Month: December 2024

Sardar Balbir Singh, who recently left Aam Aadmi Party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party slammed the former for not listening to people’s demands, saying the people deserve to have a government which listens to the Sikhs too.

Speaking about the Bhagwant Man-led Punjab government too, he said that they have been unable to fulfil the demands of people there too, claiming that the party would not be able to form the government in the state again.

“There should be a BJP government in Delhi which listens to the issues of the Sikhs,” he told ANI.

“The AAP government in Punjab is unable to fulfil the demands made by the people and they will not be able to form the government in Punjab again,” he said.

Earlier today, Sadar Balbir Singh and Sukhbir Dalal joined the BJP in the presence of Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, party’s Delhi general secretary Ashish Sood and union minister Harsh Malhotra.

During the press conference announcing the new joinees, Singh said that he was annoyed with the Delhi government for “deliberately not appointing Punjabi language teachers.”

“Talking about joining this party, I saw that Delhi LG Saxena had given orders to hire more Punjabi teachers, but deliberately teachers are not getting appointed in government schools, which has affected multiple sikh students too,” Singh said.

The Delhi Assembly elections are expected to take place on February 2025, when the Assembly’s term is set to expire too.

According to the candidates list released by AAP, prominent leaders such as former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will contest from New Delhi, CM Atishi from Kalkaji, Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj from Greater Kailash and Minister Gopal Rai from Babarpur.

BJP is expected to announce their list of candidates soon too. (ANI)

Sohail Khan celebrated his 54th birthday on December 20. The actor hosted the birthday party at his house and invited his family and close friends from the industry. Salman Khan made a dashing entry at his brother’s party late at night.

In the visuals, the ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ actor was seen sitting in the front seat of his car while entering the party venue. Even though the Bollywood superstar didn’t get time to pose for the paparazzi, he acknowledged their presence by saluting them from inside the car.

Sohail Khan is Salman Khan’s younger brother. The duo have starred together in films – ‘Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya?’ and ‘God Tussi Great Ho.’

The Bhaijaan of Bollywood leaves no chance to celebrate special occasions with his family members, be it birthdays or Eid.

Recently, Salman Khan made heads turn with his stylish entry at his nephew Nirvaan’s birthday party on December 14.

The event, which was hosted by Salman’s sister Arpita Khan at her newly launched restaurant, was attended by several B-town celebs and family members. The ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ actor looked dapper in a simple yet classic black shirt and blue jeans.

The birthday bash was a star-studded affair, with actors Kartik Aaryan, Suhana Khan, Jackie Shroff, and Agastya Nanda attending. Nirvaan Khan is the elder son of Salman’s younger brother, Sohail Khan, and his ex-wife, Seema Sajdeh.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Salman will be seen in his upcoming action entertainer, ‘Sikandar’.

Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and directed by A.R. Murugadoss, the film is set for an Eid 2025 release.

In the film, Salman will share screen space with actor Rashmika Mandanna.

In May, the production house officially announced the news on its social media handles that Rashmika Mandanna is part of the film.

“Welcoming the fabulous @rashmika_mandanna to star opposite @beingsalmankhan in #Sikandar! Can’t wait for their on-screen magic to unfold on EID 2025!”

‘Sikandar’ marks the reunion of Salman Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala after their previous successful collaborations ‘Kick’, ‘Judwaa’, and ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’. The film is backed by Sajid Nadiadwala.

Apart from this, Salman has ‘Kick 2’ and Aditya Chopra’s ‘Tiger Vs Pathaan.

Salman is currently hosting the TV show ‘Bigg Boss’ 18. (ANI)

BJP leader CT Ravi, who was granted bail by the Karnataka High Court in the defamation case, on Saturday asked for government support as he claimed that he still has a life threat and demand a judicial enquiry.

He claimed that Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar have planned something against him.

Addressing a press conference, Ravi said, “I still have a life threat, that’s why I’m asking the government to provide me adequate support. If something happens to me, the government will have to take responsibility. DK Shivakumar and Lakshmi Hebbalkar planned something which will be a threat to me.”

Demanding a judicial inquiry, he said, “I demand judicial enquiry in the whole case which is filed against me and the way they (police) behaved with me. Police call records need to be investigated. I’m making one more serious allegation that my phone is being tracked…That also needs to be investigated. DK Shivakumar said it’s a Lakshmi Hebbalkar area and I was allowed to go, what does he think, is Belagavi a Banana Republic? Is Kanakapura a Banana Republic?… I request you to suspend officials who don’t work on directions.”

The case against Ravi was filed by Karnataka Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar who alleged that CT Ravi used derogatory words against her in the Legislative Council.

The Karnataka High Court issued an interim order for his release. Ravi was welcomed by BJP workers at the party office in Bengaluru on Saturday.

CT Ravi’s son, Swarthak Surya called it a “big relief” and affirmed his faith in the judiciary.

He further said that he had unwavering faith in his father’s innocence in the case and he would never use such language for anyone, especially women.

“I was shocked when I heard the allegations. I know my father, he would never use such abusive language for anyone, especially women. He treats everyone with respect, whether young or old. I never doubted my father for a moment,” Surya told ANI.

Earlier on Friday, Karnataka Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar addressed the alleged derogatory remarks made by CT Ravi during the Karnataka Legislative Assembly session. Speaking to reporters at her residence in Belagavi, she expressed distress over the incident. (ANI)

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed an agreement to collaborate on activities related to astronaut training, mission implementation, and research experiments.

The agreement was signed by ISRO Chairman S. Somanath, who is also Secretary, Department of Space (DoS), and Dr Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA.

According to ISRO, the agreement establishes a framework for cooperative activities in human space exploration and research, focusing on astronaut training, support for experiment development and integration (including the use of ESA facilities on the International Space Station), human and biomedical research experiments, as well as joint educational and outreach initiatives.

For the upcoming Axiom-4 mission, where ISRO’s Gaganyatri and an ESA astronaut will be part of the crew, the two agencies are collaborating to implement experiments proposed by Indian Principal Investigators for the ISS. ISRO stated that efforts are also underway to participate in ESA’s human physiological studies, technology demonstration experiments, and joint educational outreach activities.

In his remarks, S. Somanath emphasised ISRO’s roadmap for human spaceflight activities and noted that the recent approval of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) offers a valuable opportunity to develop interoperability between human spaceflight platforms. Dr Aschbacher expressed his gratitude to Dr Somanath for addressing the ESA Council and highlighted that the agreement serves as a strong foundation for cooperation between the two agencies.

The leadership of both organisations expressed satisfaction with the progress of joint activities for the Axiom-4 mission and stressed the importance of continuing collaborative efforts in human spaceflight in the future, ISRO said. (ANI)

The Congress party is going to organise nationwide protests on December 24 (Tuesday) against the remarks of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on B R Ambedkar.

All party Members of Parliament (MPs) and Central Working Committee (CWC) members are also going to hold press conferences December 22 (Sunday) and 23 (Monday) on Shah’s comments.

General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal has issued a circular to all party leaders. The circular, accessed by ANI, mentions that a ‘Babasaheb Ambedkar Samman March’ will be taken out in every district of the country.

The march will start with garlanding a statue of Ambedkar and will continue till a memorandum is submitted to respect District Magistrates (DM).

On the press conferences, the MPs and CWC members are set to address reporters in their respective constituencies.

During the Parliament winter session, which concluded yesterday, INDIA bloc MPs took out multiple protests since HM Amit Shah’s remarks in Parliament on December 18, criticising Congress for making it a ‘fashion’ to take Ambedkar’s name.

“If they had taken the name of God so many times instead of Ambedkar then they would have got heaven for seven lives,” Shah had said.

Congress lashed out at the BJP and Shah, demanding an apology and his resignation for his remarks, calling it an “insult” to Ambedkar.

During the protests in Parliament, BJP took out parallel protests to Congress, in turn accusing the BJP of insulting the legacy of India’s first Law Minister.

During the protests of both sides, a face-off occured at the premises of Parliament, injuring two BJP MPs, Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput. Moreover, Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that he was pushed too.

Kharge alleged that BJP MPs pushed him while trying to enter Parliament during a face-off.

Addressing a press conference with Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, alleged that Amit Shah interacted with the media without looking at facts about his remarks pertaining to Ambedkar.

“The statements that the government and especially the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are making about Dr BR Ambedkar are very sad and he (Amit Shah) addressed the press conference yesterday without looking at the facts. They should look at the facts before abusing Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr BR Ambedkar,” he said. (ANI)

In a detailed investigative report, French Magazine Le Spectacle du Monde uncovered alarming ties between Pakistan and the terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

The article titled “Jaish-e-Mohammed, Troubled Games in Pakistan”, published in the Winter 2024 edition of the French magazine is authored by Antoine Colonna – Editor in Chief- Spectacle du Monde was translated into English using AI, scrutinises Pakistan’s alleged role in harbouring and supporting extremist groups despite international commitments to combat terrorism.

The report highlights the resurgence of the Jaish e Mohammed (JeM), particularly in Bahawalpur area of Punjab province where the group reportedly operates massive complexes such as Markaz Subhan Allah. These facilities, equipped with dormitories, religious education centres, and even solar-powered self-sufficient systems, serve as hubs for terrorists’ indoctrination and training.

As per the magazine report, satellite imagery and eyewitness accounts reveal that these operations occur in plain sight, with one complex located merely eight kilometres from a Pakistani military base.

“According to satellite photos available on the Planet Labs website, Jaish-e-Mohammed has two centers in the Bahawalpur area: Markaz Subhan Allah and the Usman-o-Ali mosque,” said the report published in French, which has been translated into English using AI.

It added that the first is a 60,000-square-meter site. It includes a centre for Quranic studies, a sports hall, dormitories, and around fifty rooms.

“A nephew of Masood Azhar, Muhammad Ataullah Kashif, is the administrative head of the Markaz. The centre provides extremist religious education as well as physical training to its approximately 600 to 700 internal members. It houses 40 to 50 teachers,” said the French magazine in its report.

The report underscores JeM’s historic connections to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, which allegedly facilitated its activities against India.

“In the 2000s, a branch of the ISI, the JIN (Joint Intelligence North), was specifically tasked with training and manipulating radical Islamist elements against India. During the Cold War, the ISI adopted the same structure as the Savak, the internal intelligence service of the Shah of Iran. It also received assistance from the CIA and the SDECE, the predecessor of France’s DGSE,” said the report.

It added, “In the same spirit, the security of the complex has been strengthened; satellite images show the construction of new guard posts. Solar panels can also be seen, enabling the centre to be completely self-sufficient.”

Former Pakistani officials, including ex-President Pervez Musharraf, have admitted to supporting JeM during their tenures. Such revelations underscore systemic ties between Pakistan’s state apparatus and extremist networks.

Further complicating Pakistan’s international standing is its history with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). While Pakistan was removed from the FATF grey list in 2022, the report warns that renewed scrutiny could arise if reports of JeM’s unchecked growth are substantiated.

This expose sheds light on the broader geopolitical implications of Pakistan’s actions, including rising tensions with India, a fellow nuclear power.

The article concludes by emphasising the urgent need for international accountability and stronger counter-terrorism measures to ensure regional stability. (ANI)

Ahead of the upcoming 2025 Delhi Assembly Polls, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute AAP Chief and Former Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, in the excise policy case.

On December 5, the Enforcement Directorate sought permission for sanction of prosecution against Arvind Kejriwal.

This move comes after months of investigations into the Delhi government’s excise policy, which has been at the center of controversy and allegations of corruption.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Friday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) additional time to file its reply to the petition filed by Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. The petition challenges the trial court’s decision to take cognizance of the chargesheets in the Delhi Excise Liquor Policy case.

The matter has been scheduled for hearing on February 5, by the bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri.

Recently Delhi High Court had issued a notice on Aam Aadmi Party’ leader Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia plea challenging the trial court’s decision to take cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet against them in the alleged excise policy scam.

Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are currently out on bail in both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases related to the now-scrapped excise policy.

According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Excise Policy was deliberately designed with loopholes to benefit AAP leaders and foster cartel formations. The ED accused AAP leaders of receiving kickbacks from liquor businesses in exchange for preferential treatment, including discounts, license fee waivers, and relief during the Covid-19 disruptions.

The ED further alleged that the “scam” involved awarding wholesale liquor distribution rights to private entities with a fixed 12% margin, in return for a 6% kickback. Additionally, AAP leaders were accused of influencing the outcome of elections in Punjab and Goa in early 2022. (ANI)

Former President of the United States, Barack Obama shares a list of his favourite movies, books and music each year as a recommendation for art lovers. Obama has revealed his favourite movies of 2024 and Payal Kapadia’s Golden Globe-nominated ‘All We Imagine as Light’ tops his annual recommendation list.

An Indian film tapped the right strings of ex-US President Obama’s heart as he called it to be one of the best films he watched this year along with Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Part 2, Sean Baker’s Anora, Edward Berger’s Conclave, Malcolm Washington’s The Piano Lesson and more.

Taking to his X handle, Barack Obama wrote, “Here are a few movies I’d recommend checking out this year.”

The full list includes films, ‘All We Imagine As Light’, ‘Conclave’, ‘The Piano Lesson’, ‘The Promised Land’, Dune Part Two, ‘Anora’, ‘Didi’, ‘Sugarcane’, ‘The Complete Unknown’ and ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig.’

Here are a few movies I’d recommend checking out this year. pic.twitter.com/UtdKmsNUE8

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 20, 2024

Starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha and Chhaya Kadam, the film is an official Indo-French co-production between Petit Chaos from France and Chalk & Cheese and Another Birth from India.

The film follows Prabha, a troubled nurse who receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband, and Anu, her young roommate seeking intimacy with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to confront their desires. The film stars Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Hridhu Haroon, all hailing from Kerala.

Earlier this year, the film created history by winning the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.

‘All We Imagine As Light’ premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in its much-feted ‘competition section’ on May 23. It was the first Indian film to feature in the festival’s main segment in 30 years. The last Indian movie to make it to the competition section was Shaji N Karun’s Swaham in 1994.

Earlier, Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine as Light’ also won Best International at the New York Film Critics Circle and the Best International Feature trophy at the reputed Gotham Awards 2024.

The film has received a total of two nominations at the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards. (ANI)

The death toll in the tanker truck collision on Bhankrota Ajmer Road in Jaipur on Saturday rose to 14, as confirmed by DCP West Jaipur, Amit Kumar.

The Friday accident, which resulted in a massive fire, involved a truck loaded with chemicals colliding with a tanker carrying LPG and other vehicles.

Prior to DCP Kumar’s confirmation, Dr Deepak Maheshwari, the Principal of SMS Medical College, told ANI in the early hours that 13 people had lost their lives in the accident so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences to the families of the victims. In a post on X, the Prime Minister’s Office expressed grief, stating, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the accident on Jaipur-Ajmer highway in Rajasthan. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected.” The PM also announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 for the injured.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Dr Sushil Kumar Bhati, Superintendent of SMS Hospital, provided further details, confirming that seven people had died and 10 to 12 others had been injured. He noted that over 60 percent of the victims sustained burns, with around 28 patients admitted to the hospital, six of whom are on ventilators.

Earlier, Kumar described the incident as “horrific,” explaining, “The accident and subsequent fire occurred in the Bhankrota area of Jaipur early today on the main Ajmer Road. Nearly two dozen vehicles caught fire, and many trucks and trolleys were reduced to ashes. The accident took place near a petrol pump.”

He added, “The fire started due to a collision involving several vehicles one after the other. Efforts are being made to extinguish the fire.” (ANI)