Ludhiana: ₹82-crore road-cleaning project faces mounting opposition
Congress councillors staged a symbolic protest with sacks of counterfeit currency during the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation’s General House meeting on Saturday, October 10, opposing a proposed ₹82-crore mechanical road-sweeping project.
The meeting was adjourned following the death of AAP councillor Usha Rani Kalyan. The proposal has faced objections over its cost, technical feasibility and financial justification. The House is scheduled to reconvene on Monday, October 12, at 3 p.m.
India: New steel policy targets 604 million tonnes of capacity by 2047
India has released a draft steel policy proposing an increase in production capacity from approximately 220 million tonnes today to 604 million tonnes by 2047.
The proposal also aims to reduce the industry’s average carbon-emission intensity from 2.54 tonnes to 1.54 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of crude steel. Meeting future demand will require substantial supplies of iron ore and coking coal, including through overseas investments and joint ventures. The draft is open for public consultation.
Technology: Satellite internet competition heats up ahead of major telecom IPO
Starlink has pledged to offer affordable satellite internet in India, intensifying competition with established telecom operators ahead of Reliance Jio’s planned IPO, which is targeting a valuation of approximately $106 billion.
Both Starlink and competing satellite ventures are awaiting final security clearances from the Indian government. No specific Starlink pricing for India has been announced, and regulatory approval remains a key hurdle.
Delhi: Protests against election chief continue for a second day
Police detained hundreds of protesters in New Delhi on Sunday as demonstrations continued demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Protesters are challenging voter-list revisions that they allege unfairly benefit the ruling BJP. The government and election authorities reject allegations of politically motivated manipulation. Three detained leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party were released following a court order, subject to an undertaking to maintain public peace.
Global: At least 139 migrants die in boat disaster off Djibouti
At least 139 migrants have died after a boat carrying 305 people capsized off the coast of Djibouti while travelling towards Yemen, according to the International Organization for Migration. At least 84 people remained missing in the latest Associated Press report, while more than 80 survivors had been rescued. Search operations continued.
