Breaking News, October 23

Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota on Wednesday emphasised the need for law enforcement agencies to maintain strict vigilance along the Indo-Bangladesh border. Chairing the 7th State-Level Standing Committee Meeting with stakeholders, including officers from BSF, State Border Police, and the Directorate of Narcotics, Kota reviewed the measures being taken to control cross-border crimes.

Delhi recorded the worst air quality in the country on Wednesday, with pollution levels plunging into the 'severe' category in more areas of the national capital than the previous day. A thick layer of smog shrouded the Delhi-National Capital Region during the morning and evening hours, worsening the air quality in the region.
 

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi today (October 23). 

MobiKwik, a digital financial services platform, on Wednesday announced the launch of an Instant Fixed Deposit (FD) product on its mobile app, in partnership with financial services firms. The product aims to simplify the savings process for its users, MobiKwik said in a statement.

A 35-year-old man was murdered in Odisha's Kandhamal district, police said on Wednesday. The deceased, identified as Anik Patnaik of Karada village, was attacked with sharp weapons when he was returning home on his cycle on Tuesday evening, they said.

Former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain on Wednesday argued before a Delhi court that charges under the anti-terror law UAPA are not applicable against the accused in the case of larger conspiracy behind the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Israel needs to pursue an “enduring strategic success” in Gaza after its tactical victories against Hamas, urging it to seek a deal that would end the war and bring back dozens of hostages. He spoke before travelling from Israel to Saudi Arabia on his 11th visit to the region since the war began. Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv shortly before his departure as Israel intercepted two projectiles fired from Lebanon — the latest in Israel's war with Hezbollah — and a puff of smoke could be seen in the sky from Blinken's hotel.

With the city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) deciding to seal the Kendriya Vihar apartment complex for the next seven days after it was inundated due to rains, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said authorities may have to forcibly vacate some residents, who are refusing to cooperate, keeping their own safety and interest in mind.

Days after the Ganderbal terror attack, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said Jammu and Kashmir is bearing the brunt of the animosity between India and Pakistan, and reconciliation between the two is the only way to stop such incidents.

Aligned with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's vision, Uttar Pradesh Police are preparing to adopt a people-centric approach, setting a new benchmark for public service during the Maha Kumbh 2025, officials said Wednesday.

The preliminary test of the Odisha civil service examination, 2023, has been postponed in view of the impending cyclone Dana, which will hit the Odisha coast by October 25. According to a notice issued by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC), the preliminary examination, which was scheduled to be held on October 27 has been postponed and a fresh date will be notified after seven days. The OPSC has advised the candidates to visit its official website for further information.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said three Bangladeshis, including two women, were pushed back while trying to enter India. "In an alert move, @assampolice foiled an infiltration bid along the Indo-Bangladesh border and pushed back three illegal infiltrators across the border," Sarma said in a post on X. He, however, did now share through which location or sector the foreign nationals attempted to enter India.

At least 30 students were injured during an on-campus clash with security guards over an alleged suicide of a girl student, harassment and other issues in the Punjab University here, police said on Wednesday. Ten security guards and a police officer too were injured in the clashes that took place on Tuesday when the university students under the banner of the Punjab University Student Federation (PUSF) raised demands such as the alleged suicide by the female student, harassment, profiling of students especially Baloch by the intelligence agencies and fee hike.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed no felling or transplantation of trees will take place for the metro rail project near the iconic Victoria Memorial in Kolkata without the permission of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC). A bench of Justices B R Gavai, P K Mishra and K V Vishwanathan passed the order while hearing a plea challenging a June 20 verdict of the Calcutta High Court.

Russia said it has no intention of abandoning Iran if Israel attacks them. "We are developing cooperation with Iran in a variety of areas. We intend to do this further."

Andhra Pradesh cabinet meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today at the State Secretariat.

The Supreme Court fixed pleas against the grant of immunity to husbands under penal provisions in the marital rape case for hearing after 4 weeks by another bench.

Air raid sirens echoed across Tel Aviv on Wednesday as U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken prepared to end a visit. Smoke, apparently from an intercepted projectile, could be seen in the sky above the hotel where Blinken was staying.

Jan Suraaj Party on Wednesday changed two of its candidates for the Bihar Assembly byelection 2024. Now, the candidate from the Tarari assembly seat in Bhojpur will be Kiran Singh. Earlier, the Jan Suraaj Party named former vice chief of the Army, Lieutenant General Krishna Singh, as its candidate for the Tarari assembly seat but, he could not contest the election due to his name was available in the voter list in Bihar.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav Wednesday said the state holds immense potential in every sector, and his government was taking steps towards its industrial development. He also said the Regional Industry Conclave (RIC) will prove to be historic for the Vindhya region of the state.

Two children were injured when a van carrying school children fell into a river and got submerged in Chhattisgarh's Sakti district on Wednesday, police said. The incident took place between Hasaud and Pisaud villages in the morning when the van was crossing a barrage on the Son river on way to a school, a police official here said.

In a dramatic development, BJP leader and former Minister C P Yogeeshwara on Wednesday quit his party and joined the Congress, which is now expected to field him in the November 13 Assembly bypolls from Channapatna. Yogeeshwara, who had quit as an MLC on Monday, met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the State Congress chief, after resigning from the primary membership of the BJP earlier in the day.

Schools and Anganwadi centres remained shut in Bengaluru Urban district on Wednesday in view of a heavy rain forecast. In the last 24 hours till 8. 30 am today, Bengaluru has received 23. 6 mm rainfall and, according to the India Meteorological Department forecast, the city will witness a generally cloudy sky with moderate rain/thundershowers very likely and heavy rains at times.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday filed her nomination for the Wayanad Lok Sabha byelection. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were also present on the occasion. 

TV star Drashti Dhami and her husband, entrepreneur Niraj Khemka have become parents to their first child, a baby girl. The couple shared the news in a joint Instagram post on Tuesday.

Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the wealthiest people globally, has donated USD 50 million to Future Forward USA Action, a nonprofit organisation backing Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Ahead of the Budhni bypoll in Madhya Pradesh, supporters of BJP leader Rajendra Singh have demanded that he be fielded from the assembly seat instead of former MP Ramakant Bhargava, or else they will vote for the NOTA option. Some videos showed supporters of former MLA Rajendra Singh holding a meeting on Tuesday in Bherunda town of Budhni assembly seat and demanding that BJP's nominee Bhargava be replaced.

Two groups of students clashed at Jamia Millia Islamia University during the Diwali event on Tuesday evening. Student union Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) alleged that diyas (clay-made lamps) were broken and rangolis were ruined by a group of students.

At least five workers died after an under-construction seven-storey building collapsed in the Babusapalya here on Tuesday amid heavy rain.

10 Bangladeshi nationals, living illegally in Ranjangaon area, Pune, were arrested by Police. The court sent them to police custody till 24th October.

he Mumbai police have seized 1,000 e-cigarettes valued at Rs 30 lakh after conducting raids at a man's shop and residential premises here, officials said. E-cigarettes are banned in India, they said. Based on specific information, the crime branch personnel on Monday conducted a raid at the man's shop in Agripada area of south Mumbai, an official said on Tuesday.

The Congress leadership and workers welcomed CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as they arrived in Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad. Priyanka will file the nomination today.

Residents of South Pune, take a bold stance, warning the EC that they will boycott the Maharashtra Assembly polls unless their demands are met on the civic amenities.

About 140 weak and hungry Rohingya Muslims, mostly women and children, were on a wooden boat anchored about 1 mile off the coast of Indonesia's northernmost province of Aceh on Tuesday, officials said, and local residents refused to allow them onto land. The blue-painted boat has been floating off the coast since Friday. Three Rohingya died during the nearly two-week-long trip from Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh to the waters off Labuhan Haji in South Aceh district, local police said.

Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday confirmed it had killed Hashem Safieddine, the successor to late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah who was eliminated last month in an Israeli attack targeting the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday evening met Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat in Gautam Kutir here, a spokesperson of the Sangh said. Ahead of the national executive meeting of RSS's Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal, Adityanath also met General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and stayed in Sapta Kutir for over two-and-half hours.

Iraq's prime minister announced Tuesday that the Islamic State militant group's leader in Iraq was killed in a military operation along with eight of the group's other senior leaders. US officials said two American service members were injured in the joint raid overnight Monday that was conducted by US and Iraqi forces.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) released it first list of 35 candidates for the upcoming assembly elections 2024. The ruling party fielded Chief Minister Hemant Soren from the Barhait Assembly constituency while his wife Kalpana Soren from the Gandey seat.