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CHANDIGARH: Aishdeep Singh, the mastermind behind the murder of 30-year-old kabaddi player-cum-promoter Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balachauria, was arrested on Wednesday by the Punjab Police from the Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi. Meanwhile, another key accused in the case Harpinder Middhi was killed in an encounter at Lalru near here in which two police personnel also sustained injuries. Police said the tussle between different gangsters over the organisation of kabaddi tournaments in Punjab led to the shooting. Senior Superintendent of Police of SAS Nagar Harmandeep Hans said Aishdeep Singh, who had been staying in Russia, came to India on November 25 on the directions of gangster-turned-terrorist Dony Bal to execute the murder. He was arrested from Delhi airport when he was planning to escape to Muscat. Aishdeep informed police about his accomplice Harpinder Middhi, a resident of Naushehra Pannuan in Tarn Taran, who actively supported the shooters and was supposed to escape along with him. Acting on the information, police parties led by Deputy Superintendent of Police of Dera Bassi Bikramjit Singh Brar and including inspectors Sumit Mor, Pushvinder Singh and Malkiat Singh conducted a raid at the location pinpointed by him on the Ambala-Lalru Highway near Jharmal River in Lalru. Upon seeing the police party, the suspect Harpinder Middhi opened fire resulting in serious bullet injuries to two police personnel -- head constables Gulab Singh and Kumar Sharma. The police party retaliated in self-defence during which the suspect was injured and was rushed to Civil Hospital Dera Bassi, where he succumbed to injuries, he said. Gang rivalry over kabaddi tournaments leads to killing of player-promoter Rana Balachauria in Mohali Hans said that police have also arrested another accused Jugraj Singh with the help of Amritsar (Rural) Police. All the accused persons involved in this case have been identified and raids are being conducted to nab the remaining accused, he said. Balachauria was shot dead in Mohali on December 15 by associates of gangsters Doni Bal and Lucky Patial. Police have identified the three accused including the two shooters who pumped bullets into Balachauria. They are Aditya Kapoor alias Makhan and Karan Pathak of Amritsar. The duo are currently absconding. Twelve teams of the Punjab AGTF, SSOC and the district police have been hunting for them for the past two days. Hours after the shootout, gangster Dony Bal claimed responsibility for the attack in a Facebook post. I, Donibal, Saganpreet, Mohabbat Randhawa, Amar Khabe, Prabh Daswal, and Kaushal Chaudhary, take responsibility for the killing of Rana Balachauria during the Kabaddi Cup in Mohali. This man (Rana) was in contact with our rivals Jaggu and Lawrence, it read. He had provided shelter to the killer of Sidhu Moosewala and personally looked after him. By killing Rana today, we have avenged the murder of our brother Sidhu Moosewala. This act was carried out by our brothers Makhan Amritsar and Defaulter Karan, it stated. The killing of Balachauria has brought back memories of a similar incident three years ago when another kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal was shot dead in Jalandhar district in the middle of a tournament at Mallian Kalan village. More recently, a 25-year-old kabaddi player named Teja Singh was shot dead in broad daylight in Jagraon in October this year.
Yamuna Expressway crash: Death toll may rise as identification of burnt bodies begin, say officials
MATHURA: The death toll in the multi-vehicle pile-up that has killed 13 people on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura may rise further as several severely burnt human remains are yet to be identified, officials said on Wednesday. The identities of five victims of the accident, which took place on Tuesday morning, have been established so far. Many bodies were charred beyond recognition, making identification virtually impossible at this stage, officials said, adding that they were relying on DNA tests for the purpose. According to a panel of doctors conducting post-mortem, police have brought 18 body bags to the mortuary. These contained the heads of 10 victims, torsos of two others, and one largely intact body, while the remaining bags held only small, badly burnt fragments of human remains. Post-mortem examination of all the remains are being carried out and reports are being prepared, officials said. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Gopal Garg said samples of all human remains have been collected and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Agra for DNA profiling and to establish their identities by matching them with samples provided by claimants. The district hospital has officially confirmed the death of 13 passengers in the accident. However, officials said that given the fragmented condition of the remains, the actual number of victims could increase once they receive the DNA test reports. Only after DNA testing of all the remains will it be possible to ascertain how many individuals they belong to. Identification will be confirmed after matching with the samples provided by family members, Dr Garg said. Assistant Regional Transport Officer Madan Sharma said Sunil Kumar (45), who was driving the Azamgarh-bound bus involved in the crash, was missing. The second driver and the conductor were admitted to the hospital with injuries, but they have no recollection of the incident. They told us they fainted immediately after the collision and regained consciousness only after being hospitalised. They are unable to say what happened to Sunil Kumar, whether he was injured or died in the crash. His fate may become clear after examination of the burnt remains, Sharma said. A passenger, Parvati (42) from Rath tehsil in Hamirpur district, also remained untraceable. Her brother-in-law Gulzari Lal searched for her till late on Wednesday evening across hospitals and mortuaries, but no information could be found, officials said. In another case, Kanpur resident Pooja has lost her brother-in-law Anuj Srivastava, who was travelling with her on the bus. With several passengers still unaccounted for and identification of remains pending, officials said the possibility of an increase in the death toll cannot be ruled out.
UP CM orders authorities to step up road safety measures following several crashes due to dense fog
LUCKNOW: Following the Yamuna Expressway accident, which claimed 13 lives in the Mathura stretch, UP CM Yogi Adityanath reviewed expressway safety with NHAI and state highway officials on Wednesday. He ordered stricter measures to avert any such incident in future under foggy conditions. CM directed the authorities concerned to increase patrolling, field inspections, deployment of teams at all black spots, installation of reflectors, and 247 availability of cranes and ambulances on expressways. The highway authorities in the state intensified safety measures on expressways and national highways to prevent road accidents amid dense fog conditions during the winter season. As per the senior officials, a day after multiple fog-linked crashes leading to the loss of multiple lives, across the state, the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), the nodal authority operating key access-controlled highways including the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway and Gorakhpur Link Expressway, moved to put enhanced precautions in place. At least 25 people were killed and 59 were injured in a series of accidents attributed to poor visibility, with the worst incident reported from the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura, where a multi-vehicle pile-up claimed 13 lives. Four people each were killed in Basti and Unnao, while two fatalities were reported each from Meerut and Barabanki, said the officials on Wednesday. According to UPEIDA Nodal Officer Rajesh Pandey, fog-related accidents this season began on Tuesday. Most of the accidents, including those on the Purvanchal and Lucknow-Agra Expressways, were rear-end collisions caused by poor visibility. Pandey said UPEIDA was set to send a proposal to the state government soon to reduce the maximum speed limit on expressways from the current 120 kmph to 80 kmph during the fog period, which generally lasted until February 15. He said special advisories were being issued for two-wheeler riders, allowed on expressways. During fog, we request motorcyclists to halt at toll plazas. We are making arrangements for blankets and basic facilities for them, Pandey, a former IPS officer and SSP Lucknow, said. UPEIDA has also activated public address systems at all toll plazas to make real-time announcements about fog conditions ahead based on inputs from patrol teams, he said. Pamphlets containing safety guidelines, do's and don'ts, and emergency helpline numbers, including 14449, are also being distributed among commuters. Pandey reiterated that parking on expressways is strictly prohibited. Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has also launched a statewide drive to improve visibility and awareness among road users during winter fog. Officials said the speed limit on highways under NHAI is 100 kmph and stressed that besides fog, wrong-side driving and unauthorised entry and exit through highway cuts remain major causes of accidents. Authorities have urged motorists to drive cautiously, maintain safe distances and strictly follow advisories as dense fog conditions are expected to persist across the state in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, CM Yogi ordered the authorities to ensure safe traffic management on expressways during poor visibility. Proper arrangements should be ensured in dense fog. Street and lane lighting should be checked continuously. If any light is faulty, it should be fixed immediately. Officers should inspect to ensure no person is found sleeping in the open, the CM directed the officials at the review meeting. He also asked the local administrations to make proper arrangements for the homeless during the cold wave. The homeless should be taken to rain shelters. Blankets should be continuously distributed to the needy. Bonfires should be arranged at public places. Meanwhile, an intense cold wave is sweeping the state. The conditions are such that dew drops are falling like drizzle in the foggy weather with zero visibility. On Wednesday, 50 districts including Lucknow, Ayodhya, Prayagraj were in the grip of fog. Zero visibility was recorded in many places. Due to fog, more than 30 accidents have occurred in the last four days in the state. During this period, more than 150 vehicles collided.
I request every social media user not to support AI-generated nonsense: Sreeleela
Hyderabad: Actress Sreeleela, who is one of the top stars in the Telugu and Tamil film industries, on Wednesday urged every social media user not to support AI-generated nonsense. Taking to her Instagram page to post an emotional appeal, the actress wrote, I put my hands together and request every social media user not to Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Sofia Vergara confirms dating 39-year-old Douglas Chabbott
Modern Family fame Sofia Vergara has made her relationship with 39-year-old boyfriend Douglas Chabbot Instagram official. The actress, in her early 50s, shared a series of pictures proclaiming her love for her beau
Bharatpur Beams With Joy And Pride As Home Boy Kartik Sharma Seals Record IPL 2026 Deal
District Cricket Association Secretary Shatrughan: Kartik Sharma made history in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction on Tuesday after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) roped him in for Rs. 14.20 crore, making him the joint-costliest uncapped player, alongside Prashant Veer, acquired by the same franchise, in the tournaments history. As soon as Kartiks record bid concluded, celebrations erupted across the city as the news brought joy and pride. At Laxman Mandir Chauraha, District Cricket Association officials and cricket fans commemorated the historic event by bursting firecrackers and sharing sweets. Kartik and his father, Manoj Sharma, were also congratulated through a video call. District Cricket Association Secretary Shatrughan Tiwari told IANS, Bharatpurs Kartik Sharma has achieved something remarkable. His rise from poverty to now, bagging a cheque worth Rs. 14.20 crore, will motivate many talented players. He mentioned that Kartiks father sacrificed everything he could for his sons cricket career. Manoj, a medium pace bowler himself, couldnt build a cricketing career for himself as his injury had the final say. However, he hoped his son would pursue that dream and took every possible measure to ensure their financial instability did not affect his sons career. Kartik has also received the Mathura Das Mathur Award. His father, committed to his cricket dreams, sold his shops and borrowed several lakhs to support his kid. The pathway led to Kartik and his family shifting their base to Agra, as he joined the academy headed by Lokendra Singh Chahar, India cricketer Deepak Chahars father. Tiwari mentioned that Kartik had been involved with the District Cricket Association since he was a child. He performed exceptionally well at all levelsUnder-14, Under-16, Under-19, senior cricket, and the Ranji Trophy. His showing in the IPL trials also gained admiration from all. Kartik has also received the Mathura Das Mathur Award. His father, committed to his cricket dreams, sold his shops and borrowed several lakhs to support his kid. The pathway led to Kartik and his family shifting their base to Agra, as he joined the academy headed by Lokendra Singh Chahar, India cricketer Deepak Chahars father. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The young keeper-batter will now be seen donning the yellow jersey and representing five-time champions CSK at the IPL 2026, in a bid to build a bigger and better career for himself. Article Source: IANS
Rahul Gandhi visits BMW Plant in Germany, calls for 'meaningful manufacturing ecosystems' in India
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday expressed concern over the decline in manufacturing in India while stressing that manufacturing is the ackbone of strong economies. The Congress leader made the remarks after visiting BMW Welt and the BMW Plant in Munich, as part of his visit to Germany. Sharing visuals of the guided tour at the manufacturing plant, Gandhi wrote in a post on Instagram, Had the chance to experience BMW's world in Munich, Germany with a guided tour of BMW Welt and the BMW Plant - an incredible look at world-class manufacturing up close. View this post on Instagram A highlight was seeing TVS's 450cc motorcycle, developed in partnership with BMW, he said, adding that it was a proud moment to see Indian engineering on display. Calling for the creation of meaningful manufacturing ecosystem in India, he said, Manufacturing is the backbone of strong economies. Sadly, in India, manufacturing is declining. For us to accelerate growth, we need to produce more - build meaningful manufacturing ecosystems, and create high-quality jobs at scale. Gandhi is visiting Germany at the invitation of the Progressive Alliance, a key group of 117 progressive parties from across the world. During his visit, Gandhi will engage with the Indian diaspora as well as meet German government ministers.
10 Ahmedabad schools get bomb threat; turns out to be hoax after search
AHMEDABAD: As many as 10 private schools in Ahmedabad received an email on Wednesday threatening bomb blasts, which later turned out to be a hoax as nothing suspicious was found during searches, police said. As a precautionary measure, these schools declared a holiday for the afternoon shift as the morning shift was already over when they received the emails, having a common text, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 1, Harshad Patel said. After being alerted, police, along with the bomb detection and disposal squad, dog squad and anti-sabotage teams, reached the schools and conducted a thorough search, Patel told reporters. In the email sent to the schools, it was claimed that bomb blasts will be carried out in these establishments during the afternoon. As a precautionary measure, these schools declared a holiday for the afternoon shift as the morning shift was already over, he said. Our teams reached the schools and conducted a thorough search. However, nothing suspicious was found. Cybercrime teams are now investigating the source of these emails and who was behind them, Patel said. The exact contents of these emails are not disclosed because the matter is under investigation, he said. The email purportedly stated that blasts at these schools will take place at 1.11 pm. The schools which received the threat included Zydus School of Excellence, Maharaja Agrasen Vidhyalaya, Udgam School For Children and Zebar School For Children, the sources said. In the last two years, several private schools across the state and the Gujarat High Court have received such hoax threats on multiple occasions.
A Delhi-based 27-year-old sought psychiatric help for depression but found no relief until medical tests revealed severe Vitamin B12, D3 and magnesium deficiencies. In an Instagram post, Dr Obaidur Rahman of RML Hospital explains how hidden nutritional gaps can mimic mental health disorders. With targeted supplements and lifestyle changes, the woman recovered within months, highlighting a frequently overlooked cause of emotional and cognitive distress.
Messi Omits Salt Lake Stadium From India Tour Highlights; Video Features Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy: Argentina football legend Lionel Messi released a commemorative video of his 'GOAT India Tour' on Wednesday, notably excluding any footage of his appearance at Kolkatas Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium). The omission comes amid a backdrop of administrative mismanagement and fan unrest during the Kolkata leg of the tour, which was marred by mismanagement resulting in fans' outrage and the arrest of the event organiser. The video, shared on Messi's official Instagram account, includes only one event from Kolkata, the unveiling of Messis statue at Lake Town. There are no visuals from Yuva Bharati Krirangan. The rest of the video is dominated by scenes from Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. It shows Messi playing football with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at the Hyderabad stadium, interacting with children, kicking the ball into the stands and waving to spectators. The video also carries moments of Messi interacting with Sachin Tendulkar at Mumbais Wankhede Stadium, along with visuals of him engaging with children and the crowd. Brief clips from the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi are also part of the montage. Messi is seen alongside Luis Surez and Rodrigo De Paul, all smiling through the tour. Apart from on-field moments, the video includes events outside the stadium, such as Messis participation in the Paddle Cup at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai and photographs with actor Kareena Kapoor Khan. During his visit to Kolkata, Messi met several prominent personalities. State minister Aroop Biswas was seen accompanying him at Yuva Bharati Krirangan, but neither the minister nor the stadium event features in the video. In contrast, some industrialists appear in the montage. Although Yuva Bharati Krirangan does not find a place in the visuals, Messi did mention Kolkata in the caption. He wrote, Namaste India! What incredible visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Thanks for the warm welcome, great hospitality and all the expressions of love throughout my tour. I hope football has a bright future in India! #GOATTourIndia #GOATconcert #Messiinlndia A Satadru Dutta Initiative. While Kolkata received a brief mention in the caption, the Yuva Bharati event was entirely left out of the video. Notably, Messi retained the name of Satadru Dutta, the main organiser of the tour, in the caption, despite Duttas arrest. Messi also shared a message reflecting on his visit to India. He said, First of all, thank you to India for the love I have received over the past few days. It was a wonderful experience. This trip was very short, but the love I received has removed all my fatigue. He added, I knew I would receive love, but I didn't realise how much. Everyone loved me like crazy. I am returning home with this experience. I hope that one day we will play in India. But even if we don't play, I will definitely come to India. Thank you, everyone. On December 13, the Salt Lake Stadium was packed well before the scheduled start of Messis event, with thousands of fans waiting to catch a glimpse of the great footballer. As Messi arrived, a large crowd surrounded him, trying to take photographs, while security personnel struggled to control the situation. Spectators later complained that many could not see Messi at all. He left the field after about 22 minutes. He added, I knew I would receive love, but I didn't realise how much. Everyone loved me like crazy. I am returning home with this experience. I hope that one day we will play in India. But even if we don't play, I will definitely come to India. Thank you, everyone. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In the aftermath, the state government constituted an inquiry committee. Event organiser Satadru Dutta was arrested, while on Tuesday, Aroop Biswas resigned from his post as state Sports Minister. Senior IPS officers, including Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, were also issued show-cause notices. Article Source: IANS
Dr Pal on Heart Health: 5 Facts That Change Everything
We often take our heart for granted until its too late. Heart disease doesnt happen overnight; it builds quietly through daily habits, stress, and lack of awareness. These eight facts, shared by cardiologist Dr Pal, highlight truths that can genuinely change how you think about heart health in his recent instagram post.
Aditya Dhar ki jai ho': Anupam Kher vibes on 'Dhurandhar music
Veteran actor Anupam Kher joins the nationwide excitement for the film Dhurandhar. He shared his enthusiasm on Instagram, embarking on a long drive with friends to celebrate the movie's music. The film, directed by Aditya Dhar, is a two-part series. It depicts an Indian intelligence mission spanning a decade. Dhurandhar is performing strongly at the box office.
Kiara congratulates Homebound team as film get shortlisted for Oscars
Bollywood is celebrating as 'Homebound', starring Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa, earns a spot on the Oscars 2026 shortlist. Kiara Advani congratulated the team on Instagram. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the film follows two friends pursuing a police career amid challenges, representing India among global contenders.
BENGALURU: The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has taken urgent repairs due to a leak in the Cauvery 5th stage water supply project, which supplies water to some parts of Bengaluru city. There will be a disruption in the water supply to Bangalore city today (Dec. 17), said BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasat Manohar. The Chairman said, 3,000 mm diameter S-valve of the Cauvery 5th stage transmission line is leaking due to damage. The Water Board has taken up urgent repair work to prevent the said leakage and ensure smooth and uninterrupted water supply to Bengaluru city. There will be water disruption in the areas receiving Cauvery 5th stage water supply from 7 am to 10 pm and close to 110 area in the city will be halt. Areas where water supply will be disrupted: Anantpur, Doddabettahalli, Chikkabettahalli, Harohalli, Kenchanahalli, Govindpur, Vasudevapura, Manchenahalli, Kattigenahalli, Srinivasapura, Bellalli, Thirumenahalli, Chokkanahalli, Dasarahalli, Rachenahalli, Thanisandra, Challekere, Horamavu Agar, Amani Bhairathikhane, Geddalahalli, Kothanur Narayanpura, Kothanur, N Nagenahalli, Kailasanahalli, Bhairathi, Bili Shivahalli, Balagere, Bellandur Amanikere, Belathur, Chennasandra, Devarabeesanahalli, Gunjur, Agadur, Kadabisanahalli, Kayammana Agrahara, Kadogodi Plantation Kanekandya, Kumbena Agrahara, Nagondahalli, Panathur, Ramagondanahalli, Siddapur, Sorahunase, Tubarahalli, Varthur, Kalkare, Horamavu. K. Chennasandra, Varanasi, Vasantapura, Ullaal Sonnenahalli, Ganakallu, Hemmigepura, Somapura, Varasandra, Manavarthakavalu, Lingadeeranahalli, Hosahalli, Arehalli, Vaddarapalya, Uttarahalli, Subramanyapura. Gubbalala, Turahalli, Gidadakonenahalli, Alahalli, Ambalipur, Anjanapur, Basapura, Basavanpur, Begur, Bellandur, Chandrasekharpur, Dodkakalasandra, Gollahalli, Gottigere, Aralur Junasandra, Kaikondanahalli, Kalena Agrahara, Kambattahalli, Kammanahalli, Kasavanahalli, Kudalu, Parappana Agrahara, Pillaganahalli, Raghuvanahalli, Talaghattapura, Thippsandra, Vajarahalli, Yalenahalli, Bharatena Agrahara, Boganahalli, Chikkabellandur, Chikkateguru, Doddakannahalli, Doddeguru, Naganathpur, Abbigere, Chikkasandra, Shettahalli, Karihobanahalli, Andharahalli, There will be water disruption in Madarahalli, Doddabidarakallu, Lingadhiranahalli B, Herohalli, Hosahalli.
I Hope Football Has Bright Future in India: Messi After Amazing Tour
Taking to Instagram, the 38-year-old posted a one-minute highlights clip of the tour, featuring his interactions with Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan and several young footballers
Kareena Kapoor Reacts As Messi Includes Her In His Goodbye Post Following India Visit
Shah Rukh Khan: After concluding the last leg of his India tour, legendary footballer Lionel Messi decided to post a special montage video on social media, incorporating memories from his visit to the country. Amidst several moments that apparently stood out for the G.O.A.T. was his meeting with Bollywood beauty Kareena Kapoor and her two boys, Taimur and Jeh. Elated about featuring in Messi's farewell video, Bebo gave a shout-out to her elder son Taimur. Kareena re-posted Messi's video on the Stories section of her Instagram and wrote, Ok Tim then this happened (heart emoji) for you (heart emoji) (sic). During his visit to India, Messi met many bigwigs from B-town such as Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, Tiger Shroff, Shilpa Shetty, and Geeta Basra, to name just a few. On Wednesday, Messi took to his IG and treated the netizens with a special video, along with a special goodbye message for all his Indian fans. The clip had glimpses of Messi meeting the children at the stadium, along with his meeting with the cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar. However, picking from all his Bollywood interactions, Messi chose to include only Kareena and her sons in the montage. The footballer captioned the post, Namaste India! What incredible visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Thanks for the warm welcome, great hospitality, and all the expressions of love throughout my tour. I hope football has a bright future in India (sic). As part of his Indian tour, Messi landed in Mumbai on Sunday. However, this tour did not start on a great note, as he encountered an embarrassing situation in Kolkata. The footballer captioned the post, Namaste India! What incredible visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Thanks for the warm welcome, great hospitality, and all the expressions of love throughout my tour. I hope football has a bright future in India (sic). Also Read: Live Cricket Score After Kolkata, Messi also went to Hyderabad and then Mumbai as part of his itinerary. Article Source: IANS
UP Board practical exam 2026 dates: The Board of Secondary Education, Uttar Pradesh, Prayagraj has released the schedule for the UP Board 2026 intermediate practical examinations. The exams will be conducted in two phases, with January 2930 excluded due to the UP TET written exam. Principals will oversee school-level practicals under CCTV surveillance, while marks for practicals, Yoga, Sports, and Moral Education will be uploaded online via upmsp.edu.in. Pre-Board Class XII practicals will take place during the first week of January.
Protean eGov Technologies is set to gain investor attention after announcing its acquisition of a 4.95% stake in NSDL Payments Bank. This strategic move aims to bolster Protean's digital financial infrastructure, fostering partnerships and developing scalable solutions for underserved segments. The collaboration leverages NSDL Payments Bank's digital-first platform to expand Protean's reach in citizen-centric financial services.
Prithvi Shaw Makes Stunning U-Turn On Social Media After Being Bought By DC
Prithvi Shaw took a notable U-turn on social media as he posted a heartbreak emoticon on his Instagram story shortly after going unsold twice at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction, before...
Celebrities carry a much higher burden of responsibility
Taking to Instagram, he wrote that he would like to request all bike riders to wear helmets
Gemstones, celestial motifs and alternative ingredients enter cocktail menus
Indias cocktail culture has never been more alive and Bengaluru sits right at the heart of this evolution. The city has moved past sugary signatures and theatrical smoke clouds, with bartenders now building drinks around memory, technique and emotion. Whats unfolding across city bars feels less like a trend and more like a maturing taste, especially with the inclusion of alternative ingredients and unconventional elements. For beverage director and head mixologist Deepak Sharma of Gladia Brewery & Kitchen, it all began with curiosity. I kept finding kitchen ingredients that carried stories. I realised cocktails could express those too. The breakthrough, however, came from fermenting and roasting simple staples, rice, fruits, coconut water and miso. The process taught me how depth, umami and texture can come from patience. It shifted my approach, he says. A similar philosophy shapes the work at Loya, Taj West End, where time-honoured Indian traditions influence the bar. For head mixologist Sachin Nianwal, the journey began with a question could a green, earthy note like spinach feel elegant in a glass? The experiment led to a clarified cordial that opened a new path.He says, The ghee-washed rum cocktail continues to surprise us. It balances warmth, nostalgia and finesse, connecting across palates. Guests are responding with curiosity and are engaging more deeply with the ideas behind each drink, whether its a mogra-forward note, a hint of truffle or the quiet heat of peepli pepper. People are no longer just asking whats in it?, but why it tastes the way it does, and that level of interest pushes our craft forward.Cahoots found its own turning point through a moment of kitchen mischief. While working on a beef consomm, someone wondered aloud what might happen if it were used as the base for a cocktail. That spark led to rigorous trials and refinement. The restobars director Suresh Shetty recalls, It wasnt about being strange, it was about giving people an experience that feels thoughtful and surprising.One of their unexpected hits, a charred arugula and lightly smoked gin cocktail, captures that philosophy. Moonstone elixir Its similar for Sharma, for whom experimentation is guided by letting the ingredient stand on its own first, as he shares, If it has a strong personality, aroma, texture, bitterness and heat, it becomes the centrepiece. If it is quieter, I let it support the structure. The drink must feel intentional, not experimental for the sake of it. Meanwhile at Yuki, co-founder Priyesh Busetty embraces boldness shaped by cultural intent rather than theatrics. He believes unfamiliar flavours are simple untold stories. Flavours like seaweed, chilli oil, miso or yuzu arent weird. They are just underrepresented stories, Busetty says. Their Yuki Daiquiri, finished with three droplets of chilli oil, has become emblematic of this approach.Also known for their meat-infused drinks, the team launched a limited-edition cocktail menu last year. The flavours and combinations were so challenging that it scared us, but it was received surprisingly well. Our signature cocktail, Shibuya Crossing, was a whisky-based cocktail which was crowned with an edible garnish of blue cheese and tobiko (flying fish roe), while the Nara Sour was a beautiful marriage of whisky, miso caramel, sesame oil and nori (seaweed) threads, he adds. Smoky Jade Symbolism in a glass Bengalurus cocktail scene is also exploring new frontiers with drinks inspired by gemstones and the night sky. Gemstones guide colour, texture and energy, while celestial themes trace wonder, atmosphere and a poetic narrative. At Yan Yan, The Ritz Carlton, gemstones became the compass. Bars and beverage manager Nitin Goyal explains, Chinese culture has long revered gemstones for the energies and the stories they carry. We saw a natural harmony between that philosophy and our approach to mixology. Beyond the flavours, each cocktail is exquisitely garnished, crafted to captivate the eyes as much as the palate. Moonstone inspired Moonstone Bloom and Moonstone Elixir, while Jade gave birth to Smoky Jade. Every drink mirrors the energy of the stone it represents. Guests describe it as a moment of connection and discoveryalmost as if choosing a gemstone that speaks to them, he adds. Saffron Cocktail Cahoots Navagraha cocktails draw inspiration from the sky. Their best sellers include Lunar Draft, inspired by the serenity of the moon. Their collection elevates mixology to art, taking patrons on a celestial journey. Among them, the Solar Rise captures the energy of dawn with its blend of bamboo-infused gin, saffron and orange, yielding a luminous golden warmth. In contrast, the Lunar Draft offers a cool, tranquil escape, weaving together vodka with notes of jasmine, lychees and lavender for a hypnotic tide experience. The result? Cocktails that offer experiences that linger beyond the last sip. (Alcohol consumption is injurious to health)
Watch Instagram Reels on your TV now - these sets get the app first
Amazon Fire TV devices will be the first to have the new Instagram for TV app. Here's how to get started.
Baramulla, Kishtwar Chosen for Agriculture Push Under PMDDKY
SRINAGAR: Two districts of Jammu and Kashmir, Baramulla and Kishtwar, have been selected under the newly approved Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, a six year national agriculture programme, aimed at lifting productivity in lagging agrarian regions across the country. The Union government informed the Lok Sabha that the scheme, approved by the Cabinet []
IPL 2026 Auction: Prithvi Shaw Makes Insta U-turn After Being Revived And Bought By Delhi Capitals
U19 Cricket World Cup: India batter Prithvi Shaw on Tuesday took a notable U-turn on social media as he posted a heartbreak emoticon on his Instagram story shortly after going unsold twice at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction, before deleting the post as the Delhi Capitals bought his services in a late bid. After going unsold at the base price of Rs 75 lakh in the opening session, Shaws name appeared in the accelerated auction of unsold players. However, he once again received no bids during the day. Shaw then posted a story on his Instagram account, writing It's Ok, accompanied by a heartbreak emoji. But things took a surprising turn for him as, towards the end of the auction, his name was revived for a third time, this time by the Delhi Capitals, who picked him up. Shaw responded promptly, deleting his earlier post within six minutes and replacing it with another, a reshare of the franchises post that included a photo of Shaw taking a selfie with DC captain Axar Patel, welcoming him back to the fold. Back to my family, Prithvi Shaw titled this new post with a heart emoji, making a quick U-turn. In this latest Insta story, Prithvi Shaw, who scored the fastest double century in the Ranji Trophy in October this year, shared his surprise at returning to the franchise he played for from 2018 to 2024. The 26-year-old Prithvi Shaw has played five Test matches and six ODIs for India since making his debut against the West Indies in October 2018. His most recent ODI was against Sri Lanka on July 23, 2021. Back to my family, Prithvi Shaw titled this new post with a heart emoji, making a quick U-turn. In this latest Insta story, Prithvi Shaw, who scored the fastest double century in the Ranji Trophy in October this year, shared his surprise at returning to the franchise he played for from 2018 to 2024. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Shaw, who set the highest score by any batsman in any organised form of cricket since 1901, when he scored 546 in a Harris Shield elite division match, captained the Indian team that won the U19 Cricket World Cup in 2018. He also represented Northamptonshire in the English County Championship during the 2023-24 season. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026 Auction: From Cameron Green To Prashant Veer - Updated Player List Of All Ten Teams
From Cameron Green: Australia all-rounder Cameron Green made headlines on Tuesday after being roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders for a record sum of Rs. 25.20 crore, becoming the third most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League at the mini auction at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. India's Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma became the highest-priced uncapped players in IPL history as Chennai Super Kings went all out for the young Indian talent, whereas Matheesha Pathirana stole the limelight by fetching Rs. 18 crore from Kolkata Knight Riders and becoming the highest-paid Sri Lankan player in IPL history. Overall, all the 10 teams managed to fill all the 77 vacant slots for which they splurged a combined Rs 215.45 crore. Here is the updated list of players for all 10 teams: Lucknow Super Giants: Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh, Rishabh Pant (c), Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Arshin Kulkarni, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav, Akash Singh, Mohammed Shami, Arjun Tendulkar, Wanindu Hasaranga, Anrich Nortje, Mukul Choudhary, Naman Tiwari, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis. Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Mustafizur Rahman, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Akash Deep. Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, R. Smaran, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kamindu Mendis, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, Zeeshan Ansari, Shivang Kumar, Salil Arora, Sakib Hussain, Onkar Tarmale, Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, Krains Fuletra, Liam Livingstone, Shivam Mavi, Jack Edwards. Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ryan Rickleton, Robin Minz, Raj Bawa, Raghu Sharma, Mitchell Santner, Corbin Bosch, Naman Dhir, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Allah Ghafanzar, Ashwani Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Sherfane Rutherford, Mayank Markande, Shardul Thakur, Quinton de Kock, Danish Malewar, Mohammad Izhar, Atharva Ankolekar, Mayank Rawat. Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyala Avinash, Harnoor Pannu, Suryansh Shedge, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Pravin Dubey, Vishal Nishad. Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, M.S. Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Zak Foulkes. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan. Rajasthan Royals: Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Donovan Ferreira, Sandeep Sharma, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra, Yash Raj Punja, Vignesh Puthur, Ravi Singh, Aman Rao, Brijesh Sharma, Adam Milne, Kuldeep Sen. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Prithvi Raj Yarra, Luke Wood. Article Source: IANS
Instagram launches a Fire TV app for Reels
Have you ever just wished you could watch Instagram Reels right on a TV? Maybe? Well, if so, you're in luck. Meta has launched an Instagram app exclusively on Fire TV. It will be solely for short-form video content, so Reels. TikTok launched an app on Fire TV in 2020 before rolling it out to other platforms. Instagram and Fire TV users can download the former through Amazon's App Store. It can either link to an existing account or have a separate account just for TV. The app can hold up to five different Instagram accounts and time spent factors into any limits on teen accounts. Our mission is to get you to the worlds best content fast, and were thrilled to welcome Instagram to Fire TV, Fire TV vice president, Aidan Marcuss, said in a statement. Were committed to keep pushing the boundaries of entertainment on customers' biggest screens the Instagram team has built an awesome experience, and were excited to be the first place to offer it. We cant wait to see what customers think. For now, Reels are separated into different channels, such as sports highlights or hidden travel gems. Reels also play automatically, so you don't have to swipe between content on the screen. According to Meta, the app is still being tested, so these formats might change in the future. Instagram users in the US can now get the TV app on Amazon's Fire TV Stick HD, 4K Plus and 4K Max (first and second generation). It's also available on the Fire RV 2-Series, 4-Series, and Omni QLED Series. However, Meta says that the Instagram App for TV should be available on more devices and in other countries after this initial testing round. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-launches-a-fire-tv-app-for-reels-160003710.html?src=rss
Instagram brings Reels to the big screen, starting with Amazon Fire TV
By bringing Reels to TVs, Instagram can better compete with YouTube, which largely dominates the TV space.
CBSE Class 10 Biology exam preparation 2026: Top tips to score high, common mistakes and more
With the CBSE Class 10 Science exam scheduled for February 25, this guide focuses on the Biology section of the paper. It explains Biologys weightage in the 80-mark theory exam, lists the key chapters to revise, and shares teacher inputs on what students commonly get wrong. It also offers practical tips on diagrams, NCERT-based preparation, keywords and answer presentation.
Sonakshi Sinha calls out Air India for flight delay, later deletes post
Sonakshi Sinha slammed Air India over a six-hour flight delay in a now-deleted Instagram post that quickly went viral. Earlier, Anoushka Shankar had also criticised the airline after her sitar was damaged during travel
Uorfi Javed reveals she hid her real age earlier to survive in the industry
Uorfi Javed revealed her real age in a candid Instagram video, admitting she was born in 1995 and is now 30, not 1997 as previously stated. She addressed industry ageism, owning her truth and earning praise for her honesty and authenticity
Mindless snacking often stems from habit, boredom, or convenience rather than hunger. Fitness expert Raj Ganpath, via Instagram, shares three practical rules to curb snack cravings: remove junk food from your environment, pause and question whether you truly need or want a snack, and observe your eating patterns to replace habits with healthier alternatives.
Ranveers cryptic note has an R Madhavan connection?
Ranveer Singh's spy thriller 'Dhurandhar' is a box office hit, crossing Rs 350 crore. Singh's cryptic Instagram post, quoting R. Madhavan's character, highlights destiny's timing and the need for patience and awareness. The film, praised for its performances and storytelling, has captivated audiences, with even Shraddha Kapoor enthusiastically anticipating its sequel.
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, announced the launch of its flagshipHar Gaon RoshanCSR initiative in Chhattisgarh. The momentous inauguration was graced by the Honble Union Home Minister of India, Shri Amit Shah, marking a powerful new chapter in rural transformation.Implemented in partnership with the Government of Chhattisgarh and Bharat Cares, this initiative will bring the glow of modern, energy-efficient LED streetlights to 70 villages across the Indravati Tiger Reserve area, paving the way for safer, more vibrant communities. Signify I Har Gaon Roshan Guided by the vision of the Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, this milestone mirrors Indias ambition ofViksit Bharat, a developed, empowered nation.Har Gaon Roshaninitiative aids in strengthening rural infrastructure, enhances community safety, and stimulates local economic growth. Signifys expertise in sustainable lighting innovation, the Government of Chhattisgarhs rural development priorities, and Bharat Cares deep community engagement form the foundation of this powerful collaboration, blending technology, governance, and grassroots action. Honble Union Home Minister of India, Shri Amit Shah inaugurating the Har Gaon Roshan CSR initiative in Chhattisgarh Nikhil Gupta, Head of Marketing, Strategy, Government Affairs & CSR, Signify, Greater India, said, Light is more than just illumination, its an enabler of safety, opportunity, and social connection . Har Gaon Roshan in Chhattisgarh demonstrates how government, industry, and community can unite to drive inclusive progress. At Signify, wearecommitted to using the power of light to support inclusive development and contribute meaningfully to Indias journey towards aViksit Bharat, ensuring every village shines brighter . T his partnership reflects the power of collective action in creating sustainable, long-term impact. Bhomik Shah, Founder, Bharat Cares, said, Chhattisgarh, with its rich natural resources and proud tribal heritage, stands at the cusp of meaningful change. Through our collaboration with Signify and the Government of Chhattisgarh under the Har Gaon Roshan initiative, we are enabling safer communities, supporting inclusive development, and strengthening harmony between people and nature. Built on a community-first model and implemented with support from district administrations and village representatives, ensuring that every installation meets local needs and achieves maximum impact.The new LED streetlights will boost public safety, unlock extended hours for commerce and community activities using energy-efficient technology. By enhancing accessibility after dark, the initiative enables more inclusive participation in social, educational, and economic life. Across multiple states, Har Gaon Roshan has already illuminated numerous villages, underscoring Signifys unwavering dedication to rural advancement. With each installation, the company reaffirms its mission: to transform lives, one village at a time, through sustainable lighting solutions that empower communities and inspire progress. About Signify Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals, consumers and the Internet of Things. Our Instagram . Information for investors is located on the Investor Relations page.
Gang rivalry over kabaddi tournaments leads to killing of player-promoter Rana Balachauria in Mohali
CHANDIGARH: A tussle among rival gangsters over dominance in the organisation of kabaddi tournaments in Punjab has led to the killing of 30-year-old kabaddi player-cum-promoter Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balachauria, who was shot dead in Mohali on Sunday evening. He was killed by associates of gangsters Doni Bal and Lucky Patial. This is not the first such incident, as two well-known players of the sport have earlier been assassinated in similar circumstances. Punjab Police have identified three alleged accused, including two shooters who fired multiple rounds at Balachauria. They have been named as Aditya Kapoor alias Makhan and Karan Pathak, both residents of Amritsar, with 13 and two FIRs registered against them respectively. Police said the accused belong to the gang of Doni Bal and Lucky Patial. No arrests have been made so far. According to police, the assailants fled on the Landran road after shooting Balachauria at point-blank range in the head and face during a private kabaddi tournament in Sector 82, Mohali, at around 6 pm. The tournament had been under way for the past few days. Balachauria, who had got married around 10 to 15 days ago, was rushed to Fortis Hospital with gunshot injuries, but despite immediate clinical assessment, he was declared brought dead. The tournament was being held at a packed ground, where Punjabi singer Mankirt Aulakh was also expected to attend the evening matches to distribute prizes. Police said four rounds were fired by the two accused, who approached the victim on the pretext of taking a selfie and took him aside near the parking lot before shooting him at point-blank range. While fleeing the spot, the accused fired shots into the air to scare youths who attempted to chase them. The police have linked the deceased to jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria in connection with dominance over the organisation of kabaddi tournaments. Calling it a planned attack, Senior Superintendent of Police, SAS Nagar, Harmandeep Singh Hans said, The identity of the third person has been withheld till now. The police have also zeroed in on a few individuals involved in providing shelter and logistics to the assailants. As of now, the deceased has no role or link in the Moosewala murder case. Twelve police teams have been formed to trace the alleged shooters, with two teams operating in Delhi and Amritsar. Hours after the shooting, gangster Doni Bal claimed responsibility for the killing in a Facebook post. The post read, I, Donibal, Saganpreet, Mohabbat Randhawa, Amar Khabe, Prabh Daswal, and Kaushal Chaudhary, take responsibility for the killing of Rana Balachauria during the Kabaddi Cup in Mohali. This man (Rana) was in contact with our rivals Jaggu and Lawrence. The post further stated that the Saganpreet gang is closely linked to the Bambiha or Gopi Ghanshampur factions. He had provided shelter to the killer of Sidhu Moosewala and personally looked after him. By killing Rana today, we have avenged the murder of our brother Sidhu Moosewala. This act was carried out by our brothers Makhan Amritsar and defaulter Karan, it read. The killing of Balachauria has revived memories of a similar incident three years ago, when another kabaddi player, Sandeep Nangal, was shot dead in Jalandhar district during a tournament at Mallian Kalan village. More recently, a 25-year-old kabaddi player, Teja Singh, was shot dead in broad daylight in Jagraon in October this year. Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP slammed the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government over the Mohali incident, alleging a total collapse of law and order in Punjab.
Sonarika Bhadoria and Vikas Parashar give a unique name to their daughter
Actress Sonarika Bhadoria and husband Vikas Parashar have named their newborn daughter Virika Parashar, a blend of their names. Married in 2024, the couple announced the birth on Instagram. Sonarika, known for Devon Ke Dev Mahadev, is currently embracing motherhood
Fan REQUESTS 'Laalo' actress Reeva post film's success
Gujarati film 'Laalo Shri Krishna Sada Sahaayate' is a box office success, with actress Reeva Rachh drawing attention for a recent Instagram post. While praised for her beauty, her outfit sparked mixed reactions online. The film's impact extends beyond theaters, with a special screening held at Himmatnagar jail, where Rachh and co-star Karan Joshi interacted with inmates.
Quikzii: The New Name for Speed in the UK Market Launches 1-Hour Superfast Delivery Service
Quikzii Ltd. , a new e-commerce and quick delivery platform designed with the backing of modern technology to precisely understand and cater to the daily needs of expatriate communities in the UKincluding Malayali, Arabic, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, South Asian, African, and othershas officially commenced operations. Quikzii launches with The First Hundred free premium products for expats On the day the Quikzii website launches-that is, December 17-a special gift offer has been announced for customers. Through this gift scheme called 'The First Hundred', the first 100 customers who visit the Quikzii website on that day will receive a premium product of their choice, specially selected, completely free! This special offer will run from 11 AM to 12 PM. It is a rare opportunity for customers to win an exceptional prize within the very first hour through the Quikzii website. Quikzii is the fastest e-commerce platform in the UK, offering 1-hour superfast delivery services in select cities. It focuses on delivering fresh vegetables, fruits, high-quality meat and fish, fashion and trendy fabrics, electronics, mobile accessories, daily groceries, and all other essential products to customers' doorsteps at amazing speed. By combining high quality with ultra-fast service, Quikzii will elevate the shopping experience of UK customers to a new level. The complete product range at Quikzii is curated by understanding the food preferences and lifestyles of Kerala, South Indian, North Indian, Arabic, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan customers, as well as other diverse communities in the UK. Customers can order products with just one click via the official website quikzii.com or through the Quikzii mobile app available on the Play Store and App Store. Ordered products will be delivered to the customer's home within 1 hour. Quikzii provides a powerful platform for small-scale industries and producers to bring their own products to the market at low cost. By offering logistics, delivery, advertising, and customer support all in one place, Quikzii promises significant support for the growth of entrepreneurs. " Our mission at Quikzii is to provide customers with a faster and more reliable shopping experience while opening doors for growth to small enterprises ," said Founder and CEO Sharath Jose in response to the media . (Quikzii's communication strategy, creative concepts, and content are handled by Curiouscat Ideas India Pvt Ltd) . For more information : quikzii.com www.facebook.com/quikziiApp Insta : www.instagram.com/quikziiapp
In a shocking incident, a newly married kabaddi player and promoter Rana Balachauria was shot dead in Punjab's Mohali during a tournament, raising questions about the state law and order. A rival gang of Lawrence Bishnoi has claimed the responsibility of the attack and said it was revenge as Rana provided shelter to the killers of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Amid this, an Instagram reel related to the murder is being probed by the Punjab police.
VIDEO: Blinkit delivery agent works rigorously for 15 hours, earns only Rs, internetsuggests
An Instagram creator named thapliyaljivlogs shared his struggle in a video, which led him to earn Rs. 763 after 28 successful deliveries in 15 hours. Scroll down to see the video.
AI-Generated Clip of a Yogi Lifting Heavy Weights Without Using Hands Viral
This video is created by an Instagram user aikalaakari, who identifies as an 'AI filmmaker.
Rakul REACTS to video claiming she had plastic surgery
Rakul Preet Singh reacted to a viral video where a man claiming to be a doctor alleged she underwent plastic surgery. Calling him out on Instagram, she said its scary that people like him mislead others. Recently praised for 'De De Pyaar De 2', Rakul next stars in 'Pati Patni Aur Woh Do'.
Tamannaah Bhatia shares her desi-style of enjoying tea in private
Mumbai: Actress Tamannaah Bhatia, on Tuesday, gave a glimpse into her personal moments by sharing how she enjoys her tea in true desi style. Taking to her Instagram handle, the Baahubali actress posted a candid video of herself, where she is seen enjoying tea in desi styleserved in a plate. The post highlights how the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Shruti Haasan finally hits pause as shes on vacay mode
Mumbai: Actress Shruti Haasan has finally carved out some time for herself after months of work, as she heads off on a long-overdue vacation. Shruti took to Instagram stories, where she shared a selfie onboard a flight. The actress looks every inch happy in the picture, which she captioned: Vacay time after ages and ages. Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
13 Killed, 35 Injured as Fog Triggers Fiery Pile-Up on Yamuna Expressway
Mathura, Dec 16: At least 13 people were killed and 35 others injured after a massive vehicle pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway early Tuesday led to several buses catching fire, police said. The accident occurred around 4.30 am under the jurisdiction of Baldev Police Station when dense fog severely reduced visibility on the Agra-to-Noida stretch [] The post 13 Killed, 35 Injured as Fog Triggers Fiery Pile-Up on Yamuna Expressway appeared first on Northlines .
Sohail Khan jokes about son Nirvan being blessed with beautiful grandparents
Sohail Khan took to Instagram to post a photo of his son Nirvaan with his grandparents, Salim Khan and Sushila Charak and write a playful birthday wish in the caption
India's efforts to diversify trade across geographies and sectors is paying off: Commerce Secretary
Indias Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the countrys exports have remained resilient despite global economic challenges, supported by diversification across markets and sectors. In the first eight months of FY26, total exports of goods and services rose by over 5% compared with FY25, and momentum is expected to strengthen further.
The 74.3 km Ganga-Yamuna Link Expressway in Greater Noida is moving faster, with land acquisition set to begin in January. Built for Rs 4,000 crore, it will improve connectivity to Noida Airport, Delhi, Agra, Meerut and major expressways across Uttar Pradesh.
DelhiAgra Expressway horror: Multiple buses burn after massive collision; 4 dead & many injured
Mathura: 4 Killed, 25 Injured In Yamuna Expressway Pile-Up; Buses Catch Fire
MATHURA, Dec 16: Four people were killed and over two dozen were injured in an early Tuesday vehicle pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway here, a police officer said. At least seven buses and several smaller vehicles collided with each other in the dense fog around 4.30 am, the officer said. The incident happened under the Baldev Police Station jurisdiction. Four people died, and 25 were injured in the accident. The vehicles collided due to low visibility on the Agra-to-Noida side [] The post Mathura: 4 Killed, 25 Injured In Yamuna Expressway Pile-Up; Buses Catch Fire appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Four killed, 66 injured as buses catch fire after fog-induced pile-up on Yamuna expressway in UP
At least four people were killed and 66 others were injured in a major multi-vehicle collision on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura district early on Tuesday, police said. The accident occurred around 4 am on the AgraNoida stretch of the expressway amid extremely low visibility caused by dense fog. At least seven buses and three cars were involved in the collision, which triggered a fire. Fire and emergency services rushed to the spot, deploying 11 fire tenders to control the blaze and rescue trapped passengers. According to District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh, the accident occurred near milestone 127 under the Baldev police station limits. Senior officials, including the DM and SSP, supervised rescue operations carried out by teams from the police, fire services, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Traffic on the expressway was diverted as the road remained blocked. Stranded passengers were later sent to their destinations in government vehicles. Eyewitnesses said the collision was followed by loud explosions, and local villagers rushed to assist in rescue efforts. A passenger travelling from Lucknow to Delhi said the bus he was in came to a sudden halt after crossing Agra, after which passengers forced open jammed doors to help women and children escape. The incident comes amid widespread dense fog across Uttar Pradesh and other parts of northern India. On Tuesday morning, several cities, including Agra, Prayagraj, Bareilly and Moradabad, recorded near-zero visibility. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of the victims and directed officials to ensure proper treatment of the injured. The State has reported a series of fog-related road accidents in recent days. On Monday, six accidents involving 31 vehicles were reported. On Sunday, 29 vehicles were involved in six accidents, killing seven people, while eight accidents on Saturday involving 40 vehicles claimed four lives. - Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) December 16, 2025
Four killed, 25 injured as buses catch fire after fog-induced pile-up on Yamuna expressway in UP
At least four people were killed and 25 others injured after a major collision involving multiple vehicles triggered a fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura district early on Tuesday, police said. The accident occurred around 4 am on the Agra-Noida expressway amid extremely low visibility caused by dense fog. At least seven buses and several smaller vehicles collided with each other in the dense fog around 4.30 am, the police said. Four people died, and 25 were injured in the accident. The vehicles collided due to low visibility on the Agra-to-Noida side of the Yamuna Expressway. Some vehicles also caught fire. All injured have been sent to the hospital, SSP Mathura Shlok Kumar said. He said that the vehicles were engulfed in flames soon after the collision. Fire and emergency services rushed to the spot, deploying 11 fire tenders to control the blaze and rescue trapped passengers. Visuals from the spot revealed charred remains of buses that caught fire. Craned were called in to remove them from the road. The passengers were sent to their destinations in government vehicles, the officer said. Since the road is blocked, diversions are made, he added. The incident comes amid widespread dense fog across Northern India. which has significantly reduced visibility on roads. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of those who diedin the accident. In a post on X, he said, The loss of lives in the road accident on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura district is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families. Instructions have been given to the district administration officials for proper treatment of the injured. I pray to Lord Shri Ram that the departed souls attain a place at His divine feet and the injured recover swiftly. - Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) December 16, 2025 (With inputs from PTI, ANI)
Priyanka Chopra to Arrive as First Guest at The Great Indian Kapil
On Monday, Netflix India shared the new look poster of 'The Great Indian Kapil Show' featuring Kapil Sharma and Priyanka Chopra on their Instagram handle.
Several buses catch fire on Delhi-Agra Expressway; eyewitness says 'bus was fully occupied'
4 Dead, Several Injured As Vehicles Catch Fire After Accident Due To Fog On Delhi-Agra Expressway
Several buses caught fire on the Delhi-Agra Expressway. Multiple casualties are feared.
Adulterated cough syrup case: HC dismisses petitions seeking quashing of FIR
Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court on Monday dismissed writ petitions seeking to quash FIRs filed against two men for allegedly trafficking adulterated cough syrup and stay their arrests. Petitioners accused of committing crime against society: HC A bench comprising Justice Ajay Bhanot and Justice Garima Prasad said the petitioners were accused of committing a crime Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
4 Dead As Several Vehicles Catch Fire After Accident Due To Fog On Delhi-Agra Expressway
At least four people were killed and 25 others injured in a major road accident on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura on Tuesday morning
Several buses catch fire on Delhi-Agra Expressway, casualties feared
Several buses erupted in flames on the Delhi-Agra Expressway in Mathura early Tuesday, with casualties feared. This incident follows a day of severe smog across Uttar Pradesh, which blanketed Agra in dense fog, rendering the Taj Mahal invisible and severely reducing road visibility.
A Vishnu temple connected with Nandi
Nathan Kovil, a village near Kumbakonam, is home to a Vishnu temple wherein the presiding deity is worshipped as Jagannatha Perumal, also known as Vinnagar Perumal. This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams (places sacred to God Vishnu, eulogised by the Azhvars or important devotees of Vishnu), and one of the many temples for this deity found in the areas around Kumbakonam. The traditional name of this place is Nandipura Vinnagaram as it is said to be connected with King Nandivarman II Pallavamalla (731-798 CE), an important Pallava ruler whose capital was Kancheepuram. It is also said that Nandi, the chief attendant, door-guardian of Siva and leader of Bhuta Ganas, performed penance here, and hence the name. An image of Nandi is carved on the wall of the main sanctum which is a rare feature in a Vishnu temple. Therefore, Jagannatha Perumal is also worshipped as Nandinathan. Thirumangai Azhvar, who according to historians, lived in the 8th century CE, has composed 10 Tamil verses (pasurams) in praise of Jagannatha Perumal in Nandipura Vinnagaram filled with fragrant groves. The main deity is an image of Jagannatha Perumal, in a seated posture, facing west, under the Mandara Vimanam. According to a traditional story connected with this temple, Perumal here originally faced east, but turned around to see the kindhearted King Shibi, who cut flesh from his body in order to save a dove. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped as Shenbagavalli (Champakavalli) Thayar in this temple. This area is believed to have been a forest of Champaka (Shenbaga) trees and therefore the Sthala Vriksham (sacred tree) of this temple is the Champaka.
US trade deal in final lap: Commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal
India and the US are nearing a framework trade deal. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal stated that further formal discussions may not be needed. Negotiations with the European Union on a free trade agreement have entered a difficult phase. India and the EU are working to resolve differences, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
Founder of Slacklife Inc. and a pioneer of slacklining in India Samar Farooqui, has recently brought his expertise to Goa. He is also conducting workshops at the ongoing Serendipity Arts Festival CHRISTINE MACHADONT BUZZ Samar Farooquis Instagram bio reads fathering slacklining in India, a fitting summary of his role in bringing the sport into the [] The post The balancing act appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Kabaddi player shot dead in middle of Mohali tournament, gunmen open fire in packed arena
CHANDIGARH: A 30-year-old kabaddi player-cum-promoter died after unidentified gunmen opened fire on him after he arrived with his team to take part in a tournament in Mohali on Monday, police said. Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balachauria was critically injured in the attack and was rushed to the Fortis Hospital in Mohali where he was declared dead, police said. The incident took place at Sohana in Mohali where a private kabaddi tournament had been going on for the past few days, SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans said. A statement issued by the hospital said, Mr Kanwar Digvijay Singh, a 30-year-old kabaddi player, was brought to the Fortis Hospital, Mohali, at 6:05 pm with gunshot injuries. Despite immediate clinical assessment, he was declared brought dead. The SSP told reporters that the assailants were 2-3 in number, who reportedly fled on a motorcycle after the incident. Asked if there was any enmity angle or gang rivalry behind the killing, the SSP said, The matter is under investigation. Punjab has become so unsafe that even a Kabaddi ground is no longer spared from bullets. At the Mohali Kabaddi tournament, Kabaddi player and promoter Rana Balachauria (Balraj Rana) was shot dead in front of players and spectators. This is not the first time. Earlier, Kabaddi pic.twitter.com/BMPF9f3iOs BJP Chandigarh (@BJP4Chandigarh) December 15, 2025 Some eyewitnesses told police that the attackers pretended to be fans and approached Rana to click selfies but opened fire soon after. The tournament was being held in a packed ground, where Punjabi singer Mankirt Aulakh was also expected for the evening matches to give away prizes, they said. When Rana reached the ground, he was stopped by the attackers who requested for a selfie. We first thought firecrackers were being burst, an eyewitness said, referring to the gunshots. To scare the spectators, the attackers also fired in the air, he said. The killing brought back memories of three years ago when another kabaddi player, Sandeep Nangal, was shot dead in Jalandhar district in the middle of a tournament at Mallian Kalan village. More recently, a 25-year-old kabaddi player named Teja Singh was shot dead in broad daylight in Jagraon in October this year. The opposition Congress, SAD and BJP slammed the Bhagwant Mann government over the Mohali incident, alleging total collapse of law and order in the state under the AAP. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said in a post on X, Open firing at a kabaddi tournament in Mohali, claiming the life of player Rana Balachauria, is a chilling reminder of @AAPPunjab's abject failure to maintain law and order. Bullets flying at public events are proof of governance collapse. Punjabis are being forced to live in fear. Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said on X, Gunshots at the Mohali Kabaddi Cup in Sohana are a damning verdict on @BhagwantMann's total failure as CM and Home Minister. Bajwa, whos the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, claimed that sporting arenas have turned into shooting grounds while criminals roam with impunity. When bullets fly at public events, it's clear the state has lost control. This isn't governance, this is abdication. Punjab is paying the price for Mann's incompetence and misplaced priorities. Law and order has collapsed completely. How many more shots before accountability, he asked. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said the incident has once again shaken Punjab to its core. In a post in Punjabi on X, Badal said, Under the state's inept government, the morale of criminals has risen to such heights that they do not hesitate to fire shots even in the middle of a running match in front of the entire crowd. It is the incompetence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that murders, extortions and numerous other terrorist incidents are happening daily in Punjab. Yet, instead of maintaining law and order, police are focused on implementing government orders related to political vendetta. Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma claimed the state has become so insecure today that even the kabaddi fields are no longer safe from bullets. The incident is even more heartbreaking because Rana had been married recently. A married life was mercilessly ended by gangster rule, Sharma said. He also said this was not the first such incident. Previously, kabaddi players Sandeep Nangal Ambian and Tejpal Singh were brutally murdered. All these events make one thing clear Punjab's players are also in the crosshairs of gangsters under the Bhagwant Mann government, Sharma said on X. Sharma also alleged that under Bhagwant Mann's failed leadership and Arvind Kejriwal's remote-control government run from Delhi, law and order in Punjab has completely collapsed. Criminals, gangsters, murderers and shooters are roaming freely without any fear, while the government is busy with advertisements and false claims. From villages to cities, from streets to stadiums there is an atmosphere of fear in Punjab today, he alleged.
Alok Kumar inspects Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, vows to fix issues
BTS OT7 pictures ahead of grand comeback leaves ARMY emotional: `Kings are back`
BTS thrilled ARMYs by sharing rare OT7 photos on Instagram, showing all seven members together in a dance studio. The viral posts hinted at intense rehearsals for their 2026 comeback album and world tour, sparking emotional fan reactions online
India, New Zealand might ink free trade agreement soon
India and New Zealand are on the verge of finalizing a free trade agreement (FTA), Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said today.
India-U.S. very close to finalising initial framework deal on reciprocal tariffs: Agrawal
Commerce Secretary said both sides are at the final stage where all that is left are the topics where the two sides have differences, which are gradually being resolved
Nikitin Dheer shared a video on Instagram in which he reviewed Dhurandhar
Fire destroys two trucks carrying chemicals, plastic granules in Indore
Two trucks carrying chemicals and plastic granules were gutted in a fire near Indore on the Agra-Mumbai national highway, disrupting traffic but causing no injuries. The fire broke out near Manpur town, some 50 kilometres from the district headquarters, Deputy Superintendent of Police Umakant Choudhary
India, Mexico in talks for possible Preferential Trade Agreement to mitigate tariff hit
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the proposed 50% tariffs by Mexico would impact $2 billion worth of Indias exports
How Vingroup's Ecosystem Is Powering VinFast's Leap
Vietnam is not the first place many expect to see a global electric-vehicle surge. Yet according to Transport & Environments 2025 progress report, 42 percent of all new cars sold in the country during the first half of the year were fully electric . The figure surpasses many parts of Europe and even edges past China. India is at the center of VinFasts new global strategy At the center of that transformation stands VinFast. In October 2025 the company delivered 20,380 vehicles, raising its year-to-date total to 124,264 a new monthly record and a milestone few expected from a brand barely a decade old. Its pivot to fully electric production began just over two years ago, yet it has already reshaped what Vietnamese consumers see as possible. Government support for the green transition has eased the way, with electric vehicles exempt from registration fees until 2027. Yet much of the progress reflects the determination of Pham Nhat Vuong, Vingroups founder and VinFasts driving force. His push for global expansion is seen as both national ambition and corporate vision. For Vuong, Vietnams industrial rise and VinFasts success are inseparable, a sentiment he has repeated publicly, including his assertion that VinFast is a devotion project rather than a profit-seeking venture. Demand, policy, and leadership have aligned, but not by accident. In Vietnam, that orchestration comes from Vingroup. Vuong began modestly, founding a small food company in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in 1993. After selling it, he returned home and built Vingroup into a powerhouse that today spans real estate, hospitality, healthcare, education, green energy, and advanced technology. In 2024, Vingroup paid more than VND 56.2 trillion in taxes, making it Vietnams top private taxpayer. The group now spans Vinhomes, Vinmec, VinEnergo, VinUni, and a growing portfolio of technology subsidiaries working in robotics, AI, and mobility. It has reshaped skylines, raised healthcare standards, and expanded educational access. With VinFast, it is now challenging the boundaries of Vietnams industrial potential. Underlying all of this is a single philosophy: to create a better life for people. In recent years, that principle has guided Vingroups broader pivot toward clean energy, digital systems, and sustainable mobility. Capital once tied to real estate has moved into renewables and transport, redefining Vingroup from property titan to champion of the energy transition. Vingroups Arsenal for VinFasts Ascent VinFasts success is built on more than its cars. Its real advantage lies in the infrastructure Vingroup has spent years assembling, land, energy, software, and logistics that work together as one. When these elements align, they reduce friction and form a foundation few competitors can easily copy. Real estate provides the first advantage. Vinhomes properties double as host sites for charging stations, with many areas equipped with EV terminals. The advantage is clear, location control, captive users, and reduced permitting friction. Vingroup also uses its residential developments to promote sustainable habits, offering vouchers and parking incentives for VinFast car and scooter owners. In doing so, it turns residents into early adopters and advocates for electric mobility. Technology is the second pillar. VinFast draws heavily on the groups research centers, which developed innovations such as the ViVi 2.0 voice assistant and MirrorSense, an AI-based mirror-adjustment system recognized at CES 2024. These shared platforms strengthen VinFasts in-house capabilities and keep the user experience consistent across products. Energy supply forms the third layer. In 2025, VinEnergo agreed to provide nearly 50 million kWh of solar power and battery storage to VinFasts Hai Phong complex, cutting carbon emissions by roughly 33,000 tons a year. Cleaner power not only lowers costs but also ensures each vehicles footprint stays small from factory-floor to highway. Charging completes the loop. Established in 2024, V-Green, founded by Vuong himself, was created to build a worldwide charging network for VinFast and its partners. It has since expanded through cooperation in multiple Asian markets and continues to form the backbone of VinFasts infrastructure rollouts overseas. Each of these components reinforces the others. Real estate anchors the network. Technology improves usability. Renewable energy reduces costs and emissions. Together, they give VinFast the foundation to pursue long-term global goals rather than chase quarterly targets. Exporting the Playbook: Global Ambitions and Soft-Power Gains VinFasts ambitions reach far beyond Vietnam. Nowhere is this more evident than in India, where the company is building not just a distribution footprint but a full-scale EV ecosystem tailored to one of the worlds fastest-growing automobile markets. India is at the center of VinFasts new global strategy. In February 2024, the company broke ground on its first India plant in Tamil Nadu, and by August 2025 it had officially inaugurated the facility in Thoothukudi. The site spans 400 acres with an initial capacity of 50,000 vehicles per year, scalable to 150,000, and is designed to serve both the domestic market and export routes. VinFast has moved quickly to build customer-facing infrastructure. As of November 2025, the company already has 24 operational dealerships across key metropolitan and tier-one cities, with plans to reach 35 by the end of 2025. These showrooms introduce the premium VF 6 and VF 7, both of which have received strong early reception, including two major awards at the 2025 Jagran Hi-Tech Awards, where VinFast was named EV Manufacturer of the Year and the VF 7 received the EV Disruptor of the Year title. Financing has also become a strategic pillar in India. In October 2025, VinFast signed a memorandum of understanding with YES BANK, Indias sixth-largest private-sector bank, to deliver retail and inventory-financing solutions for both customers and dealers. The partnership includes on-site bank representatives at every showroom, attractive interest rates, flexible repayment options, full on-road funding, and nationwide reach through YES BANKs branch network. The aim of such a tie-up, not the first nor the last for VinFast India, is to lower barriers to EV ownership in a market where up-front cost remains a primary hesitation. To address after-sales concerns, VinFast has partnered with service and charging-infrastructure providers including RoadGrid, myTVS, and Global Assure, creating a national maintenance and roadside-support backbone. It has also teamed up with BatX Energies to establish a circular battery-value chain and support advanced battery recycling, reinforcing Indias push toward sustainable electrification. Charging infrastructure is expanding in parallel. V-Green is coordinating a multiyear plan to deploy a nationwide network in India similar to its rollout strategies in Vietnam and Indonesia. The objective is to ensure that the availability of public and semi-public charging keeps pace with the rising dealership footprint and the growth of VinFasts fleet. Each of these actions follows a consistent logic, combine manufacturing, charging, finance, and service under one coordinated framework, then scale. For VinFast, exporting cars is only part of the story. The larger aim is to export a vertically integrated mobility ecosystem, one that thrives where policy support, infrastructure rollout, and customer appetite align. At home, Vietnams streets already show the results, quiet electric taxis replacing combustion fleets, chargers replacing fuel pumps, and consumers choosing local innovation over imports. Abroad, VinFast is applying the same playbook, pairing cars with infrastructure, financing, and service networks to make electric driving viable at scale. But VinFasts global push is not just about cars. It rests on the financial backing and broad ecosystem of Vingroup, and on Pham Nhat Vuongs conviction that Vietnam can compete head-to-head with established automakers. His willingness to marshal resources across real estate, retail, energy, and technology has given VinFast the stability and integrated platform most young automakers lack. That combination, capital, ecosystem, and vision, is what sets VinFast apart.
India and New Zealand are nearing the conclusion of their free trade agreement negotiations, with Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal expressing optimism for a swift finalization. This pact, launched in March 2025, aims to significantly boost bilateral trade, which already saw a 49% surge last year, and strengthen investment ties between the two nations.
India says no dumping in premium basmati rice exports to US
India has rejected US claims of rice dumping. Trade Secretary Rajesh Agrawal stated that Indian rice exports are primarily premium basmati, which commands higher prices. He noted no prima facie case of dumping exists and no US anti-dumping investigation has begun. This comes after President Trump threatened further tariffs on Indian goods. India is the world's largest rice exporter.
Signify to Illuminate 100 Indo-Nepal Border Villages, Enhancing Safety and Livelihoods
Signify , the world leader in lighting, announces the street LEDification of 100 villages along the IndoNepal border, in collaboration with Tarq Foundation. This transformative initiative is being undertaken under the guidance of Shri Rajnath Singh Ji, Honble Defence Minister of India , whose vision for safer, empowered, and better-connected border communities anchors this effort. Signify to illuminate 100 IndoNepal border villages, enhancing safety and livelihoods Stretching across 1700 km, the IndoNepal border is home to resilient and vibrant communities whose daily lives often unfold against infrastructural and safety-related constraints. Limited street lighting has long impacted mobility, economic activity, and community safety after dusk. The introduction of energy-efficient LED streetlights across these villages marks a significant step towards addressing these ground realities, creating safer evenings, supporting local livelihoods, and promoting stronger community networks. Mr. Nikhil Gupta, Head of Marketing, Strategy, Govt. Affairs & CSR - Signify, Greater India said, At Signify, we believe in bringing the best of innovations to the communities across India, through our Har Gaon Roshan CSR initiative. Through this initiative, we aim to bring long-term safety, sustainability, and confidence to border communities. This partnership reflects our commitment to using light to positively impact lives in India, fostering sustainable growth and community empowerment. Building on this vision, the project has been designed to meet practical ground-level needs . Each village was identified based on community input, footfall patterns, and specific safety concerns. Manoviraj Singh, Founding Partner at Tarq Foundation , stated, Real development starts by listening to the people it is meant to serve. Border communities have their own unique rhythms: evening markets, long walks home from school, and the daily movement of women whose sense of safety is directly shaped by how well-lit their surroundings are. This initiative responds to these lived realities. In these villages, light is not symbolic; it is practical, protective, and deeply empowering. The LED streetlighting of 100 IndoNepal border villages stand as a significant milestone in improving rural safety and community well-being. The partnership reinforces a long-term commitment to building resilient border communities. About Signify Signify(Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals,consumersand the Internet of Things. Our Instagram . Information for investors islocatedon theInvestor Relationspage.
Rujuta Diwekars December Health Hacks Will Transform Your Winter Routine
In her recent Instagram post, Kareena Kapoors nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar shared some easy habits to stay healthy in winter. Her December guidelines focus on seasonal grains, simple stretching, and mindful screen time, reminding us that health is built through everyday consistency.
The star investor tag offered little protection in 2025, with seven out of ten well-known stock pickers seeing portfolio losses amid a sharp smallcap downturn. Data shows heavy exposure to smaller stocks hurt returns, while investors with a largecap bias fared relatively better, highlighting the limits of reputation-driven investing.
Exports up 19.37% to $38.13 billion in November
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that outbound shipments in November offset the losses in October this year
Veteran actor Ranjeet dances on Akshaye's VIRAL song 'FA9LA'
Veteran actor Ranjeet was recently seen grooving to the viral song 'FA9LA' from the blockbuster film 'Dhurandhar' at his granddaughter Deeya's birthday bash. The six-year-old inspired the octogenarian actor to dance, a moment he shared on Instagram, encouraging others to stay fit by dancing with children.
Oriflame , the leading Swedish beauty and well-being brand, marks thirty years of its journey in India. The brand entered the country in the early 1990s and has progressively shaped a distinct position within a rapidly evolving beauty market. Over the past three decades, the brand has built a strong presence in the country, shaped by science-backed innovation, consistent product quality and a deep commitment to supporting entrepreneurship. Oriflame highlights its iconic Milk & Honey, IlluSkin, NovAge+ and GG Pearls, along with its signature fragrance, as it marks 30 years in India Rooted in its Swedish heritage, Oriflame has developed a wide and trusted product portfolio of more than 500 offerings across skincare, wellness, colour cosmetics, haircare, personal care and fragrance, including icons such as its Tender Care balm and Milk and Honey Body Creams. Tender Care, originally one of the brands most recognised global products and now also manufactured in India, continues to be a bestseller with one unit sold every fifteen seconds. Every formulation reflects the brands focus on safety, performance and responsible ingredient choices, which continue to define its product philosophy in India and globally. Oriflames growth in India has been shaped not only by its products but also by its community. The brands network of independent Brand Partners, 80 percent of whom are women, has created meaningful avenues for flexible and self-driven income, contributing to a wider democratization of wealth. This focus on empowerment has remained central to Oriflames identity since its arrival in the country. Three decades in India have given us a very clear view of the market and how our consumers are evolving, said Edyta Kurek, Senior Vice President and Head of India and Indonesia, Oriflame. The scale of the market and the diversity of its consumers has pushed us to strengthen our capabilities across science, product development and local operations. Our focus remains practical and consistent & we want to deliver products that meet real consumer needs and continue creating meaningful opportunities for our Brand Partners. As we plan the next phase of our growth, we are engaging more with emerging consumer groups, including Gen Z, whose expectations of flexibility and work-from-anywhere potency are reshaping how opportunity is perceived. A significant part of Oriflames scientific progress comes from its long-standing research in skin ageing. The brands patented bioactivating technology, Oripeptide 3, is the result of close to twenty years of study in cellular health. Recent insights show that Oripeptide 3 works with the skins own biology and supports several key markers linked to firmness, clarity and overall skin vitality. This research continues to strengthen the NovAge+ range as one of Oriflames most advanced skincare lines. As the brand moves forward towards its next chapter in India, Oriflame aims to expand its wellness and skincare offerings, build on its scientific capabilities and focus on creating more opportunities in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. With a significant share of its portfolio produced locally, India continues to be an important and forward-looking market for the brand. About Oriflame Oriflame is a leading Swedish holistic well-being brand. Present in over 60 countries, its wide portfolio of Swedish, nature-inspired, innovative beauty, and wellbeing products are marketed through a sales force of approximately 3 million independent brand partners. Respect for people and nature underlies Oriflames operating principles and is reflected in its social and environmental policies. www.oriflame.com
Bommanahalli Or Roopena Agrahara? Bengaluru Metro Yellow Line Commuters Confused
Urban planners note that unclear or inaccurate station names can cause repeated confusion, particularly for visitors, migrant workers, and those new to a locality.
Ankita Lokhande and Vicky Jain celebrate their 4th wedding anniversary
Ankita Lokhande and Vicky Jain took to Instagram to reflect on their journey of love, commitment, and togetherness on their fourth wedding anniversary
Arti Singh reveals Jay Bhanushali-Miesha Iyers bond amid dating rumours
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'100 Babyyyyy!': Mahieka's shoutout crowns Hardik's elite T20I milestone
Hardik Pandya achieved a significant milestone by becoming the third Indian bowler to take 100 T20I wickets. He also joined an elite global club of all-rounders with over 1,000 runs, 100 sixes, and 100 wickets in the format. His girlfriend Mahieka Sharma celebrated the achievement on Instagram.
Sohail Khan breaks silence on riding a bike without helmet in viral video
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Indonesia strengthens blue carbon standards for climate action
The Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is strengthening blue carbon measurement standards for seagrass meadows to ...
Two CoBRA personnel critically injured in Maoist IED blasts in Jharkhand
RANCHI: Two personnel of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were critically injured in separate improvised explosive device (IED) blasts triggered by Maoists inside Saranda forest in Jharkhands West Singhbhum district on Sunday, police said. The incident occurred during a search operation in the Baliba forest area under Chotanagra police station limits. The injured jawans, identified as Alakh Das and Narayan Das of the 209 CoBRA Battalion, were airlifted to Ranchi for advanced medical treatment. According to police, the first IED blast took place around 1.45 pm, injuring Alakh Das. While security forces were evacuating him, another IED exploded at about 3.15 pm, injuring Narayan Das, who had moved in to assist his colleague. West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Amit Renu confirmed the incident and said the blasts occurred during an anti-Maoist operation in the Saranda forest. Two CoBRA personnel of the 209 Battalion were injured in IED blasts. They have been airlifted to Ranchi for better treatment, the SP said, adding that IEDs planted by Maoists have become a major operational challenge for security forces in the dense forest region. Notably, Maoist presence in Jharkhand is now largely limited to the Saranda jungles, after they were pushed out from other pockets of the state. Officials estimate that around 60 to 65 Maoists are currently hiding in the Saranda region, where thousands of IEDs have reportedly been planted. Joint operation by CRPF, Jkhand cops under way A joint operation by the CRPF and Jharkhand Police has been underway in the Kolhan and Saranda forest areas of Chaibasa since November 2022, following intelligence inputs about the presence of senior Maoist leaders.
Arjun Rampal Confirms Engagement With Gabriella Demetriades
Chakraborty shared a promo video of the episode on her Instagram handle on Saturday.
What Indian D2C brands can learn from Indonesia: Community-led growth for Tier II India
For a decade, Indias direct-to-consumer (D2C) boom was engineered in the metros, through flashy Instagram ads, celebrity influencers, and venture money picking up the bill. That machine is now sputtering. Customer acquisition costs in many categories have drifted into the Rs 600Rs 1,500 range,
The legacy of Dikshitar & his music
Imagine a young man, a formidable scholar already steeped in Sanskrit, philosophy, logic, and music, standing conflicted by the waters of the sacred Ganga. This young man was none other than Muthuswamy Dikshitar. He had journeyed to Kasi with his guru, Chidambaranatha Yogi a spiritual master who arrived at Dikshitars house to take him under his tutelage, fulfilling the prophecy: When the student is ready, the master arrives. Standing on the Hanuman ghat, Muthuswamys mind was a battleground. Should he follow his illustrious lineage, a family famed for serving courts and crafting temples, or answer a deeper call: to become a travelling singer of Gods praise, echoing the voices of the ancient Bhakti saints? Iconography and musical signature The answer came not as a pronouncement, but as a divine, silent object. Advised by his guru to bathe, Dikshitar was met by a veena floating towards him from the river. This singular moment separates his story from the other great Trinities of Carnatic music. The Veena became his iconic shadow, a visible sign that his path would be one of profound, internal surrender, uniting knowledge and devotion. Returning from Kasi, with veena in hand, the young composer stopped at Thiruttani, a quiet mountain shrine dedicated to Lord Muruga. It was here that the narrative leaps into the realm of dhyana (meditative practice) and its fruit, yoga. As shared by V Vishnuramprasad, a strategic marketing consultant by profession, and a subject matter expert of Diskhitar, who is not only initiated in the oral tradition but deeply immersed in it as well. Dikshitar placed the veena at Murugas feet and began his pradakshina (circumambulation). An old man called out, affectionately feeding him kalkandu (sugar candies), and instructed him to sing the Lords praise. When Dikshitar turned back, the man was gone. In that instant a moment of pure, sweetened enlightenment Dikshitar received his mantra and his signature: Guru-Guha (The one whose home is the cave of sacred light). What followed was the spontaneity of an elevated mind singing Sri nathadi guru guho jayati jayati, his first composition in Mayamalavagowla ragam. This legend carrying the sweetness of transformation and divine intervention is not just biographical fluff. It is the very heart of sampradaya (oral practice). It signifies that the masters knowledge is not merely transferred through books, but is heard, absorbed, relished and lived through sudden, profound shifts within consciousness. The veena symbolises the vehicle of his rarified knowledge, and the candy, the essence of bhakti. Vishnuramprasad The ancestral blueprint To understand the weight of his choice, we must look to the ancestry he chose to step away from, yet whose genius he inherited. As Vishnu notes, The family were temple builders and codifiers. His lineage traces back to Govinda Dikshitar, a Kannada Brahmin who was a driving force behind the physical expanse of the Tamil Nadu temples, including the vast corridors of Rameswaram and the perimeter of Thiruvanaikaval. His son, Venkatamakhin, penned the Chaturdandiprakashika, a treatise that codified Carnatic music and remains as the foundation even today. So to put things in perspective, Dikshitars choice to shift the ancestral blueprint from stone and court to sound and oral memory requires notice. His decision to continue in the lineage of the Alvars and Nayanmars, who moved from temple to temple, recording the sthala puranam (temple history), the land, the people, and the presiding deities in song conveys a shift that hides a critical truth. Not only does it reveal how values are appropriated and prioritised over furthering a familys material legacy, but it also exposes how the binding identity of Bharatiya that has one foot in socio-political and another in socio-economic angle is in fact tied at the top at a central point to the cultural outlook, wherein the sentiment of bhakti could blur many lines. Besides the obvious, the profound knowledge system of Dikshitar is visible in every one of his works. Take, for instance, the legend behind his Navagraha kritis. When his disciple Sudhamadhala Thampiappan suffered unbearable pain due to the affliction of Shani (Saturn), Dikshitar did not resort to ritual; rather, he used music to heal him. He composed divakara tanujam (in Yadhukula Kambhoji) to relieve the pain. This moment of using raga and tala to shift planetary influence also sparked Dikshitar to compose kritis for all other grahas. In his iconography, the presence of astrological charts alongside the veena is thus a deliberate cypher. It tells the connoisseur that his compositions are not just about music; They hide Chakra, Tantra, Jyotisha, and Mantra a knowledge system encrypted within the melodic structures. Thiruttani Gods Integrity of oral practice Today, celebrating Dikshitar 250 years later, the article is less about the legends mentioned and more about the preservation of his artistry and the milestones of his spiritual sojourns. In recording the specific details of the temples, deities, and local customs in his songs, Dikshitar created a colossal socio-cultural memory bank. His kritis are invaluable to cultural anthropology, providing an authentic, internal view of the social fabric of his time. This is where the relevance of some oral practitioners becomes starkly contemporary. We are witnessing a cultural moment where this cherished fabric is under pressure. New interpretations, often driven by foreign ideas and personal agendas, seem to dilute or politicise the Carnatic traditions. A true seeker or connoisseur will therefore need to learn to judge the craft of those, looking beyond fame gained through awards and social media noise, recognising that innovations outside the traditional framework are but fleeting. Such a rasika will begin to honour the tradition (sampradaya sangitam) that is eternal by recognising those whose integrity and loyalty appear simple, perhaps even old-fashioned, but who possess the depth of having experienced knowledge. Thus, the legacy of Muthuswamy Dikshitar is not just 250 years of musical compositions that are beautiful. It is a lesson that tradition is not about knowing, but living it; not diluting it, but growing it; passing it on and keeping it burning as the knowledge that propels our civilisational ideas and cultural vibrancy. And so, within the framework of Carnatic tradition, the continued existence of people like Vishnu, who effortlessly share their depth of lived experiences of knowledge without the need for reference or preparation, is the enduring proof that Guru-Guhas spirit still resonates. As rasikas, to experience something truly surreal like the Guru-Guha spirit of Carnatic music, efforts must go in to finding those within text, tradition and practice the ones who embody the modesty and simplicity of the sampradaya, for in their passion, traditions pulsate; in their silence, cultural values resonate. Also, if the appreciation of Dikshitars works in present times is undertaken with an approach to discriminating knowledge from craft, then a seed containing the hallmark of the Indic worldview will get sown that will someday reap more Vishnus. Recommended books about Muthuswamy Dikshitar Muthuswamy Dikshitar by TL Venkatrama Aiyar Sri Muttusvami Diksitar, A journey through his life and musi c by Dr V Raghavan
Butterfly park, promenades and green zones planned along Ganga riverfront
Patna's JP Ganga Path is set for a grand transformation into an eco-friendly urban oasis. The ambitious Samagra Udyan project will feature a butterfly park, botanical gardens, walking and cycling tracks, food courts, and open gyms.
Actor Manju Warrier on Friday reacted to the verdict in the 2017 actor abduction and sexual assault case with a social media post, after the survivor posted her reaction to the trial courts decision that acquitted the eighth accused, actor Dileep. In her post, Manju said she held the court in respect but could not say that justice had been fully delivered. Only those who committed the crime have been punished so far. The fact that those who planned it, whoever they may be, are still out in the open is a frightening reality, she wrote, without naming anyone. She said justice for the survivor would be complete only when all those responsible are brought to account, adding that this was necessary to restore public faith, including her own, in the police and the legal system. This is not just for her, but for every girl, every woman and every human being in this country, Manju wrote, calling for a society where women can live and move without fear. The survivor, who was abducted and sexually assaulted in February 2017, had earlier shared an Instagram post reacting to the verdict. Seemingly reacting to the acquittal of the eighth accused did not come as a surprise to her. After years of pain, tears and emotional struggle, I have come to a painful realisation: not every citizen in this country is treated equally before the law, she wrote. 'Justice not equal for all': Actor abduction case survivor calls out Dileep's acquittal View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manju Warrier (@manju.warrier) In the post, dated December 12, 2025, the survivor said that after eight years, nine months and 23 days, she finally saw a small ray of light with the conviction of six accused in the case. For that, I am grateful, she said, while adding that she had begun losing faith in the trial court as early as 2020, when she felt there were changes in the manner in which the case was being handled, particularly with regard to one accused. The survivor alleged that her fundamental rights were not adequately protected during the trial and cited several concerns, including the illegal access of the memory card, a crucial piece of evidence, three times while it was in court custody. She said two public prosecutors resigned during the course of the trial, citing a hostile environment, and told her that they believed the proceedings were biased. She also said she repeatedly sought a proper investigation into the alleged tampering of the memory card, but the investigation report was not shared with her despite multiple requests. Every request to move this case away from the same judge was dismissed, she wrote, adding that her plea for the proceedings to be held in open court, allowing public and media scrutiny, was also rejected. Addressing what she described as misinformation surrounding the case, the survivor clarified that the prime accused was never her personal driver or employee. He was a random person assigned as a driver for a film I worked on in 2016. I met him once or twice during that time and never again until the day this crime happened, she wrote, urging people to stop circulating false narratives. Actor abduction and sexual assault case: Judgment comes after eight years, justice not yet Following his acquittal, the eighth accused addressed the media, maintaining that he had been falsely implicated in the case. He alleged that there had been a real conspiracy to frame him and claimed that certain police officials and sections of the media had worked to damage his career and public image. He denied all allegations against him and said the verdict vindicated his stand. He also criticised public remarks made earlier by his former wife Manju Warrier suggesting a conspiracy behind the crime, allegations he denied. Thanking his family, lawyers and supporters, he said the court verdict had dismantled what he described as a false narrative built against him. The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court pronounced the verdict after concluding final hearings on November 25. The court acquitted actor Dileep and three others, while convicting six accused, including prime accused Sunil NS alias Pulsar Suni, who was found guilty of carrying out the assault. The case relates to an incident on February 17, 2017, when the survivor was abducted after assailants forcibly entered the car she was travelling in and sexually assaulted her over nearly two hours. Police had initially named ten accused in the case, with arrests beginning soon after the incident. The eighth accused was arrested in July 2017 following further investigation, after police alleged that the prime accused had sent him a letter from jail. The larger-than-life arc of actor Dileep
Indian School of Nature wins Climate Guardian Award at TOFT 2025
Agra-based institution recognised for work in climate action and sustainable tourism
