GOA: The owner of Birch by Romeo Lane, Saurabh Luthra, remains absconding following a devastating fire at his North Goa nightclub that claimed 25 lives and left several others injured. Until last year, Luthra had aimed to launch 50 restaurants across India. His LinkedIn profile lists him as “Chairman at Romeo Lane, Birch and Mama’s Buoi.”

Activist Tahir Noronha described Luthra as “like a ghost,” saying he rarely stays in Goa and often avoids legal proceedings, sending representatives in his place. Survivors and staff also described him as aloof, with one kitchen worker noting that Luthra visited the club only once a month and rarely interacted with employees.Management expresses sorrowIn a 1st statement released after the tragedy, the management of Birch by Romeo Lane expressed profound grief and said it was “deeply shaken” by the loss of lives. “In this hour of irreparable sorrow and overwhelming distress, we stand in unwavering solidarity with the families of the deceased as well as those injured,” the statement said.The management added that it would provide “every possible form of assistance, support and cooperation” to the bereaved and affected individuals during this period of “immense anguish and adversity.”“The management expresses profound grief and is deeply shaken by the tragic loss of lives resulting from the unfortunate incident at Birch.In this hour of irreparable sorrow and overwhelming distress, the management stands in unwavering solidarity with the families of the deceased as well as those injured, and conveys its heartfelt condolences with utmost sincerity.The management further affirms that it shall extend every possible form of assistance, support and cooperation to the bereaved and affected individuals, as they navigate through this period of immense anguish and adversity.”Manager heldEarlier today, Goa police detained another manager associated with the nightclub, identified as Bharat, who reportedly handled the daily operations of Birch by Romeo Lane. Authorities are investigating the full sequence of events that led to the blaze.Fire outbreak and aftermathAt the time of the fire, between 100 and 200 people were on the dance floor. Some patrons attempted to escape by running to the kitchen area, where they became trapped along with staff members. Investigations continuePolice have launched efforts to trace Luthra brothers as investigations into the incident continue and a look-out circular has been issued.The focus remains on accountability, safety compliance, and providing assistance to victims and their families during this period of immense distress

A science teacher at Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, Florida, was arrested after investigators said he used a shared Google Doc to communicate secretly with a student before engaging in sexual acts with her at the school and in his flat, according to an arrest affidavit. Elias Gordon Farley, 26, was taken into custody after the student reported the alleged abuse on November 18, Fox News reported.Farley is charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor and offence against a student by an authority figure. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Main Detention Centre on Dec. 4 and is being held on a $500,000 bond.According to the affidavit, the student told detectives the interactions began as casual conversations during the previous school year but that over the summer Farley created a shared Google Doc in which they exchanged messages. Investigators said the file later contained explicit entries describing sexual activity and planning when they would meet privately.The student said the relationship became physical in mid-September inside Farley’s office, where he touched her beneath her clothing. She told detectives the encounters continued for weeks in both his office and a classroom. By late September and into October, she said the pair engaged in sexual acts, including oral sex and intercourse inside a classroom on campus.She also described visiting Farley’s flat twice in early November after recognising details he had mentioned about its location and layout. Deputies said several sexual encounters occurred during those visits.Detectives executed a search warrant and found bedding, condom wrappers and furniture matching the student’s description. Farley’s flatmate confirmed he had not been home on the dates the student said she visited. School surveillance video reviewed by deputies showed Farley and the student entering his office together on Nov. 7 and later entering a classroom for about an hour.The situation came to light after the student confided in an art teacher on Nov. 14 and showed bruises and bite marks she said were inflicted by Farley. Administrators were informed the next day, suspended Farley immediately and reported the matter to child welfare authorities.Farley refused to speak with detectives after being read his Miranda rights, according to the affidavit.In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Donna Klein Jewish Academy said it is cooperating fully with the investigation and called the situation “a difficult time for all of us at Donna Klein.” “We are approaching this serious situation with the utmost care, keeping the well-being of our students, faculty and families at the forefront,” a spokesperson said. The spokesperson said no additional details would be released “out of respect for the privacy of our community” but that Farley is no longer employed at the school.

Zohran Mamdani (Photo credit: AP)

New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani released a video explaining the rights of immigrants when confronted by ICE officers, days after a reported US Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid on Canal Street prompted public outcry. In the clip, posted late Sunday, he said, “We can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights,” as he pledged to defend the city’s more than three million immigrant residents. The video accompanied his post on X in which Mamdani wrote: “Know your rights. Protect your neighbours. New York is — and always will be — a city for all immigrants.”Mamdani said he would “protect the rights of every single New Yorker,” stressing that agents “cannot enter into private spaces, like your home, school, or private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.” He warned that officers may present paperwork “that looks like this and tell you that they have the right to arrest you,” but added, “That is false. ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent.”Mamdani also advised that individuals being questioned may ask “Am I free to go?” until they receive a clear answer, and said New Yorkers are allowed to film ICE agents provided they do not interfere with an arrest. “Remain calm. Do not impede their investigation, resist arrest or run,” he added, reiterating that the right to protest remains constitutionally protected.Mamdani, who met President Donald Trump in a surprisingly cordial Oval Office meeting weeks earlier, has positioned himself as a staunch opponent of aggressive immigration enforcement within the city. Closing his video, he said: “New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters.”His message followed a sequence of enforcement activities that have increased tension in the city. ABC News reported that his advisory was released shortly after federal agents carried out an operation in Manhattan, part of broader immigration enforcement drives across several US cities. The outlet also noted that demonstrators had gathered last weekend as agents attempted detentions on Canal Street, echoing a similar sweep last October that drew spontaneous protests in Chinatown.The New York Times reported that on November 28, protesters clashed with police outside a parking garage on Centre and Hester Streets. Dozens of federal agents from US Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security had appeared to be assembling there ahead of a raid. The standoff escalated as protesters blocked the garage entrance with their bodies and piled garbage bags to prevent agents from exiting. The confrontation lasted nearly an hour, leading to several arrests and effectively stalling the operation.

NAGPUR: Amid mass cancellations of IndiGo flights, chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ram Shinde, on Sunday said special trains will be operated from Nagpur to Mumbai on December 14 and 15 to facilitate the return of MLAs, ministers, officers, and staff after the conclusion of the winter session, which will be held in Nagpur from December 8 to 14. Speaking to the media about the arrangements in Vidhan Bhavan, Shinde said several elected representatives faced difficulty securing flights to reach Nagpur, raising concern over their travel back to Mumbai. “To avoid inconvenience, the state govt requested the Railways to arrange special trains, and the appeal has been accepted. A nodal officer has been appointed to coordinate communication with all legislators for seamless travel arrangements,” Shinde said adding that the administration has been instructed to monitor and respond to travel-related concerns throughout the session actively. On appointment of leader of opposition (LoP) in both Houses, Shinde said they received a proposal and will take a decision only after further deliberation. On Sunday, opposition parties boycotted the CM’s customary tea party on the session’s even over vacant posts of LoP in both Houses. Reacting to rumours that the winter session may not happen in Nagpur due to expansion work of the Vidhan Bhavan complex, both Shinde and deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe said the city will continue to host the session. Shinde also said that matters concerning Vidarbha will receive top priority in the upcoming legislative business, including during the Question Hour. On concerns over the short 8-day session, Shinde said as presiding officer, he will strive to facilitate meaningful debate on regional concerns. Following the review meeting, Shinde and Gorhe inspected both Houses and related facilities to ensure operational readiness for the seesion.

NEW DELHI: Did IndiGo “waste time” till late October lobbying DGCA to either get exemption from certain rules in the new flight duty time limitation (FDTL) norms or getting its implementation deferred beyond the November 1 deadline, instead of preparing for it?The four-member government panel probing the IndiGo’s flight crisis will examine this, along with allegations that the airline wilfully didn’t assign duty to its crew and pilots in addition to several other lapses which led to a breakdown of operations, affecting other airlines as well. Short-term rosters being issued to tide over crisis The delay in moving ahead with implementation of the new flight duty rules is also seen to have delayed updating the Boeing-owned Jeppesen crew rostering software, which will be looked at by the committee comprising officials from DGCA. IndiGo did not comment on the two issues.The panel will also investigate the airline’s failure to report preparedness to DGCA, something that its rivals were doing, and how the regulator itself dealt with the implementation of the order that followed a court directive. Those familiar with the matter said that why DGCA officials continued to indulge representations from IndiGo despite a clear HC order for the rollout of FDTL would also be probed.“We will see if till late Oct IndiGo was engaging with DGCA for exemption /deferment of certain clauses of the new FDTL, primarily regarding capping of number of night landings by a pilot. If indeed the case, this time should have been used to prepare for rolling out the new system. And if this delay is found, did it have a consequential impact on updating Jeppesen software as per the new requirement post November 1,” said a person in the know.IndiGo issues the roster for pilots on every 25th for the coming month. For Nov, however, it issued it on Oct 29, for half the month, followed by another on November 13-14 for the remaining half. The same was done for Dec. But after the fiasco, very short-term rosters are being issued to tide over the crisis and operate as many flights as possible. The practice may continue till the situation stabilises, depending on whether implementation of the new FDTL’s provisions is deferred beyond Feb 10, 2026, or not.

NEW DELHI: Beginning April, breath analysers, used to measure blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of drivers or employees, will be required to comply with the newly notified norms issued by the consumer affairs department. The updated standards aim at enhancing accuracy, consistency and credibility of the devices, which play a critical role in law enforcement and workplace safety.Under the revised norms, breath analysers must meet strict limits on permissible error and incorporate a built-in printing mechanism. Significantly, the device will not operate if the printing paper is missing, ensuring that every test conducted is accompanied by a printed record for verification and legal use. Moreover, the device will display only the final measurement result, reducing chances of misinterpretation or tampering during testing.Officials said these measures seek to bolster public trust in the fairness and accuracy of enforcement actions related to drunk driving and workplace safety. The updated devices are designed to deliver rapid and reliable readings, enabling police officers and authorised personnel to make swift, well-informed decisions during checks. This is expected to significantly improve the efficiency of roadside enforcement operations.The norms fall under the amended Legal Metrology Rules, which also outline procedures for verification and scheduled re-verification of instruments. Regular checks will ensure that breath analysers remain accurate throughout their lifecycle and during field use.Traffic police across major cities have increasingly relied on breath analysers to curb drunk driving, especially during late-night patrols and holiday seasons. Road safety experts emphasised that the standardisation of these devices was long overdue, noting that inconsistent readings have often been challenged in courts. The new norms, they said, will help reduce disputes, strengthen prosecution in drunk-driving cases, and contribute to safer roads nationwide.

England coach Brendon McCullum during an England nets session at Perth Stadium on November 19, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo/Getty Images)

England head coach Brendon McCullum said his team “trained too much” in the build-up to their heavy defeat in the second Ashes Test in Brisbane on Sunday. England’s preparation for the series has been questioned, especially their decision to play three days of intra-squad warm-up cricket at Lilac Hill on a pitch that did not match the conditions at the Perth Stadium.After the first Test ended in two days, England did not send any players to the pink-ball Prime Minister’s XI match in Canberra. They had not played a day/night Test since early 2023, and three players in the current XI had never played one before. Among them was wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who dropped an important catch. England instead went to Brisbane and trained for five days, adding two extra practice sessions.

England went 2-0 down in the five-match series after another heavy loss to Australia at the Gabba on Sunday.“If anything, we trained too much,” McCullum said in two separate interviews to 7cricket and BBC. “We had five to 10 training session leading into this game.”“That’s something as a coach you have to be aware of. Sometimes there is a tendency to overdo things to make up for it,” he said to BBC.McCullum also said, “As we all know, in this game it is played in the top two inches. We all have to find way that we ensure that we feel prepared physically, technically and we are ready for the battle, but also to make sure we are fresh and make sure we can make those decisions in the heat of the games.”“We will have a beer tonight. I think leading into this Test match I actually felt like we overprepared to be honest,” McCullum told 7Cricket.He acknowledged England’s struggle to adjust to conditions after Australia bowled them out for 241 in their second innings of the day-night Test. “We have got some work to do. We have some time. We have been here before and there is no point feeling sorry for yourself. You pick yourself up and you go again,” he said.“We weren’t at our best. To beat Australia in Australia, you have to be at your best across all three disciplines and we weren’t. That is brutal honesty and we will wear that. From our point of view, we know we have to be better. We have to be a lot quicker to adapt to the conditions in Adelaide. I thought we were a bit slow to adapt to the conditions here.”

Smriti Mandhana and Palash Muchhal (Image credit: Instagram)

NEW DELHI: Indian women’s team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and music composer Palash Muchhal have brought an end to weeks of speculation about their personal life, confirming that their wedding has been “called off”. Both Mandhana and Muchhal took to Instagram to share the news. The couple had been scheduled to marry on November 23, but the wedding was postponed after Mandhana’s father, Shriniwas, was hospitalised due to a heart ailment.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“I have decided to move on in my life and step back from my personal relationship. Its been very difficult for me to see people react so easily on baseless rumours about something which has been most sacred to me. Its the most difficult phase of my life and I will deal with it gracefully holding on to my beliefs,” Muchhal wrote.

“I truly hope we, as a society, learn to pause before judging someone based on unverified gossip, whose sources are never identified. Our words can wound in ways we may never understand. While we think about these things, many people in the world are facing drastic consequences. My team will be taking strict legal action against those spreading false and defamatory content,” he added.“Thank you to everyone who has stood by me with kindness in this tough time,” he said.Mandhana, one of India’s most prominent women cricketers, shared her first public statement on social media after rumours about her personal life intensified over the past month.“I need to clarify that the wedding is called off. I would like to close this matter here and implore all of you to do the same,” she wrote.“Over the past few weeks there has been plenty of speculation around my life and I feel it is important for me to speak out at this time,” she added in an Instagram post.Calling herself a “very private person,” Mandhana said she felt compelled to set the record straight.She asked fans and the public to “respect the privacy of both families” and allow them the “space to process and move on”.As she prepares for India’s upcoming international season, Mandhana emphasized that her focus remains on cricket.“I believe there is a higher purpose driving us all and for me that has always been representing my country at the highest level. I hope to continue to play and win trophies for India for as long as possible,” she said.The announcement comes days after singer Palak Muchhal commented on the matter.“I think the families have been through a very tough time. Like you just said, I would just want to repeat that we would like to believe in positivity at this time. We would like to spread positivity as much as we can. We are also trying to stay strong,” she had said.Both statements come amid intensified social media discussions and unverified reports, prompting public figures to step in to curb speculation.Mandhana, 28, has been a key figure in Indian women’s cricket for nearly a decade, with her contributions crucial across formats.With India set for a busy 2026 calendar, the left-hander reiterated that her professional commitments remain her priority.“Thank you for all your support. It’s time to move forward,” her note concluded.

24-year-old from Hyderabad dies in Albany house fire

HYDERABAD: A cyber security professional from Hyderabad died of severe burn injuries after a fire tore through a residential building on Western Avenue in Albany, United States, on Thursday. Another person from Kukatpally, who was severely injured in the raging fire in the two-storey house, was battling for life.The deceased has been identified as Sahaja Reddy Udumala, 24, a native of Jodimetla near Uppal. Sahaja, daughter of Udumala Jayakar Reddy and Maria Shailaja, originally from Gudur in Jangaon district, completed her master’s in cyber security from the University at Albany a year ago and was working in Albany. Her father is a software professional, and her mother is a teacher in Hyderabad. Sahaja was a niece of Archbishop of Vishakapatnam, Udumala Bala.Family members said the fire broke out around 11.40 am (US time) while Sahaja, who had returned from a night shift, was asleep. “The building has several rooms where many Indian students live. The fire started near Sahaja’s room and spread rapidly. She was rescued by firefighters and taken to a hospital. The hospital staff showed her to us on a live video before removing the ventilator, saying survival was not possible. We saw her for the last time then,” a relative told TOI. Residents rescuedThe Albany fire department received a call around 11.50 am, reporting a blaze at 241 Western Avenue, which soon spread to the adjoining building at 239 Western Avenue. Fire chief Joseph Gregory described the scene as a “wall of fire up the front of the building,” adding that firefighters battled tough weather and strong winds. “It was a difficult operation for our firefighters. Weather conditions are tough. Wind doesn’t help us at all. The members did an outstanding job getting the victims out, getting them to the hospital, and putting the fire out,” Gregory told reporters. A dog was also rescued from the site. The cause of the fire is under investigation.The New York state fire investigations unit has joined the probe into the cause of the blaze. The American Red Cross is assisting 13 displaced residents, including several University at Albany students. Family members said efforts are being coordinated by the Telugu Association of North America and Sahaja’s relatives in the US to send her body to Hyderabad. “Arrangements are being made to bring her home,” a cousin said.

NEW DELHI: Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed his maiden ODI century with an unbeaten 116, guiding India to a dominant nine-wicket win over South Africa in the final ODI at Visakhapatnam’s ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The victory sealed the series 2-1 for India, with Rohit Sharma contributing 75 runs and crossing the landmark of 20,000 international runs.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!A commanding 155-run opening stand between Jaiswal and Rohit in 25.5 overs laid the platform for India’s chase of 271. India wrapped up the match at 271 for one in 39.5 overs, with Virat Kohli finishing unbeaten on 65 off 45 balls.

Rohit’s knock, featuring 7 fours and 3 sixes, put India firmly in control. He became the fourth Indian to reach 20,000 international runs, completing the milestone with a single in the 14th over.A lighthearted moment unfolded during the post-series celebrations at the team hotel when Kohli asked Jaiswal to cut the cake. After cutting it, Jaiswal offered a piece to Rohit.“Nahi khale, mota ho jaunga wapis,” Rohit was heard saying as he declined, while Kohli happily took a bite.Rohit now joins the elite list of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli as part of India’s 20,000-run club, and is among just 14 players worldwide to achieve the feat.Watch the video hereWith this innings, Rohit’s career tally climbs to 20,048 runs from 538 innings across 504 matches, moving past AB de Villiers’ 20,014 runs in 420 matches.The win capped off a strong series for India, highlighted by contributions from experienced stars and rising talents like Jaiswal, who announced himself with his maiden ODI century.