Anil Mishra, trustee of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust in charge of the temple's construction and management, said 10 donation counters were opened after the 'Pran Pratistha' on Monday. 

On Tuesday, devotees made offerings in cash at the temple counters and online donations, totalling Rs 3.17 crore, Mishra told PTI. 

He added that more than 5 lakh Ram devotees paid obeisance the temple on Tuesday and the same number of devotees also turned up on Wednesday. 

Arrangements are being made in consultation with the administration to ensure that darshan is done is held an organised manner, Mishra said. -- PTI

The Ministry of Health has decided to introduce a three-drug regimen for Pauci-Bacillary cases in place of a two-drug regimen for six months, according to the latest globally accepted scientific research studies and evidence-based practices.

In letter to states and Union Territories, deputy director general, directorate general of health services, Dr Sudarsan Mandal said the National Leprosy Eradication Programme is taking all required steps to stop the transmission of leprosy at the sub-national level.

The ministry of health and family welfare has taken a significant step in the treatment regimen of Multi-Drug Therapy for leprosy patients in India.

"With the approval of the competent authority, the Ministry of Health has decided to introduce a three-drug regimen for Pauci-Bacillary cases in place of a two-drug regimen for six months, according to the latest globally accepted scientific research studies and evidence-based practices," the letter sent on January 17 read. -- PTI

The accident took place at Dharsuni ghat area on National Highway-49 in the morning, they said.

The driver managed to escape from the spot, a police officer said, adding the injured were admitted to PRM Medical College and Hospital, Baripada. 

The truck, carrying technicians and equipment used for folk theatre, was travelling from Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj towards Jaleswar in Balasore. 

Amid a downpour, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which then overturned and fell into a gorge, the officer said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the deaths, and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 3 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased. -- PTI 

Sandeep Raut has been asked to depose before the central agency at its office in Mumbai next week, they said, adding his statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. 

Suraj Chavan, a functionary of the Shiv Sena-UBT faction, was arrested in this case by the ED last week. 

Chavan, a core committee member of the Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT, is in ED custody till Thursday and is expected to be produced before a court in Mumbai. 

The money laundering case stems from an FIR of the Mumbai police's Economic Offences Wing.

According to police, alleged irregularities took place while giving contracts by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for providing 'khichdi' to migrants during the COVID-19. -- PTI

Union Minister of State for Finance Dr Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad was also present.

A customary Halwa ceremony is performed every year before the "lock-in" process of budget preparation begins.

Like the previous three full Union Budgets, Interim Union Budget 2024 will also be delivered in paperless form. 

The Interim Union Budget 2024 will be presented on February 1.

An interim budget will be presented this year as Lok Sabha elections are expected to be held in April-May.

A finance ministry release said that all the Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as Budget), Demand for Grants, Finance Bill, as prescribed by the Constitution, will be available on the "Union Budget Mobile App" for hassle-free access of budget documents by Members of Parliament and people.

The release said that the app is bilingual (English & Hindi) and will be available on both Android and iOS platforms. 

The App can also be downloaded from the Union Budget Web Portal (www.indiabudget.gov.in).

The Budget documents will be available on the Mobile App after the completion of the Budget Speech by the Union Finance Minister in Parliament on February 1, 2024.

This app ensures convenient access to Budget documents for Members of Parliament and the general public, utilizing the simplicity of digital convenience, the release said.

Senior ministry officials were present at the Halwa ceremony. 

Officers and staff of the involved in the budget preparation and compilation process, were also present on the occasion.

As part of the ceremony, the Union Finance Minister also took a round of the Budget Press and reviewed the preparations besides extending her best wishes to the officials concerned.

The budget session of parliament will begin on January 31 and would conclude on February 9. -- ANI

Once he takes oath, the top court will attain its full strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.

While recommending his name earlier this month, the Supreme Court Collegium said it took into consideration the fact that he is among the senior-most high court judges and is the only HC chief justice from the Scheduled Caste.

He would become the third sitting apex court judge from a Scheduled Caste community. 

The others are Justices B R Gavai and C T Ravikumar.

A vacancy arose in the apex court following the retirement of Justice S K Kaul last month.

Justice Varale's appointment came within a week of the SC Collegium recommending his name.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Prasarma Bhalachandra Varale, Chief Justice of the Karnataka high court, to be a Judge of the Supreme Court of India, with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office," a law ministry notification read. -- PTI

According to forest personnel, Nanjan (75) and his wife Thulasi (70), hailing from Vilamundy village went to Bhoothikuppai forest located under the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve to collect Turkey berry. 

A elephant came out of a bush and attacked the couple and trampled them to death on the spot, they said.

On receiving information, the forest officials rushed to the place and recovered the bodies.

The bodies were sent to Sathyamangalam Government Hospital for postmortem.

Bhavanisagar police have registered a case. 

The forest officials also recorded the incident. -- PTI

The cyber crime wing of Mumbai police on Wednesday warned city residents not to post any kind of videos, photos, or use as status any message, which may hurt religious sentiments of any person. 

WhatsApp group admins as well as users of Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms should take care not to share anything provocative, it said. 

Action would be taken against those circulating such content, officials said. Earlier in the day, police in Mira-Bhayandar area of Thane and Vasai-Virar in neighbouring Palghar too issued a similar warning against  circulation of rumours or fake messages. 

Admins of social media groups too will face action in such cases, an official release said. One such mischievously edited" viral video spread fake news that the Mira Road railway station had been set on fire, it said. -- PTI

With the arrest of the man, who runs an import-export business in Nashik city, around 200km from Mumbai, the Maharashtra ATS has unravelled "international links to ISIS support and funding", he said. 

According to the official, investigations so far have revealed he had transferred funds to the dreaded global terrorist group, also called Islamic State, three times. 

Some associates of the accused are being probed across multiple states, he said. 

Based on specific information, the ATS had registered an offence under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the accused person and a team of the state police's anti-terror wing was monitoring his activities for the last several days, said the official. -- PTI

Amid the consecration ceremony of Ram temple, some people have posted "sensitive content" on social media which has the potential to "disturb peaceful atmosphere" in Rajouri district, they said. 

The police viewed it seriously and registered a case for insulting religious feelings of a community against them, they said. 

In a similar case in Reasi, the police registered another case against a person for allegedly posting "objectionable content" on social media. 

SSP Reasi Amit Gupta advised people to refrain from posting any objectionable content on social media that disturbs the peace and harmony in the area. 

"All social media platforms are being watched and all posts and comments will be monitored. Strict action will be taken against a person who posts anything that is provocative and spreads hatred," SSP said. -- PTI

Acting on a tip-off, a team of Assam Police's Special Task Force, led by its deputy inspector general Parthasarathi Mahanta carried out an operation in Beharbari area under the Basistha police station limits and intercepted a truck carrying 4,000 kg marijuana hidden under raw rubber, a police statement said. 

The ED sealed the house and put up a notice summoning Sheikh to appear in person before its sleuths for questioning by January 29 in connection with its probe into the ration distribution scam, an officer said. 

During the six-hour search inside the house in North 24 Parganas district, no significant material was found in almirahs, cupboards or suitcases. 

"It seems that the documents have been removed from this house during the last fortnight. We have sealed the house," the officer told PTI. 

The ED officers found a few old visa-related papers, some contractual documents and articles besides a few clothing materials, he said, adding that the entire operation was videographed by one of the eight ED officers who went inside the TMC leader's house. 

"We have asked Shahjahan to appear in person for questioning at our Kolkata office on January 29. A notice in this regard has been put up at his residence in Sandeshkhali after today's search there," he said. 

The ED officers, accompanied by over 120 personnel of the central armed police force, broke open the collapsible gate at the residence of the TMC leader in the presence of police personnel and two locals as witnesses, the officer said. -- PTI

Additional sessions judge Pulastya Pramachala was hearing a case against Akram, Mohammed Furkan and Mohammed Irshad who were accused of being part of a riotous mob that set ablaze a bookshop near Shiv Vihar Tiraha on February 24, 2020. 

"I find that it is not safe to rely upon the testimony of prosecution witness (PW) 2 (constable Pawan Kumar) and PW 7 (constable Amit) to assume the presence of all the accused persons herein in the mob," the judge said in a verdict pronounced on Tuesday. 

"I find that charges levelled against all the three accused persons in this case are not proved beyond reasonable doubt. Hence, accused persons are acquitted of the charges in respect of the incident at the shop," he added. 

Though there was reliable evidence to prove that a riotous mob committed vandalism and arson, there were certain inconsistencies in the statements of the two constables, the court noted. 

It said that immediately after the incident, the duo did not make any statement or daily diary entry regarding having identified the accused persons. 

Both constables identified the accused persons after seeing a video clip only on March 6, 2020, the court said. 

There was, however, no clarity regarding the specific video clip being seen by the constables, the court said. 

It said though the two police officials vouched that they knew the accused persons and their workplaces before the incident, they did not lead the investigating officer to raid the places where they could be found. -- PTI

The accused, Saeed Khan Mansoori, a resident of Bhyana village, was arrested and a case was filed against him after some people staged a protest at Limachohan police station over his post, he said. 

Limachohan police station in-charge Anil Kumar Rahoria said that Mansoori was booked under the Indian Penal Code Sections 153 (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, etc), 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class) and 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes), he said. 

Meanwhile, BJP district unit president Gyan Singh Gurjar told reporters that Mansoori has been expelled from the party, and said those who hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus have no place in the organisation. 

Earlier, several members of Hindutva outfits gathered at the police station to protest against his social media post and expressed their displeasure. 

Sub-divisional officer of police of Sarangpur Arvind Singh and naib tehsildar Surendra Singh pacified the protesters and assured to take action against him. -- PTI

According to Manickam Tagore, AICC in-charge for AP, following the footsteps of the Karnataka and Telangana Congress model, the Andhra Pradesh unit will charge Rs 15,000 as the "donation" from the aspiring candidates of the reserved category and Rs 25,000 for the rest, for Lok Sabha while it is Rs 10,000 for candidates (unreserved category) and Rs 5,000 for the reserved in case of assembly ticket.

Applications will be accepted for the next two weeks, he said.                 

Tagore further said all the applications will be processed through the pradesh election committee and afterward it will go through the screening committee of the AICC. 

Then the list will be sent to the Congress central election committee headed by president Mallikarjun Kharge.

"It (Congress) is a democratic party. Therefore, any Congress worker can come and apply," Tagore said.

He said there is good response from the people to contest on Congress tickets and the donations can be made through 'Donate for Desh,' an online crowdfunding campaign.

Andhra Pradesh has 175 assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats. -- PTI

The FIR was registered at Amritsar's Sultanwind police station on January 23, the police said on Wednesday.

In a video posted on social media, Pannun allegedly claimed that the Shri Durgiana Mandir in Amritsar had no historical significance in Hinduism. 

The pro-Khalistan leader also purportedly warned the temple management to shut its gates and hand over the keys to the Golden Temple administration.

The police said the case was registered on the basis of Pannun's social media video.

He has been booked under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race), 153B (making or publishing statements that promote disharmony or hatred between different religious, racial, language, or regional groups) and 505 (whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumour or report) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the IT Act, the police said. -- PTI

"Earthquake of Magnitude:4.3, Occurred on 24-01-2024, 16:16:41 IST, Lat: 36.39 & Long: 71.78, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Pakistan," the NCS posted on X.  

The National Center for Seismology is the nodal agency of the Government of India for monitoring of earthquake activity in the country.  

Further details about are awaited. -- ANI                        

A division bench of Justices Anuja Prabhudessai and NR Borkar in its order of January 16 said the youth had donated Rs 5,000 towards the welfare of stray dogs. 

"The petitioner is a young boy of 20 years of age. He is a student of third year engineering and has a good academic record. Continuance of criminal proceedings can mar his career and future prospect," the court said. 

As per the police, in October 2023, the man drove his car in a rash and negligent manner in suburban Borivali and crashed into a temporary shed. 

The accident caused damage to idols being prepared at the shed and also the death of a stray dog. 

In his plea, the man sought for the FIR to be quashed and said he has already paid a sum of Rs 2 lakh to the owner of the shed. 

The owner of the shed submitted to the court that he has amicably resolved the dispute. -- PTI

The military IL-76 aircraft was transporting 65 service members for further exchange, the Russian defence ministry said.

This is breaking news. 

More information to follow. -- ANI

Terming Tuesday's suicide of the differently-abled man, hailing from Chakkittapara in Kozhikode, as "pathetic", the Leader of Opposition in the assembly VD Satheesan alleged that lakhs of people in the southern state were suffering without getting their social security pension and other benefits. 

People were finding it difficult to buy even their essential medicines and lead a dignified life in the state, he told reporters in Palakkad. 

Seventy-seven-year-old Joseph had reportedly given a letter to the local panchayat stating that if he did not receive his disability pension, he would kill himself. He was found dead on Tuesday, police said. 

"The arrogance of power and mismanagement are the hallmarks of the Pinarayi Vijayan government," the LoP alleged. 

He also pointed out the recent example of an elderly woman hailing from Idukki, who had come out with a begging bowl on the streets as a mark of protest against the non-receipt of social security pension. 

Just as the cyber campaigners of the ruling CPI-M had attacked and bullied her for protesting against the government, they were now trying to target Joseph after his death, Satheesan further charged. 

Kerala is heading towards a "dangerous situation" as all development activities and social welfare projects have come to a standstill, he said, adding that four paddy farmers had died by suicide in the state in recent times. -- PTI

On the second day of the Ayodhya Ram Temple being opened for the public, fervour among devotees remained high as a large number of devotees visited the temple on Wednesday, offering prayers during Mangala Aarti. 

 Following the directives of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, UP Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad, DG Law and Order Prashant Kumar, and local officials monitored the proceedings and ensured a smooth experience for the devotees.

The airport welcomed 51.58 million passengers, with over 25.4 million passengers on arrivals and more than 26.1 million on departures, it said in a release.

 The TMC supremo has announced that her party has decided to go alone in West Bengal in the polls. 

 "Mamata Banerjee and her party are an important part of the INDIA alliance. They are with us and we will put up a strong fight against BJP. If Mamataji has made a statement, this could be part of a strategy. There are no issues in the INDIA alliance," Clyde Crasto, national spokesperson of the Nationalist Congress Party, told reporters. 

 He said the role of regional parties is very important as they will strengthen the Opposition bloc. Earlier in the day, Banerjee said, I had given them (Congress) a proposal (on seat-sharing), but they refused it at the outset. Our party has now decided to go alone in Bengal. PTI

 Banerjee, who was seated in front beside the driver, was injured after her head hit the windscreen, he said. 

 The CM is being brought back to Kolkata where she will be attended by doctors, the official said. Banerjee had gone to Purba Bardhaman this afternoon to chair an administrative review meeting. -- PTI

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora was also informed by the counsel appearing for X, formerly Twitter, that the tweet in question has been deleted by Gandhi.

A nine-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered inside a crematorium in 2021 in the Delhi Cantonment area. Rahul Gandhi had met the minor's family and posted a picture on X.

 West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said that the alliance is unnatural and not politically viable as the Congress, Left and the TMC are at loggerheads with one another in the state. 

 "This alliance is unnatural and not politically viable because, in West Bengal, Congress and CPM are fighting against Mamata Banerjee. A while ago, in the Panchayat elections, Congress and CPM were thrashed by TMC workers," Majumdar said speaking to ANI on Wednesday. 

Majumdar said that though top leaders of the three parties met together and had cordial ties with one another the situation on the ground is much different. 

 "If you had thought that with Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Sitaram Yechuri having tea together, the alliance would be strong and the workers on the ground would get trashed and vote for TMC, that would not have happened. Mamata Banerjee knows the ground report and the state CPM and the state Congress were opposed to it," he said. 

 "The INDIA alliance is such a boat that does not have anyone steering it. It neither has a leader nor any ideology...," he added lambasting the Opposition alliance. 

 Meanwhile, Karnataka BJP leader R Ashok welcomed Mamata Banerjee's stand saying that the Congress do no have any state leader in West Bengal which makes it a 'nalayak' party. 

 "I welcome Mamata Banerjee's stand. Congress is a 'nalayak' party. There is no leader of Congress in West Bengal which means it is a 'nalayak' party," R Ashok said speaking to reporters. Pointing out the cracks in the alliance, Ashok said, "Nitish Kumar is one step out. Akhilesh Yadav is already gone. They came for an alliance in Bengaluru. I think they had the best meeting and the best biriyani. I think Mamata Banerjee's stand will be echoed all over India." 

 Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray who is part of the INDIA bloc lauded the West Bengal Chief Minister saying that Mamata Banerjee is fighting like a tigress in Bengal and her fight is important. "I have come to know from the media, but let me see what Mamata ji has said, Mamata ji is fighting like a tigress in Bengal, her fight in West Bengal is extremely important," Thackeray said.

 In addition to this, NCP MP Supriya Sule expressed confidence that the alliance is united and will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls together. "She is our didi and we love and respect her. The alliance (INDIA) is united and we will all fight together. There will be no loss to the alliance. The model in every state will be different. There is no infighting in the alliance. We are in frequent conversation...," Sule said.

Mamata Banerjee had said: "I had no discussions with the Congress party. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I am not concerned about what will be done in the country but we are a secular party and in Bengal, we will alone will defeat BJP. I gave many proposals but they rejected them from the beginning. From then, we have decided to fight the elections in Bengal alone."

The incident happened on Tuesday, and the Northwest Territories coroner also said that there were fatalities in the crash but did not specify the number.

Some of the passengers on board the plane were employees at Rio Tinto, a global mining company, according to a statement issued by the group.

However, the company did not confirm how many of its workers were on the plane but noted the crash resulted in fatalities while the airplane was on its way to a company diamond mine, CNN reported.

 While temple architect Chandrakant B Sompura belongs to Ahmedabad, the idol has been chiselled by a fifth-generation sculptor from Mysuru. The clothes adorning "Balak Ram" on the consecration day were from Delhi while the ornaments for the idol have been cast in Lucknow. 

 Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ramjanmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, said more than 100 construction agencies and firms from different parts of India have contributed to the making of the temple.  

 "The temple's construction is the result of collective wisdom of some of the best brains in the country. Water and sacred soil from almost all pilgrimage sites in India, including Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kailash Mansarovar, Prayags (there are seven Prayags) and all 'puris' (seven holy towns in India, besides Ayodhya) have been used in the making of the temple," he said.  

 Earlier, sacred soil from more than 2,500 places from all over India, including Jhansi, Bithoor, Haldighati, Yamunotri and the Golden Temple in Amritsar, besides Thailand's Ayutthaya city -- that connects itself with Ayodhya -- was used in the temple's foundation. Water from 155 countries was also sent for the deity's 'jalabhishek (sacred bath)'.  

 Polished teakwood procured from the Balarshah and the Allapalli forest ranges of Maharashtra will be used to make the temple's 44 doors, including 14 that will be gold-plated.  

 "The 'mangal dhwani' played in the sanctum sanctorum when the consecration rituals were underway also included musical instruments from across the country," Rai said. 

 The instruments included pakhawaj, flute and dholak from Uttar Pradesh, veena from Karnataka, algoja from Punjab, sundari from Maharashtra, mardala from Odisha, santoor from Madhya Pradesh, pung from Manipur, nagada and kali from Assam, and tambura from Chhattisgarh. There was also shehnai from Delhi, ravanahatha from Rajasthan, shrikhol and sarod from West Bengal, ghatam from Andhra Pradesh, sitar from Jharkhand, santar from Gujarat, pakhawaj from Bihar, hudka from Uttarakhand and nagaswaram, tavil and mridangam from Tamil Nadu. 

 The ornate sculptures of elephants, lions, Lord Hanuman and Garuda installed at the main entrance leading to the temple have been made using sandstone brought from Rajasthan's Bansi Paharpur.

  Lakhs of people watched the 'pran pratishtha (consecration)' ceremony on Monday on television in their homes and neighbourhood temples, becoming part of the historic event held just months before the Lok Sabha elections.

"You have not listened to the whole statement of Mamata Banarjee. Her whole statement is that we want to defeat BJP and we will not take even a single step back from defeating BJP. With the same feeling, we are entering West Bengal. When the journey is long, there can be some speed breakers in the path, and there can be a red light as well, but that does not mean that we should stop the journey itself. The journey continues; we cross the speed breakers, and red lights turn green," said Jairam Ramesh.

"Rahul Gandhi had clearly said yesterday that TMC, and especially Mamata Banarjee, is an important pillar of the INDIA alliance. We cannot imagine the INDIA alliance without Mamata Banerjee, and we hope that we will enter West Bengal with the same feeling of defeating the BJP as said by Mamata Banerjee," he said.

He further said that the issues would be resolved and INDIA alliance will contest in West Bengal as well, standing united.

Earlier, the INDIA bloc suffered a huge setback on Wednesday as Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said that her party declared that the Trinamool Congress would fight alone in Bengal.

 The Yatra, currently in Assam, is scheduled to enter West Bengal through Bakshirhat in Cooch Behar district on January 25. After a recess of two days January 26-27, it will be traversing Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Uttar Dinajpur and Darjeeling before reaching Bihar on January 29.

 It will re-enter West Bengal on January 31 through Malda and travel via Murshidabad, both strongholds of the Congress, before leaving the state on February 1. 

 "We haven't received a formal invitation from the Congress. And even if we receive it we are most unlikely to join it," the senior TMC leader told PTI. 

 The development came amid the growing animosity between both the parties TMC and Congress -- the INDIA bloc alliance partners over seat sharing in West Bengal. TMC leaders, including Banerjee, have maintained that it is their party which is taking on the BJP in West Bengal. 

 On Tuesday, Banerjee at an internal party meeting had criticised the Congress for causing delays in seat-sharing discussions in West Bengal within the INDIA bloc, citing unjustified demands for 10-12 seats when the TMC is willing to share only two. 

 Senior state Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya said the party has sent invites to all INDIA bloc partners, "Now it is up to TMC to decide on whether they will join the yatra or not. The TMC's offer of two seats based on Congress's 2019 Lok Sabha election performance was deemed insufficient, escalating the tension between the two parties. In the 2019 elections, TMC secured 22 seats, Congress won two, and the BJP secured 18 seats in the state. -- PTI

 Security personnel stationed outside, initially alarmed by the unexpected guest, rushed towards the monkey, fearing it might cause harm to the idol, reportedly said the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple trust Instead of causing any disruption, it gracefully traversed the sanctum before heading towards the northern gate. 

Finding it closed, the monkey simply turned eastward and, navigating the throngs of awe-struck devotees, exited peacefully through the eastern gate. 

 "Today at around 5:50 pm, a monkey entered the sanctum sanctorum through the southern gate and entered the Utsav idol. Reached near. The security personnel posted outside saw this and ran towards the monkey thinking that the monkey might drop the Utsav idol on the ground. But as soon as the policemen ran towards the monkey, the monkey ran calmly towards the northern gate. Since the gate was closed, he moved towards the east and passing through the crowd, went out through the eastern gate without causing any trouble to anyone. The security personnel say that for us it is as if Hanuman ji himself has come to see Ramlalla," Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra posted in X. 

 Many devotees interpreted the event as a sign of Hanuman Ji's continued guardianship over Lord Ram and his blessings upon the newly established temple. The Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla at Ram Temple in Ayodhya was held on Monday. The Ram Lalla idol was unveiled at the Pran Pratishtha ceremony after the hour-long rituals in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led the ceremony. -- ANI

Addressing his first public meeting on the 7th day of 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Barpeta district, the Congress leader slammed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and termed him the "most corrupt CM" of the country with a series of allegations related to land and areca nut. 

"I don't know how Himanta Biswa Sarma got the idea that he can intimidate me by filing cases. File as many cases as you can. File 25 more cases, I am not going to be intimidated. BJP-RSS can't intimidate me," he added. 

The Guwahati Police on Tuesday suo motu registered an FIR against Gandhi and other leaders for wanton acts of violence in the state capital. 

"I gave a speech against (Narendra) Modi's special friend (Gautam) Adani and case was filed against me. Then threw me out of parliament and took away my government residence. I gave the keys myself, I don't want it.

"My home is in the heart of every Indian citizen, I live there. I have lakhs of houses in Assam, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and all other states," Gandhi said amidst a huge round of applause from the public. Alleging that a series of corruption is taking place in Assam, the Congress leader termed Sarma as the "most corrupt CM" in the country. 

"While he (Sarma) speaks to you, he steals your land. While you chew betel nut, he corners the supari business. He steals money from your pocket. He has taken land in Kaziranga National Park also," the Congress leader added. 

 Referring to the media conglomerate owned by the wife of Assam Chief Minister, Gandhi alleged that TV media shows what Sarma wants in the state. -- PTI

Two-time Bihar chief minister Thakur has been named for the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna posthumously. 

"I pay respectful tribute to Jannayak Karpoori Thakur ji, an incomparable warrior of social justice, on his birth centenary. He is certainly a precious gem of India and the decision to award him Bharat Ratna posthumously is welcome," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. The former Congress chief alleged that the BJP government's "concealment" of the results of the social and economic caste census conducted in 2011 and their "indifference" towards a nationwide census is an attempt to weaken the movement for social justice. 

"'Justice of equal participation', one of the five justices of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, is at the centre of justice and social equality, which can begin only after the caste census," Gandhi said. 

 "In the true sense, this step will also be a true tribute to Jannayak Karpoori Thakur ji and his struggles for the rights of the backward and the deprived," he said. "The country now needs 'real justice' not 'politics of symbolism'," Gandhi asserted. -- PTI

"Wildlife wonders! As frontline wildlife warriors managed to get closer to Jwala, they found she had given birth to four, not three, cubs," minister Yadav wrote on social media platform X."This has increased our joy several times over. Congratulations all. We pray the cubs thrive and prosper at their home in India," the minister said.

The birth of cubs comes just weeks after another cheetah, Aasha, birthed three cubs at the same park.

Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952 only to be reintroduced through the ambitious project in 2022.

In 2022, eight Cheetahs -- brought from Namibia -- were introduced in India under Project Cheetah. Subsequently, 12 cheetahs from South Africa were also translocated and released in Kuno National Park in February 2023.

Delhi airport is experiencing heavy delays in flight operations due to dense fog and bad weather. 

According to forest officials, the bear was last seen at around 3.30 am on Wednesday near Panamaram, which is close to a forested area. Officials said there was a chance that the bear may venture back into the forest, but a large team, including a Rapid Response Team, veterinarians and DFOs, are combing the area for the animal. 

 A senior forest official said that an order was issued on Tuesday by the Chief Wildlife Warden to tranquilise the bear. -- PTI

 Bandipora recorded a low of minus 7.9 degrees Celsius followed by Pulwama in south Kashmir at minus 7.3 degrees Celsius and Shopian at minus 6.9 degrees Celsius, the officials said. 

 Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night, marginally down from previous night's minus 5.3 degrees Celsius, the officials said. Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, which serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6.3 degrees Celsius. They said Qazigund town in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 5.4 degrees Celsius and the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius. 

 The minimum temperature in Kokernag town settled at minus 2.3 degrees Celsius and in Kupwara at minus 5.3 degrees Celsius. 

 A dry and largely snowless winter in Kashmir has resulted in freezing nights and warmer than usual days as Srinagar day temperatures were over eight degrees above the normal temperature for this time of the year, officials said here.

"Even if you have paan (betel leaves), the supari business lies with him...In the evening when you have paan, you will know that it belongs to the Chief Minister," Rahul Gandhi said while addressing people as his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered its 11th day. are elsewhere he picks your pocket. This is his work. He is the most corrupt Chief Minister in the country," Rahul Gandhi said.

In another dig, Rahul Gandhi said that if anyone goes to Kaziranga National Forest to watch rhinoceros, one will be surprised to know that the Chief Minister owns land in the region.The Congress MP said that Sarma spreads fear and hatred in his state throughout the day but he does not stop at that. Rahul alleged that he steals people's land or money from people when people are distracted.

"Your Chief Minister spreads fear and hatred 24 hours a day. But he does not stop there. When fear and hatred spread in Assam, your Chief Minister steals your land. He spreads hatred and when you stare elsewhere he picks your pocket. This is his work. He is the most corrupt Chief Minister in the country," Rahul Gandhi said.

In another dig, Rahul Gandhi said that if anyone goes to Kaziranga National Forest to watch rhinoceros, one will be surprised to know that the Chief Minister owns land in the region.

"He (Himanta) took away land at Kaziranga. Now whenever you go to watch rhino in Kaziranga, you will know that the Chief Minister owns the land there," Rahul Gandhi said.

Following the directives of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, UP Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad, DG Law and Order Prashant Kumar, and local officials monitored the proceedings and ensured a smooth experience for the devotees.

CM Yogi is also taking continuous feedback regarding the Ayodhya Ram Temple darshan.

DG (L&O) Prashant Kumar, along with Principal Secretary Sanjay Prasad, assessed the security arrangements and ensured devotees' orderly movement in Ayodhya. 

On the third day, a significant influx of devotees prompted Prasad and Kumar to monitor the 'Garbha Griha' closely.DG (L&O) Prashant Kumar, while speaking to media personnel, said, "People have gathered here in huge numbers. The Principal Home Secretary and I have been sent here. We have improved the queue system for crowd management. We have made channels for the people."

These measures have been taken after around 5 lakh devotees witnessed Lord Ram Lala's darshan on Tuesday, the first day of the opening of the Ram Temple for the general public. -- PTI

The rally in Bulandshahr will kick off the election campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, following the Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha Samaroh in Ayodhya on Monday.

Party workers and BJP leaders are actively involved in the preparations, anticipating a significant turnout in the western Uttar Pradesh city.

Notably, the BJP holds eight out of 14 seats in western Uttar Pradesh, with defeats in six constituencies in 2019. The PM is reportedly preparing to turn the tide in these seats in the 2024 elections. 

PM Modi is set to commence the election campaign from Bulandshahr, aiming to connect with voters and supporters in previously contested areas, sharing the mantra for victory.

The BJP claims that around five lakh people will attend PM Modi's rally in Bulandshahr. The Prime Minister's scheduled public meeting in Bulandshahr's Navada village on January 25 is expected to rally support, featuring a shooting range field in Meerut Commissionerate.

 He was speaking on Tuesday at the 'Punah Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the newly-renovated Ramji temple in Ranip area of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi did remarkable work by performing `Pran Pratishtha' at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. 

Devotees of Lord Ram across the world were waiting for this moment for the last 500 years. They were asking when Lord Ram will be shifted to a grand temple from that tent. This event has now stitched that deep wound which we got in our heart during Babur's era," Shah said in his speech. He claimed that previous governments prior to 2014 were afraid of respecting the country's culture, religion and languages. "(Mughal emperor) Aurangzeb destroyed the Kashi Vishwanath temple. After all these years, it was PM Modi who rebuilt it and constructed a corridor there," the home minister said. "Babur destroyed the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Now, a Ram temple has been built there and PM Modi performed 'Pran Pratishtha' amid chants of Jai Shree Ram," he added. PTI

VHP America demands an immediate retraction of the news articles by ABC, BBC, CNN, MSNBC, and Al Jazeera from their websites. Additionally, we call for a public apology to the Hindu community for the distress caused by the dissemination of false information, said a statement issued by VHPA. 

"We urge these news platforms to re-publish the articles only after including all relevant facts, such as the historical context and the legal ruling by the Indian Supreme Court supporting the construction of the Ram Mandir," VHPA said adding that the spread of false narratives through biased reporting not only fosters anti-social sentiments but also jeopardizes the peace-loving, hardworking, and contributing Hindu American community. 

Such actions amount to irresponsible journalism that must be addressed, it said. Similar statements were issued by VHP Canada and VHP Australia. 

The Hindu community across the globe is a peace-loving, progressive and inclusive one which believes in the values of Vasudhaiv Kutumbukam (meaning the world is one family). 

Such misleading and factually incorrect journalism intended to spread hate against the Hindu Canadian community threatens to further fuel growing Hinduphobia in the country and disrupt peace within the peaceful Canadian society, said VHP Canada.

 In separate statements, all the three organisations expressed their concerns and condemned the dissemination of "misleading information" regarding the construction of the temple alleged to be built atop a razed mosque. Various media outlets have recently published articles containing inaccuracies that distort the facts surrounding this issue, they said. -- PTI

Urban-centric measures currently employed to combat air pollution overlook rural sources, according to experts, who recommend the creation of regional air quality plans, inspired by successful models in Mexico City and Los Angeles.

A collaborative effort between the University of Surrey, England and Delhi's regional government officials has identified rural sources such as crop burning, wood stoves, and power plants as major contributors to urban smog.

Professor Prashant Kumar, Director of the Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) at the University of Surrey, emphasised that air pollution transcends city boundaries, necessitating a regional approach.

A study by Kumar and experts in Delhi stated that current urban-centric measures, such as enhancing public transport or controlling industrial emissions, overlook these rural sources.

The GCARE proposes the creation of regional air quality plans similar to successful models in Mexico City and Los Angeles.

To enhance monitoring, the experts suggest generating "smog forecasts" using satellite technology to detect pollution sources and predict interactions with weather conditions.

The establishment of "Airshed Councils" is also proposed to facilitate coordination among local, regional, and federal agencies.

One of the authors of the study, Anwar Ali Khan from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, emphasised the important role of neighbouring states in collaborative action, the need for a scientifically sound action plan, and improved monitoring.

 "We need an action plan with a sound scientific basis, and we need better monitoring. This requires cities, governments, and others to work together. A joined-up approach is the only way to defeat this deadly health hazard," he said.

Another author, Mukesh Khare, Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, highlighted the importance of shifting from city-specific to region-specific emission reduction targets.

Establishing an "airshed" is deemed critical for effective air quality management and planning, he said. -- PTI 

Former United States President Donald Trump is projected to win the New Hampshire primary, despite a stronger than expected performance by Indian American Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor, thus making the former White House occupant all but certain of earning the party's nominee for the November presidential elections against the Democratic incumbent Joe Biden.

              

Major American media outlets called the Republican primary race in favour of Trump with one-fourth of the votes being counted. Trump was leading with 52.5 per cent of the votes counted and Haley 46.6 per cent. Haley, political pundits said performed much better than expected. She is the only Republican left in the race standing against the mighty Trump.

              

By winning the New Hampshire primary after the Iowa Caucus, Trump has made the strongest ever case to be the Republican party's nominee for the November presidential elections. Notably, Trump is the first non-incumbent Republican presidential candidate to win both the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire primary back-to-back.

              

Trump is the only Republican candidate to have won the New Hampshire primary thrice. 

"This is a decisive win for Donald Trump tonight," former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy told Fox News in an interview with 20 per cent of the votes being called. He said that Haley withdrawing from the race in favour of Trump would be the right thing for the former South Carolina Governor.

              

In a statement, the Trump campaign asked Haley to drop out of the race. 

Haley does not have a path to victory. Instead, if Haley stays in the race, she will play an active role in advancing the re-election of Harris-Biden, it said.

              

"Nikki Haley said she's running to stop the re-election of Harris-Biden. Yet, without a viable path to victory, every day she stays in this race is another day she delivers to the Harris-Biden campaign, said Taylor Budowich, CEO of Make America Great Again Inc. It's time for unity, it's time to take the fight to the Democrats, and for Nikki Haley: it's time to drop out," Budowich said.

Right-wing activists entered the campus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in  Pune on Tuesday and allegedly assaulted students over a banner condemning the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid, police said.

While the FTII Students Association (FSA) claimed that its president Mankap Nokwoham was among those who were attacked, the police late at night also registered a case against three students for 'hurting religious sentiments'.

The banner with the words 'Remember Babri, Death of Constitution' had been put up by the FSA on the campus on Monday, said deputy commissioner of police Sandip Gill.

The incident at the country's premier film institute took place a day after the grand consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol took place in Ayodhya.

According to police, some 12 to 15 unidentified persons allegedly barged into the campus by overpowering security personnel around noon on Tuesday, assaulted students while shouting slogans, and tore up the banner and burnt it.

A first information report (FIR) was registered against unidentified persons at Deccan police station under Indian Penal Code sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 427 (mischief causing damage) and other relevant provisions, said Vipin Hasabnis, senior police inspector, Deccan police station.

The FTII Students Association, in a release, said they strongly stand against this attack on 'democratic rights as well as the lives of students'.

"Innocent students were grievously attacked by these goons who barged into our campus while the security and staff were being mere spectators," the FSA alleged, adding that the mob of 20 to 25 people started shouting 'Jai Shree Ram', hurled abuse at students and attacked four students including association president Mankap Nokwoham and general secretary Sayantan who suffered injuries.

Late at night, a first information report was registered against three students under Indian Penal Code sections 153B (1) (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), said a senior official.   -- PTI