News highlights: China leader Xi expected to be given third term on October 23

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry here on Saturday and the two leaders discussed a range of issues including the Ukraine conflict and the Indo-Pacific and exchanged views on boosting bilateral ties and how to create a more resilient global economy.

Jaishankar is in Egypt on a two-day visit at the invitation of his Egyptian counterpart Shoukry.

“A warm and productive meeting with FM Sameh Shoukry of Egypt. Reflected our deep-rooted ties as we mark 75 years of diplomatic relations this year,” he said in a tweet.

.The Finance Ministry has notified an average 12 per cent wage hike for employees of four public sector general insurance companies effective from August 2017."This Scheme may be called the General Insurance (Rationalisation of Pay Scales and other Conditions of Service of Officers) Amendment Scheme, 2022," a gazette notification dated October 14, 2022 said.This wage revision is effective from August 1, 2017 and applicable to those who were in the service of these companies, it said, adding that officers and employees will get arrears for five years.The next revision due from August 2022 will be in the form of a variable pay based on the performance of the company and the employee, it added..Three climate activists appeared in a London court on Saturday on charges of criminal damage after protests including throwing soup over Vincent van Gogh's “Sunflowers” painting in the National Gallery.Two women, age 20 and 21, were charged in relation to the soup-throwing protest on Friday, while a third was charged over paint sprayed on a rotating sign at the Metropolitan Police's headquarters in central London. The three women pleaded not guilty to criminal damage at the Westminster Magistrates' Court during two brief hearings Saturday.. Former chief justice of Balochistan High Court (BHC), Justice Muhammad Noor Meskanzai, has been killed in a gun attack in Kharan, media reports said.

Meskanzai was shot dead while offering Isha prayers at a mosque. The Quetta Bar Association has announced three-day mourning and a boycott of the courts, Geo News reported.

. The Centre has released more than 72 per cent of the total amount allocated for MGNREGS in the 2022-23 budget to states so far, the Rural Development Ministry said on Saturday.

In the Union Budget for 2022-23, Rs 73,000 crore was allocated for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), out of which Rs 52,833 crore has been allocated to states so far, the ministry said.

. China’s ruling Communist Party on Saturday put up a strong defence of its much-criticised zero-COVID policy and ruled out its roll back, saying it is a "reality" that coronavirus is still lingering while describing Beijing’s measures as the "most cost-effective". Sun Yeli, spokesperson for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said China’s measures to tackle the COVID-19 have worked well for the country and the zero-COVID policy is a science-based policy.

.President Xi Jinping is expected to be handed a historic third term in control of China on October 23, it emerged on Saturday, after a spokesman confirmed the Communist Party's 20th Congress will end the previous day.About 2,300 party delegates from every province will gather at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing from Sunday for the mostly closed-door conclave, to rubber-stamp the country's next leadership make-up.The five-yearly talking shop will get under way at 10:00 am (0200 GMT) with an opening ceremony, after which Xi is expected to deliver a lengthy speech that will give an assessment of the previous term as well as a roadmap for the next five years.. "I feel that there is no political instability in Jharkhand. Everything is normal. This is an artificial tornado.In this context (disqualification issue), I'd like to say that this is the first such incident in India wherein the CM goes to the doors of the EC and theGovernor and asks with folded hands what his punishment should be and is asking for it,"Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren told ANI.

. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch subsidised urea bags under a single brand 'Bharat' as part of the 'One Nation, One Fertiliser' scheme and inaugurate 600 PM Kisan Samruddhi Kendras at a two-day event starting October 17 in the national capital.

At the event to be held at Mela ground in Pusa complex, Modi will also electronically transfer Rs 16,000 crores to the bank accounts of over 8.5 crore farmers as part of the PM-KISAN scheme, aimed at providing direct support of Rs 6,000 annually to them.

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. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Society in New Delhi on Saturday, the Ministry of Science & Technology said in a statement.

. Apassengerbusstruck animprovisedexplosive device incentralMali, killing at least10people and wounding dozens of others, authorities said Friday, blaming Islamic extremists with links to al-Qaida.

The explosion took place Thursday afternoon in the village of Tile in Bandiagara region, the Malian military said in a statement. Among the victims was a 5-year-old girl. Some 38 otherpassengerswere taken to regional hospitals for treatment. (AP)

News highlights: China leader Xi expected to be given third term on October 23

Jaishankar discusses bilateral ties, Ukraine conflict, Indo-Pacific with his Egyptian counterpart

Govt notifies 12% wage hike for employees of PSU general insurers; links next with performance

Activists in UK court after soup thrown at Van Gogh picture

Former Balochistan chief justice killed in gun attack

72 per cent of budgeted fund under MGNREGS released to states so far: Centre

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