Former India left-arm fast-bowler Zaheer Khan has been appointed as mentor of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), in a formal event held at the RPSG Group Headquarters in Kolkata on Wednesday.

"All your anticipation ends here! The King of reverse swing, Indian legend #ZaheerKhan takes charge as the mentor of @LucknowIPL," wrote the RPSG Group, owners of the LSG franchise, on their ‘X’ account.

Zaheer will be filling in the mentor role left vacant at LSG after Gautam Gambhir's exit post IPL 2023. Gambhir later became Kolkata Knight Riders’ mentor this year, and led them to their third IPL title in Chennai. In July, he succeeded Rahul Dravid to become India men’s head coach.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved three projects of Ministry of Railways with a total estimated cost of Rs 6,456 crore and to be completed by up to 2028-29.

The projects will also generate direct employment for about 114 lakh man-days during construction.

The three projects cover seven districts in four states -- Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh – and will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 300 kms.

With these projects -- the result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity -- 14 new stations will be constructed, providing enhancing connectivity to two aspirational districts (Nuapada and East Singhbum).

“New line projects will provide connectivity to approximately 1,300 villages and about 11 lakh population. Multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to about 1,300 villages and nearly 19 lakh population,” the CCEA said in a statement.

Nearly 50 pilgrims were reported to be stranded in Dwarka on Wednesday due to the heavy rains in Gujarat.

The state has been grappling with heavy rains over the last two to three days, leading to flood-like conditions in several areas.

The city of Devbhoomi-Dwarka has been particularly affected, with temples near the Gomti Ghat, including the Haveli Bethakji Krishna Temple, Govardhan Nath Temple, and Shamla Sha Sheth Temple, flooded due to the downpour.

Pilgrims in Dwarka are reported to be stranded as the rains continue unabated.

In a landmark decision, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved 12 new project proposals under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) worth Rs 28,602 crore.

The decision is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, with an estimated 1 million direct jobs and up to 3 million indirect jobs through planned industrialisation.

These industrial nodes will act as catalysts for achieving $2 trillion in exports by 2030, reflecting the government's vision of a self-reliant and globally-competitive India.

With this decision, the country is set wear a grand necklace of industrial smart cities on the backbone of ‘Golden Quadrilateral.’

The General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, former Union Minister, and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja said that the BJP government in the state is claiming that it has fulfilled the promises made during its ten-year tenure, but the reality is that for ten years, it ruled by making false declarations and misleading the public. Now, when it appears that the government is on its way out, it is being said that every promise has been fulfilled. The BJP government, both at the state and central levels, has only one job: to create discord among people, lie to rule, and enjoy the benefits. During the tenure of this state government, several major scandals took place, but no investigations were conducted, and wherever there were investigations, those investigations were investigated, with no action taken against the culprits.

The Teej Celebration at Desh Bhagat University was a vibrant and culturally enriching event that highlighted the traditions and festivities associated with Teej festival. The Department of Media and performing arts at Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh hosted a one-day event, 'Teej Fest 2024,' celebrating the vibrant cultural heritage of Punjab.

Under fire after the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that her government will pass a Bill in the Assembly to ensure capital punishment for convicts in rape and murder cases.

“We will move a Bill in the state Assembly within 10 days seeking capital punishment for culprits in rape and murder cases. We will send it to the Governor, and if he doesn't pass the Bill, we will sit on indefinite protest outside the Raj Bhavan. This Bill must be passed... He cannot evade accountability this time. Why should rapists not be hanged," Banerjee asked while addressing an even to mark the foundation day of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), her party's students’ wing.

Echoing the statements of Trinamool General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee, who spoke just before her, the Chief Minister questioned the progress made by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the R.G. Kar rape and murder case, 14 days after the case was handed over to the probe agency by the Calcutta High Court.

Typhoon Shanshan, approaching from near Japan, brought heavy rain and strong wind to South Korea's Jeju island on Wednesday, with the state weather agency warning of downpours of up to 30 mm per hour and wind of up to 25 metres per second.

The Jeju Regional Meteorological Administration had issued a strong wind advisory across the island as of 1 p.m., advising residents to take precautions to ensure that signs and greenhouses are not damaged due to strong winds.

Strong winds with a maximum wind speed of 20 to 25 meters per second and heavy rain of up to 30 mm per hour could hit the island, particularly mountainous areas, News Agency reported quoting the weather agency

It had been raining sporadically in many parts of the island since a heavy rain alert was issued early Wednesday, with areas near Mount Halla receiving 154.5 millimetres of rain from midnight to 2 p.m.

The interior ministry called for measures to protect tourists in the coastal areas or residents in low-lying regions and ordered safety checks on fishing ports, tower cranes, and other infrastructure to minimise damage.

Indian frontline line indices extended gains in mid-session on Wednesday due to a rally in the IT stocks.

Due to the uptrend, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) benchmark Nifty made a new all-time high of 25,114, previously it was 25,078.

At 1.23 p.m., Sensex was up 233 points or 0.28 per cent at 81,943 and Nifty was up 84 points or 0.34 per cent at 25,102.

The rally was driven by IT stocks as the Nifty IT index also made a new lifetime high of 42,712.

Another important step has been taken to make Punjab drug free. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has inaugurated the new building of Anti-Narcotics Task Force in Mohali.

Apart from this, with the ultra-modern computer lab constructed in the new building of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force, a keen eye will be kept on drug traffickers in Punjab.

Let us tell you that to speed up the campaign against drugs, the new anti-narcotic task force will crack down on drug traffickers. The goal of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force will be to eliminate drugs in Punjab.