Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actress Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal on Thursday accused producer Asit Kumarr Modi and two others of sexual harassment, a charge they denied, claiming she was let go from the show due to misbehaviour.
Modi also said that he will take legal action against the actress for trying to defame him and the show. Bansiwal, who plays the role of Roshan Sodhi on the long-running SAB TV show, said she sent a formal letter to the concerned authorities, including the National Commission for Women (NCW) and Mumbai Police on April 8, accusing Modi, project head Sohail Ramani and executive producer Jatin Bajaj of sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a woman.
According to a senior police officer at Powai police station, they received Bansiwal's application on May 8. Bansiwal claimed Modi "sexually harassed" her on multiple occasions over the last few years. "He would pass uncharitable comments but I ignored them. In March 2019, in Singapore, he said many things like, ‘Come to my room, let's have whisky'", she alleged. "I kept quiet but shared these things with two of my colleagues. They would often shield me. They are still working on the show, so they can't do much," the actor told PTI.
She also claimed she told Ramani about her ordeal. "I told him, 'I don't want to work on the show.' He said, ‘We will stop your payment for four months'. Mentally, they put pressure on me,” Bansiwal added.
Modi denied Bansiwal's allegations and said he will take legal action against her for trying to defame him and the show. "Since we terminated her services, she is making these baseless allegations," the producer told PTI.
He also claimed Bansiwal was removed from the show on "account of misbehaviour". "We were shooting on March 7 on Holi. Something happened and she misbehaved. We incurred a financial loss. The director and the production team said they will not work with her as she misbehaved and abused them. "They decided to remove her from the show. I was in the US when this incident happened. Once we removed her from the show, she started levelling allegations against us. We are in talks with our lawyers. They will decide the future course of action," Modi said.
However, Bansiwal alleged that both Ramani and Bajaj misbehaved with her on the show's sets on March 7. In a media statement, Ramani and Bajaj denied the allegations, claiming Bansiwal regularly misbehaved with the entire team on the show. "We had to terminate her contract because of her bad behaviour and indiscipline during the shoot. During this incident, Asit ji was in the US. She is now trying to defame us and the show by making baseless allegations. "We have already filed our complaint against these baseless allegations with the concerned authorities,” Ramani and Bajaj said in a joint statement.
Asked why she didn't come forward with her allegations earlier, Bansiwal said she couldn't muster the courage to speak about it then. "Being a woman, you think they are bigshots. How can you go up against them as your bread and butter come from this (show)? "I thought the easy way to deal with this was to quit the show, so that time, I was threatened that they would cut four months of payment. That time, I was not in a position to quit and not even now,” she alleged.
The show's directors -- Harshad Joshi, Rushi Dave and Armaan Dhanesha -- also alleged Bansiwal lacked discipline and was not focused on her work. "We regularly had to complain to the production head about her behaviour. On her last day she was abusive in front of the whole unit and left the set without finishing her shoot,” they said.
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, which started airing in 2008, is one of the longest-running sitcoms in Indian television history. It also features popular actors Dilip Joshi, Munmun Dutta and Mandar Chandwadkar.
BANGLADESH's ousted and self-exiled prime minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to six months in prison by the country's International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday (2) in a contempt of court case, a top prosecutor said.
Hasina has been facing multiple cases since she fled to India after deadly student-led protests in August, but it was the first time the former leader was sentenced in one of them.
Shakil Akand Bulbul, a leader of the Awami League party's banned student wing Chhatra League, was also sentenced to two months in prison in the same case, chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam told reporters. The party had been led by Hasina for years.
A three-member ICT tribunal, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, delivered the verdict in their absence, noting that the sentences will take effect upon arrest or surrender, the prosecutor added.
The contempt charges stem from a leaked phone recording where Hasina was allegedly heard saying, "there are 227 cases against me, so I now have a licence to kill 227 people."
A forensic report by a government investigative agency later confirmed the audio's authenticity.
The ICT was originally set up in 2010 by Hasina's own government to try 1971 war crimes.
Bangladesh's interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, pledged to hold leaders, including Hasina, accountable for rights abuses and corruption, including the crackdown on the student-led uprising last July that toppled Hasina's regime.
The tribunal has so far issued three arrest warrants for Hasina, including charges of crimes against humanity linked to the July violence. Hasina's Awami League party remains banned while trials continue against the party and its former leaders.
Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August last year, according to the United Nations, when Hasina's government ordered a crackdown on protesters in a failed bid to cling to power.
In a separate ongoing trial that began on June 1, prosecutors say that Hasina held overall command responsibility for the violence.
Her state-appointed defence lawyer said she has denied the multiple charges that amount to crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law.
Supporters of Hasina dismiss the charges as politically motivated, but the interim government insists the trials are crucial for restoring accountability and rebuilding trust in Bangladesh's democratic institutions.
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Migrants swim to board a smugglers' boat in order to attempt crossing the English channel off the beach of Audresselles, northern France on October 25, 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)
NEARLY 20,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats from continental Europe since January 1, setting a new record for the first half of any year, according to UK government figures published on Tuesday.
A total of 19,982 people made the journey, surpassing the previous high of 13,489 recorded in 2024.
The increase adds pressure on prime minister Keir Starmer, who had pledged to reduce migrant numbers after taking office last year.
On Monday, 879 people arrived in the UK in small boats. This was the third highest single-day total recorded so far this year.
Crossings remain key political issue
Small boat crossings have remained a major political issue in the UK.
Successive governments have committed to lowering the number of arrivals via this route.
Starmer is reportedly in talks with French president Emmanuel Macron on a potential agreement that would allow the UK to return small boat migrants to France, while taking in asylum seekers who have family members in the UK.
Possible deal during Macron’s visit
The proposed arrangement could be announced during Macron’s visit to London next week.
Meanwhile, France is also considering whether to let officials intervene to stop boats in shallow coastal waters before they set off.
However, they are still not authorised to intercept vessels already en route across the Channel.
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Although formal studies into this specific heatwave have yet to be completed
Britain recorded its hottest day of 2025 at 34.7°C in central London on Tuesday.
The Met Office said it was “virtually certain” the extreme heat was linked to human-driven climate change.
Gritters were deployed to protect road surfaces from melting due to high temperatures.
A fire broke out near Herne Hill station after an electrical box exploded.
June 2025 was England’s hottest June on record according to provisional Met Office data.
Heatwave hits peak as temperatures reach 34.7°C in London
Britain experienced its hottest day of the year on Tuesday, with temperatures climbing to 34.7°C in central London. The Met Office attributed the extreme weather to human-induced climate change, citing overwhelming scientific evidence from previous heatwave studies. While no formal climate attribution study has yet been conducted for June 2025’s heat events, experts say such conditions are now far more likely due to global warming.
The figure recorded at St James’s Park in Westminster was the highest of 2025 so far, prompting a range of emergency responses and public health alerts.
Met Office: Heatwave ‘virtually certain’ due to climate change
Although formal studies into this specific heatwave have yet to be completed, the Met Office was clear in its assessment.
Amy Doherty, a Met Office climate scientist, stated: “While we’ve not conducted formal climate attribution studies into June 2025’s two heatwaves, past studies have shown it is virtually certain that human influence has increased the occurrence and intensity of extreme heat events such as this.”
She referenced earlier studies of the 2018 and 2022 heatwaves which confirmed a strong link to climate change.
June 2025 was England’s warmest June since records began in 1884Met Office
Infrastructure strained as councils act to protect roads
Central Bedfordshire Council took preventative measures by deploying gritters to roads where high temperatures risked softening tarmac.
The council said: “Some parts of Central Bedfordshire are experiencing very high road surface temperatures. When this happens, tarmac can begin to soften, which may lead to surface damage. To prevent this, we’re sending out gritters to spread a fine layer of crushed stone.”
This measure also helps provide better traction for vehicles on potentially sticky surfaces.
Fire near London railway caused by electrical explosion
A fire broke out near Herne Hill Railway Station in south London around 6 pm, with the London Fire Brigade receiving 23 calls in under an hour. The incident was reportedly caused by an exploding electrical box, according to Danny Smerdon, founder of a nearby florist.
“The fire brigade are here and said it is under control. It looks as though the fire is moving away from our shops,” he told The Telegraph.
Firefighters responded swiftly, and the fire was brought under control without damage to nearby businesses.
NHS issues health warnings as heatwave peaks
With Tuesday marking the peak of the current heatwave, NHS trusts and the UK Health Security Agency issued amber heat health alerts across much of England.
Public guidance included staying indoors during peak sun hours (11 am to 3 pm), wearing light clothing and sun protection, and avoiding strenuous activity.
The Met Office confirmed: “Tuesday will likely be the peak of this current heatwave in terms of absolute temperatures.”
The alerts are expected to expire on Wednesday as cooler weather approaches.
Temperatures to fall as cooler front moves in
A gradual shift to more typical British summer weather is underway, with a cooler, wetter air mass moving southwards from Scotland.
“It’s already bringing some rain to parts of Scotland through the day today, and will gradually move southwards through the day today and overnight tonight,” said Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon.
This shift is expected to reduce temperatures and bring some relief from the heatwave across the UK by mid-week.
June 2025 breaks temperature records in England
Provisional figures from the Met Office show that June 2025 was England’s warmest June since records began in 1884. The average temperature reached 16.9°C, breaking the previous record of 16.7°C set in 2023.
Across the UK, the mean temperature for June was 15.2°C, just shy of the national record (15.8°C in 2023). Wales recorded its third warmest June on record, behind 2023 and 2018.
Public reaction mixed amid soaring heat
Not everyone was upset by the sweltering temperatures. Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen urged people to embrace the weather.
“Considering how bad this last winter was, enjoy the sunshine. It’s healthy!” he posted.
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Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama attends a prayer ceremony at the Main Tibetan Temple in McLeod Ganj on May 7, 2025.
THE DALAI LAMA has said that the 600-year-old Tibetan spiritual institution will continue after his death, and that his office will have the sole responsibility of naming his successor. The announcement came on Wednesday through a video message at the start of a religious leaders’ meeting in the Indian Himalayan town where he has lived for decades.
"In accordance with all these requests, I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue," he said, according to an official translation. The Dalai Lama also said he had received multiple appeals over the past 14 years from Tibetans in exile, Buddhists across the Himalayan region, Mongolia, and parts of Russia and China urging him to ensure the continuation of the institution.
“In particular, I have received messages through various channels from Tibetans in Tibet making the same appeal,” he added.
The announcement comes ahead of his 90th birthday on July 6.
Tenzin Gyatso is considered the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. He and thousands of Tibetans have lived in exile in India since 1959, when Chinese troops suppressed an uprising in Lhasa. The Dalai Lama had earlier said the institution would only continue if there was popular demand.
'Successor will not be chosen by China'
While China maintains that it will approve the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader said the decision will rest solely with the India-based Gaden Phodrang Trust — his official office.
"The responsibility for identifying the 15th Dalai Lama will rest exclusively with the Gaden Phodrang Trust," he said.
Samdhong Rinpoche, a senior Tibetan leader from the Trust, told reporters that the Dalai Lama is in "excellent health" and that there are currently "no further instructions for succession". Rinpoche also said that the next Dalai Lama could belong to "any nationality" and would come from a place with "access to freedom".
China reiterated its position on Wednesday. “The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must be approved by the central government,” foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters. She added that the selection would be done “by drawing lots from a golden urn”.
That urn is held by Beijing. The Dalai Lama has previously said the process lacks “any spiritual quality” if used dishonestly.
Past concerns and political tensions
In 2011, the Dalai Lama handed over political authority to a democratically elected Tibetan government-in-exile. At the time, he warned that the spiritual post could be at risk of “vested political interests misusing the reincarnation system”.
In 1995, Beijing appointed a Panchen Lama — another key Tibetan religious figure — and detained a six-year-old recognised by the Dalai Lama. Rights groups described the child as the world’s youngest political prisoner.
The announcement of the institution’s continuation was welcomed by many Tibetans. Jigme Taydeh, a civil servant with the Tibetan government-in-exile, said, "Whilst we rejoice at this confirmation of its continuation, we stringently object to China’s interference and plans to install a puppet Dalai Lama. Neither the Tibetans nor the world would recognise such mischief."
(With inputs from agencies)
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Starmer had already softened the proposals last week following criticism from Labour MPs who said the planned cuts to disability and sickness benefits went too far. (Photo:
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer avoided a parliamentary defeat on key welfare reforms on Tuesday, after agreeing to further concessions amid growing pressure from within the Labour Party.
Starmer had already softened the proposals last week following criticism from Labour MPs who said the planned cuts to disability and sickness benefits went too far.
Despite the government’s large majority in the House of Commons, the scale of the internal backlash meant more concessions were made just hours before the vote.
Cuts delayed after internal pressure
Among the latest changes was a delay to benefit cuts planned for 2026, pending a review led by social security and disability minister Stephen Timms.
The last-minute move helped the government pass the vote comfortably, with 335 MPs supporting the legislation and 260 voting against, giving a majority of 75.
However, the changes significantly weakened the original bill, which had aimed to reduce spending on the UK’s welfare system by billions of pounds. Critics dismissed the revised version as ineffective.
“This is an utter capitulation,” Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative opposition, posted on social media.
“Labour’s welfare bill is now a TOTAL waste of time. It effectively saves £0, helps no one into work, and does NOT control spending. It's pointless.”
Reforms scaled back again
Work and Pensions Minister Liz Kendall introduced the updated bill in parliament on Monday, as new government figures estimated that an additional 150,000 people could fall into poverty due to the revised proposals.
Starmer had initially aimed to cut £5 billion from the welfare budget. After last week’s climbdown, that figure fell to £2.5 billion. Following Tuesday’s concessions, it remained unclear how much, if any, would now be saved.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has been under pressure due to low economic growth, will need to identify alternative ways to balance the budget.
First anniversary overshadowed
The developments have coincided with the one-year anniversary of Labour returning to power after 14 years in opposition. The situation has also led to further scrutiny of Starmer’s leadership and the direction of his government.
Starmer has made a series of U-turns in recent months and has struggled to meet his government’s goal of driving economic growth.
“One year of Starmer, one year of u-turns,” Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said on Tuesday.
On June 9, the government reversed a plan to scrap winter heating benefits for millions of pensioners, following strong criticism and resistance from Labour MPs.
A week later, Starmer announced a national inquiry into a UK child sex exploitation scandal, having earlier declined to do so.
Growing discontent within party
Although Starmer has a parliamentary majority of 165 MPs, which should allow him to pass legislation with ease, many in his party have raised concerns about his approach.
Some Labour MPs say the leadership is too focused on countering the rise of Reform UK, and argue that it is moving away from the party’s traditional centre-left values.
A YouGov poll published last week, based on responses from more than 10,000 people, showed that Labour is losing voters to both Reform UK and, on the left, to the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.