TOI Correspondent from Washington: Bluntly accusing the South African government of genocide of white people, US President Donald Trump said he would bar the country from attending the G-20 summit in Miami late next year, throwing the world’s main forum for international economic cooperation, of which India is a part, into turmoil.In an angry social media post, the US President, who boycotted the just concluded G-20 meet in Johannesburg, said he did not attend because the South African Government “refuses to acknowledge or address the horrific Human Right Abuses endured by Afrikaners, and other descendants of Dutch, French, and German settlers.” “To put it more bluntly, they are killing white people, and randomly allowing their farms to be taken from them,” he alleged. The narrative, mostly from a small minority of white nationalists in South Africa and US., has been widely debunked by independent observers amid acknowledgment that the country faces a law-and-order situation. The US President further maintained that South Africa “has demonstrated to the World they are not a country worthy of Membership anywhere,” and said he will “stop all payments and subsidies to them, effective immediately.” U.S aid to Pretoria, mostly in the health sector, peaked at $ 564 million in 2024 before tailing off to a planned $ 103 million in 2025 amid deteriorating ties underscored by an Oval Office ambush of South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa where Trump showed him a multimedia presentation of “white genocide.” Ramaphosa maintained that the farm attacks were part of broader crime affecting all races and the allegations Trump referenced was from a “small minority party” not reflective of government policy.Ramaphosa’s narrative was backed by golfing greats Ernie Els and Retief Goosen (brought in to appeal to Trump’s love of golf) and billionaire Johann Rupert (South Africa’s richest man) even as Trump surrogate Elon Musk, who has promoted the white genocide allegations, glowered over them. “I am sorry I don’t have a plane to give you,” Ramaphosa joked at one point during the meeting, referring to a story at that time about Trump receiving a jet from Qatar. “I wish you did,” the U.S President kidded back. But beyond the banter ties continued to sour, with Trump taking exception to what he claimed was South Africa’s refusal to hand off the G20 Presidency to a Senior Representative from the U.S. Embassy, who attended the closing ceremony in Johannesburg. Ramaphosa rejected the charges saying the “instruments of the G20 Presidency were duly handed over to a US Embassy official,” amid doubts over whether the Miami event will take place at all given the growing fissures in global politics and the adversarial position the U.S has taken on several fronts.In a blistering rebuttal to Trump’s effort to evict South Africa from the G-20, Ramaphosa said the country is a member of the group “on its own name and right” and called on other member nations to reaffirm its continued operation in the spirit of multilateralism, based on consensus, with all members participating on an equal footing in all of its structure. “South Africa… does not appreciate insults from another country about its membership and worth in participating in global platforms,” he lashed back. Legal and institutional norms surrounding the G20 cast serious doubt on the possibility and legitimacy of a unilateral ban on South Africa by Trump. The G20 is an informal, consensus-based forum without a binding charter or formal exclusion mechanism. No single member state — including the U.S — has the right to expel another, a fact that has been widely acknowledged in prior controversies, such as attempts to exclude Russia, where other members, including China, defended Russia’s status. The U.S is currently feuding with several other G-20 members including Brazil, Canada, and Mexico, with on-off spats with Russia, China, and India.

A man trapped for more than 24 hours inside one of the high-rise towers at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court residential complex was pulled out alive on Thursday evening, even as the death toll from the devastating blaze climbed to at least 65, fire officials said. The survivor was located on the 16th floor of Wang Tai House, one of the buildings inside the complex, according to a fire department update released at 8 pm local time. Seventy others have been reported injured, including 10 firefighters, while one firefighter is among the dead.The rescue came as emergency crews continued to battle a fire of scale and intensity unseen in Hong Kong in decades. While parts of the complex have been brought under control, teams on the ground say the risk of collapse and extreme heat inside the structures has slowed efforts to reach those still missing or stranded.

Hong Kong government deploys social workers and psychologists to affected families

In response to the mounting casualties and rising trauma among survivors, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced the rollout of a “one social worker per household” system to support families affected by the disaster. The administration will also deploy psychologists to help provide emotional assistance. These measures, he said, are intended to help residents cope with loss, displacement and prolonged uncertainty as the rescue operation continues.

Aftermath and emergency response: Row after row of charred towers

More than a day after the blaze first broke out, thick smoke continued to drift from the remains of multiple high-rise blocks inside Wang Fuk Court. Fire officials confirmed that the flames have been extinguished in four towers, while three more remain under control. Despite progress, emergency teams are navigating dangerous structural conditions, collapsed scaffolding and intense heat pockets that make deep-entry rescue both slow and hazardous.The scale of the crisis has required more than 1,200 firefighters, marking what authorities say is the deadliest building fire in Hong Kong in over 50 years. Residents who managed to escape described chaotic scenes with flames racing vertically up the building exteriors, leaving many trapped inside units without alarm or warning.

Cause of fire still uncertain, but construction negligence suspected

Authorities continue to investigate what allowed the blaze to spread so rapidly across multiple residential towers. The fire began around 2.50 pm Wednesday before racing up the structure, aided by bamboo scaffolding that wrapped the exterior for ongoing construction.Police announced Thursday that two directors of a construction company and a consultant have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Senior police superintendent Lai Yee Chung said foam boards known to be highly flammable had been installed on every floor outside elevator lobbies. Authorities believe the use of such material may amount to “gross negligence.”

Community grief deepens as search continues

The Wang Fuk Court complex, constructed in the early 1980s, houses roughly 2,000 apartments. With dozens still missing, families spent Thursday scanning photographs of the deceased displayed at shelters set up by city authorities.Temporary accommodation has been opened in community centres and a nearby school, giving hundreds of displaced residents a place to sleep as the fire response continues. Many among them say warnings never reached their units and they escaped only because they spotted the blaze themselves.

Bamboo scaffolding under scrutiny again

The tragedy has renewed debate over Hong Kong’s widespread use of bamboo scaffolding, a construction practice that authorities last year vowed to phase out in favour of steel. In October, fire officials linked another major blaze in the city’s Central district to bamboo frames that fuelled rapid flame spread. The Wang Fuk Court disaster is now expected to accelerate regulatory changes already underway.

Longest and deadliest rescue in decades — and not yet over

More than two dozen people remain missing, officials said late Thursday. Firefighters continue to work floor by floor, often moving only metres at a time as temperatures inside some units remain dangerously high. Equipment limitations have slowed access to upper floors; ladder trucks have only been able to reach half the height of the 32-story towers, far below the level where residents are believed to be trapped.As rescue teams search for survivors and families prepare for news that may still worsen, Thursday’s dramatic extraction of a man from the 16th floor stands as the first major moment of hope in a catastrophe defined by loss.The survivor is stable, officials said. For others, the wait continues.

In a scene that blended Catholic tradition with EDM spectacle, ravers in a crowded Slovakian square found themselves unexpectedly blessed this month — by the pope. “United by the same faith, your presence is a tangible sign of the fraternity and peace that is instilled in our hearts by friendship with Christ,” Pope Leo XIV said, his voice echoing across the square. The blessing ended with a sonorous “Amen,” which the crowd promptly answered — and then celebrated — as the DJ dropped a heavy bass line.Festival-goers packed into the plaza below St Elizabeth’s Cathedral erupted in cheers on November 8 when the pope appeared on a massive LED screen, delivering a prerecorded message as lasers and electronic beats pulsed around them. The moment, captured in widely shared videos, marked an unusual fusion of faith and festival culture. Behind the turntables stood Guilherme Peixoto, a Portuguese priest whose dual identity as a cleric and electronic DJ has earned him a global following. The performance was staged in honor of the 75th birthday of Archbishop Bernard Bober of Kosice, transforming what could have been a traditional religious commemoration into one of the unlikeliest parties in the Catholic calendar. The Vatican later posted the pope’s message — in its unremixed form, minus the strobes — on YouTube. The appearance reflects a broader strategy by Pope Leo, who has quickly distinguished himself with an unconventional approach to papal outreach. Since the start of his papacy, Leo has leaned heavily into a relatable public persona, embracing his fondness for the Chicago White Sox, his daily Wordle routine, and what supporters describe as an affable Midwestern sensibility. His willingness to meet young Catholics where they are — even if “where they are” includes a rave — comes at a moment when the Church is seeking to build on a resurgence of Gen Z interest in faith and community. Slovakia, where most residents identify as Catholic, has been a particular focal point of this effort. The rave cameo comes as Leo prepares for his first international journey as pope. He is scheduled to depart on Thanksgiving for a six-day trip through Turkey and Lebanon, during which he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, celebrate Mass in Istanbul, and visit Beirut’s devastated port, still marked by the catastrophic 2020 explosion.

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi marked Constitution Day on Wednesday by urging citizens to never miss out on their constitutional right to vote and renewed his pitch for balancing rights with duties.PM Modi has often emphasised that while the issue of people’s rights has received attention, the Constitution’s similar focus on their duties was overlooked. He cited a host of stalwarts, including Mahatma Gandhi, to underscore the primacy of duties for social and economic progress.As the country moves forward to realising the dream of a developed India, people must always place their duties towards the nation foremost in their minds, he said.In a letter to citizens on Constitution Day, which was announced by his government in 2015, PM Modi suggested that people organise special events on November 26 to mark the coming-of-age of youngsters in schools and colleges to celebrate first-time voters. Constitution gives us rights, reminds us of our duties: PMFirst-time voters will make them feel that they are also active participants in the process of nation-building, PM Modi said. “It is our duty to never miss the opportunity to vote in national, state and local elections where we are registered,” the PM said. His remarks came amid high turnouts in recent polls and the ongoing SIR of electoral roll drive in several states and UTs.With Congress leading the charge against his govt for allegedly weakening constitutional values, Modi in his letter took a swipe at the party for not celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Constitution’s adoption in 2010 in a befitting manner. Sadly, he said, the occasion did not receive the due national attention. However, the then Gujarat govt headed by him had organised a ‘Samvidhan Gaurav Yatra’, he added.PM Modi credited the Constitution for enabling someone like him from a disadvantaged background to serve as the head of a govt continuously for over 24 years, which includes his stint as Gujarat CM from Oct 2001.The 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Birsa Munda this year marks the occasion as special, he said, asserting it was the country’s first home minister’s inspiration and courage of conviction that guided his govt in repealing Article 370 and 35(A) and ensuring the Constitution is now fully implemented in J&K.He noted that he had bowed and touched the steps of Parliament when he entered it for the first time in 2014 and had touched the Constitution with his forehead on his re-election in 2019 as a mark of reverence, and paid tributes to Constituent Assembly chairman Rajendra Prasad and its drafting committee chair BR Ambedkar. Modi also attended a programme at Samvidhan Sadan, where President Murmu addressed a gathering to mark the day.On X, he said, “While it (Constitution) empowers us with rights, it also reminds us of our duties as citizens, which we should always try to fulfil. These duties are the foundation of a strong democracy. Let us reiterate our commitment to strengthening Constitutional values through our actions.”

Anil Kumble and Shukri Conrad

NEW DELHI: South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has ignited a fierce cricketing debate after using the word “grovel” while describing his team’s Day 4 strategy during the Guwahati Test. The remark — made after South Africa set India a fourth-innings target of over 500 — has drawn sharp reactions from former India captain Anil Kumble and senior batter Cheteshwar Pujara, both of whom said they were stunned by the choice of words.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Conrad, analysing South Africa’s dominant position at stumps, said he wanted India to be pushed to the brink both physically and mentally. “We wanted India to spend as much time on their feet out in the field. We wanted them to really grovel, to steal a phrase, bat them completely out of the game and then say to them, well, come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening,” Shukri Conrad said after Day 4.

The word immediately triggered outrage because of its charged historical context. “Grovel” was infamously used 50 years ago by England captain Tony Greig about the West Indies — a comment widely condemned and remembered as one of cricket’s most offensive episodes.Kumble, one of India’s most respected voices, said a team in South Africa’s position should have shown restraint.

“There’s history attached to this. Fifty years ago, an England captain used the same phrase against the great West Indies side, and we all know what followed,” Kumble said. “South Africa have most likely won the series, but when you’re on top, your choice of words matters. Humility is most important at such times. I certainly didn’t expect this from the coach or the support staff. When you’re winning, the first thing is to stay humble, not say something like this at a press conference.”Pujara, speaking ahead of the final day’s play, suggested the comment might end up galvanising India instead of demoralising them.

Jefferies initiated its coverage of LG Electronics India with a buy rating and a target price of Rs 1,900. Analysts said they view LG Electronics India as a strong play on the country’s discretionary spends, given its diversified mix. The company offers strong moats in the form of market leadership in multiple products, premium brand recall, new launches, entrenched distribution and backward integration resulting in industry-leading margins and high return ratios. They also feel the company’s cash on the balance sheet can support future growth.JP Morgan has an overweight rating on Reliance Industries with the target price upped to Rs 1,727 from Rs 1,695 earlier. Analysts said that the RIL stock is up 27% so far in the year, outperforming the 17% gain in nifty. Yet, they retain positive bias into 2026 for three key reasons: Its valuations relative to peers (DMart, Bharti Airtel) are still attractive as RIL still trades at about 15% holding company discount to these stocks, earnings drag from weak refining and petchem businesses through FY24 and FY25 is over, and forecast earnings growth should be much better. They feel that RIL’s current refining strength has potential to drive upgrades. For the company, the catalysts in 2026 are the Jio IPO, tariff increase, commissioning of new energy segments and more stable retail growth. These factors could be supportive of the stock.Citigroup has a buy rating on Max Healthcare Institute with the target price at Rs 1,460. Analysts said that their main takeaways from the management meet were these: The management expects a strong growth trajectory, supported by rising occupancy, improving case mix, and improving profitability at Dwarka and Noida. The issue about cashless facility by insurance companies is fully resolved with forward tariff corrections. The recent CGHS price revision provides a structural uplift to average revenue per occupied bed (ARPOB) and margins with full impact seen in FY27. The company also said its three major brownfield projects are commissioning in Q3FY26 with no earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) drag.Macquarie has an outperform rating on HDFC Bank with the target price at Rs 1,200. Analysts said the clear messaging from the bank was that it was seeing good growth traction post GST rate cuts. The management retained guidance for loan growth to be faster than the system in FY27. The lender is well-placed due to prudent provisioning and contingent buffers with no major impact expected from new expected credit loss norms.Motilal Oswal Securities initiated its coverage of Blue Star with the target price at Rs 1,950. Analysts said that Blue Star’s room AC (RAC) market share is rising to about 14% with the company aiming for about 15% share by FY27. They said that the near-term RAC demand is soft due to mild summer and the GST-led delays. However, they see the long-term RAC growth intact with low penetration and strong structural drivers. The company also has a strong leadership position in commercial refrigeration and robust order book in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) and commercial AC (CAC) supports growth. Analysts also expect margin expansion via operating leverage and efficiencies, and expect unitary cooling products (UCP) revenue to dip in FY26 but rebound strongly thereafter. They also said exports were weak in the near term but expected to scale-up post FY27. And the stock’s valuation is seen as fair after the recent rerating.Disclaimer: The opinions, analyses and recommendations expressed herein are those of brokerage and do not reflect the views of The Times of India. Always consult with a qualified investment advisor or financial planner before making any investment decisions.

MUMBAI: To make it easier and cost-effective for investors who have lost certificates of securities (shares, bonds, mutual fund units) to get duplicates, markets regulator Sebi is proposing an easier process with a uniform set of forms. It’s also proposing to double the upper limit for issuance of the securities without an FIR and newspaper advertisement to Rs 10 lakh.Sebi is also planning to do away with the dual requirement of getting an affidavit and an indemnity bond while applying to get duplicate securities, and is backing a single affidavit-cum-indemnity bond. Such a process has been adopted by the Investor Education & Protection Fund Authority, a body under the finance ministry that deals with unclaimed stocks, mutual funds etc for returning funds to the rightful owners.

According to Sebi’s proposed circular, at present, there is a three-step process for issuance of duplicate securities. The investor needs to submit a copy of the FIR including e-FIR/police complaint/court injunction order/copy of the complaint with details of the securities, folio number, distinctive number range and certificate numbers. The investor also needs to issue a newspaper advertisement about the loss of securities. Then the investor has to submit an affidavit and an indemnity bond separately on a “non-judicial stamp paper of appropriate value” in a Sebi-prescribed format.“However, if the value of securities as on the date of submission of application, does not exceed Rs 5 lakh,” the first two steps are not required to be complied with, Sebi said. “It has been gathered that due to non-standardisation of documents and different approaches followed by registrar and transfer agents (RTAs) or listed companies, investors feel the pain of going for varied documentation for various listed companies.“Sebi received feedback from investors and other stakeholders in the system about easing some of these rules. It said that the current threshold of Rs 5 lakhs for availing simplified documentation for issuance of duplicate securities was prescribed several years ago. “Since then, the Indian securities market has expanded significantly in terms of market capitalisation, investor participation and average portfolio size. As a result, the monetary value of individual security holdings has increased materially.” In the changed scenario, the Rs 5-lakh limit does not reflect current market realities and imposes an avoidable procedural burden on investors, it said.

Offset’s drama with Stefon Diggs takes a new turn.(Image via Elsa/Getty Images)

Stefon Diggs and Cardi B are enjoying parenthood together after the Grammy winner gave birth to their son a few days ago. Amid this, Cardi B’s ex husband, Offset, has sparked new drama.A popular Miami based Instagram model has accused Offset of trying to take revenge on Stefon Diggs by trying to set her up with the star player. But it seems the drama has taken a new turn.

While the Miami based Instagram model, Jordyn Gorr, has gone public with screenshots of texts exchanged with Offset, the rapper has finally broken his silence on it.A few hours ago, as per TMZ HipHop, a source close to Offset has denied all these allegations against the rapper made by Jordyn Gorr.The source has revealed that the model “has an ongoing beef with Set and is now looking to blow this up into something it’s not. Their feud has no connection to Diggs.”However, neither Stefon Diggs nor Cardi B has broken their silence on the drama as the star player stays focused on the new season.For the unversed, a few hours ago, Jordyn Gorr took to social media to post her alleged texts with OffsetIn the screenshots posted by the Miami based Instagram model, Jordyn Gorr initially accused Offset of “violating” her.But the conversation soon changed to her agreeing to Offset’s alleged texts of trying to set her up with Stefon Diggs.In one of the texts, Offset allegedly encourages Jordyn Gorr to text Stefon Diggs from a fake account to know his whereabouts.In a second text, Offset calls “Opp a** n***a” and demanded she “Give drop or don’t come back around.”

This new drama comes at a time when Cardi B has issued a statement over Offset harassing her.A few days ago, Cardi B said, “Y’all be thinking it’s so funny and it’s not.. it’s been over a year and I’m still being harassed and threatened to the point that I feel like my life in danger.. it’s all fun and games until it’s too late,” The Grammy winner added, “Mf’ers do anything for attention and it could get real nasty with just one upload. LEAVE ME TF ALONE.”However, Stefon Diggs has stayed away from the drama as he remains distant.Also Read: Taylor Swift pulled into new drama in Blake Lively’s legal mess with Justin Baldoni as Travis Kelce stays silent