LIVE
Mon, 20 November 2023
IAF flies out 36 tonnes of tunnel rescue material
Timeline Refresh
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23:54 Air pollution levels creep up in Delhi
Air quality in Delhi and its suburbs deteriorated again overnight after a marginal improvement a day ago with forecasts suggesting that a major relief is unlikely in the coming days.
The city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index, recorded at 4 pm everyday, stood at 348 on Monday, deteriorating from 301 on Sunday.
It was 319 on Saturday, 405 on Friday and 419 on Thursday. Neighbouring Ghaziabad (321), Gurugram (261), Greater Noida (318), Noida (331) and Faridabad (329) also recorded a dip in air quality.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe plus'.
The Centre on Saturday removed stringent curbs, including a ban on construction work related to linear projects and the entry of polluting trucks into Delhi in view of a dip in air pollution levels due to favourable wind speed and direction.
These measures constitute the final stage -- Stage IV -- of the Centre's air pollution control plan called the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining area, a statutory body responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution in the region, asked Delhi and NCR states to revoke all emergency measures, under which only CNG, electric and BS VI-compliant vehicles from other states are allowed to enter Delhi, with exemptions granted to those involved in essential services.
All medium and heavy goods vehicles not engaged in essential services were also banned in the capital under Stage IV of GRAP. -- PTI
23:35 IAF flies out 36 tonnes of tunnel rescue material
Employing a C-17 and two C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, the IAF airlifted 36 tonne of critical equipment on Monday, continuing to lend assistance to efforts being made to rescue workers trapped in a partially collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district, officials said.
Rescuers on Monday pushed through a six-inch-wide pipeline through the rubble of the collapsed tunnel, a breakthrough that will help them supply larger quantities of food and possibly allow live visuals of the 41 workers trapped inside for eight days.
So far, a four-inch existing tube was being used to supply oxygen and items like dry fruit and medicines into the section of the tunnel beyond the rubble of the collapsed portion of the under-construction Silkyara tunnel on the Char Dham route in Uttarakhand.
The IAF has been ferrying heavy machineries to aid rescue operations at the tunnel site.
"#IAF assistance for the rescue operations at Uttarkashi continues unabated. Employing a C-17 and two C-130 J aircraft, the IAF airlifted another 36 tonnes of critical equipment today. IAF #HADROps will continue until all the equipment is delivered," the Indian Air Force posted on X. -- PTI
23:23 External Affairs Minister Jaishankar meets Australian Deputy PM
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Monday discussed the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and other issues with Australian deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. Marles is in India for the second India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.
"A very good meeting with DPM and Defence Minister @RichardMarlesMP of Australia. Spoke about recent developments that influence the Indo-Pacific strategic scenario. Also exchanged views on West Asia," Jaishankar posted on X.
"And yes, we discussed yesterday's match. Congratulations Australia!" the minister added.
Australia defeated India in the Sunday's ICC Cricket World Cup Final. -- PTI
23:03 Bureaucratic reshuffle: Hara Prasad Nayak appointed joint secretary of NATGRID
Senior bureaucrat Hara Prasad Nayak has been appointed joint secretary of the National Intelligence Grid as part of a bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the central government on Monday.
Nayak is a 1995-batch officer of Indian Railway Accounts Service.
He has been appointed joint secretary and financial advisor, NATGRID, under the ministry of home affairs for a tenure of five years, an order issued by the personnel ministry said.
NATGRID is a federal intelligence gathering organisation created to enhance India's counter-terrorism capabilities.
Aswani Srivastava, a 1998-batch Indian Railway Traffic Service) officer, has been appointed joint secretary in the Department of Food and Public Distribution, it said.
Amit Katoch has been appointed additional central provident fund commissioner in the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation under the ministry of labour and employment, and Pankaj Hazarika additional secretary (JS-level) in the Union Public Service Commission.
Palka Sahni, a 2004-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Bihar cadre, will be joint secretary in the department of pharmaceuticals, and Sandhya Bhullar, a 2003-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, joint secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. -- PTI
Sharad Pawar
22:40 Sharad Pawar faction urges EC to take penal action against Ajit camp for allegedly filing 'fake' affidavits
The Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP on Monday urged the Election Commission to take penal action against the Ajit Pawar group, alleging it filed fake affidavits before the poll panel.
Two days before rebelling against uncle Sharad Pawar to join the Maharashtra government in early July, Ajit Pawar had approached the Election Commission on June 30 staking claim to the party name as well as the symbol.
He had subsequently declared himself as the party president with the support of 40 lawmakers.
After the fourth personal hearing by the EC on Monday, Sharad Pawar's counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters that the alleged fake affidavits filed by the Ajit Pawar camp can be categorised into 24 categories of "fraud".
He alleged that it was a case of "complete, shameless fraud" committed by the Ajit Pawar camp.
Party founder Sharad Pawar was present when Singhvi spoke with reporters.
The hearing will continue on Friday. Singhvi said "not one affidavit" submitted by the opposite side says a word against Sharad Pawar.
"We have shown that the EC has the jurisdiction and should file a criminal complaint for such open forgery and fraud which is their power under the IPC," he said. -- PTI
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22:19 13 drown in Bihar during Chhath festivities
A total of 13 people drowned during Chhath festivities in different water bodies in seven districts of Bihar since Sunday, officials said.
The deaths were reported in Patna, Khagaria, Samastipur, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Munger and Besusarai, a statement issued by the Bihar Disaster Management Department said on Monday.
In Patna district, three persons drowned in a pond in Brahmpur area around 8.15 am, it said.
"In Khagaria, three persons drowned in Chautham and Parbata areas in two separate incidents around 6.30 am on Monday. Besides, two persons each in Darbhanga and Samastipur districts and one each in Begusarai, Munger and Saharsa districts died due to drowning since Sunday," the statement said.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been revealed. -- PTI
22:06 3 held for bursting crackers at Tiger 3 show
Three men have been arrested for bursting fire-crackers in a movie hall in Malegaon city in Nashik district during the screening of Salman Khan-starrer Tiger 3 recently, the police said on Monday.
The incident occurred during the 9-12 pm show of the movie in Mohan Cinema on November 12, which created panic among the audience and resulted in pandemonium.
A video of the incident had gone viral on social media.
The police had registered a case under the Maharashtra Police Act at Malegaon Chhavani police station.
Javed Khan and Bajroom Sheikh were arrested on November 17 and one more person on November 19.
The trio was taken to the movie hall as part of the investigation on November 19, an official said, adding that further investigation is on.
22:00 Suryakumar Yadav leads India in T20 series vs Aus
Suryakumar Yadav was on Monday named as India captain for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Australia, which begins from November 23 at Visakhapatnam.
Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has been named as vice-captain for the series against the newly-crowned ODI champions, as the hosts only picked three players from the recent World Cup squad Prasidh Krishna, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar himself.
However, Shreyas Iyer will join the squad for the last two T20Is in Raipur and Bengaluru and he will take over the role of vice-captain from Gaikwad.
The India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dubey, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.
21:49 BJP received Rs 256.25 crore from Prudent Electoral Trust in FY 2022-23
The BJP received a total of Rs 256.25 crore from Prudent Electoral Trust, while the BRS received Rs 90 crore and the YSRCP Rs 16 crore from the fund during the financial year that ended in March 2023.
The trust gave total donations of Rs 363.15 crore to political parties during the year, according to its filing before the Election Commission.
The data shared by the trust reveals that while the Bharatiya Janata Party received 70.56 per cent of the donations made by it during the past year, the Aam Aadmi Party received a total of Rs 90 lakh from the fund in two tranches of Rs 45 lakh each.
The contributions made by the trust to the BJP were in 17 tranches.
The trust made three contributions to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, totalling Rs 90 crore.
The maximum contribution of Rs 75 crore was made in one tranch to the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led party while another of Rs 10 crore and yet another of Rs 5 crore were given to the ruling party in Telangana.
The YSRCP, which is in power in Andhra Pradesh, received contributions to the tune of Rs 16 crore in four tranches, with the maximum being of Rs 12 crore in one go.
Another trust -- Paribartan Electoral Trust -- has made a contribution of Rs 75 lakh to the BJP. Electroral trusts, which give donations to political parties, have to make disclosures before the EC during the year in accordance with rules. -- PTI
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh/File image
21:14 Rape convict Dera chief Gurmeet out on furlough again
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is convicted in a rape case got furlough for three weeks on Monday, an official statement said.
Earlier in February, the Dera chief was also granted three weeks' furlough.
He has been incarcerated since 2017 in Haryana's Sunaria jail where he is serving a 20-year term for raping two women disciples at his ashram's headquarters in Sirsa. Furlough is a type of leave from the prison.
The period is for 14 days in a year but the extension may be granted citing certain reasons after an application is submitted to the prison superintendent.
Earlier Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula in August 2017 for raping two women followers.
CBI had registered the case on the orders passed by the high court of Punjab and Haryana in 2003 and taken over the investigation of the case earlier registered at police station Sadar in Kurukshetra.
It was alleged that Ranjit Singh, a resident of village Khanpur Kolian, Kurukshetra was murdered on July 10, 2002, when he was working in his fields at village Khanpur Kolian of District Kurukshetra in Haryana. -- ANI
Sam Altman. Pic: Amir Cohen/Reuters
21:01 OpenAI employees threaten to quit in support of Altman
Support has come from Sam Altman, the sacked chief of OpenAI from unexpected quarters.
The company's staff has risen in support and in revolt, as a majority of OpenAI's staff has written an open letter threatening to quit unless Altman is reinstated, reports Financial Times.
FT says the letter, which has been reviewed by it, is signed by more than 500 of OpenAI's 770 employees.
'We are unable to work for or with people that lack competence, judgment and care for our mission and employees,' FT has quoted from the letter.
The letter accuses the board of 'being incapable of overseeing OpenAI'.
Ominously, it also warns that Microsoft, which on Monday announced that Altman has joined it to lead an AI team, has also assured them that there are openings for all of OpenAI's employees, reports FT.
20:40 Police should grant permission for Amit Shah's public meeting in Kolkata: HC
The Calcutta high court on Monday said that the police authorities should grant permission to the Bharatiya Janata Party for holding a public meeting in Kolkata on November 29, scheduled to be addressed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The BJP has moved the high court seeking direction to the city police to grant permission for holding the meeting at Esplanade in the heart of Kolkata, claiming that it was refused by the authorities twice.
Observing that it is a free country, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha said that the authorities should grant permission to hold the meeting on that date.
Justice Mantha said that the police can impose reasonable restrictions which they can convey to the organisers.
He directed that the matter will appear before the court again on Wednesday.
The petitioner's lawyer Srijib Chakraborty claimed the BJP had first applied for permission to hold the meeting on November 28, but it was refused as it had not been placed before the stipulated buffer time.
He said that the application was sent again for permission to hold the public meeting on November 29, but was not granted. -- PTI
20:17 People not supposed to be roaming around on highways, says SC
People are not supposed to roam around on highways, the Supreme Court said on Monday while refusing to entertain a plea raising the issue of safety and protection of pedestrians on highways.
The court was hearing a petition challenging an order passed by the Gujarat high court on a plea raising issues pertaining to the safety and protection of pedestrians on highways.
Dismissing the plea, the high court had said no positive directions can be given as the reliefs claimed in the petition would be a matter of policy decisions.
It had said for the grievances raised in the plea, it was open for the petitioners to approach the Union ministry of road transport and highways.
The matter came up for hearing on Monday before a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia.
The counsel for the petitioners said the issue raised in the plea pertained to the safety and protection of pedestrians on highways.
"How do pedestrians come on a highway?" the bench asked, adding that there has to be discipline.
Referring to statistics, the counsel said there has been a huge increase in the number of road accidents involving pedestrians in the country. -- PTI
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20:06 3,000 apply for Ayodhya Ram temple priest jobs
At least 3,000 candidates applied for posts of priests at the Ram temple in Ayodhya after the Ram Mandir Teerth Kshetra Trust advertised vacancies, an official said on Monday.
Of these, 200 candidates were selected for interviews on the basis of merit, the trust official said.
The 200 candidates selected are facing interviews that are going on at Karsevak Puram, the Vishva Hindu Parishad's headquarters in Ayodhya.
A three-member panel of Jaykant Mishra -- a Hindu preacher from Vrindavan -- and two mahants, Mithilesh Nandini Sharan and Satyanarayan Das, from Ayodhya are conducting the interviews, the official said.
The trust will select 20 candidates.
The selected candidates will be appointed as priests and deployed in different posts after six months of residential training.
Those who are not selected will attend the training and be given certificates, said Govind Dev Giri, the trust treasurer.
They will also have the chance to be called for the posts of priest that may be created in the future, he added.
"What is 'Sandhya Vandan' , what are its procedures and what are the 'mantras' for this worship? What are the 'mantras' for worshipping Lord Ram and what are 'karma kand' for this? ... all these types of questions were asked to the candidates who had come for the interview," Giri said. -- PTI
19:51 Murmu inaugurates Eklavya school in Odisha's Mayurbhanj, goes down memory lane
President Draupadi Murmu on Monday went down the memory lane while inaugurating an Eklavya Model Residential School in tribal dominated Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
Expressing her happiness over the infrastructure of the school at Kuliana, Murmu, who hails from Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district, expressed confidence that with the opening of the school local children will have more opportunity for education.
Recollecting her childhood days, the 65-year-old president, who is the first person from the tribal community to occupy the country's highest office, said, "There was no school near our home during our childhood. Therefore, we had to go away from home for study."
"Many children were deprived of education at that time as there were no schools nearby, which is not the case today," she told the gathering.
Addressing the tribal children present at the programme, the president said that she too hails from a humble background like them.
She got the opportunity to serve the citizens, because of her education. Murmu said that education can make children successful as it is the key to economic and social well-being.
She advised parents to educate their children as they can then contribute to the progress of the country and society along with their own development. -- PTI
CM Ibrahim
19:35 I am still JD-S Karnataka prez, will move court, says suspended leader Ibrahim
Suspended JD-S leader CM Ibrahim claimed on Monday that he is still the party's Karnataka president and whether former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda will remain its national president will be known on December 9.
Ibrahim said he will be moving to court seeking a stay of his suspension from the party and will also be writing to the Election Commission in this regard.
Ibrahim was on November 17 suspended from the JD-S for alleged anti-party activities.
Gowda earlier had replaced Ibrahim as the party state president on October 19 and appointed his son and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in his place.
"I'm still the state president of JD-S even now. If he (Gowda) is national president, will be known on December 9...where will he (Gowda) remain as national president, if national council members and state presidents remove him?," Ibrahim said.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said, "I still appeal to Deve Gowda -- you are 90, don't do it (go with BJP) -- for the sake of your son. Don't sacrifice the principles you stood by for your entire life. Even when Ramvilas Paswan and Sharad Yadav went away, you stood by your ideology, and Janata Dal Secular came into existence (after the split of Janata Dal in 1999)."
A meeting of JD-S leaders from various states held in Thiruvananthapuram last week, decided to hold a national plenary session of the party at Bengaluru on December 9 to formally reject the decision of Gowda to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
Party national vice-president CK Nanu had said unless Gowda revokes the decision to join the NDA, the party's plenary would be held on December 9 to formally reject the decision, and go ahead with further actions against Gowda for taking a unilateral decision. -- PTI
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi
19:10 TN guv gives nod to prosecute ex-AIADMK ministers
The Tamil Nadu Governor has accorded sanction to prosecute former All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ministers namely Dr C Vijayabaskar and BV Ramana in the gutka scam being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation, state law minister S Regupathy said in Chennai on Monday.
With the sanction from Governor RN Ravi, the CBI would chargesheet Vijayabaskar (then health minister) and Ramana (then commercial taxes minister), Regupathy told reporters.
The gutka scam had rocked the state and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, then as the opposition party, assured to ensure a fair investigation in the case after it came to power. -- PTI
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18:56 35 TN fishermen arrested in British overseas territorial waters handed over to India
Around 35 fishermen from Tamil Nadu who were arrested more than a month ago from near the British Indian Ocean Territory in the Indian Ocean, and tried and fined 25,000 Pounds Sterling, were on Monday handed over to the Indian Coast Guard, a defence statement said.
The fishermen had ventured to fishing areas in the deep sea, around 230 nautical miles near the BIOT -- an archipelago of 58 islands covering some 640,000 sq km of ocean.
The area is a British Overseas Territory, located approximately halfway between East Africa and Indonesia, and administered from London, the statement said.
The fishermen were arrested on September 29, tried at BIOT and fined 25,000 British Pounds, it said.
One boat has been seized as the fine was not paid, while another boat and its 35 crew members were released, it said.
They were brought off Vizhinjam on BIOT patrol vessel 'Grampien Endurance' and on their own fishing boat.
They were handed over at sea to Indian Coast Guard ships 'Anagh' and 'C 441', the statement said. -- PTI
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18:36 5 suspended, 2 issued show-cause notice in K'taka woman-daughter electrocution case
The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company has suspended five of its officials for "dereliction of duties" and issued show cause notice to two senior officers after a woman and her daughter died due to electrocution here, officials said on Monday.
Taking serious note of the Sunday's incident at Kadugodi sub-division, the state-owned BESCOM said it took action against them based on a prima-facie enquiry.
According to police, 23-year-old Soundarya, who was walking home after arriving from Tamil Nadu, along with her nine-month-year-old baby girl Leela died of burn injuries after she accidentally stepped on a live electric wire lying unattended on the pavement.
Her husband, Santosh Kumar, tried to save them but was helpless.
Their luggage-trolley bag and other belongings were seen lying scattered at the scene.
Five BESCOM officials -- who have now been suspended -- were arrested in connection with the incident, police said.
"In a non-department fatal electrical accident, Soundarya (23) and her daughter Leela came in contact with a live 11KV wire fallen on the foot path of Hope Farm Signal and got electrocuted on Sunday morning around 5.30 am," a BESCOM statement said.
Energy minister KJ George took serious note of the accident and ordered suspension of officials, it said.
A detailed investigation will be conducted in the matter, the BESCOM said. -- PTI
18:20 NIA books Pannun, SFJ for threats to AI flyers
A case has been registered against designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for threatening people flying Air India and the airline with closure of operations from November 19, the National Investigation Agency said on Monday.
The case has been registered under the Indian Penal Code and the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
In video messages, released on November 4, Pannun had asked Sikhs to stop flying on Air India planes on and after November 19, citing a potential threat to their lives. Pannun, the self-proclaimed general counsel of the outlawed "unlawful association", Sikhs for Justice, released the video messages on various social media platforms.
Following this a high alert was issued and investigations started by security forces in Canada, India and certain other countries where Air India flies.
Pannun has been under the NIA's lens since 2019, when the anti-terror agency registered its first case against him.
In September, the NIA had confiscated his share of a house and land in Amritsar in Punjab and Chandigarh. -- PTI
17:54 Notorious goon attacked inside jail in Kerala
Notorious goon Maradu Aneesh, who was housed in the high-security prison in Thrissur, was attacked by fellow prisoners on Monday, jail sources said.
A senior jail official of the Viyyur central jail said two prisoners -- Ashraf and Hussain -- attacked Aneesh using a sharp object and injured him.
"A jail official was also injured in the incident," the official told PTI.
Both of them were shifted to a nearby hospital after they were given first aid at the jail. Jail sources said the prisoners allegedly shaped a steel scale or a similar object to make a sharp weapon to attack Aneesh.
Aneesh, who was arrested by the Kerala police from a private hospital in Kochi on November 7, where he was undergoing treatment, was recently shifted to the high-security prison in Thrissur.
The police said there are over 45 criminal cases against Aneesh in Kerala itself.
17:36 Man dies by suicide in West Bengal after India's loss in World Cup final
A 23-year-old man allegedly died by suicide in West Bengal's Bankura district after India lost the World Cup final to Australia, his family said.
The incident happened around 11 pm on Sunday near the Cinema Hall in Beliatore police station area, the police said.
Rahul Lohar used to work at a clothing store in the area, and he took a leave on Sunday to watch the final match.
Heartbroken by India's loss to Australia, he hung himself in his room, his brother-in-law Uttam Sur said.
Otherwise, there were no such problems in his life, he claimed.
His body was sent to the Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital on Monday morning for post-mortem examination, the police said, adding that a case of unnatural death was registered.
There was no one in the house when the incident happened, they said.
The police said that an investigation was underway, refusing to comment on the reason for the death. India lost the World Cup title clash to Australia by six wickets, in Ahmedabad on Sunday. -- PTI
17:10 Tunnel collapse: Workers can hear rescuers now
Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: "We have achieved our first breakthrough, for which we had been trying for the last nine days and was our first priority. A 6-inch pipe has been installed and they (trapped workers) can hear us through it. We will now provide them with food and medical supplies through that pipe," says Anshu Mansish Khalkho, Director, NHIDCL.
An international tunneling expert, Arnold Dix, arrived at the disaster site to review the rescue efforts, now in its ninth day.
Dix heads the Geneva-based International Tunneling and Underground Space Association.
"Necessary rescue equipment and resources are being provided by the Centre, and through mutual coordination between central and state agencies, the trapped workers will be safely evacuated," PM Modi said, according to a statement issued by the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office.
It is necessary to keep up the morale of the trapped workers, the prime minister said. It was for the third time that PM Modi spoke to CM Dhami about the rescue operations being carried out at the tunnel.
16:47 Israel shares pics of 30 kids held hostage by Hamas
On the occasion of World Children's Day, Israel shared pictures of children held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, stressing that there are more than 30 children, including babies and toddlers.
They further urged the international community to take action to bring them home.
"While your children are at school, there are currently more than 30 Israeli babies, toddlers and children being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas terrorists. On #WorldChildrensDay we demand action from the international community. BRING OUR CHILDREN HOME!," Israel shared the post on X.
Further, Israel, on their official social media account on X, stressed that for 44 days, these children have been waiting to come home.
"For 44 days we have been waiting for our children to come home and we are still waiting. Every minute counts. BRING OUR CHILDREN BACK HOME NOW," Israel stated on X.
KBK Infographics
16:40 Markets fall for 2nd day amid sell-offs
Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty stayed on the back foot for the second straight session on Monday as investors offloaded auto, utility and commodity stocks amid fresh foreign fund outflows.
In a volatile trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex declined 139.58 points or 0.21 per cent to settle at 65,655.15. During the day, it fell 246.93 points or 0.37 per cent to 65,547.80. The Nifty slipped 37.80 points or 0.19 per cent to 19,694.
16:30 Cong calls govt's $4tn GDP claims 'bogus'
The Congress took a swipe at the ruling BJP on Monday for claiming that India's GDP has crossed the USD 4-trillion mark and alleged that the "bogus" news is only for generating euphoria and doing headline management.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said some Union ministers and the Maharashtra deputy chief minister have made a "fake" claim.
"Between 2:45 pm and 6:45 pm yesterday, when the nation was glued to watching the cricket match, various drumbeaters of the Modi government, including senior Union ministers from Rajasthan and Telangana, the Deputy CM of Maharashtra, as well as the PM's most favoured businessman, tweeted that yesterday itself India's GDP had crossed the USD 4 trillion mark," Ramesh said.
"This was totally fake and bogus news meant to generate more euphoria and a pathetic attempt at both sycophancy and headline management," he alleged.
In a post on X, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Sunday, "This is what dynamic, visionary leadership looks like! That's what our New India progressing beautifully looks like."
"Congratulations to my fellow Indians as our nation crosses the $ 4 trillion GDP milestone! More power to you, more respect to you Hon PM Narendra Modi ji," he said.
Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared a graphic on X and said, "India's moment of global glory as our GDP crosses USD 4 trillion. The rise of New India under PM Narendra Modi ji's leadership is truly unparalleled. #GDP." Billionaire Gautam Adani was also among those who hailed India's gross domestic product (GDP) crossing the USD 4-trillion mark, though there was no official confirmation if the country had indeed achieved the landmark.
The finance ministry and the National Statistical Office did not immediately comment on the viral social media posts on the country's GDP crossing USD 4 trillion. Highly-placed sources said the news is incorrect and India is still shy of the landmark.
An unverified screen grab from the live-tracking GDP feed for all countries, based on the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) data, has been widely shared on social media by many, including senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. It is very difficult to have live tracking of the GDP figures of all countries as the numbers from various sectors of the economy are available with a lag. -- PTI
Israeli soldiers move from the border with Gaza. Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters
15:47 Israeli forces eliminate three Hamas commanders
Three Hamas commanders were killed during overnight combat in Gaza, Israel Defense Forces announced on Monday morning. According to the IDF, the soldiers identified a squad of terrorists as they entered a munitions warehouse.
The soldiers called in an airstrike, killing the terrorists and destroying the building and its weapons.
On Thursday evening, IDF presented CCTV footage of at least three hostages being brought into Shifa Hospital, under which Hamas has built terror infrastructure. IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said intelligence confirmed that Hamas terrorists "quickly" murdered Cpl.
Noa Marciano at Shifa, after she was taken there with non-life-threatening injuries sustained during her captivity. Marciano, a resident of Modi'in in central Israel, was abducted from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, where she served as a lookout.
On Friday, the IDF said it recovered her body from a building adjacent to Shifa. A day earlier, the military announced that soldiers had located and recovered the body of Yehudit Weiss, 65, from a nearby building. In addition to Marciano, two hostages from Nepal and Thailand were hidden at Shifa Hospital in the immediate aftermath of the Oct. 7 massacre, said Hagari.
"The evidence I will share was sent by Israel through diplomatic channels to the countries of these civilians.... Hamas was hiding hostages and murdering hostages inside Shifa Hospital. Hamas was building tunnels under hospitals."
Hagari proceeded to show footage of Hamas terrorists bringing two non-Israeli captives into the hospital by military jeep. "We have not yet located these hostages and have not rescued them," he noted.
"The world must remember: Hamas is holding hostage the elderly, men, women, children and babies. The Israel Defense Forces has a moral obligation to bring everyone home. We will not rest until we do," added Hagari.
At least 1,200 people were killed in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on Oct. 7. Another 240 men, women, children and soldiers were taken back to Gaza as hostages. Some people remain unaccounted for as Israeli authorities continue to identify bodies and search for human remains. -- ANI
15:39 Shami shares this warm picture with the PM
The word class Mohammed Shami shares this picture from yesterday: "Unfortunately yesterday was not our day. I would like to thank all Indians for supporting our team and me throughout the tournament. Thankful to PM @narendramodi for specially coming to the dressing room and raising our spirits. We will bounce back!"
Team India crumbled to mighty Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Final, losing out on their opportunity to clinch a third World Cup trophy for the country.
Staff Sergeant Yehonatan Yitzhak Semo
15:08 Israeli killed in Gaza saved 6 patients after death
Staff Sergeant Yehonatan Yitzhak Semo was killed in battle in Gaza, but his organs have been donated to six patients in different hospitals, Israel's National Transplant Center announced on Sunday.
The 21-year-old Semo, who had signed an organ donor card, served in the Paratroopers Brigade. He was injured in combat in central Gaza on Nov. 10 and taken to the Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah but the doctors weren't able to save him.
A resident of Karmei Tzur, near Hebron, Semo is survived by four younger siblings, and now six patients whose lives he saved.
"There was no hesitation at all about whether to donate his organs. It was Yonatan. He did everything with a smile, out of understanding, commitment and a desire to help. The fact that a part of him will continue to live and help others, there is nothing more uplifting than that," the Semo family said.
Semo's lungs were transplanted into 36 year-old Meir Atsaba, also of Kiryat Gat. The father of two had suffered from lung disease which became life-threatening when he contracted coronavirus.
"I am very grateful to the Samo family for doing the most noble thing in their most painful moment. In the midst of this war and the terrible days, I received a ray of light and air to breathe," said Atsaba. Yaakov Malka, a 46-year-old father of four from Kiryat Gat received the heart. He suffered from heart failure and at one point had even received an artificial heart.
"This heart, which was once in the body of the late Jonathan and today beats in the body of Yaakov, is the heart of the State of Israel," said Prof. Dan Aravot, Beilinson Hospital's director of the cardiac and thoracic surgery unit who performed the heart transplant -- ANI
14:50 Chandrababu gets bail
Andhra Pradesh High Court grants bail to TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu in Skill Development Corporation scam case.
14:37 OpenAI's sacked CEO Sam Altman to join Microsoft
Sam Altman, who was fired as the CEO of ChatGPT creator OpenAI, will join Microsoft to lead a new team focused on artificial intelligence, the tech giant has announced.
Microsoft CEO and Chairman Satya Nadella said on Monday that Altman, fellow OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and other former OpenAI employees will oversee a "new advanced AI research team" at the company.
"We remain committed to our partnership with OpenAI and have confidence in our product roadmap, our ability to continue to innovate with everything we announced at Microsoft Ignite, and in continuing to support our customers and partners. We look forward to getting to know Emmett Shear and OAI's new leadership team and working with them. And we're extremely excited to share the news that Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, together with colleagues, will be joining Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team. We look forward to moving quickly to provide them with the resources needed for their success," Nadella tweeted.
The dam at Vaitarna lake
14:27 18 rescued, 2 missing after boat capsizes in Maha
At least two persons were missing after a tug boat carrying 20 workers capsized in the Vaitarna river in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Monday morning, police said.
Eighteen workers have been rescued so far, an official said. The incident took place at around 6 am when the workers were travelling in the tug boat of a company which is engaged in the construction of the JNPT-Vadodara Expressway, he said.
A bridge is being constructed on the river as part of the project. While the boat was in the middle of the river, it capsized following which all the workers fell into the water body, the official said. Police, fire brigade and district administration were informed about the incident following which they rushed the spot.
The official said 18 workers have been rescued so far and search was on for the remaining two persons. Rescue operation was going on with the help of locals and fishing community members, he added.
Corporal Noa Marciano
13:55 Teen soldier taken hostage, killed by Hamas: IDF
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari has said that the 19-year-old IDF Corporal Noa Marciano who was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists was killed by the terror group at the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza.
He shared that Marciano was left injured during the ongoing combat in which her captive was killed and Hamas took her to the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza where she was murdered.
"19-year-old IDF Corporal Noa Marciano was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists during the massacre of October 7th. Noa was taken into Gaza alive, she was held hostage by Hamas in Gaza City next to the Shifa Hospital. During ongoing combat, in the vicinity of where she was held captive, Noa's Hamas captor was killed and Noa was injured. I repeat, she was only injured. An independent pathological report has determined Noa's injuries were not life-threatening. I repeat, Noa's injuries were not life-threatening," he said.
He added, "According to the intelligence we have in our hands, concrete intelligence: Hamas terrorists took Noa into Shifa hospital where she was murdered quickly. Hamas murdered Noa inside Shifa Hospital. Our thoughts are with Noa's family."
Reiterating Israel's stand that Israel will not stop until they get back the hostages and affirming that Hamas is hiding behind the hostages in Shifa hospital.
He said, "The world must remember, Hamas is holding the elderly, men, women, children, babies; Babies! hostage. The Israel Defense Forces have a moral obligation to bring everyone, every one of our hostages home. We will not rest until we do. Hamas was hiding and murdering our hostages in Shifa Hospital. Hamas was building terror tunnels under Shifa Hospital. By now the truth is clear: Hamas wages war from hospitals, wages terror from hospitals. Everyone who cares about the future of humanity must condemn Hamas." -- ANI
12:51 Drunk passenger on Jaipur-Blr flight misbehaves
A passenger on board an IndiGo flight from Jaipur to Bengaluru who was allegedly intoxicated and misbehaved with crew members despite multiple warnings was arrested, police said on Monday.
After landing on November 17, the 32-year-old passenger was handed over to the police at the Kempegowda International Airport, a senior police officer said.
"Based on the complaint received from IndiGo, we registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and arrested the passenger. He was later released on bail," he added.
IndiGo said in a statement that the passenger on flight 6E 556 was intoxicated and misbehaved with the crew despite multiple warnings.
"The passenger was handed over to the local law enforcement authorities on arrival for further legal action. We regret the inconvenience caused to the other passengers," the airline said. PTI
File pic
12:22 Martians in UFO in Imphal? Rafale jets scrambled
The Indian Air Force (IAF), soon after receiving information about the sighting of unidentified flying objects near the Imphal airport on Sunday, scrambled its Rafale fighter aircraft to search for them.
The sighting of the UFO over the Imphal airport happened around 2:30 pm after which a few commercial flights were affected yesterday.
"Soon after information about the UFO near the Imphal airport was received, a Rafale fighter aircraft from a nearby airbase was scrambled to go and search for the UFO," defence sources told ANI.
"The aircraft equipped with advanced sensors carried out low-level flying over the suspected area to look for the UFO but it did not find anything there," they said, adding that after the first aircraft returned, one more Rafale fighter was sent for the search but the UFO was not seen around the area.
"The agencies concerned are trying to find out the details of the UFO as there are videos of the UFO over the Imphal airport," they said.
Soon after the Imphal airport was cleared for flying, the Shillong-headquartered Eastern Command of the Indian Air Force stated that it had activated its Air Defence response mechanism without giving any specific details of the steps taken by it.
Eastern Command, in a post on 'X' (formerly Twitter), said, "IAF activated its Air Defence response mechanism based on visual inputs from Imphal airport. The small object was not seen thereafter."
The Rafale fighters of the Indian Air Force are deployed at the Hashimara air base in West Bengal and keep flying from different air bases in the eastern sector along the China border.
11:39 International tunneling expert arrives at U'kashi
Efforts to rescue the 41 workers trapped at the Silkyara tunnel collapse site continue at fever pace. The workers have been trapped for close to 216 hours since November 12.
Today International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association president Arnold Dix arrived at the location site in Silkyara, Uttarkashi to aid in the rescue efforts.
Professor Arnold Dix specialises in underground and transportation infrastructure -- from construction risk to more technical issues associated with the actual safety performance from an operational safety perspective.
He also provides advise on risks associated with underground construction and is widely recognised as the World's leading expert on underground tunnelling.
Professor Dix conducted an inspection at the Silkyara tunnel site and spoke to the agencies that have been involved in the rescue operations. With multiple agencies and plans in place to evacuate the trapped workers, Professor Dix appears confident of finding an optimum solution to rescue the workers.
"We are going to get those men out. Great work is being done here. Our whole team is here and we are going to find a solution and get them out. A lot of work is being done here. It is important that not only the men rescued but also the men who are rescuing are safe. The whole world is helping. The team here is fantastic. The plans are looking fantastic. The work is very systematic. The food and the medication are being provided properly," Professor Dix told ANI as he arrived at the collapse site.
Meanwhile the Uttrakhand Government and the centre is keeping constant communication and making all efforts to keep up the morale of the labourers trapped in the 2 km built tunnel portion.
Electricity and water are available in this portion of the tunnel and labourers are provided food items such as channa, murmure, dryfruits and medicines etc. through 4-inch compressor pipeline.
National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) is creating another 6-inch pipeline for food. For this pipe drilling of 39 meter out of 60 meter is completed.
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has started working on another vertical pipeline for supply for essential items. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has completed an approach road in just one day for facilitating RVNL.
NHIDCL will also continue to drill from Silkyara end after working safety arrangements. The Army has prepared the box culvert to facilitate this.
Further, Tehri Hydroelectric Development Corporation (THDC) will start work of micro tunnelling from Barkot end for which heavy machinery has been mobilised.
Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) will do the vertical drilling to rescue the trapped labourers. Accordingly, equipment has been mobilized from Gujarat and Odisha. ONGC has also started the initial work for vertical drilling from Barkot end. BRO has already started approach road for mobilization machines of ONGC and SJVNL.
11:07 'Biden's chances in 2024 no better than a 50-50'
Former president Obama's top campaign guru said President Biden's chances of winning the 2024 presidential election were "no better" than 50-50 -- and possibly even worse. Read the the report here.
10:57 U'khand tunnel collapse: Vertical drilling to begin
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had a telephonic conversation with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and discussed the ongoing operations to rescue the 41 workers who have been trapped since last week in the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi.
In a statement by the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office (CMO), PM Modi said that Central Government is providing the necessary rescue equipment and resources and that the workers will be evacuated safely with mutual coordination between centre and Uttarakhand government.
The PM added that there is need to maintain the morale of the stranded workers.
Early this morning, heavy machines were seen arriving at the Silkyara tunnel on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed that had collapsed in the early hours of November 12.
The Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) is all set to initiate work on a vertical pipeline to provide essential items, facilitated by the completed approach road by Border Roads Organisation in just one day.
Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) is also all geared up for vertical drilling for which equipment was mobilized from Gujarat and Odisha through Railways as the 75-ton equipment could not be airlifted.
Secretary, Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Anurag Jain had on Sunday said that a five-point action plan to rescue the trapped workers.
National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHDCL), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC) and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) have been assigned one option each.The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the construction wing of the Indian Army have also been assisting in the rescue operation.
The plan involves drilling operations from three sides of the tunnel, there will be a vertical drilling operation from the top of the hill under which the workers are trapped. Also, efforts will continue to drill horizontally through the debris blocking the tunnel at the Silkyara side.
There is also an operation to drill a small tunnel from the Barkot side will also begin.
Neeraj Khanna, Secretary Nodal, speaking on the rescue operation said that instructions have been given to the rescue team to complete the rescue operation of the workers trapped in the tunnel as early as possible. Former advisor to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Bhaskar Khulbe and Deputy Secretary in Prime Minister's Office Mangesh Ghildiyal also gave strict instructions to the rescue team.
Bhasker Khulbe, Deputy Secretary Mangesh Ghildiyal and Secretary Disaster Management Ranjeet Sinha have left for Dehradun, according to the Secretary, Nodal. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) is currently working on a 6-inch pipeline for food supply, having completed drilling 39 meters out of the 60-meter target, an official statement said on Sunday.
10:39 Cummins: Silence of crowd when Virat got out was...
The deafening silence of over 90,000 supporters at the Narendra Modi Stadium, as Pat Cummins snuffed out the peerless Virat Kohli in the World Cup final, was perhaps the "sweetest moment" the Australian skipper has ever experienced on a cricket field.
After becoming the fifth Australian captain to secure his country's sixth ODI World Cup here on Sunday, Cummins admitted that he has "fallen in love with 50-over format all over again".
He got Kohli, who was well-set on 54, with a delivery that had an extra bounce and the premier India batter played on trying to jab it towards the covers.
"Yeah, I think so, Cummins nodded in affirmative when asked if the silence was his sweetest experience on a cricket field. In fact, going against their custom, the Aussies had a second huddle to just acknowledge how big the moment in the game it was. We did take a second in the huddle just to acknowledge the silence that was going around the crowd. It just felt like it was one of those days where it was all made for him to score another hundred like he normally does and that was satisfying," Cummins said.
He believes that ODI World Cup is here to stay as it hs got its own legacy and also players have their stories to tell and perhaps, it is the bilateral series that become a problem.
"I must say, maybe because we won, I did fall in love with ODI again this World Cup. I think the scenario where every game really matters, it does mean a bit different to just a bilateral, he acknowledged. I mean, the World Cup's got such rich history, I'm sure it's going to be around for a long time. Yeah, there's so many wonderful games, so many wonderful stories within this last couple of months. So, I think there's definitely a place."
10:07 Israel: CCTV shows hostages taken to Gaza hospital
The Israeli military has released footage which it says shows hostages being taken into Gaza's largest hospital after the deadly Hamas attacks of 7 October.
A military spokesman said one of them - a soldier - was murdered there.
Cpl Noa Marciano, 19, was killed after being taken into al-Shifa hospital with minor injuries, he said.
Israel said a tunnel had been found at the site which it claims was a Hamas command centre. Hamas denies that.
Read more here.
09:56 Remembering India's Iron Lady
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi with party president Mallikarjun Kharge look at the photo exhibition on the life of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the cultural programme on her 106th birth anniversary, at Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, in New Delhi yesterday.
09:44 Former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter dies
Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Jimmy Carter during his term as US president and their four decades thereafter as global humanitarians, has died at the age of 96.
The Carter Centre said she died Sunday after living with dementia and suffering many months of declining health. The statement announcing her death said she "died peacefully, with family by her side" at 2.10 pm at her rural Georgia home of Plains.
09:40 Man kills family; hangs himself; 'wife unfaithful'
Decomposed bodies of four members of a family have been found in their flat in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, police said.
The deceased persons were identified as 52-year-old Brindaban Karmakar, a cloth merchant, his wife Debasree Karmakar, who was in her forties, their 17-year-old daughter Debaleena and eight-year-old son Utsaha, a police officer said.
The bodies were found on Sunday in the closed apartment on M S Mukherjee Road in Khardah area. T
The police suspect that the man murdered his family members by poisoning them and then died by suicide. His body was found hanging from the ceiling, while three other bodies were in different places in the flat, he said.
A suicide note was also found, in which the man claimed that his wife had an extra-marital affair and he could not bear it, hence he took the extreme step, the officer said.
Locals said the police after they found a foul smell emanating from the apartment. The door had to be broken open as it was bolted from inside, he said. A forensic team visited the spot, and further investigation is underway, the officer added. -- PTI
09:30 55-meter-long tunnel found under Gaza hospital: Israel
Israel on Sunday releases a video of what it described as a tunnel dug by Palestinian operatives under Shifa Hospital complex in Gaza.
"OPERATIONAL UPDATE: IDF and ISA forces revealed a significant 55-meter-long terrorist tunnel, 10 metres underneath the Shifa Hospital complex, during an intelligence-based operation," the IDF wrote in a post on social media platform X.
The defence forces also highlighted that the tunnel entrance contains various defence mechanisms, such as a blast-proof door and a firing hole.
"The tunnel entrance contains various defence mechanisms, such as a blast-proof door and a firing hole, in an attempt by Hamas to block Israeli forces from entering," the IDF said.
"For weeks, we've been telling the world about Hamas' cynical use of the residents of Gaza and patients of Shifa Hospital as human shields. Here is more proof," it added.
The Israel Defence Forces on Saturday denied that they demanded Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City evacuate within an hour, adding that it only accepted the requests of the medical centre's director to make a safe route for those who wished to leave, The Times of Israel reported.
09:13 Delhi: Speeding BMW car rams into parked vehicle, hits 4 pedestrians
A speeding BMW car rammed into a parked vehicle from behind, which in turn hit four pedestrians, critically injuring them, in South Delhi's Greater Kailash Enclave-II area on Sunday night, police said.
Those injured in the accident have been admitted to the AIIMS trauma centre, they said.
"Those injured were identified as Yashwant Nalwade (58), Devraj Madhukar (50), Manohar (62) and Nitin. They were taking a walk after having dinner. They were rushed to the AIIMS trauma centre for treatment," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chandan Chowdhary said.
She said the speeding BMW car, which was being driven by a woman, hit a parked Maruti Ciaz from behind. "The impact was so intense that Maruti Ciaz hit the four, injuring them seriously," Chowdhary said.
The DCP said the process of registering an FIR is underway. There was nobody inside the Ciaz, she said.
Police teams were rushed to the site of the accident as soon as a call about it was received at the control room, the official said. -- PTI
08:40 Wanted to meet Kohli: WC final pitch invader
A pro-Palestine fan breached a tight security cordon to enter the field of play in a desperate attempt to hug Virat Kohli during the World Cup final between India and Australia in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
City police have booked the 24-year-old fan, identified as Wen Johnson, on the charges of trespassing and obstructing public servants in the discharge of duty. He has been detained and taken to Chandkheda police station.
The incident happened before the first drinks break.
The security personnel immediately apprehended the man.
"The Australian national, identified as Wen Johnson, has been detained and booked on the charges of trespassing and obstructing public servants in discharge of duty," said Viraj Jadeja, inspector, Chandkheda police station.
Johnson wore a face mask bearing the design of a Palestine flag and a T-shirt with slogans- 'Stop bombing Palestine' and 'Save Palestine'- written on the front and back sides, respectively.
The ICC doesn't allow any political sloganeering during events organised by the global governing body of cricket and any such act is also not allowed in India.
A preliminary probe has revealed that Johnson is a habitual offender and was booked in his country for invading sports fields in the past, said Jadeja.
"Johnson told us that he is a fan of Virat Kohli and wanted to meet him during the match. He wore the pro-Palestine T-shirt just for the sake of it. Otherwise, his main aim was to meet Kohli," the police officer said.
Johnson was detained after the registration of FIR in the evening.
In some of the videos and photos he has shared on his Instagram handle 'pyjamamann', Johnson can be seen invading fields during football games and being taken away by security personnel.
In one such photo, Johnson can be seen wearing a T-shirt saying "Free Ukraine" as he intruded a pitch.
Johnson put on a normal T-shirt over the one with pro-Palestine slogans to enter the stadium. He then removed the outer T-shirt before running towards Kohli, who was batting at that time, Jadeja said.
When asked about his motive, Johnson told reporters at the police station that he wanted to meet Kohli and that he was wearing the T-shirt with the slogans because he supports Palestine.
Israel and Palestine militant group Hamas have been engaged in a war since October 7. -- PTI
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