The Statesman Kolkata - December 08, 2024

In this issue

December 08, 2024

US denies BJP allegations of backing attempts to destabilise India

The US embassy in India on Saturday rejected the BJP's allegations that organisations funded by the US State Department and elements in the so-called American \"deep state\" were behind attempts to destabilise India.

1 min

CCI urges SC to consolidate cases against Amazon, Flipkart to expedite antitrust probe

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has urged the Supreme Court to consolidate all the cases against e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart in the country to expedite the antitrust probe.

1 min

No interest in weakening US dollar: EAM

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday reacted to President-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose 100 per cent tariffs on BRICS nations, stating that India has \"no interest\" in weakening the US dollar.

1 min

Govt plans to introduce new tax slab, claims Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed that the government plans to increase the tax burden borne by the public by hiking the GST on the items needed by a common man.

1 min

100-day anti-TB campaign launched with focus on high-burden districts

Emphasising that India's fight against tuberculosis just got stronger, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the starting of a special 100-day campaign today with a focus on the high-burden TB districts.

2 mins

SC to hear pleas against Places of Worship Act

3-judge Special Bench of apex court to hear pleas on 12 December

2 mins

Shinde insists on getting home early but BJP keeps him waiting

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has demanded the crucial home ministry from the BJP and talks on portfolio allocation are still in progress, Mr Shinde's aide and Shiv Sena MLA Bharat Gogavale said in Mumbai on Saturday.

1 min

Narcotics worth ₹2.4cr seized

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Eastern Railway's Malda Division, under divisional railway manager (DRM), Manish Kumar Gupta and senior divisional security commissioner (Sr. DSC) AK Kullu, seized narcotic substances valued at approximately Rs 2.4 crores on yesterday at Malda Town railway station.

1 min

Forest dept to promote human-elephant coexistence

To mitigate human-elephant conflicts, the forest department has planned to organise a 'Hati-Bandhu Mela,' a festival dedicated to elephants, aimed at raising awareness among the public.

1 min

Cops step up checks at Jharkhand border to stop potato smuggling

Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate sources said that a racket recently has become active at the border and trying to pass potato-loaded trucks with fake challans

1 min

Woman kills husband

Disgusted with her habitually drunk husband, a 'frustrated' wife picked up a sharp dagger and chopped off the throat of her husband at a village about 12 km from Durgapur town last midnight.

1 min

Highest child pregnancy: Bengal's first CDPO engagement in Burdwan

The child development project officers (CDPO) have been engaged to prevent child marriages across Bengal and the state rolled out a training programme that was flagged off in Burdwan town on Friday.

1 min

Tigress kills her cubs in Bengal Safari Park

In a most unfortunate incident, three tiger cubs housed at Bengal Safari Park at Siliguri in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal were killed on Saturday after being bitten by their mother tigress, Rika.

1 min

Tribal girl found dead at Sandeshkhali

There was tension in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas today after the body of a tribal girl was recovered from a pond near her house.

2 mins

BJP's Malviya criticises TMC for picking Ritabrata as RS nominee

BJP IT cell chief and co-observer for West Bengal Amit Malviya, today lashed out at the Trinamul Congress (TMC) over its decision to nominate former CPM leader Ritabrata Banerjee for the Rajya Sabha.

1 min

TMC nominates trade union leader Ritabrata for RS bypoll

The ruling Trinamul Congress on Saturday nominated party's trade union leader Ritabrata Banerjee (photo) as its candidate for the coming Rajya Sabha (RS) by-election scheduled to be held on 20 December.

1 min

Protest marches in city, districts after Namhatta temple vandalism in Bangladesh

The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today strongly condemned the horrific arson attack on the ISKCON Namhatta Centre in Dhaka and urged the interim government of Bangladesh to take immediate steps to find out the culprits and ensure the safety of the religious minorities.

2 mins

Students shun smartphones to secure good results in HS exam

Out of 180 candidates, who appeared for the higher secondary sent up (qualifying) examination from Halisahar High School, 45 of them were termed as unsatisfactory by the school authorities.

1 min

Filmmaker highlights phantom pregnancy, its pitfalls

It's often said that cinema is a reflection of society and a filmmaker has tried to showcase a taboo subject, phantom pregnancy, being screened at the 30 Kolkata International Film Festival.

1 min

Locals protest against illegal pond filling in West Burdwan

Hundreds of villagers of Lower Kumarpur area in ward 22 of Asansol Municipal Corporation are agitating and brought out a rally today and submitted a memorandum at the office of district magistrate of West Burdwan alleging illegal filling of the only pond in the area.

1 min

Japanese consul general invites Burdwan University delegation for tie-up

Nakagawa Kochi, consul general of Japan, said that they are very excited to ink a deal with Burdwan University and to explore the vast opportunities in the tourism sector

1 min

Demand raised for scrutiny of kerosene distributed through PDS system in Bengal

With figures surfacing about the exorbitant percentage of kerosene consumption in West Bengal compared to the national average, demands are being raised for the scrutiny of kerosene distributed through Public Distribution System (PDS) in the state.

1 min

Eastern Railway opens Kurva Block Station and Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT) at Kurva

The Howrah Division of Eastern Railway achieved a milestone with the opening of the Kurva Block Station and the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT) at Kurva in the Rampurhat-Dumka section.

1 min

Blind students observe first cornea transplant day

World celebrates 7 December as the first eye cornea transplantation day.

1 min

Madhyamik board chief meets district officials for smooth exams

A high-level meeting was held at the DM office over the conduct of the Madhyamik examination systematically.

1 min

If it is digital, then it is unsafe

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has blamed the ruling BJP of promoting 'Digital arrest' by cyber criminals in large numbers in Uttar Pradesh.

1 min

Rajnath Singh to embark on 2-day Russia visit today

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will embark on a two-day official visit to the Russian Federation on Sunday.

1 min

Ex UP Badminton Association secretary, his son get 7-year jail term for exploiting girl players

Former secretary of Uttar Pradesh Badminton Association, Dr Vijay Sinha and his son Nishant Sinha were convicted and sentenced under the POCSO Act here for exploiting girl players.

1 min

Maha Vikas Aghadi MLAs boycott Mumbai swearing-in ceremony in anti-EVM protest

The MVA opposition also protested against the curfew and arrests at the Markadwadi village of the Malshiras assembly constituency in Solapur

2 mins

Sharad Pawar to visit Markadwadi village, backs mock ballot repoll

NCP leader Sharad Pawar has said that he plans to visit the EVM-sceptic village of Markadwadi on Sunday to interact with the villagers who conducted a mock repoll recently using ballot papers.

1 min

‘I am at the end of my political career’

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday that he is at the end of his political career.

1 min

2nd earthquake in a week in Telangana

A second earthquake, measuring about 3 on the Richter scale rocked the Mahabubnagar district in Telangana today, just days after the first one, which had its epicentre in the Mulugu district.

1 min

Kannur Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu died by suicide, reveals post mortem report

The postmortem report of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu, who was found dead inside his official quarters at Pallikkunnu in Kannur, has confirmed that his death was due to hanging, with no suspicious injuries or wounds on his body.

1 min

'Cong govt in T'gana a one-time show'

Drawing a parallel between a wooden pot and the Congress party, BJP national president JP Nadda said that the rival party's government in Telangana was a one-time show and will never return to power.

1 min

HC slams Kerala govt for lack of clarity on funds available for Wayanad relief

The Kerala High Court on Saturday came down heavily on the LDF government in Kerala for its failure to provide clarity on the utilisation of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

2 mins

DMK's alliance calculations will come to naught in 2026: Vijay

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president also attacked the BJP-led govt at the Centre over its inaction on the Manipur crisis

2 mins

Modi govt has fulfilled vision of a 'welfare state': Amit Shah

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday claimed that the dream of a \"Welfare State\" envisioned by the framers of the Constitution has been realised between 2014 and 2024 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

1 min

Himachal government to include health education in the school curriculum: CM

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the state government is contemplating to include health education in the school curriculum to create awareness from an early age.

1 min

Kashmiri artists revive Bhand Pather at Himalayan festival

Paying tribute to the slowly vanishing Kashmiri folk art form, Bhand Pather, a group of Kashmiri artists performed \"The Way of Unbecoming in the Haunting Place\" today, offering a glimpse into an art tradition gradually fading from its homeland.

1 min

Why is Home Minister silent on Delhi crimes, asks Kejriwal

Kejriwal's direct charge at the Centre came after twin murders rocked the national Capital on Saturday

1 min

'Why is accused not being arrested?': Akali Dal leaders demand action after attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders on Saturday criticized the Punjab government over the recent attack on party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, demanding immediate action against the accused.

1 min

108-foot national flag unfurled at Laungewala to honour 1971 Indo-Pak War heroes

A 108-foot high mast National Flag was unveiled today at the Laungewala Yudh Sthal to honor the bravery and sacrifice of the fallen heroes of the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

1 min

Politics seemed 'dirty business' when I was a student: Delhi CM Atishi

Twenty-three years after Delhi Chief Minister Atishi passed out from the elite St. Stephen's College in Delhi University, she was back on the campus on Saturday to interact with students and showcase her journey in politics.

1 min

Aerospace medicine conference highlights collaborative research and India's advancements in space exploration

The 63rd annual conference of the Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ISAM) concluded at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), Bengaluru.

1 min

French Turmoil

The political chaos in France has deepened following Prime Minister Michel Barnier's resignation after a rare no-confidence vote ousted him from office.

4 mins

An anatomy of the current economic situation in Bangladesh

The economy of Bangladesh is at such a critical juncture, struggling with both long-standing structural problems and newly emerging issues.

2 mins

Why Trump won~I

The collapse of communism saw the emergence of a unipolar world. Liberal triumphalism accompanied by extending democracy by force resulted in pushing the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to the borders of the post-Soviet Russian federation. George W. Bush refined the concept after 9/11 by fabricating falsehood in Iraq and elsewhere. He resurrected the Dulles doctrine that one who is not with the US is against it. President Barack Obama continued with the major planks of both Clinton and Bush Jr. administrations with no indication of a significant policy shift even after the 2008 financial crash

4 mins

A presidential power used and abused

Residential pardons in the United States have often been controversial. Still, some decisions, like President Joe Biden pardoning his son Hunter, have led to more criticism than others.

3 mins

A chronicler of the underprivileged

Jeremy Seabrook, who dedicated his life to writings which speak for the underprivileged and oppressed people everywhere, is no more. He breathed his last in a care home in London last week. He was 86.

5 mins

US military leaders are rattled by a list of 'woke' officers that a group urges Hegseth to fire

Military leaders are rattled by a list of \"woke\" senior officers that a conservative group urged Pete Hegseth to dismiss for promoting diversity in the ranks if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon.

2 mins

IAEA chief: Iran is poised to 'quite dramatically' increase stockpile of weapons-grade uranium

Iran is poised to \"quite dramatically\" increase its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium as it has started cascades of advanced centrifuges, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency warned Friday.

1 min

South Korean president Yoon survives impeachment bid

Most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote to deny the 2-3rd majority needed

2 mins

Thousands flee as Syrian insurgents advance to the doorstep of the country's third-largest city

Thousands of people fled the central Syrian city of Homs, the country's third largest, as insurgents seized two towns on the outskirts Friday, positioning themselves for an assault on a potentially major prize in their march against President Bashar Assad.

1 min

The EU and a South American trade bloc reach a giant trade deal after 25 years of talks

The European Union reached a blockbuster free trade agreement Friday with Brazil, Argentina and the three other South American nations in the Mercosur trade alliance, capping a quarter-century of on-off negotiations even as France vowed to derail the contentious accord.

1 min

Pope creates 21 cardinals, many of them reformers in their own right, to carry out his reform plans

Pope Francis is installing 21 new cardinals, many of whom are key figures in his reform agenda: A Dominican preacher who acted as the spiritual father for Francis' recent gathering of bishops, a Neapolitan \"street priest\" like himself, and a Peruvian bishop who has strongly backed his crackdown on abuse.

1 min

Romania's top court annuls first round of presidential vote won by far-right candidate

A top Romanian court on Friday annulled the first round of the country's presidential election, days after allegations emerged that Russia ran a coordinated online campaign to promote the far-right outsider who won the first round.

1 min

Baloch separatists becoming as big a national security threat as Pakistani Taliban, says think tank

A Baloch separatist group is becoming as big a threat to Pakistan's national security as the Pakistani Taliban, according to a think tank.

1 min

British Indian Lord Rami Ranger's CBE honour annulled by King Charles III

King Charles III has annulled the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) honour of British businessman and Indian-origin peer of the House of Lords Raminder Singh Ranger for alleged breach of parliamentary Code of Conduct relating to \"bullying and harassment\", an official said on Saturday.

1 min

Burkina Faso's military junta sacks the prime minister and dissolves the government

Burkina Faso's ruling military junta issued a decree Friday dismissing Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela and announcing the dissolution of the national government.

1 min

Closely-watched international climate case in the Hague wraps up its first week of testimony

A closely-watched international climate case that could yield guidance for governments around the world wrapped its first week of arguments before the top court of the United Nations in The Hague Friday.

1 min

Under assault by gangs in Haiti, a Kenyan-led mission fights back

An armored vehicle carrying Kenyan police rumbles through Haiti's capital with a shattered window that a high-caliber bullet failed to penetrate, a permanent sign of violence the officers face almost daily in Port-au-Prince.

1 min

Notre Dame reopens its doors to Macron and other world leaders in a rare symbol of unity

The restoration after the devastating fire of 2019 was a spectacular achievement in just five years for a structure that took nearly two centuries to build

2 mins

Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward

The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer likely left New York City on a bus soon after the brazen ambush that has shaken corporate America, police officials said.

1 min

First RBI rate cut likely in Feb with easing domestic inflation: Crisil report

The conditions are projected to turn favorable for rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in India with the first one in February, and easing domestic inflation will be the main driver of rate cuts, according to a new report.

1 min

Rajasthan Guv urges youth to become job providers, not seekers

Governor Haribhau Bagade (photo) on Saturday emphasised that young people who have graduated from universities should aim to become job providers rather than merely seeking employment.

1 min

Divyangjan essential part of nation's march towards progress: LS Speaker Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that Divyangjan are an essential part of nation's march towards progress based on the mantra of \"Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas\" which aims to include every individual, class, and community in India's development.

1 min

Stir intensifies as Manipur man remains untraced after 13 days

As at least 2,000 soldiers of the Army and Assam Rifles continued their hectic search operation to locate the 56-year-old man from the Meitei community, Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the Meira Paibis have sought the intervention of the Defence Minister and Assam Chief Minister to rescue the man who has remained untraced for nearly two weeks.

2 mins

CM Bhupendra Patel lays foundation stone for various projects at Gujarat High Court

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various projects aimed at further strengthening the state's judiciary infrastructure at the Gujarat High Court, as per a release.

1 min

Meghalaya BJP MLA Sanbor Shullai slams Assam govt's beef ban, calls it an affront to personal freedom

Meghalaya BJP leader and legislator Sanbor Shullai has strongly condemned the Assam government's recent decision to prohibit the consumption of beef in hotels and public spaces, calling it an infringement on constitutional rights and personal freedom.

1 min

Over 33,000 Jal Jeevan Mission projects now powered by solar energy in UP

In a significant move towards environmental conservation, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has prioritized renewable energy in Uttar Pradesh by integrating solar energy into the Jal Jeevan Mission.

1 min

BPSC protest: Patna cops register FIR against Khan Global Studies

The Patna Police have taken action against Khan Global Studies by registering an FIR for allegedly uploading a misleading and provocative post on the social media platform X.

1 min

Assam CM Himanta Sarma inducts four new ministers

The newly inducted ministers are Prasanta Phookan, MLA from Dibrugarh constituency, Kaushik Rai, MLA from Lakhipur constituency, Krishnendu Paul, MLA from Patharkandi constituency, and Rupesh Goala, MLA from Doomdooma constituency

1 min

Citizens real force behind march towards 'Viksit Bharat 2047': PM

The Prime Minister also shared the tale of service by BAPS volunteers during the Ukraine war

2 mins

Businessman shot dead while returning from morning walk

A 52-year-old businessman was gunned down by unknown assailants while he was returning from morning walk in the Farsh Bazar area of Shahdara in East Delhi.

1 min

Gurugram Deputy Commissioner issues guidelines to phase out diesel auto-rickshaws by 31 December

Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar issued necessary guidelines on Saturday to phase out diesel vehicles in the district by December 31 in compliance with the Commission for Air Quality Management's order.

1 min

UPI led to exponential penetration of digital payments across India

Using India's 2016 launch of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as a natural experiment, a research paper brought out analyzes whether the public provision of digital payment infrastructure combined with Open Banking enhances access to credit.

2 mins

Delhi LG unhappy with DUSIB for negligence in revision of ground rent

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has expressed strong displeasure over the \"lackadaisical\" approach of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) under the Delhi government in not revising the ground rent of its land and properties, thereby causing huge losses to the public exchequer.

1 min

Gun shop sealed for not renewing licence in Jammu

A gun shop was sealed on Saturday by authorities for not renewing its trade licence in J&K's Jammu city.

1 min

Vaishnaw underlines PM's 'Purvodaya' vision that focuses on eastern India's development

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday underlined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of \"Purvodaya,\" which focuses on the development of Eastern India to drive the country's growth.

1 min

Panic grips Jaipur as leopard enters residential area, captured after four hours

Panic gripped Jaipur's Vidyadhar Nagar for nearly four hours on Saturday when a leopard unexpectedly entered the residential area, keeping the residents locked inside their houses.

1 min

Ireland hockey legend David Harte aiming for 'peak performances' in HIL

Irish hockey legend David Harte is gearing up for an intense six weeks of action in the revived Hockey India League (HIL), starting on 28 December.

2 mins

MSC coach Chernyshov hails players despite Punjab FC loss

Mohammedan Sporting Club head coach Andrey Chernyshov has showered praise on his players' efforts despite a defeat against Punjab FC in the Indian Super League (ISL).

1 min

Indian motorsports giant Indu Chandhok passes away

Indu Chandhok, the doyen of Indian motorsports with which he was actively associated for over six decades, passed away in Chennai on Saturday.

1 min

East Bengal defeat Chennaiyin FC, clinch second win of season

East Bengal notched up their second victory of the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) season with a 2-0 verdict against Chennaiyin FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday.

1 min

World Chess Championship: Contest evenly poised as Gukesh, Ding play 8th draw

With one win each, the contenders continue to play risk-free chess and Saturday saw the 8th stalemate of the contest

1 min

ISL: Mohun Bagan take on NEUFC, eye bigger lead

Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant will aim to bolster their lead at the top of the Indian Super League (ISL) points table when they take on NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday.

2 mins

Adelaide Test: Indian batsmen falter as Australia sniff series-levelling win

Travis Head hits ton before Aussie pacers rip through Indian top and middle order to put visitors in trouble

3 mins

From remote village to PKL stardom, Sudhakar rises on passion and hardwork

In the heart of rural Tamil Nadu, a young boy's dream began not with grand stadiums, but with the passionate cheers of family members playing kabaddi.

1 min

BGT: Centurion Travis Head 'slightly disappointed' with fiery send-off by Mohammed Siraj

Even as the batting line-up continues to falter, Indian pacers continued to shine bright with yet another commendable performance during the ongoing second contest of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

3 mins

Joe Root becomes first England batter with century of half tons in Test cricket

England batter Joe Root became the first English batter and only the fourth in the world to record 100 scores of fifty or more in Test cricket.

1 min

Bae watch: Engagement farming in the misogyny market

A particularly derogatory comment on an ageing actress, a former beauty queen of India, did the rounds on social media in recent times. It implied that her declining looks were the reason behind her rumoured failing marriage. Misogynists were quick to pick it up, add their two-bit to it and circulate it, practically rendering it viral. Misogyny compounded with ageism seems to be rearing its ugly head east and west.

7 mins

State allocates Rs 1Cr to WBNUJS in memory of Justice Radha Binod Pal

The West Bengal government has sanctioned Rs 1 crore to the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) to honour the late Justice Radha Binod Pal, the only Indian judge from the Calcutta High Court who participated in the Tokyo Trials.

3 mins

Childhood obesity doubles in eastern India, doctors urge action

On the occasion of Anti-Obesity Day, which was observed on 26 November, Fortis Hospital, Anandapur, Kolkata, raised an urgent call to address the growing concern of childhood obesity, particularly in eastern India.

1 min

Kashi Labh Mukti Bhawan: Gateway to moksha

Ever thought about life after death? Let's take a deep look at the process of moksha.

3 mins

Dance on wheels

The Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC), in collaboration with Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH), unveiled two remarkable events at the South Lawn, VMH: UTSAV III and Dance on Wheels recently.

1 min

Fishermen's boat campaign for water, fish & the future

A unique 500-kilometre boat campaign titled \"Save Water, Save Fish, Save Fisher People\" arrived at Kolkata on 2 December this year on the 7th day of its voyage that started from Fraserganj on 26 November.

3 mins

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The Statesman Kolkata Newspaper Description:

The Statesman Kolkata is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by The Statesman Net Pvt Ltd in Kolkata, India. It was founded in 1875 and is one of the oldest and most respected newspapers in India. The newspaper is known for its in-depth reporting, investigative journalism, and editorial independence.

The Statesman Kolkata covers a wide range of topics, including politics, business, economy, society, culture, and sports. It also has a strong focus on local news and events. The newspaper is known for its critical and independent reporting on the government and the powerful.

The Statesman Kolkata is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to stay informed about the latest news and developments in India, and especially in West Bengal. It is also a great way to get in-depth analysis and commentary on current affairs.