Today’s news LIVE: Jan 30 | Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra Pawar, likely to take over as Deputy CM

Sunetra Pawar set to take over as Deputy CM

NCP leader Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, is likely to be sworn in as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday, multipe reports said. The post fell vacant after the death of Ajit Pawar, aged 66, in a flight accident in Baramati. 

The NCP will hold a legislature party meeting in Mumbai at 2 pm to formally finalise her name, followed by the oath-taking ceremony later in the evening. Sunetra Pawar will be the first woman to hold a Deputy Chief Minister's post in Maharashtra.

Assam elections 2026: Congress plans mega yatra; Rahul, Priyanka to attend

The Congress has drawn up a mega outreach plan ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, centred on a statewide “rath yatra” that will cover most districts. The yatra, led by Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, is scheduled to begin next month, reports The Federal's Ubeer Naqushbandi.

Senior party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, are expected to join the campaign at different locations along the route. The yatra will follow a hybrid format, combining bus travel, foot marches, street-corner meetings, and public rallies.

The name and detailed schedule of the yatra are being finalised. It is expected to commence after the conclusion of the current parliamentary session.

Donald Trump names Kevin Warsh as next US Federal Reserve Chairman

Confident Group owner CJ Roy found dead; suicide suspected

C J Roy, founder and chairman of real estate firm Confident Group, was found dead at his Bengaluru office on Friday, police said. Police suspect it to be a case of suicide, though they said a conclusion would be drawn after the post-mortem examination.

According to police, Roy suffered bullet injuries from his licensed firearm at his office near Richmond Circle in the city, raising suspicion that he may have shot himself. Soon after a gunshot was heard, staff members rushed to his room and found him lying in a pool of blood, sources said.

He was immediately taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Sources said the Income Tax Department had conducted raids at his premises earlier in the day.

No opposition to Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra as NCP legislature leader: Praful Patel

SC says right to menstrual health a fundamental right

The Supreme Court on Friday (January 30) directed all states and Union Territories to ensure girl students in private and government schools are provided bio-degradable menstrual sanitary pads for free, and held that the right to menstrual health is a part of the fundamental right to life enshrined in the Constitution.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan told states and Union Territories to ensure separate toilets for female and male students in all schools. It also said all schools, irrespective of whether they are state-run or controlled, will have to provide disabled-friendly toilets.

"The right to menstrual health is part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution," the court held. It said that if private schools fail to provide these facilities, they will be de-recognised.

The bench also said that it would hold governments accountable if they too fail to provide for toilets and free sanitary pads to girls.

The top court has reserved its verdict on a PIL filed by Jaya Thakur on December 10, 2024, seeking pan-India implementation of the Union government's 'Menstrual Hygiene Policy for school-going girls' in government and government-aided schools for adolescent girls students from Classes 6 to 12. 

Chandrababu Naidu begins Kuppam tour, to oversee Rs 675 crore development projects

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday (January 30) embarked on a three-day tour of Kuppam in Chittoor district to participate in various development, welfare, and tourism programmes in his constituency, a government source said.

During the visit, the state government will sign agreements with seven companies in the chief minister’s presence to set up industries in the region, involving investments of over Rs 675 crore.

Naidu will inaugurate the Agastya Vidyachal Academy at Gudipalli, built at Rs 3 crore, and lay the foundation stone for the Learners Academy, estimated to cost Rs 10 crore.

During the visit, the chief minister will lay the foundation stone for the Oberoi Visitors Centre, inaugurate the Swarna Navadisha co-working space, and the Aditya Birla Multi Skill Development Centre.

As part of tourism promotion initiatives, he will launch the Kangundi Heritage Village Bouldering Park and the Discover Kuppam tourism website. He will also lay the foundation stone for tourism development works costing Rs 4 crore and inaugurate the Punnami Resort, the source added.

Three killed as car catches fire after falling off bridge in Rajkot district

Three persons were charred to death after the car they were travelling in fell off a bridge and burst into flames in Gujarat’s Rajkot district early on Friday, police said.

The accident occurred around 5.30 am on the Gondal-Atkot highway when the car was going from Chhota Udepur towards Gondal, they said.

The car hit the side wall of an 8-foot-tall bridge over a small stream, broke through it and plunged to the ground, Deputy Superintendent of Police Naveen Chakravarthy said.

The vehicle immediately caught fire after the fall, leaving its occupants trapped inside. All three passengers died at the scene, he said.

The victims' charred bodies have been recovered and sent for forensic examination, while samples have been forwarded to a Forensic Science Laboratory for identification, Chakravarthy said, adding that further investigation is underway.

Congress lodges complaint against BJP for defamatory post against Siddaramaiah, DKS

The Congress has lodged a complaint against the BJP IT Cell for posting a defamatory content against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar by calling them "Scam Lord".

According to the complaint, the post was published on January 29 carrying an edited image depicting Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and other ministers in a distorted and malicious manner.

The images were allegedly altered under the caption "Scam Lord", with an accompanying text that read: "This is the real story of the scam empire of the @INCKarnataka government that is looting Karnataka day and night!!" The complainant stated that the images of public office holders, who enjoy public respect and constitutional status, were deliberately edited and presented in a vulgar and misleading manner without any supporting evidence.

It was alleged that the use of words such as "loot" and "scam" was intended to malign the state government, provoke hatred, and disturb public peace.

Kuwait-Delhi flight diverted to Ahmedabad following bomb threat