INDIA

Hyderabad, Dec 7 (IANS) Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Minister D. Sridhar Babu on Sunday reviewed the arrangements for the exhibition football match to be played between football legend Lionel Messi’s team and a local team led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on December 13.Telangana Sports Authority Chairman Shiv Sena Reddy, Rachakonda Police Commissioner Sudhir Babu and other officials briefed them on the arrangements being made for the much-awaited match. The review offered a clear view of the scale and excitement building for the match.Deputy CM Vikramarka, noting thousands of football fans are expected to come to see the match, urged them to arrive early and settle into their seats to ensure both security and convenience.Tight security arrangements will...

Chennai, Dec 7 (IANS) Declaring that his dream is to transform Madurai into a major industrial city, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Sunday said that Tamil Nadu’s growth model is rooted in balanced and inclusive development across all districts. The Chief Minister was speaking at a mega investors’ meet held near Chinthamani in Madurai, where 91 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 36,665 crore were signed, paving the way for the creation of 56,766 jobs.The summit, titled "TN Rising Conclave", was presided over by the Chief Minister and attended by top industrial leaders and senior government officials.In his address, Stalin said industrial investments do not come easily and require strong governance, policy stability, infrastructure, and investor confidence.Emphasising his commitment ...

New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS) The Income Tax Department has issued a fact-check to alert citizens against fake e-mails asking people to download e-PAN card, an official said on Sunday.The fact-check, issued with the help of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), said, "Beware of Fake Emails asking to download e-PAN cards."The PIB also circulated a screenshot of showing the phishing e-mail which offered "A step-by-step guide" to download e-PAN card online.The Income Tax Department clarified that it does not request detailed personal information through e-mail."Do no respond to any emails, links, calls and SMS asking you to share financial and sensitive information," the department said.The Income Tax Department added it does not send e-mail requesting your PIN numbers, passwords or similar access ...

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 7 (IANS) Campaigning for the first phase of Kerala's high-stakes local body elections will draw to a close on Sunday evening, setting the stage for polling in seven districts on December 9. Widely seen as a political barometer ahead of next year's Assembly elections, the two-phase civic polls have witnessed an intense, high-voltage campaign across the state.State Election Commissioner A. Shajahan has directed all political parties to ensure that their final day of campaigning does not obstruct public movement or cause inconvenience to commuters.In several districts, the police have imposed restrictions to regulate crowd sizes, procession routes and the use of loudspeakers as part of heightened security arrangements for the campaign finale.The first phase of voting ...

Dehradun, Dec 7 (IANS) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Sunday that the government has taken strict and decisive steps to curb social aberrations like 'love jihad' and 'spit jihad.'Addressing the gathering during the 18th Amar Shaheed Sainik Mela held in Chamoli district, the Chief Minister said, “Our government has taken strict and decisive steps to curb social aberrations like 'love jihad' and 'spit jihad.'”He said protecting the cultural heritage of Devbhoomi is our priority, and to keep it secure, we are taking concrete action at every level.The Chief Minister also highlighted that the BJP government has worked hard to fulfil its poll promise of implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC)."Our government has fulfilled its electoral promises by implementing the UCC. By...

Kolkata, Dec 7 (IANS) West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Sunday said that the Hindi language is like a mother while English is like a midwife mother. Speaking at the Gita recital at the Brigade Parade Ground, Governor Bose also said that West Bengal is ready to end what he described as religious arrogance."I will try to speak in Hindi. Forgive me if I make any mistakes. Hindi is our 'national language'. The national language is like a mother. English is like a midwife mother. A midwife mother is never like a mother," said Bose.The Governor said that people have witnessed something taking place in Murshidabad a day before. It was an apparent reference to suspended Trinamool Congress leader Humayun Kabir laying the foundation stone for a Babri Masjid in Murshidabad's Beldanga."Somethin...

Jammu, Dec 7 (IANS) A forest fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K's Poonch district on Sunday triggered several landmine blasts, officials said.Officials said that more than half a dozen landmines exploded due to the forest fire in Poonch."Forest fire broke out in the Balakote forest along the zero line at around 10 am, detonating over six landmines in the anti-infiltration obstacle system," an official said."There was no report of any damage in the explosions," the official added.The fire was still raging, and efforts were on to douse the flames, the officials added.The forward areas close to the zero line along the LoC are dotted with landmines as part of an elaborate anti-infiltration obstacle system to prevent terrorists from intruding into this side from across the border.A...

Guwahati, Dec 7 (IANS) New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal is undergoing a major transformation into a world-class railway station and international terminus, featuring modern facilities, state-of-the-art platforms, enhanced passenger amenities and improved circulation areas, officials said on Sunday.Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, said that NFR General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava carried out comprehensive inspection of the Malda-New Jalpaiguri section, including tracks, signals, stations, loco shed and other infrastructure.He added that at New Jalpaiguri (NJP), the General Manager inspected the ongoing station upgradation works."The NJP is being transformed into a world class station and international terminus, offering mo...

Chennai, Dec 7 (IANS) Claiming a major legal win in the ongoing leadership dispute within the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), party founder S. Ramadoss, on Sunday, asserted that the Delhi High Court has ruled in his favour and held that his son, Anbumani Ramadoss, does not have legal status as the party President.He vowed to "retrieve" the party and continue his political work for the people.In a strongly worded statement, S. Ramadoss said the court stated that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has no legal authority to declare Anbumani as the President of the PMK."With this, it stands confirmed that Anbumani is not the President of the party," he claimed, adding that the court also noted that the PMK currently does not enjoy official recognition.According to S. Ramadoss, the court al...

Jammu, Dec 7 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a carefully curated selection of gifts to Russian President Vladimir Putin, during the latter's two-day visit to India for bilateral summit.These gifts represented India's rich heritage, artistry, craftsmanship, and cultural richness, further strengthening the enduring friendship between the two nations.The wide array of gifts included Kashmiri saffron, Maharashtra handicraft, Assam tea, handcrafted marble chess, among others, besides the Russian edition of the Bhagavad Gita.The Kashmir saffron, locally known as 'Zafran' is cultivated in Jammu and Kashmir and is known for its colour, aroma, and flavour and also for its numerous health benefits.As PM Modi gifted the Kashmiri saffron to the Russian President, this made the Valley ...