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3:15 AM

Trump, on tape, presses Georgia official to 'find' Trump votes

President Donald Trump badgered and pleaded with Georgia's election chief to overturn Joe Biden's win in the state, suggesting in a telephone call that the official "find" enough votes to hand Trump the victory.
 

The conversation on Saturday was the latest step in an unprecedented effort by a sitting president to pressure a state official to reverse the outcome of a free and fair election that he lost.
 

The renewed intervention and the persistent and unfounded claims of fraud by the first president to lose reelection in almost 30 years come nearly two weeks before Trump leaves office and two days before twin runoffs in Georgia that will determine control of the Senate.
 

Trump confirmed in a tweet on Sunday that he had spoken with Georgia's secretary of state, Republican Brad Raffensperger, a day earlier.
 

Audio snippets of the conversation were posted online by The Washington Post. A recording of the call was later obtained by The Associated Press from a person who was on the call.
 

The president, who has refused to accept his loss to the Democratic president-elect, is heard telling Raffensperger at one point: "All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state." Georgia certified election results showing that Biden won the state's November 3 election by 11,779 votes.
 

The White House referred questions to Trump's reelection campaign, which did not respond on Sunday to an emailed request for comment. Raffensperger's office did not respond to a text message seeking comment.
 

3:14 AM

Sourav under pressure to join politics; CPI(M) leader's comment triggers storm

Senior CPI(M) leader Ashok Bhattacharya's statement that BCCI president and former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, who suffered a heart attack and is now hospitalised, was under pressure to join politics created a storm on Sunday.
 

Speculations were rife that the former batting great will join the BJP ahead of the state assembly elections due in April-May this year. But Ganguly himself never made his intentions quite clear about taking the political plunge.
 

He underwent angioplasty after a "mild" heart attack on Saturday. He is under treatment in a private hospital in Kolkata.
 

"Some people wanted to use Ganguly politically. That probably exerted pressure on him. He is not a political element. He should be known as Sourav the sporting icon," Bhattacharya, the BCCI presidents longtime family friend, said.
 

"We should not create pressure on him (for joining politics). I had told Sourav last week he should not join politics and he did not oppose my views," Bhattacharya who visited Ganguly at the hospital said.
 

Reacting to the former minister's comments, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said, "Some people see politics in everything due to their sick mindset. Like millions of his fans, we only wish that Sourav recovers fully." Senior Trinamool Congress leader and state minister Sobhandeb Chatterjee, who also visited the former cricketer at the hospital, said that there had never been any effort to induct Sourav "into our party. We are proud to have him as the icon of sports."
 

3:12 AM

Pastor killed, suspect in custody in church shooting at East Texas

The pastor of an East Texas church was shot dead and one person injured on Sunday morning by a man who was hiding in the church after a pursuit, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said.
 

Smith County officials said one person was being treated for a gunshot injury at an area hospital. The suspect also sustained a gunshot wound to the hand.
 

Governor Greg Abbott confirmed in a statement that one person was killed in a shooting at the Starrville Methodist Church in Smith County this morning.
 

"Our hearts are with the victims and the families of those killed or injured in this terrible tragedy," Abbott said on Sunday.
 

"I am grateful for the law enforcement officers who apprehended the suspect, and I ask Texans to join Cecilia and me in praying for those affected by this horrific shooting. The State of Texas is working closely with first responders and local officials to ensure that justice is served and that the Starrville community has the resources it needs during this time," he said.
 

1:28 AM

OPEC sees oil outlook for first half of 2021 full of downside risks

OPEC sees plenty of downside risks for oil markets in the first half of 2021, its secretary general said on Sunday, a day before meeting allies led by Russia to discuss output levels for February.
 

"Amid the hopeful signs, the outlook for the first half of 2021 is very mixed and there are still many downside risks to juggle," said OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo.
 

He was speaking at a meeting of experts of OPEC and allies, a group known as OPEC+, according to remarks published by OPEC.
 

OPEC+ will meet on Monday.
 

In December, OPEC+ decided to increase production by 0.5 million bpd from January as part of the 2 million bpd gradual rise this year but some members have questioned the need for a further boost due to spreading coronavirus infections.
 

"Given fundamentals are weakening, it would be prudent for OPEC+ to hold output steady and there is a preference among some of the biggest producers to hold production flat," said Amrita Sen, co-founder of Energy Aspects think-tank.

1:25 AM

Alternative policies needed to foil BJP,TMC efforts to turn Bengal polls bipolar event: Yechury

Accusing the BJP and the TMC of trying to turn the upcoming West Bengal polls into a bipolar event between them, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said on Sunday that alternate policies should be adopted by those opposed to the two political forces in the state in order to defeat them in the hustings.
 

The CPI(M) and the Congress, which have agreed to an alliance, are in the process of a seat sharing arrangement for the West Bengal assembly elections due in April-May.
 

"It will be the fullest effort of both the BJP and the TMC to turn the West Bengal elections into a bipolar event," Yechurry said at a programme here to mark the 54th anniversary of Ganashakti, CPI(M)'s mouthpiece in West Bengal.
 

"Alternate policies are required if they are to be defeated politically," Yechury said.
 

He claimed that the main issues of people's sufferings during the lockdown, joblessness and economic distress are being deliberately shrouded by the Trinamool Congress and the saffron party to keep other parties at bay.
 

He said that the TMC in West Bengal is facing anti- incumbency and the displeasure of the people and an atmosphere of violence and hatred has been created in the state.
 

Accusing both the saffron party and the Mamata Banerjee- led ruling party in the state of not providing succour to the people during difficult economic situation precipitated by the Covid pandemic, Yechury alleged just as the BJP at the Centre has brought farm laws against the peasants' interests, the TMC government is also not giving the declared minimum support price for paddy to the farmers.
 

He said that it is the Left parties which are agitating against the new farm laws and amended labour laws in the country.

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury

 

1:19 AM

Nationalism not giving speeches from Nagpur: Sachin Pilot

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday appeared to target the RSS and said the nationalism was about the welfare of farmers and not giving speeches from Nagpur.
 

"If we talk about the welfare of farmers then it is real nationalism. It is not nationalism when they deliver speeches from Nagpur wearing half-pants," Pilot said without naming the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
 

The former Rajasthan deputy chief minister said the BJP is “pushing farmers into darkness” with the new agriculture laws.
 

He said that the Centre should understand that a government will not be defeated if it rolls back any of its decision.
 

Doing amendments, withdrawing laws or feeling sorry raises the stature of leaders, Pilot added.
 

"I think in coming days we will collectively create pressure and work together for the welfare of farmers," he said.

1:17 AM

Results of local body polls show people rejected 'communal politics': CPI(M)

The ruling CPI(M) on Sunday hit out at the opposition parties and said the outcome of the recent local body polls have showed that the people of Kerala have rejected their "communal politics" and stood by the secular front led by the Left.
 

All the Left parties will fight the upcoming assembly election by "upholding secularism", said CPI(M) state secretary in-charge, A Vijayaraghavan.
 

Addressing the media after the two-day state committee meeting,he alleged that the party workers faced violent attacks before and after the polls.
 

"CPI(M) workers faced violent attacks before and after the local body polls and the party lost six workers in the last five months.
 

However, the party showed restraint and decided to bring the atrocities to the notice of the civil society," Vijayaraghavan said.
 

Averring that the people have rejected the 'opportunistic politics' of the opposition Congress, he said people stood by the "secular front" led by the Left parties as could be seen in the results of the local body polls.
 

The senior CPI(M) leader further said, "the LDF will uphold secularism and fight thecoming assembly election." Claiming that the BJP did not make any electoral inroads in the the state because of its 'communal agenda,' Vijayaraghavan said the Left parties won the election by securing the votes of working class and the farmers.

1:15 AM

BJP making sordid attempts to lower prestige of governor's post: Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday lambasted the state BJP leadership for their "sordid attempts to lower the prestige" of the gubernatorial office by "pulling the Constitutional authority into unsavoury controversies".
 

Reacting to BJP state unit's tweet accusing him of trying to "turn Punjab into another West Bengal", he alleged that it was the "power-hungry BJP" which had been trying to use the office of the governor for its own vested interests. 

"It has been happening in West Bengal, it happened in Maharashtra, and now they are trying to do the same in Punjab," Singh said, slamming the BJP for its "shameless efforts to force its way into power" in states ruled by other parties.
 

The BJP, which has been "systemically trampling" all democratic and constitutional institutions, has not spared even the office of Governor, alleged the chief minister, adding "these actions do not behove a party that is the custodian of these institutions as the ruling party at the Centre."

He quipped that the BJP, despite being a national party, seemed "totally ignorant" about the constitutional provisions, according to which the Governor was the titular head of the state but all administration authority vested with the chief minister. 

"Don't these BJP leaders know that the law and order responsibility of my state lies with me not only as chief minister but also as the home minister?," he asked, urging the BJP leaders of Punjab to "first learn the ABCs of the Indian Constitution before shooting their mouth on Constitutional matters".
 

1:13 AM

Sourav Ganguly stable, his health parameters normal: Doctors

BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who underwent angioplasty after a "mild" heart attack, is stable and his health parameters are normal, doctors said on Sunday.
 

The cricket icon was diagnosed with three blocked coronary arteries on Saturday, following which a stent was inserted in one to remove the blockage.
 

"Ganguly's coronary angiography was done at 3 pm and his echocardiography will be repeated tomorrow," a bulletin, issued by the private hospital where he is admitted, said late on Sunday night.
 

His blood pressure is 110/80 and oxygen saturation level is 98 per cent, it said.
 

Doctors said they will be deciding on conducting another angioplasty after assessing Ganguly's condition.
 

To a question, a hospital spokesperson said the medical board is not thinking about the option of bypass surgery.
 

"Our expert panel will decide on the future course of treatment tomorrow," she said.
 

The nine-member medical board will meet on Monday and discuss further treatment plan with his family members, the bulletin said.

 

1:10 AM

24 dead, 17 injured in roof collapse at Ghaziabad cremation ground

Twenty-four people, most of them attending a funeral, were killed and 17 others injured when the roof of a shelter at a cremation ground in Uttar Pradesh's Muradnagar collapsed on Sunday, officials said.
 

Several people had taken shelter under the recently constructed structure while it rained. The dead, all of them men, were mostly relatives or neighbours of Jai Ram, who was being cremated at that time, officials said.
 

Rescue workers sifted through the building's rubble for hours to ensure that more victims were not trapped there.
 

The local people were the first to arrive at the cremation ground in Muradnagar's Ukhlarsi village in Ghaziabad district, adjoining the national capital.
 

Police followed by a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) unit also then reached the spot, pulling out the dead and the injured from the debris.
 

"As many as 24 people have died and 17 others have been injured in the incident," District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said. At least 18 of them had been identified by the evening.
 

Jaiveer Singh (50), hailing from Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, who was attending the funeral of his brother's father-in-law, was among those killed in the incident.
 

His brother Umesh Kumar said, "It took us one-and-a-half hours to rescue him. The administration used a crane to get the bodies out. Jaiveer was talking to me all this while. But he couldn't make it and was declared dead." While some complained of the lack of facilities at the hospital and accused the local administration of callous attitude in dealing with the incident, others demanded that the contractor responsible for the construction of the shelter at the cremation ground be arrested.
 

1:07 AM

Israeli prosecutors spell out allegations against Netanyahu

Israeli prosecutors on Sunday released an amended indictment spelling out detailed charges against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a corruption case in which he is accused of trading favors with a powerful media mogul.
 

Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three corruption cases. One of them alleges that Netanyahu promoted regulations worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the owner of the Bezeq telecom company in exchange for positive coverage on its popular Walla news site.
 

In response to a request from Netanyahu's lawyers for more details, Israeli prosecutors released a letter Sunday alleging there had been 315 incidents of Walla being requested to make its coverage more favorable for Netanyahu and his family. They said there were indications that Netanyahu was personally involved in 150 of those incidents.
 

It said the requests included giving more time or prominence to positive articles about Netanyahu and his family, changing headlines and lowering or even removing unfavorable stories. It also included alleged requests for negative coverage of Netanyahu's rivals.
 

Netanyahu's trial began last year and is scheduled to resume next month. He denies all charges against him, saying he is the victim of a witch hunt orchestrated by a hostile media, police and prosecutors.
 

8:31 PM

Modi spoke to Sourav Ganguly, wished him speedy recovery

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to BCCI President Sourav Ganguly today morning. PM also spoke to Dona Ganguly. He inquired about his health and wished him a speedy recovery.

8:30 PM

State universities, non-govt colleges to begin classroom teaching from Jan 11: Odisha govt

State Public Universities and Government, as well as Non-Government Degree Colleges (coming under Higher Education Department), are hereby directed to commence physical classroom teaching for students of 2020-21 Final Year UG/PG courses from 11th January: Odisha Government

6:16 PM

PM Modi to inaugurate Kochi-Mangaluru natural gas pipeline on Tuesday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the Kochi-Mangaluru natural gas pipeline to the nation on Tuesday via video conferencing. The event will mark an important milestone towards the creation of 'one nation, one gas grid', the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Sunday. The 450-km-long pipeline has been built by Gail (India) Ltd.

 

It has transportation capacity of 12 million metric standard cubic metres per day and will carry natural gas from the liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal in Kochi to Mangaluru, passing through Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts, the PMO noted. The total cost of the project was about Rs 3,000 crore and its construction created over 12 lakh man-days of employment.

 

The pipeline will supply environment friendly and affordable fuel in the form of piped natural gas (PNG) to households and compressed natural gas (CNG) to the transportation sector.

6:14 PM

BJP stands for hypocrisy of alliance, spreading false news that JDS will join NDA: Kumaraswamy

After outcome of Gram Panchayat polls, BJP is convinced that all attempts to finish JDS have failed. It's for this reason that BJP stands for hypocrisy of alliance. This is why BJP has been spreading news that JDS will join NDA. This is absolutely false: JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy