Bengaluru EV store fire: Owner, manager arrested

BENGALURU: Rajajinagar police arrested the owner and manager of the electric vehicle showroom where a fire broke out on Tuesday evening, resulting in the death of a 26-year-old woman and injuring three other employees. The fire mishap occurred at My EV store, near Navrang Junction on Rajkumar Road. The accused are store owner Punith Gowda (36), a resident of Yeshwanthpur and a native of Hassan, and store manager Yuvaraju (37), a resident of Rajajinagar. Police said Punith and Yuvaraju were arrested on Wednesday morning and produced before the magistrate court, which granted them conditional bail. The duo was booked under Section 106 (causing death by negligence) of the BNS. The deceased, Priya, an accountant at the EV store, was to celebrate her birthday on Wednesday, but tragically, her parents received her body after postmortem at Victoria Hospital. Over 25 EV scooters were gutted, and police are investigating the cause of the fire. It is suspected that a short circuit led to the explosion of batteries in the showroom, which resulted in a massive fire. Five fire tenders doused the blaze.

Imran Khan gets bail in second Toshakhana case

Islamabad: A high court in Pakistan on Wednesday granted bail to incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan in the second Toshakhana case.The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, after concluding the hearing, accepted Khan's bail plea subject to furnishing two bonds of PKR 1 million each. Khan, 72, has been in jail since his arrest on August 5, 2023 and it was not immediately clear if he would be released now. Earlier on Thursday, a court in Pakistan had rejected Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi's acquittal requests in the Toshakhana II case. Also known as Toshakhana 2.0, the case was based on the allegations that Khan and his wife caused loss to the national exchequer by keeping state gifts at discounted prices in violation of rules. The judge also ordered the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to appear before the trial court after bail, warning that the bail could be revoked if he failed to cooperate with the court. Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were arrested in the case on July 13, hours after their acquittal in the Iddat case the same day. Bibi was given bail by the IHC on October 24 and she was released from jail. Khan has been implicated in dozens of cases since his government was dismissed through a no-confidence motion in 2022.

J&K Police Arrest Three Drug Peddlers With Contraband In Baramulla

SRINAGAR, Nov 20: Police have arrested three drug peddlers and recovered contraband substances from their possession in Baramulla district. Police on Wednesday said that a Police party of Uri Police Station headed at a checkpoint established at Gingal Bridge, intercepted one person who was identified as Syed Hassan Shah resident of Gingal. During his search 6.5 Kgs of contraband Cannabis powder-like substances was recovered from his possession. He has been arrested and shifted to the Police Station. Similarly, a Police [] The post J&K Police Arrest Three Drug Peddlers With Contraband In Baramulla appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Jharkhand Polls: Presiding officer replaced over favoritism allegations

Deoghar: Jharkhand BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday said he had filed a complaint with the Election Commission against a presiding officer for allegedly favouring a ruling party candidate in Madhupur assembly constituency during voting. Dubey claimed that following his complaint, the officer was arrested. I filed a complaint with the Election Commission against the presiding officer at booth number 111 in Madhupur, Deoghar district, for favouring Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate and Minister Hafizul Hassan. The commission took my complaint seriously and arrested the officer, Dubey told reporters in Deoghar. However, the Deoghar administration said the officer was replaced after being found too close to the voting compartment, which is against Election Commission rules. An official statement from Deoghar administration clarified that the presiding officer at booth number 111 had been replaced. During monitoring in the webcasting room, the presiding officer was found too close to the voting compartment, which violates Election Commission rules and demonstrates gross negligence in performing duties, the statement read. The returning officer has been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation and take legal action if necessary, the statement added. Deoghar SP Ambar Lakra clarified that the officer was replaced, not arrested. The officer has been replaced, and a probe has been initiated. Further action will be based on the investigation report, Lakra told PTI. The JMM alleged that the officer was removed based on a baseless complaint. The officer was removed on a baseless complaint, which will be proven false in the investigation. What's interesting is that the Election Commission acts quickly on Dubey's complaints, but when we file complaints, they go unheard, said JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey. Polling for 38 assembly seats in the second and final phase of the Jharkhand elections is underway on Wednesday, with tight security arrangements in place. Voting began at 7 AM across 14,218 booths in 12 districts and will continue until 5 PM.

Moving Mountains

KOCHI: Climbing peaks is akin to a marathon up a rock wall with a bag of bricks on your back, battling freezing winds, dizzying heights, and pushing ones limits. Shaikh Hassan Khan, a state secretariat employee with a passion for adventure, loves doing that. His dream was to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents. And, a few days ago, he became the first person from Kerala to achieve this feat. My love for the mountains began in 2015 when I was posted in Delhi for work. Thats when I started sneaking off for trips to the hills whenever I could, says Shaikh. On one such journey, I ended up at the Himalayan Institute of Mountaineering in Darjeeling. I felt a spark, and alongside my civil service training, I took a 28-day basic mountaineering course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. By the end of the course, I was completely hooked. Not long after, I climbed Mount Satopanth, a 7,000-metre peak, and that was just the beginning of my journey. The Thiruvananthapuram native scaled his first summit, Mount Kilimanjaro (19,341ft) in Tanzania, in February 2021. At 3pm on November 10 this year, by waving the Tricolour atop Mt Kosciuszko, the highest peak in Australia, Shaikh completed the Seven Summits challenge. I cant put into words how jubilant I felt as I stood atop Mt Kosciuszko with the Indian flag, wearing the mundu in the cold just to add a bit of Kerala vibe, Shaikh smiles. His earlier conquests include Mt Vinson in Antarctica, Mt Everest in Asia, Mt Denali in North America, Mt Elbrus in Europe, and Mt Aconcagua in South America. Shaikh also holds a world record for unfolding the largest Tricolour atop Mt Everest, a feat that he achieved on the 75th anniversary of Indias Independence. I carried a 30x20ft flag. It was heavy, but its symbolism outweighed its physical weight, he says. On his return from the Everest Eco Expedition, Shaikh carried back more than just memories; he lugged down over 100kg of junk. About challenges of mountaineering, Shaikh concedes that there have been moments of doubt when giving up seemed tempting, but his passion pummelled through those blocks. Solitude can be daunting, but its also a space for self-reflection, he adds. I use solitude to connect with my inner self. During expeditions, I also rely on mindfulness techniques, journaling, and reminding myself of the people who believe in me. What about physical fuel? I take calorie-dense foods like nuts, energy bars, and dried fruits for quick energy boosts, he says. I consume complex carbohydrates like oats and rice for sustained energy, and ensure adequate protein intake through dehydrated meal packs. I also carry electrolyte tablets to replenish myself. Most importantly, we need to listen to our bodies and eat regularly, even when our appetite is low. Reflecting on his three-year Seven Summit journey, Shaikh recalls the most memorable moments that deepened his appreciation for nature and reaffirmed his commitment to environmental conservation. Climbing Mt Vinson in Antarctica, the sheer purity of the place humbled m making me realise how small we are compared with nature, he says. And when I stood on the rim of Mt Kilimanjaro at sunrise, watching the golden light spread across the savannah, I felt like the world had paused. It was a powerful reminder of why I climb to experience natures raw beauty. For Shaikh, conquering the Seven Summits is just the beginning. At 37, he now aims to become the first person in the world to scale the highest peak in every country over the next five years. However, securing sponsorships for a less popular sport like mountaineering remains a challenge. I often find myself knocking on 100 doors to get one to open, he says. For my Everest expedition, I had to take loans and faced a lot of struggles. But for my trips to Antarctica, Russia, and Kangchenjunga, Al Muqtadir jewellery stepped in as sponsor. My alma mater, Musaliar College of Engineering, supported my American expedition. I didnt have any sponsor for the Australian one, but my friends raised the funds to make it happen. Shaikh rues that the governments efforts to promote sports in Kerala are minimal. I dont expect much, he says. My goal is to inspire others through my Seven Summits journey and attract sponsors for my next challenge covering 195 countries. I remain hopeful that someone will see the value in my effort and offer support. Going beyond the thrill factor, Shaikh says he has been raising awareness about climate change and world peace. I have seen the effects of climate change up close, he says, suddenly turning grim. The ice on the peaks is melting, and theres more rainfall in North America than ever. Everywhere I go, I try to spread the message about whats happening to our planet and share it through my social media. Shaikh is also planning a project focused on cleaning the beaches in Kerala, believing that to inspire others to take action, one must lead by example. He asserts that every human has infinite potential within. Standing atop the peaks, I realised that the summit is not just a physical goal but a metaphor for life itself. The unexpected revelation was the power of resilience within me an ability to push beyond limits, he says. The journey taught me that every small step matters, and that great achievements often require one to go through solitude, discomfort, and uncertainty.

Kannada actor Thandav Ram fires at director over film dispute, held

BENGALURU: A Kannada movie actor has been arrested by the Chandra Layout police for shooting at a film director with his licensed gun during an argument over the stalling of a movies shooting. The accused, Thandaveshwar of Hassan, is popularly known as Thandav Ram for his role in Jodi Hakki TV serial. He allegedly opened fire at director Bharat S Navunda around 8 pm on Monday. No injuries have been reported. The accused came to Navundas office in Chandra Layout and had an argument over the non-completion of the movie in which he was playing the lead. The situation escalated with the accused opening fire. The bullet is said to have hit the roof. Following a complaint from the director, the actor was arrested on the spot and his gun was seized. Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda on Tuesday said the suspect has been arrested for intentionally firing at the victim over a financial dispute. Two years ago, Thandaveshwar was signed by Navunda to play the lead in the movie -- Devanampriya. But as they could not find a producer, Thandaveshwar invested Rs 6 lakh in the film. When there were repeated delays, Thandaveshwar demanded the director repay his money. He visited Navundas office and started arguing in the presence of film editor Mallikarjuna and others. During the argument, Thandaveshwar asked his associate to get his gun from the car. He then pointed the gun on my forehead wanting to kill me. Luckily, Mallikarjuna pushed the gun and the bullet hit the roof, Navunda told reporters. 4 held for running fake ESI, e-Pehchan card racket Bengaluru: Four persons, including a security guard and the canteen owner at the Rajajinagar ESI Hospital, have been arrested by the CCB for running a fake ESI and e-Pehchan card racket. Following complaints, officers of the Organised Crime Wing of the CCB visited the hospital and found that the gang had registered several fake companies. The CCB sleuths registered a case against the accused, including a woman auditor, on November 8 for allegedly floating fake companies and creating fake ESI and e-Pehchan cards to get free medical treatment. The gang had been reportedly running the racket for the last two years.The case was registered against Sridhar, Ramesh, Shivaganga, Shwetha, Shashikala and others.

Malnad region featured as potential hub for space tech and industrial innovation under GCC policy

SHIVAMOGGA: Shivamogga and its neighbouring districts, Davanagere, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan have been featured as a potential hub for space tech and industrial innovation cluster under the state governments Global Capability Centres (GCC) Policy 2024-2029. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled the policy at the Bengaluru Tech Summit on Tuesday. The GCC policy aims to decentralise development and bolster industrial growth in regions beyond Bengaluru such as Mangaluru, Mysuru, and Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Tumakuru and Shivamogga. The region will host key players in various sectors, supported by robust infrastructure. The GCC highlighted the regions industrial, infrastructure and connectivity and social infrastructure. It stated that Davanagere holds significant potential as a global hub for agro-processing, nutraceuticals, textiles, and aerospace industries. It also stated that Hassan hosts ISRO's master control facilities and is recognised as an industrial growth centre, featuring six developed industrial areas and four SEZs. It added that Shivamogga hosts key industry players across various sectors. Shivamogga is well-connected by 221 km of national highways and 980 km of state highways. It maintains strong road links to Bengaluru, Udupi, and Mangaluru. The newly inaugurated Shivamogga Airport connects the region to Bengaluru and is expected to expand its routes to improve accessibility. Educational and Social Infrastructure The policy pointed out the educational infrastructure in the cluster, with 12 engineering colleges and three MBA colleges. It also ensures a skilled workforce for industries such as manufacturing, construction, mining, agriculture, and forestry. Shivamogga is a prime tourist attraction known for its breathtaking waterfalls, lush rainforests, adventure activities, and cultural heritage sites that captivate visitors from around the world. The cluster is also equipped with multi-speciality and super-specialty hospitals, prestigious international schools, and a range of hotels, including large hotel chains, providing comprehensive services and amenities for residents and visitors alike. Incentives, opportunities As part of the Beyond Bengaluru initiative, the GCC policy offers targeted incentives to attract global firms to tier-2 cities like Shivamogga. This includes funding for startups, infrastructure subsidies, and regulatory easing to encourage investment and foster innovation. The governments vision is to transform Shivamogga and other cities into a dynamic industrial hub, contributing significantly to Karnatakas target of generating $50 billion in economic output from the GCC sector by 2029. What are GCCs? Global Capability Centres (GCCs), also known as Global In-house Centres (GICs), are specialised units established by multinational corporations (MNCs) to handle a variety of business functions. These centres often focus on high-value operations such as research and development, IT services and support, data analytics etc,. Initially set up for cost efficiency, GCCs have evolved into innovation hubs, leveraging advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain. They serve as strategic units that enhance the parent company's operational capabilities while tapping into skilled talent pools globally.

Manipur CM serves motices to 11 MLAs for skipping key meeting amid unrest

Guwahati: The Manipur Chief Ministers Secretariat has issued notices to 11 MLAs, including ministers, for skipping a meeting convened by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Monday. The meeting was called to discuss the prevailing situation in the violence-hit state. Among those served notices was Kshetrigao MLA Sheikh Noorul Hassan of the National Peoples Party [] The post Manipur CM serves motices to 11 MLAs for skipping key meeting amid unrest appeared first on NorthEast Now .

Indonesia, Tanzania discuss energy, gas cooperation in Brazil

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan discussed cooperation in various ...

Shakib, Pooran, Powell To Lead In Abu Dhabi T10

West Indies T20I: The captains and head coaches of the ten teams participating in the Abu Dhabi T10 this year have now been revealed as the eighth edition of the league set to begin on November 21. Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hassan is ready to lead Bangla Tigers yet again after having played the same role for them two years ago. On the other hand, former Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan will continue his stint as the head coach of the Tigers for the third straight year. Joining Deccan Gladiators once again, Nicholas Pooran will be captaining the squad for the third consecutive time. It was under his captaincy that the Gladiators won their second title in 2022 and also ended up as finalists in the 2023 edition. Not bringing any change in the coaching leadership, the Gladiators have decided to continue with Mushtaq Ahmed as their head coach. Delhi Bulls leadership has been given to West Indies T20I captain Rovman Powell, who had also led the Northern Warriors in 2022. Andy Flower will replace Chris Silverwood and return to the position of head coach after three years. Two-time champions Northern Warriors will also face a change in their leadership as the New Zealand star pacer Trent Boult will take over the reins from Angelo Mathews. On the coaching front, the former Australian cricketer Dav Whatmore will be joining the Warriors as the head coach. English cricketer Phil Salt will replace Dwaine Pretorius as the captain of Team Abu Dhabi this season, while the former South African cricketer Mark Boucher will join the squad as the head coach. Morrisville Samp Army will be led by Pakistans Rohan Mustafa while the former South African cricketer Lance Klusener has been given the head coach responsibility this season. The defending champions New York Strikers have decided not to bring any change in their successful coaching-captain duo. Hence, Kieron Pollard and Carl Crowe, who have been associated with the Strikers ever since their inception in 2022, will continue to lead and train the team for the third time. Former Sri Lankan limited-overs captain Thisara Perera will be replacing Charith Asalanka as the skipper of Chennai Braves Jaguars for season 8 of the league while the former Sri Lankan pacer Chaminda Vaas has replaced Douglas Brown to coach the squad this year. UP Nawabs, who are making their debut in the Abu Dhabi T10 this year, will be led by the Afghanistan star Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The role of the head coach of the team has been taken up by the former English cricketer Owais Shah this year. Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi will don the captains hat for Ajman Bolts during their debut in the tournament while the famous cricket coach Ottis Gibson will take up the coaching role. With the leagues eighth edition featuring some of the best players around the world and an addition of two new teams to the roster, this year is indeed going to amaze the fans with some exciting cricket. The tournament will begin with the battle between Team Abu Dhabi and the newly inducted Ajman Bolts, while the defending champions New York Strikers will begin their title defense a day later against Morrisville Samp Army. The T10 tournament will be held in a round-robin format, with the top four teams in the points table after the league stage qualifying for the playoffs. The playoff stage will begin on December 1, with the qualifier and two eliminators taking place on the same day. The 12-day fight between the ten teams will conclude on December 2, with the winner lifting the Abu Dhabi T10 season 8 trophy in the final. Abu Dhabi T10 Captains: Deccan Gladiators- Nicholas Pooran New York Strikers- Kieron Pollard Northern Warriors- Trent Boult Bangla Tigers- Shakib Al Hasan Chennai Braves Jaguars- Thisara Perera Delhi Bulls- Rovman Powell Team Abu Dhabi- Phil Salt Morrisville Samp Army- Rohan Mustafa UP Nawabs- Rahmanullah Gurbaz Ajman Bolts- Mohammad Nabi Abu Dhabi T10 Coaches: Deccan Gladiators- Mushtaq Ahmed New York Strikers- Carl Crowe Northern Warriors- Dav Whatmore Bangla Tigers- Younis Khan Chennai Braves Jaguars- Chaminda Vaas Delhi Bulls- Andy Flower Team Abu Dhabi- Mark Boucher Morrisville Samp Army- Lance Klusner UP Nawabs- Owais Shah Morrisville Samp Army- Lance Klusner Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

Israeli strike on Beirut kills Hezbollah media spokesman Mohammed Afif

Mohammed Afif, a Hezbollah media relations officer, was targeted in a rare Israeli strike in central Beirut. Afif was part of the inner circle of the late Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.

Wayanad bypoll gives new lease of life to landslide-hit district

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thanks to the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election, the struggling homestays and resort owners have reaped good business following the twin landslides at Chooralmala and Mundakkai. The leaders and party workers belonging to all the three mainstream political parties who camped in Wayanad for campaigning over the last one month stayed in hotels, homestays and resorts. But those hotels, homestays and resorts situated in the interiors of Wayanad have not thrived from the loss due to the landslides that wrecked the district. With 420 fatalities occurring in the Wayanad landslides which occurred on July 30, there was a general perception that the hilly district is no longer safe to travel. The hospitality industry felt the heat for the next three months with almost zero reservations. Wayanad landslides: A heart-wrenching tale of devastation Muhammed Salif, general manager (sales and marketing), of Vistara lake resort told TNIE that it was tough for the first three months following the twin landslides. The tourism season has since started in Wayanad from October onwards. The Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election has triggered interest in terms of business. The fear factor among the tourists that Wayanad is not safe to travel has since been changed. There are more enquiries for the coming months which has given a fillip to the hospitality industry, he added. Wayanad LS bypoll: Rehabilitation of landslide survivors takes centre stage The presence of AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the by-election candidate in Wayanad triggered a nationwide interest in her debut electoral battle. The most number of leaders and party workers that came to help Priyanka in her campaign were from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. For fear of the wrath of the Election Commission of India observers, the majority of these outstation leaders and party workers coughed up money towards their accommodation from their own pockets. The arrival of the Gandhi Nehru scion has evolved into election tourism If Wayanad is considered as a popular hill station and pilgrimage tourism destination, the arrival of the Gandhi Nehru scion, Priyanka , has evolved into election tourism. UDF convener M M Hassan told TNIE that Priyanka has lots of ideas to give the battered hospitality industry a stimulus. I had campaigned in Wayanad for six days. The changes I witnessed there is a matter of immense satisfaction as the hotel, homestays and resorts have picked up their businesses. Several resorts and home-stays which were locked up following zero businesses have since made up their lost businesses. Priyankas presence in Wayanad is only expected to generate further business in the days ahead, said Hassan. Election campaign for Wayanad Lok Sabha seat gains momentum Former Wayanad MP, Rahul Gandhi also ensured that his travel in the zip line near Karapuzha Dam along with Priyankas son, Raihan Vadra, will only convey a positive message to the outside world on whats in store for the tourists there. Rahul Gandhi quipped, Theres no problem in Wayanad. The landslide was a localized event, so tourism must not be damaged. Since Priyanka was wearing a sari, she shied away from tagging along with her brother and son in the zip line. One huge effect of the landslide is on Wayanad tourism which is unjustified in the sense as it happened in a very restricted area. Wayanad actually has a huge area, a very, very beautiful, natural landscape and many beautiful things too. People should come, they would just love it, said Priyanka. Jibran Asif, director (sales and marketing), Abad Brookside, told TNIE that his two resorts in Lakkidi and Mananthawady did not get good business post the festive season of Pooja and Diwali holidays. Wayanad tourism had been looking really bleak after the twin landslides. It was the hill stations which had been badly affected. Since our properties were not in the mainstream region and in the interiors, we actually did not get good business due to the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election. But were hopeful of catching up with the business in the days to come due to the tourism season, said Jibran. He also added that whatever little business they did during the last few days was from tourists from other South Indian states.

Nayanthara vs. Dhanush feud intensifies: Dhanushs co-stars Shruti Hassan, Aishwarya Rajesh back lady superstar

In her strongly-worded letter, Nayanthara criticized the Karnan actor, labeling his actions as vile for allegedly demanding Rs 10 crore to permit the use of a three-second clip from a song in the 2015 action-romance Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, which he had produced. The statement has ignited a wave of solidarity from several leading actresses within the Tamil film industry.

Siddaramaiah vs Deve Gowda: It is an all out war!

BENGALURU: A political storm is brewing in Karnataka as the long-standing rivalry between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has flared up once again, with both sides preparing for an explosive showdown in the coming weeks. The battlefront? The heart of Old Mysore Hassan, Mandya, Ramanagar, Chamarajnagar, Mysore and other parts of Old Mysore. The latest chapter of this high-stakes feud was ignited by an oath taken by the former PM, H.D. Deve Gowda, during a recent campaign rally in Channapatna. I will uproot the Congress government in Karnataka, Gowda declared, sending shockwaves through the states political corridors. His vow has seemingly struck a raw nerve with the CM, who is now pulling out all stops to quash the JD(S) leaders challenge and defend Congress turf. In a bold move that signals the beginning of what could be a brutal campaign, Siddaramaiah has instructed his close allies and party strategists to launch a counter-offensive like never before. Sources close to the Chief Minister say that Siddaramaiah has called for a series of high-profile AHINDA rallies a rallying cry for Dalits, Backward Castes, and Minorities specifically aimed at consolidating support in regions where the Deve Gowda family holds strong sway in Old Mysore region. The first of these rallies is scheduled for December 5th in Hassan, the very bastion of the Gowda family. In what is expected to be a direct challenge to Gowdas political supremacy, Congress will take charge of the rally, with district minister K.N. Rajanna a fierce opponent of the Gowdas who worked for his defeat in Tumkur spearheading the operations in Hassan. Siddaramaiahs strategy is clear: target the regions in Old Mysore, where the JD(S)-BJP alliance has been gaining ground, threatening Congress hold on key constituencies. Hassan, Mandya, Mysore, Ramnagar, and Chamarajanagar all areas where the Gowda familys political influence runs deep are set to be battlegrounds in this high-octane political duel. This aggressive rallying strategy comes nearly two decades after a similar confrontation between the two political titans. Back in 2005, Siddaramaiah, who was the Deputy Chief Minister under the JD(S) banner, was famously ousted from the party for organizing AHINDA rallies, which had begun to erode Gowda's base among the backward classes and Dalits. Now, as Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah appears ready to return to these roots, aiming to wrest control back from the JD(S) in what is shaping up to be a defining moment in Karnataka's political history. According to insiders, Siddaramaiahs focus will be on rallying the marginalized communities particularly Dalits, Backward Castes, and Minorities who have traditionally formed the backbone of Congress support in the region. In a state where caste politics has always been a potent weapon, the AHINDA rallies will be aimed at galvanizing these communities and reaffirming Congress commitment to their welfare. While this marks the official beginning of the political clash, the tension between Siddaramaiah and Deve Gowda has been simmering for years, with both men eyeing dominance in the Old Mysore region. Analysts are already predicting that this war of words and rallies will only intensify in the coming days. Political analysts believe that the outcome of this battle could have far-reaching consequences for Karnatakas political landscape. Siddaramaiah's AHINDA movement has the potential to redefine caste dynamics in the state, especially if he can successfully challenge Gowda's hold on his familys strongholds, explains a political commentator based in Bengaluru. But Gowdas camp is not one to back down easily. A senior JD(S) leader has already dismissed Siddaramaiahs move as a desperate attempt to stay relevant in the face of growing anti-Congress sentiment in the state. Siddaramaiah is trying to revive a failed movement, the JD(S) leader said, but the people of Karnataka know who stands for their development, and its not Congress. As December 5th approaches, all eyes will be on Hassan, where the political heat is expected to be at an all-time high. Will Siddaramaiahs AHINDA rallies succeed in shoring up Congress base, or will Deve Gowdas aggressive campaign dismantle Siddaramaiahs vision for Karnatakas future? One commentator wryly asked as Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy have predicted that the government will not last beyond January and if Siddaramaiah is ousted as Chief Minister who will continue the battle after that. The stage is set, and the gloves are off. The battleground has indeed been ignited, and it promises to be an epic clash between two of Karnatakas most powerful political figures

World Diabetes Day 2024: Experts gather to discuss gestational diabetes at GMC Srinagar

SRINAGAR: The Department of Endocrinology Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, organized a one-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) program, Update on Gestational Diabetes, to commemorate World Diabetes Day 2024. The program was organized under the supervision and guidance of Principal/Dean GMC Srinagar Prof. Dr. Iffat Hassan, whose active support made the programme successful. Dr. Shariq Masoodi, []

Aamir Khan introduced me to people in North India: Suriya

Ahead of the release of Kanguva, Suriya, Siva and Disha Patani recently appeared in the IMDb original series Ask Each Other Anything. Actor Suriya shared insights into his latest role in Kanguva, reflecting on the significance and depth he brings to this powerful character. Known for taking on challenging roles, Suriya discussed his approach to Kanguva and talked about inspirations in the film industry. When asked about his initial reaction to the Kanguva script, Suriya explained, I always want to do something thats different from who I am. In most of my films, I take on those kinds of challenges. Be it Pithamagan, Ghajini and even Singam or Rolex. Kanguva is a leader, and it is important to be an inspiration, a role model. It doesn't happen naturally. Salim Khan- Javed Akhtar sir as writers, they are an inspiration. They have changed the film industry. Be it actors like Kamal Hassan sir, Rajinikanth sir, Amitabh Bachchan sir. These people are legends and inspirationsindividuals who made others want to act and be part of this profession because of them. In Kanguva, hes a role model for his community and clan, someone they trust, stand behind, and look up to with certain expectations. He must embody qualities that earn trust, from childhood through fatherhood, growing into a figure others can rely on and look up to as a saviour. Its not just about being a warrior; Kanguva is a complete package. On his favourite Hindi remake of his films, Suriya said, For people who are not aware of the remake, I would like to say again Kaakha Kaakha was Force here, Ghajini was of course just Ghajini in Hindi, and Singham of course was made, but with a lot of changes. Now Sarfira is the remake of Soorarai Pottru. I would actually go back and thank Aamir Khan sir because usually when a remade film is done, the original actor or the cast and the directors, they are not discussed in front of the media. But for the first time, I think, Aamir sir made sure that he spoke about the film and spoke about all the actors and the director. And, of course, I loved what he did in the Hindi version. Even before anybody could speak about me, I think he was solely responsible for people in North India, people who don't speak Tamil, to know about me. He repeatedly kept taking my name, and he introduced me to the rest of the audience. And still other films are very close to my heart. But I would say Ghajini was a wonderful experience, borders were raised, language (barrier) got raised and people got to know me. When asked if theres a role from a favourite film hed like to play, Suriya expressed his admiration for Bollywood classics: I think everything started in 1975 when Sholay and Zanjeer started and the angry young man look started off with those films. The character played by Amitabh ji, a character named 'Vijay' in Zanjeer. I love itits an iconic film, and I would love to again relive those moments. I wish I can do justice to it. Responding to the same question, Patani said, I love superhero movies, so I would say Wonder Woman.

Over 2,500 Sikh pilgrims from India arrive in Pakistan for Guru Nanak's birth anniversary celebrations

LAHORE: Over 2,550 Sikh pilgrims from India arrived here on Thursday to participate in festivities marking the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Secretary Fareed Iqbal, Additional Secretary Shrines Saifullah Khokhar, and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) president Ramesh Singh Aroraalso a minority minister in Maryam Nawaz's cabinet in Punjabwelcomed the pilgrims at the Wagah border. Khokhar said masks will be provided to all pilgrims to protect them from heavy smog. He said extraordinary security arrangements have been made to ensure the pilgrims' safety. As many as 2,559 Indian Sikhs arrived in Lahore today via special trains. They were transported to Nankana Sahib on special buses, ETPB spokesperson Ghulam Mohayuddin told PTI . The main event celebrating Baba Guru Nanak's birth anniversary will be held on Friday at Gurdwara Janamasthan in Nankana Sahib, approximately 80 km from Lahore. Sikhs from other countries will also attend, alongside local attendees, federal and provincial ministers, and officials from ETPB and PSGPC, Mohayuddin said. During their stay, pilgrims will be provided with accommodation, food, transportation, and medical facilities, he said. Pakistan has issued a total of 3,000 visas to Indian Sikhs for the event. Speaking to the media at the Wagah Border, Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee leader Harjeet Singh Pappa expressed his gratitude to the Pakistani authorities for the warm reception. We feel immense joy being here, he said. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee leader Gurnam Singh Jassal said: We are thankful for the love and respect we receive here. PSGPC president Arora said the welcome extended to the pilgrims reflects Pakistan's respect and affection for its minorities. The Sikh pilgrims from India will carry cherished memories back to their homeland, he said. During their 10-day stay, the Indian Sikhs will also visit several holy sites, including Gurdwara Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad, Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassan Abdal, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Narowal, Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Eminabad via Gujranwala, and Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore. The pilgrims will return to India on November 23 via the Wagah Border.

Video: Students Shove Cracker In Petrol Bag, Burst It In Front Of Fuel Tanker

In an attempt to make a viral social media post, three students in Karnataka's Hassan district placed a cracker inside a transparent plastic bag full of petrol and exploded it in front of a stationary fuel tanker.

Israel continues Beirut strikes as UN resolution comes into focus

Ali Hassan Khalil, a senior Lebanese official, speaking to Al Jazeera late on Wednesday, said Lebanon was ready to precisely implement a UN Security Council resolution that ended a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Its terms require Hezbollah to remove fighters and weapons from areas between the border and the Litani River, which lies about 30 km (around 20 miles) from Lebanon's southern border.

Rowdy sheeter found murdered in Hassan

Congress Leader claims Ambedkar nearly chose Islam over Buddhism

Karnataka Congress leader and former MLA Sayed Azeem Peer Khadri recently sparked controversy with remarks on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's religious decisions. At a public rally in Shiggaon ahead of the November 13 Assembly byelection, Khadri claimed that Ambedkar had once seriously considered converting to Islam before ultimately choosing Buddhism. According to News18, Khadri stated, Babasaheb Ambedkar, in those days, was all set to accept and join Islam, but he then eventually became a Buddhist. Khadri further suggested that Ambedkar's conversion could have influenced prominent Dalit leaders today. He noted, (Karnataka Congress leader) Nagaraj Yadav Sir may know about this. Had Babasaheb Ambedkar joined Islam, then Ramappa (Timmapur) would have been Rahim, Dr G. Parameshwara would have been Peer Saheb, Hanumantha Gowda would have been Hassan, and Manjunath Timmapur would be Mehboob. The Congress party quickly distanced itself from Khadris remarks, calling them unwarranted and clarifying that they do not reflect the party's views. Khadri's comments have provoked discussions across political circles in Karnataka. Ambedkar, a pivotal figure in the Indian independence movement and the architect of the Indian Constitution, ultimately converted to Buddhism in 1956, influencing many followers to embrace Buddhism as well. His religious choices remain a subject of interest and debate, especially in contexts where his decisions are speculated to have impacted the sociopolitical landscape. The byelection in Shiggaon, which became necessary after former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommais resignation following his Lok Sabha win, has now seen added tension due to Khadris remarks.

Determined to remove Congress from power: Gowda; its not possible, says CM Siddaramaiah

CHANNAPATNA : The ruling Congress and the opposition BJP-JDS wrapped up their campaign for the high-voltage Channapatna Assembly bypoll slated for November 13 with massive rallies on Monday. While the NDA has fielded Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, CP Yogeshwara, who recently quit the BJP to join the Congress, is the Grand Old Partys candidate from Channapatna. Speaking at a public meeting, Kumaraswamy said that Nikhils defeat is imminent and Yogeshwaras victory is certain. JDS patriarch and former PM HD Deve Gowda thundered that the BJP-JDS combine is determined to remove the Congress government from power. Siddaramaiah hit back, saying that no one, including Gowda and his son Kumaraswamy, can dethrone the Congress. On Gowdas recent statement that the Congress government in the state will drop all guarantee schemes after the November 13 by-polls to Sandur, Channapatna, and Shiggaon constituencies, Siddaramaiah said that the guarantees will not be discontinued. Taking a cue from Union Minister of State for Railways V Somannas prediction that the State Government will collapse by January 2025, Gowda said, This is not a prediction. It is the truth. It is interesting that, like me, Somanna also has a habit of consulting astrologers, but he has spoken the truth. This government will not last for long, Gowda said. Gowda appealed to the voters of Channapatna to elect his grandson and NDA candidate Nikhil to break the arrogance of state Congress chief and DyCM DK Shivakumar. The former PM said that Congress has conspired to finish off his family using the Hassan sleazy video case allegedly involving his grandson and former MP Prajwal Revanna. Meanwhile, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that the JDS-BJP alliance will last for a long time to provide a better future for the people of Karnataka. NDA candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy with his wife Revathi The 2006-07 BJP-JDS coalition government led by me was a golden era, and that will return again soon. If I had transferred power to BS Yediyurappa then, the Congress would have bitten the dust, Kumaraswamy added. Kumaraswamy reiterated that both the BJP and JDS were ready to field CP Yogeshwara, but the latter had struck a deal with the Congress much earlier. Nikhil was not ready to contest the bypolls but was forced to do so. As I have put him into your hands, treat him as your son and elect him, the former CM appealed to the voters. Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah reiterated that Gowda should have wept for the victims of Prajwal in Hassan. Shivakumar also indirectly welcomed the Supreme Court rejecting Prajwal Revannas bail plea.

IDF dismantles Hezbollah tunnels, including one under cemetery

The Israeli military released a video on Sunday claiming to have dismantled several underground tunnels used by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon, including one located beneath a cemetery. The tunnel, which stretched over a kilometer, contained a significant stockpile of weapons, including rifles, grenade launchers, and rocket systems, according to footage shared by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). In a statement on microblogging site X, the IDF confirmed the dismantling of the tunnels, stating, Multiple underground terrorist tunnels have been dismantled by our troops, including a tunnel that was strategically located under a cemetery. The IDF also stated, Hezbollah doesnt value human lifedead or alive. The military further revealed that the tunnel housed command and control rooms, sleeping quarters, and weapon caches. To seal the tunnel, the IDF pumped 4,500 cubic meters of concrete into it. The IDF also shared previous findings of tunnels discovered along the Israeli-Lebanese border, including one that crossed into Israel. Earlier, the IDF had released footage of a tunnel allegedly used by Hezbollah beneath a civilian house in Lebanon. The tunnel, measuring over 100 meters, was shown to contain iron doors, a bedroom, a bathroom, storage rooms, and weapons, including AK-47 rifles and generators. An Israeli soldier in the video described the tunnel as part of Hezbollahs preparations for a potential attack similar to the Hamas assault on Israel. Since the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023, Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in clashes along the Lebanese border, with Israel launching cross-border ground assaults and uncovering multiple tunnel shafts. These discoveries followed the death of Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike on September 27.

Kamal Hassan asks fans to not call him 'Ulaganayagan', says 'this decision comes from....'

Kamal Haasan, also the president of Makkal Needhi Maiam, a party he founded in 2018, said he had always felt a deep sense of gratitude over being bestowed with endearing titles.

Israeli PM Netanyahu Admits Israels Role In Pager, Walkie-Talkie Attacks On Hezbollah

Jerusalem, Nov 11: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time admitted that Israel was behind the pager and walkie-talkie attacks on Hezbollah in September that left at least 39 people dead and more than 3,000 injured, local media reports have said. The pager operation and the elimination of (Hezbollah leader Hassan) Nasrallah were carried out despite the opposition of senior officials in the defence establishment and those responsible for them in the political echelon, The Times of Israel newspaper [] The post Israeli PM Netanyahu Admits Israels Role In Pager, Walkie-Talkie Attacks On Hezbollah appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Kashmiri students get Karnataka colleges nod to keep trimmed beard

A dispute arose at a Hassan nursing college regarding Kashmiri students' beards. The college initially insisted on a clean-shaven or closely trimmed appearance, citing hygiene concerns. However, after students protested and involved the Jammu and Kashmir Students' Association, a compromise was reached. The agreement permits students to maintain their beards while adhering to hygiene standards.

Express Dialogues | Demography on the curve with falling fertility rates: Purushottam M Kulkarni

Concerns over demographic changes, arising out of low fertility rates and aging population are real and southern states fear losing out on political representation at the Centre. Not just southern states, many other states in India have reached a below replacement level fertility and it is irreversible, said well-known demographer and former professor in population studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Dr Purushottam M Kulkarni, in an informal chat during this weeks Express Dialogues with Team TNIE Fertility rates have lowered in many states, including all southern states. How do you look at the demographic changes in the next 50 years in the country? All South Indian states are seeing low total fertility rates (TFRs) and states like West Bengal, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab among others have also reached replacement levels or are now below the replacement level. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which had a fertility rate of six and seven, have come down to three or lower. There is a demographic transition. Mortality is declining, followed by fertility. The trend started in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but soon more states were added. In states which are ahead in demographic transition, their population growth will stop earlier. If there is no migration by the 2050s, a large number of states will reach the peak population and it will stop growing. There will be gradual population reduction. Many estimates, including that of the UN, state that before 2070, India will reach its peak population of approximately 170 crore. Once the low fertility process sets in, generally, it does not reverse. Around 50 years ago, there was panic about population explosion. Indias population quadrupled in the last century, but now the growth rate has slowed down. We will have the exact figures with the census. Demographers are confident that the growth will be around 1%, unlike 2% earlier. (A TFR of 2.1 is generally considered replacement level fertility since at low mortality, this amounts to the population replacing itself from one generation to the next.) Where does Karnataka stand? Karnataka has reached below replacement level with a TFR of around 1.6. By the mid-2040s, its natural population growth will halt unless offset by significant migration. Managing this inevitable migration requires policymakers to ensure a smooth and equitable process, addressing both local and migrant concerns. The states population is expected to stabilise around seven crore. Regions like Mandya and Hassan witnessed early fertility declines due to concerns like land division. In contrast, northern districts still show higher fertility due to socio-economic challenges. Bengalurus growth, driven by migration, has pushed its population past 1 crore, though exact numbers remain unclear without a census. What are the factors for the decline in the fertility rate? Multiple factors have contributed to the decline in the fertility rate. Many government programmes have provided free contraception and free sterilisation. Also, there is a rise in aspirations among people. Most couples choose to have two children or one child to better provide for them, give them quality education and other facilities. How will low fertility impact India? There have been debates over the Malthusian theory of population (that population growth will always exceed the growth of means of subsistence). Some say high population growth is bad because there will be limitations on land and resources and there will be starvation. But others say that some population growth is good as there will be more consumers and more human resources. Well-known economist Gary Becker spoke of a quantity and quality trade-off... suggesting that instead of having many children with limited resources, families could have fewer children and provide them with more. Couples now choose to have two children or just one to be able to provide a better quality of life. Was the desire for a son one of the reasons for the high birth rate earlier? It was one of the factors in the earlier days, but not now. Also, earlier people who had two to three sons went on having children. The idea of regulating fertility was not there. It was considered natural or even Gods gift. Maternal and child mortality was high then, which also played a major role in couples choosing to have more children. Can fertility rate be increased/stabilised? Some developed countries with low-fertility rates, which had to import workers and labourers, tried different ways to promote fertility, what is called as pro-natalist policy. But they didnt succeed. In the Soviet Union, a medal was given to women for having more children. Romania banned abortion, and it is a well-known case, which failed after one year. Countries have also tried other ways like long maternity leaves and child support initiatives, which included one-year paid maternity leave and another years leave where you do not lose your job. But this hasnt done much. While the policies are good for the health and career of women and children, they have not been able to raise fertility above replacement level. People now have stronger reasons to stop at one child. Family planning is not encouraged in certain religions/ communities. Is the fertility rate low even among them? Religious sanctions have been there for a long time. In the West it was Catholic-Protestant differential. The church had opposed contraception. Use of contraception was lower in Catholics than Protestants. But over time, differences have narrowed. In India, there are some differences but not large. Fertility among Christians and Sikhs is already low and declining among Muslims as well. The latters population growth will be different and will be slightly higher than average for some time. If contraceptive prevalence is around 50% overall, among Muslims it is close to 40%. It is not 0-10%. The assumption that some communities do not use contraception is not true. But there is a gap. What is your opinion on the delimitation of Parliament seats based on population? The 1976 Constitutional amendment was brought in to freeze Parliamentary representation according to the 1971 census. According to the Constitution, Parliamentary representation should be worked out after every census, proportionate to population - the more the population, the more the members of Parliament. The amendment was brought in when there were concerns over population explosion and the population control programme was at its peak. However, the same continued even after the 2001 census and even now, we are using the 1971 population as the basis for Parliamentary representation. The concern is that the states which adopted the population-control measures well will be penalised in terms of their Parliamentary representation. This has to be reviewed. It is a politically sensitive issue but there should be political consensus. They should work out a scheme which is fair, does not penalise people and is responsive to the needs of the people. In hindsight, do you think the family planning campaign was a demographic blunder? In the late 60s to mid-70s, fertility drop was desired because population growth was rapid and it was leading to several issues related to food, pollution, crowding and others. High population growth was not desirable. Family planning was already in practice, but it was staggered across the country and not uniform across, which is also the case in other aspects like economy, urbanisation or industrialisation. With falling fertility, is the aging population a concern? Age structure has changed in a way that now you have a lower dependency ratio. There are relatively more people in working age and this will be there for, maybe next 20 years. After that, we will have a more elderly population. In the past, we just had 5-6% of elderly, above the age of 60. Gradually, it will increase to 25%. In some places, it can go up to 30%. This is inevitable. Even if the fertility rate is at the replacement level, at low mortality, the share of the elderly will be above 20% in the long run. That is something we have to live with and provide for. What is the economic fallout of an aging population? The share of the working-age population in India is increasing and it will increase for some more time and that is good for the economy if we use the demographic opportunity. The concern is that the share of elderly is set to increase. A sharp reduction in children born today would lead to very small cohorts of workers after some time and increase the dependency burden. The elderly population will rise from 5% to 28% over this century. By 2050, its expected to reach 13-14%. This slow pace provides enough time to build facilities like old age homes. The challenge is not immediate, but gradual preparations are essential. With sustained economic growth, we should have the financial means to support this transition. The focus should be on anticipating these changes and steadily developing infrastructure to meet the needs of an aging society. What measures should be put in place to address the challenges of an aging population? There are already schemes for elderly health. Addressing the needs of the aging population is crucial. Health programmes are seen as general welfare measures, but long-term planning is key. Our plans and policies must provide for it and we have to be prepared for it. There must be schemes and facilities to cater to the health and overall well-being of the elderly. Is increasing the retirement age an option to cater to the issue of elderly population? That is one possibility. Many European countries have a high retirement age, which is 65 or 67 years. With more young adults moving away from marriage, do you think this shift could further impact birth rates, as seen in parts of Europe? In Europe, whether a child is born within or outside marriage is no longer a major social concern. In India, however, it still holds significance, though this may change over the next few decades. A declining trend in family size no children or one-child families has already lowered fertility rates, and while policies like maternity leave may help slightly, they cannot fully reverse this. The aim has been replacement-level fertility, a TFR of 2.1. This represents an average: some families have two children, others three, and some only one. Achieving this would eventually stabilise the population, leading to a stationary population, where births and deaths balance, keeping the population size and age distribution constant. However, societal preferences, like fewer people choosing to have children, make this goal increasingly unlikely, and such choices cannot be mandated. The population stagnation is expected to peak by 2070. What is the message for policymakers? Now that they have a clear picture of the numbers, they should work towards planning and try to improve the quality of service. The dip in fertility rate will be first visible in schools as the rate of admission of school children will drop. It has already come down in Karnataka, Kerala and a few other states. Many districts may not have schoolchildren. The government can now focus on improving school infrastructure, student-teacher ratio and others.

Row over students having beard resolved amicably in govt college in Karnataka, says top official

HASSAN (KARNATAKA), Nov 10: A row over students from Jammu and Kashmir studying in a government nursing college in Karnataka having long beard has been sorted out amicably, an official of the institute said on Sunday. The issue came to light when the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association wrote to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on []

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Karnataka: J&K students raise concern over colleges grooming policy

A group of students hailing from Jammu and Kashmir and studying at the Government Nursing College in Karnatakas Hassan city have expressed serious concerns regarding alleged discriminatory grooming standards imposed by the college administration. They alleged that they are being pressured to trim their beards to a specific length or shave them entirely, which they Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Express Dialogues | We dont accept LDF, UDF resolution against Waqf Amendment Bill

The Church is at the forefront of the 610 families fight for ownership of their land in Munambam after the Waqf Board claimed rights over the property in this coastal village near Kochi. In an interaction with TNIE , Kottapuram Diocese Bishop Ambrose Puthenveettil and Kottappuram Vicar General Msgr Rev Rockey Roby Kalathil urge the government to intervene and resolve the issue in favour of the residents, mostly hapless fisherfolk. The priests also assert that their fight is for all the families in Munambam, not just Christians Could you please explain the historical background of the Munambam issue? In 1902, the king of Travancore gave 404 acres of land and 60 acres of water [off the shoreline] on lease to Abdul Sathar Moosa Haji, who had come from Gujarat for agriculture purposes. There were many fisherfolk living in the area at that time. In 1948, Siddique Sait, the successor of Moosa Haji, registered this land at the Edappally sub-registrar office. The registered land included areas where the fisherfolk had been living for nearly a century. How did this reach the hands of Farook College? On November 1, 1950, Siddique Sait handed over the registered land to the management of Farook College. It was given as a gift deed. Sait was reportedly close to Moulavi Abdulla Ahmed Ali, a Chavakkad native who founded Farook College. There are indications that Sait believed there was no use in holding the land parcel, as the 404 acres had declined to 100-odd acres due to sea erosion by then. It was registered at that time under the condition that college management should not use the land for any purposes other than educational ones. However, knowingly or unknowingly, the word Waqf was inserted in the gift deed. If the land had been given on lease by the Travancore king, how could it be gifted to someone else? The fact is that he [Sait] didnt have the right. More importantly, there were people residing in the area at that time. The whole thing was illegal. How did the legal battle start? A few years later, some disputes arose between the management of Farook College and the local residents. The case continued for several years following the assessment that the land had been gifted to Farook College, and court orders were not favourable to local residents. In 1974, there was a court order that the entire land belonged to Farook College. In 1975, the residents of the area formed a tenant group and filed a petition at the Paravur Munsif Court. That case went on for 12 years. In 1987, as part of a compromise, the residents of that time paid a large sum to Farook College to purchase the land land that the community had been living in for over a century. How much did they pay? A sum of Rs 250 for a cent. At that time, the property prices in the nearby areas cost less than `100 a cent. So, people at that time paid 150% higher rates than the prevailing market price to buy the property, which has now been claimed by the Waqf Board. Hassan Kutty Sahib, the secretary of the college, signed about 280 land documents between 1989 and 1993. So, it is unclear if this is indeed Waqf land Thats the big question. The Waqf Boards stance is that it is theirs, arguing that Sait mentioned Waqf in an ambiguous manner because he was not sure it was a Waqf property. Whats the Churchs stance? Our stance is that its not Waqf land. Because Waqf property cannot be given on a conditional basis. Farook College sold the land to residents after passing a resolution. Everything is documented. We stake claim only to that land. The fisherfolk have been living there for 200 years. What triggered the current flare-up? In 2022, the fisherfolk realised that their ownership was uncertain, as they were unable to sell or pledge their lands. These are poor fisherfolk whose lives are filled with misery and obstacles. Someone else suddenly staking claim to the land they lived all these years deepened their distress. Some have even taken their own lives after banks rejected their applications for loans to cover essential expenses such as their childrens weddings. Childrens education has been interrupted, and some houses have collapsed, but repairs are impossible because the panchayat has denied permission. Life has come to a standstill for these families. In a channel discussion, a Muslim League representative claimed that there were only about 150 families.. . Thats grossly inaccurate. A large majority of the local church community has been affected by this issue, with about 400 families involved. Families from the Ezhava and Dheevara communities have also been impacted. People from various backgrounds and walks of life are caught in this crisis; it is not limited to a single religious group. Most of them depend on the sea for their livelihood. They cannot stay anywhere else. What is the Churchs take on the Centres Waqf Amendment Bill? The proposed amendment of the Waqf Act is one solution. The current law overtakes the constitutional rights of the people. Any law that violates constitutional rights is against democracy. We wonder why this bill was passed without much discussion back then. There should be some amends to the Waqf Boards powers. Especially regarding ownership of land. So, does the Church fully back the Waqf Amendment Bill? When the amendment is made, it should be mentioned that the changes should be implemented with retrospective effect. Only then will it be helpful for the people of Munambam. If thats not defined, the amendment may not help the affected people. People are looking at the amendment bill with hope. The UDF and the LDF have unanimously passed a state assembly resolution against the bill We do not accept that. If we accept that, justice will not be served to the affected people of Munambam. What is the solution to this problem? We are seeking an immediate and permanent solution; a temporary one wont do. If the Waqf Board yet again raises a complaint, the people will be in trouble. The foremost solution is the passing of the Waqf Amendment Bill with retrospective effect. This is not a matter of religion. What are the other solutions possible? The second suggestion we have put forth is that the legal stance should be in favour of the people of Munambam. However, for the past two years, the case has been moving slowly. If it takes a long time, the people will struggle. We are concerned that the Waqf Board and tribunal have several unlimited powers and legal protection. This should not be there. The third suggestion is that the state government should immediately intervene and resolve the issue. Through the protest, we have prepared the ground for the chief minister to make a decision. He just needs to study the issue properly and come up with a solution. Have you discussed the matter with Muslim community leaders? Yes. At least a few of them believe this is not Waqf land. We also know that the Waqf Board is a politically constituted body. If the state government makes a decision, it can help solve the issue legally. What would be appropriate a political or a legal approach? Both. The state government should find a solution through political dialogue, and then get it legally ratified. This is not an issue affecting the Christian community alone. Of the more than 600 families affected, 400 are Christian, and the remaining Hindu. They are agitating as a united front. Waqf Board chairman M K Sakeer has reiterated that they would take the legal route. Whats your response? Everything in this issue hinges on truth and justice. And some documents prove the truth. Even the Nissar Commission had pointed out that they were not the competent authority to decide whether the Munambam land belonged to Waqf. The problem erupted after two individuals filed a case in 2019. Do you think that the issue can be sorted if the case is withdrawn? Has there been any discussion regarding this? Yes, we have talked to people from the community regarding this. But, you should understand that even if some do agree with arriving at an amicable solution, the same thought might not occur to others in the same community. However, since we are living in a state that upholds the value of communal harmony, we hope that people will realise the importance of safeguarding human rights and come together to solve the issue. As said earlier, this issue is not something that has affected the Christian community alone. People from other communities too are affected. So, our agitation should not be seen as a communal one. It has been said that the two litigants are Muslim League members. Cant the problem be solved through discussions with leaders such as P K Kunhalikutty? Yes. In the meetings that we had held with the leaders from various political parties, including the Muslim League, it has been evident from their response that an amicable solution can be arrived at. Did anyone from the ruling party meet the agitators, or hold discussions with you? Earlier, the Vypeen MLA [K N Unnikrishnan] had intervened, and the state government had restored the peoples revenue rights. The residents assumed that the problem was over. However, in 2024, when they found their revenue rights revoked, they aired their worries to us. After meeting with the residents, we submitted a petition highlighting the issue at the chief ministers public outreach programme (Nava Kerala Sadas). However, no action was taken. We had our fingers crossed. We were then told that the advocate general would take up the case in court. Yet again, we were disappointed. It was only then that we decided to resort to a hunger strike and agitation. There seems to be some sort of religious polarisation happening in the area. The residents sentiments are gradually turning anti-Muslim. Is this true? No. We dont think so. We have been visiting the protesters every day. People from every political party and community, including the Muslim brothers, have been visiting and expressing their support to the agitators. There are social media posts claiming that the Munnambam issue is being used to reap political benefits. What is your take on this? You know Kerala is a politically sensitive state. There might be people who attempt to take political benefits from the issue. We go to the protest venue every day. We dont know from where a solution would arise. We maintain a balanced approach. The Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Council (KRLCC) has a political equidistance policy. We interact with everyone, including political parties. We will accept everyones support to get justice. The BJP was the first to intervene in the Munnambam issue. Several national leaders voiced their views on the matter and, as a result, it became a national issue. We cannot say that the BJP was the first to intervene. Local people had taken up the matter with the local CPM MLA, Unnikrishnan. The BJP intervened because the issue involved Waqf. Amending the Waqf Act is part of the BJPs policy. That is why BJP leaders and supporters took a stand in the matter. It is the BJP that has tabled the Waqf Amendment Bill. The two main fronts in Kerala are against it. The common people are watching all these. We hope you can read between the lines. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan says the Munambam issue and the Waqf Amendment Bill are not connected We cannot support that view. Because it is the Waqf Act that has turned villain in the Munnambam issue. It is an extension of an issue with the Waqf Act. If anyone goes to the people of Munambam with such a view [as Satheesans], it would create problems. The people there are fighting for their existence. People, including youngsters, are closely following the Waqf Amendment Bill and related cases. Even the children are aware of the issue. All aspects of the Munnambam issue boil down to the Waqf law. If the Waqf Board gets to decide about property rights, it will affect the constitutional rights of the people. Satheesan went on to say that a similar bill regarding properties under the church could also come up in the future, and that the Congress would stand with the church at that time. What is your response? There is nothing to fear regarding the possibility of such a bill fear affects only when one has gained something immorally. The Catholic Church is not going to be overly concerned about that. The Farook College management has maintained silence on the issue. Why arent they speaking out? I dont think there is any need for them to do so. Their stance came out during the 1975 High Court case that this was a gifted property. The statement they gave to the Nisar Commission also was the same. So, they didnt say it was Waqf land? No, they didnt. There are indications that the Muslim League is interested in solving the issue. But an article that recently appeared in Suprabhatham, the mouthpiece of the Samastha, asserted that Munambam was a Waqf property. Do you believe Samasthas stance reflects the general mood of the Muslim community? There are many organisations or sections in the Muslim community. But the general feeling among the community, according to our understanding, is that the Munambam land is not Waqf property. But there may be certain opposing voices. The issue is now not confined to Munambam alone. Three byelections are coming up, and the issue is a hot topic of discussion in these constituencies. Will the issue have a bearing on the polls? To tell you the truth, we are not getting time to study the political scenario there. We have been spending more time at Munambam than in the office. The chief minister, in a recent speech, said the people of Munambam will not be troubled in any way. Do you trust his words? Yes, certainly. Because we must respect our leaders be it the chief minister or the prime minister in a democratic setup. Its not about any particular party. Every politician has to be a mystic. How do you view the BJPs aggression in the Munambam issue? Almost all the organisations are engaged in the issue now. You cannot claim one organisation is more active than the other one. The BJP has been trying its best to get closer to the Christian community... The political atmosphere in Kerala and other parts of the country are different. Because of the same, the BJP will have different plans for Kerala. The politically enlightened people of Kerala can identify these. The claim that all the Christian people support the BJP is baseless. The Church, especially the Latin Catholic Church, has traditionally been closer to the Congress... Thats not correct. Ever since the KRLCC was established in 2002, we have maintained an equidistant stand in political matters. There is a narrative that Christian communities are not secure in various parts of the country where the BJP-led NDA is in power. Does the Latin Catholic Church have such a view? We have raised our voice whenever we felt that the Christians were unsecure. An elected leader is always everyones representative. We do not turn our backs on anyone. TNIE team: Cithara Paul, Rajesh Abraham, Anu Kuruvilla, Anna Jose T P Sooraj (photos), Harikrishna B (video)

Kashmiri students allegedly forced to shave beards in Bengaluru college: JKSA writes to Ktaka CM

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association on Saturday has written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging his immediate intervention in alleged discrimination against Kashmiri students enrolled under the Prime Ministers Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) at the Government College of Nursing, Holenarasipur, affiliated with the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences. In its letter, the Association []

Kashmiri students in Karnataka allege discrimination over personal appearance, seek CMs intervention

BENGALURU: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has alleged that more than two dozen Kashmiri students at the Government College of Nursing, Holenarasipur, are facing discrimination regarding their personal appearance. In a letter addressed to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday, the association reported that these students, enrolled under the Prime Minister's Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS), are being compelled by the college administration to either trim their beards to a 1 trimmer length or remain clean-shaven. According to JKSA, students who refuse to comply are being marked absent during clinical duties, which has a significant impact on their attendance and academic records. The college, which operates under the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences and is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, has allegedly enforced these grooming restrictions as a requirement for participation in college activities and clinical duties. Kashmiri Students Forced to Shave Beards in Bengaluru College: J&K Students Association Writes to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for Intervention @siddaramaiah @CMofKarnataka @ANI @PTI_News @timesofindia @GreaterKashmir @KashmirLife @RisingKashmir @IndianExpress @TimesNow pic.twitter.com/HjAK2mPA8K J&K Students Association (@JKSTUDENTSASSO) November 9, 2024 The association emphasised that the right to personal appearance, including growing a beard, is an essential part of individual freedom and identity. It argued that forcing students to compromise their religious and personal beliefs infringes upon their rights and creates an atmosphere of exclusion and fear. This is not just an issue of personal grooming; it is a matter of fundamental rights. No student should be forced to choose between their education and their beliefs, the letter stressed. The JKSA has urged the Chief Minister to intervene immediately, calling for the protection of students constitutional rights and an end to these discriminatory practices. Highlighting Karnatakas reputation as a state that values diversity, the JKSA appealed for measures to foster inclusivity and tolerance within educational institutions. Although the college administration could not be reached for comment, sources stated that Kashmiri students were asked to maintain a professional appearance, given the nursing profession's requirements. The sources emphasised that the intent was not to disrespect the religious beliefs of the students.

After Karnataka HC denies bail, ex-MP Prajwal Revanna moves SC

Bengaluru: Former Janata Dal (Secular) MP from Hassan constituency Prajwal Revanna on Saturday, moved the Supreme Court after his bail plea was quashed by the Karnataka High Court concerning the sexual assault case. The hearing is scheduled to take place on November 11. Revanna, the grandson of the former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Tension in Hassan village following desecration of Ambedkar portrait

I gave land for schools, what about Gowda family: DK Shivakumar

BENGALURU: Challenging the Deve Gowda family on donating land, DCM DK Shivakumar declared that he had personally donated 25 acres of land across Kanakapura to establish schools. Has the Deve Gowda family given even a single gunta of land in Hassan, Ramanagara or Channapatna? he asked, in response to Gowdas allegations that the DK brothers were demanding payments for school land. Ask anyone in Kanakapura, theyll tell you the truth about our contributions to education. Taking aim at former CM HD Kumaraswamy, he said, Yogeshwara has transformed Bisilamma and Mahadeshwara temples with investments of Rs 4-5 crore. Has Kumaraswamy developed even a single temple in Ramanagara or Channapatna? Has he provided drinking water facility for the people? He contrasted Kumaraswamys alleged election-time handouts of Rs 2,000-3,000 with Congress impact on people through its guarantee schemes. Referring to Gowdas statement about passing the torch to his grandson, Shivakumar raised concern about the partys grassroots workers. Deve Gowda might anoint his grandson, but what happens to hardworking JDS members whove toiled for years? Has Kumaraswamy empowered any party worker? Meanwhile, Gowda, who was campaigning in Channapatna, pulled no punches, urging citizens to question the integrity of the current leaders. He declared that the bypolls would be the dawn of a new leadership for Karnataka. He also spoke of communal amity. We must live in peace. I have always stood for unity. We are all human beings, Hindus and Muslims alike. The results will be out on November 23, and I will be back among you in the Muslim Mohalla, working alongside you, he vowed.

Motion of Thanks for LGs address passed in J&K Assembly on final day of the session

Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Friday adopted the Motion of Thanks for the Lieutenant-Governors address, delivered to the newly constituted assembly of the Union Territory, on November 4. The Motion of Thanks was moved by MLA, Baramulla, Javid Hassan Baig and was seconded by MLA, Thanamandi, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan. The motion, on the final []

Karnataka KSRTC to do away with conductors

BENGALURU: To cut down on operational costs, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is operating more than 10 per cent of its buses without conductors, thus reducing the cost per kilometre (CPKM) by Rs 10. The bus corporation has currently opted for the single-crew model in over 850 buses. Sharing details about the model, KSRTC MD Anbu Kumar said, The model has been introduced in point-to-point routes with few or no stops on select routes such as Bengaluru-Mysuru, Bengaluru-Hassan, Bengaluru-Davanagere, Bengaluru-Shivamogga, Bengaluru-Madikeri, Bengaluru-Kolar and others. Tickets will be issued by the driver at the boarding point and when additional passengers board along the way. Explaining the motive behind the introduction of the single-crew model, Kumar said, KSRTC operates over 8,000 buses every day including ordinary and premium buses, covering over 28 lakh kilometres every day. The cost per kilometre includes the capital costs, interests, diesel, administrative costs, and conductor and driver costs which come up to Rs 50 per km to operate our buses. Only if our earning per kilometre (EPKM) is more than Rs 50 per km, the bus corporation will make profits. However, out of 8,000 buses, around 5,000 buses are earning less than Rs 50 per km, owing to multiple factors including lesser number of passengers. While admitting that public bus corporations are supposed to serve people and not make money, the MD said the Corporation is always exploring ways to cut down costs to serve better without burdening passengers and one such move is the conductor-less model. The KSRTC is able to save around Rs 10 per km. We have introduced this model only on routes with travel times of around five hours. For journeys longer than 5-6 hours, it will be challenging for the driver to manage without assistance, Kumar said.

Hyderabad: Residents slam HMWS&SB officials for closing unattended complaints

Hyderabad: Many people from the city are lashing out at the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB), whose officials are closing complaints lodged by the consumers without addressing the underlying issues. Despite the board being flooded with innumerable complaints regarding erratic water supply and sewerage problems, there has been no tangible redressal. Rather, the officials are marking the complaints as solved and sending text notifications, while the issues remain unresolved. Iqbal Khan from Hassan Nagar said We have lodged several complaints, but they have been dismissed without any action. We continue to bear the torture. Similarly, Raju Reddy stated that despite raising multiple complaints, we get notifications saying that the issue has been solved even though the problem remains unattended. A resident from TV Colony, Ramanthapur, reported similar concerns, adding, I filed a complaint twice and provided detailed location information about a water leakage, yet the complaint has been closed without carrying out any repairs, whatsoever. Meanwhile, V.L .Praveen Kumar, revenue director, HMWS&SB, told Deccan Chronicle, there are perhaps some complaints that might have been closed without being resolved but we are trying to address and resolve most of the complaints. With critical services like water supply and sewerage at stake, as are peoples lives, the vexed citizens are demanding that HMWS&SB take permanent solutions rather than relying on shortcuts that are hardly serving any purpose.

Kamal sir scored another blockbuster as producer, says Nithiin

Young actor Nithiin, whose father and producer Sudhakar Reddy, released the Telugu version of Amaran, expressed his happiness over the success in two Telugu states. Thanks to the Telugu audience for patronizing our patriotic film despite being a dubbed one and making it a big success, he says and adds, We are thankful to Kamal Hassan Garu and Rajkamal Films International for trusting us and making us part of their success journey. Kamal Hassan has scored another blockbuster as producer. He claims that when they thought of buying the Telugu rights of Amaran, a few months ago, they had few reasons to bet their money on. Firstly, it was produced by Kamal Hassan who is known for his immense taste for good cinema and he proved us right. We are sure that Amaran will surpass the collections of Kamal sir's earlier film Vikram in the two Telugu states, informs Nithiin. He heaps praises on director Rajkumar Periasamy. It is very difficult to mix love, family emotions, and subtle humor in a patriotic movie but you did a fantastic job and the climax was heart-touching he adds. He reserved special praise for Sai Pallavi and claimed that he had become a fan of her acting and dancing skills. I would love to dance with you one day, Even though I know that you are going to outwit me with your grace and style, I am looking forward to the challenging day. I hope you bag a national award for your performance in the movie he adds. Earlier, Kamal Hassan tasted success in a negative role in Kalki 2898 AD and sent shivers down the spine of his rivals as ruthless Supreme Yashkin and going to rock in the sequel as well and take on the might of Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan in the sci-fi sequel in 2025.

Siddaramaiah slams Gowda family, rekindles alleged CD controversy ahead of elections

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah , ridiculing former PM HD Deve Gowda and his family for bursting into tears just before the elections, rekindled the alleged sleazy CD issue involving former Hassan MP and Gowdas grandson, Prajwal Revanna. Deve Gowda once said that butchers (cutthroat people) do not shed tears. But hundreds of women who were allegedly sexually assaulted by your grandson in Hassan are crying. Go there and cry. Whats the use of crying here? the CM said while campaigning for Congress candidate CP Yogeshwara at Kudluru village in the Channapatna Assembly constituency on Wednesday. Congress had criticized Gowdas grandson, Nikhil Kumaraswamy , the NDA candidate from Channapatna, after he burst into tears during a recent roadshow. Gowda hit back, saying that only those who have emotions break down, while cutthroats dont cry. Nikhil, who lost in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Mandya and again in the 2023 Ramanagara Assembly seat, has now been brought to Channapatna. He was asked to cry by Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy, as it is their familys heritage. There is a proverb that men who weep should not be trusted..., Siddaramaiah said. Everyone in the Gowda family is shedding tears, fearing defeat at the hands of the Congress candidate. Yogeshwara knows the hardships and joys of the people, but not the Gowda family. They only know how to talk emotionally and cry. Yogeshwara must win for the development of Channapatna, he added.

JK Assembly Passes Resolution Seeking Restoration of Special Status; Parties Hail, BJP Protests

Srinagar/Jammu : The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution asking the Centre to work out a constitutional mechanism for restoring special status of the erstwhile state. The move was hailed by the valley-based political parties while it prompted protests by the main opposition BJP which demanded its rollback.The passage of the resolution led to an uproar in the House as the BJP members protested vociferously, resulting in frequent disruptions of the proceedings. Eventually, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the House for the day. The resolution, which also expressed concern over the unilateral removal of the special status, was passed without any debate as the Speaker put it to voice vote amidst noisy scenes. With the passage of the resolution, the ruling NC said it has fulfilled one of its promises made in the manifesto while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the Assembly has done its job. The members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), People's Conference, Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] supported the resolution during the voice vote. While many political parties here welcomed the move, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said it was a half-hearted effort and the resolution could have been written in a better way. The Modi government abrogated Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union Territories of JK and Ladakh. JK Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary moved the resolution which said, That this legislative assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal. It said the JK Assembly calls upon the government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of the people of JK for restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees, and to workout constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions. This Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the resolution added. The BJP members, including the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma, opposed the resolution, saying it was not part of the listed business. We reject the resolution. The business given to us was that the discussion is on the LG's address, he said. The LoP said there is a rat race among parties in JK but they all know nothing is going to happen. The Act has been passed by the biggest temple of democracy in the country (Parliament), he added. Sharma's comments agitated the treasury benches and noisy scenes were witnessed in the House with most of the NC and BJP members seen on their feet. The BJP MLAs tore the copies of the resolution and threw the pieces into the well of the House. Amidst the uproar, the Speaker said, If the opposition members do not want to speak, I will put it to vote. Rather put the resolution to voice vote and it was passed amidst the din. As soon as the resolution was passed, the BJP members stormed the well of the House. The Speaker then adjourned the house for 15 minutes. Even after the House was adjourned, the BJP members continued to shout slogans like 5 August zindabad, Jai Shri Ram, Vande mataram, anti-national agenda nahi chalega, Pakistani agenda nahin chalega, anti-Jammu agenda nahi chalega and Speaker hai hai. BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma alleged that the resolution was prepared in collusion with the Speaker in a guest house. The mandate (of assembly polls) was in favour of abrogation of 370 because we (BJP) got 26 per cent votes while the NC got 23 per cent, Sharma said. He said the Speaker should act independently. Today he has acted as an NC leader, he said. I want to tell the Kashmir-centric parties that their hegemony is over, he said, while promising a strong response. As soon as House assembled again at 11.05 am, the BJP MLAs raised slogans against the Speaker. The LoP said, We have reports that you (Speaker) called a meeting of ministers yesterday and drafted the resolution yourself. However, Rather told the protesting BJP members to take their seats as enough is enough. Amidst the din, the Speaker called NC's Javaid Hassan Baig to move motion of thanks for the LG's address. As the din continued, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings again for one hour. When the House met again at 12:20 pm, the ruckus continued, with the BJP members raising slogans such as go back, go back, Speaker go back, and ake back illegal resolution. The Speaker repeatedly asked the BJP MLAs to take their seats, saying his does not behove you. The NC members also took to their feet and both the sides hurled barbs at each other. If you don't have confidence in me, bring a no-confidence motion, the Speaker dared the BJP members and adjourned the House till Thursday. Welcoming the passage of the resolution, CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami said it was historic. People's Conference chairman and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone said what happened on August 5, 2019 was against the will of the people of JK. The Congress, which is an alliance partner of the ruling NC, said the resolution reflects the urges and aspirations of the people of JK. The Congress party welcomes the resolution passed by the JK Assembly seeking restoration of constitutional and democratic rights of the people of JK, including fully empowered statehood along with all constitutional guarantees, JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra said. Addressing a press conference here, the LoP said the BJP will not allow the House to function until the resolution was withdrawn. In Jammu, while the local unit of the BJP staged a protest to denounce the passing of the resolution, the ruling NC workers celebrated it.

Man kills brother-in-law during Bhai Dooj celebration in Delhi's northeast, held

During Bhai Dooj celebrations in Delhi's Khajuri Khas area, a man fatally shot his brother-in-law, Hemant, over a business dispute. The accused, Ali Hassan alias Ajay Verma, fled the scene but was later apprehended by police. Hemant's wife witnessed the horrific incident.

J-K Assembly proceedings disrupted amid uproar over resolution on special status

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly proceedings were adjourned for an hour on Wednesday amidst uproar after the House passed a resolution seeking a dialogue between the Centre and elected representatives for restoration of special status of the erstwhile state. After the resolution was passed, the assembly witnessed noisy scenes as the BJP members stormed the well of the House to protest the resolution, following which Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes. However, as soon as the assembly met again, the BJP members continued with their protest and raised slogans against the Speaker. BJP MLA and Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, said, We have reports that you (Speaker) called a meeting of ministers yesterday and drafted the resolution yourself. However, Rather told the protesting BJP members to take their seats, saying enough is enough. Amidst the din, the Speaker called NC's Javaid Hassan Baig to move motion of thanks for the LG's address. As the din continued, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings again for an hour. Earlier, amidst an uproar, the assembly passed the resolution through voice vote, prompting protests by BJP members. J-K Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary moved the resolution for restoring the special status of J-K, which was revoked by the Centre on August 5, 2019. That this legislative assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal, the resolution moved by Choudhary said. This Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the resolution added. However, the BJP members, opposed the resolution, saying it was not part of the listed business. We reject the resolution. The Business given to us was that the discussion is on the Lieutenant governor's address, Sharma said. The members of the PDP, Peoples' Conference and CPI(M) also supported the resolution during the voice vote.

Waqfs land claim puts Munambam on edge

MUNAMBAM : There is something ubiquitous between the monsoon sea and the residents of Munambam and Kadappuram. The hearts of these fisherfolk resemble the roiling and boiling sea. The reason behind these turbulent emotions is the threat of losing their lands bought by their fathers and grandparents spending hard-earned money. The Waqf Board claim hangs like the Damocles sword, over 600 families living along the Munambam-Kadappuram coast. But why now? What made the Waqf Board stake a claim even after a settlement arrived in 1991 during the E K Nayanar governments tenure? Is it the announcement of the Coastal Highway and the boom in the tourism prospects of these lands? The questions posed by the residents who are now in a belligerent mode are many and intriguing. TNIE spoke to some residents who own documents identifying them as the owners. The Waqf claim has struck us like a bolt out of the blue, says 78-year-old P T Chacko who looks tired as he recounts the ordeal that he and other residents had undergone to secure the land documents way back in 1991. Chacko says, The main question that needs to be asked is why now? And that, too, after the announcement of the coastal highway. One needs to only add two and two to arrive at the most logical angle. The Waqf claim has struck us like a bolt out of the blue, says 78-year-old P T Chacko who looks tired as he recounts the ordeal that he and other residents had undergone to secure the land documents way back in 1991. Chacko says, The main question that needs to be asked is why now? And that, too, after the announcement of the coastal highway. One needs to only add two and two to arrive at the most logical angle. Chacko had settled down in Munambam in 1962. At that time nobody wanted this land since sea attack was a common thing. For six months of monsoon, the sea would race landward inundating the entire area. However, things began to perk up after the construction of the groyne along the Cherai, Munambam-Kadappuram coast, he adds. Chacko narrates how difficult it was to get permission to build a house due to an ongoing case filed by the management of Farook College. The case was taking very long. The residents here were finding it difficult to live and had even resorted to agitation. However, in 1986, a mediation talk was arranged by the E K Nayanar government. A compromise was arrived at with the Farook College management. As per the deal arrived at the behest of the state government, it was decided to grant ownership to the residents against a payment of a stipulated amount as the price for the land. In 1991, the residents were issued land ownership documents, says Chacko. For 47-year-old Viji Thearathe life has become a big question mark. I dont know what to do! The house that I am living in is on the verge of collapse. I am afraid to even touch the walls, says Viji as she shows the big cracks that have developed on the walls. Pointing towards the rotting beams that are gingerly holding up a structure that resembles a roof, she says, I got the biggest shock when I approached the village office to change the ownership of my land. The officers there told me that the process could not be carried out since there were some legal issues. A safe and secure house had been her and her husbands dream. But Vijis husband couldnt help her realise that dream. He passed away six years ago. Dominic Varghese, a resident of Munambam Viji accuses the revenue officials of not informing her of the seriousness of the matter. This is the land that my parents bought with the money that they earned from fishing. This land is the fruit of their sweat and blood. But now I am being told that I dont have any right over the land which was bought by my parents fair and square! Telling her financial struggles, Viji, who recently got a job as an Anganwadi helper, says, I get Rs 8,000 per month. But in this year and time, that is not enough to take care of the education of the children and the basic needs of the family. I cant even take a loan since the land cant be placed as collateral due to the dispute. Please, help us out. Only the state government can help us overcome this situation. Why should we vacate the land that has been rightfully ours? What is this Waqf? The first time that I heard of the name was in 2019. We are very simple people and do not know these things. So, it is the duty of the peoples representative whom we have elected to fight for us and help us out. The same is the situation of 78-year-old Mary Pallikkathayayil. It is a sorry sight to see her dwelling in a ramshackle structure made up of tarpaulins and wooden planks. I have pattayam for the land but cant even apply for housing under the LIFE Mission due to the case filed by the Waqf. How can they be so cruel to snatch this small piece of land from an old woman? I dont know how long I will live. However, it would have been good if I was able to build a small house and live in it! says Mary. This is the story of nearly all the residents at Munambam. As Dominic Varghese Pullickal says, In my case, it is a double whammy! My property comes under the alignment drawn up for the Coastal Highway project. However, due to the case filed by the Waqf, even if the government issues a compensation package I wont be getting it. It is a tragedy! The residents have been questioning the timing of the case filed. Mary Pallikkathayayil Whats the issue? Nearly five years ago, the Waqf Board laid claim to the areas of Munambam, Cherai, and Pallikkal in Ernakulam district, located along the northern coast of Vypeen. This region comprises around 1,000 land titles and is home to more than 600 families of various religious backgrounds, with land ownership records dating back to 1989. Historical context The history of ownership of this disputed land dates back to 1902. At that time, the King of Travancore leased 404 acres and 60 acres of water to Abdul Sattar Musa Haji Seth, who had come to Kerala from Gujarat for agricultural purposes. The lease had previously excluded the land of local fishermen who had lived there for many years before it. Later in 1948, his successor Siddique Seth registered this land at the Edappally (Ernakulam) Sub-Registrar Office. During the last 50 years, sea erosion caused significant land loss in areas of that island region. In particular, torrential rains and rough seas in 1934 completely obliterated a seaside known as Pandara seaside. A significant portion of the land leased by the King to Seth was included. Later registered land included areas where fishermen had resided for nearly a century. This registered land was handed over to the management of Farook College by Siddique Seth on November 1, 1950, by a gift deed or waqf (the construction work of Farook College was started in 1948 at Feroke in Kozhikode district). Siddique Seths closeness with Maulavi Abdullah Ahmed Ali, a Chavakkad native and founder of Farook College, is reported to have influenced his decision to give the land to the college. However, there are indications that Seth believed there was no use in holding such land when the 404-acre land was reduced to a quarter over the years due to sea erosion. However, it was registered at the time under the condition that the management of Farook College should not use that land for any purpose other than educational objectives, even if it could be bought and sold, and that if Farook College ceases to exist at any point, the land should be returned to his descendants. But knowingly or unknowingly, the word Waqf was written in that document. Even before the transfer of land, some of the residents had obtained occupancy certificates from the Taluk office. The locals did so because the certificate would help them get electricity, drinking water, etc. A few years later, some uneasiness arose between the management of Farook College and the residents due to some disputes over land use. This case continued for several years. Following the assessment that the land had been gifted to Farook College, subsequent court orders were not favourable to residents. Viji Prince Purchasing the land In 1975, the residents of the area formed a tenant group and filed a petition in the Paravoor Munsiff Court. That case continued for 12 years. After a long 34 years, in 1987, as part of a compromise, the then residents paid a large sum to the Farook College management to purchase the land where they had been living for more than a century. They paid Rs 250 a cent. At that time, the land in many nearby areas cost less than Rs 100. However, as fishermen who had been living there for ages, they were forced to pay a heavy price as their occupations would be adversely affected. Subsequently, Hassankutty Sahib, secretary of the managing council of Farook College, signed around 280 land documents between 1989 and 1993. Later events The area developed over the next three decades. Apart from hundreds of concrete houses, many institutions, churches, roads, and bridges were built. The people who lived in peace suddenly had to confront another threat. A person who came to the village office to pay the land tax in January 2022 was unable to do so because the tahsildar issued an order that it was Waqf land. During the later investigation, the residents realised that the Waqf Board had already started such actions in 2019. However, none of them received a single notification. It should be remembered that the Nisar Commission, formed by the V S Achuthanandan government to study encroachment on Waqf land, findings were not based on the complaint submitted by Farook College seeking the land back. A group called the Waqf Protection Committee has approached the court demanding the return of the land. A few people from Ernakulam were behind the association. What political parties say Minister for Sports and Waqf V Abdurahiman had recently said in a social media post that the government had initiated deliberations to amicably solve the Munambam issue. The Congress and the BJP, too, have taken up the issue with the Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan stating that his partys declared stand was that the controversial land at Munambam was not Waqf land. I had attended the meeting at Munambam to declare solidarity with the agitations. People were living in the area before land transactions and such land cannot be declared as Waqf property, he said. Satheesan said that Waqf land should be unconditional but there are conditions in the documents of the land. The CPI, too, had said that the official stand of the party was that nobody should be displaced from the land. Meanwhile, Union Minister Suresh Gopi lambasted both the Congress-led UDF and the ruling Left front for playing vote-bank politics on the issue. Issue created by Waqf Board, govt: Satheesan Kozhikode: The government is trying to give a space for the BJP as it did in the case of disrupting the Thrissur Pooram, said Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan. Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, he said the voices of CPM and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar on the Munambam land issue have become the same. What the Kerala Waqf Board chairman said is giving support to what the Javadekar said, he said. Satheesan said the attempt is to create a communal division in the issue. Now it is clear as to who are the villains in the game - it is the government and the Waqf Board. Our stand is that the people living in the area should be given title deeds that are permanent in nature, he said.

Groom-to-be cop done to death over love affair

HASSAN : A police constable attached to the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force (KSISF), Bengaluru, was brutally murdered over an alleged illicit relationship near his native village in Hassan on Monday night. The victim is identified as BV Harish, a native of Bageshpura in Arasikere taluk. Meanwhile, the police suspect the role of Harish, an ex-soldier in the Army, and two others in the brutal murder. The incident occurred when Harish was returning to Bageshpura on his motorcycle after distributing invitation cards of his wedding ceremony in Hassan city and Duddavillage, near the railway overbridge on Monday night. Harish had recently held a house-warming ceremony of his newly constructed house. His marriage was fixed for November 11 in Hassan. He came to his village on leave on November 3. The suspects reportedly covered their faces with a cloth and waylaid the victims vehicle near the bridge on Dudda-Arasikere road. One of the suspects threw chilli power on Harishs face and others attacked him with lethal weapons. The suspects then fled the seen. Harish died of his injuries on the spot. The police suspect that the victim had an affair with the wife of the ex-soldier. The woman was living alone in Hassan city. Both Harish and the victim had quarrelled over the issue in the past. Hassan SP Mohamed Sujeeta visited the crime-scene, along with a forensic team and the dog squad. Dudda police shifted the body for autopsy. An investigation by a special team is on and the police is yet to make arrests in the case.

Mother-son among 3 killed, 3 injured in mishap

Excelsior Correspondent REASI, Nov 2: In a tragic road accident, an 18-month old child along with mother among three persons died while three other members of the same family were critically injured when the car, they were travelling in, rolled down in deep gorge at Chemelu Morh on Malikote -Chassana road, here this morning. Click Here To Join Daily Excelsior on WhatsApp And Get Latest News The accident took place in the wee hours when the Eeco car, bearing registration [] The post Mother-son among 3 killed, 3 injured in mishap appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Naim Qassem: From spokesman to leader

Following the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah gets a new chief after a gap of 32 years in Naim Qassem, its most visible figure in the media

Watch: Lebanese man buys from store destroyed by Israeli strikes

Beirut: A video clip of a Lebanese man buying from a grocery store destroyed by the Israeli strikes, recently went viral on social media. Hassan Raad, a content creator from Lebanon, uploaded a video of himself on Instagram buying from a store where he had been shopping since he was a child and putting the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Iran's supreme leader threatens Israel, US with crushing response over attack

Dubai: Iran's supreme leader on Saturday threatened Israel and the U.S. with a crushing response over attacks on Iran and its allies. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke as Iranian officials are increasingly threatening to launch yet another strike against Israel after its Oct. 26 attack on the Islamic Republic that targeted military bases and other locations and killed at least five people. Any further attacks from either side could engulf the wider Middle East, already teetering over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and Israels ground invasion of Lebanon, into a wider regional conflict just ahead of the U.S. presidential election this Tuesday . The enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States of America, will definitely receive a crushing response to what they are doing to Iran and the Iranian nation and to the resistance front, Khamenei said in video released by Iranian state media. The supreme leader did not elaborate on the timing of the threatened attack, nor the scope. The U.S. military operates on bases throughout the Middle East, with some troops now manning a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense , or THAAD, battery in Israel. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier likely is in the Arabian Sea, while Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Friday that more destroyers, fighter squadrons, tankers and B-52 long-range bombers would be coming to the region to deter Iran and its militant allies. The 85-year-old Khamenei had struck a more cautious approach in earlier remarks, saying officials would weigh Irans response and that Israels attack should not be exaggerated nor downplayed. Iran has launched two major direct attacks on Israel, in April and October. But efforts by Iran to downplay the Israeli attack faltered as satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press showed damage to military bases near Tehran linked to the country's ballistic missile program, as well as at a Revolutionary Guard base used in satellite launches . Iran's allies, called the Axis of Resistance by Tehran, also have been severely hurt by ongoing Israeli attacks, particularly Lebanon's Hezbollah and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iran long has used those groups as both an asymmetrical way to attack Israel and as a shield against a direct assault. Some analysts believe those groups want Iran to do more to back them militarily. Iran, however, has been dealing with its own problems at home, as its economy struggles under the weight of international sanctions and it has faced years of widespread, multiple protests . After Khamenei's speech, the Iranian rial fell to 691,500 against the dollar, near an all-time low. It had been 32,000 rials to the dollar when Tehran reached its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Gen. Mohammad Ali Naini, a spokesman for Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard which controls the ballistic missiles needed to target Israel, gave an interview published by the semiofficial Fars news agency just before Khamenei's remarks were released. In it, he warned Iran's response will be wise, powerful and beyond the enemys comprehension. The leaders of the Zionist regime should look out from the windows of their bedrooms and protect their criminal pilots within their small territory, he warned. Israeli air force pilots appear to have used air-launched ballistic missiles in the Oct. 26 attack. Khamenei on Saturday met with university students to mark Students Day, which commemorates a Nov. 4, 1978, incident in which Iranian soldiers opened fire on students protesting the rule of the shah at Tehran University. The shooting killed and wounded several students and further escalated the tensions consuming Iran at the time that eventually led to the shah fleeing the country and the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The crowd offered a raucous welcome to Khamenei, chanting: The blood in our veins is a gift to our leader! Some also made a hand gesture similar to a timeout signal given by the slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in 2020 in a speech in which he threatened that American troops who arrived in the Mideast standing up would return in coffins horizontally. Iran will mark the 45th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis this Sunday, following the Persian calendar. The Nov. 4, 1979, storming of the embassy by Islamist students led to the 444-day crisis, which cemented the decades-long enmity between Tehran and Washington that persists today.

10-month old baby among 3 dead as car plunges into gorge in J-K's Reasi

Jammu : Three persons, including a 10-month old baby, were killed and an equal number critically injured when their car skidded off a hilly road and rolled down into a deep gorge in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir early Saturday, officials said. The accident took place at Chamalu Morh near Chassana and the victims are believed to belong to the same family, they said. The private car was headed for Chassana from Reasi when its driver lost its control, they said, adding local volunteers found three of the occupants dead on the spot. Three critically injured persons were rushed to hospital, the officials added.

10-Month Old Baby Among Three Dead As Car Plunges Into Gorge In J&Ks Reasi

JAMMU, Nov 2: Three persons, including a 10-month old baby, were killed and an equal number critically injured when their car skidded off a hilly road and rolled down into a deep gorge in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir early Saturday, officials said. The accident took place at Chamalu Morh near Chassana and the victims are believed to belong to the same family, they said. The private car was headed for Chassana from Reasi when its driver lost [] The post 10-Month Old Baby Among Three Dead As Car Plunges Into Gorge In J&Ks Reasi appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Israeli assault caused apocalyptic situation in Gaza, UN warns

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip (AP Photo/Mohammed Dahman) Smoke rises after an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip (AP Photo/Mohammed Dahman) Beirut: Israel launched dozens of intense airstrikes across Lebanon's northeastern farming villages on Friday, killing at least 52 people and wounding scores more, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported. In central Gaza , Palestinians recovered the bodies of 25 people killed in a barrage of Israeli aerial attacks that began Thursday, hospital officials said. The U.N. and other humanitarian organizations warned Friday that the situation unfolding in north Gaza is apocalyptic, citing Israels denial of humanitarian aid to the area, military raids on hospitals, airstrikes on shelters and obstruction of Palestinian rescue teams who struggle to help survivors after Israeli attacks. The latest violence comes against the backdrop of a renewed diplomatic push by United States President Joe Biden's administration, days before the presidential election , to reach temporary cease-fire deals. Israels emergency services said seven people were injured before dawn Saturday in attack in the central town of Tira. Three projectiles crossed into Israel from Lebanon, Israels military said, and some were intercepted. The Magen David Adom service said two of those injured were in moderate condition from the attack, and the others had milder injuries. A photo the service released showed damage to what appeared to be an apartment building. Israel has stepped up its offensive against Hamas remaining fighters in Gaza, pulverizing areas in the north and raising fears of worsening humanitarian conditions for civilians still there. In Lebanon, Israel has broadened its strikes in recent weeks to bigger urban hubs, like the town of Baalbek , home to 80,000 people, after initially targeting smaller border villages in the south, where Hezbollah conducts operations. Iran-backed Hezbollah doubles as a major political party and provider of social services in Lebanon. Hezbollah began firing rockets, drones and missiles from Lebanon into Israel in solidarity with Hamas immediately after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel , which triggered the war in Gaza. The yearlong cross-border fighting boiled over to full-blown war on Oct. 1, when Israeli forces launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006. In Lebanons Bekaa Valley where small villages, olive groves and wineries nestled between the country's mountain ranges had largely been spared the worst of Israeli bombardment until recently Israel conducted a series of heavy airstrikes Friday, killing at least 52 people, driving more families to flee with whatever they could carry and sending thick plumes of smoke over the horizon. Intensified Israeli airstrikes on and around the northeastern city of Baalbek after Israel issued evacuation warnings have prompted 60,000 people to flee, emptying nearby villages, said Hussein Haj Hassan, a Lebanese lawmaker representing the region. In Lebanon, rescuers searched for survivors after airstrikes killed nine people and brought down a building that had housed 20 people in the town of Younine. Further Israeli strikes killed 12 people in the town of Amhaz and 31 others across at least a dozen villages in Lebanon's northeast, bringing the total death toll to 52, the Health Ministry said. The bombardment left 72 people wounded, the ministry added. There was no immediate comment from Israel on the deadly strikes. In Lebanons capital, Israeli planes pounded the southern suburb of Dahiyeh overnight and early Friday for the first time in four days, spreading panic after a rare lull. The Israeli military, which warned residents to evacuate at least nine locations in Dahiyeh, said it hit Hezbollah weapons manufacturing sites and command centers. There were no reports of casualties from Dahiyeh, where fears of Israeli bombings drive a mass outflow of residents each night. Bulldozers rumbled through clouds of dust and smoke Friday, clearing rubble from the pulverized roads where Israeli warplanes had reduced dozens of buildings to their skeletal remains. Formerly home to families and businesses, mid-rise apartment blocks were left open to the breeze, walls blown off and furniture buried. Hezbollah supporters in several locations raised the groups bright yellow banner atop the rubble. Since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in 2023, more than 2,897 people have been killed and 13,150 wounded in Lebanon, the Health Ministry reports, not including Friday's rising toll. Health authorities say that a quarter of those killed were women and children. Overall, United Nations agencies estimate that Israels ground invasion and bombardment of Lebanon has displaced 1.4 million people . Residents of Israels northern communities near Lebanon, roughly 60,000 people, have also been displaced for more than a year . Hezbollah has kept up firing rockets into northern Israel, with projectiles launched from Lebanon on Thursday crashing into agricultural areas and killing seven people , including four Thai farm workers. Israel also pressed on with its bombardment of Gaza on Friday, where a barrage of airstrikes hit central Gazas Nuseirat refugee camp and killed at least 21 Palestinians including an 18-month-old and his 10-year-old sister according to health officials at the nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Israeli strikes also hit a motorcycle in Zuwaida and a house in Deir al-Balah, killing four more people, hospital officials said, bringing Friday's overall death toll in Gaza to 25. Israel said it targeted Hamas infrastructure and a militant operating near the Nuseirat refugee camp, but did not comment on the strikes outside the camp. It said it was aware of reports of civilian casualties and was investigating. In a separate announcement, the army said an airstrike on a vehicle in Gazas southern town of Khan Younis killed a senior member of the Hamas political bureau, Izz al-Din Kassab, and his assistant, Ayman Ayesh. Hamas confirmed the death of Kassab, who was not well known to the public. Israel alleged he was a coordinator between militant groups in Gaza. As American diplomats left the region after a flurry of meetings with Israeli officials, there were no signs of a breakthrough on a cease-fire in either Lebanon or Gaza. On Friday, Hamas doubled down on its longstanding demands for a permanent cease-fire and complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, saying Israel offered only a temporary pause in the war and an increase in aid shipments in the latest negotiations. There was no immediate comment from Israel. The proposals do not meet the comprehensive needs of the Palestinian people in terms of security, stability, relief, and reconstruction, said senior Hamas official Bassem Naem, speaking first to the Hamas-run Al Aqsa TV before confirming the groups position to The Associated Press. Israels blistering war in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants killed roughly 1,200 people in Israel and took some 250 hostages back to Gaza. Health officials inside Hamas-run Gaza do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but say more than half of the dead in the enclave are women and children. Israeli forces have recently shifted their attention to Hamas militants who they say have regrouped in northern Gaza, renewing an offensive that has trapped tens of thousands of people under intense bombardment without enough food or water. Israeli airstrikes have repeatedly hindered an emergency polio vaccination campaign , which the World Health Organization announced it planned to finally resume on Saturday but only in Gaza City. Towns further north, like Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, remain inaccessible as Israel tightens its siege.

Officers lead Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations in Shivamogga, Hassan

If They Want To...: New Hezbollah Chief Says Open To Truce With Israel

Naim Qassem became leader of the Iran-backed group on Tuesday, following the assassination of his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah by Israel in a massive air strike.

Hezbollah chief says group will hold out in its war with Israel for 'suitable' cease-fire terms

Hezbollah's new leader Naim Kassem stated that the group will keep fighting against Israel until they agree on acceptable cease-fire terms. This comes after a series of recent Israeli airstrikes and assassinations targeting Hezbollah leaders, including the killing of their former chief, Hassan Nasrallah. Ongoing violence continues in both Lebanon and Israel.

Hezbollah New Chief Says Will Fight for Suitable Cease-Fire Terms

Beirut: Hezbollah's newly named leader Naim Kassem said in his first public comments aired Wednesday that the militant group will keep fighting in its ongoing war with Israel until it is offered cease-fire terms it deems acceptable. If the Israelis decide to stop the aggression, we say that we accept, but according to the conditions that we see as suitable, Kassem said, speaking from an undisclosed location in a pre-recorded televised address. We will not beg for a cease fire as we will continue (fighting)... no matter how long it takes. The speech came as international mediators have launched a new push for negotiated cease-fires in Lebanon and Gaza. More than 2,790 people have been killed and 12,700 wounded in Lebanon since October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. The conflict escalated sharply last month and Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon at the beginning of October. Some 1.2 million people have been displaced by the conflict in Lebanon according to government estimates. In Israel, rockets, missiles, and drones launched by Hezbollah have killed at least 63 people, about half of them soldiers. More than 60,000 Israelis from towns and cities along the border have been evacuated from their homes for more than a year. Kassem, a cleric and founding member of the Lebanese militant group, was named Tuesday to replace former longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut suburb in late September. Kassem had served as Nasrallah's deputy for more than three decades. Several other high-ranking officials with the group, including Nasrallah's presumptive successor, Hashem Safieddine, have also been killed in recent weeks, as the Israel-Hezbollah war has escalated in Lebanon. Kassem said the series of blows dealt to the group in recent weeks - including pager and walkie-talkie explosions that targeted Hezbollah members in mid-September and the assassination of Nasrallah - had hurt the group, but he asserted that the group had been able to reorganize its ranks within eight days after Nasrallah's death. Hezbollah's capabilities are still available and compatible with a long war, he said. He pointed to the steady stream of Israeli soldiers wounded and killed in southern Lebanon since Israeli forces launched a ground invasion on Octoberr 1, and to a drone launched by Hezbollah that hit the home of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this month. Netanyahu was not harmed. He said Hezbollah has been in coordination with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the primary Lebanese interlocutor communicating with the United States, which has put forward a series of proposals to end the conflict. So far no project has been put forward that Israel agrees on and is acceptable for us to negotiate it, Kassem said. Kassem said Hezbollah is carrying out plans laid out by its slain former chief in the ongoing war. There was no immediate Israeli response to the speech, though several Israeli leaders have hinted that Kassem is Israel's next high-level assassination target. On Tuesday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant tweeted a picture of Kassem with the words Temporary appointment. Not for long. Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Israel would ensure that Kassem follows in Nasrallah's footsteps. As Kassem was speaking, a series of Israeli airstrikes pounded the eastern city of Baalbek. The Israeli army had earlier issued an evacuation warning for residents in the entire eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek, including the ancient Roman temple complex, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The order also included surrounding areas and key routes in the Bekaa Valley. The army said they were targeting fuel depots to halt the movement of weapons and artillery from Iran, without providing evidence of such activity. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Israel has a responsibility to protect civilian infrastructure and cultural heritage sites. On October 6, an Israeli strike hit some 700 meters (750 yards) away from the ancient citadel, which houses two of the largest Roman temples in the world.

US and Mediators Push for Cease-Fires in Lebanon and Gaza

Beirut : The United States and other mediators are ramping up efforts to halt the wars in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, circulating new proposals to wind down the regional conflict during the Biden administration's final months. Negotiations on both fronts have been stalled for months and none of the warring parties have shown any sign of backing down from their demands. Senior White House officials Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein are scheduled to visit Israel on Thursday for talks on possible cease-fires in both Lebanon and Gaza, and the release of hostages held by Hamas. CIA Director Bill Burns will go to Egypt to discuss those efforts, according to a US official who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. A proposal to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah calls for a two-month cease-fire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon, and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the country's southern border, two other officials familiar with the talks said. But Israel is unlikely to trust UN peacekeepers and Lebanese troops to keep Hezbollah out of a reestablished buffer zone in Lebanon. It wants the freedom to strike the militants if needed. Lebanese officials want a complete withdrawal. Separately, the US, Egypt and Qatar have proposed a four-week cease-fire in Gaza during which Hamas would release up to 10 hostages, according to an Egyptian official and a Western diplomat. But Hamas still appears unwilling to release scores of hostages without securing a lasting cease-fire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, even after the killing of its top leader, Yahya Sinwar. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on lasting Israeli control over parts of the territory. In Lebanon, a push to revive the UN resolution that ended the last war During his visit to Beirut last week, Hochstein met with Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. They agreed on a roadmap on how to implement UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 34-day Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006, according to a Lebanese official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks. The resolution stipulates a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territory, and withdrawal of all armed forces except for UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese army from the area south of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. On Wednesday, Hezbollah's newly chosen leader, Naim Kassem, said the group will not beg for a cease-fire. If the Israelis decide to stop the aggression, we say that we accept, but according to the conditions that we see as suitable, he said during a televised address. Israel has not publicly commented on the proposal to end the fighting in Lebanon, which started more than a year ago and dramatically intensified in mid-September. Two US officials say there are competing proposals being discussed for a cease-fire in Lebanon, including one idea calling for an immediate truce followed by two months to fully implement the resolution. The Lebanese official said that once a cease-fire is reached, a 60-day period will start in which the Lebanese army and the peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL would deploy in the border area as Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters withdraw. The Lebanese official said the roadmap includes increasing the number of UN peacekeepers from 10,000 to 15,000 and boosting the number of Lebanese troops south of the Litani from 4,000 to 15,000. Resolution 1701 also called for he disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, but that is not part of the initial implementation phase under the current proposal. Another official familiar with the talks said Israel has requested that any deal include measures to prevent Hezbollah from rearming and guarantees that Israel would be able to act in the buffer zone to combat threats from the militant group. It is unclear if Lebanon would agree to a deal that allows Israel to continue military operations on Lebanese territory. Lebanese officials have insisted there should be no alteration to Resolution 1701, which stipulates a full Israeli withdrawal. Hezbollah has said it will not halt its rocket fire on Israel unless there is a cease-fire in Gaza. It is not clear whether that stance has changed after the killing of Hezbollah's longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and several other top commanders in Israeli airstrikes last month. The US hopes the cease-fire initiatives can prevent the war in Lebanon from becoming as destructive as the war in Gaza, even as it supports Israel's efforts to clear out Hezbollah infrastructure along the country's southern border, said US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. Mediators propose a limited cease-fire in Gaza The US, Egypt and Qatar have proposed a four-week cease-fire in Gaza in which eight to 10 hostages would be released, according to a senior Egyptian official. Under the plan, humanitarian aid to Gaza would be scaled up, but there would be no guarantees of future talks on a permanent cease-fire, the official said. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted around 250 in the October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not say how many were combatants but say more than half were women and children. Around 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to be dead. The latest proposal is based on an initiative by Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who proposed a two-day cease-fire in exchange for the release of four hostages last week. Netanyahu, who has always said he is open to temporary truces for the release of hostages, said in a statement that he had not received a formal proposal based on the Egyptian initiative but would have accepted it immediately. Hamas has said it is open to discussing alternative proposals but has stood by its demands for a lasting cease-fire, an Israeli withdrawal and the release of Palestinian prisoners. The Egyptian official said the mediators were not optimistic. A Western diplomat in Cairo confirmed that their government had been briefed on the proposal, saying it was being pursued in parallel to the efforts for a cease-fire in Lebanon. Both officials in Egypt spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the talks.

Hezbollah's New Leader Naim Qassem Pledges To Uphold Hassan Nasrallah's War Plans

Hezbollah's new leader, Naim Qassem, said Wednesday he would stick to the war strategy laid out by his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israeli forces last month after full-scale fighting broke out.

Four people killed in two separate road accidents in J-K

BANIHAL: Four people were killed and as many were injured in two separate road accidents in Ramban and Reasi districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said. A cab bearing a Punjab registration number plunged into a deep gorge near Magarkoot along Jammu-Srinagar in Ramban district around 7 am, killing the driver and a female passenger on the spot, the officials said. They said four other passengers, Neha (35), Aman (36), Manisha (40) and Megna (35), all residents of Maharashtra were critically injured in the accident and were evacuated by rescuers comprising of police and local volunteers. The group was apparently visiting Kashmir on a holiday, they said. In another accident, the officials said two non-local labourers were killed when a dumper fell into a gorge at Gulabpura in the Chassana area of Reasi district around 4.30 am. The dumper was coming from Bakori towards Sungri and both of its occupants, Surinder Singh (42) of Punjab and Munna Kumar (26) of Bihar, died on the spot, they said. The bodies of the deceased were retrieved and shifted to a hospital for postmortem.

Hezbollah names new chief; Israel says 'not for long'

Hezbollah appointed Shiite cleric Naim Qassem as its new leader on Tuesday, nearly a month after his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike dealing a heavy blow to the Iran-backed group, CNN reported.

Israeli strikes in northern Gaza kill at least 88, officials say

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Two Israeli airstrikes in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday killed at least 88 people, including dozens of women and children, health officials said, and the director of a hospital said life-threatening injuries were going untreated because a weekend raid by Israeli forces led to the detention of dozens of medics. Israel has escalated airstrikes and waged a bigger ground operation in northern Gaza in recent weeks, saying it is focused on rooting out Hamas militants who have regrouped after more than a year of war . The intense fighting is raising alarm about the worsening humanitarian conditions for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians still in northern Gaza. Concerns about not enough aid reaching Gaza were amplified Monday when Israeli lawmakers passed two laws to cut ties with the main U.N. agency distributing food , water and medicine, and to ban it from Israeli soil. Israel controls access to both Gaza and the occupied West Bank, and it was unclear how the agency known as UNRWA would continue its work in either place. The humanitarian operation in Gaza, if that is unraveled, that is a disaster within a series of disasters and just doesnt bear thinking about, said UNRWA spokesperson John Fowler. He said other U.N. agencies and international organizations distributing aid in Gaza rely on its logistics and thousands of workers. In Lebanon, the militant group Hezbollah said Tuesday it has chosen Sheikh Naim Kassem to succeed longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah , who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last month. Hezbollah, which has fired rockets into Israel since the start of the war in Gaza, vowed to continue with Nasrallahs policies until victory is achieved. A short while later, eight Austrian soldiers serving in the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon were reported lightly injured in a midday missile strike. The peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, said the rocket that struck its headquarters in Lebanon was likely fired by Hezbollah, and that it struck a vehicle workshop. Strike in northern Gaza comes as Israel wages a major operation there The Gaza Health Ministry's emergency service said at least 70 people were killed and 23 were missing in the first of Tuesday's strikes in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya. More than half of the victims were women and children, the ministry said. A mother and her five children some of them adults and a second mother with six children, were among those killed in the attack on a five-story building, according to the emergency service. A second strike on Beit Lahiya on Tuesday evening killed at least 18 people, according to the Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its count. The nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital was overwhelmed by a wave of wounded women and children, including many who needed urgent surgeries, according to its director, Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya. The Israeli military raided the hospital over the weekend, detaining dozens of medics it said were Hamas militants. The situation is catastrophic in every sense of the word, Safiya said, adding that the only remaining doctor at the hospital was a pediatrician. The health care system has collapsed and needs an urgent international intervention. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller referred to the horrifying incident in Beit Lahiya in comments to reporters. He said Israel's yearlong campaign against Hamas has ensured it cannot repeat the type of attack that started the war in Gaza, but that getting to here came at a great cost to civilians. The Israeli military said it was investigating the first Beit Lahiya strike; it did not immediately comment on the second. Israels recent operations in northern Gaza, focused in and around the Jabaliya refugee camp, have killed hundreds of people and driven tens of thousands from their homes . The Israeli military has repeatedly struck shelters for displaced people in recent months. It says it carries out precise strikes targeting Palestinian militants and tries to avoid harming civilians, but the strikes often kill women and children. On Tuesday, Israel said four more of its soldiers were killed in the fighting in northern Gaza, bringing the toll since the start of the operation to 16, including a colonel. As the fighting raged, Hamas signaled it was ready to resume cease-fire negotiations, although its key demands a permanent cease-fire and full withdrawal of the Israeli military do not appear to have changed, and have been dismissed in the past by Israel. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Tuesday the group has accepted mediators request to discuss new proposals. Hezbollah's new leader has vowed to keep fighting Israel Hezbollah said in a statement that its decision-making Shura Council elected Kassem, who had been Nasrallah's deputy leader for over three decades, as the new secretary-general. Kassem, 71, a founding member of the militant group established following Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, had been serving as acting leader. He has given several televised speeches vowing that Hezbollah will fight on despite a string of setbacks. Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel, drawing retaliation, after Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023. Iran, which backs both groups, has also directly traded fire with Israel , in April and then again this month. The tensions with Hezbollah boiled over in September, as Israel unleashed a wave of heavy airstrikes and killed Nasrallah and most of his senior commanders. Israel launched a ground invasion into Lebanon at the start of October. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel on Tuesday, killing one person in the northern city of Maalot-Tarshiha, authorities said. Israeli strikes in the coastal city of Sidon killed at least five people, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. Israeli laws targeting UN agency could further restrict aid UNRWA and other international groups continued to express outrage Tuesday about the Israeli parliament's decision to cut ties to the agency. Israel says UNRWA has been infiltrated by Hamas and that the militant group siphons off aid and uses U.N. facilities to shield its activities, allegations denied by the U.N. agency. Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer vowed that aid will continue to reach Gaza, as Israel plans to coordinate with aid organizations or other bodies within the U.N. Ultimately, we will ensure that a more efficient replacement for UNRWA takes its role, not one which is infiltrated by the terrorist organization, he said. Multiple U.N. agencies rallied Tuesday around UNRWA, calling it the backbone of the world bodys aid activities in Gaza and other Palestinian areas. UNRWA provides education, health care and emergency aid to millions of Palestinian refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israels creation and their descendants. Refugee families make up the majority of Gazas population. Israel has sharply restricted aid to northern Gaza this month, prompting a warning from the United States that failure to facilitate greater humanitarian assistance could lead to a reduction in military aid. In its attack on Israel last year, Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 as hostages. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. Around 90% of the population of 2.3 million have been displaced from their homes, often multiple times.

Sheikh Naim Qassem: The New Hezbollah Chief Who Has Succeeded Hassan Nasrallah

Sheikh Naim Qassem, who succeeded Hassan Nasrallah, said earlier this month the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel was a war about who cries first, and Hezbollah would not cry first.

Who is Naim Kassem, the new chief of Lebanon's Hezbollah after Hassan Nasrallah

Lebanon's Hezbollah has appointed Sheikh Naim Qassem as its new chief following the death of Hassan Nasrallah. In a speech, Qassem declared the group's resilience against Israel and expressed support for efforts to secure a ceasefire. Qassem's appointment marks a significant shift in Hezbollah's leadership amid ongoing conflict.

Hezbollah names deputy head Naim Qassem as successor to slain chief Nasrallah

Beirut: Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group on Tuesday said it chose Naim Kassem to replace its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last month. Kassem, a longtime deputy to Nasrallah, has served as the militant group's acting leader since Nasrallah's death. The group said in a statement that Hezbollah's decision-making Shura Council elected Kassem, who had been Nasrallah's deputy leader for over three decades, as the new secretary-general. Hezbollah vowed to continue with Nasrallah's policies 'until victory is achieved'.

When PM Modi was hosted by one of world's wealthiest monarchs - owner of 7,000 cars, a palace with over 1,700 rooms

Bruneis Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei is one of the wealthiest monarchs in the worth who has a net worth of $30 billion. The Sultan of Brunei, who recently hosted PM Modi, is known for his opulent lifestyle and is the owner of world's largest residential palace with over 1,700 rooms. The super rich Brunei Sultan owns 7,000 cars and also owns Rs 4300 crore gold-plated jet and a private zoo.

Israeli strike in northern Gaza kills 34, officials say, as Hezbollah announces new leader

An Israeli strike in northern Gaza killed 34 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Sheikh Naim Kassem was elected as Hezbollah's new leader after Hassan Nasrallah's death. The conflict has caused mass displacement and strained aid efforts, with recent Israeli raids targeting hospitals and alleged Hamas militants.

Hassan court convicts person accused of murder

CM visits Hasanmba Temple in Hassan

All eyes on Vijay as actor likely to spell out party ideology today

Villupuram (Tamil Nadu): Months after announcing his political party Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), top Tamil actor Vijay is likely to spell out his political agenda and vision for the state during his keenly watched maiden public meeting here on Sunday. Vijay has announced facing the 2026 Assembly polls, spicing up the political battlefield long dominated by the Dravidian rivals DMK and the AIADMK, with a resurgent BJP under K Annamalai making some impressive strides in this year's Lok Sabha polls. The saffron party is keen to put up a good show in the hustings in 2026 as well. Vijay, whose movies have been top grossers, unveiled his party in February this year, joining a list of Tamil cinema celebrities who had taken the political plunge. He had unveiled the TVK party flag recently and the Sunday public conference at Vikravandi in this district is being keenly watched by political parties, observers and people alike as he is all set to unveil his vision for the state and the political agenda. Although, the 50 year-old actor-politician has given adequate hints of not deviating from the current political trends, as he has spoken out against NEET, a political hot potato in Tamil Nadu. A number of medical aspirants, starting from S Anitha of Ariyalur way back in 2017 have ended their lives over either failure to crack the qualifying test or due to fears of unable to clear it. That the conference venue had cutouts of Dravidian stalwart EV Ramasamy 'Periyar', besides that of BR Ambedkar gave ample hints of his party's principles. A cutout of veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister K Kamaraj was also spotted at the venue. Tamil Nadu has always been opposed to NEET, with both the AIADMK in the past and the ruling DMK piloting Assembly resolutions calling for a 'ban' on NEET. Vijay's latest film, the big budget, multi-starrer 'GOAT' is said to be his swansong work. With their leader all set to address them later in the day, his supporters started thronging the conference venue early on Sunday, braving the hot sun and with a hope to catch a glimpse of their 'Thalapathy,' or the Commander as he is addressed by them. Vijay is the latest big ticket entrant to the political landscape of Tamil Nadu, with actor Kamal Haasan being the last one to launch his Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) about six years ago. Prior to that, the late Vijayakanth had launched his Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam way back in 2005 and tasted electoral success, although Hassan has not been in a similar league. While superstar Rajinikanth had announced taking the political plunge a few years ago, he later backtracked citing health reasons. The iconic M G Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, is seen as the trendsetter of cinema-to-politics graduation, when he founded the AIADMK in 1972 after being expelled from the DMK by its then chief M Karunanidhi. MGR later went on to rule the state from 1977-87 till his death. His protege, yesteryear actor, the late J Jayalalithaa also is also a former CM. Karunanidhi was also involved in cinema, as a screenplay and dialogue writer. Other actors, including MGR's contemporary, late thespian Sivaji Ganesan and K Bhagyaraj too dabbled in politics briefly with their own respective parties and outfits.

KSRTC to operate 2000 additional buses during Deepavali

Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has made elaborate arrangements for operating 2,000 extra buses from Bengaluru to various places from October 30 to November 1, in view of Deepavali festival, officials said on Saturday. Later, special buses will be operated from various places of Intra and Interstate places to Bengaluru from November 3 to 4, they said. According to KSRTC, special buses will be exclusively operated from Bengaluru Kempegowda Bus Station to Dharmastala, Kukkesubramanya, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mangaluru, Kundapura, Shringeri, Horanadu, Davangere, Hubbali, Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Gokarna, Sirsi, Karwar, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Koppala, Yadgir, Bidar, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and other places. Special buses from Mysuru Road Bus Station will be exclusively operated towards Mysuru, Hunsur, Piriyapatna, Virajpet, Kushalanagar, Mercara. All premier special buses will be operated from BMTC Bus Station, Shanthinagar (TTMC) to Madurai, Kumbakonam, Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Calicut and other places in Tamil Nadu and Kerala state. it stated. In addition, special buses will be operated from all taluk/district bus stands in the jurisdiction of KSRTC based on the traffic needs, it added.

Israel hits Iran missiles, bases in retaliatory strikes

Jerusalem: Israel launched a series of airstrikes against Iran on Saturday, targeting military bases and missile sites in response to recent Iranian attacks. The Israeli military stated that the strikes, which hit missile manufacturing facilities, missile arrays, and other systems, were completed successfully, adding that Iran would pay a heavy price if it retaliated. Iran confirmed the strikes, reporting limited damage to military sites in Tehran and other areas. The escalation follows an October 1 missile attack by Iran, marking its second-ever direct assault on Israel. Tensions have risen rapidly, with fears that the situation could lead to a broader regional conflict, drawing in Irans allies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and other factions Israel identifies as the axis of resistance. The Israeli military described the operation as a precise strike on military targets in Iran and noted that it was a response to what it described as continuous attacks from Iran. The statement added that Israel had been under attack on seven fronts, with multiple incidents originating from Iranian soil. Amid these developments, Iran suspended all flights indefinitely. Since Hamas's unprecedented assault on October 7, 2023, Israel has engaged in active military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon. The conflict with Hamas resulted in over 1,200 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli data. In response, Israel's ongoing strikes on Gaza have led to high civilian casualties, with 42,847 people killed, as per Hamas-run health ministry data, figures the UN deems reliable. Israel has also intensified operations in Lebanon to secure its northern borders, with 1,580 people killed in Lebanon since late September, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Irans missile strike on October 1 reportedly followed the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Abbas Nilforoushan in a September Israeli air raid in Lebanon. Nasrallahs death came shortly after the July 31 killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, widely attributed to Israeli forces. Irans air defense forces confirmed the Israeli attacks on military installations in Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam provinces, reporting limited damage. Iranian state television earlier reported explosions near the capital, describing them as part of air defense activation against an Israeli assault. The United States, notified of Israels plans, labeled the strikes as self-defense following Irans ballistic missile assault on Israel. A U.S. official, on condition of anonymity, confirmed Washingtons prior knowledge, clarifying that the U.S. had no involvement in the operation. Meanwhile, Syrian state news agency SANA reported an Israeli air attack originating from the Golan Heights and Lebanon, targeting central and southern Syria. The strikes triggered Syrian air defenses, which engaged the incoming missiles as Israel wrapped up its operations.

Hassan Nasrallahs killing marks the end of an era for Hezbollah

Nasrallahs influence extended beyond his loyal Shiite Muslim support base in Lebanon

Death Of Hezbollah Leader Marked End Of An Era: Analyst

The killing of Hezbollah's powerful leader Hassan Nasrallah a month ago has marked a fundamental shift for the Iran-backed Lebanese movement and revived calls for it to surrender its vast weapons arsenal.

Israel air strikes hit Jabalia, kill almost 200 Palestinians

Beirut: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had on Thursday killed or wounded almost 200 individuals, which included women and children in an airstrike on Jabalia refugee camp in Northern Gaza, according to reports. Earlier, Israel unleashed a wave of air strikes on Hezbollah's southern Beirut stronghold on Wednesday night, Lebanese state media said, as the Israel-Hezbollah war reached its one-month mark. With six buildings levelled in at least 17 Israeli raids, the strikes mark one of the most brutal nights in the capital's southern suburbs since the war erupted on September 23. Separately, Syria's state media reported Israeli air strikes on a residential building in Damascus and a military site in Homs that killed a soldier and wounded seven others. The raids came after United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a visit to Israel, told the US ally to avoid further escalation with Iran. Israel is fighting Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon and has vowed to retaliate against Iran for an October 1 missile attack. In Lebanon, the official National News Agency reported at least 17 Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, calling the raids he most violent in the area since the beginning of the war. Six buildings were destroyed around the suburb of Laylaki, NNA said, including a residential complex hit by four Israeli strikes causing a large fire. AFPTV footage showed a massive explosion followed by smaller blasts in the embattled suburb after the Israeli army issued an Arabic-language evacuation warning for the area, where Hezbollah holds sway. There was no warning, however, for a strike that hit the Jnah neighbourhood in southern Beirut. That strike killed one person and wounded five others, according to Lebanon's health ministry. 'The whole city shook' In southern Lebanon, Israeli strikes pounded Tyre, leaving swaths of its centre in ruins and sparking a new exodus from the once vibrant coastal city. The whole city shook, said resident Rana, who fled to the seafront after the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning. Bilal Kashmar of Tyre's disaster management unit said seven buildings were levelled and more than 400 apartments damaged. You could say that the entire city of Tyre is being evacuated, he told AFP. Black smoke was seen rising from several neighbourhoods, with some areas just 500 metres (550 yards) from the city's ancient ruins. UNESCO said it was closely following the conflict's impact on Tyre's World Heritage site. Blinken's visit to the region, his 11th since the Gaza war began, was part of continued US efforts to end the war and limit its regional fallout. Two days after meeting Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, he is due in Doha to hear assessments on where Hamas stands in a truce. 'Escalation' warning The Gaza war began with Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 42,792 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, data which the UN considers reliable. Blinken said Israel had achieved most of its strategic objectives in Gaza and should now aim for lasting success. Now is the time to turn those successes into enduring, strategic success, he said after meetings with Netanyahu and other top officials. Addressing Israel's pledge to retaliate for Iran's October 1 attack, he said: It's also very important that Israel respond in ways that do not create greater escalation. After Israel, Blinken visited Saudi Arabia, renewing his bid to broker a normalisation of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Speaking at a summit in Russia, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian urged BRICS nations to help end the war in Gaza and Lebanon. A Hamas official said a delegation led by a top official in the movement arrived in Moscow for talks. 'We are freezing' Concerns are mounting over tens of thousands of civilians trapped by fighting in Gaza's aid-starved north, where Israel launched a major air and ground assault this month. Blinken acknowledged progress on aid for Gaza but said more needed to be done. With winter approaching, displaced Gazans fear the cold. Ahmad al-Razz said he sewed sacks together to make his tent on the beach near Deir el-Balah. We are freezing every night because we are right by the sea, and we have no blankets or coverings to keep us warm, said the 42-year-old. The World Health Organization said it was forced to postpone the last phase of a polio vaccination drive in Gaza due to intense bombardment in the north. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said another of its workers had been killed in Gaza after a strike hit an UNRWA vehicle. An AFP photographer reported a strike in the southern city of Khan Yunis, leaving a mangled aid truck and mourners gathered around two bodies. Netanyahu says Hezbollah plotted 'invasion' After nearly a year of war with Hamas in Gaza, Israel shifted its focus to Lebanon last month, vowing to secure its northern border under fire from Hezbollah. Israel has since ramped up its strikes on Hezbollah strongholds and sent in ground forces, in a war that has killed at least 1,580 people since September 23, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry figures. The real number is likely to be higher due to gaps in the data. Lebanese media said Israeli strikes hit areas of south and east Lebanon on Wednesday. In the evening, pro-Iran broadcaster Al-Mayadeen said an Israeli strike hit an office it had vacated in Beirut. Hezbollah said it had fired rockets in several areas of Israel, including a salvo that forced Israeli troops to etreat behind the frontier after they attempted to infiltrate from the outskirts of the south Lebanon village of Aitarun. The Israeli army said air raid sirens sounded across central Israel after projectiles were fired from across the Lebanese border. Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel had uncovered that Hezbollah had been plotting an attack even greater than on October 7 involving jeeps, missiles and underground tunnels. They were planning an invasion, the premier told French broadcasters CNews and Europe 1. Also on Wednesday, Hezbollah confirmed the death of Hashem Safieddine, a cleric tipped to succeed the group's slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, a day after Israel announced Safieddine's death. A Western diplomat meanwhile told AFP a number of Western countries had floated the idea of deploying international forces to Lebanon in the event of a ceasefire. About 10,000 UN peacekeepers are already deployed in Lebanon's south, but the diplomat said a separate multi-national troop deployment was under consideration.

Doors of Hasanamba Temple opened to mark beginning of Hasanamba Festival in Hassan

Hezbollah Confirms Nasrallah's Likely Successor Killed In Israeli Strike

Hezbollah confirmed Wednesday that Israel killed Hashem Safieddine, the apparent successor of its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a strike, without saying when or where it happened.

Who was Hashem Safieddine, once seen as the future Hezbollah leader?

Israel has killed Hashem Safieddine, a senior Hezbollah official seen as a potential successor to Hassan Nasrallah. Safieddine had run the group alongside Naim Qassem after Nasrallah's assassination. This marks another significant blow to Hezbollah, which is already facing its biggest crisis since its founding in 1982.

Pak Court Grants Bail To Imran Khans Wife In Toshakhana Corruption Case

ISLAMABAD, Oct 23: A Pakistani court on Wednesday granted bail to Bushra Bibi, the wife of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, in the Toshakhana corruption case involving the alleged illegal sale of state gifts, nearly nine months after she was arrested. The 50-year-old former first ladys bail plea was accepted against Rs 1 million surety bonds during the hearing conducted by Islamabad High Court judge Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Geo News reported. The courts decision provides relief to Bibi, who [] The post Pak Court Grants Bail To Imran Khans Wife In Toshakhana Corruption Case appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Israel confirms killing Nasrallah's presumed successor

Hezbollah's executive council's head Safieddine was presumed to be the successor of Hassan Nasrallah after he was killed in September, The Times of Israel reported.

Former Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah's 'Successor' Hashem Safieddine Eliminated In An Israeli Strike

Israel says Hezbollah leader Nasrallah's likely successor Hashem Safieddine killed

Israel's military said a candidate to succeed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed earlier this month. Meanwhile, Antony Blinken urged Benjamin Netanyahu to seek a cease-fire after the death of Hamas's leader.

Navy Chief Admiral Tripathi visits National Defence college UAE, focus on strengthening ties

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi during his visit to the National Defence College, UAE, interacted with the Commandant, Brig Gen Staff Saeed Hassan M. Al Yammahi, faculty and Staff on Tuesday.

Israel confirms killing of Hashem Safieddine, presumed successor of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah

Hezbollah's executive council's head Safieddine was presumed to be the successor of Hassan Nasrallah after he was killed in September

Israel says it killed a Hezbollah official expected to be the group's next leader

BEIRUT: Israel said Tuesday that one of its airstrikes outside Beirut earlier this month killed a Hezbollah official widely expected to replace the militant group's longtime leader, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike last month. There was no immediate confirmation from Hezbollah about the fate of Hashem Safieddine, a powerful cleric who was expected to succeed Hassan Nasrallah , one of the groups founders. Safieddine was killed in early October in a strike that also killed 25 other Hezbollah leaders, according to Israel, whose airstrikes in southern Lebanon in recent months have killed many of Hezbollahs top leaders , leaving the group in disarray. Last week, Israel killed the top leader of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar , during a battle in Gaza. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday during a trip to Israel that leaders there should capitalize on Sinwar's death as an opportunity to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages taken as part of the deadly Hamas attack that started the war. Blinken also stressed the need for Israel to do more to help increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Palestinians . Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office called his meeting with Blinken, which lasted more than two hours, friendly and productive. The Beirut suburb where Safieddine was killed was pummeled by a series of fresh airstrikes on Tuesday, including one that leveled a building Israel said housed Hezbollah facilities. The collapse sent smoke and debris flying into the air a few hundred meters (yards) from where a spokesperson for Hezbollah had just briefed journalists about a weekend drone attack that damaged Netanyahu's house. Tuesday's airstrikes came 40 minutes after Israel issued an evacuation warning for two buildings in the area that it said were used by Hezbollah . The Hezbollah press conference nearby was cut short, and an Associated Press photographer captured an image of a missile heading towards the building moments before it was destroyed. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Hezbollahs chief spokesman, Mohammed Afif, said the group was behind the Saturday drone attack on Netanyahus home in the coastal town of Caesarea. Israel has said neither the prime minister nor his wife were home at the time of the attack. Blinken's meetings with Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders was part of his 11th visit to the region since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war . He landed hours after Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into central Israel, setting off air raid sirens in populated areas and at its international airport, but causing no apparent damage or injuries. Hospitals in Lebanon fear being targeted by Israel An Israeli airstrike late Monday in Beirut destroyed several buildings across the street from the countrys largest public hospital, killing 18 people and wounding at least 60 others. The Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah target, without elaborating, and said that it hadnt targeted the hospital itself. AP reporters visited the Rafik Hariri University Hospital on Tuesday. They saw broken windows in the hospitals pharmacy and dialysis center, which was full of patients at the time. Staff at another Beirut hospital feared it would be targeted after Israel alleged that Hezbollah had stashed hundreds of millions of dollars in cash and gold in its basement, without providing evidence. The director of the Sahel General Hospital denied the allegations and invited journalists to visit the hospital and its two underground floors on Tuesday. AP reporters saw no sign of militants or anything out of the ordinary. The few remaining patients had been evacuated after the Israeli military's announcement the night before. We have been living in terror for the last 24 hours, hospital director Mazen Alame said. There is nothing under the hospital. Many in Lebanon fear Israel could target its hospitals in the same way it has raided medical facilities across Gaza . The Israeli military has accused Hamas and other militants of using hospitals for military purposes, allegations denied by medical staff. Lebanons Health Ministry said Tuesday that 63 people have been killed over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll over the past year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah to 2,546. Three Israeli soldiers were killed on Tuesday, one in Gaza, one in Lebanon, and one in a rocket attack in northern Israel, according to the military. Blinken trying to restart efforts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza During his meeting with Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders, Blinken underscored the need for a dramatic increase in the amount of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, according to U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. The need for more aid in Gaza is something Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made clear in a letter to Israeli officials last week. Miller said Blinken also stressed the importance of ending the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated earlier this month when Israel launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. The United States, Egypt and Qatar have brokered months of talks between Israel and Hamas, trying to strike a deal in which the militants would release dozens of hostages in return for an end to the war, a lasting cease-fire and the release of Palestinian prisoners. But both Israel and Hamas accused each other of making new and unacceptable demands over the summer, and the talks ground to a halt in August. Hamas says its demands haven't changed following the killing of Sinwar. Israel said it launched its ground invasion of Lebanon to try to stop near daily rocket attacks from Hezbollah since the start of the war in Gaza. Israel has said it plans to strike Iran which backs both Hamas and Hezbollah in response to its ballistic missile attack on Israel earlier this month. War rages in Lebanon and northern Gaza The U.S. has also tried to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, but those efforts fell apart as tensions spiked last month with a series of Israeli strikes that killed Nasrallah and most of his senior commanders. Israel has carried out waves of heavy airstrikes across southern Beirut and the countrys south and east, areas where Hezbollah has a strong presence. Hezbollah has fired thousands of rockets, missiles and drones into Israel over the past year, including some that have reached the countrys populous center. Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and took another 250 hostage. Around 100 of the captives are still held in Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded tens of thousands, according to local health authorities, who don't say how many were combatants but say more than half were women and children. It has also caused major devastation across the territory and displaced around 90% of its population of 2.3 million.

Who is Hashem Safieddine, the alleged successor to Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah, killed by Israel?

Hashem Safieddine, whose death in an Israeli strike was announced Tuesday, was widely considered the potential successor to the group's assassinated leader Hassan Nasrallah. Nicholas Blanford, a Beirut-based Hezbollah expert and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, also said Safieddine had een touted as a potential successor to Nasrallah for years.

Israel confirms death of heir apparent to slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah

Israel confirms the killing of Hashem Safieddine, Hezbollah's next leader, in an airstrike amidst ongoing conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urges Israel to use the momentum to free hostages and consider ending the Gaza war. Hezbollah continues retaliatory attacks.

Hasan Nasrallah's Successor Hashem Safieddine Eliminated In Lebanon: Israel

Israel's army confirmed Tuesday it eliminated Hezbollah's Hashem Safieddine, apparent successor of slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a strike in a southern Beirut suburb three weeks ago.

Israel targets Hezbollahs financial bank al-Qard al-Hasan in Lebanon

Israel has intensified airstrikes targeting branches of al-Qard al-Hasan, a financial institution closely linked to Hezbollah early Monday morning, October 22. This is part of a broader mission by Israel to disrupt the financial and military support networks of the Iranian-backed Lebanese resistance group. According to the official National News Agency, Israeli strikeshit Al-Qard al-Hassan Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Heavy rains hit normal life in Hassan