Latest news today (January 9): Presenting FE’s Breaking News today. We will keep you updated on all major news, views and much more throughout the day.

South Korea’s parliament passes landmark ban on production and sales of dog meat

South Korea’s parliament on Tuesday passed a landmark ban on production and sales of dog meat, as public calls for a prohibition have grown sharply over concerns about animal rights and the country’s international image. Some angry dog farmers said they plan to challenge the bill’s constitutionality and hold protest rallies, a sign of continued heated debate over the ban. After a three-year grace period, the bill would make slaughtering, breeding and sales of dog meat for human consumption illegal from 2027 and punishable by 2-3 years in prison. It doesn’t provide any penalties for eating dog meat. (AP)

France gets its youngest-ever prime minister, Gabriel Attal, as Macron shakes up government

Gabriel Attal was appointed as France’s youngest-ever prime minister by President Emmanuel Macron. At 34, Attal, the former government spokesman and education minister, is also the country’s first openly gay prime minister. This move comes as Macron aims for a fresh start amid political pressure. Elisabeth Borne, Attal’s predecessor, resigned Monday amid controversy over an immigration law. Macron and Attal will collaborate on forming a new government in the coming days. (READ MORE)

Vistara to start direct flights to Paris from Mumbai

Vistara announced the launch of non-stop flights to Paris from Mumbai starting March 28. The service, operating five times a week with a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, expands Vistara’s long-haul international network, which already includes flights to London and Frankfurt from Mumbai. The airline, based in Gurugram, marks nine years of operations.

Cop, others thrash Kanpur student, urinate in his mouth

In a bid to settle scores, a head constable and about a dozen other men allegedly thrashed a student, fired a bullet to scare him and urinated into his mouth one by one, police said on Tuesday. The men abducted the MCA student named Ayush Dwivedi (23) from the city’s Civil Lines area where he had come to meet someone, drove him five kilometers away to Cooperganj where they assaulted him, they said.

Music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan dies at 55

Music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan, who has been undergoing treatment at a Kolkata-based hospital for prostate cancer, died at a city hospital this afternoon, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. He was 55. “We tried our best but failed. He passed away at around 3:45 PM,” an official of the private hospital where Khan was admitted said. The chief minister who visited the hospital said, “This is a great loss for the entire country and the entire music fraternity. I am in a lot of pain as I still can’t believe that Rashid Khan is no more.” (PTI) (READ MORE)

Massive fire breaks out in Delhi’s Narela; fire tenders on the spot

A massive fire broke out in a factory in North Delhi’s Narela area on Tuesday morning. Several fire tenders have reached the spot, and dousing operations are underway. However, no causalities have been reported so far.

Waqf Board money laundering case: ED files charge sheet against four accused, partnership firm

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against five accused in the Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case. ED charged Javed Imam Siddiqui, Dawood Nasir, Qausar Imam Siddiqui, Zeeshan Haider and his partnership firm, Sky power.

ED raids 7 sites tied to Uddhav faction MLA Ravindra Waikar in money laundering probe

The Enforcement Directorate carried out searches at seven premises connected to Ravindra Waikar, a leader of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) and an MLA, along with his associates as part of an investigation into a money laundering case. This inquiry is linked to the building of a lavish hotel in Jogeshwari, where it is alleged that the land use conditions were manipulated during its construction.

Four people killed in a forest department electric vehicle crash

Four people were killed in a vehicle crash accident near Chila Barrage Power House in the Lakshman Jhula police station area of Pauri district on Monday.

People evacuated in Dehradun’s Jhanjra after chlorine gas leak

Residents of Jhanjra area in Dehradun were evacuated on Tuesday after an incident of chlorine gas leak caused people to complain of breathlessness. The residents were sent to safe places, a senior police official said adding there was no report of any casualties.

61 new COVID cases reported in Maharashtra

Sixty-one new cases were recorded in the state on Monday, as per an official update on COVID-19 from the Public Health Department of Maharashtra.

Earthquake of magnitude 6.7 jolts Talaud Islands

An earthquake of magnitude 6.7 struck the Talaud Islands, Indonesia, on Tuesday, the National Centre for Seismology reported. The tremors were felt on January 9, at 02:18:47 IST at a depth of 80 km.

Engineer duped of 12 Lakhs in cryptocurrency scam through telegram channel

In a distressing incident, Ankit Chaudhary, an engineer associated with a renowned company, fell victim to a cryptocurrency scam, losing approximately Rs 12 lakh. According to his complaint, he received enticing messages on a Telegram channel, urging him to invest in cryptocurrency.

Hindu Americans hold car rally in Houston ahead of Ram temple’s consecration in Ayodhya

Members of the Hindu American community on Sunday held a huge car rally across Houston, stopping at 11 temples along the way amid bhajans and slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ given the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya later this month.

Accident claims lives of two Delhi Police Inspectors near Kundali border

In a horrific incident, two Delhi Police inspectors died after their car rammed into a canter (truck) at around 11:30 pm last night near Kundali Border in Haryana’s Sonipat district.