EC denies vote chori charges, Congress rejects SIR clarification in Supreme Court

Andhra Pradesh has been placed on high alert as Cyclone Arnab intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm, speeding up its trajectory towards the coast. The storm is forecast to make landfall significantly earlier than previously projected, with impact expected between 2:00 am and 4:00 am. Wind speeds are estimated between 125 and 150 kilometres per hour, with predictions suggesting gusts could reach up to 180 kilometres per hour. In response, authorities have moved between 85,000 and 100,000 residents from vulnerable low-lying areas into temporary relief centres, including schools, providing food and bedding. Crucial coastal districts including Kakinada, Yanam, and Konaseema face extreme weather conditions, torrential rainfall, and rough seas. Precautionary measures include power shutdowns across vulnerable vicinities to mitigate hazards caused by wind and lightning, tower 10 danger warnings at Kakinada port, and highway closures spanning Ongole, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam to prevent accidents amid the anticipated cyclonic storm surge.

American billionaire investor Bill Ackman has called for Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to be excluded from Israel's next government, arguing their hardline policies have severely damaged the country's international standing. Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister, faces widespread global criticism and sanctions from countries including Britain, Canada, and Australia. Finance Minister Smotrich continues to push for settlement expansion in the West Bank and opposes Palestinian statehood. However, removing them poses a significant challenge for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as their respective parties, Jewish Power and Religious Zionist, provide essential coalition support to maintain his parliamentary majority.

Seventeen inmates escaped from the Theni sub-jail in Tamil Nadu late Monday night after staging a medical emergency. The breakout occurred when an inmate pretended to be ill, prompting three prison guards to enter the cell to assist him. The prisoners attacked the guards and fled the premises, triggering a massive statewide manhunt involving drone surveillance. Authorities have recaptured 13 of the escaped inmates so far, while the state government suspended nine prison staff members following the security breach. The incident sparked a political row, with opposition parties criticizing the administration over prison security lapses.

A controversy has erupted over the government-funded 'Mahakal: The Master of Time' conference held in Ujjain, with organisers facing scrutiny over suspected fake travel bills. Hired through a Bhopal-based firm, several vehicle numbers submitted in the invoices allegedly turned out to be irregular, including an e-rickshaw listed as an Innova and a moped billed as a traveller. The travel agency attributed the errors to human and typing mistakes. Meanwhile, the Culture Department and the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology traded blame over billing responsibilities, with the council initiating a four-member committee to probe the expenses.