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Wrap Up: News highlights of the day
- Brexit trade deal done
- Delhi Police take Priyanka Gandhi and other Congress leaders into custody.
- Magnitude 4.6 earthquake hits Mokokchung in Nagaland
- Centre writes to farmers once again for talks
- BCCI general body approves 10-team IPL from 2022 edition at its AGM
- Delhi Jal Board office vandalised; 30 detained
- Karnataka: Night curfew order withdrawn
- FASTag being made mandatory for all vehicles from 1st Jan
- First-ever fully automated driverless train service to be flagged off on Dec 28
- Former BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta arrested from Pune in TRP scam case
Indian vaccine sparks Lancet’s interest
India’s indigenous vaccine against COVID-19 Covaxin-a product of ICMR-Bharat Biotech collaboration achieves remarkable feet. Data generated from within India underlines impressive safety & immunogenicity profile of Covaxin & sparks Lancet’s interest in publishing them: ICMR
India welcomes positive developments in Yemen, says MEA
- India welcomes the positive developments in Yemen with the formation of the new power-sharing cabinet in the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement. We appreciate the role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and others in facilitating these developments: MEA Spokesperson
- Hope that this will be an important step for a comprehensive resolution of the conflict in Yemen. We support all efforts to preserve the unity and integrity of Yemen through a political dialogue involving all sections of the Yemeni society: MEA Spokesperson
Freedom to photograph
As part of celebrations to commemorate 75th anniversary of country’s independence, free shooting of photographs/videos will be allowed in ASI monuments (except iconic sites including world heritage sites), starting from 25th Dec to 15th August 2021: Ministry of Culture
Why tomorrow is ‘important’
Tomorrow’s day is very important for the country’s Annadatas. Will get the opportunity to release the next installment of PM-Kisan for more than 9 crore farmer families through video conferencing at 12 pm. Will also interact with farmers of many states on this occasion: PM Modi
Panchayati land will be made available on lease with the consent of villagers to promote industrialisation in rural areas.
– Dushyant Chautala, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister
Devotees visit St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral on Christmas eve
Bengaluru: Devotees visited St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral on Christmas eve https://t.co/f5bem9kZwH
— ANI (@ANI) 1608827137000
Delhi: Police conduct raid at lawyer Mehmood Pracha’s office, in connection with the Delhi riots case
UK PM Johnson says, ‘We will be a newly and truly independent nation’
Reuters reports
Cricket Advisory Committee’s recommendations
BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee recommends Chetan Sharma, Abey Kuruvilla and Debashish Mohanty as the new members to the senior men’s selection committee panel
Words of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen:
“Ofcourse this whole debate has been about sovereignty but we should cut through the sound bytes and ask ourselves what sovereignty actually means in the 21st century. For me, it is about being able to seamlessly do work, travel, study and do business in 27 countries. It is about pulling our strength and speaking together in a world full of great powers. And in a time of crisis, it is about pulling each other up instead of trying to get back to your feet alone. And the EU shows how this works in practice. And no deal in the world can change reality, a gravity in today’s economy and today’s world. We are one of the giants.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on EU-UK negotiations:
- It is fair, and a balanced deal. And it is the right and responsible thing to do for both sides.
- Competition in our single market will be fair and remain so.
- The EU rules and standards will be respected.
- We have effective tools to react if fear the competition is distorted and impacts our trade.
- We will continue cooperating with UK in all areas of mutual interests. For eg, in the field of climate change, energy, security and transport.
- Together we still achieve more than we do apart.
- We have secured five and a half years of full predictability for our fishing communities and strong tools to incentivise to remain so.
A Brexit trade deal at last: EU and UK clinch narrow accord
- Britain clinched a Brexit trade deal with the European Union on Thursday, just seven days before it exits one of the world’s biggest trading blocs in its most significant global shift since the loss of empire.
- “Deal is done,” a Downing Street source said. “We have taken back control of our money, borders, laws, trade and our fishing waters.”
- “The deal is fantastic news for families and businesses in every part of the UK. We have signed the first free trade agreement based on zero tariffs and zero quotas that has ever been achieved with the EU.”
- “We have delivered this great deal for the entire United Kingdom in record time, and under extremely challenging conditions, which protects the integrity of our internal market and Northern Ireland’s place within it,” the source said.
Former BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta arrested from Pune in TRP scam case
He is being brought to Mumbai & will be produced before the court on 25th December. This is the 15th arrest in the case by Mumbai Police.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be present at Gaushala temple in Kishangarh village, Mehrauli, South West Delhi at 11 am to hear PM Narendra Modi’s virtual address to farmers tomorrow.
30 detained for vandalizing Delhi Jal Board office
Around 30 people have been detained after a group of people vandalised Delhi Jal Board office. Legal action has been initiated against the violators: Delhi Police
‘Love Likes’ racket busted
Delhi Police Cyber Cell busted a pan-India racket, which duped people through an app called Love Likes. 7 accused arrested & more than 30 bank accounts frozen. “2 kingpins are in Dubai. Around Rs 10 crores transactions have come to light,” says Amit Goel, Addl DCP, South West.
First-ever fully automated driverless train service to be flagged off on Dec 28
PM Modi will flag off the country’s first-ever fully automated driverless train service on 37km Magenta Line (Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden) & will also launch fully operational National Common Mobility Card for travel on Airport Express Line on Dec 28: Delhi Metro Rail Corp
Case registers case against a pvt company allegedly for cheating banks
CBI has registered a case on a complaint from Canara Bank on behalf of a consortium of 4 member banks against a private company and others including its directors & unknown public servants for allegedly cheating the consortium of banks to the tune of Rs 121.05 crores
J&K: Pakistan violated ceasefire in Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch at about 1815 hours
PM Modi to launch Ayushman Bharat ‘PM-JAY SEHAT’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch Ayushman Bharat ‘PM-JAY SEHAT’ to extend coverage to all the residents of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir on 26th December, via video conferencing: Prime Minister’s Office
Gold worth Rs 50 lakh seized
980 gms of gold valued at Rs 50.54 lakhs seized from a passenger who arrived from Dubai; passenger arrested: Chennai Air Customs, Tamil Nadu
CBI arrests two in cheating case
Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested Awdhesh Singh, former managing director of Sun Plant Agro Ltd. and Dipankar De, former managing director of New Land Agro Industries Ltd for allegedly cheating investors and misappropriating invested money.
President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Diu from Dec 25 to 28.
On Dec 25, the President will inaugurate the Jalandhar Circuit House. He will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various developmental projects on Dec 26. On Dec 27, he will visit the Diu Fort.
MoU signed between TRIFED and Ministry of Food Processing
TRIFED (business arm of Ministry of Tribal Affairs) signs MoU with Ministry of Food Processing (MoFPI) for the upliftment of tribal lives through the implementation of Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food processing Enterprises (PM-FME) scheme: Ministry of Tribal Affairs
FASTag being made mandatory for all vehicles from 1st Jan
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announces that FASTag is being made mandatory for all vehicles in the country from 1st Jan, 2021. He says it’s useful for commuters as they will not need to stop at toll plazas for cash payments, saving time & fuel: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Karnataka: Night curfew order withdrawn
Night curfew order, issued earlier, has been withdrawn after reviewing the situation on the suggestion of Technical Advisory Committee: Chief Minister’s Office, Karnataka
Goons of BJP vandalised Delhi Jal Board office, says AAP’s Raghav Chadha
The goons of BJP entered the Delhi Jal Board office and vandalised it. They challenged me&warned CM Arvind Kejriwal against supporting and speaking for farmers. There is CCTV footage. It’s clear that this incident took place with help of Delhi Police: AAP’s Raghav Chadha in Delhi
Mamata backs Amartya Sen
We all salute Amartya Sen. Just because he isn’t inclined towards BJP’s ideology, they’re making such allegations against him: West Bengal CM on Amartya Sen’s name appearing on the list of illegal plot holders in Visva-Bharati
J&K: Banned camouflage uniform items seized
Huge quantity of banned camouflage uniform items were seized by Awantipora Police from the house of one Abdul Rehman. An FIR has been registered and the investigation is underway.
J&K: One unidentified terrorist killed in an encounter
One unidentified terrorist killed in an encounter with police and security forces at Wanigam Payeen Kreeri area of Baramulla. The operation is still on: Kashmir Zone Police
Delhi: BJP MP Gautam Gambhir inaugurates ‘Ek Asha Jan Rasoi’ in Gandhi Nagar.
Gautam Gambhir Foundation will provide food at Re 1 through this community kitchen.
ED submits chargesheet against M Sivasankar
Enforcement Directorate submitted chargesheet against M Sivasankar, who is the former principal secretary of the Kerala CMO M Sivasankar. It is submitted in the Special PMLA Court in the money laundering case, in connection with the Kerala gold smuggling case.
Joint statement by Opposition parties
- We register our strong protest against baseless allegations being made by PM accusing opposition parties of “repeatedly lying” to farmers about new farm laws & “using them for their politics”. PM’s accusations are a complete travesty of truth.
- We demand that the present Agri Laws be repealed along with the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020. Following this, discussions on agrarian reforms must be held by the Central government with the farmers and all stakeholders.
NS Tomar takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi
- Whatever Rahul Gandhi says, even Congress doesn’t take it seriously. Today when he went to register his protest with President with signatures, these farmers told me that no one from Congress came to them to get their signature: NS Tomar
- If Rahul Gandhi was so worried, then he could have done something for farmers, when his govt was in power. Congress’ character has always been anti-farmer: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi meeting President today over Farm Laws
Farmers from Baghpat have given me a letter in support of Centre’s Farm Laws: Agri Minister
They’ve told me that govt shouldn’t buckle under any pressure to make amendments to Farm bills: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar after meeting Kisaan Mazdoor Sangh members from Baghpat
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on West Bengal elections:
“Congress party again has decided to fight against the TMC regime in alliance with Left parties.”
BCCI AGM: BCCI secretary and treasurer to speak to govt on tax exemption to host ICC T20 World Cup and 50-over World Cup
BCCI to back ICC’s bid for cricket’s inclusion in 2028 Olympics after some clarifications from IOC: Board Source
All first-class players, both men and women, to be suitably compensated for curtailed domestic season due to COVID-19 pandemic: BCCI source
BCCI general body approves 10-team IPL from 2022 edition at its AGM in Ahmedabad
Delegation of 60 farmers meet Agri Minister
Delhi: A delegation of 60 farmers belonging to Kisaan Majdoor Sangh, Baghpat meet Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at Krishi Bhawan
West Bengal polls
Congress to seal alliance with Left parties for next year’s crucial state elections.
Brexit
Britain, EU near a trade deal to avoid a chaotic economic break.
Karnataka Night Curfew
The midnight Christmas Mass on 24 will be permitted and the celebration of Christmas and New Year festivities will be as per the guidelines issued earlier.
Karnataka night curfew
The industries and factories which require 24/7 operations are allowed to operate without any restrictions. As per the SOP, the movement of long-distance night buses, train services, and air services are permitted.
Centre writes to farmers once again for talks. Ready to discuss any issue and sort out, says agri secretary
It is the duty of the govt to hear any issues raised. We are ready for talks. We have mentioned in earlier correspondence that the new farm laws would have no bearing on MSP regime
Pakistani court orders release of man convicted in gruesome 2002 killing of US journalist Daniel Pearl
Magnitude 4.6 earthquake hits Mokokchung in Nagaland, says National Center for Seismology
Alagiri says he won’t work with DMK next elections
Speaking to media after visiting his mother at the family’s residence in Gopalapuram, Chennai, Alagiri said he will meet his supporters on January 3, 2021, and will take decisions regarding his future according to their wishes. “There is no chance of working with DMK. I will have a meeting with my supporters on January 3 and will take a decision according to their wish,” he said
All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) puts up an advertisement asking volunteers to enroll for Phase-3 clinical trial of indigenously developed Covid vaccine, COVAXIN. The last date of enrolment is December 31, 2020.
I will meet my followers and supporters on January 3 and will take a decision accordingly… There is no chance of working with DMK in the forthcoming election: MK Alagiri, brother of DMK chief MK Stalin
Volkswagen to hike Polo, Vento prices in India by up to 2.5 per cent next month
Kerala Cabinet decides to recommend to Governor Arif Mohammad Khan for convening a session of state Assembly on December 31
Earlier, the Governor denied assent to the Cabinet’s recommendation for a special Assembly session.
China says reports of demands on nuclear power complicating EU talks are fake
There is no democracy in India. It can be in your imagination, but not in reality: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Delhi Police taking party leaders into custody during their march to Rashtrapati Bhavan
Delhi Police take Priyanka Gandhi and other party leaders to Mandir Marg Police Station in New Delhi.
I want to tell the PM that these farmers are not going to go back home until these farm laws are repealed. Govt should convene a joint session of Parliament and take back these laws. Opposition parties stand with farmers & labourers.
– Congress leader Rahul Gandhi
