The big news: World Bank CEO all praise for government’s reforms push, and nine other top stories
Other headlines: Narendra Modi said Congress had conceded defeat in Himachal Pradesh, and Lebanese PM Saad al-Hariri resigned, saying he fears for his life.
- India is on track to become a high middle-income economy by 2047, says World Bank CEO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said ‘ease of doing business leads to ease of life’.
- Congress has conceded defeat and left Virbhadra Singh to fend for himself, says Narendra Modi: The prime minister compared the opposition party to termites and urged the people of Himachal Pradesh to wipe it out in the Assembly elections.
- Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri resigns, claiming threat to his life: He accused Iran and the Hezbollah group of sowing ‘fear and destruction’ in several Arab countries.
- Three killed in stampede in Bihar’s Begusarai during Kartik Purnima celebrations: Thousands of pilgrims had gathered at Simaria Ghat to take a holy dip in Ganga.
- Kamal Haasan should be ‘shot dead’ for remarks on right-wing terrorism, says Hindu Mahasabha: Anyone who uses ‘abusive language’ against Hindus ‘does not have the right to live in this holy land’, the national president of the outfit said.
- India can save 90,000 children every year if it expands its vaccination programme, finds report: Of the 15 countries evaluated, the study found that India had improved the most in terms of prevention and control of pneumonia and diarrhoea.
- BMW recalls over one million vehicles in North America over fire risk: Some were recalled because of defective valve heaters and others because of faulty wiring, the German automaker said.
- Are bullocks race animals? – Maharashtra government sets up a panel to check: The move comes in the backdrop of the Bombay High Court’s decision to extend the ban on the popular rural sport of bullock-cart racing.
- Speech- and hearing-impaired woman in Tamil Nadu who alleged rape booked for public nuisance: Three men were charged with ‘attempt to rape’ in 2014, but the final CID report accuses the 19-year-old of making a ‘false case’.
- 207 million accounts on Facebook are fake or duplicate: The social media giant explained that improved methods to identify fake accounts was behind the 6% surge from previous estimates.