Thursday, January 1, 2026

Sushma Swaraj slams Pakistan at UNGA

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj in her speech at UNGA on Saturday slammed Pakistan for harboring and glorifying terrorists.

Describing terrorism as the second existential threat to humanity, Sushma said “We imagined that the arrival of the 21st Century would bring with it an age of common good, defined by cooperation in the quest for peace and prosperity. But here in New York, the horrific tragedy of 9/11, and in Mumbai the catastrophe of 26/11 became the nightmares that shattered our dreams. The demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere.”

“In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west. Our neighbour’s expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity,” Sushma added.

“The most startling evidence of this duplicity was the fact that Osama Bin Laden, the architect and ideologue of 9/11 was given safe haven in Pakistan. America had declared Osama bin Laden it’s most dangerous enemy, and launched an exhaustive, worldwide search to bring him to justice. What America perhaps could not comprehend was that Osama would get sanctuary in a country that claimed to be America’s friend and ally: Pakistan. Eventually, America’s intelligence services discovered the truth of this hypocrisy, and its special forces delivered justice. But Pakistan continued to behave as if nothing had happened. Pakistan’s commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy. The killers of 9/11 met their fate; but the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity,” Sushma said.

She further said, “What is heartening is that the world is no longer ready to believe Islamabad. FATF, for instance, has put Pakistan on notice over terror funding.”

Talking about the peace talks between India and Pakistan, Sushma Swaraj said, “We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of Pakistan’s behavior. There have been many governments in India, by many different parties. Each government has tried the peace option. Prime Minister Modi, by inviting the Heads of the SAARC nations, to his swearing in ceremony, began his attempt for dialogue on his very first day in office. On 9th December 2016, I personally went to Islamabad and offered a comprehensive bilateral dialogue. But soon after, Pak sponsored terrorists attacked our air force base in Pathankot on 2nd January. Please explain to me how we could pursue talks in the midst of terrorist bloodshed? Even now, after the new government came to power, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan wrote to Prime Minister Modi suggesting a meeting between Foreign Ministers in New York. We accepted the proposal. But, within hours of our acceptance, news came that terrorists had killed three of our jawans. Does this indicate a desire for dialogue?” She added.

Sushma further said, “Time and again, Pakistan accuses India of human rights violations. Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behavior, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents.”

Slamming Pakistan for showing false photographs to prove human rights violation by India, Sushma said, “It has become something of a habit with Pakistan to throw the dust of deceit and deception against India in order to provide some thin cover for its own guilt. The United Nations has seen this before. Last year, Pakistan’s representative, using her right to reply, displayed some photographs as “proof” of “human rights violations” by India. The photographs turned out to be from another country. Similar false accusations have become a part of its standard rhetoric.”

Bullet train project: Indian Government signs Rs 5,500 crore loan agreement with JICA

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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The Indian Government signed an agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which has agreed to provide an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of around Rs 5,500 crore (89,547 million Japanese Yen) as Tranche 1 on the ‘Project for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR)’ corridor, commonly known as bullet train corridor project.

The main objective of MAHSR corridor is to develop a high-frequency mass transportation system by constructing the High-Speed Rail between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, using Japan’s Shinkansen technology (Bullet Train), to enhance the mobility in India and contributing to regional economic development.

Katsuo Matsumoto, JICA chief representative in India, said, “As for this MAHSR, extensive survey has been done for the environmental and social impact of the project, and the project shall be implemented adhering to JICA’s environmental and social guidelines.”

Matsumoto further said, “India has witnessed strong economic growth in recent years, and with this growth has come a sharp rise in the volume of passengers and goods being transported in the country.”

JICA is also supporting the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor project of Indian Railways by extending ODA loan of Rs 27,200 crore (442,723 million Japanese Yen).

Telangana witnesses rise in cases of deadly swine flu, Health Ministry issued alert

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Telangana is witnessing a rise in cases of deadly swine flu or H1N1 from the past few weeks. As per the information by government officials, at least 10-15 swine flu cases have been detected in the region.

Dr Shankar, Director Institute of Preventive Medicine, reportedly said, “In last 15 days, we have got around 10 to 15 positive swine flu cases from all over Telangana from different hospitals. We are providing them with the required treatment and are also keeping a watch on the suspected people suffering from this disease.”

“We have procured all the drugs which will be required for treating the patients suffering from this disease after The Ministry of Health issued an alert to all the state health officials, especially Telangana officials, to get ready to face swine flu,” added Dr Shankar.

While talking about the preparedness measures to tackle the spread of the disease he added, “At present, there are two labs for testing of swine flu samples all over in Telangana, one lab is Institute of Preventive Medicine and another one is in Fever Hospital. All the samples of patients who are suspected of suffering from this virus are being sent here for the analysis. The government may soon open two more labs in the state and we are also planning to set up two hospitals near these labs.”

MPs grant 40 crore from MPLADS fund for rehabilitation work in flood-hit Kerala

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Hundred of Member of Parliaments (MPs) from across the country have contributed an amount of Rs 43.66 crore from the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund for the restoration and rehabilitation works in flood-affected areas of Kerala.

Out of the total MPs, 56 MPs are from the Rajya Sabha, who have contributed nearly Rs 29.82 crore while the rest Rs 13.84 crore came from 44 Lok Sabha members.

In the month of August an appeal was issued by D. V. Sadananda Gowda, Minister of Statistics Programme Implementation, to all MPs to contribute from their MPLADS fund for the restoration and rehabilitation work in the flood hit state.

Kerala government has opened a separate bank account to receive the amount from MPLADS fund.

According to guideline under the scheme, an MP can contribute upto Rs 1 crore from MPLADS fund for rehabilitation works in affected areas.

AK Antony, Amar Singh, KTS Tulsi, Prem Chand Gupta, Suresh Prabhu and M J Akhbar are among the 30 MPs who have contributed Rs 1 crore. 12 MPs contributed Rs 50 lakh or more and 12 MPs contributed Rs. 25 lakh and rest of the MPs has contributed between Rs 1 lakh to less than Rs 25 lakh.

Prime Minister Modi Inaugurates the ‘conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence’

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Tehelka Web Desk
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the ‘Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence’ at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

The Vice-Chancellors/Directors from more than 350 universities are participating in the event.

This event is being organized jointly by ICSSR, UGC, AICTE, IGNCA, JNU, IGNOU and SGT University.

While addressing the people at the event, Modi said, the aim of education is an overall and balanced development of a person and this is not possible without innovation. He said, ancient Indian universities like Takshila, Nalanda and Vikramshila used to stress on innovations. Prime Minister said, knowledge and education cannot be gained only through books. 

“Students should learn from their surroundings in place of just sticking to their textbooks,” he added.

The Prime Minister called upon academics to not only impart education in classrooms of colleges and universities but connect their students with the aspirations of the country. Modi further said, higher education should equip students with high thinking, dignified behaviour and capability to solve the problems being faced by the society.

“Sixty universities or institutions of higher learning have been given graded autonomy to improve the standard of education in the country. What needs to be done right now is that we get the best teachers for the students which will finally help in the development and growth of the country.” Modi said. 

It covered eight thematic areas namely:

  • Improving pedagogy for learner centric education – use of artificial intelligence for customized learning
  • From job seeking to job creating – improving innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Improving quality of research – focus on requirements of India
  • Bringing synergy among educational institutions – pooling of academic resources like sharing of libraries and exchange of knowledge
  • Building inclusive and integrated campuses – taking up activities which could bring emotional attachments of students to the campus
  • Participatory Governance models – facilitating participation of students in governance processes
  • Building robust financial models – supplementing Government resources by getting funds from alumni and also from corporate (CSR)
  • Promoting value education by building in universal values and life skills into education.

On surgical strike anniversary, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh says something big has happened

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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On the second anniversary of the surgical strikes, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said something big has happened in the past two days. He said this in the context of the killing of a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan whose throat was slit by Pakistan troops along the Line of Control (LoC).

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday indicated that Indian forces may have hit Pakistani targets across the border to avenge the brutal killing of a BSF jawan by the Pakistanis.

“Something has happened, I won’t reveal it now. Whatever has happened, has happened for the good. Trust me, something truly big has happened two-three days ago and you will also see what happens in future,” Rajnath said referring to the killing of Narendra Singh.

Rajnath Singh gave the BSF a free hand to retaliate in case of firing from the Pakistani side, “I have told the BSF soldiers, don’t fire the first bullet, as they are our neighbours. But if they fire a single bullet first, don’t count the number of bullets you fire back.”

On September 29, 2016, the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on seven terrorist launchpads across the LoC in response to an attack on its base in Uri earlier that month, wherein 18 Indian soldiers were killed.

Cop flees with 7 rifles, pistol from MLA’s residence

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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An adhoc police man posted with a legislator Ajaz Ahmad Mir has fled with seven AK-47 rifles and a pistol in Kashmir. The matter came to light when the personal security officer (PSO) of Mir informed the police station Rajbagh that the weapons of seven PSOs attached with the legislator were missing from his official residence at the nearby Jawahar Nagar. 

Though there have been such examples earlier too, this is first time that a large number of the weapons have been stolen in a single instance. The cop has been identified as Adil Bashir. He, incidentally hails from Zainapora in South Kashmir district Shopian, the native village of the legislator. 

The police have sounded a high alert across Srinagar while all routes leading to south Kashmir are being monitored. Checking points have been set up in several city areas, in a bid to nab the cop, who is apprehended to have joined the militancy. 

Earlier in 2015, a cop Naseer Ahmad Pandith guarding the house of former PDP minister Altaf Bukhari had decamped with two rifles and joined Hizbul Mujahideen. A year after Pandith was killed in an encounter with the security forces.

And during the five month long unrest in 2016, militants snatched around 64 weapons from the police personnel in parts of South Kashmir. 

Their modus operandi has so far been to threaten with an attack the police men standing guard at the public places or protecting a VIP or a government installations and then snatch their weapons.

The growing incidents of weapons snatchings have been a source of deep worry for the security agencies. The stolen weapons invariably fall into the hands of the fresh recruits to the militancy. This year many more youth across Kashmir have gone missing and joined militants. 

The rising incidence of gun snatchings, sources in police say, is the result of the shortage of weapons with the militants. “The militants have a limited number of weapons and the ammunition,” a police officer said adding it was difficult to smuggle weapons from Pakistan due to the fencing on the Line of Control.  “So, the new recruits are asked to get their own weapons and encouraged to attack the police men on guard duty, sometimes with help from regular militants”. 

48 killed as Tsunami hits Indonesian island of Sulawesi

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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At least 48 people have died, and more than 350 people were injured after a strong tsunami triggered by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit a coastal Indonesian city on Friday.

As per the reports, three shallow quakes of 6.0, 7.4 and 6.1-magnitude struck off the central province and triggered the tsunami near Talisa beach of Dongala district.

Thousands of homes have been destroyed, bridges have collapsed, and the electricity is cut off in most of Palu City in the Dongala region of Sulawesi, the officials said.

All victims were rushed to hospitals, spokesman of the national disaster management agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

The tsunami triggered by the quake-devastated residential areas and buildings in the coastal areas. Specific damage was still unknown as the risk assessment was going on, the meteorology and geophysics agency said.

Disaster management agency personnel Soldiers, police and volunteers were evacuating the quake and tsunami victims. Power outage has cut off communications hampering relief efforts, Nugroho said.

The earthquake hit in the evening on Friday. An early tsunami warning was issued by the Indonesian meteorological agency but lifted within the hour.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo took to his twitter account on Friday and said, “I am monitoring the situation and preparing for any post-earthquake eventualities. We wish our brothers and sisters remain calm and be safe.”

Uttar Pradesh: Police Constable shoots Apple executive dead, arrested

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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An Uttar Pradesh constable was arrested on Saturday and booked for murder after he shot an Apple executive.

The incident took place at Lucknow’s upscale Gomti Nagar extension area late Friday night, when a police constable failing to stop Apple sales manager Vivek Tiwari during a checking, chased him and shot at him, a colleague of the deceased said.

Sources say Vivek Tiwari along with one of his colleagues was returning home after a mobile launch event.

According to the Lucknow Superintendent of Police, cops opened fire on Tiwari after he refused to stop his vehicle. The deceased got scared following the firing and rammed the SUV into the pillar of an underpass. He suffered injuries in the accident and was taken to a local hospital by the police but died during treatment.

As per the police, when the constable at Gomti Nagar extension signalled Tiwari to stop for checking, he tried to flee.

A post-mortem is being conducted to know whether Vivek Tiwari died of bullet injury or injuries sustained after his vehicle hit the pillar, the official said.

Meanwhile, the accused constable has been arrested.

Further investigations are underway.

Facebook: Hackers broke into 50 million user accounts

By
Tehelka Web Desk
-

In the biggest-ever security breach of privacy and data, Facebook on Friday admitted that hackers broke into nearly 50 million users’ accounts by stealing their “access tokens” or digital keys.

This allowed them to steal Facebook access tokens which they could then use to take over people’s accounts, Facebook said in a statement.

Access tokens are the equivalent of digital keys which allows a user to stay logged in on Facebook for a long period of time, so they do not need to re-enter their password every time they use the application.

“Our investigation is still in its early stages. But it is clear that attackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebook’s code that impacted ‘View As’, a feature that lets people see what their own profile looks like to somebody else,” Facebook said in a statement.

Facebook security team discovered the security issue on Tuesday, and it has now fixed the vulnerability and informed the law enforcement.

“We have reset the access tokens of nearly 50 million accounts we know were affected to protect their security. We are also taking the precautionary step of resetting access tokens for another 40 million accounts that have been subject to a “View As” look-up in the last year. Therefore, around 90 million people will now have to log back in to Facebook, or any of their apps that use Facebook Login. After they have logged back in, people will get a notification at the top of their News Feed explaining what happened,” Facebook said in a statement.

“For the time being We are turning off the ‘View As’ feature while we conduct a thorough security review,” Facebook said.

This attack exploited the complex interaction of multiple issues in Facebook code.

“The attackers not only wanted to find this vulnerability and use it to get an access token, they then had to pivot from that account to others to steal more tokens,” it said.

Facebook said, they don’t know who is behind this massive security attack or where they are based.

“We’re working hard to better understand these details and “we will update this post when we have more information, or if the facts change,” said the company.

“If you’ve been logged out of your account and asked to sign back in, it’s because we’ve discovered a security issue and are taking immediate action to protect people on Facebook” Facebook tweeted.

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