NewsPrint 25 January: Bandh Over Mahadayi River Row Cripples Normal Life in Karnataka and More...

Don't have time to keep a tab on news throughout the day? CNN-News18 brings you the day's top news and newsmakers in less than 3 minutes! Here are today's top picks: Karnataka Bandh observed, Farhan Akhtar Hits Out At Padmaavat Protesters, Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki Reach Australian Open Finals and Samsung Galaxy S9 Launch Confirmed etc.

INDIA

Bandh Over Mahadayi River Row Cripples Normal Life in Karnataka

The state-wide bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in the inter-state Mahadayi river water row with neighbouring Goa disrupted normal life in most parts of Karnataka on Thursday. Major impact of the dawn-to-dusk bandh was seen in northern districts which are seeking water from the Mahadayi basin. State-run buses remained off the roads. Auto rickshaws and cabs were available in Bengaluru but in fewer numbers. However, in the evening the city limped back to normalcy with buses back on the road and shops and commercial establishments reopening.

ENTERTAINMENT

Farhan Akhtar Hits Out At Padmaavat Protesters

Actor Farhan Akhtar on Thursday lashed out at Padmaavat protesters after a school bus carrying a number of children was attacked in Gurugram by the violent mob on Wednesday. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film has been facing protests by the Karni Sena and other fringe groups over allegations that historical facts were distorted in the movie, based on the 16th-century poem Padmavat by Malik Muhammad Jayasi. However, the attack on the school bus has irked several people, including Farhan, who on Thursday morning took to Twitter to call out the protesters. "Attacking a school bus is not an agitation. It is terrorism. The people who did it are terrorists," Farhan tweeted. Padmaavat stars Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji.

SPORTS

Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki Reach Australian Open Finals

World number one Simona Halep quelled a tenacious Angelique Kerber fightback and saved two match points to reach her first Australian Open final with a 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 victory in a compelling scrap on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday. In another match, Caroline Wozniacki came through a late bout of nerves to reach the finals for a first time with a 6-3, 7-6(2) victory over Belgian Elise Mertens on Thursday, giving herself another shot at winning a maiden grand slam title.

TECH

Samsung Galaxy S9 Launch Confirmed

Samsung will reportedly launch its next flagship smartphones, Galaxy S9 and S9+, on February 26 at its Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 event in Barcelona. The smartphones will be powered by Qualcomm 845 SoC (in US region) and the latest Exynos chipset in the UK and Indian markets. As for the pricing, the Galaxy S9 is expected to cost around Rs 60,000 and is expected to be available by March.