Global Rice News

Supreme Court Overturns Gujarat’s Premature Release of Bilkis Bano Case Convicts

The Supreme Court has nullified the State of Gujarat’s decision to grant premature release to 11 men accused of the gang rape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of her family during the 2002 riots. The court has ordered the convicts to report back to jail within two weeks. Justice B.V. Nagarathna, leading the Bench alongside Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, emphasized that justice must not be compromised. The court ruled that the convicts were tried and sentenced in Maharashtra, making it Maharashtra’s responsibility to consider their release.

Tamil Nadu Government Seeks Quantum Computing Centre

In an effort to secure a Quantum Computing Centre for Tamil Nadu, the state government is seeking sponsorship from the Government of India, according to Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services. During a session on ‘Gen AI & Deep Tech: The Game Changer’ at the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024, Rajan stated that discussions have been underway with Finland, a country known for its expertise in quantum computing, to explore potential start-up collaborations.

Congress Candidate Rupinder Singh Koonar Wins Karanpur Assembly Election in Rajasthan

Congress candidate Rupinder Singh Koonar emerged victorious in the Karanpur Assembly election, triumphing over BJP Minister Surendra Pal Singh by a margin of 11,283 votes. Koonar garnered 94,950 votes in total, while Singh received 83,667 votes. The Chief Electoral Office confirmed that there were 18 rounds of counting. Following his victory, Koonar expressed gratitude to the people of Karanpur and remarked on the rejection of central ministers during the campaign.

Maldives Clarifies Derogatory Remarks Against PM Modi

The Maldives government has assured India’s High Commissioner Munu Muhawar that derogatory remarks made by three deputy ministers, who have since been suspended, do not reflect the government’s stance. Muhawar met with Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed, the Ambassador-at-Large at the Foreign Ministry, for a pre-arranged meeting to discuss bilateral matters. The Maldivian government confirmed its continued support for India and affirmed that the remarks made were not representative of its views. Nishant Pitti, co-founder and CEO of EaseMyTrip, showed solidarity with India by suspending all flight bookings to the Maldives.

Supreme Court Stays Bombay High Court Order on Pune Lok Sabha By-Election

The Supreme Court has put the brakes on the Bombay High Court’s directive to the Election Commission to immediately hold a by-election for the vacant Pune Lok Sabha seat. The seat has been unoccupied since March 29, 2023, following the death of MP Girish Bapat. The apex court criticized the Election Commission for failing to conduct the by-poll in a timely manner, questioning the actions taken since the seat became vacant. In light of the situation, the Supreme Court will establish guidelines for conducting by-elections.

Indian Government Prioritizes Tribal Areas Development

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the government’s commitment to the development of tribal areas and commended a tribal woman from Chhattisgarh for her understanding of government schemes. Speaking via video conferencing at the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, PM Modi engaged with beneficiaries from across the country, supported by Union Ministers, MPs, MLAs, and local representatives.

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Criticizes Government’s Role in Ram Temple Ceremony

The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the oldest Muslim body in India, expressed concern over what it perceives as the government’s active participation in the Ram Mandir inauguration. At a recent central working committee meeting, the Jamiat described the government’s involvement as an attempt to unduly influence upcoming elections. The Jamiat also highlighted worries about harassment and intimidation of the minority community as discussions surrounding the temple mount.

Election Commission Responds Inadequately to EVM Concerns: Jairam Ramesh

Jairam Ramesh, a senior Congress leader, has criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) for failing to adequately address concerns about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Ramesh alleges that the ECI consistently refers parties to generic FAQs rather than providing substantive responses. In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, he lamented the lack of detailed answers to his previous concerns about Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs).

Land Acquisition Completed for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project

The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited announced that it has successfully completed land acquisition for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Rail Corridor, colloquially known as the bullet train project, across Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the news on social media, declaring that the entire 1389.49 hectares of land required for the project have been acquired. The high-speed rail line will connect Mumbai with Ahmedabad.

DGCA Confirms Boeing 737-8 Max Planes Inspection

After a thorough inspection, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has confirmed that operational Boeing 737-8 Max planes in the country have passed all required checks. The inspections were ordered following an incident involving an Alaska Airlines aircraft. Specifically, checks of the wing emergency exits on 32 aircraft have been satisfactorily completed.

Enforcement Directorate Submits Report on Sandeshkhali Attack

The Enforcement Directorate has submitted a report on the attack that took place during a raid in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. During the raid, several officers were injured, and their vehicles were vandalized by supporters of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh. The incident occurred during an investigation into alleged irregularities in the state’s ration system. The report has been submitted to the Enforcement Directorate’s headquarters.

Pakistan Supreme Court Alters Disqualification Rules for Lawmakers

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ruled that lawmakers will no longer face lifelong disqualification from holding public office. The court pronounced that parliamentarians will be barred from office for five years instead. This decision provides significant relief to prominent politicians like Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and a seven-member bench abolished the lifetime disqualification, overturning the earlier ruling made by a five-member bench in 2018.

Maldives President Begins State Visit to China

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed have embarked on a five-day State visit to China. The couple was warmly received in Fujian by Chinese officials upon arrival. The visit comes at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking Muizzu’s first bilateral visit since assuming office in December 2023.

First US Lunar Lander in 50 Years Sets Course for the Moon

The first US lunar lander in over 50 years has been launched toward the moon. Astrobotic Technology’s lander hitched a ride on the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket. The project aims to establish commercial delivery services for NASA and other customers. The spacecraft is expected to attempt a landing on February 23, after embarking on a roundabout route.

WHO Halts Medical Aid Delivery to North Gaza

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been forced to cancel a mission to deliver medical supplies to northern Gaza due to a lack of security guarantees. This marks the fourth time the WHO has had to abandon plans to provide urgently needed supplies to Al-Awda Hospital and the central drug store since December 26. Security concerns have prevented successful delivery.

Bangladesh PM Highlights Strong Ties with India

Following her resounding victory in the general elections, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed gratitude to India, emphasizing the deep friendship between the two nations. Hasina, who secured a record fourth consecutive term, credited India as a “great friend” and lauded the successful resolution of various bilateral issues.