LIVE: India slams Mamdani for writing note to Umar Khalid

Malayalam Language Bill: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah writes to Kerala CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed serious concern over the Kerala government’s proposed Malayalam Language Bill (Malayalam Bhasha Bill 2025). In this regard, he wrote a detailed letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday (January 9), urging him to reconsider the decision to make Malayalam compulsory as the first language in Kannada-medium schools in the border district of Kasaragod.

In his letter, Siddaramaiah raised several legal objections to the proposed legislation. The new language Bill being proposed by the Kerala government seeks to mandate Malayalam as the first language even in Kannada-medium schools located in border districts such as Kasaragod. Siddaramaiah has warned that this would have a serious impact on the rights of linguistic minorities. The majority of people in Kasaragod have relied on Kannada education for decades.

“Imposing a single language not only places an unnecessary burden on children but also weakens the very existence of minority educational institutions,” he said in the letter.

Trump's tariffs: No SC ruling today

The US Supreme Court will not issue a ruling today in a case testing the legality of President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs. The case is viewed as a key test of presidential authority, with potential ripple effects across global trade and financial markets.

India criticises Mamdani for writing note to activist Umar Khalid

India on Friday appeared to disapprove of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani writing a note to jailed activist Umar Khalid, saying public representatives should respect the independence of the judiciary in other democracies.

Mamdani, who is of Indian-origin, handed over a handwritten note to Khalid when the activist's parents met him in the US last month.

In the note, Mamdani conveyed his solidarity with Khalid.

“We expect public representatives to be respectful of the independence of the judiciary in other democracies,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing.

He was responding to a question on Mamdani's communication to Khalid.

“Expressing personal prejudices does not behove those in office. Instead of such comments, it would be better to focus on the responsibilities entrusted to them,” Jaiswal said.

Khalid has been denied bail since he was arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2020.

He was booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in a case related to clashes in northeast Delhi in February 2020 between supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act and those opposing the law. The clashes left 53 dead and hundreds injured or displaced.

Police have claimed the violence was part of a conspiracy to defame the Central government.

This week, the Supreme Court denied bail to Khalid.

Budget session from Jan 28, Union Budget on Feb 1

The Parliament’s Budget session is likely to commence on January 28, and the Union Budget will be tabled on February 1, which falls on a Sunday. Officials, referencing the provisional timetable established by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, announced on Friday (January 9) that President Droupadi Murmu will deliver an address to a joint session of both Houses on January 28.

The President’s customary address takes place on the first day of the year’s first parliamentary session of the year. Parliament will sit on January 30 when the Economic Survey is likely to be tabled.

The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha will not meet the next day, which is January 31.

The Union Budget will be tabled on February 1.

Following deliberations regarding the Motion of Thanks pertaining to the President's address and the Union Budget, Parliament will take a recess lasting nearly a month, commencing on February 13.

It will resume its sessions on March 9, with the concluding date scheduled for April 2. The recess in the Budget session helps department-related standing committees to look into demands for grants of various Union ministries and departments.

Indian Army Chief holds talks with Sri Lanka’s Deputy Defence Minister

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi held talks with Sri Lanka’s Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekera and high-level army officials during a two-day visit to the island nation, aiming to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation. The Army Chief was on an official visit to Sri Lanka from January 7-8 in order to enhance military-to-military engagement.

“The interaction focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, enhancing military-to-military engagement, including cooperation for Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief and reinforcing collaboration in areas of mutual interest, reflecting the shared commitment of India and Sri Lanka towards regional security, stability & enduring defence partnership,” the Indian High Commission posted on social media on Thursday. The Army Chief was accorded a guard of honour at the Sri Lanka Army headquarters.

He held discussions with Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army. “On the occasion, military vehicles, ambulances and training simulators were also handed over, further reinforcing defence cooperation and the enduring bonds of friendship between the two nations,” it said.

Teachers' association opposes DU's move for Aadhar-based attendance

The All Academics of Delhi Teachers' Association (AADTA) on Friday raised an objection to University of Delhi's decision for compulsory implementation of Aadhaar-Based Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) and the linkage of attendance with salary disbursement, it said in a statement.

The move has allegedly triggered widespread anxiety among faculty, the teachers' body said.

The University of Delhi (DU), in a statement issued on Friday, said several staff members from various faculties, departments, sections, and "units" of the university are yet to report at the designated venue for completion of Aadhaar-based biometric registration, and non-compliance of the directive may lead to non-processing of their salary January 2026 onwards.

In a statement addressed to DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh, AADTA objected to a January 8 notification issued by DU mandating biometric attendance, and warning that salaries may not be processed January 2026 onwards in case of non-compliance.

Karnataka Governor returns two Bills, 19 others get assent

Two Bills passed by the Karnataka Legislature have been returned by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to the state government seeking further clarifications, even as 19 pending legislations have received gubernatorial assent, Lok Bhavan said on Friday.

Apart from them, the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill is under the consideration of the governor, according to a release issued by the Special Secretary to the Governor, R Prabhu Shankar.

The press release stated, "Out of 22 Bills, 19 have been approved by the governor and sent for publishing in the Official Gazette. Two Bills — the Karnataka Scheduled Castes (Sub-classification) Bill and the Shree Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority and Certain Other Laws (Amendment) Bill — have been returned to the government, seeking further clarifications."

The SC Sub-classification Bill aims to legally formalise the state's internal quota system for Scheduled Castes (SCs), dividing the 17 per cent SC reservation into six per cent for left communities (erstwhile untouchables), six per cent for right communities, and five per cent for others.

The primary objective of the amendment bill on Chamundeshwari Kshetra is to modify the administrative structure of the temple development authorities by changing the criteria for key appointments.

The Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill was recently adopted by the Karnataka Legislature despite protests from the opposition BJP.

The bill provides for a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh and a jail term of up to seven years.

According to the bill, any expression made, published, or circulated—in words, spoken or written, by signs, visible representations, electronic communication, or otherwise — in public view, with the intention of causing injury, disharmony, or feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill-will against a person (alive or dead), class, group of persons, or community, to serve any prejudicial interest, constitutes hate speech.

Biases on the grounds of religion, race, caste, community, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability, or tribe are also categorised as hate speech.

The BJP has called it a 'Brahmastra' (ultimate deadly weapon) against the opposition.

WPL opener: RCB to bowl against Mumbai Indians

Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Smriti Mandhana won the toss and opted to bowl first against defending champions Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the Women's Premier League Season 4 on Friday.

Grace Harris, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith and Nandine de Klerk are the four overseas players for RCB.

Mandhana said her decision to bowl first was taken keeping the dew factor in mind.

Mumbai Indians will miss the services of Hayley Matthews in the WPL opener as the West Indian is unwell, said skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.

The Teams: Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (capt), Grace Harris, D Hemalatha, Richa Ghosh, Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Prema Rawat, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.

Mumbai Indians: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), G Kamalini, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar, Shabnim Ismail, Sanskriti, S Sajana, Saika Ishaque

Odisha freezes at –1°C, lowest temperature ever recorded

Mercury dropped to minus 1 degree Celsius in the Similipal National Park on Friday, the lowest recorded temperature in Odisha, as a cold wave gripped the state.

The observatory in Upar Barha Kamuda in the park's core area recorded a temperature of minus 1 degree Celsius, according to the state Forest Department.

As per the IMD, G Udaygiri, a hill station in Kandhamal district, recorded 2.6 degrees Celsius, while the industrial town of Rourkela shivered at 3.6 degrees Celsius, and Jharsuguda recorded 4.6 degrees.

Phulbani and Daringbadi recorded 5 and 6 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre Director Monorama Mohanty said the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack registered 9.4 and 8.6 degrees Celsius, respectively.

She said as many as 25 places in the state recorded temperatures below or at 10 degrees Celsius.

Large areas of Koida in Sundargarh were blanketed by a thick layer of frost, she added.

Cold wave conditions would continue in parts of Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Cuttack, Khurda and Angul till Saturday, the IMD said

Jana Nayagan: Madras HC stays single judge's order

Madras HC stays single judge's order directing CBFC to grant censor certificate to Vijay starrer movie Jana Nayagan