| Monday, 7 April 2025 |
| 19-yr-old gang-raped by 23 over 6 days in Varanasi |
| The US Supreme Court has denied the application of Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, seeking a stay on his extradition to India. Rana, currently detained in Los Angeles, had submitted the application after Associate Justice Elena Kagan initially denied it. Despite a renewed appeal, the Supreme Court ultimately rejected the request. |
| US SC rejects Tahawwur Rana's plea to stay extradition |
| A fake cardiologist operating at a missionary hospital in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh, has been linked to the deaths of seven patients. Police have filed an FIR against the accused, identified as Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav, who allegedly used the name of a renowned UK cardiologist. The incident came to light after a complaint was filed with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which is investigating the case. The accused has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery and criminal liability. The incident has sparked political controversy, with the Congress accusing the BJP of protecting the accused. |
| Fake MP doctor N John Camm, linked to 7 deaths, nabbed |
| A chance meeting between Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union minister Kiren Rijiju at the Tulip Garden in Srinagar has sparked a political storm, with opposition parties accusing the National Conference of laying out a red carpet for the BJP leader in the aftermath of the Waqf Amendment Act. While NC sources termed the interaction as a purely coincidental encounter, opposition parties like the PDP and Peoples' Conference condemned the meeting, accusing the NC of surrendering to the BJP. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, passed by Parliament last week, aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties with provisions to safeguard heritage sites and promote social welfare. |
| Omar's 'chance meet' with Rijiju sparks political row |
| Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has written an open letter to BookMyShow requesting the online ticketing platform to either not delist him or to hand over the contact information of audience members he has earned through his solo shows over the years. The letter comes days after Shiv Sena claimed BookMyShow had taken Kamra off the sale and artists list from its platform amid ongoing controversy around his 'traitor' jibe against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. |
| Kunal Kamra asks BookMyShow if he's banned, it says... |
| Kannada actress Ranya Rao, along with businessman Tarun Raju and jewellery dealer Sahil Jain, had their judicial custody extended until April 21 in connection with a gold smuggling case. The trio is accused of orchestrating the illegal import of gold worth over Rs 12.56 crore from Dubai to India. The case came to light in March 2025 when Rao was apprehended at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport with 14.8 kilograms of gold allegedly smuggled from Dubai. Investigations revealed her association with Vira Diamonds Trading, a Dubai-based firm she co-founded with Tarun Raju, which authorities allege was used as a front for smuggling operations. Raju was arrested following evidence of his involvement in purchasing gold in Dubai and facilitating its illegal transport to India. Jeweller Sahil Jain is suspected of assisting Ranya in selling approximately 49 kilograms of smuggled gold valued at over Rs 40 crore and managing hawala transactions. |
Monday, January 09, 2006
Bangalore has the ingredients to be one of the best cities
EDISON THOMAS
What should Bangalore’s priorities be this year? The government of India introduced the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM) in December 2005, with financial incentives to the states and municipalities. Sixty-three cities have been chosen. Bangalore is one of them. We should make maximum use of this.
Should we try a new approach to citizens’ participation in governance this year? Yes, absolutely! We believe that unless citizens are given a formal role, participation can only be sporadic and through patronage. For the first time a formal role is suggested for the urban citizen through NURM, with a law for citizens’ participation in urban India.
How is citizens’ participation different under the scheme? The dilemma in engaging the urban citizen thus far has been the large numbers. The size of the ward constituency in a metropolitan city is anywhere between 20,000 to 50,000. NURM proposes a simple solution — the area sabha. Every resident within each area will have an opportunity to participate. Citizens need to be proactive and ensure that the government delivers this law.
Is there a silver lining? Bangalore has all the ingredients to be one of the best cities in the world. We were pioneers in Panchayati Raj reforms and have an engaged citizenry and a plethora of NGOs. The BDA has one of the best digitised data information systems and the BMP one of the best financial management systems. With this kind of good quality information must follow good quality decision making.
Bangalore too to catch cold wave
According to A L Koppar, the temperature could plunge to 12.5 °C in the next couple of days.
Bangalore too is expected to witness a sharp dip in temperature accompanied by fog in the next few days, if predictions of the weatherman are anything to go by. According to Director A L Koppar, the temperature could plunge to 12.5 °C in the next couple of days. However, the dip cannot be attributed to the cold wave currently sweeping north India. “We are currently under the easterly influence and not the cold waves that are lashing the northern parts of India. Oscillating temperatures that increase and decrease from the normal minimum temperature of 15 °C are a regular phenomena during this month,” he said. Incidentally, the light drizzle that Bangalore received on Sunday morning is also a part of the easterly influence.
