News updates: Dense fog in Delhi, city sees season's longest zero visibility spell

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9:11 PM

Dense fog in Delhi, city sees season's longest zero visibility spell

Dense fog enveloped the national capital on Saturday, reducing visibility to zero for an unprecedented nine-hour stretch, the longest spell of the season, according to the weather department. The dense fog led to the delay of 81 trains while 15 flights got diverted on Saturday, according to officials. "Zero visibility prevailed for nine hours at Palam between 6 pm and 3 am (UTC), marking the longest spell of the season. The city's primary weather station, Safdarjung, recorded eight hours of zero visibility, as per the IMD." With the the maximum temperature in the city settled at 20 degrees Celsius, 0.7 notch above average and the minimum temperature was recorded at 7.8 degrees Celsius, 0.9 notch above the normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

7:31 PM

Stampede-like situation occurred at event of Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Krishna Shastri in Mankoli Naka

6:08 PM

Devajit Saikia set to take over as BCCI secretary, Prabhtej Bhatia likely to become treasurer

5:36 PM

All nine surviving accused in 2006 Nanded bomb blast case acquitted by sessions court

4:26 PM

Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata meets Maharashtra CM Fadnavis

Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata on Saturday met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss collaboration between the Tata Trusts and the government to accelerate the state's economic growth.

 

Fadnavis tweeted about the meeting which took place at the chief minister's official residence in south Mumbai. "We discussed various projects where Tata Trusts and the GoM can collaborate to accelerate our state's growth," he wrote on X.

 

The chief minister thanked Tata for expressing confidence about fostering a strong and enduring partnership between Tata Trusts and the state government.

 

Noel Tata took over as chairman of Tata Trusts last year, succeeding Ratan Tata who died on October 9, 2024.

 

Tata Trusts holds 66 percent stake in Tata Sons, the holding company of the salt-to-software Tata Group.

3:52 PM

Kerala Health Minister says no need to worry over reports of massive flu outbreak in China

3:35 PM

Manipur Guv reviews security situation in state

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Saturday chaired a meeting with senior police, CRPF, BSF, Assam Rifles officials and reviewed the comprehensive security situation in the state, an official release said.

 

"The Governor of Manipur chaired a security meeting at Raj Bhavan in Imphal today," it said.

 

"Taking stock of the prevailing law and order situation, the Governor reviewed the security apparatus and its arrangements throughout the state, with a particular focus on border areas," the release issued by Raj Bhavan said.

 

The Governor directed the state DGP to prioritize the safety and security of the people and urged officers from the Army and paramilitary forces to extend their fullest cooperation to the administration in maintaining law and order in the state.

 

Security Advisor to Manipur government, Kuldiep Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh, IGAR (South) Maj Gen Ravroop Singh and senior officers of CRPF and BSF attended the security meeting, it said.

 

Bhalla, a former Union Home secretary, took oath as the 19th governor of Manipur on Friday.

3:32 PM

Data protection rules balance regulation & innovation while safeguarding citizens' rights: Vaishnaw

The draft protection rules released by the government create a balance between regulation and innovation while completely protecting citizen rights, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday. The government issued draft rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act on Friday for public consultation till February 18.

2:59 PM

Govt permits export of 200K tonne wheat to Nepal

The government has permitted exports of two lakh tonne of wheat to Nepal, according to a notification issued today. The export is permitted through National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in the notification. NCEL is a company set up with cooperative societies as its promoters.

2:56 PM

2 soldiers killed, 3 critically hurt in J&K's Bandipora as Army truck skids off road

Two soldiers lost their lives, and three others were critically injured in an accident in Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir. The accident took place when the truck, carrying military personnel, skidded off the road.

 

2:50 PM

Army vehicle falls into gorge in J-K's Bandipora, four soldiers injured

At least four Army personnel were injured when their vehicle met with an accident in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district, officials said on Saturday. An Army vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge near SK Payen in the north Kashmir district, they said. The officials added that at least four soldiers were injured in the accident and they had been rushed to a hospital.

2:43 PM

Flight operations resume at Srinagar airport after fog-led disruption

Flight operations at the Srinagar airport resumed after dense fog that had engulfed parts of Kashmir hit air traffic to and from the valley for several hours on Saturday, officials said. Operations resumed after the morning's first flight landed at 11:13 am, they said. Air traffic was restored after the visibility improved. Flight operations were going on normally after some delays, the officials said.

2:34 PM

BJP holds agitation demanding Minister Priyank Kharge's resignation over contractor's suicide

The BJP on Saturday staged a protest here demanding the resignation of Minister Priyank Kharge in connection with the suicide of a Bidar-based civil contractor. BJP State President B Y Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, Legislative Council Leader of Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy led the protest. The saffron party leaders gathered at Jagat Circle in large numbers holding placards, raising slogans against the Minister amid tight security presence.

2:29 PM

Seven soldiers injured as Army truck rolls down hill in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipore

2:26 PM

Beed sarpanch murder: Dhananjay Munde should stay out of cabinet, demands NCP MLA

NCP MLA Prakash Solanke on Saturday suggested that the party leader and minister Dhananjay Munde be ousted from the Maharashtra ministry to ensure a fair probe in the Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case. Solanke is the first Nationalist Congress Party leader and second from the Mahayuti coalition to target Munde, an MLA from Beed district. BJP MLA Suresh Dhas has been criticising Munde, without taking his name, for crime in Beed.

2:13 PM

BJP attacks Delhi's AAP govt over financial mismanagement, rising debt

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi dubbed AAP an "aapda (disaster)" for Delhi, the BJP said it would highlight daily the crisis the city government had inflicted on different sectors, and began with its alleged financial mismanagement. BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said Delhi used to be considered one of the better states and Union Territories in terms of its financial health but its budget was now likely to report overall losses under the AAP government.

2:01 PM

Five arrested in Malda TMC councillor murder: Police

Police said they have so far arrested five persons in connection with the murder of Malda English Bazar Trinamool Congress councillor Dulal Sarkar. Sarkar, described by West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee as a close associate of hers and a popular leader, was shot dead by miscreants in Malda district on Thursday morning. Two men were arrested on Friday after apprehending three others on the day of the murder, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five, a senior police officer said.

1:51 PM

Two killed, three injured as speeding SUV crashes into hut in MP's Betul

Two persons were killed and three others injured when a speeding SUV ploughed into a roadside hut in Madhya Pradesh's Betul district, police said. The accident occurred in Gondu Madai village, around 35 km from the district headquarters, on Friday night, an official said. Chicholi police station in-charge Hariom Patel said the SUV driver lost control of the wheel and crashed into a hut. He said the driver, Makhan Singh (26), and Dayaram Parte (45), an occupant of the hut, died on the spot.

1:03 PM

Breaking: BJP releases its first list of the candidates for Delhi Assembly Election 2025

Parvesh Verma to contest from New Delhi assembly seat against AAP's Arvind Kejriwal; Dushyant Gautam from Karol Bagh, Manjinder Singh Sirsa from Rajouri Garden, Kailash Gehlot from Bijwasan, Arvinder Singh Lovely from Gandhi Nagar.

1:01 PM

Man, wife killed as house collapses in explosion while making firecrackers

A man and his wife were killed in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district as their house collapsed after an explosion when they were making firecrackers, police said. The incident happened in Badabag village in Sadar police station area late on Friday, they said. The impact of the explosion was such that the roof and walls of the house collapsed, they added. The deceased couple was identified as Rajesh Das and his wife Rani. Rajesh's younger brother Paresh and his wife Lakshmipriya were injured in the incident, police said.

12:45 PM

Tight security arrangements made for BPSC re-examination; jawans deployed at centers

The re-examination of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) was held on Saturday at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar after the examination was cancelled earlier. Ahead of the examination, strict security arrangements were made to ensure a smooth conduct of the examination. Gaurav Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said that jawans were deployed in four centers across the city.

12:37 PM

Anna University sexual assault: Need to reach a point where there's no violence against women, says Kanimozhi

Anna University sexual assault case: DMK leader Kanimozhi says, "Any kind of violence against women cannot be accepted. We need to reach a point there is no violence against women, we have to ensure justice to victims. The case has been filed, the culprit has been arrested. So the next step is what happens in court. So must ensure that government makes sure that the case is investigated is positive for the affected girl." 

12:30 PM

Delhi police detain women for protesting outside residence of Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi police detained women who were protesting outside the residence of Aam Admi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's residence in Delhi. "We have come from Amritsar to put forward our matters. Do not cheat the women of Delhi as you did with the women of Punjab, " a woman told reporters while being detained. "Do not make a promise of Rs 2100 to the women of Delhi" A group of women from Punjab staged a protest on Saturday. The protestors accused the AAP-led Punjab government of backtracking on the promise of providing Rs 1000 to every woman.

12:29 PM

Seven names shortlisted for the post of Goa BJP president: Tanavade

The Goa BJP unit has recommended seven names for the post of its new president, who is likely to be declared later this month in Delhi, a senior leader said. Goa BJP chief Sadanand Shet Tanavade told PTI that the seven names include three former state ministers and an ex-MP. The vacancy for the Goa BJP president is created as the term of the incumbent state unit chief is expiring.

12:21 PM

Grameen Bharat Mahotsav LIVE: Since 2014, I have continuously worked to serve rural India, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that after assuming office in 20214, he has been continuously working towards serving rural India at every moment. Addressing as gathering at New Delhi's Bharat Mandapam after inaugurating the Bharat Grameen Mahotsav 2025, PM Modi said, "At the beginning of the year 2025, this grand event of Grameen Bharat Mahotsav is introducing India's development journey. It is creating an identity. I congratulate Nabard and other colleagues for organizing this event."

12:08 PM

Grameen Bharat Mahotsav LIVE: PM Modi calls out caste politics

Some people are trying to disturb social harmony in name of caste politics, says PM Modi as he calls to defeat such designs

12:06 PM

Punjab women stage protest in Delhi against AAP convenor Kejriwal

Punjab women stage protest in Delhi against AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal alleging that he never gave the promised Rs 1000 to the women there. "They will not give even a single penny to the sisters of Delhi as well," a protesting woman said.

12:00 PM

Grameen Bharat Mahotsav LIVE: PM Modi applauds PM-KISAN, counts assistance to farmers

PM-KISAN provided Rs 3 trn financial assistance to farmers; in past 10 years agricultural loans rose 3.5 times, says PM Modi

11:57 AM

HMSI sales up 32% at 5.801 million units in 2024

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India on Saturday reported a 32 per cent growth in total wholesales at 58,01,498 units in 2024 over the previous year. This included domestic sales of 52,92,976 units and 5,08,522 units exports, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) said in a statement. Last month, total sales stood at 3,08,083 units, which included domestic sales of 2,70,919 units and 37,164 units exports, it added. 

11:52 AM

Grameen Bharat Mahotsav LIVE: PM recalls Covid times, says world doubted us

"During the COVID pandemic, the world doubted how Indian villages would tackle the crisis, but we ensured vaccines reached the last person in every village. Strengthening the rural economy requires inclusive economic policies, and I am proud that over the last 10 years, our government has implemented special policies and decisions for every section in villages," says PM Modi at Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025.