Bank Holiday for Mahashivratri 2025: Banks in several Indian states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka will be closed on February 26, 2025, for Mahashivratri. Customers should verify their local schedule and use online banking services for essential transactions.
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Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde's aide Valmik Karad, already in SIT custody for extortion charges, has been named an accused in the Sarapanch Santosh Deshmukh abduction-murder case. The MCOCA court has extended his custody till January 22 for further investigation. The prosecution presented call records linking Karad to the crime. Karad's lawyer insists on the lack of legal grounds and substantial evidence against him.
India's ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah was selected by Cricket Australia to lead the Men's Test Team in 2024, with Yashasvi Jaiswal also featuring in the team. The XI includes players from six nations, highlighting Jaiswal's record-setting performance, as well as Joe Root and Harry Brook's remarkable contributions.
Bloach rebels hijacked Pakistan's Jaffar Express last month. They used US weapons. These weapons were left in Afghanistan in 2021. The BLA attacked the train in Balochistan. The train was traveling to Peshawar. Security forces launched a rescue operation. Twenty-one passengers died in the attack. The terrorists contacted supporters in Afghanistan. Separatists want a greater share of Balochistan's resources.
The NDA held a joint workers' conference in Ara, encouraging coordination to secure 225 plus seats in the upcoming Bihar state assembly election. BJP State President Dilip Kunwar Jaiswal emphasized booth-level collaboration, and JD(U) State President Umesh Kushwaha praised the development under Nitish Kumar's leadership. They aim to defeat the INDIA bloc in the forthcoming elections.
A government-appointed panel led by ex-ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan has proposed restructuring the National Testing Agency (NTA) after the NEET UG 2024 paper leak. Recommendations include focusing solely on entrance exams from 2025, introducing computer-adaptive testing, and stricter security measures like CCTV surveillance, secure courier services, and sealed containers to prevent question paper leaks, ensuring exam integrity and transparency.
Around 400 IndiGo passengers were stranded at Istanbul Airport after a wet-leased Turkish Airlines Boeing 777 malfunctioned, causing flight cancellation. This marks the second such incident with IndiGo's wet-leased Turkish Airlines wide-body planes this month. Two smaller aircraft were dispatched from Delhi to transport the stranded passengers home, while the Indian government awaits IndiGo's report to consider further action.
The Lucknow NIA court labeled the 2018 Kasganj violence a premeditated conspiracy, sentencing 28 accused to life imprisonment. The judge raised concerns over NGOs aiding individuals accused of anti-national activities and called for an investigation into their funding and objectives, sending a message against such crimes.
A senior manager at an Indo-American IT company, Dwaipayan Bhattacharjee, died by suicide after jumping from the 6th-floor refuge area of his Kolkata office. Police investigations revealed he was battling depression and under medication. CCTV footage and his gadgets are being reviewed to understand the circumstances.
Senior JD(U) leader Mohammed Qasim Ansari resigns, citing the party's support for the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. Accusing JD(U) of betraying secular principles and violating constitutional rights, he expresses regret over his long association with the party.
The HC rebuked businessman Boby Chemmanur for choosing to stay in jail despite being granted bail. Chemmanur apologized to avoid further court action. His initial refusal aimed to show solidarity with prisoners unable to post bail. The court warned him against such media stunts and clarified that it has the power to revoke bail if necessary.