After an impeachment vote against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol failed on Saturday, opposition lawmakers have accused his ruling party of staging a “second coup” by clinging on to power.
Tens of thousands of people had come out in protest, calling for Yoon’s resignation or impeachment after he shocked the country with a martial law declaration last week.
But the vote to impeach Yoon failed and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) said instead that its party leader and prime minister would run the country until the president’s “orderly exit”.
The move has been criticised as unconstitutional by the opposition Democratic Party, which has vowed to hold impeachment votes against Yoon every Saturday.
In a public address on Sunday, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said Yoon would no longer be involved in foreign and domestic affairs until his early resignation – adding that Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would manage government affairs in the meantime.
“The President will not be involved in any state affairs including diplomacy before his exit,” said party leader Han.
However, Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae described the proposed plan as “an illegal, unconstitutional second insurrection and a second coup”.
Representative Kim Min-seok of the Democratic Party had similarly criticised the plan, saying “nobody gave” PPP leader Han the power to make such decisions.
“The Prime Minister and the ruling party’s announcement that they would jointly exercise the powers of the president, which no one has given them, is clearly unconstitutional” he said, according to a Korea Herald report.
On social media, many South Koreans voiced their concerns, saying there is a lack of clarity on who is leading the country.
The Ministry of National Defence confirmed at a briefing on Monday that the president retains command of the armed forces. That means in the event of any foreign policy incidents, including any possible threat from North Korea, Yoon is still, in theory, able to make executive decisions.
“The president can take the lead again any time he changes his mind,” political science professor Shin Yul of Myongji University told The Korea Herald.
“No one will be able to stop him, if Yoon insists.”
On Saturday Yoon made his first appearance since the martial law declaration, pledging that he would not impose another martial law order, and apologising for the “anxiety and inconvenience” caused by his declaration.
However, the opposition has insisted that they “will not give up” on impeaching Yoon.
“We will definitely return this country to normal by Christmas and the end of the year and give it to you as a Christmas and end-of-year gift,” Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung told a disappointed crowd after Saturday’s failed impeachment attempt.
He again urged Yoon to resign on Monday, telling a press conference that Yoon’s actions were “destroying” South Korea and its economy.
Today, the gold rate has decreased on Monday. The price of 24 carat gold is ₹7778.3 per gram, which reflects a decrease of ₹10.0. The price of 22 carat gold is ₹7131.3 per gram, also down by ₹10.0.
Gold silver image
Over the past week, the rate of 24 carat gold has changed by -0.72%, while in the last month, it has increased by 1.87%. The silver rate is ₹95000.0 per kg, which represents a decrease of ₹100.0.
In Delhi, the gold rate today stands at ₹77783.0 per 10 grams. This marks a decline from ₹78073.0 per 10 grams recorded yesterday on 08-12-2024, and from ₹77513.0 per 10 grams noted last week on 03-12-2024.
For silver, the rate in Delhi today is ₹95000.0 per kg, down from ₹95200.0 per kg yesterday and from ₹94000.0 per kg last week.
In Chennai, the current gold rate is ₹77631.0 per 10 grams. This is a decrease from ₹77921.0 per 10 grams yesterday and from ₹77361.0 per 10 grams last week.
The silver rate in Chennai today is ₹102600.0 per kg, down from ₹103800.0 per kg yesterday and from ₹102100.0 per kg last week.
In Mumbai, the gold rate today is ₹77637.0 per 10 grams, which is a decline from ₹77927.0 per 10 grams yesterday and from ₹77367.0 per 10 grams last week.
The silver rate in Mumbai today is ₹94300.0 per kg, down from ₹94500.0 per kg yesterday and from ₹93300.0 per kg last week.
In Kolkata, the gold rate today is ₹77635.0 per 10 grams, reflecting a decrease from ₹77925.0 per 10 grams yesterday and from ₹77365.0 per 10 grams last week.
The silver rate in Kolkata today is ₹95800.0 per kg, down from ₹96000.0 per kg yesterday and from ₹94800.0 per kg last week.
The gold April 2025 MCX futures were trading at ₹77290.0 per 10 gm, reflecting a slight increase of ₹0.096 at the time of publishing.
The silver March 2025 MCX futures were trading at ₹92219.0 per kg, down by ₹0.248 at the time of publishing.
It is important to note that gold and silver prices are influenced by a variety of factors, including input from major jewelers. Key elements such as global demand for gold, currency fluctuations, interest rates, and government policies play significant roles in determining these prices. Additionally, international factors, including the state of the global economy and the strength of the US dollar against other currencies, also impact gold rates in the Indian market.
Although there are some developing studies that suggest chiropractic may have merit, there is not enough data to establish safety. In fact, it is often associated with mild to moderate adverse effects and, in rare cases, serious complications.
Judging by social media trends, chiropractic seems like a new trend, but it is not a new technology. (Image: Shutterstock)
The reel of a person who appears to be a doctor treating patients with a loud sound from their bones is going viral on social media. Although this may seem unsettling at first, these are professional “chiropractors” who specialize in spinal and joint adjustments.
Chiropractors are those who do “chiropractic”. It is pronounced “ke-roe-practic”. The history of the art reveals that the word ‘Chiropractic’ is derived from the Greek words chir, meaning ‘hand’, and praktos, meaning ‘done’, together meaning ‘done by hand’.
Judging by social media trends, chiropractic seems like a new trend, but it is not a new technology. Chiropractic originated in 1895, and Daniel David Palmer is credited with developing the practice. According to the University of Minnesota on its website, Palmer “adjusted” the spine of a deaf janitor and claimed to restore his hearing.
Although chiropractic is an old practice, it has faced challenges in gaining worldwide acceptance, primarily due to the lack of strong scientific evidence. Nevertheless, chiropractors now work in more than 90 countries around the world.
In fact, chiropractic care is regulated in 50 states of the United States and is the largest alternative medicine profession in the United States with approximately 70,000 members. It is slowly gaining momentum in India. Let’s discuss whether you should believe it or physiotherapy is the best option.
How does this therapy work?
From stretching and using constant pressure to manipulation of certain joints – chiropractors use manual treatment methods, mostly using the hand that involve quick and gentle thrusts.
They claim that the purpose of manipulation is to improve the movement and function of the joints. Manipulation involves applying force to the affected area, moving the joint beyond its normal range of motion. This may produce a crackling sound. Globally, people turn to them for treatment of lower back pain, neck pain, muscle aches and headaches besides other musculoskeletal pain.
Published studies in favor of chiropractic
Spine manipulative therapy (SMT) produces similar effects to recommended treatments for chronic back pain, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.
The study states that SMT appears to be superior to non-recommended interventions for improving function in the short term, but “clinicians should inform their patients about the potential risks of adverse events associated with SMT.”
Similarly, another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) concluded that “in patients with acute low back pain, spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) was associated with modest improvements in pain and function for up to 6 weeks.” However, it added that “variability across study results was large” meaning the findings are not reliable.
A retrospective study published in the journal Nature looked at a large dataset of chiropractic clinics in Hong Kong. It found that serious adverse events (AEs) occurring in relation to spine manipulative therapy (SMT) were “rare” – with an incidence of 0.21 per 100,000 SMT sessions.
But it also said, “Further research is needed on this topic, possibly through a practice-based research network that could increase the sample size and allow such analysis.”
Therefore, studies showed the effectiveness of some techniques but failed to establish solid evidence on the effectiveness of the therapy.
The other side of the science-based story
According to a major critical analysis published in Science Direct, the journal of Pain and Management, “Chiropractors’ belief in ‘innate’ subluxation or spinal manipulation is not rational.”
This article asks the question, “Does chiropractic produce more benefits than harms?” It states, “Current chiropractic practice raises several concerns.”
The analysis reviews several studies and concludes that the effectiveness, safety, and cost of spinal manipulation are uncertain. This suggests that more and better quality studies are needed. “Until robust data become available, we can question the value of this popular approach to health care,” the study said.
The article makes clear that this overview “will be rejected by proponents of chiropractic” as being biased or one-sided, but it was intended to offer a critical assessment.
“Currently, such evaluation is not provided by chiropractors, yet progress in any field is difficult without critical evaluation.”
Another study titled “Frequency and Clinical Predictors of Adverse Reactions to Chiropractic Care in the UCLA Neck Pain Study” found that adverse reactions to chiropractic care for neck pain are common.
Of the 280 participants (83 percent) who responded, 85 (30.4 percent) had 212 adverse symptoms as a result of chiropractic care.
The study states, “Given the potentially high risk of adverse reactions and the lack of demonstrated effectiveness of manipulation on mobilization, chiropractors should consider a conservative approach to applying manipulation to their patients, especially those with severe neck pain.” Should do.”
Although some developing studies are suggesting that this practice is worthwhile, there is currently not enough data to establish the safety of chiropractic manipulations. “It is often associated with mild to moderate adverse effects and, in rare cases, serious or fatal complications.”
Dr. AB Cyriac Philip, known for his satirical criticisms of alternative medicine, including Ayurveda and homeopathy, described chiropractic as a “pseudo-scientific practice without any evidence” in a post on the social media platform X.
“There is not enough data to establish the safety of chiropractic manipulations. It is often associated with mild to moderate adverse effects, with serious or fatal complications in rare cases. Many deaths have been linked to this technique,” he wrote in a long post rubbishing the practice, which has gained popularity in India after some reels went viral on social media platforms.
Please hear me out: Don’t go to chiropractors for any health problem. Stay far away from them. This is dangerous. This is from the Instagram account of a chiropractor from Delhi who has 250K (misguided) followers. I’m quite concerned that this nonsense is gaining popularity… pic.twitter.com/riKqC6SdTO
In many countries where this therapy is popular, there are bodies responsible for accreditation and oversight. For example, in the US, the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) provides reassurance to the general public.
According to the NBCE website, “NBCE examinations provide assurance to the general public that – whether a chiropractor has attended school or is licensed – he or she has achieved a baseline of knowledge as well as competency in diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, principles of Have demonstrated chiropractic, allied clinical sciences and chiropractic practice.”
However, in India, there is no designated person to oversee whether the person offering these services is adequately educated or trained to provide this otherwise risky treatment. When News18 spoke to many chiropractors, they said that they have a degree from America or they are registered physiotherapists and also do chiropractic. But many others have obtained certifications from some institutions that are not popular or obscure. But, all this goes uncontrolled as there is no prescribed body to monitor or check the authenticity of chiropractors.
Unlike physiotherapists – who are registered under the Indian Rehabilitation Council Act, 1994 and registered under state medical councils – chiropractors are not liable to follow any medical code of conduct.
“If we have 100 patients coming to us in a week, 50 come for chiropractic treatment. However, chiropractic is only a part of the treatment and not the complete treatment. The actual treatment is physiotherapy and we can use chiropractic for some activities,” a physiotherapist and chiropractor, who works at a Gurugram-based wellness clinic, told News18.
In short, it is advisable to choose a healthcare professional based on their skills, qualifications and certifications rather than their popularity on social media, such as viral reels or number of followers.
newslifestyle Chiropractors Are Going Viral, But Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Skip Physical Therapy
New York Mayor Eric Adams says suspect in the killing of Brian Thompson will be brought to justice.
Police are closing in on the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a New York hotel, the city’s mayor has said.
New York Mayor Eric Adams said on Sunday that the “net is tightening” around the suspected gunman, who is believed by authorities to have left the city after the killing.
“The manner in which they were able to follow his footsteps, to recover evidence – some of it is known, some of it is unknown – but the net is tightening. And we are going to bring this person to justice,” Adams told reporters.
Asked if authorities had confirmed the suspect’s name, Adams declined to comment on his identity.
“We do not want to give him an upper hand at all. Let him continue to believe he can hide behind a mask,” he said.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) has released several images of the suspect, including CCTV stills of the man at a hostel with his face partially visible.
Thompson, 50, was shot dead on Wednesday in an early morning ambush outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel while on his way to his company’s annual investor conference.
In surveillance footage of the attack, a man wearing a hooded jacket is shown emerging from behind a car and shooting Thompson several times before fleeing the scene.
Police have described the killing as a “premeditated” and “targeted” attack.
Shell casings left at the scene were emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose”, an apparent reference to the title of a 2010 book about the tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying claims.
While police have not announced a motive in Thompson’s murder, his wife told US media that “there had been some threats” against her husband.
Thompson’s murder has sent shockwaves through corporate circles as well as drawn attention to the widespread public fury over the US health insurance industry’s treatment of people in need of medical care.
Since Thompson’s murder, thousands of people have taken to social media to celebrate the killing or express sympathy with the killer.
Many of those expressing glee over the murder have recounted experiences of the insurer declining to cover treatment for themselves or their family members.
In an Senate committee report released in October, US lawmakers accused UnitedHealthcare of using artificial intelligence to raise its prior authorisation denial rate for post-acute care from 10.9 percent in 2020 to 22.7 percent in 2022.
UnitedHealthcare is one of the biggest health insurers in the US, providing health coverage to more than 49 million Americans.
The company had revenues of $371.6bn in 2023, up nearly 15 percent from the previous year.
Thompson, who joined the insurer in 2004 and had served as CEO since 2021, received $10.2m in compensation the same year.
Experts suggest that buying during price dips remains advantageous, with possibilities of reaching 25,500 in the near term. (AI image)
Stock market today: Indian equity benchmark indices, BSE Sensex and Nifty50, opened in red on Monday. While BSE Sensex opened over 100 points down, Nifty50 was above 24,650. At 9:16 AM, BSE Sensex was trading at 81,644.04, down 65 points or 0.080%. Nifty50 was at 24,667.35, down 10 points or 0.042%. This week has crucial economic data releases, including GDP figures from the US, Japan, and UK, alongside China’s CPI and PPI, and India’s CPI. Experts suggest that buying during price dips remains advantageous, with possibilities of reaching 25,500 in the near term. Brief corrections following strong advances are anticipated, reinforcing the benefits of purchasing during price declines. Asian equities declined, led by South Korean markets on Monday, preceding numerous central bank meetings expected to reduce interest rates. US inflation data remains crucial for additional policy adjustments. Oil traded mixed during early Asian hours on Monday, with Chinese demand concerns balanced by heightened Middle East tensions following Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s removal. The Canadian and Australian dollars received attention before their central bank meetings, whilst the euro and other primary currencies remained stable as traders assessed US dollar prospects. Foreign portfolio investors sold net Rs 1,830 crore on Friday, while domestic institutional investors purchased Rs 1,659 crore worth of shares. FII net short positions reduced from Rs 45,397 crore on Thursday to Rs 39,441 crore on Friday.
Trump begins his second presidential term in January and has told NBC he will issue a range of new executive orders
President-elect Donald Trump has said he will look at pardons for those involved in the 2021 US Capitol riot on his first day back in office next month.
“These people are living in hell,” he told NBC’s Meet the Press in his first broadcast network interview since winning November’s election.
The Republican also vowed to end automatic citizenship for anyone born in the country, but offered to work with Democrats to help some undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children.
In the wide-ranging sit-down, which was recorded on Friday, Trump promised to issue “a lot” of executive orders, including on immigration, energy and the economy, after he is inaugurated on 20 January.
While he suggested he would not seek a justice department investigation into Joe Biden, he said that some of his political adversaries, including lawmakers who investigated the Capitol riot, should be jailed.
Trump was asked whether he would seek to pardon the hundreds of people convicted of involvement in that riot, when supporters of his stormed Congress three months after his defeat in the 2020 election.
“We’re going to look at independent cases,” he said. “Yeah, but I’m going to be acting very quickly.”
“First day,” he added.
Trump continued: “You know, by the way, they’ve been in there for years, and they’re in a filthy, disgusting place that shouldn’t even be allowed to be open.”
The president-elect made other news in the NBC interview aired on Sunday:
He offered a caveat on whether he would keep the US in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato): “If they’re paying their bills, and if I think they’re doing a fair – they’re treating us fairly, the answer is absolutely, I’d stay with Nato”
Trump said he would not seek to impose restrictions on abortion pills, though when asked to make a guarantee, he added: “Well, I commit. I mean…things change”
The Republican said Ukraine should “probably” expect less aid when he returns to the White House
Trump said he thinks “somebody has to find out” if there is a link between autism and childhood vaccines – an idea that has been ruled out by multiple studies around the world. Trump suggested his nominee for health secretary, vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr, would look into the matter
The president-elect repeated his promise that he will not seek to cut Social Security, nor raise its eligibility age, though he said he would make it “more efficient”, without offering further details
Pressed on whether his plan to impose tariffs on imports from major US trading partners would raise consumer prices for Americans, he said: “I can’t guarantee anything. I can’t guarantee tomorrow”
On the subject of immigration, Trump told NBC he would seek through executive action to end so-called birthright citizenship, which entitles anyone born in the US to an American passport, even if their parents were born elsewhere.
Birthright citizenship stems from the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which states that “all persons born” in the United States “are citizens of the United States”.
“We’re going to have to get it changed,” Trump said. “We’ll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.”
Trump also said he would follow through on his campaign pledge to deport undocumented immigrants, including those with family members who are US citizens.
“I don’t want to be breaking up families,” he said, “so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.”
Trump also said he wants to work with Congress to help so-called Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who were shielded under an Obama-era programme, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which Trump once attempted to scrap.
“I will work with the Democrats on a plan,” he said, adding that some of these immigrants have found good jobs and started businesses.
Trump seemed to offer mixed signals on whether he would follow through on his repeated vows to seek retribution against political adversaries.
Outgoing US President Joe Biden this week issued a sweeping pardon to his criminally convicted son, Hunter. The Democrat is reported to be considering other blanket pardons for political allies before he leaves office next month.
Trump seemed to indicate that he would not seek a special counsel investigation into Biden and his family, as he once vowed.
“I’m not looking to go back into the past,” he said. “I’m looking to make our country successful. Retribution will be through success.”
But he also said that members of the now-defunct, Democratic-led House of Representatives committee that investigated him “should go to jail”.
One member of the panel, former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney, hit back at Trump on Sunday.
She said his comment that members of the committee should be jailed was a “continuation of his assault on the rule of law and the foundations of our republic”.
In his NBC interview Trump also said he would not direct the FBI to pursue investigations against his foes.
But he also told the network: “If they were crooked, if they did something wrong, if they have broken the law, probably.
“They went after me. You know, they went after me, and I did nothing wrong.”
New Delhi: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has suggested the Centre to stick with the the fiscal deficit target of 4.9 per cent of GDP for FY 25 and a target of 4.5 per cent for FY26 in the upcoming Union Budget. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, elaborating on the suggestions for the forthcoming Union Budget also pointed out that overly aggressive targets beyond the ones mentioned could adversely affect growth.
“India has been growing rapidly amidst a slowing global economy. Prudent fiscal management for macroeconomic stability has been pivotal to this growth,” said Banerjee. “The fiscal management has maintained the perfect balance between the fiscal deficit and fiscal support to growth. This has provided macroeconomic stability to the economy and helped build resilience in an environment of great global economic uncertainty’, added Banerjee.
CII has also welcomed the announcement in the Union Budget 2024-25 to keep the fiscal deficit at levels that help reduce the debt to GDP ratio. In preparation for this, the forthcoming budget could lay out a glide path to bring the Central Government’s debt to below 50 per cent of GDP in the medium term (by 2030-31), and below 40 per cent of GDP in the long term, CII has suggested. Such an explicit target would have a positive impact on India’s sovereign credit rating, and further on the interest rates in the economy in general.
“To aid longer term fiscal planning, the Government should consider instituting Fiscal Stability Reporting, he added. This could include issuing annual reports on fiscal risks under different stress scenarios and the outlook for fiscal stability,” he added.
The exercise will help forecast potential economic headwinds or tailwinds and assess their impact on the fiscal path, he stated. The reporting can also include long-term (10-25 years) forecasting of fiscal positions accounting for impact of factors like economic growth, technological change, climate change, demographic changes, etc. Several countries have adopted this proactive ranging from 10 years in Brazil to 50 years in the UK, he added.
“In addition to the fiscal prudence at the Centre, fiscal prudence at the State level is equally crucial for the overall macroeconomic stability and fiscal sustainability. Today the combined spending by State governments is higher than that of Union Government”, opined Banerjee.
CII has suggested three interventions to nudge the states towards fiscal prudence. One, the States could be encouraged to institute State level Fiscal Stability Reporting. Two, States have been allowed to borrow directly from the market, following the recommendations of the 12th Finance Commission. States also provide guarantees in case of borrowing by State PSEs, which have implications for State’s fiscal health.
Three, the Union Government could create an independent and a transparent credit rating system for the states to incentivize them to maintain fiscal prudence. Rating of states could be used to grant them greater autonomy in deciding how to borrow and spend.
Additionally, the Central Government can use Credit Rating of states as one of the parameters in deciding transfers to states, including for schemes such as ‘Special Assistance as Loan to States for Capital Expenditure. “Such rewards will act as a strong incentive for State Governments to prioritize fiscal prudence and fiscal sustainability of state finances”, said Banerjee.
Russia has granted the al-Assad family asylum on ‘humanitarian grounds’, Russian news agencies report.
Syria’s ousted President Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Russia after being granted asylum by Russian authorities, Russian news agencies reported, citing a Kremlin source.
Russia has granted the family asylum on “humanitarian grounds”, the Interfax, TASS and Ria Novosti news agencies reported on Sunday, quoting the unnamed source.
Al-Assad’s whereabouts were unknown after armed opposition fighters captured Damascus in the early hours of Sunday morning, declaring that his government had been toppled. The advance came less than two weeks into the opposition’s lightning offensive.
“Right now we see that a number of sources, including the BBC’s Russian service, for instance, have reported that al-Assad could possibly have been evacuated by a Russian plane from a Russian air base in Latakia, Syria that took off several hours ago with its transponders turned off,” Al Jazeera’s Yulia Shapovalova said from Russia’s capital Moscow.
Speaking at the White House, US President Joe Biden stated that he was not sure where al-Assad was, but that “there is word he is in Moscow”.
“The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice. It’s a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country,” Biden also said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry had said earlier on Sunday that al-Assad had resigned and left Syria.
Crowds ransacked the deposed leader’s opulent home after the opposition forces declared he had fled.
Residents in the capital were seen cheering in the streets shortly after rebel factions declared “the city of Damascus free”.
Meanwhile, Russian news agencies also reported that Syrian opposition leaders have guaranteed the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions inside Syria.
“Russian officials are in contact with representatives of the armed Syrian opposition, whose leaders have guaranteed the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic institutions on the territory of Syria,” TASS reported, citing a Kremlin source.
That is despite Russia having been an active participant in Syria’s war, supporting al-Assad and carrying out repeated bombing raids on opposition areas, resulting in the deaths of civilians. Russian support reversed the tide of the war in 2015, when opposition fighters were threatening Damascus. Instead, al-Assad was able to push the opposition to enclaves in the north of the country, until the rapid rebel advance that began in late November.
The events of Sunday came after 13 years of war, which also put an end to more than half a century of the al-Assad family’s rule.
The Syrian war started as a largely unarmed uprising against al-Assad in March 2011, which eventually became an all-out war that dragged in foreign powers, killed hundreds of thousands of people and turned millions into refugees across the world.
The gold rate decreased on Sunday. The rate of 24 carat gold is ₹7779.3 per gm, down by ₹280.0. The rate of 22 carat gold is ₹7132.3 per gm, down by ₹260.0.
Gold silver image
24 carat gold’s rate has changed in the last one week by 0.12%, whereas in the last month it has changed by 1.87%. The silver rate is ₹95100.0 per kg, down by ₹100.0.
Gold rate in Delhi Gold rate in Delhi today is ₹77793.0/10 grams. Yesterday on 07-12-2024, the price of gold was ₹78073.0/10 grams, and last week, the price on 02-12-2024 was ₹78163.0/10 grams.
Silver rate in Delhi Silver rate in Delhi today is ₹95100.0/Kg. Yesterday on 07-12-2024, the price of silver was ₹95200.0/Kg, and last week, the price on 02-12-2024 was ₹94500.0/Kg.
Gold rate in Chennai Gold rate in Chennai today is ₹77641.0/10 grams. Yesterday on 07-12-2024, the price of gold was ₹77921.0/10 grams, and last week, the price on 02-12-2024 was ₹78011.0/10 grams.
Silver rate in Chennai Silver rate in Chennai today is ₹102700.0/Kg. Yesterday on 07-12-2024, the price of silver was ₹103800.0/Kg, and last week, the price on 02-12-2024 was ₹102600.0/Kg.
Gold rate in Mumbai Gold rate in Mumbai today is ₹77647.0/10 grams. Yesterday on 07-12-2024, the price of gold was ₹77927.0/10 grams, and last week, the price on 02-12-2024 was ₹78017.0/10 grams.
Silver rate in Mumbai Silver rate in Mumbai today is ₹94400.0/Kg. Yesterday on 07-12-2024, the price of silver was ₹94500.0/Kg, and last week, the price on 02-12-2024 was ₹93800.0/Kg.
Gold rate in Kolkata Gold rate in Kolkata today is ₹77645.0/10 grams. Yesterday on 07-12-2024, the price of gold was ₹77925.0/10 grams, and last week, the price on 02-12-2024 was ₹78015.0/10 grams.
Silver rate in Kolkata Silver rate in Kolkata today is ₹95900.0/Kg. Yesterday on 07-12-2024, the price of silver was ₹96000.0/Kg, and last week, the price on 02-12-2024 was ₹95300.0/Kg.
The gold February 2025 MCX futures were trading at ₹76616.0 per 10 gm, up by ₹0.183 at the time of publishing. The silver May 2025 MCX futures were trading at ₹94278.0 per kg, up by ₹0.121 at the time of publishing.
Gold and silver prices are affected by a range of factors, among them the input from major jewelers. Elements such as the global demand for gold, currency variations, interest rates, and government policies all play a role in the prices. Apart from this, international factors such as the state of the global economy and the strength of the US dollar against other currencies also exert an influence on gold rates in the Indian market.
A 3D modelling of the proposed port to be built on the remote Great Nicobar island
“The forest is our supermarket,” says Anice Justin. “We get almost everything from the forests on these islands. It is what we survive on.”
Mr Justin, an anthropologist, has grown up in the Andaman and Nicobar islands straddling India’s east coast. A federally-administered territory, the ecologically-fragile region consists 836 islands, of which only 38 are inhabited. The Nicobar Islands are a distinct group of islands in the southern part of the territory, located some 150 km (93 miles) south of the Andaman Island.
Now Mr Justin watches with trepidation as India plans a multi-billion ‘Hong Kong-like’ development project on the Great Nicobar Island, one of the largest and most secluded parts of the Nicobar archipelago.
Built on a budget of 720bn rupees ($9bn or £6bn) and spread over 166 sq km, the project includes a transshipment harbour, a power plant, an airport and a new township, all designed to link the area to crucial global trade routes along the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal.
Positioned near the Strait of Malacca, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, the project promises to boost international trade and tourism – the government reckons that some 650,000 people will be living on the island by the time the project is completed in 30 years.
Experts say the multi-billion plan is also a part of India’s larger goal to counter China’s growing influence in the region.
But the scheme has sparked alarm among the islanders who fear the loss of their land, culture, and way of life, with the project threatening to push them to the brink of extinction.
Getty Images
Andaman and Nicobar islands straddle India’s east coast
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to some of the most isolated and vulnerable tribes in the world, with five groups classified as “particularly vulnerable.”
These include the Jarawas, North Sentinelese, Great Andamanese, Onge, and Shompen. While the Jarawas and North Sentinelese remain largely uncontacted, the Shompen – some 400 people – of the Great Nicobar Islands are also at risk of losing their way of life due to external pressures.
A nomadic tribe, most of them live deep inside the forest where they forage for survival – not much is known about their culture as very few of them have ever had contact with the outside world.
“The loss will be especially huge and traumatic for them,” says Mr Justin, who has been documenting the island since 1985.
“Whatever we call development in the outside world is not of interest to them. They have a traditional life of their own.”
Environmentalists say there are also huge environmental costs of the project.
Spread across 921 sq km (355.6 sq miles), around 80% of the Great Nicobar island is covered with rainforests, which are home to more than 1,800 animals and 800 flora species, many of which are endemic.
The federal environment ministry has said that only 130 sq km or 14% of the total area of the island will be cleared for the project – but that’s still about 964,000 trees. Experts warn the actual number could be much higher.
“The government always claims only a part of the forest will be cleared. But the infrastructure you’re building would lead to more pollution, which in turn would impact the entire habitat,” says Madhav Gadgil, an ecologist.
The environment ministry did not respond to BBC’s request for comment.
But Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav in August had said that the project “will not disturb or displace” tribespeople and that it had received environmental clearances based on the “rigour of environmental scrutiny and after incorporating consequent safeguards”.
Yet, not everyone is convinced.
Earlier this year, 39 international experts from different fields of social sciences had warned that the development project would be a “death sentence” for the Shompen as it would destroy their habitat.
It’s a fear that haunts Mr Justin too: “The Shompen people do not have the knowledge or the means to survive in an industrial world,” he says.
Archeological Survey of India
The island is home to the ancient, uncontacted Shompen tribe
He worries the group could meet the same fate as the Nicobarese, the biggest tribal group on the island, which suffered displacement in 2004, when a massive tsunami in the Indian Ocean wiped out their villages.
Over the years, the government made efforts to resettle the people to a different area – but that too came at a price.
“Most Nicobarese here are now manual labourers and stay in a settlement instead of their ancestral lands,” Mr Justin says. “They have no place to grow crops or keep animals.”
There are fears that the project could also expose the Shompen to diseases.
“Uncontacted peoples have little to no immunity to outside diseases like flu and measles which can and do wipe them out – they typically lose around two thirds of their population after contact,” says Callum Russell, an official at Survival International, a conservation group.
Getty Images
The project would impact the Galathea Bay, which is home to a variety of marine life
There are other wider environmental concerns as well, especially about the marine life of the region.
Ecologists warn of the effect on the Galathea Bay on the south-eastern side of the island, which has been the nesting place for giant leatherback sea turtles for centuries.
Dr Manish Chandi, a social ecologist, says the project will also affect saltwater crocodiles and the island’s water monitors, fish and avifauna.
A government statement has said these nesting and breeding grounds of these species would not be altered.
But Mr Chandi points out that there are several other species which nest in the area in large numbers. “The government is proposing to translocate corals in locations where they are not found naturally. What are they going to do with these other species?”
Even though the project would take 30 long years to finish, people can’t help but feel anxious about how it will irreversibly alter the delicate balance of both the environment and the lives of the island’s indigenous people.
