Breaking News, February 24

In the ensuing encounter, two unidentified terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The identification and affiliation of the killed terrorists is being ascertained. Arms & ammunition including 2 AK rifles & other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of encounter. All recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes. Case registered: J&K Police

An ITBP jawan killed in a pipe bomb blast planted by Naxals and DRG jawan injured in an exchange of fire with Naxals in Sonapur area of Narayanpur district succumbs to injuries: Bastar IG P Sundarraj

• Fiscal support to sick PSUs burden economy; PSUs shouldn't be run just because of legacy. 
• India is now one market, one tax system; tax system being simplified, compliance complexities being improved.

• The Govt is going ahead with the mantra of 'Monetise & Modernise'. When Govt monetises, that space is filled by private sector of the country. Private sector brings investment and best global practices with them.
• This modernises other things and brings modernisation to the entire sector, rapid expansion of the sector and creation of new employment opportunities. It is important to monitor this to ensure that there is transparency in this process and rules are followed. 
• There was a different time when public sector enterprises were established & the needs were also different. There is always scope to reform the policy which was good 50-60 years ago. Now when we are bringing reform, our aim is to optimally utilise public money.
• Many public sector enterprises are loss-making & several of them need the support of public money. It burdens the economy. Public sector enterprises should not be run because they were started many years ago & were someone's pet project.
• I can understand the need of any public sector enterprise if it is fulfilling the needs of any sector & of any strategic importance. It is the responsibility of the govt to supply support country's enterprise & business but there is no need for govt to be in business.

BJP workers clash with security personnel in Barrackpore after their 'Parivartan Yatra' was allegedly stopped by the personnel.

Govt of India has lifted embargo on private sector banks (only a few were permitted earlier) for conduct of govt-related banking transactions such taxes & other revenue payment facilities, pension payments & small savings: Department of Financial Services

Bird flu has been confirmed in Palghar, Maharashtra following the death of 45 chickens at a poultry farm. The district administration has ordered closure of all poultry farms & shops selling chicken for the next 21 days: Palghar Deputy Collector Kiran Mahajan

Vaccines will definitely prevent serious disease & therefore decease mortality as far as new (coronavirus) strain is concern... Currently, we have vaccines which efficacy is 70%, 80%, 90% so even if there is a slight fall in efficacy it will still be effective

 As of now, we don't need to worry but we need to monitor the situation closely & look aggressively for all variants & make sure that none of them becomes totally new & our vaccines efficacy falls. 

Simultaneously, we have to keep changing the vaccines also to keep into account the new variants that are emerging.

Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar to take over as the Commander-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command in Mumbai on March 1. He would be replacing Vice-Admiral Ajith Kumar who is superannuating on February 28.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed an election rally in Hooghly. She said, "Every time you (BJP) say that Trinamool Congress is 'Tolabaaj' but I say you (BJP) are 'dangabaaz and dhandabaaz'."

She said, "Bengal will rule Bengal. Gujarat will not rule Bengal. Modi will not rule Bengal. 'Gundas' (miscreants) will not rule Bengal."

CEO Shri Shirdi Sai Sansthan Trust on Wednesday announced, "We have changed the time schedule for the visit of devotees to 6 am to 9 pm, in view of the night curfew imposed by District Collector Ahmednagar."

Four unidentified terrorists killed in an encounter in Anantnag, said Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has appointed Oman Chandy and Randeep Surjewala to negotiate seat-sharing with DMK in Tamil Nadu. These leaders are reaching Chennai today.  There'll be talks with DMK tomorrow morning. Prior to that, the leaders will meet party leaders in Chennai. 

CBI submited supplementary chargesheet against TMC leader Vinay Mishra at Asansol CBI Special Court, in an alleged cattle smuggling case.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announces that a separate agriculture budget will be presented from next year, during the presentation of state Budget 2021-22. 

Five staff members of Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal tested positive for COVID-19.

President Ram Nath Kovind to formally inaugurate Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera in Ahmedabad where pink-ball Test match between India and England will begin today. 

Punjab and Haryana High Court adjourn cases concerning the arrest of labour activist Nodeep Kaur till Friday, upon finding that all her medical reports have not been placed on record by the State.

Kerala Cabinet has decided to withdraw cases related to Sabarimala and CAA protests which are not of serious criminal nature.

MP Mohan Delkar's suicide note was written on his official letter pad and was 15 pages long. Police will be recording statements of his family members in the coming days. 

Twenty-seven law enforcement officers were injured in clashes near the Presidential office in downtown Kiev, the city police said in a statement on Facebook.

Case filed against 14 persons including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Muzaffarpur District Magistrate in a Muzaffarpur Court in connection with listing the names of people from another panchayat as voters in Chaki Sohagpur. 

Seven persons including two women died after an oil tanker collided with the car they were travelling in, on Yamuna Expressway. Bodies have been recovered and sent for post-mortem.