Month: February 2022

Hours after Nora Fatehi’s Instagram page disappeared, the actor released a statement saying, “someone was trying to hack her account.”

“Sorry guys! There was an attempted hack on my Instagram! Someone’s been trying to get into my account since morning,” a note read on her Instagram account.

She also thanked the team of Instagram to help her recover her account.

“Thanks to the Instagram team for helping me sort this out so quickly @instagram,” she added.

The news of her absence from the social media application surely left fans worried. (ANI)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday referred to a “huge mistake” during the drawing of the country’s boundary in 1947 and said Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib would have been part of India if little more effort was made.

Addressing an election rally here, he said Gurdwara Kartapur Sahib, the final resting place of Guru Nanak, is only about four-five km away from International Border.

“If little efforts were made, Kartarpur Sahib would have been in India only,” he said.

The Defence Minister said vested interests were trying to create divisions between various communities but the government will not allow that to happen.

Lauding the Union Budget presented in the Parliament on February 1, the BJP leader said that for the first time in the history of the country, a sum of Rs 2.37 lakh crore has been allocated towards procurement of crops on minimum support price.

“For the first time in independent India, to buy the crops of the farmers on MSP, a sum of Rs 2,37,000 crore has been allocated in the budget,” Singh said.

The BJP is fighting the Punjab polls in alliance with the Punjab Lok Congress of Capt Amarinder Singh and SAD (Sanyukt) of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. It is the bigger party in the alliance.

Punjab will go to the polls on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

Election Commission has given some relaxation on public meetings in view of the decline in COVID-19 cases. It has allowed public meetings with 1,000 people. (ANI)

More than 100 human rights activists representing Japanese society held a demonstration outside the Chinese embassy in Tokyo on Friday morning.

The protesters were joined by representatives from the Tibetan, Uyghur, South Mongolian, and Hong Kong diaspora based in Japan.

Gathering to mark the opening ceremony of the “Olympics” in Beijing the same day, the activists raised slogans denouncing the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and calling for respect for human rights in all parts of China, especially the ethnic minority areas of the country.

The participants, who were peaceful throughout, also conducted a protest march through important parts of Tokyo later in the day, raising awareness about the severe human rights violations by China, and the plight of ethnic minorities in that country.

The main organizer of the event, a Japanese activist who refused to be named, urged everyone to cheer for their teams at the Winter Olympics, but to also shed a tear for the oppressed people inside China, whether ethnic minorities or those who have no voice there.

The 2022 Winter Olympics will take place in Beijing from February 4 to 20. The US, UK and Canada are among countries that have declared a diplomatic boycott of the Games. (ANI)

Uttar Pradesh Police has filed an FIR against Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Lok Dal president Jayant Chaudhary, and about 400 others for allegedly violating COVID-19 norms during an election campaigning in Dadri on Thursday ahead of Assembly polls.

The case has also been filed against SP’s Dadri candidate Rajkumar Bhati, SP’s Gautam Buddh Nagar chief Indra Pradhan among others.

“A case filed against SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, SP’s Dadri candidate Rajkumar Bhati, SP’s Gautam Buddh Nagar chief Indra Pradhan, and 300-400 others, for violating COVID-19 and Election Commission of India’s (ECI) guidelines during a campaign in Dadri on February 3,” Gautam Buddh Nagar Police said.

The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

The SP and RLD are contesting the Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh in an alliance against the ruling BJP and other parties.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has prohibited political parties from taking out political rallies and roadshows till February 11 in light of the COVID-19 situation.

Five states will go into polls in February including Goa, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Manipur. (ANI)

As the cold wave intensified in Himachal Pradesh in the past twenty-four hours, Keylong, the administrative center of Lahaul-Spiti district recorded the lowest temperature in the state at – 6.9 degrees Celsius, informed the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Meanwhile, Kalpa, a small village near Satluj river in Kinnaur district recorded -4.7 degrees Celsius while Manali recorded -0.4 degrees Celsius. Dalhousie recorded -2.0 degrees Celsius, Kufri recorded -3.2, and Shimla recorded -0.4 degrees Celsius.

Life has been thrown out of gear after a snowfall in the state.

147 roads including two national highways have been blocked for traffic due to snow. One national highway in Kinnaur is blocked due to landslides. Maximum 108 roads are blocked in Lahaul-Spiti and 24 in Mandi. As Many as 34 water supply schemes are also hit said the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) in a statement. (ANI)

The tableau of Uttar Pradesh has been selected as the best tableau among the 12 States/UTs which participated in the Republic Day parade, while Maharashtra has been voted as the best Tableau among the States/UTs in the popular choice category, informed the Ministry of Defence on Friday.

As per the ministry, the tableau of Uttar Pradesh was based on the theme ‘One District One Product and Kashi Vishwanath Dham’. The tableau of Maharashtra was based on the theme ‘Biodiversity and State Bio-symbols of Maharashtra’.
Results have been declared for best tableaux and best marching contingents of Republic Day parade 2022. Three panels of judges were appointed for assessing the performance of marching contingents from the three Services, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)/other Auxiliary forces and tableaux from various States/Union Territories (UTs) and Central Ministries/Departments, said the ministry.

On the basis of the assessment of the panels, the Indian Navy marching contingent has been adjudged as the best marching contingent among the three Services.

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been named the best marching contingent among CAPF/other auxiliary forces.

The tableau of Uttar Pradesh was based on the theme ‘One District One Product and Kashi Vishwanath Dham’.

The second place went to Karnataka for its tableau based on ‘Cradle of Traditional Handicrafts’. The third position went to Meghalaya for its tableau on ‘Meghalaya’s 50 years of Statehood and its tribute to women-led cooperative societies and SHGs’.

The tableaux of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Civil Aviation have been declared as joint winners in the category of Central Ministries/Departments. The theme of the tableau of Ministry of Education & Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was ‘National Education Policy’, while the tableau of the Ministry of Civil Aviation was based on the theme ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik’. Nine tableaux of Central Ministries/Departments had participated in the parade.

The tableaux of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (CPWD), based on the theme ‘Subhash @125’ and the ‘Vande Bharatam’ dance group have been selected for the special prize category.

In addition, for the first time, the general public was invited to vote for the best marching contingents and best tableaux in the popular choice category through the MyGov platform. The online poll was conducted between January 25-31, 2022.

As per popular choice, the marching contingent of the Indian Air Force has been picked as the best marching contingent among the three Services.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) received maximum votes on MyGov as the best marching contingent among CAPF/other auxiliary forces.

The second place went to Uttar Pradesh (popular choice), while the tableau of Jammu and Kashmir, on the theme ‘Changing face of Jammu and Kashmir’, finished third.

The tableau of the Ministry of Communication/Department of Posts was adjudged as the best tableau among Central Ministries/Departments based on people’s selection. The theme of this tableau was ‘India Post: 75 years @ Resolve – Women Empowerment’. (ANI)

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of those who lost their lives after an under-construction building collapsed in Pune.

“We will give an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased who lost their lives after an under-construction building collapsed in Pune last night,” Pawar said.

Pawar said that he has ordered an investigation into the incident.

“I have also ordered the administration to investigate the incident,” he said.

The structure of an under-construction building in Pune collapsed late at night on Thursday leading to the death of five labourers and injuries to several others, said local police.

“Ten labourers who were working underneath a structure of iron rods got trapped after the structure suddenly collapsed on them,” said Sunil Gilbile, Chief Fire Officer.

The primary investigation suggests that the incident happened due to a lack of precautionary measures at the site.

“Five people have died on spot, two are critically injured while three have suffered minor injuries. The primary report suggests that precautionary measures are not in place at this site,” said Rohidas Pawar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pune Police.

Earlier in the day, Pune Police registered FIR against a contractor and detained three people in connection with the death of five labourers following the collapse of a steel structure at a construction site last night, Commissioner Amitabh Gupta informed. (ANI)

Schools for classes 9-12 will reopen from February 7 while that of the nursery to standard 8 from February 14 in the national capital, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Friday. However, online classes for students will continue.

Addressing a press conference after the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) review meeting, Sisodia said, “Schools will reopen from February 7 for standard 9-12. Classes for Nursery to standard 8 will reopen from February 14. Hybrid classes will continue.”

Sisodia, who is also the Education Minister, requested the colleges to encourage offline classes.

“Colleges will reopen from Monday, February 7 and they will be asked to discourage online classes and have offline classes.”

He also announced that from now on, all restaurants can now open till 11 pm.

Further, Sisodia said that all government and private offices have been permitted to function at 100 per cent capacity. Gyms and swimming pools have also been permitted to reopen, he added.

On Thursday, Delhi reported 2,668 new COVID-19 cases during the last 24 hours with the positivity rate declining to 4.3 per cent.

Recently, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal had decided to lift the weekend curfew and the odd-even system for shops.

In markets, market complexes, malls, all shops and establishments dealing with non-essential goods and services shall be allowed to open between 10 AM to 8 PM without the restriction of odd-even. (ANI)

A 104 feet tall monumental national flag was hoisted by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday at an altitude of 10,000 feet at Ngangpa Natme (Buddha Park) at Tawang, a Buddhist pilgrim town bordering China.

It is the second-highest national flag in the country in terms of altitude, said the Chief Minister.
Sharing visuals of the monumental national flag, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday tweeted, “A 104 feet tall National Flag at the altitude of 10,000 feet in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh” with a hashtag “Jai Hind.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of the State said that the national flag has been dedicated to the people of Arunachal.

“Proud to dedicate to patriotic people of Arunachal a 104ft national flag, which was hoisted today at Ngangpa Natme (Buddha Park) in Tawang. At 10000 ft, this monumental national flag overlooking the Tawang city, is second highest in the country in terms of altitude,” Khandu tweeted on Thursday.

Taking to Twitter, he also shared some breathtaking photos of the viewpoint at Ngangpa Natme (Buddha Park) in Tawang. (ANI)

Accompanied by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday filed his nomination papers as a BJP candidate from Gorakhpur Urban constituency for the state assembly elections.

Earlier addressing, a rally in Gorakhpur ahead of filing nomination the BJP chief ministerial candidate said that Uttar Pradesh has progressed by leaps and bounds in five years.

“Uttar Pradesh progressed by leaps and bounds in five years. Every class of society benefited from the government’s policies. No one can raise a finger at the double-engine government,” said Yogi.

“BJP won with a three-fourth majority in the last assembly elections. In the 2019 General elections, BJP convincingly defeated the Mahagathbandhan,” he said.

He further counted out the achievements of the BJP government and said that it made Ram Mandir a reality.

“BJP scrapped Article 370 and made Ram Mandir a reality,” he added.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath will lead the BJP to 300 plus seats in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Earlier in the day, Adityanath offered prayers at Gorakhnath temple, ahead of filing nomination for the state Assembly election.

The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

In the 2017 Assembly elections, the BJP won a landslide victory winning 312 Assembly seats. The party secured a 39.67 per cent vote share in the elections for 403-member Assembly. Samajwadi Party (SP) bagged 47 seats, BSP won 19 while Congress could manage to win only seven seats. (ANI)