A Delhi court sentenced four men to life imprisonment for the murder of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan in 2008. Vishwanathan, who worked with the India Today group, was shot dead while returning home from work in an attempted robbery. The court held Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Ajay Kumar and Baljeet Malik guilty of murder and organized crime charges, but said the case did not warrant the death penalty. A fifth convict, Ajay Sethi, was found guilty of receiving stolen property and abetting organized crime. The murder, initially believed to be a car accident, was uncovered as a gunshot homicide through forensic reports.

In a critical turn of events, the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation, aiming to save 41 trapped workers, encountered a significant hurdle when the American-auger drilling machine struck a metal girder, forcing a temporary halt. Faced with this challenge, officials are now contemplating the option of vertical drilling. The Border Roads Organisation has readied the site, and preparations are underway. Despite setbacks, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assures the public that the rescue operation is in its "final stage." Meanwhile, experts deploy ground-penetration radar and drones for a comprehensive understanding of the challenging rescue mission.    

Officials could not make any progress in rescuing the 41 workers as drilling could not resume Friday. Just 10-12 more metres of debris remain to be drilled inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi before evacuation pipes can be installed. A metal object damaged equipment blades halting operations. Senior officials hope to establish contact Saturday if no more hurdles emerge. On Thursday, the drilling platform got destabilized after the drill bit damaged tunnel steel pipes. The evacuation pipe got warped, narrowing its mouth so the machine couldn't push through. Officials said chopping 1.2m off the pipe took 7-8 hours. With at least the fifth obstruction hitting drilling, GPR scanning is being used to check the remaining debris. After a series of obstacles, the risky Uttarakhand tunnel rescue hopes to break through by Saturday barring any new setback.

In a setback to the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue mission, operations came to a standstill as the auger machine encountered another technical snag. The machine, having drilled 46.8 meters, is mere steps away from the debris's end. Experts assess the situation, considering manual cutting. Former advisor Bhaskar Khulbe expresses optimism, revealing strengthened platforms and ongoing welding efforts. Union Minister VK Singh monitors on-site, while Prime Minister Modi seeks updates. With challenges persisting, caution prevails, emphasizing the complex nature of this ongoing rescue operation in Uttarakhand.

Vibhuti Patel, owner of Raniba Industries Pvt. Ltd. in Morbi, faces charges for allegedly assaulting and humiliating Dalit employee Nilesh Dalsaniya over a salary dispute. The FIR reveals a distressing incident where Dalsaniya was beaten, filmed confessing under duress, and forced to hold Patel's footwear in his mouth. The accused, including Patel and others, face charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The police are actively searching for the accused involved in this appalling act of abuse and discrimination against a Dalit worker.

In a crucial development, officials report that merely 10-12 meters of drilling stand between rescuers and the 41 workers entombed in Uttarakhand's collapsed tunnel for the past 13 days. Encouragingly, ground penetrating radar signals no significant metal obstacles for the next 5 meters. Despite a setback involving a metal pipe entangling the drilling blades, the team is optimistic that welding and pushing in two more pipes, each 6 meters in length, could lead to a breakthrough. However, caution prevails, as unexpected hurdles might emerge, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of this arduous rescue operation.

Officials said the 41 workers trapped for 13 days in a collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel will be rescued by pulling them out one-by-one on wheeled stretchers through a passage created by pushing a big pipe through the rubble. The NDRF demonstrated the technique in a video, showing a stretcher attached to a rope being pulled through the tunnel. Workers will lie flat on stretchers to avoid scraping the welded pipe roof during the extraction by rope. Initially, rescuers considered making them crawl out but their condition may prevent it after 13 days without light and meals. Instead, they will carefully pull out each worker strapped onto a wheeled stretcher through the newly created tunnel. After nearly two weeks of tireless efforts, officials believe the complex rescue operation to evacuate 41 workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand is likely to conclude today. 

After nearly two weeks of tireless efforts, officials believe the complex rescue operation to evacuate 41 workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand is likely to conclude today. However, authorities caution against predicting a timeline, likening the challenging operation to 'war'. Drilling restarts at 11am after a technical halt. Personnel are fully prepared to safely extract workers on stretchers once a pathway is cleared. Chief Minister Dhami has set up camp on-site to monitor progress. With drilling in its final phase, there is hope the trapped workers will finally see light at the end of the tunnel after 12 arduous days.

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport faced a bomb threat as an email from an unknown sender demanded one million dollars in Bitcoin within 48 hours to prevent an explosion at Terminal 2. The email, received by 38-year-old Visyam Pathak, triggered heightened security measures across all airport terminals. Authorities registered a case under IPC sections 385 and 505(1)(b) against the unknown sender. Terminal operations and relevant departments were promptly informed. This incident follows a similar hoax bomb threat in September, emphasizing the ongoing challenges in ensuring airport security.

Rescue efforts in Uttarakhand's Sikyara tunnel faced setbacks due to persistent obstacles, including iron girders, causing delays in clearing the collapsed section. The option of employing skilled manual cutters is being explored as the auger machine encountered interruptions during horizontal drilling. Progress has reached 45-47 meters, with 17-20 meters remaining. Government officials cautiously refrain from specifying a breakthrough timeline, emphasizing preparedness for potential hurdles. National Disaster Relief Force teams conduct rehearsals, prioritizing stretcher-based evacuation, estimating a 3-4 hour operation post-rescue. Basic needs of stranded workers are met, and a detailed medical check-up is planned after rescue.