In Soft Tennis, India’s Tanushree Pandey has clinched the Silver Medal at the World Soft Tennis Championship at Jingshan in China. She faced a defeat against Chiang Min Yu of Chinese Taipei, 3-4, in the Under 21 Women’s Individual Singles final yesterday.

Earlier, Tanushree triumphed over her Japanese opponent, 4-3, in a fiercely contested semifinal match. While in the quarterfinal, she had defeated her Chinese opponent by the same scoreline.

At least 65 million people are food insecure in the Horn of Africa. It was revealed by a joint report released today by the UN and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD, an East African bloc. This figure marks a slight decline from 66 million in August, attributed to improved rainfall over the past two seasons, particularly in the IGAD region. According to reports, of the 65 million affected people, 36 million reside in IGAD member states, including Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. The report said, extreme weather and climate change, now more severe and frequent, are the primary drivers of food insecurity. The report highlighted that conflict has led to widespread destruction of infrastructure and essential sources of food and income, worsening the already critical food security situation.

A contentious Swiss prohibition on facial coverings in public spaces widely known as the “burqa ban” will take effect on Jan. 1, the government said on Wednesday.

Narrowly passed in a 2021 referendum in neutral Switzerland, and condemned by Muslim associations, the measure was launched by the same group that organised a 2009 ban on new minarets.

The governing Federal Council said in a statement it had fixed the start of the ban, and that anyone who unlawfully flouts it faces a fine of up to 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,144).

The ban does not apply to planes or in diplomatic and consular premises, and faces may also be covered in places of worship and other sacred sites, the government said.

In the wake of incidents of cheetahs from Madhya Pradesh straying into neighbouring Rajasthan, a joint corridor management committee of both the states has been formed to work for conservation of the felines, officials said on Tuesday.

The panel will also discuss development of suitable areas for future shifting of cheetahs from Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park (KNP) and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary area and recommend measures for improvement including the pre-augmentation base, an official said in a statement.

Under the ambitious cheetah reintroduction project, eight Namibian cheetahs were released into enclosures at the KNP in Sheopur district on September 17, 2022. Later, another 12 cheetahs were brought to the park from South Africa in February 2023.

Republican Donald Trump has secured over 270 electoral votes, defeating Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election. On Wednesday, Trump was elected as the 47th President of the United States, marking a comeback for the former president who previously disputed his 2020 election loss, faced felony convictions, survived two assassination attempts, and was associated with the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021.

Trump received 295 electoral votes and more than 72 million popular votes, surpassing Kamala Harris's 226 electoral votes and nearly 67 million popular votes. This historic win makes Trump the first president in 132 years to be elected to a non-consecutive second term, following Grover Cleveland’s 1892 victory.

US media coverage of Trump’s victory has varied widely, with tones and narratives reflecting the broader implications of his return to power for a second term.

Under new rules brought in by the Uttar Pradesh government, the state’s police chief will be selected by a committee chaired by a retired High Court judge. This is a departure from the earlier process, under which the state would send a list of names to the Union Public Service Commission, which would make the selection.

The ‘Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh Selection and Appointment Rules, 2024’ was cleared by the state Cabinet on Monday evening.

Officials said the decision was taken citing a Supreme Court order dated September 22, 2006, in which, according to officials, the apex court expressed its expectation that state governments enact a new Police Act that would be capable of keeping the police system free from pressures, safeguarding the rights of citizens and establishing the rule of law.

The Yamuna expressway industrial development authority (Yeida) on Tuesday said that the Uttar Pradesh government’s cabinet has approved a mega project related to the semiconductor manufacturing near Noida international airport. The authority will now allot land for this project.

The UP cabinet approved the establishment of semiconductor manufacturing units by Vamasundari (HCL Group) and Tarq (Hiranandani Group) near the airport site at Jewar on Monday in Lucknow, paving way for this mega project that will fuel the growth in this region, officials said.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has submitted a ‘Letter of Intent’, expressing the country’s desire to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Commission, taking the first concrete step in an ambitious plan.

The letter was submitted on October 1, according to a source in the sports ministry.

“This monumental opportunity could bring substantial benefits, fostering economic growth, social progress, and youth empowerment across the country,” the source added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had first talked about his government’s aspiration to host the 2036 Olympics last year.

Public procurement portal Government e-Marketplace (GeM) on Monday said it has introduced 170 seed categories on the platform.

These seeds, it said, can be procured by central/state public sector units and other bodies for further dissemination across the country.

"The roll out of these new categories is a part of GeM's broader strategy to promote category based procurement through the portal," it added.

"We invite sellers to leverage these new seed categories and list their offerings to participate freely in government tenders. We also encourage seed corporations/state bodies to utilise these new categories for cost-effective procurement of quality seeds, Roli Khare, Deputy CEO, GeM, said.

In a Diwali bonanza for families of more than 6.5 percent lakh employees and pensioners of the state government, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced a hike of 4% in the Dearness Allowance (DA) for families of more than 6.5 lakh employees and pensioners of the state government.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson from the Chief Minister’s Office stated, “The Chief Minister approved a 4% DA increase for employees and pensioners, effective from November 1, 2024, raising it from 38% to 42%.” 

Mann emphasized, “This decision will benefit more than 6.5 lakh employees, pensioners, and their families. Employees are a critical segment of the state administration, and safeguarding their interests is the government’s top priority. No stone is being left unturned for this noble cause, and every effort is being made to ensure the welfare of employees.”