Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar has said he was not involved in any kind of talks between Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar.
On January 23 this year, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and VBA announced an alliance ahead of civic polls in several cities in Maharashtra. The move was seen as an attempt by Thackeray to consolidate support among Dalits in the state.
Thackeray's party is a constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance along with the NCP and Congress.
Days after the Sena (UBT) and VBA forged an alliance, Pawar had said that no talks had been held among the MVA constituents about taking the Ambedkar-led outfit on board.
On Sunday, while replying to a question asked by reporters whether the NCP would join hands with Ambedkar, Pawar said, "I am not involved in any kind of talks between them (Thackeray-led Sena and VBA). My point of view is that Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena (UB

Shiv Sena symbol

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) head Prakash Ambedkar on Monday said his outfit will contest all elections in 2024 in alliance with the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections are due in 2024. Polls to various civic bodies, including the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, are also overdue.
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Prakash Ambedkar's VBA had announced a tie-up on January 23.
Ambedkar had then said the alliance was between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the VBA for the moment, but he hoped other constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party) also join.
In a big blow to Uddhav Thackeray, the Election Commission on Friday allotted the name Shiv Sena' and its poll symbol bow and arrow' to the group led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The EC allowed the Thackeray faction to retain the name Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the flaming torch' poll symbol, given to i

Uddhav Thackeray, Prakash Ambedkar

Uddhav Thackeray and Prakash Ambedkar had been in talks to forge an alliance for over two months

Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday met Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar in Mumbai and said the alliance will be decided after fixing certain small issues.
Reacting to Thackeray's remarks, Ambedkar said the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction will take a call on whether to induct the VBA into the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) or forge a separate alliance.
He also said the expression "positive discussion" used by Thackeray while speaking to reporters about the meeting has no meaning but is akin to postponing (a decision on alliance).
Earlier in the day, Thackeray and Ambedkar held a meeting in Mumbai.
"The meeting with Ambedkar was a positive one. We will soon resolve the small issues and make an announcement regarding the alliance," Thackeray told reporters.
Reacting to Thackeray's remarks, Ambedkar said the outcome of the meeting is perceived to be positive.
"But I don't understand the meaning of the phrase 'positive discussion'. It is Shiv Sena (UB

Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who heads a faction of the Shiv Sena, on Sunday alleged that the country was moving towards dictatorship and said he was ready to join hands with anyone who protect freedom.
Thackeray said this during an event, where he shared the stage with Dr B R Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar, chief of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), for the first time, and hinted at joining hands with him.
The two leaders were together at the launch of Prabhodhankar.com, a digital platform to highlight the work of Thackeray's grandfather 'Prabhodhankar' Keshav Sitaram Thackeray.
Speaking on the occasion, Thackeray said, "The country is moving towards dictatorship. There is a need to throw out people who are greedy for power. I am willing to join hands with those who want to protect freedom."
"At present, the British policy of divide-and-rule is being followed," he said.
Thackeray described Prakash Ambedkar as a person full of knowledge and ...

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Speaking about state Minister Nawab Malik's arrest in a money laundering case, Ambedkar said such allegations have surfaced against ministers earlier as well

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader Prakash Ambedkar

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi president Prakash Ambedkar on Thursday said his party will support the Maharashtra bandh called by some Maratha outfits on October 10 over the quota issue

VBA president Prakash Ambedkar claimed he has received information from the Maharashtra CM that places of worship will be reopened "soon" in the state, after the SOP are chalked out for it

Prakash Ambedkar

This trap that the BJP has laid, of converting parliamentary democracy into a Presidential election, that is where we would be attacking the BJP, he said

Half of India's population between the age of 30-55 years believes 59 years should be the age of retirement and thirty-two years is when one should ideally start retirement planning,

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The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max stands out within the iPhone 15 series and offers substantial improvements over the previous generation model, the iPhone 14 Pro Max

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max - Natural Titanium

India has been expanding its electronics manufacturing sector as companies diversify production beyond China amid growing Washington-Beijing tensions

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Stock market holiday: After Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, the market will be closed on October 24, Tuesday, for Dussehra

Stock market, NSE

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Big Tech

The Finance Ministry has notified October 1 as the date for implementation of the amended GST law provisions for taxing e-gaming, casinos and horse racing.
According to the changes to the Central GST Act, these supplies will henceforth be treated as "actionable claims" similar to lottery, betting and gambling and subject to 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on full face value of bets.
The amendments to Integrated GST (IGST) Act makes it mandatory for offshore online gaming platforms to take registration in India and pay taxes in accordance with domestic law.
In its meetings in July and August, the GST Council, comprising finance ministers of Centre and states, had approved amendments to the law to include online gaming, casinos and horse racing as taxable actionable claims, and clarified that such supplies would attract 28 per cent tax on full bet value.
Parliament last month passed amendments to the Central GST and Integrated GST laws to give effect to the Council's ...

Finance Ministry, Ministry of Finance

The century-old Roshanara Club in Delhi - the cradle of Indian cricket - was on Friday sealed by the Delhi Development Authority, which also took possession of the historic club, officials said.
The action was taken in the early hours and comes nearly six months after an "eviction notice" was served on the club by the DDA as its lease had expired earlier, a senior official said.
The historic club was established on August 15, 1922 and had turned 100 last year.
Endowed with natural beauty, green pastures and colonial-era charm, Roshanara Club, located in north Delhi, has emerged as one of the most prestigious clubs in the country.
"Following court orders, that inter alia upheld its eviction order dated, 12.04.2023, the Delhi Development Authority today evicted and took possession of the premises of Roshanara Club Ltd, the leases for which had expired 11 years back in 2012 and six years back in 2017," the DDA said in a statement.
This action was taken under provisions of section 5 (

Roshanara Club

The Indian Railways on Friday said more than 2.14 lakh people participated in 1,934 activities with man hours of 6,62,990 in the first 14 days of the "Swachhata Hi Sewa" (SHS) cleanliness drive.
The fortnight-long campaign was launched on September 15 by the chairperson and CEO of the Railway Board, who administered a cleanliness pledge to all the railway employees at the Rail Bhawan here.
The participants in the campaign are railway employees, passengers and other stakeholders. The campaign aims at fostering a much greener and more eco-friendly railway system.
"Indian Railways, with its extensive nationwide network, plays a vital role in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan," the railway ministry said in a statement.
This year, the railway ministry has become a part of the joint SHS campaign launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Ministry of Jal Shakti.
"Activities of SHS are integrated with day-to-day activities of Swachhata Pakhwada. The theme for Swachhata Hi Sewa camp

Swachh Bharat to external debt: Here're key points to know about Eco Survey

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's last-ditch plan to keep the federal government temporarily open collapsed on Friday as hard-right holdouts rejected the package, making a shutdown almost certain.
McCarthy's right-flank Republicans refused to support the bill despite its steep spending cuts of nearly 30 per cent to many agencies and severe border security provisions, calling it insufficient.
The White House and Democrats rejected the Republican approach as too extreme.
The bill's failure a day before Saturday's deadline to fund the government leaves few options left to prevent a shutdown that will furlough federal workers, keep the military working without pay and disrupt programmes and services for millions of Americans.
The outcome puts McCarthy's speakership in serious jeopardy with almost no political leverage to lead the House at a critical moment that has pushed the government into crisis.
Ahead of voting, the Republican speaker all but dared his hold-out colleagues to oppose t

Kevin McCarthy

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday released the second list of its candidates for the forthcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.AAP issued a list of 29 candidates for Madhya Pradesh and 12 candidates for Chhattisgarh.In Chhattisgarh, the party has fielded Tarun Vaidh from the Raipur Gramin constituency, Raja Ram Shyam from Pratappur, and Dev Prasad Koshle from the Sarangarh constituency.Releasing the list of candidates for Madhya Pradesh, the AAP wrote on X, "Our second list of candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election 2023. Many congratulations to all our candidates, and best wishes for the campaign."The AAP has fielded Ramani Devi Jatav, a candidate belonging to the Scheduled Caste from Bhander, Rahul Kushwah from Bhind, Satinder Bhadoriya from Mehgaon, Mohammad Sood from Bhopal Uttar, Raisa Begam Malik from Narela, Chanda Kinnar from Malhara and Vijay Mohan Palha from Patan.Earlier on September 8, the party ...

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The pan-European STOXX 600 index reversed early gains to fall 1.0% on Monday, hitting its lowest intra-day low in since end of March

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The trains have seats for 50 passengers and the space for 300 to stand

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Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has reportedly booked flight tickets to return from the UK to the country on October 21, ending a four-year "self-imposed exile", a media report said Monday.
Nawaz, 73, recently said that he is excited to return to Pakistan on October 21 to lead his party in the election likely to be held in January 2024.
Citing a source, Samaa TV reported that Nawaz, who is currently in the UK, will land at the Abu Dhabi International Airport on October 21. He is scheduled to fly to Lahore from Abu Dhabi on the same day.
He has booked a business class ticket on flight EY243 of Etihad Airways in advance, sources said. They further said the Etihad Airways flight will land at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore at 6:25 p.m.
Those accompanying Nawaz will reportedly be his staff members, personal advisers, Dr. Adnan and Senator Irfan Siddiqui.
According to sources, several PML-N leaders and former lawmaker

Nawaz Sharif books flight tickets to return Pak from UK on Oct 21: Report

The lenders of Future Retail Ltd have rejected the bid submitted by Space Mantra for the debt-ridden firm, which is currently going through Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP).
The Resolution Plan submitted by Space Mantra for Future Retail Ltd (FRL), failed to get the required number of votes in the e-voting process of the Committee of creditors (CoC).
It was put "for the consideration of the CoC on July 19, 2023... and pursuant to the decision taken by CoC through e-voting, concluded on 30th September 2023 at 9 PM (IST), the resolution plan submitted by Space Mantra Private Limited has not been approved by CoC", FRL said in a regulatory filing on Monday.
It further added: "In view of the resolution plan not having been approved by the CoC, the next steps would be taken in accordance with the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code 2016."
Space Mantra was the single bidder for FRL. According to some media reports, Space Mantra had offered around Rs 550 crore, which was very close

Prakash Ambedkar

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