News updates: Won't stop Skoda Auto Volkswagen cargo over $1.4 bn tax demand, says Customs

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"Will not stop any consignment of Skoda Auto Volkswagen over $1.4 billion tax demand," says Customs department to Bombay High Court.  At a post-Budget interaction with stakeholders, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the Centre is aiming to facilitate consumption more, which is evident in the tax relief measures in Budget 2025.

  Residents in Delhi experienced strong tremors after a 4.0 magnitude earthquake struck the national capital on Monday morning around 5.36 am. The epicentre was in the Jheel Park area of Dhaula Kuan. On X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to stay calm, and be alert for “possible aftershocks.” There were no immediate reports of any damage or injuries. 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia for direct talks with Russian officials in the coming days to seek an end to Moscow's nearly three-year-old invasion of Ukraine, a US official said on Sunday. The official added that what the administration sees as an early-stage negotiations remain fluid and who ultimately ends up at the table for the anticipated talks could change. The trip follows last week's telephone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in which Trump said they "agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately". The call upended years of US policy, ending the isolation of Moscow over the February 24, 2022, invasion. Trump also spoke separately with Zelenskyy. It wasn't immediately clear if any Ukrainians would take part in the talks.    

At least nine people have died in the most recent round of harsh weather to pummel the US, including eight people in Kentucky who died as creeks swelled from heavy rain and water covered roads. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Sunday that hundreds of people stranded by flooding had to be rescued. Beshear said the storms have knocked out power to about 39,000 homes, but he warned that harsh winds in some areas could increase outages.

 

8:53 PM

BPSC exam row: Tutors 'Khan Sir', 'Guru Rahman' join protesters in Patna

Protests over the demand for the cancellation of the 70th combined competitive examination (CCE) of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) held in December last year, further intensified on Monday with popular educators like Khan Sir and Motiur Rahman Khan known as Guru Rahman, joining the protesters in Patna.

 

Khan Sir and Guru Rahman along with BPSC protesters took out a rally from Mullsllahpur to Gardani Bagh in the state capital.

 

Hundreds of protestors, carrying placards, demanded the cancellation of the exam.

 

The CCE conducted by the BPSC on December 13, 2024, has been in the eye of a storm over allegations of question paper leak.

 

Even as the government had dismissed the allegation, a fresh test was ordered for more than 12,000 candidates who had appeared in the exam at a centre in Patna. Results of the 70th CCE of the BPSC held at 911 centres across the state on December 13, 2024, and 22 centres in Patna on January 4, 2025, were declared on January 23.

 

Talking to reporters, Khan Sir, said, "Protesting BPSC aspirants want re-exam. The CCE conducted by the BPSC should be cancelled immediately. The BPSC used the 'normalisation of marks' process in the exam, which is unacceptable. We have given all evidence before the Patna High Court."

8:12 PM

This government has taken the lives of so many people in the name of Kumbh: Akhilesh Yadav

On Maha Kumbh 2025, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav says: "If there will be a biggest story of mismanagement... I remember the Kumbh in 2013, Harvard University had prepared a report on it, which has been documented, the mismanagement was not to such extent; it was organised in a lesser budget. But this Kumbh was advertised on such large scale, both governments were involved, yet people died in stampede. People spent nights in their cars, roads remained blocked, trains could not reach on time, then too people lost their lives... This government has taken the lives of so many people in the name of Kumbh."

8:11 PM

Qatar Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani arrives in India for state visit, welcomed by PM Modi

7:32 PM

Cong asks govt to wait for SC hearing before taking decision on new CEC

The Congress on Monday asked the government to adjourn the meeting to select the new Chief Election Commissioner until the Supreme Court hears on February 19 a petition on the constitution of the selection panel.

 

The Congress' statement came soon after a meeting of the three-member selection committee, also attended by Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are two other members of the panel. The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office in South Block.

 

Addressing a joint press conference soon after the meeting, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said that by removing the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee, the government has made it clear it wants control and not preserve the credibility of the Election Commission.

 

Singhvi did not disclose anything on what transpired in the meeting apart from saying that Gandhi attended it.

7:31 PM

Rahul Gandhi attends meeting for appointment of next CEC as Rajiv Kumar retires

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday left the South Block after he attended a meeting for the appointment of the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. The current CEC, Rajiv Kumar, is set to retire on February 18.

 

The selection committee for appointing Kumar's successor, consisting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, met today.

 

Following Rajiv Kumar's departure, Gyanesh Kumar will become the senior-most Election Commissioner (EC), as his tenure extends till January 26, 2029.

 

To streamline the selection process, the Central government has recently established a search committee under the leadership of Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. This committee is responsible for shortlisting potential candidates for the post of the next Chief Election Commissioner, ensuring that the most qualified and capable individual is appointed to the critical role.

5:53 PM

Pope to remain hospitalised as doctors treat a complex respiratory tract infection

The Vatican said Monday that Pope Francis' respiratory tract infection is presenting a complex clinical picture that will require further hospitalisation.

 

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the results of tests conducted in recent days indicate the 88-year-old pope is suffering from a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection that has necessitated a further change in his drug therapy.

 

There was no timeframe given for his hospitalisation, but Bruni said the complexity of his symptoms will require an appropriate hospital stay.

5:48 PM

Will not stop any consignment of Skoda Auto Volkswagen over $1.4 bn tax demand: Customs dept to Bombay HC

"Will not stop any consignment of Skoda Auto Volkswagen over $1.4 billion tax demand," says Customs department to Bombay High Court.

4:47 PM

Germans holidaying in Kerala cast postal votes for federal polls

Taking time off holidaying in Kerala, four German citizens cast their postal votes for their country's federal elections, at the German Honorary Consulate in the city on Monday. German nationals Rainer Helbing, Uta Helbing, Evelyn Kirn and Veronika Zhuravleva cast their votes at the German Honorary Consulate in the city for the February 23 elections, a statement issued by the Goethe Institut said.

4:44 PM

Why contempt proceedings shouldn't be initiated against you: SC asks UP authorities over mosque demolition

The Supreme Court on Monday directed Uttar Pradesh authorities to respond as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for razing a portion of a mosque at Kushinagar in alleged disobedience of the apex court's direction. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih also directed that until further orders, there shall be no demolition of the structure in question.

4:36 PM

Ask Munde whether he will resign as minister: Ajit Pawar to journalists

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar parried questions on the resignation of embattled minister and NCP colleague Dhananjay Munde and asked reporters to field such queries directly to the latter. Munde is under fire from the opposition and ruling alliance leaders after the former's close aide Walmik Karad was arrested in an extortion case linked to the brutal murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh on December 9.

4:26 PM

Delhi could again see three BJP CMs in next five years, says Gopal Rai

Taking a dig at the BJP over its delay in selecting a chief minister for the national capital, senior AAP leader and former Delhi minister Gopal Rai on Monday predicted that Delhi could again see three different CMs in the next five years like before. Rai said the BJP despite its decisive victory is struggling to choose a leader, reflecting deep internal divisions within the party. "Even after 10 days, they are not able to choose a CM, which shows they do not have a face. The reality is that history could repeat itself and we may see three chief ministers in the next five years just as it happened during the last BJP government in Delhi," he said.

4:10 PM

ED conducts multi-state raids in cough syrup drugs case; nabs 2 NCB accused

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday said it has seized cash and jewellery worth Rs 2 crore and apprehended two accused wanted in a drugs case by the NCB during recent searches conducted in some northern states and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

3:58 PM

Committed to implementing NEP across country, TN opposition political: Pradhan

The Centre is committed to implementing the New Education Policy across the country, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Monday, and dismissed the Tamil Nadu government's opposition to the NEP as "politics". He said the NEP does not impose Hindi or any other language on students in the DMK-ruled state "but what is wrong if a student in Tamil Nadu learns multilingual aspect in education?" "It can be Tamil, English and other Indian languages," he said.

3:45 PM

Govt can conduct probe, but we know where we stand: Gogoi amid controversity over wife's ISI links

Senior Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Monday said the Assam government can conduct any inquiry on the issue of his wife's alleged ISI links, but he and his party know where they stand.Gogoi said he had held discussions with the AICC on taking legal action against the BJP in this regard and steps would be taken soon. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP have also been attacking Gogoi, the deputy leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, over his British wife Elizabeth Colburn's alleged ISI links.

3:29 PM

News update: Kremlin says Russian officials will hold talks with US in Saudi Arabia Tuesday over Ukraine