter of the tour.
Jared Braverman, SVP of Global Touring, Live Nation Entertainment, shared, 'Over 20 years into their touring career, Coldplay continues to push boundaries in both scale and reach. Performing in Ahmedabad, their largest single stadium show to date, showcases their unwavering commitment to connecting with fans worldwide.'
Dhanraj Nathwani, President, Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), said, 'This historic Coldplay concert in Ahmedabad not only positions our city on the global entertainment map but also reflects the vibrancy and modern infrastructure of Gujarat... We are also excited to partner with BookMyShow Live, a company that has consistently brought the best of global entertainment to India, and Live Nation, making this a truly momentous occasion for Gujarat.' -- PTI
13:18 Deora challenges Aaditya to debate. Topics are...
Milind Deora, the Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha responds to his opponent, Aaditya Thackeray (Sena UBT). They are battling from the Worli constituency of Mumbai.
"Considering you think "someone who is scared of an open debate with rival candidates is not worthy of being in any public forum", I invite you to have an open debate about the future of Worli, Mumbai & Maharashtra. Let's also talk about @mybmc's 30-year misgovernance, #MumbaiMetro delays, Mahalaxmi Racecourse & the Sachin Vaze scandal's impact on #Maharashtra's economy. Worlikars should decide whether 'speed breaker politics' or 'progress without speed limits' is the best way forward for our city & state."
Deora had described his high-stakes electoral contest against Thackeray as a "political battle" and accused him of hindering development in Mumbai and Maharashtra through his "speed-breaker politics".
Deora was responding to Aaditya Thackeray's post on X yesterday. Thackeray said, "Between yesterday and today, 2 events where citizens (part of 2 ALMs/ RWA/ citizen associations) could have watched South Mumbai Candidates debate face to face, and be asked questions by the citizens have been cancelled.
"The cancellation was last minute, apparently by the Police, one in the name of fear of political workers clashing and the other for timing of permissions.
"Has it come to this that civil debates wont be allowed by agencies? Their duty is to prevent untoward incidents, not prevent debate.
"South Mumbai MP- Candidate @AGSawant ji was ready and is ready for the debate and open questions.
"Guess who is using agencies to cancel these debates?
"Someone who is scared of an open debate with rival candidates is not worthy of being in any public forum, the Parliament being the highest.
"Chalo, lets have another go at it.
"This is South Mumbais tradition of debates.
"Will it happen again or will the police be told to say it is worried about clashes? We promise absolutely no clashes."
Worli has been a stronghold of the Sena (UBT) faction and was convincingly won by Aaditya Thackeray in the 2019 Assembly polls.
The landslide in Wayanad left over 400 people dead
12:47 Hugs, tears for Wayanad survivors at polls
Emotional scenes were witnessed at the polling stations set up for the survivors of the landslides, which hit the hill district in July this year, to cast their votes in the bypoll for the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency when they saw their neighbours and close friends after a long time since the disaster.
The survivors hugged each other with joy and then broke into tears as they recalled how they all lived together as one big happy family before the landslides swept away everything on July 30.
One elderly man broke into tears as he narrated how the residents of Punchirimattam, Chooralmala and Mundakkai villages, which were completely destroyed in the landslides, celebrated every festival together irrespective of their religions.
His friend, whom he met on the bus that was arranged to ferry voters of the landslide-affected to polling stations, hugged and consoled him, saying "don't cry, everything will turn out to be fine".
Another woman said after the landslides, the survivors were relocated or rehabilitated to different parts of the district.
"So, when we see them after such a long gap, the first thing we ask is where you are living and not how you are doing," she told media.
A special free vehicle service has been provided for landslide survivors to reach the polling stations from the various places they are temporarily residing at. Over 200 people were killed in the landslides that swept away the three villages and destroyed hundreds of homes. -- PTI
12:36 Jharkhand records 29% turnout till 11 am
Jharkhand recorded a voter turnout of 29.31 per cent as of 11 am in the first phase of Assembly elections, according to the data of the Election Commission of India.
Wayanad recorded 27.04% voter turnout till 11 am, as per the Election Commission of India.
Rajasthan: Close to 25 per cent votes were cast in the bypolls to the seven assembly seats in Rajasthan between 7 am and 11 am on Wednesday, an election department official said.
Bihar: A voter turnout of 22.28 per cent was registered till 11 am on Wednesday in the bypolls to Tarari, Imamganj, Belaganj and Ramgarh assembly seats in Bihar, an official said and added that polling is scheduled to continue till 6 pm.
West Bengal: A voter turnout of over 30 per cent was recorded till 11 am on Wednesday for bypolls to six assembly seats in West Bengal, an election official said.
Assam: Over 30 per cent of 9.1 lakh electors cast their votes in the first four hours of polling on Wednesday during by-elections to five assembly constituencies in Assam.
11:55 SC lays down guidelines to curb 'bulldozer justice'
Update: The Supreme Court on Thursday laid down stringent guidelines to curb "bulldozer justice" and stated that the executive cannot declare a person guilty, nor can it become a judge and decide to demolish the property of an accused person.
The Apex Court directed that no demolition should be carried out without a prior 15-day notice to the property owner. The Court stated that the notice should be served on the owner by registered post and also fixed on the outer portion of the structure.
The notice must include the nature of the unauthorized construction, details of the specific violation, and the grounds for demolition. The demolition must be videographed, and any violation of these guidelines will invite contempt.
The judgment was delivered by a bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Vishwanathan.
The Supreme Court held that the state and its officials cannot take arbitrary and excessive measures, stating that the executive cannot declare a person guilty or decide to demolish the property of an accused.
Pronouncing the verdict on "bulldozer actions" by state governments to demolish properties of persons accused of crimes, the top court underlined that it had considered the rights guaranteed under the Constitution, which protect individuals from arbitrary state action.
The Court explained that the rule of law provides a framework ensuring individuals know their property will not be taken away arbitrarily.
The Supreme Court also dealt with the separation of powers and how the executive and judicial wings operate in their respective spheres. It emphasized that adjudicatory functions are entrusted to the judiciary, and the executive cannot replace the judiciary in performing this core function.
The Court stated that if the executive demolishes a person's house arbitrarily merely because they are accused, it violates the principle of separation of powers. Public officials who take the law into their own hands and act in such a high-handed manner must be held accountable. -- ANI
11:11 Executive can't replace judiciary: SC on demolitions
The Supreme Court lays down pan-India guidelines for demolition of properties. The Executive cannot replace the Judiciary and legal process should not prejudge the guilt of an accused, the Supreme Court said today, taking a tough stand on the issue of 'bulldozer justice'. The court says it's not a happy sight to see women, children on streets overnight. Accused and convicts have certain rights, safeguards in light of Constitution and criminal law, says SC.
Details in a bit.
11:02 Bypolls: WB 14%, Bihar 9%, MP 17% till 9 am
A voter turnout of over 14 per cent was recorded till 9 am on Wednesday for by-elections to six assembly seats in West Bengal, an EC official said. Polling for by-elections to Sitai, Madarihat, Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur and Taldangra assembly constituencies started at 7 am, amid tight security arrangements, an official said.
Voting will continue till 5 pm, he added.
"Polling has been peaceful. No untoward incident has been reported from the assembly constituencies where voting is underway," the Election Commission official said. Notably, five of these constituencies are in the TMC strongholds of south Bengal, while Madarihat remains a BJP bastion in the northern part of the state.
Altogether 108 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed for the by-elections. The bypolls were necessitated following the resignations of MLAs who were elected to the Lok Sabha in the general elections this year. -- PTI
10:40 Delhi airport sees 7 flight diversions due to bad weather
At least seven flights were diverted and many were delayed at the Delhi airport on Wednesday morning as low visibility conditions impacted operations, according to officials.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that very dense fog began forming around 5.30 am, resulting in a thick haze over different parts of the national capital. One of the officials said six flights were diverted to Jaipur and one to Lucknow since 7 am due to bad weather.
The second official said some flights have been delayed and the visibility conditions are improving. The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital is the country's busiest airport and handles around 1,400 flight movements daily. PTI
File pic
10:38 Voter turnouts in Bihar, MP...
Bihar: A voter turnout of 9.53 per cent was registered till 9 am on Wednesday in the by-elections to Tarari, Imamganj, Belaganj and Ramgarh assembly seats in Bihar on Wednesday, an official said.
MP: A voter turnout of 17.86 per cent was recorded in Vijaypur and 16.90 per cent in Budhni till 9 am as polling was underway on Wednesday for byelections to the two assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, a poll official said.
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10:22 Centre rushes 20 more CAPF companies to Manipur
The Centre has rushed 20 additional CAPF companies comprising about 2,000 personnel to Manipur in the wake of fresh attacks and law and order issues in the state, official sources said Wednesday.
The sources told PTI that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued orders on Tuesday night for airlifting and immediate deployment of these units.
At least 10 suspected militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Monday after insurgents in camouflage uniforms, armed with sophisticated weapons, fired indiscriminately at the Borobekra police station and the adjacent CRPF camp at Jakuradhor in Jiribam district.
A huge cache of sophisticated weapons were also seized by the force following the fierce gunbattle. Sources said out of the 20 fresh Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) companies ordered to be rushed to Manipur include 15 from the CRPF and five from the Border Security Force (BSF). These units will add to the 198 companies of the CAPFs that are already stationed in the state following the ethnic violence that began in the state in May last year leading to the killing of 200 people.
All these CAPF units will be at the disposal of the Manipur government till November 30 as ordered by the MHA but the deployment is expected to be extended, the sources said. Tension has been high in Manipur since last week due to a fresh round of violence in Jiribam.
Following the Monday incident, fresh violence was reported from multiple places in Imphal Valley where armed groups from the two warring sides engaged in exchange of fire, the state police had said. PTI
CM Hemant Soren
10:21 13% voter turnout in Jharkhand till 9 am
Nearly 13.04 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 9 am on Wednesday in 43 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where voting is underway in the first phase, officials said. Polling began around 7 am in these constituencies across 15 districts and will continue till 5 pm.
A total of 683 candidates are trying their luck, including former CM Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora. Voting in 950 booths will end at 4 PM, though people standing in the queue at that time will be able to exercise their franchise, an official said. Long queues of voters were seen outside several booths in the morning.
Simdega seat registered the highest voter turnout at 15.09 per cent, Ranchi at 12.06 per cent and Seraikela-Kharsawan at 14.62 per cent. Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar has cast his vote at the ATI polling booth in Ranchi.
"Today is the first phase of voting for the Jharkhand Assembly elections. I urge all voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote as soon as possible and vote with full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy. Remember, first vote and then refreshment!" Gangwar said.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren sought the backing of the people. In a post on X, he said, "If you like our work, please support us. I promise that I will do 10 years of work in the next 5 years so that no one can stop our pace of progress." -- PTI
09:50 Priyanka: My expectation from Wayanad is...
Kerala: Congress candidate for Wayanad Lok Sabha by-elections Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "My expectation is that the people of Wayanad will give me the chance to repay the love and affection they have shown and to work for them and to be their representative. I hope everyone will exercise their democratic right and vote."
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is making her electoral debut from Wayanad, urged voters on Wednesday to cast their ballot and called for building a better future together. Voting in the bypoll for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat commenced at 7 am on Wednesday.
"My dearest sisters and brothers, Please vote today, it's your day, a day for you to make your choice and exercise the greatest power our constitution has given you. Let's build a better future together!" Priyanka Gandhi said in a post on X.
The Wayanad constituency comprises seven Assembly segments of Mananthavady (ST), Sulthan Bathery (ST), and Kalpetta in Wayanad district; Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district; and Eranad, Nilambur, and Wandoor in Malappuram district.
09:21 Delhi residents are smoking 18 cigarettes/day
Dense layer of smog engulfed the national capital Delhi with the Air quality dropping down to 361 categorized as 'Very Poor' at 8 a.m., as per the Central Pollution Control Board. AQI 361 is the equivalent of smoking 18 cigarettes over a 24 hour period.
Residents have complained of low visibility on the roads and have also been experiencing irritation in their eyes, running nose, breathlessness and cough. Upendra Singh, a local said.
"The pollution has increased and with the temperatures also dropping down, we have started experiencing a lot of issues. There is barely any visibility on the road, and we have also been experiencing irritation in the eyes, running nose, breathlessness and cough."
A cyclist near India Gate complained that he had to halt his routine due to the increasing pollution.
"I come here to cycle daily. However, I had to stop cycling for some time due to no visibility and high level of pollution in the city. It is getting difficult to breathe. The government needs to take some action on this urgently. Locals should also cooperate with the government and take precautionary measures," he said.
A senior citizen complained that he and his grandchildren had been facing breathing issues and throat pain because of the pollution.
"We are facing a lot of problems. I am a senior citizen. My grandchildren are also suffering from problems while going to school. We are having breathing issues, irritation in the eyes and throat pain. The main reason behind this is the use of vehicles and stubble burning. There needs to be some action taken on this, the government cannot just sit without doing anything," he said.
AQI in Anand Vihar dropped down to 399, 382 in Punjabi Bagh, 376 in Ashok Vihar at 8 am as per the Central Pollution Control Board. -- ANI
09:09 Bypoll: Wayanad witnesses brisk polling
During the first hour of voting, Wayanad Lok Sabha and the Chelakkara assembly seats in Kerala witnessed a turnout of 6.96 and 7.2 per cent, respectively on Wednesday.
People started arriving early in the morning at the 1,354 polling booths in the hill constituency of Wayanad where there are over 14 lakh registered voters, according to the Election Commission figures.
Some arrived early, while others wanted to get it over with quickly before more people started reaching the polling stations, they told reporters. It is a holiday in Wayanad LS and Chelakkara assembly constituencies on account of the bypolls.
The Wayanad constituency comprises seven assembly segments of Mananthavady (ST), Sulthan Bathery (ST), and Kalpetta in Wayanad district; Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district; and Eranad, Nilambur, and Wandoor in Malappuram district.
A bypoll was necessitated in the hill constituency after Rahul Gandhi, who won the Wayanad LS seat in the general elections held earlier this year, vacated it after he also won from the Rae Bareli constituency.
There are 16 candidates in the fray for the seat with Congress-led UDF's candidate and Rahul's sister Priyanka, who is making her electoral debut, CPI(M)-led LDF's Sathyan Mokeri and BJP-led NDA's Navya Haridas being the top contenders. Polling in Wayanad commenced amidst tight security arrangements which included deployment of over 2,500 security personnel and live monitoring of the by-election process by an extensive webcasting system.
08:43 Trump picks Fox News host as his defence secy
United States President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced the nomination of popular Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth, 44, as his defence secretary.
"I am honoured to announce that I have nominated Pete Hegseth to serve in my Cabinet as The Secretary of Defense," Trump announced Tuesday night.
"Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our 'Peace through Strength' policy," he said.
"Pete has spent his entire life as a warrior for the troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America's enemies are on notice," he added.
"Our military will be great again, and America will never back down," Trump declared.
A graduate of Princeton University, Hegseth has a graduate degree from Harvard University. He is an Army combat veteran who did tours in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. For his actions on the battlefield, he was decorated with two Bronze stars, as well as a Combat Infantryman's badge.
"Pete has been a host at FOX News for eight years, where he used that platform to fight for our military and veterans. Pete's recent book 'The War on Warriors' spent nine weeks on the New York Times best-sellers list, including two weeks at number one," Trump said.
"I am honoured to announce that I have nominated Pete Hegseth to serve in my Cabinet as The Secretary of Defense," Trump announced Tuesday night.
"Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our 'Peace through Strength' policy," he said.
"Pete has spent his entire life as a warrior for the troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America's enemies are on notice," he added.
"Our military will be great again, and America will never back down," Trump declared.
A graduate of Princeton University, Hegseth has a graduate degree from Harvard University. He is an Army combat veteran who did tours in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. For his actions on the battlefield, he was decorated with two Bronze stars, as well as a Combat Infantryman's badge.
"Pete has been a host at FOX News for eight years, where he used that platform to fight for our military and veterans. Pete's recent book 'The War on Warriors' spent nine weeks on the New York Times best-sellers list, including two weeks at number one," Trump said.
"The book reveals the left wing betrayal of our warriors, and how we must return our military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence. Pete has also led two veterans' advocacy organisations, leading the fight for our warriors, and our great veterans," he added. -- PTI
IMAGE: Fox and Friends co-host Pete Hegseth interviews then President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC on April 6, 2017. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
08:02 Trump gives key role to Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy
United States President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that Tesla owner Elon Musk and Indian American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE.
'I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE),' Trump announced.
Ramaswamy is the first Indian American to have been tapped by Trump into his administration beginning January 20 next year.
'Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies -- essential to the 'Save America' Movement,' he said.
'I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE),' Trump announced.
Ramaswamy is the first Indian American to have been tapped by Trump into his administration beginning January 20 next year.
'Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies -- essential to the 'Save America' Movement,' he said.
'This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people!' stated Musk, as per the statement issued by Trump.
The US President-elect said this will become, potentially, 'The Manhattan Project of the current time.'
Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of DOGE for a very long time. To drive this kind of drastic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside of government, and will partner with the White House and Office of Management and Budget to drive large-scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to the government never seen before, he said.
'I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the federal bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans. Importantly, we will drive out the massive waste and fraud which exists throughout our annual $6.5 trillion of government spending,' said the President-elect.
'They will work together to liberate our economy, and make the US government accountable to 'WE THE PEOPLE'. Their work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026. A smaller government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. I am confident they will succeed!' Trump declared. -- PTI
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01:23 Man accidentally steps onto rail passenger's bag containing matchboxes, friction causes fire in coach
A train's coach caught fire this week when a man accidentally stepped onto a fellow passenger's bag containing matchboxes and inflammable objects which got ignited due to friction, officials said.
The incident took place early morning on November 10 in Unchahar Express near Etawah station when the man was alighting from the middle berth.
The Government Railway Police lodged an FIR against the bag owner for travelling with prohibited items such as matchboxes and inflammable objects.
According to railway officials, the train arrived at Etawah early Sunday morning and after about 10 minutes when it started moving, some passengers pulled the chain to stop it.
"A fire was reported around berth number 49 to 53 in S-4 coach and by the time the Railway Protection Force, station master and other officers reached the spot, passengers with the help of onboard railway employees put it out with the help of fire extinguishers. When the situation was brought under control, passengers informed us of the cause of the fire," a railway official said.
"Since the train almost left the Etawah station, it was allowed to move to the nearest station Ekdil, where it didn't have any scheduled stoppage.The train was taken in a loop line to give way to the other important trains running behind it. The bag owner and three other members of his family were de-boarded and booked for illegally carrying prohibited items," he added. -- PTI
Kangana Ranaut
01:20 UP court notice to Kangana for her remark on Mahatma Gandhi
An MP-MLA court on Tuesday issued a notice to actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on a complaint alleging that she made objectionable remarks against Mahatma Gandhi and the farmers who were agitating against the now-scrapped agri laws, a lawyer claimed.
Rama Shankar Sharma, an advocate, said the court has sought a response from Ranaut on his complaint and has fixed November 28 as the next date of hearing.
"I had filed a case in Agra MP MLA Court on September 11, 2024, against actress and MP from Mandi Kangana Ranaut," Sharma said.
"She had insulted crores of farmers of the country and also insulted father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi withe her remarks," he said quoting media reports.
On Tuesday, the court issued a notice seeking a statement from the Mandi MP. -- PTI
00:39 Gas leak triggers huge blast in Faridabad; 1 killed
A person died and three others were injured in a huge explosion due to leakage from a gas pipeline in Palwal in Haryana on Tuesday, officials said.
The explosion happened near Lala Lajpat Rai Park on Old GT Road while a government earth-moving machine was fixing a water pipeline near a tea shop leading to a stampede at the site, they said.
Several shops, one of them a three-storey building, were completely burnt, several vehicles, including a JCB, were also damaged in the fire and total loss due to the blaze is said to be worth crores.
Four fire brigade vehicles reached the spot and controlled the fire after two hours of effort, they added.
The police and officials of the district administration rushed to the spot to control the crowd.
According to police, a 10 feet long and eight feet wide pit was dug using an excavator to fix a water pipeline leakage around noon on Tuesday.
Later, all the workers of the public health department came out of the pit after fixing the leakage.
While the pit was being refilled with the JCB, a PNG pipeline nearby got damaged and started leaking rapidly.
Before people could react, the gas from the stove of the teashop likely caught fire and exploded, the police said.
This led to a stampede among the shopkeepers and other people, they said. -- PTI
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