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Israel rescues 2 hostages from Gaza’s Rafah in overnight operation

In an overnight operation, Israeli forces rescued two hostages from Rafah in Gaza, 128 days after they were captured.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that two Israeli hostages were rescued from Rafah city in southern Gaza in an overnight operation. More than 100 people still remain in captivity after Hamas took them hostage following the October 7, 2023 attack against Israel.

The two men were rescued from a residential building in the southern border town of Rafah in a raid that also killed at least seven people, according to Palestinian officials. Witnesses reported at least 17 airstrikes, flares and Apache helicopter fire.

The army identified the two rescued hostages as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, and said both were in good medical condition.

It said both men were kidnapped by Hamas militants from Kibbutz Nir Yizhak in the October 7, 2023 cross-border attack that started the Israel-Hamas war, now in its fifth month. They are just the second and third hostages to be rescued safely.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said the operation was based on “precise intelligence”, and that the site, located on the second floor of a building, had been watched for “some time.” He said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined Israel’s military chief and other top officials as the raid unfolded.

Hamas militants killed an estimated 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 others in the October 7 raid that triggered the war. An Israeli air and ground offensive has killed over 28,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials.

Over 100 hostages were freed during a week-long cease-fire in November. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, while Hamas is holding the remains of roughly 30 others who were either killed on October 7 or died in captivity. Israel has made the rescue of all hostages one of the main goals of the war.

This article was originally published on India today.

Also read: Ahead of farmers’ march on Feb 13, Section 144 enforced on Delhi-UP borders!

Ahead of farmers’ march on Feb 13, Section 144 enforced on Delhi-UP borders!

Delhi Traffic Police issues advisory ahead of farmer’s protest on February 13. Thousands of police personnel have been deployed along Delhi’s borders with neighbouring states ahead of farmer’s protest.

farmer's protest

The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory ahead of a proposed farmer’s protest on February 13. Prohibitory orders were imposed in several areas over the weekend and thousands of police personnel have been deployed along Delhi’s borders with neighbouring states. Authorities have also fortified the perimeters with concrete blocks, road spike barriers and barbed wires ahead of the Delhi Chalo agitation.

According to an official communique traffic restrictions or diversions will be imposed at the Singhu border with Haryana from Monday onwards. Commuters going from Delhi to UP via the Gazipur border have also been asked to take alternative routes. The traffic police advisory highlighted several alternative routes that can be used by different vehicle categories over the next few days. Barricades have already been put up in some areas and police checking has intensified along the Ghazipur border.

Elaborate security arrangements have been undertaken after several farmer unions called for a ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on February 13. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and several farmer associations have called the protest to press the Centre to accept their demands. This includes the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price for crops. 

Prohibitory orders under section 144 were imposed in the northeast district of the national capital on Sunday and the police have prohibited public gatherings at all borders between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Several teams have also been formed to keep a strict vigil on bus stands, metro stations, railway stations and roads to ensure that protesters do not enter the city using any other mode of conveyance.

The Delhi Police issued in advisory on Sunday to bar the entry of tractors, trolleys, buses, trucks, and commercial vehicles into the city from Uttar Pradesh. The order will remain in force up until March 11.

This Article was originally published on livemint News!

Also Read : Nirmala Sitharaman’s ‘gud ko gobar’ jibe at UPA over inflation in Parliament!

Nirmala Sitharaman’s ‘gud ko gobar’ jibe at UPA over inflation in Parliament

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took a jibe at the previous UPA government over inflation, saying they had a mastery on ‘gud ko gobar karna’.

In a scathing attack on the Congress, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday accused the UPA government, which was in power from 2004 to 2014, of economic mismanagement and said they have a mastery on “gud ko gobar karna” (to ruin a good thing).

Reading out from the government’s ‘White Paper’ on India’s economy in Parliament, Sitharaman said, “In 2004, when Prime Minister Vajpayee’s NDA government handed it over to you with inflation below 4 per cent, what did you do with it? Ill-targeted, reckless fiscal policy, ill-targeted subsidies, wasteful expenditure, all done for political gains.”

She added that the NDA government was often targeted for inflation but the UPA government was not better off.

The Finance Minister said targeting inflation was not merely trying to contain it but implementing supply-side measures as prices would increase due to a lack of it.

She added that under the NDA government, a group of ministers monitors the price of commodities, including vegetables and pulses, every week.

The ‘White Paper’ compares the performance of the Indian economy under the previous UPA government and the current BJP-led NDA government.

It was mentioned in the document that the UPA regime inherited a healthy economy in 2004 and left it in crisis when the current government took over in 2014.

The central government said in its white paper that the UPA government failed to drive growth after inheriting a healthy economy in 2004.

This Article was originally published on india today.

Also Read: Modi govt announces 5 Bharat Ratna awards in 2024, highest in a Single Year!

Modi govt announces 5 Bharat Ratna awards in 2024, highest in a Single Year!

PV Narasimha Rao, the first Congress PM outside the Nehru-Gandhi family, will be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday that former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, alongside agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan, will be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.

This year’s five recipients surpass the four awarded in 1999, marking the highest number of Bharat Ratnas awarded in a single year. Praising Rao for his liberalisation policies that transformed the economy, Singh for his advocacy for farmers’ rights, and Swaminathan for his globally recognized contributions to agriculture, Modi commended their invaluable service to the nation.

Among the recipients, four will receive the honour posthumously, while Advani, aged 96, is the sole living recipient.

Also Read : Haldwani Communal Violence: 4 killed, over 100 injured. Schools shut, Internet Suspended | Latest updates!

Here is the list of Bharat Ratna awardees this year

1. Karpoori Thakur (Posthumous) (politician and former Bihar chief minister): Karpoori Thakur, a well-known socialist leader from Bihar and former chief minister of the state, will be posthumously honoured with India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. Fondly referred to as ‘Jan Nayak’ (people’s leader), Thakur will become the 49th recipient of this prestigious award.

2. Lal Krishna Advani (politician and former deputy prime minister): Advani has held the position of president of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the longest duration since its establishment in 1980. Over the course of nearly three decades in parliament, he served as both the home minister and deputy Prime Minister under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 1999 to 2004. On February 3, PM Modi disclosed that Advani would be bestowed with India’s highest civilian honour.

3. Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao (Posthumous) (former Prime Minister of India): In honouring Rao, who passed away in 2004, PM Modi expressed admiration for his multifaceted service to the nation as a revered scholar and statesman. Modi highlighted Rao’s notable contributions not only as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh but also as a Union minister and longstanding legislator in both the Parliament and the state assembly. Rao, a respected Telugu leader, served a full five-year term as prime minister from 1991 to 1996 and is widely lauded for his pivotal role in introducing economic reforms.

4. Chaudhary Charan Singh (Posthumous) (former Prime Minister of India): Singh, a prominent Jat leader hailing from western Uttar Pradesh, served as prime minister during 1979-80 and played a pivotal role in spearheading anti-Congress politics during an era when the party held dominant influence. Modi expressed gratitude for the opportunity to honour Singh with the Bharat Ratna, attributing it to his unparalleled contributions to the nation.

5. Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan (Posthumous) (agriculture scientist): Modi expressed immense delight in his government’s decision to bestow the Bharat Ratna upon Swaminathan, acknowledging his significant contributions to agriculture and the welfare of farmers. Modi praised Swaminathan’s visionary guidance, which revolutionised Indian agriculture, ensuring both food security and prosperity for the nation. Modi emphasised his close relationship with Swaminathan, valuing his wisdom and contributions. The renowned agronomist passed away last year.

This article is sourced from Hindustantimes News!

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Haldwani Communal Violence: 4 killed, over 100 injured. Schools shut, Internet Suspended | Latest updates!

Communal tension gripped Haldwani on Thursday evening after violence broke out over the demolition of an “illegally built” madrasa

Haldwani communal violence

Communal tension gripped the Haldwani area of Nainital district on Thursday evening after violence broke out in Banbhoolpura over the demolition of an “illegally built” madrasa, officials familiar with the matter said. The district magistrate of the district has imposed a curfew in Banbhoolpura. A ‘shoot-at-sight’ order has also been issued against the rioters.

Nainital district magistrate Vandana (who goes by her first name) said three to four people have died and over 100 people, primarily police personnel, have been injured in the Banbhoolpura violence so far. Vandana said the curfew has been imposed in Haldwani to maintain law and order situation, while internet services have also been suspended in the city, adding that an order to keep schools in the area shut has also been issued.

Key updates on Haldwani communal violence:

  • Curfew was imposed in Haldwani after residents reportedly set vehicles on fire and hurled stones, injuring at least 100 people, over the demolition of an “illegally built” madrasa.
  • Police said most of the injured were hospitalised after the violence in the city’s Banbhoolpura area were police personnel and municipal workers involved in the demolition of a local madrasa.

  • Senior superintendent of police Prahlad Meena said a notice was served earlier on the madrasa constructed illegally on government land.
  • Nainital district magistrate Vandana said at the violence outside the Banbhoolpura police station, some people fired (it is being confirmed whether they were illegal or legal weapons). “In response, the police fired in the air. Three to four people were brought dead at hospitals who had sustained bullet injuries. The identification of the deceased is being done. We will have to wait to ascertain whether they have died in the police firing or firing by people among them,” the DM said.
  • Vandana claimed that the rioters tried to torch the Banbhoolpura police station. “At that time, our policemen were present at the police station. The police force, however, controlled them and didn’t allow them to enter the police station. The violence then spread to Gandhi Nagar area near Banbhoolpura,” she said.
  • The DM claimed that it appears the violence was “pre-planned and unprovoked” and “stones were stored beforehand at homes”. “The rioters even used petrol bombs,” she added.
  • According to the DM, the situation is now under control. The violence has been controlled in Banbhoolpura and wasn’t allowed to be spread to the main city. “Paramilitary forces have also been deployed in the area and more are on their way. Additional police force from the neighbouring districts has also been deployed in the city to maintain law and order,” she said.

CM Dhami calls meeting

In capital Dehradun, Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami summoned a meeting of senior officials. SSP Meena said the demolition was carried out in the presence of municipal commissioner Pankaj Upadhyay, city magistrate Richa Singh and SDM Paritosh Verma.

This article is sourced from Hindustantimes News!

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Maldives remains at ‘high risk of external, overall debt distress’: IMF

The International Monetary Fund has warned that the Maldives IMF remains at “high risk of external and overall debt distress”.

The Maldives, which has borrowed heavily from China, remains at “high risk of external and overall debt distress”, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned. It also said that there was a need for “urgent policy adjustment”.

Beijing has pledged more funding for the Maldives since pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu took power in November 2023.

Muizzu thanked China last month for its “selfless assistance” for development funds after a visit to Beijing.

The IMF did not give details of the Maldives’ foreign debt but said there was a need for “urgent policy adjustment”.

“Without significant policy changes, the overall fiscal deficits and public debt are projected to stay elevated,” the IMF said after a review of the country’s economy.

“The Maldives remains at high risk of external and overall debt distress,”

The island nation, famed for its white sand beaches and where tourism accounts for nearly a third of the economy, has recovered economically from the Covid-19 pandemic.

But while a planned airport expansion and an increase in hotels are projected to boost growth, the IMF said “uncertainty surrounding the outlook remains high and risks are tilted to the downside”.

Muizzu’s mentor, former president Abdulla Yameen, who ruled for five years until 2018, borrowed heavily from Beijing for construction projects.

That left it owing 42 per cent of its more than $3 billion foreign debt to China in 2021, according to the World Bank, citing the Maldives’ Finance Ministry.

Global east-west shipping lanes pass through the nation’s chain of 1,192 tiny coral islands, stretching around 800 km across the equator.

This article was published on India Today.

Also Read: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Criticises PM Modi’s speech in Rajya Sabha, calls it ‘heap of lies’!

Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya Advance booking: Shahid Kapoor film adds ₹1 crore to Day 1 haul!

Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya advance booking: The film stars Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon. It will release on February 9.

Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya movie

Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya advance booking: Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon’s film is all set to hit the theatre screens with a lukewarm advance booking collection. As per a report on sacnilk.com, the film has collected ₹93.66 lakh from its advance booking for day 1. Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya is written and directed by Amit Joshi and Aradhana.

Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya advance booking

Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya has sold 43250 tickets so far for the opening day across India, as per the same portal. Regions like Delhi NCR and Mumbai marked the high number of ticket sales, reportedly. The film will be released in Hindi.

Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya stars Shahid, and Kriti alongside Dimple Kapadia and Dharmendra. In the film, Shahid Kapoor plays a robot scientist who develops feelings and finally marries Kriti, a highly intelligent female robot. The trailer of the film shows that Shahid eventually falls in love with the robot.

Changes in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya

As per Bollywood Hungama, the film recently got an ‘audio medication’ and witnessed a cut in the ‘scene of sex act’ by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Reportedly, CBFC has ‘reduced the scene of sex act by 25%’. The report also claimed that nine seconds of the scene was censored. The intimate scene, which was originally 36 seconds long, has been reduced to 27 seconds reportedly. It is also reported that in the second half of the film, the word ‘daru (alcohol)’ has been replaced with ‘drink’

Besides these changes, reportedly, CBFC also asked the makers to add the anti-smoking static message in Hindi in bigger and more readable fonts. With all the changes, reportedly, the CBFC passed Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya with a U/A certificate on February 2. The total run time of the film is 143.15 minutes (2 hours 23 minutes and 15 seconds ), as mentioned in the censor certificate.

Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya is backed by Dinesh Vijan, Jyoti Deshpande, and Laxman Utekar.

This article is sourced from Hindustantimes News!

Also Read : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Criticises PM Modi’s speech in Rajya Sabha, calls it ‘heap of lies’!

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Criticises PM Modi’s speech in Rajya Sabha, calls it ‘heap of lies’!

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of saying false things about the UPA government and claimed that his speech in the Rajya Sabha was only focused on criticising the Congress!

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that every speech of the Prime Minister is just a ‘heap of lies’ and warned that such anger is a harbinger of destruction, not development. 

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said, “Be it election platform or Parliament, every speech of the Prime Minister is just a ‘heap of lies’. He has become so engrossed in his lies, his applause, and his media that every question related to the public makes him angry. Anger is a guarantee of destruction, not development.”

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of saying false things about the UPA government and claimed that his speech in the Rajya Sabha was only focused on criticising the Congress. Speaking about PM Modi’s reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge on Wednesday said the Prime Minister did not talk about price rise, unemployment, and economic inequality.

Congress chief further said that NDA itself means No Data Available government. The Congress chief said during the 10 years of the UPA rule, the average GDP growth rate was 8.13 percent and asked why is it only 5.6 percent during the current government’s tenure.

He further mentioned that according to the World Bank, India became the third-largest economy in 2011. But PM Modi is not ready to accept this. 

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi hit out at the Congress for creating a north-south divide and ripped through the grand old party for allegedly working against the “interests of the nation.”

This article is sourced from Hindustantimes News!

Also Read : Arvind Kejriwal Summoned by Delhi Court on February 17 on ED’s complaint!

Arvind Kejriwal Summoned by Delhi Court on February 17 on ED’s complaint!

The ED had on February 3 filed a fresh complaint case against Kejriwal for the non-compliance of its summons!

Arvind Kejriwal Summoned by Delhi Court

A Delhi court on Wednesday summoned Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on February 17 on a complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him over the non-compliance of its summons in a money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy for the national capital.

“Cognisance of the complaint has been taken and summons is being issued to him to appear on February 17,” Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra said.

The judge had reserved the order after the ED submitted that it had concluded its arguments in the matter.

The ED had on February 3 filed a fresh complaint case against Kejriwal for the non-compliance of its summons.

Kejriwal on Friday skipped the fifth summons issued to him by the ED. The agency had issued the summons to him on last Wednesday.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor had earlier written to the ED, describing the summonses as “illegal and politically motivated”. He had alleged that the summonses were aimed at preventing him from campaigning in elections.

This article is sourced from Hindustantimes News!

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$18 combo meal! After price criticism McDonalds CEO vows to cut prices!

McDonald’s faces backlash as rising menu prices spark customer outrage. CEO Chris Kempczinski addresses concerns.

McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski has addressed the criticism from customers who are unhappy with the rising prices of the fast food chain’s menu items.

McDonald’s growth is slowing down due to boycotts and losing “low-income” customers. The company says some people are protesting its support for IDF soldiers in Israel, while others are eating at home because they earn less than $45,000 a year. The company also faces backlash for charging $18 for a combo meal, which some say is too pricey for fast food.

Many customers have expressed their dissatisfaction on social media, posting receipts that show how much they have to pay for their orders.

One customer shared a photo of a receipt that showed a bill of over $20 for two Egg McMuffins and another breakfast sandwich, and asked, “What has the world come to?”

The fast food giant explains on its website that its prices are determined by its franchisees, who have to adjust them according to the costs and demand in their markets.

However, this has also affected McDonald’s sales, which saw a lower-than-expected growth in the last quarter. While analysts had predicted a 4.7 percent increase in sales, McDonald’s only reported a 3.4 percent growth.

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Middle East conflict and cost challenges hit McDonald’s

One of the reasons for this slowdown was the conflict in the Middle East, which had a negative impact on the overseas franchises of McDonald’s. But Kempczinski also acknowledged that the cost factor was a challenge, and said that the company would focus more on ‘affordability’ in the coming year.

In an earnings call with analysts on Monday, 5 February, he said, “I think what you’re going to see as you head into 2024 is probably more attention to what I would describe as affordability

He also revealed that customers with low incomes, earning less than $45,000 per year, were ordering less from McDonald’s, and opting to eat at home more often, as the price of groceries went down.

Eating at home has become more affordable,” he said.

“The battleground is certainly with that low-income consumer.”

But the company’s chief financial officer, Ian Borden, told analysts that the situation would not improve significantly until the Middle East conflict was resolved.

Meanwhile, restaurant analyst Mark Kalinowski said that McDonald’s would still have to raise its prices, albeit at a slower rate of 2 to 3 percent over the next year. He said that McDonald’s would try to lure customers with special offers on its mobile app.

App discounts will be a big part of their arsenal,” he said.

The disappointing results of McDonald’s last quarter also affected its stock price, which fell by nearly 4 percent to $285.97 on Monday.

This article was published on Hindustantimes News!

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