The Statesman Kolkata - December 15, 2024

In this issue

December 15, 2024

PM targets Cong in fiery tirade

Modi was replying to the debate in the Lok Sabha on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution

3 mins

Kerala protests against Centre's demand to pay for Wayanad airlifting costs

The Kerala government has strongly protested the Indian Air Force's (IAF) renewed demand that Kerala recompense the outstanding Rs. 132 crore airway bill incurred by the Ministry of Defence during disaster-related humanitarian operations since 2019, including during the Wayanad landslide.

1 min

Two Bills related to 'One Nation, One Election' listed for introduction in LS

Four days after getting a nod from the Union Cabinet, two Bills related to \"One Nation, One Election\" are listed for introduction in the Lok Sabha on 16 December.

1 min

South Korean National Assembly votes to impeach President Yoon

The South Korea's National Assembly voted on Saturday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched imposition of martial law.

1 min

Dilip Ghosh Slams anti-India protests in Bangladesh

The former Bengal BJP president has been touring north Bengal for the party's membership drive

1 min

STF arrests arms dealer in Asansol

The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police arrested Mohammed Arif, a resident of Jharia in Jharkhand from Chandmari in Railpar area under Asansol North police station today along with illegal arms and ammunition.

1 min

NF Railway enhances safety with new infrastructure

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has installed 'Thick Web Switch Point' machines with clamp-type locking at 31 stations across its zone to enhance safety features during November 2024.

1 min

Asansol boy tops Indian Statistical Service exam

Sinchan Snigdha Adhikary, a resident of Ismile in Asansol has topped the Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Examinations held by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in the country.

1 min

Vijay Diwas: Military tattoo at Fort William

The Military Training Area astride Fort William, Kolkata, is set to come alive with an awe-inspiring display of skill, precision and valour on 16 December, as the Indian Army hosts the annual military tattoo to commemorate the 53rd Vijay Diwas.

1 min

Lok Adalat settles ₹2.5 cr accident claim for Durgapur resident

The country's highest ever motor accident death benefit, amounting to Rs 2.5 crore for a single fatality, was settled by a Lok Adalat Bench here today, 12 years after the accident and the sum was handed over by a public sector insurance major to the mother, widow and daughter of the deceased engineer.

1 min

Cuffs on civic volunteer in alleged molest case

Chiranjib Singh, a civic police volunteer posted under Mohammad Bazar police station of Birbhum was arrested, allegedly for molesting a minor girl.

1 min

TMC slams BJP's membership drive, calls it farce

The BJP presently has 12 Lok Sabha MPs from Bengal and two Rajya Sabha MPs

1 min

One detained in Golf Green murder Case

A severed head was recovered from Kolkata's Golf Green area, leading to the detention of one individual for questioning.

1 min

Bail to RG Kar accused: Left, Cong protest against CBI

Hardly 24 hours after the court granted bail to Prof (Dr) Sandip Ghosh and Abhijit Mondal, two accused in the heinous incident of rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at R G Kar Hospital on 9 August, CPM, Congress and the SUCI, along with doctors' bodies hit the streets in the city on Saturday afternoon to protest against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its failure to submit charge sheet (CS) to the court within 90 days.

1 min

Sarovar Portico Kolkata Rajarhat opens in city

Sarovar Portico Kolkata Rajarhat opened its doors to the public recently.

1 min

IISCO Steel Plant launches recycled paver blocks in colourful shades

The IISCO Steel Plant (ISP) of Sail in Burnpur launched an innovative project aimed at converting LD slag, a byproduct of steel manufacturing, into environmentally sustainable paver blocks.

1 min

WB CM congratulates successful candidates from state in ISS exam

CM Mamata said our students are showing improved performances in IAS & IPS examinations too

1 min

Vehicle with govt sticker hits e-cart, kills 2

An elderly patient and an electric rickshaw operator died and two health workers suffered grave wounds when a speeding four-wheeler bearing a West Bengal government board rammed into the e-rickshaw from the opposite end in Monteswar in East Burdwan on Saturday morning.

1 min

Asansol division's Madhupur station being redeveloped for better efficiency

Madhupur station, a vital location in the Asansol division of Eastern Railway, is undergoing significant redevelopment with a focus on creating modern infrastructure for improved train operations and passenger services.

1 min

Locals allege illegal digging of Jalangi river embankment

A shocking act of alleged environmental disregard has put Krishnagar's Jalangi river in the spotlight, as councillor Palash Das of ward 25 stands accused of unauthorised digging near the riverbank.

1 min

Samvidhan showdown in LS: BJP reminds LoP Rahul of 1975 Emergency to blunt Congress attack

The Day 2 debate on 75 years of the Constitution's adoption witnessed fresh fireworks in the Lok Sabha, with the Congress and BJP members engaging in fierce verbal exchanges on Saturday.

1 min

Navy chief to visit Indonesia to deepen maritime ties

Adm. Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), will embark on a four-day official visit to Indonesia on Sunday.

1 min

'Surest way to ensure degeneration is to put an institution or individual beyond scrutiny'

Institutional challenges from within and without often stem from the erosion of meaningful dialogue and authentic expression

2 mins

Maha ministry portfolio pie to get 'final touches' on Sunday

Even after three weeks of intense and hectic negotiations and lobbying, as well as the intervention of the BJP's top brass in Delhi, sources said on Saturday evening that the list of Maharashtra's cabinet ministers and ministers of state is yet to be finalized and will be given \"final touches\" only by Sunday morning.

1 min

Goods train splits into two parts after its coupling breaks in Bihar

A goods train split into two parts after its coupling broke near the Kharia-Pipra halt on the Bhagalpur-Jamalpur line in Bihar on Saturday, affecting the traffic on the route.

1 min

Congress, BJP exchange heated words over couple's suicide in MP's Sehore

A war of words broke out between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress in Madhya Pradesh over the tragic suicide of a businessman and his wife, who allegedly faced harassment by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

1 min

'Determined to raise standards of education'

Revanth Reddy said that the govt endeavours to upgrade students' skills

2 mins

Kerala CM writes to PM Modi urging him to withdraw VGF repayment norm for Vizhinjam project

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking to intervene and withdraw the finance ministry's norm making it mandatory for the state to repay the Viability Gap Fund (VGF) for the Vizhinjam seaport project in installments.

1 min

Cine star Allu Arjun released from jail

Actor Allu Arjun was released in the early hours on Saturday from Chanchalguda jail after spending the night there even though he had secured interim bail from the Telangana High Court.

1 min

Andhra: TDP's membership reaches 73 lakh

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) claimed on Saturday that it has created a record of sorts in the party membership enrollment as the total number of members has reached 73 lakh.

1 min

Farmers withdraw 'Jatha' at Shambhu, to hold tractor march

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher urged people in Punjab to be part of the Rail Roko

1 min

Sikh Gurus, sacrifices for the nation and religion are a profound source of inspiration: UP CM

The 350th martyrdom year of Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Guru of Sikhism, will be commemorated across Uttar Pradesh with year-long celebrations.

1 min

JP Nadda accuses Congress of aligning with foreign conspiracies against India

BJP National President JP Nadda, while addressing the \"Janadesh Parab\" rally in Raipur on Friday, launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing it of aligning with foreign-funded entities seeking to destabilize India.

1 min

'100 pc plain water used': Police refute allegations of use of 'chemical-laced water' on protesting farmers

The Ambala police in Punjab have dismissed allegations of using chemical-laced water to disperse protesting farmers at the Shambhu border, asserting that only plain water was used.

1 min

Haryana introduces free cashless treatment for road mishap victims

In compliance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Haryana Police has launched a new initiative under which accident victims will now receive free treatment in the initial golden hour.

2 mins

Mehbooba slams NC's silence on restoration of Article 370

Slamming the ruling National Conference (NC), Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday criticized the NC for its inaction on key issues, despite holding a significant number of seats, and asserted that the PDP would take the lead in fighting for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, statehood, and release of political prisoners.

1 min

Misuse of law

The suicide of a Bangalore-based tech professional has reignited concerns over the misuse of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses cruelty by husbands or their families toward women.

2 mins

Taiwan imbroglio

The US State Department has urged China to exercise restraint. It reminded Beijing that a routine transit by President Lai should not be used as a pretext for military pressure. There is overwhelming opinion across the world that the scale of Chinese deployment targeting the entire island chain stretching from Japan to Borneo is a clear demonstration of China's intention to intimidate Taiwan militarily by exerting control over critical waterways. No wonder, Beijing's military posture around Taiwan in recent years has raised fears of conflict in the region

4 mins

Legacy threatened

Nepal's objection to the Agnipath scheme and its refusal to send its youth for service in the Indian Army has put a 200-year historical legacy in jeopardy.

2 mins

Looking ahead to a year of promise

Nostradamus, the renowned French astrologer and seer, has made intriguing predictions about global affairs and India's future for the year 2025.

3 mins

Urban voters must turn out in larger numbers

The results of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Legislative Assembly elections are now out, and new governments have been formed in both states.

3 mins

South Korea: Chief of Defence Counterintelligence Command arrested in martial law probe

Prosecutors arrested Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung, South Korea's Chief of the Defence Counterintelligence Command, on charges including insurrection on Saturday as part of an investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law last week.

1 min

Ex-soccer player Kavelashvili becomes Georgia's president in a blow to its EU aspirations

Former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili became president of Georgia on Saturday, as the ruling party tightened its grip in what the opposition calls a blow to the country's EU aspirations and a victory for former imperial ruler Russia.

1 min

Macron nominates Francois Bayrou as new French Prime Minister

French President Emmanuel Macron has nominated Francois Bayrou as the country's new Prime Minister, the Elysee announced.

1 min

Syrians cheer end of 50 years of Assad rule at first Friday prayers since government fell

Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar Assad, gathering in the capital's historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule.

1 min

Yoon's impeachment sparks worries over military readiness

As of Thursday, six South Korean generals had been suspended from their duties

2 mins

A diminished Hezbollah is made even weaker by the toppling of Assad in Syria

A severely hobbled Hezbollah was in no position to help defend former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a longtime ally, from the lightning-fast insurgency that toppled him. With Assad gone, the militant group based in Lebanon is even weaker.

1 min

Benin grants citizenship to slave descendants as it faces its own role in the trade

When Nadege Anelka first came to the West African country of Benin from her home island of Martinique, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean, the 57-year-old travel agent said she had a feeling of deja vu.

2 mins

UN Security Council criticizes Taliban ban on Afghan women's medical education

The U.N. Security Council said Friday it was deeply concerned about the recent decision by Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to ban women from medical education, which could leave millions of women and girls without health care in the future.

1 min

Thai police detain two suspects after a bomb in a border province killed three and injured scores

Thai police on Saturday said two suspects were in custody as authorities investigated a bombing in the north that killed at least three people and injured dozens of others.

1 min

Hearings are done; now the wait begins for verdict on closely-watched climate case at UN's top court

A lawyer for a small South Pacific island nation told the world's highest court to heed her warning.

1 min

Russia extends countermeasures against Western oil price cap

In December 2022, the European Union placed a price cap of $60 per barrel on Russian seaborne crude oil, a move later adopted by the Group of Seven (G7) nations

1 min

Indonesian President to grant amnesty to select prisoners

Indonesian Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas has said that President Prabowo Subianto would grant amnesty to several categories of prisoners, including drug users and prisoners with long-term illnesses.

1 min

UK housing policy sparks debate over development, conservation

The Labour government's new planning policy has mandated local councils to meet the target of building 370,000 homes a year to fulfill a government promise for 1.5 million new homes in Britain over five years.

2 mins

India's space economy to increase threefold in next 10 years: Minister

The country's space economy is set to increase threefold in the next 10 years, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, said on Saturday.

1 min

NCC celebrates its 76th Raising Day

The National Cadet Corps (NCC), the largest uniformed youth organisation in the world raised in 1948, celebrated its 76th raising on 24 November with traditional fervour.

1 min

Union Minister visits 45 MW NHPC Nimoo Bazgo Power Station in Leh

Manohar Lal, Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs visited 45 MW NHPC Nimoo Bazgo Power Station situated in Leh District (UT of Ladakh) on 22 November 2024.

1 min

Bihar: Inquiry initiated against principal who went to buy veggies during school hours

Bihar Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department on Saturday initiated an inquiry against a school principal in the Mushari area of Madhubani district after it was found that he (principal) had gone to buy vegetables during school hours.

1 min

Shah to chair high-level security meeting on J-K on 19 December

Union Home Minister said the govt will leave no stone unturned in rooting out terrorism from J&K

1 min

Thought he'd say something new: Priyanka Vadra on Modi's speech

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in the Lok Sabha, calling it \"absolutely boring\" and devoid of anything new or constructive.

1 min

Nitish Kumar using taxpayers' money for Mahila Samvad Yatra: Tejashwi Yadav

Bihar Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav said on Saturday that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is using taxpayers' money for his Mahila Samvad Yatra.

1 min

After Hyderabad, Bengaluru, roadshow in Mumbai on 16 December to attract investments in NE states

After Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata, the Northeast Trade and Investment Roadshow will be held in Mumbai on Monday to attract investment in the northeastern states, officials said here on Saturday.

2 mins

Two migrant workers shot in Manipur, militant killed

Two migrant workers from Bihar were shot dead by unidentified armed assailants in Manipur's Kakching district on Saturday evening, police said.

2 mins

Sarma says Assam has emerged as a model of development

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the state has become a model of development in India, attributing this success to the government's focus on transparent and efficient governance.

1 min

SGPGI leads the way in health education: Yogi

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Saturday, stated that SGPGI is setting high standards in healthcare and medical education, not just in the state but across North India.

1 min

Major e-commerce platforms to adopt 'Safety Pledge' on National Consumer Day

Major e-commerce platforms like Ajio, JioMart, Netmed, BigBasket, Tata Cliq, Tata 1mg, Zomato and Ola will be adopting \"Safety Pledge\" on the occasion of the National Consumer Day, 2024 to be celebrated on 24 December.

1 min

RBI raises collateral-free agricultural loan limit

The existing loan limit of Rs 1.6 lakh per borrower has been raised to Rs 2 lakh

1 min

CPI inflation to average 4.8 per cent in 2024-25: SBI report

CPI inflation is likely to average 4.8 per cent with an upward bias for the full financial year 2024-25 as evolving food prices play a key role, according to an SBI report.

1 min

UPI transactions surge to ₹223 lakh crore in Jan-Nov

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has achieved 15,547 crore transactions worth Rs 223 lakh crore from January to November this year, showcasing its transformative impact on financial transactions in India, the Finance Ministry said on Saturday.

2 mins

WPL auction: Nandini, Kamalini among most fancied players

On Sunday, the third Women's Premier League (WPL) player auction will see five teams vying to fill 19 slots overall from the pool of 120 players and complete their squads for the 2025 season at the premises of ITC Gardenia in Bengaluru.

1 min

Basit Ali slams ICC, warns PCB against CT 2025 deal

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali felt the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would end up losers if they accepted a reported compromise deal with the International Cricket Council (ICC), terming that the offer to host the women's World Cup in 2027 was nothing but a 'lollipop' from the global body.

2 mins

Openers take Australia to 28/0 before heavy rain ruins Day 1 of Gabba Test

With the series locked at 1-1, the opening day of the third match in Brisbane turned out to be a damp squib

1 min

15 days to 2025

Desktop doodles

2 mins

An Indian American in the White House?

This week we bring our readers a humour-laced opinion piece from an Indian American who would like to see a member of his clan move into the White House. Well, if not the President herself at least the First Lady and considering that the names which have figured in the list of contenders in this category have been mostly those of women, it is not at all unlikely. From Kamala (another name for Lakshmi) to Usha (another name for Durga), it's all in the realm of possibilities.

5 mins

2024: A year marked by escalating climate change impacts in India

India concludes another year dominated by extreme weather, with climate change fueling an alarming rise in disasters across the nation.

4 mins

The long walk back

God could not believe His eyes! The devastated landscape all around seemed utterly alien to Him!

8 mins

Next time, for sure

She was seeing him again after five years. And though she had steeled herself against melting, having seen so many of his old photos to prepare herself, she could not help but find her fortifications weakening when she saw him. She was transported back to school. The butterflies in her stomach rose to a flutter as he came to meet them.

2 mins

Self expression through jewellery

Storied atelier Zoya from the House of Tata announced its entry into eastern India on Wednesday, opening its first store in Kolkata, in a heritage bungalow on Shakespeare Sarani.

5 mins

Where wellness meets luxury

More than just a health resort, Swastik Wellbeing on the outskirts of Pune is a movement towards a more abundant, harmonious and meaningful way of life-the perfect embodiment of wellness and luxury!

4 mins

From struggles to achievements: Transforming futures, empowering dreams for India's youth

SAHAY's inspiring stories, from struggles to achievements and their endeavors to give the youth a sustainable future, are, perhaps, a precedent of this.

3 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.

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