India launches its first space docking mission
India launched its first space docking mission on Monday, on a domestically made rocket, in an attempt to become the fourth country to achieve the advanced technological feat.
The mission, called Space Docking Experiment, or SpaDeX, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh at 12.30am on Tuesday (Singapore time) aboard the Indian Space Research Organisation’s “workhorse” PSLV rocket.
After about 15 minutes, the mission director called the launch successful when the spacecraft reached an altitude of around 470km.
The mission is seen as pivotal for future space endeavours, including satellite servicing and the operation of the country’s planned space station.
Manipur chief minister apologises for ethnic unrest
The chief minister of Manipur apologised on Tuesday for months of ethnic unrest that has killed at least 250 people and prompted criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s federal government.
“This entire year has been very unfortunate,” Mr N. Biren Singh said in the state’s capital Imphal.
“I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what’s happening... many people lost their loved ones. Many people left their homes. I feel regret, I apologise.”
India’s first glass bridge opens in Kanyakumari
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday inaugurated a glass bridge connecting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the 40-metre Thiruvalluvar statue in Kanyakumari district.
The structure, claimed to be the first such one in India, offers visitors a breathtaking view of the sea. It is 77m long, 10m wide and 40m high.
Rajat Verma appointed DBS Bank India CEO
Singapore’s DBS Group has appointed Rajat Verma as chief executive officer of DBS Bank India, it said on Monday, to succeed Surojit Shome, who retires at the end of February.
In a statement, DBS said Mr Verma, current head of institutional banking group at DBS Bank India, will take up his new role on March 1, in line with Reserve Bank of India’s approval.
Before joining DBS, Mr Verma spent more than 26 years at HSBC, where he was head of commercial banking in India.
Diljit faces legal action for promoting drinking
Singer Diljit Dosanjh’s New Year’s Eve concert in Ludhiana, Punjab, was marred by controversy after Mr Punditrao Dharenavar, an assistant professor from Chandigarh, made a legal complaint against him for singing songs that promoted drinking.
The notice, which was addressed to the local authorities in Ludhiana, said that Diljit had been specifically told not to sing songs that promoted alcohol – such as Patiala Pegg, 5 Tara Theke and Case. But he went ahead and performed them with slight alterations to the lyrics.
Maharashtra minister’s aide surrenders in murder case
Maharashtra Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Dhananjay Munde’s aide Walmik Karad, wanted in an extortion case linked to the murder of a village head in Beed district, surrendered before the police in Pune on Tuesday.
Before turning himself in, Mr Karad posted a video on social media, claiming that he was being linked to the murder for political reasons.
On Dec 9, Mr Santosh Deshmukh, the head of Massajog village, was abducted and brutally killed, allegedly for opposing an extortion bid by some persons who had demanded money from a windmill company.
Four persons were arrested in the murder case, while Mr Karad was named as an accused in the extortion case.
Stalker who pushed student to death given death sentence
A Chennai court on Monday imposed the death penalty on a stalker who pushed 20-year-old student M. Sathya in front of a moving train in October 2022, killing her instantly.
Judge J. Sridevi directed the state to pay Rs10 lakh ($16,000) to Sathya’s sisters, aged 19 and four, now living with their uncle. Their father died by suicide a day after Sathya’s death, and their mother, a sub-inspector, died of cancer three months later.
Sathya was reportedly stalked by D. Sathish, now 33, a school dropout. After her engagement in September 2022, his harassment escalated. On Oct 13, 2022, he pushed her in front of a train at St Thomas Mount railway station.
50 cars punctured by iron board on highway
Panic ensued along the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Highway on Sunday after over 50 vehicles were punctured by an iron board that had fallen on the road.
The incident occurred around 10pm between the Malegaon and Vanoja toll plaza in Washim district, affecting four-wheelers and cargo trucks. This resulted in a long traffic jam.
There is an investigation as to whether the board fell accidentally or was thrown intentionally.
Delhi saw 209 ‘good to moderate’ air quality days in 2024
Delhi recorded 209 “good to moderate” air quality days in 2024, the highest since 2018, barring 2020 which witnessed a sharp dip in pollution due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Central pollution watchdog Commission for Air Quality Management’s data showed the city had 157 “poor to severe” days last year, the lowest since 2018 when the number stood at 206, excluding 2020 which had 139 days.
February, December and August recorded the best average Air Quality Index in six years.
Delhi constable killed after he rebukes two men
A 30-year-old constable was allegedly killed by two men on Sunday, after he rebuked them for drinking on a road in outer Delhi.
According to the 400-page charge sheet, constable Sandeep Malik spotted Dharmender, 39, and Rajnish, 25, drinking in a car in the Nangloi area.
When he scolded them, an argument broke out, and the pair rammed their car into his bike, killing him.
