Category: NEW DELHI

NEW DELHI, May 21: On Monday, the national capital experienced scorching temperatures, reaching a maximum of 47.4 degrees Celsius—the highest recorded in the country.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a severe heatwave red alert for Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, forecasting that the intense heatwave conditions will persist in the region over the coming days.

“Exposure to high temperatures for an extended period can result in heat stroke,” cautioned Dr. Satish Koul, Senior Director of Internal Medicine at Fortis Gurgaon, in conversation with IANS.

Dr. Atul Gogia, Senior Consultant and Head of Infectious Diseases at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, emphasized that prolonged exposure to excessively high temperatures during summer months can lead to various illnesses, including heat stroke, dehydration, drowsiness, and food and water-borne illnesses.

Dr. Satish highlighted that extreme temperatures can become life-threatening if accompanied by neurological symptoms such as altered mental status or behavior.

Dr. Atul warned that severe dehydration, resulting in renal shutdown, could also pose significant risks to health. Health experts emphasized that while rising temperatures can impact everyone, individuals at the extremes of age, such as the elderly or children, are particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses.

In response to the soaring temperatures, the Delhi government has ordered the immediate closure of schools to protect students from the rising heatwaves.

“A high body temperature may lead to nausea and vomiting, poor concentration, cramps, throbbing headache, confusion, dizziness, palpitation, rapid pulse, and loss of consciousness,” explained Dr. G. J. Singh from Yashoda Super Specialty Hospital, Kaushambi.

Experts advised individuals to stay indoors during extreme heatwaves, wear lightweight clothing, maintain proper hydration, consume nutritious and balanced meals at home, and avoid eating meals from outside establishments.

As temperatures continue to rise across the region, authorities are urging citizens to take necessary precautions to mitigate the risks associated with extreme heat.

There is a ferment happening in PoJK. You can see it on social media or television. The analysis of it is very complex but definitely I have no doubt in my own mind that someone living in PoJK is comparing their situation with someone actually living in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that how is it that people today are actually progressing on our side,” EAM Jaishankar said.
He said that people on the other side have a sense and understanding of being under occupation, being discriminated and being treated badly. “Clearly, any such comparison would be preying on their minds,” EAM said.
On merging PoJK with India, EAM Jaishankar reiterated that part of Kashmir was and will always be a part of India.
“That part of Kashmir has always been a part of India, it will always be…if you ask me when will the occupation end there? I actually find it very interesting,” he said.
He said that till Article 370 was in place, there was not much discussion about PoJK.
“There was at one point in the 1990s when some pressure was put on us by Western countries at that time parliament unanimously passed a resolution,” he said.
Violent protests have erupted in PoJK over the hike in electricity prices.
At least three people have been killed and six have been injured after Pakistani security forces opened fire on protesters.

The Apex Court observed that a copy of the remand application in the “purported exercise of communication” of grounds of arrest in writing was not provided to Purkayastha or his counsel before the passing of the remand order dated October 4, 2023 which “vitiates” his arrest and subsequent remand.

“As a result, the appellant is entitled to a direction for release from custody by applying the ratio of the judgement rendered by this court in the case of Pankaj Bansal,” a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta said.

“Accordingly, the arrest of the appellant (Purkayastha) followed by the remand order dated … and so also the impugned order passed by the High Court of Delhi are hereby declared to be invalid in the eyes of law and are quashed and set aside,” it said.
The bench delivered its verdict on Purkayastha’s plea challenging the High Court’s October 13 last year order dismissing his plea against arrest and subsequent police remand in the case.
He was arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on October 3 last year.
While pronouncing the judgement, the Apex Court said, “Though, we would have been persuaded to direct the release of the appellant without requiring him to furnish bonds of security but since the charge sheet has been filed, we feel it appropriate to direct that the appellant shall be released from custody on furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the trial court.”
The bench made it clear that none of the observations made by it shall be treated as a comment on the merits of the case.
After the verdict was pronounced, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the Delhi Police, said since the arrest was declared to be void, it should not preclude the police from exercising the correct powers of arrest.
“We need not observe anything on that,” Justice Gavai said, adding, “Whatever you are permitted in law, you are permitted in law.”
The high court had on October 13 last year dismissed the pleas of Purkayastha and NewsClick’s human resources department head Amit Chakravarty against their arrest and subsequent police remand.
Chakravarty had earlier withdrawn from the Supreme Court his petition against his arrest under the anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
A Delhi court had earlier allowed Chakravarty to turn an approver in the case lodged against the news portal under the UAPA over allegations that it received money to spread pro-China propaganda.
According to the FIR, the news portal allegedly received huge amount of funds from China to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” and cause disaffection against the country.
It also alleged that Purkayastha conspired with a group — People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) — to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
On April 30, a Delhi court had taken cognisance of a charge sheet filed against Purkayastha in the case.
The court had in January allowed Chakravarty to turn approver in the case.
The judge had pardoned Chakravarty, who was arrested in the case on October 3, 2023, on his application that claimed he had material information which he was willing to disclose to the Delhi Police, which is investigating the matter

NEW DELHI, May 13: Board exams for Classes 10 and 12 for the 2024-25 academic session will be conducted from February 15 next year, CBSE’s Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj announced on Monday.
The results for the 2024 board exams were announced earlier today with girls outshining boys in both the classes.
“The board has decided to conduct the 2025 exams from February 15, 2025,” Bhardwaj said.
The 2024 board exams also began on February 15 for classes 10 and 12. These concluded in 28 and 47 days, respectively

NEW DELHI, May 9: Faced with cabin crew shortage, Air India Express on Thursday cancelled 74 flights and said Air India will operate services on 20 of its routes to minimise disruptions.
A section of cabin crew has reported sick to protest against alleged mismanagement at the airline, which has resulted in the cancellation of more than 90 flights since Tuesday night.
“We will be operating 292 flights today. We have mobilised all resources and Air India will support us by operating on 20 of our routes. However, 74 of our flights stand cancelled and we urge our guests booked to fly with us to check if their flight is affected by the disruption before heading to the airport,” the airline said in a statement.
In case their flight is cancelled or delayed beyond three hours, the carrier said the passengers may opt for a full refund or reschedule to a later date without any fees.
The number of cancelled flights at 74 translates to around 20 per cent of the airline’s scheduled daily flights.
Earlier in the day, sources said the airline has issued termination notices to 25 cabin crew members who had reported sick and asked others to join back for duty by 4 pm on Thursday.
Against this backdrop, Air India Express said it is taking appropriate steps against certain individuals.
“While we will continue to engage with our cabin crew colleagues with a commitment to address any concern, we are taking appropriate steps against certain individuals as their actions have caused grave inconvenience to thousands of our guests,” it added. (Agencies)