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India, France Agree To Intensify Cooperation In Southwest Indian Ocean

2024-01-27T05:10:00.001+04:00

The two countries also welcomed the extension of those interactions in India's maritime neighbourhood.

New Delhi:

India, France have agreed to intensify cooperation in the Southwest Indian Ocean, building on the joint surveillance missions carried out from the French island territory of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022.

The two countries also welcomed the extension of those interactions in India's maritime neighbourhood. These interactions may contribute positively to the securitization of strategic sea lanes of communication, according to the India-France Joint Statement following French President Emmanuel Macron's India visit for the Republic Day celebrations.

Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron reiterated their commitment to further deepen the long-standing partnership between the two countries, based on their common vision for the Indo-Pacific region.

The leaders emphasised the region's significance for their respective sovereign and strategic interests. They also acknowledged the crucial role of their partnership in the region for the advancement of a free, open, inclusive, secure and peaceful Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Referring to the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Indo-Pacific, which was finalised in July 2023, they expressed satisfaction at the expanding nature of their engagement in the region.

As per the joint statement, the defence and security partnership has been the cornerstone of the India-France partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, which includes a comprehensive range of bilateral, multinational, regional and institutional initiatives, especially in the Indian Ocean Region.

PM Modi, and French President Macron committed to revitalising the trilateral cooperation with Australia, deepening the one with UAE and exploring new ones in the region, the statement said.

Noting the importance of joint and multilateral initiatives, for supporting sustainable economic development, human welfare, environmental sustainability, resilient infrastructure, innovation and connectivity in the region, the two leaders asked their governments to identify concrete projects. Furthermore, the two leaders called for the early launching of the Indo-Pacific Triangular Development Cooperation Fund to facilitate the scaling up of green technologies being developed in the region, as per the joint statement.

They agreed to explore opportunities for coordinating economic projects and programmes in the Pacific. Both leaders acknowledged projects being carried out by the French Development Agency in India.

The two leaders recalled the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) on the margins of the G20 Summit in Delhi in September 2023. President Macron congratulated Prime Minister Modi for his leadership in this historic initiative. The two leaders agreed that this project would be of great strategic importance and would significantly enhance the potential and resilience of the flow of commerce and energy between India, the Middle East and Europe.

Prime Minister Modi welcomed the appointment of President Macron's Special Envoy for the project. The two leaders further recalled their discussions in their July Summit in Paris on various other connectivity projects from Southeast Asia to the Middle East and Africa and agreed to explore specific projects.

PM Modi, Macron reiterated their call for reformed and effective multilateralism to sustain an equitable and peaceful international order, address pressing global challenges and prepare the world for emerging developments, including in the technological and economic domains.

The two leaders stressed, in particular, the urgent need for the reform of the United Nations Security Council and called for the early commencement of text-based negotiations at the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) in the UN.

France reiterated its firm support for India's permanent membership of the UNSC. The two leaders agreed to strengthen conversations on regulation of use of the veto in case of mass atrocities. The two leaders agreed that the G20 Summit in Delhi and the Paris Global Financing Summit had underlined the need for the reform of Multilateral Development Banks to make them better, bigger and more effective, to able to address the related issues of development and climate in developing and least developed countries.

They welcomed the report submitted by the Independent Expert Group constituted under the Indian G20 Presidency for providing concrete suggestions in this regard. They also acknowledged enhanced cooperation between the Paris Club and India in official debt restructuring cases, according to the joint statement.

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

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US Defense Chief Austin To Make 'Full Recovery' From Cancer: Doctors

2024-01-27T03:10:00.003+04:00

Austin, a 70-year-old career soldier, initially underwent minor surgery to treat cancer on December 22.

Washington:

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is likely to make a "full recovery" from prostate cancer and his prognosis is "excellent," two doctors said after he was seen at Walter Reed hospital for a follow-up appointment.

Austin controversially kept US President Joe Biden in the dark about the cancer diagnosis for weeks, and did not inform either the commander-in-chief or Congress until days after he was hospitalized on January 1 for complications from his treatment.

"Secretary Austin was seen today at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a scheduled post-prostatectomy surveillance appointment," the doctors said in a statement released by the Pentagon.

"He continues to recover well and is expected to make a full recovery. Secretary Austin's prostate cancer was treated early and effectively, and his prognosis is excellent," they added.

Austin, a 70-year-old career soldier, initially underwent minor surgery to treat the cancer on December 22, returning home the following day.

But he was readmitted due to complications including nausea and severe pain on January 1.

The White House was not informed about Austin's hospitalization until January 4, while Congress was not told until the following day, and Biden did not learn of the cancer diagnosis until January 9.

Austin was released from Walter Reed last week, and made his first public appearance since his hospitalization on Tuesday, speaking via videolink from his residence at the opening of a meeting on aid for Ukraine.

Republican lawmakers have called for Austin to be sacked, but Biden, while lamenting Austin's lapse in judgment, has said he remains confident in his defense secretary.

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

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Donald Trump Ordered To Pay $83 Million To Writer In Defamation Case

2024-01-27T03:10:00.001+04:00

Jury orders Trump to pay $83 million in damages for defamation, US media said.

New York:

Former US president Donald Trump was ordered Friday by a New York jury to pay $83 million in damages to writer E. Jean Carroll, whom he publicly insulted and called a liar for alleging that he sexually assaulted her.

The jury reached its decision after slightly less than three hours of deliberations. Trump made multiple comments about Carroll while he was president, demeaning her in the wake of her allegation of a 1990s assault.

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

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Republic Day Updates: Macron Chief Guest As Delhi Hosts Parade Amid Dense Fog

2024-01-26T07:10:00.001+04:00

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California Homeless People Found Living In Deep Caves Stocked With Drugs

2024-01-25T23:10:00.003+04:00

Homeless people were found living in riverside caves.

In a clear example of California's homelessness crisis, authorities found caves along the Tuolumne River where people had been living. These 20-foot-deep underground dwellings, reached by makeshift stairs, were filled with makeshift furniture and personal belongings, revealing the desperate measures some take for shelter. Located near Modesto, the caves were cleared over the weekend by police and volunteers from local homeless outreach organizations. Authorities expressed concern about safety risks from unstable structures and potential flooding from the nearby river.

"This particular area has been plagued by vagrancy and illegal camps, which have raised concerns due to the fact that these camps were actually caves dug into the riverbanks," the Modesto Police Department said in a statement.

"During the operation on Saturday, a total of 7,600 lbs of trash, as well as two truckloads and a trailer of garbage, were successfully removed from the area," the police department said.

While details about the number of people and the length of their stay are still emerging, the discovery highlights the dire need for affordable housing and support services for the state's growing homeless population.

The Modesto Police Department confirmed they are working with Pathways to Hope and other agencies to connect the former cave dwellers with resources and find them safer accommodations. However, officials acknowledge this is just one instance of a widespread problem.

California currently faces a severe housing shortage, with skyrocketing rental costs pushing more people onto the streets.

According to CNN, California has spent a stunning $17.5 billion trying to combat homelessness over just four years. But, in the same time frame, from 2018 to 2022, the state's homeless population actually grew. Half of all Americans living outside on the streets, federal data shows, live in California.

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"Mandir" Tag To Health Centers Sparks Backlash In Ladakh

2024-01-25T23:10:00.001+04:00

The new signages of Ayushman Health Centres raised eyebrows in Ladakh.

Srinagar:

The renaming of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness centers as Ayushman Arogya Mandir has sparked backlash in Ladakh. After red flag by Ladakh Buddhist Association, the BJP ruled Ladakh Autonomous Council has asked the Lieutenant Governor to "respect public sentiment".

"I am taking the liberty to express my concerns, as well as of the public, regarding the recent renaming of the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness centers to Ayushman Arogya Mandir," Tashi Gyalson, Chairman cum Chief Executive Councilor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, wrote to Lieutenant Governor, Brig (Retired) B.D. Mishra.

"It has come to my attention that this change has generated significant resentment among the public, necessitating prompt attention and resolution," wrote Mr Gyalson.

Referring to Health ministry directive, Mr Gyalson, who is also a senior BJP leader, said it was stipulated that the title, Ayushman Arogya Mandir, could be translated into state languages. "As such it is requested that, renaming an institute is a matter of great sensitivity, and it is imperative to honor public sentiments," the CEO said in the letter.

The decision to rename Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs was taken by Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in November last year. The ministry had asked all the states and Union Territories to ensure compliance by December 31, 2023.

As the new signages of Ayushman Health Centres raised eyebrows, Ladakh Buddhist association demanded an immediate reversal of Mandir tag.

In his letter to Ladakh Autonomous Councils of Leh and Kargil, Chering Dorjey, President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, said use of religious names in government departments is unacceptable.

"Renaming government medical aid centers as Ayushman Arogya Mandir is unfortunate and tantamount to playing with sentiments of people of Ladakh… India is a secular country and using religious names and symbols in the government departments is unconstitutional and unacceptable" he wrote.

"Ladakh Buddhist association therefore, request LAHDC Leh and LAHDC Kargil to take necessary action and take up matter with higher authorities," he added.

Ladakh Buddhist Association is most powerful religious group in the region which has been spearheading demand for statehood for Ladakh and safeguards under Sixth Schedule of the constitution.

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North Korea Says It Tested New Strategic Cruise Missile

2024-01-25T04:10:00.001+04:00

North Korea test-fired a new generation of strategic cruise missile on Wednesday. (Representational)

Seoul:

North Korea fired several cruise missiles towards the Yellow Sea on Wednesday, Seoul's military said, the latest in a series of tension-raising moves by the nuclear-armed state.

Hours later, North Korea appeared to confirm the firing, saying it had carried out its first test of a new generation of strategic cruise missiles it is developing, the Pulhwasal-3-31.

Pyongyang has accelerated weapons testing in the new year, including tests of what it called an "underwater nuclear weapon system" and a solid-fuelled hypersonic ballistic missile.

"Our military detected several cruise missiles launched by North Korea towards the Yellow Sea at around 7:00 am today," the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

Unlike their ballistic counterparts, the testing of cruise missiles is not banned under current UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

Cruise missiles tend to be jet-propelled and fly at a lower altitude than more sophisticated ballistic missiles, making them harder to detect and intercept.

North Korea insisted Thursday the test the previous day was "a process of constant updating of the weapon system and a regular and obligatory activity," the state news agency KCNA said. It did not specify how many missiles were fired.

"The test-fire had no impact on the security of neighboring countries and has nothing to do with the regional situation," the agency said.

The latest launch comes as South Korea is conducting a 10-day special forces infiltration drill off its east coast, "in light of serious security situations" with the North, that runs until Thursday, according to the South's navy.

"We will achieve our mission to infiltrate deep into the enemy's territory and neutralize them completely under any circumstances," the drill's commander said in a statement.

- 'Principal' enemy -

Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared the South his country's "principal enemy", jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach and threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement.

Hours after the missiles were fired by Pyongyang Wednesday, Seoul's defence minister said North Korea would face the end of its regime if it ever waged war.

"If the Kim Jong Un regime makes the worst choice to start a war, you must become the invisible force that protects South Korea and... eliminate the enemy's leadership in the shortest possible time and end their regime," Shin Won-sik said.

Shin made the remarks during his visit to an air force base operating the South's advanced stealth fighter jets.

Recent months have seen a sharp deterioration in ties between the two Koreas, with both sides jettisoning key tension-reducing agreements, ramping up frontier security, and conducting live-fire drills along the border.

The North Korean leader Kim also said Pyongyang would not recognise the two countries' de facto maritime border, the Northern Limit Line, and called for constitutional changes allowing the North to "occupy" Seoul in war, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

- 'Overwhelming response' -

In Seoul, President Yoon Suk Yeol told his cabinet that should the nuclear-armed North carry out a provocation, South Korea would hit back with a response "multiple times stronger", pointing to his military's "overwhelming response capabilities".

At Pyongyang's year-end policy meetings, Kim threatened a nuclear attack on the South and called for a build-up of his country's military arsenal ahead of armed conflict he warned could "break out any time".

Earlier this month, the North launched a solid-fuel hypersonic missile, just days after Pyongyang staged live-fire exercises near the country's tense maritime border with South Korea, which prompted counter-exercises and evacuation orders for some border islands belonging to the South.

Kim also successfully put a spy satellite into orbit late last year, after receiving what Seoul said was Russian help, in exchange for arms transfers for Moscow's war in Ukraine.

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

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US "Deplores" Israeli Attack On UN Training Center In Gaza

2024-01-25T02:10:00.001+04:00

More than 25,000 people have been killed in Gaza since war began against Hamas.

Washington:

The United States was concerned by an Israeli attack on a U.N. training center sheltering displaced people in Gaza's Khan Younis on Wednesday, Deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said, repeating Washington's calls for protection of civilians, humanitarian workers and aid facilities.

"We deplore today's attack on the U.N.'s Khan Younis training center," Patel told a news briefing, calling it "incredibly concerning."

The Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza said that nine Palestinians were killed and 75 were injured when two tank rounds hit the building that was sheltering around 800 people in the southern Gaza Strip.

"Civilians must be protected, and the protected nature of UN facilities must be respected, and humanitarian workers must be protected so that they can continue providing civilians with the life-saving humanitarian assistance that they need," Patel said.

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

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Turkish Parliament Approves Sweden's Bid To Join NATO

2024-01-24T01:10:00.001+04:00

Turkey's parliament on Tuesday ratified Sweden's NATO membership after months of deadlock.

Ankara:

Turkey's parliament on Tuesday ratified Sweden's NATO membership after more than a year of delays that upset Western efforts to show resolve in the face of Russia's war on Ukraine.

Lawmakers voted 287-55 in favour of the Nordic nation's bid to become the 32nd member of the US-led alliance, leaving NATO member Hungary as the last holdout in the accession process.

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

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Pran Pratishtha Stitched Wound Inflicted During Babur's Era: Amit Shah

2024-01-24T00:10:00.003+04:00

PM Modi did remarkable work by performing 'Pran Pratishtha' at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Amit Shah said.

Ahmedabad:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the consecration ceremony at the newly-built Ram temple in Ayodhya "stitched a deep wound" inflicted during the era of Mughal ruler Babur nearly 500 years ago.

He was speaking at the 'Punah Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the newly-renovated Ramji temple in Ranip area.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi did remarkable work by performing 'Pran Pratishtha' at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Devotees of Lord Ram across the world have been waiting for this moment for the last 500 years. They have been asking when Lord Ram will be shifted to a grand temple from that tent. This event has now stitched that deep wound which we got in our heart during Babur's era," said Mr Shah in his speech.

Previous governments prior to 2014 were afraid of respecting the country's culture, religion and languages, he claimed.

"Aurangzeb destroyed the Kashi Vishwanath temple. After all these years, it was Modi who rebuilt it and constructed a corridor there. Babur destroyed the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Now, a Ram temple has been built there and PM Modi performed Pran Pratishtha amid chants of Jay Shree Ram," said the Home Minister.

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

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"Can Be A Very Good Left-Arm Pacer...": Amir Weighs In On India Star

2024-01-24T00:10:00.001+04:00

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir believes that the emergence of Arshdeep Singh could bring an end to India's prolonged search for a reliable left-arm pacer. The Indian selectors have tried out several left-arm pacers over the years. But the lack of a consistent performer has not allowed the team to field a more versatile and well-rounded pace attack. "Arshdeep can be a very good left-arm pacer. India needs one who can consistently bowl at 135-140," Amir said during a virtual media interaction on the sidelines of the International League T20 in Dubai.

Amir acknowledged the impressive growth of Indian pacers, particularly Mohammed Siraj.

"From last two-three years, the most impressive has been Mohammed Siraj. The way he has improved in white-ball cricket, it's a good sign for Indian cricket. The way (Mohammed) Shami, (Jasprit) Bumrah are performing after injury.

"Indian cricket is growing everyday. Their set-up, their leadership, whenever they bring one youngster, they give full time, which is very good," he added.

Amir praised the rotation policy adopted by the Indian team to keep its pace bowlers fresh to meet the demands of international cricket.

"India are always a settled side because they follow a process.

"They also now understand how to keep their pace bowlers fresh. In every series, they have a rotation policy. (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami, (Mohammed) Siraj, they are not playing all the matches and series. I think the future of Indian fast bowling holds is good."

Speaking about his future plans, Amir said, "I've no plans to come back as of now."

Naseem a complete bowler

Talking about the current crop of Pakistan pacers, Amir termed the young Naseem Shah as a "complete bowler", and his presence could have made a difference in the World Cup last year in India.

The 20-year-old was ruled out of the mega event with a shoulder injury and is currently undergoing rehab.

"Personally, I like Naseem Shah. To me, he is a complete bowler. It's Pakistan's misfortune that he got injured before the World Cup.

"He could have made a difference. After that Wasim Junior has improved a lot. Nobody has doubted the abilities of Pakistan fast bowlers. But they should be groomed properly." Talking about Shaheen Shah Afridi's struggle post a knee injury, he said: "It happens after injury, you struggle. But, against Australia, he bowled well in the second Test.

"It seemed he's getting back to his rhythm. In the last two T20Is in New Zealand, he looked good. The more cricket he plays, the faster he will get back his confidence.

"Knee injury is very dangerous for a pacer. Along with back injury, it can jeopardise one's career. But he's getting better, he will be fine," Amir said.

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

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Mob Attacks Hindu Procession In Maharashtra's Thane, Case Filed: Cops

2024-01-23T04:10:00.001+04:00

The incident took place on Sunday night on Lodha Road, police said. (Representational)

Thane:

A mob of 50-60 persons was booked by Mira Bhayander Vasai Virar police in Thane district for allegedly assaulting a man who was part of a procession on the eve of the idol consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, an official said.

The incident took place on Sunday night on Lodha Road and as per the complainant the mob armed with iron rods, sticks, bats shouted religious slogans and assaulted him when he was part of a procession comprising three vehicles and 10 two-wheelers, the official said.

They vandalised the car with stones and sticks, the man said in his complaint to Naya Nagar police station.

"A case of attempt to murder and other offences has been registered against a mob of 50-60 persons. Further probe is underway," the official added.

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

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Ram Lalla Ornaments Prepared After Extensive Research, Study: Temple Trust

2024-01-23T00:10:00.001+04:00

The ornaments have been crafted by Ankur Anand's Lucknow-based Harsahaimal Shiamlal Jewellers.

Ayodhya:

The ornaments for the Ram Lalla idol consecrated at the grand Ayodhya temple have been prepared after an extensive research and study of texts such as the Adhyatma Ramayana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas and the Alavandar Stotram, according to the temple trust.

The ornaments have been crafted by Ankur Anand's Lucknow-based Harsahaimal Shiamlal Jewellers.

"Ram Lalla is adorned in Banarasi fabric, featuring a yellow dhoti and a red pataka/angavastram. These angavastrams are embellished in pure gold 'zari' and threads, featuring auspicious Vaishnav symbols - Shankh, Padma, Chakra, and Mayur," a member of the temple trust said.

These garments were created by Delhi-based textile designer Manish Tripathi, who worked from Ayodhya Dham for the project, he said.

"The creation of these divine ornaments is based on an extensive research and study following the descriptions of Shri Ram's scripturally-appropriate splendour in texts such as the Adhyatma Ramayana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas, and Alavandar Stotram," he added.

Based on this research and as per concept and direction of Yatindra Mishra, the ornaments have been crafted by Ankur Anand's Harsahaimal Shiamlal Jewellers, Lucknow.

"Gracing his grand abode, Prabhu Shri Ram Lalla radiates in divine ornaments and attire, a sight of spirituality and tradition," he added.

The magnificent Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir is constructed in the traditional Nagara style.

Its length (east-west) is 380 feet, width 250 feet and height 161 feet. It is supported by a total of 392 pillars and has 44 doors. The pillars and walls of the temple showcase intricately sculpted depictions of Hindu deities, gods, and goddesses.

In the main sanctum sanctorum on the ground floor, the childhood form of Bhagwan Shri Ram (the idol of Shri Ram Lalla) has been placed.

The main entrance to the temple is situated on the eastern side, which can be approached by ascending 32 stairs through the Singh Dwar.

There are a total of five 'mandaps' (halls) in the Mandir - Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prathana Mandap and Kirtan Mandap. Near the temple is a historic well (Sita koop), dating back to the ancient era.

At Kuber Tila in the southwestern part of the mandir complex, the ancient temple of Bhagwan Shiva has been restored. A statue of Jatayu has also been built.

The foundation of the temple has been constructed with a 14-meter-thick layer of roller-compacted concrete (RCC), giving it the appearance of artificial rock. No iron is used anywhere in the Mandir.

For protection against ground moisture, a 21-foot-high plinth has been constructed using granite. The temple complex has a sewage treatment plant, water treatment plant, water supply for fire safety and an independent power station.

The temple has been constructed employing the country's traditional and indigenous technology.

The Ram Lalla idol has been sculpted by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj.

The new Ram Lalla idol was consecrated at the Ayodhya temple on Monday, an event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said it marked the advent of a new era.

Lakhs of people watched the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony on television at their homes and in neighbourhood temples, becoming part of the historic event held just months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

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

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Celebs At Ayodhya: Amitabh Bachchan, Vicky-Katrina Arrive For Temple Event

2024-01-22T08:10:00.001+04:00

Celebs at Ayodhya Ram Mandir LIVE: The consecration ceremony will begin after noon.

Film stars and Bollywood celebrities, invited for the grand consecration ceremony at the newly-constructed Ram Temple in Ayodhya, have started arriving in the temple town. Actors Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Randeep Hooda and Madhuri Dixit were seen at the Mumbai and Chennai airport ahead of their flights to Ayodhya.

Amitabh Bachchan

#WATCH | Mumbai: Superstar Amitabh Bachchan leaves for Ayodhya.

Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ayodhya's Ram Temple will take place today. pic.twitter.com/pOecsD92XQ
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Dressed in a white kurta-pajama, megastar Amitabh Bachchan was spotted in a car outside the Mumbai airport on Monday morning before he left for Ayodhya.

Sachin Tendulkar

Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar waved at photographers as he left Mumbai for Ayodhya. The cricket legend was among the several VIPs invited for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Temple.

#WATCH | Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar leaves from Mumbai for Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the pranpratishtha ceremony at the Ram Temple. pic.twitter.com/fGUFFrfGGa
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Ram Charan and Chiranjeevi

Telugu actors Ram Charan and Chiranjeevi were seen boarding a private plane in Hyderabad for Ayodhya, dressed in traditional attire. Surrounded by security personnel, the two actors waved at fans as they walked on the tarmac to board the plane along with their families.

#WATCH | Telangana | Telegu superstars Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan board a flight to Ayodhya from Hyderabad.

Ayodhya Ram Temple pranpratishtha ceremony is taking place today. pic.twitter.com/KzWSVFsQIJ
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Rajinikanth and Dhanush

South superstars Rajinikanth and Dhanush flew out to Ayodhya, a day before the grand opening of the Ram Temple. The actors were seen swarmed by fans as they reached Chennai airport for their flight.

Anupam Kher and Randeep Hooda

Newlyweds Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram greeted media outside the airport before flying to Ayodhya. The actor joined in on "Jai Shri Ram" chants with the paparazzi. On being asked about the inauguration, Mr Hooda said, "It's a big day for India."

"Kashmir Files" actor Anupam Kher also flew to Ayodhya on Sunday. The actor posted a video of himself inside the flight with a saffron-coloured flag in his hand. "I have reached Ayodhya with all the Ram devotees. There was an atmosphere of great devotion in the plane. We are blessed. Our country is blessed! Jai Shri Ram!," the actor said in a post on Instagram.

Vicky-Katrina and Ranbir-Alia

Bollywood couples Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal-Katrina Kaif and actor Madhuri Dixit with husband Shriram Nene were also spotted outside the Mumbai airport in traditional wear before they flew to Ayodhya. The couples, wearing sarees and kurta pajamas, greeted the paparazzi with folded hands.

#WATCH | Vicky Kaushal-Katrina Kaif leave from Mumbai for Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the pranpratishtha ceremony at the Ram Temple. pic.twitter.com/bu8myp5EL6
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Kangana Ranaut

"Queen" Actor Kangana Ranaut reached Ayodhya on Sunday and took part in a cleanliness drive at an Ayodhya temple. Dressed in a red and gold silk saree, the actor was seen sweeping the floors at the Hanuman Garhi Temple. "Ayodhya has been decorated like a bride. Bhajans and yagya are being organised at several places. It feels like we have reached 'Dev Lok'...We cannot say anything about those who do not want to come...It feels really good to be in Ayodhya right now," she told news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Actress Kangana Ranaut participates in cleanliness drive at Hanuman Garhi Temple in Ayodhya.

She is in Ayodhya to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/LpElT3ROdf
— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024

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"India Today Is Proud Of Its Traditions, Culture, History": S Jaishankar

2024-01-22T00:10:00.001+04:00

S Jaishankar made the remarks while addressing the Indian community members

Abuja, Nigeria:

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said that India today is proud of its traditions, its culture, and its history as he underlined that there are very few civilisations who have survived as a modern nation and "we are one of them".

Mr Jaishankar, who arrived in Nigeria after attending the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Uganda, made the remarks while addressing the Indian community members.

"We are today sending a message to the world, that this is also an India, which is proud of its traditions, of its culture, of its history," said Mr Jaishankar, who is here on his first visit as External Affairs Minister.

The minister said that in the world there are very few civilizations, who have survived as a modern nation and "we are one of them." He highlighted developmental activities in India, saying there is a sense today that India is being built and there is a flow of investment.

Interaction with the Indian community in Nigeria https://t.co/akpvC8SRqi
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2024

On ties with Nigeria, Mr Jaishankar said that the two sides have business of about USD 12-15 billion and invited Nigerian investors to invest in India.

"There are many more possibilities because actually, Indian capabilities in many areas are growing very, very strongly. I would say, we've had a long record in pharmaceuticals but today India, for example, has become a big producer of medical devices, which was not the case earlier," he said.

Mr Jaishankar will co-chair the sixth India-Nigeria Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with his counterpart and meet with other leaders.

He will also inaugurate the third edition of the Nigeria-India Business Council meeting, deliver a speech at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, interact with business delegates and inaugurate a bust of Mahatma Gandhi.

He will also chair the regional conference of Indian heads of missions.

"India and Nigeria have traditionally enjoyed close and friendly relations. This is the external affairs minister's first visit to Nigeria which will further consolidate bilateral relations between the two countries," the MEA said.

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

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Fighter Advance Booking: The Day One Status Of Hrithik-Deepika Film

2024-01-21T09:10:00.001+04:00

Image was shared on Instagram. (courtesy: hrithikroshan)

The sneak peeks of Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone's film Fighter have truly impressed movie enthusiasts. Although the Siddharth Anand directorial is yet to hit the big screens, people have already started securing their seats in movie theatres. According to a report by Sacnilk, the action thriller has already collected ₹1.93 crore by selling 58,825 tickets (for day 1) through advance booking. Out of this, 24,095 tickets have been sold for the 2D Hindi version, 30,553 tickets for the 3D version, 3,364 tickets for IMAX 3D action, and 813 tickets are sold for the ultimate 4DX 3D experience.

On Monday, the makers released the official trailer of Fighter. The video begins with Group Captain Rakesh Jai Singh, played by Anil Kapoor, guiding his "special response team," including Squadron Leader Shamsher Pathania (Hrithik Roshan) and Squadron Leader Minal Rathore (Deepika Padukone). They are instructed to build strong "interpersonal relations" as their most crucial weapon in the face of war. The setting then shifts to Jammu and Kashmir, where Hrithik, Deepika, and their friends enjoy their time. However, peace is disrupted by a terrorist attack in Pulwama, leading Hrithik and Deepika's elite team on a crucial mission. An airstrike from across the border follows in response.

Fighter revolves around Hrithik Roshan's character, a man on a mission, striving to save his country and avenge the fallen fighters. The answer to whether he succeeds unfolds only once the movie hits the big screen.

[embedded content]

Fighter's sneak peeks are receiving love from both fans and celebrities alike. Earlier, superstar Shah Rukh Khan gave a huge shout-out to the film's teaser. In his X (formerly known as Twitter) post, SRK expressed, "The only thing that can be more beautiful than Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor is the way Siddharth Anand presents his films. Looking so good all round and finally Sid has developed a sense of humour....'you must be joking' bro! All the best to everyone. Ready for take off." Last year, Shah Rukh Khan collaborated with Fighter director Siddharth Anand in Pathaan, which turned out to be a big hit.

The only thing that can be more beautiful than @iHrithik@deepikapadukone@AnilKapoor is the way @justSidAnand presents his films. Looking so good all round and finally Sid has developed a sense of humour….'you must be joking' bro!! All the best to everyone. Ready for take off! https://t.co/lm7fAPbbG9
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) December 8, 2023

Fighter will be released worldwide on January 25. The movie is jointly backed by Viacom18 Studios and Marflix Pictures.

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Iranian, Hezbollah Commanders Helping Houthis Direct Attacks On Red Sea

2024-01-21T04:10:00.001+04:00

Attacks by Houthis have affected global shipping between Asia and Europe (File)

Yemen:

Commanders from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon's Hezbollah group are on the ground in Yemen helping to direct and oversee Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, four regional and two Iranian sources told Reuters.

Iran - which has armed, trained, and funded the Houthis - stepped up its weapons supplies to the militia in the wake of the war in Gaza, which erupted after Iranian-backed militants Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, the four regional sources said.

Tehran has provided advanced drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, precision-strike ballistic missiles and medium-range missiles to the Houthis, who started targeting commercial vessels in November in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, the sources said.

IRGC commanders and advisers are also providing know-how, data and intelligence support to determine which of the dozens of vessels travelling through the Red Sea each day are destined for Israel and constitute Houthi targets, all the sources said.

Washington said last month that Iran was deeply involved in planning operations against shipping in the Red Sea and that its intelligence was critical to enable the Houthis to target ships.

In response to a request for comment for this story, the White House pointed to its previous public comments about how Iran has been supporting the Houthis.

In his weekly news conferences, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has repeatedly denied Tehran is involved in the Red Sea attacks by the Houthis. The IRGC public relations office did not respond to request for comment.

Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam denied any Iranian or Hezbollah involvement in helping to direct the Red Sea attacks. A Hezbollah spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

The Houthis, who emerged in the 1980s as an armed group in opposition to Saudi Arabia's Sunni religious influence in Yemen, say they are supporting Hamas by striking commercial ships they say are either linked to Israel or are heading to Israeli ports.

Their attacks have affected global shipping between Asia and Europe through the Bab al-Mandab strait off Yemen. That has triggered U.S. and British air strikes on Houthi targets in the country, opening a new theatre of conflict linked to the war in Gaza.

The Gaza conflict has also sparked clashes between Israel and Hezbollah militants along the Lebanese border, as well as attacks by Iran-linked groups on U.S. targets in Iraq and Syria.

"The Revolutionary Guards have been helping the Houthis with military training (on advanced weapons)," an Iranian insider told Reuters. "A group of Houthi fighters were in Iran last month and were trained in an IRGC base in central Iran to get familiar with the new technology and the use of missiles."

The person said Iranian commanders had travelled to Yemen as well and set up a command centre in the capital Sanaa for the Red Sea attacks which is being run by the senior IRGC commander responsible for Yemen.

Regional Strategy

The Red Sea attacks fit in with Iran's strategy of expanding and mobilising its regional Shi'ite network of armed militias to project its influence and show its ability to threaten maritime security in the region and beyond, two analysts said.

They said Tehran wanted to show that the Gaza war could be too costly for the West if it drags on - and could have catastrophic consequences in the region as things escalate.

"The Houthis are not acting independently," said Abdulaziz al-Sager, director of the Gulf Research Center think-tank, who based his conclusion on a close analysis of the capabilities of the group, which has an estimated 20,000 fighters.

"The Houthis, with their personnel, expertise and capabilities are not that advanced. Dozens of vessels cross through Bab al-Mandab daily, the Houthis don't have the means, resources, knowledge or satellite information to find the specific target and attack," he said.

White House national security spokeswoman Adrienne Watson also said last month that Iranian-provided tactical intelligence had been critical in enabling the Houthis to target ships.

According to two former Yemeni army sources, there is a clear presence of IRGC and Hezbollah members in Yemen. They are responsible for supervising military operations, training and reassembling missiles smuggled into Yemen as separate pieces, the two people said.

Abdulghani Al-Iryani, a senior researcher at the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies, an independent think-tank, said: "It is clearly the case that the Iranians are helping identify the target and the destination. There is no local Houthi capacity to do that."

One senior regional source who follows Iran and who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "The political decision is in Tehran, the management is Hezbollah, and the location is the Houthis in Yemen."

Weapons And Advice

Houthi spokesperson Abdulsalam said the group's aim was to target Israeli ships heading to Israel without causing any human or significant material losses. U.S. and British strikes on Yemen would not force them to back down, he said.

"We don't deny that we have a relationship with Iran and that we have benefited from the Iranian experience in training and military manufacturing and capabilities but the decision taken by Yemen is an independent one that has nothing to do with any other party," he said.

But a security official close to Iran said: "The Houthis have drones, missiles and everything needed for their fight against Israel but they needed guidance and advice on shipping routes and ships, so it has been provided to them by Iran."

When asked what kind of advice Tehran offered, he said it was similar to the advisory role taken by Iran in Syria, ranging from training to overseeing operations when needed.

"A group of Iranian Guards members are in Sanaa now to help the operations," the security official said.

Iran sent hundreds of Revolutionary Guards to Syria, alongside thousands of Hezbollah fighters, to help train and organise Shi'ite militia fighters from Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan to prevent the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad during the Sunni-led insurgency that erupted in 2011.

Washington and Gulf Arab states have repeatedly accused Iran of arming, training and financing the Houthis, who follow an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam and are aligned with Tehran as part of its anti-Western, anti-Israel "Axis of Resistance" alongside Lebanon's Hezbollah and groups in Syria and Iraq.

While Iran has denied having any direct role in the Red Sea attacks, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has praised the Houthis, whose Zaidi sect is an offshoot of Shi'ism, saying he hoped their strikes would last "until victory".

Train And Equipment

A leader within the coalition of pro-Iranian groups denied there were any commanders from the IRGC or Hezbollah on the ground in Yemen right now.

He said a team of Iranian and Hezbollah military experts had gone to Yemen earlier in its civil war to train, equip, and build the manufacturing military capability of the Houthis.

"They came and helped the Houthis and left, just as they did with Hezbollah and Hamas," he said, adding that the military capabilities of the Houthis should not be underestimated.

The person said the Houthis knew the terrain and the sea well and already had the systems in place for attacking ships, including high-precision equipment from Iran.

During the chaotic years after the 2011 Arab Spring uprising in Yemen, the Houthis tightened their grip on the country's north and seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, pushing a Saudi-led coalition to intervene militarily months later.

When Hamas attacked Israel, Iran had little choice but to demonstrate support for the Palestinian group after years of anti-Israel rhetoric but was worried that using Hezbollah would trigger massive Israeli retaliation, analysts said.

Iryani at the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies said a major war between Israel and Hezbollah would be disastrous for Lebanon - and endanger the future of the group that has become the most important in Iran's "Axis of Resistance".

By contrast, the Houthis were in a unique strategic position to have a huge impact by disrupting global maritime activity with little effort, he said.

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

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"Jaiswal Has Run Ahead Of Gill": Ex-India Star's Massive T20 WC Verdict

2024-01-20T08:10:00.001+04:00

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has suggested that Yashasvi Jaiswal is slightly ahead of Shubman Gill in the pecking order as captain Rohit Sharma's partner at the top in T20Is. Since making his debut last year, Jaiswal has been in stunning form in the shortest format of the game. Gill's form, on the other hand, has dipped since the ODI World Cup last year in India. With the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held later this year, Chopra feels Jaiswal will open the innings with Rohit during the tournament.

"It's clear that Yashasvi Jaiswal has run ahead of Shubman Gill. Yashasvi is ahead in the two-horse race, Gill is lagging slightly behind. Gill was played in the first match, dropped in the second, and wasn't played in the third as well," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Jaiswal helped India beat Afghanistan in the second T20I earlier this week, scoring a quickfire fifty. Considering his recent form across formats, Chopra emphasised that Jaiswal has "become almost undroppable".

"Yashasvi was made to open in all three (last two) games. He was sent in the Super Over as well. The way Yashasvi is batting, it seems like he is not going anywhere. Considering what Yashasvi did in Indore and has done previously as well, he has become almost undroppable," he added.

India are yet to finalise their squad for the T20 World Cup, but Rohit said he has a few players on his mind who are going to feature in the tournament.

"We have still not finalised the squad for the T20 World Cup, but obviously in the mind you know the 8-10 players who are going to play. Then you decide on the combination after looking at the conditions of the place you will be travelling to. In the West Indies, the conditions are quite slow, so we have to pick the squad accordingly. Again I say, Rahul bhai and I have tried to maintain clarity in the team. The one thing I have learnt from captaincy is that you can't keep everyone happy. You have to focus on the needs of the team," Rohit said.

Rohit revealed that he has had discussions with head coach Rahul Dravid regarding the squad before the start of the Afghanistan series.

"We had a lot of discussions before the series. I had not played for one year, so I discussed ideas with Rahul bhai (Dravid). Although I was watching the games, I was not playing. I got an understanding of a few things, so we wanted to implement them and also do something different," he added.

India pulled off a 3-0 whitewash of Afghanistan earlier this week.

Topics mentioned in this article

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US Drone Crashes In Iraq: Official

2024-01-20T04:10:00.005+04:00

According to report, a US UAV crashed near Balad airbase, Iraq" on Thursday night.

Washington:

An American drone crashed north of Baghdad, a US defense official said Friday, after Iran-backed militants claimed they fired on an unmanned aircraft flying over Iraq.

"A US UAV crashed near Balad airbase, Iraq" on Thursday night local time, the official told AFP, without identifying the type of drone that was lost.

"Iraqi security forces recovered the aircraft. There were no injuries reported," the official said, adding that "an investigation of the cause of the crash is underway."

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose alliance of Iran-linked armed groups that oppose US support for Israel, said Friday that it fired on a US MQ-9 -- a type of drone that can be used for both surveillance and strikes -- which was operating over Iraq the day before.

"Mujahideen yesterday targeted... an MQ-9 drone belonging to the American occupation," the group said in a statement.

US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria have been hit by some 140 attacks since mid-October, according to the Pentagon -- many of which have been claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq -- and Washington has carried out retaliatory strikes in both countries.

On January 4, a US strike in central Baghdad killed a pro-Iran commander who Washington said was involved in attacks on American troops -- a move that infuriated the Iraqi government.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, whose government is backed by Tehran-aligned parties, has called for the US-led international coalition against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group to depart the country.

Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said Tuesday that Washington will "continue to consult closely" with the Iraqis, but that he was "not aware of any official request by the government of Iraq" for US forces to leave.

The United States has around 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria as part of the anti-IS coalition.

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

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Bhim Army Chief, Students Detained During Protest At Delhi University

2024-01-20T04:10:00.003+04:00

Around 80 people, including Chandra Shekhar Aazad, were arrested for protests in Delhi's North Campus.

New Delhi:

Delhi Police on Friday detained Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad and a group of Delhi University students during a protest in North Campus in support of former assistant professor Ritu Singh.

Ms Singh's services were terminated by Daulat Ram College in 2020. She has been protesting against alleged caste-based discrimination and harassment by the college administration. The matter is in court.

"Aazad along with his supporters and other students came to North Campus to hold a protest. The protesters were detained as they did not have permission to hold a demonstration," a senior police officer said.

Around 80 people, including Mr Aazad, were detained and taken to Burari police station. They will be released after a few hours, he said.

Maya John, a member of Delhi University's Academic Council, said democratic space is fast shrinking within the university campus and outside, and this is "most unfortunate".

"What happened today is really condemnable... the way the authorities are clamping down on protests, leaving no democratic space for resistance," she said.

All democratic forces should unite to collectively resist administrative authoritarianism, repression and lack of accountability, Maya John said.

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

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Actor Alec Baldwin Charged With Manslaughter Over 'Rust' Film Death

2024-01-20T04:10:00.001+04:00

Baldwin has repeatedly denied any responsibility for the October 2021 shooting.

Los Angeles:

Actor Alec Baldwin has been charged with manslaughter over the deadly 2021 shooting on the set of his film "Rust," according to a court document filed Friday.

Baldwin, who was also a producer on the film, was holding a Colt .45 during rehearsals for the low-budget Western in New Mexico when it discharged a live round, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.

Baldwin has repeatedly denied any responsibility for the October 2021 shooting, and said that he did not pull the trigger on the gun, which in any case should have been loaded with a dummy.

Friday's development marks the latest attempt to hold someone to account for the deadly episode, which sent shockwaves through Hollywood and led to calls for tightening rules around firearms on movie sets.

Initial manslaughter charges against Baldwin were dropped in April last year, due to what prosecutors called "new facts" which demanded "further investigation and forensic analysis."

In October, prosecutors said they were convening a grand jury -- a group of citizens who assess evidence and decide whether there is a case to answer.

"We look forward to our day in court," Baldwin's attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro said in a statement sent to AFP on Friday.

Baldwin reportedly faces up to 18 months in jail if convicted of the new charge.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film's armorer -- the person responsible for supplying and maintaining weapons -- is set to go on trial next month on charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence.

Prosecutors say that as the person who loaded the gun, she is culpable.

She denies the charges.

There has been no explanation as to how live rounds ended up on the movie set.

Dave Halls, the film's safety coordinator and assistant director who handed Baldwin the loaded gun, agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors and was sentenced to six months' probation.

Filming of "Rust" resumed last year, and has now been completed, Variety reported, using new locations in the US state of Montana.

The cinematographer's widower, Matthew Hutchins, served as an executive producer.

He has already settled a wrongful death suit with "Rust" producers, and has said he has "no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame," calling his wife's death "a terrible accident."

Director Souza also returned, saying at the time that completing the movie would be "bittersweet" but that the cast and crew "are committed to completing what Halyna and I started."

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

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18-Year-Old Killed By Friends Over Mobile Game Password In Bengal: Cops

2024-01-19T03:10:00.001+04:00

According to cops, accused "friends" attempted to burn the victim after killing him. (Representational)

Kolkata:

An argument over sharing the password of an online mobile game allegedly led to the murder of a teenage boy by four of his friends in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, a senior police officer said.

The body of 18-year-old Papai Das, who had been missing since January 8, was discovered near Nishindra Ghat of the feeder canal in Farakka on Monday, police said.

Papai, a class 10 student, was reportedly killed by his four "close" friends after a disagreement over sharing the password for a mobile online game. The accused individuals have been arrested, police added.

"These five individuals used to play online games at one of the quarters of the Farakka Barrage. The victim went out on the evening of January 8 and never returned. On January 9, the family lodged a police complaint.

"Based on preliminary investigations, we discovered that the victim had refused to share his password to play the online mobile game with his friends, which resulted in a fight and ultimately led to his murder," the police officer added.

After killing him, the four "friends" attempted to burn the victim using petrol from their bikes, police said.

"They then dumped the partially burned body into the Nishindra ghat of the Farakka feeder and fled to their homes. We have determined their involvement through the tower location of their mobile phones," he added.

The victim's mother was able to identify him from the tattoos on his body.

The police officer also mentioned that the victim was so addicted to this online game that he skipped his pre-board exam this year.

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

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US Senate Passes Bill To Avert Government Shutdown

2024-01-19T02:10:00.005+04:00

The US Congress scrambled Thursday to approve temporary funding to thwart a partial government shutdown.

Washington:

The US Congress scrambled Thursday to approve temporary funding to thwart a partial government shutdown, as forecasts for a snowstorm piled pressure on lawmakers already racing against the clock to keep the lights on.

The Senate passed a "continuing resolution" to fund federal agencies through early March, with the House of Representatives expected to follow suit early evening.

Quick passage in the Republican-controlled House would get it to President Joe Biden's desk before funding expires at the end of Friday, keeping several departments threatened with closure open into March.

The deadline for passing the legislation is even tighter in reality, as the House announced it would close Friday in response to a storm expected to pile snow on the already frozen East Coast overnight.

"We have good news for America: There will not be a shutdown on Friday," Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said in a speech to colleagues.

"Because both sides have worked together, the government will stay open. Services will not be disrupted. We will avoid a needless disaster."

Under the agreement, agriculture, energy and water, military construction and veterans' programs, transport and housing would be funded until March 1.

The military, Justice Department, border security, Congress, and many other federal agencies and departments would be able to function until March 8.

That will give lawmakers more time to set the full-year budget in line with spending limits that Democrats and Republicans agreed to last year.

Negotiations have been hamstrung by the demands of House Republicans for sweeping cuts and "poison pill" concessions on immigration that are dead on arrival in the more moderate Senate.

- Dysfunction -
Despite the urgency, dozens of conservatives in the House are expected to vote against the stop-gap measure. However, Democrats will almost certainly provide Republican Speaker Mike Johnson enough backing to smooth its passage.

Relying on Democratic support to cancel out Republican no-votes is the practice that got Johnson's predecessor Kevin McCarthy axed in an October rebellion by his own party. Leading right-wingers have made clear that the current speaker risks the same outcome.

The inability of lawmakers to pass a full budget for a fiscal year that started almost four months ago has highlighted dysfunction in Congress, which is also deadlocked on foreign aid requested urgently by the White House.

Republicans are demanding tightened border security and strict immigration curbs before they will consider Biden's request for $106 billion in supplemental cash, mostly for Ukraine and Israel.

Party leaders in the Senate are strong supporters of Ukraine aid but many hard-liners in the House are skeptical that handing Kyiv more money to repel the two-year-old Russian invasion is in US interests.

Both sides agree that record numbers of migrants crossing from Mexico is a crisis that needs to be addressed, although they disagree on the response.

Schumer, the leader of the Democratic Senate majority, aims to introduce a bipartisan border security and foreign aid bill next week, although Johnson has refused to commit to bringing the bill to the House floor.

Having sounded the alarm for more than a year over the "humanitarian catastrophe" of the migrant surge, Republicans will face accusations of bad faith if they refuse even to consider the package.

Johnson told Fox News he had been talking about the border "pretty frequently" with former president Donald Trump, who is running for reelection and is pressuring Republicans not to give Biden a win on immigration.

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

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US, UN Urge Pak, Iran To Show Restraint Amid Rising Middle East Tensions

2024-01-19T02:10:00.003+04:00

UN chief urged both countries to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a further escalation of tensions.

Washington:

The United Nations and the United States appealed for restraint on Thursday after Iran and Pakistan traded deadly air strikes on militant targets on each other's territory.

The rare military action across the porous border between the heavily armed neighbours has further stoked tensions already enflamed by the Israel-Hamas war.

Pakistan's strikes against militant targets in Iran early on Thursday came two days after similar Iranian strikes on its territory, and prompted Tehran to summon Islamabad's envoy.

At least nine people were killed in the strikes in restive Sistan-Baluchistan province, most of them women or children, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.

They came after Iran carried out raids on what it described as "terrorist" targets in Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least two children.

While Iran and nuclear-armed Pakistan often accuse each other of allowing militants to operate from the other's territory, cross-border operations by government forces have been rare.

UN chief Antonio Guterres called on the two governments to "exercise maximum restraint".

"The secretary general is deeply concerned about the recent exchange of military strikes between Iran and Pakistan, which have reportedly caused casualties on both sides," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the United States was monitoring the situation "very, very closely" and was in touch with Pakistani officials.

"These are two well-armed nations and again we don't want to see an escalation," Kirby told reporters.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller echoed his comments.

"We don't believe this should escalate in any way, shape or form. Pakistan is a major non-NATO ally of the United States, that will remain the case, but we would urge restraint in this case."

Kirby said he was "not aware" that Islamabad had notified Washington before striking Iran. He would not comment when asked if the United States would provide support for Pakistan.

Pakistan's foreign ministry described Thursday's raids as a "series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts" in Sistan-Baluchistan.

The strikes took place at around 4:30 am (0100 GMT), with three drones destroying four houses in a village near the city of Saravan, IRNA said, citing Alireza Marhamati, deputy governor of the province.

Iranian media carried images showing severely damaged homes, with one video showing people gathered around a crater.

All of those killed were Pakistanis, and investigations were under way to determine why they were in the Iranian village, Marhamati said.

The raids targeted Baluch separatists, according to the Pakistani army. The military has been waging a decades-long fight against separatist groups in its sparsely populated border region.

- 'Spiral of violence' -

Iran condemned the action, and summoned Pakistan's charge d'affaires "to protest and request an explanation from the Pakistani government", foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said.

The ministry described Pakistan's strikes as "unbalanced and unacceptable", and said Iran expects Pakistan "to adhere to its obligations in preventing the establishment of bases and armed terrorist groups in Pakistan".

Jihadist group Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice) has carried out repeated deadly attacks on Iranian security forces in recent months, and Tehran has long alleged that it operates out of rear bases across the border.

Pakistan delivered a strong rebuke to Iran over its strikes, recalling its ambassador from Tehran and blocking Iran's envoy from returning to Islamabad.

China offered to mediate between the neighbours, both close economic partners of Beijing.

The European Union expressed concern about the "spiral of violence in the Middle East and beyond".

- Restive province -

Rising Iran-Pakistan tensions add to multiple crises in the region, with Israel waging a war against Hamas in Gaza and Huthi rebels in Yemen attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

Meanwhile Afghanistan -- which borders both Iran and Pakistan, and is home to a small Baluch minority -- said the violence between its neighbours was "alarming" and urged them to "exercise restraint".

On Thursday, Pakistan's foreign ministry said Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar would cut short his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, "in view of the ongoing developments".

Hours before the strike, Kakar had met Iran's foreign minister on the sidelines of the forum and posed for photographs.

Sistan-Baluchistan province is one of the few mainly Sunni Muslim provinces in Shiite-dominated Iran and has seen persistent unrest involving cross-border drug-smuggling gangs and rebels from the Baluchi ethnic minority as well as jihadists.

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

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Rajasthan Declares Half-Day Holiday For Ayodhya Event On January 22

2024-01-19T02:10:00.001+04:00

State's order comes after the Centre announced a half-day holiday for all its employees on January 22.

Jaipur:

Rajasthan government on Thursday declared a half-day holiday in the state on January 22 in view of the consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma made the announcement in the BJP Legislature Party meeting held at the party's headquarters here on Thursday night, a spokesperson said.

The state's order comes after the Centre announced a half-day holiday for all its employees on January 22.

Cabinet Minister Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary said that he has sent a request to the chief minister to change it to a full-day leave on January 22.

A meeting of the BJP legislature party meeting was convened at party headquarters here ahead of the assembly session on Friday.

During the meeting, the MLAs gave their suggestions for managing the floor of the House.

On Friday, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra will address the session of the 16th Rajasthan Assembly. Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant and Principal Secretary of the Assembly will welcome the Governor at the Assembly.

Suresh Rawat, a minister in the BJP government, said after the meeting that all the ministers have been instructed to hold a public hearing in the BJP headquarters.

The chief minister, BJP state president CP Joshi, Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa, Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg attended the meeting while former chief minister Vasundhara Raje was not present.

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

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