New updates: PM Modi speaks to US president Donald Trump over phone

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to US President Donald Trump in a phone call on Monday, as per media reports. This is the first conversation both leaders had after Trump's inauguration ceremony that happened just a few days ago.

  "Future of world can't be imagined without India's youngsters. That is why I call you force for global good," said PM Narendra Modi at NCC rally. "In 2014, number of NCC cadets was around 1,400,000. Today, it is around 20 lakh. More than 800,000 are girl cadets," he said.  India and China should commit themselves to mutual understanding rather than mutual suspicion says Chinese FM Wang as he meets FS Misri. In his meeting with Misri, Wang said that since the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Russia last year, the two sides have earnestly implemented the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, carried out active interactions at all levels and accelerated the process of improving China-India relations, said a press release issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. "The two sides should seize the opportunity, meet each other halfway, explore more substantive measures, and commit to mutual understanding, mutual support, and mutual achievement, rather than mutual suspicion, mutual alienation, and mutual consumption," Wang said.

  Months after the border disengagement, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Sunday arrived in Beijing and met a top Chinese Communist Party (CPC) leader. Chinese state-backed outlet Global Times reported that  “the two sides exchanged views on jointly implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthening exchanges and dialogues, and promoting the improvement and healthy and stable development of China-India relations, as well as international and regional issues of common concern.”

  With just a few days left for the Delhi Assembly elections,  Aam Admi Party chief accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of giving public money as loans to "billionaire friends" and claimed that BJP would stop all the facilities being provided to people in Delhi if it comes to power. Kejriwal claimed, "On one hand, there is the BJP model where your money is given as a loan to billionaire friends and it is waived off after 2-3 years. The other is the Aam Aadmi Party model which includes 24-hour electricity, and free electricity to the poor. 24-hour free water, best and good treatment... this is the Aam Aadmi Party's welfare model." 

Israel kept thousands of Palestinians from returning to their homes in northern Gaza on Sunday as it accused Hamas of violating a fragile ceasefire by changing the order of hostages it has released. Local health officials said Israeli forces fired on the crowd, killing two people and wounding nine. Israeli forces also opened fire in Lebanon on protesters demanding their withdrawal by Sunday's deadline under a separate ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group.

9:44 PM

Haryana government to sue AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal

Haryana government to sue AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for his claim that the state is mixing "poison" into Yamuna water, and the BJP to approach Election Commission against former Delhi CM: BJP sources told PTI

9:44 PM

EU ministers agree to revive Rafah border mission

The European Union will restart a civilian mission to monitor the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt at Rafah, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday.

 

“Everyone agrees that EUBAM Rafah can play a decisive role in supporting the ceasefire,” Kallas said.

 

“Today, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to redeploy it to the Rafah Crossing Point between Gaza and Egypt. This will allow a number of injured individuals to leave Gaza and receive medical care,” she added.

8:39 PM

India, China decide to resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

8:17 PM

Israel says Hamas list shows 8 of 33 hostages to be freed in first phase of Gaza ceasefire are dead

7:55 PM

PM Modi speaks to US president Donald Trump over phone

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to US President Donald Trump in a phone call on Monday, as per media reports. This is the first conversation both leaders had after Trump's inauguration ceremony that happened just a few days ago.

7:55 PM

PM Modi holds telephonic conversation with Trump

7:03 PM

Tata Steel reports Q3 consolidated net profit of Rs 327 crore

5:49 PM

RBI announces slew of measures to inject liquidity to banking system

The Reserve Bank of India, on Monday, announced a slew of measures to inject liquidity into the banking system. The central bank will conduct Open Market Operation purchase auctions of government securities worth Rs 60,000 crore ($6.96 billion) in three tranches and hold a 56-day variable rate repo auction for Rs 50,000 crore on Feb. 7, it said in a statement. The RBI will also conduct a USD/INR buy/sell swap auction of $5 billion for a tenor of six months.

5:44 PM

Republic-Day parade this time was significant as our republic has completed 75 years: PM Modi at NCC rally

"Future of world can't be imagined without India's youngsters. That is why I call you force for global good," said PM Narendra Modi at NCC rally.

5:16 PM

Khalistani sentiments, radicalism on rise under AAP ruled Punjab: Congress

Congress on Monday alleged that under AAP-ruled Punjab, Khalistani sentiments and radicalism are on the rise, calling the AAP model of governance something that will destroy the country.

 

Addressing a press conference, All India Congress Committee Treasurer and MP Ajay Maken, along with Former Deputy Chief Minister and Former Home Minister of Punjab, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, claimed that 11 grenade attacks had taken place across Punjab, with no action being taken by the government, and the incidents receiving little to no media attention.

 

The Congress leaders alleged that these grenades were Australian made, the same kind used in the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

 

Randhawa said that he had written to the Home Minister, calling for urgent attention to the matter.

 

"Kejriwal goes on with promises to implement the Delhi model in Punjab and the Punjab model here in Delhi. His model is nothing but a model to destroy the country," Randhawa said accusing the AAP government of not addressing on the alleged grenade attacks.

 

"Our chief minister (referring to Bhagwant Mann) is a coward. He cannot speak against Khalistanis and act against them. Kejriwal must answer to these issues," he added.

5:06 PM

India and China should commit themselves to mutual understanding rather than mutual suspicion: Chinese FM

India and China should commit themselves to mutual understanding rather than mutual suspicion says Chinese FM Wang as he meets FS Misri.

In his meeting with Misri, Wang said that since the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Russia last year, the two sides have earnestly implemented the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, carried out active interactions at all levels and accelerated the process of improving China-India relations, said a press release issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry here.

 

"The two sides should seize the opportunity, meet each other halfway, explore more substantive measures, and commit to mutual understanding, mutual support, and mutual achievement, rather than mutual suspicion, mutual alienation, and mutual consumption," Wang said.

 

5:04 PM

RBI supersedes board of Aviom India Housing Finance on governance concerns

The Reserve Bank of India said on Monday it has superseded the board of Aviom India Housing Finance due to governance concerns and defaults in meeting payment obligations. The central bank will initiate bankruptcy proceedings against the housing finance company, the RBI said.

4:54 PM

EC seeks factual report from Haryana on high ammonia levels in water supplied to Delhi

The EC on Monday sought a factual report from Haryana on allegations made by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi about ammonia levels in water supply from the neighbouring state. The chief ministers of Delhi and Punjab moved the Election Commission (EC) on Monday, alleging higher ammonia levels in the water supplied from Haryana to the national capital to adversely impact supply during the ongoing assembly poll process.

4:45 PM

Pak's former prime minister Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi challenge conviction in Al-Qadir Trust case

Pakistan jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, on Monday challenged in a high court their conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust case. An accountability court in Islamabad convicted the former first couple in the high-profile 190 million British Pounds case in a much-anticipated ruling earlier this month.

4:27 PM

Rs 4 cr stolen in Kotekar bank heist recovered, four held Mangaluru

The stolen cash and gold ornaments worth Rs four crore have been recovered, and four people have been arrested in connection with the Kotekar Co-operative Bank robbery, police said on Monday. Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal lauded the efforts of the police team in solving the case. According to officials, on January 17, four masked and armed individuals looted the bank, making off with cash and gold jewelry.