Lok Sabha to debate on Constitution on 13-14 December

"BJPs double-engine government respects the farmers. We have always resolved their issues and will continue to do so. In the name of farmers' protest, this is being done by the Congress. However, the public and farmers are smart enough and they are with BJP, PM Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath, and we will listen to the issues of farmers and resolve them," said UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya on farmers' protest march towards Delhi.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, "Ambala district officials talked to Bhartiya Kisaan Union Shaheed Bhagat Singh leaders. I talked to the SP. He wanted to hold talks on our Delhi march. We have no problem with Nayab Saini attacking the Congress but it is also a fact, that the farmers in NDA-ruled states are also facing issues.We have no rift with the Haryana Government, neither are we protesting against it. Our issues are with the centre."

Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir said, "In two to three days the cabinet berths of the Jharkhand government will be announced. We (Congress) will hold discussions with JMM and decide on the cabinet berths..."

On the statement of JKNC President Dr Farooq Abdullah, he says, "Every government of a nation is constitutionally duty bound to ensure that the people of the nation are safe, borders are protected and protect the minorities."

He further said, "In the Congress Working Committee we cleared that the 1991 resolution which was passed in parliament which states that the status quo (of the religious places) should be followed and even some leaders of BJP and RSS are saying that till where will we keep on finding a temple inside the mosque but some elements are keen on finding that."

An anti-terrorism court Monday sent former prime minister Imran Khan on a 14-day judicial remand in connection with seven cases related to the recent protests by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

Khan, 72, was presented before the anti-terrorism court judge at Adiala jail, where he has been incarcerated for months, after the completion of a six-day police remand in a separate case about his party's September 28 protest in Rawalpindi.

Judge Amjad Ali Shah presided over the hearing, during which the court approved Khan's judicial remand in the New Town police station case, as well as in six other cases.

"Lok Sabha Speaker met with floor leaders of all the parties. Everybody expressed their frustration on no functioning of the Parliament. Everybody was of the view that it is not appropriate to waste people's money. The Opposition also put forward their demand, there was a proposal in business advisory committee to have discussion on the Constitution, the government has agreed to it, the discussion will be happening on December 13-14 (Friday-Saturday), first it will be discussed in Lok Sabha. On December 16-17, the discussion on the Constitution will happen in the Rajya Sabha. Apart from this, the Speaker asked for proper following of procedure to raise issues, everybody agreed to it. Tomorrow, we will pass the first Bill. I want to appeal to Opposition parties leaders to let the Parliament function well. I hope that we will utilise the time properly in the remaining time of Winter Session," informed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju

West Bengal LoP and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari said, " It (Bangladesh govt) is a radical govt, an extremist govt and an anti-Hindu govt. They are trying to destroy temples and illegally detaining Hindu monks and saints"

Supreme Court notes that none of the NCR states--Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and UP --complied with its direction to pay compensation to construction workers and directs Chief Secretaries to be present on the next date virtually. SC says when we summon top officials then only the ball starts rolling.

Supreme Court says no to relaxation on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-IV measures to curb air pollution in Delhi, clarifying that it will permit relaxations only after observing a downward trend.

SC says that it will hear the parties on Thursday (5th December) on the aspects of modification of applicability of GRAP IV

SC directs CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) to take steps in communicating the mitigating measures to all concerned authorities and to coordinate efforts to ensure implementation of these mitigating measures

SC also takes into account the shocking things revealed from reports of court commissioners and notes that there is complete lack of coordination between MCD, Delhi Police, DPCC and other authorities and says that it is the responsibility of the commission to co-ordinate activities of all these entities with a view to ensure that measures are implemented.

SC directs Delhi Police to ensure that members of the Bar who are court commissioners are adequately protected.

On the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march, Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said, "The farmers have been stopped at the Mahamaya flyover. The farmers want to head towards Delhi because the solution will come from Delhi only.Police are stopping the farmers whereas the farmers want to head towards Delhi."

On Congress and Samajwadi Party delegation asked to postpone their visits to Sambhal, he said, "It is the duty of the opposition to visit Sambhal, meet the victims of the incident and prepare a report of what happened (in the Sambhal incident) and give it to the government.They should be allowed to visit Sambhal."

The 4th edition of India- Malaysia Joint Military Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI commenced today, at Bentong camp, Pahang district, Malaysia. The Exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 2nd to 15th December 2024.

France's Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces the biggest risk yet of being deposed by a hostile parliament as his government presents Monday a social security financing plan that has the opposition up in arms.

Barnier, a conservative appointed by President Emmanuel Macron in September after an inconclusive general election, has no majority in parliament and lives under the constant threat of a no-confidence vote that would, if successful, force him and his team to step down.

BJD MP Sasmit Patra says, "I think the House not being run even in the second week - the first day, clearly shows that there has been a complete collapse of discussions of floor management between the government and the opposition. Understandably, at certain times we have seen in various sessions that the first week gets washed out but business gets transacted in the second week... The government has to probably have a conversation as a tractor diplomacy between the opposition and the government. Only doing it through the business advisory committee probably is not yielding results..."

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on December 2 blamed the Central government for the adjournment of both the houses of Parliament.

He said, "Today too both Houses got adjourned. INDIA parties had given notices for an immediate discussion on Adani, Manipur, Sambhal, & Ajmer. These parties never agitated. There was hardly any sloganeering. But the Modi Govt simply did not want Parliament to function. The situation is truly extraordinary. The Opposition wants a discussion but the Govt is running away from it. INDIA parties have also wanted a two-day discussion on the Constitution on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of its adopton - which was celebrated last week on Nov 26th. The Modi Govt. has yet to notify the dates for this discussion."

Mumbai: On the viral video of EVM, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC says, "EVMs can never be tampered with. Do understand there are technical experts in the committee that source a code which is audited by independent experts before each election. There are mock polls with over 1,000 voters that are conducted, allowing political parties to verify that the voting patterns are recorded accurately. Hence it is impossible to pre-program any kind of favouritism. For all those who talk about insider tampering before election day, I want to say that EVMs are stored in secure strong rooms with 24x7 CCTV surveillance and armed security for multiple agencies. There is no question of any Bluetooth Wi-Fi accessibility, so there is no question of hampering..."

Chilla border, Delhi | On deployment of police force at Delhi-UP Chilla border due to farmers' protest, ADCP Eastern Range, Sagar Singh Kalsi says, "Our preparations are concrete."

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai says "The DCP and other police officials have said that they inform us when the restrictions are lifted. There are restrictions in Sambhal till 10th December. The day the Police will inform us that restrictions have been lifted, a delegation of the Congress party will visit Sambhal..."

Uttar Pradesh: Police put up barricades at Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida, to block the road between Noida and Greater Noida as farmers from Uttar Pradesh are on a march towards Delhi starting today.

India is set to seal the proposed procurement of 26 naval variant of Rafale jets and three additional Scorpene submarines soon, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said on Monday.

At a media briefing ahead of Navy Day, Admiral Tripathi also said that the government's approval for two SSNs (nuclear-powered submarines) indicated its faith in the country's indigenous capabilities to build such boats.

The Navy chief also said that 62 ships and a submarine are currently under construction within the country as part of efforts to boost its naval power.

A large number of platforms are waiting for induction in the next one year and at least one ship will be inducted into the Navy, he said.

Farmers, under the aegis of BKU (Bhartiya Kisan Union) gather at Maha Maya flyover, Noida to begin their march to Delhi. A farmer leader says, "...The govt and the officials have the time to fulfil our demands...without that, we won't return to our homes... We have already told them our programs - if they won't announce something by the evening, we will announce our programs further..."

On the first week of Parliament getting washed out, TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay says, "The House should function. TMC has many binding issues including issues relating to the state. We have issues of unemployment, price rise, fertilisers. Adani issue should be discussed in the Business Advisory Committee. It is the responsibility of the major ruling party to see that the House runs. This BJP govt is not interested in running the House."

Today, soon after Parliament proceedings started at 1100 hours, both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha were adjourned till noon.

On the early adjournment of Parliament in the last few days, Congress MP KC Venugopal says "We already met with the Speaker and our only demand is that he has to take action to run the House smoothly. We are ready to run the House provided there should be a discussion on the Constitution which they promised us..."

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for four districts in the state, forecasting extremely heavy rains on December 2.

According to the IMD, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur are expected to experience extremely heavy rainfall on Monday.

Though the weather agency earlier placed Kottayam and Pathanamthitta under an "orange" alert today, it was changed into a "red alert" later in the day.

INDIA bloc floor leaders hold meeting ahead of Parliament session

IMD issues 'Red' alert for extremely heavy rain in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad

Congress party leaders Alok Sharma and Priya Mishra have approached the Supreme Court seeking direction to restrain the courts across the country from entertaining pleas filed for carrying out survey at religious places.

The petition also sought directions to the states to comply with the provisions of the Place of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 and that states not to execute any order of courts directing them to carry survey of religious structures or mosques in the contravention of the 1991 Act.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA) technical committee has approved the proposal to notify Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district as a tiger reserve, an official said.

It will be the eighth tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh, the official said on Sunday.

Kanha, Satpura, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Sanjay Dubri, Panna and Veerangana Durgavati are the existing tiger reserves in the state

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday greeted BJP president and Union minister J P Nadda on his 64th birthday, lauding his remarkable contributions to the party.

In a post on X, Modi said, "I have known Nadda Ji for years and have witnessed his remarkable contributions to our party. He has carried out every organisational, legislative and executive responsibility with utmost diligence. He is at the forefront of efforts to ensure a healthier India." Several other BJP leaders wished the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha who has been heading the ruling party since 2020

Australia proposed a law on Monday that could impose fines of up to A$50 million ($33 million) on global technology companies if they suppress competition and prevent consumers from switching between services.

The centre-left Labor government has targeted Big Tech's influence, and parliament passed a law last week that banned social media for children aged under 16.

The proposed law would empower Australia's competition regulator to oversee compliance, investigate anti-competitive practices online and fine companies, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones said in excerpts of a speech due later on Monday.

At least 25 people were killed in northwestern Syria in air strikes carried out by the Syrian government and Russia, the Syrian opposition-run rescue service known as the White Helmets said early on Monday.

Russian and Syrian jets struck the rebel-held city of Idlib in northern Syria on Sunday, military sources said, as President Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush insurgents who had swept into the city of Aleppo.

Due to the heavy rains in the Nilgiris district, a holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in the district today: District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya.

IMD predicts light thunderstorm & lightning with light to moderate rain in the district today

Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai and other Congress leaders stayed in the party office in Lucknow last night as a delegation of the Congress party is scheduled to visit Sambhal today.

The delegation will be led by State President Ajay Rai.

Romania's ruling Social Democrats (PSD) were set to win Sunday's parliamentary elections while the far right secured big gains, partial results showed, deepening uncertainty in the NATO country rocked by political chaos.

With more than 96 percent of ballots counted, the pro-European PSD -- which has governed with the Liberals until now -- was leading other parties with 23.5 percent of the vote.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) remains in the 'Poor' category in Delhi as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Thin fog layer covers Taj Mahal, air quality 'moderate'

Three passengers dead, more than 20 injured after a private bus hit a road divider in Sira, Tumakuru. Injured passengers have been shifted to a local hospital: Kallambella police station.

US exchange-traded funds investing directly in Bitcoin and Ether are enjoying unprecedented demand, buoyed by President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to unfetter the crypto industry from regulatory shackles.

The groups of Bitcoin and Ether ETFs each posted record monthly net inflows in November, $6.5 billion and $1.1 billion respectively, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Friday’s daily Ether ETF subscriptions also hit an all-time peak.

The interest in Ether, the largest token after Bitcoin, points to widening speculative appetite for crypto following Trump’s US election victory on November 5. By some metrics, the clamor for exposure to digital assets has yet to reprise the mania of a pandemic-era bubble, at least among retail investors.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the government will strive for economic growth of about 8% next year, significantly higher than the parliament’s goal for 2025.

While the National Assembly set a gross domestic product growth target of 6.5%-7% for next year, Chinh said the government sees 2025 as “the year of acceleration” and will strive for about 8% growth, according to a statement on the government’s website. It will prioritize promoting economic growth while controlling inflation and ensuring the budget deficit and public debt are within reasonable limits, the statement said.

Russia's drone attack on Ukraine's western city of Ternopil hit a residential building, killing one person and injuring several others, Ternopil's military administration said on Monday.

"A residential building was damaged," Viacheslav Negoda, the head of the military administration of Ternopil region, said on his Telegram messaging channel. "Unfortunately, there are casualties: one person has died, there are seriously wounded."

Serhiy Nadal, the head of the regional defence headquarters in Ternopil, said via Telegram that as result of the attack, a fire engulfed several flats on the top floor of a five-storey apartment building.

Thousands of Volkswagen workers were to go on strike Monday in an escalating industrial dispute at the crisis-hit German auto giant with thousands of jobs at stake.

VW has been hit hard by high manufacturing costs at home, a stuttering shift to electric vehicles and tough competition in key market China. It has announced a plan to cut billions of dollars in costs.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected at a poultry farm in New Zealand's South Island, authorities said on Monday, the first time the island nation has reported a highly pathogenic variant of avian influenza.

Tests showed a rural chicken farm in the Otago region identified the H7N6 subtype, Biosecurity New Zealand said in a statement. It is not the H5N1 type that has spread globally and raised fears of human transmission.

"We are taking the find seriously .

Oil prices edged up on Monday supported by upbeat factory activity in the world's second largest oil consumer China and as Israel resumed attacks on Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement, stoking tensions in the Middle East.

Brent crude futures climbed 8 cents, or 0.1%, to $71.92 a barrel by 0107 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $68.09 a barrel, up 9 cents, or 0.1%.

Prices rose after an official survey showed that China's factory activity expanded modestly for a second straight month in November, suggesting a blitz of stimulus is finally trickling through just as Donald Trump ramps up his trade threats.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Sunday he had pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of making false statements on a gun background check and illegally possessing a firearm and pled guilty to federal tax charges.

"Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted," he said in a statement released by the White House.

The White House had said repeatedly that Biden would not pardon or commute the sentences of his son, a recovering drug addict who became a target of Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump.

Shares of Australian-listed GQG Partners fell 13% on Monday after UBS analysts downgraded the stock and estimated the firm could have lost A$600 million ($390 million) in funds under management following the Adani Group indictment.

GQG is a major backer of Adani Group companies, whose founder Gautam Adani and seven other company associates have been indicted by U.S authorities on bribery charges. Adani Group says the allegations are baseless and has vowed to seek "all possible legal recourse".

UBS downgraded GQG from a buy to a neutral rating and reduced the stock's price target from A$3.30 to A$2.30.

Russian and Syrian jets struck the rebel-held city of Idlib in northern Syria on Sunday, military sources said, as President Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush insurgents who had swept into the city of Aleppo.

Residents said one attack on the second day of raids hit a crowded residential area in the centre of Idlib, the largest city in a rebel enclave near the Turkish border where around four million people live in makeshift tents and dwellings.

At least seven people were killed and dozens injured, according to rescuers at the scene. The Syrian army and its ally Russia say they target the hideouts of insurgent groups and deny attacking civilians.