EPFO, UPI, GST And Visa: These Things Will Change Starting January 1, 2025

Starting January 1, 2025, a slew of regulatory and financial changes will be coming into effect, affecting citizens across the country. From changes in the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) procedures to adjustments in LPG pricing and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the new year could have a significant impact on your wallet. Here's a complete list of the changes that you can expect.

EPFO new rule

EPFO is set to streamline the pension withdrawal process from January 1, 2025 as part of the centralised pension payment system (CPPS). Pensioners will now have the convenience of withdrawing their pensions from any bank in the country, eliminating the hassle of additional verification.

Reports suggest that EPFO will be soon issuing an ATM card that will enable subscribers to withdraw money around the clock. Moreover, the EPF contribution cap is expected to be eliminated this year as well.

GST

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) will be made mandatory for taxpayers for better security on the GST portal. Additionally, E-Way Bills (EWBs) can only be generated for base documents not older than 180 days.

UPI and farmer loans

As per a recent circular by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), starting today, UPI 123Pay, using which feature phone users make online payments, will see an increase in its transaction limit from January 1, 2025. The new limit will be Rs 10,000, up from the previous Rs 5,000.

Additionally, the central bank has raised the cap on unsecured loans for farmers to Rs 2 lakh from Rs 1.60 lakh. This increase, effective today, is intended to provide more financial support to farmers, potentially aiding in better agricultural practices and investments.

Visa requirements

US Visa Appointment Reschedule:

Starting January 1, 2025, non-immigrant visa applicants in India will benefit from a policy allowing one free rescheduling of their visa appointment. However, any further rescheduling will necessitate a new application and payment of the visa fee, aiming to streamline the process while maintaining discipline in appointment scheduling.

Changes in the H-1B Visa Process:

New rules, effective from January 17, 2025, will modernise the H-1B visa process, making it more flexible for employers and accessible for Indian F-1 visa holders.

LPG pricing

Though no official announcement has been made so far, the trend has remained of price change of both domestic (14 kg) and commercial LPG cylinders (19 kg) in the new year. While domestic cylinders' prices have remained consistent, commercial cylinders have witnessed some volatility. As per experts, there could be a price hike in both.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/c9SqgFX

Chandrababu Naidu Richest Chief Minister In India: Report

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is the richest chief minister in India with assets worth over Rs 931 crore, while West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee is the poorest with just Rs 15 lakh, according to an Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report released on Monday.

The report said the average asset per chief minister from state assemblies and union territories is Rs 52.59 crore.

While India's per capita net national income or NNI was approximately Rs 1,85,854 for 2023-2024, the average self-income of a chief minister is Rs 13,64,310, around 7.3 times the average per capita income of India.

The total assets of 31 chief ministers are worth Rs 1,630 crores.

Arunachal Pradesh's Pema Khandu is the second richest chief minister with total assets worth over Rs 332 crores, Karnataka's Siddaramaiah is the third on the list with assets worth more than Rs 51 crore.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, with assets worth Rs 55 lakh, is the second poorest in the list and Pinarayi Vijayan is third with Rs 118 crore.

Mr Khandu also has the highest liabilities to the tune of Rs 180 crore. Mr Siddaramaiah has liabilities worth Rs 23 crore and Naidu more than Rs 10 crore, the report said.

It also said 13 (42 percent) chief ministers have declared criminal cases against themselves, while 10 (32 percent) have declared serious criminal cases including those related to attempt to murder, kidnapping, bribery, and criminal intimidation.

Out of the 31 chief ministers, only two are women - West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee and Delhi's Atishi.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/ijKagTJ

ISRO's Mission Today A First Step For India To Set Up Its Own Space Station

Only three countries in the world - United States, Russia, and China - have the ability to carry out docking of two spacecraft or satellites in outer space. India is now on the cusp of achieving that feat as ISRO's last mission of 2024 - named SpaDeX - lift-off from Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota at 2200 hrs (10 pm) IST.

SpaDex is short for Space Docking Experiment. This involves an experimental docking, subsequent interlocking and pressure checks, and undocking of two satellites. The mission is important for ISRO's future moon missions, including Chandrayaan 4. It is also particularly important for India's plan to set up its own space station.

In October this year, the government had announced that India will have its own Space Station called the Bharatiya Antriksh Station by 2035.

ISRO's PSLV-C60 carrying SpaDeX and its payloads, lifts off from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, in Sriharikota

So far, there are two other space stations - the International Space Station, built by the United States (NASA) and Russia (Roscosmos). The US side of the ISS is built by NASA and European Space Agency or ESA. The second space station is being built by China, and is called the Tiangong Space Station. India aims to set up the third.

Every time astronauts or cosmonauts are sent to space, especially the International Space Station, the shuttle or capsule they travel in needs to perform a docking manoeuvre. Only after the docking procedure is complete, and the two objects are securely interlocked, can the astronauts get into the pressurised cabin of the space station.

ISRO'S DOCKING EXPERIMENT EXPLAINED WITH THE HELP OF 'INTERSTELLAR'

Docking in space is one of the most difficult and complicated procedures - the slightest of errors can lead to a catastrophe - an example of which was shown in the epic sci-fi movie Interstellar - where Cooper and the crew had to navigate a near-impossible and heart-pounding docking scenario after a minuscule error by Dr Mann sends the Endurance space station into an uncontrolled spin due to a catastrophic decompression. The scene highlights a complex docking manoeuvre.

Just like in the movie, where there was a Lander spacecraft and a Courier spacecraft, ISRO's mission has two spaceships - the Chaser (SDX01) and the Target (SDX02), each weighing 220 kilograms. As the names suggest, the aim of the mission will be for the chaser to chase the target while both are orbiting Earth at a high speed and dock with it expeditiously.

ALL ABOUT ISRO'S SPADEX MISSION

The SpaDex mission lift-off at 2200 hrs (10 pm) IST on December 30 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

ISRO's launch was onboard the workhorse PSLV-C60 rocket, which put the two spacecraft in low-Earth orbit, roughly 475 km above the Earth's surface. The inclination of the two spacecraft will be at 55 degrees facing the Earth. After being deployed in a circular orbit, the two spacecraft will grow apart by around 20 kilometers over 24 hours. The scientists will first carry out several other experiments under the POEM-4 mission - a parallel mission to SpaDex (explained below).

The scientists sitting at ISRO's mission control in Bengaluru are expected to initiate the intricate and precise docking and undocking manoeuvre in the later half of the first week of January. If successful, India will create history by becoming only the fourth nation in the world to possess such technological ability.

According to ISRO, the main objectives of the SpaDeX mission include:

• To develop and demonstrate the technology needed for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft.
• The demonstration of the transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft, which is essential for future applications such as in-space robotics.
• Composite spacecraft control, including remotely controlling it both in space and from mission control.
• Payload operations after undocking.

This mission is crucial for India's ability to set up its own Space Station. It will also give India's RLV or Reusable Launch Vehicle - India's variant of NASA's iconic space shuttle - docking capability in future.

India's Reusable Launch Vehicle or RLV

HOW THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WAS BUILT

Among other key missions, NASA's space shuttle was used by the United States to construct the US side of the International Space Station. Russia too used their own space shuttle to build the Russian side of the International Space Station. While NASA had a series of space shuttles, starting with Columbia and evolving into Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour, Russian space agency Roscosmos named their space shuttle Buran.

NASA's Space Shuttle (L) and Russia's Space Shuttle (R)

Here is a insightful video of how the International Space Station - the largest man-made space object - was built by the US and Russian space shuttles using the docking mechanism and robotic arms in addition to astronauts and cosmonauts:

ISRO'S POEM-4 MISSION - AND EXPERIMENT WITH MICROGRAVITY

Besides the space docking manoeuvre, there is another key mission objective. ISRO plans to experiment with microgravity during the PSLV rocket's fourth-stage. ISRO aims to use the spent fourth stage, which it has termed POEM-4 or PSLV Orbital Experimental Module 4, as a platform for carrying our experiments with microgravity.

According to the space agency, it provides an opportunity for the scientific community to carry out certain in-orbit microgravity experiments for an extended duration of up to three months using the POEM platform, which otherwise would end up as space debris immediately after the mission objective of injecting the primary payloads of the mission.

A total of 24 payloads are part of the POEM-4 mission, of which 14 payloads are from ISRO/DOS centres and 10 payloads are from various Non-Government Entities (NGEs) comprising Academia and Start-ups that have been received through IN-SPACe.

One of the fourteen payloads by ISRO is of a robotic arm - again a crucial element to constructing India's own space station in future. For now the experiment will involve a robotic arm to demonstrate the capturing of tethered debris.
 

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/YkC750j

Time Up For Kohli, Rohit? "If They're Not Announcing, Selectors Need To..."

With India failing to prevent Australia from winning the Melbourne Test, former India cricketer Surinder Khanna took a dig at Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma over their poor form in recent matches in the longest format of the game. "What are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli doing? Remove attention from Rishabh Pant. He used to play like this only from day one. He will continue to make such mistakes. Tell me about Kohli and Rohit, what have they doing since the last 40-45 innings? They should automatically sit outside if selectors are not doing it then they should do it themselves. You and I can't throw them out. The kind of form they are in then even if you will bowl, they will get out. I am saying this by experience. The shot which is their scoring one, why should not they play? David Gower and Gundappa Vishwanath scored so many runs by playing cut shots," Surinder Khanna told ANI.

Rohit has been struggling for form, and did all the hard work during the fifth day but eventually returned to the dressing room with nothing to show for it. Instead of going all guns blazing, Rohit adopted a defensive stance and mustered up nine runs after facing 40 deliveries. After effectively dealing with the pace threat, he decided to take on his counterpart Pat Cummins. His attempt to flick the ball away resulted in a thick outside edge, which carried to Mitchell Marsh at gully. With his head and shoulders slumped, Rohit returned to the dugout and left the floodgates open.

After Rohit's dismissal, everything fell apart for the Indian team. KL Rahul joined the Indian skipper in the same over for a five-ball duck. Virat Kohli lost his discipline and got lured into playing a drive on the ball by left-armer Mitchell Starc on the final ball before lunch. Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant offered stability and assurance by leading the charge against the Australian bowling attack.

The 68-year-old further said that if both of them continue to fail, then the selectors should take a call.

"Our batters Kohli and Rohit are out of form and selectors need to take a call. If they are not announcing...then selectors need to announce something. Going into the next test, play youngsters, we will win, like under Bumrah we won the first Test. We outclassed Australia. Since Rohit came back we have been struggling. I may sound harsh but you have to take harsh decisions if you want to win. We watch, we cry...we have the right to say this," the former cricketer added.

Except for an unbeaten 100 in the first Test at Perth, the Aussies have managed to keep Virat quiet as he has managed just 26 runs in his other four innings, including three single-digit scores.

Virat has scored just 614 runs at an average of 21.92, with just one century and two fifties to his name and best score of 100*. In nine Tests this year, he has scored 376 runs at an average of 25.06, with just a century and fifty to his name in 17 innings. His best score is 100*.

The decade of 2020s has not been kind to Virat the Test batter. In 37 Tests and 64 innings, he has managed just 1,964 runs at an average of 31.67, with just three centuries and nine fifties and best score of 186.

In the ongoing ICC World Test Championship final, Virat has scored 687 runs at an average of 36.15 in 12 matches and 21 innings, with two centuries and three fifties and the best score of 121.

On the other hand, Rohit's return has been marked by his lack of form and struggle to put runs across his name. The seasoned opener has just 31 runs from five innings, with an average of 6.20.

Rohit has faced criticism over his Test batting since Bangladesh series. He amassed only 42 runs in two Test matches while averaging just 10.50.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/KWEO8nB

ABVP Gets Majority In Delhi University Executive Council Elections

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) candidates won six out of the 11 seats in Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) Executive Council elections held on Sunday.

A total of 103 out of 135 representatives who cast their votes in the EC polls picked ABVP-supported candidates as their first choice, a statement said.

The Executive Councillors are elected by an Electoral College comprising the President and Central Councillors in DUSU and College Student Unions.

Earlier, the ABVP, the students' wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, won the posts of Vice President and Secretary in the DUSU central panel.

The results of the Executive Council elections are a testimony to ABVP's activities and organisational skills on the DU campus, said DUSU Secretary Mitravinda Karnawal.

Reiterating ABVP's commitment towards student welfare, Karnawal said, "As soon as the elected members of EC take charge, we will work more actively in the interest of students. Thanks to all the students for this victory."

ABVP Delhi State Secretary Harsh Atri said that the students' organisation has always worked hard on student issues.

Atri said ABVP office-bearers in DUSU have already started holding dialogue with the administration on student issues like hostel, Metro pass and free bus service on the campus.

The ABVP Delhi State Secretary expressed hope that the newly-elected Executive Council members of the outfit would add to DUSU's efforts for student welfare.

"I express my gratitude to all the students of Delhi University on this victory and the majority of ABVP in EC elections," Atri said.

As per the DUSU results declared in November, Bhanu Pratap Singh of the ABVP won the Vice-President's post.

Congress' student wing National Students' Union of India candidate Rounak Khatri was elected as DUSU president. NSUI's Lokesh Choudhary bagged the post of Joint Secretary.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/5fcBu31

4th Test, Day 4 Live: Bumrah Ripper Shatters Konstas Stumps, Aus One Down

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates: Jasprit Bumrah's battle against Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja takes the center stage after India were all-out on 369. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Mohammed Siraj didn't manage to hang on for long, with the all-rounder becoming the 10th wicket to fall. Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, and Nathan Lyon picked up three wickets each as India were bowled out on Day 4 of the 4th Test against Australia at the MCG. It was Reddy's gritty century on Saturday that kept the visitors fighting in the game after Australia posted 474 batting first. Australia would now look to build on their 105-run first innings lead. (Live Scorecard)

Here are the Live Score and Updates of India vs Australia 4th Test Day 4 -

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/NLJOxDp

The Sports Edition: Stars of '24

The Sports Edition: Stars of '24

from NDTV News- Topstories https://sports.ndtv.com

People In USA Left Amazed When They're Calling 1-800-242-8478. Here's Why

Something unusual happened when a journalist in New York called a toll-free 1-800 number last week. The reason for the call wasn't to reach a particular product helpline, but because she wanted to find out about something entirely new.

Sitting at her desk, perhaps somewhat anxious, she typed out the number on her phone - 1-800-242-8478. After an initial disclaimer, the phone rang. A woman promptly answered the phone. The conversation began with a cheerful 'Hi!', and what happened next, left her fascinated.

The woman who answered the phone seemed to be able to talk about absolutely anything - from giving the recipe for chocolate-chip cookies to an insightful account of the American Civil War.

1-800-242-8478 was indeed 1-800-ChatGPT.

WILL IT BE A GAME CHANGER?

Ten days ago, OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, introduced a voice service in the United States, especially for those who do not have the App or aren't tech-savvy. The tech firm believes this could help them get the answers they need over a regular phone call - speaking with someone who sounds like a pleasant and helpful 'human being', except, she's an AI chatbot.

There are a few limitation though - while the number in itself is toll-free, the service is free only for 15 minutes per number, per month, and is currently available only in the US. For the rest of the world, OpenAI said it has launched a text service directly on WhatsApp. The number is the same - 1-800-ChatGPT.

OpenAI's chief product officer Kevin Weil said that these new features were a project that the team worked up only in the last few weeks. The company believes that these two new features are very important to expand the reach of AI and introduce it to even those without access to high-speed internet.

Interestingly though, OpenAI isn't the first company to introduce a voice feature over a phone call. Google had done something similar 17 years ago. Google's GOOG-411 or 'voice local search' feature was launched back in 2007. It provided a speech-recognition-based business directory search. However, it was mysteriously shut down in 2010 and Google never declared why.

THE CONCERNS

Though solutions being just a call away makes life simpler, many have raised valid concerns.

'Will my calls be recorded?', 'Will my voice and speech be used as a sample to train AI?', 'Can my voice be replicated in case of a data leak?', 'Can such technology manipulate human emotions?', 'Can people get emotionally attached to AI?', 'Will it lead to people seeking companionship with an AI?', 'Will people get too dependent on a human-sounding chatbot?', 'What impact will it have on those who are lonely?' - Several such though-provoking questions were asked by users online.

According to a CNN report, when it questioned whether users agree for OpenAI to record or store their voice while using the feature, OpenAI told them to refer to a copy of their 'privacy policy' and 'Terms of Use' manual.

"Before users begin speaking to ChatGPT over the phone, they must agree to OpenAI's Terms of Use and privacy policy by clicking on a button to 'proceed' with the call" they were informed. A disclaimer is also read out to all users informing them that OpenAI may "review the data for safety purposes".

FROM NON-PROFIT TO FOR-PROFIT

On Friday, OpenAI officially declared plans to lay out an entirely new corporate structure - one that will likely end its control by a non-profit.

OpenAI was founded as a non-profit organisation in 2015. It later switched to a "capped" for-profit enterprise, which allowed the tech firm a limited level of money making. Now it says that the ceiling limit will be removed.

In a blog post, OpenAI said it plans to restructure as a 'for-profit PBC' or Public Benefit Corporation. This would "requires the company to balance shareholder interests, stakeholder interests, and a public benefit interest in its decision making."

"It will enable us to raise the necessary capital with conventional terms like others in this space," OpenAI added.

However, OpenAI's restructuring efforts will likely face obstacles, with Elon Musk reportedly asking a US court to stop OpenAI from converting into a for-profit enterprise.
 

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/LtboF9Q

Azerbaijan Airlines Laud Pilots Who Died But Saved Half Of The Passengers

A devastating plane crash in Kazakhstan has claimed the lives of 38 people, including both pilots, while half the passengers - 29 people miraculously survived.

The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 jet, carrying 67 people, was flying from Baku to Grozny when it made an emergency landing near Aktau, Kazakhstan, due to adverse weather conditions.

The Associated Press posted a video of the crash which showed passengers being taken out from the aft section of the aircraft, an area which is generally considered safe in a crash.

According to an analysis in 2015 by Time Magazine of US federal data from 1985 to 2000, the seats in the back of the plane had a fatality rate of 32%, compared to 39% in the middle and 38% in the front. The back middle seats had the lowest fatality rate, at 28%.

The airline's president, Samir Rzayev, praised the pilots' "heroism" and dedication to saving lives, saying, "While this tragic accident brought a significant loss to our nation, the crew's valiant dedication to their duties until the last moment and their prioritization of human life have immortalised their names in history," according to the Azerbaijani news agency report.

The pilots had collectively logged over 15,000 flight hours, and the plane had recently passed a technical inspection.

Investigations are ongoing, but preliminary reports suggest the plane may have been damaged by a Russian anti-missile system. Some experts point to evidence of shrapnel damage to the aircraft's elevator and rudder controls. However, Russian authorities have denied involvement, and the cause of the crash remains unknown.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had warned against speculating about the cause of the crash before the results of the investigation came.

The crash has raised concerns about air safety in the region, particularly given the recent military activity in the area. Ukrainian drones have targeted Grozny in recent weeks, and there were reports of Ukrainian drone attacks in the North Caucasus Federal District on the day of the crash.

As the investigation continues, the airline and authorities are working to determine the cause of the crash. The plane's black box has been recovered, and its analysis is being conducted in line with international aviation standards.
 

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/ZHtxf6P

New Landmark: Tamil Nadu To Get India's 1st Vertical Lift Sea Bridge Soon

India's first vertical lift sea bridge at Pamban in southern Tamil Nadu will be opened in January to restore rail connectivity to Rameswaram island from the country's mainland. 

The 2.08-km-long bridge, constructed by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), is expected to allow the Indian Railways to operate trains at a higher speed.

It has been built parallel to an existing bridge that was constructed by the British and is believed to be 110 years old. 

Officials said that unlike the heritage structure, the girders from each side of the new bridge will open up like a butterfly to allow ships and other vessels to pass through. A lift span, which is 72.5-metres long, 16 metres wide and weighs 550 tonnes, can be lifted up automatically up to 17 metres. 

Although the Commissioner for Railway Safety has given his nod to run trains on the bridge, he has flagged key concerns, including inadequate measures to check corrosion and deviation from the girder's original design. 

However, authorities said the concerns are being addressed. "We have made a robust 250 micron level coat and this has qualified CECRI (Central Electrochemical Research Institute)'s test," said R Srinivasan, Senior Deputy General Manager, RVNL. 

On complaints of design deviation, Mr Srinivasan said: "It's a new concept and both IIT Madras and IIT Bombay have approved our design." The original design was conceptualised by the Research Design and Standards Organisation of the Indian Railway.

He also said the bridge is ready for inauguration, and that the structure will last for a 100 years.

The train services between Mandapam in the mainland and Rameswaram island were suspended on December 23, 2022 after the existing rail bridge was declared non-operational from the safety point of view. Severe corrosion had made it weak and unfit for operations, officials said.

At present, all trains terminate at Mandapam and people use road routes to reach Rameswaram.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the new bridge in November 2019. The work started in February 2020 and was supposed to be completed by December 2021, but the deadline was extended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/0jmAXfz

"A Rare Leader...": Gautam Adani Condoles Manmohan Singh's Death

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani today condoled the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and described the two-time MP as "a rare leader who spoke softly but achieved monumental strides through his actions."

The former prime minister, the architect of India's economic reforms, died at Delhi's AIIMS on Thursday due to age-related medical conditions. He was 92.

"Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Manmohan Singh. History will forever honour his pivotal role in the transformative 1991 reforms that reshaped India and opened its doors to the world," Mr Adani said.

"A rare leader who spoke softly but achieved monumental strides through his actions, Dr Singh's life remains a masterclass in leadership, humility and service to the nation and will inspire generations to come," Mr Adani said.

Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Manmohan Singh. History will forever honour his pivotal role in the transformative 1991 reforms that reshaped India and opened its doors to the world. A rare leader who spoke softly but achieved monumental strides through his actions, Dr... pic.twitter.com/seW5Fk5hKY

— Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) December 26, 2024

Manmohan Singh was prime minister for two terms in the Congress-led UPA government from 2004 to 2014. He had been in poor health for the last few months.

He is survived by wife Gurcharan Singh and three daughters.

Manmohan Singh as finance minister under the then prime minister PV Narasimha Rao was the architect and brainchild of economic reforms in 1991 that pulled India from the brink of bankruptcy and ushered in an era of economic liberalisation that is widely believed to have changed the course of India's economic trajectory.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/biTqu6d

7 Arrested For Beating Man To Death Over Allegations Of Theft In Mizoram

The Mizoram police on Wednesday said seven people have been arrested for allegedly beating a man to death last week near Aizawl over allegations of stealing money.

The accused were part of a village defence party (VDP) in Tuirial Airfield area, around 18 km east of Aizawl. The victim's mother, Nunthangmawii, has alleged that the VDP members took her son,  David Lalmuanpuia, from their home around 8 pm after receiving a complaint from the pastor, who claimed that Rs 26,000 had been stolen from his quarters while he was at church on December 18.

The victim, a daily wage labourer, and his friend Lalduhsaka, said the police, were detained by the local vigilantes on suspicion of stealing money from a pastor's quarters.

David's death has sparked public outrage, with many demanding stringent punishment for those involved and blaming the pastor for allegedly failing to respond to Nunthangmawii's plea.

The victim's mother alleged that the vigilantes interrogated her son for several hours and beat him mercilessly, leading to his death. Despite pleading for mercy and even approaching the pastor to intervene, Nunthangmawii claimed that no one listened to her.

"They were brutally beating my son with a water pipe. Even when I begged the VDPs to stop, they did not listen to us," Nunthangmawii said.

"We had even gone to the pastor to ask for his forgiveness, but he did not comply. The pastor told us that he had reported his son and the friend to the VDP and that whatever action they are taking is out of his hands," she added.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Environment and Social Justice (CESJ) has demanded that the Mizoram Police Act, 2011, under which the Village Defence Party (VDP) was formed, be amended to prevent community policing outside the boundaries of the law.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/oKzIJgh

Childhoods Chained, Dreams Sold In Forgotten Corner of Madhya Pradesh

In the heart of Madhya Pradesh, nestled amid the rugged terrains of Rajgarh district, lies Jaitpura - a village where time seems to have stopped, leaving dreams in shackles and childhoods stolen. Here, innocence is traded, and the cruel weight of tradition drags children into adulthood long before their time.

Our journey began where the road ended, over narrow, broken paths that echoed the hardship of lives untouched by development.

In these forgotten corners of India, we found children whose laughter has been silenced by customs like child marriage and engagement, bound by the age-old practice of Jhagda-Natra. 

This grim tradition demands exorbitant amounts from families seeking to break free from pre-arranged marriages, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and despair.

The stories of Jaitpura are a reflection of a broader malaise plaguing 50 villages, where over 700 children have lost their right to a carefree childhood. 

Rama Bai, now 40, recalls how her childhood ended abruptly three decades ago.

"I got married at the age of 10 years... Every day, girls here are married off. This must stop," she said, her voice heavy with the weight of her past. 

Geeta, just 22, carries her young daughter in her arms. Engaged at two, married at 16, she refuses to let history repeat itself. "I will not engage my daughter. This must end with me," she asserts, her resolve a tiny ray of light amid the darkness that lies heavy over the lives of the children.

One parent explained the harsh reality: "Here relationships are often fixed even before birth. When a woman is six months pregnant, families decide-'if you have a boy and we have a girl, they will be engaged.' They stick to their word. As children grow, more money is required, and sometimes, in a drunken state, engagements are finalised. This happened in our family too," she said, a tone of resignation in her voice.

Childhood Dreams in Chains

These decisions impact children profoundly, robbing them of their innocence and dreams. Some are as young as one year old when they are engaged, marked with bracelets or lockets to signify the commitment.

Dinesh, a young boy, shared a bittersweet moment about his fiancee: "My fiancee is frim Gangapar. She was given a bracelet and a pendent during the engagement."

Another child, Mangilal's fiancée, said: "I was just a year old when I got engaged. I don't remember much, but I know his name is Mangilal. I didn't receive anything during the engagement."

For many, these symbols of commitment are not cherished but burdensome. 

A boy, just 10 years old, was vocal about his discomfort. "I was given sweets when I got engaged, but I didn't want to. I've decided-I won't marry. I'm in the 5th standard, and I want to become a doctor," he said.

For the young girls, anklets and bangles are not adornments but symbols of oppression. The pain, both physical and emotional, weighs heavily on them.

"My feet hurt a lot because of the anklets. I tell my parents every day, but they say I must wear them. This is bondage. I want freedom from these," a girl said.

For most, these ornaments represent a lifelong burden. 

A 10-year-old, married when she was far younger, said: "The bangles were put on me during my engagement and marriage. They're said to enhance a girl's beauty, but to me, they are shackles. Sometimes, when there is trouble at my in-laws' house, these bangles are removed and sold."

Villagers justify the system as a compulsion - a way to escape debt, or wedding expenses. But it is the children who pay the price, their lives reduced to mere transactions.

Govardhan Tanwar, the deputy sarpanch, sounded matter of fact. "Engagements happen when parents are drunk. They take loans, marry off their daughters, and the cycle continues."

According to the National Family Health Survey-5, 46 per cent of women aged 20-24 in Rajgarh were married before they turned 18. Education remains a distant dream, with over half the women in the district illiterate.

Breaking these shackles comes at a cost. Families must pay hefty fines to annul pre-arranged marriages, often appearing before social panchayats. 

The price of freedom is crushing, leaving many resigned to their fates. In certain regions of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, if a girl dares to break free from this bondage or refuses to go through with a prearranged marriage, she and her family are summoned before social councils. These councils impose fines, known as 'jhagda' (penalty), for canceling the marriage. In some cases, practices like nata or natara, involving widows or abandoned women returning to society, are also intertwined with these traditions. 

Amid these statistics and age-old customs, this story is not just about Jaitpura village-it is a reflection of countless tales of pain and struggle. It is the story of countless villages where tradition chains childhood, and dreams are sold.
 

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/2Aiy7bS

"Wanted To Leave As...": Ashwin Ends Silence On Abrupt Retirement In Aus

Ravichandran Ashwin stunned the cricket world after the third India vs Australia Test in Brisbane as he announced his retirement from international cricket. Being the highest wicket-taker among active bowlers with 537 scalps, many expected Ashwin, 38, to continue for some more time. However, he retired with two Tests left in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy. The timing of his retirement was questioned by greats like Sunil Gavaskar. Ashwin was used in only one of the first three Tests in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. India captain Rohit Sharma later said: "It just happened so that if you know where he felt that, 'if I'm not needed right now in the series, I'm better off." 

Now, Ashwin has broken a long silence on the reason behind his retirement.

"I've never been a person who holds onto things, I've never felt insecure in life," he said on Sky Sports. "I don't believe what is mine today is going to be mine tomorrow. That has probably been one of my elevating factors all these years.

"I always wanted to leave things behind as nonchalantly as I can because I do not believe in people celebrating me, I don't believe in the attention we get sometimes in India. It is the game that always stood ahead of me, all the time.

"I did contemplate [retirement] a few times. For me, the day I woke up and felt the creative side of me didn't have a future or direction, that would be the day I would give it up. I suddenly felt that creative side didn't have a lot of upsides to explore."

Ashwin also revealed how his passion for the game gave meaning to his life. "I just gave it my all, despite knowing it's not the popular or accepted method," he said. "My journey is completely mine.

"I've seen a lot of cricketers over the years with exceptional skill and talent, but the ability to articulate or teach another person about it is something that is very unique and comes across to people only if they have explored it themselves.

"The amount of exploration I have had to do to be very successful has left me with a wide variety of knowledge to be able to say, with confidence, that this is a game I love and can explore and brutally talk about for the rest of my life.

"I've got no regrets because I've had to do it the hard way, but it has left me with the idea that the game has been my calling. People find their calling at different stages of their life but I'm so glad this game found me and it has given me meaning to life.

"I've played Test cricket for so long it's even taught me how to construct and live my life. It's the most beautiful thing that has happened for me."

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/fkFHRw2

Delhi's Air Quality Turns 'Severe' Despite GRAP-4 Restrictions

Delhi's air quality deteriorated on Sunday with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching the 'severe' category at 409 at 4 pm, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.

On Saturday, the AQI was recorded at 370, placing it in the 'very poor' category.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

The capital on Sunday experienced dangerously high levels of PM2.5, the primary pollutant, with 37 out of 39 monitoring stations reporting air quality in the 'severe plus' category.

Some areas recorded AQI levels as high as 474.

PM2.5 particles, which are 2.5 micrometres or smaller in diameter, can penetrate deep into the lungs, posing significant health risks.

Delhi remains under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes stringent anti-pollution measures such as a complete ban on construction activities and restrictions on non-essential polluting trucks entering the city.

Meanwhile, the weather office has forecast cloudy sky with light rain on Monday, with temperatures expected to range from a high of 20 degrees Celcius to a low of 7 degrees Celcius.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/sf64Ac3

Couple Caught Smuggling Luxury Watches Worth Rs 13 Crore In Gujarat

A couple from Rajasthan was detained at Ahmedabad airport for allegedly trying to smuggle two high-end watches worth approximately Rs 13 crore from Dubai on Friday, officials in the Customs Department said on Sunday.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Richard Mille watches, mostly spotted on the wrists of billionaires or celebrities, were seized from the man and the woman, who arrived separately at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport from Dubai. 

According to the officials, one of them spotted the woman with one of the watches on her arrival from Dubai. Upon interrogation, she said it was gifted by her husband. When she was asked about her husband's whereabouts, she said he was arriving on another flight.

The woman's husband, the officials said, was caught when he was trying to exit the airport on his arrival. He initially claimed that the watch belonged to him and that it cost around Rs 1,000. When he was asked to produce a bill, he said he did not have one. 

As authorities searched his belongings, they found the case for the watch. The man then admitted to smuggling the item, the officials said. 

The couple was subsequently detained and upon interrogation, said they belong to Pratapgarh in Rajasthan. They said they were made to travel to Dubai to bring the watches to Ahmedabad, the officials added. 

The officials said a detailed probe is underway.

(With inputs from Mahendra Prasad)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/sBrMb3v

Shastri Lauds Bumrah For "Single Handedly" Keeping India In Series vs Aus

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes the Rohit Sharma-led side was justified in celebrating on avoiding the follow-on during the rain-hit third Test against Australia in Brisbane, which led to the five-match series being locked at 1-1. On Day Four of the match at the Gabba, Akash Deep sliced a Pat Cummins delivery over the gully for a boundary, which helped India avoid the follow-on, leading to jubilant celebrations in the dressing room by captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli.

While many in the Australian camp were surprised by it, Shastri felt there was nothing bad about it. “You should celebrate. It required a lot of character from the last pair with 35-36 runs needed. That celebration showed they knew the importance of that effort within the dressing room in the context of the series.”

“It's one thing following-on, it's one thing then again being 2-3 down as opposed to, you going ahead and rattling the Australian top-order. It is fully justified,” said Shastri on the ICC Review show.

Talking about the scenes in Brisbane, Shastri recalled the 89-run partnership between Bumrah and Mohammed Shami at the Lord's during the 2021 series against England, a match which India eventually won. He also highlighted the importance of lower-order bailing India out of tough situations.

“It reminded me of the celebration, in COVID times when Jasprit and Mohammed Shami were involved in a partnership at the Lord's, which turned the game on its head. England were odds-on favourites on the final day to win the Test. And that partnership, I think of about 80 or 90, suddenly turned the game on its head, and by the end of the day, India had won the Test match.”

“When the tail-enders are stubborn, they fight it out there. It makes a massive difference. It did it on the last tour. When Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari batted the whole of the last session to save the game, going into the Gabba and then winning the series.”

With the five-match series tied at 1-1 ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, Shastri feels the fight shown by India in avoiding the follow-on at Brisbane will serve as a big boost to the visitors ahead of the crunch games.

“It'll lift the Indian team. And for me, the series is on a level peg now and India might just be calling the shots. Massive. They would give anything for a 1-1 result. The first Test was in Perth, the second Testa day-nighter in Adelaide, and then the third Test was in Brisbane. Any overseas team will, you know, settle for a 1-1 score because come Melbourne, come Sydney, I think India will be powerful.”

“They've been kept in this series single-handedly by Jasprit Bumrah. If the big boys wake up, and step up to the plate, which I just get the gut feeling they will, then Australia have a problem on their hands. Yeah, they got out of jail but they are not on bail. They are free birds in Melbourne. They can do what they want and come and attack Australia on Boxing Day,” he concluded.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/CXIKroY

Saudi Suspect In German Attack Held Strongly Anti-Islam Views: Report

The Saudi suspect in Germany's deadly car-ramming attack on a Christmas market held strongly anti-Islam views and was angry with Germany's migrant policy, official said Saturday.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the "terrible, insane" attack that killed five people and shocked the nation, days before Christmas and eight years after a jihadist drove a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin. 

Police were puzzling over the motive of Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, the top suspect after an SUV ploughed at high speed through a dense crowd Friday, also injuring 205 people in the eastern city of Magdeburg.

The mass carnage sparked sorrow and revulsion, with a nine-year-old child among the dead and casualties being treated in 15 regional hospitals.

Germany has been hit by multiple deadly jihadist attacks, but evidence gathered by investigators and his past online posts painted a different picture of Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old doctor of psychiatry.

A self-described "Saudi atheist" who as an activist helped women flee the oil-rich kingdom, he has railed against Islam but also against what he saw as Germany's permissive attitude towards refugees from other mainly Muslim countries.

Interior Minister Nancy Fraser said he held "Islamophobic" views, and a prosecutor said that "the background to the crime... could have been disgruntlement with the way Saudi Arabian refugees are treated in Germany".

Taha Al-Hajji of the Berlin-based European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights told AFP Abdulmohsen was "a psychologically disturbed person with an exaggerated sense of self-importance". 

Call for unity

Abdulmohsen in his online posts spoke about his troubles with and suspicions of German authorities.

Last August, he posted on social media: "Is there a path to justice in Germany without blowing up a German embassy or randomly slaughtering German citizens? ... If anyone knows it, please let me know."

Die Welt daily reported, citing security sources, that German state and federal police had carried out a "risk assessment" on him last year but concluded that he posed "no specific danger". 

A sombre Scholz, dressed in black, visited the attack site Saturday together with national and regional politicians laying flowers outside the main church in Magdeburg.

Mourning and bereaved residents have left candles, flowers, cards and children's toys at the Johanneskirche church, where a memorial service was planned at 7:00 pm (1800 GMT).

Scholz pledged the state would respond "with the full force of the law" to the attack but also called for unity as Germany has been rocked by a heated debate on immigration and security ahead of elections in February.

The centre-left chancellor said it was important "that we stick together, that we link arms, that it is not hatred that determines our coexistence but the fact that we are a community that seeks a common future."

He said he was grateful for expressions of "solidarity... from many, many countries around the world. It is good to hear that we as Germans are not alone in the face of this terrible catastrophe."

'Sad and shocked'

Surveillance video footage of the attack showed a black BMW racing straight through the crowd, scattering bodies amid the festive stalls that were selling traditional handicrafts, snacks and mulled wine.

On Saturday, debris and discarded medical materials blew across the cordoned-off site, where stalls now stand empty around a giant Christmas tree, the event cancelled for the year out of respect for the victims.

The leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Alice Weidel, which has focused on jihadist attacks in its campaign against immigrants, wrote on X: "When will this madness stop?"

"What happened today affects a lot of people. It affects us a lot," Fael Kelion, a 27-year-old Cameroonian living in the city, told AFP.

"I think that since (the suspect) is a foreigner, the population will be unhappy, less welcoming."

Michael Raarig, 67 and an engineer, said that "I am sad, I am shocked. I never would have believed this could happen, here in an east German provincial town."

He added that he believed the attack "will play into the hands of the AfD" which has had its strongest support in the formerly communist eastern Germany.

Security was stepped up Saturday at Christmas markets elsewhere in Germany with more police seen in Hamburg, Leipzig and other cities.

German footballers were holding a minute's silence and wearing black armbands in weekend matches in tribute to the victims.

The regional Evangelical church announced that at 7:03 p.m. (1803 GMT) "the time of yesterday's attack on the Christmas market, the bells of all churches in Magdeburg and many places of worship in the surrounding area will ring".

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/WepudTJ

Delayed Exams, Holiday: Students Behind Threats To 3 Delhi Schools, Say Cops

At least three schools hit by bomb threat emails have turned out to be victims of their own students, the Delhi Police has discovered.

One of the several schools that received bomb threats was Venkateshwar Global School, which received a threatening email a day after a mysterious blast occurred at the Rohini Prashant Vihar PVR Multiplex on November 28.

A police officer said the email was sent by two siblings enrolled in the school because they wanted the exams to be postponed.

During counselling, both students revealed that they had got the idea from previous incidents of bomb threats being made to schools, the officer said.

They were allowed to go after their parents were given a warning.

After the email was reported, police conducted a thorough check of the school and declared the threat to be a hoax.

According to another police officer, two more schools located in Rohini and Paschim Vihar were sent threatening emails by their students.

The reason was the same – the students wanted schools to be shut.

In both matters, the students were allowed to go after they were counselled and their parents were warned.

Bomb threats have been sent to over 100 Delhi schools, sparking panic, over the past 11 days.

Police have found that the emails were sent through a VPN (Virtual Private Network), making it tough for them to locate the perpetrators.

Since May this year, more than 50 bomb threat emails have targeted not only schools but hospitals, airports and airline companies in Delhi.

Police are yet to make any breakthroughs in these cases. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/KwMcSOy

Pakistan Script Massive Record, Become 1st Team In 21st Century To...

Pakistan veterans Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan laid the foundation for a convincing, series-clinching 81-run win over South Africa in the second one-day international at Newlands on Thursday. Pakistan's total of 329 all out was set up by Babar (73) and captain Rizwan (80), who put on 115 off 142 balls for the third wicket. Heinrich Klaasen made 97 for South Africa but the hosts were bowled out for 248. Fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi (four for 47) and Naseem Shah (three for 37) were the main destroyers.

The win gave Pakistan an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Pakistan's win on Thursday saw them become the first team in 21st century to win three ODI bilaterals in South Africa.

It was their fifth successive series win - and the third for the Champions Trophy hosts in the southern hemisphere season, following victories in Australia and Zimbabwe.

"It's a team game, from beginning to end all of the guys are involved and contributing," said Rizwan.  

Babar and Rizwan, whose combined 204 one-day caps exceeded the total of the rest of the team, batted soundly and sensibly before Babar was out with the total on 192 in the 33rd over.

Rizwan followed three overs later to a sensational diving catch off his own bowling by 18-year-old one-day debutant Kwena Maphaka.

But the stage had been set for some power hitting by the batsmen who followed, notably player of the match Kamran Ghulam, who hit five sixes in making 63 off 32 balls.

With a licence to go for their shots, Pakistan scored 161 runs in the last 17 overs while losing their remaining six wickets.

"Me and Babar started slowly. We were looking for 300 but we got 320-plus. I have never seen Kamran Ghulam play an innings like that," said Rizwan.

Left-arm fast-bowler Maphaka took heavy punishment but picked up four wickets while conceding 72 runs.

South Africa scored more briskly than Pakistan for most of their innings but although all of their first six batsmen made starts, only Klaasen made a significant score.

Klaasen, who made 86 in a losing cause in the first match in Paarl on Tuesday, hit eight fours and four sixes off 74 balls. He was the last man out, caught on the deep midwicket boundary.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/bTBCVjD

Pentagon's China Report Has A Startling Revelation About Its Nuclear Weapons

Every year the Pentagon prepares a detailed special report about China's rapidly-growing military and sends it to the US Congress which then examines it thoroughly. The Pentagon keeps a very close watch on China's military activities and tracks its progress on various parameters on a yearly basis.

This year's report has revealed something startling about China's nuclear weapons stockpile. In an era where the focus of the world is on de-nuclearisation and disarmament, Beijing was found to most-actively adding weapons to its stockpile. At least 100 nuclear warheads have been added to its arsenal in 2024 alone.

The Pentagon report also highlights that China now looks to accelerate the pace of producing even more nuclear weapons and cross the 1,000-nukes mark by 2030. It is estimated that China currently has around 600 nukes in its inventory.

"China has the world's leading hypersonic missile arsenal and has advanced its development of both conventional and nuclear-armed hypersonic missile technologies," the report stated. It also noted that China will continue to grow its nuclear arsenal at least till 2035.

A POLICY OF SECRECY AND DECEIT

China keeps everything related to its military and defence a closely-guarded secret. It never divulges any information regarding its army, air force, or navy, and the weapons under their control. Though Beijing formally announces a defence budget annually, the Pentagon believes that is not the true figure.

In 2024, Beijing announced an annual defence outlay of $224 billion, but Pentagon's report reveals China has spends at least 40 per cent more than what it officially declares. This brings the defence budget anywhere in the range of $350 billion to $450 billion - or roughly half the US defence budget, which is over $880 billion.

Pentagon's research also highlights Beijing's wider focus to further modernise its military by developing a range of new missiles, including Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles or ICBMs - both conventional and nuclear - "that could strike Alaska, Hawaii, and the continental United States".

The Chinese Navy is already the largest in the world with a declared fleet size of more than 370 ships and submarines. This is significantly larger than the fleet size of the US Navy, which is 290 ships and submarines.

China's air force too is a force to be reckoned with as it has more than 1,200 fighter jets that are fourth-generation military aircraft - at par with some of the most sophisticated fighter jets manufactured by the United States and its allies in Europe. China's air force has an overall strength close to 2,000 aircraft, which is massive.

US-CHINA DEFENCE TIES

Though there is a basic structure for defence talks between the two nations, and communication does take place at a junior level, China has rejected any high-level dialogue or cooperation with the US.

When US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin reached out to the Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun for a meeting on the sidelines of the defence summit in Laos last month, the latter declined it. Secretary Austin called it "unfortunate" and said that such an attitude is a "setback for the entire region".

Incoming US President Donald Trump has appointed two fierce China hawks in his administration - Marco Rubio as the Secretary of State and Mike Walz as the US National Security Adviser.

the Chinese government has placed sanctions on Marco Rubio, and in 2020 had banned him from ever entering the country again - something Beijing would need to reconsider when he takes office as Secretary of State.

Weeks before the Trump Administration takes over, NSA-designate Mike Waltz has already urged President-elect Trump to "urgently end the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East in order to counter the greater threat from the Chinese Communist Party".
 

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/rWHEdpK

BJP's CT Ravi Arrested For Making Derogatory Remarks Against Woman Minister

In a major development, the police in Karnataka took Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC CT Ravi into custody on Thursday evening from the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here for allegedly making derogatory remarks against a woman minister in the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet.

The action came after a complaint was filed by Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Laxmi Hebbalkar. She alleged that Ravi used highly objectionable language on the floor of the House.

The police registered an FIR based on Laxmi Hebbalkar's complaint under Sections 75 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment and using insulting gestures amounting to sexual harassment.

CT Ravi was taken into custody by the police while he was staging a protest along with BJP members. He was taken away from the venue of protest and shifted into a police van.

Laxmi Hebbalkar also submitted a complaint to the Chairperson of the Legislative Council, Basavaraj Horatti.

BJP MLAs and MLCs staged a protest inside the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, condemning the alleged attack on BJP MLC CT Ravi related to the incident.

Reacting to the development, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka said: "This is nothing but 'goondagiri' by the Congress. CT Ravi was assaulted on the floor of the House. The Chairperson of the Legislative Council, Basavaraj Horatti, has given a ruling that no such incident took place. There is no record supporting the allegation. We don't know whether a law and order system exists in the state. We will protest."

Chairperson of the Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti commented that the members need to introspect in the wake of this incident.

"I have spoken to Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar and BJP MLC CT Ravi regarding the matter. The issue has been closed. I am the custodian of the House, and I take responsibility for its smooth functioning," Horatti stated.

Meanwhile, Congress workers attempted to barge into CT Ravi's residence in his hometown of Chikkamagaluru. The police erected barricades and blocked the way of the protesters.

Protests were also staged in Bengaluru, Belagavi, and other locations.

The issue was raised in the Legislative Assembly by Congress MLA Sharat Bache Gowda. Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka objected, stating that the Chairperson of the Council had given a ruling on the matter and there was no scope for discussing it in the Assembly.

Minister for Law HK Patil stated that obscene words were used, and Minister Laxmi was insulted.

"This is a heinous act. Members must respect each other, and their protection is the duty of the government," he said.

Chaos and drama unfolded as, during a heated debate session earlier in the Council, CT Ravi allegedly referred to Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi as a "drug addict".

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/5OjSmev

"When Dravid, Sachin Left...": Ashwin's Emotional Speech To Team India

Ravichandran Ashwin's sudden retirement from international cricket, midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has come as a shock to fellow players, former cricketers and fans. Following the conclusion of the third Test in Brisbane, Ashwin addressed his teammates, in a video shared by BCCI. Ashwin will not be a part of the Indian team for the remainder of the series, and will instead fly back to India. Ashwin said that although his time as an Indian cricketer has come to an end, the "cricket nut" in him would never end.

"I don't know how to go about this. It's easier to speak in a team huddle. Even though I'm not exhibiting it, this is truly an emotional moment for me," Ashwin said in the team talk.

"Feels like my first Australia tour in 2011/12, when Rahul bhai (Rahul Dravid) left, Sachin paaji (Sachin Tendulkar) left, and I saw everybody transition. But trust me, everybody's time comes, and today was my time," Ashwin said further.

"I'm leaving behind some of my dear teammates. Every passing year, especially over the last four or five years, I've felt how much more I value their relationship and how much more I value them as a player," Ashwin continued.

"I will be taking a flight back home, but I will be tuned in to watch how well you guys do in Melbourne. The Indian cricketer or international cricketer in me might've come to an end, but the cricket nut in me will never come to an end," Ashwin said.

The 38-year-old all-rounder, who finishes with 537 Test wickets, cut a cake in the dressing room and shared some emotional moments with his teammates as he bid farewell to international cricket.

Ashwin retires as India's second-highest international wicket-taker of all time, retiring with 765 wickets across all formats.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/7WJ6vrb

Man Rapes 10-Year-Old Girl, Inserts Rod In Her Genitals: Gujarat Police

A 10-year-old girl was kidnapped near her house and raped by a 36-year-old man in Gujarat's Bharuch, the police said.

The accused, a native of Jharkhand, was arrested. The incident took place in the Jhagadia industrial area of Bharuch on Monday, the cops said.

The accused lived next to the girl's hut and worked in the same factory as her father, the police said, adding the girl sustained injuries to her private parts. She was taken to a civil hospital in Bharuch but her condition worsened due to an injury in the waist and she had to be immediately operated on. The survivor was referred to a government hospital in Vadodara.

Superintendent of Police, Mayur Chawda, said, the man, Vijay Paswan, raped her and inserted an iron rod in her private parts, adding that during their preliminary investigation, they found that the accused raped the girl last month as well.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Kushal Oza said, "The accused abducted the girl when she was playing near her hut and took her into the bushes. He raped her and fled the spot, leaving her bleeding. The girl's mother found her after hearing her cries for help."

The police said the girl's father and the accused know each other since they work in the same factory. Paswan is married and has two children. The police have filed charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

- with inputs from Mahendra Prasad

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/VJ0sK2G

3rd Test LIVE: Will Rain Play Spoilsport On Ind vs Aus Day 5? Report Says...

India vs Australia LIVE Score, 3rd Test, Day 5: India look to bounce back after avoiding follow-on as they take the field on Day 5 of the third Test match at The Gabba, Brisbane. Following gritty knocks by KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep stitched together a solid 10th wicket partnership to avoid follow-on. With rain stoppages affecting the game, the match is likely to end in a draw but India will be looking to force a result in order to boost their World Test Championship (WTC) Final hopes. (Live Scorecard)

Here are the LIVE Score Updates of India vs Australia 3rd Test Match Day 5, straight from The Gabba, Brisbane -

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/OTL0svd

Madhya Pradesh Congress Leaders Take Begging Bowls To Assembly. Here's Why

Members of the Congress staged a dramatic protest on the second day of the winter session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, ratcheting up political tension in the state. Arriving in the assembly carrying begging bowls, the opposition accused the government of burdening the public with massive debt. 

This is the second day of dramatic protests by the Congress. Yesterday the party leaders had arrived carrying sacks of fertilisers, highlighting the plight of farmers, who, they claimed, are suffering from a shortage of fertilisers.

In the assembly, finance minister Jagdish Deora presented a supplementary budget of Rs 22,460 crore.

Outside the Assembly, Congress MLAs raised slogans in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue, symbolically depicting the plight of the people under mounting loans. 

The opposition alleged that frequent borrowing by the government has pushed the state's economy to the brink of collapse, forcing citizens into financial hardship.

Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar criticised the government, accusing it of financial mismanagement and neglecting core issues such as unemployment and farmers' welfare. 

"The government is taking loans repeatedly but has failed to strengthen the state's economy," he said. 

"Young people are struggling for jobs, farmers for fertilizers, and women are waiting for promised financial assistance. They can't even pay Rs 3,100 for paddy purchase. Where is this money going?" he added. 

Responding to the allegations, BJP MLA Mahendra Singh Yadav defended the government's borrowing, asserting that the loans are well within permissible limits. 

"It was clarified in the assembly that the government has not taken loans exceeding 3 per cent of GDP. A developed state can borrow within these limits. The Congress is unnecessarily criticising the loans," he said.

Rising Debt in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh's total debt has surpassed Rs 3,95,000 crore in the ongoing financial year.

Official data indicates that the state carried a debt of Rs 3,75,578 crore at the end of the financial year on March 31, 2024.  In the current fiscal year alone, the government has taken an additional loan of Rs 44,000 crore to meet its financial obligations, pushing the overall debt close to the Rs 4 lakh crore mark.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/lRYw0Os

"Matter Of Shame": Priyanka Gandhi On Yogi Adityanath's "Israel" Remark

In a swipe at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said throwing youths into the war zone in Israel for "employment" is not an achievement but a matter of shame.

Her remarks came after Adityanath took a veiled jibe at Priyanka Gandhi for carrying a handbag to Parliament that had 'Palestine' emblazoned on it.

"Yesterday, a Congress leader was seen walking around Parliament carrying a Palestine bag, while we are sending our youth to Israel for opportunities.

"So far, more than 5,600 youth from Uttar Pradesh have gone to Israel for construction work. Every youth gets free food and accommodation besides a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh there. There is also full guarantee of safety," Adityanath said on the second day of the Winter Session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Hitting back at Adityanath, Priyanka Gandhi said those who sent Uttar Pradesh's youths to war-torn Israel instead of providing them employment are calling it their achievement.

"They are neither aware of the unemployment situation in the state nor do they understand the pain of those youths and their families," she said.

According to reports, the youths who have gone to work in Israel are saving their lives by hiding in bunkers and the companies are exploiting them, she said in a post in Hindi.

"Their families are always scared. Our promising youths are forced to risk their lives for employment because you cannot provide employment," Priyanka Gandhi said.

"Throwing our youths into the war zone for employment is not something to pat on the back but a matter of shame." 

In his remarks, Adityanath said, "Recently, the ambassador of Israel visited Uttar Pradesh and said they want more youths from the state, as they are doing good work there. The world is now acknowledging the skills of our youths. When these youths send money home, they contribute to the development of the state. We should congratulate them." 

On Tuesday, Congress' Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi was seen carrying a cream-coloured handbag to Parliament on which it was written "Bangladesh Ke Hindu Aur Isaiyon Ke Saath Khade Ho" (stand with the Hindus and Christians of Bangladesh).

Several Congress MPs led by Priyanka Gandhi also staged a protest on the Parliament premises demanding justice for Hindus and Christians facing atrocities in Bangladesh.

This came a day after she expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine by carrying a handbag with 'Palestine' emblazoned on it. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/De7yEZs

3rd Test, Day 4 Live: KL Rahul Dropped On Ball 1, Steve Smith The Culprit

India vs Australia LIVE Score: India face a crunch day in Brisbane against Australia on the fourth day of the third Test. Already four wickets down, the onus will be on Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul to provide solidity to the batting as India look to avoid follow-on against Australia, who had scored 445 in the first innings. At Stumps on Day 3, the visitors are struggling at 51/4 with right-hand batter KL Rahul (33*) and team skipper Rohit Sharma (0*) unbeaten at the crease. The Bureau of Meteorology of Australia has reported today that there are 90% chances of rain on the last two days of the Brisbane Test played between the Baggy Greens and India which is Tuesday and Wednesday. (Live Scorecard)

Here are the LIVE Score Updates of India vs Australia 3rd Test Match Day 4, Straight from The Gabba, Brisbane

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/fEmwMbA

"Gotta Stop It": Trump Vows To Talk To Putin, Zelensky To Stop Ukraine War

US President-elect Donald Trump said Monday he will speak with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine in an effort to end the war triggered by Moscow's invasion.

Trump has frequently questioned the billions in aid that President Joe Biden's administration has provided to Ukraine since the war started in 2022 and has spoken admiringly of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the invasion of Ukraine.

During the US election campaign Trump said he could bring the war to an end in a day but has failed to say how he would do so, although some fear he envisions pressuring Ukraine to give up land that Russia has captured.

"We'll be talking to President Putin, and we'll be talking to the representatives, Zelensky and representatives from Ukraine. We gotta stop it, it's carnage," Trump told a news conference, referring to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, just over a month before his return to the White House.

Trump said the war had left cities in ruins -- "there's not a building standing" -- and drew on his experience as a New York real estate developer to draw a comparison.

"It's just rubble. Just like when I knock down a building in Manhattan, which is actually, this is worse actually, because we do it step by step," said Trump.

"This thing has just got demolished, and by the way, in those buildings are many people," Trump said, adding that the structures are "flattened like a pancake."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/wIKk41d

3rd Test Live: Rain Stops Play At Gabba As Rohit Faces Criticism

India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 3 Live Updates: Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are India's surprise pair to start the bowling attack on Day 3. Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc resumed the Australian innings at 405 for 7, with the wicket-keeper batter quickly completing his half-century. Not long after, however, Jasprit Bumrah struck to claim his 6th wicket of the innings as Australia lost their 8th batter in the form of Mitchell Starc. On Day 2, Travis Head scored a sensational 152 to put Australia in a commanding position. Steve Smith gave him superb support, notching up a resilient century himself, to take Australia from 75/3 to 326/4. (Live Scorecard)

Here are the Live Updates of India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 3 -

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/sXhaiRv

"More Tourists Will Go To Bastar Than Kashmir If...": Amit Shah

Once famous for Maoist violence, Bastar is now becoming a tourist destination for many. Appreciating the efforts of the state government and security forces in this transformation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that if Maoists give up arms in Bastar it will attract more tourists than Kashmir.

"Maa Danteshwari has given immense natural beauty to Bastar. If Maoists end here, I can assure you all that more tourists would be coming here compared to Kashmir," Mr Shah said at the closing ceremony of the Bastar Olympics 2024.

He said the Centre is making many schemes to promote tourism in this region.

"Everyone can see the region's remarkable transformation from Maoist-affected zone to a symbol of peace and development," Mr Shah said.

He said it is the collective responsibility to establish peace in Bastar, foster its development while preserving its natural beauty, and attract tourists from around the world.

"This can only be achieved through the construction of roads, the introduction of railways, the provision of electricity and water, and, most importantly, the establishment of peace," he said.

Mr Shah also highlighted how in the last 10 years of the Modi government a two-pronged strategy is being used to eradicate Maoists.

"On one hand, the security measures against Maoists involved in violence have been strengthened, effectively curbing their activities. On the other hand, efforts have been made to rehabilitate surrendered Maoists," he said.

"यदि नक्सलवाद समाप्त होता है तो #कश्मीर से ज्यादा पर्यटक #बस्तर में आए इस प्रकार का कुदरती सौंदर्य मां दंतेश्वरी ने बस्तर को दिया है। इसके लिए भारत सरकार योजनाएं बना रही है।* यहां पर पर्यटन को आगे बढ़ाएंगे।- केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री अमित शाह pic.twitter.com/9MNBIXrKyy

— Neeta Sharma (@NEETAS11) December 15, 2024

Mr Shahs said the Modi government has focused on developing Maoist-affected areas, which had fallen behind in the development race.

"Because of the efforts of the Modi government, there has been a 73 per cent reduction in the deaths of security forces and a 70 per cent reduction in civilian casualties in areas plagued by Maoists since 1983," he said.

Mr Shah said when the Congress was in power in Chhattisgarh before the BJP assumed charge a year ago, the action against the Maoists became slow. "But after our government came to power in Chhattisgarh, action against the extremists speeded up resulting in killings of 287 Maoists in the last one year, the arrest of 992 Maoists and surrender of 836 others," Mr Shah said.

Mr Shah said after the Modi government assumed charge, there has been a 73 per cent reduction in casualties in security forces and a 70 per cent decline in civilian deaths.

The Home Minister reaffirmed the Modi government's commitment to completely eradicating Maoists from the country by March 31, 2026.

Even as security operations continue, the state government is working on a road map to revitalise the region and transform Bastar, he said, adding the Bastar region is endowed with waterfalls, caves, and national parks like the enchanting Chitrakote waterfalls, also known as the Niagara Fall of India.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/j0XA3bh

D Fadnavis Says "Performance Review" Of New Ministers Soon, Adds A Warning

A total of 39 legislators from Mahayuti allies were sworn in on Sunday in the first cabinet expansion of the 10-day-old Devendra Fadnavis-led ministry including 16 new faces, while 10 former ministers were excluded.

Portfolios will be allocated in the next two to three days, the Chief Minister said.

While 33 legislators were sworn in as cabinet ministers, six took oath as ministers of state.

The new inductees will, however, have to perform with Mahayuti allies deciding to conduct a "performance audit" of ministers during their tenure, Fadnavis said.

Prominent leaders who couldn't find a place in the new council of ministers include BJP's Sudhir Mungantiwar, senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, and Shiv Sena's Abdul Sattar.

The council of ministers is a mix of old and new faces which reflects Fadnavis' efforts in balancing caste equations including sections of Marathas, OBCs, SCs, and STs and striking a regional balance.

With the new inductees, the strength of the Fadnavis-led ministry has gone up to 42, including the CM and his deputies Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) and Ajit Pawar (NCP). One berth was kept vacant.

While the BJP secured 19 ministerial berths by virtue of being the largest among allies, Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party were allotted 11 and 9 berths, respectively.

Governor C P Radhakrishnan administered the oath to the new ministers at a ceremony held on the eve of the state legislature's winter session in Nagpur.

Addressing a press conference after the cabinet was expanded on the eve of the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature, Fadnavis said Mahayuti allies have agreed to conduct a "performance audit" of ministers during their tenure.

While Fadnavis didn't mention any timeline, Deputy CM and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde said the ministers of his party will get two-and-a-half years and those who perform will progress.

Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar said "non-performers" can be replaced in two-and-a-half months also.

Hours before the cabinet expansion ceremony, Pawar said that some of those who took oath would have a tenure of two-and-a-half-years, underlining constraints in accommodating aspirations of hopefuls.

Fadnavis said the Mahayuti government will start working towards developing Maharashtra.

"We have decided on the portfolio allocation and it will be announced in two to three days. Our administration will focus on swift development," he said.

Fadnavis said he and his deputies- Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar- have told new ministers that they would be subjected to a performance audit.

"Performance audit of ministers will be done and all three of us have agreed to this," he said.

The CM said those leaders of the BJP who couldn't find a place in the Cabinet may be assigned an organisational role.

Shinde said he had decided at the Shiv Sena party level to give two-and-a-half years to new ministers.

"Those who work good will progress," he added.

The BJP, which won the maximum 132 seats in the assembly elections, got the largest chunk of 16 ministers of Cabinet rank and three MoS. Shiv Sena was allotted nine positions as Cabinet ministers and two MoS, while the NCP will have eight ministers of Cabinet rank and a minister of state.

Among the new inductees, four are women, including Pankaja Munde, Madhuri Misal, and Meghna Bordikar of BJP and Aditi Tatkare of NCP.

Munde and Tatkare took oath as Cabinet ministers, and Bordikar and Misal as MoS.

Prominent leaders excluded in the new Cabinet are Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil of NCP, and Mungantiwar and Vijaykumar Gavit of BJP.

From Shiv Sena, former ministers Tanaji Sawant, Deepak Kesarkar, and Abdul Sattar were not re-inducted. Anil Patil, Sanjay Bandsode, and Dharmarao Baba Atram of NCP also missed the second chance.

The swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur was conducted 33 years after the expansion of the Sudhakarrao Naik cabinet in 1991.

The Cabinet expansion saw the re-entry of state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Jaykumar Raval, Pankaja Munde, and Ashok Uike who had served as ministers during Fadnavis' first term from 2014 to 19.

Region-wise, a maximum of nine ministers are from the western Maharashtra region, followed by eight ministers from north Maharashtra, seven from Vidarbha, six from Marathwada, four from the Mumbai/Thane region, and five from the coastal Konkan region.

At the presser, Fadnavis slammed the opposition MVA for terming the Mahayuti government a "government of EVM".

"Our government came to power because every vote has gone for Maharashtra. My government works by the Constitution and respecting the dignity of the Constitution is our priority," the chief minister said.

Fadnavis announced an SIT probe into the murder of Massajog village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed district.

"The case has been given to CID and an SIT will be set up. Culprits will be punished," the CM said.

He said the violence in Parbhani was orchestrated and pointed out that the stone replica of the Constitution was desecrated by a mentally unstable person who has been arrested.

The CM said those leaders of the BJP who couldn't find a place in the Cabinet may be assigned an organisational role.

Fadnavis said the Mahayuti government was ready to respond to all issues raised by the Opposition provided they do so in the legislature instead of speaking to the media.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/Ky0jFo7

Centre To Amend J&K Act To Align It With 'One Nation, One Poll' Initiative

The Centre will introduce a bill to amend 'The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019' in Lok Sabha next week, to integrate the Union Territory with its 'One Nation, One Election' initiative, a senior government official told NDTV.

"The existing Union Territory Assembly will complete its full term and in case of premature dissolution of the assembly, mid-term election to be held for only the remaining period of 5 years. Centre is introducing a bill to this effect," a senior government official said.

The official said this will allow the Centre to amend the law to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with the initiative.

As per business scheduled in Lok Sabha on Monday, Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal would introduce 'The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill-2024' to make changes in the 'Government of Union Territories Act, 1963', the 'Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act', 1991 and the 'Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019'.

"While the amendments in the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 have been proposed for respectively for synchronisation of assembly polls of Puducherry and Delhi with Lok Sabha polls, the amendments in J&K Reorganisation Act- 2019 will align Jamm and Kashmir's electoral cycle with Lok Sabha polls," he further explains.

As per amendments proposed in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, the term of the Legislative Assembly shall come to an end on the expiry of the full term of Lok Sabha.

The bill states that simultaneous elections would come into effect on an "appointed date" to be notified by the President on the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after a general election.

"As the first sitting of the Lok Sabha elected in 2024 has already taken place, the earliest appointed date for simultaneous elections that can only be notified is the first sitting of the House elected in the 2029 elections. This means that simultaneous polls could be held by 2034 when the full term of that House ends," an official told NDTV, explaining the bill.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/b7t4NkP

An Invitation, A Rejection, Now What? Trump And Xi Jinping Play Mind Games

Sun Tzu, A Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher who lived approximately in the 5th Century BC, is best known for his famous book 'The Art Of War'. In it, he wrote a proverb well-known to the world even today - "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer". US President-elect Donald Trump seems to have taken a leaf out of Sun Tzu's book when he invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to his inaugural ceremony in Washington DC scheduled for January 20th.

President Xi, who perhaps is also familiar with Sun Tzu works, read right through Donald Trump's invite and has politely declined it, as per the latest reports.

Donald Trump's unprecedented decision to invite the Chinese President astonished officials in Washington and many others beyond. "A foreign leader has never attended the inauguration of a US President," said the US State Department after hours of looking up official records dating back to 1874.

"It is, however, common for Ambassadors and other diplomats to attend the President's swearing-in ceremony," the US State Department added.

Amid all the hustle and bustle  at the White House - and chaos behind the scenes - Donald Trump's spokesperson Karoline Leavitt decided to give an interview to Fox News. Confirming the invite to Xi Jinping, Ms Leavitt said "This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just allies but our adversaries and our competitors too."

She also said that an invite for Donald Trump's oath taking ceremony was sent to several other foreign leaders besides just Xi Jinping, but did not reveal who they were. It is not known yet if these "other invites" were sent on the same day as the one extended to Xi Jinping, or after Washington learnt about the Chinese President's decision not to attend.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, officials in Beijing have remained tight-lipped over the issue. President Xi though, had, as recently as Tuesday, warned Washington about the expected tariff, trade, and tech wars once Trump becomes President. Expecting economic trouble in the weeks and months ahead, President Xi held a crucial meeting with heads of 10 major international organisations, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Beijing.

"There will be no winners," he cautioned the United States in his speech at that meeting while he spoke about tariff hikes, tech-bans, and trade clampdowns that Donald Trump has vowed to impose on China once he takes charge.

With such war of words and aggressive posturing by both Trump and Xi, the former's decision to invite the Chinese President for his inauguration ceremony does indeed seem both misplaced and rather unusual.

Donald Trump has blown hot and cold in his views about Xi Jinping - calling him "a brilliant guy" on one occasion, and describing him as his nemesis on another. An invite sent, as one would, to an ally, on the one hand, and calling China "the greatest threat" on the other.

Speaking about President Xi in his pre-election podcast with Joe Rogan, Trump had said, "He controls 1.4 billion people with an iron fist. I mean, he's a brilliant guy, whether you like it or not." But in two other interviews he called Xi Jinping the "biggest threat to the world" and labelled China as the "threat of the century".

Donald Trump has also appointed Marco Rubio as his Secretary of State and Mike Walz as his National Security Adviser - both staunch critics of China who have kept a hawk's eye on every move Beijing makes - so much so, that the Chinese government has placed sanctions on Marco Rubio, and in 2020 had banned him from ever entering the country again - something Beijing would need to reconsider when he takes office as Secretary of State.

Weeks before the Trump Administration takes over, NSA-designate Mike Waltz has already urged President-elect Trump to "urgently end the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East in order to counter the greater threat from the Chinese Communist Party".

All eyes are now on what will be Trump's next move after the invitation snub, and what will be Xi Jinping's counter. The endgame is far from sight.
 

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/4FBqHlb

3rd Test Day 1: Focus On Rohit's Batting Spot And Ind's Playing XI vs Aus

India vs Australia Live Updates, 3rd Test Day 1: India take on Australia in the third Test of the five-match series, starting Saturday at The Gabba, Brisbane. It could be a series-deciding game as both the teams are level at 1-1 with Australia making a remarkable comeback through the pink-ball Test that took place in Adelaide. India started the series with a dominating 295-run victory, but the hosts bounced back with a stunning 10-wicket win. A lot of focus will be on India's batting order and also the team selection during the third Test, as the visitors need to keep their World Test Championship hopes strong. (Live Scorecard)

Here are the Live Updates and Scores of India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 1 -

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/5loIY1e

"Arrest Of Allu Arjun Proves...": Union Minister Slams Congress In Telangana

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today launched an attack on the Congress government in Telangana over the arrest of superstar Allu Arjun in the stampede case during the screening of 'Pushpa 2: The Rule'. A woman had died in the stampede.

Allu Arjun was granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court today.

"Congress has no respect for the creative industry and the arrest of Allu Arjun proves it yet again," the Union Minister wrote on X.

He said the unfortunate incident at Sandhya Theatre, where the woman was killed and her child was critically injured in the stampede due to fan frenzy, was a clear case of poor arrangement by the state and local administration.

"Now, to deflect that blame, they are indulging in such publicity stunts," Mr Vaishnaw said.

He said the Telangana government should instead help those affected by the stampede and punish those who made the arrangements that day, instead of continuously attacking film personalities.

"It is also sad to see this becoming a norm in the one year Congress has been in power there," Mr Vaishnaw said.

Congress has no respect for the creative industry and the arrest of Allu Arjun proves it yet again.

The mishap at Sandhya Theatre was a clear case of poor arrangements by the state and local administration. Now, to deflect that blame, they are indulging in such publicity...

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) December 13, 2024

The Hyderabad Police arrested Allu Arjun in a case filed against him by the woman's family in connection with the stampede.

He was arrested from his house in Jubilee Hills, hours after he returned from Delhi after attending the success meet of 'Pushpa 2'. He was granted interim bail for four weeks by the high court after a city court sent him to 14-day judicial custody.

For regular bail, Allu Arjun was told to approach the Nampally court.

Many celebrities and politicians came out in support of the superstar; they said celebrities are becoming soft targets.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/tANyDqm