News updates: CAQM for Delhi-NCR revokes Grap-IV curbs amid dip in pollution levels

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Centre's air quality panel for Delhi-NCR revokes curbs under GRAP Stage-IV amid dip in pollution levels.  Amid concerns flagged by the Congress, the Election Commission on Tuesday said there were no arbitrary additions or deletions of voters in Maharashtra where assembly polls were held recently. In its response to the Congress, the poll authority said it would not be correct to compare 5 PM voter turnout data with final polling data.  The Congress has moved the Supreme Court challenging the changes made to election conduct rules by the Centre. This comes after the Central government, on the Election Commission’s (EC) recommendation, made changes to Rule 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. The change restricts public access to specific records, including CCTV camera footage, webcasting material and video recordings of candidates during elections.  Actor Allu Arjun has reached Chikkadpally police station in Hyderabad to appear before the police in connection with Pushpa 2 stampede incident.  Former US President Bill Clinton was on Monday (local time) admitted to a hospital in Washington  in the "afternoon for testing and observation" after developing a fever, a member of his staff said. "He remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he is receiving," Clinton's deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, said in a statement on X. 

Two criminals allegedly involved in the robbery at the Indian Overseas Bank's Chinhat branch in Lucknow were killed in separate encounters with Lucknow and Ghazipur police, officials said on Tuesday. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Chinhat, Radha Raman Singh, said Sobind Kumar, a native of Bihar, was one of the suspects wanted in the bank robbery. While Sobind Kumar, 26, was killed in an encounter with the Lucknow police near Kisan Path, Sunny Dayal, 28, was gunned down by the Ghazipur police and SWAT surveillance team in a separate encounter, they said. 

President Joe Biden on Monday signed into law a defence bill that authorises significant pay raises for junior enlisted service members despite his objections to language stripping coverage of transgender medical treatments for children in military families.. Biden said his administration strongly opposes the provision because it targets a group based on gender identity and "interferes with parents' roles to determine the best care for their children. He said it also undermines the all-volunteer military's ability to recruit and retain talent. The Senate forwarded the bill to Biden after passing it last week by a vote of 85-14. In the House, a majority of Democrats voted against the bill after House Speaker Mike Johnson insisted on adding the provision to ban transgender medical care for children. The legislation easily passed by a vote of 281-140.

 

9:34 PM

Former Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla appointed Manipur Governor: Rashtrapati Bhavan

6:32 PM

Food inflation pressures are likely to linger in Q3: RBI bulletin

Going forward, food inflation is likely to soften in Q4 with seasonal easing of vegetables prices and kharif harvest arrivals; and good soil moisture conditions along with comfortable reservoir levels auguring well for rabi production: RBI

6:28 PM

Centre's air quality panel for Delhi-NCR revokes curbs under GRAP Stage-IV amid dip in pollution levels: Order

4:54 PM

Bengaluru police appeals to public to stay alert against 'digital arrest' scam

In the wake of numerous complaints, Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda on Tuesday asked the public to remain vigilant and avoid falling victim to cyber fraudsters who extort money by impersonating government officials and claiming to enforce a "digital arrest".

4:51 PM

Yogi Adityanath targets Congress for 'insulting' Ambedkar since Nehru's days'

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has slammed the Congress as he accused the party of repeatedly disrespecting 'the architect of India's Constitution' B R Ambedkar during his lifetime and undermining his legacy after his death. "Under the BJP leadership, whether it was Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government or Prime Minister Narendra Modi's, every effort has been made to respect Ambedkar's ideals. In contrast, the Congress has a long record of insulting him and marginalising his contributions," he alleged.

4:47 PM

News update: Dadar-Porbandar Saurashtra Express derails at Kim station near Surat, no one injured

4:45 PM

Congress should apologise for wasting Parliament's time: Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday hit out at the Congress for protesting against Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his comments about Dr BR Ambedkar, and said it should apologise for wasting Parliament's time. "Congress should apologise for tweeting an incomplete video of Amit Shah (where he mentioned Ambedkar) and wasting the time of Parliament and now wasting the people's time," the chief minister said.

4:32 PM

Wrong to compare 5 PM voter turnout data with final polling data: Election Commission to Congress

The Election Commission said it would not be correct to compare 5 pm  voter turnout data with final polling data. The Congress had approached the poll panel in November flagging various concerns related to the Maharashtra assembly polls.

4:21 PM

Vajpayee's contributions, ideals continue to serve as beacon of guidance, says Rajnath Singh

Attending the inaugural ceremony of the 'Atal Yuva Mahakumbh,' Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasised that  'Bharat Ratna' recipient Atal Bihari Vajpayee's enduring legacy is a guiding light for the country. Singh reflected on the former prime minister's unique personality and shared personal memories of his association with him.

4:00 PM

Death count rises to 15 after Jaipur gas tanker crash

The death toll in the gas tanker crash on the Ajmer highway climbed to 15 on Tuesday, with two more persons succumbing to their injuries, hospital authorities said.

3:49 PM

Rajnath Singh, Yogi Adityanath jointly inaugurate 2-day Atal Health Fair in Lucknow

To commemorate the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the two-day Atal Health Fair at Dilkusha Lawn here on Tuesday. They also inaugurated and laid the foundation for 181 projects worth Rs 662 crore on the occasion.

3:41 PM

BPSC Chairman rules out cancellation of Dec 13 exam, show cause notice served to 34 candidates

Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Chairman Parmar Ravi Manubhai on Tuesday ruled out cancellation of the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 held earlier this month which got mired in allegations of question paper leak. Manubhai asserted that the BPSC was going ahead with re-examination of candidates who were assigned to the Bapu Pariksha Parisar examination centre on December 13 and disclosed that the re-examination will be held on January 4, 2025.

3:38 PM

Police grill actor Allu Arjun for over three hours in theatre stampede case

Top Telugu actor Allu Arjun was on Tuesday grilled by police for over three hours when he appeared before them for questioning in connection with the death of a woman in a stampede during the screening of 'Pushpa-2' on December 4.

3:26 PM

Improve tax and revenue generation process, deliver results: Ajit Pawar tells officials

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar asked officials on Tuesday to improve the process for collecting tax and generating revenue after taking charge as finance minister. Pawar assumed charge of the Finance, Planning, and Excise Departments in Mantralaya, the state secretariat. He chaired a meeting with officials and directed them to deliver results by streamlining and improving the tax collection and revenue generation process.

3:01 PM

No arbitrary addition or deletion of voters in Maharashtra: EC tells Congress

Rule-based process followed with transparency in Maharashtra electoral roll preparation, says Election Commission to Congress.