Latest LIVE: Death toll due to earthquake more than 20,000 in Turkey, Syria

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9:11 PM

Tejasvi Surya's 'accidently' opened emergency exit door in flight: Center tells Lok Sabha

According to a reply by the Civil Aviation Ministry in Lok Sabha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of Parliament (MP) Tejasvi Surya has been identified as the passenger who accidentally opened the emergency door of a flight in Chennai on December 10.

8:18 PM

NDRF team rescues 6-year-old girl from debris in earthquake-hit Turkey

A team of India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) engaged in relief and rescue operations in the quake-hit Turkey has successfully rescued a six-year-old girl from under the rubble in Gaziantep.

 

The NDRF has dispatched three teams to Turkey for rescue operations.
 

7:45 PM

Lithium reserves found in Jammu and Kashmir, says Mines secretary

The government on Thursday said lithium reserves have been found for the first time in the country in Jammu and Kashmir. Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and is one of the key components in EV batteries. "For the first time, lithium reserves have been discovered and that too in Jammu and Kashmir," Mines Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj said, according to PTI.

7:10 PM

Particulate pollution at Delhi hotspot down by 20% due to site-specific measures

Particulate pollution at Anand Vihar, one of the 13 air pollution hotspots in Delhi, declined by around 20 per cent after the city government's Environment department inventorised and mapped point sources and took site-specific measures, officials said. It is a first-of-its-kind project in Delhi. The pilot phase has been successful. It will now be replicated in all the 13 hotspots this year, an Environment department official added, the PTI reported.

5:15 PM

Shallow earthquake of 5.1 magnitude hits Indonesia's Jayapura, kills 4

A shallow earthquake shook Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua on Thursday, killing four people who were unable to escape when a floating restaurant collapsed into the sea. The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit residential areas in Jayapura, near Papua's northern coast and was centered at a depth of 22 kilometres (13 miles). Shallow quakes often cause more damage on the Earth's surface, the PTI reported. 

5:07 PM

Negotiations with IMF on bailout package in final stage: Sri Lanka prez Ranil Wickremesinghe

Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday said that Sri Lanka was in the final stages of negotiations with the IMF on the much-awaited $2.9 billion bailout package that could help the debt-trapped island nation recover from the unprecedented economic crisis. Wickremesinghe also added that his government was having "direct discussions" with Beijing to restructure the country's debts with China. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September last year approved the $2.9 billion bailout package to Sri Lanka, the PTI reported.

4:52 PM

UP CM Adityanath, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveil lord Laxman's idol in Lucknow

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled an idol of lord Laxman, in Lucknow today. Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak also present on the occasion.

 

 

4:09 PM

"There are shortcomings": Turkish President as quake deaths top 17,000

Freezing temperatures deepened the misery Thursday for survivors of a massive earthquake in Turkey and Syria that killed more than 17,000 people, as rescuers raced to save countless people still trapped under rubble. The death count from Monday's 7.8-magnitude quake is expected to rise sharply as rescue efforts pass the 72-hour mark that disaster experts consider the most likely period to save lives. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday conceded "shortcomings" after criticism of his government's response to the earthquake, one of the deadliest this century. Survivors have been left to scramble for food and shelter -- and in some cases watch helplessly as their relatives called for rescue, and eventually went silent under the debris.

3:58 PM

BJP govt has given examples of wildlife protection & sustainability: Scindia

3:50 PM

Merely expressing intent won't work, what matters is speed, direction, result of developments ushered in: PM

3:33 PM

Our country is doing exports worth almost Rs 1 trillion in defence country: PM Modi

Today, more than 350 private companies have come into the defence sector. Our country is doing exports worth almost Rs 1 trillion in this sector. From retail to tourism, every sector has grown: PM Modi in Rajya Sabha

3:32 PM

Take lessons from our neighbouring countries, refrain from taking loans: PM to state governments

"Do not play with the economic health of country. I urge you to think about your children and future generations. The country doesn't work like this. You have to choose discipline and teh Centre will also be able to do its job well," PM Modi to state governments.

3:28 PM

'Why do Gandhi's fear Nehru surname?' asks PM Modi in his speech

3:27 PM

Congress has misused Article 356: PM

"Who was there in power who misused the Article 356. Smt Indira Gandhi misused the Article for 50 times," PM Modi in the House.

3:26 PM

"I know the meaning of fedralism. I have been the head of a state for a long time"

"We have always focussed on national progress and regional aspiration in our asitration. because we have the target of making India a fully developed by 2047," said PM Modi in Rajya Sabha

3:23 PM

We introduced special nutrition schemes for pregnant women and also gave them entry into Sainik schools: PM

"Government is working on women empowerment. Contribution of women should increase in decision making. We introduced special nutrition schemes for pregnant women and also gave them entry into Sainik schools," PM said

3:20 PM

The country carefully hears what is said in this House. Some MPs are bringing disrepute to this House: PM

"Congress created hurdles in development, India lost six decades while smaller countries progressed," said PM Modi.

3:17 PM

'My government gave top priority to the welfare of Tribal people,' says PM Modi

For decades, the development of tribal communities was neglected. We gave top priority to their welfare... People of the country are repeatedly rejecting Congress. People are watching them and punishing them: PM Modi in Rajya Sabha

3:16 PM

Opposition's sloganeering continues in Rajya Sabha as PM delivers speech

More 'keechad' you throw at us, lotus will bloom even more: PM Modi's dig at Opposition's sloganeering in Rajya Sabha

3:15 PM

For some people, 'politics' is priority and not the 'development' of the nation: PM

There was pressure from people in world to sell their vaccine in our market, articles were written, TV interviews were given.There were attempts till yesterday to insult our scientists but my country's scientists made vaccines that were approved & benefitted 150 countries, said PM Modi in Rajya Sabha.

3:13 PM

India is progressing and we have created many opportunities: PM in Rajya Sabha

We have transformed the working culture with the power of technology. Govt's focus is on increasing speed and enhancing scale, says PM Modi

3:04 PM

Contribution of women should increase in decision making, our govt working on their empowerment: PM Modi

Contribution of women should increase in decision making, our government working on their empowerment: PM Modi

3:03 PM

Tribal communities neglected for decades, we gave top priority: PM Modi

For decades, the development of tribal communities was neglected. We gave top priority to their welfare... People of the country are repeatedly rejecting Congress. People are watching them and punishing them: PM Modi in Rajya Sabha

 

3:00 PM

Voice of small and marginal farmers not heard in past, now our govt working for their welfare: PM Modi

Voice of small and marginal farmers not heard in past, now our govt working for their welfare: PM Modi

 

3:00 PM

Opposition parties chant slogans amid PM Modi's address in Rajya Sabha

Opposition continues to chant slogans amid PM Modi's address in Rajya Sabha

2:55 PM

Congress party's economic, social and political policies were based on vote bank politics

Congress party's economic, social and political policies were based on vote bank politics: PM Modi

 

2:54 PM

Had Congress worked with good intentions for tribals, I would not have to work so hard

Had Congress worked with good intentions for tribals, I would not have to work so hard in third decade of 21st century: PM Modi. 

2:50 PM

Education, infra, and health improved in 110 aspiration districts, says PM Modi

We identified 110 aspiration districts in the country. Education, infra, and health have improved in these districts due to continued focus and performance review. This has benefitted more than 3 crore tribals: PM Modi in Rajya Sabha

 

2:49 PM

Pledge to achieve 100% saturation in all schemes will put an end to all kind of appeasement: PM Modi

Pledge to achieve 100 pc saturation in all schemes will put an end to all kind of appeasement: PM Modi

2:48 PM

We have decided to achieve saturation levels in schemes to benefit everyone: PM Modi

We have decided to achieve saturation levels in schemes to benefit everyone during 'Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal', this is true secularism: PM Modi