Latest News: Encounter Underway in J&K’s Kupwara
Catch all the latest news and updates of the day here.
Catch the latest news updates of the day here.
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Schools Near LoC to Remain Closed
The Deputy Commissioner of Jammu has ordered that all government and private schools within five kilometres radius of the LoC will remain closed on Thursday.
(Source: ANI)
Earthquake Hits Nicobar Islands
An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 on the Richter scale hit Nicobar Islands at 5:30 am on Thursday, 28 February.
(Source: ANI)
Second Body Recovered from Meghalaya Mine
One more body has been recovered from the Meghalaya mine in the East Jaintia Hills, where at least 13 miners were trapped since 13 December last year. The first body was found on 26 January.
(Source: ANI)
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj to Leave for UAE to Take Part in OIC
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to leave for UAE today to take part in Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting as the Guest of Honour.
Ceasefire Violation by Pakistan in Poonch
Pakistan violated ceasefire on Thursday morning in Krishna Ghati sector along the Line of Control in Poonch district. Indian Army retaliated effectively and firing stopped around 7 am.
(Source: ANI)
Rupee Opens Marginally Lower
The rupee on Thursday opened slightly lower at 71.26 against the US dollar. At Wednesday’ closing, the currency was at 71.22.
(Source: PTI)
Two Arrested in Kolkata With Fake Notes Worth Rs 7 Lakh
The anti-Fake Indian Currency Note team of Special Task Force arrested two persons on Wednesday, in possession of fake notes of Rs 2,000 denomination with face value of Rs 7 lakh.
Cabinet to Meet Later Today
The Union Cabinet will reportedly meet later on Thursday at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
Source: (ANI)
Sensex, Nifty Gain in Early Trading
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty made early gains on Thursday morning. The 30-share BSE index went up by as much as 180 points in the morning trade. Nifty too was in the green, testing 10,800-levels.
UPSRTC Attempts World Record for Longest Fleet of Buses
The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) is attempting to feature in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest fleet of 500 buses. The buses with the Kumbh logo will cover a stretch of 3.2 km in the Prayagraj district.
Japan Urges India, Pak to Exercise Restraint
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said, “In response to the mounting tension due to the operations since 26 February between the Indian Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force, Japan strongly urges India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and stabilize the situation through dialogue.”
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Link Your Pan with Bank for Refunds: I-T to Taxpayers
The Income Tax Department will "only" issue refunds via the e-mode into bank accounts of taxpayers beginning next month and they should link PAN with their accounts, the taxman said in its latest public communication.
(Source: PTI)
Gen Bipin Rawat's Meeting With J&K Delegates Cancelled
Army chief General Bipin Rawat’s meeting with delegates from panchayat members and ex-servicemen from Jammu and Kashmir scheduled for today has been cancelled.
(Source: ANI)
BJP - Akali Dal Reach Seat Sharing Agreement for LS Election
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will fight on 10 seats and BJP on 3 seats in Punjab in upcoming Lok Sabha elections, says BJP President Amit Shah.
(Source: ANI)
Naxal Killed in Encounter in Chhattisgarh
A Naxal has been killed in an encounter with Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) 202 under Chintagupha police station area in Chhattisgarh.
(Source: ANI)
SC Stays Order on Eviction of Tribals
The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed its February 13 order directing 21 states to evict 11.8 lakh illegal forest dwellers. SC also directed state governments to file affidavits giving details about process adopted in rejecting claims of forest dwellers. The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 10.
(Source: PTI)
Pakistan Violates Ceasefire in Poonch Again
Pakistan violated ceasefire at 1 pm today along the Line of Control in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district. Indian Army retaliated effectively. Reports of ceasefire violation from the same area had come earlier in the morning too.
(Source: ANI)
IRCTC Launches Payment Aggregator
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched its own payment aggregator system, IRCTC iPay, a step which will help promote government's Digital India initiative.
A statement from the railways' catering and ticketing arm said the exclusive digital payment gateway will provide an improved online digital payment convenience and ease of doing business to passengers availing online travel related services through the IRCTC website.
(Source: PTI)
Dinakaran, Sasikala's Petition Over AIADMK Symbol Dismissed
Delhi High Court upholds the decision of Election Commission of alloting the two-leaves symbol to the Panneerselvam-Palaniswami faction. It has dismissed the petition of TTV Dhinakaran and VK Sasikala.
Ceasefire Violation by Pakistan in Rajouri
Pakistan violated ceasefire in Rajouri's Nowshera Sector around 2.15 pm. Indian Army is retaliating.
(Source: ANI)
Delhi HC Dismisses Plea Seeking Amendments to PMLA
Delhi High Court dismissed the PIL filed by Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh challenging the amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 through Finance Acts of 2015, 2016 and 2018. The court on Thursday dismissed the petition on maintainability ground.
(Source: ANI)
2 Held With Fake Currency in Kolkata
The Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police has arrested two persons from the city and recovered fake Indian currency notes with a face value of Rs seven lakh from their possession.
(Source: PTI)
SC Allows Arrest of Amrapali Group CMD Anil Sharma
The Supreme Court allowed Delhi Police to arrest Amrapali group CMD Anil Sharma, two directors Shiv Priya and Ajay Kumar forthwith in a criminal complaint filed against them.
The court also directed attachment of personal properties of Sharma and other directors.
(Source: PTI)
Elderly Man Dies in House Fire in Himachal Village
An elderly man died when a fire broke out in his house in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district, officials said Thursday.
Shishu Jamwal (63) of Dhook village in Thural tehsil of Dheera subdivision died on Wednesday night in the blaze that gutted four other houses, they added.
The cause of the fire was an electrical short circuit, they added.
(Source: PTI)
Jammu-Srinagar NH Remains Closed for Fourth Day
The strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for traffic for the fourth consecutive day Thursday due to a fresh landslide in Ramsoo belt of Ramban district, officials said.
Over 200 vehicles are stranded at different places in the highway after the landslide at Moonpassi area of Ramsoo.
(Source: PTI)
Meeting With BJP President Amit Shah Positive: Apna Dal Chief
Amid reports of differences with its ally BJP, Apna Dal (Sonelal) chief Ashish Singh Patel Thursday said he had a "positive" meeting with Amit Shah, but all options were open if a certain section of saffron party leaders "do not change their attitude".
Ashish Singh Patel, the husband of Union Minister Anupriya Patel, had met BJP national president Amit Shah at New Delhi on Wednesday.
(Source: PTI)
Delhi HC Directs Pak Woman to Leave India Within Two Weeks
The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed a Pakistani woman, against whom there are adverse security reports, to leave India within two weeks.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru dismissed the plea of the woman seeking quashing of the government's 'leave India notice' and said that under the principles of law she has no right to stay here.
(Source: PTI)
REC Board Okays Borrowing Limit Hike, Rs 11 per Share Interim Dividend
State-run REC's board Thursday decided to approve an interim dividend of Rs 11 per equity share of Rs 10 each and also increased its overall market borrowing limit to Rs 85,000 crore from the earlier Rs 60,000 for the current financial year.
(Source: PTI)
Compensation for Natural Calamities: Govt Approves Grant to 4 States
The Centre on Thursday approved over Rs 1,600 crore assistance to four states -- Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Manipur -- as compensation for the natural calamities faced by them last year.
(Source: PTI)
Army Rescues Tourists Stranded by Blizzard in Sikkim
The Indian Army rescued and evacuated over 300 tourists stranded in Changgu and adjoining areas of East Sikkim owing to heavy snowfall, a Defence official said Friday.
The Army personnel carried out the rescue operation amid the blizzard, evacuating the tourists travelling in 50 to 60 vehicles Thursday, the official said.
(Source: PTI)
Hospital Pledges Free Health Care to TN CRPF Martyrs' Kin
The families of two CRPF jawans of Tamil Nadu killed in the Pulwama terror attack will be provided free of cost life long health care, a private hospital said on Thursday.
The Madurai based hospital in south Tamil Nadu said the free health care includes consultation, treatment, medicines, diagnostic tests and surgeries, if needed, for any medical condition for any family member for the rest of their lives.
(Source: PTI)
HC Dismisses AJL's Appeal Against Order to Evict Herald House
The Delhi High Court Thursday dismissed the plea of AJL, publisher of Congress mouthpiece National Herald, challenging the Centre's order to vacate its premises and said there has been "misuse" of lease conditions.
The high court held that the entire transaction of transferring shares of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) to Young Indian (YI) company, in which Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi are majority shareholders, was a "clandestine and surreptitious transfer of the lucrative interest in the premises" to YI.
(Source: PTI)
Koregaon-Bhima Violence: No Way to Verify Seized Documents, Source, Bharadwaj's Lawyer Tells HC
Human rights activist Sudha Bharadwaj's lawyer on Thursday questioned the veracity of the letters and other documents the Pune Police has claimed to have seized during the probe of the Elgar Parishad-Maoist connection case.
Bharadwaj, arrested in the case in August last year, has filed a bail application in the Bombay High Court.
(Source: PTI)
Lawyer Shot Dead Inside Court Campus in UP
An advocate was on Thursday shot dead inside a court campus in neighbouring Basti district, police said.
Citing eyewitnesses, police said Jagnarayan Yadav (63) was working in his chamber when the incident took place.
At around 3.30 pm, a youth came to him and after talking to him for some time, took out a pistol and fired at him. The other advocates and people present there tried to chase the culprit, but the youth managed to escape.
(Source: PTI)
T Jeevan Reddy to Be Congress Party's Nominee for Telangana Legislative Council
T Jeevan Reddy will be Congress party's nominee for the biennial elections to the Telangana Legislative Council, from Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Karimnagar Graduates Constituency.
(Source: ANI)
Sc Stays Its 13 Feb Order Directing Eviction of 11.8 Lakh Forest Dwellers
The Supreme Court Thursday stayed its 13 February order directing 21 states to evict 11.8 lakh illegal forest dwellers whose claims over the forest land have been rejected by the authorities.
A bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, Naveen Sinha and M R Shah directed the state governments to file affidavits giving details about process adopted in rejecting the claims.
The apex court posted the matter for further hearing on 10 July.
(Source: PTI)
Rape More Serious Offence Than Murder: Maha Govt Tells HC
Rape is a more serious offence than murder as the victim's ordeal continues even after the incident, the Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court on Thursday.
Countering the defence's argument in the Shakti Mills gang-rape case, Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni said while a rape victim "may continue breathing after the offence," it causes a "severe detrimental effect" on her.
(Source: PTI)
Seven Dead, Dozens Buried in Indonesia Mine Collapse
At least seven people have died and dozens more are still trapped beneath the rubble of an illegal gold mine that collapsed in Indonesia, officials said Thursday, as rescuers frantically searched for survivors.
Some 19 miners had been plucked to safety since Tuesday night's accident and rescuers are communicating with some still buried, raising hopes for more survivors.
(Source: PTI)
Israel PM Netanyahu to Be Indicted on Corruption Charges
Israeli attorney general announces corruption charges against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
(Source: AP)
Cabinet Clears Amendment of Article 370 Clause for SC, ST Quota
The government on Thursday, 28 February gave its nod to the promulgation of an ordinance for giving reservation benefits to SCs and STs in Jammu and Kashmir by amending a clause of the contentious Article 370, which gives special status to the state.
(Source: PTI)
Cabinet Approves Aadhaar Ordinance to Allow Its Use as ID Proof for Bank Accounts, Sim Connection
The Cabinet Thursday approved the promulgation of an Ordinance to allow voluntary use of Aadhaar as identity proof for opening bank account and procuring mobile phone connection.
The Ordinance was necessitated as a bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on 4 January but pending in the Rajya Sabha, would have lapsed with the dissolution of the current Lok Sabha. The Ordinance will now give the effect to the changes in the Aadhaar Act such as giving a child an option to exit from the biometric ID programme on attaining 18 years of age.
(Source: PTI)
Union Cabinet Approves Agra Metro Rail Project
Union Cabinet on Thursday approved Agra Metro Rail Project.
(Source: ANI)
Govt Imposes Ban on Jamaat-E-Islami Jammu and Kashmir
Separatist group Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir was banned Thursday under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for alleged anti-national and subversive activities, officials said.
A notification on the ban was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after a high-level meeting on security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
(Source: PTI)
Union Cabinet Approves AIIMS Redevelopment Plan
The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave in-principle approval to a redevelopment plan of Delhi's AIIMS to convert it into a "world class" medical university.
The master plan envisages freeing up adequate space through redevelopment, vertical expansion and reorganising the land usage, thus optimising the infrastructure of the institute for the next 20 years, an official statement said.
(Source: PTI)
Subsidised LPG Price Hikes by 2.08 Per Cylinder
The subsidised LPG price on Thursday hiked by 2.08 per cylinder, whereas the non-subsidised LPG rate was raised by Rs 42.50, said Indian Oil Corp.
(Source: PTI)
JNU Case: Delhi Court Raps AAP Govt for Not Granting Sanction to Prosecute Kanhaiya, Others
A Delhi court Thursday rapped the AAP government for not granting the requisite sanction to prosecute former JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and others in a 2016 sedition case, warning that it would proceed with the case even without the go-ahead.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Deepak Sherawat was informed by the investigating officer (IO) that the state government has not yet granted the required sanction to the Delhi Police to prosecute the accused.
(Source: PTI)
Naresh Goyal Agrees to Step Down as Chairman of Jet Airways
Beleaguered Jet Airways' Chairman Naresh Goyal has agreed to step down as the lenders gear up to acquire majority stake in the airline under a bailout plan, a source said Thursday.
When contacted, Jet Airways Vice-President for Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Ragini Chopra said she is "not aware" of the developments.
(Source: PTI)
Labourer Gets 20 Yrs for Rape; Crime Had Sparked off Anti-Migrant Violence
A fast-track court here Thursday awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment to a migrant labourer for raping a 14-month-old girl in Gujarat's Sabarkantha district in September last year.
The incident had led to violence against migrant labourers in some parts of Gujarat, leading to an exodus.
(Source: PTI)
Cabinet Approves Rs 1,450 Cr for share Capital of RBI in NHB
The Union Cabinet Thursday approved Rs 1,450 crore for the share capital of Reserve Bank of India in the National Housing Bank.
Subsequent to the payment of this amount to RBl, the subscribed capital of NHB shall stand transferred to and vested in the central government.
(Source: PTI)
At Least 5 Killed in Car Bomb Blast in Somalia
At least five people were killed and 25 were wounded on Thursday, 28 February when a car bomb exploded close to a major hotel in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, medics said.
"Our teams have collected five dead bodies and 25 wounded people," Abdukadir Abdirahman, director of the Aamin Ambulance service, told AFP.
He warned that the tally could rise.
Kim and Trump to Continue 'Productive Talks to Discuss Denuclearisation': Pyongyang's State Media
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump have agreed to continue "productive" discussions on denuclearisation, Pyongyang's state media said on Friday, 1 March, hours after a summit between the two leaders in Hanoi ended abruptly, with no agreement.
Kim and Trump "agreed to continue having productive talks to discuss the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and the improvement of US-North Korea relations", the KCNA news agency reported, making no mention of the breakdown of the two-day summit in Vietnam.
Encounter Underway in J&K's Kupwara
Encounter is underway between terrorists and security forces in Kupwara district's Handwara area, reported ANI. Two to three terrorists believed to be trapped. More details awaited.