Latest news today (February 3): Presenting FE’s Breaking News today. We will keep you updated on all major news, views and much more throughout the day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reached Guwahati on a two-day trip during which he will meet the BJP's state core committee and roll out development projects worth nearly Rs 11,600 crore. The PM landed at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport here from Odisha around 6.30 pm and proceeded to Koinadhora State Guest House.
Union Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra was appointed as the Health Secretary as part of a top-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre on Saturday. Chandra is a 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Maharashtra cadre. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved Chandra's appointment as Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said. Senior bureaucrat Sanjay Jaju has been appointed as the new Information and Broadcasting Secretary, in place of Chandra. (PTI)
Enforcement Directorate has moved to Rouse Avenue Court and filed a complaint against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for not complying with the summons issued by the agency in the Delhi liquor policy money laundering case. Court heard some submissions today and put up for February 7, for the remaining submissions and consideration. (ANI)
Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot was admitted to Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital here with a fever and low oxygen saturation after he tested positive for COVID-19 and swine flu. In a post on X on Friday night, Gehlot said he had a fever for the past few days and had tested positive for COVID-19 and swine flu. Gehlot was admitted to the government facility late last night with a fever and low oxygen saturation. He is on oxygen support and his condition is stable, the doctor said.
On Saturday, under the chairmanship of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, a cabinet meeting was held in the State Secretariat to discuss the draft report on the Uniform Civil Code. In the crucial state-level meeting, the draft report of the Uniform Civil Code will get the approval of the Cabinet, after which the government will present the UCC Bill in the Assembly on February 6. (ANI)
Police arrested two individuals, including a 55-year-old film producer, Soloman Ratnamayya Narkanthelu, and his 22-year-old associate, Chandraraj alias Michel David Muttipegu, for running a sex racket in a Thane district hotel. Acting on a tip-off, the anti-human trafficking cell rescued four women. The accused allegedly exploited women working in Hindi serials, web series, photo shoots, and YouTube videos, coercing them into the flesh trade, according to senior inspector Sameer Ahirrao.
The Mumbai police have arrested a man in connection with the death of a 40-year-old homeless woman, whose body was found on the roadside in Sewree last month, an official said on Saturday. The police on Friday arrested Shehzada alias Ramzan Sheikh (37), a contractual employee of the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), for the murder of Sapna Satish Batham, the official said. A woman's partially decomposed body was found in the bushes on the roadside in Sewree on January 22, following which a probe was initiated, he said. (PTI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pledged to transfer funds to the bank accounts of 21 lakh MGNREGA workers in the state by February 21. Amid a 48-hour dharna demanding the release of "unpaid dues" for social welfare schemes, Banerjee also hinted at an upcoming announcement regarding unreleased funds for the Awas Yojana, emphasizing her commitment to the welfare of the state's residents.
India and the Maldives aim to resolve tensions as India prepares to withdraw its 80 troops from the Maldives by May. The military presence will be replaced by civilians, fostering diplomatic ties. The Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's shift away from the "India First" policy strained relations, prompting the withdrawal. Amidst Indo-Pacific power dynamics, India and China compete for influence in the region, with the Maldives becoming a focal point in their geopolitical strategies.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the inaugural 'Biswa Odia Bhasha Sammilani' (World Odia Language Conference) at Janata Maidan on Saturday. The event commenced with a collective rendition of 'Bande Utkala Janani,' the state anthem. Participants, including government employees, students, and non-resident Odias, joined the celebration by simultaneously singing the anthem across the state and abroad.
India expects to collect up to 140 billion rupees ($1.7 billion) in goods and services tax (GST) next financial year by taxing online gambling companies, Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra told Reuters on Saturday. The government in October imposed a 28% tax on funds that online gaming companies collect from their customers for every bet, shocking a nascent $1.5 billion industry that is backed by global investors. The government had defended the move, citing concerns about addiction. (REUTERS)
DGP Gaurav Yadav revealed on social media that the arrested individuals, with a history of multiple criminal cases, were involved in hiding suspects related to Sidhu Moosewala's murder and aiding Gangster Deepak Tinu's escape in 2017. Punjab's AGTF apprehended them, recovering two pistols and 12 live cartridges. Initial findings indicate their assignment for target killings directed by foreign-based handlers.
India secured a spot in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 after winning gold at the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup Spain 2022. Despite finishing third in their debut in the 2021/22 edition, Chief Coach Janneke Schopman is thrilled to return, expressing confidence and eagerness to showcase India's hockey prowess. The upcoming league is set to kick off at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on February 3, moving to Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela from February 12, featuring national teams from India, China, the USA, the Netherlands, and Australia.
The death toll in the Solan cosmetic factory fire increased to five as NDRF teams discovered four more bodies during the rescue operation on Saturday. Himachal Pradesh DGP Sanjay Kundu reported 85 people inside during the incident, with one woman confirmed dead, 30 hospitalized, and 13 missing. Of the missing, four have now been located.
In preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the ruling BJP is set to hold a two-day national convention on February 17-18 at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. Commencing with an inaugural address by party president JP Nadda, the convention will conclude with PM Narendra Modi's closing speech on February 18. A preceding meeting of BJP's national office bearers is scheduled a day prior, inviting key representatives from various segments.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Hemant Soren, former Jharkhand CM, was taken from Birsa Munda jail to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office for questioning. The High Court had granted a five-day ED custody on Friday in connection with an alleged land scam. Soren was arrested following multiple summons and extensive questioning on Wednesday night.
In the Delhi Excise Policy money laundering case, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, charged and arrested, was granted permission by the Rouse Avenue court to take his Rajya Sabha oath on February 5, 2024, while in custody. The court also extended the judicial custody of Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh until February 17. Despite initially seeking interim bail to attend Parliament and take the oath, Sanjay Singh withdrew the plea. He is scheduled to appear before a court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on February 7.
In the second Test against England at Visakhapatnam, Jasprit Bumrah showcased his brilliance with a pinpoint yorker, dismissing Ollie Pope for just 23 runs. After Axar Patel halted Zak Crawley's half-century, Bumrah's delivery left English fans in awe and shattered Pope's middle and leg stumps during the second session on Saturday.
India saw a single-day rise of 159 cases of COVID-19, while the number of active cases of the infection was recorded at 1,400, the health ministry said on Saturday.
Three deaths from Kerala have been reported in a span of 24 hours, according to the ministry's data updated at 8 am. The number of daily cases had dropped to double-digits till December 5, but cases had begun to increase after emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the foundation stone for NLC India Limited's 2,400 MegaWatt Supercritical Thermal power plant in Sambalpur, Odisha, on Saturday. The Talabira Thermal power project, valued at over Rs 27,000 crore, aligns with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, contributing to energy security and economic growth. (READ MORE)
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake shook an area near Oklahoma City late Friday night, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The earthquake hit at 11:24 p.m. and was centered 8 kilometers (4.9 miles) northwest of Prague, Oklahoma, the agency said. Prague is about 57 miles (92 kilometers) east of Oklahoma City, where residents reported feeling the shaking. Shawnee, Stillwater and Tecumseh residents also felt the earthquake, KFOR-TV reported. The earthquake was shallow — just 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) deep, according to the USGS — and temblors that hit close to the surface can make the shaking more intense. (AP)
Renowned BJP leader LK Advani is set to receive the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. Acknowledging Advani's significant contributions to India's development, PM Modi expressed the monumental impact of the former Union Minister. (READ MORE)
Actor and model, Poonam Pandey was confirmed dead by her manager on Friday, has just posted two videos to inform her fake demise stunt. She says, "I am here, alive. Cervical Cancer didn’t claim me, but tragically, it has claimed the lives of thousands of women who stemmed from a lack of knowledge on how to tackle this disease." (READ MORE)