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Sat, 04 January 2025

What Diljit Dosanjh discussed with Modi. Deets Here

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21:00   What Diljit Dosanjh discussed with Modi. Deets Here
India has the potential to host music festivals that are bigger in scale than renowned global events like Coachella, Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh said during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on New Year's Day. 
 
The globally popular singer met the prime minister at his residence on Wednesday where they discussed music, culture, and India's artistic legacy. 

During the meeting, PM Modi asked Dosanjh about his experience of travelling outside of India and performing at various global festivals like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2023.

"I feel that they have made festivals like Coachella or any other very big. And I believe we can make it much bigger. People travel from all over the world for such festivals," said the 40-year-old singer.

Dosanjh said music is embedded in India's cultural fabric and noted how people who are not trained professionally can often display impeccable talent.

"Whether we are eating food in a dhaba or someone is singing in Rajasthani, the song we listen to is so melodious that I feel like I should stop singing. He is singing such a good song. And I sing professionally, this person is not even singing professionally. And he is singing better than me. He has so much art in him.
 
"If such a development happens here, people from all over the world will come," Diljit said.

The prime minister told the singer that he had been thinking about the same for many years.
 
"Now I am doing it through Waves," Modi said, referring to the upcoming World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit.

The summit, to be held from February 5 to 9, is being touted as a global platform for creative talents, fostering collaborations and showcasing the country's potential as a hub for world-class content creation.

"My idea is that we are such a big country, and most of the world's films are made here. The biggest creative industry in the world is here. So I'm trying to start a big movement here through Waves. Now India will be the centre of the creative world," he said.

The prime minister also recalled a discussion about music with Angela Merkel, the former Chancellor of Germany.

"She asked me about music. I told her that in my country, the music before sunrise is different, and the music after sunrise is different. I told her that there are different types of music in India," he said. 

"Then I said whether it is a sad situation or happy situation, there are different types of music. She was very interested," he added.

Dosanjh also spoke about his successful "Dil-Luminati India Tour", which began in New Delhi on October 26 and ended in Ludhiana on December 31.During the two-month tour, Diljit also performed in cities, including Mumbai, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Indore, Bengaluru, and Guwahati. 

"It is the biggest ever tour from India. We performed in so many countries and did so many stadium shows," he said.

"We say 'Mera Bharat Mahaan' but I got to witness this during this tour when I visited different cities. I understood why we say this," he said.
PM Modi said Indian people are very environment friendly and asked Dosanjh to spread awareness about it through his shows.

The prime minister also praised the singer for staying grounded despite the fame he has achieved. -- PTI 
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20:29   Techie Atul Subhash's wife, family members get bail
A city civil court in Bengaluru on Saturday granted bail to engineer Atul Subhash's wife Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha Singhania and brother Anurag Singhania in suicide abetment case.

The 34-year-old techie ended his life on December 9 in Bengaluru, alleging harassment at the hands of his estranged wife and her family.

According to the prosecution, the three accused appeared before the court.

Subhash had alleged that his in-laws had pressurised him to pay Rs 3 crore for divorse.

Based on his 40-page suicide note and a one-and-half hour video explaining the situation that drove him to take the drastic step, the police booked the trio, arrested them and brought them from Uttar Pradesh to Bengaluru. -- PTI
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20:26   50 Bangladeshi judges to undergo training in India
The diplomatic row between Dhaka and New Delhi notwithstanding, as many as 50 Bangladeshi judicial officers will undergo 10 day training at state-run academies in India, according to a media report on Saturday.
   
The Law Ministry has given permission to 50 judicial officials of subordinate courts to undergo training at the National Judicial Academy and State Judicial Academy at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh with no cost to Bangladesh.
 
"The Law Ministry has given permission in the wake of the Supreme Court's advice," Prothom Alo newspaper said.
 
These judicial officers will participate in the training from February 10 to February 20.
 
Assistant Judges, Senior Assistant Judges, Joint District and Sessions Judges, Additional District and Sessions Judges, District and Sessions Judges and officers of equivalent rank have been nominated for the training.
 
A circular signed by Abul Hasanat, Deputy Secretary (Training) of the Law and Justice Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, said that the entire cost of the training will be borne by the Indian government, the report added.
 
India and Bangladesh have witnessed strained ties since the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to New Delhi on August 5 last year following a massive student-led protest that toppled her Awami League's 16-year regime.
 
There have been a series of attacks on Hindu community members and their places of worship after the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus came to power on August 8.
 
New Delhi has already raised concern with Dhaka, especially after a Hindu monk was arrested in a sedition case and put to jail after he was denied bail last month. -- PTI 
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19:54   Mob pelts stones at Bhopal waste incineration unit
A mob on Saturday pelted stones at the firm in Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district where 337 tonnes of Union Carbide waste linked to the Bhopal gas tragedy is proposed to be incinerated, a police official said.
  
A mob of 100-150 persons pelted stones at the gate of the unit, Pithampur police station inspector Om Prakash Ahir told PTI.

A probe is underway to identify those behind the incident and take further legal action, Ahir added.

The incident comes a day after the town was rocked by protests against the disposal plan amid a bandh call given by the Pithampur Bachao Samiti.
On Friday, a mob of 500-600 persons had marched to Ramky Group's Industrial Waste Management Private Limited premises, where the waste is set to be incinerated, but police managed to disperse them in time.

Hours later, the district administration had clamped prohibitory orders under section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Surakhsa Sanhita (BNSS) around the premises of the unit. 

It will be in force till January 12 and has been invoked to avoid loss of life and property, display of arms, celebratory firing and maintaining peace around the incineration facility, the order issued by district authorities on Friday evening read.

On the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, killing at least 5,479 persons and leaving thousands with serious and long-lasting health issues in Bhopal.

The authorities shifted 337 tonnes of waste from the Carbide factory to Pithampur for scientific disposal. The material reached the incineration unit in Pithampur on Thursday.

Pithampur, about 50 kilometres from the Dhar district headquarters, has a population of about 1.75 lakh and its industrial area here has nearly 700 factories in three sectors. -- PTI
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19:14   Kharge sends 'chadar' for Ajmer Sharif dargah with message of peace
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday sent a 'chadar' on his and the party's behalf to be offered at Ajmer Sharif dargah on the occasion of Urs of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

He referred to the Ganga-Jamuni culture of the country and called for spreading love and affection and defeating the forces of hatred. 

Kharge said the roots of national unity and brotherhood are so deep that they cannot be shaken by a few people with distorted mindset.

During the day, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju offered a ceremonial 'chadar' sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the dargah and read out the prime minister's message which called on people from across religions to work together in harmony.

In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge wrote, "With utmost devotion and respect, I feel very fortunate to send a chadar on behalf of myself and the Congress party on the occasion of the 813th Urs Mubarak of Khwaja Garib Nawaz Moinuddin Chishti Ajmeri. Being the Congress President, today I got the opportunity to carry on the tradition which our party carries on year after year."

He said he is praying for the welfare of every citizen of the country and the welfare of the world. 

The symbol of our country's Ganga-Jamuni culture, national unity, mutual brotherhood, love and affection, etiquette and hospitality is behind the offering of the 'chadar', he wrote.

"The message from this should go to the entire world that the roots of national unity and brotherhood in India are so deep that they cannot be shaken by a few people with distorted mindset," Kharge said in his post and also shared pictures with some Muslim leaders holding the 'chadar' at his residence.

The Congress chief said while drafting the Constitution, our ancestors had kept the spirit of national unity at the centre, which it is the duty of every Indian to protect.

He recalled that 2025 is the centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi becoming the Congress president, as in 1924, under his presidency, people from all over the country gathered in Belgaum and gave the message of unity against untouchability, discrimination and hatred.

"We should always remember that the 'merchants of hatred' have snatched the Father of the Nation from us, but his ideas are alive and the Congress party is constantly fighting for this by keeping the concerns of the people at the forefront.

"Therefore, the message of peace and brotherhood should spread from Khwaja's shrine to the entire world," he asserted. -- PTI
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19:03   'Covert' alliance between BJP, Cong: Kejriwal
Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party should formally declare their alliance, amid the two opposition parties sharpening their attacks on the former chief minister ahead of the Delhi assembly polls.
 
Kejriwal also took a dig at the Congress, saying barring a few mediapersons, people had stopped taking the party "seriously".

He alleged a "covert, behind-the-scenes" collaboration between the two parties for the assembly polls.

Relations between AAP and the Congress, both partners in the opposition INDIA bloc, soured after the two sides failed to seal an alliance for the Haryana elections.

AAP has also demanded action against senior Congress leader Ajay Maken for allegedly calling Kejriwal "anti-national" and threatened to approach other parties of the INDIA bloc for removing the grand old party from the grouping.

Earlier on Saturday, some women protested outside Kejriwal's Firozshah Road residence, demanding payment of a monthly honorarium of Rs 1,000 in Punjab, which is also governed by AAP.

In a press conference, Kejriwal claimed the protesting women were from the Congress and the BJP.

"These women belong to the Congress and the BJP, not Punjab. All women in Punjab stand with AAP. They trust us," he asserted.

He further said, "The Congress and the BJP should officially declare that they are contesting the elections against AAP in an alliance. This covert, behind-the-scenes collaboration is unacceptable." -- PTI
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18:56   6 workers killed in explosion at TN fireworks unit
Six workers were killed following an explosion at a firecrackers manufacturing unit near Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, an official said.

The blast occurred in the morning when the workers were engaged in mixing chemical-raw materials, as part of the manufacturing process, leading to the deaths of 6 men and 4 rooms in the factory premises were flattened in the impact.

A worker, Mohammed Sudeen was injured and he was rushed to a government facility in nearby Madurai. Police have registered a case and are investigating.

The deceased were identified as S Sivakumar (56), S Meenakshi Sundaram (46), R Nagaraj (37) and G Velmurugan, S Kamaraj and R Kannan, all the three were aged 54.

Chief Minister M K Stalin, expressing shock and grief over the deaths, said that he has directed officials to ensure special care for the injured worker at the Madurai government hospital.

Conveying his condolences to the bereaved families, he said he has ordered authorities to release from the CM's Public Relief Fund, Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the 6 victims. Also, he has ordered Rs 1 lakh to the injured worker. -- PTI
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18:55   Cong launches 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' campaign
The Congress has announced the launch of a 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' campaign to press for the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah for "insulting" BR Ambedkar, the principal architect of India's Constitution.

Congress leader Pawan Khera said under the campaign, party leaders will organise 'Chaupals' in every district and tell people how the BJP-RSS has been insulting Ambedkar and demeaning the Constitution for decades.

Launched on January 3, the campaign will culminate on January 26 with a grand rally at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, the birthplace of Ambedkar, commemorating 75 years of the Constitution and the Republic, Khera said.

"To safeguard his legacy and values, a 'Samvidhan Bachao Rashtriya Padayatra' will be held from January 26, 2025, to January 26, 2026 -- connecting villages and towns across India with a powerful message of unity and social justice.

"We reiterate our demand to sack Home Minister Amit Shah for his derogatory remarks against Dr Ambedkar," Khera told reporters.

The Congress leader also accused the BJP leadership of trying to "normalise the demonisation" of national leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Babasaheb Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru, who left an indelible mark in the country's history.

"'Make-up artists' cannot replace national icons whose contributions to the nation are immense. Such people have certainly created a name for themselves in the country's history. Icons like Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and Ambedkar cannot be replaced," Khera said.

He also said the campaign aims to awaken and tell the people of the country about BJP's actions and the "insult" to Ambedkar.

Replying to a debate on the Constitution in the Rajya Sabha on December 17, Shah had criticised the Congress for repeatedly taking Ambedkar's name.

"It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar... Had they taken God's name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven," Shah had said.

"We hoped that the home minister would apologise and the prime minister would intervene in this matter. But Prime Minister Modi supported the home minister and became a partner in insulting Ambedkar ji," Khera claimed.

The Congress leader said this issue was also raised at the Belagavi meeting where it was decided that the party will launch a 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' campaign across the country.

"Under this campaign, we will organise 'Chaupals' in every district and tell people how the BJP-RSS has been insulting Ambedkar ji and demeaning the Constitution for decades," Khera said. -- PTI
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18:48   Overhead wire snag hits services on Konkan Railway route
An overhead wire snag affected services on the Konkan Railway route near Ratnagiri station in Maharashtra for almost an hour on Saturday, an official said. 

The incident occurred at Adivali, about 365 km from Mumbai, around 12:35 pm. An official said service resumed after more than an hour.

However, most trains on the route are delayed by three to four hours. 

The Konkan Railway faces an OHE (Overhead Equipment) wire snag at around 12.35 PM. Service resumed at around 13.55 hours, the official said.

He said diesel engines were sent to pull trains stuck at Adivali single line. -- PTI
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18:07   Modi to launch multiple projects in poll-bound Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch multiple development projects, including the inauguration of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat RRTS corridor, worth over Rs 12,200 crore on Sunday and address a public meeting in the poll-bound national capital.
   
According to an official statement, he will also travel in Namo Bharat train between Sahibabad RRTS Station to New Ashok Nagar RRTS Station.
 
In a significant milestone in enhancing regional connectivity, it said, Modi will inaugurate the 13-km stretch of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor between Sahibabad and New Ashok Nagar worth around Rs 4,600 crore.
 
With this inauguration, Delhi will get its first Namo Bharat connectivity.
 
This will significantly ease travel between Delhi and Meerut and will benefit millions of people through high-speed and comfortable travel along with unmatched safety and reliability, it said.
 
Modi will inaugurate the 2.8-km stretch between Janakpuri and Krishna Park of Delhi Metro Phase-IV worth around Rs 1,200 crore. This is the first stretch of Delhi Metro Phase-IV to be inaugurated.
 
West Delhi areas such as Krishna Park, parts of Vikaspuri and Janakpuri among others will benefit, the statement said.
 
Among other projects, Modi will lay the foundation stone of 26.5 km Rithala-Kundli section of Delhi Metro Phase-IV worth around Rs 6,230 crore.
 
This corridor will connect Rithala in Delhi to Nathupur (Kundli) in Haryana, significantly enhancing connectivity in the North-Western parts of Delhi and Haryana. -- PTI
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17:48   Modi sending 'chadar' to Ajmer Dargah but...: Owaisi
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday alleged that there is no benefit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi sending a 'chadar' to Ajmer Dargah and that the government should take steps to stop claims being filed in courts disputing the existing mosques or Dargahs.

The message behind sending the 'chadar' is that the government takes care of those who keep faith in the mosques. However, the BJP and Sangh Parivar people are going to courts stating that Khwaja Ajmeri Dargah is not a Dargah as was their argument with some mosques, he told reporters in Hyderabad.

The real work of the government is to put an end to such claims, Owaisi said.

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Saturday offered a ceremonial 'chadar' sent by PM Modi at Ajmer Dargah on the 'Urs' of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

Asked about Modi sending the 'chadar', Owaisi said those belonging to the BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits are approaching courts seeking excavations at several places in the country with the claim that existing mosque is not a mosque or a Dargah is not a Dargah. "If the Prime Minister wants, all these things will be stopped," he said.

More than seven such issues related to mosques are from BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, he said. -- PTI
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17:27   Instead of creating infra in Delhi, Kejriwal build 'sheesh mahal': Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday slammed Arvind Kejriwal for building a "sheesh mahal" for himself instead of creating infrastructure in the capital during his nearly 10-year term as Delhi chief minister, saying the Aam Aadmi Party convenor will have to give an account for it.

Addressing an event after inaugurating a working women's hostel -- Sushma Bhavan -- of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Shah listed a host of expensive items and appliances used in Kejriwal's official residence as the chief minister, saying he had never heard of some of those things.

When Kejriwal entered politics, he vowed not to take a government car or bungalow, and promised to herald a new kind of politics, Shah said.

But the AAP leader could not be satisfied by one, two, three or four bungalows, and instead built himself a "sheesh mahal" spread across 50,000 square yards of land, costing people of Delhi Rs 45 crore, he added.

The BJP has been using the term "sheesh mahal", a colloquial Hindi term for an opulent house, to target Kejriwal.

The home minister said the AAP government in Delhi could not build a system to supply water to the residents, but Kejriwal spent "Rs 14 crore on a water plant for his family of four".

"Kejriwal Ji, you will have to give an account to the people of Delhi. They are demanding answers from you," Shah said.

He alleged that over Rs 6 crore was spent on designer marbles, Rs 6 crore on motorised curtains, Rs 70 lakh on automatic doors, Rs 50 lakh on carpets and Rs 64 lakh on smart TVs at the chief minister's residence when Kejriwal occupied it.

Taking a swipe, Shah said he had suggested to Kejriwal on X that he should allow people of Delhi to take a tour of the "sheesh mahal" so that they could see what kind of home their chief minister lived in.

Some young persons had come to see him and when he told them that Kejriwal has done noting for Delhi, they retorted that he was being unjust as the AAP leader built a "sheesh mahal", the senior BJP leader said in sarcasm.

The Union minister further accused Kejriwal of overseeing a series of corruption scandals, including in Delhi's liquor policy, Mohalla Clinics, CCTV installations, and bus purchases.

Shah also invoked the legacy of late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, whom he described as a "fighting opposition leader" remembered for her service in various key ministries. -- PTI
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17:04   CISF jawan kills himself with service weapon at Surat airport
A jawan belonging to the Central Industrial Security Force allegedly shot himself dead with his service weapon at the Surat International Airport on Saturday, police said. 

CISF personnel Kisan Singh (32) died by suicide in a washroom of the airport around 2.10 pm, they said. 

Singh, who hailed from Jaipur and was deployed at the Surat airport, shot himself in the stomach, said NV Bharwad, inspector of Dumas police station. 

He was rushed to a private hospital where the doctors declared him dead, Bharvad said. 

The reason for the extreme step taken by the jawan was not immediately clear, the official said, adding that further investigation is underway. -- PTI 
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16:52   Kiara Advani hospitalised? Actor's team issues clarification
Bollywood star Kiara Advani has been advised to rest following an excessive work schedule, her representative said on Saturday, dismissing reports that the actor has been hospitalised.

Reports of her hospitalisation surfaced after Advani skipped the trailer launch event of her upcoming film Game Changer on Saturday.

"Kiara Advani has not been hospitalised, she's been advised to rest due to exertion as she's been working non stop," the representative told PTI.

Advani was last seen in 2023's Satyaprem Ki Katha where she starred alongside Kartik Aaryan. 

Game Changer, a political action thriller directed by S Shankar, reunites her with Telugu star Ram Charan after their appearance in the 2019 movie Vinaya Vidheya Rama

Written by Karthik Subbaraj, the film also stars S J Suryah, Anjali, Jayaram, Sunil, Naveen Chandra and Samuthirakani. The movie is slated to hit the theatres on January 10. -- PTI 
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16:45   Tantris, not govt should decide temple customs: Kerala minister
Differing from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's view that temple customs should change with the times, state Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar on Saturday said that practices in temples should be decided by the tantris.

The minister, who is also a director board member of the Nair Service Society (NSS), said that if the government felt some changes were necessary, they should be made in consultation with the tantris or after holding a 'devaprasna'.

"Various temples have their customs and practices, and devotees should abide by them. Others need not go to the temple," said Kumar, a representative of Kerala Congress-B in the state cabinet.

NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair had strongly criticised the chief minister for endorsing Sivagiri Mutt chief Swami Satchidananda's statement that temples should abandon the custom of not allowing male devotees to wear shirts.

Welcoming the Swami's stand, the chief minister had said that such practices could be avoided to align with the changing times.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader in the Kerala assembly, V D Satheesan, said the matter should be left to the respective communities.

"Let them discuss whether customs should be changed at their places of worship and take a decision," he said, adding that it is not the right time to discuss such issues given the current political situation in Kerala.

Congress leader and former KPCC president K Muraleedharan also said that temple customs should be decided by the tantris.

"Political interference is not needed to change age-old customs. Leave the issue to the temples," he told reporters. -- PTI
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16:19   George Soros, Messi get Medal of Freedom from Biden
United States President Joe Biden has named former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, football superstar Lionel Messi, former Defence Secretary late Ashton Carter, and controversial investor George Soros, along with 14 others for the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the Nation's highest civilian honour, would be presented to the awardees at a White House ceremony by Biden Saturday afternoon.

The prestigious award is presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavours, the White House said Saturday.

Biden believes great leaders keep the faith, give everyone a fair shot, and put decency above all else. These nineteen individuals are great leaders who have made America and the world a better place.

They are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world, the White House said.

Clinton made history many times over decades in public service, including as the first First Lady elected to the US Senate. After serving as Secretary of State, she became the first woman nominated for president by a major US political party, the White House said.

Soros is an investor, philanthropist, and founder of the Open Society Foundations.

"Through his network of foundations, partners and projects in more than 120 countries, Soros has focused on global initiatives that strengthen democracy, human rights, education, and social justice, the White House said.

Soros, 94, in the recent past has spoken openly against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ruling BJP believe that he tried to interfere in Indian elections.

In the last session of Parliament, the BJP raised the issue of alleged "links" of Congress leaders with Soros-backed outfits involved in "anti-India" activities, triggering vociferous protests from the opposition.

Congress, however, trashed these allegations.

In 2020, Soros slammed the Modi government while addressing an event at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, saying nationalism was making headway and the "biggest setback" was seen in India. -- PTI
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16:15   India committed to taking lead in AI: Modi after meeting ex-Infosys CEO
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India is committed to taking the lead in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as he met entrepreneur and former Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka. 

"It was an insightful interaction indeed. India is committed to taking the lead in AI, with a focus on innovation and creating opportunities for the youth," Modi said on X. 

The prime minister was replying to Sikka's post, highlighting his detailed and wide-ranging discussion with Modi on AI, its impact on India, and several imperatives for the time ahead. 

"I left the meeting both inspired and humbled by his extraordinary grasp of technology's impact on all of us, and how its use with democratic values can uplift everyone," Sikka said. -- PTI  
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16:03   Beed sarpanch murder: 'Munde should stay out of cabinet'
Nationalist Congress Party MLA Prakash Solanke on Saturday suggested that the party leader and minister Dhananjay Munde be ousted from the Maharashtra ministry to ensure a fair probe in the Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case.

Solanke is the first Nationalist Congress Party leader and second from the Mahayuti coalition to target Munde, an MLA from Beed district. BJP MLA Suresh Dhas has been criticising Munde, without taking his name, for crime in Beed.

"When he was guardian minister of Beed for five years, Munde delegated all powers and authority to his close aide Walmik Karad who has been arrested in an extortion case (in connection with Deshmukh's murder)," Solanke told reporters.

He alleged Karad became an "unconstitutional authority" in Beed where lawlessness and extortion became rampant and anti-social elements called the shots.

"Munde should stay out of the cabinet to ensure a fair probe in the sarpanch's murder. If he is unwilling, the (NCP) leadership should ask him to do so. I have spoken to (Deputy CM) Ajit Pawar and (Chief Minister) Devendra Fadnavis, and also publicly," said Solanke, who represents the Majalgaon assembly constituency in Beed district.

Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village, was abducted, tortured and murdered on December 9 for attempting to stop an extortion bid on an energy firm operating a windmill project in the region.

Walmik Karad has been arrested in the extortion case in connection with the murder.

Police so far arrested six out of seven persons named in the murder case. -- PTI
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15:34   Will waive off...: Kejriwal's announces new poll promise
Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday promised to waive the "inflated" water bills received by people in Delhi if his party returns to power in the upcoming assembly polls in the national capital next month.
   
In a press conference in New Delhi, Kejriwal said that people were "distressed" due to water bills worth thousands and lakhs of rupees being sent to them by the Delhi Jal Board.
 
He alleged that the inflated water bills started arriving after he went to jail and urged people not to pay those bills.
 
"I have said this earlier, but today I am making a formal announcement: when AAP comes back to power after the assembly polls, these inflated bills will be waived. Those who think their bills are incorrect need not pay them," the former Delhi chief minister said.
 
The AAP government provides free 20,000 liters of water per month and over 12 lakh households in the city have benefitted from the scheme, he added.
 
The AAP is seeking to return to power for the fourth consecutive term after the elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly next month. -- PTI 
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15:10   2 soldiers killed as Army vehicle falls into gorge in JK
Two Army personnel were killed and three injured when their vehicle fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district, officials said on Saturday.

An Army vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge near SK Payen in the north Kashmir district, they said.

The officials added that two soldiers lost their lives while three were rushed to the district hospital in an injured state.

The hospital's medical superintendent Dr Masrat Iqbal told reporters that two soldiers were "brought dead".

"The three injured (soldiers) were resuscitated and then referred to Srinagar," he added. -- PTI
BJP MLA Suresh Dhas
BJP MLA Suresh Dhas
14:32   2 men held in Sarpanch murder case mere pawns: BJP MLA
BJP MLA Suresh Dhas on Saturday launched a fresh attack on Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde after two men were arrested from Pune in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case.

Dhas alleged that the two men are just "pawns" while the "key accused" is roaming free.

Police arrested Sudarshan Chandrabhan Ghule (26) and Sudhir Sangle (23) nearly four weeks after Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was allegedly abducted and murdered by some men.

Walmik Karad, an aide of Dhananjay Munde, has been arrested in an extortion case linked to the murder, triggering a political slugfest with the Opposition demanding the resignation of Munde, who belongs to the NCP.

"The two persons arrested from Pune are mere pawns while the 'aaka' (mastermind) remains free," Dhas, the MLA from Ashti in Beed district, told reporters.

He said another man wanted in the case should be nabbed at the earliest by the SIT.

NCP (SP) MLA Sandip Kshirsagar expressed disappointment over a delay in arresting the absconding persons in the murder case.

"It took more than 20 days to arrest the accused despite people in Beed taking to the streets and staging protest seeking justice," he added. -- PTI 
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14:14   Rijiju offers 'chadar' at Ajmer dargah on PM's behalf
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Saturday offered a ceremonial 'chadar' sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ajmer Dargah on the 'Urs' of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.
 
Elaborate security arrangements were made for the visit of the minister, who took a flight to Jaipur and then proceeded to Ajmer by road.

"The prime minister's message is of brotherhood and that the country should stay united... I am going to Ajmer Dargah with this message," Rijiju told reporters at the airport.

He was received by the BJP's state minority morcha leaders at the airport.
"On this auspicious occasion of Urs, we want that a good atmosphere should be created in the country. No one should do anything that can affect the harmony of our country," Rijiju said.

Be it a Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Buddhist or Jain, everyone is welcome at the dargah, he said.

Lakhs of people visit the dargah and people should not face any problem. The process should be simple, he said.

Asked about a petition in a local court claiming that the dargah has been built over a Shiva temple, Rijiju said, "I have just come to offer 'chadar'."
"I have not come here to show or tell anyone, I am going with the message (of PM) for the country that all the people in our country should stay well," he said. -- PTI
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13:33   Delhi poll: BJP fields ex-MPs against Kejriwal, Atishi
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday released its first list of 29 candidates for the polls to the 70-member Delhi Assembly, fielding former MP Parvesh Verma from the New Delhi seat against ex-chief minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal.
 
It has named another former MP Ramesh Bidhuri from Kalkaji, where Chief Minister and AAP candidate Atishi is in the fray.

The party has fielded its national office-bearers Dushyant Kumar Gautam and Ashish Sood from Karol Bagh and Janakpuri, respectively, Arvinder Singh Lovely from Gandhi Nagar and former AAP leader Kailash Gahlot from Bijwasan.

Former Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay will contest from Malviya Nagar. -- PTI
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13:31   'All We Imagine As Light' secures spots in BAFTA 2025 longlists
Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light continues its remarkable run on the international awards circuit, securing spots on the BAFTA Film Awards longlists in three categories, including Best Director.
 
The British Academy on Friday evening shared the results of the first round of voting across 25 categories for its upcoming awards gala.

Kapadia's Malayalam-Hindi movie, which scripted history by becoming the first Indian movie to win the Grand Prix award at the Cannes in May, has made it to three longlists of 10 movies each -- Best Film Not in English Language, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

Besides All We Imagine As Light, Sandhya Suri's Santosh and Karan Kandhari's Sister Midnight are nominated in the longlist for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.

Indian-origin British actor Dev Patel has also found a mention in the longlist for his directorial debut Monkey Man. Patel is nominated in the Leading Actor longlist.

According to BAFTA, the films mentioned in the longlists will advance to the nominating stage of voting, which started on Friday and will conclude on January 10. -- PTI
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13:06   Some people trying to disturb peace by...: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said some people are trying to disturb peace in the name of caste politics and called for thwarting such designs to preserve the social harmony in rural parts of the country.
   
Inaugurating the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav, the Prime Minister exuded confidence that villages will play a key role in pushing forward the dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
 
Without mentioning any names, Modi said certain people are trying to disturb peace by spreading the venom of caste politics.
 
"We have to work to strengthen the heritage of peace and harmony of villages," he said.
 
Recalling the steps taken by the NDA government since 2014, for rural development, Modi, quoting an SBI research report, said poverty in rural India came down to below 5 per cent from 26 per cent in 2012.
 
He said the previous government had neglected the people living in rural India, and even after decades of independence, villages were deprived of basic necessities.
 
But his government is empowering villages, and focusing on those who were neglected before, the Prime Minister said. -- PTI
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12:22   3 detained in Chhattisgarh journalist's murder
Three persons have been detained in connection with the murder of a 33-year-old journalist whose body was found in a septic tank on a local contractor's property in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, police said on Saturday.

Mukesh Chandrakar, a freelance journalist, went missing on January 1, and his body was found on Friday in the septic tank on a property owned by contractor Suresh Chandrakar at Chattanpara Basti in Bijapur town.

"Three persons have been detained in connection with the murder and are being interrogated," an official here said.

The police, however, did not disclose their names and said the details would be revealed later in the day.

Mukesh worked as a freelance journalist for news channels, including NDTV, and ran a YouTube channel, Bastar Junction, which has some 1.59 lakh subscribers. He had played a crucial role in the release of a CoBRA commando, Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, from Maoists' captivity in April 2021 following the Takalguda Naxal ambush in Bijapur, wherein 22 security personnel were martyred.

He went missing on Wednesday evening, and his elder brother Yukesh Chandrakar lodged a complaint with the police the next day, a senior police official said.

Tracking Mukesh's mobile number, police reached the property owned by Suresh Chandrakar and found the body in a septic tank, which was freshly cast with concrete slab, he said.

Police suspect the murder is linked to a recent report of irregularities in road construction work in the district the victim had covered. Suresh Chandrakar is said to be involved in the work.

Journalists held a symbolic road blockade at Hospital Chowk on National Highway 36 in the city in the morning, demanding that the contractor's properties in Bastar division, including Bijapur, be attached and a case be registered against him.

They also demanded a death sentence for the contractor and others involved in the murder, removal of security detail for him, and sealing of his bank accounts, among other demands. -- PTI
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12:21   Baanknet: One-Stop Property e-Auction Hub
Harsh Kumar/Business Standard

Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary M. Nagaraju on Friday launched a revamped e-auction portal, Baanknet.

It significantly aids the recovery process of public sector banks (PSBs), thereby improving the balance sheet of banks and enhancing credit availability to businesses and individuals.

According to a finance ministry statement, this platform consolidates information on e-auction properties from all PSBs and offers a one-stop destination for buyers and investors to discover a wide range of assets.

gThis platform is expected to enhance the overall economic environment by unlocking the value of distressed assets and boosting investor confidence. With the use of technology, this process will be more transparent, efficient, and accessible,h said Nagaraju.

The listings include residential properties such as flats, independent houses, open plots, commercial properties, industrial land and buildings, shops, vehicles, plant and machinery, agricultural and non-agricultural land.

By gathering all these details in one place, it simplifies the process of finding and participating in property e-auctions. It makes it easier for buyers and investors to identify valuable opportunities.

The new portal is designed with improved features to enhance user experience, offering frictionless journeys that integrate the entire pre-auction, auction, and post-auction processes within a single application.

It includes an automated and integrated payment gateway alongside KYC tools, all built on a microservices-based architecture that allows for third-party integration through open application programming interface (API).

Users can benefit from a dashboard feature for easy access to eSpend Analyticsf and various eMIS Reportsf at the click of a button.

Additionally, a dedicated helpdesk and call centre facility with a call back request option ensures customer support.

The DFS has already provided training on the features of the Baanknet portal to executives of all PSBs and to all recovery officers in debt recovery tribunals (DRTs). This will ensure effective and efficient utilisation of the portal.

Further, over 122,500 properties have already been migrated to the new portal for auction.
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12:02   Bumrah returns to dressing room after scans
India skipper Jasprit Bumrah returned to the dressing room after undergoing precautionary scans for an unspecified niggle, which forced him to leave the field after bowling just one over in the post-lunch session on the second day of the fifth Test here on Saturday.

Bumrah was away from the field for three hours and 20 minutes in total, but his return might have eased worries in the Indian camp ahead of Australia's second innings.  

Virat Kohli led the side in the absence of Bumrah. 

The pacer has already taken 32 wickets in the series, and had figures of 2/33 in 10 overs, having removed Marnus Labuschagne in the morning session.

Bumrah was having some discomfort, which appeared to be side strain, after bowling one over in his post-lunch spell.

He spoke to Kohli and left the field and then official broadcasters showed him leaving the venue with team's security liaison officer Anshuman Upadhyay and team doctor.

The Fox Sports visuals showed him leaving the stadium in a SUV. -- PTI
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11:26   14-year-old student stabbed to death outside Delhi school; 7 detained
A 14-year-old student was allegedly stabbed to death outside a school in east Delhi's Shakarpur area, the police said on Saturday. 

The alleged incident occurred on Friday after an altercation between the victim and some other students, they said. 

"The dispute escalated into violence when one student, along with three to four accomplices, targeted the victim outside the school gate. One assailant stabbed the victim in his right thigh, causing a fatal injury," a police officer said. 

Teams from the Shakarpur police station, along with squads from the Anti-Narcotics Squad and the Special Staff, were sent to the spot to apprehend the culprits. 

Seven suspects have been detained so far and their roles and motives are being investigated, the police said. 

The victim's body has been preserved for post-mortem. A case was registered at Shakarpur police station and investigation taken up. -- PTI
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11:06   Thick fog in Kashmir valley hits flight operations at Srinagar airport
Flight operations at the Srinagar airport were hit on Saturday due to dense fog that engulfed parts of the Kashmir valley, officials said. 

A thick layer of fog engulfed Kashmir, including Srinagar, in the morning, they said. Poor visibility due to the fog affected operations at the airport and all morning flights were delayed, they added. 

The officials said, "Due poor visibility at Srinagar airport, no flight operations have taken place so far." 

All airlines have rescheduled their morning operations till the visibility improves. 

This is the second consecutive day of fog affecting flight operations at Srinagar airport. 

On Friday, morning flights were delayed while one was diverted due to low visibility. 

Operations resumed around noon after the visibility had improved. -- PTI
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10:57   30 kg gold robbed from gold loan firm in Odisha
About 30 kg of gold was allegedly robbed at gunpoint from the branch of a gold loan company in Odisha's Sambalpur city, the police said on Saturday. 

The robbery took place at Manappuram Finance's branch on Budharaja Main Road on Friday morning, they said. 

Besides the gold, the robbers took away over Rs 4 lakh in cash, they added. 

The gang of robbers barged into the branch just after it had opened. 

Three employees were held at gunpoint, while the hands and feet of the branch manager were tied, the police said. 

While some of the robbers were busy holding the staff of the branch hostage, the others of the gang acquired the keys and password to the vault and robbed the gold jewellery and cash. 

Some of them were also guarding the branch outside, according to the FIR. 

"There were around 7-10 robbers and they were wearing helmets and masks. They fled the spot on motorcycles soon after the robbery," said SDPO Tophan Bag. 

He said the CCTV footage of the area was being scanned and the employees of the company were interrogated. 

In a statement, Manappuram Finance said preliminary investigations suggested that the stolen assets were valued at approximately Rs 20 crore. 

Stating that no staff or customer was injured, it said the affected individuals were receiving counselling and support. -- PTI
Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh sings as PM Narendra Modi listens during a meeting in New Delhi/ANI on X
Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh sings as PM Narendra Modi listens during a meeting in New Delhi/ANI on X
10:30   Modi listens as Diljit Dosanjh sings a song dedicated to Guru Nanak
Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on New Year's Day. 

Interestingly, Diljit Dosanjh sang a tribute to Guru Nanak during his meeting with the Prime Minister, who praised the singer-actor for rising from an Indian village to global fame. 

Modi said, "When a boy from a village in India makes his name in the world, it feels good and you are lucky, your family has kept your name 'Diljit', so you keep winning people. The vastness of India is our strength, this benefit is not only received due to population but because we are a vibrant society..." 

Diljit said, "I am impressed by your journey when I see how you went to Himachal and left everything and then got so much blessing from God. This is very much God's will..." -- ANI
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10:12   Forex reserves drop by $ 4.11 bn to $640.27 bn
India's forex reserves dropped by $4.112 billion to $640.279 billion during the week ended December 27, the Reserve Bank said on Friday. 

In the previous reporting week, the overall kitty had dropped by $8.478 billion to $644.391 billion. 

The reserves have been declining for the last few weeks, and the drop has been attributed to revaluation along with forex market interventions by RBI to help reduce volatility in the rupee. 

The forex reserves had increased to an all-time high of $704.885 billion in end-September. 

For the week ended December 27, foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, decreased by $4.641 billion to $551.921 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. 

Gold reserves increased by $541 million to $66.268 billion during the week, the RBI said. 

The Special Drawing Rights were down by $12 million to $17.873 billion, the apex bank said. -- PTI
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09:51   NSE Leads Asia In IPOs
The National Stock Exchange has recorded the highest number of IPOs in Asia in the calendar year 2024 with a total of 268 listings across the mainboard and the SME platform, the exchange stated on Friday.

In CY24, the exchange recorded 90 successful listings on the mainboard while 178 small and medium enterprises made their debut on the NSE's Emerge, cumulatively raising Rs 1.67 trillion in the period.

The heightened primary market activity in terms of fundraising was also on account of the Hyundai Motor India's IPO, which was the largest in India and second largest globally with $3.3 billion fundraise.

Globally, there were a total of 1,145 IPOs in CY24, compared to 1,271 in the previous calendar year.

"The data suggests that NSE has alone done more number of IPOs than other top exchanges in Asia which includes the IPOs Japan's (Japan Exchange Group), Hong Kong's (Hong Kong Stock Exchange), and China's (Shanghai Stock Exchange) have done cumulatively," said Sriram Krishnan, chief business development officer, NSE.

According to the data shared by the exchange, Nasdaq and NYSE saw fundraisings to the tune of $16.5 billion and $15.9 billion, respectively. 

The same for Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Shanghai Stock Exchange stood at $10.4 billion and $8.8 billion.  -- Business Standard
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09:49   Veteran nuclear scientist R Chidambaram is dead
Veteran scientist Rajagopala Chidambaram, who played a key role in the nuclear tests of 1975 and 1998, died on Saturday, an official of the Department of Atomic Energy said. 

He was 88. 

Chidambaram, who was also associated with the nuclear weapons programme, breathed his last at Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai at 3.20 am, the official said. 

He was the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and principal scientific advisor to the government of India. 

Chidambaram was conferred with the Padma Shri and the Padma Vibhushan in 1975 and 1999 respectively. -- PTI
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09:11   67% Of Forest Fires Doused Within 24 Hours
In the November 2023-June 2024 forest fire season, 67 percent of major fires in India were extinguished within 24 hours, according to data from the ministry of environment, forest, and climate change (MoEFCC). 

This marks an improvement from 33 percent in the previous season, attributed to faster information dissemination and improved coordination among response teams.

In the 2023-2024 forest fire season, the total number of fires detected by the Forest Survey of India was 203,544, while in the previous 2022-2023 season the number stood at 212,249.Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh recorded the highest forest fire incidents with 21,033, 20,973, and 18,950 fires, respectively. 

Delhi and Goa reported the lowest figures at 16 and 36, respectively.  

Among Union Territories, Lakshadweep and Puducherry reported no forest fires, while Jammu & Kashmir recorded the highest with 3,829 incidents.

Between 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 forest fire seasons, there have been notable changes in fire incidents across key states. 

Uttarakhand witnessed a staggering increase, with fire incidents rising by over 292 percent from 5,351 to 21,033. 

Odisha saw a marginal decline, with incidents decreasing by approximately 37.3 percent, from 33,461 to 20,973.

Seasonal forest fires occur every year due to various natural and anthropogenic reasons, including accumulations of inflammable materials such as dry leaves, twigs, pine needles, etc.

Most of the forest fires in the country are ground fires in which ground vegetation, etc are burnt. 

The number of incidences of forest fire in the country varies from year to year, depending on the vulnerability of the forests to various forest fire risk factors, according to the MoEFCC. -- Nitin Kumar/Business Standard 
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09:02   15 flights diverted, many delayed as fog hits ops at Delhi airport
Fifteen flights were diverted at the Delhi airport early Saturday morning as low visibility due to dense fog impacted operations for the second straight day. 

Due to the adverse weather conditions, many flights were delayed and the country's largest airline IndiGo temporarily put arrivals and departures on hold. 

An official said 15 flights were diverted at the airport between 12.15 am and 1.30 am due to reduced visibility. 

"While landing and takeoffs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted," the Delhi International Airport Ltd said in a post on X at 6.56 am. 

CAT III facility allows aircraft to operate in low visibility conditions. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is operated by DIAL. 

"#6ETravelAdvisory: Departures and arrivals at #DelhiAirport are currently on hold due to reduced visibility," IndiGo said in a post on X at 1.05 am on Saturday. -- PTI
BJP MLA in Telangana Raja Singh/File image
BJP MLA in Telangana Raja Singh/File image
08:23   Don't visit mosques during Sabarimala pilgrimage: BJP MLA Raja Singh to Ayyappa devotees
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA in Telangana Raja Singh on Friday urged Ayyappa devotees visiting Sabarimala in Kerala not to go to any mosques during their pilgrimage. 

Singh told reporters in Hyderabad that the devotees must strictly follow the rules of 'Ayyappa deeksha' and they would become impure if they go to the mosque (Vavar). 

The Goshamahal MLA said it is a conspiracy that the devotees are made to visit the mosque. 

He also urged Telangana and Andhra Pradesh chief ministers A Revanth Reddy and N Chandrababu Naidu to write to the Kerala government seeking 10 acres land for constructing accommodation for the devotees. -- PTI
Rehearsal for the 76th Republic Day is underway amid fog and cold in New Delhi on Saturday morning/ANI on X
Rehearsal for the 76th Republic Day is underway amid fog and cold in New Delhi on Saturday morning/ANI on X
08:18   Delhi gets shrouded in dense fog as cold wave grips the city
Delhi was shrouded in dense fog as a cold wave gripped the city on Saturday morning. 

As the harsh winter continued many homeless people were seen staying at night shelters.  

According to the India meteorological department, Delhi recorded 10.2 degrees Celsius at 5.30 am on Saturday. 

At this time on Friday, the city's temperature was 9.6 degrees Celsius.  

Meanwhile, the air quality in the national capital continued in the 'very poor' category. 

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI was recorded at 385 in Delhi today at 6 am. -- ANI
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08:10   Hush money: Trump to be sentenced on Jan 10
Donald Trump will be sentenced on January 10 in a criminal case for which he was convicted for silencing a porn star by paying hush money and falsifying business record, a New York judge ruled on Friday (local time).  

The judge also added that Trump will face no legal penalties for his conviction in the case, CNN reported.  

Judge Juan Merchan, upholding Trump's conviction, set the sentencing on January 10, however, he indicated that the case is essentially over.  

Trump had appealed to throw out the jury's verdict because of his reelection in November, CNN reported.  

The judge in his ruling said that imposing no penalty would bring "finality" to the case while allowing Trump to continue pursuing an appeal of the conviction.  

"A sentence of an unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow Defendant to pursue his appellate options," Merchan wrote. -- ANI 
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01:16   Army captain falls off balcony in Hyderabad, dies
A Captain working with AMC (Army Medical Corps) died after accidentally falling off from the balcony of his fourth floor flat in Hyderabad, the police said on Friday. 

Shankar Raj Kumar (in his 30s) had returned home from Lucknow to celebrate the new year and was standing in the balcony at about 12.45pm on January 2, a police release said. 

His wife and maid rushed out when they heard a sound and found him on the ground floor with blood all around. 

The wife rushed the captain to a private hospital with the help of neighbours where he succumbed in the evening. 

The police suspect Kumar slipped and fell off the ledge and there was no foul play. -- PTI
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00:58   Missing Chhattisgarh scribe found murdered, body recovered from septic tank
The search for a Bijapur-based journalist, who had been missing since January 1, ended tragically when his body was found in a septic tank on the premises of a private contractor in the district on Friday, the police said.  

The journalist, identified as Mukesh Chandrakar, had been actively covering Maoist incidents and was brutally murdered before being dumped into the septic tank.  

"Chandrakar, who was associated with a news channel, had been missing since January 1, and a complaint in this connection was lodged by his brother," said inspector general of police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P.  

Following the complaint, the police launched a search and constituted a special team.  

During the investigation, authorities received input about a dead body in a septic tank on the premises of private contractor Suresh Chandrakar.  

"The body was recovered and identified as that of the missing journalist," said the IG Sundarraj adding that a forensic examination is being carried out, and a few suspects are being questioned.  

"We have launched a probe into the matter. The motive and modus operandi will become clearer only after the investigation," the IG added.  -- ANI
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00:34   Dalit woman, daughter attacked, dragged on MP road
A Dalit woman and her daughter were brutally assaulted on Friday allegedly by two men and then dragged on the road in Morena in Madhya Pradesh following a minor incident involving a dog, a police official said. 

A video of the incident, which took place in full public view in Ambah area, went viral on social media. 

"Anita Mahor has sustained serious injuries after being hit by sticks and then dragged on the road. Her daughter Bharti is also injured. We have arrested Rajesh Tomar and Kumher Singh Tomar for assaulting them," Ambah police station in charge Satendra Singh Kushwaha said. 

"Anita Mahor's son Deepak has told us that his younger brother Santosh was going to throw waste this morning when he was startled by the presence of a dog. He threw the waste, which also included dung, on the dog in fright and fled. This infuriated the two accused," he said. 

The two accused and others stormed into Mahor's house armed with a chopper and sticks and attacked her and her kin, the police said. -- PTI

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