Latest news today (January 27): Presenting FE’s Breaking News today. We will keep you updated on all major news, views and much more throughout the day.
The Congress's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,' led by Rahul Gandhi, is set to resume on Sunday after a two-day break. Rahul Gandhi will rejoin the program in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district. The Yatra began on January 14 from Manipur and entered West Bengal from Assam. After a roadshow in Coochbehar on January 25, Gandhi took a two-day break in New Delhi, while the Yatra temporarily halted in Falakata, Alipurduar.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday appeared all set to make his second political volte-face in less than three years, with a highly-placed source close to Kumar saying that the JD (U) President is likely to tender his resignation by Sunday morning. The source, who requested anonymity, told PTI that though there was a possibility of Kumar resigning by late Saturday evening, "It would definitely take place by Sunday morning". (PTI)
Two women and a man were killed early on Saturday in what witnesses said was an Israeli airstrike on a home in the southernmost part of Gaza, as Israel pursued its military offensive against the Palestinian enclave. The strike came less than a day after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza. As part of its binding ruling, the top United Nations court asked Israel for a compliance report in a month, meaning the military's conduct will be under increasing scrutiny. (AP)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said OBCs need not have any apprehension about the state government's notification in connection with activist Manoj Jarange's Maratha quota stir and also schooled his cabinet colleague Chhagan Bhujbal on issuance of Kunbi certificates. Jarange called of his fast earlier in the day after the state government said it had accepted all his demands, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announcing that till Marathas get reservation, the community will be given benefits enjoyed by Other Backward Classes. (PTI)
Cash-strapped Pakistan has asked its ally China for a year-long extension of a USD 2 billion loan, as reported on Saturday. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar penned a letter to Chinese Premier Li Qiang, expressing gratitude for China's financial support during Pakistan's economic crisis. The letter requests a rollover of the debt as the loan's deposit time ends on March 23. The move aims to ease Pakistan's pressure on external debt payments and stabilize foreign exchange reserves.
Leaders of the BJP in Bihar gathered here on Saturday to discuss the political situation in the state, amid indications that former ally, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, was planning yet another volte face. “We have come here to deliberate on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The current situation in Bihar will also be taken up for discussion,” state BJP president Samrat Choudhary told reporters ahead of the party meeting at its Veerchand Patel Marg office. The meeting is also being attended by the party's MPs. The BJP has the largest number of 17 MPs in Bihar, where the total number of Lok Sabha members is 40. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the NCC PM rally at Delhi's Cariappa Parade Ground, where he saluted during the annual event. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was also present. The event featured a cultural program themed 'Amrit Kaal Ki NCC,' highlighting the contributions of the Amrit Peedhi. Over 2,200 NCC cadets and youth from 24 foreign countries, along with 400 Sarpanches and 100 women from self-help groups, participated.
A 50-year-old man from Thane, Maharashtra, claimed he lost Rs 25.5 lakh after being enticed with promises of high returns on investments. The complainant, Vijay Muglikar, a medical officer, alleged that a person posing as Prof. Saurabh Mukherjea convinced him to join an investment group. Between December 26 and January 17, Muglikar invested the amount, believing in substantial returns, as per his complaint.
All eyes were trained on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday, with the JD(U) president appearing to be inching towards his second political volte face in less than three years. For Kumar, who has maintained a deafening silence over the turmoil in the ‘Mahagathbandhan', ignoring pleas from allies RJD, Congress and the Left to clear the confusion, it was business as usual.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday rolled out a specialised 'Sadak Surakhya Force' to streamline traffic movement and check road accidents in the state. Addressing a gathering on the occasion of the launch of the road safety force here, he said Punjab is the first state to come out with such an initiative and expressed concerns over fatalities in road accidents. As per data available, road accidents claim 17-18 lives in the state every day, Mann said. (PTI)
A 44-year-old farmer died by suicide at a protest site related to a dam in Maharashtra's Amravati district on Saturday. Superintendent of Police Vishal Anand mentioned that farmers, affected by the Upper Wardha dam, were protesting at Morshi for compensation. The farmer hanged himself at the protest stage early Saturday, leading to a blockade of vehicular movement by other protesters.
The Congress on Saturday appointed former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel as its senior observer to coordinate the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' and other party activities in Bihar with immediate effect. The appointment comes at a time when power politics in Bihar has intensified amid strong indications that Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar may do yet another volte-face and return to the BJP-led NDA. (PTI)
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan expressed anger on Saturday, staging a protest in Nilamel, Kollam, accusing the police of inaction when Student Federation of India (SFI) workers waved black flags at his motorcade. The governor, en route to an event, confronted the protestors, scolding them loudly. He also criticized the police for not arresting the SFI workers involved in the protest.
A worker lost their life in a morning blast at Ordnance Factory Bhandara in Maharashtra on Saturday. The incident occurred around 8 am. The victim, identified as 52-year-old Avinash Meshram, was working alone in his department during the blast in the first shift of the day. Further details are awaited.
India has registered a single-day rise of 159 new COVID-19 infections and the count of active cases of the disease stands at 1,623 in the country, the Union health ministry said on Saturday. One fatality due to the infection was reported in Kerala in a span of 24 hours, according to the data updated by the ministry at 8 am. The number of daily cases of COVID-19 in the country had dropped to double-digits by December 5, but it began to climb after the emergence of a new variant and the cold weather conditions. After December 5, the highest single-day rise of 841 new cases was reported on December 31. (PTI)
Police arrested “poachers” responsible for the recent rhino killing in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, as announced by Director General of Police G P Singh on Saturday. The recovered rhino horn and the AK Rifle used in the poaching were also mentioned. The arrests were made by a team led by the Superintendent of Police of Golaghat district, with further recoveries and crime scene reconstruction underway, according to Singh. The exact number of persons arrested was not specified.
Amid rumors of Nitish Kumar rejoining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Bihar Chief Minister attended the inauguration of the state's Fire Fighting Vehicle today. Despite being under the Disaster Management Department led by RJD Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, Kumar was the sole participant. This event coincides with speculation about Nitish Kumar returning to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
JD(U), led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, stated on Saturday that there is no confusion within the 'Mahagathbandhan' alliance in Bihar. Senior JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar emphasized that speculators need clarification, asserting there is no confusion among alliance partners. He highlighted unity, stating that during state cabinet meetings and Republic Day functions, alliance members, including RJD ministers, work together. Neeraj commented on Nitish Kumar, emphasizing his focus on work rather than political maneuvers when asked about JD(U)'s potential return to the BJP-led NDA.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed that the BJP offered Rs 25 crore to seven of its Delhi MLAs to leave the party and threatened to overthrow the Kejriwal government. Delhi BJP dismissed the claim, challenging AAP to name the MLAs and those making the offer. CM Kejriwal posted on 'X' that seven MLAs were contacted, warning of AAP's imminent arrest. Kejriwal stated the callers promised 21 AAP MLAs Rs 25 crore and a BJP ticket each after toppling the Delhi government. (READ MORE)
At least three girls died and 10 others were injured when a bus carrying students of a private coaching centre collided with a truck in Odisha's Nayagarh district, police said Saturday. The accident took place at Sahalabhanga jungle in Daspalla area when the bus with 50 students was heading towards Bolangir district for a picnic on Friday. (PTI)
On Saturday, the Maharashtra government issued a notice, acknowledging all blood relatives of Maratha community members with identified Kunbi caste records as Kunbis. The Kunbi community, classified as Other Backward Classes (OBC), has been a focus in the reservation debate led by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, who advocates for Kunbi certificates for all Marathas.
A truck-car crash in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, on Saturday, resulted in four deaths and one person getting seriously hurt. The accident happened on the Jammu-Jalandhar National State Highway. The car caught fire, and the truck overturned. Police and passersby transported the injured to Dasuha government hospital, but due to their condition, they were referred to Amritsar Medical College.
The Houthi's Al-Masira television said on Saturday that the U.S. and the UK launched two airstrikes that targeted the port of Ras Issa in Yemen's Hodeidah province. The airstrikes came as Yemen's Houthi rebels have stepped up attacks on vessels transiting the Red Sea, including a hit that sparked a fire on a fuel tanker on Friday. (REUTERS)
Many have believed that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar might rejoin the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde mentioned a meeting of Bihar BJP leaders in Patna this weekend to discuss the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This comes amid speculation of Nitish Kumar returning to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after leaving it in 2022 to join the opposition 'Mahagathbandhan'.
The crowd of devotees kept going to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to see Shri Ram Lalla on the fifth day after the Pran Pratishtha. IG Range Ayodhya Praveen Kumar said they've arranged everything for the visitors but suggested waiting until winter is over before visiting.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday said he has called off his protest over the reservation issue, saying the Maharashtra government has accepted all the demands. He expressed satisfaction that the government has issued a notification to issue Kunbi caste certificates to all relatives of the Marathas whose records (linked to Kunbi caste) have been found. (PTI)