The best live TV streaming services to cut cable in 2026

People who are interested in a live TV streaming service are probably looking for one (or all three) of the following: current sports matchups, breaking news and cable-like channels. We tried all the major providers to see what you get for your monthly bill particularly in light of the fact that every live TV streamer has raised prices over the past year or two. That said, in most markets, a live TV streaming service is still more cost-effective than cable. And you still dont have to sign a contract. Right now, we think YouTube TV is the most well-rounded option but the others might have more of what youre looking for. Here are the best live TV streaming services based on our testing. Editors note : The blackout of NBC channels on Fubos service continues , with no end in sight. That means fans hoping to catch the Super Bowl will need to look elsewhere. Weve detailed your options below . Best live TV streaming services for 2026 How to watch the 2026 Super Bowl with a streaming service This year, the Super Bowl will take place on Sunday, February 8, 2026 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. NBC has the rights to air the broadcast, which means you can watch it with a live TV streaming subscription to YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV or DirecTV. Sling Blue plans include NBC in certain markets only. NBC channels are dark on Fubo as the company and NBC are still in negotiations . The traditional streaming service Peacock , which is owned by NBC, will also air the game. Those plans start at just $8 per month, which is nearly the cheapest way to watch. However, if you have a digital antenna , you can pick up the games broadcast signal from your local NBC affiliate for free. How can I stream NFL games for free? If you have a digital antenna hooked up to your TV, you can grab games that are broadcast over the airways for your region by tuning into your local CBS, Fox, NBC and ABC stations. You can buy a digital antenna for between $20 and $60. Alternatively, you can check out your local sports bar and watch the game for the price of a soda and maybe some nachos. As it turns out, bars and restaurants that provide those games to customers have to pay a ton of cash to do so, so you may as well take advantage of the opportunity. Will Peacock stream the Super Bowl? Yes. Peacock is owned by NBC Universal, which holds the rights to stream the big game this year . The Super Bowl will stream on both Peacock (all tiers) and local NBC stations (Premium Plus tier). The cheapest tier of Peacock's service starts at $8 per month. Can you stream live football on YouTube? September 5, 2025 marked the first time YouTube was an official live NFL broadcaster when it aired the Friday night, week-one game of the 2025 NFL season from So Paulo, Brazil. It pit the Los Angeles Chargers against the Kansas City Chiefs (LA won 21-27) and aired worldwide on YouTube for free as well as for subscribers to YouTube TV. There are no other plans for YouTube to air live NFL games for the 2025-6 season for free. Best free live TV streaming services for 2026 There are loads of ways to get free TV these days. To start, many standard streaming apps have added live components to their lineups even Netflix . Peacock Premium Plus subscriptions include regional NBC stations. Paramount+ Premium subscribers can watch on-air CBS programming . The new Fox One service includes multiple live Fox stations. True, if youre already paying for a service its not technically free but at least the live content isnt extra. The smart TV operating system (OS) you use likely provides free live content too: Amazons Fire TV, Google/Android TV, Rokus built-in Roku Channel and Samsungs TV Plus all have hundreds of live channels and original programming. Some of the paid services we recommend above have a free version namely Sling Freestream , Fubo Free (available after you cancel) and DirecTVs MyFree . But if youre looking for more, here are the best free ad-supported TV (FAST) apps with live TV that we tried: What to look for in a live TV streaming service How to stream live TV Streaming live TV is a lot like using Netflix. You get access through apps on your phone, tablet, smart TV or streaming device and the signal arrives over the internet. A faster and more stable connection tends to give you a better experience. Most live TV apps require you to sign up and pay via a web browser. After that, you can activate the app on all of your devices. Monthly Price When I started testing these cord-cutting alternatives, I was struck by the price difference between live TV and a standard video streaming app . Where the latter cost between $5 and $20 per month, most live TV services hit the $80 mark and can go higher than $200 with additional perks, channel packages and premium extras. The higher starting price is mostly due to the cost of providing multiple networks particularly sports and local stations. And, in the past year or so, every service has raised base plan prices. Local channels Only two of the services I tried dont include full local channel coverage for subscribers and one of those makes no effort to carry sports at all. That would be Philo and, as you might guess, its the cheapest. The next most affordable option, Sling, only carries three local stations and only in larger markets but it still manages to include some of the top sports channels. When you sign up with any provider that handles local TV, youll enter your zip code, ensuring you get your areas broadcast affiliates for ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. Of course, you can also get those stations for free. Nearly all modern television sets support a radio frequency (RF) connection, also known as the coaxial port, which means if you buy an HD antenna , youll receive locally broadcast stations like ABC, CBS, PBS, FOX and NBC. And since the signal is digital, reception is much improved over the staticky rabbit-ears era. But local channel access is another area where traditional streaming services, like Netflix, are bleeding into broadcast territory. For example, you can watch your local NBC station with a Peacock subscription and you can tune into your areas CBS station through your Paramount+ subscription. Netflix is even getting into the mix with a recently announced deal with one of Frances broadcast companies, TF1. The streaming service will now air TF1's live TV channels and on-demand content inside the Netflix app. No word if the concept will expand to other regions, but its an interesting move to anyone interested in the future of streaming. Live sports coverage One reality that spun my head was the sheer number and iterations of sports networks in existence. Trying to figure out which network will carry the match-up you want to see can be tricky. I found that Google makes it a little easier for sports fans by listing out upcoming games (just swap in NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and so on in the search bar). When you click an event, the TV & streaming button will tell you which network is covering it. That just leaves figuring out if your chosen service carries the RSNs (regional sports networks) you want. Unfortunately, even with add-ons and extra packages, some providers simply dont have certain channels in their lineups. It would take a lawyer to understand the ins and outs of streaming rights negotiations , and networks leave and return to live TV carriers all the time. That said, most major sporting events in the US are covered by ESPN, Fox Sports, TNT, USA and local affiliates. I should also point out that traditional streaming services have started adding live sports to their lineups. Peacock carries live Premier League matches, Sunday Night Football games and aired the 2024 Olympic Games from Paris. Thursday Night Football as well as NBA and WNBA games are on Amazon Prime and Christmas Day Football airs on Netflix. HBO Max ( formerly , er, HBO Max) now airs select, regular season games from the NHL, MLB, NCAA and NBA with a $10-per-month add-on . You can watch MLS games with an add-on through the Apple TV app, and Apple TV+ (now just called Apple TV ) includes some MLB games . Roku users can watch the just-added free sports channel and those who subscribe to Paramount Plus can see many of the matches aired on CBS Sports, including live NFL games. In 2025, January's Super Bowl was live-streamed for free on Tubi . While all of these alternatives may not cover as much ground as live TV streamers, they could end up being cheaper avenues to the sports you want. And if sports is all youre after, there are sports-only plans that are a touch cheaper, too. The promised sports streaming service from ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. called Venu was cancelled early this year. But on August 21, ESPN launched its own streaming service that includes all ESPN channels and costs $30 per month. Fubo Sports is $56 monthly and includes local broadcast stations from ABC, CBS and FOX plus a slew of sports networks (CBS Sport and FS1 among them) as well as all networks included with ESPN Unlimited . Fox launched its own standalone service in August as well and it includes Fox Sports and all other Fox properties (News, Business, Weather) for $20 monthly. DirecTV also has a $70-per-month , sports-only streaming package called MySports and Comcast has a sports and news bundle for that same price (as long as you're an Xfinity customer with auto-pay, otherwise it's more expensive). Traditional cable networks Dozens of linear programming networks were once only available with cable TV, like Bravo, BET, Food Network, HGTV, CNN, Lifetime, SYFY and MTV. If you only subscribe to, say, Netflix or Apple TV+, you wont have access to those. But as with sports, standard streamers are starting to incorporate this content into their offerings. After the Warner Bros. merger, Max incorporated some content from HGTV, Discovery and TLC. Peacock has Bravo and Hallmark shows, and Paramount+ has material from Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central. Other entertainment channels like AMC+ have stand-alone apps. The Discovery+ app gives you 15 channels ad-free for $10 per month (or with ads for $6 monthly). And a service called Frndly TV starts at a mere $7 per month and streams A&E, Lifetime, Game Show Network, Outdoor Channel and about 35 others. Of course, most live TV streaming options will deliver more sizable lists of cable networks, but just note that you may already be paying for some of them and if all you need is a certain channel, you could get it cheaper by subscribing directly. On-demand streaming Most live TV subscriptions include access to a selection of video-on-demand (VOD) content, like you would get with a traditional streaming service. Much of this content is made up of the movies and TV series that have recently aired on your subscribed networks. This typically doesnt cover live events and news programming, but I was able to watch specific episodes of ongoing shows like Top Chef or BETs Diarra from Detroit. Just search the on-demand library for the program, pick an episode and hit play. Partnerships, like Hulus relationship with Disney, and add-ons, such as bundling Max with your YouTube TV subscription or Starz with your Sling plan, will let you watch even larger libraries of on-demand content. But again, if VOD is all youre after, paying for those networks directly instead of through a live TV plan will be far cheaper. Digital video recordings (DVR) limits Every option I tried offers some cloud DVR storage without needing a separate physical device. Youll either get unlimited storage for recordings that expires after nine months or a year, or youll get a set number of hours (between 50 and 1,000) that you can keep indefinitely. Typically, all you need to do is designate what ongoing TV series you want to record and the DVR component will do all the hard work of saving subsequent episodes for you to watch later. You can do the same thing with sports events. Aside from being able to watch whenever its most convenient, you can also fast-forward through commercials in recorded content. In contrast, you cant skip them on live TV or VOD. Simultaneous streams and profiles per account Each plan gives you a certain number of simultaneous streams, aka how many screens can play content at the same time. And while most providers will let you travel with your subscription, there are usually location restrictions that require you to sign in from your home IP address periodically. Stream allowances range from one at a time to unlimited screens (or as many as your ISPs bandwidth can handle). Some plans require add-ons to get more screens. Most services also let you set up a few profiles so I was able to give different people in my family the ability to build their own watch histories and libraries, set their favorite channels and get individual recommendations. Picture-in-picture mode and multiview Picture-in-picture (PiP) usually refers to shrinking a video window on a mobile device or computer browser so you can watch it while using other apps. Sling, YouTube TV, FuboTV, Philo, DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV all have PiP modes on computers and mobile devices. Another feature, multiview, lets you view multiple (usually four) sports matches or other live content at once on your TV screen. YouTube TV, FuboTV and now DirecTV all let you do this. With YouTube TV, you can select up to four views from a few preset selection of streams. FuboTV offers the same feature, but only if you're using an Apple TV or Roku streaming device. DirecTV lets you do so through mixes which include sports, news, business and kids variants with a set four channels in each mix. 4K live streams Right now, just FuboTV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream offer 4K live streams but with caveats. YouTube TV requires a $20-per-month add-on , after which youll only be able to watch certain live content in 4K. DirecTV Stream has three channels that show live 4K content one with shows and original series, and two with occasional sporting events. You dont have to pay extra for these but you do need to have either DirecTVs Gemini receiver, or a device from Fire TV, Apple TV or Roku. Youll need those same streaming devices to watch the select 4K programming on Sling as well. FuboTV shows certain live events in 4K but access is limited to the Elite and Premier packages, not the base-level Pro plan. Of course, watching any 4K content also requires equipment that can handle it: a 4K smart TV or 4K streaming device paired with a cord and screen that can handle 4K resolution. Tiers, packages and add-ons Comparing price-to-offering ratios is a task for a spreadsheet. I made three. The base plans range from $28 to $85 per month. From there, you can add packages, which are usually groups of live TV channels bundled by themes like news, sports, entertainment or international content. Premium VOD extras like Max, AMC+ and Starz are also available. Add-ons cost an extra $5 to $20 each per month and simply show up in the guide where you find the rest of your live TV. This is where streaming can quickly get expensive, pushing an $80 subscription to $200 monthly, depending on what you choose. How to stream live TV for free I also downloaded and tried out a few apps that offer free ad-supported TV ( FAST ) including Freevee , Tubi , PlutoTV and Sling Freestream . These let you drop in and watch a more limited selection of live networks at zero cost. Most dont even require an email address, let alone a credit card. And if you have a Roku device, an Amazon Fire TV or Stick, a Samsung TV, a Chromecast device or a Google TV, you already have access to hundreds of live channels via the Roku Channel , the live tab in Fire TV, through the Samsung TV Plus app or through Google TV . How we tested live TV streaming services When I begin testing for a guide, I research the most popular and well-reviewed players in the category and narrow down which are worth trying. For the paid plans, just six services dominate so I tried them all. There are considerably more free live TV contenders so I tested the four most popular. After getting accounts set up using my laptop, I downloaded the apps on a Samsung smart TV running the latest version of Tizen OS. I counted the local stations and regional sports coverage, and noted how many of the top cable networks were available. I then weighed the prices, base packages and available add-ons. I then looked at how the programming was organized in each apps UI and judged how easy everything was to navigate, from the top navigation to the settings. To test the search function, I searched for the same few TV shows on BET, Food Network, HGTV and Comedy Central, since all six providers carry those channels. I noted how helpful the searches were and how quickly they got me to season 6, episode 13 of Home Town . I used DVR to record entire series and single movies and watched VOD shows, making sure to test the pause and scan functions. On each service with sports, I searched for the same four upcoming NHL, NBA, MLS and NCAA basketball matches and used the record option to save the games and play them back a day or two later. Finally, I noted any extra perks or irritating quirks. All live TV streaming services weve tested: Philo Sling YouTube TV Hulu + Live TV DirecTV Stream FuboTV Freevee Tubi PlutoTV Sling Freestream Plex Live TV Streaming FAQs What is live streaming? Streaming simply refers to video content that is delivered to your screen over the internet. Live streaming can be split into two categories: linear programming and simultaneous transmission. That first one is similar to what you get with cable or broadcast TV, with channels that play a constant flow of movies and shows (sort of what TV looked like before Netflix). Simultaneous streaming lets you watch live events (like a basketball game) or a program (like the evening news) as they happen. What is the difference between streaming and live streaming? Standard streaming, the most popular example being Netflix, lets you pick what you want to watch from a menu of choices. Its also referred to as video on demand. Live streaming refers to sports and news events that you can stream as they happen in real time. It also refers to channels that show a continuous, linear flow of programming. What streaming service is best for live TV? FuboTV does the best job of letting you organize live channels to help you find just what you want to watch. The interface is uncluttered and when you search for something, the UI clearly tells you whether something is live now or on-demand. YouTube TV also does a good job making that info clear. Both have just over 100 live channels on offer. What is the most cost effective TV streaming service? Free TV streaming services like PlutoTV, Plex, Tubi and FreeVee show plenty of ad-supported TV shows and movies without charging you anything. Of course, they wont have the same channels or content that more premium subscriptions have. Ultimately it depends on what you want to watch and finding the service that can supply that to you in the most streamlined form so youre not paying for stuff you dont need. Is it cheaper to have cable or streaming? A basic cable package used to be more expensive than the base-level live TV streaming service. But now that nearly all major providers have raised their prices to over $75 per month, thats no longer the case. And with add-ons and other premiums, you can easily pay over $200 a month for either cable or a live TV streaming service. But those who want to cut the cord will appreciate that streaming services don't have contracts. What streaming service has all the TV channels? No service that we tested had every available channel. Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream carry the the highest number of the top rated channels, according to Neilsen . Hulus service also gets you Disney+ fare, which you cant get elsewhere. FuboTV has the most sports channels and YouTube TV gives you the widest selection of add-ons. What is the most popular live TV streaming platform? YouTube TV has the most paying customers. According to 2024's letter from the CEO, the service has over eight million subscribers. Disneys 2024 third quarter earnings put the Hulu + Live TV viewer count at 4.6 million. Slings customer count dipped from two million to about 1.9 million in 2024 and FuboTV grew its subscriber list to 1.6 million . How safe are free streaming services and websites? You may have heard certain sites that provide free content can be dangerous, leading to stolen info and/or exposing you to malware. Thats likely in reference to certain peer-to-peer (P2P) networks and file-sharing sites that let people download free movies and series which can come bundled with malicious code. But if youre talking about the free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services listed here, from providers like PlutoTV, Tubi and Plex, they are just as safe as any other streaming service. Since you sometimes dont even have to provide your email address or credit card info, they can even be more anonymous for cord cutters than apps that require login credentials. Recent updates December 2025 : Included Fubo's channel and price adjustments. Confirmed pricing for all services This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/best-live-tv-streaming-service-133000410.html?src=rss

T20 World Cup: With Harshit Rana Out, Favourites India Work Out Combos For Opener Against USA

T20 World Cup: Hoping to become the first country to win back-to-back titles and the first team to lift three crowns in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, the Indian men's cricket team will kick off its campaign against minnows the United States, hoping to ride the recent momentum to make history. Though the build-up off the field has been rocky with the spotlight fixed on the Pakistan and Bangladesh teams because of the shenanigans of their respective boards, the Indian team will be hoping to put all that stuff behind them when it steps into the iconic Wankhede Stadium for their first match on the opening day, which will have three matches on the stove as the tournament explodes into action. With Namibia, the Netherlands, and Pakistan the other team in Group A, and with the Green Shirts looking set to not play the India match in Colombo on February 15, the Men in Blue have an easy path to the Super 8s. India, winner of the inaugural ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2007, who added a second title to their kitty in the Caribbean and USA in 2024, is the third country, along with England and the West Indies, to win the title twice. The Men in Blue get into the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup as firm favourites and have a brilliant recent record to justify being placed on the pedestal. They dominantly won the 2024 edition and have since then gone from strength to strength, rarely losing a T20I match. Though they lost stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja to retirement since 2024, the squad has been refurbished with the explosive opener Abhishek Sharma, the inform Ishan Kishan, and mid-field maestro Tilak Varma stepping in. The result was that India won nine consecutive home series in the shortest format, with the latest being the 4-1 drubbing of New Zealand in a five-match series just before the World Cup. The nucleus of the squad remains the same, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Sanju Samson, and Rinku Singh still making up the bulk of the squad for the 2026 edition. India enjoys an embarrassment of riches in the cricket field, especially in the T20 format, because of the IPL, which is why Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill did not field a place in the World Cup squad, while Rishabh Pant, who was also part of the 2024 team, is out with an injury. On the eve of the opening match, the hosts suffered a setback with fast-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana set to miss the opening match because of a knee injury that he picked up during India's lone warm-up match against South Africa. He was not feeling good after the warm-up match. He is not ruled out of the tournament, and the physio is currently working with him, but things are not looking good, said skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who jokingly told the media not to fret as they have 11 players to put in the field for the opener. On the flip side, the hosts have an abundance of riches in batting with batters who look in tremendous form. Abhishek Sharma produced some blistering knocks in the series against the Black Caps, while Ishan Kishan ended the series with a blazing century in Thiruvananthapuram. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav made a welcome return to form with a couple of half-centuries against New Zealand. Skipper Suryakumar indicated that Ishan Kishan is likely to retain his place in the playing XI and will bat in the top-three as he can't go below No.3. The team management will have to take a call on whether to get him to open with Sanju Samson dropping to the middle-order or leave out one of the finishers to accommodate both of them. But with Rana set to miss the opener, Ishan Kishan may get the wicketkeeping duties with Sanju Samson, who has struggled a bit in recent matches, relegated to the bench. Still, the USA is not expected to pose a major challenge for India in the opening match despite the presence of some expatriate Indian and Pakistani players in the ranks. Captain Maunak Patel, Harmeet Singh, Shubham Ranjane, Jasdeep Singh, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Milind Kumar, Saiteja Mukkamalla, and experienced pacer Saurabh Netravalkar are among eight players who trace their roots to India. Harmeet, Shubham, and Netravalkar are products of the Mumbai maidans, where they rubbed shoulders with the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube. The USA team is made up of a majority of players from the sub-continent, with three players of Pakistani background, while Shehan Jayasuriya played for Sri Lanka from 2010 to 2020, making his T20I debut against Pakistan in August 2015. The left-handed batting all-rounder is a recent entry into the US squad and has good experience of international cricket. Despite all this, Suryakumar Yadav's side should come through Saturday's clash with ease, thanks to their batting strength and bowling resources, despite the absence of Harshit Rana and the unavailability of Washington Sundar. However, the USA can't be taken lightly as they have caused a couple of upsets to reach the Super 8 stage in the 2024 edition. They were in the same group as India in the 2024 edition. For India, the Wankhede is a lucky venue as they won the 2011 World Cup here and have usually dominated in the batting-friendly conditions. Things will not be much different on Saturday. Squads: For India, the Wankhede is a lucky venue as they won the 2011 World Cup here and have usually dominated in the batting-friendly conditions. Things will not be much different on Saturday. Also Read: Live Cricket Score USA: Monank Patel (c), Jessy Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane Article Source: IANS

NordVPN review 2025: Innovative features, a few missteps

When we say that NordVPN is a good VPN that's not quite great, it's important to put that in perspective. Building a good VPN is hard, as evidenced by all the shovelware VPNs flooding the market. NordVPN may not be perfect, but it's easily top-five caliber and excels in certain use cases. First, the bad: NordVPN's apps could all stand to undergo a little more quality control, with elements distracting from other elements and inconsistent designs from platform to platform. At least one of its FAQ pages directly contradicts itself. And while all the server locations could unblock Netflix, the one in Nigeria still showed U.S. content, indicating that our real location might have leaked. However, there's a lot of good to balance that out. Speeds are fantastic and we saw no other hint of any kind of leak. Its server network is expansive and not overly reliant on virtual locations. The vast majority of servers are ideal for unblocking foreign websites. The real draw, though, is the extra features, including the innovative and flexible Meshnet, plus a malware blocker that acts more like a full antivirus and forward-looking quantum resistant encryption. Editor's note (9/24/25): We've overhauled our VPN coverage to provide more detailed, actionable buying advice. Going forward, we'll continue to update both our best VPN list and individual reviews (like this one) as circumstances change. Most recently, we added official scores to all of our VPN reviews. Check out how we test VPNs to learn more about the new standards we're using. Table of contents Findings at a glance Installing, configuring and using NordVPN NordVPN speed test NordVPN security test How much does NordVPN cost? NordVPN side apps and bundles Close-reading NordVPN's privacy policy Can NordVPN change your virtual location? Investigating NordVPN's server network Extra features of NordVPN NordVPN customer support options NordVPN background check Final verdict Findings at a glance Check out a summary of our NordVPN review in the table below. Category Notes Installation and UI Connections happen quickly and features are easy to use on all platforms UI sometimes gets in the way; map screens can be clunky and apps come with unnecessary notifications Surprisingly, the best UI may be in the browser extension Speed Extremely fast download speeds with only a 6.4-percent average drop Good latencies on nearby servers, but farther ones have some lag Fast upload speeds, but losses spiked in a few locations Security Uses acceptable protocols with uncracked encryption NordWhisper obfuscated protocol recently implemented on Windows, Android and Linux No DNS, WebRTC or IPv6 leaks on five test servers Pricing Best plan is the 2-year Basic for $81.36, or $3.39 per month Basic gives you the complete VPN If you get a multi-year plan, be sure to manually renew in order to keep the promotional rates Bundles Plus tier adds advanced malware protection and NordPass password manager Complete plan adds NordLocker cloud storage Prime tier adds ID theft protection and insurance features Privacy policy NordVPN does not log user activity on the VPN, a policy backed up by several third-party audits However, it does log potentially identifiable device information unless you opt out in settings Some concerning liberties taken in the overall Nord policy, but no documented malfeasance Virtual location change Four out of five test servers unblocked Netflix three times running, including virtual India location Location in Nigeria got into Netflix, but didn't change available titles Server network 153 server locations in 117 countries and territories Server network is about 40 percent virtual, including all locations in Africa Features Extra servers grant additional privacy (double VPN, Onion over VPN, obfuscation) or specific optimizations (P2P, dedicated IP) Threat Protection blocks dangerous domains and the Pro upgrade has some antivirus capability Dark Web Monitor reports to you when any sensitive information has appeared on clandestine leak sites Presets let you activate several settings with one click Post-quantum encryption is nice, but not necessary yet Kill switch is a useful safety feature on all apps Split tunneling by app on Windows and Android, and by URL on browser extensions Customer support Written FAQs, live chat and email support Live chat connected to an expert human within a minute FAQs are poorly organized and contain some conflicts, but well-written on average Background check NordVPN is headquartered in Panama, while its parent company Nord Security is based in the Netherlands 2018 theft of public keys was a mistake, but NordVPN did almost everything right in response Claims of law enforcement collaboration are overblown NordVPN will comply with requests, but that doesn't mean they'll have information to provide Installing, configuring and using NordVPN NordVPN's biggest strengths are its speeds and the range of options it puts at your fingertips. User experience is important, but it's not quite as front-and-center as it is with ExpressVPN and Proton VPN. Here's how the apps run on all the major platforms. Windows The Windows app is the first instance of NordVPN's UI being not bad enough to complain about, but not good enough to be considered excellent. The initial connection process is a little slow, and it's far easier to connect than it is to disconnect (click the power button while connected to shut the VPN off). The map takes up space that would have been better allocated to the server list. Sam Chapman for Engadget The minor problems continue in the settings list, which makes the mistake of not keeping all its tabs visible in the window if you open one, you have to click back to the main menu to reach another page. The pages themselves are easy to use; it's just a bit clunkier than it could have been. Mac Setup is swift and easy on Mac, but the full NordVPN interface is a little awkward. The vast majority of the main window is taken up by a large map, which is mostly useless. There's no way to zoom out to see the whole world, and you can't choose between servers in each country unless you zoom way in. The server list on the left-hand side is almost always more useful. Sam Chapman for Engadget The preferences panel is better. All the tabs come with clear explanations of their function, and are laid out so the menu is always visible, unlike the Windows app. The gear icon at the bottom includes its own set of tabs that encompass most of the common functions, including changing your VPN protocol, activating the kill switch and setting the VPN to automatically connect on untrusted networks. Android NordVPN on mobile can be described in much the same way as its desktop apps: generally great, occasionally getting in its own way. On Android, the map screen is much more helpful. It's expandable to the entire world and allows you to choose between servers within a country. On the other hand, the important settings are buried in the Profile tab, and the app notifies you about your security score to pressure you into activating certain settings. Sam Chapman for Engadget To find the general settings page on Android, tap the bottom-right Profile tab and scroll down. Except for Threat Protection, which has its own tab on the main window, every feature is located here. It's probably necessary to keep the main app from getting cluttered, but still mildly frustrating. iOS The NordVPN iOS app resembles a compressed version of the macOS client, for better or worse. As with Android, most of its features are in the bottom-right Profile tab. It works well most of the time, but often feels slightly cumbersome. There's a bit too much on the screen, and a bit too much of the stuff has nothing to do with the VPN's core function. Sam Chapman for Engadget As an example, you can't log into your account within the app you have to load your Nord account page in a web browser. Forced app switching is a design choice that truly needs to die. That said, VPN connections happen quickly. If you tend to simply leave your VPN active, you probably won't notice any of this stuff. Browser extensions Most VPN browser extensions consist of the same features on a smaller scale, and NordVPN's on Chrome, Firefox and Edge are no exception. They are important for one reason, though: they're the only way to split tunnels by URL and the only split tunneling at all on macOS and iOS. Despite being more compact, they're also easy to use, making for an excellent quick-start VPN solution. Sam Chapman for Engadget NordVPN speed test All VPNs slow down your average browsing speeds by adding extra steps into the connection process. When we test speed, we're looking for the VPN to drag as little as possible on your unprotected speeds. Download speed will be the most important stat for most users, since that determines how fast web pages load and how quickly videos can buffer. Latency is important for live connections like video chats, games and live streaming. Latency increases with distance in the test below, data packets were sent to the remote server, then back to our home network. Upload speeds likewise influence your live two-way communications and are also vital for torrenting. Let's see how NordVPN performs on all three metrics. Server location Latency (ms) Increase factor Download speed (Mbps) Percentage drop Upload speed (Mbps) Percentage drop Unprotected (Portland, OR, USA) 22 -- 59.20 -- 5.86 -- Seattle, WA, USA (Fastest) 44 2x 57.21 3.4 5.62 4.1 New York, NY, USA 177 8x 56.90 3.9 5.60 4.4 Stockholm, Sweden 371 16.9x 55.94 5.5 5.63 3.9 Istanbul, Turkey 411 18.7x 53.02 10.4 5.78 5.9 Hong Kong 350 15.9x 56.18 5.1 5.72 2.4 Johannesburg, South Africa 602 27.4x 53.26 10.0 5.67 3.3 Average 326 14.8x 55.42 6.4 5.54 4.0 To summarize: NordVPN's download speeds are the fastest we've seen and its upload speeds and latency tie with the best. Downloads only dropped by an average of 6.4 percent across the globe and readings were mostly consistent the servers in question performed much the same in each test. We even threw in Turkey and South Africa, two locations that commonly cause problems, but NordVPN still kept the drop to 10 percent. Sam Chapman for Engadget Latency is more a product of physical distance than VPN infrastructure, but you can still see differences between services. When tested on a similar range of locations, ExpressVPN and Proton VPN both kept average latencies under 300 ms. NordVPN's average came out to 326 milliseconds, though we should note that its latency increased less than Proton's on the closest server. Upload speeds declined an average of four percent, but there were a few anomalously high readings in Istanbul that skewed those numbers up. Without that location, NordVPN's upload rates would also have been the industry's current best. NordVPN security test No matter how well-built a VPN looks from the outside, there are several ways its security can fail. The most common problems are outdated protocols with weak encryption, failing to block IPv6 traffic or inadvertent leaks from sending DNS requests outside the encrypted tunnel. We'll start by looking for those common leak sources, then check whether NordVPN's encryption might be failing in less traceable ways. VPN protocols A VPN protocol is a set of rules used to get data quickly and safely from your device to a VPN server and back, even while that data is encrypted. Different protocols are connected with different encryption algorithms and can impact the speed, security and stability of your connection. When testing VPN security, the first step is to see if it's using any protocols like PPTP that are outdated and crackable, or homebrewed protocols with unclear security. NordVPN users have four options for protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2 (not available on Mac or iOS), NordLynx and NordWhisper (available on Windows, Android and Linux only). Sam Chapman for Engadget OpenVPN and IKEv2 are both standard protocols you'll find on most VPN providers. Both use various strengths of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), with OpenVPN defaulting to AES-256 and IKEv2 to AES-128. OpenVPN can be set to UDP (faster but less stable) or TCP (more reliable but slower). So far, so secure. NordLynx is unique to NordVPN, but it's not that far off the beaten track it's just WireGuard with extra security. WireGuard normally works by saving a stable IP address for each connection, which raises the very slight risk of exposing a user. NordLynx adds a second layer of abstraction that means those stable addresses are never revealed. Since NordVPN strongly recommends it for most situations, we used it for all our tests in this review. Finally, there's NordWhisper , a new protocol introduced in early 2025 that disguises your VPN traffic as normal web traffic to evade blanket web blocks. It's likely to be slower than the other protocols, so don't use it unless everything else has been blocked. We also don't recommend counting on it too much in general large-scale censorship technology, like the Great Firewall of China, tends to rely on blocklists of known VPN servers, whose identity NordWhisper can't disguise. Leak test Our first order of business was to check five test servers to see if they leaked our real IP address staying away from the ones in the speed test in order to get as comprehensive a picture of NordVPN's security as possible. With help from ipleak.net, we found all five to be free of the three major types of leaks. DNS leaks occur when a VPN sends DNS requests (in short, how your browser knows which websites to show you) outside its encrypted tunnel. By default, NordVPN uses its own private DNS servers, which our tests showed to effectively prevent leaks. WebRTC leaks are caused by real-time communication protocols sending information outside the VPN, which may reveal your real IP address. NordVPN is consistently successful at keeping WebRTC inside the tunnel, but you can have your browser block it if you're still worried. IPv6 leaks happen when a VPN only blocks IPv4 traffic and lets v6 through. NordVPN automatically blocks IPv6 traffic while it's active, so an IPv6 leak is all but impossible. Sam Chapman for Engadget Although that's all great news, it is still possible for leaks to occur without a clear explanation, so we ran one final test on NordVPN. Encryption test Wireshark is a program that captures detailed images of information sent over a device's internet connection. Even though our tests showed NordVPN to be free of leaks, we wanted to inspect it at the most granular level. Using WireShark, we recorded the traffic sent to an unencrypted HTTP site, before and after connecting to each NordVPN test server. Every server showed the same pattern: readable plaintext before, encrypted ciphertext after. If there is a security flaw remaining in NordVPN, it's unlikely to be relevant to the overwhelming majority of users. How much does NordVPN cost? NordVPN's pricing structure looks convoluted at first, but it's much simpler than it appears. A Basic subscription gets you full VPN functionality, and all the other tiers just add more features. If all you need is a VPN, you only need to concern yourself with the left side of the table below. The best deal for a Basic NordVPN subscription, which lets you connect to NordVPN with up to 10 devices at once, costs $81.36 for two years when you pay upfront ($3.39 per month). One year of the same plan costs $59.88 in advance ($4.99 per month) or $12.99 for one month at a time. The table below shows the complete cost; for more information on plans above Basic, see side apps and bundles in the next section. Plan 1-month cost 1-year cost 2-year cost Basic $12.99 $59.88 ($4.99/month) $81.36 ($3.39/month) Plus $13.99 $71.88 ($5.99/month) $105.36 ($4.39/month) Complete $14.99 $83.88 ($6.99/month) $129.36 ($5.39/month) Prime $17.99 $107.88 ($8.99/month) $177.36 ($7.39/month) The longer plans save money, but be careful: if you let them expire, you'll automatically renew at the more expensive one-year plan . Enough customers claim to have been auto-renewed at the higher rate that they've launched a class-action lawsuit against NordVPN, accusing the company of deceptive pricing practices and making renewals too difficult to cancel. A NordVPN PR rep said they could not comment on ongoing legal action, other than to state that we are and always have been very clear about the recurring nature of our services. No court date has been set so far. That said, there's a fairly straightforward workaround in the meantime: To prevent the auto renewal, log out of your NordVPN account, then sign up for a discounted plan again using the same email. As long as you do this before your subscription expires, your new account should link to your old one, keeping you subscribed at the introductory rate. Free trials and refunds Every NordVPN plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you cancel and request a refund before 30 days are up, you'll get the full cost back. The only way to try it for free without paying is to get the app on Android, where there's a seven-day trial through the Google Play Store . NordVPN side apps and bundles NordVPN is part of a larger family of Nord Security products, which you can save money on if you need more than one. We won't review all of them here, but for reference, here's everything you'll get from the higher subscription tiers. Basic: VPN on 10 devices, specialty servers, DNS ad-blocking, Meshnet Plus: All Basic features, plus malware scanning, extra scam blocking, tracker blocking, NordPass password manager, data breach scanner Complete: All Plus features, along with 1TB of NordLocker encrypted cloud storage Prime: All Complete features, plus NordProtect features like dark web monitoring, credit monitoring, ID theft insurance and extortion insurance Another tier called Ultra includes a subscription to Incogni, a data removal service run by Nord's partner Surfshark. The Ultra bundle is only available in certain countries, since NordVPN is still testing it; users outside the test countries can still add Incogni service at checkout. There also used to be a NordVPN family plan, but it seems to have been eliminated after Nord expanded the devices per subscription to 10. You can get a dedicated IP address on NordVPN to ensure you have the same IP every time you connect. This lets you configure remote firewalls to let you through while you're connected to the VPN. A dedicated IP costs $8.99 per month, $70.68 for a year ($5.89 per month) or $100.56 for two years ($4.19 per month). The NordVPN pricing page lists access to a Saily eSIM plan as a perk, though mysteriously, none of the existing plans seem to include it yet. A lot of VPNs are expanding into the eSIM space, so this may change soon. Close-reading NordVPN's privacy policy A VPN privacy policy isn't just empty words it's a contract between the provider and its users. If a service openly defied its own policy, it could be sued for false advertising. VPNs tend to sneak loopholes into their privacy policies instead of flouting them outright; these loopholes can shed light on how the provider actually views your privacy. We combed through NordVPN's privacy policy to see whether it tries to take any such liberties. The policy has two parts: the general Nord Security policy and an addendum specific to NordVPN . General Nord privacy policy This policy applies to all Nord Security apps. It's impossible to create an account without a valid email address, but you can use a separate email masking service to make that anonymous. The policy also explicitly says that your email address will be added to a marketing mailing list, though you can opt out. Irritating, but not a privacy risk in itself. We're more concerned about the later statement that it may process data without the user's consent under the legal basis of our or third parties' legitimate interest. This clause covers some cases we'd agree are legitimate, such as identifying people who launch cyberattacks from NordVPN servers. But Nord also considers it legitimate interest to process your personal data to improve or maintain our services and provide new products and features. Reached for comment, a NordVPN representative said that using personal data in this way generally involves aggregated, depersonalized or technical information. That's somewhat reassuring, but the generally leaves a bit too much wiggle room. Ideally, we'd prefer that personal data exist wholly in the consent only section. The section on sharing your data with third parties only lists some of the service providers who may receive your information. Among these are Google Analytics, which is known to store personal data on U.S. servers all of which are potential security risks in the age of DOGE . Other unnamed third parties are involved in targeting ads at users of Nord websites. The NordVPN representative said that since some partners, such as payment processors, can vary by region or specific service and may change over time depending on our operational needs, we do not publish a fixed list. They added that all third parties are contractually required to handle personal data in accordance with applicable laws and industry standards. We aren't using this to condemn Nord; many of these practices are fairly standard in the VPN industry. But it's important to know about all the potential leakage points before trusting your deepest secrets to any company. NordVPN specific policies The NordVPN privacy policy doesn't add much atop the general Nord notice. It does track session activity connected to your username to make sure you're staying within the 10-device limit, but it automatically deletes these logs 15 minutes after you disconnect. The logs also don't include your IP address or the addresses of VPN servers you used. Sam Chapman for Engadget The only real problem we found is that NordVPN apps collect information about your activity on the app by default. This doesn't include information about your browsing habits, but it does include unique traits that could conceivably be used for device fingerprinting in which a third party can deduce a user's identity through clues about their device. You can turn this off in the General settings. A NordVPN spokesperson told us that the data collected is not personally identifiable, and that the company takes deliberate steps to strip out anything that could be linked back to a specific person. This presumably means the data is aggregated so it only shows general trends, not any one device's activity. That's a lot less risky, but we still recommend switching the setting off. Third-party privacy audits NordVPN has passed five independent audits of its privacy policy so far, most recently from Deloitte in late 2024 . Annoyingly, you can only read the entire report by logging into a Nord account, but it at least doesn't have to be a paid account. The audit found that NordVPN was following its own no-logs policy. Specifically, the Deloitte Lithuania investigators concluded that the configuration of IT systems and management of the supporting IT operations is properly prepared, in all material respects in accordance with the NordVPN's description set out in the Appendix I. (Appendix I of the report is identical to NordVPN's privacy policy.) Can NordVPN change your virtual location? You'll be most interested in this section if you mainly use a VPN to change their location for streaming. To see if NordVPN could unlock new streaming libraries, we picked a new batch of five test servers, then logged onto Netflix. Since Netflix tries to block all VPN servers to prevent copyright issues, our first question was whether we'd get through at all. Our second question: would connecting to a NordVPN server actually change what Netflix library we saw? It should, given that NordVPN seems leak-proof, but thoroughness demands we check anyway. Here's what we found. Server location Netflix unblocked? Content changed? Canada Yes Yes Argentina Yes Yes Germany Yes Yes India Yes Yes Nigeria Yes No Four out of five locations worked perfectly. On a Canadian server, we were able to stream Star Trek: The Next Generation, which left American Netflix years ago. The Argentine server gave us access to something called Pasion de Gavilanes, which we'd never heard of but sounds great. Sam Chapman for Engadget The only problem was Nigeria. We tested it several times, connected to multiple different Nigerian locations, but saw our American Netflix library every time. We then ran a leak test on Nigeria, which wasn't one of our security test locations, and found it to be working normally. It's hard to say what happened, especially since the Nigeria server doesn't appear to be virtual, but we can confirm that it wasn't working. Investigating NordVPN's server network NordVPN has servers in 153 cities in 117 countries. Out of all total options, 62 are virtual locations (about 40 percent), where the server is really located somewhere else. This makes it possible to get servers into more places, but depending on your actual location relative to the server, it may perform differently than you expect. Sam Chapman for Engadget Virtual locations have allowed NordVPN's server network to grow quite extensive, with lots more locations in South America, Africa and Asia than the industry standard. Check out the distribution in the table. Region Countries and territories with servers Total server locations Total virtual server locations North America 15 36 12 South America 10 10 6 Europe 48 57 11 Africa 10 10 10 Middle East 7 7 4 Asia 24 26 18 Oceania 3 7 1 Total 117 153 62 (40.5 percent) The relatively low proportion of virtual locations (nearly identical to that of ExpressVPN) is a good sign, as it means NordVPN has been growing its server network thoughtfully. Some VPNs looking at you, HMA inflate their server lists as a marketing point without seriously considering what it takes to maintain such a large network. That thankfully doesn't seem to be the case here. Extra features of NordVPN Here's everything you get with a NordVPN app other than the VPN itself. There's a lot going on here, so we'll limit ourselves to a sketch of each feature. Specialty servers As soon as you load NordVPN, you'll see a list of special servers near the top of the right-hand column. We'll go over each of them in order. Dedicated IP: As discussed in the bundles section, a dedicated IP address costs extra. With this, you'll always connect with the same IP, which is private to you alone. It may be worth the price if you find yourself getting asked for CAPTCHAs a lot more while connected to NordVPN though for what it's worth, that didn't happen to us. Double VPN: This sends your connection through a second VPN server before it reaches your ISP. The second server is your apparent location. There are 10 endpoints to choose from. As you might imagine, your internet will run slower with two VPN servers in the mix, so only use this if you seriously need security. Obfuscated servers: These are only available on OpenVPN. Obfuscation can help you get around firewalls that seek out and block VPN traffic. If you can't get online with NordVPN when you're on a certain network, obfuscated servers might work. Onion Over VPN: After encrypting your data as normal, these servers send it through several nodes of the Tor network, granting you the total anonymity of onion routing while keeping you safe from malicious relays. It's available in two locations, Netherlands and Switzerland, and like double VPN is best used only when you need the utmost privacy. P2P: NordVPN only allows torrenting on its peer-to-peer servers, but fortunately, it's got P2P servers in 114 countries only three fewer than it has in total. NordVPN keeps your download and upload speeds very fast on average, so you shouldn't have trouble torrenting from any location. Meshnet Meshnet is NordVPN's most unique and exciting feature by a long shot. By logging into the same NordVPN account on multiple devices, you can connect those devices directly through a NordLynx tunnel without needing a NordVPN server in between. Sam Chapman for Engadget Essentially, you're using your own devices as VPN servers obviously not great for privacy, but amazing for accessing web services in other countries. While two devices are connected, you can transfer files between them through the NordLynx tunnel. You can even invite friends and use their devices. Threat Protection NordVPN has two levels of antivirus: Threat Protection and Threat Protection Pro. The former is a simple DNS filter that stops your browsing from loading unsafe web pages while NordVPN is active. It's the highest level available on Android, iOS and Linux, or on any Basic subscription. Sam Chapman for Engadget Threat Protection Pro, which Plus subscribers or higher can set up on Windows and Mac, can work even when you aren't connected to a NordVPN server. It acts more like a standalone antivirus by scanning downloaded files for malware, and can even block trackers. Basic Threat Protection (without Pro) can block some trackers by filtering out domains known to use them, but doesn't block the trackers directly. Dark Web Monitor While active, Dark Web Monitor continually searches known data breach dump sites on the dark web and notifies you if it ever finds your account email address. If you get that notification, change any passwords associated with the address. With a Prime subscription, you can also have it search for your phone number, social security number or other financial information. Presets Presets let you set up one-click VPN connections with a desired group of settings, a lot like Proton VPN's Profiles. NordVPN comes pre-loaded with presets that optimize for Downloads, Speed and Browsing, which sounds to us like the same thing three times. More usefully, you can create presets for particular countries, then add website shortcuts that will appear once you've connected. You could, for example, set one that connects to a specific location, then add a shortcut to a streaming site available in that location. Post-Quantum encryption Experts widely believe that quantum computers will eventually make our current encryption algorithms obsolete, but there's almost no consensus on when that will actually happen except that it hasn't happened yet. Knowing that, NordVPN's post-quantum encryption feature comes across as a bit premature, but it's reassuring that someone is thinking about it. Having said that, we don't recommend using post-quantum encryption yet. It works by layering one of the known quantum-proof encryption standards on top of a standard NordLynx session, which makes your VPN connection slower and more erratic. Until we can verify a real quantum cyberattack, post-quantum encryption is a needless precaution. Kill switch A kill switch cuts off your internet the instant you lose your connection to a NordVPN server. This protects you in case a server unexpectedly fails, and as a side benefit, prevents you from connecting to any fake VPN servers. You should keep the kill switch on at all times. Split tunneling Split tunneling is available on NordVPN's Windows and Android apps (and Android TV by extension), along with its browser extensions. On Windows and Android, it splits by app: you can determine which apps get online through the VPN and which go unprotected. The browser extensions let you split by URL, so the VPN only protects certain sites. NordVPN customer support options NordVPN's apps link directly to its online help center. As always, we went in with a specific question in mind: whether the basic level of Threat Protection could block trackers, and if so, what kind. We found the categories on the written support page difficult to parse, especially the troubleshooting section would the average user appreciate the difference between app issues, connection issues and errors? We correctly guessed that our question would be under Using NordVPN -> Features, but the introductory article on Threat Protection and Threat Protection Pro was buried at the bottom of the list. Unfortunately, that made things more confusing, as this article says that Threat Protection (not Pro) both does and doesn't block trackers. In NordVPN's favor, however, using the search bar brought us instantly back to that article without any confusion. The live support experience Using NordVPN's live chat was a smooth and reassuring experience. From the time we decided to ask directly, it took us less than a minute to connect with a real person, who quickly cleared up the confusion and promised to update the confusing support page (we'll check back to see if they actually do). Sam Chapman for Engadget One other option is an email support form, which can be found both on the website and in the help sections of NordVPN apps. This is best for complex problems that require screenshots to explain, and promises a response within 24 hours. NordVPN background check NordVPN was founded in 2012. Launching with its desktop apps, it moved to iOS and Android in 2016, then added apps for browser extensions and smart TVs. Its developer, Nord Security, has no parent company, and its history is relatively uncontroversial. We've documented two notable incidents below, plus more about Nord Security's operations. Headquarters and ownership Nord Security was founded in Lithuania, and maintains offices there. Although Nord Security is registered in Amsterdam , NordVPN operates under a separate license in Panama , which makes any data requests subject to Panama's courts. Finland server breach The first serious incident in NordVPN's history began in March 2018, when unidentified hackers managed to steal three private keys from one of Nord's data centers in Finland. Researchers didn't notice the leak until October 2019, well after the stolen keys had expired, but NordVPN's encryption was still technically vulnerable for several months. We say technically, because it was really only the outer layer of encryption and even if they'd broken through it all, the hackers would only have seen browsing activity, not usernames, passwords or anything else sensitive. If anything, NordVPN's response actually makes us trust it more. It ended its relationship with the contractor who ran the Finnish data center and revamped its policies to eliminate the kind of negligence that led to the breach. Arguably, its only real error was not immediately disclosing the breach. NordVPN learned about the leak and started addressing it in May 2018, but the news didn't break until more than a year later. That timing probably made it look more suspicious than any actual mishandling did. Law enforcement compliance Another minor controversy erupted in 2022, when PCMag and other outlets reported that NordVPN had edited its website to say that it would comply with data requests from law enforcement. NordVPN responded with a new post that said nothing had changed: their policy was always to comply with lawful requests, which provided the requests were lawfully submitted through a Panamanian court is literally their only option. We're inclined to agree. VPNs are legal companies. They wouldn't last long if they openly declared their intent to break the law. The key is that when law enforcement comes calling, there shouldn't be anything to show them, as with the Turkish seizure of ExpressVPN . That's why verifiable no-logging policies are so important. Final verdict NordVPN is a great service on its own merits. It only suffers from having to be compared with the likes of ExpressVPN and Proton VPN. For example, its P2P servers are good for torrenting, but not as useful without Proton's port forwarding. It's fast, but speed tests fluctuated just a little more than Express. NordVPN's extra features are the best reason to pick it over its rivals. With Meshnet, you can theoretically set up a VPN connection anywhere in the world, and no other VPN has anything close to Meshnet's file transfer powers. Threat Protection Pro is also great if you can get it, adding file scanning to bolster the typical approach of just blocking suspicious DNS addresses. Specialty servers round out the offering, with double VPN maintaining good speeds with extra safety and Onion over VPN being among the safest ways to use Tor. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/nordvpn-review-2025-innovative-features-a-few-missteps-163000578.html?src=rss

Get two years of access to Proton VPN for 70 percent off right now

Proton VPN is offering a steep discount on its Proton VPN Plus subscription, with the two-year plan currently priced at $2.99 per month. Youll pay $72 upfront for 24 months of service, which amounts to 70 percent off the usual monthly rate and brings the long-term cost well below what many premium VPNs typically charge. Weve consistently been impressed by Proton VPNs focus on privacy, its nonprofit ownership structure and the way it balances security features with strong real-world speeds. Its a top pick in our best VPN guide , and this promotion also appears in our running list of the best VPN deals . If youre planning to commit to a VPN for the long haul, this pricing makes Proton VPN Plus one of the more compelling options available right now. In our Proton VPN review , the service impressed us with consistently fast performance and strong privacy protections. We measured average download speeds at 88 percent of our unprotected connection and upload speeds at 98 percent, which is more than enough for 4K streaming, gaming and torrenting. It also unblocked Netflix in every region we tested, and while its Mac and iOS apps arent quite as polished as the Windows and Android versions, the service is still easy to install and largely set-it-and-forget-it across platforms. We gave Proton VPN a score of 90 out of 100. Proton VPN Plus is the companys premium tier and includes access to its full server network, which now spans more than 15,000 servers across 120-plus countries. A single subscription covers up to 10 devices at once and unlocks features like NetShield ad and malware blocking, Secure Core double hop connections, split tunneling, custom DNS controls and priority customer support. Proton VPN Plus also supports fast P2P traffic on nearly all paid servers and includes VPN Accelerator, which helps maintain high speeds over long-distance connections. Right now, Proton VPN Plus is discounted to $2.99 per month when you commit to two years, billed as $72 upfront for the first 24 months. After that, the plan renews annually at $83.88. Thats a 70 percent discount compared to the standard monthly rate. As with Protons other paid plans, the subscription comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee , so you can try it risk-free if youre not ready to lock in long term. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-two-years-of-access-to-proton-vpn-for-70-percent-off-right-now-123000460.html?src=rss

Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam performed at Srinivasa Mangapuram

The purificatory ritual precedes the annual nine-day Brahmotsavams at the TTDs Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy temple commencing February 8

Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam Held at Srinivasa Mangapuram Temple

Devotees were permitted for darshan from 11.00 am onwards.

Google warns 40% of Android phones are at risk from new malware what you must do now

Google has warned that many Android phones are unsafe due to new malware and spyware threats. Phones running old Android versions no longer receive security updates. This puts over a billion users at risk worldwide. Google urges users to check their Android version and upgrade their device if it cannot get the latest updates.

How much do VPNs cost?

So you've decided you need a virtual private network to hide your browsing activity from your ISP, change your virtual location, stay safe on public Wi-Fi and enjoy all the other benefits . The inevitable next question is: Should I pay for one? If so, how much? All the best VPNs cost money, but it can be hard to tell an overpriced service apart from one that's priced according to its value. On this page, I'll share the costs for top VPN services, calculate the industry average and explain what makes VPNs cost as much as they do. At the end, I'll share a few tips for making a VPN fit your budget. How much is a VPN? I'd like to start by introducing the complexity of the problem. If you just want the numbers, youll find those in the sections below. The main thing that makes VPNs so hard to budget for is that providers aren't always honest about how much they're charging. They rarely lie outright, but they often overcomplicate their pricing structures and hide increases in the fine print. Let's take CyberGhost as an example, since I just reviewed it . A one-month subscription to CyberGhost costs $12.99 simple enough. However, you can also get a six-month subscription by paying $41.94 upfront, though the website more prominently calls this $6.99 per month. Finally, you can pay $56.94 for a 28-month subscription, but only once; after that, it'll be $56.94 for a year. These prices are subject to change. Sam Chapman for Engadget As you can see in the image, the website heavily emphasizes the average monthly price, in text that dwarfs the actual price you'll pay at checkout. This gets even worse with services like NordVPN that have multiple tiers of subscription as well as multiple durations. It's not uncommon to see 10 or more prices quoted for the exact same VPN. The best way to cut through the confusion and shop on your own terms is to compare different VPNs at the same duration and subscription tier. For example, you could find the cost of one year of the most basic available plan, since most basic subscriptions still include full VPN service. In the next two sections, I'll compare and average the basic tiers of my top seven VPNs at the monthly and yearly levels. Average monthly cost of a VPN Here's what the best VPNs cost per month. The numbers below are for subscribing to one month at a time, excluding any discounts and special deals. Proton VPN: $9.99 ExpressVPN: $12.99 Surfshark: $15.45 NordVPN: $12.99 CyberGhost: $12.99 Mullvad: $5.98 (depends on dollar/euro exchange rate) hide.me : $11.99 Average: $11.77 As you can see, $12.99 is a normal price for one month of a VPN but the average price is somewhat lower, as several providers sell monthly plans for less. In general, expect to pay in the range between $10 and $13. Companies like Surfshark sometimes inflate their monthly prices in a bid to drive more traffic toward the longer plans. Mullvad is also an outlier, since you can only ever subscribe to it month-by-month. There are other outliers, such as Astrill, which costs a whopping $30 per month. But the above holds true for all the best-regarded providers. Average yearly cost of a VPN If you choose to sign up for a year at a time, you'll probably save money but you'll have to pay more upfront. VPNs offer long-term deals to pump their cash flow and active user numbers. One-year costs for the top seven VPNs are written below as a lump sum, since several of them add extra months to the first subscription period so they can quote a lower monthly price. Since CyberGhost doesn't have a one-year plan, I've replaced it with Windscribe . Proton VPN: $47.88 ExpressVPN: $52.39 for the first subscription, $99.95 afterwards Surfshark: $47.85 NordVPN: $59.88 for the first subscription, $139.08 afterwards Windscribe: $69.00 Mullvad: $71.82 (depends on dollar/euro exchange rate) hide.me: $54.99 Average: $57.69 For one year of a VPN service, you can expect to pay somewhere between $45 and $70. Note that at least two services, ExpressVPN and NordVPN, raise prices after the first year, so account for that in your budget if you really like them. Why do VPNs cost so much? The length of the subscription is the biggest factor in determining how much you'll pay. Beyond that, it's all a bit fuzzy. Commercial VPNs are still a relatively new industry, so there's not a lot of standardization in the pricing. Most of the variation in cost comes from competition: VPNs value themselves lower to offer a better deal than their rivals, or higher if they think they've got a unique differentiator. Astrill gets away with charging $30 a month because of a widespread belief that it's the best VPN for China (in truth, no VPN can be sure of working in China 100 percent of the time). Another factor that might influence a VPN's price is the cost of maintaining its infrastructure. For each new server location, the provider has to either rent space in an existing data center, build its own physical server farm or set up a virtual server with an IP address from a particular location. On Proton VPN, for example, you can switch locations by clicking the name of any country in the list on the left. Sam Chapman for Engadget Once the locations exist, they have to be maintained, including regular changes to their IP address so firewalls don't identify and block them. Loads at locations need to be balanced between servers and technology has to be upgraded as faster solutions become available. Since VPNs can have hundreds of server locations, all that upkeep doesn't come cheap, and customers often eat the cost. Factor in the price of extra features outside core VPN functionality and you'll understand why these companies are so desperate for liquidity that they'll offer discounts over 80 percent as long as you hand over a lump sum right now. What about free VPNs? VPNs can get pricey, especially if you want high quality. But some VPNs charge nothing at all. Is there any reason not to go with free VPNs every time? The answer is a pretty clear yes; paying for a VPN is almost always a better idea. When we rounded up the best free VPNs , only three got our unqualified recommendation. All three were paid services with free plans, and all come with strict limitations on server locations, data usage and other privileges. The unfortunate reality is that free VPNs come with downsides no matter which one you use. Plenty of them are hacked-together apps with little value, thrown together to make a quick buck. Others turn you into the product by selling your data to advertisers or renting out your home IP address. Some drop any pretense and plant malware directly on your device. These risks, which are often invisible to the end user, are the reason I almost always advise going with a free VPN funded by a paid plan, like Proton VPN, hide.me or Windscribe. Those plans may be restricted, but at least the provider's motives are out in the open: they make money off the paid plan and they want you to switch to it. How to save money on a VPN If you've decided to pay for a VPN but want to stretch your budget as much as possible, the tips below can push your cybersecurity dollar a bit farther. To begin with, the general advice on choosing a VPN always applies: read expert opinions, check the reviews and use the free trial to test its speed and security. Get a long-term plan. If you're confident that you'll actually use the VPN for the whole duration, there's no reason not to go with a 12-month or 24-month subscription. These are win-win deals that genuinely do save you a lot of money overall. Cancel auto-renewal. VPN accounts are set to automatically renew by default. In some cases, this can inadvertently lock you into a higher-priced long-term plan. I recommend cancelling auto-renew right after subscribing even if you're sure you want to continue. From there, you can create a new account to get the introductory rate again or go with a different VPN to get a better deal. Look for resubscription deals. Another perk of cancelling immediately is that the VPN will often try to woo you back with exclusive discounts. Stay strong until your subscription is a month or two from expiring, then look for emails offering better rates. Wait for seasonal discounts. If you can hold off until November, most VPNs offer steep discounts from Black Friday season all the way through New Year's. Check around other holidays too, as VPNs will take any excuse for marketing; CyberGhost is offering a Valentine's Day deal as I type this. We also keep track of the best VPN deals you can get at any time of the year. Use the VPN to save money on streaming. Most streaming services are more expensive than VPNs. If you use a VPN to access more content without adding a new streaming subscription, you'll come out ahead. For example, if you only have Netflix but want to watch Schitts Creek, you can pay $16.99 per month for Peacock without ads or $9.99 per month for Proton VPN to unblock Netflix Canada, which features that show. Shop for regional discounts. Like the previous point, this won't save you money on the VPN itself, but might save you enough money on other expenses that you turn a profit. Changing your virtual location can get you discounts on purchases where prices vary by region, especially travel costs. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-much-do-vpns-cost-170000567.html?src=rss

Proton VPN two-year subscriptions are 70 percent off right now

Proton VPN is running a solid deal right now, dropping its two-year Proton VPN Plus plan to $2.99 per month. That works out to $72 billed upfront for the first 24 months, which represents a 70 percent discount compared to its regular pricing. Weve rated Proton VPN highly thanks to its strong privacy credentials, transparent nonprofit backing and consistently fast performance. Its one of the services we recommend in our guide to the best VPNs , and this deal also shows up alongside other standout offers in our ongoing roundup of the best VPN deals . Its a good option if youre looking to lock in long-term protection at a lower monthly cost. In our Proton VPN review , the service impressed us with consistently fast performance and strong privacy protections. We measured average download speeds at 88 percent of our unprotected connection and upload speeds at 98 percent, which is more than enough for 4K streaming, gaming and torrenting. It also unblocked Netflix in every region we tested, and while its Mac and iOS apps arent quite as polished as the Windows and Android versions, the service is still easy to install and largely set-it-and-forget-it across platforms. We gave Proton VPN a score of 90 out of 100. Proton VPN Plus is the companys premium tier and includes access to its full server network, which now spans more than 15,000 servers across 120-plus countries. A single subscription covers up to 10 devices at once and unlocks features like NetShield ad and malware blocking, Secure Core double hop connections, split tunneling, custom DNS controls and priority customer support. Proton VPN Plus also supports fast P2P traffic on nearly all paid servers and includes VPN Accelerator, which helps maintain high speeds over long-distance connections. Right now, Proton VPN Plus is discounted to $2.99 per month when you commit to two years, billed as $72 upfront for the first 24 months. After that, the plan renews annually at $83.88. Thats a 70 percent discount compared to the standard monthly rate. As with Protons other paid plans, the subscription comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee , so you can try it risk-free if youre not ready to lock in long term. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/proton-vpn-two-year-subscriptions-are-70-percent-off-right-now-123000972.html?src=rss

Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet Performs One of the World's First TAVR-in-TAVR-in SAVR with Bioprosthetic Valve Fracture in 78-Year-Old

Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet has successfully performed a highly complex and rare TAVR-in-TAVR-in-SAVR procedure with bioprosthetic valve fracture on a 78-year-old patient, marking one of the first such procedures in the world. The advanced transcatheter intervention was undertaken to treat a repeatedly failing heart valve in a patient with a long and challenging history of aortic valve disease. Dr R Ananthraman, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, and Dr Aravindan Sevaraj, Co-Founder & Executive Director, with cardiology and radiology teams at Kauvery Hospital The patient was first diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, a condition where the hearts main valve narrows and restricts blood flow to the body. In 2005, he underwent open-heart surgery (Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement-SAVR) to replace the diseased valve with a bioprosthetic (tissue) valve. Over time, this valve degenerated, and in 2019, he underwent a transcatheter (TAVR) valve-in-valve replacement-a minimally invasive procedure in which a new valve is placed inside the old surgical valve without reopening the chest. In the years following the second procedure, the patient once again developed symptoms such as breathlessness and fatigue. Investigations revealed increasing pressure gradients across the valve, indicating that blood flow through the heart valve was again being obstructed. Further evaluation suggested leaflet thrombosis (blood clot in the leaflets) and become thickened, and do not open fully. While anticoagulation medication temporarily improved valve function, the problem recurred whenever treatment was stopped, causing early degeneration of the Transcatheter Heart Valve. Given the patients advanced age, multiple prior valve interventions, and high surgical risk, repeat open-heart surgery was considered a higher risk option. Upon referral to Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet, a multidisciplinary heart team led by Dr Rajaram Anantharaman & Dr C Sundar conducted a detailed assessment using advanced 3D echocardiography and CT imaging. These investigations confirmed persistent leaflet thickening and restricted valve opening despite medical therapy, due to under-expandion of the previous placed TAVR allowing leaflets to open in restricted fashion (pin-wheeling). After careful planning, the team decided to proceed with a TAVR-in-TAVR-in-SAVR procedure, placing a new transcatheter valve inside the previously implanted transcatheter valve inside surgical valve. To further optimise valve expansion and blood flow, a bioprosthetic valve fracture technique was employed. This involves controlled expansion of the existing TAVR in SAVR to high pressure to fracture the frame of the first surgical valve. This will create more space and full expansion of the newly implanted valve, and function more effectively. Given the high neurological (stroke risk) associated with such complex procedures, dual cerebral protection was used during the intervention with two Spider FX devices placed in both Carotids arteries (supplying brain) to reduce the risk of stroke by capturing the debris and preventing from reaching the brain. The procedure was particularly challenging due to the patients bicuspid aortic valve anatomy (two leaflets rather than three) associated aortopathy with moderately dilated aorta (the main artery from the heart was slightly enlarged, increasing procedural risk), and pseudo-coarctation (a narrowing of part of the thoracic aorta with narrowing and tortousity)mimics coarctation, combined with the failure of both a prior surgical valve and a prior transcatheter valve. Speaking about the case, Dr. Rajaram Ananthraman, Director for Transcatheter Heart Valve Therapies, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai , said, The challenging procedure needed meticulous planning and precision by the Heart Valve Team. Despite these complexities, the procedure was successfully completed. The patient showed rapid recovery, was shifted to the ward the next day, and discharged within 48 hours. Post-procedure assessments confirmed excellent valve function, stable neurological status, absence of major complications, and full mobility . Commenting on the achievement, Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals , said, This case reflects the depth of clinical expertise available at Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet. Managing such high-risk and complex structural heart cases locally reduces the need for patients to seek care abroad and reinforces Chennais growing role as a centre for advanced cardiac interventions. Kauvery Hospital, Chennai continues to strengthen its leadership in structural heart disease management through advanced transcatheter procedures, state-of-the-art imaging, and comprehensive multidisciplinary cardiac care, offering patients access to world-class treatment close to home.

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PM Modi renames Adampur airport after Guru Ravidas, inaugurates Halwara airport civil terminal in Punjab

The prime minister would also be visiting Dera Sachkhand Ballan on the occasion of the 649th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas

Punjab: PM Modi renames Adampur airport after Guru Ravidas, inaugurates civil terminal of Halwara airport

Jalandhar (Punjab), Feb 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday unveiled the new name of the Adampur airport as Shri Guru Ravidass Maharaj Ji Airport, Adampur here and also virtually inaugurated the civil terminal building at the Halwara airport in Ludhiana. The prime minister, who reached the Adampur airport at around 3.45 pm, would also be visiting Dera Sachkhand Ballan here on the occasion of the 649th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas. Modi also inaugurated the terminal building of the [] The post Punjab: PM Modi renames Adampur airport after Guru Ravidas, inaugurates civil terminal of Halwara airport appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

'Countless Salutations': PM Modi Extends Wishes On 649th Birth Anniversary Of Sant Guru Ravidas

PM Modi to celebrate Sant Guru Ravidas's 649th birth anniversary in Punjab, renaming Adampur Airport and inaugurating Halwara Airport's new terminal in Ludhiana.

PM Modi to visit Punjab on February 1, rename Adampur airport after Guru Ravidas

Prime Minister will visit Adampur airport, where he will unveil the new name of the Airport as 'Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Airport, Adampur. He will also inaugurate the Terminal Building at Halwara Airport in Ludhiana, Punjab.

PM Modi To Visit Punjab On Feb 1; Adampur Airport To Be Renamed After Guru Ravidas

PM Modi to visit Punjab on February 1 to unveil Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Airport, Adampur, inaugurate Halwara Airport terminal, and pay respects at Dera Ballan.

PM Modi To Inaugurate Civil Enclave Of Halwara Airport On Sunday

New Delhi, Jan 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday inaugurate the civil terminal of the Halwara airport in Punjab and name the Adampur airport after Sant Ravidas. On the auspicious occasion of the 649th birth anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidas ji, the renaming of Adampur Airport honours the revered saint and social reformer whose teachings of equality, compassion, and human dignity continue to inspire Indias social ethos, a statement from the PMO said. The prime minister will visit [] The post PM Modi To Inaugurate Civil Enclave Of Halwara Airport On Sunday appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

With Industry - Academia Interface, Chandigarh University is Preparing Students for Global Opportunities

Even as number of degree holders have been increasing rapidly in India in recent years, the employability outcome has remained stagnant. As per the latest India Skills Report 2025 released by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with Wheebox and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) only 55 per cent of Indian graduates are employable, indicating that nearly half of the countrys graduates are still not industry ready. Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of Defence along with Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu inaugurating Kalpana Chawla Space & Research Centre at Chandigarh University Gharuan The report clearly highlights a persistent disconnect between academic learning and industry expectations, forcing industries to invest heavily in time-consuming and costly on-the-job training to make new recruits productive. Bridging this widening academiaindustry gap, Chandigarh University has built a strong industry-aligned academic ecosystem, where curriculum across engineering, management and sciences among other academic domains are designed by the industry, for the industry and delivered with active participation of the industry. Chandigarh University offers new-age industry collaborative programmes designed by industry leaders, embedding skills required to thrive in the ever-evolving job market, into academic programs that is guided by Corporate Advisory Boards (CAB) comprising industry experts and CEOs from top Indian and global industry giants. This unique collaborative teachinglearning model at Chandigarh University has been fueling bright young minds through a broad spectrum of industry-ready, future-oriented academic programmes, enhanced by continuous industry insights and exposure to emerging technologies, while empowering students with corporate mentorship, international exposure, value-centric learning, entrepreneurial spirit and professional competencies, collectively strengthening their employability and shaping them into future-ready industry leaders. Continuing with its stellar performance in global rankings, Chandigarh University achieved 1st Rank for the third consecutive year in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026. CU also demonstrated a significant rise across key performance indicators in the coveted ranking by securing 1st rank in Employer Reputation and secured 2nd rank in Academic Reputation among private universities in India. In Employability Rankings which shows universities producing the most employable graduates for the modern workplace, Chandigarh University secured the 1st rank in Engineering and Technology, Computer Science Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Chemistry among private universities in India in the latest edition of QS World University Rankings 2026 by Subject. Cultivating Future-ready Engineering Leaders through Cutting-Edge Industry Collaborative Programs with Global Giants like Microsoft, TCS, Virtusa & IBM Chandigarh University with its world-class, high-tech academic infrastructure has been integrating the latest industry practices and requirements into academic programs by fostering innovation in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Blockchain, Big Data, Analytics and Fintech. For Engineering students, Chandigarh University has collaborated with tech giant Microsoft to offer BE in Artificial Intelligence and BE CSE (Computer Science & Business Systems) with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Moreover, CU provides six Computer Science Engineering Programs in collaboration with IBM including BE CSE Cloud Computing, BE CSE (AI & IoT), BE CSE Data Science, BE CSE Cyber Security, BE CSE (AI&ML) and BE CSE (Full Stack Development). As part of the collaboration IBM, Indias first advanced information technology lab established at CU that train students in Cloud Computing, Information Security, Big Data and Business Analytics. Chandigarh University also offers a Master of Engineering Program in Computer Science with a specialization in Cloud Computing in collaboration with Virtusa, making it one of the most in-demand CSE- CC programs in India. CU has collaborated with Coforge and established an innovation center focused on conducting R&D in AI applications within healthcare, addressing agricultural issues globally and developing autonomous vehicle technology. CU was ranked 7th among all private universities in the country in Engineering domain in NIRF Rankings - 2025. For Automobile Engineering students, CU has tied-up with industry giants that established high-tech labs including Mahindra and Mahindra T-School, Honda Research and Skill Development Centre, Hyundai Professional Development Centre, VE Commercial Training Centre, MG Motors Lab, Eicher CU Centre of Excellence in Automobile engineering lab, Vehicle Maintenance and Diagnostic Lab, BS-VI engines, EV technologies and intelligent mobility platforms. CU has also collaborated with Coforge and established an innovation center focused on conducting R&D in AI applications within healthcare, addressing agricultural issues globally and developing autonomous vehicle technology. CU holds the prestigious accreditation from the US-based Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), placing it among the top 0.1 percent of Indian universities with accredited Engineering programs CU is accredited with an A+ rating by NAAC, placing it among the top 5 per cent universities in India to get the coveted accreditation. The varsity also holds National Board of Accreditation (NBA) accreditation for Engineering and Management programs. These facilities enable students to transition seamlessly from theory to application, cultivate research thinking and develop innovation-driven solutions aligned with real-world industry needs. Nurturing Future Business Leaders with 17 Industry Collaborative Cutting-Edge Management Programs To nurture future business leaders through its unique experiential learning model, Chandigarh University has established collaborations with as many as 11 industry giants to offer MBA programs. CU collaborated with global consulting giant KPMG one amongst Big Four consulting firms of the world to offer MBA in Global Business Management and BBA in Financial Technology (FinTech). MBA Data Science & Al with SAS, MBA Business Analytics with IBM, MBA in Applied Finance with PWC, MBA with State Bank of India in Banking & Financial Engineering and MBA Fintech with NSE, MBA in Capital Markets with NISM, MBA Strategic HR with AON and MBA in Healthcare and Hospital Management. These academic collaborations not only offer a broad spectrum of industry-oriented, futuristic academic programs but also empower students with corporate mentorship, international exposure, value-driven learning, entrepreneurial development and professional skill-building transforming them into dynamic business leaders of tomorrow. CU has also secured 7 th place among all private universities in the management domain in NIRF Rankings 2025. Chandigarh University offers specialized management programs in emerging and high-growth business areas, enabling students to stay ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving global landscape of industry. With these academic collaborations, CU also ensures that students earn globally recognized certifications that enhance their professional credibility and employability. With a strong focus on outcomes, students gain access to excellent employment and placement opportunities with top global organizations and leading multinational companies. Moreover, students benefit from global exposure through immersive international programs and receive continuous mentorship from experienced industry leaders, preparing them to excel in competitive professional environments. Nurturing Future Leaders with 154 Industry-Oriented Academic Programs, 32 High-Tech R&D Labs, 15 COEs and Mentorship by 980 Industry Stalwarts Chandigarh University provides its students an environment conducive to innovation and discovery with as many as 32 industry-sponsored high-tech R&D labs and 15 Centers of Excellence others established by leading MNCs and global giants such as Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco, Hyundai, Tech Mahindra, Capgemini, LinkedIn and IBM among others that play a crucial role in elevating capabilities of students and faculty members through exposure to live industry projects. Chandigarh University continues to set new benchmarks in outcome-driven education by nurturing future leaders across emerging and high-growth domains through its 154 industry-oriented academic programs. Designed in close collaboration with global industry partners, these programs seamlessly integrate cutting-edge curricula, hands-on learning, live industry projects, and real-world problem solving. This unique experiential learning ecosystem is further strengthened with mentorship of 980 seasoned industry stalwarts who bring invaluable insights, practical expertise and market-aligned perspectives into the classroom. This unique combination of academic excellence and industry immersion ensures that students graduate not just with degrees, but with the required skill sets and leadership acumen required to thrive and lead in an ever-evolving global workforce. CU has tied-up with industry leaders that provide hands-on training to students with high-tech labs including Microsoft Innovation Center, Google Android Lab, Adobe Express Lounge Lab, Cloud Computing Lab, Oracle Academy, Tech Mahindra IMS Academy, Unisys Innovation Lab, EMC Academic Alliance, Microsoft Global Technical Support Center, Red Hat Academy Lab, SAP Next Gen Lab, Infor Lab and Microsoft Azure LAAS (Learning as a Service) platform, BOT lab, Bosch Bridge Centre and Cisco Networking Lab among others. Over 40 Industry Collaborations in 2025 with Global Tech Leaders like Microsoft, LinkedIn, Capgemini, Adobe, Altium & Intel to Provide Outcome-Oriented Learning and Enhance Employabiliy Chandigarh University has established Indias first LinkedIn Experience Zone on its campus in association with LinkedIn that empowers students with hands-on access to AI-driven career tools, expert guidance on digital profile building, personal branding and professional networking, while leveraging LinkedIns global network of over 1.2 billion professionals to enhance employability and connect students with global career opportunities. Adobe, the global leader in digital media established Indias first Adobe Express Lounge Lab at CU to empower students with future-ready creative and digital skills. The state-of-the-art lab provides hands-on access to Adobes industry-leading tools, including Adobe Express, Creative Cloud applications, and AI-powered platforms like Adobe Firefly, enabling experiential learning across engineering, media, design, fine arts and business disciplines. Designed as a dynamic innovation hub, the initiative bridges academic learning with real-world applications through certified courses, workshops, mentorship, hackathons and portfolio-building support, significantly enhancing students employability and preparing them for the evolving digital economy. The global consulting giant, Capgemini has established academic collaboration with Chandigarh University to equip engineering students, particularly Computer Science Engineering with industry-relevant skills in emerging technology domains and provide professional mentorship, certifications, internships and placement opportunities, aligning academic outcomes with the evolving demands of Indias digital economy and preparing a future-ready workforce. Similarly, CU has established collaborations with tech giants like Microsoft, Intel and Altium among others to provide outcome-oriented learning and enhance employability prospects of students. 12 Lakh LinkedIn Certifications, 6747 Infosys Springboard, 652 UNESCO Certifications & 99% Paid Internships in 2025 Aligned to the National Education Policy (NEP) guidelines on multidisciplinary approach to education that allow students to combine diverse fields for holistic development, fostering critical thinking and adaptability, Chandigarh University (CU) places strong emphasis on integrated learning that transcends traditional academic boundaries. This approach is strengthened through multidisciplinary courses, focused soft-skills training and continuous enhancement of technical competencies to develop well-rounded, adaptable and future-ready professionals. CU integrates global digital learning platforms into its curriculum. Through LinkedIn Learning, students across Generic Programmes (GP), University Core (UC), Open Electives (OE) and Value-Added Courses (VAC) accessed short, practical, skill-based modules, resulting in over 12 lakh certifications completed by nearly 60,000 students and faculty in a single year (2025). Infosys Springboard further enabled industry-aligned technical and soft-skills learning, with 6,747 certifications earned, while UNESCO-certified courses under GP strengthened global citizenship and sustainability awareness, leading to 652 value-based certifications. Moreover, CU leveraged the SWAYAM government portal to promote flexible, self-paced, credit-based learning in technical and soft skills with 6,825 students completing certifications and 29,849 students registering which is supported by curriculum-mapped assignments. Benchmarking its offerings with global standards, CU has aligned its NEP-driven, outcome-based curriculum with Coursera, where faculty curated 642 multidisciplinary courses mapped to international best practices and integrated into regular teaching. Complementing this academic rigor, CU processed 1,534 internships during the JanDec 2025 cycle across 6 academic clusters and 167 programs, with 99% paid internships and 37 international placements (internship), reinforcing strong industry demand, global exposure and career readiness. Industry-Curated Curriculum Cultivating Future Technocrats Core curriculum offered by CU in emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Virtual Reality, IOT, Bioinformatics, Information Network Security, Grid Computing, Structural Engineering, Geo-Technical Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Construction Technology, Environmental Engineering, GIS, Water Resource Engineering among others is specially designed by industry giants themselves. The industry-oriented curriculum of CU is aligned with leading International Universities and Research Agencies; CSE curriculum is aligned with Stanford University, ISACA, NASSCOM for Civil Engineering, University of Singapore, Imperial College London, ASME and ISTE. The curriculum is prepared by renowned academicians and subject experts from IITs, NITs and industry experts from top MNCs such as IBM and Quark among others top brands. These engagements not only provide students with practical exposure but also equip them with the latest industry trends and practices, enhancing their employability and readiness for the competitive job market. This industry-centric experiential learning model of CU has been instrumental in not just nurturing futuristic workforce and make CU students globally-competitive but also ensure their job placements in top national and international firms, provide exposure to live industry projects and enable them to conduct collaborative research projects at industry-sponsored high-end R&D labs and Centre of Excellences, offer internships, conduct workshops, certifications, hands-on training using the cutting-edge technology and futuristic tools, exposure to case studies and corporate mentorship programs to create the next generation technology and business leaders. About Chandigarh University Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC. Website address: www.cuchd.in .

Hockey stalwart Manpreet, two others were dropped due to disciplinary issues: Team sources

New Delhi, Jan 30: Hockey Indias surprising decision to drop three players, including veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh, from the list of probables for the upcoming FIH Pro League season stemmed from disciplinary issues during the teams tour of South Africa in December. Sources said a serious case of indiscipline surfaced during the tour, following which Manpreet, Dilpreet Singh and goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak were omitted from the probables list. India toured South Africa for a three-Test series from December 2 [] The post Hockey stalwart Manpreet, two others were dropped due to disciplinary issues: Team sources appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Pramod Mahajan To Ajit Pawar: Deaths That Changed Maharashtra Politics

Ajit Pawar's death is the latest in a string of abrupt deaths that have blighted Maharashtra's politics for years. The last two decades witnessed three stalwarts-- Pramod Mahajan, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Gopinath Munde-- die tragically.

Techie Husband Installs Malware, Tracks Estranged Wife For 6 Months In Bengaluru

Investigation suggests that the husband had been monitoring the womans phone for 6 months. He allegedly tracked her movements in real time and kept tabs on her communications.

Dharmendra, ex-Kerala CM Achuthanandan awarded Padma Vibhushan posthumously

New Delhi: Veteran actor Dharmendra and Left stalwart and former Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan have been awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously on the occasion of the Republic Day 2026, late JMM founder and former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren, singer Alka Yagnik, and Malayalam superstar Mammotty the Padma Bhushan, and sportspersons Harmanpreet Kaur, Rohit []

Five Andhra Stalwarts Shine in the Limelight With Padma Honours

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu conveyed his best wishes to AP Padma awardees.

Beyond Politics: Modi Governments Civilian Honours Reflect Cross-Party Recognition

Over the past decade, leaders from opposition parties, regional stalwarts, and ideological rivals have featured prominently in the honours list.

Jamie Dimon drops big hint on JPMorgan's future hiring in the coming years at Davos, Wall Street stalwart says 'you cant lay off 2 million...'

Wall Street mogul Jamie Dimon spoke about how JPMorgan Chase will hire employees in the near future due to the impact of AI. He said that he has plans to employ fewer employees in the next five years while speaking at Davos. The JPMorgan Chase CEO gave the example of truckers in the US, saying 2 million truckers can't be laid off tomorrow as the process can be phased in over time.

APSCC condoles demise of renowned cultural icon Kanwal Kashmiri

Jagmohan Singh Raina,otherspay heartfelt tributes to legendary litterateur SRINAGAR: Chairman of the All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC), Jagmohan Singh Raina, along with a galaxy of eminent social, religious, and academic figures, has expressed deep anguish over the demise of legendary litterateur, scholar, and cultural stalwart S. Paramjit Singh Bali, popularly known as Kanwal Kashmiri. []

Two Murder Convicts Marry Secretly on Parole in Rajasthans Alwar

Priya Seth, a resident of Pali, was convicted in the 2018 murder of Dushyant Sharma

Match Made In Jail: Two Life-Term Convicts Fall In Love In Rajasthan, Granted Parole To Marry

The couple will get married on Friday, January 23, in Barodamev, Alwar. A wedding card has also surfaced.

2 Murder Convicts And A Love Story That Started From Rajasthan Jail

A woman convicted of murdering a man she met on a dating app and a man who killed five people are set to tie the knot in Rajasthan's Alwar, in what appears to be right out of a film script.

MCA names squad for Senior Womens One Day Trophy

By Our Reporter Shillong, Jan 19: A 15-member squad was named on Monday by the Meghalaya Cricket Associations senior womens selection committee for the BCCIs Senior Women One Day Trophy 2025-26 plate group, which will be held next month. The team will be captained by stalwart Debasmita Dutta, with Monica Lyngdoh Phawa as the vice-captain. []

North Korea-linked hackers target Naver, Google ads to spread malware

Seoul: A North Korea-linked hacking group has recently conducted a sophisticated malware distribution campaign by abusing online advertising systems operated by Naver and Google, a report showed on Monday, January 19. According to the online threat assessment report released by Genians Security Center, Konni, the hacking group tied to Kimsuky and other Pyongyang-sponsored hacking groups, 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 .

Its now or never for Indias FIFA World Cup push: Ashalata

New Delhi, Jan 17: Indian womens football stalwart Ashalata Devi says the dream of seeing the country play at the FIFA Womens World Cup remains alive, but stressed that sustained progress at the grassroots level is crucial to bridge the gap with the worlds elite. Our dream of the World Cup is still alive. We []

Assault on democracy: Gehlot alleges 1,300 fake objections in Alwar draft voter roll

Mr. Gehlot alleged that similar attempts were made across the State but were exposed in time.

Ashok Gehlot alleges nearly 1,400 fake objections in Alwar draft voter list

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot has raised serious concerns over electoral roll revisions in Ramgarh, Alwar. He claims a BJP election agent filed 1,383 fake objections in one day. Gehlot alleges this is a conspiracy to undermine democracy and steal the public mandate. He has demanded criminal cases against those involved and strict action.

Goas devpt not about multi-storey bldgs & nightclubs, says Bhembre

Margao: As Goa observed Opinion Poll Day on Friday, Opinion Poll stalwart Uday Bhembre called for serious introspection on whether the State today reflects the vision that guided the historic struggle against merger with Maharashtra. Speaking at the Asmitai Dis programme organised by Ganvbhavacho Ekvott, Chandor, Konknni Bhasha Mandal and the Directorate of Official Language []

Asmitai Vars unveiled to celebrate 60 yrs of historic Opinion Poll

Margao: Terming it a timely and meaningful initiative, senior advocate and Opinion Poll stalwart Uday Bhembre said that Madganvcho Awaazs decision to commemorate 60 years of the historic Opinion Poll of 1967 through year-long activities would help create milestones for future generations rather than one-day events that are soon forgotten. He was speaking at the []

Syed Jaleel Ahmed, legal luminary and social pillar, passes away

Hyderabad grieves the loss of one of its most distinguished legal minds and community stalwarts, Senior Supreme Court and High Court advocate Syed Jaleel Ahmed, who succumbed to a brief illness on Wednesday, January 14. He was 85. Born in the modest lanes of the Old City, Ahmed rose from humble beginnings to become a 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 .

Maharashtra civic poll results: Congress sweeps Latur Municipal Corporation with 43 seats

Local political observers believe Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan's controversial remarks on Congress stalwart and late CM Vilasrao Deshmukh, who hailed from Latur, backfired

Kallis, Boucher back Rohit, Kohli for 2027 ODI World Cup

Paarl, Jan 11: Two of South Africas modern greats Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher have thrown their weight behind Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, backing the veteran duo to feature at the 2027 ODI World Cup despite advancing age and mounting scrutiny over longevity. In recent weeks, debate has intensified over []

Chennai Metro Rail train chugs along from Porur to Vadapalani

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited conducted a trial run after the elevated viaduct fromPorurtoVadapalaniwas completed. The sectionincludes a 4-km double-decker line from AlwarthirunagartoAlapakkam

17.5 Million Instagram Accounts Compromised In Massive Data Leak: Report

A data breach affecting around 17.5 million Instagram accounts has been reported by cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes. The leaked data is already being shared freely on hacker forums and the dark web, putting millions of users at risk

Instagram data breach scare: Over 17 million users hit by sudden and unexpected password reset emails. What should you do now?

Last week, several Instagram users reported receiving unexpected password reset emails, sparking concerns of a possible data breach. The users were asked to reset their Instagram passwords not initiated by them and the concerns drew more attention after Malwarebytes claimed the activity was linked to a breach associated with 17.5 million Instagram users. Meta has denied these claims.

Nadine de Klerk leads RCB to three-wicket win against MI in WPL opener

NAVI MUMBAI, Jan 9: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, riding on an all-round display by South African stalwart Nadine de Klerk, defeated defending champions Mumbai Indians by three wickets in a last-ball thriller in the opening match of the Womens Premier League Season 4 here on Friday. Thanks to de Klerk, who returned excellent bowling figures of 4/26, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 154 for 6 with Sajeevan Sajana (45) and Nicola Carey (40) sharing an 82-run stand for the fifth wicket. [] The post Nadine de Klerk leads RCB to three-wicket win against MI in WPL opener appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Kauvery Hospital & Tamil Nadu Seniors Tennis Club Organise Open Tennis Tournament

Kauvery Hospital and Tamil Nadu Seniors Tennis Club successfully organised the Open Tennis Tournament for senior citizens on January 3rd and 4th at the YMCA Grounds, Nandanam, Chennai. Tennis Tournament The two-day tournament witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 210 senior tennis players from Chennai and nearby regions. The matches were conducted across multiple age categories, including 4550, 5055, 5560, 6065, 6570,7075 and 75 above, highlighting the growing passion for competitive sport among senior citizens. The tournament featured seven categories each in singles and doubles, offering players an excellent platform to compete, stay active, and engage socially. The matches were played in a spirited yet friendly atmosphere, reflecting the importance of physical fitness, mental well-being, and camaraderie in promoting healthy and active aging. The awards were presented by Dr. Singaravadivelu V, Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon, Kauvery Hospital Alwarpet who graced the valedictory function. Participants expressed their appreciation for the smooth organisation and facilities provided throughout the event. The successful conduct of the tournament reaffirmed the commitment of Tamil Nadu Open Senior Tennis Club and Kauvery Hospital towards encouraging fitness, wellness, and active lifestyles among senior citizens through sports initiatives.

It would be silly to underestimate Kohli, Rohit: Bracewell

NEW ZEALAND ODIS Mumbai, Jan 6: New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell on Tuesday said it would be silly to underestimate Indian batting superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and backed the stalwarts to play next years ODI World Cup. Kohli and Rohit, now only single-format players for India, will be back in action in the []

Rajasthan: Elderly man brutally attacked by mob over petty theft

Jhalawar: A group of eight to 10 men assaulted an elderly man on Saturday, January 3, in the Aklera town of Jhalwar district in Rajasthan, after they suspected him of petty theft. A video of the incident shared on social media shows the unidentified elderly man surrounded by a group of men who were seen 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 .

Can't Erase My Dad's Name: Riteish Deshmukh on BJP Leader's Remarks

In controversial remarks, Ravindra Chavan said memories of the late Congress stalwart would be wiped out from his hometown Latur

Single Papa: Kunal Kemmus comedy-drama renewed for season 2

The show also stars Prajakta Koli, Manoj Pahwa, Ayesha Raza, Neha Dhupia, Suhail Nayyar, Dayanand Shetty, Aisha Ahmed, Dhruv Rathee and Isha Talwar

Drifting Quicksands of Bengal Politics: Can Mamata Hold Fort?

By Anjan Roy West Bengal is witnessing hectic political manoeuvring by leading political figures, even though the assembly elections are a clear six months away at least. One of these, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who was once a stalwart of the Congress, not only in the state but nationally, is being seen on his home turf, Murshidabad and nearby areas, seeking to regain his lost ground. Chowdhury had been Congress state president and later, leader of the Congress party in [] The post Drifting Quicksands of Bengal Politics: Can Mamata Hold Fort? appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

InnovHer Enters a New Growth Chapter with Jeet Vijay Joining as Co-Founder

InnovHer has announced a major leadership milestone with Jeet Vijay joining the organization as Co-Founder. The appointment marks a defining moment in InnovHers journey as it formally transitions into InnovHer 2.0, its next phase as a full-scale venture institution focused on startups, SMEs, and regional economic development. Jeet Vijay Joins InnovHer as Co-Founder, Ushering in InnovHer 2.0 and a New Era of Institutional Venture Building Over the past two years, InnovHer has steadily built credibility as a Tier-2 venture platformdeploying capital, enabling co-investments, facilitating early exits, and positioning Jaipur as an emerging national convergence point for founders and investors. With this transition, InnovHer is sharpening its focus on institutional design, governance rigor, and long-term capital stewardship. The inclusion of Jeet Vijay significantly strengthens this ambition by adding policy depth, national-global perspective, and execution discipline. A Leader Shaped by Policy, Capital, and Ecosystem Building Jeet Vijay brings over 18 years of experience across venture capital, private equity, startup policy, and ecosystem leadership. Most recently, he served as the CEO of MeitY Startup Hub, the Government of Indias nodal agency for technology startups. In this role, he operated at the center of Indias innovation architectureworking closely with central ministries, investors, incubators, accelerators, and founders across the country. His work has spanned national advisory roles, startup funding frameworks, and large-scale ecosystem programs, giving him a rare vantage point on what differentiates activity-driven initiatives from institution building. Beyond domestic policy leadership, Jeets international exposureincluding collaborations with the University of Texas (USA)has shaped his understanding of how mature ecosystems integrate universities, capital, and enterprises into long-term economic engines. Equally significant is Jeets strong regional grounding. Hailing from Alwar, Rajasthan, and coming from a business family, he brings first-hand insight into the realities of Tier-2 and Tier-3 India. This perspective aligns closely with InnovHers founding belief that regional India requires durable institutions, not episodic programs, to unlock sustainable growth. Commenting on his decision to join InnovHer, Jeet Vijay said, Coming from Alwar, Rajasthan, I have always believed that regional India should not just export talent to metros, but build strong institutions at home. Joining InnovHer is my way of contributing backby bringing policy experience, global exposure, and capital discipline to strengthen startups and SMEs in Rajasthan and other Tier-2 regions. If we want sustainable growth, we must build local economic engines that can compete nationally and globally while remaining rooted in their communities. Strengthening InnovHers Strategic and Institutional Output As Co-Founder, Jeet Vijays role will focus on sharpening InnovHers strategic direction, governance frameworks, and institutional architecture. His presence brings greater rigor to venture selection, capital structuring, and policy alignmentensuring that InnovHers growth is disciplined, auditable, and scalable. More importantly, his inclusion expands InnovHers horizon. With a deep understanding of national policy, global best practices, and regional execution, Jeet strengthens InnovHers ability to support startups and SMEs as long-term economic contributors, not merely high-growth bets. This approach is increasingly relevant as Indias next growth cycle is expected to be driven by MSMEs, regional enterprises, and innovation-led local economies. InnovHer 2.0: Building a Venture Institution from Tier-2 India InnovHer 2.0 represents a deliberate shiftfrom a venture platform to a venture institution . The next phase is designed to deliver deeper, more structured support to: SMEs seeking capital readiness and sustainable growth pathways Startups requiring governance-first scaling frameworks Local economies aiming to build durable innovation capacity With Jeet Vijay joining as Co-Founder, InnovHer reinforces its commitment to institution-grade execution, long-term capital stewardship, and ecosystem accountability. The organization aims to demonstrate that venture institutions built from Tier-2 India can deliver outcomes on par with, or better than, metro-centric models. A Shared Vision for National Impact The alignment between InnovHers founding leadership and Jeet Vijay is rooted in a shared conviction: Indias most resilient innovation will emerge from regions when supported by strong institutions. InnovHer 2.0 seeks to set a national benchmark by proving that disciplined venture building, policy alignment, and regional grounding can coexist with scale and global competitiveness. As InnovHer steps into this new chapter, the appointment of Jeet Vijay is not merely a leadership announcementit is a signal. A signal that InnovHer is building for scale with discipline, for growth with purpose, and for impact with longevity.

Drifting quick-sands of Bengal politics: Can Mamata hold fort?

Didi is now resorting to temple run to woo back Bengali Hindus By Anjan Roy West Bengal is witnessing hectic political manoeuvring by leading political figures, even though the assembly elections are a clear six months away at least. One of these, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who was once a stalwart of the Congress, [] The post Drifting quick-sands of Bengal politics: Can Mamata hold fort? appeared first on Northlines .

Clicking on Happy New Year Link on Whatsapp Could Empty Your Bank Account

As India gears up for New Year celebrations, cybercrime authorities warn of a new 'greeting scam' targeting users on messaging platforms. Fraudsters disguise malware as festive greetings to steal personal data and drain bank accounts, exploiting the holiday season's goodwill.

India vs New Zealand ODI 2026 squad announcement - All you need to know

India are set to host New Zealand for an eight-match limited-overs series featuring three ODIs and five T20Is from January 11 to 31. The ODI leg of the series is expected to draw significant attention, particularly with stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma making their anticipated return to the 50-over format after the South Africa series. Meanwhile, the T20Is will act as a final testing phase for Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side as they prepare for their T20 World Cup title defence.

Shah: Infiltration Main Poll Plank In WB for 2026

Throwing a volley of questions to Ms Banerjee, the BJP stalwart wondered, People of Bengal are terrorised by infiltrators everywhere. Can there be any government that turns its own state into a safe haven for infiltrators? The CM must answer in the polls how big a threat the infiltrators have posed to national security? What are her plans to stop infiltration?

UniAcoustic Wins "Most Innovative Products" at FOAID Mumbai 2025, Reinforcing Leadership in Sustainable, Design-Driven Acoustics

UniAcoustic has been awarded the Most Innovative Products honour at FOAID Mumbai 2025, Indias foremost Festival of Architecture and Interior Design. This recognition marks the brands second consecutive industry accolade in 2025, following its win at ORGATEC India earlier this year, underscoring UniAcoustics growing influence on the future of acoustic design in India. Team UniAcoustic receiving the Most Innovative Products Award at FOAID 2025 The FOAID recognition reflects direct appreciation from the architecture and interior design community. UniAcoustics showcase drew strong engagement from leading architects, designers, consultants, and industry stalwarts many of whom personally visited the booth to experience the products, material innovations, and design language firsthand. What set UniAcoustic apart was not just performance, but the introduction of acoustic designs the industry has not seen before solutions that challenge the traditional perception of acoustics as purely functional elements. The brands systems were widely appreciated for their ability to seamlessly integrate into architectural narratives, offering visual richness, depth, and material expression without revealing their acoustic core. A central reason for this distinction lies in UniAcoustics patented Virtual Material Technology (VMT), which enables hyper-realistic, lifelike surface expressions on high-performance acoustic substrates. VMT allows designers to achieve the visual richness of natural and architectural materials while eliminating the instability, maintenance challenges, and environmental impact associated with conventional finishes making it a sustainable alternative to material-heavy design approaches. Sustainability remains a key pillar of UniAcoustics innovation philosophy. The brands products are engineered to reduce material waste, extend lifecycle performance, and support healthier indoor environments through low-emission surfaces. All systems comply with stringent global standards including EPD Certification, ISO 354, ISO 11654, EN 13501-1, ASTM E84, and E1/VOC, ensuring alignment with WELL, LEED, and IGBC frameworks. The award also recognises UniAcoustics solutions-led approach, where acoustics are not treated as afterthoughts but as integral components of spatial design whether for workplaces, hospitality environments, retail spaces, educational institutions, residential projects, or large public buildings. With sound absorption values reaching NRC 0.95, the brand delivers performance that is both measurable and experiential. In India, UniAcoustics innovative acoustic systems have already been deployed across several landmark projects for leading organisations including HDFC, SwissRe, Avalara, IBM, Coco-Cola, AstraZeneca, Accenture, NPCI etc reflecting strong client confidence in the brands design-led and performance-driven approach. Receiving this recognition at FOAID a platform defined by design leadership is especially meaningful , said Mr. Shabir Rajkotwala, Managing Director, UniAcoustic . It reflects how the industry is responding to acoustic solutions that are expressive, responsible, and genuinely innovative. Our focus remains on empowering architects and designers with materials that expand creative freedom while meeting the highest performance and sustainability benchmarks . As part of a Great Place to Workcertified organisation, UniAcoustic also reflects a culture rooted in people-centric values, long-term thinking, and continuous improvement principles that directly influence how its products are conceived, engineered, and delivered. With sustained recognition across two of Indias most influential design platforms, UniAcoustic continues to set new benchmarks for what acoustic products can be visually, technically, and responsibly shaping more human-centric, high-performing, and future-ready environments across India and beyond. About UniAcoustic UniAcoustic is shaping a new direction for acoustic design in India with its commitment to design-first thinking, sustainability, and patented next-generation technologies. Through its strategic collaboration with Vicoustic, the brand brings globally recognised expertise to introduce unique, never-seen-before acoustic solutions tailored for modern Indian spaces. With strong technical support, customisation capabilities, and a solutions-led approach, UniAcoustic delivers high-performance systems that enhance comfort, aesthetics, and overall spatial experienceoffering architects and designers a refined balance of functional excellence and visual sophistication.

Vaikunta Ekadashi at Hare Krishna Golden Temple Hyderabad

The auspicious festival marks the transcendental occasion when Lord Sri Vishnu Himself welcomed His dear devotee Sri Nammalwar into Vaikunta.

Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat divided over khap panchayats ban on smartphones, dress code for minors

BAGHPAT: People in Baghpat district are divided over the khap panchayats ban on the use of smartphones and wearing half-pants in public places by those under 18. In its Saturday diktat, the panchayat also objected to holding weddings in banquet halls, asserting that marriages should be held in villages and homes. It suggested the kurta-pyjama for boys and the salwar-kurta for girls. While some sections have welcomed the decisions, several intellectuals and social activists have strongly opposed them. Historian Amit Rai Jain termed the decisions Tughlaqi diktats and said mobile phones have become a necessity in present times. Talking to PTI, Jain said education, social networking and work are heavily dependent on mobile phones, making any ban impractical. He also pointed out that the authority to frame laws rests with the government and administration, not with panchayats. Deshkhap Mavi's Thambedar Chaudhary Yashpal Singh said he did not oppose the decisions but added that nothing could be imposed forcibly. He stressed the need to counsel children and instil good values, saying cultured children naturally stay away from wrong practices. The khap's decisions have also received political support. Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) MP from Baghpat, Rajkumar Sangwan, and senior Congress leader Chaudhary Yashpal Singh said preserving social values is the need of the hour. Sangwan said the khap's views were respectable as they strengthen the community. Thamba Patti Mehar Deshkhap's Chaudhary Brijpal Singh and khap leader Subhash Chaudhary said efforts would be made to implement the decisions by holding discussions with responsible members of village communities. They added that attempts would be made to extend these decisions across Uttar Pradesh by coordinating with other khaps. Former Chhaprauli MLA Sahendra Singh Ramala said the foundation of values begins at home. He said if the panchayat had taken such a decision, its members must first set an example themselves. He also stressed the need for balance in the use of mobile phones, adding that spending time with children and being their friend is equally important.

Humpy and Erigaisi settle for bronze at World Rapid Cships

Doha, Dec 29: Indian chess stalwart Koneru Humpy suffered a massive heartbreak in her bid for a third world rapid title, finishing with a bronze in the womens section of the FIDE World Rapid Championships after being cruelly done in by the tie-break rule, here on Sunday. Humpy, the winner of the world rapid title []

Amitabh Bachchan on an artists need to reflect on their work after the job is done

Mumbai: Bollywoods stalwart Amitabh Bachchan used his blog to reflect on an artists need to constantly work on his craft and be better to attain the satisfaction that he has done justice to the job. Talking about what job done actually means to him, Big B wrote, when work calls , it calls for attention 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 .

Jaipur Diary: Hard launch of junior Pilot Aarav at Save Aravallis rally?

Dhankhar makes quiet appearance in Jaipur Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhars quiet return to Jaipur on Thursday set political circles abuzz. On a one-day visithis first since stepping down as the Vice-PresidentDhankhar briefly interacted with the media, sharing warm memories of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Away from the spotlight for several months, Dhankhar chose to keep it low-key, having lunch with family at his brother Randeep Dhankhars residence before meeting a senior Vishva Hindu Parishad leader. By the evening, he quietly drove back to Delhi. Notably, Dhankhar had largely vanished from public view after his sudden resignation in July. Hard launch of junior Pilot Aarav at rally? The Congress has seized the row over the Aravallis to train guns on the BJP. State president Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully have led protests in Jaipur and Alwar, while former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has kept the issue alive on social media. But it was AICC General Secretary Sachin Pilots teenage son Aarav Pilots presence at an NSUI rally in Jaipur to save the Aravallis that has got tongues wagging. Political observers are seeing the fresh-faced boys appearance at the event as a symbolic launch, reading it as Pilots bid to project himself as a seasoned leader with a long-term vision. Social media storm over reel star IAS officer Barmer district collector Tina Dabi is back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Some students taking part in a protest at a girls postgraduate college faced police action for allegedly calling her a reel star, sparking political chatter and online furore. Dabi, however, dismissed the drama in a written statement to a private channel, calling it an attempt to defame me and gain cheap popularity on social media. Known for her academic brilliance and penchant for making reels, Dabi frequently finds herself in the headlines. Now, the debate has shifted to whether administrative officers should face restrictions on creating reels. Rajesh Asnani Our correspondent in Jaipur rajesh.asnani@newindianexpress.com

Save Aravalli, Save Life drive gains currency in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: The Congress on Saturday intensified its agitation across all districts in Rajasthan over the exclusion of hills below 100 metres from the Aravalli range across all districts. Under the banner of Save Aravalli Save Life, state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of Opposition Tikaram Juli participated in a major protest organised by the Alwar district party committee. In Jaipur, Congress leaders and workers marched from the PCC headquarters to Shaheed Smarak, raising slogans against the Centre and the state government. On Friday, the NSUI and Youth Congress organised protest marches joined by Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot. The agitation has gained momentum across the state, drawing participation from thousands. Protesters say excluding hills below 100 metres could lead to severe and irreversible environmental damage. Addressing the gathering, Juli alleged that a deliberate conspiracy was underway to destroy the Aravalli range. He warned that while affluent sections might escape the consequences, local communities would be left to face environmental devastation. The Congress will continue its struggle until the Aravallis receive complete protection, he added. In Jaipur, city Congress submitted a memorandum to the Police Commissioner addressed to the President. Protests in several districts turned confrontational. In Dausa, Congress workers attempted to force their way into a locked Dak Bungalow meeting hall. In Ajmer, tensions escalated when police objected to the use of a DJ system during the march, leading to clashes. Similar confrontations were reported from Dholpur. In Tonk, Deputy CM Premchand Bairwa defended the governments position. The Aravalli range is a national heritage. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Union ministers have made it clear that the Aravallis are already protected and reserved. No harm will be allowed. Attempts to politicise the issue are unacceptable, he said. Activists demanded stronger legal safeguards, emphasising that the Aravalli range is not merely a chain of hills but a vital ecological shield that sustains groundwater, biodiversity, and life across Rajasthan. The Centre and the state governments were accused of colluding with mining mafia to facilitate environmental destruction.

Rajasthan Dy CM accuses Congress of politicising Aravalli redefinition row as protests continue across state

JAIPUR: Under the banner of 'Save AravalliSave Life', large-scale protests were organised by Congress across Rajasthan on Saturday, highlighting growing political and public concern over the future of one of the worlds oldest mountain ranges. On Friday, the NSUI and Youth Congress organised protest marches joined by Congress General Secretary Sachin Pilot, followed by large-scale demonstrations led by the state Congress committee on Saturday. Protesters warned that excluding hills below 100 metres could lead to severe and irreversible environmental damage. State Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Juli participated in a major protest organised by the Alwar District Congress Committee. Addressing the gathering, Tikaram Juli alleged that a deliberate conspiracy was underway to destroy the Aravalli range. He warned that while affluent sections might escape the consequences, local communities would be left to face environmental devastation. As part of the Alwar Save Aravalli Campaign, a massive demonstration took place at Kati Ghati, where hundreds of Congress workers climbed the Aravalli hills holding flags bearing the message Save Aravalli. Youth participation stood out, with several young activists shaving their heads and writing Save Aravalli on their scalps as a symbolic pledge to protect the mountain range. In Jaipur, Congress leaders and workers marched from the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) headquarters to Shaheed Smarak, raising slogans against the Centre and the State government. The city edition of Congress submitted a memorandum to the Police Commissioner addressed to the President of India. However, protests in several districts turned confrontational: In Dausa, Congress workers attempted to force their way into a locked Dak Bungalow meeting hall; in Ajmer, tensions escalated when police objected to the use of a DJ system during the march, leading to clashes; similar confrontations were reported from Dholpur as well. Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa defended the governments position: The Aravalli range is a national heritage. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Union Ministers have made it clear that the Aravallis are already protected and reserved. No harm will be allowed. Attempts to politicise the issue are unacceptable. Activists demanded stronger legal safeguards, emphasising that the Aravalli range is not merely a chain of hills but a vital ecological shield that sustains groundwater, biodiversity, and life across Rajasthan. The BJP government at the national and state levels were accused of colluding with mining mafias to facilitate environmental destruction. Recently, the Supreme Court accepted the Environment Ministrys definition that considers only hills above 100 metres as mountains. This effectively removes nearly 90 percent of the Aravalli rangemuch of which lies between 30 and 80 metresfrom the protected mountain category. While the Central Government has directed that no new mining leases be issued before scientific mapping, environmental experts remain concerned about the future of the lower-height Aravallis. The central question persists: if these hills are no longer legally classified as mountains, how will one of the worlds oldest mountain ranges be protected from mining and exploitation?

PM Modi: Freed country from tendency to link all good works with one family

Prime Minister Modi, inaugurating a memorial in Lucknow, criticized past governments for glorifying a single family and neglecting national heroes. He stated the BJP government is rectifying this by honoring all contributors and dismantling barriers like Article 370. The memorial celebrates Jan Sangh stalwarts, emphasizing the BJP's commitment to merit-based recognition over dynastic politics.

Memorials of Vajpayee, two other BJP icons ready, Modi to inaugurate today

LUCKNOW: Spread over 65 acres next to the embankment of the River Gomti on Hardoi Road, on the outskirts of Lucknow, the memorial Rashtra Prerna Sthal dedicated to BJP icons Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, and Deen Dayal Upadhyay will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. The complex will open to the public after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, which happens to be Vajpayees birth anniversary, an official statement said. Shaped like a lotus reflecting BJPs election symbol, the memorial features three towering bronze statues of Vajpayee, Mookerjee, and Upadhyay. It also showcases poems and speeches of Vajpayee, nationalist quotes by Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Deen Dayal Upadhyay, and audio presentations highlighting their contributions to nation-building. Developed at a cost of Rs 230 crore, the memorial comprises three statues, each measuring 65 feet and weighing 42 tonnes, making them the tallest among all statues of personalities in the state capital. The platform on which the statues stand is surrounded by a water body. A major attraction is a two-storey museum covering 6,300 sqm, with five galleries, 12 interpretation walls, and two theatres screening orientation films on the lives of the BJP icons. Galleries display texts noting the Jana Sanghs 1952 election success, the deepak election symbol, and a lamp, Sudarshan Chakra, and Bharat Mata statue. Other features include an amphitheatre for 3,000 people, a meditation hall, yoga centre, musical block, helipads, and a rally ground accommodating over two lakh people. Party sources said it is the first memorial to house statues of three BJP stalwarts at a single location.

PM Modi to inaugurate Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow on December 25

LUCKNOW: Spread over 65 acres, next to the embankment of River Gomti on Hardoi Road on the outskirts of the state capital Lucknow, the memorial, Rashtra Prerna Sthal, dedicated to BJP icons Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Deen Dayal Upadhyay, will be inaugurated by PM Modi on Thursday. Shaped like a lotus reflecting the BJPs election symbol, the memorial has three towering bronze statues of Vajpayee, Mookerjee and Upadhyay. Replete with poems and speeches of Vajpayee, nationalist quotes by Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Deendayal Upadhyaya and audio presentations highlighting their contributions to nation-building, the memorial has many features. The complex will open to the public after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, which happens to be Vajpayees birth anniversary. According to the officials of Lucknow Development Authority, developed at a cost of Rs 230 crore, the memorial comprises three statues, each measuring 65 feet and weighing 42 tonnes, being the tallest among all statues of personalities installed in the state capital. The platform on which the statues stand is surrounded by a water body. One of the main attractions of the Rashtra Prerna Sthal is a two-storey museum developed over an area of 6,300 sqm. It has five galleries and 12 interpretation walls dedicated to three leaders. Two separate theatres are there where orientation films on the lives of the BJP icons will be screened. The displayed text on the walls reads that in the 1952 elections, the Jana Sangh achieved a remarkable success, and its election symbol the deepak became a symbol of the emerging nationalist politics in independent India. The lamp, Sudarshan Chakra and a statue of Bharat Mata have been installed in a gallery of the museum. There is also an amphitheatre, with a capacity to host 3,000 people, a meditation hall, a yoga centre, a musical block, helipads, and a rally ground that can accommodate over 2 lakh people. According to party sources, it is a unique memorial as it would be the first such project where statues of three of the stalwarts of the party are placed in a single place. Ahead of the inauguration on Thursday, the BJPs UP unit is working to ensure the presence of nearly 2 lakh people at the ground during PM Modis address. On Tuesday, BJP state president Pankaj Chaudhary inspected preparations. The party is also holding an organisational meeting in Lucknow and adjoining districts to make the event a success by ensuring the rally ground remains fully occupied during the PMs address.

Heroes, Villains, Side Artistes and Extras in Indias Politics of 2025

Stalwarts like Union home minister Amit Shah failed to douse the grave Opposition doubts in Parliament over the ECs functioning and the SIR issue.

Agitation intensifies against SC ruling on Aravalli definition in Rajasthan, ex-CM Gehlot alleges systemic attack

JAIPUR: Environmentalists and social organisations staged demonstrations against the Supreme Courts acceptance of the Union Environment Ministrys definition of the Aravalli mountains in several cities of Rajasthan on Monday. Meanwhile, a political war of words has erupted between former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. Protests were held in Udaipur, Jodhpur, Sikar, Alwar and Ajmer, with police action reported at some places. Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully described the Aravallis as the lungs of Rajasthan and warned that the agitation would intensify if the decision was not reversed. Responding to the protests, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma accused the Congress of spreading misinformation, saying, Former CM Ashok Gehlot is misleading the public on the Aravalli issue. The state government is fully committed to protecting the Aravalli range, and no decision will be allowed that causes harm to Rajasthans environment. The BJP further intensified its attack, with former Leader of the Opposition Rajendra Rathore alleging that Gehlot was misinterpreting the Supreme Court order for political gains. Rathore said the 100-metre criterion was finalised during the Congress regime in 2003. Centre will draw up new conservation plan for Aravalli, says Environment Minister amid row over SC order Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav also sought to clarify the Centres stand , stating, The Aravalli range will remain protected. Hills and slopes above 100 metres continue to be under protection, mining is completely banned in the NCR, and limited mining is permitted in only 0.19 per cent of the area. Twenty wildlife sanctuaries and four tiger reserves in the Aravallis are fully secure. Yadav added that the government is committed to keeping the Aravallis green and to strengthen protection standards in the range. The Aravalli range is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, and we are fully committed to ensuring that it remains green. At the same time, it is important to establish clear and uniform standards for its protection, MinisterYadav said in an interview. The 100-metre criterion refers to the entire mountain structure, from the peak down to the ground level where its permanent base is located. In the absence of a clear definition earlier, there were irregularities in the grant of mining permits in the Aravalli region, he said. Gehlot, however, strongly rebutted the Centres claims. In a statement issued onMonday night, Gehlot said, The claims being made by the Union environment minister are completely misleading and far from the truth. He argued that the 100-metre definition should not be viewed in isolation and alleged that recent decisions point towards a systematic weakening of environmental safeguards. Gehlot also alleged that attempts to alter the Critical Tiger Habitat in Sariska and the September 5, 2023 notification bringing the Supreme Court-monitored Central Empowered Committee under the Environment Ministry reflect the governments intent to open protected areas to mining interests. With protests spreading and political rhetoric escalating, the controversy over the Aravalli definition is expected to intensify in the coming days. SC ruling on Aravalli definition sparks opposition in Rajasthan, former CM Gehlot warns of ecological disaster

BJP emerges single largest party in Maharashtra local body polls as Mahayuti sweeps municipal councils

NAGPUR: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the BJP has set a record in local body polls with 48 per cent of councillors winning on the party symbol, and its candidates elected as presidents in 129 municipal councils. He attributed the Mahayuti alliance's success in the municipal council and nagar panchayat elections to the BJP organisation and development agenda of the government. Counting of votes for elections to the posts of president and members in 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats held in two phases began in the morning. Fadnavis said the BJP has once again emerged as the single largest party. 48 per cent councillors have been elected on the BJP symbol, which is a record. The BJP has created another record with 3,300 councillors being elected from the party. BJP candidates have been elected as presidents in 129 municipal councils. In 75 per cent of the local bodies, Mahayuti nominees have been elected as municipal presidents, he said. Fadnavis emphasised that the BJP's national leadership has put faith in the state leadership for elections. It is the team effort - the organisation and government. We fought the polls on the development plank. I led a positive campaign on the development agenda. I never criticised any political leader or party. I solicited votes on the development agenda, the work done by the government so far, and our blueprint for the future, the chief minister told a press conference. In the multi-dimensional contests, Mahayuti allies- the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP- contested against each other in some places. There were alliances as well as friendly fights among Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents- the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), and Congress. The opposition Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) virtually conceded defeat in the elections, accusing the election commission of facilitating the victory of the ruling Mahayuti. State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal congratulated the party candidates who won the posts of municipal president and councillors. In a terse comment, he congratulated the state poll body for helping the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut attributed the victory of Mahayuti to ampering of EVMs. He said the opposition couldn't withstand a hailstorm of money. His party colleague Ambadas Danve alleged money and muscle power shaped the Mahayuti win. The Mahayuti has bagged a larger number of seats as compared to constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, thanks to the muscle and money power deployed by the ruling parties, Danve told PTI in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan claimed the party had got a decisive mandate as voters had rejected the Opposition's fake narrative. He claimed the Mahayuti had won more than 250 councils, nagar parishads and nagar panchayats out of 288, with BJP candidates securing 134 out of 236 council chief posts and over 3,000 councillor seats. The Opposition levelled all kinds of allegations during the campaign, but people saw through them. Uddhav Thackeray himself said he had nothing to offer to the people and that is why his party was rejected. His party could not even win council chairperson posts in double digits, Chavan claimed. Now, Mumbaikars too would reject the opposition's narrative in the upcoming BMC polls, he said. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the overwhelming success of the BJP was a victory of the (party) workers. This is a victory of our workers. Thank you to the people who supported the BJP by maintaining faith in its development-oriented working style, the Union minister stated. Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule claimed the Mahayuti is headed to secure two-thirds seats. The Mahayuti has taken a very good lead in Maharashtra and the people have rejected the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), he added. State minister Shivendrasinh Bhosale claimed BJP candidate Amol Mohite was elected municipal president in Satara district by 42,000 votes, an outcome that even surpassed the vote margins typically seen in assembly elections. Minister of state for home Yogesh Kadam claimed the Mahayuti had registered a clean sweep in Khed municipal council in Ratnagiri district by winning all 21 seats, including 17 seats won by Shiv Sena. The BJP has won the president's post in four out of five local bodies in Udgir, Ahmedpur, Nilanga, and Renapur in Latur district, while its ally NCP bagged the seat in Ausa. In the Beed district, the Mahayuti combine has taken a decisive lead. People have demolished the plot of the Opposition to defame Parli and Beed through the results of the local body polls, former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde claimed. The Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) claimed they had retained their party bastions in Chandrapur and Sangli districts. The Congress won the municipal council president's post as well as 21 of the 23 seats in the Brahmapuri municipal council in Chandrapur district, party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said. The BJP and NCP have secured one seat each. In the Urun-Ishwarpur municipal council in Sangli district, the NCP (SP) has won 23 seats as well as the post of council president, senior leader Jayant Patil claimed. In Palghar district, the Shiv Sena has won the president's election in the municipal councils of Palghar and Dahanu, while the BJP bagged the president's posts in Jawhar municipal council and Wada Nagar Panchayat. Recounting of votes was ordered after the Congress objected to the 116-vote win of BJP candidate Ajay Agrawal in Kamptee municipal council polls in Nagpur district, an official said. In a setback for the BJP, the party candidate for the post of Loha municipal council president, Gajanan Suryavanshi, and his five kin lost. The post was won by Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party, whose candidate, incidentally, is named Sharad Pawar. The NCP emerged victorious in Loha, Kandhar, Degloor and Umri, while the BJP won in Kundalwadi, Mudkhed and Bhokar in Nanded district. The Shiv Sena and Marathwada Janhit Party won from two places each, while the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress emerged victorious from one place each, officials said. Only the NCP (SP) led by opposition stalwart Sharad Pawar failed to capture any of the municipal councils that went to polls in the district, they added. BJP consolidates Mahayuti dominance in Maharashtra local body polls, big blow to MVA

Supreme Court ruling on Aravalli definition triggers huge protests in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: The Supreme Courts recent acceptance of the Union Environment Ministrys definition of the Aravalli hills -- restricting the range to landforms with an elevation of more than 100 metres -- has triggered widespread protests across Rajasthan. Political leaders, environmental activists, social media influencers and citizens have expressed strong opposition and warned that the move will entail serious ecological and economic consequences. Under the revised definition, nearly 90 per cent of the Aravalli range in Rajasthan, consisting of hills lower than 100 metres, will no longer be classified as part of the protected range. According to available data, only 1,048 out of nearly 1.6 lakh hillocks in the state meet the 100-metre criterion, effectively excluding the vast majority from regulatory safeguards. SC ruling on Aravalli definition sparks opposition in Rajasthan, former CM Gehlot warns of ecological disaster Laxmikant Sharma, professor at the Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, said the governments stance that only hills above 100 metres qualify as Aravalli would automatically exclude most of the range. In Rajasthan, the Aravalli hills are largely between 30 and 80 metres in height. This means nearly 90 per cent of the range is directly under threat, he said. Though the Supreme Court order states that new mining is not permitted, critics argue that illegal mining continues unabated. A 2018 report by the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) revealed that around 25 per cent of the Aravalli hills in Rajasthan had already been destroyed. Against this backdrop, the Aravalli Heritage Peoples Campaign was launched a few days ago from Vinoba Gyan Mandir in Bapu Nagar in Jaipur. Kavita Srivastava, national president of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), urged the government to repeal the uniform definition of the Aravalli proposed by a committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, calling it a threat to Indias ecological and cultural heritage. SC ruling on Aravalli definition sparks opposition in Rajasthan, former CM Gehlot warns of ecological disaster 'Road to hell is paved with good intentions': Congress slams government over new Aravalli definition Activists have demanded that the Aravalli rangespread across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhibe declared an Ecologically Critical Area and that the use of raw stone mined from the hills be stopped. Neelam Ahluwalia, founding member of People for Aravalli, said the recent court decision would leave more than 90 per cent of the range unprotected and vulnerable to mining. The situation is particularly alarming in Alwar district, where 31 of the 128 identified hills have reportedly been completely flattened due to mining. Environmental experts warn that excluding large parts of the Aravalli range from protection could further embolden mining mafias. Experts have also cautioned that extensive degradation of the Aravallis could alter regional rainfall patterns. Some warn that if the range is destroyed, monsoon moisture could shift westwards towards Pakistan, adversely affecting rainfall in Rajasthan. Nearly 80 per cent of the 700-kilometre-long Aravalli range passes through 27 districts of Rajasthan, forming the ecological backbone of eastern Rajasthan. Agriculture and farmers livelihoods in these regions depend heavily on the hills, as several seasonal riversincluding the Chambal, Banas, Sahibi, Sota, Katli, Kasavati, Gambhiri and Moreloriginate from the Aravallis. Modi government has 'nearly signed death warrant' for Aravalli hills: Sonia Gandhi Rainwater stored in the hills flows through streams and underground channels, sustaining these rivers and supporting small-scale farming and animal husbandry throughout the year. The Aravallis are also home to diverse plant species and vegetation. As the worlds oldest mountain range, their rock formations have a strong water-holding capacity, allowing groundwater to be stored for long periods. Rajasthan has around 32 major potable water reservoirs, many of which depend on the Aravalli system. In a desert state like Rajasthan, environmentalists point out that nearly 22 per cent of the Aravalli hills have already been destroyed due to excessive mining. According to studies, the unique structure of the Aravallis helps recharge nearly two million litres of groundwater per hectare annually, making the range the largest source of water in the region. As protests intensify, environmental groups have demanded an immediate review of the definition, warning that Rajasthans ecology, water security and rural economy are at serious risk. It remains to be seen how the agitation unfolds in the coming days. On International Mountain Day, campaign launched to save India's oldest mountain range Aravalli

Malayalam film stalwart Sreenivasans legacy: A timeline

Malayalam film veteran Sreenivasan passed away due to ailments on December 20, 2025. Here is a look at his journey in film.

Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam in Tirumala on December 23

The purificatory ritual will be performed from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., during which period Astadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva will remain cancelled

SC ruling on Aravalli definition sparks opposition in Rajasthan, former CM Gehlot warns of ecological disaster

JAIPUR: The Supreme Courts recent ruling, issued on the recommendation of the central government, to limit the definition of the Aravalli mountain range to landforms rising more than 100 metres above their surroundings, has triggered sharp opposition in Rajasthan. Joining the growing protests, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot has warned that the decision could lead to huge ecological damage. Gehlot termed the ruling a red carpet for illegal mining, and a direct invitation to environmental destruction. On November 21, the apex court held that only hills in the Aravalli region with a relative height of 100 metres or more would be considered part of the mountain range. The Aravalli is not just a mountain range for Rajasthan; it is our protective shield, Gehlot said. He argued that narrowing the definition on the Centres recommendation amounts to a death sentence for nearly 90 per cent of the states hills. According to him, almost 90 per cent of the Aravalli formations in Rajasthan are below the 100-metre threshold. Gehlot cautioned that excluding these hills from the legal definition is not a technical adjustment but the removal of a critical layer of environmental protection, leaving vast areas vulnerable to mining and degradation. Highlighting the ecological importance of the Aravallis, Gehlot said the range plays a crucial role in preventing desertification by blocking hot winds from the west and stopping the Thar Desert from advancing into eastern Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Experts, he noted, have pointed out that even small hills and mounds measuring 10 to 30 metres are effective in checking dust storms. Allowing mining in these areas, he warned, could accelerate desert spread towards the national capital. He further said that the rocky structure of the Aravalli range enables rainwater to percolate underground, making it a major source of groundwater recharge across the region. Removing these hills could prove disastrous for northwest India, which is already facing a severe water crisis, Gehlot said. He added that history would not forgive the injustice being done to future generations, alleging that although the Supreme Court proceedings began to protect the Aravalli, acceptance of the Centres recommendation has effectively erased 90 per cent of the range. He urged the court to reconsider the decision in the interest of future generations, calling it a direct invitation to destruction. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, Tikaram Jully, also strongly criticised the move, warning that without the Aravalli range, nothing will be left. Launching a sharp attack on the central government and the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, Jully said the looming threat to the Aravallis existence has become a question mark on the future of Rajasthan. Jully said that the fight to save the Aravalli range is no longer the responsibility of any single political party but a collective social duty to protect the state and the future of the coming generations. Targeting Union environment minister and Alwar MP Bhupendra Yadav, Jully said it was the greatest irony of democracy that those entrusted with environmental protection were now paving the way for destruction. He pointed out that Yadav was educated in Ajmer and represents Alwar, both regions closely linked to the Aravalli range and home to important pilgrimage sites such as Pushkar. Despite this, Jully alleged, the minister was acting like Dhritarashtra, the blind king from the Mahabharata, silently witnessing the destruction of the Aravalli range and ignoring the future of his own land and its people.

A legacy lost to neglect and silence

Remembering Kashyap Bandhu Avtar Nehru Many stalwarts and scholars within the Kashmiri Pandit community privately concede that Pandit Kashyap Bandhu was among its greatest figures for much of the twentieth century. He was widely respected as a public intellectual and, importantly, was deeply networked with the leading minds and institutions of his time. His stature was formally acknowledged when he was included among the 75 Personalities commemorated during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM), marking seventy-five years of Indias independence in [] The post A legacy lost to neglect and silence appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Beachville Caf hosts Carnatic concert series this Margazhi

As Margazhi fills Chennais sabhas, a parallel Carnatic concert series unfolds inside a caf in Alwarpet, where proximity, timing, and format reshape how the music is experienced

Inter-state criminal nabbed in Indore after returning to fill SIR voter form

BHOPAL: Coming back to his home city Indore reportedly to fill up his Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter enumeration form recently, a hardened inter-state criminal landed in the Madhya Pradesh polices net. Identified as Abdul Rashid, alias Talwar Singh (54), the criminal is accused in around 100 cases, including robbery, theft and murder in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states. He had recently returned to Indore after many years just to fill up the SIR enumeration form. On December 3, he broke into a closed flat in Indores Geeta Nagar locality and decamped with gold and silver jewellery valued in lakhs of rupees. Multiple teams were formed by the Indore Palasia police to crack the burglary-theft case, which led to the arrest of Abdul Rashid a few days later in Indore, following a specific tip-off. His questioning revealed that he had come down to his home city Indore after many years for filling up his SIR enumeration form. After filling the form, he committed the crime at the closed flat in Geeta Nagar, but acting on specific intelligence, the police arrested him a few days later, Indore police spokesperson and additional DCP of the city crime branch Rajesh Dandotiya told TNIE on Saturday. Subsequent investigations, based on Rashids sustained grilling, revealed that he was accused in around 100 cases of theft, robbery, burglary, murder and attempted murder in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states. Had he not come to Indore for filling up the SIR form and then not committed the burglary-theft, maybe we wouldnt have been able to nab him, a senior Indore police officer said. Stolen properties, including cash, jewellery and a two-wheeler, all valued at over Rs 7.5 lakh, were recovered from Rashids possession. He was originally a native of Indores North Toda locality and started committing thefts and burglaries from the age of 19. However, he later shifted to Akola in Maharashtra after the Indore police began searching for him. He married a woman in Akola and started living there. He earned the infamous sobriquet Talwar Singh a few years back, after he beheaded a man with a sword and then surrendered at the local police station with the severed head in Maharashtras Wardha.

Congress stalwart Shivraj Patil passes away at 90

PTI Latur Veteran Congressman Shivraj Patil, who served as the Lok Sabha speaker and was Union home minister during the 26/11 attacks, passed away at his hometown Latur in Maharashtra on Friday morning, family sources said. Patil (90) passed away at his residence Devghar after a brief illness, they said, adding his funeral will be [] The post Congress stalwart Shivraj Patil passes away at 90 appeared first on The Navhind Times .

GPS spoofing of flights reported at major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai: Centre tells Rajya Sabha

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Monday disclosed that incidents of GPS spoofing and interference with flights have been reported at major airports in the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai. In a written reply to questions raised by YSRCP MP S Niranjan Reddy in the Rajya Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu confirmed that GPS spoofing was reported in the vicinity of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi. Some flights reported GPS spoofing in the vicinity of IGIA, New Delhi while using GPS based landing procedures, while approaching on RWY (runway) 10. Contingency procedures were used for GPS spoofed flights approaching to RWY 10. There were no effects on movements of flights, on other runway ends having conventional navigational aids being operational, the minister said. Global Positioning System (GPS)/ Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) spoofing and jamming refer to attempts to manipulate a user's navigation system by giving false signals. The minister stated that the Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) has been directed to identify the source of the spoofing. Airports Authority of India (AAI) has also requested Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) to possibly identify the source of interference/ spoofing. During the high-level meeting, WMO was directed to mobilise more resources to identify the source of spoofing based on approximate spoofing location details shared by DGCA and AAI, Naidu said in a written reply. WMO comes under the Department of Telecommunications. After being mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to report instances of GPS jamming/ spoofing since November 2023, regular reports are being received from other major airports in the country. GNSS interference reports are being received from Kolkata, Amritsar, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai airports, the minister said. Last month, DGCA asked airlines, pilots and air traffic controllers to report GPS spoofing incidents within 10 minutes of the occurrences, amid recent such incidents at the Delhi airport. In the written reply, Naidu said Minimum Operating Network (MON), consisting of Conventional (Ground-based) Navigation and Surveillance Infrastructure, are retained in accordance with global best practices. India is also participating in global platforms to keep itself abreast of the latest methodology and technology for the timely implementation of the same. To a query, Naidu said the global cybersecurity threats to the aviation sector are in the form of ransomware/ malware. To enhance cyber security against global threats, AAI is implementing advanced cyber security solutions for IT networks and infrastructure. These actions have been taken in accordance with the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) and Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) guidelines. Cyber security is ensured by continuous upgradation. As the nature and type of the threat changes, new protective measures are being taken, he added. (With inputs from PTI)

Travel Chaos Fears Ease After Airbus Update On A320 Software Upgrade

Fears of days of travel chaos across Europe and the world eased on Saturday after plane manufacturer Airbus intervened rapidly to implement a software upgrade it had said was immediately needed on some 6,000 of its stalwart A320 planes.

Delhi Police warns against fake traffic challan messages with malware links

Delhi Police warns of a surge in fraudulent WhatsApp and SMS messages impersonating traffic challan notifications. Scammers trick users into downloading malicious APK files to install malware, steal financial information, and gain remote control of devices. Citizens are urged to verify challans only through official portals and never click on suspicious links or download unknown files.

Struggle for Congress

While the results of the Bihar assembly elections were agonizing to the Congress, the party is now faced with another serious pain in Karnataka, where it held power for the past over two and a half years. Two stalwarts behind the partys big electoral win there in 2023, namely Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief []

Pakistan's New WhatsApp-Based Spy Tactic Targets CAPF Officers After Red Fort Blast | Exclusive

Agents posed as officials on WhatsApp, lured CAPF officers into fake groups, then used the join link to infect devices with Trojan malware and gain remote access to sensitive data

Two more convicted in Vizag Navy espionage case

Ashok Kumar of Jhunjhunu district and Vikas Kumar of Alwar district in Rajasthan have bee awarded simple imprisonment of five years and 11 months

Two More Sentenced In Pakistan-Linked Navy Espionage Case, NIA Secures 8th Conviction

New Delhi, Nov 25: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday awarded over five years of simple imprisonment to two more accused in the Pakistan-linked espionage case involving surveillance of Indian Navy installations, taking the total convictions in the case to eight. The accused, identified as Ashok Kumar of Jhunjhunu district and Vikas Kumar of Alwar district of Rajasthan, will have to undergo SI of 5 years and 11 months under each of section 18 of [] The post Two More Sentenced In Pakistan-Linked Navy Espionage Case, NIA Secures 8th Conviction appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

2 More Accused Get Imprisonment in Visakhapatnam Navy Espionage Case

The accused, identified as Ashok Kumar of Jhunjhunu district and Vikas Kumar of Alwar district of Rajasthan, will have to undergo SI of five years and 11 months under each of section 18 of UA(P) Act and section 3 of Official Secrets Act

Iconic film personality, phenomenal actor: PM Modi's tribute to Dharmendra

The legendary Dharmendra, a stalwart of Indian cinema, has sadly left us at the age of 89. In a heartfelt tribute, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognized him as a timeless icon and extraordinary performer. Spanning an impressive sixty years and more than 300 films, Dharmendra's passing signifies the conclusion of a cinematic chapter that shaped millions.

Meet Swiftee: The AI companion by ConveGenius Turning Education HarDware into Heartware

ConveGenius, a leading Indian AI and edtech company, unveiled Swiftee, its on-device multimodal AI companion, at SwiftEdge 2025 the companys flagship partner summit held in New Delhi. The event brought together 40+ OEM leaders and education innovators, including representatives from HP, Lenovo, and Google Chromebook. Mr Jairaj Bhattacharya, CEO & MD, ConveGenius Group at the launch of Swiftee Despite the rapid scale of device shipments, most classroom hardware still functions as passive screens, with limited ability to support how children actually learn. ConveGenius is addressing this gap by introducing a new category that shifts Indias devices from Hardware to Heartware. Heartware is the AI layer that makes hardware emotionally aware, contextually relevant, and purpose-driven for learning. At the centre of this shift is Swiftee, an on-device multimodal AI companion that transforms any tablet, panel, or device into an active, guided learning tool. Positioned as a heartware layer, Swiftee sits atop existing hardware to make digital learning safer, more personal, and more meaningful for children aged 5 to 18. Built on ConveGenius decade-long research in AI-led learning, Swiftee offers capabilities such as homework support, safe search, creative exploration, emotional check-ins, and guided engagement. Live demos at the summit showcased Swiftee running seamlessly across diverse hardware ecosystems and operating systems, reinforcing how easily it integrates with both entry-level and premium devices. Unlike generic cloud-AI tools, Swiftee works in low-connectivity settings, understands multilingual inputs, and responds safely around children. For OEMs, this means a device is no longer just a screen. It becomes an intelligent assistant built for real learning use cases, an evolution the education sector has long awaited. On the vision behind Swiftee, Jairaj Bhattacharya, CEO, ConveGenius Group said: Over the last ten years, weve learned that AI becomes meaningful only when it fits the lives of the people it is meant to support. Weve seen this firsthand across 22 states and 170 million users. That is why we built Swiftee-to make AI relevant for students, helpful for teachers, and dependable for parents and schools. It is intelligence shaped by India and not imported for India. Swiftee has the potential to immensely contribute towards accomplishing Indias commitment for ensuring inclusive and quality education to all children by 2030 . With Swiftees API framework, hardware companies can also build custom AI agents to shape solutions around the exact needs of their buyers. Wellbeing support for students, assistance for teachers, lesson planning automation, curriculum-aligned remediation, and much more. The possibilities are endless. Everyone is excited about AI, but operational challenges like cloud costs, unpredictable behaviour, and constant oversight often hold hardware players back , said Viprav Chaudhary, Senior Vice President, ConveGenius . Swiftee removes those constraints. It runs locally, operates on safe AI guardrails, and works with all types of hardware. Theres no need to rebuild systems, one can plug into our stack and start delivering value immediately . Industry partners echo this sentiment. Mrs. Kamini Talwar from Iris Global Services said, Education has long needed a solution that goes beyond hardware upgrades and brings educational intelligence directly into the device. An AI layer like Swiftee makes hardware truly meaningful for classrooms, adapting to real use cases for students, supporting teachers in instruction, and helping schools deliver better learning outcomes. This is the kind of custom-built innovation the education sector has been waiting for . As Indias device market continues to grow, the next phase will not only be defined by bigger screens or faster processors, but also by the intelligence that lives inside them. Swiftee represents this new category of Heartware, where devices become intelligent companions that understand classroom realities and accordingly support learning. About ConveGenius ConveGenius is a leading AI and EdTech company delivering learning, assessment, and data-intelligence solutions for state governments and education partners. Its data and AI tools power decision-making at Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSKs) and bring data-driven governance to public education across India.

Fake call centre targeting US citizens busted in Navi Mumbai; 20 held

THANE: Police have busted a fake call centre in Navi Mumbai, from where cyber frauds involving at least Rs 12 crore were allegedly committed mostly against US citizens, and arrested 20 persons in this connection, officials said on Thursday. The police suspect that the scale of the crime is very large and many wanted accused are involved in it. The action against this call centre, which was in operation in Turbhe area of Navi Mumbai was taken on Thursday, they said. Navi Mumbai Cyber police station and the Crime Branch took the action. The police received a tip-off on November 18 that a call centre was in operation under the guise of various bogus companies to defraud citizens. Immediately, a joint team of police conducted a raid and uncovered two distinct methods of fraud being run from there. In the first method, the employees of the call centre targeted US-based citizens through WhatsApp groups and lured them by promising high returns on stock market investments. Separately, they also targeted the American citizens by carrying out ransomware or malware attacks on their computers, an official statement said. The raid brought to light a massive scale of the financial crime, it said. The investigators found 97 persons working at the fake call centre. They also found several WhatsApp numbers and bank accounts being used by those found at the location, it added. The transactions of 71 bank accounts, details of which were sent to US citizens and others, for fraud were checked. Out of these, 61 accounts were found to have transactions worth a total of Rs 12.29 crore. Some of these bank accounts were checked on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) developed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It was found that 31 cyber fraud complaints have been registered across the country, the statement added. The police seized 108 computers, 38 mobile phones, and 5 GSM servers, it said. A case was registered at the Cyber police station in Thane under Sections 318(4) (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 319(2) (punishment for cheating by personation), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with sections of the Information Technology Act. So far 20 accused have been arrested and remanded in police custody till November 23 by a local magistrate, the police said. The scale of the crime is very large and many wanted accused are involved. After a thorough technical investigation of the crime, the amount of fraud is likely to increase further, the police said in the statement.

Nineteen years and counting: Nitishs unbroken grip on Bihar

On Thursday, Nitish Kumar achieved yet another rare political milestone, becoming Bihars longest-serving chief minister, despite his party repeatedly finishing as the second-largest partner in both the Mahagathbandhan and NDA alliances in recent times. With this latest swearing-in , he joins the group of Indias ten longest-serving chief ministersa list long dominated by political stalwarts such as Sikkims Pawan Kumar Chamling and Odishas Naveen Patnaik. Chamling served as chief minister for 25 years, while Patnaik has held office for 24 years. West Bengals Jyoti Basu governed for more than 23 years, and Arunachal Pradeshs Gegong Apang for over 22 years. Mizorams Lal Thanhawla also crossed the 22-year mark, while Himachal Pradeshs Virbhadra Singh served more than 21 years. Tripuras Manik Sarkar held office for 19 years. Nitish Kumar, similarly, has now completed roughly 19 years as Bihars chief minister. Tamil Nadus M. Karunanidhi served for more than 18 years, and Punjabs Parkash Singh Badal is also credited with over 18 years in office. In Bihar, however, what distinguishes Nitish Kumar most is his repeated return to the top post, even after shifting between alliances. While Prime Minister Modi promotes the mantra of Sabka Vikas with Sabka Saath through Sabka Prayas, Nitish Kumar is often described as Sabka CM. Political observers in the state believe this contributes to his steady influence among minority voters. He has again included a Muslim minister in his cabinet, and the JD(U) fielded four Muslim candidates in the recently concluded Bihar Assembly elections. Another point of alignment between him and Prime Minister Modi is his refusal to allow family members to hold roles within the JD(U), reflecting his firm stance against dynastic politicssomething that contrasts with many parties in the Mahagathbandhan. Just as Modi maintains a stance of zero tolerance for corruption and nepotism, Nitish Kumar has ensured that neither corruption, nepotism, nor communalism gains a foothold in his administration. The political chemistry between Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi within the NDA is often regarded as one of the most dependable partnerships in Bihar. Both leaders have no family members active in politics and are widely seen by the public as hardworking, sincere, and trustworthy.

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Body of MBBS student found dead in Russia brought back to Rajasthan; family suspects foul play

JAIPUR: Ending an agonizing 11-day wait for the family, the body of Ajit Chaudhary, an MBBS student from Laxmangarh in Rajasthan's Alwar district, arrived in India from Russia on Monday morning. A medical board conducted a re-postmortem soon after the body reached Alwar, and the funeral was finally conducted. Ajits body arrived at Delhi airport at around 4:05 AM and was taken to Alwar District Hospital by 9 AM. Although a post-mortem had already been conducted in Russia, the family requested another examination. For this, a group of doctors was formed. Ajits father, Dharm Singh, a farmer, said his son was studying MBBS at Bashkir State Medical University in Russia and was in his third year. The family last spoke to him on 19 October, after which he suddenly went untraceable. A friend had called him, after which he disappeared. Later, we were told that Ajits clothes and shoes were found on the riverbank. His body was found 18 days later on November 6, Dharm Singh said. The grieving father further added, His mother was dying waiting for her son. Alleging negligence by both the administration and the government, Ajit's family bid him a tearful farewell and reiterated their demand for an impartial investigation into the circumstances of his death. Ajits uncle, Bhom Singh, expressed strong suspicion regarding the circumstances. He questioned why another student, Jeet Kasana, informed the family of the disappearance when the college had the familys contact details. He also raised doubts about why the body was found without clothes, saying, Why would someone committing suicide remove his clothes? He added that Ajit had asked for money shortly before 19 October and had reportedly argued with another student. We dont believe our son committed suicide; we suspect it is murder, he said. The family has already spent around Rs 29 lakh on Ajits education. Ajit had travelled to Russia in October last year to pursue MBBS at Bashkir State University in the Ufa region. His family had arranged the funds for his education by selling three acres of agricultural land. Since recieving the news about his death, Ajit's family had been struggling to bring the body home. Frustrated by the delay, relatives and locals last week staged a shutdown in Laxmangarh, demanding swift action from the government to expedite the repatriation.