Top stories of the day January in a capsule
Fake apps for Reliance Jio Coin on Play Store
At least 22 apps which had Jio Coin in their name available for download on the Play Store, a leading business daily reported on Tuesday. They range from Jio Coin to Jio Coin Buy and Jio Coin Crypto Currency. While most of these apps have fewer than 1,000 downloads, there are three which have been downloaded between 1,000 and 5,000 times and two which have been downloaded between 10,000 and 50,000 times.The description on the pages of some of these apps claims that they offer Jio Coins in exchange for doing "tasks". Security experts warn users to stay away from downloading any such app
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Kolkata: 36 killed as bus falls off bridge into river, 50 feared trapped
Thirty-six people including a child were reported dead as a packed bus traveling from Nadia in West Bengal, fell off a bridge into a river, in the wee hours of Monday morning. The bus driver was apparently driving at a high speed when it failed to control the bus, and swerved into a river canal at Daulatabad, 220 km away from Kolkata. Expressing her grief over the event, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced 5 lakh ex gratia for the family of the victims. At least 50 passengers are feared trapped inside the bus, as of now.
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Budget Session Day 1: President Kovind addresses both the houses
The Budget session of 2018 began with President Ram Nath Kovind’s joint address to both the houses of the Parliament. Telling about India’s civilizational richness, he said that service to humanity is an integral part of India’s cultural heritage. The president went on to say that upliftment of farmers and their income is the prime objective of this government. He also said that it is our duty that when we celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary in 2019 we pay tribute to him by making our country completely clean. Highlighting the benefits of government's policies he said that 'Aadhaar' has helped in securing the rights of the poor by eliminating middlemen. At present, Digital Payments are being carried out in more than 400 schemes of the government.
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Kasganj Violence: With 112 people arrested, town returns to normalcy
Normalcy finally returned to Kasganj district of Uttar Pradesh, two days after violent communal clashes had disrupted people's lives. 31 people were arrested and 81 were detained in preventive custody, after three shops, two private buses and a car were torched in the communal clash that followed after a 22-year-old was killed in a rally marked in honor of Republic Day. UP Governor Ram Naik has condemned the clashes, calling it a ‘black mark’ on the entire state. Taking to Twitter, CM Yogi Adityanath has appealed for ‘peace and harmony’ and directed the administration to take severe actions against miscreants.
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Economic Survey sees GDP growth at 7-7.5% next year vs 6.75% this year
The Economic Survey which was tabled in the Parliament on Monday projected India’s GDP growth at 7-7.5% for the next year as compared to 6.5% this year. The economic survey is the financial report of the country’s financial health. It stated that a series of major reforms undertaken over the past year will allow GDP growth to rise to 7.5%, thereby reinstating India as the world’s fastest-growing major economy. The report also states that agriculture, education, and employment will be areas of focus in the medium term. The data highlighted another seemingly known fact that Indian society exhibits a strong desire for a male child. It pointed out that most parents continued to have children until they get a son.
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5 killed in Kabul military academy attack
Five Afghan soldiers were killed and ten were injured in an attack that was carried out on Marshall Fahim Military Academy in Kabul, on Monday. A suicide bomber blew himself up near the guarding unit of the facility, after which gun firing was exchanged between the militants and the soldiers, the Afghan Defense Ministry said. The attack came just two days after a Taliban instigated attack killed 100 civilians outside Kabul Interior Ministry.
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60th Grammy Awards: Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar emerge as the biggest winners
The 60th Grammy awards, held to honor the best in the International music industry was held on Monday at Madison Square Garden, New York. American artist Bruno Mars emerged as the biggest winner of the night, claiming 7 awards for his album, ‘24K Magic’. American rapper Kendrick Lamar followed close with four awards and so did British singer Ed Sheeran who was awarded for his popular single ‘Shape of You.’ Meanwhile, the celebrities flaunted white rose on their outfits, as an expression for gender equality in the music industry.
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AIADMK expels 117 for not following party principles
Tamil Nadu’s ruling party AIADMK expelled 117 of its members on Monday, on grounds of bringing ‘disgrace’ to the party. All of the sacked members belong to the Sivaganga district and its sub-units, including two former MLAs. Announcing the expulsion, CM E Palaniswami with predecessor O Panneerselvam issued statements, asking current party members not to have any contact with those sacked. This is the third time the party has taken such a step, after sacking key aides of RK Nagar MLA Dhinakaran and on Saturday when 144 office-bearers from the Tuticorin district were banned.
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