17012025-TTC-01.qxd 1/17/2025 12:37 AM 13 GAZA TRUCE DEAL ON HOLD: NETANYAHU WORLD /thetribunechd Page 1 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 145 NO. 17 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 friday | 17 january 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com ISRO docks 2 satellites in space as India joins elite 4-nation club Achieves historic milestone after multiple deferments hit SpaDeX Shubhadeep Choudhury NOD TO 3RD LAUNCH PAD AT SRIHARIKOTA Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 16 Setting at rest the uncertainties resulting from multiple deferments, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday successfully carried out the docking of two satellites in space, making India the fourth country in the world after the US, Russia and China to accomplish the feat. In space, docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. The in-space docking experiment is crucial for the smooth conduct of the country’s ambitious future missions, including Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyaan, setting up a space station and landing an astronaut on the moon. Last October, the government had announced that India would have by 2035 its Indonesian Prez to be chief guest at R-Day function Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 16 Newly elected Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will be the chief guest during India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Thursday. “At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto will pay a state visit to India on January 25 and 26. President Subianto will also be the chief guest for India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations,” an MEA statement said. The MEA said this would be Subianto’s first visit to India in his capacity as President after assuming office in October 2024. “India and Indonesia share warm and friendly ties spanning over millennia. As a comprehensive strategic partner, Indonesia is an important pillar in India’s continued on page 8 ■ The Cabinet has approved V Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO setting up of the 3rd launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota ■ The project envisages the establishment of launch infrastructure for ISRO's next gen launch vehicles ■ Will also enhance launch capacity for future missions MISSION CRUCIAL FOR CHANDRAYAAN-4 ■ Space docking tech needed for multiple rocket launches ■ Crucial for future missions, including Chandrayaan-4 own space station, “Bharatiya Antariksh Station”. “Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment,” ISRO said in a post on X. “Let’s walk through the SpaDeX docking process: Manoeuvre from and Gaganyaan ■ Required for setting up own space station and landing an astronaut on the moon 15 metres to 3 metres hold point completed. Docking initiated with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture. Retraction completed smoothly, followed by rigidisation for stability. Docking successfully com- pleted,” the post added. After docking, the control of two satellites—Chaser and Target—as a single object was successful, ISRO said, adding that undocking and power transfer from one satellite to the other would follow in the coming days. “India’s space programme achieves historic milestone with the successful docking of the two satellites launched under Space docking experiment, SpaDeX!” President Droupadi Murmu wrote on X, congratulating ISRO. “Congratulations to our scientists at ISRO and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites. It is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a message. continued on page 8 edit: ace in space On Delhi poll eve, Cabinet clears 8th Pay Commission Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 16 The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday cleared the formation of the 8th Pay Commission to revise the salaries and pensions of nearly 1.15 crore Central government employees and pensioners. The decision comes ahead of the crucial Delhi Assembly elections. Sources in the government said around 50 lakh Central government employees, including defence personnel, along with nearly 65 lakh pensioners will benefit from the move. 1.15 CR CENTRAL STAFF, PENSIONERS TO BENEFIT ■ Around 50L Central govern- ment employees, including defence personnel, along with nearly 65L pensioners are set to benefit from the move ■ The 8th Pay Commission is likely to be formed by 2026; the term of the 7th Pay ComUnion Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, announcing the Cabinet decision, said the commission was likely to be formed by 2026 and reiterated that the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission had already been implemented. mission, set up in 2016, ends on December 31, 2025 ■ A chairman and two members will soon be appointed; they will hold talks with Central and state governments, besides PSUs and other stakeholders The 7th Pay Commission was set up in 2016 and its term will end on December 31, 2025. It had seen an expenditure increase of Rs 1 lakh crore for financial year 2016-17. With Delhi being the seat of all Central government offices and lakhs of continued on page 8 BIJAPUR: As many as 12 Naxalites were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Thursday, a police official said. The gunfight broke out at 9 am in a forest of south Bijapur when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation and the intermittent exchange of fire lasted till late in the evening. INSIDE Hindenburg, Adani wrecker, to shut shop Farmers plan fresh march to Delhi on Jan 21 Tribune News Service 12 Naxalites killed in C’garh gunfight ers will once again attempt a march to the national capital from Punjab's Shambhu border on January 21 — their fourth such bid since December 6. Their earlier three attempts to breach the security cordon on the Haryana side of the interstate border had met with resistance from the police and paramilitary personnel. The announcement came as the protesting farmers forged a united front with the SKM, an umbrella body of farm bodies that protested on the Delhi borders in 2020-21 against the nowscrapped farm laws. INSIDE Chandigarh, January 16 US-based short seller Hindenburg Research, which made waves with reports targeting Indian conglomerate Adani Group that battered shares of the group companies, is officially winding up its business. “As I’ve shared with family, friends and our team since late last year, I have made the decision to disband Hindenburg Research. The plan has been to wind up after we finished the pipeline of ideas we were working on. And as of NO SPECIFIC REASON There is not one specific thing — no particular threat, no health issue, and no big personal issue. ❝ Nathan Anderson, HINDENBURG FOUNDER the last ponzi cases we just completed and are sharing with regulators, that day is today,” Hindenburg founder Nathan Anderson wrote in a personal note on the research firm’s official website. However, he did not specify any reason behind the move. continued on page 8 PATIALA: A group of 101 farm- Saif stabbed six times by intruder demanding ~1 cr; 2.5-inch knife piece removed from spine Mumbai, January 16 Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra early Thursday in a shocking attack that raises intriguing questions about security, motive, and celebrity life. Khan, 54, was “out of danger” following an emergency surgery, said the doctors at the Lilavati Hospital where he was rushed following the incident that took place around Saif Ali Khan CCTV grab of suspect 2.30 am at his apartment in Satguru Sharan building. A 2.5-inch piece of knife was removed from his spine, the doctors said, adding he was on “100 per cent recovery path”. S’PORE FOR DATA CORRIDOR WITH INDIA BACK PAGE The attacker, who was caught on CCTV camera, fled using the building’s staircase The attacker fled using the building’s staircase, a senior police official said, adding that his CCTV visuals were traced on the sixth floor, and 10 teams had been formed to nab him. Khan’s domestic help Eliyama Philip, who looked after the actor’s son Jeh, raised the alarm first. She also sustained a minor injury to her hand during the scuffle. She later lodged a police complaint, alleging the intruder asked for Rs 1 crore. Recounting the horror, she said she was sleeping on the floor in Jeh's room and woke up around 2 am when she heard a sound and saw a man continued on page 8 c m y b
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).
