Jan 23 news LIVE | Rupee hits all-time low of 92 against USD

T20 World Cup row: Bangladesh appeals to DRC

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has written to the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) of ICC requesting it to overturn the governing body's decision to hold the national men's team's T20 World Cup games in India.

Even as the ICC has kept Scotland on stand-by, the BCB under Aminul Islam Bulbul, decided to use its last resort - approach the DRC headed by Englishman Michael Beloff (Kings Counsel).

Congress slams Fadnavis over investment 'claims' from Davos, asks if he's doing so to become PM

With the Maharashtra government stating that it has signed MoUs worth Rs 30 lakh crore at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the Congress on Friday attacked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and asked if such investment claims are being touted by him to become the prime minister.

Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis went to Davos with great fanfare and is now claiming that investment of Rs 30 lakh crore will come to Maharashtra in the coming days.

"In 2023-24, when Eknath Shinde was the chief minister, there was talk of an investment of 3.6 lakh crore rupees coming in. Then, when Fadnavis became the chief minister after removing Shinde, there was talk of 15 lakh crore in 2024-25, and now the figure being touted is Rs 30 lakh crore," Patil said.

Patil said the question is whether this investment claim is being touted to become the prime minister.

"According to the figures, in the last three years, Rs 50 lakh crore of investment has already come in; in such a case, all problems should have been resolved, right?" he said.

The question is how many MoUs did the Maharashtra government sign, and how many were converted, he asked.

Delhi Metro services to start at 3 am on Republic Day

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced on Friday that metro services on all lines will begin at 3 am on January 26. The early start is aimed at facilitating the movement of people attending the Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path.

In a statement, the DMRC said trains will run at a frequency of 15 minutes on all lines from 3 am to 6 am. After 6 am, metro services will operate according to the regular timetable for the rest of the day.

The corporation said that parking facilities at all metro stations will remain operational on Republic Day to provide additional convenience to commuters.

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) said enhanced security checks will be in place at all Namo Bharat stations on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor.

The NCRTC said parking facilities at the New Ashok Nagar and Anand Vihar Namo Bharat stations will remain closed from 2 pm on January 25 to 2 pm on January 26 as part of the security arrangements. Passengers have been advised to plan their journeys in advance and allow for extra travel time due to intensified security checks and temporary parking restrictions.

Border 2 review: Ambitious Indo-Pak war epic let down by excess length and loud writing

For the most part, Border 2 delivers a good, solid large-screen spectacle. The ground action scenes are fantastic (a climactic infantry charge led by Varun Dhawan being the pinnacle) while the underwater scenes featuring Shetty are decent. The air combat scenes are the film’s weakness, and in comparison to other recent Bollywood films like Fighter, these airborne set-pieces feel mediocre.

Read the full review here

Snowfall, rain affect Uttarakhand, Kashmir, Himachal; flights cancelled, roads closed

Fresh snowfall and rain lashed several northern states on Friday (January 23) as Western Disturbances intensified winter conditions, disrupting air travel, road movement, and daily life across Uttarakhand, Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh.

High-altitude areas of Uttarakhand received the first snowfall of the year on Friday, ending a prolonged dry spell and intensifying the cold wave across the state. Several low-lying areas and plains, including the capital Dehradun, witnessed steady rainfall from the morning.

Read the full story here.

Modi in Kerala: Satheesan slams PM for 'propagating communalism'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in Kerala on Friday (January 23) came in for criticism from Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly VD Satheesan for “propagating communalism”.

In his speech in Thiruvananthapuram, Modi had targeted the Congress over its association with the Muslim League, accusing the party of promoting hardline elements in Kerala.

Read the full story here

Three killed as bus collides with tourist vehicle in Karnataka

Three people were killed following a head-on collision between a bus and a tourist vehicle in the district on Friday (January 23), police said.

The impact of the collision that took place on the Karkala–Bajagoli National Highway near Miyar was so severe that the bus was extensively damaged, they said.

Several others sustained injuries in the accident were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Their condition is said to be stable.

On receiving information, Karkala police rushed to the spot and carried out an inspection.

A case has been registered, and traffic movement on the stretch was briefly affected before being restored.

Himachal Pradesh receives season's first snowfall

Himachal Pradesh on Friday (January 23) received its first snowfall of this winter, ending a nearly three-month-long dry spell and bringing cheers to the tourists.

Many tourists shared videos of the picturesque snowfall online, calling it a "winter wonderland". Some were seen enjoying the snow at famous tourist spots.

Some users on X, posting videos of the fresh snowfall, suggested tourists to drive slowly on the road.

The MeT has predicted that the higher reaches of the state will continue to receive snowfall till January 24, while other areas are expected to remain dry.

Meanwhile, district administrations of various districts have begun clearing the roads of snow. People have also been advised to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in places where fresh snowfall has occurred. 

VHP vows to build Goddess Saraswati temple at Bhojshala after legal process

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday (January 23) declared its resolve to build a grand temple of Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati) at the contested Bhojshala complex in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh by 2034 after completing due legal process.

The proposed shrine at Bhojshala will be on the lines of the grand Ram Temple constructed at the deity's birthplace at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh and will house the consecrated idol of Goddess Vagdevi which is currently in a London museum, said VHP International President Alok Kumar.

Hindus consider Bhojshala to be a temple of Goddess Vagdevi, while the Muslim community calls the 11th-century monument Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and a case regarding the site is pending in court.

Addressing a large gathering before taking the darshan of Goddess Vagdevi at Bhojshala on the occasion of Basant Panchami, the VHP leader said the already consecrated idol of the deity for the site is currently in a museum in London and it needs to be brought back.

"We have to bring this idol back to India. We have to win the pending court case and restore the temple's appearance to the dignity of Goddess Saraswati," Kumar asserted.

UDF convenor admits meeting Sabarimala gold loss accused multiple times

UDF convenor and Congress MP Adoor Prakash on Friday (January 23) admitted that he had met Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold loss case, on multiple occasions, but dismissed allegations linking him to the case.

He said the controversy was being raised at a time when a political atmosphere favourable to the UDF was emerging in Kerala.

"If anyone is attempting to portray me as a wrong person, the people of Kerala will not buy it. People of Kerala understand and evaluate everything," he said.