CATEGORIES

US govt heads to a shutdown

House rejects plan backed by Trump to fund operations and suspend debt ceiling

Hungary's govt gives asylum to Polish politico accused of graft

HUNGARY has given political asylum to a Polish opposition politician who is wanted on suspicions of corruption, triggering a diplomatic spat that worsened on Friday.

US diplomats meet with head of HTS group that overthrew Assad

US diplomats met with Syria's new ruler on Friday, an official told AFP, as outside powers seek assurances the country's Islamist-led authorities will be moderate and inclusive.

Ukrainian strike on Russian town kills 6

A Ukrainian attack Friday on a town in Russia's Kursk border region using US-supplied missiles killed six people, including a child, a senior local official said.

Thousands of Jews left Israel after Oct 7 attacks

LEAVING Israel is easier, Shira Z Carmel thinks, by saying it's just for now. But she knows better.

Macron met with anger over cyclone response during visit to Mayotte

FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron faced widespread frustration and anger from residents of Mayotte during his visit to the Indian Ocean archipelago, which is still reeling from the damage of the strongest cyclone to hit the region in nearly a century.

40-day harsh winter in Valley begins today

KASHMIR is bracing up for 'Chilai Kalan', the harshest winter period of 40 days which starts from December 21.

MAHA MOVE Fadnavis orders probe into Beed, Parbhani clashes

MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced judicial probes into the Parbhani violence over the alleged desecration of a replica of the Constitution and the murder of a sarpanch in Beed district.

Bitten by a cop, says Assam Cong neta after scuffle

SENIOR spokesperson of Assam Congress Ashwin Kumar Mahanta alleged he was bitten by a police officer during a scuffle in Guwahati on Friday.

GST hike on shawl proposed, J&K artisans worried

The proposed GST hike from 12 to 28 percent on Kashmir shawls valued over ₹10,000 has caused anxiety among J&K artisans and dealers.

Dedicated authority to enhance Chardham Yatra experience set up: Dhami

THE Uttarakhand government has announced the formation of a Char Dham Yatra Authority to make the pilgrimage to the four shrines - Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri - more accessible and convenient for devotees.

Man linked to 24 crashes unravels insurance fraud

Officials yet to find if driver was a willing participant or implicated

Amid protest from locals, Arunachal CM bats for hydro project citing China

ARUNACHAL Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has strongly advocated for the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, citing concerns over China's plans on the river Siang.

No '7 pheres' or 'band-baja', couple takes vow in the name of Constitution

AS members of Parliament clashed in both Houses on who respected the Constitution more, the issue was settled by a Scheduled Caste couple in a remote Chhattisgarh village.

52 kg gold, ₹10 cr cash seized from car in biggest MP haul

AN MUV stuffed with bags containing more than 52 kg gold bullions (bricks) worth over ₹40 crore and around ₹10 crore cash was found parked at a desolate place on the outskirts of Bhopal on Thursday-Friday intervening night.

Speaker warns of action against MPs for protests inside House premises

A DAY after a scuffle in the Parliament premises, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday warned members of action if they hold demonstrations and protests at any of the gates of Parliament.

BJP's PP Chaudhary to head Parliament panel on 'One Nation One Poll'

DAYS after the government introduced the 'One Nation One Election' Bill in the Lok Sabha, BJP MP PP Chaudhary was appointed chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to scrutinise the bills.

10-acre 'Kalagram' along Ganga for Mahakumbh

FOR the Mahakumbh at Prayagraj, a culture village, called Kalagram, will be set up on over 10 acres at Daraganj along the banks of the Ganga and it will have demarcated spaces for seven zonal cultural centres (ZCC), officials said.

'Meaningful debate vs destructive disruption'

THE Winter Session of the Rajya Sabha concluded on December 20, barely recording a productivity of 40 per cent, much of the time spent on the Opposition's attempts to remove Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar from office, accusing him of bias.

Cabinet hikes MSP for copra by up to 121% for 2025 season

AS part of its pro-farmer stance since it assumed power in its third term, the NDA government on Friday gave its nod for the increased Minimum Support Price (MSP) for copra for 2025 season.

BJP's FIR against Rahul in Parliament scuffle case transferred to Crime Branch

THE Crime Branch of Delhi Police is set to take over the probe into the FIR filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly pushing and injuring BJP MPs during the scuffle on the Parliament premises, sources said on Friday.

WE MUST EXTEND HEALTH SPAN, NOT JUST LIFE SPAN

Even a 'cured' disease often leaves behind disabilities impairing the quality of life. If we can't ensure wholesome health, the expected demographic dividend will continue to elude us

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN RULE BOOKS GO OUT THE WINDOW

For the first time in decades, the principles on which the modern world was built are open to question.

SC seeks details on pending cases against Senthil Balaji

EXPRESSING serious concern over how DMK leader V Senthil Balaji was reinstated as minister in the Tamil Nadu government days after he was granted bail in a money-laundering case, the Supreme Court on Friday noted that it was \"terribly wrong\" to do so.

Karnataka HC orders release of BJP MLC CT Ravi, terms arrest illegal

Judge grants interim relief, orders immediate release provided Ravi cooperates with probe

SC tells pvt parties in Nilgiris to clear elephant corridor

The Supreme Court on Friday reaffirmed its 2020 verdict directing private property owners and resort operators to vacate lands within the elephant corridor in the Nilgiris, stating the decision had attained finality.

Stir over Ambedkar row, violence against RaGa

THE members of CPI and Congress, on Friday, staged protests against Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP MPs over the recent controversies.

Tourist inflow in TN up by 15 crore in 3 years

THE arrival of tourists, both domestic and foreign, to the state has increased to 28.71 crore in 2023 from 14.18 crore in 2020.

Nothing wrong in flaying govt, don't raise baseless claims: CM

CHIEF Minister MK Stalin on Friday said AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has been levelling 'imaginary' allegations against the government and that does not befit his position of leader of opposition.

Man's temple visit worth an iPhone Pro

At times, reel life comedies will come true, as is the case with D Dinesh, a devotee from Vinayakapuram in Ambattur who visited the temple three months ago to offer prayers. In place of the baby, his iPhone Pro, worth ₹1 lakh fell into the hundi.