Man, 2 Daughters, Son Die By Suicide After Jumping In Front Of Train In Gujarat

A man, his two daughters and a son allegedly committed suicide on Sunday by jumping in front of a train in Botad district in Gujarat, an official said.

The incident took place at 6:30pm between Ningala and Alampur railway stations, Railway Protection Force sub inspector VS Gole said.

"As part of a suicide pact, the four jumped in front of a passenger train on its way from Bhavnagar to Gandhidham. The bodies of the man, his two daughters and a son were found along the tracks," he said.

The man, identified as Mangabhai Vijuda (42), was out on bail after getting arrested on charges of attempt to murder following a fight with a relative, as per police.

The others who died are his daughters Sonam (17) and Rekha (21) and son Jignesh (19).

They belonged to Nana Sakhpar village in the district's Gadhada taluka, he said.

The bodies have been sent for post mortem and further probe into why they took this extreme step is underway, the official said.

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Woman, 36, Kills Mother Over Property Dispute In Delhi, Arrested

A 36-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly killing her mother over a property dispute in outer Delhi's Ranhola area, police said on Sunday.

The accused, Promila, works as a teacher and was living with her father, who had separated from her mother Beermati (65), they said.

According to police, Beermati's daughter-in-law Asha found her body, which bore multiple stab wounds on the neck and limbs, near the disputed plot on Saturday morning. Later, Beermati's family informed police.

"A case of murder was registered and an investigation was launched. During inquiry, the investigation team came to know that Beermati's 70-year-old husband, an ex-serviceman and a self-styled godman, was embroiled in a property dispute with her and was living separately with their daughter," an official said.

During investigation, police checked footage of CCTV cameras installed near the crime scene and noticed Promila was in the area on the fateful day, police said.

"A team was formed and Promila was arrested from the Bahadurgarh area near her house. She works as a guest teacher in Government Boys Senior Secondary School (GBSS) in Ashok Nagar, Delhi. She killed her mother over the property dispute," a senior officer said.

Further investigation is underway, the officer said.

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Man Dies By Suicide, Case Against Wife, Her Sister: Maharashtra Police

An offence has been registered against a 27-year-old woman and her sister for allegedly abetting the suicide of her husband in Maharashtra's Thane district two months ago, police said on Saturday.

Based on a complaint, the police on Friday registered an offence under section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code against the two sisters, an official said.

Sachinkumar Mishra, a resident of Davdi village in Dombivili, committed suicide by consuming rat poison in October, he said.

As per the complaint, Mishra's wife Pooja frequently spoke to three men, raising doubts that she was having an extramarital affair, the official said.

The victim's sister-in-law Babita Upadayaya also threatened him saying that he would be beaten up and abducted if he interfered with his wife's friend, he said.

The man was allegedly driven to suicide because of his wife's behaviour and sister-in-law's threats, the official said, adding that no arrests have been made in this regard so far.

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"I Am Perfectly Fine": Mamata Banerjee After Routine Check-Up Of Left Knee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday went to a state-run hospital here for a routine check-up of her left knee, which she had injured earlier this year while alighting from a helicopter.

Ms Banerjee went to the Woodburn Block of the SSKM Hospital, where doctors conducted a few routine tests, she told reporters.

"Don't worry, I am perfectly fine. I just came here for a check-up. I am walking normally now... around 20,000 steps daily," the chief minister said.

"I also interacted with the doctors and discussed some of the issues faced by the hospital," Ms Banerjee said after she came out of the Woodburn Block around 7.30 pm.

Ms Banerjee, before boarding her car, conveyed her New Year greetings to people of the state.

The chief minister suffered injuries on her left knee in June when her helicopter had to make an emergency landing at the IAF helipad in Sevoke near Siliguri.

In September, her left knee was injured again during a 12-day tour of Spain and Dubai.

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UP Siblings Who Left Home After Being Scolded Meet Mother After 13 Years

Two siblings aged 22 and 19 years who left home 13 years ago after being scolded by their mother have been reunited with her with the help of a child rights activist.

The siblings -- Rakhi and her brother Babloo -- left home in Bilasganj locality of Agra at the age of nine and six years and spent time at children's homes in Noida and Lucknow.

They first reunited with each other through social media in 2018 and then started searching for their mother.

Rakhi now works at a mall in Gurugram, while her brother Babloo is employed with a company in Bengaluru. Babloo said that a rail engine placed outside Agra Cantt station made him recall that he is from Agra.

"We both left home when our mother scolded us. After that, we asked a rickshaw driver to drop us at the residence of 'nani' (maternal grandmother) in the city. But he dropped us at a station in Agra. Then we reached Meerut railway station where we were caught by a member of Childline who sent us to the children's homes in Lucknow and Noida," Babloo told PTI over phone.

"During my stay in a children's home in Lucknow, I got training for mobile repairing. I was released from the home as I turned 18 and sent to a company in Chennai dealing in mobile repairing work," he added.

"From there I moved to Bengaluru and began working at a private company. I kept searching for my sister and mother," Babloo said, adding that he found his sister in 2018 through social media and then they began searching for mother Neetu Kumari.

Naresh Paras, the child rights activist in Agra who helped the sister-brother duo find their mother, said, "I got requests from them last week. After that, I began searching for their family."

"When Rakhi and Babloo left home, they were caught at Meerut station. At that time, it seems they forgot their exact address and mentioned their locality Bilasganj as Bilaspur. For me, it was difficult to search the exact address of the children," Paras said.

The activist said that he also sought help from the Agra police.

"I got information that a missing complaint was lodged on June 16, 2010 by the mother of two children at Jagdishpura police station. I got the address and tried to contact the mother, but she had shifted to another locality," he added.

Paras said finally, he managed to locate the place where Neetu was living.

"I informed Neetu about her two children, she was too happy and excited to meet both the children. While Rakhi reached Agra from Gurugram and met her mother, Babloo joined them through a video call from Bengaluru," Paras added.

After speaking to his mother, Babloo said, "It was a very emotional moment for me to speak to my mother and sister. I am thankful to Naresh Paras." 

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Man Refusing To Swap Seats With Pregnant Woman On Airplane Praised Online

A man has been praised online for refusing to swap seats with a pregnant woman on an airplane. In a post shared on Reddit, a man explained that he was flying solo to visit family over the holidays and carefully selected an aisle seat that was next to the bathroom. "Right before boarding, a woman asked me to give up my seat so she could sit closer to the bathroom. She was pregnant but did not seem distressed," he wrote.

Reddit user u/michaeldonelly shared the post, titled "AITA (Am I the A**hole) and for not giving up my airline seat to a pregnant woman?", on December 15. He explained that he paid extra because he has a medical issue that sometimes requires "quick access to the bathroom". Because of this, he wasn't willing to change his seating arranges, the user said. 

"I did not feel it was fair to demand I move from the seat I planned for and paid for, especially since she apparently had not booked an aisle seat herself in advance," he wrote. 

AITA for not giving up my airline seat to a pregnant woman?
byu/michaeldonelly inAITAH

Further, the social media user claimed that the flight attendants didn't try to help resolve the issue and there weren't any empty aisle seats that could facilitate the pregnant woman's request. He concluded by stating that his family backed the woman as they felt that he should have "inconvenienced" himself. 

Since being shared, the Reddit post has accumulated more than 15,000 upvotes. In the comments section, users praised the man for keeping his seat since he made specific accommodations before the flight. 

"NTA. [Not the a******] She should have booked another seat she wanted herself or not gone on the flight. Seems she just assumed she wouldn't have to pay for it, since some sucker was going to move. The flight attendants are at fault for not mediating. At some point they should have told her to go back to her seat (and all of this is regardless of your medical issues. You paid for the seat. She didn't.)," wrote one user. 

Also Read | Flight Attendants Reveal 5 "Dirtiest, Rarely Cleaned" Spots On An Airplane

"Because she felt entitled to it because she was pregnant. She thought she could use that to her advantage. But, she found out she couldn't. And rightfully so OP!!! You booked and paid for that seat. NTA," said another. 

"NTA- I say this as someone who has been pregnant and has flown solo with a toddler ... every passenger has equal opportunity to pre-book seats based on their needs and preferences. It's no one's business why you booked that seat. Was the passenger or airline going to reimburse you for the cost of pre-booking the seat? Zero obligation for you to move," commented a third user. 

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"Permanent Husband": Case Against RSS Leader For Triple Talaq Remarks

A case has been filed against an RSS leader in Karnataka for his alleged remark that while Muslim men are unhappy with the BJP government at the Centre for passing a bill declaring triple talaq illegal, Muslim women are happy because they now have a "permanent husband". 

In a speech during an event in Karnataka's Srirangapatna on Sunday, RSS Leader Prabhakar Bhat Kalladka had said, "Until recently, the practice of divorce through triple talaq was legal, but it has been done away with since the Modi government came to power. Muslim men must be very unhappy about this."

"But the Muslim women must be very happy with this move as they used to have a new husband every day because they used to say talaq, talaq, talaq and leave. They couldn't say they have a life-long husband. It's the Modi government that has given you a permanent husband," Mr Kalladka said.

The event, called the Sankeerna Yatra, was organised by a right-wing outfit, the Hindu Jagrana Vedike.

After the statement went viral on social media, a social worker, Nazia Nazeer, filed a complaint at the Srirangapatna police station. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Mr Kalladka under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those pertaining to promoting enmity between groups, outraging religious feelings and insulting the modesty of a woman.

The practice of divorce through triple talaq had been deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2017 and the Parliament passed a law declaring it illegal in 2019. 

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1 Dead, Many Hospitalised After Allegedly Eating 'Prasad' At Karnataka Temple

A 65-year-old woman died and 135 others were hospitalised in a suspected case of food poisoning in Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural limits, police said on Monday.

The victim has been identified as Siddagangamma, a resident of Kaveringar in Hoskote, they said.

Police said they suspect the cause of food poisoning to be an edible offering at a place of worship in the area.

Some of those hospitalised have been discharged while others are still undergoing treatment. The Health Department is closely monitoring the situation.

As of now, it is suspected to be a case of food poisoning, but since the investigation is in the initial stage, the exact cause cannot be ascertained at present, they added.

A preliminary inquiry has revealed that on Saturday, most of them had visited a temple in Hoskote town where they ate 'prasad'. A day later, a few among those complained of dysentery and vomiting after which they rushed to hospitals for treatment.

A woman who complained of similar symptoms was admitted to one of these hospitals on Sunday afternoon and died this morning, a senior police officer said.

Many others also were admitted to hospitals on Sunday morning and complained about dysentery and vomiting.

"We had information that about 70 people have been admitted to different hospitals. Later, we got to know that 65 more people were admitted. The health department has identified five hospitals in which maximum patients have been admitted. Looking at the situation, in one of the hospitals, they have dedicated an entire floor to treat ICU patients," the police official said.

"Patients suspect that the prasad they ate at the temple on Saturday must have led to alleged food poisoning. But there were also others who did not eat the prasad and yet developed dysentery and vomiting. So it needs to be verified," he added.

"We have started recording statements of these patients. We have received a complaint from the health department, based on which we have registered a case under Section 278 (Making atmosphere noxious to health) of the Indian Penal Code against unidentified persons at Hoskote police station. Our investigation is underway and will take necessary action accordingly," he added. 

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Will Not Stop Schemes By Previous Government: Rajasthan Chief Minister Rebuts Congress' Charges

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Monday said none of the welfare schemes launched by the previous Congress government in the state will be discontinued.

He was speaking at a function organised by the BJP to mark Good Governance Day on the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Reacting to the allegations by the Congress that his government would discontinue the public welfare schemes launched by the previous government, Bhajan Lal Sharma said, "Congress people are saying our work, our schemes... I want to tell you that we will not stop any of the schemes."

The chief minister said free medicines will continue to be made available at government hospitals and the number of essential drugs would also be increased.

Mr Vajyapee made schemes for the welfare of the poor and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the initiative forward, Bhajan Lal Sharma said.

BJP stalwart Vajpayee was born on December 25, 1924. He died on August 16, 2018.

Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari and other leaders of the party also paid tributes to Vajpayee on the day.

Speaking at another programme in the district's Ajayrajpura area, Bhajan Lal Sharma said his government was committed to making Rajasthan a leader in public welfare.

He also said that every decision taken by the government revolves around the welfare and progress of the state.

Underlining his commitment to basic health services, Bhajan Lal Sharma announced plans to provide health insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh to eligible individuals under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. He said a proposal has been sent in this connection to the Centre.

The number of medicines under the free medicine scheme will be increased and other schemes of the former Congress government will be reviewed and strengthened, the chief minister said.

The former Congress government had launched the Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme for citizens under which insurance cover of up to Rs 25 lakh was being provided.

Chief Minister Sharma has now indicated that the scheme would continue but its name could be changed.

Bhajan Lal Sharma also highlighted the importance of the Vikas Bharat Sankalp Yatra to bring the benefits of the central government schemes to every citizen.

"The Vikas Bharat Sankalp Yatra aims to create awareness about various central government schemes, encouraging eligible individuals to join and benefit from them," he said.

Reflecting on Atal Bihari Vajpayee's contributions, Bhajan Lal Sharma acknowledged his role in India's economic development, international positioning, and infrastructure enhancement.

During the yatra, the chief minister administered a pledge to government employees, urging them to uphold the highest standards of good governance.

After the programme, the chief minister visited the house of a local farmer and had lunch there. He was served 'bajra roti' among others.

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''Step Away'': Harsh Goenka Shares Thought-Provoking Video On How Phones Impact Relationships

Industrialist Harsh Goenka often shares motivational and interesting posts to keep his social media fans entertained. On Friday, the tech-savvy businessman shared a thought-provoking video about an issue that is significantly relevant to our lives. The video talks about smartphone addiction and how it impacts our relationships. While phones keep us connected and help maintain relationships, in some ways, they drive a wedge between us, too. 

Mr Goenka shared the video of inspirational speaker Simon Sinek wherein he explains how even holding a phone in our hands while talking to someone else gives them the impression that they are not the top priority. ''Imagine I'm here talking to you, holding my phone. It's not buzzing, not beeping, and no one's calling me, I'm just holding it. Do you feel as if you're the most important thing to me right now? No, you don't. That's the association'' Mr Sinek said in the video. 

''Step away from the screen, embrace the world, and rediscover the joy of living in the moment…..'' the caption of the video shared by Mr Goenka read.

Watch the video here:

Step away from the screen, embrace the world, and rediscover the joy of living in the moment….. pic.twitter.com/Rqqt8gQVmp

— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) December 22, 2023

In the video, Mr. Sinek advised against placing the phone on the table during meetings or family dinners and instead putting it in airplane mode to remove the temptation of incoming notifications. 

''And this is how we should be interacting with people, giving them our full attention. Because the idea is not that we hear the words they say, but that they feel heard. If you wake up in the morning and check your phone before you say good morning to the person sitting next to you, you probably have a problem. If you have to take your room to room, no matter where you go, you have a problem. And just like any recreational drug, the more you practice leaving it away.''

He also recommended leaving unnecessary phones at home while going out for a family dinner or client meeting, or keeping them away out of sight, in the car, or in a bag. He concluded the video by saying, ''Like any addiction, it just takes a little work.''

Several internet users appreciated the crucial reminder, while others talked about the difficulty of following the advice in an era where everything is dependent on phones. 

One user wrote, ''Living in the moment is a great art.'' Another commented, ''Some calls may be an emergency call, so it can't be possible as a thumb rule. Based on the Situation this can be implemented. Better put it on vibration/silent mode, you can accept/reject that call.''

A third said, ''Nowadays it is very difficult to go out without a phone as we are so much addicted to UPI payments.'' A fourth added, ''Phone addiction is not just another drug, it's worse because of the fact that the power of numbers is behind phone addiction.''

Yet another said, ''The saddest part is we are all seeing this on our phones.''

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iPhone 12 Found In Working Condition After Being Submerged In US River For 3 Months

A diver cleaning a river in the United States recently found an Apple iPhone 12 all covered in algae. However, in a remarkable display of durability, the smartphone defied all expectations and emerged in perfect working condition even after spending around 3 months submerged in the Northern California Stanislaus River. According to Apple Insider, the unexpected discovery transpired when diver Lee discovered the algae-covered iPhone 12 in November. He cleaned up the phone and set it aside to dry out for a few days, following which he managed to switch on the phone after connecting a charger.

The iPhone 12 comes with an IP68 rating. According to Apple, the phone can last 30 minutes in 6-meter deep water. However, this one iPhone unit seems to be breaking the rules as it managed to remain functional even after being submerged in water for over 3 months. Speaking to Apple Insider, Lee shared his story of the discovery and revealed how he successfully managed to switch on the phone. 

Lee discovered the mobile treasure while cleaning the Stanislaus River on November 10 and after drying the phone, he switched on the device after connecting it to a charger. The diver revealed that the phone lacked a passcode or face unlock setup due to which he was able to unlock it and access its stored data. 

Lee told the outlet that the most recent item in the Photos app was a video captured on the river on September 4, suggesting that it had been submerged there for three months. He stated that he hasn't been able to get in touch with the owner of the iPhone but plans to reach out to the contacts.

Also read | This Is The Most Deleted App Of 2023. The Name Is...

Meanwhile, this is not the first time that such an incident has taken place. In 2022, a man in the United Kingdom who dropped his mobile phone in a river nearly a year ago was reunited with his device in working condition. A Facebook user Miguel Pacheco had made a post in a local group about finding an iPhone while canoeing in the Wye River. The man said that he took the phone home and dried it properly. The next day, he charged the device and was surprised to discover that it still worked. 

The internet user revealed that the screensaver on the phone was a photo of a couple and the date it showed was August 13. Mr Pacheco then set out to find the owner. He then found out the couple's address in Edinburgh, UK, and sent the phone to them. 

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Dry State Gujarat Allows Liquor In GIFT City Restaurants Offering "Wine And Dine"

In a first, the Gujarat government has allowed the consumption of liquor in hotels, restaurants and clubs offering "Wine and Dine" in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT), a government order from the Narcotics and Excise Department read.

In addition to this, a Liquor Access Permit will be given to all the employees or owners working in GIFT City through which they will be able to consume liquor in hotels/restaurants/clubs offering "Wine and Dine" in GIFT City, the order read.

Moreover, a provision has been made to allow authorized visitors of each company to consume liquor in such hotels, restaurants or clubs having temporary permits in the presence of permanent employees of that company.

Hotels, restaurants and clubs located or coming to GIFT City will also be able to obtain an FL3 license by which they can obtain a "Wine and Dine" facility, the order read.

Officially serving employees of GIFT City and officially visiting visitors can consume liquor in the hotels, clubs or restaurants. However, these hotels, clubs or restaurants will not have permission to sell liquor bottles, the order from the Narcotics and Excise Department read.

Gujarat has been a dry state since its formulation in 1960.

GIFT City is a world-class business district in Gujarat built to cater to global and domestic business enterprises.

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2 Encounters In A Day In Punjab, One Shot In Leg, Total 4 Arrested

Four gangsters were arrested in two separate encounters in Punjab today, the police said. While two were arrested in the Mohali district, the other two were taken into custody in the Tarn Taran district.

One of the gangsters was shot in the leg as he opened fire at the police while trying to flee.

The gangsters arrested in Mohali have been accused of firing outside the residence of a Congress leader in Kurali, the police said. Both are said to be the associates of gangster Prince Chauhan.

In Tarn Taran, Punjab Police arrested the two gangsters while they fired at them when asked to stop during a routine check post.

One of the arrested gangsters in Tarn Taran has been identified as Raju Shooter, who was involved in a bank robbery.

Earlier on Wednesday, an arrested gangster was killed in an exchange of fire with the Punjab Police while he was trying to flee in Amritsar's Jandiala Guru area.

Amritpal Singh, 22, was arrested on Tuesday and was taken to Jandiala Guru for the recovery of two kg of heroin.

He fired at the police team from a pistol hidden there while in handcuffs and tried to flee, the officials said.

Punjab Police have launched a major crackdown against gangsters with as many as 11 encounters taking place in the last two weeks.

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US Charges Alleged Hezbollah Member Over 1994 Argentina Bombing

A US court on Wednesday unsealed an indictment charging an alleged senior Hezbollah operative with terrorism charges, in part for coordinating a 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan said Samuel Salman El Reda, 58, had coordinated Hezbollah's activities in South America, Asia and Lebanon since 1993. The Iran-backed, heavily armed Shi'ite group is part of Lebanon's coalition government.

Prosecutors said El Reda is based in Lebanon and remains at large. The US State Department in 2019 sanctioned El Reda and offered a $7 million reward for information on his whereabouts.

Argentina also blames Hezbollah for a 1992 attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires that killed 29 people.

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Honda To Recall More Than 100,000 Hybrid Vehicles Over Fire Risk

Honda Motor Co's American unit is recalling about 106,030 CR-V hybrid vehicles due to the risk of fire or injury in a crash caused by an overheated battery cable or short circuit, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Wednesday.

To address the issue, dealers will replace the battery cable, NHTSA added.

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Balconies Collapse, Gurugram Society Residents Chase Away Labourers Sent For Barricading

A row erupted at the Chintels Paradiso society in Sector 109 here when a few residents chased away the labourers who had come there to barricade the housing project's Tower D in the wake of three balconies collapsing.

A resident said the labourers had been sent by the builder to cordon off access to the tower after Sunday's collapse, but some residents sent them away saying any such barricading must be monitored by the administration.

After the row, the builder proceeded with a temporary barricading of the entire Phase I, including Tower D, with ropes.

Manoj Singh, a resident of the society, favoured the barricading saying it will only protect people from going near the unsafe tower.

J N Yadav, Chintels India Vice President, said the barricading had been ordered by the district administration, but one or two people objected.

He said one of the people who objected was a retired woman officer, who chased away the labourers, despite other residents wanting the barricading of the unsafe part.

Six floors of Tower D of Chintels Paradiso society had collapsed partially on February 10, 2022, leading to the death of two women residents. Since then, the building site has been a matter of dispute between the builder and residents.

In November, four balconies of the same unsafe tower collapsed. Three more collapsed on Sunday night.

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What Minister Said On Remains Of Hindu Temples Found From Historical Times

Evidence or remains of Hindu temples and caves have been found from early historical times in the country, the government said on Monday.

Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy said this in a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha.

He was asked if temples of Hindu civilisation existed or temples of Hindu gods and goddesses were built in all the caves or domes that exist in the country and were "later destroyed by the Mughal rulers and the Britishers" and, if so, whether the government proposes to take positive steps to preserve "the Hindu religious cultural heritage under the ASI" that are in a "dilapidated condition and restore it to its pristine form".

Mr Reddy said in his response, "Evidence/remains of Hindu temples and caves have been found from early historical times. The government of India maintains ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance, including temples, caves, and domes." 

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) undertakes conservation, preservation, and maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance according to need, priority, and resources while following norms and the policy of conservation. It is a continuous phenomenon, he said.

The ASI receives representations from various quarters regarding the maintenance and upkeep of certain monuments from time to time. These representations are examined and the works were taken up according to the need, priority and availability of resources, the minister added. 

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Russia Loads New Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Into A Silo Launcher

Russian rocket forces have loaded a new Yars intercontinental ballistic missile into a silo at the Kozelsk base in the Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, the defence ministry said.

The 23-metre long RS-24 (Yars) missile is designed to carry multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), which allow the missile to deliver multiple nuclear warheads at different targets.

"In the Kozelsky compound, Strategic Missile Forces loaded a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile into a silo launcher," the defence ministry said.

The defence ministry released a clip of the giant missile being transported to a silo and loaded into a shaft. It accompanied the video with pounding rock music.

Russia has the world's largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, closely followed by the United States. Together, Russia and the United States control more than 90% of the world's nuclear weapons.

Russia has about 5,889 nuclear warheads while the United States has about 5,244, according to the Federation of American Scientists. Of those, Russia and the United States each have about 1,670 strategic nuclear warheads deployed.

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Russia Has No Interest In Black Sea Grain Deal Extension: Report

Russia has no interest in extending the Black Sea grain deal, the RIA news agency reported on Sunday, citing Russia's agriculture minister Dmitry Patrushev.

He added that to a large extent this is a political decision, but Russia will continue to export its grain, as it has its buyers.

"Our grain export volumes, taking into account the winding down of the grain deal, have by no means fallen, they even slightly increased," RIA quoted Dmitry Patrushev as saying.

Russia withdrew in July from the deal which had allowed Ukraine to safely export grain from its Black Sea ports. Russia says it quit the deal because the arrangement was not delivering grain to the poorest countries, and because it still faces barriers to its own exports of grain and fertiliser.

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Senior Cardinal Won't Serve Jail Term Anytime Soon, Maybe Never: Report

None of the six people who received jail sentences at end of the Vatican's big corruption trial on Saturday will likely be spending behind bars anytime soon and some perhaps not ever, according to legal and security experts.

Several, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the most senior Catholic Church official ever to stand trial before a Vatican criminal court, and London-based Italian financier Raffaele Mincione, already have announced appeals. Others are expected to join them. All the defendants had denied wrongdoing.

A new trial would likely not start before the end of next year and take at least another year to conclude. The court is not expected to publish its lengthy report explaining the reasoning for its decisions before April, legal experts said.

Normally, those awaiting appeals in Vatican cases, whose incarceration procedures closely mirror Italy's, are allowed to remain free unless they have committed violent crimes or are a flight risk.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu is the only Vatican citizen among them. He lives in an apartment inside the tiny city-state, which Pope Francis allowed him to keep after he was abruptly fired in 2020 on accusations of nepotism. Becciu denied them then and during the trial.

The pope has already stripped Cardinal Angelo Becciu of his right to enter a conclave that would choose the next pope after Pope Francis's death or resignation.

As supreme monarch, Pope Francis could pardon Cardinal Angelo Becciu for the financial crimes and mete out some other, symbolic punishment, such as ordering him to leave the Vatican and to return to his native Sardinia, one expert said.

In 2012, the late Pope Benedict pardoned his butler, Paolo Gabriele, who was convicted of leaking sensitive documents and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

DOES THE VATICAN HAVE A PRISON?

Paolo Gabriele spent about three months in the barracks of the Vatican police, which has about four rooms that are used as cells. They have bars on the windows and re-enforced steel doors.

Apart from Paolo Gabriele and few other cases, the cells are usually used to hold briefly those caught for petty crimes such as pickpocketing or vandalism on Vatican territory, including St. Peter's Square of the Vatican Museums.

They are handed over to Italian police and, if they are foreigners, they are usually expelled.

An Italian priest was held in one of the cells while awaiting trial on pornography charges in 2018.

Jozef Wesolowski, a former archbishop and papal ambassador to the Dominican Republic, was held while awaiting trial on criminal charges of paying for sex with minors and possessing child pornography. He died before it began.

Some of the Vatican's policies on prisoners are regulated by the 1929 Lateran Pacts between Italy and the Holy See that recognised the Vatican as a sovereign city-state.

As part of that pact, those convicted in the Vatican can be sent to Italian prisons to serve their terms, but usually not the other way around.

Since the Vatican is a sovereign monarchy, a complicated process of international arrest warrants and extraditions must be followed, even concerning any eventual arrests in Italy.

It has not always worked out in the Vatican's favour.

In 2021, Cecilia Marogna, one of the defendants who was convicted by the Vatican court on Saturday, was arrested by Italian police in Milan acting on an international warrant from Vatican prosecutors.

She was released after about two weeks and never attended any of the trial's 86 sessions.

Gianluigi Torzi, a London-based financier who was also convicted on Saturday, entered the Vatican in 2020 to talk to prosecutors. He was arrested and held for about 10 days. Gianluigi Torzi also never attended any of the trial sessions.

In 2021 a London court revoked an earlier order that had frozen Gianluigi Torzi's funds in the British capital, saying that Vatican prosecutors had made "appalling" misinterpretations in its initial request.

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Inbar Haiman, 27-Year-Old Israeli Woman Taken Hostage By Hamas, Confirmed Dead

A 27-year-old Israeli woman who was kidnapped from the Supernova music festival by Hamas on October 7 has been confirmed dead, Times of Israel reported. The family of Inbar Haiman has received confirmation from the Israel Defense Forces that she was murdered in captivity by Hamas, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said on Saturday. The statement did not indicate how or when Ms Haiman died.

''A gifted girl, full of love with endless giving. Creative girl and full of joy of life,'' the forum wrote on Facebook while describing her.

''Inbar was an avid art enthusiast and graffiti artist. She had also studied filmmaking in high school. She was a fan of Maccabi Haifa soccer team. She met her partner Noam Alon almost two years ago while studying Visual Communication at the Wizo Academic Center in Haifa. This month they were supposed to have started their fourth year of studies," the forum added.

See the post here:

The 27-year-old, a visual communications student from Haifa, was abducted from the Nova music festival, which was one of the biggest sites of Hamas attack on October 7. Ms Haiman was volunteering at the Supernova Music Festival when Hamas operatives unleashed horror on Israeli civilians. 

As the onslaught began, panic-stricken people at the music festival dashed across a field towards their vehicles, to the sound of gunshots in the background. The 27-year-old woman also ran for her life but was caught by a Hamas operative, while her two friends managed to escape. In a video that later went viral, Ms Haiman was seen being dragged by two Hamas operatives on motorbikes. After her capture, her boyfriend Noam Alon pleaded with the authorities for her safe return.

"Unfortunately two terrorists on motorbikes came right at that moment and they grabbed Inbar and took her to Gaza. All I'm asking is for them to be as kind as possible and keep her alive - not expecting too much - just for them to be human, and for them to give the hostages food and water and medical [attention]," Mr Alon, told The Messenger in an October interview.

Ms Haiman is survived by her parents, brother, and her partner.

At least 260 people at the music fest were killed and several others, including Inbar, were taken hostage. Israel's prime minister's office says it now believes there are 129 hostages, 21 of whom have died, as per CNN. 

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"Deploy Adequate Staff At Sabarimala": Union Minister To Pinarayi Vijayan

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has written to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requesting him to deploy adequate personnel and staff at Sabarimala temple to reduce the wait time of devotees.

In the letter, the Union Minister also requested Mr Vijayan to ensure basic amenities, such as food, water, sanitation, and medical facilities, are provided to devotees.

The Minister requested that the Chief Minister address the inconveniences faced by Lord Ayyappa devotees during their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala temple.

On X, Mr Reddy posted, "Wrote a letter to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan to address issues and inconveniences being faced by the Lord Ayyappa devotees during their pilgrimage to Sabarimala. I also requested to ensure adequate staff and personnel, safe and secure passage, improved basic amenities, and medical assistance during their journey to Sabarimala."

In his letter to the Chief Minister, Mr Reddy wrote, "The Sabarimala Temple and the associated 40-day spiritual journey undertaken by the devotees of Lord Ayyappa are considered to be one of the most revered belief systems within the Hindu faith."

"You would be aware that every year close to a crore devotees visit Sabarimala, with a majority of them paying their respects to Lord Ayyappa during the Mandala season between November and January. Devotees from the Telugu states of Telangana, where I hail from, and Andhra Pradesh account for more than 15 lakh devotees," it read.

"It has come to my attention first-hand from Ayyappa Swami bhaktas and through various news reports of the severe inconveniences being faced by devotees due to long wait times at the Sannidhanam. The recent death of a young girl while waiting to avail of darshan has also caused much anguish and pain," the Union Minister said.

"It is of vital importance that the devotees availing of Lord Ayyappa's Darshan are provided a safe and secure passage without any inconveniences. The Government of India is ready to support initiatives in this regard," added the letter.

"I would also like to request that you consider permitting NGOs that are ready to provide assistance to operate on the temple premises and around the trekking path from Pampa to Sannidhanam," it stated.

Mr Reddy further requested a swift response and urged the Kerala Chief Minister to take all necessary action in the matter.

Earlier on Friday, alleging a lack of basic facilities in Sabarimala, Hindu Aikya Vedi held a protest march against the Kerala government in front of the Travancore Devaswom Board head office.

The protests came days after a surge in pilgrims strained the crowd management system in the hill temple, causing long queues and several hours of waiting for the pilgrims to get the Darshan.

However, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Wednesday that the situation at the Lord Ayyappa temple was under control and asserted that the government machinery was intervening diligently in temple matters.

A mismanagement-related situation erupted at Sabarimala following the sudden surge of pilgrims a few days ago. The hill shrine generally witnesses a heavy rush during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season, which began on November 17 this year.

After the incident, the Kerala government has come under attack by opposition parties, including the BJP and Congress.

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Mukhtar Ansari Gets Over 5-Year Jail Term For Death Threat To Coal Trader

A special court here on Friday sentenced gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari to five-and-a-half year's imprisonment for death threat to a coal trader in 1997.

Along with the imprisonment, the MP-MLA court of Ujjawal Upadhyay also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on Ansari after convicting him for threatening to kill Mahaveer Prasad Ranguta, the victim's counsel Vidhan Chandra Yadav said.

Mukhtar Ansari had threatened to blast Ranguta, a Varanasi resident, and his house in January, 1997, Mr Yadav said.

The court completed the hearing in the case on December 5 but reserved its judgment. The bench convicted Ansari and announced the quantum of punishment on Friday, he added.

Mukhtar Ansari attended the court proceedings via video conferencing from Banda jail, Mr Yadav said.

Mukhtar Ansari, who is an accused in several cases, is lodged in Banda jail since 2021 after being brought from a Punjab Jail.

According to information provided by UP police headquarters, Mukhtar has 65 cases, including that of murder, extortion, and criminal conspiracy lodged against him at several police stations across the state. He has been convicted in seven of these cases.

Mukhtar Ansari was a five-time MLA from the Mau assembly constituency. The gangster-turned-politician did not contest the 2022 assembly elections and his seat was won by his son Abbas Ansari from the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP).

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government assured the Supreme Court on Friday it will strengthen the security of Mukhtar Ansari inside the Banda jail, if needed, so no harm is done to him.

A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Sanjay Karol was hearing a plea by Mukhtar Ansari's son Umar Ansari seeking a direction to transfer his father to any prison outside Uttar Pradesh.

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Kerala Court Acquits Man Accused Of Raping, Killing 6-Year-Old 2 Years Ago

A court in Kerala on Thursday acquitted a man accused of raping and killing a six-year-old girl, who was his neighbour, at Churukkulam estate in this high range district two years ago.

The Fast Track Special Court acquitted the accused -- Arjun -- due to lack of conclusive evidence against him, a lawyer associated with the case said.

After the accused was acquitted, the angry family members were seen on TV channels hurling abuses at him and also expressing their dissatisfaction with the verdict.

The visuals also showed the police quickly removing him from the court complex apprehending an attack from the victim's family The defence lawyer alleged that the accused was framed in the case by the police by fabricating evidence against him.

After the verdict, the defence lawyer told media that "we have demanded a re-investigation of the case to find out the actual culprit".

The state police in a statement said it would be filing an appeal against the court's verdict.

Meanwhile, the Congress-led UDF opposition said the police and the prosecution failed to ensure the conviction of the accused.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly V D Satheesan said the verdict has shocked the conscience of the state.

Mr Satheesan contended that the failure of the police and the prosecution in the case was clear as day and therefore, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should respond to this.

The court verdict in the case indicates that the government was not serious about child safety issues, he said and added that merely going in appeal was not a solution.

Mr Satheesan further said that the rape and murder of the child was confirmed in the post-mortem and the accused had confessed to the crime.

He also said that it was "mysterious" that the police ignored the request of the girl's family to book the accused under relevant provisions of the SC/ST Act.

Therefore, there needs to be an investigation as to whether there was any external interference which led to police and prosecution failing to establish the guilt of the accused, the LoP contended.

Mr Satheesan also alleged that the public suspects that the accused's DYFI connection may be the reason for destruction of evidence in the case.

The girl was found hanging inside her house on June 30, 2021, when her parents went out for work in a nearby plantation.

Police had initially registered a case of unnatural death but the autopsy report confirmed that the child was raped before she was hanged.

It seems like he had raped her many times in the past. However, on June 30, the child fell unconscious during his rape attempt and thinking that she was dead, he hanged her, police said.

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Japanese Man Who Transformed Into A Dog Meets A Real One, What Happens Next

A Japanese man named Toco, went viral on social media as he transformed himself into a canine after shelling out more than $14,000 (Rs 12 lakh) for a custom-made collie costume. Now, a video of Toco meeting a real dog has gained popularity on the internet. In the clip, the real dog is seen barking after looking at Toco. A few seconds later, Toco is seen bending and coming towards the dog, seeming to extend a hand of friendship. However, the dog is not amused and continues to bark. The dog then takes a few steps back, barks while looking at Toco and removes itself from the scene. 

"Dog's reaction to seeing a realistic dog costume," reads the caption of the video.

Dog's reaction to seeing a realistic dog costume.
本物そっくりな犬の着ぐるみを見た、犬の反応 pic.twitter.com/oYKScYXkHe

— トコ（Toco） (@toco_eevee) December 10, 2023

Recently, Toco posted a series of images on Instagram that show him unsuccessfully taking on the Crufts-style agility course. His latest adventure shows the man dressed in Collie costume trying to leap over a set of hurdles in a garden. The photos show him failing at jumps and bumping into a hurdle pole. He wrote in the caption of the post, "When you become a dog, you want to try agility, don't you?" The reactions from Instagram users were mixed. While some of them appreciated Toto for trying his best, others slammed him.

Meanwhile, in August this year, the Japanese man stated that people are "misinformed" that he wants to live like a dog, as per a report in the New York Post. Discussing the costume, Toco stated that he wears the costume "maybe once a week, mostly at home". He said, "My desire to be an animal is like a desire to transform...a desire to be something that I am not." It is to be noted that the creators took 40 days to make the unusual garment but it has helped the man realise his dream of "becoming an animal."

The man has chronicled his entire journey on his YouTube channel. Although he has not revealed his identity yet in public, however, he admitted he always "had a vague dream of becoming an animal" ever since he was a child.

On his decision to become a collie, Toco had previously said, "I made it a collie because it looks real when I put it on my taste and costume. My favourite is quadrupedal animals, especially cute ones. Among them, I thought that a big animal close to me would be good, considering that it would be a realistic model, so I decided to make it a dog. Long-haired dogs can mislead the human figure. I met such a condition and made Collie, my favourite breed of dog."

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Chief Of Defense Staff Visits Japan To Deepen Military Ties

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, during his visit to Japan's Yokosuka Base, strengthened the defence ties between the two countries.

He was given an overview of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force mission by Vice Admiral Saito Akira, Commander-in-Chief, Self-Defense Fleet.

The visit was aimed at reinforcing strategic cooperation while highlighting the growing importance of the India-Japan defence partnership.

Anil Chauhan departed from New Delhi for Japan on Sunday night to discuss defence ties between the two Asian countries, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in an official press release.

The visit is aimed to further robust defence ties between the two nations and underscores the growing importance of India-Japan defence cooperation.

During his visit, General Anil Chauhan is scheduled to interact with the senior military leadership of Japan and will visit defence formations and establishments. The key highlights of the tour include a call-on with the Minister of Defence, Minoru Kihara, a meeting with the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Japan Self-Defence Forces General Yoshida Yoshihide, besides interactions with Commissioner of Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) Fukasawa Masaki, and also with Vice President of the National Institute of Defence Studies (NIDS), Japan Major General Adachi Yoshiki.

Additionally, the CDS will interact with the faculty and research scholars at NIDS and also visit military establishments. The meetings and interactions will be aimed at fostering mutual understanding, exchanging views on regional security, contributing towards strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, and cooperating in the field of defence equipment and technology, the ministry said.

The CDS will also visit Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) units and undertake interactions with the Commander in Chief Self-Defence Fleet at Funakoshi JMSDF Base. General Anil Chauhan will also visit the Hiroshima Peace Park and lay a wreath in remembrance of the victims of Hiroshima. He will pay special tributes at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Hiroshima towards enhancing peace and tranquilly in the region.

The press statement read, "India and Japan celebrate 71 years of diplomatic ties in 2023. This visit underscores the commitment of both nations to strengthen the special strategic and global partnership. Demonstrating the enduring camaraderie that has flourished between India and Japan over the past 70 years, the visit will further boost bilateral cooperation on a host of strategic issues, particularly in defence collaboration."

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Rajasthan Suspense Ending Soon, BJP Meet To Pick Chief Minister Tomorrow

The newly elected BJP MLAs in Rajasthan will meet in Jaipur Tuesday to formally pick the next chief minister of the state, ending days of suspense after the party won the assembly elections.

“The meeting of the BJP Legislature Party has been called at 4 pm on Tuesday at the BJP state office. Registration of all newly elected MLAs of the BJP will start at 1.30 pm,” BJP state general secretary and MLA Bhajanlal Sharma said.

He said all newly elected MLAs have been asked to compulsorily attend the meeting.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who has been appointed as observer by the party, and the two co-observers -- national vice president Saroj Pandey and national general secretary Vinod Tawde -- will be present at the meeting, BJP leader in charge for Rajasthan Arun Singh told reporters.

When asked about the possibility of a Dalit leader being chosen as the Chief Minister, Mr Singh said, “Everything will be revealed tomorrow.” Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Ashwini Vaishnaw are said to be in the running for the Chief Minister's post in Rajasthan, one of three states that the BJP won in the recent elections.

The MLAs were informed Monday about the meeting of the legislature party, where the BJP's central leadership will make known its choice for the post, nine days after the results of the November 25 elections came in.

The BJP won 115 seats out of the 199 where polling took place. Polling was postponed in one constituency due to the death of a candidate.

Earlier, BJP MLA Jogeshwar Garg said the observers will hold one-on-one talks with the MLAs before the meeting to formally elect the legislature party leader, or the CM-designate.

When asked about the new legislators who met former chief minister Vasundhara Raje at her home Monday, Kirodi Lal Meena said 17 MLAs visited him as well after the results and this should not be seen as lobbying. Meena resigned from the Rajya Sabha after his election as an MLA.

Several MLAs have called on former Raje in recent days in what was seen as a show of support, amid speculation over what the party will decide. She also met party leaders in Delhi.

Rajendra Rathore, who lost the assembly elections, claimed that the BJP does not have the show-of-strength culture. Neither does anybody has the courage to do so, he said.

He said MLAs go to meet senior leaders to exchange wishes and it should not be seen in that sense, and asserted that all BJP leaders in the state are united.

Mr Rathore said the new "double engine” will take shape in Rajasthan tomorrow, a reference to the party holding power both in the state and at the Centre.

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70-Year-Old Woman Severely Injured After Being Attacked By Pit Bull In Haridwar

A 70-year-old woman in the district was seriously injured on Sunday after being attacked by a pit bulldog, police said.

A doctor said the woman was bleeding profusely when she was brought to the Roorkee Civil Hospital from where she was referred to AIIMS, Rishikesh, considering her serious condition.

There are wound marks all over the woman's body, said Dr Vandana at the Civil Hospital.

The elderly woman's son has filed a complaint against the owner of the dog at the Civil Lines police station.

The woman, a resident of Dhandera, was going to see someone in the neighbourhood when she was attacked by the pit bull, Roorkee Civil Lines police station in-charge R K Saklani said.

The police are registering a case based on the complaint, he said. 

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Four Booked For Fire At Pune Candle Making Unit That Killed Seven

A case was registered against four persons on Saturday in connection with a fire in a candle manufacturing unit in Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune a day earlier that killed seven and left 11 seriously injured, a police official said.

The fire took place at around 2:45pm on Friday in the factory at Talawade that makes sparkling candles used in birthday celebrations.

Based on a complaint by one Balasaheb Vaidya, a case was registered against Sharad Sutar, Shubhangi Sutar, Jannat Shikalgar, and Nazir Amir Shikalgar, the Dehu Road police station official said.

"Sutar owned the factory, while Nazir Shikalgar owned the land on which the unit had come up illegally. They have been booked under Indian Penal Code and Explosives Act provisions for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, negligent act with combustible matter, and other offences," he said.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the family of the dead.

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Israel Says It Hit 450 Targets In Gaza In 24 Hours As War Rages, US Alarmed

Israel sharply stepped up strikes on the Gaza Strip, pounding the length of the Palestinian enclave and killing hundreds in a new, expanded phase of the war that Washington said veered from Israeli promises to do more to protect civilians.

The Israeli military said on Friday it had struck more than 450 targets in Gaza from land, sea, and air over the past 24 hours - the most since a truce collapsed last week and about double the daily figures typically reported since then.

With most Gazans now displaced and unable to access any aid, hospitals overrun and food running out, the main U.N. agency there said society was "on the verge of a full-blown collapse" and its ability to protect people there was "reducing fast".

Residents and the Israeli military both reported intensified fighting in both northern areas, where Israel had previously said its troops had largely completed their tasks last month, and in the south where they mounted a new assault this week.

Gaza's health ministry reported 350 people killed on Thursday, bringing the death death from Israel's two-month campaign in Gaza to 17,487, with thousands more missing and presumed buried under rubble. More strikes were reported on Friday morning in Khan Younis in the south, the Nusseirat camp in the center and Gaza City in the north.

Israel's military said 94 Israeli soldiers had been killed fighting in Gaza since its ground invasion of the enclave began.

An Israeli commander, Brig. Gen. Dan Goldfuss, said in a video message recorded in Khan Younis that his forces were fighting house to house and "shaft to shaft", a reference to tunnel shafts. As he spoke, gunshots rang out in the background.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Washington on Thursday that it was imperative that Israel took steps to protect Gaza's civilian population.

"And there does remain a gap between...the intent to protect civilians and the actual results that we're seeing on the ground," he told a press conference.

'Fear, Hunger and Cold'

Israel started its campaign to destroy the Hamas group that rules Gaza after Hamas fighters attacked Israeli towns on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and seizing more than 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, the vast majority of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes - many forced to flee three or four times - with only the belongings they can carry.

With the fighting now extended across both halves of the Gaza Strip at the same time, residents say it has become almost impossible to find refuge.

Israel says it is providing detail about which areas are safe and how to reach them, and blames Hamas for harm that befalls civilians by operating among them, which Hamas denies.

Hamas reported the most intense clashes with Israeli forces were taking place in the north in Gaza City's Shejaia district, as well as in the south in Khan Younis, where Israelis reached the heart of the enclave's second-biggest city on Wednesday.

The Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesman posted to social media that troops were operating "forcefully against Hamas and terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, especially in the Khan Younis area and the northern Strip".

He said all residents must leave the Jabaliya and Zeitoun areas in the north, as well as Shejaia and the old city in Gaza City. In the south, residents seeking shelter should head along the coast, with the main north-south route through the spine of the enclave now "a battlefield", he said.

Reuters journalists in the southern Gaza Strip have seen dead and wounded overrunning the main Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, where there was no room on the floor on Friday for arriving patients sprawled across blood smeared tiles.

"We are staying in an area that is, according to maps, a safe area," said Mohamed al-Amouri, adjusting an oxygen mask for his school-aged son who lay on a hospital bed in soccer shorts with his legs bandaged and his body lacerated.

"Children were on the streets playing, living life normally... we went out after the hit, hearing screams, to find youth, children, women and men in body parts - among them martyrs and injured."

In Rafah, further south hard against the border with Egypt, Thaer Kadeeh is living with his family in a makeshift tent from sheets of thin plastic.

"We don't sleep. Fear, hunger and cold, the three combined and no one is looking out for us," he told Reuters. "You try to make the feeling of hunger go away for like an hour, but then the child asks again for food."

Residents reached by telephone elsewhere in Gaza described similar scenes of desperation. With the fighting now in all directions, there was no place left to flee, said Yamen, sheltering at a school in central Gaza with his family.

"Inside the school is like outside it: the same feeling of fear of near death, the same suffering of starvation," he said. "Every day we say we somehow survived. But for how long?"

Thomas White, Gaza head of UNRWA, the U.N. aid agency for Palestinians, wrote on X: "Civil order is breaking down in Gaza - the streets feel wild, particularly after dark - some aid convoys are being looted and UN vehicles stoned. Society is on the brink of full-blown collapse."

Ramy Abdu, head of the Geneva-based Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, posted pictures showing severe damage to the vast medieval Great Omari Mosque, the most important landmark in Gaza's Old City, apparently hit for the first time. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

A Hamas official accused Israeli forces of a "heinous crime against innocent civilians" after images of Palestinian men stripped to their underwear in Gaza circulated on social media. The International Committee of the Red Cross said it was concerned by the images and all detainees must be treated with humanity and dignity.

The Israeli government responded that the images showed military-age men in areas that were Hamas strongholds.

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Supreme Court Verdict On Validity Of Ending J&K Special Status On Monday

The Supreme Court will deliver its much-anticipated verdict on the constitutional validity of the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday.

The landmark case, encompassing 23 petitions challenging government action, has been under review by the Supreme Court for an extended period. After 16 marathon days of hearings and persuasive arguments presented by both sides, the court reserved its judgment on September 5. 

A five-judge Constitution bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjeev Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant, will pronounce the verdict on Monday. Their decision will hold immense significance, determining whether the abrogation of Article 370 was carried out in accordance with the Constitution and legal principles.

Eighteen lawyers, including Kapil Sibal, Gopal Subramaniam, Dushyant Dave, and Rajiv Dhawan, presented arguments challenging the validity of the Centre's decision while the Centre, represented by Attorney General R Venkataramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, and other legal experts, defended its actions as being completely logical and appropriate.

Centre's Argument 

The Centre argued that the dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly automatically brought about the creation of the Legislative Assembly. This, they claim, empowers the Centre to take action with the consent of Parliament when the Legislative Assembly stands adjourned during periods of President's rule. 

They further asserted that this process adheres to the Constitution and does not violate the federal structure between the central and state governments.

Petitioners' Argument 

The petitioners have accused the Centre of arbitrarily disregarding the state's rights and constitutionally enshrined Legislative Assembly.

They argued that before dividing the state, obtaining the consent of the people, represented by their elected representatives in the Legislative Assembly, was a fundamental requirement. By bypassing this crucial step, the Centre has encroached upon the state's autonomy and undermined the fundamental principles of Centre-State relations.

The petitioners further argued that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been "deprived of representation" in both the Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha for four long years. This denial of their elected representatives amounts to a strangulation of democracy in the region, they argued. 

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Cyclone Michaung: Chennai Grapples With Stagnant Water, Power Disruption

Residents grappled with stagnant water and power disruption in parts of the city and its suburbs on Wednesday, two days after Cyclone 'Michaung' wreaked havoc in the metropolis and neighbouring districts, even as civic agency personnel were involved in relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The government said power was kept suspended in some areas as a "preventive measure" as the cables were under water, while asserting all efforts were being taken to restore normalcy.

Another day's holiday was declared for schools and colleges in Chennai on December 7.

The cyclone-triggered heavy rainfall had led to inundation in localities including Velachery and Tambaram. On Wednesday too, people were seen leaving their homes in the areas surrounded with water to safer zones, carrying their children and wading through the stagnant water. They called for help, including pressing more boats to ferry people to higher ground.

Chief Minister M K Stalin visited some of the affected areas and distributed food and essential commodities to people put up at a relief centre in the city. He inspected activities undertaken by the city civic body to drain water.

He also wrote to the Centre seeking an interim flood relief of Rs 5,060 crore to tide over the situation.

Many users on social media site 'X' shared videos of residential localities still being surrounded by stagnant water, claiming many residents were stuck inside.

The hashtag #Velachery was trending on the microblogging site.

A user lamented that her relatives were stuck in their home for the last three days without power, drinking water and milk.

There were complaints of delay in supply of milk in many affected parts including Velachery and Tambaram and residents alleged it was being sold for extra price.

Power supply had not resumed in parts of the city including Kilpauk and Kattupakkam.

The state government said relief activities were on in full swing and that people in many of the affected areas were being rescued through inflatable boats even during the midnight.

Senior officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation were overseeing the rescue and relief activities, the civic agency said.

The Greater Chennai Police also announced helpline numbers for citizens to contact them for rescue and relief activities.

An update from the city police on Wednesday said six rain-related deaths were reported while many persons in need were rescued by police personnel in different parts of the city. Among the rescued were aged persons and a number of pregnant women, and a woman and her newborn, an official release said.

Further, 11 subways in the metro remained closed for vehicular movement due to water-logging.

There were no disruptions in operations at the airport while the Southern Railway announced cancellation of a number of services and diversion of many others.

It also announced resumption of regular pattern of suburban services on the Chennai Beach-Chengalpet and Chennai Central-Arakkonam and Chintadripet-Velachery (MRTS) sections from Thursday onwards.

"In Chennai Central/Chennai Beach - Sullurupeta/Gummidipundi section, in lieu of regular services, special train services will be operated from Tiruvottiyur - Sullurupeta/Gummidipundi with frequency of 30 minutes," an official release said.

State Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena said that water was draining in many parts of the city.

Where water has cleared, cleaning of roads was being done, while supply of drinking water was also being ensured.

A number of personnel, including those from NDRF and SDRF were involved in relief and rehabilitation activities, he told reporters here.

"Food packets, bread and milk are being supplied in waterlogged areas while boats have been deputed to severely affected areas in Perumbakkam and Varadarajapuram, with senior officials monitoring the efforts," he said.

Over 200 boats have been pressed into service in different areas.

On power supply yet to be restored in some areas, the official said it was done as a "preventive step" to avert any untoward incident as the government wants nobody to get hurt.

"We are ready to provide power but there should be no loss of life, nobody should be affected, there should be no accident. Wherever the power cables are under water, as a preventive stop, there is delay in (resuming) power supply," he said.

Only 95 of the 1,812 feeders in the city are yet to be switched on. The situation will be better as water recedes, the top official added.

Later, addressing a press conference, he said around 41,400 persons have been accommodated in 372 relief centres in different districts and that they were being provided with food. In the 4 worst-hit districts of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpet, there were a little over 800 locations with inundation and about 19,000 persons have been evacuated from there and moved to relief camps.

Food packets were also being air-dropped in certain areas in north and south Chennai, he added.

While the usual daily supply of milk to Chennai and its surrounding areas was 19 lakh litres, a supply of 14 lakh litres was ensured on Wednesday. Of this, state-run Aavin contributed 10 lakh litres. The usual quantum of supply was will be restored from Thursday onwards, Shiv Meena said.

Over 6,600 kg of milk powder sourced from other districts was also being supplied, he added.

Meanwhile, Minister for Milk and Dairy Development, Mano Thangaraj warned of strong action against those selling milk over and above the retail price.

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80% Power Suppy Restored In Rain-Hit Chennai: Tamil Nadu Government

While many residents in the rain affected parts of the city were grappling with poor mobile network connectivity and power cuts, the state government has said that their main focus is to bring back normalcy and that 80 per cent of power supply and 70 per cent of mobile networks have already been restored.

After being pounded by cyclone Michaung the whole of Monday, Chennai witnessed some respite in terms of rains on Tuesday even as the city struggled to cope with large scale water logging, power cuts and disruption in mobile networks.

Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena told reporters in Chennai that there were 42,747 cell phone towers in the city of which 70 per cent were currently operational. The rest of the 30 per cent was not operational due to lack of power, he said.

The Chief Secretary said that the state government would appoint nodal officers to monitor restoration of telecom services.

Schools and colleges will remain closed in Chennai on Wednesday also, he said.

Listing out the rain affected areas in the city he said Pallikaranai, Madipakkam and Perungudi were the worst hit.

Most of the lakes flowing through the outskirts of Chennai have attained full capacity, Das said, adding that surplus water was being continuously discharged from these lakes.

Das added that of the total 900 fuel outlets in the city's rain affected areas 805 were operational presently.

Meanwhile, Southern railway has issued a statement saying they are trying to resume full operations by Wednesday.

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NFTs Start Climbing Up Price Ladders Again as Bitcoin, Ether Show Continuous Rally

The market for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) seems to be on a revival sprint now that the crypto market is on a bull run. With cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and Polygon pumping in value, a bunch of NFT series associated with these altcoins have started to be climb up the price tracker. NFTs are digital collectibles that are built to be supported on blockchain networks. From game characters and cartoons to artists and artworks — NFTs can be inspired by an array of people, places, or characters.

Pudgy Penguins is one crypto project that for now, is garnering more value after seeing a slump in these previous recent months. Built on the Ethereum blockchain, the NFT series is a collection of 8,888 NFTs that resemble cartooned versions of penguins. his week itself, the trading volume of these NFTs have shot up by 394 percent, a Decrypt report said citing data from the CryptoSlam tracker.

After having traded lowly in recently months, the prices of Pudgy Penguins NFTs has spiked by 74 percent. At present, the cheapest Pudgy Penguin NFT is priced $21,289 (roughly Rs. 17.7 lakh).    Around October, the cheapest NFT was priced $9,000 (roughly Rs. 7.50 lakh) worth of ETH.

Anime-inspired NFT series Azuki, Ethereum NFT project Milady Maker along with Solana projects Claynosaurz and Chads have seen spikes in their prices these recent weeks, the report said.

This surge in NFT pricings come as a refreshing change of pace from this year's September, when a report had claimed that among the top 8,850 NFT collections by market cap, 18 percent were worthless, and 41 percent saw their prices drop to around $5 (roughly Rs. 415) to $10 (roughly Rs. 835).

It is notable, that in the backdrop of these NFT revivals, Bitcoin and Ether are trading at their respective nineteen month highs. While BTC is trading at $41,738 (roughly Rs. 34.8 lakh), ETH is priced around $2,228 (roughly Rs. 1.85 lakh). Similarly, Solana and Polygon are also seeing more gains than dips that is launching NFT projects linked to them up the price ladder.

NFTs peaked in September 2021 when sales of these digital collectibles managed to amass around $881 million (roughly Rs. 7,344 crore). However, as of November this year, NFT sales only managed to bring-in $10.85 million (roughly Rs. 90 crore).

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Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Putin To Visit UAE, Saudi Arabia This Week: Report

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia this week, Russian news outlet Shot reported on Monday, citing Putin's aide Yury Ushakov.

The reported visit comes after the OPEC+ group of oil producers, which includes all three countries, agreed last Thursday to voluntary output cuts totalling about 2.2 million barrels a day.

Markets reacted with scepticism to the deal because of doubts about whether the voluntary cuts would be fully implemented. Oil prices fell 2% last week after the announcement, and declined further on Monday. Brent crude was down nearly 0.6% at $78.45 as of 1709 GMT.

The figure of 2.2 million bpd included an extension of existing Saudi and Russian voluntary cuts of 1.3 million bpd.

Shot quoted Ushakov as saying Putin would go first to UAE and then to Saudi Arabia, where negotiations would take place mainly with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"I hope that these will be very useful negotiations, which we consider extremely important," Ushakov said.

Putin has rarely travelled abroad in recent years, and mostly to states of the former Soviet Union. His last trip beyond those countries was to China in October.

Apart from cooperation in OPEC+, Putin is keen to cultivate the Gulf states as part of his drive to build global alliances with non-Western countries in order to demonstrate what he says is the failure of the United States and its allies to isolate Russia with sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

Putin's scope to travel abroad was limited in March when the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him for the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, a war crime. Russia denied the charge and called the move outrageous, but said it was legally void in any case because Russia is not a member of the ICC.

Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE is a member of the court either, so Putin can travel to both countries without fear of being arrested under the ICC warrant.

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17 Of 25 Sitting Ministers Lose In Rajasthan

Seventeen of the 25 ministers in the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan, including Govind Ram Meghwal, who also led the party's campaign committee, lost in the assembly elections.
The BJP returned to power in Rajasthan on Sunday, winning 115 seats out of the 199 where assembly elections were held last week.

The Congress, which was hoping to buck the trend of the incumbent being voted out in the state every five years, bagged 68 seats. The final result of only one seat was awaited and the Congress was leading by a narrow margin there.

Govind Meghwal was defeated by BJP's Vishwanath Meghwal in Khajuwala with a margin of 17,374 votes.

Other Congress ministers who lost the elections included Ramesh Chand Meena (Sapotra), Shale Mohammad (Pokaran), Bhanwar Singh Bhati (Kolayat), Shakuntala Rawat (Bansur), Vishvendra Singh (Deeg Kumher) and Udailal Anjana (Nimbahera).

Their losing margins were 43,834 votes, 35,427 votes, 32,933 votes, 7,420 votes, 7,895 votes, and 3,845 votes, respectively.

Pratap Singh Khachariyawas (Civil Lines) lost with a margin of 28,329 votes and BD Kalla (Bikaner West) with a margin of 20,194 votes. Zahida Khan (Kaman) lost by 13,906 votes to her nearest rival and was placed third.

Ministers Bhajan Lal Jatav (Weir), Mamta Bhupesh (Sikrai), Parsadi Lal Meena (Lalsot), Sukhram Vishnoi (Sanchore), Ramlal Jat (Mandal), Pramod Jain Bhaya (Anta) and Rajendra Yadabv (Kotputli) also lost in the elections.

Five of Gehlot's advisors -- Sanyam Lodha (Sirohi), Rajkumar Sharma (Nawalgarh), Babu Lal Nagar (Dudu), Danish Abrar (Swaimadhopur) and former chief secretary Niranjan Arya (Sojat) -- also lost the fray.

Ashok Gehlot won the Sardarpura seat with a margin of 26,396 votes by defeating BJP's Mahendra Rathore. He won the 2018 assembly elections with a margin of 45,597 votes.

Minister Ashok Chandna won the Hindoli seat with a margin of 45,004 votes. The winning margin of Chandna was 30,541 in 2018. Shanti Dhariwal won the Kota North seat with a narrow margin of 2,486 votes.

Brajendra Ola (Jhunjhunu), Murari Lal Meena (Dausa), Arjun Singh Bamaniya (Banswara), Tikaram Jully (Alwar Rural) and Mahendra Jeet Singh Malviya (Bagidora) also won. RLD's Subhash Garg retained Bharatpur.

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Depression In Bay Of Bengal To Become Cyclonic Storm By Tomorrow

The depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal will intensify into a cyclonic storm on December 3 resulting in heavy to very heavy rains in the northern coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and interior parts, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.

The city and its neighbourhoods in the adjoining districts saw sharp spells of rain late on Saturday.

Chief Minister M K Stalin said that following a forecast of heavy rains for the next two days, ministers, MPs, MLAs and local body members among others should help the people in the respective localities with their essential needs.

Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena reviewed the precautionary measures to be taken, with senior officials here.

South Central Railway announced the cancellation of 118 long-distance trains from December 3 to 7 due to cyclone Michaung.

Thereafter, it would move nearly northwards, almost parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast, and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during the forenoon of Tuesday, the IMD said in a bulletin.

The cyclonic activity would lead the winds to blow at a speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph.

According to S Balachandran, deputy director general of the Regional Meteorological Centre, here, heavy to very heavy rains are likely to occur over Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Chengalpattu, Villupuram and Cuddalore districts in Tamil Nadu.

Squally wind prevailing over the southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to become gales reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from December 2 night to December 4. Thereafter, it would gradually decrease.

From October 1 till date, the region recorded 34 cm rainfall against the normal 36 cm during the north east Monsoon period, so far, Balachandran said. Chennai recorded 62 cm against the normal rainfall of 67 cm during this period.

Cancelled trains include about 40 between Chennai and other destinations and those passing through the metro, a release said on Saturday.

Officials at the Chennai International Airport also reviewed the preparedness vis-a-vis Cyclone Michaung.

A meeting was chaired by Airport Director C V Deepak with concerned departments on Saturday to evaluate the preparedness for handling the situation, an official release said.

A number of measures have been initiated as a precautionary measure in view of the weather forecast. This includes the setting up of a core team consisting of members from various departments for close monitoring of the situation and to take necessary action as would be the requirement.

The updates regarding the system were being obtained regularly from IMD and shared with all stakeholders for better preparation, while the water level in Adyar river was also being monitored.

Airports Authority of India engineering departments have been instructed to carry out regular checks and actions as per standard operating procedures in place like clearing of drains, gratings, stocking/arranging sufficient men and materials for meeting the contingency, among others, it said.

"A Special Task Force of senior AAI officials is inspecting the airfield and terminal building regularly to ensure smooth operations in adverse conditions. The meeting followed up with operational area inspection. Airport Director advised all stake holders to be alert due wet runway conditions and changing visibility parameters," it added.

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American TikToker Dylan Mulvaney Makes Forbes '30 Under 30' List

Forbes magazine has released its annual "30 Under 30" list, which highlights 30 notable people under the age of 30 who are making a significant impact in various fields, including art and style, media, music, and sports. One of the individuals featured on this year's list is TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Mulvaney, an actress and LGBTQ+ activist, is estimated to have earned $2 million last year.

Mulvaney is best known for her "Days of Girlhood" TikTok series, which documented her gender transition. The series went viral and has been viewed over 1 billion times. Mulvaney has also used her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and raise awareness of transgender issues.

In addition to her work on TikTok, Ms Mulvaney is also an actress. She has appeared in several television shows and films, including "The Politician" and "Disclosure." She is also a co-founder of the production company, DMH Studios.

According to Forbes, Ms Mulvaney found herself at the center of an unexpected political crossfire after Bud Light paid her to post a video featuring a custom beer with her face on the can, sparking a widespread boycott of the brand.

Nevertheless, she's landed partnerships with companies like Nike and MAC, and she has urged brands to go beyond "just inclusive marketing" to stand up for what's right. Last year, she sat down with President Joe Biden to discuss trans rights, and this year, she won Breakout Creator of the Year at the Streamy Awards, the Oscars of the Internet. "I always want my followers to know it's because of them that I'm in those rooms," says Mulvaney, who is now represented by CAA.

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