LIVE: MCD standing committee polls to be held on Feb 27, says Delhi mayor

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9:18 PM

Election of MCD standing committee members will be held on Feb 27: Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi

9:07 PM

FATF (Financial Action Task Force) suspends membership of Russia

9:06 PM

Better coordination among law enforcement agencies, border states needed to tackle drug menace: Om Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday once again urged for collective efforts and strong coordination between law enforcement agencies and border states to tackle the problem of drug abuse. He expressed this view during an interaction with ANI on the occasion of the Annual Zone III Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region conference today. “Drug abuse is a national problem. It is a borderless crime, which makes the problem exceptionally challenging. Referring to the extensive international borders of the North Eastern states and the hilly terrain. Due to these factors, there is a high risk of drug trafficking in the region,” said the Lok Sabha Speaker.

 

Birla said that there is an urgent need for coordination not only among all the drug law enforcement and intelligence agencies but also among all border districts and states of the region to tackle the drug menace. The Government of India and Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah himself assured that drug trafficking cannot be tolerated at any level and agencies are very much capable to deal with this. Also, all borders are fully secured and all agencies are very attentive to counter this.

9:04 PM

A farmer in Solapur received a cheque for Rs 2 after selling 10 sacks of onion

7:32 PM

Ruckus in the House after Delhi mayor Shelly Oberoi said an invalid vote cannot be called valid

7:30 PM

Punches, hair pulling at Delhi civic body amid AAP vs BJP over key poll

A fight broke out between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and BJP councillors inside the house of Delhi's civic body after the Mayor declared one vote invalid in the election to six members of a key municipal committee. After the Mayor's action, the BJP interrupted the counting of votes. The Mayor, however, insisted the result will be declared without the invalid vote. Soon, the house fell into chaos - councillors from both sides punched, kicked, slapped and pushed one another amid shouting. Some councillors were seen with their kurtas torn. One of them also collapsed.

 

Earlier, members of the ruling AAP and the BJP climbed on tables and shouted slogans against each other in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) house. BJP members said they will not allow a recount. "One side is ready for recounting, while the other side is not. That is why I'm not recounting. The result is being declared without the invalid vote," said Shelly Oberoi, the AAP leader who was elected Mayor earlier this week after over a two-month delay.

 

At least 242 of the 250 councillors in the AAP-run civic body voted to select six members to the MCD's standing committee, a powerful body that decides how funds are to be used and on what projects. After she declared one vote invalid, Ms Oberoi came under the firing line of angry BJP councillors, who shouted "you are not in your senses" at her.

 

Some BJP councillors shouted "Jai Shri Ram" and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Their rivals from the AAP shot back, "Aam Aadmi Party zindabad, Arvind Kejriwal zindabad." Seven candidates are contesting the standing committee election. The AAP nominated Aamil Malik, Raminder Kaur, Mohini Jeenwal and Sarika Chaudhary). The BJP has fielded Kamaljeet Sehrawat and Pankaj Luthra. Independent councillor Gajender Singh Daral, who joined the BJP, is also a candidate.

4:09 PM

Two more minor tremors hit Gujarat's Amreli, third in two days

Two minor tremors of 3.4 and 3.1 magnitudes were recorded in 24 hours in Gujarat's Amreli district, taking the number of such earthquakes in the area to three in the past two days, an official from the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said on Friday, the PTI reported. 

3:35 PM

Congress party president to select CWC members: Jairam Ramesh

During the Steering Committee meeting today, every member tabled their opinion and with everyone's consent the committee decided that the Party president should be given the power of selecting CWC members: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh in Raipur, Chhattisgarh

 

 

2:52 PM

Reconsider imposing property tax in J-K, leave decision for elected govt, says Ghulam Nabi Azad

Democratic Progressive Azad Party Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday said the Jammu and Kashmir administration should reconsider its decision of imposing property tax in the Union Territory and leave such decisions for an elected government.

 

"I request the government to reconsider this issue and leave it for the elected government," Azad told reporters at the party's office in Sonwar here.

2:26 PM

SC ruling allowing EPS as AIADMK chief not a setback: Panneerselvam

Deposed AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam on Friday said the Supreme Court judgment that allowed Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) to continue as party interim chief is not a setback and asserted that he would go to the people and seek justice.

 

In his first official reaction to the top court's ruling, Panneerselvam said no verdict is a setback for them. "Only after this judgment, our party workers are enthused more," he told reporters.

2:02 PM

Baghel writes to Gehlot, seeks land in Kota for construction of hostel for Chhattisgarh students

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday requested his Rajasthan peer Ashok Gehlot to allot an acre of land free of cost in Rajasthan's Kota city for a hostel for students from the central state pursuing coaching there, officials said.

 

In a letter to Gehlot, who is in Raipur to attend the Congress' three-day plenary session that began on Friday, Baghel said a large number of students from Chhattisgarh stay put in Kota for pursuing coaching in various courses.

1:47 PM

India's rise unstoppable, to become 3rd largest economy by turn of decade: Dhankar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said India is a rising star in the global economy primarily due to agriculture and agri-based industry, and the country's rise is "unstoppable."

 

Addressing the occasion of the 61st convocation of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Dhankar said: "In September 2022, India became the 5th largest economy in the world. It has not come easily. It has been a cesarean."

 

1:42 PM

Adani-Hindenburg row: SC says it won't issue media gag on short-selller report

The Supreme Court on Friday clarified that it will not issue any injunction against the media for reporting on the Hindenburg report against the Adani Group.

 

A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said it is not going to issue any injunction to the media for reporting on the Hindenburg report.

1:23 PM

Gujarat govt presents Rs 3.01 trillion state budget; no new taxes proposed

The Gujarat government on Friday presented a Rs 3.01 trillion budget with no new taxes imposed on people.

 

Gujarat Finance Minister Kanu Desai presented the budgetary outlay for fiscal 2023-24 in the state Assembly here. This was the first budget of the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government headed by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel which took office in December last year after the saffron outfit registered a landslide victory in the Assembly polls.

1:14 PM

Modi lauds Yediyurappa's 'farewell' speech saying it reflected party's ethics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa's speech in the Karnataka Assembly saying that it reflected the party's ethics.

 

In what is perceived as his farewell speech as he had announced his retirement from electoral politics, the 79-year old leader said there was no question of him sitting at home and spoke of his resolve to tour the state and campaign for the BJP and its candidates even after the Assembly elections are over.

12:52 PM

Ex-President Pratibha Patil's husband Dr Devisingh R. Shekhawat passes away, funeral today

Academician and politician, Dr Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat - the husband of former President Pratibha Patil - passed away here on Friday morning, official sources said.

He was 88 and breathed his last at the KEM Hospital. He is survived by his ex-President wife, a son Rajendra Singh Shekhawat, who is a Congress leader, and a daughter Jyoti Rathod.

According to the sources, Shekhawat had a fall while on a morning constitutional outside their house lawns in Pune on February 12.

12:47 PM

Amazon to join ONDC with logistics, SmartCommerce services

Amazon on Friday announced that it will integrate its logistics network (from pickup to delivery) and SmartCommerce services with the government's Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform.

This will be Amazon's initial collaboration with ONDC as the company continue to explore other potential opportunities for stronger integration between the two in future.

"We are excited about the opportunities to mobilise Amazon's industry-leading infrastructure and technology, including logistics, and small business digitisation tools, to help the ONDC accelerate its objectives. We remain committed to being a catalyst for India's digitisation efforts throughout the economy," Manish Tiwary, Country Manager, India Consumer Business, Amazon India, said in a statement.

12:46 PM

NSE Indices launches Nifty India Municipal Bond Index

NSE Indices Ltd, an NSE arm, on Friday said it has launched the country's first ever municipal bond index.

 

The new Nifty India Municipal Bond Index will track the performance of municipal bonds issued by Indian municipal corporations across maturities and having investment grade credit rating, NSE Indices said in a statement.

 

The index was launched at a Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) workshop on Municipal Debt Securities in Bengaluru.

12:45 PM

Taking collective call on CWC polls: Cong president Kharge

As the Congress' steering committee started discussions on whether to hold elections for the party's working committee or not, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday urged the members to freely express themselves and take a collective call on the crucial decision.

 

The steering committee which replaced the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the top decision-making body of the party, started discussions at the beginning of the 85th plenary session here and approved the agenda for the three-day conclave, sources said.

 

12:37 PM

NCLAT stays insolvency proceedings against Zee

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal on Friday stayed the insolvency proceedings against media major Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL).

 

Admitting a plea by ZEEL Managing Director and chief executive Punit Goenka, a two-member NCLAT bench stayed the order passed by the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

 

On Wednesday, NCLT admitted a insolvency plea against ZEEL by private sector lender IndusInd Bank and also appointed Sanjeev Kumar Jalan as the resolution professional in the matter.

12:35 PM

Full emergency declared at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

A full emergency was declared at the International Airport here on Friday after a Dammam-bound flight from Calicut was diverted to the state capital due to suspected hydraulic failure.

 

The fight landed at the airport at 12.15 PM, according to airport sources.

 

The sources said the tail part of the Air-India Express IX 385, carrying 182 passengers, hit the runway during take-off from the Calicut international Airport in the morning.

 

12:34 PM

Congress used Northeast as ATM, BJP considers eight states 'Ashtalakshmi': Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday claimed that the Congress used Northeast as an ATM, while the BJP considers the eight states of the region as 'Ashtalakshmi' (eight forms of Goddess Lakshmi) and is working for its peace and development.

 

Addressing an election rally in Dimapur, he said the NDA is striving to bring permanent peace in Nagaland so that Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 is completely lifted from the state.

12:30 PM

Agriculture budget rises 5 times in 9 years to over Rs 1.25 trillion: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Union Budget 2023-24, like in the previous 8-9 years, focuses on the agriculture sector, and steps are being taken to reduce India's import dependence on oilseeds and edible oils.

 

Addressing a post-budget webinar with stakeholders of agriculture and cooperative sectors, the Prime Minister said India's agriculture budget has increased many-folds to Rs 1.25 trillion.

12:16 PM

Regulators now gear up to probe Google Maps in potential anti-trust case

After facing an intense scrutiny of its Search and advertising businesses, Google is reportedly facing another potential probe from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) -- this time a potential anti-trust investigation into Maps.

 

According to a report in Politico, Justice Department antitrust lawyers are working to target Google's vast mapping business, focusing on the company's control of digital maps and location data.

12:04 PM

1-year of Russia Ukraine war, EU ambassador pay tribute to victims

11:56 AM

Want Conservative Party-led government to do well in election: Liz Truss

Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss Friday parried a query on her successor Rishi Sunak's performance but stressed that she wants the Conservative Party government in the island nation to do well in the next election.

 

At the ABP Network's Ideas of India Summit here, Truss was asked about her opinion on Sunak's performance as prime minister. Look, I am a Conservative. I support the Conservative government.

11:44 AM

Our aim for Khalistan shouldn't be seen as evil: Amritpal Singh

11:34 AM

No incident of violence in Nagaland during elections after decades, says PM Modi

After many decades, there was no incident of violence during Assembly elections in Tripura as there is a BJP government in the state: PM Narendra Modi in Dimapur, Nagaland

Work is underway to connect Kohima with railways. Once connected with railways, it will increase the ease of living and ease of doing business here. From tourism to technology and sports to startups, GoI helping the youth of Nagaland

11:24 AM

PM Modi to visit poll-bound Meghalaya today, hold roadshow in Shillong

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit poll-bound Meghalaya on Friday and will take part in a roadshow in Shillong. Security has been beefed up in Shillong in view of PM Modi's visit.

 

The roadshow will start at Central Library and end at the Police Bazar where he will address a public meeting.

11:15 AM

India saved over 3.4 mn lives during Covid through vaccination: Mandaviya

Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday hailed India's response to the COVID pandemic and said that the country was able to save over 3.4 million lives by undertaking the nationwide vaccination campaign at an unprecedented scale.

 

The Health Minister lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership during the pandemic and said that he initiated a "preemptive response" much before COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, by the WHO