Israeli Strike Nearly Kills Entire Lebanon Family

Hussein Barjawi had invited his daughter, her husband and their two young sons to dinner in south Lebanon, but an Israeli strike nearly wiped them all out, an official said Thursday. A security source said a Hezbollah commander and two fighters from the powerful Lebanese movement were killed in the Israeli strike that targeted a building in the southern city of Nabatiyeh on Wednesday and also killed seven civilians from the same family. Lebanon's official National News Agency had reported that Hussein Barjawi, his daughters Amani and Zeinab, his sister Fatima and Zeinab's son Mahmud Amer were killed in the strike, while Hussein Amer, a small boy, was pulled alive from the rubble.The security source later told AFP that Barjawi's wife and niece were also killed. It was the bloodiest civilian death count from a single strike on Lebanon since cross-border hostilities erupted in October between Israel and the Iran-backed group.  Amin Shomar, a local official in south Lebanon, said Ali Amer, his wife and their two sons, aged three and four, had been "invited over to his father-in-law's house in Nabatiyeh for dinner". Amer was "badly wounded" in the strike and was taken to hospital, Shomar told AFP, while his wife and son were killed and his other son was pulled from the rubble alive.  

Cow transformed into Valentine’s Day canvas sparks social media frenzy

A man found a unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year. Instead of traditional cards or chocolates, he opted for something that is a bit more…udderly unexpected. An unsuspecting cow was turned into cupid’s canvas as the unknown artist decided to ditch the ordinary and deck the cow in a vibrant array of reds, pinks and blue, transforming the animal into a walking work of art. It became an unlikely muse for this Valentine’s Day masterpiece. The new look has taken the internet by storm. The post shared by @Rainmaker1973 got 25k views, 1.9k saves and 5.5k retweets within seconds. As the video of the bovine spread like wildfire across the social media platform X, netizens couldn’t help but churn out pun after pun in response. Comments ranged from hilarious to funny. An X user wrote, “I love how I see this kind of stuff shortly before I plan to go to bed. Definitely not what I want freshly served up on the subconsciousness platter.” Another joked, “I can definitely say I’ve never seen anything like that before. That’s pretty cool.” A third posted, “Awww. I like the way you moo-ve.” It seems the cow has stolen the hearts of netizens, proving once and for all that sometimes, all you need is a little creativity and a whole lot of moos to spread love.   

Rat-cage heels scurry into the New York fashion scene

Forget boring pumps and predictable platforms. Rat-cage heels are the hottest new shoe trend. Think sky-high stilettos with a whimsical twist – a miniature rat cage perched on the heel. A bold statement perfect for those who dare to ditch the ordinary. The video has 2,060,168 likes and millions of comments. While opinions on this trend vary widely, with some embracing its eccentric charm and others raising eyebrows at its unorthodox nature, it has ignited discussions on the boundaries of creativity and self-expression in an industry often characterised by its conformity. Some say these heels are a statement, a conversation piece, and a daring exploration of the unexpected. Whether you are a fan of the film Ratatouille or simply seeking to inject a bit of whimsy into your wardrobe, these heels are undeniably turning heads.  

UK baker’s life-size Taylor Swift Super Bowl cake goes viral

A 37-year-old baker, Lara Mason, is winning hearts on the internet after she created a lifesize Taylor Swift‘s Super Bowl cake. The UK baker took 38 hours to make the red velvet vanilla-flavoured cake and used 130 kg of ingredients, The Guardiaskills. rted. Mason also filmed the making of the giant cake, which garnered more than 3 million views on TikTok. She shared the pictures of the same on X and left netizens spellbound. The cake has the pop star holding the Super Bowl trophy and also donning a Kansas City Chiefs sweater. For those who have been asleep for decades, Taylor Swift’s footballer boyfriend, Travis Kelce, plays for the American football team. The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the National Football League. “I’ve always wanted to make a Taylor Swift cake because for the last maybe five years, she has been top of everyone’s list. I really like her, I’m not a diehard Swiftie but I do really appreciate her music and the fact she is a role model for women,” Mason told the British newspaper. The photos show Mason taking a selfie with the giant cake. “I made a Lifesize cake of @taylorswift13 in a @Chiefs sweater holding up the @NFL Super Bowl trophy. What do you think,” the baker wrote. Mason’s cake won plaudits from several users online. One user commented, “Ahhhmazing!! Wow! Very talented.” Another user commented, “I love this. What an amazing cake to make. I hope TS sees it.” Yet another user said, “Gurllll… you’ve got mad skills  

Jagdeep Dhankhar And M Kharges Big Face-Off In Parliament Over Rules

When Mr Dhankhar appeared to accuse the Congress of "insulting" a Bharat Ratna recipient, Mr Kharge lost his cool and asked the Vice President to not indulge in politics. The Vice-President then retorted, "Because I come from the farmer community, does not mean I am a weak Chairman. I have tolerated a lot."New Delhi: The buzz around the Jayant Chaudhary-led RLD joining hands with the NDA and the consternation this has caused in the troubled INDIA alliance spilled over into Parliament on Saturday, sparking a sharp exchange between Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. The exchange began after Jayant Chaudhary, whose party is a member of the INDIA alliance, rose in the Rajya Sabha and started thanking the BJP-led NDA government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing that the Bharat Ratna would be conferred posthumously on his grandfather Chaudhary Charan Singh. Congress leaders objected to the speech and Mr Dhankhar then asked Mr Kharge to either "control your people or rise and address the House". Prefacing his remarks with the assertion that he and the Congress were happy that former Prime Ministers Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, and the father of the Green Revolution, Dr MS Swaminathan, were being awarded the Bharat Ratna - and that he "saluted" all three personalities - Mr Kharge wondered how Mr Chaudhary was allowed to speak on the issue.  "Whenever we want to discuss something, you always ask us what rule we should be allowed to do so under. I want to pose the same question to you: under which rule was he (Mr Chaudhary) permitted to speak? If this is the way it is, you should always give us permission as well. On the one hand, you talk about rules, and on the other, you allow whoever you want (to speak)," Mr Kharge said in Hindi. Incensed, Mr Kharge thundered, "Don't make politics (sic). I said we salute all the people who have worked for this country. Irrespective of political parties. Irrespective of caste and creed. We salute them. But the way the discussion is going on, neither are you following the rules nor have you brought that agenda for discussion. We all could have participated."  

UPA pushed India into fragile five club: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

New Delhi: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman tore into the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on Friday, saying it pushed the country into the Fragile Five and left it in dire straits in 2014 with its economic mismanagement by putting the "first family" first.During the UPA regime, the security of the nation was compromised, environmental clearances were delayed, and the leadership failed as it was run by a "super prime minister" and there was at least one big-ticket corruption case every year. Initiating the debate on the 'White paper on Indian economy and its impact on the lives of people of India', Sitharaman said it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who put the nation first, pulling the country out of crisis and placing it among the top five economies of the world. India is now on the way to becoming the third-largest economy, she said, adding that the NDA government will make India a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.The youth should know what efforts the Prime Minister has put in to restore the country's past glory, said the FM, even as opposition members Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress Party and NK Premachandran of the Revolutionary Socialist Party moved substitute motions against the white paper. On the need for the document being presented now, the finance minister said citizens as well as government officials would have been disillusioned had the white paper been released in 2015-16."Had we done that, no investors would have invested in India and if the truth of the economy was given out at that time, people would have lost faith," Sitharaman said. She said when the NDA government took over in 2014, there was a critical shortage of ammunition and defence equipment. Bullet-proof jackets and night goggles were not available for soldiers."When you don't put the nation first, when you put your first family first, and when you have other considerations than transparency, the results are out there for you to see," Sitharaman said. "So what happened after 2008 when there was a global financial crisis and what happened post-Covid shows clearly that if the intent of the government is sincere, results will be good."    

This Week’s Hottest Two-Wheeler News Stories

The upcoming KTM 390 Adventure, based on the all-new KTM 390 Duke, has been spied testing on Indian roads for the second time. It gets an aggressive looking front-end with a beak-like high-rise fender and a sleek looking rear-end. The instrument console mounted high above the handlebar, like the consoles seen on rally bikes.The iconic Luna finally made its comeback this week as Kinetic Green launched the all-new Kinetic E-Luna in two variants: X1 and X2. It has a range of upto 100km and a top speed of 50kmph with a payload capacity of 150kg. The upcoming Ather Rizta’s seat was teased by the EV maker’s CEO, Tarun Mehta, this week. The seat is quite long and wide, an indicator of the family-oriented approach from Ather Energy with the Rizta electric scooter.The Yamaha FZ-X got updated this week but only with new colour schemes. The 150cc naked got new Chrome and Metallic Black colour options on top of the Matte Titan, Dark Matte Blue and Matte Copper already available. Bajaj launched the updated Bajaj Pulsar N160 and N150 this week. The bikes get all-new LCD instrument consoles with smartphone connectivity via Bajaj Ride Connect app and the switchgears are updated too.It seems like, in addition to the upcoming 350cc ADV, Honda might also be working on a scrambler based on the CB350’s platform. Some of the details spotted in the images were that the bike will get a split-seat setup, fork gaiters, upswept exhaust and alloy wheels.    

The Week That Was: Indian Women Empowerment News Overview

Women's empowerment is the process of establishing conditions that allow women to exercise their legal rights, take charge of their own lives, and make choices that have an impact on those lives. Giving women equal opportunities in every section of society is the ultimate objective of empowering women. Their choices should be respected and valued on an equitable basis. Indian ladies have the potential to succeed in anything they set their minds to. Regardless of their age, societal norms, or any other conditions, they are showcasing their skills to the world. This week, womenentrepreneurindia.com revealed some of the stories of these accomplished women. The woman robot astronaut, "Vyommitra" is about to set on an amazing space mission. India's space exploration activities would be significantly advanced by Vyommitra, which was designed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). India's first human-manned space flight, ISRO's 'Gaganyaan' mission, will have her during the space expansion. The World Defense Show 2024, organized by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, showcases global defense advancements and provides a platform for networking, partnering, and sharing knowledge. It features women officers, promoting gender diversity and representation in the defense industry. Women officers will showcase Nari Shakti, promoting gender diversity and representation in defense, attended by top military leaders, government officials, and industry captains. U.N. Women is collaborating with Kerala to support the Safe City project and establish a gender data hub. The initiative aims to create safer urban spaces for women and girls by addressing sexual harassment and violence in public areas.U.N. Women will offer expertise and guidance to improve the Safe City project's execution. This covers methods for preventing and handling sexual harassment in public areas. Working closely with the State's gender parks, which provide forums for advancing women's empowerment and gender equality, acts as a key component of the partnership. The U.N. Women's delegation suggested that the State will look into issues about online spaces and treat them as public spaces. In order to address digital safety and ensure women's well-being, this recognition is essential. The Indian women's hockey team lost for the third time in a row in the Women's FIH Pro League 2023-24. The Indian squad dropped 3-0 against the World No. 3 Australia Women’s Hockey team in the match played in Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium. India geared up with a fast start, scoring a penalty corner in the third minute but gradually lost the match. The "Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)", a significant sub-scheme under the PM Matsya Sampada, has received approval from the Union Cabinet. With investments worth more than Rs 6,000 crore, this initiative seeks to regulate the fishing industry and assist small businesses throughout all states and union territories between 2023–2026.    

Leaf sheep slug takes the internet by storm

Fascinating sea creatures called the leaf sheep slug are taking the internet by storm with their fluffy appearance and quirky antics. Found primarily in the waters around Japan, the leaf sheep slug, also known as Costasiella kuroshimae, is the only sea creature in the world that can perform photosynthesis like plants.One of the most endearing features of the leaf sheep slug is its resemblance to a tiny, grazing sheep. Covered in fluffy green appendages called cerata, these slugs munch on algae, giving them their distinctive colour and helping them blend with their surroundings. It is like they are wearing a fluffy green coat. It is a type of sea slug that looks like a tiny, walking ball of green fuzz.Leaf sheep slugs can often be seen “herding” together in groups, moving gracefully through the water like a flock of sheep. Scientists believe this behaviour helps them protect themselves from predators and find the best grazing spots.Despite their small size, leaf sheep slugs are making a big impact on marine conservation efforts. Their reliance on algae makes them an important part of their ecosystem, helping to keep algae populations in check and maintaining the health of coral reefs. Leaf sheep slugs are harmless to humans, making them the perfect subject for underwater photography enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.    

What's Trending Globally

Asia

News 2291

Australia/New-Zealand

News 38

Canada

News 13

China

News 39

Europe

News 28

Gulf

News 11

India

News 2907

Pakistan

News 16

Russia

News 16

United Kingdom

News 38

United States

News 111

World

News 75

Prince Harrys visit to see King Charles III amid cancer news cost him…

Prince Harry's recent meeting with his father, King Charles III, amid his cancer news, has been doing the rounds in media circles. The long journey from the US to London reportedly took him more than 10 hours, lasted than an hour, but cost him a lot of pounds. The unfortunate cancer diagnosis reunited the Duke of Sussex with his father and his homeland for the first time since September. Flying overnight from California, he landed at Heathrow alone as his wife Meghan Markle and two children stayed back in California. After stepping down from their royal posts, the nuclear family unit has lived there since 2020. It's quite likely that Harry may have spent more than £18,000 on plane tickets alone. Security and other transport charges are yet to be added to the cost. Daily Express confirmed that a flight from LA to Heathrow costs £1,317 (Economy). The rising charges for Premium Economy, Business and First Class are £2685, £7040 and £8624, respectively (as listed on the British Airways website on February 7). The return flight may cost £1,458 for Economy, £2,929 for Premium Economy, £7,284 for Business, and £8,868 for First Class. Therefore, a return First-Class ticket would have cost him a whopping £17,492 overall. On top of that, the Prince's private security cost estimation is listed as around £1.5million to £2.3million a year. This would possibly also include guards posted at Harry and Meghan's California home, and other scouting teams. Former reports from royal experts also suggest that even otherwise, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's 'spending problem' vexes the Palace.  

Americans have record-high credit card debts totalling $1.05 trillion amid historic inflation

Americans started 2024 on a hopeful note, but it seems a chunk of spending landed on credit cards. The average balance per cardholder hit a record high, reaching $6,360, contributing to a total credit card balance of $1.05 trillion in the fourth quarter. Economic pressures from historic inflation and 11 Federal Reserve rate hikes led many to rely on credit cards to make ends meet, says Michele Raneri from TransUnion. Higher interest rates and elevated living costs worsened the situation. Gen Z and millennials are bearing the brunt. About 10% of those aged 18 to 29 and 8% of those aged 30 to 39 are 90 days past due on their credit cards. Subprime borrowers, with less favourable interest rates, saw balances grow by 32% to $105 billion. Serious-level delinquencies are at their highest since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. This includes both normal credit cards (2.59% delinquency rate) and private label credit cards (1.79% delinquency rate). The surge in credit card usage contrasts with a dip in credit originations, showing lenders' cautiousness amidst increasing delinquencies. However, millennials accounted for 29.6% of all new credit card originations. Over the past years, there has been a shift towards credit card reliance, especially post-pandemic. While stimulus payments temporarily eased the burden, reliance on credit cards surged afterwards leading to an increase in cardholders carrying balances month to month. The potential for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts later in the year could provide relief. Lower interest rates might make refinancing an attractive option, allowing consolidation of high-cost debt into lower-interest products. The road ahead is uncertain, but understanding the causes and trends can help individuals navigate the storm of credit card debt. Awareness, budgeting, and seeking financial advice are crucial steps towards financial stability.  

"Person Who Does Good Work Never Gets Respect": Nitin Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday raised concern about opportunistic politicians wanting to remain associated with the ruling party of the day and said such "deterioration in ideology" was not good for democracy. He also said there are leaders who stand firm in their ideology but their number is gradually declining. "I always say this jokingly that no matter which party's government it is, one thing is sure that the one who does good work never gets respect and those who do bad work are never punished," Mr Gadkari said, without taking names. The minister was addressing an event organised by the Lokmat media group here to present awards to parliamentarians for their exemplary contributions. "In our debates and discussion, differences of opinion is not our problem. Our problem is lack of ideas," the senior BJP leader said. "There are people who stand firm with conviction based on their ideology but the number of such people is declining. And deterioration in ideology, which is happening, is not good for democracy," he said. "Neither rightist nor leftist, we are known opportunists, some people write like this. And all want to remain associated with the ruling party," he added.Mr Gadkari said India is the world's largest democracy and in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words, India is the mother of democracy."It is because of this speciality, our democratic governance system is an ideal for the rest of the world," he added.  

Ian Lavender, the last surviving star of British sitcom ‘Dad’s Army,’ has died

LONDON (AP) — Actor Ian Lavender, who played a hapless Home Guard soldier in the classic British sitcom “Dad’s Army,” has died, his agent said Monday. He was 77. Agent Hilary Gagan said Lavender had been ill for some time and died with his wife and sons at his side. Lavender was the last surviving main cast member of “Dad’s Army,” about a ragtag volunteer unit assembled to defend their seaside English town from potential Nazi invasion during World War II.Originally broadcast between 1968 and 1977, it attracted as many as 18 million viewers an episode -- a third of the British population -- and remains perennially popular in reruns. Lavender played Private Frank Pike, the youngest member of the unit and frequent butt of the epithet “stupid boy!” from commanding officer Captain Mainwaring. Another scene, in which a captured German officer demands the young private’s name and Mainwaring thunders: “Don’t tell him, Pike” is routinely voted one of Britain’s funniest TV moments.Born in 1946, Lavender was 22 and just out of the Bristol Old Vic theater school when he was cast in the show alongside a troupe of stage and screen veterans.He later acknowledged that his iconic role in “Dad’s Army” had led to him being typecast, but said he’d “be a fool to have regrets.”  

Poonam Pandey Says "Didn Die Of Cervical Cancer", Day After "Death" Post

Poonam Pandey, model and reality TV star, today announced that she hasn't died of cervical cancer. Her announcement on Instagram came a day after the model's manager announced that she had died of cervical cancer."I am alive. I didn't die of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the hundreds and thousands of women who have lost their lives due to cervical cancer. I am sorry caused this tear and I am sorry to those I have hurt. My intention: to shock everyone into the conversation that we are not talking enough about - cervical cancer," she said in another post. She said that her "death" post was an effort to initiate a conversation and spread awareness about cervical cancer. "Unlike some other cancers, Cervical Cancer is entirely preventable. The key lies in the HPV vaccine and early detection tests. We have the means to ensure no one loses their life to this disease," she said.The model is being heavily criticised by social media users for "faking her death" to spread awareness about the disease. Yesterday, Poonam Pandey's team had put out a statement saying that the model died of cervical cancer. The announcement had shocked everyone in the entertainment industry. The reactions ranged from disbelief to scepticism as many had seen the model at an event in Goa three days ago.In 2022, she drew wide attention with a stint in the Kangana Ranaut-led reality show 'Lock Upp'. She also acted in some films. The 32-year-old shot to fame during the 2011 Cricket World Cup when she posted a video message saying she would strip if team India won. She did not, but did post a nude photo when her favourite team Kolkata Knight Riders won the IPL the next year. Over the years, she has gathered a legion of social media followers with her controversial statements and was often seen in explicit videos.    

Backward classes panel chief slams Rahul Gandhi over PMs caste remarks

National Commission for Backward Classes Chairman Hansraj Ahir on Friday condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks related to the caste of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought an apology from him. Ahir alleged that Gandhi and the Congress are trying to sow the seeds of division in the country through his "mindless utterances" on castes."Crores of OBC people across India are seething with anger at the pathetic conduct of Rahul Gandhi because of his mindless utterances against our respected Prime Minister Narendra Modiji," Ahir said. The notification to include the "Modh Ghanchi" community in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list was issued by the Gujarat government on July 25, 1994 after a survey, he said, adding that even the Mandal Commission had included the community in the OBC list.He said the National Commission for Backward Classes had advised the Union government to include Modh Ghanchi, the community to which the prime minister belongs, in the central OBC list for Gujarat in 1997 and a notification in this connection was issued on October 27, 1999. "When both decisions were taken, Modi held no legislative or executive position," Ahir said.It is appalling to see the hatred that Gandhi has for the OBC, he said, adding that the former Congress president has clearly inherited it from his ancestors.Ahir said Modi, while speaking in Parliament, highlighted the anti-reservation attitude of the country's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and that former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had opposed the Mandal Commission. "The Congress under Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi did not even want constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes," the former Union minister said.    

NHAI’s total asset monetization program crosses Rs 1 lakh crore

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has raised the highest ever concession value of Rs 15,624.90 crore through ’InvIT Round-3’ which includes monetizing 10 stretches with an aggregate length of about 890 km. This is spread across Assam, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The monetized value is expected to be realized in March 2024, the ministry of road transport and highways said on Tuesday. Earlier, two rounds of InvIT with aggregate length of about 635 km worth Rs 10,200 crore were monetized. With this, NHAI’s total asset monetization program has crossed Rs 1 lakh crore which includes Rs 42,334 crore through toll-operate-transfer (TOT), Rs 26,125 crore through InvIT and Rs 42,000 crore through securitization,” it added. ET had reported on January 18 that NHAI will surpass Rs 1 lakh crore of asset monetisation in the current fiscal with the highest ever receipts in 2023-24. The monetized sections in ’InvIT Round-3’ include Chichira-Kharagpur, Orai-Bara, Rewa-Katni-Jabalpur-Lakhnadon, Kachugaon to Rakhaldubi Bus Junction and Rakhaldubi Bus Junction to Kaljhar, Kaljhar to Patacharkuchi, Lakhnadon to Mahagaon, Mahagaon to Khawasa, Hubli to Haveri, Davangere to Haveri and Davangere to Chitradurga. NHAI has adopted three modes for asset monetization which includes Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvITs), toll operate transfer (TOT), and project based securitization. During FY 2024, NHAI has already awarded and executed Concession Agreements for four TOT Bundles, which include TOT Bundles 11, 12, 13 and 14 for a total value of Rs 15,968 crore, which is higher than its monetization target of Rs 10,000 crore for the current fiscal year. The success rate in TOT mode during FY’24 was 100%. At present, TOT bundles 15 & 16 are in the bidding stage and are expected to be issued by the end of FY’24. Further, NHAI has also monetized Delhi-Mumbai Expressway through project based securitization garnering Rs 4,600 crore in FY’24.  

India suspends Free Movement Regime with Myanmar

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on February 8 that the Government has decided to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along Myanmar border to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recommended the immediate suspension of FMR, he said. It is Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s resolve to secure our borders. MHA has decided that the FMR between India and Myanmar be scrapped to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States bordering Myanmar. Since the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping it, MHA has recommended the immediate suspension of the FMR,” Mr. Shah posted on X. Under the FMR, any member of a hill tribe, who is a citizen of either India or Myanmar, and who resides within 16 km of the border on either side, can cross on the production of a border pass, usually valid for a year, and can stay up to two weeks per visit. India and Myanmar share an unfenced 1,643 km-long border and people on either side have familial and ethnic ties, which had initially prompted the arrangement. A 1968 government notification limited the free movement of people up to 40 km on either side of the border, which was further reduced to 16 km in 2004. The FMR’s provisions were last revised in 2016. In its 2011-12 annual report, the MHA observed that the FMR makes the international border extremely porous, and the hilly and inhospitable terrain provides cover to the activities of various Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs). “The unfenced Indo-Myanmar border with FMR is thus being exploited by various IIGs,” the report said. The India-Myanmar border passes through the States of Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km), and Mizoram (510 km).  

SC to hear DMRC plea against arbitration award

The five-judge Supreme Court (SC) bench will on February 15 hear the Delhi Metro Rail Corp's (DMRC) curative petition seeking reversal of the apex court's 2021 judgment upholding a ₹4,700-crore arbitration award that Delhi Airport Metro Express (DAMEPL), a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, won against the former in May 2017. At the outset, a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said that its tentative view is to constitute a five-judge bench to hear the case. "...Normally, the two judges who wrote the judgment have to sit (in curative). They have retired... My tentative view is we can hear in combination of five (judges)," it said. Meanwhile, senior counsel Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi said the grounds for filing the curative petition by DMRC were not met in the case, therefore, it should be rejected.Salve argued, "I am flabbergasted that no ground for entertaining a curative petition is made out. Let them state specifically the ground on which curative is sought." Rohatgi, also appearing for the RInfra subsidiary, said, "We have taken a preliminary objection to this petition. Neither violation of natural justice nor any other ground mentioned in Rupa Ashok Hurra case is made out." DAMEPL operated the Capital's airport metro service until 2013 before cancelling the contract with DMRC citing safety issues and invoked arbitration. In 2017, Delhi Airport Metro Express had won a ₹4,700 crore arbitration award against Delhi Metro Rail Corp. The arbitral tribunal had accepted the claim of the RInfra firm that running trains on the airport line wasn't viable due to structural defects in the viaduct made by Delhi Metro Rail. Since then, the amount with interest has swelled to round ₹9,000 crore.