Author: TheStateLine

Dec42025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

‘India is proud to be home to several cheetahs’: PM Modi recalls efforts to revive lost ecological heritage

New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday marked International Cheetah Day by drawing attention to India's progress in the conservation and the broader national effort to restore its ecological heritage, while acknowledging the role of local communities in driving this mission forward.International Cheetah Day is observed every year on December 4 to spread awareness about the challenges faced by cheetahs, the world's fastest land animals, and to highlight global conservation initiatives aimed at ensuring their survival.The observance serves to educate people about the threats confronting this iconic species and the need for sustained environmental protection.Sharing a message on X, the Prime Minister said, "On International Cheetah Day, my best wishes to all wildlife...

Dec42025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Luxury treatment for ISIS terrorist in jail: NIA team in Bengaluru to conduct probe

INDIA, TOP STORIES

Bengaluru, Dec 4 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has visited Bengaluru Central Prison to investigate the case of a suspected ISIS terrorist using a mobile phone inside the prison, sources confirmed on Thursday.A shocking video from Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Central Jail had gone viral in November, showing a prisoner, reportedly an ISIS terrorist and rapist, using a mobile phone and watching television.Suspected terrorist Zuhab Hameed Shakeel Manna, jailed for raising funds for ISIS, was seen using a smartphone and enjoying five-star luxury in Bengaluru's Central jail.NIA sleuths are interrogating Manna on his network and the people, whom he was in touch with. They are also investigating the staff of the central jail regarding providing facilities to a suspected terroris...

Dec42025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

US pledges’ safe, welcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026

TOP STORIES, WORLD

Washington, Dec 4 (IANS) The White House has said the United States is fully prepared to host the largest sporting event in history, promising a "safe, welcoming, and memorable" FIFA Men's World Cup 2026 for millions of fans expected to arrive from across the globe.Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, told an international media briefing on Wednesday (local time) that President Donald Trump had given a clear directive: "ensure the country delivers a safe, welcoming, and memorable World Cup." He said the effort has grown into "the largest whole-of-government sporting event operation ever undertaken in the United States."Calling the 2026 tournament a moment of "tremendous privilege," Giuliani said the World Cup would also coincide with America's...

Dec42025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Arsenal beat Brentford, Leeds stuns Chelsea in Premier League

SPORTS

London, Dec 4 (IANS) Mikel Merino's powerful header and Bukayo Saka's late strike gave Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Brentford to extend our unbeaten run to 18 matches in all competitions.Merino kept up his scoring run with the opening goal in the 11th minute, and although it was not until stoppage time that Bukayo Saka made the points safe, Brentford failed to register a shot on target all game.Good link-up play between Noni Madueke and Ben White allowed the full-back to find the Merino, who netted for the second game in a row.As the game opened up late on, Saka latched onto Merino's inch-perfect through ball to make it 2-0 and move Arsenal five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.Leeds United stunned Chelsea with a 3-1 win at Elland Road, with Jaka Bijol and Ao Tanaka puttin...

Dec42025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

US Institute of Peace renamed ‘Donald J Trump Institute of Peace’

TOP STORIES, WORLD

Washington, Dec 4 (IANS) The prestigious US Institute of Peace, a federal think-tank constituted by the US Congress, has been renamed as the 'Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace' -- a move the White House says will stand as a powerful marker of President Donald Trump's approach to global stability."This morning, the State Department renamed the former Institute of Peace to reflect the greatest dealmaker in our nation's history," the State Department said. "Welcome to the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. The best is yet to come," it said in a post on X.White House spokesperson Anna Kelly defended the decision, declaring that "the United States Institute of Peace was once a bloated, useless entity that blew $50 million per year while delivering no peace." She added: "Now, the Donald J. Tru...

Dec42025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Experts warn US-India ties are at their ‘lowest point’ in 25 years

TOP STORIES, WORLD

Washington, Dec 4 (IANS) A panel of leading American strategic experts has cautioned that the United States and India are navigating one of the most fragile phases in their relationship in nearly a quarter century, with political mistrust, stalled trade talks and geopolitical pressures testing what has long been seen in Washington as a critical partnership in the Indo-Pacific.For the last 25 years, there has been a concerted effort among both parties in the United States and governments of different kinds in India to transform the US-India relationship, as observed by Richard Fontaine at the Centre for a New American Security (CNAS), in a discussion here in the American Capital on Wednesday (local time).That effort, he said, was widely viewed as "one key to responding to China and to the c...

Dec42025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Madras HC Madurai Bench to hear plea in Karthigai Deepam ritual issue today

INDIA, TOP STORIES

Madurai, Dec 4 (IANS) A legal and religious dispute over the traditional lighting of the Karthigai Deepam at the Vilakkukaal (lamp pedestal) atop the Thiruparankundram hill in Tamil Nadu has escalated, prompting protests, police cases, and multiple petitions before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. The matter is now scheduled for an urgent hearing on Thursday.The controversy began on Wednesday when a petition was filed at the High Court’s Madurai Bench seeking permission to light the Karthigai Deepam at the historic hill shrine -- one of the oldest battalions of the Arupadai Veedu temples of Lord Murugan.Justice Swaminathan, who heard the plea, granted permission to light the ceremonial lamp at the hilltop pedestal. Based on this order, temple authorities initially made arrangeme...

Dec42025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Seoul not mulling inking North Korean POWs’ repatriation to issue of South Korean detainees

TOP STORIES, WORLD

Seoul, Dec 4 (IANS) The South Korean unification ministry said on Thursday that it is seeking to repatriate elderly "unconverted long-term" North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) but not considering linking the issue with efforts to win the release of six South Koreans detained in the North.Citing Seoul's national security adviser, NK News, a US news outlet centered on North Korea, reported that South Korea is willing to discuss the repatriation of unconverted, long-term North Korean POWs in an effort to bring home South Korean nationals detained in the North.The report came after during a press conference with foreign media Wednesday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he had never heard of South Korean detainees in North Korea and lacks information on individual cases, when asked ab...

Dec42025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Putin’s Delhi visit: Former diplomats call it significant diplomatic engagement

INDIA, TOP STORIES

New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin will begin his visit to India on Thursday with an informal meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence. Former diplomats have described the visit as extremely important, calling it one of the most significant diplomatic engagements India has seen in recent years.Speaking to IANS, Former diplomat Veena Sikri said, “I believe this is an extremely important visit, perhaps one of the most significant for India in a very long time. It is driven by a combination of global and strategic factors. The current geopolitical environment is highly fragile, with two major conflicts ongoing -- the Ukraine-Russia war and the Gaza-Israel conflict, which continue to simmer without a clear resolution. Additionally, India has been facin...

Dec42025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

On Shashi Kapoor’s 8th death anniversary, Jackie Shroff pays tribute

ENTERTAINMENT

Mumbai, Dec 4 (IANS) Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff paid his heartfelt tribute to late star Shashi Kapoor, who was often referred as the 'Robinhood of Bollywood', on his 8th death anniversary on Thursday. Jackie took to his Instagram stories, where he shared a video montage featuring pictures and videos of Shashi Kapoor. It has a glimpse of the late star from the 1979 film “Kaala Patthar” and its song “Ik Raasta Hai Zindagi”.For the caption, Jackie wrote: “Always in our hearts. #shashikapoor.”Shashi Kapoor is considered as one of the greatest actors in the history of Hindi cinema. He has been feted with several accolades, including four National Film Awards, a Padma Bhushan in 2011, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2014.He was the third and the youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor. He began ...