Central News Hub

Month: December 2024

  • Maha Kumbh: Grand Procession In Prayagraj Today

    Maha Kumbh: Grand Procession In Prayagraj Today

    The Shri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara will take out its grand procession on Saturday as part of the Maha Kumbh festivities in Prayagraj.

    The procession will begin at 11 A.M., with a large crowd accompanying the sadhus and seers as they make their way to the Maha Kumbh cantonment. The sadhus and seers will proceed to Triveni Marg Akhara’s camp from the Shri Maujgiri Ashram.

    Prominent figures such as Mahants, Mahamandaleshwars, Jagadgurus, and Naga sadhus will lead the procession, which promises to be a spectacular display.

    In royal style, they will ride chariots, carriages, and horses, with musical bands from Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, and Uttarakhand adding grandeur to the event.

    The Mahamandaleshwar of the Akhara will ride in a silver howdah, while the Naga sadhus will take the lead on horseback.

    Mahant Hari Giri, International Patron of Juna Akhara, and President Mahant Premgiri Maharaj will oversee the arrangements.

    The preparations come after the sadhus and sages of the Shri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara made a grand entry into Sangam city last month, marking the start of their participation in the Maha Kumbh.

    Under the leadership of Mahant Hari Giri, the procession had commenced from Ramapur in Andawa and concluded at the Shri Maujgiri Panch Dashnam.

    Additionally, the entry procession featured well-equipped chariots, carts, and horses, with sants riding in royal splendour to the accompaniment of drums and musical instruments. Crowds lined the streets to welcome them and the sants from different parts of the world who were also present.

    The Maha Kumbh festival, held on the banks of the Sangam in Prayagraj, will officially commence with the first main bathing day on Makar Sankranti on January 13.

    This religious gathering is expected to draw millions of devotees and pilgrims, highlighting the spiritual significance and cultural heritage of the event.

    Modi reviews preparations

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday boarded a cruise and took a ride to review the preparations of the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.

    As the Prime Minister was concluding his Prayagraj visit, he took to his X handle to express his happiness.

    “Today my heart is happy to visit the holy Prayag, the pilgrimage place whose glory has been sung by God himself. I have prayed to Maa Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati and Tirtharaj for the fulfillment of the wishes of all the countrymen on this occasion,” PM Modi posted on X.

    He also offered prayers and performed puja and darshan at the famous Hanuman temple in Prayagraj.

    During his visit to the city, PM Modi inaugurated and launched multiple development projects.

    PM Modi performed pooja and darshan at Triveni Sangam and later, performed Pooja at Akshay Vata Vriksh followed by darshan and pooja at Hanuman Mandir and Saraswati Koop.

    The Prime Minister also inaugurated various projects for Mahakumbh 2025.

    It includes various rail and road projects like 10 new Road Over Bridges (RoBs) or flyovers, permanent Ghats and riverfront roads, among others, to boost infrastructure and provide seamless connectivity in Prayagraj.

    In line with his commitment towards Swachh and Nirmal Ganga, the Prime Minister inaugurated projects of interception, tapping, diversion and treatment of minor drains leading to river Ganga which will ensure zero discharge of untreated water into the river.

    He also inaugurated various infrastructure projects related to drinking water and power.

    The Prime Minister inaugurated major temple corridors which will include the Bharadwaj Ashram Corridor, Shringverpur Dham Corridor, Akshayvat Corridor, and Hanuman Mandir Corridor among others.

    These projects will ensure ease of access to devotees and also boost spiritual tourism.

    The Prime Minister launched the Kumbh Sah’AI’yak chatbot that will provide details to give guidance and updates on the events to devotees on Mahakumbh Mela 2025.

    The Maha Kumbh held once every 12 years, is scheduled to begin on January 13 and conclude on February 26, 2025, in Prayagraj.

    The main bathing festival, known as the “Shahi Snan” (royal baths), will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami).

  • Harry Kane To Continue As England’s Captain

    Harry Kane To Continue As England’s Captain

    The Bayern Munich striker, who has been a cornerstone of England’s recent successes, has retained England’s manager Tuchel’s trust.

    Thomas Tuchel, England’s manager confirmed that Harry Kane would continue as country’s captain, putting to rest any speculation about leadership changes under his reign. The Bayern Munich striker, who has been a cornerstone of England’s recent successes, has retained Tuchel’s trust.

    The German tactician, who was unveiled as Gareth Southgate’s successor in October, addressed the media on Friday following the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying draw. England will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra in Group K, with their campaign starting in March.

    There is at the moment no need to think about change,” Tuchel told the reporters. “Harry was always a top captain for England. So why do you even think about it at the moment?”

    “You cross the river when you cross the river. First, come January, we will be in touch with everyone and get the feeling for St George’s Park and also the players. And until March, there’s still a lot of football to be played, and then we will try to find the best group for the games that await.”

    Tuchel, however, hinted at a holistic approach, suggesting that while Kane’s captaincy remains secure, all players will be given a clean slate when he assumes full responsibility. He emphasized the importance of independent decision-making, separate from Southgate’s era.

    One player Tuchel is keen to reach out to is Arsenal defender Ben White, who last played for England during the 2022 FIFA World Cup but left the squad midway for personal reasons. White’s future with the national team has been clouded by rumors of a fallout with Southgate’s staff, which were later denied.

    Tuchel appeared open to reintegrating the 26-year-old into the fold. “I will reach out to him,” Tuchel said. “It should be a clean start and a clear narrative. From January, I’ll be watching games and will try to speak to everyone, including Ben.”

    With the qualifiers just 15 months before the 2026 World Cup in North America, Tuchel’s England project begins in earnest. The fixtures’ condensed schedule, starting in March, gives the new manager limited time to assess his squad.

    Tuchel intends to begin his role by attending Premier League games in January, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the player pool. “It starts from January. I will be in the stadiums from January. I will also not distract the players, and they should just know, ‘Okay, the boss is there from January’,” Tuchel added.

    “Then I will, of course, try to speak to them but also be respectful to the schedule that they have, because the schedule is busy in January, especially in the Premier League.”

    Acknowledging the hectic domestic schedule, particularly in January, Tuchel pledged to respect the demands on players while building relationships.

    Tuchel spoke enthusiastically about starting his England journey in conjunction with the World Cup qualifiers. He believes this framework provides a clear focus for the squad and ensures all energies are directed toward building a cohesive team for the long-term goal of global success.

    “I like the framework, the narrative. I like it to start when the World Cup qualification starts, to have it as you kick off and go from there,” Tuchel explained. “It gives clarity in the selection process and in how we speak to each other and where we want to go.”

    England’s draw offers a relatively straightforward path to qualification. Serbia, the group’s toughest opponent, will pose a challenge, but matches against Albania, Latvia, and Andorra provide an opportunity for England to fine-tune their systems. The five-team group also offers fewer fixtures, allowing Tuchel to focus on immediate and long-term improvements.

  • India & Italy Building Vision For Future, Says Italian Envoy

    India & Italy Building Vision For Future, Says Italian Envoy

    Italian Ambassador to India Antonio Bartoli hoped that the work on the “game-changer” IMEEC project would continue despite the current geopolitical crisis in the eastern Mediterranean region.

    India and Italy continue to work towards enhancing collaboration in maritime and land infrastructure in the framework of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) besides also concluding an agreement on cooperation in the maritime and port sector.

    Speaking exclusively to IANS, Italian Ambassador to India Antonio Bartoli hoped that the work on the “game-changer” IMEEC project would continue despite the current geopolitical crisis in the eastern Mediterranean region.

    “It’s a privilege to represent a vision for the future, that at the same time is deeply rooted in the past. Rome and India already traded millennia, centuries ago. Black pepper was one thing that the King of Visigoths asked Rome for as a ransom, because it was a precious and valuable good that we imported from India. So, this route has always been there. We are revitalising that perspective. This will go across the Middle East, which is a tormented area now as we have seen what is happening in Syria,” said Bartoli.

    Terming the corridor as a “vision for the future”, the seasoned diplomat believes that the perspective of common and shared prosperity can be a factor of stabilisation and peace, also for the region embroiled in conflict currently.

    “Italy is, has been, and will be the natural terminal of this corridor, especially with some ports like Trieste, which represent the gateway to the whole Europe, especially Central and Eastern Europe. We are also working on a ports collaboration agreement with India that could also be game-changers in future,” he added.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni at the annual Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) Leadership Pavilion, in Dubai. (ANI Photo)

    It was on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi in September 2023 that the leaders of India, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UAE and US announced an MOU committing to work together to develop a new India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) that will comprise of two separate corridors, the east corridor connecting India to the Gulf and northern corridor connecting Gulf to Europe.

    “The corridor will provide reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship to rail transit networks to supplement existing maritime routes. It intends to increase efficiency, reduce costs, secure regional supply chains, increase trade accessibility, enhance economic cooperation, generate jobs and lower greenhouse gas emission, resulting in a transformative integration of Asia, Europe and the Middle East (West Asia),” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had stated then.

    Involving multiple stakeholders, once completed, the IMEC corridor will eventually connect Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

    “We are two peninsulas in the respective dimensions – you are a giant, but we are two peninsulas projecting in the respective sea, and so we are export countries, we are interested in connectivity, we are interested in stability, and so the Indo-Pacific is also a basin where you are and Mediterranean is the basin that we are. But, the two basins are connected in the area that is Indo-Mediterranean and this area represents 70 per cent of the trade of goods and services, 60 per cent of foreign direct investments, and so it’s not by chance that we are engaged together,” states the Italian Ambassador.

    “And, when I say IMEC, it is not only about railways and ships but also the internet because there is also a digital corridor. Our Telecom Sparkle, an Italian company, is completing the pause of a cable that will unite Mumbai, connect Mumbai to Geneva in Italy, and then Mumbai to Singapore. So, it’s a high-speed data highway, that will be another factor of connectivity. The reasons, as you see, are ancient, rooted in the past, and projected into the future,” he adds.

    ALSO READ: India’s Balanced Middle East Stance 

  • Martial Law: South Korea’s Chief Of Capital Defence Command Arrested

    Martial Law: South Korea’s Chief Of Capital Defence Command Arrested

    Lt. Gen. Lee Jin-woo, who had previously been placed under a travel ban, is accused of ordering the deployment of martial law troops to the National Assembly building after Yoon declared martial law on December 3, reports Asian Lite News

    Prosecutors on Friday arrested Lt. Gen. Lee Jin-woo, the chief of South Korea’s Capital Defence Command, as part of their ongoing investigation into his alleged involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law.

    “The commander was arrested this evening under a warrant,” the prosecution said.

    Lee, who had previously been placed under a travel ban, is accused of ordering the deployment of martial law troops to the National Assembly building after Yoon declared martial law on December 3, reports Yonhap news agency.

    Several military commanders are currently under investigation in connection with the military’s role in enforcing martial law, which was soon lifted by the parliament.

    Prosecutors plan to seek a separate warrant to formally detain Lee within 48 hours.

    Prosecutors also sought an arrest warrant for Defence Counterintelligence Command chief Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung over his role in the imposition of martial law.

    Yeo is also suspected of sending troops to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission at the orders of then-Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun.

    The arrest warrant was sought on charges of insurrection and abuse of power.

    Prosecutors revealed that Yeo had allegedly ordered military officials to prioritise the arrest of three prominent politicians — the leaders of both the ruling and main opposition parties, as well as National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, according to legal sources.

    Additionally, several other figures, including politicians, judges and a progressive reporter, were reportedly listed as targets.

    Later on Friday, Yeo announced that he would waive a court hearing to review the arrest warrant.

    “Participating in the hearing to determine the necessity of my arrest would not be appropriate in light of my duties to the public and my subordinates. Therefore, I have decided to forgo it,” Yeo said in a statement.

    ALSO READ: Nationwide Rallies For Impeachment Of South Korea’s Yoon

  • Allu Arjun Released From Jail After Interim Bail

    Allu Arjun Released From Jail After Interim Bail

    Initially, Allu Arjun was sent to 14 days of judicial custody by a lower court in Telangana, following the tragic incident. His legal team challenged the ruling in the Telangana High Court, which granted the actor interim bail. However, Allu Arjun had to spend the night in jail before being released this morning, reports Asian Lite News

    Cine Star Allu Arjun was released from Chanchalguda Central Jail on Saturday, after being granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court on December 13.

    This came after the actor was arrested in connection with a tragic incident that occurred during the premiere of his movie ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ at the Sandhya Theatre on December 4.

    The actor was granted bail after furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000.

    After his release, Allu Arjun was seen arriving at his residence in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.

    Speaking to the media, the actor expressed his gratitude to his fans and supporters. “I thank everyone for the love and support. I want to thank all my fans. There is nothing to worry about. I am fine. I am a law-abiding citizen and will cooperate. I would like to once again express my condolences to the family. It was an unfortunate incident. We are sorry for what happened,” said the actor.

    Allu Arjun further reiterated, “I’m a law-abiding citizen, there’s nothing to worry, all is well… condolences to the family… it was an accident, nothing like that happened before, I have extended all support to her family… thank you to all of you.”

    The incident took place on December 4 when Allu Arjun visited the Sandhya Theatre for a screening of his latest film ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’.

    Actor Allu Arjun at Chikkadpally Police Station after being arrested in connection with the case of death of a woman at Sandhya theatre on December 4, in Hyderabad on Friday. (ANI Photo)

    A large crowd had gathered outside the theatre to catch a glimpse of the star, and the situation turned chaotic when the actor waved at the crowd from the sunroof of his vehicle.

    Police alleged that the actor’s certain actions led to the death of Revathi and her son sustaining injuries. The incident occurred after fans rushed to see the film star coming to the theatre, with the police alleging that the actor’s action led to the tragic incident.

    According to authorities, the actor’s private security personnel began pushing the crowd to clear the way for the vehicle, which led to the tragic incident.

    The police further claimed that despite being informed about the large crowd and potential danger, Allu Arjun’s team did not act promptly to address the situation. This ultimately resulted in the death of a woman named Revathi and injuries to her son.

    “His team was intimated to take him back citing a large public gathering but they didn’t act on it and Allu Arjun was there inside the theatre for more than two hours. Therefore, it is clear that adequate police bandobast was in place, it was his actions which led to this unfortunate incident,” the police added.

    Initially, Allu Arjun was sent to 14 days of judicial custody by a lower court in Telangana, following the tragic incident. His legal team challenged the ruling in the Telangana High Court, which granted the actor interim bail.

    However, Allu Arjun had to spend the night in jail before being released this morning.

    The actor’s lawyer, Ashok Reddy, expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in the release despite the High Court’s order.

    He stated, “They received an order copy from the High Court but despite that, they didn’t release the accused. They will have to answer… this is illegal detention, and we will take legal action… as of now, he has been released.”

    Ahead of his release, heightened security was observed outside the Chanchalguda Central Jail, as fans and media gathered to witness the actor’s return.

    Allu Arjun’s father-in-law, Kancharla Chandrasekhar Reddy, was present at the jail to receive the actor after his release.

    The incident has drawn significant attention from political figures and film industry personalities alike. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Bharat Rashtra Samithi working president KTR, and other political leaders condemned the arrest.

    Celebrities such as Rashmika Mandanna and Varun Dhawan also expressed their support for Allu Arjun during this time.

    Earlier, during the success meet of ‘Pushpa 2’, Allu Arjun had shared his shock at the incident, stating, “The incident that took place in the Sandhya theatre is very unfortunate… I’m shocked. It took me hours to process it and respond to the incident. I couldn’t process it psychologically. It took me around 10 hours. We all blanked out when we heard the news.” (ANI)

  • Nationwide Rallies For Impeachment Of South Korea’s Yoon

    Nationwide Rallies For Impeachment Of South Korea’s Yoon

    A second motion to impeach South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law declaration has been reported to the National Assembly on Friday, with the nation reeling from Yoon’s December 3 invocation of martial law that triggered unprecedented political turmoil, reports Asian Lite News

    Nationwide rallies took place Friday, a day before South Korea’s National Assembly votes on a second motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over a botched martial law attempt.

    Civic groups organised the candlelight vigil in front of the National Assembly in western Seoul, while smaller groups gathered in other parts of the country to continue their demonstrations calling for Yoon’s removal from office, reports Yonhap news agency.

    “Oust him,” read one picket sign, while another called to “Disperse the People Power Party,” referring to the ruling party.

    The rallies featured a cultural festival-like atmosphere, with booths offering warm beverages to help attendees endure the cold.

    A second motion to impeach South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law declaration has been reported to the National Assembly on Friday, with the nation reeling from Yoon’s December 3 invocation of martial law that triggered unprecedented political turmoil.

    Yoon has remained defiant, saying on Thursday that declaring martial law was “within the realm of executive authority, which is not subject to judicial review” and he would fight “until the last moment.”

    The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and other opposition parties had originally planned to begin voting on the motion as of 5 p.m. on Saturday, but the office of National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik brought forward the timing to 4 p.m.

    DP leader Lee Jae-myung urged ruling party lawmakers to vote in favour of the motion, stressing that impeachment is the “fastest and surest way to end this chaos.”

    If the motion is passed, the Constitutional Court will decide whether to reinstate or remove Yoon from office. If upheld by the court, Yoon would be the second president in South Korea’s history to be removed from office through impeachment after former President Park Geun-hye in 2017.

    The country remains deeply unsettled following Yoon’s declaration of martial law on December 3, which was swiftly overturned by the National Assembly.

  • Miliband pledges reforms to energy system 

    Miliband pledges reforms to energy system 

    The energy secretary is to set out the government’s “clean power 2030” plan on Friday, including measures to boost the UK’s renewable energy…reports Asian Lite News

    Ed Miliband has pledged to bring in “the most ambitious reforms to the country’s energy system in generations” as he presses ahead with plans to accelerate the development of onshore windfarms in England. 

    The energy secretary is to set out the government’s “clean power 2030” plan on Friday, including measures to boost the UK’s renewable energy supply such as building canopies of solar panels on outdoor car parks. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero says the proposals will generate £40bn a year from the private sector. 

    Energy industry and environmental groups broadly welcomed the plan, with the latter urging the government against investing in carbon capture projects at the expense of supporting renewable energy development. 

    Ministers want to wean the country off its dependence on fossil fuels, which was laid bare when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused British energy bills to soar to record highs. Among the measures covered by the plan was confirmation that onshore windfarms will be brought back into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime in England, which streamlines planning processes for important and large scale projects. 

    This would make it easier to progress onshore farms larger than 100MW, which in some cases require hundreds of acres of land. The government will launch a call for evidence on car park solar panel canopies next year, and also said there was significant scope to install solar panels on warehouse and factory roofs, with 20% of the UK’s biggest warehouses potentially providing up to 15GW of solar capacity. 

    The plans come as low wind and solar power generation forced Britain to rely heavily on burning gas and wood pellets. As of Thursday, about 65% of Britain’s electricity was being generated from gas and biomass, with just 5.3% coming from wind. 

    ALSO READ: Regulator finds serious failings at Castle Point Borough Council   

  • Study Reveals How Stress Impacts Memory

    Study Reveals How Stress Impacts Memory

    If you stumble during a presentation, you might feel stressed the next time you have to present because your brain associates your next presentation with that one poor and aversive experience…reports Asian Lite News

    Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) revealed that stress alters how our brain encodes and retrieves aversive memories, and they developed a potential new method for restoring adequate memory specificity in persons suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

    If you stumble during a presentation, you might feel stressed the next time you have to present because your brain associates your next presentation with that one poor and aversive experience. This type of stress is tied to one memory. But stress from traumatic events like violence or generalized anxiety disorder can spread far beyond the original event, known as stress-induced aversive memory generalization, where fireworks or car backfires can trigger seemingly unrelated fearful memories and derail your entire day. In the case of PTSD, it can cause much greater negative consequences.
    In a study published in Cell, Drs. Sheena Josselyn and Paul Frankland, Senior Scientists in the Neurosciences & Mental Health program, identify the biological processes behind stress-induced aversive memory generalization and highlight an intervention which could help restore appropriate memory specificity for people with PTSD.
    “A little bit of stress is good, it’s what gets you up in the morning when your alarm goes off, but too much stress can be debilitating,” says Josselyn, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Circuit Basis of Memory. “We know that people with PTSD show fearful responses to safe situations or environments, and have found a way to limit this fearful response to specific situations and potentially reduce the harmful effects of PTSD.”

    Together with their colleague Dr. Matthew Hill at the University of Calgary Hotchkiss Brain Institute, the research team was able to block endocannabinoid receptors on interneurons, and limit stress-induced aversive memory generalization to the specific, appropriate memory.
    In a preclinical model, the research team exposed subjects to an acute, but safe, stress before an aversive event to create a non-specific fearful memory that could be triggered by unrelated safe situations, similar to how PTSD presents in humans. The team then examined the subject’s memory engrams, which are physical representations of a memory in the brain pioneered by the Josselyn and Frankland labs at SickKids. Usually, engrams are made up of a sparse number of neurons, but the stress-induced memory engrams involved significantly more neurons. These larger engrams produced generalized fearful memories that were retrieved even in safe situations.

    When they looked closer at these large engrams, the study found that stress caused an increase in the release of endocannabinoids (endogenous cannabinoids) which disrupted the function of interneurons, whose role is it to constrain the size of the engram.
    The endocannabinoid system enhances memory formation and helps link lived experiences with specific behavioural outcomes. In the amygdala, the emotional processing centre of the brain, certain ‘gate keeper’ interneurons have special receptors for endocannabinoids, and help constrain the size of the engram and the specificity of the memory. But, when too many endocannabinoids are released, the function of the gatekeeping interneurons is disrupted, causing an increase in the size of the engram. “Endocannabinoid receptors function like a velvet rope at an exclusive club. When stress induces the release of too many endocannabinoids, the velvet rope falls, causing more generalized aversive fearful memories to form,” explains Josselyn. “By blocking these endocannabinoid receptors just on these specific interneurons, we could essentially prevent one of the most debilitating symptoms of PTSD.”

    In 2023, previous research in Science identified larger, more generalized memory engrams in the developing brain than in the adult brain, just like stress-induced memory engrams. As they continue to explore this unexpected link between engram size, stress and age, the teams are also delving into how daily stressors may impact happy memories.
    “The many biological functions and processes that make up the complexity of human memory are still being uncovered,” says Frankland, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Neurobiology. “We hope that as we better understand human memory, we can inform real-world therapies for those with various psychiatric and other brain disorders throughout their lifespan.” (ANI)

    ALSO READ-Stress Takes Toll on Mental and Physical Health

  • More trains between Bristol and Oxford 

    More trains between Bristol and Oxford 

    GWR will increase the number of carriages on some early Sunday morning trains on key routes….reports Asian Lite News

    Train operator Great Western Railway has announced new routes and more carriages to key routes. As part of their December timetable change, the train operator is introducing more direct services between Bristol and Oxford. 

    The two round-trips will depart on Saturdays at 10:18 GMT and 15:18 GMT from Bristol Temple Meads and the return trains depart at 12:02 and 17:12 from Oxford. GWR has also made changes to its services in South Wales, re-timing some by up to 11 minutes arriving into Cardiff. 

    GWR will also increase the number of carriages on some early Sunday morning trains on key routes. Nine or ten carriage trains will replace five carriages trains on some services from Cheltenham to London Paddington and from Great Malvern to London Paddington, the BBC reported. 

    The journey time on services between Bristol and Weymouth have been reduced by 17 minutes. A new, direct service between Cheltenham and Bristol is also to be introduced on Saturdays at 08:46 GMT. 

    The train will provide a direct link from Cheltenham to Chippenham and Bath, while also helping to alleviate demand on the later 08:59 service from Cheltenham to London. The new timetable starts on Sunday 15 December for Sunday services and from Monday 16 December for weekday services. 

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  • Govt announces new funding for UNRWA 

    Govt announces new funding for UNRWA 

    Starmer gave his condolences to the agency for the deaths of staff members killed in Gaza…reports Asian Lite News

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged an additional £13 million ($16.56 million) to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. The announcement followed a meeting between him and UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini in London. 

    Starmer gave his condolences to the agency for the deaths of staff members killed in Gaza. The pair agreed that more needs to be done to protect aid workers in the Palestinian enclave, and reiterated their calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages held by Hamas. 

    The money will come on top of the £21 million per year already given to UNRWA by the UK, which was temporarily suspended by the former government after Israel accused 12 agency members of taking part in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in 2023. 

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he was “reassured” that UNRWA met UK government standards for vetting employees following an independent review of the situation. 

    UNRWA was established in 1949 to help Palestinian refugees. In October, Israel banned it from operating in its territory, hampering its ability to operate in the Occupied Territories. 

    Starmer condemned the decision, saying it had left him “gravely concerned” and would make it “impossible” for vital work to be done helping displaced and vulnerable Palestinian civilians. 

    Last month, Israel withdrew its recognition of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon tweeted on Monday morning. 

    Danon tweeted a copy of a letter notifying Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The development follows up on the Knesset passing legislation barring Israeli officials from cooperating with the embattled UN agency. 

    “Following the legislation on UNRWA, the State of Israel officially notified the President of the General Assembly of the termination of cooperation with the agency,” Danon tweeted. 

    “Despite the overwhelming evidence we submitted to the UN that substantiate Hamas’ infiltration of UNRWA, the UN did nothing to rectify the situation. The State of Israel will continue to cooperate with humanitarian organizations but not with organizations that promote terrorism against us.” 

    UNRWA has been under fire for months, with Israeli officials demanding the agency be stripped of its authority in Gaza and defunded amid revelations that members of the agency’s staff participated in Hamas’s October 7 attacks. 

    Palestinian refugees are the only refugee population with its own dedicated UN agency. The rest of the world’s refugees fall under the mandate of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. 

    More than 100 survivors of Hamas’s October 7 attacks filed a $1 billion lawsuit against UNRWA in June, accusing the agency of “aiding and abetting” the terror group. According to the suit, the lead plaintiff, 84-year-old Ditza Heiman of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was held captive for seven weeks in the home of a Palestinian man who said he was a UNRWA teacher at a boy’s school. 

    Israel’s largest bank froze UNRWA’s account in February over suspicious financial transfers that the agency failed to adequately explain. That same month, Israeli forces discovered a Hamas complex located directly under the UNRWA’s Gaza City headquarters and connected directly to the agency’s electricity system. The facility included numerous computer servers belonging to the terror group. 

    UNRWA was also ordered to vacate its Jerusalem offices in May over lease violations. 

    At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 97 remaining hostages, more than 30 have been declared dead. Hamas has also been holding captive two Israeli civilians since 2014 and 2015, and the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014.  

    Israeli conducts airstrikes  

    Israel launched airstrikes on Hamas terrorists in southern Gaza overnight after intelligence determined they were gathering at two locations to hijack humanitarian aid trucks, the Israel Defense Forces disclosed on Thursday. 

    “The terrorists operated on the humanitarian corridor in the southern Gaza Strip. The strike was intended to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip,” the army said. “All of the terrorists that were eliminated were members of Hamas and planned to violently hijack humanitarian aid trucks and transfer them to Hamas in support of continuing terrorist activity, preventing them from reaching Gazan civilians, as was done in previous cases.” 

    The IDF stressed that no delivery trucks were struck and that the humanitarian corridor remains open for aid deliveries. 

    Since mid-November, Hamas and criminal gangs associated with the terror group stepped up their stealing of deliveries of food, water, medicine and other humanitarian supplies. At one point, 85% of all trucks entering the Strip were hijacked. The Press Service of Israel has learned that Hamas has granted distribution lines to these groups to ensure that humanitarian aid exclusively reaches Hamas. In return, these gangs receive money, food and vouchers. Hamas also pays these gangs USD 10,000 a month to maintain checkpoints. 

    Meanwhile, sacks of flour and rice donated by the West are being sold for USD 700 and USD 500 respectively while a pack of cigarettes costs USD 1,500. In September, Palestinian sources told TPS-IL that Hamas was charging $800 for donated tents. 

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