An earthquake of 6.0 magnitude with a shallow depth of 5 km jolted Delhi-NCR and parts of northern India early Monday morning. Delhi's vulnerability to seismic activity is due to its geological location near the Indian and Eurasian Plates collision zone and local fault systems. Retrofitting older buildings and improving preparedness are essential to mitigate future damage.
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The Aam Aadmi Party issued a whip to its Rajya Sabha members for the Waqf Amendment Bill discussion. Both NDA and opposition have directed their members to vote accordingly on the bill introduced by Minister Kiren Rijiju, which claims to improve Waqf property management despite strong opposition resistance.
Opposition Congress-headed UDF urged BJP functionary and Union minister George Kurian to apologize for his remarks suggesting Kerala declare itself backward to receive more funds. UDF leader V D Satheesan criticized Kurian for insulting the state and highlighted that Kerala was not mentioned in the Budget, with none of its demands addressed.
Police have arrested a man and five of his relatives in connection with the abduction, rape, murder, and forced conversion of an 18-year-old woman from Uttarakhand. The main suspect, Md Asif, was apprehended after an encounter in Lakhimpur Kheri and sustained a gunshot wound. Further investigation is underway.
Rahul Gandhi criticized the Indian government over its drone policies, using a banned Chinese drone, sparking backlash from industry experts. Critics argue his comments undermine India's progress, with substantial contributions from over 400 Indian companies. Questions were raised about Gandhi's legal permissions to fly the drone in restricted zones. He suggested India lacks a strong industrial base for drone manufacturing.
Arvind Kejriwal, AAP's national convener, filed his nomination for the New Delhi assembly constituency. Kejriwal urged voters to focus on the party's work rather than abuses. He criticized BJP's lack of vision and plans. Kejriwal's opponents include BJP's Parvesh Verma and Congress' Sandeep Dikshit. The assembly elections are scheduled for February 5 with results on February 8.
India's defence exports have surged from Rs 2,000 crore a decade ago to over Rs 21,000 crore, with a target of Rs 50,000 crore by 2029, says Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Highlighting challenges like AI-based warfare and cyber-attacks, he emphasizes the importance of advanced military training and integration among armed services to enhance India's defence capabilities and global respect.
Opposition and NC legislators in J&K assembly called for an inquiry into the mysterious deaths of two Gujjar brothers in Kulgam, alleging a pattern of unexplained deaths within the community. There were also accusations of police brutality against mourners demanding a fair investigation.
At least 18 people have died and many were injured in a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. The incident occurred due to a crowd rush as passengers boarded trains for Prayagraj. Prominent figures, including President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi, expressed their condolences while the opposition criticized the government's management.
Delhi Police identified a juvenile responsible for sending hoax bomb threats to schools last year. His parent is connected to an NGO with links to a political party. The NGO had earlier questioned the legitimacy of terrorist Afzal Guru's hanging. The investigation is ongoing, and there have been at least seven confirmed instances of hoax emails.
Arvind Kejriwal urged the Centre to address the HMPV virus outbreak after the health ministry confirmed two cases in Karnataka. The ministry is monitoring the situation and has not detected an unusual surge in respiratory illnesses. Delhi's health department has issued advisories for hospitals to prepare for potential cases.