Delhi experienced a minor improvement in its air quality on Wednesday morning, with pollution levels declining marginally and the Air Quality Index (AQI) moving closer to the 'poor' category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city recorded an AQI of 301 at 9 am, compared to a more alarming 343 at the same time on Tuesday. Despite the slight improvement, a thick haze continued to envelop the national capital. The CPCB categorises AQI values between zero and 50 as 'good', 51 to 100 as 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 as 'moderate', 201 to 300 as 'poor', 301 to 400 as 'very poor', and 401 to 500 as 'severe'. According to the data, none of Delhi’s 38 active monitoring stations reported air quality in the 'severe' category on Wednesday. This marks a positive shift, as on Tuesday, 17 of the capital's 39 monitoring stations recorded air quality in the 'severe' range. An AQI of 400 or above, classified as 'severe', poses serious health risks, particularly for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions such as respiratory or cardiovascular issues, as well as for healthy people exposed to prolonged outdoor activity. While the current figures offer slight relief, air pollution levels remain a significant concern in Delhi, especially during the winter months when weather conditions exacerbate the problem. In addition to the pollution data, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the city’s minimum temperature settled at 10.4 degrees Celsius, which is 0.2 degrees above normal for this time of year. The IMD predicts mainly clear skies throughout the day, with the maximum temperature likely to hover around 27 degrees Celsius. Delhi’s air quality frequently deteriorates during the winter season due to a combination of factors, including vehicular emissions, industrial pollutants, construction dust, and seasonal crop residue burning in neighbouring states. Efforts to tackle pollution have included restrictions on industrial activity, vehicle curbs, and initiatives to promote cleaner fuels, but the city continues to grapple with hazardous air. The slight improvement observed on Wednesday offers a glimmer of hope, but authorities and residents alike are urged to remain vigilant as air quality levels still hover at concerning thresholds. Measures to reduce exposure, such as using air purifiers and limiting outdoor activities, are advised. PTI reports that continuous monitoring will be crucial in assessing the efficacy of ongoing anti-pollution measures. (With inputs from PTI)
27 November,2024 09:51 AM IST | New DelhiA devastating road accident on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in the early hours of Wednesday claimed the lives of four doctors and a laboratory technician associated with the Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences in Saifai. Police confirmed the incident occurred around 3 am when the SUV they were travelling in lost control, leading to a double collision. According to Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Anand, the SUV was moving at high speed when it veered off course and collided with the median divider. The impact propelled the vehicle into the oncoming lane, where it was struck by a truck. All five occupants, including the four doctors and the lab technician, died instantly. The victims have been identified as Dr. Anirudh Verma, 29, from Agra; Dr. Santosh Kumar Maurya, 46, from Bhadohi; Dr. Arun Kumar, 34, from Kannauj; Dr. Nardev, 35, from Bareilly; and Rakesh Kumar, 38, a laboratory technician. According to PTI reports, the group was returning to Saifai after attending a wedding in Lucknow when the accident occurred. The crash also left one person, Jaiveer Singh, a 39-year-old postgraduate student from Moradabad, severely injured. Circle Officer of Tirwa, Dr. Priyanka Bajpai, stated that Singh was immediately rushed to Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Medical College in Tirwa, where he is undergoing treatment. The accident highlights the dangers of high-speed travel, especially during late-night or early-morning hours. The collision occurred in an area known for heavy vehicular movement, increasing the likelihood of accidents during such hours. Local authorities have sent the deceased's bodies for post-mortem examinations, with investigations underway to determine the precise cause of the crash. PTI reports that preliminary findings suggest loss of control and excessive speed as significant contributing factors. The tragedy has cast a pall of grief over the Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences in Saifai, where the deceased were esteemed members of the medical community. Their untimely deaths serve as a grim reminder of the perils of road travel and the need for strict adherence to speed limits and road safety measures. (With inputs from PTI)
27 November,2024 09:45 AM IST | LucknowBillionaire Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani have not been charged with violating the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with a bribery case, the Adani Group clarified on Wednesday. In a statement filed with the stock exchange, Adani Green Energy Ltd dismissed media reports alleging such charges as incorrect, according to PTI reports. The indictment filed by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) accuses Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and another executive, Vneet Jaain, of participating in an alleged scheme to pay $265 million in bribes to Indian officials. The bribes were reportedly aimed at securing contracts for the supply of solar electricity, which would allegedly generate $2 billion in profit over a 20-year period. The Adani Group, a conglomerate spanning sectors from ports to energy, categorically denied the allegations. "Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and Vneet Jaain have not been charged with any violations of the FCPA in the counts specified in the US DOJ indictment or the civil complaint by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)," the company stated. According to PTI, the executives face three charges in the criminal indictment: securities fraud conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and securities fraud. These charges, the company clarified, carry the possibility of monetary fines or penalties but are unrelated to the FCPA. The case has been filed before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The Adani Group said the indictment does not specify the quantum of any potential fines or penalties. The accompanying civil complaint alleges that the executives violated sections of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as aided Adani Green Energy Ltd in violating these regulations. The complaint seeks an order for civil monetary penalties but does not quantify the amount, according to the company. The Adani Group reiterated its commitment to defending itself through all available legal channels. "We strongly deny these allegations and will pursue every possible legal recourse to contest them," the company emphasised. As per PTI reports, the clarification comes amid significant scrutiny of the allegations, with the Adani Group maintaining its stance against any wrongdoing. The matter continues to unfold as legal proceedings advance in the United States. (With inputs from PTI)
27 November,2024 08:46 AM IST | New DelhiA fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon came into effect early Wednesday, offering a glimmer of hope to a region that has endured 14 months of sustained conflict. The truce was agreed upon on Tuesday as violence stemming from the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas escalated into a broader regional conflict. The ceasefire, which began at 4 am local time, marks a significant development. According to AP, it outlines a two-month halt to hostilities, with Hezbollah agreeing to withdraw its armed forces from southern Lebanon. In return, Israeli troops are to retreat to their side of the border. To ensure stability, thousands of Lebanese troops, alongside United Nations peacekeepers, will deploy in the south, while an international panel led by the United States will monitor adherence to the agreement. In the initial hours of the truce, there were no reports of violations, AP reports. Celebrations erupted in parts of Beirut, where residents cautiously expressed relief at the prospect of peace. However, tensions remain high. Israeli military officials warned, in an Arabic-language post on X (formerly Twitter), that civilians evacuated from southern Lebanon should not return just yet, as Israeli troops are still stationed along the border. The warning underscores Israel’s position that it will respond militarily to any breaches of the ceasefire. The agreement comes just a day after Israel launched its most intense aerial bombardment of Beirut since the onset of hostilities. According to local authorities cited by AP, these strikes killed at least 42 people and caused widespread destruction. The escalation in recent weeks had pushed the conflict to the brink of a full-scale regional war. Despite this temporary halt, the underlying issues remain unresolved. The ceasefire does not address the ongoing war in Gaza, where the conflict between Israel and Hamas shows no signs of abating. Dozens of hostages are still being held by Hamas, and negotiations to end the fighting there remain stalled. As per AP, the ceasefire represents a critical but tentative step towards stability in a volatile region. However, its success will depend on the willingness of both sides to adhere to the terms and the effectiveness of international monitoring efforts. For now, the world watches anxiously to see if the truce will hold or if the region will descend back into violence. (With inputs from AP)
27 November,2024 08:34 AM IST | JerusalemOpposition leaders on Tuesday demanded a debate on the Constitution in both Houses of Parliament, stressing it was needed in the light of the recent developments in the country. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said he and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi have written to the Chair in the two Houses requesting that a discussion should be held on the Constitution for two days in both Houses. “Time should be allotted for that so that the good things about the Constitution can be discussed, and the wrong things that are happening today can also be discussed. Rahul Gandhi ji and I have written letters, we are waiting for the government’s response,” Kharge said as the country celebrated the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution. Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh questioned if the Preamble of the Constitution is being implemented in letter and spirit. “Are people getting justice, liberty? Only bowing to the Constitution will not lead to it being followed,” he said. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said there is precedence of debates being held in Parliament on occasions like the 125th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, and the 75th anniversary of Bharat Chhodo Andolan. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 November,2024 08:09 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesFour women died and five others were injured after an explosion caused three houses to collapse in Madhya Pradesh's Morena city, police said on Tuesday. The incident took place in the city's Rathore Colony area around midnight, said Superintendent of Police Sameer Saurabh. Vasudev Rathore, whose house was destroyed in the explosion and whose 28-year-old daughter-in-law was among the deceased, expressed suspicion that the blast was caused by gunpowder. SDM Bhupendra Singh Kushwaha said the reason behind the blast was yet not clear. A forensic team will be able to ascertain whether it was gunpowder or a gas cylinder that exploded, he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 November,2024 07:47 AM IST | Morena | AgenciesTwo days after violence broke out after a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque, life in Sambhal was gradually returning to normal on Tuesday with schools reopening and several shops selling daily essentials resuming operations. Internet services, however, remain suspended. Police and administration officials are continuing to closely monitor the situation, with personnel deployed at key intersections and Rapid Action Force teams stationed in sensitive areas. The authorities have imposed restrictions on the entry of outsiders and public representatives into Sambhal until November 30. Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the mosque was first surveyed on the court's orders following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple had stood at the site. On Sunday, a large group of people clashed with security personnel, torched vehicles and pelted stones. According to official figures, four people have died in the violence, which has left around two dozen others, including security personnel and administration officials, injured. The police have so far arrested 25 people and registered seven FIRs. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 November,2024 07:38 AM IST | Sambhal | AgenciesThe Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking to revert to paper ballot voting in elections in the country, saying allegations of tampering with electronic voting machines (EVM) raked up only when people lose polls. "What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs are not tampered with. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with)," remarked a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale. Apart from ballot paper voting, the plea, filed petitioner-in-person K A Paul sought several directions including a directive to the Election Commission to disqualify candidates for a minimum of five years if found guilty of distributing money, liquor or other material inducement to the voters during polls. When Paul said he had been to over 150 countries, the bench asked him whether each of the nations had ballot paper voting or used electronic voting. The petitioner said foreign countries had adopted ballot paper voting and India should follow suit. Terming the suspicion of manipulation of the EVMs "unfounded", the apex court then rejected the demand for reverting to the old system, saying the polling devices were "secured" and eliminated booth capturing and bogus voting. In April, the top court dismissed a batch of petitions seeking a return to the paper ballot system. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 November,2024 07:33 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe 5,500 kg of banned Methamphetamine drug seized from a fishing trawler with six Myanmarese crew near Barren island is the biggest-ever seizure made by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), an official of the Andaman and Nicobar tri-services command said on Tuesday. A senior ICG defence official said, "This is the biggest ever seizure which we suspect is linked to big international drug cartels. The total consignment is approximately around 5,500 kg. A total of six Myanmarese crew were arrested with banned crystalline Methamphetamine. They were handed over to the local police for further interrogation." "The Andaman and Nicobar Command remain vigilant and committed to ensuring the safety of Andaman waters. Enhanced patrolling and intelligence continue to play a vital role in combating such crime," he added. The police suspect that the seized Methamphetamine was supposed to be delivered to Thailand, officials said on Tuesday. The police are trying to get the call record of the satellite phone seized from the trawler which was coming from Myanmar, an official said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 November,2024 07:28 AM IST | Port Blair | AgenciesThe Allahabad High Court in Uttar Pradesh has directed the Centre to place before it the decision taken on a representation moved against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his citizenship, reported the PTI. The court will hear the matter on December 19. A petition claiming Rahul Gandhi concealed his British citizenship in contesting the parliamentary election from Raebareli seat in Uttar Pradesh was filed in the Allahabad High Court this year, as per the PTI. According to the news agency, a bench of justices AR Masoodi and Subhash Vidyarthi passed the order on a public interest litigation filed by S Vignesh Shishir, a BJP worker from Karnataka. The petition also demanded that the CBI be ordered to register a case and investigate into the matter, saying Gandhi's dual citizenship is a crime under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Passport Act. While hearing the PIL on the previous occasion, the court had sought information from the Centre whether it had received the petitioner's representation. In compliance with the order, Deputy Solicitor General SB Pandey informed the court that the representation has been received by the ministry concerned and is currently under process. In the PIL, Shishir claimed that he has all the documents and some emails of the British government, which prove that Gandhi is a British citizen and due to this he is ineligible to contest elections in India and cannot hold the post of a Lok Sabha member, the PTI reported. The petitioner also claimed that he had sent complaints twice to the competent authority regarding Gandhi's dual citizenship but the present petition has been filed as no action was taken by them. At this, the court had summoned the details of the action taken on the petitioner's representation. Congress Working Committee to meet on Nov 29 The Congress Working Committee will hold a meeting on November 29 during which it is likely to deliberate on the party's performance in the Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly polls. The meeting, which will be chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra among others, will review the party's poll debacle in Haryana and Maharashtra. (with PTI inputs)
26 November,2024 10:55 PM IST | Lucknow | mid-day online correspondentThe Congress said on Tuesday that it will launch protests, both inside and outside Parliament, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, against the lack of Central assistance for the landslide survivors of Wayanad. Party leader and Kalpetta MLA T Siddique described the Centre's alleged reluctance to provide financial aid to the people in landslide-affected areas as an "inhuman" approach. He said that, besides Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, he, as the local MLA, had also submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking assistance for the relief and rehabilitation of the landslide survivors during his visit soon after the tragedy. Although the prime minister had promised full support, not even one per cent of justice had been delivered by Modi or the Union government led by him in relation to that assurance, he alleged. "It is an inhuman approach towards the people who have suffered such a massive tragedy," he said, adding that the Congress party would intensify its protests both inside and outside Parliament against this. "Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi will lead the agitation," Siddique told reporters in New Delhi.Both the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and the opposition Congress-led UDF have been demanding the BJP-led union government to declare the landslide calamity as a national disaster and provide required assistance for the relief and rehabilitation of the survivors at the earliest. The state recently witnessed an intense political row following the Centre's recent letter to the state government stating that under the existing guidelines of SDRF and NDRF, there is no provision to declare any calamity a 'national disaster". The disaster, which struck on July 30, devastated large parts of three villages --Punchirimattam, Chooralmala, and Mundakkai--along with sections of Attamala in Wayanad. As per the government, the deadly disaster claimed 231 lives, while 47 people are still missing. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 November,2024 10:52 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIADVERTISEMENT
