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A look at today’s news: ‘US-India partnership essential for open, rules-bound Indo Pacific,’ says Rajnath Singh at ‘2+2’ dialogue; Rains ease pollution levels in Delhi, Mumbai; Rishi Sunak under pressure to sack Suella Braverman over Palestine remark
Today’s Latest News Transcript at 8:30 PM on 10 November 2023
Beginning today’s evening bulletin with the top national news: After days of reeling under degrading air quality, rains have brought respite to national capital Delhi and financial capital Mumbai. The particulate matter levels in Delhi dipped significantly early on Friday. As per the Central Pollution Control Board , the AQI, which is a 24-hour average, stood at 376 at 9 am, in the ‘very poor’ category in Delhi. It decreased from 452, recorded at 2 am on Friday. Meanwhile, in Mumbai, where the AQI index stood in the moderate category over the last week, clear skies were visible Thursday following the rains. On Friday, the air quality improved significantly with AQI standing at 85 .
Next up: The Delhi government has deferred the implementation of the odd-even scheme from November 13 as the national capital saw a notable improvement in the air quality following light rains. Environment Minister Gopal Rai said added the pollution situation in Delhi will be assessed after Diwali. Rai had announced on Monday that the odd-even scheme would be implemented from November 13 to 20, considering a possible rise in pollution levels after Diwali. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court, while hearing a matter on air pollution, had referred to the scheme as “optics”.
Moving on: The India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue began today with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh calling the partnership between the two nations “critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region.” The US delegation at the 2+2 ministerial talks was led by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh headed the Indian side. Claiming that the India-US bilateral relationship has witnessed a growing convergence of strategic interests and enhanced defence, security, and intelligence cooperation, Singh emphasised that, “Defence remains one of the most important pillars of our bilateral relationship.”
In news from South: The Congress has promised to increase the state annual minority welfare budget to Rs 4,000 crore if elected to power in Telangana. In a late-night declaration on Thursday, Telangana Congress Chief A Revanth Reddy also said that a separate allocation of Rs 1,000 crore would be made annually to provide subsidised loans to students and women from the minority community. The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee had constituted a Minorities Declaration Committee with Mohammed Ali Shabbir as the chairman. Shabbir said the party wants to win back the minority vote from the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi and the AIMIM.
The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka has been facing demands from the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities not to accept the socio-economic and educational survey, also known as caste survey. The report is expected to be submitted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes by the end of this month. On the other hand, sections of backward and vulnerable communities as well as the Congress party have been putting pressure on the Siddaramaiah government to accept the report and make its findings public. This state-wide survey, commissioned in 2015 , was completed by the KSCBC in 2017 before being put into cold storage ahead of the 2018 Assembly polls as the party feared its political repercussions.
Opposition members in the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, which Thursday recommended the expulsion of TMC MP Mahua Moitra, said in their dissent notes that the panel conducted its probe in “unseemly haste” and with “complete lack of propriety”. Calling the probe into the cash-for-query allegations a “fixed match” by “a kangaroo court”, Opposition leaders raised questions on the Ethics Committee’s mandate and said the recommendation for Moitra’s expulsion was “purely for political reasons and will set a dangerous precedent.” The panel’s report, following an inquiry into allegations against Moitra by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, was adopted after voting with six MPs in its favour, and four from the Opposition against it.
Shifting focus to international news: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under pressure to sack Home Secretary Suella Braverman over an article she wrote accusing the London police of pro-Palestine bias. For now, Sunak has chosen to back the Indian-origin cabinet member, with his No. 10 office issuing a statement on Thursday saying that the Prime Minister has “full confidence in her” but that he did not approve of her comments. The furore followed an opinion piece Braverman wrote regarding “hate marches” being held in London over the ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza.
And lastly: Pope Francis, who has made reaching out to LGBTQ+ Catholics a hallmark of his papacy, has made clear that transgender people can be baptized, serve as godparents and be witnesses at church weddings, furthering his vision of a more inclusive church. The pope’s embrace of transgender people’s participation in the church was revealed in a Vatican document that he approved on the 31st of October and that was posted online on Wednesday. It struck some advocates of a more inclusive church as an “important” and encouraging step on a path that Francis has charted toward a Roman Catholic Church that is more focused on opening its doors than keeping people out.
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Today's Top News Headlines and Latest News at 8:30 pm on 10 … – The Indian Express
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