Top Trending Government News News & Highlights
AAP must leave its headquarters by June 15th, per a Supreme Court order.
The Aam Aadmi Party of Arvind Kejriwal will have to leave its headquarters, which are located on a plot of land designated for the High Court. The good news is that you still have until June 15 to act. The Supreme Court gave the party a long deadline because of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, emphasizing that this is an encroachment case. The party may now submit an application for alternative land to the Land and Development Office of the Center.The bench, which included Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, stated, "We would request the L&DO to process the application and communicate its decision within a period of four weeks." The bench continued, "AAP has no legal right to remain on the land." The Delhi High Court was granted land in February to expand its operations and build more courtrooms for the Rouse Avenue location. The court had noticed that the AAP was intruding on this land. When considering a case involving the nation's judicial system, the highest court took notice of the issue.The state government promised at a meeting on February 15 that the plot would be removed in two months if a substitute plot was provided, in response to a court order. However, the situation remained unchanged. According to India's Chief Justice, DY Chandrachud, nobody has the authority to impose law on others. "It is absurd for any political party to sit on it. Every intrusion will be eliminated... The land should be given to the High Court so that it can be utilized by the general public and citizens, Justice Chandrachud stated.
Published 04 Mar 2024 05:31 PM
Article 21: The Constitutions Soul, with Citizens Liberty Supreme
According to the Supreme Court, Article 21 is the essence of the Constitution because it protects citizens' rights to liberty, which are so valuable that a person would lose them if the high court takes too long to decide cases pertaining to it. Amol Vithal Vahile, a prime accused in the murder of a corporator in Maharashtra, was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on January 29 following prodding from the top court, according to a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta.In a recent ruling, the bench stated that it is evident that prior to this court's order being issued on January 29, 2024, the high court had dismissed the bail application on one or more grounds rather than considering it on its merits.It goes without saying that Article 21 of the Indian Constitution is its core because it upholds the fundamental right to liberty for all citizens. It stated, "Depriving the party of their precious right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India would mean not reaching a quick decision and brushing off the issue on one or the other basis pertaining to a citizen's liberty." The bench stated that it has encountered numerous cases from the Bombay High Court in which the applications for bail and anticipatory bail were not resolved promptly. The bench mentioned one instance where the application for anticipatory bail was pending for over four years. "We have also encountered many cases where the judges find an excuse to reroute the case on unrelated grounds rather than rendering a decision based on the merits of the case. As a result, we ask the chief justice of the Bombay High Court to communicate our request to all judges who have criminal jurisdiction so that the issue of bail and anticipatory bail can be decided as soon as possible," the bench stated.It requested that the Supreme Court's Registrar (Judicial) forward this directive to the High Court's Registrar (Judicial), who will present it to the Bombay High Court's chief justice. The bench stated on January 29 that, despite the fact that Vahile had been detained for more than seven years, on March 30, 2023, the high court had ordered him to appear before the trial court for regular bail.
Published 02 Mar 2024 06:02 PM
India Receives Its Second Space Port, Excitement for Rocket Startups
Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for India's second launch site, Kulasekharapatnam, which is situated in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. This will significantly advance the nation's spacefaring endeavors. The new launch pad has the small rocket community in India, including ISRO and startups, giddy with anticipation for more efficient small rocket launches.Up until now, all rockets used to launch satellites into orbit were launched from the nation's single spaceport, which was located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. To date, India has launched 95 rockets from Sriharikota, 80 of which have been declared successful. Renamed the Satish Dhawan Space Center, it began modestly in 1971 with the launch of a sounding rocket, the RH-125. The center is currently getting ready for India's human spaceflight project, Gaganyaan, to launch. Satish Dhawan Space Center has a distinct advantage—it is one of the world's southernmost rocket ports—but it also has a major disadvantage. The land mass of Sri Lanka presents a safety concern for rockets launching in polar or southerly directions because it keeps rocket debris from landing on foreign soil.In order to lessen this, ISRO has traditionally carried out a unique manoeuvre referred to as the "dogleg maneuver" in order to avoid Sri Lanka when conducting direct southward launches. Although there is a penalty for this maneuver, it can be tolerated for larger rockets with sufficient fuel, such as PSLV, GSLV, and LVM-3. But the advantages of using Sriharikota as the preferred launch site become clear as India gains proficiency in the launch of smaller rockets, such as the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which can carry satellites weighing up to 500 kilograms. According to an ISRO rocket specialist, it becomes almost impossible to launch small rockets from Sriharikota in polar or southern trajectories with payloads weighing between 500 and 700 kg. As a result, Kulasekharapatnam has been chosen as the second launch site to address these issues because of its expanding small rocket market.
Published 28 Feb 2024 05:29 PM
Survey Says RBIs Paytm Action Won Affect Merchants Trust
Merchants' trust in the payment platform is unaffected by the severe limitations the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) placed on Paytm Payments Bank (PPBL), according to a survey done. According to Datum Intelligence, a Gurugram-based provider of business consulting and services, 59% of retailers still use Paytm and don't think the government crackdown will have an immediate effect on their business. The business conducted a survey with 2,000 business owners in 12 cities who accept payments through Paytm apps. According to a press release from Datum Intelligence, it was done between February 7 and February 15. Survey Says RBI's Paytm Action Won't Affect Merchants' Trust According to a Datum survey, 76% of retailers accept payments through Paytm. Merchants' trust in the payment platform is unaffected by the severe limitations the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) placed on Paytm Payments Bank (PPBL), according to a survey done. According to Datum Intelligence, a Gurugram-based provider of business consulting and services, 59% of retailers still use Paytm and don't think the government crackdown will have an immediate effect on their business. The business conducted a survey with 2,000 business owners in 12 cities who accept payments through Paytm apps. According to a press release from Datum Intelligence, it was done between February 7 and February 15. According to the survey, 21% of retailers are awaiting additional information The fact that a Paytm representative contacted them following the RBI ruling is what gives retailers their confidence. "After being contacted by a Paytm representative, 71% of merchants feel comfortable continuing to use Paytm for payments. According to the Datum Intelligence survey, only 11% of respondents are less confident about using Paytm for payments, and 14% of respondents are still looking for more information."Overall, the impact is limited on the merchant business and Paytm is engaging with merchants to reduce the damage and merchants are also waiting before deciding on alternatives," it added.
Published 28 Feb 2024 05:01 PM
Government News
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JN shouldn't cause you to panic.One COVID-19 variation is Health Minister
"In response to the introduction of the new COVID-19 variant JN.1, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj urged Delhi residents on Wednesday to ""not panic."" He explained that although the strain is contagious, it is mild, with only a small number of patients requiring oxygen support. ""Take precautions, but don't panic—this [new variant] is not very dangerous. About 90% of patients are recovering while receiving treatment at home, Mr. Bharadwaj informed the media, noting that comorbidity patients were the focus of reports of deaths in other States."
For FY23, Unacademys revenue jumps 26% to Rs 907 crore while its loss cuts
The test-prep startup Unacademy reported that, despite constant layoffs at the company, its losses in FY23 decreased by 41% to Rs 1,678 crore. In FY23, employee-related expenses decreased by 28% to Rs 1,281 crore.The test-prep startup Unacademy reported that, despite constant layoffs at the company, its losses in FY23 decreased by 41% to Rs 1,678 crore. In FY23, employee-related expenses decreased by 28% to Rs 1,281 crore.In what was a difficult year for the startup environment, many modern businesses, like Myntra, ZestMoney, and Curefoods, reported stronger revenues for FY23, but their losses also increased.Revenue at Myntra rises to Rs 4,375 crore: The apparel retailer Myntra, which is owned by Flipkart, reported a 25% increase in operating revenue to Rs 4,375 crore in FY23, despite a 31% increase in losses to Rs 782 crore. The online fashion platform's largest expense, amounting to Rs 1,758 crore, was spent on advertising and promotional activities, representing a 35% increase over the previous year.Unacademy reduces losses to Rs 1,678 crore, or 41%: Unacademy, a startup providing test preparation, reported that its losses in FY23, which included several layoffs at the company, decreased by 41% to Rs 1,678 crore. The Bengaluru-based firm saw a 26% increase in sales to Rs 907 crore during the year, while costs associated with payroll decreased by 28% to Rs 1,281 crore.ZestMoney reports a loss of Rs 412 crore. ZestMoney, a troubled startup that has been searching for a buyer, declared a net loss of Rs 412.4 crore for the fiscal year 2023. On the other hand, while total expenses increased by 21% to Rs 662.2 crore, overall revenue for the buy-now-pay-later platform increased by 72% to Rs 250 crore.
Prime Minister Modi on Veer Bal Diwas: Sikh gurus taught Indians
Speaking on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Sikh gurus had inspired Indians to improve and develop their nation by teaching them to live for the beauty of their homeland. He was giving a speech at a ceremony called "Veer Bal Diwas" to honor the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh's two sons. According to PM Modi, their sacrifices are being honored not only in India but also around the world through initiatives in nations like Australia and the United States. We don't need to squander time or pause for a single moment. These lessons came from the gurus...We must live for the honor and glory of our nation. We must live for the benefit of the nation, PM Modi stated.
Karnataka LoP Arrested For Opposing Karsevak Shrikant Pujaris Arrest Regarding Babri Demolition
Legislative Assembly member and BJP leader R Ashoka was held by Karnataka police for allegedly inciting rioting following the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid. Ashoka had staged a demonstration against the state government over the detention of Shrikant Pujari. The BJP workers who have been protesting the arrest escalated their demonstration on Thursday by starting the 'I'm also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too' campaign.LoP Karnataka Legislative Assembly & BJP politician R Ashoka was taken into custody by the police, according to ANI. Along with party members, he was demonstrating against the state government over the detention of Shrikant Pujari, who was taken into custody for his alleged role in the rioting that followed the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid.LoP Karnataka Legislative Assembly & BJP politician R Ashoka was taken into custody by the police, according to ANI. Along with party members, he was demonstrating against the state government over the detention of Shrikant Pujari, who was taken into custody for his alleged role in the rioting that followed the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid.
2023s Military Innovations and What Defense Technology Can Expect in 2024
Amidst escalating geopolitical tensions worldwide, several nations, such as Russia and India, spearheaded military innovation in 2023. Sputnik India takes a look back at some of the most inventive weapons from the previous year. In 2023, a number of cutting-edge weapon systems made their debuts. Russia, in particular, used its most advanced defense hardware in Ukraine, where the Eurasian sovereign state was engaged in a special military operation against the forces of Volodymyr Zelensky, the leader of that country.India, a longstanding strategic ally of Moscow, was not going to lag behind in terms of military hardware as New Delhi expanded its stockpile in response to the Indo-Pacific region becoming as the center of attention for world geopolitics. It's interesting to note that in 2023, Indian armaments and ammunition production and exports reached a record high.India's Defence Ministry (MoD) reports that during the current fiscal year, the South Asian nation exported military equipment valued at INR 16,000 crore ($1.95 billion). The figures indicate a $360 million increase in exports compared to the previous fiscal year.Additionally, BJP officials informed the media that it is unlikely for the panel to accept requests from rival parties' defectors that they be appointed to prestigious posts in exchange for their allegations. Senior members of the saffron party gathered in New Delhi to plan for the impending parliamentary elections and the dedication of the Ram Temple in the Uttar Pradesh city of Ayodhya. These members included Federal Ministers Bhupendra Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnav, Chief Himanta Biswa Sarma of the Assam State, and general secretaries Tarun Chugh and Sunil Bansal.
A New Panel Is Formated by the BJP to Examine New Hires Before the 2024 Elections
With the new panel, the federally dominant BJP hopes to assess potential members' devotion in advance of the 2024 parliamentary elections. A new panel has been established by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to screen lawmakers from other parties who may want to join the party before the March–April 2024 general elections.The panel will determine whether to accept or reject the politicians who wish to join the party, according to media reports citing party sources. The BJP seeks to reduce the possibility of enlisting supporters who might turn against them if they are elected to the legislature. Only after receiving consent from the committee will anyone wishing to cross the floor be permitted to participate. It is anticipated that the committee will convene for the first time on January 6.
President Muizzu of the Maldives arrives in China for a closely monitored state visit
The visit to China by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu takes place against the backdrop of a diplomatic spat between India and the Maldives following remarks made disparagingly about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu landed in China on Monday and will stay for five days till January 12, according to an official announcement.During his visit, Muizzu is also expected to meet with business executives and senior Chinese government officials at the "Invest Maldives Forum," according to the presidency. China is currently the Maldives' biggest creditor; Male owes Beijing around $1.3 billion in debt obligations. Beijing is among the nation's largest investors and economic partners; in 2017, the two governments signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Maldives has also ratified the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is supported by Beijing.
Odisha is investing more than Rs 2,500 crore to help millet farmers with their income and way of life.
"On Thursday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that his government is investing more than Rs 2,500 crore to help the state's millet farmers with income and livelihood support. The Odisha Millets Mission was recently started by the state government in 2017 with the goal of restoring the cereal's ecosystem.Odisha has been the ""pioneer in designing a people-centric Millet Mission with focus on livelihood and nutrition of tribal communities"" , according to him. According to Patnaik, ""My government will make every effort to turn Odisha into a millet center of excellence and contribute to economic growth, wellbeing, and health of the people of Odisha."" He emphasized that Odisha is the first state to organize an international convention involving all the stakeholders, noting that the UN has declared 2023 to be the International Year of Millets. In the millet value chain, the chief minister commended the work of the Mission Shakti Women Self Help Groups (SHGs). These Self-Help Groups, operating under the name Millet Shakti, have demonstrated to the world the significant role that millet-based businesses can play in enhancing livelihoods. "
V Ramaswamy Resigns from the Presidential Race and Backs Trump Following Victory in the Iowa Caucuses
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who is Indian-American, withdrew from the 2024 US presidential contest today and declared his endorsement of Donald Trump following a lackluster showing in the Iowa Republican primary. Despite being relatively unknown in political circles when he entered the race in February 2023, Mr. Ramaswamy was able to attract the attention and support of Republican voters by emphasizing America first and holding strong views on immigration. His campaign strategy, in terms of both tone and policy, was very similar to that of the former president Trump. Mr. Ramaswamy aimed to reach out to the conservative support base that had helped Trump win earlier elections.Trump's victory in Iowa that same evening cemented his standing as the front-runner for the Republican nomination.Born in Ohio to Keralan immigrants, Mr. Ramaswamy became one of the surprise candidates in a Republican field still heavily influenced by Trump's name. But in the final days before the Iowa caucuses, Mr. Ramaswamy found himself under fire from Trump, who publicly attacked him, calling him a "fraud" on his social media platform Truth Social and saying that supporting the Indian-American represented siding with the "other side."
"Update on COVID-19 Epidemiology, January 19, 2024
"Over 1.1 million new cases were reported worldwide during the 28-day period from December 11, 2023, to January 7, 2024, a 4% increase over the previous 28-day period. With 8700 new fatalities reported, the number of new deaths fell by 26% from the previous 28-day period. Over 774 million confirmed cases and over seven million deaths had been reported worldwide as of January 7, 2024. During the period from 11 December 2023 to 7 January 2024, COVID-19 new hospitalizations and admissions to an intensive care unit (ICU) both recorded an overall increase of 40% and 13% with over 173 000 and 1900 admissions, respectively. With 71 countries reporting JN.1 as the most prevalent VOI globally, it accounted for roughly 66% of sequences in week 52 as opposed to about 25% in week 48. Week 52 saw 7.8% of sequences belonging to its stable parent lineage, BA.2.86, compared to week 48's 7.0%. On December 19, 2023, the preliminary risk assessment for JN.1 was released, presenting an overall assessment of low public health risk worldwide, based on the evidence that was at hand. Included in this edition are: "The worldwide and regional COVID-19 epidemiological update. An update on ICU admissions and hospital stays. An update on the SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest (VOI) and variants under monitoring (VUM).
Media companies rise sharply as election advertisement spending soars.
Expectations of increasing ad sales during the next election season, together with other stock-specific factors like lowering newsprint prices, have propelled media companies to an incredible five-day run.The Bennett, Coleman and Co. subsidiary Entertainment Network India Ltd (ENIL), which runs Radio Mirchi, has increased by 17% during the last five trading days. Rival print media company HT Media Ltd, which publishes Mint and Hindustan Times, saw a 2.65% increase over that time.DB Corp., the publisher of Dainik Bhaskar, and Network18 Media & Investments Ltd. and Sun TV, the television network operators, spearheaded the first boom. However, investors are now banking on print and radio companies as well. Over the last half-year, Network 18 and TV18 Broadcast Ltd have had gains of 87% and 53%, respectively, while DB Corp has experienced a 63% increase and Sun TV has seen a 35% increase.Moneycontrol spoke with analysts who linked the recent jump to anticipation of increasing ad revenues in the run-up to the elections, but stock-specific factors also played a part.Among the largest gainers from political party expenditure in the run-up to elections have been media corporations. Television, print, and radio media companies are expected to benefit from the upcoming advertising frenzy by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its competing political parties over the next six months.According to Karan Taurani, Senior Vice President at Elara Capital, "there is an expectation that advertisement spending will see a strong momentum over the next six to eight months due to the elections." He also added that the rally in media stocks is a result of the general elections' positive impact on radio, television, and print advertising.According to Ashish Goel, Managing Partner and CEO of InvestSavy PMS, political parties are expected to provide media firms with significant revenue growth.Indeed, the rise in advertising revenue in the last quarters of the fiscal years 2014 and 2019 (which happened to be years when there were parliamentary elections) was essentially the same as in years when there were no elections. According to a Moneycontrol research, in the fourth quarter of 2013–14, advertising sales climbed for Jagran Prakashan, HT Media, and DB Corp, respectively, by 12.7 percent, 14%, and 14.3 percent over the same period the previous year. These increases were consistent with the growth observed in non-election years.
Will banks be open on January 13 for Makar Sankranti and Pongal?
The Reserve Bank of India announced in 2015 that the second and fourth Saturdays of each month will see the closure of all Indian banks, both private and PSU.In light of several regional festivities that will take place around India in the upcoming weeks, banks will be closed in a number of states for three days straight this week. January 2024 will have about sixteen bank holidays overall.In observance of Uttarayana Punyakala/Makara Sankranti Festival/Maghe Sankranti/Pongal/Magh Bihu on January 15, banks will be closed in Karnataka, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Sikkim, and Assam, according to the holiday schedule of several states. Because January 13 is the second Saturday of the month, Sunday is a recognized bank holiday, and Monday, January 15, is Makar Sankranti in many states, banks will be closed for three days in a row.The bank holiday list used by Center, on the other hand, exclusively adheres to the list maintained by the central government. In honor of Republic Day 2024, banks will only be closed on January 26 in all of the states in the nation.All bank holidays in January 2024 are listed here. On Tuesday, January 16, Thiruvalluvar Day, banks in Tamil Nadu were closed. Wednesday, January 17: Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh banks closed (Day of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji/Uzhavar Thirunal) Monday, January 22: Manipur's banks are closed (Imoinu Iratpa) Tuesday, January 23, Manipur: Banks closed (Gaan Ngai) Thursday, January 25: Bank holidays in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh (Thai Poosam/Md. Hazarat Ali's birthday) January 26 (Friday): Banks are closed nationwide, but they are open in West Bengal, Uttarakhand, and Tripura. In the meantime, all states observe Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), Independence Day (August 15), Republic Day (January 26), and Christmas (December 25) as central bank holidays. On January 1, New Year's Day, banks are closed in a few states as well.
Imran Khans party in Pakistan loses its cricket bat electoral symbol
The Imran Khan-led PTI Takes Away "Cricket Bat" Symbol When SC Says Internal Polls Are "Null and Void"The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) intra-party elections were declared unlawful by the Supreme Court of Pakistan late on Saturday night, according to PTI. It ended the contentious discussion over the selection of the famous electoral symbol by stripping the party of the "bat" as an election symbol. The verdict of a two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday, which confirmed the PTI party's elections and reinstated the cricket bat as its electoral symbol, was challenged by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).A three-judge panel made up of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and Justice Musarrat Hilali heard the ECP's petition and then reserved their decision, which was made public late on Saturday night.In a ruling that was read aloud by the chief justice, the highest court declared that it would "set aside the PHC judgement and restore the ECP judgement," which had declared the PTI's intra-party elections null and void and removed the party's 'bat' insignia. The controversy around the election symbol started on December 22, when the ECP rejected surveys conducted within the party, depriving the party of its electoral emblem for the February 8 election.The Peshawar High Court, which received a petition from the party, suspended the ECP ruling on December 26 with an interim order.On January 3, the high court overturned the order when the election administration challenged the verdict. The PHC further declared that a two-judge bench will hear arguments over the PTI bat emblem. The ECP challenged the tribunal's ruling before the Supreme Court, but the two-member panel decided to reinstate the "bat" as a PTI insignia.The PTI has traditionally used a bat as its insignia, and it is said that stripping the party of this iconic image would require its candidates to run on different signs, which would confuse party members in rural areas on election day.In addition, the PTI would not be able to claim reserved seats in the national and provincial legislatures, which are split into parties according to the proportion of seats won in elections, if they did not have a single emblem. Barrister Khan has expressed concern that the PTI would suffer a significant loss if these seats in the national and provincial assemblies were lost in the absence of a party insignia. PTI's Ali Zafar responded to the Supreme Court's ruling by saying that, although history will decide the outcome, the PTI candidate would have to run without a common symbol right away."The symbol has been removed by the court, but the party remains a registered entity." All of our candidates would run as independents in accordance with our policy, he was cited by PTI in its story. PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Khan claimed that the political rights of the PTI and its supporters had been violated and expressed shock at the decision.
Mars Wrigley India appoints Nikhil Rao as CMO
Mars Wrigley India, the chocolate and confectionery arm of Mars Incorporated in India, has announced the appointment of Nikhil Rao as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) today.Nikhil will supervise the end-to-end implementation of Mars Wrigley's portfolio strategy in India, drive strategic initiatives, and set the marketing vision in this important leadership role. He will report to Tamer Kadry, the country general manager of Mars Wrigley India, and be stationed in the company's Gurgaon office.Buyofuel, a prominent participant in the biofuel sector, has announced the introduction of "BuyoTrace," a state-of-the-art function incorporated into its online marketplace for green fuel.The goal of BuyoTrace is to give customers peace of mind about the sustainability and caliber of the biofuels they purchase on the website. In addition to serving consumer interests, this transparency is consistent with Buyofuel's mission to further environmental goals worldwide.Rao will supervise the end-to-end implementation of the business's portfolio strategy in India, drive strategic initiatives, and set the marketing vision, according to the company. He will report to Tamer Kadry, the country general manager of Mars Wrigley India, and be stationed in the company's Gurgaon office. "Our continuous goal has been to drive relevance, be consumer-focused, and agile as our India business grows." In order for Mars Wrigley India to stay innovative in the face of fresh, fierce competition and constantly changing consumer preferences, Nikhil will be essential. Our long-term growth ambitions for India will be shaped and carried out in large part by his breadth of expertise and experience, according to a statement from Kadry.
Relationship Between US and India Is "Multiplicative," Not "Additive": US Representative
Mumbai (Maharashtra): On Tuesday, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti emphasized the importance of the relationship, stressing that it was "multiplicative" and not founded on expediency or calculation. "There is a significant awakening taking place in the US and India. The US and India do not make for a more beneficial partnership. It's a relationship of multiplicity. When India and the US are together, it is India times the US," Garcetti said while speaking on India-US relations at the USC-India Innovation Summit on Tuesday. He said that the foundation of the bilateral ties is built on four Ps -- peace, prosperity, planet and people.Whether it was our G20 dual diplomacy, the work we're doing in the health sector, or the way we can approach the task of bringing about world peace. The US envoy stated, "The four P's, as I refer to them, are the cornerstone of our vision here as Americans in India through the mission of peace, prosperity, planet, and people. According to Garcetti, he accepted the ambassadorship after US President Joe Biden informed him that India was his top priority.
In the midst of a political dispute, minister says 86% of Indian students avoid Canada.
Ottawa: A senior Canadian official told Reuters that fewer Indian students applied as a result of a diplomatic dispute over the death of a Khalistani terrorist in Canada, and that the number of study permits Canada granted to Indian students fell precipitously late last year after India expelled Canadian diplomats who would process the permits. In an interview, Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that he thinks it is unlikely that the number of study permits issued to Indians will increase anytime soon. After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed in June that there was evidence linking Indian agents to the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, diplomatic tensions broke out. According to Miller, the tensions will probably continue to affect the numbers in the future.We can no longer process as many applications from India because of our relationship with that country," Miller said. On directives from New Delhi, Canada was compelled to remove 41 diplomats, or two-thirds of its workforce, from India in October. Furthermore, a minister's spokeswoman stated that the disagreement has led Indian students to look into studying abroad. According to official data that have not been previously released, these factors caused an 86% decrease in the number of study permits granted to Indians in the fourth quarter of last year compared to the previous quarter, from 108,940 to 14,910.
Mahua Moitra has been instructed to leave the government bungalow right away.
According to sources in the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, the Directorate of Estates served former TMC MP Mahua Moitra with an eviction notice from her government bungalow on Tuesday. Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha last month. The leader of the Trinamool Congress has been asked to leave the bungalow she was given as an MP immediately, they said.We can no longer process as many applications from India because of our relationship with that country," Miller said. On directives from New Delhi, Canada was compelled to remove 41 diplomats, or two-thirds of its workforce, from India in October. In addition, the dispute has prompted Indian students to seek to study in other countries, a spokeswoman for the minister said. Those factors led to an 86% drop in study permits issued to Indians in the fourth quarter of last year from the previous quarter, to 14,910 from 108,940, according to official data that have not been previously reported.The TMC leader was earlier asked to leave the house by January 7 after her allotment was canceled. She was expelled from the Lok Sabha on December 8 of last year. The Department of Environment (DoE) sent her a notice on January 8 asking her to respond to it within three days explaining why she hadn't left her government housing. She received a second notice on January 12.
Mamata Banerjee has scheduled a communal harmony rally for January 22.
Kolkata: On January 22, the day the Ayodhya Ram temple is dedicated, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced today that she will pay a visit to the Kalighat temple. "You people never stop asking me about different temples. Regarding it, I have nothing to say. Festivals are for everyone, I say; religion is a matter of personal choice. January 23 and January 26 are our holidays. On January 22, we will hold a rally," she said. After offering puja at Kalighat, one of the biggest pilgrim centres of eastern India, she will hold a rally on behalf of her Trinamool Congress party, the Chief Minister said.Participants in the "Sarba Dharm (all religion) rally" will come from all walks of life, and along the way, they will visit mosques, churches, temples, and Gurudwaras. The rally will come to an end at Park Circus Maidan in south Kolkata, where there will be a public meeting. According to Ms. Banerjee, Trinamool will also host block-by-block rallies with the theme "Sampriti (Affection)" on that day throughout Bengal. According to her party, there will be attendees at the rally from all communities and religions because all religions are equal. Ms. Banerjee has declined, referring to it as a "political gimmick." She was one of the opposition leaders who had planned to skip the consecration of the Ayodhya Ram temple.
China Requests Peace Conference in Gaza While Israel-Hamas Conflict Continues
Doha/Gaza: While Hamas released a video showing three Israeli hostages and declared that their whereabouts would be revealed on Monday, China demanded a comprehensive and high-level peace conference on the Gaza War. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed support for "the prompt resumption of Israel-Palestinian peace talks" and "the formulation of a specific timetable and road map for the implementation of the 'two-state solution'" during a speech over the weekend in Egypt. Hamas aired video on Sunday showing three Israeli hostages it is holding in Gaza and urged the Israeli government to stop the offensive against the Palestinian Islamist group and bring about their release.The caption for the 37-second undated video featuring 26-year-old Noa Argamani, 53-year-old Yossi Sharabi, and 38-year-old Itai Svirsky read, "Tomorrow (Monday) we will inform you of their fate." About half of the 240 individuals that Hamas detained during its cross-border killing spree that began the war were freed during a truce in November. 25 of the 132 people Israel claims are still in captivity have died. Israel claims that the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas claimed the lives of over 1,200 people. The Gaza health ministry has said almost 24,000 people have been killed in the Israeli offensive that followed with more than 60,000 wounded.
Pak Poll Body Rejects Resolution Seeking Delay In February 8 Elections
The Senate earlier this month passed a resolution asking for a postponement of the general election scheduled for February 8. However, Pakistan's election commission rejected the resolution on Monday, claiming that all preparations have already been made and that it would not be "advisable" to postpone the polls. The nation's political unpredictability increased on January 5 when the upper House of Parliament passed a non-binding resolution asking for a postponement of the general election due to the cold and security concerns. Major political parties denounced the resolution as "unconstitutional" despite the fact that independent Senator Dilawar Khan's proposal had overwhelmingly positive support in the Senate. Just 14 of the Senate's 100 members were present when it was passed.In the statement on Monday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that it deliberated on the resolution and observed that caretaker federal and provincial governments had been issued directions for increased "security matrix" and providing a "congenial environment to the electorate" for peaceful elections. According to the Dawn newspaper, the top electoral body declared that it had completed all the preparations required to conduct general elections and that it had also promised the Supreme Court that elections would take place on February 8, 2024. "Likewise, It would not be out of place to mention here that in the past, general elections and local government elections have been held in (the) winter season," it continued.
Despite losing the Bat
Islamabad: Barrister Gohar Khan, the leader of the beleaguered Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, declared on Monday that his party would not abstain from the February 8 election, even though they were compelled to run without their cricket bat poll symbol. Mr. Gohar made his remarks a few days after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party was forced to field its candidates as independents for the elections after losing its famous cricket bat, which served as its electoral symbol. "With God willing, we will participate fully in the elections," Mr. Gohar declared. He also mentioned that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party would release a list of its endorsed candidates along with their corresponding electoral symbols in three days.In a decision released late on Saturday, a three-judge Supreme Court panel maintained the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) ruling from December 22, which had deemed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's intra-party polls "unconstitutional" and removed the party's poll symbol. Speaking to the media outside the Adiala Jail, he claimed that the ruling of the top court was a "conspiracy against democracy" and that it had an impact on Pakistanis' fundamental rights. Additionally, he announced that the party would file a review petition against the ruling, pointing out that since the case involved Article 17 of the Constitution, a five-member bench of the top court should have heard the case.
