Live updates from Parliament's Winter Session 2023: An all-party meeting regarding the LS security breach will soon begin

Man jumping from the victor's gallery.

A man in a blue jacket leapt from the visitor's gallery and began running around the House, posing a serious security risk. MPs and security officers apprehended him. According to some MPs, "gas" was sprayed.

"Unexpectedly, two energetic men, maybe in their twenties, jumped from the visitor's display into the House whereas holding canisters. There was yellow smoke coming from these canisters. One of them was attempting to sprint in the heading of the Speaker's chair. They were shouting a few catchphrases. There was a chance the smoke was poisonous. Congressman Karti Chidambaram expressed, "This is a genuine breach of security, particularly on December 13th, the day of the 2001 assault on Parliament."

The Lok Sabha chamber, the entire gallery, and the surrounding areas have been cordoned off by Parliament security. They adjourned the Lok Sabha until 2:00 PM. Following their visit, former MPs and PAs to MPs in the Lok Sabha are no longer allowed to enter.

"A thorough investigation is being done into the incident that occurred during zero hour," Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla declared. Delhi Police have also received important instructions. It was discovered during the initial investigation that the smoke was nothing more than smoke, so there is no need to be concerned."

The matter of a security breach incident was brought up in the Lok Sabha by LoP Mallikarjun Kharge. "This is a very serious problem. This concerns how two individuals were able to enter the building in spite of the extremely sophisticated security measures in place and create a security breach, not only the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the speaker stated.

A man and a woman, 42-year-old Neelam and 25-year-old Amol Shinde, were being held by local police outside New Delhi's Transport Bhavan while they were demonstrating with yellow smoke outside the Parliament building.

The initial findings of the Delhi Police's investigation showed that Neelam and Amol, who were apprehended outside the Parliament building, did not have cell phones on them. They assert that they came to Parliament on their own and declined to join any groups. A dedicated team of police is being assembled for questioning, the police stated.

#WATCH | An unidentified man jumps from the visitor's gallery of Lok Sabha after which there was a slight commotion and the House was adjourned. pic.twitter.com/Fas1LQyaO4

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2023

Proceeding begins in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

• Lok Sabha holds Question Hour

• The chairman of the Rajya Sabha offered tribute to security personnel who lost their lives in 2001 during an attack on Parliament grounds, 22 years ago while defending the temple of democracy.

• The Rajya Sabha adopted Zero Hour with the Chair's approval.

• Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw responds to inquiries about the Dynamic Fare Ticketing System posed by Lok Sabha member Adhir Chowdhury during Question Hour.

• On December 13, 2001, the Lok Sabha honoured those who gave their lives defending Parliament against terrorist attacks.

• North-east MPs want to build land borders in order to facilitate bilateral trade with Myanmar.

• During Rajya Sabha Question Hour, Smriti Irani responds to inquiries from Members of Parliament.

• The Delhi Police's special cell for the anti-terror unit enters the Parliament to question those responsible for the security breach at the Lok Sabha.

• According to MoS Education Subhas Sarkar, the government passed the Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019, to guarantee adequate representation of individuals from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).

• Sanjay Arora, the commissioner of police in Delhi, visits Parliament after the security breach incident.

• Om Birla, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, meets with floor leaders from various political parties regarding the security breach incident.

• As per MoS Home Nityanand Rai's written reply in the Rajya Sabha, 1,253 homestay beneficiaries received non-fiscal incentives worth Rs. 10 crores to establish homestays under the 'Ladakh Homestay Policy 2020'.

• The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to establish a Central Tribal University in Telangana with the primary goal of serving the country's tribal population, was approved by the Rajya Sabha via voice vote.

• The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023 was moved by Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage. The purpose of the bill is to amend one enactment and repeal 76 enactments. The Lok Sabha had already approved the bill.

• We're all concerned about the incident that occurred today, and it's a serious one. A high-level investigation is underway, and appropriate action will be implemented. A thorough assessment of the House's security will be conducted."The Lok Sabha has adjourned until 11:00 am tomorrow," stated Om Birla, the speaker.

Mid-day Mood: As investors remove money from the table, Sensex and Nifty trade lower for the second day.

Infosys Ltd.: Following the resignation of Chief Financial Officer Nilanjan Roy to pursue personal goals, the company's shares dropped 2.7% to Rs 1,439, a record low. Roy's resignation has hurt sentiment because it comes at a time when tier-I IT companies are experiencing a rise in the departure of top brass. Consequently, Infosys' American Depository Receipts (ADRs) decreased as well.

As of midday on December 13, the benchmark Sensex and Nifty maintained their losses from the previous session and were trading lower. Later today, investors are waiting for the US Federal Reserve to announce its monetary policy decision. They have been booking profits off of the recent stellar gains.

The Nifty was down 119.30 points, or 0.57 per cent, at 20,787.10, and the Sensex was down 383.87 points, or 0.55 per cent, at 69,167.16 around noon. 1,646 shares increased, 1,481 shares decreased, and 88 shares remained unchanged.

The broader market trend likewise stayed muted, with the Nifty Smallcap 100 and Nifty Midcap 100 indices exhibiting a flattish trajectory.

Sectoral Patterns

Automobile, infrastructural, and FMCG sectors remained muted due to the subdued market trend, while PSU banks, energy, metals, and banks traded with slight losses.

The information technology group continued to face pressure as a result of overnight losses in the Nasdaq Composite, which is heavy on technology. Among sectoral indices, the Nifty IT index suffered the most, falling more than 2 per cent.

The pharma index, which was trading slightly higher, was defying the trend.

Basic Perspective

"In spite of the tall valuations, there is a bullish undercurrent in the advertise for the close term. The advertise will stay strong due to the economy's development energy, DIIs' and retail investors' reliable buying, the FPI strategy's inversion from offering to buying, and great worldwide prompts, concurring to VK Vijayakumar, chief speculation strategist at Geojit Monetary Administrations.

Technical Perspective

The Nifty can find support at 20,900, 20,850, and 20,800 in that order. On the plus side, Choice Broking research analyst Deven Mehata noted that 21,020 could serve as an instant resistance, followed by 21,100 and 21,150.

According to the Bank Nifty's charts, support could come in at 47,000, 46,800, and 46,700. The first important resistance level to be aware of if the index rises is 47,250, which is followed by 47,500 and 47,600 "Mehata stated.

In the Spotlight

In November, US retail inflation increased by 0.1 per cent, as predicted by the market. The retail inflation rate increased by 3.1% year over year. In November, core inflation increased by 0.3 per cent, which was marginally higher than anticipated.

Key Nifty gainers

NTPC, Power Grid Corporation of India, Hero MotoCorp, Dr Reddy's Labs

Key Nifty losers

Infosys, TCS, HDFC Life, LTIMindtree

Key Sensex gainers

NTPC, Power Grid, IndusInd Bank

Key Sensex losers

Infosys, TCS, Bajaj Finserv

Stock moves

Adani Total Gas: As investors attempted to take advantage of the nearly 90% increase in the stock price over the previous month, shares fell by almost 10%.

Axis Bank: Following a Rs 3,465 crore block deal on the exchanges, shares dropped by more than 1%. Moneycontrol was unable to identify the buyers or sellers, but there were rumours that companies connected to Bain Capital were hoping to sell their stake through a block deal. Integral Investments South Asia IV, BC Asia Investments VII, and BC Asia Investments III may be among the sellers.

Sunteck Realty: Following a significant transaction in the counter valued at Rs 336.4 crore, the stock fell more than 5%.

Equitas Small Finance Bank: After a change in the company's top brass, shares increased by about 3%.

Manish Malhotra designed the new uniform for the crew and pilots of Air India.

Air India hired Manish Malhotra, a fashion designer, to create their new uniforms.

New Delhi: Today, Air India unveiled the pilots' and crew members' new uniforms. This is the first time the airline has altered the uniforms of its crew in sixty years since its founding in 1932, and it coincides with the airline's current merger with Vistara.

According to an announcement made by the airline on X, the new uniform is a "tribute to Air India's rich history and a promise of a bright future." It will be introduced by the end of this year.

In order to create new uniforms that "represent the confident, vibrant new India," the airline hired fashion designer Manish Malhotra to create designs in the colours red, aubergine, and gold for its over 10,000 flight crew, ground crew, and security personnel.

The official Air India account shared a video on X featuring crew members dressed in the newest uniforms.

"A tribute to Air India's illustrious past and a sign of the airline's promising future, please accept our new pilot and cabin crew uniforms. The three traditional Indian colours of red, aubergine, and gold are featured on these uniforms, which were designed by renowned Indian designer Manish Malhotra and symbolise the self-assured, dynamic new India, the airline stated on X.

Introducing our new Pilot & Cabin crew uniforms, an ode to Air India’s rich history and a promise of a bright future.

These uniforms, envisioned by India’s leading couturier @ManishMalhotra, features three quintessential Indian colours – red, aubergine and gold, representing the… pic.twitter.com/Pt1YBdJlMN

— Air India (@airindia) December 12, 2023

Concurring to the discharge from the aircraft, "Discuss India anticipates to commence rolling out the unused see for its formally dressed workers by the conclusion of 2023."

According to the release from the airline, "Air India expects to commence rolling out the new look for its uniformed employees by the end of 2023."

Air India ordered 470 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus earlier this year as part of an ambitious revamp plan.

"Air India's crew uniforms are among the most storied in aviation history," stated Campbell Wilson, the company's chief executive officer and managing director. "We immovably accept that Manish Malhotra's inventive outfit will script an energizing modern chapter for Discuss India's future account." It superbly typifies our unused brand, our directing benefit standards, and our mission to rethink worldwide flying benchmarks."

"It is an honour to have been given the opportunity to design the uniforms for Air India," said designer Manish Malhotra.

Being able to support the national flag-bearer and highlight the grace and allure of Indian fashion is an honour. "My goal was to design uniforms that embodied a contemporary and sophisticated style, while also capturing the essence of India's diverse culture and traditions," the man stated.

Check Dates for CBSE Date Sheet 2024: Class 10, 12 Board Exams Commencing on February 15.

New Delhi: On its official website, cbse.nic.in or cbse.gov.in, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has published the date sheets for the Class 10 and 12 board exams 2024. The tests for both courses are expected to start on February 15, 2024, and run until April 2, 2024.

The exam will take place in two sessions on the first day: from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm and from 10.30 pm to 2.30 pm. It will be held in one, two, three, and four sessions on various days.

Here are the date sheets:

Paul Vogel, the CFO of Spotify, will resign a few days after the third circular of cutbacks for 2023 was announced.

Spotify CFO will step down from his position following year (REUTERS)

Shortly after reporting its third circular of cutbacks for 2023, the music spilling benefit Spotify reported that its chief monetary officer would be taking off another year. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said that the company had "come to the conclusion that Spotify is entering a unused stage and needs a CFO with a diverse blend of encounters" in a explanation reporting CFO Paul Vogel's departure.

This week, Spotify reported that it would be laying off 17% of its worldwide workforce, citing the require to diminish costs and turn a benefit. The Related Press (AP) was educated by a representative that around 1,500 individuals would lose their jobs.

The declaration of the cutbacks prior this week caused a generally 8% increment in Spotify's stock cost. Securities filings appear that Vogel made a move on Tuesday to offer offers esteemed at over $9.3 million. Over $1.6 million in offers were moreover cashed in by two other senior administrators, as detailed by the Guardian.

Vogel is leaving from Spotify on Walk 31st. As Spotify looks for an outside substitution, Ben Kung, who is right now bad habit president of money related arranging and examination, "will take on extended obligations" in the intervals, the company reported in a web journal post.

For the nine months finishing in September, Stockholm-based Spotify detailed a net misfortune of 462 million euros, or generally $500 million. The trade pronounced in January that it would be laying off 6% of its whole workforce. It laid off another 2% of its workforce, or generally 200 individuals, in June, for the most part in its podcast division.

In the third quarter, Spotify detailed better-than-expected client and supporter development along with a astonish benefit. Agreeing to a Divider Road Diary report, the company expanded the taken a toll of its membership in the US and other major markets over the summer. The long-awaited increment, agreeing to the company, has not come about in higher churn.

The Congress Party has named Revanth Reddy as Telangana's Chief Minister.

After two days of speculation, the Congress central leadership has named Telangana party chief A. Revanth Reddy as its choice for State Chief Minister. On December 7, he will take the oath of office.

Mr. Reddy was elected as the Congress Legislature Party's (CLP) leader, and he will be the first Congress Chief Minister of Telangana, a state that was formed in 2014. On the basis of a report submitted by the party's poll observers, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge gave his approval.

The president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee was elected with a landslide majority from the Kodangal Assembly constituency, but he and outgoing Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao lost the Kamareddy seat to BJP candidate Katipally Venkataramana Reddy.

'Dynamic Leader'

"Going by the input given by the Congress spectators, counting Karnataka Agent Chief Serve D.K. Shivakumar, party in-charge for Telangana Manikrao Thakare, and other pioneers, the Congress president chosen to assign Mr. Reddy as the CLP pioneer," said All India Congress Committee common secretary K.C. Venugopal at a press conference in Unused Delhi.

The observers were present at the Telangana CLP meeting on December 4, which authorised the party president to nominate the CLP leader.

Mr. Venugopal described Mr. Reddy as a dynamic leader and stated that he, along with all senior leaders, had campaigned extensively in the run-up to the election.

He reaffirmed the party's commitment to the people of Telangana, saying that the new government's top priority would be to fulfil their aspirations and the promises made by the party. He made it clear that the State would be a collaborative effort, with everyone involved in the process.

The observers attended the press conference, as did former CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Nalgonda MP N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, both of whom were running for the top job. Both had previously met separately with the central observers and Mr. Shivakumar.

The party's focus will now shift to forming the new Council of Ministers. Apart from the Chief Minister, the Cabinet can have a maximum of 17 Ministers. The leadership will have to walk a tightrope to accommodate the ambitious aspirants among its 64 MLAs, a mix of newcomers and seasoned politicians.

Shehla Rashid: 'PM Modi and Amit Shah ensured a bloodless political solution; Kashmir is not Gaza.'

Shehla Rashid has lauded PM Modi and Amit Shah for the display circumstance in Kashmir (Instagram/@shehla_shora)

Shehla Rashid, a former JNU student, has credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah with ensuring a "bloodless" political solution to Kashmir. When asked if she sympathised with stone pelters, Shehla Rashid replied, "In 2010, yes."

Shehla Rashid elaborated, telling ANI that she is grateful for the current situation in Kashmir. "…but nowadays when I see, I am much more thankful for today's circumstance since nowadays it has gotten to be clear that Kashmir is not Gaza."

"Kashmir was involved in this back and forth of protests and sporadic insurgency, infiltrations...Someone needed to break the ice, and I'd like to thank the current government, particularly the prime minister [Narendra Modi] and the home minister [Amit Shah], for ensuring a bloodless political solution."

Shehla Rashid moreover denied that "anti-India" mottos were raised at Jawaharlal Nehru College in Delhi in February 2016, in which previous understudy union pioneers Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid were moreover included. Shehla Rashid expressed that at the college, no "anti-India" mottos such as "Bharat tere tukde honge" were raised.

When inquired how the JNU occurrence influenced her life, Shehla Rashid expressed, "It was not fair a life changer for the three of us, the whole college sort of endured the results of that occurrence since there was so much backfire against anything having to do with JNU."

"So overnight, from being an first class college the ruler of magnanimous expressions, social sciences etc…JNU got to be a slur..it was nearly like a cussword….no such trademarks were raised."

Shehla Rashid has been a vocal critic of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre over the decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K) special status, but the former JNU student has recently praised the Centre. Shehla Rashid as of late lauded PM Modi and Amit Shah for guaranteeing long-term peace and security in Kashmir. Her remarks came in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

Amit Shah made the following statements in the Lok Sabha: "From Nehru's two mistakes to calling Article 370 terrorism's root cause."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the Lok Sabha during the Winter session of Parliament in New Delhi on December 6, 2023.

On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, as well as the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Article 370 the root cause of terrorism during a debate on the bill.

In his Lok Sabha speech, Amit Shah highlighted two errors made by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru that harmed Kashmir the most.

He claimed that Jawaharlal Nehru's decision to declare a ceasefire and take the internal issue to the United Nations were the two biggest mistakes he made, and that Kashmiris suffered the most as a result. The following are the key quotes from the home minister's speech in the Lok Sabha today.

Today's top quotes from Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha

"Two mistakes that happened due to the decision of (former PM) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, which caused Kashmir to suffer for many years," Amit Shah said during a debate on one of the bills. The first step is to declare a cease-fire; this was done when our army was winning. PoK would be a part of India today if there had been a three-day ceasefire. The second option is to take our internal conflict to the United Nations."

#WATCH | Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "Two mistakes that happened due to the decision of (former PM) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru due to which Kashmir had to suffer for many years. The first is to declare a ceasefire - when our army was winning, the ceasefire was imposed. If… pic.twitter.com/3TMm8fk5O1

— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2023

Amit Shah, speaking about one of the bills, stated that the JK bill would give those who had to flee Kashmir due to terrorism representation in the assembly.

Also Read: Shehla Rashid: 'PM Modi and Amit Shah ensured a bloodless political solution; Kashmir is not Gaza.'

One of the two bills on Jammu and Kashmir seeks to appoint two members of the Kashmiri Migrant community, including a woman, to the assembly, he added.

Apart from criticising previous Congress administrations for failing to maintain peace in Jammu and Kashmir, he also criticised the party on other fronts. "Congress has done the greatest harm to Other Backward Classes," Shah said, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recent welfare work for the backward classes.

When discussing the economic boost in Kashmir as a result of the repeal of Article 370, Amit Shah emphasised the region's booming entertainment industry.

#WATCH | Union HM Amit Shah speaks on The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 & The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2023

He says, "...The first theatre was made in multiplex in 2021 after the abrogation of Article 370. Over 100 films are being shot in… pic.twitter.com/rbWMYbU13b

— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2023

"After the repeal of Article 370, the first multiplex theatre was built in 2021." "Over 100 films are currently being shot in the valley, and bank loan proposals for over 100 movie theatres are in the works," he said.

Amit Shah emphasised the massive reduction in incidents of stone pelting between 2004-2014 and 2014-2023 when comparing the situation of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir during the Congress government. He also stated that "Article 370 is the root cause of terrorism."

#WATCH | Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks on The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 & The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2023

He says, "...During the 1994-2004 period, a total of 40,164 incidents of terrorism were registered. During the 2004-2014… pic.twitter.com/8xSKzHCWPW

— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2023

"A total of 40,164 terrorist incidents were recorded between 1994 and 2004." Terrorism occurred in a total of 7,217 incidents between 2004 and 2014. "During the 2014-2023 period, the total incidents of terrorism registered were around 2,000, representing a 70% reduction in incidents of terrorism from what it was previously," he said.

"Not Aware": Mamata Banerjee Will Not Attend The Upcoming India Bloc Meeting

In north Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has a prearranged programme. (FILE)

Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, will not be present at this Wednesday's INDIA alliance coordination meeting. On that day, Ms. Banerjee has a prearranged programme in north Bengal. She claimed that the Congress lost the most recent state elections because there were no seat-sharing agreements with other INDIA members.

"I am not informed of this meeting. I've already planned a programme in north Bengal because of this. There, I have a seven-day schedule. Would I have continued with this programme if I had known? Without a doubt, I would have taken it. However, I'm going on the north Bengal tour because we don't have any information," she declared.

According to sources, her party, the Trinamool Congress, might also skip the meeting.

Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh described the meeting as "informal" following Mamata Banerjee's announcement.

The opposition bloc's next meeting was called by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge yesterday, despite the party suffering significant losses at the hands of the BJP in three states. Three months have passed since the last meeting, which took place in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1.

Plans for the Lok Sabha election of the following year are anticipated to be outlined at the meeting.

The Congress suffered a crushing defeat as the BJP swept Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, strengthening its grip on the Hindi heartland.

The Congress found solace in Telangana, where it defeated the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the state assembly elections, which were widely considered a prelude to the general elections of the following year.

The allies of the INDIA bloc criticised the Congress for putting the Opposition alliance in a state of confusion while it concentrated on the state elections, blaming the party for not fighting the elections together.

Earlier in the day, the chief minister of Bengal claimed that a "division of votes" resulted from the Congress's decision to contest the polls.

Telangana is now a Congress state. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan would have been their victories. The INDIA parties withheld some votes. That is the reality. We had proposed a system of seat sharing. In a speech to the West Bengal Assembly, Ms. Banerjee stated, "They lost because of a division of votes."

"The attempt to bring everyone together should gain momentum," stated Abhishek Banerjee, national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress. It ought to be demonstrated by their deeds rather than words."

"In the end, everyone is fighting the BJP's autocracy together. We should make the most of the time we have left because there isn't much left. We must work in the best interests of the people, putting aside our own interests. Set aside political egos, the opportunity to fight should be extended to those who are capable and strong in their areas. The people will gain from this," he continued.

Omar Abdullah, the leader of the National Conference, made fun of the Congress yesterday for remembering the INDIA alliance so late: "The Congress chief has invited some INDIA alliance leaders for lunch on December 6. Three months later, they called for the INDIA alliance again. See you later."

A day after the crushing defeat, the Congress declared that it would examine the events in the two states it controlled, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The sources claim that Mr. Kharge stated, "Mistakes have occurred and we will make course corrections." "Over confidence in some states and refusal to adhere to proper candidates and campaign cost us in the last few days of the elections," he stated.

However, a number of opposition leaders emphasised that the INDIA bloc needs to put in more effort ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and that the results will not affect the bloc.

"There are wins and losses. Both those who have triumphed and those who have lost have lessons for us to learn. Leading member of the National Conference (NC), Farooq Abdullah, stated that "India has to be one, it is for everyone, and we need to strengthen the country."

Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, stated that "INDIA has to get back where we started." "We began by emphasising the need to back the parties in the areas where they are most powerful. The polling in 2024 will be historic. Change is on the horizon."

Source: NDTV

Congress Postpones India Alliance Meeting Following Top Leaders' Refusal to Attend

 

New Delhi: Sources told NDTV this afternoon that the opposition bloc in India has rescheduled its meeting, which was scheduled to take place in Delhi tomorrow. The meeting will now take place "at a date convenient to all," as announced by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday, amid his party's crushing defeat in three state elections.

The Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar both intended to skip the meeting, sources told NDTV, prompting the postponement. Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of Bengal, announced on Monday that she would not be there as well. All three are prominent members of a group meant to bring the opposition together in order to fight the BJP in the state elections in November and the Lok Sabha election the following year, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to run for an unprecedented third consecutive term.

A coordination meeting of Parliamentary Party leaders of India Alliance will be at 6 pm on December 6th, 2023 at the residence of Congress President Sh. Mallikarjun Kharge.

Thereafter meeting of Party Presidents/ Heads of the India Alliance will be scheduled in third week of…

— Gurdeep Singh Sappal (@gurdeepsappal) December 5, 2023

According to sources, senior INDIA leaders Mr. Kumar, Mr. Yadav, and Ms. Banerjee were not the only ones who backed out of the meeting on Wednesday. According to reports, MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, had also declared he would not attend the meeting; in his case, the state is experiencing flooding as a result of Cyclone Michaung.

A wide range of leaders have responded negatively to the Congress's invitation, highlighting the widening divide within the INDIA bloc as local parties continue to complain louder and louder about the national party and maintain that it will fight elections as the majority partner or on its own in every case.

This week, Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee both emphasised how the Congress could have won or at least narrowed the margin of its defeats in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan if it had consented to share seats. This was a reference to the ongoing dispute over the distribution of six Madhya Pradesh seats between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party.

"... we suggested seat-sharing (but) they (the Congress) lost because of division of votes," said Ms Banerjee. Reminding the Congress that "we started on the point that we have to support parties in regions (in which) they are strong," Mr. Yadav appeared to be a little kinder to his detractors.

Sources: Nitish and Akhilesh will withdraw from the India meet.

Akhilesh Yadav, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, was expected to send his uncle, Ramgopal Yadav, while Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar was expected to send party President Rajiv Ranjan, according to sources who spoke with NDTV earlier today.

According to sources, Mr. Yadav may have felt that it was better for him to distance himself from the meeting and that he preferred the Congress's top brass to get in touch with him.

Sources added, however, that the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the other half of the Bihar government, would have been represented by a number of its leading figures, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, the party's patriarch.

Ms. Banerjee stated on Monday that she had prior obligations. "I am not conscious of this meeting. I've planned a seven-day programme in north Bengal; if I had known beforehand, I would have taken it."

According to sources, there may not have been a single Trinamool representative in her case.

The Congress appeared to take a step back after the Bengal leader's "not aware" remark; Jairam Ramesh, the party leader, referred to the gathering on December 6 as a "informal meet". This afternoon, sources told NDTV that a "formal meeting" has been scheduled for December 18 or 19. That phrase was used once more.

In the run-up to last month's Assembly polls, allies of the Congress have been criticising it for more than just seat-sharing disputes; they have also been criticising it for insisting that the planning for the general election of the following year, which is the main reason the INDIA bloc was formed, be delayed until it is free to take the lead.

This month, most likely, is when the Congress will call the next INDIA meeting, which was held in Mumbai at the end of August. Nitish Kumar, who claimed he had been "... pushing them forward in (the) INDIA alliance but, of late, there has not been much progress," poked fun at him for failing to comply.

Akhilesh Yadav and Nitish Kumar Might Send Representatives, Will Skip India Meeting: References

Former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and leader of the Samajwadi Party is Akhilesh Yadav (R) (File).

New Delhi: According to sources that spoke to NDTV this morning, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will not attend Wednesday's INDIA bloc negotiation. The leader of the Janata Dal (United) and Mr. Yadav, a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, are the second and third prominent figures to decline to attend the gathering that the Congress arranged, highlighting the widening divide within an alliance intended to bring the opposition together and crush Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP in the Lok Sabha election of the following year.

Update | Congress Postpones India Alliance Meeting Following Top Leaders' Refusal to Attend

According to sources, NDTV When Mallikarjun Kharge called Nitish Kumar to extend an invitation, he informed him of his decision. Senior leader Sanjay Jha and JDU President Rajiv Ranjan would represent Nitish Kumar in Delhi. On the other hand, sources suggested that the primary representatives of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the other half of the Bihar government, would probably be its leaders, Tejashwi Yadav, the deputy chief minister of Bihar, and his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Meanwhile, sources said that Akhilesh Yadav might send his uncle, Ramgopal Yadav. Mr. Yadav reportedly wants a personal invitation as well. He and the Congress have reportedly clashed numerous times in recent months, with Mr. Yadav criticising his ally over the breakdown of seat-sharing negotiations for the Madhya Pradesh election.

Mamata Banerjee, the fiery leader of the Trinamool Party and a tense ally with the Congress, announced on Monday that she would not be attending as well. She claimed to be "not aware" of the meeting and to have prior commitments in northern Bengal on that day. "I am not conscious of this meeting. I have a seven-day programme planned in north Bengal; if I had known, I would have taken it. However, I'm going on the north Bengal tour because we don't have any information," she declared.

Read | "Not Aware": Mamata Banerjee Will Not Attend The Upcoming India Bloc Meeting

According to sources, Ms. Banerjee's party may also skip the meeting. If this is the case, it will be interpreted as a sign of intense dissatisfaction within INDIA, which has been further heightened by the Congress's crushing losses in Sunday's assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Following three consecutive losses, the Bengali leader, who caused a stir by rejecting India's caste census resolution at its most recent meeting in Mumbai, appeared to criticise the Congress, saying, "We proposed a seat-sharing arrangement." "Divided votes caused them (the Congress) to lose," she informed the Assembly.

She did, however, refrain from making any further pointed remarks and instead stated that the bloc "will learn from the mistakes"

Mamata Banerjee's remarks appeared to support the views of other INDIA members, such as Akhilesh Yadav, who stated that in order to maximise their influence over voters, regional parties needed to take the lead in the opposition to the BJP wherever feasible. In the run-up to the Madhya Pradesh election, the Samajwadi Party and the Congress had a falling out over seat-sharing. Data collected following the election indicates that the Congress would have benefited more from a ground-level coalition than from going it alone.

After the Congress had taken early leads in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and was running neck and neck with the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Kharge called for the meeting on Sunday afternoon.

Tragically, the party soon found itself significantly behind in all three. Eventually, the Hindi heartland states were taken over by the BJP. In 2018, the Congress took up all three states.

The agenda item for tomorrow's INDIA bloc meeting is likely to be the formulation of the party's 2024 Lok Sabha election strategy, which is now progressively moving in the BJP's direction for a third consecutive term.

Source: NDTV

13 People Died in Manipur Clashes Between 2 Groups: Report

According to officials, the incident happened on Monday afternoon in Leithu village. (Symbolic)

Imphal: According to authorities, a gunfight between two groups in Manipur's Tengnoupal district on Monday claimed the lives of at least 13 people.

According to them, the incident happened on Monday afternoon in Leithu village.

"Another group of insurgents dominant in the area ambushed a group of militants on their way to Myanmar," a hill district official said.

He stated that 13 bodies had been found by security forces thus far. Although the identities of the deceased were unknown, they didn't seem to be locals.

The district of Tengnoupal has a porous border with Myanmar.

Story Source: NDTV

Cyclone Michaung | As Andhra Pradesh prepares for landfall, coastal Tamil Nadu braces for heavy rain.

The Met Office predicts that a depression will develop into Cyclone Michaung by December 4, with landfall in Andhra Pradesh on December 5; preparations for rescue, relief, and evacuation efforts are underway.

As a deep depression intensified over the Bay of Bengal, moving northwest and likely to evolve into Cyclone Michaung by December 3 morning, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu prepared for heavy rainfall in their coastal districts. Winds of 80 to 90 kmph with gusts of up to 100 kmph are expected, according to the India Meteorological Department on December 2.

Disaster relief efforts are underway along the coast, with state and national teams on the ground and naval forces in the region on standby. Fishermen have been advised not to go out to sea, and 144 trains have been cancelled. In Andhra Pradesh, relief camps are being established, and plans are being made to evacuate coastal areas if necessary.

On December 2, 2023, fishermen at Jalaripeta fishing colony in Visakhapatnam relocate their boats to safety in anticipation of Cyclone Michaung.

The storm made landfall on December 5th. Deep depression prevailed over the southwest Bay of Bengal in December, about 420 kilometres southeast of Chennai. The cyclonic storm is expected to reach the waters off southern Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu by December 4 morning, and then move parallel to the coast, making landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam a day later, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai.

Candied Thoughts Into Rubina Dilaik's Pregnancy Journey

Pic Credit: Rubina Dilaik Instagram

New Delhi: Rubina Dilaik, a soon-to-be mother, has been marking the days until the arrival of her first child—or rather, babies. In her most recent vlog, Rubina informed her followers that she and her husband, Abhinav Shukla, are expecting TWINS. Yes, you read correctly! The actress elaborated on her happy news of being pregnant with twins, Abhinav Shukla's reaction, and other topics in her most recent vlog.

The following is what Rubina Dilaik informs her fans:

In her most recent vlog, Rubina Dilaik shared the amazing news: "I wish to share with you that we are expecting twins." She said she wanted to talk about the challenges she faced, the experiences she had, and her journey through her twin pregnancies. In the ninth month of her pregnancy, Rubina shared with her fans how she and Abhinav learned she was expecting twins.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rubina Dilaik (@rubinadilaik)

Rubina discusses the initial trimester:

Rubina talked about how the first trimester was challenging because they couldn't tell their close friends their good news. She explained that they wanted to be medically certain within the first three months that their twins were healthy and alive before they could break the news. "Only I know how those three months have been," she said. According to the well-known Khatron Ke Khiladi 12, the doctor cautioned them that there is a slight increase in complications with multiple pregnancies and that everything needs to be done extremely carefully.

Rubina says the first three months are critical because that's when miscarriages happen most frequently. She acknowledged that these were the thoughts she was having. They eventually found out that their twins were doing well when Rubina completed her scan three months later. She mentioned that she and Abhinav were relieved to be back following this scan.

Reflecting on those three months, Rubina talked about how difficult it was to work while battling eating disorders, mood swings, nausea, and other problems. Because she is a twin, Rubina revealed, her gynaecologists had warned her that she would have to deal with a little bit more of this.

Rubina Discussed The Risks And Difficulties:

According to Rubina, it is impossible for her to compare the ease of a single pregnancy to that of a twin pregnancy. The Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10 actress stated that four to five months later, she started having back issues. She stated that she has been following a strict diet because high blood pressure and gestational diabetes are quite common.

Rubina disclosed that she follows a rigorous diet. She also disclosed that, in contrast to the usual pregnancy schedule of seeing a doctor once a month, she now sees one every fifteen days to ensure the health of both developing babies. She stated that she is easily fatigued and had never experienced this feeling prior to becoming pregnant.

Preterm birth is one of the disadvantages of twin pregnancies, according to Rubina. She explained that if the natural pregnancy carried on for 39 weeks, there was a chance the twins would be born after 37 weeks. She explained that in a preterm birth, there's a chance that organs won't develop, so extra care is required. She admitted that these thoughts troubled her all the time.

Rubina disclosed that she has begun to perspire excessively and gets tired easily due to her constant high body temperature. She revealed that she had lowered her body temperature over the course of 1.5 months by taking cold showers and three-to-four-foot soaks.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rubina Dilaik (@rubinadilaik)

Since she opened up about the difficulties she had while pregnant, Rubina Dilaik has inspired countless mothers all over the world with her strength and fortitude. Dilaik's candour in sharing the mental and physical challenges she faced has spurred a much-needed discussion about the frequently taboo subjects of pregnancy. In addition to shattering the false expectations associated with motherhood, her journey has encouraged a sense of solidarity among women who might be going through similar things.

Source: ZeeNews

IPOs Coming Up in December 2023: A List of Them

New Delhi: As 2023 comes to an end, a number of companies that have been waiting for the right time to go public will finally announce their initial public offerings (IPOs). All of these companies have already filed their DRHPs to the market regulator, and many of them have already received the final approval.

To see the list of IPOs slated for December 2023, scroll down.

The IPO of Sheetal Universal

With its impending initial public offering (IPO), which is slated to begin on December 4, 2023, and end on December 6, Sheetal Universal is prepared to raise Rs 23.80 crore. The IPO, which has a minimum lot size of 2,000 scrips, is priced at Rs 70 per share. With a possible listing date of December 11, 2023, investors can expect the allotment results to be finalised on December 7, 2023.

The Graphisads IPO

Graphisads is currently taking investments through December 5, 2023, and has already opened for business on November 30, 2023. 48.12 lakh shares, valued at Rs 111 apiece, are offered in the IPO, which has a total market value of Rs 53.41 crore.

The minimum lot size for retail investors is 1,200 scrips, or Rs 1,33,200. December 8, 2023, is when allotment for this IPO is anticipated to occur. On December 13, 2023, the company may list on exchanges.

IPO for Marinetrans India

The subscription period for Marinetrans India's Rs 10.92 crore initial public offering (IPO) is November 30, 2023–December 5, 2023. The company hopes to list on the exchanges on December 11, 2023, and plans to complete the allotment on December 8, 2023.

With 42 lakh newly issued equity included in this offering, investors are closely monitoring it.

IPO for Net Avenue Technologies

56.96 lakh shares are up for grabs in an IPO priced at Rs 10.25 crore by Net Avenue Technology. Beginning on November 30, 2023, and ending on December 4, 2023, is the subscription window.

Investors can anticipate the allotment results on December 7, 2023, and a possible listing date on December 12, 2023, with a minimum lot size of 8,000 stocks priced at Rs 16–18 apiece.

"Melodi": Italian Prime Minister Meloni says it's always a pleasure to meet friends when he snaps a selfie with Modi at COP28.

Italy's Prime Minister posted a selfie with PM Narendra Modi on X at the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai. (X/@narendramodi)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to a selfie that his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni had taken during the COP28 Summit on Saturday by saying that it was always a pleasure to meet friends.

The Italian prime minister and PM Modi shared a selfie on X on Friday, captioning it, "Good friends at COP28," and adding the hashtag "Melodi," which combines the surnames of the two leaders.

PM Modi replied by retweeting the picture along with the phrase, "Meeting friends is always a delight."

Meeting friends is always a delight. https://t.co/4PWqZZaDKC

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 2, 2023

The annual Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28), which is being held in Dubai through December 12, is being attended by world leaders.

After his trips to Glasgow in 2021 and Paris in 2015, Prime Minister Modi made his third appearance at the World Climate Action Summit after landing in Dubai late on Thursday. The Indian community in Dubai greeted him with open arms.

Among the many world leaders he met were Meloni, King Charles, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

Earlier today in Dubai, I had the opportunity to interact with King Charles, who has always been passionate towards environmental conservation and sustainable development. He is an important voice in the fight against climate change. @RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/vRktqe0H3m

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

During the summit's opening speech, the prime minister stated that India has set goals to reduce its emission intensity by 45% by 2030 and raise the proportion of non-fossil fuels to 50%. Additionally, he put forth the Green Credit Initiative, which aims to engage individuals in the process of creating carbon sinks.

Leopard Seen in This Delhi Neighbourhood; Traps Installed; Residents Warned

New Delhi: An official from the forest department reported on Saturday that a leopard had been sighted in the Sainik Farm area of Delhi. He said that two trap cages had been set up to catch the big cat.

Two teams from the forest department (Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary) have been deployed, according to Subodh Kumar, a beat officer.

"A call regarding a leopard seen at night was received by us. We searched at nine in the morning with the assistance of the local police, and we found the animal close to a farmhouse," Kumar said.

He continued, "It's a fully grown leopard weighing about 80 to 90 kg."

A police official stated that the forest department has erected two trap cages and ordered people not to congregate close to them.

The leopard was spotted idling close to a farmhouse in two of the social media videos that have gone viral. Before the leopard leapt off a wall and fled into the jungle, a policeman can be seen running in one of the videos.

According to an official, Delhi Police and the forest department have sent at least 40 officers to the area.

Magnitude 7.5 earthquake hits southern Philippines, triggering a tsunami warning

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported that an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 struck Mindanao, Philippines, on Saturday. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 63 km (39 miles), and tsunamis were predicted to strike Japan and the Philippines soon after.

The waves might reach the Philippines by midnight (1600 GMT), according to the Philippine Seismology Agency Phivolcs, and they might last for hours.

There could be waves up to three metres above the tide line along some Philippine coasts, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System.

Phivolcs asked residents residing close to the coast of the provinces of Surigao Del Sur and Davao Oriental to "move farther inland" or "immediately evacuate," adding that "boats already at sea during this period should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised."

By 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, or around 30 minutes later, tsunami waves of up to one metre were predicted to reach Japan's southwest coast, according to the Japanese broadcaster NHK (1630 GMT on Saturday).

Although Phivolcs warned of aftershocks, it stated that it did anticipate significant damage from the tremor itself.

The coastal town of Hinatuan, which is close to the epicentre of the earthquake, has lost power since the earthquake struck, but disaster response teams have not yet reported any casualties or damage, according to Raymark Gentallan, the local police chief.

By 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, or around 30 minutes later, tsunami waves of up to one metre were predicted to reach Japan's southwest coast, according to the Japanese broadcaster NHK (1630 GMT on Saturday).

Although Phivolcs warned of aftershocks, it stated that it did anticipate significant damage from the tremor itself.

The coastal town of Hinatuan, which is close to the epicentre of the earthquake, has lost power since the earthquake struck, but disaster response teams have not yet reported any casualties or damage, according to Raymark Gentallan, the local police chief.

Not at all! Here's why pomegranates and beetroot aren't the body's greatest sources of iron.

Generally speaking, 10 mg of iron should be consumed daily. Considering that a lot of people advise including pomegranates and beetroot in their diet. Furthermore, because of their red colour, they are said to be beneficial for treating iron deficiency anaemia by boosting blood levels in the body.

However, nutritionist Juhi Kapoor emphasised that these aren't the ideal iron sources.

The idea that pomegranates and beetroot are excellent providers of iron is a common misconception. Actually, pomegranates and beetroot have very little iron (0.31% and 0.76 mg/gram, respectively), making them poor sources of the mineral, according to Kapoor.

She added that the deep red colour has nothing to do with the iron content of the material because it is primarily caused by natural pigments or polyphenols.

Likewise Senior consultant physician Dr. Dilip Gude of Yashoda Hospitals in Hyderabad revealed that beetroot has a high vitamin A content, often exceeding the daily recommended intake. Because vitamin A is fat-soluble, there may be a persistent build-up of excess that the body finds difficult to get rid of. High beetroot concentrations have the potential to lower blood pressure and trigger mild allergic reactions. Furthermore, Dr Gude stated that the high calcium oxalate content of beetroots may hinder the absorption of calcium, raise the risk of kidney stones, and upset the stomach.

There are two kinds of iron in food.

1) Heme: present in poultry, fish, and meat. According to Kalra, the body absorbs it easily. Thirty percent of it is absorbed on average, according to Kalra.

2) Non-heme iron is present in nuts, fruits, and vegetables. However, the iron in these foods won't be fully absorbed. usually only absorbed by the body in amounts of 2–10%, according to Kalra.

But keep in mind that this does not imply that pomegranates and beetroot won't assist you in producing iron. Nutritionist Prerrna Kalra said, "It will help you make red blood cells, but it will help you slowly."

Which are the finest places to get iron?

Organ meats, such as liver and other seafood, are among the best sources of iron. Dr. Gude stated, "Meat products like chicken, lamb, oysters, mussels, and clams are excellent sources of dietary iron."

Broccoli, string beans, dark leafy greens (dandelion, collard, kale, and spinach), eggs, beans, nuts, peas, lentils, and tofu are all high in iron and highly recommended, according to Dr. Gude. "These foods are highly recommended because they contain at least three times the recommended dietary allowance of iron than pomegranates and beetroot," Dr. Gude stated.

What should you remember? When consuming foods high in iron, remember to also include foods high in vitamin C, such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, and red and yellow bell peppers, as these foods improve the absorption of iron.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Juhi Kapoor (@thejuhikapoor)

After an all-night search of the ED's Madurai office, Tamil Nadu police report finding "incriminating" documents.

Ankit Tiwari, an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer who was detained on Friday, is the subject of an alleged bribery case. The Tamil Nadu Police wrapped up a protracted search operation on Saturday morning.

Tiwari was posted at the ED office in Madurai, and the officer's home was also searched by the Tamil Nadu Police's Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). Searches continued until six in the morning on Saturday, and authorities reported finding evidence of incrimination.

Prominent state government sources stated they would rebuff requests to transfer the investigation to a federal agency.

Tiwari was detained early on Friday morning on suspicion of accepting a bribe from a government physician. In a late-night press release, the DVAC said that Tiwari had gotten in touch with him on October 29, 2023, citing a 2018 case involving disproportionate assets against the government doctor that the DVAC's Dindigul district branch had already resolved. According to the DVAC statement, Tiwari purportedly stated that he had received orders to reopen the investigation from the Prime Minister's Office.

Officials claim that after the doctor was called to the ED office in Madurai on October 30, Tiwari allegedly forced him into a car and demanded a bribe of Rs 3 crore to stop the police from taking action. The doctor eventually agreed to accept Rs 51 lakh. It is purported that the first installment of Rs 20 lakh was delivered on November 1. Following the doctor's complaint to the DVAC, an operation was conducted, which resulted in Tiwari's arrest.

This occurs in the midst of the ED reopening a number of cases that the DVAC previously handled. State and DMK government ministers are involved in the majority of these cases. Minister V Senthil Balaji was arrested and imprisoned as a result of one such case.

The DVAC statement claims that during searches conducted after Tiwari's arrest, authorities found documents purportedly indicating Tiwari's potential involvement in threatening or blackmailing other officials with similar methods. According to the statement, more investigations are being conducted.

A DVAC representative commented on the search at the ED's Madurai office, saying: "At first, they said we cannot search and asked us to wait for permission. However, they consented after we showed them the warrant and made it clear that we were only there to search Tiwari's office. The Chennai office of the ED now has more security.