Breaking News, February 23 | HIGHLIGHTS

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday granted bail to the alleged mastermind behind the violence which erupted after Friday namaz in Atala area here on June 10 last year.  Justice Ajay Bhanot on Wednesday granted bail to Javed Mohammad alias Javed Pump in a criminal case registered against him at the Khuldabad police station.

The Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers on Thursday announced increasing the bloc's economic aid to Ukraine to USD 39 billion and called upon the IMF to deliver a fresh financial package to the country by March to help it deal with the impact of the Russian invasion. The G7 finance ministers and Central Bank governors deliberated on Ukraine's overall economic condition at a meeting here on the eve of the first anniversary of the Russian aggression. The meeting was virtually joined by Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko. 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said India is "15 per cent of the solution" the G20 is looking for in terms of economic growth and development. He was speaking at the Festival of Thinkers, an event organized by Symbiosis International University here. The minister cited managing director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva's statement that in "otherwise a fairly gloomy global economic scenario" India's GDP base is growing at seven percent and is likely to increase in the coming decade.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday said he hopes that the construction work of the Gurugram Metro project will commence in 2023-24 fiscal and in the budget he proposed to take up three other metro links. Khattar said that the long pending Gurugram Metro project has been approved by the Public Investment Board in the central government and the final approval of the Union Cabinet is awaited. Khattar, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented a Rs 1.83 lakh crore budget for 2023-24 in the state assembly here.
"I hope that construction work of the Gurugram Metro will commence in 2023-24," said Khattar.

A day after Rahul Gandhi's scathing criticism of the TMC, the Congress launched another attack on Thursday, saying if the Mamata Banerjee-led party is so serious about working together then it must stop poaching leaders. The Congress also asserted that for forming an Opposition alliance, it is imperative that all constituent parties clearly raise their voice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intentions and policies without any fear, compromise or hesitation.

The Haryana government on Thursday proposed allocating Rs 50 crore in the 2023-24 budget for the construction of an additional Vidhan Sabha building. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the government has identified a site in Chandigarh where an additional complex for the Vidhan Sabha can be constructed and is in discussion with the UT Administration here for allotment of the site.

The Election Commission has issued a show-cause notice to Meghalaya minister Brolding Nongsiej for allegedly doling out money in his constituency, under the garb of a rural development programme, and thus violating the model code of conduct (MCC), officials said on Thursday. A social organisation had lodged a complaint with the returning officer alleging that a woman was seen accepting the money being given by the minister. Acting on the complaint, the returning officer of Mawthadraishan assembly constituency in West Khasi Hills district directed the candidate of the United Democratic Party reply within February 25 as to why action should not be taken against him.

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced that the US is nominating Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank, saying the Indian-American business leader is uniquely equipped to lead the global institution at "this critical moment in history." If confirmed by the World Bank Board of Directors, Banga would be the first-ever Indian-American and Sikh-American to head either of the two top international financial institutions: International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Thursday called police action against party spokesperson Pawan Khera a new example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's politics of "vendetta, harassment and intimidation." Hailing the apex court's grant of interim bail to Khera, Ramesh invoked the title of a Salman Khan film to say that the "Supreme Court Zinda Hai."

Congress leader Pawan Khera, who was granted interim bail over alleged derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday said he saluted the judiciary and was grateful that the apex court upheld his liberties. Khera was arrested on Thursday by Assam Police in connection with an FIR over his remarks, a day of high drama that began with him being deplaned from a flight to Raipur and his party leaders protesting on the tarmac. The Congress leader, who was in the headlines this week for apparently fumbling on the prime minister’s father’s name during a press conference, was released on interim bail till February 28 by a Delhi court later in the evening on the directions of the Supreme Court.

Five people, including a three-month-old girl child died and 7 others were injured when an omnibus hit a tractor near Kaveripattinam in Krishnagiri district on Thursday. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of those killed in the mishap and Rs 50,000 each to the injured. "I am deeply saddened to hear the sad news of their death. I convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I have ordered special treatment to the injured," the CM said while announcing the relief to be paid from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund. The tractor carrying about 12 people, mostly workers, including the infant from Savalur village was proceeding to a village in Andhra Pradesh when the mishap occurred, police said.

Samajwadi Party members walked out of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council on Thursday alleging that the government was "misleading" the House on rules for appointment of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff in medical colleges in the state. The issue of appointments to medical colleges was raised by SP member Swami Prasad Maurya during the Question Hour. Responding to Maurya, Minister of State for Health Mayankeshwar Singh said the appointment of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff in medical colleges is being done according to "relevant rules".

The Maharashtra Public Service Commission on Thursday said it was postponing the implementation of new syllabus for exams to 2025 instead of starting it from the current year.
MPSC aspirants have been protesting across the state, mainly in Pune, seeking that the new syllabus be implemented from 2025. Speaking to reporters in Pune, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said students have succeeded, adding the MPSC decision is important and shows his government belongs to the common man.

A two-day Progressive Punjab Investors Summit began on Thursday in Mohali with the AAP government presenting Punjab as the best destination to attract investments. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann inaugurated the fifth edition of the summit. Several leading companies are showcasing their products at the mega event. The chief minister went to each stall and sought detailed information about the products of the various companies. Speaking on the occasion, Mann said that Punjab welcomes these entrepreneurs on the occasion and hopes that with their cooperation, the state will soon give a major push to industrial growth. Mann assured fulsome support and cooperation to all the industrialists for their every venture.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said Lt Governor V K Saxena should "do something" about the "deteriorating" law and order situation in Delhi. The CM tweeted a media report about the murder of a 75-year-old man in Neb Sarai police station area and said, "People were hurt when you said yesterday that you are satisfied wid (sic) Delhi's law and order situation." "Hon'ble LG sir, kindly do something about law and order situation in the city (sic)," he said.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday voiced displeasure over the “hurdles” in grant of compassionate employment to a family member of a security guard who died inside a sewer last year, underlining that while he lost his life to save a manual scavenger, nothing was being done for him. A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma noted the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) filed an appeal in the matter which was subsequently withdrawn, and exhorted the authorities to grant employment to a member of the family of the deceased. The deceased was a brave heart who sacrificed himself to save the life of another person, said the court.

Rescuers with backhoes and bulldozers dug through tons of earth and rubble on Thursday for 48 people missing after a landslide buried an open-pit mine in northern China. State broadcaster CCTV reported that the confirmed death toll in the disaster rose to five. Conditions in the area remain dangerous, and the search had to be suspended for several hours because of a second landslide at the gigantic facility in Inner Mongolia's Alxa League. On Thursday afternoon, more than a dozen bulldozers, trucks, SUVs and fire engines were seen passing through a remote police checkpoint about 25 kilometres (15 miles) southwest of the mine. Nearly all personnel were stopped by police and checked for entry approvals before being allowed to proceed along the road leading to the mine. A police officer said only those with government approval would be allowed access to the area. She said people living close to the mine had been sent to stay in a nearby town.

Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said he would bring to light the whole truth about his formation of a short-lived government with NCP leader Ajit Pawar in November 2019. The developments that led to Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar taking oath as chief minister and deputy CM on November 23, 2019, are once again in focus after Fadnavis claimed that NCP supremo Sharad Pawar was in the loop all through. "All the details will surface gradually, and you all will learn about them. What is in the public domain is only half the truth. I will bring out all the details," Fadnavis told reporters here, responding to questions.

BJP in-charge for Tripura Mahesh Sharma returned here Thursday to consult with state leaders ahead of vote counting next week. The state’s election-in-charge for BJP, Mahendra Singh is slated to join him later this evening when he arrives from Delhi, a senior party leader said. “The two leaders will have a meeting with senior party leaders as well as party candidates on Friday”, said BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee. He said both leaders will give instructions on how to handle the counting and post-counting process to party leaders and candidates who contested the elections.

The MCD secretary has recommended fresh polls for electing members of the standing committee, claiming the sanctity of electoral process was "badly bruised" last night, amid a row over the mayor allowing councillors to carry mobile phones while casting votes. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House was adjourned earlier in the day as the deadlock, with BJP councilors opposing their AAP counterparts carrying mobile phones while casting their votes. AAP leaders have supported the mayor's decision, while BJP members look "strong exception" to it, saying it "vitiated" the electoral process.

Salaries in India are expected to increase by 10.3 per cent in 2023, highest among major world economies and Asian peers, according to Aon plc. In 2022, salaries in India witnessed an actual increase of 10.6 per cent in 2022. As per Aon plc's 28th Annual Salary Increase Survey in India, double-digit salary growth will continue in India despite economic volatility, largely as a response to high attrition rates. At 21.4 per cent, the attrition rate in India for 2022 remained high – a consequence of an ever-changing talent strategy and the ongoing gap between supply and demand of talent.

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, arrived in Bengaluru on Thursday to attend the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting and for bilateral talks aimed at an enhanced India-UK economic partnership. On what is his first overseas visit since taking charge at the UK Treasury, Hunt will meet with his counterpart, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and a range of senior Indian business leaders and tech CEOs to explore collaborations. His office said the tour aims to strengthen the already productive India-UK economic relationship and deepen ties with a rising "economic superpower" to increase new investments and jobs in the UK. "I want the UK to be the world's next Silicon Valley – this is an ambition within reach thanks to our status as a global financial powerhouse and home to world class universities and research institutions," said Hunt, on the eve of his India visit.

 A record number of pilgrims are likely to arrive for the Char Dham yatra in Uttarakhand this season too, with more than 60,000 of them registering already for the pilgrimage to Badrinath and Kedarnath over the past two days only, officials said on Thursday. Registration for the two Himalayan temples began on Tuesday while registration for Gangotri and Yamunotri will begin after the dates for the opening of their portals are announced formally.

Three persons were killed and nearly 50 others injured on Thursday when a packed bus carrying members of a wedding party collided with a tree in Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli district, police said. Out of the injured people, 11 were critically hurt, they said. An initial investigation suggested the bus driver lost control over the wheels in a bid to avoid hitting a motorbike which came in its way suddenly, Mada police station inspector Kapoor Tripathi said.

Pawan Khera got interim bail from Supreme Court. CJI DY Chandrachud during the hearing said, 'In order to protect the petitioner until such date as he applied for regular bail before jurisdictional court, till the next date of listing, Petitioner shall be released on interim bail by magistrate.'

Northwest, central and east India are predicted to record maximum temperatures three to five degrees above normal over the next five days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday. Many parts of the country are already recording temperatures that are usually logged in the first week of March. It has fuelled concerns about an intense summer and heat waves this year. "Maximum temperatures are very likely to be three to five degrees Celsius above normal over most parts of northwest, central and east India during the next five days," the IMD said in a statement.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday condemned the deplaning of Congress leader Pawan Khera from a Raipur-bound flight, saying it reflects the "frustration" of the BJP.
"Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera was taken off the flight by the Assam Police while going from Delhi to participate in the Raipur Congress session. What was the emergency that the Assam Police came to Delhi and did this?" he said in a tweet.

The Delhi Prisons Department raided alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar's cell in Mandoli Jail and recovered a pair of Gucci slippers worth Rs 1.5 lakh and two jeans worth Rs 80,000, officials said on Thursday. CCTV footage of the recent operation being circulated on social media platforms shows Chandrashekhar weeping in front of jailor Deepak Sharma. Officials said the raid included the Prisons Department and other security personnel. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently arrested Chandrashekhar in a fresh money laundering case linked to duping former Religare promoter Malvinder Singh's wife by posing as the Union home and law secretaries. Chandrashekhar, 33, was taken into custody under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) from a local jail last week. A Delhi court later sent him to nine-day ED custody.

With the MCD House being adjourned for the day on Thursday amid ruckus over the standing committee election, the AAP accused the BJP of resorting to “hooliganism” as it was unable to digest its defeat in the MCD mayoral polls. Several members of both the parties exchanged blows and hurled plastic bottles at each other in the chamber of the MCD House on Wednesday night. The chaos continued on Thursday morning forcing Mayor Shelly Oberoi to adjourn the House till 10 am on Friday. While the BJP is protesting against the mayor's decision to allow members to carry mobile phones to the booth area during the election of the MCD panel, the AAP said there is no ban on mobile phones while casting vote. Addressing a press conference at the civic centre, Oberoi alleged that some BJP councillors threw the ballot box and tore ballot papers during the election for the standing committee.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday said no fresh tax will be imposed, as he presented the state budget for the financial year 2023-24. Khattar, who also holds the finance portfolio, proposed Rs 1,83,950 crore state budget for the year 2023-24, an increase of 11.6 per cent over the revised estimates of Rs 1,64,808 crore. There is no proposal for imposing any fresh tax in the state budget for 2023-24, said Khattar in the state assembly here. Khattar said it is the fourth budget of the second term of the BJP-JJP government. He said feedback of MLAs and different sections of the society were taken and were incorporated in the budget.

Supreme Court affirms Madras High Court division bench decision that restored Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) as the AIADMK party’s single leader

President Joe Biden closed out his wartime visit to Europe on Wednesday, working to shore up partnerships with allies on NATO's perilous eastern flank - even as Russia's Vladimir Putin was drawing closer to China for help as his invasion of Ukraine neared the one-year mark. Biden's meeting with leaders of the Bucharest Nine nations in Warsaw came at the conclusion of a whirlwind, four-day visit to Ukraine and Poland meant to reassure allies that U.S. support in fending off Russia isn't at risk of waning. In dramatic counterpoint, Putin on Wednesday played host in Moscow to Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party's most senior foreign policy official, as US intelligence warned that Beijing is considering supplying arms and ammunition to the worn-down Russian military.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration expects to get Rs 150 crore in revenue from property tax and the money will go towards bolstering municipal bodies to give people better civic services, an official said. Under the new property policy, he said, there will be 10 per cent rebate for early submission, which can be paid in two equal instalments. The Jammu and Kashmir administration had on Tuesday ordered the imposition of property tax across its municipal areas from April 1. The tax rates will be five per cent of taxable annual value (TAV) for residential properties and six per cent for commercial properties, it had said. "The government is expected to get Rs 150 from the property tax imposition in 2023-24. It is imposed for the first time in J&K," Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban development department, H Rajesh Prasad, told reporters here.

AAP MLA from Bathinda Rural seat Amit Rattan Kotfatta arrested by Punjab Vigilance Bureau in bribery case: Officials.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) late Wednesday night arrested Virendra K Ram, the chief engineer at the Jharkhand rural development department, in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in implementation of some schemes, officials said. Ram was taken into custody under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after a prolonged session of questioning at the agency's office in Jharkhand capital Ranchi. He was picked by the agency after it launched multiple searches on February 21 in Ranchi, Jamshedpur and a few other places in Jharkhand, Bihar and Delhi. Official sources said he was "evasive" in his replies and the ED will seek for his custodial interrogation after they produce him before a local court on Thursday. The agency has seized some luxury cars and SUVs too from various premises, officials said.

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook part of Tajikistan early Thursday near China's far western Xinjiang region. It was 67 kilometers (41 miles) west of Murghob, Tajikistan and 20 kilometers (12 miles) deep, according to the US Geological Survey. The area is remote and lightly populated. China Earthquake Networks Center said the quake was 7.2 magnitude and 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep. Preliminary seismic measurements by different agencies often differ. Further information was not immediately available. 

Five people died when a small airplane crashed near a Little Rock factory on Wednesday shortly after taking off, authorities said. The twin-engine plane crashed outside a 3M plant in Little Rock, a couple of miles south of Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, Pulaski County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Cody Burk said. The Federal Aviation Administration said five people were on board the plane. The Beech BE20 had departed the Little Rock airport and was headed to John Glenn International Airport in Columbus, Ohio, the FAA said. Burk did not immediately release the names or ages of the people on the plane. The FAA said it and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash. 

A brutal winter storm has knocked out power in California, closed interstate highways from Arizona to Wyoming and prompted more than 1,500 flight cancellations — and the worst won't be over for several days. Few places were untouched by the wild weather, some at the opposite extreme: long-standing record highs were broken in cities in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Southeast. The wintry mix was hitting hard in the northern tier of the nation, closing schools, offices, even shutting down the Minnesota Legislature. Travel was difficult. Weather contributed to more than 1,500 US flight cancellations on Wednesday, according to the tracking service FlightAware. More than 400 of those were due to arrive or depart from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Another 5,000-plus flights were delayed across the country.

Several members of the BJP and the AAP on Wednesday night exchanged blows and hurled plastic bottles at each other in the chamber of the MCD House, on a day the city got its new mayor. A few BJP members claimed that some of their fellow party councillors got hit with objects flung in the air, while Mayor Shelly Oberoi alleged that some BJP councillors tried to attack her during the proceedings to hold the election to pick the six members of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The incident took place around 11 pm. It happened during the time the newly-elected mayor had adjourned proceedings.