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Year-End Gender Quiz: Heroes, Villains and the Year in Gender

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Year-End Gender Quiz: Heroes, Villains and the Year in Gender


1. For refusing her legal right to remain anonymous in a gang rape trial, saying she did nothing wrong and “shame should change sides”, this 72-year-old grandmother from France is a hero around the world . his name?

hero of the year
hero of the year

2. India’s first medal in the Paris Olympics was won by a woman. His name is:

  • Manu Bhakar
  • Deepa Malik
  • Avni Lekhara
  • Sheetal Devi

3. This women’s team did what their male counterparts could not do for 16 years. They won the WPL trophy. Who was the team and who did they beat?

Film Federation of India
Film Federation of India

4. It’s #1 on Barack Obama’s movie recommendations of the year. Also #1 on The New York Times’ Best Movies of 2024. Two Golden Globe nominations. And now competing at the Oscars. Name the director of this movie that is making waves (bonus for naming the movie, too).

5. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from competing for the gold medal in Paris because:

  • She was over the prescribed weight limit for her category
  • He was arrested for protesting against sexual harassment by former wrestling federation chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh
  • She withdrew from the competition after dehydration
  • He had to return home due to a medical emergency

6. Algerian boxer Imane Khalif won gold medal in boxing. There was controversy surrounding his victory because:

  • he made his opponent cry
  • She failed the dope test
  • Her opponents questioned her gender
  • She failed the weight eligibility requirement

7. According to Forbes, the highest paid female athletes in 2024 are:

  • Naomi Osaka
  • coco goff
  • PV Sindhu
  • Caitlin Clark
charity for women
charity for women

8. Elon Musk said this woman’s donation of billions of dollars to charity for women, minorities and marginalized groups is “destroying Western civilization”. His reaction? To double his donation. Can you tell the name of that woman?

At home

9. In August, the Malayalam film industry was rocked by the release of a report that revealed widespread sexual exploitation of women, overall miserable working conditions and the enforcement of a code of silence by a mafia of powerful men. What was the name of the report?

10. Which political party fielded the highest percentage of women candidates in the general elections of India?

11. Which single constituency had the highest number of women candidates in the general elections 2024 (hint: it is in Maharashtra)?

two wives
two wives

12. As soon as the campaign for the general elections began, these two wives took center stage as their husbands were jailed in separate cases. their names?

13. The state became the first state in independent India to pass a Uniform Civil Code earlier this year. it is:

  • Goa
  • Himachal Pradesh
  • Uttarakhand
  • Uttar Pradesh

14. True or false?

  • India’s female labor force participation continued to decline this year
  • One in three women is a victim of domestic violence
  • In percentage terms, India has the highest number of female pilots in the world
  • In absolute numbers, India has the highest number of child brides in the world

and elsewhere

Afghan girls attend a class at a primary school in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on September 8.
Afghan girls attend a class at a primary school in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on September 8.

15. By the end of the year, if you were a woman in Afghanistan you couldn’t:

  • travel without a male guardian
  • study medicine or nursing or anything beyond primary school
  • read prayers in public
  • See a man other than your husband or blood relative
  • all of the above

16. The 76-year-old started the year with a fourth consecutive term, making her the longest-serving female leader anywhere in the world. By the end of the year she had fled the country and is now fighting extradition. Can you tell his name?

17. The first country in the world to amend its constitution to ensure abortion rights is:

Mexico (AP)
Mexico (AP)

18. The United States failed to elect its first female president, but its neighbor to the south, Mexico, did. She is the first female elected head of state in all of North America. Can you tell his name?

19. Female employees of this American company sued for being systematically paid less than men. The company agreed to pay him $43.3 million to settle the lawsuit. Mention the name of the company.

Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift

20. Yes, that’s really Taylor Swift. Over 149 concerts, his Eraaz tour generated $2.1 billion in sales – twice as much as any other concert tour in history. Through it all they released their 11th studio album. What is it called?

answer

1. Gisele Pellicote faces all 51 men in court, including her husband Dominic. On 19 December, Dominic was given the maximum sentence of 20 years while the others were sentenced to between three and 15 years.

Manu Bhakar
Manu Bhakar

2. Manu Bhaker won the first medal (bronze) for India in the women’s air rifle 10m and then won the second bronze medal in the mixed team 10m. In doing so, the 22-year-old from Jhajjar became the first athlete in independent India to win two medals in the same Olympics. Inexplicably, his name was missing from the list of Khel Ratna Award winners, considered the highest sporting honor in India.

Royal Challengers Bangalore
Royal Challengers Bangalore

3. After finishing fourth last season, Royal Challengers Bangalore brought home their first trophy by defeating Delhi Capitals by eight wickets.

4. We imagine everything as light Directed by Payal Kapadia, it is a beautifully told story of friendship between three women. Although it was not selected by the Film Federation of India to represent the country at the Oscars for Best International Feature, it will now compete independently for all categories including Best Film, Director and Original Screenplay.

5. This is (i). Hours before her gold medal match, Phogat weighed 100 grams more than the 50 kg weight restriction. She had spent the previous night jumping, running, sweating in the sauna, and even getting her hair cut, but failed to get the cut.

6. The answer is (iii). Even though Imane was born female, is listed as female on her passport, and has identified as female her entire life, that hasn’t stopped an ugly controversy raging over her gender. Later, Italian boxer Angela Carini, who had abandoned her bout after 46 seconds, said she “wanted to apologize” for the way she handled her moments after the fight.

coco goff
coco goff

7. With earnings of $34.4 million in 2024, 20-year-old Coco Gauff is the highest-paid female athlete of the year, earning not only $9.4 million from her wins but also $25 million from her brand endorsements.

8. Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott has donated more than $19 billion since 2019 to more than 2,450 nonprofits focused on issues like racial equality, social justice, and LGBTQ rights. His net worth remains above $30 billion. He owns Amazon stock.

At home

9. The three-member committee formed under pressure from the Women in Cinema Collective following the sexual harassment of an actress in Kochi in 2017, has been named after former Kerala High Court judge Justice K Hema.

10. Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal stuck to its quota of 33% seats for women in 2019. Unfortunately, not a single candidate, male or female, won.

11. That would be Baramati where seven women, including sitting MP Supriya Sule, had contested against her sister-in-law, Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar. At the other end of the spectrum, 150 constituencies (27.6%) had no women candidates, according to The Quantum Hub.

12. 58-year-old former Indian Revenue Service officer Sunita Kejriwal took to the streets on behalf of Arvind Kejriwal, while Kalpana Soren, wife of jailed former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, also contested the Gandey Assembly by-election.

13. In February, the Uttarakhand Assembly passed a uniform law for all residents in matters related to marriage, divorce (+ maintenance), adoption and inheritance. Uniform Civil Code has been in force in Goa since before independence.

14. All are true except (i). India’s female labor force participation stands at 41.7%, up from a dismal 23.3% in 2018, according to the latest government data. However, some economists caution that this increase is being driven by rural distress where women are taking extremely low-paid jobs (or even unpaid jobs at home).

15. Incredibly and devastatingly, it is all of the above (v).

Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina

16. Bangladesh recently sent a formal extradition request to India to bring back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to face trial on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. She fled to India in August this year following a massive rebellion against her rule.

my body, my choice
my body, my choice

17. In March this year, France became the first country to explicitly include the right to abortion in its constitution.

18. She is scientist and academic Claudia Sheinbaum who was elected President of Mexico in October this year.

19. Walt Disney agreed to settle a lawsuit that alleged female employees in California earned $150 million less than their male counterparts over an eight-year period.

20. Tortured Poets Department.

The following article is an excerpt from this week’s HT Mind the Gap. Subscribe here,


At least 28 dead in South Korea plane crash

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At least 28 dead in South Korea plane crash


An aircraft carrying 181 people has crashed at an airport in South Korea, killing at least 28 people, the Yonhap news agency reports.

The aircraft veered off a runway and crashed into a wall at Muan International Airport in the south west of the country, the South Korean news agency reports.

The Jeju Air plane, which was carrying 175 passengers and six flight attendants, was reportedly flying back from Bangkok in Thailand and the accident took place while it was landing.

Two people were found alive and rescue operations were still under way, a fire official told the Reuters news agency.

Emergency services were attempting to rescue people in the tail section of the aircraft, an airport official said.

The passengers on board included 173 South Koreans and two Thais, Yonhap reports.

The cause of the crash is still not known, but local media is reporting that it may have been caused by birds getting caught in the plane’s systems.

Unverified footage uploaded to social media shows the aircraft skidding off the runway and crashing into a wall, before part of it bursts into flames. Other footage shows a large plume of black smoke rising into the sky.

One flight attendant and one passenger have been rescued so far, South Korea’s fire agency said in a statement, adding that 32 fire trucks had been deployed to the crash site.


Venture capital activity in India hits $16.77 billion in 2024, marking 14.1% growth

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Venture capital activity in India hits .77 billion in 2024, marking 14.1% growth


Venture capital activity in India hits $16.77 billion in 2024, marking 14.1% growth

NEW DELHI: Venture capital (VC) activity in India has witnessed significant growth from January to November 2024, with investments reaching $16.77 billion across 888 deals, according to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF).
This marks a 14.1 per cent rise in value and a 21.8 per cent increase in deal volume compared to the same period in 2023.
The technology sector led the surge, securing $6.50 billion–a substantial 52.5 per cent year-over-year increase. Consumer discretionary investments followed at $2.30 billion, up 32.2 per cent, while the financial sector experienced a marginal dip to $2.20 billion. Major deals included KiranaKart Technologies (Zepto) at $1.3 billion and Poolside AI SAS at $500 million.
Industry leaders are optimistic about sustained growth into 2025, forecasting more initial public offerings (IPOs) and heightened activity in late-stage funding rounds as cautious funds start deploying capital.
Experts like Bhaskar Majumdar and Sajith Pai predict a positive shift in the Indian startup ecosystem, anticipating significant easing in 2025.
While concerns linger over India’s economic dependence on the “India1” segment–around 30 million households contributing heavily to GDP–confidence remains bolstered by robust savings and capital inflows.
Emerging sectors like electric mobility and green hydrogen offer new opportunities, while traditional industries such as fintech and e-commerce continue to attract interest.
Additionally, intellectual property (IP)-driven ventures in deep tech areas, including robotics, drones, and semiconductor technologies, are gaining traction.
The evolving global landscape, particularly the impact of the new US administration on international capital flows, is expected to present both challenges and opportunities for Indian startups in the coming year.
China’s venture capital (VC) funding landscape saw a significant slowdown in 2024, with a total of 2,313 deals announced between January and November, accumulating a disclosed funding value of $32.3 billion, according to GlobalData report.
This marks a year-on-year (YoY) decline of 23.1 per cent in deal volume and a 22.5 per cent drop in funding value, as reported by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
In comparison, the same period in 2023 recorded 3,006 VC deals, with total disclosed funding of $41.7 billion. The downturn reflects a challenging year for China’s VC ecosystem, influenced by regulatory crackdowns, macroeconomic uncertainties, and subdued market conditions.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, stated, “VC funding activity in China has continued to remain subdued in 2024 as investor sentiments seem to have taken a hit on the back of a crackdown on companies, macroeconomic challenges, and uncertain market conditions. However, despite the decline, China remains a key player in the global VC market, second only to the US in deal volume and value.”
China accounted for 15.2 per cent of the total number of VC deals announced globally during January-November 2024, with a corresponding funding value share of 13.6 per cent.
Noteworthy deals in China during this period included $1.5 billion raised by Changxin Technology, $1.4 billion secured by AVATR, $1.1 billion raised by IM Motors, and $1 billion acquired by Moonshot AI.
These substantial deals highlight the country’s ongoing significance in the global VC landscape, even amid economic challenges.




Scindia Aims To Make Postal Dept Profitable By 2029, Seeks Funds From FM | Economy News

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Scindia Aims To Make Postal Dept Profitable By 2029, Seeks Funds From FM | Economy News


New Delhi: Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has sought funds from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the Department of Posts to make it profitable by 2029, according to official sources. The Department of Posts (DoP) is working on plans to leap as a logistics company.

“Minister (Jyotiraditya Scindia) met with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam in New Delhi to discuss India Post’s path to profitability. He and his team at the Department of Posts presented their capital expenditure demands to the FM on Friday to make the Department a profit centre by 2029,” an official source said.

The source did not share the capex sought by the postal department to chalk out its path to profitability. Another official said the postal department officers presented their capital expenditure demands to make India Post a profit-making logistics company with Scindia emphasising that the department aims to achieve higher customer acquisition, customer retention and operational efficiency.

“He also talked about the ongoing Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) exercise which will benefit a lot from the fund infusion from the Finance Ministry. He shared that the BPR exercise will also focus on launching more attractive B2B and B2C services,” the source said.

In the meeting, Scindia shared that the capital expenditure will focus on infrastructure development and renovation of Post Offices as well as staff housing quarters across the nation. The minister said that the postal department will work towards automation of processes to make them efficient and future-ready.

This is the second stint of Scindia at the Communications Ministry. He was a Minister of State under the UPA government in 2007 when he steered Project Arrow for modernization of the postal department and helped Dak Sewaks get office equipment. Scindia in six months of taking charge of the department in 2024, asked the India Post team to get exposure to international best practices and come up with innovative strategies for the department.

Scindia during the meeting with Sitharaman assured that the postal department will be globally competitive by 2028-29. Scindia said that he believes in India Post’s potential to increase market share for most of its products, increase revenue and compete in the industry in the next 5-7 years. He shared that the focus will be on expanding the market share in mail and parcel verticals.


How serious are the implications of South Korea’s political crisis? | Politics News

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How serious are the implications of South Korea’s political crisis? | Politics News


Two presidents have been impeached in a month and their replacement is under pressure.

The political crisis in South Korea is deepening.

Two presidents have been impeached within weeks, and their stand-in replacement has come under immediate pressure. The instability is creating serious concern internationally.

So what has gone wrong – and what’s next?

Presenter: James Bays

Guests:

Youngshik Bong – Research fellow at Yonsei University Institute for North Korean Studies

Jeeyang Rhee Baum – Adjunct fellow in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School

In-Bum Chun – Retired South Korean army lieutenant-general


Highlights of the funeral of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: The funeral of the former Prime Minister was performed with full state honours, top leaders attended the funeral.

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Highlights of the funeral of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: The funeral of the former Prime Minister was performed with full state honours, top leaders attended the funeral.



Former PM Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: funeral of Manmohan SinghThe former Prime Minister and architect of economic reforms in India was cremated with full state honors at Nigam Bodh Ghat in Delhi.

“The government has decided that Dr. Manmohan Singh will be cremated with state honours. The last rites will take place on December 28, 2024, at 11:45 am at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a communication.

Several leaders, including President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, chief ministers and foreign leaders paid their last respects to Singh at his residence in New Delhi on Friday.

Singh died on Thursday at the age of 92. The hospital statement attributed his death to “age-related medical conditions” and said he was admitted to the hospital after he “suddenly fainted” at home.

On Friday night, the Union Home Ministry announced that the Center will allocate space for Memorial of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh In Delhi. It said the information has been conveyed to his family and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who had initially urged the government to allow the former PM’s last rites to be performed at a place where a memorial could be built.

live feed

Funeral of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: All updates on this blog have ended

Former PM Manmohan Singh’s funeral LIVE: Prayer ceremony held at Tashicho Dzong as Bhutan pays special tribute to former PM

A special prayer ceremony was held at Kuenre in Tashichodzong for former Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh, who died on December 26. In honor of the former Prime Minister and in solidarity with the government and people of India, all national flags across the country were flown at half-mast at Bhutan’s embassies, missions and consulates abroad, news agency ANI reported.

Live updates of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s funeral: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, we think the former Prime Minister is still alive.

After the funeral of former PM Manmohan Singh, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, “We feel that he is still alive.” All their contributions to the country have given us strength. He brought Right to Education, Right to Information, Aadhar Card and many other laws.

Former PM Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: Mauritius flag to be flown at half mast in honor of former PM

According to the Office of the Prime Minister of Mauritius, the flag of Mauritius will remain at half-mast on all government buildings till sunset today, December 28, as a mark of respect to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, the day of his funeral.

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: Former Prime Minister cremated with full state honors at Nigambodh Ghat with gun salute

The last rites of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were performed at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi with a gun salute and full state honours.

Funeral of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Live: Sikh priests recite Gurbani verses before the funeral of former Prime Minister

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s last rites are being performed at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi, with Sikh priests reciting verses of Gurbani.

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live update: India bids farewell to the former Prime Minister with full state honours, funeral continues at Nigambodh Ghat

The last rites of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are being performed with full state honors at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi. President Draupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, PM Modi, Lok Sabha leader Om Birla, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and others are present at the cremation ground.

Funeral of former PM Manmohan Singh Live: President Murmu, PM Modi pay tribute to former PM at Nigambodh Ghat

President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid their last respects to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Nigambodh Ghat before the last rites.

Funeral of former PM Manmohan Singh Live Updates: King of Bhutan, Foreign Minister of Mauritius arrive to attend the funeral of former PM

Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Mauritius’ Foreign Minister Manish Gobin have arrived in India to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi.

Former PM Manmohan Singh’s funeral live update: PM Modi, Rajnath Singh reach Nigambodh Ghat, wreath laying ceremony to be held shortly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh reached Nigambodh Ghat to pay tribute to former PM Manmohan Singh. Top defense officials and several other dignitaries are present.

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: Former PM’s body brought to Nigambodh Ghat with full state honors

The mortal remains of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have been kept inside the Nigambodh Ghat with full state honours. The funeral will take place shortly.

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda reach Nigambodh Ghat to attend the funeral of former PM

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP Chief JP Nadda and other members of the Union Cabinet reached Nigambodh Ghat to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: Former PM’s mortal remains reached Nigambodh Ghat, PM Modi will reach soon

The mortal remains of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have reached Nigambodh Ghat for the last rites. President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to reach the cremation ground soon.

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: Singapore flag flies at half mast in honor of former PM

Singapore’s flag was flown at half-mast in honor of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who died on Thursday at the age of 92. High Commissioner to India Simon Wong also condoled the demise of the former PM.

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: Congress MP Manickam Tagore said, former Prime Minister’s demise is a real loss for modern India.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore said the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is “a real loss for modern India.” He said, “He was the architect of modern India 2.0 that Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to establish. He carried that work forward into the 21st century and took India to where we are.”

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: President Murmu, VP Dhankhar, PM Modi to attend funeral of former PM

President Draupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Nigambodh Ghat.

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: Rahul Gandhi, former PM’s family on ceremonial army truck

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the family of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were seen taking the mortal remains of the former Prime Minister to Nigambodh Ghat for cremation in an army truck.

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: Last rites begin as India bids farewell to former Prime Minister

The last journey of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh began when his mortal remains were taken to Nigambodh Ghat for cremation, with thousands of fans accompanying him.

Manmohan Singh funeral live updates: Preparations underway for former PM’s funeral at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi

Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora reviewed the preparations at Nigambodh Ghat, where former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be cremated with state honors at 11:45 am today.

News of Manmohan Singh’s death: US President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill expressed grief over the demise of former PM, White House issued statement

Outgoing US President Joe Biden on Saturday condoled the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and described him as a “true statesman” and a “kind and humble” person. read more

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: Rahul, Priyanka, Sonia Gandhi pay last respects to former PM at AICC office

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among others, paid their last respects to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the AICC headquarters in Delhi, where his mortal remains were brought today.

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: Former PM’s mortal remains taken to AICC office, last rites to begin shortly

The mortal remains of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh have been taken to the AICC headquarters in Delhi, where it has been kept for Congress workers to have their last glimpse. The funeral process will start at 9:30 am and the last rites will be performed at Nigambodh Ghat at 11:45 pm with full state honours.

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau condoles former PM’s demise, says Singh built strong ties with Canada

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on Friday night condoled the demise of former PM Manmohan Singh and praised him for transforming India’s economy, lifting millions of people out of poverty and building strong ties with Canada. ,He said, “Manmohan Singh’s demise is a loss for India and the world.”

Manmohan Singh funeral live updates: Delhi Police issues traffic advisory ahead of former PM’s funeral procession in the capital

Delhi Police issued traffic advisory ahead of the funeral of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday. Commuters should note that traffic diversions may be imposed on Ring Road (Mahatma Gandhi Marg), Nishad Raj Marg, Boulevard Road, SPM Marg, Lothian Road and Netaji Subhash Marg from 7.00 am, possibly till 3.00 pm.

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: Amid controversy, Center late night approves Congress’ request for former PM’s memorial in Delhi

The Center said it has agreed to Congress’ request to allot space for a memorial to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The announcement came hours after the Congress alleged that its request for a resting place in Delhi for Manmohan Singh had not been accepted by the government. read more

Manmohan Singh’s funeral live updates: The mortal remains of the former PM will be kept at the AICC office for the last darshan, the last journey will start at 9:30 am.

The mortal remains of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be kept at the AICC headquarters in Delhi for the last darshan. The last journey will start from the Congress office at 9:30 am and the last rites will be performed with full state honors at Nigambodh Ghat at 11:45 pm.




Huge waves strike Peruvian coastline

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Huge waves strike Peruvian coastline


Three-quarters of all ports in Peru have been closed because of huge waves lashing the coast.

Beaches are closed and fishing boats have been prevented for heading out to sea as a safety precaution.

The waves are being caused by persistent winds off the coast of the United States, according to The Chief of Hydrography and Navigation for Peru’s Navy, Enrique Varea.


Manmohan Singh was a visionary, always listened, never interfered, Raghuram Rajan says

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Manmohan Singh was a visionary, always listened, never interfered, Raghuram Rajan says


Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was a brilliant economist with a visionary outlook on India’s potential, along with with a fine sense of political feasibility, former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan said on Friday, according to news agency PTI.

In this Aug. 17, 2013 file photo, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with economist Raghuram Rajan, in New Delhi. Singh passed away on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, at the age of 92(PTI)
In this Aug. 17, 2013 file photo, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with economist Raghuram Rajan, in New Delhi. Singh passed away on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, at the age of 92(PTI)

Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2024, after being admitted to the emergency ward of Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He was 92.

Also Read: 10 lesser-known facts about former PM Manmohan Singh who just passed away

Rajan said Singh was understated and soft-spoken, which were qualities that led him to attract some of the brightest minds to his team, which includes Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Rangarajan, and Rakesh Mohan.

“The liberalisation and reforms he undertook with the support of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao laid the foundations of the modern Indian economy,” he told PTI.

Also Read: Who are Manmohan Singh’s 3 daughters Upinder, Daman and Amrit?

Rajan who was the 23rd RBI Governor between September 2013 and 2016 had regular meetings with Singh and recalled that he was someone who was always curious.

“Most persons with his experience and achievements would hold forth their views,” he said. “Instead, Dr. Singh heard others out and then tried to make use of what they conveyed, including criticism.

Rajan even said that his meetings with Singh were some of the most enjoyable moments of his time at the RBI.

Also Read: Old photos of Manmohan Singh meeting childhood friend from Pakistan resurface

“And he was a man of great integrity, never using any of his offices for personal gain,” Rajan added. “He was a great sounding board, but despite his prior experience as governor, he never sought to interfere. He had given me the job, and he would not tell me how to do it unless I asked for advice.”


Vodafone Group clears 11,650 crore dues raised against VIL shares

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Vodafone Group clears 11,650 crore dues raised against VIL shares


Vodafone Group clears 11,650 crore dues raised against VIL shares

NEW DELHI: UK-based Vodafone Group has cleared dues of around Rs 11,650 crore or about 109 million pound that it raised against shares of Vodafone Idea, according to a regulatory filing.
Vodafone Group had pledged almost the entire stake in VIL to raise the debt.
The pledge was created in favour of HSBC Corporate Trustee Company (UK) for the debt raised by Mauritius and India-based entities of Vodafone Group.
“On 27 Dec 2024, HSBC Corporate Trustee Company (UK) Limited acting as the security trustee for the lenders has released the pledges pursuant to repayment of the outstanding dues owed to the lenders by the Vodafone Promoter Shareholders.
“Consequently, the indirect encumbrance on 15,720,826,860 equity shares of the target company held by the Vodafone Promoter Shareholders representing 22.56 % of the equity share capital of the target company on a fully diluted basis has been released,” the filing said.
“Consequently, the indirect encumbrance on 15,720,826,860 equity shares of the target company held by the Vodafone Promoter Shareholders representing 22.56% of the equity share capital of the target company on a fully diluted basis has been released,” the filing said.
The shares are valued at around Rs 11,649 crore as per the closing price of Rs 7.41 apiece of Vodafone Idea stock on Friday.
Vodafone Group holds a 22.56% stake, while the Aditya Birla Group holds 14.76%. Govt has a 23.15% stake as of Sept 30, 2024.




Syrian authorities crack down on ‘remnants’ of Bashar al-Assad’s rule | Syria’s War News

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Syrian authorities crack down on ‘remnants’ of Bashar al-Assad’s rule | Syria’s War News


Push comes as Syria’s new de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa met Bahraini, Libyan delegations in Damascus.

Syria’s new administration is carrying out a security crackdown against what it has described as “remnants” of former President Bashar al-Assad’s rule, with operations under way in several parts of the country.

The official Syrian news agency SANA reported on Saturday that authorities were conducting “a large-scale sweep operation” near the city of Latakia on Syria’s northwestern coast.

The push — in an area where al-Assad enjoyed support from the Alawite community — came in response to “reports about [the] presence of elements linked to remnants of Assad’s militias”, SANA said in a post shared on social media.

Reporting from the capital Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra explained that the new administration said it is not targeting the Alawite community, from which al-Assad hailed.

Instead, the authorities said the security operation has focused on soldiers and Syrian army officials associated with al-Assad and his brother, Maher al-Assad, a powerful former military commander.

“They say that [they’ve] issued an ultimatum to those people to hand over weapons to the new administration,” Ahelbarra reported, adding that operations also were being carried out in Homs, Aleppo and on the outskirts of Damascus.

The push comes days after 14 police officers were killed in what the authorities said was an “ambush” by forces loyal to al-Assad in the Tartous governorate, another area on Syria’s western coast.

Interior Minister Mohammed Abdul Rahman had promised on Thursday to crack down on “anyone who dares to undermine Syria’s security or endanger the lives of its citizens”.

Syrian opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of the country earlier this month after a rapid offensive that ousted al-Assad after more than two decades in power.

A political transition is under way, with Syria’s new de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa – who headed HTS and previously had ties to al-Qaeda – holding talks with a number of Arab and Western diplomats in recent days.

Several countries have urged al-Sharaa to ensure that religious and ethnic minorities will be protected amid some recent tensions and fears that any unrest could negatively affect Syria and the wider region.

“What happens next in Syria will not only have an impact on the Syrians themselves, but it could spread beyond the country,” said Al Jazeera’s Ahelbarra. “This is why people are concerned about what happens next.”

Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, met with a Bahraini delegation in Damascus on Saturday, as well as with a senior official from Libya’s United Nations-recognised government.

“We expressed our full support for the Syrian authorities in the success of the important transitional phase,” Libyan Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs Walid Ellafi told reporters after the meeting.

“We emphasised the importance of coordination and cooperation … particularly on security and military issues,” Ellafi said, while the pair also discussed cooperation “related to energy and trade” and “illegal immigration”.

Meanwhile, Lebanese officials and a war monitor said Lebanon expelled approximately 70 Syrian officers and soldiers on Saturday, returning them to Syria after they crossed into the country illegally via informal routes.

Many senior Syrian officials and people close to the al-Assad family fled the country to neighbouring Lebanon after al-Assad was toppled on December 8.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a London-based monitor, said Syrian military personnel of various ranks had been sent back via Lebanon’s northern Arida crossing.

SOHR and a Lebanese security official told the Reuters news agency that the returnees were detained by the new Syrian authorities after crossing the border.