News updates: No liquor for Delhiites from Feb 3-5, Feb 8 due to Assembly polls

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10:32 PM

Delhi govt declares 'dry days' from Feb 3-5, Feb 8 due to Assembly polls

The Delhi government has ordered the closure of liquor shops and other establishments serving alcohol in the city from February 3 to 5, the voting day, and on February 8 when the results would be declared. A gazette notification issued recently by the Delhi excise commissioner declared "dry days" under Excise Rules-2010 for various excise licenses on the day of voting to the 70-member Delhi Assembly and the counting day. "It is ordered that dry days shall be observed (during 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of the poll) from 6 pm of February 3 to 6 pm of February 5, and again on February 8 being the counting day on account of Assembly polls. "During the dry days, no liquor shops, hotels, restaurants, clubs and establishments selling or serving liquor, will be permitted to sell or serve liquor to anyone whosoever," said the notification. It added that non-proprietary clubs, star hotels, restaurants among others, and hotels run by anyone, even if they are issued different categories of licenses for possession and supply of liquor, should also not be permitted to serve liquor.

7:37 PM

Sunny day in Delhi, rain likely in coming days: IMD

It was a sunny day in Delhi on Tuesday, with the weather department forecasting rain in the coming days.

 

The maximum temperature in the capital settled at 24 degrees Celsius, 3.7 notches above normal, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 10.6 degrees Celsius, 3.1 notches above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

 

The humidity levels fluctuated between 83 per cent and 69 per cent.

 

For Wednesday, the IMD has forecast a cloudy sky with the possibility of one or two spells of very light to light rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, during the evening and night.

 

The predominant surface wind is likely to blow from the north at a speed of less than 6 kmph in the morning. Smog or moderate fog is expected to develop in most areas during the early morning hours, with dense fog likely at isolated places.

 

In the afternoon, the wind speed is expected to increase to 8 kmph from the northeast, before gradually decreasing to less than 6 kmph from the northwest by the evening and night. Smog or shallow fog is also expected in the evening and night, the IMD said.

7:36 PM

Bangladesh vows to pursue Hasina's return from India, may seek global support

7:28 PM

WHO regrets US decision to withdraw, urges reconsideration, says Director General

6:02 PM

At least 66 dead, 51 injured in hotel fire at ski resort in northwestern Turkey

Turkey's interior minister says a fire that broke out at a hotel at a popular ski resort has killed at least 66 people. Ali Yerlikaya said at least 51 other people were injured in the disaster early Tuesday. “We are in deep pain. We have unfortunately lost 66 lives in the fire that broke out at this hotel,” Yerlikaya told reporters after inspecting the site. Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu said at least one of the injured was in serious condition.

4:57 PM

DBT schemes for women a result of struggles: Brinda Karat

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat welcomed cash transfer to women while stressing that it was not a "freebie" as women contribute almost seven per cent of the GDP through unpaid labour. It shows that political parties have realised that women cannot be taken for granted, said Karat.

4:49 PM

SC asks HCs to set up panel over judges pay commission recommendations

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked all high courts to expedite setting up a two-judge panel to address grievances of district judicial officers on the implementation of the Second National Judges Pay Commission recommendations. A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai, Augustine George Masih and K Vinod Chandran passed the order after senior advocate K Paremeshwar, who is assisting it as an amicus curiae, said many high courts were yet to form the Committees for Service Conditions of the District Judiciary (CSCDJ) as directed by it earlier.

4:46 PM

NMC relaxes some norms of teachers' eligibility for medical colleges

Non-teaching consultants, specialists and medical officers possessing postgraduate medical degree and who have worked for at least four years in a minimum 220-bedded teaching or nonteaching government hospital can become assistant and associate professors, the NMC has proposed. In the recent draft "Teachers Eligibility Qualifications (TEQ) in Medical Institutions Regulations", the National Medical Commission (NMC) has relaxed some of the norms of teachers' eligibility for medical colleges.

4:37 PM

First trial run on Sealdah-Esplanade stretch of East-West Kolkata Metro successful

The first trial run on the 2.63 km Sealdah–Esplanade stretch of East-West Metro in Kolkata was conducted successfully on Tuesday. A Metro Railway Kolkata statement said that through the west-bound tunnel of the Green Line, the first trial run was conducted successfully in the presence of Metro Railway General Manager and Chairman of Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL) P Uday Kumar Reddy and other senior officers. The general manager was in the motorman's cabin during the trial run which began at 11.20 am from Sealdah Metro station, reached Esplanade Metro station at 11.31 am.

4:28 PM

CM Abdullah visits village hit by mysterious deaths in J-K's Rajouri; assures all possible help

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday visited the Badhaal village in Rajouri district to express solidarity with the bereaved families whose 17 members, including 13 children, died under mysterious circumstances in the past one-and-a-half month. Accompanied by Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana and National Conference MLA Javaid Iqbal Choudhary, Abdullah assured all possible help to the victim families and said “we stand with you in this difficult phase”.

4:04 PM

SC asks Delhi police to reply on Tahir Hussain's plea for interim bail

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Delhi police to respond to a plea filed by former councillor and Delhi riots accused Tahir Hussain who has sought interim bail to campaign for the upcoming Delhi assembly polls. A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Ahsanuddin Amanullah asked the Delhi police counsel to come prepared and argue the matter on the next hearing. "Suppose, tentatively, we feel persuaded that he makes out a case for regular bail, then why not we should give at least interim?" said the bench.

4:01 PM

Exam paper leak weapon to take away youth's rights, will raise 'BPSC exam scam' in Parliament: Rahul

Asserting that exam paper leak is a weapon to take away the rights of youth, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that such incidents are happening everyday in BJP-ruled states and vowed to raise the issue of protesting BPSC aspirants in Parliament. Days after visiting the site of the nearly month-old agitation in Patna against alleged irregularities in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam and spending time with aggrieved students, Gandhi shared on his YouTube channel a video of his interaction with the protesting students.

 

3:37 PM

Demand for NRI representation in Parliament at parliamentary panel meeting

A suggestion to give Non-Resident Indians representation in Parliament was made on Tuesday at the meeting of the parliamentary committee on External Affairs due to their growing numbers and unique issues concerning the diaspora interest.

 

3:21 PM

Sebi mulls steps to curb ‘Black Market’ in IPO shares

The securities market regulator is considering steps to formalize trading in initial public offerings where bidding has closed, but the shares are yet to be listed. Sebi may allow investors who get allotment, to trade the entitlement of those shares prior to the listing, according to Madhabi Puri Buch, chairperson.Through this mechanism, SEBI wants to curb the “black market”, where such shares are traded unofficially.

2:46 PM

Strong earthquake in Taiwan injures 27, causes scattered damage

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan early Tuesday, leaving 27 people with minor injuries and some reported damage. The quake hit at 12:17 am and was centred 38 km southeast of Chiayi County Hall at a depth of 10 km, Taiwan's Central Weather Administration said. The US Geological Survey measured the earthquake at a less powerful magnitude 6.

2:37 PM

India should reciprocate if US imposes additional duties on domestic goods: Trade experts

India should respond with equal measures if the newly elected US President Donald Trump would impose higher tariffs on domestic goods, trade experts say.

They noted that India has previously implemented retaliatory customs duties on several US products, such as apples, in response to what it deemed "illegal" tariffs imposed by America on certain steel and aluminium products.

2:35 PM

Ajit Pawar slams authorities over lack of cleanliness in Jalna

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has slammed the local administration in Jalna, pulling up officials for lack of cleanliness in the city. Pawar expressed his displeasure over the unkempt state of the city, pointing out that there were heaps of garbage in public spaces. "I was horrified to see the condition of the city. Why are public representatives not paying attention to this mess? What are you doing? Do you not see this?" Pawar questioned while addressing the gathering.

2:18 PM

Varanasi court orders FIR against 4 for assaulting pregnant woman, causing miscarriage

A court on Monday directed police to register an FIR against four individuals for allegedly assaulting a pregnant woman leading to her miscarriage over the suspicion of witchcraft. Special chief judicial magistrate Ashwani Kumar on Monday issued the order to the station house officer of Bhelupur police station after hearing a plea of the victim, Poonam Kumari, who lives in Ranipur, Bhelupur. She filed the plea under Section 175(3) (power to order an investigation) of the BNSS Act through advocate Vikas Singh.

1:51 PM

Kerala assembly passes resolution demanding withdrawal of draft UGC guidelines 2025

The Kerala assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution urging the central government to withdraw the draft UGC guidelines and issue a revised version.The resolution was moved in the House by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who said that the assembly was of the clear opinion that the draft UGC norms do not reflect the spirit of the Constitution.

 

1:28 PM

BJP manifesto 'dangerous', will stop free education in govt schools, says Arvind Kejriwal

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday described the BJP's election manifesto as "dangerous for the country". He alleged that the party plans to shut free education in government schools and dismantle free health services, including the Mohalla Clinics, if voted to power.  Kejriwal accused the BJP of revealing its "true intentions" in the manifesto and warned voters against supporting the party.

1:23 PM

Judicial commission visits Sambhal to investigate November 24 riots

A judicial commission formed by the Uttar Pradesh government visited Sambhal on Tuesday to inspect areas affected by the riots during the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24 last year and record statements of witnesses. The Commission, formed on December 1 last year, revisited these locations, including the Shahi Jama Masjid area, where the violence occurred.

12:46 PM

I-T dept raids places linked to filmmaker Dil Raju, others

The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted searches at multiple locations linked to prominent film producer Dil Raju and others here, official sources said. The searches are carried out with regard to the charges of tax evasion, they added. The locations linked to some other film producers are also being searched.

12:42 PM

Women in Bhilwara dies after ambulance doors jam

A woman who had attempted suicide and was being rushed to hospital in Rajasthan's Bhilwara town died when the ambulance doors jammed, officials said. A four-member committee has been constituted to investigate the matter. Sulekha, 45, had attempted to end her life by hanging herself on Sunday. She was extracted by breaking the window glass of the ambulance taking her to the district hospital but it was too late. Doctors declared her brought dead.

12:01 PM

Security forces neutralised 14 Naxalites in joint operation along Odisha-Chhattisgarh border: Amit Shah

"It is a mighty blow to Naxalism as security forces achieve success towards building Naxal-free Bharat," says Amit Shah on the encounter which took place near the Chhattisgarh border.

11:32 AM

Infant suffers uneasiness during flight; dies at hospital

A 11-month-old infant, who developed some uneasiness onboard a Kerala-bound flight, died at a hospital here, police said on Tuesday. The baby boy met with the tragedy while he was on his way to the home state from Qatar. Son of a couple hailing from northern district Malappuram, Fesin Ahammed, travelled to the state with his mother.

11:16 AM

News update: Taliban confirm release of two Americans in prisoner exchange

10:51 AM

Maharashtra working with 360-degree approach on investments: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra has adopted a 360-degree approach in attracting investments with several focus sectors ranging from manufacturing to technology to data centres to healthcare to clean energy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here. Fadnavis, who arrived in this ski resort town to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, told PTI that he has several meetings lined up with potential for fruitful results in terms of investments in his state.

10:42 AM

Chhattisgarh CM launches scheme to provide Rs 10K annual aid to labourers

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday launched 'Deendayal Upadhyay Bhoomiheen Krishi Majdoor Kalyana Yojana' in Raipur. Under this scheme, more than 562,000 landless agricultural labourers, Baigas and Gunias of the state, will be given financial assistance of Rs 10,000 annually.

10:19 AM

Saif attack case: Cops recreate crime scene with accused in actor's home

On early Monday morning, police officials, along with the accused, identified as Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, visited several locations to recreate the crime scene. The accused was first taken to Saif Ali Khan's Bandra residence. The police team then moved to the National College bus stop. The team was also seen leaving from the railway station in a police jeep and returning to the Bandra Police Station.

10:16 AM

Saif attack case: Cops recreate crime scene with accused in actor's home

On early Monday morning, police officials, along with the accused, identified as Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, visited several locations to recreate the crime scene. The accused was first taken to Saif Ali Khan's Bandra residence. The police team then moved to the National College bus stop. The team was also seen leaving from the railway station in a police jeep and returning to the Bandra Police Station.