The Statesman Kolkata - December 14, 2024

In this issue

December 14, 2024

Dhankhar vs Kharge face-off in Rajya Sabha over no-trust motion

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Friday after chaos erupted in the House as the Opposition and Treasury members traded barbs over farmers' issues and the no-confidence motion against Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.

1 min

PM Modi dubs 2025 Maha Kumbh a 'mahayagya of unity'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dubbed next year's Maha Kumbh as a \"mahayagya of unity\" which would take the spiritual and cultural identity of India to new peaks.

1 min

'Opposition has often insulted Parliament'

Rajnath initiates discussion in LS on 75 years of Constitution's adoption

2 mins

State allots ₹10cr for twin river rejuvenation

The state government has allocated Rs 10 crore to rejuvenate the Jorapani and Fuleswari rivers in Siliguri.

1 min

Passenger safety: Asansol division bans use of mobile phones for station staff

The Asansol division of Eastern Railway has taken a significant step towards bolstering railway safety by prohibiting the use of mobile phones by operational staff, including station masters and pointsmen, while on duty.

1 min

Kalyani University holds 10-day research workshop

The department of folklore at the University of Kalyani recently concluded a highly successful 10-day research methodology workshop in social sciences, sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

1 min

Rape-murder case: Bengal court convicts two; hands death penalty to one

A district court in Murshidabad district, on Friday, handed a death sentence to one convict and life imprisonment to another in the rape and murder of a minor girl case, which took place in Farakka in October.

1 min

Aviation minister unveils centenary celebration logo of city airport

Minister of civil aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, today unveiled the centenary celebrations logo of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata.

2 mins

Pushpa 2 singer credits Bankura background for success

Pushpa singer Arpita Chakraborty, a Bankura girl who sang Peelings, a Bengali version in Pushpa 2: The Rule, along with Timir Biswas and Devi Sri Prasad, has felt the need to get back to her roots, her native place in Bankura.

1 min

Inter-railway RPF football tournament

The 32nd Men and 4th Women Inter-Railway Railway Protection Force (RPF) Football Tournament was officially inaugurated today at the Multi-Disciplinary Specialized Training Institute (MDSTI), Kanchrapara.

1 min

Bengal: NIA raids Trinamul leader's residence regarding 2022 Bhupatinagar blast case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday raided the residence of the Trinamul Congress leader in East Midnapore in connection with the Bhupatinagar blast case of December 2022, which killed three persons.

1 min

Severed head found in Golf Green

A severed head was found in a garbage pile in Golf Green, causing panic in the area on Friday morning.

1 min

Bail for RG Kar ex-principal, ex-OC Tala PS

A special court in Kolkata, on Friday, granted bail to the former and controversial principal of R G Kar Medical College & Hospital Sandip Ghosh and the former OC of Tala police station Abhijit Mondal in the case of rape-murder of a junior doctor within the hospital premises in August.

1 min

KMC planning proposal to heritage commission for gradation of buildings

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation is considering sending a proposal to the West Bengal Heritage Commission for revision in the formula of gradation of heritage structures.

1 min

Parents of the R G Kar victim threaten to move higher court

The parents of the victim of the heinous rape and murder at the state-run R G Kar Medical College Hospital on 9 August are shocked with the role of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the incident.

1 min

NIA arrests suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed associate in Bengal's Hooghly district

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested a youth from the Sanapara area in Hooghly district of West Bengal on suspicion of having links with the terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, an official said.

1 min

School job case: Supreme Court expedites trial against Partha, sets deadline for bail

Partha Chatterjee was arrested by the ED in 2022 following raids at premises linked to his aide, Arpita Mukherjee, who has already been granted bail

2 mins

Udan Yatri Cafe scheme offers affordable refreshments at airports

Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Friday announced 'Udaan Yatri Cafe' (air passenger cafe) scheme for providing affordable refreshments at airports while creating employment opportunities in the country.

1 min

'Pay attention to Bangladesh, act to end Hindus' misery'

Why is the Centre silent on the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh, asks Uddhav Thackeray

2 mins

India wants terror-free ties with Pakistan: S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said India desires good ties with Pakistan that are free of terror but underlined that the ball is entirely in Islamabad's court.

1 min

Slugfest over portfolios: Maha cabinet expansion likely in Nagpur on Sunday

There is a possibility that the oath-taking ceremony and expansion of the Maharashtra cabinet will take place in Nagpur on Sunday, December 15, instead of Saturday, December 14 at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai as was previously announced, sources said.

1 min

Telangana HC granted interim bail to actor Allu Arjun after he was arrested

A local court had remanded Arjun to judicial custody for 14 days after his arrest over a fatal stampede at his film's premiere

2 mins

K'taka BJP MLAs stage walkout from Assembly for not allowing discussion on Waqf row

Karnataka BJP MLAs staged a walkout from the Legislative Assembly on Friday accusing Speaker U.T. Khader of not allowing the party to raise the Waqf Board issue.

1 min

Kerala HC grants bail to accused in Prof TJ Joseph chopping case

Kerala High Court on Thursday granted bail to MK Nasar, one of the persons convicted by the special NIA court in Kochi last year for chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010.

2 mins

Fire at private hospital in Dindigul claims seven lives, including 3-yr-old child

Seven people, including two women and a three-year-old child, were dead in a major fire at a private hospital in Dindigul town, 425 km south of Chennai.

1 min

PM to chair conference of chief secretaries on 14-15 Dec

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the 'Fourth National Conference of Chief Secretaries' in Delhi on 14-15 December, it was officially announced on Friday.

1 min

Ending a war

Donald Trump's election victory and his vow to swiftly end the Ukraine-Russia war present both an ambitious promise and a diplomatic quandary.

4 mins

Rethinking Bhutan's Vehicle Taxation

Rising vehicle prices have become a bone of contention, sparking debates on the vehicle taxation policy.

2 mins

The Great Gamble

Tax evasion and money laundering activities by online betting apps have put enforcement authorities perpetually on their trails, and 692 betting apps were blocked by Government authorities in the last two years. But within no time, the same persons or their proxies, floated similar apps. Most online betting operators are based in UAE, Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries. In such circumstances, a better idea could be to legalise online betting and put in place a regulator to oversee their operations

4 mins

'Work important, not awards'

In the Tamil literary sphere, Sahitya Akademi Award winner Imayam's work Koveru Kazhuthaigal landed as a tsunami, bringing him fame and criticism in equal measure.

4 mins

Do sin taxes really help society?

Large sodas, alcohol, and tobacco are just a few things governments around the world want to keep us away from.

2 mins

Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure with a massive attack by cruise missiles and drones

Russia launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine on Friday, firing 93 cruise and ballistic missiles and almost 200 drones, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, describing it as one of the heaviest bombardments of the country's energy sector since Russia's full-scale invasion almost three years ago.

1 min

China's Xi Jinping is unlikely to attend Donald Trump inauguration

Chinese leader Xi Jinping (Photo) would likely see President-elect Donald Trump's invitation to attend his inauguration as too risky to accept, and the gesture from Trump may have little bearing on the increasingly competitive ties between the two nations as the White House changes hands, experts say.

1 min

Blinken seeks W. Asian nations' support for peaceful Syrian political transition

'We're very focused on Syria, on the opportunity that now is before us and the Syrian people to move out from under the shackles of Bashar al-Assad to a different and better future'

2 mins

Suspected Chinese spy with business ties to Prince Andrew barred from UK

A suspected Chinese spy with business ties to Prince Andrew has been barred from the U.K. because of concerns he poses a threat to national security.

1 min

NATO chief warns that Putin wants long term confrontation with Europe after Ukraine

Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to \"wipe Ukraine off the map\" and could come after other parts of Europe next, as he urged Europeans to press their governments to ramp up defense spending.

1 min

Police say suspect in United Healthcare CEO killing wasn't a client of the insurer

The man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a client of the medical insurer and may have targeted it because of its size and influence, a senior police official said Thursday.

2 mins

India's forex reserves drop by $3.235 billion for week ended 6 December

India's forex reserves dropped by USD 3.235 billion to USD 654.857 billion for the week ended December 6.

1 min

Reliance Industries marching towards negative return for 1st time in last 10 years

The share of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has underperformed in the last three months, and India's largest private firm stock is heading towards negative return for the first time in the last 10 years.

1 min

Sensex up 843.16 pts, Nifty above 219.60 pts

During the day, Sensex crashed over 1,200 pts, while Nifty 50 plunged 370 pts

1 min

India's GDP growth to hold steady in FY25, likely to clock 6.7 pc in FY26

India's economic growth will continue to hold steady in FY25 despite global uncertainties, with a projected GDP at 6.7 per cent in FY26, a report showed on Friday.

1 min

2024 set for best calendar year performance for gold in 10 years: WGC

So far in 2024, the gold prices have climbed over 30% to Rs 7,300 per gram in the Indian markets, and are set for their best calendar year performance in 10 years, suggests a recent report by World Gold Council (WGC).

1 min

India, UAE discuss ambitious economic corridor project

Amid the current volatile situation in West Asia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday discussed with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan the broad contours of the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).

1 min

India has become highway of communication, says Scindia

India has become a huge highway of communication, said Union Minister for Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday, highlighting the huge progress the country has made in the area of telecom and communication.

1 min

CCPA issues notice to 17 entities over violation of direct selling rules

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued notice to 17 entities over the violation of Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules, 2021.

1 min

Himanta Sarma urges Mamata Banerjee to abandon 'dead' INDIA coalition

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has dismissed the INDIA bloc as \"dead,\" urging West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to reconsider her association with the coalition.

1 min

PM dubs next year's Maha Kumbh a 'mahayagya of unity'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dubbed next year's Maha Kumbh as a \"mahayagya of unity\" which would take the spiritual and cultural identity of India to new peaks.

2 mins

Legacy and evolution of Sattriya dance celebrated

The 16th Rasheswar Saikia Barbayan Sattriya Dance Award and the 56th Annual Festival of Dance were held recently in Guwahati by Sangeet Sattra in honour of its founder principal, Adhyapak Rasheswar Saikia himself, and were a rich fare.

3 mins

Sandhya Purecha: A visionary at the crossroads of tradition and transformation

Sandhya Purecha, an eminent Bharatanatyam dancer, scholar, and cultural leader, has long been celebrated for her pioneering contributions to the arts. Currently serving as the chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the W20 of G20 India, she is steering Indian culture onto a global stage with unprecedented vigor. In this exclusive interview, Purecha reflects on her artistic journey, the evolving landscape of Indian performing arts, and her vision for cultural diplomacy.

3 mins

Party with a purpose

The eagerly anticipated winter carnival at GD Birla Centre for Education in Kolkata has always been a celebration known for its perfect balance of purpose and festivity.

3 mins

India captain Harmanpreet Singh eyes Hockey World Cup title

Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the Indian hockey team, has a clear vision for the future: winning the World Cup.

2 mins

ISL: Table-toppers Mohun Bagan face Kerala Blasters, aim to extend lead

Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant will aim to hold on to the numero uno position at the top of the Indian Super League (ISL) points table when they face Kerala Blasters FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday.

2 mins

Carlsen lauds Gukesh, says won't challenge youngest champion's World title

Former World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen has confirmed that he has no intention of challenging newly crowned champion Gukesh D in the future.

2 mins

BGT: India, Australia Continue tussle for supremacy at Gabba

Indians look to bounce back from Adelaide defeat while hosts eye series lead

3 mins

Pakistan's star all-rounder Imad Wasim retires from international cricket, again

Nine months after reversing his decision to make himself available for the ICC T20 World Cup in June 2024, Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim on Friday announced his retirement from international cricket.

1 min

'He is on the way to being one of those greats': Ponting heaps praise on Travis Head

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting likened Travis Head's batting performances to that of his ex-teammate and the legendary wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist, and believes that the 30-year-old explosive southpaw has the makings to be one of those greats.

2 mins

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The Statesman Kolkata is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by The Statesman Net Pvt Ltd in Kolkata, India. It was founded in 1875 and is one of the oldest and most respected newspapers in India. The newspaper is known for its in-depth reporting, investigative journalism, and editorial independence.

The Statesman Kolkata covers a wide range of topics, including politics, business, economy, society, culture, and sports. It also has a strong focus on local news and events. The newspaper is known for its critical and independent reporting on the government and the powerful.

The Statesman Kolkata is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to stay informed about the latest news and developments in India, and especially in West Bengal. It is also a great way to get in-depth analysis and commentary on current affairs.