Feb 6 News Live I Sena ministers target NCP over Sunetra's `hasty' oath-taking

Sena ministers target NCP over Sunetra Pawar's `hasty' oath-taking; CM disapproves

Highlighting the fresh tensions within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, at least three ministers of the Shiv Sena have criticised Sunetra Pawar being sworn in as Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister just three days after her husband and NCP chief Ajit Pawar's death.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis disapproved of the remarks of his cabinet colleagues, saying such "low-level politics must stop." Following deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's death in an air crash on January 28, his wife Sunetra Pawar replaced him in the state cabinet, taking oath on January 31.

Speaking in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Social Justice Minister and Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat on Friday said taking oath immediately after the tragic incident was not acceptable to the common people.

Industries Minister Uday Samant said elsewhere that nobody should feel sad about Sunetra Pawar becoming deputy CM, "but there is suspicion about why did the oath-taking happen so soon." "Did someone orchestrate it?" Samant asked.

When asked for comment, chief minister Fadnavis said the controversy was "unnecessary and wrong." "Everybody is trying to do his own politics in this. Such low-level politics must stop," Fadnavis told reporters.

Yamuna cruise vessel arrives in Delhi for February launch

The highly anticipated ship for the proposed Yamuna cruise services has reached New Delhi from Mumbai, with the Delhi government aiming for its launch in February as part of initiatives to enhance riverfront tourism and recreational activities.

Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra stated on Friday (February 6) that the cruise will accommodate 40 passengers and will offer onboard amenities such as music, entertainment, and food services.

"The cruise has arrived in Delhi, and most of the work is complete. A few remaining technical tasks are underway and it will be launched this month," he told PTI.

He mentioned that Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is expected to inaugurate the service, which will provide hour-long round trips on the Yamuna. Mishra also noted that the project is part of a larger plan to create a recreation and leisure hub along the river.

No leadership change signalled by high command: Siddaramaiah’s son

Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah on Friday claimed that the party high command has given a clear signal that there won't be any leadership change in the state, and his father Siddaramaiah will be the chief minister for the full five years.

He said the CM change issue is a settled one and the high command has so far not acknowledged the calls for change.

Sharply reacting to the CM son's claims, Deputy Chief Minister and another claimant for the CM post, DK Shivakumar said, "Yathindra is our high command, and let's accept what he says very respectfully." "Once he (Yathindra) has said, it's like the high command had said. Let's accept Yathindra as the high command... I don't want to react to Yathindra or Basavaraj (Congress MLA Shivaganga V Basavaraj). If anyone has to react, our Delhi (leaders) will have to react," he told reporters in Mangaluru.

The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.

Sooryavanshi smashes second fastest hundred, most sixes in U19 World Cup

Records tumbled as India’s teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blazed his way to the second fastest hundred in the history of the U-19 World Cup, racing to the milestone in just 55 balls against England in the tournament final in Harare on Friday.

The 14-year-old Sooryavanshi, who made 175 off 80 balls, now has the fastest 150 (off 71 balls) in U-19 cricket, bettering the 98 balls taken by England's Ben Mayes against Scotland at the same venue earlier in the competition.

Sooryavanshi now also has the most sixes for anyone in a Youth ODI innings, surpassing his own 14 maximums against UAE at ICCA Dubai in December. 

Australian Will Malajczuk holds the record of the quickest century in this tournament with his 51-ball ton against Japan in Windhoek recently.

The Indian opener exploded when it mattered the most, reaching his fifty in just 32 balls and continued in the same vein to torment the English bowlers. His second fifty came off just 23 balls.

Sooryvanshi put on 142 runs in just 19 overs with his skipper Ayush Mhatre, who departed for a 51-ball 53 immediately after bringing up his half-century. By clearing the ropes repeatedly, Sooryavanshi aggregated a staggering 22 sixes in this edition alone, leapfrogging South Africa's Dewald Brevis, whose record of 18 sixes had stood since 2022.

Meghalaya mine blast: 2 persons arrested as CM warns of strict action

Meghalaya Police have arrested two persons in connection with a blast in an illegal coal mine that claimed 18 lives, even as Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma asserted that his government would take stringent action against those responsible for the incident.

Director General of Police I Nongrang said that besides the two arrests, a third person has been identified in connection with the incident and further investigation is underway.

At least 18 people have been killed and eight others injured in an explosion at the illegal mine in remote Thangsku area in East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday.

Seven of the eight injured miners have been identified. Four are from Nepal, two from Assam and one is a local, another police officer said, adding they are undergoing treatment at hospitals in Shillong. "The process of identifying the deceased is underway," the officer told PTI.

The CM has, meanwhile, asked two cabinet ministers to visit the spot, meet officials and take stock of the rescue, relief and law and order situation.

Cong leader Karti Chidambaram dismisses reports of friction within DMK-led alliance

Senior Congress leader Karti P Chidambaram on Friday dismissed reports of friction within the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, asserting that the INDIA bloc remains cohesive under the leadership of the Dravidian major in the state.

Addressing reporters here, the Sivaganga MP clarified that the bloc's composition and seat-sharing arrangements are typically settled well before elections and should not be seen as a point of contention.

"Before the elections, the number of parties in the alliance and other details are settled. It is wrong to suggest otherwise," he said.

He also addressed recent debates surrounding the release of a book that has caused unease in political circles. Responding to claims that the work was not officially "released," Karti argued that the definition of a release has evolved in the digital age.

"They say the book has not been released. Releasing a book doesn't necessarily mean it has to be printed. Today, even a post on X, Facebook, or Instagram constitutes a release. Printing is not an absolute necessity," he said, referring to former Army chief M M Naravane's 'unpublished memoir' in which he has referred to the India-China conflict of 2020.

UDF will hold statewide yatra to flag LDF misgovernance: Satheesan

Ahead of the assembly elections in Kerala, the Congress-led UDF will undertake a 'puthu yugam' (new era) yatra to highlight alleged shortcomings in the LDF government’s administration and present the opposition’s vision for the state’s future, Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan said on Friday.

The yatra will be flagged off from Kumbla this evening and will pass through all 140 Assembly constituencies in the state, he said.

Addressing reporters, Satheesan said issues such as the alleged loss of gold at the Sabarimala temple, the state’s mounting fiscal debt, the granting of parole to convicted criminals, and allegations against the CPI(M) regarding misappropriation of funds meant for families of martyrs would be raised during the yatra.

He said around 75 per cent of the month-long programme would focus on explaining the UDF’s future plans and development projects for Kerala. Responding to queries on the Sabarimala gold loss cases, Satheesan said both the opposition and the public were concerned that several accused were being released on statutory bail due to the failure to file charge sheets within the stipulated 90-day period.

"The lost gold has not yet been recovered, and several crucial materials and evidence are yet to be traced. In such circumstances, granting statutory bail could lead to tampering with or destruction of evidence," he said.

Delhi Jal Board orders probe after biker dies falling into Janakpuri construction pit

The Delhi Jal Board has formed a high-level committee to investigate the death of a motorcyclist who allegedly fell into a construction pit dug by the agency in west Delhi’s Janakpuri area. Cabinet minister Parvesh Verma said the panel has been asked to submit its findings by the same evening.

The victim, Kamal, died on Friday morning. Announcing the probe on X, Verma said, “DJB has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to ensure a transparent investigation into the incident. The committee has been directed to inspect the accident site immediately and review safety arrangements, barricading, signage and traffic management.” He added that responsibility would be fixed for any lapses and action recommended, and said he would personally visit the site.

Urban Development minister Ashish Sood also confirmed a government-ordered probe. “I visited the accident site and also met the family members of the deceased. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the entire Delhi government stand with the family. Order has been issued for a probe of the incident, and the guilty will be punished strictly,” he said.

The family has alleged negligence and raised suspicions of foul play. Police said the pit was barricaded and investigations are ongoing.

Imports from China fall across sectors in 2024-25, Govt tells Rajya Sabha

India’s dependence on Chinese imports eased across a range of sectors in 2024-25, with Parliament told that purchases fell sharply in categories such as fertilisers, chemicals, iron and steel, and man-made yarn.

In a written response to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said the contraction was broad-based and marked a continuation of recent trends. Mobile phones stood out as a significant example: imports in this category dropped steeply over the past decade, from Rs 48,609 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 3,710 crore in 2024-25.

At the same time, India’s outbound shipments of mobile phones surged. Exports rose from Rs 1,566 crore in 2014-15 to more than Rs 2,05,017 crore in 2024-25, underlining the scale of the shift in the electronics sector.

Detailing the year-on-year changes, the minister said, “In 2024-25, a decline in imports from China was observed across several sectors compared to the previous year. For example, imports fell sharply in fertilisers (61.4 per cent), followed by residual chemicals and allied products (19.7 per cent), iron and steel (10.3 per cent), and man-made yarn (9.5 per cent).”

Prasada said the government is urging Indian firms to diversify sourcing and reduce reliance on single-country suppliers. He added that import trends are closely tracked, with corrective steps taken when necessary.

Transformation in final phase, heavy lifting done: Air India CEO

Air India’s turnaround is entering its final stretch, with most of the foundational work now complete, according to chief executive Campbell Wilson. Describing the airline’s progress, Wilson said the transformation feels like “the morning of the fifth day (of cricket Test match),” suggesting the toughest phase is over even though the outcome is not yet fully realised.

The Tata Group-owned Air India, privatised in January 2022, continues to face financial pressure and external disruptions. While Wilson declined to give a timeline for profitability, he acknowledged that “some unexpected events” have weighed on performance, including geopolitical tensions, airspace closures, tariffs, political shifts in key markets, and visa restrictions.

Operationally, the airline is deep into a fleet overhaul. With around 190 aircraft, many still require refitting, but Wilson stressed that the complex design and certification stages are finished. “The heavy lifting is finished,” he said, adding that what remains is largely a matter of manufacturing and installing seats. He characterised the current phase as “iteration rather than revolution,” noting that “the upliftment from where we were to where we are today has happened.”

Wilson reiterated that the Vihaan.AI transformation plan, launched in 2022, is largely executed across its 22 workstreams, though full completion will come only when the last aircraft is refitted. External shocks-including a deadly Boeing 787-8 crash last year and prolonged airspace disruptions-have slowed financial recovery, and profitability is now expected to remain several years away.