Magnitude 6 Earthquake Strikes Off Coast Of Japan's Noda Region: USGS

December 31, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

An earthquake of 6-magnitude struck off the coast of Japan's eastern Noda region on Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey said. The quake was at a depth of 19.3 km, it said.
This comes weeks after a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake shook the country's regions, injuring at least 30 people and forcing about 90,000 residents to evacuate their homes.

The December 8 earthquake struck off the coast and the Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami as high as 3 metres (10 feet) could hit the country's northeastern coast. Warnings were issued for the prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate, and tsunamis from 20 to 70 cm (7 to 27 inches) high were observed at several ports, JMA said.

Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, with a tremor occurring at least every five minutes. Located in the "Ring of Fire" of volcanoes and oceanic trenches partly encircling the Pacific Basin, Japan accounts for about 20% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater.

The northeastern region suffered one of the country's deadliest earthquakes on March 11, 2011, when a 9.0-magnitude tremor struck under the ocean off the coast of the northern city of Sendai. It was the most powerful ever recorded in Japan and set off a series of massive tsunami that devastated a wide swathe of the Pacific coastline and killed nearly 20,000 people.



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Sriram Raghavan Reveals Why Dhurandhar Is Not The Kind Of Film He Would Make

December 31, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Even as Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar continues its triumphant box-office run, Sriram Raghavan has made it clear that the blockbuster spy thriller sits firmly outside his own creative comfort zone. 

Speaking to The Hindu ahead of the release of his next film, Ikkis, Raghavan explained why the Ranveer Singh-starrer, despite being well-crafted, represents a cinematic language he would not personally adopt.

Why Dhurandhar's Success Does Not Define His Filmmaking Choices

Addressing comparisons between Dhurandhar and the kind of spy films he and his brother Shridhar Raghavan have made in the past, Sriram stressed that it is less about quality and more about worldview.

"It is a well-made film with terrific performances, but it is not our kind of film. We must understand that we are living in different times. The earlier James Bond films starring Sean Connery and Roger Moore were fun movies. Later on, Bond films started to get serious. Dhurandhar is one movie. It is doing spectacularly well, and it should. But this is not the only format. If I start following it, it will be the silliest thing to do," he said.

Sriram Raghavan Praises Aditya Dhar

While distancing himself from Aditya Dhar's stylistic choices, Raghavan was careful to underline his admiration for the filmmaker. The two directors share a significant career milestone, having both won National Awards in the same year - Dhar for Uri: The Surgical Strike and Raghavan for Andhadhun.

Reflecting on that moment, Raghavan said, "Aditya and I shared the National Award stage when he made Uri, and I had Andhadhun. He has a different kind of sensibility and craft, and I love watching his films, but it is not something I would make."

That philosophy also shapes his upcoming project Ikkis, a biographical war drama based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India's youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee. In the movie, Agastya Nanda steps into the role of the 21-year-old war hero and Dharmendra portrays his father.

ALSO READ: Dhurandhar Actor Naseem Mughal Was "Uncomfortable" About Viral Assault Scene, Reveals Ranveer Singh's Reaction



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Helped Boost Ties: PM In Letter To Tarique Rahman After Khaleda Zia's Death

December 31, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his condolence letter to Tarique Rahman - the son of Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the acting chairman leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party - recalled his association with her and expressed hope that the people of Bangladesh, who have shown "remarkable strength and dignity throughout their history... will continue to be guided by their shared values, democratic traditions, and a deep sense of national unity".

PM Modi's letter was delivered today by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who represented India at the funeral of Khaleda Zia.

Expressing his condolences in the letter, PM Modi had said, "I warmly recall my meeting and discussions with Begum Sahiba in Dhaka in June 2015".

"She was a leader of rare resolve and conviction and had the distinction of being the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She made many important contributions to the development of Bangladesh, as well as to the strengthening of India-Bangladesh relations," he wrote.

"While her passing leaves an irreplaceable void, her vision and legacy will endure," PM Modi added. "I am confident that her ideals will be carried forward under your able leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and will continue to serve as a guiding light to ensure a new beginning and the enrichment of the deep and historic partnership between India and Bangladesh," he wrote.

Zia, the three-time Prime Minister of Bangladesh who headed the BNP, died on Tuesday after a long illness. Her funaral today was attended by thousands, including dignitaries from various nations. She was laid to rest with full State honours this afternoon beside her husband, the country's former President Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka.

Rahman, a front-runner for the prime minister post in the election due on February 12, is Khaleda Zia's eldest son.

During his meeting with Rahman, Jaishankar acknowledged Zia's contribution to democracy. He also expressed optimism about closer India-Bangladesh ties -- which have been frayed since the government led by Mohammad Yunus came to power -- after the elections due in February. Dhaka's growing closeness with Pakistan and its all-weather ally China lately has been a situation that is being closely watched by India.



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Techie Reveals How Moving From Bengaluru To Hyderabad Changed Her Life

December 30, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Shreya Prasad, a techie who works at Uber, has recently shared her experience of moving to Hyderabad. In her post on LinkedIn, she said that leaving Bengaluru was one of the best decisions she made this year. She listed a few reasons for leaving Bengaluru, such as potholes, time spent on travelling, waiting hours for cabs, insane traffic, hard water, low-quality food and healthcare and expensive living costs. 

Shreya further said that life has become calmer, happier, and healthier in Hyderabad. She highlighted that Hyderabad offers a better work-life balance, with improved infrastructure and lower living costs.

"A small career + life update - I moved from Uber Bengaluru to Uber Hyderabad earlier this year. Looking back, it's been one of the better decisions I've made for myself," she wrote in the post, which gained significant traction. "I didn't realise how much mental energy was being drained by everyday things until they were gone." 

Also read | Watch: Google Techie Takes "Proud Parents" On Office Visit, Shares Emotional Moment

"Hyderabad is calmer. That has translated into better health, more energy, and sharper focus at work. Bengaluru gave me a lot professionally. Hyderabad is giving me balance between personal and professional life," she said.

"Sometimes growth isn't about changing roles, it's about changing environments."

Also read | "Dear Indians, Stop Behaving Like This": Man Calls Out Tourists For Littering Kerala Beach

The post resonated with many, with one user saying, "That's the precise reason we migrated from Bangalore to Hyd over 6 yrs back. Hyd is simply much better than Bnglr."

"Hyderabad is way better than Bangalore," a second user said.

"100% true-and that's exactly why I'd never want to move back to Gurgaon or any other city," a third wrote.



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CBSE Cancels Affiliation Of Jaipur School Over Class 4 Student's Suicide

December 30, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) today cancelled the affiliation of a school in Jaipur where a 9-year-old girl, a Class 4 student, died by suicide on November 1.

In a detailed eight-page order dated December 30, the CBSE said the incident exposed "grave, flagrant and wilful non-compliance" with mandatory child safety norms, concluding that the Neerja Modi School was "not fit for continuation of affiliation".

The board described the case as one involving systemic failure, negligence, and lack of accountability, adding that the tragedy was entirely preventable.

What The CBSE Found

According to the official order, a two-member fact-finding committee appointed by CBSE conducted surprise inspections, examined CCTV footage, interacted with staff and parents, and reviewed school records. The findings revealed multiple serious lapses:

- No safety grills or steel nets in open areas on upper floors

- No effective CCTV surveillance of student movement and failure to preserve footage

- No vigilant or dedicated staff monitoring corridors and staircases

- Absence of a functional counselling mechanism

- Non-existent or non-functional anti-bullying systems

- Repeated complaints by parents about bullying were ignored

- Teachers, staff, and students found without identity cards

- No floor-level supervision, the child's movement to the fourth floor went unnoticed

Most critically, the CBSE noted that the bloodstained area at the site of the fall was cleaned almost immediately, which it said amounted to tampering with potential forensic evidence.

"The removal of vital material evidence within minutes of the incident demonstrates a serious breach of legal and procedural obligations," the order stated.

Counselling And Bullying Failures

The Board rejected the school's claim that the child was happy and academically active, stating that such arguments were irrelevant to the core issue of safety compliance.

"It is evident that despite repeated approaches by the parents, the school confined its response to discussions during Parent-Teacher Meetings, without initiating any structured or proactive intervention," CBSE said.

The absence of documented counselling, referrals, or remedial action, the Board added, reflected a complete failure of the safeguarding mechanism mandated under affiliation by-laws.

School's Defence Rejected

Neerja Modi School argued that it had complied with building safety norms, fire safety regulations, and had constituted mandatory committees. CBSE dismissed these submissions, stating:

"Mere possession of structural or fire safety certificates cannot substitute mandatory child safety measures required under the Affiliation By-Laws."

The Board also noted that documents submitted showed committees existed only on paper, with no evidence of meetings, actions, or case handling.

'Completely Preventable Incident'

In one of its strongest observations, the CBSE said:

"The only answer to the fundamental question is that this incident was completely preventable had the required provisions been followed."

The failure to monitor the child after she left for the washroom, the Board said, was a serious lapse of duty of care.

CBSE's Final Orders

Based on the findings, CBSE imposed the severest penalty available under its rules:

- Affiliation up to Senior Secondary level withdrawn with immediate effect

- Class X and XII students allowed to appear from the same school for the 2025-26 session

- Class IX and XI students to be shifted to nearby CBSE schools by March 31, 2026

- No new admissions or promotions to Class IX and XI allowed

- School may apply for restoration up to secondary level only after one academic year, from 2027-28, subject to full compliance

- Senior secondary affiliation can be sought only after two additional academic years

- The future of Classes I to VIII will be decided by the Rajasthan State Education Department

'Zero Tolerance On Child Safety'

CBSE underlined that schools are expected to be "safe havens for children" and warned that violations impacting student safety strike at the very foundation of affiliation.

"Such negligent actions constitute serious breaches directly impacting student safety and warrant strict and immediate action," the Board said.

The order has been issued with the approval of the Competent Authority of the CBSE and sent to the school management for compliance.



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Star, Picked By CSK At IPL Auction, Leaks Record 123 In 10 Overs In VHT

December 29, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Puducherry captain Aman Khan endured a tough outing with the ball as he conceded 123 runs from his ten overs against Jharkhand on Monday in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, registering the most expensive spell in List A cricket history. Khan's figures surpassed the previous unwanted record of 0/116 in nine overs, set by Arunachal Pradesh's Mibom Mosu against Bihar last week. Notably, Aman was picked by Chennai Super Kings at Indian Premier League 2026 auction for a price of Rs 40 lakh. He has already played for Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals in the past.

Chasing a steep target, Puducherry were bowled out for 235, falling well short. Jharkhand's bowlers kept things tight, with Rajandeep Singh finishing with figures of 3/47, while Anukul Roy also made a telling impact with the ball, picking up 2/58.

Anukul's all-round performance earned him the Player of the Match award, capping off a dominant outing for Jharkhand, who sealed a comprehensive victory by 133 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy encounter.

In other matches, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel's superb 160, Rinku Singh's 63, all-rounder Shardul Thakur's four-wicket haul and Delhi's Priyansh Arya's fifty, among others, were the highlights on Tuesday in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26.

In the Group D elite clash, Railways showcased a brilliant batting performance to post a massive total of 365/7 in their 50 overs. Ravi Singh's 46-ball 88 was the standout knock, which included six fours and seven sixes.

In response, Sagar Dahiya's valiant 95-run knock went in as Services were bundled out for 281, losing the game by 84 runs. For Railways, Raj Choudhary (3/27) shines with the ball.

In the match between Saurashtra and Delhi, Saurashtra's Vishvaraj Jadeja hammered 115 off 104 balls along with a superb unbeaten 95 off 65 balls from Ruchit Ahir that guided their side to score 320/7 on the board.

While chasing, Priyansh Arya played a solid knock of 78 runs followed by a late rescue knock of Navdeep Saini (34*) that hekoed Delhi to secure a thrilling three-wicket win.

In the Group C game, Mumbai's Shardul Thakur dismantled the Chhattisgarh top order in a blistering opening spell. Chhattisgarh lost their first four wickets for just 10 runs, with Thakur claiming all four early scalps, including the wickets of Anuj Tiwary and Mayank Verma.

However, captain Amandeep Khare staged a resilient recovery alongside Ajay Mandal. Khare anchored the innings with a patient 63 off 103 balls, while Mandal provided crucial support with a steady 46 as Chhattisgarh was eventually bowled out for 142 in 38.1 overs.

Chasing 143, Mumbai made light work of the chase as they finished the match in just 24 overs with Angkrish Raghuvanshi scoring 68 off 66 balls and Siddhesh Lad scoring a 42-ball 48.

In another fixture of VHT, Odisha won the toss and elected to field, restricting Andhra to a modest 221 runs. Andhra's innings struggled to find momentum early on, losing opener Ashwin Hebbar for just two and Nitish Kumar Reddy for just six, leaving them reeling at 35/2.

Odisha's bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals, ensuring Andhra never reached a commanding position. Despite some late-order resistance to push the score past 200, Andhra was eventually bowled out, setting Odisha a target of 222 to win.

While chasing, Om T Munde (91 off 111 balls) and Govinda Poddar (89 off 105 balls) ensured Odisha chased down the 222-run target in 43.4 overs, winning the contest by six wickets.

In another fixture of the VHT, Punjab found themselves in a precarious position at 111/6, with star openers Abhishek Sharma (30) and Prabhsimran Singh (28) failing to convert their starts and the middle order crumbling under pressure against Uttarakhand.

However, a gritty knock of Salil Arora, who scored a vital 65 off 83 balls, allowed Punjab to claw their way back. He was supported by Krish Bhagat (51), as Punjab posted a competitive total of 269/8.

In response, Kunal Chandela slammed a match-winning century (118 off 114 balls), guiding his side to a five-wicket win after Uttarakhand chased down the 270-run target in 47.4 overs.

Kerala bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, restricting Madhya Pradesh to 214 all out. Kerala's bowling effort was led by Ankit Sharma, who was the pick of the bowlers with impressive figures of 4/38, leaving Kerala with a target of 215 to chase.

While defending 215 runs, Madhya Pradesh bowlers Shubham Sharma (3/16), Saranash Jain (2/17) and Shivang Kumar (2/42) produced a brilliant outing with the ball that ensured their side bundled out Kerala for 167 runs and clinched the game by 47 runs.

In another VHT clash, Tamil Nadu posted a solid total of 288 all out in 49.5 overs against Karnataka. Tamil Nadu's innings was headlined by a composed half-century from Narayan Jagadeesan, who top-scored with 65 off 67 balls.

Karnataka's bowling effort was spearheaded by Abhilash Shetty, who was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/48. While chasing 289, half-centuries from Krishnan Shrijith (77), Mayank Agarwal (58) and Shreyas Gopal (55) helped Karnataka steal a four-wicket win.

In another contest between Baroda and Uttar Pradesh, an unbeaten 160* off 101 balls from Dhruv Jurel helped Uttar Pradesh post a colossal 369/7 in their 50 overs. Jurel's innings was the centrepiece of the innings, featuring a robust partnership with Rinku Singh, who contributed a brisk 63.

While chasing a daunting target of 370 runs, Baroda captain Krunal Pandya's fighting knock of 82 runs off 77 balls and Shashwat Rawat's 60 runs off 69 deliveries went in vain as Baroda were bundled out for 315 runs, losing the contest by 54 runs.

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



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Salman, Deols, And Others Attend Screening Of Dharmendra's Last Film Ikkis

December 29, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Mumbai witnessed an emotional evening on Monday as the Hindi film industry came together for a special screening of Ikkis, Sriram Raghavan's upcoming period drama, which also serves as a farewell to legendary actor Dharmendra.

The film's lead pair, newcomers Simar Bhatia and Agastya Nanda, arrived together and posed for photographs on the red carpet.

Jaideep Ahlawat, who plays a pivotal role in the film, was also among the early arrivals. He opted for a muted yet stylish ensemble, stepping out in a grey jacket layered over a black T-shirt and coordinated trousers.

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Rekha, Tabu, Jeetendra, Salman Khan, Lulia Vantur, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Manish Malhotra, Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh, along with Randeep Hooda, were spotted making their way into the venue.

One of the most poignant moments of the night came when Salman Khan was seen standing beside a poster featuring Dharmendra. The actor lingered there for a few moments, visibly emotional, as cameras captured the quiet tribute.

Sunny Deol also appeared moved, but he still took time to greet the photographers and posed beside his father's poster with a composed smile. Bobby Deol followed later with his wife Tanya, their son Aryaman, and cousin Abhay Deol.

Ikkis marks Dharmendra's final on-screen appearance following his death on November 24 at the age of 89. The film features Agastya Nanda as Arun, the son of Dharmendra's character, Brigadier ML Khetarpal, and also stars Jaideep Ahlawat, Simar Bhatia, Sikandar Kher, and Vivaan Shah.

The movie is set to release in cinemas on January 1, 2026.

ALSO READ: Ikkis: Sunny, Bobby Deol To Host Special Screening Of Dharmendra's Last Film In Mumbai



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Watch: Group Of Monkeys In Odisha Risk Lives To Save Companion From Crocodile

December 28, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

A group of monkeys in Odisha made a valiant attempt to rescue a companion from a saltwater crocodile. The incident, captured on camera, occurred in the Mahakalapada area of Kendrapara district.

The footage shows a large troop of monkeys swimming in a straight line towards the crocodile, trying to save their companion. The region's rivers and rivulets, including the Kharinasi tributary of the Mahanadi, are known for frequent crocodile sightings, which often pose a threat to wildlife and occasionally humans.

According to eyewitnesses, a crocodile suddenly attacked and dragged one of the monkeys into the river. Instead of fleeing, several other monkeys jumped into the water and chased the predator in an attempt to rescue their friend. Despite their determined efforts, the crocodile overpowered the group, and their companion could not be saved.

Crocodiles are commonly seen across Odisha, especially around Bhitarkanika National Park, home to India's largest saltwater crocodile population, and coastal areas such as Astaranga and Chandrabhaga near Puri. Recent floods have also forced them into villages.

In October, a 57-year-old woman went missing after a crocodile dragged her into the Kharasrota river in Odisha's Kantia village while she was bathing. Villagers attempted to rescue her but she couldn't be saved. Fire brigade personnel and police launched a search operation in the river following reports of the incident. A video showing the crocodile dragging the woman went viral on social media.

Crocodiles often appear near human settlements due to a combination of habitat overlap, environmental factors, and food availability. Many villages and towns border crocodile habitats, naturally bringing humans and reptiles into proximity. Heavy rains and floods can push crocodiles out of their usual areas in parks and rivers into nearby villages. Crocodiles follow water bodies and prey, which often leads them toward rivers, coasts, and other areas frequented by people.



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