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3:02 PM

Officials conspired to stop AAP govt's 'Farishtey Dilli Ke' scheme: Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj Friday alleged that a few officials had conspired to stop the AAP government's scheme of providing free treatment to accident victims with payments not being made to private hospitals for nearly a year.

He said that he has written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to take action against the officials concerned.

The 'Farishtey Dilli Ke' scheme encourages people to rescue those who have met with road accidents. Under it, the government foots the hospital bills of those who have met with accidents in Delhi.

2:11 PM

Draft report on three bills to replace criminal laws not adopted, committee likely to meet on Nov 6

A parliamentary committee scrutinising three bills to replace existing criminal laws did not adopt its draft report as scheduled on Friday, taking into account the submission of some opposition members that they needed more time to study it.

The Standing Committee is now expected to meet on November 6.

Sources said some opposition members, including P Chidambaram of the Congress, had written to the committee's chairperson Brij Lal, seeking more time to study the draft report and file their views as it entailed three separate bills.

2:07 PM

Retail onion price up 57%; Centre steps up buffer onion sale to provide relief to consumers

As all-India average retail onion price shoots up by 57 per cent to Rs 47 per kg, the Centre on Friday decided to step up the sale of buffer onion at a subsidised rate of Rs 25 per kg in retail markets in order to provide relief to consumers.

The all-India average retail price of onion rose to Rs 47 per kg on Friday, from Rs 30 per kg in the year-ago period, as per the data maintained by the consumer affairs ministry.

1:52 PM

Bihar govt cuts salaries of 2,081 teachers, suspends 22 for teaching violations in last 4 months

Amid the ongoing row over Bihar education department's recent circulars, the state education department has deducted the salaries of more than 2,081 school teachers, who were found absent from duty during inspections, and suspended 22 others for various teaching violations in the last four months.

Besides, the department has also recommended dismissal of 17 teachers from service for allegedly violating provisions of teachers' recruitment regulations.

The Nitish Kumar government is already facing criticism for removing the names of 21,90,020 students (till October 24) from government schools for absenteeism. Those whose names have been struck off also include 2.66 lakh students who were supposed to appear for class 10 and 12 board exams.

12:13 PM

Pakistan court rejects Imran Khan's pleas for bail, cancellation of FIR in cipher case

A Pakistani court on Friday rejected petitions by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan seeking bail and cancellation of the first FIR in the cipher case for allegedly leaking state secrets and violating the laws of the country.

Khan, 71, was arrested in August after a case was filed against him for disclosing a secret diplomatic cable (cipher) sent by the country's embassy in Washington in March last year. A special court in Pakistan on Monday indicted him along with his close ally ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the case.

11:41 AM

OneWeb satellite service ready to connect all parts of the country from next month: Sunil Mittal

OneWeb Satellite communication service is ready to connect all parts of the country from next month, Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said on Friday.

While speaking at the inaugural session of the India Mobile Congress 2023, Mittal said 5G services was launched last year and Airtel has covered the entire country, covering 5,000 towns and cities along with 20,000 villages till date.

He said that Airtel with the help of Universal Services Obligation Fund has been connecting rural and remote areas, and now satellite technology is available to connect all parts of the country.

11:40 AM

It is time for 'thought leadership': PM Modi

It is time for 'thought leadership', said PM Modi at the 7th IMC. 

"'Thought leaders' can create a new dimension which the world will later follow. We are already thought leaders in some domains such as UPI; the world is following our example," he added. 

PM modi further added that India has the power of young demograpy, vibrant democracy. "I request the IMC to take India forward to be a thought leader in tech sector."

11:34 AM

Important to create a strong semiconductor manufacturing sector: PM Modi

For tech ecosystem, both hardware and software, it is important to create a strong semiconductor manufacturing sector, said PM Modi at IMC. 

"For the developemnt of semiconductors, the govt has already launched PLI scheme worth Rs 80,000 crore," he added.    

11:30 AM

UPA govt was like a mobile phone that hangs, nothing you do could make it work: Modi

The central government pre-2014 was like a mobile phone that hangs, and nothing you do could make it work. 

In 2014, the people of Indnia left such an outdated phone (UPA-govt) and gave us (BJP) the chance to serve. The change is very clear. 

"We were importers of mobile phones, today we are the 2nd largest mobile phone manufacturers in the world. There was no clear vision at that time. Today we are exporting phones worth Rs 2 trn," PM Modi said. 

PM Modi said: World is using 'made in India' phones: PM Modi on last 9 years' transformation that made the country an exporter from a net importer. Google Pixels, Apple iPhone 15 and Samsung Fold 5 phones are being mnaufactured in India. 
   

11:26 AM

We are among the world's top 3 startup ecosystems: PM Modi

"We are among the world's top 3 startup ecosystems. India was among the fastest nations to have 100 unicorn start-ups," PM Modi said. 

Before 2014, we had only 100 some startups, but today, we have 100,000 startups. 2014 is not a date, it is the change," he said taking a jive t the UPA-govt

11:23 AM

Access to capital, resources, and technology, says Modi

Access to capital, access to resources and access to technology is govt's priority, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 7th IMC

11:22 AM

5G labs allows the youth of India to dream big and to have the will to achieve it, says PM Modi

5G labs allows the youth of India to dream big and to have the will to achieve it, said PM Modi at the 7th IMC

11:21 AM

India emerging as telecom technology developer, exporter and leader: Vaishnaw

India is emerging as a telecom technology developer, exporter and leader, and the world today is looking at the country with hope, Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Friday.

Speaking at the inauguration of India Mobile Congress, Vaishnaw said that driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clear vision and leadership, the telecom sector has achieved several milestones on connectivity, affordability and standards, and has moved out of the shadow of litigation and 2G scam of the past.

Telecom is the gateway of digital, Vaishnaw said, citing the speedy roll-out of 5G services in India and the nation's clear 6G vision.

11:19 AM

India has reached 43rd position in mobile broadband speed: PM Modi

India has reached 43rd position in mobile broadband speed from previous rank of 118, says PM Modi at India Mobile Congress in New Delhi

11:19 AM

Speed and availability of connectivity helps improve social and economic outlook: PM Modi

We are on our way to become global leaders of 6G network, said PM Modi. 

He also took a jibe at previous givernments by mentioning the 2G scam. 

Under the NDA-led Centre, the 4G was rolled out, and this came without any corruption charges. 

Internet speed also helps improve the ease-of-living; be it for students, tele medicines, agriculture techniques or navigation. The speed and availability of connectivity helps improve social and economic outlook.