The temperature is likely to remain at 40 degree Celsius on Friday as the heatwave continues. (Express File/Amit Mehra)Delhi News: A massive fire broke out at Delhi’s Azad market area Saturday, gutting three buildings and collapsing one of them, news agency PTI reported. At another fire in the Anand Parbat area, 6 fire-fighters were among nine people who were injured while trying to douse a blaze which started at an electrical components manufacturing factory.
The Delhi government on Friday unveiled a detailed blueprint of its five-year plan to generate 20 lakh jobs under the ‘Rozgar Budget.’ A high-level meeting was convened by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia to expedite the implementation of these schemes and set specific targets and timelines for different departments to achieve the goal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for a “severe heatwave” in the national capital on Saturday. Heatwave conditions will continue with the maximum temperature likely to remain at 40 degrees Celsius or above till April 13. Yesterday, the city recorded 41.6 degrees Celsius, seven notches above normal and the highest so far this year.
In the past, during Navratri, outfits under Samiti’s banner have taken to streets to ‘request’ shop owners to close their meat shops. (Representational)
The Delhi University (DU) has asked to the College of Art to start the admission process and has informed the city government that the college will not be de-affiliated from the varsity, vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh said. He said the issues between the 12 DU colleges funded by city government and the AAP dispensation had arisen due to procedural lapses, and they are being sorted.
The office of L-G had earlier given an in principle approval to the merger of College of Art (CoA) with the state-run Ambedkar University subject to its de-affiliation from DU. However, Executive Council of the university, which is its highest decision making body, refused to de-affiliate the college.
"The proposal was by the college. DU has a system and it has not given an NOC for de-affiliation ever. The university's Executive Council has decided to not give an NOC. We have conveyed our decision to the Delhi government," Singh told PTI in an interview earlier this week. "We have written to them to start the admission process. We have told them that we are not de-affiliating you. We will follow what the EC has decided. Students are suffering because of the delay," he said. (PTI)
Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor and her husband Anand Ahuja’s New Delhi residence was allegedly robbed of Rs 2.41 crore, the police said on Saturday. Their house is located near Amrita Shergill Marg, and a complaint was lodged on February 23.
According to the police, Anand’s father Harish Ahuja and other family members reported the matter at the Tughlaq Road police station.
Amrutha Guguloth, DCP (New Delhi) said, “We received a complaint from the family alleging that cash and jewellery worth Rs 2.4 crore was stolen from their house. They noticed it on February 11 but lodged a formal police complaint on February 23. Our staff immediately registered an FIR on the same day. Teams have been formed, and an examination of the evidence is underway. Further investigation is in process.” (Read more)
With a day to go for the beginning of the administration of precaution doses of Covid-19 vaccines to all beneficiaries aged above 18 years, doctors at private vaccination centres in Delhi on Saturday said they are all prepared for the exercise and that the third shot will provide "stronger protection" against the coronavirus.
The Union health ministry announced on Friday that the precaution dose will be available for all aged above 18 years at private vaccination centres from April 10. Doctors and administrators at several leading private hospitals in Delhi asserted that they are prepared for the exercise starting from Sunday. (PTI)
The university placement cell (UPC) of Jamia Millia Islamia has entered into a partnership with an online digital learning platform to give students essential technical skills.
The platform is called IBM Skills Build-CSRBOX Foundation.
“The foundation is a skill-building and learning digital platform where students can get industry-relevant skills and courses. The collaboration will facilitate the delivery of free digital learning to university students through acquisition of essential skills like technical skills, professional skills and job readiness skills,” Jamia said in a statement.
Delhi on Friday recorded 146 fresh Covid-19 cases and one death due to the viral disease, while the positivity rate stood at 1.39 per cent, according to health department data. With this, the national capital's caseload has increased to 18,65,942 and the death toll has climbed to 26,156, the latest bulletin stated. A total of 10,488 Covid-19 tests were conducted in the city the previous day, it said. There has been an uptick in Covid-19 cases in Delhi over the last three days.
The Delhi government on Friday unveiled a detailed blueprint of its five-year plan to generate 20 lakh jobs under the 'Rozgar Budget' and set up department-wise targets to implement the AAP dispensation's ambitious scheme. Industrial areas, retail markets, startup policy and shopping festivals were major contributors to achieving the objective of providing 20 lakh jobs.
A high-level meeting was convened by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia on Friday to expedite the implementation of these schemes and set specific targets and timelines for different departments to achieve the goal. In the meeting, Kejriwal said 20 lakh jobs in five years is perhaps a first-of-its-kind experiment in the budget-making exercise.
Six fire-fighters were among nine people who were injured while trying to douse a blaze at an electrical components manufacturing factory in the Anand Parbat area here on Saturday morning, officials said. It is suspected that the fire broke out after an LPG cylinder exploded around 5:15 am, they said. (With PTI)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for a “severe heatwave” in the national capital on Saturday. The maximum temperature at the Safdarjung Observatory may touch the 42-degree mark on Saturday, the IMD said. Heatwave conditions will continue till April 13.
A 'severe heatwave' scorched Delhi on Friday with the city recording a maximum temperature of 41.6 degrees Celsius, seven notches above normal and the highest so far this year, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The weather stations at Mungeshpur, Najafgarh, Pitampura and Sports Complex recorded maximum temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius, 43.3 degrees Celsius, 43.4 degrees Celsius, and 43.9 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Observing that Khalid Saifi had connectivity with other accused persons, and their cumulative role must be seen to comprehend the entire conspiracy as stated in the chargesheet, a Delhi court rejected the bail application of the United Against Hate founder in a UAPA case in connection with the Northeast Delhi riots.
Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat said that Saifi also figures in the list of those who made a flurry of calls to other accused following the riots.
Saifi’s lawyer, senior advocate Rebecca John, told the court that he has been falsely implicated in this case, and the entire case of the prosecution is unsubstantiated without any evidence to link the accused with the riots.
A massive fire broke out in three buildings in Delhi's Azad market area on Saturday morning, officials said. One of the buildings has collapsed, they added. According to the fire officials, after information regarding the blaze came in, 20 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and the fire was brought under control around 7.30 am. (With PTI)
Congress leader Sachin Pilot met Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra here on Friday amid speculation over organisational changes and ongoing deliberations on the party's revival. Sources said they discussed the political situation in Rajasthan, ways to strengthen the party in the state, organisational elections, upcoming polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh and the revival of the party going forward.
Sources close to Pilot said he is keen on remaining active and involved in strengthening the party in Rajasthan, and reiterated that he is willing to take on any role the party asks him to. The meeting took place at Rahul Gandhi's residence and Priyanka Gandhi was also present, the sources said.
There has been speculations over organisational changes after the drubbing the Congress received in the assembly polls in five states. Earlier this week, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had called for unity at all levels of the organisation, while noting that the road ahead for the party is more challenging than ever and the spirit of resilience of party workers is under severe test. (PTI)
The Centre on Friday raised a red flag to four states and the Union Territory of Delhi that reported a marginal increase in the Covid test positivity rate —directing them to maintain a strict watch and take pre-emptive action in any areas of concern to control any emerging spread of infection.
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Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan communicated to Kerala, Maharashtra, Haryana, Mizoram and Delhi to continue monitoring the spread of infection and undertake required steps for prompt and effective management of Covid-19. (Read more)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at nine locations across Delhi and Gurgaon in connection with its money laundering probe into the alleged manipulation of the National Stock Exchange when Chitra Ramkrishna was at the helm of affairs at the bourse.
Sources said the raids were carried out at premises associated with some NSE brokers, including OPG Securities. (Read more)
The Delhi government on Friday unveiled a detailed blueprint of its five-year plan to generate 20 lakh jobs under the 'Rozgar Budget' and set up department-wise targets to implement the AAP dispensation's ambitious scheme. Industrial areas, retail markets, startup policy and shopping festivals were major contributors to achieving the objective of providing 20 lakh jobs.
A high-level meeting was convened by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia on Friday to expedite the implementation of these schemes and set specific targets and timelines for different departments to achieve the goal. In the meeting, Kejriwal said 20 lakh jobs in five years is perhaps a first-of-its-kind experiment in the budget-making exercise.
"Employment generation may be a challenge, but we've proven in Delhi that nothing is impossible. The whole world is looking at us and appreciating how we have transformed education, healthcare, electricity and water. "We will overcome all challenges and make Delhi an example in the employment sector too," an official statement quoted Kejriwal as saying.
He exhorted officials not to delay approvals and files and approach him or the deputy chief minister for clarifications. "If there is any problem, don't sit on it, don't wait for the next meeting. We all are available here. You can approach me, the deputy CM, the chief secretary or any minister but flag it as soon as possible. This will help us to find timely solutions," Kejriwal said. (PTI)
The Delhi High Court on Friday said it expected the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan to extend the last date for admissions to class I by two more days, as it continued to hear a challenge against the KVS decision of setting six years as the minimum age for admission to grade I in Kendriya Vidyalayas from academic year 2022-23.
Justice Rekha Palli on April 11 will continue to hear the petitions seeking admission of children aged 5 years to class I of Kendriya Vidyalayas. April 11 was the last date for submitting online applications for admissions to grade I. Since the court could not hear the matter completely on Friday, it asked the KVS to postpone the last date. The counsel representing the KVS agreed to the court suggestion. (Read more)
Delhi recorded another day of unrelenting heat, along with this season’s highest maximum temperature of 41.6 degrees Celsius and a severe heat wave on Friday.
The maximum temperature at the Safdarjung weather observatory, which provides a marker for the city, was 41.6 degrees, seven degrees above the normal for this time of the year. All weather stations in the city recorded maximum temperatures above 40 degrees on Friday.
The highest recorded at a weather observatory in the city was 43.4 degrees Celsius at Pitampura, followed by 43.3 degrees at Najafgarh, 42.9 degrees at the Ridge, 42.4 degrees at Aya Nagar, and 41.9 degrees at Lodhi Road. The maximum temperature at Gurgaon hit 43.3 degrees. (Read more)
A Delhi court on Friday dismissed the bail application of Khalid Saifi, founder of the organisation -- United Against Hate -- fin a case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the Delhi riots in February 2020. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat diminished the plea saying the allegations against Saifi were “prima facie” true.
“On perusal of charge sheet and accompanying documents, for the limited purpose of bail, I am of the opinion that allegations against the accused Khalid Saifi are prima facie true,” the judge said.
The activist was charged under various sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, along with the sections of the Arms Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, and the IPC. Saifi is accused of being the "mastermind" of the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots, which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. (PTI)
The Supreme Court Friday upheld the validity of certain amendments to the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, which came into effect in September 2020, saying "the strict regime had become essential because of the past experience of abuse and misutilisation of foreign contribution.”
Observing that receiving foreign donations cannot be an “absolute or even a vested right”, the apex court said no one can be heard to claim a vested right to accept the foreign donation because the theory of the possibility of the national polity being influenced by foreign contribution is globally recognised.
Upholding the amendments meant to strictly regulate the foreign funding of the NGOs, the top court noted many recipients of foreign contributions had not utilised the same for the purposes for which they were registered or granted prior permission under the Act and that many recipients had also failed to adhere to and fulfil the statutory compliances. "...the strict regime had become essential because of the past experience of abuse and misutilisation of the ‘foreign contribution' and cancellation of certificates of as many as 19,000 registered organisations on the ground of being grossly non-compliant,” the apex court said. (PTI)