Monday, 23 December 2024
Monday, 23 December 2024
Canadian Sikhs staged small protests outside India's diplomatic missions on Monday, a week after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there may be a link between New Delhi and the murder of a Sikh separatist advocate in British Columbia. The United States has said Canada's investigation into the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar must proceed and the perpetrators brought to justice.
Indian athletes have showcased their prowess at the Asian Games, particularly in shooting and equestrian sports. The country's marksmen made a strong statement, clinching three medals, including a team gold, and securing five podium finishes in just two days. The shooting trio of Rudrankksh, Olympian Divyansh Singh Panwar, and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar displayed their class, aggregating 1893.7 in the qualification round to secure the team gold, surpassing formidable opponents like China and South Korea. In sailing, Neha Thakur stood out with a silver, while Eabad Ali claimed bronze, adding to India's medal tally. Moreover, the Indian equestrian team broke a 41-year-old jinx, securing the team dressage gold at the Asian Games. The triumphant team, consisting of Divyakriti Singh, Hriday Vipul Chhed, and Anush Agarwalla, showcased exceptional skills astride their respective horses, leading them to the top of the podium with an aggregated score of 209.205 percentage points.
Protests erupted in Manipur's Imphal Valley following the circulation of photos showing the bodies of two students who had been missing since July, suspected to be victims of kidnapping and killing. Over 30 students, predominantly girls, were injured as the police responded with tear gas and baton charges. The Manipur government has urged the public to exercise restraint and allow authorities to investigate the case, emphasising that it's already in the hands of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Tensions run high as the community demands justice and a thorough inquiry into the tragic incident.
Congress celebrated former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 91st birthday, lauding his statesmanship and impactful tenure. Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge praised Singh as a "true statesman PM" whose actions spoke louder than words, emphasising his influential role during his leadership from 2004 to 2014. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin also extended birthday wishes, highlighting Singh's composed and humble approach, emphasising that it offers valuable leadership lessons. Stalin acknowledged Singh's leadership during the global financial crisis and his dedication to inclusive policies that shaped India's future positively.
The Bengaluru bandh, organised by farmers and Kannada organisations on account of the Cauvery water dispute, gained partial response with limited public services disruption. The protest, supported by BJP and JD(S), was against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu. The 'Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti' led by farmer leader Kuruburu Shanthakumar spearheaded the shutdown from 6 am to 6 pm. However, authorities detained Shanthakumar and other leaders attempting a protest march towards Town Hall at the Mysuru Bank circle. Most services continued, but fewer people ventured out during the bandh.
The Trinamul Congress will send more than 50 lakh letters from people denied MGNREGA benefits in West Bengal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the party's much-touted protests in New Delhi next month against the alleged withholding of funds by the Centre. The party has accused the BJP-led NDA government of withholding Rs 15,000 crore of dues to Bengal under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and Gramin Awas Yojana.
Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman will be honoured with this year's Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest recognition in the field of Indian cinema, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur said on Tuesday. Regarded one of India's finest actors, Rehman is best known for films including "Pyaasa", "CID", "Guide", "Kaagaz Ke Phool", "Khamoshi" and "Trishul". A number of eminent personlaities across the coutry have congratulated veteran actress on this occasion and prayed for her good health.
The Supreme Court highlighted concerns over the government's delay in appointing and transferring judges, with 70 collegium recommendations pending for 10 months. In response, the Attorney General, R Venkataramani, was asked to expedite the resolution of this issue. The bench, comprised of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia, requested the Attorney General to use his office to address the prolonged delay in the appointment of judges and report back with instructions within a week regarding the pending recommendations for high court judges' appointments.
A lookout circular (LOC) has been issued against former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who is facing allegations of irregularities in the purchase of a property in Bathinda. The LOC was issued after raids were conducted at Badal's residence by teams of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. The case also involves former Bathinda Development Authority chief Bikramjit Shergill and others. Badal, who switched to the BJP from the Congress earlier this year, is accused of abusing his position to convert commercial plots into a residential plot for himself during his time as a minister. Several arrests have already been made in connection with the case.
Reliance Industries Ltd, headed by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, announced that his three children, Akash, Isha, and Anant, appointed as directors of the company, will be paid a fee for attending board and committee meetings, along with a commission on the company's profit. However, they will not recieve any salary from the company, according to internal sources. The terms of their appointment mirror those of Ambani's wife, Nita Ambani, who was appointed to the board in 2014. Mukesh Ambani, who drew nil salary from the company since the 2020-21 fiscal year, reiterated that he would continue as chairman and CEO for five more years, focusing on grooming the 'next-gen' leaders.
