Court Rejects Chandrababu Naidu’s Request for House Arrest, Deems Central Jail Safe
The ACB Court in Vijayawada has denied former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s plea for house arrest. The court believes that the central jail at Rajamahendravaram provides adequate security for him. This decision paves the way for the CID to push for his custody. Mr. Naidu’s lawyers have filed a petition in the High Court challenging the legality of the arrest, which is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday.
Cauvery Panel Orders Karnataka to Continue Water Release
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee has directed Karnataka to release 5,000 cubic feet per second of water to Tamil Nadu for another 15 days. The committee clarified that this is a directive, not a recommendation, and has the authority to issue such directions. Karnataka had previously expressed concerns about releasing water due to severe drought conditions in the Cauvery and Krishna basins. The committee will wait to see if Karnataka complies with the directive.
India Beats Sri Lanka in Asia Cup 2023
In a match held at R. Premadasa Stadium, India emerged victorious against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023. Despite losing all 10 wickets, with an impressive opening partnership by captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, India scored 213 runs in 49.1 overs. Sri Lankan spinner Kuldeep Yadav played a crucial role, taking four wickets and helping bowl out the hosts for 172 runs in 41.3 overs. India’s win was largely attributed to the performance of their spinners on the turning track.
Supreme Court Threatens SpiceJet CMD with Jail over Non-Payment of Dues
The Supreme Court has issued a stern warning to SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh, threatening to send him to Tihar jail for non-compliance with its order to make payment to Credit Suisse AG. The court has asked Singh to pay ₹5,00,000 ($6,700) towards an instalment to the Swiss firm, along with the defaulted amount of ₹1 million ($13,400). The court expressed no concern even if SpiceJet were to shut down.
India Urges Sri Lanka to Fulfill Commitments on Rights
India has stated that Sri Lanka’s progress in fulfilling the Tamil people’s aspirations is inadequate, calling on the island nation to work towards keeping its promises. India’s representative at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva highlighted the need for meaningful progress in implementing commitments to protect the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all citizens in Sri Lanka. This position aligns with India’s concerns expressed last year over the lack of measurable progress.
France Halts Sales of Apple iPhone 12 over Radiation Concerns
French regulators have ordered Apple to cease sales of the iPhone 12 due to excessive electromagnetic radiation emitted by the device. The French agency responsible for regulating radio frequencies found that the iPhone 12 surpassed the permissible limit for electromagnetic absorption by the body. Apple has been instructed to both halt sales of the device in France and fix existing handsets to address the radiation issue.
Maria Ressa Acquitted of Tax Evasion Charges
Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize winner and CEO of online news organization Rappler, has been acquitted of a final tax evasion charge. This marks a victory for Ms. Ressa, who has been critical of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, accusing him of attempting to suppress free and critical reporting. While acquitted of tax evasion, Ressa still faces two remaining legal cases.
Apple Launches iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max with A17 Pro SoC
Apple has unveiled the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models powered by the new A17 Pro processor. These models are similar in size to the standard iPhone models but feature an Action Button with haptic feedback for recording and shortcuts. The A17 Pro chip boasts a 6-core CPU and 6-core GPU, making it 20% faster than previous models, according to Apple. The Pro series also introduces USB 3 support for faster file transfers and incorporates ray tracing for improved gaming.
Uddhav Thackeray Meets Sharad Pawar Ahead of INDIA Bloc Meeting
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has met with ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar ahead of the first meeting of the coordination committee of the Opposition INDIA bloc. The meeting took place at Mr. Pawar’s residence in Mumbai and focused on coordination within the INDIA bloc and among the three Maharashtra allies—Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP. The coordination committee meeting is scheduled to be held at Mr. Pawar’s Delhi residence.
Apple Introduces Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 with Gesture Controls
Apple has launched the Series 9 Watch operated by WatchOS 10. This latest Apple Watch model introduces gesture controls and a double-tap option for answering and ending calls, playing and pausing music, and scrolling through widgets. The new S9 chip powering the Apple Watch 9 includes a 4-core neural engine and promises up to 18 hours of battery life. Users can sync health data, and the watch supports seamless integration with Siri. Series 9 will initially be available in English and Mandarin languages.
16 Teams Established for Nipah Surveillance and Containment in Kozhikode
The Health Department has set up 16 core teams to monitor surveillance and containment measures in Kozhikode district, where two individuals recently died from Nipah infection. Two additional individuals have tested positive for the virus. The Health Minister has issued an alert in Kozhikode, and neighboring districts will also be placed on high alert. The department took this action after two suspected Nipah-related deaths in August and September. Samples from the first fatality could not be sent for testing.
Simona Halep Receives 4-Year Ban in Doping Case
Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has been suspended from professional tennis for four years due to doping violations. The International Tennis Integrity Agency has accused the Romanian player of failing a drug test during the 2022 U.S. Open and irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport. An independent panel concluded that Halep intentionally violated anti-doping rules.