India got consular access to Baby Ariha in Nov

 Fri, 29 December 2023
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23:49

India got consular access to Baby Ariha in Berlin in Nov

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi
Indian officials in Berlin celebrated Diwali last month with baby girl Ariha Shah, who has been living in a foster care in the German capital for over two years. Ariha was placed in the custody of Germany's Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) on September 23, 2021 after the then seven-month-old...
23:34

Deadlock over Kerala's Thrissur Pooram ends after CM holds meeting

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The impasse over conducting the renowned Thrissur Pooram festival ended on Friday after a meeting convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided not to hike the rent for the Pooram exhibition ground by the Cochin Devaswom Board. The dispute originated when the Thiruvambadi and...
23:14

Several trains delayed as dense fog engulfs Delhi

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As Delhi continues to remain under the grip of dense fog, several trains have been delayed in the city due to obstructed visibility on Friday.  Speaking to ANI, Deepti, a passenger said, All the trains have been delayed. The station is so crowded and there is heavy traffic jam...
23:11

AI Express to start direct flights connecting Ayodhya with Bengaluru, Kolkata from Jan 17

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Air India Express on Friday said it will start direct flights connecting Ayodhya with Bengaluru and Kolkata from January 17.Earlier this month, the airline announced direct flight between Ayodhya and Delhi.In a release, the airline said the flights on the Bengaluru-Ayodhya and Kolkata-Ayodhya...
23:00

DMDK founder Vijayakanth laid to rest with full state honours

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Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam founder-leader and top yesteryear Tamil action star, Vijayakanth was on Friday laid to rest here with full state honours after tens of thousands of people paid their last respects. Mourners lined up on both sides of the roads as the decorated truck carrying...
22:53

Kerala ex-judge deletes FB post on woman scribe after HC intervention

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A former judge, who was earlier booked for making sexually coloured remarks against a senior woman television journalist through social media, has deleted his objectionable post after the intervention of the Kerala high court. Former sub-judge S Sudeep made the objectionable remarks in a...
22:41

Skeletal remains of five of family recovered from house in Karnataka

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The skeletal remains of five members of a family were recovered from a house in Chitradurga district, the police said Friday. The skeletal remains are suspected to be that of a retired government executive engineer Jagannath Reddy (85), his wife Prema (80), daughter Triveni (62), sons...
22:19

Mamata visits hospital for routine check-up

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday went to a state-run hospital here for a routine check-up of her left knee, which she had injured earlier this year while alighting from a helicopter. Banerjee went to the Woodburn Block of the SSKM Hospital, where doctors conducted a few...
22:10

Gujarat CID grills 20 flyers sent back by France

Passengers from the Nicaragua bound flight leave Mumbai airport/Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters
Passengers from the Nicaragua bound flight leave Mumbai airport/Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters
At least 20 passengers from Gujarat who were on the Nicaragua-bound flight which was sent back mid-route from France have been quizzed by police in a bid to unearth a suspected illegal immigration network operating from the state, a senior official said on Friday. The Nicaragua-bound...
21:37

Three injured in gas cylinder explosion in Odisha hospital

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At least three persons were injured after a cylinder used for filling refrigerant gas in air-conditioners exploded at a private hospital here on Friday, the police said.The incident took place at the Hi-Tech Hospital at Pandara this evening. There was no patient and outsiders on the floor...
21:26

Rupee gains 4 paise against US dollar

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The rupee appreciated 4 paise to settle at 83.16 against the US dollar on the last trading day of 2023, helped by a weak greenback against major rivals overseas and renewed foreign capital inflows amid lower crude oil prices.However, subdued domestic equity markets and increased month-end dollar...
21:12

No information: MEA on Nijjar killing arrest report

Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Days after reports from Canada suggested that the country's police are close to arresting two men believed to be responsible for the fatal shooting of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India on Friday said it has no information on the matter. We certainly do not have any information on...
20:56

China amends criminal law to punish bribe-givers

Chinese President Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping
Days after President Xi Jinping exhorted people to maintain personal integrity, China on Friday amended its criminal law to punish those giving bribes to officials as part of its anti-corruption drive. An amendment to the Criminal Law was passed by the Standing Committee of the National...
20:37

NIA arrests five for human trafficking in Tripura

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The National Investigation Agency has arrested five persons from various parts of Tripura for their alleged involvement in human trafficking, a senior police officer said on Friday.NIA teams arrived in the northeastern state on Thursday and made the arrests from Irani in Unakoti district and...
20:20

Tourists make beeline for Goa's beaches to ring in New Year

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Goa seems to be the preferred destination to ring in the new year, as tourists have been thronging the beaches and crowding hotels in the coastal state this holiday season. Lanes leading to beaches in Calangute, Candolim, Baga, and Vagator in North Goa have been witnessing traffic jams since...
20:05

Sent documents to Pak to extradite Hafiz Saeed: MEA

26/11 attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed/File image
26/11 attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed/File image
India has conveyed a request to the Pakistan government regarding the extradition of 26/11 attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed to India for facing trial in a particular case, the ministry of external affairs said on Friday.  Allowing the radical outfits including Hafiz Saeed's son to contest...
19:49

Class 10 student gang-raped in UP's Aligarh hotel

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A class 10th female student was allegedly raped by four men in a hotel Aligarh, the police said. The police have arrested two people, including the hotel owner and his relative. The administration has also sealed the hotel. Superintendent of police (city) Shekhar Pathak on Friday...
19:31

US envoys to India, Japan meet, discuss Quad

US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti
US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti
US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti met his counterpart in Japan Rahm Emanuel and discussed the pivotal role of the Quad partnership. I was delighted to meet Ambassador Emanuel to discuss the Quad partnership's pivotal role in rising to the defining challenges of our time. The United States...
19:29

Won't implement UGC's MPhil order in Bengal: Minister

West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu/ANI Photo
West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu/ANI Photo
West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu has said the state government will not abide by the decision of the University Grants Commission to universities to stop admission to MPhil programmes for the 2023-24 academic year. UGC Secretary Manish Joshi on December 27 said, It has come to the...
19:04

BSE Sensex top losers today

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Equity indices Sensex and Nifty declined on the last trading day of 2023 as investors preferred profit-taking after the recent sharp rally, wrapping up a record-setting year with benchmarks surging by up to 20 per cent. After a five-day winning run, selling pressure emerged in energy,...
18:39

Forces seize pistols, hand grenades during search ops in J-K's Poonch

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Security forces on Friday seized arms and ammunition, including three pistols and four hand grenades, during a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, the police sources said. The search was conducted by a team comprising personnel of the police and the Army in the Kasblari...
18:20

New Indian envoy to Sri Lanka calls on PM Gunawardena, discuss bilateral ties

India's new high commissioner to SL Santosh Jha calls on PM Dinesh Gunawardena/Indian embassy on X
India's new high commissioner to SL Santosh Jha calls on PM Dinesh Gunawardena/Indian embassy on X
India's new high commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha on Friday called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and discussed a wide range of topics related to the multidimensional bilateral ties and facilitating more Indian investments in the island nation. Jha assumed charge as the high...
18:05

ULFA inks peace pact with govt, to join mainstream

ULFA leaders with Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma after signing peace pact./ANI on X
ULFA leaders with Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma after signing peace pact./ANI on X
The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom on Friday signed a peace accord with the central and Assam governments agreeing to shun violence and join the mainstream. The agreement, signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa...
17:40

Indore's Devi Ahilyabai International Airport to now accept e-visas

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In a relief to travellers, the Devi Ahilyabai International Airport in Indore will now accept electronic visas, which was a long-standing demand. I am happy to inform you that the approval has been granted for acceptance of e-visas at the Devi Ahilyabai International Airport, BJP's Indore...
17:33

Renowned Manipuri singer Akhu Chingangbam abducted, released later

Manipuri singer and lyricist Akhu Chingangbam/Courtesy X
Manipuri singer and lyricist Akhu Chingangbam/Courtesy X
Renowned Manipuri singer and lyricist Akhu Chingangbam was abducted by unidentified gunmen from his residence in Imphal East district on Friday, his family said. However, he was later released unharmed around 20 km away from his house. A few armed men barged into Chingangbam's residence...
17:00

A blues fest in Feb may have a CM playing

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Impressed by Meghalaya Chief M Conrad K Sangma's performance of Iron Maiden's solo guitar on stage, Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra has invited him for the popular Mahindra Blues Festival in February 2024. Uber cool... we need you out here at the @mahindrablues in Feb @SangmaConrad,...
17:00

India reports 145 cases of Covid JN1 subvariant

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 India has reported a total of 145 cases of Covid-19 subvariant JN.1 till December 28, official sources said on Friday.A total of 145 cases of JN.1 variant have been reported till December 28. These samples were collected between November 21 and December 18, 2023, official sources told...
16:35

Israel embassy 'blast': Proof of conspiracy found

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After three days of investigation into the blast near the Israeli Embassy in the national capital, the Delhi Police is planning to register an FIR as they have found crucial evidence pointing to a conspiracy to threaten the envoy, sources said on Friday.  Delhi Police sources said...
16:09

40 stages, 1400 artistes... Ayodhya's party with PM

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To extend a magnificent welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cultural Department is actively preparing several cultural events as directed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. From the airport through Dharma Path and Ram Path to the railway station, over 1,400 local artists will...
15:52

Ayodhya station sports temple dome, bow & arrow

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Topped with a 'shikhar' style dome and bow and arrow peculiar to Lord Ram, the new railway station in Ayodhya, which is set to be inaugurated on Saturday, has all the trappings of a temple.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to open the redeveloped Ayodhya Junction station during his visit to...
15:33

Partial liquor ban in Ayodhya ahead of consecration

The under-construction Ram temple
The under-construction Ram temple
Ahead of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the sale of liquor has been banned on the Panchkosi Parikrama Marg of the temple town, Uttar Pradesh Minister Nitin Agarwal said.  The pran pratishtha, or the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol, will take part on...
15:08

Mamata, Uddhav want to go it alone for 2024

Will the bloc be a nonstarter?
Will the bloc be a nonstarter?
The buzz over the seat-sharing formula of the opposition's INDIA bloc hit a crescendo on Friday after a few partners within the alliance hinted at going all 'alone' in next year's Lok Sabha elections or not willing to 'compromise' in their respective states.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has...
15:04

Congress undecided over attending Ayodhya bash

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The Congress on Friday said it will take a decision at an appropriate time whether its senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi will attend the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said Gandhi and Kharge...
14:32

Girl found dead in swimming pool in Bengaluru

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Representational image
A nine-year-old girl was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the swimming pool of an apartment complex off Varthur-Gunjur road in Bengaluru's tech corridor, police said on Friday.  The victim has been identified as Manasa. She, along with her family, lived in the same apartment...
14:19

'Ayodhya will be world's biggest site of Hindutva'

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Chairman of Sri Ram Research Centre, Ajay Pratap Singh, on Friday said that Ayodhya will be the biggest site of Hindutva at the international level. The head of the only research centre on Lord Ram said that no one ever imagined that Ayodhya, which has been neglected for the past 20 years,...
14:11

House of secrets: Skeletons of family found

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Representational image
The skeletal remains of five members of a family were recovered from a house in Chitradurga district in Karnataka, police said Friday.  The skeletal remains are suspected to be that of a retired government executive engineer Jagannath Reddy (85), his wife Prema (80), daughter Triveni...
14:07

Attacks on Hindu temples in Canada: Police identifies suspect

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Durham Regional Police have identified the suspect behind multiple break-and-enters at Hindu temples this year in Canada and he has been held for a bail hearing, the Durham Regional Police said in a media release.Recently, in October, the 41-year-old Jagdish Pandher from Brampton, was caught...
13:35

WANTED: Cobbler who designed Parl accused's shoes

The shoes of the accused were hollowed out to fit gas canisters
The shoes of the accused were hollowed out to fit gas canisters
Delhi Police has sought the help of its Lucknow counterparts to trace a cyclist cobbler who created cavities in the shoes of Parliament security breach case accused Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D to fit smoke canisters in them, sources said.  Police want to make the cobbler a witness in...
13:29

Nitish is JD-U chief after Lalan steps down

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was elected Janata Dal (United) president at the party's national executive meeting in New Delhi on Friday, with incumbent Lalan Singh stepping down and proposing his name, party leader K C Tyagi said.  The national council meeting of the party,...
12:49

65mn files... how Israel hunts for Hamas tunnels

Mourners at the bodies of Palestinians killed in Rafah. Reuters/Mohammed Salem
Mourners at the bodies of Palestinians killed in Rafah. Reuters/Mohammed Salem
The Israeli search for terror tunnels is being aided by a trove of intelligence seized by soldiers, namely 65 million digital files and a half-million physical documents, the Israel Defense Forces disclosed on Thursday.Tasked with sorting through the intelligence finds is Amshat, a unit within...
12:33

797 new Covid cases in India, highest in 225 days!

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India has logged 797 new cases of COVID-19, the highest in 225 days, while the number of active cases of the infection have been recorded at 4,091, the health ministry said on Friday.  Five new fatalities due to Covid-- two from Kerala and one each from Maharashtra, Puducherry and Tamil...
12:05

Nitish arrives for JD-U meet, on agenda is...

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Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh arrive at the Constitution Club to attend the party's national executive meeting. JD(U) leader KC Tyagi says, Today, JD(U) national executive meeting will take place. Discussions will be held on the current political...
11:34

PM's Ayodhya visit: ATS, NSG, 2,200 cops deployed

PM Modi lays the foundation stone of the Ram Mandir in 2020
PM Modi lays the foundation stone of the Ram Mandir in 2020
A huge security net has been thrown on Ayodhya ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit tomorrow. During his visit to Ayodhya, Modi will inaugurate various projects worth Rs 15,000 crore.Piyush Mordia, Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow Zone said that high-level...
11:06

1.5L Palestinians forced to flee central Gaza

A dead child is pulled out of rubble in Rafah. Pic: Reuters
A dead child is pulled out of rubble in Rafah. Pic: Reuters
An estimated 150,000 Palestinians are being forced to flee areas of central Gaza, the UN has said, as Israeli forces advance on refugee camps there.The BBC reports that witnesses and Hamas's armed wing reported that tanks had reached the eastern outskirts of Bureij camp.Israel's military recently...
10:32

I expect LS polls soon after February: Tharoor

PM Modi at Badrinath dham
PM Modi at Badrinath dham
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on the Lok Sabha polls next year: So Prime Minister @NarendraModi will inaugurate the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22nd and the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi on February 14th. I expect elections to be called very soon thereafter. The message is clear. In...
10:09

Canada: Shots fired at temple chief's son's home

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Shots were at the residence of an Indian-origin man in Canada's Surrey. Following this, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has been investigating the incident.  The firing happened on Wednesday (December 27) in the early morning at the residence of the son of Satish Kumar, the president...
09:44

PM to inaugurate Rs 15000-cr projects in Ayodhya

The Ayodhya Dham rail station
The Ayodhya Dham rail station
Ahead of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla Temple at Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a visit to Ayodhya on December 30, during which he will inaugurate various projects worth Rs 15,000 crore to Ayodhya.  Many projects will be inaugurated along with the...
09:29

Hoax bomb call made to synagogue near Mumbai

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Security has been up in the Naupada police station area in Thane after a synagogue received a bomb threat, police said. A senior police official said that a Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) was sent to the spot, and the premises of the synagogue, along with nearby buildings and...
08:53

ULFA, Centre, Assam govt to sign accord today

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Assam Chief Minister's Office has announced that a tripartite memorandum of settlement between the ULFA (pro-talks faction) and the central and state governments will be signed in New Delhi on Friday.'A Memorandum of Settlement will be signed between the Government of India, Government of Assam...
01:16

One drowns, four missing after boat capsizes in Odisha's Koraput

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At least one person drowned and four others went missing after a country boat in which they were travelling capsized in Patali river in Odisha's Koraput district on Wednesday night, the police said....
01:14

Actor-politician Vijayakanth's last rites to be performed today

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Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam founder-leader and actor Vijayakanth, passed away in Chennai, aged 71, after testing positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.  His mortal remains are to be taken from the Koyambedu office to Island ground, Anna Salai for public homage. From 6 am to 1 pm...
00:33

Illegal building of Karni Sena murder accused razed in Jaipur

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The Jaipur Greater Municipal Corporation has demolished an illegal construction belonging to Rohit Singh Rathore, an accused in the murder of Rajput leader Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, an official said on Thursday.  ...
00:25

2 schoolgirls run over by train during track trial in MP

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Two Class X girls died late on Thursday evening after being hit by a train that was being operated as part of tests on a newly-laid track in Indore in Madhya Pradesh, prompting Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to order an inquiry, an official said. Babli Masare and Radhika Bhaskar, both 17...