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Sun, 29 December 2024

Muslim body issues fatwa against New Year events

Timeline Refresh

22:00 Odisha medical college terminates 4 doctors for attacking student

Authorities of Berhampur-based MKCG Medical College and Hostel on Sunday terminated four doctors, including an assistant professor and three senior residents from their services, and debarred a second-year postgraduate resident from the hostel for six months for allegedly assaulting a student on December 20, an official said on Sunday.

Purushottam Swain, assistant professor of orthopedics, Aryan Kumar Mohanty, Chinmay Pradhan, senior residents engaged as contractual doctors in the paediatric department, and Yashwant Veera, postgraduate senior resident in the department of general surgery, have been terminated, while Priyajeet Sahoo, second-year postgraduate resident in orthopedics, has been debarred from the hostel for six months, the official added.

The action was taken after a decision in the college council meeting on December 23 and was directed by the director of medical education and training for disciplinary reasons, said Suchitra Dash, dean and principal of the Odisha government-run medical college.

The police registered a case in the matter after the victim PG student lodged an FIR in Baidyanathpur police station.

The victim alleged that he was physically assaulted by his senior on the hostel premises around 12.30 am on December 20. -- PTI

21:47 Minor boy found hanging inside Mumbai madrasa

An 11-year-old boy was found hanging inside the kitchen of a madrasa in Malvani area of Mumbai, the police said on Sunday.

The police suspect the boy hanged himself from the iron rod of the ceiling using clothes, allegedly after he was scolded by a madrasa (Islamic seminary) teacher for trying to go out to play, a Malwani police station official said.

The boy was found hanging on Saturday evening by other students of the madrasa, he said.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead, the official said.

"It is suspected that he took the extreme step after his teacher scolded him when he was going out to play," he added.

The police registered a case of accidental death and further investigation is underway, the official said. -- PTI

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21:45 Muslim body issues fatwa against New Year celebrations

Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, the national president of All India Muslim Jamaat on Sunday issued a fatwa against New Year celebrations, discouraging Muslims from celebrating it, instead urged them to focus on religious practices that align with their faith.

According to Razvi, the fatwa was issued by Chashme Darfta Bareilly urged both young Muslim men and women to refrain from partaking in the New Year festivities.

"The young men and women who celebrate New Year have been instructed in this fatwa that celebrating New Year is not a matter of pride and neither should this celebration be celebrated nor should it be congratulated," Razvi said, emphasising that the New Year marks the beginning of the Christian calendar, or the "English Year."

He further stated that such non-religious practices are strictly "prohibited for Muslims."

Razvi continued, urging young Muslim people to avoid participating in New Year celebrations, stressing that Muslims should instead focus on religious practices that align with their faith. -- ANI

Congress MLA Uma Thomas/ANI Photo

21:41 Cong MLA critical after falling from stadium gallery in Kochi

Kerala's Thrikkakara Congress MLA Uma Thomas is in serious condition after sustaining head and spinal injuries, reportedly after falling from a gallery at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi on Sunday evening.

The severely bleeding MLA was rushed to a private hospital near the stadium by volunteers and others.

Hospital sources said her condition is critical, and she has been placed on ventilator support.

She reportedly hit her head on the concrete ground after falling from the gallery, sources said.

Uma Thomas had arrived at the stadium to attend a dance programme inaugurated by culture affairs minister Saji Cherian, the sources added. -- PTI

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21:28 Avalanche warning issued for Uttarakhand's Chamoli

The Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment, a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, on Sunday issued an orange alert for an avalanche at an altitude of over 3,000 metres in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district over the next 24 hours.

The alert is for a period of 24 hours from 5 pm on Sunday to 5 pm on Monday.

Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority joint chief executive officer Mohammad Obaidullah Ansari wrote to the district magistrate of Chamoli and drew his attention to the DGRE's orange alert (level 3) for the area.

He asked him to take appropriate safety and precautionary measures in view of the alert.

All officials concerned should be in alert mode, he said in a communication to the district magistrate.

The areas located above 2,500 metres in Chamoli district have witnessed a spell of heavy snowfall over the past few days while the lower areas have received light to medium showers.

Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee media incharge Harish Gaur said the sun rose after a gap of several days in Badrinath on Sunday but there is one and a half feet of snow frozen at the Himalayan temple. -- PTI

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21:25 7-8 Taliban forces killed on border in Pak retaliation

Seven to eight personnel from the Taliban forces were killed along the Durand Line in the Upper Kurram district on Saturday, as the Afghan Taliban targeted Pakistani border posts in Ghozgarhi, Matha Sangar, Kot Ragha and Tari Mengal areas using both light and heavy weaponry, the Dawn reported.

According to Dawn, one Pakistani soldier was killed and 11 others were also wounded it said, citing security sources.

However, the Taliban forces claimed that 19 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the retaliatory attacks.

The Taliban forces used both light and heavy weaponry to target border posts in the areas of Ghozgarhi, Matha Sangar, Kot Ragha, and Tari Mengal, the Dawn reported.

This came days after Pakistani aircraft carried out aerial bombardments in Afghanistan's Barmal district of Paktika province, which killed 46 people with six people getting injured. -- ANI

The police have detained a minor friend of a Class-11 student in connection with his alleged abduction and killing in this Uttar Pradesh district, an official said on Sunday.

Kankarkheda station house officer Vinay Kumar Singh said the 17-year-old Class-11 student, a resident of Rohta Road, had left home for coaching classes on Saturday.

His family informed police when he did not return home after a few hours.

The SHO said police questioned a minor friend of the missing student and acting on the information provided by him, found the body of the boy from a spot close to a tube well behind Garh Marg, near a college.

The police also found a hammer that they suspect was used to kill the boy.

The deceased's two-wheeler, an ATM card and Rs 4,400 in cash have also been found, the police said.

The SHO said the suspect, also 17 years of age, is being questioned further.

The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, he added. -- PTI

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20:45 Man killed in elephant attack in Kerala's Idukki

A 22-year-old man lost his life after being attacked by a wild elephant in Kerala's Idukki district, the police said on Sunday.

The incident occurred when Amar Ilahi, a native of Mullaringadu, a forest-fringe plantation area, went to bring back his cow after grazing, they added.

"He sustained critical injuries in the elephant attack. Ilahi's friend, who was with him, narrowly escaped with minor injuries," a police officer said.

Residents rushed to the scene after Ilahi's friend, Mansoor, raised an alarm.

Despite being rushed to the hospital, Ilahi was declared dead by doctors.

The body was shifted to the government hospital in nearby Thodupuzha for further procedures.

The area has been witnessing frequent visits by wild animals, especially elephants, in recent years, the police said.

The death triggered intense protests in the area and Thodupuzha.

The police said the situation is under control as of now. -- PTI

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday termed India a not very lucky nation on the security front and urged soldiers to keep a sharp eye on internal and external foes who he said are always active.

He was addressing Army personnel at the more-than-two-century-old Mhow cantonment in the Indore district of Madhya Pradesh.

Taking the security scenario into account, Bharat is not a very lucky country because our northern border and western border continuously face challenges, said Singh, who is on a two-day tour of the state.

Mhow cantonment, 25 km from Indore, is home to three premier training institutes Army War College, Military College of Telecommunication Engineering and Infantry School other than the Infantry Museum and Army Marksmanship Unit.

"We also face challenges on the internal front. In the backdrop of this, we can't sit quiet, unconcerned. Our enemies, whether internal or external, remain active always. In these circumstances, we must keep a close eye on their activities and take appropriate and timely effective steps against them," he told the Armymen.

To make Bharat a developed and self-reliant country by 2047, the role of the Army is very crucial, said the defence minister. -- PTI

The upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport is set to be functional from early next fiscal year with the expected inauguration of the facility on April 17, a senior Adani Group official said on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, an IndiGo A320 passenger aircraft landed successfully at runway 26/08 of the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport, paving the way for securing an aerodrome licence to start commercial operations.

"Our ambition is to do the commercial inauguration of the airport by April 17," Adani Airport Holdings Ltd CEO Arun Bansal told media after the successful trial landing of the first civil passenger aircraft.

Bansal said that the domestic operations will start from the second half of May as after the inaugural flight some procedures will have to be followed which will take about four weeks time.

And by the end of July, he said, "we expect to start international operations."

Navi Mumbai International Airport took a further step toward becoming operational with its first commercial flight validation test, with the successful touchdown at 1.32 pm at runway 26/08, it said.

The aircraft was welcomed with the traditional water salute by two Crash Fire Tenders of NMIA. -- PTI

In the 117th episode of his monthly radio broadcast "Mann ki Baat", Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the growing global resonance of ayurveda, citing the inspiring work being done in Paraguay.

"There is a country in South America called Paraguay. The number of Indians living there would not be more than 1,000. A wonderful effort is being made in Paraguay. At the Indian embassy in Paraguay, Erica Huber offers ayurveda consultation. A large number of local people are reaching out to her to get ayurveda-based advice," the prime minister said.

This recognition underscores the unwavering commitment of the Ministry of Ayush to promoting ayurveda as a global system of health and wellness.

Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav said, "We express our heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership in promoting ayurveda globally. The ministry of Ayush remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing ayurveda as a universal health solution and strengthening its global presence."

The ministry has been spearheading initiatives that have significantly expanded ayurveda's footprint worldwide.

In a statement, the ministry said it has signed 24 country-level and 48 institute-level memoranda of understanding, fostering collaborative research and education.

Additionally, 15 academic chairs have been established globally to promote ayurveda education and research.

Ayush information cells operate in 39 locations across 35 countries, serving as knowledge hubs.

As far as strategic agreements are concerned, the milestones include the Donor Agreement with the World Health Organisation, the MoU on Medicinal Plants Cooperation with Vietnam and the landmark Agreement on Ayurveda with Malaysia and Mauritius.

These partnerships advance India's vision of holistic health for all, the statement said.

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19:18 Ram temple to be completed by 2025: Panel chief

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Mishra announced the completion of construction by June 2025, with rampart and shoe racks until September, with rising tower construction being checked for aviation safety.

Speaking to the media persons, Mishra said, "We are committed to completing all construction work by June 2025, except for the ramparts and shoe racks, which are estimated to go on till September 2025."

"85 murals will be set up in the museum, of which work on 60 murals has already begun, and 21 murals. including 6 murals of Ram have been completed... New titanium lattices are being made for the Parikrama on the ground, first and second floors," Mishra added.

Mishra further added, "The biggest challenge is to complete the construction of the rising tower which is also being checked for aviation safety."

Earlier on Saturday, Mishra said, "All construction works will be reviewed today. Post review, we will decide the timeline for completing the pending construction. The rampart for which approximately 8,40,000 cubic feet of stones are to be laid, only 3 lakh cubic feet is left. Hopefully, will be able to complete the 1 km rampart which has 6 temples by June 2025."

Mishra added that Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Construction Committee have requested to name the four gates in the south and north after the respected saints of Ayodhya. -- ANI

Renowned Malayalam film and television actor Dileep Shankar has passed away.

He was found dead in a hotel room in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

As per Cantonment Police, Dileep, who is known for his roles in popular serials like Amma Ariyathe, Sundari, and Panchagni, had checked into the hotel four days ago to work on a serial project.

His co-stars had called the actor on the phone but could not reach him.

Following this, hotel staff and his colleagues entered his room, where they found him dead.

Forensic experts have examined the scene, and the exact cause of death will be determined following a post-mortem examination.

Also, according to the police's initial evaluation, there are no unnatural factors involved in the actor's death.

After the news broke out, fans and several members of the film industry expressed shock on social media. -- ANI

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18:37 Man booked in UP for supporting Khalistan

The police in this Uttar Pradesh district have lodged an FIR against a Sikh man for allegedly posting pictures of himself carrying weapons on social media and expressing support for Khalistan, officials said on Sunday.

"An FIR has been registered against the accused, Gursewak Singh, under relevant legal provisions. A thorough investigation into the matter is underway," Nagar Kotwali station house officer Rajeev Kumar Singh told reporters.

According to the Kotwali police, chowki in-charge Deepchandra reported the incident in writing to the city police.

Based on the complaint, serious charges were filed against the accused.

The police said on December 23, three alleged Khalistan supporters were killed in an encounter during an operation jointly conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Police and the Punjab police in the Puranpur area of Pilibhit.

Subsequently, Gursewak Singh, a resident of Haryana's Sirsa, triggered a controversy by posting content supporting Khalistan on Facebook.

The police said they are closely monitoring the dissemination of inflammatory material on social media and warned of strict action against such activities.

Officials have also urged local residents to promptly report any such incidents, including activities on social media, to the police. -- PTI

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has called for elections to be conducted using ballot papers, citing a lack of trust in electronic voting machines (EVMs).

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said this at a press conference at the SP headquarters here on Sunday, alongside Rahul Kumar Kamboj, an Indian-origin member of Parliament in Germany.

"Even a country like Germany conducts elections using ballot papers. But in India, elections are conducted with EVMs to serve vested interests," Yadav said.

Emphasising the need for elections that inspire confidence, he said, "No one trusts EVMs.

Even the faces of those who win elections seem dejected as they too do not have faith in the system."

At the press conference, Kamboj highlighted the benefits of Germany's ballot-paper voting system.

"In Germany, voting is still conducted using ballot papers. It is an important system because any discrepancies can be addressed with a recount," he explained.

Reflecting on his visit to Lucknow and his longstanding relationship with Yadav, Kamboj said, "My efforts are focused on fostering a collaboration between Indian-origin individuals and Germany, so that the qualities of both countries can come together. We aim to facilitate cultural exchanges and I invite everyone to participate in the upcoming cultural festivals in Germany. Visa issues will no longer be a hurdle," he said.

Kamboj also spoke of building a bridge between opportunities in Europe and their implementation in India, specifically in Uttar Pradesh.

"If we can identify the opportunities available in Germany and Europe, and bring them to places like Lucknow, it will open new avenues. That is my mission," he added. -- PTI

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu

18:12 Sidhu writes to Prez Murmu for Manmohan Singh memorial at Rajghat complex

Senior Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to direct the Centre ro raise a memorial for former prime minister Manmohan Singh at the Raj Ghat complex.

Sidhu's letter comes a day after the Congress accused the Centre of insulting Manmohan Singh, the country's first Sikh prime minister, by carrying out his last rites at the Nigambodh Ghat instead of a designated spot that could have become his memorial.

The Opposition party had written to the Centre for identifying a designated place for Singh's last rites.

The Centre responded by saying a decision to set up a memorial has already been taken and a trust would be formed to identify the location soon.

Manmohan Singh died on December 26. He was cremated at the Nigambodh Ghat on December 28.

BJP president JP Nadda has also responded to the Congress' accusations, saying the Centre has decided to allocate space for Manmohan Singh's memorial and informed his family about it.

He accused the grand old party of indulging in "cheap politics" over the former prime minister's cremation.

Sharing his letter on X, Sidhu posted, "This is not just about a memorial; it's about upholding historic norms and the dignity of our democracy. India must rise above petty parish pump politics."

In the letter to President Murmu, he has written, "I urge your esteemed office to intervene and direct the government to ensure that a memorial for Dr Manmohan Singh is established at the Raj Ghat complex, upholding the dignity of this tradition".

"I write to you with profound concern and deep conviction regarding the need to establish a memorial for Dr Manmohan Singh, the 13th Prime Minister of India, at the Raj Ghat complex, a site that symbolises the glorious tradition of commemorating the legacy of our nation's leaders." -- PTI

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18:07 After days of pursuit, Similipal tigress Zeenat finally captured in Bengal

Tigress Zeenat, which had strayed from Odisha's Similipal Tiger Reserve to Bankura in West Bengal, was finally captured on Sunday afternoon after being sedated with tranquillisers, chief wildlife warden Debal Roy said.

The tigress had kept wildlife officials from both the states on edge for over a week after leaving STR.

Roy said the tigress was tranquillised with a single dart shot at 4:09 pm, after previous attempts to sedate her had failed.

The animal's vital parameters would be examined before deciding her temporary accommodation, he said.

"Zeenat could not be sedated during a previous attempt despite tranquillisers being used early Sunday morning. The operation resumed in the afternoon after veterinarians gave their approval," he said.

Since Saturday night, the tigress had been in Gopalpur forest in Bankura district, where she was surrounded by double netting, he added.

"At 1.20 am on Sunday, the tigress was first tranquillised, but despite repeated doses, she could not be sedated," Roy said.

The operation was paused at 4:30 am due to the upper limit on tranquilliser doses.

After the tigress had rested and calmed down, the operation resumed, and she was successfully sedated in the afternoon, Roy said.

Zeenat had been relocated from Maharashtra's Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to Similipal last month to introduce new gene pool to the tiger population. -- PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge

17:49 Contractor suicide: Does Ambedkar's Constitution not apply to Kharge's family, asks BJP

Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday hit out at Mallikarjun Kharge over the alleged suicide of a contractor in Karnataka, wondering whether the Constitution does not apply to the family of the Congress president.

In a statement, Leader of Opposition, R Ashoka, alleged that Kharge's son and state minister Priyank Kharge was responsible for the suicide of Bidar-based civil contractor Sachin Panchal.

"Does Ambedkar's Constitution not apply to the Kharge family? Priyank Kharge, who preaches to everyone, should resign and demonstrate morality," the BJP leader demanded.

Ashoka claimed that the close associates of Kharge were involved in the death of contractor Panchal.

Panchal allegedly ended his life by lying down in front of an approaching train on Thursday.

In his alleged suicide note, Panchal held Kharge's close aide, Raju Kapanur, responsible for his death, accusing him of issuing death threats over money.

Kharge dismissed the allegation, stating that his name was not mentioned in the suicide note and called for a police investigation into the matter. -- PTI

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17:27 Air Canada flight catches fire on landing; all safe

An Air Canada flight coming from St John's city on Newfoundland Island had a rough landing at the Halifax airport in Goffs in Nova Scotia province that saw the aircraft skid down the runway and part of it catching fire.

A statement issued by the airport said the incident involved Air Canada Flight 2259, which was operated by PAL Airlines, CBC News reported.

The incident happened around 9:30 pm local time.

The statement does not say how many people were on the plane.

The people on board were evacuated, and then taken to a hangar to be checked out by paramedics, CBC News said.

Due to the incident, the Halifax airport was temporarily closed Saturday night.

A passenger told CBC News that one of the plane's tyres did not deploy properly upon landing.

"The plane started to sit at about a 20-degree angle to the left and, as that happened, we heard a pretty loud -- what almost sounded like a crash sound -- as the wing of the plane started to skid along the pavement, along with what I presume was the engine," she said. -- PTI

The police arrested one person, the kingpin in the fake passport racket, from West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, an officer said on Sunday.

Acting on the inputs of those arrested earlier in connection with the same case, the Kolkata police nabbed the accused identified as Manoj Gupta late Saturday night from a house in Chadapara station road under Gaighata police station limits, the officer said.

Gupta is a resident of Silpara area of Behala and was running a travel agency in Sakherbazar, he said.

"This guy has been the brain behind the fake passport racket. Behind his travel agency, he was running the fake passport racket. It is believed that the man was also involved in issuing visas," the police officer said.

Earlier this month, the Kolkata police arrested a contractual employee of the postal department from Parnasree area of Behala.

Before that, the police arrested two persons from the North and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal.

They seized several fake documents, hard disk drives, a computer, and one laptop, which were used to manufacture the fake passports.

The police had recovered several fake documents during a raid at a house in the southern part of the city's Haridevpur area. -- PTI

In a suspected case of suicide, a seven-year-old girl was found hanging under mysterious circumstances at her house in Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi, police said on Sunday.

The cause of the suicide is yet to be ascertained, said a senior police officer, adding the matter is being investigated.

The girl's body was found hanging with a saree through an angle from the tin-shed of the room around 11 am, said additional superintendent of police Tej Veer Singh.

"The parents of the girl are masons and were away for work when the incident took place. Her three other siblings aged 13, 5 and 4 were inside the house when she locked herself in the room and ended her life," he added.

Singh said the forensic experts have inspected the site and the body has been sent for post-mortem examination.

Further legal proceedings are ongoing, he added. -- PTI

BJP MLA Basavaraj Mattimadu/Image courtesy Facebook

16:39 Priyank Kharge aide booked over plot to kill BJP MLA

A case has been registered against the close aide of Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge, Raju Kapanur and five others in connection with hatching a conspiracy to kill Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Basavaraj Mattimadu and other leaders, the police said on Sunday.

The case was registered based on a suicide note by a civil contractor, Sachin Panchal, who had mentioned that the Congress leaders had connived to kill Mattimadu, Siddalinga Swami of Andola Math, BJP leaders Manikanth Rathod and Chandu Patil.

Panchal, a contractor from Bidar, allegedly ended his life by lying down in front of an approaching train on Thursday. In his suicide note, he had accused Kapanur and his aides of making death threats.

Meanwhile, the Bidar district-in charge minister, Eshwar Khandre, who holds the forest portfolio, visited Panchal's residence in Bhalki Taluk.

As soon as the officials visited the house, the angry family members shouted at them to go away as they held them responsible for Sachin's death. -- PTI

Representational image/Reuters

15:46 Peru closes 91 ports amid massive waves

Massive waves of up to 13 feet (four metres) are pummeling the coasts of Peru, leaving scores of ports closed on Saturday, authorities said.

Peru closed 91 of its 121 ports until 1st January, the National Emergency Operations Centre said on its X social media account.

Callao, which sits adjacent to the capital Lima and is home to Peru's largest port, has closed several beaches and barred tourist and fishing boats from venturing out.

Many beaches along the central and northern stretches of the country were closed to prevent risk to human life, authorities said.

Dozens of fishing boats were damaged, while those that were spared were still unable to work in the dangerous conditions.

The waves, according to the Peruvian navy, are being generated off the US coast by winds along the ocean's surface. -- ANI/WAM

Former PM Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur along with family members brings the ashes of her husband Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tila Sahib ahead of the immersion, in New Delhi on Sunday/ANI Photo

15:28 Ex-PM Manmohan Singh's ashes immersed in Yamuna

The ashes of former prime minister Manmohan Singh were immersed in the Yamuna river near the Majnu ka Tila Gurdwara by members of his family following Sikh rituals.

The ashes were collected from the Nigambodh Ghat on Sunday morning by Singh's family members and later taken to the 'Asth Ghat' on the Yamuna river bank near the gurdwara.

Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur, their three daughters -- Upinder Singh, Daman Singh and Amrit Singh -- along with other relatives were present at the immersion site.

As part of Sikh rituals, the family will hold an 'Akhand Path' at its official residence on 3, Motilal Nehru Marg on January 1.

A 'bhog' ceremony, 'Antim Ardas' and 'kirtan' would be held on January 3 at the Rakab Ganj Gurdwara near Parliament complex. Singh passed away at AIIMS Delhi on December 26 due to of age-related medical complications.

He was 92.

The former prime minister, who ushered in an era of economic liberalisation in the 1990s, was accorded a state funeral at the Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday. -- PTI

Reiterating the Communist Party of India-Marxist's position that they had no involvement in the murder of two youth congress workers in Kerala's Periya five years ago, party central committee member AK Balan on Sunday said that neither the party nor its top leaders had any knowledge of the incident.

His views come in the wake of a CBI court convicting 14 accused including a former CPI-M MLA in this case on Saturday.

Speaking to the media, the CPI-M leader assured that the accused in the case would face the law.

"The Kerala police had taken a firm stance in the case right from the initial stages," he said, adding that the CBI merely completed the investigation initiated by the state police.

A special CBI court in Kochi on Saturday found 14 accused including a CPI-M former MLA guilty in the murder of two Youth Congress workers Kripesh, 19, and Sarath Lal P K, 24, allegedly carried out by CPI-M workers on February 17, 2019.

The accused found guilty include former MLA and CPI-M district leader K V Kunhiraman, Kanhangad block panchayat president K Manikandan, former CPI-M Periya local committee member A Peethambaran, and former Pakkam local secretary Raghavan Velutholi.

According to the prosecution, the twin murders were carried out after politically motivated attacks and counterattacks between the workers of CPI-M and Congress in the area.

"The Congress is accusing the CPI-M of murder, but people know which party is truly the killing party," Balan said. -- PTI

Jyotika and Mammootty in Kaathal: The Core.

14:56 Malayalam film industry suffered at least Rs 650 cr loss in 2024

Though Mollywood has produced a few blockbusters that received a pan-Indian release and reaped huge profit in 2024, only 26 of the 204 films released in the year got a rewarding collection, as per the figures released by the Kerala Film Producers Association.

Of the 199 new films and five remastered versions of earlier productions released in theatres for which the industry spent around Rs 1,000 crore, only 26 films got a profit Rs 300-Rs 350 crore from theatres, KFPA secretary A Rakesh said.

The figures meant that the industry suffered a loss of Rs 650 crore to Rs 700 crore during the year, he said.

All the stakeholders, including actors, should keep strict financial discipline in the Malayalam filmdom to sustain cinema industry, Rakesh said.

Only 26 films released this year come under super hit, hit, and average hit categories.

These films made a profit of around Rs 300 to Rs 350 crore, while other films could not make any impact in the theatres.

He said more than 200 films were released in 2023 also, most of which received the same fate in theatres.

Asked about the turnover from OTT platforms he said not many films could make it to the OTT as most of them were bought based on theatre collection.

He said the association arrived at the figures based on the estimates given by producers, which will be approximately close to the actual costs involved in film-making.

The producers felt that the production cost of movies should be brought down and without financial prudence the industry couldn't sustain. -- PTI

PSLV-C60 is ready to launch SpaDeX and 24 innovative payloads into orbit./Courtesy ISRO on X

14:31 ISRO to launch its SpaDeX mission tomorrow

The Indian Space Research Organisation is set to launch its year-end mission, "Space Docking Experiment" (SpaDeX), on Monday at 9:58 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR in Sriharikota.

The mission will use PSLV-C60.

As per the ISRO, the primary objective of the SpaDeX mission is to develop and demonstrate the technology needed for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft (SDX01, which is the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target, nominally) in a low-Earth circular orbit.

"In addition, SpaDeX, because of its small size and mass, is even more challenging due to the finer precision required for the rendezvous and docking maneuvers compared to docking two large spacecraft. This mission will be a forerunner for autonomous docking needed for future lunar missions like Chandrayaan-4 without the support of GNSS from Earth," ISRO said in a statement. -- ANI

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14:21 Two burnt alive in road accident in UP's Hamirpur

Two people were burnt alive following a collision between two trucks in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh, the police said on Sunday.

The incident occurred around 8:30 pm on Saturday, on National Highway 34 in the Sumerpur area, circle officer Rajesh Kamal said.

"Two trucks were involved in the accident. One truck caught fire following the collision, leading to the deaths of the driver and his assistant. Their identities are yet to be established," the officer said.

"The occupants of the other truck fled the scene and search is underway to locate them. We have not received any complaint in the matter yet. We are trying to contact the owners of both trucks," he added.

The police said a fire brigade was called to the site and rescue and relief measures were initiated. Some locals at the scene were reportedly seen capturing pictures and videos of the incident, they said.

One of the video clips of the incident which surfaced on social media allegedly shows the assistant attempting to open the truck door to escape, while his body was almost entirely engulfed in flames. -- PTI

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13:59 Punjab police foil targeted killings plot, arrest five members of two gangs

Five associates belonging to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Amritpal Bath gangs, who had allegedly planned targeted killings, were arrested by the Punjab police, officials said on Sunday.

Four weapons were also recovered from them.

"In a major breakthrough, the Tarn Taran police arrested 5 associates of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Amritpal Bath gangs, seizing 4 weapons, including a Glock 9mm pistol, Punjab's director general of police, Gaurav Yadav, said in a post on X.

He said the preliminary investigation reveals the accused had planned targeted killings.

"Important information has been uncovered about the shooter involved in a recent targeted murder by the gang in the Tarn Taran area. This marks a major breakthrough in identifying their network," said the DGP, adding that further investigations are ongoing to trace their backward and forward linkages. -- PTI

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13:47 Flight services resume at Srinagar airport after snowfall

Air traffic to and fro the Srinagar International Airport was restored on Sunday, a day after heavy snowfall forced cancellation of all flights to the Kashmir valley.

"The flights to Srinagar have resumed and we expect normal operations," an official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said.

He said the flight operations had to be suspended on Saturday following heavy snowfall since Friday evening.

"The runways were cleared and all safety checks done before the flight operations were resumed," the official added.

Kashmir witnessed the first major snowfall of the season on Friday evening and it continued till Saturday.

Besides affecting the flight operations, the snowfall also forced a closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, while train services were also suspended.

However, the highway has been cleared now and passenger vehicles are being allowed to ply but motorists have been advised to follow lane discipline. -- PTI

A Pakistan paramilitary soldier has been killed and 11 others injured in firing by the Afghan Taliban forces at the border posts of Pakistan troops, days after strikes by Pakistan targeted the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban militants.

According to defence sources, the Afghan troops resorted to unprovoked fire on multiple Pakistani border posts in the Upper Kurram district on Saturday morning.

They fired at posts in Ghozgarhi, Matha Sangar, Kot Ragha and Tari Mengal areas using both light and heavy weaponry, sources said.

Pakistani forces retaliated, inflicting significant losses on the other side as seven to eight personnel of the Afghan forces were killed in the exchange of fire, sources added.

However, in the fire exchange, a Frontier Constabulary soldier was killed and 11 others were injured.

The incident of firing occurred days after Pakistan targeted terrorist positions in Paktika province of Afghanistan to punish the banned TTP militants, allegedly using Afghan soil to train and attack Pakistan. -- PTI

The 270-km Jammu-Srinagar highway was on Sunday reopened for vehicular traffic after a day-long closure due to heavy snowfall, allowing stranded vehicles to proceed to their respective destinations, officials said.

However, several other important inter-district routes, including the Mughal Road, Sinthan Pass, Sonamarg-Kargil inter-UT road, and Bhaderwah-Chamba inter-state road, remained closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall.

"The highway has been reopened today following the clearance of snow accumulated on various stretches of the road," a traffic official said.

The stranded vehicles along the highway are being cleared, he added.

"Passenger traffic is plying on the highway. Commuters are advised to follow lane discipline, as overtaking may cause congestion," J-K traffic police said in an advisory.

It also advised commuters to drive cautiously, as the road is slippery between Banihal and Qazigund.

The Mughal Road, which serves as an alternative link to the Kashmir Valley from Jammu region's Poonch district, remained shut due to snow accumulation, officials said.

Similarly, the Sinthan Pass in Kishtwar has been closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall. -- PTI

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13:05 8 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants deported: Delhi police

The Delhi police deported eight Bangladeshi nationals who were residing in the Rangpuri area of the national capital, an official said on Sunday.

Those deported are Jahangir, his wife and their six children, hailing from Kekerhat village in Madaripur district of Bangladesh, he said.

According to the police, Jahangir admitted to entering India through unofficial routes and subsequently, bringing his family over.

They had destroyed their Bangladeshi identification documents and were living in Delhi while concealing their original identities.

"A team from the Vasant Kunj South police station was tasked to identify illegal immigrants. As part of the intensified efforts to address concerns about unauthorised migrants, police conducted door-to-door verifications of 400 families in Rangpuri," deputy commissioner of police (Southwest) Surendra Choudhary said.

He added that verification forms were sent to the addresses of suspected individuals in West Bengal and a special team was dispatched to manually verify their documents.

During the verification drive, the team identified Jahangir and his family, who confessed to their Bangladeshi origins during questioning, the DCP said, adding that the deportation process was carried out in coordination with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office. -- PTI

Four workers died after inhaling toxic gas at a chemical plant at Dahej in Gujarat's Bharuch district, the police said on Sunday.

They fell unconscious after inhaling the toxic fumes leaking from a pipe at a production unit of the Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited at around 10 pm on Saturday, Dahej police station inspector BM Patidar said.

The four workers were rushed to a private hospital in Bharuch.

Three of them died at around 3 am on Sunday, while another one succumbed at 6 am, the official said.

"The incident occurred at around 10 pm when the four workers fell unconscious due to gas leakage from the pipe passing through the ground floor of the company's CMS plant. They were rushed to a private hospital where all four of them died," he said.

The bodies were sent for postmortem and further probe into the incident was underway, the official said. -- PTI

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12:06 10-yr-old boy who fell into borewell in MP's Guna dies

A 10-year-old boy, who fell into a 140-feet borewell in Madhya Pradesh's Guna district, lost the battle for life despite hectic efforts by multiple agencies for 16 hours to save him, officials said on Sunday.

The boy, Sumit Meena, slipped into the open shaft of the borewell at around 5 pm on Saturday in Pipliya village under Raghogarh assembly segment, located 50 km from the Guna district headquarters.

He was unresponsive when he was brought out at around 9.30 am on Sunday, the officials said.

The boy was rushed to a hospital in Raghogarh on life support system, Guna superintendent of police Sanjeev Sinha said.

"Sorry to say, he is no more," Guna district chief medical and health officer Dr Rajkumar Rishishwar told reporters at the hospital.

"The child was in the narrow borewell for the entire night in the chilly weather. His hands and feet were drenched and swollen. His clothes were also wet and mud was found in his mouth," he said.

Doctors examined whether the body parts froze due to hypothermia (a condition that occurs when the core body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, he said.

Rescuers worked through the night and dug a parallel pit to reach the boy via a passage between the pit and borewell, Raghogarh Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh said over phone from the spot earlier in the morning. -- PTI

A fire broke out on a hill slope in Goregaon area of Mumbai shortly after midnight on Sunday, a fire official said.

No person was reported to be injured in the incident, he said.

The "level-one" fire erupted at 12.14 am.

It was confined to dry leaves, shrubs and trees in about 1.5 km area on the hill slope located behind an Information Technology park in Goregaon (East), the official said.

The blaze was extinguished by 2.35 am, the official added.

The cause of the fire was not yet known. -- PTI

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organizational election review meeting is underway at the party's headquarters extension office in New Delhi on Sunday.

Organisation general secretary B L Santosh, national general secretaries, all the state presidents, state organisation general secretaries and organisation election in-charge co-in-charge are present in the meeting.

Party president J P Nadda will address the session of the meeting at noon.

According to party sources, the review will focus on the elections for Mandal, District, and State office bearers.

The party has also decided that the process for electing the national president will begin only after 50% of the state elections are completed.

The BJP aims to complete elections for Mandal, District, and State positions in 50% of states by January 15. -- ANI

The government has cancelled the auction of 11 critical mineral blocks in the fourth round due to poor response.

While no bids were received for four blocks, the remaining seven mines got less than three technically qualified bidders, according to the annulment notice.

The four blocks which include tungsten and glauconite, are located in the states of Chhattisgarh and Arunachal Pradesh.

"Since there were nil bids received....the auction process for four mineral blocks stands annulled," the notice said.

Critical minerals, such as cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel and rare earths, play crucial roles in the production of clean energy technologies, ranging from wind turbines to electric vehicles.

"Since there were less than three technically qualified bidders...the auction process of these seven mineral blocks stands annulled," the notice said.

The government had earlier cancelled the auction of three critical mineral blocks in the third round, 14 blocks in the second round, and 14 in the first tranche of critical minerals as the response was lukewarm.

The government had earlier said that 24 critical and strategic mineral blocks have been sold in four rounds of auction.

"Out of 48 blocks put to e-auction, 24 have been successfully auctioned, including four mining lease (ML) and 20 composite licenses (CL) blocks," the mines ministry had said.

India is all set to launch a Critical Mineral Mission in the upcoming year to secure vital resources for green energy and technology.

The initiative involves government, industry, and research collaboration, focusing on acquiring overseas assets like lithium and cobalt, particularly in Australia, and boosting domestic mining through auctions and roadshows.

With a series of high-profile roadshows abroad along with plans to acquire critical mineral assets in Australia, India is set to woo international investors and make its mark on the global mining map.

The countries are now racing in a bid to secure these vital resources, which include lithium and cobalt, through a complex web of policies and alliances, realising that critical minerals are the new lifeblood of the 21st-century economy.

According to an estimate by the World Bank, by 2050, the production of minerals, including lithium and cobalt, will need to increase by nearly 500 per cent in a bid to meet the growing demand for clean energy technologies.

At the same time, the International Energy Agency foresees that the rise in electric vehicles and battery storage will speed up the demand for these minerals at least 30 times by 2040.

Critical minerals are also the backbone of the semiconductor industry.

As the country pushes to become a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing -- a sector that is likely to reach one trillion dollars globally by 2030 -- the need for a stable supply of critical minerals becomes even more urgent.

Semiconductors, tiny chips that power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles, depend heavily on materials like silicon, cobalt, and rare earth elements, in addition to access to technology. -- PTI

Preparations for the Kirtan and Guru Path for former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh are going on at Gurudwara Majnu Ka Tilla, Delhi.

The last rites of Dr Singh were performed at Nigambodh Ghat, Delhi with full state honours, yesterday. -- ANI

In a major shift from his earlier stance, United States-President elect Donald Trump has expressed his support for the H-1B visa programme and acknowledged frequently using it for his own properties, calling it a 'great programme', according to a report by New York Post.

Calling it a 'great programme', the President-elect said he has 'always' been in its favour.

"I've always liked the visas, I have always been in favour of the visas. That's why we have them," Trump said in a telephonic interview with the New York Post.

He added, "I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I've been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It's a great programme."

Notably, during Trump's first term, the administration imposed restrictions on H-1B visas, citing concerns over 'abuse' and 'economic strain'. -- ANI

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08:27 South Korean plane crashes on runway, 28 killed

At least 28 people have been confirmed dead, with many others feared injured, after a South Korean passenger plane carrying 181 people crashed on Sunday morning at an airport in the country's southwest, according to police and fire officials, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The incident occurred at 9:07 am when a Jeju Air flight veered off the runway during landing and struck a fence at Musan International Airport in Muan County, about 288 kilometres southwest of Seoul.

Authorities reported that the 28 fatalities were located in the tail section of the aircraft, and the death toll is expected to rise.

Two individuals have been rescued so far.

The plane, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, was returning from Bangkok. The majority of passengers were South Korean nationals, with two Thai nationals also on board.

Authorities have extinguished the initial fire and said that search and rescue operations were under way at the crash site.

They also began an on-site investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash, Yonhap reported.

Further details are awaited. -- ANI

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