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‘Terrorism Has Returned’: Pakistan Grapples With Attack That Left 101 Dead
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Give US New Trains, Release GST: Bhupesh Baghel Ahead Of Budget 2023
Ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget for fiscal 2023-24, on Wednesday, Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said locals have put forward a demand for new trains in Jagadalpur and Surguja areas.
CM Baghel further demanded that GST and central excise dues to the state be released at the earliest.
"People have demanded new trains in Jagadalpur and Surguja areas. Earlier, there used to be a separate Railway Budget. But now, such announcements are not made separately. We also demand that our share of GST and central excise dues be released at the earliest," said Mr Baghel.
This year's Budget assumes significance as it is the BJP-led NDA government's last full budget before the next parliamentary elections in 2024.
Like the previous two Union Budgets, Union Budget 2023-24 will also be delivered in paperless form.
The Union Budget, also comprising the Railway Budget, will be presented on the floor of the Parliament on February 1, Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint session of the Parliament ahead of the commencement of the Budget Session.
The President touched upon several issues in her address including defence, space, women empowerment, the importance of duties during the Amrit Kaal to build a developed India etc.
Underlining the role of political stability in the country's development, President Droupadi Murmu said that India is in a better position as compared to other countries due to the decisions taken in the national interest of the central government.
Addressing a joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in Parliament today President Murmu said, "The benefit of a stable and decisive government is being reaped by us against the biggest crisis in 100 years and in tackling the situation that arose after it. Wherever there is political instability anywhere in the world, those countries are surrounded by a massive crisis. But due to the decisions my government took in the national interest, India is in a better position as compared to other countries."
The budget session that began on Tuesday with the President's address will take place in 27 sittings till April 6 with a month-long recess to examine the budget papers. The first part of the session will conclude on February 13. Parliament will reconvene on March 12 for the second part of the Budget Session and will conclude on April 6.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Brexit Turns 3. Why Is No One Wearing a Party Hat?
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Russian Tourist Arrested In Goa For Using Banned Satellite Phone: Cops
Goa police on Tuesday arrested a 38-year-old female Russian tourist for using a banned satellite phone, a senior official said.
The Colva police in South Goa booked Aleksei Kamynin for possessing and using a satellite phone of make 'Thuraya' with a SIM card which is banned for usage in India, said the official.
The woman was taken into custody from a resort where she was staying, he said.
She has been booked under the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act and Section 20 of the Indian Telegraph Act, while the device has been seized, he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Wagner Group May Have Committed War Crimes in Mali, U.N. Experts Say
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Stalker Sends Woman Blood-Stained Letter, Arrested: Ghaziabad Cops
A man was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly stalking a woman and sending her a blood-stained letter with a blade enclosed within, police in Ghaziabad said.
The woman in her complaint said that the man used to bother her and ask her for money to buy a new mobile phone, police said.
Later, he sent her a blood-stained letter, with a blade, and stuck it with the handle of her car.
The accused has been identified as Haider Ali Khan of Vishwakarma colony of the city. The woman lives in the same colony.
According to the police, when the woman found the letter, she lodged a complaint at the Sihani Gate Police Station. In it she wrote that she was being stalked by a man from her colony for the past many days.
She also said that the accused made objectionable gestures towards her and would stare at her, all that made her uneasy.
"Police arrested the accused today in the afternoon and registered an FIR against him," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Alok Dubey said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
14 Get Life Sentence In Connection With Ex-BJP MLA's Murder
A local court here on Monday sentenced 14 people to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of former Iglas MLA Malkhan Singh and his bodyguard.
District and Sessions judge Pankaj Kumar Singh also slapped a fine of Rs 1.50 lakh on the main accused and former zila panchayat chairman Tejveer Singh.
Malkhan Singh was the BJP MLA from Iglas assembly constituency from 1996 to 2002.
Assistant district advocate Manu Raj Bahadur said Malkhan Singh was sitting outside his residence on March 20, 2006 with his friends when Tejveer Singh came there with 14-15 men and killed the MLA and his bodyguard.
A case was registered in the matter on a complaint by Malkhan Singh's elder brother and eyewitness Dalveer Singh. On the directions of the Allahabad High Court, the matter was transferred to Bulandshahr in 2008.
Of the 18 accused persons, two have died and two are absconding.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The new U.S. ambassador to Russia takes up her duties.
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When will Western tanks arrive in Ukraine? It depends on training and logistics.
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Central Team Visits Schools In Bengal To Review Midday Meal Scheme
A 13-member central team on Monday started a review of the midday meal scheme in schools in West Bengal, a senior official said.
The joint review mission consisting of Union education ministry officials, one nutritionist, and a representative of Unicef along with the director of PM Poshan Scheme, V Bhaskar, also held a meeting with state education department officials.
The officials, who are scheduled to conduct their review till February 6, visited several schools in North and South 24 Parganas districts on Monday.
The team, which reached the city on Sunday evening, will check school infrastructure and the quality of food served to school children under the mid-day meal scheme.
"This is a routine visit. We carry out such reviews in the states every year. We will try to visit as many districts as possible. Today we met the officials of the School Education department," an official of the team said after the meeting.
She said that after conducting the review, when they will talk to school children and their parents, the team will prepare statistics that will be submitted to the Centre.
The team went to a school at Rajarhat in North 24 Parganas districts, where they spoke to parents of students and enquired about the quality of food served to the children there.
Thereafter, the team went to visit schools in South 24 Parganas district.
The Centre has recently allocated a fund of Rs 372 crore under the PM Poshan scheme to the state in order to provide nutritious food to school students.
It has also released an additional fund of Rs 250 crore to the school education department for infrastructural development.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The Double Whammy Making Italy the West’s Fasting Shrinking Nation
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Niranjan Pujari To Be New Odisha Health Minister After Death Of Naba Das
After the untimely death of Health and Family Welfare Minister of Odisha, Naba Das, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has allocated the Health and Family Welfare dept to Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari, informed the Chief Minister's Office.
Lt Naba Das had been the Health and Family Welfare Minister of Odisha since 2019. He was a three-time MLA from the Jharsuguda constituency and was said to be an influential leader in the area.
Minister Naba Das was shot at in Brajarajnagar in the Jharsuguda district and succumbed to his bullet injuries in Bhubaneswar hospital on Sunday.
During the operation, it was found that a single bullet had entered and exited the body, injuring the heart and left lung and causing massive internal bleeding and injury.
"He was an asset for both the Govt and the party. His death is a great loss to the State of Odisha," Odisha Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.
Das was shot at by one police personnel near Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district earlier today, following which he was critically injured.
A team of doctors led by Dr Debashish Nayak immediately attended to and operated on him.
On operating was found that a single bullet had entered and exited the body, injuring the heart and left lung and causing massive internal bleeding and injury, the officials said.
According to officials, the injuries were repaired, and steps were taken to improve the pumping of the heart. He was given urgent ICU care. But despite the best of efforts, he could not be revived and succumbed to his injuries.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed deep shock and distress over the unfortunate death of Minister Naba Das.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Woman Gets Child's Custody After Ex-Husband Fails To Appear In High Court
The High Court of Karnataka has allowed a 34-year-old woman to take her child to Australia and settle down there without her former husband's consent.
Justice M Nagaprasanna allowed the plea of the mother under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 after the biological father failed to attend the court proceedings. Rakshitha sought legal sanction to obtain permanent residence for her child in Australia.
The petitioner, who is residing in Australia, moved the High Court against her first husband CC Shashikumar, a farmer from Kunigal.
The couple was married in 2006 and after the birth of the daughter their relationship turned sour, leading to divorce. Both, had filed a compromise divorce petition with certain conditions.
One of the conditions of the petition was that the former husband would have visitation rights to the only child.
The woman filed an application before the Family Court in 2022 for relaxation of this clause as her former husband had not even once visited the child in the last 8 years.
As the father of the child did not respond to the court's summons, the court cancelled the visitation rights.
The mother and child were living in Australia on Tourist visa, which is set to expire. Hence, she sought to secure a permanent visa to settle down permanently in Australia.
As per the terms of Migration Rules of the Australian Government, the woman was required to produce a legal custody document of the child and written permission of the local court to take the minor child out of the jurisdiction of India.
Subsequently, the woman had filed a plea in the Family Court seeking permission to take the child to Australia, under Section 26 of the Act.
However, the court rejected the application saying a fresh petition has to be filed seeking custody of the child "as the Court becomes functus officio once the proceedings are closed." The woman then approached the high court, which delivered the judgement on January 19, 2023.
Allowing the plea, the bench said it was appropriate to grant the permission "to take the child beyond the shores of this nation as was prayed for in the application only to avoid multiplicity of litigation which eventually will result in an order of this kind as the husband has not been contesting the matter in any of the proceedings and the child in terms of the compromise is already in the custody of the mother/wife/petitioner."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Odisha Health Minister, Who Was Shot By Cop, To Be Accorded State Honour
The Odisha government on Sunday evening said state honour would be accorded to Naba Kishore Das, the health and family welfare minister who died in hospital hours after being shot by a policeman.
A government release said there will be no official entertainment for three days from January 29-31 throughout the state.
"It has been decided by the Government of Odisha that as a mark of respect, state honour would be accorded to the departed dignitary. National flag will be flown at half-mast on the day of death in the state capital and on the day of funeral at the place where it takes place," an official release said.
The minister, 60, was shot at Brajrajnagar town around 1 pm by Assistant Sub-inspector of Police (ASI) Gopal Das, who is believed to be suffering from mental disorder.
A team of doctors at Apollo Hospital operated on him after he was airlifted from Jharsugada to Bhubaneshwar, but he eventually succumbed to injuries.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Enrolment In Higher Education Crosses 4 Crore-Mark For First Time In India
The enrolment in higher education institutions increased to 4.14 crore during 2020-21, crossing the 4 crore mark for first time, according to the government's All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-2021.
It registered an increase of 7.5 per cent from 2019-20 and 21 per cent from 2014-15.
The female enrolment has increased to 2.01 crore from 1.88 crore in 2019-20. There has been an increase of around 44 lakh (28 per cent) in their number since 2014-15, the survey report said.
The Ministry of Education has been conducting All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) since 2011, covering all higher educational institutions located in Indian Territory and imparting higher education in the country.
The survey collects detailed information on different parameters such as student enrollment, teachers' data, infrastructural information, financial information etc.
For the first time, in AISHE 2020-21, the higher education institutions, or HEIs, have filled the data online through the Web Data Capture Format (DCF) developed by the Department of Higher Education with the help of the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
"The total enrolment in higher education has increased to nearly 4.14 crore in 2020-21 from 3.85 crore in 2019-20. Since 2014-15, there has been an increase of around 72 lakh in the enrolment (21 pc). The female enrolment has increased to 2.01 crore from 1.88 crore in 2019-20. There has been an increase of around 44 Lakh (28 pc) since 2014-15," the Ministry of Education said in a statement.
"The percentage of female enrolment to total enrolment has increased from 45 pc in 2014-15 to around 49 pc in 2020-21. As per 2011 population projections for 18-23 years age group, GER has increased to 27.3 from 25.6 in 2019-20," it added.
According to the survey, there was a significant increase, 28 per cent, in enrolment of SC students, and 38 per cent in enrolment of female SC Students in 2020-21, as compared to 2014-15.
"Substantial increase of 47 pc in enrolment of ST students and 63.4 pc increase in the enrolment of Female ST Students in 2020-21, compared to 2014-15. The enrolment in Institute of National Importance (INIs) has increased by nearly 61 pc during the period 2014-15 to 2020-21.
"Enrolment has increased in 2020-21 compared to 2014-15 in the specialized universities relating to Defence, Sanskrit, Biotechnology, Forensics, Design, Sports etc. The total number of pass-outs has increased to 95.4 Lakh in 2020-21 as against 94 Lakh in 2019-20," it said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
PM Modi Congratulates Indian Team For Winning Women's U-19 T20 World Cup
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated the Indian team for its "special win" as it bagged its maiden ICC title in women's cricket by lifting the inaugural U-19 T20 World Cup.
"Congratulations to the Indian Team for a special win... They have played excellent cricket and their success will inspire several upcoming cricketers. Best wishes to the team for their future endeavours," he tweeted.
Congratulations to the Indian Team for a special win at the @ICC #U19T20WorldCup. They have played excellent cricket and their success will inspire several upcoming cricketers. Best wishes to the team for their future endeavours. https://t.co/BBn5M9abHp
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 29, 2023
India on Sunday won their maiden ICC title in women's cricket as a bunch of sprightly and talented teenagers lifted the inaugural U-19 World Cup with an emphatic seven-wicket victory over England. The Shafali Verma-led India U-19 squad managed to do what their seniors could not do by clearing the final hurdle in a global event.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Photocopied Pages From Hindu Epic Ramcharitmanas Burnt In Protest In UP
A group called Akhil Bharatiya OBC Mahasabha on Sunday in Vrindavan burned photocopies of pages allegedly carrying "objectionable comments on women and Dalits" in Ramcharitmanas, supporting SP leader Swami Prasad Maurya.
The protest was held in Vrindavan Yojana sector apparently in solidarity with Maurya, who had on January 22 in a statement said the Hindu epic contained passages discriminatory of women and shudras.
"As reported in a section of media that we had burnt copies of Ramcharitmanas, it is incorrect to say that. We took out the photocopies of the objectionable comments from the Ramcharitmanas, which were against the 'shudras' and women, and burned the photocopied page in a symbolic protest," Devendra Pratap Yadav, a state office bearer of the Akhil Bharatiya OBC Mahasabha, told PTI.
"Swami Prasad Maurya has already demanded that the objectionable comments mentioned in the Ramcharitmanas should be removed or banned. The government did not take any step in this regard. We have extended support to Swami Prasad Maurya on this, and the Akhil Bharatiya OBC Mahasabha stands with Swami Prasad Maurya," he said.
Ramcharitmanas, an epic poem in Awadhi language, is based on the Ramayana and has been composed by 16th-century Bhakti movement poet Tulsidas.
"We stand united with him as far as his statement and the move is concerned," Yadav said, and added that the group will continue to stage such protests in future.
Maurya, a prominent OBC leader in Uttar Pradesh, had kicked up a controversy by alleging that certain verses of the Ramcharitmanas "insult" a large section of society on the basis of caste and demanded that these be "banned." Maurya, who was a cabinet minister in the BJP government, had resigned and joined the Samajwadi Party before the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
He had contested from the Fazilnagar assembly seat in Kushinagar district but lost. He was later sent to the legislative council by SP president Akhilesh Yadav.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Centre Shows Step-Motherly Treatment Towards State: Telangana Minister
Alleging that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre shows step-motherly treatment towards Telangana, ruling BRS leader and Telangana IT and Industries Minister K T Rama Rao claimed his party is ready for early polls if the BJP dissolves the Lok Sabha, showing its willingness for early elections.
The BJP-led government has not announced any new institution or funds to Telangana and not even delivered on the promises made to the State in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, he alleged.
"They say 'sab ka saath, sab ka vishwas'. But, their actions are 'sab kuch bakwas' (all rubbish). The value of rupee is moving towards the 'pathalam' (abyss), the debt is mounting towards the sky. Such is the situation prevailing in the country today," he told reporters in Nizamabad.
The NDA government waived off loans for its "corporate friends", he alleged.
"...especially those in BJP in the State, they talk big. If they have guts, let them dissolve Parliament. Then, we can go for early polls together," he said.
The BRS and BJP have been engaged in political one-upmanship ahead of Legislative Assembly polls to be held towards this year-end.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Fear Of Defeat In Karnataka Elections "Haunts Congress": B Bommai
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday hit out at the Congress party saying "the party use cheap language which shows that they are scared of defeat in the upcoming Karnataka assembly election."
Speaking at Jan Sankalp Yatra in M.K Hubli in Belagavi, he said, "The Congress has now remembered 'Praja Dhwani' but what did they do while they were in power from 2013 to 2018? In the name of social justice, they cheated SC/ST communities. The present BJP government has ensured social justice. When Farmers were in difficulty, it was CM Yediyurappa who went to their rescue. While he was the CM, Yediyurappa had given free power supply, interest-free agro loan, input subsidy during the flood fury, support price for food produces and subsidy for the working classes."
"We have introduced Vidyanidhi scheme for the children of farmers, and extended to the children of coolies, fishermen and cab drivers, Rs 5 lakh for youths," the CM said.
Mr Bommai further said that the Congress party had promised 200 units of free power while Yediyurappa as CM had given unrestricted power in 2008 and it is continued even now. The Congress party is copying the BJP schemes, he claimed.
"This is the land of brave hearts like Rani Chennamma, Sangolli Rayanna and Amateur Balappa who openly fought against the Britishers. But today, the organizations like PFI and SDPI are trying to destabilize the nation through terrorism and to disturb peace and tranquillity in Karnataka. To check this, Amit Shah took a bold decision to ban PFI and check terrorist activities. Let that organisation come up again under a different name Shah is capable of taking strong action against them. So, the country is safe and secure," he added.
"Development is possible only if the country is safe and secure, and everyone must support to strengthen the laws. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is effectively dealing with terrorism from across the border. No one was living peacefully during the Congress-led-UPA government was in power, due to bomb blasts and terrorist attacks. Now everything has stopped due to the Modi government and the engine government must come in Karnataka also," he concluded.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi and others dignitaries were also present at the event.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Czech Republic Elects Retired NATO General as Its President
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Woman Gives Birth In Haryana Roadways Bus, Premature Baby Dies: Cops
A woman gave birth to a child in a Dehradun-bound Haryana Roadways bus near Mullana on Friday, around 25 kilometers from Ambala, officials said.
However, the child could not survive as it was a premature delivery, doctors said.
The woman complained of severe labour pain when the bus was crossing Mullana. Some women present in the bus helped her give birth to the child, they said.
Bus driver Salim Khan also took the bus to the civil hospital at Mullana. The doctors at the hospital declared the child brought dead while the woman was admitted to the facility.
Salim Khan said the woman along with her husband, two children and brother-in-law boarded the bus for Saharanpur from Ambala.
As soon as the bus reached Mullana, the woman had labour pains, said the bus driver.
Principal medical officer, Mullana Civil Hospital, Kuldeep Singh said the woman's delivery was premature.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Russia blocks access to the C.I.A. and F.B.I. websites for spreading ‘inaccuracies.’
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Nuclear experts at the Zaporizhzhia power plant raise concerns about nearby explosions.
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This Padma Shri Awardee Is Wood Art Trainer, 'Counsellor' For Jail Inmates
Ajay Kumar Mandavi, one of the three persons chosen from Chhattisgarh for the Padma Shri awards this year, has for more than a decade been teaching Kanker jail inmates, several of them arrested in cases related to the outlawed Maoist movement, wooden calligraphy art.
Speaking about the honour, the 55-year-old on Friday said he becomes more of a counsellor than a wood art trainer when he enters the jail premises as many inmates recount their pain and problems to him even without being prodded about their past.
Mr Mandavi, who hails from Kanker district, said making toys out of wood and clay was a childhood interest, which turned him into an artist later in life, resulting in him training youth, several of them victims of Naxalite violence, from 2005.
He was asked by the then collector of Kanker to teach wood art to jail inmates in 2010, when the Maoist menace was at its peak in the district.
He began his classes with a dozen inmates, all of them held for alleged Maoist links, a journey that has been instrumental in motivating many of them to understand the futility of violence and the need to live fulfilling, peaceful lives.
"I never asked them (jail inmates) about their past. However, they often share their pain and problems with me and I listen to them patiently. Gradually my role became that of a counsellor than just an art trainer. I too started enjoying counselling them," Mr Mandavi said.
"One of the inmates, who was subjected to rigorous interrogation post arrest in a Naxalite-related case, once said he wanted to observe the nine-day Navratri fast but wanted me to suggest some wish he could seek from the goddess," he said.
On being told he should forgive all the security personnel involved in his custodial interrogation, the inmate readily agreed, resulting in him admitting to being relaxed and stress free at the end of the nine-day fast, Mr Mandavi claimed.
"He told me he has forgiven all those who interrogated him. So far, I have taught around 400 inmates of Kanker jail, of which 250 were arrested for Naxalite-related incidents. Nearly all of them have walked out of jail after completing prison terms, while some have been released on bail," Mr Mandavi, fondly called 'Guruji' by his students, said.
Mr Mandavi said these students have not only continued practising wooden calligraphy art after being released from jail, but they also claim to be more attentive while engaged in various works, including farming.
"What can be a bigger achievement than this for me if a person who once wielded rifles returns to the mainstream and leads a peaceful life," Mr Mandavi, who founded self help group 'Shanta Art' in 2015 in remote Bhaisasur village in Kanker, said.
Sanjeet Kumar Yadav, who was lodged in Kanker Jail in 2020 and learnt wooden calligraphy from Mr Mandavi, said his meeting with the latter gave a him a new purpose in life.
"After meeting guruji in jail, I found a new purpose in life. I never imagined I would learn an art," Yadav, hailing from the district's Charama area, said.
"I was in jail for six to seven months. After I was acquitted, I requested guruji to let met stay with him as I wanted to take up woodcraft as a profession," said Yadav, who has been living in Mr Mandavi's house for the past two years.
The 'Shanta Art' group, which includes several former Naxalites, makes nameplates, key rings, pen case and other items for sale from wood, with Mr Mandavi often sending his students to fairs across the country to earn revenue from their craft.
Apart from Mr Mandavi, eminent Pandvani singer Usha Barle and Nacha artiste Domar Singh Kunvar have been selected for the Padma Shri awards from the state.
Ms Barle hails from Durg district and learnt Pandwani, a traditional performing art form, from Padma Vibhushan awardee Teejan Bai, a legendary exponent of the traditional performing art form. Ms Barle has performed in London and New York.
Mr Kunvar, who belongs to Balod district, has been widely recognised for his fight against the social ill of child marriage.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Russia says it will switch four occupied Ukrainian regions to Moscow time.
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AMU Suspends Student Over Religious Slogan Video On Republic Day
Aligarh Muslim University Friday set up a three-member inquiry committee and suspended a student after a video showed some NCC cadets purportedly raising religious slogans following a Republic Day function here.
According to AMU spokesperson Omar Peerzada, the panel has been asked to submit its report within five days. He told PTI that it would probe the entire sequence of events when the official function was over and the audience was dispersing.
In the 17-second video, a group of NCC cadets were seen chanting "Allah hu Akbar" twice near a flagpole. In another 19-second video, another group of NCC cadets could be seen shouting "Bharat Mata ki jai" and "Vande Mataram" in front of a building.
The spokesperson emphasized the incident should be viewed as an aberration in the university's ethos. A student seen shouting slogans in the first video was suspended on Friday, the spokesperson added.
City Superintendent Police Kuldeep Singh said police have taken cognizance of the incident and have asked the AMU authorities to initiate legal action in the matter.
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ameesh Jamaai Friday said the entire incident was "engineered to defame the institution". The entire sequence of events has to be investigated to unearth the truth, he said.
BJP leader in Aligarh Nishit Sharma said raising religious slogans on the auspicious occasion was a "very serious matter".
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Bhagwant Mann To Inaugurate 500 'Aam Aadmi Clinic' In Amritsar Today
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is going to inaugurate 500 'Aam Aadmi Clinics' (Mohalla Clinics) across Amritsar on January 27.
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal will be present as the chief guest on the occassion.
Earlier, Mr Mann inaugurated 100 Aam Aadmi Clinics on August 15, 2022 on the occasion of Independence Day.
More than 10 lakh people have received free treatment in these 100 Aam Aadmi Clinics till now. Whereas more than three lakh people benefited from free tests, the government said in an official statement.
Addressing a press conference in Mohali, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said that the inauguration program would be held in Amritsar on January 27.
Harpal Singh Cheema said, "It is a matter of great pride that the health revolution started in Punjab within just a year of the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party government. Before the elections, party chief Arvind Kejriwal had given a guarantee to the people of Punjab that to provide free treatment, Mohalla Clinics would be set up in Punjab. Now the government is fulfilling the promises and working assiduously to fulfil its dream of making the state again Rangla Punjab."
Health Minister Dr Balbir mentioned the successes of Aam Aadmi Clinic and said that till now more than one million people have taken advantage of Aam Aadmi Clinic and over three lakh people were examined free of cost. Also, medicines were also given free of cost to the people.
Dr Balbir said that the first priority of the AAP government is to ensure that the people of Punjab get free education and the best quality treatment in the state.
"When the children of common people get free education, treatment, medicines and health check-ups, they will save a lot of money. They will use this money for their daily needs. This will raise the standard of living of the common people and the society will progress in the true sense," he added.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The U.S. came to the decision on sending tanks to Ukraine reluctantly.
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Bengali Is 2nd-Largest Spoken Language In Asia: Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday, while presiding over a 'Hatey Khori' event held in the state on the occasion of Saraswati Puja, said Bengali is the 2nd-largest spoken language in Asia and 5th in the world.
"We must remember that we should learn our mother tongue no matter where we live," she added.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also congratulated West Bengal governor Dr CV Ananda Bose for taking a particular interest in Bengali.
"I want to congratulate the Governor for taking special interest in our mother tongue," she said.
The West Bengal chief minister was attending Governor Bose's 'Hatey Khori' event at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata.
The 74th Republic Day was celebrated with characteristic fervour and enthusiasm across West Bengal on Thursday, with Governor Bose presiding over an hour-long parade by the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, policemen, and civilians, including students.
A military helicopter showered rose petals on Red Road, the venue of the official programme.
The Governor hoisted the Tricolour. Also present on the occasion, apart from Ms Banerjee were her Cabinet colleagues, senior officials of the state, and the three wings of the Indian Armed Forces.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
As Ukraine awaits promised tanks from the West, the fighting continues.
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India To Get More Than 100 Cheetahs From South Africa
South Africa said Thursday that it had reached a deal to transfer more than 100 cheetahs to India as part of an ambitious project to reintroduce the spotted cats in the south Asian country.
The environment ministry said an initial batch of 12 cheetahs would be flown to India next month, after eight cheetahs arrived from Namibia last September.
"The plan is to translocate a further 12 annually for the next eight to 10 years" to help establish a "viable and secure cheetah population," the ministry said in a statement.
India was once home to the Asiatic cheetah but the animal was declared extinct there by 1952, primarily because of habitat loss and deaths at the hands of hunters seeking their distinctive spotted hides.
Efforts to reintroduce the animals gathered pace in 2020 when India's Supreme Court ruled that African cheetahs, a different subspecies, could be brought into the country at a "carefully chosen location" on an experimental basis.
Negotiations for the deal with South Africa were long in the making, with the first cheetahs initially expected to be flown to India last August. They have been living in quarantine in the meantime.
"The cheetahs in quarantine... are all still doing well," said Adrian Tordiffe, a veterinary wildlife specialist at the University of Pretoria who is involved in the project.
Officials said the previous transfer from Namibia marked the first intercontinental relocation of cheetahs, the planet's fastest land animal.
The Namibian specimens were released at Kuno National Park, a wildlife sanctuary 320 kilometres (200 miles) south of New Delhi, selected for its abundant prey and grasslands.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
UP Man Kills 3-Year-Old Son With Spade After Fight With Wife
A man allegedly killed his 3-year-old son in Uttar Pradesh's Hussainganj in a fit of rage following an argument with his wife, police said.
Chandra Kishore Lodhi of Chitisapur village under Hussainganj police station killed his son with a spade, they said.
"Chandra Kishore had an argument with his wife on Wednesday night. He then attacked his son Raj with a spade after the argument and killed him," Circle Officer (CO) Veer Singh said.
"The accused took the body of his son in the night to a farm and buried it there," said the officer.
The wife of the accused informed police about the incident on Thursday. Acting on her complaint, police recovered the body and arrested Kishore.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Our Struggle Against Hindi Imposition Will Continue, Says MK Stalin
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday accused the BJP-led Centre of being 'brazen' over 'imposition' of Hindi and asserted that his party, the ruling DMK, would continue to resist any attempts to force the language upon the people or the State.
Addressing a Language Martyrs Day public meeting here, held in honour of those who had died as part of the anti-Hindi agitation in the State in the past, MK Stalin said the ruling BJP at the Centre has made it a practice to "impose Hindi."
"The BJP government which is ruling the Indian Union has made it a practice to impose Hindi -- from administration to education-- (and) they think they have come to power to impose Hindi."
"Like one nation, one religion, one election, one (entrance) test, one food, one culture, they are trying to destroy the culture of other national races with one language," CM Stalin, also the DMK president, charged.
Recalling an October 2022 State Assembly resolution against Hindi imposition, MK Stalin said "Our struggles against Hindi imposition will continue. Our efforts to protect Tamil will continue forever."
He alleged, "The BJP government is brazenly into Hindi imposition." While it celebrates Hindi Day, the same was not the case with other State languages.
"The importance shown to Hindi is not only ignoring other languages but also amounts to destroying them," he said.
He further said that between 2017-20, the Centre granted Rs 643 crore towards promoting Sanskrit. The allocation for Tamil was a little lesss than Rs 23 crore, he added.
"We are not enemy to any language. One can learn as many languages out of one's own interest. At the same time, we will oppose any move to impose something," the Chief Minister added.
Following the several anti-Hindi agitations, former Chief Minister CN Annadurai had brought a legislation to ensure a two-language formula of Tamil and English because of which the youth from the State were successful in many parts of the world, CM Stalin said.
"Anna did this to ensure the sacrifice of the language martyrs did not go waste," MK Stalin said about the two-language formula.
He recalled that Anna, the DMK founder, after leading the party to power in 1967 for the first time, gave Tamil Nadu its present name.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Russian officials say Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams tanks are a ‘losing scheme.’
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74th Republic Day Today, First Parade On Kartavya Path: 10 Points
- President Droupadi Murmu will lead the nation in celebrating Republic Day from Kartavya Path. The grand parade, to begin at 10.30 am, will be a mix of the country's military strength and cultural diversity.
- Massive security arrangements have been made for the programme with the deployment of 6,000 soldiers as part of security arrangements. The Kartavya Path will be monitored with around 150 CCTV cameras, some of which are high-resolution.
- In a first, a combined band and marching contingent of the Egyptian Armed Forces will take part in the parade. The contingent will have 144 soldiers, representing the main branches of the Egyptian Armed Forces.
- In a statement, the Defence Ministry said the parade on the 75th year of Independence, celebrated as the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav", will "witness zeal, enthusiasm, patriotic fervour and janbhagidari, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi".
- There will be tableaux from 17 states and Union Territories, and six from various ministries and departments depicting the emergence of a "New India" through growing indigenous capabilities, cultural heritage, economic and social progress and women power.
- Cultural performances will be presented by 479 artistes chosen through the nationwide "Vande Bharatam" dance competition. This is the second time that the dancers have been selected through a nationwide competition.
- The perennial draw of motorcycle display by the Corps of Signals' Dare Devils team will be a part of the show. Eleven children who received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for outstanding achievement in the fields of bravery, art and culture, sports, innovation and social service will also be part of the parade.
- The grand finale will be the eagerly-awaited flypast, where aircraft from three forces will participate. The country's new Rafale fighter aircraft will perform the concluding Vertical Charlie manoeuvre. Though Rafale had been part of the parade in the last two years, this is the first time a quarter of the fleet - nine aircraft - will participate in the flypast.
- This year, invites have been sent to people involved in the construction of the Central Vista, Kartavya Path, New Parliament Building, milk, vegetable vendors and street vendors, who will be given a prominent spot in the galleries.
- The Republic Day celebrations, which started with the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on January 23, will end with the traditional "Beating the Retreat" ceremony on January 28. The country's biggest drone show, comprising 3,500 indigenous drones, will light up the sky over the Raisina hills during the performance.
Swiss lawmakers propose easing the policy of neutrality to allow weapons re-exports to Ukraine.
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France to Pull Troops Out of Burkina Faso, as Its Unpopularity in Africa Grows
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BJP Chief JP Nadda, Mohan Bhagwat Likely To Attend RSS Meet In March
Issues related to social harmony, environment and other prevalent topics will be discussed at the three-day meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the top decision-making body of RSS, at Panipat from March 12-14.
All top functionaries of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, including Mohan Bhagwat and Dattatreya Hosabale, BJP president JP Nadda and heads of other allied organisations of the Sangh are expected to take part in the meeting, sources said.
All organisations, including the BJP, will give the annual report of the activities undertaken by them throughout the year, they said.
RSS' Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar tweeted on Wednesday, saying "RSS's Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha will be held from March 12-14 2023 at Samalkha in Haryana."
Around 1,800 participants, including Sangh functionaries and members of its allied organisations will attend the meeting.
The entire year's programme and agenda of the Sangh will be decided in this meeting.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
2022 Was a Deadly Year for Journalists, Especially in Latin America
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Two People Found Dead In Well In Rajasthan: Cops
The bodies of a 27-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman were found in a well in Rajasthan's Sirohi district on Tuesday, police said.
The incident took place in Marwada Khalsa village, which comes under the Swaroopganj police station area of the district, they said.
The deceased were identified as Arjun Kumar Meghwal and Inka Kumari.
Police officials said the family members of the victims told them that the woman accidentally fell into the well and man jumped in to save her.
A case has been registered under section 174 of the CrPC and an investigation is underway, they added.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
State Department says corruption cases in Ukraine do not appear to involve U.S. aid.
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Juan Carrito, Italy’s Beloved Brown Bear, Dies in Traffic Accident
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Delhi Lt Governor, Arvind Kejriwal Meet Amid Tussle
Amid the ongoing tussle between the elected government and the constitutional head over the issue of supremacy in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena on Tuesday met at LG House in traditional 'At Home'.
The Lieutenant Governor and his wife Sangita Saxena hosted the traditional 'At Home' at Raj Niwas, in the run-up to the 74th Republic Day on January 26, 2023.
The 'At Home' was attended by the Delhi Chief Minister, Ministers of the Delhi government and MLAs were also present here.
Apart from them, MPs and, representatives of Foreign Missions in India, representatives of political parties, vice-chancellors, academics, doctors, lawyers, civil society, media and officers from the Government of India, Delhi Government, Delhi Police, armed forces, DDA, MCD and NDMC amongst others were present.
Organized after a gap of two years, owing to the COVID pandemic-related restrictions, the 'At Home' this year had guests from the diverse and varied spectrum that included freedom fighters, Padma Awardees from Delhi, students of government and private schools and colleges, families of martyrs of Delhi Police and Delhi Fire Service, sportspersons, paralympians, swachhagrahis, divyangjan, priests and religious leaders of different religions and sects and officers/officials working dedicatedly on key innovative developmental projects like cleaning of Najafgarh Drain, landfill sites of MCD and rejuvenation of the Yamuna floodplains.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Rahul Gandhi Greets Jammu Soldiers Watching Bharat Jodo Yatra Pass By
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday shook hands with some Army personnel watching his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from behind the boundary wall of their camp as the march passed through the garrison town of Nagrota here.
Mr Gandhi's gesture to reach out to the soldiers despite the walls secured with barbed wire came a day after his senior party colleague Digvijaya Singh sought proof from the BJP government on the surgical strikes on terror camps across the border.
The former Congress president, who resumed his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from Nagrota towards Kashmir, paused outside an Army camp after spotting some personnel watching from behind the wall.
He approached them and shook their hands before marching forward, waving at the crowd gathered on either side of the road and at those trying to catch a glimpse from their homes and shops.
Some of the Army personnel were seen filming the foot march on their mobile phones.
Snubbing Digvijaya Singh, a former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, for questioning the surgical strikes, Mr Gandhi termed his comments "ridiculous", and said the armed forces are doing their job "exceptionally well" and do not need to give any proof.
Mr Gandhi, who faced a volley of questions from the media on Mr Singh's remarks on the surgical strikes and the Pulwama terror attack, said he and his party completely disagreed with the statement.
Mr Singh had on Monday questioned the veracity of the surgical strikes and accused the government of peddling lies.
Addressing a public meeting during the yatra in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Singh alleged that the government did not agree to the CRPF's request of flying its personnel from Srinagar to Delhi and 40 soldiers sacrificed their lives in Pulwama in 2019 to a terror attack.
"They talk of surgical strikes. They claim to have killed so many people but no proof is given. They are ruling by peddling a bundle of lies," he had alleged.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Mexican Ex-Lawman Took Money from Cartels He Pursued, Prosecutors Say
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$20 Million Worth of Looted Art Returns to Italy From the U.S.
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Akhilesh Yadav Unhappy Over Party Leader's Ramcharitmanas Remarks: Report
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav is believed to be unhappy with his party colleague Swami Prasad Maurya over his controversial remarks on Ramcharitmanas.
According to sources, Akhilesh Yadav is very angry with Mr Maurya and a press conference can also be held on behalf of the party.
Apart from Akhilesh Yadav, several MLAs of the party are also keeping themselves away from the statement of Mr Maurya.
According to sources, several MLAs have spoken to Akhilesh Yadav over the phone. There is huge discontent within the party over SP MLC's controversial statement.
The Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya on Sunday, sparked a major controversy after he demanded the deletion of "insulting comments and sarcasm" targeted at particular castes and sects in Ramcharitmanas, a poem based on the epic Ramayana.
Speaking to ANI, the SP leader said, "I don't have any issue with Ramcharitramanas but parts of it have insulting comments and sarcasm directed at particular castes and sects. Those should be removed."
Mr Maurya further claimed that in the Ramcharitmanas, which was composed by Tulsidas, there are words hurting the sentiments of the Dalit community.
Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed the Samajwadi Party over Mr Maurya's statement.
UP BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary said, "People like Swami Prasad Maurya are deranged. Akhilesh Yadav should clarify whether it is his party's view or Swami Prasad's personal view.
Senior Samajwadi Party leader and party MLA Ravidas Malhotra said that Swami Prasad Maurya's statement is his personal thoughts and not the statement of the party.
Speaking to ANI, Ravidas Mehrotra said that his statement has reached the party's national president Akhilesh Yadav and action will definitely be taken against such statements in the coming days.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
11 Children Receive PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, 2023
A Mallakhamb player, a singer suffering from bone disorder and a YouTuber were among 11 children who received Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, 2023 by President Droupadi Murmu on Monday.
There were six boys and five girls among the awardees from 11 states and Union territories. Each awardee was given a medal, a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a certificate.
This year, the PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) was conferred on 11 children selected for their exceptional achievement in the fields of art and culture (4), bravery (1), innovation (2), social service (1), and sports (3).
Among the awardees was Aadithya Suresh who even after being diagnosed with a bone disorder since birth (osteogenesis imperfecta) transformed himself into a singer.
As of now, he has performed at more than 500 singing events including those on different TV channels. He has won the award in the field of art and culture.
M Gauravi Reddy was another awardee in the field who is an accomplished dancer and has performed classical dance on various platforms.
Other awardee included Shreya Bhattacharjee, 12, a tabla artiste who has registered a record of playing the instrument for the longest duration in India Book of Records, according to a government citation.
Besides various awards, Shreya stood first in the All North-East Tabla Solo Competition, All India Pt. Rupak Kulkarni Music Competition and All India Tabla Solo Competition. She was also awarded a gold medal at the 9th Cultural Olympiad of Performing Arts.
In the bravery category, Rohan Ramchandra Bahir was awarded for saving a woman's life by jumping into a river .
In the category of innovation, Aditya Pratap Singh Chauhan was awarded who developed a unique technology named 'MICROPA' to detect and filter micro-plastics from drinking water. The detection is done through Nile Red Dye, followed by quantification using a computer algorithm. Project 'MICROPA' is not just an efficient solution to micro- plastics, but is also cost-effective.
Another awardee in the innovation category was Rishi Shiv Prasanna who with a certified IQ level of 180 is the youngest certified android application developer, the citation said.
He is also the youngest YouTuber who runs a channel and in every episode he shares insights on science-related topics.
In the field of sports, Shauryajit Ranjitkumar Khaire who is a 10-year-old national level Mallakhamb player was awarded.
This youngest medallist among all sports has bagged a bronze medal in the standing Pole Open Category at the National Games 2022 held in Gujarat. Apart from this, he has received three bronze medals at the National Level Championships conducted by the Mallakhamb Federation of India.
Hanaya Nisar was also awarded in the sports category. She has been an SQAY martial arts player for the last seven years. She represented India in the 3rd World SQAY Martial Arts Championship at Chingju, South Korea (October, 2018) at the tender age of 12 years and bagged a gold medal.
SQAY is the ancient traditional martial art of Kashmir.
The government gives the PMRBP award to children for their exceptional achievements. The award is conferred on children in the age group 5-18 years for their excellence in different fields.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Power Outage Sweeps Pakistan, Dropping Millions Into Darkness
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5 Dead After Consuming Toxic Liquor In Bihar's Siwan
The toll in the suspected hooch tragedy in dry Bihar's Siwan district rose to five after two more deaths were reported on Monday, a senior police officer said
Seven people, who had also taken ill after allegedly consuming the spurious liquor, are currently undergoing treatment at a government hospital, he said.
A probe has been initiated into the matter, and as many as 16 people, including two who had "50 litres spirit in possession", have been arrested thus far in connection with the incident at Bhopatpur sub-division, the officer said.
According to a statement issued by the Bihar Police, "Twelve people were admitted to a district hospital in Siwan around 7 pm on Sunday after they complained of stomach pain, nausea and dizziness. One person was declared dead on arrival by the doctors, and two died when they were taken to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) from the Siwan facility.
"Two more died on Monday on their way to the Patna hospital," it said.
The statement also said that seven people are undergoing treatment at the district hospital, with no major threat looming on them.
Talking to reporters, Additional Director General of Police (headquarters) J S Gangwar said, "Sixteen people, including prime accused Sandeep Chouhan and his brother Deepak, have been arrested in connection with the case; their custodial interrogation is on.
"The duo had brought spirit from Kolkata via Muzaffarpur, claiming that it would be used to make sanitiser. The consignment reached Muzaffarpur on January 18, and the Chouhan brothers then gave the spirit to five people in Siwan." A team of officers has left for Kolkata to nab the supplier, he said.
"Searches to arrest others involved in the illegal liquor trade is currently underway," said the ADG.
A district administration official said that the exact cause of death would be ascertained after the post-mortem report of the deceased arrives.
Sale and consumption of liquor is banned in Bihar.
In December last year, spurious liquor claimed the lives over 50 people in Saran district. The incident had triggered a political slugfest, with opposition leaders mounting a strong attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the hooch-related deaths.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had also come under criticism for refusing compensation to the families of the deceased.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Coronavirus Live Updates: India Sees 140 Fresh Covid Cases In 24 Hours
India recorded 140 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases increased to 1,960, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,81,921).
The death count stands at 5,30,733, with one fatality reported by Meghalaya and two by Gujarat in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The daily positivity was recorded at 0.10 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.08 per cent.
The active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry website.
Here are the Live Updates on Coronavirus
Delhi BJP President "Misused Mayor's Post", Son Made Illegal Earnings: AAP
AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj on Sunday alleged that Delhi BJP president and former north Delhi mayor Adesh Gupta's son and BJP leader Shyam Jaju's son made illegal earnings through a company named Majboot Solutions Private Limited.
AAP Leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said that in 2022, a lawyer named Hemant Chaudhary had complained about Adesh Gupta to the Lokpal. When Adesh Gupta was the mayor of MCD from April 2018 to 2019, he formed a company named "Majboot" Solutions. Adesh Gupta and Shyam Jaju's sons were equal partners and directors in this company.
He alleged that while misusing the post of Mayor, Adesh Gupta bought and sold a lot of property and earned more property than his source of income.
Lokayukta Harish Chandra Mishra ordered an inquiry, and issued notices to Adesh Gupta several times to explain his sources of income but did not respond. He was given notices on November 3, 2022 and on January 19, 2023. However, he did not answer what the source of income of the order is, alleged Saurabh Bhardwaj.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Adesh Gupta resigned on 11th December 2022 after the defeat of the BJP in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections.
The Aam Aadmi Party won the Delhi Municipal Corporation elections and the BJP had to face defeat under the leadership of Adesh Gupta.
The AAP won the MCD polls with 134 of the total 250 wards in the national capital's civic body polls, uprooting the 15-year rule by the BJP.
AAP won 134 wards, while BJP came second with 104 wards. Congress only managed to get 9 wards while three wards were bagged by Independents.
The polls for 250 wards in the national capital were held on December 4, 2022.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Maharashtra Man Stabs Pani Puri Vendor Over Rs 20: Nagpur Police
A man allegedly stabbed and injured a 'pani puri' vendor after arguing over a bill of Rs 20, Nagpur police said on Sunday.
The man, who works in a shop close to the vendor's stall, was asked to pay a pending bill of Rs 20 by the latter, he said.
"This led to an argument and vendor Jairam Gupta was stabbed in the stomach. He has been hospitalised. The accused has been charged with attempt to murder," the Jaripatka police station official said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Senior Gujarat High Court Lawyer Krishnakant Vakharia Dies At 92
Senior Congress leader and Gujarat high court advocate Krishnakant Vakharia died in Ahmedabad on Sunday at 92.
Vakharia, a former chairman of the legal cell of Gujarat Congress, died at his residence. He was not well, Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said.
A native of Bagasara village in Amreli district, Vakharia studied law in Ahmedabad. He started his legal career in 1954 in Rajkot.
He was a successful lawyer and a known expert on the Constitution with six decades of practice in the Gujarat High Court, Doshi said. Vakharia mentored many successful lawyers including Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
He was a legal adviser to Gujarat Congress until 2010 as the president of the party's legal cell.
Vakharia also served the Gujarati diaspora as a founder and chairman of Vishwa Gujarati Samaj, Doshi said.
He is survived by a son, also a Gujarat High Court lawyer, and two daughters.
Vakharia became involved in politics as a student and went on to become a labour activist under the banner of the Indian National Trade Union Congress, stated a release issued by the state Congress unit.
He contested the second Lok Sabha election from then Girnar and now Amreli seat in 1957 as a member of the Praja Socialist Party. He had also contested the assembly elections from Babra, Jasdan and Dhari seats, it said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
2 More Bodies Of Indian Nationals Identified From Nepal Plane Crash
Nepal's health officials on Sunday identified two more bodies of the Indian nationals who died in a plane crash in Pokhara and assured the victims' relatives that they will be handed over all four bodies on Monday.
Nepalese authorities on Tuesday started handing over to family members the bodies of those killed in the January 14 crash of a Yeti Airlines passenger plane with 72 people on board.
Fifty-three Nepalese passengers and 15 foreign nationals, including 5 Indians, and four crew members were on board the aircraft when it crashed in a river gorge in the resort city of Pokhara.
The five Indians, all reportedly from Uttar Pradesh, have been identified as Abhisekh Kushwaha, 25, Bishal Sharma, 22, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, 27, Sonu Jaiswal, 35, and Sanjaya Jaiswal.
The doctors at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital have completed postmortem of all the bodies they received. Barring 12 bodies, the rest have been identified by the doctors.
The doctors on Sunday identified two more dead bodies of the Indian nationals.
They identified the bodies of Anil Kumar Rajbhar and Abhisehk Kushwaha on the basis of evidence provided by the relatives of the victims, according to hospital sources.
Earlier, on Saturday the body of Sharma was identified. On Friday, the body of Sanjaya Jaiswal was handed over to his family who took it back to India.
The only remaining body yet to be identified is that of Sonu.
Vijaya Jaishwal, elder brother of Sonu, and Rajendra Prasad Jaiswal, Sonu's father, waited at the hospital on Sunday to receive the body.
Other relatives present at the hospital were Ramdras Rajbhar, father of Anil, Abhinesh Kushwaha, younger brother of Abhisekh and Vishwojit Sharma, younger brother of Bishal.
The relatives of four Indian nationals have been waiting for four days to receive the dead bodies of their relatives.
One of the relatives said on Saturday they want to take back all four bodies of the Indians in a single consignment.
The doctors at the hospital on Sunday assured the families of the Indian victims that they were trying to verify the body of Sonu with the signs provided by the family and will most probably hand over all four bodies to relatives on Monday, one of the relatives told PTI.
Meanwhile, the Nepal Army said on Sunday it continued its search operation at the Seti River gorge and the surrounding areas to find the remaining one body and will resume it on Monday.
So far, only 71 dead bodies have been recovered.
According to Nepal's civil aviation body, 914 people have died in air crashes in the country since the first disaster was recorded in August 1955.
The Yeti Airlines tragedy in Pokhara on January 14 was the 104th crash in Nepali skies and the third biggest in terms of casualties.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Rs 3 Crore Seized From Package At Delhi Airport
Cash worth more than Rs 3 crore was seized by the Delhi Police while scanning a package at the cargo terminal of the IGI Airport, informed the police on Sunday.
The Delhi Police told ANI that counting the seized cash is still continuing and further probe is on.
"Cash worth more than Rs 3 crore seized during scanning a package at the cargo terminal of IGI Airport in Delhi. Counting of the cash seized is still underway. CISF and Delhi Police are conducting further probe," Delhi Police said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
China Cautiously Takes to the Road for Lunar New Year
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Coronavirus Live Updates: India Sees 131 Fresh Covid Cases In 24 Hours
India added 131 new coronavirus infections while active cases declined to 1,940, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday.
The total number of Covid cases was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,81,781).
The death count stands at 5,30,730 with one death reconciled by Kerala and one reported by Uttar Pradesh in the last 24 hours, according to the data updated at 8 am.
Both the daily and weekly positivity were recorded at 0.08 per cent.
The active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has risen to 98.81 per cent, according to the Health ministry's website.
Here are the Live Updates on Coronavirus
2 Dead After Chemical Tanker Explodes In Haryana's Panipat: Police
Two persons were killed and two others were seriously injured after a chemical tanker in the Sadar area of Haryana's Panipat allegedly exploded on Saturday.
The incident took place at Coco chowk near the Panipat refinery.
According to Sadar's Station House Officer (SHO), the two injured persons were undergoing treatment in a nearby civil hospital. The explosion was so severe that the shop's roof was completely damaged.
"The incident took place during the welding work. Two people died, and two others are undergoing treatment. The roof of the shop was also damaged in the blast," SHO Ramniwas, Sadar, Panipat said on Saturday.
Locals said that as soon as Somnath started the welding, a fire spark led to the blast in the gas cylinder.
SHO Ramniwas identified the dead as Junaid [driver] of Uttar Pradesh's Ghatampur and Pappu [electrician] from the Gopal Colony of Panipat. Meanwhile, one person Mohammed Hussain from UP's Khatmalpur and Somnath were injured and currently undergoing treatment.
More details are awaited.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Buckingham Palace Sets 3-Day Coronation Weekend for King Charles III
By BY MARK LANDLER from NYT World https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/21/world/europe/king-charles-coronation-britain.html?partner=IFTTT
Gurugram Woman Cheated Of Rs 7 Lakh By Fraudster Posing As Mumbai Police
A woman was allegedly duped of around Rs 7 lakh by a fraudster posing as a courier company executive on the pretext of rejecting an international parcel carrying narcotics, police said on Saturday.
The victim, Prachi Dhoke, in her complaint said that she received a call from a person posing as a courier company's customer service executive.
He told her that an international parcel, in her name, containing two passports, five ATM cards, 300g weed and a laptop has been rejected, police said citing the complaint.
When Prachi Dhoke told the person that the parcel was not sent by her, the caller urged her to file a complaint with the police as her Aadhaar card has been misused, they said.
Following this, the caller transferred the call to a person posing as an official of Mumbai Police who told her that her ID is being misused for international smuggling and money laundering in Mumbai, Prachi Dhoke said in her complaint.
"They asked me to help them in the investigation saying that they will give me a certificate that I am not involved in the matter," she said.
The fraudsters asked the woman to transfer Rs 95,499 on the pretext of investigation with the RBI, police said.
The victim transferred a total of Rs 6,93,437.50 in four transactions after the accused asked her for more money in the name of security deposit and investigation, they said citing Prachi Dhoke's complaint.
An FIR has been registered against unknown people under sections 419 (cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code at cybercrime, east police station on Friday, said the investigating officer Inspector Surender Singh.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
"Don't Wish To Spoil My Time...": Tejasvi Surya On Plane Door Row
Bengaluru south MP Tejasvi Surya has declined to comment on the ongoing row over alleged opening of the emergency door of a plane last month.
Surya, also the BJP youth wing president, said he wishes not to spoil his time and others' on the issue, as authorised people have spoken on it.
"Already, Indigo airline officials, Union Minister for Civil Aviation (Jyotiraditya Scindia), my co-passenger and eye-witness Annamalai, chief of Tamil Nadu unit of the party, and two other passengers, have spoken of what exactly had happened," Surya told reporters here.
"I don't wish to spoil my time and your time because the Congress and others have been talking about it time and again. Certain people, authorised to issue appropriate clarification and tell the facts, have spoken. You can refer to that," said the MP.
Surya had reported that he accidentally opened the emergency exit of the IndiGo flight to Tiruchirappalli from Chennai in December 2022.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Demands A Separate Railway Budget
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday demanded a separate Railway Budget to be presented in the house from the general budget. Nitish said it has a lot of importance.
Nitish Kumar, who is on a Samadhan Yatra told reporters in Nalanda, "When I was the Railway Minister, we used to give numerous jobs to people. When Rail Budget was presented in Parliament, there were discussions across all newspapers".
"I want a separate Railway Budget to be presented in the House. It has a lot of importance," Nitish Kumar added.
Mr Kumar again raised the issue of demanding special status for Bihar. Development work has been done in Bihar Sharif, he added.
"I have always been listening to the problems of people since the time I was an MLA. I keep visiting places, sitting with people and addressing their issues. We have always been demanding special status for Bihar," CM Nitish.
The government is in the process of finalising the Budget document to be presented on February 1.
The formal exercise to prepare the annual Budget for the next financial year commenced on October 10.
Budget 2023 is likely to be the last full budget of the Modi government in its second term with the next Lok Sabha elections due in April-May of 2024.
The U.S. will name the Wagner mercenary group a transnational criminal organization.
By BY KATIE ROGERS from NYT World https://ift.tt/I7VCOx5
A Ukrainian-born conductor devotes herself to both music and aiding the country.
By BY JAVIER C. HERNÁNDEZ from NYT World https://ift.tt/I2VzCtY
"Wrestling Chief To Step Aside Till Probe Over": Minister On #MeToo Charge
BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will step aside from India's wrestling body for four weeks during which an oversight committee will look into allegations of sex harassment against him, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur told reporters today.
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Search Intensifies For Last Missing Person In Nepal Plane Crash: Army
The search for the lone missing person in the Nepal plane crash intensified on Friday, Nepal Army officials said, as the postmortem of the remaining victims continued here at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.
A Yeti Airlines aircraft with 72 people on board, including five Indians, plunged into a river gorge in the resort city of Pokhara on January 15.
The five Indians, all from Uttar Pradesh, have been identified as Abhisekh Kushwaha, 25, Bishal Sharma, 22, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, 27, Sonu Jaiswal, 35, and Sanjaya Jaiswal.
Sanjaya Jaiswal's body was handed over to his relatives who returned to India, hospital sources said. So far, only 71 dead bodies have been recovered and the search is on for the remaining person.
On Thursday, 12 bodies including one belonging to an Indian national were handed over to the family members.
The remaining bodies will be handed over their families once the postmortem is over, hospital sources said.
Nepal Army on Friday said that it has intensified the search operations to locate the lone missing person.
The Nepal Army officials conducted search operations from the Seti River in Pokhara to Damauli and Kharenitar of Tanhu district looking for the remains of the crash.
The search will continue on Saturday, according to a press release issued by the Nepal Army.
According to Nepal's civil aviation body, 914 people have died in air crashes in the country since the first disaster was recorded in August 1955.
The Yeti Airlines tragedy in Pokhara on Sunday is the 104th crash in Nepali skies and the third biggest in terms of casualties.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Why Tanks Are Tripping Up the West
By BY LARA JAKES AND ERIKA SOLOMON from NYT World https://ift.tt/7JLaRej
Zelensky continues to push for Western tanks on the eve of a key conference.
By BY BEN SHPIGEL from NYT World https://ift.tt/TrfovNM
Rajasthan Teen Dies After House Set On Fire By Drug Smugglers: Cops
A father-son duo involved in heroin smuggling allegedly set the house of a man on fire on Thursday over a financial dispute killing his seven-year-old son, police said.
Superintendent of Police, Hanumangarh, Ajay Singh said the accused, Baaj Singh (53) and his son Sharaj (27), were arrested from Abohar in Punjab.
Jasveer Das (36), his wife Manpreet Kaur (34) and their son Ekmjit Singh, residents of Pilibanga, Hanumangarh, were sleeping when the accused poured petrol from under the door and lit the fire.
While Das and Kaur were referred to Bikaner for treatment, their son succumbed to injuries at the hospital, police said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
A Secret Room and a Comfortable Life: A Mobster’s Years on the Run
By BY GAIA PIANIGIANI from NYT World https://ift.tt/RfkN4uL
India Seeks Probe Into Vandalisation Of 2 Temples In Australia
India has urged Australia to investigate incidents of vandalisation of two temples near Melbourne and take action against the perpetrators, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the matter has been taken up with the Australian government both in Canberra and New Delhi.
"Recently a couple of temples have been vandalised in Australia. We condemned these incidents. Both are near Melbourne. We strongly condemned these actions," Arindam Bagchi said.
"These actions have also been publicly condemned by Australian leaders, community leaders and religious associations there," he said, replying to a question at his weekly media briefing.
Mr Bagchi said the Indian consulate general in Melbourne has taken up the matter with local police.
"We have requested expeditious investigation, action against the perpetrators and measures to prevent such incidents in future. The matter has also been taken up with the Australian government both in Canberra and in New Delhi," he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
An Orthodox Epiphany ritual offers ‘healing’ for Ukrainians coping with nearly a year of war.
By BY MEGAN SPECIA from NYT World https://ift.tt/yDBpT3J
Journalists Not Exempted From Disclosing Their Sources: CBI Court
A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in the national capital on Wednesday rejected a "closure report" and said that there is no statutory exemption in India to journalists from disclosing their sources to the investigating agencies.
While rejecting the "closure report", the CBI court also directed further investigation into the matter.
The investigating agency can always bring to the notice of the concerned journalists the requirement of disclosure of the source is essential and vital to the investigation proceedings, the court said.
The investigating agency is fully equipped under the sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to require the public persons to mandatorily join in an investigation where the investigating agency is of the opinion that such public persons are privy to any facts or circumstances pertaining to the case under investigation and public persons are under a legal duty to join the investigation, the court added.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Anjani Mahajan of Rouse Avenue District Court made the observations and rejected a "closure report" filed by the CBI in a case related to the alleged forgery of documents.
The agency had claimed that the journalists who published and aired the alleged forged documents refused to disclose their source, therefore, it could not complete the investigation in the matter.
The matter pertains to the CBI case where a report related to an alleged disproportionate asset case against Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family members was published by a newspaper and aired by some channels on February 9, 2009, a day before its hearing in the Supreme Court.
A First Information Report (FIR) was then lodged by the CBI alleging that some unknown persons prepared a fake and fabricated report to tarnish the agency's reputation. After the investigation, the CBI filed a closure report in the matter.
The court later rejected the CBI's closure report. It noted that the investigation had not been taken to its logical conclusion and thus directed the agency to question the journalists.
"Merely because the concerned journalists denied to reveal their respective sources, as stated in the final report, the investigating agency should not have put a halt to the entire investigation. There is no statutory exemption in India to journalists from disclosing their sources to investigating agencies, more so where such disclosure is necessary for the purpose of aiding and assisting in investigation of a criminal case," the court said in the order passed on January 17.
The CBI had also submitted that during the investigation, relevant documents were requisitioned from the concerned media houses but they had not given any documents.
While rejecting the submission, the court said, "The CBI is well within its power to direct the concerned journalists/news agencies by way of notices u/s 91 Cr.P.C. etc. to provide the required information and bring to their notice the requisite facts of the case warranting disclosure of the information as per law."
Further enquiry was required from the concerned journalists on the aspect of their respective sources from whom they received the purported impugned forged documents which became the basis of their respective news items, the court said in the order.
Based on such information, additional clues regarding the identities of the culprits who entered into the alleged criminal conspiracy, prepared and fraudulently and knowingly used as genuine the forged document by providing it to the media and getting it published and aired could be found and probed, the judge said.
"Further investigation on this aspect is thus required to be conducted," the court said.
The judge also noted that "the final report was totally silent on the aspect of the investigation, if at all any conducted, as to how the official document i.e. the undated status report of the CBI which was kept in sealed cover got leaked a day before it was to be filed before the apex court, from the office of CBI, ultimately reaching the media."
"The final report does not disclose any investigation done, on the aspect of how the forger could have gained access to the original note-sheet of Tilotama Varma from which the signatures had been lifted, compressed and reproduced on the alleged forged document as per opinion of the CFSL," the court said.
The investigation was also required to be carried out by the CBI on the modus operandi adopted by the culprits for obtaining the official documents including probing the involvement of any insider in the acts alleged and preparing the alleged forged 17-page review note, the court added.
"Hence, the untrace report is rejected and the CBI is directed to carry out further investigation in the present case," the court said further directing the agency to file the report by March 24.
The Supreme Court had in March 2007 directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into the assets Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family members acquired.
In compliance thereof, a preliminary enquiry was registered on March 5, 2007 and was concluded on October 26, 2007.
A status report based on the evidence collected was prepared and placed in two sealed cover envelopes before the Supreme Court of India.
It is further contended that the proceedings were pending for final adjudication before the Apex Court, on February 9, 2009, i.e. a day before the scheduled date of hearing, the news based on forged documents was published and aired by the media houses.
It was alleged in the complaint that these unknown persons during the year 2008-2009 entered into a criminal conspiracy and with the intent to commit forgery for purpose of harming the reputation of the CBI and CBI officers, used as genuine, a forged document, printed and aired false and fabricated news in newspapers and on TV.
It is contended in the final report that the documents used by the news channel were forged but it could not be established as to who forged the documents as the users of the forged documents did not disclose their source therefore, there is no sufficient material and evidence to prove the criminal conspiracy.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Ahead Of Budget, Ashok Gehlot Firm On Old Pension Scheme In Rajasthan
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said that the Rajasthan government is firm on its decision to revive the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for the state government employees.
He said the employees are an integral part of the state government and play an important role in taking the benefits of public welfare schemes run by the government to the last mile.
Speaking at the pre-budget dialogue with the representatives of the employees' organisations at the secretariat on Wednesday, Mr Gehlot said his government is continuously working in the interest of the state employees.
He said the employees act as an important link in the effective implementation of the schemes till the lower level.
The CM invited suggestions from the employees' organizations to make the upcoming budget inclusive.
"Unprecedented decisions have been taken by the state government in the last four years for the welfare of the employees. In view of the future security of the employees, the government re-implemented OPS from a human perspective," a release quoting him said.
With the implementation of OPS, he said, the "employees will be free from worrying about the future and will be able to work with responsibility".
Mr Gehlot said there should be continuous dialogue between the government and the employees. He said the government's concept of good governance is affected by the employees going on strike and there is unnecessary delay in the work of the common man.
Various types of problems can be easily resolved in a timely manner by establishing dialogue, he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
On Camera, Madhya Pradesh Man Beaten For Alleged Molestation, 6 Arrested
A young man was assaulted mercilessly in Madhya Pradesh for allegedly molesting a woman. Six men have been arrested and a case has been filed by the police in Khandwa, where the assault took place.
A video of the attack, which is being widely circulated on social media, show a group of men surrounding the man in the parking lot of a shopping mall. Initially they threaten him and demand that he answer their questions. Then they abuse him and start slapping him. He was then dragged in the middle of the room and two men with rods start hitting him.
Police sources said the incident took place on January 3 and was reported to them the same day. The men allegedly responsible were arrested today, after the video went viral.
Earlier today, with no arrest being made even after two weeks of the attack, a delegation of the local Muslim community met the district police chief.
"The boy is a resident of Sahar village and a college student. There was a conspiracy against him. He was wrongly accused and beaten up just because he is a Muslim," Khandwa Shahar Qazi Syed Nisar Ali told reporters.
Sehbaz is doing his post-graduation course in computer applications at the local SN College.
"The perpetrators are hooligans who call themselves members of a group. Such incidents will sully the name of our city," he added.
He said they have asked the police to take immediate action, arrest the men responsible and accuse them of kidnapping and mob lynching.
"The accused have been identified from the viral video. All six of them have been taken into custody now," said Vivek Singh, the district police chief.
Earlier, the police had filed a case against Sehbaaz for molesting a girl.
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By BY JENNY GROSS from NYT World https://ift.tt/iKM8FTu
BJP Upset, Others Welcome Meghalaya Poll Date Announcement
The Election Commission's announcement of Meghalaya Assembly poll on February 27 was welcomed by most political parties in the state, barring the BJP on Wednesday.
The ruling alliance partners NPP, UDP and the opposition TMC and Congress welcomed the EC announcement and said they are ready for the poll battle.
Meghalaya BJP was, however, discountenanced at the long time span between the announcement of the date and the holding of the election and said it will give "ample opportunity to major parties to influence voters".
The EC Wednesday declared February 27 as the date of poll and March 2 for counting. The notification for the elections will be issued on January 31.
Chief Minister Conrad P Sangma, who is also the president of the National People's Party, the major party in the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), welcomed the announcement of the poll.
"We thank the EC for taking into account numerous factors while preparing for the election. We appeal to all parties and poll candidates to ensure that the election is violence-free and to maintain peace during the election," he told PTI.
When contacted state BJP president Ernest Mawrie said, “We are upset that the election will be held almost a month and a half later. This will give ample opportunity to the ruling alliance parties to influence the voters ... We worked hard for the past five years. Those who work in the last minute may also get the votes".
The BJP is prepared to contest the poll and so far candidates from over 40 seats have approached the party for tickets, he claimed.
BJP is a constituent of the MDA and has not entered into any prepoll understanding with any political party.
“We are not in favour of any pre-poll alliance. We will contest on our own and we will comfortably win 10-15 seats,” he said.
Jemino Mawthoh, general secretary of United Democratic Party (UDP), welcomed the EC's announcement and said "It gives us ample opportunity to prepare ourselves up for the poll." He said that all the five MLAs, including PHE minister Renikton Tongkhar, who quit the Assembly during the day have joined the UDP.
"We are upbeat with the formal joining of the five MLAs today and we look forward to more leaders of different political parties to amalgamate with us in the days to come," he added.
Congress too welcomed the announcement of the poll date, as did Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress which has emerged as the main opposition party of the northeastern state.
“We are prepared to fight the electoral battle and are confident of winning the maximum number of seats,” Congress state president Vincent H Pala told PTI.
Asked to comment on the desertion by Congress MLAs in favour of TMC, NPP and UDP, he said, “The leaders may have left the party, but the people have not. They (voters) are not fooled, we (Congress) will come back stronger.”
Pala is contesting the Assembly poll from Sutnga Saipung constituency in the eastern Jaintia Hills region. He will take on Shitang Pale, a former colleague in Congress. Pale had joined the TMC but resigned from it during the day and will contest on a UDP ticket.
TMC state president Charles Pyngrope welcoming the announcement of the poll date said, "It comes with great timing. We expect to do a lot of things as preparation in the next one month for the election.
"Everything is positive for us wherever we go, we are hoping to do well," he said.
MDA partners HSPDP and PDF could not be contacted for their views despite repeated efforts.
In the present house the ruling NPP at present has 20 MLAS, UDP eight. PDF two, BJP two, NCP one, TMC eight and Independent one lawmaker. Five lawmakers, including the state PHE minister quit hours before the announcement of the polld date.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Query On Kashmir In Bengal School Question Papers Stirs Controversy
An image of a model question paper from a school in Bengal, asking students to mark "Azad Kashmir" on a map, has been widely distributed on social media, setting off a controversy ahead of Class 10 board exams.
The school in question is Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Vidyamandir School of Malda. Pakistan and terrorist organisations refer to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir as "Azad Kashmir".
Various schools and teachers' association, as well as the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, issue model question papers every year to aid the preparations for board examinees. These are printed in a book format and Bengal board students solve them as part of their preparations.
Union Minister Subhas Sarkar, who has called for a state-level inquiry, told NDTV that the education ministry should stop selling the test paper and investigate the matter.
"They should find out who set the paper, find out who published it and take necessary action... Their mentality is anti-national, and the paper setter would like to inspire terrorist activities," he added.
West Bengal Board of Secondary Education president Ramanuja Ganguly said action will be taken.'
"We are trying to rectify and clarify and see what exactly transpired. The people who have framed the question and edited the question, we will inquire with them and then based on the model act and its clauses, we will take a decision. We will relay our decision through our website," he told reporters.
"We have found that a school called Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Vidyamandir School in Malda set this question in a test. I have heard this, but it is not confirmed that the history teacher did not create the question paper. The physical education teacher did it even though his personal academic qualification is in history. I don't know what the headmaster has done about it and these are matters that need to be inquired into," Ramanuja Ganguly said.
This test paper has already been distributed all over the state. The board president said it was not possible to recall it.
Subhash Sarkar said the incident, if true, can be attributed to the "appeasement politics of the Trinamool-run government, which has emboldened some people to insert a question with anti-national overtones in the test paper".
Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh later told PTI his party doesn't support anything that is wrong. "If someone has set such a question, he has done the wrong thing. We don't support such acts," he said. "The Trinamool is a secular party, which does not believe in appeasing any particular community. Sarkar has made a baseless comment against our party," Mr Ghosh added.
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Ex BSF Director General Appointed Deputy National Security Adviser
Retired director general of the Border Security Force (BSF) Pankaj Kumar Singh was on Monday appointed as deputy national security adviser.
According to an official order, Mr Singh, a 1988-batch IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, has been appointed on a re-employment contract for a period of two years. Mr Singh retired as BSF chief on December 31, 2022. When he took charge of the BSF on August 31, 2021, he had created history of a son and a father holding the top post of a paramilitary force during their services.
His father and retired IPS officer of the 1959-batch, Prakash Singh, had also headed the BSF from June, 1993 to January, 1994.
Prakash Singh is considered an architect of police reforms in the country.
He had petitioned the Supreme Court in 1996 for carrying out reforms in the police establishment following which the government started giving a fixed tenure of two years at least to the chief of the Intelligence Bureau, the CBI, foreign secretary, the RAW chief and the Union home secretary.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
