The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab leader and Member of Parliament Malvinder Singh Kang expressed strong condemnation of Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut’s latest remarks targeting the Punjabi community. Kang’s statements come in response to Ranaut’s continued controversial commentary, which he believes fosters division and hatred among communities.

Kang highlighted the alarming prevalence of drug-related issues in BJP ruled states, particularly Gujarat, where significant drug busts have been reported over the past few years. He pointed out that despite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) being in power in Gujarat for decades, no substantive action has been taken to combat the drug crisis. “Kangana Ranaut chooses to ignore the facts and instead directs her ire towards the Punjabi community, failing to address the larger issue of drug trafficking that is rampant in regions under BJP governance,” Kang stated.

Furthermore, Kang expressed concern over Ranaut’s frequent use of inflammatory language and her pattern of making provocative statements that serve no constructive purpose. He argued that such behavior could indicate deeper issues, suggesting that the pressures of a declining film career might lead individuals to resort to negative habits, including substance abuse. “It seems that when faced with frustration, some individuals may turn to harmful coping mechanisms,” Kang remarked.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced that eight of its soldiers have been killed in combat with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The soldiers were killed in two battles in Lebanon on Wednesday. Three officers and three soldiers died during a confrontation in a building, while five others were seriously wounded, all from the elite commando unit Egoz, which specialises in battles in complex terrains, fieldcraft, camouflage, and miniature warfare.

In the second battle, two soldiers from the Golani infantry brigade were killed by mortar bombs, and another was severely injured, news agency reported.

The IDF also reported that a Golani combat medic was seriously injured in a third confrontation.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday unveiled a social media moderation programme aimed at fostering a healthier, more supportive online community for players, teams, and fans alike, setting a new standard for online safety and inclusivity as it gears up for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Ahead of the mega tournament, over 60 players have already signed up for the initiative, with more expected to join. At the heart of this programme is a revolutionary blend of technology and human oversight, provided by 'GoBubble', it said in a release.

The software is designed to protect the cricketing community from toxic content such as hate speech, harassment, and misogyny. The goal is clear: to safeguard the mental health of players and ensure a safer, kinder digital space.

An encounter broke out between the security forces and terrorists in the Chatroo area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, police said on Thursday.

"Based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists, a joint search operation was launched by the security forces at Chatroo Kishtwar," police said, adding that "a contact has been established and a few rounds have been fired from both sides."

The operation started after a joint team of police and security forces got input about the presence of terrorists in that area.

More details were awaited.

There have been a series of encounters between terrorists and security forces across Jammu and Kashmir in the recent past in which many terrorists and their commanders have been eliminated. Security forces have also taken casualties.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has warned that Israel's unilateral escalation could lead to a comprehensive regional war in the Middle East, according to a statement from the Egyptian cabinet.

In the statement, Madbouly said that the escalation of regional tensions on Tuesday heralded a dangerous turning point and underscored the need for the international community and influential powers to intervene for an immediate ceasefire to preserve regional security and stability.

He also stressed that Egypt condemned Israel's escalation in Lebanon and rejected any attempts to undermine Lebanon's sovereignty, news agency reported.

National Award-winning filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri on Thursday announced that his next christened “The Delhi Files - The Bengal Chapter” is all set to release on August 15, next year. He also revealed that the film will be in two parts with “The Bengal Chapter” being the first installment.

Agnihotri, who has made films such as “The Tashkent Files,” “The Kashmir Files,” and “The Vaccine War,” took to X, formerly called Twitter to make the announcement.

The filmmaker shared a poster featuring a silhouette of a child raising hands towards the national emblem shown in the background.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot was full of praise for Mohamed Salah’s brilliance after the Egyptian delivered a standout performance in the Reds' 2-0 Champions League win over Bologna on Wednesday.

Liverpool made it six points from two outings in the competition’s league phase thanks to goals in either half from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah on Wednesday night.

Salah played a pivotal role in the victory, setting up Alexis Mac Allister’s opening goal before sealing the game with a thunderous strike to the top corner, marking his 49th goal in the competition.

A clinical strike against Bologna has also earned Salah a spot on the shortlist for Goal of the Day, alongside efforts from Jhon Duran (Aston Villa), Christos Tzolis (Club Brugge) and Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus).

Led by global capability centres (GCCs), office space transactions in India reached 19 million square feet in the July-September period (Q3) -- an 18 per cent year-on-year increase, a report showed on Thursday.

This is the highest quarterly absorption since Q1 2018. The year has already registered leasing of 53.7 million square feet, 27 per cent higher YoY, in the first nine months of the year -- set to breach a fresh annual high, according to the report by Knight Frank India.

GCCs accounted for 7.1 million square feet or 37 per cent of the transacted volume during Q3 2024, while India facing businesses took up 6.6 million square feet or 35 per cent of the transacted volumes.

India's sustained economic growth is driven by strong business performance, and the positive sentiment is clearly reflected in the strength of the office market.

Zambia has attracted a total investment of about $58 million in digital infrastructure following the removal of tax on the importation of equipment for digital infrastructure in 2021.

During a panel discussion at the 2024 Digital Government Africa Summit underway in Lusaka, the Zambian capital, Zambian Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati on Wednesday said the investment has helped the country connect itself to all its eight neighbouring countries through fibre optic technology.

Mutati said the country has seen a lot of private sector investment in digital infrastructure since the removal of tax on importation of digital equipment, news agency reported.

The government, he said, was promoting incentives, innovation and investment to boost private sector involvement in the economy.

Percy Chinyama, national coordinator of the Smart Zambia Institute, a government agency that coordinates and implements e-government, called for a collaborative approach toward digital transformation in Africa.