PUNE: (Feb 12) A four-member team of senior DGCA officials has visited the site of the plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and four others last month near Baramati in Pune district.
During their visit on Wednesday, they reviewed the CCTV camera footage and videos linked to the January 28 incident, said local officials.
Ajit Pawar, Captain Sumit Kapoor, co-pilot Capt. Shambhavi Pathak, Personal Security Officer (PSO) Vidip Jadhav, and flight attendant Pinky Mali were killed when the Learjet aircraft they were on board crashed near the Baramati airport in Pune district.
MUMBAI: (Feb 12) The rupee appreciated 38 paise to 90.40 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday, supported by foreign fund inflows and suspected RBI intervention.
Forex traders said foreign fund inflows, while not massive, provided a psychological anchor. Moreover, the RBI has been quietly ensuring that liquidity remains abundant in the banking system.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.55 against the US dollar, then gained momentum and touched 90.40, registering a rise of 38 paise over its previous close.
PANAJI: (Feb 12) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has directed officials to expedite measures aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery across the coastal state.
During a review meeting of the Health Department on Wednesday, which was also attended by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, the CM pushed for critical care expansion and adequate staffing, said officials.
Key decisions were taken to enhance critical care capacity and upgrade Emergency and Trauma Centres in various government health facilities. The government also decided to hire additional medical officers, nurses, multi-tasking staff and technicians to address manpower shortages, a senior government official said.
KANPUR: (Feb 12) Police on Thursday arrested Shivam Mishra, son of local tobacco baron K K Mishra, in connection with the high-profile Lamborghini crash that left several people injured on the VIP Road earlier this week, the police chief said.
Commissioner of Police Raghubir Lal told PTI that the 35-year-old would be produced in a court.
“He has been arrested and will be presented before the court within an hour,” he said.
Mumbai:
Representatives of tribal and other traditional forest-dwelling communities residing for generations within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) area have submitted a formal appeal to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, seeking urgent intervention to protect their legal rights, ensure fair rehabilitation, and restore employment opportunities.
In their representation addressed to Commission Chairman Shri Antar Singh Arya, community leaders stated that many tribal families have lived in the forest region since before the establishment of the national park, with some families historically holding land records. Despite this, residents claim they are now being treated as encroachers and face eviction threats without adequate rehabilitation or access to basic civic amenities.
The memorandum emphasizes that the communities are not opposing development but are demanding “justice, dignified rehabilitation, livelihood security, and protection of constitutional and human rights.” Among their primary demands is the relocation of affected families to nearby available land so that their traditional social, cultural, and livelihood connections with the forest region remain intact. The proposal suggests providing approximately 500-square-foot row houses for tribal families and planned multi-storey housing for other traditional forest dwellers, along with essential infrastructure such as water supply, electricity, roads, schools, health centres, and livelihood facilities.
Community representatives have also alleged harassment by park authorities, claiming that residents were intimidated through enforcement actions and that false cases were filed against several individuals following recent tensions. They have demanded the withdrawal of such cases and an immediate halt to coercive actions in tribal settlements.
Employment concerns also feature prominently in the appeal. According to the memorandum, several tribal forest workers were removed from their jobs after cases were registered against them. The communities are seeking reinstatement of affected workers and priority employment for local tribal residents in park-related services such as forest labour, security, maintenance, tourism, transport, and guide services. They have also requested the revival of tourism transport facilities earlier operated through the Birsa Munda Adivasi Shramik Sanghatana, which had provided livelihood opportunities to many local families.
Additionally, the memorandum calls for the immediate restoration of basic amenities in tribal hamlets and the resumption of BEST bus services that previously enabled residents, particularly students and workers, to travel for education and employment.
Community leaders have urged the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes to intervene promptly, citing provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, PESA legislation, and constitutional protections for tribal communities. They expressed hope that the Commission’s intervention will ensure fair rehabilitation policies, livelihood security, and protection of long-standing tribal rights in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park region. Real News of India Reporter S.M.Fanus
NEW DELHI: (Feb 9) The Rajya Sabha on Monday witnessed an uproar and a walkout by the Opposition over the incidents of the Lok Sabha, where Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi could not finish his speech, and later Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed away amid allegations that women MPs could have attacked him.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, raised the issue as soon as the Question Hour started at 12 noon.
Chairman CP Radhakrishnan allowed Kharge to speak, adding that he should not speak on anything that happened in the other House.
NEW DELHI: (Feb 9) Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal on Monday said the Centre will consider a suggestion to set up an inquiry for non-allotment of around 48,000 flats constructed in the national capital for the poor under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Replying to a supplementary during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said flats in Delhi were constructed in 2012 under the JNNURM scheme, with the support of both the central and state government.
Lal said he was “astonished” that these homes were not allotted to the poor by the then Delhi government under Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
y Eve Bohnett, University of Florida
TALAHASSE: (Feb 9) In late 2025, Interpol coordinated a global operation across 134 nations, seizing roughly 30,000 live animals, confiscating illegal plant and timber products, and identifying about 1,100 suspected wildlife traffickers for national police to investigate.
Wildlife trafficking is one of the most lucrative illicit industries worldwide. It nets between US$7 billion and $23 billion per year, according to the Global Environment Facility, a group of nearly 200 nations as well as businesses and nonprofits that funds environmental improvement and protection projects.
People buy and sell a wide range of items, including live animals, plant powders and oils, ivory carvings and musical instruments.
COLOMBO: (Feb 8) Kamindu Mendis’ scintillating 19-ball 44 and Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten half-century lifted Sri Lanka to 163 for six after a slow start in their T20 World Cup match against Ireland here on Sunday.
Wicketkeeper Kusal made 56 off 43 balls with the help of five boundaries and added 67 runs for the fifth wicket with Kamindu, who smashed four fours and two sixes, to lift Sri Lanka after they were struggling at 86 for four in the 14th over.
Sri Lanka were also helped by a few dropped catches by the Irish fielders in the floodlit R Premadasa Stadium.
THANE: (Feb 8) At least seven godowns stocked with materials like paper products and plastic items were destroyed after a fire broke out in an industrial hub in Maharashtra’s Thane district on Sunday, an official said.
No one was injured in the incident at the godown complex in Bhiwandi’s Mankoli area, said Chief Fire Officer Nitin Lad from the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation.
After being alerted about the fire, which started around 2.30 pm, three fire engines were rushed to the spot, he said.
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