Karan Johar, famed for launching fresh talents continues his tradition by providing a debut platform for Ibrahim Ali Khan, son of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, in the upcoming film Sarzameen. Directed by Kayoze Irani, son of Boman Irani, who debuted with Karan’s Student of the Year, the film marks another addition to Karan’s roster of new faces. Now it looks like Khushi Kapoor, who portrayed Betty Cooper in Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies has signed her next project. 

Karan Johar is set to cast Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan in a film helmed by his assistant, Shauna Gautam. Shauna who is known for assisting Karan in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, also worked with Rajkumar Hirani on Sanju. Speculation arose about their collaboration when they were seen leaving casting director Mukesh Chhabra’s office in Andheri in August this year.

According to a report in a leading news portal, the film in question is a romantic comedy slated for a direct-to-digital release. Produced by the digital arm of Karan Johar’s production company, Dharmatics, the movie is scheduled to begin filming next year. Casting for the remaining roles is currently underway.

Visiting Federal Bureau of Investigation or FBI Director Christopher Wray has assured India that the US is probing attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco “aggressively” and would be able to share “credible” leads soon, sources said. Mr Wray met National Investigation Agency Director Dinkar Gupta on second day of his visit on Tuesday.

In March, a group of Khalistan supporters attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate. It was again attacked in July. The NIA team had visited San Francisco in August and returned with some leads.

The meeting between the investigating agency chiefs comes on the heels of Washington’s allegations about an Indian link to a foiled plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

At the meeting, India flagged how freedom of expression is being misused, NDTV has learnt.

“The NIA chief highlighted how the nexus between terrorist outfits and terrorist elements with members of organised criminal syndicates spreading in the US,” a senior official said.

Detailed discussions were also held between both agencies on how to share real time intelligence, so that informed decisions can be taken promptly.

“Discussions were also held on several pending extraditions, including that of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack co-conspirator Tahawwur Rana,” another senior official said.

Pakistan-origin Canadian businessman Rana is wanted by the Indian authorities for his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. He is currently in the US.

At the meeting, the NIA chief pointed out that threats in the cyber domain were increasing. Digital space was also being effectively exploited by terrorists and extremists for propagating radical views and recruitment, he said, adding that NIA was also seeing use of crytocurrency for terror funding.

The difficulties encountered by law enforcement agencies in obtaining data from encryption Apps were also discussed.

The two sides noted that with the advent of newer technologies at a fast pace, tracing, tracking and investigating crypto transactions is turning out to be a huge challenge, the official said.

The official said both agencies recognised the challenges posed by organised crime networks, terror related crimes, cyber-enabled terror attacks, ransomware threats, economic crimes and transnational terror crimes.

India on Tuesday voted in favour of a draft resolution in the United Nations General Assembly that demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict as well as the unconditional release of all hostages.

The resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire was sponsored by several countries, including  Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Palestine, among others. Ten countries including the United States and Israel voted against it, while 23 abstained.

“It’s a historic day in terms of the powerful message that was sent from the General Assembly,” Palestinian envoy to the United Nations Riyad Mansour said as quoted by news agency AFP. 

The draft resolution did not mention Hamas, prompting the US, Israel’s strongest ally, to propose an amendment to the draft with the paragraph: “Unequivocally rejects and condemns the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages.”

India voted in favour of this amendment.

India had abstained on a similar resolution that called for an immediate humanitarian truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict in October.  Despite abstaining, India had called for unhindered humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip.

The UN General Assembly vote yesterday comes days after the US vetoed a similar resolution in the UN Security Council. The UNSC resolution tabled by the United Arab Emirates and supported by over 90 member states received 13 favourable votes, while the United Kingdom abstained.

Over 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, were killed after Hamas launched a sensational land-sea-air assault on October 7. In retaliation, Israel pounded the Gaza Strip – a Hamas stronghold – with airstrikes, killing over 18,000 people, 70 per cent of whom are said to be women and children, in the densely populated Palestinian enclave.