Minneapolis shooting (AP photo)

An ICE officer in its major immigration crackdown fatally shot a woman driving an SUV through her car window in South Minneapolis on Wednesday. US President Donald Trump called the incident “horrible thing to watch” and said that the woman was “a professional agitator.”The deadly confrontation escalated the intensity of situation in what was already heated-up immigration raid on Minnesota and its immigrants by Donald Trump administration. The administration confirmed the shooting and also informed that the woman was a rioter who in her vehicle attempted to run over law enforcement officers.A video of the incident immediately surfaced widely over social media, showing a Honda SUV apparently blocking unmarked law enforcement vehicles as they attempt to drive down a street that was covered with snow.The driver, identified by local media as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, tried to drive away as officers approached and attempted to open her door, prompting one agent to fire three shots as the vehicle pulled off.In the video, an officer is heard ordering the driver to get out of the car and attempting to open the door, after which the driver slowly reverses and then moves forward as if trying to flee. An officer positioned at the front fires three shots, and the SUV travels a short distance at point-blank before crashing into a parked car. The woman was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, according to the Minneapolis police chief.Trump, who has ordered nationwide anti-immigration raids, accused the woman of trying to “viciously” run over the agent. Trump reacted to the event, taking in to his Truth Social, he wrote: “I have just viewed the clip of the event which took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a horrible thing to watch. The woman screaming was, obviously, a professional agitator, and the woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense. Based on the attached clip, it is hard to believe he is alive, but is now recovering in the hospital. He further added in the post, “The situation is being studied, in its entirety, but the reason these incidents are happening is because the Radical Left is threatening, assaulting, and targeting our Law Enforcement Officers and ICE Agents on a daily basis. They are just trying to do the job of MAKING AMERICA SAFE. We need to stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers from this Radical Left Movement of Violence and Hate!”ICE’s federal agents have played a central role in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and deportation push, despite objections from some local officials.Last summer, the department of homeland security (DHS) launched an aggressive recruitment drive to add 10,000 ICE agents to its existing force of about 6,000, drawing criticism that newly deployed officers lacked adequate training.DHS secretary Kristi Noem said “any loss of life is a tragedy” but described the incident as “domestic terrorism,” alleging that Good had been stalking and obstructing ICE operations throughout the day. She said Good later “weaponized her vehicle.”The incident took place during protests against immigration enforcement in southern Minneapolis, in the midwestern state of Minnesota.DHS, which oversees ICE, said in a post on X that the woman had attempted to run over an officer, who then fired what it described as “defensive shots.”

What is happening in Minneapolis?

The administration deployed hundreds of agents to the city on Wednesday in what officials described as the largest crackdown since a Minnesota welfare fraud case drew national attention. Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey said he was aware of the shooting involving an ICE agent and called for federal immigration officers to leave the city “immediately.”“The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city,” Frey said in a statement on social media. “We’re demanding ICE leave the city immediately. We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities.”Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who withdrew from the governor’s race following the welfare controversy, said his office was working to “gather information on an ICE-related shooting this morning.”

The Melbourne Stars host the Sydney Sixers at the MCG in a high-stakes clash that could shape the mid-table scramble of BBL|15. With the Stars sitting 3rd and the Sixers 4th, this match is a battle for momentum as the tournament heads toward the business end.

The headline act for this fixture is the family feud. Tom Curran has been a standout for the Stars with both bat and ball this season, playing a crucial cameo in the recent derby. He now faces his younger brother, Sam Curran, who has joined the Sydney Sixers squad. Sam’s arrival adds world-class all-round depth to the Sixers, and seeing the two brothers go head-to-head at the ‘G will be a marquee moment for the league.

The Stars started the season on fire with four straight wins but have hit a speed bump, losing their last two matches (against the Heat and the Renegades). The form of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis with the bat. Both failed in the derby, and the Stars rely heavily on their explosive middle order. The top order, led by the tournament’s leading run-scorer Sam Harper, has been doing the heavy lifting.

The Sixers have had a rollercoaster season, currently sitting on 3 wins and 3 losses. They come into this match off a gritty win against the Brisbane Heat in a low-scoring thriller. The inclusion of Curran is massive. He replaces Kane Richardson (omitted/rested) or likely slots in for a rotational player to bolster the bowling and lower-order hitting. Babar Azam has shown flashes of class but will be keen to dominate on the big MCG stage.

MS vs SS, BBL|15: Match details

• Date and Time: January 08; 01:00 pm IST / 9:15 am GMT / 7:15 pm Local
• Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

MS vs SS, Head-to-Head Record in BBL

Matches played: 25 | Melbourne Stars won: 09 | Sydney Sixers won: 15 | No result/Tied: 01

Melbourne Cricket Ground Pitch Report

The pitch has been generally balanced this season. In the recent derby, the Stars posted 173, which was chased down, suggesting a good batting deck that offers value for shots. The big boundaries at the MCG always bring the spinners into play, but the seamers (Rauf, Siddle, Abbott) will enjoy the carry early on. Batting second has been slightly favorable at the MCG recently, as teams can pace their chase on the large outfield.

Also READ: BBL|15: Joel Davies’ all-round brilliance guides Sydney Sixers past Brisbane Heat in a low scoring thriller

Squads:

Melbourne Stars: Thomas Rogers, Sam Harper (wk), Campbell Kellaway, Blake Macdonald, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis (c), Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran, Mitchell Swepson, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle, Sam Hain, Liam Hatcher, Hamish McKenzie

Sydney Sixers: Daniel Hughes, Babar Azam, Josh Philippe (wk), Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Jack Edwards, Joel Davies, Ben Manenti, Hayden Kerr, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Sam Curran, Mitchell Perry, Lachlan Shaw

MS vs SS, BBL|15: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• Melbourne Stars wins the toss and bowls first
• Sydney Sixers’ powerplay score: 50-55 (6 overs)
• Sydney Sixers’ total score: 170-180

Case 2:

• Sydney Sixers wins the toss and bowls first
• Melbourne Stars’ powerplay score: 45-50 (6 overs)
• Melbourne Stars’ total score: 160-170

Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest.

Also READ: BBL|15: Jamie Overton shines in Adelaide Strikers’ thrilling win over Sydney Thunder

NEW DELHI: Members of a parliamentary committee on Wednesday debated whether opposition parties, which have refused joining their panel formed to study a bill aimed at “decriminalisation” of politics, should be invited to offer their views on the proposed law and if the leader of opposition can be removed from office under its provisions.Law Commission of India chairperson Dinesh Maheshwari was among the key figures who shared their views with the Joint Committee of Parliament scrutinising the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill and two related bills, which seek removal from office of PM, CMs and ministers if they are under arrest for 30 days and more on serious criminal charges.A BJP MP, sources said, flagged a scenario when the governing party refuses to name the replacement for PM and CMs in case they are removed from office due to their detention and said amendments should be made to plug this loophole to rule out such a possibility that can cripple governance, especially in times of crisis in the country or a state.If such a case arises, then the president of the country or the governor of a state should be legally empowered to use their discretion if a replacement of the arrested head of govt is not forthcoming, he suggested.Congress and most other opposition parties have refused to join the committee, which is headed by BJP’s Aparajita Sarangi, as they have slammed the bill as unconstitutional and politically motivated.The committee has only two MPs from the opposition among its members-Supriya Sule of NCP(SP) and AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi.When one of them suggested that opposition parties should be invited to offer their views on the bill, several MPs questioned the proposal noting that they had ignored repeated suggestions by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to join the panel. Some members also wondered if the leader of opposition can be removed from office under the bill’s provisions. Though the two LoPs in Parliament, and LoPs in state assemblies enjoy certain govt protocols, they are not considered part of the executive and are not covered under the current provisions of the bill. Sources said Maheshwari and Hyderabad-based National Academy of Legal Studies and Research’s VC Sri Krishna Deva Rao agreed with the idea behind the bill’s aim for decriminalisation of politics amid several suggestions made by them and committee’s members.

India’s Ruturaj Gaikwad (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence from India’s squad for the upcoming New Zealand series has triggered fresh debate around the BCCI selection committee’s approach. The CSK batter comes into the discussion on the back of a century against South Africa in his most recent outing, yet he still failed to find a place in the squad. His omission has coincided with the return of Shreyas Iyer, who has been named in the team after recovering from an injury sustained during the Australia tour. While Iyer’s inclusion remains subject to final fitness clearance, the selectors chose not to name Gaikwad even as a backup option, further fuelling questions over selection priorities.

Former India batter Robin Uthappa admitted he found Gaikwad’s exclusion difficult to comprehend and spoke at length about the mental toll such decisions can take on players. Reflecting on the realities of Indian cricket, Uthappa highlighted how players are often forced to operate under constant pressure. “Buddy, it’s very hard to process. You have to make it make sense, right? It takes a toll, and you need to almost kind of find silver linings to kind of lean back on,” Uthappa said on his YouTube channel. “In these circumstances, it’s not the easiest thing to do. It’s hectic, and you’ve to find a way to see silver linings.” Uthappa also pointed to what he described as a “survival mode” mindset that dominates Indian cricket, stressing the importance of mental strength to navigate such challenges. “One of the challenges with Indian cricket is that you’re constantly operating on survival mode. And to switch from that mindset, it takes immense amount of resilience, immense amount of self-talk and positive self-talk, and you’ve to be able to be a silver linings guy,” he added. Gaikwad made his ODI debut in 2022 but has found opportunities hard to come by since then. Across nine matches, he has scored 228 runs at an average of 28.50, with one century and one fifty to his name. Uthappa further underlined how the road can be even tougher for players who do not come from India’s traditional cricketing powerhouses. He stressed that constant effort and persistence are essential to break through at the highest level. “And you’ve to find a way to keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting, especially if you don’t come from one of three big states in India, which is Mumbai, Delhi, and Punjab. If you’re not from one of those states, then you’ve to keep pushing yourself, pushing yourself,” Uthappa said.

Many people pour old aquarium water straight down the drain without thinking twice. It looks cloudy, smells faintly earthy, and feels used up. But to gardeners, that same water is often treated like a small gift. Aquarium water carries traces of life that plants understand well. Not in a dramatic way, and not as a miracle cure, but as something quietly useful. It comes from a closed system where fish, plants, bacteria, and food interact every day. When that water is removed during a routine tank change, it still holds nutrients and minerals that soil plants recognise. For gardeners who already keep fish, reusing aquarium water is less about clever hacks and more about noticing what is already there and letting it go somewhere else instead of disappearing.

Aquarium water isn’t waste, it’s a hidden nutrient boost for plants

According to a study published on MDPI, aquarium water builds up nutrients over time. Fish waste, uneaten food, and plant debris break down into forms plants can use. Nitrogen is the most important of these. In tanks, ammonia from fish waste is converted by bacteria into nitrites and then nitrates. Ammonia and nitrite are dangerous for fish, which is why water changes matter, but nitrate is much safer and happens to be a nutrient plants rely on for leafy growth. When aquarium water is poured onto garden soil, the nitrogen enters a different cycle. Soil microbes and plant roots take it up slowly. It is diluted, spread out, and rarely strong enough to burn plants when used sensibly.

Nutrients dissolved in aquarium water

Beyond nitrogen, aquarium water often contains small amounts of phosphorus and potassium, both essential plant nutrients. These come mainly from fish food and organic matter breaking down. Trace elements such as iron may also be present, especially in planted tanks. Water hardness plays a role, too. Calcium and magnesium dissolved in the water can benefit soil structure and plant health, particularly in pots or raised beds where minerals wash out over time. The water’s pH is usually stable due to carbonate buffering, which means it is unlikely to shock garden soil when used occasionally. It is not fertiliser in a measured sense, but it is not plain water either.

Aquarium water is safe for plants

Most garden plants respond well to aquarium water, especially leafy vegetables, houseplants, herbs, and ornamental plants. It is best used on soil rather than sprayed on leaves. The water can contain microorganisms, and while these are usually harmless, keeping moisture on leaves is rarely helpful. Avoid using aquarium water on plants that prefer very dry or low-nutrient soil. Succulents and cacti may not appreciate the extra nutrients. Saltwater aquarium water should not be used at all, as salinity can damage soil and roots. Freshwater tanks without added chemicals are the safest choice. If medication was recently used in the aquarium, it is better to discard that water.

Organic matter helps garden soil

Aquarium water often contains fine suspended solids. Tiny particles of organic matter cloud the water slightly. In the aquarium, too much of this is a problem. In soil, it becomes food. Microorganisms break it down, improving soil life and structure. This can help sandy soils retain moisture and support beneficial bacteria. The oxygen demand of this organic matter is not an issue once diluted in open soil. What matters is that it adds something living and active, rather than sterile. Over time, this can gently improve soil health, especially in pots where soil biology tends to be limited.

How should aquarium water be used in the garden

The simplest approach is the best one. Use aquarium water during regular watering, pouring it directly onto the soil at the base of plants. There is no need to store it for long periods. Freshly removed water is fine. Use it occasionally, not every time you water. Think of it as a supplement rather than a routine. Plants respond slowly, not instantly. There will be no dramatic change overnight. Leaves may look a little fuller over time. Soil may hold together slightly better. The benefit is quiet and cumulative. For many gardeners, the appeal lies as much in wasting less as in growing more.