LIVE: JP Nadda flags off BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' in poll-bound Bengal

Latest News LIVE updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a day's visit to poll-bound Assam and West Bengal on February 7 to lay the foundation stone for several infrastructure projects

7:33 PM

Delhi Congress announces candidates for byelections in 5 wards

6:28 PM

Aam Aadmi Party announces candidates for byelections in 5 wards of NDMC, EDMC

6:06 PM

PM to visit Haldia tomorrow, dedicate LPG import terminal built by BPCL

6:04 PM

PM Modi to visit Assam, West Bengal tomorrow: PMO

PM Narendra Modi will visit Assam & West Bengal on Feb 7. At around 11:45 am, the PM will lay the foundation stone of two hospitals & launch ‘Asom Mala’, a programme for state highways & major district roads, at Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur District, Assam, according to PMO.

5:20 PM

Delhi govt launches campaign to directly connect with people

Delhi government launches social media handles of 'Switch Delhi' campaign to connect directly with people even as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal says efforts are being made to turn electric vehicle awareness drive into mass movement

5:01 PM

ADG & IG Soumen Mitra becomes new police commissioner of Kolkata

ADG & IG of Police (Training) Soumen Mitra becomes the new police commissioner of Kolkata, according to ANI report

4:48 PM

BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda flags off the party's 'Parivartan Yatra' in Bengal

4:36 PM

BJP has decided to awaken Bengal through 'Parivartan Yatra': Nadda

'Parivartan Yatra' begins here. It's a change of not only Govt but also of thinking. Mamata di formed Govt 10 yrs back by swearing on 'Ma Mati Manush'. In 10 yrs, 'Ma' (mother) was looted, 'Mati' (soil) was disrespected & 'Manush' (humans) wasn't protected. BJP has decided to awaken the people of Bengal through 'Parivartan Yatra'. I think the people have already awoken, I can see it: BJP chief in Nabadwip

4:06 PM

Delhi Metro resume normal services

Entry/exit gates of all metro stations are open, normal services resume, says Delhi metro

3:51 PM

BJP president JP Nadda offers prayers at Sri Sri Gouranga Ashram in Nabadwip

3:22 PM

Left, Congress to meet tomorrow to discuss seat-sharing in upcoming Bengal polls

A meeting of left parties and Congress over seat-sharing in West Bengal Assembly polls to be held tomorrow in Kolkata, according to ANI sources.

2:13 PM

Kerala Police use water cannon to disperse Congress workers against govt's illegal appointments

1:51 PM

BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda holds roadshow in Malda, West Bengal

1:30 PM

Deployed troops in very large numbers to meet the challenge: Jaishakar

After last years' events, we've deployed troops in very large numbers to meet the challenge which has come from the massing of Chinese troops there: External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

1:26 PM

JP Nadda to launch BJP Rath Yatra in Bengal

Mamata Didi has done injustice to the farmers here. She in her stubbornness, ego & pride, did not roll out PM's Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in West Bengal. This has kept over 70 lakh farmers deprived of its benefit. When around 25 lakh people urged to the Centre, then Mamata ji said I'll also implement Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. Mamata ji, elections are around the corner, what's the point repenting when the damage has already been done?: BJP President JP Nadda in Malda, West Bengal

1:24 PM

US' demand for Navalny's release unacceptable: Russia

Russia views US President Joe Biden's call for the immediate release of opposition figure Alexei Navalny as aggressive and counterproductive, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "This is a very aggressive and unconstructive rhetoric, unfortunately," TASS News Agency quoted the spokesman as saying to reporters at a briefing on Friday. "Any hints of an ultimatum are absolutely unacceptable to us," Peskov added He reiterated that Moscow will not heed such claims, saying that despite existing differences, Russia hopes the US will demonstrate "political will" to continue mutually beneficial communication.

1:08 PM

After two days of spike, Petrol, diesel prices remain unchanged

Petrol and diesel price rise went on the pause mode on Saturday after two consecutive days of sharp increase where pump price of the auto fuels rose by 65 paise per litre. The pause came on a day when global crude prices rose by close to 1 per cent to reach this years' high level of $60 a barrel. Petrol, diesel and other oil product prices in India are determined on the basis of petroleum product price in the global markets and not crude price. But movement in benchmark crude has a bearing on pricing across the product categories. With price on the pause on Saturday, the retail price of diesel remained at Rs 77.13 a litre in Delhi while petrol prices remained at new high level of Rs 86.95 a litre in the capital. The retail price of the two products had risen on February 4 and 5, increasing the prices by 65 paise per litre.

 

1:07 PM

Nine rounds of military talks held with Chinese, will continue says Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said senior military commanders of India and China have held nine rounds of talks on the process of disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh and the parleys will continue in future also. Addressing reporters in Vijayawada, he said so far there was no "visible expression" of the talks on ground. "The disengagement talks, because it is a very complicated issue, because it depends on troops, you have to know the geography (like) which position and what is happening, this is being done by the military commanders," he said.

12:57 PM

Biden revokes terrorist designation for Yemen's Houthis

President Joe Biden's administration is moving to revoke the designation of Yemen's Houthis as a terrorist group, citing the need to mitigate one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. President Donald Trump's administration had branded the Iranian-backed Houthis as a foreign terrorist organisation, a move that limited the provision of aid to the beleaguered Yemeni people, who have suffered under a yearslong civil war and famine. A State Department official confirmed the move Friday after members of Congress were notified of the administration's plans. The official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the removal changed nothing about the Biden administration's views of the Houthis, who have targeted civilians and kidnapped Americans.

12:45 PM

Budget to put pandemic-hit real estate sector back on track, say experts

India's real estate sector which was engulfed by a global pandemic is now back on road to recovery. With economic activities gearing up, key announcements in the union budget have raised hopes for this sector. Industry leaders are lauding and welcoming decisions taken by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Eminent experts opine that major budget announcements like tax exemptions on affordable housing projects, debt financing by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs), better connectivity will bring back confidence among investors and homebuyers, reviving trust, growth and investments in this emerging sector.

12:42 PM

Call for Bharat Ratna: Ratan Tata requests people to stop social media campaign

Stating that he considers himself fortunate to be an Indian and was happy to contribute to the growth and prosperity of the country, veteran industrialist Ratan Tata on Saturday requested people to refrain from demanding the Bharat Ratna for him. The Chairman Emeritus of the over USD 100 billion conglomerate Tata group asked social media users to stop the campaign that asked the government to confer on him the highest civilian award of the country. "While I appreciate the sentiments expressed by a section of the social media in terms of an award, I would humbly like to request that such campaigns be discontinued," Tata said in a tweet. He was reacting to various users on Twitter lauding him for his contributions, especially in inspiring the youth with #BharatRatnaForRatanTata trending.

12:28 PM

Restoration of 4G internet brings relief to residents of J-K

People of Jammu and Kashmir are happy after the administration has restored the 4G Internet services in the region after 18 months. A local of Rajouri expressed his happiness saying, "We are thankful to the government for restoring 4G Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir after 18 months. Now that our children are attending classes from home, better internet services will surely benefit them. The restoration will also ease our everyday life."

12:17 PM

UN envoy condemns Myanmar's military coup, calls for release of detainees

In a first contact between the UN and Myanmar Army since generals seized power in a bloodless coup, the Secretary General's special envoy on Myanmar spoke with the country's deputy military chief and expressed strong condemnation of its action and called for the immediate release of all detained leaders. Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, spoke overnight with Deputy Commander-in-Chief Vice-General Soe Win in capital Nay Pyi Taw, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters at the daily press briefing on Friday.

11:55 AM

Indonesia, Malaysia ask ASEAN to hold special meeting on Myanmar

Indonesia and Malaysia are pushing for a special meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to discuss the situation in Myanmar where a military coup was staged earlier this week. Indonesian President Joko Widodo conveyed the call in a joint press statement with Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin after a meeting at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Friday, reports Xinhua news agency. Widodo said that he has agreed with Muhyiddin to assign their Foreign Ministers to speak with the ASEAN chair to hold a special meeting of the bloc's Foreign Ministers on the Myanmar issue.

11:54 AM

PM Modi addresses the diamond jubilee celebration of Gujarat High Court

It makes us proud that our Supreme Court has heard the most number of cases through video conferencing in the world. Our High Courts and District Courts have also carried out a large number of e-proceedings during COVID: PM Modi

11:44 AM

In pics | Glimpses from Aero India 2021

IAF Rafale fighter jets flying during the air show on day-two of Aero India 2021 at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, in Bengaluru.

IAF C-17 Globemaster with others during the air show on day-two of Aero India 2021 at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, in Bengaluru.

Glimpses of air show during valedictory function at Aero India-21, presided over by President Ram Nath Kovind at Air Force Station Yehalanka, in Bengaluru.

11:30 AM

PM Modi addresses the diamond jubilee celebration of Gujarat High Court

Our judiciary has always interpreted Constitution positively & creatively to strengthen it further. Be it safeguarding the rights of people of the country or when any situation arose where national interest needed to be prioritized, judiciary has always performed its duty:PM Modi

11:26 AM

Amit Shah to chair Southern Zonal Council meet in Tirupati on March 4

Union Minister Amit Shah will chair the 29th Southern Zonal Council meet scheduled to be held in the temple town of Tirupati on March 4. "Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors of 8 States/UTs in the Southern Zone will participate along with their respective Chief Secretaries, Advisers and other senior officers in keeping with important agenda items. On the whole, approximately 90 to 100 dignitaries and officers are expected to participate in this meeting," a communication for the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Friday.

 

11:12 AM

Aung San Suu Kyi in good health: Myanmar military

Former Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been in detention since the military took control of the country earlier this week, is in good health, an army official said. The development was confirmed by the official to the Xinhua news agency on Friday. Following their detention on Monday morning Suu Kyi and former President U Win Myint were remanded in custody for violating the National Disaster Management Law and Import-Export Law until February 15, the official added. Friday's development came a day after U Win Htein, patron of the former ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party, was arrested.

10:57 AM

US will hold China accountable for abuses of international system: Blinken tells Chinese counterpart

United States State Secretary Antony J Blinken had a telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi during which he conveyed that Washington will continue to stand up for human rights and democratic values, including in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, and will hold Beijing accountable for its abuses of the international system. Blinken also pressed China to condemn the military coup in Myanmar, "In my call with my counterpart in Beijing, Yang Jiechi, I made clear the U.S. will defend our national interests, stand up for our democratic values, and hold Beijing accountable for its abuses of the international system," Blinken tweeted.