LIVE: Indian-origin Ajay Banga confirmed as next World Bank president

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The World Bank confirmed Ajay Banga was selected as its next president on Wednesday, taking charge at a pivotal time for the development lender as it looks to better address climate change. "The Board looks forward to working with Mr. Banga on the World Bank Group Evolution process," the bank wrote in a statement published shortly after the board voted to approve his leadership for a five-year term. He will take over the role from David Malpass on June 2. 

The Centre has agreed to set up committee headed by Cabinet Secretary to look into issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community.

Pratibha Singh, a Congress leader in Bihar's Darbhanga district, has lodged a case against Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying that he was provoking communal tensions in the poll-bound Karnataka through his remarks. The case refers to comments made by Shah at a rally in Belagavi, Karnataka, on April 25 during which he said that if the Congress came to power, riots would take place in the state.

SpiceJet has mobilized its plan to revive 25 grounded aircraft. Funds for the revival will be drawn from the government’s Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) and better cash accruals. The airline has already mobilised around Rs 400 crores towards getting its grounded fleet back in the air, which will further enhance its top-line.

Rana Ayyub, a controversial Indian journalist writing for US media, has called for shifting global attention to media freedom in India as she spoke at a Unesco-sponsored event at the world body. "It is important for the world to shift its attention to India because we do not really talk about India as much and I really hope you do that in the days to come," she said on Tuesday questioning New Delhi's democratic credentials and its press freedom at the conference held on the eve of the World Press Freedom Day in the General Assembly chamber.

10:04 PM

Mobile Internet shut in Manipur as massive protest emerge to include "Meitei community in the ST category"

Massive protests by the tribal people against the Supreme Court order on Scheduled Tribes Status. Thousands of tribals turned up at a 'Solidarity March' called by a student body in all the ten hill districts of the state to oppose moves for inclusion of the majority Meitei community in the ST category. The All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM), which called for the march, said it was organised to protest moves to include the "Meitei community in the ST category".

 

10:04 PM

Karnataka elections 2023

These people (BJP) made their image as '40% Sarkara' in last three years. Entire Karnataka knows, contractors and farmers committed suicide while crores of cash were recovered from MLA's son's home and that MLA takes out parade, there's 'jhoot and loot': Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacks BJP in Kalaburagi.

 

10:04 PM

Karnataka elections 2023

These people (BJP) made their image as '40% Sarkara' in last three years. Entire Karnataka knows, contractors and farmers committed suicide while crores of cash were recovered from MLA's son's home and that MLA takes out parade, there's 'jhoot and loot': Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacks BJP in Kalaburagi.

 

10:03 PM

Delhi Covid cases

Delhi reports 272 new cases, 688 recoveries and 1 death in the last 24 hours.

 

3:32 PM

8 students, security guard killed in school shooting by teen in Serbia's Belgrade

A teenage boy opened fire at a school in Serbia's capital Wednesday, killing eight children and a school guard, police said. Six more children and a teacher were injured and hospitalized.Police identified the shooter by his initials, K.K., and said he had opened fire with his father's gun. He was arrested in the school yard, police said. A statement identified him as a student at the school in central Belgrade who was born in 2009.Police said they received a call about the shooting at the Vladislav Ribnikar primary school around 8:40 a.m. Primary schools in Serbia have eight grades, starting with first grade.Unlike in the United States, mass shootings in Serbia and in the wider Balkan region are extremely rare; none were reported at schools in recent years. In the last mass shooting, a Balkan war veteran in 2013 killed 13 people in a central Serbian village.

 

2:18 PM

Buckingham Palace arrest not being treated as terror-related: Police

The arrest of a man at the gates of Buckingham Palace in London on Tuesday evening is not being treated as terror-related, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday.

UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, meanwhile, stressed that he is very proud of the police response to the incident, which came just days before King Charles and Queen Camilla will be departing the palace gates for their grand Coronation ceremony, procession towards Westminster Abbey.

Buckingham Palace said that neither the King nor the Queen were at the palace at the time of the incident.

1:52 PM

UPSC rejects Arunachal govt's plea to conduct recruitment exams

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has rejected the request of the Arunachal Pradesh government to conduct exams for Group A and B posts in the northeastern state, an official said on Wednesday.

The state government had requested the UPSC to conduct the exams as per the recruitment-related policy of the state for the vacant Group A and B posts, till the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) is reconstituted and made functional.

Replying to the state government's plea, the UPSC in a recent letter to the state chief secretary recently said that according to rules, it is not permissible when a duly constituted public service commission is functioning in the state.

1:47 PM

Encounter in J-K's Kupwara, two terrorists killed

Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, police said.

The encounter took place near Pichnad Machil area of Kupwara district in north Kashmir, a police official said.

1:23 PM

MP: Govt doctors go on strike, private hospital staffers pressed on duty in state-run facilities

Doctors across government hospitals in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday started an indefinite strike over a host of demands, including facilities for their colleagues posted in rural areas and putting an end to alleged bureaucratic interference.

The agitation is being organised by different medical associations under the umbrella body of Madhya Pradesh Shaskiya Swashasi Chikitsak Mahasangh after failed talks with the government. Nearly 13,000 doctors are participating in the protest, claimed the Mahasangh. In February too, the doctors had gone on a similar protest.

The protest is likely to affect outpatient services and other essential hospital work.

1:13 PM

Museum paying tribute to Ladakh's 'modern architect' being set up in Leh

A museum paying tribute to Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, hailed as the 'architect of modern Ladakh', is being set up at the Spituk monastery here, officials said on Wednesday.

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Brigadier B D Mishra (retd.) Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the museum, which will highlight the 19th Arhat Bakula Rinpoche's contribution to the region's development.

"The setting up of the Spituk monastery museum is a major step in preserving and showcasing Ladakh's rich heritage. It will be a tribute to the 19th Arhat Bakula," Mishra said.

12:35 PM

Over 200 people penalised for consuming alcohol in public places in Noida

More than 200 people have been penalised for creating nuisance after consuming liquor in public places across Noida and Greater Noida, police said on Wednesday.

The action came during a surprise inspection across all police station areas of the twin-cities in the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissionerate on Tuesday evening, they said.

12:22 PM

Phase 1 of UP urban body polls on Thursday, voting begins at 7 am

The first of the two-phase urban local body polls in Uttar Pradesh will take place on Thursday, a major poll battle in the politically crucial state ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and opposition Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took trips to different places on the last day of the campaign on Tuesday to engage with voters and attacked each other with their typical jibes.

According to the State Election Commission, voters in 37 districts will vote in the first phase of the polls on Thursday to elect 7,593 representatives, including 10 mayors and 820 corporators. Polling for the second-phase polling will take place on May 11

11:35 AM

Beant Singh assassination case: SC declines to commute death penalty of Rajoana

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to commute the death penalty of Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was convicted in the 1995 assassination case of then Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, to life imprisonment.

 

Rajoana has been in jail for the past 26 years.

 

Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable, was convicted for his involvement in the explosion that took place outside the Punjab civil secretariat on August 31, 1995, killing Beant Singh and 16 others.

11:25 AM

Congress leader in Bihar lodges case against Amit Shah

Pratibha Singh, a Congress leader in Bihar's Darbhanga district, has lodged a case against Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying that he was provoking communal tensions in the poll-bound Karnataka through his remarks.

 

The case refers to comments made by Shah at a rally in Belagavi, Karnataka, on April 25 during which he said that if the Congress came to power, riots would take place in the state.

10:42 AM

Russian freight train derails due to 'explosive device' in region bordering Ukraine

Russian freight train derails due to 'explosive device' in region bordering Ukraine, reports AFP, quoting governor