Pioneer in short
Sir Mark Tully dead at 90
Veteran journalist and acclaimed author Sir Mark Tully died on Sunday at a private hospital in Delhi following multi-organ failure. He was 90. Hospital authorities said Sir Tully, who had been unwell for some time, was admitted to Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, on January 21. He passed away at 2.35 pm after complications following a stroke. Born in Kolkata on October 24, 1935, Tully was best known for his long association with the BBC, where he served as New Delhi bureau chief for 22 years. Widely regarded as one of the most perceptive chroniclers of India, his reporting covered defining moments of post-Independence history.
Tejashwi Named RJD Working President
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s younger son, Tejashwi Yadav, was named the working president of the party on Sunday at its national executive meeting, consolidating the line of succession. The decision comes after the party’s poor performance in the recent Bihar assembly elections, where the 36-year-old leader had been the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate. The meeting, attended by Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi, his sister Misa Bharti and other senior leaders, confirmed his elevation. Tejashwi, a former deputy chief minister of Bihar and current leader of the opposition, had earlier expressed confidence about revamping the party structure down to the booth level. Tejashwi’s appointment strengthens his leadership.
AI Glasses, CCTVs to guard R-Day parade
Delhi Police has rolled out an elaborate, multi-layered security plan for the Republic Day celebrations, deploying around 10,000 personnel across the New Delhi area and leveraging advanced surveillance technologies, officials said on Sunday. Stringent security measures are in place to ensure the safety of participants and spectators at the national event. Over 3,000 CCTV cameras equipped with video analytics and facial recognition systems have been installed along the parade route and surrounding areas. More than 30 control rooms, staffed by about 150 personnel, will monitor live feeds round the clock. Police on the ground will also use AI-enabled smart glasses linked in real time to criminal databases, enabling instant identification in crowded spaces.
