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Wed, 11 December 2024
MVA leaders keen to cross over to Mahayuti: BJP
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23:44 MVA leaders keen to cross over to Mahayuti: BJP
Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule and his colleague Pravin Darekar on Wednesday claimed that many MPs and MLAs from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have reached out to them expressing disgruntlement with their respective parties.
The Congress rejected the assertions, with its state chief Nana Patole terming them unworthy of serious discussions.
"The MVA leaders themselves have been conveying their unease, and many are in touch with the BJP (for a possible switch)," Bawankule said.
In the recently concluded assembly polls, the MVA of Congress, Shiv Sena-UBT and NCP-SP performed disastrously, winning only 46 of the 288 seats. By contrast, Mahayuri, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP bagged 230 seats. The poll outcome has fuelled speculation about the movement of MVA legislators to the ruling side.
"There is no organised attempt to coax MVA leaders to switch parties. The BJP is open to welcoming those seeking to align with their vision for a developed country," said Bawankule.
Patole said Bawankule's claim doesn't deserve a response.
"All Congress MPs from Maharashtra are with the party. We will show Mahayuti's actual condition in the upcoming winter session of the Maharashtra legislature in Nagpur," Patole said.
Earlier, BJP leader Darekar hinted that some MPs of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SP could cross over to his party if development was their priority.
Many MVA MPs, especially those from the NCP-SP, represent constituencies where the BJP-led alliance won most seats in the assembly elections, he said.
"If development is their priority, with both the central and state governments controlled by the BJP-led alliance, they may consider their political future carefully," Darekar said. -- PTI
23:09 'Threatened' in Bangladesh, minor girl flees to India
A teenage girl from Bangladesh was arrested by West Bengal Police after the Border Security Force apprehended her after she allegedly crossed the border and illegally entered the Indian territory in Uttar Dinajpur district, an officer said on Wednesday.
The 17-year-old girl claimed to have fled after her family members were allegedly threatened by fundamentalists there for being ISKCON devotees.
"The girl has some relatives in Jalpaiguri district. We have got in touch with them. We are trying to find out what made her cross the border and come to this side and who helped her in doing so," the police officer of Chopra police station said.
The girl, who is a resident of Panchagarh district of Bangladesh, crossed the border on foot when the BSF spotted her near the Fatehpur Border outpost in Chopra block of Uttar Dinajpur district, he added.
"They are devotees of ISKCON. Fundamentalists have threatened to kidnap her and murder the entire family. They were planning to send her here. She was about to come to India but we had no confirmation about the date," one of the teenager's relatives told PTI over the phone.
Her father, a medical representative, has been ill for quite some time, the relative said.
Bangladesh has been on the boil since the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Dhaka on November 25 when the country witnessed several incidents of atrocities on the Hindu minorities there.
Reacting to the incident, ISKCON Kolkata Vice President Radaramn Das requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene in the matter.
22:23 After Maha CM drama, now suspense over cabinet
The ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra may not give another chance to three leaders in the new state cabinet even as they were ministers in the previous government in view of complaints about their performance and inaccessibility, a party leader said.
The party is likely to induct fresh faces in their place.
An aide of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and party MLA said several legislators raised concern regarding certain ministers. They said the three former ministers - one each from Konkan, western Maharashtra and Marathwada - were inaccessible even to the party MLAs.
"We have raised this issue with the deputy CM (Shinde) and demanded that they should not be inducted in the new cabinet. These ministers did not even meet their own party MLAs," the aide said.
This development reflects the churn within the Shiv Sena which has 57 MLAs.
In a related development, Shinde's office said he has not gone to Delhi to hold talks on cabinet expansion.
Shinde was not scheduled to go to Delhi, his office added.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis left for the national capital on Wednesday, his office said, adding that it was a courtesy visit, the first after taking over the reins of the state again. He was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
The aide also said that the cabinet expansion of the new government is likely to take place by December 14, just before the winter session of the state legislature commences. -- PTI
22:09 No Aadhaar to those who didn't apply for NRC: Assam
In an attempt to link the Aadhaar Card with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Assam government on Wednesday decided that all applications to get the unique identity card will be rejected if the applicant or the family had not applied in NRC.
The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting in view of an infiltration attempt by citizens of trouble-hit Bangladesh, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said at a press conference here.
"Scores of infiltrators have been nabbed by Assam Police, Tripura Police and BSF in the last two months. That is why infiltration from Bangladesh is a concern for us. We need to strengthen our system and that is why we decided to toughen the Aadhaar Card mechanism," he added.
From now on, the General Administration Department of the state government will be the nodal agency to carry out the verification of the Aadhaar applicants and one Additional District Commissioner will be the concerned person in every district, Sarma said after the Cabinet meeting.
"After the initial application, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will send it to the state government for verification. The local Circle Officer (CO) will first check if the applicant or his parents or family had applied for inclusion in the NRC," he added.
If there was no application for the NRC, then the Aadhaar request will be immediately rejected and a report will be submitted to the Centre accordingly, the CM said.
"If it is found that there was an application for NRC, the CO will go for field-level verification as per Supreme Court directives. After the officer is fully convinced, the Aadhaar will be approved," he added.
Sarma, however, said this new directive would not be applicable to the central government employees, who were working in other states and did not apply for the NRC. -- PTI
22:02 Thailand's e-Visa system in India to be effective from Jan 1
The Thai embassy in India announced on Wednesday the implementation of Thailand's Electronic Visa system in India that will be effective from January 1.
In its announcement, the embassy also said applications for all types of visas must be sent through the website thaievisa.go.th.
"The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi wishes to announce the implementation of Thailand's Electronic Visa (e-Visa) system in India with the offline payment method," it said.
The e-Visa system will be effective from January 1, 2025, the embassy said.
It said the processing time will be approximately within 14 working days from the date the receipt of the visa fee is issued.
Ordinary passport applications submitted at designated visa processing companies will be accepted until December 16, 2024. Diplomatic and official passport applications submitted at the Embassy or Consulate-General will be accepted until December 24, 2024.
"The 60-day visa exemption for tourism and short business purposes for Indian ordinary passport holders remains effective until further announcement," it said. -- PTI
21:37 1,440 VVPATs matched with EVM counts in Maha: EC
Maharashtra's Additional Chief Electoral Officer Kiran Kulkarni has said in all 1,440 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) were verified during the last month's state assembly polls with their results matching perfectly with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) counts.
A VVPAT is connected with an EVM through a printer port, which records vote data and counters in a paper slip to verify the correct recording of vote by the machine. VVPATs are intended as an independent verification system for voting machines.
He vouched for the credibility of EVMs, saying they are standalone devices with no possibility of hacking, an assertion coming in the backdrop of some opposition parties questioning the credibility of these machines and demanding a return to ballot papers.
In an interview with PTI, Kulkarni informed that 659 cases related to violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) were recorded during the assembly polls and they were under investigation.
This was a significant rise from 366 such cases reported in Maharashtra during the Lok Sabha polls, which were held in the state in April-May. The assembly elections were held on November 23.
Kulkarni explained investigations into the assembly election cases were being pursued actively and expressed confidence they will reach a satisfactory conclusion.
He noted that complaints regarding hate speeches and violations of the MCC were thoroughly investigated with some resulting in legal action under relevant laws.
"Maharashtra recorded 659 cases during the recent assembly elections, a significant increase from 366 cases in the Lok Sabha elections. Our investigating agencies did an excellent work during the Lok Sabha polls. Out of 366 cases, 300 were charge-sheeted. Similarly, for the 659 cases in the assembly elections, all investigations were being followed up, and I am hopeful they will also reach a logical end," maintained the senior bureaucrat.
Asked about opposition parties levelling manipulation allegations regarding EVMs and questioning their credibility and transparency, Kulkarni sought to allay their concerns and asserted these devices are tamper proof.
"These machines are standalone devices with no external connectivity, making hacking impossible. The chip in EVMs is one-time programmable, ensuring no changes can be made. Strict security and administrative protocols further prevent any tampering," he insisted. -- PTI
20:49 Cold wave hits Delhi, early December records mercury below 5 deg C in 14 years
Chilly winds on Wednesday marked the arrival of cold wave conditions in the national capital as Delhi recorded a low of 4.9 degrees Celsius, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The minimum temperatures in early December have been recorded below 5 degrees Celsius for the first time in 14 years, it said.
According to data, the lowest minimum temperature during this period was recorded on December 6, 1987, at 4.1 degrees Celsius.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert, warning of similar cold wave conditions for the next two days.
The night-time temperature was recorded at 4.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, 4.7 notches below the normal. On Tuesday, it was 8 degrees Celsius.
According to the data, in December 2023 and 2022, there were no cold wave days. However, November 2020 saw cold wave conditions with the minimum temperature plunging to 7.5 degrees Celsius.
A cold wave occurs when the minimum temperature departures from the normal day temperature by 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius. If the negative departure exceeds 6.4 degrees Celsius, it is classified as a "severe cold wave". -- PTI
20:42 Allu Arjun's 'Pushpa 2' crosses Rs 1000 crore mark
Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2: The Rule has hit the milestone of Rs 1000 crore at the global box office in just six days, making it the fastest Indian film to register the feat.
The Sukumar-directed movie, which is a sequel to 2021's Telugu blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise, released on December 5 with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam.
Production banner Mythri Movie Makers, which has bankrolled the project, shared the movie's latest box office figures on social media and said the film has earned Rs 1002 crore gross.
"THE BIGGEST INDIAN FILM rewrites history at the box office. #Pushpa2TheRule becomes the FASTEST INDIAN FILM to cross 1000 CRORES GROSS WORLDWIDE in 6 days #PUSHPA2HitsFastest1000Cr. Sukumar redefines commercial cinema," the banner posted on X.
In the coveted Rs 1000 crore club, Pushpa 2 joins movies like Aamir Khan's Dangal, Prabhas' Baahubali 2 and Kalki 2898 AD, SS Rajamouli's RRR and Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan and Jawan.
The Hindi version of Pushpa 2, whose trailer was launched by Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna in Patna last month, has so far collected Rs 375 crore in nett box office earnings, Mythri Movie Makers said in a separate post.
"Another sensational day for #Pushpa2TheRule at the box office with a Nett of 36 CRORES in Hindi on Tuesday. Fastest to hit 375 CRORES NETT mark in Hindi in just 6 days. RULING IN CINEMAS," the studio said.
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20:25 Assam woman ostracised for wearing salwar-kameez
In a case of moral policing, a woman was socially ostracised and fined Rs 5,000 for wearing salwar-kameez in Darrang district of Assam, officials said on Wednesday.
According to an official of the district commissioner's office, the incident took place in Gongajani Kuwori village in Sipajhar revenue circle area recently.
The woman, identified as Meghali Das, on Wednesday filed complaints with the police and civil administration, and officials are likely to visit the village on Thursday to look into the matter.
"I have been ostracised and asked to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 for wearing salwar-kameez... I run a small shop and since I need to bring commodities from the market, I prefer wearing salwar to a mekhela-sador (traditional Assamese dress) or saree," she told reporters in Mangaldai.
Das said that the villagers objected to her wearing salwar-kameez and took the decision in a kangaroo court held at a local temple premises on Sunday.
"We are not being allowed to visit the houses of other people in the village. My three children have also been told not to go to shops, let alone visit other villagers. Villagers have also asked their children to not speak to my children at school," she added.
Despite the decision of the villagers, the affected woman vowed to continue wearing salwar-kameez as it is convenient for her work. -- PTI
20:00 SC flags 'casual approach' over admission to disabled candidate
The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought the personal presence of the director general of the Centre's Directorate General of Health Services while flagging the "casual approach" over the grant of admission to a medical aspirant from the disability category.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan directed the officer to remain present before it at around 10.30 am on December 12.
"It is unfortunate that in the matter concerning admission of the petitioner belonging to the persons with disability category, in spite of notice being duly served, none appears," the bench said in its order.
It said normally, the court did not direct the government officials to remain present in the court.
"... in view of the casual approach of respondent number 2, we are compelled to direct the personal presence of the Director General, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi in this court on December 12 at 10.30 am," it said.
The top court, which asked the registrar concerned to ensure its order was communicated to the director general.
The bench was hearing a petition challenging a September 23 order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which dismissed a plea filed by the aspirant for admission to the MBBS course for the 2024-25 academic session.
The high court noted the challenge in the matter was over the disability certificate and observed a similar question was previously decided by the high court in a separate matter and relief was denied primarily on the ground that opinion of experts in the field of disability couldn't substitute the court's opinion. -- PTI
19:49 Mamata reacts on support for INDIA bloc leadership
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday thanked several senior leaders of the INDIA bloc for backing her as the leader of the non-BJP coalition.
Banerjee, who is on a three-day trip to the coastal town of Digha in Purba Medinipur district, told reporters that she would pray for the well-being of those leaders and the alliance.
"I am indebted to everyone for the respect they have shown to me. I pray for their good health. I want them as well as their party to stay well. I also want INDIA to stay well," Banerjee said.
The Trinamool Congress supremo refused to speak more on the issue.
Banerjee last week expressed her dissatisfaction with the functioning of the INDIA bloc and signalled her intent to take charge of the alliance if given an opportunity. Leaders of several of its constituents backed her, saying she should be allowed to lead the coalition.
"I had formed the INDIA bloc, now it is up to those leading the front to manage it. If they can't run the show, what can I do? I would just say that everyone needs to be taken along," she said in an interview with Bengali news channel News 18 Bangla.
Leaders such as NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar and RJD president Lalu Prasad, backed her. -- PTI
18:57 RBI will remain alert and agile to meet challenges: New Guv
New RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday said the central bank will maintain continuity and stability in policy matters, but emphasised on the need to remain "alert and agile" in the wake of the current global economic and political environment.
Earlier in the day, he took charge as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank, replacing Shaktikanta Das who demitted office after six years.
"As we have to be conscious of the fact that we do maintain continuity and stability, we cannot be stuck to it, and we have to be alert and agile to meet challenges," Malhotra said in his first interaction as Governor with media.
In his brief statement, Malhotra also stressed that the central bank will continue to interact with all segments, including financial regulators, state governments and the Centre, to continue the Reserve Bank's legacy.
"We do not have monopoly of all knowledge," he said, while stressing on the importance of wide consultations with other stakholders.
The former revenue secretary emphasised that RBI will extensively use technology to further promote financial inclusion. -- PTI
18:34 TMC MP's remark on Scindia sparks row in Parl
Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed repeated adjournments as remarks by Kalyan Banerjee against Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia created an uproar which refused to die down despite apology tendered by the TMC member.
Finally, the chair adjourned the House for the day.
Trouble arose when Banerjee was speaking during a discussion on the amendments to the Disaster Management Act.
The TMC member alleged non-cooperation by the central government during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai countered it, saying it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who helped all the states and successfully handled the crisis by taking everyone along.
Rai also alleged that the West Bengal government tried to put hurdles in the transportation of Covid vaccines through its territory.
Scindia stood up and supported Rai, saying that India had emerged as a "Vishwa Bandhu" during the pandemic and helped all the needy countries across the world.
Following this, Banerjee attacked Scindia and made certain remarks against the minister which were expunged by Speaker Om Birla.
The verbal spat between the treasury and opposition benches lead to adjournment.
When the House reconvened, Banerjee apologised for his remarks, but Scindia refused to accept.
"Mr Kalyan Banerjee rose in this House and said sorry. But I will say that we all come to this House with the spirit of contribution to the nation's development...but we also come with a sense of self respect.
"Any individual in their lives will not stand compromising with their self respect. Attack us on our policies, on our views, but if you will get personal, certainly be prepared for the response," the Union minister said.
"He has apologised...I do not accept his apology for the personal attack that he had made on me and on the women of India," he said.
Banerjee apologised again but protests from treasury benches continued.
A Raja, who was presiding the House, said the two have settled the matter between themselves.
18:25 Ex-Karnataka CM SM Krishna cremated with state honours
Ex-Chief Minister of Karnataka and former External Affairs Minister S M Krishna was cremated on Wednesday with full state honours in his ancestral village Somanahalli in Mandya district.
The 92-year-old veteran politician, who had also served as the Maharashtra Governor, died at his residence in Bengaluru on Tuesday after prolonged illness.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy and Krishna's relative D K Shivakumar, Central and state ministers, several MLAs, MPs, opposition BJP and JD-S leaders and top government officials in the state were present during the final rites.
Along with them, the pontiff of the Adi Chunchanagiri Math Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji along with others paid respect.
Krishna's wife Prema, daughters Malavika and Shambhavi too paid their homage with teary eyes.
The mortal remains of SMK, as Krishna was fondly addressed, was brought to the venue in a palanquin decorated with flowers.
His body was wrapped in the Indian tricolour and decked with garlands. The police gave a gun salute to the departed leader.
Amid chants of Vedic hymns by a team of priests, Krishna's grandson Amartya lit the pyre comprising 1,000 kg of sandalwood. -- PTI
18:03 Kejriwal meets EC over voter 'deletion' issue
An Aam Aadmi Party delegation led by Arvind Kejriwal met the Election Commission on Wednesday to address allegations of mass voter deletions ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.
The party's national convenor, following the meeting, alleged that the BJP was orchestrating a conspiracy to remove voters, mostly from marginalised communities, including Dalits, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Purvanchalis, from the electoral roll.
"We have submitted 3,000 pages of evidence showing how the BJP is conspiring to delete voters' names on a mass scale," Kejriwal claimed.
He stated the EC provided several assurances, including that no large-scale deletions would occur without proper verification.
The former chief minister of Delhi also mentioned that in cases of voter deletions, a field inquiry will be conducted by the Booth Level Officer (BLO), accompanied by representatives from various political parties.
Kejriwal noted that if any individual applies to delete more than five voters' names, the concerned sub-divisional magistrate will carry out a field inquiry.
The EC also assured AAP of strict action against those filing questionable deletion requests, he said.
The delegation included Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, Rajya Sabha MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha and party leader Jasmine Shah.
17:38 No proposal to criminalise marital rape: Govt
There is no proposal to criminalise sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his own wife, she not being under 18 years of age, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
In response to a question, Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar said sections 74, 75, 76 and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 provide for a sufficiently adequate remedy, which includes penal consequences, thereby protecting the right and dignity of a woman within the institution of marriage. -- PTI
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17:33 Air Force jawan commits suicide while on duty
An Air Force sergeant allegedly took his own life by shooting himself while on duty in Nagpur in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.
Javeer Singh (36), who hailed from Bhiwani in Haryana, shot himself in the head with his service weapon around 2 am, said an official of Gittikhadan police station.
The gunshot alerted fellow jawans at the Maintenance Command Center in Vayusena Nagar who discovered him lying in a pool of blood.
The body was sent to a government hospital for post-mortem and investigation was underway, said the official.
Singh's colleagues told police that he appeared to be stressed in the last two days.
But the exact cause of the suicide was yet to be ascertained, the official said. -- PTI
17:08 Sensex, Nifty edge up in choppy trade
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty closed higher in choppy trade on Wednesday as investors awaited key US inflation data for further cues. The 30-share BSE Sensex rose by 16.09 points or 0.02 per cent to close at 81,526.14.
Snapping its three-day losing run, the broader NSE Nifty advanced 31.75 points or 0.13 per cent to settle at 24,641.80.
From the 30-share Sensex pack, Bajaj Finance, Nestle India, Bajaj Finserv, Asian Paints, UltraTech Cement, Infosys, Maruti, Bharti Airtel and Hindustan Unilever were among the gainers. JSW Steel, Adani Ports, NTPC, State Bank of India, Reliance Industries, Tech Mahindra, Axis Bank, Titan and HDFC Bank were the laggards.
Let the games begin...
17:04 Fadnavis drops Shinde's trusted aide from...
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has appointed Rameshwar Naik as the head of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Naik replaced Mangesh Chivte, considered a close aide of former CM Eknath Shinde.
Chivte had been given the post after Shinde took over as Maharashtra's CM in June 2022. Naik earlier headed the medical aid cell of the deputy chief minister when Fadnavis held the post.
CM's Relief Fund provides assistance to deserving families and individuals affected by natural calamities or the loss of life of relatives in accidents, or for treatment for major diseases. -- PTI
16:51 Dhankar running a circus, not Parliament: Raut
What other Opposition MPs said on RS chairperson Jagdeep Dhankar:
DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said there is a blatant attack on the country's democracy in Parliament by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Nadimul Haque said he agrees with the leader of opposition. "We are not allowed to express ourselves in the Rajya Sabha," Haque said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, "It seems that the chairman is not running Parliament but a circus. He eats up the time by speaking himself."
"There is a blatant attack on the democracy by the ruling party in Parliament. In parliamentary democracy, the leader of the House and the leader of opposition are two pillars and whenever the LoP stands up to speak, the floor is immediately given to the opposition leader and no one will speak," Siva said.
TMC's Sagarika Ghose, RJD's Manoj Jha, Javed Ali Khan of the SP, NCP (SP) leader Fauzia Khan and Sarfaraz Ahmad of the JMM, among others, were present on the dais at the press conference. PTI
16:43 Pappu fail ho gaya: BJP on Mamata's INDIA push
As the debate over Mamata Banerjee's potential leadership of the INDIA Bloc intensifies, Haryana Minister Anil Vij stated on Wednesday that Rahul Gandhi has failed, and the alliance's plan to change its "engine" will not yield any benefits.
"From the first day, we have been saying that 'Pappu fail ho gaya'. Now his friends have admitted the same. No one can drive their (INDIA Bloc) car. They want to change the engine again, but it will not work," said Vij.
Sharad Pawar recently highlighted the leadership potential of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, describing her as a prominent national leader and commending the competence of her party's representatives in Parliament.
Expressing his support last week, Pawar said, "Yes, certainly (she is capable of leading the alliance). She is a prominent leader of this nation... she has that capability. The elected leaders she sent to Parliament are responsible, dutiful, and well-informed. Therefore, she has the right to stake her claim."
Earlier, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Yadav sparked a political stir by endorsing Mamata Banerjee for the leadership of the INDIA Bloc.
Speaking to ANI in Patna, Yadav remarked, "Congress's objection means nothing. We will support Mamata. Mamata Banerjee should be given the leadership (of the INDIA Bloc). We will form the government again in 2025."Congress, a key player in the INDIA Bloc, has yet to officially respond to Lalu Yadav's suggestion, fueling speculation about internal divisions within the alliance. -- ANI
16:35 Hand grenade found on steps of bank in Manipur
Unidentified people on Wednesday kept a hand grenade in front of a private bank in Manipur's Imphal West district, police said on Wednesday. Passersby spotted the grenade on the stairs in front of the private bank at Singjamei and informed the police.
The police, in turn, called the bomb squad to defuse it. The police registered a case and initiated an investigation. In another development, the security forces, during search operations at Tingkai Khullen in Kangpokpi district, recovered several arms, including a carbine machine gun with magazine, one single bolt sniper rifle, one 9 mm handgun with magazine, one hand grenade along with two tube launchers, ammunition and a radio set, a police statement on Wednesday said. -- PTI
16:17 Fed up of Dhankar's partiality: Kharge
Several opposition parties on Wednesday said the "partisan" conduct of Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar prompted them to move a notice for his removal as vice president and alleged that politics has taken precedence over rules in the Upper House of Parliament.
Addressing a press conference at the Constitution Club in New Delhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that Dhankhar is working as a government spokesperson and acting like a school headmaster, often sermonising experienced opposition leaders and preventing them from speaking in the House.
Khage also claimed that Dhankhar himself is responsible for the disruptions in the House.
"The Rajya Sabha chairman's conduct has been contrary to the dignity of the post he holds. He targets opposition leaders and often praises the government," Kharge said.
"Politics has taken precedence over rules in the Rajya Sabha and the chairman has indulged in partisan behaviour," he alleged.
The Congress chief said since 1952, no resolution has been brought under Article 67 of the Constitution against the vice president as those who held the post previously never indulged in politics and remained unbiased.
"The notice for the Rajya Sabha chairman's removal is not about personal grievances or political battles. We are fed up with his behaviour and partiality. That is why we have given the notice for his removal," he said.
Kharge said the opposition parties have nothing against Dhankhar, "but he left us with no option but to go ahead with the notice for his removal".
"The Rajya Sabha chairman's conduct in the House has harmed the country's dignity," he alleged. DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said there is a blatant attack on the country's democracy in Parliament by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Nadimul Haque said he agrees with the leader of opposition. "We are not allowed to express ourselves in the Rajya Sabha," Haque said. PTI
Atul Subhash's cousin
15:50 Man's life as important as woman's: Techie's brother
The brother of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, while seeking justice for his sibling voiced his concerns about the lack of legal protection for men facing harassment and said despite the gravity of the suicide incident, no arrests have been made in the case so far, and the family is committed to pursuing legal action.
In an emotional statement, the techie's brother urged the government of India to recognise that men's lives are just as important as women's, stressing that laws should address harassment experienced by men as well.
"I want justice for my brother. Laws should be made for the men also as they are also suffering from harassment. The government of India should understand this. A man's life is just as important as a woman's. No arrest has been made yet in the case. We will proceed legally," said the grieving brother.
Cousin brother of Atul Subhash in Bihar's Patna also spoke to ANI and said, "He was an engineer and working in Bengaluru. We were aware that he was being tortured by his in-laws but didn't know that he would take such a step. Before dying by suicide he interacted with his parents. He got married in 2019." -- ANI
MP Dimple Yadav
15:25 Is SP distancing itself from Cong? Dimple says...
Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav on Wednesday said that her party was neither with the "Soros issue" raised by the BJP against Congress nor with the" Adani issue" raised by the Congress.
She said that the House should run.
"The House is running. It was functional today and we are hopeful that it keeps running. We are neither with the Soros issue nor with the Adani issue. We believe that the House should run," Dimple Yadav told reporters.
"We hope that the people of both sides will show dedication towards the functioning of the House. There will be a discussion on the Constitution on Friday and Saturday. The Samajwadi Party wants the House to function," she added.
Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition wants the House to run and have a debate on the Constitution on 13th December as agreed upon. -- ANI
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15:04 Race against time for boy in borewell for 48 hrs
With more than 48 hours having passed since five-year-old Aryan fell into a 150-feet-deep borewell in Rajasthan's Dausa, rescuers are racing against time to pull him out safely.
As they dig a parallel borewell to reach the child, National Disaster Response Force personnel say there are myriad challenges in the operation: the water level in the area may be around 160 feet, difficulty in capturing any movement of the child on camera due to steam underground, and then there are safety concerns for the staff as well.
"The challenge is that we can go up to 150 feet and not beyond that. NDRF rescuers will go down with protective equipment to rescue the child," NDRF commandant Yogesh Kumar said. He said drilling machines have dug up to 110 feet and the plan is to go up till the depth of 150 feet, the depth at which the child is stuck. After reaching that depth, a casing will be put horizontally to "approach the boy in the borewell", he said.
The commandant said the water level in the area may be at about 160 feet, therefore submersible pumps in the area have been put in operation as a mitigation measure.
He also said that due to the steam underground, the team was not able to get a clear picture through a camera which was lowered in the borewell. Aryan fell into the open borewell while playing in an agriculture filed in Kalikhad village. The incident occurred at around 3 pm on Monday and rescue operation began one hour later. -- PTI
14:56 EC notes 'vote jihad' speeches during Maha polls
Controversial phrases like "vote jihad" used by some political parties during the election campaign in the recently-held Maharashtra assembly polls are under the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s scanner, an official said on Wednesday.
In an exclusive interview to PTI, Maharashtra Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dr Kiran Kulkarni also said that more than 650 cases of poll code violation were registered during the state elections, and the enforcement agencies will make sure that these cases are taken to a logical conclusion.
When asked about 'vote jihad', he said, "The ECI is carefully analysing its implications across legal, linguistic and social domains before taking further action...We should be very cautious with terms like 'vote jihad' because they have serious repercussions."
"This is a new phrase requiring thorough study. There are legal, linguistic, social and religious aspects to consider. ECI officials, including the Chief Electoral Officer and I, are analysing this and we will take an appropriate decision once all these aspects are reviewed comprehensively," he said. When asked if such controversial phrases affected the election discourse, Kulkarni cautioned against drawing hasty conclusions.
"It's a long-term process. Words and their references need to be defined and analysed thoroughly. There is no airtight legal framework for new terminology, so we must handle such matters carefully, keeping in mind their consequences," he said.
Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly were held on November 20 and the votes were counted three days later. The election code of conduct came into force in the state on October 15.
Kulkarni said, a total of 659 cases were filed in the state for violation of election code of conduct, significantly higher than the 366 cases registered during the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year. "Our investigating agencies did excellent work in the Lok Sabha cases with 300 chargesheets already filed in courts," he said.
On the assembly election cases, he said, "We are following up diligently. Our enforcement agencies are investigating, and all chargesheets will be filed in courts to make sure these cases reach a logical conclusion." The timeline for action depends on the judiciary, he said. "These are criminal cases, so they follow the due process. Courts are serious about election-related offences, and we are requesting expedited resolution," he said.
On hate speech complaints, Kulkarni said these cases are dealt with under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). "Some complaints were verified as genuine, and cases were filed under relevant legal provisions. However, the model code of conduct is not a law but a consensual guideline supported by various laws," he said. Kulkarni dismissed allegations of booth capturing during the polls, citing Maharashtra's robust electoral systems. -- PTI
14:24 Techie died by suicide due to harassment: Police
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Whitefield, Shivakumar on Tuesday confirmed that Bengaluru-based techie Atul Subhash committed suicide in the early hours of December 9 following harassment from his wife and her family.
Speaking to ANI, the DCP said, "Atul Subhash committed suicide during the early hours of 9th of December. A complaint has been lodged at the Marathahalli police station in Bengaluru regarding this. Multiple cases were running against him in Uttar Pradesh."
"His wife and her family members demanded money from him to settle this issue and harassed him. For those reasons, he died by suicide. Based on this complaint, we registered an FIR against the accused. An investigation is underway," said the official.
Advocate Awadhesh Tiwari from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh also spoke to ANI on the case and said, "We received information on December 9 that he died by suicide. The allegations have been levelled against his wife and her mother, uncle and brother."
"There were many cases filed against him by his wife, one was the case of maintenance-- we were looking upon that, other than this, case of dowry, assault was being looked upon by the other lawyers. Atul Subhash belonged to Samastipur in Bihar and was residing in Bengaluru for work. He connected with me regarding a case. Cases of dowry and assault from him and his family members over his wife were charged against Atul and his family," said the lawyer.
He added, "For maintenance, the settlement was done by the court this July 2024, stating that he would have to provide 20,000 for his son, later the sum was increased to Rs 40,000 per month. the wife had also requested the court for other amounts which was rejected by the court."
The case of Bengaluru Techie Atul Subhash who died by suicide citing alleged harassment by his estranged wife has opened up a debate on the misuse of the dowry law.Mumbai-based lawyer Abha Singh described the case as a 'gross misuse of law,' stating that false charges and harassment led to the death of the victim, suffering from harassment from his wife and in-laws.
"Dowry laws, being made to protect women should not be misused because if some women are going to misuse these laws, then it will directly deny justice to women who need them," said the lawyer.
Delhi-based men's rights activist Barkha Trehan said that Atul Subhash had been failed by the system, ultimately leading him to die by suicide. -- ANI
14:10 Dilip Kumar would have turned 102 today
On the 102nd birth anniversary of Bollywood's legendary "Tragedy King," Dilip Kumar, his beloved wife, veteran actress Saira Banu, paid a heartfelt tribute to the actor, recalling the special moments they shared together.
While the world recognized Dilip Kumar for his larger-than-life persona and unmatched acting skills, Saira fondly remembered the simpler, carefree side of him that he reserved for their personal moments.
Taking to social media, Saira shared a touching video montage of the unforgettable times she spent with her late husband.
Dilip Kumar, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 98, had left an indelible mark on Indian cinema, but for Saira, he was much more than a legend.
In her Instagram post, Saira reflected on how Dilip Kumar's presence transformed her life. "A few people walk into your life to stay, becoming a part of you in every possible way. That's what happened when Dilip Sahib entered my life to stay with me forever. We are one in our thoughts and being," she wrote, capturing the depth of their bond.Saira continued, expressing how, despite his legendary status, Dilip Kumar would shed his iconic aura whenever they were together.
"To the world, he was the epitome of mannerisms, poise, chivalry, and a presence that could silence a room," she wrote.
"Yet, whenever he was around me, he became something else entirely. He shed the aura of a legend and let the child within him emerge playful, carefree, unburdened by the weight of worldly chaos," she added.
Saira shared a special anecdote about the actor's spontaneous nature. "One thing I can say for certain about Sahib is that he could never sit still. He loved to travel. Whenever he had days off from shooting, he would ask us to accompany him to beautiful destinations. My brother Sultan's children, others in the family, and I would often join him on these trips, creating some of our fondest memories together," she recalled.
She went on to narrate an unforgettable story from their life. "I had gone to the airport just to see him off. When I mentioned my shoot had been cancelled, Dilip Sahib took me by surprise. He sent his secretary to secure a ticket for me, and before I knew it, I was travelling with him to a grand wedding. I was dressed in a simple cotton salwar kameez, with no preparation, yet Dilip Sahib's simplicity allowed him to bring me into his world effortlessly." -- PTI
14:05 Maha cabinet expansion by Dec 14; CM to meet PM
The cabinet expansion of the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government is likely to take place by December 14, a senior BJP leader said on Wednesday.
Fadnavis left for Delhi on Wednesday, his office said, adding it was a courtesy visit, the first after becoming the chief minister, as he would be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Talking to PTI, a BJP leader said the Shiv Sena would not get the home department and was also unlikely to be allocated the revenue portfolio. Talks are getting delayed because three parties (Mahayuti allies BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP) are involved, the politician said.
"The cabinet expansion is likely by December 14. The allocation of home department to Shiv Sena is ruled out. The Shiv Sena may get urban development, but is unlikely to get revenue," said the leader, who did not wish to be named.
The BJP is expected to keep 21 to 22 ministerial berths, including the CM's post, the leader said, adding that four to five ministerial berths may be kept vacant. Shiv Sena leader and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was not travelling to the national capital, as per his office. -- PTI
13:47 One for the album: Aliaa, Ranbir and PM Modi
Aliaa Bhatt shares this post on Instagram saying:
Art is timeless. And sometimes to move forward, we must look back and learn.
Mr. Raj Kapoor's impact was truly global. He marked his footprint all across the world with the movies he made, the stories he told.
Yesterday was such an honour to be invited by our respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, to spend a lovely afternoon commemorating the life and legend of Mr. Raj Kapoor.
Merely listening to his stories, makes me learn so much, and his legacy continues to inspire.
We're thrilled to celebrate 100 glorious years of his artistry with the 'Raj Kapoor 100 Film Festival' from 13th-5th December in 10 cities, 40 cinemas, 135 screens, across the country.#100YearsOfRajKapoor.
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13:41 Stop using PSB funds for fraud friends: Rahul
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the government of using public sector banks, the "lifelines of the masses", as an unlimited source of funds for their "fraudulent friends".
Gandhi met a delegation from the All India Banking Officers Confederation.
"The Modi government has turned these lifelines of the masses into private financiers for only the rich and powerful corporations," he said in a post on X. After meeting the members, he expressed distress at the state of public sector banks and its impact on common people.
"Public Sector Banks are being forced to prioritise profit over people and are thus unable to serve the public effectively. With staff shortages and a toxic work environment, they are expected to reach unachievable targets without a level playing field," Gandhi said after hearing the members of the confederation.
He alleged women employees are not given equal opportunity or advancement avenues and are forced to bear the brunt of the dissatisfied public. "The Modi government must stop using PSBs as an unlimited source of funds for their fraudulent friends. There's also more to a public sector bank than a dividend cheque to the government at the end of the year," the leader of opposition said. PTI
13:15 Maoists kill suspected police informer in Karnataka
A 35-year-old resident of Somanpalli village, identified as Kudiyam Madho, was allegedly strangled to death by Maoists on December 10.
According to the Bijapur police, a pamphlet issued by the banned CPI (Maoist) National Park Area Committee was recovered from the scene of the crime.
The pamphlet alleged that Kudiyam Madho was targeted for being a police informer.
His body was discovered by locals and has since been taken into custody by the Farsegarh police.
"We have recovered the pamphlet and taken the body into custody. Necessary legal actions are being taken," a police official confirmed.
Earlier on Saturday, a woman also from Bijapur was strangled to death by naxalites in Bijapur on suspicion of being a police informer. The woman was later identified as Laxmi Padam, an Anganwadi worker. A similar pamphlet was found at the spot by the police.
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12:54 Illegal Rohingya immigrant bought land in Pune
A Rohingya man from Myanmar arrested earlier this year for allegedly living in India illegally had bought land in Pune area and built a house for himself and his family, investigation has found.
In July, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police arrested two Rohingya couples for illegal entry and stay in the country.
Probe revealed that one of them, Muzammil Khan (45), had purchased a small plot of land in a Dehu Road locality for Rs 80,000, and built a house using earnings from his supari-selling business, a police official said on Wednesday.
He and his wife had acquired Aadhaar and PAN cards besides Indian passports. They had been living in the area since 2013, police found. Khan told police he fled Myanmar in 2012 with his family, seeking shelter in a refugee camp in Bangladesh before crossing the border illegally and entering West Bengal. After arriving in Pune, he worked in a company and later got into supari trade.
The couple acquired Aadhaar and PAN cards from Bhiwandi in Maharashtra. The land was purchased without legal documentation from a woman named Kamble and there is no record of the transaction in official land records, the police official said. "Khan had obtained Indian passports for himself, his wife, and two children, and was planning to visit Mecca," the officer added. -- PTI
The Kapoors with the PM
12:23 Why did the Kapoor khandaan meet Narendra Modi?
A day after the members of Raj Kapoor's family met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan thanked him for inviting them to "commemorate the extraordinary life and legacy" of their grandfather ahead of the cinema icon's birth centenary.
The Kapoor family, including actors Ranbir Kapoor, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, and Neetu Kapoor, met the prime minister on Tuesday and invited him to the Raj Kapoor Film Festival to be held to celebrate the occasion.
December 14, 2024 marks the 100th birth anniversary of Raj Kapoor, an actor, editor, a director, and a producer, known for classics such as "Aag", "Awara", "Barsaat", "Shree 420", and "Bobby".
According to Kareena's Instagram post, the PM invited the Kapoor clan to New Delhi ahead of the milestone anniversary.
"We are deeply humbled and honored to have been invited by the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, to commemorate the extraordinary life and legacy of our grandfather, the legendary Raj Kapoor. "Thank you Shri Modi ji for such a special afternoon. Your warmth, attention, and support in celebrating this milestone meant the world to us," she captioned a series of pictures of the family with the prime minister. The Kapoor kin, including Rima Jain, Karisma Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Saif Ali Khan, Aadar Jain, Aarman Jain and Anissa Malhotra, met Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday to invite the prime minister for the Raj Kapoor Film Festival, a source earlier told PTI.
The family members expressed hope that Modi would come for the film festival, they said. Spanning 101 cinemas across 34 cities from December 13 to 15, the film gala -- organised by PVR INOX Limited and the Film Heritage Foundation -- will be one of the most extensive retrospectives ever dedicated to Raj Kapoor's filmography. -- PTI
12:23 Sonia speaks same language as Soros: Rijiju
Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister JP Nadda said, "Our members (MPs) have been raising the issue of the connection between Sonia Gandhi and Soros. This is a question about the sovereignty of the country. Bringing a no-confidence motion against the Chair is a design to deviate the attention of the nation from the issue of the sovereignty of the country. It should be condemned by one and all. They have never respected the Chair." Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till tomorrow.
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju raised the issue of alleged nexus between US hedge fund tycoon George Soros and Congress that, ruling party has alleged poses a threat to national security.
"Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has alleged links with George Soros who funds Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) that puts out anti-India content," he claimed.
"You are working with them. You speak the same language as them. You stand with anti-India forces and then you give notice against the chairman," he said, but did not offer any proof to substantiate his allegations except for an international media report that claimed OCCRP was funded by a US agency. -- PTI
11:56 RBI governor takes charge
Sanjay Malhotra takes charge as the 26th Governor of Reserve Bank of India for the next 3 years. He was preceded by Shaktikanta Das.
11:51 Woman held on 'digital arrest', duped of Rs 1.4L
Cyber criminals allegedly duped a woman of Rs 1.40 lakh by keeping her under 'digital arrest' for five hours in Noida.
Police station in-charge Inspector Krishna Gopal Sharma said that last night Smriti Semwal of Noida Sector 77 lodged a complaint that a woman named Priya Sharma allegedly called her on December 8 and claimed to be an officer of the cyber crime branch.
The caller said that illegal activities like money laundering, human trafficking and drug trafficking were being done using her Aadhaar card. According to the police station in-charge, Priya made Smriti talk to high officials and threatened her.
Out of fear, the victim allegedly sent Rs 1.40 lakh in two instalments to the account mentioned by the accused, the police officer added. The complainant claimed that she was kept under 'digital arrest' for about five hours and later she realised that she had become a victim of cyber fraud.
-- PTI
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11:34 Naxals kill BJP worker in Chh'garh, 5th in a week
Naxalites have killed a 35-year-old BJP worker in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district while claiming he was acting as a police informer, an official said on Wednesday. This is the fifth murder of a civilian by Naxalites in the district in the last seven days.
The latest incident took place on Tuesday night when the deceased, identified as Kudiam Mado, was at his house in Somanpalli village under Farsegarh police station limits, the official said.
A group of Naxalites stormed into Mado's house, dragged him outside and strangled him to death, the police official said. In a pamphlet found at the spot, a national park area committee of Maoists took responsibility for the murder and claimed Mado was acting as a police informer, he said.
After being alerted on Wednesday morning, a police team rushed to the spot and the body was sent for post-mortem, the official said. -- PTI
11:12 Is AAP going with Cong for Delhi polls?
AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday once again ruled out the possibility of an alliance with the Congress for the Delhi assembly polls, amid reports that the two parties could be jointly contesting the elections.
In a post on X, Kejriwal said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will be fighting the election on its own strength in Delhi.
"There is no possibility of any alliance with the Congress," the former Delhi chief minister said.
His reaction comes amid media reports that the two parties were likely to have a tie up for the 70-member Delhi Assembly polls due in February.
Earlier this month also, Kejriwal had ruled out the possibility of the alliance between the AAP and the Congress for the Delhi elections. The recent buzz over alliance between the two Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) partners was fueled by cancellation of the Congress' 'Nyay Chaupal' event scheduled on Wednesday in which party leader Rahul Gandhi was to participate.
The event was to be held as culmination of the "Nyay Yatra" taken out by the Delhi Congress across Delhi ahead of the assembly polls. Also, Kejriwal on Tuesday met NCP chief Sharad Pawar amid the rising demand in the INDIA block to appoint West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as head of the political grouping currently chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
However, neither Kejriwal nor AAP have so far commented on the discussions in the meeting. These developments were seen as the Congress and AAP making their moves cautiously in view of the upcoming Delhi polls so that the future options remain open, sources said. -- PTI
10:21 Israel strikes Syria 480 times
The collapse of the Assad regime has prompted a punishing military response from Israel, which has launched airstrikes at military targets across Syria and deployed ground troops both into and beyond a demilitarized buffer zone for the first time in 50 years, reports CNN.com.
The Israeli military on Tuesday said it had carried out about 480 strikes across the country over the past two days, hitting most of Syria's strategic weapon stockpiles, while Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli navy had destroyed the Syrian fleet overnight, hailing the operation as "a great success."
Just a day earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had hailed the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime as "a new and dramatic chapter."
Read the full story here.
10:05 I thirst for you: the inside story of Badnam Basti, Indias first queer film
With a title that translates as Neighbourhood of Ill Repute, and featuring a bisexual love triangle, the 1971 film wowed festivals -- before disappearing without trace. Now it's been rediscovered -- by accident. Read more here
09:49 Delhi is freezing, folks! Temperature is...
The national capital on Wednesday recorded the lowest minimum temperature of this winter season so far with the mercury dropping sharply to 4.9 degrees Celsius compared to 8 degrees Celsius the previous day.
"The minimum temperature of 4.9 degrees Celsius reported over Safdarjung is the lowest minimum of this winter season. The same minimum temperature of 4.9 degrees Celsius was reported last year also, on 15th December," the India Meteorological Department said.
The lowest ever minimum temperature over the station was 0.0 degrees Celsius on 27th December 1930, the weather forecasting agency added. The relative humidity level at 8.30 am stood at 64 per cent while the mercury is expected to settle around 23 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, air quality in Delhi remained in the poor category on Wednesday morning, even as the readings were closer to the moderate range. -- PTI
09:26 Unclaimed assets via DigiLocker...
The Securities and Exchange Board of India has proposed leveraging the DigiLocker platform to streamline the process of claiming unclaimed assets of deceased investors.
According to a discussion paper, the regulator has proposed that depositories and mutual funds be required to provide demat and mutual fund holding statements, respectively, in DigiLocker.
It has also proposed the automatic updating of a DigiLocker user's status upon their demise, using data from the Registrar General of India.
Further, an automatic intimation to the DigiLocker nominee would be sent via SMS and e-mail.
The nominees could then access the digital information in the account of the deceased user or investor and initiate the process of transmission of the financial asset. This move is expected to simplify the process of claiming unclaimed assets and provide greater convenience to investors and their nominees. Sebi has sought public comments and suggestions on the proposals by December 31, following which it may formalise the new framework.
-- Business Standard
09:23 World's 1st detailed 3D images of foetal brain
The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, has become the first research organisation in the world to release the most detailed 3D high-resolution images of the foetal brain, pushing the frontiers of brain mapping technology and placing India in the global league of brain mapping science.
This data set, termed DHARANI, is open source, meaning it is freely available for all researchers worldwide.
For the first time globally, 5,132 brain sections have been captured digitally using cutting-edge brain mapping technology developed by Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at the IIT. This work will advance the field of neuroscience and potentially lead to the development of treatment for health conditions affecting the brain.
The research was undertaken by a multidisciplinary team at IIT-Madras with researchers from India, Australia, the US, Romania and South Africa, and medical collaborations with Chennai-based Mediscan Systems and Saveetha Medical College Hospital.
This research, led by Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, Head, Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, IIT-Madras, is critical for India as the country accounts for nearly one-fifth of the world's childbirths at 25 million each year.
This makes it vital for the country to understand the brain development from the fetus to a child, to adolescence, and to a young adult, and developmental disorders like learning disabilities and autism.
-- Business Standard
09:20 Andre Agassi serves ace for tech in education
Tennis legend Andre Agassi said finding private sector solutions for daunting social problems is important and needs to be scaled up.
Agassi said that finding the niche for technology in the education space can fill a huge vacuum of personalised learning that every child deserves.
"I think technology can play an essential role not just in the scalability but the personalisation aspect as well," said Agassi during a session themed Marathon Mindset at the TiE Global Summit.
Agassi is backing Square Panda, an edtech firm offering multisensory learning solutions to help children learn to read. The firm is also working towards transforming the early education landscape in India.
"We need to solve daunting global societal issues collectively and together. I think the private sector is a huge vehicle for bridging that gap."
When asked about the turning point or influences which helped him overcome his fears and become a calmer person, he said that life is the best teacher for that.
"We all live what I call 'hero's journey', where we spend the first part of our life thinking that we have to perform and achieve and then life hits us in the face," said Agassi.
"There are broken relationships and dreams. I went through a lot of this. Then we realise that the last phase of that hero's journey is recognising that it is about service to others. For me, I won everything in tennis and I got to number one in the world, but I was probably at my most unhappy (phase)."
Agassi reached the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in 1995, but was troubled by personal issues during the mid-to-late 1990s and sank to 141 in 1997, prompting many to believe that his career was over. He returned to No. 1 in 1999 and enjoyed the most successful run of his career over the next four years.
-- Peerzada Abrar/Business Standard
09:15 What ruled the Google search list in 2024?
Google, the search giant has come up with its list of topics that were most searched by Indian Internet users in 2024. Google says that globally, there are billions of searches a day on Google -- and 15 per cent of them are brand new.
This year, India's searches spanned a fascinating spectrum -- a mix of sports fervor (IPL to Olympics) and entertainment love across languages (Stree 2 to K-dramas), to also exploring indie music hits (Nadaaniyan), 'demure and mindful' memes, and quirky lingo.
We explored new themes, from relationships (Orange Peel Theory, Throning Dating) to workplace behaviour (Gen Z boss work memes).Indian Internet users also relied on Google for all sorts of practical help, from information about 'how to vote' to checking on 'AQI near me', and to satisfy their curiosity about the world, such as the meaning of 'All Eyes on Rafah'.
Indian travelers wanderlust took them far and wide -- from the shores of Bali to the historic streets of Azerbaijan. Closer to home, the mountains of Manali beckoned travelers seeking adventure and cultural immersion.
Exploring new places often goes hand-in-hand with discovering new flavours. This year, India's culinary curiosity was evident in the diverse range of recipes searched for. -- Business Standard
09:07 Pope Francis gifted books on 'Modi's vision'
Members of an Indian delegation met Pope Francis at Vatican City, presenting two books, Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery and Mann Ki Baat @100: Igniting Collective Goodness.
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Anil K Antony posted on X, saying, 'Very blessed to meet Holy Father Pope Francis at Vatican City as a part of the Indian delegation. Presented two books 'Modi@20 , dreams meet delivery' and 'Mann Ki Baat @100, igniting collecting goodness' to His Holiness during my interaction with him.
The books "highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance and leadership" were offered as a gesture of cultural and diplomatic exchange during the interaction.
The BlueKraft Digital Foundation, responsible for publishing the works, expressed pride in this significant moment.
In a post on X, the foundation wrote, 'A moment of immense pride for Bluekraft Digital Foundation as 'Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery' and 'Mann Ki Baat: Igniting Collective Change'--two seminal works reflecting the governance & leadership of PM Narendra Modi were presented to His Holiness Pope Francis.' -- ANI
Atul Subhash
08:59 Bengaluru techie's father says his allegations against wife 100% true
The father of the 34-year-old Bengaluru techie who died by suicide on Monday has accused the 'mediation court' of not functioning according to the law, recalling his son's experiences when he was repeatedly called to the court in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur over cases filed by his wife.
A 34-year-old deputy general manager of a private firm, Atul Subhash, died by suicide on Monday in his Bengaluru apartment, leaving behind a 24-page suicide note, accusing his wife and her relatives of harassment.
Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Pawan Kumar, the father of the deceased, shared that Atul had travelled to Jaunpur from Bengaluru at least 40 times due to court cases filed by his wife, adding that she used to frame one charge after another.
"He (Atul) had said to us that those in the mediation court do not work as per law, not even as per the rules of the Supreme Court. He had to go to Jaunpur from Bengaluru at least 40 times. She (the deceased's wife) used to frame one charge after another. He must have been frustrated but never let us feel that," Kumar said.
The father of the deceased also mentioned that they were informed of Atul's death after he sent an email to his younger brother around 1 am on the day of the incident.
Kumar stressed that the allegations made by Atul in his suicide note against his wife and her family were '100 per cent true'.
"Suddenly, we received the information about the incident--he sent a mail to our younger son around 1 am. It's 100 per cent true (the allegations of the deceased against his wife and her family)... We cannot express the level of tension that our son would have been in," Kumar added.
According to a statement released by the police, the Hoysala Police Control Room received a call at 6 am on Monday about Atul Subhash's suicide in a flat at Bengaluru's Manjunatha Layout in the Delfinium Residency.
The statement further stated that when the police went to search the place, the flat was locked from inside, and the lock was broken, following which they went inside and saw Atul hanging from a ceiling fan by the support of a nylon rope.
The police informed the incident to the brother of the deceased, Bikas Kumar, who later filed a complaint against Subhash's wife, his mother-in-law, his brother-in-law, and his wife's uncle, accusing them of filing a false complaint against Subhash and demanding Rs 3 crore money for the settlement, which led to his mental and physical harassment, following which he had to take the extreme step.
A case was later registered under the BNS Act, and an investigation is underway, the police stated.
In his suicide note, Subhash called for justice, stating, 'Justice is Due' on every single page of the 24-page note.
Subhash further described the instances that instigated him to take such a step.
Subhash recorded a video describing his alleged harassment and asking his family members not to immerse his ashes till justice is served to him. His suicide note also had a message for his four-year-old son, who he claimed had been kept estranged from him.
The note also called for his parents to be given custody of his child.
Subhash mentioned in his suicide note that his wife had filed nine cases against him, including murder, sexual misconduct, harassment for money, domestic violence, and dowry. -- ANI
08:26 India evacuates 75 nationals from Syria
India on Tuesday evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria, two days after rebel forces overthrew President Bashar Assad's authoritarian government.
The evacuation, coordinated by the embassies of India in Damascus and Beirut, was put into effect following an assessment of the security situation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
'The Government of India today evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria, following recent developments in that country,' it said in a late-night statement.
'The evacuees included 44 'zaireen' from Jammu and Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab. All Indian nationals have safely crossed over to Lebanon and will return by available commercial flights to India,' it said.
The MEA said the government accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad.
'Indian nationals remaining in Syria are advised to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus,' it said.
'The government will continue to monitor the situation closely,' the MEA added.
The Syrian government collapsed on Sunday as the rebels seized control of the capital Damascus after capturing several other prominent cities and towns.
Assad fled the country after the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of Damascus, marking the end of his family's 50-year rule.
Russian state media reported that Assad is in Moscow and will be given asylum.
His nearly 14-year tenure was marked by civil war, bloodshed and brutal crackdown on his political opponents.
The MEA Monday said it is monitoring the unfolding developments in Syria and advocated a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political process going forward in that country. -- PTI
00:10 Pan-India protests condemn attacks on Hindus in B'desh
Members of various Hindu organisations and civil society groups on Tuesday staged protests across India against attacks on community members in Bangladesh.
While hundreds of people from various outfits, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), held a protest march at Delhi's Chanakyapuri, a similar rally was taken out in Lucknow condemning the attacks on Hindus in the neighbouring country.
At Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, protesters marched to the deputy commissioner's office to show solidarity with the Hindus in Bangladesh, while in Jammu, a large number of protesters took to the streets demanding the intervention of the Centre and the United Nations in the matter.
Similar protests, which coincided with world Human Rights Day, were also staged in Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Ranchi, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata, among other places.
In Delhi, security was stepped up outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Chankyapuri where a large number protesters gathered to raise the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh.
Demanding the intervention of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in the matter, the protesters carrying placards called upon Bangladesh to stop the alleged "genocide" of Hindus in the country.
Several personalities, including Sadhvi Ritambhara, Keshav Murari from ISKCON, former Delhi Police Commissioner SN Srivastava, ex-Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Veena Sikri, and Buddhist spiritual leader Rahul Bhante, among others, addressed the rally.
A memorandum was also submitted to the Bangladesh High Commissioner by the members of Civil Society of Delhi, emphasising the historically strong and cordial relations between India and Bangladesh, a statement said.
In Lucknow, the Bangladesh Hindu Raksha Sangharsh Samiti took out a public outrage rally from Lucknow University to Hazratganj Square in which members of dozens of Hindu organisations took part.
The protesters also submitted a memorandum addressed to President Droupadi Murmu to District Magistrate Suryapal Gangwar.
Speaking on the occasion, RSS' Akhil Bharatiya Sampark Pramukh Ramlal warned Bangladesh to immediately stop the atrocities on Hindus or face serious consequences.
"We also demand immediate release of ISKCON monk Chinmay Krishna Das," Ramlal said, adding that the government of India should intervene so that the safety of Hindus can be ensured in Bangladesh.
In Jammu, a rally organised by Deshbhakt Sarva Samaj saw the participation of hundreds of people from various walks of life, including members of Hindu outfits like Sanatan Dharma Sabha, Vishva Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and Sant Samaj, among others.
The protesters strongly condemned the alleged attacks on Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh, urging the community to stand united in defence of their religion and culture.
They also called on the Central government to exert diplomatic pressure on Bangladesh to protect its minority communities.
In another protest, hundreds of demonstrators marched peacefully to Dogra Chowk raising slogans against Bangladesh. -- PTI
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