Republic Day parade: Uttar Pradesh wins best tableau award, Karnataka bags second spot
New Delhi(PTI): Uttar Pradesh's tableau at the Republic Day parade was adjudged the best while the Indian Navy's marching contingent topped among the three services, the defence ministry said on Friday.
The tableau of Uttar Pradesh was based on the theme 'one district one product and Kashi Vishwanath Dham'. A total of 12 states and union territories had participated in the Republic Day parade on January 26.
The second place went to Karnataka for its tableau based on 'cradle of traditional handicrafts' while the third position went to Meghalaya, the defence ministry said.
The tableau of the northeastern state was based on Meghalaya's 50 years of statehood and its tribute to women-led cooperative societies and self-help groups.
The tableaux of the ministry of education and the ministry of civil aviation have been declared as joint winners in the category of central ministries and departments.
The theme of the tableau of the ministry of education and the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship was 'National Education Policy'.
The tableau of the ministry of civil aviation was based on the theme 'Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik'. Nine tableaux of central ministries/departments had participated in the parade.
The tableaux of the ministry of housing and urban affairs (CPWD) was selected for the special prize category.
"The Indian Navy marching contingent has been adjudged as the best marching contingent among the three services," the defence ministry said.
For the first time, the general public was invited to vote for the best marching contingents and best tableaux in the popular choice category through the MyGov platform.
The online poll was conducted between January 25-31.
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) received maximum votes on MyGov as the best marching contingent among Central Armed Police Forces(CAPF)/other auxiliary forces.
The defence ministry said Maharashtra was voted as the best tableau among the states/union territories in the popular choice category. The tableau of Maharashtra was based on the theme 'biodiversity and state bio-symbols of Maharashtra'.
According to popular choice, the marching contingent of the Indian Air Force has been picked as the best marching contingent among the three services.
"The second place went to Uttar Pradesh (popular choice), while the tableau of Jammu and Kashmir on the theme 'Changing face of Jammu and Kashmir' finished third," the defence ministry said.
"The tableau of the ministry of communication/department of posts was adjudged as the best tableau among central ministries/departments based on people's selection," it added.
The defence ministry said a three-member panel of judges were appointed for assessing the performances at the parade.
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Israeli strikes kill at least 17 in Gaza as ground troops enter Palestinian territory's north
Deir al-Balah (Gaza), Apr 4 (AP): Israeli strikes killed more than a dozen people in the Gaza Strip early Friday, as Israel sent more ground troops into the Palestinian territory to ramp up its offensive against Hamas.
At least 17 people, some from the same family, were killed after an airstrike hit the southern city of Khan Younis, according to hospital staff. Hours later, people were still searching through the rubble, looking for survivors.
The attack follows days of Israeli strikes, which have killed at least 100 people, as it intensifies operations, intended to pressure Hamas to release its hostages. On Friday, Israel said it had begun ground activity in northern Gaza, in order to expand its security zone.
Israel's military had issued sweeping evacuation orders for parts of northern Gaza before expected ground operations. The UN humanitarian office said around 280,000 Palestinians have been displaced since Israel ended the ceasefire with Hamas last month.
In recent days, Israel's vowed to seize large parts of the Palestinian territory and establish a new security corridor across it.
To pressure Hamas, Israel has imposed a monthlong blockade on food, fuel and humanitarian aid that has left civilians facing acute shortages as supplies dwindle — a tactic that rights groups say is a war crime. Israel said earlier this week that enough food had entered Gaza during a six-week truce to sustain the territory's roughly 2 million Palestinians for a long time.
Hamas says it will only release the remaining 59 hostages — 24 of whom are believed to be alive — in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli pullout from Gaza. The group has rejected demands that it lay down its arms or leave the territory.
The predawn strike on Friday hit a three-story building. In addition to the dead, the attack wounded at least 16 people from the same family. Associated Press reporters saw bodies being carried out in blankets, while others searched for people trapped under the rubble and collected charred remains.
“We don't know how to collect them and how to bury them. We don't know whose remains these are. They were burned and dismembered,” said Ismail Al-Aqqad, whose brother died in the strike, as well as his brother's family.
On Thursday, more than 30 bodies, including women and children, were taken to hospitals in and around Khan Younis, according to hospital staff.
Israel said Friday that it had killed a top Hamas commander in a strike in Lebanon's coastal city of Sidon. Israel said that Hassan Farhat was a commander of Hamas' western area in Lebanon and that he was responsible for numerous attacks against Israel, including one in February 2024, which killed an Israeli soldier and injured others.
The war began when Hamas-led group attacked southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages, most of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements and other deals. Israel rescued eight living hostages and has recovered dozens of bodies.
More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as part of Israel's offensive, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't say whether those killed are civilians or combatants. The ministry says more than half of those killed were women and children. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 Hamas fighters, without providing evidence.
The war has left most of Gaza in ruins, and at its height displaced around 90% of the population.
