LIVE
Thu, 02 January 2025
TMC councillor shot dead in Bengal
Timeline Refresh
File image
23:55 Noida: Classes up to 8 suspended until further orders due to cold
Gautam Buddh Nagar administration in UP on Thursday ordered suspension of classes till 8 in all schools of the district until further orders in view of cold weather conditions.
The order, issued by District Basic Education Officer Rahul Panwar, applies to schools across board affiliations.
"In compliance with the instructions given by the District Magistrate, Gautam Buddh Nagar, in view of the dense fog and extreme cold, there will be a holiday in all the schools (classes from nursery to 8) recognised by all the boards (CBSE / ICSE / IB, UP Board and others) operating in the district with immediate effect till further orders.
The said order should be strictly followed," the order stated.
The mercury dipped below 10 degrees Celsius in Gautam Buddh Nagar on Thursday, according to India Meteorological Department.
A maximum of 17 degrees Celsius was recorded in the district, with the IMD predicting foggy and misty condition.
The Met has predicted a low of 8 degrees Celsius on Friday. -- PTI
23:51 TMC councillor shot dead in Bengal
Trinamool Congress councillor Dulal Sarkar was shot dead by unidentified miscreants in West Bengal's Malda district on Thursday morning, police said.
Sarkar, the TMC councillor from Malda, was shot in his head multiple times from close range by bike-borne assailants at Jhaljhalia More area, they said.
"He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. A probe has been initiated and we are trying to identify the culprits," a senior police officer said.
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee expressed shock over the killing of Sarkar, who was popularly known as Babla.
"My close associate and a very popular leader, Babla Sarkar, has been murdered today. From the beginning of the Trinamool Congress, he (and his wife Chaitali Sarkar) worked hard for the party, and Babla was also elected a councillor," she said in a post on X. "... I am so shocked and sad that I do not know how to convey my condolences to the bereaved family. May God give Chaitali strength to survive and fight the battle," she added. Later speaking at the state administrative meeting at Nabanna, Banerjee blamed the callousness of the Malda SP for the murder of TMC councillor. "This is a season of festivals, and miscreants are taking the opportunity. This (the killing of Sarkar) happened due to the callousness of the SP. They planned to murder him today because yesterday was January 1 and people were celebrating the new year... this is a dangerous time.
File image
23:41 Man beaten up at New Year's eve party at housing complex dies in hospital
One of the two men beaten up during an argument over playing loud music at a New Year's eve party in Thane's Kashmira area died in a Mumbai hospital on Thursday, a police official said. The incident took place on the night of December 31 at a MHADA housing plex, the Kashimira police station official said.
"Raja Pariar (24) and another person Vipul Rai were beaten up allegedly by residents of the complex over loud DJ music. Pariar died today at a Mumbai hospital. Rai is still hospitalised. We have detained a few persons in this connection," the official informed.
Further probe into the case is underway, the Kashimira police station official added. -- PTI
File image
23:26 Blinkit starts 10-minute ambulance service in select areas of Gurugram
Quick commerce major Blinkit on Thursday launched 10-minute ambulance service in select areas of Gurugram as a pilot project. Users will be able to see the option to call for an ambulance on the Blinkit app, according to a company statement.
"These ambulances will be stocked with essential life-saving equipment, including oxygen cylinders, AED (automated external defibrillator), stretcher, monitor, suction machine, and essential emergency medicines and injections. They will also be equipped with a scoop stretcher and a wheelchair to safely transport those in need," it said.
Each vehicle will be manned by a paramedic, a duty assistant, and a trained driver.
The service will soon be expanded to more areas.
"We are taking our first step towards solving the problem of providing quick and reliable ambulance service in our cities. The first five ambulances will be on the road in Gurugram starting today," Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa said in a post on X.
He said the aim is to expand to all major cities over the next two years. PTI
File image
22:59 Emergency in China after epidemic outbreak?
China declared state of emergency following the outbreak of an epidemic in the country five years after the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019, according to an X handle known as 'SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19).
Multiple viruses, including influenza A, HMPV, mycoplasma pneumoniae, and COVID-19, are spreading rapidly across the country, claimed the X handle.
Hospitals and crematoriums were overburdened following the outbreak, said the report.
More details soon.
Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel (right)
22:24 Maldives foreign minister begins 3-day visit to India
Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel arrived in New Delhi on Thursday on a three-day visit to explore ways to bolster bilateral ties in several key areas including maritime security, trade and investment.
Khaleel's trip to India comes nearly three months after Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu visited India.
On Friday, the Maldivian foreign minister will hold wide-ranging talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar covering almost all aspects of India-Maldives ties.
"Working towards India-Maldives joint vision of a 'Comprehensive Economic & Maritime Security Partnership'. Warm welcome to FM @abkhaleel of Maldives on his first official visit to India," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on 'X'.
The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and the overall bilateral ties including in areas of defence and security witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male.
The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain after Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office in November 2023.
Within hours of his oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country.
Subsequently, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians.
However, Muizzu vowed to boost ties with India during his visit to Delhi in October. -- PTI
Representational image
21:46 Bizman in last video blames wife, inlaws for suicide
In a video he recorded before committing suicide, a 40-year-old Delhi cafe owner has alleged he was "extremely tortured" by his in-laws and wife, and accused them of not respecting court's orders in their divorce case.
Puneet Khurana died by suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his residence in the Model Town area of northwest Delhi on Tuesday.
His family members have alleged Khurana was being harassed by his wife and in-laws, the police said in a statement.
Investigators said the allegations are yet to be verified.
Police sources said Khurana recorded a 54-minute video in his mobile phone before hanging himself to death.
An about 2.5-minute clip from the video is being shared on social media in which Khurana said he was depressed and also lists the reasons.
The clip surfaced online on Thursday.
The police will add this video as a part in their further investigations, the official said.
"I am recording my final statement. I am about to commit suicide because I am extremely tortured by my in-laws and my wife. We have already filed for a mutual divorce and signed before the court with some terms and conditions," Khurana says in the video.
"We at least committed to respect the court and fulfil those conditions within the period of 180 days. We have already passed 90 days and other 90 days to go. But my in-laws and wife are already pressuring me with new set of conditions which are beyond my capacity. They are asking for another Rs 10 lakh and I don't have the capacity to pay. I cannot ask my parents because they have already suffered enough because of me," Khurana says in the video.
The police sources said they have conducted the post-mortem examination and handed over his body to his family.
The police may call Khurana's wife and father for questioning. There was no immediate reaction from the wife and in-laws.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren
21:33 HC grants three weeks' time to ED to respond to Soren's affidavit
The Jharkhand high court on Thursday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) three weeks to file a response to an affidavit filed by Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
The ED had filed a case before the HC seeking to quash an FIR registered by Soren against the agency officials under the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Caste (Prevention of Atrocity) Act.
Soren had filed the case against ED officials at the SC/ST police station here for conducting searches at his residences in Delhi and Ranchi in January last year.
He alleged that the ED's actions were aimed at "humiliating tribals," leading him to register the case.
The investigating officer of the case issued notices asking ED officers to appear and explain their innocence.
Soren filed the case against ED additional director Kapil Raj, assistant directors Devrat Jha, Anuman Kumar, Aman Patel, and several unknown persons.
Kapil Raj and other officials approached the HC to challenge the notice issued against them and the criminal proceedings initiated.
During the proceedings, Soren filed an affidavit before the high court, refuting the statements made by ED officials and justifying the FIR.
The ED sought time to respond to Soren's affidavit. In the FIR, filed in January last year, Soren alleged that the ED conducted the search operation at his Delhi residence to "harass and malign him and his entire community," officials said.
"My family members and I have suffered immense mental, psychological, and emotional harm because of the acts committed..." Soren said in the FIR, according to the officials. -- PTI
21:21 Ex-sarpanch attacked by unidentified assailants; suffers severe injuries
A former sarpanch suffered severe injuries on his legs on Thursday after being allegedly attacked by unidentified persons in Thane district of Maharashtra, the police said.
The victim, Kadam Ugada, who was earlier the sarpanch of Ajanup village near Kasara in Shahapur taluka, was attacked and his car was vandalised by the assailants, they said.
He is currently undergoing treatment in a private hospital at Kalyan.
"Kadam left his house in his car around 10 am for work. But his car suddenly stopped in a village on the way due to some engine fault.
Unidentified assailants then came to the spot and attacked his car with stones. They also dragged him out of the vehicle and severely hit him on his legs," an official said.
he locals initially admitted him to a private hospital in Shahapur, where doctors said both his legs have suffered severe injuries, and shifted him to a medical facility in Kalyan for further treatment, he said.
On the basis of a complaint, the Kasara police registered an FIR and launched a search operation to trace the accused. Senior inspector Suresh Gavit said the accused and the motive behind the attack are being identified. -- PTI
Ketan Parekh (right)/File image
20:53 Sebi bans Ketan Parekh from securities markets
Markets regulator Sebi on Thursday barred three individuals, including Ketan Parekh, from the securities markets with immediate effect for their alleged involvement in a front-running scheme which generated illegal gains of Rs 65.77 crore.
Further, Sebi directed 22 entities, including Parekh, to impound unlawful gains worth Rs 65.77 crore earned from the alleged violations, jointly and severally.
The regulator also restrained Ketan Parekh, Rohit Salgaocar and Ashok Kumar Poddar from associating with any intermediary registered with Sebi, either directly or indirectly, with immediate effect.
Sebi issued show cause notices to 22 entities, including Parekh, Salgaocar and Poddar as to why suitable directions, including direction to disgorgement, debarment and imposition of penalty will not be passed.
These entities have to file their replies to Sebi within 21 days from the date of receipt of this order, the regulator said.
In a 188-page interim order, Sebi said "Rohit Salgaocar and Ketan Parekh devised the entire scheme to unjustly enrich from the NPI (Non-Public Information) pertaining to the big client by orchestrating front-running activities".
The regulator noted that Ashok Kumar Poddar has admitted to be a facilitator in the front-running activities.
On modus operandi adopted by Ketan Parekh and others, Sebi observed that prior to the execution of suspicious trades, the front runners were receiving trade instructions through WhatsApp chats or calls from a person whose contact number(s) was saved in the devices as Jack/Jack New/Jack Latest New/Boss, etc. Upon analysis of these contact numbers, it was found that these numbers belonged to Ketan Parekh who was receiving NPI from one, Rohit Salgaocar.
After receiving specific and timely instructions, directly or indirectly, from Ketan Parekh, the FRs used to execute orders and made unjust profits. -- PTI
20:11 Police sub-inspector dies of heart attack during morning walk in Jodhpur
The in-charge of the district special team in Jodhpur died of a heart attack while he was out for a morning walk on Thursday morning, the police said.
People present on the spot rushed him to AIIMS Jodhpur, where doctors declared him dead, they said.
ASP (Rural) Bhopal Singh said that sub-inspector and in-charge of the Jodhpur Rural DST team Karni Dan (39) was walking in the Krishna Nagar Park near his residence on Thursday morning at about 8.30 am.
"He used to go for walks daily. Today, he suddenly felt chest pain and collapsed on the track while walking. People present at the scene took him to AIIMS, but his life could not be saved," said Lakhawat.
Dan hailed from Badnawa in the Balotra district and was selected as an ASI in 2014.
He is survived by his wife, a 6-year-old son, and his mother. -- PTI
File image
19:58 Empty gas cylinder found near railway tack in Kanpur
An empty five kilogram gas cylinder was found placed on the railway tracks near the Barrajpur railway station in Kanpur, Government Railway police said on Thursday.
In a separate incident, a major accident was averted when a large fragment of a metal was found lying on the railway track near Tapri on the Haridwar railway line in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district on Tuesday, officials said.
A safety team found the cylinder on the loopline tracks in Shivrajpur on Wednesday during patrolling.
It was kept in a sack, the officials said, as a probe was launched into the matter.
"Upon receiving information GRP officials along with the forensic teams from Kanpur and its neighbouring districts reached the spot and inspected the area as well as the cylinder and found it empty," superintendent of police (GRP) Abhishek Verma said.
Preliminary information suggested that the cylinder was deliberately put on the tracks with an intent to trigger panic, he added.
He said a special team has been formed to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure the early arrests of those responsible behind it.
Meanwhile, the railways has also started a detailed probe into the matter that took place in the early hours of Tuesday, the officials said.
The railway authorities along with teams from the GRP and Railway Protection Force promptly went to the scene upon receiving information, they said. -- PTI
Renowned lawyer Ujjwal Nikam/File image
19:49 Sarpanch murder: BJP MLA meets Fadnavis, seeks Nikam's appointment as public prosecutor
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Suresh Dhas on Thursday said he had met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and sought the appointment of renowned lawyer Ujjwal Nikam as public prosecutor in the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case.
Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog in Beed, was abducted, tortured and murdered on December 9 after he intervened to stop an extortion bid against an energy firm helming a windmill project in the region.
Asked about his meeting with Fadnavis, the MLA from Ashti said, "I submitted a letter demanding that Nikam be appointed as public prosecutor in the sarpanch murder case. I believe Nikam will accept it. He will be helpful. I sought the CM's support in this matter." -- PTI
Former PM Manmohan Singh/File image
19:20 NSUI urges Modi to name Delhi college after Manmohan instead of Savarkar
The Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to name Delhi University's upcoming college after former prime minister Manmohan Singh, instead of Veer Savarkar.
Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for Veer Savarkar College in Najafgarh on Friday.
The institution was approved by Delhi University's executive council, its highest decision-making body, in 2021.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, NSUI national president Varun Choudhary highlighted Singh's contributions to education and governance, requesting that the college honour his legacy.
Singh, who passed away last month at the age of 92 at AIIMS Delhi, was a veteran leader of the UPA government and a transformative figure in Indian politics.
"Honourable Prime Minister, you are set to inaugurate a college named after Veer Savarkar under the University of Delhi. NSUI strongly demands that this institution be named after former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Ji. His recent passing has left a deep void, and the most fitting tribute to his legacy would be to dedicate premier educational institutions in his name," the letter read.
NSUI also called for including Singh's life journey, from a post-Partition student to a global icon, in academic curricula.
They emphasised that Singh's legacy as a scholar, economist and public servant symbolised resilience, merit and dedication to public welfare.
"Singh established numerous institutions like IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and introduced the Central Universities Act. Naming institutions after him will inspire generations and honour his transformative vision. The government must act immediately to recognise his unparalleled contributions to India," the NSUI said. -- PTI
19:01 HC confirms conviction awarded to actor S Ve Shekher
The Madras high court on Thursday confirmed the conviction and sentence of one month simple imprisonment awarded to actor and Bharatiya Janata Party functionary S Ve Shekher by a special court for sharing a derogatory post on women journalists on his social media page.
Justice P Velmurugan confirmed the order of the lower court while dismissing a criminal revision petition filed by Shekher, which sought to quash the order.
The special court relating to MPs and MLAs, had in February last convicted and sentenced the actor-politician, holding the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
On April 19, 2018, Shekher had shared a post on his social media account about women journalists that kicked up a row.
Based on a complaint given by the Tamil Nadu Journalists and Protection Association, the Cyber Crime Branch of the City Police registered a case under various provisions of IPC and section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act.
According to the complainant, the actor had shared the post as he was annoyed by a remark made by a woman journalist regarding the then Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit patting her on the cheek during an official meeting. -- PTI
File image
18:56 Teashop tiff leads to communal violence in UP
A dispute at a tea shop here escalated into a clash between two groups from different communities, leaving three people injured including two women, police said on Thursday.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at Sadhuapur village in Hardi area.
A case has been registered under relevant sections and two people have been arrested, the police said.
Police force has been deployed in the area to maintain law and order though officials have dismissed claims of a communal angle calling it a private dispute between two parties involved.
"The incident occurred at a tea shop in Sadhuapur village while locals Gulshan Bajpai and Ibran were having snacks. An argument turned into a physical fight," Mehsi circle officer DK Srivastava said.
Ibran's father, Sipahi, filed a written complaint at the Hardi police station, alleging that Gulshan Bajpai and Sarvesh Bajpai attacked his 23-year-old son, daughter Sakroona (40) and a relative Noorjahan (48) with sticks, injuring them, he said.
Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 110 (attempt to culpable homicide), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 351(3) (criminal intimidation), Srivastava said.
The duo has been arrested and the injured are undergoing treatment with their condition stated stable, he added.
The CO further said that the incident stemmed from an old altercation between the two families who reside nearby. -- PTI
File image
18:12 3,345 Ice Cube Orders An Hour... 296,711 Cake Orders...
New Year's Eve (NYE) celebrations reached their peak, with consumers turning to quick commerce (qcom) and food delivery platforms, leading to record-breaking order volumes.
Executives from several platforms, including Zepto, Blinkit, and Swiggy Instamart, actively shared real-time order statistics on social media.
Zomato-backed Blinkit achieved several milestones, recording its highest-ever daily order volume, as well as the highest number of orders placed per minute and per hour.
The platform also saw a record amount of tips given to delivery partners, Co-founder Albinder Dhindsa shared.
In another social media post, Dhindsa mentioned that by around 5 pm, Blinkit had already crossed the total number of orders placed on NYE 2023.
Aadit Palicha, co-founder and CEO of Zepto, shared how Zepto witnessed a surge in the number of orders.
"This NYE, Zepto is up 200 percent compared to last year, and we're currently handling unprecedented scale," he wrote.
Not just Blinkit and Zepto, but Swiggy Instamart also hit its highest-ever number of orders on December 31, double the previous NYE sales, Swiggy's Co-founder Phani Kishan Addepalli shared.
Commenting on the developments, Amitesh Jha, CEO, Swiggy Instamart, said, "NYE has once again set a new record for orders, surpassing previous peaks from festival seasons like Mother's Day and Diwali, making it the day with the highest-ever orders on Swiggy Instamart."
The platform recorded its largest order of Rs 70,325 from a user in central Goa.
Similarly, Blinkit reported an order worth Rs 64,988 from a Kolkata-based user.
Across all qcom platforms, there was a notable increase in orders for party essentials like disposable glasses, potato chips, ice cubes, chocolates, tonic water, lemons, nachos, soda, cold drinks, and other items.
Palicha mentioned that Zepto, the qcom unicorn, logged 3,345 ice cube orders per hour, which was 2.62x higher than last year.
With orders soaring nationwide, food delivery platforms also recorded a major surge.
On Swiggy, biryani remained a preferred item, with the fastest delivery at 164 seconds in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.
There were also 296,711 orders placed for cakes. Swiggy's delivery partners collectively travelled 6,519,841 kilometres, which is 8x the distance to and from Earth to the Moon.
Rohit Kapoor, CEO-food marketplace at Swiggy, shared that Bengaluru topped the bookings for Swiggy Dineout, its restaurant reservation service.
Another food delivery platform, magicpin, hit nearly 1,500 orders per minute at its busiest time.
The biggest order on the platform, worth Rs 30,000, was placed by a Delhi-based user.'Burgers topped the charts with 35,000+ orders.
"Bangalore led the way in burger cravings. Is it any surprise?' Zomato-backed magicpin posted on X.
Curefoods, a Cloud kitchen startup, also hit last year's order count before midnight.
The top cities in terms of order volumes were Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Delhi-National Capital Region.
"Closed at 35 per cent year-on-year growth! Great end to the year," the platform's Founder and CEO Ankit Nagori posted on X. -- Udisha Srivastav, Abrar Peerzada/Business Standard
17:48 Indian enters Pak to marry FB friend, lands in jail
A 30-year-old Indian man crossed over illegally into Pakistan to meet a Facebook friend he wanted to marry, but instead found himself behind bars.
And the woman told the local police she does not want to tie the knot.
Badal Babu from the Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh was arrested last week in the Mandi Bahauddin district of Pakistan's Punjab province (some 240 km from Lahore) for illegal border crossing.
Babu attempted to cross the border illegally to meet the Facebook friend with whom he wanted to marry.
The police recorded the statement of Babu's Facebook friend Sana Rani, 21, who said she wasn't interested in marrying him.
"In her statement to the police, Sana Rani says that Babu and she have been friends on Facebook for the last two-and-a-half years. But she is not interested in marrying him," a Punjab police officer, Nasir Shah, said on Thursday.
He said Babu illegally crossed the border and reached Sana Rani's Maung village in Mandi Bahauddin, where he was arrested by law enforcers.
When asked whether Babu met Rani, the police officer said he couldn't confirm this. -- PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
17:42 Modi pays tributes to Mannathu Padmanabhan Pillai on birth anniversary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to Mannathu Padmanabhan Pillai, a freedom fighter and social reformer who founded the Nair Service Society, on his birth anniversary and lauded him as a true visionary.
"Remembering Sri Mannathu Padmanabhan on his birth anniversary. He was a true visionary, who made relentless efforts to uplift society, empower women and remove human suffering."
"His emphasis on education and learning was also noteworthy. We remain committed to fulfilling his vision for our nation," Modi said on X.
Born in 1878 in the present-day Kerala, Pillai founded the Nair Service Society to uplift the community, which is a numerically and socially influential caste in Kerala. -- PTI
17:08 White-collar hiring up 9% in December: Report
White-collar hiring activity in December witnessed a 9 per cent increase compared to the same period of the previous year, driven by high-skill and strategic roles, a report said on Thursday.
According to Naukri JobSpeak, the index reached an impressive 2,651 points in December 2024, reflecting a robust 9 per cent year-on-year growth, a promising sign for the year ahead. Key sectors that were primary growth drivers in December 2024, included AI/ML (36 per cent), Oil and Gas (13 per cent), FMCG (12 per cent) and Healthcare (12 per cent), said the report. Top metro cities collectively posted a 10 per cent growth as the year came to an end, it added.
The Naukri JobSpeak is a monthly Index representing the Indian job market and hiring activity based on new job listings and job-related searches by recruiters on the resume database of Naukri.com. Meanwhile, according to the report, fresher hiring, which had majorly been muted through 2024, saw an impressive 6 per cent growth in December 2024, driven by creative, lifestyle and retail sectors like Design (39 per cent), Beauty and Wellness (26 per cent) and Consumer Durables (19 per cent), respectively.
The FMCG sector achieved an 18 per cent growth in fresher hiring during December 2024, marking the highest monthly increase for the sector in fresher recruitment throughout the year, it added. The creative industry showed an interesting technical tilt in December as video editors and interior designers were among the top roles hired, reflecting a balanced demand for visual storytelling and spatial innovation, it stated.
17:00 Sensex rallies 1,436 pts to end at 2-week high
Benchmark Sensex rallied 1,436 points to close at a two-week high on Thursday on buying in financial, auto and IT shares, extending gains to the second day of the New Year.
The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex jumped 1,436.30 points or 1.83 per cent -- its best single-day gain in more than a month -- to settle at 79,943.71. During the day, it soared 1,525.46 points or 1.94 per cent to 80,032.87. The NSE Nifty surged 445.75 points or 1.88 per cent to 24,188.65 as 48 of its constituents closed in green.
From 30 Sensex shares, Bajaj Finserv jumped nearly 8 per cent while Bajaj Finance soared over 6 per cent. Maruti, Titan, Mahindra, Mahindra & Mahindra, Infosys, HCL Tech, Zomato, UltraTech Cement and Kotak Mahindra Bank were the other major gainers. -- PTI
16:42 Was New Orleans attack ISIS directed or inspired?
Update on the New Orleans attack: From CNN: One of the FBI's challenges when investigating the deadly New Orleans attack is determining whether the suspect was inspired by ISIS or directed by the Islamist militant group, a security expert said.
The attack had "several strategic and symbolic considerations as potentially textbook ISIS," Sajjan M. Gohel told CNN's Christina Macfarlane.
"So if you look at the combination of ramming and shooting, it does suggest a desire to maximize casualties. We've seen vehicle attacks by ISIS in the past," said Gohel, International Security Director at the Asia-Pacific Foundation.
"What you then see is that the suspect then seeks to kill as many people as possible, then die in a hail of bullets' what's described as 'death by cop'."
"I think the challenge now for the FBI is that -- was this inspired or was this directed by ISIS?" Gohel also pointed out that the attack, which happened less than a mile from where The Sugar Bowl was to be hosted hours later, prompting the annual college football game's postponement, was also intended to "have an economic repercussion."
The city is also due to host the Super Bowl and the Mardi Gras carnival, which attracts about a million people annually.
Gohel said the attack appeared well-planned.
"The fact that this individual was able to take his vehicle into a pedestrian part of Bourbon Street is important because it's very likely that he had done reconnaissance, advanced planning. So he knew the route and he knew how to bypass security."
The Jindals have close ties to the Sharifs
16:16 Indian tycoon attends ex-Pak PM's grandson's shaadi
Indian business tycoon Sajjan Jindal along with his family attended the wedding festivities of the grandson of former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore, a PML-N leader said on Thursday.
Jindal, the managing director of JSW Steel, was among 700 local and foreign guests who attended the wedding of Sharif's grandson Zayd Hussain Nawaz at their palatial Jati Umra Raiwind residence in Lahore on Sunday. Several other Indians also attended the festivities, a senior leader from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party said.
The Jindal family has strong ties with the Sharif family and it had reportedly helped Nawaz Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz set up a steel mill in the Gulf.
The Sharif family kept the one-day visit of Indian guests, especially the Jindal family, low-profile. The Jindal family arrived in Lahore from Mumbai on a special plane. A heavy contingent of police was deployed around Jati Umra and its surroundings for the security of the guests. PTI
16:07 The Yadavs usher in the new year
Since Lalu Prasad Yadav is in the news today for his statement 'doors open for Nitish', here's a sweet picture of Rabri Devi wishing her husband on the new year. She captioned the image: Happy new year to my dear saheb @laluprasadrjd."
16:00 Manu Bhaker, Gukesh among four athletes to get Khel Ratna award
The quartet of shooter Manu Bhaker, chess world champion D Gukesh, men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar were on Thursday named recipients of this year's Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award -- the country's highest sporting honour.
The 22-year-old Bhaker became independent India's first athlete to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics with her bronze-winning show in the 10m air pistol individual and 10m air pistol mixed team events in August. In the same Games, Hamranpreet led the Indian hockey team to its second consecutive bronze medal.
15:39 Kerala nurse on death row: Blood money only hope
Family members and human rights activists in Kerala are clinging to hope for a last-minute pardon for Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse whose death sentence was confirmed by Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi for the alleged murder of a Yemeni national.
She has been imprisoned in a Yemeni jail since 2017 for the crime.
"If the family of the victim, Talal Abdo Mahdi, agrees to accept blood money and pardon Nimisha Priya, her life can be saved. We remain hopeful, but urgent support from the Union Government is crucial. We are prepared to pay the required amount," Babu John, a member of the 'Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council,' told PTI.
"Despite the lack of bilateral ties between India and civil war-torn Yemen, our diplomatic efforts could still bring about a positive outcome," an optimistic Babu John added.
Nimisha Priya, hailing from Kollengode in Kerala's Palakkad district, has been reportedly handed capital punishment for allegedly murdering a Yemeni citizen. Reports said Priya was handed capital punishment by a trial court in 2020 and Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council upheld the verdict in November 2023. Yemen's President Rashad al-Alimi has reportedly approved Priya's death sentence.
In November 2023, Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council upheld the death sentence but left room for a possible reprieve through blood money (diya) a settlement with the victim's family according to Babu John. This slim chance of clemency has been the focus of the council's efforts to save the nurse's life. Following repeated requests, a Yemeni lawyer was appointed to handle the case, and he negotiated the diya amount to 40,000 Dollars, John added.
The council, through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), facilitated the payment in two installments. However, the execution order received presidential approval on December 30, even as the proceedings were ongoing. The diya payment was completed on December 27.
The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council raised funds for legal fees and negotiations through a crowdfunding campaign. According to reports, the execution is scheduled to take place within a month. The council said if they are demanding for more money it can be paid.
"We urgently need intervention, and we are ready to provide the required amount," Babu John, who worked in Yemen for several years and has been actively involved in the case, said.
"Our efforts have managed to delay the execution by nearly seven years, and she is still alive," K L Balachandran, the lawyer representing Priya since 2017, told PTI. He also expressed optimism about the possibility of bringing Priya back home.
15:31 Dr Ambedkar visited our shakha in 1940: RSS
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, had visited a 'shakha' of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Maharashtra 85 years ago, the communication wing of the Sangh claimed on Thursday. During his visit, Ambedkar said he viewed the RSS with a sense of belongingness despite differences over certain issues.
The Vidarbha prant of the Vishwa Samvad Kendra (VSK), the communication wing of the RSS, on Thursday issued a statement in which it gave this information. Dr Ambedkar visited an RSS 'shakha' (local unit) at Karad in Satara district on January 2, 1940, where he also addressed the Sangh swayamsevaks (volunteers), it said.
It said that in his address, Dr Ambedkar said, "Although there are differences over certain issues, I look at the Sangh with a sense of belongingness."
A report had been published on January 9, 1940 in "Kesari", a Marathi daily in Pune, about Dr Ambedkar's visit to the RSS shakha, the VSK said in its statement with a clipping of the news. -- PTI
14:55 BSF allowing infiltrators destabilise Bengal: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the Border Security Force of letting infiltrators from Bangladesh enter India and charged the BSF with trying to destabilise the state. Banerjee said she could sense a "blueprint of the central government" behind this attitude of the BSF".
"We have got information that the BSF is letting infiltrators enter India through Islampur, Sitai, Chopra and several other bordering areas. The BSF is also torturing people and trying to destabilise the state," she alleged at an administrative review meeting at the state secretariat.
"There is a blueprint of the central government behind this. But goons are entering India. I want peace on both sides of the border. We have a good relationship with neighbouring Bangladesh," she claimed.
She directed DGP Rajeev Kumar to find out where the infiltrators were staying and said that she would write a strongly worded letter to the Centre. "They (BSF) are trying to hold the Trinamool Congress government responsible for it. I will ask the DGP to find out where these infiltrators are staying after entering the state," she added. -- PTI
14:37 India's manufacturing growth hits 12-month low in Dec
India's manufacturing sector growth fell to a 12-month low in December, as new business orders and production expanded at softer rates, a monthly survey said on Thursday. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index was at 56.4 in December, down from 56.5 in November, indicating a weaker improvement in operating conditions. Despite the decline, the headline figure remained above its long-run average of 54.1 thereby signalling a robust rate of growth.
14:35 JDU reacts to Lalu welcoming Nitish: We are with...
Reacting to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's statement that alliance doors are always open for CM Nitish Kumar, Union Minister and JDU leader Lallan Singh on Thursday affirmed that his party is with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
"...We are with the NDA and with full firmness. I cannot react to what people say--there is freedom of expression; people can say whatever they want, Singh told media persons. This came following Lalu Prasad Yadav's statement saying that the opposition alliance doors are always open for CM Nitish Kumar.
However, reacting to Lalu's statements, his son Tejashwi Yadav said, "You keep asking him this; what else would he say? He said this just to calm you all down."
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said that RJD supremo is making such statements out of 'fear.' "Nitish Kumar knows Lalu Prasad Yadav inside out... Lalu Prasad Yadav is just scared."
Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan said, "If followers of Gandhi detach themselves from the followers of Godse, then we are with them..."
Earlier on Tuesday, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav made a pledge for Bihar in 2025, promising to end unemployment and migration from the state. Speaking about his vision for the upcoming year, Yadav declared, "In the new year, we have resolved that this time we will end unemployment and migration from Bihar. We will form a new government in the new year. -- ANI
14:14 Sensex cheers 2025, soars 1300 points
Indian stock indices are on a strong footing at the start of 2025. The Sensex and Nifty rallied both on January 1 and January 2. At the time of filing this report, Sensex was at 79,752.03 points, up 1,244.62 points or 1.59 per cent. Experts stated that the upcoming Q3 results season will now decide the market's movement.
Afterwards, the market is expected to shift focus towards expectations from the Union Budget and the policy decisions of the Trump 2.0 administration. "Trump 2.0 start remains the main global event of the month and year," Ajay Bagga, a veteran banking and market expert. -- ANI
14:00 Can't influence CID: Munde on sarpanch murder probe
Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Party minister Dhananjay Munde on Thursday said those who killed Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of a village in Beed district, should be tried in a fast-track court and hanged to death.
Talking to reporters after the state cabinet meeting, Munde said the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) was conducting a probe into the case in the right manner.
Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed and a popular grassroots leader in the district, was abducted and brutally killed on December 9, allegedly for opposing an extortion bid by some persons who had demanded money from a windmill company.
Walmik Karad, a close associate of Munde, surrendered before the CID in Pune on Tuesday in connection with an extortion case linked to the sarpanch's murder.
The opposition has been demanding Karad's arrest in the murder case.
"Those who killed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh should be tried in a fast-track court and hanged to death. I was the one who, during the winter session of the legislature in Nagpur, demanded the trial in the fast-track court," Munde said.
On the opposition's demand for his resignation for a fair probe in Deshmukh's killing, the food and civil supplies minister said, "There can be no influence from my side as a minister, which is why the probe has been handed over to the CID."
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for the probe into Deshmukh's murder.
The SIT will be headed by CID's Deputy Inspector General Basavraj Teli, said an order issued by the state Home department.
Earlier, the government had handed over the probe into the murder and related cases of extortion and an assault on a security guard to the CID.
During the recently-held winter session of the Maharashtra legislature, the opposition alleged Karad was the 'mastermind' of the murder, though he claimed that he was being accused falsely for political vendetta. -- PTI
13:18 Tejashwi, Lalu disagree on alliance with Nitish
Months ahead of the scheduled Assembly elections in Bihar, speculations are rife over new alliances. Focus is again on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. There are contrasting signals from the father-son duo of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) -- Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav -- regarding a potential alliance with Nitish's Janata Dal United. Lalu Prasad Yadav has said that alliance doors are always open for CM Nitish Kumar.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "You keep asking him this, what else would he say? He said this just to calm you all down."
More reactions:
Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan says, "If followers of Gandhi detach themselves from the followers of Godse, then we are with them."
Bihar DCM Samrat Chaudhary says, "Nitish Kumar knows Lalu Prasad Yadav inside out... Lalu Prasad Yadav is just scared."
Police carry a dead body from the site. Pic: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
12:40 Who is the 'terrorist' who killed 15 in New Orleans?
The FBI has named the assailant as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, an Army veteran and US citizen from Texas.
A flag associated with the Islamic State (IS) group was found in the vehicle he was driving and the FBI said it was investigating what affiliations Jabbar may have had with terrorist groups.
In an evening address, President Joe Biden said the FBI had briefed him on the attack. The suspect uploaded videos to social media "mere hours before the attack" indicating that he was inspired by IS and expressing a "desire to kill", Biden said.
Suspected improvised explosive devices were also found in the area.
A long gun with a "suppressive device" on it - acting as a silencer - was also recovered.
According to a now-removed LinkedIn profile, Jabbar had worked in various roles in the US Army, including in human resources and IT, before he was discharged. He was deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.
In a YouTube video posted in 2020, Jabbar said his time in the military had taught him "the meaning of great service and what it means to be responsive and take everything seriously, dotting i's and crossing t's to make sure that things go off without a hitch".
He studied at Georgia State University from 2015 to 2017, graduating with a degree in computer information systems.
He was married twice. His first marriage ended in 2012 and his second lasted from 2017 to 2022.
He also appears to have worked in real estate, holding a licence that expired in 2021. He had a criminal record, relating to traffic offences and theft.
The pick-up truck he was driving was electric and believed to have been rented in Texas via an app called Turo.
-- BBC
12:21 Will meet when you're better: Kapil Dev tells Kambli
Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev has promised former India batter Vinod Kambli, who walked out of a Thane hospital, to visit him at the earliest.
Kambli was admitted in ICU on December 21 due to health complications which included urinary infection and cramps but doctors later said the 52-year-old also had clots in his brain.
On Wednesday, Kambli moved out of the hospital appearing physically frail but high in spirits, and posed for photographs with the hospital staff, besides playing a short game of cricket. Shailesh Thakur, director of Akruti Hospital, said during Kambli's hospitalisation, he had also made a video call to former India captain Kapil Dev whose batch of 1983 World Cup winners have also extended their offer to help the Mumbai cricketer.
"Hi Kapil paaji how are you," replied an emotional Kambli to Kapil's greeting through the call. The World Cup-winning captain then spoke to his one-time teammate for a brief while. "I will come and see you. You are looking good, you have coloured your beard. Don't rush. If you need to stay (in the hospital) for a few more days, please don't rush. Tell the doctors it is fine if there is a need to stay on for two more days," Kapil said. "Take care. When you will better and come out, I will come to meet you. Look after yourself, love you," Kapil added.
Kapil also thanked Thakur. "Thank you Shailesh, (for) you are looking after him. He is looking good, look after him."
Thakur said the hospital will extend all possible help to Kambli. "I have been a fan of Kambli sir all my life and it was tough to see him struggling because of his health issues. We brought him to our hospital and we will also take care of his medical expenses and hospitalisation in the future," Thakur told PTI.
Representational image
12:04 Mass shooting outside New York nightclub, 10 injured
At least 10 people have been injured in a mass shooting outside a nightclub in New York's Queens on Wednesday night. The shooting reportedly took place around 11:20 pm near the Amazura nightclub.
According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), none of the victims are in critical condition and all are expected to survive, reported the New York Post.
The Amazura club, which regularly hosts DJs and live performances, had reportedly hosted a private party in honour of a known gang member - who died last year. There were around 80 people gathered outside the nightclub waiting to get inside when the incident took place, reported AMNY news.
12:01 Why Raut put a 2026 deadline to Modi govt's survival
Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday took a dig at the BJP-led Central government while raising doubts on its longevity, saying that he has doubts in his mind about whether the Union government will survive after 2026 or not.
Addressing a press conference, UBT MP Raut further stated that Maharashtra will also be affected if his doubts turn into reality.
"I have doubts in my mind that the union government will survive after 2026 or not. What I think is that Modi will not complete his term and once the union government is unsettled, it will affect Maharashtra also," Raut said.
Amid the speculations of Rajan Salvi leaving the party, Raut stated that those who are leaving the party are only due to the fear of arrest from investigation agencies, however, he stated that he himself spoke to Salvi who is a little upset because of his defeat in elections.
Shiv Sena UBT MP further stated that the party is trying to form itself with "fearless people."
Raut said, "I have spoken to Rajan Salvi, and he is a bit anxious as he has lost the elections and the issues which he has raised were of local level from his constituency. Those who are leaving the party are leaving only due to the fear of arrest and investigation agencies, there is nothing ideological behind their party switch. We are trying to form a party of fearless people who don't fear government wrongdoing or pressure tactics through investigating agencies. Once the union government goes, all this fear will also go with them and we are trying to form a party with fearless people."
Raut stated that defeat is a part of political life and one should be ready to accept it, adding that one who fears defeat, is not a 'Shiv Sainik'.
"In politics, everyone should be ready to face defeat and digest it because defeat is a part of political life and we have been taught by Balasaheb Thackeray that the one who fears defeat is not a Shiv Sainik. In our political experience, we have faced more defeats than victories..." he said.
Stepping up his attacks on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Raut alleged that Shinde's party is not his own party, and he cannot take decisions about it.
In the press conference, Raut said, "Shinde's party is not his own party but is a party of Modi and Shah, so whatever needs to be decided for their party will be decided by Modi and Shah, and contrary to this, our party is our own, and we will take all our decisions about upcoming municipal elections and other local body elections." -- ANI
Forensics at work. Pic: Stevo Vasiljevic/Reuters
11:52 Suspect in Montenegro shooting dies of injuries
A gunman who killed at least 10 people in a rampage in a small town in Montenegro died from self-inflicted injuries on Thursday after attempting suicide, the country's interior minister, Danilo Saranovic, said.
The gunman, identified by police as Aleksandar Martinovic, 45, attempted suicide near his home in the town of Cetinje after being cornered by police.
"When he saw that he was in a hopeless situation, he attempted suicide. He did not succumb to his injuries on the spot, but during the transport to hospital," Saranovic told Montenegro's state broadcaster, RTCG.
Saranovic provided no details on the attempted suicide.
-- CNN
11:44 NO bail for Bangladesh ISKCON priest
A court in Chattogram has refused to grant bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, the former ISKCON leader, following a hearing held with heightened security today, The Daily Star reported.
The bail request was turned down by Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam after about 30 minutes of hearing both parties' arguments, according to Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Advocate Mofizur Haque Bhuiyan.
Earlier today, 11 Supreme Court lawyers were set to participate in the bail hearing of Chinmoy Krishna Das.
While speaking to The Daily Star, lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee had said, "We have come to Chattogram under the banner of Ainjibi Oikya Parishad, and we will move for Chinmoy in the court for his bail. I already got the Vakalatnama from Chinmoy. I'm a member of both the Supreme Court and Chattogram Bar associations, so I don't need authorisation from any local lawyer to move the case."
Earlier on December 3, 2024, Chittagong court had fixed January 2 for bail hearing as the prosecution submitted a time petition and there was no lawyer to represent Chinmoy.
The unrest in Bangladesh stems from the sedition charges filed against Chinmoy Krishna Das for allegedly raising a saffron flag above Bangladesh's national flag in Chittagong on October 25.
His arrest on November 25 sparked protests, culminating in violent clashes between his followers and law enforcement outside the Chattogram Court Building on November 27, which resulted in the death of a lawyer. -- ANI
The site of the crash that killed 15 people
11:11 WATCH: New Orleans 'terrorist' plows into people
The death toll is now 15 people in the New Orleans "act of terrorism" after a car rammed into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the early hours of Wednesday (US local time), CNN reported.
Security camera footage has emerged of suspected terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar plowing his pickup truck down a packed Bourbon Street in New Orleans on New Year's Day. The truck had an ISIS flag flying on it.
Watch the video here.
In an official statement, New Orleans Coroner Dwight McKenna said, "As of now, 15 people are deceased. It will take several days to perform all autopsies. Once we complete the autopsies and talk with the next of kin, we will release the identifications of the victims."
10:47 Modi govt won't survive after 2026: Raut
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says on government and governance: "I have doubts in my mind that the union government will survive after 2026 or not. What I think is that Modi will not complete his term and once the union government is unsettled, it will affect Maharashtra also."
More on this in a bit.
Representational image
10:37 In a first, Army, Navy, Air Force Chiefs to get ADC from sister services
Assigning ADCs from different services is expected to promote a deeper understanding and cooperation across the branches, reinforcing the integrated approach essential for modern military operations. Read the report here.
10:26 Debates in dressing room should stay there: Gambhir
Asserting that "debates" in the dressing room should not come out in public domain, India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Thursday said he has had some "honest" conversations with his players as only performance can help them stay in the set-up.
Gambhir also side-stepped queries on whether out-of-form skipper Rohit Sharma will get a place in the final XI for the fifth and final Test against Australia starting on Friday. Amid speculation of unrest in the dressing room, the feisty head coach sought to douse the fire by declaring that they were "just reports, not truth".
"Debates between coach and player should remain in dressing room. Stern words. They were just reports not truth," Gambhir said in the pre-match press meet here. "Indian cricket will be in safe hands till honest people stay in the dressing room. Only thing that keeps you in the dressing room is performance," he added.
"There were honest words and honesty is important," he asserted. Gambhir refused to say whether Rohit will get a place in the team. The question thrown at him was why the captain had not come to address the match-eve press conference as is the norm and if he is there in the final XI.
"Everything is fine with Rohit. The head coach is here and that should be enough. We will decide on the playing XI after looking at the pitch," Gambhir said. The former opener also said his discussions with senior batter Virat Kohli and Rohit have only been about strategies to win the ongoing Test series.
"Every individual knows what are the areas to work on. We have only had one conversation with them (and that is) how to win Test matches," he said. Gambhir also confirmed that pacer Akash Deep will miss the New Year Test with a stiff back, though he refrained from naming a replacement for him. -- PTI
10:07 11 SC lawyers to represent ISKCON priest for bail
Eleven Supreme Court lawyers are set to participate in the bail hearing on Thursday of former ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, The Daily Star reported.
Led by advocate Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, the legal team will defend Chinmoy, in a sedition case resulting from allegations of disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag.
While speaking to The Daily Star, lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee said, "We have come to Chattogram under the banner of Ainjibi Oikya Parishad, and we will move for Chinmoy in the court for his bail. I already got the Vakalatnama from Chinmoy. I'm a member of both the Supreme Court and Chattogram Bar associations, so I don't need authorisation from any local lawyer to move the case."
Earlier on December 3, 2024, Chittagong court had fixed January 2 for bail hearing as the prosecution submitted a time petition and there was no lawyer to represent Chinmoy.The unrest in Bangladesh stems from the sedition charges filed against Chinmoy Krishna Das for allegedly raising a saffron flag above Bangladesh's national flag in Chittagong on October 25. His arrest on November 25 sparked protests, culminating in violent clashes between his followers and law enforcement outside the Chattogram Court Building on November 27, which resulted in the death of a lawyer.
The situation worsened following additional arrests. According to ISKCON Kolkata, two monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, were detained on November 29 after visiting Chinmoy Krishna Das in custody. The organisation's Vice President, Radha Raman, also claimed that rioters vandalised an ISKCON centre in Bangladesh during the unrest. -- ANI
Military personnel stand near the site. Pic: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
09:51 New Orleans attacker planned to kill his family
In a series of videos, the suspect in the deadly New Year's attack in New Orleans discussed planning to kill his family and having dreams that helped inspire him to join ISIS, according to multiple officials briefed on the investigation.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the 42-year-old man who police suspect drove a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more, made the chilling recordings while driving from his home in Texas to Louisiana, authorities believe.
Jabbar, a US citizen and Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, made reference in the videos to his divorce and how he had at first planned to gather his family for a "celebration' with the intention of killing them, two officials who had been briefed on the recordings said. But Jabbar said in the videos that he changed his plans and joined ISIS, and referenced several dreams that he had about why he should be joining the terrorist group, according to the officials.
-- CNN
09:23 Air India 1st Indian airline to offer wi-fi on domestic flights
Deepak Patel/Business Standard
'As with the domestic offer, Wi-Fi is complimentary for an introductory period. Air India will progressively roll out the service on other aircraft in its fleet over time,' it added.
The in-flight Wi-Fi will also allow passengers to connect multiple devices simultaneously when above 10,000 feet. Wi-Fi services will enable passengers to 'stay connected to the Internet during their flights, and to enjoy browsing, accessing social media, catching up on work, or texting friends and family,' the airline said.
Air India announced on Wednesday that it has rolled out Wi-Fi Internet connectivity services on board domestic and international flights operated by its Airbus A350, Boeing 787-9, and select Airbus A321neo aircraft.
This makes the Tata-owned airline the first to offer in-flight Wi-Fi Internet connectivity on flights within India.
In July last year, Vistara became the first airline to offer Wi-Fi services on international flights. Vistara was merged into Air India in November.
In November, the Department of Telecom stated that in-flight passengers will be able to use Internet services through Wi-Fi only when electronic devices (mobile phones, laptops, etc) are permitted to be used in the aircraft after it attains an altitude of 10,000 feet in Indian airspace.
Air India said the deployment of Wi-Fi on domestic routes followed an ongoing initial programme on international flights operated by the Airbus A350, select Airbus A321 neo, and Boeing B787-9 aircraft to international destinations, including New York, London, Paris, and Singapore.
'As with the domestic offer, Wi-Fi is complimentary for an introductory period. Air India will progressively roll out the service on other aircraft in its fleet over time,' it added.
The in-flight Wi-Fi will also allow passengers to connect multiple devices simultaneously when above 10,000 feet. Wi-Fi services will enable passengers to 'stay connected to the Internet during their flights, and to enjoy browsing, accessing social media, catching up on work, or texting friends and family,' the airline said.
09:07 Accel Secures $650 Million For India Fund
Peerzada Abrar/Business Standard
Accel, the venture capital firm backing startups like Flipkart and Swiggy, has raised $650 million (Rs 5,500 crore/Rs 55 billion) for its eighth India fund, regulatory filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission showed.
The size of the eighth fund is the same as the seventh round raise in 2022. After this round, the firm's total investment commitment in India will be nearly $3 billion.
Accel's US-based global growth fund also closed its latest round, raising $1.35 billion. A portion of this will be allocated to Indian startups, especially those in pre-IPO stages.
The venture capital firm has closed the new India fund weeks after two of its portfolio companies, Swiggy and BlackBuck (Zinka Logistics), went public.
Accel earned 35x returns on its investment in Swiggy's $1.35 billion IPO. In total, Accel had reportedly pumped around $75 million in Swiggy,
Accel held more than 20 per cent in Flipkart initially when it backed the company in 2008. It later reduced its stake to about 6 per cent before Walmart acquired a majority share in Flipkart in 2018.
The firm fully exited the company by 2023. This generated returns of about $1.5 billion to $2 billion or 25 to 30X on its total investment, according to sources.
Other portfolio companies like Zetwerk, Captain Fresh and Urban Company are also gearing up for public listings in 2025.
In a recent interview, Prashanth Prakash, a partner at Accel, said the funding environment, which has witnessed a slowdown, was buoyant right now with almost 100 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth.
"We see this kind of momentum accelerated and catalysed by the IPO opportunity seen in the country. That was the last missing piece in the startup ecosystem, and now the puzzle is kind of complete," Prakash had said.
Accel, the venture capital firm backing startups like Flipkart and Swiggy, has raised $650 million (Rs 5,500 crore/Rs 55 billion) for its eighth India fund, regulatory filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission showed.
The size of the eighth fund is the same as the seventh round raise in 2022. After this round, the firm's total investment commitment in India will be nearly $3 billion.
Accel's US-based global growth fund also closed its latest round, raising $1.35 billion. A portion of this will be allocated to Indian startups, especially those in pre-IPO stages.
The venture capital firm has closed the new India fund weeks after two of its portfolio companies, Swiggy and BlackBuck (Zinka Logistics), went public.
Accel earned 35x returns on its investment in Swiggy's $1.35 billion IPO. In total, Accel had reportedly pumped around $75 million in Swiggy,
Accel held more than 20 per cent in Flipkart initially when it backed the company in 2008. It later reduced its stake to about 6 per cent before Walmart acquired a majority share in Flipkart in 2018.
The firm fully exited the company by 2023. This generated returns of about $1.5 billion to $2 billion or 25 to 30X on its total investment, according to sources.
Other portfolio companies like Zetwerk, Captain Fresh and Urban Company are also gearing up for public listings in 2025.
In a recent interview, Prashanth Prakash, a partner at Accel, said the funding environment, which has witnessed a slowdown, was buoyant right now with almost 100 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth.
"We see this kind of momentum accelerated and catalysed by the IPO opportunity seen in the country. That was the last missing piece in the startup ecosystem, and now the puzzle is kind of complete," Prakash had said.
08:40 Death toll rises to 15 in New Orleans 'act of terrorism'
The death toll has now risen to at least 15 people in the New Orleans 'act of terrorism' after a car rammed into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the early hours of Wednesday (US local time), CNN reported.
In an official statement, New Orleans Coroner Dwight McKenna said, "As of now, 15 people are deceased. It will take several days to perform all autopsies. Once we complete the autopsies and talk with the next of kin, we will release the identifications of the victims."
McKenna informed that the New Orleans Police Department is closely working with the FBI and Homeland Security in investigating this attack.
The FBI earlier described the attack as 'an act of terrorism' and revealed that the driver, Shamsud Din Jabbar, had an ISIS flag and multiple suspected explosive devices in his vehicle.
The FBI also added that the vehicle was rented from a car-rental platform called Turo.
Moreover, the FBI had previously stated that it does not believe Shamsud Din Jabbar, the driver who carried out the New Orleans attack, was 'solely responsible' for the 'act of terrorism'.
Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's New Orleans field office, said the investigation is 'aggressively running down every lead, including those concerning Jabbar's known associates'.
'That's why we need the public's help. We're asking if anybody has had any interactions with Shamsud Din Jabbar in the last 72 hours to contact us,' she said during a news conference.
'The FBI is asking for the public's help. We're asking anyone who has information, videos, or pictures to provide it to the FBI,' she added.
Duncan also mentioned that an ISIS flag was found on the trailer hitch of the vehicle used by Jabbar.
The FBI is working to determine Jabbar's 'potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organisations', she said.
The FBI has identified Shamsud Din Jabbar as a US citizen from Texas, and officials confirmed he had previously served in the US military, according to a CNN report.
In a statement on X, the FBI wrote, 'This morning, an individual drove a car into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing a number of people and injuring dozens of others. The subject then engaged with local law enforcement and is now deceased. The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism.' -- ANI
IMAGE: The site where a man ploughed a truck into people during New Year's celebrations, in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 1, 2025. Photograph: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
TOP STORIES
© 2025 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances