Anti-pollution curbs tightened in Delhi
Authorities enforced Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan in Delhi and neighbouring areas on Nov 11 as air quality plunged to “severe” levels.
Non-essential construction and polluting industrial activity are now banned, reported Reuters. The move followed rare citizen protests at India Gate demanding cleaner air.
Trump signals tariffs on India may be reduced
United States President Donald Trump said Washington and New Delhi are “pretty close” to a new trade deal that will eventually see tariffs on Indian imports reduced.
Speaking at the new US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor’s swearing-in on Nov 11, Mr Trump linked current high tariffs to India’s Russian oil purchases and backed ongoing talks to double bilateral trade by 2030.
New US envoy vows to elevate India-US partnership
Newly sworn-in United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor pledged to take bilateral ties to the “next level”, calling the relationship “vitally important”.
Citing the “incredible chemistry” between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Gor told India Today that he would work to deepen strategic and economic cooperation, highlighting the many interests the two democracies share.
UP allows women night shifts with double pay
The Uttar Pradesh government has permitted women to work night shifts between 7pm and 6am, including in 29 hazardous industries, subject to written consent.
Employers must provide double wages, secure transport, CCTV coverage, security guards, and proper facilities, reported NDTV.
Weekly work is capped at six days, with quarterly overtime raised to 144 hours.
Former Travancore Devaswom Board chief arrested
The Special Investigation Team probing gold-plated casings missing from the Sabarimala temple in Kerala has arrested former Travancore Devaswom Board president N. Vasu, reported The Hindu.
Investigators allege he approved record tampering in 2019 that reclassified “gold plates” as “copper plates”, enabling 409g of gold to be siphoned off.
Key officials’ testimonies reportedly implicate him in the misappropriation.
Veteran actor Dharmendra discharged from hospital
Bollywood legend Dharmendra, 89, was discharged from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on Nov 12 after being admitted on Oct 31 with breathlessness.
His doctor Pratit Samdani said treatment will now continue at home, reported The Times of India.
Dharmendra’s family urged media to stop speculation and respect his privacy, thanking fans for their prayers after false death reports circulated.
Delhi to turn 41 roundabouts into ‘living story’ of India
Delhi’s Public Works Department will beautify 41 major roundabouts into thematic landmarks showcasing India’s states, union territories, and the armed forces, reported NDTV.
Planned motifs include Ayodhya’s Ram Temple, Sikkim’s monasteries, Rajasthan’s forts, Odisha’s Konark Sun Temple, Kerala’s backwaters, and the Statue of Unity.
Officials say each junction will tell a regional story to daily commuters.
Kannada actor Upendra, wife lose Rs1.5 lakh in cyber fraud
Kannada movie star Upendra and his wife Priyanka lost about Rs1.5 lakh after hackers gained access to their phones and WhatsApp accounts.
The scam began when Ms Priyanka clicked a malicious link sent after an online purchase, allowing hackers to message her contacts seeking urgent money transfers. Even their son transferred funds, believing the messages were genuine.
Upendra’s and their manager’s phones were compromised as well.
Bengaluru Police traced the fraud to Dashrathpur in Bihar and arrested Vikas Kumar.
Woman held for posing as Mumbai cop in ‘digital arrest’ fraud
Kerala’s Alappuzha Cyber Crime Police arrested Chandrika, 21, from Mysuru for allegedly extorting Rs20.5 lakh (S$30,000) by staging a fake “digital arrest”, reported NDTV.
Posing on WhatsApp as “Neha Sharma” from Mumbai Police, the gang sent doctored bank statements and documents, falsely accusing the victim of financial crimes and coercing payment to avoid supposed criminal action.
Eight rescued from 9m-high stalled swing at Cuttack’s Bali Jatra
Eight visitors, including two children, were trapped for nearly two hours when a swing malfunctioned mid-air about nine metres above ground at Bali Jatra in Cuttack.
Odisha Fire Service personnel used a hydraulic lift to rescue them as thousands watched, reported NDTV.
All were sent for medical examination; police said they were shaken but safe.
Delhi ATC guild flags deeper systemic issues behind tech failure
The Air Traffic Controllers’ Guild warned that the three-day failure of Delhi airport’s Automatic Message Switching System was “more than a tech glitch”, exposing serious infrastructure gaps.
Between Nov 6 and 8, controllers manually handled over 2,500 daily aircraft movements. The guild criticised delayed upgrades and dependence on an outdated system.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium set for demolition
Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will be dismantled under a proposal to redevelop its 102-acre complex into a multi-discipline Sports City with athlete lodging and world-class facilities.
Offices, including the National Anti Doping Agency and Dope Testing Laboratory, will be relocated.
Officials are studying sports complexes in Qatar and Australia before finalising timelines.
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13 Nov 2025 14:07
