Highlights: Tamil Nadu ends night curfew and Sunday lockdown
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Anil Deshmukh files bail plea before special PMLA court in money laundering case
Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh on Thursday filed a bail application before a special PMLA court in a money laundering case. The plea will come up for hearing on February 3, reported news agency ANI.
Deshmukh is currently lodged in Mumbai's Arthur Road jail.
Tamil Nadu eases Covid-19 restrictions
Amid the improving pandemic situation, Tamil Nadu on Thursday ended night curfew and Sunday lockdown.
Further, the state has allowed schools to reopen for classes 1-12 from February 1.
Delhi sees dip in daily Covid cases with 4,291 infections, positivity rate goes below 10%
Delhi on Thursday reported a dip in its daily Covid-19 tally with 4,291 new infections being logged in the past 24 hours. Further, the surge took the positivity rate to below 10 per cent.
Congress leader Ashok Chavan tests positive for Covid-19
Maharashtra minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan tests positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) disease.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar tests positive for Covid-19
External affairs minister S Jaishankar has tested positive for the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Home ministry extends Covid-19 guidelines till February 28
The Union home ministry on Thursday extended Covid-19 guidelines till February 28 and urged states/Union territories not to lower their guards.
PM Modi hosts first India-Central Asia Summit, outlines 3 goals
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday emphasised on the need for India and Central Asian countries to define an ambitious vision for the coming years as he acknowledged the completion of 30 “fruitful” years together. Read more
Air India formally handed over to Tata Group
The Air India airline has been formally handed over to the Tata Group. Read more
DCGI gives conditional market nod for Covishield and Covaxin
India's drug regulator Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given conditional market approval for Covid-19 vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, reports news agency ANI. Read more
2 Punjab MPs boycott Rahul Gandhi's rally
Two MPs from Congress Manish Tiwari and Amarinder Singh's wife Preneet Kaur have boycotted Rahul Gandhi's virtual rally in Jalandhar in an open rebellion to his leadership ahead of Punjab polls.
DIPAM secretary reaches Air India headquarters ahead of airline takeover by Tatas
The department of investment and public asset management (DIPAM) secretary Tuhin Kanta Pande has reached the Air India headquarters. The Tatas will takeover the airline soon with government representatives of Air India resigning shortly.
Air India board meeting shortly, govt representatives to resign, new board likely to be formed today
Government representatives of Air India will resign from their respective positions during a board meeting in Mumbai at 2.30pm today. Meanwhile, Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekhar is in Delhi to witness the formal transfer after meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A new board is expected to be formed today as the Tatas take over the airline.
DDMA meet: Cinema halls in Delhi to reopen with 50% capacity, schools to remain closed
Cinema halls will also be allowed to open with 50 per cent capacity, authorities decided after the DDMA meeting. Delhi government offices engaged in non essential services will be allowed to work with 50% attendance. Schools and educational institutions will remain closed till further order.
China's PLA handed over 'missing' Arunachal teen to Indian Army, says Union minister Kiren Rijiju
The Chinese PLA has handed over the young boy from Arunachal Pradesh Miram Taron to the Indian Army. Due procedures are being followed including the medical examination, said Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.
Delhi ends weekend curfew, odd-even rule for shops after DDMA meeting
Here are the decisions taken in DDMA meeting over curbs in Delhi:
1. Weekend curfew will end
2. Odd-even rule for shops, malls to end
3. Night curfew to remain in place from 10pm to 5am
4. Masks, Covid appropriate behaviour must
5. Marriage functions allowed at 200 people limit or 50 per cent capacity.
7. Restaurants, bars allowed to open at 50 per cent seating capacity.
8. Schools to be taken up in next DDMA meeting.
The decisions will be implemented only after the DDMA issues a formal order.
CBDT issues I-T refunds of over ₹1.62 lakh crore till Jan 24 this year
The Central Board of Direct Taxation (CBDT) has issued refunds of over ₹1,62,448 Cr to more than 1.79 crore taxpayers from April 1, 2021 to January 24, 2022. Income tax refunds of ₹57,754 crore have been issued in over 17.7 million cases.
Corporate tax refunds of ₹1,04,694 crore have been issued in 2,23,952 cases. This includes 1.41 crore refunds of AY 2021-22 amounting to ₹27,111.40 crore.
‘Sad and hurt’: Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat on Kishore Upadhyay joining BJP
“I am sad. I am hurt to such a downfall of him,” Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat. Former Congress Chief of Uttarakhand Kishore Upadhyay was expelled from the party for 6 years for "anti-party activities". He later joined BJP
Maharashtra BJP MLA Nitesh Rane gets 10-day protection from arrest in attempt-to-murder case
Supreme Court has granted 10-day protection from arrest to Maharashtra BJP MLA Nitesh Rane and directed him to surrender before the trial court and seek regular bail in connection with an attempt to murder case lodged in Sindhudurg district last month.
DDMA meeting underway, decision likely on Covid-19 curfew in Delhi
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), chaired by lieutenant governor Anil Baijal, is holding a meeting with the Delhi government to decide on further easing of curbs in the national capital. Read more
Amit Shah offers prayers at Bankey Behari Temple
Amit Shah reached Vrindavan on Thursday morning and offered prayers at the Bankey Behari Temple. He will address a gathering at a college in Mathura later in the day before heading for Dadri and Noida.
Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran in Delhi to meet PM Modi ahead of Air India handover
Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekhar is in Delhi to witness the formal transfer, official sources were quoted as saying by news agency ANI. A formal announcement by the Tata Group regarding the Air India handover process will be made today.
Delhi CM Kejriwal unfurls 115-foot national flag at 75 locations across capital to mark 75 years of Independence
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal unfurls a 115-foot national flag at 75 locations across the city to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India's independence.
Budget 2022: Virtual meeting of Rajya Sabha floor leaders on Jan 31
Virtual meeting of the Rajya Sabha floor leaders, ahead of the budget session of the Parliament, will be held on January 31. It will be chaired by Chairman of the House and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.
Ex-Uttarakhand Congress chief Kishore Upadhyay, expelled for anti-party activities, joins BJP
Former Uttarakhand Congress chief Kishore Upadhyay, who was expelled over “anti-party activities” has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday.
Govt representatives of Air India to resign at 2.30pm board meeting
As the Centre hands over Air India to the Tata Group, government representatives of the airline board will resign from their respective positions during a board meeting at 2.30pm today.
After Rahul Gandhi's complaint over follower count, Twitter says numbers 'meaningful and accurate'
Follower counts are a visible feature and we want everyone to have confidence that numbers are meaningful and accurate. Twitter has zero-tolerance approach to platform manipulation and spam, said Twitter spokesperson on Rahul Gandhi's letter to the micro-blogging platform after his number of followers witnessed a drop.
"We fight spam and malicious automation strategically and at scale with machine learning tools, and as part of those consistent and ongoing efforts to ensure a healthy service and credible accounts, follower counts can and do fluctuate.
We remove millions of accounts each week for violating our policies on platform manipulation&spam. You can take a look at latest Twitter Transparency Center update for more context.While some accounts notic minor difference,in certain cases no.could be higher," Twitter's statement read.
India logs 2,86,384 new Covid cases, 573 deaths in last 24 hours; active count over 2.2 million
India has reported 2,86,384 new Covid-19 cases and 573 deaths in the last 24 hours. There were a total of 3,06,357 recoveries since yesterday, while the active cases remained over the 2.2 million mark.
Ex-Congress chief of Uttarakhand, Kishore Upadhyay, expelled for 6 years for 'anti-party activities'
Former Congress Chief of Uttarakhand, Kishore Upadhyay expelled from the party for 6 years for "anti-party activities". He was earlier removed from all posts as a disciplinary action.
Suspected Naxals blow up railway tracks on Howrah-New Delhi route in Jharkhand
Suspected Naxals blow up a portion of railway tracks on the Howrah-New Delhi line between Chichaki and Chaudharybandh railway stations in Jharkhand's Giridih, reported news agency ANI. Investigation underway.
PM Modi to host first meeting of India-Central Asia Summit today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to host the first meeting of the India-Central Asia Summit, with the participation of the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, in a virtual format today.
Air India likely to be handed over to Tata Group today
Air India is expected to be handed over to the Tata Group on Thursday. The handing over will culminate the over two-decade-long journey to privatise the national carrier. Read more
Goa Assembly polls: TMC delegation to meet EC today to discuss 'key issues'
A four-member delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will visit the Election Commission of India at 12:30pm to discuss 'key issues' relating to the upcoming Assembly polls in Goa scheduled to be held on February 14.
After Rahul Gandhi's complaint over follower count, Twitter says numbers 'meaningful and accurate'
Follower counts are a visible feature and we want everyone to have confidence that numbers are meaningful and accurate. Twitter has zero-tolerance approach to platform manipulation and spam, said Twitter spokesperson on Rahul Gandhi's letter to the micro-blogging platform after his number of followers witnessed a drop.
"We fight spam and malicious automation strategically and at scale with machine learning tools, and as part of those consistent and ongoing efforts to ensure a healthy service and credible accounts, follower counts can and do fluctuate.
We remove millions of accounts each week for violating our policies on platform manipulation&spam. You can take a look at latest Twitter Transparency Center update for more context.While some accounts notic minor difference,in certain cases no.could be higher," Twitter's statement read.
India logs 2,86,384 new Covid cases, 573 deaths in last 24 hours; active count over 2.2 million
India has reported 2,86,384 new Covid-19 cases and 573 deaths in the last 24 hours. There were a total of 3,06,357 recoveries since yesterday, while the active cases remained over the 2.2 million mark.
Ex-Congress chief of Uttarakhand, Kishore Upadhyay, expelled for 6 years for 'anti-party activities'
Former Congress Chief of Uttarakhand, Kishore Upadhyay expelled from the party for 6 years for "anti-party activities". He was earlier removed from all posts as a disciplinary action.
Suspected Naxals blow up railway tracks on Howrah-New Delhi route in Jharkhand
Suspected Naxals blow up a portion of railway tracks on the Howrah-New Delhi line between Chichaki and Chaudharybandh railway stations in Jharkhand's Giridih, reported news agency ANI. Investigation underway.
PM Modi to host first meeting of India-Central Asia Summit today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to host the first meeting of the India-Central Asia Summit, with the participation of the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, in a virtual format today.
Air India likely to be handed over to Tata Group today
Air India is expected to be handed over to the Tata Group on Thursday. The handing over will culminate the over two-decade-long journey to privatise the national carrier. Read more
Goa Assembly polls: TMC delegation to meet EC today to discuss 'key issues'
A four-member delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will visit the Election Commission of India at 12:30pm to discuss 'key issues' relating to the upcoming Assembly polls in Goa scheduled to be held on February 14.