Month: December 2025

Amid heavy snowfall, a large-scale pileup involving more than 50 vehicles on an expressway in Japan’s Gunma Prefecture has left at least two people dead and 26 others injured, Kyodo News reported.

The incident occurred on Friday evening, around 7:30 pm (local time) on the outbound carriageway of the Kan-etsu Expressway in Minakami, northwest of Tokyo.

Police said snowy conditions turned the road surface icy, causing several vehicles to skid out of control. This led to a chain-reaction crash spanning roughly 300 metres, according to Kyodo News.

Officials said the accident was triggered when a truck slammed into another truck that had stopped following an earlier single-vehicle crash.

The impact escalated rapidly, involving dozens of vehicles. At least 10 vehicles caught fire, and firefighters took more than seven hours to bring the blaze under control.

Police confirmed that a 77-year-old woman from Tokyo, who was seated in the rear of a car driven by her family members, was among those killed.

Another body was recovered from the driver’s seat of a large truck.

Of the 26 injured, five were reported to be in serious condition, while 21 sustained minor injuries, Kyodo News reported.

In the aftermath, a section of the expressway was shut down as severely damaged vehicles, some burned beyond recognition, remained strewn across the outbound lanes.

At the time of the crash, motorists had reportedly been advised to restrict their speed to 50 kilometres per hour due to snowfall.

Recounting the chaos, a truck driver in his 60s said his vehicle struck the median after he attempted to avoid a car ahead.

He also said he heard multiple blasts during the collision. “The ice made it difficult for me to control the steering wheel,” he said. “I feared for my life.”

Authorities had issued a heavy snow warning late Friday, coinciding with the start of the year-end and New Year holidays across Japan.

Officials said the severe snowfall played a significant role in triggering the accident, adding that sections of the expressway remained closed for investigation and to clear the wreckage.

Meanwhile, several netizens expressed shock over the deadly pileup on the Kan-etsu Expressway, noting that Japan is widely regarded as having some of the safest road networks in the world. (ANI)

Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday called the Election Commission of India (ECI) a “WhatsApp Commission” and demanded that the constitutional body should apologise to the people of West Bengal, claiming that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive was to “harass” the state.

He also highlighted the reported deaths of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the SIR exercise. The draft voters’ list in West Bengal was published under SIR last week.

“During the SIR, 45 people lost their lives, and six were hospitalised. 29 BLOs (Booth Level Officers) attempted suicide. We asked the EC (Election Commission) five basic questions. But we didn’t get a single answer from the EC. The EC told the media that they had given the answers,” Banerjee said while addressing a presser here.

He further questioned the ECI for sending a micro-observer to West Bengal and not to Gujarat.

“SIR is a process to harass West Bengal. You send a micro-observer to Bengal, but why don’t you send a micro-observer to Gujarat? It is being selectively implemented in Bengal. According to the EC’s draft list, approximately 80 per cent of the data mapping has been completed, so why did the EC previously say that it was not possible to ascertain 40-50 per cent of the mapping? The EC should apologise to the people of Bengal. All policies are being made via WhatsApp; this is a WhatsApp Commission,” Banerjee said.

The TMC MP informed that he will meet Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on December 31 to discuss the details of the SIR list. He accused the ECI of hiding the “correct list” and of being associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Centre.

Banerjee also flagged the “flaws” in the ECI application, claiming that one Seema Khanna is managing the ECI app.

“I will personally meet Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi on December 31 and discuss the details of the SIR list. Why is the EC hiding the correct list? You are the Election Commission of India, not the Election Commission of the BJP. If you had a list of Bangladeshis, release the list; otherwise, apologise to the people of Bengal. Who is Seema Khanna, who is managing the ECI app? We have screenshots of her admitting flaws in the ECI app. If we don’t get a response from the ECI by December 31st, we will gherao the ECI,” Banerjee said. (ANI)

From former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and actor Sanjay Dutt to Karisma Kapoor, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s birthday bash turned into a star-studded affair with several prominent personalities joining the celebration.

As the ‘Dabangg’ star celebrated his 60th birthday, close friends and family gathered to mark the special occasion and extend their heartfelt wishes. Salman’s parents, Salim Khan and Salma Khan, arrived at the venue.

His sister, Arpita Khan Sharma, and her husband, Aayush Sharma, were also seen joining the celebrations. Arbaaz Khan’s son Arhaan Khan arrived at the farmhouse alongside Sohail Khan’s elder son, Nirvaan Khan. Arbaaz Khan and his wife Sshura Khan were also present at the gathering. Alvira Khan Agnihotri also graced the evening.

Several well-known personalities from the film industry attended the celebration, including Bollywood stars Karisma Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Mahesh Manjrekar, Huma Qureshi, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jackky Bhagnani, and Anup Soni.

Also seen arriving were Aditya Roy Kapur, Pulkit Samrat, Zaheer Iqbal, Varun Sharma, Sangeeta Bijlani, Huma Qureshi and Juhi Babbar. Producers Nikhil Dwivedi and composer Sajid Ali were also spotted at the venue. Randeep Hooda arrived with his wife, Lin Laishram.

Salman stepped out for a brief moment to cut a cake with paparazzi, amidst heavy security around him. In the ANI visuals, the star is seen cutting a red-and-white cake as paparazzi sing the birthday song. Dressed casually in a T-shirt and blue denims, Salman seemed to be ageing in reverse as he sported a clean-shaven look.

On the work front, Salman will be seen donning the Indian Army uniform in Apoorva Lakhia’s directorial ‘Battle of Galwan’, which is based on the Galwan Valley clashes at the India-China border in 2020. Twenty Indian soldiers died during the Galwan Valley clash on June 16, 2020, five years ago, while the Chinese side also faced heavy casualties.

Following the clashes, tensions between India and China rose, with the army deploying formations near the Galwan Valley, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, and undertaking activities such as surveying border areas to prevent “possible” Chinese aggression. Actor Chitrangda Singh has been paired opposite Salman in the film. (ANI)

The ‘Drishyam 3’ producer Kumar Mangat Pathak on Saturday confirmed that he has sent a legal notice to the actor Akshaye Khanna for allegedly walking out of the film ‘Drishyam 3’ after accepting the signing amount and committing dates for the project.

While speaking to ANI, Pathak alleged that actor Akshay Khanna exited the film because of his demand to wear a “wig,” which didn’t align with the film’s continuity and schedule.

When asked about the reason behind his legal action, Mangat Pathak said, “He signed our film, he signed the script, took the signing amount, signed the agreement, and then he walked out of the film. We have sent him a legal notice. If we don’t get a response by the end of the day, our legal team will take action, and we will take action in court.”

“We had an agreement, we had given the money to make the dress, he had given us the dates, suddenly he felt that he had to grow his hair, whereas the film is a continuation film. The day the old film ends, it starts at night, so how will he grow his hair in 4 hours? Then he agreed, but again he felt he had to grow his hair, so he created confusion and left the film. The people around him put it in his mind that by wearing a wig, you will look very beautiful,” Pathak said.

‘Drishyam 3’ producer aims for compensation from this legal action after the actor’s alleged abrupt exit from the film, citing financial losses.

“Now, we will move to the court, and we will demand compensation from them, because we had a set in Yash Raj, so the cost of the set, the other losses that we have incurred, if there is any loss, then we will definitely ask for it and will pressurise for our reputation,” said Kumar Mangat Pathak.

Actor Akshaye Khanna has not yet issued a statement on the matter.

After the fallout with Akshaye Khanna, the producer said that they have added Jaideep Ahlawat to the lead cast.

“We have cast Jaideep Ahlawat, we have added a new character. He is doing now, he will do what Akshay was doing, but he will come in a new form, and we are presenting him in a very good way,” said Mangat Pathak.

Drishyam 3 is slated to release in theatres worldwide on October 2, 2026. It stars Ajay Devgn in the lead role. The film is directed by Abhishek Pathak. (ANI)

The teaser of Salman Khan’s upcoming film ‘Battle of Galwan’ has been unveiled on the occasion of ‘Bhaijaan’s’ birthday.

Taking to his Instagram account on Saturday, Salman Khan shared the teaser for the film. The teaser shows Salman playing an Indian Army officer. The teaser shows him in a serious and restrained look. The visuals show rough terrain, cold weather, and close combat scenes, giving a glimpse of the challenges faced by soldiers at high altitude.

Singer Stebin Ben’s voice is heard in parts of the teaser. The background score is composed by Himesh Reshammiya.

Take a look at the teaser

On the work front, Salman Khan will be seen next in director Apoorva Lakhia’s film ‘Battle of Galwan’. In the film, Salman will be seen wearing an Indian Army uniform. The film is based on the Galwan Valley clash between India and China in 2020, where 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives.

Following the clashes, tensions between India and China rose, with the army deploying formations near the Galwan Valley, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, and undertaking activities such as surveying border areas to prevent “possible” Chinese aggression.

Actor Chitrangda Singh has been paired opposite Salman in the film. (ANI)

The victim of the 2017 Unnao rape case, along with her mother, met officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the national capital on Saturday and submitted a complaint alleging that the investigating officer (IO) colluded with a judge to ensure the accused side wins.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the victim said she had sought to meet a senior official but was told it was a holiday and that she should return on Monday. However, she said a junior official accepted her complaint.

“The junior official has received my application and said that the senior official will meet on Monday,” the victim told ANI.

Alleging serious misconduct, she claimed that the Investigating Officer (IO) had acted against her interests. “The complaint is that the investigating officer has wronged me. He colluded with the judge to ensure that the other party won, so that the rape victim would lose, her courage would be broken, and she would not be able to pursue the case further,” the victim pointed out.

The victim’s mother also spoke to ANI, stating that they are ready to go to the Supreme Court. “They have received my complaint. Now we have to see when the authority meets us. We trust the Supreme Court,” she said.

She further added that while the CBI is handling the matter, the family’s faith would depend on whether the agency stands by them during legal proceedings. “The CBI is there, but I will only trust them if they stand by my side in the Supreme Court,” the victim’s mother added.

Earlier today, the Unnao rape survivor and her mother voiced deep anguish and mistrust toward the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday, even as the agency moved the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s order suspending the life sentence of former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and granting him bail.

Reacting to the development, the victim’s mother questioned the CBI’s intent, saying trust would come only through direct engagement. “If CBI meets us, only then will we trust them. How can we trust them otherwise? We have not discussed CBI. We have only said that the Investigating Officer met them. He was talking to Kuldeep Sengar’s daughter. When we asked him whether he knew the victim, he said, ‘Why would I know her?’ He said this in a crowded court,” she told ANI.

The survivor herself delivered a scathing attack, accusing the agency of failing to stand firmly with her during crucial stages of the case. “Had the CBI stood with my lawyer, we wouldn’t have had to see this day. We would have won, and they would have lost,” she said.

Describing the impact of the case on her family, the survivor added, “Their family is bursting crackers. But ask my family. My father was killed. My husband and I were fired from our jobs. What will we eat? Where do we go? I have two newborns.”

The survivor also alleged intimidation and injustice, claiming that while her family suffered, the accused was given leniency. “This is an injustice that one family was intimidated while the other person was given a free pass,” she said, making sharp allegations against the judiciary.

Earlier on Friday, the CBI filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s December 23, 2025, order that suspended Sengar’s life sentence pending appeal and granted him bail.

Sengar was convicted in December 2019 in the Unnao rape case and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25 lakh. Though granted bail in this case, he will continue to remain in jail as he is serving a 10-year sentence in another CBI case related to murder.

The High Court’s decision has drawn sharp criticism from the victim’s family and opposition parties, intensifying pressure for Supreme Court intervention. (ANI)

An indefinite strike by resident doctors began across Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, a day after they collectively went on mass leave on Friday. The protest follows the termination of a resident doctor after a video showing him allegedly assaulting a patient in Shimla went viral in recent days.

After the incident, the Himachal Pradesh government terminated the resident doctor. Following discussions with the Chief Minister, resident doctors had expressed hope on Friday that the termination order against the doctor would be revoked. However, on Friday evening, the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) decided to proceed with an indefinite strike starting today.

Resident doctors and various doctors’ organisations across almost all hospitals in Himachal Pradesh have supported the strike. As a result, OPD services remained shut at most places, while at locations where OPDs functioned, the number of doctors was very limited.

In the state capital, Shimla, the Resident Doctors’ Association, along with resident doctors’ associations from other districts, has jointly participated in the strike.

Speaking to the media, President of the Resident Doctors’ Association, IGMC Shimla, Dr Sohil Sharma, said that revoking the termination of the resident doctor is the only demand.

“All the resident doctors’ associations and today even the doctors from our dental college are standing in support of us. Our only request to the government is that the termination of Dr Raghav Nirula should be revoked. The Chief Minister has told us that there will be an inquiry into the entire matter,” said Dr Sohil.

However, he added, “The message sent to resident doctors and the entire medical community is alarming. The resentment and harassment are so high that everyone feels that if, within six hours, you are suspended, and within 48 hours you are terminated, a 10-year-long career comes to an abrupt end.”

Dr Sharma further said, “If someone is terminated within 24 to 48 hours, can that termination not be revoked during this period? This has been our request to the government earlier and will remain so in the future.”

He emphasised that every incident has two sides. “From day one, I have been saying that there are always two sides to an incident. Why was there provocation? Why were such circumstances created? After all, doctors are human. Even assuming misconduct, we observed that the government suspended the doctor within six hours, which we accepted. But within 48 hours, through a disciplinary committee, the doctor was terminated,” he said.

Dr Sharma highlighted the career impact, saying, “A doctor qualifies NEET, enters MBBS, then clears entrance exams to enter post-graduation, and after years of merit-based selection, joins IGMC Shimla as a senior resident. After all this, terminating someone within 48 hours ends a career of 10-12 years.”

Referring to the personal impact on the terminated doctor, he said, “Dr Raghav told me that he is extremely distressed. He feels his entire career has ended, and his dignity is at stake. He is under immense mental pressure. At this moment, our only demand is that his termination should be removed.”

Dr Sharma declined to comment on certain facts mentioned by another official, saying they were not within his knowledge, and also refrained from commenting on mediation at this stage.

He concluded by stressing the larger impact on the medical community. “The only way to address the resentment and harassment being faced by the entire medical fraternity is to revoke the termination of our resident doctor, Dr Raghav. After this incident, a negative narrative has been created against doctors. Today, whether in wards, OPDs or emergency services, doctors are working under fear. If a patient threatens a doctor, saying, ‘See me first or I will get you terminated,’ it creates an atmosphere of fear. In such an environment, doctors are asking how they can continue to work.”

The resident doctors have stated that the strike will continue until the government accepts their demand to revoke the termination order. (ANI)

Salman Khan’s birthday was marked with a special illumination of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in his honour. The city came together to honour one of its most cherished celebrities with a special tribute.

A striking birthday message illuminated the night sky, drawing the attention of commuters and passersby. The spectacle quickly caught public attention, with fans capturing photos and videos that soon flooded social media platforms.

The celebration followed Salman Khan’s birthday festivities during which he cut a cake with the media outside his Panvel farmhouse. The actor later hosted a star-studded celebration at the same venue to mark his 60th birthday, in the presence of family, friends, and industry colleagues.

Salman’s parents, Salim Khan and Salma Khan, arrived at the venue. His sister, Arpita Khan Sharma, and her husband, Aayush Sharma, were also seen joining the celebrations.

Arbaaz Khan’s son Arhaan Khan arrived at the farmhouse alongside Sohail Khan’s elder son, Nirvaan Khan. Arbaaz Khan and his wife, Sshura Khan, were also present at the gathering.

Alvira Khan Agnihotri also graced the evening. Several well-known personalities from the film industry attended the celebration, including Bollywood stars Karisma Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Mahesh Manjrekar, Huma Qureshi, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jackky Bhagnani, and Anup Soni.

Also seen arriving were Aditya Roy Kapur, Pulkit Samrat, Zaheer Iqbal, Varun Sharma, Sangeeta Bijlani, Huma Qureshi and Juhi Babbar. Producers Nikhil Dwivedi and composer Sajid Ali were also spotted at the venue. Randeep Hooda arrived with his wife, Lin Laishram.

Salman stepped out for a brief moment to cut a cake with paparazzi, amidst heavy security around him. In the ANI visuals, the star is seen cutting a red-and-white cake as paparazzi sing the birthday song.

Dressed casually in a T-shirt and blue denims, Salman seemed to be ageing in reverse as he sported a clean-shaven look.

On the work front, Salman will be seen donning the Indian Army uniform in Apoorva Lakhia’s directorial ‘Battle of Galwan’, which is based on the Galwan Valley clashes at the India-China border in 2020.

Actor Chitrangda Singh has been paired opposite Salman in the film. (ANI)

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Saturday committed to protecting the Aravalli range, accusing Congress of spreading “misinformation” about the mining permit.

Criticising former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot regarding his recent statement over the mining policy in the Aravalli mountain ranges, Arjun Ram Meghwal blamed him for waving a green flag to the matter in 2002

“The proposal was Ashok Gehlot’s, so why isn’t he looking into it now? The Environment Minister, Bhupender Yadav, has now clarified everything and imposed a ban (on mining). There shouldn’t be any confusion left. Protecting the Aravalli range is the responsibility of all of us,” he said.

“They (opposition) are spreading misinformation. Didn’t they spread misinformation in 2024 that we would change the constitution, that the constitution was in danger, and that reservations were in danger? Congress often spreads misinformation to advance its agenda, and this is part of that,” he added.

Meghwal’s statement follows former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot’s allegations that the BJP-led central and state governments are attempting to “jeopardise the future of Rajasthan” by diluting protection for the Aravalli ranges, adding that the move is intended to benefit the mining mafia and is contrary to judicial orders and established government records.

Gehlot said an expert committee in 2003 had recommended the 100-metre definition from a livelihood perspective, which the state government later placed before the Supreme Court in an affidavit on February 16, 2010. However, the apex court rejected the proposal on February 19, 2010.

He asserted that the Congress government fully respected the court’s order and subsequently commissioned scientific mapping of the Aravallis through the Forest Survey of India. He also highlighted the measures taken by his governemnt to curb illegal mining activities.

Meanwhile, the centre, in a latest statement, has claimed that “contrary to alarmist claims, there is no imminent threat to the Aravallis’ ecology.”

“Ongoing afforestation, eco-sensitive zone notifications, and strict monitoring of mining and urban activities ensure that the Aravallis continue to serve as a natural heritage and ecological shield for the nation. India’s resolve is clear: the Aravallis will be safeguarded for present and future generations while balancing conservation with responsible development,” the statement said.

In a November judgment, the apex court endorsed the recommendations of a committee led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), constituted in May 2024, to frame a uniform policy definition of the Aravallis for mining regulation.

The committee included forest department secretaries from Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat, along with representatives from the Forest Survey of India, the Central Empowered Committee and the Geological Survey of India. (ANI)

The Unnao rape survivor and her mother voiced deep anguish and mistrust toward the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday, even as the agency moved the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s order suspending the life sentence of former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and granting him bail.

Reacting to the development, the victim’s mother questioned the CBI’s intent, saying trust would come only through direct engagement. “If CBI meets us, only then will we trust them. How can we trust them otherwise? We have not discussed CBI. We have only said that the Investigating Officer met them. He was talking to Kuldeep Sengar’s daughter. When we asked him whether he knew the victim, he said, ‘Why would I know her?’ He said this in a crowded court,” she told ANI.

The survivor herself delivered a scathing attack, accusing the agency of failing to stand firmly with her during crucial stages of the case. “Had the CBI stood with my lawyer, we wouldn’t have had to see this day. We would have won, and they would have lost,” she said. Describing the impact of the case on her family, the survivor added, “Their family is bursting crackers. But ask my family. My father was killed. My husband and I were fired from our jobs. What will we eat? Where do we go? I have two newborns.”

The survivor also alleged intimidation and injustice, claiming that while her family suffered, the accused was given leniency. “This is an injustice that one family was intimidated while the other person was given a free pass,” she said, making sharp allegations against the judiciary.

Earlier on Friday, the CBI filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s December 23, 2025, order that suspended Sengar’s life sentence pending appeal and granted him bail.

Sengar was convicted in December 2019 in the Unnao rape case and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25 lakh. Though granted bail in this case, he will continue to remain in jail as he is serving a 10-year sentence in another CBI case related to murder.

The High Court’s decision has drawn sharp criticism from the victim’s family and opposition parties, intensifying pressure for Supreme Court intervention. (ANI)