NEW DELHI: The debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the Lok Sabha turned heated on Wednesday as leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi challenged home minister Amit Shah to an open debate, prompting a firm response from the minister: “I will decide.”As Shah countered the opposition’s allegations of ‘vote chori’ and referred to Rahul Gandhi’s charge of “multiple voters at one Haryana house,” the Congress leader stood up, interrupting the speech.

“My question yesterday was that for the first time in history, full immunity was given to the election commissioner. I wanted to know the reasoning behind this decision. Secondly, about Haryana, he [Amit Shah] took one example of fake voters, but there are 19 lakh fake voters,” Rahul said.“You tell us … actually, let us have a debate on my press conference, very good idea, let us go, let us have a debate,” he added.“Amit Shah ji, I challenge you, I challenge you to have a debate,” Rahul declared in the House.Also read: Amit Shah takes sharp swipe at Rahul Gandhi; gives point-by-point rebuttal on ‘vote chori’ chargeAmid uproar, Shah responded, “Speaker sir, I want to clarify first, I have been elected as an MLA or MP for the last 30 years. I have a long experience of the procedures.”Looking directly at Rahul Gandhi, he said in a stern manner, “Parliament will not proceed according to your wishes. I will decide the sequence of my speech. The Parliament will not work like this.”“Speaker sir, he should have some patience to listen to my answer. I will reply to each and everything. But he will not decide the sequence of my speech, I will decide it,” Shah reiterated.“This is a completely defensive response, a scared response,” Rahul retorted.Also read: Amit Shah alleges ‘vote chori’ by Congress; triggers protestResuming his address with a noticeably calm tone, Shah told Speaker Om Birla, “I can see worry lines on your face. Do not worry, I will not be provoked by them. I will continue with my reply.”Shah then went on to address the ‘vote chori’ accusations, stating that such issues occurred during the tenures of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. He also referenced a case in the Delhi high court, alleging that Sonia Gandhi became a voter before becoming Indian.Amit Shah gives point-by-point rebuttal on ‘vote chori’ chargeAmit Shah offered a point-by-point rebuttal over the allegation of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over vote theft in the Lok Sabha.During the ongoing debate on electoral reforms in the Parliament, Shah took a jibe at the Congress leader’s “nuclear bomb” press conference said that his press conferences are not “Constitutional provisions.”“Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi dropped a “nuclear bomb” in a press conference on 5 November 2025. In that ‘nuclear bomb’, he claimed that 501 votes had been cast from a single house in Haryana. The Election Commission has clarified that House Number 265 is no small dwelling, but rather a joint residence for multiple families built on a one-acre ancestral plot,” the home minister said.“However, separate house numbers have not been assigned to each family, so their house number is simply listed as 265. And in one of those families, three generations are living together. This numbering has been in place since the Congress government was elected in Haryana. It is neither a fake house nor fake votes,” he added.Shah also said that it is unfair to blame the people who appear twice in the voter list.“Congress has claimed that some individuals are registered in two different locations on the electoral roll. It is unfair to blame the people who appear twice, as this is often a result of systemic issues. Since 2010, the Returning Officer’s authority to remove duplicate entries has been revoked, which has led to such discrepancies. In fact, there are several leaders whose names are registered in more than one place. These are common mistakes caused by the updated rules,” Shah said.

The Gujarat Titans (GT) are known for their data-driven, strategic auction approach. Despite a strong league stage performance in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 where they finished 3rd and reached the Eliminator, they were knocked out, indicating a few key structural weaknesses.

GT have a largely stable squad, retaining 20 players, including the strong Indian core of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, as well as star overseas players Jos Buttler and Rashid Khan. However, strategic releases (Gerald Coetzee) and a trade (Sherfane Rutherford) leave them with a minimal purse of INR 12.90 crore and only five slots to fill (four overseas). Their targets must be high-impact role specialists.

GT, under the pragmatic leadership of Shubman Gill and coach Ashish Nehra, are renowned for their strategic auction acumen. After a successful IPL 2025 season where they finished 3rd but failed to reach the Final, the management has been decisive in their releases, leaving them with a small purse of ₹12.90 crore and clear, focused needs. Their biggest challenge is replacing the middle-order finisher (due to the Rutherford trade) and securing an express overseas pacer after releasing Coetzee. GT must use their limited budget to acquire high-impact, specialist players who perfectly fit their structured, winning template.

5 players that Gujarat Titans (GT) can target in the IPL 2026 mini-auction

1. David Miller (Overseas Middle-Order Finisher)

David Miller is the ideal overseas target for GT, not only because he is a proven match-winner but because he previously defined their successful middle-order template (scoring 950 runs for GT from 2022-2024). His return would perfectly replace the traded Rutherford. Miller brings composure and high-level finishing ability (IPL SR 145+) that complements the top-order stability provided by Gill and Sai Sudharsan. Securing the South African at a potentially low cost, following a quieter 2025 season with LSG, would be a high-value, familiar move to restore balance to their powerful middle order.

2. Spencer Johnson (Overseas Express Pacer)

Following the release of Coetzee, GT has a critical need for a left-arm express pace bowler to complement the attack led by Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada. Spencer Johnson, released by KKR, fits this role perfectly. Known for his high pace, unique angle, and ability to generate bounce on the Ahmedabad pitch, Johnson is a proven powerplay and death-overs option. Given his base price of ₹1.5 crore, GT can likely secure the Australian pacer and inject the raw pace and variety needed to strengthen a bowling unit that was occasionally inconsistent in the middle overs of 2025.

3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Overseas Wicketkeeper-Batter)

With Buttler retained as their primary overseas keeper, GT lacks a dedicated, high-impact backup keeper who can also contribute as an aggressive top-order batter when required. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, released by KKR, offers an excellent option. The Afghan keeper is an explosive opening batter (T20 SR over 145) who can step in if Buttler needs rest or if an early wicket is needed on certain pitches. Gurbaz’s base price of ₹1.5 crore is attractive, and his acquisition provides a versatile, high-energy reserve who can cover two crucial roles (opener and keeper) with international quality.

Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: 350 players to go under the hammer; Cameron Green, Prithvi Shaw, Steve Smith among the big players

4. Jason Holder (Overseas Pace-Bowling All-Rounder)

Jason Holder is a crucial target to fill the vacuum of a genuine fast-medium bowling all-rounder in the squad. Despite a high base price, Holder offers invaluable utility: a genuine fast-medium bowler who can operate in the middle overs and provide useful, right-arm pace in the death. His ability to hit the long ball with the bat provides a reliable lower-middle-order insurance alongside Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan, a role GT lacks. His height and experience offer a different dimension to the pace attack, ensuring GT has a multi-skilled overseas option for structural flexibility.

4. Ravi Bishnoi (Indian Leg-Spinner)

Ravi Bishnoi is the highest-priority Indian spin target for GT. Bishnoi is a wrist-spinner of superior pedigree, known for his aggressive, wicket-taking style. As one of only two Indians in the highest ₹2 crore base price bracket, securing him would be expensive but transformative. Bishnoi would provide a high-impact domestic partner to Rashid Khan, ensuring the middle-overs spin attack is genuinely potent and able to restrict opponents even when the Chepauk pitch is not conducive to spin.

Also READ: 5 players Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) can target in the IPL 2026 mini-auction

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court Wednesday, while hearing a petition of real estate businesswoman Sheetal Tejwani arrested in the controversial Pune land deal case, orally remarked that the deputy chief minister’s son is not named in the case and asked if he was being protected while police were investigating others. It was hearing Tejwani’s pre-arrest bail plea in a second FIR over the land deal.The Economic Offences Wing of Pune city police, which is probing alleged irregularities involving two separate land parcels in Bopodi and Mundhwa, on Dec 3 arrested Tejwani, who held the power of attorney for the Mundhwa land. The land was sold to Amadea Enterprises in which Parth Pawar, son of Dy CM Ajit Pawar, is a majority partner. Tejwani is in police custody till Dec 11 (Thursday). The land deal was registered in May.Justice Madhav Jamdar orally observed during the hearing: “Deputy chief minister’s son is not named in FIR. Is the police protecting the son of the deputy CM and only investigating others?” An official said Parth was not named since his name doesn’t appear on documents. The land parcel in Mundhwa, earlier a hereditary land grant, was in possession of govt and had been leased to the Botanical Survey of India. The controversy was whether the sale had the necessary nod from the state.Tejwani withdrew her plea for relief, and hence the court passed no order.Tejwani, who is in police custody in an FIR dated Nov 7 registered with Khadak police station over the Rs 300 crore sale of the 40-acre upscale Mundhwa plot, approached HC for pre-arrest bail in a separate FIR registered with Bavdhan police on Nov 6.The FIR discloses no crime, and she “acted only as a duly constituted power of attorney holder of the lawful owners,” said her plea, argued by senior counsel Rajiv Chavan. It added that since “the same transaction and documents are already under investigation by the Economic Offences Wing” in one FIR, the second one was rendered “duplicative and oppressive.”State acting public prosecutor M M Deshmukh sought dismissal of Tejwani’s plea as an “abuse of legal process” and pointed out that she sought similar relief in a local court in Pune on Dec 8, which posted the matter for hearing on Dec 15. Yet, without giving the court any breathing time, she rushed to the high court, he said.Justice Jamdar also then indicated that he might impose heavy costs of Rs 5 lakh on her in his order. Chavan then submitted that they would withdraw the application, which the HC permitted. The plea was thus withdrawn.Meanwhile, asked about HC’s remarks, CM Devendra Fadnavis said in Nagpur, “I have not heard what HC has said, but a proper reply will be submitted in court about what it has asked for. From the very beginning, the govt’s stand is not to protect anyone. And action will be taken against whoever is guilty.” Inputs from PTI

US President Donald Trump unveiled the long-awaited Gold Card visa at the White House on Wednesday, billing it as a million-dollar fast track to US citizenship and a tool for companies to retain foreign graduates. He said it was “somewhat like a green card, but with big advantages,” adding that firms could “go to any school, buy a card, and keep that person in the United States.” The White House began accepting applications from Wednesday afternoon. The card costs $1 million for individuals and $2 million for corporate sponsors.Also Read: ‘Direct path to citizenship’: Donald Trump launches Gold Card, cites corporate demand — what it means

What is the Gold Card?

The Gold Card is a new US visa pathway based on an applicant’s ability to deliver substantial benefit to the United States. It carried a $15,000 DHS processing fee and a $1 million gift after vetting. Successful applicants received lawful permanent residence under an EB-1 or EB-2 classification.

What does it cost?

– $15,000 DHS processing fee (non-refundable) – $1 million gift for individuals after background checks – Extra Department of State fees may apply

What is Trump platinum card?

Foreign nationals can sign up now and secure their places on the waiting list for the Trump Platinum Card. When launched, and upon receipt of a $15,000 DHS processing fee and $5 million contribution, they will have the ability to spend up to 270 days in the United States without being subject to US taxes on non-US income.

What is the Trump Corporate Gold Card?

Companies could sponsor foreign workers by paying a $15,000 processing fee per employee and a $2 million gift (Rs 16.6 crore) per employee after vetting. Corporations could reuse their $2 million contribution for a replacement employee without paying again. A 1 per cent annual maintenance fee and 5 per cent transfer fee applied.

Who can apply for Gold Card?

According to the site, Applicants must be eligible for lawful permanent resident status, admissible to the United States, and a visa must be available.

Are family members included?

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 could be added to the application. Each required an additional $15,000 processing fee and $1 million gift.

Can Gold Card status be revoked?

Yes. As with any visa, national security or significant criminal concerns could trigger revocation.

Application timeline

Once the processing fee was submitted, the vetting and approval process typically took weeks. Applicants had to attend a visa interview and respond quickly to document requests.

How to apply

Applications were submitted through the official website: https://trumpcard.gov/ Steps included: • Choose between Gold Card (individual), Corporate Gold Card or Platinum waitlist • Fill in personal information (name, birth details, citizenship, address, family count) • Create a myUSCIS.gov account when instructed • Pay the DHS processing fee of $15,000 • Complete the vetting and later wire the $1 million or $2 million gift

How do applicants pay?

Applicants or their corporate sponsors must pay a nonrefundable processing fee of $15,000. Payment must be made by credit card (U.S. and international) or ACH debit (U.S. bank accounts only). Depending on the type of applicant, a gift payment of $1 million or $2 million is required. “Upon receiving an email after vetting is complete, applicants or their corporate sponsors should instruct their banks to use an ACH debit or Swift Wire Transfer (U.S. and international bank accounts) according to the instructions provided at that time.” Visa-related fees will be communicated directly by the US Department of State, which will provide information on submitting the visa application fee and payments for the required medical examination.

How long does it take?

Processing typically took weeks once fees were paid and documents submitted. Some nationalities faced delays based on visa availability. Gold Card holders were taxed like US permanent residents. Platinum Card holders were exempt from US tax on foreign income for up to 270 days of annual presence.

Kalyan: The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has removed a major roadblock in the construction of Flyover A — the largest of three flyovers under the Station Area Traffic Improvement Scheme (SATIS) around Kalyan railway station — by starting demolition of nearly half the frontage of the decades-old “Optic Building.” This ground-plus-two building, known for its optical and eyewear shops, had stalled flyover work for months. KDMC has allowed the remaining portion to be repaired so existing businesses can continue operations, while residents of the Optic Building will receive Transferable Development Rights (TDR) as compensation.With this hurdle out of the way, KDMC plans to accelerate work on Flyover A’s landing near Subhash Chowk. Officials expect the flyover to be ready for public use by end-February 2026, offering much-needed relief from chronic congestion around the station.The SATIS project, launched in January 2021 and originally pegged at Rs 498 crore with a July 2023 finish date, has seen costs rise to Rs 602 crore after legal delays involving building owners and hotel operators. As part of the plan, KDMC also leased 491 sq. m of railway land for 35 years and widened roads from Tal Bar to Brakesman Chawl to support flyover construction.Stretching 1,600 metres from Subhash Chowk to Bail Bazaar, Flyover A is the largest of the three. So far, 1,250 metres have been completed. Local agency, Smart Kalyan-Dombivli Development Corporation Limited, is pushing to finish the rest by mid-February 2026 so the structure can open by month-end. According to KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goel, ongoing demolition of the Optic Building has removed the biggest obstacle; traffic diversions are expected soon and work on the landing will move full steam ahead.Construction on the other two flyovers — Flyover C and Flyover D — is also nearing completion. Flyover C (206 metres) is nearly done, with 181 metres built; Flyover D (297 metres) has 260 metres completed. All three flyovers will be interconnected. KDMC aims to open both C and D by March 2026, along with the new administration building and workshop at the ST Depot.With the main obstacles now resolved, including a gas-godown issue affecting Flyover C, KDMC plans around-the-clock work on Flyover A. Once operational, commuters catching buses from the station will be taken directly to the ST depot, from where they can head out to the city via the flyovers. Auto-rickshaw passengers will be able to use the road beneath the flyover and board from designated stands.This breakthrough signals that the long-delayed SATIS project is finally on track for completion and could soon transform commuting around Kalyan station.

The United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday, marking a dramatic escalation in his administration’s pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela. “As you probably know, we have just seized a tanker off the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large, the largest one ever seized, actually,” Trump said during a White House event on a new luxury visa programme. Trump declined to say who owned the tanker. But when asked about the ship’s oil, he said: “Well, we keep it, I guess.” Meanwhile, hours after Trump’s statement, Attorney General Pam Bondi shared a video in a post in X and said that the government executed a seizure warrant on a tanker headed from Venezuela and Iran.“Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.”“For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations. This seizure, completed off the coast of Venezuela, was conducted safely and securely—and our investigation alongside the Department of Homeland Security to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil continues,” she added. A video posted by Bondi showed armed operators descending ropes from helicopters onto the deck of the vessel before entering what appeared to be the bridge.The reports came two days after Trump declined to rule out deploying troops in an interview with POLITICO. In the interview, Trump repeatedly declined to rule out sending troops to bring down Maduro, whom he accused of exporting drugs and criminals to the United States. Since then, the administration restored sanctions, bolstered the US military presence in the Caribbean and used lethal force against vessels it alleged were trafficking drugs in concert with the Venezuelan military. Officials said the measures aimed to pressure Maduro to cede power to the opposition.

How the market reacted?

According to the NBC, as soon as the reports being circulated online, the oil prices began steadily rising, climbing more than 1.3% or about 75 cents, as of 3:45 p.m. ET. US crude prices jumped 1 percent Wednesday afternoon, to just under $59 a barrel. As per the reports from Politico, the seizure could put pressure on shippers to stop taking Venezuelan crude, potentially tightening global oil supplies. U.S. crude prices jumped 1 percent Wednesday afternoon, to just under $59 a barrel. Trump, who has repeatedly pointed to declining gasoline prices amid voters’ complaints about the rising cost of living, repeated his claim Wednesday that gasoline prices had dropped to $1.99 a gallon, though data collected by the American Automobile Association put the national average slightly below $3 per gallon.

Mumbai: A drop in temperature, accompanied by a rise in levels of air pollutants, has led to a spurt in acute respiratory infections (ARIs) across the city. People with underlying lung conditions, senior citizens and neonates—some 20 days old—are rushing to the doctor’s clinic with wheezing or cold, cough and fever.There are no exact numbers of ARI patients in the city, but if the central health ministry’s statement in Parliament last week about over 2 lakh ARI emergencies in six govt hospitals in Delhi in the last three years is an indicator, then tens of thousands could be affected here as well. “In the last couple of weeks, five out of 10 people aged 25-65 who visited me had complaints of respiratory infections, such as sore throat, common cold, cough and flu. They had blocked nose, bodyache, fatigue and even vomiting or diarrhoea,” said internal medicine specialist Dr Manjusha Agarwal from Parel’s Gleneagles Hospital. Paediatrician Dr Anish Pillai from Motherhood Hospitals, Kharghar, had similar observations: “About 50% of the children who come to my OPD every day have respiratory infections. Newborns are returning in weeks with cough, cold and high-grade fever.” In south Mumbai, senior physician Dr Pratit Samdani said the surge in ARIs isn’t unusual for this time of year. “We see patients ‘choking’ due to the combination of viral infections and air pollution between Dec and Feb,” said Dr Samdani. Diagnostic tests he ordered found a range of viral infections—influenza A and B, rhinoviruses and enteroviruses. The central govt’s digital surveillance of air pollution-related illnesses located in state-run JJ Hospital in Byculla has seen a surge in the number of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease seeking admission. “The very young and the very old as well as those with underlying lung and heart problems have been affected,” said Dr Priti Meshram, who heads the centre. Cases of bacterial and viral pneumonia are also being reported, said the doctors. Namit Sharma, who lives in Vashi and works at Fort, said he developed a painful sore throat almost overnight. “I was sniffling and coughing so much that I had to take leave.” Dr Sharma said the spike in viral infections could be attributed to weather change, pollution and eating roadside food. “Take simple precautions such as handwashing and wear a mask if venturing out of the house.”

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‘Dhurandhar’ starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and more, has been hogging the limelight for several reasons, one of which is its impressive box office collection. In just six days of its theatrical run, it has surpassed the lifetime box office score of several previous releases. According to the latest trade report, the high-octane action drama is eyeing the Rs 200 crore milestone, which, considering the current pace of the movie, is not a far-fetched goal. Read to know more about ‘Dhurandhar’s box office.Dhurandhar Movie Review

‘Dhurandhar’ box office collection day 6: Ranveer Singh and Aditya Dhar film to join Rs 200 crore

Helmed by the ‘Uri’ fame director Aditya Dhar, ‘Dhurandhar’ made an impressive opening with Rs 28 crore at the box office on Friday. It further benefited from the weekend surge, making Rs 32 crore and Rs 43 crore on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Then on day 4, it had to face its first Monday, which was expected to record a drop. However, the number game was still strong with the movie collecting Rs 23.25 crore. Tuesday saw a further rise, with ‘Dhurandhar’ minting Rs 27 crore, and on Wednesday, with a strong hold, the film made around Rs 26.50 crore. With these numbers, in India, the net collection of ‘Dhurandhar’ after 6 days of box office run stands at Rs 179.75 crore. Since the movie has been making over Rs 20 crore even on weekdays, with the Thursday numbers, it is expected to join the Rs 200 crore club.‘Dhurandhar’ has become the second-highest opener of 2025, beating ‘Saiyaara.’ In the list of Ranveer Singh starrers, ‘Dhurandhar’ currently is in the fourth spot amind the highest grossers. It’s on the path to beat ‘Bajirao Mastani.’

Ranvir Shorey reviews ‘Dhurandhar’

Along with the box office collection, the movie has been gaining rave reviews from all around. Actor Ranvir Shorey also recently took to X to appreciate the film and wrote, “Watched Dhurandhar with a full house on a Monday night, and loved it! It’s a kicka** spy thriller with 0 hate for anything except the terror infrastructure in Pakistan. Really dunno what the whining is about. AdityaDharFilms and the entire cast and crew have done a superlative job, and ought to be commended.”DISCLAIMER: The box office numbers in this article are compiled from our proprietary sources and diverse public data. We strive for accuracy, and all figures are approximate unless explicitly mentioned. We offer a fair representation of the project’s box office performance. We are open to feedback and suggestions at entertainment@timesinternet.in.