JuD chief Hafiz Saeed has served a Rs 100 million legal notice to Pakistan’s defence minister for “defamation”, days after the government banned the Jamaat-ud- Dawah from collecting donations following US President Donald Trump’s outburst against Islamabad’s sheltering of terrorists.

“I call upon you (minister Khurram Dastgir) to send a written apology to my client (Saeed) within 14 days and seek his forgiveness and promise to be careful in future, failing which criminal proceedings under section 500 of Pakistan Penal Code punishable for two years will initiated against you,” said the notice by lawyer A K Dogar who served it on behalf of Mumbai attack mastermind Saeed.

Pakistan banned JuD and FIF and other organisations from collecting donations on Monday, after Trump accused Islamabad of giving nothing to the US but “lies and deceit” and providing “safe haven” to terrorists.

Dastgir had said that action against JuD, Falah-i- Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and other organisations had been taken so that “terrorists cannot open fire on schoolchildren anymore”.

Dogar claimed the JuD has no nexus with Lashkar-e-Taiba and the UN resolution against it is “illegal”.

The Delhi Police will proceed with its probe into the case of a newborn being wrongly declared dead by a city-based hospital only after it receives a reply from the Delhi Medical Council on whether there was medical negligence in the matter, a police official said.

The Delhi Medical Council (DMC) has received replies from the nine doctors and two nurses of Max Hospital, Shalimar Bagh who were issued notices last month for alleged medical negligence in connection with the case.

A senior DMC official said that they have received the replies and these will be put up before its executive committee.

The committee will form an expert panel comprising paediatricians and gynaecologists that will prepare a report in the matter, he said.

The process might take a fortnight.

A police official, privy to the probe, said that they will proceed further with the investigation only after they receive a report in the matter from the DMC.

The DMC had sent the notices on December 20 and sought a response from them within 15 days.

The case pertains to a baby boy being wrongly declared dead after his birth on November 30 by the upscale private hospital. His twin, a girl, was still-born.

The infant boy died a week later at a nursing home in Pitampura. The case sparked a public outcry.

Their family has been protesting in front of the hospital after an appellate authority stayed the order of the Delhi government cancelling the licence of the facility.

A year ago, we lost a very talented and celebrated actor, Om Puri. It was a great loss for Bollywood industry as well as the Indian film audience. Om Puri was born on October 18, 1950, in Ambala, Haryana. He was an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and the National School of Drama (NSD).

He played fantastic roles, leaving an impact on us with each of them and did over 100 films during his career in Bollywood. Paying a tribute to the Padma Shri and National award-winning actor on his birthday, we present a list of his movies, where he showcased his craft so well that it would leave you astounded. Here is a list of Om Puri’s top five performances.

Arohan 

Om Puri played the lead role in the movie besides Victor Banerjee. The film was released in 1982 and was directed by Shyam Benegal, a phenomenal director of all times. Om Puri won the national award for the movie.

Ardh Satya

Another movie for which the veteran won the national award for best actor. Amrish Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, and Smita Patil starred alongside Om Puri. This film is considered as among one of the best movies in the Indian Film industry. It won many National awards in the year 1980.

Aakrosh

The film released in 1980 and had three brilliant actors in the cast as leads, Om Puri, Amrish Puri and Naseeruddin Shah. It went to win the National Film Award for the best feature film.

City of Joy

The actor did not confine himself to just Bollywood. He appeared in Hollywood films too, among which City of Joy is the most critically acclaimed film. It is based on a novel of the same name.

Malamaal Weekly

Om Puri played few comic roles as well in his career, in which he totally did justice to the characters. Hera Pheri was also one of them but Singh is King gave a different spin to the actor’s image.

All these movies and much more that aren’t mentioned, prove that he was and will be one the most versatile actors that the industry ever had.

Actor Donald Glover says his girlfriend Michelle has given birth to their second child.

Glover confirmed the news on Friday, but didn’t share details of the newborn child.

“(Michelle’s) great. She’s good. Baby’s born, so she’s happier now,” Glover said.

Asked how fatherhood had changed him, Glover replied: “It hasn’t. I think my partner, she takes all the hard stuff to be honest. That’s not even b******t… I haven’t really had to change anything.”

Glover announced his girlfriend’s second pregnancy at the 69th annual Prmetime Emmy Awards in September last year.

He and Michelle also have a boy named Legend.

Even as various pockets of Maharashtra witnessed unrest in the past few days, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday asserted that the law and order situation in the state was “absolutely good”.

Over the past week, various pockets, especially the industrial ones like Pune and Mumbai, witnessed unruly mobs going on a rampage, damaging public property and bringing economic activity to a standstill through blockades.

The unrest began after a group of Dalits observing the 200th anniversary of an Anglo-Maratha battle were allegedly attacked on the outskirts of Pune.

“Even today, the law and order situation in Maharashtra is absolutely good, there is no problem with it,” Fadnavis told reporters while addressing a curtain raiser event for a forthcoming investment summit to be hosted here.

Various groups called a state-wide band on January 3, which managed to shut down most areas of the state and also turned violent at some places, leaving two people dead and hundreds of others injured.

Earlier, Fadnavis announced that Maharashtra is aiming to break into the trillion-dollar GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) league in the next 7-10 years, assuming that it can continue with its current growth of over 10 per cent per annum.

At present, Maharashtra’s GSDP is USD 400 billion.

“Businesses can vouch for it that nobody is troubling them. And that is the strength of Maharashtra. The people of Maharashtra is the strength of Maharashtra,” he added.

Fadnavis said the state has “regained” its top spot in business now and announced the Magnetic Maharashtra Convergence, a three-day summit next month, aimed at increasing investments in the state.

The three-day summit, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 18, will focus on future industries and sustainability, employment and infrastructure, and will have dedicated sessions.

He said the state has adopted an infrastructure-led development approach and will continue to stick to it.

Answering those sceptical of such summits, Fadnavis listed successes from the national-level ‘Make in India’ summit organised in Mumbai in 2016 to make his point.

He said 1,523 of the 2,984 memorandums of understanding signed with industry have fructified, which entail an investment of Rs 4.91 lakh crore (as against the overall Rs 8 lakh crore envisaged), and creation of 22 lakh jobs as against the target of 30 lakh.

Stating that statistics are a “befitting reply” to sceptics, Fadnavis said the MoUs do not convert into action immediately on the ground and it takes up to eight years before an industry may move.

He lauded the work done by the industries department, saying results achieved by it are 20 per cent above the rest.

Industries Minister Subhash Desai said the state accounts for 15 per cent of the national GDP and contributes a fourth of the total exports of the country and was entrenched in all the major sectors and was focusing on the upcoming ones.

Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation’s chief executive Sanjay Sethi said heads of state and business leaders from across the globe are expected to attend the Magnetic Maharashtra Convergence.

The state also announced awards for start-ups which aim to encourage newer businesses with over Rs 1 crore in prize money for the first three winners.

Two Myanmar security officers and a driver were wounded by Rohingya rebels who ambushed their vehicle in northern Rakhine state, the army said on Saturday, the first apparent insurgent attack to hit the violence-scarred region in weeks.

Rakhine was plunged into crisis last August after a series of militant raids that killed at least a dozen officials prompted a brutal military crackdown that sent some 650,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh.

While the army insists it only targeted Rohingya rebels, the UN has accused Myanmar troops of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the persecuted minority.

The insurgents, known as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), have launched few attacks since the sweeping military reprisal sparked the mass exodus.

But on Friday morning, “about ten” Rohingya militants ambushed a car travelling through northern Rakhine state with hand-made mines and gunfire, the army chief’s office said in a statement.

“Two security personnel and a driver were injured,” it said. “Security members shot back at them and the terrorists retreated.”

Myanmar’s military, which denies carrying out any abuses against the Rohingya, has tightly controlled access to northern Rakhine by blocking independent reporting trips and a UN fact-finding mission.

The refugees massing in Bangladesh, however, have told consistent accounts of being driven from their homes by soldiers in a campaign of murder, mass rape and arson.

Any uptick in violence or fresh build-up of troops in Rakhine will deepen concerns about plans to begin repatriating refugees later this month.

Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an agreement in November allowing for repatriations from January 23.

But many aid groups and diplomats have expressed doubt that fearful Rohingya will agree to return.

The Rohingya have been the target of decades of persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, which does not recognise the group as a genuine ethnicity and has stripped them of citizenship.
 

Socialite Paris Hilton, who got engaged to Chris Zylka earlier this week, has hired security to look after her $2 million engagement ring.

Hilton has hired 24/7 security to shadow her and keep an eye on her expensive ring.

“They’ve had 24/7 security shadowing them. And specifically the ring ever since they got engaged last weekend,” a source said.

Hilton’s latest move comes in the wake of the burglaries that targeted Nicki Minaj and Kim Kardashian’s homes here.

“She feels it’s best to have someone on guard at all times because of the rash of celeb burglaries this past year,” the source said and added that Hilton already has “around the clock security at home”.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the “fight” in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state would be between two ideologies — communalism and secularism.

“It’s not between Siddaramaiah versus BJP, it is not between me versus Narendra Modi… it is not between Siddaramaiah and Yeddyurappa; it is between two ideologies- Congress versus BJP,” he told reporters in Chikkamagalur.

He termed the Congress a secular party and said, “We believe in secularism and are committed to it, while the BJP is a communal party.”

“This is the ideological difference between the BJP and the Congress. The fight would be between communalism and secularism,” Siddaramaiah said.

Assembly polls in Karnataka are scheduled this year.

The chief minister reiterated that the government would take stringent action against organisations instigating “communal sentiments” in the state.

“Any organisation that instigates communal sentiments, the government will be merciless against them, in accordance with the law,” he said.

Siddaramaiah’s comments come at a time when the coastal region of the state remained on the edge over a spate of killings of “Hindu activists”.

In the latest incident, 28-year-old Deepak Rao, who was associated with the Bajrang Dal and the VHP, was hacked to death by a four-member gang on Wednesday, following which simmering tension prevailed in Dakshina Kannada district.

After Indian skipper Virat Kohli, ‘Hit man’ Rohit Sharma failed to impress the spectators and was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada for 11 on the second Day of the first Test match at Newlands.

With Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s exceptionally good spell, the visitors managed to bowl out hosts for 286 runs on the first day. However, Virat Kohli and his boys failed to take advantage of the low score and lost three early wickets, as the first day ended.

After the fall of three wickets, expectations were high from star Indian batsman Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara. But Rohit was not able to live up to the expectation and gifted his wicket to Rabada.

Twitterati, who were already angry with the selection of playing eleven as Rohit Sharma was given preference instead of Ajinkya Rahane, brutally trolled Rohit for his performance.

Surviving pace bowling for an hour. I think Rohit Sharma is the best night watchman India has produced in three decades. #IndvsSA

— one tip one hand_ (@OneTipOneHand_) January 6, 2018

While Cheteshwar Pujara defence looks pure meditation, Rohit sharma’s looks like that of a Night Watchman #IndvsSA

— Hariom Kumar (@hkumar26) January 6, 2018

That’s Test Cricket For You Mr.Rohit Sharma #SAvIND

— Shanujan (@J_Shanujan) January 6, 2018

No worries Rohit Sharma.. you can always come back to India and hit another 200 on a flat lifeless pitch in a meaningless ODI and get the sheep to swoon all over you. #flatpitchbully #IndVsSA #IndiaVsSouthAfrica

— Desi Inkog (@RajInkog) January 6, 2018

Karun was dropped immediately after his 300 that too against Bangla, The skipper said Can’t forget Rahane’s contributions over the period of time.But that doesn’t apply for Rohit, what happened to overseas contribution of Rahane now?

— Avinash Ranganath (@avi_ranganath) January 6, 2018

Playing Rohit Sharma in south Africa basis his perf agnst Sri Lanka is like selecting a CounterStrike player in National Army… #IndvsSA

— Muhammad Ashraf (@ashrafrulz) January 6, 2018

Meanwhile, South African speedster Dale Steyn grabbed his first Test wicket after returning to international cricket.

India batsmen were made to toil hard by South African bowlers on the second day as India lost six wickets for 81 runs till the filing of this report.

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya (5 batting) and right-handed Wriddhiman Saha (0 batting) are at the crease.

Senior BJP leader and former Odisha irrigation minister Bijay Mohapatra on Saturday said the state has already been affected due to construction of barrages on upstream of Mahanadi by Chhattishgarh.

His remarks came at a time when the Centre has been maintaining that there would be no injustice towards the state.

There has been no flow of surplus water to Hirakud reservoir in river Mahanadi. Water level at Naraj and Jobra has dropped. Even water level in Kuakhai on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar has declined,” Mohapatra, a BJP national executive member, said while reacting over Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari’s assurance to Odisha.

Stating that the people of Bhubaneswar will face water scarcity in March, Mohapatra said Odisha has already been affected due to construction of barrages by Chhattisgarh on the upstream of river Mahanadi.

Asked how Gadkari could assure the state that there would be no injustice, Mohapatra said: “I have no idea whether the Union Minister was provided details by the state government on the Mahanadi issue.”

Mohapatra, however, said that all details are with the Central Water Commission (CWC) but it is difficult to comprehend why the CWC was not sharing it with Gadkari.

“The CWC should apprise the minister on the Mahanadi issue, Mohapatra said.

On a day an IED blast claimed the lives of four policemen in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress questioned the recent covert meeting of the NSA of India and Pakistan and alleged that the BJP-led Centre has “singularly failed” to protect the country’s defence personnel.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said not a day goes without attacks on Army, paramilitary and policemen and all that the government has to offer are “boastful” statements and tall claims.

“The accountability of this government will have to be established. This government has singularly failed to reassure the country of its ability to protect defence establishments and personnel.

“We are completely in the dark as to what was discussed during the recent meeting between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart (retired Lt Gen) Nasser Khan Janjua. There have been similar meetings in the past. What has been their outcome?” Sharma asked.

Four policemen on patrol duty were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by militants went off in Sopore town in north Kashmir today, an official said.

Five CRPF men were killed on December 31 when heavily armed terrorists carried out a suicide attack on a camp of the paramilitary force in Pulwama in south Kashmir.

The ninth edition of Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival is set to host multifarious sessions on various critical issues in the country after 70 years of its Independence and has also tied up with prominent foreign literary festivals to add an international flavor this year, the festival authorities said.

Woven around the theme of ‘India @70’ , the four day long literary fest starting on January 11, is set to host discussions by eminent authors and social commentators on issues of climate change, future of cities, cinema and the situation of women in the country.

“This year we have tied up with Bonjour India, an ongoing French initiative that celebrates the Indo-French relationship and international literary festivals like Edinburgh International book festival and Henley literary festival. They would take active part in the discussion sessions held in AKLF,” Maina Bhagat, director of the festival, told IANS.

The festival, to be held in a St. Paul’s Cathedral Lawns in central Kolkata, would also have a day of film screening session where Bornila Chatterjee’s “Hungry” and a documentary on Indian classical singer Begum Akthar would be screened in the city for the first time. It would also arrange a one day professional workshop on diverse sectors.

Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan and film maker Vishal Bhadwaj would be present at the festival among other eminent personalities for the release of their books.

Novelists like Nayantara Sahgal, Shobhaa De, Kiran Nagarkar, veteran actor Soumitra Chatterjee, and film maker Meera Niar are also scheduled to attend this year’s edition of the festival.

“The literary festivals are significant now a days as it gives the readers an opportunity to meet, listen and interact with the loved author. Such interactions definitely gives the readers a better understanding of the literature and helps in increasing people’s interest amid a more dynamic environment of the festivals,” Anjum Katyal, co-director of the festival added.

Actress Sunny Leone has announced that she will be performing in Bahrain for the first time in April.

“I have an exciting news. For the first time ever, I will be performing in Bahrain on April 27 for the anniversary of Aura Arts Centre,” Sunny tweeted on Saturday.

I have an exciting news…For the first time ever, I will be performing in #Bahrain on 27 April for the Anniversary of Aura arts Centre!

This show is coordinated by Dadu Oshma and directed by @ManojMayyannour !

Hope to see you’ll there at Indian School Grounds, Bahrain! pic.x.com/e5KBrwiDUZ

— Sunny Leone (@SunnyLeone) January 6, 2018

“This show is coordinated by Dadu Oshma and directed by Manoj Mayyannour. Hope to see you’ll there at Indian School Grounds, Bahrain,” she added.

In December last year, Sunny was forced to cancel her New Year bash in Bengaluru after the police denied permission to the organisers.

Sunny was last seen onscreen in 2017 musical romantic film Tera Intezaar alongside Arbaaz Khan.

On the occasion of his 51st birthday, celebrities wished Oscar and Grammy-winning composer A.R. Rahman immense love and best of health.

The recipient of four National Film Awards, two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe, started his career in 1992, delivering hit tracks for “Roja”.

With the music of films like “Bombay”, “Taal” and “Lagaan”, the maestro earned a special spot on the global front.

Here is what the celebrities had to say:

A.R. Murugadoss: Wish you many more happy returns of the day sir, and wishing you a great musical years ahead.

Wish you many more happy returns of the day sir, Wishing you great musical years ahead #HBDARRahman

— A.R.Murugadoss (@ARMurugadoss) January 6, 2018

Mohit Chauhan: Happy birthday A.R. Rahman saab. May God always keep you in best of health and spirits.

Happy birthday @arrahman saab..may God always keep u in best of health & spirits..

— Mohit Chauhan (@_MohitChauhan) January 6, 2018

Salim Merchant: Happy birthday have a wonderful year ahead.

Happy birthday AR have a wonderful year ahead! @arrahman pic.x.com/bU3U6C186T

— salim merchant (@salim_merchant) January 6, 2018

Harshdeep Kaur: Wishing you a very happy birthday. I’ll be a fan forever!

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday @arrahman Sir
I’ll be a fan forever! pic.x.com/OIsFatUUnb

— Harshdeep Kaur (@HarshdeepKaur) January 6, 2018

Shruti Haasan: Wishing the amazing A.R. Rahman a very happy birthday.

Wishing the amazing @arrahman a very happy birthday !!!!

— shruti haasan (@shrutihaasan) January 6, 2018

Aditi Rao Hydari: Wishing all the love and more magic to the music maestro. Happy birthday, sir! You are an inspiration to many! Love, light and happiness to you!

Wishing all the love and more magic to the music maestro @arrahman. Happy birthday, Sir!
You are an inspiration to many! Love, light and happiness to you! #HBDARRahman pic.x.com/SkRmNlvrXB

— Aditi Rao Hydari (@aditiraohydari) January 6, 2018

Armaan Malik: Hope you have the best birthday ever. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with you so early on in my musical career. You’re a true inspiration for all us Indian musicians. I pray and wish that you keep making India proud.

.@ARRahman sir! Hope you have the best birthday ever. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with you so early on in my musical career.

You’re a true inspiration for all us Indian Musicians. I pray and wish that you keep #MakingIndiaProud #HappyBirthdayARRahman

— ARMAAN MALIK (@ArmaanMalik22) January 6, 2018

Anirudh Ravichander: Wishing the happiest birthday to the Mozart of Madras and my most favourite sir.

Wishing the happiest birthday to the Mozart of Madras and my most favourite @arrahman sir

— Anirudh Ravichander (@anirudhofficial) January 6, 2018

Jonita Gandhi: Happy birthday sir. To me, each and every interaction with you is a blessing. Sending you infinite love… Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the trust and countless lessons!

Happy birthday @arrahman sir ♥️
To me, each and every interaction with you is a blessing. Sending you infinite love… Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the trust and countless lessons! pic.x.com/7GbD3QWmdl

— Jonita (@jonitamusic) January 6, 2018

Neeti Mohan: Dearest A.R. Rahman sir, wishing you a very happy birthday and a blessed year ahead. Love and respect.

Dearest @arrahman sir
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday and a blessed year ahead.
Love and respect ❤

— Neeti Mohan (@neetimohan18) January 6, 2018

Shreya Ghoshal: A very happy birthday sir. Love, light and happiness to you.

A very happy birthday @arrahman sir. Love, light and happiness to you..

— Shreya Ghoshal (@shreyaghoshal) January 6, 2018

Rebuffing his request for “minimum punishment due to poor health”, a special CBI court on Saturday sentenced RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav to 3.5 years in jail and fined him Rs.5 lakh in a case of fodder scam.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief was likely to get three to seven years’ punishment, as per reports and had he got a three year sentence, the process to get bail would’ve been easy. However, now the leader would have to approach the higher court to get.

Minutes after the verdict, Lalu’s son, Tejashwi said he would be approaching the High Court.

“The judiciary performed its duty. We will go to the High Court after studying the sentence and apply for a bail,” he said.

The RJD leader also hit out at the BJP for conspiring against his father and called it a political witch-hunting.

All the accused including Lalu, who is lodged in the Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi, appeared before Justice Shivpal Singh of the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court via video conferencing.

While the arguments of Lalu along with four other convicts were heard on Friday, the arguments on the quantum of punishment for the six remaining convicts were completed on Saturday.

For the first time in this case, the hearing was conducted through a video-conferencing facility.

The verdict comes as major for Lalu, who on Friday, had moved an application before the court on health grounds and sought minimum punishment in the case.

In a plea filed in the court, Lalu’s lawyer has pleaded to the court have mercy on his client who is a heart patient and also has diabetes.

The plea further said that the Birsa Munda jail doesn’t have clean drinking water which could be harmful to Lalu’s health. Moreover, there’s no provision for any medical care in case of an emergency, the court was told.

Therefore, the RJD chief should be let off with minimum punishment.

The request comes after Lalu told the court that he felt very cold in the jail to which the judge asked him to play the ‘tabla’.

The fodder scam relates to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs. 89.27 lakh from Deoghar treasury 21 years ago.

Earlier, the court had pronounced a total of 17 accused including guilty while six including former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra were let off in the case.

Meanwhile, top party leaders on Saturday attended RJD’s “emergency meeting” under to plan the way forward in the absence of Lalu.

A senior police officer and an assistant sub-inspector were severely injured after being attacked by a mob in West Bengal’s Howrah district, police said on Saturday.

The incident took place on Friday afternoon when a team from Howrah’s Shaympur police station went to Bargram village to arrest a few miscreants.

“Suman Das, the officer-in-charge and ASI T.K. Purkait were chased down and beaten up by a gang of miscreants when they tried to stop a clash over a land dispute. Das has sustained a severe head injury in the attack,” an officer from Shaympur police station said.

Das has been admitted to Kolkata’s Belle Vue Clinic while the ASI was taken to Uluberia hospital.

“Seven persons have been arrested in the case so far on the charges of attempt to murder, causing grievous hurt and deterring public servant from duty. They would be presented in the court today,” the officer added.