Live: Sri Lanka president to form all-party govt with new PM, says report

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1:07 PM

Today's temperature in Delhi may rise by 0.5-1 degrees & touch 46 degree C at some stations

Today's temperature in Delhi may rise by 0.5-1 degrees & touch 46 degree C at some stations. Some stations in Haryana may record temperatures over 46 degree C. Peak temperature today will be in Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh & western Uttar Pradesh: RK Jenamani, senior scientist, IMD

 

12:58 PM

Delhi riots: HC defers hearing on Khalid bail, seeks police stand on Imam's plea for release

The Delhi High Court on Friday deferred hearing till May 6 on Umar Khalid plea for bail in a UAPA case related to alleged conspiracy behind the riots here in February 2020 in view of the upcoming hearing before the Supreme Court on the constitutional validity on the law of sedition and sought the Delhi Police's stand on Shrajeel Imam's bail application in the same case.

A bench headed by Justice Siddharth Mridul issued notice on Imam's challenge to the rejection of his bail plea by the trial court and listed it for further hearing alongside Khalid's plea on the date after the top court considers the issue of validity of section 124A IPC on May 5.

Senior counsel Trideep Pais appearing for Khalid submitted that the Supreme Court was not likely to conclude on that day and the present bail proceedings were not limited to just section 124A but concerned provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

12:57 PM

Govt refutes reports, says didn't ask EV makers to stop production

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has refuted media reports that claimed the government has asked electric two-wheeler manufacturers to refrain from launching any new products in the market in the wake of EV fires.

The Ministry issued a clarification saying it has not asked any EV manufacturer to stop production.

"A section of media has reported that MoRTH has asked electric two-whaler manufacturers not to launch new vehicles till instances of fire are investigated," it said in a tweet late on Thursday.

"The Ministry wishes to clarify that there is no such instruction and such reports are unfounded, misleading and far from the truth."

12:47 PM

Heatwave | Yellow warning for 3 days - April 29, 30 & May 1

Heatwave | Yellow warning for 3 days - April 29, 30 & May 1 - for western Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, western UP, MP, Jharkhand. From May 2 a change is taking place, Western Disturbance is advancing; thunderstorm & rain likely to take place: RK Jenamani, sr scientist, IMD
 

12:10 PM

Amazon uses Alexa voice data to target you with ads: Report

Tech giant Amazon uses voice data from its Echo devices to serve targeted ads on its own platforms and the web, says a new report.

According to The Verge, the report, which included researchers from the University of Washington concluded that Amazon and third parties (including advertising and tracking services) collect data from interactions with Alexa through Echo smart speakers and share it with as many as 41 advertising partners.

That data is then used to "infer user interests" and "serve targeted ads on-platform (Echo devices) as well as off-platform (web)

12:09 PM

Govt may not auction 27.5-28.5 Ghz band, leave it for satellite firms

The government may not auction spectrum frequency range between 27.5-28.5 gigahertz and leave it for satellite services, according to official sources.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had recommended a base price for this frequency range and suggested that it can be used for both mobile as well as satellite services.

Two official sources acknowledged that Department of Telecom (DoT) is considering auctioning spectrum only up to 27.5 Ghz as sharing between the two services is difficult.

11:22 AM

Xi Jinping set to secure historic third-term as China's President

The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) 20th National Congress is likely to re-elect General Secretary Xi Jinping for a historic third term, setting a new precedent for the country.

President Xi Jinping, who has been occupying the top post since 2012, was unanimously chosen as a delegate to the ruling party's 20th national congress at the CPC Guangxi regional meeting on April 22.

"The announcement of Xi's unanimous election won a burst of sustained and warm applause at the regional congress on Friday morning," Xinhua reported the same evening.

11:20 AM

60 countries join hands for open, free and secure global internet

The US, all the European Union (EU) member states and 32 non-EU countries have signed a "Declaration for the Future of the Internet" that calls for an "open, free, global, interoperable, reliable, and secure" internet.

 

The declaration represents a political commitment among partners to advance a positive vision for the internet and digital technologies, the White House said in a statement late on Thursday.

 

"It also reaffirms and recommits its partners to a single global Internet - one that is truly open and fosters competition, privacy, and respect for human rights," it added.

 

The declaration said that globally, we are witnessing a trend of rising digital authoritarianism where some states act to repress freedom of expression, censor independent news sites, interfere with elections, promote disinformation, and deny their citizens other human rights.

 

"At the same time, millions of people still face barriers to access and cybersecurity risks and threats undermine the trust and reliability of networks".

 

10:43 AM

Two more arrested in connection with a case involving NCB Delhi zone which seized 50 kg high-quality heroin

Two more arrested in connection with a case involving NCB Delhi zone which seized 50 kg high-quality heroin, 47 kg suspected narcotics and other incriminating materials: NCB

10:33 AM

PM Modi to host a Sikh delegation at his residence

PM Modi to host a Sikh delegation at his residence and address a gathering at around 5:30, this evening.
 

10:32 AM

Maharashtra govt said that court order to be followed regarding loudspeakers

Maharashtra govt said that court order to be followed regarding loudspeakers. State Home min called all parties for the meeting but BJP opposed it. It means you want to do politics & want to create disturbance on the matter of loudspeakers in the state: Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut
 

9:34 AM

Guterres criticises Security Council for failing to prevent Ukraine-Russia war

At a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticised the 15-member Security Council for failing to prevent or end Russia's ongoing war against Kiev.

During the conference here on Thursday evening, Guterres, who arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday evening following his trip to Moscow, said: "Let me be very clear: (it) failed to do everything in its power to prevent and end this war," the BBC reported.

He added that this was "a source of great disappointment, frustration and anger".

9:16 AM

India reports 3,377 fresh cases, 2,496 recoveries and 60 deaths

India reports 3,377 fresh cases, 2,496 recoveries and 60 deaths in the last 24 hours. Active cases 17,801

8:59 AM

Mizoram records 99 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours

Mizoram recorded 99 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, informed the state Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) on Friday.

As per the data shared by the state government, with the addition of new cases, the active caseload in the state stands at 744.

A total of 2,27,336 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the state so far.

A total of 2,25,896 people have recovered from the virus in the state while 696 people have lost their lives to the disease.

8:24 AM

Karnataka CID arrested 5 persons including the main accused Divya Hagaragi in PSI recruitment scam

Karnataka CID arrested 5 persons including the main accused Divya Hagaragi from Pune last night, in connection with the PSI recruitment scam: Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra