Morning brief: Kejriwal, Mahua Moitra to face probe today; Onions at subsidised rate, and all the latest news
A shortlist of the biggest headlines, recommended stories, and a special collection of news items you should check out;
Two key opposition leaders, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Trinamool Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, will face separate interrogations in Delhi today. Kejriwal is set to be questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the liquor policy case, which has already led to the imprisonment of former deputy CM of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, and AAP MP Sanjay Singh. Meanwhile, Mahua Moitra is scheduled to appear before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee to provide her statement regarding the 'cash-for-questions' allegations made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai. Calling both Arvind Kejriwal and Mahua Moitra corrupt, Nishikant Dubey tweeted, "Both 2 numbaris will present themselves on November 2." Dig deeper
More news on this: ‘If Delhi CM can be arrested…’: BJP leader as ED summons Arvind Kejriwal in excise policy case Dig deeper
Mahua Moitra case more ‘serious’ than 2005 cash-for-query scam: Nishikant Dubey Dig deeper
The Union government has initiated to sell onions at ₹25 per kilogram in over a dozen cities with an aim to ensure affordability and stabilise prices by increasing onion availability amid soaring rates. Reduced supplies, attributed to delayed summer crop harvests, have caused onion prices to surge for the second time in six months. Consequently, the government has imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of $800 per tonne to restrict overseas sales. This has led to retail prices soaring to ₹70-80 per kilogram in certain cities, more than double the rate of ₹30 just a couple of weeks ago. Dig deeper
More news on this: Onion prices rise to ₹70 a kg, may shoot up further Dig deeper
Onions for ₹25 per kg in Noida, Ghaziabad Dig deeper
Latest News
Singer Shubh says 'no matter what I do…' amid row over ‘Indira Gandhi assassination hoodie’ Dig deeper
WhatsApp to get ‘double-tap’ feature to forward and rewind videos Dig deeper
India News
Members of Uddhav’s Shiv Sena detained at K’taka-Maha border Dig deeper
ED raids Delhi minister Raaj Kumar Anand's premises ahead of Kejriwal's questioning Dig deeper
Best Print Read
The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the Union government about whether electoral bonds (EB) for political funding effectively “legitimise kickbacks” to political parties. The court also noted that the scheme not only appears to create a “information hole” by perpetuating “selective anonymity” of donors but also fails to ensure fairness. The five-judge Constitution bench, under the leadership of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, further remarked that invalidating the EB scheme doesn't necessarily mean a return to unaccounted cash and black money in political donations. The government retains the option to introduce a “transparent scheme or a scheme which has a level playing field”. Dig deeper
Global Matters
Israel's Shin Bet internal security has released a video of a Hamas terrorist admitting that he slaughtered women and children in Israel. Omar Sami Marzuk Abu Rusha, a member of Hamas’ Nukhba special forces, told the interrogator that he was among the forces deployed to Kfar Aza, near the Gaza border. "The mission was simply to kill. We were not supposed to kidnap, only to kill. To kill every person we see and come back," Abu Rusha said. Recalling the murders, Abu Rusha said, “We moved into the first house. We checked it and there was nothing there. Hamzeh A-Zarad burned the exterior room, set it on fire. Then someone came out towards the garden in the back with a water hose - Abu Ahmed and Hamzeh saw him, shot at him and killed him.” Dig deeper
Entertainment Focus
Celebrating his 58th birthday, actor Shah Rukh Khan made a midnight appearance as fans gathered outside his Mumbai residence, Mannat. As per his customary birthday tradition, Shah Rukh greeted his fans with folded hands, blew kisses, and struck his iconic open-arms pose. In a video capturing the midnight celebration, enthusiastic fans cheered loudly as he stood on his house's balcony. For the occasion, Shah Rukh sported an all-black ensemble, including a black t-shirt with camouflage pants, complemented by a black cap and sunglasses. Dig deeper
Lifestyle and Health
Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha, the recently married celebrity couple, observed their first Karwa Chauth together on Wednesday. Since their marriage, the actor and politician duo has been in the spotlight, sharing beautiful wedding photos. Parineeti delighted their fans by sharing snapshots of their Karwa Chauth rituals on Instagram. The post featured the charming couple, both adorned in gorgeous ethnic attire, beaming with happiness. Parineeti's fashion sense in ethnic wear is noteworthy, as she effortlessly hits the mark as a fashion pro. Dig deeper
Sports Goings
Twelve years after the historic night in April 2011 when India secured their second World Cup victory with a remarkable six-wicket triumph over Sri Lanka, the team is preparing to face the Sri Lankan team in another World Cup match. However, this upcoming encounter is unlikely to mirror the past. While the previous World Cup final was a showdown between cricket powerhouses, the forthcoming match, based on current form, is viewed as a one-sided competition. India has maintained an impeccable record in the tournament, while Sri Lanka has faced more losses than wins. Dig deeper
That’s all we have at this hour in our morning briefing. Catch you in the afternoon.