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11:46 PM

SC directs RBI to frame new bank locker rules in 6 months

11:21 PM

No permission for Rakesh Tikait's rally tomorrow in Yavatmal

Yavatmal district administration in Maharashtra on Friday again denied permission for farmer leader Rakesh Tikait's 'Maha Panchayat' rally which was to take place on Saturday. The administration had rejected an earlier application for permission too, and the latest application was also rejected in view of the worsening coronavirus situation in the district, a senior official told PTI. On Thursday, officials had ordered curbs on gatherings and also closure of schools (which had reopened for select classes) for ten days in view of the rising cases of coronavirus. The rally by Tikait, one of the leaders of farmers' agitation on Delhi borders against the Centre's new farm laws, was to take place at Azad Maidan ground in Yavatmal city in eastern Maharashtra.

10:21 PM

Over 13.8 mn traffic violations reported last year compared to 10.5 mn in 2019: Police

Despite the Covid-19-induced lockdown, over 1.38 crore traffic violations were reported last year in comparison to 1.05 crore in 2019, the police said on Friday. It also said they collected 30 per cent higher amount from challans last year in comparison to 2019. The police said the amount was higher due to hike in fines for traffic violations under the newly introduced Motor Vehicle Act, according to PTI. The data shared by police showed that total 1,38,02,973 traffic violations were reported last year as compared to 1,05,80,249 in 2019.

The police collected Rs 124.16 crore last year as compared to Rs 94.07 crore in 2019. "We work on two aspects. The first is congestion where we ensure that the traffic moves without any obstruction. The second one is accidents where we ensure that people obey the traffic rules to reduce accidents on roads," Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Taj Hassan said. The areas of focus for enforcement are three people riding on two-wheelers, unauthorised parking, dangerous driving, riding without helmet among others, police said. The fatal accidents have reduced by 19 per cent in 2020 compared to 2019, from 1,433 to 1,163, they said, as PTI report.

9:58 PM

Opposition spreading false propaganda about farm laws: FM Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday accused the opposition parties of spreading false propaganda about the contentious farm laws and said they were protesting only to benefit middlemen. Addressing the traders' cell of Tamil Nadu BJP here, she also said those who were causing hindrance to the progress of the growth of Tamil Nadu were now criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government at the Centre. "How can one answer to a false propaganda that through the farmer's law a farmer could lose his land?", she asked, referring to the protests demanding repeal of the laws. Read more

9:31 PM

ECI to deploy 125 companies of central forces in West Bengal for assembly polls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to deploy 125 companies of central forces in West Bengal by February 25 for the ensuing assembly elections, a senior official said on Friday, according to PTI. The central armed police forces for the state will include 60 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 30 companies of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and five companies each of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), he said, as reported by PTI.

"The district-wise list of CAPF coys has been forwarded by the chief electoral officer of West Bengal. "The senior superintendents of police and chief superintendents of police have been advised to take necessary steps for their accommodation, transportation and other logistics," the official said. As part of the deployment plan, 12 companies of the central forces are scheduled to arrive in the metropolis on Saturday, he said, PTI reported.

9:22 PM

Dhunseri, Berger may invest Rs 500 cr in Bengal's Panagarh industrial park

Berger Paints and Kolkata-based Dhunseri Group are looking at investing around Rs 500 crore at Panagarh industrial park near the industrial township of Durgapur and already sought land for their respective projects. The paints major is contemplating to invest around Rs 100 crore to manufacture construction chemicals and putty, sources said. Dhunseri Ventures plans to set up a packaging material unit primarily for food processing, cosmetics, personal care and pharmaceuticals industries at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore, they said. Read more

8:47 PM

Tech used heavily to probe northeast Delhi riots cases: Delhi Police chief

Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava on Friday said technology was used extensively to investigate over 750 cases related to the northeast Delhi riots that led to the arrest of over 200 people. Addressing the annual press conference at Delhi Police headquarters, Shrivastava said 755 FIRs were registered in connection with the riots and his force ensured a "free and fair" investigation. Communal violence had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after clashes between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. Read more

8:45 PM

Average selling price of used cars falls first time in five years: Report

The average selling price (ASP) of used cars and scooters dropped in 2020 from a year ago even as prices for motorbikes and luxury cars rose during the period, according to Droom’s Automobile Trend Report for pre-owned vehicles. Based on a sample of over 1.1 billion visitors, 20,000 auto dealers in 1,086 cities and three million listings, the report shows that ASP of used cars in the mass segment fell to Rs 8,38,827 from Rs 9,16,831 in 2019. Read more

8:21 PM

Toolkit case: Some media coverage of FIR against Disha sensational, prejudicial, says HC

The Delhi High Court Friday said certain media coverage of investigation into the FIR against climate activist Disha Ravi for her alleged involvement in sharing a toolkit backing farmers' protest indicates "sensationalism and prejudicial reporting", but declined to order removal of any such content at this stage. "Recent coverage by the media definitely shows that there is sensationalism," Justice Prathiba M Singh said and added that the issue of removal of content which was already in public domain shall be considered at a later stage, according to PTI.

Later in the day, a trial court sent Ravi to judicial custodyfor three days after her five-day police custody expired on Friday. The high court heard Ravi's plea to restrain police from leaking to the media any probe material in relation to the FIR lodged against her. The petition also sought to restrain the media from publishing the content or extract of any private chats, including those on WhatsApp, between her and third parties, PTI reported.

8:09 PM

Forex reserves down by $249 million to $583.697 billion

The country's foreign exchange reserves fell by USD 249 million to USD 583.697 billion in the week ended February 12, RBI data showed on Friday. In the previous week, the reserves had declined by USD 6.24 billion to stand at USD 583.945 billion. It had touched a record high of USD 590.185 billion in the week ended January 29, 2021. In the reporting week, the decrease in reserves was mainly due to a fall in the foreign currency assets (FCAs), a major component of the overall reserves. Read more
 

7:45 PM

BJP yuva leader Pamela Goswami arrested allegedly with 100 gm of cocaine in Kolkata

BJP's youth wing leader Pamela Goswami arrested allegedly with 100 gm of cocaine from south Kolkata's New Alipore area, PTI reports quoting Police.

7:31 PM

400 personnel suspended, 1,325 punished for misconduct in 2020: Delhi Police

Delhi Police says over 400 of its personnel were placed under suspension and another 1,325 punished for misconduct in 2020, according to PTI.

7:26 PM

Consumer confidence among urban Indians improves in February

Consumer confidence among urban Indians has moved up slightly, by 0.9 percentage point, in February so far, according to a monthly Refinitiv-Ipsos Primary Consumer Sentiment Index (PCSI) survey. The PCSI, which is driven by the aggregation of the four weighted sub-indices is a mixed bag this month, the survey said.

 

The PCSI Employment Confidence (Jobs) sub-index moved up 1.5 percentage points, the PCSI Current Personal Financial Conditions (Current Conditions) sub-index increased by 2.8 percentage points, and the PCSI Investment Climate (Investment) sub-index is up by 2.1 percentage points. Read more

7:01 PM

Ikea arm to set up first shopping mall in India for Rs 5,500 cr

Ingka Centres, part of the Ingka group, which also owns most Ikea stores worldwide, on Friday said that it was setting up its first shopping centre in India for an investment of Rs 5,500 crore. This will mark a significant step-up for the group's big-box retail plans in the country.

 

The group already has two flagship Ikea stores in India, one in Hyderabad, the other in Navi Mumbai, measuring over 400,000 sq ft each.

 

The proposed mall, to be launched in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, will add to Ingka Centres' growing list of properties across the world. The company has 45 shopping centres across Europe, Russia and China. It plans to enter the United States this year and is looking to foray deeper into existing markets of operation. Read more

6:29 PM

United States officially rejoins the Paris Agreement: US Embassy in India

6:13 PM

Petrol crosses Rs 90 mark in Delhi, diesel at Rs 80.60

Petrol price on Friday crossed the Rs 90-per-litre mark in the national capital, and diesel soared to Rs 80.60 after rates were increased for the 11th consecutive day in a row. Petrol price on Friday was hiked by 31 paise per litre and diesel by 33 paise, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers. This pushed the petrol price to Rs 90.19 a litre in Delhi and to Rs 96.62 in Mumbai. Diesel now comes for Rs 80.60 a litre in the national capital and for Rs 87.62 in Mumbai, according to PTI.

5:59 PM

Pragya Singh Thakur admitted to AIIMS, Delhi

Pragya Singh Thakur, BJP MP from Bhopal, has been admitted to AIIMS, Delhi on doctors' advice, according to her office. (ANI reported)

BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur | PTI photo

5:56 PM

Agri ministry permitted to use drones for remote sensing data collection

The agriculture ministry has been permitted to use drones for remote sensing data collection under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). "The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Directorate General of Civil Aviation have granted conditional exemption for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) usage to Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW)," an official statement said on Friday, as per PTI report.

This will allow MoAFW to use drones for remote sensing data collection in agricultural areas of 100 districts of the country for gram panchayat level yield estimation, under PMFBY. The conditional exemption will be valid for one year from the date of issue of the permission letter or until the operationalisation of the Digital Sky Platform, whichever is earlier, the statement by the civil aviation ministry said. This exemption shall be valid only if all conditions and limitations are strictly adhered to, it said, according to PTI.

While conditional exemption has been given to MoAFW, it still needs to obtain necessary clearances from the local administration, the defence ministry, home ministry, Indian Air Force and Airports Authority of India, the statement added.

5:34 PM

Seek Kerala's support to realise vision of togetherness, development: Modi

5:20 PM

7-member panel formed to make action plan on dust pollution in Delhi: Gopal Rai

Seven-member committee including Delhi Pollution Control Committee, IIT Delhi, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to make action plan on dust pollution in Delhi. Round table conference on March 4 to discuss over anti-pollution campaign till September. Connaught Place's smog tower completion expected in June. Public Works Department and MCD have been directed to fasten the sprinkling work. Delhi government is also looking into strengthening 'Green War Room' monitoring, Gopal Rai, Delhi Environment Minister said as reported by ANI.

5:18 PM

Govt working towards connecting farmers to solar sector: PM Modi

India is devoting great importance to solar energy. Our gains in solar energy ensure a stronger fight against climate change & a boost to our entrepreneurs. Work is also underway to connect our hard-working farmers with solar sector & make our 'annadata' 'urzadata' also, said PM Modi (ANI reported)

5:11 PM

PM Modi virtually inaugurates several development projects in Kerala

5:04 PM

4.0 magnitude earthquake hits Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand

Magnitude 4 earthquake hit Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand at 4:38 pm today, according to ANI.

4:56 PM

Jharkhand HC rejects Lalu Prasad Yadav's bail plea in the Dumka treasury case

Jharkhand High Court rejects RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav's bail plea in the Dumka treasury case, asks him to file a fresh petition after two months, according to ANI. 

4:43 PM

Latest News: Punjab assembly session from March 1

The budget session of the Punjab assembly will be convened from March 1.

 

The decision to hold the budget session of the state assembly from March 1 to 10 was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday.

 

The state budget for fiscal 2021-22 is proposed to be tabled on March 8, said an official spokesperson.

4:27 PM

LIVE: Delhi court sends Disha Ravi to three-day judicial custody

Delhi Court sends Disha Ravi to three-day judicial custody in connection with the Toolkit case, Bar and Bench reported. 

4:17 PM

DRDO conducts successful trials of anti-tank guided missile systems

The joint user trials for anti-tank guided missile systems, developed indigenously by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), have been carried out successfully in desert ranges on Friday.

 

The trials of Helina (Army Version) and Dhruvastra (Air Force Version) missile systems have been carried out from Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) platform. Read here

4:09 PM

Latest LIVE: Conveyed to Indian govt our commitment to protect privacy, says WhatsApp

Hours after announcing the decision to go ahead with its controversial privacy policy update, WhatsApp on Friday said it has conveyed to the Indian government that it remains committed to protection of privacy of personal conversations across the country.

 

Last month, the messaging app had faced a volley of questions from the Indian government after it informed users that it was updating its privacy policy under which it could share limited user data with Facebook and its group firms.

 

The backlash and users opting for rival apps Telegram and Signal, prompted WhatsApp to delay the rollout to May but on Friday, the company said the policy will be rolled out but the platform will allow users to read it at "their own pace".

 

Whatsapp will also provide a banner offering additional information on the update.

3:43 PM

Latest LIVE: MP Congress calls for half-day 'bandh' in state tomorrow against rising fuel prices

Madhya Pradesh Congress gives call for half-day 'bandh' in state tomorrow against rising fuel prices

3:21 PM

Latest News LIVE: 62 bodies, 28 parts recovered from project sites in Uttarakhand

62 dead bodies and 28 body parts recovered. Rescue and search operation underway at five places in Chamoli, Uttarakhand: DGP Ashok Kumar