Head of Boeing's 737 Max programme is out after latest serious incident on company's marquee aircraft, reports AP. 

BJP president JP Nadda on Wednesday called on Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the latter's official residence 'Varsha' in South Mumbai.

Shinde's office described the meeting as a "courtesy visit".

The BJP president is on a two-day tour of Mumbai to interact with party workers from all the six Lok Sabha constituencies of the metropolis ahead of the parliamentary polls likely to be held in April-May.

Nadda was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar and the party's state unit head Chandrashekar Bawankule during his visit to Shinde's residence.

The Odisha government on Wednesday invoked the Orissa Essential Services (Maintenance) Act (ESMA) to prohibit a strike by fire service personnel in the state.

Firemen, chief firemen, havildars and fire service drivers launched an indefinite strike on Wednesday to press for their demands.

Their two major demands included salaries, allowances and cadres at par with the Odisha Police and reorganisation of their association which was formed in 1980.

A notification issued by the Home (Special Section) Department said, "The state government is satisfied that in the interest of the public, it is necessary to prohibit strikes of the firemen and their supervisory ranks as the fire services are vitally necessary for the life of the community." Any such disruption can cause untold hardships to people and can lead to loss of life and property, it said.

On preparations for 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar in Patna said, "I appeal to people to go to vote without any fear. We held meetings with different national and state level parties and they've a few issues and suggestions for us. They ask us to be assured about the deletions that are required to be made in the electoral rolls, issuing Voter IDs to newly added voters, proper deployment of paramilitary forces at voting booths to ensure a smooth voting process, impersonation shouldn't happen. Central observers must be available and accessible to all, postal ballots must be counted first, all parties should be given information regarding EVM. Commission tries that electoral rolls must be pure and healthy."

Decision on bail hearing of jailed AAP leader Manish Sisodia postponed in Delhi liquor scam case on Wednesday. The court said that the curative petition is pending in the Supreme Court, hence we are postponing the case till March 2.

The Rouse Avenue Court was to decide whether the trial court could hear the bail plea while the curative petition was pending in the Apex Court.

A fire broke out at a building in Mumbai's Dahisar East. Fire tenders at the spot. Efforts to douse the fire underway.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis issue a joint press statement. PM Modi says, "As two ancient and great civilisations, India and Greece have a long history of deep cultural and people-to-people ties. 

For around 2500 years, people of both countries exchanged ideas, besides trade and cultural relations. Today, we identified several new initiatives to modernise these relations..."

BJP MLAs' suspension matter | Seven suspended BJP MLAs will meet the Delhi Assembly Speaker today, counsel for MLAs told the Delhi High Court. The senior counsel also informed the court that they wrote a letter to LG who has accepted their apology. After noting the submissions, Delhi HC adjourned the matter till tomorrow.

After holding talks with Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, PM Narendra Modi says, "I am happy to welcome PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his delegation to India...The visit of the Greek PM to India after 16 years is a historic occasion. It's a matter of happiness that we are heading towards doubling the bilateral trade by 2030..."

BJP Chief Nadda will chair a meeting on 48 seats Lok Sabha of Maharashtra more importantly the six seats in Mumbai their strategy and planning will be discussed in today’s meeting. 

The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lauded the verdict by the Supreme Court of India on the Chandigarh Mayor polls. He said, “Shri Krishna said that he will save the humankind from evil. Those who were helping people, they are in jail. It is openly being said that they will win 370 seats. There must be some arrangements or setting behind this confidence. Chandigarh mayor elections covered all their sins.”

He added, “ CJI is like god for us. The country though BJP cannot be defeated but what happened yesterday was a sign from god. Anil Masih was just a pawn. Those who are playing with the democracy of this country should be punished.”

Bihar Legislative Council Speaker Devesh Chandra Thakur sets an inquiry committee for the then Additional Chief Secretary of the State Education Department, KK Pathak.

A 5-6 member committee will review the video of Pathak in the Speaker's chamber and then appropriate action will be taken.

On his resignation as Deputy Speaker of Bihar Legislative Assembly, JDU leader Maheshwar Hazari says, "I have willingly resigned by keeping high command in the loop... As a dedicated soldier of the party, whatever decision the party takes for me, I will perform that duty with seriousness and devotion..."

PM Narendra Modi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hold bilateral talks at Hyderabad House in Delhi.

The ninth edition of the Raisina Dialogue will be commence from today and continue till Friday (February 23) in New Delhi. The conference will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will join the inauguration session as the chief guest.

The theme of the 2024 edition is “Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create,” according to a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs.

 

Kalaburgi, Karnataka: On farmers' protest, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge says, "We are supporting them (farmers). We are saying openly that their reasonable demands should be fulfilled. We are going to say this in our election manifesto also that a legal guarantee will be given. All crops cannot be covered but the essential crops should be done (providing MSP)..."

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sent an advisory to Punjab Government asking it to maintain law and order in the wake of the farmers agitation, said Sources. 

Farmers from across multiple states resumed the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march from today, February 21. 

Heavy security is deployed across the national capital to prevent any disturbances during the protest. 

Farm leaders from Punjab and Haryana previously halted the farmers' protest on Sunday evening after the fourth round of talks with Union Ministers.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to address the Delhi Assembly today likely around 1 pm.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will officially inaugurate the 12th edition of MILAN 2024, the flagship naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam. He will also inaugurate the MILAN Village at the Eastern Naval Command base to mark the occasion. 

Indian Navy Deputy Chief Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti interacted with Commodore Jalil Mughadam, Deputy Commander of Iranian Navy’s Southern Fleet, on the sidelines of MILAN-2024 exercise. Views were exchanged on contemporary maritime security environment & challenges. Avenues to enhance cooperation between both navies were also discussed, said Indian Navy. 

The ninth edition of the Raisina Dialogue will be commence from today and continue till Friday (February 23) in New Delhi. The conference will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will join the inauguration session as the chief guest.

The theme of the 2024 edition is “Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create,” according to a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs.