LIVE: Yogi Adityanath says may move SC after HC setback on ULB polls in UP

Live news updates: The delay in getting Central govt's clearance for the semi high-speed rail project SilverLine may also be discussed in the meeting

5:58 PM

Govt mulls offloading 15-20 lakh tons of wheat from FCI to contain prices in 2023

The government is considering releasing 15-20 lakh tonnes of wheat next year from the FCI stock for bulk consumers like flour millers, under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to contain rising retail prices, official sources tell PTI.

According to the data maintained by the consumer affairs ministry, the average retail price of wheat was at Rs 32.25 per kg on December 27, higher than Rs 28.53 per kg in the year-ago period. Wheat flour (atta) price too remained higher at Rs 37.25 per kg than Rs 31.74 per kg a year ago.

 

5:49 PM

Akhilesh Yadav, Jayant Chaudhary unlikely to attend Bharat Jodo Yatra in UP

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is unlikely to take part in the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra in Uttar Pradesh, an SP leader said on Tuesday, while other non-BJP leaders who have also been invited are yet to take a call.

Congress has said it has invited several leaders of non-BJP parties, including Akhilesh Yadav, BSP supremo Mayawati and RLD's Jayant Chaudhary, to take part in the Uttar Pradesh leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra from January 3.

"The schedule of SP president Akhilesh Yadav related to party programmes has already been decided and he is unlikely to attend the yatra," SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary told PTI.

RLD chief spokesman Anil Dubey said, "I do not think that Jayantji will be going for the yatra."

5:32 PM

EC initiates delimitation of assembly, parliamentary constituencies in Assam

The Election Commission on Tuesday said it has initiated the delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Assam and will use the 2001 census figures for the readjustment of seats.

The commission said a ban has been put in place effective January 1, 2023, on the creation of new administrative units in the state till the exercise is completed.

 

Under the provisions of the Delimitation Act, 1972, the last delimitation of constituencies in Assam was effected on the basis of 1971 census figures by the then Delimitation Commission in 1976, the poll panel said.

 

5:22 PM

Khurshid likens Rahul to Lord Ram; BJP slams Cong leaders for 'sycophancy'

Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid has likened Rahul Gandhi to Lord Ram and described him as "superhuman" and a "yogi doing tapasya" as he lauded the former party chief for his Bharat Jodo Yatra, evoking sharp criticism from the BJP.

Slamming the opposition party leaders for their show of "sycophancy", the BJP said comparing a person out on bail in a corruption case, a reference to the National Herald probe, to a God worshipped by so many people not only hurts the feelings of Hindus but also the entire society.

The Congress leader, however, remained unfazed and defended his remarks. "No one can replace God but everyone can try to walk the path shown by him. Why should anyone object if I say someone is following that path," he said.

 

4:43 PM

PM Modi's brother, family injured in accident near Mysuru, injuries minor: Police

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's brother Prahlad Modi and family members suffered injuries when the car they were travelling in reportedly hit the road driver near Mysuru, police said.

 

Sources told PTI that other than the driver, Prahlad, his son, daughter-in-law and a child were in the car.

 

They are said to have suffered injuries and have been shifted to JSS Hospital for treatment.

 

Polise said the injuries appear to be "minor" in nature.

4:09 PM

UP govt to set up commission, provide reservation to OBCs, says Adityanath after HC verdict

UP govt will set up a commission in the perspective of urban body general elections and will provide reservation facility to the citizens of Other Backward Classes on the basis of triple test, says Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath. He said only after this the urban local body polls will be held in the state.

Adityanath also said that if necessary, the UP govt will file an appeal in the Supreme Court on the matter.




Earlier today, Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court quashed the state government’s draft notification on urban local body elections and ordered holding the polls without reservation for the OBCs. 

3:56 PM

Hailstorm hits Assam's Dibrugarh district; hundreds of houses damaged

A severe hailstorm hit several places of Dibrugarh district of Assam damaging over 200 houses across villages, officials said on Tuesday.

No report of any casualty has been received.

A senior official of the Dibrugarh district administration told PTI that the hailstorm lashed Moran, Tingkhong, Naharkatia and other areas on Monday late night and Tuesday early morning.

"It has led to widespread damage in the district. As per preliminary assessment in Moran sub-division, 210 houses have been damaged in 37 villages," he said.

 

3:35 PM

Power ministry, DRDO ink pct for early warning system for hydro projects

The power ministry on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Defence Research and Development Organisation to implement an early-warning system for vulnerable hydro projects or power stations.

 

The ministry and the DRDO will jointly work towards developing suitable mitigation measures against avalanches, landslides, glaciers, glacial lakes and other geo-hazards, according to an official release.

 

The ministry has taken the initiative of implementing Early Warning System (EWS) in the hydro power projects especially those located in upper reaches of hilly regions.

 

3:24 PM

President Droupadi Murmu urges students to read more to widen understanding

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday urged students to read more in order to improve their understanding and widen their perspective.

Addressing the students and faculty members of the Keshav Memorial Educational Society in Hyderabad, she emphasised on the importance of reading.

President Murmu said the habit of reading is one of the most effective means for self-development. It is a skill that would serve students well throughout their life. She said this is an age of internet and social media when attention span is getting shorter and communication is limited in characters.

 

3:01 PM

Hasmukh Adhia appointed Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel's chief advisor

Former Union finance secretary Hasmukh Adhia has been appointed chief advisor to Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel, reports ANI.

In another development, former secretary of the roads and buildings department, Gujarat govt, SS Rathore has been appointed advisor to the chief minister.

2:27 PM

Maha assembly passes resolution to 'legally pursue' inclusion of 865 Marathi-speaking K'taka villages

The Maharashtra assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution to "legally pursue" inclusion of 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka into the western state, amid a raging boundary dispute between the two states.

The resolution moved by CM Eknath Shinde said the Karnataka state legislature had passed a resolution on the issue to purposely fuel the boundary row. The Karnataka assembly had resolved to protect the southern state's interests and not cede land to its neighbour.

"The state government stands resolutely with the Marathi-speaking people in 865 villages. The state government will legally pursue in the Supreme Court the case to include inch and inch of land of the 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka," said the resolution passed in the Maharashtra assembly.

 

2:22 PM

Cheating in exams plague-like pandemic, must be dealt with heavy hand: Delhi HC

Copying and cheating in examinations is like a plague which can ruin society and the education system, and those using unfair means have to be dealt with a heavy hand, the Delhi high court has said.

Observing that the integrity of the education system has to be infallible for the country's progress, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma said students who resort to unfair means and get away with it cannot build the nation.

The court made the remarks while hearing an appeal against an order of the single judge refusing to interfere with the cancellation of the examinations undertaken by the appellant, an engineering student, who was found using unfair means in the end-term second semester examination.

1:04 PM

BJP decides to challenge AAP for Delhi mayor election, fields Rekha Gupta

BJP has decided to field its Shalimar Bagh councillor Rekha Gupta as its Delhi mayor candidate to challenge AAP's Shelly Oberoi in the January 6 election.

It has named Kamal Bagri as deputy mayor candidate and Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Gajendra Daral and Pankaj Luthra for standing committee member posts, said Delhi BJP media cell head Harish Khurana.

All the party candidates are expected to file their nominations later in the day.

AAP has a clear majority in the 250-member Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House.

 

12:58 PM

Bharat Biotech’s nasal vaccine priced at Rs 800 per dose for private hospitals, Rs 325 per dose for govt

The Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech said it has priced its iNCOVACC intranasal vaccine at Rs 800 per dose for private markets and at Rs 325 per dose for large procurement by the government.

The company said the vaccine, now available on CoWIN, will be available in the market by the fourth week of January.

Health Ministry sources indicated that no decision has been taken yet on whether to procure the nasal vaccine for the national Covid-19 vaccination drive.
 

iNCOVACC (BBV154) received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization for the use of heterologous booster doses earlier this month. It is a recombinant adenovirus (flu virus) vectored vaccine that has been formulated to allow an intranasal delivery through nasal drops.

12:32 PM

Health minister Mandaviya visits Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi to review Covid mock drill

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya reviews Covid response mock drill at the Centre-run Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

"I reviewed the Covid response mock drill at Safdarjung Hospital. This mock drill was necessary to know how prepared our hospitals are," the minister said.

 

 

12:27 PM

Final flood warning issued as water level in Mullaperiyar dam touches 142 ft

The Kerala government has sounded an alert as the water level in the 127-year-old Mullaperiyar dam in Idukki reached its maximum permissible storage capacity of 142 feet on Tuesday morning.

District authorities said the "third and final flood warning" was issued at 10 am. 

12:15 PM

After US, Saudi Arabia and Australia ask citizens in Pakistan to limit movement

After the US asked Americans to not visit Marriott Hotel in Islamabad due to fears of a terrorist attack, Saudi Arabia and Australia have asked their citizens in Pakistan to remain alert and limit their movement in the country capital. 

The Saudi Embassy issued a security alert for its citizens, advising them to remain careful and limit their movement, The News reported.

"The security of Islamabad has been placed at the highest level," stated the advisory.

Neil Hawkins, the Australian high commissioner, said officials in Islamabad had been advised to increase vigilance and limit travel within the city.

"You should exercise heightened vigilance and monitor the media for latest updates," he said on Twitter.
 

 

 

11:15 AM

13 injured in leopard attack in Jorhat in Assam; all said to be out of danger

11:01 AM

Cold wave grips Delhi, dense fog affects visibility, slows rail, road traffic

Delhiites woke up to a chilly morning on Tuesday as dense fog lowered visibility in several areas of the city, affecting road and rail traffic.

"A minimum temperature of 7 degree Celsius was recorded in Delhi," said the meteorological office.

It said a layer of dense fog and moderate icy cold winds from the north were responsible for this steep decline in the temperatures.

"Northwesterly dry and cold winds will continue over northwest India. However, intensity of fog may decrease leading to marginal increase in day temperatures and abatement of cold wave from parts of West Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana. Minimum temperature may also increase marginally," it added.

 

10:40 AM

Maha CM to move resolution in assembly on boundary dispute with Karnataka

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde will move a resolution in the assembly on Tuesday over the boundary dispute with Karnataka, says deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.

He told reporters that he hopes the resolution will be passed by the House.

"Today the chief minister will move a resolution in the assembly on the boundary dispute. I hope the resolution will be passed by the majority," he said.

 

10:24 AM

PM Modi has asked us to be careful to ensure no Covid surge in India: Mandaviya

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya says several hospitals across the country are conducting mock drills today to ensure people get proper treatment if Covid cases rise in the country.

There has been some concern about the emerging Covid situation across the world after China's abruptly ended its "zero-Covid" policy triggering a significant rise in cases in the country. Some Wuropean nations too are witnessing a surge.

"To make sure there isn't Covid surge in country, PM Modi has asked us to be careful. Govt is also preparing, if at all covid cases increase. Today mock drills are conducted across covid hospitals in the country to make sure people get proper treatment," Mandaviya tells reporters.

10:16 AM

India logs 157 new Covid infections, active cases tally at 3,421

India recorded a single-day rise of 157 new Covid-19 cases, while the count of active cases of the disease has marginally decreased to 3,421, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

The tally of Covid cases in the country has now gone up to 44,677,459.

The death toll due to the disease stands at 530,696 with one fatality being reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.32 per cent, while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.18 per cent, the health ministry said.

It said 49,464 tests for detection of Covid-19 were conducted in the last 24 hours.

Active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.80 per cent, according to the ministry.

A decrease of seven cases was recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 44,143,342 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

10:00 AM

China industrial profits drop as Covid outbreaks slow output

Profits at industrial firms in China declined in the first 11 months of the year, as production slowed and factory-gate prices fell amid Covid disruptions.

 

Industrial profits in the January-November period fell 3.6% from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said Tuesday. That compared with a decline of 3% in the first 10 months of the year. 

9:57 AM

Indian Youth Congress passes resolution to "take message of Bharat Jodo Yatra to every part of country"

The three-day National Executive meeting of the Indian Youth Congress concluded in New Delhi with the resolution to "take the message of Bharat Jodo Yatra to every part of the country", sources said on Monday.

The meeting was attended by all the National Office Bearers of the Youth Congress and the State Presidents, under the leadership of the National President of the Indian Youth Congress Srinivas BV and National Incharge and AICC Jt-Secretary Krishna Allavaru.

Major programs of the organization like "Youth Jodo, Booth Jodo", "Youth Connect Program", "Ek Booth Paanch Youth", and the Election management program in connection with the upcoming assembly elections were discussed.

9:40 AM

Imran Khan criticises Shehbaz Sharif govt over terror incidents in Pakistan

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has criticised the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government for "pushing the nation towards terror incidents." He made the remarks during a consultative meeting attended by the party's senior leadership and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid's leader Moonis Elahi.

"The imposed, corrupt and incompetent rulers are pushing the nation towards [terror] incidents," The News International quoted Imran Khan as saying.

Imran Khan has criticized Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on national security. His statement regarding terrorism comes at a time when Pakistan is witnessing an increase in terror attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

9:27 AM

Delhi hospitals to conduct mock drills to check Covid readiness

Hospitals across Delhi will conduct mock drills on Tuesday to assess their preparedness, including availability of beds and manpower, to deal with any increase in the number of Covid-19 cases.

The Centre issued an advisory to this effect on Monday amid a spurt in Covid-19 cases in some countries.

In the national capital, the drill will take place at Delhi government-run facilities like LNJP Hospital and private hospitals.

Following the Centre's directions, a mock drill will be held in all hospitals on Tuesday to check their readiness for Covid management, said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who holds the health portfolio.

Any gaps would be addressed immediately by the health department officials, he said.

The mock drill will assess bed availability, manpower, referral resources, testing capacity, medical logistics, telemedicine services and medical oxygen availability, among other things.

9:27 AM

Karnataka makes masks mandatory in public places, increases Covid testing

The Karnataka government on Monday made masks mandatory in educational institutes, theatre and public places where crowds are likely to gather for New Year celebrations.

 

Its decision came at a time as the Centre readied states for a mock drill across health facilities on Tuesday to assess the country’s readiness in the event of another wave of Covid-19.

 

Taking the lead among states in terms of precautionary diktats, Karnataka has made masks mandatory at theatres, schools and colleges apart from closed places, air-conditioned rooms and crowded public spots. Besides, New Year revellers have to wear masks at pubs, restaurants and bars. State Health Minister Keshava Sudhakar said guidelines had been issued to end New Year celebrations before 1 am.

9:25 AM

Spike in Covid cases in China's Zhejiang renews supply chain concerns

China's Zhejiang province, a manufacturing hub is recording around a million new Covid-19 cases in a single day and the situation has sparked concerns among people regarding its impact on supply chains, Nikkei Asia reported.

Zhejiang, located near Shanghai, has a population of about 65 million people. Its main city, Hangzhou, is home to China's largest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group Holding, as well as other technology firms.

Aside from Apple suppliers, Zhejiang is home to Japanese automaker Nidec and a slew of other foreign manufacturers. Citing a report released on Wednesday by the British research group Airfinity, Nikkei Asia stated that daily instances in China possibly top one million. Zhejiang's disclosure suggests a far higher figure.

9:24 AM

Fourth Reich to be created: Russia's Dmitry Medvedev makes 2023 prediction

In a hypothesis, Deputy Chair of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev on Monday contributed to the predictions of 2023 and said that Poland and Hungary will occupy the western parts of former Ukraine and the area of Germany and its satellites, including Poland, the Baltic states, Czechia, Slovakia, the Kyiv Republic, and other outcasts, will be incorporated into the Fourth Reich.

"Poland and Hungary will occupy western regions of the formerly existing Ukraine 5. The Fourth Reich will be created, encompassing the territory of Germany and its satellites, i.e., Poland, the Baltic states, Czechia, Slovakia, the Kyiv Republic, and other outcasts," Medvedev tweeted.

Medvedev also said that a war is likely to break out between France and the Fourth Reich. In the process, Europe will be divided, whereas Poland repartitioned.

9:23 AM

Serbia places its troops on Kosovo border on combat alert, ignores NATO

Serbia on Monday placed its security troops on the border with Kosovo on "the full state of combat readiness", ignoring NATO's calls for calming down of tensions between the two wartime Balkan foes.

Serbia's Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic said he "ordered the full combat readiness" of police and other security units and that they be placed under the command of the army chief of staff according to "their operational plan.

He said in a statement that he acted on the orders of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic so that "all measures be taken to protect the Serbian people in Kosovo".