LIVE: Delhi likely to be landfill free by 2024, says CM Arvind Kejriwal

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While waste at the Okhla landfill will be cleared by December this year, the landfills at Ghazipur and Bhalswa will be cleared by next year, with Delhi likely to become free of these landfills in 2024, according to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal visited the landfill at Okhla on Friday along with Mayor Shelly Oberoi, Deputy Mayor Aaley Iqbal and Urban Development Minister Kailash Gahlot, to take stock of the process of clearing the legacy waste at the site. The three landfills in the city were a key issue during the MCD polls last year.

The Supreme Court on Friday extended till March 17 the interim bail granted to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case related to alleged objectionable remarks he made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. he Assam Police had arrested Khera in the case.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala adjourned the hearing to March 17 as it had run out of time. The bench also pointed out that the replies of Uttar Pradesh and Assam were not on record and it will hear the plea after the Holi vacation.

US President Joe Biden's nominee to lead the World Bank, ex-Mastercard Chief Executive Officer Ajay Banga, said he plans to travel to Europe, Asia, Africa and potentially Latin America in coming weeks to hear from donor countries and borrowers on challenges facing the global institution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni inaugurated the Raisina Dialogue 2023 hosted by the Observer Research Foundation and the Ministry of External Affairs on March 2, India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics.

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal said that a notice has been issued to Uber India and Delhi Police over the incident of molestation of a female journalist in an Uber auto in Delhi.

9:43 PM

IndiGo pits Boeing against Airbus in record jet order talks

Indian budget carrier IndiGo is in talks with both Boeing and its current supplier Airbus to order more than 500 passenger jets, potentially smashing an industry record set by domestic rival Air India a few weeks ago, industry sources said.India's largest airline has until now been an exclusive buyer of narrow-body jets from Airbus and French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said last month that IndiGo was close to ordering several hundred planes from the European planemaker.

 

9:43 PM

Pak obsessed with us as its people battle for livelihood: India at UN

India has used its right of reply in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to respond to Pakistan's representative, Hina Rabbani Khar's criticism of the country's defence acquisitions, calling it "malicious propaganda" against India. Speaking at the council, India's representative Seema Pujani said, "Pakistan's obsession with India while its population battle for their lives, livelihood and freedom is an indication of the state's misplaced priorities. I would advise its leadership and officials to focus their energies on working for the benefit of their own population instead of baseless propaganda."

9:37 PM

Jan Aushadhi Diwas: One Station, One Product

"Jan Aushadhi Kendra established by PM under which Jan Aushadhi Diwas is celebrated from 1-7 March. It's a low-cost pharma where one can buy medicines at Rs 50 & below...We're promoting this initiative through train & other advertising methods," said Health Min Mansukh Mandaviya.

 

"The experiment of, 'One Station, One Product' turned out successful today. Currently, this experiment is functioning on more than 750 stations likewise Jan Aushadhi Kendriya will be installed at every big railway station," said Union Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw.

9:36 PM

IMA advised people to avoid antibiotics to patients with seasonal fevel, cold and cough

6:43 PM

Protecting animal habitats is key priority for us: PM Modi on World Wildlife Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that protecting animal habitats has been a key priority for his government and this is bringing good results, as he extended wishes on World Wildlife Day. "On World Wildlife Day, best wishes to wildlife lovers and those working on wildlife conservation. Protecting animal habitats is a key priority for us and we have seen good results in that. The year gone by will always be remembered as the year we welcomed cheetahs to our nation," he said. World Wildlife Day is one of the United Nations international days to celebrate all the world's wild animals and plants and the contribution that they make to our lives and the health of the planet.

6:28 PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoles the passing away of former Chief Justice of India, AM Ahmadi

2:58 PM

Russia never engage in playing any country against another: Sergey Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday said that Moscow has never engaged in playing one country against another but it is "being tried by some other outside players" in the context of so-called Indo- Pacific strategy.

"We never engage in playing any country against any other country but this is, unfortunately, being tried by some other outside players in the context of so-called Indo- Pacific strategy, using Quad, not for economical purpose but trying to militarise it," Lavrov said.

It is pertinent to mention that the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, known as the Quad, is a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

2:42 PM

Rahul Gandhi unable to accept poll defeats, maligning India: Anurag Thakur

Union minister Anurag Thakur on Friday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his claims of being under surveillance by intelligence agencies and accused him of maligning India on foreign soil after facing successive electoral setbacks.

Thakur wondered what prevented Gandhi and other Congress leaders from submitting their phones to a Supreme Court-appointed technical committee that probed the Pegasus snooping issue.

Thakur's remarks came after Gandhi claimed in a speech at the Cambridge University that Indian democracy was under threat and that several politicians, including himself, were under surveillance using Israeli spyware Pegasus.

2:29 PM

Karnataka hijab ban: SC to set up bench to hear plea of Muslim girls

The Supreme Court Friday said it will set up a three-judge bench to hear a plea of Muslim girl students to sit for examinations in Karnataka government schools while wearing hijab.

I will create a bench, said a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala when a woman lawyer sought urgent hearing of the plea saying girls are on the verge of losing another academic year as the exams are being held in government schools which are not permitting wearing of headscarf.

Initially, the CJI said the matter will be listed for hearing after Holi vacations.

2:07 PM

SC dismisses Vijay Mallya's plea against bid to declare him fugitive economic offender

The Supreme Court Friday dismissed a plea by beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya challenging the proceedings in a Mumbai court to declare him a fugitive economic offender and confiscate his properties.

The apex court dismissed the petition for non-prosecution after the counsel representing Mallya submitted that he was not getting any instructions from the petitioner in the matter.

The counsel for petitioner states that the petitioner is not giving any instructions to the advocate for the petitioner. In view of this statement, the petition is dismissed for non-prosecution, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Rajesh Bindal said.

1:46 PM

Had Pegasus on my phone, intelligence officers cautioned me: Rahul Gandhi

Addressing the students at Cambridge University, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that he had Pegasus on his phone and was cautioned by intelligence officers to be careful about what to say over it. 

"I myself had Pegasus on my phone. I've been called by intelligence officers who say, please be careful of what you say on the phone as we are recording the stuff," he said. "So there is a constant pressure that we feel. Cases are registered against the Opposition. I've got a number of criminal liable cases registered against me for the things which shouldn't be under criminal cases."

"As Opposition, it is very difficult to communicate with people when you have this type of an assault on media and on the democratic architecture," he added.

1:24 PM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma resigns

Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP leader Conrad Sangma submits resignation as CM, stakes claim to form new government.

1:18 PM

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha resigns, to continue as CM till the new govt is formed

Today I have submitted my resignation to the Governor and the Governor has asked me to continue as CM till the new government is formed. Swearing-in ceremony most likely to be held on March 8, says Tripura CM Manik Saha.

1:11 PM

PM Modi's Act East policy, focus on peace, development behind Nagaland win: BJP

The BJP on Friday credited the win of its alliance in Nagaland to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Act East' policy and the party's campaign focus on peace and development in the northeastern state.

BJP's in-charge for Nagaland Nalin Kohli, who is also a national spokesperson of the party, said, "The voters of Nagaland have rewarded the party for its positive agenda and the good work done by the double-engine government of PM Modi at the Centre and Chief Minister Rio in the state."

He noted that Modi has visited the northeastern region 51 times in his tenure, and ministers from his government have been there more than 400 times. This has ensured that infrastructure projects and various schemes are implemented effectively and on time, Kohli added.

12:50 PM

Delhi BJP stages protests against AAP govt, demands Kejriwal's resignation

The Delhi BJP on Friday staged protests at several locations in the national capital against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), demanding Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's resignation over the now-scrapped excise policy.

Several leaders and workers of the party gathered in the Laxmi Nagar, Seelampur, Ashram, Chirag Delhi and the Jama Masjid areas and raised slogans against the Delhi government.

The saffron party has termed the resignations of Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain from the Delhi Cabinet amid corruption allegations a "victory of truth and that of the party workers".