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Fri, 24 November 2023
Amitabh gifts 'Prateeksha' to daughter Shweta
Timeline Refresh
Pic: Shweta Bachchan Nanda/Instagram
23:21 Amitabh gifts 'Prateeksha' bungalow to daughter Shweta Nanda
Actor Amitabh Bachchan has gifted his bungalow in suburban Juhu to his daughter Shweta Nanda, according to official documents.
The bungalow 'Prateeksha' is valued at more than Rs 50.63 crore. It is said to be the megastar's first property in the city and one among the three bungalows the Bachchan family is known to own in the locality.
According to the documents accessed from property registration data aggregator Zapkey.com, Bachchan executed the transfer of the bungalow on November 9 as a gift to his daughter and paid Rs 50.65 lakh as stamp duty.
The bungalow in the Vitthalnagar Cooperative Housing Society is spread over two plots admeasuring 674 square metres and 890.47 square metres, which are collectively valued at over Rs 50.63 crore.
He also paid a registration fee of Rs 200 for each of the two plots which have been gifted.
The bigger plot of 890.47 square metres was owned by Amitabh Bachchan and his wife Jaya Bachchan while the smaller plot was solely owned by Amitabh Bachchan.
A reply from Bachchan's office was awaited.
Wedding ceremonies of his son Abhishek Bachchan to actor Aishwarya Rai were held in 2007 at the bungalows 'Prateeksha' and 'Jalsa'. 'Janak', the third bungalow in the locality, is used more like an office by the 81-year-old Bollywood actor.
As per some reports, it is said that the actor's poet father Harivanshrai Bachchan is said to have given the name Prateeksha to the bungalow and the property also features in one of his poems.
-- PTI
22:41 World Hindu Congress renounces the term 'Hinduism'
The World Hindu Congress on Friday renounced the word Hinduism, contending that the term reflected oppressive and discriminatory and embraced Hindutva and Hindu Dharma to refer to the 'eternal' religion.
The third World Hindu Congress (WHC) adopted a declaration here asserting that the word Hindutva was more accurate as it includes the gamut of all that the word 'Hindu' implies.
'In the term 'Hindu Dharma', the first word, i.e, 'Hindu' is an unbounded word. It signifies all that is Sanatan or Eternal. And then there is Dharma, which means 'That, which sustains',' read the declaration adopted at the end of the first day of deliberations of the WHC.
It said that in contrast, Hinduism is totally different because it is suffixed with an ism , which is a term defined as an oppressive and discriminatory attitude or belief.
'It is for such reasons that many of our elders preferred the term 'Hindutva' over Hinduism as the former is a more accurate term since it includes the gamut (spectrum) of all that the word 'Hindu' implies. We agree with them and should do the same,' the declaration read.
The assertion in the declaration came against the backdrop of a row that erupted after Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leaders made certain controversial remarks about Sanatan Dharma at a symposium with the theme 'Abolition of Sanatana'.
The declaration said that Hindutva was not a complicated word and simply meant Hindu-ness.
'Others have used the alternative 'Sanatan Dharma', often abbreviated as 'Sanatan'. Here the term 'Sanatan' works as an adjective indicating Hindu Dharma's eternal nature,' it said.
The declaration noted that many academicians and intellectuals portray Hindutva as the antithesis of Hindu Dharma, out of ignorance.
'But most are anti-Hindutva because of their visceral hatred and biases against Hindu Dharma. Many politicians driven by political agendas and personal prejudices have also joined that group, and are criticizing Sanatan Dharma, or Sanatan with increasing regularity and vitriol,' it added.
The WHC condemned such attacks and urged Hindus worldwide to unite to overcome those who are engaging in such bigotry and emerge victorious.
Earlier, addressing the inaugural session of the WHC, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat said India will show the path of happiness and satisfaction to the world which is stumbling from experiments with materialism, communism and capitalism.
He appealed to Hindus across the world to reach out to each other and connect with the world together.
"We have to reach out, connect with every Hindu. And Hindus together will connect everybody in the world. As Hindus are connected in more numbers, the process of connecting with the world has also started," Bhagwat said at the gathering of thinkers, activists, leaders, and entrepreneurs, from across the world.
The quadrennial event began with the blowing of the conch by Swami Vigyanananda, the founder and global chairman of the World Hindu Foundation with delegates from over 60 countries participating in the three-day event.
Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandmayi Devi, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) General Secretary Milind Parande, WHC organising committee chair Susheel Saraff, Bharat Sevashram Sangh Working President Swami Purnatmanand, Hinduism Today-USA Publisher Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami among others.
The third World Hindu Congress (WHC) adopted a declaration here asserting that the word Hindutva was more accurate as it includes the gamut of all that the word 'Hindu' implies.
'In the term 'Hindu Dharma', the first word, i.e, 'Hindu' is an unbounded word. It signifies all that is Sanatan or Eternal. And then there is Dharma, which means 'That, which sustains',' read the declaration adopted at the end of the first day of deliberations of the WHC.
It said that in contrast, Hinduism is totally different because it is suffixed with an ism , which is a term defined as an oppressive and discriminatory attitude or belief.
'It is for such reasons that many of our elders preferred the term 'Hindutva' over Hinduism as the former is a more accurate term since it includes the gamut (spectrum) of all that the word 'Hindu' implies. We agree with them and should do the same,' the declaration read.
The assertion in the declaration came against the backdrop of a row that erupted after Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leaders made certain controversial remarks about Sanatan Dharma at a symposium with the theme 'Abolition of Sanatana'.
The declaration said that Hindutva was not a complicated word and simply meant Hindu-ness.
'Others have used the alternative 'Sanatan Dharma', often abbreviated as 'Sanatan'. Here the term 'Sanatan' works as an adjective indicating Hindu Dharma's eternal nature,' it said.
The declaration noted that many academicians and intellectuals portray Hindutva as the antithesis of Hindu Dharma, out of ignorance.
'But most are anti-Hindutva because of their visceral hatred and biases against Hindu Dharma. Many politicians driven by political agendas and personal prejudices have also joined that group, and are criticizing Sanatan Dharma, or Sanatan with increasing regularity and vitriol,' it added.
The WHC condemned such attacks and urged Hindus worldwide to unite to overcome those who are engaging in such bigotry and emerge victorious.
Earlier, addressing the inaugural session of the WHC, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat said India will show the path of happiness and satisfaction to the world which is stumbling from experiments with materialism, communism and capitalism.
He appealed to Hindus across the world to reach out to each other and connect with the world together.
"We have to reach out, connect with every Hindu. And Hindus together will connect everybody in the world. As Hindus are connected in more numbers, the process of connecting with the world has also started," Bhagwat said at the gathering of thinkers, activists, leaders, and entrepreneurs, from across the world.
The quadrennial event began with the blowing of the conch by Swami Vigyanananda, the founder and global chairman of the World Hindu Foundation with delegates from over 60 countries participating in the three-day event.
Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandmayi Devi, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) General Secretary Milind Parande, WHC organising committee chair Susheel Saraff, Bharat Sevashram Sangh Working President Swami Purnatmanand, Hinduism Today-USA Publisher Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami among others.
22:33 Northern Army commander reviews operational situation in Rajouri
Northern
Army Commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday visited the
Kalakote area of the Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir and reviewed
the operational situation in the region.
The
visit came a day after two foreign terrorists of the proscribed
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, including the mastermind behind various
attacks, were eliminated in a 36-hours-long gunfight with security
forces in Bajimaal area of Rajouri's Darmsal.
Five
army personnel -- Capt M V Pranjal, Capt Shubham Gupta, Hav Abdul
Majid, Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht and Paratrooper Sachin Laur laid down
their lives in the gunfight.
'Lt Gen Upendra
Dwivedi, Army Commander Northern Command, visited Kalakote area in
Rajouri and reviewed the operational situation,' the Army's Northern
Command wrote on X.
He was briefed on the recently conducted operation.
The
Army Commander complimented and felicitated the gallant troops and Army
Dog 'Domino' for a successful Operation in the most difficult terrain
and harsh weather conditions, it said. -- PTI
Representational image
21:54 Fortis to sell Chennai's Malar Hospital to MGM Healthcare
Fortis Healthcare Ltd on Friday said it will sell Fortis Malar Hospital in Chennai, along with land and building assets, for over Rs 128 crore to MGM Healthcare Pvt Ltd.
In a regulatory filing, Fortis Healthcare said its certain subsidiaries have signed definitive agreements for sale of the business operations, along with land and building assets, pertaining to Fortis Malar Hospital situated at Gandhi Nagar, Adyar Chennai, to MGM Healthcare (MGM), a prominent healthcare delivery service provider.
The total sale consideration is about Rs 128 crore, it added.
The transaction comprises the divestment of the business operations of Fortis Malar Hospital, residing in the listed arm Fortis Malar Hospitals Ltd in which Fortis Healthcare owns a 62.7 per cent equity stake.
Also, it includes the sale of OPD and radiology business operations related to the Fortis Malar Hospital, including the land and building on which Fortis Malar Hospital is situated and the land parcel adjacent, all of which are residing in Fortis Health Management Ltd (FHML) -- a wholly owned arm, it added.
Besides, the transaction also covers the sale of an adjacent land parcel currently used as a parking premise, residing in Hospitalia Eastern Pvt Ltd (HEPL), which is also a fully-owned arm, Fortis Healthcare said.
21:31 Rashmika deepfake: Probe hits dead end
The probe into the deepfake case of actor Rashmika Mandana has hit a dead end as social media platforms have shown their inability to give any information about individual(s) who have allegedly made the deepfake profiles.
As per the sources, the accused has removed and deleted his or her account from the social media platforms.
The officials said that the account could have been created with a fake identity and the Virtual Private Network (VPN) could have been used to upload the deep fake videos.
Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw on November 18 said that notices were issued to all social media platforms directing them to take necessary steps to identify and remove such content.
As per the officials, though the police detained a few suspects, none of them created the deep fake video in question rather they only shared the video.
The investigation into the matter is still underway, the officials said.Delhi Police has received a response suggesting their inability to provide details about the suspect's account which has been deleted from the Social media platforms.
Delhi Police IFSO (Internet Freedom and Safety for Online Users) unit earlier this week sent a letter to Meta (formerly Facebook) but the social media company responded by expressing its inability to provide details of the deleted account.
The sources further informed that the police are awaiting a reply from GoDaddy (a publicly traded internet domain registry) since a similar profile was made through GoDaddy also.
Highlighting the danger of deepfakes, Ashwini Vaishnaw on November 18 during an interaction with the media, said, "Deepfake is a big issue for all of us. We recently issued notices to all the big social media forms, asking them to take steps to identify deepfakes, to remove those content. The social media platforms have responded. They are taking action. We have told them to be more aggressive in this work." -- ANI
Pic: Mitch Marsh/Instagram
21:16 UP man moves police against Mitchell Marsh
A leader of an activist group has filed a police complaint against Australian cricketer Mitchell Marsh for putting his feet on the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup trophy, the police in Aligarh said on Friday.
The complaint was lodged on Tuesday by Pandit Keshav Dev, president of the Bhrashtachar Virodhi Sena, at the Delhi Gate Police Station in Aligarh.
"A complaint has been received. But so far a case has not been registered and further procedure will follow only after receiving a report from the cyber cell," Superintendent of Police (City) Mrigank Shekhar said.
Keshav Dev in his complaint alleged that the Australian cricketer had by his act insulted the people of India and disrespected the trophy, which was handed over to the winning team by "the prime minister of the country."
Australia won the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup defeating India in the final match on November 19 in Ahmedabad. Marsh was seen lounging after the match with his feet resting on the trophy.
His pictures with the pose that showed up on social media saw many people criticising, and several others, defending him.
21:12 NCPCR chief booked for trespassing into Bengaluru orphanage
Bengaluru Police have registered an first information report (FIR) against National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairman Priyank Kanoongo over alleged trespassing into an orphanage and stating that the children there are living a 'medieval Taliban life', officials said on Friday.
Darul Uloom Sayideeya Yateemkhana came into the spotlight after an NCPCR team headed by its chief conducted a surprise inspection at the orphanage on November 19 in the presence of the District Child Protection Officer (East) along with other officials.Following the visit, the orphanage's secretary, Ashraf Khan filed a complaint at DJ Halli police alleged that Kanoongo trespassed into the premises claiming to be from the Human Rights Commission and without permission on November 19.
Kanoongo also recorded a video on his phone and shared it on social media, the complaint alleged.
Khan also accused the NCPCR chairman of comparing the lives of children living in the orphanage to that under Taliban rule.
"Based on the complaint received, an FIR was registered against the NCPCR chairman on November 21 under sections 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 447 (criminal trespass), 448 (house trespass), and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code," a senior police officer said.
Reacting to the FIR registered against him, the NCPCR chairman told PTI Videos, "It has come to my notice that the Karnataka government has lodged a fake case against me. As part of my duty as NCPCR chairman, I went to the orphanage to visit."
"I was also accompanied by other state government officials of Karnataka. Despite that, they have registered a case of criminal trespass If you keep children illegally in your house and do not follow the rules of the government, we will keep going again ," he said.
The NCPCR chairman had also asked the chief secretary of the Karnataka government to ensure that an FIR be registered against the Bengaluru-based orphanage for alleged non-compliance with the Juvenile Justice Act.
In a letter to the chief secretary, the NCPCR said the orphanage is not registered under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and that it does not fulfill the infrastructural requirements for accommodating such a large number of children.
'There were five rooms of approximately 100 square feet and each room had four bunk beds for eight children and 16 children slept on four bunk beds placed in the corridor. Around 150 children sleep in two big halls used for prayer,' it said.
'None of these children are sent to school, violating their fundamental right to education. No recreational facility such as play material or TV is available in the orphanage. The condition in which children are kept in the orphanage amounts to violation of Section 75 of the JJ Act, 2015,' the NCPCR said in its letter.
The Commission has also sought an action taken report within seven days of issuance of the letter. -- PTI
20:46 Drilling stopped again at Uttarkashi tunnel
Drilling at the collapsed Silkyara tunnel to rescue 41 men trapped inside for 12 days was halted again on Friday, officials said.
Officials said the auger drilling machine faced a hurdle, apparently a metal object, soon after drilling resumed Thursday, a day after officials had put the operation on hold following a technical snag.
That snag was set right earlier in the day and the 25-tonne auger machine was restarted. But after a brief while the operation had to be stopped again in the second setback in two days.
The multi-agency rescue effort began November 12 when a portion of the under-construction tunnel on Uttarakhand's Char Dham route collapsed, trapping workers who were still inside.
Rescue workers said in the evening that the drill bit has been pulled out through the passage already bored by the machine.
Sections of steel pipes had been inserted into the bored passage to allow the trapped men to be pulled out. The effort had reached up to 48.6 metres out of the estimated 57 metres of rubble that blocks the tunnel, officials had said earlier in the day. -- PTI
20:17 Will contest from Hamirpur, not going anywhere, says Anurag Thakur
Union Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday stated that he would contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency, from where he won the last four elections.
Talking to media-persons, he said that talk of his shifting to another constituency were untrue as the people of Hamirpur had given him "immense love and affection".
Reportedly, there were rumours that Thakur could shift to Kangra or Chandigarh.
Bilaspur has been benefited with projects like the Hydro Engineering College, Kiratpur-Manali four-lane road, Bhanupali-Bilaspur railway line and other central schemes worth thousands of crores, ever since I became MP, said Anurag.
The BJP would be voted to power once again in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the BJP would get more seats than 2019 elections, he stated.
20:04 IDF preps to receive first Hamas hostages
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has posted on X that they have 'completed preparations to receive the released hostages upon their return to Israel from Gaza'.
According to a report in Reuters, Israeli military guard would fly home the first women and children released by Hamas.
'In coordination with government ministries and security authorities, we have prepared to quickly receive the released hostages and give them all the necessary support,' the IDF posted on X.
'We have readied several locations dedicated to their initial reception, which include the necessary medical provisions. After the initial reception and medical treatment, they will continue to hospitals where they'll be reunited with their families,' it said.
The IDF showed images of dolls, colourful throw rugs and personal hygiene kits that have been sent to locations scheduled to receive the first 13 hostages.
An Israeli official was quoted as saying by Reuters that military helicopters would take part in the repatriation. He also suggested that the hostages would be picked up from an Egyptian airport near Gaza. -- Agencies
According to a report in Reuters, Israeli military guard would fly home the first women and children released by Hamas.
'In coordination with government ministries and security authorities, we have prepared to quickly receive the released hostages and give them all the necessary support,' the IDF posted on X.
'We have readied several locations dedicated to their initial reception, which include the necessary medical provisions. After the initial reception and medical treatment, they will continue to hospitals where they'll be reunited with their families,' it said.
The IDF showed images of dolls, colourful throw rugs and personal hygiene kits that have been sent to locations scheduled to receive the first 13 hostages.
An Israeli official was quoted as saying by Reuters that military helicopters would take part in the repatriation. He also suggested that the hostages would be picked up from an Egyptian airport near Gaza. -- Agencies
19:24 No change of guard at Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow
There will be no change of guard ceremony on Saturday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, according to an official statement issued on Friday.
The change of guard ceremony is a military tradition that is held every week to enable a fresh group of the President's Bodyguards (PBGs) to take charge.
"The change of guard ceremony will not to be held tomorrow (November 25, 2023) at Rashtrapati Bhavan due to PBG's engagement in organising the President's Polo Cup Exhibition match," said the statement issued by the President's office.
18:58 Kerala man held for threat to blow up Mumbai airport
A Kerala resident was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Friday for allegedly threatening to blow up the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai if he was not paid "one million US dollars in Bitcoin", an official said.
The ATS started the probe after the MIAL, which operates the airport, received a threatening email in its feedback inbox at 11.06 am on Thursday, the police official said.
"This is a final warning to your airport. We will blast Terminal 2 in 48 hours unless one million US dollars in Bitcoin is transferred to the address. Another alert will be after 24 Hrs," the email read.
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered under Indian Penal Code sections 385 (putting a person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion) and 505 (1) (b) (statements made with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public or against the public tranquillity) at the Sahar police station.
The ATS cyber cell, which started a parallel investigation, traced the IP address from which the email had been sent to Kerala, following which a team flew to the southern state and nabbed the accused.
He was being brought to Mumbai and would be handed over to Sahar police, the official said without disclosing the accused's identity.
Trisha Krishnan
18:12 Actor apologises to Trisha Krishnan for sexist remarks
Actor Trisha Krishnan on Friday accepted colleague Mansoor Ali Khan's apology for making a sexist comment about her, apparently ending their public tiff though a police complaint against him remained on the books.
Amid Khan's appearance before the police for an inquiry following the filing of an FIR against him, the actor expressed regret to the police officer upon learning that Krishnan had been deeply upset by his comment.
The well-known Tamil actor Khan, who has essayed villain roles in a multitude of films, said: "Forgive me Trisha, my colleague in the film industry."
In her response, Trisha Krishnan said on X: "To err is human, to forgive is divine." She, however, did not make any direct reference to Khan's apology.
Khan had said days ago that he would not apologise. Also, he had said that his remark had been misconstrued.
In a statement in Chennai, he said he prayed to the Almighty to give him an opportunity to 'bless' Krishnan at the time of her wedding. He also praised women and their role in society.
On November 19, 2023, the actors' association (The South Indian Artistes' Association-SIAA, also known as Nadigar Sangam), strongly condemned actor Khan for his comments against Krishnan and demanded that he make a public apology.
The SIAA had said Khan's comment 'in the name of comedy,' was objectionable and disrespectful against Trisha Krishnan. Also, the reference he had made to two other actresses, Khushbu and Roja, was also objectionable and similar in nature, the actors' body had said.
Following a complaint from the National Commission for Women, the Thousand Light All Women Police had registered an FIR against Khan.
17:46 Laggards and gainers in Sensex pack
In a highly volatile trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex on Friday declined 47.77 points or 0.07 per cent to settle at 65,970.04.
During the day, it gyrated 207.59 points, hitting a high of 66,101.64 and a low of 65,894.05. The Nifty slipped 7.30 points or 0.04 per cent to 19,794.70.
On the weekly front, the BSE benchmark climbed 175.31 points or 0.26 per cent, and the Nifty advanced 62.9 points or 0.31 per cent.
"Global shares drifted on Friday in the absence of guidance from Wall Street, which was closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. Investors were sceptical of whether the US Federal Reserve is done with interest rate hikes that kept risk appetite in check," said Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research, HDFC Securities.
Among the Sensex firms, HCL Tech, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Nestle, Tata Motors, Infosys, Bharti Airtel, UltraTech Cement and Tata Steel were among the laggards.
On the other hand, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, JSW Steel, Mahindra & Mahindra and Kotak Mahindra Bank were the major gainers.
17:40 Tunnel rescue: 'Hope there'll be no more obstacles'
After more than a week's effort to rescue the 41 workers trapped in a portion of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, Additional Secretary Technical, Road and Transport Mahmood Ahmed on Friday said that the auger drilling machine, which developed some cracks on Thursday, has been reassembled and they hope to push the pipe further this time with no obstacles.
"The auger drilling machine has been reassembled. A new pipe will be put in after the welding, which will take two hours. After two hours, we will push the pipe inside the tunnel. We hope that we push the pipe further this time and will face no obstacles," Additional Secretary Ahmed said.
The rescue work continues as a portion of the under-construction tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot collapsed on November 12.
The debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel trapped 41 labourers inside.
When asked about the total length of the pipe that has been inserted to rescue the workers, Ahmed said that two more pipes of 6 metres each have to be inserted to get a breakthrough.
"Two more pipes of 6 metres each have to be inserted. The first 6 metres, which reach 51-52 metres, with the next 6 meter-long pipe, we hope to breakthrough," he said.
"This is our own estimation and understanding. These estimations are based on certain realities but they are all assumptions and not to be taken exactly, but we hope to be there someway," he added.
Earlier, Bhaskar Khulbe, a former advisor to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), said a 2-metre part of the inserted pipe had to be cut off as it got compressed due to friction while drilling.
This happened after the auger heavy-duty driller encountered an obstruction and exerted more pressure on Thursday, he informed. -- ANI
17:26 Marathas' strategy defeated Napoleon in Waterloo: Ex-British Army officer
The forces led by Lord Arthur Wellesley defeated French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in the decisive Battle of Waterloo in 1815 by adopting the strategy of Marathas that he had earlier witnessed in a battle fought in Maharashtra, a former British army officer has said.
Retired British army officer Major Gordon Corrigan, 81, along with a group of citizens from his country on Thursday visited Sirsoli village in Akola district of Maharashtra, where a battle was fought between the Marathas and the British forces in 1803.
The group visited the battlefield site to study various aspects related to it and to pay homage to the British soldiers who laid down their lives during the battle.
The battle fought at Sirsoli is also known as the Battle of Argaon.
Under the leadership of Captain Kane and in the presence of Lord Wellesley, the British forces fought against the Marathas for seven days from November 23 to 29, 1803.
The Maratha soldiers fought with traditional weapons against the British. The Maratha forces were led by Nagpurkar Bhosle. From the Marathas, Kartajirao Jayle killed Captain Kane, but sacrificed his own life. However, the British forces defeated the Marathas.
Speaking during his visit, Major Corrigan said, "After this battle, Lord Wellesley was sent back to England. In the Battle of Waterloo, Wellesley used the tactics as used by the Marathas in the Sirsoli battle and defeated Napoleon."
According to him, the Sirsoli battle and the strategy adopted by Marathas are mentioned in the books written by Lord Wellesley. For the past 220 years, British citizens have been visiting Sirsoli every November. -- PTI
Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd)
16:41 15 metres separate trapped workers from freedom
Silkyara tunnel rescue operation: Member of the National Disaster Management Authority, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.) says, "Using ground penetrating radar, it has been detected that there is no obstacle for the next 5 meters on our path. We continue to use this to detect obstacles, if any."
Rescue workers were set to begin drilling at the collapsed Silkyara tunnel Friday after putting it on hold for several hours, following a snag that delayed the operation to evacuate 41 men trapped inside for 12 days, officials said.
Officials, at an afternoon news briefing, said that the technical problem that stalled the drilling on Wednesday had been set right, and the operation would begin in the next couple of hours. The boring would resume after the another section of steel pipes is welded to the chute already pushed through, they said.
About 15 metres are still to be covered to reach the trapped workers.
Israel soldiers patrol Gaza City. Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
16:16 Who are the Palestinian prisoners to be released?
Israel and Hamas are now exchanging lists of abductees and imprisoned terrorists ahead of a partial prisoner exchange and temporary ceasefire brokered by Qatar.
Details of the agreement are being finalized in Doha and a formal announcement is expected later today.
Until then, fighting continues in the Gaza Strip. Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, 150 Palestinian prisoners and 50 Israeli hostages -- primarily women and children -- will be released in stages over a four-day period.
Israel published a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners of whom 150 will be freed. Israeli terror victims have a 24-hour window to file legal petitions to the Supreme Court.
While some of the Palestinians aren't associated with any specific terror group, many are affiliated with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Under the terms of the agreement, the released Palestinians will be allowed to return to their previous residences.
The agreement does not obligate Israel to release anyone convicted of murder, but several of the Palestinians in the list of 300 came close.
Ataf Jaradat, 50, had advance knowledge of her son, Mohammed's plan to murder Yehuda Dimentman in 2021 and helped him hide the weapons used in the attack.
Shurok Deviat was jailed for the attempted murder of two Jews in a 2015 stabbing attack in Jerusalem.
On the day of Hamas's October 7 massacres in southern Israel, Deviat was promised on social media that she would be released.
Muhammad Abu Katish, 17, carried out a stabbing attack in October 2022 which left his 20-year-old Israeli victim paralyzed.
Sixteen-year-old Nafod Hamed stabbed Moriah Cohen as she walked with her five children in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Shimon HaTzaddik (Sheikh Jarrah) in 2021. If released, Hamed will return to his home next door to the Cohens.
Would-be suicide bomber Israa Jaabis survived when she blew up a car with gas cylinders near Maale Adumim in 2015. A police officer was injured in the attack. Jaabis made headlines in 2022 when her request for a nose job was rejected by the Israeli Prisons Service as a cosmetic procedure not necessary for Jaabis's health.
Fatma Amarna, 44, was convicted of stabbing a police officer outside a gate leading to the Temple Mount. Amarna is a member of the Mourabitoun, a group of Palestinian men and women who harass Jews visiting the Temple Mount. She is expected to return to the Mourabitoun after her release. -- ANI
15:41 Govt closely monitoring outbreak of H9N2 in China
The Union health ministry on Friday said it is closely monitoring the outbreak of H9N2 and clusters of respiratory illness in children in northern China. There is a low risk to India from both the avian influenza case reported in China as well as the clusters of respiratory illness, it said.
India, the ministry said, is prepared for any kind of exigency that may emerge from the current influenza situation in that country.
Some media reports have indicated clustering of cases of respiratory illness in children in northern China for which the World Health Organization (WHO) has also issued a statement, it said.
Based on available information, an increase in incidence of respiratory diseases in China has been reported in the last few weeks.
"The usual causes of respiratory illness in children have been implicated and there has been no identification of an unusual pathogen or any unexpected clinical manifestations," the ministry said.
Recently, a meeting was held under the Directorate General of Health Services to discuss the preparedness measures against human cases of avian influenza in the country against the backdrop of a human case of H9N2 (avian influenza virus) in October in China that was reported to the WHO, it said.
"The overall risk assessment by the WHO indicates a low probability of human to human spread and low case fatality rate among human cases of H9N2 reported to the WHO so far. The need for strengthening surveillance among human, animal husbandry and wildlife sectors and improving coordination was recognised.
"India is prepared for any kind of public health exigency," the ministry added. India is embarking on a 'One Health' approach to adopt a holistic and integrated roadmap towards addressing such public health issues. There has also been a significant strengthening of health infrastructure especially since the Covid pandemic," it said.
An injured Palestinian woman. Mohammed Salem/Reuters
15:10 Israel doubles fuel, cooking gas entry into Gaza
Israel announced that four tankers with fuel and four tankers with cooking gas entered the Gaza Strip on Friday, the first day of what is meant to be a four-day cease-fire.
Israel has agreed to allow the delivery of 130,000 litres of fuel a day into besieged Gaza for humanitarian needs for the duration of the truce. This would be roughly twice the amount permitted previously, but still only a small portion of Gaza's daily needs, estimated at more than 1 million litres.
For most of the past seven weeks of war, Israel had barred the entry of any fuel to Gaza, claiming it could be used by Hamas for military purposes. United Nations aid agencies pushed back against such claims, saying fuel deliveries were closely supervised and urgently needed to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.
14:40 BJP to hold rally at TMC's chosen haunt in Kolkata
The Calcutta High Court on Friday permitted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to hold a rally on November 29 near Victoria House at Esplanade. This is the same place in central Kolkata where the ruling Trinamool Congress holds its annual 'Shaheed Divas (Martyrs' Day)' rally on July 21.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya upheld the single bench order and dismissed the petition filed by the West Bengal government against holding the rally.
On November 23, the West Bengal government had approached the High Court against the single-judge Bench judgement.
The Single-Judge Bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of the High Court had pulled up the Kolkata Police on November 20 for denying permission for the BJP rally in Kolkata twice without any apparent reason and by way of computer-generated responses.
However, the High Court, after hearing the plea filed by the West Bengal government observed that the advisory said applications need to be made two to three weeks prior to the programme.
Noting that the advisory was not a statute, the Bench said the same cannot be taken as a rigid rule and that there was discretion vested with the authorities.
14:12 Rajouri encounter: Martyr's body to reach home today
The mortal remains of Captain M V Pranjal who was killed during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, will arrive in Bengaluru on Friday, Defence sources said.
The 29-year-old from 63 Rashtriya Rifles lost his life during an exchange of fire with terrorists in the Rajouri sector on Wednesday.
"Mortal remains of Capt Pranjal will arrive today at around 8 PM at HAL airport. Thereafter the mortal remains will be taken to his residence at Bannerghatta," the sources said.
"Wreath laying and guard of honour will take place on Saturday morning followed by last rites." Son of M Venkatesh, retired Managing Director of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), Pranjal did his schooling at Surathkal in Dakshina Kannada district.
The body of a terrorist killed in the Rajouri encounter
13:40 Rajouri encounter: Terrorists retired Pak soldiers
Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command, on Friday said some of the terrorists who have crossed over into India from across the border are retired Pakistani soldiers.
Speaking to media persons after paying his last tributes to five soldiers, including two Army Captains, who lost their lives in the Rajouri firefight, Lt Gen Dwivedi said, "While we lost five our brave soldiers in the encounter, we also eliminated two dreaded terrorists. Our boys went after the well-trained and equipped foreign terrorists without giving any thought to their personal safety. This (taking out the dreaded terrorists) has dealt a major blow to the terror ecosystem and Pakistan. As per our estimation, 20-25 terrorists could still be operating in the area. We should be able to control the situation in a year's time with the help of locals."
Lt Gen. Dwivedi added that the terrorists were involved in the killing of innocent civilians in Dangri, Kandi and Rajouri and their elimination was a priority for the joint forces team involved in the operation.
"They may have received training in many countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan. They were very well trained which is why it took us some time to eliminate them. Our boys fought with courage. Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht had promised to eliminate them within 7 days, and, the statement given by Captain MV Pranjal's father in Bengaluru (about how the family was waiting to hear from him and, instead, received his mortal remains) will motivate our soldiers to discharge their salient duties against all odds," Lt Gen. Dwivedi added.
He said since Poonch, in the Rajouri district, is connected with the rest of the country through a highway, there is a high probability of more terrorists lurking there.
12:59 No hitches in NDRF's tunnel evacuation rehearsal
The NDRF on Friday conducted a rehearsal of how it would take its wheeled stretchers through the chute being prepared to rescue the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel.
An NDRF personnel went through the passage, pushing a wheeled stretcher tied to a rope at the end of the tunnel and was pulled back up after completing the stretch.
A passage has been made using 800 mm diameter steel pipes through the rubble at the tunnel to rescue the workers who have been trapped inside for the past 12 days.
An NDRF personnel who went into the passage was lying on the wheeled stretcher facing downwards. There was enough room inside the pipes and he had no difficulty in breathing during the exercise, he said.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been camping at Matli since Thursday to closely monitor the rescue operations.
A temporary camp of the chief minister's office has been set up there to help him perform his daily duties. The drilling and pushing pipes through the rubble has not yet been resumed at the tunnel. The rescuers have to drill 12-14 metres more through the rubble to reach the trapped workers on the other side. -- PTI
12:33 Elon Musk to visit Israel next week
Business tycoon Elon Musk is expected to be in Israel next week, during which he will visit towns near the Gaza border that were attacked by Hamas on October 7, The Jerusalem Post reported citing Hebrew broadcast channel N12.
According to the report, Musk will meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit.
Musk has come under increasing fire in recent weeks for supposed failures to combat antisemitism on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, which the entrepreneur bought in April 2022, The Jerusalem Post has reported.
The failure to combat antisemitism on the app and comments viewed as anti-Semitic, shared by Musk himself resulted in several advertisers like Apple and Disney cutting off their spending on the microblogging site.
Amid the row over endorsing 'anti-semitic' post on X, the platform owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that the social media platform will file a "thermonuclear lawsuit" against the media watchdog 'Media Matters' alleging that it "completely misrepresented the real user experience" and "undermined free speech".
Earlier this week, Musk announced that X would be donating all revenue from advertising and subscriptions "associated with the war in Gaza" to hospitals in Israel and the Red Cross/Crescent in Gaza. -- ANI
Punjab CM with governor Purohit
12:06 Win for Punjab: Guv must act on bills, says SC
Governors cannot be at liberty to keep bills pending indefinitely without any action, the Supreme Court has said while emphasising that the unelected Head of the State is entrusted with constitutional powers but that cannot be used to thwart the normal course of lawmaking by state legislatures.
Observing that unbridled discretion to the governor would "virtually veto the functioning of the legislative domain by a duly elected legislature, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra said such a course of action would be contrary to fundamental principles of a constitutional democracy based on a Parliamentary pattern of governance.
"The governor, as an unelected Head of the State, is entrusted with certain constitutional powers. However, this power cannot be used to thwart the normal course of lawmaking by state legislatures.
"Consequently, if the Governor decides to withhold assent under the substantive part of Article 200, the logical course of action is to pursue the course indicated in the first proviso of remitting the bill to the state legislature for reconsideration," the bench said in its November 10 judgment, passed on a plea by the Punjab government.
The bench said if the governor decides to withhold assent to a bill, then he has to return the bill to the legislature for reconsideration.
"If the governor decides to withhold assent under the substantive part of Article 200, the logical course of action is to pursue the course indicated in the first proviso of remitting the bill to the state legislature for reconsideration.
"In other words, the power to withhold assent under the substantive part of Article 200 must be read together with the consequential course of action to be adopted," it said.
The top court said federalism and democracy, both parts of the basic structure, are inseparable.
"When one feature is diluted it puts the other in peril. The tuning fork of democracy and federalism is vital to the realisation of the fundamental freedoms and aspirations of our citizens. Whenever one prong of the tuning fork is harmed, it damages the apparatus of constitutional governance," it said.
The apex court directed Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit to decide on the Bills passed by the legislative assembly during its "constitutionally valid" session held on June 19 and 20, saying the governor's power cannot be used to "thwart the normal course of lawmaking".
11:59 Filmmaker Raj Kumar Kohli dies
Veteran film director Raj Kumar Kohli passed away in Mumbai today. He was 93 years old. He is known for films like Jaani Dushman, Nagin, Pati Patni Aur Tawaif.
He passed away this morning due to a heart attack.
11:46 When will the Gaza war end? Israel says...
The four-day ceasefire between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas will commence Friday, but experts say after a short pause fighting will resume with intensity for at least two months, The Times of Israel has reported.
Ahead of the slated lull in fighting, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Thursday that once the "short" temporary truce with Hamas ends, the military campaign would resume "with intensity" for at least two more months.
"What you will see in the coming days is first the release of hostages. This respite will be short," Gallant told troops of the Navy's Shayetet 13 elite commando unit.
"What is required of you in this respite is to organize, get ready, investigate, resupply arms, and get ready to continue."
"There will be a continuation, because we need to complete the victory and create the impetus for the next groups of hostages, who will only come back as a result of pressure," he added.
The hostage release deal, mediated by the US and Qatar will see at least 50 Israeli women and children taken hostage during the October 7 offensive be released.
In return, Israel will release 150 Palestinian prisoners, all of them women or minors as well as a four-day break in the conflict to provide essential humanitarian aid, The Times of Israel has reported. -- ANI
11:16 Tunnel collapse: Drilling platform strengthened
Thirteen days after an under construction tunnel collapsed at Silkyara in Uttarkashi there appears to be some headway made in the rescue operation to evacuate the 41 trapped workers.
A 25-tonne platform mounting the Heavy American Auger machine being used to drill through the debris has been strengthened using an accelerating agent for rapid hardening of concrete, and the rescue operations is expected to resume shortly.
The platform on which the equipment was mounted had developed some cracks when the rescue operation was underway on Thursday, and the process of horizontal drilling through the debris had to be paused.
As per the official bulletin, the pushing of the 9th pipe started at 1:10 am on Friday and the pipe reached an additional 1.8 meters, but suddenly, a minor vibration was noted.
Following this, the auger was pushed slightly back to re-assess the force to be applied wherein the rescue team observed the obstructions
."A bent part of fore pole (pipe) from tunnel lining was struck in the auger assembly which led to vibration. The platform for the auger machine is strengthened using an accelerating agent for rapid hardening of concrete," the official bulletin said.
However, the auger was required to pull back fully to assess any other damage to the pipe.
It further said that the welder's team has gone inside the pipe to cut of bent pipe which is ongoing.
"Auger reassembly will start shortly thereafter," it added.
To give an emergent safe passage of the workforce for pipe pushing activities by auger machine, from near the pipe drilling machine, an escape passage by way of placing concrete culvert block, hume pipe and steel pipe for a length of 67 m (187 m to 120 m) has been taken up and work has been completed.
The trapped workers are safe, the bulletin added.
"Modified communication system with wire connectivity has already been developed by State Disaster Response Force and through which clear communication is being made regularly. People inside have reported that they are safe," it said.
Freshly cooked food and fresh fruits are being inserted inside the tunnel at regular intervals using 2nd lifeline service (150 mm dia pipe).
2nd service lifeline (food pipe, 150 mm) has been extended from the initial position to a distance of 12 m to ensure higher stability and safety.
The last food consignment consisting of roti (200 nos), Dal (12 litres) and mixed veg was sent at 6:30 pm on Thursday. -- ANI
10:59 'What happens in Myanmar may not stay in Myanmar'
"The security situation developing in Myanmar holds long-term geo-strategic consequences for the integrity of India's northeastern region. A scenario like in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan is quite possibly in the making.
"Analogies are never perfect fits, but they can help draw attention to key features and conceptual boundaries of an emergent situation being learned and probably make it easier for decision-makers to navigate their way in the highly complex matrix in Myanmar," writes former diplomat MK Bhadrakumar.
Read the column here.
Mass graves for Gaza dead. Mohammed Salem/Reuters
10:44 Gaza horror: 14,800+ deaths, including 5,850 kids
The death toll in Gaza from the Israeli offensive since October 7 has risen to 14,854, with 5,850 children among the casualties, CNN reported, citing Hamas authorities in the Strip.
Obtaining current figures has become a challenging task due to Israel's ongoing air and ground campaign, CNN reported, adding that the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah, on Monday, reported 12,700 casualties, drawing data from sources in the Gaza Strip.
Recent health updates indicate communication disruptions in Gaza, hindering accurate data collection, the report noted.
The chief of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, stood by the casualty figures they quoted, adding that they rely on data from Gaza. "We don't put these figures out without thought," CNN reported Griffiths as saying.
10:15 Snag set right, drilling to resume at tunnel
Drilling through the rubble to prepare an escape route for the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel was set to resume on Friday morning, a day after another snag hit the rescue efforts, an official said.
Former advisor to the prime minister's office Bhaskar Khulbe said the operation might successfully be completed by Friday evening if everything went well. Citing the data scanned by a ground penetrating radar, there is no metallic obstruction up to five metres beyond the 46 metre point through the rubble.
The drilling machine's platform has been revamped and strengthened. Boring through the rubble with auger is likely to resume by 11.30 am, Khulbe told reporters at Silkyara.
"We have 12-14 metres more to go. And I hope if all goes well we might conclude the operation by Friday evening," he said. PTI
09:49 Workers play chor-police, board games to be sent
Rescuers plan to provide board games and playing cards to the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel for 12 days as the operation to evacuate them continues to get disrupted by multiple delays, an official said.
Late on Thursday, boring through the rubble of the collapsed tunnel was put on hold again, apparently after cracks appeared in the platform on which the drilling machine rests.
Dr Rohit Gondwal, one of the psychiatrists at the rescue site, told PTI, "We are planning to provide ludo and chess boards and playing cards to help them (trapped labourers) relieve stress. The operation is getting delayed and it appears that it will take some more time."
He said all 41 workers are fine but need to stay healthy and mentally fit. "They told us that they play 'chor-police', do yoga and exercise daily to de-stress," Gondwal said.
Speaking on the mental health of the trapped workers, another medical expert said their morale needs to stay high and they must remain motivated. A team of doctors speaks daily to the workers and asks about their health and mental conditions. The latest obstacle came hours after the rescue operation resumed earlier in the day, following a six-hour delay to cut through an iron girder that came in the way of the auger machine late on Wednesday.
This is the third time that the drilling exercise has been halted since the multi-agency rescue mission began on November 12 after a stretch of the under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand's Char Dham route collapsed. Officials on Thursday said the rescuers had managed to drill the rubble up to 48 metres. However, another 10-12 metres remain to be covered to allow the trapped labourers to be evacuated.
A team of a dozen doctors, including general physicians and psychiatrists from Uttarkashi and Dehradun, are stationed at the site. The officials said the team members regularly talk to the trapped labourers -- for at least for 30 minutes in the morning and the same duration during the evening. PTI
Shoes representing Palestinians killed in this war
09:31 1.3L litres fuel, 200 aid trucks to enter Gaza today
In a breakthrough agreement, Egypt announced the daily entry of 200 trucks carrying humanitarian aid, a total of 1,30,000 litres of diesel, and four trucks of gas into the Gaza Strip during a temporary ceasefire starting at 7 am (local time) on Friday, The Times of Israel reported.
The highly anticipated deal involves the release of 50 Israeli hostages, primarily women and children, by Hamas over a four-day period, accompanied by the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners.
The hostage-and-truce agreement, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, follows the abduction of 240 people by Hamas and other terror groups on October 7 during a violent rampage in southern Israel, resulting in the death of 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
The negotiations outline a four-day ceasefire, with hostages released in groups daily. The initial release, set for Friday afternoon, involves 13 women and children, as reported by The Times of Israel. -- ANI
09:18 Israel-Hamas truce begins, 13 hostages to be freed today
A four-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas will begin on Friday morning, with civilian hostages and Palestinian prisoners set to be freed later in the afternoon, Qatar announced on Thursday, according to CNN.
According to Majed Al-Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry, the cease-fire will begin at 7 am local time, with 13 women and children captives set to be released at 4 pm.
According to Al-Ansari, the list of captives scheduled to be freed has been sent to the Israeli intelligence service, Mossad.
The Qatari spokesperson stated that Mossad will provide the Qataris with a list of Palestinian inmates who are likely to be released.
"Whenever we have both lists confirmed, this is when we can begin with the process of getting people out," the official went on to say, according to CNN.
The prisoners will be transferred from two jails, Damon and Megiddo, both southeast of Haifa, to the Ofer prison, south of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, for final Red Cross examinations. -- ANI
09:13 Why was tunnel drilling work stopped last night?
So, what happened last night?
Drilling through the rubble to prepare an escape route for the 41 workers trapped at the Silkyara tunnel remained stalled on Friday morning, a day after another snag hit the rescue efforts, an official said.
The platform on which the drilling machine stands was being stabilised by shotcreting, the official said.
Boring through the rubble was put on hold again Thursday apparently after cracks appeared in the platform on which the drilling machine rests, in a fresh hurdle to the rescue of workers trapped inside for 12 days.
The dampener came hours after the operation resumed earlier in the day, following a six-hour delay to cut through an iron girder that came in the way of the auger machine late Wednesday night.
This is the third time that the drilling exercise has been halted since the multi-agency rescue mission began on November 12 after a stretch of the under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand's Char Dham route collapsed. PTI
Former advisor to PMO Bhaskar Khulbe
09:03 'Tunnel workers may be brought out this evening'
Update on the rescue mission of tunnel workers: Former advisor to PMO, Bhaskar Khulbe says, "We hope that we will be able to rescue them (workers) by today evening.
"The situation is much better now. Last night, we had to work on two things. First, we had to revamp the platform of the machine... Parsons Company had done the ground penetration radar, through which we got to know that for the next 5 meters, there is no metallic obstruction. This means that our drilling should be smooth. When we were taking out the debris, we got two mangled pipes..."
08:51 Afghan embassy announces permanent closure in Delhi
The Afghanistan embassy has announced its permanent closure in New Delhi.
Releasing an official statement on the closure of its diplomatic mission in New Delhi, the Afghan embassy said, "Effective from November 23, 2023 owing to persistent challenges from the Indian government. The decision follows the embassy's earlier cessation of operations on September 30, a move made in the hope that the Indian government stance will favourably change to let the mission operate normally."
The embassy said it was 'cognisant' that some may attempt to characterise this move as an internal conflict, allegedly involving diplomats who switched allegiance to the Taliban, adding "that this decision is a result of broader changes in policy and interests".
"To the Afghan citizens in India, the embassy extends its sincere gratitude for their understanding and support throughout our mission's tenure," it added.
Despite "limitations in resources and power", the Afghan embassy said it has worked "tirelessly for their betterment and in the absence of a legitimate government in Kabul".
Over the past two years and three months, the Afghan community in India has witnessed a significant decline, with Afghan refugees, students, and traders leaving the country, the embassy noted in its statement, adding that the number has nearly halved since August 2021, with very limited new visas being issued during this period.
"We assure the Afghan community that the mission operated with transparency, accountability, and a commitment to fair treatment based on the goodwill and interests of Afghanistan considering historic ties and bilateral relations with India," it added.
"Unfortunately, efforts have been made to tarnish our image and hinder diplomatic efforts in order to justify the presence and work of Taliban-appointed and affiliated diplomats. In the face of these challenges, our committed team worked diligently in the most difficult circumstances, prioritizing the interests of the 40 million Afghans in every possible sphere from securing humanitarian aid and online education scholarships to facilitating ease in trade and advocating for the formation of a broad-based government," the Afghan embassy stated further in its statement.
It added that the Afghan embassy "exerted diplomatic pressure in its power on those who defy the will of the Afghan people by failing to form an inclusive government and denying millions of girls the right to attend school".
As of now, there are no diplomats from the Afghan Republic in India. Those who served in the national capital have safely reached third countries, the embassy informed through its release, adding that the only individuals present in India are diplomats affiliated with the Taliban, visibly attending their regular online meetings.
Pic: Reuters
07:42 Knife attack in Dublin, protestors clash with police
Protesters and rioters clashed with police in Dublin on Thursday evening, following a knife assault earlier in the day that injured five people, including three children, Fox News reported.
According to the Irish news publication RTE, protesters attacked the officers of the state police force, Garda and set afire to a Garda car.
Citing the Irish publication, Fox News reported that the chaos occurred on O'Connell Street and Parnell Square East, where the rioters were said to have hurled pyrotechnics and bottles at cops.
The clashes broke out hours after the knife assault outside a school in central Dublin about 1:30 pm (local time) on Thursday.
A 5-year-old child has been undergoing emergency medical treatment in a hospital. A woman and two children also sustained injuries. A 6-year-old girl had less serious injuries, while a boy was discharged from the hospital, according to officials.
According to Fox News, the Irish police said they weren't treating the case as terror-related, and that a man in his 50s, who was also hospitalised with serious injuries, is a "person of interest."
The police stated they had a "definite line of inquiry" and were not seeking anybody else involved in the incident outside the school.
"The facts are being established but the facts are still not clear and a lot of the rumour and innuendo is being spread for malevolent purposes," Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said at an evening press conference.
Moreover, the Garda commissioner also stated that the ongoing clashes in the city are not acceptable as he described the public disorder in the city as "disgraceful."
"I wish people would calm down, go home, and allow us to actually conduct our duties and investigations properly," he said.
-- ANI
Pic: Reuters
07:16 Email threat to blow up Mumbai airport's T2
The Mumbai International Airport on Thursday received a "threat" email to blow up its Terminal 2, the police said.
The sender of the email has demanded USD 1 million in Bitcoin within 48 hours to avert the blast.
"Sahar police have registered a case against an unknown person for sending the threat mail using the email id-quaidacasrol@gmail.com," Mumbai police said.
According to the police, the mail was sent to the feedback inbox of the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) at around 11 am on Thursday.
The threat mail read: "Subject: Blast. Text: This is a final warning to your airport. We will blast Terminal 2 within 48 hours unless one million dollars in Bitcoin is transferred to the address. Another alert will be after 24 Hrs."
A case under the Indian Penal Code sections 385 (putting a person in fear of injury to commit extortion) and 505 (1) (b) (statements made with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public or against public tranquillity) has been registered against an unknown person. Further investigation is underway.
File image
01:04 Farmers' Jalandhar highway blockade enters third day
The highway blockade in Punjab's Jalandhar by the farmers who are demanding an increase in sugarcane prices entered its third day on Thursday.
Farmers led by Bharti Kisan Union (Doaba) are staging a 'dharna' in the middle of the Jalandhar-Phagwara section of the highway which has also affected traffic between Jalandhar and Delhi.
On Thursday, the farmers also blocked a section of the railway track near Dhanowali village in Jalandhar, which affected the train movement too, officials said.
Farmer leader Balwinder Singh had earlier said that they were forced to come out on roads by the state government which has still not announced the sugarcane prices, nor has started the cane crushing.
They said that the government had promised to resolve their issues on November 16 in a meeting but cancelled it a day before.
Farmers under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara section of the Jalandhar-New Delhi National Highway near Dhanowali village for an "indefinite period" on Tuesday.
The protest in Jalandhar has affected the movement of vehicles from Jammu, Pathankot, and Amritsar via Jalandhar towards Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Nawanshahr, and Delhi.
With police diverting traffic towards alternative roads, the commuters had a harrowing time crossing the part of the district.
The farmers, who are demanding an increase in the prices of sugarcane from Rs 380 per quintal to Rs 450 per quintal, have put up a tent in the middle of the road and spending the night on the highway. -- PTI
UP deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya
00:22 HC notice to UP dy CM in 'fake degree' case
The Allahabad high court on Thursday issued a notice to Uttar Pradesh deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya in the 'fake degree' case.
Justice Rajbir Singh has given the order issuing a notice on the criminal revision petition filed against Keshav Prasad Maurya, currently the deputy chief minister of the state, and has given time in four weeks to file a reply on the 327-day delay condonation petition in filing the revision petition. The order was issued while hearing the petition of Diwakar Nath Tripathi, a resident of Prayagraj.
The Deputy CM has been accused of taking advantage of fake documents and sought a reply to the notice within four weeks.
The next hearing of the petition will be on December 21.
Advocate Kamal Krishna Rai argued the petition.
In the petition, the validity of the order of the opposition Maurya, along with the orders of the Subordinate Court Prayagraj and the Juvenile Justice Board, to cancel the application for registering an FIR in the case of taking benefits through fake documents, has been challenged.
It was alleged that Maurya had obtained the licence of a petrol pump on the basis of a fake degree and had also contested elections five times on the basis of the same degree. -- ANI
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