Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 22 (PTI) Asserting that the new farm reform laws will herald a new era in Indian farming, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday said the government is still willing to continue talks with protesting unions on all contentious issues.

The minister said the agriculture sector is the backbone of the Indian economy and the Narendra Modi government is focusing on doubling farmer's income by 2022.

New Delhi, Dec 22 (PTI) India stopping flights to and from Britain after a new strain of COVID-19 with high transmissibility was reported in the UK has upset plans of many who were to come back home before the New Year or return to universities there for pending research work.

The flight suspension till the end of this year was announced on Monday in view of detection of a new rapid-spreading strain of the coronavirus in parts of England. Besides India, other countries like Canada have also stopped flights from the UK.

New Delhi, Dec 22 (PTI) "Swad aa gaya, jinde raho" (I really like it, god bless you), murmured 65-year-old farmer Ranjit Singh as he received a champi (head massage) at a makeshift parlour set up at the anti-farm laws protest site at Singhu border.

Reclined on a chair and soaking in the winter sun, the farmer, who is part of the ongoing protests at the national capital's border points against the three agri laws, said a champi (traditional Indian head massage with oil) helps in keeping a cool head .

New Delhi, Dec 21 (PTI) Authorities like the DDA are obligated to ensure that places of worship are not created on public land by unscrupulous persons through encroachment, the Delhi High Court has said.

Justice Prathiba M Singh expressed "grave concern" over encroachment of public land "under the shelter of a place of worship", saying it has been seen in a large number of cases that people claim rights over government land under the garb of temples or other places of worship.

New Delhi, Dec 22 (PTI) The government on Tuesday invited expressions of interest for strategic disinvestment of its 63.75 per cent stake in Shipping Corp of India along with the transfer of management control.

The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has issued Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) inviting Expressions of Interest (EoI) from potential buyers by February 13, 2021.

Jaipur, Dec 21 (PTI) Farmers protesting against agriculture laws on Jaipur-Delhi highway in Alwar's Shahjahapur on Monday accused the Centre of not looking into their demands despite a threat to their livelihood.

The livelihood of farmers is at stake but the government is paying no heed to their demands, they told reporters.

Farmer leader Balvinder Singh from Kota said they feed crores of people but their interests have been neglected by the Centre.

New Delhi, Dec 21 (PTI) The National Water Mission launched the 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan II: Catch the Rain' awareness campaign on Monday to promote rainwater harvesting, the Jal Shakti Ministry said.

The campaign was launched jointly by Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju.

New Delhi, Dec 22 (PTI) Farmer leaders are expected to meet on Tuesday to discuss a plan of action as thousands gathered at protest sites on Delhi's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to press for the repeal of the new agri laws brace the cold wave sweeping through the national capital.

Efforts are underway by the unions to draw support from farmers in other states like Bihar for their demand to enact a law assuring Minimum Support Price as the protest at the border points have been going on for almost four weeks now.

New Delhi, Dec 21 (PTI) Russia on Monday supported India's vision for the Indo-Pacific but at the same time criticised the Quadrilateral coalition or Quad, saying it would be detrimental to inclusive dialogue for ensuring peace and stability in the region.

New Delhi, Dec 21 (PTI) A PIL seeking to establish special anti-corruption courts in every district to decide cases related to various economic offences like money laundering and tax evasion within one year has been filed in the Supreme Court.

The PIL filed by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay has also sought directions to high courts to take appropriate steps to decide cases related economic offences.