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On Ayodhya Visit, PM's Detour For Tea At Welfare Scheme Beneficiary's Home

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On Ayodhya Visit, PM's Detour For Tea At Welfare Scheme Beneficiary's Home

PM Narendra Modi meets the beneficiary family of the Ujjwala scheme in Ayodhya

Ayodhya:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited the house of a woman who is the tenth-crore beneficiary the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya today.

PM Modi was offered tea at the home of the beneficiary of the flagship scheme that provides clean cooking fuel such as LPG cylinders to rural and deprived households, which otherwise had been using firewood, coal, and cow-dung cakes.

Using traditional cooking fuels had detrimental impacts on the health of rural women as well as on the environment.

A large crowd greeted PM Modi as he walked on the narrow streets of Ayodhya. The Prime Minister also signed on a painting that a boy showed him.

Earlier today, PM Modi inaugurated the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station and flagged off two Amrit Bharat and six Vande Bharat trains, some virtually.

He will also inaugurate an airport and lay the foundation stones for development projects in UP.

After inaugurating the railway station, PM Modi took a tour of the facility. He was accompanied by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, among others.

The Phase-I of the redeveloped station — Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station — has been completed at a cost of more than Rs 240 crore, officials said.

The three-storey railway station building is equipped with features such as lifts, escalators, food plazas, shops for puja needs, cloak rooms, child care rooms, waiting halls.

This visit by the Prime Minister comes ahead of the ‘pran pratishtha’ or consecration ceremony of the Ram temple. It is currently under construction, with the consecration ceremony to be held on January 22.

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Two hit by speeding train killed in Hyderabad

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Fatalities Reported as Speeding Train Strikes Two on Bhavaninagar Railway Tracks

Published Date – 04:24 PM, Sat – 30 December 23


Two hit by speeding train killed in Hyderabad

Representational Image

Hyderabad: Two persons died allegedly after being hit by a speeding train on the railway tracks in Bhavaninagar in the old city on Friday night.

The victims were identified as Arif Patel and Syed Imran, both from the neighbourhood.

Police sources said preliminary enquiries and the account of eye witnesses indicate that the incident occurred when the duo was having an argument over an unknown matter while standing on the railway track near Talab Katta. There were few other persons who fled from the spot.

On receiving information, the Bhavaninagar police and the Government Railway Police reached the spot and inspected.

The Railway police are investigating. The bodies were shifted to the Osmania General Hospital for autopsy.

According to locals, there have been many incidents of fights, group clashes by youngsters under the influence of alcohol or drugs on the railway tracks in the past. There were also incidents of murders and suicides.

Local public representatives inspected the spot on Saturday and requested the police to take up thorough investigation.

Hyderabad

University of Hyderabad faculty bags JC Bose Fellowship

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Dr. Samar Kumar Das, a distinguished member of the School of Chemistry at the University of Hyderabad (UoH), has been honored with the esteemed JC Bose fellowship in recognition of his significant research endeavors.

Published Date – 04:55 PM, Sat – 30 December 23


University of Hyderabad faculty bags JC Bose Fellowship


Hyderabad: Prof. Samar Kumar Das, faculty at the School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad (UoH) has been awarded the prestigious JC Bose fellowship, for his research contribution in the area of achieving sustainable / renewable-energy.

Prof. Das has been exploring functional inorganic materials that are vital to address the issues of sustainable / renewable-energy and a clean environment, the UoH said.

In order to contribute to these contemporary issues, he has been working on a water splitting project to develop inexpensive metal-oxide based materials that not only work as catalysts for water splitting but also exhibit proton conductivity and oxygen reduction for the fuel cells (sustainable energy issue), it said. His group developed materials that can sense toxic substances, e.g., azide anion and methanol (health care issue) and can be used to capture aerial CO2 (environment issue).

During the next five-years of JC Bose fellowship, Prof. Das and his group would like to work on photo and electro-catalytic water splitting, electro-catalysis in general and developing metal-oxide based (inexpensive) proton exchange membranes for fuel cells to achieve carbon-free sustainable energy, it added.

World

US could be drawn into Ukraine conflict: US president

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In a statement on Friday, Biden condemned Russia’s latest missile barrage on the neighboring country, calling it a “brutal attack” and claiming that Moscow wants to “obliterate Ukraine and subjugate its people,” Russia Today reported. 

The Russian Defense Ministry had earlier said its forces conducted 50 “group” strikes and a single “massive” barrage in recent days, successfully hitting military infrastructure and troop positions.

Against this backdrop, the US president said that “the stakes of this fight extend far beyond Ukraine” and affect the security of both NATO and Europe. “When dictators and autocrats are allowed to run roughshod in Europe, the risk rises that the United States gets pulled in directly. And the consequences reverberate around the world,” he added.

Reiterating that the US “cannot let Ukraine down,” he urged Congress to approve his supplemental funding request, which includes more than $60 billion for the embattled country.

Republicans have been reluctant to give the greenlight for several weeks, demanding that Biden do more to bolster security on the southern US border. Meanwhile, the White House has repeatedly warned that without congressional approval, authorized funds for Ukraine will soon run out.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month that Biden’s claims that Moscow could attack NATO were “complete nonsense.” He suggested that his American counterpart understood that as well, but had to cling to this narrative to justify his “misguided” policies on Russia.

In addition, Russian officials have for decades voiced concerns about the alliance’s creeping expansion, with Putin citing Ukraine’s plans to join NATO as one of the key reasons for the intervention against that country. Moscow has also repeatedly called Western countries “direct participants” in the conflict due to their arms shipments to Kiev.

Anatoly Antonov, Moscow’s ambassador to Washington, weighed in on Biden’s latest comments, saying the US reaction to the missile barrage “demonstrates the effectiveness of the special military operation.” He also described the president’s statement as an admission that Washington and its allies are “waging a hybrid war against Russia” in a fruitless campaign to defeat it on the battlefield and cripple its economy.

MNA/PR

India

IMD predicts very dense fog over northern India

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IMD said that cold day conditions are likely to continue over some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and north Rajasthan on Saturday and Sunday

Published Date – 04:11 PM, Sat – 30 December 23


IMD predicts very dense fog over northern India


New Delhi: India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a red alert, saying that very dense fog is likely to continue over many parts of plains of Northwest and adjoining Central India and likely to further extend to East India during next two days.

The weather forecast agency said that cold day conditions are likely to continue over some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and north Rajasthan on Saturday and Sunday.

In its daily bulletin, the IMD said that very dense fog conditions (visibility 50 m) are very likely to prevail over many parts of Punjab during late evening to next day morning and over West Uttar Pradesh during mid night and morning hours till January 4, over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, East Uttar Pradesh till January 1. While dense fog conditions (visibility 50-200 m) are very likely to prevail for a few hours in early morning/morning hours over Uttarakhand till January 4, north Madhya Pradesh, north Rajasthan, Jharkhand on Sunday and January 1. Similar conditions are expected at Gangetic West Bengal on Sunday, Odisha, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura during Sunday and January 2.

The IMD said that under the influence of a feeble Western Disturbance, light isolated rainfall/snowfall is very likely over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Saturday and Sunday.

The IMD further also predicted fall by 2-3 degree Celsius in maximum temperatures are likely over many parts of Central and Northwest India during next two days and no significant change thereafter.

The IMD also said that due to a fresh easterly wave and Low Pressure Area over West Equatorial Indian Ocean and adjoining Southeast Arabian Sea; light to moderate rainfall at some places very likely over south Tamil Nadu, south Kerala and Lakshadweep from till January 3 with isolated heavy rainfall over south Tamil Nadu on Saturday.

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Shami "Took Injections" During WC: Report Reveals Pacer's 'Chronic Issue'

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Mohammed Shami‘s absence was heavily felt during India vs South Africa first Test. The Indian cricket team pacers leaked runs as South Africa batter piled on runs. Jasprit Bumrah did not have proper support as the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur failed to live up to the expectations. Mohammed Shami, Cricket World Cup 2023’s highest wicket-taker, could have been handy in such a situation. However, he is nursing an injury and missed the series.

In a report titled, “Prasidh’s performance hints at bare bench strength” news agency PTI revealed that Shami played the World Cup with pain.

“Shami has a chronic left heel issue. A lot of people don’t know that he took injections regularly during World Cup and played the entire tournament through pain. But you must understand that as you grow older, recovery from each niggle or big injury takes that more time,” a former Bengal teammate of Shami, aware of his situation told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

Mohammed Shami opened up on the Men in Blue’s six-wicket loss against Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 final match and said that the nation was disappointed after the defeat. While speaking to the press, Shami said that the hosts gave their best to continue the momentum throughout the tournament and win the final match.

The 33-year-old added that they cannot explain where they went wrong during the final match of the ODI World Cup 2023 against Australia.

“The whole nation was disappointed (when India lost the World Cup). We tried hundred per cent to continue the momentum till the end that we had created and win the final. But…it cannot be explained, where we went wrong at the end…,” Shami said.

After India’s loss, PM Narendra Modi met the players in the dressing room and comforted them. The video of that meeting was widely shared. In that meeting, PM Modi hugged Shami and congratulated him for his performance. That video went viral on social media and grabbed mixed reactions from the viewers.

In an interview with Aaj Tak on Wednesday, Shami revealed that the Indian cricket team players were not ready for the PM’s visit as it came as a surprise for them.

“We were heartbroken after the loss and were sitting dejectedly. It was like our hard work of two months got negated due to just one match. It was our bad day and we were dejected but when the PM enters, you have to keep your head high. We were not even told that Modiji was coming there and suddenly he entered. Earlier, we were not even in the mood to eat and talk to each other but when he came, it was such a big surprise for us,” said Shami.

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Hyderabad

Man hangs self while on video call with pregnant wife in Hyderabad

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M. Naresh (28), working in the signaling department of the Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited, took the extreme step at his house in Saraswati Colony in Uppal allegedly over a dispute with his wife.

Updated On – 04:44 PM, Sat – 30 December 23


Man hangs self while on video call with pregnant wife in Hyderabad

Representational Image

Hyderabad: A man died by suicide by hanging while on a video call with his pregnant wife at Uppal.

M. Naresh (28), working in the signaling department of the Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited, took the extreme step at his house in Saraswati Colony in Uppal allegedly over a dispute with his wife. He was on a video call with his wife Nityasri, who had gone to her parents’ house in Yadadri Bhongir district.

According to police, Naresh and Nityasri, both from the same district had married a year ago and Nityasri was pregnant. She had gone to her parents’ house a week ago to take part in few rituals. “The couple has been having frequent arguments over Nityasri staying with her parents. Apart from this, other disputes too had cropped up between them,” police said.

Upset over it, Naresh made a video call to his wife while tying a noose around his neck and hanged from the ceiling fan, even as his wife watched him on the phone in shock. Alerted by Nitaysri’s family, the police reached the spot and shifted the body to the Gandhi Hospital for autopsy.

Uppal police have taken up investigation.

World

Top Egypt official expects exchange of ambassadors with Iran in near future

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This illustrative picture shows the national flags of Egypt (L) and Iran.

A high-ranking Egyptian official says the Northeast African country and Iran are expected to fully restore diplomatic ties and exchange respective ambassadors in the near future after decades of estrangement.

Member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, Rakha Ahmad Hassan, said in an interview with the Arabic service of Russia’s Sputnik news agency on Friday that an exchange of ambassadors is likely to happen soon.

He pointed out that Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi’s congratulations to his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi after his victory in the recent presidential election means that relations between Cairo and Tehran have reached the highest level.

The two heads of state discussed several issues, including restoration of diplomatic ties as well as unfolding developments in the Gaza Strip and the Red Sea, during the telephone conversation this month, Hassan noted.

“The current level of relations between the two countries indicates that the exchange of ambassadors is imminent. Latest remarks by Oman’s ruler, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, also suggest that efforts are being made in the region in this regard as he touched on the matter and the consequences that the rapprochement could bring about,” the senior Egyptian official pointed out.

He emphasized that re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Iran will complete the cycle of resolving regional crises, especially after the recent rapprochement between Riyadh and Tehran, and initiatives aimed at ending the Yemeni conflict.

Iran’s further involvement in the Arab world will not only increase the proportion of trade exchange with Arab states, but will also contribute to regional stability and progress, Hassan highlighted.

Egypt severed its diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 after it welcomed the deposed Pahlavi ruler of Iran and also recognized the apartheid Israeli regime.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

Middle East

Biden bypasses Congress again to rush weapons to Israel

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US President Joe Biden’s administration has for a second time in less than a month bypassed Congress in order to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel despite growing international outrage over Washington’s support for the Tel Aviv regime’s genocidal war on Gaza.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was cited by the State Department as saying in a statement on Friday that he had made a second emergency determination covering a $147.5m sale of arms to Israel amid Tel Aviv’s ongoing war in Gaza.

Blinken said Israel had requested that fuses, chargers and primers of 155mm high-explosive artillery munitions be added to previous purchases, increasing their estimated total cost from US$96.51 million to US$147.5 million and requiring a new notification.

The sale was approved under an emergency provision that waives the usual congressional review.

The same provision was used earlier in December to approve the sale of nearly 14,000 rounds of 120mm tank ammunition, which is worth more than $106m.

“Given the urgency of Israel’s … needs, the secretary notified Congress that he had exercised his delegated authority to determine an emergency existed necessitating the immediate approval of the transfer,” the State Department said, stressing that, “The United States is committed to the security of Israel.”

Friday’s emergency determination comes as the United States and its Western allies are pressing ahead with their financial and logistical support to Israel in its brutal aggression against Gaza since early October.

The United States has since supplied the Tel Aviv regime with more than 10,000 tons of military equipment, and used its veto power against all United Nations Security Council resolutions that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

The international rights advocacy groups as well as Palestinian resistance movements have described Washington as an accomplice in Israel’s genocidal war.

The Tel Aviv regime launched the devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory’s Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.

The relentless Israeli military campaign against Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 21,000 people, most of them children and women.

Over 55,000 individuals have also been wounded, with thousands more believed lost and buried under the rubble.

The United Nations has described the situation in Gaza as “beyond catastrophic”, with residents struggling to find food, water and fuel, while living in crowded shelters or tents.

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Premium Processing Free For H-1B Visas Raised By 12%

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Premium Processing Free For H-1B Visas Raised By 12%

The online registration for H-1B visa applications begins in March (Representational)

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently announced a 12% increase in visa application processing fees across all categories, including the widely used H-1B visa. 

The H-1B visa permits US companies to employ foreign workers in specialized occupations requiring theoretical or technical expertise. Effective February 26 of the upcoming year, the new fee for H-1B visa applications will be $2,805 (Rs 2,33,513), up from the current fee of $2,500 (Rs 2,08,122). 

This fee increase also applies to premium processing fees for forms I-129, I-140, I-539, and I-765, as announced on December 27. For instance, processing fees for Form I-539 (utilized by international students, spouses, and dependents of H-1B visa holders upgrading their non-immigrant status) have been raised to $1,965 (Rs 1,63,583) from $1,750 (Rs 1,45,685). 

Similarly, the fee for Form I-765 (allowing individuals, including F-1 students applying for optional practical training (OPT), to seek employment authorization) has increased to $1,685 (Rs 1,40,274) from $1,500 (Rs 1,24,873).

US attorneys recommend employers factor these updated processing fees into their immigration budget planning for 2024. The online registration for H-1B visa applications begins in March, followed by a lottery system and the final visa application process for selected candidates.

The increase in H-1B visa processing fees is due to inflation between June 2021 and June 2023. The additional funds will be used to improve processing services, enhance operations, and respond more quickly to adjudication matters. This aims to make the visa process more efficient and effective. If you choose premium processing for certain visa applications, it means your case gets decided faster. For example, Form I-439 and Form I-765 take 30 days, while H-1B premium processing only takes 15 days. 

Recently, a new program got approved that allows qualified H-1B visa applicants to renew their work visa without having to travel abroad. The program, approved on December 15, will issue 20,000 visas to foreign nationals already in the country over three months starting in December.