December 19, 2025 07:27 AM IST

First published on: Dec 19, 2025 at 06:34 AM IST

In the Assam Assembly elections, the newly formed Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) was emerging as the single largest party with Congress-I and others far behind. The AGP had won 38 of the 68 seats declared so far. The Congress-I could manage to win only 13 seats. The United Minority Front came third with six seats. The Chief Minister, Hiteswar Saikia, won from Nazira but seven of his ministerial colleagues were defeated.

Extradition treaty draft

The Canadian government has handed over to the Indian government a draft of the proposed extradition treaty between the two countries. The proposed treaty is in the context of Sikh terrorist activities in Canada. Canada feels that these activities are a security challenge for both countries, visiting Canadian Foreign Minister Joe Clark said.

ONGC plan

The Oil and Natural Gas Commission has decided to launch a two-pronged attack to extinguish the fire in Well Number 53 at Kadi in North Gujarat, about 40 km from Ahmedabad. Talking to newsmen, S P Wahi, the chairman of the ONGC, said that a Soviet expert was expected shortly to assist the ONGC in capping the well. Another expert, Raymond de Smedt of Argentina, who was present at the press conference, remarked that the safety precautions taken by the ONGC were of an international order. Referring to his two action plans, Wahi said that the first of these would be launched within 72 to 90 hours. This would comprise removing of the debris, cleaning of the area and capping of the well.

200 feared drowned

Almost 200 people were missing and feared dead after a passenger ship sank in the central Philippines, coast guard sources said. They said only three of the 200 passengers and crew had been rescued by another ship off the coast of Mindoro island, about 80 km south of Manila. The ship, which was bound for the island of Palawan, apparently sank in rough seas, sources said.