Breaking News, December 20 | LIVE UPDATES

BJP MP from Maharashtra Gopal Chinayya Shetty on Tuesday suggested that "saffronisation" of the country has potential to solve the problem of drug abuse.
Participating in a discussion in Lok Sabha on substance abuse in the country, Shetty said the day 80 per cent of the people associate themselves with the BJP, there would be no need to discuss such issues in the House.

State-owned Punjab National Bank today said President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the revamped branch located in premises of Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was also present at the inauguration, PNB said in a statement.

India will host the next special negotiation round of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) from February 8-11 next year. the commerce ministry said today. The IPEF was launched jointly by the US and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region on May 23 in Tokyo. The 14 IPEF partners represent 40 per cent of global GDP and 28 per cent of global goods and services trade. The framework is structured around four pillars relating to trade, supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy.

Mumbai on Tuesday reported three new cases of measles, taking the tally of cases in the city since the start of the year to 496, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said. The death toll due to the viral disease since January 1 stood unchanged at nine as no fresh death was reported. As many as 40 children were admitted to city hospitals during the day, while 33 children were discharged.

Anup Kumar Rattan has been appointed as Himachal Pradesh's Advocate General with immediate effect. A notification in this regard was issued late on Tuesday. Rattan will replace Ashok Sharma, whose resignation has been accepted.

 The youth wing of the BJP will organise an event to mark Dogri Recognition Day on December 22 and felicitate 75 young people who have played a significant role in keeping alive the cultural heritage of the Dogras. Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) state president Arun Prabhat said senior leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina, will attend the event, where young people from various fields who are working tirelessly for the promotion and preservation of Dogri language and to keep the rich cultural heritage of the Dogras alive will be felicitated.

A 21-year-old college student was elected as Sarpanch of Shindagi-Khurd and Mangdari group Gram Panchayat in Ahmedpur tehsil of Latur district on Tuesday, officials said. Sangameshwar Sodgir, the winning candidate, is a third-year BA student. The contest was between Sriram Gram Vikas Panel led by Srihari Tulshiram Sodgir and Sriram Sangharsh Panel led by Madhavrao Devkate, both belonging to different BJP factions in the area.

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday said India has emerged as the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world with more than 84,400 such businesses operating across 656 districts in the country. In 2014, there were only 720 startups in the country, Irani said. She further said the valuation of Indian unicorns stood at USD 332.7 billion. "Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India has emerged as the third-largest ecosystem of startups with more than 84,400 startups in 656 districts across the country," Irani was quoted as having said in a statement issued by the BJP.

An expert committee would examine geological and hydrological features of areas in and around Parandur near here, where a greenfield airport is proposed to be set up, a group of Ministers on Tuesday apprised farmers of Kancheepuram district, who are opposed to the project. People, who oppose the airport project in their neighbourhood, however, said they would continue to hold protest till the government announced that the new airport would not come up in their villages. It was the 147th day of protest on December 20.

Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested him to develop a new tourism circuit connecting all monuments related to Maharana Pratap in her constituency in Rajasthan. In her meeting with the PM during the Lok Sabha session, the MP also mooted the idea of giving an insurance cover to cultivators of Chetri rose, according to a release.

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said that the life of common man has gone awry due to the cold but the Uttar Pradesh government is yet to open enough shelter homes and arrange bonfires for the poor. With the rising cold, the hardship of the poor too has increased, but the government is "insensitive" to their plight, he said. In hospitals, railway and bus stations, people can be seen braving the cold whole night without any shelter, Yadav said in a statement.

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake shook parts of Northern California early Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, jolting people awake and leaving thousands without power. No injuries were immediately reported following the earthquake, which occurred at 2:34 a.m. near Ferndale, a small community about 210 miles (345 kilometers) northwest of San Francisco and close to the Pacific coast.
 

Following the earthquake, more than 70,000 customers were reported without power in the surrounding area, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks outages across the country. Caroline Titus, a resident of Ferndale, tweeted video in her darkened home of toppled furniture and smashed dishes.
 

"Our home is a 140-year-old Victorian. The north/south shaking is very evident in what fell," she tweeted. “That was a big one,” she said in another tweet. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office tweeted that no tsunami was expected.

A 32-year-old woman was critically injured after her husband pushed her out of a speeding autorickshaw in Maharashtra's Thane city, police said on Tuesday. The woman, who is a resident of Kopri colony, was pushed out of a moving autorickshaw on December 17, an official said.

According to the hospital authorities, the victim had sustained severe head injuries and is undergoing treatment. The Kopri police have recorded a medico-legal case and have initiated a probe into the matter, the official said, adding that no offence has been registered so far.

A 49-year-old man died and his two sons were injured in a fight that took place between two groups over harassment of a woman in the eastern suburb of Trombay here, police said on Tuesday. Offences have been registered against 24 people involved in the fight that took place in Cheetah Camp locality on December 14, an official said. The police have arrested four accused in the case, he said.
 

According to the police, the prime accused had allegedly harassed the victim's 22-year-old daughter in public and made lewd remarks. The woman called up her father and other family members. The accused also brought others to the scene and a fight ensued between the two groups, including women, the official said.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has directed the chief secretary to recover Rs 97 crore from the AAP for political advertisements it published in the guise of government advertisements in 2016, official sources said on Tuesday. The development comes days after the AAP wrested power from the BJP in the MCD polls. The AAP alleged that the LG gave the order on the saffron party's directions and claimed that Saxena has no power to issue such a directive.
 

The opposition BJP in Delhi welcomed the LG's directions and claimed that the amount to be recovered from the ruling party will rise to Rs 400 crore. At a press conference held here, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri alleged an "advertisement scam" and demanded a CBI inquiry into it.

SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal took a pot shot at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, saying "the person who used to come to the Parliament in an inebriated state is now running the state." 

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar nominated legendary former athlete and MP PT Usha to the panel of Vice chairpersons in the Upper House. Dhankhar said this is the first time a nominated member has been appointed to the Vice Chairman panel. Apart from Usha, YSRC MP Vijai Sai Reddy was also nominated. 

At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in a huge fire that broke out when a gas cylinder exploded in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, media reports said on Tuesday. The cylinder exploded while being refilled at a filling shop in the Lasbela district of the southwestern province on Monday, the Dawn newspaper said. The flames engulfed other gas cylinders in the shop and spread to other shops, destroying at least four of them and around two dozen motorbikes parked in the vicinity, the paper added. Two people were killed on the spot while 10 others succumbed to injuries during the treatment at a hospital, Geo News reported, quoting the police. At least 25 people were severely burned in the fire. They were shifted to Karachi's Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital. According to a doctor attending them, the condition of some of the injured was critical with 70 to 90 percent burn injuries. 

A 62-year-old man died on Tuesday while waiting for verification of his credentials to get an old age pension at the social welfare office in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said here. Sonaullah Bhat, a resident of Malangam in Bandipora, died at the Tehsil Social Welfare office Tuesday morning as he was waiting for his turn to submit his documents for verification, the officials said. The cause of Bhat’s death was not immediately known. Thousands of old age pensioners in Kashmir are being made to run from pillar to post for the past several months now for regularising of their pension as the payment process has been moved to online mode.
 

Political parties have urged the administration to adopt a “humane approach” to the issue. Expressing concern over Bhat’s death, CPI(M) leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami reiterated the demand for simplifying the whole process. He expressed his dismay over the hardships being faced by the old people, people with disability, widows, divorcees, transgenders, and other needy and destitute with the introduction of online registration

The Madhya Pradesh government has no proposal under consideration to implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for its employees, the Legislative Assembly was told on Tuesday. The government's written reply came to questions asked by Congress MLAs Ravindra Singh Tomar and Suresh Raje, and BJP legislator Dinesh Rai Munmun. "There is no proposal for implementing OPS," Minister for Finance Jagdish Devda stated.
 

MP government employees appointed on or after January 1, 2005, are covered under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) as per the orders issued on April 13, 2005, the minister said. The reply said 4,83,332 employees and officials of the state are registered under the NPS. Earlier last week, Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath had announced to bring back the OPS if voted to power in the Assembly polls slated for November 2023.

The Delhi BJP on Tuesday attacked the AAP over Lt Governor V K Saxena directing the chief secretary to recover Rs 97 crore from the ruling party for "political advertisements". Addressing a press conference held here, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri alleged an "advertisement scam" in the city government and demanded a CBI inquiry into it. "We see an advertisement scam here, and demand a CBI inquiry into it. We will approach the LG in this regard," he said.
 

Bidhuri also claimed that the amount to be recovered from the ruling party in Delhi would rise to Rs 400 crore.
There was no immediate reaction to this from the AAP. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and the Delhi BJP's working president Virendra Sachdeva were also present during the press conference.

BJP Lok Sabha member Prataprao Patil on Tuesday said the people of India are now confident that the Modi government would recover the land lost to China in the 1962 war. Speaking during the Zero Hour, Patel told Lok Sabha that Parliament passed a resolution on November 14, 1962 that India would recover the land, but could not achieve it in 60 years. When the BJP came to power in 2014, the government killed terrorists in Pakistan, and gave a befitting reply to China at Galwan and Tawang, Patil said.
 

Indians are now confident the Modi government will fulfil the commitment made in 1962 to recover the land lost, said the Nanded MP. "I would request the Prime Minister to fulfil the resolution passed by Indian Parliament on November 14, 1962," Patil added.

One person died and 24 were injured on Tuesday when a bus collided with a truck amid low visibility due to dense fog on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida, police said. The accident took place around 6.30 am in the Dankaur police station area, and the bus was headed for Delhi from Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Greater Noida) Abhishek Verma said. A container truck moving ahead of the bus suddenly came to a stop, which caused the bus to crash into it and then hit the railing along the expressway, he said.

The fifth submarine of the Project – 75, Kalvari Class submarines, was delivered to the Indian Navy today, 20 Dec 22. Project – 75 includes the indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design. 

Govind Sahu, the prime accused in the kidnapping and murder of a woman teacher in Kalahandi district of Odisha, was on Tuesday found hanging from a tree on the premises of a jail in Bolangir district, police said. Authorities of Kantabanji sub-jail said Sahu was found hanging from a tree with 'gamcha' (soft cotton towel) and was rushed to the sub-divisional hospital where doctors declared him dead.

CEO Google and Alphabet, Sundar Pichai met EAM Dr S Jaishankar in Delhi. "Discussed India’s digital transformation and global strategic developments," tweeted the EAM after the meeting.

National Commission for Women has taken cognizance of the misogynistic remark made by Congress leader Ajay Rai against Union Minister Smriti Irani. The Commission has scheduled a hearing in the matter and sent a notice to Ajay Rai to appear before it on December 28 at 12 pm.

An 18-year-old girl was kidnapped in front of her father when they were returning to their house after visiting a temple in the Sircilla district of Telangana.

The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday said Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has no power to pass orders directing the chief secretary to recover Rs 97 crore from the party for "political advertisements." Addressing a press conference here, AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj termed the LG's direction a "new love letter."

Actor Jacqueline Fernandez arrived at the Patiala House Court in Delhi today in connection with the Rs 200 crores money laundering case involving conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

"I can't believe that Cong president Mallikarjun Kharge could stoop so low&use such objectionable remarks. He should understand his responsibilities as a leader of a political party. We're not enemies,we're rivals. It's distasteful, unfortunate&uncalled for," said Rijiju.

Haryana Governor gave assent to the Haryana Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Rules, 2022 today.

A 3-year-old boy died after falling from 5th floor of Garware Club where he had gone with his parents to watch FIFA World Cup final. Case registered under ADR(Accidental Death Report). Family of boy alleged negligence on part of club management.

Delhi LG VK Saxena directed Chief Secretary to recover Rs 97 Crores from AAP for political advertisements it published as government ads. LG’s directions come in wake of Supreme Court orders of 2015, Delhi HC order of 2016 & CCRGA’s order of 2016, being violated by AAP Govt.

The BJP is conducting a meeting of the parliamentary party in Delhi today.

The Allahabad High Court will on Wednesday hear an appeal filed by the Uttar Pradesh government as well as the revision plea moved by the complainant against the acquittal of Union minister Ajay Kumar Mishra alias Teni in the Prabhat Gupta murder case. A division bench of Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Renu Agarwal had on November 9 completed the hearing and reserved the verdict.

Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala's convoy met with an accident today morning due to dense fog on the way.

At least 10 people were injured and one dead after bus collided with a container vehicle due to fog in Uttar Pradesh's Dankaur.

Three terrorists linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT have been killed in Kashmir's Shopian. Identification of the terrorists is being ascertained.

Encounter has started at Munjh Marg area of Shopian district. Police and Security Forces are on the job. Details shall follow.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday announced a scheme for providing cylinders to the poor in the state at the rate of Rs 500 each. "The state government is continuously taking public welfare decisions to provide maximum relief to the poor. In this direction, the state government is now coming up with a scheme to provide LPG cylinders to the poor at a cheaper rate," Gehlot tweeted.

Congress Lok Sabha MP Abdul Khaliq was brutally trolled on social media on Monday after claiming in a tweet that Argentine football legend Lionel Messi, who led his country to the FIFA World Cup title on Sunday, was born in 'Assam'. The Congress leader had taken to Twitter to congratulate Messi on the spectaculat World Cup victory over France but deleted his tweet in the face of heavy trolling.

Six people including the suspect were killed and one person was seriously injured in a shooting at a condominium building in Vaughan city of Canada on Sunday, York Regional Police said. Police are conducting a probe into the incident that took place in Vaughan city in Ontario province.

As the winter session of the Bihar Assembly concluded on Monday with outrage and uproar over the Chhapra hooch tragedy, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said that if the BJP wants to end the liquor ban in the state, the party should say it clearly. The Deputy CM also accused the opposition led by the BJP of not raising any issues on behalf of the public during this Assembly session.

3 persons, Arun George, Sarath & Rivin were arrested for assaulting police officers during FIFA World Cup celebrations that turned violent in Kaloor yesterday. Cases were registered under 294(b), 323, 332, 353, 341,143,147 r/w & 149 of IPC.