Breaking News: October 28, 2020 | Highlights

India's COVID-19 caseload surpassed the 80-lakh mark on Wednesday night, 18 days after it crossed 70 lakh, while the total number of recoveries went past 73 lakh, according to data from states and union territories.

Russia has submitted applications to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for accelerated registration and prequalification of its COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V to make it available globally in a shorter time frame than usual procedures, according to an official statement on Wednesday.

Air quality largely remained “very poor” in parts of Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad in the National Capital Region on Wednesday, according to a government agency.

Pollution levels dipped in the national capital on Wednesday, primarily due to increased wind speed, but the relief could be short-lived.

The city recorded a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 297, which falls in the "poor" category. Prior to this, the air quality remained "very poor" for five days on the trot.

As the national capital witnessed a rise in COVID-19 cases, the number of containment zones has gone up to 3,047, with the maximum 558 in southwest Delhi and the lowest 82 in northeast Delhi, according to official data.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday sanctioned a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of five people who drowned after two boats capsized in a water body during Durga idol immersion in Murshidabad district, the state Home Department said.

The US will open an embassy in Maldives, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Wednesday as the held talks with leadership of the strategically located island nation in the Indian Ocean, weeks after the two countries clinched a key defence cooperation agreement.

"I am pleased to announce our plan to open an Embassy in Male. Since the establishment of our diplomatic ties in 1966, we’ve seen Maldives make great progress in supporting democratic institutions, and we are proud to partner with them on regional security issues," Pompeo tweeted.

Union Minister Smriti Irani has tested positive for coronavirus. 

State Bank of India on Wednesday said it has signed an agreement with Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for a loan worth USD 1 billion (around Rs 7,403 crore).

Of the total loan amount, USD 600 million will be financed by JBIC and USD 400 million by other participating banks - SMBC, MUFG Bank, Mizuho Bank, Shizuoka Bank and Bank of Yokahama, SBI said in a release.

Drug firm Cipla on Wednesday announced the launch of antibody detection kits for COVID-19 in India under the brand name 'ELIFast' in partnership with KARWA Ltd, under the technology transfer from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday announced the addition of over 1,300 new seats for nine courses at IP University from this year.

The south-west monsoon completely withdrew from the whole of Odisha on Wednesday, the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar said.

The monsoon had earlier pulled out of Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Subarnapur, Bolangir and Nuapada districts and parts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, Boudh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Koraput districts on Monday.

The south-west monsoon, which had made an onset over Odisha on June 11 this year, has further withdrawn from the remaining parts of Odisha and thus it has withdrawn from entire Odisha today (Wednesday), the MeT Centre said.

The Nigerian government has said it aims to construct 10 new airports across the country, an endeavor seeking to boost civil aviation in the most populous African country.

The move is a part of the country's development roadmap for the aviation industry launched in 2015, and currently being implemented, according to an official statement reaching Xinhua on Wednesday.

"So, we have about 10 new airports coming up, that is almost half the number of airports we used to have in Nigeria. We are adding 50 per cent of the number of airports," said the statement by Hadi Sirika, Aviation Minister.

Sirika had earlier told a committee by the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday while defending the Ministry of Aviation's 2021 budget, that civil aviation had witnessed growth, including an increase in the number of airports, since the time the roadmap was launched five years ago

US President Donald Trump's campaign website was hacked Tuesday afternoon in an apparent cryptocurrency scam, a report said.

Germany's new Covid cases have increased by 14,964, taking the national caseload to 464,239, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said on Wednesday.

The death toll in the country rose by 85 to 10,183, according to the RKI.

Amid incidences of political violence and killings in West Bengal, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday.

Equity benchmark Sensex plunged 600 points on Wednesday, tracking heavy losses in index majors Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank amid a massive selloff in European markets.

After hitting a low of 39,774.60 during the day, the 30-share BSE index ended 599.64 points or 1.48 per cent lower at 39,922.46. Similarly, the broader NSE tanked 159.80 points or 1.34 per cent to close at 11,729.60. 

Zeta re-strengthened into a hurricane early Wednesday as Louisiana braced for the 27th named storm of a historically busy Atlantic hurricane season.

Landfall is expected south of New Orleans with life-threatening storm surge and strong winds expected along portions of the northern Gulf Coast beginning around midday.

Zeta raked across the Yucatan Peninsula Tuesday, striking as a hurricane, before weakening to a tropical storm.

Bihar has the potential to become IT hub but can "yuvraj" of "jungle raj" facilitate it?: PM Modi says assailing Tejashwi Yadav at poll rally

Bihar moved from misgovernance to good governance, from darkness to light under Nitish Kumar: PM Narendra Modi at Patna rally. 

Can who looted Bihar, cared only for their families, understand aspirations of lower, middle classes: PM Modi in dig at RJD at poll rally

"Who can fulfil the aspirations of the poor and middle class of Bihar? Can those who looted Bihar do it? Those who only thought of their families and did injustice to everyone can never understand Bihar's expectations. Only NDA can do it", PM Modi says

The suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till November 30 amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said on Wednesday. 

"However, the international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis," the Indian aviation regulator said in a circular.

A civil judge in Uttarakhand has been dismissed from service for allegedly torturing a minor girl who worked as a domestic help at her residence, official sources here said on Wednesday.

An order to dismiss Haridwar Civil Judge (Senior Division) Deepali Sharma from service for torturing a minor girl was issued by Additional Chief Secretary Radha Raturi following the Governor's consent, the sources said.

Her dismissal is in keeping with a resolution to this effect passed by a full bench of the Uttarakhand High Court and the recommendation of the state government. The 13-year-old girl worked at Sharma's residence in Haridwar as a domestic help from 2015 to 2018. 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is addressing a rally in West Champaran's Valmikinagar. Later, he will be addressing  another election rally at Kuseshwar Sthan in Darbhanga

After Darbhanga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a rally in Bihar's  Muzaffarpur. Later, PM Modi will address an election rally in Patna. The respective areas will go to polls in the second phase which will be conducted on November 3.

Delhi Government has decided to increase 1330 seats in colleges that are under IP University, says Delhi Education Minister, Manish Sisodia.

All government and private schools in Delhi to remain closed until next order, says Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia

• "A grand Ram Temple is being built in Ayodhya... those in politics who used to ask us a date (of temple construction) are now compelled to applaud... It is the identity of BJP and NDA, we do what we promise," says PM Modi.
• "Those preceded us in govt too obsessed with their "commission", never cared about connectivity in regions like Mithila," says PM at Darbhanga rally. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing his first rally of the day at Darbhanga city of Bihar. He will address two more rallies during the day in Muzaffarpur and Patna.

Kerala High Court denies anticipatory bail to M Sivasankar, former principal secretary of Kerala CMO, in cases registered by Enforcement Directorate & Customs Department in Gold Smuggling Case.

Pollution levels dipped in the national capital on Wednesday morning, primarily due to increased wind speed, but the relief could be short-lived. At 10 am, the city recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 281, which falls in the “poor” category. Prior to this, the air quality remained “very poor” for five days on the trot.

The 24-hour average AQI was 312 on Tuesday, 353 on Monday, 349 on Sunday, 345 on Saturday and 366 on Friday. An AQI between 0and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate',201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Two Improvised explosive devices recovered and defused by Central Reserve Police Force from Aurangabad's Dhibra area, earlier today

Problem detected in the Electronic Voting Machine at polling booth number 168 in Lakhisarai

Voting begins for the first phase of Bihar Elections; 1,066 candidates in fray for 71 seats

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold three election rallies in Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Patna today

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to address two rallies in Valmikinagar and Kusheshwar Asthan (Darbhanga) today

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights takes cognizance of "incident of violence and firing in Bihar's Munger during the procession for Durga idol immersion on the intervening night of 26 and 27 Oct in which a minor was reportedly injured", asks Munger SP to submit a report in 48 hrs

Voting for the first phase of the Bihar Elections 2020 will begin shortly. I appeal to people of the State to exercise their right to vote: Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav

Delhi: Air Quality Index is at 313 in Anand Vihar, 305 in RK Puram, 325 in Mundka and 309 in Patparganj; all four in 'very poor' category as per Delhi Pollution Control Committee data

Preparations underway at a polling station in Munger as the voting for the first phase of Bihar elections