New Delhi, Feb 19 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9 pm: NATION DEL71 DL-CM-LD ANNOUCEMENT

Shalimar Bagh MLA Rekha Gupta to be new Delhi CM New Delhi: First-time MLA Rekha Gupta will be the new chief minister of Delhi, the BJP announced on Wednesday.

DEL55 MAHAKUMBH-GANGA-UNSAFE

Govt data: Ganga water at Sangam unsafe for bathing due to high BOD levels New Delhi: The Ganga water at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, where lakhs of people are taking a holy dip every day during the ongoing Maha Kumbh, is currently unsafe for bathing as it exceeds the prescribed limit for biological oxygen demand (BOD), a key parameter to determine water quality, according to government data.

DEL40 UP-KUMBH WATER CM

Sangam water fit for 'snan' and 'aachman’: UP CM Adityanath in Assembly Lucknow: The water at the Sangam is fit for both bathing and ritual drinking (aachman) as confirmed by some recent reports, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Wednesday, amid claims it may contain high levels of faecal bacteria.

DEL59 PAR PANEL-ALLAHBADIA

Par panel seeks MEITY's response on legal measures after SC criticism of Allahbadia's comments New Delhi: Citing the Supreme Court's stern words against vulgarity in the Ranveer Allahbadia case, a parliamentary panel Wednesday asked the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to submit a note on the efficacy of existing laws in dealing with such cases and any amendment needed to bring online platforms under legal scrutiny.

DEL65 UP-CM-3RDDLD-ASSEMBLY

CM Yogi slams opposition: 'Won't tolerate disrespect to Maha Kumbh, Sanatan Dharma' Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday lambasted opposition parties for their critical statements on the Maha Kumbh, saying their attempts to "malign" the event with false narratives and disrespect Sanatan Dharma will not be tolerated.

CAL17 WB-KUMBH-BJP-MAMATA

BJP claims Mamata's 'Mrityu Kumbh' remark insult to Hindus, holds protests Kolkata: Asserting that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's "Mrityu Kumbh" (Death Kumbh) remark about the ongoing 'Maha Kumbh' is an insult to Hindus, the BJP on Wednesday held protests in the state.

DEL53 GOVT-DEPORTEES-PUNJAB

Govt sources defend deportation flights landing in Amritsar, say Punjab's deportee share largest New Delhi: With Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann taking exceptions to US flights carrying Indian deportees landing in Amritsar, government sources Wednesday defended the move, saying the state makes up for the biggest share of these illegal immigrants.

CAL11 OD-STUDENT DEATH-CM

Odisha CM urges Nepalese students to return to KIIT, assures them of justice Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday urged Nepalese students of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) to return to the campus here and resume studies, assuring them that peace and normalcy will be restored soon.

DEL64 ED-SRI LANKAN-CURRENCY

ED seizes Rs 2.12-cr worth foreign currency from SL national at B'luru Airport New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate Wednesday said it has seized foreign currency worth Rs 2.12 crore from a Sri Lankan national who was allegedly smuggling it to Colombo from the Bengaluru airport.

DEL67 DRUGS-THAILAND RETURN-ARREST

NCB arrests 5 people at Bengaluru airport for carrying drugs after sponsored Thailand leisure trip New Delhi: The Narcotics Control Bureau Wednesday said it has arrested five people at the Bengaluru airport for allegedly carrying high-grade cannabis during their return from a trip to Thailand fully paid by drug traffickers.

CAL12 AS-ASSEMBLY-FOREIGNERS

1.66 lakh illegal foreigners detected in Assam, 30,115 deported Guwahati: Nearly 1.66 lakh immigrants have been identified as "illegal" according to Assam Accord norms and just over 30,100 of them have been deported from the state, the Assembly was informed on Wednesday.

MDS14 KA-MUDA-LD CM

MUDA case: Lokayukta police says no evidence against CM Siddaramaiah, wife Bengaluru: The Lokayukta police probing the MUDA site allotment case on Wednesday said the charges against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his wife Parvathi could not be proved for want of evidence.

DEL41 INTERVIEW-CLIMATE-LD SIMON STIELL

India already exceeding key climate targets, can grow faster using clean energy: UN climate chief New Delhi: India is already meeting and exceeding key climate targets and has a real opportunity to grow even faster using clean energy and industry, UN climate chief Simon Stiell has said. By Gaurav Saini

BOM28 MH-LDALL SHIV JAYANTI

Tributes paid to Shivaji Maharaj on birth anniversary; PM says he inspires nation Pune/Raigad: Rich tributes were paid to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his 395th birth anniversary on Wednesday with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis calling him a "management guru" and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailing his visionary leadership that inspires the country.

BOM27 MP-NAXAL-2NDLD ENCOUNTER

Four Naxalites, including 3 women, gunned down by police in MP's Balaghat district Balaghat: Four Naxalites, including three women cadres, were killed on Wednesday in an encounter with the police in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district, an official said.

LEGAL LGD23 SC-ARBITRATION-AWARDS-LD RESERVE

Can courts modify arbitral awards? SC reserves verdict New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its judgement on the question whether courts could modify arbitral awards under the 1996 law on arbitration and conciliation.

LGD20 DL-HC-PM-DEGREE

PM degree row: Awarding degree public act under RTI, Delhi HC told New Delhi: In a hearing over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational records, the Delhi High Court was on Wednesday informed that awarding a degree to a student was not a private, but a public act, covered under the ambit of Right to Information (RTI).

LGD15 SC-ELECTION COMMISSIONERS

SC defers hearing on pleas against CEC, ECs appointments New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the pleas against the appointments of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners (EC) under the 2023 law.

LGD7 DL-HC-RAILWAY-STAMPEDE

New Delhi Railway Station stampede: Delhi HC asks railways to take note of PIL raising concerns New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Railways to examine the fixing of maximum passengers and sale of platform tickets -- issues raised in a PIL over the recent stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station.

BUSINESS DEL47 BIZ-GOLD-PRICE

Gold reclaims all-time high of Rs 89,400 per 10 grams New Delhi: Gold price jumped by Rs 900 to revisit the all-time high of Rs 89,400 per 10 grams in the national capital on Wednesday amid strong global trends, according to the All India Sarafa Association.

DEL60 BIZ-RBI-ECONOMY

High frequency indicators point at sequential pickup in economic activity: RBI bulletin Mumbai: High frequency indicators, like vehicles sales, air traffic, steel consumption and GST E-way bills, point towards a sequential pickup in momentum of economic activity during the second half of the fiscal 2024-25 and sustain moving forward, RBI Bulletin said on Wednesday.

FOREIGN FGN55 PAK-AFGHAN-2NDLD REFUGEES

Pakistan rejects allegation of 'mistreatment' of Afghan refugees Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday rejected the allegation of “mistreatment” of Afghan refugees while highlighting its role in hosting millions of Afghans for decades.

FGN50 PAK-LD ATTACK

Seven passengers killed in Pakistan's Balochistan Islamabad: Unidentified gunmen killed at least seven passengers of a bus on Wednesday after checking their identity cards in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province, officials said.

FGN49 NEPAL-INDIA-STUDENT-DEATH

Nepali student’s death: Foreign Minister Deuba talks with Odisha’s education minister Kathmandu: Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has on Wednesday requested Odisha Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj to make arrangements for impartial investigation into the death of a Nepalese student and take legal action against the culprit.

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