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On December 31, Indian e-commerce platform Binkit's CEO Albinder Dhindsa posted on the social media platform X that over 1.2 lakh packets of condoms were sold from the quick-commerce platform on New Year's Eve. Among multiple reactions from netizens on the post, an X user under the name "Venom" had the most sexist one. He reacted to the post by saying, "Good luck finding a virgin girl to marry in this generation."&nbsp;
Venom took to X on January 1 and wrote, "Blinkit CEO posted that 1.2 lakh packets of condoms were delivered last night. Just for last night and just for Blinkit. Other e-commerce sites and market sales would be as high as 10 million. Good luck finding a virgin girl to marry in this generation."
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-textbooks-to-say-6th-prez-ziaur-rahman-declared-independence-in-1971-8585279" aria-label="Bangladesh rewrites history: New textbooks to say 6th prez Ziaur Rahman declared independence in 1971">Bangladesh rewrites history: New textbooks to say 6th prez Ziaur Rahman declared independence in 1971</a>
The post sparked a lot of criticism, and many called it outrageous and outdated. After the post went viral, Indian singer Chinamayi Sripada gave a strong reply to Venom suggesting that men should not have premarital sex with women if they want to have a virgin woman.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5fapcf1-up3djpad-xe3limoh">
Blinkit CEO posted that 1.2 lakh packets of condoms were delivered last night. Just for last night and just for Blinkit. Other e-commerce sites and market sales would be as high as 10 million. Good luck finding a virgin girl to marry in this generation.
&mdash; ︎ ︎venom (@venom1s) <a href="https://twitter.com/venom1s/status/1874324244622172380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
Sripada posted a screenshot of Venom's X post and wrote, &ldquo;Men have sex with women. Then men complain they want virgins. Men need to stop having premarital sex with women ask your bros and male friends to NEVER have sex till marriage- unless they were buying condoms to have sex with goats, dogs and reptiles."&nbsp;
<h3>Kamra's jibe on quick-commerce platforms&nbsp;</h3>
In another significant aftermath of Dhindsa's post, Indian stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra called out quick-commerce platforms against the exploitation of daily gig workers.&nbsp;
He did not take the name of Blinkit but wrote, "While we enjoy the convenience of quick commerce, I&rsquo;d like my first tweet of 2025 to be about the dark side. Platform owners exploit gig workers &amp; they aren&rsquo;t job creators. They are landlords without owning any land."&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5faplae-ati13fwr-mwypmwsc">
While we enjoy the convenience of quick commerce I&rsquo;d like my first tweet of 2025 to be about the dark side. Platform owners exploit gig workers &amp; they aren&rsquo;t job creators. They are landlords without owning any land. They don&rsquo;t have a bone of creativity or innovation all&hellip;
&mdash; Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) <a href="https://twitter.com/kunalkamra88/status/1874165377934250061?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2024</a></blockquote>
He further added, "They don&rsquo;t have a bone of creativity or innovation all they do is exploit people by offering them the freedom that they can&rsquo;t afford while giving them wages that can&rsquo;t meet their aspirations. They are thugs that are using data as oil without paying for the oil fields."&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-begins-its-two-year-tenure-at-un-security-council-as-non-permanent-member-8583917" aria-label="Pakistan begins its two-year tenure at UN Security Council as non-permanent member">Pakistan begins its two-year tenure at UN Security Council as non-permanent member</a>
The Blinkit CEO did not respond to Kamra's jibe but posted that all the Blinkit delivery persons received the highest number of tips on New Year's Eve, along with listing down other accomplishments.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

India News, Trending: An X user under the name "Venom" reacted to the post by saying, "Good luck finding a virgin girl to marry in this generation." The post was called outrageous and outdated. 

On December 31, Indian e-commerce platform Binkit's CEO Albinder Dhindsa posted on the social media platform X that over 1.2 lakh packets of condoms were sold from the quick-commerce platform on New Year's Eve. Among multiple reactions from netizens on the post, an X user under the name "Venom" had the most sexist one. He reacted to the post by saying, "Good luck finding a virgin girl to marry in this generation." Venom took to X on January 1 and wrote, "Blinkit CEO posted that 1.2 lakh packets of condoms were delivered last night. Just for last night and just for Blinkit. Other e-commerce sites and market sales would be as high as 10 million. Good luck finding a virgin girl to marry in this generation." Also read | Bangladesh rewrites history: New textbooks to say 6th prez Ziaur Rahman declared independence in 1971 The post sparked a lot of criticism, and many called it outrageous and outdated. After the post went viral, Indian singer Chinamayi Sripada gave a strong reply to Venom suggesting that men should not have premarital sex with women if they want to have a virgin woman. Blinkit CEO posted that 1.2 lakh packets of condoms were delivered last night. Just for last night and just for Blinkit. Other e-commerce sites and market sales would be as high as 10 million. Good luck finding a virgin girl to marry in this generation. — ︎ ︎venom (@venom1s) January 1, 2025 Sripada posted a screenshot of Venom's X post and wrote, “Men have sex with women. Then men complain they want virgins. Men need to stop having premarital sex with women ask your bros and male friends to NEVER have sex till marriage- unless they were buying condoms to have sex with goats, dogs and reptiles." Kamra's jibe on quick-commerce platforms In another significant aftermath of Dhindsa's post, Indian stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra called out quick-commerce platforms against the exploitation of daily gig workers. He did not take the name of Blinkit but wrote, "While we enjoy the convenience of quick commerce, I’d like my first tweet of 2025 to be about the dark side. Platform owners exploit gig workers & they aren’t job creators. They are landlords without owning any land." While we enjoy the convenience of quick commerce I’d like my first tweet of 2025 to be about the dark side. Platform owners exploit gig workers & they aren’t job creators. They are landlords without owning any land. They don’t have a bone of creativity or innovation all… — Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) December 31, 2024 He further added, "They don’t have a bone of creativity or innovation all they do is exploit people by offering them the freedom that they can’t afford while giving them wages that can’t meet their aspirations. They are thugs that are using data as oil without paying for the oil fields." Also read | Pakistan begins its two-year tenure at UN Security Council as non-permanent member The Blinkit CEO did not respond to Kamra's jibe but posted that all the Blinkit delivery persons received the highest number of tips on New Year's Eve, along with listing down other accomplishments. (With inputs from agencies)

'Good luck finding virgin girl to marry': X user's reaction as Blinkit's sale of condoms sparks outrage on internet

The chief of Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Arvind Kejriwal, on Thursday (Jan 2) accused the Indian central government of planning to implement the revoked 2020 farm laws. Kejriwal said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is responsible for the ongoing indefinite fast by the farmers in India's Punjab. They are protesting in demand of a legal guarantee on the MSP (Minimum Support Price) for their crops.&nbsp;
In a post on the social media platform X, Kejriwal wrote that if anything happened to the protesting farmers, the BJP would be responsible for it.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-court-sentences-8-pakistanis-to-20-yrs-in-prison-in-massive-drug-seizure-case-8585222" aria-label="Indian court sentences eight Pakistanis to 20 yrs in prison in massive drug seizure case">Indian court sentences eight Pakistanis to 20 yrs in prison in massive drug seizure case</a>
"Farmers in Punjab have been sitting on dharna and indefinite hunger strike for many days. Their demands are the same which the central government had accepted three years ago but has not implemented yet. The BJP government has now reneged on its promise. The BJP government is not even talking to the farmers. Talk to them. They are the farmers of our own country. Why is the BJP so arrogant that it does not even talk to anyone?" Kejriwal wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5f73hhp-me0y5aes-usjmunvu">
पंजाब में किसान कई दिनों से धरने और अनिश्चित अनशन पर बैठे हैं। इनकी वही मांगे हैं जो केंद्र सरकार ने तीन साल पहले मान ली थी लेकिन अभी तक लागू नहीं की। बीजेपी सरकार अब अपने वादे से मुकर गई। बीजेपी सरकार किसानों से बात तक नहीं कर रही। उनसे बात तो करो। हमारे ही देश के किसान हैं।&hellip;
&mdash; Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/1874712510227521824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
He further added, "May God keep the farmers in Punjab who are on indefinite strike safe, but if something happens to them then the BJP will be responsible for it."
Kejriwal further said in his post that the government is preparing to implement the three dark laws, which were withdrawn by it three years ago due to farmers' agitation, through the "backdoor" by calling them "policies". He even added that the central government has sent a copy of the policy to all the states to know their views on it.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-textbooks-to-say-6th-prez-ziaur-rahman-declared-independence-in-1971-8585279" aria-label="Bangladesh rewrites history: New textbooks to say 6th prez Ziaur Rahman declared independence in 1971">Bangladesh rewrites history: New textbooks to say 6th prez Ziaur Rahman declared independence in 1971</a>
The farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on an indefinite fast since November 26, 2023, in demand of a legal guarantee of MSP. He has also denied any medical assistance, which has led to his health being a major concern for many.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

India News: In a post on the social media platform X, Kejriwal wrote that if anything happened to the protesting farmers, the BJP would be responsible for it. 

The chief of Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Arvind Kejriwal, on Thursday (Jan 2) accused the Indian central government of planning to implement the revoked 2020 farm laws. Kejriwal said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is responsible for the ongoing indefinite fast by the farmers in India's Punjab. They are protesting in demand of a legal guarantee on the MSP (Minimum Support Price) for their crops. In a post on the social media platform X, Kejriwal wrote that if anything happened to the protesting farmers, the BJP would be responsible for it. Also read | Indian court sentences eight Pakistanis to 20 yrs in prison in massive drug seizure case "Farmers in Punjab have been sitting on dharna and indefinite hunger strike for many days. Their demands are the same which the central government had accepted three years ago but has not implemented yet. The BJP government has now reneged on its promise. The BJP government is not even talking to the farmers. Talk to them. They are the farmers of our own country. Why is the BJP so arrogant that it does not even talk to anyone?" Kejriwal wrote. पंजाब में किसान कई दिनों से धरने और अनिश्चित अनशन पर बैठे हैं। इनकी वही मांगे हैं जो केंद्र सरकार ने तीन साल पहले मान ली थी लेकिन अभी तक लागू नहीं की। बीजेपी सरकार अब अपने वादे से मुकर गई। बीजेपी सरकार किसानों से बात तक नहीं कर रही। उनसे बात तो करो। हमारे ही देश के किसान हैं।… — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 2, 2025 He further added, "May God keep the farmers in Punjab who are on indefinite strike safe, but if something happens to them then the BJP will be responsible for it." Kejriwal further said in his post that the government is preparing to implement the three dark laws, which were withdrawn by it three years ago due to farmers' agitation, through the "backdoor" by calling them "policies". He even added that the central government has sent a copy of the policy to all the states to know their views on it. Also read | Bangladesh rewrites history: New textbooks to say 6th prez Ziaur Rahman declared independence in 1971 The farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on an indefinite fast since November 26, 2023, in demand of a legal guarantee of MSP. He has also denied any medical assistance, which has led to his health being a major concern for many. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Kejriwal accuses BJP of planning to implement revoked 2020 farm laws through 'backdoor'

Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, Thursday accused the federal security forces of enabling infiltration from neighbouring Bangladesh. Taking aim at the Border Security Force (BSF), which directly reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mamata said the security force was working to destabilise the state under a "nefarious blueprint" of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"The BSF is allowing infiltration from different areas into Bengal and torturing women. The TMC is not guarding the borders. The border is not in our hands, so if someone accuses the TMC of permitting infiltration, I will point out that it is the BSF's responsibility," Mamata said.
Notably, the BSF is responsible for guarding India&rsquo;s frontiers, including the porous India-Bangladesh border.
Mamata&rsquo;s remarks come weeks after India&rsquo;s Home Minister Amit Shah blamed "infiltration from Bangladesh" for &lsquo;disruption of peace&rsquo; in the state. Illegal immigration into state from Bangladesh has been a major flashpoint between the national ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Mamata&rsquo;s TMC party for long.
The West Bengal CM further added that she would order an investigation and instruct the Director General of Police (DGP) to track where the BSF was &ldquo;allowing&rdquo; infiltration from.
&nbsp;"The police have all the information, and the Centre has it too. I have received information from Rajiv Kumar (DGP) and local sources. I will write a strong letter to the Centre regarding this,&rdquo; the CM added.
Mamata said she had no grudges against the people from Bangladesh but &ldquo;goons are being allowed here.&rdquo; &ldquo;They commit crimes and return across the border. BSF is enabling this, and the Centre has a role in it," the TMC chief said. She warned the central government of &ldquo;protests&rdquo; if anyone tries to fuel terror activities in the region.
(With inputs from agencies)

India News |  CM Mamata Banerjee’s remarks come weeks after India’s Home Minister Amit Shah blamed "infiltration from Bangladesh" for ‘disruption of peace’ in the state of West Bengal.

Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, Thursday accused the federal security forces of enabling infiltration from neighbouring Bangladesh. Taking aim at the Border Security Force (BSF), which directly reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mamata said the security force was working to destabilise the state under a "nefarious blueprint" of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The BSF is allowing infiltration from different areas into Bengal and torturing women. The TMC is not guarding the borders. The border is not in our hands, so if someone accuses the TMC of permitting infiltration, I will point out that it is the BSF's responsibility," Mamata said. Notably, the BSF is responsible for guarding India’s frontiers, including the porous India-Bangladesh border. Mamata’s remarks come weeks after India’s Home Minister Amit Shah blamed "infiltration from Bangladesh" for ‘disruption of peace’ in the state. Illegal immigration into state from Bangladesh has been a major flashpoint between the national ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Mamata’s TMC party for long. The West Bengal CM further added that she would order an investigation and instruct the Director General of Police (DGP) to track where the BSF was “allowing” infiltration from. "The police have all the information, and the Centre has it too. I have received information from Rajiv Kumar (DGP) and local sources. I will write a strong letter to the Centre regarding this,” the CM added. Mamata said she had no grudges against the people from Bangladesh but “goons are being allowed here.” “They commit crimes and return across the border. BSF is enabling this, and the Centre has a role in it," the TMC chief said. She warned the central government of “protests” if anyone tries to fuel terror activities in the region. (With inputs from agencies)

India: West Bengal CM accuses BSF of helping infiltrators to fuel destabilisation

A special court in the Indian city of Mumbai on Wednesday (Jan 1) sentenced eight Pakistani nationals to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in a case of the seizure of over 200 kilogrammes of drugs valued at nearly $816,249 (Rs 7 crore).
According to a report by the news agency PTI, the case dates back to 2015, when the Indian Coast Guard apprehended the accused persons from a boat carrying the aforementioned massive quantity of drugs off the Gujarat coast.&nbsp;
<h2>Drug seized was heroin</h2>
There were 11 drums on the boat with 20 plastic pouches containing a wheatish brown colour powder. Upon testing, it was found the power was heroin.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-man-illegally-crosses-pakistan-border-to-meet-online-lover-arrested-8581776" rel="dofollow">Indian man crosses into Pakistan border to meet online lover, arrested</a>
The accused eight Pakistani nationals were also found in possession of three satellite phones and GPS navigation charts, among other electronic devices.
<h2>Jail term handed under NDPS Act</h2>
The PTI report said that the Special Judge for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases, Shashikant Bangar, convicted the eight Pakistani nationals for offences committed under the anti-drug law.
Under the NDPS Act, the convicts were handed over a 20-year jail term. The court also imposed a fine of $2,332 on each of them.
Special Public Prosecutor Sumesh Punjwani had sought maximum punishment for the convicts, saying it could be a lesson for other drug traffickers.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-suffers-deadliest-year-for-security-forces-amid-rise-in-violence-8581724" rel="dofollow">Pakistan witnesses 'deadliest year' for security forces amid violence surge</a>
The defence counsel, however, submitted that a lenient view be taken.
After hearing both sides, the court refused to show leniency and sentenced the accused persons to maximum punishment.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

India News, South Asia, Pakistan: The case dates back to 2015, when the Indian Coast Guard seized over 200 kg of drugs off the Gujarat coast. The drugs were valued at nearly $816,249 (Rs 7 crore).

A special court in the Indian city of Mumbai on Wednesday (Jan 1) sentenced eight Pakistani nationals to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in a case of the seizure of over 200 kilogrammes of drugs valued at nearly $816,249 (Rs 7 crore). According to a report by the news agency PTI, the case dates back to 2015, when the Indian Coast Guard apprehended the accused persons from a boat carrying the aforementioned massive quantity of drugs off the Gujarat coast. Drug seized was heroin There were 11 drums on the boat with 20 plastic pouches containing a wheatish brown colour powder. Upon testing, it was found the power was heroin. Also read | Indian man crosses into Pakistan border to meet online lover, arrested The accused eight Pakistani nationals were also found in possession of three satellite phones and GPS navigation charts, among other electronic devices. Jail term handed under NDPS Act The PTI report said that the Special Judge for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases, Shashikant Bangar, convicted the eight Pakistani nationals for offences committed under the anti-drug law. Under the NDPS Act, the convicts were handed over a 20-year jail term. The court also imposed a fine of $2,332 on each of them. Special Public Prosecutor Sumesh Punjwani had sought maximum punishment for the convicts, saying it could be a lesson for other drug traffickers. Also read | Pakistan witnesses 'deadliest year' for security forces amid violence surge The defence counsel, however, submitted that a lenient view be taken. After hearing both sides, the court refused to show leniency and sentenced the accused persons to maximum punishment. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian court sentences eight Pakistanis to 20 years in prison in drug seizure case

In a peculiar incident, an intoxicated man identified as K. Venkanna climbed an electric pole and lay down on the wires in M Singapura village in Manyam district of Andhra Pradesh in India on Tuesday (Dec 31).
However, the disaster was obviated as the alert villagers immediately turned off the transformer to cut the power supply.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/air-india-passenger-accused-of-urinating-on-woman-co-flyer-sent-to-judicial-custody-for-14-days-550288" rel="dofollow">Air India passenger accused of urinating on woman co-flyer arrested, sent to custody for 14 days</a>
<h2>&ldquo;Venkanna&rsquo;s uncanny behaviour&rdquo;: Villagers acted quickly to save him</h2>
According to reports, the man&rsquo;s mother refused to give Venkanna her social security pension money on Dec 31 when he demanded it to buy liquor for New Year&rsquo;s celebrations. 
The man&rsquo;s action caused panic among the villagers, who&nbsp;were worried that he might fall from the electric pole.&nbsp;
Villagers acted fast as they switched off the power supply and repeatedly appealed to him to get down. But Venakanna refused, leaving the villagers to watch him lying on the wires for a tense period.&nbsp;
Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5f3oprg-py0uxqo0-tzogj954">
ஆந்திராவில் குடிபோதையில் மின் கம்பத்தின் மீது படுத்து உறங்கிய மதுப்ரியர்... <a href="https://t.co/bJcrazU18v">pic.twitter.com/bJcrazU18v</a>
&mdash; Ramesh (@RHoneykumar) <a href="https://twitter.com/RHoneykumar/status/1874391900473672044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pathetic-drunk-man-urinates-on-woman-in-new-york-delhi-air-india-flight-woman-reports-to-tata-group-chairman-549261" rel="dofollow">Pathetic! Drunk man urinates on woman in New York-Delhi Air India flight; banned for a month</a>
<h2>Venkanna descends&nbsp;</h2>
Eventually Venakanna decided to come down from the electric pole&nbsp;after repeated appeals. The police rushed to the spot and arrested him. A case was also registered against the mam. When the police interrogated Venkanna, he replied&nbsp;sarcastically about asking his mother for money to buy medicine. When she refused, he was outraged&nbsp;and decided to lie down on electric wires as a form of protest, he said.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-do-people-actually-tell-the-truth-when-drunk-the-answer-is-both-yes-and-no-755821" rel="dofollow">Do people actually tell the truth when drunk? The answer is both yes and no</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

Trending|India news: Villagers acted fast as they switched off the power supply and repeatedly appealed the man to get down. But Venakanna refused, leaving the villagers anxious. 

In a peculiar incident, an intoxicated man identified as K. Venkanna climbed an electric pole and lay down on the wires in M Singapura village in Manyam district of Andhra Pradesh in India on Tuesday (Dec 31). However, the disaster was obviated as the alert villagers immediately turned off the transformer to cut the power supply. Also Read: Air India passenger accused of urinating on woman co-flyer arrested, sent to custody for 14 days “Venkanna’s uncanny behaviour”: Villagers acted quickly to save him According to reports, the man’s mother refused to give Venkanna her social security pension money on Dec 31 when he demanded it to buy liquor for New Year’s celebrations. The man’s action caused panic among the villagers, who were worried that he might fall from the electric pole. Villagers acted fast as they switched off the power supply and repeatedly appealed to him to get down. But Venakanna refused, leaving the villagers to watch him lying on the wires for a tense period. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. ஆந்திராவில் குடிபோதையில் மின் கம்பத்தின் மீது படுத்து உறங்கிய மதுப்ரியர்... pic.twitter.com/bJcrazU18v — Ramesh (@RHoneykumar) January 1, 2025 Also Read: Pathetic! Drunk man urinates on woman in New York-Delhi Air India flight; banned for a month Venkanna descends Eventually Venakanna decided to come down from the electric pole after repeated appeals. The police rushed to the spot and arrested him. A case was also registered against the mam. When the police interrogated Venkanna, he replied sarcastically about asking his mother for money to buy medicine. When she refused, he was outraged and decided to lie down on electric wires as a form of protest, he said. Also read: Do people actually tell the truth when drunk? The answer is both yes and no (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Villagers save drunk man lying on electric wires in India's Andhra Pradesh

ANI | A toddler who had fallen into a 150-foot-deep borewell in Kiratpur village, Rajasthan, and was rescued after more than nine days of a prolonged and challenging operation, passed away.
Despite extensive efforts to save the 3-year-old, her health deteriorated, and she succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday.
Principal Medical Officer Chaitanya Rawat said, "The health condition of the girl was not right... A team of three doctors examined her."
Following the examination, the girl's body was moved to the mortuary. "The body has been shifted to the mortuary. Her postmortem is underway," Rawat added. The findings of the medical team have been documented and submitted for further investigation.
The girl had fallen into the borewell in Kiratpur village, Kotputli, Rajasthan, sparking a swift and coordinated rescue effort. The incident occurred on the morning of December 23, and authorities immediately launched a rescue operation to free the child.
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Authorities, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local administration, worked tirelessly to ensure her safe recovery.
On Sunday (December 29), officials explained that the construction of a tunnel to reach the girl was facing increased challenges due to the rocky terrain of the tunnel route. Additionally, the significant temperature difference between the top and bottom of the tunnel was also posing difficulties for the rescue operation.
According to the officials, the operation reached a crucial point on Thursday night (December 26), with the BANI-plan being implemented and a casing pipe being lowered into the hole next to the borewell.
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The girl had fallen into the borewell while playing in an agricultural field owned by her father on December 23 in Kiratpur village.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from ANI news feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.
&nbsp;

India News | A toddler who fell into a -foot-deep borewell in Rajasthan was rescued after a nine-day operation but unfortunately passed away due to her injuries on Wednesday.

ANI | A toddler who had fallen into a 150-foot-deep borewell in Kiratpur village, Rajasthan, and was rescued after more than nine days of a prolonged and challenging operation, passed away. Despite extensive efforts to save the 3-year-old, her health deteriorated, and she succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday. Principal Medical Officer Chaitanya Rawat said, "The health condition of the girl was not right... A team of three doctors examined her." Following the examination, the girl's body was moved to the mortuary. "The body has been shifted to the mortuary. Her postmortem is underway," Rawat added. The findings of the medical team have been documented and submitted for further investigation. The girl had fallen into the borewell in Kiratpur village, Kotputli, Rajasthan, sparking a swift and coordinated rescue effort. The incident occurred on the morning of December 23, and authorities immediately launched a rescue operation to free the child. Also read: India: 44-year-old man learns to make bombs online, sends explosive to in-laws' home Authorities, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local administration, worked tirelessly to ensure her safe recovery. On Sunday (December 29), officials explained that the construction of a tunnel to reach the girl was facing increased challenges due to the rocky terrain of the tunnel route. Additionally, the significant temperature difference between the top and bottom of the tunnel was also posing difficulties for the rescue operation. According to the officials, the operation reached a crucial point on Thursday night (December 26), with the BANI-plan being implemented and a casing pipe being lowered into the hole next to the borewell. Also read: Ahead of Trump 2.0, Chinese hackers attack US agency that administers financial sanctions: Report The girl had fallen into the borewell while playing in an agricultural field owned by her father on December 23 in Kiratpur village. Disclaimer: This story has been published from ANI news feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India: Toddler stuck in borewell in Rajasthan for 10 days dies after rescue

An unfortunate incident took place on Wednesday (Jan 1) in the Indian state of Kerala's Kannur district, where a class five student was killed when the school bus she was travelling in flipped over. The incident took place near the Valakkai Bridge in Sreekantapuram at around 4 pm when a bus belonging to Chinmaya Vidyalaya in Kurumathur panchayat carrying 15 students lost control while going down a slope and flipped, as reported by the local officials.&nbsp;
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<h2 dir="ltr">Devastating accident caught on camera&nbsp;</h2>
The victim was identified as Nedhya S. Rajesh, who was thrown out of the bus as the driver lost control and was crushed under the wheels. A brake failure led to the accident, and the police have stated that a detailed probe is underway as per reports.&nbsp;
Eighteen students were injured in the accident that took place while the bus was dropping the students home, as reported by PTI. Some residents took the injured students to Taliparamba Taluk Hospital for treatment. Nedhya&rsquo;s body was shifted to the Government Medical College at Pariyaram.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-biker-killed-by-electric-bus-days-after-deadly-kurla-accident-left-7-dead-784172" rel="dofollow">india: Biker killed by BEST electric bus days after deadly Kurla accident left 7 dead</a>
The school authorities have not released any statement yet.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5evxu0w-ntf41zxv-m31wx9gc">
STORY | Student killed, 18 injured as school bus overturns in Kerala's Kannur READ: <a href="https://t.co/Nywqm53hQ6">https://t.co/Nywqm53hQ6</a> VIDEO: (Full video available on PTI Videos - <a href="https://t.co/n147TvrpG7">https://t.co/n147TvrpG7</a>) <a href="https://t.co/haVqljIAR6">pic.twitter.com/haVqljIAR6</a>
&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1874463436056461359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">Police authorities take action&nbsp;</h2>
The police said that the driver has been charged under Sections 281 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 125(A) (endangering human life or personal safety through negligence or recklessness), and 106(1) (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
&nbsp;The locals believe that the "unscientific&nbsp;design" of the road played a contributing factor in causing the unfortunate accident.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;
&nbsp;

India News| The victim was identified as Nedhya S. Rajesh, who was thrown out of the bus as the driver lost control and was crushed under the wheels. 

An unfortunate incident took place on Wednesday (Jan 1) in the Indian state of Kerala's Kannur district, where a class five student was killed when the school bus she was travelling in flipped over. The incident took place near the Valakkai Bridge in Sreekantapuram at around 4 pm when a bus belonging to Chinmaya Vidyalaya in Kurumathur panchayat carrying 15 students lost control while going down a slope and flipped, as reported by the local officials. Also Read: Mumbai bus crash: Police probing whether driver ‘deliberately’ used bus as ‘weapon’ Devastating accident caught on camera The victim was identified as Nedhya S. Rajesh, who was thrown out of the bus as the driver lost control and was crushed under the wheels. A brake failure led to the accident, and the police have stated that a detailed probe is underway as per reports. Eighteen students were injured in the accident that took place while the bus was dropping the students home, as reported by PTI. Some residents took the injured students to Taliparamba Taluk Hospital for treatment. Nedhya’s body was shifted to the Government Medical College at Pariyaram. Also Read: india: Biker killed by BEST electric bus days after deadly Kurla accident left 7 dead The school authorities have not released any statement yet. STORY | Student killed, 18 injured as school bus overturns in Kerala's Kannur READ: https://t.co/Nywqm53hQ6 VIDEO: (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/haVqljIAR6 — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 1, 2025 Police authorities take action The police said that the driver has been charged under Sections 281 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 125(A) (endangering human life or personal safety through negligence or recklessness), and 106(1) (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The locals believe that the "unscientific design" of the road played a contributing factor in causing the unfortunate accident. (With inputs from agencies)

Video: Class five student dies in Kerala bus tragedy

Bhopal, the capital city of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Wednesday night (Jan 1) finally got rid of 377 tons of hazardous waste left after the massive 1984 Gas Tragedy. The toxic waste was shifted through a 250-km-long corridor from the defunct Union Carbide factory to Pithampur for its disposal in 12 sealed trucks.
According to Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department Director Swatantra Kumar Singh, "The 12 container trucks carrying the waste set off on a non-stop journey around 9 pm. A green corridor was created for the nearly-seven journey of the vehicles to the Pithampur industrial area in Dhar district." The official added that nearly 100 people worked in 30-minute shifts to pack and load the waste in containers.
<h2>State authorities reprimanded by state high court</h2>
The move came after several warnings from the judiciary and a breach of various deadlines. The Madhya Pradesh High Court on December 3 had slammed state authorities for still being in a "state of inertia" even after 40 years of the tragedy.
The high court then set a four-week deadline and warned the government of contempt proceedings in case of non-compliance of its directive.
<h2>How long will it take to dispose of the waste?</h2>
News agency PTI quoted Singh as saying that if everything is found to be fine, the waste will be &ldquo;incinerated within three months&rdquo;. However, the full process might take nine months to complete.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/four-decades-of-horror-after-indias-bhopal-gas-disaster-780806">Four decades of horror after India's Bhopal gas disaster</a>
The waste will be burnt first at the disposal unit in Pithampur. The residue will then be further examined to check if any harmful element is left. Singh said that the smoke from the incinerator will pass through special four-layer filters so that the surrounding air is not polluted.
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There are rumors that authorities had first incinerated 10 tons of Union Carbide waste in Pithampur in 2015 but it contaminated soil, water and air in nearby areas. Earlier on Sunday (Dec 29), a large crowd from Pithampur had staged a protest against the disposal of Union Carbide waste in their city.
<h2>What is the Bhopal gas tragedy?</h2>
The Bhopal gas tragedy is considered India's first major industrial disaster, in which 30 tonnes of methyl isocyanate had leaked, turning the state capital city into a colossal gas chamber.&nbsp; According to estimates, over 15,000 people are believed to have died in the tragedy whereas thousands were left with serious and long-lasting health issues.
(With inputs from agencies)

India News | Bhopal gas tragedy is considered India's first major industrial disaster, in which 30 tonnes of methyl isocyanate leaked, turning the state capital city into a gas chamber.

Bhopal, the capital city of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Wednesday night (Jan 1) finally got rid of 377 tons of hazardous waste left after the massive 1984 Gas Tragedy. The toxic waste was shifted through a 250-km-long corridor from the defunct Union Carbide factory to Pithampur for its disposal in 12 sealed trucks. According to Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department Director Swatantra Kumar Singh, "The 12 container trucks carrying the waste set off on a non-stop journey around 9 pm. A green corridor was created for the nearly-seven journey of the vehicles to the Pithampur industrial area in Dhar district." The official added that nearly 100 people worked in 30-minute shifts to pack and load the waste in containers. State authorities reprimanded by state high court The move came after several warnings from the judiciary and a breach of various deadlines. The Madhya Pradesh High Court on December 3 had slammed state authorities for still being in a "state of inertia" even after 40 years of the tragedy. The high court then set a four-week deadline and warned the government of contempt proceedings in case of non-compliance of its directive. How long will it take to dispose of the waste? News agency PTI quoted Singh as saying that if everything is found to be fine, the waste will be “incinerated within three months”. However, the full process might take nine months to complete. Also read: Four decades of horror after India's Bhopal gas disaster The waste will be burnt first at the disposal unit in Pithampur. The residue will then be further examined to check if any harmful element is left. Singh said that the smoke from the incinerator will pass through special four-layer filters so that the surrounding air is not polluted. Also read: India: 200 kg cocaine worth $238 million seized in Delhi, days after $667 million drug bust There are rumors that authorities had first incinerated 10 tons of Union Carbide waste in Pithampur in 2015 but it contaminated soil, water and air in nearby areas. Earlier on Sunday (Dec 29), a large crowd from Pithampur had staged a protest against the disposal of Union Carbide waste in their city. What is the Bhopal gas tragedy? The Bhopal gas tragedy is considered India's first major industrial disaster, in which 30 tonnes of methyl isocyanate had leaked, turning the state capital city into a colossal gas chamber. According to estimates, over 15,000 people are believed to have died in the tragedy whereas thousands were left with serious and long-lasting health issues. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Bhopal gas tragedy’s toxic waste finally sent for disposal amid protests

The year 2024 was the warmest on record in India since 1901, with the average minimum temperature settling 0.90 degrees Celsius above the long-period average, the IMD said on Wednesday.
The annual mean temperature in 2024 was 25.75 degrees Celsius, 0.65 degrees above the long-period average.
The average maximum temperature stood at 31.25 degrees Celsius, 0.20 degrees above normal. The average minimum temperature was 20.24 degrees Celsius, 0.90 degrees above normal, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
The year 2024 surpassed 2016, which recorded a mean land surface air temperature of 0.54 degrees Celsius above normal, making it the warmest year since 1901.
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The average minimum temperature was the highest on record for July, August, September and October, and the second highest for February, the IMD chief said.
According to the European climate agency Copernicus, 2024 likely ended as the warmest year globally and the first with average temperatures 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial (1850-1900) levels.
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According to a yearly review by two independent groups of climate scientists -- World Weather Attribution and Climate Central --, the world experienced 41 additional days of dangerous heat in 2024.
Mohapatra said the rise in minimum temperatures in 2024 was "quite high".
"Long-term data shows most parts of the country are witnessing a rising trend in minimum temperatures, particularly in post-monsoon and winter seasons," he said.
The IMD said La Nina conditions, characterised by cooler ocean surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean and usually associated with colder winters in north India, were expected to develop in January but would be short-lived.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cold-weather-hits-delhi-with-45deg-chill-and-very-poor-aqi-amid-coldwave-784316" rel="dofollow">Cold weather hits Delhi with 4.5&deg; chill and 'very poor' AQI amid coldwave</a>
"It is unlikely to significantly impact the warming trend," an IMD scientist told PTI.
June 2023 marked the first instance of a monthly global temperature crossing the 1.5-degree threshold, a trend that persisted throughout the year, except for July 2024.
Under the Paris Agreement, a permanent breach of the 1.5-degree limit refers to sustained warming over 20-30 years.
Experts warn that the world is now entering a phase during which temperatures will consistently exceed this threshold.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhis-weather-update-check-out-todays-predicted-minimum-and-maximum-temperatures-784094" rel="dofollow">Delhi weather update: Check out today's predicted minimum and maximum temperatures</a>
The global average temperature has already risen by 1.3 degrees Celsius compared to the 1850-1900 baseline, driven by the rapid accumulation of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India news: The average minimum temperature was the highest on record for July, August, September and October, and the second highest for February, the IMD chief said.

The year 2024 was the warmest on record in India since 1901, with the average minimum temperature settling 0.90 degrees Celsius above the long-period average, the IMD said on Wednesday. The annual mean temperature in 2024 was 25.75 degrees Celsius, 0.65 degrees above the long-period average. The average maximum temperature stood at 31.25 degrees Celsius, 0.20 degrees above normal. The average minimum temperature was 20.24 degrees Celsius, 0.90 degrees above normal, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra. The year 2024 surpassed 2016, which recorded a mean land surface air temperature of 0.54 degrees Celsius above normal, making it the warmest year since 1901. Also read: UN report highlights extreme weather and heat fuelled by climate change in 2024 The average minimum temperature was the highest on record for July, August, September and October, and the second highest for February, the IMD chief said. According to the European climate agency Copernicus, 2024 likely ended as the warmest year globally and the first with average temperatures 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial (1850-1900) levels. Also read: India weather update: Cold wave grips north, rainfall expected in south According to a yearly review by two independent groups of climate scientists -- World Weather Attribution and Climate Central --, the world experienced 41 additional days of dangerous heat in 2024. Mohapatra said the rise in minimum temperatures in 2024 was "quite high". "Long-term data shows most parts of the country are witnessing a rising trend in minimum temperatures, particularly in post-monsoon and winter seasons," he said. The IMD said La Nina conditions, characterised by cooler ocean surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean and usually associated with colder winters in north India, were expected to develop in January but would be short-lived. Also read: Cold weather hits Delhi with 4.5° chill and 'very poor' AQI amid coldwave "It is unlikely to significantly impact the warming trend," an IMD scientist told PTI. June 2023 marked the first instance of a monthly global temperature crossing the 1.5-degree threshold, a trend that persisted throughout the year, except for July 2024. Under the Paris Agreement, a permanent breach of the 1.5-degree limit refers to sustained warming over 20-30 years. Experts warn that the world is now entering a phase during which temperatures will consistently exceed this threshold. Also read: Delhi weather update: Check out today's predicted minimum and maximum temperatures The global average temperature has already risen by 1.3 degrees Celsius compared to the 1850-1900 baseline, driven by the rapid accumulation of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

2024 warmest year in India since 1901, says IMD

India on Wednesday declared 2025 as the year of defence reforms and said that the focus will be to roll out integrated theatre commands to boost tri-services synergy and ensure simpler and time-sensitive military procurement with a broader aim to transform the military into a technologically-advanced force.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-announces-increased-crop-insurance-allocation-and-fertiliser-subsidy-for-farmers-8583830">PM Modi announces increased crop insurance allocation and fertiliser subsidy for farmers</a>
The overall aim of the nine-point reforms planned by the defence ministry would be to ensure deeper collaboration among key stakeholders, break silos, eliminate inefficiencies, and optimise utilisation of resources.
The reforms would lay the foundation for &ldquo;unprecedented&rdquo; advancements in defence preparedness and ensure India&rsquo;s security and sovereignty amidst challenges of 21st century, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.
The defence ministry&rsquo;s aim on theatre commands assumes significance as it virtually indicated a resolve to unveil the ambitious reform measure in 2025.
Under the theaterisation model, the government seeks to integrate the capabilities of the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy and optimally utilise their resources for wars and operations.
As per the theaterisation plan, each of the theatre commands will have units of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, and all of them will work as a single entity looking after security challenges in a specified geographical territory.
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At present, the Army, Navy, and Air Force have separate commands.
The decision on observing 2025 as the 'year of reforms' and the broad objectives under it were finalised at a high-level meeting chaired by Singh. It was attended by all the secretaries of the defence ministry.
One of the nine points listed by the ministry following the deliberations was to take initiative to instil a &ldquo;sense of pride&rdquo; in Indian culture and ideas, fostering confidence in achieving global standards through indigenous capabilities, while imbibing best practices from modern militaries that suit the nation&rsquo;s conditions.
&ldquo;(The) &lsquo;year of reforms&rsquo; will be a momentous step in the modernisation journey of the armed forces,&rdquo; Singh said.
The defence ministry said the focus in 2025 will also be on new domains such as cyber and space and&nbsp;emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonics, and robotics.
In order to give impetus to the ongoing and future reforms, it was unanimously decided to observe 2025 as the &lsquo;year of reforms&rsquo;, it said in a statement.
The reforms would aim at transforming the armed forces into a technologically advanced&nbsp;combat-ready force capable of multi-domain integrated operations, the ministry added.
The defence minister-led meeting held that the reforms should aim to further bolster jointness and integration initiatives and facilitate the establishment&nbsp;of the integrated theatre commands, it said.
During the deliberations, it was decided that the reforms should focus on new domains such as cyber and space&nbsp;and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonics, and robotics.
It was agreed that associated tactics, techniques, and procedures required to win future wars should also be developed.
The meeting also called for developing a shared understanding of operational requirements and joint operational capabilities through inter-service cooperation and training.
It also emphasised on the need to make acquisition procedures simpler and time-sensitive to facilitate swifter and robust capability development.
The aim of the defence reforms also includes rolling out steps to facilitate technology transfer and knowledge sharing between the defence sector and civil industries and promoting public-private partnerships by improving ease of doing business.
The meeting also underlined the need for focusing on collaboration across various stakeholders in the defence ecosystem and breaking silos.
It said the ministry should work towards positioning India as a credible exporter of defence products, fostering R&amp;D and partnerships between Indian industries and foreign original equipment manufacturers.
The meeting also pitched for ensuring the welfare&nbsp;of the veterans while leveraging their expertise. Efforts will be made towards optimisation of welfare measures for veterans, the ministry said. 
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

India news: The overall aim of the nine-point reforms planned by the defence ministry would be to ensure deeper collaboration among key stakeholders, break silos, eliminate inefficiencies and optimise utilisation of resources.

India on Wednesday declared 2025 as the year of defence reforms and said that the focus will be to roll out integrated theatre commands to boost tri-services synergy and ensure simpler and time-sensitive military procurement with a broader aim to transform the military into a technologically-advanced force. Also read: PM Modi announces increased crop insurance allocation and fertiliser subsidy for farmers The overall aim of the nine-point reforms planned by the defence ministry would be to ensure deeper collaboration among key stakeholders, break silos, eliminate inefficiencies, and optimise utilisation of resources. The reforms would lay the foundation for “unprecedented” advancements in defence preparedness and ensure India’s security and sovereignty amidst challenges of 21st century, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said. The defence ministry’s aim on theatre commands assumes significance as it virtually indicated a resolve to unveil the ambitious reform measure in 2025. Under the theaterisation model, the government seeks to integrate the capabilities of the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy and optimally utilise their resources for wars and operations. As per the theaterisation plan, each of the theatre commands will have units of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, and all of them will work as a single entity looking after security challenges in a specified geographical territory. Also read: Israel-Hamas hostage deal at impasse; 'unlikely to be completed before end of Biden's term': Report At present, the Army, Navy, and Air Force have separate commands. The decision on observing 2025 as the 'year of reforms' and the broad objectives under it were finalised at a high-level meeting chaired by Singh. It was attended by all the secretaries of the defence ministry. One of the nine points listed by the ministry following the deliberations was to take initiative to instil a “sense of pride” in Indian culture and ideas, fostering confidence in achieving global standards through indigenous capabilities, while imbibing best practices from modern militaries that suit the nation’s conditions. “(The) ‘year of reforms’ will be a momentous step in the modernisation journey of the armed forces,” Singh said. The defence ministry said the focus in 2025 will also be on new domains such as cyber and space and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonics, and robotics. In order to give impetus to the ongoing and future reforms, it was unanimously decided to observe 2025 as the ‘year of reforms’, it said in a statement. The reforms would aim at transforming the armed forces into a technologically advanced combat-ready force capable of multi-domain integrated operations, the ministry added. The defence minister-led meeting held that the reforms should aim to further bolster jointness and integration initiatives and facilitate the establishment of the integrated theatre commands, it said. During the deliberations, it was decided that the reforms should focus on new domains such as cyber and space and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonics, and robotics. It was agreed that associated tactics, techniques, and procedures required to win future wars should also be developed. The meeting also called for developing a shared understanding of operational requirements and joint operational capabilities through inter-service cooperation and training. It also emphasised on the need to make acquisition procedures simpler and time-sensitive to facilitate swifter and robust capability development. The aim of the defence reforms also includes rolling out steps to facilitate technology transfer and knowledge sharing between the defence sector and civil industries and promoting public-private partnerships by improving ease of doing business. The meeting also underlined the need for focusing on collaboration across various stakeholders in the defence ecosystem and breaking silos. It said the ministry should work towards positioning India as a credible exporter of defence products, fostering R&D and partnerships between Indian industries and foreign original equipment manufacturers. The meeting also pitched for ensuring the welfare of the veterans while leveraging their expertise. Efforts will be made towards optimisation of welfare measures for veterans, the ministry said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India: Defence Ministry declares 2025 as 'year of reforms'; lists simpler procurement as priority

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that the government's first decision in the New Year is dedicated to farmers, as the Union Cabinet headed by him enhanced allocation to the crop insurance scheme and raised subsidy on a key fertiliser.
PM Modi said on X, "(Govt's) first decision of the New Near is dedicated to crores of farmer brothers and sisters of our country. We have approved increasing the allocation for crop insurance scheme. This will provide more security to farmers' crops and will also mitigate their concerns about any damage."&nbsp;
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The Cabinet's decision on extending the one-time special package on Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) will help farmers by ensuring the fertiliser at affordable prices, he added.
The Cabinet approved continuation of the 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana' and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme till 2025-26 with an overall outlay of Rs 69,515.71 crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26. The decision will help in risk coverage of crops from non-preventable natural calamities for farmers across the country till 2025-26, a statement said.
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It also approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilisers for extension of One-time Special Package on DAP beyond the NBS subsidy at Rs 3,500 per MT for the period starting from Wednesday till further orders to ensure sustainable availability of DAP at affordable prices to the farmers. The tentative budgetary requirement for this would be approximately up to Rs 3,850 crore, the statement said.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from PTI feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.
&nbsp;

India | The Cabinet's decision on extending the one-time special package on Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) will help farmers by ensuring the fertiliser at affordable prices

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that the government's first decision in the New Year is dedicated to farmers, as the Union Cabinet headed by him enhanced allocation to the crop insurance scheme and raised subsidy on a key fertiliser. PM Modi said on X, "(Govt's) first decision of the New Near is dedicated to crores of farmer brothers and sisters of our country. We have approved increasing the allocation for crop insurance scheme. This will provide more security to farmers' crops and will also mitigate their concerns about any damage." Also Read | Atishi reiterates allegations against Delhi LG over temple demolition order, says have 'documentary proof The Cabinet's decision on extending the one-time special package on Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) will help farmers by ensuring the fertiliser at affordable prices, he added. The Cabinet approved continuation of the 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana' and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme till 2025-26 with an overall outlay of Rs 69,515.71 crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26. The decision will help in risk coverage of crops from non-preventable natural calamities for farmers across the country till 2025-26, a statement said. Also Read | Arvind Kejriwal writes to RSS, questions whether it supports BJP's actions and past wrongdoings It also approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilisers for extension of One-time Special Package on DAP beyond the NBS subsidy at Rs 3,500 per MT for the period starting from Wednesday till further orders to ensure sustainable availability of DAP at affordable prices to the farmers. The tentative budgetary requirement for this would be approximately up to Rs 3,850 crore, the statement said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from PTI feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

PM Modi announces increased crop insurance allocation, fertiliser subsidy for farmers

In a shocking incident, a man allegedly murdered his mother and four sisters at a hotel in Lucknow, the capital of the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday (Jan 1), police said, adding that the accused has been arrested.&nbsp;
Arshad, a 24-year-old man, who is a native of Agra city of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=uttar+pradesh" rel="dofollow">Uttar Pradesh</a>, said that he took the step because of family disputes.&nbsp;
Arshad reportedly served his family food and alcohol laced with intoxicants. After a few hours, he allegedly killed them.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-delhi-caf%C3%A9-owner-dies-by-suicide-amid-divorce-case-and-business-dispute-with-wife-8582871" rel="dofollow">Delhi caf&eacute; owner dies by suicide amid divorce case and business dispute with wife</a>
He strangulated some of them while killing others with a blade.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Today, the bodies of five people were found in a room of Hotel Sharan Jeet. The local police reached the spot, and a person named Arshad, around 24 years old, a resident of Agra, was detained," Raveena Tyagi, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), told Indian news agency ANI.&nbsp;
Arshad claimed that he killed his family members to "protect" them, alleging that their neighbours were eyeing their property in Agra and were also planning to sell his sisters in Hyderabad.&nbsp;
<h2>Recorded chilling video</h2>
&ldquo;Our neighbours were trying to take over our property and planned to sell my sisters in Hyderabad. I couldn&rsquo;t let that happen,&rdquo; Arshad said in a recorded video, which is being shared on social media.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-man-arrested-for-slapping-pedestrians-for-dopamine-claims-he-was-depressed-8580827" rel="dofollow">Watch: Man slaps random pedestrians for 'dopamine rush' to battle depression, arrested</a>
Arshad, after killing his mother and sisters, recorded a video of the crime and shared it online. In the video, he was showing the lifeless bodies of his mother and sisters, explaining how he killed them.&nbsp;
He claimed that continuous pressure and harassment from his community in Agra led him to commit the murder. He further alleged that his father, Badar, assisted him in the heinous act.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/agra-gym-trainer-posed-as-raw-agent-allegedly-rapes-canadian-woman-786480" rel="dofollow">Agra gym trainer poses as RAW agent, allegedly rapes Canadian woman</a>
Arshad's family had been staying at a hotel since December 30, and reportedly visited Lucknow to celebrate the New Year.&nbsp;
Babloo Kumar, joint commissioner of police (crime and headquarters), said, "Regarding the bodies recovered, some show signs of injuries -- on the wrist of one, on the neck of another. Based on these marks, statements from witnesses, and the post-mortem report, we are conducting a detailed investigation into the matter."
After committing the act, Arshad dropped his father at the railway station before going to the police station to give his confession.&nbsp;
The police also recovered the weapons used by Arshad to kill his family members, which included a blade and a dupatta.
(With inputs from agencies)

India news: Arshad claimed that he took the heinous step to "protect" his family, alleging that their neighbours were eyeing their property in Agra besides planning to sell his sisters. 

In a shocking incident, a man allegedly murdered his mother and four sisters at a hotel in Lucknow, the capital of the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday (Jan 1), police said, adding that the accused has been arrested. Arshad, a 24-year-old man, who is a native of Agra city of Uttar Pradesh, said that he took the step because of family disputes. Arshad reportedly served his family food and alcohol laced with intoxicants. After a few hours, he allegedly killed them. Also read: Delhi café owner dies by suicide amid divorce case and business dispute with wife He strangulated some of them while killing others with a blade. “Today, the bodies of five people were found in a room of Hotel Sharan Jeet. The local police reached the spot, and a person named Arshad, around 24 years old, a resident of Agra, was detained," Raveena Tyagi, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), told Indian news agency ANI. Arshad claimed that he killed his family members to "protect" them, alleging that their neighbours were eyeing their property in Agra and were also planning to sell his sisters in Hyderabad. Recorded chilling video “Our neighbours were trying to take over our property and planned to sell my sisters in Hyderabad. I couldn’t let that happen,” Arshad said in a recorded video, which is being shared on social media. Also read: Watch: Man slaps random pedestrians for 'dopamine rush' to battle depression, arrested Arshad, after killing his mother and sisters, recorded a video of the crime and shared it online. In the video, he was showing the lifeless bodies of his mother and sisters, explaining how he killed them. He claimed that continuous pressure and harassment from his community in Agra led him to commit the murder. He further alleged that his father, Badar, assisted him in the heinous act. Also read: Agra gym trainer poses as RAW agent, allegedly rapes Canadian woman Arshad's family had been staying at a hotel since December 30, and reportedly visited Lucknow to celebrate the New Year. Babloo Kumar, joint commissioner of police (crime and headquarters), said, "Regarding the bodies recovered, some show signs of injuries -- on the wrist of one, on the neck of another. Based on these marks, statements from witnesses, and the post-mortem report, we are conducting a detailed investigation into the matter." After committing the act, Arshad dropped his father at the railway station before going to the police station to give his confession. The police also recovered the weapons used by Arshad to kill his family members, which included a blade and a dupatta. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Man shoots video after killing mother, 4 sisters in Lucknow hotel on New Year's Eve

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Wednesday (Jan 1) launched a scathing attack against Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena reiterating the accusations that he ordered the demolition of temples and other religious structures in the national capital.
She further claimed that she has &ldquo;documentary evidence&rdquo; to back the allegations levelled against Saxena.
"The BJP central government is planning to demolish temples and Buddhist temples in different parts of Delhi. There is a religious committee which makes decisions on the shifting of temples or their demolition...It used to come under the Home Minister of the Delhi government. Till last year, all the decisions of this committee were first placed before the Home Minister and any action was taken only after his approval. But last year Delhi LG ordered that the demolition of any religious place is a law and order issue and hence it comes under Delhi LG and hence Delhi CM or Home Minister has nothing to do with it," Atishi said.
Further showing a document, she said she has the minutes of the meeting that was conducted with the Religious Committee.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-kejriwal-writes-to-rss-questions-whether-it-supports-bjps-action-8582744" rel="dofollow">Also read: Arvind Kejriwal writes to RSS, questions whether it supports BJP's actions and past wrongdoings</a>
"A meeting of the Religious Committee was held on 22 November. Yesterday LG's office told the media that there is no order to demolish temples. But this is a lie," she added.
"In the meeting held on 22 November, it was decided to demolish many temples located in West Patel Nagar, Dilshad Garden, Seemapuri, Gokalpuri, New Usmanpur and Sultanpuri and a Buddhist temple located in Sundar Nagari. All this is in the minutes of the meeting&hellip; Delhi LG has approved it and now DMs and SDMs are preparing to demolish these temples," Atishi further said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5drdiax-77ahgvei-sjmrbqfk">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi CM Atishi says, "The BJP central government is planning to demolish temples and Buddhist temples in different parts of Delhi. There is a religious committee which makes decisions on the shifting of temples or their demolition...It used to come under the Home&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/NpOdVak6ov">pic.twitter.com/NpOdVak6ov</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1874386298007638443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>'Cheap politics'</h2>
This comes after Saxena rebuffed the allegations calling it &ldquo;cheap politics&rdquo; by the Delhi CM.
The LG secretariat released a statement saying that neither any temples, churches or mosques are being demolished in the national capital nor did he receive any file in this regard.
&ldquo;If at all, the LG has issued strict instructions to the police to maintain extra vigil against forces who may indulge in deliberate vandalism for political benefits. His instructions are being strictly followed, as was witnessed during the just gone Christmas celebrations which did not see any untoward incident,&rdquo; the LG secretariat said.
(With inputs from agencies)

Delhi CM Atishi said she has the minutes of the meeting that was conducted with the Religious Committee.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Wednesday (Jan 1) launched a scathing attack against Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena reiterating the accusations that he ordered the demolition of temples and other religious structures in the national capital. She further claimed that she has “documentary evidence” to back the allegations levelled against Saxena. "The BJP central government is planning to demolish temples and Buddhist temples in different parts of Delhi. There is a religious committee which makes decisions on the shifting of temples or their demolition...It used to come under the Home Minister of the Delhi government. Till last year, all the decisions of this committee were first placed before the Home Minister and any action was taken only after his approval. But last year Delhi LG ordered that the demolition of any religious place is a law and order issue and hence it comes under Delhi LG and hence Delhi CM or Home Minister has nothing to do with it," Atishi said. Further showing a document, she said she has the minutes of the meeting that was conducted with the Religious Committee. Also read: Arvind Kejriwal writes to RSS, questions whether it supports BJP's actions and past wrongdoings "A meeting of the Religious Committee was held on 22 November. Yesterday LG's office told the media that there is no order to demolish temples. But this is a lie," she added. "In the meeting held on 22 November, it was decided to demolish many temples located in West Patel Nagar, Dilshad Garden, Seemapuri, Gokalpuri, New Usmanpur and Sultanpuri and a Buddhist temple located in Sundar Nagari. All this is in the minutes of the meeting… Delhi LG has approved it and now DMs and SDMs are preparing to demolish these temples," Atishi further said. #WATCH | Delhi CM Atishi says, "The BJP central government is planning to demolish temples and Buddhist temples in different parts of Delhi. There is a religious committee which makes decisions on the shifting of temples or their demolition...It used to come under the Home… pic.twitter.com/NpOdVak6ov — ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2025 'Cheap politics' This comes after Saxena rebuffed the allegations calling it “cheap politics” by the Delhi CM. The LG secretariat released a statement saying that neither any temples, churches or mosques are being demolished in the national capital nor did he receive any file in this regard. “If at all, the LG has issued strict instructions to the police to maintain extra vigil against forces who may indulge in deliberate vandalism for political benefits. His instructions are being strictly followed, as was witnessed during the just gone Christmas celebrations which did not see any untoward incident,” the LG secretariat said. (With inputs from agencies)

Atishi reiterates allegations against Delhi LG over temple demolition order, says have 'documentary proof'

A caf&eacute; owner in Delhi died by suicide amid an ongoing divorce case and business dispute with his wife, said the police.
The deceased has been identified as Puneet Khurana, aged 40, a resident of Model Town's Kalyan Vihar area. The incident, as per local media reports, took place on Tuesday evening (Dec 31).
Khurana's family said that he was "upset" with his wife.
Khurana and Manika Jagdish Pahwa got married in the year 2016, and they co-owned the Woodbox Cafe in the national capital.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-restaurant-pays-tribute-to-bengaluru-techie-atul-subhash-in-a-touching-message-on-bill-785040" rel="dofollow">Delhi restaurant pays tribute to Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash with a touching message on bill</a>
<h2>Khurana's family levels charges of harassment against his wife, in-laws</h2>
The 40-year-old's family has levelled charges of harassment against his wife and in-laws.&nbsp;
"Manika Pahwa, her ssister, aand herparents mentally tortured and harassed him. There is a video recording of around 59 minutes in which Puneet has mentioned details of the harassment he faced. The woman had even hacked Puneet's social media account," said Khurana's sister.
His mother demanded justice saying that his wife kept "torturing" him.
"She (Puneet's wife) used to keep torturing him...I want justice for him," she said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5dp95px-h49fwezv-5r4pbyva">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi | Deceased Puneet's mother says, "She (Puneet's wife) used to keep torturing him...I want justice for him." <a href="https://t.co/DHQt9mNU2E">pic.twitter.com/DHQt9mNU2E</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1874372202445021492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
The incident comes days after Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash died by suicide, who in an 80-minute video detailed the mental agony he went through because of his in-laws and wife.
The techie hailed from Samastipur city of Bihar and was found dead at his flat in Bengaluru on December 9. A detailed suicide note was found by the police in which every page started with "justice is due".
It was also alleged by Atul that his wife's family had asked him to pay Rs 3 crore as a divorce settlement.
In the suicide note, Atul wrote, "The more I work hard and become better at my work, the more I and my family will be harassed and eextorted,and the whole legal system will encourage and help my harassers... Now, with me gone, there won't be any mmoney,and there won't be any reason to harass my old parents and my brother. I may have destroyed my bbody,but it has saved everything I believe in."&nbsp;
He further said that his estranged wife and her mother had twice instigated him to die.
(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><a href="https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/11181469" rel="dofollow">Get help &amp; support for suicide</a>
If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. You can contact local authorities and also encourage the person to contact a suicide prevention hotline. WION does not make any recommendations.

India news: Puneet Khurana, aged 40, and Manika Jagdish Pahwa got married in the year 2016, and they both owned the Woodbox Cafe in the national capital. They were getting divorced.

A café owner in Delhi died by suicide amid an ongoing divorce case and business dispute with his wife, said the police. The deceased has been identified as Puneet Khurana, aged 40, a resident of Model Town's Kalyan Vihar area. The incident, as per local media reports, took place on Tuesday evening (Dec 31). Khurana's family said that he was "upset" with his wife. Khurana and Manika Jagdish Pahwa got married in the year 2016, and they co-owned the Woodbox Cafe in the national capital. Also read: Delhi restaurant pays tribute to Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash with a touching message on bill Khurana's family levels charges of harassment against his wife, in-laws The 40-year-old's family has levelled charges of harassment against his wife and in-laws. "Manika Pahwa, her ssister, aand herparents mentally tortured and harassed him. There is a video recording of around 59 minutes in which Puneet has mentioned details of the harassment he faced. The woman had even hacked Puneet's social media account," said Khurana's sister. His mother demanded justice saying that his wife kept "torturing" him. "She (Puneet's wife) used to keep torturing him...I want justice for him," she said. #WATCH | Delhi | Deceased Puneet's mother says, "She (Puneet's wife) used to keep torturing him...I want justice for him." pic.twitter.com/DHQt9mNU2E — ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2025 The incident comes days after Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash died by suicide, who in an 80-minute video detailed the mental agony he went through because of his in-laws and wife. The techie hailed from Samastipur city of Bihar and was found dead at his flat in Bengaluru on December 9. A detailed suicide note was found by the police in which every page started with "justice is due". It was also alleged by Atul that his wife's family had asked him to pay Rs 3 crore as a divorce settlement. In the suicide note, Atul wrote, "The more I work hard and become better at my work, the more I and my family will be harassed and eextorted,and the whole legal system will encourage and help my harassers... Now, with me gone, there won't be any mmoney,and there won't be any reason to harass my old parents and my brother. I may have destroyed my bbody,but it has saved everything I believe in." He further said that his estranged wife and her mother had twice instigated him to die. (With inputs from agencies) Get help & support for suicide If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. You can contact local authorities and also encourage the person to contact a suicide prevention hotline. WION does not make any recommendations.

Delhi café owner dies by suicide amid divorce case and business dispute with wife

Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal wrote a letter to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat, questioning whether the RSS supports the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) past wrongdoings.
Kejriwal also raised issues concerning the BJP's impact on democracy and the saffron party's conduct seeking clarification on the matter.
The former Delhi chief minister also highlighted the practice of BJP leaders openly distributing money, questioning Bhagwat whether RSS supported this practice.
"Whatever wrong BJP has done in the past, does RSS support it? BJP leaders are openly distributing money. Does RSS support buying votes? Dalit and Purvanchali votes are being cut on a large scale. Does RSS think this is right for democracy? Does RSS not think that BJP is weakening democracy?" Kejriwal wrote in his letter.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/a-poetic-celebration-pm-modi-wishes-new-year-shares-indias-milestones-in-2024-8582647" rel="dofollow">Also read: &lsquo;A poetic celebration&rsquo;: PM Modi wishes New Year, shares India's milestones in 2024</a>
<h2>'Distribution of money for votes'</h2>
This came after AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar accused the BJP of trying to manipulate voters in the national capital. She claimed that in the Shadara constituency, BJP leader Vishal Bharadwaj submitted applications to strike off voters' names.
"BJP wants to cut the votes of the many Purvanchalis living in Delhi. One Vishal Bharadwaj of BJP gave applications for the deletion of voters' names in the Shadara constituency. When we raised our voices against it, then he stopped it," Kakkar said.
She also alleged that BJP leader Parvesh Sharma distributed money for votes and also sent an application to the Election Commission to delete some of the names of the voters from the list and another application to add some.
"In the New Delhi constituency, BJP leader Parvesh Sharma did the work of distributing money for votes. A BJP leader put an application in ECI for deletion of voters' names. There was another application to add names of voters. BJP is rattled," Kakkar added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Arvind Kejriwal highlighted the practice of BJP leaders openly distributing money, questioning Bhagwat if RSS supported this practice.

Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal wrote a letter to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat, questioning whether the RSS supports the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) past wrongdoings. Kejriwal also raised issues concerning the BJP's impact on democracy and the saffron party's conduct seeking clarification on the matter. The former Delhi chief minister also highlighted the practice of BJP leaders openly distributing money, questioning Bhagwat whether RSS supported this practice. "Whatever wrong BJP has done in the past, does RSS support it? BJP leaders are openly distributing money. Does RSS support buying votes? Dalit and Purvanchali votes are being cut on a large scale. Does RSS think this is right for democracy? Does RSS not think that BJP is weakening democracy?" Kejriwal wrote in his letter. Also read: ‘A poetic celebration’: PM Modi wishes New Year, shares India's milestones in 2024 'Distribution of money for votes' This came after AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar accused the BJP of trying to manipulate voters in the national capital. She claimed that in the Shadara constituency, BJP leader Vishal Bharadwaj submitted applications to strike off voters' names. "BJP wants to cut the votes of the many Purvanchalis living in Delhi. One Vishal Bharadwaj of BJP gave applications for the deletion of voters' names in the Shadara constituency. When we raised our voices against it, then he stopped it," Kakkar said. She also alleged that BJP leader Parvesh Sharma distributed money for votes and also sent an application to the Election Commission to delete some of the names of the voters from the list and another application to add some. "In the New Delhi constituency, BJP leader Parvesh Sharma did the work of distributing money for votes. A BJP leader put an application in ECI for deletion of voters' names. There was another application to add names of voters. BJP is rattled," Kakkar added. (With inputs from agencies)

Arvind Kejriwal writes to RSS, questions whether it supports BJP's actions and past wrongdoings

On New Year's eve, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the goals India achieved during 2024 in a post on X, along with a video detailing the country&rsquo;s remarkable progress.
&ldquo;My India is taking big strides of progress,&rdquo; he wrote in Hindi calling it a &ldquo;poetic celebration.
In the post, PM Modi wrote, &ldquo;From space to soil, railways to runways, culture to innovation, #IndiaIn2024 marked a year of remarkable progress &amp; transformation!&rdquo;
&ldquo;A poetic celebration as we stride confidently into 2025,&rdquo; he added.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-first-glass-bridge-at-sea-links-two-iconic-monuments-8581806" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India's first glass bridge at sea links two iconic monuments</a>
The animated video depicted the achievements of India during the year 2024. The clip highlighted the milestones of the country, including space launches, super-computing and a boost in defence manufacturing.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
मेरा भारत बढ़ रहा... From space to soil, railways to runways, culture to innovation, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaIn2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaIn2024</a> marked a year of remarkable progress &amp; transformation! A poetic celebration as we stride confidently into 2025.. Explore <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaIn2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaIn2024</a> on NaMo App for more <a href="https://t.co/FhYQCzQqZQ">https://t.co/FhYQCzQqZQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/9rkxcXeq0i">pic.twitter.com/9rkxcXeq0i</a>
&mdash; narendramodi_in (@narendramodi_in) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi_in/status/1873972761003249846?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2024</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The 2:41-minute-long video mentioned India&rsquo;s growth in the aviation industry and railway projects including the underwater Howrah Maidan Metro, Rameswaram rail bridge and Vande Bharat rail.
The animation also highlighted improvements in healthcare facilities and, an increase in medical colleges. It mentioned government schemes like the Atal Pension scheme, PM Awas, and the introduction of new criminal laws in the country.
Besides these, the video also highlighted the rise in economy with $700 billion in foreign reserves and India&rsquo;s emergence as the third biggest force in Asia. It said that 24.82 crore people have emerged from poverty.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-farmers-leader-dallewal-to-take-medical-aid-if-centre-agrees-to-talk-punjab-tells-supreme-court-8581124" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India: Farmer leader Dallewal to take medical aid if Centre agrees to talk, Punjab tells SC</a>
India has also progressed in the job creation front with Rs 2 lakh crore package for 4.1 crore youth. Additionally, India has achieved milestones in sports by winning 29 medals in the Para Olympics.
India has also boosted its green power generation capacity with the plantation of 102 crore saplings. The video highlighted this along with the message &ldquo;One tree for our mother&rdquo;.
PM Modi also shared another 2:05-minute-long video on MyGovIndia with the caption, &ldquo;Collective efforts and transformative outcomes!"
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Collective efforts and transformative outcomes! 2024 has been marked by many feats, which have been wonderfully summed up in this video. We are determined to work even harder in 2025 and realise our dream of a Viksit Bharat. <a href="https://t.co/HInAc0n094">https://t.co/HInAc0n094</a>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1873999226977636800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2024</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
"2024 has been marked by many feats, which have been wonderfully summed up in this video. We are determined to work even harder in 2025 and realise our dream of a Viksit Bharat.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

The animated video depicted the achievements of India during the year 2024. The clip detailed the milestones of the country highlighting its growth.

On New Year's eve, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the goals India achieved during 2024 in a post on X, along with a video detailing the country’s remarkable progress. “My India is taking big strides of progress,” he wrote in Hindi calling it a “poetic celebration. In the post, PM Modi wrote, “From space to soil, railways to runways, culture to innovation, #IndiaIn2024 marked a year of remarkable progress & transformation!” “A poetic celebration as we stride confidently into 2025,” he added. Also read | India's first glass bridge at sea links two iconic monuments The animated video depicted the achievements of India during the year 2024. The clip highlighted the milestones of the country, including space launches, super-computing and a boost in defence manufacturing. मेरा भारत बढ़ रहा... From space to soil, railways to runways, culture to innovation, #IndiaIn2024 marked a year of remarkable progress & transformation! A poetic celebration as we stride confidently into 2025.. Explore #IndiaIn2024 on NaMo App for more https://t.co/FhYQCzQqZQ pic.twitter.com/9rkxcXeq0i — narendramodi_in (@narendramodi_in) December 31, 2024 The 2:41-minute-long video mentioned India’s growth in the aviation industry and railway projects including the underwater Howrah Maidan Metro, Rameswaram rail bridge and Vande Bharat rail. The animation also highlighted improvements in healthcare facilities and, an increase in medical colleges. It mentioned government schemes like the Atal Pension scheme, PM Awas, and the introduction of new criminal laws in the country. Besides these, the video also highlighted the rise in economy with $700 billion in foreign reserves and India’s emergence as the third biggest force in Asia. It said that 24.82 crore people have emerged from poverty. Also read | India: Farmer leader Dallewal to take medical aid if Centre agrees to talk, Punjab tells SC India has also progressed in the job creation front with Rs 2 lakh crore package for 4.1 crore youth. Additionally, India has achieved milestones in sports by winning 29 medals in the Para Olympics. India has also boosted its green power generation capacity with the plantation of 102 crore saplings. The video highlighted this along with the message “One tree for our mother”. PM Modi also shared another 2:05-minute-long video on MyGovIndia with the caption, “Collective efforts and transformative outcomes!" Collective efforts and transformative outcomes! 2024 has been marked by many feats, which have been wonderfully summed up in this video. We are determined to work even harder in 2025 and realise our dream of a Viksit Bharat. https://t.co/HInAc0n094 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 31, 2024 "2024 has been marked by many feats, which have been wonderfully summed up in this video. We are determined to work even harder in 2025 and realise our dream of a Viksit Bharat.” (With inputs from agencies)

‘A poetic celebration’: PM Modi wishes New Year, shares India's milestones in 2024

The Punjab government on Tuesday (Dec 31) informed the Supreme Court of India that farmer leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=DALLEWAL" rel="dofollow">Jagjit Singh Dallewal</a>, who has been on fast-unto-death for more than a month now, would accept medical treatment if the Centre agreed to speak to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=farmers+protest" rel="dofollow">protesting farmers</a>.&nbsp;
A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia was hearing a contempt plea against the Punjab Chief Secretary and DGP for not complying with the apex court's order to give Dallewal medical aid.
As the hearing continued, the Punjab government sought three more days to comply with the order.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/abetment-to-commit-suicide-sc-warns-punjab-govt-to-shift-farmer-leader-dallewal-to-hospital-8573388" rel="dofollow">'Abetment to suicide': SC warns Punjab govt to shift farmer leader Dallewal to hospital</a>
"...As per the nnegotiators,there is a proposal given by the farmers to the Central government that in case they get an invite for a talk, Dallewal is ready to take medical help as desired," Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh said.&nbsp;
Singh added, "Therefore, the state government was seeking some more time and work positively towards compliance of the directions."
The bench said, "We will not comment on what's going on as far as negotiations or your law and order is concerned. If something happens, which is acceptable to both sides and all stakeholders concerned, we will be equally happy. At the moment, we are only concerned with the compliance of our orders. If you want more time, we in peculiar circumstances are inclined to grant you some time."
The hearing comes three days after a Punjab government team attempted to persuade Dallewal to take medical aid. However, he has been declining it.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bandh-in-punjab-cripples-traffic-commercial-activities-affected-by-protesting-farmers-8577488" rel="dofollow">India: 'Bandh' in Punjab by protesting farmers cripples traffic, hits commercial activities</a>
Last week, the apex court warned that it would frame charges of contempt of court against Punjab Chief Secretary K A P Sinha and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav if they do not follow the orders.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a contempt case. and the next step is known. Why should not there be charges against the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police? Why should charges not be framed? This is the logical flow of a contempt matter,&rdquo; a bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia told the two officers.&nbsp;
The 70-year-old farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26. He has been demanding the Central government to accept farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee for the minimum support price of crops.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

India news: A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia was hearing a contempt plea against the Punjab Chief Secy and DGP for not complying with the SC's order.

The Punjab government on Tuesday (Dec 31) informed the Supreme Court of India that farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on fast-unto-death for more than a month now, would accept medical treatment if the Centre agreed to speak to the protesting farmers. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia was hearing a contempt plea against the Punjab Chief Secretary and DGP for not complying with the apex court's order to give Dallewal medical aid. As the hearing continued, the Punjab government sought three more days to comply with the order. Also read: 'Abetment to suicide': SC warns Punjab govt to shift farmer leader Dallewal to hospital "...As per the nnegotiators,there is a proposal given by the farmers to the Central government that in case they get an invite for a talk, Dallewal is ready to take medical help as desired," Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh said. Singh added, "Therefore, the state government was seeking some more time and work positively towards compliance of the directions." The bench said, "We will not comment on what's going on as far as negotiations or your law and order is concerned. If something happens, which is acceptable to both sides and all stakeholders concerned, we will be equally happy. At the moment, we are only concerned with the compliance of our orders. If you want more time, we in peculiar circumstances are inclined to grant you some time." The hearing comes three days after a Punjab government team attempted to persuade Dallewal to take medical aid. However, he has been declining it. Also read: India: 'Bandh' in Punjab by protesting farmers cripples traffic, hits commercial activities Last week, the apex court warned that it would frame charges of contempt of court against Punjab Chief Secretary K A P Sinha and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav if they do not follow the orders. “It’s a contempt case. and the next step is known. Why should not there be charges against the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police? Why should charges not be framed? This is the logical flow of a contempt matter,” a bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia told the two officers. The 70-year-old farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26. He has been demanding the Central government to accept farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee for the minimum support price of crops. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Farmer leader Dallewal to take medical aid if Centre agrees to talk, Punjab tells SC

Poornima Rao, the mother of OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji, has alleged foul play in her son's death. Suchir, a former employee of OpenAI, was found dead in his apartment on November 26.
The medical examiner ruled Balaji's death suicide. He was 26 at the time of his death. However, the victim's mother insists that her son did not die by suicide.
<h2>'Signs of fight in bathroom'</h2>
Speaking to India Today, Poornima said that she found her son's apartment ransacked and there were signs of struggle in the bathroom.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-whistleblower-suchir-balajis-parents-demand-fbi-probe-into-his-death-refute-alleged-suicide-8574492" rel="dofollow">OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji's parents demand FBI probe into alleged suicide</a>
"There were signs of a fight in the bathroom, and when we fed the picture to ChatGPT, we found that the splatter of blood was not like what it is supposed to be as per the cause of death. We also found separate blood spots in the bathroom that indicate he may have been hit. There was also no suicide note left," she said.
After using ChatGPT, Poornima said she decided to hire a private investigator to probe her son's death. She told India Today that the private investigator concluded that Suchir's death did not seem like a case of suicide.
<h2>Doesn't seem like suicide: Elon Musk</h2>
Tech billionaire Elon Musk supported the claims made by Poornima about her son's death.&nbsp;In a post on X, Musk reacted to Poornima's post about her son's death, where he said, "This doesn't seem like a suicide."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This doesn&rsquo;t seem like a suicide
&mdash; Kekius Maximus (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1873367418556612894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2024</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Suchir had quit OpenAI, citing ethical concerns about contributing to a technology he believed would do more harm than good.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

India News | World: Despite authorities ruling Suchir's death suicide, his mother has alleged foul play. She said that she found her son's apartment ransacked, besides signs of struggle. 

Poornima Rao, the mother of OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji, has alleged foul play in her son's death. Suchir, a former employee of OpenAI, was found dead in his apartment on November 26. The medical examiner ruled Balaji's death suicide. He was 26 at the time of his death. However, the victim's mother insists that her son did not die by suicide. 'Signs of fight in bathroom' Speaking to India Today, Poornima said that she found her son's apartment ransacked and there were signs of struggle in the bathroom. Also read | OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji's parents demand FBI probe into alleged suicide "There were signs of a fight in the bathroom, and when we fed the picture to ChatGPT, we found that the splatter of blood was not like what it is supposed to be as per the cause of death. We also found separate blood spots in the bathroom that indicate he may have been hit. There was also no suicide note left," she said. After using ChatGPT, Poornima said she decided to hire a private investigator to probe her son's death. She told India Today that the private investigator concluded that Suchir's death did not seem like a case of suicide. Doesn't seem like suicide: Elon Musk Tech billionaire Elon Musk supported the claims made by Poornima about her son's death. In a post on X, Musk reacted to Poornima's post about her son's death, where he said, "This doesn't seem like a suicide." This doesn’t seem like a suicide — Kekius Maximus (@elonmusk) December 29, 2024 Suchir had quit OpenAI, citing ethical concerns about contributing to a technology he believed would do more harm than good. (With inputs from agencies)

OpenAI whistleblower death: Indian-origin victim's mother alleges foul play over 'blood'

Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue, two iconic monuments off the coast of Kanyakumari, the southernmost district in mainland India, are now connected by an architectural marvel - the country's first glass bridge at sea. Built at a cost of approx USD 4.3 million (Rs 37 crore), the bridge was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
The 77-metre-long, 10-metre-wide walkway is meant to help visitors walk from one monument to another, without availing of the boat service, which was the only option thus far connecting the at-sea monuments. Henceforth, visitors have to only avail the boat ride from the mainland to one of the monuments&nbsp;and the return ride to the mainland.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5csfwqu-zf40x92y-rrigj29o">
அய்யன் வள்ளுவர் சிலையை விவேகானந்தர் பாறையுடன் இணைக்கக் கடல் நடுவே அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள கண்ணாடி இழைப் பாலம் திறப்பு, பல்வேறு வகைகளிலும் குறள்நெறி பரப்பும் தகைமையாளர்களுக்குச் சிறப்பு, அறிவார்ந்தோரின் கருத்துச் செறிவுமிக்க பேச்சில் வள்ளுவத்தின் பயன் குறித்த பட்டிமன்றம் - என &ldquo;வள்ளுவம்&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/EmATLQhPLh">pic.twitter.com/EmATLQhPLh</a>
&mdash; M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) <a href="https://twitter.com/mkstalin/status/1873766608264437991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
The bridge was inaugurated on Monday (Dec 30), aligning with the silver jubilee of the unveiling of the 133-foot-tall Thiruvalluvar statue by the late chief minister M Karunanidhi.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/violation-of-silent-period-tamil-nadu-congress-reaches-court-against-pm-modis-kanyakumari-visit-727484" rel="dofollow">Also read: 'Violation of silent period,' Tamil Nadu Congress moves court against PM Modi's Kanyakumari visit</a>
The newly inaugurated bridge is sure to offer a unique experience to visitors who can enjoy the feel of walking over the seawater and rocks, while also enjoying the breathtaking views of the area. Kanyakumari is also known as "The Land's End" as it is the southernmost point of the Indian mainland.&nbsp;
Tourists flock to the district to catch a glimpse of the sunsets and sunrises at the tip of the Indian peninsula, which is the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea.&nbsp;
Designed like a bowstring arch, the glass fibre bridge is said to be as durable as it is visually appealing. It is reportedly built to endure the region's harsh marine environment and is&nbsp;capable of resisting the corrosive effects of salty sea air and the potential impact of exposure to high humidity.
Poet-philosopher <a href="Thiruvalluvar" rel="dofollow">Thiruvalluvar</a>, who is believed to have lived more than two millennia ago, penned 1,330 Tamil couplets known as Thirukkural, which is a world-renowned literary work on morality. Thirukkural remains the most translated and the most cited among Tamil literary works. The couplets are considered a masterpiece and the text is one of the most important texts in Tamil literature.
Swami Vivekananda, born Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, author, religious teacher, and the chief disciple of the Indian guru Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He was a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world. He is credited with raising interfaith awareness and bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion in the late nineteenth century.&nbsp;
In 1893, he travelled to the United States, where he participated in the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. There he delivered a famous speech beginning with the words: "Sisters and brothers of America..." introducing the ancient Hindu religious tradition to Americans and speaking about the essential unity of all spiritual paths.

India news: The walkway is meant to help visitors walk from one monument to another without availing of the boat service, which was the only option thus far.

Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue, two iconic monuments off the coast of Kanyakumari, the southernmost district in mainland India, are now connected by an architectural marvel - the country's first glass bridge at sea. Built at a cost of approx USD 4.3 million (Rs 37 crore), the bridge was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. The 77-metre-long, 10-metre-wide walkway is meant to help visitors walk from one monument to another, without availing of the boat service, which was the only option thus far connecting the at-sea monuments. Henceforth, visitors have to only avail the boat ride from the mainland to one of the monuments and the return ride to the mainland. அய்யன் வள்ளுவர் சிலையை விவேகானந்தர் பாறையுடன் இணைக்கக் கடல் நடுவே அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள கண்ணாடி இழைப் பாலம் திறப்பு, பல்வேறு வகைகளிலும் குறள்நெறி பரப்பும் தகைமையாளர்களுக்குச் சிறப்பு, அறிவார்ந்தோரின் கருத்துச் செறிவுமிக்க பேச்சில் வள்ளுவத்தின் பயன் குறித்த பட்டிமன்றம் - என “வள்ளுவம்… pic.twitter.com/EmATLQhPLh — M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 30, 2024 The bridge was inaugurated on Monday (Dec 30), aligning with the silver jubilee of the unveiling of the 133-foot-tall Thiruvalluvar statue by the late chief minister M Karunanidhi. Also read: 'Violation of silent period,' Tamil Nadu Congress moves court against PM Modi's Kanyakumari visit The newly inaugurated bridge is sure to offer a unique experience to visitors who can enjoy the feel of walking over the seawater and rocks, while also enjoying the breathtaking views of the area. Kanyakumari is also known as "The Land's End" as it is the southernmost point of the Indian mainland. Tourists flock to the district to catch a glimpse of the sunsets and sunrises at the tip of the Indian peninsula, which is the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea. Designed like a bowstring arch, the glass fibre bridge is said to be as durable as it is visually appealing. It is reportedly built to endure the region's harsh marine environment and is capable of resisting the corrosive effects of salty sea air and the potential impact of exposure to high humidity. Poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, who is believed to have lived more than two millennia ago, penned 1,330 Tamil couplets known as Thirukkural, which is a world-renowned literary work on morality. Thirukkural remains the most translated and the most cited among Tamil literary works. The couplets are considered a masterpiece and the text is one of the most important texts in Tamil literature. Swami Vivekananda, born Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, author, religious teacher, and the chief disciple of the Indian guru Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He was a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world. He is credited with raising interfaith awareness and bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion in the late nineteenth century. In 1893, he travelled to the United States, where he participated in the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. There he delivered a famous speech beginning with the words: "Sisters and brothers of America..." introducing the ancient Hindu religious tradition to Americans and speaking about the essential unity of all spiritual paths.

India's first glass bridge at sea links two iconic monuments

An Indian man was arrested in Pakistan after he illegally crossed the border to meet a woman he fell in love with on Facebook. The man hails from the Aligarh district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and has been identified as 30-year-old Badal Babu. He was arrested by Pakistan's Punjab Police in Mandi Bahauddin city.
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/yemen-sanctions-death-sentence-to-indian-nurse-nimisha-priya-india-responds-8581112" aria-label="Yemen sanctions death sentence to Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, India responds">Yemen sanctions death sentence to Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, India responds</a>
Pakistani authorities said that Babu revealed during the investigation that he wanted to meet the woman after developing a romantic relationship with her. He travelled there without any valid visa or travel documents. He was arrested on December 27. Babu was arrested under Sections 13 and 14 of Pakistan's Foreigners Act, 1946.&nbsp;
A Pakistan court has remanded him in 14 days of judicial custody and he is expected to reappear in court on January 10, 2025.&nbsp;
The investigation further revealed that it was Babu's third attempt to cross the border illegally, and he had previously tried it twice.
Authorities are now investigating if Babu's sole motive to cross the border was a romantic relationship or some other as well.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/im-not-particularly-afraid-japans-ishiba-moves-into-haunted-pm-house-8580909" aria-label="&lsquo;I&rsquo;m not particularly afraid&rsquo;: Japan&rsquo;s Ishiba moves into 'haunted' PM house">&lsquo;I&rsquo;m not particularly afraid&rsquo;: Japan&rsquo;s Ishiba moves into 'haunted' PM house</a>
This is not the first time an Indian man tried crossing borders to meet his lover. In July this year, another man from Uttar Pradesh tried to reach Pakistan illegally to meet his lover he met online.&nbsp;
A similar case had rocked the internet when a Pakistani woman named Seema Haider crossed borders in 2023 with her children to unite with her love named Sachin.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

India News | Trending: A Pakistani court has remanded Badal Babu in 14 days of judicial custody, and he is expected to appear in court again on January 10, 2025. 

An Indian man was arrested in Pakistan after he illegally crossed the border to meet a woman he fell in love with on Facebook. The man hails from the Aligarh district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and has been identified as 30-year-old Badal Babu. He was arrested by Pakistan's Punjab Police in Mandi Bahauddin city. Also read | Yemen sanctions death sentence to Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, India responds Pakistani authorities said that Babu revealed during the investigation that he wanted to meet the woman after developing a romantic relationship with her. He travelled there without any valid visa or travel documents. He was arrested on December 27. Babu was arrested under Sections 13 and 14 of Pakistan's Foreigners Act, 1946. A Pakistan court has remanded him in 14 days of judicial custody and he is expected to reappear in court on January 10, 2025. The investigation further revealed that it was Babu's third attempt to cross the border illegally, and he had previously tried it twice. Authorities are now investigating if Babu's sole motive to cross the border was a romantic relationship or some other as well. Also read | ‘I’m not particularly afraid’: Japan’s Ishiba moves into 'haunted' PM house This is not the first time an Indian man tried crossing borders to meet his lover. In July this year, another man from Uttar Pradesh tried to reach Pakistan illegally to meet his lover he met online. A similar case had rocked the internet when a Pakistani woman named Seema Haider crossed borders in 2023 with her children to unite with her love named Sachin. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian man crosses into Pakistan border to meet online lover, arrested

For India, the year 2024 was emotionally strenous as the country lost some of its influential personalities belonging to various fields, including politics, business, music and entertainment. While the death of Dr Manmohan Singh created a void in the field of politics, the demise of Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain came as a shock to the music and entertainment industry.
Following are some of the prominent personalities who passed away in 2024:
<h2>Dr Manmohan Singh</h2>
India's first Sikh prime Minister and the man behind economic reforms in the country, Dr Manmohan Singh died at the age of 92 on Thursday (Dec 26) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after being admitted for age-related issues. He was cremated at the Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi with full state honours on Saturday (Dec 28).
Singh was the prime minister of the country for two consecutive terms from 2004-2009 and 2009-2014 under the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government led by Congress's Sonia Gandhi.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/manmohan-singh-an-accidental-pm-who-pulled-out-indian-economy-from-doldrums-8574800" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Manmohan Singh: An &lsquo;accidental PM&rsquo; who pulled out Indian economy from doldrums</a>
He is also hailed as the architect of economic reforms in the country. As finance minister in 1991 under the Congress government of PV Narasimha Rao, Singh introduced radical reforms in his first Union Budget of 1991-92 with a focus on &lsquo;liberalisation&rsquo; and ended the 'licence raj', opening the gates for private players and multinational companies in India. This revived the Indian economy that was in deep crisis.
<h2>Ratan Tata</h2>
Ratan Naval Tata, former chairman of the Tata Group, one of India's biggest conglomerates, passed away on October 9 at the age of 86. Tata remained as the chairman of the company for 20 years, from 1991 to 2002 and for a brief period in 2016.&nbsp;
After taking over the conglomerate from his uncle JRD Tata, Ratan Tata took the group to great heights. There were several mergers and acquisitions that happened under him. Buying Jaguar Land Rover from Ford in June 2008 was one of the major investments by the company during his time. This acquisition turned out to be a big turning point for the Indian automotive industry.
Looking at his achievements, the government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan in the year 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008.&nbsp;
<h2>Zakir Hussain</h2>
A global music icon, Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, passed away on December 15 in San Francisco at the age of 73. According to his family members, he was suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Hussain redefined Indian classical music by blending traditional tabla rhythms with global genres for which he got international acclaim. He is a recipient of Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards conferred by the government of India. Notably, he is also a four-time Grammy winner. He is credited with bringing the Indian classical music to a global audience.
Hussain is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, his daughter Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.
<h2>Pankaj Udhas</h2>
Renowned ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas passed away in February at the age of 72 due to prolonged illness. Udhas, along with fellow musicians Jagjit Singh, Anup Jalota, Talat Aziz and Bhupender Singh, played a pivotal role in popularising Ghazals among the masses of the country.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/how-2024-gave-a-reality-check-to-indian-prime-minister-narendra-modi-786426" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">How 2024 gave a reality check to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;</a>
Some of Udhas's popular Ghazals are Chandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera, Ek Taraf Uska Ghar, Niklo Na Benakab. He also sang in a few Bollywood movies and gained huge popularity for those songs. Chitthi Ayi Hai from the film Naam released in the year 1986 and Jiye to Jiye Kaise from Saajan in 1991 were among his huge hits.
<h2>Sharda Sinha</h2>
Bhojpuri folk and classical singer Sharda Sinha, who was regarded as the "Kokila of Bihar" and "Begum Akhtar of Mithila" died in November at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, after battling with cancer. Sinha is the recipient of the Padma Shri (1991) and the Padma Vibhushan (2018) awards.
Sinha in her career has recorded over 60 Chhath songs across nine albums under popular music labels like T-Series, HMV and Tips. She has also sung a few songs in Bollywood among which popular ones are "Kahe Toh Se Sajna" from Maine Pyar Kiya, "Taar Bijli" from Anurag Kashyap's critically acclaimed Gangs of Wasseypur Part 2 and "Babul Jo Tumne Sikhaya" from the film&nbsp;Maine Pyaar Kiya.

India | While the death of Dr Manmohan Singh created a void in politics, the demise of Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain came as a shock to the music and entertainment industry.

For India, the year 2024 was emotionally strenous as the country lost some of its influential personalities belonging to various fields, including politics, business, music and entertainment. While the death of Dr Manmohan Singh created a void in the field of politics, the demise of Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain came as a shock to the music and entertainment industry. Following are some of the prominent personalities who passed away in 2024: Dr Manmohan Singh India's first Sikh prime Minister and the man behind economic reforms in the country, Dr Manmohan Singh died at the age of 92 on Thursday (Dec 26) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after being admitted for age-related issues. He was cremated at the Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi with full state honours on Saturday (Dec 28). Singh was the prime minister of the country for two consecutive terms from 2004-2009 and 2009-2014 under the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government led by Congress's Sonia Gandhi. Also Read: Manmohan Singh: An ‘accidental PM’ who pulled out Indian economy from doldrums He is also hailed as the architect of economic reforms in the country. As finance minister in 1991 under the Congress government of PV Narasimha Rao, Singh introduced radical reforms in his first Union Budget of 1991-92 with a focus on ‘liberalisation’ and ended the 'licence raj', opening the gates for private players and multinational companies in India. This revived the Indian economy that was in deep crisis. Ratan Tata Ratan Naval Tata, former chairman of the Tata Group, one of India's biggest conglomerates, passed away on October 9 at the age of 86. Tata remained as the chairman of the company for 20 years, from 1991 to 2002 and for a brief period in 2016. After taking over the conglomerate from his uncle JRD Tata, Ratan Tata took the group to great heights. There were several mergers and acquisitions that happened under him. Buying Jaguar Land Rover from Ford in June 2008 was one of the major investments by the company during his time. This acquisition turned out to be a big turning point for the Indian automotive industry. Looking at his achievements, the government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan in the year 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008. Zakir Hussain A global music icon, Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, passed away on December 15 in San Francisco at the age of 73. According to his family members, he was suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Hussain redefined Indian classical music by blending traditional tabla rhythms with global genres for which he got international acclaim. He is a recipient of Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards conferred by the government of India. Notably, he is also a four-time Grammy winner. He is credited with bringing the Indian classical music to a global audience. Hussain is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, his daughter Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi. Pankaj Udhas Renowned ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas passed away in February at the age of 72 due to prolonged illness. Udhas, along with fellow musicians Jagjit Singh, Anup Jalota, Talat Aziz and Bhupender Singh, played a pivotal role in popularising Ghazals among the masses of the country. Also Read: How 2024 gave a reality check to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Some of Udhas's popular Ghazals are Chandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera, Ek Taraf Uska Ghar, Niklo Na Benakab. He also sang in a few Bollywood movies and gained huge popularity for those songs. Chitthi Ayi Hai from the film Naam released in the year 1986 and Jiye to Jiye Kaise from Saajan in 1991 were among his huge hits. Sharda Sinha Bhojpuri folk and classical singer Sharda Sinha, who was regarded as the "Kokila of Bihar" and "Begum Akhtar of Mithila" died in November at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, after battling with cancer. Sinha is the recipient of the Padma Shri (1991) and the Padma Vibhushan (2018) awards. Sinha in her career has recorded over 60 Chhath songs across nine albums under popular music labels like T-Series, HMV and Tips. She has also sung a few songs in Bollywood among which popular ones are "Kahe Toh Se Sajna" from Maine Pyar Kiya, "Taar Bijli" from Anurag Kashyap's critically acclaimed Gangs of Wasseypur Part 2 and "Babul Jo Tumne Sikhaya" from the film Maine Pyaar Kiya.

Year Ender: From Manmohan Singh to Zakir Hussain, popular personalities India lost in 2024

As the year 2024 comes to an end, firming up relationships with Africa, from Naval cooperation to high-level visits, was one of the key focus areas for the policymakers in Delhi. When it comes to the Indian Navy, they were involved in port calls, joint exercises, goodwill visits and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support to the continent.&nbsp;
Indian Navy Ship INS Tir and INS Sujata visited Mozambique and Tanzania in March to participate in the second edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania (IMT) Trilateral Exercise. Additionally, INS Gharial visited Mozambique in November 2024, where the Indian Navy handed over two Fast Interceptor Crafts to the Mozambican Armed Forces, enhancing maritime security for the southeast African country.
INS Sunayna visited Seychelles in June, a visit that coincided with Seychelles' 48th National Day, in which an Indian Navy contingent participated. In September, INS Talwar&rsquo;s port visit to Mombasa facilitated professional exchanges and joint exercises with the Kenyan Navy. This was followed by its participation in IBSAMAR VIII exercises in October, a trilateral exercise between India, Brazil, and South Africa in Simon&rsquo;s Town, reinforcing cross-continent multilateral maritime cooperation (Asia-Africa-South America). INS Sarvekshak, India's hydrographic survey vessel, visited Mauritius in December, and INS Tushil, a Russia-made Indian Navy ship commissioned by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, visited Kaliningrad in December.
The Indian Navy, essentially seen as a projection of India's maritime and diplomatic power, is critical to the Indian government's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy. The SAGAR policy aims to enhance maritime security, support economic growth, and increase engagements in the Indian Ocean Region.
As part of the SAGAR policy, the Indian Navy has been helping in training and capacity building. Initiatives include training African naval officers in surveillance operations in large maritime areas, search and rescue (SAR), and counter-piracy operations. The Navy has been involved in joint surveillance missions with countries like Mozambique and Tanzania. With India's support, radar networks in countries like the Seychelles and Mauritius have been set up to enhance maritime domain awareness.&nbsp;
The Indian Navy&rsquo;s role extends beyond security to humanitarian assistance. Its rapid response during natural disasters shows India is a reliable partner, not only in the region but wider Indian Ocean, from Africa to ASEAN. After Cyclone Hidaya this year, which caused significant flooding in Kenya, INS Sumedha, which was deployed for anti-piracy operations off Somalia, was diverted to deliver food, relief, and medicine supplies to the flood victims.
Not just naval cooperation, but it was a year of high-level engagements between the two sides. President Droupadi Murmu visited Algeria, Mauritania, and Malawi in October 2024. In November, PM Modi visited Nigeria, with an emphasis on defence and energy ties. The visit to Nigeria by an Indian Prime Minister came after a gap of 17 years. Earlier this year, Mozambique's President Nyusi visited Gujarat to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. Next year is expected to be more active, with the India-Africa summit scheduled to take place. The last and third edition of the India Africa Forum Summit took place in Delhi in 2015.
Africa today is among the fastest-growing regions of the world, with a young population and natural resources. India has had a historic relationship with the continent, from the joint struggle against colonialism to working in the contemporary world. In fact, India has been a strong supporter of African presence at the reformed United Nations Security Council, and it was at the Delhi G20 summit that the African Union became part of the megaeconomic grouping.

World | India News: The Indian Navy, seen as a projection of India's maritime and diplomatic power, is critical to the Indian government's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy. 

As the year 2024 comes to an end, firming up relationships with Africa, from Naval cooperation to high-level visits, was one of the key focus areas for the policymakers in Delhi. When it comes to the Indian Navy, they were involved in port calls, joint exercises, goodwill visits and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support to the continent. Indian Navy Ship INS Tir and INS Sujata visited Mozambique and Tanzania in March to participate in the second edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania (IMT) Trilateral Exercise. Additionally, INS Gharial visited Mozambique in November 2024, where the Indian Navy handed over two Fast Interceptor Crafts to the Mozambican Armed Forces, enhancing maritime security for the southeast African country. INS Sunayna visited Seychelles in June, a visit that coincided with Seychelles' 48th National Day, in which an Indian Navy contingent participated. In September, INS Talwar’s port visit to Mombasa facilitated professional exchanges and joint exercises with the Kenyan Navy. This was followed by its participation in IBSAMAR VIII exercises in October, a trilateral exercise between India, Brazil, and South Africa in Simon’s Town, reinforcing cross-continent multilateral maritime cooperation (Asia-Africa-South America). INS Sarvekshak, India's hydrographic survey vessel, visited Mauritius in December, and INS Tushil, a Russia-made Indian Navy ship commissioned by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, visited Kaliningrad in December. The Indian Navy, essentially seen as a projection of India's maritime and diplomatic power, is critical to the Indian government's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy. The SAGAR policy aims to enhance maritime security, support economic growth, and increase engagements in the Indian Ocean Region. As part of the SAGAR policy, the Indian Navy has been helping in training and capacity building. Initiatives include training African naval officers in surveillance operations in large maritime areas, search and rescue (SAR), and counter-piracy operations. The Navy has been involved in joint surveillance missions with countries like Mozambique and Tanzania. With India's support, radar networks in countries like the Seychelles and Mauritius have been set up to enhance maritime domain awareness. The Indian Navy’s role extends beyond security to humanitarian assistance. Its rapid response during natural disasters shows India is a reliable partner, not only in the region but wider Indian Ocean, from Africa to ASEAN. After Cyclone Hidaya this year, which caused significant flooding in Kenya, INS Sumedha, which was deployed for anti-piracy operations off Somalia, was diverted to deliver food, relief, and medicine supplies to the flood victims. Not just naval cooperation, but it was a year of high-level engagements between the two sides. President Droupadi Murmu visited Algeria, Mauritania, and Malawi in October 2024. In November, PM Modi visited Nigeria, with an emphasis on defence and energy ties. The visit to Nigeria by an Indian Prime Minister came after a gap of 17 years. Earlier this year, Mozambique's President Nyusi visited Gujarat to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. Next year is expected to be more active, with the India-Africa summit scheduled to take place. The last and third edition of the India Africa Forum Summit took place in Delhi in 2015. Africa today is among the fastest-growing regions of the world, with a young population and natural resources. India has had a historic relationship with the continent, from the joint struggle against colonialism to working in the contemporary world. In fact, India has been a strong supporter of African presence at the reformed United Nations Security Council, and it was at the Delhi G20 summit that the African Union became part of the megaeconomic grouping.

Rewind 2024: India expands ties with Africa with naval cooperation, high-level visits

Chief Minister of the Indian State of Manipur, N Biren Singh, apologised on Tuesday (Dec 31) for the ethnic clashes and unfortunate developments in the northeastern state that started in 2023.&nbsp;
"This entire year has been very unfortunate. I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what's happening till today since last May 3. Many people lost their loved ones. Many people left their homes," Biren said.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/yemen-sanctions-death-sentence-to-indian-nurse-nimisha-priya-india-responds-8581112" aria-label="Yemen sanctions death sentence to Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, India responds">Yemen sanctions death sentence to Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, India responds</a>
He continued saying, "I feel regret. I apologise. But now, I hope after seeing the last three to four months progress towards the peace, I believe by 2025, the normalcy will be restored in the state."&nbsp;
He further appealed to all the communities of the state that "whatever happened, happened" and that they should "forgive and forget" it.
"You have to forgive and forget the past mistakes, and we have to start a new life (towards) a peaceful and prosperous Manipur," he said.
<h2>Manipur violence claimed at least 180 lives</h2>
Manipur violence has claimed at least 180 lives since May 2023. Violence erupted over the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and the tribal Kukis' opposition to this.
Also read |&nbsp;<a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/major-cities-in-india-announce-traffic-restrictions-on-new-years-eve-check-details-8580893" aria-label="Major cities in India announce traffic restrictions on New Year's Eve. Check details">Major cities in India announce traffic restrictions on New Year's Eve. Check details</a>
The Meiteis consist of around 53 per cent of Manipur's entire population. They live primarily in Imphal Valley. The tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, account for 40 per cent population of the state.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

India news: Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren SIngh, apologised on Tuesday (Dec 31) for the ethnic clashes and unfortunate developments that started in 2023. 

Chief Minister of the Indian State of Manipur, N Biren Singh, apologised on Tuesday (Dec 31) for the ethnic clashes and unfortunate developments in the northeastern state that started in 2023. "This entire year has been very unfortunate. I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what's happening till today since last May 3. Many people lost their loved ones. Many people left their homes," Biren said. Also read | Yemen sanctions death sentence to Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, India responds He continued saying, "I feel regret. I apologise. But now, I hope after seeing the last three to four months progress towards the peace, I believe by 2025, the normalcy will be restored in the state." He further appealed to all the communities of the state that "whatever happened, happened" and that they should "forgive and forget" it. "You have to forgive and forget the past mistakes, and we have to start a new life (towards) a peaceful and prosperous Manipur," he said. Manipur violence claimed at least 180 lives Manipur violence has claimed at least 180 lives since May 2023. Violence erupted over the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and the tribal Kukis' opposition to this. Also read | Major cities in India announce traffic restrictions on New Year's Eve. Check details The Meiteis consist of around 53 per cent of Manipur's entire population. They live primarily in Imphal Valley. The tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, account for 40 per cent population of the state. (With inputs from agencies)

Manipur CM apologises for ethnic clashes, says 'forgive and forget'

Yemen has passed a death sentence for the Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who has been in jail since 2017 for allegedly murdering a Yemeni national. As per media reports, the death sentence will be executed within a month.&nbsp;
On Tuesday (Dec 31), India released a statement saying it was aware of the death sentence and was extending all possible help to her family. "We understand that the family of Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in the statement.
The decision came as a shock to Priya's family in Kerala, as they have been making all efforts to save the 36-year-old nurse. It has also been reported that her mother, 57-year-old Prerna Kumari, reached Sanaa this year and has been living there to make efforts for her release or to at least save her from the death sentence.&nbsp;
<h2>Nimisha Priya's case&nbsp;</h2>
Nimisha Priya was found guilty of killing a Yemeni man named Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2017. After a year, she was sentenced to jail, and her family is trying to negotiate the blood money with Mahdi's family.&nbsp;
Blood money is the amount paid to the family of the deceased by the murderer or murderer's family as compensation in lieu of reprieve.
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/harrowing-footage-captures-a-near-miss-on-los-angeles-international-airport-runway-8580941" aria-label="Harrowing footage captures a near-miss on Los Angeles International Airport runway">Harrowing footage captures a near-miss on Los Angeles International Airport runway</a>
Priya's family approached the Supreme Court of Yemen against the court's order in 2023, but their appeal was rejected.
Nimisha Priya's case is taking place in areas that are under the control of Houthis in Yemen. The sentencing was announced much earlier. The sentence has now been confirmed by the Houthi leadership in Sanaa. Hence, Priya's release entirely depends on the forgiveness of Mahdi's family.&nbsp;
<h2>Who is she?&nbsp;</h2>
Nimisha Priya is from Kerala's Palakkad district and is a trained nurse. She used to work in a private hospital in Yemen for a few years and was living with her husband and a minor daughter. In 2014, her husband and daughter went to India, but as Yemen grappled with the civil war the same year, they could not return to Yemen.&nbsp;
Later in 2015, they took the help of Mahdi to set up her clinic in Yemen's capital, as only Yemen citizens are allowed to set up businesses in Yemen as per the law.&nbsp;
As per her appeal, when she went to India for a month's holiday in 2015, Mahdi accompanied her. He allegedly stole her wedding photographs during that visit. He manipulated the photographs to claim that Priya was his wife. He started covering all the revenue of Priya's clinic and also manipulated documents in his favour. When Priya confronted him, he started physical assault on her.
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-changes-name-on-x-call-him-kekius-maximus-now-8580955" aria-label="Elon Musk changes name on X; call him 'Kekius Maximus' now">Elon Musk changes name on X; call him 'Kekius Maximus' now</a>
She alleged that when she approached the police, rather than taking any action on Mahdi, police arrested her for six days.
(With inputs from agencies)

India news, Middle East: Nimisha Priya, a 36-year-old nurse from the state of Kerala in India, was found guilty of killing a Yemeni man named Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2017.

Yemen has passed a death sentence for the Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who has been in jail since 2017 for allegedly murdering a Yemeni national. As per media reports, the death sentence will be executed within a month. On Tuesday (Dec 31), India released a statement saying it was aware of the death sentence and was extending all possible help to her family. "We understand that the family of Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in the statement. The decision came as a shock to Priya's family in Kerala, as they have been making all efforts to save the 36-year-old nurse. It has also been reported that her mother, 57-year-old Prerna Kumari, reached Sanaa this year and has been living there to make efforts for her release or to at least save her from the death sentence. Nimisha Priya's case Nimisha Priya was found guilty of killing a Yemeni man named Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2017. After a year, she was sentenced to jail, and her family is trying to negotiate the blood money with Mahdi's family. Blood money is the amount paid to the family of the deceased by the murderer or murderer's family as compensation in lieu of reprieve. Also read | Harrowing footage captures a near-miss on Los Angeles International Airport runway Priya's family approached the Supreme Court of Yemen against the court's order in 2023, but their appeal was rejected. Nimisha Priya's case is taking place in areas that are under the control of Houthis in Yemen. The sentencing was announced much earlier. The sentence has now been confirmed by the Houthi leadership in Sanaa. Hence, Priya's release entirely depends on the forgiveness of Mahdi's family. Who is she? Nimisha Priya is from Kerala's Palakkad district and is a trained nurse. She used to work in a private hospital in Yemen for a few years and was living with her husband and a minor daughter. In 2014, her husband and daughter went to India, but as Yemen grappled with the civil war the same year, they could not return to Yemen. Later in 2015, they took the help of Mahdi to set up her clinic in Yemen's capital, as only Yemen citizens are allowed to set up businesses in Yemen as per the law. As per her appeal, when she went to India for a month's holiday in 2015, Mahdi accompanied her. He allegedly stole her wedding photographs during that visit. He manipulated the photographs to claim that Priya was his wife. He started covering all the revenue of Priya's clinic and also manipulated documents in his favour. When Priya confronted him, he started physical assault on her. Also read | Elon Musk changes name on X; call him 'Kekius Maximus' now She alleged that when she approached the police, rather than taking any action on Mahdi, police arrested her for six days. (With inputs from agencies)

Yemen sanctions death sentence to Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, India responds

It's the time for celebrations in India on the occasion of New Year's Eve. To ensure the celebrations go smoothly, police in major cities including New Delhi and Mumbai, have imposed certain restrictions on the movement of traffic.
Police in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, and Chennai have made special arrangements to manage the expected large gatherings in popular areas.
<h3>Here's a look at the traffic advisories:</h3>
New Delhi:
&gt;&nbsp;In New Delhi, the police announced restrictions in Connaught Place, the India Gate, and points beyond these two locations. In a post on X, the police said that no vehicular traffic would be allowed in the inner, middle, or outer circle of Connaught Place except for vehicles carrying valid passes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Traffic Advisory Special traffic arrangements have been made in Connaught Place and India Gate areas for the New Year Eve celebrations. Kindly follow the advisory<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DPTrafficAdvisory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DPTrafficAdvisory</a> <a href="https://t.co/GKEfcsa3p3">pic.twitter.com/GKEfcsa3p3</a>
&mdash; Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) <a href="https://twitter.com/dtptraffic/status/1873349187246669853?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2024</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&gt; The Delhi Police said that in Connaught Place, limited parking space would be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Unauthorised parking vehicles would be towed and prosecuted.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/happy-new-year-2025-celebrations-live-updates-new-zealand-ushers-to-welcome-the-new-year-with-fireworks-8580939" rel="dofollow">Click here to follow all updates on New Year's celebrations across the world</a>
&gt; People in the national capital have been advised to plan their travel in advance to avoid delays, and also opt for public transport to minimise congestion.&nbsp;
Mumbai:
&gt; The Mumbai Police said that on New Year's Eve, several roads in South Mumbai would be closed and parking would be prohibited in some places.&nbsp;
&gt; The Mumbai coastal road would be open for vehicular traffic from 11 pm Tuesday to Wednesday 11 pm.
&gt; According to a report by CNBC TV18, parking of all vehicles would be prohibited from 3 pm on Tuesday to 6 am on Wednesday on several key roads in the city including Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road and Madam Cama Road.&nbsp;
Bengaluru:
&gt; The Bengaluru Police said in a post on X that entry of all vehicles except police and emergency vehicles would be prohibited on MG Road, Brigade Road, Church Street, Museum Road, Rest House Road, and Residency Cross Road.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Checkout for parking restrictions before heading out for new year celebrations today. Avoid drunk driving ; use public transport. Have safe and joyous new year !!! <a href="https://t.co/zUbReGtnvh">pic.twitter.com/zUbReGtnvh</a>
&mdash; CP Bengaluru ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಆಯುಕ್ತ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು (@CPBlr) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPBlr/status/1873962274341478620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2024</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&gt; From 11 pm Tuesday to 6 am Wednesday, vehicles would be prohibited on all flyovers in the city except the elevated expressway leading to the Kempagowda International Airport (KIA) to prevent accidents and mishaps.&nbsp;
&gt; Special tests will be conducted to check drunk driving and the use of narcotics throughout Tuesday night, with checkpoints set up at various locations.
Pune:
&gt; In an advisory posted on X, the Pune Police said that there would be a "No Vehicle Zone" on Ferguson College Road between Good Luck Chowk and the Ferguson College Main Gate.&nbsp;
Chennai:
&gt; As per the CNBC TV18 report, several traffic diversions in and around Kamarajar Salai and Elliot Beach would be put in place.
&gt; The report said that all flyovers would be closed for traffic from 10 pm Tuesday till 6 am Wednesday. 
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

India news: The restrictions have been imposed to ensure a safe and sound celebration of New Year's Eve. Some of the restrictions will continue till Wednesday (Jan 1). 

It's the time for celebrations in India on the occasion of New Year's Eve. To ensure the celebrations go smoothly, police in major cities including New Delhi and Mumbai, have imposed certain restrictions on the movement of traffic. Police in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, and Chennai have made special arrangements to manage the expected large gatherings in popular areas. Here's a look at the traffic advisories: New Delhi: > In New Delhi, the police announced restrictions in Connaught Place, the India Gate, and points beyond these two locations. In a post on X, the police said that no vehicular traffic would be allowed in the inner, middle, or outer circle of Connaught Place except for vehicles carrying valid passes. Traffic Advisory Special traffic arrangements have been made in Connaught Place and India Gate areas for the New Year Eve celebrations. Kindly follow the advisory#DPTrafficAdvisory pic.twitter.com/GKEfcsa3p3 — Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) December 29, 2024 > The Delhi Police said that in Connaught Place, limited parking space would be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Unauthorised parking vehicles would be towed and prosecuted. Click here to follow all updates on New Year's celebrations across the world > People in the national capital have been advised to plan their travel in advance to avoid delays, and also opt for public transport to minimise congestion. Mumbai: > The Mumbai Police said that on New Year's Eve, several roads in South Mumbai would be closed and parking would be prohibited in some places. > The Mumbai coastal road would be open for vehicular traffic from 11 pm Tuesday to Wednesday 11 pm. > According to a report by CNBC TV18, parking of all vehicles would be prohibited from 3 pm on Tuesday to 6 am on Wednesday on several key roads in the city including Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road and Madam Cama Road. Bengaluru: > The Bengaluru Police said in a post on X that entry of all vehicles except police and emergency vehicles would be prohibited on MG Road, Brigade Road, Church Street, Museum Road, Rest House Road, and Residency Cross Road. Checkout for parking restrictions before heading out for new year celebrations today. Avoid drunk driving ; use public transport. Have safe and joyous new year !!! pic.twitter.com/zUbReGtnvh — CP Bengaluru ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಆಯುಕ್ತ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು (@CPBlr) December 31, 2024 > From 11 pm Tuesday to 6 am Wednesday, vehicles would be prohibited on all flyovers in the city except the elevated expressway leading to the Kempagowda International Airport (KIA) to prevent accidents and mishaps. > Special tests will be conducted to check drunk driving and the use of narcotics throughout Tuesday night, with checkpoints set up at various locations. Pune: > In an advisory posted on X, the Pune Police said that there would be a "No Vehicle Zone" on Ferguson College Road between Good Luck Chowk and the Ferguson College Main Gate. Chennai: > As per the CNBC TV18 report, several traffic diversions in and around Kamarajar Salai and Elliot Beach would be put in place. > The report said that all flyovers would be closed for traffic from 10 pm Tuesday till 6 am Wednesday. (With inputs from agencies)

Major cities in India announce traffic restrictions on New Year's Eve. Check details

A 23-year-old man from the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh was arrested on Sunday (Dec 30) in Meerut for slapping pedestrians to "experience dopamine rush" as he was allegedly suffering from depression. The man claimed to be jobless and had lost his father and his mother got remarried. Police said that he had been doing the act for 3-4 months and had slapped many people, including a woman and a retired officer.&nbsp;
After a purported video of Kapil Kumar slapping people walking on the road went viral and on receiving several complaints regarding the incident the UP police arrested him.
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Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/how-rise-in-pro-khalistani-movements-rolled-over-in-2024-know-its-impact-on-india-canada-relations-8573892" aria-label="How rise in pro-Khalistani movements in 2024 impacted India-Canada relations">How rise in pro-Khalistani movements in 2024 impacted India-Canada relations</a>
Police said that Kumar was identified in at least three of the slapping incidents and was held under the BNS section 115. His father died five years ago and his mother remarried within a few months of his death. Kumar told police that he used to live with his mother and stepfather used to slap people to get a dopamine rush and also used to experience suicidal thoughts.&nbsp;
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that creates feelings of alertness, motivation, and happiness.&nbsp;
Police said that they think Kumar has a medical condition, but they are not aware if he receives medication. Kumar further claimed about that he had a troubled childhood as his friends used to harass and make fun of him for his shy behaviour. He told the police that he was depressed and nothing good was happening to him. He said he thought maybe when he would leave the house then perhaps something good may happen and he went on slapping strangers on the road.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/young-girls-stage-their-kidnapping-to-meet-k-pop-sensation-bts-8580256" aria-label="Young girls from India stage their kidnapping to meet K-pop sensation &lsquo;BTS&rsquo;">Young girls from India stage their kidnapping to meet K-pop sensation &lsquo;BTS&rsquo;</a>
An investigation has been launched to get more information regarding the issue.&nbsp;
If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. You can contact local authorities and also encourage the person to contact a suicide prevention hotline. WION does not make any recommendations.
(With inputs from agencies)

India news, trending: A purported video of Kapil Kumar slapping people walking on the road went viral. He was arrested after authorities received multiple complaints. 

A 23-year-old man from the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh was arrested on Sunday (Dec 30) in Meerut for slapping pedestrians to "experience dopamine rush" as he was allegedly suffering from depression. The man claimed to be jobless and had lost his father and his mother got remarried. Police said that he had been doing the act for 3-4 months and had slapped many people, including a woman and a retired officer. After a purported video of Kapil Kumar slapping people walking on the road went viral and on receiving several complaints regarding the incident the UP police arrested him. View this post on Instagram A post shared by WION (@wionews) Also read | How rise in pro-Khalistani movements in 2024 impacted India-Canada relations Police said that Kumar was identified in at least three of the slapping incidents and was held under the BNS section 115. His father died five years ago and his mother remarried within a few months of his death. Kumar told police that he used to live with his mother and stepfather used to slap people to get a dopamine rush and also used to experience suicidal thoughts. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that creates feelings of alertness, motivation, and happiness. Police said that they think Kumar has a medical condition, but they are not aware if he receives medication. Kumar further claimed about that he had a troubled childhood as his friends used to harass and make fun of him for his shy behaviour. He told the police that he was depressed and nothing good was happening to him. He said he thought maybe when he would leave the house then perhaps something good may happen and he went on slapping strangers on the road. Also read | Young girls from India stage their kidnapping to meet K-pop sensation ‘BTS’ An investigation has been launched to get more information regarding the issue. If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. You can contact local authorities and also encourage the person to contact a suicide prevention hotline. WION does not make any recommendations. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Man slaps random pedestrians for 'dopamine rush' to battle depression, arrested

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