Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi and TMC's Saugata Roy have called for a discussion on alleged voter list discrepancies, citing irregularities in states like Maharashtra, Haryana, and West Bengal. Accusations include fake entries and identical EPIC numbers. The Election Commission clarified that identical numbers are due to past manual mechanisms and do not indicate duplicate voters.
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The Election Commission has asked Arvind Kejriwal to provide evidence for his claims that Yamuna water was poisoned, including specifics on the type, quantity, and method of poisoning. The Commission aims to separate ammonia contamination from poisoning allegations and cautioned against making statements that could incite public unrest or promote discord.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a key figure in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been ousted from the upcoming Trump administration after a backlash from the MAGA base over his comments on educational reforms and immigration. Elon Musk's efforts to increase high-skilled immigration also fueled the controversy.
BJP's SC/ST Morcha plans a counter-drive in Uttar Pradesh. The party aims to highlight anti-Dalit actions by previous Congress and SP governments. The Morcha will consolidate the SC/ST community. They will emphasize BJP's pro-Dalit measures over the past decade. The campaign follows recent by-poll victories and aims to counter opposition caste narratives.
The Khar Police summoned comedian Kunal Kamra for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Deputy CM Eknath Shinde during a stand-up show. Shiv Sena members vandalized the studio in response, leading to arrests. Investigations are ongoing with two FIRs registered against Kamra and the vandals.
Australia's Steve Smith was dismissed for four runs, falling short of the 10,000 Test runs milestone during the fifth Test against India. Prasidh Krishna's delivery led to Smith's dismissal, with Yashasvi Jaiswal taking a remarkable catch. India was bowled out for 157 earlier, with Scott Boland claiming six wickets. ​​India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, battling back spasms, was unable to bowl on Day 3.
The Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj features ascetics with extraordinary vows and appearances, including Gangapuri Maharaj who hasn't bathed for over 32 years, Radhepuri Maharaj who has kept his right arm raised for 14 years, and Mahant Geetanand Giri who wears a 45kg Rudraksha headgear to protect humanity. They undertake these extreme practices for spiritual and religious commitments.
President-elect Donald Trump connected the New Orleans attack, involving a pickup truck mowing down revelers, to his warnings about crime and border security. The act, confirmed as terrorism, killed ten and injured over thirty. The suspect, identified as a recent Mexican entrant, died in a shootout. Trump promised full support for investigations and recovery efforts.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed boredom with PM Modi's Lok Sabha speech on the Constitution's 75th anniversary, criticizing it for lacking new or constructive points. She dismissed his 11 resolutions, including anti-corruption pledges, as "hollow" and challenged him to debate the Adani issue. Modi's speech targeted the Congress party's history of constitutional amendments.
Stock market today: BSE Sensex and Nifty50, the Indian equity benchmark indices, plunged in trade for the fifth consecutive day on Friday. While BSE Sensex was just above 79,000, Nifty50 was near 23,900.
At least 13 people were killed and 30 others injured in a Russian-guided bomb attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy confirmed the damage to residential blocks and other infrastructure. Videos showed emergency efforts on the scene. The incident increases tensions, with Ukraine pressing for stronger international security assurances while developing long-range weapons for defense.