NATO and Russia's military alike staged planned annual nuclear exercises Wednesday as the Russian president repeated the unfounded claim that Ukraine plans to set off a radioactive dirty bomb.

On the battlefront, Russian forces pounded more than 40 Ukrainian villages over the past day.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that there has been an increase in drug smuggling through the darknet and cryptocurrencies, which is also responsible for terrorism.

The Home Minister made the remarks at a high-level regional meeting on drug trafficking and national security in Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar on Wednesday.

US President Joe Biden has warned Russia against using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, saying it would be an incredibly serious mistake.

The Biden administration had earlier said Russia had given notice that it intended to stage routine drills of its nuclear capabilities while Ukraine's nuclear energy operator claimed its neighbour was performing some secret work at Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

Gold prices fell in Tuesday's early trade with 10 gram of yellow metal (24-carat) trading at Rs 51,110, after a decrease of Rs 180, according to the GoodReturns website. Silver, on the other hand, became dearer today, and is trading at Rs 58,000 per kg.

Ten gram of 22-carat gold is trading at Rs 46,850 today, after a decrease of Rs 160.

The newly elected president of the Indian National Congress Mallikarjun Kharge will take charge of the post on Wednesday at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi.

All Congress Working Committee members, MPs, Pradesh Congress Committee presidents, CLP leaders, former CMs, former State presidents, and other AICC office bearers are invited to the programme.

India is an important manufacturer of vaccines for the world, the White House said, acknowledging the crucial role the country played in supplying vaccines against COVID-19 globally.

Because of its incredible manufacturing capacity, (India) has been a major exporter of vaccines, Dr Ashish Jha, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, told reporters at a news conference here on Tuesday.

The situation in Assam continues to remain grim on Tuesday as nearly 1100 people of 83 villages have been affected by the deluge caused by the cyclonic storm 'Sitrang'.

Several houses were damaged due to Cyclone Sitrang which caused heavy rainfall and a storm in Assam.

Walmart Inc-backed Flipkart is considering raising $2 billion to $3 billion at a valuation of more than $40 billion to expand its product range in India and challenge rivals, the Mint reported on Tuesday, citing two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

The world's biggest retailer is keen to bring in strategic investors for the Indian company, but is also open to selling to large pure-play investment firms, the report said, citing one of the two people.

Cyclone Sitrang crossed the Bangladesh coast near Barisal after skirting the West Bengal coast, the IMD said on Tuesday.

The weather in the southern West Bengal districts is likely to improve from forenoon, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The system, which moved towards Bangladesh from north Bay of Bengal at a speed of 56 kmph caused moderate to heavy rain and squally weather in West Bengal's coastal districts of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur, dampening festive spirits on Deepavali and Kali Puja.

Banking services across the nation will get affected on November 19, with members of the All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) going on strike, said an official.

The members will strike work in protest against targeted victimisation of bankers for being active in the union.

According to AIBEA General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam, in the recent period, the attacks are not only increasing but there is a common thread in all these attacks.

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