News updates: PM Modi to visit Ukraine on Aug 23 to hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

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Days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kyiv, India on Monday said it is willing to contribute in finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine. Modi will visit the Ukrainian capital on August 23 to hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. India has always been advocating diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said at a media briefing. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine will form a part of discussions, he said. India has independent ties with both Russia and Ukraine, Lal said replying to a question. Modi will travel to Poland before visiting Ukraine.

PM Modi set to visit Poland on August 21-22, meet Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, according to MEA.

The Karnataka High Court has asked the trial court to take no immediate action against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah following Governor Thawaar Chand Gehlot's sanction to prosecute the Congress leader in the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (Muda) case.

Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi on Monday said that no talk was held yet with Champai Soren regarding his joining the saffron party."No talk was held yet with Champai Soren. He is a seasoned politician and has been part of the separate Jharkhand movement. He will himself decide his own path," Marandi said. Mentioning Champai's post, he said, "It indicates that he was deeply hurt. He felt humiliated the way he was removed from the CM's post." 

 A second-year BCom student has been held by Kolkata Police for a  social media post that incited violence against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The student is accused of encouraging others to assassinate the chief minister in a manner reminiscent of the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed the police departments across all states and union territories to give provide it law and order situation reports every two hours in the wake of protests by doctors and others against the  rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will move the High Court today against the governor’s decision to grant permission to prosecute him over alleged irregularities in the MUDA case. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has said that the Congress will stage protest across state on Monday against the governor's grant of prosecution against chief minister Siddaramaiah in the alleged Muda scam. "On Monday (tomorrow) a state-wide protest will be organised against the Governor's move to allow prosecution against the Chief Ministers, leaders and workers in all district centers will register a protest to the President," D K Shivkumar said. "There has been a carnage of democracy by the governor, we have told the leaders to protest peacefully against this. Miscreants may sneak in and create riots and start throwing stones, so be careful about this too. Ours is a peaceful protest on the Gandhi ideology. We briefed AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, "We briefed him about the current developments and the situation in the state," Shivakumar said.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and lauded him for his role in upholding the principles of the Constitution in "very adversarial circumstances". Sarma called upon Bose in Guwahati on Sunday.

"In my courtesy meeting with the Hon'ble Governor of West Bengal Dr C V Ananda Bose Ji in Guwahati, I conveyed our immense appreciation for his sagacity in defending the Constitution even in very adversarial circumstances," Sarma posted on X, sharing a clip of the meeting.

The concept of lateral entry was first introduced under the Congress-led UPA regime and strongly endorsed by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission established by it in 2005, government sources said on Sunday. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Saturday issued a notification for recruiting 45 joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries through lateral entry -- referred to as the appointment of specialists (including those from the private sector) in government departments.