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BJP, JD(S) protest against alleged insult to Karnataka Guv, other issues

Opposition BJP and JD(S) staged a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha here on Tuesday, demanding the suspension of some Congress legislators for allegedly "insulting and disrespecting" Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot during the joint sitting of the state legislature.

Raising anti-Congress government slogans, the protesters demanded justice. They also demanded the removal of Excise Minister R B Timmapur over the alleged Excise Department scam, citing law and order failures and inadequate security for women in the state.

Leaders of the Opposition both in the Assembly and Council -- R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, state BJP chief B Y Vijayendra, BJP MLC C T Ravi, JD(S) and BJP legislators also attended the protest.

In a high drama in the Karnataka Assembly, the Governor on January 22 refused to read the state-prepared address to a joint session of the state legislature and concluded his customary speech in just three lines, evoking a sharp reaction from the Congress government in the state.

PM Modi announces signing of India-EU Free Trade Agreement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the signing of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), saying it accounts for 25 per cent of global GDP and one-third of global trade.

Addressing the Indian Energy Week virtually, Modi congratulated all on the EU-India trade deal and said, "I am informing you about a big development … a significant agreement was signed between India and Europe yesterday (Monday)." People are discussing it as a "mother of all deals”, and this agreement has brought a lot of opportunities for 140 crore Indians and crores of Europeans, he said.

"This is an excellent example of coordination between two economies of the world. This agreement represents 25 per cent of the global GDP and one third of the global trade," he said. He suggested that the free trade agreement with the EU will complement agreements with Britain and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). This will strengthen both global trade and the supply chain.

He congratulated the youth and all colleagues associated with sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, leather, and shoes. The agreement will prove very helpful for you, he stated, adding that it will not only boost manufacturing in India but will also further expand the services sector.

"This free trade agreement will strengthen confidence in India for every business and every investor in the world. India is working extensively on global partnerships in all sectors," he said. 

UK's Starmer heads to China seeking thaw in relations but risking rift with Trump

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is heading to China, seeking a thaw in relations with Beijing at a time of strained ties with the United States.

He's hoping for an economic boost to Britain, but risks the wrath of China hawks at home – and of US President Donald Trump, who's already heaping tariffs and criticism on America's closest allies.

Starmer is due to meet China's President Xi Jinping during the visit that starts Wednesday, the first by a UK leader since 2018. He is expected to be accompanied by UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle and dozens of corporate chiefs as Britain seeks Chinese technology and investment, alongside greater access to the world's second-largest economy for UK financial services, cars and Scotch whisky.

“China is no longer just the world's factory; it is also becoming a global market,” said Zhao Minghao, a professor in the Institute of International Studies at Shanghai's Fudan University.

Traffic curbs imposed as EU leaders set to visit Delhi's Rajghat

Traffic movement in and around Rajghat and adjoining areas in the national capital will be restricted for a few hours on Tuesday morning to facilitate European Union leaders to visit the memorial and pay their respects to Mahatma Gandhi.

The official event at Mahatma Gandhi Smriti Sthal, to be attended by the visiting EU delegation along with other dignitaries, will be held between 9.15 am and 12.30 pm. Special traffic arrangements will be in place to ensure its smooth conduct, according to a traffic advisory issued by the Delhi Police.

Diversions will be imposed "as and when required" at key junctions, including at ITO Chowk, Delhi Gate, Guru Nanak Chowk, Shantivan Chowk, Rajghat DTC Depot and IP Flyover, the advisory stated.

Several major road stretches are likely to be impacted due to the movement of VIP convoys and security arrangements. These include the Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg-ITO Chowk-“Delhi Gate stretch, the Shantivan Chowk-IP Flyover stretch, and Asaf Ali Road between Delhi Gate and Netaji Subhash (NS) Marg.

Will continue protest demanding resignation of Devaswom Minister: UDF

The Congress-led UDF opposition on Tuesday told the Kerala assembly that it was continuing its protest demanding the resignation of state Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan in connection with the Sabarimala gold loss case, but will cooperate with the House proceedings.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, V D Satheesan, said that as part of the protest, two UDF MLAs -- Najeeb Kanthapuram and C R Mahesh -- would be on 'satyagraha' outside the doors of the House.

Responding to the opposition leader's statement, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that since the Sabarimala gold loss case probe is being monitored by the Kerala High Court, the UDF protest can only be seen as an agitation against the court and not the assembly.

Subsequently, the opposition went outside the House and joined the 'satyagraha' by Kanthapuram, a legislator of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Congress MLA Mahesh.

On January 22, the opposition had disrupted the House proceedings demanding Vasavan's resignation.

Flights to and from Srinagar airport cancelled due to snowfall

Several flights to and from Srinagar International Airport were cancelled on Tuesday due to snowfall in Kashmir, officials said.

"In view of adverse weather conditions and continuing snowfall at Srinagar Airport, airlines have cancelled certain flights for today," an official of the Airport Authority of India said. As many as 16 flights -- eight inbound and eight outbound -- have been cancelled so far.

"Passengers have been advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest updates and alternate arrangements," the official said.

The cancellation of flights has left hundreds of tourists, who were scheduled to return after spending the weekend and Republic Day holiday in the Valley, stranded in Kashmir. 

Bengal: BJP alleges arson bid at 'Bharat Mata' pandal; police suspect short-circuit

The BJP has alleged that supporters of the ruling TMC in West Bengal attempted to set afire a puja pandal hosting an idol of ‘Bharat Mata’ at Khardah Assembly constituency on the northern outskirts of Kolkata.

Union minister Sukanta Majumdar visited the area on Monday, and led the drive in restoring the damaged portion of the pandal and offered prayers to an idol, which the party claimed as that of 'Bharat Mata'.

"TMC goons in the area set the pandal on fire late Saturday night and fled, but timely action by local people and our supporters prevented further damage. Police took no action so far," Majumdar told reporters at the spot.

Majumdar, the Union Minister of State for Education and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), alleged that there was also an attempt to vandalise the idol of 'Bharat Mata' inside the pandal.

He claimed when BJP workers went to protest against the incident on Sunday, they were instead beaten up by police, who acted as "cadres" of the Trinamool Congress.

"Police baton-charge left one party worker, identified as Bhakta Biswas, seriously injured and hospitalised. The BJP will remember the incident and hold those responsible accountable in due course," the former saffron party chief said.

Tribals protest outside Dy CM Shinde's house over demolition of hamlets

Several tribals from areas falling within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park have staged a protest outside the residence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Thane city against the demolition of their hamlets.

The tribals, who claimed they had been residing in the area for generations, condemned the administration's action of razing their dwellings on Monday and staged the protest outside Shinde's house late at night.

Vivek Pandit, chairperson of the state tribal development committee, told reporters that no demolition should be carried out until the 2018 rehabilitation plan is implemented and the affected families are resettled.

Later, following assurances from authorities for a discussion on the rehabilitation plan, the tribals called off the agitation, said an office bearer of a social organisation that led the protest.

India: Not normal to tolerate Pakistan’s terror policy

In a strongly-worded retort in the UNSC, India said it is not normal to tolerate Pakistan’s continued use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy, as New Delhi hit back at Islamabad’s envoy for advancing a “false and self-serving” account of Operation Sindoor.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, delivered a sharp response to comments made by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad.

Ahmad spoke about Operation Sindoor, Jammu and Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty in his remarks at the UN Security Council open debate on Monday on ‘Reaffirming International Rule of Law: Pathways to Reinvigorating Peace, Justice, and Multilateralism.’ Harish said Pakistan, an elected member of the Security Council, has a single-point agenda - to harm India and its people.

With Ahmad telling the Council that Pakistan’s response to Operation Sindoor “established that there can be no ‘new normal’ based on coercion or impunity", Delhi slammed Islamabad, with Harish asserting that terrorism can never be normalised as Pakistan wishes to do.

MP: Villagers declare social boycott over love marriages; authorities step in

Residents of a village in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district have announced a social boycott of couples who elope for marriage, prompting authorities to order action against those who issued the diktat. A video related to the issue has gone viral on social media.

The diktat was issued on January 23 in Pancheva, about 50 kilometres from the district headquarters, with residents claiming the social boycott decision was taken after eight couples from the village eloped and got married in the past six months.

A video showed a man announcing that young men and women who elope and marry for love, as well as their families, will be socially boycotted and not invited to any event. Even those helping such persons will face the same action, he further stated.

Other actions, as declared by the man in the clip, included denying employment to such couples as well as daily necessities like milk.

Collector Misha Singh on Monday said people in the video have been identified and the police have been asked to take action against them. "Our probe has indicated that the decision against love marriages was taken not by the Gram Sabha, but by the villagers themselves," she added.