Morning Digest | 100-hour vertical drilling target set to rescue workers trapped in Silkyara tunnel; Union Minister says CAA rules to be framed by March 2024, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on November 26, 2023

Silkyara tunnel collapse | On Day 15, rescuers set a 100-hour vertical drilling target

With horizontal drilling to reach the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel stuck for the third consecutive day, rescuers began vertical drilling above the tunnel, completing nearly 19.5 meters of boring on November 26. The teams have set a target of vertically drilling through 86 metres of mountain in 100 hours, if there are no unexpected hurdles.

CAA rules to be framed by March 2024, says Union Minister

Rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be framed by March 2024, Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra said on Sunday. Addressing a gathering in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, Mr. Mishra tried to allay fears of the Matua community over the delay in framing rules of the CAA and said the Act passed by the Parliament in December 2019 ensured that members of the community had become citizens.

In new evidence law, courts barred from inquiring into privileged communication between Ministers and President of India

The proposed Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) Bill that seeks to replace the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 “bars the courts from inquiring into any privileged communication between Ministers and the President of India”. Although Article 74(2) of the Constitution states this, the Union government seeks to give it legal backing by making it part of the evidence book. The government, however, has not clearly defined what constitutes “privileged communication”, leaving the provision open to interpretation.

More captives, prisoners freed in Gaza as truce extension mooted