External affairs minister S Jaishankar met Congressman Michael Waltz during his US visit, discussing bilateral partnerships. Waltz is set to become National Security Advisor on January 20, under President-elect Donald Trump. Jaishankar also engaged with the Indian Embassy and Consuls General in Washington, DC.
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The Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar introduced a new initiative to train over 1 lakh booth level officers (BLOs) nationwide to improve voter enrolment processes and rectify electoral rolls. This initiative, involving states such as Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam, aims to create a well-trained network to ensure the accuracy of voter lists ahead of upcoming elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of the youth in transforming India into a developed nation, highlighting Swami Vivekananda's faith in the younger generation. Speaking on National Youth Day, Modi underscored ambitious goals, including achieving 20% ethanol blending by 2030 and hosting the Olympics. He called for active citizen involvement in realizing the vision of 'Viksit Bharat.'
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized US President Trump's suggestion of taking over the Gaza Strip, calling it 'bizarre' and 'unacceptable.' He emphasized a two-state solution for sustainable peace. Trump's remarks were also condemned by Hamas and other Palestinian leaders, warning that such plans could destabilize the region. Calls for clear stance from the Indian government were made.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot affirms the strength of the INDIA bloc, despite the Congress and AAP contesting against each other in Delhi elections. He acknowledges the alliance will adopt varied stands in certain state elections. Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav also dismisses rumors of internal conflicts.
Arvind Kejriwal accuses Congress of secret collaboration with BJP, after Ashok Gehlot calls AAP their main opposition in Delhi elections. Gehlot denies the claims, asserting Congress aims to win. The controversy follows a heated exchange and allegations from both parties, with AAP and Congress locked in a critical rivalry.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has rejected the Waqf Amendment Bill passed by the Lok Sabha, expressing determination to nullify it once the BJP is ousted. During a presser, she accused the BJP of attempting to divide the country with the bill, which passed with 288 votes in favor and 232 against.
The Rajasthan Assembly session turned chaotic as BJP MLA Gopal Sharma called Congress MLA Rafiq Khan a 'Pakistani,' sparking strong objections. The Assembly Chairperson had to intervene to restore order. The Indian Supreme Court recently noted using such terms might be inappropriate but not necessarily unlawful.
A Bareilly court sentenced a truck driver to life imprisonment for intentionally killing a police constable on duty in 2018. The driver, found to be inebriated at the time, had a previous grudge against police officers. The judge highlighted issues with road policing and recommended stricter regulations on hiring less-skilled drivers.
Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah linked the rise in terrorist attacks in the Jammu region to the redeployment of army troops to Ladakh due to Chinese incursions. He highlighted the need for better counter-terror strategies and expressed gratitude for police bravery in preventing further harm.
India and Mauritius have signed eight key Memorandums of Understanding to enhance cooperation in banking, trade, security, and governance. Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Pravind Jugnauth emphasized the strong historical and cultural ties, with a new vision for shared growth and security across regions being also outlined.