New Delhi, India
Varun Dhawan is currently promoting his upcoming movie Baby John, and recently while talking to Ranveer Allahbadia on his YouTube channel, the actor revealed how a woman secretly entered his house.
Talking about the scary event, Dhawan said that the woman, who entered his house, was the wife of a very powerful man and knew everything about his house.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/is-allu-arjuns-pushpa-2-releasing-on-ott-soon-makars-issues-clarification-785771">Is Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2 releasing on OTT? Makers issue clarification</a>
“And that lady was the wife of a very powerful man. I can’t say what position… but a very powerful man, and she was being catfished. Someone was talking to her using my name. She knew everything about my house and she thought I was going to leave my family. It became very scary,” the actor said on the podcast, according to Indian Express. 
Sharing that they had to call the police afterwards, he said, “She came with someone, and it became a family thing, and there were female constables who came in and they handled it.”
As he went on to detail about shocking encounters with the fans, he revealed that once a fan kissed him forcibly, while another pinched him in his butt. 
Talking further, Varun said that when anything like this happens to him, he straightaway puts himself in the place of a woman and how things are even worse with them. 
Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/berlin-film-festival-2025-tilda-swinton-to-receive-lifetime-achievement-award-785762">Berlin Film Festival 2025: Tilda Swinton to receive lifetime achievement award</a>
He said, “I feel bad for the women because I straightaway put myself in their position. If this is happening with me, it must be worse with them.”
Varun Dhawan's Baby John
Dhawan's action drama Baby John is set to hit the big screen on Christmas, December 25. Directed by Kalees, the movie features the actor in an action avatar.
Apart from Varun, the movie also stars Keerthy Suresh, Sanya Malhotra and Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff among others. Salman Khan will make a cameo appearance in the movie. 
The movie has been produced by Jawan director Atlee, who has also written the screenplay of the movie.
(With agency inputs)

Dhawan's action drama Baby John is set to hit the big screen on Christmas, December 25. Directed by Kalees, the movie features the actor as an action avatar.



New Delhi, India Varun Dhawan is currently promoting his upcoming movie Baby John, and recently while talking to Ranveer Allahbadia on his YouTube channel, the actor revealed how a woman secretly entered his house. Talking about the scary event, Dhawan said that the woman, who entered his house, was the wife of a very powerful man and knew everything about his house. Also read: Is Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2 releasing on OTT? Makers issue clarification “And that lady was the wife of a very powerful man. I can’t say what position… but a very powerful man, and she was being catfished. Someone was talking to her using my name. She knew everything about my house and she thought I was going to leave my family. It became very scary,” the actor said on the podcast, according to Indian Express. Sharing that they had to call the police afterwards, he said, “She came with someone, and it became a family thing, and there were female constables who came in and they handled it.” As he went on to detail about shocking encounters with the fans, he revealed that once a fan kissed him forcibly, while another pinched him in his butt. Talking further, Varun said that when anything like this happens to him, he straightaway puts himself in the place of a woman and how things are even worse with them. Also read:Berlin Film Festival 2025: Tilda Swinton to receive lifetime achievement award He said, “I feel bad for the women because I straightaway put myself in their position. If this is happening with me, it must be worse with them.” Varun Dhawan's Baby John Dhawan's action drama Baby John is set to hit the big screen on Christmas, December 25. Directed by Kalees, the movie features the actor in an action avatar. Apart from Varun, the movie also stars Keerthy Suresh, Sanya Malhotra and Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff among others. Salman Khan will make a cameo appearance in the movie. The movie has been produced by Jawan director Atlee, who has also written the screenplay of the movie. (With agency inputs)

Varun Dhawan talks about weird fan encounters, reveals how a woman entered his house

Paris, France 
A 72-year-old woman from France, Gis&egrave;le Pelicot, was drugged and raped by 50&nbsp;men and her 'sadist' husband for almost a decade. When she was to appear in the courtroom for her criminal trial, she had the option to hide her identity to get saved from victim shaming by the world. But she did not choose that. Rather, she demanded "shame change sides" saying it's the rapist who should be ashamed of it not the survivor.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
She won the case and got her criminals behind bars becoming a feminist icon across the globe. One thing that was constant in the entire journey of her fighting was her scarf. At every court hearing, she was seen wearing one or another scarf around her neck. But one scarf that grabbed the most attention was the one&nbsp;she was wearing on the day her rapists were charged.&nbsp;
The scarf was given to her by Australia's Older Women's Network as a gift. She wore the scarf even during the dark time in the courtroom when she had to show the evidence of her rape.&nbsp;
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Her scarves became the metaphor of a hug given to her by all the women across the world. Some days, her scarf was the shield in the courtroom against the vultures sitting in the trial room. And other days, it was a source of comfort and peace when she won the case.&nbsp;
<h2>Will Anything Change?&nbsp;</h2>
Now, when everything is said and done, will Gis&egrave;le's case bring any changes in the society where rape survivors have been subject to shame and guilt as if they are the one who have&nbsp;done wrong? Will the patriarchal society take a pause and think about how it deals with the rapist and survivors?&nbsp;
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-toppled-lander-flying-to-jovian-moon-and-more-notable-space-missions-of-2024-785789">A toppled lander, flying to Jovian moon and more: Notable space missions of 2024</a>
As Gis&egrave;le's lawyer said: "change will not come from the ministry of justice but from the ministry of education". No matter how intense the punishment is, nothing will change until consent and sex education become a part of the education curriculum. And on top of that, there is a huge need to understand that predators are not always strangers. They also could be someone expected to protect you, like we saw in Gis&egrave;le's case.&nbsp;
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She won the case and got her criminals behind bars becoming a feminist icon across the globe. One thing that was constant in the entire journey of her fighting was her scarf. At every court hearing, she was seen wearing one or another scarf around her neck. But one scarf that grabbed the most attention was the scarf she was wearing on the day her rapists were charged. 



Paris, France A 72-year-old woman from France, Gisèle Pelicot, was drugged and raped by 50 men and her 'sadist' husband for almost a decade. When she was to appear in the courtroom for her criminal trial, she had the option to hide her identity to get saved from victim shaming by the world. But she did not choose that. Rather, she demanded "shame change sides" saying it's the rapist who should be ashamed of it not the survivor. She won the case and got her criminals behind bars becoming a feminist icon across the globe. One thing that was constant in the entire journey of her fighting was her scarf. At every court hearing, she was seen wearing one or another scarf around her neck. But one scarf that grabbed the most attention was the one she was wearing on the day her rapists were charged. The scarf was given to her by Australia's Older Women's Network as a gift. She wore the scarf even during the dark time in the courtroom when she had to show the evidence of her rape. Watch | Houthis Target Tel Aviv With Ballistic Missile 'Type Palestine 2' Her scarves became the metaphor of a hug given to her by all the women across the world. Some days, her scarf was the shield in the courtroom against the vultures sitting in the trial room. And other days, it was a source of comfort and peace when she won the case. Will Anything Change? Now, when everything is said and done, will Gisèle's case bring any changes in the society where rape survivors have been subject to shame and guilt as if they are the one who have done wrong? Will the patriarchal society take a pause and think about how it deals with the rapist and survivors? Also read | A toppled lander, flying to Jovian moon and more: Notable space missions of 2024 As Gisèle's lawyer said: "change will not come from the ministry of justice but from the ministry of education". No matter how intense the punishment is, nothing will change until consent and sex education become a part of the education curriculum. And on top of that, there is a huge need to understand that predators are not always strangers. They also could be someone expected to protect you, like we saw in Gisèle's case. Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

Gisèle Pelicot and her scarf: Some days a shield, other days a hug

Sri Lanka 
With the decision by the Hong Kong-based Fitch Ratings to upgrade Sri Lanka's credit rating, the island nation has officially ended its debt default, the Finance Ministry said here on Saturday. 
Fitch upgraded Sri Lanka's long-term credit default rating to CCC+ from CCC- on Friday as it said that "the risk of another default on local currency debt has been reduced by the completion of the international sovereign bond restructuring and an improved outlook for macroeconomic indicators."
Mahinda Siriwardana, a top bureaucrat in the Finance Ministry, said in a statement: "December 20 marked a major milestone in our economic recovery process as Sri Lanka officially exited sovereign default."
Sri Lanka plunged into an economic crisis when the island nation declared sovereign default in mid-April of 2022, its first since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. Almost civil-war-like conditions and months of public protests led to the fleeing of the then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, who then took over as the president, began the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) soon after. His government then clinched the bailout a year later in March 2023.
Siriwardana said the crisis was man-made and could have been averted if the early warnings had been heeded with an early engagement with the IMF.
"While macroeconomic outcomes have indeed been satisfactory and the debt restructuring process is completed culminating in this rating upgrade, people still feel the pain from the crisis and the difficult remedial measures."
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/president-disanayaka-assures-sri-lankas-land-wont-be-used-against-indias-security-interests-784493">Also read: President Dissanayake assures Sri Lanka's land won’t be used against India’s security interests</a>
He was perhaps referring to the time of unprecedented forex crisis that had triggered shortages of essentials and long queues were witnessed for fuel and cooking gas while the island faced power cuts for over 10 hours in 2022.
Siriwardana stresses that no room exists for a repeat of policy errors, the collapse happens rapidly but the recovery is painful.
"This is indeed a historic moment and a time to celebrate but it is a moment that should never be repeated."
Siriwardana was one of the two top officials besides the Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, who saw through the recovery process from its start in 2022. 
There have been three presidents and three finance ministers since the country was plunged into crisis.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that Sri Lanka has achieved flexibility with the IMF on its rigid state revenue tax regime, something that was part of his election promise.
Speaking about the agreements reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during its third review of the USD 2.9 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), Dissanayake, who is also the Minister of Finance, told the parliament that his government has been able to raise the tax threshold.
Watch | Sri Lanka's President Chose India Over China
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"We have been able to raise the tax threshold of pay as you earn (PAYE tax) so that those who have bigger incomes pay more while those who earn pay less," Dissanayake said, adding there would be other VAT exemptions and withholding tax on interest incomes for the retired.
Dissanayake's government has recently concluded its third review of the IMF bailout and is awaiting the fourth tranche of the nearly USD 3 billion facility.
Sri Lanka had on November 26 announced that it has ratified the agreement for debt restructuring for USD 14.2 billion, compulsory to maintain debt sustainability by the IMF through an exchange of new bonds for the existing bonds.
A week prior to it, the National People's Power (NPP) government got the IMF approval for a staff-level agreement to secure the fourth tranche of the nearly USD 3 billion bailout package, something that President Dissanayake backed despite his pre-presidential election rhetoric to renegotiate with the global lender to water down tough conditions.
The NPP was highly critical of the cost recovery based on utility tariffs and high taxes, which came conditional to the bailout.
The debt restructuring agreement was reached in the last week of then-President Ranil Wickremesinghe's regime in September, days before the presidential polls.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Fitch upgraded Sri Lanka's long-term credit default rating to CCC+ from CCC- on Friday as it said that "the risk of another default on local currency debt has been reduced by the completion of the international sovereign bond restructuring and an improved outlook for macroeconomic indicators."



Sri Lanka With the decision by the Hong Kong-based Fitch Ratings to upgrade Sri Lanka's credit rating, the island nation has officially ended its debt default, the Finance Ministry said here on Saturday. Fitch upgraded Sri Lanka's long-term credit default rating to CCC+ from CCC- on Friday as it said that "the risk of another default on local currency debt has been reduced by the completion of the international sovereign bond restructuring and an improved outlook for macroeconomic indicators." Mahinda Siriwardana, a top bureaucrat in the Finance Ministry, said in a statement: "December 20 marked a major milestone in our economic recovery process as Sri Lanka officially exited sovereign default." Sri Lanka plunged into an economic crisis when the island nation declared sovereign default in mid-April of 2022, its first since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. Almost civil-war-like conditions and months of public protests led to the fleeing of the then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Ranil Wickremesinghe, who then took over as the president, began the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) soon after. His government then clinched the bailout a year later in March 2023. Siriwardana said the crisis was man-made and could have been averted if the early warnings had been heeded with an early engagement with the IMF. "While macroeconomic outcomes have indeed been satisfactory and the debt restructuring process is completed culminating in this rating upgrade, people still feel the pain from the crisis and the difficult remedial measures." Also read: President Dissanayake assures Sri Lanka's land won’t be used against India’s security interests He was perhaps referring to the time of unprecedented forex crisis that had triggered shortages of essentials and long queues were witnessed for fuel and cooking gas while the island faced power cuts for over 10 hours in 2022. Siriwardana stresses that no room exists for a repeat of policy errors, the collapse happens rapidly but the recovery is painful. "This is indeed a historic moment and a time to celebrate but it is a moment that should never be repeated." Siriwardana was one of the two top officials besides the Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, who saw through the recovery process from its start in 2022. There have been three presidents and three finance ministers since the country was plunged into crisis. Earlier on Wednesday, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that Sri Lanka has achieved flexibility with the IMF on its rigid state revenue tax regime, something that was part of his election promise. Speaking about the agreements reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during its third review of the USD 2.9 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), Dissanayake, who is also the Minister of Finance, told the parliament that his government has been able to raise the tax threshold. Watch | Sri Lanka's President Chose India Over China × "We have been able to raise the tax threshold of pay as you earn (PAYE tax) so that those who have bigger incomes pay more while those who earn pay less," Dissanayake said, adding there would be other VAT exemptions and withholding tax on interest incomes for the retired. Dissanayake's government has recently concluded its third review of the IMF bailout and is awaiting the fourth tranche of the nearly USD 3 billion facility. Sri Lanka had on November 26 announced that it has ratified the agreement for debt restructuring for USD 14.2 billion, compulsory to maintain debt sustainability by the IMF through an exchange of new bonds for the existing bonds. A week prior to it, the National People's Power (NPP) government got the IMF approval for a staff-level agreement to secure the fourth tranche of the nearly USD 3 billion bailout package, something that President Dissanayake backed despite his pre-presidential election rhetoric to renegotiate with the global lender to water down tough conditions. The NPP was highly critical of the cost recovery based on utility tariffs and high taxes, which came conditional to the bailout. The debt restructuring agreement was reached in the last week of then-President Ranil Wickremesinghe's regime in September, days before the presidential polls. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sri Lanka claims it has ended debt default, says crisis was 'man-made'

Maharashtra, India
Around two weeks after the Maharashtra swearing-in ceremony, the cabinet portfolio was announced on Saturday (Dec 21). Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde got three ministries, including Urban Development, Housing and Public Works. However, he did not get the Home portfolio, which he was interested in. 
The second Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has been assigned the key Finance Ministry portfolio. Moreover, he also got the Excise portfolio. 
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis got himself the Home, Energy, and Law ministries. 
Shiv Sena's Dadaji Bhuse will be the new school education minister while Uday Samant will continue to be the industries minister. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-cabinet-shiv-sena-mla-bhondekar-resigns-citing-broken-promise-of-cabinet-berth-784294">Also read: Maharashtra cabinet: Shiv Sena MLA Bhondekar resigns citing broken promise of cabinet berth</a>
Sena's Prakash Abitkar will be heading the health ministry while Pratap Sarnaik is the transport minister. 
Bharatiya Janata Party's Chandrashekhar Bawankule got the revenue ministry. 
In the Maharashtra assembly polls, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory, winning 235 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, while Shiv Sena won 57 and NCP secured 41 seats. 
Shiv Sena demanded the CM portfolio for Eknath Shinde after the victory. However, after days of discussion, Shinde relented and conceded the Chief Minister's post to Devendra Fadnavis. 
Watch | Why Maharashtra matters to India
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Later, Shinde demanded the home portfolio. 
Hours before the cabinet portfolios were assigned today, state minister Girish Mahajan said "he believes a unanimous decision has been reached" between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his Deputies over portfolio allocation.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray slammed the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, terming the delay in portfolio allocation "a joke", adding that the ministers have gotten their perks but no responsibility. 
"All ministers got bungalows and cars but no responsibility. A joke is going on. No one wants to serve," he told Indian news agency ANI.
(With inputs from agencies)

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde landed three ministries, including Urban Development, Housing and Public Works. 



Maharashtra, India Around two weeks after the Maharashtra swearing-in ceremony, the cabinet portfolio was announced on Saturday (Dec 21). Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde got three ministries, including Urban Development, Housing and Public Works. However, he did not get the Home portfolio, which he was interested in. The second Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has been assigned the key Finance Ministry portfolio. Moreover, he also got the Excise portfolio. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis got himself the Home, Energy, and Law ministries. Shiv Sena's Dadaji Bhuse will be the new school education minister while Uday Samant will continue to be the industries minister. Also read: Maharashtra cabinet: Shiv Sena MLA Bhondekar resigns citing broken promise of cabinet berth Sena's Prakash Abitkar will be heading the health ministry while Pratap Sarnaik is the transport minister. Bharatiya Janata Party's Chandrashekhar Bawankule got the revenue ministry. In the Maharashtra assembly polls, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory, winning 235 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, while Shiv Sena won 57 and NCP secured 41 seats. Shiv Sena demanded the CM portfolio for Eknath Shinde after the victory. However, after days of discussion, Shinde relented and conceded the Chief Minister's post to Devendra Fadnavis. Watch | Why Maharashtra matters to India × Later, Shinde demanded the home portfolio. Hours before the cabinet portfolios were assigned today, state minister Girish Mahajan said "he believes a unanimous decision has been reached" between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his Deputies over portfolio allocation. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray slammed the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, terming the delay in portfolio allocation "a joke", adding that the ministers have gotten their perks but no responsibility. "All ministers got bungalows and cars but no responsibility. A joke is going on. No one wants to serve," he told Indian news agency ANI. (With inputs from agencies)

Maharashtra cabinet portfolios allocated: Devendra Fadnavis keeps home ministry. Know what others got

Melbourne, Australia
India cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma suffered an injury scare during practice ahead of the Boxing Day Test - the fourth of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series. Rohit was seen wearing a knee brace on the sidelines of the net session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Rohit can be seen ice-packing the left knee in a photo doing rounds on social media platform X. Have a look at the picture below:
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During the practice session, Rohit Sharma was hit on the knee and KL Rahul on the right hand. <a href="https://t.co/iod1uPYD6U">pic.twitter.com/iod1uPYD6U</a>
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) <a href="https://twitter.com/Vipintiwari952/status/1870640159106171167?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The skipper anyway is dealing with a loss of form and the pressure on him would be immense going into the fourth Test of the series with the World Test Championship (WTC) final on the line.
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Rohit decided to bat in the middle order after KL Rahul did well in the first BGT Test in Perth as the opener during which Rohit was absent due to his second child's birth.
The skipper's form, however, has been a cause of concern long before the Australia tour. In the five Tests he played before the BGT, Rohit scored only 133 runs in 10 innings at an average of 13.33 with a highest of 52. It is to be noted that all those five Tests were played at home.
Rahul, on the other hand, has been doing a fine job as an opener in Australia. The batter has scored 235 runs in six innings - the highest for India in the series so far and second highest overall behind Travis Head's 409.
Rahul has scored those runs at an average of 47 with two fifties and a highest of 84, which he hit in Brisbane, helping India draw the rain-affected Test.
The five-Test series currently stands equal at 1-1 with one more Test to go after Boxing Day Test. India won the first Test of the series before losing the second, while the third Test ended in a draw.

The skipper anyway is dealing with a loss of form and the pressure on him would be immense going into the fourth Test of the series with the World Test Championship (WTC) final on the line.



Melbourne, Australia India cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma suffered an injury scare during practice ahead of the Boxing Day Test - the fourth of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series. Rohit was seen wearing a knee brace on the sidelines of the net session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Rohit can be seen ice-packing the left knee in a photo doing rounds on social media platform X. Have a look at the picture below: During the practice session, Rohit Sharma was hit on the knee and KL Rahul on the right hand. pic.twitter.com/iod1uPYD6U — Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) December 22, 2024 × The skipper anyway is dealing with a loss of form and the pressure on him would be immense going into the fourth Test of the series with the World Test Championship (WTC) final on the line. Also Read: 'Hope that you will continue...,' Indian PM Narendra Modi writes heartfelt letter to R Ashwin on retirement Rohit decided to bat in the middle order after KL Rahul did well in the first BGT Test in Perth as the opener during which Rohit was absent due to his second child's birth. The skipper's form, however, has been a cause of concern long before the Australia tour. In the five Tests he played before the BGT, Rohit scored only 133 runs in 10 innings at an average of 13.33 with a highest of 52. It is to be noted that all those five Tests were played at home. Rahul, on the other hand, has been doing a fine job as an opener in Australia. The batter has scored 235 runs in six innings - the highest for India in the series so far and second highest overall behind Travis Head's 409. Rahul has scored those runs at an average of 47 with two fifties and a highest of 84, which he hit in Brisbane, helping India draw the rain-affected Test. The five-Test series currently stands equal at 1-1 with one more Test to go after Boxing Day Test. India won the first Test of the series before losing the second, while the third Test ended in a draw.

BGT 2024-25: India skipper Rohit Sharma suffers injury scare ahead of Boxing Day Test

New Delhi, India
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned Friday’s (Dec 20) “senseless” car attack at a Christmas market in Germany’s Magdeburg in which at least seven Indians were among the injured.
The United States conducted retaliatory strikes in Yemen's Sanaa after Yemen's Houthi rebels launched missile attacks on the Israeli capital Tel Aviv, injuring 16 people.
As per reports, the Israel and Hamas ceasefire deal in Gaza is 90 per cent completed.
Pope Francis called the airstrike that killed seven children in Gaza “cruelty”, prompting a sharp reply from Israel, which accused him of “double standards”.
Click on the headlines for more
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-christmas-market-tragedy-seven-indians-among-injured-new-delhi-condemns-senseless-car-attack-785894">Germany Christmas market tragedy: Seven Indians among injured, New Delhi condemns 'senseless' car attack</a>
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India on Saturday (Dec 21) condemned the "senseless" car attack at a Christmas market in Germany's Magdeburg. This comes as reports suggest that at least seven Indians were among those injured in the vehicle attack.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-launches-retaliatory-strike-on-houthi-targets-in-yemen-after-attack-on-israels-tel-aviv-785886">US launches retaliatory strike on Houthi targets in Yemen after attack on Israel's Tel Aviv</a>
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The United States on Saturday (Dec 21) announced that it had struck targets in Sanaa, Yemen's rebel-held capital, hours after missile attacks on Israeli capital Tel Aviv by Yemen's Houthi rebels.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/israel-hamas-talks-over-ceasefire-is-90-complete-key-issues-remain-unresolved-785903">Israel-Hamas talks over ceasefire is 90% complete; key issues remain unresolved</a>
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Israel and Hamas discussions over a ceasefire deal in Gaza are almost complete, but some hurdles that appear as clogs still need to be clarified and cleared, as per a senior Palestinian official included in the negotiations. The official spoke to the BBC and stated that the talks in Doha are 90 per cent finished.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-condemns-gaza-bombings-as-cruelty-israel-hits-back-785888">Israel slams Pope Francis for 'double standards' after pontiff condemns Gaza bombings as 'cruelty'</a>
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Pope Francis on Saturday (Dec 21) denounced the bombing of children in Gaza, calling it an act of "cruelty," a statement that prompted Israel to hit back, accusing the pontiff of unfairly singling it out.
Watch | PM Modi Attends Arabian Gulf Cup Opening, Meets Kuwaiti Emir
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Good morning! Start your day with WION's morning news brief



New Delhi, India India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned Friday’s (Dec 20) “senseless” car attack at a Christmas market in Germany’s Magdeburg in which at least seven Indians were among the injured. The United States conducted retaliatory strikes in Yemen's Sanaa after Yemen's Houthi rebels launched missile attacks on the Israeli capital Tel Aviv, injuring 16 people. As per reports, the Israel and Hamas ceasefire deal in Gaza is 90 per cent completed. Pope Francis called the airstrike that killed seven children in Gaza “cruelty”, prompting a sharp reply from Israel, which accused him of “double standards”. Click on the headlines for more Germany Christmas market tragedy: Seven Indians among injured, New Delhi condemns 'senseless' car attack India on Saturday (Dec 21) condemned the "senseless" car attack at a Christmas market in Germany's Magdeburg. This comes as reports suggest that at least seven Indians were among those injured in the vehicle attack. US launches retaliatory strike on Houthi targets in Yemen after attack on Israel's Tel Aviv The United States on Saturday (Dec 21) announced that it had struck targets in Sanaa, Yemen's rebel-held capital, hours after missile attacks on Israeli capital Tel Aviv by Yemen's Houthi rebels. Israel-Hamas talks over ceasefire is 90% complete; key issues remain unresolved Israel and Hamas discussions over a ceasefire deal in Gaza are almost complete, but some hurdles that appear as clogs still need to be clarified and cleared, as per a senior Palestinian official included in the negotiations. The official spoke to the BBC and stated that the talks in Doha are 90 per cent finished. Israel slams Pope Francis for 'double standards' after pontiff condemns Gaza bombings as 'cruelty' Pope Francis on Saturday (Dec 21) denounced the bombing of children in Gaza, calling it an act of "cruelty," a statement that prompted Israel to hit back, accusing the pontiff of unfairly singling it out. Watch | PM Modi Attends Arabian Gulf Cup Opening, Meets Kuwaiti Emir ×

Morning news brief: India condemns Germany Christmas market attack; US strikes Yemen, and more

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Oleksandr Usyk won his heavyweight championship rematch against Tyson Fury by unanimous decision overnight on Saturday to stay unbeaten across two divisions and cement his place among the greats.
The Ukrainian, who forced the pace and repeatedly tagged Fury with his accurate left hook, was awarded the fight 116-112 by all three judges, handing Fury his second straight loss.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/struggling-southampton-appoint-ivan-juric-as-new-manager-785879">Struggling Southampton appoint Ivan Juric as new manager</a>
Usyk's win takes him to 23-0 with 14 knockouts and extends one of the all-time best careers that includes Olympic gold and undisputed champion at cruiserweight.
"He's a great fighter, it's a great performance," Usyk, 37, said of Fury, who was unbeaten over 35 fights until he lost their four-belt unification bout in May.
"Unbelievable 24 rounds for my career."
Only the WBA, WBO and WBC belts were on the line this time after Usyk, focused on the lucrative rematch, relinquished his IBF title rather than face challenger Daniel Dubois.
By beating Fury in May, "The Cat" had already joined the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Mike Tyson as undisputed heavyweight, and the first of the four-belt era.
"He's my best friend," he said of Fury. "I respect this guy because I think he's a really tough opponent. Tyson Fury makes me strong."
<h2>'Crazy man'</h2>
But the defeat opens up an uncertain future for the 36-year-old Fury, now 34-2-1, who announced his retirement in 2022 only to return to the ring.
"I thought I've won both fights, but then again I've got two losses on my record now, so there's not much I can do about it," said the Briton, who refused to discuss his next steps.
Promoter Frank Warren also called the judges' decision "nuts". But Usyk dismissed his complaints. 
"Uncle Frank, I think is blind... crazy man," joked the Ukrainian.
Fury, wearing a Santa-style red-and-white robe and bushy beard, appeared to Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You", before a determined-looking Usyk strode out in Cossack gear.
The 6ft 9ins (206cm) Briton's jab held Usyk at bay early on and he landed a jarring right in round two. Usyk caught Fury flush with a left as he raised the pace in round three.
They went toe-to-toe in a punishing fifth round, with Fury pummelling body shots while Usyk launched a flurry to the head. In the sixth, he stung Fury with a clean hit to the nose.
The supremely fit Usyk, renowned for taking charge in the closing rounds, was the aggressor in the seventh, tagging Fury with a hook as the "Gypsy King" backed away.
Fury regained the initiative in the ninth, wielding his jab and one-two combinations and leaning on the Ukrainian, employing his career-heaviest 281lb (127.4kg) of weight.
It was see-saw stuff as they traded blows but Usyk rocked Fury in the 11th with a lightning combination that ended with yet another left hook to the face.
An Usyk uppercut to Fury's chin highlighted a furious final round and there seemed little doubt about the winner as the Ukrainian sank to his knees, arms aloft.
<h2>Ancient sabre</h2>
Usyk, who briefly served as a soldier after the Russian invasion, then celebrated by holding up a sabre that belonged to Ivan Mazepa, a hero of Ukrainian nationalism who fought against Russian control in the early 1700s.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was quick to hail the victory, calling it proof that Ukraine "will not give up what's ours" after nearly three years of war with Russia.
"Victory!" Zelensky said in a post on Telegram. "So important and so necessary for all of us now."
Reports put the prize purse at an increased $190 million with Usyk, as defending champion, expected to receive the bigger share -- a reversal of fortunes from May.
The fight sits high in the portfolio of Saudi Arabia's oil-funded push into sports, which has drawn accusations of "sportswashing" its dubious human rights record.
After Formula One, the LIV Golf tour, Newcastle United and a swathe of ageing football stars, the conservative kingdom's strategy confirmed its crowning moment this month when it was awarded football's 2034 World Cup.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Usyk's win takes him to 23-0 with 14 knockouts and extends one of the all-time best careers that includes Olympic gold and undisputed champion at cruiserweight.



Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Oleksandr Usyk won his heavyweight championship rematch against Tyson Fury by unanimous decision overnight on Saturday to stay unbeaten across two divisions and cement his place among the greats. The Ukrainian, who forced the pace and repeatedly tagged Fury with his accurate left hook, was awarded the fight 116-112 by all three judges, handing Fury his second straight loss. Also Read: Struggling Southampton appoint Ivan Juric as new manager Usyk's win takes him to 23-0 with 14 knockouts and extends one of the all-time best careers that includes Olympic gold and undisputed champion at cruiserweight. "He's a great fighter, it's a great performance," Usyk, 37, said of Fury, who was unbeaten over 35 fights until he lost their four-belt unification bout in May. "Unbelievable 24 rounds for my career." Only the WBA, WBO and WBC belts were on the line this time after Usyk, focused on the lucrative rematch, relinquished his IBF title rather than face challenger Daniel Dubois. By beating Fury in May, "The Cat" had already joined the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Mike Tyson as undisputed heavyweight, and the first of the four-belt era. "He's my best friend," he said of Fury. "I respect this guy because I think he's a really tough opponent. Tyson Fury makes me strong." 'Crazy man' But the defeat opens up an uncertain future for the 36-year-old Fury, now 34-2-1, who announced his retirement in 2022 only to return to the ring. "I thought I've won both fights, but then again I've got two losses on my record now, so there's not much I can do about it," said the Briton, who refused to discuss his next steps. Promoter Frank Warren also called the judges' decision "nuts". But Usyk dismissed his complaints. "Uncle Frank, I think is blind... crazy man," joked the Ukrainian. Fury, wearing a Santa-style red-and-white robe and bushy beard, appeared to Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You", before a determined-looking Usyk strode out in Cossack gear. The 6ft 9ins (206cm) Briton's jab held Usyk at bay early on and he landed a jarring right in round two. Usyk caught Fury flush with a left as he raised the pace in round three. They went toe-to-toe in a punishing fifth round, with Fury pummelling body shots while Usyk launched a flurry to the head. In the sixth, he stung Fury with a clean hit to the nose. The supremely fit Usyk, renowned for taking charge in the closing rounds, was the aggressor in the seventh, tagging Fury with a hook as the "Gypsy King" backed away. Fury regained the initiative in the ninth, wielding his jab and one-two combinations and leaning on the Ukrainian, employing his career-heaviest 281lb (127.4kg) of weight. It was see-saw stuff as they traded blows but Usyk rocked Fury in the 11th with a lightning combination that ended with yet another left hook to the face. An Usyk uppercut to Fury's chin highlighted a furious final round and there seemed little doubt about the winner as the Ukrainian sank to his knees, arms aloft. Ancient sabre Usyk, who briefly served as a soldier after the Russian invasion, then celebrated by holding up a sabre that belonged to Ivan Mazepa, a hero of Ukrainian nationalism who fought against Russian control in the early 1700s. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was quick to hail the victory, calling it proof that Ukraine "will not give up what's ours" after nearly three years of war with Russia. "Victory!" Zelensky said in a post on Telegram. "So important and so necessary for all of us now." Reports put the prize purse at an increased $190 million with Usyk, as defending champion, expected to receive the bigger share -- a reversal of fortunes from May. The fight sits high in the portfolio of Saudi Arabia's oil-funded push into sports, which has drawn accusations of "sportswashing" its dubious human rights record. After Formula One, the LIV Golf tour, Newcastle United and a swathe of ageing football stars, the conservative kingdom's strategy confirmed its crowning moment this month when it was awarded football's 2034 World Cup. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Oleksandr Usyk retains heavyweight championship title after beating Tyson Fury in rematch

California, USA 
A US judge on Friday ruled in favour of Meta Platforms' WhatsApp in a lawsuit accusing Israel's NSO Group of exploiting a vulnerability in the messaging app to install spyware for unauthorised surveillance, as reported by Reuters on Saturday. US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in Oakland, California, granted WhatsApp's motion and found NSO Group liable for hacking and breach of contract.
The case will now proceed to trial only on the issue of damages, according to Hamilton, as reported by Reuters. Head of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart, described the ruling as a "victory for privacy." "We spent five years presenting our case because we firmly believe that spyware companies could not hide behind immunity or avoid accountability for their unlawful actions," Cathcart said in a social media post." Surveillance companies should be on notice that illegal spying will not be tolerated," she added as quoted by Reuters.
Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-based-nso-admits-hacking-1400-whatsapp-users-with-pegasus-spyware-unsealed-court-docs-reveal-776497"> Israel-based NSO admits hacking 1,400 WhatsApp users with Pegasus spyware, unsealed court docs reveal</a>
A WhatsApp spokesperson also expressed gratitude for the decision."We're proud to have stood up against NSO and thankful to the many organisations that supported this case. WhatsApp will continue to protect people's private communications," the spokesperson said as quoted by Reuters. Cybersecurity experts also hailed the judgment. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the Canadian internet watchdog Citizen Lab, which first exposed NSO's Pegasus spyware in 2016, called the ruling a landmark decision with major implications for the spyware industry, as reported by Reuters."
Watch | Indian lawmaker Supriya Sule's WhatsApp hacked
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The entire industry has hidden behind the claim that whatever their customers do with their hacking tools is not their responsibility," Scott-Railton said. "Today's ruling clarifies that NSO Group is indeed responsible for breaking multiple laws," he added. According to Reuters, WhatsApp sued NSO in 2019, seeking an injunction and damages, accusing the company of accessing WhatsApp servers to install Pegasus spyware on victims' devices six months earlier.
According to the lawsuit, 1,400 people, including dissidents, journalists, and human rights advocates, were able to be monitored as a result of the intrusion.NSO argued that Pegasus was used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies to fight crime and protect national security, targeting terrorists, pedophiles, and criminals.
NSO appealed a 2020 trial judge's decision to deny it "conduct-based immunity," a legal doctrine protecting foreign officials performing official duties, Reuters reported. In 2021, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling, finding that NSO's role in licensing and providing technical support for Pegasus did not shield it from liability under the US Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The US Supreme Court declined NSO's appeal of the lower court decision, allowing the lawsuit to proceed. 
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The case will now proceed to trial only on the issue of damages, according to Hamilton, as reported by Reuters. Head of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart, described the ruling as a "victory for privacy."



California, USA A US judge on Friday ruled in favour of Meta Platforms' WhatsApp in a lawsuit accusing Israel's NSO Group of exploiting a vulnerability in the messaging app to install spyware for unauthorised surveillance, as reported by Reuters on Saturday. US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in Oakland, California, granted WhatsApp's motion and found NSO Group liable for hacking and breach of contract. The case will now proceed to trial only on the issue of damages, according to Hamilton, as reported by Reuters. Head of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart, described the ruling as a "victory for privacy." "We spent five years presenting our case because we firmly believe that spyware companies could not hide behind immunity or avoid accountability for their unlawful actions," Cathcart said in a social media post." Surveillance companies should be on notice that illegal spying will not be tolerated," she added as quoted by Reuters. Also Read: Israel-based NSO admits hacking 1,400 WhatsApp users with Pegasus spyware, unsealed court docs reveal A WhatsApp spokesperson also expressed gratitude for the decision."We're proud to have stood up against NSO and thankful to the many organisations that supported this case. WhatsApp will continue to protect people's private communications," the spokesperson said as quoted by Reuters. Cybersecurity experts also hailed the judgment. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the Canadian internet watchdog Citizen Lab, which first exposed NSO's Pegasus spyware in 2016, called the ruling a landmark decision with major implications for the spyware industry, as reported by Reuters." Watch | Indian lawmaker Supriya Sule's WhatsApp hacked The entire industry has hidden behind the claim that whatever their customers do with their hacking tools is not their responsibility," Scott-Railton said. "Today's ruling clarifies that NSO Group is indeed responsible for breaking multiple laws," he added. According to Reuters, WhatsApp sued NSO in 2019, seeking an injunction and damages, accusing the company of accessing WhatsApp servers to install Pegasus spyware on victims' devices six months earlier. According to the lawsuit, 1,400 people, including dissidents, journalists, and human rights advocates, were able to be monitored as a result of the intrusion.NSO argued that Pegasus was used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies to fight crime and protect national security, targeting terrorists, pedophiles, and criminals. NSO appealed a 2020 trial judge's decision to deny it "conduct-based immunity," a legal doctrine protecting foreign officials performing official duties, Reuters reported. In 2021, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling, finding that NSO's role in licensing and providing technical support for Pegasus did not shield it from liability under the US Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The US Supreme Court declined NSO's appeal of the lower court decision, allowing the lawsuit to proceed. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Pegasus maker NSO group accountable in 'Whatsapp hacking case', rules US judge

New Delhi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a heart-felt letter to spinner Ravi Ashwin, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket in a surprise move. The bowler quit after the end of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test at Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday (Dec 18).
<h2>Here's what PM Modi said in letter to Ashwin</h2>
The announcement of your retirement from international cricket surprised fans in India and across the world. At a time when everyone was looking forward to many more off-breaks, you bowled a carrom ball that bowled everyone. However, everyone understands that this must have been a hard decision for you as well, especially after the outstanding career you have had playing for India.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/explained-the-complex-and-strained-cricketing-ties-between-india-and-pakistan-785829">Explained: The complex and strained cricketing ties between India and Pakistan</a>
Please accept my heartiest congratulations on a career that has been full of brilliance, hard work and putting the team above everything else.
You have showcased your all-round prowess by scoring a century and taking five wickets in the same match, many times. With the bat in hand, too, you have given our nation many memories including the brave match-saving innings in Sydney in 2021.
Often people are remembered for some wonderful shot that they played. But you have the unique distinction of being remembered for both a shot and a leave in the legendary match of the WT20 in 2022. Your winning shot elicited great cheers. The way you left the ball before it, allowing it on its way to becoming a wide ball, showed your presence of mind.
Even during moments of adversity, your sincerity and commitment came to the fore. We all remember the way you flew back to contribute to the team even when your mother was hospitalised and the time you kept playing against South Africa even when you couldn't get in touch with your family during the floods in Chennai.
The wit and warmth that you bring to your conversations have been appreciated by fans. I hope that you will continue to post 'Kutti Stories' on cricket, sports and life in general.
May you find ways to continue contributing to the game that you dearly love.
Once again, heartiest congratulations on an illustrious career an wishes for the future.
Ashwin sent shockwaves across the cricketing world with his sudden retirement announcement.
He retired as one of India's greats, having taken 537 Test wickets, which are second only to Anil Kumble's 619, and 765 wickets in all internationals, again second only to Kumble's 953.

Ashwin retired as one of India's greats, having taken 537 Test wickets, which are second only to Anil Kumble's 619, and 765 wickets in all internationals, again second only to Kumble's 953.



New Delhi Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a heart-felt letter to spinner Ravi Ashwin, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket in a surprise move. The bowler quit after the end of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test at Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday (Dec 18). Here's what PM Modi said in letter to Ashwin The announcement of your retirement from international cricket surprised fans in India and across the world. At a time when everyone was looking forward to many more off-breaks, you bowled a carrom ball that bowled everyone. However, everyone understands that this must have been a hard decision for you as well, especially after the outstanding career you have had playing for India. Also Read: Explained: The complex and strained cricketing ties between India and Pakistan Please accept my heartiest congratulations on a career that has been full of brilliance, hard work and putting the team above everything else. You have showcased your all-round prowess by scoring a century and taking five wickets in the same match, many times. With the bat in hand, too, you have given our nation many memories including the brave match-saving innings in Sydney in 2021. Often people are remembered for some wonderful shot that they played. But you have the unique distinction of being remembered for both a shot and a leave in the legendary match of the WT20 in 2022. Your winning shot elicited great cheers. The way you left the ball before it, allowing it on its way to becoming a wide ball, showed your presence of mind. Even during moments of adversity, your sincerity and commitment came to the fore. We all remember the way you flew back to contribute to the team even when your mother was hospitalised and the time you kept playing against South Africa even when you couldn't get in touch with your family during the floods in Chennai. The wit and warmth that you bring to your conversations have been appreciated by fans. I hope that you will continue to post 'Kutti Stories' on cricket, sports and life in general. May you find ways to continue contributing to the game that you dearly love. Once again, heartiest congratulations on an illustrious career an wishes for the future. Ashwin sent shockwaves across the cricketing world with his sudden retirement announcement. He retired as one of India's greats, having taken 537 Test wickets, which are second only to Anil Kumble's 619, and 765 wickets in all internationals, again second only to Kumble's 953.

'Hope that you will continue...,' Indian PM Narendra Modi writes heartfelt letter to R Ashwin on retirement

Mohali, India
The death toll in the Mohali building collapse incident has risen to two following the recovery of another body from the site on Sunday.
The multi-storey under-construction building collapsed in Punjab's Mohali on Saturday (Dec 21).
Earlier a victim of the incident, Drishti Verma succumbed to injuries. "She was rescued from the debris by the National Disaster Management Force (NDRF) in critical condition. She was rushed to Sohana Hospital," said Viraj S Tidke, officiating Deputy Commissioner.
Rescue operations by the personnel of the Indian Army and NDRF continued on Sunday (Dec 22) a day after a multi-storey under-construction building collapsed in Punjab's Mohali.
Meanwhile, an FIR was registered against the owners of the building.
Speaking to ANI, DSP Harsimran Singh Bal said, "The clearance operations are ongoing. We have registered the FIR against the owners of the building."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-boat-tragedy-death-toll-rises-to-15-after-body-of-missing-7-year-old-boy-recovered-785809">Mumbai boat tragedy: Death toll rises to 15 after body of missing 7-year-old boy recovered</a>
On Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that action will be taken against the culprits behind the collapse of the under-construction building.
In a post on X, CM Mann said, "Received sad news of an accident of a multi-storey building near Sohana in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali). Full administration and other rescue operations teams are deployed at the spot. I am in constant touch with the administration. We pray that there is no loss of life and property, action will be taken against the culprits. People are requested to cooperate with the administration."
Indian Army along with NDRF and State rescue teams have been relentlessly working to address the crisis.
In a post on X, the Indian Army said, "Indian Army reacted swiftly for the rescue. In a remarkable display of coordinated efforts, Indian Army Columns along with NDRF and State rescue teams have been relentlessly working to address the crisis. Engineer Task Force with debris clearance machine &amp; JCBs are operational at the site. Top debris removed &amp; efforts being done to reach the basement."
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Rescue operations by the personnel of the Indian Army and NDRF continued on Sunday (Dec 22) a day after a multi-storey under-construction building collapsed in Punjab's Mohali



Mohali, India The death toll in the Mohali building collapse incident has risen to two following the recovery of another body from the site on Sunday. The multi-storey under-construction building collapsed in Punjab's Mohali on Saturday (Dec 21). Earlier a victim of the incident, Drishti Verma succumbed to injuries. "She was rescued from the debris by the National Disaster Management Force (NDRF) in critical condition. She was rushed to Sohana Hospital," said Viraj S Tidke, officiating Deputy Commissioner. Rescue operations by the personnel of the Indian Army and NDRF continued on Sunday (Dec 22) a day after a multi-storey under-construction building collapsed in Punjab's Mohali. Meanwhile, an FIR was registered against the owners of the building. Speaking to ANI, DSP Harsimran Singh Bal said, "The clearance operations are ongoing. We have registered the FIR against the owners of the building." Also read | Mumbai boat tragedy: Death toll rises to 15 after body of missing 7-year-old boy recovered On Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that action will be taken against the culprits behind the collapse of the under-construction building. In a post on X, CM Mann said, "Received sad news of an accident of a multi-storey building near Sohana in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali). Full administration and other rescue operations teams are deployed at the spot. I am in constant touch with the administration. We pray that there is no loss of life and property, action will be taken against the culprits. People are requested to cooperate with the administration." Indian Army along with NDRF and State rescue teams have been relentlessly working to address the crisis. In a post on X, the Indian Army said, "Indian Army reacted swiftly for the rescue. In a remarkable display of coordinated efforts, Indian Army Columns along with NDRF and State rescue teams have been relentlessly working to address the crisis. Engineer Task Force with debris clearance machine & JCBs are operational at the site. Top debris removed & efforts being done to reach the basement." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India: Two killed in Mohali building collapse; rescue operations continue, FIR lodged

Damascus, Syria
Syria's new rulers have appointed Murhaf Abu Qasra, a leading figure in the insurgency which toppled Bashar al-Assad, as defence minister in the interim government, an official source said on Saturday.
Abu Qasra, who is also known by the nom de guerre Abu Hassan 600, is a senior figure in the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group which led the campaign that ousted Assad this month. He led numerous military operations during Syria's revolution, the source said.
Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa discussed "the form of the military institution in the new Syria" during a meeting with armed factions on Saturday, state news agency SANA reported.
Abu Qasra during the meeting sat next to Sharaa, also known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, photos published by SANA showed.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-diplomats-arrive-in-syria-to-meet-leaders-of-new-govt-785527">US diplomats arrive in Syria to meet leaders of new govt</a>
Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said this week that the defence ministry would be restructured using former rebel factions and officers who defected from Assad's army.
Bashir, who formerly led an HTS-affiliated administration in the northwestern province of Idlib, has said he will lead a three-month transitional government. The new administration has not declared plans for what will happen after that.
Earlier on Saturday, the ruling General Command named Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister, SANA said. A source in the new administration told Reuters that this step "comes in response to the aspirations of the Syrian people to establish international relations that bring peace and stability".
Shibani, a 37-year-old graduate of Damascus University, previously led the political department of the rebels' Idlib government, the General Command said.
Sharaa's group was part of al Qaeda until he broke ties in 2016. It had been confined to Idlib for years until going on the offensive in late November, sweeping through the cities of western Syria and into Damascus as the army melted away.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-drops-bounty-on-syrias-new-leader-after-talks-in-syrian-capital-785759">US scraps $10mn bounty on Syria’s new leader after talks in Syrian capital</a>
Sharaa has met with a number of international envoys this week. He has said his primary focus is on reconstruction and achieving economic development and that he is not interested in engaging in any new conflicts.
Syrian rebels seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8, forcing Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war and ending his family's decades-long rule.
Washington designated Sharaa a terrorist in 2013, saying al Qaeda in Iraq had tasked him with overthrowing Assad's rule and establishing Islamic sharia law in Syria. U.S. officials said on Friday that Washington would remove a $10 million bounty on his head.
Watch | Syria After Assad: New Syrian Leadership Faces Major Challenges
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The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people, caused one of the biggest refugee crises of modern times and left cities bombed to rubble and the economy hollowed out by global sanctions.
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Earlier on Saturday, the ruling General Command named Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister, SANA said



Damascus, Syria Syria's new rulers have appointed Murhaf Abu Qasra, a leading figure in the insurgency which toppled Bashar al-Assad, as defence minister in the interim government, an official source said on Saturday. Abu Qasra, who is also known by the nom de guerre Abu Hassan 600, is a senior figure in the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group which led the campaign that ousted Assad this month. He led numerous military operations during Syria's revolution, the source said. Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa discussed "the form of the military institution in the new Syria" during a meeting with armed factions on Saturday, state news agency SANA reported. Abu Qasra during the meeting sat next to Sharaa, also known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, photos published by SANA showed. Also read | US diplomats arrive in Syria to meet leaders of new govt Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said this week that the defence ministry would be restructured using former rebel factions and officers who defected from Assad's army. Bashir, who formerly led an HTS-affiliated administration in the northwestern province of Idlib, has said he will lead a three-month transitional government. The new administration has not declared plans for what will happen after that. Earlier on Saturday, the ruling General Command named Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister, SANA said. A source in the new administration told Reuters that this step "comes in response to the aspirations of the Syrian people to establish international relations that bring peace and stability". Shibani, a 37-year-old graduate of Damascus University, previously led the political department of the rebels' Idlib government, the General Command said. Sharaa's group was part of al Qaeda until he broke ties in 2016. It had been confined to Idlib for years until going on the offensive in late November, sweeping through the cities of western Syria and into Damascus as the army melted away. Also read | US scraps $10mn bounty on Syria’s new leader after talks in Syrian capital Sharaa has met with a number of international envoys this week. He has said his primary focus is on reconstruction and achieving economic development and that he is not interested in engaging in any new conflicts. Syrian rebels seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8, forcing Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war and ending his family's decades-long rule. Washington designated Sharaa a terrorist in 2013, saying al Qaeda in Iraq had tasked him with overthrowing Assad's rule and establishing Islamic sharia law in Syria. U.S. officials said on Friday that Washington would remove a $10 million bounty on his head. Watch | Syria After Assad: New Syrian Leadership Faces Major Challenges × The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people, caused one of the biggest refugee crises of modern times and left cities bombed to rubble and the economy hollowed out by global sanctions. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Syrian authorities name HTS commander as defence minister

New Delhi, India
India on Saturday (Dec 21) condemned the "senseless" car attack at a Christmas market in Germany's Magdeburg that left at least five people dead. This comes as reports suggest that at least seven Indians were among those injured in the vehicle attack.
<h2>Precious lives lost</h2>
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in its official statement expressed deep sorrow and said: "We condemn the horrific and senseless attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany. Several precious lives have been lost, and many have been injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-leaders-condemn-deadly-christmas-market-attack-in-germany-express-solidarity-in-grief-785880">World leaders condemn deadly Christmas market attack in Germany; express 'solidarity in grief'</a>
The statement further confirmed that the nation's mission in Germany was in contact with the Indian nationals injured in the attack and was "rendering all possible assistance."
Out of the seven Indians injured in the car attack, three have been discharged from the hospital.
<h2>What happened at the Christmas market?</h2>
On Friday (Dec 20) just after 7:00 pm local time (1800 GMT), a black BMW barrelled through revellers at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, around 150 kilometres (93 miles) west of Berlin. The car attack killed at least five, including a nine-year-old child, and wounded 205 other individuals, with 15 suffering serious injuries, 37 sustaining moderate injuries, and 16 escaping with minor wounds.  
German police arrested a Saudi man for the attack. The attacker, identified as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen aka Taleb A., is a 50-year-old doctor of psychiatry from Saudi Arabia, who has been living in Germany since 2006.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-warned-germany-about-the-suspect-in-christmas-market-attack-report-785849">Saudi Arabia warned Germany about Christmas market attack suspect: Report</a>
As per reports, Saudi authorities had sent several tips against Taleb in 2023 and 2024 and Germany had even conducted a risk assessment last year. The assessment by German state and federal criminal investigators concluded that he posed "no specific danger," reported the Welt newspaper.
While his motive isn't clear, reports suggest that Taleb had strong anti-Islam views and was angry with Germany's migrant and asylum policy.
(With inputs from agencies)

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in its official statement expressed deep sorrow and said: "We condemn the horrific and senseless attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany. Several precious lives have been lost, and many have been injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims"



New Delhi, India India on Saturday (Dec 21) condemned the "senseless" car attack at a Christmas market in Germany's Magdeburg that left at least five people dead. This comes as reports suggest that at least seven Indians were among those injured in the vehicle attack. Precious lives lost India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in its official statement expressed deep sorrow and said: "We condemn the horrific and senseless attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany. Several precious lives have been lost, and many have been injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims." Also read | World leaders condemn deadly Christmas market attack in Germany; express 'solidarity in grief' The statement further confirmed that the nation's mission in Germany was in contact with the Indian nationals injured in the attack and was "rendering all possible assistance." Out of the seven Indians injured in the car attack, three have been discharged from the hospital. What happened at the Christmas market? On Friday (Dec 20) just after 7:00 pm local time (1800 GMT), a black BMW barrelled through revellers at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, around 150 kilometres (93 miles) west of Berlin. The car attack killed at least five, including a nine-year-old child, and wounded 205 other individuals, with 15 suffering serious injuries, 37 sustaining moderate injuries, and 16 escaping with minor wounds. German police arrested a Saudi man for the attack. The attacker, identified as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen aka Taleb A., is a 50-year-old doctor of psychiatry from Saudi Arabia, who has been living in Germany since 2006. Also read | Saudi Arabia warned Germany about Christmas market attack suspect: Report As per reports, Saudi authorities had sent several tips against Taleb in 2023 and 2024 and Germany had even conducted a risk assessment last year. The assessment by German state and federal criminal investigators concluded that he posed "no specific danger," reported the Welt newspaper. While his motive isn't clear, reports suggest that Taleb had strong anti-Islam views and was angry with Germany's migrant and asylum policy. (With inputs from agencies)

Germany Christmas market car rampage: Seven Indians among injured, New Delhi condemns 'senseless' attack 

USA
Rickey Henderson, Major League Baseball's career stolen base leader, has died at age 65, his family announced on Saturday.
Henderson played 24 MLB seasons for nine different clubs from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with the Oakland Athletics, with whom he won a World Series title in 1989.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/premier-league-manchester-citys-poor-run-hits-new-low-as-aston-villa-register-2-1-win-at-villa-park-785857">Manchester City's poor run hits new low as Aston Villa register 2-1 win at Villa Park</a>
Henderson also won a World Series crown in 1993, three months after being traded from the A's to Toronto.
"For multiple generations of baseball fans, Rickey Henderson was the gold standard of base stealing and leadoff hitting," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. "Rickey was one of the most accomplished and beloved Athletics of all-time.
"He also made an impact with many other clubs during a quarter-century career like no other. He epitomized speed, power and entertainment in setting the tone at the top of the lineup. Rickey earned universal respect, admiration and awe from sports fans."
Nicknamed "The Man of Steal," Henderson holds MLB records with 1,406 career stolen bases and 2,295 career runs scored and set the one-season record of 130 stolen bases in 1982. No other player has 100 steals in a season.
Pamela Henderson, Rickey's widow, confirmed his death after a brief hospital stay due to illness, releasing a statement calling her husband "a legend on and off the field," and adding: "Rickey lived his life with integrity, and his love for baseball was paramount.
"Now, Rickey is at peace with the Lord, cherishing the extraordinary moments and achievements he leaves behind. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and heartfelt memories from family, friends and fans -- all of which have brought immense comfort."
The 10-time All-Star outfielder was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009 in his first year of eligibility.
"We are shocked and heartbroken by his passing," the A's said in a statement. "His loss will be felt not only by A's fans but also by baseball fans around the world.
"Rickey Henderson is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. His on-field accomplishments speak for themselves and his records will forever stand atop baseball history. He was undoubtedly the most legendary player in Oakland history and made an indelible mark on generations of A's fans."
Henderson, who would have turned 66 on Christmas day, finished with 3,055 hits, 297 home runs and 1,115 runs batted in with a .279 batting average.
<h2>'More than an icon'</h2>
He was named the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1990, among the 12 seasons when he was the AL stolen base leader.
In 1991, Henderson broke Lou Brock's old MLB stolen base record by swiping his 939th career base.
"For those who knew him personally, Rickey was much more than a franchise icon and a Baseball Hall of Famer," the A's said. "He was a friend and mentor to every player, coach, and employee who passed through the Oakland Coliseum."
In addition to Oakland and Toronto, Henderson played for the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Anaheim Angels, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he played his final game in 2003.
Henderson served as an assistant coach for the Mets in 2007 after spending a year as a special instructor for batting and base stealing.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Henderson holds MLB records with 1,406 career stolen bases and 2,295 career runs scored and set the one-season record of 130 stolen bases in 1982. No other player has 100 steals in a season.



USA Rickey Henderson, Major League Baseball's career stolen base leader, has died at age 65, his family announced on Saturday. Henderson played 24 MLB seasons for nine different clubs from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with the Oakland Athletics, with whom he won a World Series title in 1989. Also Read: Manchester City's poor run hits new low as Aston Villa register 2-1 win at Villa Park Henderson also won a World Series crown in 1993, three months after being traded from the A's to Toronto. "For multiple generations of baseball fans, Rickey Henderson was the gold standard of base stealing and leadoff hitting," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. "Rickey was one of the most accomplished and beloved Athletics of all-time. "He also made an impact with many other clubs during a quarter-century career like no other. He epitomized speed, power and entertainment in setting the tone at the top of the lineup. Rickey earned universal respect, admiration and awe from sports fans." Nicknamed "The Man of Steal," Henderson holds MLB records with 1,406 career stolen bases and 2,295 career runs scored and set the one-season record of 130 stolen bases in 1982. No other player has 100 steals in a season. Pamela Henderson, Rickey's widow, confirmed his death after a brief hospital stay due to illness, releasing a statement calling her husband "a legend on and off the field," and adding: "Rickey lived his life with integrity, and his love for baseball was paramount. "Now, Rickey is at peace with the Lord, cherishing the extraordinary moments and achievements he leaves behind. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and heartfelt memories from family, friends and fans -- all of which have brought immense comfort." The 10-time All-Star outfielder was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009 in his first year of eligibility. "We are shocked and heartbroken by his passing," the A's said in a statement. "His loss will be felt not only by A's fans but also by baseball fans around the world. "Rickey Henderson is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. His on-field accomplishments speak for themselves and his records will forever stand atop baseball history. He was undoubtedly the most legendary player in Oakland history and made an indelible mark on generations of A's fans." Henderson, who would have turned 66 on Christmas day, finished with 3,055 hits, 297 home runs and 1,115 runs batted in with a .279 batting average. 'More than an icon' He was named the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1990, among the 12 seasons when he was the AL stolen base leader. In 1991, Henderson broke Lou Brock's old MLB stolen base record by swiping his 939th career base. "For those who knew him personally, Rickey was much more than a franchise icon and a Baseball Hall of Famer," the A's said. "He was a friend and mentor to every player, coach, and employee who passed through the Oakland Coliseum." In addition to Oakland and Toronto, Henderson played for the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Anaheim Angels, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he played his final game in 2003. Henderson served as an assistant coach for the Mets in 2007 after spending a year as a special instructor for batting and base stealing. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

MLB legend and career stolen base leader Rickey Henderson dies at 65

New Delhi, India
Allu Arjun is addressing all the allegations. Hours after the Sandhya Theatre stampede was brought up in the Telangana assembly today, the actor clarified that it was completely an accident and baseless claims had been made against him.
Addressing the media, Arjun looked emotional as he talked about the claims stating him responsible for the heartbreaking stampede that happened on Dec 4 at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad after the actor's surprise appearance.
Allu Arjun's press meet comes hours after CM Reventh Reddy claimed that the actor attended the screening even after the police denied the permission. He also alleged that despite being informed about the stampede and the death of a woman Revathi, the actor refused to leave the theatre.
Saying that a lot of "misinformation" has been spread, the actor revealed that he has been taking hourly updates about the 8-year-old stampede victim Sri Teja.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Hyderabad, Telangana: On December 4th Sandhya Theatre incident, Actor Allu Arjun says, "It is a very unfortunate incident. It is completely an accident. My condolences to the family. I am taking updates every hour about the condition of the child (hospitalised). His… <a href="https://t.co/49EFiej9Iw">pic.twitter.com/49EFiej9Iw</a>
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The actor said, as quoted by ANI, "It is a very unfortunate incident. It is completely an accident. My condolences to the family. I am taking updates every hour about the condition of the child (hospitalised). His condition is improving, it is very good. There is a lot of misinformation, false allegations are being made. I don't want to blame any department or politician. My character is being assassinated."
Indirectly addressing the mention of the stampede and the allegations levelled against him in the Telangana Assembly, Arjun said that this press meeting is only to address the ''lot of miscommunication, misinformation and wrong allegations'' that have been spread. 
"I am not here to blame anybody, or any political party. The main reason for the press meet is that there is a lot of miscommunication, misinformation and wrong allegations. I am feeling extremely humilated by the character assassination. I have been here for 20 years and I have earned this respect and credibility. It has been sabotaged in one day," he said. 
Hinting at Reventh's claim, Arjun said that he was not aware of the death until the next day.  "I was informed that it was overcrowded and asked to leave. I did so immediately. No officials told me or came to me and told me anything. It was only in the morning that I got the information that the lady died, and it was unfortunate."
Arjun also said, "I only had the best intentions. I left my two kids behind, who are of the same age as the child who was injured. I could not visit the injured child because a case was already filed against me. I wanted to do it. That's why I left a video message. I asked my father, producers and my director Sukumar to go check."
(With agency inputs)

Indirectly addressing the mention of the stampede and the allegations levelled against him in the Telangana Assembly, Arjun said that this press meet is only to address the ''lot of miscommunication, misinformation and wrong allegations'' that have been spread. 



New Delhi, India Allu Arjun is addressing all the allegations. Hours after the Sandhya Theatre stampede was brought up in the Telangana assembly today, the actor clarified that it was completely an accident and baseless claims had been made against him. Addressing the media, Arjun looked emotional as he talked about the claims stating him responsible for the heartbreaking stampede that happened on Dec 4 at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad after the actor's surprise appearance. Allu Arjun's press meet comes hours after CM Reventh Reddy claimed that the actor attended the screening even after the police denied the permission. He also alleged that despite being informed about the stampede and the death of a woman Revathi, the actor refused to leave the theatre. Saying that a lot of "misinformation" has been spread, the actor revealed that he has been taking hourly updates about the 8-year-old stampede victim Sri Teja. #WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: On December 4th Sandhya Theatre incident, Actor Allu Arjun says, "It is a very unfortunate incident. It is completely an accident. My condolences to the family. I am taking updates every hour about the condition of the child (hospitalised). His… pic.twitter.com/49EFiej9Iw — ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2024 × The actor said, as quoted by ANI, "It is a very unfortunate incident. It is completely an accident. My condolences to the family. I am taking updates every hour about the condition of the child (hospitalised). His condition is improving, it is very good. There is a lot of misinformation, false allegations are being made. I don't want to blame any department or politician. My character is being assassinated." Indirectly addressing the mention of the stampede and the allegations levelled against him in the Telangana Assembly, Arjun said that this press meeting is only to address the ''lot of miscommunication, misinformation and wrong allegations'' that have been spread. "I am not here to blame anybody, or any political party. The main reason for the press meet is that there is a lot of miscommunication, misinformation and wrong allegations. I am feeling extremely humilated by the character assassination. I have been here for 20 years and I have earned this respect and credibility. It has been sabotaged in one day," he said. Hinting at Reventh's claim, Arjun said that he was not aware of the death until the next day. "I was informed that it was overcrowded and asked to leave. I did so immediately. No officials told me or came to me and told me anything. It was only in the morning that I got the information that the lady died, and it was unfortunate." Arjun also said, "I only had the best intentions. I left my two kids behind, who are of the same age as the child who was injured. I could not visit the injured child because a case was already filed against me. I wanted to do it. That's why I left a video message. I asked my father, producers and my director Sukumar to go check." (With agency inputs)

Allu Arjun responds to criticism after Pushpa 2 stampede, says 'baseless claims have been made...'

Damascus, Syria
A Turkish drone killed five civilians in northeastern Syria on Saturday, a war monitor said, two days after the death of Kurdish journalists in similar circumstances.
Since the ouster of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad on December 8, Turkey has emphasised its backing for armed groups fighting Kurdish forces that control part of the country's north.
"Two civilians, a woman and a political party member, succumbed to their wounds, bringing to five the number of people killed Saturday by Turkish drone strikes," the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Earlier Saturday, the Hawar Kurdish news agency in Syria reported: "The Turkish occupation targeted a car with a drone strike on a road between Al-Hawl and Tal Brak" in Hasakeh province, "killing three civilians".
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/qatar-reopens-embassy-in-damascus-after-13-years-second-nation-to-reopen-embassy-since-assads-fall-785835" target="_blank">After Turkey, Qatar becomes second nation to reopen embassy in Damascus</a>
In a statement, the Kurdish Internal Security Force said: "This crime is one of a series of flagrant violations of international law and human rights which forbid the targeting of civilians."
Separately, a Turkish drone targeted wheat silos southwest of Kobane, "destroying a large quantity of stocks", the US-backed and Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces said.
The SDF are the Kurds' de facto army in northeastern Syria.
Suppressed for decades, the Kurds took advantage of the weakness of Assad's government during Syria's civil war that erupted after he suppressed anti-government protests in 2011. The Kurds then proclaimed their own autonomous region in the north.
Turkey backs the Islamist-led rulers now in power in Syria after they toppled Assad.
But Ankara views the SDF as a terrorist organisation because it is dominated by the YPG, a Kurdish group it says is linked to PKK militants who have fought a decades-long insurgency on Turkish soil.
Ankara is hoping Syria's new rulers from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham will take steps to address the issue of Kurdish fighters in the north.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-leaders-condemn-deadly-christmas-market-attack-in-germany-express-solidarity-in-grief-785880" target="_blank">World leaders condemn deadly Christmas market attack in Germany</a>
A Turkish defence ministry source said on Thursday that Ankara would push ahead with its military preparations until Kurdish fighters "disarm", stressing the ongoing threat along its border with Syria.
The Turkish army insists it never targets civilians but only terrorist groups.
On Thursday, a Turkish drone killed two journalists from Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast while covering clashes between Ankara-backed and Kurdish fighters near the Tishrin Dam south of Kobane, journalists' groups said.
On Saturday, the Observatory reported the deaths of 14 pro-Turkey fighters in "fierce fighting" with the SDF, also near the dam.
Concern has grown over a possible Turkish assault on the Kurdish-held border town of Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, after pro-Turkish fighters seized Manbij and Tal Rifaat, two other key Kurdish-held towns.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

"Two civilians, a woman and a political party member, succumbed to their wounds, bringing to five the number of people killed Saturday by Turkish drone strikes," the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.



Damascus, Syria A Turkish drone killed five civilians in northeastern Syria on Saturday, a war monitor said, two days after the death of Kurdish journalists in similar circumstances. Since the ouster of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad on December 8, Turkey has emphasised its backing for armed groups fighting Kurdish forces that control part of the country's north. "Two civilians, a woman and a political party member, succumbed to their wounds, bringing to five the number of people killed Saturday by Turkish drone strikes," the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Earlier Saturday, the Hawar Kurdish news agency in Syria reported: "The Turkish occupation targeted a car with a drone strike on a road between Al-Hawl and Tal Brak" in Hasakeh province, "killing three civilians". Also read: After Turkey, Qatar becomes second nation to reopen embassy in Damascus In a statement, the Kurdish Internal Security Force said: "This crime is one of a series of flagrant violations of international law and human rights which forbid the targeting of civilians." Separately, a Turkish drone targeted wheat silos southwest of Kobane, "destroying a large quantity of stocks", the US-backed and Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces said. The SDF are the Kurds' de facto army in northeastern Syria. Suppressed for decades, the Kurds took advantage of the weakness of Assad's government during Syria's civil war that erupted after he suppressed anti-government protests in 2011. The Kurds then proclaimed their own autonomous region in the north. Turkey backs the Islamist-led rulers now in power in Syria after they toppled Assad. But Ankara views the SDF as a terrorist organisation because it is dominated by the YPG, a Kurdish group it says is linked to PKK militants who have fought a decades-long insurgency on Turkish soil. Ankara is hoping Syria's new rulers from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham will take steps to address the issue of Kurdish fighters in the north. Also read: World leaders condemn deadly Christmas market attack in Germany A Turkish defence ministry source said on Thursday that Ankara would push ahead with its military preparations until Kurdish fighters "disarm", stressing the ongoing threat along its border with Syria. The Turkish army insists it never targets civilians but only terrorist groups. On Thursday, a Turkish drone killed two journalists from Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast while covering clashes between Ankara-backed and Kurdish fighters near the Tishrin Dam south of Kobane, journalists' groups said. On Saturday, the Observatory reported the deaths of 14 pro-Turkey fighters in "fierce fighting" with the SDF, also near the dam. Concern has grown over a possible Turkish assault on the Kurdish-held border town of Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, after pro-Turkish fighters seized Manbij and Tal Rifaat, two other key Kurdish-held towns. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Turkish drone strike kills 5 civilians in Syria as tensions with Kurdish forces escalate: Report

New Delhi, India
In Germany, a deadly car attack on a Christmas market on Friday (Dec 20) killed at least five, including a toddler, and injured more than 200. According to reports Saudi Arabia had warned Germany about Table A, the man suspected of the car attack. 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kuwait on Saturday and addressed the “Hala Modi" event where he interacted with the Indian diaspora, and praised them for blending the rich essence of India’s talent, technology, and tradition, leaving a lasting impact on the nation. 
Click on the headlines to read more
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Saudi Arabia had warned Germany about Table A, the man suspected of a deadly car attack at Germany's Christmas market, Reuters reported citing a Saudi source. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mini-hindustan-in-kuwait-pm-addresses-indian-diaspora-during-hala-modi-event-785859">‘Mini Hindustan in Kuwait’: PM addresses Indian diaspora during 'Hala Modi' event</a>
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the “Hala Modi" event in Kuwait on Saturday, where he addressed the Indian diaspora, saying, "After 43 years, more than four decades, a PM of India has come to Kuwait. For you all, coming to India takes four hours, but for the PM, it took four decades."
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-rally-in-south-korea-protesting-against-president-yoons-impeachment-blames-rigged-elections-785827">Thousands rally in South Korea, protesting against President Yoon's impeachment, blame rigged elections</a>
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Nearly a week after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached, thousands of his supporters rallied in the capital Seoul on Saturday (Dec 21), demanding his presidential duties be reinstated.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amidst-political-chaos-in-canada-feisty-trudeau-perseveres-but-for-how-long-785860">Amidst political chaos in Canada, feisty Trudeau perseveres, but for how long?</a>
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, despite dealing with the lowest point of his political career, put on a brave face at the Liberal Party's annual holiday gathering. 
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Qatar has reopened its embassy in Damascus, 13 years after closing it during the early stages of Syria’s civil war. The move comes as foreign governments seek to establish relations with Syria’s new leadership.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-10-killed-in-iran-as-bus-falls-into-ravine-state-tv-785851">At least 10 killed in Iran as bus falls into ravine: state TV</a>
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At least 10 people were killed on Saturday when a bus plunged into a ravine in Iran's western Lorestan province, state media reported.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-claims-it-has-ended-debt-default-says-crisis-was-man-made-785864">Sri Lanka claims it has ended debt default, says crisis was 'man made'</a>
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With the decision by the Hong Kong-based Fitch Ratings to upgrade Sri Lanka's credit rating, the island nation has officially ended its debt default, the Finance Ministry said on Saturday. 

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/fresh-attacks-on-hindu-temples-in-bangladesh-multiple-idols-vandalised-arrests-made-785756">Fresh attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh: Multiple idols vandalised, arrests made</a>
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In a troubling series of fresh incidents, miscreants in Bangladesh have vandalised eight idols in Hindu temples in Mymensingh and Dinajpur districts over the past two days. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/explained-the-complex-and-strained-cricketing-ties-between-india-and-pakistan-785829">Explained: The complex and strained cricketing ties between India and Pakistan</a>
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A final decision on the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy was made on Monday after weeks of deliberation. Pakistan will host the tournament in February and March next year, but India's matches will be played at a neutral venue. An agreement has been made not just for the 2025 Champions Trophy, but for the entire 2024-27 ICC cycle. India-Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC Events during the period will be played at a neutral venue.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/payal-kapadias-all-we-imagine-as-light-tops-barack-obamas-list-of-favourite-films-of-2024-785788">Barack Obama shares list of favourite films: Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light is the top pick</a>
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Barack Obama's list of his most loved films of 2024 is out and it includes Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light. Kapadia's film is one of the most acclaimed movies of this year. Since the movie's win at the Cannes Film Festival, it has been dominating the headlines with its winning streak at several prestigious awards.

Here are the top 10 news stories from across the world.



New Delhi, India In Germany, a deadly car attack on a Christmas market on Friday (Dec 20) killed at least five, including a toddler, and injured more than 200. According to reports Saudi Arabia had warned Germany about Table A, the man suspected of the car attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kuwait on Saturday and addressed the “Hala Modi" event where he interacted with the Indian diaspora, and praised them for blending the rich essence of India’s talent, technology, and tradition, leaving a lasting impact on the nation. Click on the headlines to read more Saudi Arabia warned Germany about the suspect in Christmas market attack: Report Saudi Arabia had warned Germany about Table A, the man suspected of a deadly car attack at Germany's Christmas market, Reuters reported citing a Saudi source. ‘Mini Hindustan in Kuwait’: PM addresses Indian diaspora during 'Hala Modi' event Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the “Hala Modi" event in Kuwait on Saturday, where he addressed the Indian diaspora, saying, "After 43 years, more than four decades, a PM of India has come to Kuwait. For you all, coming to India takes four hours, but for the PM, it took four decades." Thousands rally in South Korea, protesting against President Yoon's impeachment, blame rigged elections Nearly a week after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached, thousands of his supporters rallied in the capital Seoul on Saturday (Dec 21), demanding his presidential duties be reinstated. Amidst political chaos in Canada, feisty Trudeau perseveres, but for how long? Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, despite dealing with the lowest point of his political career, put on a brave face at the Liberal Party's annual holiday gathering. Qatar reopens embassy in Damascus after 13 years; second nation to reopen mission since Assad's fall Qatar has reopened its embassy in Damascus, 13 years after closing it during the early stages of Syria’s civil war. The move comes as foreign governments seek to establish relations with Syria’s new leadership. At least 10 killed in Iran as bus falls into ravine: state TV At least 10 people were killed on Saturday when a bus plunged into a ravine in Iran's western Lorestan province, state media reported. Sri Lanka claims it has ended debt default, says crisis was 'man made' With the decision by the Hong Kong-based Fitch Ratings to upgrade Sri Lanka's credit rating, the island nation has officially ended its debt default, the Finance Ministry said on Saturday. Fresh attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh: Multiple idols vandalised, arrests made In a troubling series of fresh incidents, miscreants in Bangladesh have vandalised eight idols in Hindu temples in Mymensingh and Dinajpur districts over the past two days. Explained: The complex and strained cricketing ties between India and Pakistan A final decision on the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy was made on Monday after weeks of deliberation. Pakistan will host the tournament in February and March next year, but India's matches will be played at a neutral venue. An agreement has been made not just for the 2025 Champions Trophy, but for the entire 2024-27 ICC cycle. India-Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC Events during the period will be played at a neutral venue. Barack Obama shares list of favourite films: Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light is the top pick Barack Obama's list of his most loved films of 2024 is out and it includes Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light. Kapadia's film is one of the most acclaimed movies of this year. Since the movie's win at the Cannes Film Festival, it has been dominating the headlines with its winning streak at several prestigious awards.

Top 10 world news: Germany Christmas market attack updates; PM Modi in Kuwait, and more

Egypt
Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday (Dec 21) said that the possibility of reaching a ceasefire deal with Israel is "closer than ever" if the enemy stops setting new conditions. 
The delegation of leaders from Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine met on Friday in Cairo to discuss the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal. 
All these three groups have been holding hostages throughout Gaza. 
The Hamas statement read that the factions "stressed everyone's keenness to stop the aggression against our people", apparently referring to its demand for a permanent ceasefire. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/idf-destroyed-gaza-tunnel-hamas-used-to-attack-soldiers-784724">Also read: Hamas concerned Trump would allow Israel to resume Gaza war after first phase of ceasefire: Report</a>
The key area of disagreement in the talks is the nature of the ceasefire deal, with Hamas demanding a permanent end to the fighting, while Israel is seeking a temporary pause during which some of the hostages would be released followed by a resumption of its fighting. 
This has been demanded in order to finish demolishing the Palestinian group's military and governing capabilities, an Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel. 
Israel has sought an agreement that "ends the military operation". Meanwhile, Hamas is insisting that the text states that the ceasefire will "end the war". 
The statement further read that all the sides appreciated the Egyptian effort to strike a reconciliation deal between the various Palestinian factions. 
Watch | Israel-Hamas War: 34 Hostages Could Be Released In First Phase, Says Hamas Official
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The delegation is scheduled to hold another meeting as soon as possible. 
Earlier this week, Hamas said that talks in Qatar's Doha aimed at a truce and hostage-prisoner exchange in Gaza were "serious and positive."
Israel and Hamas have been fighting a war in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. Since the Gaza war began, Qatar, along with the United States (US) and Egypt, has been working for months to secure a truce and hostage release deal.
Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.
(With inputs from agencies)

The delegation of leaders from Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine met on Friday in Cairo to discuss the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal. 



Egypt Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday (Dec 21) said that the possibility of reaching a ceasefire deal with Israel is "closer than ever" if the enemy stops setting new conditions. The delegation of leaders from Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine met on Friday in Cairo to discuss the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal. All these three groups have been holding hostages throughout Gaza. The Hamas statement read that the factions "stressed everyone's keenness to stop the aggression against our people", apparently referring to its demand for a permanent ceasefire. Also read: Hamas concerned Trump would allow Israel to resume Gaza war after first phase of ceasefire: Report The key area of disagreement in the talks is the nature of the ceasefire deal, with Hamas demanding a permanent end to the fighting, while Israel is seeking a temporary pause during which some of the hostages would be released followed by a resumption of its fighting. This has been demanded in order to finish demolishing the Palestinian group's military and governing capabilities, an Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel. Israel has sought an agreement that "ends the military operation". Meanwhile, Hamas is insisting that the text states that the ceasefire will "end the war". The statement further read that all the sides appreciated the Egyptian effort to strike a reconciliation deal between the various Palestinian factions. Watch | Israel-Hamas War: 34 Hostages Could Be Released In First Phase, Says Hamas Official × The delegation is scheduled to hold another meeting as soon as possible. Earlier this week, Hamas said that talks in Qatar's Doha aimed at a truce and hostage-prisoner exchange in Gaza were "serious and positive." Israel and Hamas have been fighting a war in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. Since the Gaza war began, Qatar, along with the United States (US) and Egypt, has been working for months to secure a truce and hostage release deal. Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Possibility to reach a deal 'closer than ever' if Israel stops bringing new terms: Hamas

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia had warned Germany about Taleb A, the man suspected of a deadly car attack at Germany's Christmas market, Reuters reported citing a Saudi source. 
A man on Friday (Dec 20) drove a car into the Christmas market in Germany's eastern city of Magdeburg, killing at least five, including a toddler, and injuring more than 200.
The source said that Saudi Arabia warned the German authorities about the attacker after he posted extremist views on his personal X account, threatening peace and security. 
The suspect had sympathised with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, local magazine, Der Spiegel reported. However, the magazine did not specify from where it got the information. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-christmas-market-attack-two-killed-60-injured-in-magdeburg-car-attack-police-arrest-saudi-man-785693">Also read: Germany Christmas market car attack: Five Killed, 200 injured in Magdeburg; police arrest Saudi man</a>
Germany's domestic intelligence agency refused to comment on the ongoing investigation.  
Meanwhile, Germany's FAZ newspaper said that it interviewed the suspect in 2019, and described him as an anti-Islam activist. 
"People like me, who have an Islamic background but are no longer believers, are met with neither understanding nor tolerance by Muslims here," he said, adding, "I am history's most aggressive critic of Islam. If you don't believe me, ask the Arabs."
Earlier today, German police arrested a Saudi man for the attack. The attacker, identified by German media by a partial name Taleb A., is a 50-year-old doctor of psychiatry from Saudi Arabia, who has been living in Germany since 2006. 
Saudi Arabia has requested the extradition of the suspect, however, Germany has not responded yet, according to Saudi Arabian security sources. 
<h2>Saudi Arabia condemns attack </h2>
Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry condemned the deadly attack that happened in a German Christmas market on Friday. 
Watch | Germany Christmas Market Attack: Car Attack Suspect Taken into Custody
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“The Kingdom affirms its position in rejecting violence and expresses its sympathy and sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and to the Federal Republic of Germany, government and people, with its wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured,” the statement by the ministry said.
<h2>German Chancellor 'very worried'</h2>
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed concerns over the attack, saying that he was "very worried" for the severely injured. He further called it a "terrible attack". 
“There is no more peaceful, more joyous place in Germany than Christmas markets when people come together ahead of the Christmas festival and spend some time together, drink mulled wine, have a sausage together to relax together,” Scholz told reporters in Magdeburg on Saturday.
“What for a terrible act is that to injure and to kill so many people with such brutality," he said, adding, “We have meanwhile found out that over 200 people were injured. Five have died until now.”
Scholz further stressed that nearly 40 are "severely injured" and that "we are worried for them". 
(With inputs from agencies)

The source said that Saudi Arabia warned the German authorities about the attacker after he posted extremist views on his personal X account, threatening peace and security. 



Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia had warned Germany about Taleb A, the man suspected of a deadly car attack at Germany's Christmas market, Reuters reported citing a Saudi source. A man on Friday (Dec 20) drove a car into the Christmas market in Germany's eastern city of Magdeburg, killing at least five, including a toddler, and injuring more than 200. The source said that Saudi Arabia warned the German authorities about the attacker after he posted extremist views on his personal X account, threatening peace and security. The suspect had sympathised with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, local magazine, Der Spiegel reported. However, the magazine did not specify from where it got the information. Also read: Germany Christmas market car attack: Five Killed, 200 injured in Magdeburg; police arrest Saudi man Germany's domestic intelligence agency refused to comment on the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, Germany's FAZ newspaper said that it interviewed the suspect in 2019, and described him as an anti-Islam activist. "People like me, who have an Islamic background but are no longer believers, are met with neither understanding nor tolerance by Muslims here," he said, adding, "I am history's most aggressive critic of Islam. If you don't believe me, ask the Arabs." Earlier today, German police arrested a Saudi man for the attack. The attacker, identified by German media by a partial name Taleb A., is a 50-year-old doctor of psychiatry from Saudi Arabia, who has been living in Germany since 2006. Saudi Arabia has requested the extradition of the suspect, however, Germany has not responded yet, according to Saudi Arabian security sources. Saudi Arabia condemns attack Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry condemned the deadly attack that happened in a German Christmas market on Friday. Watch | Germany Christmas Market Attack: Car Attack Suspect Taken into Custody × “The Kingdom affirms its position in rejecting violence and expresses its sympathy and sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and to the Federal Republic of Germany, government and people, with its wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured,” the statement by the ministry said. German Chancellor 'very worried' German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed concerns over the attack, saying that he was "very worried" for the severely injured. He further called it a "terrible attack". “There is no more peaceful, more joyous place in Germany than Christmas markets when people come together ahead of the Christmas festival and spend some time together, drink mulled wine, have a sausage together to relax together,” Scholz told reporters in Magdeburg on Saturday. “What for a terrible act is that to injure and to kill so many people with such brutality," he said, adding, “We have meanwhile found out that over 200 people were injured. Five have died until now.” Scholz further stressed that nearly 40 are "severely injured" and that "we are worried for them". (With inputs from agencies)

Saudi Arabia warned Germany about Christmas market attack suspect: Report

Birmingham, United Kingdom
Manchester City hit a new low on Saturday (Dec 21) after they lost to Aston Villa in the Premier League’s early kickoff. Playing at Villa Park, Pep Guardiola’s side was condemned to their third consecutive defeat, meaning they have won only one of their last 12 matches in all competitions. On the other hand, Villa move above Man City with the win as Unai Emery’s side look to challenge for the top four and a return to the Champions League.
<h2>Manchester City lose at Villa</h2>
Playing against Emery’s side, City came into the match on the back of a narrow defeat to Manchester United at the Etihad. However, things did not go well with Pep’s side as in-form Jhon Duran scored in the 16th minute from open play. Villa were the better side by then and pressed on every possible counterattack.
Duran and Lucas Digne both had more open opportunities as they looked to open the opposition's defense. Things could have gone from bad to worse in the 33rd minute for City, but last-ditch defending from City’s defense saw them keep the score at 1-0.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/explained-the-complex-and-strained-cricketing-ties-between-india-and-pakistan-785829">Explained: The complex and strained cricketing ties between India and Pakistan</a>
After the break, Morgan Rodgers was the bright star as the visitors had to make a forced change in defense with Kyle Walker coming in place of injured John Stones. Rodgers scored the second Villa goal in the 65th minute while Phil Foden’s goal in the 93rd minute was just a consolation.
"Congratulations Aston Villa and keep going. In the mid-block, they are so strong. 
"We have good moments, we had chances, more chances than in the (Manchester) United game, but in the second half we dropped and our pressing was not good enough... We found a goal in the end, but too late."

Playing at Villa Park, Pep Guardiola’s side was condemned to their third consecutive defeat, meaning they have won only one of their last 12 matches in all competitions. On the other hand, Villa move above Man City with the win as Unai Emery’s side look to challenge for the top four and a return to the Champions League.



Birmingham, United Kingdom Manchester City hit a new low on Saturday (Dec 21) after they lost to Aston Villa in the Premier League’s early kickoff. Playing at Villa Park, Pep Guardiola’s side was condemned to their third consecutive defeat, meaning they have won only one of their last 12 matches in all competitions. On the other hand, Villa move above Man City with the win as Unai Emery’s side look to challenge for the top four and a return to the Champions League. Manchester City lose at Villa Playing against Emery’s side, City came into the match on the back of a narrow defeat to Manchester United at the Etihad. However, things did not go well with Pep’s side as in-form Jhon Duran scored in the 16th minute from open play. Villa were the better side by then and pressed on every possible counterattack. Duran and Lucas Digne both had more open opportunities as they looked to open the opposition's defense. Things could have gone from bad to worse in the 33rd minute for City, but last-ditch defending from City’s defense saw them keep the score at 1-0. ALSO READ | Explained: The complex and strained cricketing ties between India and Pakistan After the break, Morgan Rodgers was the bright star as the visitors had to make a forced change in defense with Kyle Walker coming in place of injured John Stones. Rodgers scored the second Villa goal in the 65th minute while Phil Foden’s goal in the 93rd minute was just a consolation. "Congratulations Aston Villa and keep going. In the mid-block, they are so strong. "We have good moments, we had chances, more chances than in the (Manchester) United game, but in the second half we dropped and our pressing was not good enough... We found a goal in the end, but too late."

Premier League: Manchester City's poor run hits new low as Aston Villa register 2-1 win at Villa Park

Ottawa, Canada 
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, despite dealing with the lowest point of his political career, put on his party face at the Liberal Party's annual holiday gathering. 
He came with a smiling face at the gathering, which was day after one of his most trusted allies, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, announced her resignation. 
Even though some members of his own party were calling on him to leave, he stood strong and in a resistant tone addressed the party. 
He referred to his "difficult" week, comparing it to a family fight. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-pm-justin-trudeau-changes-one-third-of-his-team-785679">Also read: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau changes one-third of his team</a>
Trudeau further discussed being "audacious" and "ambitious" in the face of adversity and slammed his political rival, Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the opposition Conservative Party of Canada.
Meanwhile, the people said that it sounded more like a campaign speech, adding that despite the latest political turmoil, Trudeau looked like he was digging in. 
Further, even after the leader of the country's progressive New Democrat Party (NDP) Jagmeet Singh said that he would introduce a motion to topple the current government in 2025, Trudeau's stance did not change. 
Notably, the support of the NDP had been keeping the Liberals in power.
Watch | Canada: Khalistani Supporter Allegedly Appointed in Trudeau Cabinet
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As pressure increases on Trudeau for him to resign, some of the experts say that he now needs a new strategy. 
Moreover, Trudeau has also been losing some of his popularity. According to a September poll, around two-thirds of Canadians disapproved of him. Only 26 per cent of the respondents said that Trudeau was their top pick for the post of prime minister, keeping him 19 points behind Conservative leader Poilievre. 
So far, at least 18 MPs under Trudeau's government have called for their leader to step down. "He's delusional if he thinks we can continue like this," New Brunswick MP Wayne Long told reporters this week.
"It's unfair to us MPs, it's unfair to the ministers and most importantly it's unfair to the country. We need to move on with a new direction and we need to reboot," he added. 
According to Long, as many as 50 out of the 153 Liberal MPs want Trudeau to step down immediately. 
(With inputs from agencies)

He came with a smiling party face at the gathering, which was day after one of his most trusted allies, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, announced her resignation. 



Ottawa, Canada Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, despite dealing with the lowest point of his political career, put on his party face at the Liberal Party's annual holiday gathering. He came with a smiling face at the gathering, which was day after one of his most trusted allies, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, announced her resignation. Even though some members of his own party were calling on him to leave, he stood strong and in a resistant tone addressed the party. He referred to his "difficult" week, comparing it to a family fight. Also read: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau changes one-third of his team Trudeau further discussed being "audacious" and "ambitious" in the face of adversity and slammed his political rival, Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the opposition Conservative Party of Canada. Meanwhile, the people said that it sounded more like a campaign speech, adding that despite the latest political turmoil, Trudeau looked like he was digging in. Further, even after the leader of the country's progressive New Democrat Party (NDP) Jagmeet Singh said that he would introduce a motion to topple the current government in 2025, Trudeau's stance did not change. Notably, the support of the NDP had been keeping the Liberals in power. Watch | Canada: Khalistani Supporter Allegedly Appointed in Trudeau Cabinet × As pressure increases on Trudeau for him to resign, some of the experts say that he now needs a new strategy. Moreover, Trudeau has also been losing some of his popularity. According to a September poll, around two-thirds of Canadians disapproved of him. Only 26 per cent of the respondents said that Trudeau was their top pick for the post of prime minister, keeping him 19 points behind Conservative leader Poilievre. So far, at least 18 MPs under Trudeau's government have called for their leader to step down. "He's delusional if he thinks we can continue like this," New Brunswick MP Wayne Long told reporters this week. "It's unfair to us MPs, it's unfair to the ministers and most importantly it's unfair to the country. We need to move on with a new direction and we need to reboot," he added. According to Long, as many as 50 out of the 153 Liberal MPs want Trudeau to step down immediately. (With inputs from agencies)

Amidst political chaos in Canada, feisty Trudeau perseveres, but for how long?

Brasília, Brazil 
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At least 22 people died early Saturday when a bus crashed and then caught fire in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, firefighters said.
"After hours of work, firefighters managed to extinguish the flames and have removed 22 charred bodies of victims who were trapped" inside, the fire department said in a statement.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

"After hours of work, firefighters managed to extinguish the flames and have removed 22 charred bodies of victims who were trapped" inside, the fire department said in a statement.



Brasília, Brazil At least 22 people died early Saturday when a bus crashed and then caught fire in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, firefighters said. "After hours of work, firefighters managed to extinguish the flames and have removed 22 charred bodies of victims who were trapped" inside, the fire department said in a statement. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

At least 22 die in bus accident in southeastern Brazil: Officials

Tel Aviv, Israel 
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A missile fired from Yemen by Iran-backed Huthi rebels struck Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv before dawn on Saturday, wounding 16 people in the second such attack in days.
The Israeli military said it failed to intercept the missile, forcing many residents to leave their homes in the early hours.
The Huthis claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it used a ballistic missile directed at "a military target of the Israeli enemy".
The rebels have repeatedly launched missiles against Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago. Most of them have been intercepted.
In response, Israel has struck multiple targets in rebel-held areas of Yemen, including ports and energy facilities.
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"Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in central Israel, one projectile launched from Yemen was identified and unsuccessful interception attempts were made," the Israeli military said on its Telegram channel.
In a later statement, the military called the missile strike "yet another clear example of Israeli civilians being deliberately targeted".
It stressed the country's "aerial defence is not hermetic" so Israelis should follow security instructions.
Israel's emergency medical service, Magen David Adom (MDA), said 16 people were slightly injured.
"I was at home and heard a loud explosion. I immediately went to the scene and saw significant blast damage to nearby buildings," medic Yosef Kourdi was quoted as saying in a statement released by MDA.
"MDA teams provided medical care to 16 individuals who were mildly injured by glass shards from shattered windows in nearby buildings due to the impact of the strike," the statement said.
<h2>'Very lucky' </h2>
Ido Barnea, an IT manager whose apartment was damaged, told AFP a missile alert had sounded just before 4:00 am.
"Then there was a big ball of fire in the sky," he said. "I didn't even manage to get up and get dressed to go out."
An AFP photographer reported that many residents in the vicinity of the strike had to leave their homes, carrying only the essentials.
AFP images showed a large crater where the missile hit, and debris in the bedroom of a nearby house that was damaged. 
Police swiftly cordoned off the neighbourhood.
Noa Mosseri, whose apartment was also damaged, told AFP she too heard the missile alert.
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"We were very lucky because we didn't have time to get to a safe place. Within seconds there was a boom. We managed to get out and so we were not hurt," she said.
In their statement on Saturday, the Huthi rebels pledged to continue their attacks against Israel "until the aggression stops and the siege on the Gaza Strip is lifted".
The strike came just two days after the rebels fired a missile that damaged an Israeli school.
The military said that the missile had been intercepted but only partially, and its warhead "exploded and damaged the school".
In response, Israel struck several Huthi targets in Yemen, including in Sanaa -- the first such strike on the rebel-held capital.
Rebel leader Abdul Malik al-Huthi said nine civilians were killed in the strikes.
<h2>Warning </h2>
Hours after the Huthi attack on Saturday, the Israeli military said it had intercepted a drone over southern Israel, which had approached from the east.
It did not specify the origin of the drone, but similar attacks have been claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq group, also pro-Iran, since the Gaza war broke out.
Soon after retaliating for Thursday's attack by the Huthis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the rebels of severe repercussions if there was any repetition.
"After Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime in Syria, the Huthis are almost the last remaining arm of Iran's axis of evil," Netanyahu said.
"The Huthis are learning and will learn the hard way, that those who strike Israel will pay a very heavy price for it."
On December 9, a drone claimed by the Huthis exploded on the top floor of a residential building in the central Israel city of Yavne, causing no casualties.
And in July, a Huthi drone attack on Tel Aviv killed an Israeli civilian, prompting retaliatory strikes on the rebel-held port of Hodeida.
The Huthis have also repeatedly targeted merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden that they say are Israeli-linked, prompting retaliatory strikes on Huthi targets by the United States and Britain.

The rebels have repeatedly launched missiles against Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago. Most of them have been intercepted.



Tel Aviv, Israel A missile fired from Yemen by Iran-backed Huthi rebels struck Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv before dawn on Saturday, wounding 16 people in the second such attack in days. The Israeli military said it failed to intercept the missile, forcing many residents to leave their homes in the early hours. The Huthis claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it used a ballistic missile directed at "a military target of the Israeli enemy". The rebels have repeatedly launched missiles against Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago. Most of them have been intercepted. In response, Israel has struck multiple targets in rebel-held areas of Yemen, including ports and energy facilities. Also read | At least 10 killed in Iran as bus falls into ravine: state TV "Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in central Israel, one projectile launched from Yemen was identified and unsuccessful interception attempts were made," the Israeli military said on its Telegram channel. In a later statement, the military called the missile strike "yet another clear example of Israeli civilians being deliberately targeted". It stressed the country's "aerial defence is not hermetic" so Israelis should follow security instructions. Israel's emergency medical service, Magen David Adom (MDA), said 16 people were slightly injured. "I was at home and heard a loud explosion. I immediately went to the scene and saw significant blast damage to nearby buildings," medic Yosef Kourdi was quoted as saying in a statement released by MDA. "MDA teams provided medical care to 16 individuals who were mildly injured by glass shards from shattered windows in nearby buildings due to the impact of the strike," the statement said. 'Very lucky' Ido Barnea, an IT manager whose apartment was damaged, told AFP a missile alert had sounded just before 4:00 am. "Then there was a big ball of fire in the sky," he said. "I didn't even manage to get up and get dressed to go out." An AFP photographer reported that many residents in the vicinity of the strike had to leave their homes, carrying only the essentials. AFP images showed a large crater where the missile hit, and debris in the bedroom of a nearby house that was damaged. Police swiftly cordoned off the neighbourhood. Noa Mosseri, whose apartment was also damaged, told AFP she too heard the missile alert. Also read | At Least 22 Die In Bus Accident In Southeastern Brazil: Officials "We were very lucky because we didn't have time to get to a safe place. Within seconds there was a boom. We managed to get out and so we were not hurt," she said. In their statement on Saturday, the Huthi rebels pledged to continue their attacks against Israel "until the aggression stops and the siege on the Gaza Strip is lifted". The strike came just two days after the rebels fired a missile that damaged an Israeli school. The military said that the missile had been intercepted but only partially, and its warhead "exploded and damaged the school". In response, Israel struck several Huthi targets in Yemen, including in Sanaa -- the first such strike on the rebel-held capital. Rebel leader Abdul Malik al-Huthi said nine civilians were killed in the strikes. Warning Hours after the Huthi attack on Saturday, the Israeli military said it had intercepted a drone over southern Israel, which had approached from the east. It did not specify the origin of the drone, but similar attacks have been claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq group, also pro-Iran, since the Gaza war broke out. Soon after retaliating for Thursday's attack by the Huthis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the rebels of severe repercussions if there was any repetition. "After Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime in Syria, the Huthis are almost the last remaining arm of Iran's axis of evil," Netanyahu said. "The Huthis are learning and will learn the hard way, that those who strike Israel will pay a very heavy price for it." On December 9, a drone claimed by the Huthis exploded on the top floor of a residential building in the central Israel city of Yavne, causing no casualties. And in July, a Huthi drone attack on Tel Aviv killed an Israeli civilian, prompting retaliatory strikes on the rebel-held port of Hodeida. The Huthis have also repeatedly targeted merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden that they say are Israeli-linked, prompting retaliatory strikes on Huthi targets by the United States and Britain.

Yemen rebels strike Israel's Tel Aviv in pre-dawn missile attack

Abuja, Nigeria 
At least 10 people were killed, including four children, in a stampede in Nigeria's capital on Saturday (Dec 21). The incident happened when a large crowd gathered to collect food items distributed by a church at a Christmas event. 
Watch | Germany Christmas Market Attack: Death Toll Rises, Over 60 Attacked
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Police said in a statement that more than 1,000 people had been evacuated from the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama after the incident. A purported video of the incident was circulated on social media in which dead bodies were seen lying on the ground and people shouting for help.
Police said some of the injured have been discharged after the treatment while others are reported still to be under treatment. 
This marks the second such incident in Africa's most populous country as various churches and individuals are organising charity ahead of Christmas. 
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The incident has raised questions about safety measurements during such events. 
Earlier in the week, several children were reported killed in a stampede after an organisation organised a funfair to distribute gift items to children. 
Now, the police have announced a prior permission is mandatory before organising such events. 
(With inputs from agencies)

Police said in a statement that more than 1,000 people had been evacuated from the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama after the incident. A purported video of the incident was circulated on social media in which dead bodies were seen lying on the ground and people shouting for help.



Abuja, Nigeria At least 10 people were killed, including four children, in a stampede in Nigeria's capital on Saturday (Dec 21). The incident happened when a large crowd gathered to collect food items distributed by a church at a Christmas event. Watch | Germany Christmas Market Attack: Death Toll Rises, Over 60 Attacked Police said in a statement that more than 1,000 people had been evacuated from the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama after the incident. A purported video of the incident was circulated on social media in which dead bodies were seen lying on the ground and people shouting for help. Police said some of the injured have been discharged after the treatment while others are reported still to be under treatment. This marks the second such incident in Africa's most populous country as various churches and individuals are organising charity ahead of Christmas. Also read | Qatar reopens embassy in Damascus after 13 years; second nation to reopen mission since Assad's fall The incident has raised questions about safety measurements during such events. Earlier in the week, several children were reported killed in a stampede after an organisation organised a funfair to distribute gift items to children. Now, the police have announced a prior permission is mandatory before organising such events. (With inputs from agencies)

Nigeria:10 killed, including 4 kids, in stampede at Christmas charity event

Tehran, Iran 
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At least 10 people were killed on Saturday when a bus plunged into a ravine in Iran's western Lorestan province, state media reported.
"Aid and rescue teams have been dispatched to the area," Mohammad Ghadami, the provincial head of the Red Crescent Society, told state TV.
Lorestan is around 350 kilometres (220 miles) southwest of the capital Tehran.
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Iran has a poor road safety record, with more than 20,000 deaths in accidents recorded between March 2023 and March 2024, according to local media citing the Iranian judiciary's Forensic Medicine Organisation.
In August, at least 28 Pakistani pilgrims en route to Iraq for a Muslim religious ritual were killed when their bus crashed in central Iran.
In June 2004, more than 70 people died in a massive fire caused by a collision between a gasoline tanker and a bus in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan. 
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/qatar-reopens-embassy-in-damascus-after-13-years-second-nation-to-reopen-embassy-since-assads-fall-785835">Qatar reopens embassy in Damascus after 13 years; second nation to reopen mission since Assad's fall</a>
The truck collided at night with the bus, which was stopped near a police station, setting six buses and five trucks ablaze in a radius of about 50 metres.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Iran has a poor road safety record, with more than 20,000 deaths in accidents recorded between March 2023 and March 2024, according to local media citing the Iranian judiciary's Forensic Medicine Organisation.



Tehran, Iran At least 10 people were killed on Saturday when a bus plunged into a ravine in Iran's western Lorestan province, state media reported. "Aid and rescue teams have been dispatched to the area," Mohammad Ghadami, the provincial head of the Red Crescent Society, told state TV. Lorestan is around 350 kilometres (220 miles) southwest of the capital Tehran. Also read | 10 people, including 4 kids, killed in Nigeria stampede at Christmas charity event Iran has a poor road safety record, with more than 20,000 deaths in accidents recorded between March 2023 and March 2024, according to local media citing the Iranian judiciary's Forensic Medicine Organisation. In August, at least 28 Pakistani pilgrims en route to Iraq for a Muslim religious ritual were killed when their bus crashed in central Iran. In June 2004, more than 70 people died in a massive fire caused by a collision between a gasoline tanker and a bus in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan. Also read | Qatar reopens embassy in Damascus after 13 years; second nation to reopen mission since Assad's fall The truck collided at night with the bus, which was stopped near a police station, setting six buses and five trucks ablaze in a radius of about 50 metres. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

At least 10 killed in Iran as bus falls into ravine: state TV

Harare, Zimbabwe
Teenage spinner Allah Ghazanfar took five for 33 as Afghanistan overwhelmed Zimbabwe by eight wickets on Saturday for a 2-0 one-day international series win.
The 18-year-old followed up a six-wicket haul against Bangladesh last month with a man-of-the-match show in Harare as the tourists crushed the hosts for the second time in three days. 
The opening ODI in the three-match series was washed out on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe were put in to bat by Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and, with the exception of veteran Sean Williams, who made 60 from 61 balls, flopped to be all out of 127. 
Sediqullah Atal, fresh from a maiden ODI century on Thursday, top-scored with 52 as Afghanistan cruised to 131 for two in just 26.5 overs and completed a white-ball double after a Twenty20 series win.  
It was the seventh ODI series triumph for Afghanistan over Zimbabwe with one drawn.
"It is wonderful to see youngsters like Allah coming into the team and making such a big impact," Shahidi told reporters.
"Allah is doing very well for the team and, hopefully, he can maintain this momentum and bowl well going forward."
Wreaking havoc with his off-break deliveries, Ghazanfar continued a memorable year in which he was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad that won the Indian Premier League.
Star leg spinner Rashid Khan also tormented the hosts, taking three for 38 as the fragility of the Zimbabwe batters was exposed again. They were all out for 54 two days ago.
Williams, whose 61-ball knock included three sixes and six fours, was among only three Zimbabweans to reach double figures.
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The top Zimbabwe scorer departed when his reverse sweep shot off Khan was caught by 39-year-old Mohammed Nabi at first slip.
Atal and Abdul Malik put on 84 for the first wicket before both fell in the space of 10 balls, leaving Shahidi (20 not out) to seal victory with 139 balls to spare.
A brilliant catch at deep extra cover by Brian Bennett spelt the end for Atal. 
Earlier, Malik got an inside edge to a Richard Ngarava delivery, which uprooted his leg stump.  
The teams now move to southern city Bulawayo for a two-Test series, with the first starting on December 26.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The 18-year-old Allah Ghazanfar followed up a six-wicket haul against Bangladesh last month with a man-of-the-match show in Harare as the tourists crushed the hosts for the second time in three days. 



Harare, Zimbabwe Teenage spinner Allah Ghazanfar took five for 33 as Afghanistan overwhelmed Zimbabwe by eight wickets on Saturday for a 2-0 one-day international series win. The 18-year-old followed up a six-wicket haul against Bangladesh last month with a man-of-the-match show in Harare as the tourists crushed the hosts for the second time in three days. The opening ODI in the three-match series was washed out on Tuesday. Zimbabwe were put in to bat by Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and, with the exception of veteran Sean Williams, who made 60 from 61 balls, flopped to be all out of 127. Sediqullah Atal, fresh from a maiden ODI century on Thursday, top-scored with 52 as Afghanistan cruised to 131 for two in just 26.5 overs and completed a white-ball double after a Twenty20 series win. It was the seventh ODI series triumph for Afghanistan over Zimbabwe with one drawn. "It is wonderful to see youngsters like Allah coming into the team and making such a big impact," Shahidi told reporters. "Allah is doing very well for the team and, hopefully, he can maintain this momentum and bowl well going forward." Wreaking havoc with his off-break deliveries, Ghazanfar continued a memorable year in which he was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad that won the Indian Premier League. Star leg spinner Rashid Khan also tormented the hosts, taking three for 38 as the fragility of the Zimbabwe batters was exposed again. They were all out for 54 two days ago. Williams, whose 61-ball knock included three sixes and six fours, was among only three Zimbabweans to reach double figures. ALSO READ | Explained: The complex and strained cricketing ties between India and Pakistan The top Zimbabwe scorer departed when his reverse sweep shot off Khan was caught by 39-year-old Mohammed Nabi at first slip. Atal and Abdul Malik put on 84 for the first wicket before both fell in the space of 10 balls, leaving Shahidi (20 not out) to seal victory with 139 balls to spare. A brilliant catch at deep extra cover by Brian Bennett spelt the end for Atal. Earlier, Malik got an inside edge to a Richard Ngarava delivery, which uprooted his leg stump. The teams now move to southern city Bulawayo for a two-Test series, with the first starting on December 26. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

ZIM vs AFG: Teen Allah Ghazanfar takes five-for as Afghanistan win ODI series 2-0

Berlin, Germany 
On Friday (Dec 20), a man drove a car into the Christmas market in Germany's eastern city of Magdeburg, killing five people and injuring at least 200. German Police have arrested a Saudi national, a 50-year-old doctor named Taleb Abdul Jawed living in Germany since 2006. 
After the arrest on Saturday (Dec 21), several claims about the incident have been made on social media. In one such claim, a man shared a post on LinkedIn saying a Saudi girl living in Germany had informed the German Police about his intentions in 2023. 
The post by Noor Dahri, Executive Director at Islamic Theology of Counter Terrorism, claimed that the suspect, reportedly an anti-Islamist, had been planning the attack for a long time. The post further claimed that the girl multiple times reported to the police and asked for his arrest, but the police acted in a "bureaucratic manner". 
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The post even shared multiple screenshots of purported chats between the girl and the police department.
Just a month before the incident, the post claimed, Taleb had taken to social media platform X threatening he would kill 20 Germans. The same girl again went to the police and cited his tweet and reported him but was "ignored", the LinkedIn post said. 
<h2>An anti-Islamist</h2>
As per reports, Taleb is a physiotherapist and came to Germany in 2006 as a refugee. 
As per his social media accounts, he claimed himself to be an anti-Islamist. His LinkedIn bio says "Germany wants to Islamise Europe". 
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Dahri shared another post on LinkedIn claiming that the suspect is an atheist and proudly expresses his tendencies to "slaughter Germans" on X. 
The post further claimed Taleb is wanted by Saudi Arabia on charges related to terrorism, and smuggling girls from Saudi and other European countries. 
(With inputs from agencies)

He claimed in the LinkedIn post that a girl had reported the suspect to  police multiple times and asked for his arrest, but the police acted in a 'bureaucratic manner.'



Berlin, Germany On Friday (Dec 20), a man drove a car into the Christmas market in Germany's eastern city of Magdeburg, killing five people and injuring at least 200. German Police have arrested a Saudi national, a 50-year-old doctor named Taleb Abdul Jawed living in Germany since 2006. After the arrest on Saturday (Dec 21), several claims about the incident have been made on social media. In one such claim, a man shared a post on LinkedIn saying a Saudi girl living in Germany had informed the German Police about his intentions in 2023. The post by Noor Dahri, Executive Director at Islamic Theology of Counter Terrorism, claimed that the suspect, reportedly an anti-Islamist, had been planning the attack for a long time. The post further claimed that the girl multiple times reported to the police and asked for his arrest, but the police acted in a "bureaucratic manner". Also read | Gisèle Pelicot & her scarf: some days a shield, other days a hug The post even shared multiple screenshots of purported chats between the girl and the police department. Just a month before the incident, the post claimed, Taleb had taken to social media platform X threatening he would kill 20 Germans. The same girl again went to the police and cited his tweet and reported him but was "ignored", the LinkedIn post said. An anti-Islamist As per reports, Taleb is a physiotherapist and came to Germany in 2006 as a refugee. As per his social media accounts, he claimed himself to be an anti-Islamist. His LinkedIn bio says "Germany wants to Islamise Europe". Also read | Video: Ukraine hits Russian residential high-rises in Kazan. Dramatic visuals show '9/11 like attack' Dahri shared another post on LinkedIn claiming that the suspect is an atheist and proudly expresses his tendencies to "slaughter Germans" on X. The post further claimed Taleb is wanted by Saudi Arabia on charges related to terrorism, and smuggling girls from Saudi and other European countries. (With inputs from agencies)

German Police was alerted about the Christmas market attack?  Social media claims suggest so

Seoul, South Korea
Nearly a week after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached, thousands of his supporters rallied in the capital Seoul on Saturday (Dec 21), demanding his presidential duties be reinstated.
Several thousands protesters supporting Yoon, who are chiefly older and more conservative people, have gathered since the midday Saturday. 
Lee Young-su, a 62-year-old businessman said, "These rigged (parliamentary) elections eat away at this country, and at the core are socialist communist powers, so about 10 of us came together and said the same thing - we absolutely oppose impeachment."
The South Korean president has also made claims of election hacking and "anti-state" pro-North Korean sympathisers as justification for imposing martial law, which was denied by the National Election Commission. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-koreas-president-yoon-impeached-what-happens-now-all-you-need-to-know-783957">Also read: South Korea President Yoon impeached: What happens now? All you need to know</a>
Meanwhile, protesters against Yoon were also rallying several hundred metres apart in Seoul on Saturday. 
Yoon's presidential powers have been suspended, however, he still remains in office. He has not been complied with various summonses by authorities investigating whether martial law constituted insurrection. 
He has also not responded to the attempts made by the Constitutional Court to contact him, which decides whether to remove him from office or restore his powers. 
Watch | South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Fails to Appear at Corruption Hearing
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The court is planning to schedule its first preparatory hearing on Friday. 
The protests by Yoon's supporters as well as those opposing him, were held in Gwanghwamun in the country's capital. 
The anti-Yoon protesters gathered in the afternoon, waving K-pop light sticks and signs like "Arrest! Imprison! Insurrection chief Yoon Suk Yeol" to catchy K-pop tunes.
"I wanted to ask Yoon how he could do this to a democracy in the 21st century, and I think if he really has a conscience, he should step down," 27-year-old Cho Sung-hyo at the protest site said.
(With inputs from agencies)

Several thousands protesters supporting Yoon, who are chiefly older and more conservative people, have gathered since the midday Saturday. 



Seoul, South Korea Nearly a week after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached, thousands of his supporters rallied in the capital Seoul on Saturday (Dec 21), demanding his presidential duties be reinstated. Several thousands protesters supporting Yoon, who are chiefly older and more conservative people, have gathered since the midday Saturday. Lee Young-su, a 62-year-old businessman said, "These rigged (parliamentary) elections eat away at this country, and at the core are socialist communist powers, so about 10 of us came together and said the same thing - we absolutely oppose impeachment." The South Korean president has also made claims of election hacking and "anti-state" pro-North Korean sympathisers as justification for imposing martial law, which was denied by the National Election Commission. Also read: South Korea President Yoon impeached: What happens now? All you need to know Meanwhile, protesters against Yoon were also rallying several hundred metres apart in Seoul on Saturday. Yoon's presidential powers have been suspended, however, he still remains in office. He has not been complied with various summonses by authorities investigating whether martial law constituted insurrection. He has also not responded to the attempts made by the Constitutional Court to contact him, which decides whether to remove him from office or restore his powers. Watch | South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Fails to Appear at Corruption Hearing × The court is planning to schedule its first preparatory hearing on Friday. The protests by Yoon's supporters as well as those opposing him, were held in Gwanghwamun in the country's capital. The anti-Yoon protesters gathered in the afternoon, waving K-pop light sticks and signs like "Arrest! Imprison! Insurrection chief Yoon Suk Yeol" to catchy K-pop tunes. "I wanted to ask Yoon how he could do this to a democracy in the 21st century, and I think if he really has a conscience, he should step down," 27-year-old Cho Sung-hyo at the protest site said. (With inputs from agencies)

Thousands rally in South Korea, protesting against President Yoon's impeachment, blame rigged elections

London, United Kingdom
George Eastham, a member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad, has died at the age of 88, his former club Stoke City announced on their website on Saturday.
Eastham, whose father also named George once played for England, won 19 caps for his country between 1963 and 1966.
He did not play in England's 1966 campaign on home soil but the Blackpool-born winger was part of Alf Ramsey's squad that lifted the World Cup.
Eastham made 124 and 207 league appearances for Newcastle and Arsenal respectively before moving to Stoke in 1966.
Three years earlier he had been involved in a court case against the so-called 'slavery contracts' which improved players' freedom to move between clubs and duly reformed the British transfer market.
"The Stoke City Football Club family is immensely saddened by the passing of club legend George Eastham OBE at the age of 88," his former club said.
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Eastham represented the club for eight seasons in the top division of the English game.
"He is perhaps best remembered as the man whose goal secured the 1972 League Cup in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Wembley," said Stoke.
After retiring, Eastham tried his hand at management, taking charge of Stoke for a short spell in the late 1970s. 
He later emigrated to South Africa where he was a football coach for local black children.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

George Eastham, whose father also named George once played for England, won 19 caps for his country between 1963 and 1966.



London, United Kingdom George Eastham, a member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad, has died at the age of 88, his former club Stoke City announced on their website on Saturday. Eastham, whose father also named George once played for England, won 19 caps for his country between 1963 and 1966. He did not play in England's 1966 campaign on home soil but the Blackpool-born winger was part of Alf Ramsey's squad that lifted the World Cup. Eastham made 124 and 207 league appearances for Newcastle and Arsenal respectively before moving to Stoke in 1966. Three years earlier he had been involved in a court case against the so-called 'slavery contracts' which improved players' freedom to move between clubs and duly reformed the British transfer market. "The Stoke City Football Club family is immensely saddened by the passing of club legend George Eastham OBE at the age of 88," his former club said. ALSO READ | Rejected in IPL, India's Anmolpreet Singh breaks Yusuf Pathan's domestic record for fastest List A hundred Eastham represented the club for eight seasons in the top division of the English game. "He is perhaps best remembered as the man whose goal secured the 1972 League Cup in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Wembley," said Stoke. After retiring, Eastham tried his hand at management, taking charge of Stoke for a short spell in the late 1970s. He later emigrated to South Africa where he was a football coach for local black children. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Former England World Cup-winning winger George Eastham passes away at 88

New Delhi, India
Actress Mamta Kulkarni talked about coming back to Mumbai after 25 years and her relations with Vicky Goswami.
In a conversation with  Indian news agency ANI, she said, "I have not come back for Bollywood and I am not planning to make a return as an actress.."
On talking about her connection with Vicky Goswami, she added, "I have no connection with D(drug) world as I never met these people. Yes, I got connected with Vicky Goswami......in 1996 my spiritual, journey started and a guru came into my life during that time...."
"Vicky called me when he was in jail in Dubai to come and meet him.. and I when met him...I spent 12 years...'mai dhayn tap aur puja path is mein agarasar ho gayi' and when he came out of jail in 2012,, my all desires were finished by that time..either to fall in love or get married..nothing was left and he came out of jail and I had decided until he would come out, I won't go back to India....then he went to Kenya and I came to India for Kumbh mela in around 2012-2013...I went straight to Allahabad(now Prayagraj) from Dubai for ten days and then went back to Dubai."
In 2017, Thane Police issued a non-bailable warrant against actress Mamta Kulkarni and drug lord Vicky Goswami in connection with a drug haul case. The name of the duo surfaced in the connection based on which a chargesheet was filed. In January, Goswami, Ibrahim and Baktash Akasha as well as Gulam Hussein were extradited from Kenya to the U.S. All of them were arrested in November 2014 in a sting operation by the U.S.Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) who was posing as Colombian drug dealers.
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"... .Vicky went back to Kenya, and once or twice I went to meet him and came back to Dubai..he had already been accused in Kenya and I was not with him during that time...2016-2024 see apne liye tapsaya kiya", she added,, "now I am not in touch with him, I last contacted him in 2016.."
Meanwhile, the actress recently took to her Instagram account to share that she has finally landed in Mumbai. In the
video, Mamta expressed her feelings of nostalgia and emotion as she revisited her homeland.
The actress shared that her journey out of India began in 2000, and now in 2024, she was finally back. Mamta also said she became emotional when the flight was about to land, seeing her country from above for the first time in over two decades. She also teared up while stepping out of Mumbai's international airport, overwhelmed by the significance of her return.
In the video caption, Mamta wrote, "BACK TO MY MOTHERLAND AFTER 25 YEARS ATTENDED KUMBH MELA 2012 AFTER 12 YEARS AUSTERITY AND COME BACK EXACTLY AFTER 12 YEARS FOR ANOTHER MAHA KUMBH
2025."
Mamta Kulkarni gained fame in the 1990s with her performances in hit films like 'Karan Arjun' and 'Baazi'. The actress has worked with top stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan during her career.
However, in the early 2000s, Mamta stepped away from Bollywood and moved abroad, leading a life away from the limelight.
(Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.)

In 2017, Thane Police issued a non-bailable warrant against actress Mamta Kulkarni and drug lord Vicky Goswami in connection with a drug haul case.



New Delhi, India Actress Mamta Kulkarni talked about coming back to Mumbai after 25 years and her relations with Vicky Goswami. In a conversation with Indian news agency ANI, she said, "I have not come back for Bollywood and I am not planning to make a return as an actress.." On talking about her connection with Vicky Goswami, she added, "I have no connection with D(drug) world as I never met these people. Yes, I got connected with Vicky Goswami......in 1996 my spiritual, journey started and a guru came into my life during that time...." "Vicky called me when he was in jail in Dubai to come and meet him.. and I when met him...I spent 12 years...'mai dhayn tap aur puja path is mein agarasar ho gayi' and when he came out of jail in 2012,, my all desires were finished by that time..either to fall in love or get married..nothing was left and he came out of jail and I had decided until he would come out, I won't go back to India....then he went to Kenya and I came to India for Kumbh mela in around 2012-2013...I went straight to Allahabad(now Prayagraj) from Dubai for ten days and then went back to Dubai." In 2017, Thane Police issued a non-bailable warrant against actress Mamta Kulkarni and drug lord Vicky Goswami in connection with a drug haul case. The name of the duo surfaced in the connection based on which a chargesheet was filed. In January, Goswami, Ibrahim and Baktash Akasha as well as Gulam Hussein were extradited from Kenya to the U.S. All of them were arrested in November 2014 in a sting operation by the U.S.Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) who was posing as Colombian drug dealers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mamta Kulkarni ? (@mamtakulkarniofficial____) × "... .Vicky went back to Kenya, and once or twice I went to meet him and came back to Dubai..he had already been accused in Kenya and I was not with him during that time...2016-2024 see apne liye tapsaya kiya", she added,, "now I am not in touch with him, I last contacted him in 2016.." Meanwhile, the actress recently took to her Instagram account to share that she has finally landed in Mumbai. In the video, Mamta expressed her feelings of nostalgia and emotion as she revisited her homeland. The actress shared that her journey out of India began in 2000, and now in 2024, she was finally back. Mamta also said she became emotional when the flight was about to land, seeing her country from above for the first time in over two decades. She also teared up while stepping out of Mumbai's international airport, overwhelmed by the significance of her return. In the video caption, Mamta wrote, "BACK TO MY MOTHERLAND AFTER 25 YEARS ATTENDED KUMBH MELA 2012 AFTER 12 YEARS AUSTERITY AND COME BACK EXACTLY AFTER 12 YEARS FOR ANOTHER MAHA KUMBH 2025." Mamta Kulkarni gained fame in the 1990s with her performances in hit films like 'Karan Arjun' and 'Baazi'. The actress has worked with top stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan during her career. However, in the early 2000s, Mamta stepped away from Bollywood and moved abroad, leading a life away from the limelight. (Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.)

90s actor Mamta Kulkarni talks about links to drug lord Vicky Goswami: ‘He called me when..'

Kuwait
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a visit to Kuwait, met with 101-year-old Mangal Sain Handa, Kuwait-based retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, on Saturday (Dec 21). 
The two met as Handa's granddaughter requested PM Modi to meet her grandfather. Upon his arrival, he visited a hotel where he met Mangal Sain Handa. 
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets 101-year-old Ex-IFS officer Mangal Sain Handa in Kuwait City.
PM Modi is on a 2-day visit to Kuwait at the invitation of Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait. This is the first visit of an Indian… <a href="https://t.co/T2qpgJm422">pic.twitter.com/T2qpgJm422</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1870403557297619251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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"Humble request to Hon'ble PM @narendramodi to meet my 101-year-old Nanaji, ex-IFS officer, in Kuwait during tmrw's interaction with the Indian Diaspora. Nana @MangalSainHanda is a great admirer of yours. Details have been emailed to your office," Juneja posted on X. 
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Humble request to Hon'ble PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> to meet my 101-year-old Nanaji, ex-IFS officer, in Kuwait during tmrw’s interaction with the Indian Diaspora. Nana <a href="https://twitter.com/MangalSainHanda?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MangalSainHanda</a> is a great admirer of yours. Details have been emailed to your office ?
Cc: <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PMOIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sjaishankaroffc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sjaishankaroffc</a>
— Shreya Juneja (@_ShreyaJuneja) <a href="https://twitter.com/_ShreyaJuneja/status/1870008417991176448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Following her post, PM Modi responded to her and said that he looks forward to meeting him in Kuwait today. 
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Absolutely! I look forward to meeting <a href="https://twitter.com/MangalSainHanda?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MangalSainHanda</a> Ji in Kuwait today. <a href="https://t.co/xswtQ0tfSY">https://t.co/xswtQ0tfSY</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1870335738312561095?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The retired IPS officer's son, Dilip Handa told Indian news agency ANI, "This is an experience of a lifetime. PM Modi said he especially came here to meet him (his father). We are grateful to Prime Minister Modi..."
PM Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait in 43 years following the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. 
Upon arrival, the Prime Minister was warmly greeted by Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Interior.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/new-chapter-in-making-pm-modi-arrives-in-kuwait-to-a-warm-welcome-from-deputy-pm-top-kuwaiti-leaders-785801">Also read: 'New chapter in making': PM Modi receives warm welcome in Kuwait, first Indian PM to visit in 43 years</a>
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X, “A new chapter in the making! PM @narendramodi arrives in Kuwait to a ceremonial welcome. Warmly received by H.E Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, First Deputy PM, Minister of Defence &amp; Interior of Kuwait, H.E. Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, FM of Kuwait &amp; several other Ministers &amp; dignitaries at the airport."
Watch | Modi's Kuwait Visit Aims to Boost Trade Ties
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Earlier on the 100th birthday of Mangal Sain Handa, PM Modi wished him in a heartfelt personal letter and praised his contributions to India's diplomatic efforts. Handa also took to X, and thanked PM Modi for his gesture. 
Modi will be in Kuwait for two days, till Sunday (Dec 22). During his visit, the PM is expected to interact with the Indian community and hold several key meetings with the Kuwaiti leaders. 
(With inputs from agencies)

The two met as Handa's granddaughter requested PM Modi to meet her grandfather. Upon his arrival, he visited a hotel where he met Mangal Sain Handa. 



Kuwait Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a visit to Kuwait, met with 101-year-old Mangal Sain Handa, Kuwait-based retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, on Saturday (Dec 21). The two met as Handa's granddaughter requested PM Modi to meet her grandfather. Upon his arrival, he visited a hotel where he met Mangal Sain Handa. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets 101-year-old Ex-IFS officer Mangal Sain Handa in Kuwait City. PM Modi is on a 2-day visit to Kuwait at the invitation of Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait. This is the first visit of an Indian… pic.twitter.com/T2qpgJm422 — ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2024 × "Humble request to Hon'ble PM @narendramodi to meet my 101-year-old Nanaji, ex-IFS officer, in Kuwait during tmrw's interaction with the Indian Diaspora. Nana @MangalSainHanda is a great admirer of yours. Details have been emailed to your office," Juneja posted on X. Humble request to Hon'ble PM @narendramodi to meet my 101-year-old Nanaji, ex-IFS officer, in Kuwait during tmrw’s interaction with the Indian Diaspora. Nana @MangalSainHanda is a great admirer of yours. Details have been emailed to your office ? Cc: @PMOIndia @sjaishankaroffc — Shreya Juneja (@_ShreyaJuneja) December 20, 2024 × Following her post, PM Modi responded to her and said that he looks forward to meeting him in Kuwait today. Absolutely! I look forward to meeting @MangalSainHanda Ji in Kuwait today. https://t.co/xswtQ0tfSY — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 21, 2024 × The retired IPS officer's son, Dilip Handa told Indian news agency ANI, "This is an experience of a lifetime. PM Modi said he especially came here to meet him (his father). We are grateful to Prime Minister Modi..." PM Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait in 43 years following the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Upon arrival, the Prime Minister was warmly greeted by Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Interior. Also read: 'New chapter in making': PM Modi receives warm welcome in Kuwait, first Indian PM to visit in 43 years The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X, “A new chapter in the making! PM @narendramodi arrives in Kuwait to a ceremonial welcome. Warmly received by H.E Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, First Deputy PM, Minister of Defence & Interior of Kuwait, H.E. Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, FM of Kuwait & several other Ministers & dignitaries at the airport." Watch | Modi's Kuwait Visit Aims to Boost Trade Ties × Earlier on the 100th birthday of Mangal Sain Handa, PM Modi wished him in a heartfelt personal letter and praised his contributions to India's diplomatic efforts. Handa also took to X, and thanked PM Modi for his gesture. Modi will be in Kuwait for two days, till Sunday (Dec 22). During his visit, the PM is expected to interact with the Indian community and hold several key meetings with the Kuwaiti leaders. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: PM Modi meets 101-year-old ex-IFS officer in Kuwait on his granddaughter's request

New Delhi, India
Rejected in the Indian Premier League (IPL), India’s domestic star Anmolpreet Singh broke Yusuf Pathan’s record for the fastest domestic hundred on Saturday (Dec 21) in List A Cricket (India’s domestic 50-over competition). The 35-ball ton saw him break the 14-year record after being snubbed by IPL franchises in the auctions in November. Courtesy of the score, Punjab beat Arunachal Pradesh by nine wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium A Ground in Ahmedabad.
<h2>Anmolpreet breaks Pathan’s record</h2>
Known for his devastating batting approach, Anmolpreet’s snub in IPL came as a surprise for many as he represented the likes of Mumbai Indians and SunRisers Hyderabad in the past. He went on a rampage in the white-ball contest on Saturday as Punjab chased down a 165-run target in just 12.5 overs. Riding on Anmolpreet’s brilliant knock, Punjab were scoring at a rate of 13 runs per over.
In his innings, the 26-year-old scored 9 sixes and 12 fours with 104 runs coming in boundaries from his 115-run knock. He was given a good helping hand by Prabhsimran Singh as he remained unbeaten on 35 off 25 while skipper Abhishek Sharma departed for 10 off 7.
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The pair of Prabhsimran and Anmolpreet stitched an unbeaten stand of 153 runs for the second wicket as they took Punjab home in a one-sided win. All Arunachal Pradesh bowlers were expensive with the lowest economy of 9.5.
Earlier the record was held by Yusuf when he hit the century in 40 balls while representing Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He was at the peak of his powers in the 2010s when he also won the ODI World Cup with the Indian team. He was part of the side under MS Dhoni with Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli being the notable names on the list.

In his innings, Anmolpreet Singh scored 9 sixes and 12 fours with 104 runs coming in boundaries from his 115-run knock. He was given a good helping hand by Prabhsimran Singh as he remained unbeaten on 35 off 25 while skipper Abhishek Sharma departed for 10 off 7.



New Delhi, India Rejected in the Indian Premier League (IPL), India’s domestic star Anmolpreet Singh broke Yusuf Pathan’s record for the fastest domestic hundred on Saturday (Dec 21) in List A Cricket (India’s domestic 50-over competition). The 35-ball ton saw him break the 14-year record after being snubbed by IPL franchises in the auctions in November. Courtesy of the score, Punjab beat Arunachal Pradesh by nine wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium A Ground in Ahmedabad. Anmolpreet breaks Pathan’s record Known for his devastating batting approach, Anmolpreet’s snub in IPL came as a surprise for many as he represented the likes of Mumbai Indians and SunRisers Hyderabad in the past. He went on a rampage in the white-ball contest on Saturday as Punjab chased down a 165-run target in just 12.5 overs. Riding on Anmolpreet’s brilliant knock, Punjab were scoring at a rate of 13 runs per over. In his innings, the 26-year-old scored 9 sixes and 12 fours with 104 runs coming in boundaries from his 115-run knock. He was given a good helping hand by Prabhsimran Singh as he remained unbeaten on 35 off 25 while skipper Abhishek Sharma departed for 10 off 7. ALSO READ | Former India batter Robin Uthappa faces arrest over unpaid Provident Fund dues The pair of Prabhsimran and Anmolpreet stitched an unbeaten stand of 153 runs for the second wicket as they took Punjab home in a one-sided win. All Arunachal Pradesh bowlers were expensive with the lowest economy of 9.5. Earlier the record was held by Yusuf when he hit the century in 40 balls while representing Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He was at the peak of his powers in the 2010s when he also won the ODI World Cup with the Indian team. He was part of the side under MS Dhoni with Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli being the notable names on the list.

Rejected in IPL, India's Anmolpreet Singh breaks Yusuf Pathan's domestic record for fastest List A hundred

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