kottayam l Thursday l December 25, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION Bharti, Warburg Pincus buy 49% stake in Haier India for $2 bn Bharti Enterprises and Warburg Pincus said in a statement on Wednesday that they are making a strategic investment in Haier India Management control in Chinese hands Reliance, jsw group were in the fray The management control will continue to remain with China-based Haier Group, which will retain 49% stake in Haier India after the deal, down from 100%. The deal may provide reprieve from Press Note 3. Through PN3, the Centre had made its prior approval mandatory for investments from countries that share a land border with India, which includes China ■ ■ The announcement puts a curtain on a hotly contested race in which JSW group and Reliance Industries were participating | p10 The new capital infusion is expected to enhance Haier India’s competitiveness at a time when the company is aiming to be the number two player in the Indian electronics and appliances market A17,955 cr the size of the deal as per industry sources 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 Two new airlines get wings from govt S L a l i t h a @ New Delhi AIR travellers are set to have more options as three new domestic airlines prepare to launch operations. Two carriers—Al Hind Air and FlyExpress—received their No Objection Certificates from the civil aviation ministry this week, while Uttar Pradesh-based Shankh Air, which already has an NOC, is likely to begin flights in 2026. The development gains significance following IndiGo’s operational meltdown in early December, which drew sharp criticism over the appar- Isro launches heaviest satellite B o s k y K h a nn a @ Bengaluru The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday launched the 6.10-tonne BlueBird Block-2 communications satellite, the heaviest it has launched to date. Isro’s Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3)-M6 rocket, nicknamed ‘Bahubali’, lifted off with the satellite belonging to US-based AST SpaceMobile (AST and Science, LLC) and released it accurately into the 518.50 km altitude circular Low Earth Orbit. The launch took place at 8.55 am and the satellite was released into its orbit at 9.11 am in what ISRO scientists described as a case of “textbook launch”. Till now, the heaviest satellite that ISRO had launched was the 4.40-tonne Communication Satellite 03, also known as GSAT-7R on November 2. The LVM3M6/BlueBird Block-2 Mission was executed from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota. The launch was the result of a commercial deal between ISRO’s business arm NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) and US-based AST SpaceMobile. ent duopoly in India’s domestic aviation market. The aviation ministry is keen to have more airline operators in the country, which is one of the world’s fastest growing domestic civil aviation markets. “Over the last one week, pleased to have met teams from new airlines aspiring to take wings in Indian skiesShankh Air, Al Hind Air and F lyExpress. While Shankh Air has already got the NOC from the Ministry Al Hind , Air and FlyExpress have received their NOCs this week,” Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on X. The ministry wants to encourage more airlines in Indian aviation sector, which is amongst the fastest growing international aviation markets. Over the last one week, pleased to have met teams from new airlines aspiring to take wings in Indian skies - Shankh Air, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress —Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on X To challenge Sengar’s bail Meets Rahul, gets promise of top lawyer Unnao survivor to approach SC seeking justice safety and the Gandhis assured all help. A day after the Delhi High In its order on Tuesday, the Court suspended the life sen- HC granted bail to Sengar with tence awarded by a trial court conditions. It directed him not to former BJP MLA Kuldeep to come within a 5-km radius Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao of the survivor’s residence. rape case, the survivor on Sengar, who is currently in jail, Wednesday said she would will not be immediately remove the Supreme Court. leased as he is also serving a 10On Wednesday, she and her year term in the custodial mother staged a protest death case of the survinear Mandi House vor’s father. He is yet to against the HC verdict. get bail in that case. Earlier in the day, the The survivor was a miWe will go to duo met Congress lead- the Supreme nor when she was kiders Rahul Gandhi and napped and raped by Court and Sonia Gandhi after alleg- have sought Sengar in 2017. ing ill-treatment by Delhi Rahulji’s help Deploring the alleged Police. On Tuesday night, ill treatment meted out Unnao rape the survivor and her to the survivor during survivor mother were reportedly her protest in Delhi, Raforcefully removed by pohul Gandhi said she is lice from a protest site near In- being punished for seeking jusdia Gate. tice. “Is such treatment of a Speaking to the media, she gang-rape survivor approprisaid no one from the govern- ate? The fact that her perpetrament came forward to help her tor has been granted bail is exwhile Rahul Gandhi promised tremely disappointing and to get a top lawyer to fight the shameful—especially when the case in the Supreme Court. survivor is being repeatedly The survivor termed the Del- harassed and is living under hi High Court’s decision to sus- the shadow of fear,” he said in pend the jail term of Sengar a social media post. “Bail for ‘death’ for her family Sources rapists and treating survivors . said she also sought relocation like criminals—what kind of to a Congress-ruled state for justice is this?” he asked. File photo of Kuldeep Singh Sengar being taken away from the CBI court in Lucknow on April 14, 2018 | pti HC decision death for my family, says rape survivor The Unnao rape survivor said on Wednesday that the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s jail term in the 2017 case is kaal (death) for her family. “If the convict gets bail in a case like this, how will the country’s daughters remain safe? For us, this decision is no less than kaal,” she said We may be turning into a dead society, says Rahul Deploring the ill-treatment meted out to the rape survivor during her protest in Delhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said she deserves respect, safety and justice. “We are not just becoming a dead economy—with such inhuman incidents, we are also turning into a dead society,” he said F30L aid announced for lynching victim’s family T’Puram: The state government has announced a financial assistance of D30 lakh to the family of Ramnarayan Baghel, the migrant worker who was lynched to death by a mob in Palakkad. A sum of D5 lakh each will be given to Ramnarayan’s mother and wife, while D10 lakh each will be allotted to his children as fixed deposit. The amount will be disbursed from the CMDRF | P4 The New Indian Express wishes its readers a Merry Christmas. Our offices will remain closed today. There will be no issue of the paper tomorrow brothers in arms Ending a 20-year political feud, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray forged an alliance on Wednesday for BMC polls | pti | P8 What is it @T’Puram EXPRESS READ New Delhi: The Ministry of Environment has directed states to ban new mining leases in the Aravalli Range, stretching from Delhi to Gujarat, to save them from unbridled mining activities. The move follows reports that the Central Empowered Committee had contradicted a governmentheaded committee’s recommendations on definition of the Aravallis. State deals nativity card to address ‘citizenship worries’ E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e PR E E THA N AIR @ New Delhi No fresh leases allowed for mining in Aravallis Al Hind Air is being promoted by Kerala-based alhind Group, which was founded in the 1990s. Schemes like UDAN, have enabled smaller carriers Star Air, India One Air and Fly91 to play an important role in the regional connectivity within the country and there is scope for further growth, he added. Currently there are nine oper, ational domestic carriers in the country: Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, Alliance Air, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air, Fly91 and IndiaOne Air, as per data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. A permanent card that proves a person is a Keralite and an Indian The state government is planning to introduce a permanent nativity card as a new identification document to prove residency as it looks to address concerns related to citizenship. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who announced the cabinet decision on Wednesday said the card will replace the nativity certificate currently issued in the state. Terming as “worrying” the situation faced by people who have to prove their citizenship, Pinarayi said an authentic and legally-backed document would benefit them. “We are aware of the fear among people over citizenship. This card will serve as a document to establish that the person is a Keralite and an Indian,” the CM said. He clarified It seeks to replace the nativity certificate, which has to be obtained each time it is needed Tahsildar will be the authority who issues the card It can be used to avail govt service and other needs The card is not mandatory. It will be issued to anyone who applies The state govt currently issues nativity certificate to prove birth, long-term residence of a person. The certificate is not considered a legally binding document that the proposed document has nothing to do with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. “SIR is a different process alto- turnaround Home births drop by 80% in Malappuram U nn i k r i s h n a n S @T’Puram Malappuram, which once reported the highest number of home births in Kerala, has witnessed a remarkable turnaround this year with an 80% drop in such cases. The district reported 36 home births so far in the current financial year, a major drop from 191 reported in the previous fiscal. The demise of 35-year-old Asma, who bled to death during a home birth at her rented house in Malappuram on April 5, Positive shift proved a turning point. Following Home births in Malappuram the botched delivery field workers, , 266 with the backing of religious lead- 2021-22 ers, successfully persuaded fami- 2022-23 253 lies to shift to institutional 2023-24 252 deliveries. “There was a marked change 2024-25 191 after Asma’s death. We have been closely monitoring pregnant 2025-26 (Dec) 36 women to sustain the awareness,” Source: Health dept said Dr Pameeli N N, Malappuram district reproductive and child health officer. The authorities, which included members from local bodies, the women and child development department and the police, actively worked to curb the existing tendency of encouraging home births. Dr Pameeli emphasised that religious leaders intervened when other options failed. “Field-level officers were able to convert over 40 planned home births to institutional deliver● More on P4 ies,” she said. Uncorking history Kochi’s ‘OT’, a mysterious, zingy mix of nostalgia & Christmas spirit R a j e s h R a v i @Kochi A dash of history, a hint of zing, and a secret code that adds extra zest. OT, short for “Other Things”, the affectionate moniker for the humble ginger wine carries all the intrigue of a colonial-era handout. Passed down like a whispered family legend, it is a sip of nostalgia that keeps old ways alive in every bubbling batch. Come Christmas, Anglo-Indian homes in Fort Kochi still dust off this relic of the Prohibition era. OT makes its quiet appearance after lavish festive meals. Essentially a non-fermented drink—closer to a spiced juice than wine—it is traditionally served as a digestive. The drink once served a more tactical purpose, according to writer, illustrator and cultural chronicler Bony Thomas, a founding member of the Kochi Biennale Foundation. “During Prohibition, innovative individuals used ginger wine—strong in aroma and flavour—to disguise or cover up illicit arrack. OT is Malayalam slang translated into English, it simply means ‘other things’,” Bony explains. The code was subtle, gether. This is to address a larger issue related to citizenship,” he said. The revenue department has been tasked with evolving the draft law to give legal validity to the nativity card in consultation with the law department, he said. The authority to issue such cards would rest with tahsildars and the document could be used for services related to the state government and for other needs. The CM said the government had received numerous complaints from people who have to approach revenue authorities each time the nativity certificate is required. In its curr e n t f o r m , t h e n a t iv i t y certificate is a document that proves the birth and long-term residence of a person in a state. However, it is not a legally binding document. effective and widely understood within the community he adds. , Musician Sunno Bracken, 81, recalls Christmases when preparations began as early as November. “The feast would be heavy and ginger wine was the , perfect antidote,” he says. Meals were elaborate: greenhead duck roast, pork vindaloo among other delicacies. “Digestion was the main aspect. With chicken, pork and other meats, you needed something to settle the stomach,” he says. The recipe for ginger wine gained wider currency through “The East Indian Cookery Book”, though households ● More on P4 adapted it freely  . Vijay Hazare trophy For the record, this is big On any other day, former India captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli scoring hundreds in Vijay Hazare ties would have been the talking points. But not on Wednesday as three fastest List A centuries were scored. 22 centuries As many as 22 centuries were scored on Day 1, the most in VH history. Previously, 19 tons were scored on Dec 12, 2021 and Jan 3, 2025 38 Total sixes Hit by Bihar is by far the most in a men’s List A innings as they posted 574/6, the highest ever List A total 3 fastest hundreds Ishan Kishan followed his T20 World Cup callup with a 33ball 100 against Karnataka as Jharkhand post 412. Karnataka raced to a five-wicket win. Sensational Vaibhav Suryawanshi hit a 36-ball 100 against Arunachal Pradesh. But his teammate Sakibul Gani eclipsed all with a 32-ball 100 to help Bihar post 574 for 6 14 yr, 272 days Suryawanshi became the youngest to score a List A hundred