MUMBAI: In an unexpected turn, a woman’s current husband took the witness stand to depose on behalf of her ex-spouse, ending a nearly 17-year-old domestic violence case. The case, initiated in 2009 by the woman, alleged years of torture by her first husband. She sought protection and monetary relief, claiming she was ousted from her home. However, a Borivli court ruled that with her current husband confirming marriage, she was not entitled to maintenance.‘Woman married 2nd time, not entitled to maintenance’Additional chief judicial magistrate B N Chikne said, “As such, in such facts and circumstances and the evidence on record, it appears to me that it is proved from the evidence and documents produced on record, after divorce from the respondent No. 1 (ex-husband), the applicant (woman) performed a second marriage. Therefore, she is not entitled to get maintenance from respondent No. 1.” The judgment centred on the revelation that the woman had entered into a second marriage while her original maintenance claim was still active.In her plea, the woman said she married her ex-husband in 2005 through an arranged setup. She alleged that she later found out that the man was already married and his first wife began to frequent their home. Along with the ex-husband, his first wife would abuse her too. She alleged numerous incidents of physical, emotional and economic abuse. In Dec 2009, the first husband was directed to pay the woman an interim monthly maintenance of Rs 3,200 until the disposal of the case. While the woman’s sister served as a witness to support her allegations, the man brought to court an imam who officiated the woman’s second marriage, a handwriting and fingerprint expert who testified on the signatures and thumb impression on the nikahnama of the second marriage, and her husband.The trajectory of the trial shifted dramatically when her ex-husband produced her current husband as a defence witness to confirm their marital status. By confirming the second marriage through the evidence of the current husband himself, the defence nullified the woman’s status as a dependent of her former spouse. The court ruled the existence of this second union, confirmed by the man who entered into it, extinguished the woman’s right to seek further maintenance or protection from her first husband.

The Kotharis have travelled to 14 countries in four years

From Vadodara and Ahmedabad, a small band of 70-plus Indians is rewriting the script of retirement – skydiving, scuba diving, bungee jumping, even trekking across Antarctica’s frozen expanse.Gautam Kothari, 74, has lost vision in one eye. His wife Beena, 72, cannot walk long distances. Together, they have leapt from aircraft, plunged into oceans, and dangled over canyons. The Kotharis stood at the edge of the world in polar cold. They cruised icy waters, met a lone lighthouse family in one of the planet’s remotest outposts. In four years, they have travelled to 14 countries. Experiences many half their age postpone for “someday”. “In 2022, we leapt out of the skies in Russia,” Gautam said. “Icy wind hit us. Earth below looked fascinating. Neither of us was nervous even for a moment.” Heart ailments to knee replacements, nothing stops these senior citizens New Zealand followed. A bungee jump in 2024. Then Egypt. The Red Sea. Scuba diving. “My family warned me about pressure on my heart,” Gautam said. “But I was adamant about seeing the underwater world.”They have chased auroras in Iceland. Drifted above Egypt in a hot-air balloon. Stayed in Indonesia’s rainforests. Watched gorillas in Uganda. Glided over a frozen Siberian lake. Every detail planned by hand. Destinations. Flights. Rooms. Routes. “We do everything ourselves,” Beena said.Another Amdavadi couple follows that rhythm. Deval Thakor, 77, and his wife Daksha, 76, took on Antarctica after earning the label of “senior citizens”. They skydived in California too. “Age is just a number,” Thakor said. “Journeys matter more than possible hardships.”Then there are Nautam Vakil, 78, and his wife Neeta, 82. Neeta’s knee replacement did not stop them from taking the Alpine Tour in Japan this year. “We believe in living with high spirits,” Vakil said.Back in Vadodara, Gautam still runs an industrial electrical products business. For the couple, travel feeds curiosity. “We want to live every moment,” Gautam said, adding, “Meet new people. Explore different cuisines.”The bucket list remains unfinished. Namibia’s desert is next for the Kotharis. Egypt and Jordan await the Thakors, after they “travelled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Kutch to Arunachal Pradesh in our car”. Time keeps moving. The Kotharis, Vakils and Thakors move faster.

England fast bowler Josh Tongue opened up about his retirement after the team’s win over Australia in the fourth Test of the Ashes 2025-26. Tongue admitted that there was a time when his body let him down so badly that retirement felt like a real possibility, but he decided to keep pushing through the setbacks.

England secured a four-wicket win over Australia in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, December 27. The visiting team secured their first Test win after losing three consecutive matches. Josh Tongue was named Player of the Match after playing a key role in England’s victory.

It’s A Very Special Feeling – Josh Tongue

Josh Tongue produced a match-winning performance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, finishing with seven wickets across the Test. He starred in the first innings with figures of 5 for 45 and followed it up with 2 for 44 in the second.

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After the game, Tongue said the achievement felt like a dream, especially taking a five-wicket haul on Boxing Day and earning a place on the honours board. He also praised the energy of the large crowd and the Barmy Army.

“It’s what dreams are made of. Obviously waking up on Boxing Day, a few nerves but yeah, to get a fifer and get my name on the honours board, it’s a very special feeling,” he said.

“It was with 95,000 people yesterday. The Barmy Army have been unbelievable these past four games and especially here as well, in front of 95,000 people, it’s amazing being in the moment for them,” Tongue added.

I Was In a Tough Situation With My Body – Josh Tongue

Josh Tongue also spoke about the difficult phase of his career. He stated that his body was letting him down at the time, but he stayed committed to his recovery and put in the hard work to return to fitness. That determination has paid off, as he is now back playing for England.

“100%. I was in a tough situation with my body and stuff (on his past injuries). I was potentially retiring, but I’m glad that I put in the hard work to get myself back playing cricket. And now playing for England, it’s all that I’ve always wanted to do,” Tongue noted.

I Can’t Be Happy Enough – Josh Tongue

Tongue said that the pitch suited the bowlers and that the entire unit worked together by adjusting lengths and applying pressure throughout the match. He added that collective discipline and execution were key to England’s dominance. The pacer said that he will cherish the win for a long time.

“I’d say all of them, I think (on his favourite wicket). Obviously, coming to the ground on the first day, we knew it was going to be great. It suits us. And how we all bowled out there, making sure we broke our lengths. I thought all of our bowlers did exceptionally well,” he said.

“To be part of a Test match-winning team as well, here at the MCG. 100% (if he was ready to bat in the second innings). To win here at the MCG, Boxing Day Test, I can’t be happy enough.”

Also read: Harry Brook seals England’s first Test win in Australia after 5,468 days with a boundary at MCG

JAIPUR: Over 1,230 mining leases, most of them disputed, continue to exist across Rajasthan’s Aravali region. Together, these leases cover 17,393 hectares within the Aravali system.“At present, most leases in the Aravalis are under dispute and pending before courts. Some mines are closed, while others continue to operate,” a senior mining official said.Incidentally, Rajasthan mining department was considering a proposal to lease out additional pits for excavation in the Aravalis but the Centre invoked a blanket ban on the grant of new mining leases in the mountain range following public outcry over a proposed “new definition” of one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges.An official source said, “The mining department issued notifications for 126 new leases in Nov 2025. Of these, 50 are located within Aravali districts, while 76 fall outside the Aravali region.”

District-wise data highlights the scale of concentration, with Rajsamand district alone accounting for over 540 leases. Udaipur follows with 162 leases and Jaipur has 139. Alwar, Sirohi, and Bhilwara together account for over 250 leases, reflecting how deeply mining has penetrated the Aravali belt.Mining expert Pradeep Singh said the new ban does not cancel existing permissions retrospectively, allowing hundreds of leases to continue, particularly in Rajasthan. “In many areas where leases are operational, environmental degradation is visible and, in several places, irreversible. Hills have been hollowed out, forest cover has thinned, and natural drainage systems have been disrupted,” he said.Across Rajasthan, the mining footprint extends far beyond the Aravalis. The state has 16,116 mining leases, of which around 10,060 are operational, along with nearly 18,000 quarry licences.Mining expert Kishore Kumawat said area-wise data within the Aravali region shows Udaipur accounting for 6,084 hectares under mining, followed by Sojat with 2,575.4 hectares, Bhilwara with 1,229 hectares, and Rajsamand with nearly 800 hectares.

Ajay dedicated the award to his grandmother, Ratna Devi, who has been raising the 9-year-old and his sister since they lost their mother a few years ago

AGRA: Back in his hometown in Agra’s Bah to a grand reception on Saturday after receiving the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar from President Droupadi Murmu in Delhi, Ajay Raj Nishad (9), who on July 25 saved father Vir Bhan from the jaws of a large crocodile in the Chambal, said, “I was afraid for my life too. But at that moment, the only thing that came to my mind was how to save my dad.”On that July afternoon, armed with only a long stick, the thin and diminutive 9-year-old boy struck the predator’s eye, forcing it to release his father and retreat back into the waters. And the child’s act of bravery was not just noticed by Bah’s residents, but it also went right up to the corridors of power in the national capital.In Delhi, inspired by his brief interaction with PM Narendra Modi at the award ceremony, the Class IV stud-ent, while dedicating the honour to his grandmother, Ratna Devi, said, “I want to join defence forces and serve the nation in the future… I want to protect my country the way I protected my father.”The award honours extraordinary accomplishments in various categories. Ajay was awarded in the category of ‘bravery’.His father, Vir Bhan, told TOI: “I’m a small-time labourer and also rear a few goats. On July 25, I, along with my children — Ajay and my daughter — took our goats out for grazing. It was around 2pm, I felt thirsty and went to fetch water from the river. To my horror, a full-grown crocodile moved towards me and before I could react, it grab-bed my right leg and tried to pull me into the water.”“Ajay quickly picked up a long stick and hit the crocodile at least 15 times. But it had little impact on the reptile. Then he struck the crocodile in the eye… It all happened within a few seconds. I thought that I was gone that day. I am alive today only because of my 9-year-old son,” Vir said, showing the months-old scar on his leg. The 37-year-old added that he had lost his wife a few years ago and his children were being raised by their grandmother.Back home, Ajay has become a local hero with people from neighbouring villages streaming in to catch a glimpse of him. Fatehpur Sikri MP Rajkumar Chahar also met the child and awarded him Rs 51,000.

Israel’s decision to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state has triggered a sharp diplomatic backlash across Africa and the Middle East, reopening a long-running debate over one of the world’s most unusual political entities. While Israel became the first country to extend official recognition, the United States has publicly ruled it out, and the African Union has moved swiftly to reject the move, warning it could destabilise the continent.Somaliland, a self-governing region in northern Somalia, declared independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Siad Barre regime. More than three decades on, it functions as a de facto state, with its own government, currency, army and elections. Yet it remains unrecognised by Somalia, the United Nations, the African Union and every major power, a diplomatic limbo that Israel’s recognition has now brought into sharp focus.

Somalia’s government described Israel’s recognition as a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty. The African Union also lashed out at the move saying that Somaliland “remains an integral part” of Somalia and warning that recognition risks setting a dangerous precedent for secessionist movements across Africa. Turkey and Egypt also condemned the move, with Cairo cautioning against the creation of “parallel entities” that could undermine regional stability.Israel, however, framed its decision as part of a broader strategic realignment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said recognition was “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords”, the normalisation agreements brokered under US President Donald Trump during his first term. Somaliland’s President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, hailed the move as a “historic moment” and signalled readiness to join the Accords, describing Israel as a new strategic partner. Crowds celebrated in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, waving flags of the unrecognised republic.Trump himself offered a blunt contrast, dismissing the idea of US recognition with a flat “no”, adding: “Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?”The US administration as reported by The Guardian, is reportedly divided over recognizing Somaliland, amid concerns it could jeopardize military cooperation with Somalia, where US troops support Somali forces against al-Shabaab.

Why the recognition matters

Israel’s regional security calculations may underpin the move. Analysts at the Institute for National Security Studies said last month that Israel seeks partners in the Red Sea area for strategic reasons, including the prospect of a future confrontation with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement, news agency AFP reported. Since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023, Israel has repeatedly struck targets in Yemen in response to Houthi attacks that the rebels said were carried out in solidarity with Palestinians. Those attacks have paused since a fragile Gaza truce took hold in October.Somaliland, which lacks international recognition, has struggled to attract loans, aid and investment and remains deeply impoverished. Tensions rose after landlocked Ethiopia agreed last year to lease part of Somaliland’s coastline for a port and military base, angering Somalia. Israel has meanwhile sought to deepen ties across the Middle East and Africa, building on the 2020 normalization deals.

What does Somalia say?

Somalia continues to reject Somaliland’s demand for independence and has repeatedly condemned what it calls unilateral efforts by Hargeisa to strike international agreements. Somaliland, for its part, argues that it is exercising rights it reclaimed in 1991, following the collapse of the Somali state.In December 2023, Mogadishu said it was ready to reopen dialogue with Somaliland under mediation by neighbouring Djibouti. Days later, however, Somaliland announced a provisional agreement with Ethiopia granting Addis Ababa access to the port of Berbera. The deal triggered immediate backlash from Somalia, which described it as an illegal act of “aggression” and recalled its ambassador from Ethiopia.

How did we get here?

The roots of the dispute lie in the violent collapse of Somalia itself. In the late 1980s, opposition movements formed across the country to challenge the military regime of Mohamed Siad Barre. In 1991, rebel forces drove Barre out of Mogadishu, plunging southern Somalia into chaos.In the northwest, the Somali National Movement (SNM) seized control and declared independence as the Republic of Somaliland. While Mogadishu descended into militia warfare and state collapse, Somaliland’s leaders chose a different path, cutting ties with the south and beginning a slow process of rebuilding institutions.For much of the next two decades, Somalia lacked a functioning central government. Islamist group Al-Shabaab gained control over large parts of the south, while millions were displaced by violence, famine and humanitarian crises. By 2012, more than four million people depended on aid, and the country remained deeply unstable.

Why Somaliland matters

Somaliland sits on the Gulf of Aden, along one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints linking the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. Analysts say Israel is seeking allies in the Red Sea region amid concerns over Yemen’s Houthis, who have previously targeted Israeli interests during the Gaza war.

What is the Gulf of Aden

The Gulf of Aden sits between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and links the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea, which in turn connects to the Suez Canal — one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors.

Gulf of Aden has also been targeted by the Houthis. In late 2023, the Yemen-based group has targeted commercial vessels using missiles, drones and small boats, claiming the strikes are linked to the Gaza war. The attacks have forced major shipping lines to divert away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal, increasing costs and transit times.

Melbourne Stars will face the Sydney Thunder in the fourteenth match of the Big Bash League. This article provides detailed information on MLS vs SYT Live Streaming for the fourteenth game of the tournament.

Melbourne Stars would look to take their tally of wins in the BBL this season to four in as many games when they take on the Sydney Thunder at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.

The Marcus Stoinis-led side would hope to replicate the same performance it delivered in the previous match against the Sydney Sixers, which they ended up winning comprehensively in the end to take the top spot in the points table.

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As far as the Sydney Thunder are concerned, the team has had a mixed start to their campaign this season, with one win after three games.

Having said that, the David Warner-led side got the better of the Brisbane Heat in their last match, who were coming into the game after chasing a record-breaking score of 258 runs and would look to take the confidence of that win into the next game.

MLS vs SYT Free Live Streaming in India, Live Telecast- BBL 2025-26, Match 14:

TV Rights In India

The rights to broadcast the Big Bash League in India are with Star Sports. The fourteenth match of the ongoing season between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder will be beamed on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 2 HD.

Live Streaming Platform in India:

The Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder fixture will be live-streamed on the Jio Hotstar app and website. Viewers in India will have to pay a subscription fee to watch the match online.

When will the match take place?

The MLS vs SYT game will take place on December 28. It will start at 1:45 PM IST.

Where will the match be played?

The upcoming match between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder will be played at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

How to watch the Live Telecast of the MLS vs SYT match on television?

The MLS vs SYT will be televised on Star Sports Network in India.

How to live stream the match between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder on mobile Online?

Jio Hotstar will live-stream the Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder match in India. Cricket watchers can watch the match on their mobiles, laptops, and connected TVs.

Conclusion

Both teams will be facing each other after registering a win in their last games, respectively, and will aim to build on it.

The Stars would back their batters to come good against an in-form bowling lineup of the Thunder as they did against the Sydney Sixers.

Sydney Thunder, on the other hand, would also want to put their best foot forward in a bid to win the match in question and earn back-to-back wins by doing so to gain confidence for the matches to come.

That is the reason why viewers cannot afford to miss the upcoming game and can watch it through a live telecast or live streaming.