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Serena Williams, seeded 16th, knocked World No.1 Simona Halep out of the Australian Open in the women’s singles after winning the Round of 16 match 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in Melbourne.

Serena Williams has looked in ominous form, as she seeks one more Grand Slam title to put her alongside Margaret Court’s record of 24. The 37-year-old 23-time Grand Slam winner will play seventh seed Karolina Pliskova, who defeated two-time major winner Garbine Muguruza in straight sets earlier today for a place in semifinals.

With top seed Simona Halep, defending champion Caroline Wozniacki and second seed Angelique Kerber out of the tournament already, Serena looks well on course to win her eighth Australian Open crown.

The Men’s Singles match in Round of 16 between world number one Novak Djokovic and Russian Daniil Medvedev is now underway.

Meanwhile, World number four Alexander Zverev was defeated by Milos Raonic in the fourth round. The German lost 6-1 6-1 7-6. The 16th seed will face Croatia’s Borna Coric or Frenchman Lucas Pouille in the quarter-final.

US Open champion Japan’s Naomi Osaka and Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina have set up their quarter-final clash, winning their respective fourth round matches.

World’s number three and defending champion Roger Federer was stunned by Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas. Second seed Angelique Kerber and five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova also made a shock exit.

Chief Justice of India(CJI) Ranjan Gogoi recused himself from hearing a plea challenging appointment of M Nageswara Rao as the interim CBI director. The Chief Justice said he would be part of the selection committee meeting to choose the new CBI director.

The high-powered selection committee comprises the Prime minister, the leader of the largest opposition party and the CJI or his nominee judge of the apex court.

A bench comprising CJI and Justice Sanjiv Khanna was hearing a PIL filed by NGO Common Cause challenging the appointment of M Nageswara Rao as the interim CBI director.

In Jammu & Kashmir, two terrorists were killed in a counter-terrorist operation in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

The encounter is still underway between security forces and a third terrorist.

The operation is being carried out by a team comprising Rashtriya Rifles, Budgam police and CRPF officials.

The area has been placed under cordon.

One more terrorist is believed to be trapped inside the besieged area.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai. He also visited the National Museum.

The National Museum of Indian Cinema has been set up to showcase the rich cinematic history of India as well as to encapsulate socio-cultural history of India as revealed through evolution of Cinema.

It will take the visitors through an absorbing journey of more than a century of Indian Cinema in a story telling mode with the help of visuals and graphics, film clippings, artifacts, publicity materials, interactive exhibits and many more.

Located at Films Division Complex in South Mumbai, it is spread over two buildings, in the historic Gulshan Mahal and New Museum Building.

Addressing the function, Prime MInister said film is a mirror of social reality. Prime minister also said that our films represent our country at global level.

Prime Minister also said that films can a major role in boosting tourism in the country.

Prime Minister also said that apart from doing ease of doing business, government is also committed to easing of filming. Prime Minister said that, the industry will be getting single window clearance for shooting of films.

Prime MInister also said that piracy is major problem. He added that government is working to amend cinematography act to bring stringent punishment against the violators.

Prime minister asked the films fraternity to hold Davos-like summit, to bring all industries at one platform in India. Prime Minister said that government is working on to build a museum to highlight the role of tribals in freedom struggle.
1. PM inaugurates National Museum of Indian Cinema capturing historical glory of Indian cinema Lesson in History for students of cinema

2. PM inaugurates National Museum of Indian Cinema organise global cinema summit like Davos Summit to bring all industries at one platform

3. PM inaugurates National Museum of Indian Cinema museum to highlight role of tribals to come up

4. PM inaugurates National Museum of Indian Cinema govt to make filming easy in the country single window permission for shooting

5. PM inaugurates National Museum of Indian Cinema Govt to amend cinematography act to prevent piracy

PM launches developmental projects in Gujarat and Dadar & Nagar Haveli

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said no middlemen were allowed into the corridors of South Block since 2014 in defence purchases done either by former defence minister Manohar Parrikar and Arun Jaitley.

Uttar Pradesh government has approved 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions for economically backward in the general category.

Cabinet minister and UP government spokesperson Shrikant Sharma said that the nod was given at a meeting of the state cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on Friday.

The Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019, providing for 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to the economically weaker sections in the general category was passed by Parliament in its recently concluded winter session.

President Ram Nath Kovind has since given his assent to the bill.

Divisional Administration Kashmir periodically has issued avalanche warnings for Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara and other areas.

Many parts of the country are experiencing severe cold while some areas of Jammu and Kashmir are witnessing snowfall.

Srinagar and other parts of valley are experiencing very light to moderate snowfall since Friday evening.

MetT department has predicted heavy snowfall and rain in most parts of Kashmir valley and elsewhere in the state. The residents in the areas have been advised not to venture out in vulnerable zones to avoid any untoward incident.

The Mughal Road and Srinagar Sonamarg Gumri Road are continuously closed due to snow accumulation. The travellers have been advised to confirm status of highway from traffic control units before proceeding for journey.

In Himachal Pradesh, fresh spell of snowfall in upper reaches resulted in a cold wave condition. According to weathermen, heavy rain and snowfall is likely to occur at isolated places in the state on Saturday due to a western disturbance.

Meanwhile, tourist destination,  Manali in Kullu district continued to reel under sub-zero temperatures with a low of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius. Lahaul and Spiti’s administrative centre Keylong continued to be the coldest place in the state at minus 7 degrees Celsius.

In Delhi, people experienced a chilly day with the minimum temperature settling at 4.5 degrees Celsius and maximum 21.5, two notches below the average in the season. Moderate fog also hit some parts of the national capital.

Cold wave conditions also prevailed at few places over Haryana and Punjab and at isolated places over east Madhya Pradesh. Night temperature were below normal in some parts of Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, east Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Telangana and south interior Karnataka.

Rain or thundershowers have occurred at few places in Andaman and Nicobar islands. Mainly dry weather prevailed in Lakshadweep

The government has decided to induct women for the first time in Personnel Below Officer Rank, PBOR, role in Corps of Military Police.

In a tweet on Friday, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, the women will be inducted in graded manner to eventually comprise 20 per cent of total Corps of Military Police.

She said, the decision to induct women in the military police will enhance their representation in the armed forces. Their role would range from probing rape and molestation cases to assisting the Army wherever required.

Currently, women are allowed in select areas such as medical, legal, educational, signals and engineering wings of the Army.

The role of the military police includes policing cantonments and army establishments, preventing a breach of rules and regulations by soldiers, maintaining movement of soldiers as well as logistics during peace and war, handling prisoners of war and extending aid to civil police whenever required.

In Hazira, PM Modi dedicated to the nation L&T Armoured Systems Complex on Saturday.

Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Nirali Cancer hospital at Navsari. The ultra-modern Nirali Cancer Hospital will be the first comprehensive cancer hospital of Navsari. It will benefit cancer patients of South Gujarat and neighbouring states.

The setting up of Medical College will improve tertiary care facilities in both Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and adjoining areas. PM Modi also unveiled a plaque to inaugurate various development projects in Daman and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Prime Minister  also launched the m-Arogya app and door to door waste collection, segregation and processing of Solid Waste in Dadra and Nagar Haveli digitally.

In Silvassa, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Medical College in Sayli.

In Mumbai, he will inaugurate the new building for National Museum of Indian Cinema and address the gathering.

The Museum has been set up to showcase the rich cinematic history of India as well as to encapsulate the socio-cultural history of India as revealed through evolution of Cinema. It will take the visitors through an absorbing journey of more than a century of Indian Cinema in a story telling mode with the help of visuals and graphics, film clippings,  publicity materials and interactive exhibits.

Saina Nehwal crashed out of the Malaysia Masters 2019 after losing 16-21, 13-21 to Carolina Marin of Spain in the semifinal match at the Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

The Indian shuttler was dominated by the three-time world champion Carolina Marin throughout the 40-minute contest in Malaysia.

In the women’s singles final, Marin will take on either Thai badminton player Ratchanok Intanon or Goh Jin Wei of Malaysia.

Saina Nehwal enters quarters of Malaysia Masters