"25-30 Crore Khaate Mein": Harbhajan's Hilarious Meme On Starc's IPL Deal

Mitchell Starc, Australia's World Cup-winning pacer, became the most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), after he was bought for Rs 24.75 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders at the Players Auction earlier this month. Starc became the second player to breach the Rs 20 crore mark during the IPL 2024 auction, following SunRisers Hyderabad's Rs 20.5 crore bid for Australia captain and star pacer Pat Cummins. Starc, who went into the auction at a base price of Rs 2 crore, attracted bids from Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans, but KKR secured his services eventually.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh shared a hilarious meme on Starc's lucrative IPL deal. In a video shared by Harbhajan, Starc can be summarising his IPL deal in hindi.

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A post shared by Harbhajan Turbanator Singh (@harbhajan3)

At the upcoming season of IPL, Starc will be making a comeback to the tournament after an eight-year hiatus. 

Starc last played in IPL for RCB in 2015. He was also bought by KKR during IPL 2018, but the players pulled out of the season, citing personal reasons.

Last week, during the second Test between Australia and Pakistan, Starc completed 650 wickets in international cricket.

After going wicketless in the first innings, Starc was destructive in the second, taking 4/55 in 13.2 overs at an economy rate of 4.10, derailing Pakistan's 317-run chase with regular wickets.

In 263 international matches, Starc has taken 651 wickets at an average of 25.35, with the best figures of 6/28. He has 23 five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket hauls in international cricket. He is Australia's fourth-highest wicket-taker of all time, with legendary spinner Shane Warne (1,001) at the top.

In 84 Test matches, Starc has taken 342 wickets at an average of 27.53, with the best figures of 6/50. He has 14 five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket hauls in Tests. He is the fifth-highest wicket-taker in Tests, with Warne (708 wickets) at the top.

Starc has also played 121 ODIs, taking 236 wickets at an average of 22.96, with the best bowling figures of 6/28. He has nine five-wicket hauls in ODIs. He is the fifth-highest wicket-taker for Australia in ODIs, with pacer Glenn McGrath (380) at the top.

(With ANI Inputs)

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Woman Dies After Suffering Cardiac Arrest Mid-Air On Glasgow-Bound Flight

A passenger onboard a flight from Tenerife to Glasgow died after suffering a cardiac arrest midair. According to a Metro report, the female traveler was on TUI flight BY1573, which departed Tenerife Sur Airport around 5:30 PM local time. However, she suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after take-off. Almost an hour into the flight, crews issued an emergency Squawk 7700 signal. 

The Glasgow-bound flight was then diverted to Funchal Airport on the island of Madeira at around 6.20 pm. Approximately 20 minutes after the emergency signal, the plane touched down on the Portuguese island.

However, the woman could not be saved despite the efforts of medical and emergency crews on the ground. Her identity has not been revealed. 

After a delay of a few hours, the flight resumed its journey en route to Glasgow at 8:55 pm last night. The airline has not yet released a statement on the tragedy. 

A few months back, a pilot died after collapsing in the bathroom of a commercial flight from Miami to Chile with 271 passengers on board. The incident prompted an emergency landing in Panama, which was carried out by the co-pilot. Captain Ivan Andaur, the pilot who died, began feeling unwell three hours after the LATAM Airlines flight took off. He was given emergency treatment by the crew, but they were not able to revive him.

Earlier this year, a woman complained that she was told to stop breastfeeding her newborn baby on a TUI plane because it would make other passengers ''uncomfortable'', Independent reported. 

Chelsea Williams took to Facebook on August 7 to describe her experience. 

''During our outbound flight, I was told I was not allowed to breastfeed (even though we were both buckled) during takeoff and landing. I have never had this with other airlines it is encouraged to help with baby ear pain. Before my inbound flight, I thought I'd check what the official rules were as I was shocked it wasn't allowed as it left my baby screaming as a consequence,'' she wrote. 

''There are no official restrictions, however, we would not recommend it because it could make other people uncomfortable,'' TUI's message to the woman read

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PM Modi Flags Off 2 Amrit Bharat, 6 Vande Bharat Trains In Ayodhya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged off two new Amrit Bharat trains and six new Vande Bharat trains from the redeveloped Ayodhya Dham Station. 

The new Amrit Bharat trains will run as Darbhanga-Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express and Malda Town-Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminus (Bengaluru) Amrit Bharat Express. 

The Amrit Bharat trains, which are a new category of superfast passenger trains, feature the 'push-pull' technology, which increases their speed as well as passenger comfort. They also have improved amenities, including better seats, roomier luggage racks, LED lights, CCTV cameras and a public information system.

PM Modi inaugurated the revamped railway station, which will now be called Ayodhya Dham. The three-storey structure, redeveloped at Rs 240 crore, is a certified green building and is equipped with lifts, escalators, waiting halls, cloakrooms and food plazas.

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5 Facts About New Ayodhya Railway Station Inaugurated By PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway during his visit to Ayodhya today. The inauguration of the railway station is a historic moment and comes a month ahead of the consecration of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

PM Modi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, "I will inaugurate the newly constructed airport and redeveloped railway station tomorrow. Along with this, I will also get the privilege of inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of many more development projects, which will make the life of my family members in many areas of the country including Ayodhya and UP easier."

भगवान श्री राम की नगरी अयोध्या में विश्वस्तरीय इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर के विकास, कनेक्टिविटी में सुधार और यहां की समृद्ध विरासत के संरक्षण के लिए हमारी सरकार कृतसंकल्प है। इसी दिशा में कल नवनिर्मित एयरपोर्ट और पुनर्विकसित रेलवे स्टेशन का उद्घाटन करूंगा। इसके साथ ही कई और विकास परियोजनाओं…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 29, 2023

Here are some facts about the Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station:

• State-of-the-Art Infrastructure

The Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station, developed at a cost exceeding ₹240 crore, features a modern three-storey building equipped with contemporary amenities such as a food plaza, waiting hall, toilets, drinking water stations, escalators, lifts, staff rooms, shops, waiting rooms, and an entry footbridge.

• Accessibility and Environmental Certification

The station is “accessible for all” and has been certified as a green station building by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), due to its commitment to inclusivity and environmental sustainability.

• Specialised Facilities

The station stands out for its well-planned facilities that include an Infant care room and a dedicated sick room for first aid. It also houses a passenger facilities desk, tourist information centre, and boasts the country's largest concourse covering an impressive 7,200 square metres.

• Symbolic Design

The station's top floor features a regal 'mukut'-inspired structure with a symbolic bow, highlighting Ayodhya's deep connection with Lord Ram. 

• Airport-Like Features

Reflecting a theme similar to airport redevelopment, the station incorporates separate arrival and departure areas, a taxi bay, an extended porch, and standard facilities found in newly developed stations. Fire exits connecting all floors ensure safety. The Ayodhya Dham railway station, measuring 140m x 32.6m, is a testament to India's commitment to modern and symbolic railway infrastructure.

The Ayodhya Dham railway station features a spacious front porch (140m x 12m) for passenger shelter in bad weather, and at night, both the old and new station buildings glow a radiant pink hue, creating a visually enchanting ambience.

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Who Was The Most Searched Indian On Google This Year? It Wasn't Orry

As we bid farewell to 2023, it's time to unveil the most searched Indian on Google for the year. And no, it's not Orhan Awatramani, or Orry, the social media influencer who became an overnight sensation after his videos and photos with high-profile celebrities went viral.

Surprisingly, Indian cricket star Virat Kohli does not even feature in the top ten. 

Topping the charts is none other than Bollywood actor Kiara Advani. Ms Advani's wedding with fellow Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra soared her popularity to the No.1 spot.

Following closely behind is Shubman Gill, India's cricket sensation, who captured the hearts of fans with his stellar performances for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the national team.

In a surprising third place is Rachin Ravindra, an Indian-origin New Zealand cricketer whose name sparked rumors of a connection to legendary Indian cricket figures Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. However, these speculations were later debunked by the cricketer's father, putting an end to the intriguing story behind his name.

Securing the fourth position is Mohammed Shami, the star Indian fast bowler who left an indelible mark with his exceptional performances throughout the 2023 ICC World Cup. 

Rounding off the top five is Elvish Yadav, a popular YouTuber and winner of the second season of Big Boss OTT.

The rest of the top ten is made up of actor Sidharth Malhotra, Australian batter Glenn Maxwell, football icon David Beckham, Indian middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav, and Australia's world cup hero Travis Head. 

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Watch: Inside Look Of Amrit Bharat Train Ahead Of Inauguration By PM Modi

India's first two Amrit Bharat trains will be launched by PM Modi today during his visit to Ayodhya. The first inside look of the new superfast passenger train gives a glimpse of several facilities it is equipped with. The train features mobile charging points and mobile holders near every seat, LED lights, floor guide fluorescent strips, CCTV and sliding horizontal windows. With several modern amenities, the Amrit Bharat train also has non-air-conditioned coaches.

The Amrit Bharat train has a "push-pull" technology. This technology makes train operation much safer and refers to a configuration where a train can be operated from either end, eliminating the need for the locomotive to be turned around at the end of a journey.

The train is equipped with latest technology to ensure a jerk-free journey, said railways officials. "The Amrit Bharat trains have a special type of coupler called semi-permanent coupler which negates jerk effect. It is safer in terms of operation of the train as well," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said.

The train also has dust-sealed wider gangways, an aerosol-based fire suppression system in toilets and electrical cubicles, an emergency disaster management light and segregation of reserved and unreserved coaches with sliding doors.

After the flagging off of the train by PM Modi, the railways will conduct a general run of the train for four to five months to see if it causes any technical challenges, said Ashwini Vaishnaw. 

The first two Amrit Bharat trains will run between Darbhanga in Bihar to Delhi's Anand Vihar Terminal via Ayoidhya and Bengal's Malda Town to Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminus in Bengaluru.

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Team India Handed 2-Point Penalty By ICC, Sees Drop In WTC Standings To...

After suffering a defeat to South Africa by an innings and 32 runs, the Indian cricket team have been handed a penalty of 2 points by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The penalty was imposed as India failed to maintain the required over-rate during the Centurion Test, prompting the ICC to deduct 2 crucial points from the team's World Test Championship (WTC) points table standings. Not just that, as part of the penalty the Indian team has also been fined 10% of their match fee.

As per a release issued by the ICC, the sanction was imposed after India were ruled to be two overs short of the target.

As per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, the players are fined 5% of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

After the Test loss, India found themselves at No.5 with 16 points from three Tests and a points percentage of 44.44. However, the deduction of points for the slow-over rate further weakens India's position in the standings, causing them to slip below Australia to No.6, with 14 points and a points percentage of 38.89.

India captain Rohit Sharma admitted that India were not good enough to emerge victorious against South Africa in the first Test on Thursday.
India were completely bamboozled by the hosts, who dictated the flow of the game and clinched a victory by an innings and 32 runs.

After the game, Rohit didn't hold back to give his take on the game and said, "We were not good enough to win. Having been put into bat, KL batted well to get us that score but then we didn't exploit the conditions with the ball and then again didn't show up today with the bat. If we have to win Test matches, we have to come together collectively, and we didn't do that."

"Guys have come here before; we know what to expect and everyone has their own plan. Our batters were challenged and we didn't adapt well. This is a boundary-scoring ground; we saw them score many but we need to understand the opposition and their strengths as well. We didn't bat well in both innings; that's why we stand here. Not too many positives to finish the game within 3 days, but KL showed what we need to do on this sort of pitch," Rohit added.

With ANI inputs

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Mickey Mouse Enters Public Domain After Nearly A Century

Almost a century after his big-screen debut, Mickey Mouse enters the public domain Monday, opening the floodgates to potential remakes, spin-offs, adaptations... and legal battles with Disney.

The copyright on "Steamboat Willie" -- a short, black-and-white 1928 animation that first introduced audiences to the mischievous rodent who would become emblematic of American pop culture -- expires after 95 years, on January 1, under US law.

The date has loomed large on the calendars of everyone from filmmakers, fans and intellectual property lawyers to Disney executives, who in the past helped lobby to change law to prolong US copyright terms.

"This is a deeply symbolic, highly anticipated moment," said Jennifer Jenkins, director of the Duke Center for the Study of the Public Domain.

Anyone is now free to copy, share, reuse and adapt "Steamboat Willie" and "Plane Crazy" -- another 1928 Disney animation -- and the early versions of the characters that appear within them, including Mickey and Minnie.

A vital caveat is that later versions of the characters, like those in 1940 film "Fantasia," are not in the public domain, and cannot be copied without a visit from Disney's lawyers.

But artists would be free, for instance, to create a "climate change awareness version" of "Steamboat Willie" in which Mickey's ship runs aground on a dry riverbed, or a feminist retelling where Minnie takes the wheel, said Jenkins.

That would echo imaginative re-uses of other characters whose copyrights recently expired such as Sherlock Holmes and Winnie-the-Pooh.

- 'Legal skirmishes' -

But it will not be plain sailing.

In a statement to AFP, Disney said it would "continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright."

Indeed, the version of Mickey in "Steamboat Willie" is a spindly, roguish creature who would not be recognizable to many younger viewers.

"What's in the public domain is kind of a frightful little black-and-white animal," said Justin Hughes, a professor at Loyola Law School.

He added: "The Mickey Mouse that is most familiar to current generations of Americans will remain under copyright protection.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we see some legal skirmishes, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see Disney out there educating people on that point."

Cease-and-desist letters could be sent to artists producing "high-budget fan art" if they use elements from later Mickey cartoons, such as red shorts and white gloves, he predicted.

Additionally, while the copyright has expired, the trademark has not.

Copyrights prevent the unlicensed copying of the creative work itself, for example books, films and characters. They expire after a set time.

Trademarks guard the source of a work, preventing anyone else from making a product that could mislead consumers into thinking it came from the original author. They can be renewed indefinitely.

Disney said it will "work to safeguard against consumer confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey and our other iconic characters."

The company has even added a clip from "Steamboat Willie" to the opening sequence of every Walt Disney Animation Studios film.

"They were very smart folks at Disney -- they realized that the best thing to do was to establish that iconic sequence of Steamboat Willie as a trademark," said Hughes.

Anybody using the classic image of Mickey at the helm of the boat on shirts, caps or mugs could be open to legal action, he said.

- 'Circumvent' -

Other experts such as Jenkins remain more bullish about public domain freedoms.

"Our Supreme Court has made clear that you can't use trademark rights to circumvent what copyright expiration allows," she said.

Both sides agree that the law is likely to be tested in court soon.

Anyone hoping to cash in on Disney's beloved mascot "should move cautiously and with counsel," added Hughes.

In the short term, novelty and shocking adaptations, similar to recent high-profile slasher film "Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey," are likely to grab the headlines.

But copyright law should ensure artists can use characters like Mickey to create enduring works, just as Shakespeare has been adapted to make modern classics from "West Side Story" (a retelling of "Romeo and Juliet") to "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," (Tom Stoppard's exploration of the fates of two minor characters from "Hamlet"), said Jenkins.

"I'm interested to see what happens in 2024," she said.

"But I'm even more interested to see what we're still talking about and thinking about and teaching and writing about and sharing with our children in 2054."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Explosion Heard In Ukraine's Capital, Air Alerts Issued, Says Mayor

Russia launched a wave of missile strikes on Friday across Ukrainian cities, including the capital, authorities said as they raised a nationwide air alert.

The overnight attacks came days after Ukraine struck a Russian warship in the occupied Crimean port of Feodosia.

Explosions were reported in Kyiv, city mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a post on Telegram.

Missiles also struck at least five other Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv in the northeast, Lviv in the country's west as well as Odesa in the south, the cities' mayors and police said.

"Today, at five o'clock in the morning, the fascists' followers hit the peaceful city with S-300 missiles. 10 explosions rang out in Kharkiv. Specialized services quickly arrived at strike spots," Kharkiv region police said.

Overnight attacks were also reported in Sumy and Konotop.

In southern Odesa, a high-rise building caught fire after being struck by debris from a downed drone, the city's mayor said.

"As a result of another enemy attack, one of the high-rise buildings was damaged. The fire was promptly extinguished," mayor Gennady Trukhanov said in a social media post.

The attacks came after Kremlin on Tuesday acknowledged a Ukrainian attack had damaged a warship in the occupied Crimean port of Feodosia in what Ukraine and its Western allies called a major setback for the Russian navy.

Ukraine has said its air force destroyed the Novocherkassk landing ship, with President Volodymyr Zelensky joking on social media that the vessel had now joined "the Russian underwater Black Sea fleet".

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu informed "about the damage to our large landing ship" to President Vladimir Putin in "a very detailed report".

Russia's defence ministry said that the ship was damaged by guided aerial missiles.

Ukraine's military said its air force destroyed the Russian naval ship in a missile attack on the eastern Crimean port.

On Thursday, Zelensky thanked the United States for releasing the last remaining package of weapons available for Ukraine under existing authorisation, as uncertainty surrounds further aid to his war-torn country.

Zelensky had warned that any change in policy from the US -- Kyiv's main backer -- could have a strong impact on the course of the war.

"I thank President Joe Biden, Congress, and the American people for the $250 million military aid package announced yesterday," Zelensky said on social media.

"To defend freedom and security not only in Ukraine and Europe but also in the United States, we must continue to respond to ongoing Russian aggression," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Like Animal In Safari": Freed Hostage Mia Schem On 54-Day Hamas Captivity

A freed Israeli hostage shared her harrowing experience of being held captive by Hamas fighters in Gaza for 54 days. Mia Schem said that she “went through a holocaust”.

“It was important to me to relay the truth about the nature of the people who live in Gaza, who they are truly are and what I experienced there,” she said in her interview with Channel 13. “I went through a holocaust. Everyone over there is a terrorist,” the 21-year-old said.

מייה שם חוזרת לחיים אחרי 54 ימים בשבי חמאס - ומספרת למה החליטה לדבר | מחר ב-20:00 במהדורה המרכזית@liorvero pic.twitter.com/mrkXwTDIzx

— חדשות 13 (@newsisrael13) December 28, 2023

Mia Schem mentioned that she was kidnapped from a music festival in southern Israel on October 7, and held captive by a civilian family in Gaza associated with the Palestinian outfit, 

“Suddenly I realised that I'm with a family,” she said. “Suddenly I'm asking myself questions: Why am I in some family's home? Why are there kids here? Why is there a wife?”

In a separate interview with Channel 12 News, Mia Schem said that she felt "like an animal in the safari."

While she was held captive, she received treatment for a gunshot wound in her arm from a veterinarian, as reported by the New York Post. In a chilling video released by Hamas at the time, she was heard pleading, “They are taking care of me, giving me medicine, everything is fine. I only ask that they bring me home as soon as possible to my parents, to my siblings. Get me out of here as soon as possible. Please.”

Mia Schem was freed in a prisoner-hostage exchange during a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. After her release, she made a bold appearance on Instagram, sporting a new tattoo with the defiant message, "We will dance again”, also featuring the date of the attack. 

“We will never forget,” she wrote as the caption. “The pain and the fear, the difficult sights, the friends who won't come back, and those we must bring back. But we will win, we will dance!” she added.  

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A post shared by מייה שם (@mia_schem)

Around 240 hostages were reportedly taken in the Hamas raid on Israel on October 7, and approximately 1200 people lost their lives. 

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In Hardeep Nijjar's Killing, Canada May Arrest 2 Men "In Weeks": Report

Canadian police are close to arresting two men believed to be responsible for the fatal shooting of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in the British Columbia province in June and are still in the country, according to a media report.

According to The Globe and Mail newspaper, the suspects are currently under police surveillance and are expected to be apprehended "in a matter of weeks." According to three anonymous sources quoted by the newspaper, the two suspected killers did not leave Canada following Nijjar's assassination and have been under police surveillance for months.

The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Surrey city on June 18.

India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India has rejected Trudeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated".

The report on Wednesday said that police will unveil details regarding the alleged involvement of the assassins and their connection to the Indian government when formal charges are filed.

"Within the community, there's a sense of closure that might come with the two people being arrested like it's being said," the Global News quoted Moninder Singh, spokesperson of BC Gurdwaras Council, as saying.

According to the report, the integrated homicide investigation team said it was aware of the reports of imminent arrests in Nijjar's murder but won't comment because it's an active investigation.

The Canadian allegations were followed by a US indictment in November outlining a foiled plot to kill a Canadian-American Sikh activist, the report said.

In November, the US federal prosecutors charged that one Nikhil Gupta was working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill a Khalistani terrorist, who holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada. Though the Khalistani leader was not named, media reports identified him as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the Sikhs for Justice, an organisation banned in India.

India has already constituted a probe committee to investigate allegations by the US prosecutors.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha earlier this month that Canada has not shared any specific evidence or inputs with India.

Days after Trudeau's allegations in September, India temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens and asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country to ensure parity.

India resumed some visa services in Canada last month, more than a month after they were suspended.

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Box Office Report: SRK's Dunki Is Stable At Rs 140 Crore

Shah Rukh Khan's Dunki is maintaining a steady pace at the box office. The film has achieved a remarkable feat in less than a week by crossing the ₹ 100-crore mark. On the sixth day, the Rajkumari Hirani film minted ₹ 10.25 crore (for all languages), as reported by Sacnilk. With this, the total collection of Dunki stands at ₹ 140.20 crore. Bollywood enthusiasts are not only praising Shah Rukh Khan's portrayal of Hardy, but also showering love on the outstanding performances delivered by Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, and Boman Irani. 

Dunki, at the global box office, has collected ₹ 256.40 crore. Red Chillies Entertainment, who is one of the producers of the film, has shared a poster of Shah Rukh Khan on Instagram with the text, “It just keeps getting happier.”

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A post shared by Red Chillies Entertainment (@redchilliesent)

Recently, Shah Rukh Khan,  Taapsee Pannu and Rajkumari Hirani sat down and discussed some of the scenes from the film. Talking about the sequence where Vicky Kaushal's character is drunk, Taapsee said that Vicky has a drunken scene in every film. She recalled their collaboration in Manmarziyaan, mentioning that Vicky had alcohol for shooting that scene. Taapsee shared, "Har picture ke andar usko ek daaru wala scene mil jata hai. Manmarziyaan mein bhi uska ek drinking scene tha, woh usne itna achha kiya, wo actually me pata chala woh usne pi ke shoot kiya tha [During the shoot of Manmarziyaan, Vicky aced a drinking scene. I later found out that he actually drank for the scene.]"

Shah Rukh Khan added a touch of humour to the conversation, saying, "Main aise hi impress ho raha tha ke achhi acting kar raha hai [I was impressed thinking that he is a good actor.]" He went on to praise Vicky's performance in Dunki, expressing that Vicky did a fantastic job with the scene. SRK said, "Isne ye scene bahut khoobsurat kiya [He performed this scene beautifully], fantastically performed."

Shah Rukh Khan's Dunki is facing tough competition from Prabhas' Salaar: Cease Fire - Part 1, which was released a day later - December 22. FYI: Salaar has amassed ₹ 278.90 crore in just five days. 

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US Influencer Fatally Shot In Front Of Her 8-Year-Old Child By Husband

A tragedy unfolded as Theresa Cachuela, a 33-year-old Hawaiian social media influencer and beauty entrepreneur, was fatally shot in the head by her estranged husband, Jason Cachuela, 44. The incident occurred in front of her daughter in the parking lot of Pearlridge Center on Friday morning. Authorities are investigating the heartbreaking incident as a murder-suicide, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. Mrs Theresa, a mother of three and the owner of House of Glam Hawaii LLC in Waipahu lost her life in this deeply distressing event.

According to KITV, her 8-year-old daughter witnessed the shooting and told the police that her father pulled the trigger. Jason Cachuela shot himself shortly after fleeing the scene in a grey Mazda. 

The police are investigating the deaths as a murder-suicide, which occurred two weeks after a judge granted Mrs Cacheula's petition for an order of protection against her estranged husband, the New York Times reported. 

"This was not a random act, as the victim and suspect were involved in a relationship," police Lt. Deena Thoemmes said Friday before the gunman was found dead, according to the Hawaii Tribune.

"We do know that there was a TRO that was served on him, which is why this case was classified as murder in the first degree," she said, referring to a temporary restraining order.

Police recovered five registered firearms from the property of Jason Cachuela. 

"Her youngest daughter is the one that tragically saw everything," Cachuela's mother, Lucita Ani-Nihoa, told Hawaii News Now. "She's traumatized. She has so much faith, this little girl. She just ... started praying."

She added: "She doesn't believe it. She doesn't believe her mom is gone. I don't believe it."

As per the petition for the TRO, Jason Cachuela threatened to kill himself in front of her. 

"He then took me alone to Waikiki and held a knife to his neck traumatizing me and scaring me," she wrote, according to the Hawaii Tribune. "The next morning he showed up to my house early in the morning to apologize. I tried to help him and talk to him but he kept threatening to kill himself again."

Mrs Cachuela's mother described the tragic shooting on a GoFundMe page. She said her daughter planned to have breakfast with her Friday morning.

"I wanted to give her and my grandkids their Christmas gifts," Ani-Nihoa wrote. "My daughter did not deserve this. She was trying so hard to get help, but the Justice system failed her," she wrote.
 

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"Why Allow Taking Knee For BLM?": Holding Slams ICC Over Khawaja Row

After Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja was charged with breaching International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations for wearing a black armband during the first Test match against Pakistan in Perth, West indies bowling great Michael Holding slammed the apex cricket governing body. Holding blasted ICC by terming its actions on the Khawaja fiasco as "hypocrisy and lack of moral standing". Khawaja earlier wanted to wear shoes with "all lives are equal" and "freedom is a human right" written on them as a show of solidarity for people suffering due to the Israel-Hamas conflict but the request was turned down by the ICC.

"I have been following the Khawaja fiasco and I cannot say I'm surprised by the ICC's stance," Holding told The Weekend Australian.

"If it had been most other organisations that showed some semblance of consistency with their attitude and behaviour on issues I could claim surprise, but not them. Once again, they show their hypocrisy and lack of moral standing as an organisation," he added.

While speaking his mind, Holding cited the example of Black Lives Matter movement that got support from ICC as well in the past.

"The ICC regulations say re messaging 'approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes'. So how the f*** people were allowed to take the knee for BLM and stumps were covered with LGBTQ colours?" he questioned.

As of latest, Khawaja has reportedly been denied permission to place a peace symbol on his bat and shoes for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan.

A sticker showing a black dove and the words 01:UDHR -- a reference to Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- was on his bat and shoes during training in Melbourne on Sunday.

The star batter had multiple meetings with Cricket Australia over recent days to find a message that would be appropriate for the second Test this week, local media said.

But his latest humanitarian gesture has been turned down by the International Cricket Council, The Australian and Melbourne Age newspapers reported.

(With AFP Inputs)

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Palestinians "Feel No Joy" As Israel Bombs Gaza On Christmas

Palestinians said they felt "no joy" this Christmas as Israel bombed Gaza, the besieged Palestinian territory on Monday, with no end in sight to the war that Hamas says has claimed more than 20,000 lives.

Festivities were effectively scrapped in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, revered as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, with few worshippers or tourists on the usually packed streets.

In the Gaza Strip, the Hamas militant group reported 50 strikes in central areas early on Monday, including in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

At a hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis, the centre of recent fighting, Fadi Sayegh -- whose family has previously received permits to travel to Bethlehem for celebrations -- said he would not be celebrating Christmas this year.

"There is no joy. No Christmas tree, no decorations, no family dinner, no celebrations," he said while undergoing dialysis. "I pray for this war to be over soon."

Sister Nabila Salah from the Catholic Holy Church in Gaza -- where two Christian women were killed by an Israeli sniper earlier this month according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem -- struck a sombre tone.

"All Christmas celebrations have been cancelled," she told AFP. "How do we celebrate when we are... hearing the sound of tanks and bombardment instead of the ringing of bells?"

The war broke out when Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel on October 7 and killed about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, and seized 250 hostages, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas in response and its military campaign, which has included massive aerial bombardment, has killed 20,424 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Pope Francis kicked off global Christmas celebrations on Sunday with a call for peace, as the war cast a shadow over one of the world's favourite holidays.

"Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world," the Catholic leader said.

The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, arrived Sunday at the Church of the Nativity, clad in the traditional black and white keffiyeh.

"Our heart goes to Gaza, to all people in Gaza but a special attention to our Christian community in Gaza who is suffering," he said.

- Christmas eve strike -

The Hamas-run health ministry said at least 70 people were killed in an Israeli air strike on Sunday at the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza.

Health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said the "toll is likely to rise" as many families were thought to be in the area at the time of the strike.

In a separate incident, the ministry said 10 members of one family were killed in an Israeli strike on their house in the Jabalia camp in northern Gaza.

AFP was unable to independently verify either toll.

Vast areas of Gaza lie in ruins and its 2.4 million people have endured dire shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine due to an Israeli siege, alleviated only by the limited arrival of aid trucks.

Eighty percent of Gazans have been displaced, according to the UN, many fleeing south and now shielding against the winter cold in makeshift tents.

The head of the UN refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, urged an end to the suffering in the third month of the war.

"A humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza is the only way forward," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "War defies logic and humanity, and prepares a future of more hatred and less peace."

And World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus similarly renewed calls for a ceasefire, saying: "The decimation of the Gaza health system is a tragedy."

The Jordanian army said its air force had air dropped aid to about 800 people sheltering at the Church of Saint Porphyrius in northern Gaza.

- 'No choice' -

The war was exacting a "very heavy price", Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday, as the death count of soldiers killed in the conflict continued to mount.

"But we have no choice but to keep fighting," he said, adding: "This will be a long war."

Another soldier was killed on Sunday, the army said, taking to 15 the number of troops killed since Friday and 154 since Israel's ground assault began on October 27.

Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus indicated that forces were close to gaining control in northern Gaza and that now "we focus our efforts against Hamas in southern Gaza".

Two freed detainees and a medic said Sunday that Palestinians held by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip had suffered torture, a charged denied by the military.

The two men were among hundreds detained by Israeli forces over alleged links with Hamas during Israel's ground offensive.

About 20 men released from Israeli custody "have bruises and marks of blows on their bodies", Marwan al-Hams, hospital director in the southern city of Rafah, told AFP.

Palestinians said they felt "no joy" this Christmas as Israel bombed the besieged Palestinian territory on Monday, with no end in sight to the war that Hamas says has claimed more than 20,000 lives.

Festivities were effectively scrapped in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, revered as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, with few worshippers or tourists on the usually packed streets.

In the Gaza Strip, the Hamas militant group reported 50 strikes in central areas early on Monday, including in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

At a hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis, the centre of recent fighting, Fadi Sayegh -- whose family has previously received permits to travel to Bethlehem for celebrations -- said he would not be celebrating Christmas this year.

"There is no joy. No Christmas tree, no decorations, no family dinner, no celebrations," he said while undergoing dialysis. "I pray for this war to be over soon."

Sister Nabila Salah from the Catholic Holy Church in Gaza -- where two Christian women were killed by an Israeli sniper earlier this month according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem -- struck a sombre tone.

"All Christmas celebrations have been cancelled," she told AFP. "How do we celebrate when we are... hearing the sound of tanks and bombardment instead of the ringing of bells?"

The war broke out when Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel on October 7 and killed about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, and seized 250 hostages, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas in response and its military campaign, which has included massive aerial bombardment, has killed 20,424 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Pope Francis kicked off global Christmas celebrations on Sunday with a call for peace, as the war cast a shadow over one of the world's favourite holidays.

"Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world," the Catholic leader said.

The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, arrived Sunday at the Church of the Nativity, clad in the traditional black and white keffiyeh.

"Our heart goes to Gaza, to all people in Gaza but a special attention to our Christian community in Gaza who is suffering," he said.

- Christmas eve strike -

The Hamas-run health ministry said at least 70 people were killed in an Israeli air strike on Sunday at the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza.

Health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said the "toll is likely to rise" as many families were thought to be in the area at the time of the strike.

In a separate incident, the ministry said 10 members of one family were killed in an Israeli strike on their house in the Jabalia camp in northern Gaza.

AFP was unable to independently verify either toll.

Vast areas of Gaza lie in ruins and its 2.4 million people have endured dire shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine due to an Israeli siege, alleviated only by the limited arrival of aid trucks.

Eighty percent of Gazans have been displaced, according to the UN, many fleeing south and now shielding against the winter cold in makeshift tents.

The head of the UN refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, urged an end to the suffering in the third month of the war.

"A humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza is the only way forward," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "War defies logic and humanity, and prepares a future of more hatred and less peace."

And World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus similarly renewed calls for a ceasefire, saying: "The decimation of the Gaza health system is a tragedy."

The Jordanian army said its air force had air dropped aid to about 800 people sheltering at the Church of Saint Porphyrius in northern Gaza.

- 'No choice' -

The war was exacting a "very heavy price", Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday, as the death toll of soldiers killed in the conflict continued to mount.

"But we have no choice but to keep fighting," he said, adding: "This will be a long war."

Another soldier was killed on Sunday, the army said, taking to 15 the number of troops killed since Friday and 154 since Israel's ground assault began on October 27.

Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus indicated that forces were close to gaining control in northern Gaza and that now "we focus our efforts against Hamas in southern Gaza".

Two freed detainees and a medic said Sunday that Palestinians held by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip had suffered torture, a charged denied by the military.

The two men were among hundreds detained by Israeli forces over alleged links with Hamas during Israel's ground offensive.

About 20 men released from Israeli custody "have bruises and marks of blows on their bodies", Marwan al-Hams, hospital director in the southern city of Rafah, told AFP.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"People Will Decide If I Am Traitor": Pratap Simha On Parliament Breach

BJP Lok Sabha member Pratap Simha on Sunday speaking on the Parliament security breach case said people will ultimately decide whether he was a patriot or a traitor, during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Not wanting to divulge anything regarding the incident and the probe, he said, will leave it to the gods and his reader fans to decide on the alleged "traitor" allegations made against him.

The protesters who had jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber on December 13 and set off smoke canisters, had entered Parliament on passes issued on the recommendation of Simha's office.

"Whether Pratap Simha is a traitor or a patriot -- mother Goddess Chamundeshwari sitting on the hills of Mysuru, mother Goddess Cauvery who is sitting on Brahmagiri, my reader fans across Karnataka who have been reading my writings for the last twenty years, and people of Mysuru and Kodgu who have seen my work for 9.5 years and my conduct on issues related country, dharma and nationalism -- will give their verdict through votes in Lok Sabha polls to be held in April, 2024," Simha said.

Speaking to reporters here, while responding to a question on posters that were put up calling him a "traitor", he further said, "They (people) are the ones who have to ultimately give the judgement. They will decide whether I'm a patriot. I leave it to their decision. I don't have anything to say other than that." The Congress and some organisations had staged a protest against Simha, following the Parliament security breach incident.

Asked about the incident and whether his statement was recorded by the police, Simha merely said, "I have said whatever I have to. I don't have anything else to say on this." Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday had said the statement of Simha has been recorded as part of the probe in the Parliament security breach case.

Journalist-turned-politician Simha is a two-term BJP Lok Sabha member from Mysore-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Sniffer Dogs At German Cathedral After "Danger Warning" Ahead Of Christmas

German police announced Saturday evening they were searching the cathedral in the western city of Cologne with sniffer dogs following a "danger warning" for New Year's Eve.

"Even though the information relates to New Year's Eve, we are from this evening doing everything we can to ensure the safety of visitors of the cathedral on Christmas Eve," Cologne police chief Michael Esser said in a statement.

After the evening mass and "in agreement with the head of security at the cathedral", the site will be searched with sniffer dogs and closed, police said.

Visitors on Sunday will be subject to security checks before entering the Cologne Cathedral.

The German daily Bild reported on its website that officials in Austria, Germany and Spain have all received indications that an Islamist group was planning several attacks in Europe, possibly on New Year's Eve and Christmas.

According to the newspaper, the targets of these attacks could be Christmas masses in Cologne, Vienna and Madrid.

It also reported that the special forces in the Austrian capital Vienna, and in Germany, had arrested suspects on Saturday.

A Vienna police official reached by AFP could not immediately confirm any arrests.

Austrian police said on Saturday they were stepping up checks, especially around churches, religious events and Christmas markets in Vienna

"Terrorist actors across Europe are calling for attacks on Christian events -- especially around December 24th," they said in a statement.

"Due to a current risk assessment... and the continued increased terror alert level, there is generally an increased risk in Austria during the Christmas holidays."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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12 Dead In Explosion At Chinese-Funded Nickel Plant In Indonesia

At least 12 people were killed and 39 injured in eastern Indonesia on Sunday after an explosion at a Chinese-funded nickel-processing plant, an industrial park official said.

The accident took place around 5:30 am (2130 GMT Saturday) at a plant owned by PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel in the Morowali Industrial Park located in Central Sulawesi province, a spokesperson for the complex said in a statement.

"The current number of victims is 51 people. 12 people died in the incident. There are 39 people with minor and serious injuries who are currently receiving medical treatment," spokesperson Dedy Kurniawan said.

The statement said seven Indonesians and five foreign workers were killed, without identifying their nationalities.

An initial investigation showed the explosion happened during repair work on a furnace when a flammable liquid ignited and the subsequent blast caused nearby oxygen tanks to explode as well, the official said.

The fire was successfully extinguished on Sunday morning, according to the statement.

The firm that runs the industrial park said it was "deeply saddened" by the disaster and said the remains of several identified victims had been flown home.

The island is a hub for the mineral-rich country's production of nickel, a base metal used for electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel, and Beijing's growing investment has stoked unrest over working conditions at its facilities.

In January, two workers including a Chinese national were killed at a nickel smelting plant in the same industrial park after a riot broke out during a protest over safety conditions and pay.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Thing Of Past...": Ex-India Star's Sensational Comment On Rohit's Batting

Former Indian cricket team batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Rohit Sharma has evolved as a batter and he no longer has a weakness against quality left-arm fast bowlers. In the past, Rohit has struggled against left-arm pacers but Manjrekar cited his performance in the Cricket World Cup 2023 to point out that the weakness is no longer present. Manjrekar said that Rohit came up against Mitchell Starc and Shaheen Afridi but his confident and aggressive batting showed a massive improvement.

"The weakness you are talking about, the weakness against left-handers, is a thing of the past. Not anymore. In the last two or three years, he hasn't had any problems. Mitchell Starc in the home series. He was comfortable against Australia with the new ball. Shaheen Afridi was supposed to be the danger man against Rohit Sharma. That was a Rohit who used to plant his front foot across the line. Not anymore. I think he has become a good Test player," Manjrekar said while speaking on Star Sports.

Manjrekar also spoke about how Rohit has been able adapt his game according to the various formats. While his ODI and T20I game depends a lot on the aggressive approach, his Test match strategy has been about occupying the crease and not taking unnecessary risks.

"He plays exactly the opposite. When he gets runs at the Test level these days, it's just occupation of the crease, which is an incredible memory that I have of him from England. When he came to the fore as a Test opener, he got a hundred there and ended up as the highest run-getter in that series. The number of hours he batted there in that series. The occupation of the crease is giving him a high now in Tests. It's exactly the opposite role he played in the World Cup," he added.

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Disha And Mouni In Swim Sets Prove That No One Does Beach Days Better

Celebrating Christmas with your BFF sounds like an ideal plan. This time of the year is an ideal spot when it comes to planning a vacation. Disha Patani and Mouni Roy jetted to the sunny destination of Phuket, Thailand to celebrate year-end festivities together. The sight of Disha and Mouni serving up some style goals is just what we need. Their sun-soaked style gave us the much-needed inspiration for our next beach getaway. Their Holiday diaries are indeed incomplete without the chicest of bikinis and swim sets. In a recent video uploaded by Disha on her Instagram stories, the BFF's dished out solid fashion goals in chic beach style. Disha made sure to make the mercury rise straight from Phuket to India in a chic purple triangle bikini set. Well, when it is Disha on vacation, a bikini has to be a staple. Mouni opted for a rust and white crochet co-ord set to ace breezy fashion at its best. She paired her plunging crop top with a matching bottom. With dewy glow and their unmatched charisma, they truly were a ten on the style meter.

Also Read: Deepika Padukone To Disha Patani, Top 13 Swimwear Looks From 2023 To Inspire Your New Year Beach Style Resolutions

If you are looking for a lesson in bestie dressing, Disha Patani and Mouni Roy's style is worth taking notes from. Bestie style hits up differently when it is done right. Recently, the actresses have been on a vacation and indeed, they are raising the fashion bar high in Phuket with their well-coordinated style. They gave us major beach goals as they aced vacay style at their best. While Disha raised the temperature in a red halter neck bikini set, Mouni's deep plum dress with ruffle details was perfect to dish out a statement.

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Also Read: Mouni Roy And Disha Patani Set The Temperatures Soaring With Their Breezy Phuket Style

Disha and Mouni's BFF style is only getting better and we are taking notes.

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US Woman Born With Rare Double Uterus Gives Birth To Twin Babies

A 32-year-old woman from Alabama who was born with two uteruses and became pregnant in both gave birth to twin girls on different days, she announced on Friday.

"Our miracle babies were born!" Kelsey Hatcher, who is documenting her story on her Instagram account "doubleuhatchlings", wrote in a post.

She added that the girls "decided they were rare enough statistically that they should just go ahead and have their own birthdays too".

The first one, named Roxi Layla, was born on Tuesday at 7:49 pm (0149 GMT). She was joined by Rebel Laken on Wednesday at 6:09 am.

Doctors had estimated a Christmas due date, but the sisters arrived just in time to be at home for the holidays with their siblings.

The mother and daughters have been discharged from the hospital, with Hatcher, promising to share details about the delivery in future.

Hatcher knew from the age of 17 that she has "uterus didelphys," a rare congenital condition thought to affect about 0.3 percent of people born female. 

It was during a routine eight-week ultrasound visit in May that the massage therapist and then-mother-of-three learned not only that she was having twins this time, but that a fetus was present in each of her uteruses.

Pregnancies in both uteruses are exceedingly rare, according to Shweta Patel, the obstetrician-gynecologist who cared for Hatcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Women & Infants Center.

Hatcher said she was told the odds were 1 in 50 million -- with the last widely known case in Bangladesh in 2019 when Arifa Sultana, then 20, gave birth to healthy twins 26 days apart.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Singapore Taxi App Company Investigates Racist Remark - 'Go Back India'

A ride-hailing company in Singapore is investigating an incident in which a driver made racist remarks against a passenger, asking the person to 'Go back India'.

The unnamed passenger shared an account of the incident, and screenshots of the conversation with the driver belonging to Grab, a ride-hailing company, on the Instagram account 'sgfollowsall' on Thursday, The Straits Times reported on Friday.

The exchange began with the driver, who said he was not able to reach the pickup point due to nearby road works and told the passenger not to wait.

The passenger then asked the driver to cancel the trip if the latter was not coming. The driver responded by asking if the passenger was Indian.

The driver then told the passenger, "Go back India." Having lived and worked in Singapore for 10 years, the passenger described the incident as "blatant racism" that was "totally uncalled for".

"But then again, one bad apple doesn't change my experience of Singapore - I love it and have had so many people reach out to apologise for what I experienced," the Singapore newspaper quoted the passenger as saying.

Grab, one of the ride-hailing operators in Singapore, said it was investigating the incident.

The company takes a strong stance against discriminatory behaviour and language on its platform, the daily had the spokesman as saying.

Under Grab's code of conduct, driver-partners are expected to be fair and not discriminate against passengers in any way, said the spokesperson.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Man Calls Wife Just To Hear Her Voice, Then Kills Himself Minutes Later

A 41-year-old man from Maharashtra's Thane district died allegedly by suicide minutes after calling his wife and expressing his desire to hear her voice, an official said today.

According to the police, Dombivali resident Sudhakar Yadav, and his wife Sanjana Yadav, 31, had a fight on December 19 after which she left to stay with her sister in Diva.

Around 10 am the next day, Sudhakar called up Sanjana, who was on her way to work at Kurla in Mumbai, saying he wanted to hear her voice for two minutes, said the official.

After the call, Sanjana told the police that she received a photo of Sudhakar, about to hang himself, on WhatsApp.

Sanjana requested her neighbour to check on her husband. The neighbour knocked on the door but there was no response. He then broke it open to find Sudhar hanging from the ceiling, said the official.

The Vishnu Nagar police in Dombivili have registered a case of accidental death and are trying to ascertain the exact reason behind the suicide, the official added.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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David Kozak, Man Behind Prague University Shooting, Was "Excellent Student"

At least 14 people were killed, and 25 others sustained injuries in a mass shooting at the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday. According to Czech police, the incident occured in the philosophy department of the varsity. Authorities are investigating what's been described as the worst mass shooting in the history of the Czech Republic. The death toll may rise, they said.

The police said that the shooter, David Kozak, was a twenty-four-year-old history student.

Who was David Kozak?

David Kozak, 24, lived in a village almost 20 km outside Prague and was getting his Masters Degree in Polish History at Charles University. He was an "excellent student", Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek said.

He legally owned several guns and was heavily armed during the incident. The Police Chief said what he did was a "well thought out and horrible act."

David Kozak is suspected to have also killed his father in the nearby town, Houston, before going on a killing spree in Prague. He did not have an accomplice, according to the police.

Police found Kozak's body inside the university but it was unclear if he killed himself or was shot by officers.

David Kozak talked about planning a school shooting on the messaging app Telegram, treating his channel there like a "diary" of his life "before the shooting." "I want to do school shooting and possibly suicide," he wrote in a post, as per the Telegraph, adding, "I always wanted to kill. I thought I would become a maniac in the future."

He is also suspected of shooting and killing a father and a newborn baby just one week before carrying out his murderous rampage, as per AP.

Police provided no information about the victims or a potential motive for the shooting. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan stated that investigators do not suspect any connection to extremist ideologies or groups.

Charles University authorities have announced that they will increase security measures in university buildings immediately. They said in a statement, "We express our deepest condolences to all the bereaved families who lost their loved ones. Our thoughts are now with the loved ones of those who are now fighting for their lives."

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Couple Miraculously Cheats Death In Separate Plane Crashes On The Same Day

A couple survived two separate plane crashes that occurred only a few miles apart on the same day. Stefano Pirilli, 30, and his fiance Antonietta Demasi, 22, en route to Turin, Italy, experienced harrowing moments as their planes plummeted to the ground.

As Mr Pirilli's aircraft went down, Ms Demasi's plane also encountered trouble soon after. Firefighters promptly rescued the pair from each crash site.

Miraculously, the couple and the pilots, including Ms Demasi's pilot Paolo Rotondo, 38, survived the incidents. Ms Demasi suffered a pelvic injury, while pilot Rotondo sustained a head wound, the Daily Mail reported. Mr Pirilli was unharmed from the wreckage of a two-seater Tecnam P92 Echo Super.

This was Antonietta's first flying experience, Mr Pirilli said, adding he was sorry for how it turned out. He added that their day started on a beautiful note but ended with both crashing in separate planes. He said they were fortunate to not have died, adding their thoughts were with the injured pilots.

Sunday was a perfect day for flying blue skies, sunshine and not a cloud, it was the perfect way to have some fun in the air, he said. And now Mr Pirilli just wanted his girlfriend and the pilot to get better.

Reflecting on the events leading to the crashes, he explained, "We fell foul of the weather and the time – the mist started to come up as the temperature dropped and then all of a sudden it was night."

Mr Pirilli said they decided to try and land at Busano, and he called Antonietta to inform her. The pilot of her plane said he would land at the airfield near San Gillio. As they headed to the airstrip, they were enveloped in mist and darkness. There were electricity cables around and before they knew it, they crashed onto the ground and into a meadow, Mr Pirilli said.

Despite the challenging circumstances, Mr Pirilli maintained his focus on the well-being of his fiance and the pilot. He managed to call the emergency services and then tried calling Antonietta but there was no answer. The firefighters turned up and said how crazy it was as this was their second plane crash. "I rushed straight to the hospital and have been there ever since. I just hope Antonietta and Paolo are out of the hospital soon," he added.

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Pak Mother Finds Missing Son After 7 Years, Sees Him Begging: Report

In an emotional reunion, a mentally challenged former policeman, missing since 2016, was found begging by his mother at Rawalpindi's Tahli Mohri Chowk on Tuesday, Dawn reported.

Shaheen Akhtar recognised her son and, amidst emotional scenes, they were reunited after seven years.

Following the discovery, the police apprehended four members of the beggars' gang, including three women, and initiated an investigation to locate their accomplices, as reported by Dawn.

Mustakeem Khalid, the missing man, had been subjected to torture and injections during his captivity by the beggars' gang, according to his mother. Mustakeem, a former policeman suffering from a mental disorder, had disappeared in 2016 due to the effects of typhoid fever.

His mother, Shaheen Akhtar, had previously filed a missing person report with the Civil Lines police, explaining that her mentally challenged son often left home due to depression. Despite villagers usually bringing him back, Mustakeem did not return after leaving in 2016.

The reunion occurred when Shaheen Akhtar, oblivious to her son's whereabouts, spotted him begging with a gang at Tahli Mohri Chowk. The gang, comprising three women and two men, was forcing Mustakeem to beg, exploiting his disability.

Upon recognizing her son, Shaheen Akhtar embraced him, but the gang members accompanying him began assaulting and abusing her. The FIR filed stated that Mustakeem Khalid was abducted and incapacitated by the gang to beg.

A police spokesman reported the arrest of gang leader Wahid, along with three women, while efforts were underway to apprehend the remaining culprits. Wahid, the real brother of detained members Maryam and Sabina, was later arrested. Raids continued to capture the other gang members, Dawn reported.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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