Breaking News, February 22

India will send 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan following an appeal made by the United Nations for humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country. According to the Ministry of External Affair, the supply will be effected by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and transported from Attari (India) to Jalalabad (Afghanistan) by Afghan transporters.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has lodged an FIR against Kaushal Kishore, a surveyor of United India Insurance Company, for allegedly demanding Rs 15 lakh from one Lalit Narayan Todi for giving a positive report on an insurance claim. The complainant who lives in Hiranandani Park, Thane (West), Maharashtra was in need of the insurance claim. A fire had broken out at his factory and caused extensive damage. The complainant suffered a huge loss in the incident. He had taken insurance cover from United India Insurance Company.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday expressed its displeasure over the status report filed by the Delhi Police on the incident in which a 23-year-old youth was forced to sing 'Vande Mataram' and the national anthem during the 2020 Delhi riots. The youth had later succumbed to the injuries sustained during the violence. The video of the incident, showing the injured youth, identified as Faizan, lying on the ground as some uniformed men forced him to sing 'Vande Mataram' and the national anthem, had gone viral during the riots.

At least seven migrant women workers were charred to death on Tuesday after an explosion occurred in an illegal firecracker factory at the Bathu industrial area in Himachal Pradesh's Una district. Twelve other workers suffered burn injuries and have been hospitalised. Una Deputy Commissioner Raghav Sharma confirmed with the media that the blast occurred in a firecracker manufacturing unit.

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted interim protection from arrest to former NCB Mumbai Zone Director Sameer Wankhede till February 28 in connection with the liquor licence case. The case pertains to Wankhede furnishing wrong details about his birth for getting a liquor licence.

Police sources said that during the demolition of an illegally constructed complex at Gund Rahman village in the district, a youth identified as Amir Ahmad Shah sustained burn injuries after he set himself ablaze. Sources said the youth has been shifted to Srinagar for specialised treatment. The person set himself on fire when the demolition drive was being conducted and the officials tried to raze his family's newly-constructed complex on government land.

The customs officials at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata seized 4.8 lakhs sticks of cigarette worth Rs 48 lakhs from a domestic cargo complex on Monday. The action was taken based on an intelligence input. The official said that a case in this respect was lodged.

Canada's House of Commons voted to pass the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act in response to the convoy blockades in Ottawa and at border crossings. The 185-151 vote late Monday night was on a motion put forward by the Liberal government that outlined its decision to invoke the never-before-used emergency powers after weeks-long demonstrations dubbed the "Freedom Convoy 2022", reports Xinhua news agency

The officials in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Tuesday said that 18 of its troopers got injured when the bus in which they were travelling turned turtle after an accident in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri. The accident happened on Monday night. There were 38 security personnel travelling in the bus provided by the district administration and they were heading to Lakhimpur Kheri from Shikohabad for the next round of poll on Wednesday, the CISF officials further said.

The Karnataka Assembly was on Tuesday adjourned till March 4 amid protests by the Congress MLAs demanding the sacking of Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj K.S. Eshwarappa for saying that the saffron flag would be hoisted atop the Red Fort. Soon after the proceedings began, Congress MLAs started protesting and raising slogans demanding the sacking of Minister Eshwarappa. At this, Speaker Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri made a futile attempt of pacifying the agitating members and requesting them to allow a question and answer session.

 A day after a special CBI Court in Ranchi sentenced RJD chief Lalu Prasad to five years imprisonment and imposed a Rs 60 lakh fine on him, RJD vice president Shivanand Tiwari alleged that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was also "involved" in the fodder scam and had "taken the money from the kingpin Shyam Bihari Sinha". Tiwari's statement came after Nitish Kumar said that the leaders who were involved in filing the petition against Lalu Prasad, are working as advisors of the party and sitting close to him.

Lalu Yadav, who has been sentenced to 5 yrs imprisonment in Doranda treasury case related to fodder scam, underwent Echocardiography, ECG & Dental test. Echo and ECG reports are normal. There's some dental problem which will be treated: Dr Vidyapati, HOD Medicines, RIMS, Ranchi

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday expressed anger over how a petition filed the previous day by NCB's former Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede was listed for hearing without the court permitting the same.

A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Madhav Jamdar refused to grant hearing on the petition, saying there was no urgency.

Wankhede, a 2008 batch IRS officer, filed a petition on Monday challenging an order passed by the Thane Excise Collector cancelling the liquor license of his restaurant and bar in Navi Mumbai, and sought restoration of the cancelled license.

"How come this petition is listed today when it was not mentioned before us on Monday? We have not allowed it," Justice Patel said.

Wankhede's advocate Veena Thadani told the court that they were waiting to mention the matter on Monday, but the court staff said it would be listed on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday blocked applications, website and social media accounts of foreign-based 'Punjab Politics TV', which is linked to banned organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), for allegedly attempting to use an online platform to disturb public order during assembly elections.

The SFJ has been declared unlawful under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

“Relying on intelligence inputs that the channel was attempting to use online media to disturb public order during the ongoing State Assembly Elections, the Ministry used emergency powers under the IT Rules on February 18 to block the digital media resources of 'Punjab Politics TV',” it said.

The ministry noted that the content of the blocked apps, websites and social media accounts had had the potential to incite communal disharmony, separatism and were found to be detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the state, and public order.

Chhattisgarh govt appoints Ganesh Misra, Liason Officer (Chhattisgarh Bhawan, Delhi) as Nodal officer to help state's people & students in Ukraine. He is in constant touch with Ukrainian govt.Helpline no. 01146156000, fax-01146156030, mob no. 9997060999 started: Chhattisgarh govt

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to list for February 23 a plea seeking cancellation of physical exams for Class X and XII to be conducted by all State Boards, CBSE, ICSE and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

A bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar asked the advocate of the petitioner to serve the copy of the petition to the CBSE and all State Boards.

Cases of Bird-flu found in some birds in Thane & Palghar dist of Maharashtra after which decision of killing over 25,000 birds in 1km radius of infection hotspots in both districts was taken. Labourers working in farms also isolated: State's Animal Husbandry minister Sunil Kedar

An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 hit Ladakh on Monday morning, informed the National Center for Seismology (NSC). 

The earthquake occurred around 8.35 am at a depth of 10 km.

The Budget session of the Mizoram Assembly will commence on Tuesday under strict COVID protocols, an official said. The budget session will last till March 10, he said.

Mizoram Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati would deliver his customary address on the first day of the session and the motion of thanks on his address will be moved the next day, he said.

Novak Djokovic won his first match of the year when he beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3 to open the Dubai Championships. Djokovic couldn't defend his Australian Open title last month because he was deported from the country for being unvaccinated.

The United Arab Emirates allowed him entry, and Djokovic cashed in at a tournament he's won five times.

Musetti took two sets off Djokovic at the French Open last year but, on a breezy Dubai evening, the Italian wild card couldn't convert bags of break chances while trailing 3-1 in the first set and 4-2 in the second on Monday.

The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police seized 1.227 kg of brown sugar worth Rs 1.22 crore and arrested a wanted drug peddler in this connection, police said on Tuesday. The STF raided a place near Pahal crossing under Khurda district and seized the narcotic drugs from the drug peddler. He was involved in several other drug cases registered in different districts of the state.

The police also seized a bike and five mobile phones from the possession of the drug peddler. The STF registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 and investigation is on.

Since 2020, the STF, in a special drive against narcotic drugs, has seized more than 49 kg of brown sugar and 89 quintals of ganja, and have arrested 123 drug peddlers.

Two autos and a motorcycle were torched by some persons today morning in Shivamogga; an investigation is underway, says Minister-in-charge, Shivamogga Dist, KC Narayana Gowda

Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kasauli has cleared almost 6.5 crore doses of Biological E's Covid 19 vaccine 'Corbevax' based on the parameters of safety, quality and efficacy: Sources

Raj Kundra pornography case: Four more persons including a casting director arrested, from Versova and Borivali areas, says Mumbai Police Crime Branch

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday said Rajasthan Administrative Services (Mains) examination will not be postponed. The RAS (Mains) 2021 examination will be conducted as per schedule on February 25 and 26, 2022, said Gehlot. Rajasthan Public Service Commission holds the RAS examination.

Taking to Twitter, Rajasthan Chief Minister said, "Priority of the state government is to complete all the recruitment examinations in a time-bound manner. The demand for postponement of the RAS main examination is not justified."

India reports 13,405 fresh COVID cases, 34,226  recoveries, and 235 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Active case: 1,81,075 (0.42%)
Daily positivity rate: 1.24%
Total recoveries: 4,21,58,510
Death toll: 5,12,344

Total vaccination: 1,75,83,27,441

Sensex plunges over 800 points in opening trade; Nifty trading at 16,969

Russia's clear attack on Ukraine's territorial integrity & sovereignty is unprovoked. It is an attack on Ukraine's status as a UN member state. It violates basic principles of international law: US Representative at UNSC meet on Ukraine

This move by Russian President Putin is clearly the basis of Russia's attempt to create a pretext for the further invasion of Ukraine: US Representative at UNSC meet on Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of wrecking peace talks and ruled out making any territorial concessions in an address to the nation in the early hours of Tuesday morning, reports Reuters

The UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting today on Ukraine.

The UNSC meet over Ukraine will now be an 'open' meeting. India will also make a statement.

US to 'wait and see’ the reaction to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order for Russian troops to act as 'peacekeepers' in Donbass. 

Senior administration official says, “Russians have been operating there for years and so this would not be new.”

Biden just signed an Executive Order "blocking property on certain persons and prohibiting certain transactions with respect to continued Russian efforts to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine"

FULL COVERAGE

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the sending of Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine breakaway regions after recognizing their independence on his Monday address to the nation.

This is a key development after Putin on the same day signed a decree recognizing the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin made this announcement during a televised address to Russians.

After the announcement, the US said that it will soon impose sanctions on two Russia-backed separatist regions in Ukraine. The US strongly condemned Putin's decision to recognize the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" as "independent."

Biden spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, a statement said. 

President Biden strongly condemned Russian President Putin’s decision to purportedly recognize the “independence” of the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine, it further added.

President Biden reiterated that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, in lock-step with its Allies and partners, to further Russian aggression against Ukraine, the statement further reads.

US President Joe Biden had a secure call with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a White House official said.

The leaders strongly condemned President Putin’s decision to recognize the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine as “independent.” They discussed how they will continue to coordinate their response on the next steps, an official statement reads

French President Macron calls for "targeted European sanctions" against Russia and an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has discussed the latest developments with US President Biden, with plans for a conversation with UK PM Boris Johnson. White House confirms the call between the two leaders

Russian President Vladimir Putin announces the recognition of two separatist republics in eastern Ukraine - Donetsk and Lugansk - as independent.

Ukraine is a US colony with 'a puppet regime', Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address