A Bihar man approached a Patna court with a complaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The complainant, Mukesh Chaudhary, alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks shocked him enough to drop a bucket of milk, causing a loss of 250, news agency PTI.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing during party’s Karyakarta Sammelan at Sadaquat Ashram in Patna, Bihar, India, Saturday.(HT)

The strange development has taken place in Bihar’s Samastipur district. Chaudhary complained that he was shocked by Rahul Gandhi’s “fight against the Indian state” remark last week.

“I was in such a state of shock that my bucket full of five litres of milk, priced at 50 per litre, slipped off my hand. Rahul Gandhi was threatening the sovereignty of the nation,” alleged Chaudhary.

Also read | Rahul Gandhi announces ‘white T-shirt movement’ | What is it?

The plea, filed in a civil court in the Rosera sub-division, sought Gandhi’s trial under various sections of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including Section 152, which pertains to sedition.

There is no information on whether Chaudhary’s plea has been admitted by the court, PTI reported.

What did Rahul Gandhi say?

During the inauguration of the Congress party’s new headquarters in New Delhi on January 15, Rahul Gandhi slammed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his claims that India’s true independence was achieved with the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

“The BJP and RSS have captured every single institution, and we are now fighting the BJP, the RSS, and the Indian State itself,” said the Lok Sabha LoP.

Gandhi’s remarks were condemned by BJP president and union health minister JP Nadda, who said, “They neither know about history nor have anything to do with it. I have said many times that their speechwriters write anything, and they just read it anywhere.”

An FIR was also registered against the Congress’ Rae Bareli MP in Assam for his alleged remarks under sections 152 and 197 (1)d of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for alleged acts endangering the country’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity.

“This statement by Rahul Gandhi attempts to delegitimize the authority of the state and portray it as a hostile entity. Such remarks create a dangerous narrative, which could incite unrest and foster separatist sentiments,” alleged complainant Monjit Chetia.

(With PTI inputs)

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JACKSONVILLE, FLA – A rare winter storm is set to impact North Florida and southern Georgia on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and it will bring the risk of ice and even some snow to the region.

The greatest threat will be ice forming Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, creating hazardous travel conditions from western Jacksonville and points north and west.

Here’s the breakdown:

  • While Georgia and the Florida Panhandle will see snow that sticks to the ground, snowflakes in Jacksonville are not likely.

  • A bigger concern for Northeast Florida is freezing rain, starting Tuesday night.

  • Wednesday morning could be hazardous for drivers everywhere except close to the river or east of the St. Johns River to the coast where ice is less likely on the roads.

Freezing rain is expected to begin in Southeast Georgia on Tuesday afternoon before shifting south into Northeast Florida after midnight Tuesday and lingering into the mid-morning Wednesday.

This poses a significant risk of ice accumulation, especially along and north of Interstate 10 toward Lake City, Macclenny, Homerville, Waycross, and Jesup.

Zones in pink for freezing rain.

Areas along the St. Johns River and back to the beaches should not be under the risk of ice as the coastal winds help to buffer the freeze.

Temperatures at dawn Wednesday.

While ice is the primary concern around Northeast Florida, snow can also target Georgia and the Florida panhandle with over an inch or more adding up on the ground.

Snow totals in inches with the heaviest bands starting in the Panhandle to northern Ware and Glenn counties Georgia.

Areas along and north of Waycross in Southeast Georgia have a medium chance (40-50%) of seeing up to 1 inch of snow.

There is also a low chance (5-15%) of up to 3 inches of snow north and northwest of Waycross, which could lead to major impacts.

Winter Storm warning until 1 PM in pink colors.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for snow and freezing rain late Tuesday through 1 p.m. Wednesday where the areas of greatest winter precipitation target inland Southeast Georgia, Suwanee River Valley, and near the Florida I-10 corridor.

The depth of the cold above the ground explains why snow is not likely in Jacksonville.

For Jacksonville to experience snow, a unique and precise combination of weather factors would need to converge — a long shot, indeed.

As of now the air above the ground in Jacksonville does not look cold enough for snow even though the surface will be freezing. This vertical atmospheric profile could result in sleet or freezing rain around Duval, Nassau, and counties west along I-10.

A warm layer over Jacksonville is expected to remain and prevent snow. If it does not develop then snow could fall Wednesday before sunrise.

The graphic below is a cross-section of the atmosphere through time with the forecast starting on Monday at the left and ending on Sunday at the right. The white areas are temperatures below freezing in the air column over Jacksonville. Freezing air shows up Wednesday morning at the surface but since the air is not freezing aloft snow is not likely.

Only two white areas representing freezing air are located at the bottom of the chart. Red and blue colors represent above freezing air in the lower 5000 feet of the atmosphere.

Compared to Waycross, you can see the atmospheric sounding of air is much colder with freezing (white areas) extending from the ground to the top of the chart representing freezing air for all snow.

Waycross cross-section atmospheric temperature forecast.

Key Messages:

  • Increasing confidence of snow and freezing rain impacts the watch area Tuesday evening through midday Wednesday.

  • Freezing rain potential greatest along/north of I-10 toward Homerville-Waycross-Jesup.

  • Snow potential is greatest north of Waycross.

  • Patches of road ice are possible across Southeast Georgia and portions of Northeast Florida early Wednesday morning.

  • Nightly freezes and dangerous wind chills are expected through Thursday.

Safety Actions:

  • Ice accumulation could cause significant power outages Tuesday night. Be sure to stock winter emergency supply kits for homes and vehicles.

Consider adjusting travel plans to stay off roads after 9 p.m. on Tuesday through Wednesday morning.

Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.



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Thrissur: Former chief election commissioner SY Quraishi said Centre’s One Nation One Election (ONOE) proposal will undermine the Constitution’s federalist structure and pluralistic ethos of the people. He was addressing a talk titled ‘One Nation One Election—A Nightmare for India’s Federal Polity’ that was organized in memory of Prof CJ Sivasankaran on Monday.
“Imposing ONOE would deprive the states of their right to decide when to dissolve the assembly and call for elections. We should take pride in the vast diversity we have and seek to leverage it, rather than dismantle it,” he said on the sidelines of the event.
Dismissing Centre’s argument that frequent elections drain the national exchequer, he said only Rs 4,500 crore is spent on a Parliament election and it is not a huge amount, considering India’s vast size.
Quraishi alleged that those backing simultaneous elections are talking about holding Parliament and assembly elections together, while leaving out local body polls, which are equally important and this exposed their hypocrisy. In India, there are 543 MPs and 4,120 MLAs but 13 lakh local body members at various levels. Now, the proposal is to hold local body polls 100 days after LS/assembly polls, which is incompatible with the reasons cited for simultaneous elections, he said.
Countering the contention that frequent polls lead to policy paralysis, he said the model code of conduct bans only announcement of new policies and transfer of officials. It doesn’t choke development activities. Experience shows that there is better service delivery during polls. Also, people experience their real power over political bosses only during polls, he said.
Criticizing Centre for appointing ex-President Ram Nath Kovind to head the panel on ONOE, Quraisi said it was unfair to drag Kovind into a political programme. He admitted that there is merit in the argument that frequent polls may increase corruption and aggravate the tendency to fan up communal/casteist divides. He said the formation of a national election fund can reduce corruption in polls. He said there should be a limit on the spending by political parties and candidates.





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(Bloomberg) — India’s central bank is unlikely to mount a strong defense of the rupee despite the currency’s sharp depreciation, according to Axis Bank Ltd.’s chief executive officer.

“I think they will play it slow. We can’t continue to spend such a huge amount of our reserves on just defending the rupee,” Amitabh Chaudhry said in a Bloomberg Television interview at Davos on Monday. The executive also offered a dim assessment of the Indian economy, saying the macroeconomic situation “looks tough.”

The rupee has gone from being one of Asia’s best-performing currencies to one of the region’s biggest losers in a matter of weeks. Last week it fell below 86 to the dollar — a new low — and has continued to trade below that mark. 

Meanwhile, the country is grappling with a deepening slowdown and softening urban consumption — the latest government figures show the economy will expand at a four-year low of 6.4% in the current fiscal year. 

Chaudhry said he isn’t hopeful of major fiscal support measures in India’s annual budget scheduled to be presented next month, since the government is committed to reducing the fiscal deficit. He also doesn’t expect rate cuts to make much of a difference to the growth trajectory. 

“But you need to infuse liquidity into the system,” he said. “You need to allow for a slightly higher credit growth.” 

He said that while global events like a potential US-China trade war under a Donald Trump administration could impact growth, the onus will be on policymakers to work on reforms to boost the economy. “A lot of the things do need to be solved internally in India,” he said. 

Discussing the outlook for Axis Bank’s performance, Chaudhry said that he doesn’t expect deposit growth to “change dramatically,” unless liquidity returns to the system. The lender’s shares are trading at their lowest level since November 2023 after earnings showed higher slippages and credit costs for the quarter ended Dec. 31, as well as tepid growth in deposits. 

Asset quality in the banking sector “is stabilizing and it will hopefully trickle down in the right direction from here,” he said. “But yes, you have to be watchful because the macro seems uncertain.”

–With assistance from Preeti Singh.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com



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The government of the United Kingdom (UK) has announced proposals to hike certain immigration fees, including the cost to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS), among others. This move could affect Indians aspiring to work in the UK.

The cost of a Certificate of Sponsorship is a fee that employers pay for sponsoring foreign nationals under the Skilled Worker Route.

According to the proposals, this fee is expected to more than double from £239 to £525.

The proposals are now awaiting approval by the UK Parliament, among other legal processes that will have to take place before the proposals come into effect.

In the proposals, no definitive date has been mentioned by which the fee hike will be implemented.

“The proposed fee hikes, which also include increased costs for naturalisation and electronic travel authorisations, are yet to receive parliamentary approval,” the UK government said in a statement.

The UK government said that the changes to Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs), certificates of sponsorship and nationality products are expected to generate an additional £269 million a year, thereby reducing the financial burden of running the immigration system on taxpayers money.

Fee hikes for students and skilled workers

Students applying for UK study visas will now have to shell out more money from January 2025.

Living expense evidence will increase to £1,483 per month for London courses (£13,347 for a one-year master’s programme) and £1,136 per month for courses outside London (£10,224 for nine months), 

Presently, these fees stand at £1,334 and £1,023 per month for London and other regions, respectively. 

Skilled workers will also have to face stricter financial thresholds.

Income thresholds for first-time applicants will be hiked to £38,700 and for families increased to £38,700 from £29,000.

‘Significant’ UK immigration cut

Last November, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had promised to cut net migration after the latest data showed the number of people arriving in the UK remained historically high despite curbs introduced by the last Conservative government.

He said the blame lay with the Tories, whose 14 years in power he ended with a landslide election victory for Starmer’s Labour Party in the July general election. Pointing to a quadrupling of the annual net migration tally since the previous election in 2019, Starmer said the Conservatives had run the country as an “experiment” in open borders.

“I want to see immigration come down significantly,” Starmer said.

“Where the last government failed you, this one will not,” he said, promising to publish a white paper “imminently” outlining the government’s plans to get numbers down.

Catch all the Business News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.

Business NewsNewsWorldUK govt proposes immigration fee hike – Will Indian job seekers be impacted?

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Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Aaditya Thackeray

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Aaditya Thackeray
| Photo Credit: ANI

Raising concerns regarding Bangladeshi nationals infiltrating India’s sovereign border, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday (January 20, 2025) slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government for their failure to end the intrusion despite being in power for over a decade. 

“This is what the BJP has accomplished in the last decade; China is infiltrating India on one side while Bangladesh infiltrates on the other. The BJP is unable to do anything about those Bangladeshi Hindus who wish to seek refuge in India. It also did nothing when the ISKCON pandit was arrested. The public at large can itself weigh how unsuccessful the government has been,” Mr. Thackeray said.

Mr. Thackeray questioned how the accused in the Saif Ali Khan attack case managed to enter India without the Centre having any inkling. “The accused was a Bangladeshi, we should organise a rally and ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi whether the government is incompetent in securing a border. Under the PM’s surveillance, how are Bangladeshis entering the country,” he said.

He highlighted that the accused in the Saif Ali Khan attack case stayed for six to seven months in former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s district Thane in Maharashtra. 

Criticising the Home Ministry and the State government, the Worli legislator appreciated the efforts of Mumbai police in nabbing the accused in Saif Ali Khan attack case. “The case shows that if the police are given a free hand they can work wonders. However, in the case of the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, one of the accused is still absconding. That resolution requires the will of the government and also the Home Minister,” he said.

Mahayuti fighting for “personal gains”

Mr. Thackeray also took a jibe at Eknath Shinde on the appointments of Guardian Ministers for Nashik and Raigad districts, “Check on who returned upset to their hometown. The selfish ones are fighting for personal gains and not for the welfare of people,” he said. 

Nationalist Congress Party’s Aditi Tatkare and BJP leader Girish Mahajan were given the responsibility of Raigad and Nashik respectively on Saturday. However, the notification was reversed on Sunday, staying the appointments of Guardian Ministers for Nashik and Raigad districts. After the conflict over ministerial berths, once again the rift has emerged between Mahayuti alliance partners over appointments of Guardian Ministers. The Guardian Minister has the power to distribute funds for developmental works in their respective areas.

Mr. Thackeray highlighted after long delay, the Guardian Ministers were declared. “Now, even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is travelling abroad, the Nashik and Raigad appointments have been suddenly cancelled. This show disrespect for the appointed Ministers,” Mr. Thackeray said. 

Mr. Fadnavis is in Davos for the World Economic Forum to bring in investments for Maharashtra. He also questioned Mr. Fadnavis for reversing the decision, saying, “We thought the CM never bows to the people; he is kind of a person that orders for a lathi charge on the people.” 



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India News Live: Stay informed with our live blog covering India’s latest in politics, economy, crime, and general news. Get real-time updates on political developments, financial trends, crime reports, and important events across the country. Stay connected with the most crucial stories shaping India, all in one place.

Latest news on January 20, 2025: A file photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Donald Trump shaking hands after introductions during the "Howdi Modi" event in 2019 at Houston.

Latest news on January 20, 2025: A file photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Donald Trump shaking hands after introductions during the “Howdi Modi” event in 2019 at Houston.

India News Live: Get real time updates on the latest happenings across India. From key political shifts and government decisions to economic developments and crime reports, we bring you real-time information as it unfolds. Our coverage also includes general news, spotlighting significant events and issues impacting daily life. Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated live blog and has not been edited by Hindustan Times staff.…Read More

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Jan 20, 2025 10:46 PM IST

India News Live: PM Modi congratulates Donald Trump on oath as US president: ‘Best wishes for successful term’

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Donald Trump on being sworn in as the 47th President of United States.


Read the full story here

Jan 20, 2025 10:19 PM IST

India News Live: Jaishankar carrying letter from PM Modi for Donald Trump

  • Jaishankar, who is representing India at Trump’s inauguration as the special envoy of PM Modi, is set to participate in a meeting of Quad foreign ministers


Read the full story here

Jan 20, 2025 10:10 PM IST

India News Live: NCTE plans to reintroduce one-year BEd program after a decade

  • The course will be offered to candidates who have completed the four-year bachelor’s degree or obtained a master’s degree


Read the full story here

Jan 20, 2025 9:41 PM IST

India News Live: Shiv Sena not to contest Delhi assembly polls

  • While the Shiv Sena (UBT) has announced support for the AAP, the Shiv Sena (Shinde) faction’s decision to not contest the upcoming Delhi assembly election was taken to avoid any split in the votes


Read the full story here

Jan 20, 2025 8:50 PM IST

India News Live: Need a uniform parking policy for entire NCR, says Supreme Court

  • The top court sought responses from Delhi, other NCR states and the central government by January 29, and posted the case for February 3


Read the full story here

Jan 20, 2025 8:49 PM IST

India News Live: RG Kar murder case: ‘Ashamed of everything’, says convict Sanjay Roy’s mother

  • A court in Kolkata sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment until after convicting him in the RG Kar rape and murder case last year


Read the full story here

Jan 20, 2025 7:07 PM IST

India News Live: ‘Not rarest…’: Why Sanjay Roy didn’t get death penalty in RG Kar rape-murder

  • Additional district and sessions judge in Sealdah, Anirban Das, had found Roy guilty of committing the crime against the postgraduate trainee doctor. 


Read the full story here

Jan 20, 2025 6:34 PM IST

India News Live: Nitin Gadkari to inaugurate India’s first cable-stayed bridge on curve in Goa

  • Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate India’s first cable-stayed bridge built on a curve on Tuesday in Goa.


Read the full story here

Jan 20, 2025 6:29 PM IST

India News Live: Maharashtra: Two Thane civic officials arrested for demanding ₹1.3 lakh bribe from cop

  • Two civic officials in Thane, Maharashtra, were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly demanding a 1.3 lakh bribe from a policeman 


Read the full story here

Jan 20, 2025 6:23 PM IST

India News Live: Sandeep Dikshit files ₹10 cr defamation lawsuits against Delhi CM Atishi, AAP MP Sanjay Singh

  • Dikshit’s complaint accuses the two AAP leaders Atishi and Sanjay Singh of making “unsubstantiated defamatory statements” during their press conference.


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Jan 20, 2025 6:21 PM IST

India News Live: Himachal Pradesh: 2 brothers dead after cement-laden truck plunges into ravine in Shimla

Jan 20, 2025 6:18 PM IST

India News Live: Five policemen held responsible for Badlapur sexual assault accused Akshay Shinde in custody

  • A magistrate’s inquiry has found five policemen accountable for the custodial death of Akshay Shinde


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Jan 20, 2025 6:11 PM IST

India News Live: Donald Trump inauguration: Who are the prominent Indians attending the mega event?

  • Donald Trump will take oath at 12 noon local time (10:30 pm IST) on Monday to begin his second and final term as US President.


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Jan 20, 2025 6:01 PM IST

India News Live: Jaipur teen caught for duping Dehradun man of ₹2.27 cr in digital arrest scam: Police

  • SSP Navneet Singh said the suspect was arrested from Jaipur in connection with a September 2024 case in which a retired teacher lost 2,27 crore


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Jan 20, 2025 5:31 PM IST

India News Live: MP: Man dies by suicide, accuses wife of harassment in video

  • In a video recorded on his phone, he claimed that his wife visited her parents’ house every fortnight and would fight with his parents once she was back.


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Jan 20, 2025 5:04 PM IST

India News Live: Jammu & Kashmir: Soldier killed in terrorist attack in Sopore area

  • The soldier was injured in the exchange of fire with terrorists in a hideout at Zaloora Gujjarpati in Sopore police, died during evacuation.


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Jan 20, 2025 5:02 PM IST

India News Live: ‘Travesty of justice’: BJP slams sentence of life imprisonment of Kolkata rape-murder convict

  • BJP criticises life imprisonment verdict for Kolkata rape-murder convict as ‘travesty of justice’


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Jan 20, 2025 4:59 PM IST

India News Live: Delhi man sought in multiple exam fraud cases arrested by cyber cell

Jan 20, 2025 4:49 PM IST

India News Live: IIT Madras admits five students under ‘Sports Excellence Admission’ category

  • In February 2024, IIT Madras became the first IIT in the country to introduce admissions for sportspersons under Sports Excellence Admission category in its undergraduate programmes


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Jan 20, 2025 4:18 PM IST

India News Live: 24-year-old Kerala woman sentenced to death for slow poisoning male friend

  • A court in Kerala’s Neyyattinkara rejected the convict’s plea for leniency in sentencing by terming her act as ‘a cold-blooded murder’


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Jan 20, 2025 4:06 PM IST

India News Live: Rahul Gandhi urges Nadda, Delhi CM to act on plight of patients outside AIIMS

Jan 20, 2025 3:57 PM IST

India News Live: RG Kar case | Mamata Banerjee ‘not satisfied’ with Kolkata court’s punishment for Sanjay Roy: ‘Demanded death penalty’

  • West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee voiced her dissatisfaction with the Kolkata court’s life sentence for Sanjay Roy in the RG Kar case.


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Jan 20, 2025 3:56 PM IST

India News Live: SC seeks UP police report on material seeking cancellation of Ashish Mishra bail

  • Ashish Mishra’s lawyers contested the allegations and produced material to show that he was at the Lok Sabha secretariat visiting a doctor on October 2


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Jan 20, 2025 3:40 PM IST

India News Live: RG Kar murder victim parents’ 1st reaction: ‘Don’t want compensation, want justice’

  • RG Kar rape-murder case: A Sealdah court sentenced convict Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment till death


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Jan 20, 2025 2:53 PM IST

India News Live: RG Kar rape-murder case: Sanjay Roy sentenced to life imprisonment by Kolkata’s Sealdah court

  • Sanjay Roy was found guilty of raping the 31-year-old trainee doctor and throttling her to death by the judge under Sections 64, 66 and 103(1) of the BNS.


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Jan 20, 2025 10:19 PM IST

Jaishankar, who is representing India at Trump’s inauguration as the special envoy of PM Modi, is set to participate in a meeting of Quad foreign ministers

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar is carrying a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for US President-elect Donald Trump, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar at the swearing-in ceremony of the 47th President of the United States of America. (PTI/@DrSJaishankar)
External affairs minister S Jaishankar at the swearing-in ceremony of the 47th President of the United States of America. (PTI/@DrSJaishankar)

Jaishankar, who is representing India at Trump’s inauguration in Washington as the special envoy of Modi, is set to participate in a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, the people said on condition of anonymity.

“Privileged to represent [India] as External Affairs Minister and Special Envoy of PM at the Swearing-In Ceremony of the 47th President of the United States of America today in Washington DC,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.

Jaishankar also attended the Inauguration Day Prayer Service at St John’s Church on Monday morning. Ahead of the inauguration ceremony, Jaishankar held separate meetings with his Australian and Japanese counterparts – Penny Wong and Takeshi Iwaya – and discussed bilateral relations and issues related to Quad.

The people said Senator Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, played a key role in the efforts to put together a meeting of the Quad foreign ministers on the margins of the inauguration ceremony. This is the first time that foreign leaders have been invited to the inauguration of a US president.

While confirming that Jaishankar is carrying a letter from the prime minister for Trump, the people said the Indian government has had a practice of sending special envoys of the prime minister to the swearing-in ceremony of foreign heads of state and government in recent years.

In this context, the people said defence minister Rajnath Singh attended the swearing-in ceremony of the Nigerian president in May 2023, Union minister Kiren Rijiju participated in the swearing-in ceremony of the president of the Maldives in November 2023, Union minister Nitin Gadkari joined the inauguration of the Iranian president in July 2024, and minister of state for external affairs Pabitra Margherita joined the swearing-in of the presidents of Indonesia and Mexico in October 2024.

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Tanzania’s president has announced an outbreak of Marburg virus, an Ebola-like virus, just a week after her health minister denied that there were any cases in the country.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan said at a press conference on Monday that health authorities had confirmed one case of Marburg in the north-western region of Kagera.

“We are confident that we will overcome this challenge once again,” Samia said, referring to a previous outbreak in Tanzania two years ago.

On 14 January, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a suspected Marburg outbreak in the country, having recorded nine suspected cases and eight deaths over five days in Kagera.

But Tanzania’s Health Minister Jenista Mhagama said in a statement that after samples had been analysed, all suspected cases were found negative for Marburg.

At Monday’s press briefing, which was held jointly with the WHO, President Samia said her government had stepped up its efforts and that a rapid response team had been dispatched to follow up on all suspected cases.

Marburg is highly infectious, with symptoms including fever, muscle pains, diarrhoea, vomiting and, in some cases, death through extreme blood loss.

On average, the virus kills half of the people it infects, according to the WHO.

Tanzania says that along with the one confirmed case, authorities took samples from 24 other people suspected of having Marburg. These all tested negative.

Meanwhile, the cause of the eight deaths reported by the WHO has yet to be revealed.

Tanzania experienced its first Marburg outbreak in March 2023 in the Bukoba district. It killed six people and lasted for nearly two months.

WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the global risk from Tanzania’s current outbreak was “low”.

“Even though there is no approved treatment or vaccines, outbreaks can be stopped quickly,” he said. “WHO advises against restrictions. Now is the time for collaboration.”

On Thursday, Africa CDC, the African Union’s public health agency, said more than 300 contacts had been identified for further testing. Health workers make up 56 of these contacts, while 16 on the list are known to have had direct contact with those suspected to have had Marburg.

The International Health Regulations (IHR) of 2005 require countries to report public health events and emergencies that could cross borders. Kagera is a transit hub with many people travelling to and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.

In December, neighbouring Rwanda declared that an outbreak in the country, which had infected 66 people and killed 15, was over.

The Marburg virus is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and then through contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals.

There are no specific treatments or a vaccine for the virus, although trials are under way.



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