1. The Karnataka private transport strike was called off by 2.30 p.m. this afternoon after transport minister Ramalinga Reddy assured the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations that most of their demands would be met. However, he made it clear that the Shakti scheme cannot be withdrawn.
2. After the conclusion of the G20 summit yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi today. Both leaders hailed the historic ties between the nations and the path-breaking agreement on the India-Middle East-Europe connectivity corridor at a joint press briefing.
3. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Editors Guild of India (EGI), told a Supreme Court bench headed by CJI D. Y. Chandrachud that the EGI did not go to Manipur voluntarily and that they went only on a written request by the Army.
4. A Khalistani referendum organized by the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in Surrey, British Columbia, on Sunday drew a crowd of 7000 people against an anticipated strength of 50,000 to 75,000. Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the G20 summit PM Modi expressed India’s concerns over Khalistani extremism on Canadian soil to PM Justin Trudeau.
5. Delhi government has banned firecrackers in the national capital this Diwali. Quoting CM Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi environmental minister Gopal Rai said, “Manufacturing, storage, sale, online delivery, and bursting of any type of firecrackers are completely prohibited in Delhi.”
6. Lucknow witnessed its highest 12-hour rainfall until so far this year. Heavy rains that started Sunday evening led to severe water logging and traffic snarls in the city. IMD forecasted heavy to very heavy downpours in many places in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.
7. Netherlands PM Mark Rutte, who was in New Delhi for the G20 summit, called the paragraphs about Ukraine in the Delhi Declaration a compromise. However, he said, “good that India could broker a declaration and he was happy there were some key elements.
8. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) surges ahead of debit cards as the country’s preferred mode of money transfer. Between 2020-23, UPI transactions grew 428%, whereas Debit card usage went up only by 11.96%. In value terms, monthly UPI payments are now more than Rs. 15 trillion.
9. The Rajkot International Airport in Hirasar became operational on Sunday with a lamp-lighting ceremony and the customary water cannon salute to welcome its first fight from Indore. As per an AAI statement, 11 flights were operated on the first day, with 2,546 passengers serviced.
10. After the phenomenal success of his film, Jailer, Rajinikanth has announced his next action flick, tentatively titled Thalaivar171. The movie will be directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj of Vikram, Master, and Kaithi fame and produced by Sun Pictures.