The Mumbai police have recorded Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan's statement in connection with the knife attack on him by an intruder at his residence last week, officials said on Friday.
A team of the Bandra police recorded the actor's statement on Thursday, an official said.
Police sources said that in his statement, Khan narrated the entire incident in which the intruder attacked him and how he tried to save his family members. The actor has also identified the attacker, they said.
Besides the family members of the actor, the police have also recorded the statement of the auto rickshaw driver who took Khan to the Lilavati Hospital, they said.
Beatroot News: Text-only
Crime
Mumbai cops record actor Saif Ali Khan's statement over attack on him
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International
Yemen's Houthi rebels release crew of commercial vessel seized in Red Sea in 2023
Yemen's Houthi rebels have released the crew of the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier seized in November 2023 at the start of their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war.
The move by the Iranian-backed Houthis marks their latest effort to de-escalate their attacks following a ceasefire in Gaza. However, it came as US President Donald Trump moved to reinstate a terrorism designation he made on the group late in his first term that had been revoked by President Joe Biden, potentially setting the stage for new tensions with the rebels.
The Houthis said they released the sailors after mediation by Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula that's long been an interlocutor with the Houthis.
The move by the Iranian-backed Houthis marks their latest effort to de-escalate their attacks following a ceasefire in Gaza. However, it came as US President Donald Trump moved to reinstate a terrorism designation he made on the group late in his first term that had been revoked by President Joe Biden, potentially setting the stage for new tensions with the rebels.
The Houthis said they released the sailors after mediation by Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula that's long been an interlocutor with the Houthis.
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Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship
A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's executive order ending the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship regardless of the parents' immigration status.
US District Judge John C. Coughenour ruled in the case brought by the states of Washington, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon, which argue the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court case law have cemented birthright citizenship. The case is one of five lawsuits being brought by 22 states and a number of immigrants rights groups across the country. The suits include personal testimonies from attorneys general who are US citizens by birthright, and names pregnant women who are afraid their children won't become US citizens.
Signed by Trump on Inauguration Day, the order is slated to take effect on February 19. It could impact hundreds of thousands of people born in the country, according to one of the lawsuits. In 2022, there were about 2,55,000 births of citizen children to mothers living in the country illegally and about 1,53,000 births to two such parents, according to the four-state suit filed in Seattle.
The US is among about 30 countries where birthright citizenship — the principle of jus soli or “right of the soil” — is applied. Most are in the Americas, and Canada and Mexico are among them.
US District Judge John C. Coughenour ruled in the case brought by the states of Washington, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon, which argue the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court case law have cemented birthright citizenship. The case is one of five lawsuits being brought by 22 states and a number of immigrants rights groups across the country. The suits include personal testimonies from attorneys general who are US citizens by birthright, and names pregnant women who are afraid their children won't become US citizens.
Signed by Trump on Inauguration Day, the order is slated to take effect on February 19. It could impact hundreds of thousands of people born in the country, according to one of the lawsuits. In 2022, there were about 2,55,000 births of citizen children to mothers living in the country illegally and about 1,53,000 births to two such parents, according to the four-state suit filed in Seattle.
The US is among about 30 countries where birthright citizenship — the principle of jus soli or “right of the soil” — is applied. Most are in the Americas, and Canada and Mexico are among them.
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Donald Trump signs executive order to declassify JFK assassination files
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order seeking to declassify files on the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Asserting that the victims' families and the American people deserve to know the truth about these assassinations, the executive order directs the Director of National Intelligence to present a plan within 15 days for the "full and complete release" of all John F. Kennedy assassination records. It also directs the Director of National Intelligence to immediately review the records on the Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. assassinations and present a plan for their full and complete release within 45 days.
"That's a big one. A lot of people are waiting for years, for decades. And everything will be revealed," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office wherein he signed the executive order.
This executive order stated that continued withholding of the John F. Kennedy records is long overdue and not in the public interest.
Asserting that the victims' families and the American people deserve to know the truth about these assassinations, the executive order directs the Director of National Intelligence to present a plan within 15 days for the "full and complete release" of all John F. Kennedy assassination records. It also directs the Director of National Intelligence to immediately review the records on the Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. assassinations and present a plan for their full and complete release within 45 days.
"That's a big one. A lot of people are waiting for years, for decades. And everything will be revealed," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office wherein he signed the executive order.
This executive order stated that continued withholding of the John F. Kennedy records is long overdue and not in the public interest.
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Nearly 250 million children missed school last year because of extreme weather, UNICEF says
At least 242 million children in 85 countries had their schooling interrupted last year because of heatwaves, cyclones, flooding and other extreme weather, the United Nations Children's Fund said in a new report Friday.
UNICEF said it amounted to one in seven school-going children across the world being kept out of class at some point in 2024 because of climate hazards.
The report also outlined how some countries saw hundreds of their schools destroyed by weather, with low-income nations in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa hit especially hard. But other regions weren't spared the extreme weather, as torrential rains and floods in Italy near the end of the year disrupted school for more than 9,00,000 children.
Thousands had their classes halted after catastrophic flooding in Spain.
While southern Europe dealt with deadly floods and Asia and Africa had flooding and cyclones, heatwaves were “the predominant climate hazard shuttering schools last year,” UNICEF said, as the earth recorded its hottest year ever. More than 118 million children had their schooling interrupted in April alone, UNICEF said, as large parts of the Middle East and Asia, from Gaza in the west to the Philippines in the southeast, experienced a sizzling weekslong heatwave with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
“Children are more vulnerable to the impacts of weather-related crises, including stronger and more frequent heatwaves, storms, droughts and flooding,” UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell said in a statement. “Children's bodies are uniquely vulnerable. They heat up faster, they sweat less efficiently, and cool down more slowly than adults. Children cannot concentrate in classrooms that offer no respite from sweltering heat, and they cannot get to school if the path is flooded, or if schools are washed away."
Around 74% of the children affected in 2024 were in middle- and low-income countries, showing how climatic extremes continue to have a devastating impact in the poorest countries.
Flooding ruined more than 400 schools in Pakistan in April. Afghanistan had heatwaves followed by severe flooding that destroyed over 110 schools in May, UNICEF said. Months of drought in southern Africa exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon threatened the schooling and futures of millions of children.
And the crises showed little sign of abating. The poor French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean off Africa was left in ruins by Cyclone Chido in December and hit again by Tropical Storm Dikeledi this month, leaving children across the islands out of school for six weeks. Cyclone Chido also destroyed more than 330 schools and three regional education departments in Mozambique on the African mainland, where access to education is already a deep problem.
UNICEF said the world's schools and education systems “are largely ill-equipped” to deal with the effects of extreme weather.
UNICEF said it amounted to one in seven school-going children across the world being kept out of class at some point in 2024 because of climate hazards.
The report also outlined how some countries saw hundreds of their schools destroyed by weather, with low-income nations in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa hit especially hard. But other regions weren't spared the extreme weather, as torrential rains and floods in Italy near the end of the year disrupted school for more than 9,00,000 children.
Thousands had their classes halted after catastrophic flooding in Spain.
While southern Europe dealt with deadly floods and Asia and Africa had flooding and cyclones, heatwaves were “the predominant climate hazard shuttering schools last year,” UNICEF said, as the earth recorded its hottest year ever. More than 118 million children had their schooling interrupted in April alone, UNICEF said, as large parts of the Middle East and Asia, from Gaza in the west to the Philippines in the southeast, experienced a sizzling weekslong heatwave with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
“Children are more vulnerable to the impacts of weather-related crises, including stronger and more frequent heatwaves, storms, droughts and flooding,” UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell said in a statement. “Children's bodies are uniquely vulnerable. They heat up faster, they sweat less efficiently, and cool down more slowly than adults. Children cannot concentrate in classrooms that offer no respite from sweltering heat, and they cannot get to school if the path is flooded, or if schools are washed away."
Around 74% of the children affected in 2024 were in middle- and low-income countries, showing how climatic extremes continue to have a devastating impact in the poorest countries.
Flooding ruined more than 400 schools in Pakistan in April. Afghanistan had heatwaves followed by severe flooding that destroyed over 110 schools in May, UNICEF said. Months of drought in southern Africa exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon threatened the schooling and futures of millions of children.
And the crises showed little sign of abating. The poor French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean off Africa was left in ruins by Cyclone Chido in December and hit again by Tropical Storm Dikeledi this month, leaving children across the islands out of school for six weeks. Cyclone Chido also destroyed more than 330 schools and three regional education departments in Mozambique on the African mainland, where access to education is already a deep problem.
UNICEF said the world's schools and education systems “are largely ill-equipped” to deal with the effects of extreme weather.
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Rupert Murdoch's UK tabloids offer rare apology in legal settlement with Prince Harry
Rupert Murdoch's UK tabloids made a rare apology to Prince Harry in settling his privacy invasion lawsuit and will pay him a substantial sum, his lawyer announced on Wednesday.
News Group Newspapers offered a “full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by 'The Sun'between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for 'The Sun',” attorney David Sherborne read from settlement statement in court. It was the first time News Group Newspapers has acknowledged wrongdoing at 'The Sun', a paper once known for featuring topless women on Page 3.
The statement itself was remarkable in breadth, acknowledging “phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators” aimed at Harry, allegations NGN had strongly denied before trial. The statement even went beyond the scope of the lawsuit to acknowledge intruding on the life of his mother, the late Princess Diana.
“We acknowledge and apologise for the distress caused to the duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages,” the settlement statement said.
The bombshell announcement in London's High Court came as the Duke of Sussex's trial was about to start against the publishers of 'The Sun'and the now-defunct News of the World for unlawfully snooping on him over decades.
News Group Newspapers offered a “full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by 'The Sun'between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for 'The Sun',” attorney David Sherborne read from settlement statement in court. It was the first time News Group Newspapers has acknowledged wrongdoing at 'The Sun', a paper once known for featuring topless women on Page 3.
The statement itself was remarkable in breadth, acknowledging “phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators” aimed at Harry, allegations NGN had strongly denied before trial. The statement even went beyond the scope of the lawsuit to acknowledge intruding on the life of his mother, the late Princess Diana.
“We acknowledge and apologise for the distress caused to the duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages,” the settlement statement said.
The bombshell announcement in London's High Court came as the Duke of Sussex's trial was about to start against the publishers of 'The Sun'and the now-defunct News of the World for unlawfully snooping on him over decades.
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Trump Administration shuts down White House Spanish-language page, social media
Within hours of President Donald Trump's inauguration, the new administration took down the Spanish-language version of the official White House website.
The site — currently https://www.whitehouse.gov/es/ — now gives users an “Error 404” message. It also included a “Go Home” button that directed viewers to a page featuring a video montage of Trump in his first term and on the campaign trail. The button was later updated to read “Go To Home Page”. Hispanic advocacy groups and others expressed confusion at the abrupt change and frustration at what some called the administration's lack of efforts to maintain communication with the Latino community, which helped propel him to the presidency.
The Spanish profile of the White House' X, @LaCasaBlanca and the government page on reproductive freedom also were disbanded. Meanwhile, the Spanish versions of other government agencies such as the Department of Labor, Justice and Agriculture remained available for users on Tuesday. Asked about the changes, White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields responded that the administration is “committed to bringing back online the Spanish translation section of the website.”
“It's day two. We are in the process of developing, editing and tweaking the White House website. As part of this ongoing work, some of the archived content on the website went dormant. We are committed to reloading that content in a short timeline," he said without elaborating.
Trump removed the Spanish version of the page in 2017. At that time, White House officials said they would reinstate it. President Joe Biden reinstated the page in 2021. The page's removal coincided with Trump's first-day wave of executive orders highlighted by the launch of an illegal immigration crackdown that was one of his key campaign pledges. Trump on Monday declared a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and announced plans to send US troops to help support immigration agents and restrict refugees and asylum.
According to 2023 Census Bureau estimates, about 43.4 million Americans — 13.7% of the US population age 5 and older — speak Spanish at home. The US has no official language.
The site — currently https://www.whitehouse.gov/es/ — now gives users an “Error 404” message. It also included a “Go Home” button that directed viewers to a page featuring a video montage of Trump in his first term and on the campaign trail. The button was later updated to read “Go To Home Page”. Hispanic advocacy groups and others expressed confusion at the abrupt change and frustration at what some called the administration's lack of efforts to maintain communication with the Latino community, which helped propel him to the presidency.
The Spanish profile of the White House' X, @LaCasaBlanca and the government page on reproductive freedom also were disbanded. Meanwhile, the Spanish versions of other government agencies such as the Department of Labor, Justice and Agriculture remained available for users on Tuesday. Asked about the changes, White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields responded that the administration is “committed to bringing back online the Spanish translation section of the website.”
“It's day two. We are in the process of developing, editing and tweaking the White House website. As part of this ongoing work, some of the archived content on the website went dormant. We are committed to reloading that content in a short timeline," he said without elaborating.
Trump removed the Spanish version of the page in 2017. At that time, White House officials said they would reinstate it. President Joe Biden reinstated the page in 2021. The page's removal coincided with Trump's first-day wave of executive orders highlighted by the launch of an illegal immigration crackdown that was one of his key campaign pledges. Trump on Monday declared a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and announced plans to send US troops to help support immigration agents and restrict refugees and asylum.
According to 2023 Census Bureau estimates, about 43.4 million Americans — 13.7% of the US population age 5 and older — speak Spanish at home. The US has no official language.
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Legal
Police custody of Saif attacker extended till January 29 by Mumbai court
A Mumbai court on Friday extended till January 29 the police custody of the Bangladeshi man arrested for allegedly stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his home during a robbery attempt last week.
Police produced the accused, Shareeful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir (30), before a magistrate's court in Bandra at the end of his previous remand.
They sought his custody for seven more days from the court, arguing further investigation into some crucial aspects of the case was required. The court allowed the police plea and extended his custody till January 29.
Khan's attacker, arrested from adjoining Thane city, is a Bangladeshi who changed his name to Vijay Das after illegally entering India last year, police earlier said.
The 54-year-old actor was repeatedly stabbed by the knife-wielding intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra in the early hours of Thursday (January 16) during a robbery attempt in a shocking attack that raised intriguing questions about security and celebrity life.
Police produced the accused, Shareeful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir (30), before a magistrate's court in Bandra at the end of his previous remand.
They sought his custody for seven more days from the court, arguing further investigation into some crucial aspects of the case was required. The court allowed the police plea and extended his custody till January 29.
Khan's attacker, arrested from adjoining Thane city, is a Bangladeshi who changed his name to Vijay Das after illegally entering India last year, police earlier said.
The 54-year-old actor was repeatedly stabbed by the knife-wielding intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra in the early hours of Thursday (January 16) during a robbery attempt in a shocking attack that raised intriguing questions about security and celebrity life.
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Five sentenced to death for gangrape-murder of girl, killing of her two family members in Chhattisgarh
A court in Chhattisgarh has sentenced five men to death for the gangrape-murder of a 16-year-old girl and the killing of her two family members in 2021, holding that the crime has shocked the collective conscience of society.
The Fast Track Special Court in Korba district sentenced to death Santram Manjhwar (49), Abdul Jabbar (34), Anil Kumar Sarthi (24), Pardeshi Ram (39) and Anand Ram Panika (29) and handed a life sentence to the six accused, Umashanakar Yadav (26). While delivering the judgement on January 15, Additional Sessions Judge Mamta Bhojwani held that this inhuman and cruel act of the accused is extremely perverted, heinous, brutal and cowardly, said special public prosecutor Sunil Kumar Mishra on Wednesday.
A copy of the order was made available on Monday.
Those given the death penalty were convicted under sections 302 (murder), 376 (2)G (gangarape) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The lawyer said he had sought the death penalty for all six accused but Yadav was sentenced to life imprisonment on medical grounds.
Yadav’s medical examination had shown that he underwent a surgery following an accident that damaged his private parts. His involvement in the rape was not established but his role in the conspiracy and murder was found and he was sentenced accordingly, Mishra added. In 2021, the teenage girl was allegedly gang-raped and bludgeoned with stones before she was dumped in a forest leading to her death near Gadhuproda village of Korba district.
The accused also killed the girl’s father, aged around 60, and his four-year-old granddaughter who were with her.
The Fast Track Special Court in Korba district sentenced to death Santram Manjhwar (49), Abdul Jabbar (34), Anil Kumar Sarthi (24), Pardeshi Ram (39) and Anand Ram Panika (29) and handed a life sentence to the six accused, Umashanakar Yadav (26). While delivering the judgement on January 15, Additional Sessions Judge Mamta Bhojwani held that this inhuman and cruel act of the accused is extremely perverted, heinous, brutal and cowardly, said special public prosecutor Sunil Kumar Mishra on Wednesday.
A copy of the order was made available on Monday.
Those given the death penalty were convicted under sections 302 (murder), 376 (2)G (gangarape) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The lawyer said he had sought the death penalty for all six accused but Yadav was sentenced to life imprisonment on medical grounds.
Yadav’s medical examination had shown that he underwent a surgery following an accident that damaged his private parts. His involvement in the rape was not established but his role in the conspiracy and murder was found and he was sentenced accordingly, Mishra added. In 2021, the teenage girl was allegedly gang-raped and bludgeoned with stones before she was dumped in a forest leading to her death near Gadhuproda village of Korba district.
The accused also killed the girl’s father, aged around 60, and his four-year-old granddaughter who were with her.
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Kolkata medic's rape-murder case: CBI to seek death sentence in High Court for Sanjay Roy
The CBI will file an appeal before the Calcutta High Court, seeking death sentence for Sanjay Roy, who was sentenced to "life imprisonment until death" by a Sealdah court in the rape-cum-murder case of an on-duty doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, officials said Wednesday.
The agency received a legal advice suggesting that the case may be categorised as the "rarest of rare", deserving capital punishment, they said. The agency is likely to file the appeal against the Sealdah court order as soon as possible with detailed arguments in favour of capital punishment, they said.
The agency's plea seeking death penalty for Roy was turned down by the trial court, where Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das said that the crime did not fall under the "rarest of the rare" category.
The West Bengal government has already approached the high court, challenging the verdict and seeking death penalty for Roy.
The agency received a legal advice suggesting that the case may be categorised as the "rarest of rare", deserving capital punishment, they said. The agency is likely to file the appeal against the Sealdah court order as soon as possible with detailed arguments in favour of capital punishment, they said.
The agency's plea seeking death penalty for Roy was turned down by the trial court, where Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das said that the crime did not fall under the "rarest of the rare" category.
The West Bengal government has already approached the high court, challenging the verdict and seeking death penalty for Roy.
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Markets
Sensex, Nifty snap two-day rally dragged by realty, healthcare stocks
Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty surrendered early gains to close with losses in a volatile session on Friday, snapping their two-day winning streak as investors pared exposure to realty, oil & gas and healthcare stocks amid a mixed trend in global markets.
Unabated foreign fund outflows also dented investor sentiment.
The 30-share BSE benchmark dropped 329.92 points or 0.43% to settle at 76,190.46. During the day, it slumped 428.63 points or 0.56% to 76,091.75. The NSE Nifty declined 113.15 points or 0.49% to 23,092.20.
From the 30-share blue-chip pack, Mahindra & Mahindra, Zomato, Tata Motors, IndusInd Bank, Reliance Industries, Larsen & Toubro, UltraTech Cement, HDFC Bank, Adani Ports and Bajaj Finserv were among the major laggards.
On the other hand, Hindustan Unilever, Tech Mahindra, Nestle, Bharti Airtel and ICICI Bank were among the gainers. In Asian markets, Seoul, Shanghai, and Hong Kong settled in the positive territory while Tokyo ended lower. The Bank of Japan raised its key interest rate to about 0.5% from 0.25%.
Markets in Europe were trading in the green. US markets ended higher on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump, on Thursday, addressed the World Economic Forum, where he offered business leaders low taxes if they manufacture their products in the US while threatening them with tariffs if they don’t.
Unabated foreign fund outflows also dented investor sentiment.
The 30-share BSE benchmark dropped 329.92 points or 0.43% to settle at 76,190.46. During the day, it slumped 428.63 points or 0.56% to 76,091.75. The NSE Nifty declined 113.15 points or 0.49% to 23,092.20.
From the 30-share blue-chip pack, Mahindra & Mahindra, Zomato, Tata Motors, IndusInd Bank, Reliance Industries, Larsen & Toubro, UltraTech Cement, HDFC Bank, Adani Ports and Bajaj Finserv were among the major laggards.
On the other hand, Hindustan Unilever, Tech Mahindra, Nestle, Bharti Airtel and ICICI Bank were among the gainers. In Asian markets, Seoul, Shanghai, and Hong Kong settled in the positive territory while Tokyo ended lower. The Bank of Japan raised its key interest rate to about 0.5% from 0.25%.
Markets in Europe were trading in the green. US markets ended higher on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump, on Thursday, addressed the World Economic Forum, where he offered business leaders low taxes if they manufacture their products in the US while threatening them with tariffs if they don’t.
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National
FSSAI asks Patanjali Foods to recall specified batch of red chilli powder
Patanjali Foods Ltd has said food regulator FSSAI has directed the company to recall a specified batch of packed red chilli powder due to non-conformity with food safety norms.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued an order in this regard on January 13, the company said in a regulatory filing.
The food safety regulator "has directed Patanjali Foods to initiate recall of the entire batch of implicated food (i.e. Red Chilli Powder (packed) of Batch No. – AJD2400012 due to non-conformance of Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011", it said.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued an order in this regard on January 13, the company said in a regulatory filing.
The food safety regulator "has directed Patanjali Foods to initiate recall of the entire batch of implicated food (i.e. Red Chilli Powder (packed) of Batch No. – AJD2400012 due to non-conformance of Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011", it said.
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Parliament
Opposition members suspended for a day from Parliamentary panel on Waqf bill
All opposition members of the parliamentary panel on the Waqf Amendment Bill were suspended for a day on Friday amid continuous protests and accusations against Chairman Jagdambika Pal of steam-rolling through the proceedings.
The suspended members are Kalyan Banerjee, Mohammad Jawed, A Raja, Asaduddin Owaisi, Naseer Hussain, Mohibullah, Mohamed Abdullah, Arvind Sawant, Nadeem-ul Haque, Imran Masood.
BJP member Nishikant Dubey moved the motion for suspending the opposition members which was adopted by the committee. BJP member Aparajita Sarangi claimed the conduct of opposition members was "disgusting" as they were continuously creating ruckus during the meeting and using unparliamentary language aganinst Pal.
The meeting of the parliamentary committee began a stormy note, with opposition members claiming they were not being given adequate time to study the proposed changes to the draft legislation.
Before calling Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the religious head of Kashmir, the members of the Committee held discussions among themselves which turned stormy with opposition leaders claiming the BJP was pushing for speedy acceptance of the report on the Waqf Amendment Bill with an eye on the Delhi elections. The heated arguments during the meeting led to a brief adjournment of the proceedings. The Mirwaiz-led delegation appeared before the Committee after it reconvened.
Trinamool member Kalyan Banerjee and Congress member Naseer Hussain stormed out of the meeting and told reporters that the proceedings of the committee had become a "farce".
They demanded that the meeting scheduled for January 27 for examining the proposed amendments clause-by-clause be deferred to January 30 or January 31.
The suspended members are Kalyan Banerjee, Mohammad Jawed, A Raja, Asaduddin Owaisi, Naseer Hussain, Mohibullah, Mohamed Abdullah, Arvind Sawant, Nadeem-ul Haque, Imran Masood.
BJP member Nishikant Dubey moved the motion for suspending the opposition members which was adopted by the committee. BJP member Aparajita Sarangi claimed the conduct of opposition members was "disgusting" as they were continuously creating ruckus during the meeting and using unparliamentary language aganinst Pal.
The meeting of the parliamentary committee began a stormy note, with opposition members claiming they were not being given adequate time to study the proposed changes to the draft legislation.
Before calling Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the religious head of Kashmir, the members of the Committee held discussions among themselves which turned stormy with opposition leaders claiming the BJP was pushing for speedy acceptance of the report on the Waqf Amendment Bill with an eye on the Delhi elections. The heated arguments during the meeting led to a brief adjournment of the proceedings. The Mirwaiz-led delegation appeared before the Committee after it reconvened.
Trinamool member Kalyan Banerjee and Congress member Naseer Hussain stormed out of the meeting and told reporters that the proceedings of the committee had become a "farce".
They demanded that the meeting scheduled for January 27 for examining the proposed amendments clause-by-clause be deferred to January 30 or January 31.
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Sports
No Indian in ICC men's ODI Team of The Year
India's lack of international commitments in the 50-over format in 2024 had a bearing on the ICC men's ODI Team of the Year with not a single cricketer from the country making it to the list released on Friday.
The all-star team announced by the ICC features four players from Sri Lanka, three each from Pakistan and Afghanistan and one from the West Indies. India played only three ODIs - an away series against Sri Lanka -, losing two of them while the third one ended in a tie.
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka was named skipper of the ICC team as well for his stupendous batting through the year.
In his 16 ODI appearances in 2024, Asalanka scored 605 Runs at an average of 50.2 Average, including a century and four fifties.
Sri Lanka played 18 ODIs in the year gone by, the highest among all teams, and won 12 of them. Pakistan picked up seven victories from its nine ODI engagements, while Afghanistan won eight of their 14 one-dayers.
Big-hitting West Indian Sherfane Rutherford, who made his international debut in 2023, was the lone non-Asian in the all star XI for his 425 runs from nine games at an astonishing average of 106.2. ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year for 2024: Charith Asalanka (C) (Sri Lanka), Saim Ayub (Pakistan), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka), Kusal Mendis (WK) (Sri Lanka), Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan), Haris Rauf (Pakistan), AM Ghazanfar (Afghanistan).
The all-star team announced by the ICC features four players from Sri Lanka, three each from Pakistan and Afghanistan and one from the West Indies. India played only three ODIs - an away series against Sri Lanka -, losing two of them while the third one ended in a tie.
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka was named skipper of the ICC team as well for his stupendous batting through the year.
In his 16 ODI appearances in 2024, Asalanka scored 605 Runs at an average of 50.2 Average, including a century and four fifties.
Sri Lanka played 18 ODIs in the year gone by, the highest among all teams, and won 12 of them. Pakistan picked up seven victories from its nine ODI engagements, while Afghanistan won eight of their 14 one-dayers.
Big-hitting West Indian Sherfane Rutherford, who made his international debut in 2023, was the lone non-Asian in the all star XI for his 425 runs from nine games at an astonishing average of 106.2. ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year for 2024: Charith Asalanka (C) (Sri Lanka), Saim Ayub (Pakistan), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka), Kusal Mendis (WK) (Sri Lanka), Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan), Haris Rauf (Pakistan), AM Ghazanfar (Afghanistan).
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Injured Novak Djokovic stops in the Australian Open semifinals against Alexander Zverev
An injured Novak Djokovic quit after dropping the first set of his Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev on Friday.
Djokovic lost the opener 7-6 (5) in a tiebreaker and immediately walked around the net to concede the match to Zverev. Fans booed as Djokovic walked off toward the locker room, and he responded by giving two thumbs-up. Djokovic, who was bidding for an 11 championship at the Australian Open and record 25th Grand Slam title overall, hurt his left leg during his quarterfinal victory against Carlos Alcaraz.
The No. 2-seeded Zverev reached his first title match at Melbourne Park and will face the winner of Friday's second semifinal between No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy, the defending champion, and No. 21 Ben Shelton of the United States.
Zverev is a two-time runner-up at other major tournaments. The men's final is Sunday. In Saturday's women's final, No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will try to become the first woman since 1999 with three consecutive Australian Open titles when she faces Madison Keys of the United States.
Djokovic lost the opener 7-6 (5) in a tiebreaker and immediately walked around the net to concede the match to Zverev. Fans booed as Djokovic walked off toward the locker room, and he responded by giving two thumbs-up. Djokovic, who was bidding for an 11 championship at the Australian Open and record 25th Grand Slam title overall, hurt his left leg during his quarterfinal victory against Carlos Alcaraz.
The No. 2-seeded Zverev reached his first title match at Melbourne Park and will face the winner of Friday's second semifinal between No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy, the defending champion, and No. 21 Ben Shelton of the United States.
Zverev is a two-time runner-up at other major tournaments. The men's final is Sunday. In Saturday's women's final, No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will try to become the first woman since 1999 with three consecutive Australian Open titles when she faces Madison Keys of the United States.
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Australian Open: Novak Djokovic beats Carlos Alcaraz and gets closer to a 25th Grand Slam title
Novak Djokovic refused to let anything stop his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam trophy in the Australian Open quarterfinals. Not a problem with his left leg. Not an early deficit. And not the kid across the net, Carlos Alcaraz, who was making things difficult and eyeing his own bit of history.
Djokovic overcame it all, just as he has so often along the way to so many triumphs, moving into the semifinals at Melbourne Park for the 12th time with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Alcaraz in a scintillating showdown on Tuesday night between a pair of stars born 16 years apart and at opposite ends of their careers. The action was non-stop, the shot-making brilliant, even as the match stretched on for more than 3 1/2 hours and nearly to 1 a.m. — never more so, perhaps, than when Alcaraz saved a break point that would have put Djokovic ahead 5-2 in the fourth set, allowing him to serve for the win.
The 33-stroke exchange was the longest of the evening, and when it ended with Djokovic sailing a forehand long, the capacity crowd at Rod Laver Arena went wild.
Djokovic reached for his bothersome leg and yelled toward his entourage; Alcaraz, his chest heaving, leaned on a towel box and grinned.
Turned out that only delayed the final result. With his wife, son and daughter cheering in the stands, the No. 7-seeded Djokovic prevailed thanks to the sort of remarkable returning and no-mistakes-made groundstrokes against Alcaraz that now-retired rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal dealt with for years.
Djokovic enjoyed some of his own best efforts in the latter stages, pointing to his ear or blowing kisses or spreading his arms while puffing out his chest. There was the forehand winner on a 22-stroke point that earned the break for a 5-3 lead in the third set. There was that set's last point, which included a back-to-the-net sprint to chase down a lob. Alcaraz wasn't shy, either, shouting “Vamos!” and pumping his fists after one particularly booming forehand in the fourth set.
On Friday, Djokovic's 50th major semifinal will come against No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev, a two-time runner-up at majors.
Djokovic overcame it all, just as he has so often along the way to so many triumphs, moving into the semifinals at Melbourne Park for the 12th time with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Alcaraz in a scintillating showdown on Tuesday night between a pair of stars born 16 years apart and at opposite ends of their careers. The action was non-stop, the shot-making brilliant, even as the match stretched on for more than 3 1/2 hours and nearly to 1 a.m. — never more so, perhaps, than when Alcaraz saved a break point that would have put Djokovic ahead 5-2 in the fourth set, allowing him to serve for the win.
The 33-stroke exchange was the longest of the evening, and when it ended with Djokovic sailing a forehand long, the capacity crowd at Rod Laver Arena went wild.
Djokovic reached for his bothersome leg and yelled toward his entourage; Alcaraz, his chest heaving, leaned on a towel box and grinned.
Turned out that only delayed the final result. With his wife, son and daughter cheering in the stands, the No. 7-seeded Djokovic prevailed thanks to the sort of remarkable returning and no-mistakes-made groundstrokes against Alcaraz that now-retired rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal dealt with for years.
Djokovic enjoyed some of his own best efforts in the latter stages, pointing to his ear or blowing kisses or spreading his arms while puffing out his chest. There was the forehand winner on a 22-stroke point that earned the break for a 5-3 lead in the third set. There was that set's last point, which included a back-to-the-net sprint to chase down a lob. Alcaraz wasn't shy, either, shouting “Vamos!” and pumping his fists after one particularly booming forehand in the fourth set.
On Friday, Djokovic's 50th major semifinal will come against No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev, a two-time runner-up at majors.
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State
Eight killed in blast at Bhandara ordnance factory, says Nitin Gadkari
Eight persons were killed after a blast at the ordnance factory in Maharashtra's Bhandara district on Friday, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said.
“As per preliminary information seven other persons were injured in the blast,” Gadkari told reporters.
A senior district official said the blast caused the roof of the unit to collapse. Search and rescue efforts were underway at the site, he said. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier said that 13 to 14 workers were stuck at the site.
According to police and district authorities, the explosion occurred in the LTP section of the ordnance factory in the Jawahar Nagar area around 10.30 am.
District Collector Sanjay Kolte also said 13 to 14 people were working in the unit at the time of the incident.
“As per preliminary information seven other persons were injured in the blast,” Gadkari told reporters.
A senior district official said the blast caused the roof of the unit to collapse. Search and rescue efforts were underway at the site, he said. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier said that 13 to 14 workers were stuck at the site.
According to police and district authorities, the explosion occurred in the LTP section of the ordnance factory in the Jawahar Nagar area around 10.30 am.
District Collector Sanjay Kolte also said 13 to 14 people were working in the unit at the time of the incident.
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Six held with banned drug worth Rs 107 crore after Alprazolam factory busted in Gujarat
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) busted a factory manufacturing alprazolam in Anand district and arrested six persons with the banned drug, an official said on Friday.
The accused had rented a factory near Khambhat town and manufactured alprazolam, a substance used in sleeping pills.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ATS) Harsh Upadhyay said that alprazolam falls under the purview of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act because of its misuse as a psychotropic substance. Based on a tip-off, the ATS raided the factory on Thursday evening and apprehended six men with 107 kg of alprazolam worth Rs 107 crore, he said.
Upadhyay said, "The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) issues a licence for the production of alprazolam. This drug also falls under the purview of the NDPS Act. The accused did not have any licence at the time of the raid. Five accused were operating the unit, while the sixth person was the receiver."
A preliminary probe revealed that the five accused had rented the factory to manufacture the psychotropic substance, he said, adding that investigations are underway.
The accused had rented a factory near Khambhat town and manufactured alprazolam, a substance used in sleeping pills.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ATS) Harsh Upadhyay said that alprazolam falls under the purview of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act because of its misuse as a psychotropic substance. Based on a tip-off, the ATS raided the factory on Thursday evening and apprehended six men with 107 kg of alprazolam worth Rs 107 crore, he said.
Upadhyay said, "The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) issues a licence for the production of alprazolam. This drug also falls under the purview of the NDPS Act. The accused did not have any licence at the time of the raid. Five accused were operating the unit, while the sixth person was the receiver."
A preliminary probe revealed that the five accused had rented the factory to manufacture the psychotropic substance, he said, adding that investigations are underway.
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MP government to ban sale of liquor at religious sites in state: CM Yadav
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that his government would ban the sale of liquor at 17 places of religious worship in the state.
The Chief Minister made the announcement at a function in Narsinghpur district.
Last year, the Chief Minister had said that the state government would develop places associated with Lord Ram and Lord Krishna as pilgrimage sites. "Everyone is aware of the ill effects of liquor consumption. We don't want our youths to get spoiled, as they are the future of the country. The Madhya Pradesh government will ban the sale of liquor at 17 religious places," Yadav said.
"Liquor will be banned wherever Lord Krishna and Lord Ram have set their foot in Madhya Pradesh," he said.
The Chief Minister made the announcement at a function in Narsinghpur district.
Last year, the Chief Minister had said that the state government would develop places associated with Lord Ram and Lord Krishna as pilgrimage sites. "Everyone is aware of the ill effects of liquor consumption. We don't want our youths to get spoiled, as they are the future of the country. The Madhya Pradesh government will ban the sale of liquor at 17 religious places," Yadav said.
"Liquor will be banned wherever Lord Krishna and Lord Ram have set their foot in Madhya Pradesh," he said.
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❖ - Syndicated news, primarily from PTI
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