Morning Digest: M.T. Vasudevan Nair, favourite storyteller of modern Kerala, dies; Centre yet to formally scrap Free Movement Regime with Myanmar, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on December 26, 2024

M.T. Vasudevan Nair, one of India’s greatest writers of all time, died in Kozhikode at a private hospital. He was 91. He was also an exceptional scriptwriter who revolutionised the art of screenplay writing in Malayalam cinema and authored several landmark films. Some of those films were directed by M.T. himself. His debut film as a director Nirmalyam, in fact, won the National Award for the best film in 1974. He wasn’t too keen on directing films, and was happier writing fiction.

Months after announcing that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Myanmar border has been entirely suspended, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has brought in fresh protocol to regulate the movement of people living within 10 kilometres on either side of the largely unfenced international border. A senior government official told The Hindu that the notification ending the FMR, which involves a bilateral agreement with Myanmar, is yet to be notified by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Pope Francis called for “arms to be silenced” around the world in his Christmas address, appealing for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan as he denounced the “extremely grave” humanitarian situation in Gaza. He used his traditional message to the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to call for talks for a just peace in Ukraine as the country was pummelled by 170 Russian missiles and drones in a Christmas morning barrage Kyiv branded as “inhumane”.

The Supreme Court has held that State governments often seek to enrich themselves through the process of regularisation by condoning or ratifying building violations or illegal constructions. The court said such State governments were unmindful of the fact that whatever “gain” by condonation or regularisation of illegal constructions was insignificant compared to the long-term damage caused to orderly urban development and environment.

Four years after the Union government launched the Svamitva scheme to digitise property records in rural areas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute 58 lakh property cards providing ‘Record of Rights’ to owners in over 50,000 villages across 12 States at a virtual event, officials of the Panchayati Raj Ministry said on Wednesday (December 25, 2024). At least 13 Union Ministers will address events in different States where the property cards will be distributed, officials added.

One person died and 20 others were rescued after a tourist boat capsized in the Arabian Sea off Calangute beach in North Goa, police said. “The incident occurred around 1.30 pm,” they said. "A 54-year-old man died and 20 others were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment after the boat they were travelling in capsized," a senior police official said. “Except for two passengers, all others were wearing life jackets,” he said.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said the State, which has been in the grip of ethnic violence since May last year, needs immediate peace and appealed to two communities to reach an understanding. "What is happening in Manipur today has many reasons. Today, those who have been trying to divide the state are asking what the government is doing...they are hungry for power," Mr. Singh said.