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100 stray dogs ”poisoned” to death near Hyderabad, case booked

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100 stray dogs ”poisoned” to death near Hyderabad, case booked

Hyderabad, Jan 21: In yet another incident of stray dog killings, nearly 100 canines were allegedly “poisoned to death” in Yacharam village near here following which a case was registered against a sarpanch and two others for their alleged involvement in the act, police said on Wednesday.

The fresh incident follows killing of nearly 500 stray dogs in different districts of Telangana since January 6.

An animal welfare activist, associated with Stray Animal Foundation of India, in a complaint filed with Yacharam Police Station alleged that the dogs were injected with some poisonous substances on January 19.

A case was registered under relevant sections of BNS and Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act against the sarpanch, secretary and ward member of Yacharam gram panchayat on Tuesday, a police official said.

As per the complainant, 100 dogs were killed, but based on preliminary investigation and after verifying with villagers around 50 dogs were found to be killed, though further probe is on in this regard, the official said.

An investigation is also underway to find out the carcasses of the dogs, he said.

Earlier, police in Hanamkonda district had booked nine persons, including two women sarpanches and their husbands, in connection with the alleged killing of around 300 stray dogs in Shayampet and Arepally villages.

In another incident, around 200 stray dogs were allegedly killed in Kamareddy district, and a case was booked against six persons, including five village sarpanches, for their alleged involvement in the incident.

It is suspected that some elected representatives, including sarpanches, allegedly carried out the killings to “fulfill promises made to villagers” ahead of gram panchayat elections held in December last year, to tackle the stray dog menace.

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Chinese researchers develop eye surgery robot

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Chinese researchers develop eye surgery robot

Beijing, Jan 21: A team of Chinese researchers has developed an autonomous robotic system that is capable of performing delicate eye injections within the confined space of the human eye.

The surgery robot, developed by a team from the Institute of Automation under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, can potentially enhance the precision and safety of surgeries used to treat debilitating retinal diseases, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the paper published in the journal Science Robotics, the team reported that the robot successfully performed subretinal and intravascular injections in animal tests with 100 per cent success.

Eye surgery, particularly involving the retina, is highly challenging due to the organ’s tiny, soft structures.

The new system uses a suite of algorithms for three-dimensional (3D) spatial perception, cross-scale precise positioning, and trajectory control to guide a robotic arm.

In experiments using eyeball phantoms, ex vivo porcine and in vivo animal eyeballs, the autonomous robot significantly reduced average positioning errors by nearly 80 per cent compared to manual surgery.

The errors were reduced by about 55 per cent when compared to surgeon-controlled robotic surgery, the team said.

“These results demonstrate the clinical feasibility of an autonomous intraocular microsurgical robot and its ability to enhance injection precision, safety, and consistency,” said the researchers.

“Such an autonomous system could enhance surgical consistency and safety, shorten training periods for surgeons,” they added.

Further, the achievement can potentially also enable complex eye operations in remote areas or extreme environments where specialist surgeons are unavailable.

In November 2025, Xinhua reported that a Chinese medical team performed a groundbreaking remote robotic eye surgery, using a 5G-connected robot to treat a patient over 4,000 kilometers away.

The procedure, a retinal injection, performed with micron-level precision, marked a significant step in leveraging technology to bridge the medical resource gap between developed coastal regions and remote areas.

After the robot in Urumqi positioned the microscopic needle on the patient’s eye, surgeons in Guangzhou took remote control. They guided the needle to the surface of the retina, pierced it to a pre-determined depth, and injected the medication.

The entire remote surgery took less than seven minutes, with the network remaining stable and the robot responding smoothly without any tremor.

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Trump hardens stand on Greenland, sparks transatlantic tensions

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Trump hardens stand on Greenland, sparks transatlantic tensions

New Delhi, Jan 21: US President Donald Trump has doubled down on his push to take control of Greenland, declaring on social media that there is “no going back” and that Greenland is “imperative” for global security, reports the BBC.

Asked at a White House press conference how far he was willing to go to acquire the Danish territory, Trump replied, “You’ll find out,” fuelling concerns in Europe about the use of economic or even military pressure. He has not ruled out the use of force, offering a “no comment” when asked directly.

The remarks have triggered sharp reactions from US allies. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, French President Emmanuel Macron warned of a “shift towards a world without rules”, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the “old order is not coming back”.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who will be soon in India said the European Union stood in “full solidarity” with Greenland and Denmark, stressing that their sovereignty is “non-negotiable”.

Trump has also threatened to impose a 10% tariff on all imports from eight European countries from February 1 if they oppose his Greenland plan. Macron has criticised the growing use of tariffs as political leverage, calling it “fundamentally unacceptable”, and has urged the EU to consider retaliatory measures. Reports suggest the European Parliament may suspend approval of a US-EU trade deal agreed in July as reported by international media.

The controversy has also raised questions about Nato. When asked whether acquiring Greenland was worth risking a rupture in the alliance, Trump said Nato would be “happy” and insisted the territory was needed for “world security”. However, he again questioned whether Nato allies would come to America’s aid if required.

Greenland’s leaders have firmly rejected Trump’s overtures. Trump was scheduled to attend the Davos forum on Wednesday, but a minor electrical issue forced Air Force One to turn back. The White House said he would travel on another aircraft, though it remains unclear how the delay will affect his schedule.

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Gold prices jump over 4 pc to hit record high

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Gold prices jump over 4 pc to hit record high

New Delhi, Jan 21: Gold futures on the MCX surged over Rs 4,100 or 4 per cent on Wednesday to a fresh record high, as investors jumped to buy safe‑haven assets amid fears of a widening US‑EU trade conflict and a softer dollar.

MCX gold February futures rose 4.25 per cent to Rs 1,56,970 per 10 grams. Meanwhile, MCX silver March futures rose 2.71 per cent to Rs 3,32,451 per kg.

International markets also saw new peaks as US gold futures jumped to $4,849 per troy ounce on COMEX. COMEX silver consolidated in the $92.5–$95.7 range.

The rally followed reports that the United States plans tariffs on eight European countries from February 1 and could raise duties to 25 per cent in June. European countries are reportedly considering anti-coercive measures, using trade defence mechanisms designed to counter economic pressure from foreign governments.

The medium-to-long-term outlook of silver remains exceptionally bullish, with scope toward $110–$120 in 2026 under sustained supply constraints and industrial demand, according to analysts.

In MCX silver futures, immediate upside targets are placed at Rs 3,30,000–Rs 3,32,000, with scope to extend toward Rs 3,35,000–Rs 3,50,000 over the coming months, they said.

“Global equity markets crashed amid the escalation of the trade war, driven by the US President’s ambition to annex Greenland. Panic selling in riskier assets is supporting safe-haven buying for both precious metals,” said Manoj Kumar Jain of Prithvifinmart Commodity Research

The US 10-year bond yields hit four-month highs due to panic selling in the Japanese bond, and supported both precious metals. Weakness in the rupee is also supporting gold and silver prices, Jain said.

Structural demand from solar, EVs, AI infrastructure, and electronics remains exceptionally strong, adding to safe-haven and inflation-hedge flows, they said.

Safe-haven flows, central bank accumulation, geopolitical risks, and expectations of accommodative monetary conditions continue to provide a powerful structural tailwind.

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Air Force One carrying Trump to Davos returns to Washington DC due to ‘minor electrical issue’

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Air Force One carrying Trump to Davos returns to Washington DC due to ‘minor electrical issue’

New York, Jan 21: US President Donald Trump’s plane, Air Force One, on the way to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum had to return to Joint Base Andrews near Washington DC after a “minor electrical issue” was detected onboard.

After takeoff, the crew of Air Force One identified “a minor electrical issue” and, out of an abundance of caution, the plane was turned around, landing at Joint Base Andrews, according to information provided by reporters onboard the aircraft.

Trump and his entourage will board a new aircraft, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Trump is set to address the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday.

He will also participate in a greeting with the forum’s leadership, meet foreign leaders and attend a reception with business leaders.

On Thursday, on the margins of the World Economic Forum, Trump will participate in the “Board of Peace Charter announcement”, where nations would be invited to sign the charter, joining the body aimed for Gaza’s redevelopment under his comprehensive plan to end the conflict.

Davos is hosting global leaders and business heavyweights as the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum began January 19 and will run till January 23.

Trump’s presence at Davos comes amidst tensions between the US and European nations over his push to acquire Greenland and impose tariffs on countries until “a deal” is reached to purchase Greenland.

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J-K govt orders probe into student’s alleged suicide at GDC Doda; Asst Prof suspended

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J-K govt orders probe into student’s alleged suicide at GDC Doda; Asst Prof suspended

Doda, Jan 21: Jammu & Kashmir Higher Education Department has constituted a committee to enquire into the incident of alleged suicide committed by a student at Government Degree College, Doda on 16.01.2026, according to a government order.

“It is hereby ordered that a Committee of the following officers of the Higher Education Department is constituted to enquire into the incident of reportedly suicide committed on 16.01.2026 by a student at Government Degree College, Doda”, the order reads.

As per the order, the members of the committee include Dr. Sheikh Ajaz Bashir, Director Colleges, Higher Education Department, Sh. Sanjay Kumar Tickoo (JKAS), Deputy Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department and Syed Ishrat Parvez, Under Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department.

According to another government order, an Assistant Professor has also been placed under suspension pending an inquiry. The order reads, ” Pending enquiry into the matter, the Competent Authority has ordered that Prof. Manzoor Ahmad, Assistant Professor (Commerce) of Government Degree College, Doda, is hereby placed under suspension and shall remain attached with the Office of Director Colleges, J&K with immediate effect, till further orders”.

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PDP MLA Waheed Parra says cancer deaths far exceed conflict fatalities in J&K

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PDP MLA Waheed Parra says cancer deaths far exceed conflict fatalities in J&K

Srinagar, January 21: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Parra on Wednesday said cancer had claimed far more lives in Jammu and Kashmir than decades of conflict, calling it a major public health and governance crisis that required urgent government intervention.

In a social media post, Parra said around 67,000 people had died of cancer in the past five years, compared with a similar number of deaths attributed to conflict over the last three decades. “Cancer is killing 300 times more people than conflict in J&K,” he said.

Parra, who represents Pulwama in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, said families—particularly from poorer backgrounds—were being forced to sell land and other assets to seek treatment outside the region due to the burden on local hospitals and limited treatment capacity.

“The biggest battles are often the ones we don’t see,” Parra said, urging the government to treat the issue as both a health emergency and a governance failure.

Tagging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in his post, Parra said the administration must take immediate steps to strengthen cancer care infrastructure within Jammu and Kashmir to prevent avoidable deaths and financial distress among patients’ families.

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Iran warns Trump not to take action against Khamenei

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Iran warns Trump not to take action against Khamenei

Dubai, Jan 21: Iran on Tuesday warned Donald Trump not to take any action against the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, days after the US president called for an end to Khamenei’s nearly 40-year reign.

“Trump knows that if any hand of aggression is extended toward our leader, we not only cut that hand but also we will set fire to their world,” Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesman for Iran’s armed forces, said.

The comments came after Trump described Khamenei in an interview with Politico on Saturday as “a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people,” adding that “it’s time to look for new leadership in Iran.”

Tension between the US and Iran has been high since a violent crackdown by authorities on protests that began over Iran’s ailing economy on Dec. 28. Trump has drawn two red lines for the Islamic Republic — the killing of peaceful protesters and Tehran conducting mass executions in the wake of the demonstrations.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, which had been in the South China Sea in recent days, had passed through the Strait of Malacca, a key waterway connecting the South China Sea and Indian Ocean, by Tuesday, ship-tracking data showed.

A US Navy official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the aircraft carrier and three accompanying destroyers were heading west.

While naval and other defense officials stopped short of saying the carrier strike group was headed to the Middle East, its current heading and location in the Indian Ocean means its only days away from moving into the region.

It would not be first time in recent years that a carrier strike group deployed to the Pacific was moved to the Middle East to address instability in the region. The Abraham Lincoln was rerouted to the Middle East in 2024. Last June, the USS Nimitz strike group was ordered to the region.

The death toll from the protests has reached at least 4,519 people, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said Tuesday. The agency has been accurate throughout the years of demonstrations and unrest in Iran, relying on a network of activists inside the country that confirms all reported fatalities. The Associated Press has been unable to independently confirm the figure.

The death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding the 1979 revolution that brought the Islamic Republic into being. Although there have been no protests for days, there are fears the number could increase significantly as information gradually emerges from a country still under a government-imposed shutdown of the internet since Jan. 8.

Khamenei said on Saturday that the protests had left “several thousand” people dead and blamed the United States. It was the first indication from an Iranian leader of the extent of the casualties.

More than 26,300 people have been arrested, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Comments from officials have led to fears of some of those detained being put to death in Iran, one of the world’s top executioners.

National police chief Gen. Ahmad Reza Radan has said those turning themselves in would receive more lenient treatment than those who don’t.

“Those who were deceived by foreign intelligence services, and became their soldiers in practice, have a chance to turn themselves in,” Radan said in an interview carried by Iran’s state television on Monday. “In case of surrender, definitely there will be a reduction in punishment. They have three days to turn themselves in.”

He did not elaborate on what would happen after the three days.

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Trump questions NATO’s reliability, escalates Greenland rhetoric

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Trump questions NATO’s reliability, escalates Greenland rhetoric

Washington, Jan 21: Sharpening his rhetoric on Greenland, US President Donald Trump raised questions about NATO’s reliability, signalling that security commitments to Europe could increasingly be tied to economic and strategic leverage.

At a White House news conference marking one year since his return to office, Trump declined to say how far Washington might go to secure US interests related to Greenland. Asked directly, he replied: “You’ll find out.”

Pressed on whether force was an option, Trump avoided specifics. He pointed instead to economic tools. He said tariffs, licensing and “other alternatives” were available and described them as “the best, the strongest, the fastest.”

Trump said he had meetings planned on Greenland during his trip to Davos. “We have a lot of meetings scheduled on Greenland,” he said. He added that he believed “things are going to work out pretty well.”

The president paired those comments with renewed criticism of NATO. He repeated claims that he strengthened the alliance by pushing members to raise defence spending. He said allies agreed to lift spending to 5 per cent of GDP from the long-standing 2 per cent target. “Getting them to go up to five per cent of GDP was something that nobody thought was possible,” he said.

At the same time, Trump questioned whether the alliance would stand with the United States in a crisis. “NATO is only as good as we are,” he said. Without the US, he added, the alliance would not be very strong. He said he had concerns about whether allies would come to Washington’s aid.

Trump said he had improved NATO’s position but remained sceptical of its structure. He argued that the US bears a disproportionate share of the burden. He said his approach forced allies to pay more and buy more from the United States.

He dismissed the idea of attending a proposed G-7 emergency meeting in Paris. Asked if he would go at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump said: “No, I wouldn’t do that.” He questioned Macron’s political longevity and said he preferred meetings with leaders “that are directly involved.”

Trump said he got along personally with Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He added that both countries faced serious problems. He pointed to immigration and energy as Europe’s main challenges. He urged leaders to rethink wind power and use domestic energy resources.

The remarks fit Trump’s broader approach to foreign policy. He often links security guarantees to economic pressure. He argues that tariffs and trade leverage force allies and rivals to negotiate.

Trump said the strategy made the United States richer and more secure. “We’re the richest we ever were,” he said, crediting pressure tactics for the gains.

Greenland and NATO have taken on added importance as competition grows in the Arctic and Europe. Trump’s comments suggest US policy will continue to tie alliances, territory and trade more closely together.

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Delhi records ‘very poor’ air quality as AQI stands at 341

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Delhi records ‘very poor’ air quality as AQI stands at 341

New Delhi, Jan 21: Delhi continued to reel under ‘very poor’ air quality on Wednesday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 341 around 7 am, according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Although the air quality showed a marginal improvement compared to Tuesday morning, when the AQI stood at 397, the overall situation remained concerning, with pollution levels firmly placed in the ‘very poor’ category. The sustained deterioration in air quality continues to pose serious health risks, particularly to children, the elderly and individuals with respiratory ailments.

Several areas across the national capital reported high AQI levels. Anand Vihar recorded AQI readings of 388, Ashok Vihar at 388, while Wazirpur registered 386. Other pollution hotspots included Punjabi Bagh (374), RK Puram (377), Bawana (383), ITO (369), Chandni Chowk (369) and Dwarka Sector 8 (376). All these locations remained in the ‘very poor’ category, reflecting widespread pollution across the city.

As per AQI classification, a reading between 0 and 50 is ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported moderate fog at several locations in Delhi, with dense fog observed at isolated places. The temperature in the national capital was recorded at around 9 degrees Celsius at 7 am, adding to the challenging weather conditions.

A day earlier, in view of deteriorating air quality in the national capital, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked measures under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi and the National Capital Region.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said that it has revoked its earlier orders dated January 17, 2026, invoking Stage-IV actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for the National Capital Region (NCR). Stage-IV measures are applicable when the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 450, classified as ‘Severe’.

All implementing agencies across the NCR have been instructed to maintain strict vigilance and intensify measures under these stages to prevent AQI levels from worsening into the ‘Severe’ category.

The CAQM emphasised that air quality monitoring and review will continue across the region, with all agencies ensuring the timely implementation of preventive measures under Stage-I, II, and III.

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