Tuesday, December 23

Author: TheStateLine

Patna: Academic activities up to Class 8 suspended till Dec 26 due to severe cold wave

Patna: Academic activities up to Class 8 suspended till Dec 26 due to severe cold wave

INDIA, TOP STORIES
Patna, Dec 23 (IANS) In view of the extreme cold wave prevailing in Patna, the district administration has suspended academic activities up to Class 8 till Friday.According to Patna District Magistrate Tyagarajan S.M., persistently low temperatures pose a serious risk to the health and safety of children.Exercising powers under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the District Magistrate has ordered the suspension of academic activities up to Class 8 in all government and private schools, including pre-schools and Anganwadi centres, in Patna district.As per the order, academic activities for classes above standard 8 may be conducted only between 10.00 a.m. and 3.30 p.m.School managements have been directed to reschedule classes accordingly.Special classes and...
Focus on constituencies, not Kolkata: Suvendu Adhikari’s directive to BJP MLAs

Focus on constituencies, not Kolkata: Suvendu Adhikari’s directive to BJP MLAs

INDIA, TOP STORIES
Kolkata, Dec 23 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Tuesday directed BJP legislators to focus fully on their respective Assembly constituencies from the New Year, beginning next week.He also instructed that if any party legislator from the districts needs to visit Kolkata for official work, they should attempt to arrive in the state capital in the morning and return to their constituencies the same evening after completing their tasks.“He has directed that in case any party legislator from the district has to come to Kolkata for some reason, he or she should try to reach Kolkata by morning and go back to their respective constituencies by the same evening after completing the work in the state capital,” said a party legislator.Adhikari visited ...
<div>Diljit Dosanjh calls Ustad Puran Shah Koti’s demise ‘an irreplaceable loss for the music industry’</div>

Diljit Dosanjh calls Ustad Puran Shah Koti’s demise ‘an irreplaceable loss for the music industry’

ENTERTAINMENT
Mumbai, Dec 23 (IANS) Actor and singer Diljit Dosanjh called the demise of Punjabi music legend, Ustad Puran Shah Koti, "an irreplaceable loss for the music industry".The 'Border 2' actor shared an old video of the legend performing and paid a heartfelt tribute, saying that Ustad Puran Shah Koti was one of those rare souls who are destined to attain eternal peace and will not be returning to this world.His heartfelt message on social media read, "Sari Life music De Pyar Vich La Diti..Dunia Badal Gai Ej.. World Change Ho Gaye.. Ustad Puran Shah Koti Ji Ona Chand Roohan Chon San Jina Ne Wapis Nahi Auna. Punbai Music Lai Kadey Na Poora Hon Wala Ghaata (You dedicated your entire life to the love of music. The world has changed forever. Ustad Puran Shah Koti was one of those souls who will not ...
<div>JP Nadda lays foundation stone of medical college in MP’s Dhar on PPP model</div>

JP Nadda lays foundation stone of medical college in MP’s Dhar on PPP model

INDIA, TOP STORIES
Dhar, Dec 23 (IANS) Union Health Minister and BJP President J.P. Nadda laid the foundation stone and performed the Bhoomi Pujan for Madhya Pradesh's first medical college in the tribal-dominated Dhar district on Tuesday, marking a milestone for healthcare access in underserved areas. The college, established under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, is one of four such initiatives in the state, with similar projects planned for Betul, Katni, and Satna.Addressing the gathering, Nadda questioned previous governments' contributions to tribal welfare, asking, "Tribal communities consistently supported the Congress party for a long time, helping it come to power for decades. Yet, has Congress ever delivered a medical college or a proper highway for them?"He highlighted this as India’s f...
Pakistan: Five policemen killed after gunmen target vehicle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Pakistan: Five policemen killed after gunmen target vehicle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

TOP STORIES, WORLD
Islamabad, Dec 23 (IANS) At least five police personnel were killed after a police mobile was targetted in Karak district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the local police confirmed on Tuesday.District Police Officer (DPO) Saud Khan said five police personnel were killed when gunmen fired on them and fled from the spot. The DPO stated that vehicle was part of a security detail of a private gas firm and that the gunmen set it ablaze after the attack, leading Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reported.The latest incident comes in a series of attacks targetting police personnel in Pakistan, especially in the bordering provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.On December 8, a policeman was injured after assailants targetted a police station in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa....
<div>EAM Jaishankar meets Lankan ministers, reiterates India’s full support</div>

EAM Jaishankar meets Lankan ministers, reiterates India’s full support

TOP STORIES, WORLD
Colombo, Dec 23 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, Labour and Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha and Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe on Tuesday, reiterating India's full support to the island nation's recovery and rebuilding in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah."Delighted to meet Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath along with Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, Labour and Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha, Labour and Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha and Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe this afternoon," EAM Jaishankar posted on X."Reiterated India’s full support to Sri Lanka’s recovery and rebuilding in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. Discussed the impleme...
<div>Resolving Delhi’s inherited problems on all fronts: CM Rekha Gupta</div>

Resolving Delhi’s inherited problems on all fronts: CM Rekha Gupta

INDIA, TOP STORIES
New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Amid Delhi's fight against pollution, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Tuesday that the government is tackling the inherited problems as challenges and steadfastly resolving them on every front."Delhi is now receiving clear plans, continuous efforts, and concrete results. Our government is committed to building a non-stop developing Delhi, a clean and beautiful Delhi," said CM Gupta in a video message posted on X.She said the BJP government is tackling the problems inherited from the previous governments, which failed to address the challenges.The Chief Minister's comment came a day after she chaired a review meeting and reiterated that the government will follow a zero-tolerance policy against all sources contributing to pollution.Key decisions taken during th...
<div>Special NIA court in J&K orders attachment of property of US-based Kashmiri lobbyist</div>

Special NIA court in J&K orders attachment of property of US-based Kashmiri lobbyist

INDIA, TOP STORIES
Srinagar, Dec 23 (IANS) A Special NIA court in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tuesday ordered attachment of the property of a US-based Kashmiri lobbyist, Ghulam Nabi Shah alias Dr Fai.Officials said that the Special NIA court ordered the attachment of over 1.5 kanals (1 kanal is equal to 5,445 sq ft) of land belonging to Dr Fai.“Judge special NIA court passed the order after Assistant Public Prosecutor Mohammad Iqbal Rather moved an application seeking attachment of property of Fai under Section 83 of the Criminal Procedure Code (85 of BNSS) on the ground that this court had already declared the accused as an absconder in a case registered in 2020 under various sections of the UAPA,” officials said.The judge said in his order, “This court directs Collector Budgam to attach the immo...
<div>All-format ambition a driving force behind Karnataka’s run machine Smaran Ravichandran</div>

All-format ambition a driving force behind Karnataka’s run machine Smaran Ravichandran

SPORTS
New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Smaran Ravichandran has never been interested in choosing between formats. For Smaran, 22, the goal has always been to be a batter who excels in all three formats of the game. "The goal right from the beginning when I started playing was to focus on all three formats and to become an all-format player for the country has always been my goal. All my work ethics and all the preparation that goes in during the off-season goes into all the three formats and not just one particular format."Yes, I would lay emphasis more on the red-ball aspect in order to play Tests for the country. But I think it's equally important to focus on the other two formats as well. As I said, my goal has always been to represent the country in all three formats. So I think even now my preparat...
SC has recognised Ministry’s Green Aravalli Project; rumours unfounded: Bhupender Yadav (IANS Exclusive)

SC has recognised Ministry’s Green Aravalli Project; rumours unfounded: Bhupender Yadav (IANS Exclusive)

INDIA, TOP STORIES
New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday clarified that the Supreme Court has not granted any relaxation for mining in the Aravalli range, strongly refuting rumours and misinformation being circulated about the ecologically sensitive region.Speaking to IANS, Yadav said, “The Supreme Court has given no relaxation on Aravalli mining. It has recognised the Ministry’s Green Aravalli Project and assigned responsibility to our ICFRE institution that no new mining will be allowed until a comprehensive management plan is prepared. These rumours are false, and the public now knows the truth.”The minister explained that the Supreme Court’s directives focus on stopping illegal mining and ensuring sustainable, scientific management of th...