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Delhi to get its first Apple store tomorrow
-- Delhi is all set to get its first Apple store with the opening scheduled for tomorrow, 20th April.
-- The store located at the Select Saket Mall will be India's second Apple store, after Mumbai's BKC which opened on April 18.
US Mission to India on track to process more than a million visas this year: Official
The US Mission to India, the four consulates and the embassy is on track to process more than a million visas this year, Jennifer Larson, US Consul General Hyderabad, said on Wednesday.
The consulate in Hyderabad represents the US government in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.
Heatwave conditions to continue for 2 more days in eastern India
The heatwave conditions will continue to prevail over several Eastern Indian states like Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha for one or two more days, while the maximum temperatures are likely to dip by a few notches thereafter, the Met office said on Wednesday.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an 'orange alert' (be prepared), warning of severe heatwave conditions, in the next two days in Motihari, Sitamarhi, Begusarai, Khagaria and Banka districts of Bihar.
The weather office forecast heatwave conditions to continue to prevail in isolated pockets of Bihar on Thursday.
Cabinet gives post-facto approval to amendment to Finance Bill 2023
Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave post-facto approval to amendments to Finance Bill 2023 which was approved by Parliament last month. The Cabinet approved amendments to the Finance Bill introduced in Rajya Sabha on March 27, sources said. Amendments which included rectification of figures with regard to rate of Security Transaction Tax (STT) to be levied on sale of options as well as futures, sources said.
Search going on for missing Indian climber in Nepal
The search operation is going on to trace Indian climber Anurag Maloo, who went missing after falling into a deep crevasse on Nepal's Mount Annapurna, the 10th highest mountain in the world. Maloo, 34, a resident of Kishangarh in Rajasthan, went missing on Monday after he fell from around 6,000 metres while descending from Camp III.
Congress replaces candidate against CM as it releases 5th list of candidates for Karnataka polls
The Congress on Wednesday announced its fifth list of three candidates for the May 10 Assembly elections, replacing the one against Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in Shiggaon. A day after fielding Mohammed Yousuf Savanur as its candidate from Shiggaon in Haveri district, the party nominated Yasir Ahmed Khan Phatan in his place.
Uttar Pradesh by-election
Congress fields Ajay Kumar as its candidate for the ensuing by-election to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly from theChhanbey constituency.
Karnataka Elections: CM Bommai, Siddaramaiah, Shettar file nomination for Assembly polls
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah, and Jagadish Shettar who recently quit the BJP were among the prominent figures who filed their nominations for the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka on Wednesday.
National Conference demands hike in cash assistance to migrant Kashmiri Pandits
National Conference provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta on Wednesday accused BJP of exploiting migrant Kashmiri Pandits and appealed for a reasonable hike in the cash assistance and adequate compensation to over-aged members of the community.
PM Modi on meeting Apple CEO Tim Cook
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted after meeting Apple CEO Tim Cook, "An absolute delight to meet you, Tim Cook! Glad to exchange views on diverse topics and highlight the tech-powered transformations taking place in India."
Delhi govt issues notices to 12 private schools for charging exorbitantly rates for books, uniforms
“Following complaints from parents, show cause notices were sent to 12 private schools for charging an exorbitantly high price for books and uniforms. Strict action under the Delhi School Education Act 1973 to be taken against schools violating the guidelines of the Education Department on books and uniforms. Unsatisfactory response from schools on the issue will lead to strict action against them,” says Delhi Education Minister Atishi.
Dr PK Mishra chairs high-level COVID-19 review meet
Dr PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, chairs high-level meeting to review the status of public health response to COVID-19 amid a rise in the number of coronavirus cases being added across India recently
Tim Cook thanks PM Modi for ‘warm welcome’
Apple CEO Tim Cook tweets: "Thank you, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for the warm welcome. We share your vision of the positive impact technology can make on India’s future — from education and developers to manufacturing and the environment, we’re committed to growing and investing across the country."
'Can I take Vamika on a date?': Little boy's placard for Virat Kohli sparks Twitter outrage
-- “Hi Virat uncle, Can I take Vamika on a Date?!” the placard read. The boy holding the placard, seemingly unaware of what it meant, posed for a photo with the board which went viral.
-- The photo has sparked strong criticism after it was shared on Twitter. The incident happened during an Indian Premier League match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru on Sunday.
-- Most Twitter users criticised the boy’s parents, claiming that it was inappropriate and that children should not be used for such stunts.
ALERT: British tourist dies after drinking 22 shots in 90 minutes at Polish nightclub
Tesla cuts US prices again ahead of Q1 earnings release
-- Tesla dropped the starting prices for its two top-selling models overnight, the company's fourth price cut in the United States this year.
-- The company lopped $3,000, or about 6%, off the starting prices for all three versions of the Model Y small SUV, Tesla's top-seller.
-- It also cut $2,000, or about 5%, from the starting price of a version of the Model 3 small sedan.
-- Tesla could have cut the Model 3 prices to make more cars loaded with options eligible for the US government's $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit. With options, some Model 3s would exceed the government's $55,000 price limit for cars to be eligible for the credit.
Spotify back up for most users after global outage
Audio streaming platform Spotify was back up for most users, the company said on Wednesday, after a brief outage that disrupted service for tens of thousands of users globally. "Everything's looking much better now!," Spotify status said in a tweet.
The company did not disclose the number of users affected by the disruption, but outage tracking website Downdetector.com showed more than 20,000 incidents in the United States and over 8,000 in the UK at the peak of the outage.
SC hearing on same-sex marriage
During the day's hearing, the petitioners seeking legal validation for same-sex marriage urged the apex court to use its "plenary power, prestige and moral authority" to push the society to acknowledge such a union as would ensure LGBTQIA persons lead a "dignified" life like heterosexuals.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for one of the petitioners, said the State should come forward and provide recognition to same-sex marriage.
NHRC notice to Bihar govt over hooch tragedy
-- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) expresses serious concern over several deaths in yet another hooch tragedy in Bihar
-- Issues notice to the State Government calling for a detailed report
JUST IN:
Freshers cry foul over ‘never ending’ tests for onboarding at Wipro.
Karnataka Elections 2023
- CM Basavaraj Bommai filed his nomination as a BJP candidate from Shiggaon assembly constituency.
- Party's national president JP Nadda and Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeepa also accompanied him.
With cases rising, Maharashtra govt activates 25 dedicated COVID-19 hospitals
- Amid an increase in COVID-19 cases in the state, the Maharashtra government has activated 25 dedicated COVID-19 hospitals.
- Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan made the announcement on Wednesday. "Amid rising cases, the state has activated 25 COVID-19 dedicated hospitals under the Medical Education and Research department.
- There are 5,000 beds for COVID-19 patients, more than 2,000 ventilators, 62 liquid medical oxygen and 37 PSA plants. Some 2,000 jumbo and 6,000 small oxygen cylinders have been kept ready by the department in case of emergency," he added.
Karnataka Elections 2023
- JD(S) releases its third list of 59 candidates for the Karnataka Election 2023.
- The party announces support to Congress candidate Darshan Dhruvanarayan in Nanjanagudu constituency.
- Ayanur Manjunath, who resigned from BJP, to contest from Shivamogga central constituency.
- Raghu Achar, who joined JD(S) after quitting the Congress party, to contest from Chitradurga.
No respite from scorching heat in UP; Hamirpur, Prayagraj sizzle at 44.2 degrees C
- People of Uttar Pradesh got no respite from the scorching heat on Wednesday as the mercury crossed the 44 degrees Celsius-mark at various places.
- According to the Meteorological Department, weather was dry and heat wave conditions prevailed at isolated places across the state.
- Hamirpur and Prayagraj were the hottest places in the state with the maximum temperature reaching 44.2 degrees Celsius.
NHAI to create around 10,000 km of 'digital highways' by FY25
- State-owned NHAI is working towards development of around 10,000 kilometres of Optic Fibre Cables (OFC) infrastructure across the country by FY2024-25, according to an official statement.
- The statement said National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a fully-owned special purpose vehicle of NHAI, will implement the network of "digital highways" by developing integrated utility corridors along the national highways to develop OFC infrastructure.
Maharashtra cabinet okays 4% quota in promotions for divyang employees
- The Maharashtra government on Wednesday approved a four per cent quota in promotion for divyang (differently-abled) employees in service.
- In December 2022, Maharashtra became the first state in the country to set up a Divyang department for the welfare of differently-abled people.
Asad Ahmed encounter update
- NHRC registers a case into the encounter of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his aide Ghulam.
Karnataka Elections 2023
- Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao files his nomination as BJP candidate from Chamarajpet constituency.
Congress releases list of forty start campaigners for Karnataka assembly elections
- Sonia Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Mohammad Azharuddin and BJP turncoat Jagadish Shettar among star campaigners.
Congress releases list of forty start campaigners for Karnataka assembly elections
Germany forced to halt evacuation mission from Sudan
- A mission by the German military to evacuate around 150 citizens from Sudan had to be halted on Wednesday due to fighting in the capital Khartoum, the Spiegel news magazine reported citing unnamed sources.
- Spiegel said the Luftwaffe air force had dispatched three A400M transport planes for the mission early on Wednesday. The planes had landed in Greece for a refuelling stop.
News Alert
- Cabinet approves National Quantum Mission to accelerate quantum technology
Cinematograph Act 2023 to be brough in parliament
- I&B Minister Anurag Thakur said, "Today, the cabinet has approved that in the upcoming Parliamentary Session, Cinematograph Act 2023 will be brought...To ensure that the content doesn't suffer due to piracy, Cinematograph Act 2023 has been drafted."
UP on its way become first state to have 100% EV in Govt departments
- In a major push to promote sales and usage of electric vehicles (EVs) in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government has set a target and has flung into action to convert vehicles used in all government departments into EVs in a phased manner by 2030.
- By 2030, all Govt Depts & organizations working under them will have only EVs, according to an official statement.
- Govt Depts will be able to buy EVs on basis of nomination even without tender.
Beijing hospital fire: 12 held as death toll rises to 29
- The death toll from a major fire at a hospital building in the Chinese capital rose to 29, including 26 patients, officials said on Wednesday, as 12 people have been detained including the medical facility's head and her deputy.
- On Tuesday, the official media reported that 21 people were killed in the incident.
- The victims included 26 patients, one family member of a patient, one hospital caregiver and one nurse, as per PTI.
Delhi excise policy case update
- CBI has arrested liquor businessman Amandeep Singh Dhal, the director of Brindco Sales Pvt Ltd., in connection to the Delhi excise policy scam case.
- According to information, Dhal was placed under arrest on Tuesday, reports IANS.
Karnataka Elections 2023
- Congress leader Siddaramaiah files nomination from Varuna Assembly constituency for upcoming Karnataka elections
News Alert
- CJI Chandrachud observes government has no data to show that same sex marriage is an urban elitist concept.
- It maybe true that more people from the urban areas are coming out of the closet
In a mysterious explosion, one person died in Chatroo area of Kishtwar
Police have reached the spot, further details awaited: Kishtwar Police.
Allow students to write exams in local languages even if the course is offered in English medium: UGC to universities
CBI arrests a Delhi-based businessman Amandeep Dhal in a corruption case related to excise policy
He was produced in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court. CBI seeks 3-day remand of Amandeep Dhal. He was earlier arrested by ED and was in judicial custody. Rouse Avenue Court reserves order on Amandeep Dhal's CBI remand. Court to pronounce order on CBI remand shortly.
India surpasses China to become world's most populous nation with 142.86 crore people: UN
Md Siraj approaches BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit
India pacer Mohammed Siraj has reported to BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) about a man who had approached him for gaining inside information during the ODI series between India-Australia in March this year. He immediately reported the matter to Anti-Corruption Unit officials of the Board.
The man suspected of throwing an explosive device at Japanese PM Kishida Fumio once sued the government over electoral eligibility
Police are investigating whether the issue was the motive of his attack: NHK World News.
BJP national president JP Nadda, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai, Kannada actor Kiccha Sudeep and other BJP leaders hold a road show in Shiggaon
Karnataka CM filed his nomination from the Assembly constituency.
A gunfight broke out between miscreants and police officials in Sarojini Nagar yesterday: Delhi Police
One miscreant injured in the gunfight was identified as Sachin. The previous criminal history of three persons nabbed is being investigated. Further probe underway.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin tables resolution in the Legislative Assembly urging the Union government to bring amendments in the laws to give reservation to the Adi Dravidians who have converted to Christianity
UK inflation stays above 10% unexpectedly, suggesting the problem is worse than the Bank of England thought- Bloomberg
Karnataka Elections
BJP has full support of Lingayat community in Karnataka: Yediyurappa's son BY Vijayendra
Karnataka Elections 2023
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami announces D Anbarasan as the candidate from Pulikeshi Nagar constituency.
