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Fri, 06 December 2024
Indian student fatally stabbed in Canada; one held
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23:59 Myanmar man arrested with Rs 1.24 cr in cash from Mizoram
A Myanmarese national was arrested with Rs 1.24 crore in cash from east Mizoram's Champhai district, the Assam Rifles said in a statement on Friday.
The arrest was made from Ngur village on the basis of intelligence inputs, it said.
The accused was identified as Lianbiaksang (26), it added.
In another operation, the Assam Rifles and the Excise and Narcotics Department seized 244.5 gram of heroin and 2.28 kg of yaba tablets, together worth Rs. 8.57 crore, from three persons at Mualkawi village of the district on Thursday, it said. -- PTI
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23:39 Indian student fatally stabbed in Canada; one held
A 22-year-old Indian student was stabbed to death during an altercation in Canada's Ontario province, according to the police, who have arrested and charged the victim's housemate with second-degree murder in connection with the case.
Gurasis Singh, a first-year business management student at Lambton College, was stabbed on Sunday in Sarnia, police said in a statement.
The police received an emergency call for a report of a stabbing at 194 Queen Street, where Singh and the 36-year-old accused Crossley Hunter were residents of a rooming house.
They located Singh's dead body and took Hunter into custody. In a later statement, police said Singh and Hunter were involved in a physical altercation while in the kitchen, where the latter accessed a knife and stabbed Singh multiple times, killing him.
Police said they did not believe the crime to be racially motivated "at this time".
Sarnia Police Chief Derek Davis said that despite the arrest, the "complex investigation" is ongoing.
"The Sarnia Police Criminal Investigations Division continues to gather all available evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding this criminal act and what, if any, motive may have existed that led to the murder of this young man," the statement quoted him. -- PTI
23:06 Mamata Banerjee on her successor: Party will decide, not me
Amidst the ongoing internal struggle within the TMC between veteran leaders and the younger faction, West Bengal Chief Minister and party chief Mamata Banerjee on Friday said any decision regarding her successor would be made collectively by the party leadership rather than by her personally.
In an exclusive interview with a Bengali news channel News 18 Bangla, Banerjee dismissed notions of individual dominance, asserting, "I am not the party; we are the party. It is a collective family, and decisions will be made collectively.
Asked about her potential successor, Banerjee deflected the question with a counter-query, "Who is your successor?"
She went on to clarify that TMC is a disciplined party where no individual will dictate terms.
"The party will decide what is best for the people. We have MLAs, MPs, booth workers, this is a joint effort," she said.
On the ongoing debate about prioritising the younger generation or experienced leaders, Banerjee maintained a balanced approach, stating, "Everyone is important. Today's newcomer will be tomorrow's veteran
While TMC has not officially declared any succession plans, Banerjee's remark comes amidst an ongoing debate over the old guards, considered loyal to Mamata Banerjee, versus the next-generation leaders, considered close to Abhishek Banerjee. -- PTI
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22:51 Army clerk embezzles over Rs 1.8 cr from CSD funds in Mathura; spouse held
A clerk at the Army's canteen stores department in Mathura Cantonment has fled after allegedly embezzling more than Rs 1.8 crore from canteen funds, officials said on Friday.
After the discovery of the crime, canteen in-charge Captain Pankaj Yadav on Wednesday filed a complaint against the accused for fraud, embezzlement, and breach of trust, they added.
The complaint alleged that Naik Deepak Kumar, a clerk at the CSD, stole seven cheques from the canteen, police said.
Kumar, a resident of Rohtak in Haryana, has been accused of transferring Rs 1.85 crore into accounts held by him and his wife Monika.
After committing the crime, Kumar reportedly fled from Mathura, police said.
"Monika was arrested from their residence on Thursday. She was produced before a magistrate on Friday who remanded her to 14-day judicial custody," SHO of Sadar police station, Videsh Kumar, said.
The police are now planning to raid Kumar's family residence in Rohtak and other possible hideouts, the officer said. -- PTI
22:49 Allu Arjun declares Rs 25L to kin of stampede victim
Actor Allu Arjun on Friday announced a sum of Rs 25 lakh to the family of a woman who died due to asphyxiation at a theatre screening Pushpa 2 premiere show in Hyderabad.
In a video posted on X, the 42-year-old actor said he wants to assure the grieving family that they are not alone in this painful situation and he will meet the family personally.
A 35-year woman died and her son was hospitalised on Wednesday due to asphyxiation, as crowds jostled at a film theatre here during the premiere show of actor Allu Arjun's latest movie.
The incident took place when a large number of fans thronged the Sandhya theatre to have a glimpse of the star.
"Whatever we do, this loss can never be covered. From our side, we want to say that we are emotionally there for you. Whatever help you need, we are there for you, and on my behalf, I would like to donate an amount of 25 lakhs just as a goodwill gesture to secure their future and especially children. I'll be there for them if they need any kind of support, I will try to be there," he said in the video, expressing condolences. -- PTI
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22:06 Foreign Ssecretary Misri to visit Bangladesh on December 9
Foreign secretary Vikram Misri will make a visit to Bangladesh on December 9 and meet his counterpart there, the ministry of external affairs said on Friday.
Misri will lead the foreign office consultations with Bangladesh and attend several other meetings during his visit.
This comes amid strained ties between New Delhi and Dhaka following reports of several attacks on minorities, especially Hindus under the current interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
"The foreign secretary is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on 9th of December. He will meet his counterpart and there will be several other meetings during the visit. Foreign office consultations led by foreign secretary is a structured engagement between India and Bangladesh. We look forward to this meeting," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in the weekly press briefing on Friday.
Asked about the situation on ground in Bangladesh and the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, MEA affirmed hope that the legal rights of the concerned individuals are respected and the trial is conducted in a "fair and transparent" manner.
"As far as situation on ground regarding the individuals you want, we want to reiterate our position again that they have legal rights and we hope that these legal rights will be respected and that the trial will be fair and transparent. They will get a fair and transparent trial," Jaiswal further added. -- ANI
21:38 Woman taken into custody in Mathura for attempting 'jalabhishek' at Shahi Idgah
A woman was taken into custody on Friday for allegedly attempting to perform jalabhishek (ritualistic water offering) at the Shahi Idgah, a location claimed by some Hindu groups as the original birthplace of Lord Krishna, police said.
The incident coincided with the anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.
According to the police, Meera Rathore, the district president of the women's cell of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha's Agra chapter, previously claimed on social media that a jalabhishek had been performed at Shahi Idgah.
On Friday morning, Rathore attempted to approach the site with an idol of Lord Krishna in her hands, raising suspicion among the security personnel present there, officials said.
As Rathore tried to make her way to the road leading to the Shahi Idgah near Deeg Gate, police intervened and took her into custody after questioning, they added.
Superintendent of police (City) Arvind Kumar said, "The woman is being interrogated. If her intentions are found to be wrong, appropriate legal action will be taken."
The officer emphasised that while local religious leaders from both Hindu and Muslim communities heeded the authorities' request to avoid provocative actions on this sensitive day, Rathore's act went against those appeals.
In view of the tension surrounding the anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid, the district administration implemented tight security measures.
All roads leading to the Shri Krishna Janmasthan area were barricaded, and movement of vehicles, except two-wheelers, was restricted. Devotees were allowed to enter the premises only after thorough security checks. -- PTI
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde/File image
21:18 Shinde wants home from BJP, talks on: Sena MLA
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has demanded the crucial home department from the BJP and talks on portfolio allocation are in the progress, Shiv Sena MLA Bharat Gogavale said on Friday.
Gogavale, an aide of Shinde who heads the Shiv Sena, said the cabinet expansion is likely to take place between December 11 and 16, just ahead of the winter session of the state legislature.
The winter session of the legislature will start in Nagpur, the state's second capital, from December 16.
"When Devendra Fadnavis was the deputy chief minister (in Shinde-led government), he also held the home department. Saheb (Shinde) has demanded the home and talks (on portfolio allocation) are in progress," Gogavale said.
Asked to whom the demand was made, Gogavale said it was probably Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The MLA from Mahad in Raigad district maintained that attempts are being made to change the portfolios held by the Shiv Sena in the previous Mahayuti government.
Gogavale hoped the talks on portfolio allocation would be over in the next two days. -- PTI
21:13 822 farmer suicides in Marathwada in 2024; aid given in 303 cases
More than 800 farmer suicides have been reported in 2024 in the eight districts of Maharashtra's Marathwada region, with compensation being given in 303 cases, while inquiry is pending for 314, an official said on Friday.
As per a report made available by the divisional commissioner's office, 822 farmers committed suicide in Marathwada since January this year, with Beed leading the list with 160 deaths.
"Of the 822 cases, aid totalling Rs 3.03 crore has been given in 303 cases till November 30. Inquiry is pending for 314 cases," the report said.
After Beed, the highest number of farmer suicides in Marathwada took place in Nanded (146), followed by Dharashiv (143), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (132), Jalna (76), Latur (72), Parbhani (64) and Hingoli (29), as per the report.
Divisional Commissioner Dilip Gawade told PTI the cases are checked by district level committees and some delay took place due to the model code of conduct in place since October 15 for the assembly polls.
"We have directed authorities to carry out inquiries into the cases quickly," Gawade informed. -- PTI
21:09 8 dead, 19 injured in Lucknow-Agra Expressway bus-tanker collision
Six people lost their lives, and at least 19 others were injured after a double-decker bus collided with a water tanker on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway on Friday, the police said.
The bus was en route to Delhi from Lucknow when the accident occurred. Sharing details of the incident, SP Amit Kumar said, "Today, a bus and a water tanker collided on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway. The bus was travelling from Lucknow to Delhi. Police reached the spot as soon as we received the information. 8 people have died in the incident, and 14 injured individuals are undergoing treatment."
Kannauj district magistrate Shubhrant Kumar Shukla, SP Amit Kumar, and Tirwa MLA Kailash Rajput are present at the scene, overseeing the rescue operations.
All the injured have been admitted to Saifai Medical College.
This was the second major road accident in Uttar Pradesh within five hours. Earlier in the day, six people were killed, and five others were injured in a road accident in Chitrakoot, police said.
Speaking to reporters, Chitrakoot superintendent of police Arun Kumar Singh said the accident occurred when a vehicle carrying 11 people collided with a truck while they were returning from Prayagraj after immersing a family member's ashes. -- ANI
20:18 HC stays registration of 'Jack Daniel's' mark by another entity
The Delhi high court stayed the registration of trademark "Jack Daniel's" by another entity, noting the operation of the mark will cause irreparable harm to the well-known alcohol brand Jack Daniels Properties Inc.
Justice Amit Bansal, in an interim order, said a prima facie case was made out in favour of the alcohol brand company and against M/s Manglam Krupa.
"A prima facie case is made out in favour of the petitioner (Jack Daniels Properties Inc.) and against the respondent number 1 (M/s Manglam Krupa ) that the registration granted in favour of the respondent number 1 is violative of provision of Section 9(2)(a) and Section 11 of the Trade Mark Act, 1999," the judge said.
The court further noted the balance of convenience was in favour of the petitioner and against the respondent company.
"Irreparable harm will be caused to the petitioner if the operation of the impugned mark is not stayed," noted the court.
The high court was hearing a plea by Jack Daniels seeking removal or cancellation of its mark used by the respondent.
The petitioner argued the mark "Jack Daniel's" had been in use since 1895 with respect to alcoholic beverages and it was the registered proprietor of various trademarks including the one in question.
The mark "Jack Daniel's", the petitioner said, was consistently and extensively used in India since 1997. -- PTI
20:06 'Pushpa 2' creates history, earns Rs 294cr on Day 1
Pushpa fire nahi, wildfire hai, the popular dialogue from Allu Arjun's Pushpa franchise has come true with the historic box office performance of the second part, which has amassed Rs 294 crore gross globally on day one of its release.
The day one collection of the Sukumar-directed movie, a sequel to 2021's Telugu blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise, has shattered the record for the highest opening in the history of Indian cinema, which earlier belonged to SS Rajamouli's RRR (Rs 223.5 crore), followed by Baahubali 2 (Rs 217 crore) and Kalki 2898 AD (Rs 175 crore).
The film's collection has beaten expectations of the trade pundits, who had pegged the film's opening figure to be slightly over than Rs 150 crore. Production banner Mythri Movie Makers, which has bankrolled Pushpa 2, shared the box office figures.
"The Biggest Indian Film creates History at the box office. #Pushpa2TheRule grosses 294 crores worldwide on Day 1 making it the highest opening day in Indian Cinema," studio posted on Instagram.
In the sequel, Arjun returns as labourer-turned-sandalwood smuggler Pushpa Raj, alongside Rashmika Mandanna as Srivalli and Fahadh Faasil as SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat.
The movie released across the globe on Friday with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam. -- PTI
Producer Vashu Bhagnani (left)/File image
19:53 Court asks Mumbai cops to file case against filmmaker Zafar for cheating producer Bhagnani
A Mumbai court has directed the police to lodge a case of cheating, criminal conspiracy and forgery against film director Ali Abbas Zafar and two others on a complaint filed by veteran producer Vashu Bhagnani.
Magistrate Komalsing Rajput, while giving direction to the police to file the criminal case, noted that the allegations against the trio were serious.
Bhagnani had moved the Bandra magistrate's court seeking a case against Zafar, who helmed the 2024 movie Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, and two of his associates -- Himanshu Mehra and Ekesh Randive -- for allegedly cheating him and siphoning off his money.
Magistrate Rajput, in an order passed on December 2, said the offences are cognizable and non-bailable.
"The allegations are serious. All the aspects lead to inference that thorough interrogation seems necessary," the court observed.
It asked the Bandra police station to register a case under IPC sections 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 471 (fraud), 500 (defamation) and 506 (criminal intimidation) against Zafar and the two others, and investigate the matter.
The court noted that the trio lured Bhagnani into paying various amounts from time to time and in breach of contract incurred additional expenses and did not provide any account of these expenses.
The magistrate maintained the allegations levelled by Bhagnani are supported by documents, including agreement, payment vouchers, cost sheets and WhatsApp chats.
"The total amount of alleged fraud and cheating in the several transactions is very high. The number of transactions is also very high," the court pointed out.
As per the complaint, Bhagnani had in February 2021 signed four films with Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, including action-comedy Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.
In November 2021, the producer approached Zafar to direct and write the movie. -- PTI
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19:19 All documents related to missing man sent to PMO: Manipur minister
Manipur's social welfare minister Heikham Dingo on Friday said all documents related to Laishram Kamalbabu Singh, who allegedly went missing from the Leimakhong Military Station, were sent to the Prime Minister's Office as well as to the offices of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Singh, a native of Assam's Cachar district who lived in Khukrul in Imphal West, was a works supervisor for a contractor working with the Military Engineering Services in Leimakhong Military Station in Kangpokpi district of the 57th Mountain Division, according to the Army.
He could not be found since November 25 with Chief Minister N Biren Singh claiming that he went missing from the military station.
"We have sent all the necessary documents to the PMO, and the offices of the defence minister and home minister. We are waiting for an answer. The Army authorities should be held responsible for the incident as he went missing from such a secured location. It is really unfortunate," Dingo told reporters on the sidelines of a programme. -- PTI
18:46 Students march for removing mosque in UP college
A large number of students on Friday staged a protest at Udai Pratap College in Varanasi demanding removal of a mosque located on the institute's campus.
About 500 students carrying saffron flags and raising 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans assembled at the college gate on Friday.
However, a large police force already present there prevented them from entering the college, officials said.
The development came days after tension gripped the college when a section of students on Tuesday recited Hanuman Chalisa near the mosque when namaaz was being offered there, prompting the police to detain seven persons for a brief period.
Former student union leader Vivekanand Singh contented that since the land for the tomb does not belong to the Waqf Board, it should be removed from the campus.
"The students and alumni of the college together staged a protest demanding removal of the tomb from the campus. But the police did not allow us to enter the college. If namaaz can be offered at the tomb, students should also be allowed to recite Hanuman Chalisa there," Singh said.
Assistant commissioner of police (Cantt), Vidush Saxena, said, "Adequate police force was deployed at the college gate. A group of students came to express their views, with some of them turning a little aggressive. But police calmed them down." -- PTI
18:24 Allu Arjun's 'Pushpa 2' earns Rs 164 cr on opening day
Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2: The Rule made a blockbuster start at the box office, earning Rs 164.25 crore net on its opening day, said trade website Sacnilk.
The film, a sequel to 2021's Telugu blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise, was released in theatres across the country and in the overseas markets on Thursday.
According to Sacnilk, Pushpa 2: The Rule earned over Rs 164.25 crore India net on its first day for all languages.
In the sequel, Arjun returns as labourer-turned-sandalwood smuggler Pushpa Raj, alongside Rashmika Mandanna as Srivalli and Fahadh Faasil as SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat.
Production banner Mythri Movie Makers, which has bankrolled the film, is yet to share its official box office figures.
However, in a post on X, the studio said the Hindi version of Pushpa 2 has created history after it earned Rs 72 crore net on day one.
"HISTORY MADE in INDIAN CINEMA. #Pushpa2TheRule is HIGHEST DAY 1 OPENING HINDI FILM EVER with a Nett of 72 CRORES," Mythri Movie Makers posted.
Pushpa 2: The Rule is directed by Sukumar.
The trailer of the sequel was unveiled on November 17 at Patna's jam-packed Gandhi Maidan. -- PTI
18:09 RBI monetary policy highlights
The Reserve Bank of India on Friday kept its key interest rate unchanged citing inflation risks, but cut the Cash Reserve Ratio that banks are required to park with the central bank, boosting money with lenders to support a slowing economy
17:50 India's forex reserves jump $1.51 bn to $658.091 bn
India's forex reserves increased by $1.51 billion to $658.091 billion for the week ended November 29, the RBI said on Friday.
The overall reserves had dropped by $1.31 billion to $656.582 billion in the previous reporting week.
The kitty has witnessed a declining trend in the recent past and had dropped by a record $17.761 billion in the week prior to the last.
The forex reserves had increased to an all-time high of $704.885 billion in end-September.
For the week ended November 29, foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, increased by $2.061 billion to $568.852 billion, the data released on Friday showed.
Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves. -- PTI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis/File image
17:26 Fadnavis may expand cabinet next week
Cabinet expansion of the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government is likely to take place on December 11 or 12, sources said on Friday.
In all likelihood, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP will retain finance and the BJP the home department as in the previous Eknath Shinde-led government, sources said.
The Shinde-led Shiv Sena will retain Urban Development and may also get Revenue, if Sena sources are to be believed.
A cabinet in Maharashtra can have a maximum of 43 ministers including the chief minister.
The BJP, the biggest constituent of the Mahayuti alliance, is expected to get 21-22 ministerial posts.
The Shiv Sena could get 11 to 12 ministerial berths and NCP nine to 10 berths, the sources said.
The final decision on the number of ministers who would take oath will be taken in a day or two, said a senior BJP leader.
The newly-elected MLAs will be administered oath by pro-tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar at a three-day special session of the assembly that starts from Saturday. -- PTI
17:09 No plans for de-dollarisation, focus is only on derisking trade: RBI chief
Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das on Friday said India does not have any plans to 'de-dollarise' its trade and is only looking at derisking it by other means.
He was responding to a question on US President-elect Donald Trump's threat that BRICS countries will face 100 per cent tariffs if they choose to move away from the US dollar.
"With regard to the de-dollarisation etc...so far as India is concerned, there is no step which we have taken which specifically wants to de-dollarise," Das told reporters at the central bank headquarters in Mumbai.
On the BRICS currency, he mentioned that it is an idea floated by one of the members of the grouping, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, but added that there has been no progress on it beyond some discussions.
He said BRICS countries are scattered across the globe and pointed out that contiguity has helped in the success of a single currency for the European Union.
Das said India's attempts are limited at permitting vostro accounts and entering into agreements with two countries for settling trade transactions in local currency.
"That is basically to derisk our trade. Dependence on one currency can be problematic at times because of appreciation or depreciation. De-dollarisation is certainly not our objective, it is not on the table at all," he said. -- PTI
16:44 RBI efforts focused on keeping inflation horse on tight leash: Das
The Reserve Bank's efforts are focused on keeping the inflation horse under a "tight leash", Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Friday as the central bank opted for a status quo in policy rates for the 11th consecutive time, belying voices demanding a rate cut to support growth.
The balance between inflation and growth has gotten "unsettled", Das said, referring to the lower-than-expected 5.4 per cent GDP expansion and price rise shooting beyond 6 per cent for October, and added that all the instruments will be deployed to get it back.
Das, whose current term as the central bank governor ends in a few days, also called for efforts to ensure that the "credibility" of the flexible inflation targeting regime is "preserved" going forward as well. -- PTI
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16:42 100 students hospitalised in Maha, food poisoning likely
More than 100 students were hospitalised due to suspected food poisoning in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district, an official said on Friday. A total of 106 students of Zilla Parishad school in Pardi in the district's Saoli tehsil had meals in the institution on Wednesday afternoon and then complained of stomach ache and experienced vomiting later that night, the official said.
"After they reached school on Thursday, the students showed the same symptoms. So they were first taken to the rural hospital and primary health centre. They were shifted to other facilities later. Currently, 62 students are in the sub-district hospital in Mul tehsil, 20 in Gadchiroli district hospital, 17 in Saoli and the rest in Chandrapur's Government Medical College and Hospital," district civil surgeon Dr Mahadeo Chinchole said.
"The students are in stable condition and are under observation at these hospitals. The food samples have been collected by the Food and Drug Administration for analysis as part of the probe," Chinchole added.
Senior BJP leader and MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar directed the administration to take all efforts to provide the best treatment to students. -- PTI
16:37 Markets snap five-day rally
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty ended marginally lower in a highly volatile trade on Friday, snapping their five-day rally, after the Reserve Bank of India kept the policy rate unchanged but sharply cut the FY25 GDP growth forecast.
After oscillating between highs and lows during the day, the 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex declined 56.74 points or 0.07 per cent to finally settle at 81,709.12. Intra-day, it gyrated 419.72 points, hitting a high of 81,925.91 and a low of 81,506.19. In the past five trading days, the BSE benchmark jumped 2,722.12 points or 3.44 per cent. The NSE Nifty dipped 30.60 points or 0.12 per cent to settle at 24,677.80. -- PTI
16:25 Farmers hurt in tear gas firing, march suspended
Protesting farmers on Friday suspended their foot march to Delhi for the day after a few of them suffered injuries due to teargas shells lobbed by security personnel, according to a Punjab farmer leader.
"We have called back the 'jatha' for today in view of the injuries suffered by a few farmers," Sarwan Singh Pandher said.
The farmer leader claimed that five to six protesting farmers were injured due to the teargas shelling by Haryana security personnel. The two forums of the farmer bodies, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, will decide the next course of action after a meeting, he added.
A 'jatha' of 101 farmers on Friday began its foot march to Delhi from their protest site at the Shambhu border but was stopped a few metres away by multilayered barricading erected by Haryana security personnel. The security personnel lobbed multiple rounds of teargas shells in order to disperse the protesting farmers and force them to go back to their protest site. Farmer leaders claimed that some farmers were injured and were taken to a hospital.
The Haryana Police has asked the protesting farmers not to proceed further and cited a prohibitory order clamped under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). -- PTI
16:22 'Sitaare Zameen Par' to release mid 2025: Aamir Khan
Superstar Aamir Khan has given an update on his next film "Sitaare Zameen Par", saying the movie will come out in theatres by mid-2025. The upcoming film is a sequel to Khan's 2007 movie "Taare Zameen Par, which marked his directorial debut and received critical acclaim.
Khan, who has been on an acting break since the release of his 2022 film Laal Singh Chaddha, said the film will start post-production later this month. "We are coming to the post-production later this month... We would be ready to release the film sometime middle of next year," the 59-year-old actor told American news outlet Deadline on the sidelines of Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Khan said though "Sitaare Zameen Par" is a sequel to "Taare Zameen Par but the original movie's characters won't appear in the follow-up.
"Taare Zameen Par" followed the story of an eight-year-old gifted boy Ishaan. Khan played the role of his art teacher who discovers that the child has dyslexia and helps him realise his true potential.
"It's a fresh set of characters, completely fresh situation and plot. Thematically, it is a sequel to 'Taare Zameen Par'. It is saying same things. Actually, it's a lot more," he said. -- PTI
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher
16:00 Farmers call of jatha, march to Delhi will continue
Update: At the Shambhu border, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher says, "We have called off 'Jatha' and not the march (to Delhi). 6 farmers have been injured."
A 'jatha' of 101 farmers on Friday began its foot march to Delhi from their protest site at Shambhu border, but was stopped a few metres away by a multilayered barricading. The security personnel used teargas as some farmers reached near the barricades put up on the Haryana side of the Shambhu border.
Haryana Police asked the farmers not to proceed further and cited a prohibitory order clamped under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The Ambala district administration has banned any unlawful assembly of five or more persons in the district.
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15:56 Class 12 student shoots dead principal in MP
Class XII student shoots dead principal in school in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district: Police. Details awaited.
15:50 Uddhav's close aide has a message for Fadnavis
Milind Narvekar, a Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC and close aide of party president Uddhav Thackeray, on Friday extended his good wishes to BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis for taking over as the new chief minister of Maharashtra.
In a story on Instagram, Narvekar, whose party is the largest political formation in the opposition in the newly-elected assembly, also wished Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) and Ajit Pawar (NCP). Notably, no major leader from the opposition, including Thackeray, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Congress head Nana Patole, attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new Mahayuti government on December 5 in Mumbai's Azad Maidan.
In another story on Instagram, Narvekar paid rich respects to social reformer Dr B R Ambedkar on his death anniversary, which is observed as 'Mahaparinirvan Diwas'. PTI
15:17 Cong netas are so rich: BJP's dig at Singhvi
Bharatiya Janata Party's MP and former national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi today took a dig at the Congress leaders after a wad of currency notes were recovered from the bench of Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Speaking to ANI, Trivedi said that, "Congress leaders have so much money that they don't even bother to take account of the money which is left (on the bench in Parliament)."
He even alleged that the act of not claiming the money raises the doubt of its source and that an investigation should take place. He further alleged, "Since no leader came to collect the money, it raises doubts on many sources of the money that people know whose money it is but they don't come to collect it. This incident should be investigated.
Trivedi also accused Congress of avoiding accountability, remarking, "Congress, which used to question everything, is today refusing to give an account of the case recovered from Parliament."
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari echoed similar concerns, describing the incident as shocking. He said, "A bundle of notes has been recovered from the bench. This is a matter of investigation. The Vice President of India has ordered an inquiry into the matter. I am surprised as to where the bundle of notes are being recovered from Congress leaders... this incident should be investigated."
Adding to the outrage, BJP MP Ravi Kishan stated, "A bundle of notes being recovered from the Parliament is a matter of investigation. This is very shocking." Chaos erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Friday after Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar revealed that a wad of cash was discovered on the seat of Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi during a routine anti-sabotage check. The cash was found under seat number 222, currently allotted to Singhvi, who represents Telangana.
Dhankhar informed the House that an investigation is underway. In response to the RS Chairman's statement, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that he was "astonished" to hear this, adding that if there is a failing in the security agencies that must also be completely exposed.
15:10 'BJP Is A Powerful Machine'
"Mr Modi is a survivor, but certainly questions would have been raised within the BJP if they had lost both Haryana and Maharashtra, which are not being raised because jo jeeta woh sikandar," says senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai whose latest book is the must-read 2024 The Election That Surprised India.
"Six months ago it looked that Modiji is in trouble and the momentum is with Rahul Gandhi. Six months, later the momentum is gone and Modi is going nowhere."
In conversation with Archana Masih/Rediff.com. Video/Photographs: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com.
14:57 Protesting farmers tear-gassed at Shambhu border
Police use tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu Border. The farmers have announced to march towards the National Capital-Delhi over their various demands.
A large contingent of farmers gathered at the Shambhu border from where they proposed to march towards Delhi later. Drone visuals from the site showed large groups of farmers converging at the border.
At the Shambhu border, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that there would be a group of 100 farmers who would be marching towards Delhi peacefully and have no intention of breaking the barricades present. Speaking to ANI, Pandher said, "The central and state governments had told the Supreme Court that they had a problem with farmers moving towards Delhi on tractors. A group of 100 farmers will move towards Delhi peacefully. We have no intention of breaking the barricades. We hope that the government allows us to move towards Delhi and protest peacefully. The doors for talk are open from the farmers side. We have been saying that if the government wants to talk, then they show us the letter of the the central government or the CM's office of Haryana or Punjab."
14:46 Farmers remove barricades
Protesting farmers remove the barricades as they try to cross over the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border. They have been stopped at the Shambhu border from heading towards Delhi.
Rahul pays his respects to Dr Ambedkar
14:43 Modiji sansad me aao: Rahul demands Adani probe
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, asking him to attend the Winter Session of Parliament and not to be "afraid" of investigation on Adani.
Taking to social media platform Facebook, Rahul Gandhi wrote, "Modi ji sansad me aao, Adani par jaanch se mat ghabrao (Modi ji come to Parliament, don't be afraid of investigation)."
Congress along with their INDIA bloc allies have been persistent with their demand of discussing Adani's indictment by United States since the beginning of Winter Session.
Earlier in the day, Opposition MPs wore masks symbolising their protest over the Adani issue which mentioned, "Modi Adani, Bhai Bhai." Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were also seen holding a copy of the Constitution in their hand. -- ANI
14:17 Did Stalin meet Adani for electricity contract?
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin did not meet industrialist Gautam Adani nor was any contract signed with the Adani group, state Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji stated on Friday and warned of legal action against those spreading rumours in this regard.
The DMK regime did not enter into any contract and there was only a case pertaining to the purchase of power at 7.01 per unit pending in the supreme court, he said, referring to the 2015 agreement entered upon during the AIADMK rule for a 25-year period to buy power from the company's 648 MW solar plant in Ramanathapuram district.
"It is only understandable that the half-baked politicians try to portray the AIADMK government's power purchase decision as the DMK government's power purchase decision, as if they are ignorant of the supreme court case. They lack the courage to criticise the Adani company or the AIADMK," Balaji said in a statement. "No agreement was signed with the Adani group during the DMK regime and the chief minister did not meet the industrialist as falsely claimed," the minister reiterated in the statement.
"Strict legal action will be initiated against those spreading a campaign to defame the chief minister," Balaji said and condemned the opposition parties and the media for spreading a fictitious campaign that Stalin met Adani and signed an agreement to get solar power at a high price. PTI
13:47 HC seeks Centre's stand on Rahul Gandhi's citizenship
The Delhi high court on Friday directed the Centre to place its stand on Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking directions to the Ministry of Home Affairs to decide over Gandhi's Indian citizenship.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela orally asked the proxy counsel for the Central government to take instructions in the matter.
"We want to have the assistance of the counsel from the state before we pass any order," the bench said.
The court, which was initially inclined to issue notice on the petition, was informed by the Centre's proxy counsel that the lawyer who was earlier representing the government in the matter was designated as a senior advocate.
He therefore sought some time for a new counsel to be engaged in the case.
The bench subsequently posted the matter on January 13, 2025.
Swamy's plea, filed by advocate Satya Sabharwal, said on August 6, 2019, a letter was sent to the ministry alleging Gandhi had 'voluntarily disclosed' to the British government that he was a citizen of British nationality, amounting to holding a British passport.
Swamy therefore said the Congress leader, being an Indian citizen, had violated Article 9 of the Constitution, read with the Indian Citizenship Act, and would cease to be an Indian citizen.
He claimed of having made several representations to the ministry inquiring about the status of his complaint but neither was any action taken nor was he intimated about it. -- PTI
UP police detains protesting farmers
13:17 Guess who supported farmers' stir against Centre?
The Congress on Friday reiterated its support for farmers' demands and said their protests have received a "huge booster dose" from no less a person than Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
The opposition party's assertion came ahead of a scheduled march by a group of farmers to Delhi from their protest site at the Shambhu border on the Punjab and Haryana border.
Also, the remarks comes days after Dhankhar, speaking at a ceremony to mark the centenary of ICAR-CIRCOT in Mumbai, said, "Agriculture minister, I request you to please tell me, what was promised to the farmer? Why was the promise not fulfilled? What should we do to fulfil the promise? There was a movement last year, there is a movement this year, too."
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh noted farmers are marching to Parliament Friday.
"Their protests received a huge booster dose from no less a person than the Vice President and Hon'ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha himself," Ramesh said in his post on X.
"Farmers and their organisations have been agitating for the following demands - Legal guarantee for MSP, setting of MSP at 1.5 times the comprehensive cost of cultivation, as recommended by the MS Swaminathan Commission and one-time debt relief for farmers - just as banks have written off Rs 16 lakh crores of defaulting private companies," he said.
They are also demanding decisions on import and export of agricultural commodities be taken by an independent agency in which farmers are adequately represented, he said. The farmers want the PM Fasal Bima Yojana - currently geared towards benefiting insurance companies - to be restructured to meet farmer interests and concerns, Ramesh said.
The Indian National Congress fully supports these and other demands put forth by the farmer organisations, he asserted. Ramesh also shared the NYAY guarantees the Congress had promised in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls which included giving legal guarantee for MSP, fixing of MSP as per the Swaminathan Commission's formula and debt waiver. The farmers are marching to force the Centre for a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops. A heavy deployment of security personnel has been made on the Haryana side of the border.
-- PTI
13:06 LS washout after BJP's claims of Congress-Soros links
Lok Sabha proceedings were on Friday adjourned for the day amid protests by opposition members over BJP's attempts to link the Congress party to US-based billionaire investor George Soros.
BJP member Nishikant Dubey raised the issue during Zero Hour, plunging the House into chaos with Congress members trooping to the Well of the House. Samajwadi Party member Dharmendra Yadav and Trinamool member Saugata Roy were also up on their feet, apparently in support of the Congress.
Dubey had also raised the issue on Thursday, prompting the Congress members to rise in protests against BJP's attempts to link Soros with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. On Friday, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon within a minute of assembling at 11 am as Congress members Gaurav Gogoi and K C Venugopal tried to counter the allegations levelled by Dubey.
When the House re-assembled at noon, BJP member Dilip Saikia, who was in the chair, allowed laying of parliamentary papers on the table of the House, before calling Dubey to speak on the issue he could not complete on Thursday. Congress members trooped to the Well of the House raising slogans against the BJP and the government.
Saikia then adjourned the proceedings for the day. At 11 am, opposition members mostly from the Congress, tried to raise some issues which the Speaker objected to. "You don't want to allow the Question Hour to continue ? The House has high standard and I can't allow it to be lowered. I can't allow the dignity of the House to be lowered," he said and adjourned the House immediately.
While the House could not function properly in the first week of the winter session due to protests by opposition members demanding to raise issues related to the Adani group and Sambhal violence, it functioned properly on Tuesday and Wednesday. -- PTI
12:53 1987 Hashimpura massacre: 8 convicts get bail
The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to eight convicts in the infamous 1987 Hashimpura massacre case of 38 persons by the personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih took note of the submissions of senior advocate Amit Anand Tiwari, appearing for four convicts, that they are suffering prolonged incarceration after the Delhi High Court reversed their acquittal by the trial court in the case.
The Hashimpura massacre occurred on May 22, 1987 when Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel, belonging to the 41st Battalion's 'C-Company,' allegedly rounded up approximately 50 Muslim men from Hashimpura, a locality in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, during communal tensions.
The victims were taken to the outskirts of the city, where they were shot, and their bodies were dumped in a canal. The incident resulted in the death of 38 persons with only five survivors left to recount the horror.
On Friday, senior advocate Tiwari, representing four of the appellantsSami Ullah, Niranjan Lal, Mahesh Prasad, and Jaipal Singhargued that the appellants have been in jail for over six years since the High Court's judgment. He highlighted that the appellants were previously acquitted by the trial court and that their conduct during the trial and appeal process had been exemplary.
Furthermore, it was contended that the reversal of the trial court's well-reasoned acquittal by the High Court was based on erroneous grounds. The court took note of the submissions and allowed eight pending bail pleas of as many convicts. PTI
12:25 Aisa chillar kaam! Cong on BJP's Singhvi claim
Chaos erupted in the upper house after Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday informed the house that a wad of cash was found on a seat belonging to Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi by secruity officials.
In response to the RS Chairman's statement, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that he was "astonished" to hear this, adding that if there is a failing in the security agencies that must also be completely exposed.
"I am quite astonished to even hear about it. I never heard of it. I reached the inside of the House yesterday at 12.57 pm. The House rose at 1 pm. From 1 to 1:30 pm, I sat with Ayodhya Prasad in the canteen and had lunch. At 1:30 pm, I left Parliament. So my total stay in the House yesterday was 3 minutes and my stay in the canteen was 30 minutes. I find it bizarre that even on such issues politics is raised. Of course there must be an inquiry as to how people can come and put anything anywhere in any seat. It means that each of us must have a seat where the seat itself can be locked and the key can be carried home by the MP because everybody can then do things on the seat and make allegations about this. If it was not tragic and serious it would be comical. I think everybody should cooperate in getting to the bottom of this and if there is a failing in the security agencies that must also be completely exposed," Singhvi told ANI.
LoP In the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge responded to Chairman Dhankhar saying that the Chair should not have named the MP if the matter was under investigation.
"I am not going beyond that, I know that you will not allow us. You said that this matter is under investigation then his/her name should not have been taken. I request that until the investigation is done and the authenticity of the incident is established, a member should not be named. Can he do like this? Aaisa chillar kaam karte hai aur desh ko of barbaad kar rahe hai yeh log (BJP)," Kharge said.
11:45 Wad of notes found at Cong MP's seat in Parl
A wad of Rs 500 currency notes recovered from Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi in Parliament.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar says, "I here by inform the members that during the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber after the adjournment of the House yesterday. Apparently, a wad of currency notes was recovered by the security officials from seat number 222 which is presently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from the state of Telangana. The matter was brought to my notice, and I made sure an investigation takes place and the same is underway."
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says "As per the routine protocol, the anti-sabotage team checked the seats just to wind up the proceedings and the house. During that procedure, the note was found and the seat numbers were deciphered and the members also signed that day. I don't understand why there should be an objection that the Chair should not take the name of the member.
"The Chairman has rightly pointed out the seat number and the member who occupies that particular seat number. What is wrong with that? Why there should be an objection?
"Don't you think that while we are going towards digital India, carrying a bundle of notes in the House is appropriate? We don't carry note bundles in the house. I fully agree with the observation of the Chairman that there must be a serious investigation and the concerns raised by the members are also very genuine."
On RS Chairman statement of 'a wad of currency notes recovered from the bench of Abhishek Manu Singhvi', CPI MP P. Santhosh Kumar says, "Since this was announced by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, I think it is authentic information. There is no point in mentioning the seat number in this case. Others can also keep them. Let the investigation continue. It seems a very strange matter."
Singhvi responds: "Never heard of it till now. I carry one Rs 500 note when I go to Rajya Sabha. I heard about this for the first time. I reached the House at 12:57 pm and the house rose at 1 pm, then I sat in the canteen till 1:30 pm and then I left the parliament."
11:23 Farmers' march to Delhi: Nightmare traffic jam!
Heavy traffic snarl seen on Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. A 'jatha' (group) of 101 farmers will embark on a foot march to Delhi at 1 pm on Friday from their protest site at the Shambhu border on the Punjab and Haryana border.
The farmers are marching to force the Centre for a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops. A heavy deployment of security personnel has been made on the Haryana side of the border.
The Ambala district administration has already issued an order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), restricting any unlawful assembly of five or more persons in the district.
According to the order issued by the deputy commissioner, any procession on foot, vehicles, or other modes has been prohibited till further orders. -- PTI
An Indian bus was attacked in Bangladesh recently
11:09 What's brewing? B'desh summons its Kolkata envoy
Bangladesh has summoned Shikder Mohammad Ashrafur Rahman, the Acting Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, for urgent consultations following protests over attacks on Hindu minorities.
Rahman, who is also Minister - Political Affairs, stationed in Kolkata, has returned to Dhaka. Ashrafur Rahman was called for urgent consultations following ongoing protests outside our mission in Kolkata.
Additionally, he will be part of the delegation during the foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries slated for next week. He will be back by the middle of this month, a senior official of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata told PTI on condition of anonymity.
The mission in Kolkata has witnessed multiple protests over the past week by political parties and religious groups condemning the reported atrocities against Hindus minorities in Bangladesh. In a related development, the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, Tripura, suspended all visa and consular services on Tuesday, citing security reasons.
The decision followed an incident where protesters breached the mission's premises on Monday to protest the arrest of Hindu spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in Dhaka. Amid rising tensions, the Bangladesh foreign ministry summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka to register its protest over the vandalism at the mission in Agartala.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is expected to visit Bangladesh next week for the foreign secretary-level meeting, marking the first high-level interaction between the two nations since the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus assumed office on August 8, following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister. -- PTI
10:56 RBI keeps policy rate unchanged, cuts GDP forecast to 6.6%
The Reserve Bank of India on Friday decided to keep the policy rate unchanged for the 11th time in a row but sharply lowered the GDP growth forecast to 6.6 per cent for the current fiscal, as against earlier projection of 7.2 per cent.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintained the status quo on interest rate despite July-September quarter GDP growth falling to 7-quarter low of 5.4 per cent, as against its own projection of 7 per cent.
The rate increase cycle was paused in April last year after six consecutive rate hikes, aggregating to 250 basis points since May 2022.
Announcing the fifth bi-monthly monetary policy for the current financial year, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent while keeping policy stance unchanged at neutral. He said MPC will remain watchful of incoming macroeconomic data for future action.
The RBI sharply cut the GDP growth projection to 6.6 per cent from the earlier level of 7.2 per cent, while raising inflation target to 4.8 per cent from the previous projection of 4.5 per cent for the current fiscal. -- PTI
10:32 Mystery spray at Pushpa 2 screening, causes...
Mumbai Police are investigating an incident at Galaxy Theatre in Bandra after a disruption during the screening of the much-awaited movie, 'Pushpa 2: The Rule'.
According to audience members, the movie was halted for about 15-20 minutes after the interval when an unidentified person reportedly sprayed a substance, causing coughing, throat irritation, and vomiting among cinema-goers.
Deen Dayal, a moviegoer at the theatre, shared his experience and said, "We came out during the interval. After going back in, it seemed that someone had sprayed something causing coughing among the audience. The show was halted for around 10 minutes... The police are here checking everyone..."
"As soon as we went back after the interval, we started coughing. We went to the bathroom and vomited. The smell stayed for 10-15 minutes. The smell faded away after the doors were opened. The movie resumed after that. The police are inside conducting an investigation,"Ramzan, who came out of Bandra's Galaxy theatre after watching the film, told ANI.
Meanwhile, on December 4, fans of actor Allu Arjun thronged the Sandhya theatre in Hyderabad ahead of the premiere show of his film 'Pushpa 2: The Rule'. Police resorted to mild lathi-charge to control the crowd. A woman died, while a child suffered injuries in the stampede. -- ANI
10:12 RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5%
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das says, "The Monetary Policy Committee decided by a majority of 4:2 to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5%. The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate remains at 6.25% and the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 6.75%."
The top gainers in the markets yesterday
10:01 Sensex waits with beating heart for RBI policy
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty turned highly volatile trade in early trade on Friday ahead of the announcement of the RBI monetary policy.
The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex declined 75.16 points to 81,690.70 in early trade. The NSE Nifty dipped 25.45 points to 24,682.95. Both the benchmark equity indices were later trading between highs and lows.
From the 30-share pack, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Larsen & Toubro, Reliance Industries, UltraTech Cement and HDFC Bank were among the laggards. ITC, Power Grid, Mahindra & Mahindra, ICICI Bank, Adani Ports and Bharti Airtel were among the gainers. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 8,539.91 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data. -- PTI
BJP MLA Kalidas Kolambkar
09:28 BJP MLA who will be Maha pro-tem Speaker is...
BJP MLA Kalidas Kolambkar will take oath as the pro-tem Speaker of the Maharashtra legislative assembly on Friday, a day before the special three-day session of the Lower House of the state legislature begins.
Talking to PTI this morning, Kolambkar, a nine-time MLA, confirmed that he will take oath as the pro-tem speaker at 1 pm at the Raj Bhavan. Governor C P Radhakrishnan will administer the oath to him, he said. Kolambkar currently represents the Wadala assembly constituency in Mumbai. As pro-tem speaker, he will administer the oath of office to 288 newly-elected MLAs, conduct the assembly speaker's election during the three-day special session of the 15th assembly beginning December 7.
The speaker's election will be held on December 9 followed by a trust vote of the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government. Fadnavis on Thursday evening took oath as the state chief minister, while leaders of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, were sworn in as deputy chief ministers at a grand ceremony in south Mumbai's sprawling Azad Maidan.
The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP Mahayuti coalition won 230 out of the 288 assembly seats in the elections held on November 20. The winter session of the state legislature will be held in Nagpur from December 16 to 21. -- PTI
09:24 PM Modi pays tributes to Ambedkar on death anniversary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes to the main architect of the Constitution, B R Ambedkar, on his death anniversary, saying his tireless fight for equality and human dignity continues to inspire generations.
"On Mahaparinirvan Diwas, we bow to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of our Constitution and a beacon of social justice. Dr. Ambedkar's tireless fight for equality and human dignity continues to inspire generations. Today, as we remember his contributions, we also reiterate our commitment to fulfilling his vision. Also sharing a picture from my visit to Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai earlier this year. Jai Bhim!" the PM shared.
09:18 The Northeast dares India to reinvent Itself
The attitude of treating the Northeast as an alien territory started with British colonialism. Today, it challenges the independent nation's capacity to fuse its fringes with the mainstream, writes Pradip Phanjoubam. Read the column here.
09:17 How closing prices of stocks will now be decided...
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Thursday proposed introducing a separate call auction session (CAS) after the market hours to determine the closing price of stocks in the equity cash market, akin to the mechanism followed globally.
In a consultation paper, Sebi proposed introducing a call-auction mechanism for determining the closing price of each stock through a separate 15-minute session between 3:30 pm and 3:45 pm.
The proposed mechanism would initially be available only for stocks in the derivatives segment and later extended to others in a phased manner.The new mechanism will replace the current practice of determining the closing price through the last half an hour's volume weighted average price (VWAP).Currently, the closing price of the stocks is calculated by weighing the prices of a scrip during the last 30 minutes of trading by the volume executed at each price.
However, several international passive fund houses have suggested that India should adopt a call auction session, as the current mechanism for determining the closing price results in significant price volatility and carries a high risk of large orders not being completed.
Fund houses said this adds to the tracking difference of a passive fund -- a key metric used to analyse the performance of an index-tracking fund. The tracking difference is seen to be more affected during derivative expiry days and index rebalancing days, when Indian stocks are added to or deleted from major global indices.The market regulator has sought public comments on the proposed functioning and framework of the CAS on aspects such as price limits, order execution, and calculation of the settlement price, among others.
In its analysis, Sebi stated that foreign portfolio investors and mutual funds might prefer executing their trades at the close price discovered through the CAS.
The market regulator observed that the tracking difference on index rebalancing days for certain international passive funds in their orders for Indian stocks averaged at -3.39 basis points (bps) -- substantially higher than the average of -0.19 bps across all other days.
Sebi observed that on days of stock additions or deletions in MSCI Global Standard Indexes, volatility during the last half hour was 3.3 times and 2.9 times higher than the volatility observed from the opening to 2:30 pm.
With the introduction of CAS, the current post-closing session at exchanges will be discontinued.
-- Khushboo Tiwari/Business Standard
09:14 Hyundai to increase car prices by up to Rs 25,000
Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) on Thursday announced a price hike of up to Rs 25,000 across its model range, effective January 1, 2025. The adjustment is attributed to escalating input costs, unfavorable exchange rates, and higher logistics expenses.
The revised pricing will apply to all models from the MY25 lineup. Tarun Garg, whole-time director and chief operating officer, HMIL, said: "At Hyundai Motor India, our endeavour is always to absorb rising costs to the extent possible, ensuring minimal impact on our customers. However, with the sustained increase in input costs, it has now become imperative to pass on a part of this cost escalation through a minor price adjustment."
The decision comes as the auto industry grapples with rising expenses across key components and commodities. Prices of aluminum, a major input for automobile manufacturing widely used for engine parts and lightweight vehicle frames, have seen a year-on-year increase of around 10.6 per cent.
The prices of zinc, tin and copper have surged by 16.5 per cent, 13.3 per cent and 5.3 paper cent respectively. Rubber prices have also increased by about 26.8 per cent due to constrained global supplies according to Bloomberg data.
The impact of these cost pressures is compounded by elevated logistics expenses. A disruption in global shipping routes, particularly along the Red Sea, has resulted in an increase in container rates in 2024 compared to the previous year. Additionally, the adverse currency movements have further inflated the cost of imported components.
-- Anjali Singh/Business Standard
09:12 Myntra launches 30-minute 'M-Now'
In a bid to gain first mover edge, Myntra has announced the launch of 'M-Now', which would enable shoppers to receive their orders in about 30 minutes. This quick-commerce offering will be initially available in Bengaluru, and will be expanded to more cities later.
Already applicable on a wide collection of 10,000 styles, across fashion, beauty, accessories and home, the one-of-its-kind expedited delivery feature is slated to be scaled to over 1 lakh styles in the next 3-4 months. With this, Myntra is now among the first vertical players of scale globally to start delivering fashion at hyper speed.
"Together with the brands, M-Now will play a transformative role in advancing our collective mission to expand fashion possibilities and reshape India's lifestyle shopping experience,' said Nandita Sinha, CEO, Myntra.
"This is just the beginning, and as we advance in our M-Now journey, Myntra will continue to sharpen the offering on multiple fronts, including selection and the speed promise," Sinha said.
Myntra is part of the Flipkart Group, which is owned by US retailer Walmart. It competes with Amazon Fashion, Reliance Ajio and other online fashion retailers to tap the fashion e-commerce market of India, which is projected to expand from $16-17 billion today to an estimated $40-45 billion by 2028.
-- Peerzada Abrar/Business Standard
08:52 FPIs back in droves in December
Anjali Kumari/Business Standard
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have made a strong return to Indias debt and equity markets this December, partly reversing two months of consecutive outflows.
With US Treasury yields stabilising and softer-than-expected domestic GDP growth in Q2FY25 sparking expectations of a potential rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India on Friday, FPIs have net bought Rs 7,908 crore worth of government securities under the Fully Accessible Route (FAR) so far this month.
At the same time, they have significantly increased their equity holdings, investing nearly Rs 24,500 crore in Indian stocks during the first four trading sessions of December, including Rs 8,540 crore on Thursday alone.
FPIs turning buyers is a bullish signal for the market, particularly for largecap stocks, said V K Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Financial Services.
This resurgence follows a sharp pullback in October and November.
FPIs sold Rs 5,142 crore and Rs 5,187 crore worth of FAR securities in October and Novmber, respectively.
In the same period, equity outflows totalled approximately Rs 91,983 crore in October and Rs 18,259 crore in November.
Analysts attribute these declines to the rise in US Treasury yields, the strengthening dollar, and the 'Trump trade that shifted investor focus to US equities, besides an underwhelming Q2 earnings season for India Inc.
"FPIs have come back to the market because of (softer) GDP data and in the anticipation of the RBI monetary policy decision on Friday," said Vikas Goel, CEO, PNB Gilts.
The RBIs upcoming monetary policy review is expected to maintain interest rates due to elevated retail inflation levels, despite Indias economic growth rate slowing down to 5.4 per cent in the second quarter of FY25.
In the debt segment altogether, despite recent volatility, FPIs injected Rs 876 crore in November, in stark contrast to the Rs 5,142 crore outflow in October, which witnessed the first net monthly outflow from FAR securities since April this year.
We could see some stability in December, said a treasury head at a private bank, noting that US yields have stabilised after surging to 4.40 per cent following Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election. Market participants noted that December is typically a quiet period as books are closed.
Looking ahead, inflows into Indian markets are expected to rise next year, particularly with Indias inclusion in the Bloomberg Index in January 2025 and a repo rate cut anticipated in February.
The inclusion of Indian bonds in the Bloomberg Emerging Market Local Currency Government Index is seen as a key driver of foreign inflows, complementing Indias recent inclusion in JP Morgans indices.
The US yields have relatively stabilised compared to the previous month, and I believe FPIs will return to the debt market. We also have index inclusion in January, said a dealer at a State-owned bank.
Since the inclusion of Indian bonds in the JP Morgan Government Bond IndexEmerging Market (GBI-EM) on June 28 this year, FAR securities have received a net inflow of Rs 56,498 crore.
The phased inclusion process will gradually assign Indian government bonds a 10 per cent weight in the GBI-EM index, further solidifying Indias status as a key investment destination.
Of the 38 bonds under the Fully Accessible Route, only 27 meet the eligibility criteria for the JP Morgan bond index, which mandates a face value of over $1 billion and a remaining maturity of more than 2.5 years.
The inclusion process will unfold over 10 months, with a 1 per cent weight added each month, culminating in a 10 per cent total weight by March 31, 2025.
FPI investment in FAR securities has surged, doubling to exceed the Rs 2 trillion mark within just nine months of JP Morgan's announcement in September 2023 to include Indian debt in its index. The investment in FAR securities exceeded Rs 1 trillion on October 16, 2023.
Inputs from Sundar Sethuraman in Mumbai
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have made a strong return to Indias debt and equity markets this December, partly reversing two months of consecutive outflows.
With US Treasury yields stabilising and softer-than-expected domestic GDP growth in Q2FY25 sparking expectations of a potential rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India on Friday, FPIs have net bought Rs 7,908 crore worth of government securities under the Fully Accessible Route (FAR) so far this month.
At the same time, they have significantly increased their equity holdings, investing nearly Rs 24,500 crore in Indian stocks during the first four trading sessions of December, including Rs 8,540 crore on Thursday alone.
FPIs turning buyers is a bullish signal for the market, particularly for largecap stocks, said V K Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Financial Services.
This resurgence follows a sharp pullback in October and November.
FPIs sold Rs 5,142 crore and Rs 5,187 crore worth of FAR securities in October and Novmber, respectively.
In the same period, equity outflows totalled approximately Rs 91,983 crore in October and Rs 18,259 crore in November.
Analysts attribute these declines to the rise in US Treasury yields, the strengthening dollar, and the 'Trump trade that shifted investor focus to US equities, besides an underwhelming Q2 earnings season for India Inc.
"FPIs have come back to the market because of (softer) GDP data and in the anticipation of the RBI monetary policy decision on Friday," said Vikas Goel, CEO, PNB Gilts.
The RBIs upcoming monetary policy review is expected to maintain interest rates due to elevated retail inflation levels, despite Indias economic growth rate slowing down to 5.4 per cent in the second quarter of FY25.
In the debt segment altogether, despite recent volatility, FPIs injected Rs 876 crore in November, in stark contrast to the Rs 5,142 crore outflow in October, which witnessed the first net monthly outflow from FAR securities since April this year.
We could see some stability in December, said a treasury head at a private bank, noting that US yields have stabilised after surging to 4.40 per cent following Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election. Market participants noted that December is typically a quiet period as books are closed.
Looking ahead, inflows into Indian markets are expected to rise next year, particularly with Indias inclusion in the Bloomberg Index in January 2025 and a repo rate cut anticipated in February.
The inclusion of Indian bonds in the Bloomberg Emerging Market Local Currency Government Index is seen as a key driver of foreign inflows, complementing Indias recent inclusion in JP Morgans indices.
The US yields have relatively stabilised compared to the previous month, and I believe FPIs will return to the debt market. We also have index inclusion in January, said a dealer at a State-owned bank.
Since the inclusion of Indian bonds in the JP Morgan Government Bond IndexEmerging Market (GBI-EM) on June 28 this year, FAR securities have received a net inflow of Rs 56,498 crore.
The phased inclusion process will gradually assign Indian government bonds a 10 per cent weight in the GBI-EM index, further solidifying Indias status as a key investment destination.
Of the 38 bonds under the Fully Accessible Route, only 27 meet the eligibility criteria for the JP Morgan bond index, which mandates a face value of over $1 billion and a remaining maturity of more than 2.5 years.
The inclusion process will unfold over 10 months, with a 1 per cent weight added each month, culminating in a 10 per cent total weight by March 31, 2025.
FPI investment in FAR securities has surged, doubling to exceed the Rs 2 trillion mark within just nine months of JP Morgan's announcement in September 2023 to include Indian debt in its index. The investment in FAR securities exceeded Rs 1 trillion on October 16, 2023.
Inputs from Sundar Sethuraman in Mumbai
08:48 Indian Ambassador to China calls on Army chief
Indian Ambassador to China, Pradeep Kumar Rawat on Thursday called on the Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and discussed several geostrategic issues, said the Indian Army.
They also deliberated upon various aspects related to the relations between the two countries and issues related to strengthening our defence preparedness, reports ANI.
In a social media post on X, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG-PI) wrote, 'Strengthening India, Pradeep Kumar Rawat, Ambassador of India to China, called on General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS and discussed a range of geostrategic issues. They also deliberated upon various aspects related to the relations between the two countries and issues related to strengthening our defence preparedness.'
08:43 Attacks on Hindus: Bangladesh govt seeks help from religious leaders
Bangladesh interim government head Muhammad Yunus has sought the cooperation of the religious leaders in collecting accurate information about attacks on minorities and bringing the perpetrators to justice amid reports of attacks on Hindus in the country.
Speaking at a meeting of religious leaders of Bangladesh in Dhaka, Chief Adviser Yunus said that the issue of attacks on minorities has come up again and there is a gap of information between the reality and the news published by foreign media.
"We want to know the accurate information and want to establish the process of getting the information," he was quoted as saying by the state-run BSS news agency.
Yunus did not specify the 'foreign' media, but several of his colleagues in the interim cabinet and aides have accused a section of Indian media of propagating misleading information, particularly on persecution of the Hindu community.
Addressing the meeting attended by leaders of the Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Buddhist communities, Yunus said he called the meeting as 'several questions aroused in my mind seeing what the (foreign) media reports and hearing what people are saying' and sought the religious leaders cooperation and suggestions in collecting 'accurate information' and addressing the issue.
"There is no difference between our goals. Please tell us how we will get the correct information. At times dependence on official information gives no benefit. They (officials often) say what will appease the superior, preferring not to speak out the truth," he said.
Yunus said all the citizens of Bangladesh have equal rights and it's the responsibility of the state to ensure their rights are guaranteed.
If any incident of attack on minorities takes place in the country, information must be collected immediately on such incidents and the perpetrators must be brought to justice, he said.
"Those who are guilty must be held accountable for their actions," he said.
The chief adviser stressed taking measures to create an environment to prevent such incidents and ensuring immediate remedy for victims.
"I think most of the people of Bangladesh agree with what I have said," he added.
"We are not enemies of one another despite our differences," he was quoted by the Daily Star newspaper as telling the religious leaders.
"I have asked you to join (today's dialogue) to know how information could be gleaned in a safer way so that the information providers do not fall in trouble," he said.
Yunus said when he assumed the office in August following then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster, reports of minority repression prompted him to issue a clarion call for national unity as 'one family' despite differences in faiths, opinions and traditions.
Referring to his visit to Dhakeswari Temple in Dhaka on the occasion of Durga Puja, he said the Hindu festival was celebrated with festivity in the country while people from all strata joined it, turning the event into a national festival.
The minority Hindu community in Muslim-majority Bangladesh has reportedly faced more than 200 attacks in 50-odd districts after Hasina's Awami League government fell on August 5. -- PTI
Speaking at a meeting of religious leaders of Bangladesh in Dhaka, Chief Adviser Yunus said that the issue of attacks on minorities has come up again and there is a gap of information between the reality and the news published by foreign media.
"We want to know the accurate information and want to establish the process of getting the information," he was quoted as saying by the state-run BSS news agency.
Yunus did not specify the 'foreign' media, but several of his colleagues in the interim cabinet and aides have accused a section of Indian media of propagating misleading information, particularly on persecution of the Hindu community.
Addressing the meeting attended by leaders of the Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Buddhist communities, Yunus said he called the meeting as 'several questions aroused in my mind seeing what the (foreign) media reports and hearing what people are saying' and sought the religious leaders cooperation and suggestions in collecting 'accurate information' and addressing the issue.
"There is no difference between our goals. Please tell us how we will get the correct information. At times dependence on official information gives no benefit. They (officials often) say what will appease the superior, preferring not to speak out the truth," he said.
Yunus said all the citizens of Bangladesh have equal rights and it's the responsibility of the state to ensure their rights are guaranteed.
If any incident of attack on minorities takes place in the country, information must be collected immediately on such incidents and the perpetrators must be brought to justice, he said.
"Those who are guilty must be held accountable for their actions," he said.
The chief adviser stressed taking measures to create an environment to prevent such incidents and ensuring immediate remedy for victims.
"I think most of the people of Bangladesh agree with what I have said," he added.
"We are not enemies of one another despite our differences," he was quoted by the Daily Star newspaper as telling the religious leaders.
"I have asked you to join (today's dialogue) to know how information could be gleaned in a safer way so that the information providers do not fall in trouble," he said.
Yunus said when he assumed the office in August following then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster, reports of minority repression prompted him to issue a clarion call for national unity as 'one family' despite differences in faiths, opinions and traditions.
Referring to his visit to Dhakeswari Temple in Dhaka on the occasion of Durga Puja, he said the Hindu festival was celebrated with festivity in the country while people from all strata joined it, turning the event into a national festival.
The minority Hindu community in Muslim-majority Bangladesh has reportedly faced more than 200 attacks in 50-odd districts after Hasina's Awami League government fell on August 5. -- PTI
The entrance of the Uday Pratap College/Courtesy Uday Pratap College online
01:46 Namaaz row: UP college bars outsiders amid tension
Amid escalating tensions at the Uday Pratap College in Varanasi over a mosque located on its premises, the police on Thursday restricted outsiders' entry to the campus, allowing only students with valid identity cards.
The move follows Tuesday's unrest after students recited Hanuman Chalisa when namaaz was being offered near the mosque.
Seven men were briefly detained after the row on Tuesday, according to the local police.
Student leader Vivekanand Singh on Thursday said, "Police personnel are stationed at the college gate, checking identity cards to ensure that no outsiders enter the campus. A group of students is also monitoring the gate."
He added that no one came to offer namaaz on Thursday and that additional precautions will be taken on Friday during the jumma prayers.
In a related development, students of the college have formed a "student court" and sent an 11-point letter to the Uttar Pradesh Waqf Board, demanding a response within 15 days regarding the status of the mosque and its ownership.
Separately, Mohammad Yaseen, joint secretary of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, said he wrote to the Uttar Pradesh Central Waqt Board to check the status of the mosque on Tuesday itself.
"The Uttar Pradesh Central Waqf Board has clarified that its 2018 notice claiming the mosque as Waqf property was cancelled on January 18, 2021. There is no reason for the current controversy," Yaseen claimed.
The tensions arose after students protested against "outsiders" offering prayers at the mosque, citing concerns about unauthorised entry into the college campus. -- PTI
File image
01:02 Nykaa Fashion CEO Nihir Parikh quits with immediate effect
Nykaa Fashion chief executive officer Nihir Parikh has resigned and has been relieved with immediate effect, the company said in a regulatory filing on Thursday.
Nykaa Fashion is the fashion vertical of FSN E-commerce Ventures Ltd.
"Nihir Parikh has resigned effective December 5, 2024, on account of personal commitments. He has been relieved from the services w.e.f. (with effect from) close of business hours of December 5, 2024," FSN E-commerce Ventures said in the filing.
Nykaa in a statement issued separately said Parikh will continue to contribute to Nykaa Fashion as a member of its board of directors.
The fashion vertical accounts for less than 10 per cent of the company's revenue and it still loss-making.
The beauty segment of the company accounts for the majority of the revenue. Nykaa posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 12.97 crore and a revenue of Rs 1,874 crore for the September quarter.
Nykaa recently appointed Abhijeet Dabas as executive vice president and Business Head - Fashion eCommerce. -- PTI
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