Ayodhya sees unprecedented rush on New Year Day

The temple towns of Ayodhya, Mathura, Mirzapur and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday witnessed an unprecedented rush of devotees on the first day of the New Year.

The Ram temple at Ayodhya was consecrated on January 22 last year.

According to local administration estimates, over two lakh devotees had already set up camps in Ayodhya on the New Year Eve. On Wednesday morning, approximately three lakh more people arrived to pay homage to the deity of Ram Lalla.

The eagerness of devotees was palpable as they lined up for 'darshan' of the idol which was unveiled at sunrise on the first day of the year.

In Varanasi, a massive crowd of devotees thronged the sacred premises of Baba Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple from 3 am on Wednesday. The rush continued till late evening as part of New Year celebrations.

The temple administration reported that by 8 pm, a whopping 8 lakh devotees had visited the temple to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Baba Shri Kashi Vishwanath.

In a statement, Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai said the entire world is celebrating the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar. The winter season coupled with a holiday break contributed to the high number of visitors, he explained.

With schools, courts and agricultural work closed for the season, he said, "people often take vacations during this time".

"Increasingly, Ayodhya has become a prime destination for pilgrims instead of more traditional tourist spots like Goa, Nainital, Shimla or Mussoorie," Rai said.

The Ayodhya administration divided the city into multiple sectors and zones to regulate the large crowds. Heavy police presence was deployed to manage the surging crowds. Traffic restrictions were imposed and round-the-clock vehicle inspections were conducted, local officials said.

The increase in the number of devotees had begun a day earlier. By Tuesday evening, more than two lakh pilgrims had already completed 'darshan'. Hotels, dharamshalas and homestays were fully booked as both local and outstation visitors poured into the town.

Similar scenes unfolded at the Hanumangarhi temple, where the crowds remained steady from the early morning 'aarti' until the 'shayan aarti' in the evening.

To accommodate the massive influx, the administration had prepared 10 additional visitor galleries along the Ram Janmabhoomi path, expanding the number of darshan lines from 10 to 20. Special security measures were also enforced to ensure the safety of the devotees.

Ayodhya Deputy Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Tiwari added that the city has been divided into seven security sectors and 24 zones, with senior officers deployed in each area. Drone cameras are used to monitor crowded locations and traffic movement was strictly controlled to avoid congestion and ensure public safety.

In Varanasi, the Chief Executive Officer of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, said the number of visitors has been rising steadily since December 28. On New Year, temple authorities had anticipated the high influx and took steps to manage the situation efficiently.

"The crowd started gathering early in the morning and by 8 pm, we had already witnessed 6 lakh devotees. The numbers continue to rise and devotees are still queuing to seek darshan," said Mishra. -- PTI

Former India batsman Vinod Kambli was discharged from a private hospital at Bhiwandi in Thane district on Wednesday afternoon after undergoing treatment for nearly two weeks. 

  

He walked out of the hospital around 4 pm.

52-year-old Kambli was initially admitted to Akruti Hospital for urinary infection and cramps, but the doctors later said that clots were found in his brain.

In a New Year's message, Kambli, talking to the waiting media, made an appeal to the people to shun alcohol and narcotic drugs, saying that vices can destroy one's life.

He would soon be back on the field, the former swashbuckling batsman said.

Kambli was now "completely fit" though he will have to take certain precautions, said Dr Vivek Trivedi who treated him. 

A video showing the former cricketer wearing a Team India jersey and wielding a bat before he left the hospital went viral on social media. -- PTI 

The Reserve Bank on Wednesday said 98.12 per cent of the Rs 2000 banknotes have been returned to the banking system, and only Rs 6,691 crore worth such notes are still with the public.

   

On May 19, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the withdrawal of Rs 2000 denomination banknotes from circulation.

The total value of Rs 2000 banknotes in circulation, which was Rs 3.56 lakh crore at the close of business on May 19, 2023, declined to Rs 6,691 crore at the close of business on December 31, 2024, RBI said.

"Thus, 98.12 per cent of the Rs 2000 banknotes in circulation as on May 19, 2023, has since been returned," it said in a statement.

The facility for deposit and/or exchange of the Rs 2000 banknotes was available at all bank branches till October 7, 2023. However, this facility is still available at the 19 issue offices of the Reserve Bank.

From October 9, 2023, the RBI issue offices are also accepting Rs 2000 banknotes from individuals and entities for deposit into their bank accounts.

Further, members of the public can also send Rs 2000 banknotes through India Post from any post office within the country to any of the RBI issue offices for credit to their bank accounts.

The Rs 2000 banknotes continue to be legal tender.

Accusing the BJP of planning to demolish Hindu temples and a Buddhist religious place in the city, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Wednesday said the AAP has on the other hand promised to provide Rs 18,000 monthly honorarium to the priests and granthis.

No immediate reaction was available from the BJP and Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena's office on the chief minister's allegations.

Atishi on Tuesday wrote to the lieutenant governor and claimed that a 'Religious Committee' under him in its meeting on November 22 ordered for demolition of six religious structures, including Hindu temples and a Buddhist worship place, in different parts of the city.

The LG's office rebutted the chief minister's charge, accusing her of indulging in "cheap politics" and claimed that no place of worship was being demolished as no file in this regard was received by it.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Atishi termed the LG's office rebuttal as "complete lie" and showed a copy of minute of the meeting of the Religious Committee.

"The file of Committee's order was sent to the BJP-led Centre's representative LG. The LG has given approval to the decision," she claimed.

The chief minister said the MCD, DM offices and police have been informed and they are gearing up for demolishing the places of worships.

A Buddhist religious structure in Sunder Nagri planned to be demolished housed a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar, she added.

Atishi said the Religious Committee since its formation by a Supreme Court order worked under the Home minister of the Delhi government and its decisions were approved by the minister. -- PTI

Ten people were killed and 30 injured after a vehicle drove into a crowd on New Orleans' Canal and Bourbon Street on Wednesday.

 

New Orleans police earlier said they were responding to a mass casualty incident, including fatalities. 

Minimum temperatures are expected to be higher than normal in most parts of India in January, except in some areas of eastern, northwest, and west-central regions, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday.  

 

Maximum temperatures are also likely to be above normal for most parts of the country, except in parts of northwest, central and eastern India, and central parts of the southern peninsula, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said during a virtual press briefing. 

Western and northern parts of central India are expected to experience more cold wave days than usual during January, he said.  

The IMD said rainfall in north India during January to March is likely to be below normal, with less than 86 per cent of the long-period average (LPA). 

The average rainfall for north India during this period, based on 1971-2020 data, is about 184.3 mm.  

Northern and northwestern states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh grow rabi crops, including wheat, peas, gram and barley, in winter (October to December) and harvest them in summer (April to June). 

Rainfall during winter, caused by western disturbances, plays a crucial role in their growth. -- PTI 

Multiple casualties are feared in New Orleans after a vehicle reportedly drove into a crowd on the Bourbon Street, CBS News has reported.

A New Orleans Police spokesman told CBS News that "initial reports show a car may have ploughed into a group of people" in the early hours of New Year's Day. 

Viral videos on social media showed bodies lying across the road.

More details are awaited.

The Indian Navy will commission two indigenously constructed frontline warships and a diesel-electric submarine on January 15 that is expected to significantly enhance the force's overall combat prowess.

   

All the three platforms -- guided-missile destroyer Surat, stealth frigate Nilgiri and submarine Vagsheer -- are equipped with the latest weapons and sensors, officials said on Wednesday.

The warships and submarine will be commissioned at a ceremony at the naval dockyard in Mumbai.

The two warships also include specific accommodations to support a sizeable complement of women officers and sailors, aligning with the Indian Navy's steps toward gender inclusion in frontline combat roles.

"This historic event will provide a significant boost to the Indian Navy's combat potential while underscoring the country's pre-eminent status in indigenous shipbuilding," an official readout said.

All three platforms have been designed and constructed entirely at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, a testament to India's growing self-reliance in the critical domain of defence production, it said.

"The successful commissioning of these advanced warships and submarines highlights the rapid progress made in warship design and construction, cementing India's position as a global leader in defence manufacturing," the Navy said in a statement.

Nilgiri, the first of the seven frigates being constructed under 'Project 17A', has significant stealth features.

The Project 15B destroyer, Surat, is the culmination of the follow-on class to the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) destroyers and features substantial improvements in design and capabilities.

Both ships were designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and are equipped with advanced sensors and weapon packages developed primarily in India or through strategic collaborations with leading global manufacturers.

Equipped with modern aviation facilities, Nilgiri and Surat can operate a range of helicopters, including Chetak, Advanced Light Helicopters, Sea King and the newly inducted MH-60R.

Vagsheer, the sixth Scorpene-class submarine under the Kalvari-class Project 75, is one of the most silent and versatile diesel-electric submarines in the world.

It is designed to undertake a wide range of missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, area surveillance and special operations. -- PTI

The year 2024 was the warmest on record in India since 1901, with the average minimum temperature settling 0.90 degrees Celsius above the long-period average.

 

The annual mean land surface air temperature across India in 2024 was 0.65 degrees Celsius above the long-term average (1991-2020 period), Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said at a virtual press briefing.

The year 2024 now ranks as the warmest year on record since 1901, surpassing 2016, which had recorded a mean land surface air temperature 0.54 degrees Celsius above normal.

According to the European climate agency Copernicus, 2024 likely ended as the warmest year on record and the first year with a global average temperature 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

A yearly review report by two groups of climate scientists -- World Weather Attribution and Climate Central -- said that the world experienced an average of 41 more days of dangerous heat in 2024. -- PTI

The government on Wednesday announced an extension of a one-time special package of up to Rs 3,850 crore to ensure farmers continue to get Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertiliser at Rs 1,350 per bag of 50 kg.

 

A decision in this regard was taken in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The one-time special package for DAP was approved for the January-December 2025 period, I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters.

The move aims to ensure the sustainable availability of DAP at affordable prices to farmers. -- PTI 

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday said the people think of his party when they want  any problem resolved, but ignore it on the election day.

  

In a message on X on New Year, Thackeray appealed the party workers to put the poll results behind them and move on, stating that he would speak to them soon and give a broader direction on the future course of action.

"....certain things have not changed.....people remember Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for the resolution of every problem, but ignore it while voting," said Thackeray. 

The MNS contested 125 out of the 288 assembly seats in the November 20 Maharashtra elections but drew a blank. Raj's son Amit Thackeray too lost from Mahim in Mumbai.

Thackeray also claimed that just weeks after the poll results, "oppression" against Marathi speakers started in the state. People expected the MNS to take action in these cases and it did, he added.

It has become evident that "Marathi manoos" (native Maharashtrian) is being used only for the vote, the MNS chief said. -- PTI

A 40-year-old man allegedly died by suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his residence in Kalyan Vihar area of northwest Delhi, an official said on Wednesday.

   

The family members of the deceased identified as Puneet Khurana, a businessman, have levelled allegations against his wife and in-laws.

"Khurana's father Trilok Nath has produced his mobile phone and other related articles. The mobile phone of the deceased and other related articles were taken in police possession. The body will be handed over to the family members after post-mortem," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Northwest, Bhisham Singh.

The DCP further said that the incident was reported at approximately 4:18 pm on December 31.

"Soon after information, a team was immediately rushed to the spot. The team found Khurana unresponsive on his bed with a ligature mark around his neck, indicating death by hanging," he said, adding further investigation is underway.

The body was transported to the BJRM Hospital and has been preserved for a post-mortem examination, police said.

While talking with media persons, Khurana's father levelled allegations against his wife and in-laws. He said they used to threaten him almost every day over financial and property issues.

Khurana's sister alleged that her brother committed suicide because of his wife and her parents who mentally pressurised him and harassed him.

"We request that justice must be done with our family and culprits must be sent behind bars," she added.

Director Hansal Mehta has claimed that producer Naga Vamsi's hit Telugu movie Lucky Baskhar has borrowed "liberally" from his successful web series Scam, while labelling the filmmaker as "arrogant".

 

Mehta's allegations came after Vamsi in a roundtable interview said that the Hindi film industry focuses on making films for Mumbai's posh areas like Bandra and Juhu, directing his comments at veteran producer Boney Kapoor.

Reacting to the producer's remarks, Mehta in an X post said: "Since this person Mr Naga Vamsi was being so arrogant and now that I know who he is: His latest hit as a producer Lucky Bhaskar has borrowed liberally from the Scam series."

The director said he was "happy" that the story of a Hindi series like Scam was translated successfully in another language. 

"Reason I brought this up is that I feel happy that stories travel and a film in another language succeeds in replicating what has worked for us. Everybody wins. Nobody is bigger than the other. That narrative is destructive. Arrogance is even worse," he added in his post.

Lucky Baskhar, set in the 1990s, follows a lower-middle-class man (Dulquer Salmaan) who begins engaging in financial scams after struggling to support his family while battling debt and humiliation.

Whereas, the Scam franchise has explored stories of the biggest financial scandals in Indian history, with the first season being based on the 1992 Indian stock market scam committed by notorious stockbroker Harshad Mehta (Pratik Gandhi). Season two revolved around the real-life story of Abdul Karim Telgi (Gagan Dev Riar) who was involved in the 2003 stamp paper counterfeiting scandal worth Rs 30,000 crore.

During the roundtable, Vamsi also said that "Mumbai didn't sleep" after Pushpa 2: The Rule earned over Rs 80 crore at the box office in a single day.

"Chill dude whoever you are. I live in Mumbai. Been sleeping really well," Mehta posted on X said previously.

Besides Mehta, Pathaan director Siddharth Anand also took a swipe at Vamsi.

"Mumbai has always been the city that never sleeps ;) It's ok, I guess some people don't know our real Mumbai! (sic)" Anand said, reposting Mehta's comments on X.

"And one more thing. I have infact lived ONLY in Bandra and Juhu both! Just fyi (sic)" he added in another post. -- PTI

Decades after it was closed over communal violence in Moradabad, a temple in the Daulatabagh area has been reopened by local administration and authorities, according to officials.

   

The development comes in light of multiple abandoned or locked temples in various parts of Uttar Pradesh being reopened for prayers.

After 44 years, the temple was reopened on Monday, officials said.

"On the administration's orders, a team comprising police and municipal corporation staff began operations to reopen the temple. There has been no opposition or unrest, and the locals are cooperating in the effort," Nagphani Police Inspector Sunil Kumar said.

After the reopening, it was found that some temple idols were misplaced or missing, Kumar said.

He added that local authorities are now overseeing the restoration work, ensuring the space is cleaned, repaired, and made ready for regular worship once again.

The process has proceeded peacefully, with no reports of hindrance or objection from any group, Kumar added. -- PTI 

Curfew has been imposed at a village in north Maharashtra's Jalgaon district following clashes over a trivial dispute involving the driver of a minister's car and a group of locals, officials said on Wednesday morning.

Seven persons have been arrested so far as several shops were set on fire and public property was damaged during the violence at Palthi village, a senior police official said. 

There was a heated exchange between a group of locals and the driver of state minister Gulabrao Patil's car in Kasaiwada area of the village late Tuesday night when the driver honked and asked them to give way, he said.

Patil, a Shiv Sena leader and the minister for water supply and sanitation, was not present, but a member of his family was riding in the car.

While the altercation ended at the spot, some persons from the locality later went to a village square and protested, the official said.

Another group then arrived there, leading to clashes till early in the morning.

Several shops in the village were burnt, the official said.

Additional police personnel, State Reserve Police Force and Riot Control Police teams alongside fire brigade vehicles were deployed in the village, he said, adding that the situation was now under control. -- PTI 

The violence against Hindus in Bangladesh has provided a fillip to West Bengal BJP's membership drive, as the party struggles to meet its ambitious one crore target, while campaiging against the atrocities on minorities across the border to consolidate Hindu support in the state.

Attacks on the minority community on the other side of the border has provided the party with a rallying point, as it seeks to counter challenges posed by organisational gaps, internal discord, and the ruling Trinamool Congress's political dominance.

 

Both TMC and BJP are leveraging the Bangladesh issue to shape the political narrative ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

 

"The Bangladesh turmoil, where Hindu minorities have been at the receiving end, has accelerated the membership drive, as people see the BJP as the only party capable of ensuring stability and are afraid of similar events under TMC's rule, which is known for its minority appeasement," state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar told PTI.

 

Top BJP leaders have launched an aggressive campaign across West Bengal for the last one month, focusing on the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh. They have accused the TMC of providing shelter to jihadists and fundamentalists as part of its vote-bank politics.

 

"West Bengal's future is at stake under TMC rule. If we allow the TMC to continue its appeasement politics, we are inviting the same crisis we see unfolding in Bangladesh. The BJP is the only party capable of providing true security for our people, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had said at rallies.

 

A senior BJP leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, "The fiery speeches, focusing on the protection of Bengal's cultural identity and Hindu community, are aimed at energising party workers and gaining momentum for the membership drive. They yielded positive results, as youngsters are taking up membership in huge numbers, especially in bordering districts." 

 

The BJP has been charging the TMC with overlooking the suffering of persecuted Hindus across the border.

"The attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh directly affect Bengal. The Hindus in Bengal know that as long as BJP is here, they are safe as, left to the TMC, they would meet the same fate like Bangladesh," BJP MP and general secretary Jyotirmay Singh Mahato said.

 

The BJP has linked the crisis to its push for the CAA, which promises citizenship to persecuted minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had set a one-crore membership target during his visit to Kolkata on October 27, intending to galvanise the BJP's organisational base in Bengal. 

However, the party is still far from the target, with around 35 lakh members enrolled in the last week of December, days before the drive's deadline was extended to first week of January 2025.

Online travel tech aggregator EaseMyTrip on Wednesday said its Co-Founder and CEO Nishant Pitti has resigned on account of "personal reasons".

   

His brother and Co-Founder Rikant Pittie, who is currently the company's Executive Director, has been appointed as the new CEO.

"In his new role, Rikant will lead the company's strategic initiatives, drive innovation, and enhance customer experiences to further strengthen EaseMyTrip's position in the industry," the company stated in a regulatory filing.

A graduate from Kurukshetra University, Ambala, Pittie co-founded the company in 2008. He holds about 16 years of experience in tourism, travel, HR, and technology.

In his new role, he will lead the company's strategic initiatives, drive innovation, and enhance customer experiences to strengthen Ease My Trip's position in the industry, the filing said.

Shares of Ease My Trip were trading at Rs 15.85 apiece on the BSE on Wednesday, 0.13 per cent lower than the previous close. -- PTI

The Defence Ministry on Wednesday declared 2025 as the year of reforms and that the aim will be to facilitate establishment of integrated theatre commands to bolster jointness among the three services.

   

The reform measures would be rolled out to transform the armed forces into a technologically-advanced combat-ready force capable of multi-domain integrated operations, it said.

The ministry said the focus in 2025 will be on new domains such as cyber and space, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonic and robotics.

"'Year of Reforms' will be a momentous step in the modernisation journey of the armed forces," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.

"It will lay the foundation for unprecedented advancements in the country's defence preparedness, thus preparing to ensure the security and sovereignty of the nation amidst the challenges of the 21st century," he said.

The decision on observing 2025 as the year of reforms was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Singh. -- PTI

A tremor of 3.2 magnitude hit Gujarat's Kutch district on Wednesday morning, the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said.

No casualty or damage to property was reported, the district administration said.

The tremor was recorded at 10.24 am, with its epicentre located 23 kilometres north-north east (NNE) of Bhachau, as per the Gandhinagar-based ISR.

Last month, the region recorded four seismic activities of more than 3 magnitude, including a 3.2 magnitude tremor three days ago with its epicentre also close to Bhachau.

A 3.7 magnitude tremor hit the district on December 23 and of 3.2 magnitude on December 7, according to the ISR.

On November 18 last year, an earthquake of 4 magnitude jolted Kutch.

Earlier, on November 15, an earthquake of 4.2 magnitude hit Patan in north Gujarat, as per the ISR data.

Gujarat is a high earthquake-risk area.

It suffered nine major earthquakes in the past 200 years, according to the data of the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA).

The earthquake in Kutch on January 26, 2001 was the third largest and second most destructive in India over the last two centuries, according to the GSDMA.

A large number of towns and villages in the district had suffered almost complete destruction in the earthquake, which killed nearly 13,800 persons and left 1.67 lakh others injured. -- PTI

Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh's highly anticipated New Year's Eve concert in Ludhiana was marred by legal controversy following a complaint filed by Punditrao Dharenavar, an assistant professor from Chandigarh.

The complaint prompted the Deputy Director of the Women and Child Department, Government of Punjab, to issue a formal notice to Ludhiana's District Commissioner, urging them to prevent the singer from performing certain songs during his live show on December 31, 2024.

The notice, which was addressed to the local authorities in Ludhiana, specifically calls for a ban on songs that have been accused of promoting alcohol, such as 'Patiala Pegg', '5 Tara Theke', and 'Case (Jeeb Vicho Feem Labbiya)', even if modified with altered lyrics.

The complaint references prior warnings issued to Diljit Dosanjh by various commissions, where he was advised against performing these controversial tracks.

Despite these advisories, the singer has allegedly continued to perform them with slight alterations to the lyrics. Panditrao Dharenavar, who filed the complaint, expressed strong concerns over the impact of such songs, particularly on young audiences, especially when underage children are in the audience.

Further complicating the situation, Dharenavar cited a ruling from the Punjab and Haryana high court, which in 2019 directed the police to ensure that no songs promoting alcohol, drugs, or violence are played at public events, including live concerts.

According to the court's decision, songs that glorify substances like alcohol or drugs have a detrimental impact on impressionable children.  -- ANI

Five people were injured after a vehicle in the convoy of Uttar Pradesh Minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad overturned into a ditch near Januan village in the Khejuri Police Station area of Ballia district last night. 

Throwing light on the happening, Nishad said five party workers, including four women, sustained injuries in the accident.

"I was travelling with the convoy to attend the Constitutional Rights Yatra organised by the party on Tuesday night when the incident occurred. Near Januan village in the Khejuri area, one of the vehicles following the convoy lost control while trying to avoid an animal and overturned into a ditch," he said.

The minister further said those injured in the accident have been identified as Rakesh Nishad, Ramrati, Usha, Geeta and Iravati Nishad.

Following the incident, senior police and administrative officials rushed to the spot.

All the injured have been admitted to the district hospital for treatment.  -- PTI

The mother of Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher who was found dead after accusing the company of violating copyright laws, alleged that her son was 'murdered' and demanded an Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe into the matter.

Poornima Rao, the mother of Suchir Balaji, claimed that her son's death was a 'cold-blooded murder declared by authorities as suicide'.

She also mentioned that a private autopsy report differed from the initial police report.

Additionally, she stated that her son's apartment had been 'ransacked', and there were signs of a struggle in the bathroom that suggested he had been hit. 

'We hired private investigator and did second autopsy to throw light on cause of death. Private autopsy doesn't confirm the cause of death stated by police. Suchir's apartment was ransacked, sign of struggle in the bathroom and looks like some one hit him in bathroom based on blood spots. It's a cold blooded mu*d*r declared by authorities as suicide. Lobbying in San Francisco city doesn't stop us from getting justices. We demand FBi investigation.' Poornima Rao wrote on X.

Elon Musk responded to the post of Suchir Balaji's mother, saying 'This doesn't seem like a suicide.'

Balaji was found dead in his apartment in San Francisco, months after accusing OpenAI of violating laws while developing ChatGPT, Fox News reported.

His death was ruled a suicide after the San Francisco Police Department found no evidence of 'foul play'.

On October 24, before his death, Balaji expressed his skepticism about the 'fair use' of generative artificial intelligence products.

'I recently participated in a NYT story about fair use and generative AI, and why I'm skeptical 'fair use' would be a plausible defense for a lot of generative AI products,' he wrote on X.

'To give some context: I was at OpenAI for nearly 4 years and worked on ChatGPT for the last 1.5 of them. I initially didn't know much about copyright, fair use, etc. but became curious after seeing all the lawsuits filed against GenAI companies. When I tried to understand the issue better, I eventually came to the conclusion that fair use seems like a pretty implausible defense for a lot of generative AI products, for the basic reason that they can create substitutes that compete with the data they're trained on. I've written up the more detailed reasons for why I believe this in my post. Obviously, I'm not a lawyer, but I still feel like it's important for even non-lawyers to understand the law -- both the letter of it, and also why it's actually there in the first place,' he added.

Balaji also raised concerns about the company breaking copyright laws in an interview with The New York Times.

He was named in a copyright lawsuit filed against the company by The New York Times, which alleged that Microsoft and OpenAI used millions of published articles to inform their technology and began competing with the outlet as a result, Fox News reported.  -- ANI

The rupee dropped 5 paise to 85.69 against the US dollar in early trade on Wednesday, the first session of 2025, as the strength of the American currency in the overseas market and persistent foreign fund outflows weighed on the local unit.

Forex traders said the dollar index (DXY) and US 10-year bond yields have been on an uptrend largely owing to the Federal Reserve's cautious stance and the 'Trump factor'.

Additionally, global markets are expected to see low volumes as the holiday season is underway in major economies like the UK and Europe.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 85.63 then fell further to 85.69 against the American currency, registering a fall of 5 paise over its previous close.

On Tuesday, the rupee depreciated 12 paise to close at a fresh all-time closing low of 85.64 against the US dollar.

On December 27, the local currency touched its lifetime intraday low of 85.80 against the greenback.

According to Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, the Indian rupee was protected by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) at 85.6450 on Tuesday.

"With US markets closed on Wednesday, cash dollar demand will not be there. A lower opening on USDINR could be an opportunity for importers to buy dollars for their payables. The range for the day would be 85.40 to 85.70," Bhansali said.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was at 104.48.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was quoted at $74.64 per barrel in futures trade.

In the domestic equity market, the 30-share BSE Sensex was trading 127.91 points or 0.16 per cent down at 78,011.10 points in morning trade, while Nifty was down 36.30 points or 0.15 per cent to 23,608.50 points.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded Rs 4,645.22 crore in the capital markets on net basis on Tuesday, according to exchange data.

On the domestic macroeconomic front, the Centre's fiscal deficit at the end of the eighth month of financial year 2024-25 touched 52.5 per cent of the full-year target, government data showed on Tuesday.

In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit -- the gap between the government's expenditure and revenue -- was about Rs 8.47 lakh crore during the April-November period, according to the data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).  -- PTI

Security forces seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition during search operations in Manipur's Bishnupur and Thoubal districts, a police statement said on Wednesday.

From Thongkhonglok village in Bishnupur district, security forces on Tuesday seized one SLR with a magazine, one .303 rifle, one 12 bore single barrel gun, two 9mm pistol with magazine, one anti-riot gun, two INSAS LMG magazine, two INSAS rifle magazine, four hand grenades, one detonator, five anti-riot shell, ammunition and other articles, the statement said.

The security forces seized one anti material rifle (AMR) sniper modified with sight scope and magazine, two single bolt action rifle, three 9mm pistol (country made), one hand grenade, four MK-13T, and ammunition from Leishangthem Ikop Pat area of Thoubal district, it said.

Meanwhile, police arrested a member of the banned outfit Kangleipak Communist Party (People's War Group) involved in extortion from Mantripukhri Bazaar near Bengali crossing in Imphal East district on Tuesday.

One 9mm pistol with magazine, two money receipts of KCP (PWG) and other articles were seized from his possession, the police said.  -- PTI

A court in Maharashtra has sent Walmik Karad, an accused in an extortion case linked to the murder of a sarpanch, to custody for 15 days.

Karad, an accused in the extortion case linked to the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed district, surrendered before the police in Pune. 

He was then brought to a government hospital in Kej from where he was taken to a police station, an official said.

Opposition Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar has dubbed the surrender as an orchestrated move and mockery of the state police.

Assistant government pleader J B Shinde told reporters that the court had sent Karad to 15 days' custody.

The custody was granted to investigate the case and collect Karad's voice sample.

Karad's advocate said, "If we see the FIR, the sections that are imposed are inapplicable. If we see the background, the court has not heard our say but may be on day 14, when the custody ends, it may be considered."

"I have seen many cases of extortion but never seen such a case where court grants custody of 15 days. If anyone else apart from Walmik Karad would have been there, probably the accused have got bail," the advocated added.  -- PTI