NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Achieves Closest Sun Flyby Ever on December 24

NASA's Parker Solar Probe is set to perform its closest flyby of the sun on December 24, 2024, at 6:53 a.m. EST. The spacecraft, which launched in 2018, will approach within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometres) of the solar surface, setting a record for the nearest distance a human-made object has travelled to a star. Travelling at an extraordinary speed of 430,000 mph (692,000 kph), the probe will traverse the sun's corona, collecting data on its high-temperature environment.

Mission Details and Flyby Preparations

The Parker Solar Probe, managed by NASA and designed at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL), has completed 21 previous solar encounters and seven flybys of Venus, as per a report by Parker Solar Space. The upcoming event marks the 22nd solar approach in its mission to deepen the understanding of the sun's outer atmosphere. According to Nick Pinkine, mission operations manager at JHUAPL, the probe will provide unprecedented data from regions no spacecraft has explored before.

As part of its preparations, the probe sent a final transmission to Earth on December 20, signalling all systems are functioning normally, according to reports. Contact with the spacecraft will remain offline until December 27, when it is expected to send a health status update. Comprehensive science data, including telemetry, will begin to arrive in January 2025, as per reports.

Engineering to Withstand Extreme Temperatures

During the flyby, the spacecraft will endure temperatures reaching 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit (980 degrees Celsius). Its advanced heat shield, constructed from carbon foam, ensures the probe's instruments remain at near room temperature while withstanding up to 1,377 degrees Celsius.

Future of the Mission

As per reports, two additional close solar flybys are planned for March 22 and June 19, 2025. Decisions regarding the spacecraft's trajectory and continued operations are expected after the primary mission concludes. The Parker Solar Probe's findings aim to address critical questions about the sun's behaviour, contributing to the broader understanding of solar phenomena.

 

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Jeff Bezos Denies Report Of $600 Million Lavish Wedding: "Completely False"

Jeff Bezos has categorically denied media reports that his upcoming wedding to fiancee Lauren Sanchez will cost a staggering $600 million. Taking to X, the billionaire founder of Amazon set the record straight, dismissing the rumours as "completely false". The report, picked up by several outlets across the world, alleged that the couple is set to exchange vows on December 28 and spend over half a billion dollars on the extravagant event.

Mr Bezos' reaction was sparked by a post from billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who expressed scepticism about the reported $600 million wedding. "This is not credible. Unless you are buying each of your guests a house, you can't spend this much money," he wrote on X. 

Reacting to Mr Ackman's tweet, the Amazon founder wrote, "Furthermore, this whole thing is completely false — none of this is happening. The adage "don't believe everything you read” is even more true today than it ever has been. Now lies can get around the world before the truth can get its pants on. So be careful out there folks and don't be gullible. Will be interesting to see if all the outlets that "covered" and re-reported on this issue a correction when it comes and goes and doesn't happen."

See the tweet here:

Furthermore, this whole thing is completely false — none of this is happening. The old adage “don't believe everything you read” is even more true today than it ever has been. Now lies can get ALL the way around the world before the truth can get its pants on. So be careful out… https://t.co/wz2SWp6wBZ

— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) December 22, 2024

His fiancee, Lauren Sanchez, also weighed in on the matter, sharing Mr Bezos' post on her Instagram stories and adding a clear rebuttal: "Not true".

Initial reports from the Daily Mail and the New York Post alleged that Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez were planning an extravagant winter wonderland-themed wedding in Aspen, Colorado. According to the reports, the couple had booked Matsuhisa, an upscale sushi restaurant, as the exclusive venue for their celebration. The reports claimed that the luxury restaurant would be reserved from December 26 to 27, hosting around 180 guests including big names like Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Queen Rania of Jordan. 

Notably, Ms Sanchez started dating the Amazon boss in 2018. The couple went public with their relationship on July 14, 2019, after Mr Bezos' divorce from his first wife MacKenzie Scott was finalised. 

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4,000-Year-Old Massacre In England: 37 Victims Were Slaughtered And Eaten

A 4,000-year-old massacre in southwestern England was linked to possible acts of cannibalism, new research has revealed. The remains of at least 37 individuals -- men, women and children -- were found in a 50-foot-deep shaft at Charterhouse Warren Farm, showing snapped femurs, bashed skulls, and slicing cuts. Researchers suggest the victims were slaughtered and possibly eaten in a ceremonial feast, with some bones bearing marks of human teeth.

The findings, published in the journal Antiquity, suggest the victims were slaughtered in a single, large-scale event between 2210 and 2010 BC. Discovered in 1970 at Charterhouse Warren Farm, near Bristol, the site had initially been dismissed as a typical Bronze Age burial. However, the new study reveals the remains belonged to victims who were likely captives or caught in a surprise attack. No evidence of weapons or defensive injuries was found.

Nearly half of the recovered skulls bear fatal injuries consistent with blows from wooden clubs. Tool marks on leg bones suggest flesh was stripped, and fractures on long bones point to marrow extraction -- practices associated with cannibalism. The perpetrators also dumped butchered animal remains into the shaft alongside human bones, possibly as part of a ritual.

“It's taken us all aback. It was completely unexpected, totally atypical for the period and for almost all of British prehistory,” said lead author Rick Schulting, archaeology professor at Oxford University.

The scale of the violence and its motivations remain unclear. Researchers believe that a cycle of escalating revenge killings between nearby communities may have triggered the massacre. Rick Schulting suggests that the killings may have been a warning or a form of dehumanisation of the victims. “There has been no [previous] indication of violence on this scale in Britain at that time, both regarding the number of victims and the way in which they were treated after death,” he said.

Unlike the relatively peaceful archaeological record of the British Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age, where violent conflict was rare, Charterhouse Warren presents a unique case of mass violence and systematic postmortem processing. The disarticulated remains stand out against the typical burial practices of the period, where articulated skeletons or cremations dominated. Charterhouse Warren joins a handful of European prehistoric sites that document extreme violence and body processing.

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2 Dead, 60 Injured In German Christmas Market Car Attack, Saudi Man Arrested

German police arrested a Saudi man after a deadly car ramming attack on a Christmas market Friday in which a vehicle barrelled through a crowd of revellers at high speed, leaving a trail of bloody carnage.

At least two people were killed and more than 60 injured, said rescue services in the eastern city of Magdeburg located about 130 kilometres (80 miles) southwest of Berlin.

The unnamed suspect was a 50-year-old medical doctor from Saudi Arabia living in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, said regional premier Reiner Haseloff, speaking at the scene which was cordoned off and guarded by police commandos.

"We have arrested the perpetrator, a man from Saudi Arabia, a doctor who has been in Germany since 2006," he told reporters, calling the attack a "catastrophe" for the city and the country.

"From what we currently know he was a lone attacker so we don't think there is any further danger."

Police said the vehicle drove "at least 400 metres across the Christmas market" leaving behind a trail of bloodied casualties at the city's central town hall square.

Ambulances and fire engines rushed to the chaotic site, which was doused in blue emergency lights with sirens wailing, with badly injured people being treated as they lay on the ground or rushed off to hospitals.

Cries and screams could be heard as around 100 police, medics and the fire service officers deployed to the litter-strewn market decorated with Christmas trees and festive lights.

"The pictures are terrible," said city spokesman Michael Reif.

New weekly Der Spiegel, citing security sources, said that a black BMW had barrelled through the crowd at high speed just after 7:00 pm local time (1800 GMT) when the market was filled with revellers.

Haseloff said the Saudi man had driven a rented car with Munich licence plates into the Christmas market.

Die Welt daily reported that a piece of luggage was found on the passenger seat and it was "unclear whether there may be an explosive device in it", adding that "the authorities have not yet ruled out this scenario".

The Magdeburg city administration said in a Facebook post that 15 people were critically injured, with 37 people suffering serious injuries and 16 sustaining light injuries.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had quickly written on X that "the reports from Magdeburg raise the worst fears".

"My thoughts are with the victims and their families. We stand by their side and by the side of the people of Magdeburg. My thanks go to the dedicated rescue workers in these anxious hours."

Scholz was expected to travel to the city on Saturday, said the state premier.

- Series of attacks -

The bloody carnage recalled a 2016 jihadist attack in which a Tunisian man driving a lorry killed 12 people in a Christmas market in Berlin, the country's worst ever such attack.

A 13th victim died later having suffered serious injuries in the assault, claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has recently called on people to be vigilant at Christmas markets, although she said that authorities had not received any specific threats.

Domestic security service the Office for the Protection of the Constitution had warned it considers Christmas markets to be an "ideologically suitable target for Islamist-motivated people".

Germany has in recent times seen a series of suspected Islamist-motivated knife attacks.

Three people were killed and eight wounded in a stabbing spree at a street festival in the western city of Solingen in August.

Police arrested a Syrian suspect over the attack that was claimed by IS.

In June, a policeman was killed in a knife attack in Mannheim, with an Afghan national held as the main suspect.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wrote that "the anticipation of a peaceful Christmas was suddenly interrupted" but he cautioned that "the background to the terrible deed has yet been clarified".

The leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Alice Weidel, which has focused on jihadist attacks in its campaign against immigrants, wrote on X "when will this madness stop?"

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was "profoundly shocked" the attack and that he "shares the pain of the German people".

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also said she was "deeply shocked by the brutal attack on the defenceless crowd", adding: "Violence must have no place in our democracies."

Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez said he was "shocked" by the "terrible attack".

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Namita Thapar And Anupam Mittal Clash Over 70-Hour Workweek Debate

It's been several months, but the debate on India's work productivity, sparked by Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy's '70-hour workweek' comment continues to rage on. Now, 'Shark Tank India' judges, Namita Thapar and Anupam Mittal, have expressed their views on the matter. During an interview with 'Humans of Bombay', Mr Mittal, founder and CEO of Shaadi.com, engaged in a fiery debate with Ms Thapar, the CEO of Emcure Pharmaceuticals. While Mr Mittal supported the idea that one should not look at the number of hours being clocked at work, Ms Thapar disagreed with him calling it a "crock of bullsh*t".

In the interview, Mr Mittal was asked about his opinion on the workweek debate. He said, "I think it is a big lie that's being told to this generation, and I think it stinks because you are not ever going to... okay this is for people who want to achieve something extraordinary in life... you are not going to achieve anything extraordinary in life by counting the hours that you are putting in."

Mr Thapar then quickly chimed in, saying that it is different for founders as they have an "upside" which is not there for regular employees and therefore, they should work for stipulated hours, considering the work-life balance. "Basically this whole discussion and argument that is going on, pardon my language, is a crock of bullsh*t," she said.

Ms Thapar explained three data points to support her argument. "No. 1, when Emcure went public, it was $3 billion, my family owns 80 percent, so imagine the kind of wealth I am making. The founders, set of co-founders and top management, look at the kind of money they are making. Obviously, we could work 20 hours a day, which is what we all do. But the employee? Today, my accountant, he is making a salary, he does not have the upside of putting in that kind of hours," she said. 

Ms Thapar then went on to say that extended work hours cannot be a norm for regular employees as it will have far-reaching implications. "If he is going to put in that kind of hours, my second data point is, he is going to have serious, serious, serious physical and mental health issues," she said.

"So, I think for founders and high stakeholders, who make tons of money - go for it. Work 24 hours a day forever! But I think for the common man and woman... (there needs to be) a certain number of hours that they are supposed to work, and of course when there are deliverables... people work longer hours, but it is not on a non-stop, standard number basis," she continued. 

Also Read | Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal's Strongly-Worded Email To Employees On WFH Misuse Goes Viral

"Third thing: For God's sake, don't get married and have children because the next generation is suffering because of non-existent parents... just spare them the misery and mental health issues due to having an absentee parent. So, I think for people with high stakes, yes (work long hours), but for common employees, have a reasonable work limit, knowing that there will be some blips during deliverable time, but it cannot be a constant 70-hour work week, which is what a lot of people are proposing," she added. 

Notably, the 70-hour workweek debate started when Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy said that India's work productivity is one of the lowest in the world and asked the youth the contribute towards building the culture so that India can compete effectively on the global stage. 

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Elon Musk Faces Assassination Threat? "He's A CEO" Cryptic Post Viral

A post shared on X (formerly Twitter) has gone viral, igniting controversy after a user appeared to call for the assassination of Elon Musk.

The tweet has prompted accusations that the social media user, Bill Shea, indirectly suggested harm against Elon Musk.

Bill Shea shared a screenshot from the X page, 'Republicans against Trump,' which contained a statement comparing Elon Musk to George Soros. It read, "Elon Musk is literally everything MAGA Republicans accused George Soros of doing."

At the time of sharing the post, Bill Shea added a comment, "Folks, please do not forget Musk is a CEO of several companies. I say again, he's a CEO. Do with that information as you will."

The tweet has spread like wildfire on the Elon Musk-owned platform. Bill Shea's account was subsequently deactivated, likely in response to the huge negative attention the post generated.

You can delete your profile, Bill Shea, but the internet is
F o r e v e r @realDonaldTrump @JDVance @DHSgov @FBI @DOGE pic.twitter.com/iqezeQ8P6D

— Em J (@emjniner11) December 19, 2024

This incident has emerged in the wake of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a crime allegedly carried out by Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a well-known Baltimore family.

Luigi Mangione's actions have ignited a heated debate, with certain online communities praising him as a symbol of protest against the perceived flaws within the US healthcare system. His actions have given rise to an ongoing conversation about the influence of CEOs and their role in shaping public policy, further polarising opinions.

The controversy surrounding Luigi Mangione was amplified when a "lookalike contest" was held in New York City, the location of Mr Thompson's death, by those who sympathised with his cause.

The situation took another turn when former Washington Post journalist Taylor Lorenz stoked further controversy on Bluesky. Ms Lorenz shared an image with the caption "CEO DOWN," and used the opportunity to criticise the role of insurance executives in perpetuating harm. 

This question presupposes something that I'm not sure should be taken for granted. https://t.co/P4KI7SeCHL

— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) December 5, 2024

While Ms Lorenz clarified that she does not support violence, she added the necessity of holding those responsible for systemic injustices accountable for their actions.

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India Lodges Protest With Bangladesh Over 'Map' Post By Muhammad Yunus Aide

India has lodged a strong protest with Dhaka over a now-deleted social media post by a key aide of Bangladesh's interim government that claimed certain areas of Indian territory should be part of that country.

Mahfuz Alam, known for his provocative comments, had also posted on Facebook four days ago a map purportedly showing parts of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam as parts of Bangladesh. He deleted the post after it triggered backlash.

Mr Alam is a de facto minister in the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of Bangladesh.

In strongly reacting to the post, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday reminded all concerned to be "mindful" of their public comments.

"We have taken this up with the Bangladeshi government. We have strongly registered a protest on this issue. We understand that the post being referred to has reportedly been taken down.

"We would like to remind all concerned to be mindful of their public comments. While India has repeatedly signalled interest in fostering relations with the people and the interim government of Bangladesh, such comments underline the need for responsibility in public articulation," he said.

The relations between India and Bangladesh are reeling under severe strain after the interim government headed by Mr Yunus came to power in August.

Mr Yunus assumed the charge as the head of the interim dispensation days after the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post and fled to India in the face of a massive anti-government protest.

Asked about Mr Yunus not providing a specific timeline for holding parliamentary elections in Bangladesh as he said it could be held between late 2025 and early 2026, Jaiswal did not give a clear answer.

"We have very clearly defined our approach towards our ties with Bangladesh. We have said that we support a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh," he said.

"We have reiterated our willingness to build a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh based on mutual trust, respect and mutual sensitivity to each other's concerns and interest," Jaiswal said.

"We have also emphasised that the people of Bangladesh are the main stakeholders in the India-Bangladesh relations and noted that India's development cooperation and multi-faceted engagements with Bangladesh including in areas of connectivity, trade, power, energy and capacity building which are all geared towards benefiting the people of Bangladesh," he added.

In an address to the nation on December 16, Mr Yunus said the elections could be held between late 2025 and early 2026, depending on implementation of various reforms.

Asked about Mr Yunus's comments offering to host the stalled SAARC summit in Bangladesh following his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Cairo, Jaiswal said India has been pushing for regional cooperation through various platforms.

"Our efforts have been to boost regional cooperation. We want to move forward with platforms like BIMSTEC," he said, adding, "SAARC is another platform...You know why cooperation under SAARC is not moving forward." The SAARC ((South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) is a regional bloc comprising India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The grouping has not been very effective since 2016 as its biennial summits have not taken place since the last one in Kathmandu in 2014.

The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances".

The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet.

In the last few years, India has been making concerted efforts to make BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) a vibrant forum for regional cooperation as initiatives under SAARC were not moving forward.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Superman Teaser Trailer Out, Features Superdog Krypto And Hawk Girl

James Gunn's much-awaited Superman's teaser-trailer is out now. The relatively new Superman David Corenswet will inhabit a world full of DC Comics characters. The teaser introduces the Superman, lying on a snow-covered terrain and blood spitting out of his mouth. When Krypto the Superdog, comes near a wounded Superman, he says, "Take me home."

The teaser offers a first look of David as Superman's bespectacled alter ego, Clark Kent, reporter for the Metropolis newspaper The Daily Planet. Kent's colleague and Superman's beloved, Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Superman's arch nemesis, Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), are also introduced in the teaser. Additionally, there are a few quick glimpses of Skyler Gisondo as Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen, as well as Pruitt Taylor Vince as Jonathan Kent, Clark's adopted father.

There are also glimpses of other DC superheroes making their debuts. They include Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, the pugnacious member of the Green Lantern corps, Isabela Merced ("Alien: Romulus") as the winged Hawkgirl; and Anthony Corrigan as the pale, bald Metamorpho.

During a press meet, James Gunn mentioned the essance of the film with these words this Superman "lives in a world with superheroes," quoted Variety.

The new Superman film is also David Corenswet's biggest Hollywood project yet. He is only the fourth actor to play the iconic role on the big screen, after Christopher Reeve (1978-87), Brandon Routh (2006) and Henry Cavill (2013-2022).  Before Superman, David has been seen in projects such as The Politician, Hollywood, and Pearl.

Before casting for the lead role of Superman/ Clark Kent, James Gunn had shared his vision for the film in an interaction with Variety. He had said: "The next Superman has to be someone who has all the humanity that Superman has but he's also an alien. It's gotta be somebody who has the kindness and the compassion that Superman has and be somebody who you want to give a hug."

James Gunn has previously directed films such as the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, The Suicide Squad, and Slither, among others.

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Video: Passengers Panic, Scream For Help As Ferry Sinks Off Mumbai Coast

A video of Indian Navy and Coast Guard personnel rescuing passengers of a ferry that sank near Mumbai after colliding with a naval speedboat shows people shouting for help as the boat slowly goes under water.

Thirteen people were killed and 99 were rescued. The navy craft whose engine was on a trial run lost control and collided with the passenger ferry that was going from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a tourist spot.

"Search and Rescue efforts were immediately launched by the Navy in coordination with the Coast Guard and Marine Police. Four naval helicopters, 11 naval craft, one Coast Guard boat and three Marine Police boats were involved in the rescue efforts," the Navy said.

"The survivors picked up by Navy and civil craft in the area have been transferred to jetties and hospitals in the vicinity. So far 99 survivors have been rescued," it added.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur that 101 persons have been rescued. He said he was deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives in the collision between the passenger ferry and the Indian Navy craft.

Mr Fadnavis declared financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the families of those who died in the accident.

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Scientists Develop New Approach to Capture Gravitational Wave Memory from Supernovae

A study published in Physical Review Letters explores a new approach to detecting the gravitational wave memory effect, a phenomenon predicted by Einstein's general relativity. This effect refers to the permanent alteration in the distance between cosmic objects caused by a passing gravitational wave. Scientists suggest that existing gravitational wave observatories could capture this elusive signature, specifically from core-collapse supernovae (CCSN), which occur when massive stars over ten times the Sun's mass collapse and explode.

Core-collapse supernovae generate gravitational waves with unique characteristics due to their changing quadrupole moments during collapse. According to reports, while the amplitude of these waves is lower compared to signals from black hole or neutron star mergers, they provide critical insights into stellar interiors. Unlike electromagnetic signals, which originate from a supernova's surface, gravitational waves emerge from deep within, offering a rare glimpse into the dynamics of a collapsing star.

Challenges of Detecting Supernova Gravitational Waves

Detection of gravitational waves from CCSN has proven difficult due to their lower amplitudes, shorter durations, and complex signatures. Reports state that these waves fall below the sensitivity range of current high-frequency detectors such as advanced LIGO. However, the study indicates that low-frequency gravitational waves from CCSN exhibit a "memory" effect. This effect arises from anisotropic neutrino emissions and matter movement during collapse, leaving a non-zero gravitational disturbance.

As per reports, the research team, led by Colter J. Richardson from the University of Tennessee, analysed three-dimensional simulations of non-rotating CCSN with masses up to 25 solar masses using the CHIMERA model. Their findings revealed a distinct ramp-up in gravitational wave signals characteristic of memory with matched filtering techniques, the team concluded that signals from a 25 solar mass supernova could be detected up to 10 kiloparsecs away, a range accessible by existing observatories.

Potential for Future Research

Richardson highlighted, as per sources, the significance of exploring low-frequency gravitational waves and encouraged further investigations using the study's methodology. Future research may focus on common merger events or improvements in detector sensitivity to refine the detection of memory signals.

 

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"Matter Of Shame": Priyanka Gandhi On Yogi Adityanath's "Israel" Remark

In a swipe at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said throwing youths into the war zone in Israel for "employment" is not an achievement but a matter of shame.

Her remarks came after Adityanath took a veiled jibe at Priyanka Gandhi for carrying a handbag to Parliament that had 'Palestine' emblazoned on it.

"Yesterday, a Congress leader was seen walking around Parliament carrying a Palestine bag, while we are sending our youth to Israel for opportunities.

"So far, more than 5,600 youth from Uttar Pradesh have gone to Israel for construction work. Every youth gets free food and accommodation besides a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh there. There is also full guarantee of safety," Adityanath said on the second day of the Winter Session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Hitting back at Adityanath, Priyanka Gandhi said those who sent Uttar Pradesh's youths to war-torn Israel instead of providing them employment are calling it their achievement.

"They are neither aware of the unemployment situation in the state nor do they understand the pain of those youths and their families," she said.

According to reports, the youths who have gone to work in Israel are saving their lives by hiding in bunkers and the companies are exploiting them, she said in a post in Hindi.

"Their families are always scared. Our promising youths are forced to risk their lives for employment because you cannot provide employment," Priyanka Gandhi said.

"Throwing our youths into the war zone for employment is not something to pat on the back but a matter of shame." 

In his remarks, Adityanath said, "Recently, the ambassador of Israel visited Uttar Pradesh and said they want more youths from the state, as they are doing good work there. The world is now acknowledging the skills of our youths. When these youths send money home, they contribute to the development of the state. We should congratulate them." 

On Tuesday, Congress' Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi was seen carrying a cream-coloured handbag to Parliament on which it was written "Bangladesh Ke Hindu Aur Isaiyon Ke Saath Khade Ho" (stand with the Hindus and Christians of Bangladesh).

Several Congress MPs led by Priyanka Gandhi also staged a protest on the Parliament premises demanding justice for Hindus and Christians facing atrocities in Bangladesh.

This came a day after she expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine by carrying a handbag with 'Palestine' emblazoned on it. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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NASA’s InSight Mars Lander Captured with Dust Layers by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

NASA's retired InSight Mars lander was recently spotted by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) in an image taken on October 23, 2024, using its High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera. The image shows dust build-up on the lander's solar panels, which now match the reddish-brown colour of the Martian surface. Reports suggest this observation continues to provide insights into the movement of dust and wind patterns on Mars.

InSight's Mission and Retirement

The InSight lander, which touched down in November 2018, was central to detecting Marsquakes and studying the planet's crust, mantle, and core. NASA officially ended the mission in December 2022 after the lander stopped communicating due to excessive dust accumulation on its solar panels. Engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California continued to monitor the lander for any signs of reactivation, hoping Martian winds might clear its panels. However, as per reports, no signals have been received, and listening operations will conclude by the end of this year.

Tracking Dust Movement

The new HiRISE images were captured to monitor how dust and wind alter the Martian surface over time. Ingrid Daubar, a science team member at Brown University, told sources that the images of InSight's location offer crucial data on how dust accumulates and shifts. This information helps researchers understand the Martian dust cycle and wind dynamics, which are vital for future missions.

Surface Changes and Impact Studies

Dust movement not only impacts solar-powered missions but also helps scientists study surface ageing processes. Blast marks left by InSight's landing thrusters, once dark and prominent in 2018, have faded significantly, indicating dust deposition over time. This phenomenon also aids researchers in estimating the age of craters and surface features, as dust gradually erodes their visibility.

Ongoing Role of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter continues to play a key role in observing Mars' surface changes. It monitors both active missions, such as the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers, and inactive ones, including Spirit, Opportunity, and the Phoenix lander. Managed by JPL for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, the orbiter's HiRISE camera remains a vital tool for long-term studies of the Martian environment.

 

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World's Largest Iceberg A23a Breaks Free, Drifts In The Southern Ocean

After being grounded for over 30 years, the world's largest iceberg, A23a, has started drifting in the Southern Ocean. This massive iceberg, which is roughly double the size of Greater London and weighs approximately one trillion tonnes, broke off from Antarctica's Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986. Since then, it had remained stuck on the seabed near the South Orkney Islands in the Weddell Sea until it began its slow movement northwards in 2020.

"It's exciting to see A23a on the move again after periods of being stuck. We are interested to see if it will take the same route the other large icebergs that have calved off Antarctica have taken. And more importantly what impact this will have on the local ecosystem," said Dr Andrew Meijers, who is an oceanographer with the British Antarctic Survey.

A23a's journey

The journey of iceberg A23a has been marked by fascinating scientific events. A23a broke free from Antarctica in 1986 but got stuck in the Weddell Sea's bottom mud for 30 years. It remained a static "ice island" until 2020 when it finally began to drift again. Slowly at first, it then accelerated northward, moving towards warmer air and waters. 

For several months, the iceberg was trapped in a rare oceanographic phenomenon known as a Taylor Column, where rotating water above a seamount held it in place. This unusual event caused A23a to spin in a single spot, delaying its expected rapid drift north.

As A23a continues on its journey, it is anticipated to follow the Antarctic Circumpolar Current into the Southern Ocean. This current is likely to drive the iceberg towards the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Once it reaches this region, A23a will encounter warmer waters, leading to its eventual break-up into smaller icebergs and subsequent melting.

Biogeochemist Laura Taylor, who was on board a research vessel, expressed hope that scientists would be able to study the impact of the massive iceberg A23a on the surrounding ecosystems as it melts and breaks apart.

"We know that these giant icebergs can provide nutrients to the waters they pass through, creating thriving ecosystems in otherwise less productive areas," Ms Taylor said.

"What we don't know is what difference particular icebergs, their scale, and their origins can make to that process. We took samples of ocean surface waters behind, immediately adjacent to, and ahead of the iceberg's route. They should help us determine what life could form around A23a and how it impacts carbon in the ocean and its balance with the atmosphere," she added.

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Ding, Accused Of Deliberately Losing To Gukesh, Opens Up On Loss At Worlds

Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren has opened up on his loss to India's D Gukesh at the World Chess Championship 2024 in Singapore last week. Ding, who was the defending champion, made a costly error in the decisive Game 14, allowing Gukesh to become the youngest ever world champion. Following his defeat to Gukesh, Ding was accused of deliberately losing the match by Russian Chess Federation chief Andrei Filatov. Russian news agency TASS quoted Filatov asking the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to open a probe and investigate the result.

Former world champions Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik had also questioned the quality of chess on display during the whole course of the 14-game tie Ding and Gukesh.

Amid criticism, Ding has defended himself and Gukesh, insisting that the quality of the games was not so low.

"Yes, I tried my best in the match and you could see my usage of time. I used a large amount of time in the opening phase when I was not familiar with the position. I tried to figure out what is going on. Or what's the idea behind the novelty. Or how to play my pieces. And sometimes i did a good job and sometimes I didn't find a clear way to develop," Ding told ChessBase India.

"But in every game, his (Gukesh) time would eventually catch up my time after some long thought by him. So I can say that I played some high quality moves when I spent a lot of time. The quality of the game were not so low. Even when I was low on time, I also played some good moves with less time," he added.

Meanwhile, Gukesh secured the requisite 7.5 points as against 6.5 of his Chinese rival after winning the 14th and last classical time control game of the match that seemed headed for a draw for most part. As winner, he will walk away with a whopping USD 1.3 million (approx Rs 11.03 crore) from the 2.5 million prize purse.

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D Fadnavis Says "Performance Review" Of New Ministers Soon, Adds A Warning

A total of 39 legislators from Mahayuti allies were sworn in on Sunday in the first cabinet expansion of the 10-day-old Devendra Fadnavis-led ministry including 16 new faces, while 10 former ministers were excluded.

Portfolios will be allocated in the next two to three days, the Chief Minister said.

While 33 legislators were sworn in as cabinet ministers, six took oath as ministers of state.

The new inductees will, however, have to perform with Mahayuti allies deciding to conduct a "performance audit" of ministers during their tenure, Fadnavis said.

Prominent leaders who couldn't find a place in the new council of ministers include BJP's Sudhir Mungantiwar, senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, and Shiv Sena's Abdul Sattar.

The council of ministers is a mix of old and new faces which reflects Fadnavis' efforts in balancing caste equations including sections of Marathas, OBCs, SCs, and STs and striking a regional balance.

With the new inductees, the strength of the Fadnavis-led ministry has gone up to 42, including the CM and his deputies Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) and Ajit Pawar (NCP). One berth was kept vacant.

While the BJP secured 19 ministerial berths by virtue of being the largest among allies, Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party were allotted 11 and 9 berths, respectively.

Governor C P Radhakrishnan administered the oath to the new ministers at a ceremony held on the eve of the state legislature's winter session in Nagpur.

Addressing a press conference after the cabinet was expanded on the eve of the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature, Fadnavis said Mahayuti allies have agreed to conduct a "performance audit" of ministers during their tenure.

While Fadnavis didn't mention any timeline, Deputy CM and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde said the ministers of his party will get two-and-a-half years and those who perform will progress.

Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar said "non-performers" can be replaced in two-and-a-half months also.

Hours before the cabinet expansion ceremony, Pawar said that some of those who took oath would have a tenure of two-and-a-half-years, underlining constraints in accommodating aspirations of hopefuls.

Fadnavis said the Mahayuti government will start working towards developing Maharashtra.

"We have decided on the portfolio allocation and it will be announced in two to three days. Our administration will focus on swift development," he said.

Fadnavis said he and his deputies- Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar- have told new ministers that they would be subjected to a performance audit.

"Performance audit of ministers will be done and all three of us have agreed to this," he said.

The CM said those leaders of the BJP who couldn't find a place in the Cabinet may be assigned an organisational role.

Shinde said he had decided at the Shiv Sena party level to give two-and-a-half years to new ministers.

"Those who work good will progress," he added.

The BJP, which won the maximum 132 seats in the assembly elections, got the largest chunk of 16 ministers of Cabinet rank and three MoS. Shiv Sena was allotted nine positions as Cabinet ministers and two MoS, while the NCP will have eight ministers of Cabinet rank and a minister of state.

Among the new inductees, four are women, including Pankaja Munde, Madhuri Misal, and Meghna Bordikar of BJP and Aditi Tatkare of NCP.

Munde and Tatkare took oath as Cabinet ministers, and Bordikar and Misal as MoS.

Prominent leaders excluded in the new Cabinet are Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil of NCP, and Mungantiwar and Vijaykumar Gavit of BJP.

From Shiv Sena, former ministers Tanaji Sawant, Deepak Kesarkar, and Abdul Sattar were not re-inducted. Anil Patil, Sanjay Bandsode, and Dharmarao Baba Atram of NCP also missed the second chance.

The swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur was conducted 33 years after the expansion of the Sudhakarrao Naik cabinet in 1991.

The Cabinet expansion saw the re-entry of state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Jaykumar Raval, Pankaja Munde, and Ashok Uike who had served as ministers during Fadnavis' first term from 2014 to 19.

Region-wise, a maximum of nine ministers are from the western Maharashtra region, followed by eight ministers from north Maharashtra, seven from Vidarbha, six from Marathwada, four from the Mumbai/Thane region, and five from the coastal Konkan region.

At the presser, Fadnavis slammed the opposition MVA for terming the Mahayuti government a "government of EVM".

"Our government came to power because every vote has gone for Maharashtra. My government works by the Constitution and respecting the dignity of the Constitution is our priority," the chief minister said.

Fadnavis announced an SIT probe into the murder of Massajog village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed district.

"The case has been given to CID and an SIT will be set up. Culprits will be punished," the CM said.

He said the violence in Parbhani was orchestrated and pointed out that the stone replica of the Constitution was desecrated by a mentally unstable person who has been arrested.

The CM said those leaders of the BJP who couldn't find a place in the Cabinet may be assigned an organisational role.

Fadnavis said the Mahayuti government was ready to respond to all issues raised by the Opposition provided they do so in the legislature instead of speaking to the media.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"More Tourists Will Go To Bastar Than Kashmir If...": Amit Shah

Once famous for Maoist violence, Bastar is now becoming a tourist destination for many. Appreciating the efforts of the state government and security forces in this transformation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that if Maoists give up arms in Bastar it will attract more tourists than Kashmir.

"Maa Danteshwari has given immense natural beauty to Bastar. If Maoists end here, I can assure you all that more tourists would be coming here compared to Kashmir," Mr Shah said at the closing ceremony of the Bastar Olympics 2024.

He said the Centre is making many schemes to promote tourism in this region.

"Everyone can see the region's remarkable transformation from Maoist-affected zone to a symbol of peace and development," Mr Shah said.

He said it is the collective responsibility to establish peace in Bastar, foster its development while preserving its natural beauty, and attract tourists from around the world.

"This can only be achieved through the construction of roads, the introduction of railways, the provision of electricity and water, and, most importantly, the establishment of peace," he said.

Mr Shah also highlighted how in the last 10 years of the Modi government a two-pronged strategy is being used to eradicate Maoists.

"On one hand, the security measures against Maoists involved in violence have been strengthened, effectively curbing their activities. On the other hand, efforts have been made to rehabilitate surrendered Maoists," he said.

"यदि नक्सलवाद समाप्त होता है तो #कश्मीर से ज्यादा पर्यटक #बस्तर में आए इस प्रकार का कुदरती सौंदर्य मां दंतेश्वरी ने बस्तर को दिया है। इसके लिए भारत सरकार योजनाएं बना रही है।* यहां पर पर्यटन को आगे बढ़ाएंगे।- केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री अमित शाह pic.twitter.com/9MNBIXrKyy

— Neeta Sharma (@NEETAS11) December 15, 2024

Mr Shahs said the Modi government has focused on developing Maoist-affected areas, which had fallen behind in the development race.

"Because of the efforts of the Modi government, there has been a 73 per cent reduction in the deaths of security forces and a 70 per cent reduction in civilian casualties in areas plagued by Maoists since 1983," he said.

Mr Shah said when the Congress was in power in Chhattisgarh before the BJP assumed charge a year ago, the action against the Maoists became slow. "But after our government came to power in Chhattisgarh, action against the extremists speeded up resulting in killings of 287 Maoists in the last one year, the arrest of 992 Maoists and surrender of 836 others," Mr Shah said.

Mr Shah said after the Modi government assumed charge, there has been a 73 per cent reduction in casualties in security forces and a 70 per cent decline in civilian deaths.

The Home Minister reaffirmed the Modi government's commitment to completely eradicating Maoists from the country by March 31, 2026.

Even as security operations continue, the state government is working on a road map to revitalise the region and transform Bastar, he said, adding the Bastar region is endowed with waterfalls, caves, and national parks like the enchanting Chitrakote waterfalls, also known as the Niagara Fall of India.

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"Rightly Went Unsold": Prithvi Once Again Under Fire After Disappointing Show

Prithvi Shaw once again came under a lot of fire after he failed to score big for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final against Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. While Mumbai ended up clinching the trophy quite easily, Prithvi was dismissed for 10 off 6 deliveries. It has been a tough year for Prithvi after he went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction and he finished the tournament without a single 50+ score. Prithvi started his innings well but was dismissed early by Tripuresh Singh. Users on social media were not happy with his failure and they were quick to express their disappointment.

Prithvi Shaw rightly went unsold at the auction. No fitness. No fielding. No discipline. Cameos at best with the bat.

— Vipul Ghatol 🇮🇳 (@Vipul_Espeaks) December 15, 2024

Mumbai leaned on their collective batting strength to subdue a spirited Madhya Pradesh by five wickets to clinch the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Sunday. Mumbai were stretched on more than one occasion during the chase of 175, a target MP built around skipper Rajat Patidar's fluent unbeaten 81, on a slightly tacky pitch, but eventually they reached 180 for five in 17.5 overs.

Prithvi Shaw isn't even trying to prove the owners of IPL teams wrongpic.twitter.com/zBftxSHjFg

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) December 15, 2024

This was Mumbai's second SMAT title after winning it for the first time in 2022, while MP's wait for a maiden trophy prolonged to another season.

After a brief period of lull, Suryakumar Yadav (48, 35b, 4x4, 3x6) reactivated his run-making ways and added 52 runs for the third wicket with Ajinkya Rahane (37, 30b, 4x4).

It helped Mumbai to recover from the early dismissals of Prithvi Shaw and skipper Shreyas Iyer, both of them falling to rather causal shots.

At 129 for five in 14.4 overs, Mumbai needed 46 runs but any worries were soon eased by the big-hitting Suryansh Shedge (36 not out, 15b, 3x4, 3x6) and Atharva Ankolekar (16 not out, 6b, 2x6) who knocked off the remaining runs without much fuss in a little over three overs.

Earlier, Patidar shone brightly while hammering his fifth fifty of this tournament.

The right-hander, who was retained by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, entertained an over 15,000-crowd, who backed him and MP to the hilt, with twinkling shot-making.

In fact, Patidar singlehandedly held the MP innings together as the next highest was a 23 by Shubhranshu Senapati.

(With PTI inputs)

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Centre To Amend J&K Act To Align It With 'One Nation, One Poll' Initiative

The Centre will introduce a bill to amend 'The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019' in Lok Sabha next week, to integrate the Union Territory with its 'One Nation, One Election' initiative, a senior government official told NDTV.

"The existing Union Territory Assembly will complete its full term and in case of premature dissolution of the assembly, mid-term election to be held for only the remaining period of 5 years. Centre is introducing a bill to this effect," a senior government official said.

The official said this will allow the Centre to amend the law to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with the initiative.

As per business scheduled in Lok Sabha on Monday, Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal would introduce 'The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill-2024' to make changes in the 'Government of Union Territories Act, 1963', the 'Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act', 1991 and the 'Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019'.

"While the amendments in the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 have been proposed for respectively for synchronisation of assembly polls of Puducherry and Delhi with Lok Sabha polls, the amendments in J&K Reorganisation Act- 2019 will align Jamm and Kashmir's electoral cycle with Lok Sabha polls," he further explains.

As per amendments proposed in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, the term of the Legislative Assembly shall come to an end on the expiry of the full term of Lok Sabha.

The bill states that simultaneous elections would come into effect on an "appointed date" to be notified by the President on the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after a general election.

"As the first sitting of the Lok Sabha elected in 2024 has already taken place, the earliest appointed date for simultaneous elections that can only be notified is the first sitting of the House elected in the 2029 elections. This means that simultaneous polls could be held by 2034 when the full term of that House ends," an official told NDTV, explaining the bill.

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"Cassata Today, Sundae Tomorrow": India's Team Selection In Gabba Slammed

Former India opener turned cricket pundit Aakash Chopra has called out the selection process of Team India in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The main point that Chopra put across was the chopping and changing of the lone spin-bowling all-rounder in the playing XI. Chopra remarked that India seem to be playing a different spinner every game, and remarked that had Kuldeep Yadav been a part of the squad, he would've been chosen in the fourth Test.

In the third Test, experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was brought in as the lone spinner in the India XI in place of Ravichandran Ashwin. Earlier, Washington Sundar had been picked as the lone spinner for the first Test in Perth, and despite India's victory, was dropped in favour of Ashwin.

"It seems they want to play a new spinner in every Test match. Washi played in the first, Ashwin played in the second, and Jadeja is playing in the third. Kuldeep might have played in the fourth had he been there, and someone else in the fifth if one more spinner was there," said Chopra, speaking on his YouTube channel.

Speaking about the constant changes made in this regard, Chopra brought up a comparison to one's food choices. He also added that he felt none of the players had done anything wrong to warrant being dropped.

"No one had done anything wrong. Neither did Washington Sundar do anything wrong in Perth nor did Ravichandran Ashwin do anything wrong in Adelaide," Chopra said.

"There is no continuity. It's like wanting to eat a cassata ice cream today, a sundae tomorrow, and then vanilla and chocolate," added Chopra.

India will be hoping to bounce back and take the lead of the series in the third Test at The Gabba in Brisbane. However, weather conditions and rain may play an unforeseen role.

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Switzerland Revokes India's Most-Favoured-Nation Status Over Nestle Verdict

Switzerland has taken a unilateral stand after the Supreme Court of India's ruling in the Nestle case. It has revoked the 'Most Favoured Nation' or MFN status accorded to India under the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement or DTAA treaty.

Switzerland's move marks a significant shift in bilateral treaty dynamics and will result in a big impact on Indian companies operating in Switzerland as well as on Swiss investments in India.

In its official statement on December 11, the Swiss finance department named the Supreme Court of India and cited its 2023 ruling as the reason for its decision to remove India's MFN status. In its order, the Supreme Court had said that the MFN clause between two nations does not apply automatically when a country joins the OECD, especially if the Indian government already had a prior tax treaty with that country before joining the grouping.

The OECD or Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development was established in 1961 and is headquartered in Paris. It calls itself a forum and knowledge hub for data, analysis, and best practices in public policy to build stronger, fairer, and cleaner societies - helping to shape better policies for better lives. It works closely with policy makers, stakeholders and citizens to establish evidence-based international standards and to find solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges.

A HISTORY TO THE CASE

India had signed tax agreements with Lithuania and Colombia under which the tax rates on certain types of income were lower than the rates it provided to OECD countries. Both countries later joined the OECD.

Under the OECD, the effect of an MFN clause is that one country obligates itself to its treaty partner with respect to offering it a 'more favourable' tax treatment.

Switzerland assumed that Colombia and Lithuania joining the OECD meant a 5 per cent rate for dividends would apply to the India-Switzerland tax treaty under the MFN clause, instead of the 10 per cent which was mentioned in it.

But the Supreme Court ruling meant otherwise -- that the MFN clause between two nations does not apply automatically when a country joins the OECD, and that the prior tax treaty takes precedence, unless the MFN clause is specifically mentioned in a 'notification' in accordance with Section 90 of the Income Tax Act.

WHAT THIS MEANT FOR THE NESTLE CASE

According to the statement by Switzerland's finance department, in 2021, the Delhi High Court while hearing the case against Nestle, upheld the applicability of the residual tax rates after taking into account the MFN clause under the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. This was in line with how Switzerland had interpreted it.

However, in a ruling dated October 19, 2023, the Supreme Court reversed the high court's judgement and stated that, the applicability of the MFN clause was not triggered automatically. The top court ruled that the MFN clause "was not directly applicable in the absence of 'notification' in accordance with Section 90 of the Income Tax Act" - a ruling that impacted Nestle and in-turn went against what Switzerland had hoped for.

SWITZERLAND'S RESPONSE

Switzerland has now responded by unilaterally revoking India's MFN status and squarely named the "Indian Supreme Court" as the reason for its decision.

This means that from January 1, 2025, Switzerland will levy a 10 per cent tax (instead of the current 5 per cent) on dividends payable to Indian tax residents and entities who claim refunds for Swiss withholding tax and for Swiss tax residents who claim foreign tax credits.

The Swiss Finance Department released a statement in which it announced "Suspension of the application of the MFN clause of the protocol to the agreement between the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of India for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income."

The statement cited the "2023 ruling by Indian Supreme Court" in a case relating to Nestle for its decision to withdraw the MFN status.

WHAT EXPERTS SAY

Some see Switzerland's move as a retaliatory measure to the Supreme Court ruling, while others see this as a measure of reciprocity.

Nangia Andersen M&A Tax Partner Sandeep Jhunjhunwala called Switzerland's move unilateral and said "This suspension may lead to increased tax liabilities for Indian entities operating in Switzerland, highlighting the complexities of navigating international tax treaties in an evolving global landscape."

"It also underscores the necessity of aligning treaty partners on the interpretation and application of tax treaty clauses to ensure predictability, equity, and stability in international tax framework," Mr Jhunjhunwala told news agency Press Trust of India.

AKM Global Tax Partner, Amit Maheshwari, said that "The main reason behind the decision to withdraw MFN is of reciprocity, which ensures that taxpayers in both countries are treated equally and fairly."

"Swiss authorities announced in August 2021 that based on the MFN clause between Switzerland and India, the tax rate on dividends from qualifying shareholdings would be reduced from 10 per cent to 5 per cent, effective retroactively from July 5, 2018. However, the subsequent Supreme Court ruling in 2023 contradicted the same," Mr Maheshwari told PTI.

He added that "This could impact Swiss investments in India as dividends would be subject to higher withholding now and income accruing on or after January 1, 2025, may be taxed at the rates provided for in the original double taxation treaty between Switzerland and India, regardless of the MFN clause."

JSA Advocates & Solicitors Partner Kumarmanglam Vijay said "This would especially impact Indian companies having ODI (overseas direct investment) structures with subsidiaries in Switzerland and will raise the Swiss withholding tax on dividends from 5 per cent to 10 per cent from January 1, 2025."

(Inputs from PTI)
 

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Earth’s Inner Core Might Be Slowing Down and Changing Shape, New Study Reveals

Research indicates that Earth's solid inner core, a metal sphere encased within the molten outer core, could be undergoing changes in both rotation and surface structure. Studies involving seismic waves from earthquakes have revealed that the core's rotation may have slowed, paused or even reversed relative to Earth's surface approximately 15 years ago. New findings presented by John Vidale, a geophysicist at the University of Southern California, during a meeting of the American Geophysical Union suggest that additional changes to the inner core's surface could also be occurring.

Earthquake Waves Reveal Inner Core Dynamics

Insights into the inner core rely on seismic waves generated by earthquakes, as no instrument can directly access Earth's core. According to reports, geophysicists often examine seismic waves originating from the South Sandwich Islands near Antarctica. These waves traverse the Earth, passing through its layers and arriving at recording stations such as those in Alaska. Waveform discrepancies between similar earthquakes occurring at different times indicate changes within the inner core.

Surface Changes and Deformation Hypotheses

Reportedly, Vidale and his team analysed seismic data from around 200 earthquake pairs recorded between 1991 and 2024. Discrepancies in waveforms were observed in recordings from Yellowknife, Canada but not from Fairbanks, Alaska. Vidale attributed these differences to possible deformation of the inner core's outer surface. According to reports, the entire core might be subtly reshaping or localised regions could be swelling or contracting. These changes might be influenced by gravitational interactions with the mantle or material flow within the outer core.

Diverse Perspectives on Core Behavior

The interpretations remain debated. Lianxing Wen, a geophysicist from Stony Brook University, has suggested in a statement that surface changes alone, without rotational differences, might explain these observations. Meanwhile, Xiaodong Song of Peking University emphasised in his statement that both rotational and surface changes could be contributing factors.

Current findings remain limited in their implications for Earth's surface, as stated in reports. Until further research clarifies the processes, the potential impact remains uncertain.

 

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Man Flies From Kuwait To Andhra, Kills Relative Who Sexually Abused Daughter

A 35-year-old immigrant worker from Kuwait murdered his relative for allegedly sexually abusing his minor daughter, said a police official on Thursday.

Rajampet sub-divisional police officer N Sudhakar said Anjaneya Prasad arrived from Kuwait recently and beat his physically challenged relative P Anjaneyulu (59) to death with an iron rod for allegedly sexually abusing his daughter.

"Anjaneya Prasad came to India in the first week of December and killed Anjaneyulu in the intervening night of December 6 and 7 when the latter was sleeping outside his home," N Sudhakar told PTI, about the incident which occurred at Obulavaripalli in Annamayya district.

Following the murder, N Sudhakar said Prasad had returned to Kuwait and released a video message, confessing to having committed the crime as the police allegedly failed to take action over his daughter's complaint.

Meanwhile, police registered a murder case against Prasad and are on the lookout for his arrest.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Mars Dust Storms May Be Predictable Based on Surface Heating Patterns

New research has indicated a strong connection between warm, sunny days on Mars and the occurrence of dust storms, with nearly 78 percent of storms preceded by increased solar heating, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in Washington, D.C. The study, led by Heshani Pieris and Paul Hayne of the University of Colorado, Boulder, analysed data from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, revealing patterns that could help predict these atmospheric phenomena.

Insights into Dust Storm Patterns

The researchers investigated data spanning eight Martian years—approximately 15 Earth years—collected by the Mars Climate Sounder instrument. Observations focused on two types of dust storms, categorised as "A" and "C" storms, which primarily originate in the planet's northern hemisphere and travel through Acidalia Planitia and Utopia Planitia. The study found a direct correlation between prolonged surface heating and the emergence of these storms.

In a statement, Pieris highlighted the significant impact dust storms have on Mars missions, noting their tendency to coat solar panels with fine particles, which can disrupt operations. This was exemplified by NASA's Opportunity rover, which was rendered inoperable during a global dust storm.

Potential for Forecasting Dust Storms

Pieris and Hayne's research suggests the possibility of predicting Martian dust storms based on patterns of surface heating. An algorithm developed during the study has shown a 64% confidence level in forecasting "A" and "C" storms, offering a potential tool for managing the risks posed to future crewed missions.

While the study marks progress, as per reports, Hayne pointed out that fundamental questions about dust storm formation remain unanswered, including the factors that allow localised storms to grow into global events. Data from NASA's deactivated Mars Global Surveyor supports the findings, showing that imbalances in solar energy absorption during warmer periods can fuel storm activity.

 

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WhatsApp, Instagram And Facebook Down For Thousands Globally

Meta Platforms's social media offerings Instagram, Threads and Facebook, and messaging app WhatsApp were down for thousands of users across the globe on Wednesday, according to Downdetector.com.

Facebook was down for more than 50,000 users while Instagram was down for more than 23,000 users, according to the outage tracking website.

Downdetector tracks outages by collating status reports from a number of sources including user-submitted errors on its platform. The outage could have affected a larger number of users.

Several users thronged Twitter to post about the outage. While some had genuine queries about the outage, many gave it a hilarious spin by posting memes.

everyone running to twitter to check if instagram is down#Metadown pic.twitter.com/Qbt3Wb5odv

— बिलार 😾 (@chad_dad0) December 11, 2024

Me checking Twitter to confirm if instagram, facebook and whatsapp are down #instagramdown #facebookdown #whatsappdown #metadown pic.twitter.com/SbGp4uouPv

— 𝕏 🧑‍💻 (@IamutX) December 11, 2024

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"Insult To Citizens": N Sitharaman On Rahul Gandhi's Public Bank Remarks

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman termed the allegation of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi against state-owned banks a  "misrepresentation of facts" and an "insult to the hardworking employees and to the citizens" who benefit from a cleaner, stronger banking system.

Banking sector, especially Public Sector Banks (PSBs), have seen a remarkable turnaround under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underlined the Finance Minister in a long post on X.

Earlier today, Mr Gandhi, after meeting a delegation from the All India Banking Officers Confederation, accused the government of using public sector banks, the "lifelines of the masses", to prioritise profit over people and are thus unable to serve the public effectively.

"Public Sector Banks are being forced to prioritise profit over people and are thus unable to serve the public effectively. With staff shortages and a toxic work environment, they are expected to reach unachievable targets without a level playing field," Mr Gandhi said after hearing the members of the confederation.

Attacking Mr Gandhi, the Finance Minister said, "Rahul Gandhi's misrepresentation of facts is an insult to the hardworking PSB employees and to the citizens who benefit from a cleaner, stronger banking system. It's high time the @INCIndia up-skills the LOP's understanding of governance." 

Leader of the Opposition (LoP) @RahulGandhi's penchant for making baseless statements is on full display, yet again.
India's banking sector, especially Public Sector Banks (PSBs), have seen a remarkable turnaround under @PMOIndia @narendramodi

Didn't the people who met with the…

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) December 11, 2024

The Minister claimed that it was during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government when bank employees were harassed and forced to give loans to cronies through "phone banking".

"Didn't the people who met with the LoP tell him that Asset Quality Review was launched by our Government in 2015, unearthing the 'phone banking' practices of UPA Govt? Modi Government took charge to initiate the reforms in the banking sector such as '4Rs' strategy," she said.

As part of the strategy, she said, the PSBs were supported through recapitalisation of Rs 3.26 lakh crore in the last 10 years.

"Citizen centric governance and inclusive development is the core principle of Modi Government. Didn't the people who met with the LoP tell him that 54 crore Jan Dhan accounts and more than 52 crore collateral-free loans under various flagship financial inclusion schemes (PM MUDRA, Stand-Up India, PM-SVANidhi, PM Vishwakarma) have been sanctioned?" she asked.

With regard to employment generation, Ms Sitharaman said, the government has undertaken recruitment drives and Rozgar Mela initiatives to fill lakhs of vacancies across all central government departments, including banks and PSBs. Since 2014, PSBs have recruited 3.94 lakh employees.

"Didn't the people who met with the LoP tell him that since 2014, PSBs have recruited 3.94 lakh employees? As on October 2024, 96.61% of Officers are in position and 96.67% of Subordinate/ Award Staff are in position, showing meagre vacancies which are also being filled," she said. 

Women are excelling as MDs, CEOs, and leaders in the sector, she said, adding, the Modi government's commitment to women-led development is evident not just in policy but in practice.

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Married 47 Days Ago, Man Dies By Suicide Over Rs 2,000 Instant App Loan

Facing relentless harassment after taking a loan of Rs 2,000 from an instant loan app, a 27-year-old died by suicide in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam just 47 days after he got married.

Police officials said Narendra, who catches fish for a living, had been unable to go fishing a couple of months ago because of adverse weather conditions and decided to take a loan of Rs 2,000 from an instant loan app to tide him over. They said Narendra managed to pay back the principal amount but was hounded by people from the loan company, who wanted him to pay a big amount as interest. 

When he said he could not afford to pay, people from the company allegedly harassed and abused him. They also blackmailed him and his wife, whom he had married on October 20, by morphing a nude photo and sharing it with his friends on WhatsApp.

The officials said Narendra found it difficult to confide in anyone about the harassment and this led to him getting depressed. Unable to put up with the harassment and the trauma any longer, Narendra hanged himself on Saturday. 

His family members have lodged complaints with the police commissioner and the district collector.
 

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Nitin Gadkari On How Road Projects Can Solve Delhi's Garbage Problem

Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who has been handling the Road Transport portfolio for the third straight term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today said efforts are on to use garbage to build roads, which will also take care of the mounting garbage problems of the country's metro cities. 

"Delhi has four mountains of municipal garbage. Now, we have used 80 lakh tons of municipal garbage in road construction," he told NDTV at the special Auto Conclave.

Giving cases in point, he named a number of highways in western and northern India -- the Mumbai-Delhi Express highway, Ahmedabad-Vadodara highway, the Ahmedabad Dholera highway and also in roads in parts of Chandigarh, he added.

The project to convert stubble into biofuel is also going ahead full steam, he said. This will also take care of the massive pollution issue, especially the haze that chokes north India every winter.
 
"We have 400 projects in the process for which 60 have already started and they are making bio-CNG from parali," he told NDTV. 

"And in Panipat, there is a project of IndianOil where they are making 1 lakh litres of bio-ethanol from rice stalks or parali, 150 tonnes of bio vitamins and 78,000 tons per year of aviation fuel," he said, underscoring that it is a classic case of "waste to wealth" generation. 

This, he said, would also reduce reduce import bill and pollution and establishes an economic point of view of being "atmanirbhar" (self reliant).

The burning of parali, the minister said, has gone down by 40 per cent and will be down to zero per cent in the next two to three years. 

This, he added, will be because of two "important philosophies" he said -- citing generation of wealth from waste as well as knowledge. "innovation, technology... are being used to convert knowledge into wealth," he added.

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Ancient Galaxy Collisions May Explain Formation of Massive Early Star Systems

The origins of the universe's largest galaxies, long a mystery to astronomers, may have been revealed by a new study published in Nature on December 4. Researchers have suggested that cosmic collisions between galaxies billions of years ago could have created the most massive star systems. These galaxies, unlike the Milky Way's flat spiral shape, exhibit a spherical, bulging structure. According to the findings, these collisions likely took place when the universe was just 1 to 5 billion years old and were marked by intense bursts of star formation.

Key Observations Made Using ALMA

Observations made by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in northern Chile played a crucial role in this research. A team led by Qing-Hua Tan of the Purple Mountain Observatory examined the light distribution from over 100 distant galaxies. These galaxies, identified in archival data from the A3COSMOS and A3GOODSS projects, were studied for their extreme star-forming activity.

Tan stated to Nature that direct evidence has been found indicating that these spheroidal galaxies formed through episodes of intense star formation at their cores. The study demonstrates how gas, drawn toward the centres of colliding galaxies, facilitated the creation of stars at rates significantly exceeding those of the Milky Way.

Insights into Early Universe Evolution

University of Southampton researcher Anna Puglisi, part of the team, explained to Nature that these processes occurred 8 to 12 billion years ago, during a period when the universe experienced heightened activity. The study marks a significant step toward understanding early galactic evolution.

As per reports, the researchers plan to integrate their findings with data from the James Webb Space Telescope and the Euclid satellite to map star populations within these galaxies. According to Puglisi, in a statement, this combined analysis could provide a more comprehensive understanding of how galaxies formed and evolved in the universe's early stages.

 

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"Syria Being Purified": Victory Speech By Rebel Chief Who Ended Assad Rule

Syria's rebel leader hailed a "historic" victory Sunday from a landmark Damascus mosque after his Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group headed a lightning offensive, snatching the capital from government control in less than two weeks.

His speech came as Syria's president Bashar al-Assad fled  -- for Moscow according to Russian news agencies -- triggering celebrations across Syria and beyond at the end of his oppressive rule.

"This victory, my brothers, is historic for the region," HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, now using his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, said in a speech at the Umayyad Mosque.

He also said the rebel takeover was also a victory "for the entire Islamic nation", in the video statement shared by rebels on Telegram.

"Today, Syria is being purified," he said, adding that "this victory is born from the people who have languished in prison, and the mujahideen (fighters) broke their chains".

He said that, under Assad, Syria had become a place for "Iranian ambitions, where sectarianism was rife," in reference to Assad's allies Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah.

As he entered the mosque, crowds could be seen cheering him on and chanting "Allahu akbar (God is greatest)", videos circulating online showed.

HTS is rooted in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, with which it broke ties in 2016. 

Proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Western governments, HTS has sought to soften its image in recent years.

The government fell more than 13 years after Assad's crackdown on anti-government protests ignited Syria's brutal civil war, which has drawn in foreign powers, jihadists and claimed more than half a million lives.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Ousted Syrian President Assad, Family In Moscow, Granted Asylum: Report

Ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and family have landed in Moscow and have been granted asylum, Russia state media reported today, hours after Islamist-led rebels took control of his country.

"Assad and members of his family have arrived in Moscow," a Kremlin source told the TASS and Ria Novosti news agencies. "Russia granted them asylum on humanitarian grounds," he added.

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Explained: Fall Of Syria And Its Impact On Power Balance In The Middle East

In a seismic moment for the Middle East, Islamist rebels in Syria announced President Bashar al-Assad's ouster on Sunday after seizing control of Damascus, forcing him to flee and ending his family's decades of rule after more than 13 years of civil war. The fall of Bashar al-Assad came as a major blow to the influence of Russia and Iran in the heart of the region, key allies who propped up the President during critical periods in the conflict.

The end of the Assad family's five-decade rule in Syria is set to reshape the power balance in the region, with regional and global forces rising to fill the power vacuum left behind by the dramatic regime change. While the Western and Arab states, along with Israel, would try to curtail Iran's influence in Syria, it is unlikely for them to support a radical Islamist regime to replace Assad, according to a report by CNN.

For Iran the fall of Syria could shatter its so-called Axis of Resistance, comprising allied states and militia.

What Led To Asaad's Fall?

Rebels reportedly were encouraged to make an advance for Aleppo last week after Israel debilitated Hezbollah and weakened Iran's footprint in the region. "Due to the Lebanese war and decrease in Hezbollah forces, (Assad's) regime has less support," Hadi al-Bahra, a Syrian opposition leader representing anti-Assad groups told news agency Reuters in an interview. 

He added that Iran-backed militias also have fewer resources, and Russia is providing less air cover to Assad's forces due to its "Ukraine problem". 

What's At Stake?

Iran

For years, Syria was used by Iran to expand its regional influence through proxy groups stationed in the majorly Sunni nation. Tehran, along with its proxy Hezbollah, have helped the Syrian government forces regain lost territory.  The Islamic Republic also sent its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders to advise Assad's military, which proved instrumental in keeping the President in Power.  

However, since the beginning of the Middle Eastern conflict in October last year after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its attack on Israel, Hezbollah pulled its forces out of Syria to focus on its war with Israel. Iran has been reportedly using supply routes in Syria to transfer weapons to its proxies fighting Israel. The fall of Aleppo and potentially other cities bordering Lebanon could disrupt those routes, placing Iran in a difficult position. Losing Syria would be "a huge blow" for Iran, according to experts. 

"The investment Iranians have made in Syria is very significant, it's an important land bridge to Lebanon, but also the alliance the Iranians have with the Assad regime has lasted across the Islamic Republic's history," Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Washington DC-based Quincy Institute told CNN. 

As per the report, Iran would want to use its proxies in the region as leverage in potential talks with incoming US President Donald Trump's administration.

"If Iran loses too much of their position in the region, will they be too weak to negotiate? But if they fight back to try and retain as much of that position as possible, do they risk escalating the war to the point where diplomacy may no longer be possible?" Mr Parsi said. 

Lebanon

As per experts, the events in Syria are bound to impact Lebanon, where a truce deal between Tehran's proxy Hezbollah and Israel is hanging by a thread. Hezbollah was a crucial player in keeping the Asaad regime afloat, but it has been weakened by the war with Israel. 

In case the Syrian insurgents manage to reach the Lebanese border, Hezbollah's key logistics and supply route from Iran-- which passes through Syria and Iraq-- could be cut off, confining Tehran's proxy in Lebanon. 

"One of the causes of what is happening today in Syria is the control of the Syrian-Lebanese borders to prevent the passage of strategic weapons into Lebanon," Euronews quoted Antoine Habchi, Lebanese MP from the Bekka Valley, as saying. 

"Turkey has tried to make sure that the Lebanese borders are not a route for the transfer of strategic weapons through Syria. Even al-Assad doesn't control passage through his own territory here, which is controlled by other factions and international forces, and notably Iran," Mr Habchi added. 

Turkey

Turkey had been seeking to increase its leverage with President Assad to boost its standing in the region and allow it to keep closer control of Kurdish separatists, located along the Turkish-Syria border, to create a buffer zone. Ankara had represented the rebels in negotiations with Russia in the past decade, which eventually led to a ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and Opposition forces in 2020.

Despite its support for opposition forces, Turkey has not ruled out a rapprochement with Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long opposed Kurdish nationalism. He has time and again said that his ultimate goal is to eliminate the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a Kurdish far-left militant and political group based in Turkey and Iraq that has fought the Turkish state for more than three decades.

Another goal for Ankara is to reportedly maintain control over oil-rich Syrian sanctuaries in semi-autonomous northern areas of the country. 

Israel

The imbalance in power in Syria has also caught Israel in a difficult position. While President Assad viewed Israel as an enemy, he did not pose a direct threat to Tel Aviv and opted to not respond to the regular Israeli strikes in Syria over the past year. 

However, Asaad's regime allowed its territory to be used by Iran to supply weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon. But the fall of Mr Asaad did not come as a relief to Israel as the group leading the rebellion in Syria is Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) whose leader Abu Muhammad Al Jolani is a former al Qaeda fighter with an Islamist ideology that opposes Israel.

"Israel is in between Iran, its proxies and Syria's Islamic rebels," Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official, told CNN. 

"None of the choices are good as far as Israel is concerned but for the time being Iran and its proxies are weakened, which is good," he said

The newly revived conflict has allowed Tel Aviv to resume strikes on targets in Syrian territory. Suspected Israeli airstrikes hit Mazzeh district of Damascus on Sunday, Reuters reported. 

As per the report, jets believed to be Israeli also bombed the Khalkhala air base in southern Syria which was evacuated by the Syrian army overnight. The regional security sources also told the agency that at least six strikes hit the main air base in the north of the city of Suweida which has a large stockpile of rockets and missiles left by Syrian troops.

The attack appeared aimed at preventing these weapons from falling into the hands of radical groups, one source told Reuters.

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Egged On By 'YouTube Tantriks', 3 Men Behead Acquaintance To Get His Skull

In a bizarre and grisly tale of murder, a man was killed and his skull was used for alleged occult practices by four men in the hope of getting crores of rupees on the instructions of two "tantriks", who learnt "black magic from YouTube".

The horror started to unfold when the Ghaziabad Police found a headless body of a man in the Tila Mod area of the city on June 22. He was later identified as Raju Kumar from Motihari in Bihar who used to do odd jobs in the city. After weeks of investigation, the police arrested two men - Dhananjay and Vikas - on August 15. Their interrogation led them to their roommate and an acquaintance of the victim - Vikas alias Parmatma - who allegedly planned the murder.

During interrogation, the accused told police that an aide of Parmatma, Narendra, came in contact with Pawan and Pankaj, who claimed to be 'tantriks'. They allegedly told him that he could get around "Rs 50 crore" if he could arrange and worship a human skull, police said. Narendra spoke to Parmatma who, along with Dhananjay and Vikas, called Kumar to their house and killed him by slitting his throat, the investigation revealed.

They then beheaded him and gave the skull to Narendra who handed it over to Pawan and Pankaj, and dumped the body in the Tila Mod area, said Nimish Patil, deputy commissioner of police, Ghaziabad. Parmatma, Narendra and the two 'tantriks' were arrested today.

Pawan and Pankaj told police that they "watched YouTube videos to learn black magic".

"I saw in the videos that black magic can get one a lot of money," Pawan told reporters.

The accused also revealed that they disposed of the skull in a drain near the Majlis Park metro station in Delhi as they got scared after learning that the police were investigating the case.

- With Inputs from Vipin Tomar.

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