News Highlights: Congress disrupting Mekedatu project with its agitation, says R Ashoka

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Power sector employees to go on 2-day strike in Feb: AIPEF

The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) on Monday said that around 15 lakh power sector employees will go on nationwide strike for two days from February 23 to protest against privatisation.

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Kerala gangster kills youth, abandons body in front of police station

A19-year-old man waskilledby a gang and thebody was abandonedinfrontof apolicestationby the gang leader at Kottayam district of Kerala on Monday.

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Shell says electricity to meet 60% of China's energy use by 2060

China may triple electricity generation to supply 60% of the country's total energy under Beijing's carbon-neutral goal by 2060, up from the current 23%, Royal Dutch Shell said on Monday.

Shell is one of the largest global investors in China's energy sector, with business covering gas production, petrochemicals and a retail fuel network. A leading supplier of liquefied natural gas, it has recently expanded into low-carbon business such as hydrogen power and electric vehicle charging.

In a rare assessment of the country's energy sector by an international oil major, Shell said China needed to take quick action this decade to stay on track to reach the carbon-neutrality goal.

China has mapped out plans to reach peak emissions by 2030, but has not yet revealed any detailed carbon roadmap for 2060.

Noted environmentalist M K Prasad passes away

Noted environmentalist Prof M K Prasad, a prominent figure in the historic grassroot level movement to save the evergreen tropical rain forests in Kerala's Silent Valley from destruction, passed away on Monday morning, his colleagues said here.

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SC hopes Bengal Assembly speaker will decide within two weeks on issue of disqualification of Mukul Roy

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed hope that the West Bengal Assembly Speaker will decide within two weeks a plea seeking disqualification of Mukul Roy, who defected to the TMC from the BJP after the state polls.

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Congress disrupting Mekedatu project with its agitation, says R Ashoka

Accusing the Congress of disrupting the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river with its recent 'walk for water' campaign, Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Monday said the Congress drive only helped spread the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

The minister said the opposition Congress party's agitation could be used by the Tamil Nadu government, which was opposed to the project, to stall it.

3 infants die in Karnataka's Belagavi district after they were administered measles-rubella vaccine

3 infants die in Karnataka's Belagavi district after they were administered measles-rubella (MR) vaccine: Officials

Suspected drug peddler injured in police firing in Assam

A suspected drug peddler was shot at by the Assam Police when he allegedly tried to flee custody in Karbi Anglong district on Monday, a senior officer said. Acting on a tip-off, a team of policemen intercepted a truck at around 1.30 AM at a checkpoint in Bokajan area under the Khatkhati Police Station limits and arrested two persons, including the drug smuggler, as heroin worth around Rs 20 crore was recovered from their possession, the officer said.

BSF's all-women biker team 'Seema Bhawani' practice daredevil stunts during the rehearsal for the upcoming Republic Day Parade at Vijay Chowk, on a cold winter morning in New Delhi.

Credit: PTI Photo

Catalogue of Indian Emission Inventory Reports launched

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), has launched the 'Catalogue of Indian Emission Inventory Reports' that aims to aid policymakers and scientists prepare a reckoner of all the work done in this area.

The report presents a database of all publicly available Emission Inventories (EI) and several previously un-referred studies for India to help policymakers and scientists prepare reckoner of all the work done in the area. About 200 EI reports have been collated and made available with hyperlinks for researchers and policymakers to use. They have also been sectorally classified for ease.

Pak's ISI possibly planted IED in Delhi through sleeper cells: Sources

The investigation into the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) recovery case in the national capital has once again indicated Pakistan's role in creating unrest in India.

Sources privy to the probe told IANS that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) could have possibly planted the IED in the Ghazipur flower market area in Delhi through its sleeper cells.

The National Security Guard and the Special Cell of Delhi Police on January 14 (Friday) averted a major terror attack in the city by timely defusing a 3-Kg IED which was placed at a crowded market by unidentified anti-national elements.

"The RDX used in the manufacturing of the IED is indicating the role of ISI in carrying out a planned attack," sources said.

Sources further said that the Special Cell, which is investigating the case, has so far conducted multiple raids in the national capital. However, they are yet to make any headway in the probe.

Parliament's Joint panel invites views on Biodiversity Bill

Almost a month after its formation, the Joint Committee of Parliamentarians has invited suggestions from people on the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that was introduced in the Lok Sabha last month.

The Joint Committee put out a notice in public domain, including advertisements in main newspapers, on Sunday inviting "memoranda containing views/suggestions from the public in general and NGOs/experts/stakeholders and institutions in particular."

The deadline given is 15 days from the publication of the advertisement.

Social worker & Padma Shri awardee Shanti Devi passes away

The Election Commission of India is discussing a request to postpone the Punjab Assembly polls.

UP Polls: Modi's election to win or lose, not Yogi's

Till the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentary board succumbed to the pressures of those deserting the party, there was great merit in the argument that most who have left were to be denied a ticket to contest the upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls by the party leadership. The BJP top brass believes that anti-incumbency against the party can be smothered as they continue to enjoy support from castes whose leaders may have left them. It is also convinced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma is enough to help the party win the polls - UP Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi did not matter. Both these assumptions will be vigorously challenged in the forthcoming election. Read more

Marriage registration service temporarily stopped in Mumbai

Marriage registration service has been temporarily stopped due to current Covid-19 situation in Mumbai. Theservice will be restarted soon with the facility of appointment, date andtime, saidBrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

India reports 2.58 lakh new Covid-19 cases, 385 deaths

India on Monday reported 2,58,089 new Covid-19 cases and 385 deaths, according to the Union Health Ministry data.The active Covid-19 cases now stand at 16,56,341, while the overall toll is 4,86,451.In the last 24 hours, 1,51,740 persons recovered form the virus, taking the overall recovery to 35,237,461. Read more

Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj passes away

Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj passed away in Delhi late Sunday after suffering a heart attack, according to reports. He was 83. Read more

Australia leaves door open for Djokovic to play at next year's Open

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has left the door open for Novak Djokovic to compete at next year's Australian Open despite the tennis superstar facing an automatic three-year ban from entering the country.

The world number one player left Australia late on Sunday after the Federal Court upheld the government's decision to cancel his visa, capping days of drama over the country's Covid-19 entry rules and his unvaccinated status.

Unilever to weigh raising offer for Glaxo consumer unit

Unilever Plc has held talks with banks about additional financing for a potential sweetened offer for GlaxoSmithKline Plc’s consumer products division, according to people familiar with the matter.

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PM Modi to address WEF's Davos Agenda today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a 'State of the World' special address at the World Economic Forum's Davos Agenda on Monday via video conference, his office said.

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