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11:09 PM

Situation along Northern border stable but sensitive: Army Chief Gen Pande

Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande on Thursday said the situation along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh is "stable" but "sensitive" and asserted that the Indian troops are maintaining a "very high state" of operational preparedness to effectively deal with any eventualities. Addressing a press conference ahead of the Army Day on January 15, Gen Pande also said that both India and China continue to hold talks at military and diplomatic levels with an aim to return to the "status quo ante" that existed in the middle of 2020.

10:47 PM

Need to rationalise customs duties in sectors with healthy growth: Official

An official emphasized on Thursday that there is a necessity to rationalize customs duties, especially in sectors that have exhibited robust growth over the past several decades. However, the official also noted the importance of offering protection through high duties for nascent domestic industries.

10:36 PM

Micron Technology CEO Mehrotra meets T'gana CM Reddy

Sanjay Mehrotra, the President and CEO of Micron Technology, met with Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to discuss investment prospects in the state. Micron Technology is a prominent semiconductor company. The CEO expressed satisfaction that Telangana has emerged as a favored investment destination, according to an official release.

10:26 PM

Vibrant Gujarat Summit: Shipping ministry signs pacts for Rs 30,000 cr investments

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) announced on Thursday that it has entered into preliminary agreements for investments amounting to Rs 30,000 crore during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024. According to a statement from the ministry, APM Terminals and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 20,000 crore during the event. These MoUs signify their intention to invest in the Vadhavan Port Project.

10:17 PM

People who don't have faith in Lord Ram should stay away: Lekhi

10:14 PM

LS revokes Afzal Ansari's disqualification after SC order, but he can't attend House

On Thursday, the Lok Sabha Secretariat revoked the disqualification of BSP leader Afzal Ansari as a member of the Lower House following a conditional suspension of his conviction in a Gangsters Act case by the Supreme Court. In December of the previous year, the Supreme Court had temporarily suspended his sentence but imposed conditions, stating that Ansari would not be allowed to participate in House proceedings. Additionally, he was deprived of the right to vote in the Lok Sabha and could not avail himself of any perks or monetary benefits during the suspension.

9:28 PM

Assam CM unveils scheme to assist 4 mn women to become micro-entrepreneurs

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared on Thursday that all welfare programs in Assam will be tied to population control measures. He also announced a scheme aimed at developing 4 million self-help group (SHG) members as rural micro-entrepreneurs, referring to them as 'lakhpati baidos' (elder sisters). The initiative, named 'Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan,' is expected to be implemented at a cost of approximately Rs 4,000 crore. The scheme is intended for SHG members willing to pursue a personal business plan alongside their group activities, as stated by the chief minister during a press conference.

8:39 PM

India negotiating with UK to avoid double contribution to social security

India is working on a treaty with the UK under the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to avoid double contribution to social security funds by Indian professionals working for limited time period in Britain, an official said on Thursday. Indian professionals working for a limited period in Britain contribute to their social security funds but not able to get its benefit as they return once the projects are complete.

 

8:34 PM

Will make an announcement on this soon: KC Tyagi on Ram temple invitation to Nitish Kumar

8:08 PM

Ram temple consecration: Family members of BR Ambedkar, Jagjivan Ram, Kanshi Ram among invitees

Family members of Dalit icons B R Ambedkar, Jagjivan Ram, Kanshi Ram and other "prominent people" belonging to the scheduled castes are among those invited for the January 22 consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, according to sources. They said family members of "karsevaks", who died during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, have also been invited for the event, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

7:47 PM

Sheikh Hasina sworn in as prime minister of Bangladesh for fifth term

Sheikh Hasina took the oath of office as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the fifth term. This comes after her Awami League party secured a significant majority in the general elections, which were boycotted by the main opposition party BNP and its allies. The oath-taking ceremony was administered by President Mohammad Shahabuddin and attended by various politicians, foreign diplomats, civil society figures, and senior civil and military officials. Sheikh Hasina, 76 years old, continues her tenure as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

7:35 PM

True democracy only when govt comes to people's doorsteps: Anurag Thakur

On Thursday, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur expressed the belief that genuine democracy is realized when the government reaches the doorsteps of the people. Thakur inaugurated the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra vans, highlighting that this initiative aims to extend its reach to over two lakh panchayats and more than 4,000 urban local bodies.

7:22 PM

Tata's fab investment to be big, will move for Cabinet approval soon: Govt

The Tata Group's investment for the fab manufacturing in Gujarat will be "very big" and a Cabinet note seeking approvals for the project will be moved "very soon", Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday. Speaking at the biennial Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit here, Vaishnaw said the Tatas' proposed investment is important because it will be serving a wider spectrum of opportunities, right from fab to OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test).

7:10 PM

FMCG distributors to boycott HUL products in Maha, starting with Taj Mahal Tea

FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) distributors, advocating for the reinstatement of previous margin structures, declared on Thursday their intention to boycott products from leading manufacturer HUL (Hindustan Unilever) in Maharashtra. The boycott is set to commence with Taj Mahal Tea. The distributors emphasized that if HUL does not address their demands, they will extend the boycott to include the Kissan brand and the popular detergent brand Rin, in addition to the Taj Mahal tea brand.

6:52 PM

Budget session of Parliament likely between January 31 and February 9

A brief Budget session of Parliament is likely to be held between January 31 and February 9, sources said on Thursday. President Droupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of the two houses on January 31, they said. The government would present a vote-on-account or an 'interim budget' on February 1. The new government will present a full-fledged budget later.