LIVE: BJP meeting underway in Bihar as political uncertainty continues

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9:03 PM

Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) to 50% by 2030: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, "... We aim to take the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) to 50% by 2030, the indicators in this direction are very positive after the implementation of the new education policy...Looking at all this, we can say that in the coming days, our education system is moving towards what Prime Minister Modi has talked about, women's leadership development."

9:02 PM

TN CM Stalin to embark on an 8-day visit to Spain

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin says, "I am going for an 8-day visit to Spain. Large numbers of MoUs have been signed already at the Global Investor Conference which was held recently in Chennai. I am going to participate in the investor's conference in Spain. I will have direct meetings with the major companies in Spain to invest in Tamil Nadu."

7:49 PM

Crew extinguish fire on tanker hit by Houthi missile off Yemen after US targets rebels in airstrike

The crew aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker hit by a missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels extinguished an hourslong fire onboard the stricken vessel Saturday sparked by the strike, authorities said.

 

The attack on the Marlin Luanda further complicated the Red Sea crisis caused by the Iranian-backed rebels' attacks over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The tanker carried Russian-produced naphtha, a flammable oil, drawing Moscow further into a conflict that so far it had blamed on the US.

 

Early Saturday, US forces conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed at the Red Sea and prepared to launch, the US military's Central Command said. That attack came after the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, had to shoot down a Houthi missile targeting it.

7:48 PM

TMC very much part of opposition bloc INDIA at national level: TMC leader

The Trinamool Congress on Saturday asserted that its leader, Mamata Banerjee, has never indicated a departure from the opposition bloc INDIA at the national level, despite recent announcements of the party's decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal alone.

 

On the ongoing speculation surrounding TMC's stance within the opposition front, spokesperson Kunal Ghosh emphasised that Banerjee only advocated the party's solo participation in the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal owing to "unreasonable demands" from the Congress.

 

"Mamata Banerjee has never said that we are not part of the opposition bloc in India. The name 'INDIA' for the opposition front was coined by our party supremo herself. We have only stated our intention to contest alone in Bengal due to unjustified demands from the Congress and utterances of its state president Adhir Chowdhury," Ghosh stated.

7:48 PM

Padma awardees are 'jewels in rags': Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday described the Padma awardees as "jewels in rags" whose talent has been recognised by the government.

 

He also said that meritocracy has replaced autocracy and nepotism in the country, adding the youngsters today have more opportunities to achieve their goals.

 

Interacting with distinguished artists who participated in the Republic Day here, he referred to the recently-announced Padma awards.Jagdeep Dhankhar

 

Dhankhar said the people, who have been selected for these awards had never expected to receive it.

 

"But they were discovered, their talent was recognised and everyone appreciated it," he said while referring to them as "Gudri ke Lal" (jewels in rags).

6:38 PM

You are architect of developed India: PM Modi to youth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted a host of measures taken by his government to assert that it has empowered the youth and women and that a developed India will fulfil their dreams.

 

"You are the architect of a developed India," he told youngsters at the annual NCC-PM rally here.

 

Women were earlier confined to cultural programmes but his government has opened up various sectors, including all the three services, to them and they are making a mark everywhere, he said, noting that the Republic Day parade this year was dedicated to them.

 

The number of women in central security forces has doubled in the last 10 years, Prime Minister Modi said and added that states are also being encouraged to follow a similar path.

 

A digital revolution has been taking place and it benefits the creativity of the youth the most, he said.

6:16 PM

25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav to begin from Feb 1 with over 150 plays

The 25th edition of the Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) will witness over 150 performances, along with workshops, discussions and master classes across 15 Indian cities, starting from February 1, the National School of Drama announced here on Saturday.

 

Touted to be the "world's largest theatre festival", 'Bharangam' will offer theatre-goers and cultural enthusiasts a rich tapestry of Indian and global theatre traditions.

 

This year's theatre festival will commence from Mumbai's National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) with the opening play "Humare Ram", featuring actor and NSD alumnus Ashutosh Rana.

 

"Over the past quarter-century, this festival has served as a guiding light, illuminating the rich tapestry of global theatre traditions. The upcoming edition promises to be a grand celebration, showcasing not only the extraordinary creativity within the theatrical realm but also emphasising the beauty of collaboration," NSD director Chittaranjan Tripathy said.

6:14 PM

Maratha quota: OBCs need not fear, says Fadnavis; corrects Bhujbal over Kunbi certificates

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said OBCs need not have any apprehension about the state government's notification in connection with activist Manoj Jarange's Maratha quota stir and also schooled his cabinet colleague Chhagan Bhujbal on issuance of Kunbi certificates.

 

Jarange called of his fast earlier in the day after the state government said it had accepted all his demands, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announcing that till Marathas get reservation, the community will be given benefits enjoyed by Other Backward Classes.

 

The Shinde government also issued a notification to recognise as Kunbis all blood relatives of the Maratha community whose Kunbi caste records have been found.

 

Kunbis, an agrarian community, are part of the OBC segment in the state.

6:13 PM

Airstrike kills 3 Palestinians in southern Gaza as Israel presses on with its war against Hamas

Two women and a man were killed early on Saturday in what witnesses said was an Israeli airstrike on a home in the southernmost part of Gaza, as Israel pursued its military offensive against the Palestinian enclave.

 

The strike came less than a day after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza. As part of its binding ruling, the top United Nations court asked Israel for a compliance report in a month, meaning the military's conduct will be under increasing scrutiny.

6:01 PM

Election Commission collaborates with Rajkumar Hirani for short film on voter awareness

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has collaborated with filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani for a short film to spread awareness about voting.

 

Titled "My Vote My Duty", the short is compiled from video messages by cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar as well as actors Rajkummar Rao, Amitabh Bachchan, R Madhavan, Raveena Tandon, Vicky Kaushal, Boman Irani, Arshad Warsi, Bhumi Pednekar and Mona Singh.

 

Hirani, who most recently directed Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Dunki", has produced the short film, which was shared by the ECI on its official handle on microblogging site X on National Voters' Day on Thursday. It is directed by Sanjiv Kishinchandani.