News updates: Rain lashes central Delhi, minimum temp settles at 23.3 deg C

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Rain lashed central Delhi on Thursday evening, with the national capital recording a maximum temperature of 33.6 degree Celsius, a notch below the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department. The minimum temperature settled at 23.3 degrees Celsius, 2.3 notches below the season's average, the IMD said. The IMD predicted generally cloudy sky with moderate rain on Friday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle around 33 and 24 degrees Celsius, it said. The humidity oscillated between 69 and 90 per cent. The 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded in the 'satisfactory' category with a reading of 83 at 4 pm, as per the Central Pollution Control Board. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

At least four Indian Army personnel were killed in a road accident after their vehicle skidded off the road and fell approximately 700 to 800 feet down the gorge at Vertical Veer, near Dalopchand Dara along Rhenock Rongli state highway, popularly known as Silk Route, officials said.

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its judgment in the plea by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by CBI in Delhi excise policy case and a plea seeking interim bail in the case. Reliance Industries, the country's most valuable company, has approved the one-for-one issue of bonus shares, it said on Thursday.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told the Supreme Court today that the CBI did not arrest him for nearly two years in the alleged excise policy scam and an 'insurance arrest' was made on June 26 after he got bail in the "harsher" money laundering case filed by the ED. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for CM Kejriwal, told a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan that no notice was served to Kejriwal by the CBI before arrest and an ex-parte arrest order passed by the trial court.

Seeking bail for the jailed Delhi CM, Singhvi submitted that Kejriwal is a constitutional functionary and was not a flight risk.

At the IBA's annual banking conference FIBAC 2024, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das asserted that data shows that the fundamentals of growth drivers are gaining momentum and India's growth story remains intact.

The Supreme Court is currently hearing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's pleas seeking bail and challenging his arrest by the CBI in the alleged excise policy scam. On Aug 23, the top court had permitted the CBI to file its counter affidavit in the matter and gave two days to Kejriwal to file a rejoinder. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan is likely to hear the matter. Kejriwal has submitted two separate pleas: one challenging the refusal of bail, and another opposing his arrest by the CBI in the case. He is challenging the Delhi High Court's August 5 decision that upheld his arrest. The CBI had arrested the AAP leader on June 26.

The Supreme Court, on August 14, declined to grant Kejriwal interim bail in this matter. Instead, it sought a response from the investigating agency regarding Kejriwal's petition contesting his arrest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a meeting with his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong during which they elevated the bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. PM Modi is here on a two-day visit at the invitation of Wong. Ahead of the talks with Wong, Modi received a red carpet-welcome at the Singapore Parliament House. He also signed the visitor's book there. "The leaders agreed to elevate the - ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They extensively reviewed various facets of the bilateral relationship covering areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Connectivity, Digitalisation, Healthcare & Medicine, Skills Development and Sustainability,"  Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X after the meeting.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said that Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has pledged financial assistance of Rs 5 Crore for flood relief efforts in the northeast state. In a phone conversation on Wednesday evening, CM Majhi expressed his condolences to CM Saha for the devastation caused by the recent natural calamities in the state. During their discussion, the Odisha Chief Minister offered a hand of cooperation for post-disaster recovery and pledged assistance of Rs 5 crore to support Tripura's relief efforts, Tripura CMO stated.