Salman Rushdie taken off ventilator

Washington: Author Salman Rushdie was taken off a ventilator and will be able to talk, a day after he was stabbed in western New York State on Friday morning during a lecture.
Rushdie’s agent, Andrew Wylie, confirmed that Rushdie was taken off a ventilator and could be able to talk, without giving further details, according to the Washington Post.
Earlier, Hadi Matar, who is suspected of stabbing Indian-born-British author Salman Rushdie, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder in the second degree and other charges in a New York court.
Matar was arraigned in centralised arraignment on Saturday and was remanded without bail at Chautauqua County Jail.
According to Nathaniel Barone, his public defender said that Matar pleaded not guilty, CNN reported.
On Friday, Matar was brought before a court on charges of attempted murder in the second degree and assault in the second degree and was remanded without bail at Chautauqua County Jail.