The Delhi government has decided to bear the entire cost of artificial rain for combating hazardous air pollution in the city and directed the chief secretary to present the government’s views before the Supreme Court on Friday, officials said.

If the Centre supports the decision, the Delhi government can arrange for first artificial rain in the city by November 20, they said on Thursday.

“In a significant development, the Delhi government has decided to bear the cost of artificial rain that could be made to happen by November 20 if the Centre extends its support to the Delhi government,” said a senior government functionary.

The Kejriwal government has plans to induce artificial rain through cloud seeding to combat air pollution in Delhi, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday.

Mr Rai held a meeting with scientists from IIT-Kanpur who explained that cloud seeding can only be attempted when there are clouds or moisture in the atmosphere.

“Experts anticipate that such conditions could develop around November 20-21. We have asked the scientists to prepare a proposal by Thursday that will be submitted to the Supreme Court,” the minister told reporters.

Mr Rai emphasised that obtaining the necessary clearances and permissions for using this technology from both the central and the state governments is a time-sensitive matter.

India Meteorological Department Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told PTI that inducing artificial rain can only be attempted when there are clouds or moisture available.

Artificial rain through cloud seeding involves dispersing substances into the air to encourage condensation, resulting in precipitation. The most common substances used for cloud seeding include silver iodide, potassium iodide and dry ice (solid carbon dioxide). These agents provide the nuclei around which water vapour can condense, ultimately leading to the formation of rain or snow.

This weather modification technique has been utilised in various parts of the world, primarily in regions experiencing water scarcity or drought conditions.

However, the effectiveness and environmental impact of cloud seeding remain subjects of ongoing research and discussion.

A former US government employee Brian Jeffrey Raymond, 47, accused of drugging and sexually assaulting at least two dozen women during various overseas postings pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal sex abuse charges. 

According to documents by the Department of Justice, the ex-CIA officer was employed by the U.S. government at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. He admitted to drugging and sexually abusing several women in his embassy-leased housing and elsewhere between 2006 and 2020. He also admitted that over 14 years, he photographed or videotaped 28 victims while they were nude or partially nude. 

As per the documents, the recordings show the accused touching and manipulating the victim’s bodies while they were unconscious and incapable of consent. The ex-CIA officer also tried to delete the explicit pictures and videos of the victims after learning about the criminal investigation. 

The former US government officer will face between 24 and 30 years in prison and supervised release for life. He has been ordered to pay mandatory restitution to the victims of his criminal offences. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 18 and 19, 2024. 

“CIA condemns in the strongest terms the crimes committed by former Agency officer Brian Jeffrey Raymond, who was arrested in 2020. As this case shows, we are committed to engaging with law enforcement to ensure that justice is served,” a CIA spokesperson told CNN.

The investigation into Raymond began in 2020 after a naked woman was seen screaming for help from the balcony of Raymond’s Mexico residence, according to a news release from the US Embassy in Mexico. The release further said that the woman later said that she could not remember what happened after consuming food and drinks provided by the ex-CIA officer. 

He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual abuse and one count of transporting obscene material in 2021. However, a year later, he withdrew his guilty plea and said that he was innocent of the charges. He said that the agents unlawfully searched his phone. 

Preneet Kaur, suspended Congress MP and the wife of former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, voted in favour of the Ethics Committee recommendations on Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, showing support for her expulsion from parliament. Her aid proved decisive at the meeting of the Committee, who took a vote today on the recommendations and it was adopted with a 6-4 majority.

A total of 10 members, including the chairman of the committee had attended the meeting held this evening. The BJP numbers were down from 7 to 4 today as three of its members were unable to attend.

One MP was missing from the Opposition side too. Uttam Reddy, one of the five MPs who staged a walkout supporting Mahua on November 2, is filing his nomination for the Telangana Assembly elections.

A YSR Congress nominee — whose vote the NDA could have counted on — also did not attend the meeting.

Under the circumstances, Ms Kaur’s vote became pivotal – one more vote in favour of Ms Moitra would have led to a deadlock.

Ms Kaur’s husband, veteran Congressman and Gandhi family loyalist Amarinder Singh, had quit the Congress in 2021 after he was forced to step down from the top post in Punjab. He then formed his own party — the Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) –and later joined the BJP.

In February, Congress suspended Preneet Kaur, accusing her of “indulging in anti-party activities to help BJP”. There was a call for her expulsion from Amrinder Singh Raja Warring — the new state party chief — last year after the four-time MP participated in a roadshow led by Union minister Rajnath Singh, who was campaigning for her husband during last year’s state election.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who is powering the moves against Ms Moitra, welcomed Preneet Kaur’s decision. “Punjab has always stood for India’s identity and national security, today again Captain Amarinder Singh ji and Congress Party MP Preneet Kaur ji did not make any compromise for national security. India was, is and will always be grateful to the brave men of Punjab,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.

In its report, the Committee said Mahua Moitra shared user ID with “unauthorised persons”, took cash and amenities from businessman Darshan Hiranandani and it was “serious misdemeanour” which calls for “serious punishment”.  

Besides her expulsion from parliament, the panel recommended that a “legal, intensive, institutional and time-bound investigation” be held into the matter.

Mr Dubey said that anti-corruption body Lokpal has ordered a CBI probe into the corruption allegations against Ms Moitra. The MP accused her of asking questions in Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts. He also said Ms Moitra had shared her login wih Mr Hiranandani, which has been accepted by both parties.

Ms Moitra has admitted to sharing her parliamentary login, but claimed there is no regulation governing this. Ahead of her hearing with the Ethics Committee, she had questioned why these rules “are not shared with MPs”.