Highlights: Working rapidly for Odisha's development, budget increased by 30% this yr, says PM Modi

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We are working rapidly in every sector for Odisha's development, budget increased by 30 per cent this year: PM Modi at Odisha Parba  An all-party meeting has been convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. BJP president J P Nadda, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Gaurav Gogoi besides T Siva, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Anupriya Patel are attending the meet. The Winter Session of Parliament, beginning Monday, is scheduled to last till December 20. The government has listed 16 bills, including the Waqf Amendment Bill, for consideration in the session.

 

Several opposition leaders have said they will raise the issue of the indictment of Adani in Parliament with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi calling for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the allegations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the 116th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann ki Baat' today at 11 am on Akashvani. After the historic victory in Maharashtra Assembly elections, PM Modi might speak on the issues concerning the nation including the rising levels of pollution in the National Capital Region. In his last address, PM Modi had shared insights on 'digital arrest' asking the public to be cautious of such frauds.   Earlier, India had rejected the new climate finance package of just $300 billion annually by 2035 for the Global South at the UN climate conference. The $ 300 billion figure is a far cry from the $1.3 trillion the Global South has been demanding over the past three years of talks to tackle climate change. Making a statement on behalf of India, Chandni Raina, Adviser, Department of Economic Affairs, said they were not allowed to speak before the adoption of the deal, undermining their trust in the process. "In continuation of several such incidents of not following inclusivity, not respecting country positions," she said. "The goal is too little, too distant," Raina said, asserting that it is set for 2035, which is too far away. "Estimates tell us that we need at least $1.3 trillion per year by 2030," she added.  Meanwhile, Delhi-NCR continues to 'choke' as the air quality remained in the 'severe' category this morning. The AQI was recorded at 412 as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) bulletin at 4 pm. Delhi stood as the worst polluted city in the country. A thick layer of smog engulfed the Akshardham Temple and surrounding areas as the air quality deteriorated. AQI in Anand Vihar is at 473. 

11:30 PM

India views Italy as key partner, crucial ally in Europe, and influential player in Mediterranean: Jaishankar

India views Italy as a key partner, a crucial ally in Europe, and a very influential player in the Mediterranean, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said here on Sunday as he inaugurated the new Chancery of the Embassy of India in Rome.

 

Jaishankar, who arrived here earlier in the day on a three-day visit, also said that the frequent interactions at various levels between the two countries are a sign of the depth and breadth of their bilateral ties.

 

"Pleased to inaugurate the new Chancery of the Embassy of India in Rome today. It befits the continued expansion of India-Italy partnership in recent years. Will also help us serve better the Indian community in Italy," he said in a post on X.

10:42 PM

Moscow offers debt forgiveness to new recruits who enlist to fight in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting debt forgiveness to new army recruits who enlist to fight in Ukraine.
 

The measure, whose final version appeared on a government website on Saturday, underscores Russia's needs for military personnel in the nearly 3-year war, even as it fired last week a new intermediate-range ballistic missile.

According to Russian state news agency Interfax, the new legislation allows those signing up for a one-year contract to write off bad debts of up to 10 million rubles (USD 96,000).

8:56 PM

UP bypolls: Akhilesh, Mayawati allege rigging, BJP leaders counter claims

A day after by-election results for nine Uttar Pradesh Assembly constituencies were declared, political accusations flared on Sunday as opposition leaders from the BSP and SP alleged electoral malpractice, a charge vehemently denied by the ruling BJP.

The BJP and its ally RLD secured seven of the nine seats and the SP grabbed the other two. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) failed to make any mark.

Both BSP chief Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav have now raised concerns over the integrity of the electoral process, accusing the ruling party of irregularities.

8:27 PM

Mahayuti sweep: Did not endorse anybody so how can my factor fail, asks Jarange

 Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday refuted talk of his stir not being a factor in the Maharashtra assembly polls, which were swept by the Mahayuti comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP.
 

The Mahayuti won 40 out of 46 seats in the Marathwada region, including all five in Jalna, the epicentre of Jarange's stir for quota for the Maratha community in jobs and education. Poll observers attributed the success to schemes like ‘Ladki Bahin' and a robust campaign.

The ruling alliance's poor show in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year was largely credited to Jarange's opposition, especially his strident remarks against Deputy Chief Minister and BJP stalwart Devendra Fadnavis.

7:57 PM

Need to reintroduce country's forgotten pride : RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said India's forgotten pride should be reintroduced.
 

Speaking at Lokmanthan-2024, a colloquium of "nationalist thinkers" here, Bhagwat talking about the importance of science having the consent of country's philosophical knowledge, cited the example of scientists stressing on ethics in the use of Artificial intelligence.

India's value system emphasizes on the individual's wisdom, he said. There is logic, wisdom in India's approach to issues and the country need not follow other approaches to problems.

India can take good things from foreign countries but it should have its own soul and structures.

"We will have to think on giving a contemporary form of our eternal dharma and culture," he said.

"What we have to do is, we have to introduce the forgotten pride of India again," Bhagwat said.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, citing examples from scriptures, said there was no discrimination against 'Vanvasis' (forest dwellers).

Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy were among those who also spoke. 

7:06 PM

Rs 45k cr investment approved within 100 days of new govt formation in Odisha: PM Modi

Committed to promoting ease of doing business in Odisha; Rs 45,000 crore investment approved within 100 days of new govt formation: PM Modi

6:39 PM

Kejriwal highlights achievements, promises completion of pending projects ahead of Delhi

 AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday emphasised his government's developmental achievements and pledged to complete unfinished projects if re-elected in the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls due early next year.
 

Addressing a gathering at a wrestling event in Karala village of Mundka, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader claimed, "The kind of work that has taken place in Delhi has not happened anywhere else in the country." Kejriwal announced that India's largest sports university, with an estimated cost of Rs 2,100 crore, will be constructed in Mundka.

5:41 PM

BJP, JD(S) leaders helped win Channapatna bypoll: Congress leader DK Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday hinted at cracks and squabbling within the BJP and the JD(S), as he gave credit to the leaders of these parties for the defeat of JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy in the Channapatna assembly bypoll.

Congress candidate C P Yogeeshwara won in Channapatna bypoll with a margin of 25,413 votes against his nearest rival and NDA candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, for which the results were announced on Saturday.
 

The Congress party swept all the three assembly constituencies in Karnataka, namely Channapatna, Sandur and Shiggaon, which went for bypolls.

Nikhil is the son of Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy and grandson of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. In September last year, JD(S) joined the NDA led by BJP.

"Many people from across the parties have helped us in this election (Channapatna). Congress had only 16,000 votes in the previous assembly election. It increased in the Lok Sabha election," Shivakumar told reporters here.

4:39 PM

Hemant Soren hands over letter of support of alliance partners to Guv Santosh Gangwar: Raj Bhavan sources

Hemant Soren hands over letter of support of alliance partners to Guv Santosh Gangwar: Raj Bhavan sources

4:23 PM

Delhi LG approves appointment of 232 GDMOs in govt hospitals

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved the appointment of 232 General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) across various city government hospitals, a Raj Niwas official said on Sunday.
 

These doctors, appointed as Group 'A' officers through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), will address longstanding vacancies in the healthcare system, a statement from Raj Niwas said.

The LG has approved the appointment of 232 General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs), who will be deployed to hospitals such as Lok Nayak, Raja Harish Chandra, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, as well as in offices of the Chief District Medical Officers.

"It is expected that these appointments will bring relief to the situation caused by inordinate delays over the past many years in the appointment of permanent doctors, with the AAP government focusing on appointments on a contractual basis in an ad-hoc manner," the statement said.

3:52 PM

Body of missing Israeli Rabbi in UAE is found, says Israeli officials

Security authorities in the United Arab Emirates have located the body of Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldavan rabbi who’d been missing since Thursday, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said, Bloomberg reported.
 

“The murder of the late Zvi Kogan is a criminal antisemitic terrorist event,” according to a statement from the office. “The State of Israel will act by all means and bring the criminals responsible for his death to justice.” 

Israel said it’s reinforcing its recommendation to avoid non-essential travel to the UAE. It also recommended avoiding businesses and gathering places identified with the Israeli and Jewish population, avoiding posting travel details on social media, and reducing movement.

3:39 PM

Bangladesh seeks to review major energy projects including one with India's Adani Group

 A review committee formed by Bangladesh's interim government on Sunday recommended engaging an investigation agency to examine power agreements signed by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's regime with different business groups, including one with India's Adani Group.
 

“The National Review Committee on Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has recommended the appointment of a reputed legal and investigation agency to review the major power production agreements signed during the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina from 2009 to 2024,” an official statement said.
 

The statement, issued by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's office, said the committee was currently reviewing seven major energy and power projects, including the Adani (Godda) BIFPCL 1234.4 MW coal-fired plant, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Power Limited.

2:50 PM

All-party meet: Govt appeals to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament

Amid demands from the opposition to discuss bribery charges against the Adani group, the government on Sunday said the business advisory committees of both Houses will decide on matters to be discussed in the Winter session and appealed to parties to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament.

2:37 PM

CRPF sets up three new forward bases in Chhattisgarh's hardcore Naxal areas

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has opened three new forward bases in the "hardcore" Maoist violence affected districts of Chhattisgarh's Bastar region to provide security forces with "strategic" hubs for launching intensified anti-Naxal operations. The forward operating bases (FOB) have come up in Tumpalpad and Rayagudem in Sukma district and Kondapalli in the adjoining Bijapur district. These bases have been made operational over the last week or so, officials said.

2:25 PM

Delhi Police issues traffic advisory for Samvidhan Divas Padyatra on Nov 25

Delhi Police issued an advisory in connection with Samvidhan Divas Padyatra on November 25 alerting commuters about traffic restrictions near India Gate. According to the advisory, information has been received that the department of Youth Affairs through its autonomous organization 'Mera Yuva Bharat' is conducting a nationwide Samvidhan Divas Padyatra to mark the 75th Year of adopting our constitution.