News highlights: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 occurred 68 km southwest of Thimphu, Bhutan

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Himanata Biswa Sarma condemns lapse in security during PM's visit to Punjab

"Today, BJP workers andAssam public have prayed, by performing Maha Mrityunjaya, for PM Modi's long life andfor good sense to prevail over Congress. The way they tried to murder the PM has exposed the mentality of the party before the people of India.

We condemn the incident that happened yesterday and would like to warn that repetition of such an incident will not be tolerated by BJP workers and the people of India," said Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 occurred 68 km southwest of Thimphu, Bhutan

ECI enhances election expenditure limit for candidates in Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies

Liquor shops/restaurants/hotels serving liquor in Puducherry and Karaikal regions shall be closed on January 15 and January 18 on account of 'Thiruvalluvar Day' and 'Vallalar Jothi Day', respectively

Liquor shops/restaurants/hotels serving liquor in Puducherry and Karaikal regions shall be closed on January 14 and January 18 on account of 'Thiruvalluvar Day' and 'Vallalar Jothi Day', respectively

Vellore Institute of Technology, Bhopal, suspends Neeraj Bishnoi from the University with immediate effect until further notice. Bishnoi had been arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell's IFSO team for the alleged involvement in the Bulli Bai case

Supreme Court decides to hear from January 7 all matters in virtual mode only and all judges to work from their residential offices

Supreme Court through a circular says that only extremely urgent mentioned matters, fresh matters, bail matters involving stay, detention and fixed date matters will be listed before the Court from January 10.

Govt taking all necessary steps to ensure our security interests are fully protected: MEA on China building bridge in Pangong lake area

It is being built in areas that have been under illegal occupation by China for around 60 years: MEA on China building bridge in Pangong area

Govt has been monitoring this activity closely: MEA on China building bridge in Pangong Lake area

Cabinet approves Rs 12,000 cr phase-II of Green Energy Corridor: Union Minister Anurag Thakur

Home ministry gathering information, will take big and tough decisions: Anurag Thakur on security breach during PM Modi's Punjab visit

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates development projects in Lucknow

Yogi compares Yadav clan to Mahabharat characters

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday mounted a blistering attack on the Samajwadi Party, comparing the SP president's family with the Mahabharat characters.

"Kaka, mama, nana, bhatija -- you must have heard of them either in Mahabharat or between 2012 and 2017," he said.

"Before 2017, the recruitment charge in different departments was given to the family members. Some to uncles, some to brothers, and others to nephews. They are the reincarnated characters of Mahabharat who impeded Uttar Pradesh's progress by launching a war just like they did at the time of Mahabharat," said the chief minister while distributing appointment letters to the newly-selected naib tehsildars, lecturers and assistant teachers through the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission at Lok Bhavan in the state capital.

France hits Google, Facebook with huge fines over 'cookies'

French regulators have hit Google and Facebook with 210 million euros ($237 million) in fines over their use of "cookies", the data used to track users online, authorities said Thursday.

US tech giants, including the likes of Apple and Amazon, have come under growing pressure over their businesses practices across Europe, where they have faced massive fines and plans to impose far-reaching EU rules on how they operate.

The 150-million-euro fine imposed on Google was a record by France's National Commission for Information Technology and Freedom (CNIL), beating a previous cookie-related fine of 100 million euros against the company in December 2020.

Facebook was handed a 60-million-euro fine.

Unabated cold wave continues in most parts of Kashmir

Assam 'drug peddler' trying to evade arrest shot at

A suspected drug peddler, who is also wanted in several dacoity cases, was injured after he was shot at by police while attempting to evade arrest in Assam's Nagaon district, a senior officer said on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, the anti-narcotics squad of the district police carried out an operation in Saidaria in Rupohihat police station area on Wednesday night. The accused, also wanted in at least three dacoity cases, was planning to carry out a drug deal, Nagaon Superintendent of Police Anand Mishra told PTI.

"On seeing the police team, he first started throwing stones on our personnel and tried to flee. He was chased, and this time, he attacked the law enforcers with a stick. He was then shot at the thigh so that he couldn't escape," the officer said.

The accused is undergoing treatment at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, the SP said.

BharatPe CEO says viral audio clip with him hurling abuses is fake

A police official in Kazakhstan's largest city said Thursday that dozens of people were killed in attacks on government buildings.

There were attempts to storm buildings in Almaty during the night and “dozens of attackers were liquidated," police spokeswoman Saltanat Azirbek said Thursday.

She spoke on state news channel Khabar-24. The reported attempts to storm the buildings came after widespread unrest in the city on Wednesday, including seizure of the mayor's building, which was set on fire.

Dozens killed in Kazakhstan unrest, police say

BMW plans to turn your car into private cinema lounge

In a bid to offer rear passengers an entertainment experience, leading German luxury car-maker BMW Group hasApreviewed an in-car entertainment system for its future models.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022, the company said that My Mode Theatre transforms the rear of the interior into a private cinema lounge with surround sound and 5G connectivity with a panorama display in 32:9 format.

"We develop immersive, digital experiences for sheer driving pleasure. In Theatre Mode, the rear of the interior is transformed into a private cinema lounge," Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG Development, said in a statement.

Key conspirator in 'Bulli Bai' app case arrested from Assam

BJP forms 24-member election committee for UP

The BJP has formed a 24-member election committee in Uttar Pradesh, including four special invitees, to prepare for the upcoming Assembly polls.

Uttar Pradesh BJP president Swatantradev Singh, state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma are members of the committee.

Union Ministers Sanjeev Balyan and S.P. Singh Baghel and Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti are also members of the BJP Uttar Pradesh election committee.

Uttar Pradesh BJP in-charge Radha Mohan Singh, co-incharges Sunil Oza, Y. Satya Kumar and Sanjeev Chaurasiya are members of the election committee as special invitees.

Delhi AQI 'very poor' despite rain

Despite light rainfall in the national capital, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the 'very poor' category at 342 on Thursday, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

The level of PM 2.5 and PM 10 is in the 'very poor' and 'moderate' categories.

"The air quality over Delhi-NCT is likely to improve owing to good rainfall activity and crossover to reach in 'poor' category on January 6,"the air quality and weather bulletin said.

Punjab government forms high-level committee to probe lapses during PM Narendra Modi's visit: Official spokesperson

Djokovic launches court bid against Australia deportation: officials

Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic fought against deportation from Australia on Thursday after his visa was revoked for failing to meet pandemic entry requirements.

The vaccine-sceptic Serb was taken in by border patrol officials on arrival late Wednesday and is currently being held at an immigration detention facility in Melbourne.

Court officials said Judge Anthony Kelly would at 4:00pm (0500 GMT) hear Djokovic's appeal against imminent deportation.

UP boy killed as roof of community toilet caves in

A 10-year-old boy was buried alive when a portion of the roof attached to a community toilet next to a government primary school collapsed on him in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district.

The toilet was constructed over a year ago but was never opened for use.

The boy, Shailesh Kumar, was playing with his friends when the incident took place in Rafatpur village on Wednesday.

The boy's father, Guddu Singh, has lodged a complaint with police against the village head and local contractor. An FIR is yet to be registered.

Copa del Rey: Barçelona advance to Round of 16 with tough win

Barcelona began their Copa del Rey title defence with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Linares Deportivo on the road to advance to the Round of 16, here on Thursday.

Second-half goals from Ousmane Dembele and Ferran Jutgla in the 63rd and 69th minutes respectively, spared Barca's blushes after they had struggled to create a clear chance against Linares, a rival that plays in the Primera Division (third tier of the Spanish game.)

Linares had already knocked Alaves out of the competition and looked to pressure Barca high up the field and they took the lead in the 19th minute when veteran striker Hugo Daiz headed home a cross from the right.

SIT issues summons to 12 farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri case

Biden's disapproval rating hits new high over Covid, economy: Poll

Delhi Fire Service says no causality has been reported in the Lajpat Rai Market fire incident