Tahawwur Rana, the Pakistan-origin Canadian businessman and the accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, is likely to be extradited to India soon. A panel of judges of the US Court of Appeals has ordered his extradition to India, reported The Economic Times. Diplomatic talks are reportedly underway to facilitate Rana’s extradition.
Tahawwur Rana has been described as a flight risk by US judge Jacqueline Chooljian. Photo courtesy: x.com/UpendrraRai
In July last year, a US court rejected the USD 1.5 million bail application of the Pakistani-origin Canadian while describing him a flight risk.
Rana, a childhood friend of David Coleman Headley, was re-arrested on June 10 last year in Los Angeles on an extradition request by India for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. He is a declared fugitive in India.
US District Court Judge in Los Angeles, Jacqueline Chooljian, in her 24-page order dated July 21, denied bail to Rana arguing that he is a flight risk.
In August last year, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that Rana was “extraditable to India” citing the extradition treaty between two countries.
Rana along with Headley planned the Mumbai terror attack. The Pakistan-origin businessman is accused of assisting terrorists with reconnaissance efforts. The Mumbai Police named Rana in its comprehensive 405-page chargesheet as an operative for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) having links with terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Notably, Rana was convicted in Chicago in 2011 of providing material support to LeT, which planned the Mumbai terror attack and for supporting a never-carried-out plot to attack a Danish newspaper that printed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed in 2005.
A Ferrari California Roadster, known worldwide for its speed and luxury, found itself stuck in the sands of Revdanda beach in Raigad, Maharashtra, due to the overenthusiasm of its driver.
The Ferrari being pulled out by a bullock cart. Photo courtesy: Free Press Journal
Ironically, a bullock cart came to its rescue, pulling the luxury car out of the sand with ease. While this may sound unbelievable, the incident actually occurred on the scenic Revdanda beach, and a video of the event has since gone viral on social media.
What exactly happened In Revdanda?
The car got stuck when two tourists from Mumbai drove their Ferrari to Revdanda Beach during a morning outing. As they ventured onto the sands, the car quickly got stuck. Despite numerous attempts and a gathering crowd trying to push the car, they couldn’t free the vehicle.
मुंबईतून दोन पर्यटक फेरारी कंपनीची कार घेऊन अलिबागला सहलीसाठी आले होते. रेवदांडा समुद्र किनाऱ्यावर ही गाडी वाळूत रुतली. यावेळी समुद्र किनाऱ्यावर एकजण बैलगाडी हाकत जात होता. फेरारी गाडीला दोर लावून बैलगाडीला बांधण्यात आले. बैलांनी फेरारीला ओढून वाळूतून अलगद बाहेर काढले. pic.twitter.com/Xugy6r6p4R
Just then, a local bullock cart driver happened to pass by. The Ferrari’s owners, desperate for help, approached the cart driver for assistance. Being familiar with the local terrain, he agreed without hesitation. A rope was tied to the Ferrari and fastened to the bullock cart. With the strength of the bulls, the luxury car was effortlessly pulled out of the sand, much to the amazement of the onlookers.
Beaches from Alibaug in Raigad to Malvan in Sindhudurg are bustling with visitors during this season. Tourists indulge in camel and horse rides, ATV safaris, bullock cart rides and water sports. However, some adventurous travellers, in their excitement, drive their vehicles directly onto the beaches. Often, these vehicles get stuck in the sand or are caught in the tides.
Yemen President sanctions Indian-origin nurse Nimisha Priya’s death sentence for murder. Photo Courtesy: Shivan Chanana X page
Yemen’s President Rashad al-Alimi has approved the death sentence of Indian-origin nurse Nimisha Priya, who was convicted of murdering a Yemeni national.
According to reports, the Indian national might be executed within a month. The Kerala-born nurse has been languishing in a Yemeni jail since 2017.
Nimisha Priya, who was working in Yemen for several years, reportedly killed Talal Abdo Mahdi when she tried to retrieve her passport that was seized by him.
She injected him with a sedative, intending to incapacitate him temporarily and take back the passport, but the dose proved fatal, causing his death from an overdose, Hindustan Times reported.
Indian government extends all possible help to Nimisha Priya
The Ministry of External Affairs has said it is extending all possible help to Nimisha Priya.
In a statement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “We are aware of the sentencing of Nimisha Priya in Yemen. We understand that the family of Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter,” the Indian official said.
A Yemeni court sentenced her to death in 2018. She appealed to the Yemeni Supreme Court but it was rejected in 2023. The Indian-origin nurse’s family was left shocked after the president’s decision.
Nimisha Priya’s mother, Prema Kumari, is trying to save her daughter for several years. She even travelled to Yemen in her bid to overturn her daughter’s death penalty.
“We worked tirelessly to save Nimisha Priya’s life, but our efforts ended in vain. We managed to collect 40,000 dollars (around INR 3,420,000), and were prepared to raise even more to save her. Along with the action council, the chief minister, the leader of opposition, former Union minister and various leaders across political lines joined hands in this effort,” Nenmara MLA K Babu told The New Indian Express.
Nimisha Priya reportedly left for Yemen in 2008. After working in a few hospitals, she decided to open her own clinic in 2017.
She had a fallout with her local partner Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2017. As per her family, she opposed his alleged attempts to embezzle funds.
Smita Patil and Girish Karnad in Manthan, the Shyam Benegal film based on the “white revolution” in India. Photo courtesy: filmheritagefoundation.co.in
Renowned Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who died on 23 December 2024 aged 90, is set to return to television screens across the country on 1 January 2025 — state-run broadcaster Doordarshan is airing a restored version of his 1976 class Manthan at 8pm on New Year’s Day.
Doordarshan today announced that it would ring in the New Year by screening the 4K restored version of Shyam Benegal’s Manthan as homage to the veteran filmmaker.
The film’s title, which translates to “The Churning”, is taken from the traditional Indian process of churning milk to separate the cream. The plot is based on a watershed moment: the “white revolution” brought about in the Indian dairy sector by the milk co-operative movement pioneered by Verghese Kurien.
Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), which restored the 1976 classic film for its premiere in the Cannes Classic section at the Cannes Film Festival earlier in 2024, shared the update on its official X page.
According to FHF, Manthan will be broadcast on Doordarshan on Wednesday at 8pm.
“To pay tribute to the late Shyam Benegal, Doordarshan will begin the new year with a screening of Manthan (1976) restored by FHF with support from the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (Amul) on Jan 1, 2025, at 8.m. on Doordarshan,” said the Foundation.
Shyam Benegal, the pioneer of the parallel cinema movement in India in the 1970s and 1980s, died due to chronic kidney disease.
India’s first “crowdfunded” film, backed by 500,000 farmers
The plot of Manthan was inspired by the ground-breaking milk co-operative movement that transformed India into one of the largest milk producers in the world.
Manthan was also perhaps India’s first “crowdfunded” film, long before the term became popular. The Hindi film was financed by 5 lakh (half a million) farmers from Gujarat 48 years ago, each of whom contributed INR 2 (USD 0.02 at current exchange rates) each. The opening credits of the movie read: “500,000 Farmers of Gujarat present.”
Naseeruddin Shah in Manthan. Photo courtesy: filmheritagefoundation.co.in
The plot of Manthan narrates the story of how a young veterinary doctor (played by Girish Karnad) fights against oppressive forces to establish a milk co-operative that empowers rural farmers. The film co-stars Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, and Amrish Puri.
India’s Test cricket captain and star batter Rohit Sharma has decided to bid adieu to the longest format in the game, according to a Times of India report.
Rohit Sharma with T20 World Cup title. Photo Courtesy: BCCI X page
Rohit is said to play his last game in Test cricket in Sydney, which will coincide with the last game of the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy series. India is trailing 1-2, and could lose the trophy if they fail to equalise in the final game.
The scenario, however, was very different when the series started. India, on the back of strong performances from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, former skipper Virat Kohli and stand in captain Jasprit Bumrah, trounced Australia to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Rohit, who became a father for the second time, missed the match as he was in paternity leave.
Ever since the captain came back, the team looked a bit out of order, even with consistent performances from several players. For example, Bumrah, Rohit’s deputy, has picked up 30 wickets in 4 matches, including three five-wicket hauls. Rohit, on the other hand has scored 31 runs in three games.
To make matters worse, the Indian skipper promoted himself at the top of the order, which forced the in-form KL Rahul to play one slot lower at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the fourth Test, which Indian lost.
Rohit’s move, which has been criticised as selfish, backfired massively, as both neither the Indian skipper and Rahul failed to perform.
Now, there’s a debate going on about his place in the playing XI for the final Test.
The TOI report says, “Rohit would undoubtedly like to convince selectors to allow him to stay for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, should India pull off a miracle and make it there. However, if they don’t, Sydney is destined to be Rohit’s last dance.”
While Rohit has been India’s batting mainstay in the shorter formats, even leading the country to a famous win in the ICC T20 World Cup earlier this year, his numbers have been underwhelming in white clothes.
His Test average in 2024 was in the mid 20s. In the last 14 Tests, Rohit has scored only two centuries and an equal number of half-centuries.
With newer players waiting in the wings and youngsters like Jaiswal and Reddy showing promise, the older players will have to make way for the newer ones, and Rohit might just be the start.
Ahead of the peak New Year 2025 celebrations, a man broke into a liquor store to rob some alcohol bottles in southern India’s Telangana. During the robbery attempt, the man grabbed some cash and liquor bottles, but he didn’t leave sooner.
Thief gets drunk during robbery, lies on floor unconscious. Photo courtesy: X/ KP Aashish
Tempted to consume some liquor on the spot, he decided to go on a binge drinking session, which cost him heavily. He was spotted drunk and passed out for nearly 24 hours.
The incident took place in the Medak region of the state. On Sunday night, an unidentified man broke into ‘Kanakadurga Wines’ by uprooting some roof tiles and disabling the shop’s CCTV camera. It was reported that he was lying unconscious even on Monday night.
Reporting the incident online, a journalist named KP Aashish wrote, “The thief broke into a liquor shop, and packed cash and bottles like a pro… but couldn’t resist the temptation. One sip led to another, and soon, the thief was so drunk he passed out cold on the shop floor and was only caught by the shop owner the next morning snoring away next to his treasures.”
Police register case against thief
Visuals from the incident have now surfaced online after the cops arrived at the spot on Monday morning. A viral photo showed the thief lying on the floor of the liquor store with cash and alcohol bottles littered around him.
According to local media reports, a case has been registered against the thief. Sub-inspector Ahmed Moinuddin stated that the thief was taken into custody in an unconscious state. He was rushed to a nearby government hospital in an ambulance, and the police team is waiting for him to regain consciousness to carry out further investigation.
Data shows the world population estimated to be 8.09 billion on January 1, 2025. Photo courtesy: Unsplash
The global human population is projected to touch 8.09 billion on January 1, 2025, as per data released by the US Census Bureau.
The bureau said the world population increased by 71 million people in 2024.
During January 2025, 4.2 births and 2.0 deaths are expected worldwide every second, the bureau said on its website.
In 2024, India remained the most populated nation in the world with an estimated population of 1.41 billion.
World population clocks
The Census Bureau’s Population Clock displays simulated real-time growth of the US and world populations.
The US Population Clock shows the population by age (0 to 100+) and sex, as well as the highest-density states, counties and cities, read the bureau’s website
In January 2025, the United States is expected to experience one birth every 9.0 seconds and one death every 9.4 seconds.
Net international migration is expected to add one person to the US population every 23.2 seconds.
The combination of births, deaths and net international migration increases the US population by one person every 21.2 seconds.
The World Population Clock shows the most populous countries and the top US export and import partners.
As of July 2024, the top 10 most populous countries were India (1,409,128,296); China (1,407,929,929); the United States (336,673,595); Indonesia (281,562,465); Pakistan (252,363,571); Nigeria (236,747,130); Brazil (220,051,512); Bangladesh (168,697,184); Russia (140,820,810); and Mexico (130,739,927).
ISRO launches SpaDeX mission. Photo Courtesy: ISRO X page videograb
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday, December 30, launched the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, a key milestone in the country’s space programme.
With the two satellites weighing 220 kilograms each, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. With the successful launch, India joined an elite list featuring the US, Russia, and China, who have mastered such advancements so far.
SpaDEX marks a milestone, showcasing India’s expertise in spacecraft docking technology. SpaDEX will deploy two identical satellites, SDX01 and SDX02. They will orbit 470 km above Earth.
“Key objectives include Performing precision rendezvous and docking manoeuvres, Validating power transfer between docked spacecraft and Operating payloads post-undocking, with a two-year lifespan,” ISRO said in a statement. “This mission is essential for future endeavours, including satellite servicing and building India’s space station, Bharatiya Antriksh Station.”
SpaDEX will demonstrate docking and undocking capabilities between satellites. This includes transferring power and operating scientific payloads.
The mission will simulate a sequence of manoeuvres, starting with a far rendezvous phase at 20 kms and ending with docking at 3 metres.
This capability is vital for India’s lunar and interplanetary missions. Docking technology enables multi-launch missions and supports future human spaceflight.
Batman II will feature Robert Pattinson playing the titular role. Photo Courtesy: Wallpaper Cave
DC Studios co-chairman and co-CEO James Gunn has revealed that they decided to postpone the much-awaited The Batman Part II since the script of the movie has not been completed.
In his Thread post, Gunn wrote: “Yes, it is true. The only reason for the delay is there isn’t a full script (those of you who follow me here probably know that already). Matt is committed to making the best film he possibly can, and no one can accurately guess exactly how long a script will take to write.”
The superhero action movie has now been pushed to 2027, a decision that has left several fans disappointed.
Gunn said: “Once there is a finished script, there is around two years for pre-production, shooting and post-production on big films. TheBatman2.”
If media reports are to be believed, the movie is now scheduled to be released on Oct 1, 2027.
Production isn’t scheduled to get started until late summer and with a VFX heavy sequel such as this one, a fall 2026 theatrical release is within reach, reported Deadline.
The sequel will once again feature Robert Pattinson in the titular role.
The Batman movie, featuring Pattinson in the lead role, playing the superhero for the first time in his career, released in 2022.
Directed by Matt Reeves from a screenplay he wrote with Peter Craig, it was a reboot of the Batman film franchise produced by DC Films.
US President-elect Donald Trump sided with fellow billionaire and colleague Elon Musk, as he entered the fray on Saturday in a heated debate over H1-B Visa.
Some of Trump’s earliest supporters believe he is being influenced by wealthy tech donors like Musk. (Image Courtesy: John Shahidi X page)
Trump, who is set to assume the presidency on January 20, lent his support for the specialised visa program designed to facilitate the entry of highly skilled workers into the United States, AFP reported.
“I’ve always liked the (H1-B) visas, I have always been in favour of the visas, that’s why we have them at Trump-owned facilities,” the president-elect told the New York Post in his first public comments on the matter since it flared up this week.
A heated dispute has erupted between Silicon Valley figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s traditional anti-immigration supporters over the H1-B visa program, with Musk even declaring he would “go to war” over the issue.
Trump’s hardline stance on immigration — pivotal to his election victory over President Joe Biden — includes promises to deport all undocumented immigrants and restrict legal immigration.
However, Tesla CEO Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy — who are set to co-chair a government cost-cutting panel under Trump, named DOGE — argue that the United States lacks sufficient highly skilled graduates and passionately advocate for the H1-B programme.
Musk, who immigrated from South Africa on an H1-B visa, stated on his platform X that attracting elite engineering talent from abroad is “essential for America to keep winning.”
Adding fuel to the controversy, Ramaswamy, the son of Indian immigrants, criticised what he termed an “American culture” that celebrates mediocrity, warning that the United States risks being overtaken by China.
This statement provoked outrage among Trump’s long-time conservative backers, some of whom expressed frustration with Musk’s late but substantial support for Trump, including a USD 250 million contribution to his campaign this year.
“Looking forward to the inevitable divorce between President Trump and Big Tech,” said Laura Loomer, a far-right MAGA figure known for her conspiracy theories, who often flew with Trump on his campaign plane.
“We have to protect President Trump from the technocrats.”
She and others argued that Trump should prioritise American workers and further tighten immigration policies.
‘MAGA Civil War’ erupts over H1-B debate
Elon Musk, who recently angered some Republicans by leading an online campaign that derailed a bipartisan budget deal, intensified the controversy by warning of a “MAGA civil war”. Posting on X, the social media platform he owns, Musk bluntly responded to critics, declaring, “I will go to war on this issue”.
His comments provoked a sharp backlash from Trump strategist Steve Bannon, who criticised the H1-B visa program on Gettr, describing it as a system that imports “indentured servants” who work for less than American citizens. In a pointed attack, Bannon referred to Musk as a “toddler”, despite the Tesla CEO’s close ties to Trump, according to the AFP report.
Moving forward as one team
Trump’s AI and Crypto Czar nominee, David Sacks, has urged the incoming president’s team to move forward. Sacks, like Musk, advocated for reforms prioritising exceptional talent while stopping the misuse of H1-B visas.
Replying to an X user, who tweeted: “America needs to be a destination for the world’s most elite talent. But the H-1B program isn’t the way to do that.” Musk said, “Easily fixed by raising the minimum salary significantly and adding a yearly cost for maintaining the H1B, making it materially more expensive to hire from overseas than domestically. I’ve been very clear that the program is broken and needs major reform.”
Later, Sacks replied to Musk’s reply to the user’s tweet.
“Elon has said that H1B should be overhauled, that it should focus on exceptional talent in high-value areas, and that the scams and low-pay jobs should end. This is not to say there aren’t still differences but less than it first appeared. Time to move forward as one team,” he said.
Concerns over Trump’s shift toward tech donors
Some of Trump’s earliest supporters worry that wealthy tech donors like Musk are influencing him, splitting him from his core campaign promises.
Whether Trump’s latest comments will ease the growing internal rift within the Republican Party remains uncertain. The debate highlights the complexities of immigration reform and the challenges it could pose once Trump assumes office in January.
