Updates: Kuwait confers its highest honour 'The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer' to PM Modi

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Kuwait conferred its highest honour "The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer" to PM Narendra Modi. It is a knighthood order of Kuwait. This is awarded to Heads of State and foreign Sovereigns and to members of foreign royal families and is a sign of friendship.  Congress leader Pawan Khera on Saturday informed that the Congress MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the CWC members will do press conferences in 150 different cities across the nation demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Congress has been seeking Amit Shah's resignation over his remarks pertaining to Ambedkar in Rajya Sabha, which the minister made while attacking the opposition party. "On 22 and 23 (December) in more than 150 cities our MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the CWC members will do press conference demanding the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah and will condemn the way he disrespected Babasaheb Ambedkar," Pawan Khera said.

 

Sixteen soldiers were killed in an attack on a security forces check post in Makeen, South Waziristan, on Saturday, according to a statement by the military's media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Dawn reported. The attack was carried out by terrorists in the region, which has been a hotspot for violent incidents since the breakdown of a fragile ceasefire agreement between the Pakistani government and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in 2022.

 

India has condemned the car attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, which claimed five lives and injured dozens, with numbers showing more than 200 injured. In an official press release, the MEA expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating, "We condemn the horrific and senseless attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany. Several precious lives have been lost, and many have been injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims." The statement confirmed that the Indian Mission in Germany is in contact with the injured Indian nationals and their families, providing all possible assistance. "Our Mission is in contact with Indians who are injured, as well as their families, and rendering all possible assistance," the statement read.

10:40 PM

Special trains announced from Bengaluru for Christmas and Kumbh Mela

To clear the extra rush of passengers during the Christmas festival, South Western Railway has organised special trains to multiple locations from Bengaluru. SWR will also run a special one-way express train (06215) from Mysuru to Prayagraj to the Kumbh Mela.

9:55 PM

BJP has always insulted Dalits: Cong leader Ajoy Kumar

Amid ongoing protests over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on B R Ambedkar, senior Congress leader Ajoy Kumar on Sunday alleged that the BJP, which adheres to the principles of Manusmriti, has always insulted Dalits. The AICC executive committee member, in a statement issued here, said that the "true character of the BJP, which practices Manusmriti, was exposed" with Shah's comments in Rajya Sabha.

9:35 PM

UP PCS prelims conclude with 42% turnout

The PCS prelims, hit by large-scale protests at the beginning, were concluded on Sunday, with only about 42 per cent of the candidates appearing. Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) Secretary Ashok Kumar said the exams were conducted peacefully under the watch of police and other agencies.

9:07 PM

Haryana govt notifies procurement of 24 crops at MSP

The Haryana government has notified the procurement of 24 crops at a minimum support price (MSP), extending the list of 14 farm produces that were earlier eligible for guaranteed rates under public procurement system. The state cabinet of the previous government, which was also headed by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, already approved the proposal of buying 10 additional crops at MSP.

7:29 PM

Integrity of constitutional institutions should be insulated from political influence, says SC Judge

India must protect the integrity of its constitutional institutions from outside interference, including those that are politically motivated, said Justice P S Narasimha, Judge, Supreme Court of India, on Sunday. Justice Narasimha was delivering the Justice E S Ventakaramiah Centennial Memorial Lecture, organised by the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru.

7:16 PM

CPI(M) demands immediate withdrawal of election rule amendment

The CPI(M) on Sunday demanded the immediate withdrawal of an election rule amendment preventing public inspection of certain electronic documents such as CCTV camera and webcasting footage. In a statement, the CPI(M) Politburo expressed its strong objection to the amendment, restricting the access of political parties and candidates to electronic records, including video and other digital trails.

6:51 PM

ISRO to study how crops grow in space on PSLV-C60 mission

Demonstration of seed germination in outer space, a robotic arm to catch a tethered debris there, and testing of green propulsion systems are some of the experiments planned on the POEM-4 -- the fourth stage of ISRO's PSLV rocket that remains in orbit after launching a satellite. The PSLV-C60 mission, slated for an yearend launch, is scheduled to place the twin satellites 'Chaser and Target' to demonstrate the space docking technologies that are crucial for building India's space station.

6:30 PM

Three-day rituals to mark anniversary of Ram Lalla's consecration

Three-day rituals beginning January 11 will be held at the Ayodhya Ram temple to mark the first anniversary of the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol. Ram Lalla will be anointed and a grand aarti performed at 12:20 pm on January 11 -- Paush Shukla Dwadashi, according to the Hindu calendar.

6:23 PM

Vandalism at Allu Arjun''s residence in Hyderabad

A group of persons, claiming to be members of Osmania University Joint Action Committee, on Sunday vandalised flower pots and other things at the residence of top Telugu actor Allu Arjun here. The protesters raised slogans against the actor and sought justice to the woman who died in a stampede at a movie theatre here earlier this month on the occasion of screening of the actor's latest film 'Pushpa-2'.

6:11 PM

Will ensure jobs in Maharashtra coperative sector: Minister Patil

Maharashtra Cooperatives Minister Babasaheb Patil said on Sunday that generating employment for youths would be his top priority. "I am committed to revitalising the cooperative movement. My focus would be to create jobs for youths and ensure their active participation in the cooperative sector," Patil said after he was felicitated in Ahmedpur constituency in Latur district.

5:43 PM

Car part of Vasundhara Raje's convoy overturns, 3 cops sustain minor injuries

Three policemen sustained minor injuries when a vehicle of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje's carcade overturned in an attempt to avoid hitting a motorcycle in Rajasthan's Pali district on Sunday, police said. The accident occurred while Raje was on her way to meet former minister Otaram Dewasi to express her condolence over his mother's death.

5:30 PM

Indore airport to get new terminal building in 3 years to increase passenger capacity

Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Sunday said that a new terminal building will be constructed in three years to increase the passenger capacity and facilities at the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore. Naidu inaugurated the new tower-cum-technical block of air traffic control and garbage disposal plant at the city airport.

5:11 PM

Income Tax serves notice to PDP's J&K MLA Para, seeks books of accounts

The Income Tax department has served a notice to senior PDP leader and Jammu and Kashmir MLA Waheed Para to submit his books of accounts, officials said on Sunday. Though, according to the notice, Para was scheduled to appear before the Income Tax authorities on December 20, he received the intimation on the same day.

5:03 PM

V-P Dhankhar calls for accountability of MPs

Against the backdrop of Parliament witnessing poor productivity due to disruptions, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday called for accountability of lawmakers and said people would force them to think why they were sent to Parliament. He also said that for any democracy to succeed, expression and dialogue must go hand in hand with great responsibility on both sides.

 

4:36 PM

Tripura remained backward during Left rule, BJP brought development, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday hit out at Left parties for turning Tripura into a "backward" state during their 35-year rule and said it could witness progress only after the BJP assumed power in 2018. Addressing a public meeting here after visiting a village where displaced Bru tribals were rehabilitated, Shah said that Tripura remained behind on all parameters of development during the communist rule but is now moving forward on the path of progress.