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At least eight persons were killed and 18 injured on Friday when a private bus carrying more than 45 passengers skidded off the road and fell into a dirty and toxic water drain near Bathinda town in Punjab after crashing a bridge, an official said. 
The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.
The accident occurred on the Bathinda-Talwandi Sabo road when it fell in the Lasara drain at Jeewan Singhwala village. The cause of the deaths was mainly due to drowning in the drain, the police said.
Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police Amneet Kondal said eight persons have died, and the injured individuals were admitted to nearby hospitals.
The bus was pulled out of the drain using a JCB with the deployment of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local police and the civil administration.
The rain hampered the rescue and search operation.
Bathinda Urban legislator Jagroop Singh Gill told the media at the accident spot that five died on the spot while three succumbed to serious injuries during treatment.
&ldquo;Nearly 18 are being treated at the Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh Civil Hospital. Doctors have been instructed to ensure treatment,&rdquo; Gill said.
The bus was on the way from Talwandi Sabo to Bathinda city when it skidded and fell into a drain. Senior civil and police officials were on the spot to supervise rescue operations.
Eyewitnesses said the bus crashed through the railing of a bridge before it fell into the drain.
Locals rushed to the accident well ahead of the local authorities to get the people out of the bus and took them to the hospital.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the next 24 hours, warning against heavy rainfall.
It warned that thunderstorms and hailstorms are expected amid cold weather conditions.
&mdash;IANS
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Rescue personnel lifting the bus out of the toxic drain

Bus carrying 45 people skidded off road, crashed through bridge railing before fall

Punjab: 8 Killed, 18 Injured in Toxic Drain Mishap

The US Embassy and its consulate in India have scripted a new record by issuing more than one million non-immigrant visas for the second year in a row.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The record number of non-immigrant visas underscores the huge demand among Indians for travel to the United States for purposes like tourism, business, education, medical treatment and others. A non-immigrant visa facilitates entry into the United States for these purposes.
The US Embassy, having pledged to scale up Indian visitors to the US after the Covid pandemic, has maintained astounding numbers over the years.
&ldquo;In the past four years, the number of visitors from India has increased by five times, and more than two million Indians have travelled to the United States in the first eleven months of 2024, a 26% increase over the same period in 2023,&rdquo; the Embassy said in an official statement.
Over five million Indians already have a non-immigrant visa to visit the United States and each day, the Mission issues thousands more.
&ldquo;The US Department of State completed a successful pilot programme to renew H-1B visas in the United States this year. This allowed many speciality occupation workers from India to renew their visas without leaving the United States. This pilot programme streamlined the renewal process for thousands of applicants, and the Department of State is working to formally establish a US-based renewal programme in 2025,&rdquo; it stated further.
The US Missions have also issued tens of thousands of immigrant visas, facilitating legal family reunification and migration of skilled professionals. These immigrant visa holders have gone on to become permanent residents.
&ldquo;The US mission has also provided more than 24,000 passports and other consular services to American citizens living and travelling in India,&rdquo; it said in a press statement.&nbsp;
The Embassy has also issued US student visas to more than 3 lakh Indian students, its largest ever.
&ldquo;In 2024, India became the top sender of international students for the first time since the 2008/2009 academic year with more than 331,000 students overall studying in the United States. India also remains the largest sender of international graduate students in the United States for the second year,&rdquo; said the US mission.&nbsp;
It further informed that the number of Indian graduates has also seen a rise of 19% compared to earlier, and at present, there are nearly 2,00,000 students.&nbsp;
&mdash;IANS
&nbsp;

Indians travel purpose to US was tourism, business, education, medical treatment and others —File Photo

The US embassy has also issued visas to more than 3 lakh Indian students; India becomes top sender with 331,000 Students

US Embassy Sets Record: 1M Non-Immigrant Visas Issued

Around 100 infiltrators including 87 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested during the past five months at the Agartala railway station alone, while hundreds of other intruders from across the border were nabbed in different places of Tripura, officials said here on Friday.&nbsp;
After the unrest began in Bangladesh in July, especially after the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5, the infiltration into India's northeastern states increased to a large extent.&nbsp;
A senior official of the Government Railway Police (GRP) said that around 100 Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas were detained at the Agartala railway station between August 1 and December 24.
Besides the intruders, 28 Indian touts were also arrested for facilitating the infiltrators to cross the India-Bangladesh border illegally.
The Bangladeshi and the Rohingyas, after arrest, told the security personnel that they intended to go to Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other places in India in search of jobs.
Over the last five months, around 600 Bangladeshi nationals and over 63 Rohingyas were arrested by the GRP, Border Security Force (BSF), and Tripura Police from the Agartala railway station and various other places in Tripura after they illegally entered India.
During this year (2024), 55 Rohingyas among 700 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were apprehended in Tripura and various contraband worth around Rs 50 crore seized by BSF alone.&nbsp;
The Rohingyas illegally entered India after fleeing their camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar where more than one million displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar have been living since 2017.
Both the detained Bangladeshi nationals and the Rohingyas told the Indian security officials that they illegally entered India in search of jobs and shelter.&nbsp;
A BSF spokesman said that after the Bangladesh unrest began in June-July, the border guarding force has intensified its domination and operations along the 856 km India-Bangladesh border in Tripura to prevent infiltration, exfiltration, and trans-border crimes including smuggling of contrabands.
The BSF, on a number of occasions, foiled several infiltration attempts by hundreds of Bangladeshi nationals comprising both Hindus and Muslims.
&mdash;IANS
&nbsp;

Over last five months, over 600 Bangladeshis and 63 Rohingyas arrested by the GRP (File Photo)

Around 100 infiltrators crossed border illegally due to growing unrest in Bangladesh

Illegal Bangladeshi & Rohingyas Nabbed: Agartala

Public sector power giant NTPC Ltd, Adani Group flagship Adani Enterprises Ltd, and government-owned Punjab National Bank Ltd are among the seven companies that are expected to see strong net passive inflows to the tune of $187 million due to the rejig of the NSE indices which kick in on December 30, according to a report released by Nuvama Institutional Equities. &nbsp;
A "rejig" on the NSE (National Stock Exchange) refers to the periodic rebalancing or restructuring of its indices, such as the Nifty 50 or Nifty Bank. This process involves adding or removing companies from the indices based on a set of criteria such as market capitalization, liquidity, sector representation, and trading volume.
The state-owned NTPC is set to see an inflow of $74 million, followed by Punjab National Bank, and IndusInd Bank with $25 million and $23 million, respectively. Federal Bank Ltd. is expected to see an inflow of $18 million while Bank of Baroda Ltd is set for $17 million inflows.
The Adani Group flagship is expected to bring in $15 million, according to Nuvama. Adani Group stocks rose by 4&ndash;5%&nbsp;on Thursday amid strong buying momentum. Among Adani group shares, the biggest gainer was Adani Green Energy with a 4.91% increase to a high of ₹1,081.80 apiece on the BSE. The gains in Adani Group stocks came at a time when the Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are trading flat amid lacklustre trade in the global markets.
According to the Novuma report, the biggest private sector bank, ICICI Bank Ltd, will see an inflow of $14 million.
Cumulatively, these seven companies will see an inflow of $186 million, with the adjustment scheduled on December 30.
On the flip side of the NSE rejig, State Bank of India will see the highest outflow of $57 million, followed by HDFC Bank Ltd with $47 million. Power Grid Corp, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd, and Bharat Electronics Ltd are also among the companies that will see outflows following the rejig.
The Nifty Bank index is expected to see key inflows in Punjab National Bank to the tune of $25 million and IndusInd Bank Ltd at $23 million. HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, and Kotak Mahindra Bank will witness outflows within the Nifty Bank gauge.
State-owned biggies Power Grid, Bharat Electronics, ONGC, and Coal India Ltd are expected to see outflows amid the central public sector enterprises category.
(With agency input)

State Bank of India will see the highest outflow of $57 million

NTPC, Adani Enterprises, PNB to be among top gainers in changes to NSE indices which kick in December 30

7 Firms to See $187M Inflows from Nifty Rejig

Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) has announced that legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar has accepted its Honorary Cricket Membership. The MCC was founded in 1838 and is one of the oldest sports clubs in Australia.&nbsp;
They are also responsible for the management and development of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which is currently hosting the traditional Boxing Day Test between India and Australia.
&ldquo;An icon honoured. The MCC is pleased to announce that former Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar has accepted an Honorary Cricket Membership, acknowledging his outstanding contribution to the game,&rdquo; said the MCC on its X account on Friday.
Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of the game, with his international career running from 1989 to 2013. He hit 100 international centuries, amassing 34,357 runs in 664 matches for India and was a member of the 2011 ODI World Cup-winning team.&nbsp;
Tendulkar, who also captained India, played five Tests and seven ODIs for India at the MCG, scoring 449 and 190 runs, respectively. As of now, he is India&rsquo;s leading run scorer in Test matches played at the MCG, with one century and three fifties against his name.
In 2012, Tendulkar was made an honorary member of the Order of Australia (OAM), becoming the first non-Australian cricketer to be given the honour. In the same year, he was also given the honorary life membership of the Sydney Cricket Club (SCC).&nbsp;
In 2014, Tendulkar was conferred with honorary life membership of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club in England. He also holds life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club, who are guardians of the Lord&rsquo;s Cricket Ground in London and of MIG Cricket Club in Mumbai, a place where he trained as a youngster.&nbsp;
&mdash;IANS
&nbsp;

Tendulkar is one of the greatest batters with 100 international centuries and 34,357 runs (File Photo)

An icon honoured; The Melbourne Cricket Club is please to announced that Sachin has accepted this for his outstanding contribution in game says MCC

Tendulkar Accepts Hon Cricket Membership: MCC

The relationship between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has always been defined by an uneasy balance between ideology and political ambition. The RSS, the ideological parent, provided the foundation and moral compass, while the BJP, its political offspring, translated those ideals into electoral success. But today, that balance seems to be fracturing.
The signs of strain are becoming increasingly visible. One prominent example is the BJP's growing reliance on temple politics. Across several states, especially Uttar Pradesh, leaders are aggressively pursuing narratives around uncovering Hindu religious sites beneath non-Hindu structures. This approach has fuelled communal polarisation, serving short-term electoral goals but risking long-term societal harmony.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat recently intervened, urging restraint. In a pointed statement, he reminded leaders that the Ram Mandir movement was about faith and not about daily Hindu-Muslim confrontations. His words were not just advisory&mdash;they were a warning.
However, Bhagwat&rsquo;s caution was met with resistance. Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand accused political leaders of exploiting religious sentiment to consolidate power and then abandoning the cause when convenient. Jagadguru Rambhadracharya went a step further, asserting that the fight for temple reclamation would continue, regardless of political narratives.
Social media amplified this dissent, with sharp commentary mocking the inconsistency: &ldquo;RSS once said, &lsquo;Wake up, Hindus,&rsquo; but now that Hindus are awake, they&rsquo;re being told to sleep again.&rdquo;
Even Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a powerful figure within the BJP, seemed caught in this tension. His cryptic remark about Lord Vishnu's next avatar being born in Sambhal appeared designed to maintain religious fervour among his base while sidestepping Bhagwat&rsquo;s caution.
But the inconsistencies don&rsquo;t end there. The silence of many RSS leaders on the alleged sidelining of traditional Sanatan deities by the Swaminarayan sect has also raised eyebrows. Observers note that financial and electoral clout often dictates which issues receive attention and which are quietly brushed aside.
This isn&rsquo;t the first public divergence between the two power centres. During the Lok Sabha elections 2024 run-up, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared himself a &ldquo;non-biological&rdquo; entity, a remark that drew a veiled rebuke from Bhagwat. The RSS chief cautioned against leaders developing a superhuman self-image, a clear reminder of the organisation&rsquo;s belief in humility and collective effort.
Similarly, disagreements surfaced after the Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections, particularly over chief ministerial appointments. While the RSS emphasised grassroots consensus, the BJP prioritised political expediency.
More recently, RSS leaders have reportedly begun reconnecting with old political allies sidelined by the BJP's top two faces. This outreach indicates a subtle yet significant shift&mdash;perhaps an attempt to reclaim lost influence in political decision-making.
At its core, this growing chasm reflects a fundamental question: Has the BJP outgrown the RSS? While the RSS prioritises long-term ideological goals, the BJP&rsquo;s focus has increasingly shifted towards short-term electoral wins. This divergence isn&rsquo;t merely a leadership issue&mdash;it&rsquo;s a philosophical one.
The RSS has traditionally been the ideological anchor of the BJP, but today, it seems to be wrestling for relevance in the face of the party's towering electoral machinery. The cold war brewing between the two isn&rsquo;t just a fleeting disagreement&mdash;it&rsquo;s a reflection of changing priorities and power dynamics.
For now, the ideological genie is out of the bottle, and it&rsquo;s unlikely to return anytime soon. Whether the RSS and BJP can realign their goals or drift further apart remains a question that will shape India&rsquo;s political landscape in the years to come.

The ideological parent and political offspring face a widening chasm over power and priorities

The Growing Rift: BJP and RSS at Crossroads

After saying religion is &lsquo;not fashionable&rsquo; in Hollywood, two-time Academy Award winning actor Denzel Washington has been baptized and became a minister.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
The star was baptized, receiving a certificate of baptism, as well as a minister&rsquo;s license, meaning that he can later get ordained, reports deadline.com.
The event took place at the Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ located in New York City&rsquo;s Harlem, per Today. First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Eastern New York live streamed the service on Facebook.
The actor said: &ldquo;In one week I turn 70. It took a while, but I&rsquo;m here.&rdquo;
He went on to thank his wife, Pauletta Washington.
The award-winning star has been open about his faith before, telling Esquire last month that while talk of religion in Hollywood is rare, he is unflinching in his resolve to share his beliefs and experience.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m unafraid. I don&rsquo;t care what anyone thinks. See, talking about the fear part of it&mdash;you can&rsquo;t talk like that and win Oscars. You can&rsquo;t talk like that and party. You can&rsquo;t say that in this town,&rdquo; he wrote in an essay relayed by the magazine.
He continued at the time, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not fashionable. It&rsquo;s not sexy. But that doesn&rsquo;t mean people in Hollywood don&rsquo;t believe. There&rsquo;s no such thing called Hollywood anyway. What does that even mean? That to me means a street called Hollywood Boulevard. It&rsquo;s not like we all meet somewhere and discuss what we believe.&rdquo;
&ldquo;So I don&rsquo;t know how many other actors have faith. I didn&rsquo;t do no poll. How would I find that out? I mean, there&rsquo;s no &lsquo;church actor meetings&rsquo; I have been to.&rdquo;
Upcoming on Washington&rsquo;s docket is Spike Lee&rsquo;s Apple Original project Highest 2 Lowest, alongside A$AP Rocky &amp; Ice Spice.
&mdash;IANS

The veteran actor gets baptized and receives a minister’s license in New York

Denzel Washington is Now a Minister!

Officials of investigating agencies probing the rackets engaged in arranging fake Indian passports for illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, are now trying to track the roots of this menace in a section of public distribution system (PDS) dealers in West Bengal. 
Sources said that preliminary investigation has revealed such errant PDS dealers constitute the base of the pyramid structure in the racket of the creation of fake passports.
Explaining the modus operandi of the crime, the sources said that once an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant steps into the Indian side and contacts the agents of such rackets, the process of creation of fake ration cards for the infiltrator begins.
The agents of such rackets contact the local PDS dealers for the list of ration cards that expired recently because of the demise of the cardholder concerned or for not collecting rations allotted for that card for a long time. Thereafter, one such particular card was selected and based on that, a general diary on its misplacement was filed.
Later, based on that general diary, the expired card was revived showing the illegal infiltrator as the beneficiary of the card. Thereafter, the chain system of the next lines of creation of fake Indian documents starts first with EPIC cards, followed by PAN and Aaadhaar cards and finally fake passports.
The sources said errant PDS dealers&rsquo; involvement was the base of the pyramid structure of this menace and involving a section of the Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) was the peak of the same structure.
So far five persons have been arrested in West Bengal in connection with such fake passport rackets of which two, Dipankar Das and Deepak Mondal, are contractual POPSK staff.
&mdash;IANS
&nbsp;

Five people arrested for involvement in the racket so far

They allegedly create fake docs by reviving govt ID cards of deceased

Bengal Passport Racket: Cops Track PDS Dealers

&nbsp;A routine traffic stop spiraled into a scene of chaos and devastation on Saturday evening when a suspected drunk driver led authorities on a high-speed chase, ultimately crashing through the glass doors of a JCPenney store inside Killeen Mall. The incident left at least five people injured and ended with the suspect being fatally shot by law enforcement.
The events began around 5 p.m. local time, according to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Sgt. Bryan Washko, when an officer flagged a black pickup truck for suspected DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) in the nearby city of Belton, roughly 20 miles east of Killeen.
The suspect refused to stop, igniting a high-speed pursuit that ended in the Killeen Mall parking lot. In a shocking turn, the driver rammed the front glass doors of JCPenney and proceeded to plow through the store's interior, indiscriminately striking shoppers.
Authorities, including a Texas DPS trooper and a Killeen Police officer, pursued the vehicle on foot as it drove several hundred yards through the store, hitting people in its path.
&ldquo;The trooper and the officer continued on foot after this vehicle, which was driving through the store actively running people over," said Sgt. Washko.
In a chaotic confrontation, officers from multiple agencies opened fire, fatally shooting the suspect inside the store.
At least five victims, aged between 6 and 75, sustained injuries. Four were transported by ambulance to nearby hospitals, while one person self-transported. Their conditions remain unconfirmed.
&ldquo;Thankfully he was stopped when he was because it could have been so much worse," added Washko. "This mall is pretty busy this time of year."
Authorities have confirmed that initial reports of an active shooter were false and assured the public that the scene is secure. However, they urged residents to stay clear of the area while investigations continue.
The vehicle remained inside the mall as of Saturday night, and the Texas Rangers Division will assist Texas DPS in leading the investigation.

JC Penny store at the Killeen Mall after car crashed into the store

Suspected DWI driver crashes into Killeen Mall, injuring 5 before being fatally shot

Deadly Chaos: Truck Plows Through Killeen Mall in Texas

Actor Allu Arjun, producers and director of Pushpa 2: The Rule have announced financial assistance of ₹2 crore for the family of the woman who was killed in the Sandhya Theatre stampede on December 4. The victim&rsquo;s son was critically injured during the premiere show and is battling for his life.
Allu Arjun&rsquo;s father and well-known producer Allu Arvind made the announcement on Wednesday after meeting Sri Teja, who is undergoing treatment at KIMS Hospital.
Allu Arvind told media that the cheque was handed over to Dil Raju, Chairman, Telangana State Film Development Corporation.
Allu Arvind said to support the boy and his family, the film unit decided to give financial assistance of ₹2 crore.
While Allu Arjun has given ₹1 crore, Mythri Movies, the producers of the movie have extended assistance of ₹50 lakh. Film&rsquo;s director Sukumar has also given ₹50 lakh to the family.
Allu Arvind said they spoke to doctors and were happy to know that he is recovering.
Allu Arjun had announced ₹25 lakh for the family two days after the incident. He had also assured all support to the family including treatment expenses of the boy.
Sri Tej&rsquo;s father Bhaskar had said on Tuesday that he received a demand draft of ₹10 lakh from Allu Arjun.
Bhaskar said that the actor&rsquo;s manager is also in regular touch with the family to get updates on the boy&rsquo;s condition.
The family is receiving support from both the Telangana government and Allu Arjun.
Bhaskar said Minister for Roads &amp; Buildings and Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy gave them a cheque of ₹25 lakh.
The boy&rsquo;s father said after 20 days, they noticed some body movement.
&ldquo;He also opened his eyes but did not recognize any of us,&rdquo; he said.
A woman named Revathi died and her son Sri Tej was critically injured in the stampede at Sandhya Theatre.
Actor Allu Arjun was arrested in the case on December 13 and was released on interim bail the next day.
The Chikkadpally police, which registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, interrogated Allu Arjun for more than three hours on Tuesday.
&mdash;IANS

Allu Arjun had earlier announced assistance of ₹25 lakh —File Photo

‘Pushpa 2’ makers, Allu Arjun extended financial aid as her son battles for life

₹ 2 cr Assistance to Family of Stampede Victim

A fire incident was reported at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, prompting a mass evacuation of approximately 1,200 visitors. The fire reportedly broke out in an elevator shaft between the first and second floors of the iconic structure.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
According to initial reports, firefighters faced challenges accessing the flames, which originated from an overheating device near an elevator cable. A spokesman for the Eiffel
&nbsp;
Tower management company stated:&nbsp;
"The technical problem occurred between the second floor and the top of the monument, causing the fire alarm to be triggered at 10:50 AM. In accordance with current safety procedures, we evacuated the monument."
&nbsp;
He clarified that no visitors were in danger and the situation was swiftly managed. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact origin of the incident, and the Eiffel Tower will reopen gradually during the day.&nbsp;
"Around 1,200 people were evacuated. The firefighters have reportedly identified the origin of the flames as overheating of a cable. The fire has been brought under control and is now out."
&nbsp;
Social media users shared live updates. One person wrote:&nbsp;
"A fire is currently raging at the Eiffel Tower. The monument has just been evacuated. An emergency response company has established a perimeter, but firefighters are unable to access the flames."&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Another added:&nbsp;
"Flames were observed in the elevator shaft between the 1st and 2nd floors. All people in the vicinity have been evacuated. The firefighters are still working."*
&nbsp;
The fire is now under control, and no injuries have been reported.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Over 1,200 evacuated after fire at Eiffel Tower caused by elevator short circuit

Eiffel Tower Fire Triggers Evacuation, Now Controlled

A horrifying incident has come to light in Yendagandi village, Undi mandal, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. Naga Tulsi, a resident of the village, was shocked to find the body of an unidentified person inside a parcel delivered to her home late Thursday night. The parcel, initially thought to contain electrical appliances, turned out to be part of a gruesome crime.
Tulsi had earlier sought financial assistance from the Kshatriya Seva Samithi for constructing her house. The Samithi had previously supported her by providing tiles and promised additional help, including electrical appliances. On Thursday, she received a WhatsApp message indicating that a delivery of items such as fans, lights, and switches was on its way. However, what she received instead was a package containing a human body.
Upon discovering the shocking contents, Tulsi and her family immediately informed the local police. A police team, led by District Superintendent of Police Adnan Nayeem Asmi, rushed to the scene. The body, identified as that of a male aged approximately 45 years, was shifted to a government hospital for autopsy. Preliminary investigations suggest that the person may have died 4-5 days before the discovery.
Adding a chilling layer to the case, a ransom letter was found inside the parcel. The letter demanded a sum of ₹1.3 crore and threatened serious consequences if the demand was not met. This has led police to believe the incident might be linked to an extortion attempt.
Investigators are now focusing on identifying the person who delivered the parcel. Representatives of the Kshatriya Seva Samithi have been summoned for questioning to determine if the delivery could have been exploited by someone to execute the crime. The police are also examining missing persons reports from nearby areas to trace the victim&rsquo;s identity.
The incident has left the local community in shock and fear. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as investigations continue to uncover the truth behind this gruesome crime.

West Godavari District Police officers meeting (File photo)

Woman in Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district who received the package was expecting it to contain electrical appliances

Body Found in Parcel Leaves Village in Shock

Five persons, including two juveniles, were nabbed on Monday for opening fire in South Delhi in which a youth was injured, police said. 
The incident took place in Ambedkar Nagar on Sunday when 20-year-old man Kunal, from Madangir, was shot and later admitted to Safdarjung Hospital, they said.
A police officer said that a used cartridge was recovered from the spot and an FIR was registered against the accused.
The police officer added that investigations led to the arrest of Kamal alias Anna and Shubham&mdash;both 23-year-old&mdash;Sahil (22) and two juveniles.
Two country-made pistols, a knife and two motorcycles used in the commission of the crime were also recovered from their possession, he said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the attack stemmed from personal enmity, the police officer said. Anna allegedly attempted to take revenge after being beaten by Kunal and his friend Sera during a previous altercation, he stated.
Anna and Sahil were identified as the shooters, the officer added.
&mdash;IANS
&nbsp;

Police have recovered a used cartridge from the spot

20-year-old youth shot in chest over personal enmity in South Delhi’s Ambedkar Nagar

Delhi Shooting: Two Minors Among 5 Held

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday revealed that New Delhi has taken &ldquo;seriously&rdquo; the latest threat issued by the US-based Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun against India&rsquo;s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra and raised it accordingly with the authorities in Washington.
In a recent video, Pannun threatened that Kwatra is on the radar of pro-Khalistani Sikhs in America for allegedly coordinating with Russian authorities, who in turn were providing inputs to Indian intelligence agencies on the Khalistani network in the United States.
&ldquo;As and when such threats are issued, we take them very seriously and raise them with the US government. In this particular case also, we have raised it with the US government and it is our expectation that the United States government will take our security concerns seriously and act on it,&rdquo; MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Friday.
A former foreign secretary, Kwatra took charge as India&rsquo;s Ambassador to the United States in August this year, succeeding Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
His appointment came at a time when Khalistani separatists continue to target Hindu community in the country and also the Indian missions.
Khalistanis have been found to be involved in incidents of defacement of temples, including in California and New York, and also in acts of arson and vandalism at the Indian embassy in San Francisco.
Several lawmakers, including Shri Thanedar&mdash;a Democrat elected to the House of Representatives from Michigan state&mdash;have raised alarm over the &ldquo;substantial increase&rdquo; in attacks on Hindus and their places of worship in the United States.
The lawmaker had recently expressed frustration with the investigating agency for their failure to find the culprits behind the incidents at the temples and the consulate.
&ldquo;It appears to be a very coordinated effort to attack these places of worship which has created a lot of fear in the community. And often what we have seen is that the law enforcement, the local law enforcement enters into these investigations and rarely any suspects have been identified, and that investigation goes nowhere.
&ldquo;What that does is that it leaves the community feeling like nobody cares about them. Nobody reports back to them on what&rsquo;s going on. And that means that the community continues to live in fear, the computing community continues to live in an adverse situation with essentially no help from law enforcement,&rdquo; he said.
The lawmaker went on to state that he and his colleagues are asking the US Department of Justice for &ldquo;coordinated efforts between the local law enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Department of Justice, and higher priority needs to be assigned to such hate crimes against this peaceful community&rdquo;.
&mdash;IANS

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during the weekly briefing in New Delhi

Ministry assures Khalistani attacks, vandalism issue raised with US authorities

Pannun’s Threat to Indian Ambassador ‘serious’: MEA

Every year in the highlands of Ethiopia, when the rain returns after a parched dry season, a dazzling sight unfolds. Vast fields of a plant known as the Ethiopian red hot poker revive from their crinkled, withered state, and bloom into fiery torch-like flowers. From June to November, these bright blossoms offer a precious resource: a profusion of sweet nectar.
Among the humming flash of sunbirds and insects drawn to the flowers, an unusual visitor appears: the Ethiopian wolf. Approaching a cone-shaped flower head, it licks the bottom, lapping up nectar and looking quite visibly pleased. As it moves from flower to flower, its muzzle becomes dusted with pollen. Can a wolf actually be a pollinator?
The Ethiopian wolf is a slender canid about the size of a large dog, with a reddish coat, white markings on its throat and chest, and a black bushy tail. It lives only in Ethiopia, in a few areas of high-altitude &ldquo;sky islands&rdquo; that emerge above the tropical forests below. With fewer than 500 alive today, it is Africa&rsquo;s most endangered carnivore.
I&rsquo;m part of a team of scientists, working under the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme, who have detailed this surprising nectar-feeding and the wolf&rsquo;s potential role in pollination. We recently published our findings in the journal Ecology.
The conservation programme, a joint initiative between the University of Oxford and Ethiopian colleagues, has worked to protect Ethiopian wolves for more than 30 years. While these findings were only published recently, Claudio Sillero, founder and director of the programme, first observed wolves feeding on flowers years ago.
&ldquo;As I sat in a rocky shelter, I trained my binoculars on a wolf zigzagging through a stand of red hot pokers, pausing to lick a vivid red and yellow inflorescence, and moving on to the next,&rdquo; he recalls. &ldquo;Having tasted them myself, I knew they were heavy with sweet nectar. But I wasn&rsquo;t quite expecting the wolves also had a sweet tooth!&rdquo;
Other colleagues were also familiar with the plant. &ldquo;It is considered a medicinal plant in Ethiopia and its nectar is traditionally used to sweeten coffee, or on kita, our flatbread,&rdquo; explained Abdi Samune, one of our wolf monitors.
Capturing the evidence
The publication emerged from a series of serendipitous events. A few years back, Adrien Lesaffre, a wildlife photographer, became a close collaborator of ours. After hearing about the nectar-feeding behaviour, he made it his mission to get good pictures of the wolves foraging among flowers. At the time, except occasional sightings, nothing much was known.
&ldquo;It took me two years, several trips to the mountains, tons of patience and great efforts to get my first pictures of a wolf licking the flowers,&rdquo; said Adrien. The close-up pictures captured the amount of pollen deposited on the wolves&rsquo; muzzles. This was striking evidence of their potential role in transferring pollen between flowers.
As we investigated further, it became clear it was not an exceptional occurrence. On the contrary, the wolves really were seeking out the nectar and could spend a substantial amount of time foraging for it. For instance, we noted one female wolf spent 1.5 hours in a flower field and visited 30 different flower heads. Dissecting the flowers confirmed that pollen could be deposited by a mammal. Armed with all the new evidence, we shared our findings in a scientific journal.
Redefining the role of carnivores
Our work challenges conventional thinking about plant-pollinator interactions, especially regarding the role that predators can play.
There are a few nectar-eating pollinator mammals, mostly species of bats. Nectar feeding is uncommon in carnivores and typically only small species do it, such as civets or mongooses. Omnivorous bears, such as sun bears, may eat nectar too, although it is poorly documented.
That&rsquo;s why the Ethiopian wolf&rsquo;s behaviour is groundbreaking. Normally a specialized rodent hunter, it is the first large carnivorous predator documented consuming nectar.
While nectar is unlikely to provide enough nutrition to sustain the wolves&rsquo; daily needs, it can provide a small energy boost. A tasty treat to start the day or as dessert, to top up a rodent meal.
Ethiopian wolves usually hunt giant mole rats and other rodents. Adrien Lesaffre
Whether the wolves can be effective pollinators remains to be confirmed, but it&rsquo;s worth exploring what this means for the red hot poker flower. And perhaps the Ethiopian wolf is not the only nectar-loving large predator. Greater awareness of such atypical interactions might lead to new examples being discovered in other systems.
Conserving unique species interactions
Pollination is a crucial process sustaining biodiversity. A nectarivorous wolf potentially involved in pollination highlights the complex interactions that can appear in these unique &ldquo;Afroalpine&rdquo; ecosystems. In this fragile environment, where both the wolves and the flowers are vulnerable, understanding these relationships is vital for conservation efforts.
The Ethiopian highlands are a biodiversity hotspot, yet their apex predator faces increasing threats from habitat loss, disease transmission, and climate change.
Although our programme&rsquo;s mission is to save the wolves, there is crucial value in conserving not just a species, but also the ecological processes they help support. Preserving the Afroalpine ecosystem, in turn, ensures that the many species and local communities relying on them will continue to thrive.
(Sandra Lai is a Postdoctoral Researcher, Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme, University of Oxford. This article first appeared in theconversation.com)

A tasty treat to start the day or dessert to top up a rodent meal? (Pic: Carine Lavril)

How scientists discovered the first large carnivore that pollinates flowers in Ethiopia

Wolves with a Taste for Nectar?

<div>National Investigation Team has reached the train accident site and is going to look into an angle whether it is part of terror attack or not. because all of sudden there is an increase in train derailments or train accidents. Simulteniously, The Southern Railway on Saturday began a probe after the Mysore-Darbhanga Bagmati Express on Friday evening derailed at Kavaraipettai in Chennai as it rammed into a stationary goods train following which 13 coaches came off the track, an official said.&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Southern Railway Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety, A.M. Choudhary, is conducting an inquiry against the railway staff, including the Loco Pilot of the Bagmati Express. At least 19 passengers were injured in the accident.</div>
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<div>Choudhary has summoned the Loco Pilot and Assistant Loco Pilot of the Bagmati Express, the motorman of MEMU train 42425, the on-duty station masters of Kavaraipettai and Ponneri stations, the Section Controller, and Section Manager of Kavaraipettai station.</div>
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<div>Additionally, the Traffic Inspector in-charge of Kavaraipettai station and the Senior Section Engineer in-charge of Ponneri station, who was responsible for Kavaraipettai station, have also been summoned for the inquiry.</div>
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<div>Senior section engineers who attended to the maintenance of the Bagmati Express train, as well as traffic inspectors, chief loco inspectors, and other supervisors who recorded the joint note at the site after the accident, along with gatekeepers of level crossings between Ponneri and Kavaraipettai, and the travelling ticket examiners, were also called for the inquiry.</div>
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<div>Besides, the staff of the AC coaches and those involved in distributing linen were also summoned for the inquiry, which is being held at the Southern Railway Zonal Headquarters in Chennai.</div>
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<div>The Southern Railway has instructed the staff to appear before the inquiry panel members with relevant documents.</div>
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<div>The Mysore-Darbhanga Bagmati Express (Train No. 12578) rammed into a stationary freight train on Friday night, October 11, leading to the derailment of several coaches of the express train, with the parcel van catching fire. The train operates between Darbhanga Junction in Bihar and Mysore (Mysuru) in Karnataka.</div>
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<div>The Government Railway Police in Korukkupet have registered a case.</div>
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<div>Police said that a possible sabotage angle is also being investigated, prompting the arrival of an NIA team.</div>
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<div>Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin criticised the Central government over the train derailment incident. "The Union government should take steps to prevent train accidents. It has now become a series of recurring incidents," he said.</div>
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<div>Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh said that the Mysore-Darbhanga Bagmati Express entering the loop line, despite signals being set for the main line, was "unusual".</div>
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<div>Speaking to the media after visiting the accident site, Singh reiterated that the situation was unusual, with the train diverting to the loop line though it was supposed to stay on the main line.</div>
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<div>A statutory inspection of the accident site has also been conducted by A.M. Choudhary, along with senior railway officials.</div>
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<div>After the accident, the National Disaster Response Force promptly arrived at the scene following the accident and began rescue operations.</div>
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<div>Sources within the Railways told IANS that the mishap occurred due to a signal failure. A source claimed that the Mysore-Darbhanga Express was given the green signal to pass along the main line.</div>
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<div>However, the train travelling at the speed of 75 kmph entered the loop line and collided with the rear end of a stationary goods train.</div>
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<div>The train had crossed Ponneri railway station before the collision and was cleared to proceed through the next station, Kavaraipettai, via the main line.</div>
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<div>The Southern Railway in a statement said: "While entering Kavaraipettai station, the train crew experienced a heavy jerk.... instead of continuing onto the main line as signalled, the train diverted to the loop line at 75 km/h and collided with the goods train.</div>
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<div>Railway officials confirmed that the train crew members remained unharmed while the fire that broke out in the parcel van was extinguished.</div>
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<div>"No death has been reported so far, though there are some injuries. All injured passengers have been taken to nearby hospitals," an official said.</div>
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<div>Meanwhile, the movement of trains on both sides of the section has been affected, and alternative arrangements are being made.</div>
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<div>The accident which happened on October 11 evening in the Southern Railway zone bears similarities to the Balasore tragedy in Odisha on June 2, 2023, which resulted in the death of over 280 passengers and injuries to more than 900 people.</div>
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<div>-IANS</div>
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Southern Railway initiates probe into Mysore-Darbhanga Bagmati Express derailment (Lead)

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