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

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

EPFO new rule

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

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

GST

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

UPI and farmer loans

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

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

Visa requirements

US Visa Appointment Reschedule:

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

Changes in the H-1B Visa Process:

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

LPG pricing

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

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Retirement Hint? Australia Great Highlights Rohit Sharma's "Unusual" Act

The talks around India captain Rohit Sharma's potential retirement from Test cricket have intensified with the team's bitter defeat to Australia in the 4th Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday. India's defeat in the match makes World Test Championship (WTC) qualification quite difficult while Rohit's form with the bat does make it difficult for the management to fit him in the XI. Suggestions are that the Sydney Test is likely to be Rohit's last in the longest format, and Australia great Justin Langer also spotted an 'unusually emotional' India skipper on Day 5 at MCG, hinting that the end is near for him.

Langer said that Rohit was unusually emotional on the field at MCG on Day 5 of the 4th Test, which could be seen as a hint behind his potential exit from the format. The former Australia batter also feels Rohit is quite tired, with the stress of the game getting to his nerves.

"Rohit Sharma looks very tired to me. I saw him quite emotional on the field yesterday. That's unusual for us to see Rohit like that. He's usually so calm, so chilled out. But he was showing his emotions; he looks tired. It's understandable because as a cricketer, when you're not making runs, that's all that stays on your mind. And as captain, if you're not making runs and your team is not winning, the stress starts to come into the game. Whether he can get up for Sydney, that's up to him. It's a big challenge. India need him to get up to speed in Sydney," Langer said after the end of the game.

Langer, however, doesn't have the same opinion on Virat Kohli. He feels Virat still has a few years of top-level cricket to offer and he has what it takes to improve his form.

"With Virat, I agree [with Ravi Shastri]. He looked excellent in that first innings. Maybe the run out [of Jaiswal] did ruffle him, but we were surprised to see him get out the way he did. He is still a great player, is in outstanding physical condition, and all Indians would be hoping he comes good," he asserted.

Shastri also feels the end is near for Rohit in Tests but Kohli is likely to play for a few more years.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"Hope You Let Go Of Baggage Of Politics": Atishi Hits Back At Lt Governor

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena's New Year greetings to Chief Minister Atishi, heavy in its criticism of her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal, has drawn a stinging response. In a two-page letter, the Chief Minister, among other things, expressed hope that in the New Year, Mr Saxena would "let go of the baggage of politics" and work towards the welfare of the people of Delhi. 

The 10-point "concerns" she raised, hit out at Mr Saxena over his "criticism rather than constructive cooperation", "unnecessary interventions that slowed down critical work" and actions taken to stop the Mahila Samman Yojana and accused his office of becoming a "proxy of the BJP". 

The Lieutenant Governor, she alleged, has failed to keep the city safe - "the one job that you are directly responsible for and mandated to do".

"While an ex-Member of Parliament has been busy distributing money to lure voters right under your nose from his illegally occupied bungalow, your response of giving him police protection to conduct this illegal activity will go down in history as a benchmark of irresponsible and illegal behaviour," her letter read.

"While kids and women are being kidnapped and assaulted on a daily basis in Delhi, you have been occupied by pointless mudslinging and issuing instructions to the police to conduct raids and inquiries on our leaders on a daily basis," she added.

"Your actions have irreparably damaged the respect that people held for the office of the Lieutenant Governor and have tarnished the legacy left behind by your predecessors," added the Chief Minister.

The Lieutenant Governor - who said he was writing in a personal capacity -- had opened his letter to the Chief Minister with much praise, commending her efficiency and initiative. 

"This is the first time in my two-and-a-half-year tenure that I am seeing a Chief Minister discharge the duties of a Chief Minister. Your predecessor did not handle a single government department and never signed a file. In contrast, you are handling many departments and trying to tackle many governance issues," he wrote.

The Lieutenant Governor also expanded on his criticism of Mr Kejriwal, pointing to his description of Atishi a "temporary Chief Minister".  

"There is no such post in the Constitution and it is a reprehensible neglect to the concept of democracy in the Constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar," he wrote, underscoring that it was an insult to the President of India who appointed her and himself, who administered the oath to her. 

The Delhi government, Atishi wrote, is "deeply rooted in the vision and legacy" of her predecessor.

"Be it the educational reforms, healthcare revolution, or infrastructural advancements, his model of governance has become a benchmark not just in Delhi but across India. The progress we are making today is a continuation of this legacy, and we remain committed to fulfilling this vision... The people of Delhi have repeatedly shown their faith in this government and in Shri Arvind Kejriwal," she wrote.

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Torpedo Deal With French Firm, DRDO's New Tech To Boost India's Submarines

India's Ministry of Defence signed two significant deals to greatly enhance its submarine fleet. While one of the deals was signed with France's Naval Group, the larger of the two contracts was signed with Mumbai's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative.

The two contracts have a combined value of Rs 2,867 crore. While the contract with France's Naval Group, worth Rs 877 crore, pertains to more advanced torpedo technology, the contract with Mazagon Dock, worth around Rs 1,990 crore, is over DRDO's new indigenous submarine propulsion system.

"The Ministry of Defence has signed two contracts, worth approximately Rs 2,867 crore, for the construction of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) Plug for DRDO-AIP system and its integration onboard Indian submarines; and the integration of electronic heavy weight torpedo (EHWT) onboard the Kalvari-class submarines," a ministry statement read.

DEAL WITH FRANCE'S NAVAL GROUP

The agreement is about the Electronic Heavy Weight Torpedo or EHWT.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the deal for the integration of EHWT onboard the Kalvari-class submarines will be a joint effort by the Indian Navy, the DRDO and Naval Group, France. "It will greatly augment the firepower capabilities of Kalvari-class submarines of the Indian Navy," the defence ministry statement read.

According to the Naval Group, the Electronic Heavy Weight Torpedo, also known as the F21 Heavy Weight Torpedo, "successfully integrates the mastery of aluminum silver oxide technology, which greatly enhances the torpedo's range and allows for much higher speed. This makes it a much more lethal weapon compared to other torpedoes".

Another key feature of this torpedo is that "it is designed such that it can never explode on-board a submarine even if there is a fire on the platform, or if it is dropped of fired accidentally."

DEAL WITH MAZAGON DOCK

The agreement is about an advanced Air Independent Propulsion or AIP system. The AIP technology is being indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation or DRDO.

According to a statement by the defence ministry, "The project pertains to construction of AIP-Plug and its integration. It will enhance the endurance of conventional submarines and significantly contribute towards the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative. It would generate employment of nearly three lakh man-days."

Air Independent Propulsion is a marine technology which allows a conventional or non-nuclear submarine to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen. In other words, it allows the conventional submarine to stay submerged deep underwater without having to surface or use its snorkel for a much longer duration.

A snorkel, in submarine terminology, is a pipe that can reach the surface of the ocean while the submarine is at periscope depth to allow a proper air influx for the diesel engines. An AIP Plug can augment or replace the diesel-electric propulsion system of non-nuclear submarines. It is also called Air Independent Power as it allows for much longer underwater endurance.

Both agreements are under the 'Make in India' initiative, which means the propulsion system as well as the torpedoes will be manufactured in India.
 

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Rohit, Jaiswal Would Be Happy Starting On Day 5. Experts Explain Why

Australia extended their lead over India in the second innings of the ongoing 4th Test in Melbourne. At the close of play on Day 4, the hosts were ahead by 333 runs, with Nathan Lyon (41*) and Scott Boland (10*) unbeaten. The pair added an unbeaten 55 runs for the 10th wicket to take Australia's lead over 300, setting up on what promises to be an exciting final day of the match on Monday. With all three results likely on Day 5, India will have to chase a record total at the MCG to win the match.

While India's chances of stealing a win would be tougher on Day 5, former England captain Michael Vaughan feels openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal would be relieved that they didn't have to bat late on Day 4.

"You've just got to look at psychology; Rohit Sharma (would) be going in first under a huge amount of pressure," Vaughan said on Fox Sports.

Vaughan added that both Rohit and Jaiswal would be happy to bat in the morning on Monday.

"Then, you have got Jaiswal who has had a shocker in the field. I think both of those players would be quite happy to just get out of the MCG tonight and come back tomorrow," he added.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri also sided with Vaughan, saying that both Rohit and Jaiswal will be "fresher" in the morning.

"They will be happy they are not batting tonight. It's a different ball game when you have been in the field all day to play those last 20 minutes or three or four overs. It is a different atmosphere altogether when you come back tomorrow. You are fresher and you know if you bat out the day you can either get the score or save the game," Shastri explained. 

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Mamata Banerjee In Sandeshkhali Tomorrow, First Visit Since Controversy

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will visit the riverine island of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district tomorrow -- a first since the sexual harassment controversy broke out ahead of the Lok Sabha election. But the Leader of Opposition, BJP's  Suvendu Adhikari will not be far behind. Mr Adhikari has announced that he would hold a 'Jana Sanjog Yatra' in the area the day after the Chief Minister's visit. 

The Chief Minister will be heading for Sandeshkhali early tomorrow to chair a public distribution programme. 

The obscure island in West Bengal had hit the headlines earlier this year, before the Lok Sabha elections.

Its trigger was the protest by the locals against alleged incidents of sexual assault and land grabbing. They blamed the local Trinamool strongman Sheikh Shahjahan -- who has since been suspended by the party -- and his two aides, Shibu Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar. 

The Trinamool later held a press conference on a series sting operations in which a video surfaced on social media. It showed a former BJP leader purportedly claiming that the whole episode was "scripted by the BJP". 

The Trinamool said the allegations of sexual harassment were politically motivated, meant to defame the party. 

The BJP claimed the allegations were an example of the Trinamool misrule and exploitation of women. 

In the Lok Sabha election, the Trinamool Congress won the Basirhat seat, within which the Sandeshkhali assembly seat is located. 

Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested on February 29  after he managed to evade the police for around two months. He went on the run after his supporters attacked three Enforcement Directorate officials who visited Sandeshkhali on January 5. The attack had let the officials injured. 

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UP Groom Calls Off Wedding Over Delay In Serving Food, Then Marries Cousin

A groom in Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli abruptly called off his wedding over an alleged delay in serving food, leaving the bride and her family stranded at the venue, only to tie the knot with his cousin later that day.

The bride and her family then approached the police, demanding justice, and also claimed that they had given Rs 1.5 lakh to the groom's family hours before the ceremony was to take place. 

Speaking to the media, the bride said her marriage was arranged with Mehtab seven months ago. On December 22, as the wedding procession arrived at her house in Hamidpur village, Mehtab and his relatives were extended a warm welcome by her family. 

"I was ready since morning. The groom and his family arrived, ate and then abused and assaulted my parents before leaving the spot. I later approached the police for justice," she said. 

The bride said that as the wedding guests sat down to eat, there was a slight delay in serving food to Mehtab. He got angry after his friends teased and poked fun at him and he and his family then allegedly abused the bride's family and relatives, leading to an argument.

The village elders tried to intervene to resolve the issue but Mehtab refused to tie the knot and returned to his house.

As the bride's family grappled with the shock, Mehtab married one of his cousins later the same day. 

Police Complaint

On learning about Mehtab's wedding, the bride and her parents visited the police post in Industrial Nagar on December 23 to file a complaint. Alleging inaction, they later escalated the issue to the Superintendent of Police Aditya Laghe. 

In the complaint, the woman's mother said the family had suffered a loss of Rs 7 lakh because they had paid for all the arrangements and catered to around 200 guests from the groom's side.  

An amount of Rs 1.5 lakh was also handed over to the man's family hours before the wedding, she said in the complaint. 

Sources said Mr Laghe summoned both parties, who agreed to resolve the matter amicably. 

"A written agreement was signed by both parties that an amount of Rs 1.61 lakh would be given to the woman's family," Circle Officer Rajesh Rai said.

(With inputs from Santosh Jaiswal)

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This Mumbai Teen Is The Youngest Girl To Climb World's 7 Highest Peaks

Kaamya Karthikeyan, a Class 12 student at Navy Children School in Mumbai, has made history by becoming the youngest female in the world to scale seven highest peaks across seven continents.

The 17-year-old adventurer has conquered Africa (Mt Kilimanjaro), Europe (Mt Elbrus), Australia (Mt Kosciuszko), South America (Mt Aconcagua), North America (Mt Denali), Asia (Mt Everest) and culminating the current climb in Antarctica.

The young Everester reached the summit of Mt Vincent Antarctica along with her father, Cdr S Karthikeyan, on December 24 at 1720 hrs Chilean Standard Time to complete the Seven Summits Challenge, the Indian Navy said.

The Indian Navy congratulated Kaamya Karthikeyan and her father on accomplishing this momentous milestone.

Taking to its official handle on X, SpokespersonNavy posted on X, "Kaamya Karthikeyan, class XII student at @IN_NCS Mumbai, scripts history by becoming the youngest female in the world to scale seven highest peaks across seven continents."

"The Indian Navy congratulates Kaamya Karthikeyan and her father on accomplishing this momentous milestone," it posted.

Navy Children School in Mumbai also congratulated the 17-year-old and posted, "Breaking barriers and reaching new heights! Kaamya Karthikeyan, Class XII, Navy Children School, Mumbai, becomes the youngest female in the world to conquer the Seven Summits--the highest peaks on all seven continents! A moment of immense pride for NCS Mumbai!"

Kaamya Karthikeyan was sixteen years old when she scaled Mount Everest. She said she was 7 when she took her first trek in Uttarakhand.

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

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On Congress Attacks Over Manmohan Singh Funeral, JP Nadda's 'Super PM' Swipe

In a significant escalation of the row over the choice of Dr Manmohan Singh's cremation site, senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacked the BJP-ruled government at the Centre and accused it of "insulting" the memory of the two-term Prime Minister and not thinking beyond "politics and narrow-mindedness". 

Leading a no-holds-barred counterattack, BJP president JP Nadda said the Congress and Rahul Gandhi were playing "cheap politics" in Mr Singh's name and accused the party of not doing justice to any leader who was not from the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Dr Singh, who died at the age of 92 on Thursday, was cremated at the Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi with full state honours on Saturday. A day before the funeral, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and, citing Dr Singh's stature and his contributions to the country, requested that the last rites be conducted in a place where a memorial could also be built in his name. 

As the controversy over the memorial gathered steam, the Centre issued a release ahead of the funeral stating that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said a place would be allocated for Dr Singh's memorial and the cremation should take place in the meantime. 

'Should Have Shown Respect'

Rahul Gandhi tweeted after the funeral, however, that the BJP had "totally insulted" the first Prime Minister from the Sikh community by having his last rites conducted at Nigambodh Ghat. 

"The great son of Mother India and the first Prime Minister of the Sikh community, Dr Manmohan Singh ji has been totally insulted by the present government by performing his last rites today at the Nigambodh Ghat. He was the Prime Minister of India for a decade, during his tenure the country became an economic superpower and his policies still support the poor and backward classes of the country," Mr Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, posted on X.

"Till date, respecting the dignity of all former Prime Ministers, their last rites were performed at authorised burial sites so that every person could have the last 'darshan' and pay homage without any inconvenience. Dr Manmohan Singh deserves our highest respect and a memorial. The government should have shown respect to this great son of the country and his proud community," he added. 

Highlighting many of the same issues as her brother, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the government should have thought "beyond politics and narrow-mindedness" when it came to Dr Singh's funeral site. 

"By not providing an adequate place for the cremation of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the Government has not done justice to the dignity of the post of former Prime Minister, the personality of Manmohan Singh, his legacy and the self-respecting Sikh community. Earlier, all former Prime Ministers were given the highest honour and respect. Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji deserves this honour and Samadhi Sthal... The government should have thought beyond politics and narrow-mindedness in this matter," Ms Gandhi said.

The Congress MP also claimed that Dr Singh's family was "struggling for space" at the funeral site.

'Cheap Politics'

Hitting out at the Congress and Rahul Gandhi over the claims, BJP President JP Nadda said "cheap politics" was being played over Dr Singh's cremation and pointed out that the Centre had already stated that space would be allotted for his memorial. Repeating a charge that the BJP has frequently levelled against the Congress, he also accused the party of placing its then-president Sonia Gandhi as 'super PM' over Manmohan Singh when he was the Prime Minister between 2004 and 2014. 

"It is indeed ironic that former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and current president Mallikarjun Kharge are not refraining from doing politics even over the sad demise of the country's former Prime Minister, the honourable Manmohan Singh... The Congress, which never gave real respect to Dr Manmohan Singh while he was alive, is now doing politics in the name of his respect. This is the same Congress which tarnished the dignity of the PM post by placing Sonia Gandhi as 'super PM' over PM Manmohan Singh," the Union Minister said in Hindi.

Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi for "tearing up" an ordinance passed by the Manmohan Singh cabinet in 2013, the BJP politician also accused the Gandhis of neither respecting nor doing justice to any senior leader who was not from their family. He cited the examples of Sardar Patel, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pranab Mukherjee and PV Narasimha Rao.

"After the death of former Prime Minister Shri Narasimha Rao on 23 December, 2004, there was a demand to build a 'samadhi sthal' (memorial) in Delhi's Rajghat complex, but super PM Sonia Gandhi did not approve it. His body was not even given a place in the Congress office. Congress did not want Narasimha Rao ji's last rites to be performed in Delhi and later his last rites were performed in Hyderabad. It was Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji who also built a 'samadhi' for Narasimha Rao ji in 2015 and honoured him by giving him Bharat Ratna in 2024," he said.

"According to an estimate, Congress governments in the country have named about 600 government schemes, educational institutions, awards, roads, national parks, museums, airports, ports, buildings and sports after the Nehru-Gandhi family, while the number of schemes named after other personalities is very few. Our country will never forget and will never forgive the historical sins of the unprincipled Congress. Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders of the Congress party should refrain from such cheap politics," he added.

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Maharashtra Man Sets Wife On Fire For Giving Birth To Girl For 3rd Time

A man allegedly poured petrol and set his wife ablaze in Maharashtra's Parbhani district after she gave birth to the couple's third daughter, a police official said on Saturday.

Kundlik Uttam Kale (32) killed his wife Maina in Gangakhed Naka, some 520 kilometres from here, on Thursday night, the official said.

As per the complaint submitted by Maina's sister, the accused used to taunt his wife over giving birth to three daughters and would frequently pick up fights with her on this issue, the official said.

"On Thursday night, after one such argument, he poured petrol on her and set her ablaze. She ran out of the house screaming where people tried to douse the fire. However, by then she was severely burnt and died while being rushed to a hospital," the official said.

Kale has been arrested for murder, the Gangakhed police station official informed.

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

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Days After Pak Air Strikes, Soldier Killed In Clashes With Afghan Troops

A Pakistani paramilitary soldier was killed and seven others wounded in cross-border exchanges of fire with Afghanistan's forces, a security source said Saturday, while hundreds of Afghans protested against the deadly air strikes that sparked the clashes.

Sporadic fighting, including with heavy weaponry, erupted overnight between border forces on the frontier between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan and Khost province in Afghanistan, officials from both countries said.

The exchanges of fire come after Afghanistan's Taliban authorities accused Pakistan of killing 46 people, mainly women and children, in air strikes near the border in the southeastern province of Paktika this week.

A Pakistan senior security source said they targeted "terrorist hideouts", though Islamabad has not officially confirmed carrying out the bombardment.

"One frontier corps (FC) soldier has been reported dead, and seven others have been injured," a senior security source at the border told AFP, adding clashes took place in at least two locations in Pakistan's border district of Kurram.

The Afghan defence ministry said on X that "several points" across the border with Pakistan "where the attacks in Afghanistan were organised... were targeted in retaliation".

A provincial official in Khost told AFP the clashes forced residents to flee border areas, but that there were no reports of casualties among Afghan forces.

In Khost city, the provincial capital, hundreds of Afghans demonstrated against Pakistan on Saturday, calling for accountability for civilian deaths.

Protester Najibullah Zaland said they demanded global economic pressure on Pakistan to prevent such incidents.

"We gathered here today to raise our voices to the world," he told AFP.

"A path to peace must be put in place, or else the youth will not stay silent."

The demonstrators praised the Afghan forces, with one protester, Rashidullah Hamdard, saying "our fighters gave them a strong response, and we stand with our forces".

"We demand the world hold the Pakistani military accountable for these cruel and foolish attacks," Hamdard said.

- 'Red line' -

The strikes were the latest spike in hostilities on the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with border tensions between the two countries escalating since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

Islamabad has accused Kabul's authorities of harbouring militant fighters, allowing them to strike on Pakistani soil with impunity -- allegations the Taliban government denies.

Skirmishes along the frontier escalated after Pakistan's military conducted deadly air strikes in Afghanistan's border regions in March, which Taliban authorities claimed killed eight civilians.

The UN assistance mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, called for an investigation into the "credible reports" of civilian deaths, as the UN children's agency UNICEF said "children are not and must never be a target".

"UNICEF is deeply saddened by reports that at least 20 children have been killed in an attack near the border in eastern Afghanistan," regional director Sanjay Wijesekera posted on X.

The strike comes after the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- who share a common ideology with their Afghan counterparts -- last week claimed a raid on an army outpost near the border with Afghanistan, which Pakistan said killed 16 soldiers.

"We desire good ties with them (Kabul) but TTP should be stopped from killing our innocent people," Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a cabinet address on Friday.

"This is our red line," he added.

Pakistan has been battling a resurgence of militant violence in its western border regions since the Taliban's takeover in Afghanistan.

In 2024 alone, the military has reported 383 soldiers and 925 militants killed in various clashes.

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

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Quantum Teleportation Now Possible Over Everyday Internet Cable

In a groundbreaking scientific achievement, researchers have figured out a way to achieve the unthinkable: quantum teleportation. While the name may suggest that humans could be teleported through the technology, it is far from the real-life implication of the technology. Quantum teleportation allows the transfer of information instantly and over any distance without needing any future technology. Led by Prem Kumar from Northwestern University, Illinois, US, scientists demonstrated quantum teleportation over standard fibre optic cable that already carries everyday internet traffic, according to a report in ScieneAlert.

In simple terms, quantum teleportation involves sending information from one place to another using something called "quantum entanglement". Think of entanglement like an invisible twin connection where two particles, even if miles apart, are linked in a way that what happens to one instantly affects the other. Unlike sending a physical object, you are sending the state or condition of a particle.

"This is incredibly exciting because nobody thought it was possible. Our work shows a path towards next-generation quantum and classical networks sharing a unified fibre optic infrastructure. Basically, it opens the door to pushing quantum communications to the next level," said Mr Kumar.

The study involved the careful management of light scattering to ensure that the delicate quantum information, carried by photons, could survive amidst the swarm of internet data. To achieve the desired result, the scientists utilised a specific wavelength for the quantum signal and implemented filters to minimise interference from other data streams.

"We carefully studied how light is scattered and placed our photons at a judicial point where that scattering mechanism is minimised. We found we could perform quantum communication without interference from the classical channels that are simultaneously present," added Mr Kumar.

Also Read | Google's Latest Breakthrough A Major Leap In Quantum Computing

The result was a successful teleportation of a quantum state of light, which represents a significant leap towards integrating quantum communication with existing internet infrastructure. Notably, this was not just a simulation; it was done in real-world conditions, showcasing the practical viability of quantum communication alongside traditional data transmission.

One of the biggest appeals of quantum teleportation is that it can occur almost as fast as light travels. The development is a big step towards quantum internet that could revolutionise traditional computing. From secure encryption methods to enhanced sensing capabilities to potentially even connecting quantum computers on a global scale, without needing specialised infrastructure -- the potential for the technology remains immense.

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Teacher To Prime Minister: Timeline Of Manmohan Singh's Illustrious Career

Dr Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on December 26. As the 14th Prime Minister of India, Dr Singh made a lasting impact on the country's political and economic landscape. He was also the first Sikh to hold the position of Prime Minister.

Dr Singh is also remembered for his remarkable contributions as Finance Minister under Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao in 1991 when he spearheaded groundbreaking economic reforms that opened India's economy to the world.

As the nation mourns his loss, here is a look at the key moments from Dr Manmohan Singh's extraordinary life and career:

• 1932: The former Prime Minister was born in the small town of Gah, a part of undivided Punjab in British India. This area later became part of Pakistan after the partition in 1947.
• 1947: His family, like millions of others, migrated to India after the partition.
• 1948: He completed his matriculation in India.
• 1952-54: He completed both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Punjab University, where he developed a deep interest in economics.
• 1957: He moved to England and completed his Honours degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge. There, he was influenced by economists like Nicholas Kaldor, Joan Robinson, and Amartya Sen.
• 1957: Upon returning to India, he joined Punjab University as a teacher.
• 1962: He moved to Oxford University to pursue a Doctorate in Philosophy (D.Phil) in
• Economics. His time at Oxford provided him with an international perspective on economic policies and theory.
• 1963: After completing his D.Phil, he returned to Punjab University, where he became a professor of Economics.
• 1966-69: In these years, he served as a key member of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
• 1969-71: He was a professor at the Delhi School of Economics.
• 1971: He was appointed as the Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Commerce.
• 1972-76: He served as the Chief Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Finance.
• 1976: He was promoted to the position of Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.
• 1976: The same year, he was appointed as an Honorary Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
• 1982-85: He served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India's central bank.
• 1985-87: He served as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, where he worked on India's long-term development strategies.
• 1987: In recognition of his invaluable contributions to India's economy and public life, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award.
• 1990-91: He served as the Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister of India.
• 1991: He became the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• 1991: He was appointed as Finance Minister under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.
• 1995: He was elected to the Rajya Sabha and re-elected several times - 2001, 2007, 2013, and 2019.
• 1991-96: During his tenure as Finance Minister, from 1991 to 1996, he introduced landmark economic reforms, including the liberalisation of India's economy and the removal of the "permit raj" system, which transformed the country's economic landscape. His 1991 Union Budget was a game-changer, rescuing India from a financial crisis and paving the way for its rise as a global power.
• 2004: He became the 14th Prime Minister of India, taking office after leading the Indian National Congress to victory in the general elections.
• 2005: He signed the historic Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal with US President George W. Bush.
• 2007: Under his leadership, India achieved a GDP growth rate of 9 per cent, positioning the country as the second-fastest-growing major economy globally.
• 2009: He won a second consecutive term as Prime Minister, making him the first PM since Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962 to be re-elected after completing a full term.
• 2012: His second term, however, was marred by controversy, with allegations surrounding the spectrum allocation scam, the coal scam, and the Commonwealth Games scam.
• 2014: He received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers from Japan, a prestigious honour recognising his contributions to strengthening India-Japan relations.
• 2014: His party lost the general election to BJP, and he resigned as Prime Minister.
• 2019: He was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha.
• 2024: After an illustrious 33-year-long career in Parliament, he died on December 26.

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Why Laura Loomer One Of Trump's Biggest Supporters Is Fed Up With Elon Musk

Laura Loomer, a right-wing influencer and outspoken Donald Trump supporter, has launched a scathing attack on Elon Musk. Her grievances seem to stem from Musk's advocacy for increased immigration in the US tech sector.

Loomer took to X to denounce Musk's influence on Trump and label his "Department of Government Efficiency" project with Vivek Ramaswamy as a "vanity project".

Loomer's tirade didn't stop there. She predicted a falling out between Musk and Trump soon. Musk dismissed Loomer as a troll, but she continued her attacks, resorting to racist and homophobic slurs. She accused Musk of being a "pawn of China" and claimed he had "bought his way into MAGA".

"Remember when you voted for Biden and propped up @GovRonDeSantis and you said Trump was too old? We all know you only donated your money so you could influence immigration policy and protect your buddy Xi JinPing," she said in an X post, further adding, "He's a stage 5 clinger who over stayed his welcome at Mar a Lago in an effort to become Trump's side piece and be the point man for all of his accomplices in big Tech to slither into Mar a Lago."

Loomer's opposition to Musk appears to be driven by her anti-immigration views, which are rooted in her racist and Islamophobic beliefs. Her attacks on Musk also targeted his perceived ties to China and immigrants from India.

"The tech billionaires don't get to just walk inside Mar a Lago and stroke their massive checkbooks and rewrite our immigration policy so they can have unlimited slave laborers from India and China who never assimilated," she wrote on the platform. "I don't care about being called "racist" by people who don't have the best interest of the American worker in mind."

Interestingly, Vivek Ramaswamy, Musk's collaborator on the government efficiency project, also faced backlash from MAGA supporters for his comments criticising American culture. Ramaswamy's remarks sparked racist attacks from the far right, further alienating him from Trump loyalists.

The feud between Loomer, Musk, and Ramaswamy highlights the growing tensions within the MAGA movement. As Musk and Ramaswamy navigate the complexities of Trumpworld, they may soon find themselves at odds with the former president himself.
 

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Mumbai Woman Dies After Tempo Hits Her, Driver Says He Had Epilepsy Attack

A 35-year-old woman was killed and at least four people were injured after a tempo crashed into a market crowd in Mumbai's Ghatkopar on Friday, police said. 

The 25-year-old driver, who has been detained, claimed he lost control of the vehicle after he suffered an epilepsy attack but a detailed investigation is underway, the police added.

The incident took place in the evening on Machhi Market road in Chirag Nagar area.

A police source said the market was crowded when the tempo, driven by Uttam Baban Kharat, suddenly crashed into a group of people in front of Azad Masala Shop at 6.30 pm. 

One woman - later identified as Preeti Ritesh Patel - died and four other people sustained injuries in the accident. 

The source said that Kharat was handed over to the police by the bystanders.

"Kharat said he lost control of the vehicle after he suffered an epilepsy attack. He has been detained for questioning and his claims are being verified. He will also be sent for a medical examination," the source said.

Police said the tempo has been seized as part of the interrogation. The injured people are undergoing treatment in Rajawadi hospital in Ghatkopar, they added.

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Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni: 20 Shocking Allegations

Blake Lively, who played Lily Bloom in Justin Baldoni's It Ends With Us, has accused her co-star Baldoni of sexual misconduct in an 80-page complaint. Her complaint against Baldoni, and Jamey Heath, the CEO of Baldoni's production studio Wayfarer, accuses the two men of repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behaviour on the set of It Ends With Us.

Not only Blake Lively, other crew members too fell prey to Justin Baldoni's misconduct and had also spoken up.

Lively had raised objection to Baldoni and Heath making "sexually inappropriate jokes", in addition to a plethora of other accusations. The studio agreed to have an intimacy coordinator on board and not retaliate against Lively.

A meeting was held on January 4 this year, where the following code of conduct was decided, to allow a safe and protected environment during the shoot of It Ends With Us.

Among the more shocking of allegations that Blake Lively had in her 80-page complaint are the following:

1. Justin Baldoni and Jamey Heath made lewd, sexual comments, and showed Blake Lively nude images of other women, including Heath's wife.
2. Baldoni and Heath spoke about their previous "pornography addiction" and Blake Lively's lack of pornography consumption to her and to other crew members.
3. They also discussed with Blake and her employees about their personal experiences with sex, including as it relates to spouses or others.
4. Mention to BL or her employees of personal times that physical consent was not given in sexual acts, as either the abuser or the abused.
5. The accused described Blake's genitalia to her.
6. They also made jokes and disparaging comments at Lively's expense. 
7. Baldoni also allegedly called up Lively's trainer to ask about her weight.
8. Baldoni, on set, claimed to "speak to" Lively's recently dead father.
9. Baldoni pressed for Lively to disclose her religious beliefs, and shared his.
10. BL and/or her infant were exposed to COVID and not informed.
11. No intimacy coordinator was on set in scenes with Baldoni.
12. There was personal, physical touching of, and sexual comments by, Baldoni and Heath to Blake Lively and her employees, as well as the female cast or crew without their express consent.
13. Baldoni improvised kissing scenes, bit and sucked Lively's lip without her consent. In addition, he also had several intimate conversations with Blake as Baldoni, and not Ryle Kincaid, his on-screen character.
14. Blake had no representative on set or with a monitor during scenes involving nudity, sexual activity, or violence with Baldoni.
15. Baldoni called his friend to play the doctor who assists Lively in childbirth on set of the movie, without her knowledge or consent. "Actors participating with BL in intimate scenes, involving her being in any state of nudity or simulated nudity must be classified as active, working actors, not "friends" of the director or producers, and must be pre-approved by BL," reads Lively's terms.
16. Nude scenes were filmed without a SAG-compliant nudity rider in place. "No more filming of any BL nudity without a fully-executed, SAG-compliant nudity rider in place. Any such footage already shot without this rider in place and indirect violation of SAG requirements may not be used without BL's and her legal representatives prior, written consent," reads her complaint.
17. Scenes involving nudity and simulated sex weren't conducted in accordance with the SAG-approved nudity rider.
18. There was no intimacy coordinator on set for scenes involving nudity and/or simulated sex or have a monitor to ensure compliance.
19. Monitors were viewed and were accessible on set, as well as remotely, during closed set scenes without Blake's approval.
20. Baldoni walked into Lively's trailer when she was breastfeeding. On another occasion, Heath forced himself into Lively's trailer while she was in a state of undress.

Justin Baldoni had also hired a crisis management team to "orchestrate" a "smear campaign" against Blake Lively, claims the complaint.

Blake Lively's complaint against Justin Baldoni got several Hollywood big wigs rallying behind the actress. Meanwhile, Baldoni was also dropped by his agency.

Read more here.

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"Some Trying To Pull Down Telugu Actors": Anurag Thakur Backs Allu Arjun

BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Wednesday came out in support of 'Pushpa 2' star Allu Arjun and suggested that some people are trying to tarnish the image of Telugu actor.

Although the specifics of Mr Thakur's statement are unclear, it's likely a response to the ongoing tensions between the Congress government in Telangana and the BJP.

"If you look at the contribution of Telugu actors in the film industry, they have put the film and Indian cinema on the global map. But some people are trying to pull them down on floor mat," Anurag Thakur told ANI.

The BJP leader was reacting to the actions of the Telangana police against actor Allu Arjun after a stampede incident at a theatre during the premiere of his film 'Pushpa 2: The Rule'.

"If you look at the last few years, Allu Arjun got the National Award in Narendra Modi's government, Chiranjeevi got the Lifetime Achievement Award and their contribution has been appreciated by the whole country and the world. On the other hand, look at the films, whether it is 'RRR', 'Pushpa', 'KGF', 'Baahubali' all of them have brought fame to Indian cinema. I think instead of creating controversy, efforts should be made to have a dialogue, take care of safety and not do politics," he added.

Anurag Thakur said that the statements of Congress leaders and MLAs in the state put question marks on the intention of the state government.

Earlier in the day, Telangana Congress MLA Bhupathi Reddy issued a stern warning to actor Allu Arjun, threatening to prevent the release of his films in the state unless he refrains from making further comments about the Chief Minister.

Speaking at a public meeting in Nizamabad, Mr Reddy stated that Mr Arjun should respect his position as an actor and stay focused on his career.

The Congress MLA said, "I am warning you not to speak about our Chief Minister. You're from Andhra and should behave like one. You have come here for livelihood. I am speaking as a ruling party MLA, so respect the position given to you and do your business. You are just an actor. You do your work and live; what is your contribution to Telangana? We are issuing a warning to you -- if you don't change your behaviour, Congress workers will not let your movies run."

On Tuesday, actor Allu Arjun was questioned by Hyderabad police in connection with the tragic incident during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2 on December 4.

Meanwhile, the boy injured in the Sandhya Theatre incident during the premiere of 'Pushpa 2' in Hyderabad, Telangana, has responded after 20 days, his father said. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Bhaskar, the father of the injured child, expressed gratitude for the support they are receiving. "The child responded after 20 days. He is responding today. Allu Arjun and the Telangana government are supporting us," he said.

On December 4, when Allu Arjun attended the premiere of 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' at Sandhya Theatre, a massive crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor, and chaos ensued when he waved to fans from the sunroof of his car. This led to the tragic death of a woman named Revathi and injuries to her child.

Following the incident, Allu Arjun was arrested and later released on bail after furnishing a Rs 50,000 bond.

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

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Whole Industry Will Meet Revanth Reddy Tomorrow: Producer Amid Stampede Row

Film producer Dil Raju has said the entire Telangana film industry will meet Chief Minister Revanth Reddy tomorrow. Mr Raju, who is the chairman of the Telangana Film Development Corporation, said that he would act as a bridge between the film industry and the government.

While addressing the media about the stampede at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad during the screening of 'Pushpa 2: The Rule', Mr Raju stated, "The Chief Minister (Revanth Reddy) has scheduled tomorrow's appointment and the entire film industry will meet him. I will act as a bridge between the Telangana Film Development Corporation and the government. Everyone available in Hyderabad will attend."

Earlier, Dil Raju informed that Sri Tej, who got severely injured during the stampede, is responding well to treatment and was taken off the ventilator two days ago. Sri Tej's mother, Revathi, lost her life in the incident.

He visited KIMS Hospital in Secunderabad, Hyderabad, to meet Sri Tej's family. Speaking to ANI, he said that he had previously met Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to discuss providing support to Sri Tej's family, ensuring that both the film industry and government would offer all necessary assistance.

"He (the child injured in the Sandhya Theatre incident during the premiere of Pushpa 2) is responding (to treatment) and recovering. He was taken off the ventilator two days ago," said Dil Raju.

On Tuesday, actor Allu Arjun was questioned by Hyderabad police in connection with the tragic incident during the premiere of his film on December 4.

Meanwhile, the father of the injured child, Bhaskar, expressed gratitude for the support they are receiving. "The child responded after 20 days. He is responding today. Allu Arjun and the Telangana government are supporting us," he said.

On December 4, when Allu Arjun attended the premiere of 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' at Sandhya Theatre, a massive crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor. Chaos ensued when he waved to fans from the sunroof of his car, leading to the stampede.

Following the incident, Allu Arjun was arrested and later released on bail after furnishing a Rs 50,000 bond.

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

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Noted Malayalam Writer MT Vasudevan Nair Dies At 91

Noted writer and Jnanpith award winner MT Vasudevan Nair, who had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital here following heart failure, has passed away, hospital sources said on Wednesday.

He was 91.

"MT has died," a hospital source told PTI without elaborating.

The office of Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed receiving the information about MT's demise.

He had been under the care of a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including cardiologists and critical care experts, since his hospitalisation last week.

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

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Valentina Gomez: Trump's Party Leader Who Shared 'Migrant Execution' Video

Valentina Gomez, a 25-year-old aspiring congresswoman and outspoken MAGA supporter, has sparked outrage once again with a disturbing video.

She is a real estate investor and political activist who is known for her far-right rhetoric.

The video, posted on X, appears to simulate the execution of an immigrant, with Gomez firing a handgun into the back of a dummy's head. She claims that undocumented individuals who commit violent crimes "deserve to be ended".

NEW: Texas Congressional candidate Valentina Gomez releases video demonstrating the punishment she wants for illegal aliens who k*ll Americans.

"It's that simple: public executions for any illegal that r*pes or k*lls an American."@ValentinaForUSA pic.twitter.com/P0BzoVhaxN

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 23, 2024

Notably, Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticised Gomez, stating that she wants to "unleash hatred against migrants." However, some individuals, including fellow MAGA supporter Laura Loomer, have expressed support for Gomez's stance.

Gomez has a history of sharing provocative content on social media, including using homophobic slurs and burning LGBTQ-inclusive books, which she claims are "grooming" and "indoctrinating" children. Her inflammatory rhetoric has led to her ban from Instagram.

She was born on May 8th, 1999, in Medellin, Colombia and immigrated to the US in 2009 with her family. Although she gained much attention as a real estate investor, her entry into politics made her prominent.

She has also been known for statements such as "Don't be weak and gay" and her controversial stances. She burned LGBTQ+ books, labelling them as "grooming, indoctrinating, and sexualising".

She has previously worked in the financial sector, including working in a financial and strategic optimisation role at Nestle.

Despite her bold claims, Gomez's message hasn't resonated with voters. She secured only 7.4% of the vote in the Missouri Secretary of State election, finishing sixth out of eight candidates. Undeterred, Gomez has announced her candidacy for Congress in Texas, where she'll challenge Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw's seat.

Social media is playing a part in disseminating extremist and inflammatory rhetoric to gain widespread attention. Her brand of politics is not only dividing the country but is also causing repercussions in her own family. Her brother was let go from his role as an aide to Jersey City's mayor after it was disclosed that he had made donations to her campaign.
 

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Childhoods Chained, Dreams Sold In Forgotten Corner of Madhya Pradesh

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Childhood Dreams in Chains

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For most, these ornaments represent a lifelong burden. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Ex Bureaucrat Ajay Bhalla New Manipur Governor, Mizoram Gets Ex Army Chief

Former Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla was on Tuesday evening appointed the new Governor of Manipur - where periodic clashes between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes have simmered for more than a year - replacing Anusuiya Uikey.

The President also appointed Governors for four other states.

VK Singh, a retired Army Chief and a former minister in the previous Narendra Modi-led government, has been appointed the new Mizoram Governor.

There has been a swap of states for Governors of Kerala and Bihar - Arif Mohammed, the Kerala Governor, is now the Governor of Bihar, and Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Governor of Bihar, is now in charge of Kerala.

The President has accepted the resignation of Raghubar Das as the Governor of Odisha. Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati, Governor of Mizoram, has been appointed as the Governor of Odisha in his place.

A governor is the constitutional head of a state and has similar powers and functions at the state level as those of the President of India at the central level.

Ajay Kumar Bhalla

Ajya Kumar Bhalla, now Manipur Governor, is a 1984-batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre who was appointed the Union Home Secretary in August 2019 and remained in the post for nearly half a decade, until 2024.

Arif Mohammed Khan

For the second year in a row, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his council of ministers skipped the Christmas celebrations hosted by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan last Tuesday, said sources.

The Governor, who now moves to Bihar, has been at loggerheads with the ruling CPI(M) and its student wing SFI over appointments made by him to some universities of the state in his capacity as Chancellor of universities.

His recent appointment of vice-chancellors to technical and digital universities in the state had invited sharp criticism from the CPI(M) which alleged that the Governor bypassed the High Court's directive in making these appointments. 

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Is Allu Arjun Alone To Blame For 'Pushpa 2' Stampede? Witness Says No

The recent stampede at a Hyderabad movie hall that claimed the life of a woman, is not entirely the fault of Telugu superstar Allu Arjun, the government and the police also had a role to play, an eyewitness of the tragedy has pointed out. Vijay who was at the spot on December 4 during the premiere of 'Pushpa 2: The Rise', explained several aspects of the situation that have not been widely known so far. 

Speaking to NDTV, Vijay said, "It is not that Allu Arjun is completely at fault. So is the police and so is the government. It is the government who gave permission and who charges Rs 1100 per ticket and what did they give us in return? They gave us lathicharge... Instead of trying to blame each other, everybody has to own up to their mistakes".

Close to 3000 people had gathered at the spot for a glimpse of Allu Arjun, whose PR team had made it "obvious" that he would be present for the premiere, he told NDTV.

The police station, he added, is just 1 km away from the spot where these 3000 people gathered. Even so, the police deployed only 20 to 25 personnel, who were assisting VIPs who came for the premiere, he said. 

"They were trying to make way for the VIPs to enter the theatre and there was no one to check the tickets, nor to control the crowds and there was no barricade or ropes," he told NDTV.  

"My point here is that the police are overenthusiastic in trying to prevent any law-and-order situation. Why did they not send Allu Arjun back if they have not given any permission?" he said. 

Allu Arjun underwent a marathon 3-4 hour questioning session today. The police have indicated thye might question him again soon. 

After a woman ws killed and her son critically injured during the December 4 stampede, Allu Arjun was arrested but he got bail soon after. 

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has accused Allu Arjun of visiting the theatre without police permission and conducting a 'roadshow' even after the stampede. The police said he was not ready to leave even after knowing of the woman's death. 

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PV Sindhu's 1st Reaction After Getting Married Is All Heart - See Pics

PV Sindhu got married to Venkata Datta Sai, Hyderabad-based Executive Director at Posidex Technologies, in an intimate ceremony on Sunday, December 22, 2024. Two days after the wedding ceremony, PV Sindhu gave her first reaction on social media with a series of photos from the occasion and a 'heart' emoji. Sindhu and Sai can be seen all smiles in  the photos. Beautifully dressed in a traditional wedding attire, the couple exchanged vows in presence of their families and closed ones.

pic.twitter.com/stErh8fcXv

— Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) December 24, 2024

Culture and Tourism Minister of Jodhpur, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was also present at the joyous occasion and shared the first picture of the wedding on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.

Pleased to have attended the wedding ceremony of our Badminton Champion Olympian PV Sindhu with Venkatta Datta Sai in Udaipur last evening and conveyed my wishes & blessings to the couple for their new life ahead.@Pvsindhu1 pic.twitter.com/hjMwr5m76y

— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) December 23, 2024

Earlier, Sindhu's father said that the wedding was planned in December as it was one window where there was no badminton axction.

"The two families knew each other but it was only a month ago that everything was finalised. This was the only possible window as her schedule will be hectic from January," Sindhu's father, PV Ramana, told PTI.

"So that is the reason the two families decided to have the marriage ceremony on December 22. The reception will be held in Hyderabad on December 24. She will start her training soon after as the next season is going to be important." The wedding-related events will begin on December 20.

Sindhu is regarded as one of India's greatest athletes with five world championship medals, including a gold in 2019, besides her silver and bronze at the Olympic Games.

The champion badminton player won back-to-back Olympic medals at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 2 in 2017.

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Mastermind Of Kidnapping Gang Targeting Celebs Arrested In UP Encounter

The Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested the mastermind of a gang involved in the abduction of actor Mushtaq Khan and comedian Sunil Pal on the pretext of inviting them for an event, officials said on Monday. Later, another accused -- Ankit alias Pahadi -- surrendered.

Lavi Pal alias Rahul Saini was arrested after an encounter in which he was injured on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.

Superintendent of Police Abhishek Jha said, "On October 15, the accused, posing as Rahul Saini, invited film actor Mushtaq Khan for an event in Meerut on November 20, offering Rs 25,000 as advance payment and a flight ticket." "On November 20, Mushtaq Khan was picked up from the Delhi airport in a car and brought to Bijnor, where he was confined in a house in Chahshiri belonging to Lavi Pal," he added.

The actor managed to escape a day later.

"On the morning of November 21, when the kidnappers were asleep, Mushtaq Khan managed to flee and sought shelter at a nearby mosque. From there, he returned home. His event manager Shivam Yadav later filed a report at Bijnor Kotwali on December 9," Jha said.

Further investigations revealed that the gang used a similar modus operandi to target Pal in Meerut, the officer said.

During Khan's abduction, transactions worth Rs 2.5 lakh were made using his mobile phone. The police had already arrested six members of the gang but had been searching for Lavi Pal and three others.

Based on a tip-off, the police learned that Lavi Pal and his cousin Shubham would be arriving at Jain Farm at Mandawar Road on the night of Sunday-Monday.

"When officers attempted to apprehend them, they opened fire. A bullet hit SHO Uday Pratap's bulletproof jacket. In the ensuing encounter, Lavi Pal suffered a bullet injury in his leg while Shubham managed to escape," Jha said.

Lavi Pal was arrested and taken to the district hospital.

Additional Supreintendent of Police Sanjeev Bajpai said a country-made pistol, two cartridges, and Rs 35,050 extorted during Khan's abduction were recovered from Lavi Pal.

"There are plans to take strict action under the Gangster Act, and property acquired through criminal activities will also be seized," he said.

The Bijnor and the Meerut police had each placed a Rs 25,000 bounty on Lavi Pal.

The authorities are now interrogating him to uncover details about his gang's operations and other potential targets in the film industry.

Later, another accused Ankit alias Pahadi surrendered at Kotwali City, SHO Uday Pratap Singh said.

A video of Ankit before his surrender at the police station became widely circulated on social media.

The video purports to show Ankit pleading with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying, "Yogi ji, please forgive me. Save me from the Uttar Pradesh Police. I have committed the crime of kidnapping Sunil Pal." Sunil Pal was allegedly abducted on December 2 after being invited under the pretence of performing at an event. The kidnappers held him hostage for nearly 24 hours and released him only after extorting Rs 8 lakh in ransom.

Following this, Sunil's wife registered a zero FIR in Mumbai that was subsequently transferred to the Lal Kurti police station in Meerut, with the local police launching an investigation into the claims. 

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

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Jeff Bezos Denies Report Of $600 Million Lavish Wedding: "Completely False"

Jeff Bezos has categorically denied media reports that his upcoming wedding to fiancee Lauren Sanchez will cost a staggering $600 million. Taking to X, the billionaire founder of Amazon set the record straight, dismissing the rumours as "completely false". The report, picked up by several outlets across the world, alleged that the couple is set to exchange vows on December 28 and spend over half a billion dollars on the extravagant event.

Mr Bezos' reaction was sparked by a post from billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who expressed scepticism about the reported $600 million wedding. "This is not credible. Unless you are buying each of your guests a house, you can't spend this much money," he wrote on X. 

Reacting to Mr Ackman's tweet, the Amazon founder wrote, "Furthermore, this whole thing is completely false — none of this is happening. The adage "don't believe everything you read” is even more true today than it ever has been. Now lies can get around the world before the truth can get its pants on. So be careful out there folks and don't be gullible. Will be interesting to see if all the outlets that "covered" and re-reported on this issue a correction when it comes and goes and doesn't happen."

See the tweet here:

Furthermore, this whole thing is completely false — none of this is happening. The old adage “don't believe everything you read” is even more true today than it ever has been. Now lies can get ALL the way around the world before the truth can get its pants on. So be careful out… https://t.co/wz2SWp6wBZ

— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) December 22, 2024

His fiancee, Lauren Sanchez, also weighed in on the matter, sharing Mr Bezos' post on her Instagram stories and adding a clear rebuttal: "Not true".

Initial reports from the Daily Mail and the New York Post alleged that Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez were planning an extravagant winter wonderland-themed wedding in Aspen, Colorado. According to the reports, the couple had booked Matsuhisa, an upscale sushi restaurant, as the exclusive venue for their celebration. The reports claimed that the luxury restaurant would be reserved from December 26 to 27, hosting around 180 guests including big names like Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Queen Rania of Jordan. 

Notably, Ms Sanchez started dating the Amazon boss in 2018. The couple went public with their relationship on July 14, 2019, after Mr Bezos' divorce from his first wife MacKenzie Scott was finalised. 

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Couple Caught Smuggling Luxury Watches Worth Rs 13 Crore In Gujarat

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

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

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

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

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

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

The officials said a detailed probe is underway.

(With inputs from Mahendra Prasad)

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Big Cat Exchange: Madhya Pradesh To Give 2 Tigers, Get 2 Lions From Gujarat

The Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal will get two Asiatic lions from Gujarat in exchange for two Bengal tigers, a Forest department official said on Saturday.

The MP forest department tweeted that two tigers have been shifted to the Junagadh zoo under the animal exchange programme.

Two pure-breed Asiatic (Gir) lions will be brought from Sakkarbaug Zoological Park, Junagadh, to Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal, it stated.

Van Vihar National Park is located on the banks of the upper lake in the Madhya Pradesh capital.

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

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Rahul Gandhi Faces Delhi Police Crime Branch Probe Over Parliament Tussle

The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police will investigate the First Information Report (FIR) against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who has been accused of injuring two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs at the Parliament complex, a senior officer said on Friday.

Mr Gandhi has been booked under sections 117 (voluntary causing grievous hurt), 115 (voluntary causing hurt), 125 (act of endangering life or personal safety of others), 131 (use of criminal force), 351 (criminal intimidation), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in connection with the face-off between the Opposition and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs on Thursday. 

"We have transferred the case from the local police to the crime branch," the officer was quoted as saying by PTI.

On Thursday, ugly scenes unfolded between the Opposition and NDA lawmakers at the Parliament steps, during protests over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's alleged insult to B R Ambedkar in the House on Tuesday. A tussle between the two sides left former minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput injured.

Both leaders, one of whom is 69 years old, are in the hospital.

Mr Sarangi claimed that he got injured after Mr Gandhi pushed Mr Rajput. They were standing on the stairs when Mr Rajput allegedly fell on him. "Rahul Gandhi pushed a member of Parliament who fell on me after which I fell down...I was standing near the stairs when Rahul Gandhi came and pushed an MP who then fell on me..." Mr Sarangi had said. 

Various leaders of the BJP subsequently accused Mr Gandhi of hooliganism - allegations the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha has denied. 

Later on Thursday, former Union Minister and BJP MP Anurag Thakur, and party lawmakers Bansuri Swaraj and Hemang Joshi, filed a complaint against the Congress leader, and, among other things, accused him of attempt to murder. 

The Congress, however, dismissed the FIR against Mr Gandhi as a "badge of honour" and accused the BJP of using diversionary tactics. 

The opposition party also alleged that BJP MPs pushed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and "physically manhandled" Mr Gandhi. "Now they are accusing us of shoving them," Mr Kharge said on Thursday.

A delegation of Congress MPs, including Digvijaya Singh, Mukul Wasnik, Rajiv Shukla and Pramod Tiwari, also filed a police complaint. In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, several Congress MPs asked him to initiate an inquiry into the incident.

Another senior officer said on Thursday that police have received the complaint and are looking into it.

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"'Maai Behen Maan Yojana' Sounds Like Abuse": Bihar Minister Sparks Row

A Bihar minister has ignited a row with his comment that the "Maai, Behen Maan Yojana" (respect mothers and sisters scheme), announced by Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav to give eligible women Rs 2,500 per month, sounds like an abuse ('gaali'),

Asked about the former deputy chief minister's announcement that the RJD would launch the scheme if it returns to power in the state after the Assembly elections next year, Bihar Science And Technology Minister Sumit Singh said in Hindi, "This sounds less like a scheme and more like an abuse. 'Maai Behen Maan Yojana'... what kind of a scheme is this? Who gives them these kinds of ideas? And they remember all this only ahead of elections."

"They (the RJD) were in power till last year and he (Mr Yadav) was the deputy chief minister. He could have implemented such a scheme then as well," the Independent MLA said. 

The RJD responded strongly to the remarks saying they reflect the minister's mindset and the ruling BJP-JDU coalition's hatred of Bihar's mothers and sisters.

"Those who think the 'Maai Behen Samman Yojana' sounds like an abuse... hate not only the mothers, sisters and Bahujan population of Bihar but also the soil, language, identity and dialect of the state," the party posted on X. 

Announcing the scheme in Darbhanga last week, Mr Yadav had said eligible women would get Rs 2,500 per month to help realise the dream of "prosperous women, happy family". 

"The foundation of Bihar's Navnirman (rebuilding) is incomplete without the prosperity of women. We believe that when women receive cash transfers, they invest more money in their family's well-being, such as nutritious food for the whole family, healthcare, and children's education. By directly targeting women, our programme acknowledges their important role in household and community development. The multiplier effect of these cash transfers is significant. The improved economic status of women benefits the entire family and community," Mr Yadav had said.

The former deputy chief minister had also stressed that the scheme, which would be implemented within a month of the RJD returning to power, would enable women to start businesses and help families fight rising inflation.

The scheme is similar to the Ladli Behen yojana announced by the Madhya Pradesh government last year, which played a key role in the BJP remaining in power in the state. Similar schemes are also seen to have powered the victories of the ruling coalitions in Maharashtra ('Ladki Bahin') and Jharkhand ('Maiyya Samman') earlier this year.

Ahead of the Delhi elections, expected to be held in February, the AAP has also announced a financial assistance scheme, called 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana', under which eligible women will get Rs 1,000 a month.

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"Sanatan Dharma Is National Religion Of India": Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday asserted the "Sanatan Dharma is the national religion of India", and said that it is the collective responsibility of every citizen to protect it.

Yogi Adityanath participated in the Ashtottarshat 108 Shrimad Bhagwat Paath and Panch Narayan Mahayagya held at Asharfi Bhawan Ashram in Ayodhya. As part of the Mahayagya, the UP Chief Minister offered oblations amidst Vedic chants, praying for the happiness, peace, and prosperity of the people of Uttar Pradesh, the UP government said in a statement.

Addressing the gathering, the UP Chief Minister said, "The Sanatan Dharma is the national religion of India, and it is the collective responsibility of every citizen to protect it." He highlighted how religion and culture foster positivity and peace in the society.

Reflecting on the historical attacks on sacred temples, he said that the clans of those who desecrated these holy sites have met their downfall.

Citing an example, he said, "Today, the descendants of (Mughal ruler) Aurangzeb are driving rickshaws. Their plight is the result of their destructive actions. Had they upheld righteousness and refrained from demolishing temples, would they be in such a state?" The UP chief minister emphasised the need to learn from the mistakes of the past that led India into the shackles of slavery and resulted in the desecration of its sacred sites.

He urged all Indians to unite in protecting and preserving Sanatan Dharma, asserting that respecting this eternal religion is essential for safeguarding humanity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Speaker Bars Protests At Parliament Gates After MPs' Injury Row: Sources

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has issued strict instructions to ensure no MP is allowed to hold protests at any of the gates in Parliament House, sources have said. The instructions came after chaos and ruckus unfolded earlier today between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Opposition MPs at the Makar Dwar of the Parliament House.

Mr Birla has also issued instructions to all MPs not to block or hold protests at any of the entry gates to the parliament.

MPs from the NDA and the Opposition bloc INDIA took out separate protest marches over the BR Ambedkar issue earlier today. The situation escalated when both came face to face outside the Parliament House, leading to jostling in which BJP MP Pratap Sarangi was injured.

He was taken to hospital with an injury on his forehead. BJP MPs alleged Mr Sarangi was pushed by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. Another BJP MP Mukesh Rajput was also injured, the party said.

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, later told reporters that while he was trying to enter Parliament House, BJP members pushed and "threatened" him.

"It is our right to enter Parliament," he said.

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned following the noisy protests by the Opposition seeking an apology from Home Minister Amit Shah for his remarks on BR Ambedkar.

The Delhi Police this evening registered a first information report (FIR) against Rahul Gandhi after the BJP filed a complaint accusing him of "physical assault and incitement".

A police officer said they are likely to call Rahul Gandhi for questioning in connection with the case. The police will also request the Lok Sabha secretariat to provide CCTV footage of the area where the alleged incident happened.

The Congress has strongly rejected the assault claim, alleging BJP MPs pushed its chief Mallikarjun Kharge and "physically manhandled" Rahul Gandhi. The Congress also filed a complaint in connection with the matter.

In his two-page police complaint, BJP MP from Vadodara Hemang Joshi said, "They intentionally used physical force to push Mukesh Rajput and Pratap Rao Sarangi and others who were standing on the narrow stairs at the entrance."

He alleged Mukesh Rajput suffered a "severe injury" to the back of his head and Mr Sarangi to his forehead.

"My colleague, Dr Byreddy Sabari, MP, who is also a qualified doctor, immediately provided first aid to the injured individuals. I personally witnessed the incident as I was standing next to my injured colleagues and attempted to reason with Shri Rahul Gandhi and his accomplices," Mr Joshi said in the complaint.

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Strict Laws For Women's Welfare; Marriage Not Commercial Venture: Top Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday said the strict provisions of law were for the welfare of women and not a means to "chastise, threaten, domineer or extort" their husbands.

Justices BV Nagarathna and Pankaj Mithal observed a Hindu marriage was considered to be a sacred institution, as a foundation for a family and not a "commercial venture".

Notably, the bench observed the invocation of Indian Penal Code sections including rape, criminal intimidation and subjecting a married woman to cruelty -- as a "combined package" in most of the complaints related to matrimonial disputes -- was condemned by the top court on several occasions.

"The women need to be careful about the fact that these strict provisions of law in their hands are beneficial legislations for their welfare and not means to chastise, threaten, domineer or extort from their husbands," it said.

The observations came when the bench dissolved the marriage between an estranged couple on the grounds of its irretrievable breakdown.

"The provisions in the criminal law are for the protection and empowerment of women but sometimes are used by certain women more for purposes that they are never meant for," the bench said.

The husband in the case was ordered to pay Rs 12 crore as permanent alimony to the estranged wife as a full and final settlement for all her claims within a month.

The bench however commented on cases where the wife and her family tended to use a criminal complaint with these serious offences as a platform for negotiation and as a tool to get the husband and his family to comply with their demands, which were mostly monetary in nature.

It said the police were sometimes quick to jump into action in selective cases and arrest the husband or even his relatives, including aged and bedridden parents and grandparents, with trial courts refraining from giving bail to the accused owing to the "gravity of the offences" in the FIR.

"The collective effect of this chain of events is often overlooked by the actual individual players involved therein, which is that even minor disputes between husband and wife tend to snowball into ugly prodigious battles of ego and reputation and washing dirty linen in public, eventually leading to the relationship turning sour to the extent that there remains no possibility of a reconciliation or cohabitation," it said.

The Supreme Court noted a plea was filed before it by the wife seeking transfer of a divorce petition filed under section 13 (1) of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, pending in a court in Bhopal to a court in Pune.

The husband had sought dissolution of marriage under Article 142(1) of the Constitution.

The court said the parties and their family members were involved in numerous litigations during the brief period of their marital relationship.

The bench said the marriage did not really take off at all, observing no continuous cohabitation of the estranged couple.

Considering the point of alimony, the court said the wife claimed the estranged husband had a net-worth of Rs 5,000 crore with multiple businesses and properties in the US and in India, and had paid the first wife at least Rs 500 crore upon separation, excluding a house in Virginia.

"Thus, she claims permanent alimony commensurate to the status of the respondent-husband and on the same principles as was paid to the first wife of the respondent," the bench noted.

The court expressed serious reservations with the tendency of the parties seeking maintenance or alimony as an equalisation of wealth with the other party.

The bench said it was often seen that parties in their application for maintenance or alimony highlighted the assets, status and income of their spouse, and then asked for an amount that could equal their wealth of the spouse.

"However, there is an inconsistency in this practice, because the demands of equalisation are made only in cases where the spouse is a person of means or is doing well for himself," it said.

The bench wondered if the wife would be willing to seek an equalisation of wealth if due to some unfortunate event, post-separation, he was rendered a pauper.

Fixing alimony depends on various factors and there cannot be any straight-jacket formula, it said.

In the joint plea jointly seeking dissolution of their marriage by a decree of mutual divorce, the husband had agreed to pay a sum of Rs 8 crore towards full and final settlement of all claims.

"The family court at Pune has assessed Rs 10 crore as the quantum of permanent alimony that petitioner could be entitled to. We accept the said finding of the family court, Pune. An additional amount of Rs 2 crore is liable to be paid to the petitioner so as to enable her to acquire another flat...," said the bench.

The court also quashed the criminal cases filed by the wife against the estranged husband. 

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

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