Breaking News January 30

Pakistan has set its sight on a loan to the tune of $3 billion from China to stabilise its dwindling foreign exchange reserves and also seeks an investment bonanza in half a dozen sectors during the visit of Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan to Beijing next week, Express Tribune reported.

In addition to political engagement, the Pak premier would also seek Chinese support in areas of finance, trade and investment.The Pak prime minister will depart for Beijing on February 3 and attend the inaugural session of the Winter Olympics there.

A senior finance ministry official said the government was considering requesting China to approve another loan to the tune of $3 billion in China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange, known as SAFE deposits, the report said.China has already placed around $11 billion with Pakistan in the shape of commercial loans and foreign exchange reserves support initiatives, including $4 billion in SAFE deposits.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has urged the people to take a vow that there remains no place for the "heirs" of Nathuram Godse -- who assassinated Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, on the Indian soil. The Chief Minister after paying floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 74th death anniversary at the Marina beach on Sunday in a tweet called upon the people to uphold unity by adhering to brotherhood and nurturing love.

He said: "Let us take a vow that there is no place in the Indian soil for Godse's heirs and their evil thoughts." Stalin, however, neither mentioned anyone, nor took any names. Governor R.N. Ravi also paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary at the Raj Bhavan. He also administered a pledge against untouchability and observed a 2-minute silence as a mark of respect to Mahatma Gandhi.

Observing that the creator of Bulli Bai app, Neeraj Bishnoi, had been targetting women activists including journalists of a particular community, a Delhi court has rejected his bail plea. The court said that allegations levelled against the accused were serious in nature and the investigation was at early stage, noting this the accused was not given bail, an official said on Sunday.

The court of Addition Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana while rejecting the bail plea noted that the women were abused and insulted on public platform it is certainly going to be an adverse impact on the society which will effect the communal harmony. The court said that it didn't find any merit in the plea of the accused and dismissed it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary at Gandhi Smriti

Three children and a man died in a fire in Jaipur's, Jamwa Ramgarh. 

Four women were killed and three others injured when an over speeding car ran over a group of labourers sitting by the roadside in Telangana's Karimnagar town on Sunday morning. Four occupants of the SUV allegedly escaped after hitting the labourers waiting on the pavement at Kaman Chowrasta on Karimnagar-Hyderabad highway, police said.

Tragedy struck the daily wagers when they were waiting for work on a Sunday morning. Some of the labourers were also eking out a living by making knives and axes there. Assistant Commissioner of Police T. Srinivasa Rao said the car being driven at a high speed hit the road kerb and then ran over the group of workers on the pavement before hitting a pole.

While a woman died on the spot, six others were injured. They were shifted to Government Hospital, where three of them succumbed.Eye witnesses told policemen that none of the occupants in the car were injured and they all escaped leaving behind the damaged vehicle.

An earthquake measuring 2.9 magnitude on richter scale was recorded in Vijayapura district on Sunday, the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) said. It was reported at 9:15 AM today. The earthquake was epicentered at 1.2 kms SSE (south-southeast) of Inganal village at Baratagi gram panchayat, in Vijayapura Taluk of the District, KSNDMC said. "As per the Seismic Intensity map of the earthquake from the epicentre, the intensity observed is low and the tremor might be felt up to a maximum radial distance of 10-12 kms from the epicentre," it said in a statement.

A leopard was rescued from a residential area here on Sunday. Panic gripped the NRI colony in Jagatpura area of the city after locals spotted the leopard on Saturday night. The residents informed the forest department following which a team rushed to the spot and tracked the animal. “The leopard could not be tranquillised last night. He kept moving around and was tranquillised in an open area of a house today,” a forest department official said. Jagatpura is close to Jhalana forest area, which is famous for its leopard safaris.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary on Sunday. Gandhi was assassinated on this day 74 years ago. Gehlot reached the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office and offered floral tributes to a portrait of Gandhi. He then attended a ‘Sarva Dharma Prarthana sabha’ at the PCC. PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra, Education Minister B D Kalla and other leaders were also present on the occasion. Gehlot later reached the secretariat building and offered flowers to a statue of Gandhi.

Parts of Rajasthan shivered on Sunday under cold wave conditions while Karauli was recorded as the coldest place with a minimum temperature of 2.8 degrees Celsius, the weather office said. Chittorgarh was the second coldest as the minimum temperature there settled at 3.1 degrees Celsius, followed by Sangariya in Hanumangarh (3.5 degrees Celsius). Sikar, Bhilwara, Alwar, Dabok and Pilani recorded a low of 4, 5, 5.6, 6 and 6.4 degrees Celsius, it said. The meteorological department has forecast some relief from cold wave conditions and a marginal increase in night temperatures during the next 48 hours. 

More than 2,500 chickens were killed in a fire that broke out at a poultry farm in Vazhikadavu near. The fire at the farm was noticed by around 8 pm on Saturday. The farmhouse and materials including poultry feedstock were destroyed in the flames, an official from Mukkom Fire station said. Firefighters, with the help of locals, contained the blaze within an hour. According to a preliminary investigation, the reason for the fire was a short circuit in the inverter. 

A Naxal was gunned down in a joint operation of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and CoBRA 201 battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the forest area of Timmapuram of Chhattisgarh's Sukma, said police on Sunday. "One Naxal killed in a joint operation of DRG and CoBRA 201 bn in the forest area of Timmapuram under Chintalnar Police Station limits," said Superintendent of Police (SP), Sukma, Sunil Sharma. The operation is underway, said police.

A 45-year-old village pradhan was shot dead here in Kokilavan Parikrama by three bike-borne assailants, leading to an hours-long road blockade by his supporters, police said on Saturday. “Five teams have been formed to nab the culprits,” SP rural Srish Chandra said. Angry villagers blocked NH2 for over two hours and Nandgaon Road for over one hour to protest the killing of Ramvir, the pradhan of Paigaon village of Chata tehsil.

North Central Railways has completed its ambitious Mathura-Palwal fourth line project, sanctioned by the Railway Board in 2015-16, officials on Saturday said. “The Rs 668.7 crore project covers the districts of Palwal and Mathura,” Shivam Sharma, North Central Railways’ Allahabad spokesperson, said. Rundhi-Sholaka, Sholaka-Hodal, and Hodal-Chhata sections were opened for traffic as both were commissioned subsequently, he said. With the commissioning of the Chhata-Bhuteshwar section on Thursday, the project has been completed in a major thrust to mobility. According to officials, with the commissioning of the fourth line, Agra Division of NCR now will have two lines at its disposal for improving the punctuality of trains.

Delhi University has warned to take disciplinary action against those students found posting vulgar messages or comments during online classes. In an advisory issued by the proctor’s office of the varsity, it said admissions of students may even be cancelled in such a scenario. "These are very difficult times keeping in mind the pandemic, the classes are going online. All students are directed to maintain dignity and not indulge in any kind of activity (i.e. vulgar message, comment which is not permissible as per rules and regulations of University of Delhi. “If any student is found in any type of such unlawful activity, appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated or their admission may be cancelled," read the advisory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation in the 85th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday at 11:30. "This month's Mann Ki Baat, which will take place on the 30th, will begin at 11:30 am after observing the remembrances to Gandhi Ji on his Punya Tithi," said Prime Minister's Office (PMO).