Snapshots on 12 Jan 2021

Farmer leaders welcome SC verdict staying implementation of 3 agri laws, but say protest to continue

New Delhi: Farmer leaders welcomed the SC order to stay the implementation of three farm laws on Tuesday, but said they would not call off their protest until the legislations are repealed.

Delhi's minimum temperature dips to 4.3 deg C

Delhi''s minimum temperature dropped to 4.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, and is likely to dip further in the coming days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative data for the city, recorded a minimum of 4.3 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal, an IMD official said. Delhi had been registering above normal minimum temperatures till Monday, as a cloud cover persisted over the city under the influence of successive Western Disturbances.

Intense cold wave sweeps Punjab, Haryana; Hisar shivers at 2.2 deg C

Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday reeled under intense cold weather conditions with Hisar being the coldest place in the region.

Govt committed to buy another 4.5 crore doses of Covishield vaccine

The government has committed to buy from the Serum Institute further 4.5 crore doses of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, at a price of Rs 200 per shot plus applicable taxes by April, in addition to a firm order given to the company for 1.1 crore doses.

International

US House to vote on Trump impeachment on Wednesday

Washington: The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives would vote on the impeachment of outgoing President Donald Trump on Wednesday on charges of inciting his supporters to carry out a violent attack on the Capitol Hill last week.

Trump issues emergency declaration in Washington DC

US President Donald Trump has issued an emergency declaration for the national capital here ahead of his successor Joe Biden''s inauguration on January 20, amidst threat perception to the event by federal agencies.

Malaysia under virus emergency in reprieve for embattled PM

Malaysia''s king on Tuesday approved a coronavirus emergency that will suspend parliament at least until August and halt any bids to seek a general election in a political reprieve for embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Muhyiddin assured citizens in a televised speech that the emergency was not a military coup and curfew will not be enforced. He said his civilian government will remain in charge during the emergency, that will last until August 1 or earlier depending on the situation.

Trump, Pence speak for first time since attack

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have spoken for the first time since last week''s Capitol insurrection, during which Pence was forced to flee the Senate chamber and retreat to a secure location.

Over a dozen lawmakers joined crowds on day of Capitol riot

A second Republican lawmaker from West Virginia who marched to the US Capitol to support overturning Democrat Joe Biden''s presidential win said in a radio interview Monday that he hopes President Donald Trump calls us back. State Sen. Mike Azinger told the broadcast outlet that the crowds loyal to Trump were inspiring and patriotic." I think the president laid out the point of the mission, he added, speaking to West Virginia Metro News.

Business

Rupee recovers losses, settles 15 paise higher at 73.25 against US dollar

Mumbai: The rupee recouped early losses and provisionally closed 15 paise higher at 73.25 against the US dollar on Tuesday, supported by weakness in the dollar index and recovery in domestic equities.

BMW Motorrad India Continues Its Ascent to Success

The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.) Gurugram, Haryana, India Business Wire India 2,563 units delivered in 2020.

Sensex jumps 248 pts to end at new peak; Nifty tops 14,500

Equity benchmark Sensex jumped 248 points to end at a fresh life-time high on Tuesday, tracking gains in index heavyweights Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and Bharti Airtel amid positive global cues and persistent FPI inflows.

Twitter without Trump tumbles along with other tech shares

Shares of social media and other tech companies slid on Monday, hit by fallout from the siege on the US Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump.

Sensex slips over 100 pts in early trade; Nifty tests 14,450

Mumbai: Equity benchmark Sensex dropped over 100 points in early trade, tracking losses in index-heavyweights HDFC, Kotak Bank and ICICI Bank despite largely positive trend in global equities and sustained FPI inflow.

Budget 2021-22: Govt should provide additional funds, incentives for agri sector, say experts

The government should provide additional funds as well as incentives in the upcoming Budget to promote indigenous farm research, oilseeds production, food processing and organic farming for the overall growth of the agriculture sector, according to industry experts.

Asian stocks gain as markets watch for Biden stimulus plan

Asian stocks advanced on Tuesday as investors watched for details of President-elect Joe Biden''s promised economic stimulus plan.

Rupee slips 4 paise to 73.44 against US dollar in early trade

The rupee depreciated 4 paise to 73.44 against the US dollar in opening trade on Tuesday, tracking the rebound in the American currency and muted opening of domestic equities.

Legal

No power can prevent us from setting up panel to resolve impasse on farm laws, says SC

New Delhi: The SC sought cooperation of protesting farmers at Delhi borders and said no power can prevent it from setting up a committee to resolve the impasse over controversial farm laws.

HC seeks FIU stand on PayPal plea against Rs 96 lakh penalty

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought response of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) India on American online payment gateway PayPal''s plea challenging the Rs 96 lakh penalty imposed on it for alleged violation of money laundering law.

#MeToo: Ramani failed to prove charges of sexual misconduct against me, Akbar tells court

Former union minister M J Akbar on Tuesday told a Delhi court that journalist Priya Ramani failed to prove her charges of alleged sexual misconduct by him 20 years ago.

SC stays implementation of 3 new farm laws, sets up panel to resolve impasse

The Supreme Court Tuesday stayed the implementation of controversial new farm laws till further orders and decided to set up a 4-member committee to resolve the impasse over them between the Centre and farmers'' unions protesting at Delhi borders.

Entertainment

Wanted to humanise the mother figure in 'Tribhanga': director Renuka Shahane

New Delhi: Actor-director Renuka Shahane says she wanted to explore the societal pressure on women to toe the line in "Tribhanga: Tedhi Medhi Crazy", a multi-generational relationship story of mothers and daughters.

Beau Willimon developing 'Risk' series

"House of Cards" creator Beau Willimon is working on a series adaptation of the board game Risk for studio Entertainment One (eOne).

Got to live the life of a powerful man, even if in fiction: Sunil Grover on 'Tandav'

When director Ali Abbas Zafar sent the script of the upcoming political drama "Tandav" to Sunil Grover, the actor asked him "Are you sure about this?" Grover, the funny man behind popular characters like Gutthi, Rinku Bhabhi and Dr Mashoor Gulati on television, was sceptical about joining the cast of the Amazon Prime Video series where he plays the right-hand man to Saif Ali Khan''s scheming politician.

Ram Charan tests negative for COVID-19

Telugu film star Ram Charan on Tuesday said he has recovered from COVID-19 and thanked his fans for their continued support.

Kevin Hart inks first-look deal with Netflix

Actor-comedian Kevin Hart and his HartBeat Productions has signed a first-look film production deal with streaming platform Netflix. According to Deadline, Hart will be producing and starring in four new movies that will play exclusively on Netflix.

Sports

Sorry Siraj and Indian team, racism not acceptable: David Warner

Sydney: Australian batting star David Warner condemned the racist slurs hurled at Indian players, particularly pacer Mohammed Siraj, during the third Test here and said such behaviour by the spectators was not acceptable.

Saina, Prannoy test positive for COVID-19 again

Top Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and H S Prannoy, who had recently recovered from COVID-19, have again tested positive for the dreaded disease here ahead of the Thailand Open which began on Tuesday.

India's pace spearhead Bumrah ruled out of Brisbane Test

Sydney: The injury-ravaged Indian team was dealt another blow on Tuesday as pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the fourth Test against Australia due to an abdominal strain.

COVID-19 shadows title game as college football season ends

The end of the college football season began with a scene that would have looked bizarre 12 months ago and will likely appear just as strange looking back years from now but seemed entirely unremarkable Monday night.

Smith wasn't scuffing Pant's guard mark, Indians would have complained if he did: Paine

Australian skipper Tim Paine on Tuesday defended star batsman Steve Smith, who was accused of scuffing up the guard mark of Rishabh Pant during the drawn third Test here, asserting that the Indian team would have raked up the issue if any wrong was committed.

'Paine'ful apologies: Aussie skipper says leadership wasn't good, ended up looking like fool

Australian captain Tim Paine on Tuesday apologised for his on-field behaviour during the drawn third Test against India here, saying that his leadership wasn''t good enough and he ended up "looking like a fool" by sledging Ravichandran Ashwin. Paine has come under fire for a verbal duel with Ashwin when the Indian held vigil with an injured Hanuma Vihari to eke out a draw for his team, which was chasing a mammoth 407 for a win. Paine said he was "distracted, agitated and a bit grumpy at times" during the game.