Jan 23 news LIVE | Rupee hits all-time low of 92 against USD

VHP vows to build Goddess Saraswati temple at Bhojshala after legal process

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday (January 23) declared its resolve to build a grand temple of Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati) at the contested Bhojshala complex in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh by 2034 after completing due legal process.

The proposed shrine at Bhojshala will be on the lines of the grand Ram Temple constructed at the deity's birthplace at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh and will house the consecrated idol of Goddess Vagdevi which is currently in a London museum, said VHP International President Alok Kumar.

Hindus consider Bhojshala to be a temple of Goddess Vagdevi, while the Muslim community calls the 11th-century monument Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and a case regarding the site is pending in court.

Addressing a large gathering before taking the darshan of Goddess Vagdevi at Bhojshala on the occasion of Basant Panchami, the VHP leader said the already consecrated idol of the deity for the site is currently in a museum in London and it needs to be brought back.

"We have to bring this idol back to India. We have to win the pending court case and restore the temple's appearance to the dignity of Goddess Saraswati," Kumar asserted.

UDF convenor admits meeting Sabarimala gold loss accused multiple times

UDF convenor and Congress MP Adoor Prakash on Friday (January 23) admitted that he had met Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold loss case, on multiple occasions, but dismissed allegations linking him to the case.

He said the controversy was being raised at a time when a political atmosphere favourable to the UDF was emerging in Kerala.

"If anyone is attempting to portray me as a wrong person, the people of Kerala will not buy it. People of Kerala understand and evaluate everything," he said.

BMC announces 10 pc water cut in parts of Mumbai from January 27

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday (January 23) announced a 10 per cent water cut in parts of the city and eastern suburbs from January 27 to February 7 due to maintenance work.

The civic body, in a release, said that the annual maintenance work at the pneumatic gate system will be carried out at Pise in Thane district, from where water is supplied to parts of Mumbai.

The work is expected to affect water supply to most civic wards in the island city, eastern suburbs, and some parts of Thane and Bhiwandi municipal corporations that receive water supply from the BMC, it said.

The civic body has appealed to residents in the affected areas to use water judiciously and avoid wastage during the maintenance period.

PM Modi arrives in TN to kickstart NDA rally ahead of Assembly polls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived on Friday (January 23) to address the first political rally of the NDA at nearby Maduranthakam, ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections due in another 2-3 months.

He was received by Governor R N Ravi, state minister T M Anbarasan, Chief Secretary N Muruganandam and other officials at the airport here upon his arrival from Thiruvananthapuram.

The PM left by a helicopter to reach Maduranthakam, located about 87 km from here to address the rally in which AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran, and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss among others, would share the dais.

AIADMK leads the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu. 

US tariffs hurting textile exporters, Modi must protect jobs and businesses: Rahul Gandhi

Asserting that US tariffs are badly hurting textile exporters, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday (January 23) said it is imperative that India secures a trade deal with America that puts Indian businesses and workers first and asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must not allow his "own weakness" to impact the economy any further.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha shared a video on X of his recent visit to a garment factory in Haryana where he witnessed firsthand the skill of Indian tailors and the resilience and ambition of people.

In a post on X accompanying the video, Rahul said, "50 per cent US tariffs and uncertainty are badly hurting India’s textile exporters. Job losses, factory shutdowns and reduced orders are a reality of our 'Dead Economy'." "Modi has offered no relief or even spoken about tariffs, even though more than 4.5 crore jobs and lakhs of businesses are at stake. Modi ji, you are accountable; please direct your attention to this matter!" he said, using the hashtag TINA -- 'There is No Accountability' Gandhi also posted the video on YouTube and wrote a post accompanying it.

"Modi ji, you are accountable; please direct your attention to this matter!" Rahul said in an obvious swipe at the PM with a play on US President Donald Trump's often-repeated phrase in social media posts --"Thank you for your attention to this matter".

"India's textile industry is the second largest employer in our economy – our textiles are loved worldwide, and the craftsmanship of our tailors is truly unparalleled. Yet today, this industry is facing deep uncertainty and fear because of US tariffs," Rahul said.

Modi labels Congress 'MMC', vows probe into Sabarimala gold theft

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday raked up the Sabarimala gold loss issue in poll-bound Kerala to attack the ruling Left. He also targeted the Congress for its association with the Muslim League, accusing it of promoting hardline elements in the state.

Referring to the grand old party as 'MMC,' Muslim League Maoist Congress, Modi said it was important to be vigilant against them, as they were allegedly using Kerala as a 'testing ground' for their strategies.

Targeting the CPI(M)-led ruling alliance, Modi accused the LDF of leaving "no stone unturned" to tarnish the traditions of the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala.

Modi said that while the LDF and UDF have different flags and symbols, their underlying political approach and agenda are virtually identical -- "rampant corruption with zero accountability and the promotion of divisive communalism with no responsibility".

Rupee hits an all-time low of $92

The rupee hit an all-time low of 92 on Friday and recovered marginally to settle at 91.88 (provisional) against the American currency, amid selling pressure from foreign funds and risk-off sentiment in global markets.

Forex traders said the Indian rupee gave up early gains and hit a record low of 91.99 per US dollar in intraday trade due to weak domestic markets and persistent foreign fund outflows. Moreover, gains in crude oil prices and a surge in US treasury yields weighed on the rupee. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 91.45 and then gained ground to touch an intraday high of 91.41 against the greenback.

It touched an all-time intraday low of 92.00 before settling for the day at a record closing low of 91.88 (provisional), down 30 paise from its previous closing level.

On Thursday, the rupee rebounded from its all-time low levels and ended with a gain of 7 paise at 91.58 against the US dollar. The previous all-time low was recorded on January 21, when the rupee plunged 68 paise to close at 91.65 against the American currency.

The rupee has slumped by 200 paise, or over 2 per cent, so far this month. In 2025, the domestic unit had plunged 5 per cent on unabated foreign fund outflows and dollar strength

Iran denies Trump's claim that Tehran halted execution of 800 prisoners

Iran's top prosecutor on Friday (January 23) denied a claim by US President Donald Trump that his intervention halted the execution of 800 people detained in nationwide protests, calling his comments “completely false.” The news agency of Iran's judiciary, Mizan, quoted Mohammad Movahedi as making the comment.

It again calls into question whether there will be mass executions over the nationwide protests. Officials have already said some detainees face death penalty charges.

“This claim is completely false; no such number exists, nor has the judiciary made any such decision,” Movahedi said, according to Mizan.

Trump has said that mass executions and the killing of peaceful protesters are both red lines for a possible US military strike on Iran.

Adani Green Energy net profit falls 99 pc to Rs 5 cr in Q3

Adani Green Energy on Friday (January 23) reported a nearly 98.94 cent decline in its consolidated net profit to Rs 5 crore, mainly due to higher expenses.

The company had reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 474 crore in the quarter ended December 2024, a regulatory filing showed.

Its total expenses in the quarter rose to Rs 2,961 crore from Rs 2,329 crore a year ago.

The finance costs jumped to 1,698 crore in the quarter from Rs 1,251 crore in the year-ago period.

The total income rose to Rs 2,837 crore in the quarter from Rs 2,636 crore.

Turkiye celebrates as Syrian government makes gains against Kurdish-led force

Turkiye is celebrating the latest developments in Syria, where the new government has effectively defeated a major Kurdish-led force with an abrupt offensive.

Ankara has long viewed armed groups led by Kurds — an ethnic minority with large populations in eastern Turkiye, Iraq and northern Syria — as a threat as Turkiye as fought to quell the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, whose decades-long insurgency cost tens of thousands of lives.

Coming just a few months after a Kurdish militant group in Turkiye agreed to lay down its arms, the collapse of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces is a major step toward Ankara's regional goals.