India rolled out the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) last week with the aim of eliminating viral hepatitis. The disease infects and kills more than HIV, malaria and tuberculosis combined, say experts.
The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave in-principle approval to a redevelopment plan of Delhi's AIIMS to convert it into a "world class" medical university.
A delegation of IAF team will on Friday receive Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, captured by Pakistan during an aerial combat, at the Wagah border, official sources said.
Congress leader K C Venugopal on Thursday said former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's remark that India's preemptive air strike on a terror camp in Pakistan would help the BJP win 22 Lok Sabha seats in the state revealed the "most deceitful and shameless motive" of the party.
In a first joint media briefing after Pakistani fighter jets targeted Indian military installations, the three forces said Pakistan has escalated the tension by targeting these installations in an aerial raid on Wednesday and India was ready for a befitting reply to any eventualities.
German Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, in a statement, said "every effort must be made to ensure that terrorist organisations, which are known to have their base in Pakistan, are not only not able to carry out their nefarious deeds there, but are in fact combated".
As many as 42 passengers including 2 Indians had arrived at Attari international railway station from Delhi on board Delhi-Attari Express linking Samjhauta Express on way to Pakistan but were sent to Pakistan via Attari road border after suspension of international train service by Pakistan. While confirming the same, Divisional Railway Manager, Firozpur Division Vivek Kumar said: “ All the passengers were sent to Pakistan via Attari road border”.
Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it would keep airspace shut until 11.59 pm local time, disrupting major routes between Europe and South East Asia. Thai Airways has cancelled nearly 30 flights, affecting 5,000 passengers. "All THAI flights from Bangkok to Europe departing near midnight of 27 FEB through early 28 FEB and from Europe to Bangkok departing on 27 FEB have been cancelled due to Pakistan airspace closure," the airline wrote on its Twitter page.
China, a close ally of Pakistan, has consistently blocked moves first by India and later by the US, UK and France to designate Azhar as a global terrorist. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said,"As we have said on many occasions, the 1267 committee of the UNSC has clear norms on the listing of terrorist organisations or individuals and relevant procedures."
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday announced financial assistance to the kin of the IAF personnel from the state who lost their lives in the Mi-17 helicopter crash in Budgam.China, a close ally of Pakistan, has consistently blocked moves first by India and later by the US, UK and France to designate Azhar as a global terrorist. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said,"As we have said on many occasions, the 1267 committee of the UNSC has clear norms on the listing of terrorist organisations or individuals and relevant procedures."
Human rights activist Sudha Bharadwaj's lawyer on Thursday questioned the veracity of the letters and other documents the Pune Police has claimed to have seized during the probe of the Elgar Parishad-Maoist connection case.
About 10 months after complaints from the Prime Minister's Office, the CBI has registered two cases to probe alleged fraudulent use of the letterhead of a joint secretary in the top office in letters seeking favours, including one addressed to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, officials said.
Special Judge Arvind Kumar said Michel has been lodged in jail for last 70 days and what happened suddenly due to which he has now been shifted to the high security ward. Deputy Superintendent of Tihar Jail told the court that Michel was shifted to cell number 2 (high security ward) keeping in mind his safety as it was a high profile case. However, he failed to justify the sudden shifting before the court.
Varthaman's MiG 21 was shot and he bailed out after bringing down two Pakistani F-16 fighters during a dogfight to repel a Pakistani attack on Wednesday morning, he said. He has been in Pakistan since then. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in Parliament on Thursday that Varthaman would be released on Friday as a "peace gesture".
As per EC order issued on Thursday, voters shall have to produce electoral photo identity card (EPIC) issued to them, for identification prior to voting. However, if they are not able to produce EPIC for some reason, 11 other alternative documents shall be accepted.
Officials sources said the meeting was attended by chiefs of the three Services, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, finance minister Arun Jaitley, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, home minister Rajnath Singh and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Several other senior officials also attended the meeting held at the Prime Minister's residence here.
The Indian Air Force on Thursday said there was enough evidence to conclusively say that MiG 21 scrambled by India had shot down Pakistan's F-16 fighter jet that had intruded into Indian air space.Varthaman's MiG 21 was shot and he bailed out after bringing down two Pakistani F-16 fighters during a dogfight to repel a Pakistani attack on Wednesday morning, he said. He has been in Pakistan since then. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in Parliament on Thursday that Varthaman would be released on Friday as a "peace gesture".
Speaking at an award ceremony for scientists, he said, "You spend your life in laboratories. You have a tradition of first doing a pilot project. It is later scaled up. So recently a pilot project happened", as the audience burst into applause. Modi continued, "Now the real one has to be done. Earlier one was a practice. And the real is to actually give a standing ovation to today's award winners. We will will give a standing ovation."
Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland on Thursday told the Delhi High Court it will withdraw arbitration proceedings which were initiated by it following the scrapping of contracts to supply 12 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force.
Amid the escalating Indo-Pak tension, the Indian Army on Thursday postponed its five-day recruitment drive in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. The recruitment rally of 157 infantry battalion would be announced later.
This is the seventh consecutive day that Pakistan has targeted forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC). "The Pakistan army continuously resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC at about 1500 hours with heavy mortar shelling and small arms fire in Sunderbani, Mankote, Khari Karmara, Degwar Sectors in J&K," a defence spokesperson said.
Amid reports of differences with its ally BJP, Apna Dal (Sonelal) chief Ashish Singh Patel on Thursday said he had a "positive" meeting with Amit Shah, but all options were open if a certain section of saffron party leaders "do not change their attitude".
Justice Vibhu Bakhru dismissed the plea of the woman seeking quashing of the government's 'leave India notice' and said that under the principles of law she has no right to stay here. The 37-year-old woman had come to India in 2005 after marrying an Indian man. She has been residing in Delhi with her husband and two sons -- aged 11 and 5 years.
Facing flak for linking India's air strike on terror camps in Pakistan with BJP's prospects in Lok Sabha polls, party's Karnataka chief B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday said there was no question of seeking electoral gains and the nation came first to him.