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Thu, 16 January 2025
PM security row: Arrest warrants against 25 farmers
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23:55 PM security row: Arrest warrants against 25 farmers
The Bharti Kisan Union (Krantikari) Thursday slammed the Punjab government for the arrest warrants issued against 25 farmers and insertion of an attempt to murder charge in the FIR in connection with the 2022 prime minister security breach matter in the state.
Leaders of the farmers' body said they came to know about the insertion of Section 307 (attempt to murder charge) of the Indian Penal Code in the FIR after the bail plea of one of the protesting farmers was rejected by a court in Ferozepur.
On January 5, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Punajb's Ferozepur after which he returned from the state without attending any event, including a rally.
Later, the Supreme Court appointed a five-member committee, headed by former apex court judge Indu Malhotra to probe the security breach incident. -- PTI
23:32 Four drown in Andhra Pradesh beach tragedy
Four members of a family drowned at a beach in Prakasam district on Thursday, the police said.
While three bodies have been recovered, the search for the fourth is still underway. Prakasam district superintendent of police A R Damodar confirmed that the victims were part of a 20-member family from Ongole. Four persons diedtwo girls and two boys.
One boy's body is yet to be recovered.
They drowned at around 2:30 pm on Sundayy, Damodar told PTI.
According to the SP, a whirlpool-like phenomenon pulled the four into the
sea, despite them being good swimmers.
He also noted that shifting sand further hindered their movement. However, a police official and a fisherman managed to save one life, he added. Police have registered a case regarding the incident.-- PTI
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23:11 Hampi temple bans bananas to prevent overfeeding of elephant
A 7th-century shrine of Lord Shiva in Hampi has banned bananas in its premises, stating that devotees tend to overfeed the temple elephant as well as litter the place of worship with banana peels.
The management of Virupaksha temple said on Thursday that they decided on the ban for the good of the temple, the elephant as well as the devotees.
"We saw that the devotees get overzealous in their attempts to feed the elephant, which is not only harmful to the elephant concerned, but it also makes the place very dirty. The devotees leave behind banana peels and even the plastic bags that they bring the bananas in," said Hanaumantappa, temple endowment officer, to PTI.
The temple authorities also said ever since the reports of the ban came out, they have been getting a lot of calls asking about the ban.
Hanaumantappa appealed to people not to take the banana ban out of context and make it into a controversy.
"This is a local matter. We made the decision based purely on what was happening inside our temple premises," added Hanaumantappa.
Virupaksha temple is often referred to as 'Dakshin Kashi' and it sees at least 5,000 devotees every day.
On special days and weekends, the crowd surges further, reaching even 50,000 a day, said sources from the temple. -- PTI
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23:11 Hampi temple bans bananas to prevent overfeeding of elephant
A 7th-century shrine of Lord Shiva in Hampi has banned bananas in its premises, stating that devotees tend to overfeed the temple elephant as well as litter the place of worship with banana peels.
The management of Virupaksha temple said on Thursday that they decided on the ban for the good of the temple, the elephant as well as the devotees.
"We saw that the devotees get overzealous in their attempts to feed the elephant, which is not only harmful to the elephant concerned, but it also makes the place very dirty. The devotees leave behind banana peels and even the plastic bags that they bring the bananas in," said Hanaumantappa, temple endowment officer, to PTI.
The temple authorities also said ever since the reports of the ban came out, they have been getting a lot of calls asking about the ban.
Hanaumantappa appealed to people not to take the banana ban out of context and make it into a controversy.
"This is a local matter. We made the decision based purely on what was happening inside our temple premises," added Hanaumantappa.
Virupaksha temple is often referred to as 'Dakshin Kashi' and it sees at least 5,000 devotees every day.
On special days and weekends, the crowd surges further, reaching even 50,000 a day, said sources from the temple. -- PTI
The CCTV footage of the suspected attacker/ANI Photo
22:46 Mumbai police form 20 teams to nab Saif attacker
Mumbai police formed 20 teams to search for accused who allegedly attacked Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his residence.
Earlier on Thursday, Mumbai's Bandra police registered an FIR regarding the attack on the actor, and recorded the statement of the complainant, who is the maid employed by the actor.
In the statement, it has been alleged that the attacker demanded one crore rupees and attacked both the house help and afterwards Saif Ali Khan.
Additionally, a picture of the suspected attacker has been released, with the suspect seen walking down the stairs and having a bright coloured cloth around his neck.
In the complaint it is alleged that the attacker demanded one crore rupees from the family.
According to the complainant, the intruder attacked her allegedly with a hacksaw blade, which hit both her hands.
"He ran towards me with something like wood in his left hand and a long thin hacksaw blade in his right hand, during the scuffle he tried to attack me with the blade, when I tried to protect myself by moving my hand forward, something like a knife hit my wrist near both my hands and the middle finger of my left hand. At that time I asked him "What do you want" then he said "I need money, I asked how much."
Then he said in English "One crore"," the statement read.
In the recorded statement, the house help mentioned that the incident happened at 2 AM on January 16. -- ANI
Chris Martin in Mumbai. Pic: Panna Bandekar
22:27 Coldplay lands in Mumbai, promise a sky full of stars
British band Coldplay landed in Mumbai on Thursday night for their concerts at D Y Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai over the weekend.
Coldplay, led by their lead singer Chris Martin, will be performing on January 18, 19 and 21.
This is the second time the band will be performing in India, after their maiden tour in 2016.
22:14 Ex-army man shoots himself in Kota, dies
A 45-year-old retired army man died of a gunshot wound from his own pistol here in the Prem Nagar area, the police on Thursday said.
On Wednesday, Arvind Singh Choudhary, likely drunk, was watching TV in his drawing room holding his licensed revolver in hand, while his wife was in the kitchen.
His daughter was in another room studying, and his son out playing.
A gunshot was heard, and Choudhary's wife rushed to the drawing room to find her husband lying in a pool of blood, with a bullet wound to the head, Udyog Nagar Police Station SHO Jitendra Singh said.
He was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead by the doctors there.
The native of Bulandshahr district in Uttar Pradesh had been living in Kota for the last eight years.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his daughter, 19, a collegegoer, and son, 11, a class 11 student, Singh said.
A postmortem report is awaited and police have not ruled out suicide. Choudhary worked as a security guard to a director of a private school. -- PTI
Pic: Darren Ornitz/Reuters
22:06 Reliance to bring Saks Fifth Avenue to India
Country's leading retailer Reliance Retail as part of its expansion into the luxury segment is introducing Saks Fifth Avenue, an American luxury department store chain, to the Indian market.
Its "premium brands business entered into India franchise arrangement for Saks Fifth Avenue," said Reliance Industries in its earning statement on Thursday.
Saks Fifth Avenue, an American luxury department store, is a premier destination for luxury fashion.
Since its inception in 1924, it has featured an expertly curated assortment of fashion and highly personalised customer service. It operates a network of 41 stores across North America.
"So to address the super Luxury segment in India, we entered into a franchise for India with Saks, Fifth Avenue, which is a global luxury retailer," said Reliance Retail CFO Dinesh Taluja during the earnings call.
Reliance's Premium Brands business has also entered into a JV with Mothercare PLC to acquire the Mothercare brand and its IP assets for the Indian subcontinent.
It has formed a Joint Venture with Mothercare plc, a global specialist in products for parents and young children.
Earlier, it had brought the iconic American jeweller Tiffany & Co to Indian market in partnership.
21:28 An incredibly challenging day for our family: Kareena on Saif attack
Actor Kareena Kapoor's team issued a statement on the attack on of her husband and actor Saif Ali Khan at their residence in Mumbai early on Thursday.
In the statement issued on Instagram, they appealed to the media to refrain from relentless speculation and coverage.
The statement said, "It has been an incredibly challenging day for our family and we are still trying to process the events that have unfolded. As we navigate this difficult time, I respectfully and humbly request that media and paparazzi refrain from the relentless speculation and coverage."
It further said, "While we appreciate the concern and support, the constant scrutiny and attention are not only overwhelming but also pose a significant risk to our safety. I kindly request that you respect our boundaries and give us the space we need to heal and cop as a family."
"I would like to thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation during this sensitive time," she said.
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21:20 GRAP 4 curbs lifted in Delhi amid dip in pollution
The Centre's panel on Delhi-NCR's air quality on Thursday revoked curbs under stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan amid dip in pollution levels, according to an official order.
The curbs were imposed Wednesday as calm winds, low temperatures and foggy conditions allowed accumulation of pollutants in the region, with the air quality index clocking 396 last evening.
Stage 4 curbs include a ban on all construction activities, entry of non-essential polluting trucks into Delhi, and mandatory shifting of school classes, except for classes 10 and 12, to hybrid mode.
Non-essential diesel trucks are prohibited from entering Delhi, while Delhi-registered BS-IV and older diesel-run heavy goods vehicles are banned, except for essential services under Stage 4.
During winters, the Delhi-NCR region enforces restrictions under GRAP, which categorises air quality into four stages -- Stage 1 (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage 2 (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage 3 (Severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage 4 (Severe Plus, AQI above 450).
Unfavourable meteorological conditions, combined with vehicle emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers, and other local pollution sources, lead to hazardous air quality levels in Delhi-NCR during winters. -- PTI
21:08 Faulty road construction should be made non-bailable offence: Gadkari
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said faulty road construction should be made a non-bailable offence and road contractors and engineers should be held responsible for accidents and sent to prison.
Addressing an event organised by industry body CII, Gadkari further said India is number one in road accidents in the world.
"Faulty road construction should be a non-bailable offence and road contractors, concessionaires and engineers should be held responsible for accidents and sent to prison," he said.
The ministry of road transport and highways aims to reduce road accident fatalities to half by 2030.
According to the minister, the ministry data of road accidents in 2023 shows five lakh mishaps in the country resulting in 1,72,000 deaths.
"Of this, 66.4 percent, or 1,14,000, were in the 18-45 years age bracket while 10,000 deaths were of children," Gadkari said.
He pointed out that 55,000 deaths were reported due to absence of helmets and 30,000 were due to non-use of seat belts.
Gadkari also said the highways ministry is spending Rs 40,000 crore to rectify black spots on highways. -- PTI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
20:48 Rajnath, UK defence secretary hold phone conversation
India-UK cooperation in niche defence technology areas such as electric propulsion and jet engines figured in a phone conversation between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his British counterpart John Healey. Singh and Healey also explored the possibilities of joint work by the two countries in the Indo-Pacific.
"We reviewed the excellent progress made in niche defence technology areas and discussed ways to further deepen cooperation in defence," Singh said on X.
An Indian readout of the conversation said the two ministers briefly discussed the ongoing defence cooperation issues and emphasised on the need to maintain the "momentum" in the bilateral relations.
"The defence minister and UK Secretary of State for Defence reviewed the excellent progress made between the two countries in niche defence technology areas such as electric propulsion and jet engines," it said.
"They expressed satisfaction over the recent signing of the Statement of Intent on Electric Propulsion," it added.
The two ministers also reviewed the ongoing programme on the exchange of military instructors in each other's training institutes, the readout noted.
"With the increased focus of the UK on the Indo-Pacific, both sides will explore the possibilities of joint work and enhanced maritime engagements in 2025," it said. -- PTI
20:37 History of Emergency needs to be taught to people: Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday pitched for educating future generations about the Emergency period, which he described as a dark chapter when constitutional rights were suppressed and lakhs jailed.
Speaking after a special screening of the film Emergency in Mumbai, Fadnavis told reporters, "It was a period in our history when people's rights were taken away. Lakhs of leaders and citizens were jailed for two years. This film portrays the atrocities during the Emergency."
The history of Emergency should be taught to people to keep democracy alive in the country, said the chief minister.
The movie, directed by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut who also features as former prime minister Indira Gandhi, delves into the 21 months of Emergency imposed by the ex-PM between 1975 to 1977.
"Kangana Ranaut has effectively portrayed the character of Indira Gandhi. The film not only highlights the dark period of the Emergency but also depicts the 1971 war and her life," Fadnavis said.
Recalling his personal experience during the Emergency, Fadnavis said, "I was 5-6 years old, and my father was jailed for two years during that time. The next generations have no idea about the atrocities committed during the Emergency period."
The Congress that once suppressed the Constitution and turned the entire country into a jail is now constantly harping about it. This history needs to come out, said Fadnavis. -- PTI
20:07 Rupee declines 16 paise to settle at 86.56 against US dollar
The rupee depreciated 16 paise to close at 86.56 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday, dragged down by a strong American currency overseas, elevated crude oil prices and foreign fund outflows.
However, positive domestic equity markets provided some cushion at the lower level, forex traders said.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 86.42 and touched the intraday high of 86.37 before ending the session at 86.56 (provisional) against the greenback, 16 paise lower from the previous close.
The local unit settled with a gain of 13 paise at 86.40 against the dollar on Wednesday, a day after rebounding 17 paise from its lowest-ever level.
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19:54 12 Maoists gunned down in Chh'garh, Jan count 26
As many as 12 Maoists were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Thursday, a senior police official said.
The gunfight broke out at around 9 am in a forest of south Bijapur when a joint team of security personnel was out an anti-Maoist operation and the intermittent exchange of fire lasted till late in the evening, he said.
Personnel belonging to the state police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) from three districts, five battalions of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action -- an elite jungle warfare unit of the CRPF) and the 229th battalion of CRPF were involved in the operation, he said.
"As per preliminary information, 12 Maoists were killed in the gunfight. Further details were awaited as a search operation was still underway in the area," the official informed.
No harm was reported to security forces, he said.
With this, 26 Maoists have been gunned down in separate encounters in the state so far this month. -- PTI
Sitanshu Kotak/Courtesy Sitanshu Kotak/Facebook
19:40 Team India's surprise pick as batting coach!
Former Saurashtra batter Sitanshu Kotak was on Thursday named as India's batting coachahead of the upcoming limited-overs series against England and the Champions Trophy next month after assistant coach Abhishek Nayar's performance came under scrutiny during the tour of Australia.
The 52-year-old Kotak is a longtime staff of the National Cricket Academy as its batting coach.
19:30 'India's Digital Evolution On Post-Pandemic Treadmill'
India ranks eighth among 125 countries in terms of its digital evolution momentum, according to a draft of the yet-to-be-released Digital Intelligence Index 2024 -- a comprehensive study by the Fletcher School of Business at Tufts University in collaboration with Mastercard.
The 'momentum' of digital evolution is calculated based on the annual rate of change in a country's digital evolution, essentially how quickly its digital transformation is occurring.
This is measured using 184 indicators for each year.
In 2020, the last time this analysis was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, India secured the fourth position due to the unprecedented adoption of digitisation across various sectors such as education, video conferencing, e-commerce, healthcare, banking, and other services, alongside a surge in Unified Payments Interface payments.
A clear trend impacting India is the post-pandemic slowdown in global digital growth.
Between 2016 and 2019, the report notes an average digital compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3 percent across all countries.
However, between 2020 and 2023, this growth decelerated to just 2.4 percent CAGR.
In India, despite meaningful strides in bridging the mobile Internet gap, digital growth has tapered off as people returned to work or resumed outdoor activities.
Bhaskar Chakravorti, dean of global business at the Fletcher School and principal investigator of the research, highlights that the most remarkable change since 2020 has been the US' leap from 35th to third position in 2024, driven by massive advances in artificial intelligence (AI).
Chakravorti emphasises India's progress in bridging its mobile Internet gap, leveraging digital payment systems, and utilising digital public infrastructure (DPI) to narrow the digital inclusion gap, particularly for rural women.
He notes that India's role as a major data reservoir is crucial for powering an AI-driven economy and predicts it will become the world's top data consumer by 2028.
However, he cautions that the quality of data, not just quantity, is essential, and India has considerable room for improvement, especially in training algorithms across multiple languages.
Also, advancements in utilising data for DPI applications could help India establish global leadership.Chakravorti points out that as the US pulls back from regulating AI and other technologies, the regulatory role of countries like India (and the European Union) will be critical in maintaining sensible guardrails for global AI deployment, social media, and digital developments.
The evolution of India's relationship with the Trump administration will also be closely monitored. -- Surajeet Das Gupta/Business Standard
Sharmila Tagore, Saif and Saba. Pic courtesy, Saba Pataudi/Instagram
19:14 Saif's sister reacts: In shock but proud of you, brother!
Jewellery designer Saba Pataudi on Thursday reacted to the knife attack on Saif Ali Khan and said she is in "shock" but proud of her elder brother for the way he defended his family from an intruder.
The Bollywood star was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by the intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra early Thursday in a shocking attack.
Khan, 54, underwent an emergency surgery and is out of danger, said the doctors at the Lilavati Hospital where he was rushed following the incident that took place around 2.30 am at his apartment in 'Satguru Sharan' building.
"I'm in shock and reeling from this insane incident but proud of you bhaijaan. Taking care of the family and standing tall would make abba so proud. I am. Get well soon. Missing being there. Will see you soon. Duas and prayers always," Saba said in a post on Instagram where she also shared a childhood photo with Saif.
Saba, 49, is the middle child of actor Sharmila Tagore and the late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. Her younger sister is actor Soha Ali Khan.
The police has registered a case of 'armed robbery with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt'. The attacker fled using the building's staircase, a senior police official said, adding that his CCTV visuals were traced on the sixth floor, and 10 teams have been formed to nab him.
Khan's domestic help, who raised the alarm first, also sustained a minor injury to her hand during the scuffle. She later lodged a police complaint.
18:58 What Moody's Says About India's Economy In 2025
India's fiscal conditions will continue to constrain its credit strength in 2025 but it may benefit from a shift in trade and investment flows from China, Moody's Ratings said in its Asia-Pacific 2025 outlook.
"We expect only gradual fiscal consolidation, and debt to remain significantly higher than the Baa-rated peer median of around 57 per cent," Moody's Ratings said.
It added that proposed trade restrictions by the US would weaken economic output across the region.ICRA, in a report on Budget expectations, said that fiscal deficit target for financial year 2026 (FY2026) is estimated to be set at 4.5 percent of GDP, entailing a reduction of 25 to 30 bps over the projected 4.8 percent of GDP in FY25.
Government has set the fiscal deficit target for FY2025 at 4.9 percent of GDP.
"Government's target for non-tax revenues, particularly the RBI dividend could be a game changer for the FY26 Budget math and a sharp swing on this account, vis--vis ICRA's projections could alter the fiscal deficit and/or create space for additional capex," ICRA said.
The government's commitment to funding job creation and enhancing social welfare programmes, Moody's Ratings said, can help tackle critical social issues such as high youth unemployment, but it would slow fiscal consolidation.
"Beyond trade, geopolitical risk will add to fiscal pressures as defence spending increases' India's defence spending will grow rapidly amid tensions with China and Pakistan," the report said.
The ratings agency said that India's debt affordability would remain much weaker than rated peers despite gains in the revenue.
Moody's said that the growth and inflation in Asia-Pacific are levelling out, with strong domestic demand bolstered by modest easing in global and regional financial conditions.In India, it said, household spending, private and public infrastructure investment will support expansion.
Moody's said a range of geopolitical and domestic political risks persist and after key elections in 2025, governments may need to make choices between whether to fulfil political promises or to focus on fiscal consolidation.
ICRA in its report noted that the Centre is likely to reinforce focus on employment and skilling to address labour market issues and may allocate Rs 300 billion to Rs 350 billion towards the employment-linked incentive and internship schemes, launched in the July 2024 Budget.
ICRA also said that the allocation for the PLI scheme may be raised in FY2026, with the likely extension of the scheme to other labour-intensive sectors to boost domestic manufacturing.
"Government is expected to focus on operationalising the measures to enhance credit flow to the MSME sector that were announced in the FY2025 Union Budget," ICRA said. -- Ruchika Chitravanshi/Business Standard
18:44 BSE Sensex top gainers today
Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rallied for the third session on the trot on Thursday, helped by a rally in global markets after lower-than-expected consumer inflation in the US ignited hopes of more rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
Intense buying in Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank also boosted sentiments, traders said.
The 30-share BSE index climbed 318.74 points or 0.42 percent to revisit 77,000 level at 77,042.82.
During the day, it jumped 595.42 points or 0.77 per cent to 77,319.50.
From the 30-share blue-chip pack, Adani Ports, State Bank of India, Bajaj Finserv, Bharti Airtel, Tata Motors, IndusInd Bank, NTPC, Maruti, Reliance Industries and Axis Bank were the biggest gainers.
The suspect in actor Saif Ali Khan's stabbing case/ANI Photo
18:40 Saif Ali Khan's attacker demanded Rs 1 cr ransom?
The suspect who allegedly stabbed actor Saif Ali Khan at his residence in Mumbai, reportedly demanded Rs 1 crore as ransom, said an NDTV report quoting police sources based on statements by his domestic employees.
Earlier, the Mumbai police released the first image of the suspected attacker, who was captured by the CCTV cameras in the building at 2.33 am on Thursday.
Khan, 54, was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra early Thursday in a shocking attack that raises intriguing questions about security, motive, and celebrity life.
A 2.5-inch piece of knife was removed from his spine, the doctors said, adding he was on "100 percent recovery path". -- With PTI inputs
18:13 FTA Talks With Us Likely In Early Feb
India and the United Kingdom are exploring convenient dates to resume the talks for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) in early February.
The talks for the proposed FTA began in January 2022, a commerce department official said.
As far as the review of the India and ASEAN FTA is concerned, the next round of meeting is scheduled from February 10 onwards in Indonesia.
There is progress in the negotiations, but there are some issues in goods, Additional Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said.
Regarding the India-Eurasian Economic Union FTA, the commerce department said they are currently in the process of finalising terms of references for the pact.
Eurasian Economic Union comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
The government is working towards developing a data analytics platform with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) to get better insights on trade data, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said.
"Whether there is a consistency in our growth or not, whether resiliency has come in our exports or not. These kinds of insights are now coming. We are working in that direction'.There will be a launch of a platform, which will give us better data analytics," Barthwal told reporters.
A committee, comprising officials from commerce and finance ministries, has been formed to create a mechanism for publishing consistent and accurate data, following calculation errors in gold import data.
FDI reforms: Officials Meet PE, VCs, Pension Funds
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) officials held a stakeholder consultation on Wednesday with private equity, venture capital and pension funds to discuss foreign direct reforms in the country.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of the industry department targeting annual foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows worth $100 billion, on an average for the next five years.
In the last five years, the annual average was $70 billion.FDI has been falling over the last few years.
"Today's focus was regarding feedback from the industry and suggestions on FDI reforms, mainly because FDI inflows have been declining over the last few years," a person aware of the matter told Business Standard.
Last week, DPIIT held similar discussion meeting with lawyers and industry associations. -- Shreya Nandi/Business Standard
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18:09 Family dies by suicide in TN
In a tragic incident near Gobichettipalayam in Erode district of Tamil Nadu, a couple died by suicide after administering poison to their two children, who also died on Thursday.
According to the police, Dhanasekaran (36) and his wife Balamani (29), residents of Siruvalur village and employees of a private garment factory in Vellankoil, were living with their two children, aged 10 and 7, who were studying at a local school.
The couple reportedly had frequent domestic disputes.
On Wednesday night, they consumed poison. The couple also mixed the poison into a soft drink and gave it to their children, they said.
The children, after consuming a small amount, spat out the drink and ran outside to alert neighbours.
The neighbours rushed into the house and found the couple unconscious. They immediately informed the Siruvalur police and transported all four family members to the Government Medical College Hospital in Perundurai.
Despite emergency treatment, the couple passed away. The children were referred to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital early Thursday morning, but succumbed later in the day, the police said.
A case has been registered and investigation is on.
The suspect in Saif Ali Khan attack case/ANI Photo
17:43 Police release first image of Saif Ali Khan attacker
The Mumbai police released the first image of Saif Ali Khan suspected attacker, according to an NDTV report.
The accused was captured on CCTV at 2.33 am on Thursday in the stairwell of Khan's building, said the report.
In the photo, the accused was wearing a T-shirt and jeans.
He was carrying a backpack as well.
Saif Ali Khan was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra early Thursday in a shocking attack that raises intriguing questions about security, motive, and celebrity life.
Khan, 54, was "out of danger" following an emergency surgery, said the doctors at the Lilavati Hospital where he was rushed following the incident that took place around 2.30 am at his apartment in `Satguru Sharan' building. -- With PTI inputs
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17:17 Encounter breaks out between security forces and Maoists in Chhattisgarh
An encounter broke out between security personnel and Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Thursday, a senior police official said.
The gunfight erupted at around 9 am in the forest of south Bijapur when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Maoist operation, he said.
The intermittent exchange of fire was still underway, the official said, adding that further details are awaited.
Personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard from three districts, five battalions of CRPF's elite jungle warfare unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) and the 229th battalion of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) are involved in the operation, he said.
On January 12, five Maoists, including two women, were killed in an encounter with security personnel in the Madded police station area of Bijapur.
In their biggest strike on security forces in Chhattisgarh in two years, Maoists blew up a vehicle using an improvised explosive device weighing 60 to 70 kg, killing eight security personnel and their civilian driver in Bijapur district earlier this month, the police had said. -- PTI
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16:57 13 injured in bread factory blast in Agra, 3 critical
An oven blast in a bread factory in the Hariparvat area's Transport Nagar Thursday afternoon left 13 workers injured, three of them critical, the police said.
The sound of the explosion was heard kilometres away.
The incident occurred at the Medley Bread Factory, where large ovens are used to bake bread.
According to eyewitnesses, the blast happened around 1 pm when more than 20 workers were in the factory.
"We were working as usual, and suddenly, the oven burst. The ovens run on gas," factory manager Jitendra said, indicating a leak may have been the cause behind the blast.
Hearing the loud explosion, locals ran to the bakery and helped rescue the injured.
Thirteen workers were rushed to a hospital with wounds in ambulances and private vehicles.
"The injured workers have been hospitalised. Three of them are in critical condition and are being treated at a private hospital. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the oven blast," deputy commissioner of police (City) Suraj Rai said. -- PTI
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16:41 ALH-Dhruv, Tejas will not feature in R-Day flypast
The indigenously designed and developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-Dhruv) will not be part of the upcoming Republic Day flypast as the entire fleet of the military choppers has been grounded following a crash of one of them this month.
The Army, the Indian Air Force, the Navy and the Coast Guard are operating around 330 ALHs.
A Coast Guard ALH crashed at Gujarat's Porbandar on January 5 following which the armed forces grounded the entire fleet of the twin-engine choppers.
The ALH Dhruv will not be part of the Republic Day flypast over Kartavya Path on January 26, an IAF official told reporters.
The choppers are likely to remain grounded till a high-level probe panel finds the root cause of the crash that killed two Coast Guard pilots and an aircrew diver.
The helicopters have been part of the Republic Day flypasts for nearly one-and-half decades.
The ALH-Dhruv, produced by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is a multi-role, multi-mission new generation helicopter in the 5.5 ton weight class.
The official cited above also said that locally developed single engine Light Combat Aircraft Tejas will also not feature at the Republic Day flypast.
The IAF has stopped flying single engine aircraft at the R-Day parade. -- PTI
16:22 JD-U asks BJP to act against Shehzad Poonawalla
The Janata Dal-United on Thursday asked its ally BJP to act against Shehzad Poonawalla, a national spokesperson of the ruling party, for his comments targeting an AAP leader which, the regional party said, has caused deep displeasure among people from Purvanchal.
In a statement, JD-U spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said, "Poonawalla has made a mistake. His comments have caused deep displeasure among people from Purvanchal. The JD-U seeks action from the BJP's leadership against Poonawalla for his comments."
In a heated discussion during a news channel debate on Wednesday, Poonawalla had played on AAP MLA Rituraj Jha's surname to take a jibe at him, a remark slammed as abusive by Delhi's ruling party.
His swipe had come after Jha played with the BJP spokesperson's surname to take a dig at him.
The BJP leader has insisted that he never abused anyone and accused the AAP of spreading "lies" and his character assassination.
BJP's Purvanchali face and North East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari had also condemned the remarks by his party national spokesperson and said both he and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal should apologise for using objectionable words against members of the Purvanchali community.
In a video message posted on X, Tiwari said members of every party should refrain from targeting anyone for their caste, state or community.
"I strongly condemn the words spoken by Shehzad Poonawalla (in the TV debate). No matter how much anyone provokes you, the party expects its workers to remain sensitive and maintain decorum... The party will take cognisance, I believe, and I want Shehzad Poonawalla to apologise without any further comments," he said. -- PTI
16:20 'Anti-national': Mamata condemns Bhagwat's remark
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday criticised RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for equating the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya with the attainment of "true independence" by India, asserting that it was an attempt to distort history.
Bhagwat had said the date of the Ram temple's consecration in Ayodhya should be celebrated as "Pratishtha Dwadashi" as the "true independence" of Bharat, which had faced "parachakra" (enemy attack) for several centuries, was established on this day.
"This is anti-national. I strongly condemn this. This is a dangerous remark, it should be withdrawn. This is an attempt to distort history. We are dedicated to keeping our Independence intact, ready to sacrifice our lives for India, but not to tolerate this," Banerjee told reporters at state secretariat Nabanna. -- PTI
16:17 Wrong to brand Mumbai as unsafe: Fadnavis after Saif attacked
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that it is wrong to brand Mumbai as unsafe following the attack on actor Saif Ali Khan at his residence.
Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, said, "Mumbai is safest mega city in the country. The incident (Attack on Saif Ali Khan) is serious but it is wrong to brand city as unsafe."
"This incident must be taken seriously and the government will take steps to make Mumbai safer," he added.
15:58 Govt announces 8th Pay Commission for central govt employees
In a major decision, the government on Thursday decided to set up the 8th Pay Commission to revise salaries of central government employees and allowances of pensioners.
The decision to set up the 8th Pay Commission was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
The 7th Pay Commission was set up in 2016, and its term will end in 2026.
Vaishnaw further said the chairman and two members of the Commission will be appointed soon. -- PTI
15:49 Tata Motors Integrates AI For Vehicle Safety
Anjali Singh/Business Standard
Tata Motors has outlined its focus on incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies to improve vehicle safety for both occupants and vulnerable road users.
The company said that it is adopting a comprehensive approach that addresses safety before, during, and after accidents.
Safety measures now include pre-accident prevention, crash-event management, and post-accident support.
Historically, safety ratings such as the Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP) focused on crash-event performance, evaluating injuries and awarding scores based on thresholds. Tata Motors is expanding its approach by emphasising accident prevention technologies.
Speaking on advancements in the safety technology, Mohan Savarkar, chief product officer Tata Motors said, "The integration of AI spans three domains: sensing, thinking, and acting. Sensing involves detecting surroundings, road conditions, and vehicle movements using radars and cameras. Some manufacturers rely solely on cameras, but we employ a combination of radars and cameras to ensure performance under various conditions, including fog and rain."
The decision-making process in accident prevention relies on an onboard compute system capable of processing data within milliseconds. AI supports object detection and classification, addressing challenges specific to Indian roads, such as identifying scooters with multiple passengers or unconventional vehicles.
The company employs machine learning (ML) for rapid, precise responses. The system processes historical and real-time data without external database reliance, enabling timely decision-making. The goal is to make vehicles responsive without depending on extensive global data sets.
Tata Motors said its safety systems are designed to handle scenarios such as unmarked roads, pedestrians, and unconventional vehicles like hand-pulled rickshaws. This approach aims to ensure the systems are effective in the local context.
According to the company, safety has been a part of Tata Motors focus since the establishment of a safety lab in 1997, prior to the launch of its first car, Indica, in 1998. The integration of safety features has been implemented without significant cost increases, it added.
Tata Motors has introduced advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and features like E-Call and B-Call, which provide support in breakdowns or health-related situations. The company aims to make safety technologies accessible for Indian consumers, as demonstrated in models like the Nexon.
15:38 Was Saif's attacker hiding inside his home?
CCTV visuals of the unidentified intruder who repeatedly stabbed actor Saif Ali Khan inside his house in Mumbai's Bandra area early Thursday morning have been traced and ten teams have been formed to investigate the offence, police said.
As per the preliminary probe, the intruder did not force his entry or break into the actor's 12th floor flat in Satguru Sharan building, but possibly sneaked in at some point earlier in the night, a police official said.
After the incident that took place around 2.30 am, the attacker took the staircase to escape. His CCTV visuals were traced on the sixth floor, police sources said.
Khan's house-help, who raised initial alarm, suffered a minor knife injury during the scuffle. She later visited the police station to lodge a complaint for alleged attempted murder and trespassing. Police, however, did not confirm the sections under which the First Information Report was registered.
The actor's representatives, in a media statement, said it was a "burglary attempt."
As per the doctors at the Lilavati Hospital where Khan was rushed, he was out of danger after undergoing a surgery for removing the knife stuck in his back. -- PTI
15:33 Saif's son rushed bleeding father to hospital in auto
Hours after Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was injured after an intruder attacked him with a knife at his Bandra home in Mumbai, his elder son Ibrahim took him to Lilavati Hospital in an auto-rickshaw, reported NDTV.
Ibrahim helped his injured father into the three-wheeler after he could not find a car ready to leave.
Saif was admitted to Lilavati Hospital, which is approximately two kilometres away from Saif's Bandra home. A video showed actor Kareena Kapoor Khan standing next to the auto-rickshaw driver and speaking to the house staff.
14:40 2.5-inch knife removed from Saif's spine: Doctor
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan sustained a major injury to the thoracic spinal cord due to a lodged knife in the spine and surgery was performed to remove a 2.5-inch-long knife from the actor's spine and repair his 'leaking spinal fluid', said a doctor of the Lilavati Hospital.
Explaining the actor's current health condition, Dr Nitin Dange, neurosurgeon at Lilavati Hospital, said that the actor is completely stable and out of danger now.
Actor Saif Ali Khan had sustained at least six injuries after an intruder attacked him at his residence in the early hours of Thursday.
The doctors also performed plastic surgeries on Saif's hand and neck, where he was stabbed, added Dr Dange.
The Bollywood actor was admitted to the hospital at around 2 am on Thursday, the doctor said.
"Saif Ali Khan was admitted to the hospital at 2 am with alleged history of assault by some unknown person. He sustained a major injury to the thoracic spinal cord due to a lodged knife in the spine. A surgery was performed to remove the knife and repair leaking spinal fluid. Two other deep wounds on his left hand and one other on his neck were repaired by the plastic surgery team. He is completely stable now. He is recovering well and out of danger now," Dr Dange told reporters. -- ANI
14:27 Controversial judge to address seminar on 'Ram Mandir movement'
Justice Shekhar Yadav of the Allahabad high court, who purportedly gave controversial statements at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad function, will be one of the keynote speakers at a seminar on the 'Ram Mandir movement and Gorakshpeeth' on January 22.
The seminar will be held in the Maha Kumbh Mela area.
According to program coordinator Shashi Prakash Singh, the seminar is being held to mark the first anniversary of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya.
Besides Justice Yadav, senior RSS pracharak Ashok Bery and senior VHP leader Bade Dinesh Ji Singh will address the seminar.
Addressing a provincial convention of the legal cell and high court unit of the VHP at the high court on December 8 last year, among other things, Justice Yadav said the main aim of the uniform civil code was to promote social harmony, gender equality and secularism.
The following day, videos of the judge speaking on provocative issues, including the law working according to the majority, were circulated widely on social media, prompting strong reactions from several quarters, including opposition leaders who questioned his reported statement, labelling it as "hate speech".
The top court on December 10 last year took note of news reports over the statements and sought a report from the Allahabad high court on the issue.
Yadav appeared before the collegium headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and was asked to put forth his version on the statements made. -- PTI
14:24 Cong promises freebies for Delhi: Rs 500 LPG, free electricity
Congress on Thursday said it would give Rs 500 LPG cylinder, free ration kits, and free electricity up to 300 units to the city residents if voted to power in Delhi.
The announcement was made by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy who was addressing a press conference in New Delhi with AICC Delhi in-charge Qazi Nizamuddin and Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav.
"Congress will fulfil its five guarantees if it will be elected to power in Delhi," Reddy said.
On January 6, the Congress announced its 'Pyaari Didi Yojana,' promising a monthly monetary grant of Rs 2,500 to women, if it is voted to power.
On January 8, the party announced its 'Jeevan Raksha Yojana,' under which it promised to provide free health insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh.
The party on Sunday also promised to give Rs 8,500 every month to educated unemployed youths in Delhi every month for one year.
Polling for the 70-member Delhi assembly will be held on February 5 and votes will be counted on February 8. -- PTI
14:16 Rishabh Pant's Style Statement!
Enjoying a deserved break from cricket, Rishabh Pant showed off his style statement on social media.
Have a look at this Rediff.com's Web Story
14:02 Saif's attacker used fire escape staircase: Police
The Mumbai police said that the Saif Ali Khan atatcker used fire escape staircase to enter the actor's house.
Speaking to reporter at the Bandra police station Dixit Gedam, DCP Zone 9, said, "The accused used a fire escape staircase to enter Saif Ali Khan's house. It appears to be a robbery attempt. We working to arrest the accused. 10 Detection teams are working on the case. An offence has been registered in the Bandra Police Station."
Gedam confirmed that the intruder broke into the house with an intention of burglary.
13:28 EC issues advisory on use of AI in poll campaigning
Against the backdrop of increasing use of artificial intelligence in campaigning and its potential to influence voter opinion, the Election Commission on Thursday issued an advisory to political parties asking them to promote transparency and accountability in use of AI-generated content.
The advisory introduces labelling and disclosure norms requiring parties to clearly label any images, videos, audio or other materials generated or significantly altered by AI technologies with a notation such as "AI-Generated"/ "Digitally Enhanced"/"Synthetic Content".
It also requires political parties to include disclaimers during dissemination of campaign advertisements or promotional content, wherever synthetic content is utilised.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had recently cautioned against the potential of AI and deep fakes in compounding the malaise of misinformation.
He had expressed concern that deep fakes and misinformation have the potential to erode trust in electoral processes.
During last year's Lok Sabha elections, the Commission had issued guidelines for responsible and ethical use of social media platforms. -- PTI
Prasanna Zore/Rediff.com
13:23 Saif's maid who spotted intruder questioned
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is questioning Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan's domestic help who was the first one to spot the attacker.
A Bandra police officer told The Indian Express that the domestic help, named Eliyama Phillipes alias Lima, was the first one to spot the robber at around 2 am on Thursday.
According to the Indian Express, the maid screamed and alerted Khan's family members. Saif then woke up and had scuffle with the robber who attacked him with a sharp object.
12:47 Saif Ali Khan's team shares update on his health
On the health condition of Actor Saif Ali Khan, his team issued an official statement as below.
Saif Ali Khan has come out of surgery and is out of danger. He is currently in recovery and the doctors are monitoring his progress.
All family members are safe and the police is investigating the incident.
We would like to thank Dr. Niraj Uttamani, Dr. Nitin Dange, Dr Leena Jain and the team at Lilavati hospital.
Thank you to all his fans and well-wishers for their prayers and thoughts during this time
12:37 PHOTO: Sara, Ibrahim visit father Saif at hospital
Bollywood actors Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan were seen arriving at the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai to meet their father, Saif Ali Khan, who is receiving treatment after being injured in a scuffle with an intruder at his Bandra residence late Wednesday night.
12:33 Formula-E race case: BRS leader KTR appears before ED
BRS working president K T Rama Rao on Thursday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate here for questioning in a money laundering case related to the Formula-E race event.
Rao, who was the Municipal Administration Minister in the previous BRS regime, said hosting Formula E race in Hyderabad remains one of his most cherished decisions as a minister.
Ahead of his appearance before the ED, Rao in a post on 'X' said : "no amount of frivolous cases, cheap mudslinging, or political witch-hunting can erase that sense of accomplishment."
The BRS leader claimed even though there is no wrongdoing, driven by "malice and political vendetta", the ruling Congress government in Telangana is hell-bent on dragging these well-documented events through the courts and investigating agencies.
Rao, popularly known as KTR, was earlier issued summons to appear before the ED on January 7. However, he had requested two weeks and was subsequently given a new date to appear on January 16. Accordingly, he appeared before the ED.
Rao arrived at the ED office at 10.30 am. Police made elaborate security arrangements near the office.
Large number of BRS leaders and workers gathered at the probe agency office, but were subsequently taken away by police.
Senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar and former HMDA chief engineer BLN Reddy, had recently appeared before the ED over the same case.
The probe by the federal agency is linked to alleged irregularities in payments for the proposed Formula-E race event to be held in Hyderabad in 2024.
The agency filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), or FIR, recently under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognizance of a complaint by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). -- PTI
12:28 Modi congratulates ISRO scientists for successful docking experiment
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated scientists and engineers at ISRO on the successful docking of two satellites in space.
Space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully performed the docking of satellites as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), a crucial step towards several future missions, including setting up of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
"Congratulations to our scientists at @isro and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites. It is a significant stepping stone for India's ambitious space missions in the years to come," Modi said in a post on X. -- PTI
Photograph: Afsar Dayatar/Rediff.com
12:10 Did Saif attacker gain entry via building duct?
As the police investigation into the stabbing on actor Saif Alli Khan is underway, serious concerns have been raised over security lapses at the the upscale Satguru Sharan society in Bandra where the actor stays.
The actor resides on the 12th floor, and entry to the building requires passing through multiple security checkpoint.
Despite these measures and the presence of CCTV surveillance, the attacker managed to escape as well after the scuffle.
Sources indicate that the attacker may have used a duct within the house to gain access, raising questions about security protocols in the upscale residence.
The Bollywood actor is currently undergoing treatment at Lilavati Hospital, where his condition is reported to be stable.
11:49 India issues statement on Israel-Hamas ceasefire
India on Thursday welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.
The announcement on the deal comes after 15 months of conflict in Gaza.
In its reaction, India hoped that the agreement will lead to a safe and sustained supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.
"We welcome the announcement of the agreement for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
"We have consistently called for release of all hostages, ceasefire, and return to a path of dialogue and diplomacy," it said. -- PTI
11:35 Kalyan Jewellers: Over Rs 21k Cr Mcap Wiped Out
Khushboo Tiwari/Business Standard
The shares of jewellery retailer Kalyan Jewellers declined nearly 8 per cent on Wednesday, January 15, closing at Rs 550 apiece, recording a total loss of Rs 21,850 crore (Rs 218.50 billion) in market capitalisation in January so far.
The share closed at the lowest since August 2024 and has corrected nearly 28 per cent in this month.
The sharp decline follows an exceptional bull run of 9-times return in the scrip from the issue price in March 2021.
The correction in stock has continued despite strong commentary by the management.
In an update for the December quarter, the jeweller had reported a consolidated revenue growth of approximately 39 per cent year on year while India operations witnessed revenue growth of 41 per cent during the same period quarter on quarter.
The company had stated that it was led by very strong festive and wedding demand.
It launched 24 Kalyan showrooms during the quarter and has drawn up plans to launch 170 showrooms in financial year 2026 (FY26) across Kalyan and Candere formats. Candere is the company's digital-first jewellery platform.
The sharp decline was despite the strong dismissal of rumours by promoters on corporate governance, share pledge, concerns around auditors, and allegations of colluding with fund managers to write the price in the market.
The pledge of shares reflecting against the promoter name...was to acquire shares from Warburg Pincus. And one thing which we can say is that before entering into promoter financing agreement, we have given enough attention to liquidity and pledger levels and have controlled our exposure accordingly, said Ramesh Kalyanaraman, promoter and executive director of the company during an analyst call on Tuesday.
The company's management further refuted the rumours on bribing fund managers terming the allegations as absurd .
We have always conducted our business and our interactions with all stakeholders are with a very high level of integrity and transparency, added Kalyanaraman.
The company's board is scheduled to meet on January 30 to approve the financial results of the quarter ending December.
11:32 Saif attacked: 'We have laws, what about order?'
The attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has left both the entertainment industry and fans stunned.
Saif's Devara co-star Jr NTR expressed shock over the incident and wished for Saif's good health.
"Shocked and saddened to hear about the attack on Saif sir. Wishing and praying for his speedy recovery and good health," he said on X.
Actor Pooja Bhatt questioned the law and order in the city and wrote on X, "Law & Order. We have laws.. what about order?"
"Local police are our first preventers/grass root defenders. It is law enforcements duty to create an environment in which people with a criminal bent do not feel comfortable to operate. The Beat officer must act as a deterrent in preventing criminal activity. @CPMumbaiPolice," Bhatt said in another post.
Saif Ali Khan was stabbed during a burglary attempt at his Mumbai residence on Thursday.
11:12 Director Siddharth Anand visits Saif at hospital after attack
Director Siddharth Anand and wife arrive at Lilavati Hospital to visit Saif Ali Khan following an attack on him by an intruder at his home in Mumbai's Bandra.
11:04 Saif's family is...: Kareena's team releases statement
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan's actor-wife Kareena Kapoor Khan's team has issued a statement on the attack.
"There was an attempted burglary in Saif Ali Khan and (his wife and actor) Kareena Kapoor Khan's residence last night. Saif had an injury on his arm for which he is in hospital, undergoing a procedure. The rest of the family is doing fine," Kareena's team said.
"We request the media and fans to be patient and not speculate any further as the police is already doing their due investigations. Thank you all for your concern," the statement said.
10:57 Kerala police exhume body of man who attained 'samadhi'
The police on Thursday exhumed the body of a 69-year-old man, whose family claimed that he had attained 'samadhi, near Neyyattinkara in the capital district.
Under tight security, the Neyyattinkara police unearthed the grave and recovered the body, reportedly identified as that of Gopan Swami.
After completing the inquest proceedings, it was shifted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Earlier, the police made extensive security measures, deploying a large contingent of personnel in the area along with a medical team led by a forensic surgeon.
During the exhumation, the body was discovered in a sitting position. Several pooja items, including 'vibhuti' (sacred ash), were reportedly found inside the grave, according to police sources.
"We held talks with the family members and shifted the body for a post-mortem examination," Thiruvananthapuram sub-collector Alfred O V said.
Speaking to the media, he said that the police will conduct further investigations and the body will be handed over to the family after conducting the post-mortem.
Following the protests from family members and a section of local residents, the police temporarily halted the exhumation proceedings on Monday.
Subsequently, the family approached the Kerala High Court seeking an order to prevent the police from attempting to demolish the site of the 'samadhi'. However, the court declined to interfere with the investigation. -- PTI
10:53 Delhi riots accused released from Tihar jail to file nomination
Delhi riots accused Tahir Hussain left Tihar jail on Thursday morning to file nomination papers for the Delhi polls after the high court granted him custody parole, jail sources said.
"He was released from the jail under heavy security cover of the Delhi Police. He left the jail at around 9.15 am," said the source.
Hussain, a former Aam Aadmi Party former AAP councillor, has been fielded by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) from the Mustafabad constituency for the February 5 Assembly polls.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted custody parole to Hussain in a riots-related murder case to enable him to file nomination papers.
Violence broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24, 2020, leaving 53 dead and several injured. -- PTI
Lilavati hospital
10:15 Saif suffers injuries close to spine: Doctor
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, stabbed by an unidentified person at his residence in Mumbai, is currently hospitalised at Lilavati Hospital.
The actor has six stabs, out of which two are deep, said Dr Niraj Uttamani from the Lilavati Hospital.
"Khan has six stab wounds and two are deep. Of this one is close to the spine. He is being operated upon by a team of doctors led by Neurosurgeon Dr Nitin Dange, cosmetic surgeon Dr Leena Jain and Anaesthesiologist Dr Nisha Gandhi," said Uttamani
"Saif is out of danger. We will give a report in an hour," he added.
Photograph: Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com
10:08 ISRO sucessfully docks satellites as part of SpaDeX Mission
ISRO on Thursday successfully performed the docking of satellites as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), sources in the space agency said.
"The docking was performed successfully. We will be issuing a statement soon," a source told PTI.
Earlier on January 12, ISRO brought the two spacecraft to three metres and then moved them back to safe distance in its trial attempt to dock the satellites.
ISRO had successfully launched the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on December 30, 2024.
The PSLV C60 rocket carrying two small satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), along with 24 payloads, had lifted off from the first launchpad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, and about 15 minutes after liftoff, the two small spacecraft weighing about 220 kg each were launched into a 475-km circular orbit as intended. -- PTI
Crime branch at Saif's house
09:59 Attack on Saif worrisome: Supriya Sule
Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar leader Supriya Sule on Thursday expressed concern over the attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan by an intruder at his home in Mumbai and termed the incident as "worrisome".
Sule, who is a friend of Saif Ali Khan's wife Kareena Kapoor Khan's family, said the actor was hospitalised and was safe.
The incident took place at around 2.30 am on Thursday at Saif Ali Kan's house in Mumbai's Bandra area, according to police.
The actor, who was injured after the intruder attacked him with a knife, was hospitalised and required a medical procedure.
Sule spoke to Saif Ali Khan's sister-in-law Karisma Kapoor over phone in the presence of mediapersons at Baramati in Pune but declined to share details of the conversation.
Saif Ali Khan was in hospital while Kareena had returned home, Sule was apparently told by Karisma Kapoor.
The NCP-SP leader also enquired with Karisma Kapoor on how the intruder got inside Khan's house.
"Saif is safe and in hospital. Wait for the official statement from the family and the police," Sule told reporters.
The NCP-SP leader is a friend of Kareena Kapoor Khan's aunt Reema Jain, the daughter of legendary filmmaker and actor late Raj Kapoor. -- PTI
09:26 SEE: The scene outside Saif's apartment
Saif Ali Khan's stabbing saw the media deployed in strength outside the actor's apartment in Bandra West.
Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com, who is at the spot, captured the action outside the building on video, here.
Saif's residence in Bandra
09:21 Saif stabbed while he intervened to save maid
According to ANI, an unknown person entered actor Saif Ali Khan's residence late last night and argued with his maid.
When the actor tried to intervene and pacify the man, he attacked Khan and injured him. Police are investigating the matter, ANI reported quoting the Mumbai Police.
Photograph: Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com
09:04 Hindenburg Research, that targetted Adani shares, shuts down
Hindenburg Research, a United States investment research firm known for short-selling, and whose reports resulted in wiping out billions of dollars of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and his companies, has been shut down, its founder Nate Anderson announced Wednesday.
"As I've shared with family, friends and our team since late last year, I have made the decision to disband Hindenburg Research. The plan has been to wind up after we finished the pipeline of ideas we were working on. And as of the last Ponzi cases we just completed and are sharing with regulators, that day is today," Anderson announced.
In the last few years, Hindenburg Research had launched a campaign against the Adani group. Its reports published since 2023 had resulted in billions of dollars of loss for the Indian billionaire. All the charges were denied by Adani and his companies.
The sudden and surprising announcement by Anderson comes within days of a Republican Congressman, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, asking the Department of Justice to preserve all the documents and communications related to the investigations of Adani and his companies.
Anderson did not give a specific reason for disbanding his organization, which is less than a week before the end of the four-year term of the Biden Administration and the swearing-in of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States on January 20.
"So, why disband now? There is not one specific thing -- no particular threat, no health issue, and no big personal issue. Someone once told me that at a certain point a successful career becomes a selfish act. Early on, I felt I needed to prove some things to myself. I have now finally found some comfort with myself, probably for the first time in my life," he said.
"I probably could have had it all along had I let myself, but I needed to put myself through a bit of hell first. The intensity and focus has come at the cost of missing a lot of the rest of the world and the people I care about. I now view Hindenburg as a chapter in my life, not a central thing that defines me," he said.
In an interview to The Wall Street Journal, Anderson said he looks forward to taking up hobbies, travelling and spending time with his fiance and their child, adding that he has earned enough money to provide for them in the future. He said he plans to invest his money in index funds and other low-stress investments.
08:47 Saif Ali Khan stabbed 6 times: Reports
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has reportedly sustained six injuries after an intruder broke into his residence in Mumbai, according to media reports.
"Saif was brought in at 3:30 am in Lilavati. He has six injuries, two of which are deeper. One of the injuries is closer to his spine. We are operating on him. He is being operated upon by Neurosurgeon Nitin Dange, cosmetic surgeon Leena Jain, and anaesthetist Nisha Gandhi. We will be tell the extent of the damage only after the surgery is done," Dr Niraj Uttamani, COO of Lilavati Hospital told Hindustan Times.
08:27 Actor Saif Ali Khan attacked with knife inside his house
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was injured after a robber barged in his residence at Bandra in Mumbai and allegedly stabbed him multiple times.
According to media reports, the incident occurred around 2:30 am on Thursday when the actor was sleeping in his house along with his other family members.
Saif Ali Khan has been admitted to the Lilavati hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.
00:19 UP hospital 'removes' woman's kidney, 6 booked
A case has been registered against six persons, including the director of a private hospital in Meerut, for allegedly removing a woman's kidney during her treatment at the hospital in 2017, police said on Wednesday.
The court-ordered first information report (FIR) filed by the woman, Kavita Devi, alleges illegal organ trade, they said.
Shankar Prasad, Superintendent of Police (City), said, "The complaint has been lodged at Narsona police station on a court directive under Section 156(3). Complainant Kavita Devi alleges that her kidney was removed during her treatment at a Meerut hospital in 2017. An investigation is underway, and further legal action will follow."
According to Kavita Devi's complaint, she fell ill in 2017 and was treated by a doctor in KMC Hospital in Meerut.
"The doctor advised surgery, assuring me it would address internal health issues. I underwent the surgery on May 20, 2017, and was discharged four days later. However, when my condition didn't improve over the years, further tests in 2022 revealed that my left kidney was missing," she said.
She alleged that the hospital staff misled her with fake reports showing both kidneys were intact and confiscated her documents when she confronted them.
She further claimed,"The hospital staff threatened my husband and me when we sought accountability, saying they would kill us if we didn't withdraw the case."
The FIR accuses KMC Hospital director Dr Sunil Gupta and his wife, among others, of being involved in illegal organ trade.
However, Dr Gupta has denied the allegations.
"All allegations against us are baseless and false. The complainant has no evidence, such as a discharge card, to substantiate her claims."
He further alleged, "This is an attempt to extort money. Initially, Rs 5 lakh was demanded, which later increased to Rs 12 lakh. As we refused to pay, they filed a case."
Dr Gupta also said that the matter is pending before the Ghaziabad Consumer Forum, with a hearing scheduled on March 21, 2025. Police have registered the case under Indian Penal Code sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), and Section 18 of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act. -- PTI