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4:38 PM

Every vote will define Himachal's development for next 25 years": PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday claimed that the people of Himachal Pradesh had made up their minds to retain the BJP in power, saying rapid progress and a stable government were necessary in the hill state. 
 

"The Himachal polls this time are special because the votes cast on November 12 are not just for the coming five years. Every single vote on November 12 will define the state's development journey for the next 25 years," Prime Minister Modi said at a poll rally at Sundernagar in Mandi district.

 

Mandi is the home district of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who also addressed the rally.

 

"A few weeks ago, India completed 75 years of independence. When India celebrates 100 years of its independence, closer to that, HP will also complete 100 years of its formation. Therefore, the next 25 years are going to be very crucial," the Prime Minister pointed out.

4:35 PM

5 Madrassa students, teacher drown in lake in Telangana

In a tragic incident, five school children and one teacher drowned in Yerragunta lake at Malkapuram under Jawahar Nagar limits on Saturday. They were all aged between 12 and 14. 

 

According to the police, the teacher took the students, who were studying at a Madrasa, for a picnic. The children went into the lake without knowing the depth. 

4:29 PM

Farmers in Haryana's Rohtak opt for converting stubble into fodder

4:27 PM

At least 10 shops gutted in fire on Mumbai's Fashion Street, nobody injured: Reports

At least 10 shops located on the Fashion Street, a roadside apparel market in south Mumbai, were gutted in a fire on Saturday afternoon, but nobody was injured in the incident, a civic official said. The fire broke out in one of the shops on the Fashion Street near Churchgate around 1 pm, and soon spread to some of its adjoining stores, he said.

 

3:40 PM

National Mission for Clean Ganga organizes Ganga Utsav - The River Festival

3:29 PM

Tata Motors to hike prices of passenger vehicles

Automobile major Tata Motors Ltd on Saturday said it will be increasing the prices of its passenger vehicles effective from November 7.

3:25 PM

Chaos as fire breaks out in Kolkata-Mumbai train coach

Panic reigned among passengers after a fire suddenly broke out in the parcel van of the 18030 Shalimar Kolkata-Mumbai LTT train at the Nashik Road station on Saturday, officials said here. The blaze with a thick cloud of smoke was noticed emanating from the parcel van, next to the engine, soon after the train entered the platform No. 3 around 8.30 a.m. and halted.

3:24 PM

Himanshu Vyas joins BJP, hours after resigning from the Congress party's primary membership

3:10 PM

To get public opinion for party manifesto, BJP launches 'agresar Gujarat' campaign

The BJP on Saturday launched 'Agresar Gujarat ' (leading Gujarat) campaign aimed to strike a chord will people of the state and seek their opinion on points to be included in the party manifesto for the state assembly polls.

 

People of Gujarat can share their views either by leaving notes in suggestion boxes to be put up in public places, or by messaging on cell number 78 78 182 182 or by visiting www.agresargujarat.com and sharing their views on the website.

 

On veteran leader Jay Narayan Vyas quitting the saffron party, BJP state unit president C R Patil said the party has accepted his resignation.

 

Vyas, 75, resigned from the party on Friday, saying that he was unhappy with the Patan district BJP committee, its functioning and constant humiliation.

 

3:03 PM

China to ‘unswervingly’ keep to Covid Zero policy, dashing hopes

China will “unswervingly” adhere to its current Covid controls as the country faces an increasingly serious outbreaks, health officials said, damping hopes that Beijing will ease its stringent policies that have put cities and factories under prolonged lockdowns.

 

“Previous practices have proved that our prevention and control plans and a series of strategic measures are completely correct,” Hu Xiang, an official at National Health Commission’s disease prevention and control bureau, said at a briefing Saturday.  “The policies are also the most economical and effective.”

 

There has been widespread speculation that China will step away from its Covid Zero policy. Unverified online posts about its potential reopening helped key stock gauges post their best weekly performance in years this week. China is said to scrap a “circuit breaker” system that suspends international flights that ferried the most infected passengers to the country, Bloomberg News reported.

 

2:53 PM

'Jana Gana Mana' and 'Vande Mataram' stand on same level: Centre to Delhi HC

Responding to a plea for equal status to 'Vande Mataram' with 'Jana Gana Mana', the Centre has told the Delhi High Court that both stand on the same level and every citizen of the country should show equal respect to both.

"..National song occupies a unique and special place in the emotions and psyche of the people of India," the Ministry of Home Affairs submitted.

The MHA, in its reply, also pointed out that on January 24, 1950, the President of the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the 'Jana Gana Mana' as the National Anthem of India.

The 'Orders relating to the National Anthem of India' were issued regarding the manner and the circumstances in which the National Anthem has to be played or sung.

2:46 PM

'No choice', says Musk as he justifies massive layoffs at Twitter

Amid massive layoffs at Twitter across the world, including in India, and the subsequent backlash, the microblogging site's new owner Elon Musk on Saturday justified the move, saying there was "no choice" when the company was losing millions of dollars daily.

The company posted a net loss of USD 270 million in the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 compared to a profit of USD 66 million in the same period a year ago.

"Regarding Twitter's reduction in force, unfortunately there is no choice when the company is losing over $4M/day," Musk tweeted.

"Everyone exited was offered 3 months of severance, which is 50% more than legally required," he added.

2:46 PM

Every vote cast on Nov 12 will define state's development journey over next 25 years: PM Modi in HP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday claimed that the people of Himachal Pradesh had made up their minds to retain the BJP in power, saying rapid progress and a stable government were necessary in the hill state.

"The Himachal polls this time are special because the votes cast on November 12 are not just for the coming five years. Every single vote on November 12 will define the state's development journey for the next 25 years," Modi said at a poll rally at Sundernagar in Mandi district.

Mandi is the home district of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who also addressed the rally.

"A few weeks ago, India completed 75 years of independence. When India celebrates 100 years of its independence, closer to that, HP will also complete 100 years of its formation. Therefore, the next 25 years are going to be very crucial," the prime minister pointed out.

2:26 PM

Pakistan eyes $13bn package after Shehbaz's China visit

Pakistan has got assurances of a $13 billion financial package from China and Saudi Arabia, including $5.7 billion in fresh loans that would help stabilise the reserves and the rupee, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said in a statement.

The $13 billion package is equal to 38 per cent of the estimated gross external financing requirements of Pakistan for fiscal year 2022-23, The Express Tribune reported.

Its materialisation can eliminate the threat of default, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has not come up with a big financial package despite imposing numerous harsh conditions.

2:22 PM

PM Modi condoles death of India's first voter, says his outlook towards democracy inspiring

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the death of India's first voter Shyam Saran Negi, who died aged 106 at his residence in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur on Saturday morning.

Two days ago, Negi had cast his vote for the state's Assembly polls through postal ballot, the Election Commission said earlier in the day.

Addressing a poll rally here in Mandi district for the November 12 assembly polls in the hill state, Modi said, "When I started from Delhi in the morning, I got to know about the death of Shyam Saran Negi. The 106-year-old had voted more than 30 times in his life."