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8:24 PM

PM Modi lauds CJI Chandrachud for advocating making SC judgments available in regional languages

8:22 PM

PM at DGPs' meet discusses strengthening of border and coastal security by frequently visits of officials

PM Modi suggests making police forces more sensitive and training them in emerging technologies. There is need to further strengthen traditional policing mechanisms like foot patrols. PM recommends repealing obsolete criminal laws, building standards for police organisations across states. PM Modi emphasises on enhanced cooperation between state police and central agencies to leverage capabilities and share best practices.

 

 

 

 

4:58 PM

Centre has heard all players pertaining to allegations levelled against WFI: Anurag Thakur in Kolkata

4:38 PM

Debt per Indian increased from Rs 43,124 to Rs 109,373 in 9 yrs: Congress

The Congress on Sunday alleged that debt per Indian has increased from Rs 43,124 to Rs 109,373 in the last nine years, and has become 2.53 times more than what it was in 2014. Addressing a press conference here, Congress spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh alleged that the total outstanding debt of the Government of India, which was 55.87 lakh crore as on March 31, 2014, would be estimated to go up to Rs 155.31 lakh crore by March 31, 2023.

 

4:00 PM

Gunfight between Maoists, security forces in Jharkhand

Hours before the beginning of a 24-hour Jharkhand bandh called by banned CPI (Maoists) on Sunday, a gun battle took place between members of another red-rebel outfit and security forces in West Singhbhum district, police said.

 

4:00 PM

Pakistan's economic crisis going from bad to worse: Report

Pakistan's economic crisis is going from bad to worse. The forex reserves in the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has recently touched the lowest mark of USD 4.343 billion just enough for two weeks. This is just due to the ineptitude of the political class and over-involvement of the army in decision-making, reported Financial Post.According to the Washington-based financial news organisation, this dip in forex reserves came after a loan of USD 1 billion was repaid by Pakistan to two United Arab Emirates (UAE) banks. The remittances to Pakistan abroad have declined from USD 15.8 billion to USD 14.1 billion. Notably, on January 6, the forex reserves in the SBP touched the lowest mark of USD 4.343 billion, just enough for two weeks.

 

3:39 PM

Pakistan general elections will be postponed if economy doesn't recover: PDM spokesperson

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)'s spokesperson Hafiz Hamdullah on Sunday said that Pakistan's next general elections will be postponed if the country's economy fails to recover, Pakistan-based news channel Geo News reported.

 

3:01 PM

Coronavirus has already infected 80% of our population, says China

Eight in 10 people in China have now been infected with Covid-19, a prominent government scientist has claimed.

 

Wu Zunyou, the chief epidemiologist of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the present "wave of epidemic has already infected about 80 per cent of the people" in the country of 1.4 billion people, CNN reported.

 

His claim came amid concerns the travel rush that takes place around the Lunar New Year holiday period -sometimes dubbed the 'world's largest human migration' - could spread the virus to the countryside and cause a second wave of infections.

 

2:59 PM

Want Delhi govt schools to be world's best, says CM Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said he wants the city's government schools should be the best in the world so that students from abroad come here for education.

 

Addressing teachers who had been to foreign countries for training, Kejriwal told them that he will keep sending them abroad and they have the support of the people of Delhi and the country.

 

"Some people consider it expenditure, but it is investment. I feel that you can construct four bridges less and four roads less, but we should provide best exposure and training to our teachers. They will groom students who will build roads and bridges in the future," he said.

 

2:31 PM

Some people consider BBC above SC: Rijiju on documentary on Gujarat riots

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday responded to the "malicious campaign" inside and outside India in connection with BBC's documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying some people "consider the BBC above the Supreme Court of India".

 

The Union minister alleged that these people "lower" the country's dignity and image to "please their moral masters".

 

Taking to Twitter, Rijiju said that minorities in the country are moving ahead positively.

2:24 PM

BJP might lose all 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP in 2024, says SP chief Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said the BJP might taste defeat in all 80 parliamentary seats in Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 General Elections.

 

"BJP is baar ho sakta hai saari 80 seats haar jaaye (BJP might taste defeat in all 80 seats)," Yadav said.

 

"The party that claimed to rule for decades -- its leader said that it will be there for (the next) 50 years -- is now counting its days. Its national president should visit two medical colleges in the state and he will understand how many seats they are going to win," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.

 

2:05 PM

Prez Droupadi Murmu to confer national award on 11 children Monday

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday will confer the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2023 on 11 children for their exceptional achievements.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with the awardees on Tuesday.

 

Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani will also interact with the children and congratulate them in the presence of Minister of State for Women and Child Development Munjpara Mahendrabhai, according to an official statement.

 

1:18 PM

Wrestling Federation's general council meeting in Ayodhya called off

The Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) emergency general council meeting, scheduled here for Sunday, was called off after the Sports Ministry directed it to suspend all ongoing activities owing to the various allegations against the sports body and its president.

 

The ministry said it has directed the WFI to suspend "all ongoing activities with immediate effect", including the Ranking Tournament in Gonda, UP, the federation president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's stronghold. Sharan has been accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers and working like a dictatory by some of the country's top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya.

 

1:11 PM

NIA team in Jammu to probe 3 blasts that hit Bajalta area on Saturday

A day after three blasts hit Jammu's Bajalta area in which 10 people, including a police constable, were injured, a team of National Investigation Agency reached the site on Sunday. The probe has suggested that it was done by cross-border terrorists. The role of Pakistan-based handlers was being looked into.

Mukesh Singh, Additional DGP (Jammu Zone), said six people were injured in two blasts that occurred in two vehicles in Narwal area of Jammu city. Later, one more blast was repor.

The NIA team is collecting evidence, officials said.

 

12:50 PM

3.8 magnitude earthquake hits Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh; no damage

An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 occurred 23 km north-northwest of Pithoragarh on Sunday, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).

The quake struck at a depth of 10 km around 8:58 am.

No loss of life or damage to property has been reported.
 

 

12:37 PM

Mumbai's air quality index in 'poor' category, Delhi at 'very poor'

The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Mumbai, the financial capital of India remained 'poor' on Sunday, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

 

According to SAFAR, the AQI of Mumbai indicated the 'lower end of poor' and is likely to remain within the limits of 'poor' for the next few days.

 

The AQI of Maharashtra's Capital was measured at 245 on Sunday morning. The Mazegaon area of Mumbai recorded 'very poor' at AQI 313, whereas the AQI of Colaba was recorded at 280 (Poor).

12:23 PM

India records 140 new coronavirus cases, active tally climbs to 1,960

India recorded 140 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases increased to 1,960, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

 

The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,81,921).

 

The death toll stands at 5,30,733, with one fatality reported by Meghalaya and two by Gujarat in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.

 

The daily positivity was recorded at 0.10 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.08 per cent.

 

12:13 PM

Joshimath land subsidence: 863 buildings with cracks identified so far

Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana conducted an on-the-spot inspection of the land identified in the Dhak village of Joshimath in Chamoli district, affected by land subsidence.

 

The DM directed the Rural Works Department to provide a contour map of the land in Dhak soon. After taking suggestions from the affected people, a detailed plan for displacement should be prepared by Central Building Research Institute (CBRI).

 

So far, the district administration has identified 863 buildings that have developed cracks due to subsidence in the Joshimath city area.

 

10:47 AM

Centre to set up floating jetty on northern bank of Brahmaputra: Sonowal

The Centre will set up a modern floating jetty on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra river in Assam's Sonitpur district to facilitate movement of cargo and passengers via waterways, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said.

 

Once the floating jetty is operational, it will facilitate the docking of three ships simultaneously, Sonowal said.

 

"The new jetty will help the local economy flourish, as farmers and traders will be able to transport and export their produce via waterways," Sonowal, the shipping minister, said.

 

10:38 AM

Amit Shah to attend BJP farmers' convention in Patna next month

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Patna to attend a farmers' conclave organised by the Bihar BJP on February 22, the birth anniversary of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, who was an ascetic and a peasant leader.

 

At a joint press conference, state BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Thakur said Shah will attend the farmers' convention next month.

 

Jaiswal denied the speculation that Swami Sahajanand Saraswati's birth anniversary was being celebrated as a strategy to consolidate the upper-caste support base.

 

10:02 AM

UGC proposes plan to let students access libraries, labs in other colleges

Students studying in various universities and colleges affiliated to them will now be able to use the library and laboratory of a college or university other than their own. Now students of different colleges can do research work or can also avail of the sports facilities in colleges other than those they are currently studying in.

The University Grants Commission has made an important plan to share the resources of different universities and colleges keeping in view the interests of the students. UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said universities, colleges or other higher educational institutions can provide such facilities to students with mutual consent.

 

9:51 AM

No night flights at Lucknow airport for four months from February 23

The Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport will not undertake night flight operations for four months from February 23 to July 11, airport officials said.

 

There will be no flight operations between 9:30 pm. and 6 am during this period, when the airport will undertake expansion and upgradation work of its existing runway.

"During the four-month period, the airport will be undertaking various construction activities to upgrade the infrastructure on the airside which includes introduction of three new link taxiways, new ground lights for aircraft operations, runway end safety area made of sand and aircraft turn pad expansion. "We have informed the airlines about non-availability of the runway for 8.5 hours for them to facilitate the passengers accordingly," an airport spokesperson said. 

An airport spokesperson said, 

9:49 AM

IAF to launch mega air exercise in northeastern region in early February

The Indian Air Force will carry out a mega exercise covering the northeastern region early next month to check its combat readiness, amid a fresh spike in tension with China along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh.

The exercise 'Poorvi Aakash' is expected to involve IAF's frontline fighter jets, including the Rafale and Su-30MKI aircraft, and other assets deployed in the region. The Shillong-headquartered Eastern Air Command will carry out the exercise.

 

"Eastern Air Command will be conducting its annual command-level exercise during the first week of February," said an Indian Air Force official.

 

9:46 AM

CJI hints at using AI for translating judgements in all Indian languages

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud indicated the use of Artificial Intelligence in giving translated copies of judgments in all Indian languages as he underlined the importance of technology in removing the information barrier.

In September 2022, the apex court, under the leadership of CJI Chandrachud, started to stream live the hearings of its constitution bench.
 

He underlined the benefit of live-streaming and said teachers of law and students can watch and discuss live issues before the court. "You realise the injustice that pervades our society when you discuss live issues," he added.

9:44 AM

Army chief Gen Pande visits Eastern Command HQ, reviews situation along LAC

Army chief Gen Manoj Pande carried out a comprehensive review of India's military preparedness along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim during a visit to the headquarters of the Eastern Army Command.

Officials said senior commanders of the Kolkata-headquartered command briefed Gen Pande about various operational matters, including deployment of troops.

His visit came nearly six weeks after a clash between Indian and Chinese troops in an area along the LAC in Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh. The Eastern Command takes care of LAC in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim sectors.