Jan 18 news LIVE: Stalin announces TN govt literary award for non-Hindi languages

7 killed, 80 injured after bus carrying marriage party overturns in Jharkhand

t least seven people, including five women, were killed and over 80 others injured after a bus carrying wedding guests overturned in Jharkhand's Latehar district on Sunday, police said.

The accident occurred at Orsa Bangladara valley under Mahuadanr police station limits. "A bus carrying a marriage party was coming from Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh for a wedding at Mahuadanr in Latehar. The bus overturned, and five people died on the spot. Among them, four were women. The injured were taken to a hospital," Superintendent of Police Kumar Gaurav told PTI.

Two persons died during treatment in hospital, another official said.

In a post on X, Chief Minister Hemant Soren asked the Latehar deputy commissioner to provide appropriate medical facilities to the injured.

Stalin announces TN govt literary award for non-Hindi languages

Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday announced an annual literary award for best works in languages including Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Marathi.

The award, under the auspices of the state government, will carry Rs 5 lakh cash prize, he said, adding it is named as "Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu (Classical Language Literary Award)." In the first phase, awards will be for the best works in the languages of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odiya, Bengali and Marathi.

In his address at the valedictory event of the Chennai International Book Fair, the chief minister said the Sahitya Akademi awards announcement had been cancelled following the alleged intervention of the Union Culture Ministry. Underlining what he called the uncertainty over the awards, he said political interventions, even in art and literary awards was dangerous.

Under such circumstances, the CM said several writers and representatives of literary bodies had appealed to him for an appropriate, constructive, counter-action plan.

He said: "We also have a realisation that this is the need of the hour and I would like to make an announcement that will make you all happy." Accordingly, he said every year on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government, "national-level" awards would be given for best literary works in selected Indian languages.

The CM said: "I am very happy to announce this. In the first phase, award in the name of Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu (Classical Language Literary Award) will be given for the best works in the languages of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odiya, Bengali and Marathi. The Award for each language carries Rs 5 lakh cash prize." The Tamil Nadu government will happily perform the role of the patron and will hand over the task of the selection process to independent experts.

"In order to ensure the quality of literary works and transparency, a committee will be set up for each language, comprising reputed writers." 

PM unveils development projects worth over Rs 830 crore in Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched development projects worth over Rs 830 crore in West Bengal and flagged off three Amrit Bharat trains connecting Kolkata with other parts of the country.

At a function in Hooghly district's Singur, Modi also inaugurated the Jayrambati-Barogopinathpur-Maynapur rail line, and flagged off a train between Maynapur and Jayrambati.

"All the central projects will accelerate the development of West Bengal. The central government is working to meet the goal of a developed eastern India," the prime minister said while addressing the programme.

The PM laid the foundation stone for the Extended Port Gate System, including an Inland Water Transport (IWT) terminal and a road over bridge, at Balagarh in Hooghly district, according to a statement issued by the PMO.

Spread over approximately 900 acres of land, Balagarh is being developed as a modern cargo handling terminal with an envisaged capacity of about 2.7 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).

Are FDs a good investment for Gen Z and millennial Indians?

FDs are predictable and safe, but they can barely match inflation; these deposits are good for short-term goals, but do not make long-term wealth builders. 

Watch/read the report here.

TN Congress divided on DMK alliance, moots power-sharing at Delhi meet

Two opinions emerged on the subject of the Congress continuing its alliance with the DMK for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. However, despite the dissenting voices, the Congress is likely to stick with its alliance partner, the DMK, said Congress sources told The Federal.

Read the details here.

India will remain Vishwaguru as long as guided by dharma: Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said that as long as Bharat is guided by dharma, the country will remain a Vishwaguru, asserting that such spiritual knowledge is unique to India.

Dharma is the driver of the entire universe, and everything runs on that principle, he said at an event in Mumbai. Bhagwat said India had inherited a rich spiritual legacy from its ancestors and continued to receive guidance from saints and seers. He emphasised that dharma is not confined to religion, but it is the guiding principle of all creation. He said as long as such dharma drives Bharat, it will remain Vishwaguru, adding the world does not possess this kind of knowledge because it lacks spirituality.

Bhagwat said this is the heritage of our ancestors. "Whether it is Narendra bhai, me, you, or anyone else, there is one single force that drives all of us. If the vehicle is driven by that force, there will never be an accident. That driver is dharma," the RSS chief said.

Punjab: Extortion module linked to gangster Goldy Brar busted

The Punjab Police on Sunday claimed to have dismantled an illegal arms and extortion module linked to foreign-based gangster Goldy Brar with the arrest of 10 people.

Ludhiana Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma said 12 sophisticated weapons, including two Austrian Glock pistols, along with magazines and live ammunition, have been recovered from them. He said the accused have been arrested in a three-week operation.

They were tasked with trafficking of illegal arms, extortion and murders over the state to create lawlessness, said the commissioner.

Cases have been registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act, and an investigation is underway to arrest the remaining accused.

Sharma said preliminary investigations of the accused revealed that they were planning to carry out a crime in Gurugram in Haryana. 

Karnataka bags second rank in implementing Central crop Insurance scheme

The Karnataka government on Sunday said the Union agriculture ministry has awarded it a Certificate of Commendation for securing second rank among 'large states' in the overall performance in implementing PMFBY, a Central Crop Insurance Scheme.

The Chief Minister's Office shared the certificate issued by Muktanand Agrawal, Chief Executive Officer, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) dated January 14. According to the certificate, Karnataka achieved the second position for its performance during the Kharif 2024 and Rabi 2024-25 seasons.

The ministry appreciated the efforts of the State Government and its team of officers for the effective implementation of the crop insurance scheme, which aims to provide financial protection to farmers against crop losses.

The PMFBY is a Central flagship scheme designed to support farmers by ensuring timely compensation for crop damage due to natural calamities, pests and diseases, while also encouraging the adoption of modern agricultural practices. 

PM Modi to launch NDA’s TN campaign on Jan 23

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kickstart the NDA campaign for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections from Madurantakam on January 23, state BJP chief Nainar Nagendran announced on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Nagendran said the Prime Minister would address a massive public gathering in the afternoon to signal the start of the NDA’s electoral battle against the incumbent DMK government.

"On January 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the NDA campaign in Madurantakam. He will participate in the meeting to send home the anti-people DMK government currently ruling Tamil Nadu," Nagendran said.

Responding to persistent queries regarding the final list of alliance partners —specifically the inclusion of TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK, O Panneerselvam (OPS), and the DMDK — Nagendran maintained a strategic silence on names but promised a show of strength.

"You can see that on the stage on January 23," he said when asked if Dhinakaran would join. He further confirmed that "all leaders will find a place on the stage" during the PM's visit.

CM Siddaramaiah rejects BJP’s call for CBI probe into Ballari violence

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday dismissed the BJP’s demand for a CBI inquiry into the Ballari violence that left one person dead, questioning the opposition party’s moral authority to seek such an investigation.

Speaking to reporters here, Siddaramaiah said the BJP had never handed over a single case to the central agency during its own tenure. He termed the demand for a CBI probe now as "politically motivated" and said it lacked credibility.

“How many cases did they hand over to the CBI when they were in power and we were in the opposition? If they didn’t, then what moral right do they have to make such demands?” the Chief Minister asked.

He added, “During my previous tenure as Chief Minister, I gave many cases to the CBI, including the accusation against the then Home Minister K J George (in a DySP suicide case), the lottery case and the suspicious death of Soujanya in Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district.” On the BJP’s decision to stage a statewide agitation, Siddaramaiah said the opposition was free to protest.