Agni-5, India’s longest range nuclear capable missile, was test fired at Kalam Island off the Odisha coast today by the Defence Research and Development Organisation or DRDO.
The intercontinental surface-to-surface nuclear capable ballistic missile, the latest in India’s “Agni” family of medium to intercontinental range missiles, has been through three trials before. The Agni 5 missile, with new technology for navigation and guidance, gives India the strategic depth it needs to contain its enemies, say scientists. After a few more trials, it will soon join India’s military arsenal.
The 17-metre long Agni-5 Missile weighs about 50 tonnes and is a very agile and modern weapon system. The surface-to-surface missile is a fire-and-forget system that cannot be easily detected as it follows a ballistic trajectory.
11:57 ‘Fans’ ask Mohammed Shami why his wife is not wearing a hijab: Star Indian pacer Mohammed Shami was viciously attacked by a section of his ‘fans’ over a Facebook photo. The Indian cricketer shared a family photograph with wife Hasin Jahan and their daughter on Sunday. Soon after he was not just trolled but also abused over what his wife was wearing, reports NDTV.
Shami was reminded of his religion, with some even asking why Hasin Jahan was not wearing a hijab.
The 26-year-old, who is recovering from a knee injury, did not respond to all the negative comments from users on the social networking site.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif, however, came to Shami’s defence with this post on Twitter. @MohammadKaif The comments are really really Shameful. Support Mohammed Shami fully. There are much bigger issues in this country. Hope sense prevails.
Image: Mohammed Shami posted this picture with his wife on Facebook, along with other pictures with his daughter, with the comment: Beautiful Moments.
11:47 Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat refuses to appear before CBI: Just in: Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat ignores CBI summons in sting CD case, saying he will will not be able to appear for questioning.
The CBI has summoned the Uttarakhand chief minister to appear before it on December 26 in connection with the probe into the sting operation that purportedly features him.
Rawat had dismissed the video as being fake after it was released by rebel Congress MLAs but later admitted that he was in the clip.
CBI had registered the preliminary inquiry on April 29 to probe the video purportedly showing Rawat offering bribes to rebel Congress MLas in exchange for their support in the assembly floor test.
The CBI had summoned the CM on May 9, 2016 but he had sought more time. After Rawat’s victory in the floor test, the state cabinet on May 15 withdrew the notification recommending a CBI probe and decided to set up a special investigation team to go into the case.
11:41 BJP mocks ‘mahabharat’ in first family of Samajwadi Party: The BJP has said that the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his bete noire uncle Shivpal Yadav, saying the first family of the Samajwadi Party should resolve the ‘mahabharat’ and focus on law and order, corruption and lack of administration in the politically crucial state.
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli also used the occasion to take a jibe at reports suggesting about the possibility of a ‘mahagathbandhan’ in the run up to next year’s Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
“However, in the first family of the Samajwadi Party of Uttar Pradesh a ‘mahabharat’ is already on for quite some time. Now, it appears that there are multiple lists – one by the uncle, one by the nephew who is the Chief Minister and there are all sorts of disputes. They should resolve that,” Kohli told ANI.
“As far as the people of Uttar Pradesh are concerned, they are obviously going to vote on the track record of the Samajwadi Party. The substantial issues are law and order, corruption and the lack of administration,” he added.
The tussle in Uttar Pradesh’s ruling family reignited yesterday after Akhilesh drew up his own list of poll candidates and submitted it to Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, bypassing his uncle and state president Shivpal Yadav.
The Chief Minister’s surprise move angered Shivpal, who is officially in-charge of ticket distribution in consultation with the party president.
Shivpal tweeted that ticket distribution would be decided by “victory potential”.
11:22 VVIP chopper scam: Ex-Air Chief Tyagi gets bail after 17 days in jail : Agusta Westland chopper scam case accused former air force chief Air Chief Marshal (retired) SP Tyagi has been granted bail on a surety of Rs 2 lakh. Tyagi was in jail for just 17 days. The CBI has asked for more time to oppose his bail. Tyagi has been asked not to influence witnesses.
The CBI counsel earlier on December 23 requested the court not to disclose evidences to anyone saying that if the evidence gathered will be disclose, there would be implication on future investigation.
Two other accused still in jail, their bail hearing is on January 4.
Earlier, the CBI had moved the court seeking a 10-day custody to interrogate Tyagi and the other accused in the case.
11:12 Just in: Maoists kidnap eight villagers including a sarpanch in Dantewada.
11:07 Honorary Urdu doctorate for SRK : Actor Shahrukh Khan will receive honorary doctorate at the sixth convocation of Maulana Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad on Monday.
President Pranab Mukherjee will confer him with the degree.
10:19 Sabarimala stampede: Two critical, 25 injured : As many as 25 persons were injured and two among them are critical in Sabarimala temple stampede that took place last night in Kerala.
All the injured persons have been admitted to a nearby hospital and are currently undergoing treatment.The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team responded immediately to the situation following the incident.
Strict regulations have been put in place for entry of pilgrims at the temple.
The shrine witnessed a heavy rush of devotees yesterday, the penultimate day before culmination of the 41-day mandala pooja.
The stampede occurred just as the holy ‘Thanga Angi’ procession carrying ornaments worn by Lord Ayyappa on yesterday’s Mandala pooja reached the temple.
A file pic of the 2011 stampede.
10:12 Why the Congress Party has abandoned Its UP campaign: With less than two months to go for the 2017 assembly elections, Uttar Pradesh remains anybody’s game. “Anything can happen,” “hung assembly,” “khichdi,” “nothing is clear,” are the words you hear, no matter who you ask.
There is, however, one certainty — that the Congress party is not in the race, unless it succeeds in convincing ‘Netaji’ Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party supremo, to ally with it. he Congress party office in Mall Avenue, the heart of the city, looks like a wedding venue all dressed up, but the bride has run away. The car park is full with cars that still wear outdated banners of Rahul Gandhi’s kisan yatra, or even before that, the Sheila Dikshit bus campaign across the state, ’27 saal, UP behaal’.
Twenty seven years the Congress hasn’t been in power, the message goes, leaving UP is in a mess.The Congress itself is in no mess. It’s in a near-coma. For all these rows of cars, where are its occupants? They have gone home, it would appear, waiting for the bride to return. Read more
09:50 Dense fog envelops north India, trains, flights affected : And another normal, cold, winter day in north India.
Dense fog continued to engulf northern India due to fall in temperature, several trains and flight services were affected on Monday morning.
As many as six international and five domestic flights arriving and departing from Delhi delayed due to foggy weather.
At least 37 trains were also delayed and six were rescheduled due to poor visibility.
Many trains were delayed at Kanpur Central railway station as fog enveloped different areas in Uttar Pradesh.
File pic
The meteorological department has predicted that the nation will witness an above normal winter this season while northern areas of India will likely have less of cold wave spells.
The cold wave conditions continue to prevail in Gurugram as well
09:41 What’s ahead today… : * India is set to test its indigenously developed intercontinental surface-to-surface nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-5 from the Wheeler Island off Odisha coast today. The three stage solid propellant missile is to be test-fired from a mobile launcher from the launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range. It will be fourth developmental and second canisterised trial of the long range missile.
* A Delhi court will today pronounce its order in the National Herald case in which Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy filed an application seeking documents and ledger books from the Congress Party and the Associated Journals Limited. Swamy in his petition alleged that Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi got hold of Associated Journals through ‘dishonest means’ which pertains to ‘criminal misappropriation and criminal breach of trust’.
* A Delhi court will today announce the order on bail plea of the three accused in the AgustaWestland chopper scam case, including former air force chief Air Chief Marshal (retired) S P Tyagi. The Central Bureau of Investigation counsel earlier on December 23 requested the court not to disclose evidences to anyone saying that if the evidence gathered will be disclose, there would be implication on future investigation. Commenting on the bail issued to all the three accused related to the scam, the investigating agency said they are on pre-charge sheet stage and a very crucial time of investigation is going on.
* Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will on Monday address a public gathering in Baran district of Rajasthan. His visit is said to be a part of the Congress’ nationwide campaign against the BJP government’s decisions including demonetisation. This will be Gandhi’s second visit to the state this year.
* With an aim to promote cashless transactions, the first ‘Digi Dhan’ mela (fair) will be organised in Gurugram, Haryana, today where customers will be able to purchase items only through digital modes of payment. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will inaugurate the event. An official release said Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar and Union Minister for Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Poverty Alleviation (Independent Charge) Rao Inderjit Singh will also be present. ‘This is the first such fair in the country since demonetisation for educating masses on how to use mobile phones for making purchases,’ the release said.
09:38 AgustaWestland scam: Will accused get bail today?: A Delhi court will on Monday announce the order on bail plea of the three accused in the Agusta Westland chopper scam case, , including former air force chief Air Chief Marshal (retired) SP Tyagi.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) counsel earlier on December 23 requested the court not to disclose evidences to anyone saying that if the evidence gathered will be disclose, there would be implication on future investigation.
Commenting on the bail issued to all the three accused related to the scam, the investigating agency said they are on pre-charge sheet stage and a very crucial time of investigation is going on.
Counter attacking the CBI’s plea, S.P. Tyagi’s counsel said, “CBI isn’t showing or telling evidence against him and if he (S.P. Tyagi) tries to prove his innocence, they will accuse him of non-cooperation since he’s not incriminating himself.
“Tyagi’s counsel also alleged that CBI in the last four years has never been able to establish any evidence against ex-air chief regarding receipt of any bribe.The Patiala House court had on December 17 remanded the trio to judicial custody till December 30 as their CBI custody ended.
Earlier, the CBI had moved the court seeking a 10-day custody to interrogate Tyagi and the other accused in the case.
09:05 Fresh feud in SP as Akhilesh unhappy over tickets given to ‘tainted’ netas: In another case of tiff emerging within the ruling Samajwadi Party camp, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has raised apprehensions against party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav over the allocation of party seats.
According to sources, Akhilesh, while reviewing the list of candidates for 403 assembly seats, expressed concern over giving 181 party tickets to what he alleged as ‘tainted’ persons.
Samajwadi Party state chief Shivpal Yadav is officially in charge of ticket distribution in consultation with party president Mulayam Singh.
This is not the first time that Akhilesh and his uncle have clashed over tickets distribution.
Two weeks ago, the chief minister expressed his displeasure over the party’s decision to field alleged don-turned politicians Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari’s brother Sibaqtullah Ansari for next year’s assembly elections.
The Ansari brothers belong to Quami Ekta Dal which recently merged with the party despite opposition from Akhilesh. — ANI
08:23 British singer George Michael dies aged 53: British pop singer George Michael, who rose to fame with the band ‘Wham!’ and sold more than 100 million albums in his career, has died aged 53, his publicist said today.
‘It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period,’ his publicist said in a statement.
‘The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage,’ the publicist said.
Michael was due to release a documentary in 2017 after years of living as a virtual recluse in which he hit the headlines for a series of bizarre incidents linked to drugs.
‘2016 – loss of another talented soul. All our love and sympathy to George Michael’s family, the band Duran Duran, which were 1980s contemporaries of ‘Wham!’, said on Twitter.
Former BBC Radio One disc jockey Tony Blackburn said: ‘Unbelievable, George Michael has died at the age of 53. RIP. This dreadful year goes on and on. So sad, a real talent.’
Several iconic British musicians have died in 2016 including David Bowie in January and Status Quo guitarist Rich Parfitt, who died in a Spanish hospital on Saturday. — AFP
Photograph: Reuters
Source: Rediff