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New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) India has withdrawn its offer to host the United Nations annual climate Conference Of the Parties (COP33) in 2028, sources said on Wednesday. During his address at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed India as the host country for COP33. Sources informed that the decision has been officially communicated to the concerned that India is withdrawing its bid to host COP33. There was no response from the Environment Ministry on the development. A ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) The BJP took a swipe at Congress leader Pawan Khera on Wednesday, saying he has become a "scaredy-cat" from Rahul Gandhi's "lion" and is running away from police after making baseless allegations against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife. This came after the Congress posted a video of Khera on X, saying, "Here is Media and Publicity Department Chairman @Pawankhera ji with new revelations and more questions for Assam's corrupt Chief Minister Himanta Bis ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Apr 8 (PTI) Commission agents, known as 'arhtiyas' in Punjab, on Wednesday announced that they were calling of the week-long strike after a meeting with the agriculture and water resources ministers, paving the way for procurement at mandis. The arhtiyas had been on strike, demanding 2.5 per cent of the minimum support price as commission. Following the chief minister's directions, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal held deta ...Read More >
Ahmedabad, Apr 8 (PTI) The Gujarat BJP on Wednesday welcomed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's expression of regret over his "illiterate" remarks about Gujaratis, but questioned the delay in his response and flagged another controversial comments made by him in poll-bound Assam. Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief spokesperson Dr Anil Patel noted that Kharge's apology was a "good thing" and deserved to be welcomed. "Respected Kharge ji does not have the kind of personality to make ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Apr 8 (PTI) Former Punjab MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who joined political outfit Bharatiya Rashtrawadi Party (BRP), claimed on Wednesday that her husband Navjot Singh Sidhu was not part of any political outfit. Spelling out a roadmap in Punjab, the former Congress leader told reporters here that the BRP will contest the 2027 assembly polls in the state. She advocated opium cultivation if her party forms the government after the next assembly elections. Kaur, who was expelled from the C ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) The Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) under Ministry of Defence has signed an MoU with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to collaborate on metro rail projects in India and overseas, marking a step towards expanding integrated urban mobility solutions. The MoU seeks to establish a framework for cooperation between the two organisations to jointly identify, pursue and execute metro projects across domestic and international markets and the partnership will leverage BEML's m ...Read More >
Panaji, Apr 8 (PTI) The Bombay High Court on Wednesday quashed the Election Commission of India's notification for the byelection to Ponda assembly seat in Goa a day ahead of polling, citing violation of the Representation of the People Act as the legislature's term is set to expire in less than a year. Thursday's election was thus cancelled even though postal ballots had already been cast, as the high court also refused to stay its judgement. While the ruling BJP termed the decision as shocki ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) Congress general secretary Priyana Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday came out in support of party colleague Pawan Khera, saying the "shameless" attack on him by the BJP speaks of the ruling party's arrogance and guilt. Gandhi said every Congress worker and Indian who believes in the Constitution stands with Khera as he is "hunted down" by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who she claimed has lost his moral right to govern. "The shameless attack on Congress leader Pawan K ...Read More >
Shimla, Apr 8 (PTI) Several high-altitude areas of Himachal Pradesh experienced fresh snowfall on Wednesday, while moderate to heavy rains lashed the mid and lower hills, bringing temperatures down and compelling residents to wear woollen clothes in April, officials said. The local MeT department issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph in parts of Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Kullu and Shimla districts. The wet spell is likely to continue till April 1 ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) A blanket of clouds, gusty winds and spells of light, scattered rain through the day kept Delhi unusually cool for April, bringing down the maximum temperature to 28.2 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, the lowest for the month in 11 years, even as the city breathed easier after days with air quality settling in the 'satisfactory' category. The maximum temperature at Safdarjung was recorded at 28.2 degrees Celsius, 6.9 degrees below normal. The last time the maximum temperatur ...Read More >
Mumbai, Apr 8 (PTI) Police have arrested a man for creating an AI-generated video linked to the plane crash that killed former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar with the alleged aim of defaming Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, an official said on Wednesday. The accused, Uddhav Bhagwan Kapse, was arrested from Jalna district in the state by the Cyber Cell of the West Regional Division in Mumbai. After the January 28 Baramati plane crash, Kapse collected various video clips aired by ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) The domestic consumption of finished steel grew by 7-8 per cent to 164 million tonnes in FY26 on the back of increased activity in infrastructure, construction, railways, and manufacturing sectors. The country's crude steel output grew by over 10.7 per cent to around 168.4 million tonnes during the financial year, reflecting sustained industrial momentum. "Domestic demand remained the key growth driver with finished steel consumption (164 MnT), expanding by about 7-8 per ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) A day before Kerala goes to polls, on Wednesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged the people to vote for the United Democratic Front (UDF) to help elect a government with a vision to harness the state's talent and potential. Gandhi said this election is about their future as this is an ideological battle between the BJP and the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which has now partnered with each other. Kerala will vote on April 9 to elect its 140-member state assembly. The c ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Apr 8 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday said BJP will form a government in West Bengal under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as people of the state want development, industry, women's safety and good governance. During the long period of the Left rule and now under the present government in West Bengal headed by Mamata Banerjee, "industry and employment have suffered", he claimed, adding that people want change. "Due to issues such as atroc ...Read More >
Chennai, Apr 8 (PTI) The TNCC on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on TVK founder and actor Vijay, condemning his recent "real Congress is with us" remark as "baseless, false, and politically motivated". In a strongly worded statement, TNCC Organisation Secretary Se Rammohan demanded an unconditional apology from the actor for allegedly insulting the party's integrity. The controversy erupted following Vijay's high-octane election campaign in Tirunelveli, where the actor-turned-politician c ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday conveyed to his Bangladeshi counterpart Khalilur Rahman India's desire to engage "constructively" with the new government in Dhaka and further strengthen bilateral ties. In their meeting, Jaishankar and Rahman deliberated extensively on charting a new path of cooperation, leaving behind more than 18 months of heightened diplomatic tension witnessed during the tenure of Bangladesh's interim government. Rahman, accompanie ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) Police are planning to retrace the entire route taken by the man accused of breaching the Delhi Assembly security, to reconstruct his movements before he rammed his SUV through a VIP gate and entered the premises, sources said on Wednesday. Sarabjeet Singh, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit, who was arrested hours after the incident on Monday, allegedly wished to seek attention of the police officers over the matter of his missing nephew. According to sources, inves ...Read More >
Leh, Apr 8 (PTI) To strengthen Ladakh's tourism sector and promote its rich cultural heritage, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday launched the official portals for Ladakh Tourism and sacred exposition of the holy relics of Lord Buddha, an official said. The portals -- https://tourism.ladakh.gov.in/ and https://tathagata.co.in/ -- were launched at the Lt Governor's Secretariat in the presence of venerable rinpoches, monks and senior government officials, a Lok Bhavan spokesperso ...Read More >
Indore, Apr 8 (PTI) A temple retains its religious and legal status even after its demolition, giving devotees the right to worship at the site, a Hindu petitioner argued on Wednesday before the Madhya Pradesh High Court during the hearing in the disputed Bhojshala complex case in Dhar district. Even after a temple is demolished or its idols are destroyed, the deities remain present there in an "indirect or invisible form", the Hindu side asserted. The Hindu community considers Bhojshala, a mo ...Read More >
Guwahati, Apr 8 (PTI) More than 1.5 lakh security personnel have been deployed as part of arrangements for Thursday's polling in Assam that will decide the fate of 722 candidates hoping to enter the 126-member state Assembly. Officials said 31,940 polling stations have been set up in 35 districts for the single-phase polling. Micro-observers have been deputed in sensitive polling stations. The results will be declared on May 4. While most personnel set out for the polling stations on Wednesda ...Read More >
Noida, Apr 8 (PTI) A 21-year-old student of a private university drowned while allegedly bathing in a water-filled pit at an abandoned construction site here, police said on Wednesday. According to an official statement, the incident took place under Sector 126 police station limits, where four students had gone for a small picnic after their examinations. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Saad Miyan Khan said the students visited an old, abandoned construction area near Supernova. "One o ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) The Delhi government is preparing a standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure prompt regularisation of 1,521 unauthorised colonies in the national capital through district-wise cells headed by additional district magistrates (ADMs), officials said on Wednesday. The Centre on Tuesday announced a new policy to regularise properties based on "as is where is" eligibility criteria in the unauthorised colonies with approvals from Delhi government agencies. The entire proces ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Apr 8 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday accused the Opposition of spreading "misinformation" that his government had imposed many unnecessary conditions on the purchase of crops, The government has implemented comprehensive reforms in the procurement system and appointed nodal officers in every mandi (grain market), Saini said after chairing a meeting of the state cabinet here. He said that these technology-based initiatives have enhanced transparency, acco ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Apr 8 (PTI) Voting for bypolls to two Assembly segments in Karnataka -- Bagalkot and Davanagere South -- will be held on Thursday, following a high-voltage campaign by both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. The polls were necessitated by the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa. Counting of votes will take place on May 4. Although the outcome of these by-elections is unlikely to have an immediate impact on state politics, the contest is see ...Read More >
Kolkata, Apr 8 (PTI) Star Australian all-rounder Cameron Green may finally be seen bowling for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 when three-time champions face Lucknow Super Giants here on Thursday, offering a lift to their depleted bowling stock. Green has not bowled so far this season following a back surgery, and he has been gradually building up his workload in the nets. The Australian bowled at full throttle on the eve of KKR's match against Punjab Kings on Monday and again sent down a fe ...Read More >
Mumbai, Apr 8 (PTI) Indian scheduled commercial banks' gross non-performing assets (NPAs) ratio declined further to 2 per cent in December 2025, the Reserve Bank said on Wednesday. Gross NPAs -- which represents the proportion of loans unpaid for over 90 days -- for the banking system had stood at 2.5 per cent in the year-ago period, as per the bi-annual Monetary Policy Report released by the central bank. The improvement in asset quality was across sectors, including retail loans, services, i ...Read More >
Jabalpur (MP), Apr 8 (PTI) A 42-year-old man hailing from Uttar Pradesh, wanted in several cases of thefts on trains, has been arrested in the district after a five-hour operation involving an anxious wait on the edge of a pond, police said on Wednesday. Harvinder Singh (42) alias Sunny allegedly tried to steal a woman's purse in an AC coach of the Rewa-Itwari Express in the wee hours of Monday when it was passing through Jabalpur district, said a Railway Protection Force (RPF) official. He wa ...Read More >
Mumbai, Apr 8 (PTI) The rupee appreciated 52 paise to close at 92.54 against the US dollar on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump announced the suspension of military strikes against Iran for two weeks, and the Reserve Bank kept the key benchmark rate unchanged with a neutral stance. Forex traders said investor sentiment got a boost after Governor Sanjay Malhotra assured that the steps taken on forex do not constitute a structural change. Moreover, confidence was exuded in the health of ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) The Delhi Police has arrested over 600 people and rounded up more than 8,300 suspects during its Operation CyHawk 4.0, a large-scale crackdown on cybercrime conducted on April 6 and 7, officials said on Wednesday. A senior police officer said the son of a Delhi-based eatery chain owner is also among arrestees. "Due to losses in business, the son of the famous eater chain's owner provided his bank account to move proceeds of cybercrime on a commission basis, where he rece ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) Interest rate-sensitive realty, auto and bank stocks were in high demand on Wednesday, a day when the Reserve Bank of India kept its key policy rate unchanged, adopting a wait-and-watch stance as policymakers assessed the fallout from the Iran conflict on energy supplies, inflation and growth. A sharp rally in the broader equity market also aided buying in these stocks. Among realty firms, the stock of Lodha Developers surged 8.48 per cent, Prestige Estates Projects jump ...Read More >
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