India crowned Squash world champions India scripted history, clinching their maiden Squash World Cup title to become the first Asian country to achieve the feat after overwhelming Hong Kong 3-0 in the summit clash in Chennai on Sunday. Joshna Chinappa stunned world No. 37 Lee Ka Yi 3-1 (7-3, 2-7, 7-5, 7-1). Abhay Singh then outplayed Alex Lau 3-0 (7-1, 7-4, 7-4) before the 17-year-old Anahat Singh blanked world No. 31 Tomato Ho 3-0 (7-2, 7-2, 7-5) to seal the title | P13 Coimbatore l Monday l December 15, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l late city EDITION 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 12 killed in terror attack at Nitin Nabin named Jewish festival in Sydney BJP’s new national working president AGENCIES meeting of gods Football legend Lionel Messi along with Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar during an event at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. Tendulkar presented Messi with his signed ODI jersey on the occasion in front of packed stands | Pti Express read TVK gets nod for Erode public meet on Dec 18 Eligible women left out of KMUT can appeal: CM ERODE: The police on Sunday granted permission for TVK’s public meeting scheduled for December 18. The HR&CE department, on whose property the meeting will be held, also consented after TVK paid `50,000 as security deposit and `50,000 as venue rent | P4 DHARMAPURI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday said that the eligible women who have been left out of the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme can appeal for enrolment. He added that the amount distributed through the monthly scheme will be increased | P4 Four drown in two incidents in Tamil Nadu | P2 AT least 12 people were shot dead and 29 others, including two police officers, were injured as two gunmen opened fire at a crowd during a Jewish festival in Sydney Australia on , Sunday evening. One gunman was fatally shot by police and the second was in a critical condition, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told reporters. He added that police were looking into whether a third gunman was involved in the shooting. Police said the incident happened when over 1,000 people gathered at Sydney’s Bondi Beach for a Menorah lighting, which marks the beginning of the Jewish festival Hanukkah. As gunfire erupted, crowds fled from the beach. Video footage showed two gunmen with long guns firing from a footbridge leading to the beach. One clip broadcast on Australian television showed a civilian tackle one gunman by snatching his rifle. Police said investigators Emergency workers evacuate a victim at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Inset: Videograb of a civilian tackling and disarming a gunman | afp were examining a number of suspicious items recovered from the premises, including several improvised explosive devices found in one of the suspect’s cars. Australian Prime Minister High alert in India In view of the terror attack in Sydney, security agencies in India have sounded high alert across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other metro cities warning of imminent threat during the festival period of Hanukkah Anthony Albanese called the attack an act of antisemitism and terrorism. “This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith,” he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack. In a post on X, Modi said, “Strongly condemn the ghastly terrorist attack carried out today at Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting people celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.” Bangladesh summons Indian envoy over Hasina’s statements SURVIVOR breaks her silence J ayanth jac o b @ New Delhi Bangladesh summoned the Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma on Sunday to convey its concerns over what it described as “incendiary statements” by fugitive politi- cal figures, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who are currently in India. The interim government expressed “serious concern” over Hasina’s continued public statements, alleging that these were encouraging her support- ers to engage in violent acts aimed at disrupting the upcoming parliamentary elections slated for February next year. New Delhi rejected the allegations and reiterated that India has never permitted its territory to be used for activities inimi- Patna West), defeating Rekha Kumari of the RJD by over 51,000 votes. FOLLOWING NDA’s landslide Born on May 23, 1980, Nabin win in the Bihar assembly elec- entered politics in 2006 through tion, the BJP on Sunday ap- a bypoll after his father, veteran pointed five-term Bihar MLA BJP leader late Navin Kishore and minister Nitin Nabin (45) Prasad Sinha died of a heart atas its National Executack. Starting with tive (Working) presithe Bharatiya Janata dent, elevating a lowYuva Morcha (BJYM) key, next-generation as national general leader amid preparasecretary and Bihar tions for elections in p re s i d e n t , N ab i n key states. built a reputation as a BJP national gentop strategist with eral secretary Arun strong RSS roots, foSingh issued the noticusing on outreach fication which said who is nitin among the youth. Nabin’s elevation was Prime Minister nabin? approved by the parNarendra Modi con45-year-old BJP ty’s Parliamentary gratulated him on X, Board, and is effec- MLA from Patna’s praising Nabin as a tive immediately The Bankipur, Nabin is “hardworking kar. known as a lowdecision, announced yakarta” with “rich hours after Pankaj profile strategist. Is o r g a n i s a t i o n a l a five-term MLA, Chaudhary’s election experience.” as Uttar Pradesh BJP Nitish Kumar’s road Party sources see minister, BJYM president, underNabin’s elevation as veteran and scores the party’s something more bigChhattisgarh thrust on young, disger than what meets in-charge who c i p l i n e d wo rke r s the eye, potentially scripted a victory from Bihar. Nabin, paving Nabin’s path who belongs to the to full national presiKayastha caste, currently dent by mid-2026Nabin’s rise serves as Bihar’s road construc- stresses on BJP’s onus on its tion minister and BJP in-charge trust in silent performers over for Chhattisgarh, where his mass appeal. booth-level strategies fueled a Incumbent national presivictory Nabin won the Assem- dent J P Nadda’s term had end. bly election from Patna’s Bank- ed in 2024, but BJP extended his ipur constituency (previously tennure for the Bihar poll. RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR & R amashankar @ New Delhi/Patna cal to the interests of Bangladesh. “We have consistently reiterated our position in favour of free, fair, inclusive and credible elections being held in Bangladesh in a peaceful atmosphere,” the Ministry of External Affairs said. After a trial court acquitted actor Dileep in the 2017 sexual assault case, the survivor on Sunday questioned whether law delivers equal justice | P7 `3.95L `1.75L `3.95L KUN TATA AVINASHI ROAD 9619049128; METTUPALAYAM ROAD 9167072760; SULUR 9619940172; POLLACHI 9787803333; KINATHUKADAVU 9943854321; TIRUPPUR: 9787801111; DHARAPURAM: 8291093808 `1.45L SGA MOTORS SINGANALLUR 8879139534; SARAVANAMPATTI: 8291954496; OOTY: 9167066730 UDUMALPET 8879953826 `1.65L TAFE ACCESS RACE COURSE ROAD: 9619058520; METTUPALAYAM: 8879954907