UK-based drug major AstraZeneca's decision to withdraw its Covid-19 vaccine globally, days after admitting to side effects, prompted Serum Institute of India to disclose that it had stopped manufacturing Covishield in Dec 2021 due to a fall in demand as well as the emergence of new variants. Covishield accounted for nearly 80% of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in India.

Supreme Court, while hearing a plea filed by Dehradun-based advocate Rituparn Uniyal, seeking immediate action to safeguard the region's forests, wildlife, and birds from the devastating impact of wildfires, told the state govt on Wednesday that «cloud seeding or depending on rain god is not the answer» to the raging forest fires and the authorities will have to take preventive measures to tackle the problem.

After nudging the Delhi Police to amend the format for history-sheeters, which was copied from 90-year-old Punjab Police Rules of 1934, to exclude the minor children and wife of a person from getting included with him as a bad character, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and K V Vishwanathan on Tuesday asked all states to revisit their rules within six months regarding inclusion of a person in police's 'history-sheeter/bad character' record and weed out colonial era biases from relevant provisions.

West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose, facing molestation charges from a former employee of Raj Bhavan, announced Wednesday that he would present Raj Bhavan's CCTV footage to 100 private citizens of Bengal, excluding «Mamata Banerjee and her police». CM Banerjee and Trinamool have been going after the governor since the former Raj Bhavan employee filed a police complaint against Bose last Thursday.

However, driven by the last wish of a 70-year-old bedridden woman, ambulance driver Arun knew he had to rise to the occasion. The initial plan to have a spare driver was dropped as the patient's family, including her daughter-in-law and two children, insisted on accompanying her. In just two-and-a-half days, Arun successfully reached Raiganj in Uttar Dinajpur district.

Amidst allegations of molestation leveled against West Bengal governor Dr. CV Ananda Bose by a female employee, the Raj Bhavan announced on Wednesday its intention to share the relevant CCTV footage with 100 individuals, excluding «politician» Mamata Banerjee and «her police.» After the accusation surfaced, the police requested access to the pertinent CCTV footage from the Raj Bhavan.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also shared details of his arrival on X saying. «Warm welcome to FM @MoosaZameer of Maldives on his official visit to India. Discussions on bilateral & regional issues and seeking ways to provide impetus to our multifaceted relationship lie ahead.»

PM Modi had attacked the Congress accusing it of taking money from industrialists Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani to stop the offensive. Taking a swipe at PM Modi, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge wrote on X: «The times are changing. Friends are no longer friends…! After the completion of three phases of elections, today the prime minister has started attacking his own friends. This shows that Modiji's chair is shaking. This is the real trend of the results.»

Karnataka Police has summoned BJP National President JP Nadda and party member Amit Malviya to appear at Bengaluru's High Grounds police station within a week regarding a tweet shared by BJP Karnataka. The tweet in question is said to have targeted the SC/ST community. Earlier, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) had urged the Election Commission to take action against JP Nadda and other BJP leaders for allegedly violating the model code of conduct.

Ghulam Nabi Azad criticized Air India for passenger inconvenience, calling for its shutdown. The airlines apologized for the disruption and the Ministry of Civil Aviation demanded a report on the flight cancellations, stressing compliance with DGCA norms and passenger facility provision.

India contributes $500,000 to UN counter-terrorism trust fund, emphasizing commitment to global fight against terrorism. Support includes countering financing of terrorism and preventing terrorist movement in Africa. Total contribution now at $2.55 million.

In 2023, India became the world's third-largest solar power generator, surpassing Japan. Solar energy contributed 5.5% globally, with India's production increasing significantly since 2015, highlighting its commitment to renewable energy growth.

Punjab Congress chief Amardiner Singh Raja Warring on Wednesday stoked a fresh controversy as he called the 2019 Pulwama attack a «mystery' and claimed that the ruling BJP »can do anything to during elections'. Warring's statement comes days after former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi's "stuntbaazi' remark that triggered a political firestorm.

Air India Express has cancelled more than 80 international and domestic flights from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning due to «mass sick leave» among senior crew members, according to the airline's spokeswoman. The guests who have been affected by the cancellations would be refunded or receive a complimentary rescheduling, the spokesperson informed.

The Thailand government has approved a visa extension plan for Indian and Taiwanese tourists for an additional six months in an effort to boost its slow economy. The decision will permit travelers from India and Taiwan to visit the Southeast Asian country without a visa until November 11. The choice is made just before the current exemption expires.

FM Melanie Joly supports allegations of Indian agents' involvement in Nijjar's killing. RCMP leads the investigation, arresting three accused under murder charges. Strained India-Canada ties persist over the case. Speaking to reporters, Joly said that the investigation into the killing of Nijjar is being conducted by Royal Canadian Mounted Police. She stated that Canada will continue to protect its citizens, CPAC reported.

While Modi is very popular in the state, especially in urban areas, the Telangana BJP will have to contend with deep internal fissures. Of the 17 candidates the party has fielded, only a handful are old Sangh hands; most are recent imports from other parties. This has left some core BJP men upset.

Three Indian nationals, Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh, appeared before a Canadian court via video on Tuesday to confront charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder related to the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. The individuals, suspected to be members of an alleged hit squad, were apprehended in Edmonton on Friday.

Air India Express has cancelled more than 70 international and domestic flights from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning due to «mass sick leave» among senior crew members, according to the airline's spokeswoman. The guests who have been affected by the cancellations would be refunded or receive a complimentary rescheduling, the spokesperson informed.