portrait

Renowned Hindi author Ganga Prasad Vimal dies in road accident in Sri Lanka Renowned Hindi author Ganga Prasad Vimal and his two family members were killed in a road accident in southern Sri Lanka, police said on Wednesday. The 80-year-old author was travelling along with his family in a van, which crashed into a container truck from behind on the Southern Expressway in Kurundugahahathapma area on Monday night, they said. Vimal and two of his family members were killed on the spot while a local driver died on the way to hospital. Two more persons sustained injuries. source: The Hindu

Sri Lankan govt committed to dispelling ‘darkness of religious terrorism’: Mahinda Rajapaksa Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, on December 25, said his government is committed to dispelling the “darkness of religious terrorism” and restoring security and peace in the country, as Christians celebrated the Christmas amidst unprecedented security arrangements across the island nation. The Christmas services in churches across the country were held amidst heavy security arrangements due to the situation arising out of the Easter Sunday bombings in which nearly 270 people were killed in the coordinated suicide attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels on April...

A giant missed opportunity, says Jayapal on cancelled meeting with Jaishankar Indian-American lawmaker Pramila Jayapal has said that the cancellation of a meeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was to have on Capitol Hill during a recent visit on account of her presence was a “sign of weakness” and a “giant missed opportunity” for India. Jayapal has been critical of restrictions in place in Kashmir since the August 5 abrogation of Article 370. She spoke forcefully against them at two hearings and has moved a bipartisan resolution in the House of Representatives to seek the lifting of curbs in the...

Israel’s Netanyahu wins ruling party leadership vote Embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a “huge” victory Friday, after winning a leadership primary that ensures he will lead his right-wing Likud party into March elections. Israel’s longest-serving premier, who faces a corruption indictment and a third general election in twelve months, was expected to beat rival Gideon Saar but the convincing margin of victory strengthened his position in the party he has dominated for 20 years. With all votes counted, Likud announced early Friday that Netanyahu had secured 72.5 percent, with Saar winning 27.5 percent. “A huge win! Thank you...

Donald Trump says North Korea’s Kim Jong Un may be planning nice ‘Christmas gift’ President Donald Trump said Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be planning to give him “a nice present” such as a “beautiful vase” for Christmas rather than a missile launch. The president was asked what he will do if North Korea does conduct a long-range missile test. The North has threatened to take unspecified action if sanctions are not eased by the end of the year, and speculation has centered on the possibility of a new missile test, possibly of an intercontinental ballistic...

Ex-ISRO Scientist Nambi Narayanan, Falsely Implicated in Spy Case, to Get ₹1.3 Crore From Kerala Govt Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government has in principle decided to give Rs 1.3 crore as compensation to former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, who was falsely implicated in the 1994 espionage case. The amount is for settling the case filed by 77-year-old Naryananan against the government in a sub-court here, seeking enhanced damages for his illegal arrest and harassment. source: News18.com

Adnan Sami tweets in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act: ‘Muslims are very proud and happy here’ While some celebrities have openly condemned the recently amended Citizenship Act, singer Adnan Sami has come out in support of the act. Adnan tweeted that the citizens of Pakistan have ‘uninvitedly thrusted themselves into the CAA discussion.’ In a continuing tweet, he adds the Indian Muslims are ‘very proud and happy here’. source: Firstpost

What Army Rules say about political comments by army-men Army Chief General Bipin Rawat’s remarks on Thursday, seen as an indirect criticism of the ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, and which set off a political storm have once again focused attention on what members of the defence forces can say, when it comes to politics, and what they can’t. “Leaders are not those who lead people in inappropriate direction. We are witnessing in large number of universities and colleges that students are leading masses and crowds to carry out arson and violence in cities and towns. This is...

Saif Ali Khan on CAA protests: ‘I am not sure yet’ Reacting to the ongoing nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), actor Saif Ali Khan said as a citizen he is concerned about the current situation in the country. The 49-year-old star is one of the few big names from Bollywood to react on the unrest due to the protests against the legislation. source:

Vicky Kaushal pens emotional note on Sardar Udham Singh: ‘With every scene, something inside me alters forever’ Vicky Kaushal is all set to bring legendary freedom fighter Sardar Udham Singh alive on celluloid in a biopic directed by Shoojit Sircar. Sardar Udham Singh killed General Michael O’ Dwyer, the former lieutenant governor of the Punjab who ordered the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. On the revolutionary’s 120th birth anniversary, Vicky took to Instagram to pen a heartfelt note. source: