Daily Bulletin: BJP-Congress slugfest over EVM rigging allegations; Modi to inaugurate Subhash Chandra Bose museum at Red Fort; day's top stories

EVM hacking claim a Congress-sponsored conspiracy to defame Indian democracy: BJP

Political slugfest over EVM rigging and hacking is refusing to die down as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dubbed allegations of rigging in the 2014 parliamentary election, made at a London press conference, a "Congress-sponsored conspiracy" designed to "defame" Indian democracy and the Election Commission.

A day after a self-proclaimed cyber expert alleged at the press event that the BJP had won election by hacking into Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the ruling party launched a stinging attack on the Congress and said it has already started looking for an "alibi" for its imminent loss in the coming Lok Sabha polls. Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters it was a Congress-sponsored conspiracy and asked if opposition parties wanted to revert to the use of ballot papers in elections, alleging that the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress had used them to rig local polls in the state last year as the government did not use EVMs. "This is a part of a well thought-out conspiracy, this is Congress's Cambridge Analytica part-2," Prasad said.

File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reuters

He also expressed his party's "deep pain" at the allegation in the London event that Union minister Gopinath Munde was "murdered" because he was aware of the 2014 poll "rigging" and was set to disclose it. He dismissed it as rubbish.

Narendra Modi to inaugurate Subhash Chandra Bose museum at Red Fort today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Subhash Chandra Bose museum at Red Fort on Wednesday to mark the leader's 122nd birth anniversary. Modi will also visit the Yaad-e-Jallian Museum, (museum on the Jallianwala Bagh and World War I) and the Museum on 1857- India's first war of Independence and Drishyakala-Museum on Indian Art at the same venue, a statement from his office said. The museum on Bose and the Indian National Army showcases various artefacts related to Subhash Chandra Bose and INA. The artefacts include wooden chair and sword used by the leader, medals, badges, uniforms and other artefacts related to the INA.

Johnny Depp, John Travolta, President Donald Trump nominated for 2019 Razzie Awards

Johnny Depp, John Travolta, and President Donald Trump are among the personalities to be nominated for the 2019 Razzie Awards, reports Screen Rant. The Razzies give away such dubious honours as Worst Actor, Worst Director, Worst Picture, Worst Screenplay, among others. Awards in previous editions have included 'recognition' for Worst Original Song, Worst Visual Effects, and Worst Screen Ensemble. Trump's surprise nomination is for his "appearances" in the documentary films Fahrenheit 11/9 and Death of a Nation.

New Zealand vs India, 1st ODI

Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson opts to bat in the opening ODI at Napier. India draft both leg-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in their playing XI, while leaving out Dinesh Karthik. For the home side, left-arm spin bowler Mitchell Santner makes a return, batsman Tom Latham and fast bowler Doug Bracewell included in the XI too.

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Pakistan, UAE sign $3 billion bailout package

Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday signed a $3 billion bailout package,êboost the cash-strapped country's dwindling dollar reserves.

The UAE in December 2018 had announced to provide $3 billion financial assistance to Pakistan after Saudi Arabia made a similar commitment to help Islamabad successfully overcome international payment crisis and to avoid a stringent International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal.

Tuesday's agreement was signed between State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) chief Tariq Bajwa and Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) Director General Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi. "UAE has formalized US$3bn deposit in the State Bank of Pakistan. DG ADFD & the Governor SBP inked the agreement at #ADFD Headquarters in Abu Dhabi," Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal tweeted.

Fuel prices rise

Petrol prices in Delhi on Wednesday morning were recorded at Rs 71.27 per litre, which is an increase of Rs 0.13, and diesel prices at Rs 65.90 per litre, which is an increase of Rs 0.19. Petrol and diesel prices in Mumbai were recorded at Rs. 76.90 and Rs 69.01 per litre respectively, which is an increase of Rs 0.13 and Rs 0.2) respectively.

31 Rohingyas stranded on India-Bangladesh border handed over to Tripura police

The Border Security Force (BSF) handed over the 31 Rohingya Muslims, who were stranded on the India-Bangladesh border for four days, to Tripura Police, even as 30 more community members were apprehended in Assam, officials said.

The 31 Rohingyas, who reportedly came from Jammu and Kashmir, had been stuck in no man's land, beyond the barbed wire fence along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura since 18 January. The situation had led to a blame game between the BSF and its counterpart — Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) — with the two sides accusing each other of pushing them into their territories.

The decision to hand over the Rohingyas to the Tripura Police was taken after the BSF and the BGB failed to reach a decision during talks on the issue. The 31 Rohingyas underwent a medical check-up and were later produced before a court in West Tripura district which sent them to 14-day judicial custody, the officials said.

President Kovind confers Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to 26 children

President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar — the revamped award scheme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development — to 26 children, two individuals and three institutions. The award was conferred to them at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Twenty-six children were awarded the Bal Shakti Puraskar (earlier known as National Child Award) under various fields like Innovation, Social Service, Scholastic, Sports, Art and Culture and Bravery.

The bravery award has been the latest addition to the scheme. Each award carries a medal, a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000, book vouchers worth Rs. 10,000, a certificate and a citation. These children will participate in the Republic Day parade on 26 January this year.

Two individuals and three institutions were awarded the of Bal Kalyan Puraskar (earlier known as National Child Welfare Award). The award for individual consists of a cash prize of Rs one lakh, a medal, a citation and a certificate to each awardee. The award for institution consists of a prize of Rs. 5,00,000 each and a medal, a citation and a certificate.

Two-day Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet starts today

The second edition of the Tamil Nadu government's two-day Global Investors Meet, aimed at showcasing the state's potential business opportunities and wooing investment, will begin in Chennai today.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to inaugurate the event which is the first major event for the AIADMK government after the demise of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, under whose stewardship the maiden edition was held.

The objective of the event is to position Tamil Nadu as the investor's choice besides showcasing its potential business opportunities. Over 250 companies from 10 countries would be taking part in the event at the Chennai Trade Centre.

2019 Tata Harrier SUV to launch in India today

The highly-awaited launch of the Tata Harrier is finally taking place and there are a number of reasons why a lot of people are excited. The Harrier is the most premium SUV from Tata Motors stable yet and is also the company's first product to be co-developed with Land Rover. Some of the anticipation for it is also courtesy the innovations, technology and features it comes equipped with, information about which has been fed to us via a steady drip-feed over the past few months.