LIVE: India, Uzbekistan ink 9 pacts; vow to effectively deal with terrorism

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10:12 PM

Amit Shah likely to visit Bengal later this month

Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah is likely to visit West Bengal for two days later this month to take stock of the party organisation ahead of the 2021 assembly polls, a senior party functionary of the state said on Friday.

Shah's possible visit will take place in the backdrop of the ongoing tussle between the Trinamool Congress government and the Ministry of Home Affairs over the mob attack on BJP president J P Nadda's convoy on Thursday.

The Mamata Banerjee dispensation decided not to send the chief secretary and the director general of police to New Delhi on December 14 disregarding the MHA's summons in the wake of the attack.

"Most likely Amit Shah Ji will be in West Bengal on a two-day visit from December 19. He will attend a programme of refugees in North 24 Parganas and another function at Santiniketan. However, nothing has been finalized as of now," BJP state general secretary Sayantan Basu said.

According to state BJP sources, the Union home ministers visit is of immense political significance with Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar criticising the "worsening" law and order situation in the state.

8:45 PM

India, Uzbekistan ink nine pacts; vow to effectively deal with threat of terrorism

India and Uzbekistan on Friday signed nine agreements to further broadbase cooperation in an array of areas even as they vowed to combat the threat of terrorism by "destroying" terrorist safe-havens, networks and funding channels. At a virtual summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev extensively deliberated on expanding overall bilateral ties, and agreed to step up efforts for an early conclusion of a bilateral investment treaty.

 

In his opening remarks, Modi said the peace process in Afghanistan must preserve the achievements of the past two decades.

 

"We also have a similar approach on regional security issues. We agree that the restoration of peace in Afghanistan requires a process that itself is led, owned and controlled by Afghanistan. It is also necessary to preserve the achievements of the last two decades," he said.

 

In the wide-ranging talks, Modi and Mirziyoyev strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed the determination of their countries to combat the menace by "destroying" terrorist safe-havens, networks, infrastructure and funding channels, according to a joint statement.

8:16 PM

Civilian shot at, injured by militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama

Militants shot at and injured a civilian in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, police said. Mushtaq Ahmad was attacked near his house at Wasura in the evening, a police official said.

 

He was taken to a hospital for treatment. It was not immediately known why the Ahmad was targeted, police said.

7:38 PM

LIVE: India does not practice disinformation campaigns, says MEA

7:18 PM

India presently contributing only 6.8% of global emissions: Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar

7:01 PM

Indian youth can learn a lot from Bharathiar's works: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Indian youth can learn a lot from the works and life of Tamil poet, freedom fighter, journalist Subramania Bharathi, popularly known as Bharathiar. Speaking at the International Bharati Festival 2020 organised by the city based Vanavil Cultural Centre via video conference Modi said the Indian youth can learn to be courageous from Bharathiar.

 

"Achamillai, Achamillai (there is no fear). Even if every human in this world is against me, I have no fear," Modi quoted Bharathiar.

 

Stating that he sees such a spirit in young India today, Modi said such a 'can do' spirit can do wonders for the country.

 

Modi termed it difficult to describe the multifaceted Bharathiar who cannot be linked to any single profession or dimension as he was a poet, writer, editor, journalist, social reformer, freedom fighter, humanist and much more. One can marvel at Bharathiar's works, poems, philosophy and also had a close link with Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency that he represents, Modi said. According to Modi in a shot span of 39 years, Bharathiar had achieved a lot and his works have been published in 16 volumens.

6:05 PM

Industrial production rises 3.6% in October: Govt data

5:44 PM

West Bengal Chief Secretary, DGP not to visit Delhi on December 14

5:32 PM

Woman entrepreneurs and officers in armed forces walking with their head held high: PM at International Bharati Festival

5:23 PM

Need a synergy between Finance Commission and GST Council: Chairman N K Singh

5:17 PM

LIVE: We're inspired by Bharathiyar's vision of independent and empowered women says PM Modi

5:13 PM

We're working to ensure women-led empowerment: PM Narendra Modi

5:12 PM

LIVE: PM Narendra Modi addressing the International Bharati Festival

4:52 PM

TMC hits out MHA for summoning chief secretary, DGP

The ruling TMC in West Bengal Friday hit out at the union home ministry for summoning the state chief secretary and director general of police for the attack on BJP national president J P Nadda's convoy and accused the saffron party of trying to create a situation where the central government can interfere in matters related to the states.

 

Senior TMC MPs Saugata Roy and Kalyan Banerjee alleged that Nadda's convoy had "convicted criminals" and goons who carried weapons with the malafide intention to instigate violence.

 

"What is the central government is doing by sending a letter (seeking report) from the state government is unconstitutional. The MHA summoning the chief secretary and DGP is unacceptable. The BJP and the central government is trying to create a situation where they can interfere with the federal structure," Bandopadhyay said at a press conference here.

4:46 PM

India on the path of a very significant recovery: FICCI President Dr Sangita Reddy at 93rd AGM

4:46 PM

LIVE: N K Singh addresses the 93rd FICCI AGM

4:29 PM

Sensex ends 139.13 points higher at 46,099.01; Nifty advances 35.55 points to 13,513.85

4:11 PM

LIVE: FCCI addressing session on 'Indirect Taxes'

3:53 PM

Permitting Ayurveda doctors to conduct surgery a compromise with health: IMA

Indian Medical Association (IMA) observed a nationwide no-demonstration strike on Friday to oppose the central government's move to allow Ayurveda doctors to perform surgery. Demanding withdrawal of the notification allowing Ayurveda postgraduates to perform modern medicine surgery, the IMA called for the withdrawal of all non-essential non-COVID services between 6 am and 6 pm today.

 

Dr Rajan Sharma, national president of IMA, said that allowing Ayurveda postgraduates to perform surgery is a "blatant attempt" to "corrupt" the healthcare system of the country.

 

"It takes years and years to become a doctor. With mixopaths what are we heading for? It's a failure when nations compromise with health," said Dr Sharma. He stated that the IMA is not against "any sort of pathy", but the mixing up of disciplines. "We are not against any sort of pathy be it Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy. We are proud of our national heritage and richness but let it coexist with modern medicine. All we demand is not to mix the disciplines. It will also mean the end of pure Ayurveda," he added.

 

3:49 PM

Rupee settles 2 paise higher at 73.64 (provisional) against US dollar

3:24 PM

Doctors of AIIMS, other hospitals join IMA call for protest with black ribbons

2:13 PM

West Bengal Governor sends report to Centre on law and order, asks Mamata not to play with fire

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar Friday said he has sent a report to the Centre in the backdrop of the violent attack on the convoy of BJP chief J P Nadda, and castigated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the deteriorating law and order situation. Pulling her up for her repeated remarks calling the BJP a party of outsiders, Dhankhar asked her to desist from such politics as would weaken the national fabric. He said it is shameful that the attack on Nadda occurred on International Human Rights Day.

 

"I have sent my report to the central government whose contents cannot be shared on account of propriety," he told a press conference at Raj Bhawan. He alleged the violators of law in Bengal have the protection of police and administration and any resistance by the opposition is quelled.

 

"The governor is not a post office...he will not fidddle around in Raj Bhawan when human rights are being violated," he said, and asserted "the governor will vindicate his oath, come what may."

 

It is the duty of the governor to protect the Constitution, he said.

12:52 PM

Shiv Sena to support Sharad Pawar for UPA chairperson

12:50 PM

Violators of law in Bengal have protection of police and administration: WB Guv Jagdeep Dhankhar

12:48 PM

CM Mamata Banerjee should apologise for comments she made yesterday (over attack on J P Nadda's convoy): Guv Jagdeep Dhankhar

12:38 PM

Obama reunion? Biden fills Cabinet with former WH leaders

President-elect Joe Biden is getting the old gang back together. Increasingly deep into the process of selecting Cabinet members and other senior staff, the incoming Biden administration has a distinctly Obama feel.

 

There's Denis McDonough, former President Barack Obama's chief of staff who Biden announced on Thursday would be nominated as the secretary of veterans affairs.

 

Susan Rice, Obama's former national security adviser, was named the director of Biden's White House Domestic Policy Council.

 

That's on top of Biden already tapping Obama's agriculture secretary, Tom Vilsack, to head the department once again, former Secretary of State John Kerry to serve as special envoy on climate and Kerry's Obama-era deputy Antony Blinken to lead the State Department.

12:21 PM

Law and Order Situation in West Bengal Continuously Worsening for Long, Says Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar

11:39 AM

I hope that next year your official visit to Uzbekistan will take place: President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to PM Modi

11:35 AM

Uttarakhand: Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat flags off electric buses by Dehradun Smart City Limited in the city

Uttarakhand: Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat flags off electric buses by Dehradun Smart City Limited in the city.

 

“We are planning to start 30 such buses in this financial year,” he says.

11:11 AM

Madhya Pradesh: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has called an emergency meeting of senior officers at today, to discuss growing drug menace

Madhya Pradesh: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has called an emergency meeting of senior officers at today, to discuss strategies to curb the growing drug menace in the state