Breaking News Live Updates: Fire breaks out at Mumbai's underground T2 Airport Metro Station in Andheri (East); passengers evacuated, nobody hurt

UP: Two minor brothers drown in water-filled pit in Maharajganj

Two minor brothers drowned in a water-filled pit in Mahalganj village under the Kotwali area, police said.

The deceased were identified as Raj (5) and Ayush (4), sons of Dablu Sahni, an e-rickshaw driver who has been living in a rented house in the village for several years.

According to police, the children went missing around 3 pm on Tuesday. Family members searched for them but could not trace them. Villagers informed the family that the children were last seen playing towards the northern side of the village, prompting a fresh search during which the bodies were discovered in a nearby water-filled pit.

Delhi: Fire broke out in a house in Gali Data Ram in Sadar Bazar area of North Delhi today. The blaze was brought under control with the help of 8 fire tenders.

Mumbai: Threat call received at Hotel Taj and Trident; accused identified, brought to police station

A threat call was received at Hotel Taj and Trident yesterday around 9:30 pm, Mumbai Police said.

A non-cognizable offence has been registered at Colaba Police Station. The caller, identified as Santosh Sawant, a resident of Vichumbe Village, Panvel, Navi Mumbai, has been brought to the police station. Further action is being taken.

Ted Turner, CNN founder who revolutionized television news, dies at 87

Gurugram: A portion of Sohna Expressway caves in near Subhash Chowk; a 10-ft-wide sinkhole forces traffic diversion due to sewer erosion.

Gujarat: Illegal abortion, sex determination racket busted at Surat hospital; pharmacist owner booked

An alleged illegal abortion and prenatal sex determination racket operating from a private hospital in Surat has been uncovered in a raid conducted by the district health department, officials said.

The raid was conducted on the orders of Gujarat Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Praful Pansheriya at Mamta Multi-Speciality Hospital in the Varachha area. The hospital was allegedly conducting abortions and prenatal diagnostic tests without required licences, in violation of the PCPNDT Act, Gujarat Clinical Establishments Act, and MTP Act.

An FIR has been registered against hospital owner Ramgopal Khandelwal, who is a pharmacist by qualification and not a licensed medical doctor. The hospital has been sealed. Of the three patients admitted, two were shifted to New Civil Hospital for further treatment.

Minister Pansheriya issued a show-cause notice to the district health authority for negligence, noting that the hospital had been conducting two to five prenatal tests and abortions per day for a long time. He also revealed that the owner was previously arrested for the same offence under the name Shivaay Hospital, which was later renamed.

Fire breaks out at Mumbai's underground T2 Airport Metro Station in Andheri (East); passengers evacuated, nobody hurt: Officials

Odisha: Minor boy rescued after 8 hours from rock crevice in Nayagarh

A minor boy who got stuck in a rock crevice while collecting honey on Choraikhola Hill in Nayagarh district has been rescued after an eight-hour operation by Fire Service teams, officials said.

Delhi government to formulate comprehensive Firefighting Master Plan after rising fire incidents

The Delhi government will formulate a comprehensive Firefighting Master Plan to curb rising fire outbreaks during the scorching summer season and prevent loss of life and property, the Chief Minister's Office said.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed concerned departments to submit all relevant facts and details regarding the matter within 10 days. The government will also launch an awareness campaign to promote fire safety and prevention.

Bhubaneswar, Odisha: A fire broke out at Basanti Villa Apartments on Badagada Laxmisagar Canal Road. The fire has been extinguished.

'Illegal' house of drug peddler razed in Srinagar under Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan

An "illegally constructed" house belonging to a drug peddler was demolished on Wednesday in Srinagar as part of the police's Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan, officials said.

The demolition was carried out in the Palpora Noorbagh area. The accused, Hilal Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Zahidpora Hawal currently living in Pamposh Colony, Palpora Noorbagh, had encroached upon government land, police said.

Sheikh has been named in multiple NDPS cases and is accused of erecting the razed structure with crime proceeds. Investigation revealed that his close associates and family members are also named in multiple drug-related cases across the valley.

India and Vietnam share common outlook in Indo-Pacific region: PM Modi after talks with Vietnamese President To Lam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India and Vietnam have decided to elevate their ties to an “Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”, signalling a major boost to bilateral cooperation.

“Today we are taking our bilateral relations to the level of Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We will push our partnership towards higher goals. In addition to culture, connectivity, and capacity building, our cooperation on security, sustainability, and supply chain resilience will reach new levels. India-Vietnam bilateral trade has doubled in the decade to $16 billion,” PM Modi said.

Addressing a joint press conference, Vietnam President To Lam described the talks as “very successful” and emphasised the importance of deepening ties.

“Mr. Prime Minister and I have had a very successful discussion. We attach importance to the outcomes of the 50 years of relations as well as 10 years of the comprehensive strategic partnership. And we would give high priority to our bilateral relations,” he said.

He added that both leaders shared their perspectives on regional and global issues and reached “a high level of mutual understanding” on the importance of India-Vietnam ties.

“We will link together our strategic vision and development strategies to better address the turmoil of the situation in the world today. On this foundation, we agree to continue to upgrade bilateral relations to an enhanced CSP in the spirit of shared vision, strategic convergence and substantive cooperation, and bring relations between the two countries to greater depth,” To Lam said.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor welcomes Marco Rubio to India, hails growing ties

“Looking forward to welcoming my good friend Secretary Rubio to India! The United States deeply values our growing partnership with India, and we are excited to build even stronger ties that will benefit both our nations and the world,” US Ambassador Sergio Gor said.

Delhi: 14-year-old student found dead in Bhati Mines forest; strangulation suspected, probe on

Delhi | The body of a 14-year-old 9th-grade student was found in the Bhati Mines forest. An investigation is underway, and preliminary findings indicate strangulation as the cause of death. More details awaited: Delhi Police

Jawan found dead in CRPF camp in J&K's Shopian

A CRPF jawan died inside a camp in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Head constable Surinder Singh, who hails form Hyderabad, fell unconscious late Tuesday night at the Zainapora Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Shopian, the officials said.

Singh was shifted to Zainapora hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Police has taken cognizance of the incident and started proceeding to ascertain cause of Singh's death

Fire at a shopping centre in Iran kills 8 people and injures 36

A fire in a shopping centre near Iran's capital killed eight people and injured 36, state TV said Wednesday. The fire started Tuesday in the Arghavan shopping centre in Andisheh town in Tehran province. It was not clear what caused the blaze, and state television IRIB said authorities were investigating.

Television footage showed firefighters battling the flames as large plumes of black smoke billowed from the multistory building.

There was no indication the blaze was linked to the war, where a shaky ceasefire with the United States has been holding for around three weeks.

NIA files chargesheet against 3 accused linked to ISIS terror group

National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed charges against three accused linked to the proscribed ISIS terrorist organisation in a bioterrorism conspiracy aimed at carrying out mass poisoning of innocent people in public spaces.

US: Former FedEx driver sentenced to death for killing 7-year-old girl

A former FedEx driver was sentenced to death on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to killing a 7-year-old girl he took from her Texas home while delivering a Christmas gift.

Jurors in a Fort Worth courtroom decided on Tanner Horner's punishment after hearing about a month of testimony and evidence that included audio of Athena Strand's last moments from inside his delivery van. Horner, 34, pleaded guilty to capital murder last month in the 2022 killing just as his trial began. Athena's body was found two days after she was reported missing from her home in the rural town of Paradise, near Fort Worth.

Jim Baird wins Republican nomination for U.S. House in Indiana's 4th Congressional District, reports AP

'Some individuals will be arrested and charged': Australia on IS-linked citizens returning from Syria

Australia has said several citizens linked to alleged Islamic State members will face arrest upon returning from Syria, as authorities step up legal action against individuals suspected of involvement in extremist activities.

A group of 13 Australians, four women and nine children who had been living in a camp in Syria have made arrangements to return home, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed.

Police said they have gathered evidence in Syria as part of investigations into possible offences under Australian law, including travelling to prohibited areas and involvement in slave trade.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said: “Some individuals will be arrested and charged.”

Australia has previously maintained that it would not assist in the repatriation of citizens linked to alleged Islamic State members.

2 killed, 3 injured in back-to-back shootings near Dallas; suspect held over business dispute

Two people were killed and three others injured in back-to-back shootings in a suburb north of Dallas on Tuesday, with police saying the suspect targeted victims over business disputes.