Jan 15 News Live | India to begin evacuating citizens from Iran tomorrow

Case registered against 500 people for vandalising NH toll plaza in Kerala's Kasaragod

Police have registered a case against around 500 people for allegedly vandalising a toll plaza at Arikady on the NH-66 stretch in Kasargod, Kerala, police said on Thursday.

According to police, the case was registered after members of an action council opposing toll collection held a protest march on Wednesday evening, disrupting operations at the toll plaza and causing traffic congestion on the national highway. The protest was held around 7 pm.

As per the FIR registered at Kumbla police station, the protest involved about 500 people, yet to be identified.

Police said toll collection at the temporary plaza began on January 12.

On the same day, a major protest led by Manjeshwar MLA A K M Ashraf was held.

The protesters, including Ashraf, were arrested and removed from the spot, police said. However, the action council is continuing the protest activities.

The action council contends that the toll plaza is located just 22 km from the next toll point at Thalapady, allegedly violating National Highways Authority of India guidelines that stipulate a minimum distance of 60 km between two toll plazas, an official said.

However, toll plaza operators said the plaza was originally planned at Chalingal, but as construction of that stretch has not been completed, a temporary toll booth was set up at Arikady.

Last year, the Kerala High Court dismissed petitions challenging the temporary toll plaza at Arikady.

The action council has filed an appeal against the High Court decision.

Jana Nayagan censor row: SC refuses to entertain producer's plea

Supreme Court refuses to entertain Vijay-starrer Tamil film 'Jana Nayagan' producer's plea for censor board clearance for movie. The apex court asked the producer to approach the Madras High Court Division Bench for relief.

The top court has asked Madras HC to decide the plea on January 20.

Nagpur civic polls: BJP candidate injured in scuffle; cops launch probe

A BJP candidate was injured during a scuffle with a group people ahead of the civic polls in Nagpur, police said on Thursday (January 15).

PM to attend National Startup Day event, interact with members of startup ecosystem

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a programme marking a decade of the Startup India initiative on Friday and interact with members of India's vibrant startup ecosystem.

Startup India was launched on January 16, 2016, as a transformative national programme to nurture innovation, promote entrepreneurship and enable investment-driven growth, with the objective of making India a nation of job creators rather than job seekers.

On the occasion of National Startup Day, Prime Minister Modi will interact with members of India's vibrant startup ecosystem, an official statement said. Select startup representatives will share insights from their entrepreneurial journey.

The prime minister will also address the gathering on this occasion.

Air India cancels 3 US flights due to Iranian airspace closure

Air India on Thursday cancelled at least three flights to the US, and certain services to Europe will face some delays due to Iranian airspace closure, according to a source.

At least three flights — two from the national capital to New York and Newark, and one from Mumbai to New York — have been cancelled, the source told PTI.

Navi Mumbai civic polls: Minister Ganesh Naik's name missing, unable to vote

Maharashtra Forest Minister and senior BJP leader Ganesh Naik was unable to exercise his franchise in the Navi Mumbai civic polls on Thursday as his name was missing from the voters’ list.

Naik said he had been voting for many years at Navi Mumbai School No. 94 along with his family, but this time he was told that voting would take place at the St Mary High School.

"When I went there, there was no room number 9 as informed, and my name was not in the voters' list, so I could not cast my vote," Naik told reporters with a wry smile outside School No. 94.

"I will go to the St Mary school again. My family members and relatives live in the same building in Navi Mumbai but our names were divided in three different polling centres," he claimed.

Asked who should be held responsible for the lapse, Naik claimed the State Election Commission was at fault.

"It is anyone's guess that if a minister like me can face a situation where his name is missing from the voters' list, then one can imagine what might be happening to common voters," he stated.

Voting was underway on Thursday for elections to 29 municipal corporations in the state, including Navi Mumbai.

Maharashtra civic polls: RSS chief casts vote, says NOTA choice indirectly promotes unwanted candidates

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat cast his vote in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) polls on Thursday morning and remarked that choosing the NOTA option indirectly helps promote an unwanted candidate.

Bhagwat was among the early voters in the Nagpur civic body polls. He went to a polling booth in the Mahal area of Maharashtra's Nagpur city at around 7:30 am and exercised his franchise.

Later, speaking to reporters, Bhagwat said elections are a mandatory part of democracy and hence, voting is the responsibility of all citizens.

He appealed to electors that keeping the public interest in mind, everyone should vote for a suitable candidate during the elections.

"Hence, today the first thing I did was to vote," the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief said.

On the None of the Above option available to voters in elections, he said, "NOTA means you reject everyone, and by doing so, we promote a person who is not wanted." He said NOTA is an option given to people to express their displeasure, but it is better to vote for someone than not have anyone.

Iran airspace closure: Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet international flights affected

'Some of our international flights impacted': IndiGo

Heavy security in Mumbai for civic polls; 28,000 cops on duty

More than 28,000 police personnel were deployed across Mumbai to maintain law and order as voting for the city’s civic body polls got underway on Thursday, officials said.

Long queues were seen at various polling booths, as the voting commenced at 7:30 am for the 227-ward Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Police deployment at the polling centres had been done well in advance to ensure a safe and peaceful election process, an official said.

More than 25,000 constables, 3,000 officers, including 10 additional commissioners, 33 deputy commissioners and 84 assistant commissioners of police were posted at various polling centres and important places in the city, he said.

"I appeal to every Mumbaikar to step out of their homes and exercise their democratic right by voting in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections," Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti said on his X handle on Wednesday night.

PM Modi on Army Day: 'Our soldiers stand as a symbol of selfless service, safeguarding the nation'

On the occasion of Army Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed the Indian Army, saying that they stand as a symbol of selfless service, safeguarding the nation with steadfast resolve at times under the most challenging conditions.

The prime minister also said that the nation salutes their courage and resolute commitment. "Our soldiers stand as a symbol of selfless service, safeguarding the nation with steadfast resolve, at times under the most challenging conditions. Their sense of duty inspires confidence and gratitude across the country," he said in a post on X.

He said the country remembers with deep respect those who have laid down their lives in the line of duty.

Army Day is observed on January 15 to mark Field Marshal K M Cariappa taking over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, replacing his British predecessor General Sir FRR Bucher in 1949.