BHUBANESWAR l thursday l december 18, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l LATE CITY EDITION Homebound in Oscar shortlist for best international feature The much acclaimed Bollywood drama by Neeraj Ghaywan is among 15 films shortlisted in the best international feature category at the Oscars 4th Indian Film to Compete in This Category final five Nominations on january 22 Homebound will compete alongside films like Argentina’s Bel’n, Brazil’s The Secret Agent and French drama It Was Just an Accident. The film stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor. The award for best international feature has so far eluded India. Only three films—Mother India, Salaam Bombay and Lagaan—have received nominations so far ■ ■ After a film is shortlisted, it competes for a place among the final five official nominees, which will be announced on January 22 Homebound, which portrays the childhood friendship between a Muslim and a Dalit as they pursue a police job, counts Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese among its executive producers Mar 15, 2026 when The award ceremony will be held at the Dolby Theatre in L.A. CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Three students held for throttling inmate, 8 KISS officials arrested VB-G RAM G Bill today Lok Sabha clears nuclear bill amid Oppn walkout PR E E T H A N AIR @ New Delhi THE Lok Sabha on Wednesday cleared the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill to open up the nuclear sector for private players. The bill was passed by voice vote amid a walkout by the Opposition members, who raised the issues of public safety and liability in case of a nuclear disaster. Dramatic scenes are likely on Thursday as well, when the contentious VB-G RAM G Bill is expected to be taken up for passage in the House. The SHANTI Bill was passed after a four-hour debate, setting the stage for opening up the tightly controlled civil nuclear sector for private participation. Opposition MPs, barring those from the Trinamool Congress, staged a walkout during the bill’s passage after the government refused to refer it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee or a Standing Committee. While replying to the discussion on the SHANTI Bill, Union minister Jitendra Singh said the tough provisions of India’s nuclear liability laws led to “silent phobia” in the industry prompting the govern, ment to bring a new comprehensive bill to address concerns. Congress MP Manish Tewari said by removing nuclear equipment suppliers’ liability the govern, ment was putting citizens in harm’s way . “The government will deal only with the operator; it is upon the operator to deal with the supplier,” said Singh, Minister of State in the PMO, who oversees the Department of Atomic Energy . He said the operator’s liability has been rationalised through graded caps linked to reactor size. Meanwhile, a heated midnight debate set the stage for the passage of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill on Thursday Moving the bill on Wednesday Union . , Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said it will ensure all-around development of villages and make them poverty-free. Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh said the new bill will break the back of states like Kerala.  P7 E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar Security oversight Safety norms, security controls over fissile material, spent fuel and heavy water, and inspections will remain under govt oversight, govt said Misstep, says Cong Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the bill is a “dangerous leap into privatised nuclear expansion” with no respect for public safety Insurance FDI 100% The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill to raise FDI in insurance to 100% from the current 74%. LS had passed it on Tuesday Lucknow AQI @ 400, 4th T20I Fogged out India all-rounder Hardik Pandya wearing a mask during training for the fourth T20I versus South Africa at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday. The match was delayed for two hours due to “excessive fog” with the Air Quality Index at 400 + (hazardous). Eventually, the match was called off at 9.30 pm without a ball being bowled. Ticket holders will get full refund | pti | P11 In a surprising twist to the suspicious death of the 14-year-old tribal student of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), police on Wednesday said the minor was strangulated by three fellow inmates in the hostel. All three have been booked under the Juvenile Justice Act. Eight officials of the residential institution too were arrested for suppressing the crime. The incident had taken place in the intervening night of December 11 and 12. Initially the , KISS authorities had handed over body of Shiva Munda, a Class IX student of the residential school, to the family which belongs to Keonjhar without informing the local police in Bhubaneswar. Addressing mediapersons, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack police commissioner S Dev Datta E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ New Delhi Pakistan’s most powerful military chief in decades is facing a critical test of his newly consolidated authority as the US is pressing it to contribute troops to a proposed international stabilisation force in Gaza, a move analysts say could trigger strong domestic backlash, Reuters reported. Field Marshal Asim Munir is expected to travel to Washington in the coming weeks to meet US President Donald Trump, Reuters said. The meeting would be Munir’s third in six months and is likely to centre on Washington’s push for Pakistan’s participation in the Gaza force. The proposed deployment is a key pillar of Trump’s 20point Gaza peace plan, which calls for an international force to oversee a transition period focused on reconstruction and economic recovery in the Palestinian territory, devastated by more than two years of war. Under the first phase of the plan, a fragile ceasefire took effect on October 10, with Hamas releasing hostages and Israel freeing detained Palestinians. The US officials view the stabilisation force as central to moving the plan Airspace ban for Indian flights extended Pakistan on Wednesday extended its airspace ban for Indian aircraft by another month till Jan 23. Islamabad closed its airspace in April after the Pahalgam terror attack. The previous extension was to expire on Dec 24. India too imposed a similar ban on Pak flights | P7 Two get jail term for dishonouring Tricolour Bondi gunman charged with 59 offences SYDNEY: One of the gunmen in Sydney’s Bondi Beach massacre was charged with 59 offenses including 15 charges of murder on Wednesday, as hundreds of mourners gathered in Sydney to begin funerals for the victims. Two shooters slaughtered 15 people on Sunday in an antisemitic mass shooting targeting Jews celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach. Over 20 other people are still being treated in hospitals | P9 Security personnel stand behind barricades to stop protesters marching towards the Indian Mission in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Wednesday | PTI B’desh envoy summoned amid worry over mission’s security J aya n t h j a c o b @ New Delhi India on Wednesday summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah and lodged a strong protest over what it described as plans by extremist elements to create a security situation around the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. Hamidullah was called to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and served a formal demarche expressing India’s “serious concerns” over the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh. It came after certain groups announced plans to stage protests near the Indian mission in the Bangladesh capital. In a statement, the MEA said India “completely rejects the false narrative sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh”. Hamidullah was summoned by B Shyam, Joint Secretary in charge of the Bangladesh-Myanmar division at the MEA, and was specifically apprised of concerns over threats to Indian diplomatic premises. “His attention was drawn, in particular, to the activities of some extremist elements who have announced plans to create a security situation around the Indian Mission in Dhaka,” the MEA said. People familiar with the developments said one trigger for the summons was a controversial speech earlier this week by National Citizen Party leader Hasnat Abdullah, who claimed Bangladesh could shelter separatist forces from India and potentially sever its seven northeastern states. India expects interim govt to ensure safety of missions — MEA Visa centre shut Indian Visa Application Centre in Dhaka was closed on Wednesday due to security concerns CM to lead two-day investors’ meet in Hyderabad today E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar In an effort to bring more investments to the state, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will embark on a two-day Odisha investors’ meet-cum-roadshow, at Hyderabad in Telangana on Thursday and Friday . Speaking to mediapersons on Wednesday, Industries minister Sampad Chandra Swain said during the roadshow, the CM will pitch the state’s growing indus- also found ‘Joker Gang’ inscribed on the wall of the hostel toilet where the incident took place,” the police commissioner said. Shiva was attacked after he refused to give a bucket to the three in the toilet block. Detailing about the role of the authorities, Singh said, officials and teachers of the school suppressed the matter and tried to destroy evidence. The eight who were arrested include additional CEO of KISS Pramod Patra, headmaster of KISS secondary school Rashmiranjan Nayak, two teachers Binay Kumar Gochhi and Pradeep Kumar Das, senior academic coordinator Ashok Kumar Malla, assistant field officer of hostel Hemanta Kumar Mohapatra, supervisor of boys’ hostel Ramakanta Behera and assistant teacher Sujata Mishra.  Continued on P5 Munir in pickle as Don wants Pak troops in Gaza express read Kendrapara: A court in Kendrapara district on Wednesday sentenced two persons to two years of imprisonment for dishonouring the National Flag during Independence Day celebration in a school in 2004. The convicts are SK Aiuddin (45) and SK Nashiruddin (47), both residents of Kanakanagar village under Rajnagar police limits | P4 Singh informed that Shiva was attacked and strangulated by three fellow inmates over a petty matter. The three children in conflict with law (CCLs) have been produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. The police commissioner said the postmortem was conducted in Keonjhar after a zero FIR was drawn basing on a complaint from the family members of the deceased. “We received the postmortem report on Tuesday which revealed that Shiva had marks on his neck. A thorough probe was launched and it was ascertained that three students assaulted and strangulated him on December 11 night,” he added. The three inmates had formed a group and called it ‘Joker Gang.’ Police, during its investigation, quizzed other students of the school and learnt about the assault. “We trial strengths in the automotive components, IT&ESDM, chemical, green energy, pharmaceutical, medical devices and other priority sectors. “Following the success of recent investor engagement initiatives in- cluding the Odisha Pharma Summit 2025, this visit is part of the state’s broader effort to attract new investments, strengthen partnerships with industry leaders and showcase Odisha as a preferred destination for inclusive This visit is part of the state’s broader effort to attract new investments, strengthen partnerships with industry leaders and showcase Odisha as a preferred destination for inclusive and sustainable economic and industrial development – Sampad Chandra Swain, Industries minister and sustainable economic and industrial development,” he added. Swain said the Odisha delegation led by the chief minister will hold one-on-one meetings with industry captains, senior leaders of top companies and conduct a round-table discussion with industry leaders. The roadshow in Hyderabad is planned to engage with companies and explore expans i o n a n d n ew i nve s t m e n t Continued on P5 destinations.  into its next phase. For Munir, analysts say, the decision carries significant political risks. Any deployment of troops to Gaza could provoke public uprising in a country where support for Palestinians is strong and overseas military commitments remain politically sensitive. “Not contributing could annoy Trump, which is no small matter for a Pakistani state that appears quite keen to remain in his good graces — in great part to secure US investment and security aid,” said Michael Kugelman, senior fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council. 260+ve wada Dope test results India tops for 3rd yr in a row NADA tested 7,113 samples, including 537 of that of blood, in 2024 and reported 260 adverse analytical findings (AAFs) at 3.6% Page 11