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9:25 PM

Temperatures drop in Delhi, Punjab; slight respite from cold for Kashmir

Cold weather conditions persisted in parts of north and west India on Sunday with the mercury dropping several notches in Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan. Kashmir and the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh received some respite from the intense cold as minimum temperatures rose. The respite for Kashmir is likely to be short-lived as the meteorological department has predicted a cold wave in parts of the valley over the next three days.

9:15 PM

Kerala CM accuses centre of vindictive attitude on landslide-hit Wayanad

Launching a sharp criticism against the Union government for denying assistance to the landslide-hit Wayanad, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday accused it of adopting a vindictive stance towards Kerala. The chief minister called for a strong protest against the Centre. "This is something cruel that should not be done to any state. Kerala is also a part of the country," he added. "Our rights and justice should not be denied. The positive aspect is that all our MPs, except those from the BJP, are united in demanding what is rightfully ours," the CM said.

9:12 PM

Sri Lankan President Disanayaka begins 3-day India visit

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka arrived in India on Sunday on a three-day visit in his first foreign trip after assuming the top office in September. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold wide-ranging talks with the Sri Lankan leader on Monday that is expected to focus on trade, investment, energy and maritime security. The Indian side is also likely to convey to the Sri Lankan leader New Delhi's expectations from Colombo to fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil community in the island nation.

 

8:32 PM

Portfolio allocation to Maha ministers in next two days: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters that portfolio allocation to the newly elected Maharashtra ministers will be done in the next two days. This comes in after the swearing-in of 39 ministers at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur on Sunday. In the expansion, the BJP got 19 ministerial berths, followed by 11 to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and 9 for Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party. While 33 legislators were sworn in as cabinet ministers, six took oath as ministers of state. 

8:07 PM

Delhi Polls: AAP's 4th candidates list symbol of 'corruption and misgovernance', says BJP

The BJP on Sunday hit back at the AAP and called its fourth list of candidates for the Delhi Assembly polls a symbol of "corruption and misgovernance". The BJP's outburst came as AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal took a swipe at the saffron outfit for lacking a "CM face" and vision. Earlier in the day, the AAP released its final and fourth list of 38 candidates for the polls due in February next year. The BJP is yet to declare its candidates for the elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly.

8:01 PM

Vice President Dhankhar raises concerns over commercialisation of education

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday expressed concerns over the commercialisation of education and called for brainstorming efforts to address it, stressing that it should be imparted in the spirit of service. Calling education an important tool, he said it can bring equality, boost democracy and ensure prosperity in the world. Dhankhar was addressing students after unveiling a statue of Jiwajirao Scindia of the Scindia dynasty at the Jiwaji University in Gwalior.

 

7:55 PM

Simran Shaikh costliest player in WPL mini auction, Sneh Rana goes unsold

Mumbai cricketer Simran Shaikh became the costliest player of the Women's Premier League mini-auction 2025, being bought by Gujarat Giants for Rs 1.90 crore even as veteran India player Sneh Rana went unsold here on Sunday. The other top money earners were West Indies stalwart Deandra Dottin (Rs 1.70 crore - Gujarat Giants), 16-year-old U19 wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini (Mumbai Indians - Rs 1.60 crore), Prema Rawat (Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Rs 1.20 crore) and N Charani (Delhi Capitals - Rs 55 lakh). Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants were involved in a bidding war for Simran before the latter raised the bar to net her.

7:42 PM

Panic grips Imphal's Heingang after hand grenade, threat letter found outside contractor's house

A threat letter along with a hand grenade was found at a contractor's house in Manipur's Imphal East district on Sunday, triggering panic, police said. The grenade was kept at the entrance of the house of Thokchom Shankar (52) in Kairang Makha Leikai Lane 3 in the Heingang police station area, they said. The note accompanying it asked if Thokchom can save the lives of his family members, they added. Police seized the grenade and started an investigation into the incident.

7:39 PM

Over 2 million devotees visited Sabarimala in 29 days: Top official

Over 2.2 million Ayyappa devotees visited Sabarimala in 29 days till December 14, Travancore Devaswom Board president P S Prashanth said on Sunday. A total of 22,67,956 Ayyappa devotees visited Sabarimala in 29 days till December 14, he said. The total revenue received in the period amounted to Rs 163.89 crore. 

 

7:30 PM

Punjab DGP, MHA director meet ailing farmer leader Dallewal

The Punjab Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, and Director in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mayank Mishra, met farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewall - who has been staging an indefinite hunger strike since last month - and enquired about his health. The duo met Dallewal at the Khanauri border point and heard his demands. Their visit came two days after the Supreme Court directed the Centre and Punjab government representatives to meet Dallewal immediately.

7:26 PM

Comments on ISKCON in Bangladesh 'pack of lies', says Kolkata vice-president

ISKCON Kolkata vice-president Radharaman Das on Sunday termed as "a pack of lies" and "alarming" comments by some leaders of political parties in Bangladesh, which has branded the global religious body of Vaishnavites as "fundamentalist". Asserting that ISKCON stands for peace, amity, fraternity, and brotherhood among all communities and helps people in distress everywhere in the world, Das said such comments by student leaders, BNP politicians and "religious fanatics" in Bangladesh will not desist the organisation from performing its role there.

7:24 PM

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain unwell, admitted to ICU in San Francisco

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain has been admitted to the ICU of a San Francisco hospital after experiencing heart related problems, his friend and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia said on Sunday. The 73-year-old US-based musician had been having blood pressure issues, added a source close to Hussain. "He has been admitted to a hospital in San Francisco for a heart related problem for the last week. He is unwell and admitted in the ICU right now. We all are worried about the situation," Chaurasia told PTI.

 

7:16 PM

Those left out in cabinet expansion will get chance later: Maha Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday said the ruling Mahayuti will also give a chance to other legislators, who have not found a place in the current ministry, during this government's tenure. "We will give an opportunity to others also for two-and-a-half years," NCP leader Pawar said addressing a gathering of his party workers in Nagpur before the cabinet expansion.

6:52 PM

Maha ministers sworn in at Nagpur's Raj Bhavan for first time since 1991

The swearing-in of 39 ministers at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur on Sunday was the first held in Maharashtra's second capital in 33 years, the last such event being the cabinet expansion of the Sudhakarrao Naik dispensation in 1991. Naik had expanded his council of ministers by inducting Shiv Sena rebels Chhagan Bhujbal and Rajendra Gole, who had switched over to the ruling Congress. The Congress' Beed legislator Jaidutt Kshirsagar was also inducted into the Naik government at the time.

6:38 PM

Maharashtra ministry expanded, 39 take oath as ministers

The 10-day-old BJP-led Mahayuti alliance ministry in Maharashtra was expanded at Nagpur on Sunday, with 39 ministers being sworn in, taking its strength to 42. In the expansion, BJP got 19 ministerial berths, followed by 11 to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and 9 for Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party. While 33 legislators were sworn in as cabinet ministers, six took oath as ministers of state. Maharashtra Governor P C Radhakrishnan administered the oath to the new ministers at the ceremony held on the eve of the state legislature's winter session being held in Nagpur from December 16 to 21.