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11:26 AM

Opposition leaders meet in Kharge's chamber, discuss joint strategy for Winter Session

11:15 AM

Now, Pentagon reacts to the recent India-China faceoff in Tawang sector

 The Pentagon says it’s closely monitoring the developments on the Sino-India border and notes that China “continues to amass forces and build military infrastructure” along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). It says it fully supports India's ongoing efforts to de-escalate this situation.

Pentagon press secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder in an on-camera press briefing said China is growingly asserting itself and being proactive in areas directed toward US allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.

"We have seen the PRC continue to amass forces and build military infrastructure along the so-called LAC. But I would defer you to India in terms of their views," the Pentagon spokesperson said.

"We will continue to remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the security of our partners. And we fully support India's ongoing efforts to de-escalate this situation,” Big Gen Ryder said.

11:05 AM

Andrew Flintoff airlifted to hospital after car crash during Top Gear filming

Former England captain Andrew Flintoff has been airlifted to a hospital after suffering injuries in a car crash in Surrey, UK, while filming an episode for the popular BBC TV show Top Gear.

The 45-year-old was filming in icy conditions at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey on Tuesday when the accident happened. "Freddie (Flintoff) was injured in an accident at the Top Gear test track this morning - with crew medics attending the scene immediately," the BBC said in a statement.

He has been admitted to a hospital. According to The Sun, Flintoff's injuries are not "life-threatening" and he was "driving on the track as normal" before the accident happened.

Flintoff joined Top Gear as a host in 2019 and co-stars in the show with Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris.

10:54 AM

Boundary dispute: All eyes on Amit Shah's meet with Maharashtra, Karnataka CMs

All eyes are set on the scheduled meeting of Union Home Minister Amit Shah with the chief ministers of Karnataka and Maharashtra on Wednesday in connection with the boundary dispute between the states.
 

This is the first time the Centre is intervening in the matter, which is also likely to be heard by the Supreme Court soon to decide its maintanability.
 

Home Minister Shah's initiative came after a delegation of MPs from Maharashtra sought his intervention. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will leave for the national capital this afternoon from the Hubballi airport. And the meeting has been scheduled for 7 pm, reports IANS.

The issue is an emotive one for the both the states and hence security has been increased in the vulenerable areas, including Belagavi district in Karnataka.

Karnataka is also set to go for assembly polls in about four months from now and this dispute is already taking political colour. The Karnataka Congress has attacked BJP for raising the boundary dispute only to hijack the people's emotion ahead of the state election.

10:43 AM

Here’s what Elon Musk losing the world’s wealthiest title means:

-- The tech billionaire has lost the title to France’s Bernard Arnault, the chairman and CEO of luxury goods maker LVMH, the parent company of Louis Vuitton.

-- According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Musk, 51, is now worth $168.5 billion (as of Tuesday), less than the $172.9 billion net worth of Arnault, 73.

-- It’s the first time the Tesla and SpaceX boss has slipped from the top since he overtook Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as the richest person in September 2021.

-- Musk’s wealth is largely tied to the price of the Tesla stock, which has lost more than half its value since January. This downfall quickened after Musk purchased Twitter in a $44 billion deal.

-- The chaotic acquisition of Twitter has also eroded Musk’s popularity in some sections. He has fired top executives and many other employees. There have been an exodus of advertisers away from the micro-blogging site amid concerns about a surge of misinformation and hate speech.
 
 
 
 

10:23 AM

Elon Musk no longer world's richest man after losing $100 bn in net worth

Elon Musk, who saw his net worth tumble by more than $100 billion in 2022, has been replaced by Bernard Arnault, the chief executive of luxury brand Louis Vuitton's parent company LVMH, as the world's richest man.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Musk, 51, is now worth $168.5 billion (as of Tuesday), less than the $172.9 billion net worth of Arnault, 73.

Last week, Arnault and his family for the first time logged personal wealth of $185.4 billion, ahead of Musk which recorded a net worth of $185.3 billion, before jumping again to $190 billion.

The Tesla CEO's wealth eroded further after he bought Twitter for a whopping $44 billion.

 

9:37 AM

China stops publishing asymptomatic Covid cases after ending mass testing

China's National Health Commission will as of Wednesday stop reporting new asymptomatic Covid-19 infections, as many people without symptoms no longer participate in testing, making it hard to accurately tally the total count, it said.
 

The health authority reported 2,291 new symptomatic Covid-19 infections on Dec. 13.
 

China recorded 7,679 new cases a day earlier -- 2,315 symptomatic and 5,364 asymptomatic infections, which China counts separately.
 

Excluding imported infections, China reported 2,249 new symptomatic local cases. There were a total of 7,451 local cases including asymptomatic infections a day earlier. There were no new deaths, the same as the previous day, keeping fatalities at 5,235.

 

As of Dec. 13, mainland China had confirmed 369,918 cases with symptoms.

9:25 AM

Glad both sides disengaged quickly, says White House on India-China clash in Tawang

The White House has said the Biden administration is glad that both India and China disengaged quickly after clashing in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang sector.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the US is closely monitoring the situation and encourages both sides to utilise existing bilateral channels to discuss disputed boundaries.

"We are glad both sides have quickly disengaged from clashes. We're closely monitoring the situation and encourage India and China to utilise existing bilateral channels to discuss disputed boundaries," Jean-Pierre told reporters during a press briefing.

A faceoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 led to minor injuries to personnel on both sides. The Indian troops deployed in the area gave a befitting response to the Chinese troops, the government has said.

 

9:13 AM

Jaishankar holds 'good discussion' with Japan's foreign minister Yamada Kenji

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a discussion with Japan's state minister of foreign affairs Yamada Kenji in New York and said both countries as G4 members work together to advance reformed multilateralism.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Jaishankar on Tuesday wrote: "Good discussion with state minister of foreign affairs of Japan, Yamada Kenji. As G4 members, India and Japan work together to advance reformed multilateralism. Spoke about the need to take forward IGN process more effectively."

Intergovernmental Negotiations or IGN on UN Security Council reform is a group of nation-states working within the UN to further reform of the UNSC.

Jaishankar who arrived in New York for a two-day visit also held a meeting with the 77th United Nations General Assembly president Csaba Korosi.

"Glad to meet @UN_PGA Csaba Korosi in New York. Discussed our UNSC experience, our G20 presidency goals and importance of reformed multilateralism," Jaishankar tweeted.

 

9:02 AM

Delhi's air quality improves to 'moderate' category, AQI at 133

Delhi's air quality improves to the 'moderate' category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 133 this morning. 

 

9:02 AM

Security increased of 12 Delhi Police officials who solved Moose Wala murder case

Security of 12 officials of Delhi Police's Special Cell who were involved in solving the Sidhu Moose Wala murder case increased. Y category security has been approved for Special CP HGS Dhaliwal, DCP Special Cell Manishi Chandra, DCP Rajeev Ranjan,: says Delhi Police

9:01 AM

Congress MP Manish Tewari gives adjournment motion notice in LS to discuss Tawang faceoff

Congress MP Manish Tewari gives adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the situation at the border with China in Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh.

8:38 AM

Ex-RBI guv Raghuram Rajan joins Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra

8:09 AM

Unmanned check-in counters causing congestion at airports: Govt

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said check-in counters left unmanned by airlines were leading to congestion at major airports in the country. “Airlines are therefore advised to deploy sufficient manpower at all check-in/baggage drop counters well in advance to ensure decongestion and smooth flow of passengers at airports,” the MoCA’s said in the letter. A surge in air travel – airports have seen over 400,000 domestic flyers a day for 10 consecutive days – has strained the infrastructure at the country’s busiest airports such as Delhi and Mumbai and forced the MoCA to order a reduction and shifting of peak-hour flights.

7:29 AM

Infra to sustainable finance, global headwinds take centre stage at G20

The global commodity price and supply-chain shock due to the war in Europe, the macroeconomic outlook for 2023, and the financing of sustainable infrastructure were some of the main points discussed on Day 1 of the meeting of the Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) of the Group of Twenty (G20) in Bengaluru. This is the first meeting of the Finance Track of G20 under India’s Presidentship and is expected to set the agenda for the meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, scheduled to be held in Bengaluru as well, in February.