News updates: Grap 4 curbs invoked in Delhi-NCR as air quality turns severe

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Grap stage 4 curbs invoked in Delhi-NCR as air quality turns severe. "Delhi’s average AQI rose to 399 at 9PM tonight and breached the 400 mark at 10PM. Considering the rise in the AQI of Delhi owing to highly unfavourable meteorological conditions and absolute calm wind conditions, the CAQM Sub-Committee on Grap called for an emergency meeting," read the official tweet by CAQM on X.  Vedanta’s board approves fourth interim dividend for FY25 at Rs 8.5 per share.   The Centre's air quality panel implemented Grap stage three for the Delhi-NCR region, effective immediately. This decision follows a sharp increase in pollution levels. The Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 367 at 2 pm today. Schools in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar to shift classes up to Class V to hybrid mode under Grap III.  President Droupadi Murmu on Monday led the nation in paying tributes to the fallen heroes of the 1971 war that led to the redrawing of the political map of South Asia with the birth of Bangladesh as an independent country. The stupendous victory in the war following the surrender of over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers on December 16, 1971 ended horrific violence unleashed by the Pakistani army on millions of Bangladeshis. India commemorates December 16 as Vijay Diwas. 

IMD has forecast squally weather off South Tamil Nadu coast among other areas for the coming days, and warned fishermen against venturing into the sea, the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) said. According to an update issued at 5.30 am, the regional weather office said: "Squally weather with wind speed 35 kmph to 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is likely to prevail along and off South Tamil Nadu coast, adjoining Comorin area and Gulf of Mannar," on Monday. IMD forecast similar conditions till Thursday, saying squally weather with wind speed 35 kmph to 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph was likely along and off North Tamil Nadu coast and South Andhra Pradesh coast on December 19.

 

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain died at a hospital in San Francisco, his family said today. Hussain died due to complications arising out of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, according to his family. He was 73. He had been hospitalised for the last two weeks and was later taken to the ICU as his condition deteriorated. Hussain has received four Grammy Awards in his career, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year. The percussionist, one of India's most celebrated classical musicians, received the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023. 

 

India and Bangladesh will jointly commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Vijay Diwas of the 1971 India-Pakistan war today, with the annual exchange of war veterans and serving officers. Eight Indian war veterans and two serving officers of the Indian Armed Forces have arrived in Dhaka to commemorate Bangladesh's Victory Day celebrations. Similarly, eight distinguished Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters) and two serving officers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces also reached India to participate in the Vijay Diwas celebrations in Kolkata today, the Indian Army said.

 

10:54 PM

Grap stage 4 curbs invoked in Delhi-NCR as air quality turns severe: Official order

Grap stage 4 curbs invoked in Delhi-NCR as air quality turns severe. "Delhi’s average AQI rose to 399 at 9PM tonight and breached the 400 mark at 10PM. Considering the rise in the AQI of Delhi owing to highly unfavourable meteorological conditions and absolute calm wind conditions, the CAQM Sub-Committee on Grap called for an emergency meeting," read the official tweet by CAQM on X.

10:40 PM

Trump says will talk to Putin, Zelenskiy about stopping Ukraine war

President-elect Donald Trump said on Monday that he would discuss ways to bring an end to the Ukraine war with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. At a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said he had seen horrific images of death and destruction from the war and that "it's got to stop."

10:29 PM

Govt lists bills related to 'One Nation, One Election' for introduction in Lok Sabha on Tuesday

10:22 PM

RG Kar case: Medics to move court as police deny them permission to hold protest

10:21 PM

School curriculum to include subjects related to constitutional values: CM Sukhu

Syllabus related to constitutional values would be included in school curriculum in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said while presiding over a review meeting of the education department on Monday.

 

The state government is giving special preference to impart quality education and apprise the students about their duties and responsibilities for their all-around development, Sukhu said in a statement issued here.

 

Six schools each in every Assembly constituency would be set up with all necessary facilities such as adequate staff and other infrastructural conveniences like lab, library, etc., he said.

 

The chief minister also directed the officials to complete all the formalities for setting up these schools in a time-bound manner, and prepare parameters for their administrative control.

9:55 PM

India raised gold holdings by 14.147 tonnes to 867.807 tonnes in October 2024: IMF data

9:42 PM

Suman Bery gets additional charge as chairman of PM's economic advisory panel

9:32 PM

North India reels under intense cold, mercury dips below 10 deg C in Odisha

Cold wave conditions gripped the northern states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi on Monday. While sub-zero temperatures were recorded in Jammu and Kashmir, mercury dipped below 10 degrees Celsius in parts of the eastern state of Odisha.

 

Kashmir reeled under intense cold wave as the minimum temperature stayed several degrees below freezing point. Konibal, a sleepy hamlet on the outskirts of Pampore town, was the coldest place in the valley recording a low of minus 6 degrees Celsius.

 

While Pahalgam, the base camp of annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded minus 5 degrees Celsius, Srinagar city registered a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius and Gulmarg minus 4 degrees Celsius.

8:47 PM

PM Modi accepts President Dissanayake's invitation to visit Sri Lanka: MEA

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday said that during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake extended an invitation to him to visit Sri Lanka, which was accepted, with dates yet to be finalised through diplomatic channels.

 

Misri further said that both the leaders engaged in comprehensive discussions on regional issues, including reconciliation efforts in Sri Lanka, constitution implementation, and provincial council elections, while emphasizing a humanitarian approach to resolving fishermen-related concerns.

 

While speaking at a special briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India, Misri said, "President Dissanayake while expressing his gratitude for the warm welcome and hospitality that he had received here extended an invitation to PM Narendra Modi to visit Sri Lanka. The PM accepted the invitation. It is understood that the dates for such visit will be worked out through diplomatic channels."

 

He added, "The two leaders also had a detailed conversation on promoting reconciliation in Sri Lanka. PM urged President Dissanayake for a full and effective implementation of the Sri Lankan Constitution and for holding provincial council elections at the earliest."

8:43 PM

US issues fresh North Korea, Russia related sanctions

8:32 PM

GST council may consider lowering tax on food delivery charges by e-commerce operators to 5% from 18%

8:23 PM

Canada deputy PM quits over rift with Trudeau on Trump tariffs

8:21 PM

Himachal reels under intense cold, Lahaul-Spiti's Tabo coldest at minus 10.6 deg C

Cold wave conditions have gripped lower hill areas of Himachal Pradesh with the local MeT office warning of intense cold at isolated places in Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts for the next five days.

 

Tabo in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti was coldest at night, recording a low of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius.

 

The state capital Shimla remained warmest for the second consecutive night recording a minimum temperature at 10.9 degree Celsius, 5.2 degrees Celsius above normal, the local Met office.

 

As cold wave conditions continued to grip the lower hills, the MeT office on Monday issued an orange warning of severe cold at isolated places in the lower hills and plain areas of Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur.

 

Kangra district will reel under intense cold till Friday besides dry weather in the state over the next seven days, the department said.

7:36 PM

IDF says sirens sound in central Israel after missile launch from Yemen

The Israeli military said sirens sounded across central Israel on Monday as it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen.

 

"One missile launched from Yemen was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory," the military said in a statement.

 

An AFP journalist reported that sirens sounded in Tel Aviv, the main commercial hub.

7:36 PM

Arvind Kejriwal and AAP distributed sewing machines to Nirbhaya's rapists, claims BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari

On AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal's statment, BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari said, "...Arvind Kejriwal and AAP distributed sewing machines to Nirbhaya's rapists, got their own MP beaten in their 'Sheesh Mahal', made false promises of distributing money to the women of Delhi and Punjab...Aam Aadmi Party is about to go and BJP is about to come in Delhi (government)."