From the shocking knife attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his Mumbai residence to US President Joe Biden’s farewell address to the nation, the news cycle remained eventful on Thursday. Hindenburg Research, the US-based investment research firm that made headlines with its explosive reports on companies like Adani Group and Block Inc, announced its unexpected closure.
saif ali khan health update
On the geopolitical front, Israel and Hamas reached an important milestone with their phase one ceasefire agreement after a devastating 15-month conflict.
This and much more. Here’s everything that happened overnight.
Saif Ali Khan attacked in Bandra flat
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed multiple times in an attempted robbery at his flat in Bandra (West) on Thursday. The 54-year-old man was attacked by an intruder who broke into his 11th-floor apartment between 2 am and 2:30 am. Khan woke up after hearing the noise and scuffled with the attacker. During the fight, the intruder fled after stabbing the actor six times, including a deep wound near his spine. The actor’s family, including his son Ibrahim, took him to Lilavati Hospital, where he was undergoing surgery to treat his injuries, which included damage to his left wrist. Dr. Neeraj Uttamani, COO of Lilavati Hospital, confirmed that the actor’s condition is stable, although the full extent of the damage will be clear only after surgery. Mumbai Police is investigating the incident and reviewing CCTV footage to find out how the intruder managed to dodge the building’s security. Read the full story.
Hindenburg Research shuts down after high-profile market investigation
Hindenburg Research, the US-based investment research firm famous for its explosive short-selling reports, is closing down. The firm’s founder Nate Anderson confirmed the decision on Wednesday, citing his intention to close the company after completing the ongoing investigation. “As I have shared with family, friends and our team since late last year, I have decided to end Hindenburg Research,” Anderson said.
He said the company had “shaken up some empires that we felt needed to be shaken up,” but added that there was no single incident that led to its closure. Notable reports from Hindenburg included allegations of corporate fraud against the Adani Group in 2023, which led to a dramatic $150 billion loss in market capitalization. Anderson also highlighted Hindenburg’s role in exposing Nikola’s misrepresentation of electric truck technology, which contributed to the $125 million SEC settlement and criminal conviction of Nikola’s founder. Moving forward, Anderson plans to open-source the firm’s investigative methods while supporting its employees’ next steps. Read the full story.
Biden warns of oligarchy, emphasizes climate action in farewell speech
In his farewell speech, President Joe Biden warned that the increasing concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the ultra-rich threatens American democracy. Describing it as an emerging “oligarchy”, Biden urged vigilance against an “avalanche of misinformation” that could undermine democratic institutions. “There is too much money, power and influence taking shape in America, and it really threatens our entire democracy,” he said. He also expressed concern over the erosion of press freedom.
Reflecting on the accomplishments of his administration, Biden cited job creation, infrastructure modernization, and climate action as major accomplishments, saying, “Together, we have ushered in a new era of American possibilities.” He warned that the climate crisis remains an existential threat. That America is proving that environmental protection and economic growth can go hand in hand On climate, Biden said, “The existential threat of climate change has never been clearer, and our actions have never been more consequential ” Read the full story.
Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement reached after intense talks
After 15 months of conflict, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a temporary ceasefire following intense negotiations. The final agreement brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt is scheduled to take effect on January 19 and includes provisions for the release of hostages and prisoners. President Joe Biden praised the agreement, calling it an important step towards peace. “Finally,” he said, crediting his team, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, for their efforts.
The talks in Doha saw Israeli and Hamas negotiators separately exchanging proposals through mediators. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said U.S. involvement played a key role in finalizing the agreement, noting frequent communications between Biden’s team and Trump’s representatives. The ceasefire will allow humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza and provide relief to displaced civilians. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stressed the need for both sides to act in good faith to ensure the success of the deal. Read the full story.
Delhi-NCR: Due to overnight rain, cold increased and rail traffic was disrupted.
The overnight rain increased the cold in Delhi-NCR, resulting in dense fog on Thursday morning and at least 29 trains running late. A meteorological department official predicted light rain due to a western disturbance, with another round of light rain expected on January 21. These conditions contributed to a sharp increase in air pollution, with levels reaching the ‘severe’ category. As a result, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reintroduced GRAP-4 pollution control measures, including a ban on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles in the region. Construction activities, including linear public projects, were suspended, and schools shifted to hybrid mode, offering online classes. On Wednesday, Delhi witnessed almost zero visibility due to dense fog, which continued till almost noon – the longest delay in fog clearance this season. The disruption severely affected air, rail and road traffic in the capital. By evening, air pollution crossed the ‘severe’ limit, forcing the CAQM to impose GRAP-4 restrictions after 22 days. The measures included a ban on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles and suspension of all manufacturing activities. Schools were also mandated to operate in hybrid mode. Visibility dropped to zero between 8:30 am and 11:30 am, improving gradually thereafter. Read the full story.
ISRO achieves milestone with successful satellite docking
In a significant achievement for India’s space programme, ISRO completed its first satellite docking maneuver on Thursday (January 16) morning, an important step towards future missions including Chandrayaan-4 and the development of India’s own space station . Multiple sources confirmed the success of the docking, although no official announcement had been made at the time of writing. With this, India joins the elite group of countries like the US, Russia and China who have mastered the complex technology of satellite docking. The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), launched on December 30, brought the two satellites together at an orbital altitude of 475 km. In the docking process, a petal-based docking system conforming to international standards was employed, involving multiple monitoring steps. Despite facing setbacks, such as attempts being postponed due to further verification requirements, ISRO is now focused on mastering the docking technology for future space exploration. Read the full story.
