News Highlights: High-level panel formed by J&K govt to submit Vaishno Devi stampede report within a week

thank you for tracking DH's latest updates of India and the world!

Life in Afghanistan | An Afghan boy selling bread reacts to the camera, along a busy street in Kabul.(AFP Photo)

UK planning to offer cheaper, easier visas to clinch trade deal with India: Report

The UK is planning to relax immigration rules by offering cheaper and easier visas for Indian tourists, students and professionals, in an attempt to clinch a trade deal with India, a media report said on Saturday.

Read More

Austrian Holocaust survivor 'Mrs. Gertrude' dies at 94

The Holocaust survivor Gertrude Pressburger, who became famous during Austria's 2016 presidential campaign with a video message in which “Mrs. Gertrude” warned of hatred and exclusion triggered by the far right, has died at 94.

Pressburger died Friday after a long illness, her family told the Austrian press agency APA on Saturday.

Pressburger was born and raised in Vienna, the daughter of a carpenter.

NDRF begins rescue operations at Haryana mine where 4 died in landslide

Life in Afghanistan | A waiter serves drinks to Taliban fighters at a restaurant in Kabul

(AFP Photo)

Uttarakhand Govt appoints retired IAS officer Anil Chandra Punetha as the Chief Information Commissioner and Vipin Chandra & Vivek Sharma as Information Commissioners. (ANI)

In Pics | World celebrates New Year with magnificent fireworks

As the clock struck 12, millions of people around the world welcomed 2022 with grand celebrations and magnificent fireworks. Keeping the Omicron regulations in mind, people celebrated New Year's Eve in a subtle manner by avoiding mass gatherings and new year parties. Read more(Reuters Photo)

Panel headed by principal secretary to submit Vaishno Devi stampede report within a week

A three-member panel headed by principal secretary (home) to submit its report on Vaishno Devi stampede within a week, saidJammu and Kashmir government. (PTI)

Members and supporters of Iraq's al-Hashed al-Shaabi ex-paramilitary alliance lift a mock coffin during a demonstration and a symbolic funeral for slain top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and slain Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (portrait) in Baghdad commemorating the second anniversary of their killing in a US raid. (AFP Photo)

Delhi: Crowd open fires at police on duty; 4 cops and 2 people injured in clash

A crowd of 50-60 people pelted stones andsome of them opened fire at a police party that had gone to nab dug supplier Dharamvir in Delhi's Inder Puri today, injuring fourpolicemen. In self-defence, police also opened fire in which twopersons sustained injuries.

Himachal Pradesh Police was seen asking people to vacate Ridge Ground in Shimla. As per a note of the Shimla SP office, police had inputs about a planned bomb blasts in the area by a Pakistan-based entity during New Year celebrations.

"We received input from a very reliable source about an incident to take place at the Ridge Ground in Shimla. We had a meeting with officials anddecided to evacuate the area for the safety of tourists. I thank the Army bomb disposal squad. We're still on alert," HP CM Jairam Thakur. (ANI)

5.1 magnitude quake strikes Afghanistan, tremors felt in J&K

An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 that occurred at the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border also felt in Jammu and Kashmir at 6:45 pm today. (ANI)

Devotees wait in queues to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple on the first day of the New Year 2022, in Amritsar. (PTI Photo)

IAF chopper crash: Probe report likely to be submitted to Air Force HQ next week

The report of the tri-services investigation into the chopper crash, that killed CDS Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 others, is set to be submitted to the Air headquarters next week, people familiar with the development said on Saturday.

They said the investigation into the December 8 accident near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu has nearly been completed and the voluminous report is being finalised for submission in the next few days.

It is learnt that the probe team led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh examined all likely scenarios for the crash, including a possible human error. The experts also investigated if it was a case of disorientation by the crew when the helicopter was preparing for landing. (PTI)

Indian Army, PLA exchange greetings, sweets along LAC

Atul Kumar Goel to take over as CEO of PNB from Feb 1

Kupwara: Unidentified terrorist killed in encounter with police

An unidentified terrorist has been killed in an encounter in Jumagund area of Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir: Police (ANI)

Cut down on wasteful spending, Bommai tells officials

Cautioning 2022 would be challenging year from economic and administrative perspective, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai asks top officials of state government to cut down on wasteful expenditure in their respective departments (PTI)

Akhilesh promises free electricity, irrigation for farmers in UP (ANI)

Venus Williams to miss Australian Open

Former US Open and Wimbledon champion Venus Williams will miss action at the Melbourne Park for the first time in a decade, after she withdrew from the season-opening Grand Slam reportedly due to a leg injury, according to News Corp.

Read more

2 people killed in landslide, more feared trapped at mining site in Haryana's Bhiwani district

At least two people have been killed and many are feared trapped after a landslide at Dadam mining zone in Haryana's Bhiwani district on Saturday, police said. They said around half a dozen dumper trucks and some machines have been buried under debris after the landslide in Tosham block.

Vaishno Devi pilgrimage going on smoothly with strict adherence to SOPs: Official

The Vaishno Devi pilgrimage is going on smoothly with strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs), including Covid-19 guidelines, despite a stampede that claimed 12 lives and left over a dozen injured, a senior government official said on Saturday.

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Raghav Langer said bodies of four victims of the stampede were dispatched to their native places, while the process to send the rest of the bodies was in progress.

Nearly 5.89 crore ITRs for FY21 filed till December 31 deadline

Indo-Pak troops exchange sweets along LoC in J&K's Poonch on New Year

Slight relief from harsh cold in Kashmir as min temperature improves

(PTI Photo)

Vaishno Devi stampede: Survivors blame 'mismanagement', shrine board refutes charge

A sudden rush of devotees at the Vaishno Devi shrine here to mark the beginning of the New Year triggered the stampede that resulted in the death of 12 people, some of the survivors said, blaming "mismanagement" for the tragedy.

Read more

Japan PM pledges 2022 will be year of 'summit diplomacy' in New Year address

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Saturday he would refocus his efforts on foreign policy and pledged to make 2022 the year of diplomacy, in a New Year statement posted on his website.

Read more

Hindu devotees offers prayers during New Year's Day at a Hindu temple in Colombo on January 1, 2022.

(AFP)

Era of tribal militancy is over in Assam: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

GST collection at Rs 1.29 lakh crore in December 2021

GST revenue collected in December 2021 was over Rs 1.29 lakh crore, 13 per cent higher than the same month last year, the Finance Ministry said on Saturday.

Read more

Competition to soar in 2022 as new players enter aviation sector

Competition is expected to soar in India's aviation sector during 2022, as new players enter the industry along with deeper penetration of air transport in the hinterland.

Read more

TN CM Stalin asks Centre to upgrade IMD's technology, says it's unable to give timely forecasts

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday urged the union government to upgrade technology and enhance capacity of the Regional Meteorological Centre here to ensure timely weather forecast, saying it is unable to predict 'red alert situation' in advance which hindered preparatory action by the state.

Read more

In Pics | World celebrates New Year with magnificent fireworks

As the clock struck 12, millions of people around the world welcomed 2022 with grand celebrations and magnificent fireworks. Keeping the Omicron regulations in mind, people celebrated New Year's Eve in a subtle manner by avoiding mass gatherings and new year parties.

See pictures here

Over Rs 1.8 lakh crore has been transferred directly to accounts of farmers under PM-KISAN scheme: PM Modi

PM Modi stresses on natural farming, innovation in agriculture sector

Chemical-free farming is a great way to save our earth from becoming barren. So, in the last year, the country has started another visionary effort -- natural farming, he said.

In the new year, India will fight Covid-19 pandemic with all its strength and protect interest of the country, says PM Modi

This year I want less police complaints and more love letters: Kangana Ranaut

PM Gatishakti National Master Plan is going to give a new edge to the pace of infrastructure construction in the country. Giving new dimensions to Make in India, the country has implemented ambitious schemes for new sectors like chip manufacturing and semiconductors: PM Modi

After Cryptocurrency exchange WazirX, offices of major Cryptocurrency service providers across India searched by Directorate General of GST Intelligence officials. Massive tax evasion was detected by DGGI.

ANI

Our farmers' produce organisations -- FPO's have a big role to play in organising the growing strength of the small farmers of the country. The small farmer who was isolated earlier now has five major powers as FPO.

Leading the world against climate change, India has also set a target of net-zero carbon emissions in front of the world by 2070. India is also working on electric vehicles. In 2021, increased the age of marriage of daughters from 18 to 21 years i.e. equal to that of sons: PM Modi

Today the growth rate of our economy is more than 8%. Record foreign investment has come to India. Old records have also been broken in the GST collection. We have also set new paradigms in the matter of exports and especially agriculture: PM Modi

Drawing parallels between the MSP committee, Jan Lokpal Bill

Even as farmers celebrated their victory by getting the government to repeal its three agriculture laws, parallels with an earlier public protest may point to the future of farmers' demands for minimum support price (MSP) for crops, compensation, etc.

Read more

Raje tries to find 'lost' roots in desert state via temple runs

In a challenge-packed 2021, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje wasted no time to turn them into opportunities and started religious tours to different temples in the state.

Read more

Some people have died. I cannot provide the exact figures as of now. A team of doctors has arrived: Minister JP Dalal

(ANI)

A general view of the St George's Cathedral during the state funeral of late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in Cape Town, South Africa, January 1, 2022.

(Reuters)

Rockets fired from Gaza land off central Israel's coast

Rockets fired from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Saturday landed in the Mediterranean Sea off central Israel, the Israeli military said.

It was not immediately clear whether the rockets were meant to hit Israel, but Gaza-based militant groups often test-fire missiles toward the sea. There were no reports of casualties.

In 2021, India transacted about Rs 70 lakh crore only with UPI. Today, more than 50,000 start-ups are working in India. Out of these, more than 10,000 startups have been created in the last 6 months: PM Modi

Police to conduct DNA test of a militant killed in Anantnag encounter as he resembles ultra involved in 2019 Pulwama attack: IGP Kashmir.

Kejriwal expresses grief over Vaishno Devi shrine stampede

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a stampede at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu, and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.

Read more

Today, when we are entering the New Year, we have to draw inspiration from our efforts of the past year and move towards new resolutions. This year we will complete 75 years of our independence. It is time to embark on a new vibrant journey of country's resolutions, to move ahead with renewed enthusiasm: PM

PM Modi releases over Rs 20,900 crore to about 10.09 crore farmers as 10th instalment under PM-KISAN

Celebratory NYE gunfire in Pakistan's Karachi leaves 1 dead, 17 injured

Karachi reverberated with heavy gunfire on New Year's Eve claiming at least one life and leaving more than 15 people injured amid tight security arrangements and warnings from the authorities, Geo News reported.

Read more

Your Swiggy, Zomato orders may be costlier this year; food aggregators to collect 5% GST beginning January 1

Food aggregators like Swiggy and Zomato will have to collect and deposit tax at 5 per cent rate beginning Saturday, a move which will widen the tax base as food vendors who are currently outside the GST threshold will become liable to GST when provided through these online platforms.

Read more

Landslide in Haryana mining quarry; 2 injured, several feared trapped under rubble

India and Pakistan exchange lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody

India & Pak today exchanged, via diplomatic channels simultaneously at Delhi & Islamabad, lists of civilian prisoners & fishermen in their custody. This is in keeping with provisions of 2008 Agreement under which such lists are exchanged every year on 1st Jan & 1st July: MEA

India handed over lists of 282 Pakistan civilian prisoners and 73 fishermen in India's custody to Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 51 civilian prisoners and 577 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or are believed to be Indians: MEA

(ANI)

PAGD leaders detained ahead of march against J&K Delimitation Commission

Political leaders including three former chief ministers were detained ahead of a march by the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to protest against the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission.

Read more

In the current financial year 2021-22, an amount of more than Rs 65,800 crore has been transferred to the beneficiary farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi PM Kisan Yojana: Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Agriculture Minister

(ANI)

During the event, Prime Minister also released an equity grant of more than Rs 14 crores to about 351 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), which will benefit more than 1.24 lakh farmers.

Nowadays youngsters want to visit Vaishno Devi on 1st day of the year: Jitendra Singh

People who got admitted here are stable. We may add some technical solutions for the yatra. Earlier people use to visit the shrine during festivals;PM Modi is monitoring the situation: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

(ANI)

Centre has decided to set up 157 new medical colleges in country to strengthen health infrastructure but in some states, these projects are hit by issues like non-availability of land: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Bharati Pawar

3 dead, 5 injured in fire incident at Tamil Nadu cracker factory

(ANI)

At 24, Trinamool Congress eyes national stage

Twenty-four years after Mamata Banerjee formed the Trinamool Congress on January 1, 1998, to unseat the Left Front from power in West Bengal, her party has transcended the geographical boundaries of the eastern state and now attempts to expand its footprint across the country to pose a direct challenge to the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Read more

Minor altercation led to stampede situation at Vaishno Devi shrine: DGP Dilbag Singh

Jammu and Kashmir's L-G Manoj Sinha orders probe into Vaishno Devi stampede

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, in which at least 12 people were killed and 20 others injured.

Read more

Heavy rainfall has caused waterlogging in several parts of Chennai

Kausalya supraja Rama: MS’s kin reprise Suprabhatam

S Aishwarya and S Saundarya, great granddaughters of the legendary M S Subbulakshmi, have just released their rendering of an evergreen invocation she first recorded in 1963.

Read more

2 wounded during Mall of America shooting, suspect sought

Two people were shot and wounded Friday following an apparent altercation at the Mall of America, sending New Year's Eve shoppers scrambling for safety and placing the Minneapolis mall on temporary lockdown, authorities said.

Rahul Gandhi extends condolences to Vaishno Devi stampede victims

North Korea's Kim says focus on economy, food production for 2022

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un put the economy front and centre of an agenda-setting speech at the end of a key ruling party meeting, state media reported Saturday, with no mention of the United States.

China's action to change status quo at LAC provocative: India

The Indian Defence Ministry has called China's action to change the status quo in several areas at Line of Actual Control as "provocative" and stated that threat assessment have resulted in reorganisation and realignment of forces to cater for the major augmentation of the Chinese forces and military infrastructure.

There's more to Mohammed Shami than just the seam

In a team stretching the limits of tattoos and hairdos, Mohammed Shami’s aesthetic is plain to the point of boring. The slight paunch and the receding hairline doesn’t help the Bengal pacer’s narrative either.

Read more

Vaishno Devi yatra resumes following short suspension

The Vaishno Devi yatra resumes following a short suspension after 12 people were killed in a stampede.

China's settlements, renaming aimed to gain edge in border talks

China's moves to build villages along its disputed boundary with India and to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh in its own languages are all linked to its ploy to take advantage of a bilateral agreement inked in 2005 and to sway the boundary negotiation in its favour.

Read more

Ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of Vaishno Devi stampede victims: J&K LG Manoj Sinha

He added that a compensation of Rs 2 lakh will be provided for the injured as well.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expresses condolences over Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine stampede

Bengalureans start New Year party in the afternoon

New Year celebrations began early in the streets as city police barricaded major streets by evening to prevent revellers from gathering in view of Covid restrictions.

Read more