A Voter ID Card Does Not Guarantee Right To Vote: Delhi Election Officer

The Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, is conducting a Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls with the qualifying date set as January 1, 2025, a statement said on Tuesday, highlighting the CEO's emphasis that mere possession of a voter ID card does not guarantee the right to vote.

This process is being carried out as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India, ensuring that the electoral rolls remain updated and inclusive for all eligible voters.

During the pre-revision period, house-to-house verification was carried out from August 20, 2024, to October 18, 2024, by Booth Level Officers.

This exercise aimed to identify unregistered eligible citizens, prospective voters turning 18 by October 1, 2024, as well as permanently shifted or deceased electors and duplicate entries, the statement said.

Following this, the draft electoral rolls were published on October 29, 2024, inviting the public to file claims and objections. These were accepted by November 28, 2024, and all the claims and objections received were already disposed of by December 24, 2024.

The final electoral roll, reflecting these updates, is scheduled for publication on January 6, 2025.

However, the process of updation of rolls with respect to addition, deletion and modification is a continuous activity and the same is undergoing at present also.

Between November 29, 2024, and the present date, 4,85,624 applications for new registrations (Form 6), 82,450 applications for deletions (Form 7), and 1,71,385 applications for modifications (Form 8) have been received till date.

Citizens who have not yet registered as voters can still apply for enrollment using Form 6, which requires submission of supporting documents for verification by the respective Booth Level Officer.

For modifications or deletions in the electoral roll, Form 8 and Form 7 can be filed.

The CEO Office, Delhi also reminded citizens that having multiple entries in the electoral roll or multiple voter ID cards is a punishable offence under Sections 17 and 18 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

Recently, FIRs have been filed against eight individuals for submitting false documents for voter registration in the Okhla Assembly constituency in Delhi. Strict action will continue to be taken against such violations.

As a transparency measure, meetings with representatives of political parties were held on September 4. October 9 and 29.

The CEO Office emphasised that any un-enrolled eligible citizen, who has still not enrolled himself/herself in the electoral rolls, can apply for enrollment by filing Form-6 along with supporting documents. After filing Form-6, the form is assigned to the Booth Level Officer (BLO) of the part concerned for field verification.

On the basis of the BLO's field verification report and the supporting documents, the form is disposed of by the Electoral Registration Officer concerned as per the procedure laid down by the Election Commission.

After the update of his/her name in the electoral roll, an EPIC PDF is generated and sent for printing. After receipt of printed EPIC, the same is delivered to the elector through post. An elector can also download his/her e-EPIC from the ECI's portal https://ift.tt/GjKoeD4

In case any elector has permanently shifted or expired, any elector of that particular Assembly Constituency can file Form 7 objecting to such entry in the electoral roll. After filing Form 7, notices are issued to the Objector and the Objectee through speed post as per relevant guidelines of the ECI except for registered death cases. If the elector fails to respond, the name is deleted from the electoral roll after following due procedure as laid down by the ECI and after giving sufficient opportunity to the elector concerned.

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NIA To Probe Suspected Kuki Militant 'Tiger' Who Claimed Attack On CRPF, Burned Homes In Manipur

A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has accepted evidence submitted by the NIA of a suspected Kuki militant commander saying he and his men attacked the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and set fire to homes in Manipur.

The NIA told the court that a viral video on a YouTube channel shows a man "suspected to be a Kuki militant called 'Tiger', a commander of the Kuki National Front-P (KNF-P), claiming he and his men attacked CRPF and burnt down houses on November 11."

The NIA investigating a suspected Kuki militant of the KNF-P also raises questions over possible violation of the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement. 

Three big escalations happened in ethnic violence-hit Manipur on November 11 - first, six of a family from the Meitei community were kidnapped and killed in Jiribam district by suspects who the Manipur government in a cabinet statement called "Kuki militants"; second, 10 others - also identified as "Kuki militants" by the state government - were shot dead in an encounter with the Central Reserve Police Force in the same district, and third, firing from the hills towards Imphal West District's Kangchup and Koutruk just hours after the Jiribam encounter left two people injured.

The court in its order accepting the NIA evidence said the anti-terror agency downloaded the viral video of the suspected Kuki militant into a pen drive in the presence of two witnesses.

The NIA submitted the pen drive to the court in a sealed envelope under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) that deals with electronic evidence.

NDTV has seen a copy of the court order.

The court said the pen drive has been returned to the NIA for further investigation.

About KNF-P

The 'P' in KNF-P means "president"; it is used to indicate KNF-P is the original KNF, hence the letter "president", the supreme. The KNF was founded in 1987. In 1994, KNF split into two factions i.e. KNF-MC led by SK Kipgen, and the original became KNF-P led by ST Thangboi Kipgen.

So, KNF is the KNF-P; the rest are its factions.

The KNF is a signatory to the controversial suspension of operations (SoO) agreement signed between nearly two dozen Kuki militant groups and the state and the centre. Under SoO, the militants are to stay at designated camps and their weapons kept in locked, monitored storage.

The Manipur government has been asking the joint monitoring group, which reviews the SoO agreement every year, to scrap it for good, over allegations that the SoO groups have been majorly involved in the Manipur violence from the beginning. The SoO agreement lapsed in February this year.

There are many villages of the Kuki tribes in the hills surrounding the Meitei-dominated valley. The clashes between the Meitei community and the nearly two dozen tribes known as Kukis, who are dominant in some hill areas of Manipur, have killed over 250 people and internally displaced nearly 50,000.

The general category Meiteis want to be included under the Scheduled Tribes category, while the Kukis who share ethnic ties with people in neighbouring Myanmar's Chin State and Mizoram want a separate administration carved out of Manipur, citing discrimination and unequal share of resources and power with the Meiteis.

Meitei leaders have alleged the SoO groups have been working to strengthen themselves over the years by taking advantage of the ceasefire, until a time came to engineer a violent attack for a separate land. Geopolitical analysts have speculated the Kuki armed groups were used as mercenaries to fight Meitei and Naga militants operating in the India-Myanmar border.

Kuki-Zo civil society groups such as the ITLF and the CoTU, and their 10 MLAs have joined the call for a separate administration carved out of Manipur, a demand also made by the nearly two dozen militant groups that have signed the SoO agreement.

This single demand has brought the Kuki militant groups, the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs, and the civil society groups on the same page.

The security forces have been trying to dismantle bunkers in the hills surrounding Imphal valley after several incidents of firing for the last few days.

Kuki protesters tried to stop the security forces from destroying the bunkers. Some protesters were injured when the security forces tried to disperse them.

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Viral Video Shows Passengers Doused With Water On Platform, Indian Railways Responds

A video going viral on social media has sparked a barrage of criticism towards Indian Railways after passengers sleeping on the platform at Lucknow's Charbagh station were sprayed with cold water, amid the prevailing cold wave conditions. The footage showed the passengers, who usually sleep on the Indian platforms, waiting for the trains, being shrugged off and forced to vacate the space by the railway staffers.

The incident, which allegedly transpired last week, showed passengers hastily gathering their belongings, including blankets, as they were forced to leave the platform, which was then cleaned by the railway staff.

A section of social media users were left angered by the incident and slammed the railways staff for not showing some sensitivity towards the passengers.

"Heart breaks man, so much poverty and disregard everywhere, govt after govt has failed the people while the politicians are padding their accounts in one tax heaven after another," said one social media user, while another added: "The station needs cleaning but not like this, more so in such biting cold. No consideration even for small kids! Where should the passengers go if their trains are late and waiting rooms are brimming?"

However, some agreed with the officials for clearing the platform, saying it was not the spot to rest as it could cause nuisance to others.

"Railway platform is not a place for lodging. If you have a ticket, use waiting rooms or wait outside," a user commented.

At #Lucknow's #Charbagh railway station, passengers, some sleeping while others waiting for their trains on platforms 8 and 9 faced the insensitivity of the cleaning staff who poured water on them and that too during the cold night to wake them up.

A video of the incident went… pic.twitter.com/7A6zRii9Xw

— Hate Detector ? (@HateDetectors) December 29, 2024

As the controversy snowballed, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Lucknow office issued a statement, claiming that the cleaning staff had been chided, while advising the passengers to not sleep on the platform.

"Necessary instructions have been issued to the cleaning staff and CHI [Chief Health Inspector]," read the DRM statement.

"Passengers are also advised to avoid sleeping on the platforms. The station provides adequate facilities, including waiting halls, dormitories and retiring rooms, which passengers are encouraged to utilise," it added.

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SBI Invites Applications for Over 14,000 Clerk Positions, Check Details Here

SBI Recruitment 2024: The State Bank of India (SBI) has opened applications for 14,191 vacancies. Of these, 13,735 positions are regular posts, while the rest are backlog vacancies. Eligible candidates can submit their applications through the official website by January 7, 2025. The vacancies are available across various regions, including 1,894 positions for the Lucknow/New Delhi area, 1,317 in the Bhopal Circle, 1,254 in Kolkata, 1,111 in Bihar, and 50 in the Leh Ladakh region, among others.

Age Limit

Candidates must be between 20 and 28 years old as of April 1, 2024.

Educational Qualification

• Applicants must hold a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or possess an equivalent qualification approved by the central government.
• Candidates with an Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) should ensure its completion by December 31, 2024.

SBI Clerk Online Registration 2024: Steps To Apply

• Go to the SBI's official website, sbi.co.in and navigate to the "Careers" section.
• Select the "current openings" tab and click on registration link.
• Fill out the application form, with submitting educational qualifications 
• Upload the required documents (photo, signature, etc)
• Make the application fee payment and submit 
• Save a copy of the application receipt for reference.

Selection Process 

The selection process for the SBI Clerk position comprise three stages:

• Preliminary examination
• Mains examination
• Language proficiency test

Candidates must pass each stage to be eligible for a clerk position in SBI branches.

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"Hope You Let Go Of Baggage Of Politics": Atishi Hits Back At Lt Governor

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena's New Year greetings to Chief Minister Atishi, heavy in its criticism of her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal, has drawn a stinging response. In a two-page letter, the Chief Minister, among other things, expressed hope that in the New Year, Mr Saxena would "let go of the baggage of politics" and work towards the welfare of the people of Delhi. 

The 10-point "concerns" she raised, hit out at Mr Saxena over his "criticism rather than constructive cooperation", "unnecessary interventions that slowed down critical work" and actions taken to stop the Mahila Samman Yojana and accused his office of becoming a "proxy of the BJP". 

The Lieutenant Governor, she alleged, has failed to keep the city safe - "the one job that you are directly responsible for and mandated to do".

"While an ex-Member of Parliament has been busy distributing money to lure voters right under your nose from his illegally occupied bungalow, your response of giving him police protection to conduct this illegal activity will go down in history as a benchmark of irresponsible and illegal behaviour," her letter read.

"While kids and women are being kidnapped and assaulted on a daily basis in Delhi, you have been occupied by pointless mudslinging and issuing instructions to the police to conduct raids and inquiries on our leaders on a daily basis," she added.

"Your actions have irreparably damaged the respect that people held for the office of the Lieutenant Governor and have tarnished the legacy left behind by your predecessors," added the Chief Minister.

The Lieutenant Governor - who said he was writing in a personal capacity -- had opened his letter to the Chief Minister with much praise, commending her efficiency and initiative. 

"This is the first time in my two-and-a-half-year tenure that I am seeing a Chief Minister discharge the duties of a Chief Minister. Your predecessor did not handle a single government department and never signed a file. In contrast, you are handling many departments and trying to tackle many governance issues," he wrote.

The Lieutenant Governor also expanded on his criticism of Mr Kejriwal, pointing to his description of Atishi a "temporary Chief Minister".  

"There is no such post in the Constitution and it is a reprehensible neglect to the concept of democracy in the Constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar," he wrote, underscoring that it was an insult to the President of India who appointed her and himself, who administered the oath to her. 

The Delhi government, Atishi wrote, is "deeply rooted in the vision and legacy" of her predecessor.

"Be it the educational reforms, healthcare revolution, or infrastructural advancements, his model of governance has become a benchmark not just in Delhi but across India. The progress we are making today is a continuation of this legacy, and we remain committed to fulfilling this vision... The people of Delhi have repeatedly shown their faith in this government and in Shri Arvind Kejriwal," she wrote.

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Ram Kapoor Lost 55 Kgs In 18 Months, No Pills Or Surgery: Here's How

On December 19, Ram Kapoor marked his return to social media by sharing two mirror selfies. The photos immediately caught the attention of his fans, thanks to his incredible physical transformation. Ram appeared noticeably leaner in the images and accompanied them with a caption that read, “Hi guys, sorry for the slightly long absence from Insta. I was working on myself quite extensively.” The actor has reportedly lost 55 kilos in 18 months. This remarkable transformation was done the old-fashioned way as shared by the actor in an interview recently. While there are surgical ways as well as medications that might help one lose weight, you are always encouraged to start with a healthy diet and workout routine. Read on as we discuss some things to consider when trying to lose drastic amount of weight.

Things to keep in mind when trying to lose weight

1. Set realistic goals

When aiming for significant weight loss, it's crucial to set achievable and realistic goals. Losing a lot of weight quickly can be harmful to your body and unsustainable in the long term. Focus on losing 1/2–1 kg per week, as this is considered a healthy and manageable pace. Setting smaller milestones can help maintain motivation and track progress effectively.

2. Focus on nutrition, not just calories

Weight loss is not solely about eating less; it's about eating smarter. Emphasise nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Avoid overly restrictive diets that eliminate entire food groups, as they can lead to nutrient deficiencies and cravings.

3. Incorporate regular exercise

Exercise plays a vital role in weight loss and overall health. A combination of cardio and strength training is ideal for burning calories, building muscle, and boosting metabolism. Start with activities you enjoy to ensure consistency, and gradually increase the intensity as your fitness improves.

4. Stay hydrated

Proper hydration is essential for weight loss. Water helps regulate metabolism, reduces hunger, and improves digestion. Often, feelings of hunger are actually signs of dehydration.

5. Prioritise sleep

Sleep quality significantly impacts weight loss. Poor sleep disrupts hunger hormones like ghrelin and leptin, leading to increased appetite and cravings. Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep each night to support your body's recovery and hormonal balance.

6. Manage stress

Stress can lead to emotional eating and disrupt hormonal balance, making weight loss more challenging. Practice stress management techniques like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or journaling. Identifying and addressing the root causes of stress can also help prevent overeating triggered by emotions.

7. Monitor your progress without obsession

Weight fluctuates due to various factors like water retention and muscle gain. Instead, track progress through body measurements, how your clothes fit, or by taking progress photos. Celebrate non-scale victories like increased energy and improved endurance.

8. Seek professional guidance

If you're aiming for significant weight loss, consulting a healthcare professional or dietitian can be beneficial. They can help design a safe, personalised plan tailored to your needs and monitor your progress.

9. Be patient and kind to yourself

Weight loss is a journey that requires time, effort, and consistency. There will be setbacks along the way, but it's important not to get discouraged. Practice self-compassion and focus on progress rather than perfection.

By keeping these considerations in mind, you can create a sustainable and effective approach to losing weight while maintaining your overall health and well-being.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Man Dies In Police Station While Recording Statement, Family Alleges Murder

The death of a 35-year-old Dalit man inside a police station in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district triggered protests from his family, who alleged murder. The Congress, on Sunday, also slammed the Mohan Yadav-led BJP government for what they termed "jungle raj" in the state.

Mukesh Longre died on Saturday after being called to the Satwas police station here for questioning in a complaint submitted against him by a woman on December 26, Superintendent of Police Puneet Gehlot said.

"While inspector Ashish Rajput was reading his statement, Longre made a noose around his neck with a gamcha (towel), tied it to a window grill in the lock-up and began yanking his neck. Police stopped him and rushed him to a hospital where doctors declared him dead," the SP said.

"There is no case against him. He was just called to record his statement. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Nandani Uikey is conducting an inquiry into the death. The JMFC visited the spot this morning. The district magistrate has appointed three doctors to oversee the post-mortem process," Mr Gehlot added.

Mr Gehlot said inspector Ashish Rajput has been suspended, while all other procedures laid down under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as well as National Human Rights Commission guidelines are being followed fully.

"Some politicians have hijacked the issue, due to which his kin have refused to allow post mortem till the entire staff of the police station is suspended. This is an irrational demand. We have already suspended the inspector since the death took place while he was in charge," Mr Gehlot said.

Meanwhile, Longre's family alleged police demanded a bribe to lessen the severity of action against him in connection with the woman's complaint, adding the staff later told them he had died.

Amid a protest outside the police station that began on Saturday and continued on Sunday, Longre's relatives accused police of murdering him.

Attacking Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who also holds the home portfolio, the Congress held a protest outside Satwas police station on Sunday, which was attended by the party's state unit chief Jitu Patwari.

"Jungle raj is prevailing in MP. A Dalit man was murdered inside a police station. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav must take full responsibility for this incident," Mr Patwari said.

Mr Patwari's colleague and former Union minister Arun Yadav demanded suspension of the entire staff of Satwas police station.

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UP Groom Calls Off Wedding Over Delay In Serving Food, Then Marries Cousin

A groom in Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli abruptly called off his wedding over an alleged delay in serving food, leaving the bride and her family stranded at the venue, only to tie the knot with his cousin later that day.

The bride and her family then approached the police, demanding justice, and also claimed that they had given Rs 1.5 lakh to the groom's family hours before the ceremony was to take place. 

Speaking to the media, the bride said her marriage was arranged with Mehtab seven months ago. On December 22, as the wedding procession arrived at her house in Hamidpur village, Mehtab and his relatives were extended a warm welcome by her family. 

"I was ready since morning. The groom and his family arrived, ate and then abused and assaulted my parents before leaving the spot. I later approached the police for justice," she said. 

The bride said that as the wedding guests sat down to eat, there was a slight delay in serving food to Mehtab. He got angry after his friends teased and poked fun at him and he and his family then allegedly abused the bride's family and relatives, leading to an argument.

The village elders tried to intervene to resolve the issue but Mehtab refused to tie the knot and returned to his house.

As the bride's family grappled with the shock, Mehtab married one of his cousins later the same day. 

Police Complaint

On learning about Mehtab's wedding, the bride and her parents visited the police post in Industrial Nagar on December 23 to file a complaint. Alleging inaction, they later escalated the issue to the Superintendent of Police Aditya Laghe. 

In the complaint, the woman's mother said the family had suffered a loss of Rs 7 lakh because they had paid for all the arrangements and catered to around 200 guests from the groom's side.  

An amount of Rs 1.5 lakh was also handed over to the man's family hours before the wedding, she said in the complaint. 

Sources said Mr Laghe summoned both parties, who agreed to resolve the matter amicably. 

"A written agreement was signed by both parties that an amount of Rs 1.61 lakh would be given to the woman's family," Circle Officer Rajesh Rai said.

(With inputs from Santosh Jaiswal)

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"Doing Great Work": PM After Meeting Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas

Aravind Srinivas, the Indian-origin Co-founder and CEO of Perplexity AI, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and they discussed the potential for the adoption of artificial intelligence in India. While the Chennai-born Srinivas said he was inspired by the PM's dedication to staying updated on the topic and his "remarkable vision" for the future, PM Modi said it was good to see the CEO doing "great work" with Perplexity AI.

Posting a photo of their meeting, Mr Srinivas wrote on X, "Had the honor to meet Prime Minister @narendramodi ji. We had a great conversation about the potential for AI adoption in India and across the world. Really inspired by Modi Ji's dedication to stay updated on the topic and his remarkable vision for the future."

Replying to the post, PM Modi wrote, "Was great to meet you and discuss AI, its uses and its evolution. Good to see you doing great work with @perplexity_ai. Wish you all the best for your future endeavors."

Perplexity AI is a conversational search engine that uses large language models (LLMs) to answer queries. Before co-founding Perplexity AI in the US in 2022, Mr Srinivas was an AI researcher at OpenAI and also did research internships at Google and DeepMind. 
 

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Book Excerpt | How Manmohan Singh Helped India Beat China To Mars

(The following is an edited excerpt from Pallava Bagla and Subhadra Menon's book 'Reaching For The Stars: India's Journey to Mars and Beyond', published by Bloomsbury India

How India's maiden mission to Mars became 'Mangalyaan': Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 2012 speech written in Urdu hid the answers.

Not many realise that it was Dr Singh who gave India its first inter-planetary voyage with one single point geo-political message: India should beat China and reach the Martian orbit ahead of the Dragon. An Asian space race unfolded and India won it hands down as, under Dr Singh's leadership, the mission was conceived and delivered in all of 18 months. India ran a Martian marathon as if sprinting for a hundred-metre dash.

Mangalyaan was publicly announced by Dr Singh from the magnificent ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi on August 15, 2012.

Interestingly, when the Moon mission was being planned, Chandrayaan was also announced from the Red Fort by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was the prime minister in 2003.

Dr Singh, as it seemed, took the cue, delivering his speech that was actually written in Urdu. But who could match the visionary politician Vajpayee, who made sure to call the Moon mission Chandrayaan-1, whereas the bureaucrat in Manmohan Singh merely called it Mangalyaan, not thinking at all about any sequels. What's in a name, you might ask.

When the first budgetary clearances of Rs 125 crore were given for the Mars mission on March 16, 2012, during the 2012-13 budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, it was officially recorded - "Mars Orbiter Mission envisages launching an orbiter around Mars using the PSLV XL during the November 2013 launch opportunity. Mars Orbiter will be placed in an orbit of 500 x 80,000 km around Mars and will have a provision for carrying nearly 25 kg of scientific payload."

In what might be some 10 kg of documents running into thousands of pages, embedded in a book with orange covers called the Expenditure Budget, laced with tables and millions of figures, was a small annotation that announced this remarkable plan, giving financial sanction. "What a mangal announcement" was the observation on March 16, 2012, when one of the authors was in conversation with jubilant officials in the Prime Minister's Office, thinking about what name the mission would get. How India's maiden mission to the Moon was named Chandrayaan, and how this might perhaps become Mangalyaan was alluded to, and of course, some months later, in his speech from the Red Fort, then Prime Minister Dr Singh referred to the mission as Mangalyaan.

This was a deviation from his written speech that was made public in English but written in Urdu, and what Dr Singh read from, and that is why many people, who later reviewed the written English version questioned whether it was ever called Mangalyaan by the prime minister. This resulted in a small technicality that made ISRO formally stick to calling India's maiden mission to the red planet as the 'Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM)'. It seems the Department of Space (DOS) officials had sent a list of names to the Minister of Space, a portfolio always held by the prime minister of India, to select one. As it happened, Dr Singh never returned that list giving his preference, and this led decision makers within the space community, for safety, to stick to referring to it as MOM.

This was in sharp contrast with how the Moon mission was named, when in 2003, a list of names was sent to Prime Minister Vajpayee. ISRO's preferred name was 'Somayaan', but astute officials around Vajpayee renamed it as 'Chandrayaan' and Sudheendra Kulkarni, the press advisor to the PM, told me (Pallava) that Vajpayee himself added, in his own handwriting, the suffix '1' after Chandrayaan, and said how a big country like India could make only one visit to the Moon.

This led decision-makers to use the informal names, MOM and Mangalyaan. Interestingly, after demonetisation in 2016, when new currency notes were introduced [by Prime Minister Narendra Modi], the image of Mangalyaan was printed on the Rs 2,000 currency note with Mangalyaan emblazoned below the image as an honour to ISRO. This was a remarkable tribute to the space community that aced the Mars launch and landing on the maiden attempt. India's tiger handsomely beat China by reaching the orbit of Mars ahead of the Chinese dragon.

(Disclaimer: The author and publisher of the book are solely responsible for the contents of the book or any excerpt derived therefrom. NDTV shall not be responsible or liable for any claims arising from the contents of the book including any claims of defamation, infringement of intellectual property rights or any other right of any third party or of law. Paragraph breaks and subheadings have been added by NDTV for readers' ease.)

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Manmohan Singh's Life, Work Profoundly Shaped India's Destiny: Congress

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met here on Friday and paid glowing tributes to former prime minister Manmohan Singh, saying he was a towering figure in India's political and economic landscape whose contributions transformed the country and earned him respect worldwide.

In a condolence resolution passed at the meeting, the CWC mourned the loss of a "true statesman" whose life and work have profoundly shaped the destiny of India.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and Congress general secretaries Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra among others met here at the AICC headquarters for a meeting of the CWC to pay homage to the former prime minister.

Dr Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms and a consensus builder in the rough world of politics, died at AIIMS, Delhi, late on Thursday. He was 92.

He is survived by his wife and three daughters.

"Dr. Singh was a towering figure in India's political and economic landscape, whose contributions transformed the country and earned him respect worldwide. As Finance Minister in the early 1990s, Dr. Singh was the architect of India's economic liberalization," the CWC resolution read.

With unmatched foresight, he initiated a series of reforms that not only saved the nation from a balance-of-payments crisis but also opened the doors to global markets, it said.

"Through his policies of deregulation, privatization, and the encouragement of foreign investment, he laid the foundation for India's rapid economic growth. Under his stewardship, India emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing economies, a testament to his brilliance and vision," the CWC said.

As the 13th prime minister of India, Dr Singh led the country with a sense of calm determination and exceptional wisdom and his tenure was marked by sustained economic growth, global recognition and social progress, it said.

"He (Singh) steered the nation through the challenges of the global financial crisis in 2008 with strategic measures that shielded India from its worst effects. His leadership saw remarkable initiatives like MGNREGA, Right to Education, the historic Indo-U.S. Civil Nuclear Deal, National Food Security Act, Land Acquisition Act, Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme, and the 93rd Constitutional Amendment that advanced social justice for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs through Article 15(5)," it said.

Dr Singh also championed the Right to Information (RTI) Act to enhance transparency, the Forest Rights Act to empower tribal communities and contributed to achieving the highest GDP growth rate during his tenure, the CWC condolence resolution said.

"Dr. Singh's dedication to inclusive growth, international diplomacy, and economic modernization strengthened India's position in the global arena, while simultaneously focusing on the welfare of he common man. His legacy as a compassionate, reformist leader who prioritized stability and development will forever be etched in India's history," the CWC said.

Beyond his contributions as a politician, Singh was a respected academician, whose career as an economist helped shape India's policies and direction, the resolution said.

"His scholarly work as an economist and his service at institutions like the United Nations and the Reserve Bank of India laid the groundwork for many of the economic reforms he later championed as a policymaker," it said.

The CWC said Dr Singh's profound understanding of economics, combined with his dedication to education, inspired countless students, scholars and policy-makers. His academic rigor and intellectual contributions were pivotal in shaping India's approach to development, and his mentorship has had a lasting impact on the country's future economists, the resolution said.

"Dr. Singh was a man of extraordinary personal qualities. His grace, humility, and dignity set him apart as a leader of rare character. Despite holding the highest offices in the land, he always remained grounded, treating everyone with respect and kindness," the party said.

His demeanour was calm and composed and it was always guided by a deep sense of integrity, the CWC said.

"He was not only admired for his intellect and accomplishments but also for his unassuming nature, which made him beloved to people across all walks of life. Dr. Singh embodied the very best qualities of a true statesman- compassion, honesty, and a deep commitment to public service. His life was a living example of how grace and humility can coexist with great power," the resolution said.

"As we mourn the loss of this extraordinary leader, the Congress Working Committee pledges to honor Dr. Manmohan Singh's memory and carry forward his enduring legacy. His vision of economic reform, social justice, and inclusive growth will continue to inspire and guide us," it said.

The ideals he stood for -- integrity, diligence, and compassion -- will remain a beacon for future generations, the party said.

"We commit to upholding his values as we work towards building a more prosperous and united India, just as he envisioned. Dr. Singh's legacy as a leader, an economist, and a humble human being will live on, inspiring all of us to contribute to the continued progress and betterment of our great nation," the resolution read.

The CWC members also paid floral tributes to him at the party's headquarters.

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Video: "No Money" For Ticket, Man Travels 250 Km Under Train In Madhya Pradesh

Railway staffers carrying out a routine inspection of a train's rolling stock and undercarriage at Jabalpur station in Madhya Pradesh were in for a shock on Friday when they noticed a stowaway under one of the coaches, hiding in a space above the wheels.

Their shock only grew when they were told that the man had travelled 250 km - or more than four hours - in this fashion, all the way from Itarsi. 

Officials said employees from the Carriage and Wagon Department noticed unusual movement under the AC-4 coach of the Pune-Danapur Express (train no 12149) and asked the loco pilot to stop the train. The man, hiding in the trolley section above the wheels, was then asked to come out and handed over to the Railway Protection Force (RPF). 
 
During initial questioning, the man said that he could not afford a train ticket and therefore resorted to this method of travel to reach Jabalpur. Officials, however, said his responses also indicated that he may be mentally challenged. 

The RPF in Jabalpur is conducting further investigation to verify the man's identity and understand the circumstances that led him to undertake such a risky journey. 

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Argentina's Soaring Poverty And What President Javier Milei Is Doing About It

Argentina, a nation once ranked among the wealthiest in the world, has found itself grappling with severe economic challenges over the past 25 years. Then, one year ago, provocative libertarian economist Javier Milei was inaugurated as its new president.

Known for his flamboyant persona and radical views, Javier Milei is one of the most polarising figures in global politics, celebrated by some as a visionary reformer and dismissed by others as “El Loco” (“the mad one”). He pledged to take a “chainsaw” to the state and promote a free-market approach.

His pro-capitalism stance extends to the promotion of culture wars. Last month, he fired his foreign secretary for voting along with 186 other countries against the US embargo on Cuba at the United Nations. Only the US and Israel voted against it. He withdrew Argentina's delegation of negotiators to the UN climate summit in Baku, claiming human-caused climate change is “a socialist lie”.

Yet Milei owes his 2023 victory to Argentina's deep economic crisis. It was an economy suffering from the third highest inflation rate in the world, at 211% year on year, a poverty rate north of 40% (it's now climbed even higher), and an economy in crisis for decades.

Argentina's economic woes are deeply rooted. Once one of the world's richest nations thanks to its fertile Pampas plains, its prosperity was built on agricultural exports and integration into global markets.

Political instability, excessive protectionism and fiscal mismanagement disrupted its trajectory. Peronism, a political movement based on economic independence and social justice, has dominated Argentine politics for decades. While it lifted the working class, critics argue it entrenched inefficiency and dependence on the state.

By 2023, Argentina's crisis had reached unprecedented levels and the peso had lost most of its value.

Argentines turned to Milei, an outsider who pledged to dismantle the state's bloated bureaucracy, privatise key sectors and adopt policies rooted in libertarian principles.

Sweeping reforms and painful cuts

Now in power for a year, he has slashed government spending by a third, dismantling price controls and cutting subsidies on energy and transport. Last December, he devalued the peso by 54%.

Around 30,000 state jobs were cut, as were more than half of government ministries. Milei also allowed inflation to eat into the real value of pensions and salaries. This has generated fiscal surpluses, but also deepened the country's worst economic crisis in two decades.

The result is unprecedented levels of poverty. As the cost of food and basic products increased, around 53% of Argentines now live in poverty – up from around 42% in 2023 and the highest level in 30 years. Another 15% of the population is in “extreme poverty”. An extra 5.5 million Argentines became poor during Milei's first six months in office.

Despite the pain, Milei's approval ratings have remained stable at around 50%. His success seems to rest on his unrelenting attacks on the country's establishment and workers' unions. The only large-scale protests occurred when Milei imposed cuts to free public universities. Argentines seem to have accepted the doctor's prescription.

Milei's key legislative victory was his controversial “omnibus” reform bill. This was originally aimed at slashing government spending, privatising public entreprises (whether or not they were profitable) and enforcing a zero-deficit policy.

Although the bill was watered down, economic indicators improved significantly. Monthly inflation dropped to 2.7% in October from its peak of 26% last December. The peso has strengthened considerably and is now overvalued, hurting exporters and raising the prospect of a devaluation – and with it, more inflation. Argentina's country risk index (which measures the risk of investing in a state) has fallen significantly.

But the economy is not out of the woods. Growth remains elusive – the IMF forecast a 3.5% economic contraction this year. Growth of 5.2% next year will only return per-capita GDP, a measure of individual wealth, to where it was by the time COVID lockdowns ended in 2021. Reducing inflation further won't be easy, as it has hovered around the 3% monthly level since July.

Meanwhile, Milei's 2025 budget proposal aims for a budget surplus of over 1.3% of the country's GDP, requiring further spending cuts. But calls to restart frozen public works and boost pensions and wages will inevitably grow louder next year.

And Argentina still has heavy capital controls, making it hard for investors to get money out of the country. They will think twice before investing.

Meanwhile, the opposition is waking up. Milei's veto of the bill increasing university budgets brought 250,000 people out in protest in November, prompting some to suggest the president had miscalculated.

Former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, still Argentina's dominant leftist, is poised to take over the leadership of main Peronist party ahead of next year's midterm elections. While her influence has greatly diminished, she still enjoys reasonable approval ratings. Both Kirchner and Milei are polarising figures, so it is unclear if her return will help the left.

The re-election of Donald Trump could prove to be Milei's best card. While Argentina is a small trade partner, Milei will leverage his relationship with the US president-elect to convince the IMF to roll over the remainder of the US$44 billion debt (£35 billion) acquired in 2018 during Trump's first term in office. Another US$10 billion is needed to bolster the central bank's international reserves which remain critically low.

This source of money will be critical for Milei to start lifting capital controls. Only then can economic stability translate into sustainable growth.

(Author: Nicolas Forsans, Professor of Management and Co-director of the Centre for Latin American & Caribbean Studies, University of Essex)

(Disclosure Statement: Nicolas Forsans does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment)

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
 

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ICAI CA November Exam 2024 Final Result Declared, Check Details

ICAI CA Final Result 2024: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has declared the results for the CA Final exams. The results and scores can be checked on the ICAI's official websites- icai.nic.in or icai.org. The exams for the November 2024 session were conducted earlier this year, with Group 1 exams held on November 3, 5, and 7, and Group 2 exams on November 9, 11, and 13.

ICAI CA Final Results: Steps To Check 

• Visit the official websites, icai.nic.in or icai.org
• Enter essential inputs such as registration number, roll number, and captcha code
• Your result will be displayed on your computer screen
• Download and save the result sheet for future use

In 2023, a total of 65,294 candidates took the ICAI CA Final Group 1 exam, but only 6,176 candidates cleared it, reflecting a pass rate of 9.46%. Meanwhile, 62,679 candidates appeared for the Group 2 exam, with 13,540 successfully passing, which equates to a pass percentage of 21.6%.

 

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Telangana Teacher Eligibility Test (TS TET) 2 Admit Card To Be Released Shortly, Check Details

TS TET Hall Ticket 2024: The School Education Department, Telangana, is set to release the admit cards for the state teacher eligibility test (TS TET). Candidates can download them from the official website, tgtet2024.aptonline.in, once available. The TS TET examination is scheduled to be conducted between January 2 and January 20, 2025. It will be conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode over 10 days across 20 sessions, with two sessions held daily: Session 1 from 9am to 11.30am and Session 2 from 2pm to 4.30pm.

TG-TET-2024-2 will consist of two papers-Paper-1 and Paper-2. Candidates aspiring to become teachers for the primary level (Classes 1 to 5) will have to appear for Paper 1, while those intending to teach Classes 6 to 8 must take Paper 2. Candidates who aim to teach Classes 1 to 8 are required to appear for both Paper 1 and Paper 2.

TS TET Hall Ticket 2024 Live: Steps To Download Admit Card

• Visit the TS TET official website, tgtet2024.aptonline.in.
• Click on the "Hall Ticket 2024" link available on the homepage.
• Log in with the required credentials.
• Submit the details. Your admit card will appear on your computer screen.
• Verify the admit card details and download the page.
• Keep a hard copy of the admit card for future reference.
   

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"One Of India's Most Distinguished Leaders": PM Modi Mourns Manmohan Singh

India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, shortly after AIIMS-Delhi announced that former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is no more.

"India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people's lives," Prime Minister Modi said in a post on X.

India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic… pic.twitter.com/clW00Yv6oP

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2024

The AIIMS said in a statement that 92-year-old Dr Singh was under treatment for age-related conditions. Today, he lost consciousness at home. "Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS at 8.06 PM. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 PM," the hospital said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah too expressed his condolences on the death of Dr Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India's economic reforms under the PV Narasimha Rao government.

"The news of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's passing is very sad. From the Governor of Reserve Bank of India to the Finance Minister and then Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh fulfilled major responsibilities in the country's administration. I express my condolences to his family and supporters. May God give peace to his soul and strength to his family to bear this loss," Mr Shah said in a post on X.

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Manmohan Singh, 2-Time PM And Architect Of India's Economic Reforms, Dies At 92

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh died of age-related medical conditions today, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, where he was admitted, said in a statement. He was 92.

"With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had a sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26 December 2024," AIIMS said.

"Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the medical emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8.06 pm. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 pm," AIIMS said.

Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister for two terms in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from 2004 to 2014. He had been in poor health for the last few months.

The former prime minister is survived by wife Gurcharan Singh and three daughters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X condoled the death of the leader.

"India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr Manmohan Singh ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people's lives," PM Modi said.

Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji and I interacted regularly when he was PM and I was the CM of Gujarat. We would have extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance. His wisdom and humility were always visible.

In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the family of... pic.twitter.com/kAOlbtyGVs

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2024

"Dr Manmohan Singh ji and I interacted regularly when he was PM and I was the CM of Gujarat. We would have extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance. His wisdom and humility were always visible. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the family of Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, his friends and countless admirers. Om Shanti," he said.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her mother Sonia Gandhi reached the hospital as soon as the news of Manmohan Singh's hospitalisation became known.

Manmohan Singh served as finance minister under the then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. He was the architect and the brainchild of economic reforms in 1991 that pulled India from the brink of bankruptcy and ushered in an era of economic liberalisation that is widely believed to have changed the course of India's economic trajectory.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and party MP Rahul Gandhi were in Karnataka's Belagavi attending the Congress Working Committee meeting when news of Manmohan Singh's death came. Both are returning to Delhi, news agency PTI reported.

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Class 11 Student Stabbed 14 Times In Faridabad Market, 10 Detained

Ten people have been apprehended for allegedly stabbing a class 11 student to death in a market here, police said on Wednesday.

The family of the victim, Anshul, staged protests and accused police of inaction and "laughing off" the matter when they had complained about him receiving death threats on Instagram a few days ago.

Anshul's sister, Anjali, narrated the incident to the police and said that her brother had an argument with the accused a few days ago. On Tuesday, they had gone to the market when the accused -- Himanshu Mathur and Rohit Dhama -- along with a few other men attacked Anshul with sticks and knives.

Seeing this, she and some locals rushed to help Anshul and took him to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday. He was stabbed 14 times, police said.

Anmol, the victim's friend, told the police that the accused wanted to spread hooliganism in the Baslewa colony and used to sell drugs. They would often misbehave with the girls in the area.

A few days ago, Anshul reportedly had an argument with the accused. In a bid to take revenge, the accused killed Anshul, Anmol told the police.

Based on Anjali's complaint, an FIR was registered and 10 people, including Mathur and Dhama have been apprehended. Further investigation is underway, police said. 

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GST At 18% On Sale Of Used Cars Only If Seller Earns A Margin: Report

A registered person will have to pay GST on sale of old and used vehicle only if the seller has earned a margin, which is the selling price is higher than the depreciation adjusted cost price of the vehicle, sources said.

The GST Council in its meeting last week decided to prescribe a single rate of 18 per cent on sale of all old and used vehicles including EVs, earlier leviable at different rates.

If an individual sells old and used car to another individual, GST would not be applicable.

Sources said where the registered person has claimed depreciation under Section 32 of the Income Tax Act 1961, GST is payable only on the value representing the margin of the supplier, that is the difference between consideration received for the supply of such goods and the depreciated value of such goods on the date of supply.

"Where such margin is negative, no GST is payable," a source said.

For example, if a registered person is selling an old and used vehicle to any person at Rs 10 lakh, where the purchase price of the vehicle was Rs 20 lakh and has claimed depreciation of Rs 8 lakh on the same under Income Tax Act, then he is not required to pay any GST as the margin of the supplier, that is differential value of the selling price (Rs 10 lakh) and the depreciated value which is Rs 12 lakhs, is negative.

In case the depreciated value in the above example remains the same at Rs 12 lakh and the selling price is Rs 15 lakh, GST will be payable on the margin of the supplier i.e on Rs 3 lakh at the rate of 18 per cent.

In any other cases, GST is payable only on the value that represents the margin of the supplier i.e. the difference between selling price and the purchase price. Again, where such margin is negative, no GST is payable.

For example, if a registered person is selling an old and used vehicle to any person at Rs 10 lakh, where the purchase price of the vehicle by the registered person was Rs 12 lakh, then he is not required to pay any GST as the margin of the supplier is negative in this case.

In cases where the purchase price of the vehicle was Rs 20 lakh and the selling price is Rs 22 lakh, GST of 18 per cent will be payable on the margin of supplier, that is, Rs 2 lakh.

EY Tax Partner Saurabh Agarwal said the GST Council has recommended increasing the GST rate on old and used EVs and small fossil fuel cars from 12 per cent to 18 per cent, aligning it with the rate for larger cars and SUVs.

It's important to note that GST on second hand vehicles will be applied only on margins and not on sale value of vehicles (sale value less income tax depreciated cost of vehicle or purchase price, as the case may be).

Prior to the proposed amendment, GST on second hand EVs was applicable on the complete sale value of the vehicle.

" Therefore, the proposed change should not be looked as a deterrent for second hand EVs. This should in turn be a welcome step as it would likely bring down the cost for second hand EVs (till the time margins earned are less than 27.78 per cent of the purchase price). At best, it will increase the cost of second hand small fossil fuel cars by 0.6-1.5 per cent (assuming margins would range for 10-25 per cent of purchase price)," Agarwal said.

This proposal appears to be in line with the vision of the government where they want to restrict pollution levels arising due to rapidly growing second hand car market, he added.

AMRG & Associates Senior Partner Rajat Mohan said for EVs, which already benefit from government incentives to promote their adoption, the hike in GST on resale could slightly deter cost-sensitive buyers, potentially impacting the overall EV penetration in secondary markets.

" Dealers will now need to maintain impeccable records of transactions to comply with these changes effectively. While this revision boosts revenue potential for the government, it demands adaptability from businesses and awareness among consumers regarding the net impact on resale pricing," Mohan added.

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Pakistan May Get 40 5th-Gen Stealth Fighter Jets From China Within 2 Years

In a game-changing proposition, China is reportedly in talks with Pakistan for Islamabad to procure 40 advanced stealth fighter jets from Beijing, which is China's most advanced military aircraft.

If the deal is finalised, Pakistan will be the first and only country globally to have a squadron of the stealth J-35A multi-role fighter jets outside of China. It will also mark the first export of China's most advanced military aircraft by Beijing.

The J-35A is China's second fifth-generation stealth fighter jet. After United States, China is the only other country in the world to have two 5th-gen military aircraft. Now it is planning to exporting a sizeable number of aircraft to its all-weather ally Pakistan, which is looking to replace its ageing fleet of US-made F-16s and the French Mirage fighters.

As per a report in the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, which further quotes the Pakistani media, China will deliver all 40 stealth fighter jest in less than two years. China's entire defence industry is already set up for mass production as it does not depend on any other country for any part of the aircraft.

The report also states that Pakistan's Air Force has already approved the purchase of these jets. Though there is no confirmation from Beijing, should such a deal materialise, it will provide Pakistan a massive boost to its air defence and has the potential to tilt the regional dynamic as Islamabad will acquire stealth technology.

WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE CHINESE J-35A STEALTH AIRCRAFT

The Shenyang J-35A stealth fighter is a twin-engine, single-seater, supersonic, air-superiority, multi-role fighter jet that can carry out missions on land and at sea. The J-35A is the second fifth-generation stealth fighter China has developed after the J-20.

The J-35A's design is similar to the US Lockheed Martin F-35, the only difference is that the former is twin-engine and the latter has a single engine. China is known for copying the design of several US aircraft - The J-20 and the US F-22 Raptor are very similar in design except for canards that are present in J-20. The Chengdu J-10, also known as the "Vigorous Dragon", is yet another Chinese aircraft which seems to be a copy of the US F-16 fighter jet.

US F-22 Raptor (Left), China J-20 (Right)

According to a report by the Global Times, the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, "J-35A functions within both stealth and counter-stealth combat frameworks. Its mission focuses on gaining and maintaining air superiority, eliminating hostile fourth/fifth generation fighter jets and ground/surface air defence forces, as well as intercepting aerial hostile targets including fighters, bombers and cruise missiles." The article was published the day China unveiled the jet for the first time last month.

China plans to induct the aircraft into the Air Force and the Navy, exactly the way the F-35 is used by the United States, having three variants - The F-35A for the Air Force, F-35B for the Marine Corps and F-35C for the US Navy.

US F-35 Lighting carrying out formation flying

PAKISTAN'S ECONOMIC CRISIS

Despite a severe economic crisis in the country, Pakistan, which is surviving on bailout packages by the IMF and World Bank, is reportedly going ahead with deal. It is not clear though, how such a massive deal will get financed. It won't come as a surprise should China decide to extend another loan which Pakistan won't able able to pay back. Pakistan has already accumulated so much debt from Beijing that it is not financially possible for Islamabad to pay it back. Many experts believe that at some point Pakistan will have to sell national assets and maybe even parts of the country to be able to settle the debt.

Though the buzz is ripe in Islamabad, Beijing has not confirmed the sale of its stealth fighter jet in any official communication. Neither has it mentioned it in the passing.

When the J-35A stealth fighter was first displayed publicly by China at the annual air show at Zhuhai city in November, top Pakistan Air Force officials visited the exhibition and were seen holding talks with senior Chinese officials.

According the report in the South China Morning Post, Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu said in January that "the foundation for acquiring the J-31 stealth fighter aircraft has already been laid." The J-31 is considered the land version of the J-35A, which was originally believed to be a naval aircraft, but was later launched as a multi-role fighter jet.

Despite Pakistan's inability to pay back, China has over time steadily increased its military supply to Islamabad by modernising all three branches of the Pakistani military, spending several billion dollars in the country's defence expenditure.

China has also jointly developed and operates the J-17 Thunder fighter jet with Pakistan. For its navy, China has already delivered four advanced naval frigates to Pakistan.

MEETING BETWEEN CHINA AND PAKISTAN OVER THE REPORTED DEAL

Top Chinese Army General Zhang Youxia visited Pakistan in November shortly after unveiling the J-35A stealth aircraft, during which he held closed-door talks with Pakistan's Army chief Gen Asim Munir.

Gen Zhang is the Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Comm­ission or CMC, which is the overall command of the Chinese military. President Xi Jinping heads the commission, and is briefed directly about such meetings.

After the meeting, the Inter-Services Public Relations or ISPR, the media wing of the Pakistani armed forces issued a statement which said the meeting between the two focused on "matters of mutual interest, regional security dynamics, measures for regional stability, and enhancing bilateral defence cooperation".

PAKISTAN'S SOVEREIGNTY UNDER THREAT?

According to the Pakistani media, during these recent meetings, China has been increasing pressure on Islamabad to allow Beijing's security firms and agencies to send boots on ground in Pakistan.

China reportedly intends on sending an initial lot of more than 20,000 soldiers and security personnel to be deployed at various locations along the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC, which it is constructing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and in the turbulent region of Balochistan.

As per Pakistani media reports, Islamabad says it has deployed over 30,000 dedicated military and para-military personnel just to protect Chinese workers working on project pertaining to the so-called CPEC.

The reports further state that so far, Pakistan has somehow been resisting Beijing's pressure to deploy Chinese troops across Pakistan over sovereignty concerns.
 

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Photo From Veteran Filmmaker Shyam Benegal's 90th Birthday Resurfaces After His Death

Photos from legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal's 90th birthday celebration have resurfaced online following the news of his death.

The heartwarming images serve as a poignant reminder of the iconic director's enduring legacy and the lives he touched. The late filmmaker celebrated his milestone birthday on December 14, surrounded by Bollywood celebrities such as Shabana Azmi, Divya Dutta, Naseeruddin Shah, Rajit Kapur, Atul Tiwari, and others.

A group photo from the celebration, shared by Shabana Azmi on X, has gone viral. Sharing the photo, Azmi captioned it, "On #ShyamBenegal's 90th birthday with my co-actor of many films and my favorite actor @NaseeruddinShah. Why aren't more people casting us together?!"

Some of his actors with Shyam Benegal's on his 90th birthday Mashallah pic.twitter.com/cnDrjAphf2

— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) December 15, 2024

On December 23, Shyam Benegal d at the age of 90. He breathed his last around 6:30 pm at Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai. His daughter, Pia Benegal, confirmed the news.

Mourning his death, filmmaker Hansal Mehta shared a photo of Benegal and wrote, "Among the last of our great filmmakers. Go well, Shyam Babu. Thank you for inspiring many like me. Thank you for the cinema. Thank you for giving tough stories and flawed characters such amazing dignity."

Known for his iconic and award-winning films such as "Ankur," "Bhumika," "Manthan," and "Nishant," Benegal leaves behind a rich legacy in Indian cinema. He made his feature film debut with "Ankur" in 1974, starring Anant Nag and Shabana Azmi. The critically acclaimed film earned the National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film, solidifying his reputation as a trailblazer in Indian cinema.

His final directorial work, "Mujib: The Making of a Nation" (2023), chronicled the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Benegal was the recipient of multiple National Awards for films including "Bhumika: The Role," "Junoon," "Arohan," "Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero", and "Well Done Abba."

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Adani Defence & Aerospace Acquires Air Works For Rs 400 Crore

Adani Defence & Aerospace announced on Monday that it has signed a binding agreement to acquire Air Works, India's largest private-sector maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company, for an enterprise value of Rs 400 crore.

"Adani Defence Systems & Technologies Ltd (ADSTL) has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 85.8 per cent shareholding in Air Works India (Engineering) Private Ltd," a company statement said.

Air Works undertakes base maintenance for narrow-body and turboprop aircraft, as well as rotary aircraft from its facilities at Hosur, Mumbai, and Kochi and with regulatory approvals from civil aviation authorities of more than 20 countries.

In addition to being a market leader in civil aviation, Air Works has built significant capabilities in defence MRO, executing projects for key platforms of the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, the statement said.

"The acquisition enhances the Adani Group's capabilities in the defence MRO sector, solidifying its position in India's airborne defence ecosystem," the statement said

This strategic move marks a pivotal step in Adani Group's growth trajectory, laying the foundation for its expansion into the civil aviation services domain, it added.

With operations spanning 35 cities and a workforce of over 1,300 personnel, Air Works brings extensive expertise in servicing both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

The MRO company offers an end-to-end bouquet of aviation services spanning line maintenance, heavy checks, interior refurbishment, painting, redelivery checks, avionics as well as asset management services to its Indian and global customers, according to the statement.

"The Indian aviation industry stands at a transformative juncture, now the third largest globally and on track to induct over 1,500 aircraft in the coming years," said Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Airports.

"This growth aligns seamlessly with the government's vision to connect every corner of our nation, creating unprecedented opportunities in aviation services. For us, creating a presence in the MRO sector is more than just a strategic step - it's a commitment to building an integrated aviation services ecosystem that strengthens the backbone of India's aviation infrastructure. Together, we are excited to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of India's skies."

Adani Defence & Aerospace CEO Ashish Rajvanshi said: "This landmark acquisition represents a pivotal step in Adani Defence & Aerospace's mission to strengthen India's MRO capabilities."

"Our vision is to deliver a full-spectrum MRO offering - spanning line, base, component, and engine maintenance - to meet the needs of both commercial and defence aviation sectors. In a time when Aatmanirbharta in defence is a national imperative, we stand fully committed to scaling domestic capabilities to serve both our armed forces and the broader aviation sector. This is our pledge to the nation-to build capabilities that secure our skies and strengthen our sovereignty."

Adani Defence & Aerospace, part of the Adani Group, is a pioneer in the design, development, and manufacturing of state-of-the-art defence products. The company has also established an ecosystem of start-ups and MSMEs with an export-oriented mindset, best-in-class processes, and quality management systems, the company statement added.

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Lessons Learnt, Policy Revised: Paramilitary Force CISF On Hoax Bomb Threats To Airlines

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Monday said it has "learnt its lessons" following incidents of a spate of hoax messages being sent to Indian airlines recently and the situation has improved after the assessment protocol for such calls was revised.

Several domestic carriers, between October and November, received hundreds of "hoax" messages or calls on their official communication channels including on social media claiming bombs being placed or a hijacker onboard leading to numerous diversions and delays for passengers in specific and the entire aviation ecosystem in general.

"There were a very large number of hoax calls recently (to the airlines)...but we have learnt our lessons. The Government of India rules were revised regarding the requirements for convening the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) meetings.

"The basic revision done was that the BTAC can meet online or in a digital mode hence cutting down the time to convene such a meeting. The situation has improved considerably after this...," CISF Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Shrikant Kishore told reporters here.

PTI had in October reported that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) under the Union civil aviation ministry has tweaked BTAC procedures in the wake of the messages being sent over the social media daily by adopting a "multi-layered" approach to assess threats and determine their "credibility and seriousness." According to the new guidelines, upon receipt of a bomb threat, the BTAC can be convened over a internet-based secure platform but this is only an "interim" arrangement till the members of the committee assemble physically at the designated control room.

Asked about the issue of congestion at several airports in the country during the vacations, Kishore said the force and other agencies involved in civil airport operations were "at a better position now" as they saw "improvement and enhancement" in security infrastructure and manpower.

The force provides counter-terrorist security cover to 68 civil airports of the country and has deployed about 48,000 personnel for this task out of its total manpower of about 1.7 lakh men and women.

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Rajasthan Couple Caught Smuggling Luxury Watches Worth Rs 13 Crore In Gujarat

A couple from Rajasthan was detained at Ahmedabad airport for allegedly trying to smuggle two high-end watches worth approximately Rs 13 crore from Dubai on Friday, officials in the Customs Department said on Sunday.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Richard Mille watches, mostly spotted on the wrists of billionaires or celebrities, were seized from the man and the woman, who arrived separately at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport from Dubai. 

According to the officials, one of them spotted the woman with one of the watches on her arrival from Dubai. Upon interrogation, she said it was gifted by her husband. When she was asked about her husband's whereabouts, she said he was arriving on another flight.

The woman's husband, the officials said, was caught when he was trying to exit the airport on his arrival. He initially claimed that the watch belonged to him and that it cost around Rs 1,000. When he was asked to produce a bill, he said he did not have one. 

As authorities searched his belongings, they found the case for the watch. The man then admitted to smuggling the item, the officials said. 

The couple was subsequently detained and upon interrogation, said they belong to Pratapgarh in Rajasthan. They said they were made to travel to Dubai to bring the watches to Ahmedabad, the officials added. 

The officials said a detailed probe is underway.

(With inputs from Mahendra Prasad)

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"Saw Bouncers Behaving Recklessly": Cops On 'Pushpa 2' Premiere Stampede

Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand on Sunday issued a stern warning to bouncers against misbehaving with police personnel, stating that VIPs they accompany would be held accountable for their actions.

"In the recent incident at Sandhya Theatre, we saw 40-50 bouncers behaving recklessly. Despite the presence of the public and police, they pushed everyone aside. Their sole focus was on the VIP. This is a warning to all bouncers: if they misbehave with the police, strict action will be taken against them. The behaviour of the bouncers is the responsibility of the VIPs they accompany. VIPs cannot shift the blame to the bouncers; the liability rests with them," said Mr Anand.

The warning came in the wake of a stampede-like situation at Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of the film Pushpa 2.

Meanwhile, Telugu superstar Allu Arjun responded on Saturday to allegations holding him responsible for the tragedy at Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of his movie Pushpa 2: The Rule.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday evening, Allu Arjun described the incident as "very unfortunate" and criticised what he called "misinformation" and "character assassination" against him.

"It is a very unfortunate incident, completely accidental. My condolences to the bereaved family. I am receiving updates every hour about the child who was hospitalised, and his condition is improving. There is a lot of misinformation and false allegations being spread. I do not wish to blame any department or politician. However, my character is being unjustly assassinated," Arjun told the media, referring to the December 4 incident at Sandhya Theatre, where a woman was killed and her child injured.

"I'm staying updated on the child's condition. The good news is that he is improving. Despite this tragedy, the child's progress brings some solace," he added.

The tragedy unfolded on December 4, when Allu Arjun attended the premiere of his movie Pushpa 2: The Rule. A large crowd had gathered to see the star, and the situation escalated when Arjun waved to fans from the sunroof of his vehicle, resulting in the death of a woman named Revathi.

Following the incident, Allu Arjun was arrested but was released the next day after securing bail from the Telangana High Court by furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000.

Meanwhile, Allu Arjun's latest release, Pushpa 2: The Rule, directed by Sukumar and co-starring Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil, continues to break box office records.

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2 Passengers Fight Over Armrest Space On Delhi-Bound Air India Flight

Two passengers on board a Delhi-bound Air India flight from Copenhagen (Denmark) came to blows over armrest space just when the aircraft was about to land at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday, a source said.

The flight landed at around 7.35 am.

An Air India official said that the passengers had an argument over some issue at its Copenhagen-Delhi flight of Saturday which was later sorted out "amicably".

According to the source, "The two passengers started an argument over the armrest space in economy class when the cabin crew was serving food and beverages, which turned into a heated exchange. The cabin crew pacified them by giving one of the passengers another seat.

"However, when the aircraft was about to land in Delhi, the passenger came to collect his baggage from the seat he was sitting earlier, they again started the fight and came to blows." The number of passengers on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating AI 158 (Copenhagen-Delhi) could not be known.

The source, however, said that the flight was almost full.

When contacted, an Air India official said, "There was an argument between the two passengers over some issue but it was resolved amicably. They even shook hands before leaving the airport."

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Chandrababu Naidu's Party Launches Its First Membership Drive In Delhi

Close to 500 people registered themselves today as members as the Telugu Desam Party or TDP, a BJP ally, launched its first-ever membership drive in Delhi, drawing an enthusiastic response.

Held at the Masonic Center of India, the membership drive marks a pivotal moment for the TDP as it expands beyond Andhra Pradesh.

The membership drive was led by the Krishna Mohan Alapati, TDP's Delhi leader. He addressed the members about the party's vision of progress and development. Mr Alapati also praised the leadership of N Chandrababu Naidu, party chief and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

"It is not just a TDP drive, it is a drive to strengthen the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and TDP...The drive is very good. A large number of people are arriving to participate in this drive...The party is doing well under the leadership of Nara Lokesh and Chandrababu Naidu...Andhra Pradesh is also growing fast...," Mr Alapati said. 

The alliance of TDP, BJP and Janasena won a landslide victory in the state, bagging 21 parliamentary and 164 assembly seats. The TDP won 16 Lok Sabha seats, BJP three and Janasena two, decimating the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). Out of 25 Lok Sabha seats, NDA won 21 seats while the YSRCP managed to win only four seats.

Six years after severing ties, the TDP joined the BJP-led NDA alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
 
Andhra Pradesh also played a crucial role in Lok Sabha elections with its 25 parliamentary seats, making the TDP's influence pivotal in the NDA's overall strength.  

The party's alliance with the BJP in the NDA adds diversity and depth to the coalition, ensuring that Southern India has a strong voice at the center. This nationwide membership drive sends a strong message about the party's inclusivity and its intent to represent regional interests on a national platform.

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Indian Businessman Ravi Pillai Receives Bahrain's Topmost Award

Indian businessman Dr Ravi Pillai has been awarded Bahrain's prestigious national honour, the Medal of Efficiency, in recognition of his significant contributions to the progress and development of the kingdom, making him the only foreign national to receive the title.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of Bahrain, awarded the prestigious national honour to Mr Pillai, chairman of RP Group, on December 16.

“This esteemed award reflects His Majesty's deep appreciation for Dr Pillai's outstanding contributions to the Kingdom, particularly in the fields of refinery operations, local community development, and the strengthening of Bahrain's global position,” the Royal Order said.

“We appreciate Dr Ravi Pillai for his exceptional service and contributions to the Kingdom, and we are honored to present him with this distinguished award as a sign of our deep gratitude,” the king said in the royal proclamation.

With a turnover of USD 12 billion, his business is the largest employer of Indians outside India, the release said, adding, with 1,26,000 employees, his group is one of the largest remitters of foreign currency to India.

Mr Pillai is also one of the largest investors in India, where he has six five star hotels, two hospitals and three shopping malls and plans to invest USD 2 billion in the next two years in India.

Expressing his heartfelt gratitude, Mr Pillai said, “This award is a reflection of the collective efforts of my team, the support of the people of Bahrain, and the unwavering trust of the Kingdom. I dedicate this award to all the hardworking employees who supported me all these years.” He also added that he dedicates the honour to “all the Indians, especially the expats in the Gulf, whose contributions have been instrumental in the growth and prosperity of the region.” 

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Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Seeking Review Of Bail Order To Senthil Balaji

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea seeking review of an order granting bail to Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case related to a cash-for-jobs scam.

A bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih also dismissed a prayer for conducting open hearing on the review petition.

"Application seeking oral hearing of the review petition is rejected. The review petition seeks review of judgment and order dated September 26, 2024. Having gone through the review petition and the connected papers, we do not find any ground to review the order sought to be reviewed. There is no error apparent on the face of the record," the bench said in its order passed on December 17, and uploaded on the top court website on Saturday.

The bench noted that an application for recall of the same order is pending and is being heard by the court.

The review petition was filed by one of the complainants in the case.

On Friday, while hearing a petition for the recall of the September 26 order, the bench observed it was "terribly wrong" to appoint Balaji as a minister in the Tamil Nadu government days after he was granted bail in the case.

It had said a large number of witnesses were public officials and sought response of the state government on the pending cases against Mr Balaji.

"It can't be axiomatic that the moment a person is released he becomes a minister, there is something terribly wrong. Because there maybe cases and cases where somebody is being framed. In the facts of the case we will have to consider," the bench had remarked.

On September 26, the top court granted bail to DMK strongman Balaji, in the money laundering case after over 15 months, noting there was no possibility of the completion of trial in the near future.

Senthil Balaji, 48, was sworn-in as a minister by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on September 29 and was assigned the same key portfolios -- electricity, non-conventional energy development, prohibition and excise -- that he held previously in the Chief Minister M K Stalin cabinet.

The ED had arrested Mr Balaji, representing Karur assembly constituency, on June 14, 2023, in the case, when he was the transport minister during the previous AIADMK regime between 2011 and 2015.

On February 13, the TN Governor accepted Mr Balaji's resignation from the council of ministers. The top court reprieve on September 26, ended his 471-day incarceration.

On September 2, the top court refused to appoint a special public prosecutor for the trial of the case involving Balaji.

The top court had further underscored the prosecutors dealing with cases of MPs and MLAs were aware of the nature of their responsibilities as these cases were being monitored by the top court.

The Enforcement Directorate had filed a case of money laundering in July 2021 to probe the allegations after three FIRs were registered by the Tamil Nadu police in 2018 and on the basis of complaints by those aggrieved of the alleged scam.

The agency's chargesheet claimed the entire recruitment process in the Tamil Nadu transport department during the tenure of Balaji as minister was turned into a "corrupt chiefdom", and the scam was executed under his authority.

Being a public servant, Mr Balaji "misused" his official capacity as the then transport minister and obtained pecuniary benefits by corrupt and illegal means and directly acquired the proceeds of crime that were generated out of a criminal activity related to a scheduled offence, the agency alleged.

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How Bashar al-Assad's Inner Circle Fled Syria After His Fall

A lightning rebel offensive early this month caught Syria's ruling clan off guard.

President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia on December 8, leaving behind many of his collaborators, some of whom sought refuge in neighbouring countries.

According to two sources, the ousted president, who fled to Moscow via the Russian military airfield in Hmeimim on Syria's coast, was accompanied by only a handful of confidants.

Among them were his closet ally, the secretary-general of presidential affairs Mansour Azzam, as well as his economic adviser Yassar Ibrahim, who oversees the financial empire of Assad and his wife, Asma.

"He left with his secretary and his treasurer," an insider who requested anonymity said, mockingly.

Bashar's brother, Maher al-Assad, commander of the elite Fourth Division tasked with defending Damascus, did not know about his sibling's plans.

Leaving his men stranded, Maher took a separate route, fleeing by helicopter to Iraq before travelling to Russia, according to a Syrian military source.

An Iraqi security source told AFP that Maher arrived in Iraq by plane on December 7 and stayed there for five days.

Maher's wife, Manal al-Jadaan and his son briefly entered Lebanon before departing through Beirut airport, said Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi, without disclosing their final destination.

Another Assad government heavyweight, Ali Mamlouk, the former chief of Syria's security apparatus, fled to Russia via Iraq, said a Syrian military source.

His son passed through Lebanon before leaving for another destination, according to a Lebanese security source.

'Wanted'

The Iraqi Interior Ministry denied on Monday the presence of either Maher al-Assad or Mamlouk in Iraq.

Both are wanted men.

Maher - and Bashar al-Assad - are wanted by France for alleged complicity in war crimes over chemical attacks in Syria in August 2013.

The French courts have already sentenced Mamlouk and Jamil Hassan, former head of Syria's Air Force Intelligence, in absentia to life imprisonment for complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes.

On Friday, the Lebanese authorities received an Interpol alert relaying a US request to arrest Hassan and hand him over to the US authorities, should he enter the country.

The United States accuses Hassan of "war crimes", including overseeing barrel bomb attacks on Syrian people that killed thousands of civilians.

A Lebanese judicial source told AFP that they had no confirmation of Hassan's presence in Lebanon, but assured that he would be detained if found.

Last-minute escapes

Other prominent figures also made hasty escapes.

Bouthaina Shaaban, former translator for Hafez al-Assad - Bashar's father who founded the brutal system of government his son inherited - fled to Lebanon on the night of December 7-8.

Shaaban, Bashar al-Assad's long-time political adviser, then travelled to Abu Dhabi, according to a friend in Beirut.

Kifah Mujahid, head of the Baath Brigades - the military wing of Syria's former ruling party - escaped to Lebanon by boat, a party source told AFP.

Other officials took refuge in their hometowns in Alawite regions, some of them told AFP. Assad hailed from Syria's Alawite minority.

Not all escape attempts were successful.

Ihab Makhlouf, Bashar al-Assad's cousin and a prominent businessman, was killed on December 7 while trying to flee Damascus.

His twin brother, Iyad, was injured in the same incident, said a military official from the former government.

Their elder sibling, Rami Makhlouf, once considered Syria's richest man and a symbol of the regime's corruption, managed to survive. Rami, who fell out of favour with the Assad regime years ago, is believed to be in the United Arab Emirates.

Several other figures close to Assad's government crossed into Lebanon, according to a security source and a source in the business world. These included Ghassan Belal, head of Maher's office, and businessmen Mohammed Hamsho, Khalid Qaddur, Samer Debs and Samir Hassan.

A former Lebanese minister with close ties to Syria said that several senior Syrian military officers were granted safe passage by the Russians to the Hmeimim airbase.

They were rewarded for instructing their troops not to resist the rebel offensive in order to avoid further bloodshed, he said.

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