FirstUp: Israel, Xi-Putin meet, cricket, election tickets… What will make news today?

It’s Wednesday and here’s your daily dose of news. Starting today (18 October), Firstpost will give you a lowdown of what to expect in the day. So, what’s brewing? The Israel-Hamas war has entered its 12th day. Russia’s Vladimir Putin is in China where he is expected to hold a bilateral with Xi Jinping. We tell you what they will discuss. At home, elections are the flavour of the season. In Rajasthan, Congress is likely to meet to discuss its candidates for the November polls. The Cricket World Cup is getting interesting and then there’s more. Who gets a Congress ticket in Rajasthan? The Congress Central Election Committee is likely to meet in Jaipur to discuss candidates for the 25 November polls . The party is yet to release its list while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its first list of 41 candidates including seven MPs. How to handle the stray dog menace The Supreme Court will begin hearing a batch of petitions seeking steps to control the menace of stray dog bites and fatal attacks . The court had earlier indicated that it intends to issue guidelines to resolve the human and animal conflict. [caption id=“attachment_13261402” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The Supreme Court will hear a batch of 30 petitions – many from Kerala, including one from a panchayat from Kannur district – seeking steps to curb and control the menace of stray dog bites and fatal attacks. Image used for representational purposes/PTI[/caption] Who killed Soumya Vishwanathan? A Delhi court will deliver its verdict in the 2008 murder case of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan. Viswanathan was shot dead on 30 September 2008, while returning home in her car. Police had claimed the motive was a robbery and arrested five people in March 2009 who have been in custody since then. It’s New Zealand vs Afghanistan! In its last match at the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan stunned reigning champions, England. New Zealand, on the other hand, remains unbeaten thus far. Can the Afghans do it again? Catch all the updates here . Xi-Putin bilateral Amid the Israel-Hamas war, Russia’s Vladimir Putin has made his way to China to meet his ‘dear friend’ Xi Jinping. He is there to attend the Belt and Road Initiative forum. Incidentally, this is Putin’s first trip to a major global power since Moscow’s Ukraine invasion threw his regime into international isolation. What will the two discuss? Stay tuned to find out. [caption id=“attachment_13261432” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Tennis legend Martina Navratilova will turn 67 today. She holds the honour of winning 59 Major titles – the most in the Open era. File image/Reuters[/caption] Wish Martina a Happy Birthday! Tennis legend Martina Navratilova turns 67 today. The Czech-American is widely considered among the greatest tennis players of all time, having won 18 major singles titles, 31 major women’s doubles titles, and 10 major mixed doubles titles – a total of 59 Major ones, the most in the Open Era. It’s BBC’s birthday too The British Broadcasting Company, as the BBC was originally called, was formed on this day in 1922 by a group of leading wireless manufacturers. Daily broadcasting started on 14 November of the same year.