Latest LIVE: Congress prez Kharge constitutes 47-member Steering Committee

From INC getting a non-Gandhi president after 24 years and Rishi Sunak's appointment as UK PM to coronavirus cases and air pollution, catch all the latest developments from across the globe here

12:27 PM

If you don't have a solution, then resign as CM: BJP to Kejriwal on Delhi pollution

BJP leaders on Wednesday demanded Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's resignation over his alleged failure to control pollution in Delhi and claimed the city's air quality improved after Diwali.

 

BJP MP and former Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari said the city's air quality index (AQI) levels were worse before Diwali. The AQI had improved after the festival, showing that Diwali is not to be blamed for pollution in Delhi, he said.

 

12:17 PM

All Congress Working Committee members resign, new appointments soon

12:10 PM

Congress will be strengthened by Kharge's leadership: Sonia Gandhi

The Congress faces many challenges but with unity and strength it will move forward to tackle them as it has done before, outgoing party chief Sonia Gandhi said on Wednesday.

 

Speaking at an event where Mallikarjun Kharge formally took over as the Congress president after he was handed over the certificate of election to the top post, Gandhi said she is confident that the Congress will be inspired and strengthened by his leadership.

 

She said it is her biggest satisfaction that the new Congress president is very experienced and has risen from being an ordinary worker to such heights through his hardwork.

 

11:59 AM

Terrorist killed in Sudpora near LoC in Kupwara

11:53 AM

Kharge hails Rahul Gandhi for embarking on Bharat Jodo Yatra; says it is filling country with new energy

"Congress will break circle of lies, hatred prevailing; appeal to people not aligned with party but want to save democracy to join hands," said Kharge.

11:52 AM

It is a difficult time, efforts being made to change democracy Congress established: Cong president Kharge

11:51 AM

Appeal to PM to consider including photos of Lakshmi and Ganesha on currency notes: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have photos of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes.

During a media briefing, he said the photos of Ganesha and Lakshmi could be printed on fresh currency notes. He added that the new notes could have a picture of Mahatma Gandhi on one side and of the two deities on the other.

"Despite making efforts, sometimes our efforts do not fructify if gods and goddesses are not blessing us. I appeal to PM (Modi) to have photos of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi on our currency (notes).

11:34 AM

Sonia Gandhi congratulates Mallikarjun Kharge for taking the charge as INC's new president

11:23 AM

We need to build a lot more hospitals, schools and other infrastructure: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

11:14 AM

Kharge officially takes charge as Congress president, handed over certificate of election to top post

11:06 AM

Wuhan locks down part of city centre as Covid cases emerge

Wuhan locked down one of its central districts after Covid cases were found, as China persists with a zero tolerance approach to the virus almost three years since the pathogen first emerged in the city. 

 

The some 900,000 residents of Hanyang district were told to stay in their homes from Wednesday, a spokeswoman from the area’s CDC told Bloomberg News by phone. Another official at Hanyang’s health bureau said the lockdown would last until Sunday, and that all non-essential businesses had been told to shut. Supermarkets and pharmacies will remain operational. 

 

Photos posted on Chinese social media appeared to show barriers erected in the district, ostensibly to keep people from leaving as the movement restrictions are imposed. 

 

11:04 AM

Congress President-elect Mallikarjun Kharge to take charge as national president of the Congress party shortly

10:59 AM

New Zealand court declares Uber drivers as employees in landmark ruling

In a landmark ruling, the Employment Court of New Zealand has declared four Uber drivers as proper employees of the company, paving the way for other countries to follow the suit and force the ride-hailing giant to treat its drivers as employees rather than independent contractors.

The Chief Judge of the Employment Court, Christina Inglis, found that all four drivers were employees of Uber during the periods where they performed transportation services.

The Uber drivers were part of a class-action lawsuit filed last July in the country.

The four drivers had written agreements with the various entities at different points in time between August 2016 and May 2022.

"The written agreements all specified that the entities were not employers but rather providers of the App that connects drivers to the digital platform and facilitators of the interactions on the platform," read the ruling that came out late on Tuesday.

The decision in New Zealand came after the US Department of Labor proposed sweeping changes to how gig workers should be classified.

10:53 AM

BJP leader from Telangana Anand Bhaskar Rapolu resigns from the primary membership of the party

10:47 AM

India's vaccine manufacturing capacity incredible: White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator

India's vaccine manufacturing capacity came in for high praise during a White House press briefing on October 26, by Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator. While calling India a major exporter of vaccines in the world he termed India's vaccine manufacturing capacity as 'incredible.'

Ashish Jha's comment came in response to a question asking him about his view on India's handling of the COVID crisis. Responding to the question, Jha said, "India because of its incredible manufacturing capacity, has been a major exporter of vaccines."

The questioner had also asked about the slowness in India and Quad cooperation, where India was supposed to manufacture the vaccines and Quad was to distribute them across the world.