LIVE: PM Modi to interact with beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra

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10:55 PM

Suspected explosive found in J-K's Rajouri

Security forces on Friday found some suspected explosive material during a cordon and search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, officials said.

Troops of Rashtriya Rifles and police started the operation in Darra, Nili, Mangota villages of Thanamandi, during which some suspicious object was spotted under a rock, they said.

They found an IED-like object with Under Barrel Grenades (UBGs) also lying alongside it.

10:53 PM

AP cabinet okays proposals for welfare pension hike, Vizag metro rail DPR

The Andhra Pradesh cabinet on Friday approved several key proposals which encompassed hiking welfare pensions to Rs 3,000 per month, approving Visakhapatnam metro rail's detailed project report (DPR) among others.

The cabinet meet chaired by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy also approved the decision to raise YSR Pension Kanuka (welfare pension to eligible poor people) from Rs 2,750 to Rs 3,000 per month. The pension is doled out to eligible old people, widows, single women, HIV positive persons and others.

10:52 PM

Decision against Places of Worship Act: Jamiat chief Madani on HC allowing Mathura mosque survey

A day after the Allahabad High Court allowed a court-monitored survey of the Shahi Idgah adjoining the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani on Friday claimed this goes against the 1991 law regarding the protection of places of worship and asserted that the Muslim organisation will pursue the matter in court.

The high court also agreed to the appointment of an advocate commissioner to oversee the survey of the mosque premises, which the petitioners claim holds signs suggesting that it was a Hindu temple once.

10:18 PM

Home Minister speaks to MPs through media, this is unacceptable: Chidambaram

Congress leader P Chidambaram Friday asserted that Home Minister Amit Shah should make a statement in Parliament over the security breach in Lok Sabha and cited the precedent of then Home Minister L K Advani making a statement in the House in the aftermath of the 2001 Parliament attack.

Accusing Shah of speaking through the media to the Members of Parliament, he said, "This is unacceptable".

In a post in X, Chidambaram, a former home minister, said, "After the terrible attack on Parliament on 13th December 2001, Home Minister L K Advani made a statement in Parliament. That is the right precedent."

10:15 PM

Safety of Indians in Canada priority for government: Muraleedharan

As many as 8.3 lakh Canadian citizens have affiliation to Hinduism while 7.7 lakh reported Sikhism as their religion, the government told Parliament on Friday, citing Ottawa's census data for 2021.

The information was provided by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

"As per available information through Canada Census data (2021), 8,30,000 Canadian citizens reported affiliation to Hinduism and 7,70,000 Canadian citizens reported Sikhism as their religion," Muraleedharan said.

9:48 PM

Bill to ban polygamy to be introduced in assembly by Feb, says Assam CM; 'Love Jihad' clause likely

A bill to ban polygamy will be introduced in the next session of the Assam assembly to be held in February, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said here on Friday.

The bill has been formulated after months of consultations with various individuals and organisations.

Talking to reporters, Sarma said, "The bill to ban polygamy will be placed on the floor of the Assam assembly which will commence from February 4."

9:47 PM

PM Modi to interact with beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with beneficiaries of the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' on Saturday via video conference.

The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement that Modi will also flag off the Yatra in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram during the programme. "Thousands of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra beneficiaries from across the country will join the event. The programme will also be joined by a large number of Union ministers, MPs, MLAs and local level representatives," it said.

9:40 PM

Finance dept attempting to undermine Delhi Assembly's autonomy: Speaker Goel

Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel on Friday alleged that attempts were being made to undermine the legislative body's financial and administrative autonomy by the finance department.

Chairing the Winter Session of the Delhi Assembly, Goel said that he sent a note to the chief secretary on December 5, urging him to direct the departments concerned to abide by the law department's stand that administrative and financial matters of the House should be processed by the assembly secretary.

"The finance department is persistently trying to sideline the existence of the legislative assembly secretary and operate the assembly's functioning through the law secretary," he stated in the House.

8:46 PM

Amit Shah must make a statement on Parliament security breach: Tejashwi

Terming the Parliament security breach a "very serious issue", Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Friday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah must make a statement in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the incident.

The RJD leader said it is unimaginable that imagine that the December 13 incident happened at a place which is considered one of the safest in the country.

8:34 PM

Mega fairs, exhibitions in 2024 will help domestic industry expand global presence: DGFT

India will organise a series of mega fairs and exhibitions next year in sectors such as food, textiles and auto with a view to attract overseas buyers and increase global footprint of the domestic industry, a senior government official said on Friday.

Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Santosh Kumar Saranagi said it was observed that only a handful of domestic exhibitors go outside to participate in such events.

"So the idea came up that we should organise mega events where we are able to get a lot of overseas buyers and allow a lot of domestic exhibitors to exhibit products, have interface with overseas buyers and increase their global footprint," Sarangi told reporters here.

8:31 PM

Delhi excise 'scam': Court to pass order on Arun Pillai's interim bail plea on December 18

A court here will decide on December 18 whether to grant interim bail to Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai, arrested in a money-laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise scam, on the ground of his wife's medical condition.

Special Judge M K Nagpal, who reserved the order on Friday after hearing arguments on the application, also extended the custody parole granted to Pillai till Monday.

8:30 PM

JNU students' outfit burns administration's effigy, demands withdrawal of varsity manual

Cutting across party lines, the JNU students' outfits on Friday registered their protest against the varsity's revised manual prohibiting and penalising protests on campus within 100 metres of the academic buildings, among other restrictions, and demanded its withdrawal.

The ABVP's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) unit burnt an effigy of the varsity administration while protesting against the manual calling it "dictatorial" and "anti-student".

7:57 PM

Madras HC convicts ex-IPS officer Sampath in Dhoni's contempt plea case

The Madras High Court on Friday imposed a punishment of 15 days' simple imprisonment on retired IPS officer G Sampath Kumar in a contempt of court case filed by former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

A division bench comprising Justices S S Sundar and Sunder Mohan found Sampath Kumar guilty of committing criminal contempt.

"However, taking into consideration the credentials of the respondent (Sampath Kumar), as projected by him in his written statement as well in the reply affidavit, this court, showing lenience, restricts the punishment for a period of 15 days."

7:39 PM

Customs officers seize 27 gold bars worth Rs 1.96 cr

Delhi Customs Preventive officers have seized 27 gold bars weighing more than 3 kg and worth Rs 1.96 crore from two foreign nationals at IGI Airport.

On the basis of profiling, the officers of Delhi Customs Preventive booked a case of smuggling of gold on Thursday by two Uzbek nationals Zamirakhon Kabirova and Makhpirakhon Mamatkhodjaeva, the finance ministry said in a statement.

"The Delhi Customs Preventive, New Customs House, seized 27 gold bars weighing more than 3 kg worth Rs 1.96 crore from two foreign nationals at the Indira Gandhi International Airport yesterday," it said.

7:05 PM

India challenges WTO panel ruling in favour of EU on ICT import duties

India has appealed against a ruling of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) trade dispute settlement panel in a case filed by the European Union against New Delhi's import duties on nine information and technology products.

India's move came after both regions were not able to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution (MAS).

"India and the EU have negotiated to arrive at a MAS for the past seven months, but the EU has now filed for adoption of panel report on December 7 and therefore, India has appealed against it on December 8 in the WTO," Additional Secretary in the commerce ministry Peeyush Kumar told reporters here.

7:04 PM

India, Oman likely to conclude talks for free trade agreement soon

India and Oman are expected to soon conclude the negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement with an aim to boost bilateral commerce, a top government official said.

Officials of the two countries have concluded the second round of talks for the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) earlier this month in Muscat.

Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said that Oman has certain similarities with the UAE in terms of their production capacities, manufacturing, and product profiles and India already has a similar pact with the UAE.

7:02 PM

ED conducts fresh searches in money laundering case against Chandigarh-based pharma company

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday conducted fresh searches at about a dozen locations in Delhi-NCR and Punjab as part of a money laundering investigation against Chandigarh-based pharmaceutical company Parabolic Drugs and its promoters linked to an alleged bank fraud, official sources said.

The first round of searches in this case were carried out in October. Some documents and electronic gadgets were recovered by the agency officials during the searches, they said.

The central agency had earlier arrested Parabolic Drugs promoters Vineet Gupta (54) and Pranav Gupta (56), who are also the co-founders of the Sonepat-based Ashoka University, and CA Surjeet Kumar Bansal (74) under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

6:37 PM

J'khand CM inaugurates, lays foundation of 103 projects worth Rs 843 crore

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 103 projects worth Rs 843 crore.

Soren also distributed assets to the tune of around Rs 88 crore among 11,841 beneficiaries of welfare schemes.

6:37 PM

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar inaugurates ambitious Ganga Water Supply Scheme in Nawada district

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday inaugurated the ambitious Ganga Water Supply Scheme (GWSS) in Bihar's Nawada district.

The GWSS is India's first-of-its-kind floodwater to drinking water project. It aims to supply clean and safe drinking water to Rajgir (Nalanda), Gaya and Nawada through pipelines from Hathidah at Mokama in Patna district.

6:36 PM

Kendriya Vidyalayas played pivotal role in shaping future of nation: PM Modi

Kendriya Vidyalayas have played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the nation by providing quality education to several students, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday.

The prime minister extended his wishes to students, staffers and alumni of KVs on the occasion of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS)' diamond jubilee.

There are over 1,250 Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country and three schools run by KVS abroad. Nearly 15 lakh students study in these schools.

5:25 PM

2nd cargo ship struck by ballistic missile fired from rebel-held Yemen: US official

US official says a second cargo ship has been struck by a ballistic missile fired from rebel-held Yemen, reports AP

4:55 PM

Prince Harry wins phone hacking lawsuit against British tabloid publisher, awarded 140,000 pounds

Prince Harry won his phone hacking lawsuit Friday against the publisher of the Daily Mirror and was awarded over 140,000 pounds ($180,000) in the first of his several lawsuits against the tabloids to go to trial.

Justice Timothy Fancourt in the High Court found that phone hacking was widespread and habitual at Mirror Group Newspapers over many years and private investigators were an integral part of the system to gather information unlawfully. He said executives at the papers were aware of the practice and covered it up. Fancourt found that 15 of the 33 newspaper articles in question at trial had been compiled with the help of unlawful means.

4:50 PM

Parliament security breach case: Delhi court sends accused to 7-day police custody

A Delhi court on Friday sent Lalit Jha, arrested in the Parliament security breach case, to 7-day police custody for his sustained custodial interrogation.

Special Judge Hardeep Kaur remanded Jha in Delhi police's custody after the public prosecutor said he was the mastermind of the incident and was required to be questioned to unearth the entire conspiracy.

The court passed the order on an application filed by the city police which sought his custody for 15 days.

4:47 PM

BJP MLA in UP gets 25 years in jail for raping minor, faces disqualification from Assembly

A court here on Friday sentenced BJP MLA Ramdular Gond to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment for the rape of a girl nine years ago, setting the stage for his disqualification from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

According to the Representation of the People Act, a lawmaker sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more shall be disqualified "from the date of such conviction" and remain disqualified for another six years after serving time.

Ahsan Ullah Khan, the additional district and session judge of the MP-MLA court in Sonbhadra, also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Gond which would be used for the rape survivor's rehabilitation.

4:40 PM

Police headquarters, checkpost come under attack in Pakistan; 5 law enforcement officials killed

At least five law enforcement officials were killed in militant attacks on a regional police headquarters and a checkpost in the restive northwest Pakistan on Friday that also killed four rebels, in an uptick in violence against security forces in the country.

The attacks come three days after terrorists killed 23 soldiers in the same region in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

4:15 PM

Digi Yatra facility to be available at 25 more airports in 2024: Scindia

Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday said Digi Yatra facility will be available at 25 more airports in 2024.

Currently, the facility is available at 13 airports for domestic passengers.

Digi Yatra provides for contactless, seamless movement of passengers at various check points at airports based on Facial Recognition Technology (FRT).

4:15 PM

More immigration desks, entry gates added at Delhi airport, says Scindia

Entry gates, immigration desks, security personnel and other facilities have been improved at the Delhi Airport for smooth flow of passengers, said Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday.

He was addressing media persons at the national media centre on the matter releated to congestion at airports.

4:15 PM

Parliament security breach: Accused smuggled smoke canisters inside cavity of shoe soles, say police

The two persons who opened smoke canisters in the Lok Sabha chamber had smuggled them in cavities cut into the left sole of custom-made sports shoes supported by thick rubber layers, according to Delhi Police's FIR.

The pamphlets that the duo -- Manorajan D and Sagar Sharma -- carried into the Lok Sabha had the picture of a fist against the backdrop of a tricolour, a slogan in Hindi and a slogan in English on the Manipur violence issue.

3:00 PM

Centre allows notified pvt exploration agencies to participate in critical mineral blocks auction

The mines ministry on Friday said it has permitted notified private exploration agencies to participate in the auction of critical and deep-seated mineral blocks explored by them.

The development will attract bigger mining companies in the exploration arena and is likely to encourage junior mining companies from around the world to come to India and take up exploration projects with National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) funding.

2:48 PM

BJP forms five-member fact-finding panel to visit Belagavi incident site

BJP National President JP Nadda has condemned the incident of parading a naked tribal woman in Belgavi, Karnataka and constituted a five-member fact-finding committee to visit the incident site.

Jagat Prakash Nadda also launched a scathing attack on the Congress government in Karnataka, calling the Belagavi incident of a tribal woman being paraded naked "heinous" and a symptom of the party's "irresponsible behaviour" towards women's safety.