As Navratri begins, Ghaziabad shuts meat shops, shopkeepers question move

The move of Ghaziabad authorities to keep meat shops shut while allowing liquor outlets to remain open during the ongoing Navratri has raised a few eyebrows among local traders. Several shop owners said on Saturday that they would “incur a huge loss” after Ghaziabad mayor Asha Sharma issued an order barring the sale of raw meat in the open during the nine days of the Hindu festival.

Kharge takes 'aam khate hai' jibe after PM Modi's ‘bhrashtachari’ dig, asks 3 questions

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he took a jibe at the Opposition. Kharge asked three questions, raising allegations of corruption and accused the BJP of being involved in scams in different states. Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha has become a rallying point for the Opposition, and the Delhi Police released all protesters, including Congress leaders and workers, detained during their campaign.

'Obviously not ideal...': US official on Indian citizens' visa interviews abroad

The US has increased the number of visa officers and diplomatic missions in India to process visa applications, leading to a 60% decrease in wait time. More than 100 US diplomatic missions are issuing visas to Indians and those who don't need an interview can receive their visa in less than two weeks. The goal is to issue one million US visas this year, which is above pre-pandemic numbers.

Morning brief: Centre looks to push 3 key bills this Parliament session, and all the latest news

Government will seek parliamentary approval for three proposed laws, including the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023. Pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh and his mentor Papalpreet Singh reportedly escaped the Punjab Police. Italian authorities are searching for a man who jumped off a three-story building into a canal in Venice. When Sachin Tendulkar began playing cricket, it used to be a different ball game. Netflix's Class actors Ayesha Kanga and Chintan Rachchh denied dating rumours. A viral video shows a man proposing to his girlfriend using a painting.

ECI to announce Karnataka poll schedule at 11:30am

The Election Commission of India will announce the Karnataka Assembly poll schedule on Wednesday. In 2018, BJP emerged as the single largest party with 104 seats, falling short of a majority in the 224-member assembly. Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) allied to keep BJP out of power, but the alliance fell after losing the trust vote in June 2020. Five states other than Karnataka are due to go to polls this year and elections are likely to be held in Jammu & Kashmir, setting the tone for the 2024 national polls.

CAG asks defence ministry to carry out a study on disability pensions

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found that 40% of officers and 18% of personnel below officer rank (PBOR) retiring every year are drawing disability pensions. CAG has asked the Union defence ministry to analyse the reasons for disability among soldiers, including lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. It also flagged concerns about officers exploiting disability benefits for higher and tax-free pensions.

Election Commission to announce Karnataka assembly election schedule today

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the schedule of the Karnataka assembly election today. The Congress party has been aggressively campaigning against the ruling BJP, and has announced its first list of 124 candidates, while Janata Dal-Secular has announced names of candidates for 93 constituencies. Former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy has promised 50% subsidy on cooking gas cylinders if JD-S is voted to power.

In Hoshiarpur, Amritpal Singh, Papalpreet Singh escape Punjab Police again

Punjab Police launched a massive search operation late on Tuesday night to arrest pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh and his mentor Papalpreet Singh. The police chased a white coloured Innova car and detained two of Amritpal's aides. Amritpal and his associates have been booked under several criminal cases and a new video of him with Papalpreet Singh surfaced on social media. Delhi Police is probing to confirm if the persons in the video are Amritpal and his aide.

On Kejriwal's ‘Adani not Modi's friend’ remark, BJP says ‘frustration that his…'

BJP accused Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal of providing "cover fire" to Congress after he alleged PM Modi was helping billionaire Gautam Adani stay afloat. Kejriwal had accused Modi of helping Adani despite "all-round criticism" and of being "not worried" of perception. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said Kejriwal was frustrated and "appeared to be giving cover fire to the Congress party and their corrupt regime."

‘I will be killed in…’: Atiq Ahmed's brother allegedly threatened by 'officer'

Khalid Azim alias Ashraf Ahmed, brother of politician Atiq Ahmed, was acquitted in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case and has been threatened with death in two weeks. He claims he will send an envelope to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath with the name of the officer if he is killed. Atiq Ahmed and two others were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the same case.

Number theory: No cause for alarm on Covid outbreak, says data

The Union ministry of health held a meeting with states and UTs to review Covid-19 preparedness. New cases are rising but remain low in context, with 8 people infected for every million Indians, and deaths remain negligible. Positivity rate is rising but testing strategy is different and there is a surge in influenza cases. Hospitalisation rate gives a better picture, with 4.3% of Covid patients needing hospital care and bed occupancy low in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

Ex-MP’s resignation within hours of joining Telangana Congress brings to fore differences within family

Dharmapuri Srinivas, former Rajya Sabha member from Telangana, resigned from Congress within hours of joining on Sunday. His sons D Sanjay and D Arvind are accusing each other of pressuring him to resign. Sanjay said his brother, a Lok Sabha member of BJP, forced him to resign. Arvind said Congress ignored his father in his time of need. PCC vice-president G Niranjan wrote a letter to Hyderabad police commissioner requesting security for Srinivas due to possible threat from family members.

Nagaland assembly resolves to repeal Nagaland Municipal Act

In response to public pressure, Nagaland assembly unanimously resolved to repeal the Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001 with immediate effect. The state government had received reports of worsening law and order if elections were held without making the demanded changes. The House then passed the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 (Repeal Bill 2023) by voice vote.

Noted painter Jamini Roy’s Kolkata house to be turned into museum

DAG, a Mumbai-based art house, is turning the 74-year-old house of noted painter Jamini Roy in Kolkata into India?s first private single-artist museum. The museum will feature the life, work, and times of the pioneering artist, with state-of-the-art galleries, a resource centre, library, art workshops, and event spaces. It will also pay homage to Roy's passion for art, with the interiors restored to bring to life his workspaces and homespun ethos.

Supporting GST was a big mistake: Mamata

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has criticised the GST, saying it was a mistake to support it. She has announced a sit-in demonstration to demand release of central funds for various welfare schemes. The BJP has accused her of making such statements due to the upcoming panchayat election.

Google, MMT and OYO indulged in anti-competitive practices: Govt in Parl

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has found companies such as Google, MakeMyTrip and OYO indulging in anti-competitive practices in contravention of the Competition Act, 2002. A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has recommended the introduction of a Digital Competition Act to regulate this and ensure fair, transparent and contestable digital ecosystem. Google was fined $161.9 million by the CCI last year for anti-competitive practices related to android mobile devices.