LIVE: Amit Shah to visit 11 states in Jan for BJP Lok Sabha Prawas exercise

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Russia-Ukraine conflict: India is on the side of peace, says Jaishankar

Emphasizing that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is a matter of "deep concern," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday (Local Time) that India is on the side of peace and therefore has been urging both the countries to return to dialogue and diplomacy.

Voicing concern on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar in an interaction with the Indian diaspora said, "For us, this conflict is really a matter of very very deep concern. It is a deep concern because as PM Modi declared in September we actually believe that this is no longer an era of war where you cannot settle differences and issues through violence and conflict."

Brazil's Lula sworn in as prez, vows accountability from outgoing Bolsonaro

Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as president on Sunday, and in his first address expressed optimism about plans to rebuild while pledging that members of outgoing Jair Bolsonaro's administration will be held to account.

Lula is assuming office for the third time after thwarting far-right incumbent Bolsonaro's reelection bid. His return to power marks the culmination of a political comeback that is thrilling supporters and enraging opponents in a fiercely polarized nation.

Our message to Brazil is one of hope and reconstruction, Lula said in a speech in Congress' Lower House after signing the document that formally instates him as president. The great edifice of rights, sovereignty and development that this nation built has been systematically demolished in recent years. To re-erect this edifice, we are going to direct all our efforts.

Death toll reaches four after firing at J&K's Rajouri by armed men: Police

The death toll in the firing incident in Rajouri's Dangri area increased to four, said Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday.

An incident of firing was reported in the Dangri area of Rajouri on Sunday in which three people were killed and seven injured, police reported earlier. The firing was done by two armed men at three houses separated at a distance of around 50 metres from each other at upper Dangri village.

"Another person succumbs to injuries. The death toll stands at four. Two armed men are allegedly involved in this firing," said Mukesh Singh, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu zone.

Global economy faces tougher year in 2023: IMF's Kristalina Georgieva

For much of the global economy, 2023 is going to be a tough year as the main engines of global growth - the United States, Europe and China - all experience weakening activity, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Sunday.

The new year is going to be "tougher than the year we leave behind," IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on the CBS Sunday morning news program "Face the Nation."

"Why? Because the three big economies - the U.S., EU and China - are all slowing down simultaneously," she said.

 

5:58 PM

'Bomb' found near Punjab chief minister's house in Chandigarh; bomb squad at spot

5:53 PM

Mamata launches party outreach programme, lashes out at opponents

West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee lashes out at opponents state BJP and CPI(M)-led Left Front, claiming the 'Ram-Baam' (BJP-Left) had allied covertly.

Launching her party's new outreach programme titled 'Didir Suraksha Kavach' (Didi's Protective Shield), Banerjee said, "Even if one weed attacks our paddy, the whole crop could be ruined, while cautioning her workers to root out corruption ahead of Panchayat polls to be held in the next few months.

Around 3.5 lakh Trinamool Congress workers will reach out to the around 10 crore people of the state to check if they are benefitted from government projects, she said.

 

5:30 PM

Shah to visit 11 states this month as part of BJP's 'Lok Sabha Prawas' exercise

Senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah will travel to as many as 11 states this month as part of his party's "Lok Sabha Prawas" programme, which is aimed at boosting its prospects in targeted parliamentary constituencies ahead of the general election in 2024.

Party sources said Shah will be in Tripura on January 5 and Manipur and Nagaland on January 6. He will be travelling to Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand on January 7 and Andhra Pradesh on January 8.

He will be in Uttar Pradesh on January 16, in West Bengal on January 17 and at Hubli in Karnataka on January 28. The home minister will be in the northern states of Haryana and Punjab on January 29, party sources said.

4:59 PM

Sharjah-bound Air Arabiya flight grounded after bird-hit in Coimbatore

The take-off of a Sharjah-bound Air Arabia flight from the international airport in Coimbatore was aborted after the aircraft was hit by two eagles on Monday, airport sources said.

The flight carrying 164 passengers was starting on the runway for take-off at 7 AM, when the eagles hit the engine on the left side, resulting in stoppage of the flight, airport sources said.

After all the passengers were disembarked, technicians checked the damage caused by the birds, one of which died after hitting the blade, the sources added.

 

4:40 PM

Nepal's new PM 'Prachanda' to take vote of confidence on January 10

Nepal's newly-appointed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has decided to take the vote of confidence in the Parliament on January 10, an official said on Monday.

The 68-year-old CPN-Maoist Centre leader was sworn in as the Prime Minister for the third time on December 26 after he dramatically walked out of the pre-poll alliance led by the Nepali Congress and joined hands with opposition leader K P Sharma Oli.

"The prime minister has sent a letter to include the subject of vote of confidence on the agenda of the Parliament on the 10th of January," said Rojnath Pandey, the spokesperson of the parliament secretariat.

 

4:34 PM

Uddhav Thackeray 'backstabbed' BJP, but got befitting reply: Nadda

Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda on Monday alleged that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray "backstabbed" the BJP and compromised with his ideology for the sake of power, but got a befitting reply as a new government is now in place in Maharashtra.

Nadda was addressing a 'Vijay Sankalp' rally in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district. The rally is part of the BJP's plan to win 18 "difficult" seats from Maharashtra in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, according to a party leader.

Thackeray's party had snapped ties with long-term ally BJP after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls. Thackeray later tied-up with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

 

4:21 PM

Delhi woman's death in new year road accident: Court remands 5 in police custody

A Delhi court remands five accused arrested for causing the death of a woman in a road accident on the New Year Day in police custody for three days.

The 20-year-old woman had died after her scooty was hit by a car and she was dragged for around four kilometres in outer Delhi's Sultanpuri on Sunday, police said.

A detailed order is awaited.

4:07 PM

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait says he won't join Rahul-led Bharat Jodo Yatra

Bhartiya Kisan Union national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait Monday said he will not participate in the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra which is slated to enter Uttar Pradesh on January 3. He said BKU workers are "free to participate" in the Rahul Gandhi-let march but office-bearers above the rank of district presidents will not take part in it.

The yatra is currently on a winter break and will resume on January 3. The foot march began in Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7. It will enter Uttar Pradesh via Ghaziabad on January 3 and will pass through Shamli on January 4 and enter Haryana through Sanauli in Panipat on the evening of January 5.

 

3:57 PM

Govt proposes self regulatory mechanism, due diligence for online gaming cos

The government has proposed a self-regulatory mechanism, mandatory verification of players and physical Indian address for online gaming companies, according to the draft online gaming rules published Monday.

Online gaming companies will be covered under the new IT rules that were issued in 2021 for social media platforms.

The online gaming platforms are expected to comply with the laws of the land, including any such law that relates to gambling or betting or the age at which an individual is competent to enter into a contract.

"The draft amendments are aimed at addressing the said need while enabling the growth of the online gaming industry in a responsible manner," the notice said.

 

3:34 PM

Raut says Uddhav-led group is 'real Shiv Sena'; rejects Kesarkar's suggestion for introspection

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut asserts that the group led by Uddhav Thackeray is the "real Shiv Sena", rejecting a suggestion by a leader of the Eknath Shinde-headed camp for an introspection by Thackeray for the unification of the two rival factions.

The Rajya Sabha member tells reporters there is no need for an introspection and such a suggestion shows the frustration of the rival group.

Shinde led a revolt against the Sena leadership in June last year following which the party split and the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government collapsed. Shinde later became the chief minister with the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) support.

 

3:24 PM

Mahadayi dispute: Goa delegation to meet PM to oppose approval to DPRs for Karnataka dams

Goa CM Pramod Sawant says he will soon lead an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and oppose the Centre's approval to Karnataka for detailed project reports (DPRs) of two dams on Mahadayi river.

Goa and Karnataka have been engaged in a dispute for several years over the distribution of the Mahadayi water.

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai has announced the Centre has given clearance for DPRs of two dams on Mahadayi river.

"The Goa government will not compromise on Mahadayi river issue. The construction of dams at Kalsa and Bhandura will affect drinking water requirement of the people living in North Goa district," Sawant said.

 

2:50 PM

80% of Delhi's bus fleet will run on electric by 2025: CM Kejriwal

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal makes a promise. He says 80 % of Delhi's bus fleet will run on electric by 2025 and this, he adds, will go a long way in reducing pollution in the national capital.

Sharing a roadmap for procurement of electric buses, Kejriwal says the government will buy 1,500 of these buses in 2023 and another 6,380 buses by 2025.

"We have 300 electric buses now. Delhi has 7,379 buses plying on its roads currently which is the highest number of buses plying on the roads in the last 75 years. New buses were not purchased for many years and we were also questioned over it," he said at a ceremony at the Rajghat depot to flag off 50 electric buses."

 

2:40 PM

Historic judgment in national interest, will Rahul say sorry: BJP after SC's demonetisation verdict

BJP on Monday hailed the Supreme Court judgment upholding the government's demonetisation exercise as "historic" and slammed the Congress for its campaign against the decision, asking whether its leader Rahul Gandhi will apologise now.

Rahul Gandhi has often raised questions on the wisdom behind the decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on November 8, 2016. On Monday, the Supreme Court in a 4:1 majority verdict upheld the government's decision, saying the decision-making process was not flawed.

"It's a historic decision and is in national interest. The Supreme Court has held a decision taken in national interest valid. Will Rahul Gandhi now say sorry for his campaign against demonetisation. He spoke against it even abroad," former law minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference.

2:21 PM

Firefighting still underway at Nashik chemical unit even after 24 hours

More than 24 hours later, efforts were still on to douse the fire at a chemical factory in Maharashtra's Nashik district.

Nearly 10 fire tenders were still at the site, an official said, adding that it will take some more time to completely put it out.

The blaze at Jindal Poly Films Pvt Ltd at Mundhegaon situated alongside Nashik-Mumbai national highway in Igatpuri taluka at 11:30 am on Sunday was triggered after a blast in a boiler at the factory. Two persons were killed and 17 others injured in the accident.

1:42 PM

China's approach to India same as Russia's to Ukraine: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says China is adopting the same principle with India as Russia is with Ukraine. He also claims that the Sino-Indian border conflict has a link with a weak economy, a confused nation without any vision, hatred and anger.

"Essentially, what the Russians have done in Ukraine is that they have said we do not want Ukraine to have a strong relationship with the West and they have basically told the Ukrainians that if you will have a strong relationship with the West, we will alter your geography.

"That is the exact same principle that can be applied to India. What the Chinese are saying to us is that be careful with what you are doing, because we will alter your geography. We will enter Ladakh, we will enter Arunachal (Pradesh), and what I can see is them building a platform for that type of an approach," Gandhi said in a conversation with film actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan.