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The Sports Ministry has sought a response from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) "within the next 72 hours" on the allegations by wrestlers against the federation chief and coaches, reports NDTV

Father and coach of the Phogat sisters, Mahavir Singh Phogat was also present to join the wrestlers protesting, reports Indian Express

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi files criminal defamation suit in a Chennai court against now suspended DMK leader Sivaji Krishnamurthy over his alleged defamatory remarks against the Governor

India's COVID-19 case tally rose by 134 in a day while the number of active cases has declined to 1,962 according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The death toll stood at 5,30,728, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity was recorded at 0.07 per cent while the weekly positivity was 0.08 per cent. 

Union Sports Ministry sought an explanation from Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and directed it to furnish a reply within the next 72 hours on the allegations levelled by wrestlers, including Olympic and CWG medalists, said Sports Authority of India (SAI). The Women National Wrestling Coaching camp in Lucknow from January 18 has also been cancelled.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced she will step down in a shock resignation less than 10 months out from a general election. Ardern doesn’t have the energy or inspiration to seek re-election later this year, she told reporters Thursday in Napier where her Labour Party is holding a caucus meeting. She named the election date as Oct. 14.

 

10:41 PM

Menstrual, maternity leave to students of higher educational institutes: Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that in a first in the country, menstrual and maternity leaves would be granted to all women students in all institutions under the State government's Higher Education Department.

Vijayan announced this decision of the government on his Twitter handle and Facebook page.

10:31 PM

3.14 mn poor families to get Rs 300 through DBT for mustard oil in Haryana

A total of 3.14 mn BPL families in Haryana will receive Rs 300 through DBT for mustard oil beginning next month.

Earlier, the amount given to such families per month was Rs 250.

10:29 PM

New India dreams big, achieves its goals, asserts PM; says no dearth of funds for Mumbai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said for the first time since Independence, a New India has emerged which has big dreams and also the capacity to realise them, and gone are the days when discussions in the country mostly centred around poverty and seeking foreign aid.

10:24 PM

Truck operators take out protest march against closure of cement plants in Himachal

Hundreds of truckers from Bilaspur and Solan districts on Thursday took out a foot march trudging 12 km distance to protest against the closure of two cement plants.

The truckers demanding the immediate opening of cement plants gathered at Nauni in Bilaspur district and marched towards the office of the Deputy Commissioner to hand over the memorandum.

10:16 PM

Joshimath subsidence: Irdai ask insurers to expeditiously settle claims

Regulator Irdai on Thursday asked insurance companies to take steps for expeditious settlement of claims of loss to property due to subsidence and landslides in the calamity-affected areas in Uttarakhand.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has issued the circular for general insurers in wake of subsidence in Joshimath town of Chamoli district and subsequent evacuation and demolition of properties which have developed cracks.

10:15 PM

Leave politics for few days, focus on law & order: Kejriwal to LG after DCW chief claims harassment

After Delhi Commission for Women Chief Swati Maliwal on Thursday said that she was harassed by a man in a vehicle and dragged along on the previous night, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged Lt Governor V.K. Saxena to put aside political matters for few days and instead focus on improving the law and order situation in the city.

 

10:10 PM

Umar Khalid moves Delhi Court for daily inmate calling facility

Former JNU student Umar Khalid has moved a Delhi court seeking direction to the prison authorities concerned for having access to daily inmate calling facility.

Khalid is in prison in a case of larger conspiracy behind the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, which is being probed by the special cell of Delhi police.

10:07 PM

Odisha govt approves nine projects worth Rs 1.53 trillion

The Odisha government on Thursday approved nine projects with a total investment of over Rs 1.53 trillion for implementation, which will create employment opportunities for 77,000 people in the state.

The High-Level Clearance Authority, in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, gave its nod to the projects, an official said.

10:04 PM

Supreme Court's pushback to Centre took 4 days of discussion: Reports

The Supreme Court's unprecedented step of making public its communication with the Centre on judges' elevation was taken after four days of deliberation, sources have told NDTV. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had conferred not only with brother judges of the Collegium, but also the judge who is expected to succeed him, sources said.  
 

10:01 PM

Sarojini Nagar trader bodies write to Amit Shah, urge him to take steps to improve roads

Trader associations in Sarojini Nagar here have written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging him to take steps to improve the condition of roads and other facilities in the area in view of the upcoming G20 summit.

In a letter, the three main market associations of Sarojini Nagar noted that G20 will attract a lot of foreign and domestic tourism and the Sarojini market remains a hotspot for all tourists from India and abroad as well.

 

9:57 PM

Mamata pans Centre for stopping students' grant; launches new scholarship

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday criticised the BJP-led central government's move to discontinue scholarships for students of backward castes and minority communities, and said her government would be providing them aid.

She launched the 'Medhashree' scholarship, under which students belonging to the backward and minority communities will be entitled to an annual grant of Rs 800, benefiting 2.63 lakh students every year.

9:53 PM

PM Modi, CM Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis take ride in Mumbai metro

9:50 PM

NIA chargesheets two with Al-Qaeda links in connection with recruitment of youths for terror acts

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed chargesheet against two men having affiliations with Al-Qaeda in connection with conspiracy hatched to send youths to Kashmir and Afghanistan to undergo terrorist training, officials said.

The accused have been charged with provoking youths to instigate communal violence in India.

9:49 PM

Sustainability must be at forefront of energy transition: ReNew Power chief Sumant Sinha

Energy security may be driving the transition towards new sources at present in the developed world, but sustainability should be the key factor in the longer run, Indian renewables major ReNew Power's chief Sumant Sinha said on Thursday.

Speaking at a session on 'Different roads to energy transition', he also said the energy transition began quite early in India and the process has got a huge leg up now

9:46 PM

NIA chargesheets two with Al-Qaeda links in connection with recruitment of youths for terror acts

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed chargesheet against two men having affiliations with Al-Qaeda in connection with conspiracy hatched to send youths to Kashmir and Afghanistan to undergo terrorist training, officials said.

The accused have been charged with provoking youths to instigate communal violence in India.