Today’s Top News Headlines and Latest News at 10:30 am on 1 March 2024

Beginning today's morning bulletin with the top national news, the crisis that gripped the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh following cross-voting by six of its MLAs in the Rajya Sabha election on Tuesday seems to have blown over for now. All six MLAs were disqualified under the anti-defection law on Thursday for defying the party whip to remain present at the time of voting on the cut motion on the Budget. One of the rebel MLAs said they would approach the Supreme Court. Following the disqualifications, the effective strength of the House has reduced from 68 to 62, with the Congress count at 34. The BJP has 25 MLAs.

Next up, in a strategic project to ensure maritime security and connectivity to Mauritius’ Agalega islands, an air strip and a jetty were inaugurated jointly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth virtually on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the two countries are working actively towards ensuring security, prosperity and stability in the Indian Ocean region. Calling it a ""historic day"", Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth said that these projects will ""enhance the island’s capacity and capabilities in marine surveillance and security, while also meeting development objectives"".The move to develop and build the new airstrip and the jetty came after Modi’s visit to the island country in March 2015.

Moving on, the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved three chip related projects worth about Rs 1.26 lakh crore, including what could be India’s first semiconductor fabrication plant, which will be set up by the Tata Group along with a Taiwanese technology partner. The Tata Group will set up the foundry in partnership with Taiwan-based Powerchip (PSMC) at an estimated cost of Rs 91,000 crore in Gujarat’s Dholera. The plant will have a capacity to produce 300 crore chips every year, which will cater to industries like high performance computing, electric vehicles, defence and consumer electronics, among other things. The construction of the facility will begin in less than 100 days, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

Also, the body of farmer Shubhkaran Singh, who died after the Haryana Police allegedly fired at protesters near the Khanauri border during the Delhi Chalo march on February 21, was cremated in his native village of Balloh in Punjab’s Bathinda district on Thursday. The Dilli Chalo march was called by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) over a host of demands including a legal guarantee for MSP, among others. The cremation took place after the Punjab Police lodged a ‘Zero FIR’ in Shubhkaran Singh’s death. The body was kept at the mortuary in Rajindra Medical College and Hospital in Punjab since February 21.

In news from South, the Centre has approved the release of funds to Andhra Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin after the Union Rural Development Ministry found there is no ""irregularity"" at present regarding non-adherence to the core features of the scheme as the state has taken ""corrective"" actions. It has also informed the Finance Ministry, which had stopped release of the funds to Andhra Pradesh after the Union Rural Development Ministry flagged that the state government had used its own logo and name on the houses constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin. Sources in the Andhra Pradesh government confirmed that the ministry has approved the release of Rs 292 crore out of the pending Rs 1,170 crore.

Also, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, days after the BJP-JD(S) combine defeated it in the Legislative Council. The Bill, which was returned to the Legislative Assembly, was tabled again on the last day of the Budget session. It will be sent next to the Governor for his assent. The legislation proposed a Common Pool Fund under Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department for aiding religious activities in the state. It had drawn fire from opposition BJP, which accused the government of stealing from rich temples of the state.

Shifting focus to international news, Israeli troops fired on a large crowd of Palestinians racing to pull food off an aid convoy in Gaza City on Thursday, witnesses said. More than 100 people were killed, bringing the death toll since the start of the Israel-Hamas war to more than 30,000, according to health officials. Israeli officials acknowledged that troops opened fire, saying they did so after the crowd approached in a threatening way. The officials insisted on anonymity to give details about what happened, after the military said in a statement that ""dozens were killed and injured from pushing, trampling and being run over by the trucks.""

And lastly, a massive fire raced through a six-storey building in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka late on Thursday, killing at least 43 people and injuring dozens, the country’s health minister said. The fire originated in a restaurant and quickly spread to other floors, fire service officials said. At least 43 people have died and 22 others are being treated at hospitals with burn wounds, Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen told reporters after visiting the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. All 22 people admitted with severe burns are in critical condition, Sen added. It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze, which was under control after two hours of frantic efforts by 13 firefighting units, the fire service officials said.

Click to listen to yesterday evening’s bulletin