Latest News: Civilian Shot Dead by Suspected Terrorists in Pulwama
Catch the latest news updates of the day here.
Catch the latest news updates of the day here.
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Israel Strikes Gaza After Projectile, Says Army
The Israeli army said its tanks attacked military posts in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, 8 February, after militants in the Palestinian enclave fired a projectile at the Jewish state.
The army said tanks "targeted two Hamas military posts in the northern Gaza Strip" in response to the projectile, in the latest round of violence in the wake of the United States unveiling its controversial peace plan.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the Israeli attack.
(Source: AFP)
US, Afghan Forces Come Under ‘Direct Fire’ in Eastern Afghanistan: US Office
US and Afghan troops came under "direct fire" in eastern Afghanistan late on Saturday, 8 February, a US military official said, in an incident local media described as an "insider" attack.
"A combined US and Afghan force conducting an operation in Nangarhar Province was engaged by direct fire on February 8", US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Colonel Sonny Leggett said in a statement.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the apparent "green-on-blue" attack -- where Afghan security forces target international soldiers with whom they are working.
(Source: AFP)
Veteran RSS 'Pracharak' P Parameswaran Passes Away
P Parameswaran, one of the senior-most 'pracharaks' of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and former leader of the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh, passed away in the early hours of Sunday, 9 February, Sangh Parivar sources said. He was 91.
The founder director of the Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram took his last breath at 12.10 am while undergoing Ayurvedic treatment at Ottappalam in Kerala's Palakkad district.
Parameswaran, who had worked with leaders like Deendayal Upadhyaya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani during the Jana Sangh days, was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2018.
(Source: PTI)
Mom, 6 Kids Die in Mississippi House Fire; Dad Injured
A mother and her six children died when a fire destroyed their home early Saturday, 8 February, in central Mississippi, authorities said.
The father was the lone survivor of the 12:30 a.m. blaze in Clinton, a city of about 26,500 people just outside the capital city of Jackson. He tried unsuccessfully to save family members and suffered smoke inhalation, burns, cuts and bruises, city spokesman Mark Jones told The Associated Press.
(Source: AFP)
Switzerland Votes on New Law Against Homophobia
Switzerland will vote in a referendum on Sunday, 9 February, on a new law against homophobia that is opposed by the populist rightwing Swiss People's Party (SVP).
The new law would widen existing legislation against discrimination or incitement to hatred on ethnic or religious grounds to include sexual orientation.
(Source: AFP)
Fire in Scrap Godown in Mumbai; No Casualty
A fire broke out in a scrap godown near Sassoon Dock in south Mumbai in the wee hours of Sunday, 9 February, a fire brigade official said, adding that no casualty was reported in the mishap.
The fire brigade got a call at 1.45 am about the blaze in the ground-plus-one floor godown following which four fire engines and as many water tankers were rushed to the spot, the official said. The blazed was doused by 4 am.
"There is no casualty. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained," he added.
(Source: PTI)
Odisha Man Arrested for Posting Obscene Photographs of Ex-Girlfriend on Social Media
A 27-year-old man has been arrested in Odisha's Jajpur district for allegedly uploading obscene photographs of his former girlfriend on the social media, police said on Sunday, 9 February.
The accused, was arrested based on a complaint lodged by a 23-year-old woman with Panikoili police station, an officer said. A case under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the IT Act has been registered against the accused, the officer added.
(Source: PTI)
West Bengal: Two People Killed, 4 Injured in Car Accident
Two people were killed and four were injured after two cars collided with each other in Birbhum, West Bengal, early morning on Sunday, 9 February.
(Source: ANI)
2 Soldiers Killed, 6 Wounded in Afghanistan Attack: US Officials
Two U.S. soldiers were killed and six wounded in a so-called insider attack in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province late on Saturday, 8 February, when an Afghan dressed in an Afghan army uniform opened fire, the U.S. military said.
A member of the Nangarhar Provincial Council, Ajmal Omer, told The Associated Press that the gunman was killed. There have been numerous attacks by Afghan national army soldiers on their allied partners over the 18 years of Afghanistan's protracted war.
In a statement, the U.S. military said “an individual in an Afghan uniform opened fire on the combined U.S. and Afghan force with a machine gun. We are still collecting information and the cause or motive behind the attack is unknown at this time.”
(Source: AP)
'Shooter' Movie Banned in Punjab
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered a ban on the movie `Shooter’, as it "promotes violence, heinous crimes, extortion, threats and criminal intimidation".
The film is based on the life and crimes of gangster Sukha Kahlwan.
(Source: ANI)
TMC MLA Murder Case: BJP MP Grilled by West Bengal CID
The West Bengal CID grilled BJP Lok Sabha MP from Ranaghat constituency, Jagannath Sarkar, for its ongoing investigation into the killing of Trinamool Congress MLA Satyajit Biswas, sources said.
The BJP leader was grilled for nearly four hours on Saturday, 8 February, at Bhabani Bhaban, the CID headquarters in the city, they said.
Satyajit Biswas, who was a TMC MLA from Krishnaganj Assembly Constituency in West Bengal's Nadia district, was shot dead during a cultural programme there in February last year.
(Source: PTI)
India, Chile Start Talks for Further Expansion of Trade Agreement
India and Chile have started negotiations for further expansion of a trade agreement to boost two-way commerce and economic ties, an official said.
The countries signed a preferential trade agreement in 2006 that came into force from 2007. In 2016, the scope of the agreement was expanded by including more products. The two countries have again initiated talks for second expansion of the agreement, the official said.
The first round of negotiations with Chile was recently concluded. "Both sides have decided to hold the next round of the talks in Santiago in Chile during March or in the first half of April," the official added.
(Source: PTI)
Mortal Remains of Martyr Naik Rajeev Singh Shekhawat Brought to Poonch, J&K
The mortal remains of Naik Rajeev Singh Shekhawat were brought to District Hospital Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, on Sunday, 9 February.
In a press release by the Press Information Bureau (Defence Wing) on Sunday, the Indian Government expressed condolences for the brave, highly motivated and sincere soldier, adding that the nation was indebted to him for his sacrifice and devotion to duty.
Shekhawat, 36, attained martyrdom inn the exchange of fire when the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation along the line of control in Poonch Sector on Saturday. He belonged to Luhakna Khurd village in Jaipur, Rajasthan and is survived by his wife, Usha Shekhawat.
(Source: ANI)
Himachal Pradesh: House Destroyed Due to Short Circuit Fire
A house caught fire due to an electrical short circuit, and was subsequently destroyed, in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh early morning on Sunday, 9 February.
No loss of life and injury have been reported in the incident.
(Source: ANI)
'Centuries-Old' Tunnel Unearthed in West Bengal
A tunnel, believed to be centuries-old, was unearthed while digging a plot of land for building the foundation of a house in West Bengal's East Burdwan district, officials said on Sunday, 9 February.
A team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is expected to visit the village on Sunday, they said. Historian Sarbajit Yash said that the tunnel is likely to be 250-300 years old and some portions of it have similarities with Jain architecture.
(Source: PTI)
7 Bangladeshi Nationals Held in UP’s Jhansi
Seven Bangladeshi nationals were arrested here in Babina area of the district as they did not have any valid documents, police said on Sunday, 9 February.
Jhansi Senior Superintendent of Police D Pradeep said, "As many as seven Bangladeshi nationals were arrested during a routine checking in bus stand area of Babina on Friday."
"For some time, they were in the business of selling fish oil. During routine probe, no criminal cases have been found against them, but they have been booked under the Foreigners Act for illegally staying in India," Pradeep added.
(Source: PTI)
Indian Army Retaliates to Pak's Ceasefire Violation
Pakistan initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation by the firing of small arms and shelling with mortars along LoC in the Balakot and Mendhar areas of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, at about 12:50 PM. As per reports, the Indian Army is retaliating.
(Source: ANI)
3 Bike-Borne Men Killed in Accident in UP's Shahjahanpur
Three young men travelling on a motorcycle died in the morning on Sunday, 9 February, when they were knocked down by an unidentified vehicle in Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, police said.
According to police, the trio were going to take a dip in Ganga river on the occasion of Magh Poornima. Due to dense fog in Allahganj area of the district, an unknown vehicle hit the motorcycle killing all three riders on the spot, they said.
(Source: PTI)
Priyanka Gandhi Reaches Varanasi to Take Part in Ravidas Jayanti Events
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday, 9 February, arrived in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a day-long visit to take part in Ravidas Jayanti programmes, the party's Uttar Pradesh unit said.
During the day, Priyanka Gandhi will participate in Ravidas Jayanti programmes. "(I) will be in Varanasi to bow at the threshold of Guru Ravidas Janam Sthaan Mandir," Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
(Source: PTI)
Ravidas Jayanti: Mayawati Slams Cong, BJP Leaders for Visiting Temples for Vested Interests
BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday, 9 January, accused Congress and BJP leaders of never honouring saint-poet Ravidas during their tenure and indulging in "theatrics" now by visiting temples to realise their vested interests.
"Congress, BJP and other parties did not give any respect or honour to Sant Guru Ravidas during their tenure. But, after being out of power, they are indulging in various theatrics to realise their vested interests by visiting temples and other places," Mayawati said in a tweet in Hindi.
In another tweet, she said that BSP was the only party to consistently respect him.
(Source: PTI)
Arms Seized in Bihar's Munger District
A huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from Bihar's Maoist-hit Munger district during a police raid, a senior officer said.
Acting on a tip off, a joint team of the special task force (STF) of the Bihar Police and district-level officers, raided the house of one Uday Yadav in Satgharva village on Saturday night, and seized two rifles, three pistols, 56 cartridges of .315 bore, along with clothes, belts, blankets and medicines, Deputy Inspector General Manu Maharaj said.
(Source: PTI)
FIR Against BJP Leader, RTI Activist for Threatening Woman Cop
Chhattisgarh Police registered an FIR against the chairman of a state-run communication research centre and a BJP spokesperson for allegedly threatening a woman police officer in Raipur, an official said on Sunday, 9 February.
Based on a complaint filed by DD Nagar police station house officer Manjulata Rathore, the FIR was registered on Saturday against Kabir Sanchar Shodhpeeth's chairman Kunal Shukla, who is also an RTI activist, and state BJP spokesman Gaurishankar Srivas, he said.
The complainant alleged that Shukla and Srivas came to DD Nagar police station here on February 6 night and allegedly pressurised her to release a person, Ritesh Thakur (40), who was arrested in a cheque bounce case, Raipur's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Arif Sheikh told PTI.
(Source: PTI)
NYPD: Officer Shot, Wounded in 'Assassination Attempt'
Two New York City police officers narrowly escaped with their lives when a gunman fired into their patrol van Saturday night, wounding one of them in an attack officials called an attempted assassination.
The ambush, which Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said “should outrage all New Yorkers,” happened just before 8:30 pm in the South Bronx.
The officer at the wheel of the van was grazed in the chin and neck, but he avoided serious injury, Shea said. He was expected to released from the hospital Sunday.
(Source: AP)
Odisha Writer Manoj Das Receives Mystic Kalinga Literary Award
Noted writer Manoj Das, who had recently received Padma Bhushan for his contribution to English and Odia literature, has been honoured with the Mystic Kalinga Literary Award-Indian and Global Languages.
The award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, was presented to the 85-year-old litterateur during the fourth edition of the two-day Mystic Kalinga Festival that kicked off here on Saturday, 8 February, organisers said in a release.
(Source: PTI)
Govt to Reduce Time Taken for Starting Biz; To Introduce New E-Form
Continuing efforts to further improve ease of doing business, the government will introduce an integrated electronic form for incorporating new companies from 15 February, wherein EPFO and ESIC registration numbers will also be allotted at the same time.
(Source: PTI)
Iran Starts Countdown for Satellite Launch 'Within Hours'
Iran started counting down on Sunday, 9 February, to the launch of a new scientific observation satellite scheduled within hours, the country's telecommunications minister said.
The United States has raised concerns in the past about Iran's satellite programme, describing the launch of a carrier rocket in January 2019 as a "provocation".
"Beginning countdown to launch #Zafar_Satellite in the next few hours... In the Name of God," Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi wrote on Twitter.
(Source: AFP)
Omar's PSA Dossier Cites His Remarks at Internal Party Meet, Mehbooba's Pro-Separatist Stand
Authorities cited proceedings of internal party meetings and social media influence of NC leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah and "pro-separatist" stand of Mehbooba Mufti for booking them under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).
Abdullah and Mufti had been under preventive detention since August 5 last year, when the Centre announced abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories.
They were booked under the PSA on the night of February 6, a few hours before their preventive detention was to end.
(Source: PTI)
MP: 27-Year-Old Likely to Be Country's First Deaf-Mute Sarpanch
A 27-year-old speech and hearing- impaired man is likely to become the sarpanch of Dansari village panchayat in Madhya Pradesh.
If this happens, he would be the first deaf and mute person to get elected to the post in the country, a social activist claimed on Sunday, 9 February.
Dansari village, 40 km away from Indore city, was recently given the status of gram panchayat, sub-divisional magistrate Pratul Sinha told PTI. The post of sarpanch in the newly-constituted Dansari panchayat has been reserved for candidates from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category, after taking out draw of lots on the rotational method basis, he said.
(Source: PTI)
BJP Leader Kameshwar Choupal To Be Member of Ram Janmbhoomi Trust, Announces Meeting
BJP leader Kameshwar Choupal is set to be one of the fifteen members of the 'Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra' Trust, that has been set up for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Choupal said that the first meeting of the Trust will be held on 19th February.
(Source: ANI)
Jharkhand: Mahatma Gandhi's Statue Found Damaged
Mahatama Gandhi's statue in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand was found damaged. Police said that the investigation is underway to ascertain whether the statue fell itself or was vandalized.
Gowda Asks Regional Parties to Rally Behind Cong to Stop BJP Bengaluru
Senior JD(S) leader and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda has called upon all the regional parties and secular parties to join hands with the Congress and work in tandem to take on the BJP.
Noting that mere speeches would not help, he said the regional and secular parties should enhance their strength politically in the country.
'Absolutely Shocking', Says Kejriwal as EC yet to Release Final Voter Turnout Figure
With the Election Commission yet to come out with the final voting percentage of Delhi assembly elections, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, 9 February said the delay was "absolutely shocking" and wondered why the poll panel was not releasing the figure several hours after polling got over.
"Absolutely shocking. What is EC doing? Why are they not releasing poll turnout figures, several hours after polling?" Kejriwal tweeted.
PM Modi Writes to Chinese President Xi Jinping
PM Modi has written to Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressing India's solidarity with people of China over Coronavirus outbreak:
(Source: PTI)
Brahmapur: 9 Passengers Electrocuted to Death, 22 Injured in Bus Accident
Nine persons were electrocuted to death and 22 people injured when a bus caught fire after coming in contact with a power transmission line in Golanthara area of Odishas Ganjam district on Sunday, officials said.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his condolence and announced announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased.
7 Bangladeshi Nationals Held in Jhansi
Seven Bangladeshi nationals were arrested here as they did not have any valid documents for staying in the country, police said on Sunday, 9 February.
Jhansi Senior Superintendent of Police D Pradeep said, "As many as seven Bangladeshi nationals were arrested during routine checking near the bus stand in Babina on Friday." Babina, a cantonment town in Jhansi district -- stands for British Army Base in North Asia.
Those arrested were staying at a hotel near the bus stand and did not have valid documents for staying in India, the SSP said, adding that the seven belong to Dhaka.
Mobile Internet Services Restored in Kashmir
Mobile Internet services were suspended earlier on Sunday, as a preventive measure to check law and order, ahead of Afzal Guru’s death anniversary. The services were restored in the evening.
Delhi CEO to Hold Press Conference at 7 pm Today
Delhi CEO will hold press conference at 7 pm today to announce final voter turnout. Earlier today, Arvind Kejriwal tweeted saying that its ‘Absolutely shocking’ that the EC has not given any report on final voter turnout figure.
'Ram Temple Will be Constructed in 4-5 Years' : Kameshwar Choupal
Kameshwar Choupal, one of the 15 members of 'Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra' Trust while interacting with the media stated that it will take around 4-5 years to construct a magnificent RamTemple and the best technology will be used for the construction of the temple at the earliest.
62.59 PC Voter Turnout in Delhi Election
Final voter turnout in the Delhi polls was 62.59 per cent, senior officials said on Sunday. Elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly were held on Saturday, 8 February.
Dawood Ibrahim's Close Aide Arrested in Dongri
Tariq Parveen, a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim, was arrested from Dongri today, S Rastogi, Mumbai Joint Commissioner of Police told news agency ANI. Parveen was arrested in connection with an extortion case.
(ANI)
Civilian Shot Dead by Terrorists in Pulwama
A civilian shot dead by suspected terrorists in Tral, Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. More details awaited.
(ANI)
Woman BJP Leader Shot Dead by Husband in Gurgaon
A woman BJP leader from Gurgaon in Haryana was shot dead allegedly by her husband who suspected her of having an illicit relationship, a police official said on Sunday, 9 February.
(PTI)
Laid Foundation for $5 Trillion Economy in Budget: FM Nirmala Sithraman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said that the foundation for achieving the goal of $5 trillion economy by 2024-25 has been laid in the union budget which stressed on increasing capital expenditure for infrastructure.
(PTI)
Iran Satellite Launch Fails, in Blow to Space Program
Iran said it "successfully" launched a satellite Sunday, 9 February but failed to put it into orbit, in a blow to its space program that the US alleges is a cover for missile development.
The attempted launch of the Zafar -- "Victory" in Farsi -- comes days before the 41st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and crucial parliamentary elections in Iran.
(Source: PTI)
20 Civilians Dead as Syrian Govt Set to Retake Key Highway: Monitor
At least 20 civilians were killed on Sunday as Syrian regime forces were poised to retake a key motorway connecting Damascus to second city Aleppo, after weeks of battles in the rebel-held Idlib region, a monitor said.
The regime and its Russian ally have been engaged in a fierce weeks-long offensive to take back the vital M5 artery which connects Aleppo, once Syria's economic hub, to Damascus and the Jordanian border.
(Source: PTI)