Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses supporters outside Tihar Jail after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in a money laundering case, amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, in New Delhi on May 10, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Arvind Kejriwal bail | Grant of interim bail is based on individual facts of each case, Supreme Court notes

The Supreme Court order in the Arvind Kejriwal case said interim bail is granted on the basis of individual facts of each case. A Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta has thus negated any propensity to use the interim bail order in the case of Mr. Kejriwal as a judicial precedent in the future.

As Sandeshkhali women retract complaints, NCW writes to EC seeking inquiry

Women from Sandeshkhali in West Bengal were being forced to withdraw their complaints by the ruling Trinamool Congress, the National Commission for Women (NCW) said on Friday and asked the Election Commission of India (EC) to inquire into the matter.

12 Naxalites killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district

At least 12 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on May 10, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said. The gunfight took place in the forest near Pidia village under Gangaloor police station limits when a team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation, police had said earlier.

Save country from dictatorship, says Kejriwal after release from Tihar

Minutes after walking out of Tihar Jail in New Delhi on May 10, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal asked supporters rallying outside the premises to save the country from dictatorship. Mr. Kejriwal was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court earlier in the day and he was released shortly afterwards.

India backs Palestine’s bid for full U.N. membership

India on May 10 voted in favour of a draft U.N. General Assembly resolution that said Palestine is qualified and should be admitted as full member of the United Nations and recommended that the Security Council “reconsider” the matter “favourably”.

Wrestlers sexual harassment case | Delhi court orders framing of charges against Brij Bhushan Singh

A Delhi court on May 10 framed charges of sexual harassment against and outraging modesty against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Kaisarganj and former Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Singh. Mr Singh will now face trial for allegedly harassing five women wrestlers.

Health Ministry issues guidelines for confirming heatstroke and heat-related deaths

The Union Health Ministry has issued standardised guidelines for confirming heatstroke and heat-related deaths in the country. Prepared by the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the set of guidelines is aimed at helping hospitals become aware of the criteria to label a death as heat-related/ heat stroke and bring in evidence-based medical decision-making processes.

Haryana Cabinet to meet on May 15; Congress urges Governor to impose President’s rule, hold Assembly election

The Haryana Cabinet has been summoned for a meeting on May 15, amidst political turmoil triggered by three Independent MLAs withdrawing their support to the State’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. According to sources, the Cabinet is likely to decide to convene a session of the State Assembly to prove the government’s majority.

Prajwal Revanna sexual assault case: Another rape case filed against Hassan MP

The “absconding” Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse, has been booked for rape in another case. This is the second rape case against him. Prajwal was booked for rape in the first case on May 2.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra calls Amethi ‘holy land’, her late father’s ‘karmabhoomi’

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday highlighted the decades old ties the Gandhi family shares with Amethi. Ms. Vadra requested voters to support the Congress candidate and described Amethi as her late father’s ‘karmabhoomi’ and her own ‘holy land’.

EC rebuts Kharge’s letter to INDIA bloc parties, calling it an attempt to push biased narrative

The Election Commission rebutted a letter written by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to his colleagues in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on the alleged “discrepancies in voting data” released by the election panel. The EC called Mr. Kharge’s letter an “attempt to push a biased narrative under the guise of seeking clarifications”. 

PM Modi accuses Congress of conspiring to erase Hindu faith

Launching a withering broadside against the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 10 accused the Opposition party of hatching conspiracy to erase Hindu faith from the country.

After 18 months, China sends Ambassador to India

After 18 months of China not having an Ambassador in India, senior diplomat Xu Feihong arrived in Delhi to assume office as the 17th Ambassador to India on Friday, Chinese government-run media CGTN reported.

IPL-17: GT vs CSK | Gill and Sai Sudharsan hammer the daylights out of CSK attack

The previous occasion Gujarat Titans met Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium, B. Sai Sudharsan stroked his way to a brilliant 96 in the 2023 IPL final in a losing cause. Against the same opponent on Friday, Sai Sudharsan went on to score his maiden IPL hundred (103, 51b, 5×4, 7×6) to power Titans to 231 for three after being asked to bat.

Police and paramilitary personnel stand guard at the polling station during the third phase of Lok Sabha Polls, in Etah on May 7, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Three Independent MLAs withdraw support to BJP government in Haryana

Three Independent MLAs supporting the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) government in Haryana on May 7 announced the withdrawal of their support to the government, even as the Congress party demanded the holding of Assembly election under the President’s rule in the State, as the government has been reduced to a “minority”.

Karnataka BJP post on Muslim quota | Election Commission tells X to immediately take down post

The Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered X, formerly Twitter, to take down an animated video posted by BJP Karnataka. The video features caricatures of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, advancing the party’s recent messaging that the Congress is diverting funds and resources away from SC/ST/OBC Hindus towards Muslims. As of May 7 evening, the post had garnered over 90 lakh views, and had not yet been taken down. 

CBI arrests four for pushing Indians into Russia-Ukraine war

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has so far arrested four accused in a case related to trafficking of Indian nationals for combat role in the Russian Army. Arun and Yesudas Junior, both residents of Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, were held on Tuesday in the case registered on March 6. The other two accused, Nijil Jobi Bensam from Kanyakumari and Anthony Michael Elangovan from Mumbai, were earlier arrested on April 24 and are in judicial custody.

Reject proponents of lies, hatred for a brighter future, Sonia Gandhi urges voters

Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s niti (policy) and niyat (intentions)have led to unemployment, crimes against women and discrimination against Dalits, Adivasis and minorities.

SC to think about giving bail to Kejriwal for campaigning; ED calls it a luxury a ‘real aam aadmi’ cannot afford

The Supreme Court on May 7 decided to mull over the question of granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to enable him to campaign as an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader for the ongoing Lok Sabha election.

Advertisers to submit self-declarations before promoting products in media, SC orders

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that advertisers should submit self-declarations that they are not misrepresenting or making false claims about products before promoting them in the media.

Gujarat sees 55% turnout; Modi, Shah cast their votes

Over 55% voting turnout was registered till 5 p.m. in the 25 parliamentary constituencies of Gujarat where polling was held in the third phase of the Lok Sabha election on Tuesday. There are 265 candidates in the fray, including three Cabinet ministers Amit Shah, Mansukh Mandaviya and Parshottam Rupala and a Minister of State Devusinh Chauhan.

Fact-check | Misleading posts cast doubt over the credibility of EVMs

Even as the third phase of polling for the Lok Sabha election draws to a close, some on social media have been casting aspersions on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the device used to electronically record and count votes cast in elections.

U.K. court rejects fifth bail plea of PNB scam accused Nirav Modi

The fifth bail application of diamantaire Nirav Modi, who is one of the prime accused in the ₹13,578-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, has been turned down by a United Kingdom court. In April 2021, the Secretary of State of U.K.’s Home Department had ordered his extradition to India, but it has not been implemented so far.

Interpol issues Blue Corner Notice against Prajwal Revanna 

Interpol issued on Tuesday (May 7) a Blue Corner Notice against “absconding” Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse. This will help the Special Investigation Team probing the case to locate Prajwal Revanna. He flew to Germany from Bengaluru on April 27 using his diplomatic passport. His whereabouts are currently not known, amid reports that he later flew to Dubai or Hungary.

Foreign Secretary to visit Bangladesh, talks may feature China

China’s planned project along the Teesta in Bangladesh is expected to feature during Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra’s upcoming visit to Bangladesh, a prominent daily in Dhaka has reported.

Want 400 seats to prevent Congress from bringing back Article 370 and locking Ram Temple: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 7 said he needed 400 seats in the Lok Sabha election to prevent the Congress from “bringing back Article 370 [in Kashmir] and putting a lock on Ayodhya Ram Temple”, drawing parallels to the Rajiv Gandhi government overturning the Supreme Court ruling in 1985 in the Shah Bano case, which he characterised as appeasement politics.

Polling ends in Karnataka; month-long, nail-biting wait begins

As the curtains came down on the hard-fought and high-pitched Lok Sabha elections amid the sweltering heat in Karnataka on Tuesday, it will be nearly a month-long tense wait for the electoral fortunes to be known. The counting of votes across the country will take place on June 4.

U.K. court rejects fifth bail plea of PNB scam accused Nirav Modi

The fifth bail application of diamantaire Nirav Modi, who is one of the prime accused in the ₹13,578-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, has been turned down by a United Kingdom court. In April 2021, the Secretary of State of U.K.’s Home Department had ordered his extradition to India, but it has not been implemented so far.

Supreme Court provides relief to nearly 24,000 Bengal teachers

The Supreme Court on May 7 gave relief to the West Bengal government by protecting nearly 24,000 teaching and non-teaching staff members from immediate termination from their jobs in schools across the State.

Militant commander Basit Dar, wanted in 18 cases, among two killed in Kulgam operation: J&K police

Two militants, including a ‘commander’ of The Resistance Front (TRF), were killed in a two-day anti-militancy operation in south Kashmir’s Kulgam on Tuesday. 

More than 63% polling in third phase, sporadic violence in West Bengal

At least 63.27% of the electorate in 93 constituencies cast their votes on May 7 in the third phase of the Lok Sabha election, which has now crossed the halfway mark, with voting complete in 282 out of 543 seats. Apart from sporadic incidents of violence in West Bengal, the voting was largely peaceful. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were among the voters in this phase, with the latter also in the fray.

Polling officials carrying election materials leave for their respective polling stations on the eve of the third phase of Lok Sabha Polls, in Haveri Nagar on May 6, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI

All set for third phase of polling for 93 seats today

A total of 93 Lok Sabha constituencies in 12 States will vote in the third phase of the general elections on May 7. Initially, the Election Commission (EC) had announced 94 seats for polling in the third phase. After this though, polls in Betul were postponed to May 7, making it 95 constituencies.

Hamas announces it has accepted an Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal

The Hamas militant group says it has accepted an Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal to halt a seven-month war with Israel. It issued a statement on May 6 saying its supreme leader, Ismail Haniyeh, had delivered the news in a phone call with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Egypt’s Intelligence Minister.

Delhi L-G wants NIA probe against Kejriwal for receiving ‘Khalistani’ funding

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V. K. Saxena recommended a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday. The recommendation is based on a complaint made by the World Hindu Federation India (WHFI) which alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) received political funding from the banned organisation ‘Sikhs for Justice’.

Congress alleges that its social media professionals are being ‘harassed’ by police at behest of Modi, Shah

Professionals working in the Congress’s social media department are being “harassed, questioned, intimidated and detained” by the police at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the party alleged on Monday.

SIT grills Revanna; ex-Minister moves bail plea

Sleuths from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) are grilling former Minister H.D. Revanna, who was arrested in an alleged case of abduction of a woman and remanded in police custody till May 8. Sources said that Mr. Revanna had been denying allegations against him and was not cooperating with investigators.

Supreme Court to urgently hear Uttarakhand forest fire petitions on May 8

The Supreme Court on May 6 agreed to urgently hear petitions on Uttarakhand forest fires on May 8 even as petitioners said 90% of the blazes were “man-made”. A Bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai instructed the petitioners, including senior advocate Rajiv Dutta, to inform the amicus curiae, advocate K. Parameshwar.

Zero tolerance for someone like Prajwal, Karnataka Govt allowed him to leave country: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that there should be zero tolerance for someone like Prajwal Revanna, and accused the Congress government in Karnataka of allowing the JD(S) MP to go out of the country and releasing the incriminating sex videos after the polls were over in the region dominated by Vokkaligas.

Abdullahs call for dialogue with Pakistan over Kashmir

National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah pitched for a dialogue with Pakistan over the Kashmir issue on Monday.

Amit Shah takes jibe at Congress, says BJP not afraid of Muslim vote bank

On the eve of the third phase of polling in 94 Lok Sabha constituencies, senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday issued a statement on Muslims, saying the BJP is not afraid of their vote bank. Mr. Shah is among the prominent contestants in the fray from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat.

EC ‘deliberately omitting’ details of number of people who voted, says Trinamool

The Trinamool Congress joined the Opposition chorus raising the demand that the Election Commission of India (EC) publish the absolute number of voters who cast their vote, instead of the voting percentages that the poll panel has so far shared.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Campaigning for the third phase of the Lok Sabha election concludes

A 48-hour silence period at 94 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across 12 States and Union Territories commenced at 6 p.m. on May 5 with the conclusion of campaigning for the third phase of the Lok Sabha election. Voting will take place on May 7. Polling for more than half of the total number of constituencies will be completed by the end of this phase.

H.D. Revanna remanded to SIT custody for three days till May 8; he says arrest is a ‘political conspiracy’

Janata Dal (S) MLA and former Minister H.D. Revanna, who has been arrested in an abduction case, was on Sunday remanded in three-day police custody of the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT is probing the alleged multiple instances of sexual abuse by his son and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna. His police custody will end on May 8.

RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav says PM Narendra Modi’s campaign is deeply communal and prejudiced

With polling in the first two phases of the ongoing Lok Sabha election concluded, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav appeared confident of winning comprehensively. Being his party’s star campaigner, he has so far addressed 107 political rallies, with 125 more to go, speaking on average at five rallies a day.

PM Modi offers prayers at Ram temple in Ayodhya, holds roadshow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 5 offered prayers at the Ram temple in Ayodhya before he began a roadshow in the holy town. “This is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to the Ram temple in Ayodhya after the ‘pran pratishtha’ (consecration) ceremony held on January 22,” VHP media in-charge Sharad Sharma told PTI.

Field evaluation of bids for Navy’s mega submarine deal underway; German govt. to acquire stake in TKMS

The German government is expected to take up a stake in submarine manufacturer, the TKMS (Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems), and discussions are on, it has been learnt. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy’s mega submarine deal under Project-75I, estimated to cost upwards of ₹43,000 crore, has moved to the evaluation stage with compliance checks of the two bids received, one of which is from the TKMS.

Muslim community understands Congress, INDIA bloc using them as pawns, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 5 said Muslims now understand that the Congress and INDIA bloc are using them as pawns, asserting that the community is distancing itself from them after seeing the development carried out by the BJP.

Dynasts and entrenched leaders have held sway in politics for long in Karnataka

The 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka have gone for elections a total of 440 times since 1951. The persons elected in these elections are around 250, many of them having won multiple times. Interestingly, several among them have been members of political dynasties. Repeat winners from powerful families is higher in northern Karnataka compared to south Karnataka. 

Royal challenge for Mahua as Trinamool, BJP clash in Krishnanagar, but CPI(M) can tilt scales

One of the most keenly watched contests in West Bengal in the ongoing Lok Sabha election is unfolding in the Krishnanagar seat, which has come to limelight for being the constituency of Mahua Moitra.

Amid poll heat, Lalu’s daughters sweat it out

Misa Bharati and Rohini Acharya, daughters of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, are busier than ever. Navigating the maze that is Bihar politics, they are trying to find a way to reach the Lok Sabha.

Russia says forces seized village in eastern Ukraine

Russia said its armed forces had seized the village of Ocheretyne in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, the latest in a string of small territorial gains for Moscow. After capturing the nearby industrial hub of Avdiivka in February, Russia has pressed its manpower and weapons advantage on the battlefield, advancing several kilometres deeper into Ukraine in places.

Modi and Yogi are working for your children, PM says in U.P., targets Opposition over dynastic politics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday targeted the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress over dynastic politics, alleging that these parties were contesting elections to benefit their families and their vote banks. “SP and Congress people either do good only for their family or for their vote bank,” Mr. Modi said, addressing an election rally in Etawah supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ram Shankar Katheria.

LSG vs KKR | Narine’s blitzkrieg powers Knight Riders to 235 against Super Giants

Sunil Narine continued his Midas touch with the bat in IPL 2024 as his blistering 39-ball 81 powered Kolkata Knight Riders to 235 for six against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on May 5.

Karnataka JD(S) MLA H.D. Revanna being taken into custody by officials of a Special Investigation Team in a kidnapping case, on May 4, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

H.D. Revanna arrested from father Deve Gowda’s residence in abduction case

Former Karnataka Minister and Holenarsipura MLA H. D. Revanna was arrested from his father and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s residence in Padmanabha Nagar on May 4 at 6.45 p.m. The arrest came minutes after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Special Court for Elected Representatives, Bengaluru. 

One soldier killed, four injured in terror attack on IAF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch

A soldier was killed and four were injured when militants ambushed a convoy of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Poonch on May 4. The IAF said the Air Warriors fought back by returning fire.

Sadiq Khan wins a historic third term as London Mayor; Tories suffer major defeats in local elections

The Labour Party’s Sadiq Khan won a record third term as London’s Mayor despite predictions that a low voter turnout of 40.5% in the May 2 election would harm him. With the last mayoral constituency declaring results late afternoon on Saturday, Mr. Khan easily won, with a 43.8% vote share compared to his main opponent, the Conservative Party’s Susan Hall, who came in with 32.7% of the vote.

India awaiting details about the arrest of three Indians in Canada in Nijjar murder case, says Jaishankar

India is waiting for details about the arrest of three Indians linked to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Saturday.

Centre lifts onion export ban, but conditions apply

The Centre on Saturday lifted the prohibition on onion exports imposed nearly six months ago, but restrained the free flow of outbound shipments by stipulating a minimum export price of $550 per tonne as well as a 40% export duty.

In mission to trigger review of State OBC lists, NCBC hits a wall of absent socio-economic data

For the last one year or so, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), under the chairmanship of former Union Minister Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, has been focused on triggering a pruning of State OBC lists in a bid to re-evaluate the continued inclusion of communities that might have progressed due to years of accruing benefits. 

Congress will ‘support cow killing’, impose Aurangzeb’s ‘jizya tax’, Yogi Adityanath says in Madhya Pradesh

The Congress wants to “implement Aurangzeb’s jizya tax” and also “support cow killing” as the party has become “directionless”, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath alleged on Saturday in Madhya Pradesh. 

BJP, JD(S) believe their alliance will survive the Prajwal ‘sexual abuse’ case

In the midst of the Parliamentary election, the sexual exploitation case allegedly involving the incumbent Hassan MP and Janata Dal (Secular) candidate Prajwal Revanna has brought the focus on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Karnataka of which the JD(S) is a part.

RCB vs GT | Skipper du Plessis and pacers do it for Royal Challengers against Titans

An authoritative Royal Challengers Bengaluru shut down Gujarat Titans by four wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. A third win in a row pushed RCB to seventh on the points table, providing impetus to its playoff hopes.

Opposition should find issues against us that actually stick: Hardeep Singh Puri

The Prime Minister and the RSS chief have affirmed their support for reservations, says Hardeep Singh Puri, adding that the BJP-led NDA has done more for the SCs, STs, and OBCs than the previous governments. It is for the first time that a tribal person has become the country’s first citizen, he tells The Hindu.

Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav release a booklet during the ‘Women in the Workforce for Viksit Bharat’ event, in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Centre starts survey to assess women participation in workforce

The Union Ministries of Labour & Employment and Women & Child Development have started a joint survey on increasing women participation in the workforce. The survey was announced by Union Minister Smriti Irani in New Delhi at a function “Women in the Workforce for Viksit Bharat” on Tuesday.

Graziers confront Chinese Army in eastern Ladakh after being stopped from accessing grazing land

Indian graziers were stopped by Chinese soldiers in Kakjung area of Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) earlier this month, according to a video shot by locals that was shared on X by Chushul councillor Konchok Stanzin on January 30.

After months of dilly-dallying, Opposition MVA finally agrees to induct Prakash Ambedkar

After months of vacillation, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition on Tuesday finally announced the induction of the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi into the MVA fold even as Mr. Ambedkar complained that his party’s representative was not accorded “due respect” at the seat-sharing meeting held in Mumbai.

IndiGo’s Delhi-Baku flight takes off without ATC clearance

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has off-rostered two IndiGo pilots after the airline’s Delhi to Baku flight allegedly took off on Monday night without clearance from the air traffic controller.

First ever survey puts India’s snow leopard count at 718

India has an estimated 718 snow leopards in the wild, according to a first-of-its kind, four-year long estimation exercise, the results of which were made public on Tuesday. Known to be an elusive cat and located in mountainous terrain that is hard to access, the numbers for the first time mark a base threshold for the animal’s numbers in India.

Khan’s conviction a week before election is a mirror image of the past: diplomats

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s latest conviction in the ‘Cipher Case’ on Tuesday, which comes just 10 days before general elections, is a dramatic development, but one in step with past elections that have been “managed”, said diplomats who have served there, who indicated that this year’s election winners would also be “selected, rather than elected” by the military establishment. 

Netanyahu rejects two key Hamas demands for any cease-fire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected two key demands Hamas has made during indirect cease-fire talks, saying Israel will not withdraw from the Gaza Strip or release thousands of jailed militants. During an event on January 30 in the occupied West Bank, Mr. Netanyahu again vowed that the war would not end without Israel’s “absolute victory” over Hamas.

3 CRPF personnel killed in Maoist attack in Bastar

Three personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), two of them commandos of the elite jungle warfare unit CoBRA, were killed and 15 injured in an encounter with Maoists along the boundary of Sukma and Bijapur districts in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. Six Maoists were killed in the retaliatory fire, the police said.

Madras High Court judge orders restrictions on non-Hindus in temples

Justice S. Srimathy of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the State government, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and temple authorities to install boards at the entrance of temples, near the Kodimaram, and at all prominent places on such premises, indicating that non-Hindus were not allowed beyond the Kodimaram of the temples.

Man killed, one injured in gunfight in Manipur

At least one village volunteer was killed and another injured after their camp came under attack from unidentified gunmen in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Tuesday, police said. The incident took place at the camp situated near Kadangband village in Lamshang area in adjoining Imphal West district.

ChatGPT violated European privacy laws, Italy tells chatbot maker OpenAI

Italian regulators said they told OpenAI that its ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot has violated the European Union’s stringent data privacy rules. The country’s data protection authority, known as Garante, said Monday that it notified San Francisco-based OpenAI of breaches of the EU rules, known as General Data Protection Regulation.

IMF says global ‘soft landing’ in sight, lifts 2024 growth outlook

The International Monetary Fund on January 30 edged its forecast for global economic growth higher, upgrading the outlook for both the United States and China — the world’s two largest economies — and citing faster-than-expected easing of inflation.

An emergency personnel works to extinguish fire after rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel October 7, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Israel-Palestine conflict live updates

Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday on October 7, killing more than 200 and stunning the country.

GST Council affirms 28% tax on online betting from October 1

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council on Saturday lowered the tax rates on certain millet-based products, tweaked the age-related norms for members of the much-awaited GST Appellate Tribunals, and ceded the taxation rights on extra neutral alcohol to the States, while lifting the haze on several long-hanging issues.

Two 6.3-magnitude earthquakes kill dozens and injure many more in western Afghanistan

 Two 6.3 magnitude earthquakes killed dozens of people in western Afghanistan on Saturday, the country’s national disaster authority said.

Sikkim flash floods | Eight soldiers killed, search on for 14 missing

Eight Army personnel have lost their lives in the flash floods that followed a glacial lake burst in Sikkim this week, while search efforts to locate 14 missing soldiers are continuing, the Indian Army said on Saturday, adding that the operational situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is stable.

UGC to train over 1,000 teachers to teach Indian knowledge systems from degree level

More than 1,000 university teachers across the country are being equipped with a working understanding of Indian traditions, culture and way of life, to enable them to teach relevant courses on Indian knowledge systems at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels from the next academic session.

Air India cancels Tel Aviv flight after Hamas attack on Israel

Flag carrier Air India cancelled its Delhi-Tel Aviv flight on Saturday after Palestine’s Hamas launched an attack against Israel.

ITBP on alert, conducting patrols along China border: Home Ministry

The Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) conducted 2,899 patrols along the China border between April and December 2022, according to the 2022-23 annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs that was published on Friday.

Delhi Police’s claims bogus, untenable: NewsClick

The Delhi police’s allegations against Newsclick in its August 17 first information report (FIR) are ex facie untenable and bogus, the news portal said on Saturday. It added that these allegations have already been made, time and again, in investigations by three government agencies: the Enforcement Directorate, the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police, and the income tax department.

SA vs SL | Markram records fastest World Cup ton as South Africa wallops Sri Lanka

South Africa wins by 102 runs against Sri Lanka and records the highest aggregate ever in a World Cup match during their clash in Delhi on Saturday.

Hangzhou Asian Games kabaddi | Indian men and women regain gold

An hour for two points and a minute — that sums up the men’s kabaddi final between India and Iran at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on October 7 that started on a tense note, built up to a nail-biting climax and then, out of nowhere, descended into a chaotic, confusing farce that left both teams and their managements furious and amazed and critical of the refereeing before it was finally settled 33-29 in India’s favour.

The FIR filed by the Delhi Police cites tax evasion cases being faced by companies such as Xiaomi and Vivo in India. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

FIR links NewsClick case to legal aid for Chinese companies

The Delhi police have levelled a wide range of charges in their First Information Report (FIR) against NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, American millionaire Neville Roy Singham, and activist Gautam Navlakha, a shareholder of Newsclick who is presently under house arrest as accused in a terror case. These three individuals have been named as the accused in the FIR.

Asian Games | Jyothi, Deotale claim hat-trick of gold as archers return with record nine medals

Ojas Deotale and Jyothi Surekha Vennam claimed a hat-trick of gold medals, while Aditi Swami bagged a bronze as Indian archers signed off with a historic haul of nine medals at the Asian Games, on October 7. India’s previous best was at Incheon 2014 when the country had won three medals.

Canada moves diplomats out of India to Singapore, Malaysia: report

Canada has shifted a number of its diplomats stationed at missions in India outside of New Delhi to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, CTV news of Canada has reported citing sources. The report came a day after External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi informed that the two sides were in conversation to ensure “parity” in the presence of diplomatic staff in each other’s missions. 

Sikkim flash flood toll rises to 26, search on for missing

Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, both on foot and in boats, have recovered 26 bodies, including those of seven Army men from the slush and debris of the flash flood which swept through Sikkim’s Teesta river, officials said October 6.

Strictly followed all aspects of Indian law, says NewsClick investor 

Worldwide Media Holdings (WMH), the investor in NewsClick, on Friday said it “strictly followed all aspects of Indian law” before investing in the news portal in 2018 and that false allegations continued to circulate despite all the facts WMH had given to the Indian authorities.

Congress workers protest against BJP’s depiction of Rahul Gandhi as Ravan

Congress workers took out spontaneous protests against the BJP for depicting former party chief Rahul Gandhi as “new age Ravan”, party general secretary K.C. Venugopal said on Friday. In a post on X, Mr. Venugopal also shared photos of protests in State units such as West Bengal and Delhi, among others. 

Election Commission briefs observers ahead of Assembly polls in five states

Ahead of Assembly polls in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana, the Election Commission on Friday conducted a briefing session for around 1,180 observers who will monitor polls to ensure the process is free and fair. 

Sharad Pawar meets Kharge and Rahul, discusses road ahead for INDIA bloc

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi at Mr. Kharge’s official residence on October 6, and is learnt to have discussed the next course of action for the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

MGNREGS runs out of funds; Rural Development Ministry seeks supplementary budget 

Six months into the financial year, the flagship rural employment programme, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), has run out of funds and as per the statistics put out by the Ministry on its website is running a deficit of ₹6,146.93 crore. 

New Maldives President won’t be anti-India or pro-China: Mohamed Nasheed

The new Maldives President-elect’s transition team hopes to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the swearing-in ceremony of Mohamed Muizzu in Male next month, says Maldives speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed. In an interview to The Hindu, Mr. Nasheed — who has broken away from outgoing President Ibu Solih and his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to form his own party, which could join the incoming government — said that he would also send an invitation to Mr. Modi for the ceremony expected to be held on November 17.  

Change in Iran ‘irreversible’, says 2023 Nobel Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi

Rights campaigner and 2023 Nobel Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi said in a September interview with AFP that she retained hope for change in Iran, despite having no prospect of release from prison and enduring the pain of separation from her family. In the interview, where Mohammadi gave written answers to AFP from Evin prison in Tehran, she insisted the protest movement that erupted one year ago in Iran against the Islamic republic is still alive.

₹2,000 notes worth ₹3.43 lakh crore have come back: RBI Governor

Governor Shaktikanta Das on October 6 said ₹3.43 lakh crore of ₹2,000 denomination notes have come back to the system so far, and reminded the public that they can return the withdrawn notes at 19 RBI offices from October 8.

Stock markets rally after RBI keeps repo rate unchanged

Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty rallied for a second straight session on Friday after the Reserve Bank maintained the status quo on policy rates, resulting in gains for rate-sensitive sectors like financial, realty and auto.

Hangzhou Asian Games | Aman fights his way to bronze as Bajrang finishes without a medal

Aman Sehrawat booked his Asian Games ticket the hard way but there was always a question whether he would be as good as Ravi Dahiya, Olympic silver medalist and the man who rules in his weight category. On October 6, the 20-year old proved he was with a bronze in the 57kg here that stood out among the three India won in wrestling on the day for Aman’s resilience and determination. 

Hangzhou Asian Games | Satwik-Chirag enter final, keep first-ever gold medal hopes alive

‘Ice and fire’ was how Sattwiksairaj Rankireddy described his doubles partnership with friend Chirag Shetty as he embraced him. Satwik is the Iceman to Chirag’s Maverick. 

Army says officer injured in ‘grenade accident’ at a post in J&K’s Rajouri

The Army on October 5 evening said one officer has been injured in a likely grenade accident at a post in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri sector. “The officer was evacuated and stable post initial treatment. Further investigation of the incident in progress,” the Army said in an official statement. 

Sikkim flash floods death toll mounts to 18; searches on for 98 missing people

The toll in the flash flood in Sikkim mounted to 18 on Thursday as Army and NDRF teams worked their way through slushy earth and fast flowing water in the Teesta river basin and downstream north Bengal for the second day in search of those who were swept away and are still missing, officials said. Ninety eight people, including 22 army personnel, remained missing after a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim in the early hours of Wednesday triggered the flash flood, Chief Secretary V.B. Pathak said.

Supply copy of FIR to NewsClick founder, court tells Delhi Police

The Patiala House Court on Thursday allowed news portal NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and its human resource head Amit Chakraborty to get a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case filed against them by the Delhi Police. The police had opposed the application earlier in the day. Additional sessions judge Hardeep Kaur passed the order after hearing the counsel of the accused, Arshdeep Singh, and Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava.

Amit Shah suggests uniform anti-terrorism structure under NIA for all States 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that along with a ruthless approach, an uniform anti-terrorism structure should be established under the purview of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in all the States. Mr. Shah made the remarks at the inauguration of the two-day anti-terror conference organised by the NIA.

INDIA parties speak up for arrested AAP MP Sanjay Singh; Congress gives qualified support

The Congress has extended qualified support to Aam Aadmi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who was arrested on Wednesday by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with its money laundering probe linked to the Delhi excise policy case. Equating Mr. Singh’s arrest with that of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in Punjab, the party’s general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal said, “We cannot become those we oppose”. The remark was also a swipe at the AAP government in Punjab over the arrest of Mr. Khaira. 

IIT-Bombay ‘veg. table’ row | Dean says policy made by elected body, calls protest ‘provocative, insensitive’

As voices against the policy of a hostel canteen of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B), segregating certain tables for vegetarian food begin to grow louder within the campus, the Dean of Student Affairs (SA) on October 5 sent an email to all students and staff on the issue, the first from the administration on the controversy.

India, Canada in conversation on parity of diplomatic staff: MEA

India and Canada are in conversation about attaining “parity” in the diplomatic staff posted in each other’s missions, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. During his weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi reiterated India’s charge of Canadian “interference” in India’s internal affairs and indicated that India expects Canada to reduce the total number of its diplomats stationed here. 

India conveys concerns to U.S. over American envoy to Pakistan’s visit to Gilgit-Baltistan

India on Thursday said it raised its concerns with the U.S. over American envoy to Islamabad Donald Blome’s recent visit to Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and called on the world community to respect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.

Reports say dozens have been killed and wounded as drone strikes hit a Syrian military ceremony

A drone attack struck a packed graduation ceremony for military officers in the Syrian city of Homs on Thursday, killing and wounding dozens, including civilians and military personnel, reports said. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack and the reports could not be independently confirmed.

EU Parliament decries ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Nagorno-Karabakh

EU lawmakers on Thursday accused Azerbaijan of carrying out “ethnic cleansing” against the Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, and urged the bloc to impose sanctions on Baku. Almost all of the 120,000-strong ethnic Armenia population has fled the breakaway region since Azerbaijan seized it back in a lightning offensive last month.

Chinese firm sold satellites for intelligence to Russia’s Wagner: contract

Russian mercenary group Wagner in 2022 signed a contract with a Chinese firm to acquire two satellites and use their images, aiding its intelligence work as the organisation sought to push Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to a document seen by AFP. The contract was signed in November 2022, over half a year into Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in which the Wagner group under its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin was playing a key role on the battlefield.

Musk’s X strips headlines from news links

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has stripped headlines from news articles shared by users, in a move likely to further worsen relations with media groups. The tycoon has long railed against the “legacy media” and claims X, formerly Twitter, is a better source of information. However, he said the latest change was for “aesthetic” reasons — news and other links now appear only as pictures with no accompanying text.

Political stability, policy consistency needed to ensure Indian economy’s growth to world’s third-largest: FM

Taking on critics who argue that India will become the world’s third largest economy in a few years with or without government intervention, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that political stability and policy consistency was essential for the prospect to turn into a reality, especially in a world marred by unprecedented volatility. 

Lower prices for tomatoes, chillis and LPG may have pulled food inflation down last month

Retail food inflation may have eased in September, thanks to cooling tomato prices and a reduction in LPG cylinder prices, even as onion prices rose further during the month, a CRISIL study on food plate costs suggested. Retail inflation had eased to 6.83% in August from a 15-month high of 7.44% in July, but food price inflation stood at about 10%.

SEBI to tell court Adani inquiry began 2014, but hit dead end: sources

Markets regulator SEBI will tell the Supreme Court why it paused, then restarted investigations into the Adani Group after a tip in 2014 amid questions around regulatory delays, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter. SEBI will say for the first time that India’s customs authority alerted it to an alleged misuse of offshore funds by Adani Group companies in 2014 but that the initial investigation did not yield anything and was paused in 2017, the sources said.

Asian Games | Indian compound archery teams’ domination complete

With the scores tied at 200 each, Indian archers needed to hit three perfect 10s in a row to stay alive in the compound women’s team final at the Fuyang Arena. First, Parneet Kaur hit a 10 before Aditi Swami and Jyothi Surekha followed suit with 10s to put the pressure back on Chinese Taipei. Taipei slipped up with the first arrow which assured India’s gold medal and it won 230-229 Later, the trio of Abhishek Verma, Ojas Pravin Deotale and Prathamaesh Jawkar won the men’s team gold by beating South Korea 235-230 in the final.