News Highlights: Delhi CM Atishi orders audit of Discoms to look into pension surcharge issue

Latest news updates: Catch all the latest news developments from across the world here

Ahead of the upcoming Bihar elections, former poll strategist Prashant Kishor has launched Jan Suraaj Party in Patna. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched multiple development projects worth over Rs 83,700 crore from Jharkhand. He unveiled the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, which will be implemented at a cost of Rs 79,150 crore.

Amid growing tensions between Israel and Iran, the Ministry of External Affairs has expressed its concern at the "escalation of security situation in West Asia." The MEA reiterated its call for restraint by different participants and the protection of civilians. "It is important that the conflict doesn’t take a wider regional dimension and we urge that all issues be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy," the ministry said in a statement.

The Centre has advised Indians to avoid travelling to Iran after they launched a massive missile attack on Israel while those already present in the country have been asked to stay vigilant.

Three persons were killed after a helicopter crashed and caught fire in Maharashtra's Pune district on Wednesday morning, police said. The helicopter, belonging to a Delhi-based private aviation firm, took off from the Oxford Golf Course helipad here and was heading to Juhu in Mumbai, an official said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised that India is concerned over the escalating conflict in the Middle East, as tensions between Israel and Iran risk developing into a full-scale war.  Jaishankar also underscored that any country's response must avoid harming civilians. "We are concerned at the possibility of a broadening of the conflict, not just what happened in Lebanon, but also to the Houthis and the Red Sea, and to anything that happens between Iran and Israel," the minister said during an interaction with a think tank in Washington.

Dera Sacha Sauda chief and rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Wednesday walked out of the Sunaria jail in Haryana's Rohtak after he was granted a 20-day parole. During his temporary release period, Singh will stay at the Dera ashram in Barnawa in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat. He came out of jail under tight security this morning after his release on parole, an official said. The Haryana government has granted a 20-day parole to Singh while barring him from taking part in election-related activities, making speeches and staying in the state during the period.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and 150 Ladakhis were again detained after they were released by the Delhi Police late Tuesday night, even as their indefinite fast continue at the police stations, officials said on Wednesday. Wangchuk and other detained Ladakhis were allowed to go on Tuesday night but they were adamant to march towards the central part of Delhi, therefore, they were detained again, a senior police officer told PTI. Wangchuk has been kept at the Bawana police station along with few others while others have been kept at Narela Industrial Area, Alipur and Kanjhawala police stations, he added.