Singareni CMD Sridhar’s tenure not extended; asked to report to GAD

According to an order issued by the State government, SCCL director (Finance) N Balram has been given full additional charge of the post of CMD.

Published Date – 10:46 AM, Tue – 2 January 24


Singareni CMD Sridhar’s tenure not extended; asked to report to GAD

Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) Chairman and Managing Director N Sridhar

Hyderabad: Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) Chairman and Managing Director N Sridhar, whose tenure ended on December 31, has not been given an extension and has been asked to report to the General Administration Department.

According to an order issued by the State government, SCCL director (Finance) N Balram has been given full additional charge of the post of CMD.


Sridhar took over charge as Chairman & Managing Director of Singareni Collieries on January 1, 2015. He has already been selected as new the Chairman and Managing Director of the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC).

Iran, Azerbaijan exchange of goods to grow to 2 mn tons

Speaking in an interview with IRNA, Kheirollah Khademi pointed to the inauguration of the border bridge between Iran and Azerbaijan and said boosting the trade exchanges with the neighboring states is one of the main programs of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development.

The creation of new communication roads to these countries can help boost the infrastructures and increase the economic exchanges to a great extent, the deputy roads minister maintained.

The Astara region is one of the highly-used transportation roads between the two countries and a gateway of the Islamic of Iran to the Caucasus and European countries and Russia, he stated.

Intensive negotiations were held between the heads of the Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission to increase the transit capacity via the common borders of the two countries, he said, adding, “It is hoped that the newly-inaugurated Astarachay Bridge will help boost the exchange of goods and transit of passengers.”

A new bridge that connects Astara in northwestern Iran to the city of the same name in the southeast of the Republic of Azerbaijan was put into operation at the common border on Saturday.

It was inaugurated at a ceremony attended by Iranian Roads Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev.

The border bridge has a width of 32 meters and is 89 meters long. It completes a major section of an international highway that connects Iran’s Rasht to the Azeri capital of Baku.

The foundation of the new bridge over the Astarachay River was laid in January 2022.

MNA/TSN

Zomato hikes platform fee to Rs 4 across key cities after bumper NY Eve-Telangana Today

The new rates were effective from January 1.

Published Date – 10:37 AM, Tue – 2 January 24


Zomato hikes platform fee to Rs 4 across key cities after bumper NY Eve


New Delhi: Buoyed by record food orders on New Year’s Eve, food delivery platform Zomato increased its mandatory platform fee to Rs 4 from Rs 3 per order across key markets.

The new rates were effective from January 1.


New Year’s Eve saw Zomato temporarily increasing its platform fee as high as Rs 9 per order in certain markets.

The company’s shares opened high (were hovering around Rs 126 in morning) on Tuesday after international brokerage firm CLSA remained bullish on its stock.

In August last year, Zomato introduced a Rs 2 platform fee to improve its margins and become profitable.

The company later increased the platform fee to Rs 3 before raising it again on January 1 to Rs 4. The new platform fee is levied on all customers, including Zomato Gold.

Zomato and its quick commerce platform Blinkit saw highest-ever orders and bookings on the New Year’s Eve, compared to previous years.

“We have delivered almost as many orders on NYE 23 as we did on NYE 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 combined. Excited about the future!” Zomato Founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal posted on X.

Albinder Dhindsa, CEO, Blinkit said they crossed the total number of orders they did on NYE 2022 in the evening only.

“We’ve already hit highest-ever orders in a day, OPM (orders per minute), soft drinks and tonic water sold in a day, chips sold in a day, tips given to riders in a day (thank you India),” Dhindsa informed.

Meanwhile, Zomato received notices from the tax authorities in Delhi and Karnataka over alleged short payment of goods and services tax (GST) amounting to Rs 4.2 crore.

Zomato said it will appeal against the tax demand notices.

This came after Zomato received Rs 400 crore show-cause notice from the goods and services tax authorities over unpaid dues collected as “delivery charges”.

UK Couple Transform Their 1930s home, It's Value Goes Up By Rs 2 Crore

UK Couple Transform Their 1930s home, Its Value Goes Up By Rs 2 Crore

With DIY renovations, the couple increased the value of their house massively.

Effective renovation work has the potential to significantly enhance both the value and condition of any house. With meticulous attention and skilled supervision, any structure has the ability to undergo a transformative process, ultimately becoming a highly valuable and desirable space. Proper planning, skilled craftsmanship, and architectural supervision are crucial elements in achieving a successful renovation.

According to The Metro, a couple from Brighton, UK, have added a whopping 175,000 pounds (Rs 1,85,42492) to their property value by DIYing every room in their home. Since buying their three-bedroom house for 436,000 pounds in June 2021, Charlotte and Bobby Buckingham, 32 and 35, have spent 60,000 pounds renovating nearly every room in their 1930s home.

DIY stands for “do it yourself.” It is the act of making, repairing, or modifying things for yourself rather than paying someone else to do it for you.

The couple undertook a comprehensive overhaul, redesigning the lounge, hallway, and utility room. They also extended the rear of the house to craft a multi-functional space that combines a kitchen, dining area, living space, and play area. Notably, the new design incorporates distinctive elements, including a climbing wall.

Watch the video of the renovation project:

The main bathroom remains untouched for now, as the couple has plans to renovate it at a later time.

According to the assessment conducted by Charlotte and Bobby Buckingham, the value of their house has seen a substantial increase, reaching 620,000 pounds (Rs 6,56,93,402).

“We have knocked through the old kitchen and bedroom, knocked down the old conservatory, and built a new asymmetrical pitched roof extension with black bifolds and an exposed steel beam,” Charlotte, who works as a physiotherapist, told The Metro.

“We DIY because we can’t afford to buy. Examples of this include a corner outdoor sofa, a dining table and bench, and built-in wardrobes.”

Chhattisgarh: Man strangulates wife, 3 children over suspicion of her infidelity

The murdered children – two girls aged 4 and 5 and a 2-year-old son.

Published Date – 10:25 AM, Tue – 2 January 24


Chhattisgarh: Man strangulates wife, 3 children over suspicion of her infidelity


Bilaspur: A man allegedly killed his wife and their three minor children by strangulating them in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh over suspicion of her infidelity, a police official said on Tuesday.

An investigation has begun into the incident that took place on Monday in Hirri village under Masturi police station limits, according to Bilaspur Superintendant of Police Santosh Singh.


The 34-year-old accused identified as Umendra Kevat has been arrested on charges of murder, the police official said. The murdered children – two girls aged 4 and 5 and a 2-year-old son, Bilaspur SP said.

Meanwhile, a woman allegedly shot dead her husband and elder brother-in-law over a family dispute in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain district on Monday, police said.

The incident occurred in Ingoriya village under the jurisdiction of Ingoriya police station in the district on Monday morning, a senior police officer said. The woman’s husband died on the spot while her elder brother-in-law sustained injuries in the incident. The family members took him to Ujjain Civil Hospital where doctors declared him dead, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP, Rural) Nitesh Bhargav said.

“On Monday morning, a woman, who is an Anganwadi worker, opened fire on her husband and her elder brother-in-law. The husband died on the spot and later the brother-in-law also died. In the preliminary investigation, it came to light that there was some family dispute and there was some land-related issue in which the woman was also demanding a stake in the land,” the ASP said.

Nonetheless, an investigation into the matter is underway and further action will be taken based on evidence, he added.

"Deeply Shocked": 'RRR' Star Jr NTR Returns From Earthquake-Hit Japan

'Deeply Shocked': 'RRR' Star Jr NTR Returns From Earthquake-Hit Japan

Jr NTR, who spent the last week in Japan, said he was “deeply shocked” by the earthquakes.

Hyderabad:

“RRR” star Jr NTR on Tuesday morning said he had returned from Japan and wished for its swift recovery after a series of powerful earthquakes hit the island country.

The quakes struck the western region of Japan, leaving at least eight people dead and damaging buildings, vehicles and boats, with officials warning people in some areas on Tuesday to stay away from their homes because of a risk of more strong quakes.

Jr NTR, who spent the last week in Japan, in a post on X said he was “deeply shocked” by the earthquakes in the country.

“Back home today from Japan and deeply shocked by the earthquakes hitting. Spent the entire last week there, and my heart goes out to everyone affected. Grateful for the resilience of the people and hoping for a swift recovery. Stay strong, Japan,” the actor wrote on the microblogging site.

“RRR”, a period action drama also starring Ram Charan, had emerged as the highest grossing Indian film upon its release in Japan in 2022. The SS Rajamouli directorial had raised over 410 million yen (Rs 24.13 crore approximately) at the Japanese box office.

On Monday, the quakes, the largest of which had a magnitude of 7.6, also started a fire and collapsed buildings on the west coast of Japan’s main island, Honshu, causing the country to drop its highest-level tsunami alert after issuing one following a series of major earthquakes.

Aftershocks continued to shake Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas a day after a magnitude 7.6 temblor slammed the area on Monday afternoon.

Eight people were confirmed dead in Wajima city, officials said. Seven others were seriously injured, while damage to homes was so great that it could not immediately be assessed, they said.

Kyodo news agency reported at least 13 deaths had been confirmed.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Israel’s friends planning for post-Israel era: Iranian FM

During a briefing session on Sunday, Amir-Abdollahian provided members of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission with a comprehensive report on the latest developments in the region arising from the Israeli regime’s war of aggression against the Gaza Strip.

Zahra Elahian, a committee member, told IRNA that the foreign minister said the Al-Aqsa Storm operation, launched by the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas on October 7, was a “turning point” for the Resistance front in the region.

“Today, the Zionist regime is in such a state that even its friends do not hold hope for it and are thinking about a post-Israel era,” Elahian quoted the top Iranian diplomat as saying.

The foreign minister also pointed out that the United States is currently facing unprecedented pressure at home and abroad over its support for the Israeli regime, she added.

Elahian said that Amir-Abdollahian also provided lawmakers with a detailed report on the ongoing diplomatic efforts to support the Palestinian people, including negotiations with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan.

MNA/IRN

US statesmen facing serious challenge regarding Gaza war

Speaking at a ceremony at Tehran University on Monday night, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that the Israeli regime is pursuing dreams that would not come true.

“They announced that they would quickly destroy Hamas, but this did not happen during this time. They announced that they would disarm Hamas through military, air, ground, and sea operations, but that did not happen,” he stressed, adding that the Zionists failed to advance their plans.

Today, the rulers of the occupying Zionist regime and the American statesmen who talked about the destruction of Hamas are sending messages to Hamas and negotiating with Hamas in third countries on how to control Gaza after the war and how to exchange Palestinian prisoners with Zionist prisoners, he further stressed.

“This shows that the resistance has moved in the right direction and the resistance has been able to bring a great victory,” he added.

Today, in our region, the culture of resistance and the concept of resistance are deeply intertwined with the concept of security, both at the national, regional, and global levels, Amir-Abdollahian said, emphasizing that the memory of martyr Soleimani will not be forgotten in the resistance culture.

MP/5982826

Japan quake toll reaches 24, search on for survivors

The earthquakes struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture at a shallow depth.

Published Date – 10:00 AM, Tue – 2 January 24


Japan quake toll reaches 24, search on for survivors

Houses fallen by an earthquake are seen in Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

Tokyo: The number of people who have died as a result of a series of strong earthquakes, with major ones measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, hit central Japan and the surrounding areas to 24 as search operations continued for survivors, authorities said on Tuesday.

On Monday, the earthquakes struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture at a shallow depth, reports Xinhua news agency. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has officially named it the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake.


Since Monday, Japan has been hit by at least 155 quakes. According to the Wajima city authority, the victims included a male teenager. A large-scale fire broke out around the famous tourist spot Wajima morning market, engulfing approximately 200 buildings. The city also experienced building collapses, with 14 cases of people being buried.

As more damage reports and information about people trapped continued to come in regarding other municipalities, injuries were reported in Niigata, Toyama, Fukui, and Gifu prefectures due to collapsed or damaged buildings.

Calling the rescue of those impacted by the earthquakes a battle against time,Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday said that the government has already dispatched a number of self-defense force troops to the impacted areas and will continue to provide assistance.

Meanwhile, all tsunami advisories in Japan have been removed, the JMA said in its latest update on Tuesday morning. Following the temblors, a major tsunami warning was issued by the Agency for the Noto region, urging people to evacuate immediately. Tsunami warnings were also in place for Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa prefectures.

The first waves reportedly hit the coast just over 10 minutes later after the earthquake struck. Tsunami waves of up to 4 feet hit a number of areas along the country’s western coast. Currently, some 45,700 households are without power in Ishikawa prefecture, according to the Hokuriku Electric Power company on Tuesday.

Japan’s public broadcaster NHK said that four bullet trains, whose high-speed journeys were halted on Monday, have now resumed service to their destinations, reports CNN. The high-speed trains had been stranded between the central cities of Toyama and Kanazawa.

After being stationary for more than 11 hours, two trains arrived at the Toyama station at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, officials said.

Another two trains traveling in the opposite direction arrived at the Kanazawa station in Ishiwaka prefecture. Nearly 1,400 passengers had been stranded inside the high-speed trains, NHK said, citing Japan Railways West. Japan is one of the most seismically active nations on Earth, owing to its location on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where many tectonic plates meet.

The 9.0-magnitude earthquake which hit Japan in 2011 resulted in a tsunami – which tore through the country’s north-eastern coastal communities, killing almost 18,000 people and displacing tens of thousands. Those tsunami waves triggered a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima power plant, causing the most serious nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 24

According to emergency services, at least 50 more people suffered injuries of varying severity.

The most difficult situation is in Ishikawa Prefecture, which is closest to the epicenter of the ongoing earthquakes.

More than 200 houses are engulfed in fire there, over 100 residential buildings have collapsed, and people may be trapped under the rubble, TASS reported.

Rescuers and firefighters are working on the spot, and units of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces have been sent to the region to help eliminate the consequences of the tragedy.

Since Monday, more than 150 earthquakes of varying strength have occurred in Japan, the most powerful of which had a magnitude of 7.6. The tsunami threat for the entire western coast of the country remained for more than 20 hours. The earthquake was the most powerful to hit this part of Japan since 1885.

MP/PR