Month: November 2025

The Rouse Avenue Court on Friday issued a notice on ex-Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s transfer applications in three cases — the Land for Job CBI and ED case and the IRCTC hotel ED case (LARA Project).

Principal District and Session Judge Dinesh Bhat issued notice to the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) and listed the pleas for hearing on December 6.

Advocate Varun Kumar appeared for Rabri Devi. Rabri Devi, along with her husband Lalu Prasad Yadav and son Tejaswi Yadav, is facing trial in the IRCTC CBI case, which is at the stage of prosecution evidence. She has sought transfer of the cases, citing bias and unfairness on the part of the concerned court.

Earlier, the Rouse Avenue court on November 26 issued notice on the transfer application moved by Rabri Devi in the IRCTC hotels corruption (CBI) case. The matter was listed for December 6. The IRCTC case pertains to alleged corruption in the tender of two IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister. The CBI has alleged that Lalu Prasad Yadav got three acres of prime land through a benami company in return for the deal

The special judge had reserved an order on the charge in the Land for job CBI case. She is also seeking a transfer of the cases to another Judge.

Senior advocate DP Singh had appeared through video conferencing for CBI and submitted that the petitioner has not named ED and other respondents. Therefore, the petitioner cannot seek the transfer of all four cases through a single petition.

ED is not made a party, but they are also seeking the transfer of ED’s cases, senior advocate DP Singh had said.

The court had asked the counsel for the petitioner, “Are you seeking transfer in all 4 cases?” In response, Senior counsel Maninder Singh had submitted that he will file a separate petition for the transfer of the ED case and a plea for the Land for job case.

There was a clear bias and unfairness on the part of the concerned court, Senior Counsel for Rabri Devi submitted. The IRCTC case is at the stage of Prosecution evidence, and the trial is going on a day-to-day basis.

The application against the day-to-day trial has already been dismissed by the special CBI Judge Vishal Gogne.

The Rouse Avenue court on October 13 framed charges against former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejaswi Yadav, and others for criminal Conspiracy and other offences in the IRCTC hotel corruption case.

This case pertains to alleged corruption in the tendering process for two IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri during the tenure of Lalu Prasad Yadav as Railway Minister.

Special judge (CBI) Vishal Gogne had framed charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejaswi Yadav, and other accused.

The court framed charges under different sections for cheating, conspiracy, and corruption-related offences.

However, all the accused are charged with criminal conspiracy. The order was pronounced in the open court, and the detailed order is to be uploaded by the court. The court said there is sufficient ground to frame charges against all 14 accused.

Lalu Prasad Yadav has pleaded not guilty and said that he will face the trial. Rabri Devi and Tejaswi Yadav are charged with Section 420, 120 B of IPC for the offence of cheating and conspiracy. They denied the charge and said they will face the trial.

On September 24, the court had directed all the accused persons to appear in person. This case concerns allegations of corruption in the allotment of maintenance work for IRCTC hotel tenders during the tenure of Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The Court had reserved the order on May 29 after hearing submissions by the counsel for the Investigation Agency and for the accused persons on a day-to-day basis.

On March 1, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had concluded its arguments on charges against former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejaswi Yadav, former Minister Prem Chand Gupta and other accused persons. There are 14 accused in this case.

This case is connected with a period when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Railway Minister from 2004-2009.

It is alleged that the maintenance contract for two IRCTC hotels, namely BNR Ranchi and BNR Puri, was transferred to Sujata Hotel, a private firm owned by Vijay and Vinay Kochar.

The CBI has alleged that in return for this deal, Lalu Prasad Yadav got three acres of prime land through a benami company.

On July 7, 2017, the CBI filed an FIR against Lalu. The agency also raided 12 locations linked to Lalu and his family members in Patna, New Delhi, Ranchi and Gurgaon.

On the other hand, it was submitted on behalf of Former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav that there is no material to frame charges against him in the IRCTC corruption case, and he deserves discharge in this case.

Senior advocate Maninder Singh, counsel for Lalu Prasad Yadav, argued that there are no irregularities on Lalu Prasad Yadav’s part. The tenders were awarded fairly. There is no insufficient material to frame charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav. He deserved to be discharged of the charges.

The CBI had lodged an FIR on July 5, 2017. A charge sheet was filed in April 2018.

CBI had invoked section 120B read with 420 of IPC, section 13 (2) read with 13 (1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. (ANI)

The number of people who have been killed in the devastating fire at an apartment complex in Hong Kong rose to 128, with as many as 200 people still missing, CNN reported on Friday, citing officials, as firefighters brought the blaze under control 42 hours after it ignited.

According to CNN, at least 79 people were injured in the fire which rapidly spread through multiple buildings in a public housing estate in the Tai Po neighborhood, Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang said during a press conference Friday.

He warned that the death toll could rise further as there are about 200 people whose situation is unknown. As per him, this figure includes a number of dead bodies yet to be identified.

Wang Fuk Court, an affordable housing complex completed in 1983, houses around 4,000 residents in 1,984 units. When the fire broke out, all eight buildings were enclosed in green mesh and scaffolding as part of a major renovation project. The fire started from the scaffolding outside one building and spread to six others, Xinhua reported.

Hong Kong Police on Thursday arrested three men linked to the renovation project on suspicion of “gross negligence” and for suspected manslaughter.

Officials said early findings indicate that the polystyrene boards and other construction materials, such as nets and canvas, did not meet safety standards, CNN reported.

“These polystyrene boards are extremely inflammable, and the fire spread very rapidly,” Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung said, as quoted by CNN, adding that their presence on residential windows was “unusual” and had been referred to the police for further investigation.

Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption on Thursday launched a probe into alleged corruption in the renovation project.

Xinhua reported that the HKSAR government has ordered a city-wide safety inspection on all scaffolding and construction materials used in renovation projects for buildings, according to the chief executive. (ANI)

Edutech founder Byju Raveendran has claimed that he will submit clinching evidence before the US Courts, proving that GLAS Trust and the Resolution Professional (RP) repeatedly misled the Delaware Court, Indian & other Courts, and the public by falsely alleging that USD 533 million (“Alpha Funds”) was diverted by the Founders.

This evidence he claimed, will be submitted as a part of a full appeal against the entire order of Delaware Insolvency Court of November 20, 2025 and as part of the claim to be filed against relevant parties previously announced with a value of over $2.5 billion.

Additionally, Byju Raveendran has separately filed a motion in the Delaware Bankruptcy Court to correct what he says is the Court’s premature damages judgement. This Motion, the edutech founder claims, establishes that the damages ruling was premature and issued without any debate on the value and GLAS TRUST withdrew its request for a determination of damages at the end of September prior to the public hearing.

According to a statement from the Edutech founder, the Court appears to have inadvertently included a damages award when determining to sanction Byju Raveendran in its default judgment rendered merely as a sanction for failing to provide documents and information on an expedited basis. He further claimed that the Court determined no liability on the merits of any of the claims of GLAS Trust and Byju Raveendran provided no defense against those claims.

A statement from the edutech founder also claims that a review of information in the possession of GLAS Trust since at least April 2025 indicates that the monies lent to Alpha (and sent by OCI to companies owned by Byju Raveendran) were indeed invested in Think & Learn as Byju Raveendran has claimed all along.

This new evidence he claims, includes bank statements, emails, intermediary transfer trails, and documentary admissions obtained by GLAS and in the possession of GLAS in response to subpoenas and other evidence in US Court proceedings and not transparently disclosed to the Court, Byju Raveendran or the public.

Sharing this evidence with the media, Byju Raveendran said, “For two years, GLAS Trust has attacked my integrity and the other Founders by repeating a story they knew was false. Today, their own documents expose the truth. The funds were used for the benefit of Think & Learn and our impressive expansion. It is simply outrageous that I have been attacked in this manner and more importantly that BYJU’s customers and employees have been impacted by this attack based on pure greed of these Lenders and GLAS Trust. These parties will now be brought before the Courts and be required to answer some very tough questions. I wish I could say more but have been advised to limit my comments due to the litigation that I and the other Founders will file in the very near future against these parties.”

A litigation advisor for Byju Raveendran added, “Since early June of this year, the Delaware Court has been advised that GLAS Trust was misleading the Court in its submissions by claiming that it did not know how the Alpha Loan proceeds were used. These same allegations have been made by the RP of Think & Learn in Court submissions in India. The RP refused to provide information to Byju Raveendran that was requested by Byju Raveendran as ordered by the Delaware Court. GLAS Trust & Alpha did not inform the Delaware Court that the alleged ‘missing’ funds were not missing at all but instead were used by Alpha and Think & Learn though an investment in shares of Think & Learn. Think & Learn guaranteed the Loan itself and has been ordered to pay damages in other Delaware Court proceedings.”

The Edutech Founders’ legal advisors have indicated that multi-billion-dollar defamation and damages lawsuits (estimated at over USD 2.5 billion) will be filed within 30 days . (ANI)

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued a fresh set of guidelines in wake of the shooting of two national guards by an Afghan person on the eve of Thanksgiving in the United States. The new policy guidance would authorise USCIS officials to consider country-specific factors from 19 countries when reviewing immigration requests.

In an official statement released on Thursday (local time), the USCIS said, that it will consider relevant country-specific factors when using its broad discretionary authorities regarding aliens from 19 high-risk countries after halting refugee resettlement from Afghanistan and the entry of Afghan nationals in the first year of the Trump administration.

This comes in the wake of the shooting of two National Guard service members in Washington, DC, Wednesday by an Afghan national.

USCIS, which comes under the Department of Homeland Security said in the statement that the policy guidance is effective immediately and applies to requests pending or filed on or after November 27.

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said, “Yesterday’s horrific events make it abundantly clear the Biden administration spent the last four years dismantling basic vetting and screening standards, prioritizing the rapid resettlement of aliens from high-risk countries over the safety of American citizens. The Trump administration takes the opposite approach. Effective immediately, I am issuing new policy guidance that authorizes USCIS officers to consider country-specific factors as significant negative factors when reviewing immigration requests. American lives come first.”

In a post on X, he mentioned that US would rigorously now re-examine Green Cards issued to aliens from every country of concern.

USCIS said in the statement that the updated guidance, including consideration of country-specific factors, will further strengthen USCIS’ implementation of President Trump’s Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10949, Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, and allow USCIS officers to more meaningfully assess whether an alien is a threat to public safety and national security.

US President Donald Trump has announced the demise of one of the two National Guard soldiers wounded in the recent shooting that occurred blocks away from the White House.

The deceased National Guard soldier has been identified as US Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who hailed from West Virginia.

“Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the guardsmen that we’re talking about, highly respected, young, magnificent person, started service in June of 2023, outstanding in every way. She’s just passed away,” CNN reported Trump as saying in a Thanksgiving call to service members on Thursday (local time).”She’s no longer with us. She’s looking down at us right now,” Trump said.

“As you know, the other young man is fighting for his life. He’s in very bad shape. He’s fighting for his life. And hopefully we’ll get better news with respect to him,” CNN reported Trump as saying while referring to 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, the other victim in Wednesday’s shooting.

Earlier, Trump denounced the shooting of two National Guard soldiers near the White House, describing it as a “horrific assault” and “an act of terror,” as federal agencies continued to investigate the attack that took place a day before Thanksgiving.

The deceased National Guard soldier has been identified as US Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who hailed from West Virginia.

The shooting occurred at close range in central Washington, prompting a swift reaction from the administration. Addressing reporters, Trump criticised former president Joe Biden’s earlier immigration policies, claiming the suspect had entered the United States from Afghanistan in 2021, and referring to the Asian country as a “hellhole.”

Authorities identified the accused as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in 2021. Officials believe he acted alone. Citing information from Homeland Security, Trump again noted that the suspect was Afghan. (ANI)

Adam Burakowski, Associate Professor at the Polish Academy of Sciences and Former Ambassador of Poland to India and South Africa, said that the relations between South Africa and the United States (US) have been deteriorating for a long time and were not initiated during Donald Trump’s tenure.

Speaking to ANI, Burakowski argued that Trump merely continued on the line of the previous administration, but with additional points given his accusations of South Africa “disrespecting human rights” of the white minority population residing there.

“The US-South African relations have been deteriorating for a long time. It didn’t just start during Trump’s term. When he became President, he continued the previous administration’s line but added some very important points. First is the accusation of Donald Trump against South Africa of not respecting the human rights of the white minority population in South Africa, the associate professor said.

He held Billionaire Elon Musk responsible for Trump’s “harsh” statement against South Africa’s current government. Musk hails from South Africa and has been critical of the regime there.

One South African person has played an important role in the Donald Trump administration. Elon Musk. He was born in South Africa, and he is interested in South African politics. He’s very critical of South Africa’s current government, and he influenced Donald Trump to make even more severe statements about this relationship,” Burakowski said.

He further argued that India continues to play a key role in the Group of 20, where it has presented itself as a “dynamic country” during its G20 presidency.

Burakowski said that India’s proposal for the African Union to be a permanent member of the G20 was accepted in 2023, which allowed the latter full rights. He added that India’s initiative reflected its desire to be the voice of the global south in the G20.

“India continues to play a very important role in the G20. We should remember that when India held the G20 presidency, it was a major event. India presented itself to the world as a very dynamic country. India proposed that the African Union be a permanent member of the G20, a proposal that was finally accepted. So in the G20 summit in Johannesburg, we had the African Union as a full member with full rights. This was the initiative of India because India wants to play the role of the voice of the global south in the G20,” the Professor said.

During this Johannesburg summit of G20, we saw that the PM Narendra Modi was very active, meeting many people, and also meeting with the Indian community in South Africa and playing one of the major roles in this whole summit,” he added. (ANI)

US President Donald Trump has announced the demise of one of the two National Guard soldiers wounded in the recent shooting that occurred blocks away from the White House.

The deceased National Guard soldier has been identified as US Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who hailed from West Virginia.

“Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the guardsmen that we’re talking about, highly respected, young, magnificent person, started service in June of 2023, outstanding in every way. She’s just passed away,” CNN reported Trump as saying in a Thanksgiving call to service members on Thursday (local time).

“She’s no longer with us. She’s looking down at us right now,” Trump said.

“As you know, the other young man is fighting for his life. He’s in very bad shape. He’s fighting for his life. And hopefully we’ll get better news with respect to him,” CNN reported Trump as saying while referring to 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, the other victim in Wednesday’s shooting.

Earlier, Trump denounced the shooting of two National Guard soldiers near the White House, describing it as a “horrific assault” and “an act of terror,” as federal agencies continued to investigate the attack that took place a day before Thanksgiving.The deceased National Guard soldier has been identified as US Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who hailed from West Virginia.

The shooting occurred at close range in central Washington, prompting a swift reaction from the administration. Addressing reporters, Trump criticised former president Joe Biden’s earlier immigration policies, claiming the suspect had entered the United States from Afghanistan in 2021, and referring to the asian country as a “hellhole.”

Authorities identified the accused as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in 2021. Officials believe he acted alone. Citing information from Homeland Security, Trump again noted that the suspect was Afghan.

“Earlier today on the eve of the thanksgiving holiday, two members of the National Guard serving in Washington DC were shot at point blank range in a monstrous, ambush styled attack just steps away from the White House,” he said.

“This heinous assault was an act of evil and an act of hatred and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation, it was a crime against humanity. The hearts of all Americans tonight are with those two members of the West Virginian National Guards and their families,” he added.

Trump said the country was feeling both sorrow and determination after the attack, stating that “we’re also filled with righteous anger and ferocious resolve.”

The shooting happened on Thursday, just blocks from the White House, in what officials have described as a deliberate act.(ANI)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday issued an orange alert for north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts, as cyclonic storm ‘Ditwah’ continued its north-northwestward movement over coastal Sri Lanka and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal.

In a press bulletin, IMD said that the system, which has intensified with strong winds and the potential for extremely heavy rainfall, is expected to reach the southwest Bay of Bengal near the North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early morning of November 30, prompting widespread advisories for coastal residents and fishermen.

According to the IMD, Ditwah moved at a speed of 10 kmph during the past six hours and at 0230 hrs IST on Friday lay centred near latitude 8.1°N and longitude 81.2°E, about 50 km south of Trincomalee, 70 km northwest of Batticaloa, 220 km north of Hambantota, 460 km south-southeast of Puducherry and 560 km south-southeast of Chennai.

The cyclone is likely to continue tracking north-northwestwards along the Sri Lanka coast and into the adjoining sea before emerging into the Bay of Bengal.

Heavy Rainfall is forecast for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal

On 27 November 2025 (Day 1), light to moderate rain occurred at isolated places over Tamil Nadu, with heavier activity over South Tamil Nadu. Thunderstorms and lightning appeared at one or two locations. Heavy rainfall was recorded in Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukkottai and Nagapattinam districts.

On 28 November 2025 (Day 2), light to moderate rain is likely at many places over South Tamil Nadu and at a few places in the northern parts of the state, Puducherry and Karaikal. Extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places is forecast over Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Pudukkottai districts.

Heavy to very heavy rain is expected over Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Tiruchirappalli, Mayiladuthurai, Ariyalur and Karaikal. Heavy rain is likely in isolated pockets of Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Perambalur, Cuddalore and Puducherry.

On 29 November 2025 (Day 3), widespread rain is expected across Tamil Nadu, especially in the northern districts. Heavy to very heavy rain with extremely heavy spells may occur in Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Villuppuram, Chengalpattu and Puducherry and Karaikal.

Thanjavur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Ranipet, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chennai may also receive heavy to very heavy rainfall.

Heavy rain is forecast for isolated places in Pudukkottai, Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tirupattur, Karur and Namakkal.

On 30 November 2025 (Day 4), light to moderate rain is likely over northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast over Tiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Ranipet. Vellore, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Villuppuram, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri districts and Puducherry may see isolated heavy rain.

On 1 December 2025 (Day 5), light to moderate rain is expected at isolated places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in a few pockets.

Coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal experienced strong surface winds reaching 35-45 kmph on November 27. On November 28, these winds are forecast to strengthen further to 40-50 kmph at several coastal locations.

In the Gulf of Mannar and the Comorin area, gale-force winds of 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph are currently prevailing. These winds will intensify to 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph by Friday morning. Between the morning of November 29 and the morning of November 30, wind speeds may rise further to 80-90 kmph with gusts up to 100 kmph, before gradually decreasing afterwards.

Along and off the north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, squally winds of 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph are active and are expected to intensify into gale winds of 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph until Friday morning.

From the morning of November 29 to the evening of November 30, winds may peak at 70-80 kmph with gusts up to 90 kmph. A gradual decrease in wind speed is expected to begin on December 1.

Along and off the south Tamil Nadu coast, squally winds of 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph will increase to 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from November 29 until midnight on November 30.

Over the southwest Bay of Bengal, gale winds of 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph will intensify to 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph, with peak winds of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph likely between the morning of November 29 and the morning of November 30.

In the west-central Bay of Bengal and along the south Andhra Pradesh coast, squally winds of 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph will strengthen to 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph from Friday evening. Gale winds of 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph are expected from the evening of November 29 until the morning of December 1.

Over the southeast Arabian Sea and along the Lakshadweep and Kerala coasts, squally weather with winds of 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely on November 28 and 29.

The IMD has strictly advised fishermen not to venture into the southwest Bay of Bengal, the Gulf of Mannar, the Comorin area, and along and off the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast till December 1. Those already at sea have been urged to return to the nearest coast immediately. (ANI)

Pakistan is going through its darkest time and witnessing “Hitler-era-like repression,” with citizens being killed, beaten, and jailed without accountability, said Noreen Niazi, sister of jailed and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Noreen Niazi called Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir a “dictator” and described Shehbaz Sharif’s government as the most “unpopular” in the country’s history.

“Pakistan is going through its darkest period. We used to read stories of tyrants; now we are living one. People are abducted and killed. I met a young man in Peshawar–shot in the head on November 26 last year–paralysed, his body destroyed. There are countless such cases,” she said.

“Sometimes I feel like the stories we heard about the Hitler era–the way people were dragged into basements–are repeating here,” she added.

Noreen’s brother, Imran Khan, the patron-in-chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been in jail since August 2023 in multiple cases. The government has placed an undeclared ban on meetings with him for over one month.

Noreen Niazi, and Imran Khan’s other sisters, Aleema Khan and Dr Uzma Khan, camped outside Adiala Jail along with other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members after being denied a meeting with him for a month. They were reportedly attacked by Pakistan’s Punjab Police last week.

“We have been going there for the last four weeks, and they are not letting us meet him. This is why such rumours are spreading (that he has been killed),” she said.

When asked about the action meted out against her, Noreen called out the police for their “misbehaviour.”

“For the first time in Pakistan, they don’t care whether it’s a child, an elderly person–nothing. They have been given the licence to assault anyone they find. As if no one will question them,” she said.

She warned that public frustration is mounting. Citizens are increasingly fed up with the government and the incarceration of Imran Khan, and even a small trigger could set off widespread protests.

“I think just one spark is enough–then even they won’t know to what extent people will go. The oppression is too much. People are coming out, and they will continue to come out. Even today, people are sitting there. We were also there on Tuesday till midnight. I think just one spark is enough–then even they won’t know to what extent people will go. The oppression is too much,” Niazi said.

“They are very unpopular people. They have no public support. Imran Khan’s strength is public support–people from every background stand with him. No one stands with this government. People are angry and fed up. When you oppress your own people, they will never support you,” she added.

Niazi explained that Shehbaz Sharif’s position is largely backed by powerful forces behind the scenes, which she believes is why the current system in Pakistan continues despite public discontent.

“They lost all elections. They inflated numbers–if someone got 1,400 votes, they made it 101,400. They stole everything. That is why they are weak. And the weaker they are, the more force they use. They have the support of foreign forces,” she said.

She expressed disappointment in the international community, saying that foreign powers are aware of human rights violations but choose not to act. “Pakistanis abroad have a voice and freedom that those inside the country lack, and they should use it to speak out against oppression,” she added. (ANI)

At least 83 people have been killed and more than 100 injured so far after the massive fire swept through an extensive public housing complex in Hong Kong, marking one of the city’s deadliest disasters in decades, CNN reported, citing local authorities and Hong Kong media.

According to CNN, the inferno, which broke out on Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district, continued burning into Thursday, with firefighters warning that extreme heat and falling debris severely hindered rescue efforts.

More than 200 residents remain unaccounted for, CNN reported, citing Hong Kong’s public broadcaster, RTHK.

Firefighters rescued a man alive from the 16th floor on Thursday evening, even as several parts of the complex continued to smoulder more than 24 hours after the fire began.

The complex–home to over 4,000 residents, many of them elderly–was undergoing renovation and was fully wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and safety netting, a traditional construction method widely used across Hong Kong. Authorities are now investigating whether flammable materials used in the renovation, including polystyrene boards found blocking windows, may have accelerated the spread of the blaze, CNN reported.

Hong Kong Police on Thursday arrested three men linked to the renovation project on suspicion of “gross negligence”.

Officials said early findings indicate that the polystyrene boards and other construction materials, such as nets and canvas, did not meet safety standards, as reported by CNN.

“These polystyrene boards are extremely inflammable, and the fire spread very rapidly,” Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung said, as quoted by CNN, adding that their presence on residential windows was “unusual” and had been referred to the police for further investigation.

The fire began shortly before 3 PM on Wednesday (local time) at Wang Cheong House, a 32-storey tower within the eight-block estate.

By the time emergency crews arrived, the scaffolding was already engulfed, and the flames leapt from one tower to another, turning the incident into a multi-building disaster affecting at least seven of the eight blocks, CNN reported.

More than 800 firefighters, supported by 128 fire trucks and 57 ambulances, were deployed. A 37-year-old firefighter, identified as Ho Wai-ho, died from injuries sustained during efforts to contain the blaze.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said that while most fires across the buildings were “basically under control” by Thursday evening, the full extent of the loss remains unclear.

Authorities are probing why the surrounding towers were not evacuated more swiftly as the fire spread.

Hundreds of residents have been displaced in a city already grappling with a severe housing shortage. The government has opened temporary shelters and announced a “one social worker per household” policy to ensure personalised assistance for affected families, as reported by CNN.

Visibly shaken residents gathered near the estate on Thursday to assess the damage.

This is believed to be Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since World War II. The previous worst peacetime fire was the 1996 Garley Building blaze, which killed 41 people.

The disaster has triggered intense scrutiny of Hong Kong’s long-standing reliance on bamboo scaffolding–valued for its flexibility but also flammable and prone to weathering.

The city’s Development Bureau recently mandated that at least half of all new public projects use metal scaffolding, a move that has drawn mixed reactions.

A citywide inspection of scaffolding and construction materials at renovation sites has now been ordered. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered his condolences to the victims of the Wang Fuk Court tragedy, Xinhua reported.

He extended his sympathies to the victims’ families and those affected by the incident and called for maximum efforts to extinguish the fire and reduce casualties and damage.

According to Xinhua, Xi closely monitored the situation and requested regular updates on rescue operations and casualties and instructed the director of the Liaison Office of the Government in Hong Kong to convey his condolences and support to Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said he was deeply saddened by the loss of life, extending his condolences to the families of those who died and to the injured. (ANI)