Author: Vividh Bharathi

Madras High Court dismisses case against Chennai Press Club elections

Chennai, Dec 11 (IANS) The Madras High Court has dismissed a case challenging the conduct of elections to the Chennai Press Club.

On Wednesday, Justice G. Jayachandran, a single-Bench judge, declined to entertain a suit filed by T.M. Viswanaath, a member of the Chennai Press Club.

The elections, scheduled for December 15, will take place after a 25-year gap, the last being held in 1999.

The elections aim to select a complete set of new office-bearers, including a president, two vice presidents, a general secretary, a treasurer, two joint secretaries, and five committee members.

Only primary members of the club are eligible to contest and vote in the elections.

Justice Jayachandran advised the plaintiff to approach the court after the declaration of results if he remained dissatisfied with the election process.

The elections are being conducted under the supervision of a Special Guidance Committee (SGC).

The 12-member SGC, led by veteran journalist N. Ram, had earlier constituted a subcommittee to finalise the list of members and appointed retired High Court Judge, V. Bharathidasan as the Election Officer.

The plaintiff sought to restrain the subcommittee from enrolling fresh members to the club.

However, P. Wilson, Senior Counsel representing the club, argued that the elections were being held after several years, and some individuals were attempting to block the process.

He noted that this group had been occupying the club for a long time.

Wilson further stated that the plaintiff had not challenged the election notification or the finalised voter list, and under such circumstances, the court could not grant an injunction against the polls.

Senior Counsel R. Singaravelan, representing another Chennai Press Club member who opposed the plea, emphasised that the elections, being conducted after decades, should not be obstructed.

Justice Jayachandran dismissed the case and clarified that the election process could proceed uninterrupted.

He added that any grievances could be raised in court after the elections and the announcement of results.

–IANS

aal/rad

Two Mumbai-based fraudsters posing as Delhi cops arrested in Kolkata

Kolkata, Dec 11 (IANS) Two notorious Mumbai-based fraudsters engaged in extorting money from people posing as cops of the cybercrime division of Delhi Police were arrested from a hotel at Sealdah in central Kolkata on Wednesday.

The two accused have been identified as Vinode Kovinda Pawar and Dhanji Jagannath Shinde and are residents of Mumbai.

The arrests were made following a recent complaint by a city-based woman to the Charu Market Police Station in South Kolkata.

As per the complaint, the two approached her posing as cops of the cybercrime division of Delhi. They informed her of several serious cases registered against her with Delhi Police and threatened to arrest her.

The woman panicked and thereafter the two fraudsters gave an offer to her to settle the matter against a hefty amount. The woman in panic started transferring the money demanded by the two accused to their bank accounts.

After having paid a hefty sum of Rs 66 lakh with the demands for more money from the two accused persons continuing, she contacted the Charu Market police station.

The cops of the city police immediately contacted their counterparts in Delhi Police and came to know that no such case had been registered there against the women concerned.

Thereafter, the cops started tracking the SIM numbers of the mobile phones from where calls were made to the woman. Finally, the two were arrested from a hotel at Sealdah.

The police have also been able to track the money that the women paid into an account with a private bank registered in the name of the Shinde. The police have also seized mobile phones, SIM cards and bank documents from the possession of the two arrested.

Kolkata Police have again alerted the citizens of this new trend of crime where innocent people are being tapped by fraudsters posing as cops or CBI or NCB officials. The advice of the city police for the citizens is not to panic about such calls and immediately contact the local police station.

–IANS

src/dpb

Australia’s largest telecommunications company fined over emergency service network disruption

Sydney, Dec 11 (IANS) Australia’s largest telecommunications company has been fined over an emergency services network disruption.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) on Wednesday announced a three million Australian dollar ($1.9 million) fine for Telstra for failing to comply with emergency call rules during an outage of Australia’s triple zero network in March.

As the national operator of the triple zero service, Telstra is required to meet obligations in relation to the handling and transfer of calls made to the emergency service number, reports Xinhua news agency.

ACMA found 473 breaches of the rules during a March 1 incident in which Telstra’s Triple Zero call centre was hampered in transferring calls to emergency services for 90 minutes.

The investigation found that 127 calls during that period were not transferred to emergency services because Telstra neglected to update its backup phone data.

ACMA said the remaining 346 calls were successfully transferred, but Telstra failed to provide the caller’s digital location information to emergency service organizations.

“Telstra, as the emergency call provider, is at the centre of this critical public safety service. As such, it must have fail-safe systems and processes in place at all times. In this circumstance, its systems and contingency plans failed people in real need,” ACMA member Samantha Yorke said in a statement.

She said that Telstra has been open and apologetic about the outage and has taken steps to prevent a similar incident in the future.

Optus, Australia’s second-largest telecommunications provider, was fined 12 million AUD ($7.6 million) in November by ACMA after thousands of customers were unable to call triple zero during an unprecedented outage in November 2023.

–IANS

int/sd

K’taka: Four girls on education trip drown in sea; govt announces Rs 5 lakh compensation

Karwar (Karnataka), Dec 11 (IANS) A shocking incident has been reported from Murudeshwar coastal town in Karwar district of Karnataka, where four girl students on an educational trip drowned in the sea. The state government announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the family of each deceased girl on Wednesday.

The girls were swept away by strong currents while playing at Murudeshwar beach on Tuesday evening. Authorities managed to rescue four girls initially, and a search is underway for others. The deceased have been identified as 15-year-old Deeksha, Lavanya, Vandana, and Shravanthi.

Deeksha, Lavanya, and Vandana’s bodies were found on Wednesday morning. Shravanthi was rescued immediately after the incident on Tuesday but later succumbed to her condition. Two other students were successfully rescued by the authorities, and rescue operations continued to locate the remaining students.

The deceased were students of Morarji Desai Residential School in Kottur village near Mulbagal town in Kolar district. Including teachers, a total of 57 people were on the academic tour. The strong sea currents pulled the girls away while they were playing on Murudeshwar beach.

It is alleged that negligence on the part of the teachers and the tourism department contributed to the tragedy.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed shock over the incident and announced compensation while paying his condolences over the tragedy.

Siddaramaiah stated, “I was shocked to learn the news of the students from the Morarji Desai Residential School in Mulbagal Taluk, Kolar District, who drowned in the sea near Murudeshwar during an educational trip. I pray for peace for the departed souls and offer my condolences to the grieving parents of the children.”

“The state government will provide compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the four students who died in this tragic incident. I have instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada district to make arrangements to transport the bodies to their hometowns,” Siddaramaiah stated.

CM further cautioned, “Teachers must exercise greater caution while supervising children during trips. When visiting dangerous locations, special care should be taken to monitor the children. I can understand the grief and pain of the parents who have lost their children. I pray that such tragedies never happen again.”

–IANS

mka/kvd

Haris Rauf, Danni Wyatt-Hodge win ICC Players of the Month awards

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) Pakistan men’s fast-bowler Haris Rauf and England women’s opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge have been named as winners of ICC Players of the Month award for November 2024.

Rauf overcame challenge from fellow pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Marco Jansen to win the prize and record back-to-back success for Pakistan, after spinner Noman Ali won the award back in October.

Rauf was back to being at his fearsome best while playing six ODIs and three T20Is for Pakistan. He began his trip to Australia with a fiery three-wicket haul in Melbourne, and hit a high note by picking a crucial five-wicket haul to level the series.

In the series decider at Perth, Rauf picked two more scalps to finish the series as the top wicket-taker with 10 scalps at an economy rate of just five, and help Pakistan grab a 2-1 series win.

Rauf continued his form in the subsequent T20I series, bagging five wickets, including an impressive four-fer in the second game, and took three more wickets in the ODI tour of Zimbabwe to have 18 dismissals across formats in November for Pakistan.

“It is an incredible honor to be named ICC Player of the Month, and I am truly humbled by this recognition. This achievement is not just mine but a testament to the collective efforts of my teammates and the unwavering support of our passionate fans.”

“Wearing the Pakistan jersey is a privilege, and moments like these motivate me to work even harder and push my limits. I dedicate this award to everyone who has been part of my journey so far, and I look forward to contributing more to the success of Pakistan cricket,” said Rauf in a statement.

On the other hand, Danni edged fellow nominees Sharmin Akhter and Nadine de Klerk to win the honour in women’s category. The right-handed opener had a scintillating month at the crease during England’s 3-0 T20I series win in their ongoing multi-format tour of South Africa.

A quiet start in East London was followed by an explosive 78 off 45 balls and play a big hand in England securing a 36-run win in Benoni. Danni, 33, ended the series in style by striking another eye-catching half-century as England sealed the series sweep with a nine-wicket win at Centurion.

“I am delighted and honoured to win this award. I’d like to say a big thank you to all my team-mates and coaches who I work with, and who encourage me every day. We had a great T20I series against South Africa where our team performed brilliantly with some great displays across the board.”

“On a personal level, it’s been really pleasing to perform consistently and the aim individually and collectively as a team is to continue this as we build-up to the Ashes and another big year of cricket coming up next year,” she added.

–IANS

nr/

Doubles coach Tan Kim returns for second stint with Indian badminton team

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has appointed Malaysian doubles specialist Tan Kim Her to work with the national team for the second time.

Instrumental in pairing Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy during his first stint with India, Tan will focus on developing strong doubles partnerships and bench strength ahead of the 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Speaking about his return to the Indian set-up, Tan said, “I am very happy to be back in India and get a chance to work with Satwik-Chirag and also the young and talented group of doubles players who have the potential to follow on the path of Satwik-Chirag. I am looking forward to creating a bigger group of doubles combinations who can win tournaments at the world stage.”

After working with Japanese men’s doubles pairs since 2019, Tan returns to India to build on his proven success. Tan has already arrived in India and has begun his second spell with the team, joining the players in Hyderabad.

“We had been looking for quality foreign coaches who could work with our current top players and also guide our next-generation players as we prepare for the 2028 Olympics. Finding the right coach took time but we were determined to bring in those who can continue the development of our badminton stars and also work with a bigger group of players and help build a strong pipeline of talent for the future,” said BAI secretary general Sanjay Mishra.

–IANS

aaa/bc

SLB’s ‘Heeramandi’ only Indian show on Google’s global list of most searched shows

Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Indian auteur Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s OTT debut series ‘Heeramandi – The Diamond Bazaar’ has emerged as the only Indian show on Google’s most searched shows globally in 2024.

While many international shows made their place in the top positions of Google trends, it’s remarkable to see Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s grand Netflix period drama ‘Heeramandi’ securing the fourth position on the list. Moreover, while international conversations like the US elections, and climate events created major buzz, ‘Heeramandi’ has managed to make its place in this list.

The show features majestic visuals, captivating music, compelling narrative, and outstanding performances, and is infused with SLB’s signature opulent storytelling.

The series stars Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, Sanjeeda Sheikh along with Taha Shah Badussha.

Taha, who essays the role of Nawab Tajdar Baloch in the series, had earlier shared that he auditioned for 15 months to land a part in the show.

Speaking about his audition, he earlier shared in a statement, “Having dreamt of working with the greats, Sanjay Leela Bhansali sat right at the top of my list. It took me fifteen months of relentless auditions for his show, and finally, the opportunity arrived—a mere 3-day role, but I was grateful that I would get a chance to receive his guidance. Meeting him was surreal, and it was then that he surprised me, suggesting a screen test for a more significant character, Tajdar’s best friend”.

The OTT series explores the cultural reality of Heeramandi, a dazzling district, through the stories of courtesans and their patrons set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s.

It stands as a true masterpiece, marking Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s remarkable debut in the digital realm and a significant milestone in his illustrious career.

‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ is an eight-part series streaming on Netflix. The show is set to return with second season.

–IANS

aa/

Japan to raise taxes for defence budget expansion: Media

Tokyo, Dec 11 (IANS) The Japanese government is finalising plans to increase corporate and income tax rates to fund its plan to nearly double defence spending to 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), local media cited sources as saying on Wednesday.

The government is targeting April 2026 for a 4 per cent hike in corporate tax rates, while the income tax rate is expected to rise by 1 per cent starting January 2027, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting Kyodo News.

Additionally, tobacco taxes will likely be raised incrementally from April 2026.

Japan plans to outlay a total of 43 trillion yen (about $284 billion) on national defence over the five years through fiscal 2027, and the government aims to collect an additional 1 trillion yen annually through tax increases, according to the report.

The government and ruling parties are drafting comprehensive tax reform plans for fiscal 2025, beginning next April. The finalised schedule for the tax increases is expected to be outlined in a draft to be completed by the end of December, the report added.

The expansion of Japan’s military budget has raised concerns domestically and internationally.

The country has set a goal outlined in its 2022 National Security Strategy of bringing defence spending to 2 per cent of the GDP in fiscal 2027, after long maintaining an informal cap of around 1 per cent, or about 5 trillion yen, under its war-renouncing Constitution.

–IANS

int/sd

Bangladesh court rejects bail plea of Chinmoy Krishna Das once again

Dhaka, Dec 11 (IANS) A Bangladesh court on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu priest and spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote also associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), who has been arrested and jailed by the local authorities on charges of sedition.

Local media reported that Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Saiful Islam, who is on vacation, passed the order on Wednesday citing that the plea was rejected because Das did not have a lawyer’s letter of attorney on his behalf.

The petition, which will be heard on January 2 next year now, states that Das – a monk who is suffering from various diseases including diabetes and respiratory problems – has been arrested in a false and fabricated case.

It also mentions that his lawyer Subhashish Sharma could not attend the hearing on December 3 due to security reasons.

“Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Public Prosecutor PP Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan said that the state party informed the court that lawyer Rabindra Ghosh, who had applied for Chinmoy’s anticipatory bail hearing, had not given any power of attorney to fight the case on his behalf. Apart from this, Chinmoy’s lawyer Subhashish Sharma was also not present. Subhashish did not give anything in writing to Rabindra Ghosh to fight the case. Later, the court rejected the application made by lawyer Rabindra Ghosh,” reported the country’s leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo.

It was revealed that the bail hearing of two other accused in the case was also scheduled for Wednesday but could not take place due to the lawyer’s absence.

India has been reiterating that it hopes that the trial will be “fair and transparent” as the arrested Hindus have legal rights that should be respected.

New Delhi has also urged the interim government’s authorities in Dhaka to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression while highlighting that the arrest of Das follows multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh.

“The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. We are concerned at the surge of extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggerations. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last month.

On Monday, during his visit to Dhaka, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had conveyed India’s concerns, especially those related to the safety and welfare of minorities, during his meetings with the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus and the Foreign Affairs Advisor, Touhid Hossain.

“We also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties. We expect, overall, a constructive approach on all these issues by the Bangladesh authorities, and we look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward-looking, and constructive direction,” Misri told reporters in Dhaka on December 9 following his meeting with Hossain.

–IANS

int/as

Biden calls Trump’s tariff approach ‘major mistake’

Washington, Dec 11 (IANS) US President Joe Biden called President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff approach “a major mistake.”

“He seems determined to impose steep universal tariffs on all imported goods brought to this country on the mistaken belief that foreign countries will bear the cost of those tariffs rather than the American consumer,” Biden said in a speech at the Washington-based think tank Brookings Institution.

“Who do you think pays for this? I believe this approach is a major mistake. I believe we have proven that approach is a mistake over the past four years,” said Biden.

In the speech, the outgoing US President reflected on the economy he inherited from Trump and his administration’s work following the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency.

He also criticised Trump’s economic plan, warning that it means “another tax cut for the very wealthy.”

“(By) all accounts, the incoming administration is determined to return the country to another round of trickle-down economics and another tax cut for the very wealthy that will not be paid for or, if paid for, is going to have a real cost,” Biden said.

At a Wall Street Journal CEO Council event on Tuesday, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also expressed concerns about Trump’s proposal to impose widespread import tariffs, warning that it could hinder progress in reducing inflation and lead to higher costs for both consumers and businesses.

In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump said he would fulfil a campaign promise to levy tariffs on imports from the United States’ major trading partners, saying that tariffs “cost Americans nothing.”

–IANS

int/sd