Category: India

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is planning to start fixing the treasure room, called ‘Ratna Bhandar’, at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, on December 16. An official named D. B. Garnaik announced this on Sunday.

Before the repairs can begin, the ASI has asked for approval from the temple’s management committee. “Once we get the green light, we will start on December 16,” Garnaik said.

Earlier, the ASI worked with a science team from Hyderabad to survey the 12th-century temple using advanced tools. They finished their report just last month. Any repairs will follow recommendations from this report.

The ‘Ratna Bhandar’ repair plans will also be discussed at a meeting of temple workers called ‘Chhatisa Nijoga’ on December 10, according to Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain.

Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan added that the state government aims to finish counting the jewelry kept in two temporary treasure rooms by the end of January. He said, “We have asked the ASI to finish the repairs quickly. After that, we will move the jewelry back into the ‘Ratna Bhandar’ from the temporary rooms and do the inventory.”

Notably, the ‘Ratna Bhandar’ was opened this past July after being closed for 46 years to check the valuables and fix its structure.

The weather is turning colder! Starting today, the national capital, Delhi, is expected to have foggy weather on Monday, with the temperature dropping to 8 degrees Celsius at night and going up to 24 degrees during the day. After light rain in parts of Delhi on Sunday evening, the air quality has improved. Places like Kota House, Akbar Road, and Pandara Park experienced some rain.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a cold wave across Northern India, starting December 9. Here’s what the weather will look like this week:

– December 9: Min 8°C, Max 23°C – Dense Fog
– December 10: Min 6°C, Max 24°C – Moderate Fog
– December 11: Min 6°C, Max 24°C – Moderate Fog
– December 12: Min 6°C, Max 25°C – Shallow Fog
– December 13: Min 7°C, Max 25°C – Fog
– December 14: Min 8°C, Max 25°C – Fog

A cold wave is expected to chill many areas in Northern India, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh. The IMD mentioned that by December 10, temperatures in Delhi could drop to about 3°C, down from 7°C now.

The cold wave will last from December 9 to 14 in West Rajasthan and will reach places like Punjab and Haryana by December 11. Cold wave conditions mean temperatures will drop sharply, making it much colder than what these areas usually experience. Already, towns like Hisar in Haryana have recorded low temperatures of around 4.7°C.

As the weather worsens, the Delhi government has set up night shelters for those in need. These shelters are located in areas like AIIMS, Lodhi Road, and Nizamuddin Flyover, helping people stay warm during these cold nights.

Oil prices were mixed in early trading on Monday. Concerns about weak demand in China were balanced by fears of rising tensions in the Middle East after Syrian rebels claimed victory over President Bashar al-Assad. Brent crude oil slightly dropped by 1 cent to $71.11 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose by 1 cent to $67.21 per barrel.

Last week, Brent oil prices fell over 2.5%, and WTI dropped by 1.2% as analysts worried there might be too much oil available next year due to weak demand. This worry continued even after OPEC+, a group of oil-producing countries, decided to delay increasing oil production and keep production cuts in place until the end of 2026.

Saudi Aramco, the largest oil company in the world, said it lowered its prices for January 2025 for buyers in Asia, reaching the lowest point since early 2021 because of weak demand from China.

Meanwhile, Syrian rebels claimed on state TV that they have overthrown President al-Assad, ending his family’s rule of 50 years. This has raised fears of more instability in an already troubled Middle East.

In the U.S., the number of oil and gas rigs increased last week, indicating that oil production might be going up, which caused prices to dip further. OPEC+ also decided to push back plans to increase oil output by three months, now aiming for April, and extended production cuts until 2026.

On Sunday morning, an unknown person called the emergency service, Dial 112, to say there were bombs at three different places in Lucknow: Hussainganj Metro Station, Charbagh Railway Station, and Alambagh Bus Station. The call came in around 8 am.

As soon as they heard the threat, police and security teams rushed to the stations with bomb disposal and dog squads. They searched each place carefully, looking for any suspicious items or explosives. After searching, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Manisha Singh, reported that there were no dangerous objects found at any of the locations. It turned out the threat was just a hoax.

There were no explosives or threats to the public’s safety, Singh reassured everyone. The police are now working to trace the phone number used to make the call and are trying to find the person responsible for this false alarm.

Kerala is open to talking about new projects with the Adani Group if they benefit the people and the state, according to P Rajeev, the Minister of Law, Industries, and Coir. However, Kerala is careful about allowing big industries that might harm the environment.

Rajeev mentioned that there is already a significant Adani investment in the Vizhinjam Seaport near Thiruvananthapuram. The current government decided to continue with the port project started by the previous administration because it helps the state’s economy and creates jobs for its people.

The minister explained that Kerala is not willing to offer special incentives to the Adani Group and wants to follow strict conditions. About recent allegations against the Adani Group, he said they will still work together, but they want a mutual benefit from any new projects.

Rajeev also pointed out that the government doesn’t support privatizing electricity and water supply. While they collaborate with the Adani Group on the Vizhinjam port, Kerala opposes giving the Adani Group control of the nearby international airport.

The minister stressed that the state is not against big industries, but they must not pollute the environment. Kerala is looking for investments in clean sectors, like medical devices, robot manufacturing, and spice processing. Rajeev noted that Kerala aims to be a hub for knowledge-based industries, thanks to its talented workforce. The government plans to declare Kerala the first digitally literate state in India and is proud to be ranked number one for ease of doing business.

Though some may worry about high wages in Kerala, Rajeev said companies will benefit thanks to worker productivity. He also reassured that the state doesn’t have major issues with strikes or violence in industries, unlike other states. He mentioned a law that protects workers’ rights but clarified it does not apply in industrial and logistics parks, and demanding money is a crime.

To keep stray cattle safe, Uttar Pradesh has introduced a bright and easy idea: putting glowing, reflective strips around the necks and horns of cows and bulls. These strips shine brightly when car headlights hit them, making it easier for drivers to see the animals at night and preventing accidents. Local officials say this plan is working, but they are still gathering proof to show its success.

In Pilibhit, where this project started, the task has been exciting but also tough, similar to the challenging nature of the animals themselves. Workers have placed reflective tapes on 450 stray bulls along three busy roads: Bareilly-Haridwar NH-74, Pilibhit-Basti NH-730, and Bhind-Lipulekh NH-731. Each animal costs Rs 400 for this bright upgrade, especially helping animals with black fur that are hard to see at night.

The local villagers have been very helpful and even helped pay for much of the project costs. “It’s an ambitious project,” said Virendra Singh, who is in charge of the effort. However, while villagers supported the workers, the process was not always safe. The workers didn’t have protective gear and tranquilizers, making them vulnerable to the very animals they were helping. Singh explained that they were only able to succeed thanks to the villagers’ support. However, without better safety gear, they can’t continue this effort widely.

Currently, there are about 15 lakh stray cattle in the state, with 12 lakh living in shelters. A private company has created reflective tapes in different sizes to fit animals of all shapes. This project is also helping both the Animal Husbandry Department and the Transport Department work together to mark dangerous roads where more help is needed. Additional transport commissioner Pushpsen Satyarthi stated, “This is about keeping the roads safe for both people and animals, stopping accidents, and saving lives.” Right now, the reflective tapes shine brightly in the headlights of passing cars—a small sign of hope in the dark roads of Uttar Pradesh. Whether this bright idea can lead to lasting change is still a question that remains open.