Jerome Powell-led US Fed Reserve keeps interest rates steady at a 22-year high at 5.25-5.50%, even as the US economy remains resilient despite high interest rates while inflation still remains above the Fed's 2 per cent target level. In its last policy meeting, the the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) had left the benchmark interest rates unchanged at 5.25 per cent - 5.50 per cent. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the US expanded at an annualised rate of 4.9 per cent in the third quarter, according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) first estimate.
The Samajwadi Party on Wednesday indicated that it will contest on 65 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2024. SP president Akhilesh Yadav, who attended a meeting of the party's state executive committee here, called upon party workers to make full preparations to remove the BJP from power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "This election will decide the future of coming generations. It will be the last election to save democracy and the Constitution. Party workers should make full preparations to remove the BJP from power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," Yadav was quoted as having told the state executive meet at the party headquarters here.
The Manipur government prolonged the mobile internet suspension for an additional five days, now in effect until November 5. A mob on Wednesday tried to gherao a Manipur Police office complex demanding arms in Imphal, the capital of the restive state, prompting the authorities to order firing of several rounds in the air and withdraw curfew relaxations in two districts, officials said.
"There is some chance, above zero, that AI will kill us all. I think it's slow but there is some chance. I think this also concerns the fragility of human civilization. If you study history, you will realise that every civilisation has a sort of lifespan," Tesla CEO Elon Musk said as per media reports.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, SpiceJet announced the induction of five leased Boeing 737s (including 3 737 MAX aircraft) into its fleet. "Today's induction comes shortly after the introduction of three leased Boeing 737s (including 1 737 MAX), reinforcing SpiceJet's determination to expand and diversify its flight services. The introduction of these aircraft will help the airline launch several exciting new flight routes and services," the company stated.
Gaza was plunged into another communications blackout on Wednesday, with internet and phone service cut for several hours as Israeli troops battled Hamas militants. Meanwhile, dozens of foreign passport holders crowded into a border crossing ahead of what could be the first such departure from the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Leaders at an all-party meeting on Maratha quota chaired by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday passed a resolution asking activist Manoj Jarange to call off his indefinite fast. The Maharashtra government is in favour of the Maratha quota, CM Shinde said after the meeting in Mumbai. Activist Jarange should cooperate with the government in ensuring quota for the Maratha community he said.
Facing 'cash for query' allegations, TMC MP Mahua Moitra has written to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee that she will appear before it for the hearing on November 2-- the summoned date-- and has asked for permission to cross-examine the alleged 'bribe giver' Darshan Hiranandani and the complainant, Advocate Jai Dehadrai. The TMC Lok Sabha MP on Wednesday made public her letter to the Ethics Committee Chairman and BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar.
The Delhi government has directed that all buses coming to the national capital from Haryana will have to run on electric, CNG or BS-VI diesel, while buses from the NCR regions of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan need to follow these norms while coming to the city from Wednesday. The transport department of the city government said from July 1 next year, all buses coming to Delhi from any city or town in Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh shall only be electric, CNG and BS-VI diesel ones.
 "LIVE: Powell-led FOMC keeps key interest rates unchanged at 5.25-5.50%")
