Mumbai, Feb 12 (IANS) The threat email sent to Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's brother-in-law Aayush Sharma was sent through a Proton email.

The emailer claimed to be from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and issued the threat. The Mumbai Crime Branch official made the revelation with regards to the usage of a Proton email.

Aayush is married to Salman Khan’s sister Arpita Khan. The details about the nature of threat haven’t been revealed.

Aayush Sharma’s case is another addition to the long list of crimes against celebrities in the entertainment capital.

Earlier, five rounds of bullets were fired at filmmaker Rohit Shetty's Juhu residence. The investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch revealed that the vehicle used in the firing was sourced from Pune.

The vehicle used in the firing belongs to a man from Pune, who sold it to Aditya Gayki, one of the arrested accused, for Rs 30000 a few days ago. Later, Aditya Gayki and another accused, Samarth Pomaji, left the vehicle at a pre-decided place in Juhu area of Mumbai. According to the Crime Branch, the people who bought the vehicle and reached Mumbai do not know who the shooter is, later it was Shubham Lonkar who ordered the shooter to pick up the vehicle from where it was left and fire.

The special court remanded all the five accused in police custody till February 17, 2026. The Mumbai Crime Branch had sought a 15-day custody from the court, but the court did not grant a 15-day custody and sent him to police custody till February 17, 2026. The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (Mah. 30/1999) is a law enacted by the state of Maharashtra in India in 1999 to combat organised crime and terrorism.

The Mumbai Crime Branch said that the culprit Subham Lonkar wanted to spread terror in Mumbai and had told the arrested accused that he had to do something big in Mumbai The arrested accused was in touch with absconding accused Subham Lonkar through a single app and Rs 40,000 was transferred to the account of one of the arrested accused by Subham Lonkar. A Mumbai Crime Branch official told the court that absconding accused Shubham Lonkar had given three weapons to his brother Praveen Lonkar and that weapon was given to the accused arrested in the Rohit Shetty firing case.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 12 (IANS) As they went down to West Indies by 30 runs in their second match in their Group C clash in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, England captain Harry Brook said the target of 197 was chaseable, but the pitch did not behave as they anticipated.

After Sherfane Rutherford had slammed 76 not out off 42 balls to help the West Indies post a challenging total of 196/6, England looked on course as they reached 67/1 at the end of the Power-play. But some superb bowling by the West Indies, especially spinner Gudakesh Motie (3-33) and all-rounder Roston Chase (2-29), and good work in the field -- they picked some good catches and affected two run-outs, resulted in England being bowled out for 166 in 19 overs and losing the match by 30 runs.

Admitting that it was never easy to take a loss, Brook gave credit to the West Indies for an outstanding performance. He praised the sheer power in their batting lineup, noting that even the slightest error in line or length can quickly disappear into the stands.

Brook said at the halfway stage, he felt the target was chaseable. However, he says the pitch did not behave as England had anticipated. "We expected more grip for the spinners, but it seemed to skid on instead, and things simply did not fall into place for us in this match," he added.

On the way forward for England, Brook stressed the need to regroup, review where they could have been better and treat it as part of tournament cricket. He said their win over Nepal in their first match is keeping them in a solid position. "He said the focus now shifts to the upcoming matches against Scotland and Italy, with thorough preparation and a return to basics firmly on the agenda for the two-time champions.

--IANS

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Ahmedabad, Feb 11 (IANS) Gujarat Congress President Amit Chavda on Wednesday highlighted pending tribal land claims, farmers' grievances, gaps in education and healthcare, and alleged exploitation of tribal communities during the 10th day of the 'Jan Aakrosh Yatra' in south Gujarat.

Addressing farmers’ difficulties at the Narmada Sugar Factory, Chavda said: “Considering rising cultivation costs, high prices of fertilisers and seeds, and increasing labour expenses, farmers must be paid Rs 5,000 per tonne for sugarcane. Without this, farming will no longer remain economically viable.”

Chavda criticised the state government for failing to resolve tribal land claims. “Despite the Forest Rights Act being in effect for nearly two decades, claims of thousands of tribal families remain pending. Even with gram sabha approvals and cultivation records, administrative delays and technical objections continue,” he said.

He added that under Section 73AA of the Gujarat Land Revenue Act, tribal lands are meant to be protected from transfer and misuse.

“Yet a major scam is ongoing in which these lands are being converted to non-agricultural (NA) status and seized, often through the use of fraudulent documents,” he alleged.

Chavda also raised concerns about employment opportunities in major projects, including the Statue of Unity (SOU). “Local tribals were not employed on this project. Instead, agency contracts were allegedly given to BJP associates, leaving the community without what should have been their rightful employment,” he said.

He further criticised the government for ignoring provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) and Schedule V protections, alleging that tribal water, land and forests are being acquired in the name of development without gram sabha approval.

Highlighting issues in education, Chavda said: “Distance to schools, inadequate infrastructure and the lack of basic facilities are preventing students in tribal areas from accessing quality education. As a result, school dropout rates have risen significantly.”

Gujarat Legislative Assembly Congress leader Dr Tushar Chaudhary addressed healthcare concerns, stating: “The absence of hospitals and primary health centres forces patients to travel to other districts for treatment. Poor families face additional financial burdens due to travel costs, and minor illnesses can become life-threatening because of the lack of local facilities.”

Chavda emphasised that ongoing delays and what he termed poor implementation of policies in tribal areas are depriving communities of their rightful access to land, resources, education and livelihoods.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Feb 11 (IANS) In a shocking incident, a 33-year-old man has allegedly stabbed his father and mother to death at their residence in Adarsha Vista Apartments in Vignan Nagar. The accused has been arrested by the police.

The deceased have been identified as Naveen Chandra Bhatt (60), a retired Captain of the Indian Navy, and Dr Shyamala Bhatt (55), a dentist. The couple were residing in the apartment along with their son, the accused, Rohan Bhatt.

According to the police, the incident is suspected to have occurred following a domestic dispute. During an argument, Rohan allegedly attacked his parents with a knife in a fit of anger.

The injured couple were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital; however, they were declared dead despite medical efforts, police said.

The jurisdictional HAL police have arrested Rohan Bhatt and are questioning him in connection with the case. A detailed investigation is under way to ascertain the exact motive behind the crime.

The couple’s daughter, who is currently in the United States, is expected to arrive in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The bodies have been kept at the mortuary of Bowring Hospital, and the post-mortem examination will be conducted thereafter.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield) M. Narayan stated that the incident took place at around 7.30 a.m. When they were taken to Manipal Hospital for treatment, they were found dead at 8.15 a.m., he said.

In this regard, on the complaint of Dr Madhavi Nair, a doctor at Manipal Hospital and a resident of Adarsha Vista Apartments, a murder case has been registered against the deceased couple’s son, Rohan Chandra Bhatt, at the HAL police station, and an investigation has been initiated, the DCP stated.

Rohan Chandra Bhatt, accused of murdering his parents, has been arrested and will be produced before the court. The exact reason for the alleged murder is yet to be known. The bodies of the deceased are currently kept at the mortuary at Bowring Hospital. The deceased couple’s daughter is returning from the United States, and the post-mortem will be conducted thereafter, the DCP added.

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, Feb 11 (IANS) Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Wednesday emphasised that the state government believes not merely in women’s development but in “women-led development".

Speaking at the 33rd Foundation Day of the Odisha State Commission for Women (OSCW) celebrations here, Parida reiterated the state government’s resolve to eliminate violence, crime, and gender-based discrimination against women and to ensure timely justice.

She appreciated the Commission’s initiative of replacing traditional bouquets with fruit baskets during the celebration, describing it as a creative and meaningful gesture.

Recalling her appeal to distribute fruits at Anganwadi Centres to combat malnutrition at the grassroots level, she underscored that proper nutrition is a shared responsibility.

She commended the Commission’s dedicated efforts and encouraged women to move forward with confidence and self-reliance, assuring continued support through various empowerment initiatives.

Meanwhile, the state health minister Mukesh Mahaling, who also attended the event, stated on the occasion that the foundation of a healthy nation begins with a healthy state, which can be achieved by safeguarding the well-being of women.

Mahaling highlighted key government initiatives such as the “Khushi” scheme, under which free sanitary napkins are provided to adolescent girls.

Referring to the State’s deworming campaign, he informed that medicines are being distributed to children aged 1–19 years and women of reproductive age (20–24 years). He urged the members of the State Commission for Women to sustain their dedicated efforts in bringing positive social transformation.

Addressing the gathering, Industry Minister Sampad Chandra Swain highlighted the state government’s initiatives aimed at enhancing skill development among girls.

He noted that through training at the World Skill Centre, girls from Odisha have demonstrated their capabilities at international platforms, bringing pride to the state.

He called for collective efforts to build a healthy, safe, and empowered society.

Notably, during the financial year 2024–25, the OSCW resolved 1,879 cases through hearings, reflecting its sustained commitment to protecting women’s rights and ensuring justice.

To make justice affordable and accessible at the doorstep of victims, district-level court camps have been organized in coordination with district administrations.

In 2024–25, district-level court camps were conducted in Balangir and Gajapati districts, where 14 cases, seven in each district, were resolved.

--IANS

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Aizawl, Feb 11 (IANS) Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with the state Police, seized 3.518 kg of morphine by arresting two drug peddlers in Mizoram, officials said on Wednesday.

A defence spokesman said that acting on specific intelligence inputs about narcotics trafficking in the Ngopa area under Saitual district, Assam Rifles troops, along with the state Police and the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB), launched a joint operation on Tuesday night.

During the operation, the security personnel intercepted a vehicle and, upon thorough checking, recovered 3.518 kg of morphine with an estimated market value of Rs 3.5 crore. The contraband was being transported by two persons identified as Kasim and Mukeem Ali.

The apprehended persons, along with the seized narcotics and the vehicle, were handed over to the police for further investigation and necessary legal action.

An official statement said that the successful recovery underscores the Assam Rifles’ unwavering commitment to combating smuggling and eradicating the drug menace in Mizoram.

Mizoram shares a 510-km-long unfenced international border with Myanmar and a 318-km-long porous mountainous border with Bangladesh, making it vulnerable to cross-border smuggling.

Myanmar’s Chin state is a major hub for the smuggling of narcotics, exotic wildlife, foreign-made goods, Myanmarese areca nuts (betel nuts) and other contraband through six Mizoram districts -- Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual and Serchhip.

Myanmar, which shares a 1,643-km-long unfenced border with four northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram -- serves as a key transit point for drugs, particularly heroin and methamphetamine tablets, entering India.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has on several occasions urged the youth and all sections of society to stay away from drugs and actively fight the growing drug menace.

Last year, the Mizoram government conducted a special four-month-long operation between September and December 2025 to curb the smuggling of drugs from outside the state, particularly from Myanmar.

The state police, in coordination with the Excise and Narcotics Department and the Young Mizo Association (YMA), the largest civil society organisation in the state, carried out the operation along with awareness campaigns.

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, Feb 11 (IANS) In a significant step towards building sustainable and citizen-centric cities, the Odisha Housing & Urban Development department (H&UD), on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen AI-driven urban governance in the state.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, H&UD department, who reiterated Odisha’s strong commitment to leveraging emerging technologies for improved urban planning, service delivery and evidence-based decision-making.

According to an official statement, the firm with which the MoU was signed will act as the department’s AI Innovation Partner, providing strategic and technical support for the design and adoption of AI-enabled solutions across Odisha’s urban ecosystem.

Speaking on the occasion, Padhee said; “Odisha is committed to building cities that are not only smarter, but also more humane, responsive and inclusive. This partnership will help us harness the power of AI to improve urban services, strengthen governance systems and ensure that decision-making is guided by data, transparency and citizen needs.”

Meanwhile, the CEO of the firm with which the MoU was inked highlighted the importance of collaborative innovation between government and premier research institutions to ensure that AI solutions are impactful, scalable and aligned with citizen needs. He expressed ARF’s commitment to supporting Odisha in developing robust, responsible and governance-ready AI applications for urban transformation.

The department further underscored that collaboration aims to co-develop and deploy priority AI solutions to address key challenges in urban governance, strengthen data systems and digital infrastructure, and support ecosystem mobilisation through engagement with research institutions, startups and technology partners.

The MoU also places strong emphasis on knowledge partnership and institutional capacity building, ensuring that AI is used in a responsible, ethical and transparent manner for public benefit.

A key component of the partnership is the proposed establishment of an AI Project Management Unit (AI-PMU) within the H&UD department.

The AI-PMU will coordinate AI initiatives, support implementation, develop standards and build internal capacity. The partnership will also prepare a multi-year AI roadmap for Odisha. The roadmap will outline sectoral priorities and scaling pathways for Urban Local Bodies.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 11 (IANS) West Indies captain Shai Hope praised spinner Gudakesh Motie and all-rounder Roston Chase for helping them beat England by 30 runs as the Caribbean side moved to the top of Group C in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Hope said he was just happy that they got over the line against England, adding that they were playing good cricket in patches. "But it was nice to get a more complete game here," he said.

Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase shared five wickets between them after Sherfane Rutherford blasted 76 not out off 42 and shared two half-century partnerships as the West Indies overcame England by 30 runs.

Motie was brilliant in bagging 3-33 while Chase, who scored 34 crucial runs earlier in the day, claimed 2-29 as West Indies bowled out England for 166 in 19 overs after posting a massive total of 196/6, recovering from early jolts on a pitch that helped the seamers and gripped the ball thanks to Rutherford and his partnerships with Chase and Jason Holder (33).

Skipper Shai Hope praised Motie and said, "When you have time off, you need to improve your game, and he did exactly that with his new variations and showed his class on the world stage".

Hope said they sent Chase, who came into the playing XI in place of Matthew Forde for this match, up the order, after losing two wickets early, just to stabilise the innings, as they have enough firepower down the order. He said that they can rely on Chase in any situation, whether with bat or ball, and he is very crucial.

Hope also praised Sherfane Rutherford for his brilliant unbeaten 76 off 42 balls. He said Rutherford has been in great form in this format, and it was good to see one of the batters stepping up. Hope admitted that openers have not fired yet, but hopes they will come good.

The West Indies captain said the crucial factor in his side defending the target was that there was not much dew, as is expected in Mumbai. "It shows that you can still defend a score while batting first (in Mumbai)," he added.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS) Calling it a major boost to bilateral ties, Bihar BJP State President Sanjay Saraogi on Sunday said the India-US Interim Trade Agreement marks a new chapter in economic cooperation between the two nations.

Reacting to the development, Saraogi said, “The India-US interim trade agreement gives a new direction to economic cooperation between the two countries. This agreement will strengthen trade, investment, technology, and supply chains, helping India achieve its Viksit Bharat goals. It is not just a trade agreement but also a step to elevate the strategic and economic friendship between India and the United States.”

His remarks came after the US and India announced a framework for an Interim Agreement on reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade, aimed at paving the way for a comprehensive bilateral trade pact. As part of the announcement, the White House formally confirmed a reduction in tariffs on imports of Indian products from 25 per cent to 18 per cent, offering immediate relief to Indian exporters and industries.

According to a joint statement issued by both sides, the framework reaffirms India and America’s commitment to negotiations on a US-India Bilateral Trade Agreement, talks launched by US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13, 2025. Officials said the interim arrangement is designed to deliver early outcomes while supporting more resilient and diversified supply chains.

“The Interim Agreement between the United States and India will represent a historic milestone in our countries’ partnership, demonstrating a common commitment to reciprocal and balanced trade based on mutual interests and concrete outcomes,” the announcement noted.

Earlier this week, President Trump also spoke with Prime Minister Modi and later wrote on 'Truth Social' that both countries had agreed on a trade deal. He highlighted reciprocity, expanded market access, and efforts to address long-standing trade imbalances, while underlining the broader strategic importance of economic ties with New Delhi.

Under the proposed framework, India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and on a wide range of American food and agricultural products. These include dried distillers’ grains, red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits, among others.

On another matter, reacting to the arrest-related developments involving MP Pappu Yadav, Sanjay Saraogi said, “Pappu Yadav has had ongoing cases for years and is currently absconding, with orders for attachment and seizure already issued. The court has emphasised that an absconding accused must surrender, and if warrants or attachment orders are executed, the administration must ensure their arrest and imprisonment.”

--IANS

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Kuala Lumpur, Feb 8 (IANS) Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "unequivocal" peacekeeping efforts and thanked him for his firm commitment to support diplomatic talks regarding the same in the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East.

In his remarks during the joint press meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian PM Ibrahim said, "I must express my appreciation, because my discussions with Prime Minister Modi are not just normal diplomatic exchanges, but those between true friends, full of trust and understanding."

"Therefore, I must also take this opportunity to express my regard and thanks to him for his firm commitment to support all peace efforts, be it in Ukraine-Russia or in the case of the Middle East, particularly Gaza. His efforts in peacekeeping are unequivocal," he added.

"We consider this meeting and these exchanges very vital, very strategic and critical to advance and enhance relations between India and Malaysia... We had long-standing relations since 1957, but we have elevated it to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024," he said, and highlighted the "deep historical ties, strong people-to-people linkages, and ever-expanding economic cooperation".

"We'll continue to deepen collaboration in all fields -- trade and investment, semiconductor, digital economy, trade in local currency, connectivity, energy, agriculture, food, security, defence, education, healthcare, tourism, culture and people-to-people. It is really comprehensive, and we believe that we can advance this and execute in a speedy manner with the commitment of both our governments, both foreign ministers," he said.

The Malaysian PM said that both nations exchanged 11 documents, including MoUs, in an exchange of letters which "extended beyond normal bilateral arrangements" as the peacekeeping cooperation on semiconductor, healthcare and security cooperation has also been covered in it.

Malaysian PM Ibrahim further expressed hope in expanding trade cooperation with India, extending beyond the $8.59 billion figure that was achieved in 2025. He also called the use of local currency -- the rupee and the Malaysian ringgit -- a "remarkable feat".

"India is growing by leaps and bounds, which is one spectacular rise in the international economic trade scene, and therefore Malaysia, in the ASEAN context, certainly benefits immensely if we could secure more ways and opportunities to collaborate with India to extend beyond the $18.59 billion that we achieved in 2025.

He said that the educational ties remain "pivotal" as many Malaysians were educated in India, and there is a growing number of Indian students in Malaysia too.

"Since the last decade or so under the premiership of my good friend Prime Minister Modi, you have seen the spectacular recognition of Indian centres of excellence in education. That's not only comparable, but many of them have achieved outstanding recognition beyond the known institutions in the West. Therefore, we would certainly explore this to increase the number of students in the disciplines and fields to study in India," the Malaysian PM said.

He also stressed the need to focus on tourism and connectivity.

"As a sign of our good relations, I have immediately agreed to support the decision of the Government of India to open a consulate of India in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah," he concluded.

Earlier in the day, both leaders held delegation-level talks, discussing ways to enhance bilateral ties across several sectors, including defence and security.

PM Modi accorded a ceremonial welcome at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya.

PM Modi's visit is being seen as a significant step toward further deepening the enduring friendship between India and Malaysia, rooted in mutual trust, shared values and common aspirations for the future.

--IANS

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Kuala Lumpur, Feb 8 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India's stance on terrorism is firm -- "no double standards and no compromise" -- and also stressed that New Delhi will continue to expand cooperation with Malaysia in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and maritime security.

Addressing a joint press meet with his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, in Kuala Lumpur, PM Modi said, "First of all, I thank my friend, Anwar Ibrahim, for this warm welcome. Last year, I was not able come to Malaysia for the ASEAN Summit, but I had promised my dear friend that I would soon visit Malaysia. For my first foreign visit of 2026, I have come to Malaysia."

Highlighting the "special" India-Malaysia relations, he said, "We are maritime neighbours. For centuries, there have been deep ties between people of our two nations. Today, Malaysia is the second biggest nation in the world that has an Indian-origin population. Our civilisations are connected to shared cultural heritage and democratic values."

He credited the Malaysian PM for his "significant contributions" in providing a "new pace" to the India-Malaysia ties in the past few years.

"Our cooperation in energy, infrastructure and manufacturing has strengthened. Mutual investment has also increased in the digital economy, biotech and IT. Tourism and people-to-people ties have also deepened. By drawing inspiration from these achievements, we have decided to bring in unprecedented speed and depth in our partnership," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister further mentioned that the security cooperation between the two nations will be further enhanced by strengthening the cooperation in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and maritime security.

"We will also make defence cooperation more comprehensive," he said.

Along with AI and digital technologies, he said that India and Malaysia will further advance the partnership in semiconductor, health and food security.

"The CEO forum organised today has thrown open new opportunities for trade and investment. We will pave a path to economic transformation through strategic trust," he said.

On terrorism, PM Modi said, "We will continue to support all peacekeeping efforts. However, our stance on terrorism is very firm -- no double-standards and no compromise. I appreciate your (Malaysian PM Ibrahim) commitment to enhancing India-Malaysia ties. I hope that together we will continue to work towards achieving the resolutions of Prosperous Malaysia and Viksit Bharat."

PM Modi called the Indian diaspora living in Malaysia a "living bridge" between the two nations.

"Yesterday, I received the opportunity to meet the Indian diaspora living in Malaysia. With his presence, my friend PM Anwar Ibrahim enhanced the prestige of this event. This living bridge of 30 lakh people is a major power. Measures taken for their welfare provide a humanitarian focus to our relations," he said.

He also mentioned that steps like the Social Security Agreement for the protection of Indian workers in Malaysia, and a gratis e-visa, as well as a UPI digital interface for tourism in Malaysia, will "simplify the lives of citizens of both nations".

"Any partnership succeeds when the benefit reaches people directly," the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi highlighted the interest in the Tamil language in Malaysia and said, "Shared love for the Tamil language also connects India and Malaysia. In Malaysia, the strong and living presence of Tamil can be seen in education, media and cultural life. I am confident that with today's Audio Visual Agreement, film and music, especially Tamil films, will bring our hearts closer."

Emphasising that the Indo-Pacific region is emerging as a "hub of global growth", the Prime Minister said, "We are committed, along with ASEAN, to development, peace, and stability across the Indo-Pacific. India gives priority to ASEAN centrality."

"I once again congratulate Malaysia on its successful ASEAN leadership. With the support of friendly countries like Malaysia, India will further strengthen its ties with ASEAN. We agreed that the review of the ASEAN-India trade agreements should be completed soon," he added.

Earlier in the day, both leaders held delegation-level talks, discussing ways to enhance bilateral ties across several sectors, including defence and security.

PM Modi accorded a ceremonial welcome at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya.

PM Modi's visit is being seen as a significant step toward further deepening the enduring friendship between India and Malaysia, rooted in mutual trust, shared values and common aspirations for the future.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS) The manufacturing of electronic components is growing rapidly and 46 approvals have been granted — with Karnataka is set to receive investments exceeding Rs 10,000 crore, according to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

In Budget 2026-27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman increased the budget for the electronic component manufacturing scheme from Rs 22,000 crore to Rs 40,000 crore.

This will significantly accelerate the electronics manufacturing journey.

“Our Prime Minister has set a production target of $500 billion by the 2030-2031 financial year. Therefore, we all need to move very quickly in that direction,” said Vaishnaw as he inaugurated Zetwerk Electronics’ new world-class manufacturing facility for defence, automotive, and IT hardware electronics built in Bengaluru.

“Today, people are designing complete '2-nanometer' chips in India, which is a major achievement for the country, and equipment manufacturers have also started coming to India,” said Union IT Minister.

He mentioned that Applied Materials and Lam Research have been brought to India, and the next goal should be to bring ASML.

The minister further stated that commercial production will begin this year. In the coming days, the first commercially produced chip from a semiconductor plant will be in our hands.

'Semicon 2.0' will be effective, focusing on design, equipment manufacturing, chemicals, gases, validation, and yield improvement — all functions required for a sustainable semiconductor journey.

“We aim to prepare 85,000 silicon engineers over 10 years, and in four years, we have already trained 67,000. Consequently, a large part of chip design will practically happen in India. This will be a major shift in the coming years,” said Vaishnaw.

He stated that with the arrival of the 'fab,' we have now mapped a path from 28- nano meter to 7-nano meter, which will be part of Silicon 2.0.

“We believe in a cooperative system and that the country grows only when all states grow,” he added.

Vishal Chaudhary, Co-founder and Managing Director (Aerospace and Defence), Zetwerk, said that electronics manufacturing today demands deep integration across design, engineering, suppliers, and scaled production.

"This facility has been built to bring those capabilities together seamlessly, enabling faster validation, stronger quality control, and predictable, high-reliability execution across the product lifecycle," he added.

—IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 11 (IANS) Popular television actress Surbhi Jyoti has announced her first pregnancy with husband Sumit Suri with an adorable social media post.

Surbhi uploaded a sweet picture of her legs entangled in hubby Sumit's feet with a white pair of tiny shoes placed in between.

The 'Qubool Hai' actress further informed through her Instagram post that they are expecting their little bundle of joy by June this year.

"Om, Our greatest adventure begins...Little Love arriving this June (sic)," she captioned the post.

As the couple made the happy announcement on social media, congratulatory messages started pouring in.

Actress Shweta Tiwari wrote, "Congratulations," followed by a kissy face emoji.

'Bigg Boss 13' fame Arti Singh added, "So so so happy baby (red heart emoji) god bless you both."

For those who do not know, Surbhi tied the knot with businessman Sumit Suri in October 2024. The lovebirds got married at a hill station. The wedding ceremony was preceded by vibrant pre-wedding festivities, including sangeet and engagement.

Surbhi had treated her InstaFam with glimpses of the festivities on her social media. Many prominent names from the television industry, such as Anita Hassanandani, Rithvik Dhanjani, Asha Negi, and Karan Wahi, were a part of the celebration.

Recently, Surbhi's feed is full of fun snippets from her married life.

In October last year, the 'Naagin' actress wished her father-in-law on his birthday with a heartwarming video compilation of some precious family moments.

Thanking her father-in-law for being the most amazing person and a constant source of inspiration, she penned on the photo-sharing app, "Happy birthday to the most amazing person in the world.' Thank you for being such an incredible role model and source of inspiration. I am so lucky to have you in my life. Thank you for being you. I love you so much."

--IANS

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Chennai, Feb 11 (IANS) The makers of director Ganesh Chandra's upcoming romantic drama 'Pookie' on Wednesday released an interesting trailer of the film that seemed to suggest that well known actor, producer and music director Vijay Antony may well be making an appearance in the film as its antagonist.

Vijay Antony, who is also the producer of the film, took to his X timeline to release the trailer of the film on Wednesday.

Vijay Antony wrote, "Here’s the trailer of #POOKIE. Sorry for the technical delay.Worth the wait, we promise. 2 days to go. In cinemas worldwide from Feb 13."

The trailer that was released shows the film's lead pair to be in a relationship. A voice over in the background says, "A mass hero and a bubbly heroine fall in love and are happy." We are then treated to a series of romantic visuals. The voice over then says, "They then break up." Both the boy and the girl then seem to be in pain as a result of the break up.

The voice over then says, "Even if God wishes to make them both get back together, will their friends allow it?" We then see the friends of both the boy and the girl portraying the other in bad light. The girl's friends sow poison in her mind saying that the hero is a habitual abuser. Eventually, she decides she will never see him ever again.

Meanwhile, the families of both the boy and the girl are in fear as to what all they will have to witness. The trailer ends with the voice over saying,"As if all these problems are not enough, there is a villain too." Soon after this, we see Vijay Antony, with his hair coloured, lying on a cot and playing a musical instrument.

The film, which features Ajay Dhishan and Dhanusha in the lead, is scheduled to hit screens on February 13 this year.

The film, which has been produced by well known producer Vijay Antony through his Vijay Antony Film Corporation, has been shot by director Ganesh Chandra himself. Interestingly, Ganesh Chandra was the cinematographer of Vijay Antony's second film as hero, 'Salim'.

Vijay Antony, apart from scoring the music of the film, has also edited the film. The story of the film has been penned by Puthiya Parithi.

Apart from Ajay Dhishan and Dhanusha, the film also features a host of actors including Vijay Antony, Pandiarajan, Sunil, Lakshmi Manchu, Indumathi Manigandan, Aaditya Kathir, Vivek Prasanna, Black Pandi, Bigg Boss Sathya, M. J. Shriram, Radha, Ashwin Ram, Shiyara Sharmi and Priyanka.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 11 (IANS) The 5 accused involved in the Rohit Shetty firing case have been slapped with MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999) as they were produced before special court. On Wednesday, the police custody of the five arrested accused ended, but now the police have imposed MCOCA against all the arrested accused and in such a case, all the accused were presented in the special MCOCA court.

The special court remanded all the five accused in police custody till February 17, 2026. The Mumbai Crime Branch had sought a 15-day custody from the court, but the court did not grant a 15-day custody and sent him to police custody till February 17, 2026. The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (Mah. 30/1999) is a law enacted by the state of Maharashtra in India in 1999 to combat organised crime and terrorism.

The Mumbai Crime Branch said that the culprit Subham Lonkar wanted to spread terror in Mumbai and had told the arrested accused that he had to do something big in Mumbai The arrested accused was in touch with absconding accused Subham Lonkar through a single app and Rs 40,000 was transferred to the account of one of the arrested accused by Subham Lonkar. A Mumbai Crime Branch official told the court that absconding accused Shubham Lonkar had given three weapons to his brother Praveen Lonkar and that weapon was given to the accused arrested in the Rohit Shetty firing case.

For the uninitiated, five rounds of bullets were fired at filmmaker Rohit Shetty's Juhu residence. The investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch revealed that the vehicle used in the firing was sourced from Pune.

The vehicle used in the firing belongs to a man from Pune, who sold it to Aditya Gayki, one of the arrested accused, for Rs 30000 a few days ago. Later, Aditya Gayki and another accused, Samarth Pomaji, left the vehicle at a pre-decided place in Juhu area of Mumbai. According to the Crime Branch, the people who bought the vehicle and reached Mumbai do not know who the shooter is, later it was Shubham Lonkar who ordered the shooter to pick up the vehicle from where it was left and fire.

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Los Angeles, Feb 11 (IANS) Hollywood actress Whoopi Goldberg is getting rid of a few things in her life, and they have a price. The actress has shared that she is auctioning her own "treasures" including costumes and personal memorabilia.

The 70-year-old Hollywood star is teaming up with Julien's Auctions on ‘Whoopi Goldberg: The Collection’, which will also feature some of her own jewellery, dresses and more, with the sale taking place next month, reports ‘Female First UK’.

In a statement to WWD, she said, "Over seven decades of a life well lived and more than 40 years of a fabulous career, it’s time to part with some of the many treasures that are filling more storage units than one person should have”.

She added, “I’m honoured to partner with the iconic Julien’s Auction to find new homes for these special pieces, which I hope can now bring someone else as much joy as they have brought to me”.

As per ‘Female First UK’, the actress and Julien's are also donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale to nonprofit organisations.

She further mentioned, “I am equally thrilled that two such wonderful organisations, One Simple Wish and DonorsChoose, will benefit from this special auction”.

Items in the collection include her custom Christian Siriano dress from the 2008 Tony Awards and a 1999 Bob Mackie costume from the 1999 Oscars, which are both estimated to fetch between $1,000 and $2,000 each.

Film fans could also nab a piece of history, with her Sister Act 2 blazer expected to get between $800 and $1,200. Martin Nolan, co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions, shared, "It is a true honor for Julien’s Auctions to collaborate with the legendary Whoopi Goldberg, one of the few entertainers to achieve prestigious EGOT status”.

“This collection is a direct reflection of her meticulous eye for detail and lifelong devotion to artistry, serving as a testament to the unparalleled cultural legacy she has built over the decades. These items represent more than just a curated selection; they are touchstones of a groundbreaking career, offering collections a rare and personal connection to the moments that have shaped entertainment history”, he added.

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