Middle East

Riyadh warned Germany about man held over Magdeburg attacker

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The suspect was reportedly identified as Taleb A, according to Sputnik.

In 2023, Saudi Arabia contacted Germany through Interpol to request the arrest of Taleb A. on suspicion of terrorist activities. However, German authorities rejected the request as potentially politically motivated. As a result, the man wanted in Saudi Arabia was granted asylum in Germany, German media reported.

Meanwhile, the Welt newspaper reported that the suspect had threatened Germany with a “heavy price” on the X social network for persecuting the “nonbelieving” refugees from Saudi Arabia.

On Friday evening, Germany’s NTV broadcaster reported that a car had rammed into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg. On Saturday, the minister-president of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff said that the attack had left five people dead and more than 200 injured.

Police suspect that the driver was a 50-year-old Saudi man acting alone. The Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported that the suspect had been recognized as a refugee in July 2016 and had a residence permit in Germany.

MNA/

Sports

Request you all to forgive him and leave him alone, says Ashwin on father’s comments

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Previously on Thursday, Ravichandran, father of Ashwin, said humiliation could have been a reason behind the off-spinner quitting international cricket with immediate effect after the end of third Test against Australia at the Gabba, which ended in a draw

Published Date – 19 December 2024, 09:03 PM


Request you all to forgive him and leave him alone, says Ashwin on father’s comments

Ravichandran Ashwin

New Delhi: After Ravichandran Ashwin‘s father claimed he took the shock decision to retire from international cricket because of humiliating treatment, the recently-retired India off-spinner requested everyone to forgive and leave him alone.

“My dad isn’t media trained, dey father enna da ithelaam (What is this father?). I never thought you would follow this rich tradition of ‘dad statements.’ Request you all to forgive him and leave him alone,” posted Ashwin on his ‘X’ account.

Previously on Thursday, Ravichandran, father of Ashwin, said humiliation could have been a reason behind the off-spinner quitting international cricket with immediate effect after the end of third Test against Australia at the Gabba, which ended in a draw.

“I too came to know last minute, actually. What was going on in his mind I don’t know. He just announced. I too accepted it with full pleasure. I did not have any feelings at all for that. But the way he gave his retirement, I was very happy, another part not happy because he should have continued.  The sudden change ‘retirement’ gave us really kind of a shock. At the same time, we were expecting it because humiliation was going on. How long he can tolerate all those things? Probably, he would have decided on his own,” Ravichandran had said to CNN-News18.

Ashwin ended his 14-year international career with 537 wickets at average of 24 in 106 Tests and becoming India’s second leading wicket-taker after legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble.

He also picked an incredible 37 five-wicket hauls in Tests, the second-most in the history of the game, along with eight ten-wicket hauls. Ashwin also scored six Test centuries and 14 fifties with the bat in the longer format.

His last international game was the day-night Test against Australia in Adelaide, where he took 1-53 in his 18 overs and made 29 runs with the bat, as India lost by ten wickets.

Ashwin also played 116 ODIs for India, taking 156 wickets, and being a member of 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy winning teams. Ashwin also played 65 T20I matches and took 72 wickets.

Ashwin was one of 11 allrounders to clinch the double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets in Tests. He also won a record 11 Player-of-the-Series awards, which is level with Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan. He will be seen in action for five-time champions Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025.

India

Mohali building collapse: Five still trapped under rubble, rescue ops underway

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Several excavators pressed into service as part of the rescue operation; police book two building owners in the incident 

Published Date – 22 December 2024, 09:43 AM


Mohali building collapse: Five still trapped under rubble, rescue ops underway

Rescue work underway after a multi-storey building collapsed on Saturday, at Sohana village in Punjabs Mohali district on Sunday. — Photo:PTI

Chandigarh: A rescue operation at the site where a four-storey building collapsed in Sohana village of Punjab’s Mohali district continued on Sunday, officials said. The multi-storey building collapsed on Saturday evening, with at least five people trapped in its rubble. A 20-year-old woman died in the incident on Saturday evening.

The woman hailing from Himachal Pradesh, died after she was pulled out of the debris of the building. She was rescued from the rubble in critical condition and was rushed to a hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries. The rescue effort continued overnight.

A man hailing from Ambala Cantt told reporters at the site that his 29-year-old son, who used to visit a gym in the building, was missing. Police have booked two building owners in the incident. Several excavators were pressed into service as part of the rescue operation.

National Disaster Response Team (NDRF), Army, state rescue teams have been working since Saturday evening to address the crisis. Medical teams, along with an ambulance, have also been deployed at the site since Saturday evening.

As the operation continued at the site, required equipment and machinery have been made available to the rescuers, in addition to those brought by the NDRF and Army.

Top News

"Nothing Short Of Nightmare": Woman Misses Life Event, Slams Air India

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'Nothing Short Of Nightmare': Woman Misses Life Event, Slams Air India

Shivani Bazaz called the experience “nothing sort of a nightmare”

New Delhi:

A woman has shared what she called “nothing short of a nightmare” when an Air India flight delay of 18 hours left her stranded in Italy’s Milan. Due to the long delay and the subsequent hassle in booking another flight and retrieving her checked-in luggage, she said she missed a key part of her sister’s wedding, and lost Rs 50,000 that she paid for a business class upgrade.

“The only reassuring person during this ordeal was Air India’s manager in Milan, Preeti Singh, who promised my luggage would be sent and assured me of a refund for the Rs 50,000 I paid for the upgrade,” Shivani Bazaz, a journalist based in Delhi, said in a post on X today.

“But it has been over a month, and despite countless follow-ups, I am yet to receive the refund. The delay in addressing this has shattered my trust in Air India, an airline I chose in good faith over other options,” Ms Bazaz said.

She said her “nightmare” started on November 5 while traveling from Milan to Delhi. She said the reason why she shared her ordeal with the public was a small effort to hope that “no passenger should have to go through this, especially during such an important time in their life.”

“… It is important because if someone like me who has access to people inside Air India has to go through this, I can’t even imagine what regular passengers have to deal with on a daily basis,” Ms Bazaz said.

Ms Bazaz said what was most upsetting was “the lack of accountability and empathy shown by Air India.”

“I’m sharing this because I hope Air India will take this seriously, expedite my refund and improve their processes so others don’t face such harrowing experiences,” she said.

Air India’s official X handles responded to her posts.

“Dear Ms. Bazaz, we truly apologize for the inconvenience you’ve experienced. Kindly share your booking details via DM. We will get this reviewed on priority,” Air India said.

World

2 freight trains collide in Russia's East Siberian region

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According to the press service of the East Siberian Transport Prosecutor’s Office, the incident occurred at approximately 07:30 local time (2230 GMT Saturday) at 6,623 kilometers on the section between Bushulei and Zhireken.

The first train derailed 35 cars, while the second lost seven coal-loaded cars, according to the press service, as reported by Russia’s TASS news agency.

No injuries have been reported, and a recovery train has been dispatched to the site.

Authorities confirmed there is no threat to environmental safety, and investigators are conducting a thorough inquiry to determine the cause of the collision. 

MNA/

Business

Honda to drive in 3 new models in India by FY27 to tap growth in SUV segment-Telangana Today

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The company, which is present in India through a wholly-owned subsidiary, currently sells just one SUV model — Elevate — in the market with the other two products being Amaze and City sedans.

Published Date – 4 December 2024, 04:09 PM


Honda to drive in 3 new models in India by FY27 to tap growth in SUV segment


New Delhi: Japanese carmaker Honda plans to introduce three new models by the 2026-27 fiscal in India as it looks to tap growth opportunities in the robustly growing SUV segment, according to a top company executive.

The company, which is present in India through a wholly-owned subsidiary, currently sells just one SUV model — Elevate — in the market with the other two products being Amaze and City sedans.

“We plan to introduce three new models, with hybrid and electric powertrains by the 2026-27 fiscal thus expanding the company’s presence in the SUV segment,” Honda Cars India President and CEO Takuya Tsumura told PTI in an interaction.

The new models would encompass both hybrid and battery electric powertrains, he added.

The Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) segment now accounts for over 50 per cent of sales in close to 40 lakh domestic passenger vehicle segments.

Tsumura noted the carmaker continues to develop models, like hybrid and battery electric vehicles, that suit the Indian market.

Honda on Wednesday introduced the third generation of its compact sedan Amaze, priced between Rs 7.99 lakh and Rs 10.89 lakh (ex-showroom).

The model comes with both manual and automatic trims and competes with the likes of Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Hyundai Aura in the compact sedan segment.

“The Amaze has always held a special place in the hearts of Indian customers, and this new generation model reflects our commitment to meeting their evolving needs. We are confident that this new Amaze will set new standards and continue to strengthen Honda’s legacy in India,” Tsumura said.

The company now has ADAS technology introduced in all models in India line up and Amaze is the most affordable ADAS-enabled car in India, he added.

Honda has sold 5.8 lakh units of the Amaze so far in the country.

The first generation of the model was introduced in 2013 while the second generation made its debut in 2018.

When asked about sales expectations for next year, Tsumura noted that the automaker is expecting certain growth to accrue with the new Amaze playing a significant role in it.

Elaborating on the compact sedan segment, Honda Cars India Vice President (Marketing and Sales) Kunal Behl said the vertical still has tremendous scope for growth.

“While the hatchback segment is going down..the Indian consumer wants to go to the next level..to have a three-box sedan. And that is the reason why we believe the segment has a huge potential for growth,” he stated.

The launch of the third-generation Amaze should re-energise the whole lower sedan segment, Behl said.

He noted that 50 per cent of Amaze customers are first-time buyers.

Hyderabad

BRS leaders defend KCR’s contributions to Nalgonda

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At a press conference held at Telangana Bhavan on Sunday, BRS leaders accused Congress figures of spreading misinformation about Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao and his contributions to the development of Nalgonda district. They refuted the claims and asserted that Rao’s efforts had significantly advanced the region.





Published Date – 22 December 2024, 05:02 PM


BRS leaders defend KCR’s contributions to Nalgonda


Hyderabad: Former MLA Gadari Kishore Kumar and other BRS leaders from Nalgonda district strongly criticized Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy for their disparaging remarks against former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao.

Addressing a news conference at Telangana Bhavan on Sunday, BRS leaders accused the Congress leaders of spreading falsehoods about Chandrashekhar Rao and his contributions to the development of Nalgonda district.

Former MP Badugula Lingaiah Yadav highlighted the former CM’s efforts in eradicating fluoride issues in Nalgonda, contrasting it with the Congress leaders’ focus on increasing their wealth. He also mentioned that Nalgonda district now boasts the highest crop yield in the state. BRS leader Kotireddy praised Chandrashekhar Rao for introducing the Rythu Bandhu scheme and providing water to various constituencies through the Kaleshwaram project, while criticizing the Congress government for its failures and unfulfilled promises.

Former MLA Budida Bhikshamayya Goud accused Komatireddy of corruption and challenged him to a debate, questioning his contributions during his tenure. Kusukuntla Prabhakar Reddy labeled Komatireddy as a political broker and questioned his loyalty to the Congress party, accusing him of supporting BJP during the Munugode by-elections and claiming that development in Munugode happened only under BRS rule.

Chintala Venkateshwar Reddy criticized Komatireddy for his inconsistent statements and accused him of disrespecting the CM’s position. He urged Revanth Reddy to change his ways and accused Congress leaders of pursuing personal vendettas.

Middle East

Iran has no proxy forces in region: Leader

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A group of eulogists and elegists of Ahl ul-Bayt (AS) held a meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei at Imam Khomeini (RA) Hosseiniyah on Sunday morning on the occasion of Hazrat Fatemeh’s birth anniversary (SA).

A number of the eulogists delivered eulogies about the virtues and characteristics of Ahl ul-Bayt (AS) during the meeting.

Addressing the participants, the Leader stressed that the Islamic Republic has no proxies in the region and that the Resistance forces in Yemen, Lebanon, and Palestine are fighting because of their faith.

If Iran ever decides to take action, it would not require a proxy force to do so, the Leader underlined.

He added that the US strategy for dominating countries is one of two things: either creating a tyrannical government or creating chaos.

An American official has said that the US would support any riot in Iran, he criticized, emphasizing that the Iranian nation will stand against anyone who accepts the American plot in this regard.

He stressed that the Americans, the Zionist regime, and their allies mistakenly believe they have emerged victorious, that’s why they make absurd statements.

Saying that the Israeli regime has failed to achieve its goals of destroying Hamas and Hezbollah, Ayatollah Khamenei cited that the honorable nations of the region, by God’s grace, will eradicate the infamous Israeli regime and create a better tomorrow for the region.

MP/6323688

Top News

Allu Arjun urges fans to exercise caution, maintain decorum both online and offline

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On Sunday, the actor, who has been mired in controversies of late, penned a note requesting his fans to maintain the decorum

Published Date – 22 December 2024, 05:20 PM


Allu Arjun urges fans to exercise caution, maintain decorum both online and offline


Mumbai: Telugu superstar Allu Arjun, who is receiving a lot of positive response for his recently released blockbuster ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’, has urged his fans to exercise caution while using social media and even in real life.

On Sunday, the actor, who has been mired in controversies of late, penned a note requesting his fans to maintain the decorum.

He wrote, “I appeal to all my fans to express their feelings responsibly, as always and not resort to any kind of abusive language or behavior both online and offline. Misrepresentation as my fans with fake IDs and fake profiles, if someone indulges in abusive posts, strong action will be taken against them. I request the fans to not engage with such posts”.

The past few days have been extremely testing for the actor as he was arrested in Hyderabad after a stampede at a local theatre.

Allu Arjun was arrested in connection to a fan death at Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of his latest film, ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’. The actor is the fourth person to be arrested in the case.

Following his arrest, the actor was granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court, however, the Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, blamed the actor’s careless attitude as the cause behind the stampede, resulting in death of a woman.

Responding to the issue after AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi raised it in the Assembly, Reddy, referring to videos in circulation, and found fault with the actor for holding a roadshow and waving to the fans in spite of the heavy crowd. He further said that the actor attended the benefit show of Pushpa 2 even after he was denied permission.

Responding to the allegations, the actor in a press conference claimed that he visited Sandhya Theater with due permissions and had left the place once requested by the police.

Sports

Bottas returns to Mercedes as F1 reserve driver for 2025 season

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Valtteri Bottas will return to Mercedes as its reserve driver for next year, the Formula 1 team said Thursday.

Published Date – 19 December 2024, 11:35 PM


Bottas returns to Mercedes as F1 reserve driver for 2025 season


London: Valtteri Bottas will return to Mercedes as its reserve driver for next year, the Formula 1 team said Thursday.

Bottas won 10 races over five seasons at Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate from 2017-21. He did not score a point this season with Sauber and the team replaced him and Zhou Guanyu with a new lineup of the experienced Nico Hulkenberg and Brazilian newcomer Gabriel Bortoleto, ahead of rebranding as the Audi works team in 2026.

Bottas’ return to Mercedes was made possible after Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, moved on from his Mercedes reserve driver role after two years.

“I’m happy to finally answer the question I’ve posed over the past month,” the 35-year-old Finn said. “Returning home to the Mercedes family as third driver for 2025 is what’s next and I couldn’t be more pleased. Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know that I’ve still got so much more to contribute to F1.”