The CBI has named Aaditya Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, Rhea Chakraborty and others in its FIR on Disha Salian’s death. Their roles require investigation, according to the FIR. Actors Dino Morea and Sooraj Pancholi are also named. The FIR mentions alleged conspiracy, a false suicide story and possible evidence tampering. Former police officers Sachin Waze and Param Bir Singh are also listed. Salian died after falling from a Mumbai building on June 8, 2020. Her death was earlier recorded as an accidental death. The CBI probe follows a Bombay High Court order for a detailed investigation into the case.  

India’s fusion research has received a boost with a new heating system at the SST-1 tokamak in Gujarat. The Institute for Plasma Research has installed an 82.6 GHz gyrotron with 400 kW power. The system helps scientists heat and control extremely hot plasma. SST-1 is an experimental machine that uses strong magnetic fields to confine plasma. India has previously produced plasma temperatures above 200 million degrees Celsius. The new system will support further experiments on plasma heating and stability. It works with an existing 42 GHz system. SST-1 is not producing electricity and remains a research facility. (PC: Reuters)  

Rebel TMC MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia claimed 17 of the 20 NCPI MPs will join the BJP before or after Durga Puja. He said the group has finalised the plan and would avoid the anti-defection law by crossing the two-thirds mark. Basunia also claimed three MPs would support the NDA from outside. However, fellow NCPI MPs rejected his claims. Satabdi Roy said no such decision had been taken. Abu Taher Khan said the three MPs would not join either the BJP or NDA. The BJP also distanced itself from the claim and said it had no information about such a move.  

Former India pacer and 1983 World Cup winner Madan Lal has criticised India’s decision to refuse the Asia Cup trophy from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi. After India Women won the title by beating Sri Lanka by 72 runs, the team did not accept the trophy from Naqvi. The presentation ceremony was delayed by around 40 to 45 minutes. Reacting to the incident, Lal wrote on X, “We should not play Pakistan any trophies.” He said India should follow this approach if the same situation continues. India’s men’s team had also refused to take the trophy from Naqvi last year.  

Actress Sydney Sweeney is facing criticism from female athletes over a sports-prediction ad for Novig. The campaign shows Sweeney nude or wearing little to no clothes while holding sports equipment. Australian surfer Felicity Palmateer called the campaign “very damaging” to female athletes and young girls. Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus said she was “infuriated” by the campaign. Swimmer Lani Pallister also responded with a video showing her training and competing. Boxer Skye Nicholson accused the company of sexualising women in sport. Sweeney later shared photos from ESPN The Magazine’s “Body Issue”, which featured athletes posing nude or semi-nude. Novig and Sweeney’s representatives have been contacted for comment.  

A US military attaché based at the American Embassy in London has been sent back to the United States amid allegations involving child abuse material. According to reports, British authorities were alerted after such material was allegedly found on the official’s devices. The US informed UK authorities before the attaché left Britain on a commercial flight. The move has sparked anger among some British politicians. Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty accused the US of “protecting pedophiles”. The British government said foreign diplomats must follow UK laws. The US Embassy said it took swift action and is cooperating with British authorities while the investigation continues. (PC: AFP via Getty Images)  

Pakistan has raised the bounty for information leading to the arrest of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar to 7 million Pakistani rupees, around Rs 24 lakh. The move comes weeks before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting in Paris from October 26 to 30. Azhar remains on Pakistan’s official list of most-wanted terrorists. Islamabad has claimed for years that he is not in Pakistan and fled to Afghanistan. Azhar, 58, founded Jaish-e-Mohammed, which has been linked to several major attacks in India. He is also listed as an international terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.  

India has approved early electricity exports to Nepal after devastating floods damaged hydropower facilities and killed more than 1,300 people. The Power Ministry said Nepal will be able to receive electricity for 18 hours a day from September 13 to December 31. The move will help Nepal meet its power needs during the crisis. It will also strengthen energy ties between the two countries, the ministry said. India will review the amount of power supplied from January next year in December. Nepal usually imports electricity from India during winter. In summer, it exports surplus hydropower to India when production is higher.  

The CBI FIR in the Disha Salian death case includes provisions related to murder, gang rape, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence and giving false information. It lists several prominent names, including former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray, whose roles are to be investigated. Other names include Rohan Rai, Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi, Rhea and Showik Chakraborty, Sachin Waze and former police commissioner Param Bir Singh. The FIR also mentions police officers, forensic officials, doctors, security guards and other individuals. However, no person has been named as an accused so far, and the FIR calls for their roles to be investigated. (PC: X)

Pakistan will take part in the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India next month, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed on Monday. The six-team competition will be held from October 27 to November 5 in Jalandhar and Mohali. India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea will compete in the tournament. Mann said India’s policy allows the two countries to face each other in multinational sporting events, even though bilateral contests remain restricted. League-stage matches will be played in Jalandhar, while the semi-finals and final will be held in Mohali. India enter as defending champions. (PC: HT)